Moving Day

Readers,

If any of you are still out there, I'm temporarily moving to tumblr. I want to keep blogging but need a little break from good ol' blogger. Please please please visit me here. If anyone links me in their blogs, I would be e-v-e-r so grateful if you could update them to my new blog.

Gracias (and as ever, thanks for reading!),

Anne

Polish and Circumstance

This sounds waaaay too familiar. Soul mates?

Guess Who's Back?

Why, hello there!

I am (finally) back in Boston after an exhausting six weeks in China and Hong Kong. 

I'm broke, unkempt and totally jet lagged, but couldn't be happier to be home. 

I have so much to show and tell, but my body is currently fighting me to the death to stay awake (it's 1:30 in the a.m. in Hong Kong). So more later! 

Come Sail Away

Hello from China

Readers,

Hello! I missed you. I don't actually know if you can miss readers over the internet, but I sure did.

I am in my fifth day in Beijing and three days of Chinese lessons (Ni hao!). Discoveries: China is BIG. I am terrible at Chinese. Cleanliness is not so much of a thing here. I can get the New York Times online but not Huffington Post or YouTube (no videos for a while).

Here's something else: Chinese people r-e-a-l-l-y love to take photos with Westerners. African-Americans especially, but pale brunette girls with light-colored eyes will do as well. The photo is of Hana Nobel and me at the Great Wall (hell yes) and a random man who wanted our photo. This is not a one-time event.

Today we went to an old old old Buddhist monastery where we took a tour given by the Great Monk (read: the head honcho). He gave us prayer beads and bananas and let us participate in
one of their services. I never really felt spiritual before, but it really did move me.

Anyway, have to go, having borrowed someone else's computer, but I'll update when I can.

Leave Your Yuans on the Counter, Please

What a Day for a Daydream

On Saturday morning I had the (sort of) good fortune to be walking up Newbury (sort of) early in the morning. Read: 8:30 a.m.

And, you know, I actually kind of enjoyed it. Yeah, I was REALLY tired. But it was the first really hot day, and I had the sun on my face and a cool breeze in my hair. I felt great.

I also had the opportunity to snap a pic of the new art installation in front of LouisBoston. 

It sort of reminds me of those stretchy tie board things I played with as a kid. Except colorful. And high end. And artful. 

My Life Would Suck Without You

My sherbet orange Vans are kind of my life.

Tragically, we must part Thursday morning for six weeks while I head off to the Far East.

I'm not so hot as this kind of thing, but maybe Matt Collette could write a haiku on my behalf for them?

HAIKU UPDATE:

I'm off to China
and I've got everything but
my little red shoes

Very Gray Gardens

Last week I ventured to Newport, Rhode Island to check out the notorious mansions built in the late 19th and early 20th century by the nation's wealthiest families. It was totally worth it. 

There are several mansion tours you can go on, but I hit Chateau-sur-Mer, the only of the historical society's houses to have been a full-time residence, and The Breakers, the massive summer palace built by Cornelius Vanderbilt.

The former was kind of meh, but The Breakers is a must-see for anyone schooling on the East Coast. It's unimaginatively big, and the audio tour absolutely rocks. Plus, had the manse not been sold to the historical society, Anderson Cooper (son of 70s jean designer Gloria Vanderbilt) could have been an inhabitant. So there's a little journalism trivia for you newsies out there.

Eric and Anne go to the Garden

Eric and I gardened in our Symphony Road plot for the first time yesterday.

This was, for the both of us, our first real gardening experience. We weeded, planted some things and combed our earth.

Three hours in the 80+ degree weather left us tired, hot and incredibly, INCREDIBLY dirty.

But we had an excellent time, made some pals and took a break to snap the group photo. The whole thing made me a little sad I'll be gone for fourth months and will miss most of the gardening season. And then I remembered how hot it gets here and then I really wasn't so sad anymore.

Sorry I've Been So...

Amazing Grace

Drunken Ruminations

I Want to Thank You

Life's So Bright

Okay, so I realize that the Wayfarer thing is a little over. Every celebrity on the face of the planet has been seen wearing them, I know, I know.

Yet, I still wear my pair on sunny days. It's just a classic shape that looks good and effortlessly cool on anybody.

So obviously, as part of this country's SHOCKING visually impaired contingent, I gravitate toward my own pair of Wayfarer eyeglasses. Maybe that's one of the things I can pick up cheaper in China? Here's hoping.

Daily Lyrics

Walk, Don't Run!

For it is Free Cone Day at B&J's today.

I believe there are ice cream shops located in the Prudential Center as well as one further down on Newbury Street.

Yeah, yeah, it's raining and maybe not a super inspiring ice cream day, but are you really going to turn down free ice cream?

Yeah, I didn't think so.

Sneak Peak: My Nightstand

So I'm a pretty finicky sleeper.

It takes me forever to fall asleep, and once I do, I wake up about a million times. So, I'm extremely picky about the things I use to help me sleep, from my delish Marvis Ginger Mint toothpaste to my face cream, lip balm, etc. 

I can't sleep without CO Bigelow brand Rose Salve (yeah, yeah, it's a rip off, I know), Clark's Botanical's Smoothing Marine Cream and a sleepmask, preferably one pilfered from jetBlue. I also depend on reading material (Tom Wolfe right now now, an essay book on China in preparation for my departure and the Portable Dorothy Parker always). 

I also have a pretty healthy relationship with ambien (not pictured)

(More More More)

 

Fashionista has this super cute mini-commercial for the first cookbook from BabyCakes, an all-vegan bakery in New York, New York (the city so nice they named it twice...). Now, I've never really been too into the vegetarian/vegan thing, but a healthier cupcake can't be a bad thing, can it?

My cup(cake) hath runneth over

Readers, I have some news:  I found a new cupcake joint, and it is actually better than Sweet. 

Enter:  the South End Buttery. 

Located on Shawmut Ave in the South End (duh), the Buttery is the grown-up answer to Sweet. The bake shop actually functions as a full-service cafe, with a really rad vintage-looking espresso machine, real food to eat, and wine. The cream, brown and yellow interior feels both fun and sophisticated.

And then, of course, there are the cupcakes. You can check out their full menu here, but I enjoyed a Madison (read: vanilla). The cake was spongy, but not overly sweet (as real cake should be), while the small heap of delectable, buttery frosting lived up to the bakery's name. And, really, it's not like a tour through the South End to get to the place is unpleasant.

Speaking of cupcakes ...

Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend

Stolen from the awesome Liz Kelly's Facebook (I'm a bit of a YouTube klepto lately, huh?)

Week in Review

I am beyond exhausted from four days worth of poor sleep. But hey, who needs sleep when you've had an awesome week? Let's review:

Monday - Dinner at the Squealing Pig, drinks at the Savant Project

Tuesday - cupcake at Sweet + beers at The Pig .

Wednesday - covered various tea-bagging activities on the Common.

Thursday - News banquet.

Friday - Last day at The Dig (for now), the South End Buttery (more on that to come), drunken Tomb, Cambridge 1, Jillian's, and a broken up house party in Allston

Saturday - Lunching, magazine-buying binge, Grey Gardens + party with Liz and Eric

Sunday - Valentino (!!!! More to come on that!), Brookline Booksmith, Paris Creperie.

And now, some rest.

Yes You Did

This was stolen from David Filipov's Facebook. HOWEVER, this is also the song that plays in Wes Anderson's "Hotel Chevalier," which, I have to admit, I liked better than the "Darjeeling Limited." I mean, come on. It featured a fancy hotel and Bloody Mary's. We're hitting some of my favorite things, here.

Come on Feel the Wine

Finals stress bogging you down?

Wine Riot has you covered. Fork over $45 for one of two four-hour long wine tasting sessions, featuring more than 250 kinds of delicious vino.

The wine-tasting spectacular will also have a sweet photo booth (check out the people at left), crash courses in wine, and DJs Die Young and RedFoxxworth.

As if that wasn't enough, the riot is sponsored by the Second Glass and my own (if I may call it that) Weekly Dig. So you're bound to run into some painfully cool (and hopefully drunk) hipsters.

Things I will Miss by Going Home for the Summer

1. Jenny Lewis

2. A KILLER Newport Folk Festival.

That's right. The same festival where Dylan first went electric will enjoy its 50th anniversary this year. Heading the line-up is:

Joan Baez and Pete Seeger, who both played at the inaugural folk festival way back in 1959. Seeger famously stalked around looking for an ax to cut the electrical chords when Dylan started playing "Maggie's Farm" in 1965.

Other acts include:

The Decemberists
Arlo Guthrie
Fleet Foxes
Neko Case
Campbell Brothers
The Avett Brothers
Josh Ritter
Gillian Welch
Iron & Wine
Tao Rodriguez Seeger
Tim Eriksen & Shape Note Singers
Langhorne Slim
Ben Kweller
For the whole line-up and more details, check out Rolling Stone.

Help (I need somebody, not just anybody)!

I am desperately seeking someone with HBO and a free Saturday night around 8 pm. Why? So we can get terribly dressed up, sip martinis and watch the dramatized "Grey Gardens," duh.

It's a mad mad mad mad mad mad mad mad world

This is unbelievably terrible.

I Wish They All Could Be California Girls

Icon: Peggy Guggenheim

Peggy Guggenheim remains one of my all-time icons - in life and fashion.

She was born into an incredibly wealthy, privileged family (duh), but cultivated an incredible eye and taste for art and ran in some seriously cool bohemian circles while living as an ex-pat in Europe.

Guggenheim moved to Europe, where she voraciously collected art in order to open a museum. She obtained works by Marcel Duchamp, Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko (to name a very, very few).

She eventually moved to Venice, where she bought the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni on the Grand Canal. She lived there for many years, and later opened her home up as a museum. 

Peggy was also something of a fashionista. You don't exactly get photographed by Man Ray (wearing Paul Poiret) for nothing. In her later years, she managed to remain stylish as ever, frequently rocking some of the funkiest sunglasses I've ever seen.

Cheers to you, Ms. Guggenheim.

The Emperor Has Sweet Clothes

So given that it's finals week over here at good ol' NU, I'm not exactly expecting a roster full of fun and fabulous things to do this weekend.

But there is ONE thing I'll definitely be doing - cruising over to my favorite Brookline neighborhood to screen "The Last Emperor," the new documentary about legendary fashion designer Valentino.

It's showing at the Coolidge Corner Theatre (also known as the best place on earth) starting Friday.

Obsession: The Graduate

So as an amigo recently put it, The Graduate is essentially the original Wes Anderson film. 

I pretty much live for it. The cigarettes, the so-bad-its-good late 60s decor of the Robinson's living room, the KILLER Simon and Garfunkle soundtrack ...

I could wax amazing about it forever. But what I REALLY love are, of course, the costumes.

From tweed coats, to white jeans to Mrs. Robinson's bodacious leopard bra to Ray Bans, this one pretty much rocks the house.

Shameless Self-Promotion

In case you have been wondering what I've been up to of late, you can check it out:

Here

Here

Here

and Here

In the Summer Time

So today while perusing Facebook, I found this YouTube video of my fellow Carlsbadians Summer and Ruby Spiro whilst on a fashion shoot. The sisters are a musical duo  with a pretty rad fashion sense. They're also really sweet, nice girls. Ch-ch-ch-check it out.

Have a cuppa ...

Ouch! That REALLY hurt!

I slammed my finger in my door, hence the band-aid

Today's nail polish is cosmo-not tonight, honey by OPI.

Related:  the best job every would be naming OPI nail polish all day.

I die

I pretty much live for this idea.

It's just the way I see the world

Wisdom from my perfume's box.

Finally!

Finals week looms. 

Right now, I'm sitting on my couch studying for my American Presidency final, so I thought it would be appropriate to post one of my favorite photos of all time:  a jubilant newly elected Harry Truman holding up the Chicago Tribune's incorrect headline.

I mean, you can't get it right all the time, but...

You Really Got a Hold on Me

Obviously I need to see this.

Nothing Like the Smell of Nail Polish in the Morning

Yesterday I woke up to chipped bright coral nail polish.

Today, I woke up with perfectly painted pearly bronze polish - more on that later.

The color in the photo is Lunch at the Delhi from OPI's India collection (duh).

Hanging Around

Orangoutangs at the World Famous San Diego Zoo

Hello, Hello

Happy Easter Sunday, everybody!

I basically had the weirdest Friday night ever - although nothing about it was actually all that weird. I just felt weird I guess - and a super lazy Saturday. 

I'm planning to spend today doing some spring cleaning to clear my head out a little bit.

On the playlist:  Devendra Banhart's "Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon".  It's a great record to listen to and it reminds me of home a little bit.

P.S. The photo is of me at the ICA. Very contemplative, huh?

I Left my Heart in San Francisco

Well, apparently these guys didn't. This video is pretty rad. And, I mean, as much as I love my home state, it's not like I haven't ever said "Fuck California" too. 

 Via Dani

Penny and Me

Ooo oo oo, Fashion!

So something I've been wondering about since watching both "The Hills" and its spawn, "The City," is what to wear for a creative industry interview.

Seems to me that at every career-oriented class I've been to says you have to wear a snappy black suite and high heels. But that doesn't really seem appropriate for a fashion-y job. After all, they're hiring you for your fashion sense - a lame and ill-fitting suite from Ross doesn't exactly seem right.

Still, anything too "fashion" doesn't feel like enough, does it?

Fashionista poses the same question to its readers. 

Spring Forward

Despite the absolutely dreary weather, I ventured to Saks yesterday to try some of the department store's spring offerings. Even though the economy sucks, I was pretty pumped to find some sundresses I actually wanted to buy.

At left is the confetti silk dress by Marc by Marc Jacobs. The cut was super flattering, and I really dug the geometric pattern that ended up looking a little Flinstone-esque. The sky blue is also a really nice color. It didn't look terrible on my super pale skin color and I would image it'll look nice with a tan, too. ($348)

Next to it is the pricilla ruffle dress in this really pretty blush color from Elizabeth and James. MK and A definitely got it right with this one - the straps attach in the back but can be unbuttoned so you could turn it into a halter or criss cross them. The ruffles are fun, to boot. ($375) 

Update: The Marc by Marc dress is actually resort and thus last season. Bloomingdale's has it on sale for $243. They don't have it in my size, but it looks like Net-a-porter is pretty much sold out, and I had a hard time finding it online, so I would skeedadle over to Saks if you want it.

Introducing Instant Zen by Matt Collette

Quack!

Pack, of "Make Way for the Ducklings" fame, has been stolen by some heartless asshole. 

My mom used to read that book to me all the time when I was little (dramatic foreshadowing of my move across the country?), so I'm super sad to see one of the cute little statues snatched out of the Public Garden (pictured left with my friend Jillian).

Bring Pack back!

I've got the travel bug...

Wallpaper City Guides are kind of my life.

Steal All My Records

Last week, instead of doing actual homework, I made DC a CD. Here is the playlist:

1. "Let it out" - Los Hombres

2. "To Save Me" - M. Ward

3. "Just Like Heaven" - Watson Twins

4. "Do I Have to Come Right Out and Say it?" - Buffalo Springfield

5. "Baby it's You" - Smith

6. "Jesus was a Crossmaker" - The Hollies

7. "Friend of the Devil" - Counting Crows

8. "Barrier Reef" - Old 97's

9. "Come Pick Me Up" - Ryan Adams

10. "The Weight" - Aretha Franklin

11. "Acid Tongue" - Jenny Lewis

12. "The Love You Save" - Joe Tex

13. "Ballad of a Thin Man" - Bob Dylan

14. "Buick City Complex" - Old 97's

15. "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" - She & Him

How sweet it is to be loved by you

Fly me to the moon

No, I'm not too busy during class to take photos of my nail polish.

Stardust from the Lippman Collection. It's basically this really shiny tin color. The polish is totally opaque, so it keeps it looking more chic than something the middle school version of me would wear.

What a day for drinking

There's something to be said for day time drinking:  that it's totally awesome, mostly.

Boston, in all its splendor, offers plenty of places to be a lush during the day. The Otherside Cafe, located on the grosser side of Newbury Street, is one of them.

It's the kind of place writers of movies about college dream of:  dark, impossibly cool and with plenty of writing in the bathroom.

But Otherside also boasts yummy (if expensive) grub and a substantial beer list. Drink it up.

I think I'm turning Chinese, I really think so

What my career is looking like

Via NYT.

Don't they all look just the same

If I had money, I would buy a house.

Sweet Surrender

Really, is there anything better than a cupcake?

Frankly, no. So it was with a heavy heart that I lived my first three years here in Boston in the bakery-deprived Back Bay. 

But Sweet has come to our collective rescues. The shop, located at 49 Mass. Ave, deals exclusively in all things pink, sweet, and delicious (Marie Antoinette was playing on the monitor the last time I was there, if that helps give you an idea).

The light blush-colored seating, white and pink walls, jars full of candy and, of course, cupcakes, make for a decor that's ... well, sweet.

I strongly recommend the Boston Cream Pie cupcake. And then a trip to the dentist.

Wrap it up

I don't know about you guys, but to me, it's just not Christmas without a dress and tights.

And even though it's almost April and I really should be thinking about cute summer clothes and bathing suites, this photo of Theodora Richards for Erin Kleinberg has me dreaming of a White Christmas, just like the ones I never really knew.

Plus, I mean. She's reading what appears to be a vintage book in what could be the coolest burgundy wrap dress to hit Barney's since DVF. 

Via Pipeline.

It's a mad mad mad mad mad mad mad mad world

I kind of live for Mad Men. The suites, gold zippo lighters, drinking, smoking, dresses, bold lipstick, kitschy ads ... all of it.

I recently re-watched my favorite episode, "The Jet Set".

In it, our anti-hero, Don Draper, visits California and is seduced by a wealthy young gypsy, Joy.

They ride off to Palm Springs together, and stay in a house that exudes quintessential 1960s Hollywood glamor. The whole thing is totally amazing.

I don't need anyone

Something else to cheer anyone up.

Follow the shepard

Sheppard Fairey mural, spotted on the corner of Rutland and Shawmut in the South End.