Crash

Congrats to this sasquatch...

Yes, that would be my 6' kid brother who just got his permit.

He looks like he took a roundhouse kick to the face in his photo.

Mother was pleased.

We are one step closer to him being able to pick up my inebriated ass in the middle of the night.

Weeeee!

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Woody Allen films are usually a hit or miss with me,

but this looks soooo good.

If I weren't going to the Padre game again tonight, I'd be having a date with myself.

Kicks

I really want a pair of these bad boys...

Zapato del Barco by Vans

They are like Top-Sider boat shoes, but the west coast Vans version.

I just can't decide...navy or white?

I kind of want my brother to get a pair with me so we can match. Hahaha

Dislike Post #1

I just finished watching this with my brother and I am not okay with it AT ALL...

I never saw it in theaters and now I know why everyone who did, was cursing its name and telling me to stay away from it. 

For those of you who haven't seen it, I'll give you the snub of it:

Its about "growing up"/leaving your 20s, emotions/emotional breakdowns and ultimately... forgiveness. 

Right now, I can't even forgive myself for not turning it off after 30 minutes because I knew where it was going, let alone forgive myself for renting the damn thing. 

The only reason I kept watching was because Casey Affleck makes for some amazing eye candy.

It leaves you with that heavy feeling in your throat, as if you are about to cry, but you don't because secretly...your blood is boiling.

All I can say is: if you still really want to see it, just make sure you are mentally prepared. 

Book Lovers Never Go To Bed Alone

I just got back from Barnes & Noble - one of my favorite places on the planet.

I love books. I love bookstores. And I am a really big nerd.

The problem is that I don't set aside enough time to read, but I'm working on it.

Anyway, I saw these two and they looked like some winners.

My Sister, My Love by Joyce Carol Oates

Schooled by Anisha Lakhani

(apparently a good read if you are fan of Gossip Girl, like your's truly)

But I'm hoping to get to them after I finish up these babies...

The Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem

(recommended by my friend Larry and I must say it was a good call)

Loving Frank by Nancy Horan

(totally in love with it and got Mother into it. we are now in a race to see who finishes first)

Love The One You're With by Emily Giffin

(so predictable, nauseating, causing me to hate my life and tempts me to set it on fire...yet I still keep reading it)

Azn

One of my really good friends left for Tokyo and Beijing/Shanghai yesterday 

and well, 

I'm super jealous.

I'm really fascinated by Japan and have always wanted to go. 

Another friend of mine, Caitlin, has been their all summer as a swim instructor to the kids on the Navy bases. 

I seriously considered going there for semester to study abroad, but unfortunately, things just didn't turn out. 

I really want to venture to China as well. 

I had a friend from high school who randomly went with her grandma a few years ago and the pictures she brought back were ridiculous. 

This is the Donghuamen Night Market in Beijing. 

They sell the strangest foods you can find on a skewer 

and it sounds like a total adventure to me!

Seahorse or scorpion, anyone? Haha!

Padres

Last night, I went to the Padre game with Ellen and new friend, Shadi, and three things I have always wanted to have happen/witness occurred:

1. Seeing three shirtless guys leap over the left field wall and run across the field. (One actually slid into home plate, the crowd went nuts.)

2. Making it onto the jumbo tron. 

3. (ALMOST) catching the ball. 

I love baseball games and even though we lost to the Brewers last night, I believed it to be a perfect Tuesday evening. 

Death

I woke up this morning and mother told me that there was a dead crow in our backyard...

I called the bird people and they are supposed to come take it away and test it for West Nile Virus.

I just hope my cat doesn't get to it before they do. 

That, and I can't really figure out if my cat brought it down,

or if it just keeled over. 

Girly Girl

When I was in grade/middle school, there was this stupid rule that forbid the wearing of nail polish.

But being the smart ass 8th grader that I was, I refused to believe this rule applied to me. 

So every day, without fail, my P.E. teacher would send me to the nurse to remove it.

And day in and day out, I would still apply it only to take it off around 9 AM the next day.

Even my old boyfriend from 8th/9th grade, (who is now one of my great friends), freaked out recently,

"Oh my God! Ali King! Are you NOT wearing nail polish? But you ALWAYS wear nail polish!"

Response: "Oh, don't worry, I have some on my toes."

O.P.I "Bubble Bath" is a staple. 

Yet, ironically enough, it just flew off my bathroom counter and smashed/splattered all over my legs and not to mention on mother's tile. 

Let's just say, mother was not pleased.

(Hey, at least it wasn't black like last time...)

O.P.I "Vodka & Caviar" is another staple.

I like to call it my "Tranny Red."

These last three are some other favorites, but maybe not staples.

Well, maybe the black is...

(And if you haven't guessed, O.P.I is the favorite brand)

O.P.I "Russian Navy"

O.P.I "Lincoln Park After Dark"

O.P.I "Onyx"

Besties

When I think about it, 

(even though I don't really have to think about it), 

I have some really amazing friends.

One of them is Miss Ellen Maureen Marks. 

Ellen Maureen Marks was born on September 6, 1987.

We met in Spanish class with Señora Jonés 7 years ago, were on the swim team together and got yelled at together by the Dean of Students when our first published "Flip Side" article was deemed offensive. 

We've pulled a lot of crazy stunts.

We've encountered a lot of awkward things.

And sometimes people say she looks like Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Which I don't think is a bad thing.

But what I love about Ellen is her humor. 

And she humored me greatly today at lunch with this...

"You know what you say to people asking you out via Facebook?

No.

Sure, I've tried it. But try it once and then never again.

Once a boy asked if he could cook me dinner.

I told him, 'My stove is broken.' 

When in reality, it was only one burner.

Another boy said, 'Hey you could stick an envelope of anthrax under my door, or you could just come by to hang out.'

Now that one, he was asking for it.

So, I got an envelope, filled it with baby powder, and, well..."

Basically this girl is amazing

and I doubt that you need any further explanation since you now have the real Ellen M. Marks above. 

I love her greatly and am really glad she is my friend.

And not just a friend, but a best friend.

Bathrobes

Anyone who knows me, lived with me, dated me...

knows how much I love my bathrobe. 

And not only do I love my bathrobe and being in my bathrobe,

I love passing out in my bathrobe.

Saturday night was no exception.

Sure, I had a hell of a time at The Faint, but what I forgot to mention in that story was how I came home feeling not so hot.

After I vomed (even though I was sober), I decided to take a shower to cleanse myself from the sweaty dance party and also in effort to make me feel better and maybe even relax my headache. 

As you can now guess, post-shower, I passed out* sideways on my bed in my beloved bathrobe. 

(*Lights still on and hair still in a towel turban of course)

Too much drinkin', smokin', straight west coastin' I guess.

But if you had either one of these beauts below, you would be passing out in your bathrobe too.

This one by Frette is similar to the ones my mom has at the house.

And this one by Coyuchi is the one I have at my apt. in the city.

Its 100% organic cotton and I got it for free when I worked at Bazaar. Sweet deal, huh?

Mmm, bathrobes. You make everything better.

The Faint

One of my favorite bands to see live, The Faint, played last night down at SOMA

and man! was it exciting!

I tell you, these guys never disappoint when it comes to a live show.

I feel it can be compared to what raves were like in the 90s (even though I have never experienced an actual rave.)

EVERYONE, and I really do mean everyone, dances and the venue turns into a giant sweaty dance party. 

Their newest album was released on Tuesday, and though I haven't really cracked into it yet, by the way things were sounding last night,

its packed with even more dance fever.

Perrrrrfect.

Oh and did I mention the crowd was beyond attractive?

Yeah. Yeah...

The Dove Parlor

I really want to check this out...

Its called The Dove Parlor,

located on Thompson between W. 3rd and Bleecker Streets. 

I've read about it in a few places and it looks rather jazzy...

Maybe if I like it enough, it will become a staple hangout.

Oh boy, I can't wait!

Summer Jams

I have a big crush on the band below...

They are called Los Campesinos! 

and (in the words of my friend Laurel) 

they are so neat I can't stand it.

And even though they met while studying at Cardiff University in the UK,

I like to think their story goes something like they were bored one day and just decided to play their instruments and make a lot of noise and then by some crazy chance,

it happened to sound fantastic. 

Like "My Year in Lists."

Who thinks of an opening line like,

"She said, 'Send me stationary to make me horny!'"

They also look like they're a bunch of kids.

Which makes me love them even more. 

Its happy dance party music.

And if you know me, you know I'm ALL about a happy dance party. 

This lady here is Brooklyn darling Santogold.

And though my vote has yet to be officially cast on how I feel about her album,

I must commend her for her single, "L.E.S. Artisties."

Its got a sweet beat, and for me, that's good enough.

Behold! Tan in a Bottle

When I was in either 5th or 6th grade,

my mother slapped on latex gloves one night and slathered me with self tanner in our hall bathroom.

I remember it was right before going on an end-of-the-year class trip to either the pool or the beach and I was embarrassed of being so pale. 

So leave it to me and my mother to race to Macy's on a school night, right before they closed,

to buy some Estee Lauder self tanner.

Mind you, this was when self tanners were a new embark on the beauty frontier.

And though I commend my mother in her efforts,

me and my 12 year-0ld self vowed to never do it again

in response to the horrid stench and risk of orange streaks.

Unless, however, it was for emergency reasons...

...Like the summer when I was in a Quinceanera 

and my tan lines were so distinct that I looked like I was wearing a white halter top under my canary yellow dress. 

Or those four out of God knows how many high school dances I attended when I felt the need to dabble in air brush tanning, instead of burning myself in a tanning bed like everyone else.

(And I somehow ended up starting a trend.)

But this summer, I decided to give my old friend another shot.

I figured,

"Hey, a lot has happened in the ways of self tanning since I was 12."

So with an acquaintance's recommendation,

I found and fell in love with this baby...

Its the True Blue Spa Bronze Bombshell line

found at good ol' Bath & Body Works. 

I've tried both the Shade to Order and Strike Gold tanners, 

but would recommend the latter if you are looking for more bang for your buck. 

And knowing Bath & Body Works, they always have some kind of deal going on.

So if you're feeling a little pasty today and you don't have the time to lay out (in the true Californian way,)

go ahead and check it out for yourself.

I promise it won't disappoint.