Guilty Pleasure Gifts

i know i said if dreamers can dream, i would dream up the cartier love bracelet as a graduation gift. but i mean, i wouldn't be opposed to these either...

keeping up with the kardashians, season 1

californication, seasons 1 & 2

i've always loved californication, but keeping up with the kardashians is my new obsession. 

what?!

Drugstore.com

drugstore.com is probably one of the greatest things to grace the TINTernet* these days. i sadly spent half of my morning on it. what i bought? i have no idea.

i really need to stop this madness and write some papers. 

*TINTernet -> how my british roommate says "internet"

M.I.A.

a goddess among mere mortals.

Farewell, Domino

i'm crying. this sucks just as much as House & Garden

R.I.P.

Tegan & Sara

Tegan & Sara are, hands down, one of my top favorite artists of all time.

I love everything about them.

From them being twin sisters and both being lesbians; From their depth in their latest album, "The Con," to their shows that will blow any other artist that you've seen...out of the water.

Everything. I love everything.

I can't wait to see them on Sunday at Terminal 5 and dance the night away with all the lezzies.

Woot Woot!

And if you haven't listened to "The Con" or any of their other albums for that matter,

 I suggest you do so...

now.

Frida Kahlo

As an art history major, I am consistently inundated with different artists and their work.

But Frida Kahlo has always remained a favorite with me. 

Not just of her work, but of her as a person and everything she embodied. 

Through all of her physical and emotional strife, she remained a strong, brave and beautiful woman - and also knew how to rock the unibrow.

In my opinion, her work is far superior than that of her husband, Diego Rivera, and it is a shame how she was overshadowed by him for so long while she was alive.

Powerful, painful and hopeful - I'm glad her work is finally getting the credit it deserves.

Here are a few of my favorite pieces that I have been fortunate enough to see in person. 

If you missed the show that traveled to San Fran, Philly and Minneapolis...

well, you really really missed out.

"The Two Fridas" 1939

The scale of this is absolutely incredible and I cannot even begin to explain it.

"Self-Portrait with Chopped Hair" 1940

The inscription reads: "Look, if I loved you it was because of your hair. Now that you are without hair, I don't love you anymore."

They are lyrics from a Mexican folk song - I absolutely love it.

"The Dream" 1940

I have been trying to find a print of this for my room. I had never seen it up until attending the show in Philly. And though I love all her work, I may go as far in saying this is my favorite thing she's done.

David Duchovny, why don't you love me?

If you don't already watch Californication on Showtime, I really think you should.

I finished watching Season 1 this afternoon just in time for Season 2, which premiered tonight.

Sweet holy hell.

David Duchovny can 

call.

me.

Fur

I don't care if PETA decides to stalk me after this post,

but I just thought I should mention (since it is getting colder)

how much I love fur.

Especially lynx fur.

I found this beauty on Ebay tonight and I cry on the inside because I lack the $cash moneyz$ to drop on this baby.

And I'm really into the fur vest thing lately too.

I also enjoy stoles, scarves and coats with big fur collars.

Oooo and hats!

Maybe when I'm 70 and don fabulous white hair will I rock the full length coat, 

but right now I am the more simple fur girl.

Poop.

Knowing that I cannot have this in my wardrobe makes me very sad just looking at it.

However, there is a lynx stole I found at a boutique out in Brooklyn that is in my price range.

Birthday present? Oh boy, do I hope so.

catbird

I had the greatest thrill of going here today and thought you all should know about it...

It's called Catbird and it is full of trinkets.

I found the most incredible ring there, (among many other things), by the New York based design duo, Bing Bang. 

The label was started by jewelry designer Anna Sheffield and her brother. 

The ring looks like a belt buckle and comes in silver, 14k and 24k gold.

I'm after the 14k.

I've been having issues finding a picture, but when I do I'll make sure to post it.

But anyway, if you're ever in the area, check this place out.

It's right off of Bedford Avenue and N. 5th Street next to Fabiane's. (Hit them up while you're at it too.)

Modern Wing

Yesterday, I hit up the Modern wing of the Met for my Advanced Seminar in Modern Art class that I'm taking.

I have never really gone through the Modern wing and I'm really glad I did. 

I finally got to see some things I've been meaning to see.

Like this...

Jeff Koons "On the Roof" show

This picture doesn't really do the colors of the pieces justice.

His work is just so fun and playful to see.

And if I had a rooftop apt, I totally would want a "Balloon Dog" to go on it.

Damien Hirst "The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living"

I am obsessed with sharks.

So obsessed that I basically live for Shark Week on the Discovery Channel and I have told my parents to not be surprised if I call them one day, at 45 years old, and tell them, "Family, I am quitting my job and leaving for the Caribbean to study sharks in their natural state."

So naturally, the Hirst shark has been something on my list of things to see.

And MAN, shit is WILD! 

My mouth literally dropped when I walked into the room where it was installed. 

It is SO cool, yet SO creepy that I felt as excited as a 5 year old on Christmas day mixed with the hee-bee-gee-bees.

I really didn't know what to do with myself.

I finally looked more into his work last night and it is just...out there.

So eerie. And I'm fascinated by it.

Tara Donovan's Untitled (Mylar) Installation

I really enjoyed this.

Donovan is known for using ordinary products to make something, well, extraordinary.

Here, she used silver Mylar tape that she made into connecting ringlets.

It reminds me of a pattern you see on crisp, clean, white, modern linens.

Yeah yeah, I know this isn't ultra Modern, but its Manet - who's work is said to mark the beginning of the Modern period. 

This hangs in the 19th Century galleries of the Met.

Its called, "Mademoiselle V...in the costume of an espada"

It dawned on me yesterday how much I enjoy Manet and large scale 19th cen. paintings.

Especially portraiture.

The day I can have a house full of these...

boy, that will be the day.

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"

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.

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.