Hungover.

Last night I saw The Hangover with my friend Brittany. Yes, it was the second time I saw it...and yes, I still laughed my ass off. That is honestly the funniest movie I have seen in a looong time. Great one liners, great plot and good ending = comedic perfection. I loved Allen aka Fat Jesus, he totally made the movie. His soliloquy about wolf packs on the roof ...I died.

Side note- How smoking hot is Bradley Cooper??!?!?!?! I just wanted to run my fingers through his beautiful mane and have his babies. I sincerely hope he is not dating Wet blanket Aniston....that's the quickest route to being lame. Loved his all black suit combo too....

Drop everything you are doing and go see this movie, but DONT LEAVE until the credits are over....there is a little treat past the end.....

Super Snack.

These granola bars are off the chainnnn. They are only 120 cals a piece and pack 9 grams of fiber per bar. That's about 35 percent of what you should get daily...not too shabby considering these taste phenomonal. They honestly taste exactly like an old fashioned s'more. The chewy and soft combo is surprisingly satisfying....go get these now.


*Pic from amazon.com

Book v. Film.

Revolutionary Road.

I almost always like the book version better than the movie adaption of novels, but Revolutionary Road was a surprising exception. The Richard Yates book was interesting, but honestly it was kind of a downer. The movie however, hit the plot out of the park. There could not have been 2 better actors chosen to play Frank and April Wheeler....the setting, the score, the costumes...everything was completely copacetic with the book. Leo and Kate nailed their roles and truly displayed the emotional range that the book implied. LOVE, LOVE, LOVED IT. Go rent this movie now, but be prepared .....its definitely an emotional drama.

Running Relief.

A couple of months ago I ran in my first half-marathon. Since then I have fallen off the running bandwagon, and I'm trying to get back in the swing of things. I have a couple of weapons in my running arsenal that make it fun and easy to go the distance and push yourself. Weapon 1- My Nike + shoes and I-pod. I've already professed my love for this little sensor in a previous blog but here is a breif synopsis of why it is so great. It tracks how far you are going and updates you in your ear...so you can run outside and not on a treadmill or track...and also has pump up jams that you can previously set. Once this song comes on, you know you need to push your ass into gear. Also, you can log your results onto Nike.com and challenge other runners or pick up good tips. Weapon 2 is something that has honestly changed my running life....SmartWool socks. I used to get wicked blisters from running (thus giving me one more reason to lay on the couch watching Project Runway re-runs) and these socks have stopped them from coming back. The Merino wool technology soaks the sweat from your feet while regulating your temperature. For any runner or cardio-lover....these socks are a must have. TRUST.

Check them out for yourself here.....or just buy them at Amazon.com

UP-Lifting.

So yesterday among the media hysteria about MJ, I took my cousin to see Disney and Pixar's movie UP for her birthday. The movie was EXCELLENT. It was funny, cute and touching. But more importantly...why did no one tell me that I would be completely sobbing during like 3 parts of this film?! I went to see a cute Disney film about an old man who's house flies by balloons and ended up getting life lessons about appreciating the people you love. Honestly....the last scene I had tears streaming down my face....quite embarrassing when you consider that I was seeing a children's movie at 5 pm. Ugh and talk about a love story!....Carl and Ellie were too precious for words. Loved this movie, go see it now I promise you it's worth it!

*Side note...I met the producer and director who worked on this film at work and they were telling me that these Pixar films (they also worked on Monsters Inc and Nemo) are very labor intensive and take about 5 years to complete. You have to develop the script, get the voices recorded and then develop the moive scene by scene.....all in all a very tiring process it sounds like!

The King Has Left The Building.

R.I.P. Michael Jackson.....I have always been a huge fan of his music, and have felt massive compassion for him personally over the years. It is honestly the end of an era, MJ defined early pop music, and opened many doors for popular acts of today's generation. Thriller, Off The Wall, Bad, everything from the Jackson 5....they are all iconic. The first song I remember singing was Man In The Mirror. I know his personal life was under a lot of scrutiny later in his life, but to me he just seemed like a lost soul who was always searching for something....hopefully now he is in a better place.

One of my all time favorite songs is I'll Be There by the Jackson 5..... these lyrics say it all....

Let me fill your heart with joy and laughter

Togetherness, well that's all I'm after

Whenever you need me, Ill be there

King of Pop, you and your sequined glove will be greatly missed.

*Picture from Wikipedia.com

The Wackness.

Have you guys seen The Wackness? It's a good movie, but the soundtrack is siiick. It has totally brought back my love for 90s rap. So I took it upon myself to make a slammin mix tape filled with the best of 90s beats. Enjoy.


Summertime- Will Smith
Juicy- The Notorious B.I.G
The World Is Yours- Nas
Flava in ya ear- Craig Mack
Just a Friend- Biz Markie
Keep Your Head Up- Tupac
Shook ones part II- Mobb Deep
Get money- Junior Mafia
Shimmy shimmy ya- Ol' Dirty Bastard
Feel Me Flow- Naughty By Nature
Runnin- The Pharcyde
It Aint hard to tell- Nas
Notorious thugs- The Notorious B.I.G.
Electric Relaxation" -- A Tribe Called Quest

Cucumber Crazy.

It has been so hot lately, I have been chugging water like it's going out of style. To make my water a little extra fabulous, I have been housing my H2O in a pretty glass decanter and putting slices of cucumbers in it. It reminds me of my all time favorite cocktail, which is a cucumber martini (so delicious but really hard to find). Anyways, these fun veggies additives spruce up the look of the beverage and tastes like delicious spa water! Bring a pitcher of your cuc-water with you while laying out with your friends!

*Pic from foodmanicac.com

Broken Record.

Download Now. Listen. Obsess.

Ego

Beyonce ft. Kanye West

Fierce meets Fiercer

Nostalgia.

With summer finally here, I can't help but think about the days gone by when all my friends would go on vacation and come back with....the braids. You all know what I'm talking about....the tropical braids with rasta beads on the ends. They would saunter back to school in August with their beads clanking together being like "I went to Jamaica, aren't you so jeal of my tan and these braids?" Obviously my mom never let me get the braids because she said they would ruin my hair......back then I was super pissed. Now, I can't thank her enough for her wisdom. What made people want to get this done? They don't look good, they apparently hurt to get done, and you look like Diana Ross when you take them out. Thank the Lord my friends have moved on from this vacation trend. Doesn't this just make you want to projectile vomit?!!

*Pic from hairboutique.com

Secret Scent.

This is a tricky and easy tip to make your room smell fabulous. Mist your lightbulbs with your favorite perfume (while the lights are off...duh) and let it sit for a little while. Later, when you turn on the lights, the heat will diffuse the scent throughout the room. For the past few months, I have been rocking Gucci By Gucci Eau de Parfum, and I think it would be a lovely room fragrance as well as perfume.

Clorox Therapy.

You know when you are having a bad day or have so much built up frustration/energy that all you can do is clean your brains out?? Well I've seriously been suffering from the rainy blues and therefore channeled all my energy into cleaning my apartment. When I get like this, I like to say I've come down with a bad case of the Cinderellas....where the only cure is to clean every speck of your living space. Well tonight...you name it, I cleaned it. I vacuumed the floors, swiffered the hardwood, dusted the tables....I even got on my hands and knees and scrubbed a stain out of a rug. I also organized my closet (insert scary movie music) ...so you know I meant business. There is just something about a serious cleaning sesh that helps to ease your nerves and clear your mind....and it's even better when you have Elton John on full blast. So next time you are mad or depressed, instead of picking up that carton of Ben and Jerry's or leaving a mean message for your boyfriend....grab the Swiffer. Your personal life and waistline will thank you.

Fab Finale.

I thought the Real Housewives finale last night was soooo intense! While I didn't really think Danielle deserved to be ripped a new one and embarrassed for things she did 20 years ago, she absolutely brought it on herself by bringing the book to the dinner and creepily placing it on the table. What did she think it everyone would have been like "Oh, yeah that was a good read. Sorry for showing everyone in Franklin Lakes, that was so shitty of us." Ummm no biatch these girls do not mess they are never going to admit wrong doing or apologize! She went there looking for a fight and she got it. And how about Caroline taking all the heat for Dina?! She is the biggest bad ass east of the Mississippi. I love her sense of loyalty and 'bring it on' attitude. And on top of it all, we have Theresa coming out of no where and freeeeeaking out. The best part? Joe's reaction. He just held her back, laughed and told her he loved her. Way to back up your woman stud.

Well friends, despite the season being over we have something even better to look forward to.....THE REUNION. When Caroline said she hopes her Bravo family would have enough balls to show everything, I about died. Next week cannot come soon enough.

PS- Isn't Jacqueline's husband like the Greg of New Jersey? Do you remember when Nene's hubby Greg tried to be the peacemaker in Atlanta? Oh this show....it always comes full circle.

Hair Envy.

After blogging about shiny hair yesterday, I got to thinking about what I want my next hairstyle to be. I already knew I wanted it long, but the color and cut was up in the air. I'm not a big Jen Aniston fan, but I'm definitely having a case of hair envy here. I love the beachy waves and sun kissed color. It just looks really effortless and chic. Usually I think she is so blah for never changing her look, but for some reason I'm totally feeling it today.

Let the Countdown Begin.

Tonight. Real Housewives of New Jersey. Finale. Fighting. Table Flipping. Bitch Slapping.

I. cannot. wait.

Shiny, Happy Hair

At work today, my friend Maggie and I were talking about how our hair has been looking a little lackluster lately and could use some extra shine. So we headed over to InStyle.com and got this great and easy tip to add some sheen to your tresses. They suggest that you run olive oil (I'm partial to Bertolli Extra Virgin) through damp strands, add heat with a blow dryer to help it penetrate, then rinse out with a mild shampoo after 20 minutes. I'm not a big fan of DIY (Do It Yourself) Beauty that involves kitchen products, but this seems simple enough. And if it works I can just slather my head while I'm whipping up dinner. 2 Birds, one stone my friends.

Gleaming Gams.

Well since it has been a virtual monsoon in the Midwest lately, instead of spending my post-work hours laying out, I have been researching self-tanners. This glittery deodorant looking stick from Michael Kors looks so terrific! It is a scented stick that apparently leaves legs shimmering. From the looks of it though, this product is no sun-substitute, but an enhancer instead. I plan on using it later in the summer as an added kick to my base tan. Per usual, you can get it at Sephora.

Book v. Film

So last month I read Angels and Demons, and I was soooo pumped to see how Ron Howard would translate the book to the big screen. Unfortunately I have to say I was rather disappointed. I thought the book was great....a real page turner, and the movie left out some key characters and relationships that I thought really made the book intriguing. For example....Vittoria Vetra's partner was not portrayed as her father, and Maxhimilian Kohler and Gunther Glick were completely removed from the film adaptation. Also, the ending from the book and movie were totally different! I was expecting some disparities, but was not at all expecting the final product that I got. I probably would have liked the movie more had I not read the book. My book for this month is Revolutionary Road, and I'm hoping that the film version will be up to snuff.

Fashion Famine.

I loooove this dress from Sunner. It looks so breezy, and it's totally work appropriate! Buuuuut I can't afford it because I'm more broke than the bum in the park. So if you want to buy it, be my guest....here is the link.

Improvisation.

So we all know that I don't have a man after yesterday's post. Well I looooove wearing guy's clothes around the house. Baggy gym shorts, oversized tee's, ginormoius half zips.....there's nothing better. Well friends, if you can't beat em, join em. A few weeks ago I was cruising through the mall and skidded to a halt past the American Eagle window....now don't judge, I am not about to buy a horizontal striped halter top. I am talking about these fabulous boyfriend jeans. At first I was skeptical of them, probably because they were first worn by Scientology Princess Katie Holmes, but whatever I'm over it. So I meandered in, tried them on and was hooked. They are surprisingly versatile and I have been wearing them all the time. My fav combo so far has been with my gladiator heels and a flowy top. Another perk: Throw these on when you go to get a hungover lunch with your friends on Saturday afternoon. You will be able to house an Italian sub without feeling like your fat ass will bust at the seams....or maybe that's just me. Anyways if you are interested, you can buy them at American Eagle, or if your embarrassed that you are the only person in the store over 12, you can secretly buy them at ae.com.

Dove è il mio uomo????

Translation.....Where is my man?!

So obviously I called Jackie and told her about my embarrassing Notebook sob fest the other day and she informed me that there are worse things in life. Case in point...her mom telling her that for her 23rd birthday she was getting gift certificates to Home Depot because it's a great place to meet men. Ummmm what?! So I said to Jackie, "What are you going to aimlessly wander around Home Depot with blocks of lumber and ask a random man (probably married) to carry it to your car while you try to seduce him?" But according to her mom, Home Depot is a mecca of available men. So we got into a heated discussion on where to meet good guys these days, now that we are post-college career women and the "let's blackout and become lovers/friends" bit isn't as easy as it used to be. I know you can meet guys at work, but I have a very strict "Don't eat where you shit policy". It can absolutely work for some people, but I need my own space and could not deal with seeing my significant other 20 hours a day. Jackie said that she also read that the Millionaire Matchmaker woman, Patty Stanger says another great place is a comic book store. Again.....what?!?! I dont' want to date a pre-pubescent Battlestar Gallactica lover, I want a hot man! But that is Jackie's own fault for listening to the advice of a woman who basically encourages women to be gold diggers and men to be used by them. Buuuuut after all this the question still remains, where in the world do you meet a decent guy these days?

Friend or Foe?

...Q-tips. I have been pondering this conundrum for a while now. Every time I get out of the shower I use q-tips in my ears. You may think its gross, but sorry…its just something I do. Upon hearing that q-tips are bad for the ear drum/canal I began to wonder which is worse….potentially damaging your ear drums or having wax in your ears. I don’t know if you have ever seen someone with wax hanging out of their ears, but it is like a bad car crash….you cannot take your eyes off of it and feel totally nauseous after seeing it. After seeing one particularly clogged ear canal on a guy friend, I became paranoid about it and became an avid user. Honestly it looked like crusty confetti from an old party in there. So in order to figure out if my affinity for the cotton tipped applicators was ok, I headed over to my handy dandy quick-doc, the web-md blog. According to Dr. Rod Moser, q-tips are so dangerous, they should be considered weapons of ear destruction. The Dr says that a little earwax never hurt anyone, and that it is actually beneficial, preventing infections. Upon learning this information, I have decided to give my ears a little vacation from q-tips. Hopefully I wont end up looking like Zac Efron.

*pic from esquire.com

Guest Blogger!!!!

My friend Chris has been a faithful Flavor Report reader since the jump, and he is super supportive and dying to share some of his infinite knowledge with my followers. Chris is an amazing bartender...he's worked at almost every skanky bar in Champaign and loved it so much, he stayed a full year after graduation to work/black out in them. So here is Chris, the "Cocktail Connoisseur's" fav recipe to share with you all. (Here is what he emailed me in it's entirety hahahaha)

Here's a tasty little treat from the best bar tender you know *me: A blog you can post:

Ever think of your childhood and the sweet treats you used to gobble down greedily while sitting on the candy store porch one summer's day? Think of the delightful sugar rush you'd feel pulsate through your body as you giggled with your friends and planned for a new adventure. Well, now you might be in your 20's, 30's, or dear God, may it never happen, your 40's and that same grainy sugar only leaves you with a sand paper'y tongue and a parched palate. Wish you could combine that same candy rush with your adult play time? Well now you can! Sweet Tart Shots are a throwback to your childhood while a modern way to socialize with your friends! A blast from the past the recipe is delicious, sweet, and delightfully effective - for you alcoholics that is!

Blue Sweet Tarts
1 part Cherry Vodka
1 part Grape Vodka
Splash Blue Curacao
Splash Island Pucker (Optional)
1 part Raspberry Liqueur (Chambord ideally)
Top of with Lemonade and Sour

While there are many variations to this desceptively strong shooter this has been a crowd favorite! So think back to your youth, when the only thing on your mind was your sweet tooth and an eager yearning for more sugar, add some booze and have yourself a FUNtastic evening! "Sweet Tarts, the Taste of Fun!"

Utter Depression.

So on a scale from one to ten how much do you hate my life? I am currently watching The Notebook with my roomate in her bed. If you dont think were sobbing, your wrong.

Is romance like that even possible in today's jaded cynical society? If so, where are these gems of guys hiding? I'll tell you they are not in St. Louis or any other metropolitan city for that matter. I need to uproot my life, move to Georgia and drink sweet tea all day. I'm sure I will meet a romantic southern gentleman who will build me a house with his bare hands and make out with me in the rain there right? Luzianne and peaches here I come.

And it begins...

So here is the first Fashion Famine 2K9 post... and trust me it's a goodie. This tan tank dress by Lounge Lover's is soo cute, simple and versitile. You could wear this dress like 27 different ways and make it look like a new outfit every time. Plus can you imagine how great it would look once you got a nice tan going? Annnd it's a chasmere blend, making it super soft and luxurious. If any of you are not in the fashion version of Guantanamo Bay, I suggest buying this little ditty. Its now on sale at Net-a-Porter for $62....check it out here.

Drought.

So last night I booked a ticket to go to MIAMI with my friends over Labor Day weekend. I miss them all soooo much and cannot wait for our pseudo spring break madness to ensue. As pumped as I am for this trip 2 problems have arisen in my planning.

1) Realizing that I would have to be drunkenly parading around in a bathing suit prompted me to go on a diet, which you already know from my last post. More details to come later, but basically diets are lame. As soon as I told myself I was on one, I want to eat everything in sight. Less than 38 hours ago when I was not performing this self inflicted tortue I was a normal, functioning person. Now I am giving myself hourly pep talks not to go out and buy Nutella.

2) I also realized that I have NO money. So I have decided that June will be the month of dual diets. I am getting to perform what I will now refer to as "Fashion Famine 2K9". I am going to try reallllly hard to pinch a few purse strings and not shop at all this month. So I will be posting things I am dreaming about buying...

Is it weird I forsee this ending up in disaster? I just have this image of me housing Annie Anne's pretzels crusing the mall like a crazy person.

Short and Sweet.

Today I ran into the grocery store to grab a lemon and saw a GIANT bag of Tootsie Rolls. I'm on a "diet" (very loose usage of the word) so I basically just wanted to stare at them and dream of the chocolaty goodness. Welllll upon further inspection of the bag, I realized that our favorite chewy candies are not actually called tootsie rolls but are in fact called "Midgees". Ummmm what?!! Did anyone ever know this? Are actual midgets offended by the title of these treats? Has the company ever come under fire for naming their candy after small people? Does Chelsea Handler know this? All these questions came swirling into my head and on top of it I realized I was drooling. I don't know what is more embarassing....me pondering if tootsie rolls are politically correct or the fact that I almost had a breakdown 3 hours into said diet. Another interesting Tootsie Roll fact....everyone's favorite carnival candies are called Frooties, not Footsie Tootsies as I have been calling them for the past 20 years. Who am I kidding that I can succesfully go on a diet? I just spent the past 20 mins blogging about candy....

*Pic from Tootsie.com

Chowing Down.

My new favorite breakfast is quick, easy and simple. A bowl of Banana Nut Cheerios with Soy Milk, topped with blueberries and a sliced banana. So delicious, so quick and a great way to kick off the day. So I was perusing the Cheerios website and found this great recipe using my new favorite morning treat.

Banana Nut Cheerios Energy Bars.

4 cups Banana Nut Cheerios® cereal 1 cup sweetened dried cranberries 1/3 cup slivered almonds, toasted 1/3 cup roasted unsalted sunflower nuts 1/2 cup light corn syrup 1/4 cup packed brown sugar 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter 1 teaspoon vanilla

1. Spray 9-inch square pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix cereal, cranberries, almonds and sunflower nuts. 2. In 2-quart saucepan, heat corn syrup, brown sugar and peanut butter to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. 3. Pour syrup mixture over cereal mixture; toss to coat. Press firmly in pan. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. For bars, cut into 6 rows by 4 rows.

This makes about 24 bars, and they are only 110 cals each! Definitely a great snack to pack to work. Check out Cheerios.com for other great recipes!