Mouse Trap

Please enjoy this wonderful tale from our guest blogger “Matilda”

What you don’t know about mousetraps………..

It is not every day that one enters a conversation about mousetraps, however do not be fooled my friend for this is no ordinary mousetrap I speak of.  At first you may think I am talking about the rather unpleasant solution to city pests that can find their way into your apartment… and for some, Shiloh, this can bring about thoughts of fear and disgust after one such trap tarnished said persons really cute gold flats…

But you are in luck because THAT is not the kind of mousetrap I am talking about.

I am sure you are all familiar with the popular American past time played by young singles; the cat and mouse chase.  Well my mousetrap is the conclusion of this game.  There are many versions of “cat and mouse”.

Some of my personal favorites are:

1.    The guy who leads you on – In this version a guy who has absolutely no intention of entering a relationship with you will string you along giving you just enough attention to sustain the glimmer of hope a relationship could bloom but provides enough opposition that it ensures the chase is still alive and well.
2.    The overeager dater – Now I am not an expert on this version, seeing as how I tend to stick with #1 most of the time.  However, recently I have met a few #2’s, and these are the worst of all!  This is the guy that is WAY more into you than you are into him (i.e. Shiloh:Tom).  Simple strategy here ladies.  No chase.  Move on.
3.    The gay man – Another frequent offender.  This guy is a combination of #1 and #2.  He is really excited to spend time with you and gives you tons of attention; however through no fault of his own, he is leading you on with every move he makes.  Trickier to identify than the previous profile #3 reveals its hidden strategy:  DENIAL.  Many women will waste precious playtime with this man because he is being incorrectly filed into a different number.  Again I say move on!

Up until last summer this is pretty much the make up of every relationship/pseudo-relationship I have ever had.  But then something fantastic happened.  #4 walked into my life.

You guessed it ladies.  #4 is Mr. Right.  Now #4’s don’t really exist in their natural form, they all take on the persona of another number and are coaxed out through a mousetrap.  My #4 played his share of games.  You see he was a #1 originally.  However, after a year of chasing, this cat trapped her mouse.  After a three-month stint of excommunication, my spring was sprung and the trap was set.  My emails were suddenly being returned, dates were being planned, and the glorious music of early morning booty-call text messages was gracing my cell phone yet again.

Now this next part of the story is one that I am not so proud of.  This is the part about how I set my trap.  I should tell you that my mouse has relocated from one of our southern states.  Knowing that the Sox were playing his home team several weekends ago I went to stubhub.com and spent close to a week’s salary on a pair of tickets.  This was a risky choice because I was unsure that he would come, actually I was unsure I would even garner a response from him, but the appeal of Red Sox summer and a little white lie about receiving the tickets (free of charge) from my company was too enticing to pass up!  Game day turned out to be beautiful!  We met at Fenway and ventured out to find our seats.  When I say that they were obstructed I am being polite!  They should not even have seats where we sat they view was so bad.  However, this did lead us into an afternoon of conversation and re-kindle.  I pulled out all the stops however when we parted later that day I was overcome with a feeling of failure.  Although my feelings were still strong for mouse, I felt like he had taken the afternoon to tie up loose strings and get closure from our relationship.

Fearing the worst I told myself to move on.  I promptly joined match.com.  After a few days of being “winked” at by some of the most genetically unfortunate men I have ever seen in my life I was feeling really romantically frustrated.  Then it happened.  My shooting star.  I got a call from my mouse asking to go out for breakfast.

The rest is history friends.  I was engaged the following weekend.  Moral of the story:  Don’t lose hope.  Mice are everywhere.  You just have to set a trap to catch the right one.   And don’t fear if you trap some not-right ones.  Mice have a high tolerance to pain and they need a few pinches here and there to keep them in line.

 

CELTS v Smogsville

 

Even though the Celtics De – wait for it – ….STROYED the Lakers on Tuesday, Boston fans are still beaming from the win.  The Rolling Rally is creeping through the streets of Boston as we speak and Doc Rivers is certainly tearing up at every father/son duo he sees.

If you are like me, a total bandwagon fan, then you have spent the last few weeks nodding and grinning as people talk to you like you have any clue about the NBA. Gasol, Rondo, Powe, I had no idea what name went with what team. I have never cared about professional basketball, except knowing that I love Larry Bird, so it has been a shock to myself at my EXTREME excitement during the Celtics v. Lakers series. 

I just moved a year ago from Los Angeles (aka the Worst city in America) to Boston (the GREATEST city in America)!! Yay! The rivalry of these two cities being played out on the court of the NBA finals was an outlet for me to finally cheer, out loud, a true competition of coasts, one has been dueling in my head for the last 6 years.  I was for sure the first to hit the streets to buy my Green BEAT LA! Shirt. For a short while people didn’t stare at me like I am mentally challenged when I chanted - BEAT LA. BEAT LA, on every T car. I put a Celtics flags on my car antenna. I taunted my friends in LA endlessly and even (at some points) had them leaning towards the light…the GREEN light that is. This fervor of Celtics pride seems as if it has come out of no where, but that is not true. This insane spirit is just a way I can finally wear my Boston pride on my sleeve and walking around with a sense that I (we) really stuck it to LA. As a citizen of Boston I can’t help but feel that we should get more recognition for having two world championship teams.  Like personal recognition. Maybe Los Angeles city officals could personally call everyone in Boston just to say…”You are the best??” Just an idea.

For me, I will never forget watching the Celtics obliterate the Lakers, and for that I want to thank Peanut.

 

Summer is Here…

Well, summer here, and for lucky east coasters, full summer preppy chic is in order.

Sadly, here on the west coast, its a dearth of critter capris, a lack of popped collars, a sad few grosgrain belts, and nary a Bonnano sandal. For me the saddest absence is Madras mania. I love a good patchwork plaid capri or skirt. JCrew has a few items each year, but last year in Chatham I found a great brand for pretty Madras patterns cut into great Bermudas, skirts, capris, and pants.

Their recently updated site is at www.capemadras.com, and here are a few of their cute designs:

Here are all the fab patterns! And the best news of all, one of the patterns is named after my and Shiloh’s last name! GLEE!

 

Would you rather…?

Would you rather hang out with Martin and Osa or Mr. J Crew?

I think Martin and Osa seem like a fun crowd. I mean…they are explorers and could recount the stories of climbing the icy tundra.  Hopefully Martin and Osa work as a happy pair to create clothing that reflects the needs of traveling stylish women and men. I have not know this store very long but I feel that instant connection with their soft pallet of colors and ”wear till their threads” basics. M & O makes me smile as I walk in and know I will return at a later date as I walk out.

So…

Am I right that J Crew obviously takes the role of a Mr.? His store is full of bright colors and a pipe dream of a woman who is so naive headbands and pearls are part of the standard model. Season after season a myriad of sun dresses denote every mans dream. We know JC is a “Mr.” Crew is a multiple offender of the impractical and ill-fitting. Only a man would continuously recreate variations on a chino that will never properly fit anyone above a size 2. But still I love Mr. Crew. John, Jack, Jim, Jordy, I could dream of this preppy puppet master all day. We could converse endlessly about polka dots vs. seer sucker, bugs as adorable embroidery and enamel jewelry accents. I Imagine sipping a gin and tonic just off the croquet court chatting with J. Crew and I beem with happiness… I think that answers my question because I just could not turn down a date with J Crew.

Martain and Osa..take a hike. (but continue to make excellent adorable clothes!!)

 

pps. if it does not work out with Mr. Crew I will be sure to send you a roving text message booty call.

 

Slow Clap

I really have to hand it to Westcoast Apple for the Sesame Street clip. “Me and My llama” brings be right back to sitting in my family room, staring blankly at the television, puzzled at why a young girl would be able to brave the New York streets alone to go to a dentist appointment??

When I used to go to the dentist my mother would always COME INTO the exam room and sit there to chit chat to every scrubed clad individual. I HATED IT. I just wanted to go into the dentist chair alone and stare up at the ceiling entranced by the whirr of the tools, and squeezing my hands to fight the pain (our German dentist lacked the ability to recognize that sharp objects jammed at gums = torture). This, compounded by the embarrassment of my mother accompanying to the chair was pre-teen hell.  What was even worse was the occasional run in with kids I knew from school who happened to be at the dentist at the same time. Their moms would DROP them off at the front door and pick them back up when they were done. Not my mother.

This lasted till I was at least 14 years old. I remember a specific time that I tried to give my mom signals with my feet for like 20 mintues. Laying there, squeezing my hands with pain and embarassment, I pointed my feet at her, then quickly pointed towards the door. Finally she said in the most chirpy annoying voice. ”Ha, Shiloh. Are you trying to tell me you want me to leave!? “ 

Ugh.

Yes. I Do!!!

At that moment I would have gladdy had a Llama in toe, flipping through Highlights than have my mom in the room. Even Sesame Street knows it’s not cool to have your mom take you into the dentist!! That clip is genius really. Because weather you are escorting a llama or being suffocated by your over bearing mother the dentist is universally traumatic. Thanks for the reminder Sesame Street.

 

sleepy cub! On Cnn.com

*** I want to amend this post after viewing this clip for the 3000th time.

Little Cub, You are not that special. I feel this way every morning and during every college class I ever sat in, and usually while driving on the highway. But you are adorable because you are so small!! and have tiny claws. What a random scene you are in little cub, a farm perhaps, well rest away, because it does not look like you will miss much during a quick nap.

pps: Shioh approves of the following clip on CNN.com because it is an added feature not under the headline under LATEST NEWS.

 

JCrew Final Sale Sneak Attack.

So many posts about JCrew lately. It can’t be helped, they are very newsworthy.

I am sure JCrew devotees know about the latest online sale strategy–the Final Sale. Now at first the Final Sale phenomenon was a fleeting, occasional deal. Once in a while, JCrew would take their sweet markdowns and mark them down EVEN more on one condition. You buy this item without trying it on and its yours–no exchanges, no returns. NOW the sale is 24/7 Final Sale, no relief.  I swear this has become a new form of gambling. You would wait and wait to see if the price of your fave sale item would drop without getting sold out, then when you saw it go FINAL SALE you would wonder–can I fit into this FOR SURE. Am I CERTAIN this color isn’t ugly? Sometimes for $19.99 you are willing to risk it. Sometimes JCrew would even double down with additional incentives–20% off final sale. Why, that item is like $17.234576 now! WHAT a deal! And your gambling trigger finger would click “Checkout”, only to have your wide-leg cords in “Deep Surf” arrive and look more like “Syracuse-purpley-blue”.

In-store sales are a totally different game. They are straight up pricing, racks of stuff to try on–of course not everything is there but, what you see is what you get. Imagine my delight when the very blue Joelle blouse loved by Harlow was at my local JCrew, in my size, AND all sale items were extra 25% off! I had TOTALLY avoided the Final Sale online gambling debt!

So I thought. When I got to the register, the chipper salesgirl informed me that since it was an extra 25% off, it was Final Sale. WTF?! Sneak ATTACK! Now, online I would slink away and leave my shopping bag open for days due to my compulsive returning. But what can I do in person? I interrogated the sales girl about why the Final Sale exists. Her reply–cause they are such great prices, they want to clear merchandise.

That doesn’t help my Syracuse pants, girl.

 

Umm JCrew? Gucci called, they want their prices back.

So.  I was scrolling through the JCrew New Arrivals, one of my favorite pasttimes, when I stumbled on this:

Its their new Lugano Leather Garment Bag.  Here’s how they describe it:

Handcrafted in Italy by Dell’Ga—and completely worth it. Dell’Ga is an exceptional luxury leather house with a long history: founded in 1800, it soon became a favorite among the noblest families of Milan. Two centuries later, we’ve partnered with this incredible company to bring you an heirloom-quality collection made with the highest quality, naturally tanned Italian vachetta calf leather—in a very special J.Crew color, of course.

This thing is $2000 dollars. TWO. THOUSAND. DOLLARS.  Next to a Madras headband!  I mean, its beautiful, but wow.  I remember when JCrew went up to $128.

Other than that there are many gorgeous new arrivals.  They have also expanded into a Yoga line!

Well played, JCrew, well played.

 

I just got…Boston Organics!

There are few things better than someone delivering something to you for free. I mean, seriously. Netflix? Prepaid envelopes. Martha Stewart Living? Automatic subscription renewal. Dream!

But fresh fruit and vegetables? This always seemed a little tricky to me. How do you know they are good? Those Peapod boxes always looked a little gummy and gross. I don’t want my broccoli rubbing up against the outside of Wheat Thins box!

Well, now my produce is sticking with my produce thanks to:

You can sign up for deliveries every week or every other week, starting at $27 per box. Each box has a mixture of vegetables and/or fruit. You select how much of each – I chose 2/3 vegetables, but you can do 1/2 and 1/2 or all of one. Then you fill out a list of things you DON’T like and what to replace it with.

Here is what is in this week’s box:

1.5 lbs Bananas
3 Cameo Apples
3 Green Bartlett Pears
3 Valencia Oranges
1 Avocados
1 6oz Bagged Spinach
1 Cucumbers
1 Green Bell Peppers
1 bunch Red Leaf Lettuce
0.5 lbs Snap Peas
1 lbs Zucchini

yum! They will even have you make a copy of your key for them and drop your box off in the foyer of your building.

Gone are the days of pawing through questionable food items in the Shaw’s “produce” section, to wind up at the checkout line with green beans or asparagus (again). Soon I’ll be whipping up batches of Garnet yams and Bartlett pear salads!

Or I’ll have a lot of rotting produce on my hands. One or the other.

 

Starbucks – Great Idea!!

Today I strolled over to Starbucks to get some tea to enjoy during my morning walk (I drink the green ginger tazo tea. It’s the best). As I reached for a stirrer to distribute my 4 packs of Equal, I saw a curious cup with writing on it. It looked like a tip cup but with a lid and a straw. The cryptic message scribbled on the cup read “Look what I can do…No more spills.” After the third re-read and my eyes darting back and forth from the cup to the tiny pile of green sperm like sticks, I finally put two and two together.

Starbucks has actually taken action! They actually developed and produced a small plastic stopper to avoid the horrible burping spillage that comes while walking/driving with a piping hot coffee or latte. I took a second to think about this. While, I appreciate the effort and the recognition of the fact that it is SOOO annoying to pay $3.50 for a latte and then 30 seconds later have it explode all over your hand and sleeve, I find it counter productive towards our cultures “global green-planet” goal. How much damage to the earth are these sticks causing just so we can grab our skinny latte, jump back in my car and bob and weave through traffic without our Starbucks cup spewing all over our spring brights? (effort to be politically correct).

The REALTY to the issue is about laziness and the risk aversion theory. Puzzled? Continue…While using this spill stick this morning I found it very annoying to hold the cup with my right hand  lift my left arm to hold this small stick up to snag a sip of tea.  Like all normal Americans,  I like to drink my coffee while trying to accomplish several other taskes. Which is why it is so annoying to get spilled on because it not only stains but takes attention away from my multi-tasking and forces me to just do clean-up.  So I face a quandry…

According to risk aversion theory – when i use the spill stick it is certain that I won’t get burned but also certain I must engage my left arm in activity.  My risk-averse side says take the stick – a garuntee to be spill free and I must ignore my lazy arm. But, my risk-seeking (lazy arm) side says take the chance!!!!! Yes, I might get splashed and burned and YES that makes me very angry but there is STILL a chance that I won’t get burned AND I won’t have to engage my left arm in stick holding. 

Like any good econimist or financial consultant would tell you being risk averse, gets you a savings account and a good credit score. Good thing I am a true stock market thrill seeker, and say bring it on RISK!! And while my anger boils as hot as that burbling coffee, I say NO to Starbucks small sperm stick. I take the RISK because  I want to save the environment! Because my left arm has more important things to do. Like applying my mascara and holding the steering wheel.

 

Check out all the Starbucks gossip on this blog!!

http://starbucksgossip.typepad.com/_/2008/04/starbucks-quiet.html