Ahhhhh....much better

Miss V's purple post inspired me to go hunting at Zappos Couture for a purple pair of boots.

Etro, of course, never disappoints a girl.













And I know these aren't purple, and I further know I've posted these before, but I still am in love with these red Jean-Michel Cazabat pumps. I'm drooling at the detailing.

Weekly Confession

Bloggers forgive me. I have once again sinned. Last night, in between eating sushi and cleaning the toilet (don't worry, I wore gloves; for the toilet, that is) I watched the season finale of:

The Bachelor: Paris!

Such trash. Such filth. Every bad girl in the world punched her television set when Dr. Doctor chose the good girl to be Mrs. Doctor. How predictable.

Yes, I will be watching it again, I'm sure. I won't let you down.

I will not be cynical

I just found out that a good friend -- who's 30 or 31 -- is getting married later this year.

She's getting married on my birthday.

I'll be turning 35. And more than likely escorted by D, my gay boyfriend, and J, his gay boyfriend.

I'm barely celebrating the fact that I'll be having a second date later this week.

I will not be cynical. I will be happy for her. I am happy for her.

Marc Jacobs on Oprah

It wasn't all that exciting, but here are some highlights from Marc Jacob's Spring 2006 line (found at Oprah's website).

Marc, what were you thinking pairing this half-way decent dress (though nothing worth buying) with black tights? TIGHTS?!? That is a fad that needs to go away. And while I love (love) the hat (in fact, it's my favorite part of the whole ensemble -- black tights!?) it's just too much of a contrast with such a light dress (and I ordinarily love contrasts with fashion).







I love this skirt and love the top and love the cardigan, but again with the black tights!!!! Please, someone make it stop! You're killing fashion.



And what are these sandals? WITH BLACK TIGHTS?!?! Again, what were you thinking, Marc?





I actually like this cocktail dress. Marc said it was inspired by a sweatshirt. It's very original but without being so over-the-top that it's unwearable. Me likey.











This crinkled organza dress was my favorite of the whole show. Just lovely.

Movie Review -- Syriana

Syriana is the latest from writer/director Stephen Gaghan. It's a politically-driven, ensemble piece about the complexities of the global oil industry and its impact on individuals and nations. The storyline is a complex web but still rather simple, as it follows different threads of the same story, each thread connected to an individual that ties back to the larger story. The movie stars George Clooney as a C.I.A. operative working out of the Middle East, Matt Damon as an energy analyst who loses his son and then tries to aid a Gulf Prince (played by Alexander Siddig) in future oil investments, and Mazhar Munir as a migrant worker who somewhat unwillingly turns terrorist.

The film is powerful and depressing, but honestly I wasn't moved by it as I was by Gaghan's film, Traffic (directed by Steven Soderbergh). I found the characters' motivation and development to be somewhat confusing, and unlike the always intriguing Traffic, found myself lost in their interwoven storylines. Perhaps it's just not my type of movie, but I found myself thinking, "Global oil industry corrupt; so what? Tell me something I don't know." The most intriguing and fresh storylines belonged to Munir, and Damon and Siddig, but I found Munir's story, in particular, to be on the backburner at times. His was the one I wanted more of. Less Clooney, more Munir.

Is the film neutral? Not really. It definitely critiques the profit-driven industry and the global economy. But it never resorts to namecalling Republicans or Democrats, and even though it takes a definite stance, it does so in a complex way. Overall, it's an important film, one that deserves the attention it's receiving (though Clooney's performance isn't all that, in spite of the fact that he'll probably score at Oscar).

I give it 3 1/2 lukewarm stars.

R.I.P Mr. Furley

Don Knotts 21 July 1924 - 24 February 2006

Celebrity Sighting!

And this one was for real.

Ms. Martha Stewart talking on her cell phone while walking around Union Square in San Francisco. I walked right past her, overheard her talking, and didn't even realize it was her until I was eyeing a pair of Prada pumps in a shop and caught her out the window.

Almost as good as seeing a Philip Seymour Hoffman look-a-like! (Yes, I'd rather almost see PSH than actually see MS anyday.)

Three signs of a good first date

1. Mr. Foxy says your bronchitis-wheezey-cough is v. sexy. (Though I think in this case he was kidding.)
2. You say Mr. Foxy is 500 X better looking than Brad Pitt. (I wasn't kidding; Mr. Foxy is v. cute and B.P. is v. not cute.)
3. You make a tentative second date for next week.

Friday's Fantasy Outfit

Julia pointed me to Nordstrom's new designer site for shopping. (Get down to the groovy music as you race in & out of the boutiques.) So I've found my perfect outfit for Friday afternoon.

Here's a great twist on the black suit from Armani (love the jacket!)




And I'll take these t-straps from Roberto Cavalli.




I was looking for a bag in red, but this Armani drawstring bag seems funky and functional.

Five Food Challenges!

I've been tagged by Ms. Foodie herself, Julia, to come up with five food challenges for the year. I'm not much help in the kitchen, but I'll try!

(1) Make at least one new recipe every other week. I have piles of recipes that I'm always clipping from magazines (I said I'm not good in the kitchen, but I love food) but I rarely make any of them. So, that's my first challenge.

(2) Organize recipes. They end up stuffed into folders and wind up getting lost. Or I'll find a recipe on-line and save it in an e-mail before forgetting about it entirely. I have big ambitions to put them in a nice binder, but it never happens.

(3) Limit intake of processed, pre-packaged foods. I don't know if I'll be able to cut it out entirely, but we all know that fresh (seasonal) food is just better for you.

(4) Try at least one new restaurant every other week. I do go out to eat a lot, but I'm limiting it to every other week so I can go somewhere a bit more upscale! San Francisco is full of fabulous restaurants, but I usually wind up at my favorites again and again.

(5) Bring home-prepared meals to work instead of grabbing something in the cafeteria. I've already been working on this, but it's so easy to slip into forgetting. (And much cheaper and healthier!)

Now I'll tag steph, Y, Karen, and Parisjasmal!

Oh, this is driving me mad!!!!!

Must not look up the results for the figure skating. Must. Not. Even. Look.

Must wait until tonight. Must. Wait.

It's madness, I tell you. Sheer madness.

Keeping with my Audrey Hepburn theme

I bought a cute (and very basic) Michael Kors LBD at YOOX last night. It's pretty simple and very timeless and will be just perfect to take to Australia in March. And, I got the last one! I'm just hoping that it fits!

Ms. Audrey said in an interview with Barbara Walters, Women can look like Audrey Hepburn by flipping out their hair, buying the large glasses and the little seeveless dresses.

Were only it that easy. Audrey had style within, and while the clothes might be a reflection of that, style in this case seems to have very little to do with one's wardrobe.

Hubert De Givenchy once said, There is not a woman alive who does not dream of looking like Audrey Hepburn.

I'd say that sentiment still rings true.

Apartment Bound

That's been me for the past week and a half. I haven't left the house except to walk the dog and go to the doctor/drugstore. I've read countless magazines and watched every Olympic event, two seasons of SATC, endless talk shows, and have currently resorted to watching Blind Date re-runs. I've spent probably 10 hours in the tub. I cancelled one date with a foxy guy (probably a good thing; I'm sure the sight of me hacking and wheezing and sniffling isn't the sexiest image, in spite of how charming I ordinarily am).

I can't handle it anymore. I have to get out. I'm going crazy. Even the dog is sick of me. So today, I'm going shopping. I mean, I know I was going to save money and all that, but I have to. In the name of wellness, I have to shop.

In Honor Of Audrey Hepburn

And based on an e-mail exchange with the fashionable Julia the other day, I have decided that this is the year we are going to bring back the hat. We all know that Ms. Hepburn looked fabulous in a hat (who are we kidding? Ms. Hepburn looked fabulous in everything) and we all know that we have much to learn from her.

I just read a fashion mag that claimed that this will be the year of the glove, but I say they're wrong. It's the year of the hat.

Who's with me?

Four in black for fall

Cruising style.com, in my quest for the perfect LBD, I spotted this from Calvin Klein (okay, it's not a dress, but I love the jacket).



And this from Max Azria (she even kinda looks like me when I'm wearing my glasses!)


Where would a black-obsessed fashionista be without Narcisso Rodriguez?

Still another from Narcisso R. (I think I have those shoes -- or shoes very similar to those!)

OUTRAGED!

I know My Muse tends to border on the light and fluffy, but when I came upon this story, I had to get it out there because if I don't, it will be globally forgotten. Ignored. (Full article here)

ROME, Italy (Reuters) -- Sexually abusing a teenager is less serious a crime if the girl is not a virgin, Italy's higher court said on Friday in a controversial ruling that immediately drew a barrage of criticism.

I volunteered for two years as a crisis counselor for rape survivors and this makes me so angry that I can't even find the words. We -- both men and women, worldwide -- should be outraged.

We should be pissed.

Is it just me?

I know I'm sick, but:

(1) What the %$&@ are la Streep and la Lohan wearing? Especially L.L. Is that the dining room curtain?

(2) Even though la Streep is 37 years older than la Lohan, don't they look almost the same age? Okay, maybe la Streep has a brilliant surgeon, but seriously....Lindsey: Stay out of the sun; stop smoking (bad asthma girl); stop drinking; stop messing with bad boys; stop trying to look 31 (trust me, when you ARE 31, you'll be begging to look like you're 19)!

(Image horrifyingly spotted in Life & Style, but found at, you know: gettyimages.)

What's more perfect than soup?

I'm not too much of a cook, but I love to make soup. Here's the latest: White Bean Soup from Epicurious. This was quick in comparison to some soups I've made and very easy. I didn't follow the recipe too exactly (who needs to? it's soup) as I didn't have celery or bacon and can't be bothered to measure ingredients. And it's a little thin; next time I'll cut back on the chicken stock. But it's damn tasty, especially with a nice drizzle of truffle oil. (Make sure you blend, baby, blend!)

WHITE BEAN SOUP

2 cups dried Great Northern beans
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 cup chopped leek (white and pale green parts only)
1 large tomato, seeded, chopped
1/2 cup chopped carrots
1/2 cup chopped celery
8 garlic cloves, chopped
3 bacon slices, chopped
10 1/2 cups (or more) chicken stock or canned low-salt chicken broth
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary

1/2 cup whipping cream
White truffle oil (optional)
Place beans in heavy large pot. Add enough water to cover beans by 2 inches. Soak overnight. Drain beans.

Heat olive oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, leek, tomato, carrots, celery, garlic and bacon and sauté until vegetables are tender, about 6 minutes. Add beans, 10 1/2 cups chicken stock, chopped thyme and rosemary. Bring soup to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer until beans are very tender, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour.

Working in batches, puree soup in blender until smooth. Return soup to pot. Add 1/2 cup whipping cream. Add more chicken stock by 1/4 cupfuls to thin soup, if desired. Season soup to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle soup into 8 bowls. Lightly drizzle top of each with white truffle oil, if desired.

Bon Appétit
March 2000

I hate being sick

Hack.
Cough.
Wheeze.

Yes, this is a post that's begging for pity.

The Perfect Evening

I'm not one of those singletons who sits around and wallows in her singlehood. But around Valentine's Day, it can be tough. Not because of all of the V-Day fluff floating around in the air: flowers and cheap chocolates and even cheaper stuffed animals that nobody really wants. No, it gets tough when I hear other singletons rant about being single.

I say, get over it.

So last night, I decided to do something positive for Valentine's Day and offered (with two dear friends, L and C, and C's boyfriend, F) to babysit for two friends who just had a baby four months ago. I figure that if anyone truly wants to celebrate Valentine's Day (and if anyone truly deserves a break), it'd be them.

We never figured out why it took four adults to babysit one baby, especially when one is the father of two (that'd be F) and one used to work in a nursery (that'd be me) but it worked for us.

Luckily, Baby B was simply perfect (well, she is a pretty damn cute and perfect kid to begin with, so this doesn't surprise me) and went right to sleep after her bottle, so the four of us had a fab time sipping wine, eating too-much pizza and brownies (FYI calories do not count on Valentine's Day), laughing and comparing notes on the bizarre behavior of women and men, and watching American Idol and the most dreadful Dr. Phil program on dating (for some reason, he was trying to find Paula Abdul a date). We realized after mom and dad were almost home that we had forgotten to take pictures, so here's one of me and Baby B when she's only four days old.

Okay everyone say: AWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!

Even More Sweetness!

Buzz! Buzz! went my front door, and what suddenly appeared? This wonderful package from the delightful Steph!

Thanks, my friend! (Time for chocolate and reading!)

Happy Valentine's Day

The Sweetest Thing

The mailman just buzzed me that I have a package. And it's from Vanessa, a cute little carton of Valentine's Day jelly beans (how did you know I've been craving them?) and a cupcake-adorned card. Totally unexpected and total sweetness.

THANKS A GAZILLION!!!!

My name is Theresa, and I am an Olympicaholic

There is only one thing that gets me more jazzed than the Oscars, and that's the Olympics. In particular, the Winter Olympics. More in particular, figure skating. To be exact, Michelle Kwan. So you can imagine the devastation when I found out (at about 12:17 a.m. on Sunday) that she was withdrawing from Torino due to a new injury.

I cried.

But I have a feeling it's for the best. Cheers to Michelle, the bestest of the best.


Images from GettyImages.

Arrived!

Before Sunrise











Lonely Planet Australia











Lonely Planet Spain

All from Amazon. All arrived in under 48 hours. My weekend is ready to begin!

Ladies Who Lunch

It's been a gorgeous, stunning, sublime week here in San Francisco, warm and sunny (we're talking sleeveless weather, unheard of for most of the year). And I'm fast turning into a lady who lunches.

Wednesday: Lunch at Chloe's Cafe with K. Simple open-faced egg (will dill -- tasty!) and Jarlsberg cheese sandwiches and tea sitting outside in the sun.

Friday: Lunch at Luka's with D. A delicious apple-based soup garnished with oil and hazelnuts; beet and arugula salad with chevre and pine nuts; tea, of course.

Sunday: Lunch with C. Place undecided. I think it's time to advance to martinis.

Oh, methinks I could get used to this.

Quite a find

Yesterday while out to lunch with K, I found a lovely little spot near my apartment, Lovejoy's Tea Room. We didn't have tea there (though I'll be back), but had a glance at their lovely menu and then went across the street to poke around in Lovejoy's Attic, a cute little shop that sells tea, teacups, antiques, and vintage clothing.

Where I found: Decaf Chocolate Truffle Tea. Oh holy mother of tea. It's my new favorite thing with just a splash of milk. I think I'll have to get in on Beth's and Joy's next teacup exchange just so I can share my discovery with some lucky girl!

Bought!

My Frederic T. handbag/backpack from Bink (like this but I got black). It's a great, roomy shoulder bag that converts to a backpack (with a nice hidden pocket for your passport). Perfect for work and travel! I spotted one on a colleague a few months ago and knew it was the perfect bag.

Searching For

Really. It shouldn't be that hard. Should it?

Spotted! (For Miss V)

Philip Seymour Hoffman!!!!

At the coffee shop down the street from me.

Okay, maybe it wasn't him -- he did have filthy dreadlocks and a rastafarian hat on and was picking his nose -- but it COULD have been PSH!

Really. It could have been.

Things I love about my neighborhood

Within five minutes....I encountered

(1) A man with feathered hair (we're talking Farrah but dyed red) wearing a floaty turquoise dress, combat boots (with white socks...shudder), gold hoop earrings (gold is apparently all the rage with the cross dressers this season), and a battered leather jacket.

(2) A couple wondering where to meet a friend for a drink -- at 11 a.m. (er, try one of the many open bars behind you).

(3) A damn delish mini quiche!!! (Oops...breaking my groundhog's resolution #7; but it was so good).

Want to know a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon?

No, I'm not talking about the Super Bowl!

Ready for this? Try the emergency pet hospital, open 27-7 so that you can pay the amount of a pair of designer shoes (discounted, not full price; Prada, not Manolos) to have your dog rehydrated.

Ah well, it's a price well worth it to have a soggy doggie!

Have just posted

My book list for 2006. I'll keep updating it every month (with a brief note about each book).

In the comments, if you'd like, go ahead and make your own book suggestions! What can I say? I'm a bibliophile! A book whore!

(cool image from here!)

Groundhog's Resolutions

Happy Groundhog Day, everyone! Because I've long boycotted New Year's Resolutions, I've decided that this year (to avoid being, as always, entirely without direction) to make some Groundhog's Resolutions. This works the same way as New Year's Resolutions, except if you break one, you have to crawl back under the covers for six more weeks. (Hmmm...it should be the other way around. If you achieve one, you get to sleep for six weeks.) Anyhow, I can figure out the logistics later. Here they are:

Groundhog's Res #1: I resolve to send out no fewer than two short stories and one children's book for publication (Er, this did NOT happen. But they're ready to go out);

Groundhog's Res #1b: I resolve to finish a second draft of my novella (Er, I finished one draft and have started revising, but...);

Groundhog's Res #2: I resolve to finish at least four books per month over the Groundhog Year (I haven't added them up completely, but I think I'm pretty close!!!);

Groundhog's Res #3: I resolve to go to Australia (Note: Mission Australia accomplished 18 March - 15 April 2006!!!) and Spain (Note: Mission accomplished 29 April - 23 May 2006.)

Groundhog's Res #4: I resolve to put away the paint, the brushes, and the ladder from my bathroom painting project that ended weeks ago; (Note: On 27 February, ladder, etc. have found new homes due to Mr. Foxy picking me up at apartment for second date later this week. Subnote: Had not really finished painting the bathroom weeks ago; writer lied; writer is finishing painting bathroom (and buying new mop to clean floors) as she updates blog as upcoming date calls for domestication; writer admits to own pathetic behavior for foxy man.)

Groundhog's Res #5: I resolve to have at least one second date during this Groundhog year Resolution accomplished on 3/2/06. See: A Shout Out to Mr. Foxy;

Groundhog's Res #6: I resolve to not spend so many more hours lying in the bathtub, dreaming my life away (Oh, good grief. Of course this one failed miserably!!! The hours I spend in the tub are endless);

Groundhog's Res #7: I resolve to not order carry away food or mini quiches more than once every other week (Hooray for me!!! Have not done this in WEEKS!!!);

Groundhog's Res #7b: I resolve to invest above-saved money (and any other savings) in some responsible, adult way (Oh my. I just bought a condo! I think that means I've accomplished this!);

Groundhog's Res #8: I resolve that above-written resolution is null and void should I find the perfect pair of black pumps or a Versace (or D & G) tuxedo at 90% off (Sadly, I still am perfect black pump and tuxedo free).

A good year, indeed!

The Fortune Cookie Says

You will continue to take chances and be glad you did.

A bit optimistic, given the weather and my grouchy, grumpy, foul mood.

So last night

I stayed up until 2:30 reading -- and finishing -- Misery. Scared the piss right out of me.

Dang, Annie Wilkes is one cocadoodie crazy woman. I was almost too scared to take the dog for the walk when I was done.

images from movies.yahoo