You know you're not in America when...

So I've arrived safely in Aussie!! After a long few flights and trekking our oversized luggage thru a few airports and across the world.. I made it down under...



My first day in Brisbane, we spent walking around the city shopping and exploring. Brisbane is a beautiful city with a river running thru it. We took a tour on this boat which is almost similar to the red bus tours around nyc



I'm staying in the suburbs southwest of Brisbane in a really nice house in a gated community.. its out of a movie here with all the couples and kids centered around this man made lake! There's a little food market, a bakery, and a liquor store in the center (what else do u need in life but sweets booze and carbs) Jet lag kicked in and we were up before 5am.. My sister and I went for a run around the lake and then to the market to get some breakfast. We went into the bakery ordered some coffee and the women LOVED our accents (you have to remember that Americans coming to the burbs here are VERY rare) so the women were giving us treats to go "halvsies" on. Melissa bites into this chocolate ganache ball and her reaction is "Oh My God. this is delicious" The women lost it and made her repeat that line 5 times and trying to copy "OH MY GOD" themselves.. it was classic, they couldn't believe people actually said that outside of movies!!!! Melissa asks what shes eating and they tell her Murray's balls. So as we were leaving Melissa says to them "tell Murray his balls were delicious" You can't make this stuff up! Part 1, stayed tuned....

Voyage –t-on pour decouvrir le monde, ou pour se redecouvrir?

Do we travel to discover the world or to re-discover ourselves?

I'm off to Australia for 3 weeks, I return to the USA in 2010.

I will try and blog from down under if not I promise to post with lots of pictures when I return!!!

Happy Holidays & New Year!!!!

xoxo,

michigas

329

I lived with 5 other fabulous girls in the same apartment for 3 years at Syracuse; better known as 329. Since graduating we all dispersed around the country. So unfortunately we don't get the opportunity to see each other often enough. In fact, 3 years had passed since we were together all 6 of us. November ’06 at Otto was our last gathering and I have the picture we took to prove it. This past Thanksgiving we were all back in NY and had to get together again for a reunion so I could update my picture frame!
To name a few highlights of our time in 'Cuse & 329 together would take more time and urls then michigas has… So one constant discussion and reminder of our good times is a short film of our various antics senior year that one of the girls filmed and made for her senior thesis titled “JAPS”. It embodied our many Jewish mannerisms, our quest for the best life has to offer, our constructive criticism of one another, and the constant laughter and fun we have together. I’m still trying to get my hands on this film to post…. Stay tuned

Love you ladies, til next time… Thankfully it won’t be another 3 years til we’re all together again! xoxo

“Everybody has friends on 1st and goal, you find out who really has your back on 4th and 20”

It's been a long week and I apologize for my lack of posts....

But I'm excited for the weekend and especially for Sunday Funday as the Giants host Dallas.

Let's GO GMEN!!!

Enjoy your weekend!

Internet Vices

is caffeine pills

Great for a quick pick me up to stimulate productivity, but ultimately leaves you exhausted and relying on it.

is a vodka cranberry
Social lubricant used to enhance still developing social etiquette. You're aware of your uninhibited actions, but comforted by the built in safety net of excuses.

is crack cocaine
Fucking ANYONE is your friend. Yuppies do it on their iPhone. Cheap. Short. Fruitless.

is shots of tequila
"Just ONE" to humor your friend quickly turns into 4 or 5. Anything and everything becomes wildly entertaining. A fun way to waste some time you won't really remember the details of. Probably for the best.

is huffing spray paint
Destroys any chance of looking credible. You will be perceived as having the mindset of a middle schooler, and probably do.

www.patrickmoberg.com

Mazel Tov

This past weekend I attended my old roomate(s) engagement party. We did a lot of celebrating and I think the pictures taken truly speak to how much fun everyone had!

The bride and groom to be
(The groom sans t-shirt and jeans!!)

While I didn’t meet any eligible bachelors there, I did have my eye on a married man...

I also made a new best friend… That’s right, we were all taking shots with the bride-to-be’s grandmother! She out drank us all and continued on the night with us post-party at the bar next door! It was hilarious and unforgettable. So I’m also writing this as a request to be seated at Granny’s table at the wedding instead of the Syracuse table ;)

Bring your A game to Bmore and check your C game at the door!

L & J- I couldn’t be happier for you two! This engagement party was just a little taste of how much fun the wedding was going to be and I can not wait for the big day!
Mazel Tov!

Jersey Shore

Bring on the first pumping with MTV's new reality series "Jersey Shore"
They had me at "it takes me 25 mins to do my haiah"

You can bet i'll be tuning in for more trashy reality tv and yet another chance to laugh at the dirty jerz

Friday the 13th

Happy Birthday J - May tonight be as fabulous as you are xoxo

“We used to think, ‘Change the world, and eventually, my life will be better.’ The truth is, if we change ourselves, the world will be better.”


A little less witty and a little more inspiring for a Tuesday.


In a time when we're all strapped for cash and unable to donate monetarily, more young adults in their 20's and 30's are donating time as an alternative to help out their favorite causes.
Check out this recent WSJ article to read some inspiring examples Brother, Can you Spare some time?

Rent the Runway

Do you have a Wedding, Cocktail party or how about a This-Is-Getting-Serious / Meeting The Parents date soon? Don’t know what to wear? Rent The Runway will lend you the perfect dress for every occasion.

It works like this: You sign up, go to the website, and pick a dress based on the occasion, such as “Birthday (mine!)” or “Girls’ Night Out”. (What they really need is a “Just Came From Work To Meet You Casually For A First Drink, No Big Deal“ or “Haven’t Seen You Since Our Awkward Breakup” categories…)

Once you’ve picked out a dress, they’ll send it to you that same day if you live in New York, and when you’re done you just pop it in the mail, no dry cleaning necessary.

Rent The Runway also offers an awesome chat feature that lets you instant message with a “professional stylist” who will give you advice based on a description of yourself.

So don't fret, sign up and always look fabulous in the latest designers at a fraction of the retail price!

Yankees World Series Champs

The Yankees winnnnnnn. Congrats to the boys in blue pinstripes on their 27th World Series Championship!

The energy that was alive in the streets of nyc last night was unreal. Fans screaming in the streets, horns honking, even the buses were tooting along 3rd avenue. This made me proud to be Yankee fan and even prouder to be a New Yorker.

I'm from New Yorkkkkk



----------------------------------------------------


Random I know, but in the mind of Michigas, I couldn’t help but wonder what happens to all those pre-printed Phillies Championship gear? So I decided to do some Googling. Here’s what I found…

The international Christian humanitarian aid group works with Major League Baseball, the NFL, and the NBA to collect misprinted merchandise and distribute it to people living in impoverished nations.

The merchandise doesn’t go to waste, people living in poverty receive new, clean clothes, and the clothing makers recoup some of their losses—they get tax credits for the charitable donations.

Michigas' Favorite Things

My birthday celebration(s) lasted over a week this year. I ate and drank my way through this time period celebrating and toasting with lots of wine and champagne, incredible food (i swear each meal was better then the next) and most importantly with lots of great friends and family.

However, I think the best was truly saved for last....

As a special birthday surprise a few of my friends decided to do a potluck dinner themed all about me and my favorite things!! Seriously, can this idea be any better or more fun?? It was such a great idea and encompassed all my vices. Each dish was so well thought out and clever. The night was such a blast and so special. I love you ladies and can't thank you enough!!

Fire Island brewed beer

‘Franks’ in a blanket

Wings – for my love of the Giants and football

Tomato, Mozzarella and Pesto –Recipe from my favorite Top Chef Fabio

Cupcakes - decorated with 'Cuse mascot Otto & the Israeli flag

So thank you for all of those who wished me a Happy Birthday or came out to celebrate with me. It was one of the best yet. I'm grateful for all the love and wish it back to you in return!! xoxo

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

To my new South African friends & Chris "the bartender"

"I feel sorry for those people that don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day" Frank Sinatra

Props to me for being the only one in bar all night who was able to name "who said it". One of my many hidden talents ;)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

May your weekend be filled with lots of candy, slutty costumes, and tons of fun!

Date Night in NY

Was Carrie Bradshaw right, is NY obsessed with dating and dining? There are countless websites devoted to reviewing NY restaurants and one common search thread on all of these sites are “Date Spots”.

“Dating in New York... is no picnic. But let’s say that, through some quirk of dinner party seating or online profiling, you meet someone. Where to take them?” According to an article in the NY Times this week, "white table cloths and fancy dining are out… underground joints serving tapas and tater tots are in!" These days, it’s all about finding the hidden gems with good food and creative cocktails. Where the ambiance is focused more on the food and less about the décor. And of course, the economy has also shifted the allure to a more casual dining. It’s those restaurants that can creatively combine these elements by offering a new edge that become sought after.

And as Carrie Bradshaw says “life’s what happens when you’re busy making other plans. But sometimes in New York, life is what happens when you’re waiting for a table.”

Tater Tots for Two: It's a Date

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MELISSA

To my wonderful, fabulous, and oh so gorgeous twin sister –

I am so lucky to have you as my partner in crime.

Without you I would have very little material and no one to help me edit this site...

If the adventures that lie ahead of us are half as dynamic as those we have already experienced…then I can’t wait for whats in store for us in our golden year.

Happy 26 on 26!

I am soooo ready for the weekend... Counting down til Happy Hour begins

Lots of weekend festivities to be had!

Hope you enjoy your weekend..

It's never long enough so make the most of it!

The Windy City

This past weekend, 2 of my college roommates and I traveled to Chicago to visit another old roommate and friend from Syracuse. The weekend was filled with endless amounts of wine and alcohol, enough truffles to dry out the city, and the best part... lots and lots of laughing. It’s good to be able to get away and spend some QT with good friends. Thanks for a great weekend ladies!

As Seen on...

What's in a name?

Forget first impressions, your name says it all. According to a poll taken in the UK, those with a certain name are perceived to be more likely to give it up on the first date.

One representative of the research firm states "It is intriguing how different names have different connotations to people these days. I am sure many of the blokes we polled have not managed to get someone called Chantelle into bed, but they seem to think their chances are better."

I myself would like these blokes to do some further research as to why these names have a certain connotation; after all none of us chose these names ourselves. And ironically enough, Chantelle the #1 "sluttiest" female name (if you will) is also the name of famous UK tv celebrity star Chantelle Houghton.

Does your name suggest you're easy? Mine does... Michelle Stacey. Thanks mom!


Girls most likely to have sex on a first date.
1. Chantelle
2. Stacey
3. Kelly
4. Chelsea
5. Tanya
6. Debs
7. Becky
8. Vicki
9. Lisa
10. Michelle

Men most likely to have sex on a first date
1. Dave
2. Lee
3. Steve
4. Darren
5. Andy
6. Gary
7. Danny
8. Jason
9. Kevin
10. Callum


What's in a name?

I was in the kitchen at my office this morning getting a cup of coffee. Some of the PR girls were also in there complaining about not being able to eat for the next few days because they were attending a black tie affair Thursday night. Baffled at their conversation, I simply reached over them excused myself and grabbed a bag of chips... Gotta love working in fashion...

But then again, its not just the fashion industry putting pressure on a females weight. I cam across this youtube video of a commercial Fox aired during NFL Football Sunday. Its a spoof, poking fun at not only how awful the Cowboys are but at Romo and his "heavy weight" ex Jessica Simpson. As comical as this clip was, can one honestly compare Simpson to a defensive tackle??

Anyways, I'll continue my afternoon eating chips and making fun of the Cowboys anyday...

Jetsetter

Sign-up for Jetsetter, an exclusive members only site, to receive the latest travel deals at coveted destinations www.jetsetter.com/invite/lauren

Looking for a travel destination to jet set to? Or just simply unable to travel in today’s economy's? Check our this fabulous travel blog www.travelbugbites.com This blog is so captivating and alluring, reading it will take you away as if you were traveling along side Lauren on her many journeys throughout the world.

My personal favorite posts are her trip to Malibu & a LA Dinner with our favorite Top Chef.

Happy Jetsetting! Wherever your next travel destination may take you :)

Straight from the Paris runway, Louis Vuitton is proud to announce the live online broadcast of its Women’s Spring 2010 Ready to Wear collection on Facebook on October 7, 2009 at 2:30pm (Paris time) / 8:30AM EST.
http://www.facebook.com/LouisVuitton

Internet Addiction

According to this article on CNN “Internet addiction usually includes symptoms such as spending a lot of time on the Internet (especially more time than intended), an inability to cut back on usage, a preoccupation with online activities, and symptoms of withdrawal such as anxiety, boredom, or irritability after a few days of not going online.”

Hi, My name is Michelle and I’m an addict. But don’t expect me to give this up cold turkey or attend support groups anytime soon. I’m also going to infer that most, if not all of my readers are addicted as well. Just saying, the first step is admitting you have a problem…


http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/10/05/depression.adhd.internet.addiction/index.html

Bring on the Bitches

I didn’t think it was possible for the Real Housewives to get any bitchier, until now… A new reality show “Kept” on the gay network Logo, is going to be producing its own spin on the Real Housewives series. They are beginning casting calls in NYC for "high-powered (openly gay) playboys". Marc Jacobs is rumored to appear on this show and boy does he fit the bill. Sounds to good to be true… but bring it on! This reality series is sure to give those Jersey girls a run for their money…would you tune in?


http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2009/09/marc_jacobs_rumored_to_appear.html

A Day in the Life...

Have you ever had one of those mornings where you think you’re still dreaming and not sure if you’re awake? Well I’m having one of those days…

I was harassed by a weirdo next to me on the subway this morning. After getting up and moving to a new seat I looked around at the other passengers and they weren’t the normal suits I usually ride with, something was off... On my walk to work, I was stopped at a light and some wacko selling whistles was trying to get me to buy 3 whistles for the price of one. Who even needs 1 whistle in their day besides the traffic cops? As I finally crossed over Park Ave, a man was standing on the opposite corner playing with not just 1 but 2 yo-yos.

Who are all these freaks out on the streets? Is it a full moon? Is the circus in town? Am I still dreaming?? Nope, just another morning in the life of MICHigas….

Out of Touch

My Gmail’s down and I don’t know what to do with myself today; I feel out of touch. My crackberry broke last week. I could not email/text/bbm. I was distraught that I could only make in going and receive out going calls and felt like it was 2001 again. What might have been even scarier/sadder thing was to see how many emails/text/bbms I actually receive in one day. When did this happen? When did I become so dependent on being connected with the world 24/7? I know I’m not alone in feeling this way … Thank Gd I can still blog today and feel connected

Fall Forward

Signs its officially fall:

- Friday work days end at 5 again
- Football season has started
- Jewish Holidays are here
- Flip flops have been traded for flats
- Wicked nail polish instead of hot pink
- Brought my sweaters, boots, & leather jacket out of the back of my closet
- My twin sister keeps reminding me that our birthday is creeping up on us
- Pumpkin Spice Lattes at Starbucks
- TV shows are all premiering again


Looking at this list, alot of what's on here are some of my favorite things… so why am I having a hard time adjusting and accepting its fall? Well, whether I'm ready or not today is officially the first day of fall... so with that I wish you all a Happy Fall :)



A—Happy Birthday & Congratulations!!! May this be your best year yet. I can’t wait for all the celebrations to begin! xx

Sunday Night Showdown

The Giants vs. Cowboy game had a head to head showdown with not just each other but also the Emmy’s last night. As expected, Mad Men and 30 Rock swept the show with the most wins. However on the football field it was a nail bitter until the very end as to who was going to be victorious. The Giants won 33-31, with a last second field goal to steal the show.

It was a sweet win for the Giants, showing up one of their biggest rivals on their home opener in their brand new stadium. The G-men are back and they’re 2-0. Once again showing everyone, they are a force to be reckoned with. Keep up the good work and can’t wait for another season of great victories.

It was a good day to be a NY fan as the Jets also took a big win over the Patriots earlier in the day.

Jewish Tweeting

A Baltimore Orthodox Rabbi is tweeting in hopes to reach today’s younger generation. In this ever changing world of technology, Rabbi Wohlberg realized that in order to reach his community, his hour long sermons have to be condensed into 140 characters. In his latest sermon “My Six words for Rosh Hashanah” Rabbi Wohlberg states ““if you can’t beat them … join them!”. What better way to join this new social media frenzy then at the beginning of the Jewish New Year! Kudos for jumping on the bandwagon and knowing how to reach your audience. And for those out there still hating on Twitter, this is just another example of what a great marketing tool this platform is and why I believe Twitter is here to stay.
Follow Rabbi Wohlberg


Wishing everyone a happy, healthy, and sweet New Year. L’Shana Tova

Collegiate Snuggies

As a followup to a previous post Snuggie Sutra, my favorite Gator fan sent me this link for Collegiate Snuggies. I'm loving this snuggie phenomenon. Brookstone also makes their own plush snuggie. To my friends reading this - my birthday is coming up and I would love a Syracuse Snuggie ;)

Sex is on Fire

Last night I caught the Kings of Leon concert at Nassau Coliseum along with my favorite hot date. The Kings were spectacular from start to finish. I loved the energy of the band and the audience, who myself included, were on their feet for the entire show from the moment they came on stage blasting out to “Closer”. KOL of course rocked out to all their newest hits (Be Somebody, Revelry, Notion, Cold Desert, Sex on Fire) but the set list still had a nice mix of new and old songs, including 3 encore songs. The light show on stage was just as electric and loud as the band itself. If KOL comes back into town, this show is not to be missed.


(Side note: M & A – choice is mine next time. missed u guys xx)

It was all a dream...

One day I could live out the blogging dream.. until then I'll keep pluggin away at my 9-5. Good article in the NYTimes about the ad biz on blogs and "the dream of quitting the day job and making a living from blog revenue"

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/14/technology/internet/14blog.html

Dedicated to those who lost their lives, loved ones, and the heroes of 9/11. Never forgotten.

FASHION'S NIGHT OUT

Shop tonight and support the fashion industry. In an effort to help stimulate the economy and save the jobs of over 175,000 employed in nyc (including me), all stores in the city are open until 11pm. Check out the site for your favorite stores and the different promotions and events going on in them. Proceeds from tonight’s sales will also go to benefit the National September 11th Foundation.


http://www.fashionsnightout.com/

BR-608

A few girlfriends and I decided to institute a monthly potluck dinner in hopes to save money and simply because hanging in sweats, drinking wine, eating endless amounts, and gossiping on the couch is a great girl’s night in our eyes. So for our first themed dinner was Israeli cooking. What better way to kick this off, then to commemorate on how we all met, in Israel. It was almost as if we were back in Israel with the endless amounts of hummus and wine. Although the Israeli soldiers, desert beaches, Dead Sea, and the scenic views were sadly missing in this dinner. The dishes were all delicious and very quick and simple to whip up. Here are some of the recipes for your own gander and enjoyment.

MEDITERANEAN COUS COUS
-1 box of Trader Joe’s – cous cous mix
-1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup dried apricots
- 1 cup fat free feta

Cook Cous Cous per directions on box and then add the rest of the ingredients.

ISRAELI (Lettuce-Less) SALAD
- 1 Green Pepper
- 1 small red onion
- 2 Tomoatoes
- 1 Cucumer

Dressing
-1 packet Splenda
-1 Tbs Dijon mustard
-1 Tbs Vinegar
-1 Tsp Olive Oil
- 1 Tsp minced Garlic
- Salt & Pepper to taste

Dice Vegetables and top with Dressing Mixture

EDAMAME HUMMUS
-shelled edamame
-silken tofu
-chopped garlic
-salt

Microwave shelled edamame for 2 minutes and drain.
Combine edamame and silken tofu (should be more edamame than tofu, but keep adding tofu until it gets to the smoothness you want) in food processor with chopped garlic and salt (to taste).
Once smooth and there is enough garlic and salt to your liking, the edamame hummus is complete.

DJ AM

A tribute video played at DJ AM's memorial service

"My mom always said you want to be happy in life, find something you love to do so much, you'd do it for free, then find somebody to pay you for it."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4ce_C2Cako

White Out

Wearing White after Labor Day has been labeled as a fashion faux pas for many years… but in today’s modern world does this old school rule still apply?

On Labor Day, I turned to my girlfriend and asked her if she was going to retire her white pants until Memorial Day 2010. Surprisingly, her response to me was yes, probably after this week she would pack up all (15 pairs) of white pants she owns. I could not believe this, when I think of summer and my friend I immediately think of her in white pants! So to hear that she was retiring them for the season baffled me. My friend who lives in LA was sitting with us and she chimed in “I can’t believe this is even a discussion, I wear white all year wrong” Different coasts, different styles…
My take is as long as it’s still warm out, white pants are allowed.. I may even go as far as wearing them into Oct, weather permitting. I did some digging and others agree. Wearing white is accepted and embraced year round and many designers are incorporating white into their fall collection and winter whites for the even colder months…


White After Labor Day Is Ok, TRUST ME!

Happy Labor Day

I’m about to hop on the ferry and kick off my last weekend of Summer ’09 in Fire Island. And as always gotta go out with a bang…. Til next week….

Mr. Jones

Last night, the Saturday Night Rebel Rockers Traveling Circus and Medicine Show rolled into New York City. The Show consists of Counting Crows, Augustana, and Michael Franti and Spearhead —blending their sets and playing all together to create one immensely enjoyable evening of music.
Now my friends and I weren’t able to get tickets to this sold out show, but us and many others reaped the benefits of this being an outdoor concert. We grabbed a blanket, a few bottles of wine, and something to munch on and made our own picnic in the park. We could not see the stage or Duritz performance but the music was blasting and I think for the price we paid, we got the best seats in the house.
Michael Franti & Spearhead performed their new single “Say Hey (I Love You),”, which I am a big fan of. The group also sang covers such as “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” “Casey Jones,” “Tainted Love” and “In the Summertime”. The Crows performed a few covers as well, such as Stones’ “Sweet Virginia” or the Beatles’ “With A Little Help From My Friends”. However, Duritz performance of “Rain King” & “Mr. Jones”, was the of course the highlight hits of the night. All the performers wrapped up the show with “This Land Is Your Land.” And with that, the Medicine Show rolled on.
Last night was a Perfect Night. What could be better than a group of friends watching the Counting Crows in gorgeous weather under a full moon and a picnic in Central Park?

Firenze

5 years ago in Spring 2004, a group of us studied abroad in Florence, Italy. Last week was a mini reunion to relive those glory days. And what better way than, where we spent most of our dinners in Firenze, than at an Italian pizzeria, where dinner was filled with delicious food, great wine, lots of story sharing and even more laughs…
I traveled abroad with my twin sister, our cousin, and my other best friend. We started out on this trip excited, anxious and not sure where these next few months traveling in Italy and throughout Europe would take us, but couldn’t wait for this adventure to being...
The group and I reminisced about our times in Florence and our travels throughout Europe during the weekends. Of course we can’t remember all details 5 years later, but to my surprise no one can seem to forget the traveling mistakes that were made. Being that this was more or less our first time planning mini getaways and trips or perhaps it was because we were in a foreign country and the language barrier hindered us- without fail each weekend travel started and ended with some kind of unforgettable “mistake”

Rome - One of the first weekends in Italy and our first trip we took as an entire group was to Rome. We decided to latch on to the boys trip and book the same hotel as them. Our hotel was not very lavish, or at the top of the Spanish Steps. But rather on top of a wigstore, that we had to walk thru to get to our rooms and the concierge desk consisted of a closet with two high stools pulled up to a shelf. I think this trip should have been an indication of how are traveling plans and excursions would be for the next 6 months.

Amsterdam - We booked our hotel at the Hilton (figuring the American Hotel chain would be a safe) only to find out once we arrived that it was on the other side of the city instead of the Marriot conveniently located in the center of town. Now if you all know about Amsterdam, it makes you pretty lazy and having to troop back to a far away hotel near the airport was not ideal.

Interlaken – we booked this trip at the end of April, so skiing on the mountains at the end of the season is not peak powder weather. Somehow while skiing we took a wrong turn and ended up on the wrong side of the mountain with no more snow and tons farm animals grazing! We were lost and could not ski down the rest of the mountain! There was a tiny cabin and then man in there spoke NO English.  But somehow, hours later, we managed to find a trolley to get us down the mountain. 

Spain – En route to Spain we decided to save some money and fly “Ryan Air, the budget airline. The catch 22 for the cheap fare was the grueling and inconvenient traveling you had to do… From Florence we took a train to Pisa, to catch Ryan Air flight to outside of Barcelona and than we took a 40 minute bus that took us to downtown Barcelona. When we finally arrived to our surprise we booked a chic hotel conveniently located in the heart of Barcelona. We stayed in Barcelona for 3 nights and then we were headed to Madrid for our second leg of our adventures in Spain. Our flight from Barcelona to Madrid was leaving at 5am. If you’ve ever been to Spain you know the nightlife doesn’t begin till 3am – so we figured let’s save some $ on the last night in the hotel, stay up all night and head straight to the airport. So we did that, thinking we would get a refund because the hotel promised we would, but that never happened (Not sure if it was the language barrier, if they were trying to scam us young Americans or perhaps both). After a week of “Spring Break” in Spain we had to return back to Italy via Barcelona. We had prebooked a hotel for the night before our flight near the airport. Remember that the Ryan Air flight flies outside of downtown Barcelona, So to our surprise (or perhaps we should have expected this a week prior when we flew into Spain) the hotel was in a shady area without locks on the room and a communal bathroom. The 4 of us girls did not sleep a wink that night to say the least. As we arrive at the airport the next morning only to find that my flight was booked for the day before our departure and I had to buy another plane ticket that morning… So much for saving a few bucks!

But even with these hotel nightmares, the trips were amazing, memorable, and filled with new adventures… So here we all are 5 years later, a little bit older and wiser in our trip planning but still remembering the good times, the sightseeing, the monuments, the partying and the MISTAKES that we made in planning the trip. Studying abroad in Florence was one of our favorite times, and I loved spending the night reminiscing over our memories as if it were yesterday….

Snuggie Sutra

I’m a big fan of the Snuggie. Although, I don’t personally own one and love to laugh at the ridiculous commercials, I think the idea in itself is great. The cheap fleece looking material turns me off, so call me snobbish or not but if they made it in a chenille or cashmere material, I’d be first online to buy one. In any event, I couldn’t help but to share this website with you guys. Karma Sutra positions involving a Snuggie. So any of you Snuggie owners out there care to try this out, please comment with your favorite sutra position…

http://thesnuggiesutra.com/

“Take chances, take a lot of them. Because honestly, no matter where you end up and with whom, it always ends up just the way it should be. Your mistakes make you who you are. You learn and grow with each choice you make. Everything is worth it. Say how you feel, always. Be you and be okay with it.” - Unknown


Some inspiration and perspective to help start your month off on the right foot. Enjoy your September!

Billy passed the 3rd grade

As many of you have seen the movie Billy Madison, you know that Billy spent most of his days drinking with his friends and causing disturbances at his father’s lavish estate, with nothing but lots of time and excessive amounts of money at their disposal. Bottom line, who wouldn’t want to attend a party thrown by Billy…

A friend of mine organizes an annual “Billy Madison Day” themed pool party each summer. Each year the party outdoes the preceding year. This past weekend was the 4th annual Billy Madison Day and it proved to be bigger, badder, and better then last.

There was a bus charted from Manhattan to take us to the party, where sandwiches were thrown at the bus driver, banana peels thrown out the windows and beers were cracked to begin the day’s festivities. We spent most of the day chasing penguins and swooning over Veronica Vaughn. But in addition, we also enjoyed some games of beer pong, riding inflatable animal pool toys, music from a live cover band, Belvedere flavored snow cones, shots from the ice luge, and my personal favorite was the giant blowup slip and slide.

An entry fee of $25 is collected to donate to the ALS foundation, so even with all the debauchery we can all feel a little better about ourselves to be giving back to a worthy cause. Until next year, when Billy passes his next year in school and throws another party to celebrate.