Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to my twin sister.
Thanks for always inspiring and adding to the crazy Adventure of Michigas...
Starting from our cribs when you used to throw your diapers at me, to the cartwheels we used to do on the soccer field instead of actually playing, to always pretending to be me when you cut class in high school, to your love of international men with accents,to the Playtpus you always bring to Fire Island, to our world travels together, to always being my wing man, best friend, and other half. I love you!!

Happy 9-02-10 Day

The Platypus

A Fire island staple for the past few summers has been The Platypus a.k.a. The Pus (take from that what you will -- I promise you won't be the first one to come up with many names and jokes about it) Moving on...

We fill this meant for "water pouch" with vodka and some sort of juice and sip on "The Pus" throughout the day on the beach. It makes for a nice cocktail and alternative to the beer filled coolers.

We've even found other ways to make a game out of drinking from "The Pus"

Apparently we are the only one to come up with new alternatives to attaching liquid to a pouch and drinking throughout the day..
"This Wine Rack is a $30 sports bra containing pouches for liquid attached to a straw, so you can finally enjoy the long-awaited thrill of drinking from your own boobs. "

Maybe for next summer kids! Stay tuned...

Aqua Al 2

A restaurant frequented weekly while I was studying abroad in Florence was Aqua Al 2. If any of you have been to Florence, I can guarantee you’ve eaten there. It is a huge tourist spot and filled with all Americans. None the less it is delicious with their signature pasta sampler appetizer followed by their entrees of balsamic or blueberry steak. That was our weekly order no questions, no changes, no need to look at the menu. My mouth waters just thinking about this meal and restaurant...

San Diego also is home to another Aqua al 2 and while on our trip there, how could we not stop off at one of our Florence faves. The restaurant was designed to look like the rustic Firenze spot with plates lining the walls. As soon as we sat down and the bread was served in those brown paper bags, I asked the waiter if there was salt on the bread. He informed me there was not and I knew we were about to have a replica meal. The menu was exactly the same and there was no need to check it out, I ordered the pasta sampler and balsamic steak. The only thing about this meal not authentic was the wine was bottled and not served in jugs.

The Pasta Sampler included:

Farfalline ai Funghi Porcini
Bowtie pasta with sauteed porcini mushrooms and imported mascarpone cheese

Rigatoni alle Melanzane
Tube shaped pasta with a tomato eggplant sauce, mozzarella and parmesan cheese.

Maccheroni alla Vodka
Penne pasta with a milk and vodka sauce and a touch of tomato sauce.

Fusilli Lunghi ai Mascarpone e Funghi
Long fiasilli pasta sauteed with porcini mushrooms and imported mascarpone cheese.

Topini al Radicchio Rosso
Small potato dumplings(gnocchi) with our house tomato sauce, Italian red cabbage, mascarpone cheese and Parmesan cheese

The meal was just as good as I remembered it, the company was even better, and although San Diego is a fabulous city, next time I hope to be eating at Aqua Al 2 back in Firenze where I first fell in love with it.

BYOT (Bring Your Own Twin)

I guess the flight should have been an indicator that this would be a theme for our weekend in Cali.

We’ve all sat next to or been that guy who throws a few drinks back while flying. Well on my Thursday night flight to LAX, I was seated next to an obnoxious drunk. This guy was cut off 2 hours into our flight and the flight attendants threatened to have the police arrest him when we landed. Thankfully that was enough to shut him up and force him to pass out for the remaining 3 hours. The guy sitting in front of me took this opportunity to aggressively hit on my twin and myself for the remainder of the flight. His pick-up line “So are you two identical or fraternal” (real original!) Low and behold he was an identical twin himself, saving himself from his corny pick-up line and mildly entertained us for the duration of our flight since our in flight entertainment was on the fritz.

Twin Story #2

While at the newest hottest club in la my twin spotted Benji Madden and his motley crews of Pete Wentz look alike at the bar. She went up to Benji and said "yo dude where's ur twin tonight I brought mine?" (as if Joel and Michigas are the latest accessory hotter then the iphone4 that you can't leave home without). Needless to say Benji laughed and told my sister that Joel was at home with the Nicole and the kids and then bought her a drink.

Twin Story #3

Down in San Diego we attended a beach party for July 4th. My twin had gone over earlier in the day and I was meeting her there. She became chummy with all the characters there. A few hours and a few drinks later, I arrived. No one realized that I wasn’t my sister and every time I introduced myself they responded “dude we already met” so I continued on letting them think there was just 1 of us at the party. Fast forward some more and the party finally caught on that we were twins. But now after many hours and drinks later they were completely blown away by the tricks we pulled on them and soon were the highlight of the party… Nothing like 2 hot Franks to spice up any 4th of July bbq

TEAM USA

Now we all know my love for football... so I gotta show my support for the "other football". Especially for Team USA and their big W today. 1st time in history that Team USA has won Game 3 and their qualifying group since 1930.. that's what I'm talking about!!

Here's a pic of the star of the game Donavan crushing it & celebrating with his teammates




And a little MICHigas from USA midfielder #22 Benny Feilhaber lip-syncing to Jordin Sparks’ “No Air.”

GO TEAM USA!!!

Happy Birthday Megabitch!

Happy Birthday to a girl who is always smiling and knows how to have a good time. To me, you will always be a curly haired blonde bombshell, with long (sometimes clumsy) legs and “meganisms” which keep me laughing and entertained for hours! I love you like a sister and couldn’t ask for a better roommate and personal chef ;)

Scary Island

The weatherman forecasted thunderstorms for our first weekend in Fire Island. However it was nothing but blue skies and sunshine all weekend.

The platypus and our version of beach cocktails were back in full force

And it wouldn't be a typical sharehouse weekend without rounds and rounds of beer pong and flip cup games back at the house

An Italian, a Greek & a Jew walk into a bar...

I’m still waiting for the punchline for that joke.. but something tells me these guys will give me enough material for michigas and our next weekend out on the island....

TUT

IN OUR HEARTS ALWAYS & FOREVER

R.I.P. ERIC

Summer of MICHigas

Season/Series Finales have all come to an end, my dresses and flip flops have come into rotation, Summer Fridays have officially begun, and most importantly the sailors are roaming the streets of NYC for Fleet Week. Alas, it is Memorial Day weekend and the summer is upon us! It’s my favorite time of the year… so let the fun begin!

Most of my weekends are booked jet setting out of the city…Fire Island, Hamptons, Chicago, Florida, California, oh my!! I promise to post some highlights. Wishing you all a summer filled with plenty of sunshine, great tans, safe travels, and a ridiculous amount of MICHIGAS!!!!

27 on 27

Happy Golden Birthday to a Golden Girl. I hope this year brings you all the luck a golden birthday is supposed to bring!

Even though you are a few miles away now in Chicago, I can always count on you to be there for me when I need a laugh or a Dr to listen to all my problems. You are one hot mama whose got damn good genes--and I’m not just saying that because we’re related ;) I Love You Cuzo! Can’t wait to celebrate tonight!

Happy Birthday (s)

Happy Birthday to one of my best friends! Whenever we’re together or wherever we travel to across the globe, we ALWAYS have a good time!!! Hope this year brings you everything you wished for and more!! Can’t wait to celebrate many more birthdays with you!! Thanks for always being the fabulous person you are and especially for being such an amazing friend. I LOVE YOU! xo

And another birthday shoutout to my favorite blogger and world traveler. I may not have joined her on any of her international excursions but we did have our own unforgettable adventure in LaLa Land together. Check out travelbugbites blog and send her some bday love! xo

www.travelbugbites.com

Secrets Of MY Jewish Mother

The Jewish Mother knows what she wants. And what you should want too.


Real Housewives of NY Jill Zarin, her sister Lisa Wexler, and mother Gloria have teamed up to write their first novel. Secrets of a Jewish Mother shows readers that being clear about what you want is the best policy, and standing up for yourself and your family is always the right way to go. Using real life examples, stories from Jill, Lisa and Gloria, this mother/daughter trio reveals their secrets to life, love, and happiness.
Zarin says “Being a Jewish mother means carrying yourself with a certain attitude that is not necessarily confrontational, but always assertive.”

Some of their Jewish Mother tips include:

• Dating: "A good man is hard to find, but so is a good woman. Don't settle for less than you deserve."
• Parenting: "Fair is not always equal; equal is not always fair."
• Family: "Bar mitzvahs and weddings: The grudge starts here."
• Money: "Don't wait 'til you're dead to give it away."
• The clichés that matter: "Bring a gift."


In honor of Mothers Day, how could I not pick up this book for my mom as a gift. Aside from the fact of our equal love for the Real Housewives of NY, is my mom's ever impending wisdom of "Jewishisms" or what my mom likes to refer to as "Bubbisms" (meaning lessons from her mother). This discussion was brought up at our dinner table between my mother and aunts and all the Bubbism's that were passed down to them. I thought I'd share a few...

The secrets of my Jewish mother(s) are:

• Presentation is everything. Doesn’t matter how you play the game as long as you look good doing it
• NEVER use last names when speaking about someone in public
• The most important thing is your undergarments
• The doorknobs & faucets are the jewelry of the house
• In the end you can only count on family
• It’s just as easy to fall in love with a rich man as it is to fall in love with a poor one
  
  
  
  

Happy Cinco De Mayo

The 2010 Met Gala

The Met Ball is one of the hottest fashion events of the year. The Oscars have nothing on this night. I think it’s because it’s filled with all A-List stars, not just those nominated movie actors. And in addition, the designers themselves attend. Here are a few trends of the nights and the most memorable looks.

LONG METALLICS
Demi Moore – Lanvin
Chanel Iman – Michael Kors
Nicole Richie – Marc Jacobs
Claire Danes - Burberry

All that SHIMMERS

Anne Hathaway – Valentino
Gwen Stefani – LAMB
JLO – Zuhair Murad
Marion Cotillard – Christian Dior
SJP – Halston

NAVY
Abbie Cornish – Louis Vuitton
Melanie Trump – Christian Siriao
Tine Fey – Yves Saint Laurent
Oprah Winfrey – Oscar de la Renta

Vixens in LBD
January Jones – Gucci
Gisele Bundchen – Alexander Wang
Kristen Stewart – Chanel

Virgins in White
Diane Kruger – Calvin Klein Collection
Emma Watson – Burberry
Taylor Swift – Ralph Lauren Collection
Kirsten Dunst – Rodarte for Gap

Pretty in bright Pink
Rachel Weisz – Oscar de la Renta
Naomi Watts – Lanvin
Thandie Newton – Vivienne Westwood

The sexpots in nudie pinks
Kate Hudson – Stella McCartney
Alessanda Ambrosio – Versace
Jessica Biel – Ralph Lauren Collection
Jessica Alba – Sophie Theallet

And of course, the best accessory on anyone’s arm is their handsome man

Go Green

As most savvy bargain shoppers know, it pays to be green and no day is that more apparent than today, Earth Day. Here’s a roundup of some of the deals you can score for the holiday as local retailers promote environmental awareness:

HOTELS
Starwood’s eco-friendly Element Hotels are celebrating Earth Day weekend with a recycling-themed promotion. Give them 10 empty single-use water bottles and they’ll give you a free night’s stay from April 22-25 and a free Element-branded reusable water bottle. Before you go chugging Evian though, the offer started April 5 and is only open to the first 100 people to call 1-877-ELEMENT and mention the promo code GOGREEN.
Travelocity is offering up to 40% off prices at 40 green hotels across the globe.
Travelzoo is giving discounts on U.S.-based, LEED-certified hotels.


MAKEUP & SKINCARE
ORIGINS- Bring your current skincare to any Origins counter and they'll trade it for a full-size of one of our gentle, high-performance cleansers.
Burt's Bees - If you purchase $50 worth of its goods online, Burt's Bees will throw in a free Head to Toe Starter Kit
Drugstore.com is offering up to 40% off products from its "green and natural" store through April 23.

Get a cheap haircut
For Earth Week 2009, Paul Mitchell has kicked off "Cut Hair, Not Trees." From April 20 through 24, Paul Mitchell schools will cut your hair for $10 to $15

ELECTRONICS
Dell is the most prominent of dozens of partners in a Brighter Planet campaign promoting earthtweet, which is aggregating Twitter tweets about Earth Day activities and tips. If you tweet, use the #earthtweet tag to denote your Earth Day tweets (if you tweet, you'll know what this means). Dell is giving away one Studio 15 laptop (Energy Star compliant, features a mercury-free WLED display and comes in "spring green") to the tweeter offering the best technology-related tip.
Walgreens will refill your printer cartridge for $1 instead of its usual $12 on April 22 only. It's also offering a 22 percent discount on its green products through April 30.

CLOTHING & RETAILERS
Hanes
If you can't spend Earth Day planting trees, let Hanes do it for you. If you buy three Hanes products, the Arbor Day Foundation will plant a tree. And you'll get a free Earth Day T-shirt in the process.
The offer is good through May 1. Visit the promotion's website for more information.

And I will always associate Earth Day with Kermit the Frog. So to bring it back old school.. here's a little Rainbow Connection. Happy Earth Day!!!