Three things that have changed my life lately

1. Trish McEvoy Bare Eye Base Essentials.

Will someone please explain to me how I lived 24 years without this? I bought a Trish brush to apply it with (their brushes are the best, bar none) and it goes on amazingly smooth. It makes smoky eyes a cinch even for make-up novices such as myself.

2. The gym.

I went to the gym today in the rain. THE RAIN. I loathe rain. I do everything possible to avoid it. Yet, somehow, I had one of the best workouts of my life today. (Okay, fine, the gym is only a block away. But you're talking to a gal who formerly would have rather walked on pins and needles than actually exercise. It's kind of a big deal.)

Hey, if I'm going to be single, I might as well look good doing it.

Which brings me to...

3. The realization that it's better to find your bridesmaids before you meet the groom.

My birthday reminded me just how lucky I am to have so many great girlfriends. So while I wait for Mr. Right, at least I have a lot of gorgeous gals to keep me company in the meantime. :)

I just got picked up in a bodega.

Okay readers, I have to tell you. I NEVER get hit on. Like, never-ever. (That time in the grocery store did NOT count.) I mean, you've seen photos... I don't think I'm horrible to look at... And lots of you leave nice comments, so I can't be a total loss, right?

Well, I was just in the block bodega buying a thin brown sharpie to use on my new peach and brown Kate Spade thank you notes. A few firemen walk in and one of them looks at me and says, "I'll buy whatever lotto ticket she's buying. She looks lucky." So I tell him that I'm sorry to disappoint him, but I'm just there for the pen. He buys a scratch-off and has me stay to scratch it off. Of course I didn't win crap. So I apologize for being unlucky and he says that it's fine and that he'd love to buy me a drink sometime. I gave him my number and he said, "Maybe we'll have better luck next time!"

I mean, come on. That's cute.

And so was he!

Birthday Bio

What I wore: black Chloe dress, black and gold Prada evening bag, gold heels from J. Crew.


Oh, and curly hair. :)



What I did: spend time with the people I love most.




What I got: !!!




I think it might be safe to say that this was the best birthday I've ever had. I have an amazing family and the best friends. I am beyond blessed.

I would say that life has gone back to normal, but come to think of it, I don't believe it was ever normal in the first place.

P.S. Thank you for all of the birthday wishes! I love my readers!

Thirty-thirty-thirty one hours to go... I wanna be sedated

Alrighty, readers! The next time you hear from me I'll be a little bit older and hopefully a little bit wiser.

Wishes for a wonderful weekend!

Noteworthy notes

• I'm almost embarrassed to admit that Monday was my very first time at Chelsea Market. I ate at The Green Table with Sunshine in the City and it was delightful.

• J. Crew is having a sample sale in New York and I went on Tuesday. Honestly, I was disappointed. The selection was decent but the prices were not stellar. They had the sample version of this bridal dress for $399. I hope some great bride-to-be really scored. I walked away with a classic black cashmere cardigan and a very cool dress from Madewell. I had the sample version of this dress ($99) in my hands, but I put it down. It took every fiber in my being!

• I got a Wii! I can't believe it took me this long. Wii & Wine on Wednesday = perfection.

• I take back what I said about there being no good channels on the TV at the gym. 80's Pop has been hitting it out of the park lately. It's like being at Dorrian's (minus the vodka and preppy boys).
  

• MY BIRTHDAY IS IN THREE DAYS!!! :)

Just another horrendous night in television

Let's get right down to business.

Gossip Girl:

I wish I could quote what my dad said about it at breakfast this morning (yes, my parents watch Gossip Girl!) but I digress. To quote Carrie Bradshaw, this show is so over it needs a new word for over. Blair is too mean, Chuck is too affected, Serena is too slutty, Dan is too girly, Nate is too boring. I eat too much, I drink too much, I want too much, too much? Too much is never enough? WRONG.

The only reason I keep watching is to be able to converse (you'd be surprised how often it comes up. Oh wait, no you wouldn't) and to read the Daily Intel. And besides, I didn't read all twelve books for nothing. Unlike the 99% of viewers who haven't read the series, I've earned the right to complain.

The Bachelor:

Really Michael Vick? REALLY JASON MESNICK? Megan instead of Kari? I'm stumped.

Jazzy from Alabama is looking good. My Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader remains strong. Still rooting for Molly the cutie and Lauren the smartie. Didn't Natalie's departure remind you of Richard's last season? Sad, really.

Chomping on the bit for DeAnna's arrival. Remember when I loved her? Total media monger. My how the times have changed.

One Tree Hill:

FINALLY Brooke has a decent story line for the first time in a long time. You all I know I'm Brooke Davis' biggest fan. She's gorgeous, fun, talented and strong. Everything I strive to be in life. I may also be bias because she's a KKG IRL... But this whole adopting the orphan thing really wasn't flying with me. Why should the hottest character be single? I mean, let's talk about what will happen after the show ends. Who is most likely to still have a career? Sophia Bush. Case in point: have you seen James van der Beek before last night since Dawson's Creek ended? And when was the last time anyone saw Benjamin McKenzie? I didn't think so.

The City:

Silly me. Here I thought I was watching a show about Whitney and her fashion career in New York when in reality that plot line has gotten maybe about four minutes of air time. Why should I care about some sleezy male model and the clueless ball-and-chain? Say what you want about Heidi and Spencer; at least they're entertaining. I would think that at the very least, this show would be fun to watch because it is filmed in my city. It is anything but. I never thought I'd say it, but I miss The Hills.

T Minus 5 Days?

The week before my birthday is always a mess. Every year during this time, I have the same inevitable dream that no one comes to my party.

I don't know why this vision has come to plague me so. I don't mean to sound so Seth Cohen at his Bar Mitzvah ("But you SAID Summer Roberts was coming!") but I wake up disheveled and upset for a few awful seconds, until I realize that it hasn't happened; my birthday hasn't even come yet so clearly no one has forgotten about it.

A good friend recently asked me if I was excited, and I was quick to reply that I was really more worried than anything else. I can't help it. The dream really gets to me. I've been so blessed in my life; I hope I have the strength push to past the negativity. I deserve a good day.

A special thanks to my girlfriends who have really been there for me lately. Whether it was offering to help with party plans or just a nice chat, you know who you are and you're a constant reminder of how lucky I really am! You all make the bad dream nothing more than that, and I'm endlessly grateful.

Millionaire TAG?

I'm sure many of you savvy readers are familiar with the show "Millionaire Matchmaker" on Bravo. It's about an entrepreneur named Patti Stanger. She founded the Millionaire's Club, which is where "successful men come to meet their beautiful and intelligent wives or girlfriends". Patti had a party for her new book, "Become Your Own Matchmaker" last week in New York City.



Patti and my mom grew up together and have known one another since close to birth. We know the TV star as 'Cousin Patti'. My mom's mother and Patti's mother were the best of friends. Sadly, my grandmother has passed on but 'Aunt Rhoda' is still alive and well. She surprised us by not telling that she would also be attending the party. (She lives in Miami.) It was a very happy and welcome family reunion of sorts.

I know what you're thinking. Can you believe I've wasted this much of your time by going on and on about being single when I'm so closely connected to the most famous matchmaker in the country? Me either!


(We were too excited and chatty to pose for a nice photo.)

Congrats Cuz! I can't wait for Season Two.

(And yes, readers, I have the book and I'm reading it!)

NYSC Notes, though I STILL think "The Crunch Chronicles" is cuter...

Seriously.

I just returned home from the gym, and there are a few points I would like to make.

I have always hated going to the gym in the winter because of all the extra layers, but it is surprisingly glorious to make the trip there all bundled up and to walk home in shorty shorts, boots, and a coat. You cool off quick.

I now have a newfound respect for the elliptical. I don't have to worry about being late to a class AND I get my own individual television, which surprisingly holds my attention for enough time to give me a decent workout with boredom subsiding. HOWEVER...

NYSC, can you PLEASE invest in digital cable. Every damn channel had Bloomberg giving his 2009 address to the city or some nonsense of the like. Nothing personal Bloomie, I just need something a bit more mindless while I'm taking a long walk to nowhere. I was forced to watch Blues Travelers music videos on Rock of Ages and listen to Lil Wayne rap about a shorty who likes a lollipop. Uh, no thanks.

Furthermore, if you at least had SoapNET, I'd have one smokin' hot bod.

I still find it annoying to go a place with such a high concentration of all walks of people (or so I would assume) and to not be able to socialize. You think you've seen me look bad? Think again, friends. I save that for the gym. Pale legs, no makeup, the works.

Lastly, contrary to popular belief, and in conjunction with the above statement, I do not go to the gym to meet guys. Not that I haven't seen beautiful boys there... But, I'm not really into guys who work out. I like a wheezer.

V-Day: one month away!

Can you believe it?

Attached or single, I love this holiday. It's a great excuse to send and receive gifts and mail!

So with only one month to go, my search for the perfect greeting card begins. Because I send a lot, I prefer to buy them in packs. Although every place imaginable seems to be flooded with heart propaganda, the task of finding great cards this time of year always proves to be tough. Has anyone seen anything great yet? If so, I'd love any advice, opinions or tips!

CAMERA CORD RECOVERED!

I had my new camera no more than 24 hours when the attachment went missing. Typically TAG.

Good news: I found the USB port. Bad news: the battery charger is still MIA...

Here's what I've been doing lately!


The Southern Belle comes to Northern Hell! My dear friend, RAT, (her real initials - I swear) made her first trip to the Big Apple and we reunited over dinner and drinks at Serafina. I sent her that hair bow a few months ago and have yet to see her without it since. I think she sleeps in it.


AEG and I having our pre-New Years Eve dinner. I look terrified, but really I was in a happy Moet haze.


Few things make me giddier than a night out with my sorority sistas... MMM, BEH, JDS & AEG: XOXO.


BFF.


GNO with BEH.

Birthday countdown: 12 days!

Give me them bright lights, long nights...

Here's something you should know about me. As long as there is good television, Monday nights will be sacred. They almost to always include sushi, a frozen dessert, and AEG. We sit on my couch and laugh for hours on end. Because by good television, I mean total crap that's fun to watch.

Let's recap tonight.

Gossip Girl:

As some of you know, I have read the entire GG series and am consistently more or less disappointed with the show. Tonight was no different. Will Blair and Chuck ever end up together? What will happen with Rufus and Lily? Will Nate ever say anything interesting and will Serena ever dress appropriately? I don't know and what's worse is I'm not even sure that I care. Does anyone else find themselves longing for ENTERTAINING male characters? Bring back Seth Cohen!

The Bachelor:

Let's pick up right where we left off. Viva la Jason! I think it's too soon to tell but clearly I love Melissa, the ex- Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader... because she's from Dallas, and, uh, she was a Cowboys Cheerleader. Other favorites include Lauren, Molly, Natalie, and Stephanie. Megan has got to go.

And can I get a Jeremy update? That boy is smokin'.

The City:

Whitney. I like you. If we met in real life, I'd probably adore you. But the show is just dull! I find myself missing LA and LC. Anyone? This show paints a bizarre picture of NYC. And what's with all the facial hair? Note to all future suitors: I'm not a fan. Shave. Your face. Please.

I haven't watched One Tree Hill yet; there is only so much a gal can accomplish in one evening. Brooke Davis is my hero. Did you know that Sophia Bush and I are sorority sisters in real life. Yep. That's right.

Who will get a rose? Where will Whitney eat next? What really happened bewteen Uncle Jack and Blair?

Thanks for the laughs, Monday night.

Book club

A few books I've read recently:


Who by Fire by Diana Spechler

Publishers Weekly says:

"In her affecting debut, Spechler raises the question of whether, in rescuing others, we risk ruining ourselves. Thirteen years after the abduction of youngest child Alena at the age of six, the remaining members of the Kellerman family are still deeply damaged by their shared loss. Though the ending is overly tidy, Spechler's debut raises provocative questions about religion, violence and the resilience of families and individuals."

JGIWC says:

Start to finish, this had me constantly guessing and always wanting more. It's not often that I read books so tied to Judaism but this was suggested to me and I felt wildly inspired upon completion. I don't necessarily agree with PW's opinion about the ending - I believe that tidy within writing can be wonderful. I highly recommend this. It is phenomenal.



American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld

Publisher's Weekly says:

Um...I can't find it but I know it was negative.

JGIWC says:

You all know how ecstatic I was to read this and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. I have to be honest. I enjoyed it just as much as I enjoyed Prep.

And now, to be really honest, I think I liked it more! Are you shocked? Sittenfeld is truly my mentor; she makes me feel as though there is unlocked potential in me and that some day I can achieve some of what she has in a writing capacity. She's unbelievably articulate and never ceases to amaze me.


Next on my list...


Ani ohevet Rechov Sumsum!

Whose the guy from 21 Jump Street?

I bet a lot of my readers are ex-Preppy Cafe junkies. I know I am. Remember when E talked about finding the perfect t-shirt?

Well, I'm going to challenge her.

Now, don't get me wrong. I adored her and thought that her site was absolute perfection. I am, however, not a fan of the American Apparel tees that she so loved. I find that their items only work on figures like my little sis', who is a size zero and about a hundred pounds soaking wet.

Shouldn't we all be so lucky?

For the rest of us, locating the everyday layering piece is not always an easy task. Especially for a girl like me, who is in between sizes and has a hard time finding things that really, truly fit. (Though I can't seem to stop shopping. J. Crew just sent me a platinum card. Is this a gimmick or have I really spent that much money there?)

I recently stumbled upon KSTREET NYC, a company devoted to creating the perfect tee. Rather than sizing by small, medium, large, they use chest, waist and hip measurements for a more precise fit. The shirts are made from certified organic pima cotton. That sounds good, but I had to put the tee to the ultimate test - how does it feel against my face?

Like butter. Absolute butter.

I think the world of fashion just became a little bit friendlier to finicky gals like me, thanks to KSTREET NYC.

And although she has her pick of any old tee, I got the baby fashionista one in gray. Because I'm a really good sister.

Dear Piven: IT'S OVER!

I'm sure some of you longtime readers are reeling in your computer chairs, but it's true: my secret (so secret, he didn't even know about it) love affair with Jeremy Piven has officially ended.

When Speed-the-Plow opened on Broadway back in October and Jeremy Piven was set to star, I was prepared to pay any price to be able to sit mere feet away from my longtime celeb crush. When my dad told me in November that he had planned a surprise night for AEG and I in the city as part of our holiday gifts, my gut instinct was that he got us tickets. When we were in the car last month and heard on 1010 Wins that Piven had dropped out of the show due to alleged mercury poisoning and my dad nearly swerved off the road, I knew my gut instinct was right.

In the irony to end all ironies, I saw Speed-the-Plow yesterday evening minus one very important Jewish counterpart. I liked the show. I felt the new lead was trying harder to be Piven (emulating all of his mannerisms to a tee) rather than be the character. Don't get me wrong; the role was written for him. AEG turned to me after the first act and said, "Piv would have been SO good", and it's true. I imagined him being completely in his element. I couldn't help being a bit heartsick that I missed what was probably my one and only chance to share a room with Jeremy Piven by just a few weeks.

It's over, baby. It has to be. I have confused you with your alter-ego for far too long. Too many rumors floating around for too long. A friend recently told me that you're dating a bottle waitress from Mansion with a questionable background and a history of sex tapes. I can't deal. I will continue to love and watch Entourage and Ari will always be my favorite. But you, as a real life person? Done.

Over and out,
TAG

Smart New Yorkers make plans for New Years Eve. Smarter New Yorkers go to Florida.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, READERS!

I woke up today utterly grateful for everything in my life: my family and friends, my health, their heath, our troops, and the ability to roll around in my beautiful bed. It's a clean slate, a fresh start, and a new beginning. And I'm ready.

I would love to share some photos from last night (Moet and dreidel drinking games) HOWEVER, as per usual, my camera cord is MIA. I guess some things don't change.

I spent today with my very best friend. We had brunch at Norma's and then lied around my apartment for hours on end. It was glorious. Perfect way to start 2009.

I turn 24 in 24 days.