Today's Obsession

 

The Deep End- Thursdays @ 8PM on ABC

The most unrealistic (but yummy) legal drama to come around the bend since Ally McBeal. ABC found a winning formula in Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice. Sex + Ambition + Intrigue = ratings boom. Keep up the drama ABC, you're newest series is drowning all of the competition.

Illegally Delicious,

P. Manolos

Thought of the Day

My treadmill works :)... Did I mention it's older than me?


Whew. I was getting pretty desperate. Going to the gym on campus is a huge ordeal because I live 20 minutes away. Not to mention I have a small dog that depends upon me for his well-being. It takes precise planning in order for me to get to class, gym, and back home in one trip. I was at the point of buying a new treadmill until I tried to use a pair of pliers to turn the machine on. Guess what? It worked! I had a great run this morning and I can't wait to get back into the swing of working out. My Herve Leger dress is going to be nice and snug so I've got to stay committed to working out and eating right for the next few days.

Runnin' On E,

P. Manolos

A Side of Dressing

Just got off the phone with a good friend of mine. His latest joke is that I dress like a hooker. I must admit, I do enjoy tall heels and fitted clothing, but to say that I should charge per hour for my services is a bit much......

You know those uncomfortable jokes that people tend to use because they don't have the guts to say something to your face? That's what it feels like each time he mentions my daring approach to everyday dressing. I'm not on a diet, don't put my dressing on the side. Keep it right there, on top of the salad.  I can handle a full serving of whatever you've got to dish out.  In translation: I can handle the criticism, don't feel the need to baby me by giving it out in hardy har har increments.

In retrospect, I should have responded with my explanation as to why I don't steer away from 3 inch heels. I embrace who I am as a woman wholeheartedly. I won't hide it with wearing tennis shoes, jeans, and sweatpants. I know so many feminist who believe that heels, makeup and skirts are all forms of patriarchy labeled with a size to add insult to injury. I reject their beliefs and supplant them with my own.

I am of the essentialist difference feminist thought. I embrace feminity and don't mind to show it off in all of its glory.  God made me who I am and I refuse to give into the conventions of what a man thinks is appropriate for the sake of their comfort. I refuse to feel insecure like so many women surrounding me. It's a damn shame when I hear girls talk about how 'fat they are' or how 'old they look.' Everytime I get around a group of my girlfriends its a race to the bottom to see who's got it worse.  Self-debasment should be a national women's sport- many of the girls I cross daily would win Gold.

So no, I'm not covering up any time soon. I'll continue to wear whatever fits my fancy in Vogue. If I have a low cut shirt I will balance it out a conservative skirt, pants, or maybe a fabulous pair of shorts (that threw my babe for a loop one day- shorts in winter!). I can't help what other people think of me, whether  I wear flats or a pair of Manolos. What I can control, is how I feel about myself, and damnit I feel great.

Seizure Dressing,

P. Manolos

Let Them Eat Cake

 

My favorite homemade Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Never FAILS 

I'm no Marie Antoinette, but I do enjoy a good piece of cake every once in a while. During my frenzied study session at Starbucks, I ordered a cup of coffee and gave into temptation and ordered a red velvet cupcake.

Can't say I didn't know. As an amateur cook, I know the difference between a commercially created cake and a homemade version blindfolded. If you were to hand me any piece of cake/pie/cookie, I can tell you what it is, what's in it, and what's wrong with it (if anything). It's a tradition my mother handed down from her mother, and from her grandmother, and so on and so on.

I guess it's in my blood. So as I took a bite of Starbucks' Red Velvet cupcake, I nearly spit it out. Diagnosis? No real butter- just shortening. The crumb was too dry and airy- tell tale sign of how the commercial baking process cuts out a lot of flavor for the sake of mass production. The icing? Just plain butter cream, they didn't have to worry about balancing out the sharp flavor of buttermilk and food coloring because they probably didn't even use buttermilk in the cupcake so no need for traditional cream cheese frosting.

The sordid flavor didn't stop me from finishing the cupcake- if my Mom taught me anything else besides the importance of flavor she also taught me not to waste.

Impeccable Taste,

P. Manolos

Thought of the Day

When was the last time I saw a treadmill?

My treadmill, age 30, finally died on me two weeks ago. Unfortunately, I haven't worked out since then either. I really need to get back into the swing of things, especially considering the fact that I have a gorgeous dress picked out for law school prom and it just won't work out if I'm carrying and extra five pounds. Yes, its the one I've been slobbering over for the past year and a half. I've finally got the courage to buy the damn thing. Let's just hope when it gets here it's perfect.


Fashion Frenzy,

P. Manolos

Picture of the Day

Nothing to Sneeze At

I was raised in a household where if someone sneezes, you respond with a blessing. "God Bless you" or just plain old "Bless you" will do. I sneezed on my dog today. He's usually sitting on top of me somehow, either sitting directly next to me underneath my left shoulder, on top of my legs if I have them propped up on my footstool or the most intrusive position of all, sprawled out on top of my lap in direct conflict with my attempts to work on the computer. I don't mind it very much, I've gotten used to shifting my body around to fit in all 10 lbs of his little Minpin frame. Only problem is I'm really sensitive to dirt and pollen. Every time he goes outside to potty, he brings back a ton of nasal irritants to shove in my face.

Needless to say, I would never kick him out of his little nook. Some things in life are just worth sneezing about.


Puppy Love,

P. Manolos