Grease is the Word

I can’t believe it’s already Thursday! Tomorrow the weekend starts and I’m looking forward to it, but in the meantime, I need to fill yall in on something fun I did last weekend!

Even though I’m an LA native, I could count the number of times I’ve been to the Hollywood Bowl on one hand. In the past year or so, however, I’ve been making a concerted effort to get down there – it’s such a cool venue and I love the idea of packing a meal and wine and enjoying it while listening to a concert or seeing a show.

So when my friend Ashley asked if I’d be interested in going to this year’s Grease Sing-A-Long at the Bowl, how could I say no? Danny and Sandy? Rizzo and Kenickie? A Grease COSTUME CONTEST? No SHIT I was interested!

The show was last Friday night and I’m STILL thinking about how much fun it was. We met her friend Kyle and his family there and sat with them in their box, right up close and smack in the middle with a perfect view of the screen.

We brought wine to go along with the feast Kyle’s mom prepared – homemade chicken pasta salad, cornbread, mozzarella and tomato salad, butterscotch cookies… I was in heaven.

Before the show, Frenchie (played by Didi Conn) came out to greet the crowd and judge the costume contest, which was hilarious. Hundreds of people were dressed up, which I was NOT prepared for – I was wearing a leather jacket (shout out to the T-Birds) but I was very upset I hadn’t known to wear a poodle skirt or Pink Ladies jacket. Next time I will SURELY dazzle the crowd with my Chacha costume!

And then it was time for the show! Here is the best part – everyone there got a little gift bag filled with props to use during the sing-a-long. Inside the bag was a red and white Rydell High pompom to wave during the pep rally scene, a bottle of bubble solution to blow during Beauty School Dropout, a comb to use during Grease Lightning, a GREASE IS THE WORD postcard to wave throughout… it was awesome. I am sure the people behind me LOVED my enthusiasm with the pompom.

One of my favorite parts: “Tell me about it, stud!”

This is an annual thing that the Hollywood Bowl does, so I will DEFINITELY be at next year’s show. Gonna start planning my costume now!

It's Britney Bitch!

OMFG. How have I NOT filled you in on the Britney concert yet?! What a bad blogger I am!

YOU GUYS. It was amazing. SHE was amazing. I am so obsessed with her. It was so much fun!

Last Monday night, fellow die hard fan Greene Bean and I trekked downtown to the Staples Center for the Femme Fatale extravaganza. After a delicious meal at Rock-N-Fish at L.A. Live, it was time: we walked across the street to Staples to take our usual “WE ARE ABOUT TO SEE BRITNEY OMFG” photo and headed on in!

Nicki Minaj opened for her. To be perfectly honest I am not a Nicki Minaj fan so I was rather unimpressed (to be fair, I usually don’t give a shit about anyone who opens for Brit because I’m just too excited for her to come out), but I will say, everyone else seemed to love her! Also important to note: that woman has a MOUTH on her. I have been known to have a potty mouth myself but lord in heaven, even I was blushing at her lyrics a little bit. (In rereading that sentence I am shocked by how old I sound. WOW. I’m like a grandma.)

ANYWHO! After an INTERMINABLE wait, it was finally time for my girl to come out… and she totally rocked it! I’ve seen every one of her tours, and most recently, went to Circus both times it was in LA, and in my opinion she performed FAR better than she did two years ago. She seemed totally into it – she was energetic and focused and smiled and talked to the audience way more than the last time.

Best part of the show? When she whipped out her old-school moves for (I’m A) Slave For You. GB was freaking out!

Worst part of the show? That honor would have to go to the FREAKY OLD GUY who sat in front of us, wearing a Britney Spears t-shirt, looking through his binoculars and NOT SAYING A WORD the entire time. He was like 60 years old. What a total creeper.

More Brit amazingness:

My girl riding a guitar!

And obv here we are during a costume change, smiling super big:

I’m so glad we went – Britney has still got it! SHE LIVES YALL!!!

Making Up For Lost Time. Oops.

It’s late June and NO SHOPPING MAY is but a distant memory.

I’ve been a little bad, yall. I can’t say I’ve forgotten ALL the things I learned from NSM – it’s much easier for me to tell myself I don’t need something, and I’ve really been trying to “shop my closet” (fashion-magazine speak for WEAR WHAT YOU ALREADY OWN, DUMMY).

But I have been shopping. I have. And in the interest of full disclosure (you already know everything about my life anyway), why not share?

I don’t know about you, but now that everyone and their mother is signed up for sample sale websites, I find it impossible to ever buy something on there, even if I’m logged on at the exact right time (AHEM Gilt Groupe I am looking at you). That being said, last week I got my daily email that Tucker was going to be featured on Gilt – yall know I love me some Tucker – and I logged on at 9am and managed to score something I actually wanted! I love these silk shirts – they are so flattering and the patterns are always so fun and colorful. I seriously own about 7 or 8… and now here’s number 9! I love the polka dots! (Don't worry I will NOT be wearing mine with green pants.)

I saw this Madewell skirt in a magazine and fell in love with it. It reminds me of something I had when I was a teenager and I think it’s going to be the perfect lightweight summer skirt. I just need it to get here - it’s backordered til the first week of July and I can’t wait any longer!

There’s a reason why I shop so much – I’M SO DAMN GOOD AT IT. This jacket originally retailed for $118. On the Gap website it’s now listed at $89. In stores it was listed at $59. I happened to saunter into Gap on an additional 50% off all sale items day. I was psyched to pay $30 bucks for it, so imagine how excited I was when it rang up for NINETEEN DOLLARS!!! I love everything about it – the pale pink color, the sequins, the lightweight silk – it’s the perfect summer jacket. Wearing this out ASAP!

I saved the best for last. I’ve been wanting a new bag for a long time – I haven’t bought one in years and I figured it was time. I make no apologies for the fact that every few years, I treat myself to a quality, designer bag – I believe in splurging on classic items that I know I’ll have forever, and that’s why I have no problem spending a lot on a bag every couple of years. I’ve slowly built up a collection over the past eight or so years, and after a lot of research and shopping around to see where I can get the best price, I am super excited about what I’ve just ordered – the classic Alexander Wang Rocco!

I ordered it from Nordstrom because I had a MASSIVE gift card, so it’s not going to dent my wallet THAT badly :) I love the rose gold studs at the bottom and the long strap that will let me wear it across my body when I’m out running errands (or, um, shopping). I can’t wait for it to come!

I'll be staying OUT of the mall for the foreseeable future. In the meantime, tell me - buy anything fun lately? I’d love to hear… it’ll make me feel like I’m in good company :)

Israel, I Miss You

A year ago yesterday I zipped up my enormous turquoise suitcase, put on my beloved backpack, double checked that I had my passport, and headed to the international terminal at LAX for what would be my fourth trip to Israel in nearly as many months.

For the fourth time that year, I spent weeks laughing, learning, and teaching a group of young Jews about the place I had fallen in love with.

I can’t believe it’s been a year. I can’t believe that 365 days have passed since I’ve walked through the cities and towns and kibbutzim I’d fallen in love with.

My tan that I was so proud of (from all those godforsaken hikes!) has long faded. My Hebrew is beginning to slip again - I can’t remember how to say “dragonfly.” I don’t remember the exact taste of my beloved iced caffé from Aroma Café.

I miss Israel. I miss it so much. I’ve said it before and I’ve said it again – I’m a different person there. Lighter, calmer, more carefree. And for me, someone who prides herself on her calendars and notes and sticking to the plan, that feeling is irreplaceable. It’s something I can only get there – can only feel there.

When I got back from that final trip, I wrote a post where I asked “How do you go about your life when you’ve left a part of you on the other side of the world?”

The answer? Well… you just do. A lot has happened in this past year – I’ve traveled and shopped and ate and laughed and cried and worked and danced and sung. I’ve gone new places and done new things and met new people.

But I never, ever, stop missing Israel.

Looking for Leopard

Remember when I helped my rabbi find a new tote bag? I had so much fun doing that. And now someone else has asked me for shopping help too!

I got this tweet the other day from a pal from college:

Naturally, I wrote back immediately and asked for more details. Colors? Budget?

Which she provided:

So off to work I went! Danielle lives in San Francisco where it’s usually chilly and layers are key, so I understand the need to buy a scarf in the middle of summer, but I had to be a little creative since it’s June and retailers aren’t exactly rolling in scarves these days. My usual prospects such as Nordstrom and Bloomingdales aren’t carrying any currently, and leopard print isn’t exactly an Anthropologie mainstay. But I persevered through the interwebs, and here’s what I found!

Let’s start off with this one. I love how big it is (read: warm!) and the larger-than-normal black spots are so modern. ($29)

Everyone knows I love tassels. How could I not fall in love with a leopard/tassel combo!? ($14.50)

The reviews for this one from Gap say it’s super soft, and I love the muted leopard print. ($23.99)

If Danielle wants something a little different, this one from Shop Ruche has some sweet flowers thrown into the mix. ($15.99)

Personally, I love infinity scarves – I think they look so chic! This one from Express comes in two great colors. ($20.93)

Of course, if Danielle happens to come into a sudden windfall and wants to spend a little MORE on this leopard scarf purchase, she can always buy this Yves Saint Laurent beauty (as long as she buys one for me too, that is)! ($995)

Loved this project – loved the hunt and you know I love me some leopard! Which one was your favorite?

And of course, if you have a shopping project for me, PLEASE let me help! It’s so fun for me!

OOPS I DID IT AGAIN

It is no secret that I love me some Britney Jean Spears. I am what you would call a MAJOR FUCKING FAN.

Which is why, one day last week, when I woke up and realized that the Britney Spears Femme Fatale tour was going to be in LA in less than a week and I did not have tickets, I bolted my ass out of bed and bought a set faster than you could say I’m A Slave For You.

No way was I missing my girl. I’ve gone to at least one show on every single one of her tours. When Britney made her comeback in 2009 and went back on tour for Circus, Miss Jennifer Greene and I woke up at the crack of dawn the morning tickets went on sale to make sure we were getting the very best seats money could buy. We ended up getting three, and Bailey flew in from college for the occasion - THAT’s how big of a deal this was to me.

We counted down the days and when the day finally arrived and we were sitting in our seats in Staples Center, as soon as the lights went down and the music went up, I started BAWLING, yall. I fucking cried hysterically as Perez Hilton introduced her. I am equal parts proud and ashamed of this.

My favorite picture from that night:

Three months later when she came back through LA I did it again. Yup, dragged Bay and Blair downtown again to watch my girl shake her shit onstage.

This time, I managed to hold myself together and NOT cry hysterically, so my pictures from that show are even better.

Say what you want to say about Britney. I fully acknowledge that there are better singers, more talented dancers, and more exciting performers (Gaga, I’m looking at you, bitch).

But I’ll never forget that day when Rick Dees introduced a “new, exciting pop singer” on the radio, and Hit Me Baby One More Time started playing. I was thirteen years old at the time and I had never heard anything like it. I’ve grown up with Britney. I’ve loved her through it all - the good, the bad, the crazy, and now the comeback. I’m twenty-five years old now and I still act like a middle school girl whenever she releases a new song.

So tonight you know where I’ll be: standing in the crowd screaming my fucking head off for my girl. I’ll make sure to take plenty of pictures so I can give yall a full recap later this week :)

SHE LIVES, YALL!

A Royal Guest Post

You're here for your daily dose of snark, aren't you?

Well, you're going to have to follow me somewhere else today. I'm guest posting on another blog - yes, it's true, someone else has given me a whole other platform with which to share my words of wisdom :)

Head on over to The Average Girl's Guide for some Queenly stuff! And while you're there, stick around - Alyson's blog is full of interesting tips and great ideas... she's pretty awesome! (It doesn't hurt that she's a sassy redhead, a fellow Jew, AND an AEPhi... major bonus points for her).

I loved guest posting! So what are you waiting for? Click here and start reading!

A Pink Miracle!

Friends. Gather round, I have a tale to tell.

The tale starts out sad. Remember when I first posted about these shoes? Those amazing, electric pink, sexy beyond belief Dolce Vita wedges? And remember how I tried and tried and tried to find them but could not?

Those were sad days, my friends. Very sad indeed. It seems impossible but even I, Queen of LA and Master of the Shopping Universe, could not track those babies down. I hunted high and low and even threw several tantrums but alas, those shoes were not to be found. I resigned myself to the sad truth and told my sister (lucky biatch who scored a pair in her size) never to wear hers near me.

AND THEN.

“I have a surprise for you! Come home immediately,” said my mother. Thinking perhaps she had ordered me an iPad (HINT HINT HINT HINT SOMEONE ANYONE), I rushed my tush home. As soon as I walked into the house my eye fell upon a large shoebox. “Open it!” she said. And open it I did.

And what did I find? There in front of me, an almost-EXACT replica of the Dolce Vita shoes… from TARGET!

TARGET! TARGET! For less than $30! How is this even possible? IS THIS A SHOPPING MIRACLE? I think it just may be.

The image from Target makes them look like they're a softer, pale pink.

WRONG! They're hot pink! See my shitty cell phone pic above for proof :)

No, this is more than just a regular shopping miracle. This is a PINK MIRACLE.

Thank you to my amazing mother for her spectacular shopping skills! I am proud to say I am her child.

Boy Fashion

We talk a lot about fashion on this blog. Fashion for ladies, that is. But you know what kind of fashion we DON’T talk about?

BOY FASHION.

Boy fashion is a tricky thing. I personally don’t like it when men look too metro or “done up” – if you spend more time getting ready for a date than I would, we’re gonna have a problem. I don’t like it when boys wear jewelry. T-shirts with words on them? Hell no. And don’t even get me started on shoes – it literally can make or break our relationship.

My sweet boyfriend looks adorable in anything he wears, but a few weeks ago when he mentioned that he needed some clothes for summer, I seized the opportunity. “LET’S GO SHOPPING!” I screamed. Pretty sure I stunned (and probably frightened) him with my enthusiasm, but he agreed nonetheless.

So last week, on a Wednesday when both of us had the day off from work and the mall was fairly empty (and therefore not so intimidating), we ventured out for some shopping.

In thinking about it, I’m beginning to realize that I seem to like boys who have (big shocker here) Southern style. My guy friends who are Southern wear things like seersucker shorts, polo shirts, linen suits, and boat shoes, and though it’s nothing like anyone from LA wears, I think it’s super hot. Which might be why, in almost every store, I gravitated towards button-down shirts in classic colors (including pastels) and patterns. No crazy swirls or paisley prints needed – just plain old pinstripes and some nice plaid. We got him this shirt in a gorgeous pale blue from Gap and he looks SO cute!

That’s not to say that I don’t appreciate the unique look of LA style. While I’m pretty sure that boys in every single city wear Converse sneakers, I know for a fact that every single one of my guy friends here owns a pair and loves them to death. So when Rami told me he needed new sneakers, I knew just the thing :) We got him a pair of classic black-and-white Chuck Taylors and now everybody’s happy: me because he looks so cute, and him because his feet are comfy!

We also picked up a few pairs of shorts (which I have no strong opinions on) and some socks (I taught him what “peds” are and now he knows he doesn’t always have to show his socks if he’s wearing shorts). Next up? I think we’re gonna get him some sunglasses. He also wants a peacoat, but considering we live in Los Angeles and it is summer, we’re gonna wait a little while to pick that up :)

Speaking of peacoats… I will leave you with this link to Mindy Kaling’s new book. It’s not coming out til the fall, but she recently released an excerpt and I basically died laughing over the whole thing, especially her chapter “Guys Need to Do Almost Nothing to Be Great,” which is all about what she thinks boys look hot wearing (namely, peacoats!). This is actually what sparked the conversation between R and me that led to us going shopping so THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU Mindy Kaling. I will leave you with her wise words of wisdom:

“Being a guy is so easy. A little Kiehl’s, a little Bumble and Bumble, a peacoat, a pair of Chuck Taylors, and you’re hot.”

AGREED!

Where Has The Queen Been?

Oops.

I suck.

How could I neglect the blog for a WHOLE week!? What was I thinking? More importantly, what was I so busy DOING?

Uh. Well. A few things.

First of all, the weirdest thing ever happened to me last week. On Thursday night right before bed, my right eye started hurting. I figured I was just tired and it would be fine in the morning. NOT. I woke up Friday morning with my eye SWOLLEN SHUT. In the middle of the night I had mysteriously gotten a complete black eye and could not open it, let alone see out of it. The weirdest part was, it didn’t hurt - just felt uncomfortable and swollen.

I saw two doctors - one idiot from Urgent Care (whose contribution was “well, it’s not pink eye” - thank you sir) and a family friend who is brilliant and after looking at me for about three seconds determined that I had an allergic reaction to something - we don’t know what - and was going to be fine in a matter of days. Whew.

Now, I DO have a photo of the situation and though I am not putting it up on this here blog, if you are absolutely dying to see the picture of me looking lost and forlorn with messy hair, no makeup, and only one eye, by all means email me and I will see to it that you get it :) and in case you’re wondering... I’m fine now!

The other thing that contributed to the non-bloggage was the lovely gift of having two days off from work in the middle of the week! Wednesday and Thursday were the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, and though I don’t personally celebrate it in any special way, one of the perks of working for a Jewish organization is that everybody gets those days off. It’s also nice to have friends who work for Jewish organizations who also have those days off :) I spent those two days hanging out with Rami, seeing movies (Midnight in Paris and Submarine), shopping, catching up on sleep, and celebrating Erez’s birthday with a BBQ with some of the pals. I personally am a firm believer that every single week should have a two-day break in the middle of it - really makes the week fly!

Anywho I do hope that you will forgive me for my absence because we have far more important things to talk about this week. What you can look forward to in the coming days:

• A fabulous shopping trip (and some of my thoughts on male fashion)
• An extra special exciting Pink Wednesday post
• My thoughts on Summer TV
• And some other fun stuff :)

I know, you’re breathless with anticipation!