The Good, The Bad, The Uhhhhh – what are they wearing!??

Insatiable Corporate Raider (NYC)
So this is a long overdue post from a fun filled friendly weekend in good ol’ NYC.
This particular weekend, Legal Eagle came up from DC and joined Lush-ess Lawyer in Training, Hipster Hobo In-flux, Ms. Queens Inspectah, and I for shopping, drinkin, and good ol’ people watching.
And one of the best places to people watch is the annual ADIDAS sponsored Corporate Soccer Tournament atop of the Pier downtown.
With the free beer flowing, beats blasting, and bbq grilling you couldn’t ask for more on a beautiful summer afternoon.
However, throw in a bunch of hot sweaty soccer players and the NYC “anything goes” fashion scene and there you’ve found the cherry on this sun filled day.

So yes, we may be horrible for snapping all these pics – but we couldn’t help ourselves, I mean afterall you don’t really go to actually WATCH the game.
So here is a sampling (click the pic to enlarge)– judge for yourself - as the title suggests there is good, bad, and uhhhhhhh....

Some of the trends we noticed that still seem to be “in”: Greek sandals (in all their many interations), large shoulder bags, open bags, patterns and flowy fabric, exposed backs, and white dresses (in many shapes and usually with little underneath) were all the rage for the girls on this rooftop.

For the boys we saw plenty o’ tight pants (white jeans being more common than expected), graphic tees, cut-off shirts, and polos.

Lots of these folks either opt for the super gel infused or the natural grease pomade to achieve their ‘dos.

But again, who are we to judge…seen here….we are just having fun!

Bring The Knights Back!!!!

"Hushed Existentialist" (MD)


Somebody, anybody, help me! I'm trying to save my favorite show of all time from an untimely death along the lines of my other favorite show, Arrested Development.

Now, I totally understand how a picture like this might turn you off:



And that this one might make you exclaim, "Hell to the Naw":



But trust me when I say, this show is the greatest. Go to
abc.com, click on "WATCH ABC SHOWS ONLINE NOW", download the new viewing program, scroll through the shows to find Knights Of Prosperity,

and watch it. start to finish.

ok, ok. just try one episode on for size. trust me. i wouldn't plug just any old thing. you will want to continue....

There is something for everyone. I mean, there IS a hot chick:



and there IS one smooth brotha:



So if you're sitting down at your desk at work and you need something to do for 27 minutes to take your mind of the day, off the week, to propel you into the weekend... JUST WATCH IT!! During your lunch hour.

OK?? Please. And tell your friends.

Oh and, then WE can discuss.

Playing the part:

Insatiable Corporate Raider (NYC-CLE-TOR)
I still haven't had time to post the Lakehouse pics (i know i know) nor have i gotten to update on the fabulous wedding of my dear Common Censical or post about the wonderfully hot ADIDAS weekend with Legal Eagle - all in all i am behind.

I will come back to all that great fun but will pick up at the Ritz Carlton in Cleveland where I was for a few days to meet with clients and enjoy the Indians/RedSox game. This is an awesome new stadium. Here is a pic from the loge behind home plate and next to the owners.

The best part of these games - well the loge experience (cause the actual game watching is exclusive feelin in the loge, yes, but not as fun as when in the mix) is the dessert cart! they have these two ladies that bring this cart around with all your sweet desires. The best are these chocolate cups they fill with your favorite liquer yummm - chocolate and bailey's what a treat!

All this travelling has now brought me to Toronto where I am living it up at the Four Seasons, eating fabulous food, laying poolside, and oh, yeah, working.
With the highs come lows living this fake-me-out luxurious life but I will not share that here that will be for another place and space.
Let's hope my bank account can cover all the extravagance I have been splurging on with hopes of getting reimbursed sooner than later. But it's all about playing the part, right?


With the semantics aside I will instead share how fabulous my first ever "mani-pedi" was today. My boss treated me for this spa experience because she couldn't believe I never had it and who am I to turn down a "first"!?

We went to Novo Spa in downtown Toronto recommended by the hotel.
oooooh man is all i have to say! I think walking the streets of Times Square to and from work by the packed nail salons with chemicals oozing out severley turned me off, well that and the whole 'letting someone touch my feet with tools that better be sterilized' thing. But, this..THIS was nothing like that at all.

A fabulous hand and foot scrub and massage, massaging leather recliner and bubble bath for my feet were definitely the treat! And to top it off with a fabulous freshly brewed cup of Rooibus tea? whats not to love!? i could get used to this, but let's hope i don't for my bank accounts sake.

We went to a few fabulous little restaurants for dinner this week:
The Boulevard Cafe - the most charming Peruvian spot in the university area with friendly folks and great home cooking - the outdoor seating with mural paintings and veranda are nearly impossible to top

Czehoski - for a more adventurous palette, fried brains + absinthe are an option in this charming rowhouse style restaurant with a cute outdoor roof deck and garden in the funky area of Queen Street West where Portland, Oregon meets the East Village

Michelle's - fabulous outdoor seating, and extravagant food choices in downtown Toronto where pets are welcome and is walking distance to the hotel
Outside of the nice dinner dining, I've been treating myself to a lovely breakfast in bed by the hotel that just can't be beat.

Here is what i've been managing to clothe myself with when not clad in the fabulous hotel bathrobe:

my super comfortable black Anne Klein Petities suit (courtesy of Hushed) which has seen its way on here before but pictured now here on my hotel room's concrete terrace.
the new purchase is actually the pink 3/4 sleeve BITTEN button down - at $9.99 this fabulously fitted and comfortable shirt makes Sarah Jessica Parker's Steve&Barry line all worth it.
additionally i recently scored these cheap Calvin Klein shades for $14.99 - far cry from the original $79 - thanks to my dear Filene and her Basement

Today i went a bit more comfortable with the usual loosey white Anne Taylor shirt which has also seen its way on here.
But, with the new gray below-the-knee DALIA pencil skirt (with a bit of a flounce on the back) which I also scored for a fabulous $9.99 at my dear Mann's of Loeh - this outfits also a steal from the original $115 - all pictured on the uber comfy bed which if you are so inclined can buy from the hotel at a mere $3,000 - ha! now that makes me smile even though I can't seem to in these pics

Toronto has been fabulous - its a great city - I wish I could stick around a few more days to truly explore - the ROM in particular is a place I would like to poke around in since I've passed it a few times - but tomorrow i head home to DC to catch up with some friends and fam - maybe i will try and check it out tomorrow.

thank goodness we don't take ourselves too seriously because this blog is just too much - oh how a girl can play!
* bisous *

oh i totally forgot i was invited to a rodeo - that would be fun...

Long Weekend

"Hushed Existentialist" (MD)

Let's update this thing already!!

Well I do have some crappy no-flash self-timed pictures of me in my half-birthday celebration ensembles, but I haven't gotten around to uploading them yet so you'll just have to keep your britches on. And no, I don't know what that means either so don't ask me.

Here they are:



Brown Jersey Knit Dress from Conways in NYC: $20
Hot Turquoise Ipex Wireless: $25
Turquoise and Swarovski Crystal earrings: made specifically for me by my Godmother.

Considering that it is something that I literally threw on in 5 seconds, I was surprised by the insta-sexy that this outfit proffered. I wasn't expecting it, on a second date no less.... Anyway, I took myself to see Talk To Me featuring one of my mainstream favorite actors of all time Don Cheadle and one of my sleeper favorite actors of all time, Chiwetel Ejiofor. It is a DC story and I saw it in a real DC theater. What more could I want?

How about a turn-around date???? On Sunday I took myself to the matinee because the write-up alone made me want to see this movie, Broken English. I mean, how fitting, right? I kept it light and daytime pretty w/a super-cute babydoll dress that is way too short for my tastes, so I paired it with some shorts to avoid any wardrobe malfunctions:

Butterfly Babydoll by Xhilaration from Target: $12.58
Khaki Shorts from Guess: $14.99
Silver Flips from Conways in NYC: $1.99
Silver earrings from Urban Outfitters: $10 for 2 (I think)




Yes, I actually wore these ensembles in public. I know, I can't believe it either. I must be 27 & 1/2 or something.....

Seven Eleven

"Hushed Existentialist"(MD)

I wore 2 dresses in 2 days to work, more than I've worn in the past 5 years combined.... Unfortunatly without the flash on my camera, I wasn't able to capture these historic occasions.... Today I just had to report about my $2.48 gauchos from Target.

TWO DOLLARS AND FORTY EIGHT CENTS, PEOPLE!!!!

Of course, I have to give credit where credit is due: Corporate Raider picked them out for me. Thank god, I love them, they are so comfortable, and they can go anywhere.



Calvin Klein Butterfly Sleeve Top w/Wooden Bead Detail: $12.50 from Macy's
White Tank by Mossimo from Target: $3.98
Moss Green Gauchos by Mossimo from Target: $2.48
Bronze Huraches by Steve Madden from DSW: $14.99
Capiz Shell Earrings from a Mall Kiosk: $3

I am shiny b/c it was hot as balls outside.

My only complaint about today is the fact that I was ogled. By a manager. It was rather unseemly and uncomfortable. At least I wasn't wearing a dress. But still.

Insatiable Corporate Raider (NYC - MN - NYC)
Its been a long time coming...
Basically I’ve been a whirlwind from work for that last few weeks.
I am exhausted and it doesn't seem to be slowing anytime soon....

I fed myself today with some food I found in a conference room and this is what i wore today:

Anne Taylor Loft White flowy shirt on sale = $15
my cool airy drawstring crop pants and my $2 flip flops
Its HOT AS BALLS out but I digress...

Now here is the recap:
Work took me to Minneapolis for meetings.
I could go on and on about my hotel and sound like a complete snob but the point would ultimately be that if work is keeping you in another city for more than a few nights it should…blah what I am saying is one tends to get accustomed to a certain level of quality when travelling for work.
I typically stay at the Graves 601 or The Grand both of which are fabulous MN hotels, a city that is actually quite trendy. So when I got placed at the Hyatt because my previous two were booked due to the last minute notice I was slightly disappointed. The truth is when I travel for work the 3 things I look forward to the MOST are 1. the free miles from flying 2. the nice hotel + room service that I normally wouldn't be able to afford on my own 3. the delicious food I get to eat(that also I normally would not be able to afford).

And yes, I know exactly how I sound. Had I been traveling on my own budget the Hyatt would have been LOVELY – do I make my point yet? Yes ok I will stop now because I am a snob when it comes to work travel I suppose. (On a side note I should mention the Hyatt was hosting a world Blind Convention and while checking out i ran into this blind woman i used to see in my home town all the time - isnt that crazy?? how random)

Anyways I was in MN for almost the whole work week for essentially 2 (which later turned to 3) 45min meetings. It was very productive and if I do say so myself kicked some ass in the meetings. Ah well, needless to say I got a lot of work done in our MN office, answered emails from my hotel bed while dining on room service, and shopped at the Mecca of the bullseye. I ate well - there are some great restaurants in MN – I’d post all about it as I usually do but I am seriously craving caffeine and chocolate and can not manage to focus right now so just use your imagination.

All in all I like MN – it is a great city – although I wouldn’t want to visit in the winter given all the skyways aka gerbil tunnels connecting all the buildings to keep you out of what seems would be a cold as balls winter.

Anyways here are some shots of the view from my hotel room (along with a hilarious store I couldn’t help but take a picture of given the nature of this blog APPLAUSE CHEAPO hehe I am still not sure what they sell) and of my breakfast parfait along with my first day back digs.

I couldn’t manage work attire so I went for a prep look.
Heatherette turquoise Polo Shirt with embellishments = $15 (orig. $69) from Loehmann’s
Joe’s Jeans Dark denim = $50 (orig. $125) from Loehmann’s
Payless prep canvas slip on’s = $8 (oh how I love these)

Perhaps sooner than later I will post all about the fabulous trip to a lakehouse we took for the weekend of the 4th.

Prior to that I should mention that I have been in the middle of an apt. overhaul. I’ve been slowly selling all of my furniture to make room for the new furniture I’ve been collecting to go with my new boxes ! With the help of my mom, El Jefe, and Hushed I was able to make major progress this past week which was really the first time I've been home in a while. Please ignore the lack of fashion as we stain the shoe rack with my hol(e)y shirt and my matrix inspired kick outfit in the "Before" shot.

I LOVE my new furniture and can’t wait for the apt to be all done (a year after moving in of course).

sigh

I Saw Heat

"Hushed Existentialist" (MD)

Heat. The movie. It came out like 9 years ago. I saw it and now I wanna talk about it. Jim Gaffigan.

Unfortunately I have even less time to update today and even less natural light (ie: none) so try and make out the Ann Taylor Loft cream silk V-neck, the Zinc olive board shorts, the Steve Madden bronze huraches in the darkness....



HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO LEGAL EAGLE - we celebrated at Cafe Saint Ex and hopefully she rocked out with some lawyers in bands at the Black Cat. I'm about to crash, I have a big weekend ahead of me. That'll move the chains.