things i'm liking lately

please excuse the random tape? wtf have i taped lately? 

please excuse the random tape? wtf have i taped lately? 

ny magazine's strategist is like my dream job. i'd settle for the US Weekly buzz-o-meter if i'm being honest. but here are some things i like/love as of late...

the new ricky gervais special on netflix. he does not give a RIP. about anything/one. 

emily mcdowell's cards. she reads my mind! sometimes when i drop letters and cards in the mailboxes of the west village/chelsea i think that the only person who did the same thing that day was...laura! on the upper west side! i love real mail. 

my new nail place. i am SUPER annoyed that my loyalty card at the last joint didn't carry over, and believe you me, certainly addressed that with the new management (got a free chair massage out of it, don't worry) but it's really nice for being as close to 14th street as it is. (corner of 7th ave) 

great cookbooks! leon's happy salads, alison roman's - yes! the cookies! she used to work at buzzfeed! - joy of cooking for just learning about foods and the process (i prep now before i have people over and it is because i wanted to try things i read about in JOC)  and the wonderful and highly readable small victories that i used all summer long. julia turshen's ricotta instead of breadcrumbs turkey meatballs will make you feel so proud as a home cook and she is also wonderful on instagram. her partner is...design sponge! i bet they have such amazing dinner parties! 

quality eats. yall i really can't talk about the peanut butter/jalapeno jelly/bacon thing. ask emmy. 

facetiming with my (perfect) nephew. oh wait, i have four! the little one. if you have little people in your life far away, it is such a delight to see them on the regular in this way. carr still sends me pics all day every day including when the poor fella is really working one out because it is SO funny with the watery eyes and pure determination. we are horrible people. 

stationary and all things paper from lindsay! she is basically my letterpress dealer and so, so patient with me. bryce once said that if (when) he gets to hell the devil is going to give him two options: be my dermatologist or take flower orders from me for the rest of my life. he should add paper person to the list. 

speaking of bryce! the IRC continues to be an incredible force when it comes to refugees on every level - displacement, medical treatment, operational organizations, they're just such pros. and you can give whatever you like here

that's all! toodle-oooh! 

why i celebrate my sister on a day that is not her birthday

today is march 7. it is no one's birthday in my family, but it is a date that is forever ingrained in my mind. i wrote this email to carr and my parents in 2009 (praise you gmail storage): 

tomorrow is march 7. do you know what that is? that is the day we thought you would be born!

it was the magic date that i was told all about, and i listened to mommy and daddy as they told me after that day i would have a little brother or sister. every year when i see this day on the calendar, the excitement -- power tripping even at an early age that i would get to be the big sis! -- is still palpable to me, even now. clearly you and your cheeks couldn't bear to wait that long!

if i had only known then that once you arrived, my life -- forever -- would be that much better. i could have never predicted as we waited for you to grow in mama's belly that you would be such a wonderful, important addition to the life i would lead someday. having a sister, someone i love, someone i admire, and a person i genuinely think is funny, smart, and wonderful to be around, has made me a happier, healthier, more well-rounded person. we are so lucky to have each other, for a number of reasons beyond just our family.

i am so happy you came to us, to me, no matter the day.

and thank you mama and daddy for bringing her to us. of the many gifts you have given me through the years, she remains the best present of all.

love, bissy xo

so, yep, i guess i celebrate my mom's due date for carr.  if you have a sibling, you know no other way of life. you always had to share, you were annoyed or the annoy-er, you've bitched about SOMEONE to them at least once but more likely infinity, and, more often than not, when something is really really funny or really really sad, they're in your top five calls.

i still mean and feel every word of what i wrote back then, and i have learned so much more since i reflected that day: about the true depth and core goodness of WAW III and also his use of fax machines (who knew?); about my sister in LIFE NOT JUST LAW anna, who met me for the first time when i was four years old on the very day my parents were taking me to dinner at elizabeth's to tell me that i was going to be a big sister; about the man my sister married and his gift to our family - no, not only upping our height average, but his present, steady calm; and about carr, of course, and just how long a text message chain can go on, undeleted, in this life. 

they shape who we are, they are the supporting and at times main character in the stories of our lives, and they're the only people who see you and get you and really are going to stick around despite it all. i have experienced loss in my life, but never have i felt as sad as the day i saw a man i barely knew stand at the lectern of saint john's and speak of his brother, my friend, tragically lost in a plane crash. that wound will never heal, and in think of those brothers in my prayers all the time. 

woof! sorry to bring it down! so...if you haven't talked to yours in a while, shoot off that text or call them on your commute home tonight. because siblings not only teach us how to compromise, love unconditionally, and give us our first official "Feedback," they become wonderful friends, and who knows - like ashley and dow and bill's storied tale, they might even help you meet your husband. 

love the ones you're with, folks! (and tell 'em so)

oh, and carr's birthday is february 24, eleven days early, and my mother would want you to know she "did not so much as have even a tylenol." 

goodbye! (from ed) 

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i hope everyone is savoring the final telecasts of the academy awards

Yep. I think we're in the final years of the Oscars. They suck! I can't imagine the expense of the broadcast outweighing the ads much longer. I don't think many of your children will have zero memory of the Oscars when they're our age. But tradition matters, and Tony made a mean turkey chili, there were dresses to see, eyes to roll at J. Law, and I even managed to put down a glass of Cloudy Bay despite being overserved Saturday evening completely against my will. So on with it! 

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Far and away best dressed goes to my friend (even if she doesn't know it) Jennifer Garner. If you follow her on Insta you know she's been working out again really regularly, but also  it's more just like WOW, what a color, incredible fit, and I - like her - cannot resist a train. Guys, I really feel she worked on that marriage. I do. Too bad., man. It really is just a total bummer he could not pull that shit together. Oh! And she ended up a meme last night - something I totally noticed and actually rewound to see on my own tv. When you see a dress and look like this materialized, it does make your recognize there are a lot of really emerging and interesting designers out there, but you must admit when someone just slays it, it is often in Versace. (But that mini series is WEIRD AF) Also, yeah, I wish Ben had been there, I won't lie. But little awk w/his dirtbag brother and all. Do you think they (Jen and Ben) talked about it? Like did she ask him if he was going or fyi him that she was in a text? These are the inside things I obsess over. It is difficult to be me. 

What else....

I'm not always super into the jewels (exception: Angie's emeralds!) but Helen Mirren's Harry Winston sparklers were stunning. She is so cool. She always strikes me as someone who would have been an awesome mother-in-law. 

Jason Sudekis needs a haircut. 

Who were those people doing the ABC carpet? Yikes green dress lady. 

Lisa Bonet: WHAT SKINCARE LINE DO YOU USE? She and Zoe are twins, and I think some of the prettiest women in the world. Those tats ruin so much, but not everything. 

Guys, let's just say aloud what we're all thinking: these two have great sex

Speaking of, Mindy and BJ: are they or aren't they? Emmy really needs to know. (I say no)

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Someone texted me that Sandra Bullock was Cher last night. On point! 

I am get all the feels when I see Miley and whatshisname. She is in such a good place these days! It's really cute! (And her dress was cool!)

I am ready for Tiffany Haddish to go bye-bye. Enough. (Though the bit about how she keeps wearing that McQueen dress is pretty rich.)

cj enjoys a vodka soda with LMM

cj enjoys a vodka soda with LMM

CJ Cregg yall! Super happy for her - it was a truly entertaining performance she gave in I, Tonya. I also thought it was kinda cool how her two outfits worked in tandem but were also distinct. She seems so interesting and cool. Sidebar: I would like to go out to dinner with these two! 

Jimmy Kimmel was....safe. The jet ski thing was...fine. Giuliana was relegated to a...hotel pool? Where was...Robin Roberts? The camera at drop-off was...appreciated (by me). I...fell asleep for the Jodie Foster stuff. 

What's the deal with alcohol during the show? Like, I know you can slam a drink if you go out to the bar, and I've heard it's a really rich scene, but like why did we see J. Law slinging a glass of what I assume was savvy b in the front rows when she climbed over the seats? What is the protocol? Zero surprise she would break any rule I CANNOT STAND HER. (Laura...the MPK junket stop...)

Chelsea Peretti keeps it real. Jordan's wife!

It was recently revealed that Armie Hammer was eating crackers in bed. I would like him to know that I welcome such behavior in my own. That is all. 

Salma - WHY? You have everything in the Pinault empire available to you and you went with THAT? 

Laura Dern - aging well, loved the white. (But Jane owned white, preesh) Related: where was Reese? 

Gal Gadot - where did she come from???????????

What. Happens. When. Kelly. And. Strahan. Bump Into Each Other Backstage. It's all i think about. 

I missed...look, I missed some of the people who were coming up in the Weinstein days I guess. There were big dresses but an overall lack of...glam? And, look, I feel weird about admitting I wanted Gwyneth (in Tom Ford hopefully!) and Matt and Lucy and Penelope, or Sharon Stone, and like, remember that time Ryan and Reese were a little drunk on the carpet? I think it was the Globes, but still. That was FUN. Where was Cate Blanchett? Charlize?  What about TILDA. Laura Linney. Hell, I'll take Tom Cruise ESPECIALLY if we also get Katie and Jamie! I missed Brad. George and Amal. Ugh. I was feeling all night like it was all so...HEAVY. Pass the popcorn! Bring on the swishy Oscar de la Renta skirts! A classic tux! Someone accidentally saying a bad word! Busy and Michelle! I am starting to feel my age as I write this. 

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She is lovely. I wish this didn't have the sleeves. Where was John? 

Christian Siriano is sort of the gown guy, huh? 

I like that Krista Smith from VF is on the carpet - she gets all the good stuff for them so it makes sense. I hope when she watches the playback, she'll rethink the illusion netting for next year. 

In memoriam. If you are a longtime follower/friend of mine you will know it's the worst part of Emmy's award show nights. So IMAGINE when it was REVEALED that Eddie Vedder was there...TO PROVIDE THE MUSIC FOR THE IN MEMORIAM. not bueno. (reminder of my little sam shepherd moment in nyc)

Kate Bosworth always looks like her ponytail is tied way too tight.

Jon Hamm, still fire

Ok, back to my face mask and Maddow. If only THIS shit were a movie amirite? Thanks for reading!  

musings

i have thoughts. lots of 'em! here are a few...

free idea, trader joe's corporate: start a flowers/plants checkout. an entire subculture would come there solely for that! 

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when i did that post on the oscars, it meant i google imaged some old pics of jen and brad and i dare you to find me a better bod than her in that red prada column that time at the oscars. yeesh. the bag ruins the timeless look but hey nobody's perfect even if their arms are! cool necklace, brad. 

people who love NY1... LOVE NY1. 

if your friends don't want to talk about the possibility we are living in a simulation on a friday afternoon, are they even your friends? #thethread

i am missing a pillowcase that is part of a set of good matouk sheets (who am i kidding all of my bedding is legit) and it is slowly ruining my life. 

i followed and saved a twitter thread in december about good books people read last year and i am in my third one from it so far this year, a gentleman in moscow, AND I LOVE IT. what are you reading? 

march is so cute and devastating in the northeast. you're definitely going to have snow but by damn the co-ops WILL plant the tulips because SPRING IS HAPPENING dammit! i always find the little stalks sticking up in the cold and icy air to be so full of hope. you can do it, flowers/new yorkers!

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i am proud of the savannah airport for adding some cute new dining options, but for the life of me i cannot figure out who the people are still in line at the burger king. 

at this point who DOESN'T have a podcast? 

when i hear africa by toto in a spin class, as i did today, i text billy baroo from the waverly. people who get that reference are an elite group. 

and finally, mailbox delight of the week. lol sugar shack and yard sales - take THAT technology! #tybeeisthebest 

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pre gamin' the oscars

spoiler alert: it's gonna be a snoozefest unless aniston and pitt show. 

hey y'all! i'm trying to do a little more writing, so i figured i'd channel some awards season thoughts for those of you who care, and by those of you, i mean people other than emmy and bryce who of course are Always On. 

killing it

killing it

first of all you miss this. to paraphrase what good ole colonel jessup once said, deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you are BUMMED this didn't go the distance. and maybe you're all "leave jen alone!" but your skin crawled when she took john mayer to the oscars that time, you (i) got second hand embarrassment when she couldn't hack it in nyc with justin even though she bought THE FUCKING PENTHOUSE of that awesome pre war building on west 12th and hudson - LITERALLY WHO COULD NOT MAKE NEW YORK WORK IF THAT WAS YOUR APARTMENT IT OVERLOOKS ABINGDON SQUARE AND IS TWO BLOCKS FROM EVERY GREAT PLACE AND LESS THAN A BLOCK FROM THE BEST PHARMACY IN THE VILLAGE WHO ALSO SELLS BADESCU PRODUCTS I DO NOT UNDERSTAND IT - and you sure as hell thought of her the millisecond angie leaked all that stuff about brad smoking too much weed because you know he and jen loved a quality joint with their dogs in malibu (RIP Norman). 

so don't lie like you haven't thought about it, because you totally have. 

but unless they show...i predict a total eye roll emoji festival on sunday. TBH i really didn't even know when they were this year? i actually saw something this past saturday about the show and panicked and called emmy bc i was like wtf the oscars are tomorrow but then realized we had another week. but, like, it's just a weird year? when gwyneth and matt and ben and all those guys were winning (srsly why was it so poorly fitted?) it was for weinstein stuff which feels so insane now to think about, you know? but those were heady days! janice min was running US weekly and minnie driver was a little famous and sex and the city was on and we hadn't had 9/11 yet and robin williams and PSH and so many other amazing actors were still around and like, it was all fun and games kinda? oprah was the best part of the daily lexicon and no one knew the name of the chief of staff to the president much less that guy's deputy. RIP entertainment, amirite? 

wanna have a moment? this is from the oscars in 2000. chris martin, ex husband of GP is now dating this child. life comes at ya fast. 

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speaking of oprah, she already stole/won the season at the globes? my take on hollywood's position on social issues is likely ~controversial~ with some of you, but like, i am sort of old-fashioned when it comes to that stuff. like, i admire george clooney's interest and support of refugee causes and think he landed a totally baller wife because of how well-rounded he truly is, but also, save me the speech on darfur and make another ocean's movie because i'm not sure i'll watch the one with all the women and sidebar congrats on the tequila cash i have helped put in your and rande's pocket? idk. it's neat that equality is getting a mainstream moment but i think so much of the real progress on that stuff can be made at home, within family units, and maybe not because now reese and nicole are BFFs and got the timing on a novel adaptation really really right? i just sort of love fancy dresses, hot people, seeing people smoke cigs inside the vanity fair party*, and a rom com every now and then. is that too much to ask? and is lady bird on demand yet? i will do it, but i prefer to sob in private! 

so obvs i'll watch. but my focus will be the red carpet, scanning the VF party pics, ignoring jennifer lawrence, and i'm betting i'm in bed by the time that big ones get handed out. unless brad and jen both show. single. 

thanks for reading! and if, like amal, you're a fan of support both casamigos tequila AND refugees you can donate to the wonderful work of my best buddy's org the IRC right here

*will that change now that graydon is gone? paging EHW. 

sparkle for markle

this was NOT a drill. 

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i can honestly stay that the first thing that happened to my brain this morning was the news of harry's engagement to a divorced american actress best known in popular culture for her role on a USA drama? comedy? idk i obviously have never watched it. (the only thing i watch on USA is royal pains during the summer on monday nights because it soothes me. judge away. )

HE SEEMS REALLY HAPPY YALL. 

but wallis simpson is rolling over in her commoner grave someplace. times they are a'changin! and i think it's really good and positive and also HE SEEMS REALLY HAPPY.

but man is this different with a media-trained actress in the hot seat this time around, huh? no voice coach for the vows for this one, friends. like, i think about kate's shyness and giggle in the first interview and it's just SO different. did you watch the interview with harry and meghan? she completely controls it, and him during it. she nails the talking points (never went more than two weeks without seeing each other; i had a nice career and now i'll have a NEW role; we've done the requisite family time; diana would be happy; queen is the queen but also a human/grandma) and is very eloquent in doing so, if a BIT overwrought in some of the delivery. i think kate and pippa texted REALLY nice stuff to each other about it, i do, i do, BUT i ALSO think carole called kate after a few glasses of chardonnay tonight (prove to me she doesn't drink it and then i'll quit saying she does) and was all "I mean, she's a bit much don't you think" and kate is like "mum, i'll need to ring you back, witching hour and all" with a passing comment to maria along the lines of "must be nice" as they wrangle the children in the bath. 

“i’d never watched suits.” - HRH PRINCE HENRY OF WALES, 28 NOVEMBER 2017

main observations/questions: 

  • they are going to be way more PDA than team cornwall
  • did kate tell her what mani color combo to use?
  • i hope chelsy davies has made her way to the bottom of a wine bottle with some good pals today. 
  • will she ever wear her hair natural? ever? 
  • did go fug yourself make this happen? their book is basically this. 
  • sarah burton won't do this dress. you can sort of tell that by today's shoes alone. 
  • harry was super into their "little cottage." listen, i actually own a little cottage and that shit is roomier than it looks but i would love to know what kind of square footage we are talking in harry's "cottage." 
  • why did she only bring the one dog?!?!?!
  • will they ever go to soho house?
  • she will definitely be at sandringham for christmas services. 
  • is kate annoyed she's getting married around when the baby is due? or relieved? 
  • will this impact kate's wardrobe in any way? 
  • i bet she does a bold lip at the wedding. 
  • i feel like DJT does not get the nod
  • reminder: she is older than kate. 
  • how do christmas presents work in the royal family? only william and kate really know her but like does she get a personalized gift from QEII? i bet kate is SUCH a thoughtful gift giver. 

sooooo, anyway. a wedding and a happy couple is a joyful thing! and this world is darkity dark dark most of the time lately, so today was fun! and better than the new norm and certainly your average monday post-holiday weekend. thanks for readin' my ramble! 

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