Last week a few of my friends had "GTL" on their Facebook status updates. They indicated that it meant "gym, tanning, laundry" - but I thought it was strange that this new acronym was suddenly so popular. I asked one of my friends about it and she told me it was from the one and only, "Jersey Shore" - MTV's latest reality show about strangers living and working together. Although I had heard many things (good and bad) about this train wreck of a show, I had not taken the chance to view it... until this weekend.
Staying up at Tahoe for the weekend with some friends, I was sidelined from skiing on Sunday after I twisted my knee on my last run on Saturday (my knee has since healed, in case you were curious). After perusing the channels on the house's cable TV set, I decided that now was a better time than any to take advantage of a Jersey Shore marathon. And let me just say, WTF?
Let's start with the fact that my friend previously referred to this television show as "the show about orange people" - rightfully so. These "Italian" Jersey Kings and Queens must spend just as much time working on their tan as they do styling their greasy hair, and it doesn't help any. My other friend picked up my latest issue of People, flipped to the section about the cast of Jersey Shore and proclaimed "ew, these people look disgusting." Yes, they do look disgusting; especially when they're bumping and grinding each other at the hot nightclub on the beach, or in their very own jacuzzi (because what is an MTV reality show without a jacuzzi?).
It goes without saying that cast members have hooked up with each other. One cast member nicknamed J-WOWW cheats on her so-called boyfriend with Pauly D, and then conveniently forgets the details due to over-consumption of alcohol. Don't worry J-WOWW, we got it on tape for you to review. And don't worry about spreading any STDs to your boyfriend once you guys make up, because there is no way Pauly D has contracted anything after hooking up with the dirty Jersey girls that he meets at the clubs every night.
Now would be a great time to mention Pauly D's more than apparent loyalty to his #1 wingman, Mike "The Situation" (he's called "the situation" because whenever he takes his shirt off, there's gonna be a situation in the room. Let it be known that he does have an amazing six-pack, but there is no need to create a situation over it. I've seen Abercrombie & Fitch models that are half his age and sporting even better rock-hard abs). Pauly D regularly acts as the "grenade guard" for his buddy Mike, hooking up with the "busted" girl so that Mike can get with the prettier girl. First of all, these girls are NOT busted - they're just not as tan and skinny as the trashy brunettes that Mike prefers. Secondly, you ain't so hot yourself, Pauly D so I don't know what you're complaining about. I wouldn't touch that shit with a 30 foot pole.
Mike's just being a slut because it's summer at the Jersey Shore and that's what you do! And he's bitter because Sammi "Sweetheart" left him for Ronnie, the roommate with arms that are three times the size of my legs. In one episode he beats up a guy on the boardwalk for starting shit with Sammi. Sammi then cries because Ronnie "pushed" her out of the way before the fight started. Nicole "Snookie" can relate to how Sammi feels because she got punched in the face last week by some douche bag at the bar who was trying to steal her shots. I understand that hitting a girl is messed up, but it's too bad she couldn't get some facial reconstruction or at least a nose job out of the whole thing.
Still, despite the fact that this show makes me want to rip my own eyes and ears out, it has an overwhelming amount of followers. My coworker said it best: "It's disgusting. It makes me sad. It makes my heart hurt. And then I can't stop watching it." I think three episodes is enough for me. I'll save my DVR space for Gossip Girl.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Jeggings: A Love Story
"Jeggings" - or jean leggings - have been the latest fashion phenomenon to rock the rack in the denim section at department stores. When I first heard about these leggings that looked like jeans, I was a bit skeptical. How can non-pants pass as pants, let alone everyday jeans? I did some research and asked around and found out that a number of denim brands are making and selling these jeggings: Joe's Jeans, JBrand, Seven, etc. I figured they couldn't be sold for more than $60, because after all they're made of spandex and cotton, right? Wrong. Unfortunately they end up costing only a little less than a regular pair of designer jeans. After getting some positive reinforcement from some male friends, I decided I would check with my female friends first to see what they thought about this fashion trend. Some responses:
"Ew"
"Never"
"Don't even think about it - you'll thank me years from now"
"Leggings aren't pants"
"Don't call them jeggings"
As you can see, about 90% of the responses were pretty negative. Yet, I still wasn't convinced.
Now, it's my understanding that the perfect pair of jeggings would be as comfortable as a pair of leggings, but tactfully disguised as a pair of slimming skinny jeans; I was determined to seek out a pair like this. And I was pretty sure I knew where to find them: the one and only Bloomingdale's.
On a mission like no other, I shot down to the mall and marched my way through the post-holiday sale shoppers, earphones in (rocking to Lady Gaga, no doubt), eyes on the prize. I made my way to the sparkly department store and escalated right up to the fourth floor. Low and behold, my beloved jeggings were on display, front and center for everyone to see. I immediately rummaged through the piles, picking up different shades, different stretches, any brand. After noticing piles of "denim" in my arms the kind sales woman, Annie, offered to start a room for me. Moments later I found myself in the dressing room, pulling on the various pairs of jeggings that I scooped up. The first pair looked too much like leggings. The second pair looked too much like skinny jeans that I already owned. I immediately nixed three pairs because the fade was too dark or too gray. And right when I was starting to get discouraged, I found them: JBrand electric leggings, my perfect pair. Not only did they look exactly like skinny jeans (with pockets in the front and back, and stitching down the side), but they fit like a glove. I felt like I had just pulled on a pair of my favorite American Apparel leggings. Even though they cost a little more than I intended to spend, I couldn't resist. It was meant to be.
When I got home that Friday, I put them on and didn't take them off until Sunday night. They even kept their stretch the whole weekend long! I wore them with sweaters, boots, blazers, and flats. The best part is my friend - who so adamantly insisted that jeggings were the worse thing since the scrungie - didn't even notice I was wearing them. And when I pointed them out to her, she admitted how cute they looked. I turned her. And I will turn you.
Long live the jeggings!
"Ew"
"Never"
"Don't even think about it - you'll thank me years from now"
"Leggings aren't pants"
"Don't call them jeggings"
As you can see, about 90% of the responses were pretty negative. Yet, I still wasn't convinced.
Now, it's my understanding that the perfect pair of jeggings would be as comfortable as a pair of leggings, but tactfully disguised as a pair of slimming skinny jeans; I was determined to seek out a pair like this. And I was pretty sure I knew where to find them: the one and only Bloomingdale's.
On a mission like no other, I shot down to the mall and marched my way through the post-holiday sale shoppers, earphones in (rocking to Lady Gaga, no doubt), eyes on the prize. I made my way to the sparkly department store and escalated right up to the fourth floor. Low and behold, my beloved jeggings were on display, front and center for everyone to see. I immediately rummaged through the piles, picking up different shades, different stretches, any brand. After noticing piles of "denim" in my arms the kind sales woman, Annie, offered to start a room for me. Moments later I found myself in the dressing room, pulling on the various pairs of jeggings that I scooped up. The first pair looked too much like leggings. The second pair looked too much like skinny jeans that I already owned. I immediately nixed three pairs because the fade was too dark or too gray. And right when I was starting to get discouraged, I found them: JBrand electric leggings, my perfect pair. Not only did they look exactly like skinny jeans (with pockets in the front and back, and stitching down the side), but they fit like a glove. I felt like I had just pulled on a pair of my favorite American Apparel leggings. Even though they cost a little more than I intended to spend, I couldn't resist. It was meant to be.
When I got home that Friday, I put them on and didn't take them off until Sunday night. They even kept their stretch the whole weekend long! I wore them with sweaters, boots, blazers, and flats. The best part is my friend - who so adamantly insisted that jeggings were the worse thing since the scrungie - didn't even notice I was wearing them. And when I pointed them out to her, she admitted how cute they looked. I turned her. And I will turn you.
Long live the jeggings!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Twenty Ten
Happy New Year! I know I'm a week late, but I have been diligently working on my resolution... haven't you? With most resolutions, people tend to dream up an ideal (yet unrealistic) self for the new year. This usually works for the first couple of weeks, but then you get so used to the new year that you forget why you proclaimed your resolution in the first place.
This year my resolution is "everything in moderation." This includes alcohol, food, planning, and spending. Originally my resolution was a long list of "exercise every day" and "only eat healthy foods" and "don't drink alcohol during the week" and "stop buying frivolous items on the Internet." Then I went to my favorite Saturday morning Ashtanga yoga class on January 2nd. The theme of the class was resolution (of course), but the instructor encouraged us to sum up our resolutions in an overall emotion or goal. Something broad. Something hopeful. Something you can actually achieve while still enjoying yourself. I encourage you to take another look at your resolution and see if you can boil it down to a general goal; I believe you will be much more successful at accomplishing it.
By the way, please remember to refer to this year as "Twenty Ten" - not "Two Thousand and Ten." I know it's only two more syllables but the former just sounds better, don't you think?
And let's take a moment to reflect on this decade... if you're from my generation (born between 1984 and 1986) this decade covers your years of adolescence. We began the decade entering high school, and ended it a year or two out of college. These are the most essential (and easy) years of our life: our personality takes a stronger shape, we make essential decisions that directly affect our future, we form lasting relationships with people who were once strangers.
Take this metaphor; If our life is comparable to a plane ride, then this decade was the period after you take off, when you're just coasting in low air, excited for your destination and eager about what you will do during your ride. Well that part is over and the rest of the ride might get a little bumpy. But rest assured you will land safely at your final destination.
This year my resolution is "everything in moderation." This includes alcohol, food, planning, and spending. Originally my resolution was a long list of "exercise every day" and "only eat healthy foods" and "don't drink alcohol during the week" and "stop buying frivolous items on the Internet." Then I went to my favorite Saturday morning Ashtanga yoga class on January 2nd. The theme of the class was resolution (of course), but the instructor encouraged us to sum up our resolutions in an overall emotion or goal. Something broad. Something hopeful. Something you can actually achieve while still enjoying yourself. I encourage you to take another look at your resolution and see if you can boil it down to a general goal; I believe you will be much more successful at accomplishing it.
By the way, please remember to refer to this year as "Twenty Ten" - not "Two Thousand and Ten." I know it's only two more syllables but the former just sounds better, don't you think?
And let's take a moment to reflect on this decade... if you're from my generation (born between 1984 and 1986) this decade covers your years of adolescence. We began the decade entering high school, and ended it a year or two out of college. These are the most essential (and easy) years of our life: our personality takes a stronger shape, we make essential decisions that directly affect our future, we form lasting relationships with people who were once strangers.
Take this metaphor; If our life is comparable to a plane ride, then this decade was the period after you take off, when you're just coasting in low air, excited for your destination and eager about what you will do during your ride. Well that part is over and the rest of the ride might get a little bumpy. But rest assured you will land safely at your final destination.
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