The Other "F" Word

There is one word in the english vocabulary that I adtually hate more than "maybe." Which is saying a lot because I despise that word. This word is "fine." I'm fine, it's fine, we're fine or just plain old "fine!" The word is defined as: all right: being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition. I mean, it's an ok word if you really mean that whatever it is, is actually "fine." But I feel like people use it with a whole other meaning behind it. Some examples of instances where I think that this word is unacceptable:

When I am discussing plans with a friends and I say "let's go here, you want to?" and they respond "Ok, that's fine" To me, that pretty much means..."I don't really want to go there but if you do than ok I will." I rather someone say THAT to me. Be honest people.

When I ask someone how I look in something "that looks fine." I am obviously not wearing that or buying that since it only looks fine, thanks. How about you tell me I look like a cow, I appreciate the honesty.

The kicker for me....when I have  a conversation that may get heated and once it's resolved the other person says "It's fine" or "we're fine." No no no, it's not fine. If you are using that word there is still an issue.

I just think that people are substituting the word "fine" for their true feelings just to be polite. I think we need more honesty in this world instead of words that just cause misconceptions of how people feel. 

So the next time you want to use this word in response to someone, think about what you REALLY want to say, and say it. 

Beauty Experiment: Red Lipstick

Red lipstick. It has been on everyone lately from Katy Perry to Taylor Swift. And I love it. Now I am left wondering, can I pull that off? I am always about trying new trends and wearing whatever I want no matter what other people think. BUT...red lipstick is a bold move. I am leaving for Vegas for a week on Saturday, and I am thinking that there is no better place then Vegas for a cosmetic experiment like this one.

So, does anyone have any thoughts, comments, or suggestions? Please let me know. And I will be sure to update you all on the results of this little experiment. Hopefully I do not look ridiculous.

It's flip flop season bitches!

Ok so I have been slacking lately, my apologies. I will have a thrilling and interesting blog soon I promise. For now I'm just dropping in to say that it is officially flip flop weather!!! So break them out!! :) I love flip flops!

I got a new car!

I am in love with my new 2009 Honda civic. It's fantastic and is much less shaky and messy than my old car. Being true to my nerdiness, my favorite feature is that I can plug in my ipod through a usb port and then play songs and playlists through the car radio, controlling it from the steering wheel. This is also good since I have song ADD and am constantly changing songs. It allows me to be DJ AND keep my eyes on the road, which, until now, was not the case. Love it!

I love my friends.

I just have to say it, because I truly have the best friends in the world. Sometimes I forget, and life gets in the way. But my friends are always there for me, and I love them for that. I get so down about stupid things all the time, and when it comes down to it...I couldn't be luckier. So thank you all....you know who you are. 

Karma's a Bitch....

Ok I had one of the most insane days ever, quite the emotional roller coaster. And definitely worth writing about since it sounds like something off of CSI. So I am at work busy as ever and I get a phone call from my dad, who usually never calls me at work. So I instantly know that something is wrong. He is on the phone asking me if I had come home at all. I said no and asked why. He said he had just come home and the doors were all open and then he proceeded to tell me that my computer was missing off my desk. If you know me at all, you know my computer is my life. I am a graphic designer and ALL of my work from forever is on my precious IMAC. All of my thousands of pictures and songs, and everything precious to me. So I basically freaked out, my coworkers probably thought I was insane. So I drive a million miles per hour home to the scene of the crime, thinking the whole way what could be missing...my coach bags, credit cards, shoes (I was being slightly dramatic) So I get home and the cops were there and the first thing out of my mom's mouth is...your computer IS here. Which totally made me feel a million times better. I have never felt as sick as I did when I walked into my room and saw my drawers completely ravaged through, everything in the house was torn apart. I was so disgusted I wanted to throw up. I proceeded to hug my computer like a huge nerd and I apparently messed up some fingerprints in the process, my bad. Anyway, over all we lost a few pieces of my mom's jewelry, my dad's watch, and my old camera. Somehow the thieves were scared away at the last minute and only made it out with stuff they could grab in their hands. All the big stuff like my computer, my laptop, and the Wii were left on the floor. So at this point I am thinking, ok I'm angry but we are truly extremely lucky. It gets better...

This situation took a turn towards comical when I got a call from the detective telling me that they had found a cellphone when they were gathering all the things that had fingerprints, a T-Mobile sidekick. I told him I definitely did not own one of those. So basically, the thief has left his cellphone at the scene of the crime. I found this completely hysterical. So the cops traced the phone to this guy and it was someone they had been suspecting for other similar crimes. 

Then a little later the cops were at my house, and when they left they saw a car sitting on the street, in it they found a guy who fit the description. He was on a phone apparently trying to call his phone that he "lost." Which was the T-Mobile sidekick in the cops hand.  So they arrested him right then and there. 

SO at the end of the day, the bad guy gets locked up and were are all safe and sound. I can't even believe this all actually happened, it's like not even real. 

I am just so disturbed and disgusted that there are people in the world that are this low. I just feel like my family has been completely violated. However, it made for an interesting story that could totally be an episode of CSI or something lol. So now that it's over I can giggle a little at the stupidity of this thief. And his stupidity sent his ass right to jail. 

CRAZINESS.

suckfest.

I would just like to comment on how utterly disappointed I am with the new season of the hills. Obviously this show is compete crap anyway so spare me the lectures on how it's fake and such, I know this. But COME ON. LC's last season and THIS is what we get. It's never been worse...at least TRY to make it seem real. MTV you have let me down, and all of your other programming currently sucks as well..what happened? I used to be one of your most loyal viewers...looks like I'm going to have to make Bravo my new favorite station. 

 

The Digital Age of Dating

I am all about technology. I think I'd go insane if I didn't have my iphone within arm's reach at all times. But I'm beginning to feel like we, as a generation, rely too heavily on technology in the area of relationships. What used to be "courting" is now instant messaging. There is a lot to be lost in a aim convo versus a actual conversation in real life. People don't TALK to each other anymore. We text, we IM, we facebook, and it's all completely drained the communication skills out of people. 

When  boy and girl used to meet, they would exchange numbers and usually the guy would call. (one should hope) Now, we facebook stalk the person, get their screen name, add them on myspace and talk via cyberspace for far too long before having any actual communication with one another. I am guilty of this and I will admit I rely way to heavily on hiding behind my computer or cell phone to say things I normally wouldn't say in person. But is this healthy? I think it's taken so much of the romance out of it all.  

There is so many things that can be misconstrued through a text or IM conversation too. People take things the wrong way and it's hard to actually understand what the person is saying without the emotion in their voice. I think this is all great to keep in touch with friends, I mean facebook was probably one of the best inventions ever. But I think we all over use it.

I fear for the younger generations that know nothing other than this technology. They are barely going to be able to write a sentence without a "lol." 

OMG shoes!

This will be a short post... I want these shoes...now.

That is all. <3

Summer!?!?! I can't wait that long...

THIS is awesome. I love my Iphone but this is going to make it soooooo much better!!! To my friends: I will FINALLY have picture messaging! haha

Check out the presentation...

a new amazing album, a fantastically hot guy, and other random comments...

So I was having a hard time figuring out what to write about...so I decided to just comment on a few things I've come across lately. 

First of all...Kelly Clarkson's new album "All I Ever Wanted" is quickly becoming my new favorite CD and is awesome to workout to which I discovered at the gym tonight. It's a real mix of pop, rock, and dance. Going back to her roots instead of being all angsty and dark. But she is still angry, Kelly loves to be angry haha. But I really can relate to a lot of the songs on this album, which always makes me grow more attached. My favorite track is "Longshot" it has a really interesting melody and lyrics any girl can relate to. check it out. I would recommend buying this album if you are a sucker for pop music like me :)

The next thing I just had to comment on is this fantastically HOT picture of Robert Pattinson I came across online. It's for his shoot for GQ and good god is this boy good looking. Especially if you are an avid reader of the Twlight series and have seen the movie....he is just dreamy. And I just had to post it for everyone to see. Read the books and you'll fall in love with Edward Cullen just like most of the world already has. HOT. click here  to see the rest of the insanely hot images of this boy.

Lastly, I just need to comment on a spring fashion trend that I am completely against. Florals. They are EVERYWHERE. I went to the mall this past week and every store has tons and tons of floral prints. I may be quite the girlie girl....but I HATE florals. I don't understand them. Why would I want to wear flowers all over me? Maybe bold sort of muted florals are ok...ones that could pass for just shapes in general. But anything else I can't stand. Ok just needed to get that out haha. Hope I didn't offend you floral lovers out there. 

Fashion faux pas and things that make me want to gouge my eyes out...

(NOTE: please do not be offended by anything you read below, I am not talking about anyone in particular, just my opinion.)

The way you dress is an expression of your personality, a representation of the way you feel, and the first thing that people usually notice about you. If you dress horribly, it's not going to reflect too well on peoples' opinion of you. Ok so you don't care what people think, that's great. Well, for those of you who do care (which is probably most of you) here are some of the fashion faux pas that make me cringe, and some other thoughts on trends that I just think should not exist..(in no particular order of awfulness, as they are all equally awful)

1) Jean Skirts and Uggs. Ok ladies, I love Uggs...I wear them all the time. They look fantastic with skinny jeans or leggings or even a simple sweater dress. A jean skirt is a summer clothing item, that is why it is so short...and Uggs are for winter, which is why they are so warm. Why in the world would anyone start a trend combining these two pieces? It looks absolutely ridiculous. Girls, please refrain from making this mistake at all times.

2) Animal Prints. I hate animal prints. I know that they can be worn tastefully in small doses, but personally I could live without them. They make me think "trash" and "cheap." Sorry if I'm offending anyone, this is just an opinion. The fashion gods have not counted out animal prints all together, so I mean...just wear with caution.

3) Brown and Black. Ok, this is a hard one because brown and black CAN be worn together if done correctly. But if you don't know how to wear them together correctly, please don't try. You can not wear a brown shirt with black pants, or vice versa. You need to mix them evenly throughout the outfit to make it work, for instance, a pattern black and brown shirt with black pants. Or a dress that mixes the colors in the pattern. Never brown shoes and black pants, just always go with the safe black shoe.

4) Spandex. I enjoy tights under a dress or a long sweater, but I hate when girls wear them as pants. They are not pants. If they were, then we would call them pants. They are tights, meant to be worn UNDER something. I don't care how nice of a butt you have and even if you can pull this off really well, it's not ok, unless you are at the gym. Because the problem is with trends like this, the girls that can pull it off will look good and then girls that really can't and try anyway just look ridiculous and it becomes a whole mess. So just don't do it, ok?

5) Denim Jackets. Hello, it is not 1995 anymore, lose the denim jacket. These are never ok in my book. I hate them, actually. I'm not even going to go into an explanation on this one...

6) Black Jeans. Or any colored jeans for that matter. No, no no. Jeans are meant to be blue. Especially these new colors that are out like yellow and pink. Yeah I'm sure those are really flattering. If you want black bottoms, pick something else out, put the dyed denim down.

7) Makeup lines. BLEND ladies. It takes 20 seconds and saves you tons of humiliation. Nothing worse than a line down your face just showing everyone...Hey! I'm wearing tons of makeup. I opt for Bare Minerals powder makeup, I love it and it never leaves lines :)

8) Camel toe. No explanation needed...

9) Clothes that don't fit. Nothing irritates me more than too loose or too tight-fitting clothes. Don't try to be a size you're not. Just buy what FITS. No one wants to see you cellulite through your pants. And it kills me when I see a girl that has a nice figure and dresses like she's 3 sizes bigger. If you have the body, flatter it. It's all about FLATTERING. A lot of people do not get this.

10) Pants that are too short aka high waters. Where's the flood? this goes along with the last one but needs its own explanation. I'm not sure how pants get to short unless you shrink them in the wash. Or maybe you just buy them that way? Just throw them out, no one wants to see your socks. Please, this is just miserable to see. Capri pants go to your mid calf, Petal Pushers go to your knees, Bermuda Shorts go right above the knee... PANTS GO DOWN TO YOUR FEET. Sorry, I feel strongly about this one.


Ok so that's all. Sorry if I offended anyone. Hopefully this educated everyone on what NOT to wear, or what not to wear around me at least...

Crazy Girls Make Awesome Music

Music is one of my greatest passions. I listen to all sorts of genres ranging from country to rock, and my Ipod is filled with the most random crap you will ever find. I wanted to write a blog about two albums that I am currently obsessed with. 

First off...Miss Lily Allen. From what I read about her in the tabloids, she is completely and utterly out of her mind and just an overall mess. But she sure makes damn good music. For those of you who don’t know her, she’s an English singer-songwriter that burst onto the scene in 2006 with her first single “Smile” from the album “Alright, Still.” I would describe her sound as British Electro Pop, and seriously catchy. Her lyrics are hilarious and sometimes vulgar but fantastic at the same time. Her sophomore album “It’s not me it’s you” was released in February and I have been listening to it non-stop ever since.

The songs on this album are all really relatable and the lyrics are just down right funny. Lily says things that we are all thinking, but no one has the balls to say out loud. My favorite song on the album is the first single called “The Fear.” It’s just a great song and I can’t stop listening to it. Check it out.

Lady Gaga is by far the most out-there and bizarre character I have ever seen. I absolutely love her! Her Dance-Pop music is soooo catchy and just a lot of fun. When I first heard her single “Just Dance” last summer I was sure she was just another “dance” artist that really couldn’t sing at all. I went ahead and downloaded her album “The Fame” out of curiosity, and I am in love. Her songs, like Lily’s, can be on the vulgar side, but they are awesome. The music is really well-produced and I love every song on the album. And she can ACTUALLY sing, which is always a plus. It think it’s so funny she’s a 22 year old brunette from Yonkers, New York. I was totally convinced she was from Europe when I first got the album haha. Check out one of my favorite songs "Poker Face"

True Love in a Box...

A girl will have many relationships in her life, good and bad. As men come and go for various reasons, there is one relationship that proves to be much more stable, and significantly more important; her relationship with her shoes. Shoes will never cheat on you, they will never fear commitment, and they will never disagree. This is why our love affair with shoes goes deeper than the leather and satin, they represent so much more. And men just have absolutely no conception of this.

Shoes are a necessary item. You can’t walk around barefoot all the time. And that statement in itself is the reason this obsession with shoes all began. So we have to wear something to protect out feet, why not make them really pretty? There are some people that disagree with this, but in general, girls love shoes, and here is why…

A good pair of shoes will always be dependable; if you need them, they’re there. Heels, specifically, make your legs and butt look awesome, and who doesn’t love that? Shoes also provide a feeling of control. You pick out the perfect pair that compliments your outfit, similar to picking out a man that compliments you…except with shoes, they will almost always fit just right.

One reason I absolutely love shoe shopping is because when you are having one of those really fat days where the last thing in the world you want to do is try on clothes, shoes are always the answer. They ALWAYS will fit, I mean unless your feet gained wait but I think that’s pretty rare, right?

So to sum this all up, shoes are a girl’s escape from the chaotic world. They are a constant provider of self-esteem and will always make you feel fabulous. And don’t deny it, you love that clicky sound they make on the pavement as much as I do. Lol.

A girls can NEVER have to many shoes…and that’s a fact.

Success on the Red Carpet...

Last night was the biggest night in Hollywood, The Academy Awards. Personally I find the show itself to not be nearly as exciting as the red carpet. It’s every girls’ dream to be in one of those fabulous gowns. I figured I’d post on some of my favorites of the night...

Kate Winslet was by far the best-dressed of the evening. This Atelier Yves Saint Laurent by Stefano Pilati gown is amazing. I love the off-the-shoulder style and lace detailing. It’s SO gorgeous. I just wish her hair looked better…she has GORGEOUS hair and she definitely didn’t do it justice.

Sarah Jessica Parker was another one of my favorites. This Dior dress is amazing, and I just love her all together haha. She looks beautiful and classic in this Cinderella-style dress.

I also REALLY loved this red Carolina Herrera gown that Amy Adams wore. It’s definitely different. The necklace though just does not really go at all. So that stinks, but the dress is beautiful.

Now this dress I have not made my mind up on yet. I think it’s interesting, but perhaps a little too gaudy. Thoughts? Leave it to Miley to buy this dress lol.

Overall I think everyone looked beautiful this year…not too many fashion disasters. Gotta love the red carpet!!!

Even your nails need a new spring wardrobe.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am addicted to  nail polish. I change it at least once or twice a week and spend way too much money on bottles upon bottles of only the best kinds. OPI and Essie are my two favorites. Not only do I love the fantastic colors and great lasting power of these brands, I love the names that they come up with for each color. How amazing would that job be? haha. Anyway, both Essie and OPI have released their spring 2009 collections and they are awesome. Take a look.

And one of my FAVORITE top coats ever is by Essie it's called "Good to Go" and your nails dry literally in a minute and they last for a while. Everyone should own it. 

Add some Pantone™ to Your Spring Wardrobe.

I recently came across something online that I found to be really interesting…

As an avid shopper I am well aware that every season has it’s designated color palette. This combination of colors will be seen everywhere from the runway to forever 21. And being the hopeless trend-follower that I am, I do respect this recommendation from the fashion gods and try to incorporate it into my own wardrobe.

As a graphic designer, I deal with colors at work everyday. Pantone colors, tons of swatches in every color imaginable. Never did I expect this to have anything to do with the fashion industry. I don’t know if I was just living under a rock…but I came across this document and was totally pumped to see that Pantone provides a seasonal color palette for the fashion industry. I just think it pretty cool. And the colors for Spring 2009 are awesome…so have a look!

I just find this interesting because it brings together my nerdy computer design knowledge with my love of fashion. Looks like Pantone has a hold on color in all industries.

Download the PDF

Welcome to my very first blog! I never thought that I would start one of these but recently my friends inspired me to do so. So here we go! A little bit about me to start…

I’m 23 and I am an art director at an advertising agency in NJ. I love design, art and all things Mac. So I am sort of a nerd, but the girliest nerd you will ever meet. Hence the name of my blog, “Pixels & Polka Dots.” I mean, I carry an external hard drive in my coach bag. So yeah…it’s an interesting combination.

This blog is going to encompass all of my interests…from fashion, makeup, and shopping to music, design, and technology. And maybe a little bit about life here and there. So I hope you all enjoy it! Stay tuned for my first REAL post haha.