More Selby

Remember my Selby fantasy?

Well, looks like there is a clearly outlined way to make it happen.  Woo-hoo.  Bring it on.

 

Click the above link to see the diagram in all its detailed glory.

Because you hang on my every word...

You may remember me mentioning a few Fridays ago that I had a "monumental weekend" coming up.  Well I did, and it was... and I'm ready to spill the beans.

I took and passed the NY state licensing exam!!  This exam has been looming like a storm cloud for almost a year.  Over every late night out, every lazy Sunday, every lingering brunch I had to hear that awful voice in my head "you should be studying!"  Well, I showed her!

This has been a long time coming.  My road to a PhD began officially in 2002.  Along the way I've had doubts and bad days and dreams of walking away from it all to become a yoga instructor.  But here I am.  I'm so glad I made it.

Promises, promises.

Remember when I promised a tutorial for managing your hair in that awkward in-between stage?  Well, I would never break a promise to you, my devoted readers.  So here goes:

This is the look that inspired me.  It was published in NY Mag's Look Book (another place I fantasize about appearing one day...) and I tried and tried to replicate it, but I could never get the volume quite right.  It took me a few years to learn that the secret is a good old fashioned teasing. 

So, in the spirit of recently published messy bun tutorials a la Cup of Jo and Cupcakes and Cashmere, here's my version of the messy bun.

Don't be fooled by the apathetic look on my face.  I'm screaming for help on the inside.

The road to happiness is paved with a bottle of hairspray, a boar bristle brush, a hair band and bobby pins (pretend I'm holding those too.)  See, I'm smiling already.

Step 1: Pull hair into a tight and high pony.

Step 2: Channel the 80's and get to teasing.

Step 3: Spray the hell out of that teased mess. Yes ladies... bigger is indeed better.  (Take it from someone who knows.)

Step 4: Loop hair around and start pinning.

 Step 5: Keep wrapping hair and pinning.  There is no such thing as "too many bobby pins."

Step 6: Spray, a lot.

Although the finished product is not as good as I generally like it to be, this is about the time that my reluctant photographer had had about enough.  So, these final shots aren't great.  We were late for brunch and as he took the last shot he asked "you're not wearing your hair out like that, are you?"  Thanks honey, glad you like it.

On the reading list.

I'm feeling quite excited about two new books.

The first is "The Selby Is in Your Place," by Todd Selby.  If you aren't familiar with Todd, he has photographed  over 150 people in around their homes across the world, though there quite an emphasis on NYC, which after all is the center of the universe.  He works out of a studio in the East Village and his photos are phenomenal.  Don't believe me?  See for yourself.
Sometimes, as I lay awake in my bed at night, I fantasize about having my place photographed by Todd.  It could happen... maybe.

Next up, "True Prep."  This is the incarnation of an old favorite "The Official Preppy Handbook."  Growing up, this book was on the bookshelf in my house and I remember thumbing through it at age 7 and being so confused, thinking, "my parents are nothing like the people in this book, why would they own it?" Ah, humor, I was late in acquiring you.

Anyway, I grew to love the book and as an adult who enthusiastically embraces summering in Cape Cod and wearing Nantucket reds and Tory Burch flats (while simultaneously laughing at it all) I'm beyond excited for the new edition.  From the amazon.com review;

"From the author of The Official Preppy Handbook comes a new take on the old world that Lisa Birnbach turned into an international best-selling phenomenon thirty years ago.

True Prep looks at how the old guard of natural-fiber-loving, dog-worshipping, G&T-soaked preppies adapts to the new order of the Internet, cell phones, rehab, political correctness, reality TV and . . . polar fleece.

A small sample:

• Wardrobe: Recent prep brands we are forced to recognize. How to tell Casual Friday from, say, Saturday.
• Money: We never talk about it.
• Food: Does the Food Network mean we’re going to have to cook? Bake? Now you’re going too far.
• Scandals: Poor Mrs. Astor. When Mummy’s plastic surgery goes terribly wrong. Rehab and the slammer: the new prep schools.
• We’re outta here: When to name something after yourself, and when not. The right obituary. What to do with your dogs if you predecease them.
• NO TEXTING AT THE TABLE, PLEASE."

True Prep promises to be a whole new old sensation.

If me at 24 could see me at 30...

If you had told me in 2004 that in 6 short years I would be married to a banker from Connecticut who spends his weekends playing golf in shorts with whales embroidered on them I would spit in your face.  Mention that Sunday dinner would be spaghetti and (turkey) meatballs and I just might have set you on fire.  Life is funny, no? 

This was dinner on Sunday night.  Adapted from here.

I heart NY

I don't watch Law & Order.  I will never see this episode.  But, the fact that it's being filmed on my street makes me smile.

A long weekend.

What a weekend...

Very recently, we decided to indulge and hire a cleaning lady.  As she left on Friday, I asked her (in broken Spanish) if she would consider marrying me.  I think she was more alarmed than flattered, but I didn't care.  I'd never seen my apartment cleaner and I want to shout my love for her from the rooftops.  If you are looking for an indulgence, I would highly recommend a cleaning lady, preferably one who does not speak a word of English and measures in at 4 feet, 6 inches.   At least that's what worked for me.

To celebrate I bought flowers from the bodega and decorated the place. You can't beat a bunch from the bodega.

We spent the weekend eating out and enjoying the weather.  I had a drink next to Ben Stiller on Friday night.   Everyone at his table was laughing loudly and often.  And on Sunday, I didn't even complain that Mr. DD had to bring work to the park with us.  His computer screen made for a nice backdrop for a photo.

(Hey DC, I see your cherry blossoms and I raise you even more beautiful cherry blossoms....Don't mind me, I'm just bitter cause you seem to have so much of Mr. DD's time these days.)

On Saturday I skyped with my youngest niece, the wildflower (not to be confused with my older niece, the rose).  We discussed why throwing things at her teacher was never a good idea when trying to avoid nap time and when I asked her how old she thought I was.  She guessed "60?"

Sunday was not easy.  We visited our dearest 104-year-old friend who is not long for this world.  If you ever need to fall totally and completely in love with your husband all over again, watch him as he holds the hand of an 80 pound woman and tells her how much he loves her as she lays unconscious in her bed. If that doesn't do it, I don't know what will...

Happy Monday, y'all :)