Vacation all I ever wanted...

Hey Kids ~
I'm off to paradise (aka Hawaii!) for a whole week :)
I'll see all y'all when I return!

Aloooooo-HA!

I confess

"Da Doo Run Run" by Shaun Cassidy just came on XM 70s radio. When this song came out in 1977, I was 10 years old. I wrote Shaun Cassidy a letter, professing my undying love for him, telling him I listened to the 45 all the time and how funny, my name is Jill and you're singing to me!

I signed the letter "Love, Reese"

OK, I am such a dork. Seriously. Dorkus maximus. Right now, I can't stop laughing. I am crying, actually.

ooooh, it's a Fashion Challenge!

Once again, Lys took time out of her day (bless her heart!) to kindly point out Sarah's blog - a fashion challenge. She knows I a) love fashion and b) usually take up a challenge. OK, kids, here we go!

The Challenge: replicate a designer outfit for less than $100. Sarah came in at a little over $90 with her Angie Harmon inspired ensemble. Lys, ever the budget-conscious one, put together an outfit to rival the actual outfit Sara Ramirez wore.



Since I've been dealing with turning 40 (T minus-11 days and counting), I chose the oh-so-fabulous at 40, Halle Berry. Hell, if I'm gonna be 40, who better to be 40 with?! My *twist* is to find it for plus-size.




Halle in Dolce & Gabbana dress
and Christian Louboutin shoes
*sigh*







And, here's mine:





Fronting in Black
from www.sizeappeal.com
$12.99












back lace-up pencil skirt, black
from www.torrid.com
$44.00


















Megan Peep Toe w/Mary Jane heel, black
from www.torrid.com
$38.00

Grand total: $94.99

Yay me!

insane in the brain

This week, I've purchased the following:

• one tankini
• one beach cover-up
• 2 dresses
• one pair of sandals
• 2 skirts
• 3 spa treatments at the hotel in Hawaii where I will be for my birthday

Apparently, turning 40 has affected me more than I thought.

I'm pickin' up what you're layin' down

Apparently, Suburban Cupcake issued a challenge meme. Lys, as usual, didn't shy away from it. She then threw down the gauntlet; and I, as usual, picked it up. Will I never learn? Probably.

Three things that scare me:
1. Bugs
2. most Southern California drivers
3. my elevated blood pressure

Three people that make me laugh:
1. The BFFs (especially Thursdays on the Couch with the camera out)
2. Zach in Domestic Marketing
3. most of the regs on Whose Line is it Anyway?!

Three things I hate:
1. most Southern California drivers
2. people with a (false) sense of entitlement - esp. at work
3. country music

Three things on my desk:
1. an international report which needs to be reviewed
2. bottle of water
3. 300 poster - Gerard Butler's abs. Purrr

Three things I’m doing right now:
1. this survey thing
2. perfecting my avoidance behaviours
3. breathing

Three things I’d like to do before I die:
1. buy a house
2. spend a weekend in NYC during the holiday season
3. meet George Clooney & Matthew Perry

Three things I can do:
1. rock a mini-skirt like you wouldn't believe
2. say the ABCs backwards
3. be a good friend

Three things I think you should listen to:
1. your heart
2. Seasons of Love from the RENT soundtrack (I prefer the Broadway version, but the movie version is sufficient. Just listen!)
3. Hysteria (the album) by Def Leppard

Three favorite foods:
1. garlic mashed potatoes
2. the short ribs at French 75 Bistro in Burbank CA
3. Moose Tracks ice cream

Three shows I watched as a kid:
1. L.A. T-Birds roller derby!
2. Family Affair (Buffy! Jody! Cissy! Mee-ster French! Uncle Bee-yel!)
3. The Brady Bunch, of course

Three things I regret:
No regrets! I wouldn't be the person I am now.

Well, I could get a great all-over tan...

Three weeks from today, I'll be in Hawaii. Yay me!

It occurred to me last Friday, that I do not have a bathing suit. Boo me! I'm the CATHY cartoon when it comes to bathing suit shopping. I *so* don't want to do this. But, I sorta have to. :::sniffle:::

I did some online looking today. WTC?! WHY are bathing suits $80, even $100+? WHY are tankinis the only options for plus-size girls? WHY does Newport News only offer my favorite swimsuit EVER in a hideous floral/jungle print? Why why why?! I checked out The Avenue, Torrid, Lane Bryant, Junonia, Kiyonna, Catherine's, Land's End, Newport News, Spiegel, Macy's, even Target. No bathing suit, but got 2 *great* dresses:

But, I digress. :)

With much dread and trepidation, I opted for the tankini from Old Navy in Cassis (read: brown).

Because of my unique size/shape (6'2", plus-size), tankinis scare the crap outta me. Most are not long enough to cover my tummy and the bottoms do not come up high enough. I ordered this one in a size larger, hoping that will allow for more coverage. I'll find out in 4-7 days. I can always return...and get board shorts instead.

If that doesn't work, I could find the nude beach.

but I still haven't found what I'm looking for

In 26 days, I will be 40. And, I must admit, am a little freaked out. OK. More than a little freaked out.

I truly expected to be in a different place than I am now. At 18, looking ahead to what 40 would be, I saw marriage and a family and a house and stability. At T-minus 26 days and counting, looking ahead to what 40 will be, I ain't seein' what I thought I would. *sigh* I really just need to reconcile the 18 year-old view with the 39 year-old reality.

My life is fantastic. Really! I have a wonderful, supportive, fun family ~ a constant source of love and laughs. My friends ~ all of them, from Orlando FL to PhilaPA to my BFFs at the Burbank Blvd. compound ~ show me every day how lucky I am, how blessed I am and how loved I am. My job is oh-so-good! My team is the best (this I know *and* I've been told again and again) ~ my boss is great, the Company is *fantastic* and the perks are stellar (c'mon, where else in this world can a girl almost get run over by Matthew Perry AND have George Swooney bump into her? No where, I tell you! No where!). In general, I'm happy. 40, looming in the headlights, is just kicking my ass and making me sad.

I've been journaling this whole "I'm turning 40 someday" thing since last year. It has forced me to take stock of what I have, what I want and who I am. Not the who I am from the 18 year-old perspective. But the true now who I am. *sigh*

I'll let ya know what I find out, when I find out.

Girl Can't Help It

Sunday, while at the gym, confidently striding on the elliptical, I made a mental checklist of things to accomplish (laundry, go through the magazines, etc). However, this was not to be. I got a text from BFF Mandy - Gotta go to Nordys Rack and real Nordys. Want to come with? Uhh, is my name Reese? Hell yeah, I wanna go! Nordstrom Rack AND Nordstrom?! Now, I realize this was the wrong choice. But, I went with it. Come on ~ the new Nordstrom @ Topanga is gorrrrrrr-juss! It's huge and pretty and new and gorrrrrrr-juss. The Girl can't help it.

So, me & my BFF head to the Rack. I'm usually pretty lucky when it comes to size 12 shoes at the Rack. But, was sorely disappointed in this trip. I don't need Nikes or Reeboks. I want Steve Maddens or Franco Sartos! None to be had. Fine. "Let's look at jewelry." OK! One word, kids - Sorrelli. Ohmigosh. I've seen Sorrelli, but never looked at Sorrelli. Boy oh boy oh boy oh boy! And, there it was...gorrrrrr-juss bracelet, sparkling stones arranged like flowers all around the wrist. It sparkles! I mean, seriously sparkles. I bought it. Every girl's gotta have some bling, right? The Girl can't help it. The sales girls were very impressed - 'it looks so good on you!' (Duh!); 'you can wear it with anything - jeans, dress, pants - it'll make any outfit'; 'it just pops!' I know! (Monica voice) The Girl can't help it.

Across the street lies mecca - Topanga Plaza. The whole mall was recently overhauled, refurbished and is now simply magnificent. All of my favorite stores are there: Nordstrom, Torrid, Bare Escentuals, Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs, Target. Wanna know what we had for lunch? Sushi! Sushi in the food court, you ask? I know! Ohhh, but it was good. The Girl can't help it.

Then, we hit Nordstrom. :::heavens part, angels' choir sing::: The store is spectacular, really. Over here is Point of View. Over there is Savvy. Across the way is the designer section - Valentino, Chanel, hoity-toity. BFF Mandy & I looked around, grabbed what she needed, except for the Nine West black lace dress - not in her size, blah blah blah (just gonna fast-forward right here).

I gotta tell ya, BFF Mandy is the wrong person for me to shop with. While I try to be my own voice of reason (oxymoronic, I know), she's complimenting the hell outta me - whatever it is! "Ohhh the bracelet is stunning! It really just pops! It looks so good on you!" How do you think I got that Sorrelli bracelet? Her. We wander into the Encore section and there it is. The same black lace Nine West dress BFF Mandy had her eye on. And it is in my size! (the pic doesn't do the dress justice. But, I sure do!)






I'm a little hesitant when it comes to shirtdresses because my lack of a waist is emphasized. I really wanted a great Maggy London, but the patterns were very...eh. So, I try on the Nine West. Uhh, helloooo. Houston, we have a waist! The dress is perfect - shows off the girls, shows the waist I've been looking for, hits and drapes in the right places, and shows off my legs. Basically, this dress shows off all of the hard work I've done since November 2006. Hell yeah it does! Y'know what? I bought it. The Girl can't help it!

Props & a shout-out to Journey for providing today's mantra: Girl Can't Help It

The Bachelor ~ #10

I swore off The Bachelor a couple of years ago. Like most long-running reality TV shows, The Bachelor casts "characters" ~ The Virgin, The Bitchy Girl Who Fights With Everyone, The Psycho, etc. After nine seasons (let's name them, shall we? Alex, Aaron, Andrew, Bob, Jesse, Byron, Charlie, Travis and "Prince" Lorenzo), I needed a break. Last night, however, I tuned in. And boy am I glad I did! It was :::insert Chris Harrison voice::: the most fun Bachelor episode ever.

For those unfamiliar with the process, one guy (The Bachelor) gets to meet 25 girls, eliminating them week after week until he's left with The One. Of the 9 previous Bachelors, only a couple have actually proposed. Of those Bachelors, only ONE couple is still together (Byron and Mary). This bothered me. I'm invested in the show for three months only to have The Bachelor offer the ring as a "promise" or something. It's a huge letdown. (Side bar: Trista - the first Bachelorette - actually was proposed to by Ryan, married Ryan and is now expecting a baby with Ryan!). But, I digress.

Andy, The Bachelor (An Officer and a Gentleman) is a navy doctor. From the neck down, he's pretty rockin'. It's his 30th birthday and he gets his pick of 25 women. One by one they exit the limo to meet him. 95% are blonde. 95% of that 95% have horrible color (washed-out complexion, too bleached, too fake). A lot of sparkly dresses and sparkly girls. Most of the sparkly girls I honestly don't remember. But here are the highlights:

Girl Who Sings - she sang the National Anthem to him. Out loud. In front of other people. For a minute there, I thought it was American Idol (ooh whoa whoa).

Girl With Big Eyes & Biceps - she challenged The Bachelor (An Officer and a Gentleman) to push-ups. Push-ups. Seriously. In her grown-up prom dress, the Girl did push-ups. Ai yi yi.

Girl from Alabama - she was the source of all things entertaining last night! Let's see...she drank a lot. A lot. She fell off her barstool without spilling a drop of her drink! How's that for a neat party trick? She then got into a verbal brawl with Loudmouth Girl. And, to top it all off, Girl from Alabama raps. She rapped - complete with the oh-so-timely beat-boxing - something about Andy. I'm sad she didn't get a rose. I'll miss her entertainment value.

I've decided to stick with this one until the end. Why? Because it was announced at the beginning of the show that there WILL be a payoff. The Bachelor (An Officer and a Gentleman) will propose! :::gasp::: Shut up! I'm in.

So, time to invest in more VCR tapes. I am *not* gonna miss THIS.

"Ladies, please take a moment and say your good-byes."