Does Everything Have to Mean Something?

The title of this post may be a bit more dramatic than the contents. This post is not about epiphanies or the answer to the meaning or non-meaning of life (depending on how you look at it). No, this post is about tattoos.
I am now the proud permanently inked girl of two new tattoos, which brings my total up to 4. I got my first tattoo when I was 19. It is small heart on my right forearm. I call it my "Tester Tat." I knew I wanted a tattoo, but I didn't know if I could handle the pain. Well, I think I can since I got three more since then, but they also have all taken less than 3 minutes to complete, so maybe I only have a three minute pain tolerance threshold. I'll have to get back to you on that.
My second tattoo I got about two years ago. It is of an elephant located on the left forearm in line with the heart. This tat did have a bit more meaning. One, I love elephants. Two, they are representative of love, wisdom, and patience. All things to be admired. So there you have it.
My third and fourth tattoos are just two days old. One is a triangle just below the elephant, and the other is an arrow on my ribs.
Like any good social media junkie, I Instagrammed an abstract photo of my arm and the tattoo pen.

Shortly after my Insty, I received The Question. "What do they stand for?" and "What is the symbolism there?"
Honestly, I was a little annoyed. While the triangle does pose meaning- past, present, and future for each three points- to be a smart eleck, I responded by saying the triangle was to show my alliance for the Illuminati. (Urban dictionary definition, actual definition in case you are new to this concept). I think some people believed me. As for the arrow, I really have no other answer, besides I liked the design. But maybe I should start to go with a Hunger Games related reason. "Oh, I got the arrow because I am a BIG Katniss Everdeen fan! Team Gail!" I think people would accept that answer before they would accept, "Because I liked it."
Yes, I agree tattoos are a big commitment, but I did not just show up at the tattoo shop and pick the first random shape that popped in my head. I did give it some thought. But that also does not mean I have some deep, emotional, enlightened purpose for my ink. I just liked the designs and I wanted them.
So, you tell me, does everything (AKA tattoos) have to mean something?

"I'm Not a Bum..."

Living in New York City, I have encountered many homeless people. I see them on a daily basis, which is not something I am used having grown up in a little rural town in Upstate New York. Everyday I see homeless people on the streets, sleeping on subway benches, sleeping on the steps of churches, jingling their cups and dare I be honest and say, agitating me when I am just trying to get from point A to point B on the subway without having to listen to a speech that ends in asking for money. At one point, I can remember thinking how annoyed I was by these disruptions. I know how saying all this makes me look, and I will followup up by saying I am not a heartless person. I am a "victim, " in the loosest meaning of the word possible, to my surrounding. Seeing these occurrences daily takes a toll on you. It does make me sad, but it also makes you immune. What I mean by this is, seeing a homeless person multiple times a day became "normal," and thinking of them as bums was my mindset. I started to view these human beings as non-human. I believe a lot of this has to do with the fact that I cannot understand how they got to this place, but I also believe I do not know how lucky I truly am. And that is what it is, folks. Luck.

After watching this video, I have a new perspective. I read this quote somewhere and it sums up my feelings and newly acquired outlook on the situation- "The only time you should look down on someone is when you are reaching down to lift them up."

So, give this 4 minute video a watch. Listen. Learn. Be grateful. Gain perspective.

The Madness is Coming!

Jimmy Kimmel is the prankster of late night television. From asking parents to lie to their kids about eating their hard earned Halloween candy to the even funnier Lie Witness News segments, Kimmel is a prankster who turns jokes into eye-opening clips about what people will do and say to fit in. Shortly after New York Fashion Week last year, Lie Witness News focused on the runways shows at Lincoln Center. His crew interviewed people outside of Lincoln Center about designers that do not exist. Note: these designers are not real! With that said, the people interviewed had a lot to say about these faux designers and collections. This segment proves to some degree why people think the fashion world is a joke. But these same people may be the ones how fall privy to the latest fashions and trends, but I digress... With the Fall/wWinter 2014 shows around the corner, let's gear up for the madness that is Fashion Week!

7 Reasons Why The Voice is the Best Singing Competition on TV

1. Adam and Blake's witty banter. Those two are so in love/hate it is adorable. Watching Adam and Blake during the blind auditions might be my favorite part of the show.

2. CeeLo's outrageous outfit choices. I am currently watching The Voice while I write this and CeeLo is sporting a very interesting leather cape? He also likes to throw some fancy shades in there every once in a while. (Don't even get me going on the head tat.) Way to keep us guessing CeeLo! 

3. Meeting CeeLo's many strange pets. Just a week ago, I discovered CeeLo not only has a cat and a parrot that we meet in previous seasons, but also a llama named a Ollama (clever) and a pig named Little Richard. At least he is no longer interviewed while petting his fluffy white cat. He looked like an evil villain. You know it's true!

4. Blake's dimples. I know he is a married man and about the same age as my father, but those dimples! Too cute!

5. Sometimes Adam looks like Tom Hanks from Cast Away. Adam Levine is a good looking man, but every once in a while it's nice to see him not looking like a Greek God and putting all other men to shame. So, thank you, Adam, for occasionally making everyday men look slightly more appealing.

6. When Christina "freestyles". Christina Aguilera has the most beautiful voice, and that is truly recognized when she just casually hits a couple high notes when helping a contestant out on how to improve their range. No biggie and I'm sure the contestants feel no extra pressure...

7. The contestants!!! Ughhhh! I love them all! I want Jacquie Lee to win. I want Caroline to win. I want Will Champlin to win! I WANT THEM ALL TO WIN. Except for Kat Robichaud. She can go home. Just not feeling her. Sorry. 

The Not-So-Lucky Cover

Well, this is interesting... The woman on this cover is supposed to be Kerry Washington, but if you ask me she looks like a morphed combination of Naomi Watts, Michelle Obama, and Kerry Washington. Three beautiful women, combined- not so much.  I have seen tabloid street shots of Mrs. Washington  that look better than this clearly photoshopped picture. This photo does no justice to the talented actress, but it blatantly portrays how often and how excessive photoshopping is, even on the most beautiful of women. How could anyone let this photo go to print? People are "blaming" Anna Wintour, but isn't Eva Chen the Editor in Chief of Lucky? And what about all the other people who worked on this shoot? I am sure there was a better picture to choose from?! My only question is, what does Mrs. Washington think about this?

Photo source: http://stylecaster.com/anna-wintour-kerry-washington-lucky-cover/

The Miley's Were Multiplying!

If you noticed far too many Miley look a likes this weekend, have no fear the horror should be over soon. Halloween celebrations have come to an end, and hopefully come Monday the Miley costumes will be out of sight, but you may have to stay of any social media platform for about a week or so.

Celebs from Paris Hilton, Joan Rivers, Crystal Harris, and even Kelly Ripa were wearing a Miley outfit. WHY?

Maybe next year, we could all take some tips from this incredible mother-daughter duo.

Source: People

The Sparrow Face

Let us welcome a new face into the selfie world- the "Sparrow Face." It all started with the infamous "Duck Face," but that is old news. Today, the selfie to post is the deer in the headlights look. Wide-eyed and confused is the new pursed lips. But, here's a thought, why don't you smile...

The Proposal of All Proposals

If you have not seen this video and you are a woman, watch it immediately and have tissues on hand. If you are a man and have not seen this video, watch it and know nothing you do will ever be good enough if and when you decide to propose. There is a flash mob involved. Enough said.
Enjoy! And remember ladies, this man is the exception (like 1 in a trillion billion gazillion exception), not the rule.

Trends are Dead! Long Live Style!

How many times do you walk into a place and see someone wearing the same garment as you? Or you view a recap of what the stars wore to one of their countless events and two celebs wore the same gown? (Ooops! I would hate to be that stylist.) Sometimes it seems as though everyone is wearing the same thing!
I blame fast fashion. Everyone wants their hands on the latest trends and as soon as it hits the rack, it is gone in 60 seconds. Look at the Phillip Lim collection that launched at Target last month. It was sold out in less than 24 hours, and less than 24 hours after that, the next Target collab was all over the media. We had no time to revel in the beauty of Phillip Lim's designs. As soon as the collection hit the stores, it was like it was old news and after it sold out everyone wanted to know what was next. Consumerism at it's best.
 The fashion industry is becoming a place of drones. One might say this is more true for the younger generation. I remember in high school when you were not "cool" unless you were wearing American Eagle, Hollister, or Abercrombie. WHAT?! Basic polos and ripped jeans with an eagle logo- that is what I used to strive for. That is what my parents and myself once paid for, to look like everyone else. To fit in nice and neatly in the Sea of Same. Gosh, I am so glad I survived high school. But sometimes that same pressure to "fit in" by wearing certain brands still applies today. Luckily, I have broken that mold a bit, but that doesn't mean I don't shop at H&M or Zara, I do. I love Zara, but I am more in tune with what I choose and how I wear it than when I was a naive teen. I have also differentiated my style enough that friends I have gone shopping with see what I have thrown over my arm to try on and say, "That is so your style!"
What is style? Is it having what everyone else has? Is is owning the gorgeous Celine bag with the blue suede side detail that every other woman is carrying? No. No it is not. It does not mean you shouldn't own those items, it just means you should only own them if those pieces are truly you, not because that is what Kim Kardashian and good-old-what's-her-name is wearing today. What you wear says something about you, or it should.
Trends are dead. Wear what you want not what is "in" because in a month or two, what was in will be out. Fast fashion is determining what we wear and to some degree how to wear it, but it by no means has to. Long live style. Make each piece your own. Don't be the person that walks into the room and three other people have on your outfit.

Who wore it best?

The Candy Crush Craze!

 

I was sitting in the D express train during rush hour the other day just minding my own business trying to get home. After a long day I just want to listen to music and do a mindless, but fun activity. Sure, I could read, in fact, I used to. That was until I became a candy crush addict. "Hi, my name is Mary, and I have been addicted to Candy Crush for about 7 months now. Some levels are easier than others, but I work through it everyday." I joke, but I think I might have a problem. The good news is I'm not alone, there are about 45 MILLION PEOPLE who are addicted to this game!!! (Slate.com) I am using addicted a bit loosely here. if you play Candy Crush, you are an addict.
Being on level 154 (it's a real doosey- you've been warned), I consider myself an expert. If you need any tips, email me. ;) But, yet again, I distress.
So as I'm in my candy crush coma, I look up through the crowd in hopes I haven't missed my stop, and notice the gentlemen on either side of me are also playing candy crush! I laugh to myself. This app has taken over! Not only were three strangers sitting in a row all playing this addicting game, but who knows how many countless others just in my car were playing it as well.
So, while myself and fellow train riders could be resting, reading, or catching up on emails, I'm perfecting my puzzle and problem solving skills. Yep, that's right in order to rid my guilt I'm turning Candy Crush into a brain exercise. But hey, who's to say it's not.
So, I ask you... What level are you on?

Rob Pattinson Making a Comeback

Since the last installment of the fan crazed Twilight series and Kristen Stewart cheating on RPatts with a married man, I had not seen or heard much about any of the stars. That was until Rob Pattinson became the face of Dior Homme. This sultry black and white commercial shows the rugged Pattinson in a lustful relationship with a petite blonde. It gave off a rebel without a cause vibe with scenes of crashing a fancy party and running on rooftops. Even a non Rob Pattinson fan would be drawn into this ad with Rob's dapper looks and passionate moments with his lover. Women everywhere will be buying this cologne in hopes it is actually a magic potion that turns their man into Robert Pattinson.
After his Dior debute, it's just a matter of time before Mr. Pattinson is back on the radar and on the big screen.

NYFW: What is Going on with Men's Fashion?

Maybe I am being hypocritical because I think Alexander McQueen's and John Galliano's gowns are beautiful even in their outrageous extravagance, but I do not understand men's fashion.
While skimming through some of the New York Fashion Shows I often found myself shaking my head in question at the men's designs. Tim Cooper sent a red, white, and black sleeveless shift dress down the runway during his collection. Libertine created an overly embellished biker jacket and paired it with a graphic white tee and a black speedo. I think something was missing... Oh yes, the pants!. The most shocking outfit may have been from Siki Im. The models wore a silicon-like piece on their torso covered with what can only be described an hospital looking pieces and, the worst fashion faux pas, socks with sandals. But that's not all. A white wash clothe was casually draped on the model's heads. If there was a statement to be made here it was lost on me.
Lastly, while this designer was the most conservative of them all, the Marc Jacobs men's looks where the most wearable by the standards of the guys that I know and yet still a bit much. What got me the most were the accessories. A silver clutch, a necklace and a chain ear cuff?
I can appreciate a creative mind and out of the box designs, but these looks were a bit too far out of the box for me. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I think men look their best in a crisp suite or perfectly fitted jeans, but these fashions did not do it for me. Then again, I don't have to wear them. Thank goodness! Good luck men!

Tim Cooper SS14

Libertine SS14

Siki Im SS14

Marc Jacobs SS14

Five Lessons from Miley's "Wrecking Ball" Video

1. Miley's favorite body part might be her tongue. The beginning of the video was emotional and decent until you get to the scene of Miley licking the mallet. What is with this girl and her tongue?
2. We should take everything literally. My friend and I were joking weeks before the video was released that Miley would be swinging from a wrecking ball, or possibly a giant teddy bear. Imagine our delight (read: horror) when we saw the video.
3. Miley just doesn’t like to wear clothes. From her nude two piece ensemble at the VMA's to her white two piece she wears in her video, Miley is just not into wearing much more than underwear.
4. We need her mascara. Even through all the tears, not a drop of mascara was lost. Please tell us your beauty secret, Miley!
5. Dance moves are out, laying in rubble is in. In this music video, as well as “We Can't Stop,” the young artist was more into laying down than dancing or any other activity (when she wasn't singing on the wrecking ball, of course).