I wish I wrote more in this, I really do

because no matter what my parents say or do, I still long to be a journalist.  Not exactly a fashion journalist per se though it would be quite thrilling, but more likely to be in magazine or the Times' Fashion/Style, the Arts, or Dining section.  I really like eating and though I'm not sure my palette is sophisticated enough to be a critic just yet, it could happen....right?  Or just some job that allows me to eat out often on someone else's tab while also maintaining a good looking weight. Hence this blog about various things.
Etiquette. Something I love and adore.  Though my cousin once described me as "classy but chumpy", in which I wholeheartedly agree, there are times where you must bust out one or the other.  Though I can't say I have read countless etiquette books or even touched any of Emily Post's writings, I have read enough material to generally know some odd tidbits on how things should be.  The most recent, a fairly new book by Derek Blasberg entitled Classy: Be a Lady, not a Tramp is a somewhat fun presentation of some very basic manner rules with many colorful pictures/illustrations that make it fun for the little ones.  Apparently the book is aimed towards the modern day teenager but in my opinion, what teenager wants to know about etiquette?  Aside from me of course.  And at that I would scarcely call it etiquette.  Though some parts (however, very few) parts made me laugh out loud, many were just your stereotypical gay male sayings and frankly, stupid similes/metaphors that made no sense whatsoever, trying to fashion himself as if he were Chelsea Handler (To take inspiration from his voice: Trust me honey, you ain't).  Which, by the way, I have read Are you there Vodka, it's me Chelsea since the last time I blogged about her and I am also currently reading My Horizontal Life: a Collection of One-Night Stands.  Terrific.  Though I read her books in reverse order, the order I like them in is probably in which they were written, though all are stunning.  As typical, I digress.  Blasberg's statements many times come off as "know-it-all"esque, as if females didn't know that thongs above the pantline are utterly vulgar.  Though some may not realize I guess, but then again they are most likely hoochie mamas that shop at Cache.  His book is name-dropping in the manner of a teenager girl-- he mentions countless times about how he is such close friends with so-and-so and went to a ______ themed party with ya-di-yada; it's absolutely exhausting! I had no idea who Derek was coming into this aside from the fact that he moved from the Midwest to the Big Apple as he mentioned, say, every five pages.  Not sure how it was relevant.  Coming into the book I asked for manners tips, not your autobiography.
Though I should've been tipped off by the title, I actually expected more basic etiquette rules to be in there, or rather more scenarios such as Kate Spade did in her book.  Though he mentions things such as place settings and throwing a gathering, there was a lot of Don't do this if you want to be classy and the Classy vs. Trashy comparison, something not very hard to decipher.  Upon ending the book, I basically assumed he was some random social climber just waiting to actually be famous.  I wondered how he was able to sign on to write this book and of course, googled him.
Revelation moment---what?  He's an editor at V magazine, Harper's Bazaar, and style.com?!! This isn't for real (automatically gain remote sense of respect).  So odd, I thought...and so young! This gives hope for me of course, after all, he is only from the Midwest...and with a Bachelor's in journalism only.  I was planning to get a Masters; theoretically I would go to NYU for the bachelor's (where you are forced to double major if pursuing journalism) and then I would go to Columbia for graduate school.  Aka have better odds than him.  I'm personable, it could happen!
So screw the book/personality, thank you Derek Blasberg for giving a gal hope.  I would recommend your book to others anyways so regardless of my semi-harsh criticism, at least you tried to make a difference with the younger set and for that, I commend you.

Picnic in the Park

Today, me and friends trekked to our local waterfront for an outdoor picnic with a view.  Potentially take a dip in the fountains even if the weather pertains.  WRONG.  The weather did not comply by any means and actually even sprinkled a bit, aka fuck our lives.  It turned out fine though and was good fun because of the company.  Screw the girl that decided on the date though because it's been sunny for the last two weeks.  Anywho, what is the ideal picnic outfit?  A gingham dress to match the gingham blanket you're sitting on?  Or rather, that frolicking through the field frock?  Perhaps something on the in-between, not too flowy and ethereal but not too retro cutesy.  Let us observe.
Number 1 staple- the ideal picnic basket.  It should be wicker or woven, and lined for that matter (with your own cloth or sewn on).  If it's not, throw it out! It's not worthy of eating with.  If you're feeling extra romantic, you'll have the kind of basket with the wine bottle holder(s), which is cool looking but a little clunky/inconvenient.  If it were me...My ideal would probably be woven with only one wine bottle holder (though it'd look awfully unsymmetrical) because amongst a pair or few people, how much alcohol do you really need during the day, right?  And if not, that's what flasks are for...because I would know being well under 21 and such).  I was just shopping recently and came along a perfect basket at Kate Spade.  Known for the kitschy designs and conservative but colorful New York persona, they have everything a Charlotte York could ever want.  And this includes a designer picnic basket, one that also attaches to your cruiser Schwinn bicycle, or if you're lucky, your Hermes/Chanel/Gucci one.

Alas, it's here

Grey Gardens and Bobby! Hurrah.  and 5 days until the traveling Lion King Broadway show.  Could I be anymore excited?  Why yes, yes I could actually, but I think once I get out of my sulking state and embrace my (cheaper) semi- once in a lifetime chance then I will be! However, the question is, what to wear?  As I simply googled "what to wear to a broadway show", two eHow links showed up as the first results.  No, I will not trust some anonymous, straight male who takes time out of his life to tell others what to wear via a cheapie website.  The third result was a bit more credible, luckily.  From Glamour.com, this video shows a fun makeover of one of the tourists looking to go see a show.  As I read the comments on the website, the (I assume to be) women spoke about how they got dressed up tfor their shows and felt overdressed; another spoke from the stage's perspectives and said that the cast liked when the audience dressed up.  As I consulted my cousin, Mama O, on what she would wear, she replied to me, "Nothing too dressy but more than casual; perhaps a babydoll top?"  Hmm, perhaps a babydoll top, I thought to myself.   I don't own any babydoll tops, though I really should because my midsection is freakishly large.
And as I continue this blog post a day later, I still feel the same way and I'm ready to pick up my holds from the library already! Though berry picking on someone's tab is quite fantastic, it just doesn't seem to bring me the same amount of joy that shopping/dressing up does.  Well it really depends on the situation because berry picking in a flowy dress is nice to say the least.  Though my "frolic through a field of flowers" ideal frock hasn't been completed yet, this dress will have to suffice in the meantime.  But as for a show, what is dubbed as apropriado?  Should I wear this dress that I got on sale from Urban outfitters that hasn't had a chance to leave my closet yet or even be rid of its tag?  It's a thicker cotton (I'm too lazy to search up what the material is actually called) with a V in the  back that could be interchangeably be put to the front for a plunging neckline.  There's a high neckline if you're wearing it the correct way and shoulder pads with square silver studs on top, one little guy hanging loose but nothing that can't be fixed.  It has cropped 3/4 sleeves and there is a waistline where the skirted part begins which bounces up a bit.  I really need to learn some more technical lingo around here if I'm going to be a budding seamstress/clothing designer!  If only I could get that sewing machine fixed...Tomorrow   I love the thing to death, but it shows my bra bulge roll, which is why I must get a belt.  Though I have a perfect pair of "ferosh" heels, my feet are starting to dangerously outgrow them.  Though how often does a girl wear heels, right?  I can handle it though  really prefer not to.  But they're edgy, strappy, black patent, and have silver zippers going down the middle.  This means I must have a wide black belt, potentially patent, to go with it (aka 2 birds 1 stone-- hide the roll, cinch the waist, look good).  But I feel like the theatre is a place for more traditional dressy dressing, can the Lion King handle (especially on July 4th) a girl with studs and zippers?  Especially downtown?  The world may never even see Kimberly Q in that dress at the rate she's eating at.
Would you dress up for a show?

Walk o' Shame.

I broke my consistent bloggerness! I'm disappointed in myself.  And what have I even been doing?  Besides going to Ikea and some brief shopping? And having my nose glued in a book?  Not very much frankly, though I will admit there has not been a dull moment yet.  After our success of a film festival, I plan on many more.  The agenda?
Grey Gardens (not the actual documentary but rather the movie on the documentary with Drew Barrymore) and other Kennedy-based films (one with a B/C-list star-studded cast that there was a trailer on before Factory Girl.  Has Shia Labeouf) while peering over some of Jackie O's fashion...and maybe JFK and Marilyn's scandal while we're at it (Marilyn Movies, Some Like it Hot?  Never seen one of hers before and I've been meaning to see what's all the rage on this woman).
Chloe (a movie we saw thanks to the trailers of An Education) and Brothers (I've decided) because of their cheating themes
Fred and Ginger marathon + Cats Don't Dance, I could go on forever with this era.  We'll listen to some music of then and now, Andrews Sisters and Puppini Sisters, and then watch Mad Men.
Some time when we venture into the 60s (era of An Education) we'll listen to Frank and then Mike Bubble, may as well watch his many movies and then Audrey movies topped off by Bewitched, the movie.  Because I adore that movie for no apparent reason.  Somehow, Judy Garland's movies/music will fit into this and we'll watch the Tower of Terror only for the black/white glamour (<--It says that "glamour" isn't a word.  Bullshit, update your spell-check) clips and watch the history channel in anticipation of a Modern Marvels special on The Stock Market Crash.  Not of the 80s obvs, but the other one.  In which decade I have no idea even though I did a report on it.  Methinkeths...20s?  I find it awesome that Golden Hollywood could still go on, wooden Oscars or not.  And because my thoughts are so jumbled, Pleasantville must be added in the 60s one.  Where are all the Grease-like movies?  Poodle-skirts and leather jackets?  Grease doesn't actually count because it was made in the 80s.  I just remembered something really good too, and now I lost it.  Great!
Aha! French film fest.  Chocolat, La Vie en Rose, and all those Chanel films that are coming out.  We'll do the Lifetime Coco Chanel one even though I've already seen it (and thoroughly enjoyed it, and proud to say that I knew much of her life already), Coco Before Chanel if I could get it from the library already, and the one that's coming out this summer, Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky, with frankly quite a frightening trailer.  Watch it.  After reviewing the Coco Before Chanel trailer, it seems so similar to the lifetime movie.  Is this good or bad?  Throw Moulin Rouge into the mix and Ratatouille and boy do I have myself a day/two.  Maybe we can pretend to be a little sophisticated and for me, a little less sophomoric by feasting on some goat cheese and if heaven allows it, champagne.  Though my parents never keep bubbly around the house, I'm not sure why; we like throwing occasions! And frankly champagne is much more festive and lighthearted than your average red wine from Costco.  At a non-sit down party that serves buffet style, it is definitely in call.  I"Ll hafta talk to mama about it.  JK I won't, though my knowledge of etiquette and events hints at me to push it, some day I'll make a legacy for myself.  Then we'll talk.
Kimberly Uong, great thrower of dinner and cocktail parties alike.  Always dressed to please and her place impeccably decorated; very modern but with traditional roots.  Contemporary but retro.  Classy, but chumpy.

P.S. Throw Pearl Harbor in the mix as well since I haven't seen the whole thing and would very much like to do so.  Also some Grace Kelly films for good measure.

Our personal indie film fest

compiled of An Education and Factory Girl.  Both fairly decent movies and I enjoyed them...equally?  I now find Andy Warhol to be a very fascinating character and would like to find out more about him.  He's funny, and really queer seeming.  He was probably bi.  You can't just have a voice like that and not have a remote attraction towards the same sex.  I don't know what lesbians sound like, but I imagine that they are highly terrifying.  But he seems awesome and I want to watch more of his short films.  Intriguing.  My girl Gaga uses part of his clips in her opening for the Monster Ball Tour which I am due for attending...if my parents would let me.  Though it'd actually be quite easy to fake it but it's so far in advanced that it's rough.  But prices are so cheap right now! So I must lunge.  But anyways, An Education, nominated for approximately one thousand Oscars, was pretty good.  I started this post the day I watched it and I wish I finished it then so that things were fresher in my memory.  An Education had wonderful costumes and soundtrack/score, I love...not sure what the style would be called, but I guess retro-jazzy but modern music with lots of brass..basically something rihgt out of Mark Ronson.  and England.  Amy Winehouse one would think?  No, but on the right track.  Duffy! Who had that one hit song a few years back that I quite enjoyed.  I have it in my head but not the title.  I really like that British rockers are taking America by storm, if not a little slowly.  Not completely mainstream, but if you watch MTV (which many do), very popular there. Aha! Mercy. That's it.  Jump for some music from An Education and how to buy what I just told about.  I'm still at a loss on the genre.  If you know, anonymous ghost person, feel free to tell me.  Doo-wop?

The (Supposed) Retro Revival

More retro folks! There's no such thing as an overload with it honestly.  As for this blogging business, I've been pretty good with at least one post a day, though that's nothing compared to most normal blogs but hey, I'm a n00b so this is a whole different story. Also, what's (un)comforting is that Google Chrome isn't spell checking on this, so Ill actually have to run through the regular spell checker with ugly highlights as opposed to the neater red underlines.  AWESOME.  Anyways, as I skimmed my New York Times Skimmer (Fashion & Style, but of course.  I do look at other interesante things though.  Wait a second, it does underline! N00b is a word yet interesante is not?  This is twisted.  But, as I skimmed the skimmer I ran along an article that talks about how basically, retro or things of times' past will inspire Americans to open their wallets and shell out the money to buy goods. Dumb.  And for that matter, untrue.  The article continues to talk about Sperrys ((Sp)erries?  The American language is a mystery.)  and brands such as Eddie Bauer and LL Bean taking schtuff+shiz niz from their old catalogs and revamping it and puttin' it in store.  A concept so unfamiliar I'm almost rolling over on the floor in awe.

The Schwinn Romper Grosgrain Giveaway

The Schwinn Romper Grosgrain Giveaway

Hey uh so basically, this will be brief. This is a gorgeous romper that I trampled upon while hunting for free, cute sewing patterns because I'ma take it up wif my grandmama this summer. They're giving away a gorgeous mod romper (I adore retro.  I would "less than 3" it but it's screwing up the coding so I will just put it out there in words, I adore it.)  You should apply and give it to me if I win! Or be thankful that the blogger is so damn generous and for reading this blog that referred you to it, you should give them free fame or some monetary compensation.

Retro Rox. 

Sex and the City...a beautiful thing

As I sit next to my beautiful cousin (Mama O.  And technically my other beautiful cousin, Big V.  But she's sleeping so let's just temporarily count her as non-human.), I'm blogging away while we're watching an episode of Sex and the City.  Charlotte's getting married and it's a beautiful extravaganza.  I like weddings. A lot.  And I feel like my blogging skills are already on the downfall.  Vatever.  Weddings rock and I can't wait to be a part of one and, of course, to have my own.  I don't have it all planned out like those freaky girls that scribble down details at night underneath their covers with a LED flashlight, but I find looking at wedding stuff amusing so I may have a brief idea.  There are so many different aspects that I don't even know where to start.  Hmm, well...dress. Clearly the go to.  Wedding dresses nowadays are about as traditional as slutty Amish girls that fly the nest at age 17. I just tried to pull a CH (Chelsea Handler is now forever dubbed on this blog as "CH." How many more times will I refer to her? Who knows.) and I think that it was unsucessful.  Vatever, I attempted at humor.  I just have to realize that there's no such thing as a funny Asian except for that Margaret Cho woman and the guy in Harold & Kumar.  Digressing.  So typical.  For something other than your out of the ordinary David's Bridal or luxury wedding boutique, I've discovered that net-a-porter has a great little wedding area and t J. Crew just opened a wedding salon/boutique in the Meat Packing District where the second floor is available by appointment only.  How elite.  They've always had wedding sections in their catalogs and on their website and according to the article, seven retails across the good ol' US of A carry some of the merchandise as well.  Though I'm personally far from marriage and glad of it, Big V's friends at the ripe age of 20 are off and running. Several are getting hitched, few are already pregnant as well.  HOW'S ABOUT FINISH YOUR BACHELOR'S DEGREE AT LEAST THEN WE'LL TALK? But I'm not judging.  I could never...

Anywho, as much as I love a creative twist on lyfe, sometimes tradition is just peachy keen.  A wedding suit for the bride? Unless you're a dyke (take no offense if you are, I love the queers), I honestly don't find it morally acceptable.  Your ethics are out the window as well.  In their online wedding issue, they feature different looks including (But not limited to) bohemian, some traditionals, and a suit.  Not even a skirt suit, but just a full out regular suit.  Quarter sleeved blazer with what looks to be potential ankle length pants.  Not only do I dislike the concept of the bride donning a suit, the outfit overall is just not completely perfect for me, and of course everyone knows that a bride must look impeccable on her special day.  The gold beading on the blazer is simply tacky and out of place, though I will admit that I adore the upper half with the shoulders (not too strong, not rounded) and the sleeves.  However, the bottom half has just got it all wrong.  Length is too long/awkward, and it's quite the fatty to say the least with its double breastedness and such.  THough with the greatness of the internet, yo ucan shop directly from the magazine so I decided to click on it to get a better gander. and buyer beware, because it's totally different.  Observe:

Fond Recollections... plus Chelsea Handler

Gotta love getting together with an old group of friends, sharing stories of the past and creating new ones, and just talking about a complete hubub of things you've missed out on while y'all have been away from each other.  Happens every so often and it's quite pleasant, though getting together outside of it never really tends to...odd?  Anywho, enough of the random tidbit, onto business.

Chelsea Handler. Don't lie to me! You've all heard of her.  And if you haven't, get out of here.  Don't read this (oh wait, nobody is).  She is the most amazing person to mankind.  Actually a bit of a stretch.  To the E channel.  I just read her latest book Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang and it was quite high-larious to say the least.  Though I found myself tuning out somewhere in the third quarter of the book, it could've just been my tiredness or perhaps the story was a little boring.  Regardless, she uses clever commentary and similes to keep the reader laughing to themselves out loud...aka me. My favorite quote: "I had eyes for only one person, even though the person I had eyes for only had one eye."
Work of a genius.  Buy on Amazon.  Or better yet, be a cheapskate like me and put it on hold at the library.  Be prepared to fight 150 other women who have put it on hold.

Insomnia is taking me over

WHY?  This is frickin exhausting! I went to bed around 1 last night, not shortly after entering my first blog post and therefore bringing this thing alive, though technically it's two years overdue since I've had an account for that long and even a few weeks depending on how you look at lyfe cause that's when I started editing the formatting and such.  (Become my Loyal Minion.  I totally forgot I even put "loyal minion" o'er yonder but when I saw it, it cracked me up.  Do you ever get cracked up by things you've done and then forgot you did and then surprise yourself with your hilariousness? Why yes, yes I do.  Check and check. I'll stop talking to myself..)  Basically anyways, since I can't sleep on a Saturday morning and have clocked less hours than a working adult should (And I'm an unemployed student.  Not even a rip roaring universidad kid, the ones who stay up 'til early in ze morn to study for finals and partay.  Cause I would know and everything.  Are you sick of my Spanglish/English with random mix-ins that is almost a dialect of their own?  I would call it "Cousins", but clearly if you're not my cousin, which you most likely are, then you would not understand.  But assuming the fact that this will only reach cousins, I just won't even clarify.  See my first (of soon to be many) irrelevant jump just for the sake of jumping.

So it's midnight and a half...

on a Saturday night.  Or a Sunday morning I suppose if you want to look at lyfe that way.  Actually, now that I think about it, it's not a Saturday night or a Sunday morning for that matter.  It's definitely a Friday night/Saturday morning.  My conception of time has been completely& utterly thrown off for easily the past 1.25 weeks.  No remotely sane sleep schedule because of all the crazy shenanigans I've been pulling throughout my school's finals week, clearly.  Just a festival of shenaniganza.  Late nights and impromptu naps left y right, crazy shiz niz one might say.  Just might.  I have nothing to say here really except for WELCOME TO MY BLOG! Maybe if I keep this puppy up and running for a year then this could be ceremonious event even, not just a random date (June 11th but technically 12th) with only half an identity that only residents of my high school would dub as second day of Summer '10.  How adventurous.  But really, I haven't decided what my blog will be like.  I have nothing interesting going on besides the fact that I don't have to attend for approximately two and a half months that dreaded thing some refer to as escuela, others (me) hell.  Quizas I will write about quirky things that spark my interest without sounding completely pretentious (which is, in my opinion, a pretentious word. I'm doing it again I think.  I would just not capitalize things in these posts but as an officially self-proclaimed blogger I feel obligated.  I'm directly writing on this post and not even using ol' faithful MS Word 2007.  Not even.  Vatever, I digress.  I bet no one will ever even read this besides ze trusty cousins and potentially sis [that could apply to numerous people, it's up for interpretation] cause I'd be too embarazada  embarrassed (Gotcha! MUAHAHAHA. Yeah I knew that embarazada meant pregnant fools.  Just trying to add a little humor to your day.  Your being this anonymous space of nothingness and will probably never be targeted to more than a quarter of a person at a time.  Why am I still in this parenthesised section?  Needs to stop.  What was I even saying? Why do you even care to read this far in the game? I must either be peering over your shoulder or you support me as a human.  Again, digressing from when I realized I digressed.  !! I recall now. [And may have looked up a few lines to check what I was saying].  But yes, the pretentiousness o' me words.  I'll try not to, but it's no promise I can make. To said anonymous non-existent person.  Because I hate when people try to do that/do do that [teheheheeeeeeeeeeeeeee. doo doo. I feel like Chelsea Handler, who I will probably blog about next since I have no life and this post is getting a little long.  And frankly no one likes a long blog post without a picture or a jump and I feel as though i'm too late in the game now to jump it without feeling obligated to add a picture.  But of what?  Yeah, I don't know either.  That's why I'm continuing to type.  And I decided I will leave the parenthesed area...now.)  Technically I feel as though that was grammatically incorrect to just leave it off like that but I couldn't just keep staying in there forever! I know I would forget.  But yes, get a taste of my personality and tell me what's up, yo.  Annoying pseudo-intellectual blogger? Or strikingly attractive girl behind computer screen with poor vision?

Your toice, bitches.
did you like what i did there? made it kinda funny but in courier (not new, just courier. thank ze lord) which made it serious which made it semi-ironic which made it funnier? and now I just ruined the joke by adding this tidbit? Yeah, thought so.