Monday, December 31, 2007

Best of 2007!

Dear Blog,

Well, here it is, the very last day of 2007. I really can't believe it. This time last year I was out skiing in Colorado with the realization that I had A LOT of shit to do to get ready for the wedding. Boy am I glad I don't have to worry about that EVER AGAIN. Can I say that emphatically enough? EVER AGAIN.

I compiled a list of my favorite things of the past year and I'm going to share them with you. Most of them are fashion related but read them anyway for some witty commentary from yours truly.

1. Shift dresses were the rage of 2007 and what's not to like? They fit and look great on everyone! You can wear them on your skinny and fat days and feel absolutely fab-o! I own hmmm...well I don't want to admit how many I own because the husby reads this blog and we don't need to give him any ideas about the depths of my closet.









2. Chanel glossimers. These little lip smackers of joy are so fun to wear because they are Chanel. If you, precious reader, are not a sucker for a name brand then keep reading. This gloss will stay on for hours on end and even when the shininess starts to wear off you will still have an inkling of glitter left on your lips for a nice shimmer. I hightly recommend and at $24, everyone can buy one!




3. Tory Burch Reva flats. Even though these flats are a bit of an investment, it's worth the extra penny. I have worn mine with juuuuuuust about everything I own and have gotten my moneys worth out of them. I've worn them so much the color is starting to wear off the shoes. I bought a neutral color (gold) so I can wear them whatever. If you're skeptical of gold, give it a second thought. You'll be surprised at how much they will go with. On a funny note, I wore them when we were in Seattle and Kris said he had never seen a white woman wear gold shoes. I own 3 PAIRS of gold shoes!! Hmmm...




4. OPI nail polish. I love the dark colored fingernail craze and I think I'm going to keep rocking them when it goes out of style. I think it just gives your hands personality. I've decided dark nails are going to be my 'thing', my trademark if you will. Everyone needs a trademark. That's mine. Regardless of the color, OPI is the only nail polish I would bother spending your hard earned money on. It's a good quality and will stay on longer than most and covers quite nicely.




5. Amy Winehouse. Even though she's a freaking psycho addict, I love her cd Back to Black. It is my favorite of this year, and that's saying a lot since my girl Britney Spears released Blackout and almost beat out Amy. (I kid, I kid) Seriously, Amy Winehouse is so original and I respect that. She's got a style all her own and she rocks it out. I hope her resolution in 2008 is to say nope to dope. I need some more Winehouse in my life.




6. Christian Louboutins. Sigh. I just love these shoes. I think I look at them everyday on Neiman Marcus. I don't own them because they are out of my price range. I have one pair that I got on a crazy sale, it was like Last Call to the MAX at Neiman Marcus. As a whole, I think Mr. Louboutin is a geeeeeenius and I would wear every single pair of his shoes if I could afford them. If you are a shoe-a-holic like me, check them out and you can drool over them and then we can talk about how much we like them together! It'll be great!



That's all for now my friends! I hope everyone has a great New Year's Eve and I look forward to blogging for you in 2008!

xoxo,
alison

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Whew! That was a close one.

Dear Blog,

How do you like the new look? Everyone needs a makeover for the new year and I thought the blog needed one as well. Special thanks to the creative director, Mr. Aaron Shurts, for the redesign of the site. Also, in blog news, you can now just type in www.bellafrench.com and it will bring you to this site. How is that for O-FFICIAL? I'm thinking tee shirts will be just around the corner as well. Maybe a male version and a female version. I'll get the creative director on that pronto.

Annnnnnnnnnywhoodle, the holidays were fun. My now 11 year old car made it to Cincy and back, I was a little worried about that one but I was so proud of the way she handled it like a champ. Cincinatti was effin' cold y'all. I'm not used to that. I mean, it made my bones chatter. Lucky for me, I had Bella with me to keep me warm. Literally, we snuggled the whole time we were there. I don't have much to report from our trip to Ohio and not much to report from our trip to SC. It was just Christmas, lots of food, presents and family time...and that's my blog about the holidays. Oh, we stayed with Aaron's aunt and uncle and his three cousins and I gave them all rapper names; Mikey J, Drew Diesel and Baby G. I taught them how to do the chest bump and tell their teachers "Shut up Shawty! You ain't the boss of me. I'll do my homework when I damn well feel like it! And guess what, that day ain't today. Shiiiiiiiiiiiit." I miss those boys. P.S. I'm free to babysit anytime!

So, I got to thinking. (No smart aleck comments, please) As I'm evaluating the past year and rehashing the events in my brain, I'm thinking you know, it's been a pretty good year. I got married, I found a job I really like, Bella is the bomb, I started this blog, I got some sweet, sweet additions to the wardrobe and accessories collection, made some new friends, ditched some friends that got on my nerves, saw some of my friends get married, sweet little Miles was born and started doing yoga. Now, while I was thinking about all of the positives in my life, I started thinking about the negatives. Believe it or not, I can only come up with one negative. (I'm not going to say what that negative is because I like to keep some things private.) So, I can only come up with one negative thing of '07 and I think I spend about 95% of my time thinking about that neg, or talking about that damn neg to anyone who will listen. Can we say UH-NNOYING?? So, while I have so many blessings in my life, why do I spend so much time focusing on the ONE negative? Hmmmm....good question. So, I think my resolution for the new year is to focus on how great my life is. I know that '08 is going to be a great year! Have I told you my philosophy on even numbered years being super great years? I haven't, oh well. That can wait 'til another blog.

Til then,


Who loves you? BellaFrench, natch. (Bella on right, French on left)
xoxo,
Alison

Monday, December 17, 2007

Random

Dear Blog,

We just had the work Christmas party at my house and since we were having it at my house, I had like more than than the normal amount of glasses of wine to dseal with having the work party at my house and now my head is speinning a little bit. But who cares right? tis' christmas! everyone should have a few too many classes of wine at their house. what to the ev. the party was fine. i have the best husband in the world who dealt with 8 women, my whole office is women, how do we get awya with that you ask? because we're a privately held company who doesn't have to hire men if we dont want stinkin' men. we don't want men. but i thinmk it's easier towork with menm. i love men. sigh. so, back to the party. it was a potluck and everyone signed up to bring something. i volunteered for the meat dish. but then, aaron made the dish and he doesn't work with me. hmmm. does that make me a bad wife? hope not. cause i don't know how to be a good wife. they didn't teach that course at furman. i think some women are just naturally good wives. i'm not one.

merry christmas.

xoxo,
al

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Passion for Flashin'


Dear Blog,

I have a friend, we'll call him Hunter, who always has ghetto song lyrics as his status on Facebook and when I recognize the ghetto song lyric it always makes me laugh. So being that copying is the ultimate form of flattery, I decided I would copy HIM. Currently, my status on facebook is 'Alison is I have a passion for flashin' (ed. note, that is not a typo, for some stupid reason the beginning of a current status always has to be 'Alison is...' UHNNOYING) I chose this lyric as my status because I love flashy things and looking flashy and uh...getting attention.

BUT! The meaning of my status is twofold. Today everyone in the normally peppy office was in a crappy mood and I was like this negative energy has GOT to get out of here. So, I did what I had to do. I did a quick ohmmmm for peace and then I started flashing people. And you know, it was really fun. At first, I flashed our office manager who sits in the front of the office and she spit out her tea because she was laughing so hard. Then, I flashed our editor and she loved it. Then I just stood in the middle of the office and twirled around and showed everyone my Hanky Pankies. And you know what? Everyone was in a good mood after that. So, the lesson here is if you want to lighten the mood a little bit, just flash someone.

In order for this to be funny and not icky, remember to wear underwear. Don't pull a Britney.

xoxo,
Alison

Sunday, December 9, 2007

A train, a ticket and a smile

Dear Blog,

Saturday began as Saturdays often do, with coffee and little VH1. Whilst Aaron and I were pondering what to do with our day, I remembered we live pretty close to the brand spankin' new light rail and that it might be fun to take it for a whirl to Uptown. So, I suggested to Aaron we take the rail uptown for some lunch. I tend to stay away from Uptown because it is so hard to find parking and I hate paying $ to park my car in a garage. Annoying. Meanwhile, I'm getting ready and get a call from next door neighbor Leigh asking me if we have any taco seasoning...um...no, but do you want to ride the rail with us? After much, much, much pondering, and if you know Leigh this does not surprise, Leigh, Kyle, Miles, Aaron and myself are walking down the road en route to the rail. It was a very fun afternoon and YOU TOO can have as much fun as we did if you follow the tutorial below.



1. Start with a good attitude and remember to buy your ticket!! This is how you get on the train.






2. Aaron to me and Leigh, "Remember, always enter and exit the right side of the train. Also, let exiting passengers get off before you get on. That is the kind and polite thing to do. There is plenty of time for everyone to enter AND exit."





3. For safety reasons, hang onto the poles alongside the perimeter of the train or overhead as to maintain an upright position. We don't want your clumsy behind falling on other passengers.





4. Once exiting the train, stop, smile and pose. This look says, we just got off the Lynx Blue Line, naturally. What else would we be doing on a Saturday? If you have any questions, please feel free to ask us, as we are PRO-fessionals.




If you follow these 4 simple rules, you too can be a professional Lynx Blue Line rider! Where can the Light Rail take you?


xoxo,
Alison

Thursday, December 6, 2007

And the envelope goes to.....


NO ONE!!!

Dear Blog,

Man, I'll have to admit. I'm a liiiiiiiiiiiiittle bit disappointed in my readers this past week. Can't figure out who the big CELEB is in the pic below? I even posted a hint and still nothin'. So, the big celeb-rit-y who graced the magazine office with his presence was the one and only LARRY SPRINKLE!!!! Who is Larry Sprinkle? Only the BEST weatherman in Charlotte, NC. Seriously, if you don't watch the Sprink, (as I lovingly refer to him) then you need to tune into channel 6 in the morning while you're watching Matt, Meredith, Al and Anne on the Today Show. I usually catch him at 7:26 and 7:56 a.m talking about the days weather.

Soooooo, the reason why he came to our office is because one of my coworkers is in looooooove with him and has pics posted up of him on her desk. It borders on the line of stalker/obsessiveness. Seriously, look at the man and just feel the sex appeal radiating off of him, DUH! Who wouldn't be obsessed? I mean, when he came into our office I couldn't keep my eyes off his nice, tight, little bum.

Anywhoodle, I'm thinking of making a BellaFrench teeshirt for my readers. I'm stealing this idea from my friend Paul of dport7 fame. Aaron and I still wear our tee shirts btw. Any suggestions of what would go on said tee shirt? Obvy, the web address, so get creative!!

xoxo,
Alison

Thursday, November 29, 2007

G.L.A.M.O.R.O.U.S.


Dear Blog,

Can't you just hear the refrain of Fergie's song, "we flyin' first classssssss, up in the sky. sippin' champagne...." I normally don't meet celebrities on a daily basis but yesterday I met a local Charlotte celeb and I snuggled up to him and now we are oh.so.tight. We are not only on a first name basis but are on a nickname basis. Yesss......! If any local Charlotteans can name what local celeb I am snuggled up to in this pic, you will get a super fresh Bella French prize tbd.

P.S. For my fashion conscience readers, that dress is winter white.

xoxo,
Alison

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Turkeys, Trees, Tigers, Roosters and Rednecks!

Dear Blog,

Man! With a title like that how could YOU NOT read this blog? Those five nouns above describe the past 4 days of my life chronologically and also using only the letters "t" and "r". Who went to Furman around here? Here's how it all went down. Thursday was Thanksgiving, duh, and I don't know about you but I'm tired of reading about how thankful we all should be and blah blah blah. I'm not going to say we shouldn't take this day and reflect about our blessings, I'm going to say it's a little sad that we have to use a day of 5,000 calories to realize that. I know, I know, bah humbug. All I'm saying is, everyone I know is blessed. So, realize it damnit. Myself included on this rant.



C'mon, you know you feel like this when you've spent all day eating and hanging out with the fam.

On Friday, I did NOT go shopping. Even me, the girl who would spend everyday shopping, did not want to hit the stores. I fear for my life on Black Friday. Instead we went and got our Christmas tree! Have I ever mentioned that I'm married to Clark Griswold? As I type, he is outside of our house pounding away on nails and stringing up glorious lights. I also think there are some snowflake apparati outside but I am afraid to look. Trust me, there will be pics, so stay tuned.







Oh no you didn't! Oh yes we did! We dressed up Bella like Santa Clause. We do it for the kids!


Saturday we went to the Carolina/Clemson football game. You know how Aaron and I love football so much and both of us obsess about our fave teams and have fantasy football players and we just can't get enough, we just can't get enough. Okay, that's a mild exaageration, but going to a football game a year is pretty fun. I don't know how people go to more than one a year and I especially don't know how my dad goes to like a billion a year. There's just sooooo many people and they're all drunk and raucous and rude but occasionally you will find a diamond in the rough! I met up with my internet BFF Crist, does that sound weird? It's not. I met her boyfriend and saw old highschool friend Jennifer and old college pal Andrew. It was fun but my football quota has been fullfilled until 2008.




Thanks Mom for the warm jacket with the sweet shoulder pads!



Oh and this is funny. Since it was like 25 degrees last night Aaron had on his University of Washington sweatshirt and you should have seen the glares he was getting from the tiger and rooster fans. So, finally one of the guys who was sitting around us asked,

" 'Ey man, what's up with 'at 'er sweatshirt?"

Aaron: "Um...well, it's a, uh, University of Washington sweatshirt."

"Yeah but, you ain't in Washington sunn. You in South Carolina and this here's a big game. This is blood right 'ere."

Aaron: "OH, that. Well, I got on the wrong plane and ended up in South Carolina. I'm supposed to be at the UW game right now."

"Well. YOU SHORE MESSED UP RIGHT CHERE sunn. I mean that's a MIS take. Do you know what a rivalry is? 'Cuz this is a RI-VAL-RY."

Aaron: "No, we don't have rivalry in Washington. Um, who's playing right now? I haven't been paying attention."

The redneck then proceeded to spit his tobacco out on Aaron. It was funny!!

xoxo,
Alison

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Happy Birthday Aaron!



Dear Blog,

Yesterday was Aaron's birthday! Happy Bday Ron! Since he was lucky and his birthday fell on a Saturday we decided to have a small get together to celebrate! It was a heck of a crazy night especially since Leigh and Kyle brought their 3 month old, Miles. We all got down like James Brown, or, you know, had fun.

Since I am such a great cook and even better planner, I decided that I would plan out the menu and I would do this totally by myself. Aaron could just sit back, relax and enjoy the evening of friends celebrating his birth. Well, as luck would have it, Molly loves to cook! So, as soon as I stepped up to the kitchen to get down and dirty with our meal, Molly pretty much took my duty away from me (oh darn!) and I ended up chopping and measuring as she actually cooked. Probably because I looked like this.









And she looks like this. A total natural.



I love our friends and we all had a great time. The meal ended up fantastically and Aaron and I sat at the head of our dining room table, solidifying our entrance into 'adult world'.
We did have a tearful moment though during the party. No, it wasn't Aaron crying because he's as old as I am now. As I'm talking about my boy, Eddie Vedder, all of a sudden I hear, "I've met him."


EXCUSE? I literally scream and drop my fork. Our friend Julie whom I've known for over a year now has been holding out on me??? Yes. She has met Eddie Vedder. I am so overcome with emotion that I start crying. At the dinner table. With 6 of our friends sitting about. I couldn't talk and kind of started sputtering, laughing, crying. Aaron simply says, "Eddie Vedder is kind of her hero." I gather myself together but now kind of have a little bit of hate towards Julie. I kid. Not really.

Thanks to Crist for the awesome recipe! Everyone loved it and thanks to Kyle for the pics. Your camera is the bomb.com

Happy birthday Husband! I love you,
Al

Monday, November 12, 2007

Into the Wiiiiiillllldddd...Grrrrrr...



Dear Blog,

Here we go again with another blogvertorial. Aaron and I like to keep the romance alive after our five (almost six!) months of being married by having date night. We have date night A LOT because we don't have that many friends to hang out with...or to keep the romance alive, whatev. Friday night we enjoyed a fine dinner at Cantina 1511, goat cheese, mushroom and spinach quesadillas make for a lively meal!, and then headed to our local theater to see the movie 'Into the Wild.' Now, before I begin my discourse about the movie I will start by saying how I learned of the movie. And if you know me, this will not surprise! Eddie Vedder did the whole soundtrack, say whaaaaaaaat? I know right, how did he know my birthday was coming up? Thanks for that Ed! So, being the Eddie Vedder/Pearl Jam stalker/fan that I am, I had to go out and buy the soundtrack, which really consisted of me sitting my behind on the couch and downloading it from iTunes and no wonder Americans are fat, but I digress.
The soundtrack is really good and I highly recommend it. So, naturally after I memorized the soundtrack, I wanted to see the movie and so begins our date night. Now, I would watch a movie that Eddie did the soundtrack for even if all of the movie consisted of was a donkey pooping in a field, but LUCKY FOR US the movie was a lot more interesting than that.

Some of you may have read the book that came out circa 1996 about a young Chris McCandless who gives up all worldly pleasures and headed off, well, Into the Wild. He comes from a well-off family that is full of dysfunction and decides to screw it all and head out of the heart of Alaska. He meets some interesting characters along the way and touches the lives of many. It is a great movie that is only made greater by Eddie Vedders greatness.

I give 4 thumbs up, cause I'm counting Aaron's thumbs as well.

xoxo,
Alison

Thursday, November 8, 2007

27 or 1/3 of the way to 81


Dear Blog,

So, the other night I totally blogged about how I was getting old and I was depressed because I had done nothing with my life and then I was like, SHUT UP ALISON, no one wants to hear that crap. Thus, I deleted that crap of a blog. But, if you got to read it, then that is MY birthday present to YOU. Say whaaat? I know, so giving of me.

So, yay! I'm 27 and while if I think about it too hard I might get sad and depressed that I'm selling ads for a magazine and that's it but I just don't think about it. I think about all the positives in life. Maybe if I write myself a list of all the fun things I do that make my life worthwhile, I will not get depressed. Here goes.
1. I make coffee in the morning while Aaron is sleeping because he doesn't have to be work until like 1 and he makes me so angry sometimes I want to scream and he gets thursdays off and he makes more money than I do. What to the ev. Whoops, that wasn't very positive.

2. I have a lot of awesome friends all over the US including my friend Kate who is younger than me and is an associate designer at Ralph Lauren in NY. Awesome. Go Kate! ( I sell ads...go me!)

3. I write this blog that makes people laugh!

4. I have a funny dog who wears bee costumes and lets me cut her hair into a mohawk.

5. I have short hair.

Maybe I need to work on my list a little bit. This is kind of sad.

Oh well, here is a picture of Aaron and me back in the days of yore when we were only 25. We were celebrating our 25th birfday. I love it.

xoxo,
Alison

p.s. I really do like my job.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Seattle


insert a slower, melodic musical number here

Dear Blog,

Seriously, Aaron and I were in Seattle last week and he told me he loved me, and then I told him I wasn't ready for a relationship, and he said he would wait, but then he started to fall in love with my sister...Oh wait. That was this season's Grey's Anatomy, not my life.

My life is so boring compared to those on Grey's Anatomy. But I guess that's why it's tv. So, in reality, we did go to Seattle last week and still in reality, it was gorgeous! The weather was PERF, although it did rain one day and because I wanted to look cool I didn't bring an umbrella because Seattleites don't take umbrellas, obvy. They are TOTALLY used to the rain and their attitude is rain? what rain? while I am shuffling around trying to stay under the awnings. So, I still looked stupid. Darn. We stayed with our good friends Kris and Zoe and their two dogs Duke and Apple. They treated us well and thanks for letting us crash yo' pad.

Alright. Here's the big quest-i-on. I thought Halloween was supposed to be for dressing up..??? Or is it supposed to be for dressing up and looking like a two dollar harlot? When and where did the times change? Here's the sitch. We go with Kris and Zoe to a Halloween party and I'm so stoked about my costume. Who am I going to be you ask? Amy Winehouse. (if you don't know who that is, google exists for a reason) I chose this for several reasons, she's crazy looking, she's talented and this is a fairly low maintenance costume. I had to buy a beehive wig, some fake tats, some crud to make it look like I'm missing teeth and that's it. I had the skinny jeans, flats, wifebeater and liquid eyeliner. After I've already donned my AWESOME costume, and then I hear through the grapevine the party we are going to is a "SEXY" party? W.H.A.T.???? You have got to be kidding me? I do NOT look sexy. I look like I've been highballing coke and heroin for the past 7 days. So, we get to the party only to be greeted by half naked little 23 year olds who just blatantly stare at me.

Yes.

Not only do they look at me and ask me why I am fully clothed, they ask me who the heck I am. They didn't even get my costume!!!!!! WAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH, that's what I felt like doing for reals y'all. Since you know I like to reinact conversations here is one:

23 year old ho: "um...who let the drug addled bad hair chick in?"
Kris and Zoe: "Um, yeah...she's with me."
23 year old ho: Looking me up and down and down and up "oh....who is she supposed to be?"
Me: "I'm Amy Winehouse you cliched 'sexy cop.' DUH."

Needless to say we did not stay at the party long. But, we did appreciate the invite. :)

Tomorrow is Halloween and I might try the Amy Winehouse again.

xoxo,
Alison

Update coming soon!!

Dear blog,

I will be posting an update soon. Hopefully it will be good.

xoxo,
Alison

Monday, October 22, 2007

Roots

Dear Blog,

I know, I know, I've been a terrible friend lately but sometimes life happens and prevents me from blogging. And life, as it is, has really been a total draaaaaag lately and made me want to end it all. Okay, not really, life has made me want to wallow in a vat of red wine not have the hangovers and eat what I want and not get fat! yippee.

So, this weekend, I termed getting back to my roots. Fellow blog reader Kate (of www.pankates.com, check it out, it's in my links) was in Clover, SC helping out with her parents Fall Harvest Festival. You mention any type of festival to the hus and he's all about it and is halfway out the door before I can put my shoes on. Saturday morning I'm all about sleeping late and Aaron let me sleep til about oh...8:26 am, but who's paying attention and he's waking me up because we've got to get ready to go to Kate's family festival. So we drive down to SC and arrived to what we thought would be a small affair. No way you guys, the Windy Hill Orchard is a big damn deal. There were cars lined up waiting entrance into the parking lot and people directing traffic and I was like WHAT????? Kate's been my friend for YEARS AND YEARS and I had no idea this festival she talked about drew crowds like this. So, we had a great time eating apple doughnuts and drinking apple cider and watching little kids chase around chickens and it reminded me of my roots. Okay, so I didn't grow up on a farm or orchard of any kind, but my childhood home had a barn in the back and I would always chase around chickens whenever I saw them and somehow that counts.

After we were done with the festivities of the morning, we drove back to Charlotte to make it in time to my hair appointment. For the past year or so I've been wanting to dye my hair darker but was semi afraid because what if I looked fugly? So, instead of doing the dye job, I just kept cutting it shorter and shorter to see how different I could look. Well, after years of being blonde and just feeling totally bored and now I can't go any shorter because if I do then I would look like Sinead, I decided to proceed with the dye job. I was SHOCKED when I first saw it and kind of freaked out because it was a drastic difference.

Here are people's reactions.
Aaron: "I like it!"
Mom: "It'll have to grow on me"
Dad: "I like it! The blonde was out of control"
Leigh: "Wow!"
Kyle: "Whoa, your hair is awesome!"
Brother over the phone and 2,000 miles away: "What's the big deal that's your natural color?"

So, I'm kind of on the fence about it. But, I'll post a pic for you to be the judge. Oh, I'm the one in the middle with the ivory shawl-y thing.



xoxo
Alison

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Results are in!

With a very impressive 18 votes, 88% of you think Spencer started LC's sex tape rumors and 12% of you think it was Justin Bobby. Thanks for participating in my poll and see you next time!

xoxo,
alison

Monday, October 15, 2007

Poll!


Dear Blog,

I know you all loooove The Hills and after tonights riveting episode I was inspired by Tony Ritz's polls that he sometimes uses and decided to put up a poll of my own. It is immediately to your left! Take a vote. This very important poll ends at 11:59 tomorrow night!

xoxo,
Alison

P.S. Lesson learned from The Hills, never make a sex tape. Amen and good night.

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Laughing

Dear Blog,

You might have to stay with me on this one, because it's going to be a stretch. I really have nothing to write about and so I was looking through my photos trying to get some inspiration. I found this picture of Spurgeon and Gilleon and I laughed out loud. And I thought, if this picture made me laugh out loud, then maybe it will make others laugh out loud. And if it makes you people laugh out loud, then you can thank BellaFrench for brightening your day a little bit. Ahem.





You're welcome.

And I'll post a semi decent picture of them so they won't get mad at me for posting the booty bump one. Well, Gilleon and I look good but Spurgeon is looking a little caublanasian in this one.





Hope everyone is having a great weekend and I'll see you on Monday, with hopefully a better post.

xoxo,
Alison

Saturday, October 6, 2007

Times Like These


Dear Blog,

Gasp! Last night Aaron and I did something, we actually got cute, went out, had some drinks and went to a concert. Lately, we've been traveling so much and working so much that when the weekends roll around we are ready to sit our behinds on the couch and just be with each other and watch movies or America's Next Top Model marathon on VH1, whichever. So, I heard that the Foo Fighters were coming to Charlotte for an impromptu concert and I was like Aaron, dust off your flannel and Vans because we're going fo' sho.

Now, if you know me, you'll know I love music. I mean I LOVE music. People always ask that dumb question like, "if you were stranded on an island and you could only take two items with you what you would take?" Well, obvy, my answer would be: my Christian Louboutins and my cd collection. Duh. Now why my music collection? Whereas many people would say pictures, I would take music because music for me, takes me back to where ever I was in my life when I obsessively listened to an album. The good times and the bad. For example:

4 Non Blondes: First non pop album I ever bought. I remember sitting in my room when I was 12 years old thinking...wow, she just said the f word...should I be listening to this?
Smashing Pumpkins "Siamese Dream": Riding up to Snowshoe with my youthgroup when I was 14 and being in "love" with Gray Currin.
Tori Amos "Little Earthquakes": Awkwardness of middleschool
Any and all Pearl Jam albums: True album love
Modest Mouse and The Killer's first album: Falling in love with my husby

Why am I saying all of this? Because it's my blog and I want to! No, seriously, Dave Grohl is kind of a living rock n' roll icon. He performed with what many people say is the greatest band of our generation...I disagree, PEARL JAM 4 LIFE! boyeeee...and then after Kurt Cobain offed himself, he completely reinvented himself and went from being the long haired stoner slacker drummer dude to the singer/songwriter/lead guitar in the Foo Fighters. The concert was SO UNBELIEVABLY GOOD last night, I couldn't believe it. I mean, I knew they would be great but they far exceeded my expectations. Dave was so funny and just generally looked like he was enjoying himself and laughed and interacted with the audience, it was great. So, if they ever come near you, I highly recommend going to see them. Awesome!!!

P.S. I think my husby and Dave Grohl kind of resemble each other! Yesssss!

P.P.S. On a sad note, this week is one that has been permeated by death. Please take some time to reflect on how lucky we are to be alive and that life is too, too short so take time to live, laugh and love.

xoxo,
Al

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Simply Fuga


Dear Blog,

I know I totally ripped off The Fug Girls in my title but it was just too good to pass up. Don't tell them. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, go to www.gofugyourself.com and you will understand why these two women are my heroes. Well, I'll go ahead and tell you; because they are hilariously mean and you just can't beat the combination. I'm straying, so I will head back to the title, Simply Fuga.

I'm sure that most of you have seen the marketing blitz on Kohl's new line, Simply Vera by none other than the one and only Vera Wang. I'm all about being a budget fashionista but what I am NOT about is cheapening your brand. When I heard about Simply Vera I felt a little bit of bile rise up in my throat. Why Vera, WHY?? Why Kohl's? And do you really want to help people who can't afford your ready to wear line by selling a such a diluted version in cheap fabrics and in ginormous sizes to accomodate American womens accomodations? The answer is NO NO NO. If we can buy Vera Wang at Kohl's then what is there to dream for anymore? Not much my friends. The answer is NOT MUCH. Little girls dream of wearing a Vera Wang when they get married but they won't if you keep shlepping it at Kohl's. So THERE.

So, here's the sitch. Earlier today I find myself, AGAIN, in the quagmires of Hell, Independence Boulevard. I'm listening to some Ryan Adams and hoping that Jenny Garth doesn't get voted off of Dancing With the Stars tonight because I LOVE HER. As I'm driving down the road I see a Kohl's because of course Kohl's would be located on Independence. I think to myself that I need to pull over and check out this Simply Vera for myself. So, I do. As I put on my sunglasses and check to see if anyone I know is around, I exit the car and head into Kohl's. I brace myself for racks of poly blend and walk in. I don't even know where to start and feel like a fish out of water and am trying to blend in with the other Kohls shoppers and I don't think it's working and I feel a mild sweat break out on my forehead. Where in the heck is this stupid Simply Vera? I start to panic and get all turned around because all I see are racks and racks of rayon...and how in the heck did I end up in the kids section? Damn. I almost give up, when what do I see? The Simply Vera. Y'all, it was already on sale. How long has it been there? Oh, and it's all fugly. It was just hanging there all misshapen on the racks and it looked really sad and if I was Vera Wang then I would immediately withdraw and take my precious name off those tags because how EMBARRASSING. They make the clothes look semi decent in the ads because they do a lot of layering...pay attention to that the next time you see an ad. You can't focus on how crappy the stuff is made because they put everything on a skinny little model and she goes and plays in the forest. What ever. Just embarassing. I saw a lot of jewel tones, really big blouses, some gray...I saw one decent looking jacket but I'll be damned if I pay $120 for something at Kohl's. So...my guess is that there will be no more Simply Vera by the end of '07.

Sigh.

xoxo,
Al

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

"Look into my eyes and tell me what it is you see..."


Dear Blog,

Nothing like naming a blog after a Bone Thugs 'N Harmony song and if any of you knew that was a lyric from a BTNH song, then props to you yo!!

So, in my last post I lamented the fact that a day in my life was nothing short of funny and today is just adding to the laugh factor. You see, today I went and visited a psychic. A real, bona fide, neon signs on the door with a big hand blinking on and off, psychic. I know you know what I'm talking about. You've seen them on the sides of the road...and this one was on the side of the road as well, a lovely little road called Independence Boulevard. Otherwise known as the quagmires of Hell.

Why did I go to the psychic? To sell them an ad of course! Do you think I would really want to go visit a psychic? Hells to the NO, they scare me. I don't want people telling me what my life is going to be like, that's up to me and God thank you very much. And second of all, just for clarifications sake, this was a call-in and it was my turn to chase after the crazy apparently. I normally don't call on those that read the crystals and wear weird scarves on their head. So, anywhoodle, she freaked me out as soon as I went in, all staring at me and stuff and I knew she was sizing me up so I tried to put on my best poker face, which is soooo hard for me to do. So, immediately she says, "You are a good judge of character." And I'm thinking to myself, "So you know that you're a crock of shit cause that's what I'm judging about you right...about...NOW." I just kind of smile and try to redirect the convo back to advertising cause that's why I'm there. But, she won't quit!!! Here's how the rest of session went;

Psychic: "You are from the north."
Alison: "I'm from South Carolina."
Psychic: "I am feeling that you are from the NORTH."
Alison: "I AM FROM SOUTH CAROLINA"
Psychic: "Well, you should move north."
Alison: "I did, I moved to Charlotte, and if I have my cardinal directions correct, then Charlotte is NORTH of Columbia, SC, where I was born."
Psychic: "Well, I'm thinking that your career will flourish in Washington, DC."
Alison: "hahaha NOT"
Psychic: "Well, you need to stop chasing men and start focusing on yourself. The right man will come. This time of your life is for you. Stop chasing the men, you are just running in circles."
Alison: "I'm married."
Psychic: "Well, you need to stop spoiling your husband. Why do you feel like you need to compete for his attention. He is just going to continue to take and take from you until you have nothing."
Alison: "My husband is so not spoiled, in fact this sounds like a convo you should have with HIM."
...chuckle, chuckle...this woman SUCKS.

I think after I continually shot her down time after time, she got the point that she could not read me. I'm that good, or she's that bad. Oh well, what to the EV. I left with a signed contract.

xoxo,
Alison

Thursday, September 20, 2007

TGIT

Dear Blog,

Thank goodness it's Thursday for real. Sometimes I feel like I have a handle on things and I'm sittin' on top of the world and nothing can bring me down. And then...life happens and I'm brought back down to earth. So, this week has been an "Alison, you are not the shiz, you are a dork and will always be a dork" type week.

So, Tuesday night our bff's Leigh, Kyle, Alex and Molly came over for dinner. Before they came over we ran to the groc' to pick up some last minute groceries. Alright, you know how grocery stores discount products and put them in carts in the middle of the aisles sometimes? Well, we're in the frozen food aisle gettin' some spinach and I see three carts filled to the brim with bottles of wine. So, like a moth to a flame, I am drawn to the buggy. (I tried to write cart but I'm just a buggy sayin' girl, deal with it). I pick up a bottle of wine and see this highlighted, $0.65. WHAAAAATT?? They've discounted wine down to 0.65?? Hell to the yes, we're stocking up! So I call the husby over and we're both ecstatic and picking up all of these bottles and it's hilarious because anything over 1.65, is just waaaay too much to spend on this discounted wine. At the end of our foray into bargain wine, we probably have about 15-20 bottles of wine in our buggy. We stroll up to the check out and are totally smug with our fab find. Well, when she starts ringing up the wine it's all coming up at like $10/bottle...hmmm..this seems suspicious. I cautiously pick up a bottle. I inspect the bottle. I realize that I am a blooming idiot. I was looking at the SAVINGS...not the PRICE. Big difference. BIG. HUGE!
"Um...Miss Cashier, I'm afraid there's been a mistake, you see, I thought this wine was 65 cents, not $9. I'm afraid we don't want any of this wine"
"None? You don't want none?"
"Correct. We don't want none."
Meanwhile, my face is totally turning red and I'm mortified because people were starting to stare. Lucky for me, I had husby with me. I probably would have run out of the Harris Teeter had I been by myself. One of the many positives about being married :) Cheesy wink and smile.

Our dinner party went great, thanks for asking. The next day, I wake up and am about to enjoy my 7 minute commute to work. Vrooooom...wow, my car is feeling funny. Maybe my engine is just not used to this balmy weather since it's been so hot all summer. Y'all, my ENTIRE ride to work was ridiculous...I was being bounced up and down and I thought Ashton Kutcher came and installed hydraulics in my car and I was being punked!!! I was literally bouncing up and down, side to side, to and fro. So, for my normally calm ride to work I was frantically dialing anyone I knew who knew anything about cars. As soon as I could I thumped and bumped my hydraulic ride over to the car fixing place.

$225 later, it's all good and I can't wait until my car screws me again.
What to the ev. Tomorrow's Friday.

xoxo,
Alison

Monday, September 17, 2007

10 Things I Hate About You


Dear Blog,
Ahhhh what to say, what to say? One thing I do want to say is I am HIGHLY disappointed in the amount of comments I've been receiving as of late. I blog for my fans, not for myself. Blogging is a selfless activity, remember that. So, your challenge is this, leave a comment for goodness sake. A couple of people have said, "Al...we're not cool enough to write on your blog" And my answer is this, not commenting makes you LESS COOL. So there. Bitch.

Since fall is rapidly approaching and peeps are busting out their fall best, I thought I'd write in 10 things in your wardrobe that maybe you should retire...and I'll probably write in a few things that I just DON'T like regardless of the season. Remember, this is my opinion. If you wear some of the things I write about then you can do two things. Stop reading the blog because I've hurt your feelings OR you can stop looking ridic. Because you do.

1. Acrylic Nails Aaaaaaaaaahhhh!! I hate these! Guess what? They don't look real. Opt for a nice manicure.
2. Chunky heeled boots. Remember those boots you bought about 7 years ago...they canNOT pass for stylish or even mediocre in today's work/fun environment. Retire them. Don't think you can put them on and just slide by unnoticed. You can't. There are people like me out there who will notice and shake their head in disdain.
3. Dress pants for women paired with a loafer. Flats and dress pants=stumpy legs. Enough said.
4. Micro fiber dress pants that we all bought from The Limited at one point...AHHHHH!! CODE RED! CODE RED! Run away screaming from those things!!!
5. Any sort of camoflage themed pant, skirt, shirt. Burn it, or go outside and shoot it. I don't care. Just don't wear it out and think you're cute.
6. Those black pointy knee high boots paired with a skirt. Commonly referred to as f**k me boots...there is a reason for that. You look like a 2 dollar harlot.
7. Tights/hose with a hole or run in them. Obvy.
8. Chipped fingernail polish...have some respect for yourself for goodness sake.
9. Chandelier earrings. I mean...these are okay but look a little dated.
10. Sweaters that are pilled, ick. An easy way to make your clothes look older.

The end.

Maybe next week I will write in 10 things I love about you!

xoxo,
Al

P.S Does anyone else think J Wahl is looking pretty cute these days? And that Heidi looks like a horse?? Cause, I do.

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Tuesday..woohoo

Dear Blog,

Is anyone else feeling blah this week? If it's just me then I'll feel like a total loser cause I just can't seem to pull it all together. I really think my blah-ness had to do with Britney's "performance" at the VMA's on Sunday night. I wasn't going to bring that up because do we really need to discuss? But, I had to because it was just THAT BAD. THAT BAD. I was so bummed out that she couldn't get her sh*t together and Aaron was all "why do you care?" I DON'T KNOW. I. DON'T. KNOW. I just do alright. Lay off me.

In other news, today is l'onze septembre for those of you who are french speakers and for those of you who aren't, that means September 11th. Addy, six years ago we were in France with the coolest group of kids ever. Anyway, I don't know about mon amie Adelaide but Sept. 11 didn't/doesn't affect me like it does everyone else. I guess because I was thousands of miles away from the U.S and while everyone else was mourning this huge tragedy while me and my french family were chowing down on baguettes and conjugating the passe compose. Don't get me wrong...I understand the enormity of the day and what it means to a lot of people but when people recall that day it will bring tears to their eyes and that just doesn't happen to me. Is that bad? Discuss.

In other, other news, I have an It Girls client!! I have a real bona fide client that I will be shopping for. I love shopping like Britney loves cheetos and Fanta or Amy Winehouse loves heroin...alright bad example. But, I do love me some shopping and a while ago I thought I should try and do some personal shopping in my spare time because SOOOOO many people need it. Well, since my husby is a graphic designer he made me some awesome business cards and a great website, check it out, www.itgirls.us
I advertised my services in skirt! magazine and what do you know, advertising really works :) I know you're all DYING to know how it goes, I'll keep you posted.

xoxo,
Alison

P.S Aaron thinks I don't mention him enough in my blogs so here is a shout out--Hey Aaron....I'm mentioning you in my blog :) I'll put a picture up too.

Thursday, September 6, 2007

An Inner Monologue

**The following is a true story based on a true events in for true life. No names have been changed because I do not know the names of the people that I am about to blog about and if their names really are Nancy Nerd and Gary Goober, then that is their problem and not mine.**

Alright, so, I think we all know that Aaron and I went to Wilmington last weekend for the Labor Day and stayed at a B&B. I didn't realize how nervous I was going to be about staying at a B&B until we got there and I'm all scared because what if the people are complete psychos and we have to stay there because our money is non-refundable? When we drive up I turn into complete chicken shit and make Aaron go in first to check it out because I'm too nervous. You see, I have this problem where all of my inner thoughts and feelings are very well noticed on my face. Apparently I give really mean faces and I have no clue. Sorry peeps, just don't offend and you'll be off my list. I didn't want the owners to hate me if I thought their house was complete crap. It turned out to be fine and we loved it blah blah blah. Well another thing about staying at someone's HOUSE is that you have to talk to like, other people, when you eat breakfast. Harrowing. I'm in sales and I can talk to people no problem, but they gotta give something back you know. Alright, so witness the scene that occurred the following morning during breakfast time.

Aaron and Alison arrive first to breakfast (because we are pigs) and are promptly seated. Host tells us that we will be joined by only one other couple. Great. We have no out.

Other couple enters the dining room. Appearing to be rather nerd like.

Alison mutters under her breath to Aaron: "This outta be fun."
Aaron to Alison: "Be quiet. Be nice."
Alison: "yeah yeah"

Nancy Nerd and Gary Goober sit down.

Silence.

"Hi I'm Alison and this is my husby Aaron."

"Nice to meet you, we're Nancy Nerd and Gary Goober."

"Likewise."

Alison to self, "Who the hell says likewise anymore? And what am I likewise about? My name is not Nancy Nerd or Gary Goober."

The inevitable question arises;

Alison: "So....where do y'all live?"

Nancy Nerd: "Durham, we go to grad school there."

Alison: "Oh, so you go to Duke?"

Gary Goober: "Yep."

Aaron: "Do you follow their basketball team? I've always wanted to go to a game there because of the atmosphere."

Nancy and Gary in unison: "Yep."

Alison to self..."ahhhhhh, I'm dying here!! Throw me a freakin' bone you damn nerds."

Alison: "So what are you two studying in grad school"

Nancy Nerd: "Neurobiology"

Alison to self: "WTF? Neurobiology...you don't like meet those people on a normal basis?? Why do we have to sit with freaking neuro biologists over eggs at breakfast? Is God just trying to make me feel stupid?? What to the EV Alison, you're smart. Wait a minute, you just said 'what to the Ev' Smart people don't say that. You really need to get new friends who don't talk like complete morons."

Alison to Nancy: "That sounds interesting. Are you doing research?"

Nancy Nerd: "Yep. I research how to make paraplegics more independent and mobile by installing computer chips in their brain so they can function via remote controls and computers:

Alison to self: "AHHHHHHHHHHHH....please don't ask me what I do, please don't ask me what I do, please don't ask me what I do."

Nancy Nerd to Alison: "What do you do?"

Alison: "I sell ads for a SouthEastern women's magazine."

Silence.

Chewing.

More chewing.

Drink coffee.

Alison to Nancy: "It's very fulfilling and you know, glamorous. Yeah, it's pretty awesome. I get to go to fashion shows at Neiman Marcus and yep......"

Alison to self: "Yep. You are pretty much sucking at life right now."

Alison to group: "Wow, this breakfast is FANTASTIC!!!"

Nancy Nerd and Gary Goober: "Yep."

xoxo,
Alison

Friday, August 31, 2007

Labor Day Vacay


Dear Blog,

I meant to look up the origins of Labor Day and why we have it off but I got sidetracked on Perez Hilton listening to Brit Brit's new single that just dropped, (which is OKAY but I'm not running out to buy it anytime soon. Does anyone miss vintage Britney?? Sigh...) But, if anyone out there knows why we have Labor Day then feel free to write in. Actually, this seems like a good job for Tony Ritz because he likes to do random stuff like this and I haven't heard from him on the blog in a while.

Aaron and I had big plans for the holiday, like fly to Vegas or Palm Springs and just live it up. But slowly, ever so slowly....reality checked in and our trip got downsized, BUT we are still taking a trip! We're going to Wilmington for the weekend and staying in a cute Bed and Breakfast! I'm excited, and I'll have my laptop with me so if any of you know of anything we HAVE to do in Wilmington, just write in and we'll do it.

While many of you will be at some sort of football game this weekend, think of me and Aaron chillaxin' on the beach.

Happy Labor Day!!

xoxo,
Alison

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Possibly. The. CUTEST. Baby. Ever.


Dear Blog,

I'm going to take this moment to blog about something other than myself! I know some of you are shocked and may be saddened, but I think at the end of the post, you will feel all warm and fuzzy inside and want to rush out to the nearest Pottery Barn Kids and buy oodles of little, cute, smooshy, baby things.

On August 23rd at 7:08 pm my BFF's Leigh and Kyle welcomed their little nugget of love into the world. His name is Miles Foster Young and seriously he might be one of the most precious babies I've ever seen in my whoooooole entire life. He is absolutely perfect. Y'all know that I'm honest and if I didn't think he was cute and perfect and absolutely wonderful I would say something like, he has both ears and all of his toes and that would be about it. He DOES have both ears and all toes but that is in addition to him being like the CUTEST little baby boy that I have ever seen.



A little bit about the parents/Ode to Leigh and Kyle. Leigh was my big sister in our oh so wonderul sorority and I truly believe that she was a God send :) Anyway, in the past seven or so years I have looked up to Leigh and her strong morals, beliefs, values, and cool haircuts ever since. I think if anyone can have a life mentor then Leigh would be mine, I look up to her and value her opinion probably more than she knows, although if she reads this blog then she will mos def know :) And now she has set the bar for having babies so incredibly high, I don't know if I will ever be able to measure up. I think being pregnant just suited her and of course she had the baby natural and with no drugs. Who does that? Oh yeah, Leigh Young. Leigh and Kyle are such great friends to me and Aaron and have been by our sides from the beginning of our our courtship all the way up to standing by our sides as we got married. We could not ask for better friends and are so thrilled with the addition of Miles to their family! We know they will be the best parents to baby Miles and we will try to be the best stand in Aunt and Uncle that we can be.

Much love to the new Young fam!





xoxo,
Alison the proud auntie

Friday, August 24, 2007

Detox

Dear Blog,

A couple posts ago I talked about how much I looooooved pilates, and I still do, don't get me wrong, but today I was a traitor and I went to yoga with work BFF Jaimi. Jaimi is in such good shape it's insane in the membrane and when she told me that she only does yoga, I was like "sign me up!" So today I went with her and y'all, yoga is hard. For reals! I consider myself to be in shape, you know, running marathons and being advanced in the pilates but this was IN to the TENSE. Not only were the moves strenuous thanks to us going to an ADVANCED CLASS, (THANKS JAIMI FOR WATCHING OUT FOR YOUR GIRL...) but, they turn on the heater or something so it's like 100 degrees and extra humid in there. I know I exaagerate in the blogs, but this is NO exaageration. I felt like I was experiencing Dante's Inferno, doing these crazy poses and sweating like a beast.

So I'm in there getting my zen on and Jaimi's telling me I'm doing all good and I'm really proud of myself! Our Yogi is telling me that I'm really going to detox and get all of the toxins out of my system and if I'm tasting a grody taste in my mouth then those are the toxins being released. I'm like, wow, this is really starting to pay off because I was tasting some grodiness in my mouth. Well then, all of my fellow class takers started looking at me REALLY STRANGE and I'm like, HELLO I'M TOTALLY ZENNING OVER HERE. I figured they were jealous of my hot moves.

Then class was over and I drove home and I looked in the mirror.

This is what I saw.



Apparently, I'm toxic.

xoxo,
Alison

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Chocolate Milk and Calzones


Dear Blog,

I love themes! Different phases of my life have different themes and I even have themes for my outfits that I wear everyday. It's gotten to the point where I walk into the office and my boss asks what theme I'm wearing today. Just for your information, today my theme is Intellect. I'm wearing my smart glasses (shout out Tony Ritz), an oxford and smart little plaid capris that just scream "BUY ADS FROM ME BECAUSE I'M SMART!!!!!" Whether or not this works, I will have to let you know.

Anywhoodle, this all leads into my theme for this past weekend; The Reunion of Friends. So, last Friday I met up with Mate and Drew for a trip to Charleston, SC. Now Faris and I have been making weekend Charleston trips for the past 4 or 5 years and we always stay with Bebe and Buddy in Mount Pleasant. We have small rituals/indulgences that we must follow or the weekend will not be the same. This trip we invited Drew to join for no other reason than she is the shiz and we knew she'd like our ritualistic trip. Not to bore my readers, but our hostess ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS buys us chocolate milk and Sister Shubert's cinnamon rolls to eat for breakfast when we're there. I joked that the three of us would be 30 years old and Bebe would still buy us chocolate milk to drink and we still drink the whole half gallon before we left on Sunday afternoon. We love it and we always look forward to our chocolate milk drinking. Also, the theme of last weekend was; FAT. We ate a ton and just wallowed on the couch like beached whales. Oh well, these weekends only happen once a year. I had a great time with these two and am already looking forward the next one. Holla! (Pictured above from left to right, Moi, Bebe, Drew, Faris a.k.a Mate)

Normally, I'm sad when I leave Chuck town on Sunday but this time I wasn't too, too sad because I was going to have dinner with my two friends from highschool on Sunday night, JCG and Ambular! Amber and I just reunited after like 4 or 5 years of a drought and then I haven't talked to Crist (not Christ...I talk to him daily thank you very much) since hmmm..prolly 1998 when she graduated. We went to dinner and chatted over calzones. Hence the ongoing themes of Reuniting of Friends. We all got hooked up thanks to a little thing called Facebook, you might have heard of it? I'm addicted to it like Spencer Pratt is addicted to being a douchebag, sorry Hills reference.


xoxo,
Alison

Monday, August 20, 2007

Game Over

We've reached about 20 comments on the 'Spit Spot' post and I think it's reached the point of saturation. No one guessed it or had the nastiness to write what it was in the comments section so I think I'm going to let sleeping dogs lie and end it. I've spoken to most of you in person and told you what it was and I think that will suffice.

A recap of my fun weekend will be coming in a later post.

Amen and amen.

xoxo,
Alison

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Spit Spot


******WARNING: THIS POST IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART OR FOR ANYONE WHO HAS AN OUNCE OF CLASS********


We've all seen 'em, in fact, some Bella French readers might even have one, but shhhhh...don't admit it for goodness sake! I'm sure people have heard of the aptly named Tramp Stamp and know that it refers to a tatoo placed expertly above one's bum, mostly on females. I'm trying to think of what I would put on my lower back were I to get a tattoo, it would probably read something like "Quit looking at my butt...thanks" Well, maybe that's too long. Maybe something really classy like "Juicy" or "Princess" ohhh, maybe "Holla Back" I don't know. So, none of this has anything to do with the charge I'm about to give Bella French readers. This does NOT apply to Tony Toni Tone, Paul or Prof because they were all with me when I learned what a spit spot was. So, whoever comes up with the correct definition of Spit Spot AND writes it in the comments section of the blog, I will give a SUPER SPECIAL Bella French prize.

Good luck and thanks for playing.

xoxo,
Alison

Monday, August 13, 2007

"Feel the rain on your skin...."


Dear Blog,

Really, I'm so excited about today!! Keep in mind that what I'm about to say is of no relevance to the world as it is today, Bush is still in office, our climates are still inching slowly upward and we're fighting an obesity epidemic, but really who cares about all of that when The Hills Season Premier is on tonight!?! LIKE O.M.G...I'm excited. Really, I am. I know that some of you are inwardly cringing (DAD) about a relatively intelligent female such as myself getting excited about a totally fake reality show but oh well, I never claimed to be deep. I love me some Lauren and cannot STAND Spencer. I wish he would choke on a piece of pizza crust and not die but damage his vocal chords so I wouldn't have to hear his annoying voice anymore. Blah. So, be there or be square all you Hills lovers and haters alike tonight at 10 pm on MTV, it's bound to be one big catfight and we all love a catfight, especially when we're not involved and they're just on tv with little socialite 21 year olds.
xoxo,
Alison

Monday, August 6, 2007

Pilates

Dear Blog,

Every year I have a new fitness goal. 2005, I ran a half marathon in Charlotte. 2006, I ran/walk/limped the Chicago Marathon. 2007....drum roll please...I'm going
to become a pilates instructor! There are many reasons for this pilates instructorness. I will tell you because I know you are just DYING right now. Whilst Aaron and I were on our honeymoon we saw many beautiful sights...and many not so beautiful sights. I saw one too many flabby stomachs, boobs, arms, thighs, calves and sadly...toes. I thought to myself, "Self. You will never have flabby toes. You will do pilates." When we got back from the honeymoon, I swiftly ran to the next Pilates class at the Y. Love it, love it, love it. Had a bad day at work? Pilates. One too many cupcakes? Pilates. Too much time in front of the tv? Pilates. Cures all evils. Another reason to love the pilates, you can incorporate it into your everyday life.

Par example;
Want to read a magazine? Do the plank!



Want to rest the old back while doing some work? Put the laptop on your "tabletop"!





And finally, if you've had too much to drink and you just can't take it anymore. Bend yourself over and hang in the monkey position. Works everytime.




P.S. You do not have to always wear yellow patent leather flats when you randomly decide to do pilates. That's just my thing. You can do what you want.

xoxo,
Alison the pilates instructor

Sunday, July 29, 2007

A Rockin' Good Time!!!


Dear Blog,

How often do you get to spend the weekend with your husband, mom, dad, grand father, grandmommy to be and a Volvo for an extended period of time? When your 77 year old grandfather gets remarried that's when!! And when he decides to get married in his hometown of Cumberland, Maryland!! (That's about a 7 hour trek including stops, etc from Charlotte, North Carolina). Here's how the non-stop PARTAY went down. Friday morning, Mumsy and Pere picked up Aaron and I from our Charlotte abode and we all happily piled in the family wagon. About 6 stops, several thousand calories and 8 hours later we arrived in Grantsville, Maryland. Since Grantsville is in the mountains it was only like 63.8 degrees when we got there, it felt great!! Larry Sprinkle could have warned us about the drastic temperature change, but we didn't hold that against him, we were having too great of time in the MD. I got to meet my new aunties and cousins, ate LOTS of food, laughed a lot with my parents and hubby, learned what a salt peter is, drove a lot, saw lots of Menonites, posed inappropriately with a statue, judged some of the Maryland people harshly, got yelled at by my dad, saw where my grand pap grew up and my parents honeymoon cottage.


Oh yeah, and saw Pops get married!!! I'm so happy for Pops and Grandmommy Ruth and I say that in all honesty and admiration. I thought I would only see Pops commit to never going again to Haywood Mall, to singing loudly at church, and always telling me about what prescriptions he's taking and how much they cost. What a lovely day to see him make a commitment to love and cherish my new Grandmommy. Cheers to the happy couple!!



xoxo,
Alison

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Short Shorts Party '07




Dear Blog,

I always thought I should be famous and now I'm even more convinced. The jet setting life totally suits me. This Friday after work Aaron and I hopped on a plane and flew to see our friends Ian, Paul and Kate for the 56th Annual Short Shorts party. All I have to say is, this girl has still got it. You see, I was starting to think I was getting a little bit long in the tooth, if you know what I mean. And if you don't know what I mean, I mean old. The reason why is because the thought of going out to a bar, yelling my order at the bartender, pretending to have meaningful conversations over blaring music and feeling like shit the next day just doesn't appeal to me. I make it sound so much fun don't I? Even though I would rather play Scrabble on a Friday night than go out, it made me sad that I was getting old. So...with all this being said, I was a little apprehensive to make the trip and be at the disposal of Aaron's friends from college and this balls out (literally) party.

HAHA, I think I'm just under stimulated in the South, specifically the Charlotte, North Carolina going out scene. I'll have to say I was the life of the party. Well, I was the life of the party in my own mind and really, that's all the counts. The fun, crazy, say anything and make sure you slur saying it Alison came out. AND what makes it even better is that I was wearing a green, terry cloth, onesie. Ohhhh yes blog readers...and yellow patent leather flats. Straight seventies. Why was I wearing that you ask? Duh. Because it was the SHORT SHORTS party. Our friends have come up with ingenius idea of making people look ridiculous by wearing ridiculously short shorts in preferably the most ridiculous colors and basically get...well...ridiculous. Of course, some people, Kate Rybicki, managed to look completely great in her short shorts outfit, most people just looked silly. Aaron, Paul, Brian...everyone.





A great time was had, lots of laughs, lots of drinks and a lot of great dance moves and lots of bruises were shared. I kept running into that damn pipe that was so wrongly placed by the picnic table. Looking forward to next year.

Since the south is a good 10 years behind all other parts of the US, well except the Mid West, they're behind us, the short shorts party will not be making it down here. Aaron and I are afraid of what southerners would do if they were told they couldn't wear their Lacoste, seer suckers and croakies to a party. Just wait 'til we move though (don't freak out no plans yet)...it's on til the break of dawn.

xoxo,

Alison


Thursday, July 19, 2007

The Namesake


Dear Blog,

I am a VERY busy person. In between selling my wares on the street, doing reports and having lots of meetings with my boss, laughing with my new BFF Jaimi who says hilarious things like "let's beat her over the head with a pinata" and has awesome ideas like "Alison, your husband really should pay all of the bills out of his check and you can just go shopping with yours," scouring my friends blogs and all of my shopping websites to figure the latest thing I HAVE TO HAVE; I have taken up hairdressing. You read right.

Here's the sitch. I love my parents. For lots of reasons but mostly because they always keep Bella when we need them to :) The last time they kept Bella they took her to get shaved because it is so HOT outside. Well the groomers did a great job except they left all of the hair on her head and she looks like a poodle. Now, I don't know about you but I think poodles are for *ussies and I didn't want my dog looking like one. So, I had the genius idea of cutting some of her excess hair off her head and shaping it into a mohawk!! I think I did a bang up job. Check it out!

xoxo,
Alison