TASTE : random act of kindness

Have you guys ever heard of (or had) Pocky?


It's (as you can read on the box) a biscuit stick covered in chocolate (or other flavors, including a "mature," dark chocolate version that's called "Men's Pocky). It's from Japan and apparently very popular in East Asian countries.

I had not heard of this little bit of deliciousness (seriously, I ate the entire box in 5 minutes) until yesterday when a co-worker of mine bought me a box, because he thought I was "down." (It's been a stressful/busy week, so I've not been as social as I normally am.) I mean, is that sweet or what? I am constantly surprised by how kind people can be.

I saved the box, because I love how retro it looks... and as a reminder to be kinder to (and definitely more patient with) people, just because, and to be less dour at work (even when I'm stressed).

Fun Fact: Pocky was renamed Rocky in Malaysia, perhaps to avoid sounding like a vulgar word in Malay (from Wikipedia, of course).

do i know myself, or what?

{Sagittarius via here}

The only horoscopes to which I've ever really paid attention were published by Yahoo! during a stretch in 2007, because they said things like, "you could feel like a vaudeville performer who's just gotten out of their straitjacket while locked in a tank full of water using a tiny golden key and their teeth." I'm not kidding. That was an actual horoscope. HOW AMAZING.

But this one on New Year's resolutions is pretty spot on, too:

Sagittarius

Expansive Sagittarian energy demands both freedom and adventures. Even if you are experiencing tight financial times, resolve this year to do at least one very exciting thing each month. It could be hiking in the national parks, leading a children's sports team, or campaigning for your favorite cause - anything that pushes your limits and expands your horizons will do. The more people you meet, the better you will feel.

Hmm...maybe I should accept a friend's invitation to go skiing at Wisp next month...? If you'd like to know what resolutions you should be making based on your astrological sign {and really, why wouldn't you? :)}, click here.

someone talk me out of this

I want this:

Custom Acrylic Nameplate Necklace via here.

I want mine to say "j'adore" or "je t'aime" or something equally French and cliched. I want it in silver mirror acrylic, typeset in Helvetica Bold, and maybe with skull or heart or cupcake cutouts... Tacky? Or AWESOME? {Please say awesome.}

{I think I've been jonesin' for acrylic jewelry ever since I saw this necklace and these rings {by the same fab designer} in one of those daily Etsy Finds emails. I should probably give in and buy it... all. Or ask my friends to do an intervention.}

inspiration: seeing red

(Image via StockholmStreetStyle)

How glamorous is this woman? I lovelovelove the menswear-inspired jacket and details {the pocket square!} and the red, red lips. Doesn't she look like she belongs in Old Hollywood?

I wish I had the confidence to pull off red lipstick. I always feel like a little girl playing dress up with my mom's make up or {even worse} like Ronald McDonald.

q&a, part one

Time Out New York is a useful magazine to which to subscribe. It's not so useful when you get your issues a week late. And it's even less useful when you no longer live in New York. {But for some reason, I still get the magazine at my parents' house. (I hope I didn't pay for this. I don't recall signing up for it, actually.)}

In last week's wearable fall fashion issue, TONY asked,

"What do you want for fall?"

And my answer is this:

Balmain RTW Fall 2009 Paris

(Image via here and here)

Since the likelihood of my purchasing the "it" jacket* of the season is approximately nil, I would settle for this boyfriend blazer from Express:

What's on your fall wishlist?

For inspiration, I suggest perusing Pink Monkey's Fall Series posts by guest bloggers (and Miss Blog Goggles' post in particular-- she is hilarious!).

*Note to Megan: Please read this article.

m.i.a.

Okay, so I've been MIA. Everyday I think, "I will update my blog today," and then everyday I do a million other things instead of blogging. (Although, I did retroactively update my blog here, here, and here.) I am a blogging failure.

In my defense, I've been a little mopey, since the job search isn't going as well as I had hoped. And it's a weird place to be, to be "in transition." Since I'm looking for (development, grant writing, program management) jobs in NYC and DC, should I move back to NYC (or to DC) and stay with friends, or should I wait to move until I have something lined up? How long can I stay with friends before becoming a bad house guest, especially when I don't have any prospects? Even little things like, should I open a gym membership here at home while I look for jobs elsewhere?

More and more I don't feel like I'm "transitioning"; I just feel like I'm stagnating.

Normally when I feel this way -- when I feel "magenta" (at the 5:00 mark) -- I engage in a little retail therapy to lift my spirits. (Okay, full disclosure, I did buy some new shoes (they're very cute!).) But perhaps, instead, I should focus on the (mostly) non-material things that brighten my mood:

a short list of things that never fail to make me smile

1. waking up to sunshine flooding my room, and (conversely, strangely) waking up to an early sunday morning thunderstorm
   
2. flipping through old photos, even if i don't remember what was happening when they were taken, like this one: ... look at all that pink i'm wearing!
   
3. finding the perfect gift... and trying (unsuccessfully) not to spoil it
4. rolling down the window, turning up the radio, and driving down long stretches of empty road
   
5. a good conversation
6. freshly baked goods
7. laughing until you pee... and then laughing at that
8. the golden girls
9. fresh cut flowers
10. planning a trip, even if i never make it to my destination
    
11. great children's picture books, like cornelia funke's the princess knight, doreen cronin's diary of a worm, kate mcmullan's i'm bad, and anything mo willems
12. unexpectedly getting free food at the office (or anywhere, really)
13. looking up at the night sky and being able to see the stars
14. spontaneous dance parties
    

This is not an exhaustive list by any means, but I think this is a good start. Next time, instead of spending money I don't have on things I don't need, maybe I'll just flip on the Golden Girls? ...We'll see. :)