My One Night Stand With Stoli Blakberi

I’ve hit the age where I’m too old to go out on work nights. But when my friend presented an online link to the invite only Stoli Blakberi launch in Boston last night, I couldn’t resist. Walking in, I realized that not only am I not too old to go out on work nights, but alas, I’ve hit the point where I’m either the oldest at a college bar, or the youngest at a lounge for young professionals. In my new Velvet jeweled minidress (I couldn’t resist a reason to wear my new frock), I squeezed inbetween men in suits and girls in other minidresses to the free (!!!) bar until 10pm.

Three drinks and one shot consumed. For the record, Stoli Blakberi tastes like a hybrid of Stoli Raspberi and Stoli Blueberi. As a straight shot, not so good. I’ve learned throughout my time that a shot of vodka is a shot of vodka. And it’s never that delicious. I try to think of cupcakes as I take the shot. Cookies. Red colored Skittles. Yummy things. But that never really helps. Next time. No shots.

Out of the drink menu for the night, I would suggest the Blak Tea. Not too bad, tastes better than that Nestea crap. I also had the Blakberi Smash – which was basically a vodka soda with some ground up blackberries. If you’re going to go for the new Stoli though (or, I guess any Stoli for that matter), play it safe and go with every college girls’ favorite of Stoli and Sprite. As it could be expected, the bar ran out of just about everything except Stoli (go figure), and so me and my group turned to the trusty standby to get us through the night.

A nice, unexpected surprise? The lovely promo people from Hit & Run out of Los Angeles making custom made t-shirts and tanks (from American Apparel) for everyone there. Also nice? The free Stoli USB drives (in the shape of a Stoli Blakberi bottle!) that everyone got upon arrival. Swag is an amazing thing people, even if the price I pay is sipping on Get Clean detox tea this morning at work.

-M

Newsflash!

Midday news roundup (and a reason to procrastinate my project that I'm working on for work):

Often imitated. Never duplicated.

Like I care, they're both really hot.

See! Boston's fashionable too!

Could it be the downfall of Vogue? Say it ain't so! What will Anna Wintour do for work?

Ohmygod. Stop the presses. Newsflash. Sex sells. Yawn. (Sidenote: My boyfriend definitely did a RA bulletin board that was exactly like this. Gawker, you are so 2007.)

Yeah, because every 22-year-old's house looks like this.

When will a Lego representation be made of me? Lucky Amy Winehouse.

-M

On the interweb...

BREAKING NEWS: Screw Wall St, the real trouble is brewing on MTV's THE HILLS!!!

"...we are protesting Scientology. It is evil. Scientology kills people. It follows you home at night. It is perverted," a demonstrator insisted..."

Bad news M., Topshop has pushed back its US opening...AGAIN.

No thanks, I would rather not clog up my arteries and die

18 Shameless Reality Stars...don't you want to know if SPEIDI make the list?

This is old, but still insane...ummm...which candidate running for president is elitist and just not like "us"...?

Love means never having to say you're sorry...

Love Story star Ryan O'Neal and his son were both arrested after methamphetamine was found in O'Neal's bedroom during a "routine probation search" of his Malibu home.
Seems to be a family thing. Tatum O'Neal (his daughter, ahem, and Oscar-winning actress) was arrested for trying to buy crack cocaine from a street dealer earlier this year...which she then claimed was part of "research" for a movie role. Umm...yeah, right.
This makes me sad because I just re-watched Love Story on DVD the other night (Don't judge me...and anyway, I like the book better!...also, I love seeing the snowy scenes filmed in Cambridge/Boston, MA)

This is my fav. scene:

Jennifer Cavalieri: You look stupid and rich.
Oliver Barrett IV: Well, what if I'm smart and poor?
Jennifer: I'm smart and poor.
Oliver: Well, what makes you so smart?
Jennifer: I wouldn't go out for coffee with you that's what.
Oliver: Well what if I wasn't even gonna ask you to go out for coffee with me?
Jennifer: Well that's what makes you stupid.

Ok, I have to admit, it is hard not to gag throughout the movie...the lines ("Love means never having to say you're sorry," said TWICE no less haha) are incredibly cliched and cheesy...Ali McGraw, makes it worth it though. She had a huge impact on 70's fashion and is STILL given mentions in Teen Vogue ...Oh yeah, and speaking of "preppy classics" this one is for you M. (FYI, picking up bankers might have been the thing to do in the 90's...not so much any more!)

- P

Sweater Season

You know that moment when it becomes sweater season. Here in New England, it's that one changeover night where you realize that it's time for you (or your male roommate, in my case) to take out the AC from the window. That next morning, there's a slight cold breeze as you walk to work, and knowing so thanks to weather.com, you grab your black pashmina as you walk out the door. For me, I start thinking of fun colored tights to buy to create a perfect, unusual of Boston, Gossip Girl look with preppy blazers. Typically when this day comes, I also start having an abnormal craving for apple crisp (but only made by my mom), and apple cider. Bonus points if someone can supply me a cider donut from Goodale Orchards too.

This year, this transition happened this week. I'm looking at my closet, somewhat longingly at all of the Abercrombie tanks (and there are a lot of them, as a prior employee) and think of layering, instead of throwing them over my favorite bikini top. I'm keeping bundled up in my down comforter at night, keeping my electric bill down with no more air conditioning, and wondering what will take place of my beloved flip flops as footwear. Today's choice?

Also happening now? My in depth look in my closet and realizing, no matter how many I have, it's new sweater season.When I was little, I loved buying (or getting) new sweaters. When I was six years old, my godmother/aunt gave me my first GAP sweater. A heavier, navy blue, cable knit sweater. An introduction to prepdom. This, the same woman who introduced me to United Colors of Bennetton a few years later, and circa 1998, Abercombie & Fitch, gave me my love of sweaters. I cycled out my year old Little Mermaid sweater (don't laugh, you know you had one too), and started early with cable knit, pullover, cardigan, and whatever else style. I even rocked the sweater wrap dresses in middle school. Another probable fashion choice that makes me cringe.

This year, I'm back to my private school history and loving thecardigans that I see everywhere. The longer, the better. My favorite sweaters right now? Tory Burch. Blame the Gossip Girl influence, or the huge section devoted to her at Saks, but everything I see is like gold. I particularly love the two above, although not both in white. What makes Tory Burch sweaters so great are the accented buttons. They add a bit of life to the sweater (and, I suppose, that added hint of luxury wear). Bonus points to the design team for not making the sweaters feel too Mister Rogers.

-M

End-of-Workday Newsflash Roundup

Who needs CNN when you have us?

I kid, I kid. Here's a pop culture roundup from today's news and noteworthy day.

Bad news for college guys everywhere. Better stick to Red Bull and vodkas, boys.

Good thing if I'm ever a VP candidate, all they'd find in my hacked email are Facebook.com notifications.

Note-passing your pregnancy news? Really Jamie-Lynn Spears?

LiLo hearts Barack. He's just not that into her.

I always knew Paris was smarter than she looked.

Eating disorders are so original 90210. Eat something girls.

What happened to separation of church and state? Does this mean I'm going to hell? Damnit.

-M

Alert: Closet Addition!

I just received this by the ever-so-friendly FedEx man at work today. On sale at Neiman Marcus (here, in case you want to look like me) for cheapo. Things like this make my days brighter (What was that about overspending again?). I plan to pair it with a pair of sheer leggings, throw on some flats and go to the New Kids on the Block concert in two weeks with my beloved momma. That's right, I know you're jealous. Why would you be jealous? Because they still cause scenes like this, and maybe my new Velvet Jeweled Minidress (above) will get the attention of Joey, Jordan, Jonathan, Dannie or Donnie (or more importantly, Donnie's brother Mark Wahlberg). Mmmmm. My seven year old dream come true.

In other news, I just stumbled across this article and this video this afternoon. Love her or hate her (I love her, for the record), you have to feel bad for the girl. Is this really the best time for Mommy Dearest Lynne Spears to be writing a tell-all novel? I don't feel the need to re-read the past two years in tabloids in a confined, ghostwritten "memoir." Plus, reports ring true in the fact that dear Brit-Brit only shaved her head not too long ago, and was in rehab in a shorter time than it takes to get over breakups (it's been 7 months, for the record, and I would argue that a solid breakup takes about a year or so). Let's hope for a solid comeback, more silver Versace dresses, and no more bra and panty hookerware. My fingers are crossed, although the more I think of it, the more I'm happy that my parents weren't show parents. Normalcy can be a good thing (surprise, surprise!).

-M

On the interweb...

The emphasis is on LAIDoff (M warns: Craigslist links NSFW!!!)

FT agrees...there is a connection between fashion and democracy!

Please note, Christian Louboutin MAY NOT be refered to as 'Loub'

My new fav. website to visit

What does one wear to a fashion party at No 10 Downing Street? And other such important questions answered...

- P

Midday Newsflash!

Holy blogosphere. Too many stories for today's indulgence.

Tabloid Cover Wednesday! (Here for images & Here for commentary)

See, Republicians don't care about Canada either. Granted, if these kids end up in the White House, I'll be moving there.

Oh no. Competition for my beloved iPhone? Say it ain't so!

I don't blame you Hil.

Something tells me my mother wouldn't have let me read this when I was twelve.

Maybe there's a little divo in all of us.

Still no match for Fenway Park... or Jacoby Ellsbury for that matter.

I see much of myself in Serena Van Der Woodsen in this promo.

Every morning it's the same. Is it a MBTA subway car or can of sardines. You choose.

-M

Why I'm Happy To Be A Liberal

I was going to hold off on my daily postings until the workday truly starts, but I stumbled onto the blog over at fashionintelligentsia and almost died of happiness.

Can we please direct our attention over to Barack Obama's official online store and look, just for a moment, of all of the great designer pieces. I dont know what I want more. As pictured above we have a tee by Juicy Couture, a tote by Marc Jacobs and another tote by Diane Von Furstenburg. Maybe I'll just splurge on all three when the next paycheck rolls around -- just disregard that silly little article that I posted yesterday.

(P. says: You know I had to comment on Obama's "Runway to Change"...gotta point this out...nautical+classic white tee+nod to the past with old-fashioned pin+leftist politics = gets my vote...Ha! Talk about fashion and democracy coming together, literally.)

Also on my shopping list that the lovely bloggers at fashionintelligentsia pointed out to my impulse buying needs? This super pretty Kate Moss for Topshop heart cardigan which will go perfectly with all of my high waisted skirts for work this fall. So pretty, so fantastic, and the US Topshop store is finally up and running!

-M