Tres Cray

When it comes to art, the weirder it is, the more I like it. While I wasn't a huge fan of those orange gates that set up shop in Central Park way back when (mostly because anything orange -- with the exception of clementines -- makes me gag), I was a huge fan of Mr. Eliasson's display of waterfalls throughout New York's waterways. Bizarre? Yes. Amazing? Absolutely. While I appreciate the classic beauty of Degas's prima ballerinas and the magnificence of Michaelangelo's Statue of David, I am far more amazed by the color concoctions and artful rule-breaking of Picasso and van Gogh. After a pretty trippy daze through Amsterdam's ode to van Gogh, and an equally psychedelic walk through London's Tate Modern (never did I think hanging, flattened metal objects could look so COOL!), I adopted a great love of modern art... but that is not to say that I indulge in my love as much as I should.

Until now.

My fellow KR, a current employee of New York's Museum of Modern Art, worked her magic to obtain tickets for our posse of culturally savvy guys and gals to attend "MoMA Night" this Thursday. Each first Thursday of the month, a legitimate shindig goes down, and we will be there, dressed to impress and ready to take in the bizarre. I'm not kidding -- the naked people exhibit is in town. And it just so happens that a seminar on Picasso will be taking place at 7:30!

Oh, and did I mention that champagne will be served?

Love and being cultured,

KR

Work it, work it.

While the champagne cost a mere $5.99, the festivities were far classier this tres fabulous weekend, as we celebrated both graduate school acceptance (all cheer for JT the Volunteer!) and employment (wahoo!). Naturally, in a giddy trip to the Wrentham Outlets, I fell victim to the sales and lifted the spending freeze to add an iconic item to my closet. After years of yearning, I am finally the proud owner of a Burberry trench coat. Just call me a sassier version of Inspector Gadget!

Embracing the 50s

Well, everyone, I'm off to a Sock Hop tonight! These saddle shoes, which I got at a semi-reasonable price from Piperlime (prior to my current "spending freeze") are definitely my new favorite pair of crazy shoes! I'll never rock a poodle skirt, but I think the '50s are making a comeback!

YOU HAVE 6 HOURS

Free cone day at Ben and Jerry's is like music to my ears. Until 8 PM, relish in the deliciousness of some Half Baked, Chunky Monkey, or Phish Phood, and watch the rain seem to disappear! I've been reading about the contractual consideration necessary to legally enforce promises (you've probably stopped reading by now...), and with a monsoon of rain spoiling the gorgeous view out my window (ha. hello parking lot...), some sugary goodness is just what I need to get through the studying! Move fast, though! The deal becomes no deal in six hours...

However, as much as I'd seriously love some ice cream right about now, I must resist the temptation for two reasons: (1) I'm actually pretty cold, and currently bundled in my Wicked Good Mocs and a North Face fleece. Ice Cream wouldn't help. (2) After my first viewing of "Dancing with the Stars" yesterday night, I've resorted that my new dream is to look like Edyta Sliwinska, and ice cream would seriously not help that!

Impossibilities aside, I might have to add DWTS to my TV repertoire, which, at the current moment, is home to only one guilty pleasure hour spent watching Gossip Girl. Honestly, how can you not watch when Buzz Aldrin is a contestant?! I'm sending lots of positive thoughts in the way of the astronaut!

Gooooooo Skyhawks!

As one of Stonehill's "Student Ambassadors," (which is really just some fancy terminology for "tour guide,") I spent my Monday evening at a phone-athon. 100 calls to accepted students later, I had to spice up my go-to answering machine message schpeal. In my perkiest, happiest, come-to-Stonehill voice, I spoke, "Hi (insert Irish-sounding name)! This is KR from Stonehill College, and I'm calling to congratulate you on your acceptance to the class of 2014! It was a tough year for college admissions, so I speak on behalf of the administration when we send our most sincere thanks for your application! Please feel free to contact the Admissions Office if you have any questions, and we hope to see you at Stonehill in the Fall! Good luck!" It got a little redundant after call 75. So, with my giggling and eye-rolling roommate next to me, I started closing my calls with an enthusiastic, "Gooooooo SKYHAWKS!" I was never a cheerleader (just an enthusiastic fan in the stands), but I'm sure I sounded like one tonight!

KR the entrepreneur?

In an essentially pathetic attempt to breathe some life back into my bank account, I've resorted to closet hunting. Still [slightly] selfish, I found a sole item to sell on eBay: a FOLEY + CORINNA disco city tote in butterscotch leather. It's in great condition and a perfect bag for days of spring and summer shopping or nights on the town. Check out my eBay listing if you're interested! I'm hoping to add a few more items after I head back home for Easter...

Love and entrepreneurship,

KR

LUAU!

Aloha! As a house home to two March birthdays, Stonehill's Quincy made the most of the incredible sunshine to celebrate Hawaiian style. Our luau was a success, complete with pink and green balloons, a floating school of fish, and a plethora of palm tree pin-ups. We thought of the night as our "second shot" at Spring Break! Today's weather was no different. The 75 degree temperatures turned Stonehill into a college catalogue in the making: there couldn't have been more students playing frisbee on the quad. I, however, preferd the combination of gossip magazines and beach blankets. Sunning and lounging made for a fabulous Saturday afternoon. Here's hoping that this weather lasts! In the time being, though, enjoy this little picture of AR and I from last night's festivity. She rocked some florals while I wore my colorful lei. We're some stylish sisters, wouldn't you say?!

Here comes the sun

Snapping back to the reality of school has been nearly impossible this week. With temperatures creeping into the high 60s, the sun beckons me to forgo any and all responsibility in place of lazy afternoons spent reading magazines outside while wearing spring dresses. Senioritis at its finest, don't you think?

ERIN GO BRAGH!

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY TO ONE AND ALL! While I'm not a pure bread, I couldn't be prouder of my roots in Counties Galway and Leitrim. In honor of the holiday, here are a few pictures from a week I spent in Ireland back in November of 2008. Slainte! Disclaimer: the wind wrecked havoc on my hair while visiting the Cliffs of Moher. Pardon my appearance. ;-)

Top 10 Aboard the Norwegian Gem

10. The employees! It's not too often that college students feel like royalty, but when the sommeliers and stewards knew our entourage by our first and last names, it was hard to not feel like we achieved princess status!

9. The ceiling! Upon entering the ship's grand atrium, a gleaming and glittering ceiling of purple stones turned the lobby into a castle.

8. The fish bowls! A frozen cocktail tastes ten times better when it's sipped from a mini souvenir fish bowl.

7. The towels! Turn-down service turned our beach towels into monkeys, mice, and walruses, among other crittery friends! It made showering especially cute.

6. The board game room! It was almost too adorable to watch the lil old couples play round upon round of Monopoly and Bridge while the Spring Breakers took over the pool deck.

5. The spa. I splurged on a massage. Ahhhhh...

4. The themed lounges! Vegas-ey Bliss, '20s-esque Spinnaker, Classy Shakers, Beachy Bali Hai...

3. The Dirty Martinis! I have a new favorite poison...

2. The Cruise Director! Brett Mance, you never failed us. Thank-you.

1. THE FOOD! Lobster. Lobster again. Filet Mignon. Goat Cheese ravioli. All-you-can-eat guacamole. Tortellini gone wild. Fennel and cucumber salad. Lox. Omelets. Soft-serve ice cream. Creme brule. Lobster yet again. Jambalaya. Ceviche. Grouper. Scallops. Risotto. Corn. Sushi. Mac'n'cheese. Wings...

I wonder why the scale read a number I was less than thrilled with upon returning to New York...

Spring Break Re-Cap!

Prior to the big voyage, we started with some wining and dining at Otto Enoteca, a delicious restaurant courtesy of Mario Batalli, where my friends were far too kind in treating me to some of the most scrumptious food that's ever crossed my lips -- and I've even had CRUISE food, but we'll get to that later. I'm considering dabbling in Mormonism so I can marry the goat cheese pizza, the olive sampler, the cheese plate, the olive oil gelato, and the bean antipasto. But let's not get ahead of ourselves here -- I'll leave it as the perfect birthday dinner!

A hop, skip, and a few hours later, we traversed the concrete jungle via the midtown tunnel and made our way to the Norwegian Gem. The ship was seriously insane and I'm already thinking about inventing a money tree so I can add a yearly cruise to my vacation collection. I don't think my body could handle it though! Sun-filled afternoons on Cocoa Beach, barbecued corn on the cob on Great Stirrup Cay, and a trip to the infamous Senor Frogs were a few highlights of the seven-night trip. I hope these pictures do it justice!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Exactly 22 years ago, at 6:19 AM, in a Long Island hospital, a sassy piece of pink and green popped into this world, ready to rage, rally, and ramble. Here's to the next 22, the next 22, and the next 22...

I'm alive

...but just barely. I may have sipped just one (or, to be perfectly honest, twenty-seven) too many mai tais while spring breaking last week for me to write anything coherent, witty, or amusing. Rest assured, though: the trip was nothing short of fabulous. I've got a little bit of color, some awesome pictures, and about seven nights of sleep to catch up on.

I'll be back tomorrow though for a birthday post of course! I'm thinking 22 is going to be my year! ;-)

bang bang choo choo train...

The coif has been chopped. The toes have been tended. I'm officially on VACATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll be back in a week with cruise pictures and stories, in addition tales from tonight's "Pink, Green, and 22" birthday bonanza in honor of ME! HAPPY SPRING BREAK!

xo, KR

26.2

On this Wednesday, I have just a few words for you marathon runners out there: you absolutely amaze me. During my excruciating training for the mere 5k I'm running on March 21st (a Stonehill-sponsored race to benefit Haiti!), I banged out 2.5 miles on the treadmill last night and felt as though I'd been to hell and back after I essentially collapsed off the machine upon completing the dreaded distance. How in the world do you run 26.2 miles without stopping?! I just don't get it! My training involves two "long" (for me, at least) runs while I'm on the cruise next week, and something tells me that with parasailing and poolside drinks calling my name, they'll be especially painstaking...

Oh well. All in the name of a hot bod, right?! HA.

Love to all, especially those of you who join me in the "jiggly" club,

KR

March 1st is a great day!

1. I'm wearing a new outfit that's pretty freaking ferocious. My red tights, black dress, leopard cardigan, and gold blinging anchor necklace (courtesy of the cheapo costume jewelery bin at Forever 21, thankyouverymuch) have awarded me several ego-boosting compliments, which is just what I needed to pick me up on this excruciatingly busy Monday! It's also a very out-of-character kind of ensemble, so I feel like a new woman. Ka-pow!

2. The GLEE TOUR HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED. Just five days after I hold my college diploma, I'll be rocking to "Don't Stop Believing" and the monster mash-ups of "Halo/Walking on Sunshine" and "Confessions/It's My Life" alongside the twirling and belting collection of Fox's fabulous divas. And divos.

3. SUGARLAND IS PLAYING IN MASSACHUSETTS just two days before I bid my New England residence farewell. While I'm not really one for country, this Texas twosome is the anomaly in my iTunes. The concert will serve as a perfectly sentimental ending to the Stonehill era.

YAY!

30% off at J.Crew!

With the season of sun dresses just a ray of light around the corner, now is the perfect time to load up on the billowy, cotton frocks that make spring the perfect season for brights and pastels. But why limit color to just dresses!? J.Crew is offering 30% off its sale items today, and this coral schoolboy blazer adds an unexpected feminine flair to a the jacket's traditional navy.
This butterscotch variety, though a member of the neutral party, is also quite wonderful, and would look perfect paired with the season's must-have chambray shirt trend, which, I might add, I bought into this weekend for a mere $9.95 at H&M! Clearly, I couldn't resist these two jackets, either. While they weren't less than ten dollars, they're perfect for looking professional while staying warm in the subterranean temperatures caused by an office's overload on central air conditioning.
I also welcomed this halter dress into my closet. I bid farewell to my go-to white number last summer, and was in desperate need of filling the void. Naturally, when anything is less than $50 at J.Crew, it's a steal, so when something drops below $30, as in the case of this piece, you can't help but add the item to your virtual shopping cart and start daydreaming about which gold sandals will add the perfect bit of a Grecian edge to the otherwise uneventful fabric. I bought these while clearing out the Tory Burch outlet in San Marcos, Texas back in October, and I think they're they perfect match!

Here's hoping my new goodies arrive in time for the cruise! Happy Monday!