Back to the Bean I Go

Tomorrow marks a milestone in my journey to CEO status (ha). I'm going on my very first business trip. Granted, I'll be traveling to and from Boston in (essentially) less time than last Saturday's morning bus ride to Cape Cod, but it's still a moment that would be photographed and sent to my Grandparents if I still lived at home with my proud Mamadukes.

This week is gonna fly.......

Skip town? OK.

When a wet and wild weekend for the 4th of July seemed a little bleak, the ultra fab ML came to my rescue. In a fit of intense spontaneity, I booked a bus from NYC to Hyannis just 9 hours before departure time, and spent my weekend permanently perched on a poolside lounge chair at ML's Harwichport summer home. While only two-fifths of the L fam were in town for the Cape's most notorious weekend, we had a blast hopping between bars, beaches, and barbecues. Check out my sweet tan in the picture below--and MB's very awesome beach bun! ;-)In other news, I'm completely enamored with my job! While my free time has gone slightly pouf, I have nothing to complain about. A member of the "Mobility Team," I get paid to play with iPads and Blackberries. It's an exciting and cutting-edge industry that's keeping me interested and occupied--but not as much as my weekly shenanigans! Last weekend's highlight was attending the Veuve Cliquot-sponsored polo match on Governor's Island, an event which got my picture to both Page Six and E! News. I kid you not! When the alluring Prince Harry fell off his horse mid-match, the photogs snapped away, capturing two blushing and beautiful brunettes in the background. Some day, BT and I plan to be the actual subjects of the Page Six photos, but for now, we'll settle for blending into the background.
Until next time,

KR

TB

Merry Christmas. The Tory Burch Sample Sale has hit New York. I plan to redefine the speed at which I can sprint in heels (thank you, Cole Haan-Nike Air partnership) to book it there as soon as I scoot from the office. God help my credit card bill...

6:30

Why I woke at 6:30 this morning, just a few hours after I learned that a cab from Midtown Manhattan to the borough of a Mets Mecca is actually pretty cheap, is a big old mystery, but I can't say I'm too perturbed. It's a gorgeous day in NYC that should not be wasted on sleep. As such, I'm going to take my sneakers on a date and pound the pavement for as long as I can... After three weeks of living on my own, commuting to work, and learning to literally fend for myself, it's time to reintroduce exercise into my daily repertoire. I say this now... we'll see how it goes.

In honor of Father's Day weekend, I dedicate this post to most AWESOME man in the world: my Daddy!!!!!!! Isn't he such a stud?! I can't wait to celebrate with him tomorrow. :-)

Wonders of Bouillon

As a tween, nothing allured me like the dollar store. Who cared that I already had an ample supply of black and brown eyeliners at home? Why not buy a few more? After all, they're just a dollar. Right?! I had a similar experience this weekend. Saddened by my illness-induced loneliness, Mamadukes trekked in from the Island on Sunday, bound for the borough she once called home. We hit up Trader Joes, where I made a killing on designer produce and processed dinners, and CVS, where she all but forced me to purchase a $.59 bottle of bouillon cubes.

Uh, what the heck are bouillon cubes?! Well, I learned tonight, and am instantly attracted to their delicious simplicity. It's like a perfect cup of soup, out of no where! Cool!

The strep is starting to dissipate, thank God, so the infirmary is no more, which means stories about things far more fascinating that bouillon cubes are to follow. Have a great week. I'll be checking in...

And here, for no particular reason, is a little love from BT's b-day bash on Stone Street. She shines in red, and AC dazzles in blue! It's a surprisingly patriotic picture. :-)

Accumulating Property

Stuck in bed with strep throat was not the way I imagined my weekend, but as every Queens gal must do, I'm making the best of it. After a quick walk to CVS to pick up my heavenly antibiotics, I whisked myself right back to where I started: snuggled under the covers of my big girl bed with nothing to keep me company but a bootleg of Sex and the City 2 and a bottomless glass of orange juice. And I'm fine with that! I enjoy the relaxation that comes from complete and total silence, but that's clearly not to say that I'm well on my way to becoming a recluse. As you learned before, I'm a budding reality TV star (ha) with a social calendar that needs to be busy and bustling for my own personal sanity. However, missing out on yesterday's trip to 675 Bar, this afternoon's birthday bash for my boss's daughter, and this evening's Park Slope housewarming for new neighbor RJ is probably a blessing in disguise: sometimes, we all need to slow down. And after the big move, slowing down -- albeit forced -- is exactly what I needed.

Also, here's a funny story: I washed my amoxicillin down with a fortune cookie from Wednesday night's take out binge with Aunt K, and could not have had a more ironic reading experience. It said, "You tend to accumulate property. Use it well." Could any fortune have been more fitting? I guess you could say I'm almost using it well. To date, I've only broken one set of blinds... ;-)

I hope your weekends are going better than mine!

Camera Crews on the Roof top

Whitney Port and the gals of “The City” lead a boring life compared to the evening I had last night! In an exceptionally happy post-work happy hour, some co-workers and I gallivanted from Midtown Manhattan’s gem of an Irish pub to the Financial District’s insanely brand new luxury condo building. Compliments of fellow employee RA, the building boasts a roof deck, where we spent the second half of our evening lounging under the night sky with our toes dipped in the rooftop fountain. I kid you not. I felt like the only thing missing was a television crew documenting our shenanigans for the next big hit in the world of reality TV. Needless to say, it’s going to be an amazing summer.

Express?

While the NYC bus system is an underrated gem, I’ve found that the alluring express train is highly overrated. Do you agree? This morning, fueled by some Kashi Go Lean Crunch, I experimented with my commute: after making it to the train five whole minutes faster than I normally do (which is seriously a substantial chunk of precious time!), I was comfortably settled on the cozy R train, enjoying a coveted seat and reading my AM New York, when I passed the point at which I normally traverse the platform and cram myself into the E train—with no seat, obviously. But today, I stayed on the R. I stayed in my seat. I remained reading about where to nosh on eggs and bacon and booze while watching the World Cup. And you know what? I made it to work a whole 15 minutes faster, on the dinky little local! Today, celebrating is certainly in store for the new supply of slumber I can add to my nights!

St. Regis

Friends made in my new neighborhood... and beyond!

-M, a woman from Romania who is currently studying Art Therapy at City College. For the time being, she commutes to the St. Regis, where she's a masseuse. I wonder if she makes house calls. We met on the bus.

-G, a 75-year-old (ish?) self-described "flaming heterosexual" who looked ultra fabulous in his pink seersucker pants and Lilly Pulitzer tie at the "Night in Edgartown" event I attended with SA. A happening producer on the Broadway scene (like, real NYC Broadway), he just moved to a townhouse on Bleecker street, where his backyard is equipped with a lovely swing. Backyards in Manhattan are hard to come by, so naturally, SA and I invited ourselves over for a cocktail party with our new millionaire pal. He said we can chat shoes. ;-)

As I'm sure you can tell, life is grand. My job is going extremely well as I learn more and more from my colorful cast of co-workers each day. The first week was filled with lots of meeting-and-greeting, and I hope to get my hands into some interesting projects as the weeks go by. For now, though, I'm enjoying my weekend at home, having just spent the afternoon at an R family gathering. There was a magician. Enough said.

But tonight, it's back to the city for BT's birthday bash. Ta.

-

The Princess of Queens

Once upon a time, there lived a little Long Island lady with big city dreams, and a big city attitude to match. Once upon today, that dream came true.

Thank GOD. It's about time my blog got good again.

But before I tell some tales about some of the wonderful characters I've met along my journey thus far (preview: the premiere masseuse at the St. Regis hotel and the producer of two of Broadway's most bustling successes), let's back track a bit, back in time to a simpler time: back to college.

In true Stonehill tradition, all (well, almost all) of 2010's graduating class, plus a few underclassmen who just couldn't bear to see us leave, invaded Cape Cod for a week the locals surely hated. Refer to classics such as Animal House and Can't Hardly Wait for an idea of what the week was like. And if Cape Week really were a movie, our house was the one that was featured on screen the whole time. With a backyard far too fancy for co-eds such as ourselves, we lounged pool side every second of every day, without a care in the world. At times, the events of the week should have been on the set of a soap opera or in the feed of a gossip blog, but miraculously, we all managed to survive unscathed, living life to the most fabulous degree. ;-)

But the Cape Side shenanigans did not stop there. With graduation festivities in between (a parent dinner dance here, one last hurrah upon Stonehill's "hill" there...), I retreated back to New York for but a few days before returning to the Cape for Memorial Day Weekend. While the habitat of choice this time around was the amazingly swanky L Family Compound (I'm not joking), the activities were similar: poolside sitting and cocktail sipping just doesn't get old once you traverse the Sagamore Bridge to Massachusetts' Vacationland. And even though the seven hour ride back home was enough to make this antsy thing stir crazy to the umpteenth degree, throwback tunes, compliments of (obviously) my iPod (a.k.a. Precious Pink), made the trip back a perfect end to the weekend. I'm telling you, a little TLC, Blues Traveler, and Seal can really liven up a trip down I-95.

Now, I should probably mention that my time in between Cape Week and Cape Weekend was far from a walk in the park. The few days were spent vacuuming. And dusting. And washing dishes. And moving furniture. And vacuuming again. And dusting again. But all for good reason. Ladies and gentleman (that's you, WBE!), I am a homeowner.

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAH!!

Well, not really. But kind of! It took me about two days as a collage graduate until I split from the suburbs, bound for the only place in New York that's cooler than Brooklyn. Clearly, I am talking about QUEENS! I am now bus savvy, subway savvier, and loving every minute of it! While my commute to Manhattan is not much shorter than it was in the past, I feel very official. Billy Joel actually wrote a song about how I feel these days... ;-)

I'm back in the "country home" for the night (ha), lured by a home cooked meal and laundry facilities, so stay tuned for tomorrow's post, in which you'll get to hear all about Mission Millionaire.

With love and wishes for a wonderful weekend,

KR

PS: To my fellow big city big shot, BT, HAPPY 24th BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!

Post College Observations 8-10

8. Mamadukes is a huge Lady GaGa fan. I'm not kidding: we just folded laundry to the tune Alejandro. To quote my life-giver, "She's like my Madonna!"

9. The first two "housewares" that I've purchased for the "Queen[']s Palace" are a bright green tea kettle and a matching colander. My Sleepytime tea and pasta addictions can now rest easy, assuming I don't burn the house down in the process... ;-)

10. Hairdressers are wonderful human beings. I spend a delightful afternoon with my dear S, and his magic is unparalleled. I feel so zen.

See you Tuesday. I'm off to the Cape (again), for some patriotic pool side sunning. XOXO.

Post College Observations 1-7

1. Practical gifts make the best gifts. Case in point: cousin and blog faithful BE got me a microwave for my new bachelorette pad. The ease it will bring to my life next week, as I tackle living on my own for the very first time, will be astronomically unparalleled.

2. I am officially the BEST CANDIDATE EVER for credit cards. Clearly, that's coated with sarcasm. Chase, AmEx, Capital One, and Discover, however, are in a heated battle, vying for my economic affections like tooth and nail. I'll remain a VISA faithful.

3. Investigating how to hook up a freaking Internet connection is going to be the death of me. Living with no Internet or Cable TV is clearly a non-option for this reality-loving blogger.

4. Graduation gift check$ make me feel that milk and bread will be not be so impossible to access for the two weeks before my first fabulous paycheck. Family and friends, y'all are wonderful! ;-)

5. My new next door neighbors have IRISH BROGUES. And a pool. It's time to make new friends, don't ya think?

6. I am ashamed to admit this, but I considered commuting in sneakers for about three seconds yesterday. And that's about 3 seconds too long than I should have. But honestly... my 12-minute walk to the train could do some serious damage to a collection of shoes that cost a lifetime of blood, sweat, and tears.

7. Air conditioning is a luxury that I will learn to do without. Oh, the tears...

grad

It happened. I graduated Stonehill. I need about 48 straight hours of sleep to catch up on the past week. I'm still here, though. I've got some serious tales to tell, so stay tuned!

You know you're an English major when...

...books with titles such as Skin Shows, Sexual Anarchy, and Epistemology of the Closet don't make you flinch anymore.

...someone's use of the word "their" instead of "there" makes you twitch.

...a fourteen-hour day in a library computer lab is commonplace.

Just thought I'd check in and let you know that I'm still here, still alive, and still plugging through finals. Today, I spent 14+ hours dabbling with Dracula. It's gonna be a long week.

last day of school?!?!?!

When I was in middle school, during our last day of classes before the summer began, the music teachers wold blast -- and I mean blast! -- that song that goes something like "School'sssss. Out. For. The Summer!" Today is no different. Today is my last day of classes at Stonehill.

When did this happen?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Since the last day of classes means the first day of finals is just around the corner, I'm sure you can understand my recent lack of posts. I'm already behind on Gossip Girl and GLEE! =(

Until next time...

KR

Bootie

Pray to the eBay gods that my bidding skills pull through on these babies. I think I'm in love. EDIT: Victory! It was quite the battle, but in the last second, I made it happen. Also, I just realized that this is my 250th post! Yowza! Go me. =)

My house?

As I mentioned a hop, skip, and a few posts ago, I have a new blog-land love affair. Tonight, while cruising the site's most recent post during a study break, I found my future home. Living in it would necessitate a minor move to Cape Town, South Africa, but that's not a big deal, right?

In an ideal world, I'd move into the pink side, and use the green half as a guest house!

Tonight, in the midst of plugging through a thirty-page group paper (which, pardon the rant, I have to argue is the most inane academic assignment possible), I ran into one of my oldest college friends. Way back when, we met in the basement of our freshman-year residence hall, where the hallways were polluted with an unbearable form of dorm perfume. Talking to people who I've known through every nook and cranny of my college experience is really hitting home lately, making it extra hard to believe that next week is my last week of classes. Ever.

But that's not to say that the sadness is sitting solo. Every day, I remind myself that it's a bittersweet ending -- one that will bring new friends, new opportunities, and new experiences. And I'm excited for them all! =)

That's Haute!

A few months ago, I made my first purchase on HauteLook, and have not looked back since. Thanks to the help of BT, I am a member of just about every online sample sale website, and suggest that you all join as well. I'm telling you, it's a shopaholic's dream! As much as I love New York's mecca of samples, Clothingline, I do not love waiting online to enter the 3rd floor warehouse of wardrobing, nor to I enjoy the crowds inside. Online sample sales solve each of those issues. Generally, I'm a huge advocate of being able to shop without having to get out of bed. (Deadly for the wallet, though...)

Splendid is featured on HauteLook today, so make sure to hop on over to enjoy the comfiest and softest t-shirts around!

Awwwww, family!

My parents visited from New York this weekend in honor of the final Student Life Award ceremony that I'll get to attend in my time at Stonehill. Though the forecast predicted a chilly 57 degrees, the sun shined down a delightful 75! It was great to visit with them for the day, but hard to believe that the next time I see them, I'll be donning a cap and gown... The "g" word is looming! Aren't we cute? I was happy to finally break out my favorite Lilly dress for the occasion.

What's in your closet?

The baracade to my closet is definitely more of an organized mess than my desk: a black Jackie cardigan from J.Crew, a lei, a towel, a bubble umbrella, and a shirt I borrowed from the sis are the current adornments upon the door. In college dorms, you just have to use all the space you've got. Hence, my closet door is my towel rack, dressing stand, and umbrella holder. Nifty, right? The closet's contents, though, are a whole other beast! Obviously, you know that my leopard obsession is not to be messed with. This jungle fever shoe rack was my best TJ Maxx purchase of this season, and helps to organize what has turned into a complete shoe overload. You could say that there's probably no need for me to have two pairs of seemingly identical pink flats, but come on... they are definitely not the same color pink, and are therefore totally different adornments for my tootsies. ;-)

But ultimately, the only logic to my closet is that button-downs go on the left, and blazers on the right. Seamless.

What's in your desk?

I'm a girl of bad habits, but none of which, however, will ever kill me. Cases in point: I bite my nails, I crack my joints, I procrastinate my homework, and I get distracted by the minutest of topics. The worst habit, though, is my proclivity to losing things just about every hour of the day. My Blackberry, my wallet, my school ID, my keys, my notebooks, my sunglasses, my necklaces, my rings, my pens, my planner, my lip gloss... you name it. I have probably managed to lose just about every not-so-important-but-still-very-necessary item in my life at one point or another. Today, I did some thinking: these missing items usually end up in one of two places, (1) under the lap desk of the computer, or (2) in my top desk drawer.

Oh, the top desk drawer. You are a world of your own.

I am organized... I'm just organized in a way that only I consider organized -- but it works for me... at least when I'm not losing things! My desk, however, is definitely not a zone that should ever be tackled by anyone but myself.

A FlipVideo, a Smith's Rosebud Lip Salve, a ruler, a box of Sweethearts from my Valentine, the case for my aviators, my iPod, costume sunglasses, Tide To-Go, and a Solo cup filled with Shark squirt guns (I'll explain tomorrow), matches from dinner at Becco, two Essie nail polishes... The contents change just as often as my mood -- so pretty frequently!

Welcome to my desk. Welcome to my world. I like to call it "an organized mess."

I hope you enjoyed Edition 1 of "A Look into the Drawers and Beyond the Doors: Behind the Scenes with KR."

Tomorrow, we'll tackle the closet...

Picture of the Day

This is my absolutely beautiful cousin, LR. I don't think I've ever seen anything more precious. Sadly, my little bundle of love lives in the land of the Alamo -- but knows she's a New Yorker at heart! Her hobbies include jumping up and down, playing in the sand, not wearing shoes, being cute, and singing along to the B-52's. This picture is certainly going to be a prominent display in my corner office -- ahem, windowless cubicle -- this summer!

La Isla Bonita

Things I love more than Madonna: Chinese dumplings, Burberry trench coats, the NYC subway, Reva ballet flats, aviator sunglasses, Blackberry Messenger, and winning things.

Things I love more than the fact that Madge herself will grace GLEE during tonight's episode: Not even the greasiest dumpling could trump that love!

EDIT: Ok. Madonna may not have been on screen per se (I was sadly mistaken), but that "Like A Prayer" remake still put the wedding dress crawl across the VMA stage to shame! I've been jamming to it non-stop!

Handbooks

In a past life, I had a job that was far less glamorous than I'd like to highlight. To fund my delightful shopping addiction back in high school, I worked in a library. That's right. A library. I shelved books, made phone calls, organized whatever could be organized, and processed new additions to the land of the Dewy Decimal System, all to fund my high school affinity for cable knit sweaters, fancy hair ribbons, and pop-able collars. As I'm sure you can tell, it wasn't an overly fabulous gig. However, the place had its perks. Never did I ever have such wonderful access to BOOKS. It was during one excursion through the "discarded" book room that I made my first contact with the iconic ode to preppiness, a how-to guide titled an unironic The Official Preppy Handbook. And what do you know? That 1980s classic has a sequel coming out in the near future, which I clearly plan on adding to my collection.

Even better, though, is the fact that my fabulous Business Law instructor, the wonderful Professor E.S.V., cut out an editorial from the Boston Globe to alert me of this new book! HA!

Spring Weekend Recap

I've learned that it takes very, very little to amuse me. Take these pictures from my final SPRING WEEKEND as prime examples:
We kicked things off on Thursday with a little L&O: SVU photo shoot. Don't I resemble the incredibly dashing Detective Stabler?We spent Friday on the dance floor. Technically, it parades as a hallway, but don't be fooled: it's true purpose is for busting moves and grooves.
Saturday was filled with afternoon yoga...
...and matching outfits.

Naturally, it was a blast! =)

New Life Plan?

My favorite blog of the moment -- but that's not to knock this one and this one -- is of the travel variety. Freelance journalist Krsitin Luna's "Tackling the Globe" is a wonderful collection of anecdotes, photographs, and advice on how to -- you guessed it! -- tackle the globe. With posts outlining things from the beautiful faces of Rwandan children to images of sunsets on several different continents, the site has sparked an intense interest in me to pack up and explore the world with nothing but good walking shoes, sunglasses, an awesome camera, and a courageous sense of adventure to keep me company.

I'm not kidding, though.

So I've got this plan: the next time life hits me with a commitment-free month, I'm going backpacking. BY MYSELF. Because if I don't see the world now, when will I?! The best vacation of my life was when I flew solo to Italy during my self-made Thanksgiving break while studying abroad in Canterbury. The Euros may not appreciate the heartiness of a 2,000 calorie meal of Turkey, stuffing, and turnips (and we wonder why they're so skinny...), but I sure appreciated them as I trekked from Rome to Venice over the long weekend, relishing in the comfort of having nothing and no one to hold me back from my explorations.

Who knows when this commitment-free month will arise... but when the time comes, you can bet that I'll jump on it and blog my way from Morocco and Mykonos!

Biased, yes, but...

Surely, I am certainly biased, but there's no denying the fact that the Thomson Reuters' Blackberry App is the best thing to grace my beloved device since BBM or Brickbreaker. With traditional news tabs -- including my favorite feed, "Oddly Enough" -- in addition to customizable options, the application provides segmented local, world, political, business, entertainment, health, and environmental news, and has been keeping me completely in the know while on the go! Stay savvy and check it out! It's FREE!

Also, don't forget to check out an eBay listing of mine that's up in the next day! It's for a saaaaaa-weeeet Tory Burch tote that no longer needs a home with me.

Prima Ballerina

This weekend, I acquired a new life skill. It certainly won't bring me any fiscal success, but it sure turned this Sunday into a Funday. The skill, you ask? I am far too capable of impersonating the "go to" dance moves of each of my house mates. After four years of semi-annual mixers and the occasional outbreak of hallway-style move-busting, I've had ample opportunities to observe and impersonate. My favorite moves are as follows: KA looks at the ground, shaking her head in a way the GLEE gang would call a perfect attempt at hairography; JT line dances; DG points at the ceiling while alternating the shrug in her shoulders; and EO'K... well, she jumps. In heels.

This got me thinking about the go-to moves my friends from home flock to, as well. Needless to say, I'm pretty sure I could impersonate them all, too: AC puts her hands up and cyclones them around; SA embraces her South of the Border heritage and shake shake shakes it; and ML, of course, gets low like there is no tomorrow.

My go-to move? Enlighten me, ladies. Clearly, I can't wait to cut some rugs again this weekend!

snip snip

Here's a little question that I'm sending into the universe on this lazy Tuesday evening, filled with failed attempts at completing a paper on instances of insanity in Dracula (um...lots?) and finishing seven homework questions on the liabilities of third party beneficiaries in employment contracts. (Actually, that second part didn't make sense. Bah.) Back to topic: for those of you who rock bangs, have you ever given your 'do a little snip snip in between trips to your coif guru? My hair grows pretty fast, so my wispy forehead fringe has turned into a side-swept style a little faster than I expected.

Am I preparing myself for disaster?!

If Elle can do it...

In an attempt to "keep my options open" in the professional sphere, my new life plan is to take the LSAT. You know, just for giggles. While my standardized test taking abilities will likely not place me on the same platform as the 179-scoring Elle Woods, I've got the summer to speed read my way through logic games and reading comprehension in time for the October 2010 exam. I think it's a pretty solid plan!

The Red Behind the Heel

Never did I ever see so many Christian Louboutin pumps in one space than in the Museum of Modern Art Last night. Thanks to [the other] KR's connections, we explored the collections -- from impressionist Monet to insane Marina -- with an open mind. I especially enjoyed the professional splatter paintings of Jackson Pollack and the "conceptual" sculpture installment of fluorescent light bulbs. We also braved what can be called nothing but Marina's exhibitionist exhibition, and left slightly scarred at what we had just taken in. Most viewers strolled through the sites with looks characterized by a perfect mix of disgust and amusement. Definitely check it out. It was quite the experience.

Prior to exploring the cultural haven, I put on my best dive bar face with SA at Nancy Whiskey Pub, a watering hole, just on the brink of Chinatown, home to toothless townies and the occasional New York Law student. Naturally, it was awesome, and we were by far the best dressed dames in the vicinity. Holy Thursday served to be the perfect start to my Easter weekend, and with weather like this, I see things getting better by the hour!

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!

Sweatpants on Saturday

For the first time in my college career, I spent my Saturday night in sweatpants, in front of my computer, alongside Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester. Despite a serious case of senioritis, I've been tackling my busiest semester yet with as much time management as possible, which unfortunately led to the dreaded sacrifice of a weekend evening. With now only SIX COLLEGE WEEKENDS LEFT, Friday and Saturday nights are incredibly precious, so I hope work will not spoil play to such a disappointing degree again!

On the upside, though, the night off probably served me well: with just six days to go before countless Stonehill co-eds embark for the Bahamas, rest and relaxation is imperative to my cruise ship survival. Keep your fingers crosses for some high temperatures -- I could really use a "tan." Ha.

Shining, gleaming, streaming

Maybe it was the recent discussion I had with ML regarding the Broadway revival of "Hair" (and by "discussion," I mean that I was very curious to hear what it was like to watch the musical's infamous nude scene from the 4th row of the center orchestra), but I've grown quite bored with my own coif and am contemplating some drastic measures. Shall I go bald a la Britney circa her post-rehab days? Shall I bleach it blonde and dip the tips in pink a la Gwen circa No Doubt's "Return to Saturn" (Granted, I was more of a "Tragic Kingdom" kind of gal.)? Shall I toy with asymmetry a la Posh circa her and Beck's relocation to the US of A?

Hey, I'm not in that much of a quarter-life crisis! I'm just looking for some extra spice! We'll have to see how brave I get...

In other exciting news, tomorrow marks the ONE WEEK countdown to my spring break cruise through the Bahamas! I can't wait for some sun, shopping, pool-side margaritas, and straw hats. What makes me even more excited, though, is that, since I'll be at home a few days before hopping the boat, I'll get to celebrate the big 2-2 with my friends from home! Our fabulous plans include a tapas dinner at Pipa and continued celebrations atop 230 5th! Happy Friday, everyone! Be careful in the snow!

There's something about crush

Back when JT and I first became roommates, we bonded over a mutual love of the Disney-Pixar masterpiece, Finding Nemo. First off, only miracles happen when Disney and Pixar join forces, so it almost makes too much sense that an animated form of entertainment will be utter perfection when you combine those talents with an endearing story of father-son love. Add in some snappy sea turtles, fish-friending sharks, and the charm of Ellen Degeneres, and you've got a movie that can't be topped. While it's no longer on our weekly viewing repertoire, it's still a frequent DVD that's popped into the player we pilfered from DG after ours broke, from perhaps too many Nemo viewings! When you're in over your head with presentations and papers, nothing beats a quick trip back to childhood!

Toy Story (obviously), Peter Pan, and The Little Mermaid also do the trick for me. Oh, life!

My Stonehill Sanity

From left to right: the yoga-loving, athletic trainer in-training; the marathon-running, hair-highlighting Bostonian; the picture-taking, country-obsessed roommate/social worker/professional intern; the over-involved recessionista with really awesome shoes (ha.); the J.Crew-working Jersey girl with perfect hair; the brownie-baking, soldier's bride-to-be; the library-living, Long Island lady; and the blondie accountant who is celebrating tax season.

Unfortunately, the final rock of my Stonehill Sanity was at a conference in Amherst, but if KA were pictured, no description would fit better than "the well-traveled, Connecticut cutie with a love for cutting her hair, dancing to reggae, and wearing cardigans." So that's my little ode to my amazing housemates. I hope you enjoyed it. :-)

Rakin' in the Bread

Alright. So it's probably no secret that possessions make me pretty freaking happy. (Obviously, Madonna's power pop tune about turning away men who can't raise her interest is by far my second favorite Madge hit...Nothing tops her Marlon Brando rap in "Vogue.") Anyhow, as a college student with a pathetic income (giving campus tours and tutoring freshman on the merits of punctuation and parallel sentence structure can only go so far), I've decided to supplement some of my "income," since no matter how hard I try, eBay always beckons, Amazon always calls, and Sephora keeps singing. And this "income supplementation" is something you can all do, too. Listen carefully, because I just made the easiest $60 of my life and I want to share my secret. Aren't I so kind?!

(Also, if anyone is jumping to some very "Law & Order: SVU" type conclusions right about now, get your mind out of the gutter. I acted in a completely legal -- and informatively noble, I might add! -- kind of fashion.)

For those of you who have taken Marketing classes, you've probably heard professors sing the praises of research. From focus groups to surveys, researchers are all over, looking for viable individuals to add to their samples. Tonight, I was one of them. In a two hour survey that involved me listening to and rating over 500 Top 40 Rock, Pop, Rap, Hip-Hop, and R & B chart-toppers, I provided Advanced Focus with the information they needed as they work for their client. Click the link, create a profile, and start raking in the dough!

The Pianoforte

For those of you who have not experienced the piano version of Ke$ha's "Tik Tok," I suggest you do so -- and do so fast. Yesterday's "100 Days" event was literally the most fun I have ever had in college. A night that began with primping along to the Glee soundtrack, and culminated with an inevitable circle-sway to Green Day's anthem of turning points, yesterday reminded me why Stonehill is so amazing. Not to sound overly sappy, but there really was so much happiness present as we rocked out with Sir Elton John and Sir Mix-a-lot!

As for my killer shoes, by some stroke of miracle, they made it past midnight. While I had to ditch them for my post-party walk home, they were glued to the dance floor the entire evening!

The Straws

I think the pink and green straws really upped the fabulous factor during my first Scorpion Bowl experience. A cocktail as delicious as it is lethal, the punchy treat served as the start to my graduation-countdown weekend. Happy Friday!

THEY ARRIVED

Five minutes and five inches later, I'm still in one piece after my practice laps throughout the hallway. They're borderline comfy!

If your "girls" are itty bitty...

...or even if if you rival the Dolly herself, READ THIS BOOK! Barbara Corcoran's first novel has been my bedtime perusal for the past week. As a chick lit enthusiast -- and I'm not ashamed to say the trashier, the better! -- I have never been one for non-fiction... until now! This hilarious and informative book draws connections between Corcoran's past and present, highlighting how her business and real estate savvy -- and multi-million fortune, for that matter! -- are a complete product of her mother's childhood lessons. Give it a go. I promise you'll enjoy it.

But enough about books, though. Let's talk fashion! In positive news, the shoes than have caused Mamaduke to refer to me as nothing but "GaGa" were UPS-scanned in Warwick, RI this evening, which means they'll complete my ensemble in time for Friday night, THANK GOD. I was getting nervous. Mamaduke also suggested investing in a ladder to get into the shoes. What a pip. =)

In other news, in honor of Fashion Week, I've started reading a few new blogs to spark my spring into spring clothes. Some favorites include Kendi Everyday (think small town charm with a flair for color), This Time Tomorrow (mismatching prints and neutral tones have never looked so original), and The Vintage Valley (Australian perfection). This one is also great for those of you frugal fashionistas out there.

Below is a picture of Ally from The Vintage Valley wearing an outfit I plan on emulating very, very soon. I can't say no to a nice blazer. Happy [window] shopping!

ZARIN ZARIN ZARIN

MARCH 4th. 10 PM. BRAVO. THEY'RE BACK. While the wild thangs of the dirty jerz still hold a place in my heart as my FAVORITE hunk of "real" housewives, the catty and fabulous New York crew never fail to amuse me. They had me at Halloween: only Jill Zarin could pull off such a perfect replica of my other idol, Elle Woods. This season, which I expect to be as drama-potent as a SkinnyGirl Margarita, is featuring two new socialistas, ready to brave Bravo's biggest hit with the "charm" that no one but the ex-wife of the J.P. Morgan fortune -- if it still exists, thankyouverymuch, recession! -- heir could muster.

As you might remember, I had the pleasure of spying Zarin Fabrics' famous redhead out on the streets of the concrete jungle this past summer. Here's hoping that it happens again. In the meantime, though, I'll be glued to my TV every Thursday at 10... quite possibly with a Bethenny-brewed cocktail in hand!

Christmas is on Friday

The one non-Christmas-ey aspect of Friday's fabulous festivity is that it marks the dreaded home stretch to college graduation. However, Stonehill's traditional "100 Days" event is something I've been looking forward to ever since I heard the term "dueling pianos." While Boston's famous bar, Jake Ivory's, has since closed, the pianists have not shed their ability to make musical magic with their fancy finger work. Besides the fact that I have a pretty ferocious outfit planned (assuming my don't-mess-with-me, Lady GaGa-esque, five-inch, oh so killer heels make it to me in time... and that I can actually walk, let alone dance, in them!), I can't wait to kick it to the keyboard without even having to leave campus. And of course, I plan to harass the entertainment with more Billy Joel requests than they've probably ever heard. When you're surrounded by Bostonians, pride for New York and its Long Island sister is more important than ever!

Speaking of the Piano Man, click here for a VERY vintage post (we're talking 2008!) about my first Billy Joel concert. Yikes. My blog's so old, it could use some Botox! And speaking of old, yesterday marked the one-month countdown to my TWENTY-SECOND BIRTHDAY. Maybe I need some wrinkle reducing, too...

Quote of the Week

My Valentine's Day Love Affair

They might not send me flowers, candy, or a card, but these purple, ruffly, and seriously stacked four-inch babies re-define the meaning of love. As one of Rachel Zoe's picks on Piperlime, I think it's appropriate to say that they lit-trally make me die. I hope your Valentine's Day Love Affair(s) brings you just as much joy!

Olympic Fever!

My dear pal/hair stylist DG and I have "big plans" to run a 5k in Massachusetts before we graduate. As several of our especially motivated housemates train for half marathons in locations as exciting as New York City and Disney World, we're starting small. And by starting small, I mean we TALK about running the elusive 5k more than we actually pound the pavement for the excruciating 3.1 miles. (I can't even begin to describe how amazed I am by marathon runners.) This afternoon, following a life-changing breakfast, we braved North Easton's judgment-free zone with high hopes of tackling the treadmill for the proposed five kilometers... but our attempt was faltered by some serious Friday night-induced exhaustion. At least we tried, right?!Anyhow, let's talk about THE OLYMPICS! Circa Beijing, I had a love affair with my television. You name the event, I watched it. With a special affinity for Mr. Phelps and his inability to lose, and -- how can I forget! -- my slight obsession with the Chinese child-gymnast controversy, I had what can only be called a complete case of Olympic Fever. While I prefer the summer games, the figure skating brings me back to a time when I used to flit across the ice with just slightly less grace than Tara Lipinski, Kristi Yamaguchi, and, of course, Tonya Harding. Happy Saturday!

A Snow Day at Stonehill

It's a good thing they canceled classes. The weather is pretty wild out there...

Butterscotch

You can never go wrong with butterscotch. Butterscotch pudding? Yum. Butterscotch schnapps? Yummier. Foley + Corinna's Disco City Tote in "Butterscotch" brown leather? Yummiest. I first spotted this bag on Cupcakes and Cashmere, the go-to blog for all things fashionable in that carefree, west coast kind of way that isn't so easy for us east coast gals to embrace. However, this L.A. lady's style is truly impeccable, and has really inspired me to branch out from the safety of J.Crew and Ralph Lauren.

But who am I kidding? As much as I love my new purchase (thank-you, yet again, eBay!), I'll never stop praising my red corduroys or popping my tie-silk emblazoned collars!

Perfect Guacamole

While this utterly fabulous new show was my favorite part of Super Bowl Sunday (well, that and the deeeeeelish Taquitos and chili KA and I concocted -- a.k.a. microwaved -- for our house's culinary enjoyment), this Bud Light production was definitely my favorite commercial of the evening. Clearly, I'm only in it for the advertisements; I didn't know which teams were playing until yesterday morning, and I am completely fine with that! However, the Saints' victorious finish did spark a discussion of making an impromptu jet-set to the French Quarter for some Bourbon Street debauchery... Can you hear my bank account crying, too?

Cher's Main Thrill in Life

Firstly, by "Cher," I obviously mean Cher Horowitz of Amy Heckerling's 1995 generation- defining film, Clueless, not the one-name wonder who wished to turn back time and believe in life after love. Anyhow, as sidekick Dionne states to the decrepit new girl Tai (RIP) as the trio of California girls lunch in the breeze of Beverly Hills, "Cher's main thrill in life is a make-over. It gives her a sense of control in a world filled with chaos."

As you can tell, The Prose of Krose has undergone a little make-over of her own. While it didn't involve the removal of Kool Aid hair dye or daily sessions with VHS copies of "Buns of Steel," it was the perfect way to procrastinate any and all responsibilities in between grocery shopping for processed foods and Commercial Bowl binge eating.

How do you like the new look?

Dear Birthday Benefactors,

Since I know it's a little over-the-top to ask for this, this, and/or this as a token of celebration for my 22nd birthday, maybe this is a more reasonable request...

I was a huge fan when I became highly acquainted with the bells and whistles of the Flip Video this summer, but now that it comes in a poppy shade of bubblegum pink, I can't resist the potential purchase as I imagine capturing the final moments of my senior year in marvelous motion.

However, if anyone out there is actually willing to charm me with the Burberry trench coat that I've come more than dangerously close to buying on more than one occasion (see Mom, I actually do have some online shopping self-control!), I will certainly not mind if the FlipVideo fails to make an appearance alongside the iconic piece of couture on March 14th.

If that's not perfection, I don't know what is. Here's hoping...

Eternally Optimistic

Ever a non-believer in Murphy's Law and a constant supporter of the glass half-full, I've learned to see the positive side of food poisoning. I'll spare you the details, but just never, ever eat at Chipotle.

PRO: Food poisoning is a better diet than Atkins, South Beach, Nutrisystem, Jenny Craig, and Weight Watchers combined.

PRO: Food poisoning counts as an excused absence from class.

PRO: Food poisoning makes taking multiple naps in a single day perfectly acceptable.

PRO: Food poisoning makes it completely possible to marathon Mad Men despite academic commitments.

PRO: Food poisoning will save me some serious dough -- Chipotle is an addictive money pit!

If I think of any more, I'll let you know. In the meantime, I'll be reacquainting myself with solid food for the first time in a few days...