"I have a tooth to pick with you."

Better late than never... my alumni weekend recap has arrived. Enjoy!

Though yet another pair of my aviators fell victim to Stonehill socialization, I think it was a fitting way to leave my mark on my first alumni weekend. Starting the mini-vacation off with a cruise up I-95 with KA and LR, my former housemates got to relish in the acoustic amazingness of my TI-heavy playlist. Precious Pink bumped tunes the whole way up, setting the stage for what was an awesome and eventful weekend (Oh, for those of you new to this blog, Precious Pink is my iPod. Yes, she really has a name.).

Let's recap in the most KR-appropriate style possible. Let's make a list.

Friday night:

-Quincy house reunion dinner. Lobster was involved. "I'm Too Sexy for My Shirt" was played. Juicy gossip was exchanged. In a nutshell, Cloud 9 was the name of the game.

-Young alumni event. I don't think I've ever given more hugs in such a short span before, and I'm someone who seriously embraces embracing! Dance moves were busted, mango-infused cocktails were drank, friendships were rekindled, old flames were ignited (yeah right) and chats with the chattiest of chatty reminded me why I love Stonehill so much. I also rocked a feroshh (that's an intentional double h) purple dress, oh the insanely still spirited Skyhawk that I am and will always be.

Saturday:

-Quincy Marriott. There is nothing like starting the morning off with a little throwback Kirsten Dunst (pre-rehab and Peter Parker). You know which flick I'm talking about... Does "I'm sexy, I'm cute, I'm popular to boot" ring a bell? Thought so. Yes. We indeed watched Bring It On.

-Stonehill stroll. The new dorm resembles the Ritz Carlton. Now, while I've never actually stayed in the Ritz Carlton, I imagine its luxury is on point with that of Stonehill's “New Hall,” soon to be “KR Hall” if my dreams come true.

-Sports Complex Parking Lot. So maybe our tailgates are a little pedestrian compared to those at the two other Catholic colleges who engaged in a brutal Holy War the same weekend, but I still had a damn good time hopping between cars, exchanging even more hugs like the embrace monster that I am.

The best part of the weekend wasn't the time I went behind the counter of Sweeney's Discount Liquors to take a picture with M, the cashier who was still so kind to give me an employee discount despite that fact that I’m not technically a student anymore. Nor was it the time I watched KA and BC battle it out hula hoop style in the family fun tent. Nor the time JW assaulted me to ensure his photographic presence on this here blog. Nor the time I broke into KA's car to retrieve my Magners and—whoops!—set off the alarm for a good ten minutes as I attempted to hide from the Jeep’s blaring alarm. Nor the time DG thought the phrase “I have a tooth to pick with you” was the proper lingo to express dissatisfaction. Nor the time KA threw down a $100 gift certificate at the Young Alumni Event to treat her old pal to a few cocktails--though that was definitely a close second, obviously!

No, the best part of the weekend was the surprise to top all surprises. JT, who you all know well, my former roomie but eternal partner in Law and Order: Special Victims Unit-watching crime, fresh from a group meeting at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville (which is pronounced Knox-vuhl, I learned), strolled onto campus in the most shocking entrance since Paul McCartney's parlay onto the Shea Stadium stage back in 2008. To say the least, it made for a fabulous Saturday!

Sunday:

-Wagamama. The name says it all. KA and I dined here for old times sake, as we did back when we were UK residents, back when this blog was called "Tales from Canterbury" and back when I subsisted solely on tortellini and Nutella, yet was somehow somewhat (somewhat) skinny. (No joke: that was literally my "study abroad" diet. I clearly had other fiscal priorities while across the pond. Priorities like leather jackets, pashminas and RyanAir flights.)

-NL's. Having pre-arranged a work day at TR's Boston office, I perched on NL's Southie couch all day Sunday, watching Jersey Shore and chowing down on Upper Crust Pizza alongside my dear pal.

PHEW. THE END.

Wild for the Warewolf

Before Bill [Compton] and prior to [Robert] Pattinson, there was Buffy the Vampire Slayer. (Remember when they did that musical episode?! SOOOOO freaking good.) And on that show was a warewolf. His name was Oz. He had a brief love affair with Willow the Witch. I don't remember anything else, though. Truth be told, that show seriously freaked me out. But anyhow, this post is not about vampires, wiccans or wareweolves: it's about the fact that Oz's real life namesake talked to ME today. ME!

That's right, folks. I, KR, met the one and only Seth Green.

We met at Artichoke Pizza in the East Village at approximately 4:30 PM. He, in all his 5'5" glory (damn, is he short!), walked by a neon pink and green sunglass-wearing brunette, said "Excuse me," and went on his merry way into Alphabet City.

That neon pink and green sunglass-wearing brunette was (well duh) me, in my own 5'5" glory (All my other normal looking sunglasses were MIA. NBD, though. I was below 14th Street. No rules!!!!). To his request, I obviously moved out of the way, too star struck to even mutter a charming, "Anything for you, Seth."

It was the best early bird special of my life.

For the Love of LEOPARD

The Alumni Weekend update is coming. It's typed on my iPad, but my wireless is as cooperative as a terrible two toddler, so no can do for now. Stay tuned. But I'll amuse down another avenue on this gorgeous Sunday. Let's talk about shoes. More specifically, a pair of booties that are itching for an unveiling in the worst way.

Be warned. These babies are as far from your basic black as can be.

Amazing, right?! Mr. Haan is yet to craft a pair of shoes that I don't like. I need to plan their debut carefully. Any ideas? I'm also working on a time to wear my Free People pink tutu skirt. And I'm not talking Halloween. My clothes are as loud as, well, me. So it's just fitting!

In other news, my weekend was wild! Friday marked both JT's birthday bash and MM's return to NYC, so needless to say, the night took us from Irish Rogue (for the Strongbow on tap!) to The Snug (for the extended happy hour and precious name!) to Continental (for their infamous deal!) and finally to M1-5 (for dancing!). Oh, and that last place? It's in Chinatown. Yes. We went out below Canal Street.

Saturday took me even farther into the city, where I dined on wine with RJ and RW in Park Slope!

And finally, to close this one out, here's a pic of me with my gents. Love them!

A Swing by Southie

My weekend in Massacusetts, lengthened just a tad by an impromptou business visit to the Boston office of Thomson Reuters (how official!), was made ever more fabulous by my time in the Irish capital of America, where I spent my South Boston Sunday lounging in front of a Netflix-ed disc of Jersey Shore Season 1 (read: when a "situation" was just a striking set of circumstances (not a Twitter-obsessed, muscle-resplendent, abbrev-spewin' fist-pumper), when "t-shirt time" meant bedtime (not the attire compliment to your nighttime shades) and when gym, tanning and laundry were simply your Saturday errands (not the three words that turned a reality TV show into a cultural phenomenon)).

Long due for a catch up with fellow Stonehill grad NL, I enjoyed my day-long veg-out on her incredibly (maybe even frighteningly) comfortable couch. It was the icing on the cake to my first alumni weekend at Stonehill... for which there will be a witty and wonderful re-cap post soon, dedicated to no one but my dear (and extremely charming) pal JW.

Until next time,

KR

hello color...

This picture makes me smile. Maybe it's the cosmo, maybe it's her awesome curls, or maybe (probably...) it's the awesome bright colors. They're definitely more spring than fall, but I think that's pretty fitting, as we're in the complete midst of an Indian summer here in NYC. To take a break, I headed back to Long Island for a few days of R & R.

Have a great weekend. :-)

A Material World

There's only so much hip shaking I can handle to the dance floor beats of Usher, Justin and Drake, but play me some Madonna, and I'll break it down for days. Last night brought the Material Girl's title jam back into my life, while SA and I befriended the entire basement of Bowery Electric. It was a weekend filled with new friends and new venues--but minimal sleep!

Now, honestly... while I do love me some GaGa, do you honestly think that meat dress-wearing monster will ever be able to replace Madge herself?! I think not.

A Cool Wall

The unbelievably fabulous fall I hoped I'd have is still underway! Friday marked Fashion's Night Out, so I joined every other girl on the island of Manhattan in SoHo, after a little appetizer and gossip with some Stonehill friends at LR's Gramercy studio. Celebrity sightings were minimal, but we did see Jenna Lyons, the creative genius behind J.Crew. Slight swoons on all our parts followed.

Saturday, at the Standard Beer Garden, I bid farewell to my dear BT, who is skipping from NYC to Boston for a new job in higher education. I'm sad to see her go, but excited for the big things she has in store. From there, partner in crime CM and I had a little fashion shoot in the Meatpacking District, before joining BL at Public House to cheer on the Fighting Irish. Sad loss, but a fun time!

Here are some pictures from our photo session. Isn't this wall great?! I was decked in red, white and blue in honor of September 11th. Have a great week, and God Bless NYC!

Giving Back

As a proud Stonehill grad, I have high hopes of donating enough for the institution to warrant naming a building after me (and obviously painting it pink, too). And who knows! After Thursday's "Budgeting Bombshell" post, maybe that'll be a reality pretty soon! In the time being, though, I've taken to a more wallet-conscious way of giving back to my alma mater: I'm their resident alumni blogger! Read if you wish... :-)

Happy Weekend!

Budgeting Bombshell

You know what the biggest and chicest and most freaking fabulous trend this fall is? $aving--with a capital $! You see, I was lucky to start my job just a hop, skip and six days after getting my diploma, so I went on a bit of a spending spree for the summer months. And while I love, love, love my new goodies (a few NARS lipsticks here, a little Marc Jacobs black dress there...), September marks the month in which I plan to add some serious padding to my savings.

In doing so, I budgeted out the amount of moolah I can shell out to various categories, so I'm extra mindful of not throwing away my precious bucks where it's not necessary. I've been doing great so far, so I thought I'd share my top tips to becoming rich. HA. (Some day!)

1. Bring lunch. It's a no brainer! Those salad bar concoctions from the office cafeteria add up quickly. Now, when I cook dinner, I purposely make an extra-large portion so I can pack up the leftovers for my mid-day meal. I'm still a lady who lunches... but I wear an especially recession-savvy hat now.

2. Say no to drinks. Water is better for you anyways! Nixing Starbucks and vending machine purchases takes some getting used to, but in the end, you'll thank me. And when it comes to those of the boozey variety, bid buh-bye to those extra dirty martinis you adore quite possibly too much... at least it you're anything like me! Find a bar with a never ending happy hour instead.

3. Get a hobby. Taking a cue from Bethenny's infamous line from this season's Real Housewives of NYC, find a hobby that does not involve shopping online, shopping in a mall, shopping in SoHo (God help us). Read a [library] book in the park and take advantage of this precious fall breeze. Call an old pal and rekindle an old bond. You'll think of something!

4. Organic... schmorganic. Gimme a break. A veggie is a veggie is a veggie. If you live near a small market, buy your produce there. The markets in my dear Queens sell yellow peppers for $.59 a pound. Know how much they are at Trader Joe's? $3.99. No brainer, yet again.

5. And finally, don't feel compelled to keep up with those around you! Money talk is never fun, so always be confident to live, ever so fabulously, within your means!

Jammin. Just Jammin

Here are ten songs--new, old and ancient--that have me tapping my foot at the moment:

1. Animal by Neon Trees. (Reminds me of driving around on Long Island this Labor Day Weekend with AC and ML, just like old times, when driving around on Long Island was not just an "en route" type of thing but something we did for literal amusement on Friday nights. We got cool later in life.)

2. Losing my Religion by REM. (It was my text message ring tone during the first semester my freshman year of college. Oh college... Oh how I miss thee.)

3. Age Six Racer by Dashboard Confessional. (We discussed this yesterday, but in summary, it's the quintessential "goodbye summer, hello there fall" tune.)

4. All I Do is Win by DJ Khalad. (Not exactly the case, but a gal can dream! And, I may or may not have jumped on my bed to this while forcing myself into "going out" mode while primping this weekend.)

5. Money Can't Buy You Class by Countess LuAnn (Just kidding... kind of. Though I do enjoy quoting the divorcee housewife's hit.)

6. Twist and Shout by the Beatles. (Reminds me of senior year of high school, where Daddy-o and I literally owned the dance floor at the father-daughter dance. No one spins like him! He rocks.)

7. Swag Surfin' by Lil Wayne. (The first rap song I learned all the words to. Not that that's something I aspire to per se, but come on! I feel accomplished.)

8. Two Princes by the Spin Doctors. (The only song to pose any fraction of competition to the Piano Man's title hit as the most played song in my iTunes, this '90s classic epitomizes why the decade of Full House and stirrup pants cannot be touched in terms of music.)

9. Every Rose Has its Thorn by Poison. (Speaking of, WHEN is Rock of Love coming back to VH1?! Not that I need any more reality TV in my life... but few shows compare to the perfection that was Bret Michaels.)

10. Come Downstairs and Say Hello by Guster (Whatever happened to Guster? It was a tie between this, Fa Fa and Barrel of a Gun. They were good.)

So Long Sweet Summer

Aside from the tights and knits and boots (oh my!) that are about to be broken out with the recent chill in the air, my favorite thing about the end of summer is an old school Dashboard Confessional song that always got me excited to ring in the new season. I haven't listened to the band in ages, but this morning, I revisited the emo rockers for nostalgia's sake, and think I forgot how great they are! Add "Age Six Racer" to your fall playlist and enjoy!

This Labor Day weekend was my best of the summer. A complete staycation of a three-day holiday, I spent it relaxing with friends and family, making me feel totally recharged! Here's a blurry mobile moment takeaway:

Taking a Walk Back a Few Decades

Last night, to celebrate [the other] KR and KW's return from grad school, BL and I joined them for another bar hopping extravaganza in the East Village. Starting our festivities at Prof. Thom's (it's becoming a favorite) and bouncing around in between, we ended up at Beauty Bar, a 14th St. beauty parlor turned bar. The charm of the salon was still there--you can even get manicures in between cocktails! Best of all, the back of the "parlor" has a very trippy dance floor, where we broke it down to Madonna classics alongside a most creative cast of characters. We looked a bit out of place amongst the crowd of spiky haired hipsters, but raged nonetheless! Beauty Bar, I'll be back.

Today, cousin MR and I are going to the Brooklyn Museum's Andy Warhol exhibit--how cultural! Stay tuned for a review.

And finally, who is rooting for GLEE during tonight's Emmy Awards? I AM!

Picnicing

Today marks my team's summer picnic at Thomson Reuters. Do not be surprised if I spend my weekend cooped up, crying about how I was fired over my inability to bring in a victory during an impromptu softball game. All in all though, I think it's going to be fun and I'm happy to have a day outside. After all that rain, some gorgeous weather is just what we need--and have!--today.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Bargain of the WEEK

My coworker RA told me about Lifebooker during a rainy day cafeteria lunch in our building this week, and it was the literal sunshine to such a dreary week. Similar to Groupon, Lifebooker offers deals on all the little extras and splurges that, for me, are the perfect way to reward yourself after a big accomplishment...or just because!

Urban Shoe Myths

For those of you fall fashionistas who are up-to-date on the September Vogue, you probably spied these awesome booties that Mr. Blahnik designed for Liberty of London. Not that a pair of Manolos are in my near future or anything, but the design of this pair of kicks was inspired by a rose. Just thought I'd share. Aren't they pretty?

Take me to Thailand

Five things that made me smile today:

1. After work, SA and I went for a walk in the rain. There's just something about walking in a downpour that's kind of relaxing and cleansing, which made for an awesome end to my day. We started in Brooklyn Heights, made our way through Cobble Hill, and ended in Carroll Gardens. We also dined at Ghang, a Thai food restaurant on Court St. that was far to cheap for our own good. Gotta love Brooklyn!

2. I'm up-to-date on both Mad Men and True Blood.

3. I dressed in a leopard dress (but a tasteful one!) to work today, and did not get any weird looks... to my knowledge, at least. I'll admit I was a little hesitant to rock so much rawr-ness in Corporate America, but with some tasteful black heals and minimal bling, I think I pulled off the excessive animal print pretty well. (Did I mention I'm obsessed with anything leopard and could not be happier that it's very "big" this fall? Not that I ever care about what's big... nothing will ever stop me from wearing leopard!)

4. It's a crisp 60 degrees out, making tonight perfect for sleeping with the windows open wide while I curl under my covers enveloped by as many blankets as I have in my palace. The more blankets on me, the better I sleep.

5. I thrifted a leopard print pencil skirt for $2.99 on eBay. $2.99!!!! That's less than the September Vogue I attempted to read on the F train this morning. (Note to self: ten-pound magazine + zooming subway car = FAIL.)

Happy Monday!

Do Not Be Deceived by My Tan.

Disclaimer: my summer has involved far less beachy keen afternoons than this photo's sunkissed deception suggests. One thing it was not lacking in, however, was midnight pizzeria trips. Honestly, is there anything better than that delicious slice you chow down on while gallivanting between destinations on a Saturday night?!

Last night, after playing socialite at 230 5th, pretending that my $15 bellini was not the wallet-killing monster that it turned out to be, SA, BL, EK, JT, LS and I did some serious hopping around the city, hightailing from the frat-infested Murray Hill to the hipster-centric East Village, where our pit stop at Artichoke provided delightful nourishment to continue the night at New York's ode to Boston, Prof. Thom's. It was an awesome night with awesome friends. :-)

And, in case anyone was wondering, I made out insanely well during my trip to Century 21 yesterday afternoon. I'm telling you, never visit the downtown destination again. The Queens location has all the same stuff--clothes, shoes, and accessories galore--and you don't have to worry about tripping over tourists! Among some other goodies, I scored my first Marc Jacobs dress, which will look absolutely ferocious when paired with some bright tights and black booties come fall!

Pop Goes the Warhol Weasel

Though its extended Thursday and Friday hours don't start until October, I'm somehow going to chisel some time into my unchiselable schedule to hightail it to the Brooklyn Museum's "Andy Warhol: The Last Decade" exhibit. Those of you who ever set foot in the most happening spot at Stonehill -- otherwise known as the senior year dorm room of yours truly -- know that JT and I dedicated an entire wall to Warhol quote posters, compliments of art.com. I had delusions of grandeur when I thought I'd actually have them all matted, framed and mounted on the wall of my current living quarters: they currently reside rolled inside a rubber band. But regardless of my decorating incapabilities, I NEED to see this exhibit before it closes on September 12th. Who's with me? It's only $8!

In other news, I've got a pretty decent weekend lined up, minus the three hours I've dedicated to dusting the domain tomorrow (Mamadukes and Aunt K, are you proud?! Someday, my maid will handle this, but for now, me and Mr. Clean are as official as a Facebook relationship). 230 5th and a lobster bake are in the works in honor of LS's return and AR's departure, respectively, making my weekend the perfect mix of rooftop sassiness and backyard comfort.

Enjoy the sunshine,
KR

Anything to Chill Out

Dumpster diving has a whole new meaning--and that's coming from someone who totally advocates finding your next big furniture treasure off the side of the road! (Just call it "antique" or "thrifted" and your guests will never know that you actually shoved the end table that's cradling their cocktail into the trunk of your car while sniping it from your neighbor's curb on bulk trash day.)

Would YOU ever go swimming in a dumpster? New Yorkers are diving to new depths (ha, I'm so FUNNY!) to catch a break from the suffocating city heat: they're diving into dumpsters, filled with chlorinated water, along avenues as prestigious as Park! I might just have to check this out, simply to say that, yes, I joined the throng of maniacal Manhattanites for a little Saturday afternoon dip in a dumpster.

Time to break out the bikini... Shield your eyes.

yipee for over the knee

Snag a pair of these babies before the rest of the fashionista nation realizes that over-the-knee boots are, in fact, fall's most gotta-have trend, and not just a footwear option for dominatrixes, Halloween costumes and NB. Aldo made me very happy while I strolled the Queen's Center Mall after my yoga class yesterday afternoon. Nicely done! They also had a great selection of lace-up oxford heels... but that's for the next paycheck!