LW vs. TW

Walking to work this morning, I experienced deja vu to my view when I woke up last Friday morning.

Last week:















This week:















If you squint, snow-capped trash heaps look very similar to snow-capped mountains. Really. I mean, the snow is white and there are trees surrounding both. I'm surprised I never noticed this before.

Sweetberry!

UPDATE:

The Facebook color mystery made the 11 o'clock news last night!!

ORIGINAL POST:

I got home tonight and logged on to Facebook to get today's "news." For those who speak Facebook, when I was going through my newsfeed, I noticed that everyone's status was a color. I immediately assumed it was something having to do with Survivor. Or American Idol. Or something else pop culture related that I, Bubble Girl, don't follow. After several Facebook instant messages to people in the know, I found out that it was bra color. Finally, a language I speak fluently! And just for proof, check my the door knobs in my apartment.

There's stocking stripes and zippers a plenty, lightly lined balconettes and eyelet laces galore. You want bubble mesh? I got twenty. But who cares, no big deal, I want more! Today I wore my sweetberry. And judging by my friends' statuses (beige, champagne, black and grey), I was the fanciest one out there! What's your color? First person to leave a comment with her color AND to correctly identify the song that I referenced above will win a prize.
You know you love me!
XOXO,
SZQ.

Showertime adventures

It's not so much about what I saw today...but what I learned. Ready? Drum roll, please...


I learned that it's entirely possible to stay connected while showering WITHOUT soaking my iPhone. How fantastic is that? That's just 7 more minutes of my day that I can be in touch! How did I learn this you ask? Well, it all started as I walked in the door from work. I was engaged in a stimulating conversation (does back and forth texting constitute a conversation?) with a friend. I sent a text and then put the phone down. I walked into the bathroom to turn on the water for a shower. And then as I was getting in the shower, "bing!" For some reason, I stepped back out to check the text and it was something quite intriguing. I responded and then put the phone on the bathroom counter and got in the shower. Shampooing, singing some Mamma Mia and another "bing!" Thanks to my over-priced anti-fog glass shower doors, I was able to see the phone and the new text. Equally as intriguing as the last, it required an immediate response. I opened the shower door to grab the phone and as I was responding, I nearly froze! So I slid the shower door closed and tested myself to see how far back I could get under the water without submerging the phone. With my arms completely extended, I was able to have my whole body (well, not my arms) under the water, stay warm and still text while maintaining a dry phone! Score!! I was able to carry on a conversation until it was time to rinse out the conditioner. Of course I had to take some pictures as long as I was in the shower with a camera. I mean, how many times does this happen in one's life? Above is the water falling and below are my fuller shower shelves. Those are all my fabulous shower products courtesy of Shape Magazine. Want great swag? Get a magazine gig. Or get a friend with a magazine gig.


Here's hoping I see something a little more exciting tomorrow.

Law and Order wreaks havoc

I walked out of my apartment this morning and saw Benson and Stabler coming at me. A quick check of the nearest street sign showed that L&O: SVU will be filming today and tomorrow. Thinking back to my early days at NYU, I remembered how excited we would get about the possibility of ending up on the episode. Let me tell you: that's yet to happen and the novelty of the film crews wore off about sophomore year. This morning while anxiously trying to dodge men carrying heavy cameras and the lines at Craft Services, I was trying to decide which Starbucks to hit up. There's always a longer line at the one on Park and 29th but they're more likely to get my order right than the one on 2nd and 32nd. And then BAM! "Excuse me, m'am, could you hold up right there? We're doing a light check." And that's how I got stuck midway between 2nd and 3rd Avenues on 25th Street this morning. For five minutes. When I was already late for work. No, I'm not complaining. I love standing in the middle of the block in temperatures below 20 degrees. I wonder what else I'll see today?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

I'm as sad as this tree.

Walking across 24th Street tonight, I couldn't help but think that this deserted, forlorn tree is symbolic of early January. Once all glittery and decorated, this tree glowed in the glory of the holidays. It stood proudly in someone's living room, illuminated by little twinkle lights and covered at the base with beautifully wrapped presents. Come January, it's been stripped of its color, tossed back outside and left on the curb. Kind of like the rest of us. After the warmth of the holidays, we've all been dumped into frosty January. With the season of comfort and joy behind us, we've been thrust back into reality; projects that need to be completed, kitchens that need to be cleaned, and an endless month of long, dark work days. There's no more vacations, no more enthusiastic "Happy Holidays!" greetings, and no more presents. It happens every year, and still I'm surprised by the disappointment I feel that first day back in the saddle. And then I remind myself that this, too, shall pass, and I'll be back in the groove again soon.

And that's what SEL saw today.

What SEL Saw Today

2009 flew by. I blinked and President's Day was over. I turned around and Easter was long gone. I woke up one morning and the leaves had already changed. I returned to NYC after a brief Thanksgiving trip to Chicago and it was time to Christmas shop. And before I knew it, I was toasting to a happy and healthy 2010.

And thus began my Project 365: What SEL Saw Today. Now, at least if 2010 flies by in similar fashion, I'll have a record of each and every day. I'll make up the rules as I go along, vowing only to post a picture daily. Hey, it's my blog and I'll post if I want to! And I'll be as corny as I want along the way. And now, here's what SEL saw today!

my hotlanta weekend

i wouldn't be caught dead running around nyc in a bathing suit. never in a million years would i ride around whole foods at union square in a shopping cart. and wearing a paper krispy kreme hat while out in public? no freaking way! but i did all those things (and more!) this weekend in atlanta and i couldn't be happier about it.

for some reason, when i visit the fam in atlanta, we do really trashy things. this is by no means a reflection on them= they are classy, upstanding citizens who reside in a lovely neighborhood and have cultural experiences regularly. in fact, most places we go, trashy or not, we're the classiest there. however, when i'm here, i seem to bring out the trash in us all.

saturday, we ventured north to lake allatoona where we were the only visitors without tatoos, more than one set of piercings, and all our teeth. we whizzed around the lake on our little speed boat, tubing, swimming and laughing hysterically all day. we passed houseboats with riders who resembled the intersection of tommy lee, mickey rourke and and billy bob thornton.

sunday, my aunt made the mistake of suggesting the lake lanier water park as a possible destination for the day, and the kids and i rushed her out the door within 12 minutes. similar to our experience at six flags white water earlier this summer, we were the thinnest and cleanest people there. my uncle, whose sarcastic wit never fails to amuse me, calls it the land of the great unwashed. this being labor day weekend and all (a.k.a. the last water park weekend of the summer), the masses were out for their last bath before winter arrives on september 8th.

monday morning, the kids and i dined at waffle house- how an establishment in an upscale neighborhood such as theirs can draw such a colorful clientele, i'm really not sure. while the kids scarfed down waffles and various chocolate drinks, i took in the scene: the family next to us who was rushing "back to the trailer," the trucker on our otherside who was "off to see his mama," and our waitress, who lackin' her front chompers, "highly reccomends the steak 'n eggs," we fit right in wearing our pajamas.

don't get me wrong, we had plenty of cultural experiences this weekend. unfortunately, they are all escaping me right now. but i have to say, i laughed harder this weekend than i have in a long time and couldn't be happier about labor day 2009.