Away We Go

Okay ladies (and maybe a gent - I'm gonna keep saying that until a commenter of the male persuasion writes something along the lines of, "I'm a gent! I'm a gent!" You know, something along those lines), I'm off to that city that never sleeps. Also known as where I come from.

Can you read that? Look really closely.

I'm away until Monday for my cousin's Bat Mitzvah (have I ever told you about my Bat Mitzvah? It was an absolutely amazing, beautiful and hilarious event. Remind me to post about that some day soon) and I'll also be seeing my old girlfriends from when I used to live there. It's been years, and I cannot wait! Especially since this time around, we're all legal. The last time we were together, it was at the park.

At any rate, I'm bringing my laptop but will hopefully be having a guest post or two by this lovely lady and maybe this one as well (though they don't exactly know that yet, oops).

Talk to you all soon!

[image via]

Just a minute in...February

Watching... Lost, Lost and more Lost. Only on season 4 with my dear friend Cory, and we're determined to power through until we're all caught up with the current season 6!

Reading... The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff.

Listening... to Ke$ha. I can't get "Tik Tok" or "Your Love Is My Drug" outta my head!

Drinking... coffee, per usual.

Wanting... a margarita. Did you know that today is National Margarita Day?

Trying... to get back to Israel. But then again, what else is new?

[found via Daydream Lily, feel free to join in!]
[photo via]

It's the Little Things

I've been working at a law firm for the past 3 days.

I know, I know. A law firm, Ali? Seriously?

No, no. Hell has not frozen over. I'm just helping out a family friend (who works at the law firm) because hey, why the hell not?

My point in even mentioning this is to say that when my routine is thrown off, so is my blog-reading schedule.

And as thankful as I am for work in any way, shape or form, I just hate it when my blog-reading schedule is thrown off.

I mean, don't we all?

You know the scene.

You come home from a day at the office (or classroom or studio or crack house, whatever floats your boat), open up your trusted Google Reader and bam! 2,569,236 blogs staring back at you, silently pleading, read me! Read. Me.

It's an overwhelming experience, that scene.

Which is why I decided that this dreaded song and dance ends today. Thanks to my BlackBerry, I realized I can read blogs on my phone sporadically at work, whenever I need a break.

And guess who came home to only 30 new blog posts in her reader?

It's the little things, I tell ya.

Cravings

I am not a makeup girl by any means.

That was always my sister's role. She's younger, sure. But that never made a difference. She was always the fashionista. My mom even used to have a 10-year-old Liza do her makeup when she went to weddings, Bar/Bar Mitzvahs, yadda yadda. As for me? Well, I was busy convincing myself that I was the next Lisa Leslie when in reality, I couldn't play basketball to save my life.

Bring this up to my sister and she'll go on forever. Thanks to her, I'll never live down my wannabe athletic days of yore.

Where were we? Oh, yes. Makeup.

Things haven't changed much since back then. Liza's got a box bursting to the brim with cosmetics. As for me? My 5 staples are happily at home in my adorably cute case that I won from the lovely Lacey in her giveaway.

But that whole "I don't really give a crap about makeup" attitude goes right out the window the second I step foot into Sephora.

The moment my foot crosses that threshold, I become a girly girl.

The colors, the scents, the makeup on the employees. Sensory overload in the best way possible.

Okay, enough talkin'. Here's what I'm currently craving (and what my wallet's hiding from).

Urban Decay Disney Alice In Wonderland PaletteBenefit Lust Dusters Trio - Moon Doggie, Big Daddy, GoGo Girl
(Moon Doggie. As in the gorgeous guy from Gidget. Which reminds me of my blush. Which I just love.)

Cargo Wet/Dry Eyelining Palette
(I've already swooned over the powder, sort of obsessed and sad since it's being discontinued along with the entire line)

NARS Lipstick in Gipsy

Too Faced Liquif-Eye Shadow Collection

What are you craving right now?

A Birthday Equation

It's simple math, really.

plus (+)
plus (+)
(the day after this little holiday below)
=

(drum roll please...)

MAYRA'S BIRTHDAY!!

Happy Birfday to my favorite banana in the whole wide world. Hope it's a-mazing and perfect and wonderful and fabulous. Yanno, like you.

(photos from the birthday girl and weheartit)

Two Things...

1) Happy V-Day!

Will every single one of you be my Valentine? Yeah, that's right. I practice V-Day polygamy. What of it?

2) This is a short post because I'm over at my gal Sonja's place today. Head on over there if you want!

(image via weheartit)

Changes

Okay, if you're reading this then that means the redirect worked. Which means LiLu really is Superwoman. And I owe her a giant bottle of something alcohol-related.

Please change your readers to this new URL!

Please and thank you. :)

Bits 'n Pieces

I've realized...

That I don't really write a whole lot about my life. Which makes no sense, since that's more or less what a blog's all about, right?

I'm gonna try and do more of that. Even if it's mundane all the time at times, it's something I'm trying out.

But before I do...

If you're reading this, then that must mean you read my memo a week or so back that I would be changing URLs. And here I am. What's done is done. If some don't follow me over here, so be it. I'll cope. :) But a big thank you to you. Yes, you. You're a loyal lady (or gent, but I think I'd be pressing my luck there) and I appreciate it.

Onward.

Since I'm still on my work hiatus of sorts, this week was pretty much the same old, same old.

Operation Ali Needs Crap Loads Of New Clothes is in full effect. This week:
(all via F21)


I don't think I've mentioned this, but I've been taking Hebrew classes in Beverly Hills and love it. I love the language and I love that I'm learning it for the reasons that I am. The point of me mentioning this is because I "graduated" a bit early and made the executive decision to move into the Beginner II class this week (I'm currently in Beginner I). New teacher, new material, new new new. I just felt that I could pull it off. We'll see if I'm right.


In other news, my friend Cory and I finally finished season 3 of Lost after 150 years many months of endless "ooh-ing" and "aah-ing" and OMG-ing and "crap, is he dead?!-ing". Halfway through! And much more confused than before. Thoughts (that I'm not worried about getting yelled at for since these spoilers are from 3 or more years ago):

-Jack, you look absolutely horrendous with a beard, yet still just as sexy. How does that work?
-Karma loves to hate Hurley. Or does it hate to love him? Either way, seeing him drive through that forest and save the day was bad ass-ery at its finest.
-My heart literally hurt watching Charlie drown. It hurts when I type this! Ouch. RIP Charlie.
-Ben is a giant bug. Those eyes, man! Those eyes.

I've finally come to the conclusion that blog reading - let alone updating your own - is a full time job. And as someone who is easily swayed into adding new blogs to her reader, this does not benefit that whole having a life thing. But what's done is done (did I say that already?); I'm hooked on all of your lives. And you. Creepy? Hope not.

Okay, that's enough rambling for now. Off to see Dear John tonight! I'm bringin' the tissues out in full force.

And back by popular demand, my fab little grandma rockin' out to Ke$ha.

You are so welcome.

Happy weekend!

(image via)

Tweet Tweet

Don't you just hate it when you have blogger's block?

Yeah. Me too.

Not that I'm having it right now or anything...

Just a hypothetical question.

Because, I mean, I always have blog material. And, uh, today is no different.

So here are my top tweets. Who decided that they're the top ones? Why, the one who wrote them of course.

I never said this was a fair assessment of top tweets.

I caved and joined. Excuse me while I go tuck my dignity away in a drawer.
11:27 AM May 18th, 2009 from web

awkwardfamilyphotos.com. Enough said.
5:22 PM May 20th, 2009 from web

I give up. I don't have a face.
11:39 AM Jun 1st, 2009 from web

I adore Anderson Cooper. Too bad he doesn't like my kind.
9:11 AM Jun 5th, 2009 from mobile web

Comparing Sex and the City to The Cosby Show: priceless.
6:38 PM Jun 19th, 2009 from web

Just jumped in the pool with all my clothes on. Life is good.
2:29 PM Jun 27th, 2009 from web

http://twitpic.com/9y8h2 - We're feeling a little bit Friday in this office.
6:10 PM Jul 10th, 2009 from TwitPic

Yep. http://mypict.me/iXBX
10:17 PM Aug 8th, 2009 from UberTwitter

Obsessed beyond normal obsession: http://bit.ly/28yJpy
10:11 AM Aug 27th, 2009 from web

You will only bring into your life what you believe, what you expect and what you allow.
7:45 PM Sep 22nd, 2009 from web

This could soo be a Mac ad... http://pic.gd/8ad3de
5:52 PM Oct 7th, 2009 from UberTwitter

"If your pants don't have sex with you anymore, what's the point, you know?"-the amazing Ingrid Michaelson
9:49 PM Oct 7th, 2009 from UberTwitter

Anyone else hear about Walmart now selling caskets? Seriously.
11:54 AM Oct 29th, 2009 from UberTwitter

A guy dressed as a breathalyzer was arrested for DUI on Halloween. Ah, I love a man with smarts...
10:35 PM Nov 2nd, 2009 from UberTwitter

"Beneath the makeup and behind the smile I am just a girl who wishes for the world."-Marilyn Monroe
9:13 PM Nov 16th, 2009 from web

On line to see The Blind Side. Yes...ON line. I'm an east coaster, damn it.
3:59 PM Nov 27th, 2009 from UberTwitter

I've hit my 500th tweet! This is so anticlimactic!
6:31 PM Dec 7th, 2009 from web

My dad: This is going to be interesting with both of you gone. Me: You should get jiggity. I just said jiggity. Dad: What's a jiggity?
8:31 AM Dec 17th, 2009 from UberTwitter

I totally judge nail polish colors by their names.
2:17 PM Jan 2nd from UberTwitter

Hi Diana, I don't mean to sound promiscuous or anything, but would you like to come home with me tonight? http://tweetphoto.com/9342233
9:28 PM Jan 22nd from UberTwitter

So I walk into my house and these boxers are the first thing I see. Explanation please! http://tweetphoto.com/9752412
5:40 PM Jan 27th from UberTwitter

I know, I lead a much too exciting life.

For more life changing tidbits, feel free to follow me here.

A Giveaway Winner

I'm not gonna waste any time, especially when there's a special guest involved.

The winner of the Come On, Get Happy giveaway is...

Congrats lady! Email me your contact info and I'll get this fab package out to you ASAP.

Last Chance!

To enter my giveaway! I'm shuttin' it down manana.

Enter hereherehere!

(+)

Oh, and Happy Monday ladies (...and possibly a gent? Eh, probably not.)!

Let's Hear It For Israel (One. More. Time.)

Wow! I get all personal and semi-lame and silly and bam, you guys come right to my rescue. I've said it once and I'll say it again: the amount of support and love in this community never ceases to amaze me.

Translation? Thank you.

Also, another wow is in order. The turnout for my giveaway was amazing and that makes me so ridiculously happy. I think I might have to do some more.

(Cough, giveaway junkie, cough.)

Okay, so I bet you all thought that my Israel rants 'n raves were finished. Oh, don't lie. You so did. I say this because I thought they were too.

Then I remembered that my friend Cory, who runs the blog vlog Wizard Vs. Tree (quite possibly one of the most eccentric sites I've ever seen, which makes sense because Cory is the most eccentric person I've ever met and I think he'd agree with me), did a video of him and I discussing my trip. We did this for his site but I'm sharing it here with you because a) Cory thought it'd be entertaining for me to do so and b) why not?

Click here to watch, but be warned that this is basically me talking and rambling on about the trip. I won't be offended if you stop the video after 3 minutes.

But not if you stop it after 2 minutes.

I don't think I could ever forgive you for that.

[PS: I'm writing this post in non-centered format just for you, Jennifer.]

You've (Only) Got a Friend In Me

Alright.

I'm delving somewhat deeper here and actually typing something somewhat personal for other people to see and judge.

And by judge, I mean give feedback/opinions/shrugs about.

Okay, let's just get to it, shall we?

After much thought and consideration, I think I might just be "that" girl.

You know the kind.
But in case you don't, some examples:

(+)(+)(+)

I think I might be "that" girl.
The friend, the confidante, oh trusted and faithful one.

And only that.

Do you see where I'm going with this?

I've always been a people person. And I've always found it easy to befriend guys. In fact, I've generally gotten along better with guys (though I have a bunch of girlfriends too). Sure, I went through my tomboy phase. Come to think of it, in reality, I was actually one of those wannabe tomboys who insisted on wearing bandanas to softball practice and thought Jenkos were the be-all end-all of fashion.

All together now:

Oy vey, Ali. Oy. Vey.

My point is, I've always been that easygoing girl with a lot of guy friends. My best friend? Guy. Person I'm closest to at work? Guy. Majority of online/Skype/Gchat conversations I have? You guessed it, I have 'em with guys.

There is no shortage of male friendships in my life.

But that's just it.

They're just friendships.

I was having a conversation with someone the other day (a woman actually, gasp!) and she verbalized what I had been hoping wasn't the case.

"Ali, I think you become friends with guys and then that's only how they see you."

And I think said honest lady might just be right.

I don't know how I do it. I am who I am, just like we all are who we are.
But as a 23-year-old, heterosexual woman, this isn't necessarily the label I strive for.

All those women above? I can relate to each of them in some way, as I'm sure many of you can too. I mean, hello...who didn't want to be Joey Potter circa 1998?

But right now, at this particular place in my life, I'm sick and tired of being "that" girl.

So how do I change it?

I really wish I knew.

Thank you for your time.

My First Giveaway!

I've had this blog for who-knows-how-long and to think, I've never done a giveaway.

I know, I know. Lame, party of Ali.

But let it be known that this changes now!

I'm very excited (and slightly nervous, is that weird?) to be having my first giveaway.

I've been banging my head against a wall for days now, trying to think of what I wanted to bestow upon one of you amazing people.

And then I partook in a happy little activity being passed along in the blogosphere and I was inspired.

Taking a cue from numeros 5, 6, 8 and 9 of that post, I present to you...

Ali's Come On, Get Happy Giveaway

Here's the stuff that makes me happy, that I hope makes you happy too:

+ A Starbucks gift card ($15 value) - That's about a week's worth of lattes! Or hot chocolate if you don't play for the caffeinated team. I don't judge.+ A journal - Because we all blog and sometimes, ya just gotta write it down. Oh, and this good 'ole Moleskin isn't necessarily the one you'd be getting; that's for me to decide! ;)+ Sprinkles Cupcake Mix - You pick the flavor! Choose from Chocolate, Red Velvet, Vanilla, Banana or Lemon. Decisions, decisions...+ (500) Days of Summer - One of my favorites, starring my favorite.

Okay, so how's this all gonna work?

You know the drill. But just in case...

Rules as follows:
-One entry if you comment and tell me you're a follower (thanks in advance for being one!)
-Another entry for telling me (in a comment, of course) one thing that makes you happy
-Another entry if you tweet (btw, find me and feel free to follow me here) and/or re-blog this (let me know in a comment, por favor and gracias)
(Feel free to partake in all of the above until next Tuesday, February 9th...'cause that's when I'm closing this thing.)

See a pattern here?
Separate comments are my favorite. They make this whole giveaway world a better place for you and for me.

So I guess that's it. Fun!

I could easily see myself becoming a giveaway addict.

Which, in the long run, really only benefits you.

Just sayin'.