Shopping and the Gym

"Shopping is my cardio." - Carrie Bradshaw

An article in the UK's Guardian from yesterday talks about how shopping is becoming a form of exercise. So for all you shopoholics out there - there's good news!

Back up the train. I know I'm walking when I’m shopping (and I frequently do this), but I think the least exciting part is checking out the bank account after I've made my fabulous purchases. And that requires movement of my arm, of my eyeballs, and of my mouth when I gasp in horror at the big bill I've just created…

Says the article:

"'Mallercise' - power walking while window shopping - is a craze sweeping the US and catching on here. It's free, safe and, because the weather's not a problem, you can wear what you want."

I'm not exactly sure when said "craze" became popular in the good old U S of A. I mean I've always loved to shop and all, but if this were the case, why would I need the gym I detest to get up for at 6am?! Additionally, I see it says free and safe. Although these mallercisers are getting up and entering the mall before the shops actually open, I'd see something totally cute in a window and just return later on that day to buy it. Or better yet I'd wait around in the mall, probably grab something to eat, and then make my lovely purchase - Costly and Dangerous! So really, they're not doing me any favors.

Nowadays I don't go to the mall every day, despite being the obsessive shopping freak that I am. But is Britain (where one American dollar equals maybe two English pounds) trying to convince me that I should take a little daily trip and do a couple of laps before my workday? I think I'll stick to online shopping and early morning drives to my gym membership. At least there I can get my CNN fix for the day.

Little Black Shoe

You'd think a girl as obsessed with shoes as me would be able to come up with the perfect little black shoe. But I'm actually finding it impossible to find a standard black, leather heel that can withstand the toll my shoes often take, as well as the occasional rainy day. What's a girl to do?

I've come up with many-a-cute shoe. The beautiful cognac Steve Madden ruched leather boot, the red patent Enzo Angiolini wooden-heeled peep-toe, and the brown suede Studio 9 rounded toe that actually makes me a twin on some days with a co-worker. I've got black Steven flats, fabulous brown Coach flats, a pair of green Juicy flats, and even the silver Jessica Simpson. But I cannot for the life of me find the perfect black heel.

I recently bought a pair of Michael Kors shoes that were black. The heel was possibly the smallest heel I've ever worn and would definitely not make me that much taller than my shorter best friends - fantastic! But when putting them on with certain outfits, they just don't seem to work. I need the classic black pump back in my life that will work no matter what I put on; a shoe that I can call good old faithful and count on in a bind. It seems that the characteristics of my sought-after little black shoe are what I'd say I need in a best friend.

I also just bought a pair of black patent Steven pumps that are oh-so-cute (yes, I realize this shoe fetish and constant purchasing is a disease - Hi, I'm Amanda and I'm a shopoholic), but they aren't the perfect black, leather pump. Where can I find this necessary part of my everyday wardrobe? He must be out there somewhere…

Photo: Christian Louboutin Black Leather Pumps

Oh Bubbles...

I love fashion. It's my absolute favorite thing. New shoes, new bag, new anything really. I like to match, but only to an extent. We can't be too matchy matchy now. But sometimes it's hard to find certain items because of my shape. My Puerto Rican figure has a way of interrupting my dreams of the perfect pair of Citizens or Sevens. Regardless, I love to dive into the latest fashion and take some risks (though my Banana Republic and J. Crew conservative part of my closet might disagree).

This brings me to the bubble dress. Though it is something that's been around for a while and seems to be prevalent in most hemlines I come across for skirts and dresses, I can't really say I like it.

I first experienced the bubble hemline when I was in Spain two years ago. I was in Zara (my second favorite store to get some cute stuff - the first has to go to Salvador Bachiller). When my friend came to visit we both tried this skirt on and though she was in love with it, I could not say the same for me. I felt like a cupcake. It was like something was just scooping me up.

I've since tried on many-a-dress like this. I have a few weddings to go to this season and was recently in Macy's, trying on this cute champagne Calvin Klein. I was in love with the color and the look - it was strapless with a sweetheart neckline. How cute! But then I put it on and the bubble hemline really just ruined it for me. I looked absolutely ridiculous, which was definitely confirmed by my mother's incessant laughter.

For now (and the past two year) the bubble dress isn't for me. However, maybe one day I'll like it. It's happened before, specifically with UGGs (which I actually like more for the warmth and comfort than the look). But by that time, who knows what will be popular? The fact is that I feel pretty comfortable in my taste and style and that's what's simply fabulous.

Hello?

In an age of caller ID and Blackberrys why is it necessary to answer a call as if it were a question as to whom is calling?

I noticed this recently as I was traveling because everyone is completely glued to their cell phone at all times. As soon as we land and are welcomed to a new city in the plane, everyone whips out their cell to once again be connected to the outside world. I can't criticize it - I do it too.

I can't imagine a time where cell phones weren't central to everyday living - and I lived through it! When I was little, Ang's parents had a car phone and I used to get so excited and loved the idea of that ginormous thing. What an advancement, I thought. And then cell phones began to emerge.

I had my first when I was in eighth grade, but only to call home in case of an emergency. It's not like what it is today. People are moving into apartments and houses and having only a cell phone as their main phone line for communication. I mean, who needs a landline these days? I never use the house phone unless there's something wrong with my cell.

All that aside, why do we still answer the phone with a questioning hello? You've no doubt checked the caller ID. I mean what if it's someone you don't want to speak to?!?! So maybe we should switch up the way we answer the phone. Think about it the next time you hear your ringtone (which also serves as a caller ID), check your screen and answer. I know it's a habit and maybe even a tradition. But honestly, I think it's just bad acting.

I Say Cawl. So What?

Sue me. I'm from New York (note, not New Yawk).

I frequently get made fun of for the many accents of Amanda. Why do I not sound like I'm from New York? But why do I say dawg, cawfee, and tawk? Well I don't know! Why do people in the South say y'all (I'm irked by people who use that term when they aren't from the South btw).

I can't explain my English dialect. I'm always abused for saying New York words, but my SI friends can't understand why I pronounce things so properly sometimes. I guess it's because I went to college with people that were not from New York and I suppose that speaking Spanish also has helped me along the way. Maybe it was all that speech training in high school that taught me to pronounce my t's and d's. My parents don't sound too New York-like either.

I was questioned the other day by a new employee as to where I was from. Where am I from? I thought it a funny question. Born and raised in SI, I said. The reply: "You don't sound like you're from here." Well, where do I sound like I'm from? It's kind of like the reaction I get when I tell people that I'm half Puerto Rican. "But you don't LOOK Puerto Rican!" What does that look like exactly?? I find it amusing.

It's also interesting that when I'm around certain people I tend to pick up a little bit of their accent. For example, when I’m around those who have a slightly exaggerated SI accent, I may begin to speak like them. And my mom swears that as she goes South she picks up a Southern twang. (However, I've never actually heard this.)

We may all speak English, but our accents are what truly give us personality. As for me, I'm stuck among a plethora of different languages: English, Spanish, Staten Island, and who knows what else. Does that mean I have separate personalities?

I Exclaim.

As I was emailing with Laura the other day, she pointed out how much she actually used the exclamation point. "Holy exclamation marks," she said as she ended her email about the weekend to me. "Sorry, I get a little too excited sometimes.."

I'm a compulsive exclamation point user, myself. So when she said that to me I laughed because I could really understand what she meant. It's extremely difficult to convey tone online and in emails so your choice of punctuation is crucial. I really feel the exclamation point conveys emotion very well and I'm generally a pretty excited and friendly person. However, as I read over professional emails, I usually find myself deleting exclamation points because I don't want to appear overly excited, especially to people I don't really know. And, being the grammarian I am, I don't want to misuse and abuse my punctuation!

So of course, I must consult my AP Stylebook, aka the Journalist's bible. It reads:

"AVOID OVERUSE: Use a comma after mild interjections. End mildly exclamatory sentences with a period."

But how can you be mildly excited about something?! You're either excited or you're not. You may very well be ecstatic and when that happens I usually throw in an extra mark or two, because why not? I guess that's one of the times that I deviate from the rules. I can have poetic license, you know. I'm a writer!! So, Laura, don't worry about overusing exclamation points - I do it all the time!

Stay tuned for my overuse of haha, LOL, and the ellipsis in emails and on IM… =) (I also enjoy smilies)

Withdrawing Myself

It was a Sunday afternoon. I thought I'd take the day to catch up on some freelance and relax a bit (if time allowed). What I didn't anticipate was the events that would befall me that windy February day. You see, I've formed an attachment - let's call it more of a habitual action. I have an OCD about doing something every day, probably 20-30 times at least. It's a disease, really. And I don't know how to cope with it. It was just this past Sunday that I was forced into withdrawal. My vicious habit was ripped out from under my fingertips! I couldn't take it. What was I to do without my best pal?

Yes, my friends, my computer crashed. Now it didn't exactly crash in the sense that I couldn't turn it on (I really would've freaked!). But the younger-than-me-techie at the Genius Bar told me that I'd be needing to hand over my iBook for repair. And what followed wasn't pretty.

I found myself wandering around aimlessly in my house when I'd return home from work every night. What was I to do without a computer? Actually, I had to complete an assignment on Sunday after I surrendered my baby. So I reluctantly dragged myself over to the Dell we have downstairs that we bought probably when I was a freshman in high school, ie. it's getting up there in years! It was the slowest, most frustrating process ever.

Then, during the beginning of the week, I found that I didn't know what to do with myself at night. I actually sat in my bed and watched television (not that there's anything on) and felt irritated and stressed! I did my nails, hung out with my mom for a bit, and went to sleep early. Who has the time for such luxuries?!

It was through this time that I realized how dependent I am on technology. And the irony of it all is that I absolutely loathe technology. You can't always make things go your way and a co-dependent relationship is probably the worst kind to have! I need to know that when I need something, I can rely on my trusty laptop to provide me with support. However, I also need to know that I can stand on my own and that I don't need to always rely on that machine. Obviously, it can let you down at any time.

In the end, everything turned out OK. My computer is fixed, it's back in my possession, and I can go back to compulsively checking my email. I have to wonder, however, what would I ever do without my technology? Imagine I didn't have a cell phone?! Now, that's just out of control.