if you don't read this blog, i'll shoot this dog.

just another day at the office...

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:12:18 -0500

Abigail: Google "Tom Hardy bisexual"
Monica: No thank you.

on nicki minaj's grammy performance:

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:14:45 -0500

iman: this is kind of offesive
monica: like she's not a rapper
monica: i do'nt care what anyone says
monica: oh you meant offensive to catholics?
monica: i meant to music lovers
monica: lolololol

recommendation of the day: slvdr hoodies

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:56:00 -0500

my co-worker, matt, gets all the credit for this one because slvdr hoodies are a staple in his wardrobe, and I comment on them every time he wears one. this one is my favorite:

Hoody (see more hooded tops)

they’re a little pricey, but they are soft, fitted, and detailed enough to make hoodies seem like they’re not such a lazy fashion choice after all. (sorry, matt.)

'one tree hill': what other shows can learn from it

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:35:00 -0500

This January 11th, One Tree Hill premiered its ninth and final season. I’m not going to pose and say that I’ve been a fan all nine years. I honestly can’t remember how much of it I watched when it premiered in 2003. In fact, much of what I knew about the series was this:

This moment proves two things: The show was ridiculous and the show knows not to take itself too seriously – both positives. A show that takes itself too seriously has much more room to fall than one that knows how to laugh at itself. If you start ridiculously, it makes it easier for the viewer to suspend disbelief and accept more outlandish storylines, and therefore more storylines in general. Although most soap operas are resting in peace now, there’s a reason many of them were able to last decades.

A little over a year ago, I started watching One Tree Hill marathons on Soapnet. I found it relaxing. Then I became mildly obsessed — when Netflix acquired all the seasons, I knew it was my chance to catch up. Soapnet would be gone soon enough, and there would be nowhere else to watch but online. I started with Season 5, when the show propelled itself forward four years, worked all the way through Season 8 then started back at Seasons 1-4. And, quickly but surely, I caught up. And as I’ve now watched every single episode, I can honestly say that I appreciate One Tree Hill. And I honestly don’t think it gets enough credit for what it was able to do, and what it did before many of its contemporaries figured it out.

Male Objectification
NYMag.com’s Vulture blog asked this question back in September: Are we living in the golden age of male objectification? While one could argue that males have always been objectified, and perhaps no better/worse now than when boy bands were at their height, perhaps the real difference is not the objectification done by the fans in their magazine spread-covered bedrooms, but by the reative people behind the content — the primary sources themselves. One Tree Hill has been objectifiying its men since the season premiere. From male-focused stripping to steamy sex scenes (sorry, no other way to describe them) to the sports choreography themselves, One Tree Hill has never shied away from a male glamour shot. And we thank the show for it. Sigh.

It Gets Better
This expression is now associated with the gay rights movement and anti-bullying campaigns, but it was used in an episode of One Tree Hill years ago, dealing with a high school shooting story arc. I never really thought about the importance of this storyline until a friend of mine mentioned how much they liked how they dealt with the Columbine-inspired plot. The show didn’t drop it after one episode, either. The experience continued to affect the characters, etc. It wasn’t a gimmick — it was a fact of life. A lot of really bad things happen to the characters on the show, and not everything is tied with a neat bow at the end. Characters actually deal with their problems — something that makes the show very realistic, despite scenes like this:

Sorry, this scene deserved an Emmy on its own.

Female Friendship
I’ve always maintinated that you can’t trust a girl with no female friends. (It’s true.) While characters Brooke and Peyton fought over Lucas, Mia and Alex fought over Chase, etc., one thing that always remained strong in the show was the power of female friendship. One could certainly argue that females are objectified on this show, but for some reason, it’s never bothered me. Perhaps it’s because the males are equally objectified (see above), or that the bonds between the female characters are often tested, but rarely broken. The show is just as much about the relationships between brothers and sisters — both literally and spiritually — as the romantic relationships between men and women.

Forget College!
One of the biggest lessons other teen shows can learn from One Tree Hill is how it handled the college years, in that, it didn’t. Skipped right over them. After Season 4, the show catapults itself four years forward, only mentioning those pesky college years in flashbacks and broken dreams. The college years have killed shows before. Sure, 90210 (the original) made it work somehow, but I’m prepared to argue that it never had quite the same magic as the high school years (if only for the fact that I just want to prove this point.) Gossip Girl has seemingly taken a page out of its sister show’s page and completely ignored college. Its characters entered college, but suddently the kids just stopped going. Oh well. Probably for the best. Happy to see Josh Schwartz learn something from Mark Schwahn. No, Josh, we haven’t forgotten about The O.C.’s demise.

Product Placement
Oh, Sunkist. I have no idea how much money you’ve given to One Tree Hill and The CW over the years, but thank you. I’m going to assume that you’re probably one of the few monetary reasons the show is still on the air. The show has been able to seamlessly — albeit sometimes laughably — integrate Sunkist into their sotyrlines. Not only do the actors wear Sunkist shirts, drink Sunkist on a daily basis (a seemingly sensible alternative to alcohol for the underage characters and fans of the show), but entire concert series are sponsored by… Sunkist! Great brand recall.

Post-Modernism
Gossip Girl would never called chuck and Blair “Chair” in-show, but Nathan and Haley? They’re Naley. To fans and the characters living in the fictional world of the show. It’s this sort of little wink to the crazy fans, those ones that make sweeping and emotional YouTube videos about the show, that let the viewers know the show cares about them. The writers even make little jokes at the actors themselves, making fun of James Lafferty’s stiff delivery (ahem), etc. that lets us know they’re having fun, they they know we’re out there. This nod to the viewer, the connection to the fan, is indicative of the overall emo undertone of the show. I won’t go into the tenets of emo music and its roots (I did write a whole long-form feature on it that I can provide if asked), but I will get into the music on the show…

Launching Music
The show has given amazing exposure to bands such as Fall Out Boy, Jack’s Mannequin, Wakey! Wakey!, and more. They haven’t just been fleeting cameos, parts of songs, muffled by the sounds of dialogue over them, but essentially full concerts, including band members incorporated into storylines.

One Tree Hill introduced me to Wakey! Wakey!, and for that I’m grateful, but the other bands such as Fall out Boy and Jack’s Manneuin were part of a time, a time when emo music was, well, everywhere, the music of the disenfranchised and emotional youth and One Tree Hill listened. It was the type of music One Tree Hill chose to hang its hat on, while also maintinaing the singer/songwrite style of music by characters Haley and Mia, and finally Wakey! Wakey!. One Tree Hill finally went country, one of the most lucrative arms of the music industry, with the addition of character Alex Dupre. Another smart move.

There are probably a million (or at least a few more ways) to examine this show – how “straight” it is, its use of brilliant child actors — but I’ll leave that for future posts. I hope showrunners lke Josh Schwartz and Ryan Murphy, two people notorious for running out of steam after about two seasons, can learn from Mark Schwahn and the example that One Tree Hill has set. And I hope you all enjoy the ninth and final season of a show that deserves just a bit more respect than we give it.

boy crazy: volume xxix: tom sturridge

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 18:08:35 -0500

sure, his best friend, robert pattinson, gets most of the attention, but i’ve had my eye on mr. sturridge — not to be confused with another talented brit, jim sturgess — since his role in 2009’s pirate radio. i just reacquainted myself with him while selecting a random film on netflix, waiting forever. well, maybe not so random since i selected it because of his involvement. unfortunately, his part was greater than the sum of the film.

he’s also quite impressive in this fan vid compilation of his best interview moments:

i look forward to seeing his star rise as high as his best friend’s in the coming year.

recommendation of the day: kate spade holiday plaid holiday cards

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:39:00 -0500

this is the second christmas in a row i’ve used these as christmas cards for my doormen and co-workers. i just can’t resist the happy plaid. they’re also currently 50% off! BUY NOW

recommendation of the day: Bobeau Asymmetrical Fleece Wrap Cardigan

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 10:34:00 -0500

after reading others’ reviews on this item, i realize the fit might not be for everyone, but my sister let me borrow hers for the high holidays this year (synagogue gets cold!), and i just had to get my own, so i ordered it in three different colors! the fleece material is super-soft, the shape is more flattering than a pancho, and it’s just a nice basic to have around the home and office.

it’s on sale right now at nordstrom.com, so it’s a great time to buy.

recommendation of the day: vidigal reserva

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 10:18:23 -0500

i was getting into a bit of a malbec rut (guggenheim is probably my favorite), so one of the lovely men at the sutton wine shop recommended this vidigal reserva over a month ago, and i’ve bought it for almost every wine-appropriate occasion since. i don’t know enough about wine to describe it in any sort of sophisticated way, so i’ll just say that it’s smooth, delicious, affordable, and everyone i’ve forced to try it has enjoyed it. after thanking the man at the wine shop recently for recommending it, he told me it was a big hit among his patrons, and that they were coming in to buy about a bottle a day! (yikes!)

pictured is 2009 vintage, but here’s a link to more info about the brand and the wine itself (they feature a 2008.)

l’chaim!

Audio

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 09:11:08 -0400

Me: Uh-oh -- the CW signed up with Netflix.

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 11:41:43 -0400

Me: Uh-oh -- the CW signed up with Netflix.
Abi: [singing] Monica's never leaving the house again!

boy crazy: volume xxviii: hugo becker i’ll always be on team...

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 22:36:00 -0400

boy crazy: volume xxviii: hugo becker

i’ll always be on team “chair,” but gossip girl’s prince louis grimaldi is no slouch.

“this is the greatest thing ever on the internet”...

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:15:48 -0400

“this is the greatest thing ever on the internet” -kimberly

Allison Frank: OMG: http://ny.eater.com/archives/2011/09/first_ever_downtown_location_of_ihop_now_open.php

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 10:45:02 -0400

Allison Frank: OMG: http://ny.eater.com/archives/2011/09/first_ever_downtown_location_of_ihop_now_open.php

monica reyhani: omg.

Iman Criner: i had a beyonce hangover this morning

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 09:45:44 -0400

Iman Criner: i had a beyonce hangover this morning
monica reyhani: um.
monica reyhani: i literally walked into my office and said, "i have a beyonce hangover."

photo of the day:

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 17:39:56 -0400

photo of the day:

and now a text from kimberly moreau:

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 22:43:25 -0400

"So it happened but you would have died. It smelled like sweaty hipsters and bananas in there" -on my missing aziz ansari's surprise set at union hall

Me: [singing] I'm exhausted.

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 18:07:42 -0400

Me: [singing] I'm exhausted.
Kimberly: One day I'm going to make that into a real song.
Me: It is -- it's Kanye.
[Plays "Amazing"]
Kimberly: I can't believe this is a real song.

recommendation of the day: sally hansen salon effects polish strips

Sun, 08 May 2011 23:50:00 -0400

Although I rarely dispense any sort of fashion or style advice on here, I felt the urge to post about my recent experience with Sally Hansen Salon Effects polish strips because, well, so many people have been asking me about them (including one of my manicurists!) I was given my box of “Check it Out” style polish strips by a friend who knew that I had wanted to try them and am obsessed with all things check, houndstooth, argyle, and, of course, plaid. I decided to test them out on a couple nails that had chipped polish. And here are the results!

And since everyone has been asking the same questions, this is my attempt at answering them without sounding like a complete tool for interviewing myself:

Q: Sooo, are they stickers?
A: They’re “polish strips,” which means, yes, they’re kind of like stickers, but they’re actually made of polish.

Q: Are they hard to put on?
A: Not at all. Everything you need comes in the box. The box comes with various strip sizes, kind of like the ol’ press-ons used to, so I guess there’s a chance you might not use some of them. Although the directions don’t say to, I did have to trim the sides on a couple of them with the cuticle stick provided. Since it was my first time using them, one or two wrinkled a little, but it was barely noticeable.

Q: Do they really last 10 days?
A: I had them on for less than that, but this seems accurate.

Q: Do they really come off with nail polish remover?
A: Sure do!

Q: Would you buy them/use them again?
A: I would! I literally cannot polish my own nails, so this is a great option if ever in a hurry, but in need of a little color. The patterns available are fun, but there are solid colors available as well. (Also, I got quite a few compliments on them.)

Q: Where do you get them?
A: I’ve seen them available at Duane Reade and CVS in NYC, and I believe they cost about $12.

Q: Any other tips?
A: A co-worker had tried them before me and said she used topcoat over it. It isn’t in the directions, but I did the same!

Me: I forgot how good-looking Chris O'Donnell is. Does this mean I need to start watching 'NCIS'?

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:51:40 -0400

Me: I forgot how good-looking Chris O'Donnell is. Does this mean I need to start watching 'NCIS'?
Andrew: No.

monica reyhani: hey tranny, it's tranny.

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 09:16:39 -0500

monica reyhani: hey tranny, it's tranny.
Gretchen Hansen:you're a hot mess
monica reyhani: fierce fierce fierce fierce fierce fierce fierce fierce fierce fierce fierce
Gretchen Hansen: cute tranny cute tranny hot mess fierce hot mess cute tranny no fierce no
monica reyhani: hot mess hot mess fierce fierce hot mess hot mess FEROCIA COUTURA
Gretchen Hansen: FINE YOU WIN THIS ROUND