Monday, June 30, 2008

BACK IN THE SADDLE.

Well folks, sorry for being a bad blogger. I returned Sunday night from one of the best weeks of my life. I spent 9 days at Camp Okizu which is a summer camp for kids and families touched by cancer; I was a counselor for 9 days at the Sibs (siblings) camp where I had a cabin of hilarious 11 & 12 year old girls. It was perhaps one of the most inspiring groups of people I have ever encountered in one single place. They even had a camp dance! They played Backstreet Boys AND Billy Joel! It goes without saying that we had TONS of fun.




Camp Okizu is always in need of volunteers, mainly folks to act as counselors for the kids. They run camps throughout the entire summer for siblings, for patients, and for their families. And I had such a great time that I think I am going back to volunteer again for family camp over Labor Day weekend. If you are looking to do some volunteer work and love kids, being outdoors, swimming, boating, arts & crafts, s'mores, capture the flag, sleeping outside under the stars, singing songs around a campfire, and being around truly wonderful people that make you feel happy to be alive in the world, then go to their website and fill out an application. It doesn't take long and the reward will be one of the best weeks EVA. Who doesn't like being surrounded by goodness? If you can't volunteer, they are always in need of donations. It is completely free to the families and the kids to go to Okizu. Even a single dollar goes a long way...Give, my homies, give!!

Friday, June 20, 2008

THEN YOU ROAST THE MALLOW...

Well kids, I am off to camp for 9 days where I will be volunteering with a wonderful organization called Camp Okizu. I hope you all have a fantastic week and I will see you when I am back and full of s'mores!!!

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

DOE A DEAR.


If any of you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, you should check out one of my favorite, wee, darling stores. Doe is located in the Lower Haight and they have everything from comfy clothing to paper goods to dishes...you name it. It is a GREAT place to find gifts because they have lots of small things across the price scale.



And, they have my bi-coastal necklace (but are sold out right now) and it is apparently $15 less than on the supplier's website...Hrrrrmmm.

The owners of this store also have another small shop in Noe Valley called Church Street Apothecary. Check it out.

WISH LIST.

If anyone wants to get me an awesome going away present (I'm not leaving until the end of August, so you have plenty of time to save your quarters and dimes) OR if you want to buy one for yourself OR for someone you like more than me who also happens to be a bi-coastal babe, you can buy this:


Check out the Maya Brenner Designs. She has some other states, too, and lots of other really pretty things. They are a little bit pricey, but sometimes you just need to splurge on something nice.



You can buy them directly from her website. But they also sell them (and some of them are cheaper???) at one of my favorite stores in San Francisco...see next post for that info!

TWINSIES?



Anyone else see the resemblance? It kind of just struck me today.

And anyone else think it is extremely funny that Fergie once peed herself onstage?


Because I do. I guess it is a good reminder to all of us to stay hydrated and NEVER try to hold it. Your bladder could explode in front of millions of people.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

GO BATES.


Two Bates grads started a paper company called "Linda & Harriet." I love their designs and they are also now doing custom letterpress invitations. They use a printer in Portland, Maine and everybody loves Maine, right? They've been getting quite a bit of press and were even in the March issue of Real Simple Magazine. Here are some more of their lovely creations:





You can check out more of their stuff at www.lindaandharriet.com

TUESDAY TUNES.

I want to share one of my favorite bands. Their album hasn't even come out yet, but I completely and totally adore them. They are called "Noah and the Whale," they're a bunch of young British chaps (and sometimes the equally talented and young Laura Marling joins them), and they make super music. They just make you want to clap your hands, dance around, and hug people. Here are some of their music videos:





And here is their myspace link where you can listen to more of their music:

http://www.myspace.com/noahandthewhale

And apparently they are doing a tour in the US starting in July...Yey! I'm going to meet them and we're going to be such great friends. And I'll probably end up dating at least one of them.

Monday, June 16, 2008

THE NIGHT THE GIRLS SHOWED UP AT THE TONYS.

Last night was obviously one of my favorite nights of the year because it was the 62nd Annual Tony Awards.

Every year I cry throughout almost the entire show. I just do, okay? I am completely moved by the magic.

So anyways, not only was this year particularly special because it made me even more turbo jazzed about my upcoming move to the big apple, but one of my most favorite people (or shall I say spectacles) was in attendance AND was a presenter. And she did NOT disappoint. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you



LIZA MINNELLI! Or, Lucille 2 - Buster's main squeeze, depending on how you look at it.

Regardless, the woman is a freaking gem and you're always in for a surprise whenever Liza is in the hizouse. She arrived wearing the frock pictured above. She presented wearing this:



She managed to walk across the stage in those stilettos without teetering over, which I give her MAD props for, considering her vertigo and booze/drug/everything problem. However, I was overwhelmed and speechless due to total confusion about the fact that her lace covered ta-tas were staring me in the face. You have to look closely in this photo, but her bubbies are totally visible. Were you supposed to be able to see her girls? Was that intentional? I NEED to know if this was an intentional fashion choice.

Desperately.

She kept tugging at her top when she was walking away, leading me to believe that her two garland girls were not supposed to be seen. But was she feeling really good about finally not being bloated from steroids and decided, since she hasn't been in one for awhile, to put on a show of her own for everyone? Because of all the pill popping, does she lack all feeling below her neck so she couldn't feel the breeze on her li'l minellis? Wouldn't someone dressing her know she was going to be a hot mess and give her a motherloving safety pin? When is Liza not gorked out? I mean, c'mon people.

So many questions. I wish I could call her and ask.

P.S. When the clip of her presenting is on YouTube, I will post it so you can all see what I'm talking about. Check back later.

Friday, June 13, 2008

FRIDAYEY!

I hope you are all having a wonderful Friday the 13th. In my book, it is the luckiest day of the year. I will send you off into the weekend with the theme song for my life right now:



Have a great weekend!!

Thursday, June 12, 2008

AMMENDMENT

My sister informed me today that my description of events pre-NKOTB concert is slightly incorrect. She slammed her finger in the car door when we were ARRIVING at my great aunt's house to show her our outfits and her fingernail is still messed up from the damage of the slammage.

Happy now, Queenie?

DEAR DIARY.

In preparation for my big east coast move, I have been cleaning out my entire life. I have kept journals since I was very, very young and have managed to keep (I think) all of them. Here is an entry I found today for your enjoyment...

February 12, 1989

"Today was fun.
I'm home and its after a Brownie meeting.
I had a lot of fun at Bianca's. We went to Taxi's for dinner last night.
We also played nintendo It was called B-Day Blowout.
We stayed up till 1:00."

THIRSTY THURSDAY.

It has been quite hot these past few days and I found the best recipe for one of my most favorite summer drinks. It is perfect for warm days or nights, plus it has fruit in it so it is obviously healthy. You and your drinking buddies won't end up with scurvy! Easy drink for a party because you can just make a bunch of it ahead of time.

WHITE SANGRIA
2 small white nectarines or white peaches
Skip to next paragraph1 small green pear or green apple (I find the apple provides more flavor)
1 small navel orange
1 bottle cava, moscato d’Asti or other sparkling wine
1 3/4 cups apple juice
1 1/3 cups Cointreau
1 cup club soda

Slice fruit into thin bite-size pieces. Place in large pitcher. Pour in sparkling wine, apple juice and Cointreau. If possible, refrigerate an hour or two to draw out sweetness and floral aromas of fruit *definitely do this...makes a big, big difference with the flavor*. Add club soda, and stir. Spoon some fruit pieces into glasses filled with ice, and pour.

Makes about 8 cocktails.



Tuesday, June 10, 2008

FILM FOR YOU.

I took my Mom to this movie for her birthday back in March, and I must say that it was and is one of the best films I have seen in a very, very long time. It is an Israeli film called "The Band's Visit" and it is the story of an Arab music band composed of a group of men from the Egyptian police force. They travel to Israel to play at an Arab Cultural Center ceremony only to find there is a bit of a problem...It is incredibly heartwarming, funny, and penetratingly honest in the most simple and uncluttered way.


IT'S ON.

My boys are back, and Jordan has taken a major step up on the hot ladder since we last saw him. Jonathan is still kind of dweeby, Donnie still wishes he were Mark, and that Danny Wood is a bit fierce.

But, my Joey was and always will be THE heart melter.

He hugged me not once, but twice backstage at Wicked. I have photos. Anyways, they are going on tour and I am seriously hoping to get tickets seeing as they will be playing in NYC on my birthday. The last time I saw them in concert I wore a black mini skirt with gold metallic polka dots, a white t-shirt tied to the side, keds, and my hair was half-up half-down with a scrunchie. I think I was 7. And on the way to the concert my sister slammed her finger in the car door and we had to stop off at my great aunt's house because she almost barfed. But we STILL made it. If I go again this year I will be re-creating my fashion statement and I will be taking my sister, but hopefully she won't come close to barfing.

Here is the music video for their new single, "Summertime." It is stellar. Can anyone say Grammy??

JAY'S DELI.

Recently I stumbled upon this delicious place in Potrero at Connecticut at 20th Street. It combines 3 of my most favorite things in the world:

1. Chocolate
2. Organic Food
3. Wine

The food is wonderful, the people are extremely nice, and they have a monthly wine and chocolate tasting club. Not only are the eats good, but they give discounts to teachers, students, seniors, firefighters, EMTs, policepeeps, and they support the local schools. The day I was there the school on the corner was having a parade and the folks at Jay's gave out free apples to all of the kids. It was adorable.

Oh, and they are co-founders of a non-profit called LYNC (linking youth nurturing community) which sends at risk kids on wilderness trips and lots of other cool things. http://www.lyncsf.org/

They buy all of their meats from a local farm, and for vegetarians (which I apparently am now) they have loads of great options.

What don't these people do?

http://www.jaysdelisf.com/

Monday, June 9, 2008

BEAUTIFUL LOSERS.

Just read about this documentary that has been out for a bit now. Here is the synopsis:

Beautiful Losers celebrates the spirit behind one of the most influential cultural movements of a generation. In the early 1990's a loose-knit group of likeminded outsiders found common ground at a little NYC storefront gallery. Rooted in the DIY (do-it-yourself) subcultures of skateboarding, surf, punk, hip hop & graffiti, they made art that reflected the lifestyles they led. Developing their craft with almost no influence from the "establishment" art world, this group, and the subcultures they sprang from, have now become a movement that has been transforming pop culture. Starring a selection of artists who are considered leaders within this culture, Beautiful Losers focuses on the telling of personal stories...speaking to themes of what happens when the outside becomes "in" as it explores the creative ethos connecting these artists and today's youth.

And here is the trailer...



If you go to the film's website, they have a list of events where it will be playing. Maybe it is coming to a city near lucky, luck you...

GET YOUR KICKS.

As many of you know, I am a bit of a shoe freak. I wanted to share with all of you my new kicks craze:



TOMS shoes are super comfortable, tres adorable, and for every pair purchased, they donate a pair to a child in need. Not too shabby. They have stuff for guys, gals, and little tots. Perfect for summer, great gift idea, and not too expensive.

So, go! Get your TOMS! Go!

http://www.tomsshoes.com

P.S. They say order true to size, but I ended up getting a 7.5 and I am normally an 8 or 8.5 ...just something to think about.

Sunday, June 8, 2008

PIRATES 2008.


The Pirate Party was a major success, as you can see.


There was violence.


There was gambling.


And there were loose women.


There was even a lagoon with crocodiles.


After a hot hot hot 2 hour drive home, I spent the rest of the day on the couch watching re-runs of "Work Out" on Bravo and felt like I was getting serious exercise from watching all the freaks on that show. I mean, I did do a lot of cardio dancing and horseshoe throwing last night. So I'm cool on the x-her-size front for now.

On the uppity ups, I found out I am going to get to live with my BF in Tribeca through December, which is too hot to handle. I mean, this sh*t is bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S.

For all you visual learners out there:


I'm really psyched. I wonder if we're going to get matching jammies.

That's all for today. I will have a serious topic to discuss next time you read me. And by serious, I mean amazing.

Forever your girl,
Miz Abdul

Saturday, June 7, 2008

ARRRRRRRRRR!

I am going out of town for the night to attend a pirate party. Yes, a party with everyone dressed as pirates. And apparently there will be a ship.

Wish me luck.

BIENVENUE TO MOI AND TOI.

this is my blog. i hope you enjoy it.

love,
me

Friday, June 6, 2008

MILLION DOLLAR BABE

Today I would like to discuss the hot topic of:

BOXING.

Today I boxed at the gym and realized how farking difficult it is. Not only was I sweating like whoa, but when they had me jump rope for a minute at turbo speed in between sets of hitting stuff, I swear a little pee almost came out.


I had to squeeze really hard to keep it in.

So, I now have a whole new appreciation for homies named Mike who like to bite ears. Not only are they super strong, but they have hard core bladder control.