Coco speaks the truth

"If you work hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen" - Conan O'Brien

Fondue at the Bourgeois Pig

The clock is ticking and its almost time to go home for the weekend...and by almost I mean I have about 2 hrs left at work. I will be starting off my weekend with a little wine and fondue...and the swanky place below. It's called the Bourgeois Pig and according to my friend B who has been there... it's delishhhhhhh.

A BIG glass of vino is needed.

Happy Weekend!

The "Adork-able" Seth Cohen

Everyone has a television at their desk where I work. We don't have a lot of channels, but we do get SoapNet. What I learned is that SoapNet doesn't just broadcast Soaps...

They have The OC on every day! Watching The OC again has reminded me how much I loved it when it first came out. How sexy was the brooding Ryan Atwood? I loved everything about this show from "Chrismukkah" to the infamous kiss on the Ferris wheel and the coffee cart. I lived for this show...pathetic, I know!

However...there was one person who made the show truly worth watching.

Adam Brody aka Seth Cohen


Everyone has a type. Some people like jocks and models. I am personally attracted to "Adork-able" guys. Seth Cohen (Adam Brody) is the perfect example of what an "Adork-able" guy is like. His witty banter MADE the show. His love for Summer was unparalleled and the way he babbled on during awkward situations was sheer perfection in my eyes. If anyone knows an "Adork-able" guy they would like to send my way, I'd appreciate it.

Happy Thursday,

Ashley

Quote of the Day

"A career is wonderful, but you can't curl up with it on a cold night."- Marilyn Monroe

The Buried Life

XO

Fashion's finest- Golden Globes

I love Awards Season. I love everything about it. From the Emmy's to the Oscars, I am an award show junkie...ok, thats a lie. I mainly watch the red carpet. However, despite the gloomy weather last night in LA, the stars came out in their formal attire and dressed to impress to be honored by the Hollywood Foreign Press.

Here are my favorites from the night...

January Jones- Stunning. I love everything about her except for her awful appearance on SNL. While she didn't take home the statue for her portrayal of Betty Draper, she stole the show in Lanvin as one of the best dressed.

Emily Blunt- It doesn't hurt that she has the adorable John Krasinski on her arm, but her light pink frothy D&G gown was lovely




Sandra Bullock- My favorite dress of the night was worn by Sandy. It is DEFINITELY her year and she pulled out all the stops with this Bottega Veneta gown. I would like to re-vamp my wardrobe and purchase everything in that color.



Olivia Wilde- Hello...I don't think I even need to tell you why I love this dress. Olivia is looking GORGEOUS in Gucci!

Ginnifer Goodwin- I am not normally a fan of short dresses at big awards shows, but I think this choice was absolutely perfect. The Cobalt Blue Dress makes her pixie hair and eyes pop. Love Love Love!



What were your favorites?

XO

images borrowed from cocoperez.com

Pray for Jessica

A few of you might have read my posts on Jessica Stevens. She is one of the most amazing people in my life and I feel blessed to call her a friend. This is Jessica's story from the blog her mom writes...

Jessica’s Story "Once an A+ student who loved school, was involved in many extracurricular activities, played varsity tennis, lacrosse and gymnastics and enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, our daughter Jessica has spent the last 3 years incapacitated, paralyzed, unable to sit or walk and eat. She spends her days confined to a hospital bed, wearing sunglasses and noise-canceling headphones, due to severe light and sound sensitivity. Jessica and her sisters, 2 mos. before becoming ill The pain she feels is indescribable and all attempted treatments have not even come close to relieving her suffering. She has seen many doctors, undergone numerous painful tests and procedures, has been prescribed various medications, and has been hospitalized frequently including being intubated and on a ventilator. She is severely debilitated and currently is only 92 pounds. This is certainly no life for a 21 year old young woman! Jessica is suffering from neurologic Lyme disease and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), a severely debilitating and painful neuromuscular disorder. She suffers daily with constant sharp, stabbing, tingling and burning pain; throughout her body; severe headaches; paralysis; intense muscle spasms; gastroparesis; seizures; twisting of her limbs (dystonia); sensitivity to any touch (allodynia); extreme sensitivity to lights and sounds; excessive sweating; swelling; fevers; softening of bones; decreased hair growth; redness and discoloration of the limbs; and painful skin ulcers. The pain is constant and unrelenting, but despite her suffering, her faith in God remains and she still has hope for her future. Jessica's painful skin lesions Jessica's journey began in 1999, when she was only 11 years old. She became very ill with Mono and was bed bound for 3 months. She subsequently developed RSD (stage 1) of the lower right leg. She received early intervention and returned to playing sports and enjoying her life. Jessica, age 15, at summer camp Four years later, in 2003, while away at a sleep-away camp, she developed a rash behind her right knee, coincidentally in the same leg that previously had RSD! At the time, the camps nurse & doctor told her that it was “duck rash” – a rash from swimming in the lake with duck feces. However, Jessica was able to obtain photos from camp from another camper which shows the classic “bulls-eye” rash from Lyme disease! It wasn’t until much later and only after developing symptoms and becoming very ill, was the diagnosis of Lyme disease and Babesiosis (another tick-borne infection) made. Most people (and doctors!) have no idea how serious Lyme disease can become and no clue how to properly diagnose it. Unfortunately, if she would have been promptly diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease, the RSD would not have been triggered and she would not be suffering. July 2003, Jessica's Lyme disease rash If it wasn’t for her doctor, Dr. Liegner, and his expertise with complex cases of Lyme, and his determination to try any means in getting her well, by getting a “team” of doctors on her case, we wouldn’t be here today, still fighting. We owe him a deep sense of gratitude for all he does for Jessica! During these past three years and with the pain becoming more intense and unbearable she has been seeing Dr. Finkelstein for pain management. He has even made house calls to spare her the pain of coming by ambulance to his office. Jessica has been treated with multiple pain medications, at the highest possible doses, as well as an implanted dilaudid pain pump, which delivers potent medication straight into her spine. Many doctors have told us that with the amount of medications Jessica was taking would be enough to “kill a horse”—yet they had little to no effect on her. If it wasn’t for Dr. Finkelstein trying to alleviate her constant, severe, unrelenting pain, I don’t know how she would have managed. He is very special to us as well. Recently Jessica was transported by air ambulance to Tampa, Florida to see Dr. Anthony Kirkpatrick, a world renowned RSD expert. Dr. Kirkpatrick told us that Jessica is one of the most debilitated patients he has ever seen. Jessica getting into the air-ambulance to go see Dr. Kirkpatrick Upon his testing and because Jessica's condition is so severe, Dr. Kirkpatrick is recommending the only treatment available that can possibly help relieve her suffering, and afford her some semblance of a “normal” life - the Ketamine Coma Procedure - a clinical trial that is being conducted in Monterrey, Mexico. During this procedure Jessica will be put into a coma , with the hope that her nerves, brain and spinal cord will “reset” -so that her nervous system sends the correct signals to her brain. Yes, this is a radical, scary treatment, however, for Jessica, "scary" is thinking that she could spend the rest of her life in this condition, unable to walk, eat, or take care of herself. Since all reasonable treatments have failed to help her, we feel we must try everything possible to help Jessica regain her life. We understand that due to Jessica’s fragile condition, there is a high risk associated with this procedure. We are also aware that other patients with severe RSD like Jessica's have had success. Jessica’s goal is to one day become a doctor. Our hope is that with this study she can have that chance. As her Mom, I know that she will be a great doctor because when a patient presents in her office and says “Doctor, I am in pain and words cannot express how bad it is” – my daughter –Dr. Jessica– will be able to say - :I know how you feel, I’ve been there too. So, take a seat and let me tell you a story”…. We are so thankful and feel so blessed to have been led to Dr. Kirkpatrick. God is good and with his help guiding Dr. Cantu and Dr. Kirkpatrick, our hope is for Jessica to be able to return to us whole again and pain-free!"

Today is her 22nd Birthday and I miss her everyday that she is in Mexico. If you have a minute, please check out her blog and wish her a Happy Birthday. She means the world to me and I pray everyday that she gets better so she can come home!

Have a wonderful weekend.

XO,

Ash

"Your Love is My Drug"

XO

Things I'm Loving Thursday...

I've been in a funk this week and I need to snap out of it! SO, I decided that in honor of today being Thursday, I am going to post a few things I am loving right now.

This is OPI's "You Don't Know Jacques". I swear it looks much prettier on your nails than it does in the bottle...PROMISE!

Chanel Lipstick in "LOVER". Red Lipstick is something that either screams, "sexy and classy" or "tranny hooker". I like to think I look sexy and classy , but it's all about finding the right shade. For me, Chanel Lover is it!

Grey's Anatomy/Private Practice Crossover Event! Like I said in a previous post, I have questionable taste in televison shows. Grey's and Private is something that my mom and I watch every week. I can barely contain my excitment that it is back on tonight!!!! Hopefully I will make it home in time.

It's cold and bleak in NY right now and the temperatures have hit a balmy 30 degrees. I am in complete winter coma right now and NEED to snap out of it! It didn't help that last year I was in Antigua for NYE...and was tan. To cure my winter blues, I have started looking at beach photos as both an incentive to hit the gym and to remind myself that warm weather is only a few months away.

I borrowed this picture from my cousin Sarah...she is much better photographer than I am...

ABC Comedy Wednesday's...aka Modern Family. I've talked about this show before, and I will talk about it again. It will be the only thing keeping me sane on Wednesday's now that GLEE is on hiatus until April (and moving to Tuesdays). If you aren't watching it...you should be!

Happy Thursday!!!!!

XO,

Ash

20% off Final Sale and Free Shipping at J.Crew

Enjoy Chickies!

XO

"I pray that something picks me up And sets me down in your warm arms"

XO

Guilty Pleasures- "I DIE"

So...I have terrible taste in television shows and I'm a TV junkie. My tastes rank somewhere in between a 14 year old girl and a 50 year old man.

This is why...

1. I watch the Disney Channel and not just because I work at ABC. DCOM (Disney Channel Original Movies) are pretty fabulous. It's like the Lifetime Network, but for teens.

2. Lifetime Network- Ummmm hello! Don't pretend you haven't spent hours in front of your television with your eyes glued to the screen watching 'Shes Too Young", "A Lovers Revenge" or "A Kiss So Deadly". I have, and I'm not AFRAID to admit it. My theory is that Lifetime movies are based off a few simple story lines. They can be mixed and matched, but there is always the common thread of things like; teen pregnancy, drug abuse, a scorned mistress who is on the hunt to get rid of her man's wife, a cheating husband who is sleeping with his secretary who eventually becomes the scorned mistress and "Based on The True Story" type stuff.

3. The Amy Fisher Story aka 'The Long Island Lolita"- Google it...it will captivate you. You can also reference Guilty Pleasure #2 and watch "The Long Island Lolita- Based on the True Story" on Lifetime. It's 2 hours you will never get back, but it's totally worth it.

4. Tough Love on VH1- I am no where as dysfunctional as the women on this show, but I can't help but want to be a part of it. Where else can you find a super attractive man who will literally set you up on dates and then tell you what your doing wrong, so that you can't make the same mistake again. HELLO sounds perfect to me. SIGN ME UP!

5. RHONY and RHONJ- It's a table flipping, prostitution whore screaming good time. RHONY and RHONJ both come back this spring. Can't wait.

6. Jersey Shore- I'm not proud of this obsession, but let's just say we've got a "situation" on our hands. I will be teasing my way to the perfect poof this Halloween. To Quote Snookie, "I would put tanning beds in everybody’s homes and I would eliminate the Bumpit because I don’t use the Bumpit. I tease.”

7. Make it or Break it- ABC Family has sucked me in with this gymnastics drama. LOVES IT!

8. Rachel Zoe- "I LIT-TRALLY Die"


I addition to these fantabulously awful shows I also watch, GLEE ( OBSESSED), Chuck( I may be the only person watching this show), Greys, Private Practice and House.

Like I said earlier...I'm a TV JUNKIE

What shows do you watch?

XO

I heart all of you

40 followers!!!

I would have never expected that at all. Thank you all so much for checking in and reading my blog. I love to see your comments. They make my day.

Maybe I will do a giveaway if I hit 50...

Happy Monday. I hope you all had a fantastic weekend!

XO

Quote of the Day

"This life is what you make it. No matter what, you're going to mess up sometimes. It's a universal truth. But the good part is, you get to decide how you're gonna mess it up."- Marilyn Monroe

Happy Birthday Tyler

So...I don't usually post pictures of my dog Tyler, but today is his 10th birthday so I thought I would share some of my favorite pictures from this year. I took these this past Halloween.

If you ask any of my friends they will tell you that Tyler thinks he is a person. He is suuuuper friendly and does really awkward things like, bark at his reflection in the glass door and watch food network on TV. He also carries this toy around we call "Rudolph" like it's his child and responds to the name Fred.

I think he is pretty adorable and perfect...



Happy Birthday Ty!

Being the super awesome 22 year old that I am...I was planning on spending last night curled up with my dog and reading a book.

It was freezing out+I was tired= Ashley is hanging out on her couch.

The one problem in this equation was that I didn't have any new books to read. Like I've said before, I am a book junkie.

So, I bundled up in my pajama-esque outfit and I headed to B&N to check out the selection. Barnes and Noble has always been one of my favorite places. I can seriously walk around for hours scanning through books.

After what seemed like hours, I finally decided on this...




Me Talk Pretty One Day came highly recommended and since I just finished This book...



Over the summer (and loved it), I figured that another David Sedaris book would be a great choice.

Enjoy your weekend and stay warm!!!

XO,

Ash

Ooopss...

So...remember the post I made this morning about "My suggestions"? Well I just failed at another one. I "casually" stopped by Intermix after work today and couldn't help but fall in love with this sweater from Vince.

It's oversized (YAY), Striped (DOUBLE YAY)

AND

it's cashmere!

I'm going to justify this purchase because it's been a long week and I needed to splurge. Plus...these horizontal stripes don't make me look fat and that's always a plus in my book!




XO,

Ash

When Credit Cards start talking to you and Resolutions become epic fails!

This whole "New Year's Resolution" stuff has been an epic fail on my part.

When New Years rolled around this year, I gave myself some wisdom to live by...more of like a "suggestions on how to live a better year" type of deal.

"Suggestion" number 1 was to talk to train boy. I stood 3 feet from him on the subway yesterday and I didn't utter a single word. I actually stared at my feet. Fail...maybe next week.

"Suggestion" number 2 was work on a healthier lifestyle. I have successfully given up soda and have started eating healthier, but due to the "mystery illness" I have yet to step foot on a treadmill. Fail...get my butt to the gym.

"Suggestion" number 3 was to be more conscious of my money and start saving for my first apartment. I was doing really great on this one until I went and had my locks trimmed by Antoine and put these items in my J.Crew Shopping Cart...

While they haven't been purchased yet...It's like I can hear my credit card talking to me. It's saying, "buy the bag, it will go great with the metallic topsiders. You can totally wear it with the white cotton tunic." DAMN sometimes my credit card makes a good argument.

Happy Friday!

XO,

Ash

Everyone needs a little "Hair-apy"

Therapy comes in all forms. I've sat on couches, in dimly lit offices talking to strangers and I've drank way to much pinot and cried it out with my girls. I've cuddled on the couch with my mom and I've gorged myself on mountains of pasta. I've purchased shoes, bags, sparkly dresses and books to fill voids in my life, but tonight I get to experience one of my favorite forms of therapy. I get to visit my hairdresser Antoine.

Antoine and I met almost 3 years ago when I was looking for a new hairdresser. The French born, Aveda trained celebrity hairstylist works at the Roy Teeluck Salon on 57 between Madison and Park. The salon is situated across from the iconic four season and provides me with some much needed hair-apy. We gossip, we talk about our lives and I live vicariously through his European adventures.

I know he has hundred of clients, but for that 1 hour when we drink cappuccinos, I feel like I'm his only one. You could say, I j'adore him.

I'm might let him chop off my hair today. I'm feeling like I need a change and I wouldn't trust anyone else to do it.

Happy Wednesday

XO,

Ash

The Subway is where all the Celebs hang out.

So I've met a lot of celebrities at my job and it didn't take long before I realized that they were normal people. They do average everyday things like drink coffee, eat bagels and shop at the Gap...the only difference is they have better hair.

NYC is a great place to spot celebs if you're into the stalking game. I was nearly knocked over a few months ago by Orlando Bloom walking down Hudson St and just today on the 1, I bumped into Constantine Maroulis from American Idol or
more importantly "Rock of Ages"- fantastic musical, everyone should see it.

He was dirty, scruffy and wearing tight jeans and a leather jacket...and I liked it.

Who knows...maybe I like rocker boys more than I thought.

Happy Monday!

XO

LOVE

"Love is not going anywhere. When it is time, you will find someone you love."

"You need to have a sit down with your ego "

It's a Monday after a Holiday weekend...everyone needs a pick-me-up. I was pumping this song on my ipod this morning as I was getting ready. "Ego" by the British girl group The Saturdays is fabulous. Perez Hilton recently posted the acoustic version, but I'm a fan of the original. It's catchy, fun and I'm loving the video.

Enjoy!

NYE 2010: Ginger Midge, Zack Attack, Hipster Fights and borderline Pneumonia...

I’m currently in my bed…dying…with some unknown disease that has claimed my energy, my appetite and my voice. 2010 appears to be starting off on the wrong foot.

I’m pretty sure going out on NYE in the rain/sleet/snow was not something my doctor would have prescribed for my cold that began on Tuesday, but I LOVE my girls and we needed to dance!

The night was epic. KMC was here from MA and paradise was in full effect at the bar. We encountered a few characters along with way that we have lovingly dubbed “Ginger Midge” and “Zack Attack”. Alone with those two “stalkers” there was most definitely a hipster lovers quarral/brawl at 1:30 am that ripped down some tapestry and got the two plaid wearing lovers thrown out of the bar.

2009 was great, but I have a feeling that 2010 is going to be quite interesting.

Stay tuned to find out…

XO,

Ash


Here are a few photos...if you look closely enough you can spot "Ginger Midge"!!!