Undecided.

I'm not afraid to admit ...

... my life will be a little less fulfilling when the Olympics are over. The triumphs! The disappointments! The resilience! The medals! The snowboarders! How will I fill my nights? I haven't yet decided but I know they'll be duller without aerial skiing, bobsledding and ice skating in them. I think I'm going to take up ice dancing in my spare time. Or maybe luge.

What was your favorite moment!?
xoxo,
Lisa Marie

I'm not afraid to admit ...

... I'm the least domestic person I know. I cannot cook (you've seen my novice chef feature, it's ugly!); I wash laundry like a 4-year-old - dry clean only? Pshhhhh!; I do keep a tidy home but I don't especially like unloading the dishwasher or putting laundry away; I often forget to open the blinds for my plant; and I fix my hem with safety pins instead of thread and needle. To tell you the truth, I think this is as good as it's going to get and I'm proud of myself. I work hard to keep my baby apartment and myself looking fabulous but there are some things I would rather not do, so I don't. I do not clean my floors ... often. Anyone free next Sunday?

xoxo,
Lisa Marie

Photo courtesy of birgit dottir

I'm not afraid to admit ...

... I have always been a bit clumsy and absentminded, and those two traits combined make what some (very nice) acquaintances call charm and what others dub a walking time bomb. You decide: Take for instance a simple visit to my friend's this weekend. I woke up Saturday morning and the car wouldn't start. Certain that it wasn't my wrong-doing (I turned off the headlights!), I called my dad panicking ... until I realized I had left the overhead light on for more than 12 hours. Opps.

I don't think the guy who had to help me jump my car in the snow thought I was very charming. Or my parents, who had to keep fielding my frantic calls. "The car's broke"! "I didn't do it!" "Oh, wait ... I did."

Don't leave me hanging ... there has to be some other walking time bombs out there! Fall onto the bus? (Been there!), share it. Got your foot stuck in a sidewalk grate? (Done that!), spill it. Slip on the ice? (Not yet this year!), shed light on your charming side!

xoxo,
Lisa Marie

I'm not afraid to admit ...

... I've put myself on sabbatical 'til after the new year and you should too! I've been relaxing and enjoying the company of family and friends, shopping a little and eating a lot.

What are you looking forward to in the New Year?! Are you making resolutions?! If so, don't be too hard on yourself! Here's to a wonderful 2010 ... a year of improvements and exciting journeys. See you then!

xoxo,
Lisa Marie

I'm not afraid to admit ...

... when I'm shopping, I refer to designers as if they're my friends. This only applies to designers who have self-named labels, such as Michael Kors. "Oh, Michael, I love that top!," I say when I'm looking at a piece from the Michael Kors collection. I believe this is a trait I've inherited from my ma, whose favorite designer to "talk" to is Liz Claiborne. I distinctly remember shopping with her and my sister and hearing her say, "Oh, Liz, there you are!," when she came across an assortment of Liz Claiborne items.

Like a number of women, I also like to think I'm semi-similar to Carrie Bradshaw. My college girlfriends gave me a keychain that says, "I'm a Carrie" and I still carry it proudly. After all, I'm a writer and I have curly hair. I just have to work on the whole Jewish thing.

A very happy 35th* birthday to my ma, the most fabulous woman around! And Happy Halloween to all of you!
xoxo,
Lisa Marie

*This is her Wii Fit age, but close to her actual age!

I'm not afraid to admit ...

... I'm make-up dependent. I love the flawless coverage, the sparkle it gives my cheeks, the subtle way it accents my eyes and the shine it adds to my lips. Today, I woke up with panic pulsing through my body as I realized ... I left my make-up at my parents' house, I don't have a car, the train ride's an hour-and-a-half and I have a wedding this weekend.

Awesome.

What can you not live without?

xoxo,
Lisa Marie

You know you're not an adult when ...

... you count mimosas as your daily vitamin C intake. It's still orange juice, right?! Here's to hoping Sunday's dose of the orange flu-fighter is enough to ward off colds!

Duffy's, 420 W. Diversey Parkway, offers an amazing Sunday brunch. All-you-can-eat and bottomless mimosas from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. - perfect for da Bears season ... and the flu season.

xoxo,
Lisa Marie

I'm not afraid to admit ...

... I may be participating in a competitive drinking event today. OK, I am competing in a competitive drinking event today. This should actually be titled, "You know you're not an adult when ... ." My close high school friends started this lovely event last year and now it's tradition. I hope we're never too old for it! There are 10 teams of 4 this year, which means I'm one of 40 participants. Nothing like Busch Light and hours of competitive drinking games to keep one feeling young!

Go team Spain!
xoxo,
Lisa Marie

I'm not afraid to admit ...

... I love the crisp air fall is bringing because it means I can rock tights again. For me, tights are the ultimate accessory. They make me feel sophisticated  and they cover imperfections - it doesn't get much better than that. Some days, I feel completely confident with myself and the - gasp! - unsightly spider vein that invaded my right leg when I was in eighth, yes eighth, grade (thank you, dear genes). But other times, it's nice to say goodbye to it for a day, put on some chic or funky tights and walk around with hidden stubble on my legs. My tights, my beauty and vanity armor, how I love thee.

xoxo,
Lisa Marie

P.S. The first official day of fall is Tuesday! Celebrate it by going for a walk (keep an eye out for colorful leaves on the ground!), eating a carmel apple, adding a little cinnamon to your coffee or wearing ... tights!

photo of Emma Cook fall/winter 08

I'm not afraid to admit ...

... I got a new cell phone and it questions me whenever I send a lengthy text message. I can be a bit long-winded, and when I'm texting, sometimes my text is more than one page. "Do you want to send two text messages?," my phone asks. Thank you for pointing out, dear phone, that I fail to send text messages that are the appropriate length. My old phone never questioned my actions, but this new one puts me in my place.

xoxo,
Lisa Marie

P.S. Don't forget to to check out CUB's Cellphone Saver. I reviewed CUB's analysis of my bill, checked my options with my carrier, switched from a Blackberry to a Samsung phone, and am saving $20 a month!

* photo courtesy of ipod-iphone.blogspot.com