Unique Score

I went to the Unique Thrift Store in Great Falls!!! I learned about it from this blog, and I won't go into the very awesome details of that place since she wrote a very good, detailed review- with pictures. I still can't believe she didn't get that Girl's Sailor Jacket! I will say, however, that it is every bit as amazing and overwhelming as everyone says it is. Besides, I can't wait to talk about the things I bought!

$3.99!!! It has bows!!! It fits!!! It also has a low heel (about an inch) which makes it comfortable enough to wear to work- in theory. It's too cold, and there's thick layer of ice on the ground, so I haven't worn them out yet.



They have great jewelry pieces, gorgeous, feminine, delicate looking pieces that would easily go for 5-10 times more at antique stores.


Hi, my name is Jin, and I collect antique purses... oh, and magnets with thermometers.

I decided to just give up. No more half heart rationalizations. I tried to justify my vintage handbag purchases, tried to convince myself that I will use it one day, that I'm storing it away for the future Jin. But no, no... now, I am at peace with the fact that I buy purses that I will never use. It's a collection! No one uses the things they collect! What, you think all those old ladies are getting a lot of mileage out of all those porcelain thimbles?

This one is my Leon of California. I did some research, and, Leon of California is a brand from the 50's and 60's that used to be sold in upscale retailers like Neiman Marcus. Score! Oh, and it's in mint condition! The designer for Leon is the grandfather of the lady that makes the lulu M bags.


I did not buy this dress. I so would've if I had a place to wear it. I took a picture of it 'cause I thought it was pretty rad.

On top of all that, I also bought some books (99 cents each) and some CDs.

Awesome, awesome, awesome! I am definitely going back soon.

Thanks A Lot!

Considering I mostly shop at popular, mass producing retailers, I'm surprised that I'm not constantly running into people wearing something that I own. It's quite rare, actually. The few times I do, however, it's rarely a good thing.

For example, years ago, I once had this black, poofy coat with a furry, Muppet-ish hood that I bought 'cause it was cheap ($20 I think...). I only wore it in the coldest of days 'cause it looked awful on me. I always assumed it looked bad 'cause it was just one of those things that look better on hanger than on, you know? Then, one day, walking across campus, I saw this tall, statuesque girl wearing the exact same coat and it looked awesome on her. I then realized that it was me, not the coat.

Sometimes, it works the other way. I once saw this this old women wearing the exact same Gap jeans that I own (it had a very distinct back pocket). It made her butt look so flat, and it made me so happy! Ha! I look better in those jeans that you! Myuh! Normally, I wouldn't be that petty but she was one of those women who gets all made up and high heeled just for a coffee run (we were at Starbucks), who act like the world should bend at will 'cause she's carrying around a fake Louis. You know the type, right? Anyway, seeing her flat butt in my jeans just made me love those jeans more. My butt is definitely on the... um... round side... and if those jeans have any flattening abilities... I'm all for it!

I got this shirt on a super cheap Old Navy clearance and I loved the print.


It kind of looks like an Ikea couch print... which is why I bought it. I have a fondness for fabric that looks like it should be upholstery.

A couple of days later, I saw this chunky girl wearing the same shirt. It didn't look good. The circles, on her, were more like ovals. Ever since then, every time I wore the shirt, I just felt fat. I don't know if that makes any sense. I know that she and I have different body types but... I just always felt fat in that shirt ever since. I haven't worn it in over a year so I think it's time to get rid of it.

Thanks a lot chunky girl, that shirt was beast and you ruined it for me!
Well, that's not fair, I should be blaming my weird insecurities...

I'll Save You Simon!

BAKE ME!!!

Check out my pie bird!

I shall name him Simon. He will be baked with all my pies, dutifully exhaling steam. When the pie is done, I will feel like it is my duty, my quest, to free Simon by eating my way to his freedom. Fear not, Simon! You won't be trapped in that pie for too long!

I feel like singing that nursery rhyme about birds being baked into a pie... but I don't quite remember how it goes... and the only thing that's going through my head right now is "I'm a little teapot, short and stout..."

He was a surprise from Heidi. She said she saw it at Wegmans and remembered I wanted one. Thank you Heidi!

Ask, and You Shall Receive

If you build it, they will come.

We've all heard that phrase before, right?

There's this theory of attraction/manifestation/visualization, that says, if you pray/focus/meditate/will it, it will happen. It's actually not that hippy dippy, and it's a theory that's practiced by many people, in many different ways. There are scads of books written about this, the most famous being... I think it's called The Secret. It's a technique favored by many spiritualists, motivational speakers, and life coaches.

I definitely see the logic behind it. If you will something, really focus on something, chances are very good that it will happen. Maybe the law of the universe is a bit much for some people, but, if you're super focused on something, you're bound to be more aware of opportunities, see things in another way. It's the theory behind "Dress for the job you want, not the job you have." If you have confidence that something is going to happen, you anticipate it and look for it. If you want to get all esoteric, you can argue that just by thinking about something, you manifest it. It's like you're taking out a personal ad and The Universe/God is answering it. You just have to be serious about it, show how much you want it by already living like you have it.

Ask, and you shall receive.

Want proof that it works?

Voila!

As you know, my old bag is a goner. It still functions very well as a bag, but it's dirty and gross. I'm not shallow or judgemental when it comes to accessories but a scruffy bag just doesn't say anything positive about you, you know?

So, I searched high and low for a replacement but failed... miserably. You'd think, considering how many bags I owned, I should be able to find something in my closet, but no. I needed a good sized, functional, every day bag (preferably made of real leather) and yeah... I searched, and searched for a very long time but alas! It was like Goldilocks- too big, too small, too boring, too trendy, too expensive, too cheaply made, etc.

One day, I decided to have faith in the Universe and just chucked it. A new bag won't find it's way to me if my bag space is being occupied by an old icky one, you know? That's kind of like how this whole attraction thing works. One must get rid of the bad to make room for the good.

No more than two days after getting rid of my old, BAM! There it was! The perfect bag (roomy, cute, all leather, neutral color) for the perfect price ($35) at TJ Maxx! And, did you notice? It has a big, cute button in the middle like my old bag!

Do It!

Dear Daria,

Since you'll be in San Francisco for awhile, I really think you should take the opportunity to meet, fall in love with, and marry Kevin Rose. When I saw his '09 resolutions, I immediately thought of you. I'd be all down with some Kevin Rose action but, sadly, I live on the other coast... and I don't do yoga... or climb mountains... or hike... or hook up with dude's who aren't my boyfriend... Besides, I'm more of a coffee person, you know?

So why Kevin Rose?

1) He likes cats! That's how you know he's awesome.

2) He's smart and accomplished! He found a whole bunch of popular sites! He has his own Wikipedia page!

3) He's super cute!He's got that cute boyish charm going, you know? Kind of like Conor Oberst...
... minus the slightly creepy emo stalker-ish stare.

4) Y'all have the same interests- 'cept the tech stuff... But that's how you know your relationship won't be boring! You guys can learn from each other and grow together!

5) He's super funny! Check out his podcast!

6) Daria Rose- how bad ass does that sound?

7) Did I mention he's super cute?Check out that nose!!!!

So, I'm not sure how it's going to happen... Just MANIFEST it, you're good at that! Y'all are meant to be, the stars deem it so, make it happen!!! You can help him achieve all his New Year's Resolutions (except the Jennifer Aniston one)!

Sincerely,

Jin

IKEA!!!

Michael wanted to buy a bookcase, so you know what that means...

A trip to IKEA!!!


This would be my ideal living room- wall to wall bookshelves. That recliner must be Ikea's best seller 'cause they've been carrying it for like over 10 years. I'm not a fan, I prefer this:

The print is so cute! I would've bought it but I don't have a place to put it, it's not that comfortable, and I'm not paying $300 for a chair that I don't need.



I'm not a fan of this bedroom, but I liked the idea of installing a towel rack on the wall to hang throw blankets. I don't like it enough to do it, but I thought that was a cool idea.


I liked the color scheme of this bedroom. They managed to pull of red and green without looking like a Christmas wonderland. I never would have thought to put orange furniture in a green room with red curtains.

This would be my dream walk in closet. I especially dig the little folding table at the far end. I'm very anal and particular when it comes to folding clothes so a large folding surface is always nice.

One of my favorite part of Ikea are the little condo set ups they have. They have three "condos" in different sizes, "small", "really small", and "OMG, that's the size of my bedroom!" My favorite is the smallest one.





I also really dig the kitchen displays.

I like this one 'cause it looks country and homey. The wooden counter top is pretty cool.


This one is also nice, though, I'd prefer a prep area closer to the sink.


This was my favorite. I like the honey color of the wood, the tiled back drop, and the frosted glass cabinet doors remind me of Korea.


If I were a kid, or a Dr. Seuss character, I would like this drawer.

Michael bought the Billy bookcase in red for $59.99. That thing is over 6 feet tall and I didn't think it was going to fit in his car but nope. It fit! I guess that's why they call it The Fit, I was impressed. He spent about $130 that day and got:
a bookcase
2 clocks
2 rugs
10 AAA batteries
3 magazine holders
2 storage boxes

I spent about $10 and got:
a large white tray
a large air tight jar
a pizza cutter
a toilet brush
a big thing of foot cream that I thought was hand cream

I love Ikea.

Afterwards, we did some additional shopping at Tysons and I couldn't help but think of costs in terms of bookcases. For instance, we went to the Coach store to check out some wristlets in person. Before I was all, "$60 is worth it!" but after, I thought, "$60? That's a bookcase!"

Parmigiano Reggiano

Parmigiano-Reggiano, my favorite cheese! It's made of raw milk, aged 24 months, and so good. Sure, a bit pricey at like $9 for a small block but worth it, so very worth it. I don't use it to make alfredo or primavera, I use the cheaper parmesan cheese for that. I use it more like a spice, it tastes amazing on sunny side up eggs with some truffle oil drizzled on top. It has this distinct brightness that just hits you at the back of your tongue, and yet, it's still smooth and rich. It kind of reminds me of good dark chocolate, or coffee. Some nights, I find myself just standing over the kitchen counter, grating thin slices of this cheese and enjoying it, almost like dessert. Then, I remember how much this cheese cost and I feel bad... so I grate another slice, and life if wonderful again.

Bento at Akira

I love bento boxes! They're often a great deal and there's just something about them that makes foods look cute. I don't know, does that make sense? Michael and I tried a new sushi place in Ashburn (well, Ashbrook, if you want to get specific), Akira. It's not really new- it's existed for awhile, and I think we ate there once or twice, but it's still new to us since our go-to sushi place is usually Tokyo Sushi. Akira has a nicer atmosphere than Tokyo Sushi but, Tokyo Sushi has better service.


I got the shashimi bento box which came with salad, miso soup, 6 thick slices of shashimi, 3 pieces of California roll, 2 pieces of fried, beef gyoza, 4 pieces of tempera, and rice... all for $12.99. Honestly, $12.99 + tax + tip is a bit much to spend on lunch for the new, frugal-er me, I should probably have gotten the much cheaper teriyaki bentos but.... what the heck. It's been too long since I had sushi. The California roll was kind of lacking (too mushy, not enough difference in texture) but the shashimis were buttery and... yum!

Every time they bring out my meal at a Japanese restaurant, I look at the dish and go, "Oh man, this is it?" And, every time, I'm always surprised at how full I feel afterwards. It's the good, clean, nice kind of full, you know? Not the, "BLERGH!!!! I need to go home and take a nap..." kind of IHOP full.

Oh, and if you like bento boxes, you should check out this blog.

Bookmark Clean Out!

The free make up line at Macy's was a bit crazy. At first, I wasn't going to go but Jamie told me that it was pretty easy and hassle free, just in and out. It actually wasn't that bad, but those old ladies were rabid, foaming at the mouth, to get some free stuff. This one lady had the nerve to just walk in front of me and cut in line! Normally, I don't like confrontation with strangers, but there's no way she didn't know she was line cutting, no way.

"Excuse me, you just got in front of me, you need to get behind." Nothing.

"Excuse me. I was here first, you just got in front me. This is my place in line, you need to go back." She looks at me and shows me the handout explaining the class action lawsuit. She didn't say anything so maybe she didn't speak English, but whatever.

"Ma'am, I was here first. This is my place in line. You need to go to the back."

She finally left.

I dragged Michael along and he said that the lady behind him kept pushing him, practically ran him over to get her hands on some free Lacome moisturizer. I'm glad he was there, behind me. After dealing with the line cutter, if some lady kept nudging me, I think I would've nudged back, hard.

I grabbed a wrinkle cream for my mom, Michael did the same.

Anyhoo, here're some links you might enjoy.

Debit Card Liability Protection- I did not know that, but now I do.

MTV Orders More Reality Shows, Avoids Music- Ugh, I remember a time when I used to wish I had MTV... but that was back when they still showed a decent amount of music videos. I understand that, thanks to Youtube and such, music videos alone won't bring in much viewers, but still... VH1 has some interesting music related documentaries and such.

Tax Free Shopping: Retailers Beg Government to Create Tax-Free Shopping Holiday- We have those every year around back to school, it never does much for business. Retailers are just hoping that people would be stupid enough to think that tax-free=big savings. It will probably work. I've long learned that people just need an excuse, any excuse, to justify spending.

The Quest for Every Beard Type- I know so much more about beard fashion now.

WHY GOD, WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY???- I think this should constitute as animal abuse. Where're the SPCA?

Shrink Ray: NYT Investigates TV Shrink Ray- Does the .5 inch really make a difference? I mean, why do TV manufacturers do this? Does it really do anything to cut cost? Of course, there is that famous story of Rockefeller and his 29 glue drops... or was that Carnegie?

One Year in 40 Seconds- Having worked with an Erik, Eric, and an Erich, I thought I knew all the way to spell "Eric" (and let's not forget Erique). "Eirik" is a new one...

Monday Night Stir Fry- Tomorrow is a Wed. but I think I'll try this anyway.

Click to enlarge.

Target "Not Responsible" for Flying Carts of Doom- I hate people who don't put carts back into the cart corals. Oh, and really? Really? This guy really thinks he has a legit case? And is Consumerist on their side?! WTF! I really hate that site sometimes.

A Whole Wheat Pasta to Love, Like or Tolerate- I've only tried wheat pasta once and I hated it. I actually used it for a recipe that cost a lot of money to make. The sauce and shrimp turned out great but the pasta kind of ruined it for me. I'm going to have to give Archer's a try.

Who Got Old?- Whoa! Hillary Clinton definitely got better with age.

Flexible Mini Keyboard- I want one! Oh wait, I don't have a desk top.

Marilyn Manson Wants Ex-Wife Back...for Trial- I always wondered what Marilyn Manson would look like without make up. Umm... oh man.

Ringin' in the New Year: Semi-Southern-Style Cornbread- Sadly, corn bread is the only Southern food that I can make well. Biscuits? Fail. Chicken and Dumpling? Fail. Fried chicken? Semi-fail. Okra? Don't even know what that is.

Dickonomics: How 5 Everyday Businesses Trick You- I did notice that a lot of restaurants spell out their prices. I just thought they were trying to be fancy.

Vietnamese Caramel Shrimp (Tom Rim)- Ooooh... it looks so good. I know "caramel" is pronounced keh-ra-mel, but I pronounce it car-mul. I'm not sure where I got it from, but saying keh-ra-mel just sounds funny to me, even though I know it's the correct pronunciation.

My Face

Yes, I am one of those girls who won't leave the house without her "face" on. It's not that I think I look that much better with make up, I just feel kind of naked, and exposed, without something on. Self esteem aside, I genuinely like make up. I love the color, the packaging, the texture, etc. Sometimes, putting it all on feels like a chore, especially early in the morning, but usually, I enjoy putting my face together.

Like most women, I have way more make up than I need. I'm not anywhere near as bad as Amy and her 125+ pots of MAC eye shadow (she keeps a spread sheet of all the shades on her blackberry to help her shop) but... it's going to take me awhile to use everything up. I'm trying though, I'm trying...

I don't go all out. There was a short period in my life when I was probably wearing a bit too much for every day wear. I got scared straight when I saw a customer wearing the kind of face that looked like it belonged on a 16 year old (lots of eye liner, bright eye shadow, etc) and... ugh! "Is that going to be me in a few years?!?!" It's kind of like high heels... you know how you start with that modest 1" but the heels get higher and higher and higher? Well, you start with a basic face but, if you're not careful, within a few years, you end up like Tammy Faye.

All in all, it takes me about 5 minutes to do my face.

I start with foundation, which is a must. I'm super self conscious when it comes to my skin. I always feel like my pores are the size of moon craters and my skin is super blotchy. I know it's not as bad, and a few myopic people have even complimented me on my skin... but I've always worn foundation. For the most part, I have no brand loyalty when it comes to beauty products, but I actually bought this particular foundation twice. It's not that it's that good, more like it gets the job done. Seriously, I have issues with my skin, very love/hate. I don't think that the world's best foundation is going to make me love my skin so might as well get the reasonably priced one that gets the job done, right? Plus, the germ-a-phobe in me really likes that it has a pump.

Next, I put on some powder, after which, I feel a lot better about my skin, for now... I didn't really look at it that closely before buying it so I didn't catch the "luminous" part. Did I mention that my skin tends to get a bit (a lot) oily? Did I mention I hate my pores? I didn't think little sparkly bits in my powder would be a good thing, but it's not bad. Actually, now that it's winter and my skin's looking drab and blah, I actually prefer it.

This blush is "Amore" by Nars. I am amazed at how long this blush lasts- not on my face, but lasts in general. I think I've been using this for about a year and a half now! I can probably go another 6 months but I think it's time to let go... I keep my brush clean, disinfect it on a regular basis and what not, but still...

It's amazing what difference a good blush makes. It makes me look more bright eyed and bushy tailed in the morning.

I'm pretty much good to go after the blush, and if I'm under a huge time constraint, or feeling really lazy, I'll just stop here.

After the face, comes the eyes. I have a lot of eyeshadow, it's a little ridiculous. Much like my perfumes, I'm trying to use them up chronologically. Right now, I'm using this gift with purchase set from Clinque. The description on the back just says "Strawberry Fudge" so I'm guessing the left one is "Strawberry" and the right one is "Fudge"? "Strawberry" is a pretty good knock off of Urban Decay's "X", my all time favorite eyeshadow. It's a bit pinker than "X" and not as golden awesome-y, but still good. "Fudge" is kind of a weird shade on me.

I was very skeptical about this eye liner... $1.99 eye liner from Hot Topic (with a skull on the packaging, no less). Is it going to give me eye cancer? Surprisingly, it's the best eyeshadow I've ever used. It has awesome pigmentation, goes on easily, and stays on for the entire day. I just line the top lid with black eye liner. Some times, I'll line the bottom as well, but not with black. If I use black all around my eyes it makes me look like a dragon lady.

I know that it's considered tacky to wear glitter during the day but some days, I like to sparkle. This is "Maui Wowie" from Urban Decay. I love Urban Decay eye shadows. Urban Decay is what motivates me to use up all my shadows. I told myself, no more eye shadow until I use up all the ones I have. So yes, I'm on a mission to burn through all my stash so I can go buy more Urban Decay. A part of what I like about the brand is the packaging. I just like that it's hinged and round- like a token. Awesome.

Not Pictured:
Sometimes, if I really feel like taking my time putting on make up ('cause putting on make up can be fun sometimes) I'll also wear mascara. Right now I'm using Maybelline's Define a Lash. It really doesn't matter what mascara I use, my lashes are so pathetic nothing really makes a noticeable difference. I chose this mascara because because it has a silicone brush and I prefer those over the bristle brushes.

I love lip stuff because the colors and packaging are so pretty, but I really don't like the feel of goop on my lips. Still, since I have so many, I'm trying to use them up. Right now, I''m using Wet and Wild's Mega Flavor Gourmet Lip Gloss in... clear pink sparkle (the color name isn't listed)? It really looks like something you would give to a 7 year old to play dress up but it works really well. It makes my lips super shiny, isn't too goopy, and lasts pretty long (for a lip gloss).

Since it's winter I also use Smith's Rosebud Salve. It's a cult classic for a reason. It has a nice, light consistency, works well, and smells amazing.

RIP: Gray, Old Navy Hobo

It is with a heavy heart that I bid adieu to my gray hobo bag...

It was on sale for like $30 at Old Navy and, after using my gift cards, it only costs me $10. Sure, it wasn't the prettiest bag, but it was the perfect size and color to use as an every day/work bag. After about a year, it started to get pretty dirty and gross.


I love the big button on the front.


I'm searching high and low for a new replacement but it's hard! I thought I found one at the Salvation Army and I was ready to toss this one out. However, a few day after, I needed to travel to other stores to help with inventory prep and I realized that my new bag is too small to hold everything I need.

Sigh~
Even though I've yet to find the right replacement, I'm letting this one go. I believe in the whole new age, "law of attraction" mumbo jumbo. If I have faith in the universe and release this one, a new one will find itself to me, right? Right...

Let's see how it goes.

December Purchase of the Month

I give you December's Purchase of the Month!


Once upon a time, I had nice hair. Nice, smooth, soft, flowy hair. It was nice, the kind of nice that had strangers reaching out and petting it. That was annoying. Then, sometime shortly after high school, I got lazy and my hair spent most of its time up in a pony tail. Maybe it withered with neglect, but my hair slowly started to get all crappy stupid. As a result, my hair was up in a ponytail like 99% of the time.

My hair is still up in a ponytail most of the time, but, thanks to this shampoo and conditioner, it's more like 80% of the time instead of 99%. What makes it so great? It's sulfate laural... no wait, sulfur laurate.... sulfate lurate....? You know, that bad stuff? Yeah, it doesn't have it, and it's only like $3. Sure, you can get a gallon of Suave for a buck but, trust me, you don't want to do that.

AAAAAHHHHH!!!!

This is what my hair used to look like.

I don't normally look like Cousin Itt, by the way.

I've been dyeing my hair since 10th grade. I've never gone drastic but, by now, I think I've been every shade between "dark medium brown" and "espresso brown" with the occasional dabble in red and black (but not together). I've been pretty lazy about dyeing my hair the last few months, mainly because I didn't think I needed to. I was wrong.

The difference between my tip and the root is a bit more drastic than the picture shows.

So, I found a 2 pack of hair dye on clearance for like $5. Sweet! "Golden Brown"? It looks a bit light but, whatever. It always ends up like 2 shades darker than what the box shows. Right? Right! Um...

No.



I almost cried when I took the towel off. I've never had it this light before. It freaked me out. Now I know how those girls on those make over show feels.

I really hated it at first but I've gotten a lot of positive feedback so... I think I'll keep it until my roots starts to show. Still, I miss my old color.

Scary!

I got my retirement account summary today.

Surprise! It's not pretty...

From 10.01.08-12.31.08, my personal rate of return was:
this period -19.16%
for the last 12 months -42.07%
since my account inception (annualized) -39.78%

If I retire at the age of 67, I can expect my account to generate until age 86.
67!
86!

OMG!!!

First off, right now, the thought of working until 67 doesn't bother me. But you know, I'm young and I love my job. Who knows how I'll feel when I'm old? Who knows what kind of job I'll have when I'm 67?! And I'm only going to have enough money to last me like 20 years?! I don't think I'll be having any kids, what's going to happen to me when I run out of money?! And what about a husband?! What if I end up with someone who didn't save well at all?!?!?!

Scary, scary shit.

Sigh. On the plus side, at least my company is matching this year. It's not much (50% of up to 4%) but it's better than nothing.

Simply Apple

This is the best apple juice ever, it really tastes like you're just going all vampire on the best tasting apples ever. I don't even like apple juice, but I love this juice.

I actually use it more for cooking than drinking. A lot of recipes call for white wine or chicken stock but it's not often I have white wine. As for chicken stock- they're only good for a week in the fridge so it usually goes bad before I can use it up. I do have a box in the fridge but I don't really plan my meals in advance so it's frozen when I need it, and the box is foil lined so I can't defrost in the microwave.

That's where the apple juice comes in. It gives a nice, rich, slightly sweet taste to everything. For instance, it gives green beans and bacon a subtle, almost maple syrupy taste. It also tastes good in shrimp penne, it works well in a blush sauce. I also like to use pre-made jars of alfredo sauce, which usually tastes a bit too salty. No problem, just pour in some apple juice to mellow out the taste. It also thins out the sauce, which is good since I add so much stuff to the sauce (stick of butter, a whole mess of spinach, asparagus, onions, mushrooms, etc...), sometimes, it ends up more like a dip.

Mmmm~ apple juice!

Enjoy the Silence

During the Holidays, the company asked us to take it easy on the parents by keeping the music "parent friendly" and, to help us out, created a "easy on the ears" channel on our Playnetwork, which was mostly classic and 90's rock with a healthy dose of current indie/garage/emo music. Since then, I've developed a new appreciation for classic bands, such as Led Zepplin, The Who, The Queen, The Doors, etc, as well as newer classic music such as ...

Depeche Mode.


Seriously, I'm all about this band right now.

I did a YouTube search to watch a video for their single "Enjoy the Silence" (which I've been listening to non-stop for awhile) and, surprisingly, no video. I did, however, find about a bazillion covers of that song.

It's always cool when one band covers another, especially if it's a band that you love (afi) covering another band that you love (Nine Inch Nails). However, it's lame when a band makes a cover song the single for their album. Lame, it's a desperate attempt to ride the coat tail of someone else's fame. Covers should be regulated to B-side tracks, rarities, concert performances, hidden tracks, at the very least, the last track on a CD, a way of saying, "Hey, thanks for listening to our songs!". To showcase your entire album (and possibly your career) around a song that was "made famous by" someone else is kind of sad (looking at you Marilyn Manson)... unless you're Johnny Cash.

Still, it's fun to listen do different versions of the same song.

Here's the original (I apologize in advance for the ugly page, ever since YouTube went wide screen, I can't figure out how to make it fit in Blogger):


Awesome.

Here's Lacuna Coil's version (which is probably the most popular version, aside from the original):

Not really into the whole Goth-Metal melodrama angle but not bad.

Here's HIM's version:

You know, I'm kind of disappointed, not 'cause I like HIM (I don't) but because HIM is all about whiny, dark, slightly creepy love songs, and this is garbage.

Here's Breaking Benjamin's version:

Embedding Disabled by Request

Which is probably for the best. Their cover sucks. Not all songs were meant to go screamo/hardcore, the random screaming just sounds very off. By the way, people, it's Breaking BEN-JA-MIN, not Breaking BEN-GER-MAN.

Two very bad covers by:

Kean


and Tori Amos


Part of what makes this song really good is the slightly creepy, gothy, vampire-y, haunting, tortured nature. You take that away and you have... bad covers.

I think the best ones are It Dies Today's version:

It's most like the original yet different, they maintained the mood of the song while adding their touch and making it current. The breakdown in the middle is a nice touch.

and Anberlin's version:

For keeping it most faithful to the original. It's kind of like, "Why even bother?" but it's sure to not offend any Depeche Mode fans.

Depeche Mode has a new album coming out this spring. So, for the record, Spring of '09 will bring us:
The Prodigy
Green Day
Depeche Mode
afi (fingers crossed)
Head Automatica (fingers crossed)

!!!

B.B. Big

Ooh!!! I loved these growing up!

Red bean is a popular dessert ingredient in Korea. Amongst other uses, red beans are stuffed inside pastries, served on top of shaved ice, and, of course, made into popsicles.


Yeah, I know, the thought of using beans in dessert might sound a bit weird but it's very, very good. It has a nice, mellow, full, smooth sweetness to it. Yum!

Choice

Okay, seriously, which wristlet should I get?

I've been hankering after something "expensive" and leathery. Ideally, it would be a big, leather, everyday purse. However, I'm starting to feel that I'll never find one that I like for the price I'm willing to pay ($100 or less). I'm sure, one day, when I least expect it, I'll just be browsing around, see the perfect purse, and buy it. That's great, but my need to spend money on leather goods exists now. Besides, my current wristlet is getting kind of beat up looking.

So, first we have Penleope Leather Wristlet ($58). I like the fact that it's very plain and understated but I don't like the silver "Coach" doo-dad on the front.

Next, we have the Madison Leather Wristlet ($68).I like the pleated detailing but I'm not a fan of pebbled leather.

I find it kind of strange that I'm so willing to plonk down $60-$70 on something so non-essential. There are far more useful stuff that I would never think to pay that much for, but a wristlet? Sure! I mean, I would never pay that much for a pair of jean, or a sweater, or even a winter coat. I guess there's a big difference on how much I'm willing to pay for an impulse buy, usually around $20, and a planned purchase. 99% of my clothes are impulse buys. That is, I didn't specifically head to the mall with the intention of buying a white shirt or a navy cardigan, etc. I went shopping for fun and "Hey! That's cute!".

Maybe I'll check out the Coach Outlet to see if I can find any good deals.
Maybe I'll just wait it out. I don't need a new wristlet, my old one is fine.

Book Mark Clean Out!

Bon Appetite name peanut butter "dessert of the year". Peanut butter!!! I would've called BS on that, but I am quite fond of my creation:


Peanut butter with apples on crackers. I should give it a name... Googly Eyes! They kind of look like googly eyes. I don't like peanut butter (ewe!) but I do like Trader Joe's peanut butter. Ingredients: Peanut. Salt. That's it! Here are some articles you can read while I munch on some googly eyes.

Why Won't Sexist Advertising Go Away?- Maybe I'm jaded, maybe I'm naive, but these ads wouldn't even catch my attention... except maybe those shoes. Yay! I deserve Dolce and Gabbana shoes. Oh wait, that's a bad thing.

Ten Winners of the Recession- I have been eating more soup... but it more out of laziness than thriftiness.

Seven Lessons Learned from Working Retail- Couldn't have said it better myself.

Hate to Shop? Blame the Mall- Exactly what kind of "excitement" do people want from their mall? Ours has a choo choo train that blocks traffic and annoys the crap out of everyone over the age of 5. Is that the kind of "excitement" people are looking for? The mall has little control over what stores will set up shop. I wish we had a Forever 21 (I've seen malls crappier than ours with a F21) but it's not the mall's fault we don't have one.

What Was I Thinking...- I really need to find a madeleine pan.

If I Die a Bacon-Related Death, I'd Like it to be Because of This- Oh my. I think I just had a heart attack.

KingMax 8GB Super Stick- I don't need a flash drive but I really want this one.

Barbie Vs. Bratz: Barbie Wins! Court Stops Production of Bratz Merchandise- Oh, thank God, yes!

Fighting a Frugal Battle Against Ice and Snow- Ugh! Nothing sucks more than having to de-ice your car when you're running late for work. Suggestion #1 is brilliant. I'll have to remember it the next time I'm anticipating an ice storm. Maybe I'll even keep on in the car, for when I know it's going to ice while I'm at work.

If "Twilight" Was 10 Times Shorter and 100 More Honest- Okay, I don't have to watch the movie now.

Man Sprays "Toilet-Papering" Teens with Fox Urine- I agree, they got what they deserved.

Sorry, We're Booked, White House Tells Obama- Everyone's predicting that traffic on Inauguration Day will be insane, not just in DC,but in the DC Metro area as well. I'm just going to take the day off and not leave my house. They are advising people to not go anywhere unless they absolutely have to. I think I also heard that they're shutting down parts of major high ways and making it emergency vehicles only. Oy. I'm just going to take the day off and stay home.

11 Creative Coffee and Tea Mug Design- I really like the Crinkle Cups by Robert Brandt.
How to Dance at a Goth Club: 101- This kind of reminds me of the lame after party at our manager's meeting. For some reason, the Goth kids are the only ones that seem to dance at those things.

An Economist Solves the Mysteries of Dating- Wait. Let me get this straight. It took a Nobel prize winner to theorize that pretty people prefer to date other pretty people?... And it was considered "pioneering" research?

Trust Me

Today, I had to go to Wheaton to help them with their inventory prep. The last time I went, I got horribly lost. This time, I decided to borrow Walter's GPS. He agreed to lend it to me but I almost told him to shove it up his ass for being so douchey about it. Really, how many times does he need remind me to not leave it in plain site?! Apparently, a lot. I'm probably being overly sensitive 'cause I have a tendency to be overly sensitive about a lot of things Walter says and does.

But really, does he think I'm stupid enough to leave a nav. system just out in the open in my car? I've ridden with Jamie, I know what not to do. And so what if I did? Let's say it did get stolen, does he think that I wouldn't buy him a new one? Of course, his friend recently broke his cellphone and not pay for a new one. Well, it's not my fault he hangs around selfish idiots, but I guess I can see how that might make him cautious. Still, nav systems are easily replaceable, it's not like losing some one's iPod with their entire music collection.

Which is what I almost told him. I thought about reminding him that my iPod probably cost more than his nav system (and I've yet to have it stolen). But I didn't, 'cause 1) I'm trying to be nicer to him, and 2) I got too distracted thinking about how much $$ I carry around in my purse. Not actual money, but the monetary value of the things I carry. And by value, I don't mean how much I paid for the stuff originally, or how much I can get if I sell it on eBay, but how much would it cost to replace everything if my purse got stolen or lost.

Not counting little things like chapstick, lotion, pens, etc., here's what I came up with.

My Purse- $0
I have purses ranging from $300 to $5 but, on any given day, I'm probably carrying my every day purse, the gray hobo. It's kind of ugly now and really dirty. I don't even like it all that much, but I can't seem to let go. Trust me, I'm trying... that purse needs to be retired, but it's just so... perfect for my life. Perfect size, weight, color, etc. $10 is about what I paid for it after gift cards. Given the number of purses I have, I probably wouldn't bother replacing it. I would still continue to buy bags (although, thanks to all the bag thrifting I did over the summer, I really shouldn't) but I wouldn't go out of my way to replace it.

My Wallet- $60-$70I got this pea green Coach wristlet at Marshalls for $20. I love using a wristlet as a wallet 'cause, on quick errands, or a coffee run during work, I don't have to take my entire purse with me. If I had to, I would replace it with this:

Or possibly this:I also like it in gold but I think that's a bit too flashy.
Of course, I could replace it with a cheaper wristlet but... I still like nice leather purses and wristlets are a "cheap" way to get a fix. The one I have is starting to look beat up and dirty, I might replace it anyway. I'm itching to buy something leather and I can't seem to find a bag that I like. Hmmm... which one should I get?

My Camera- $180
I bought my camera for about $180. Target is still selling it at that price but I can probably find it a lot cheaper now. However, if I had to buy a new camera, I would probably upgrade, something thinner maybe. Of course, if I had to replace everything all at once, I probably would go for the cheaper option...

My Phone- $150?
I got my phone for free (by renewing my contract for another 2 years) but the full retail price is $279.99- which I think is way over priced. How much I'll have to pay to replace my phone depends on when I need to replace it. I believe I get a $100 credit after a year. If I lose it before then, I might just go back to using my old phone until I can get a credit. Or, I might pay the ETF and sign up somewhere else to get a free phone. Like I said, it all depends on when I lose the phone but I don't think I'd pay more than $150 to replace it.

My iPod- $220
I currently have a 30G iPod classic which, back then, cost $250. That same amount will now get me 120G but that's way more than what I need.I love the aux. port in my car stereo. The ability to listen to my entire music collection in CD quality in my car, is nice. It's nice, but not necessary. I can easily get by with 8G, I listen to one playlist with about 120 songs most of the time. So, my next iPod will most likely be a Touch. I can get a 8G Nano for half the price but I hate the way it looks and feels. Besides, in the bottomless pit that is my purse, it'll get lost, chipped, and possibly broken. Wi-fi isn't as prevalent in NoVa as other places (surprisingly) but more and more places are starting to add Wi-Fi. Plus, I'm lazy and I have Wi-Fi at home. This way, I don't have to wait for iTunes to load, then find my cable, connect, wait for it sync, etc.

So, how much is that? About $610. That seems like a lot, but not really. I mean, there are people whose purse alone is worth about that much. On the other hand, if I had to replace all that stuff at once, it's a lot of money.

Anyhoo... I think I can be trusted with a nav. system.