Current obsession:

The olive bar at Fairway.

If you live in the NYC area, you must check this place out. It’s Whole Foods quality and variety at Trader Joe’s prices.

But my favorite part (aside from the bakery, sigh) is the massive olive bar. Whether you are looking for martini olives, or good old-fashioned kalamata, French olives with herbs, nicoise, Sicilian…

Sorry, I just got a little overexcited. Anyway, they have like a million varieties, and they let you sample them all!!! I mixed and matched a pint of Sicilian and Spanish blends, and I’ve been mainlining them all week…and discovering…they get better each day.

Note to Brooklyn Fairway: I love you. I love you so much that I visit you weekly and gives you globs and globs of money in exchange for said olives and Russian pumpernickel bagels and tons of produce. Oh, and those jalapeno and cilantro tortillas from last week? Made my quesadillas sing. They love you too.

If you love me as well, feel free to exhibit that love with lots of care packages of goodies. You know what I like…

Whether I wax or shave, I have a tendency of abusing my skin. Perhaps because they’ve seen the after effects and pity my maimed flesh, my friends at Shobha recently sent me a little care package.

Just launched this month, Shobha ingrown relief lotion is a bottled version of the aftercare lotion you will actually receive at the trendy salon. It exfoliates skin while it naturally fights off irritation and ingrowns and moisturizes to keep skin soft and hydrated, which enables hair to grow out - not in. It also preserves calmness of the skin and eliminates the tell-tale signs of sensitivity from hair removal treatments.

My view: What’s the point of investing in a bikini wax if you are going to then have totally unsexy redness and bumps after?

That’s right, none. Try this lotion!

EDIT: I just started to use it a few days ago - so far so good. However, I have used the in-salon version for a while, and that for sure works!

There’s nothing like having a fabulous weekend escape - only to come home and be given another reason to want said escape.

The prom was awesome, complete with frozen espresso shots (I shall coerce my dear friend Brigitta into sharing the recipe) and a great retro-80s dancing and rock n rolling time by all. I did not wear the press-on nails (but I shall next time, if only to have a better shot at being crowed Queen of the ball).

Had I worn said nail adornments, they would have most certainly been these:

Kiss Luxury Nail Kits are not last generation’s nail kits - they come come with superior strength pink nail glue that last up to 10 days, and in varieties that range from classic French to bejeweled bold colors.

So, yes, had I worn them I may have been mocking the tacky ones of old…but they actually would have been quite spectacular! (And they come in toe shapes too!)

As tonight is the prom (see back entries for more on what this is!), I am in a little bit of a hurry to get my ass out of Brooklyn and on a train to New Jersey.

This year, rather than making a dress fuss, I am engaging in true retro-accord (the concept of this prom is a nostalgic look back at our own prom-eras), and am wearing the actual dress I wore to my bat mitzvah. It still fits! Kinda. Will keep you posted on if I get through the night without exploding fabric.

Now, the question: Press-on nails. Retro chic or just a little tacky-redundant? I have one hour to decide.

Check out my new shoes!

Whether your heart is set on delicate buds or your inner-Carrie has you coveting over-the-top accents, all things floral is a budding new look. My latest blossoming closet inhabitant is the Luichiny Women’s Sammie Sandal from Endless.com.

With delicate satin straps, the main focus is on the center satin rosette - a perfect way of being trend-center without looking like a human bouquet. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

I’m part of the panel of relationship experts and bloggers contributing to Wake Up to a Breakup, a sexy new web-series.

Most of my first episode’s content isn’t up yet (it’s going to have some snazzy links and a bio), but for a preview of me being just a little bit silly, check out this link below. I’m the “Pink Wisdom” segment. So if you follow the instructions and click on a question, you’ll see me in about half of them. (For those of you who don’t already know, I’m the over-caffeinated blond in the white-black sundress.)

http://wakeuptoabreakup.com/PinkWisdom-August2008.html

www.kissingwithross.com

I think I need a shower now.

Starbucks and I have had a very tumultuous relationship for several years now.

It started back in college, when cash-poor me would save my quarters to indulge in mochas during class breaks.

It was at a sad time in my life that I didn’t realize liquids could have calories. (This overlapped, thus, with the margarita phase.)

As I became more health-conscious, Starbucks was right alongside me, introducing the “skinny” latte. And behold my elation when I found out sugar-free skim vanilla lattes were a welcome and accepted part of the South Beach Diet dairy allowance?

As I went through various levels of employ, I graduated to a Starbucks card, and then a Starbucks Visa…and just last week joined the Rewards program. (Which allows me to sit, right at this second, in a Starbucks a few blocks from my home enjoying free wi-fi.)

Of course, our relationship has had its down moments, such as a few months ago when they forgot to put espresso in my latte, or the unfortunate times I’ve requested (and paid for) soy but got skim. But that happens. People who loves one-another disappoint each other all the time.

I have to say now, especially with the current overwhelming passion of free iced coffee Wednesdays, free rewards refills, and free wifi…we are in a better place than we’ve been for as long as we’ve been together. And because of that, the blurb I just read on Gothamist has me a little choked up. (And I’m pretty sure it’s not cause I semi-swallowed an ice cube.)

Starbucks has announced it’s closing 600 stores in the U.S., bringing the total number down to approximately 9 gazillion, most of them located in Astor Place. Stocks have fallen 24% so far this year, and its second quarter was its weakest as a public company. The Seattle-based chain says it will try to relocate employees to other stores, but thousands of layoffs loom. Financial analyst Sharon Zackfia tells the Times, “I don’t think it’s overly surprising. These stores were in aggregate unprofitable.” No word yet on how many NYC Starbucks locations will close, but one hopes it’s kept to a minimum, because where else will we use the bathroom?

Granted, this will likely not impact my life…and it’s quite possible that said closings will be in bumble America and not near me. I suppose I should think of those thousands of people losing their jobs…but I’m sorry. What about MY needs? Just yesterday, I was elated over my rewards membership allowing me free wi-fi at 7,000 Starbucks nationwide. And now, I find out, it may only be 6,400??? And what if it’s the beginning of a trend? What if before we know it…Starbucks…and all the wonderful things the world has gotten from them…is gone???

What about MY work? What about our history…and build up drink credits…and meaningful barista-caffeine-addicted customer relationship? What about my free rewards-milk-and-syrup upgrades???

Sigh. I need a moment. Go tell your barista you love them before it’s too late.

This morning, I found myself at the hub of NYC activity - Herald Square - readying myself for a voyage to New Jersey.

As I skipped throughout Penn Station en route to my train, a stranger called out to me.

“Would it offend you if I asked you a question?”

Generally, that question will prepare me to be offended, as well as pique my curiosity.

“Ok…”

“Is your hair natural? I’ve been trying to get it blonde myself and i wanted to know how to get your color…”

I told her I was not offended, but that, yes, my hair was natural.

She continued to stand there. I, who had a train to catch, suddenly found myself volunteering hair advice, despite myself.

She nodded, silently, and then began to cry. I was confused…being a blond isn’t THAT meaningful!

“Can I ask you a question?”

Here we go again. Maybe she needs fashion advice too. (She actually could have used some.)

“I was stranded here, earlier today…by a date!” She starts to cry, harder. I sigh. “I have no money to get home! Do you think you could help me?”

I was prepared to give her the starving writer talk, but gave consideration to the time constraints and didn’t bother. “Sorry! Have a train to catch!”

I scurried along, and felt her staring after me.

I am all for helping my fellow man, don’t get me wrong. But, seriously, if she was REALLY stranded and destitute…would she have stopped to chat about low-lights first?

Then again….

Just in case any of my buds out there are under the illusion I maintain a glamorous existence, let me share a little story.

About an hour ago, after allowing myself to leisurely oversleep (just a bit), I scratched myself out of bed to jump in the shower. I instantly noticed that the water that I normally like pretty hot was bordering on scalding, and tried to adjust…I noticed then the water was just getting greater and greater force. I went to turn it off, and couldn’t…the faucet just kept on turning, nothing happening!

I was scared. I jumped out of the shower, and soaking wet (not to mention hair in a mass of suds), threw on my robe and ran down the hall to bang on my basement door.

My building is interesting. We do have a live-in super: He however does not have a phone, or a door bell, or any way of reaching him beyond leaving a note under his door, which he will find and appear to fix pretty quickly. I did not have time for a note: Before I knew it, iZac and all my pretty pink things were in danger of drowning!!!

I banged, he did not answer, I ran back and finally the shower (pretty magically) went off. However, the lever is still loosely turning, so I am pretty sure at some point it may turn back on! This leaves me in fear of leaving my prison-apt, and unsure of the problem or how to proceed.

(And part of me is already blaming myself for balancing my caddy of fancy bath soaps and gels on said caddy the last three months.)

I have left two notes, and sit here looking a-fright (in fright)…

(Perhaps I killed puppies in a past life? Explained it for Angelus.)