Fashion Forward

Lately, I've seen this photo popping up around the web:

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and was happy to find an article on Shine from Yahoo! about these futuristic heels. Designed by Polly Verity, I hope this model didn't have to catwalk in them. I would also be concerned about my poor toes falling out the sides.

The article/slide show also showcases eco-friendly shoes from Stockholm designers Naim Josefi & Souzan Youssouf that are made from only one material. And the Mojito shoe is like Birkenstocks, except not:

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Designed by British architect Julian Hakes, the shoe molds to your foot. I'm a big fan of Rainbow sandals which similarly conform to accommodate the unique arch in each wearer's foot. I'd definitely try these on, but maybe just wear them around the house. For now, I think we're all safe in our pumps, flats, and flip-flops. Have you seen other futuristic fashion taking over?

Cheers, Kate

Wow

I wanted to share a few fun links today from across the web. The first is an interesting event blog called The Pink Toast. You can read about Danielle's Bat Mitzvah in 5 installments, but here's a sneak peak:


I can only imagine what this 13-year-old will grow up thinking about her wedding. I wish there was a way to check back in 10 or 15 yaers from now...

On to our next link, The Knotty Bride posted up a brief article on lingerie which was mildly inspiring. Alison led me to a great new online shop asos from the UK. They have dresses from £15 to £250 (about $30 - $500) I did find this cute jersey dress I'd love to have for the holidays:



and at £26, it's not at a bad price either. And along with this great jumpsuit (which doesn't look like a jumpsuit at all):

 

at £50, I'd sure make my British friends proud for at least stepping away from my pearls and cardis.

And of course, last night's Emmy Awards has people talking fashion. This Oscar de la Renta on Lea Michele from GLEE made me a little giddy and Emily Blunt's flowing Christian Dior one-shoulder dress wished I had my other half around to float around in a bedsheet pretending to be a Grecian goddess. InStyle of course has a great gallery up of photos from the red carpet.

 Hopefully this has give you a bit of inspiration for a happy Monday!

Cheers, Kate

Love is in the Air?

This summer has definitely been a big one for romance. In June, a classmate of mine Andrea got married in Greensboro, and yesterday Southern Weddings posted photos of her wedding shot by Abigail Seymour. I love the classic monogram:

and these adorable Elon cupcakes:

and who could resist these traditional North Carolina favors: Krispy Kreme doughnuts in adorable boxes reading "Glazed and delicious from the new Mr. & Mrs." So precious!

Next to their cute favor boxes, I just had to leave this great photo of Andrea throwing her bouquet. Check out more photos in the Southern Weddings post and on Abigail Seymour's blog. Congratulations! I can't wait to borrow some of your fabulous ideas!

In July, Adam and I went to Jake & Kim's wedding down in Durham. You saw a photo peek here, and here's a snapshot of me and Adam all dressed to the nines:

and I snagged this adorable photo of the happy couple off Facebook (all my pictures were blurry thanks to the ambient low lighting and my point & shoot camera) thanks to Brian Mullins Photography:

There are some amazing shots up on Brian's blog! I love how you can see the reflection of Kim and Jake in the piano. So classic! And to top it all off, the next day, Adam proposed in the Duke Gardens!

Then in the last two weeks, I had two sorority sisters get engaged as well. Congratulation Lisa and Alison! You can read Alison's adorable engagement story here. And to top it off, The Wedding Chicks are giving away customized DIY wedding invitations with this classic bicycle built for two design:

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Just enter in your info, pick your colors, and each file will be emailed to your address. Get your invitations here.

So all this romance has to make a girl wonder, is there more in the summer air than just humidity?

Cheers, Kate

Employment Bonus

I've seen quite a bit going around lately not about people finding creative ways to get hired, but about using innovation to quit. Yesterday a Jet Blue flight attendant exited an argument with a passenger by using the safety evacuation slides. Needless to say, he won't be coming back to work.

Today I saw a brilliant slideshow that a young assistant sent around to her office to quit:

Thanks to TheChive.com, the whole world can see Jenny's witty quitting display of slides, proving her dedication to her job for over two years until her discourteous boss gave her thelast straw:



Then Jenny dutifully reminds us all that even the boss can have his or her own plans to increase productivity backfire: her boxx spent 19.7 hours a week playing Farmville as recorded by the office snitch program installed to monitor internet use.



While the last few years have definitely not been the best economically, for job seekers, or for homeowners, this is a great reminder to remember that a job is much more than just a job. The biggest difference between employees today and of previous generations, is we believe a job is something you should enjoy doing. You don't work just to work - you shouldn't suffer through the 40 hours a week you spend earning your living. And just like Jenny, you certainly shouldn't put up with office abuse from your supervisors.

So thanks Jenny for giving us a reminder of what our generation stands for: living life to the fullest in every aspect.

Cheers, Kate

5 Healthy Reasons to Pop a Cold One

I'm a good Southern girl and I drink beer. Today, MSN posted up a list of five reasons why it's healthy to pop a nice cold beer. And I fully support this list.

Not only is this reason number one, but this is also a really good fact to know: beer helps prevent osteoporosis. I'm lactose intolerant, and have never had a drop of milk in my life. Maintaining a healthy level of calcium to prevent osteoporosis is hard. At least I know that drinking beer may be helping if only a little. The article recommends an ale or pale ale, but didn't comment on if 'light' beers make a difference in their healthiness. Granted the experts recommend no more than two beers in a sitting, but I'll still be sure to add a seasonal summer ale to my next grocery list.

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What's your favorite seasonal beer? Do you agree with any of beer's healthy traits?

Cheers, Kate

Pluto and the Triceratops

I know this is a bit deviant from my normal posting, but I wanted to share some sad news. Two scientists from the University of the Rockies in Montana have 'discovered' that Triceratops may not have been a species, but rather a 'child' of the Torosaurus species.

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While this isn't a major news item yet, places like The Huffington Post and Gizmodo have articles up about this new research. You may remember when a similar attack on childhood was made back in 2006 when scientists stripped poor Pluto of its planet status.

At least Pluto got its own verb according to the American Dialect Society. To pluto is to demote or devalue someone or something, as happened to the former planet Pluto when the General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union decided Pluto no longer met its definition of a planet. Read the Society's Words of the Year 2006 packet here for other great new words.

Personally, the triceratops will always be one of my favorite dinosaurs. Even though Sarah was a pretty frisky character in The Land Before Time, she was just lonely for her family.



So here's to you, triceratops, for entertaining kids everywhere and keeping them interested in science.

Cheers, Kate

Where's My Hotel?

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Can you find your hotel room? Check out this new eco-friendly tree resort in Sweden. Click here for the resort's website for more photos and booking info.  I can't wait to go with Adam!

Cheers, Kate

'Obscene' Mannequin Upsetting Town

In the news this week, a naked mannequin upset a Nebraska town. The fake figure was seen wearing "a pair of pants around its ankles and wearing shoes but no other clothing." I would be interested to know if it had a head, arms, and legs, as most mannequins don't. Read the Yahoo! News article here.

While searching for odd or funny mannequin photos, I came across one adjusting her thong panties, two mannequins standing suggestively at forever 21, and an interesting store front display of mannequins begging to be rescued. Please be aware these are not kid-friendly photos.

I always find it interesting that we so easily ignore odd or bizarre things going on around us. I'd love to hear your stories of anything like this mannequin fiasco that you have seen or experienced!

Cheers, Kate

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First Edition Please

The grandmother of a good friend recently passed, and while families are sensitive during a time of loss, there is always the uncomfortable occupation of dividing up possessions and mementos. Luckily for this friend, her grandmother had a complete first edition set of the Wizard of Oz books she read growing up. What a marvelous heirloom.

Today the Huffington Post posted a slide show of the most expensive first editions sold. They include a $86,500 copy of Absalom, Absalom! inscribed by Faulkner, a $5 million copy of the complete First Folio of William Shakespeare, and a $104,000 copy of Jane Austen's Emma. I'd love to have anything as extraordinary on my bookshelf.



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What wonders are hiding in your family closet?

Airport Snafu's

TIME magazine released a great little slide show of  some pretty big 'Oops!' moments at airports around the world. While this article originally debuted in March, it's interesting that the front page is showcasing it now - 5 days after the closed runway at JFK was scheduled to be reopened. Luckily for them, it reopened "under budget and ahead of schdule," according to this CNN article.

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Others on the list include the disastrous opening days of British Airways' T5 at Heathrow, where thousands of bags were lost and passengers stranded, and the redevelopment of Chicago O'Hare airport. All but two of the O'Hare runways intersect, and the redesign project will oust the residents of nearby Bensonville. Also on the list was the 2007 JetBlue incident where passengers on nine flights were stranded on the runway for upwards of 11 hours. Congress didn't pass a passenger's bill of rights until 2009.

Any good airport accidents you've witnessed?

Romance Novels

Romance novels are a fantastic invention. Lately there has been a bit of chatter around CNN about why they're so popular, and why women prefer their britches and boots wearing, gun handling, broody but first to arrive on the scene to help heroes to their real-life male counterparts. Plus these pocketbook paperbacks make great travel buddies. One romance novel made it through 6 of my friends on Spring Break senior year at Elon.

Today's article is aptly about the release of the third installment of the Twilight series, Eclipse. While I won't ever be a 'Twihard,' I'll never read the books, there is something compelling and mystifying about such a strong love between this awkward teenage girl and her damned soul-mate. I'll be interested to see how this half-vampire child issue works out in the final film...

Here are the stories that have shown up lately. Any thoughts?

I Write Romance Novels...So What? CNN, 5/10/2010

A Romantic Hero Wouldn't Do That CNN, 5/31/2010

Why Women Find Vampires Hot CNN, 6/30/2010

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Most Expensive Cities

Yahoo released a list of the world's most expensive cities today. Not surprisingly, most of them are in Japan, and the rest are in Northern Europe.

Number One? Tokyo:

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Have you been to any of these?

Come Check Out the Oil on Our Beaches

CNN Money posted up a great gallery today with ill-conceived advertisements taking a hit on the oil spill disaster.  Apparently the travel industry isn't the only one trying to take advantage of the situation, like this ad for Spirit Airlines.

New York Sports Club released an ad saying "Exercise sharpens the brain. Oil execs come in asap."  You even get a week free membership to the gym if you are an executive or you are "tired of their excuses."  Bravo NYSC for donating old towels to help the clean up effort and call out execs for poor management.

The other ads listed include an airplane flier for PETA blaming the meat industry for rises in oil prices and usage, as well as a couple of cute aliens laughing at the Gulf.  The tagline: "Let's not be the joke of the universe. Make Earth proud."

More Flexibility, More Fees

Yesterday American Airlines announced a new program: the Boarding and Flexibility Package. This fee, anywhere from $9-19, allows passengers several new 'options.' Read today's CNN article here: 'Latest Airline Fee? Early Boarding.'

Here are the included features:

• Be placed in a priority boarding group. You don't get on the plane before Elite status members or special needs passengers, but before everyone else.


• Half-price on flight change fees. Instead of a hefty $150 to change a flight, it's only $75 and free stand-by on earlier, same day flights.


• This applies to everyone in your 'reservation per-person charge', whatever that means.

Christopher Elliot, writer of the Elliot bog, consumer traveler advocate and affiliated writer with National Geographic, MSNBC, and The Washington Post, made a few comments about these new fees and how ridiculous they are. He compared this decision to the overwhelmingly popular 'charge for the first checked bag' fee that American Airlines also pioneered.

The biggest problem is air travel is a financially irresponsible business to be involved in. The costs of planes, equipment, fuel (astronomical thanks to BP), crew members, ground crew, maintenance crew, the list goes on, are incredibly difficult to manage in a consumer climate where we expect to pay a lot less for the same products. At least with Ryan Air in Europe you know you're going to pay for every extra thing.

The best bet for American airline companies is to go the Ryan Air route: advertise that you charge for everything. And make flight prices accordingly. So congratulations airline executives of America. You're slowly training a new generation to look for hidden fees instead of expecting everything to come included.

WWOOFing

A few of the travelers I met in New Zealand were WWOOFing their way around the country. This is a program that many countries have where the traveler exchanges work on an organic farm for free room and board. Here's a cool CNN article about a couple who is using WWOOFing to travel around the world: WWOOF Your Way Around the World.

Now Boarding Bin Laden

Apparently, British Airways has a fake boarding pass going around with Osama Bin Laden's name on it as a sample in some advertising. Someone will get fired over this decision, but it's still interesting to see how one name can cause so much. I'm glad I'm not flying again until November. Read the story on Yahoo! News here: British Airways red-faced over faux image of Bin Laden boarding pass. Has this story affected you? Any thoughts?

TripAdvisor’s Top 25

TripAdvisor recently released their list of Traveler's Choice Top 25 Destinations. Out of the list, I have been to Monte Carlo, Monaco, Queenstown, New Zealand, and San Francisco. Here I am with a sign leading to A.J. Hackett's Bungy Centre in downtown Queenstown. Gotta love those Kiwis!

Not too bad. On the list are definitely cities I want to visit: Rome, Venice, Lucerne Switzerland, Sydney, Prague, and the list goes on.  At least now I have some good advice before I go. Any places that you think should have made the list?