The importance of GNO's

You always see these outrageous girl nights in movies and on some tv shows. Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about because everyone does - guys you too. The ones where a group, normally 2-6 girls does one of two activities.

The essential elements for a Girls Night In.

1. They grab a sappy movie, nail polish, facial masks and a ton of alcohol.
2. They put on strappy shoes, big earrings and hit the bar.

Either way they are a crucial part of being a woman. An element to the female gender that is needed on a multitude of levels. Sometimes it's just because of a long week and a need to unwind. Sometimes it's a way to cheer themselves up after a bad night. Any way you look at it they all involve three crucial elements: Alcohol
                Dancing
                                                                                Laughing

No one knows better than me how important a social life is. Growing up I was always that girl doing 10 million things in a given day. When I hit the age when it was all about GNO's I was a member of a sorority and getting together with my sisters happened often. It wasn't always the alcohol induced craze you see in the entertainment world but it always involved a ton of fun. Then at 22 I was back living home in Vegas and lets be honest....there isn't any better place to do GNO's than Sin City. Except maye Boston - 100's of bars and the ability to drink as much as you want with the knowledge that there were hundreds of taxi's as well as walking distance to apartments.

Then I moved to NJ. Don't get me wrong, being with my husband was always important and never not an option. But the first job I obtained here had me working with people at least 10 years my senior and while I loved them, they weren't the type to go out, they had kids. So nights out were far and few inbetween and typically occurred when I went on vacay to other areas where I had friends.

But now, with sorority sisters, Bravo friends and work friends so close, GNO's are much more likely to occur.

Ironic that something that looks like this makes you look better later.

Nights in can't be overlooked. There is something that is just so much fun about getting trashed for cheap and dancing around a living space giggling and having (what you think at the time) heart felt conversations. It helps as a great way to unwind and a much cheaper alternative to putting on the glitz and glam and hitting the bars and having to worry about wandering hands and watching your alcohol consumption level when you're out to have fun.

My suggestions for the ultimate GNI?
1. romantic comedies are a must -- think P.S. I love you, Something Borrowed, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days type of movies.
2. Wine and tequila -- the wine is for the start of the night when you are pretending to be mature and sophisticated, the tequila speaks for itself.
3. A killer playlist to dance around too
4. Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate
5. Mudmasks and nail polish :)

Now while GNI's are amazing, there really isn't anything better than a straight forward GNO. Nothing beats getting glitzed up and really feeling good in your skin. Popping on that brighter shade of lipstick, those sparkling earrings and a pair of heels does an ego good. Now add in the fun of dancing with your girls and the attention and your ego is all repaired after just about any injustice. Yes I said it- we all know we like when a hot guy sits next to us and flirts, its in our genes to enjoy it. Besides we know we all love the random names bars give their specialty drinks...and what's more how good and how gross some of them are.

So it's the weekend. Go grab some beauty supplies and girly drinks and hit the town. I know I am.

An Express Change

There's always this stigmata of working at a mall as an adult. Everyone has their own opinions on why "adults" shouldn't be employed at the mall.

"They don't pay enough."

"It's not a career job."

"The hours aren't there."

"It doesn't utilize your education."

Let's just say I had my own reasons for thinking that at 23, with a masters, it wasn't the spot for me. But, when I left my job I panicked and started to apply at the mall. I wasn't applying just everywhere, mainly the upscale stores I thought would be a better "mall job".

First stop: Express.

A store that I LOVE. They have it all - work clothes, play clothes, casual clothes - and the accessories to match. For the last 2 years (since I learned I can pull off most of their extra smalls) I have been living in their clothes. Perhaps more in the nightwear and business wear than the casual, but if you look down the wall of our closet 90% of the items are Express and every single one has some glitz and glam to it somewhere.

So when I interviewed and got the job I was so happy. I knew it would be a fun money job and nothing more but I was ready. Yes, a tad hesitant for many of the above stigmata but ready. And when I walked into the breakroom, past the musty racks of stock and to the table piled high with 5 folders and so many reading pamphlets I was in shock that this was all they did for a part time job.

Now I don't want to give away all the tricks of the trade but let's just say Express is not your typical retail job. This store is fashion at it's finest. The backroom is plastered with fashion do's and don'ts as well as magazine cutouts that feature Express clothes.

Maybe I was a little star struck at working in a store I love and everything but I can honestly say I'm excited. I love that it's so much more than just selling clothes. It's about helping people find that perfect outfit - and boy wasn't I shocked when in the few customers I rang up, 3 asked me for opinions and things they could add!

So while I sat on register that night, and straightened clothes, and got to meet some wonderful girls, my mind was mentally adding everything and anything that sparkled or shimmered into my list of what I'll be buying first.

Mall job, is it the most exciting thing for someone with a master's and loans? Of course not! But it's sure going to be an awesome way to make some extra money!

Natural Disaster or Media Disasters?

Having gotten my degrees in both Creative Writing and Journalism I have heard all sorts of paranoid delusions and slanderous things about the media. I tend to disagree and think that they are simply doing their job - what they're told to report on - and do it factually. That being said there has always been one aspect of the news that 90% of people rely on and I have a personal grudge with.

The weather.

I love when people tell me "Well the weather isn't a science." Perhaps they need to get to researching because it is a science! It's called Meteorology people!! Now perhaps it's not exact but it is indeed a science!

My personal grudge is that I use the forecasts to plan my outfits the night before. When I lived out west, where admittedly there aren't many weather patterns, I could count on it. But after moving to Boston and now New Jersey I absolutely can't. There aren't three days in any given week where the forecast is actually right!

So When pictures and results for the path of Irene came up, I'll admit I was a bit skeptical. Especially when the path of destruction continued to change. It was a mess listening to people freaking out one day and then sighing in relief the next!

Yet as the week went by and the reports kept spilling in with estimated force and damage reports I admittedly got nervous. I posted on fb letting people know there was a chance my power would go out and I wouldn't be around technologically for a few days. I sent my husband to Walmart Friday at like 8am to stock us up on food.

So how do you think I felt Saturday and Sunday when all that blew through was a tiny bit of rain and some strong winds? Like an idiot. Here's the part where a lot of people would go on to vent. I won't do that. The media in this instance, in my eyes, went overboard. But I understand the behind-the-scenes and I know it wasn't some intentful propaganda to scare the masses. But all in all I will give it to the little guys this time when I say I think the media overplayed.

This is not to say Irene didn't cause a path of destruction. Where I am temping at Torcon, plenty lost power for a few minutes. And lives were sadly lost, and trees and poles downed. So I am not saying the reporting wasn't needed - just that it was over kill.

But really? Who am I to say that when underkill measure caused the disastrous effects of Katrina?