Rent-a-Cat?

My roommate and I have been discussing getting an addition to our apartment-- a kitty, but we're having a difficult time agreeing on what kind of cat to get. My roommate has his heart set on a black Persian, but I've had a Persian before, and those long-haired purebreds are not easy to maintain. If you don't brush them thoroughly at least once a day their hair will become a tangled mat, and taking them to the groomer to get shaved becomes quite costly after several visits.

My recommendation is to adopt a cat or kitten from a nearby shelter. My roommate really wants a kitten that we can watch grow though. Choosing a cat based on every ones' desires in the household has become a little challenge, but I'm hoping we can figure things out soon. I started to wonder if getting a cat for our small NYC apartment would even be a good idea. After all, I don't want the whole apartment to smell like a giant litter box. Therefore, I thought it might be a good idea to do a trial run with having a cat in the apartment. I did a little online research and found a site that rents out cats. I'm not sure if this blogger who is pimping out his cats is for real or not but...that's actually not that bad of an idea.

Then as if it were a sign from the kitty heaven above, I stumbled upon another blog, Sea of Shoes, that describes a popular trend in Tokyo--Kitty Cafes. It's basically a cafe where you can pet and play with cats. Now why don't we have those in America? Best.Idea.Ever! (For those who like cats at least). The cats are treated like royalty too; you must wash your hands before petting them, you can't disturb them if they're sleeping, and you can feed them treats. This is the perfect place to go if one wants the companionship of a furry friend without having to take on the responsibility of housing and feeding them.

Unfortunately, there are no cat cafes in New York that I know of. Therefore, I may have to make a visit to a nearby shelter to get my feline fix. The only problem is that it's so hard seeing all of the kitties in their small cages meowing to be let out. I always leave wishing I could take a few of them home. Maybe my next business adventure will be opening New York's first cat cafe, and I can adopt several cats from shelters to live there.

(The ridiculously awesome picture at the top is compliments of Sea of Shoes blogger, Jane.)

A Keen Eye for Quality

"Rather than rely on obvious logos, expensive products use more discreet markers, such as distinctive design or detailing. High-end consumers prefer markers of status that are not decipherable by the mainstream." - Teddy Wayne, The New York Times

Apparently for those who can distinguish the work of a well-known designer, apparel bearing the logo of that designer is not necessary in order for them to purchase it. On the contrary, those who have a trained eye for spotting designer wear tend to be more interested in the goods that have the details and sophistication of the designer without the logo that makes it apparent to others, according to an article I read on NYTimes online.

I can kind of relate to this information. For example, when I was fifteen and bought my first Coach purse (which was like a whole paycheck's worth after a month of lifeguarding ha) I made sure it was littered with the Coach "C's" so that all my friends would know I was rocking a designer purse. Now, after having developed a more sophisticated taste and being able to afford a little better than Coach, I have found that I look more for the design and material used rather than how conspicuous the brand logo is.

While this Coach purse above is cute, it's very mainstream. Sometimes being too identifiable and too easily attainable takes away from prestige of the product.

I think it's nice when people can appreciate something nice based on little details that usually go unnoticed by the general public. If you're buying something designer, you're going to pay a pretty penny for it no matter if it boldly displays the logo or not, so I agree that I'd rather base my purchase on the uniqueness of the product rather than trying to show off the fact that it's designer and that I have the money to afford it. It becomes another way of differentiating between those who know something about style and someone who simply has the money to afford it.

Logos aren't something that someone who knows anything about fashion needs to show off. Just take Ed Hardy for example. Hardy clothes are not cheap but, in my opinion, they are tacky as hell. Money can't buy someone style (unless they pay for a stylist). Wearing a designer logo doesn't make one stylish.

I absolutely love this Coach purse on the right. I think the color would be great for the Fall. I also like the fact that I haven't seen a hundred people on the street with it.

Tegan and Sara

"Build a wall of books between us in our bed

Repeat, repeat the words that I know we both said

Relax into the need

We get so comfortable

Remember when I was so strange and likeable

I just want back in your head

I just want back in your head

I'm not unfaithful

But I'll stray"

I was casually listening to Pandora one day when my ears perked up when I heard the song "Back In Your Head" by Tegan and Sara. They are a Canadian indie pop/indie rock band. I liked it so much that I immediately found it on YouTube so that I could listen to it again. It surprised me that the image of the thin, pale, scrawny twins with short black hair on the screen were the faces behind the music. I suppose that I shouldn't had been surprised that the sound could come from a unique bunch like those two. I immediately developed a "girl crush"on the two short little rockers with tattoos covering their translucently white arms. They are so --I hate to use this word but--cute, yet edgy and intriguing at the same time. Something about their image just works, simply put. They're cute without seeming to try. It's refreshing that they're not trying to fit a mold. They're almost like misfits, but they seem to make it work in a laid-back, non-aggressive way. And although the hipster look isn't exactly my style, it suits them well and I dig it. Although their image is a positive addition to their music, it was their songwriting skills and beats that stood out to me in the first place.

Apparently I'm not the only one who has taken a liking to their music; they are one of the four bands in the Honda Civic Tour, traveling with well-known bands like Paramore and New Found Glory. If you're interested and would like to learn more about these artists, check out their website and listen to some of their songs (especially "Back in Your Head" and "Feel It In My Bones"). These young 30-year-olds are very talented, and I plan on following their music career and maybe one day even catch one of their performances. Watch out, they are going to blow up overnight, you just wait.

Film Review: Inception

Inception is a brilliantly complex movie that kept me interested the whole three hours in length. Leonardo is probably my favorite actor (although Joseph Gordon-Levitt was looking pretty hot in this movie as Leo's partner too). I was waiting in anticipation for several months for the release of Shutter Island, and although it wasn't a bad movie by any means, it didn't blow me away either. While the plot for Shutter Island was pretty good, Inception seems to have been better produced. I liked the combination of action and thriller in Inception. Thank god there wasn't a corny love triangle thing going on. I am so tired of those kind of movies. Therefore, all the unexpected gun action that took place was a pleasant alternative as odd as it sounds.

What I found most unique about this film is that every time the characters went into a dream, into a dream, into a dream, I felt my own mind layering the details and trying to sort out what was actually happening and what was just a dream. I find films that make you think throughout the entire film to be the most rewarding.

**Spoiler Alert**

My take on the ending is that Cobb, Leo's character, gets out of the dream in time and is actually reunited with his kids in the real world. I believe this because:
1. The look on his face when he woke up on the plane after barely escaping alive. He could hardly even believe it himself that he made it back.
2. What would have been the point of Cobb traveling through time and dreams in order to find Saito (the Japanese man who was going to clear his record so he could go home to his family) and bring him back to reality if he wasn't going to actually see his kids in real life?
3. Cobb never looked at his kids' faces when he was under because he didn't want to mistake his dream for reality like his wife did. At the end of the movie, his own father takes him to his kids and he and the audience see their faces for the first time, thus supporting my belief that he wasn't dreaming anymore.
4. I think that Director, Christopher Nolan, only made the ending ambiguous as a shock factor to get his audience members talking about the movie and speculating about whether Cobb did or did not escape the dreamworld. The outcome is up to each individual audience member's own interpretation, but I choose to be optimistic.

Lastly, I loved all of the casts' polished style of dress. Although the movie takes place in present-day, their clothing, which consists of business formal suits and ties, button-down shirts, dressy vests, and leather jackets coupled with their well-groomed, slicked back hair, had a flair of the bourgeois 30s or 40s.

Overall, Inception was an excellent film and I recommend it to those who enjoy a multi-layered storyline that forces you to pay attention in order to keep up.

My Film Rating: 9.5/10

Ooh, la la, Chanel on Rue La La

Rue La La, an online site featuring select daily designer limited sale items, had Chanel clothing and accessories for available today.

Although I would love to own anything Chanel, there were two things in particular that caught my eye. First was the Chanel Black Platform Sandal with Jade O-Ring for $899. I think they are unique, and I really like that the ring on the shoe is green because it makes more of a bold statement.

The second thing I really liked was the Chanel Vintage Quilted Lambskin Mini Flap Bag for $1,299. The reason I fancied this purse more so than the others is because of the blue color, and as I mentioned in a previous blog, the across-the-body shoulder bag purses are really in style right now.

What I was most surprised about was the fact that almost all of the Chanel items listed were sold out. How can people afford that kind of stuff right now? I'd like to think that someday I will be able to...but I still think I'd feel a little guilty even if I could afford it. Obviously Chanel is one of the top designers in the world--Chanel is well-known for its classy, timeless pieces, and the quality of every fabric is excellent. I still don't know how I feel about paying that much for something that I may only wear a few times though. I suppose if money wasn't an issue I would probably buy a few expensive designer things, but I can't imagine owning a whole wardrobe full of Chanel. Some things are left to be desired; just looking at the Chanel items on Rue La La was good enough for me this time around.

Racey with Lacey Nails

I was reading this month's Cosmopolitan where I came across a picture of some really cool lace-covered fingernails. I kind of want to try it, but I'm not sure how difficult it would be. Of course I would have to buy some lace, probably a thin lace, and then I'd have to cut it precisely to fit each individual fingernail. Then I'd have to figure out how to apply it all without making a huge mess. I found an online tutorial that may be helpful. Maybe one day when I'm bored and feeling ambitious I can give it a try. I don't want my nails looking like the picture below though. They look like a glob of hot tar was splashed onto the tips of this girl's fingernails. NOT sexy.

Another in-trend right now with nails is doing a plain color for the fingers and doing something a little more dazzling for the middle finger and/or thumb, like a bold zebra print or sparkly confetti nail polish. Nail polish can really serve as an accessory if you play it up right. All you have to do is pick the right colors and be a little creative.

Film Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

I recently saw The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, a film based on the same titled book by Swedish Stieg Larsson. At first I was a little weary because I had to grab my glasses in order to be able to read the Swedish subtitles, but I quickly forgot that I was even reading when I became absorbed in the movie. It was honestly one of the best movies I have seen all year. I love the kind of movies that require you to think, or to at least be forced to pay close attention to details in order to be able to follow the unfolding of events taking place in the movie.

The central theme of the film is the unraveling of an unexplained disappearance of a young girl which leads to the chasing of a murder mystery. Meanwhile, the audience gets a preview of what the main female character, Lisbeth (the girl with the dragon tattoo), goes through on a daily basis—harsh abuse and degradation by males. Many of the issues throughout the novel involve the sexual abuse of women. Lisbeth is one of the most interesting female characters I have seen in a long time. Instead of being an unrealistically strong woman who can overpower men, she instead uses her brains and patience in order to seek (justified, in my opinion,) revenge against them. As weird as she seems, there is something about her that is likeable and keeps the audience rooting for her—perhaps it is sympathy for the unfortunate, undeserved beatings she endures, or maybe it is the glimpse of helplessness in her eyes that angers me even more for what is being done to her. Many of the scenes were very disturbing to watch, but at the same time, I think it’s important for people to realize that abuse is something that women all over the world still face on a daily basis. I later learned that the original Swedish title translates to "Men Who Hate Women." That would have been an appropriate title to keep because the film is filled with abuse towards women.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the first in Stieg Larssson's trilogy followed by The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest. If the books are anything like the movie, then I am sure I will also like them. I recommend The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo to anyone who enjoys mystery/thriller films and can handle some unsettling images. It is definitely meant for a mature audience.

My film rating: 4.5/5

My Style According to Madewell

I love J.Crew, so when I received one of their daily emails about checking out a new clothing website with a J.Crewesque flair, Madewell.com, I decided to check it out. I entered a Madewell shopping spree contest (cross my fingers that I win ;), and at the end I filled out a brief questionnaire that told me my style based on my answers. Apparently my style is "Understated Glam." It said,

"Your keen eye and cool aesthetic define your elegantly edgy style. And when it comes to denim you're all about simple and sleek, so try a pair of our skinny ankle jeans - they're super-slim and perfectly streamlined."

I suppose I can concur with that answer. I like to take smart risks with my outfits, meaning I go for the dernier cri, but I find the line between stylish and faddish so that I don't waste my money buying something I think that is really hip at the time but then can't wear a few months later when it goes out of style.

After doing some browsing online I decided to do some in-store browsing. I hit up the J.Crew in a nearby outlet mall, and I had so much fun shopping by myself! They had a super sweet sale going on too, which made my shopping even more pleasant. I bought a peach-colored sequined tank top with a matching white and peach stripped light-weight sweater (perfect for a breezy summer night) as well as a cute work skirt and a cotton multicolored scarf all for $100! If that isn't bargain shopping then I don't know what is. Ahh yes, I love my J.Crew style. Although Madewell.com is somewhat similar, I have a feeling that I'm going to remain a loyal customer to clothes supporting the J.Crew tag.