You know my steez.

Highbrow, lowbrow.   Terrible quality and high def.   Weird, glittery and inspiring.

Here are some of my current fav video gems:

               

Microsoft groveling

I interrupt my nonposting (ah!! so much Cali traveling to tell you about!!!)  to post a video- because I feel guilty for not posting.  So I'm compulsive posting.   

The message of this latest Microsoft campaign is:  "You've grown up and so have we."  Totally digging that concept.   And while the video sort of annoys me at times (mainly the voice over), it's incredibly well shot and well stylized (?).   With that said, may I recommend putting it on mute and playing your favorite jam in the background.   Enjoy!



cc:  Lauren Rabinowitz for the link! 

Go West

               

Backstory:  some of my MIP (most important people) have moved from NYC all within the past year and a half.  I call it the Great Western Migration.    Thankfully all of my friends have been incredibly happy with their respective moves (and I'm so happy for them) but sadly,  I've been wandering around NYC like a lost puppy in their absence.   I miss my friends.   

I got an email from Frontier advertising a killer, killer "Go West" sale the other day.   After a quick call to each MIP, I said aloud to my computer:  "Why yes Frontier, I will Go West. 

Over the next 10 days I'll be bopping around to LA, San Francisco and Seattle and I'm literally BOPPING around with joy.  

 This is the sign in the Denver Airport for an ATM.  Dumb question:  does ATM stand for Automated Teller Machine?  Should I have just asked that?   Shit pretend I didn't ask that.  (but does it?)

Shoeshines are one of my secret joys in life.  At a particularly tubular shoe shine during my Denver layover, Denise, my awesomely manly shoeshiner took a blowtorch to my boots.   She also told me that her favorite shoe to shine is ostrich leather because when she rubs it it's like a massage for her too.  It wasn't as creepy when she said it, I promise.   

Convos with pals. 

Whilst writing this post. (Ginger tea not pictured)

I mean...could I be any happier right now?  May I gently remind you that it's 10 degrees at home.  10.   THIS WAS A PHENOMENAL DECISION. 

I haven't seen friends yet, or really done anything yet, so hopefully these posts will get better!  Have a great day everyone!   

Monday inspiration

Solo dance party

I don't know if you've seen this already but...I mean...it's absolute perfection.  Try not to smile, come on. Try it.   It's amazing.



This video inspires me.  Sometimes I go "run" along the East River.  That is really code for me turning the Spice Girls Pandora station on full blast and run/dancing.  Run/dancing is awkward.  Basically it's running and trying to hide the fact that you're really dancing.  Which ends up looking like a combination of the following:

Run (arm flies up in the air and waves around) 
Run (stop in place and butt shake)
Run (turn in a circle)
Run (pump fist the air) 
I've even caught myself doing the Chandler dance a couple of times (mainly 
anytime Bitch by Meredith Brooks comes on)

This video inspired me to screw the pretense of running and just DAAANCE all along the East River.   I should probably start documenting this.   

Flashback Friday- Scaredy Cat

Random baby Lara pic.   Accessorizing since 1986.

Story time!  In NYC, some apartments are heated by steam pipes that run throughout the home.  Sometimes these pipes make banging and hissing noises as the steam expands through them.  It's kinda an NYC thing and you generally get used to it (always creepy but tolerable).    Well in good ol' apartment TA, it's no longer tolerable.  I've been woken up at 4am all this week to banging noises so intense that it shakes my bed.  This intense banging has happened before and I'm told it's normal by the building maintenance people. But I'm sorry,  THIS CAN'T BE NORMAL.  I swear it sounds like they're about to break.  And annoyingly, it's the worst in my bedroom.  

So last night I was shaken awake by the bangs, and it was so loud that I was actually terrified.   Even my plant, Herbie, was swaying in his pretty pot.  It was awful.  After tossing and turning and jumping at every crash and bang, there was only one thing I could do.   Get in bed with Liz. 

Her room was so cool and so quiet and her blankies so warm.   The banging was immediately dissolved into a scary memory of the past.  She moved over and let me hop right in. As I laid there wide awake with a mild case of PTSD, I was struck with a sweet thought:   18 years ago she let me climb into her bed at camp when I was homesick.   A lifetime has passed, we've grown up, and now it's those damn steam pipes.... and there is Liz and her bed, still making me feel better when I'm scared.  

Circa '10- lookin gooood ladies.

Viva La Fishnette

Let's kick off this return to blogging with a hard-hitting bang shall we? That's right, I'm talking about nail stickers. I decided it was time to give them another go so last night (after meandering around CVS for way too long) I settled on the fishnet. Ask me why the fishnet. I'll tell you. The butterfly/flower/glitter motifs felt so Spring AND the gold base of the fishnet looked really good with the the coat I was wearing. Fishnet it was. I said this blog post was going to be hard-hitting, I do not lie. 

While normally I have a very positive relationship with these adhesive bits of fun (documented here and here). Last night just wasnt my night. 2 nails into it and my ADD kicked in. I instagrammed, flipped the record like 3 times, danced a wee bit, wrote this blog post and ate popcorn. An hour, 400 calories and only 2 glitzy nails later... I finally continued. Reason #3852 WHY I PAY PEOPLE TO DO THIS FOR ME

A.D.D

Verdict is: its a tad subtle. Turns out when I take the time to sticker my own nails I want the full out BAM effect of butterflies or glitter or something. You live and you learn.

Ta da!  

Another verdict: Side B on Petula Clark's "The Other Man's Grass Is Always Greener" album is officially unlistenable. I may be cheery but there's only so much blind positivity and uptempo beats a girl can take. Sorry Petula.

Listen to: Petula Clark: Black Coffee here.  (One of the songs I thoroughly enjoyed on side A not side B)

Hi.

August 2, 2011.  

Let's call it D-Day.

We'll speak it's name in this post and never refer to it again. 

D.Day.   The day I left you.  WITH. A. KE$HA. POST.

A Ke$ha post?  That was so rude.  

There are no words to describe how much I've missed you...and missed this.  I left without a word and without any notice and to you, my dear readers, I'm so sorry.   I don't think I can ever express how truly sad and sorry I am.  

multicolored-highly-stylized-handwritten-glitter apology could help?

The truth is, I started a new job the week after I stopped blogging and looking back, I realize that I became so exhausted all the time and so overwhelmed by my new role that I just couldn't handle it all.  Let's just lay it out there...I lost the creative spark.  I let GMT, my great love, escape me and a void slowly crept into it's place.   BOOM!  Just as fast as it came...the glitter died.

Tonight I did something that I haven't done in a year and a half...I read my own blog.  I know it sounds crazy, but I think I've been so upset that I blocked it out.  I literally haven't gone on it.  Deep down, I've known that I didn't want to blog or to even deal with it until I was truly ready to commit.  I didn't want to even post an apology until I'm ready to write poems, upload pictures and share glittery tidbits of puppies and sparkle and happiness.  

Tonight, I felt ready to read (2 glasses of wine?) and you guys...I loved it.  I read my own words and I smiled (and laughed and maybe cried a little).  Tonight I became my own biggest fan.  

The road to finding my glitter is going to be slow.  I'm not used to it and I'm not as confident. (And for the love of god they've totally changed the whole Blogger format and it's AWFUL- I'll probably write a whole post on that later).  But I promise you and I promise myself, I'm going to get it back...post by post...piece by piece.  I want to refind my voice, refind my silliness and refind GMT.  

Thank you for being patient with me in the process and thank you for loving GMT more than I knew anyone ever did.  The responses that I've recieved in the past year have made me realize that I've truly been a part of your lives (most of the time it's that bored part when you're at work and like to click things and read silly nonsense..but I'll take it!!). Thank you for reading.  I love you.  

Let's do this again shall we?

Sparkle on,
Lara

Glitter Me This.  I'm back bitches.

                     

Glitt'a

Today, Perez Hilton's "Quote of the Day" was from Ke$ha. I generally have hated Ke$ha in the past. She is scary looking and she kinda makes me uncomfortable and itchy all at the same time. This quote makes me uncomfortable and itchy but...I might be starting to like her?

“It doesn’t go anywhere. I’ve tried to get it off, but then I just reapply, so it seems relatively pointless. After about the third show I ever played, I was like, '%@*# it.' You might as well just learn to love it. I’ve found glitter anywhere a person could find glitter. I’ve choked on glitter. I found it behind the backs of my eyelids. Even in my food, in my beer. It clogs my shower after every show. There’s glitter in my piss. It’s so gross.”

- Ke$ha on, what else, her undying love for glitter

Dear Ke$ha, it's not gross...it's amazing.

Flashback Friday

To make amends for my 2 week gap in posting...I present to you my professional graduation pictures. My friend Ashley's parents found them in her bedroom and sent them to her. She was ever gracious to them and has since put them all on the fridge.

WHY OH WHY DO WE TAKE PROFESSIONAL GRAD PICTURES AND DISTRIBUTE THEM LIKE TRADING CARDS???

I think we still have a bunch left over so if you would like a copy for your wallet or fridge (or both) please send all requests to my mom directly at: danny3451@aol.com

Glitt'o Box

I interrupt my usual....oh wait I haven't posted in a while. HA! I'm not interrupting!

Here, please have a couple of internet video gems. You'reeee welcome! I love you!

Ohhh yes. Dumb video, kinda dumb idea. But...pretty cool!

Mariah. She was on HSN for 2 hours from MIDNIGHT TO 2AM the other night and went crazy. She yelled at the cameramen and whined a lot and sold some butterfly stuff. It was all around pretty amazing. She is my ultimate Glitt'o Queen.

Dreams really do come true

Nikki told me about it. Sean provided the camera, his dashing good looks and lots of helpful direction. Rada was the most fun and beautiful cherry I could've ever asked for. Ben and Dave helped with some of the post-production fun.

And 1 month later....45 seconds of Cherry Cranberry goodness was born.

I submitted this for the Malibu Cherry Cranberry Rum contest in hopes of winning $20,000 and about 1 month worth of bragging rights (I just made that up). If you are 21 and want to vote, go here by midnight tonight!

Yiippee skippee!

Flashback Friday

We had a glorious glorious class at Cottonwood Point Elementary School called R.E.A.D. It was an acronym for something that I can't remember but fittingly, it was a library class. R.E.A.D. was 30 minutes of pure bliss followed by 30 more minutes of bliss which was computer class (floppy disks, Oregon trail- basically a whole Flashback Friday worth of content right there).

I have vivid memories sitting on these pillow/chair/crazy creek type things and reading....FEAR STREET. The boys got their Goosebumps, we got our Fear Street. Raise your hand if you remember these! Raise your hand if you loved reading time!

FEAR STREET!

"Brady Karlin is getting on with his life. The memory of his girlfriend- killed in a gruesome sledding accident last year- is beginning to fade. Now he's met Rosha Nelson, the girl of his dreams. And now he's never been happier. Until Brady starts to see a strange figure- with a terribly scarred face- following him everywhere. Until the horrible accidents start happening- every time Rosha's around. Has dating Rosha made Brady's dreams come true? Or brought his worst nightmares back to life?"

"As the Shadyside High School prom queen candidates are brutally murdered one by one, leaving only one, everyone speculates as to whether she will be the killer's next target."

"Tina can't wait for her first college weekend at her boyfriend's college. However, when she arrives, Josh's roommate Chris is there to meet her. He tells her Josh went camping and couldn't get back in time. Tina soon becomes suspicious as Chris is a little creepy and may even be obsessed."

"Driving back from a ski weekend, Ariel, Shannon, and Doug have offered their new friend Red a ride home. When a blizzard makes the roads nearly impassable, Red leads the teens to a farmhouse where they can spend the night. Unfortunately, their shelter is not the safe haven it appears: it's residents have their own plans for Ariel and her friends."

And my absolute favorite...THE FACE.

"Why can't she remember? They say something horrible happened that day. But Martha can't remember any of it- not the smallest detail. They say it will come back to her in time. But someone wants her to remember now. She draws his face, over and over- the face of a dead boy. She can't control her hand. And she can't remember how he died. But she's going to find the answer. Even if it lies with the dead."

This actually happened

I start off most mornings in somewhat of a zombie trance: wake up, do some stuff, stumble out the door, buy coffee, chug coffee, make some TV. Repeat.

Yesterday started off like every other.

I woke up, did some stuff, did some stumbling, then proceeded to buy a very large (styrofoam) coffee from Dunkin Donuts. I only buy from DD when I don’t have any cash for the coffee man outside of my office building. This is an important fact because on these DD days, I’m forced to carry my coffee on the train. It is here where things became a problem.

I made my way onto the crowded L train, coffee in hand. (Fun fact for non-L train-morning-riders: sometimes the morning train is so crowded that you have to smash against people around you. There’s been times I’ve been so smashed that I haven’t been able to read my book because I couldn’t even lift up an arm.

Anyway…I made my way onto the crowded train. Magically, there was a seat available when I got on. I sat down and proceeded to zone out per the usual. 2 minutes into the ride, I got the brilliant idea to zip my bag that was on the ground in between my feet. Why is my bag open? My bag shouldn’t be open!

I put the (un-opened, very hot) coffee in between my legs about an inch north of my knees. With one hand on the coffee and one hand on the bag, I zipped. Ziiiip. I got to the end of the zip and then it happened...

As I went to readjust myself from leaning over, my legs tensed up and…THE COFFEE EXPLODED. By exploded I mean- my legs squeezed it so hard the styrofoam flexed and flung all 20 ounces of hot liquid into the air and onto about 8 people around me. I’m talking a volcanic explosion of epic proportions.

I screamed. Another women screamed. There was a giant splash sound as the entire 20 ounces hit the floor. Are you dying? I was dying.

I don’t even know how to end the story except to say: I thought I was straight up about to be stabbed. People have been stabbed on the train for much less. I was in a complete state of shock. People were turning their heads to see who had done it. People were wiping themselves off. I was shaking. The man in front of me was shooting daggers out of his eyes. The woman who had some on her shirt was actually about to attack. I kept feebly shouting out “I’m so sorry everyone!” “I’m so sorry!” I didn't even have a napkin to offer!

Ya… and the worst part is: there was a legit river on the ground where everyone was standing and it kept flowing back in forth as the train moved. I literally watched it reach the complete other side of the train. No one was spared. With one involuntary jerk of the legs, I covered an entire packed train of hipster L riders in my morning caffeine fix.

As I got off the train at the Union Square stop (don’t ask me why I didn’t get off earlier and move to a different car, I don’t know, I was paralyzed), I BOLTED off the train screaming I’M SORRRRY!!

Moral of the story: I took the bus this morning.

Hello, sunshine

Manhattanhendge: Happens twice a year- when the sunset aligns perfectly with the Manhattan gridline.

Awe-inspiring. Traffic-stopping.

Reasons I love New York #10

File this one under: Holy Shit.

Last night a woman/aerialist/daredevil scaled the Williamsburg Bridge and started doing some Cirque du Soleil-style beautiful craziness. She was then arrested on charges of reckless endangerment and criminal trespassing. Full article here. #freewilliamsburg

Rock on twirly girl, that was awesome.

Glitt'o Pup of the Day

Look at who's 12!

Mrs. Princess Furrypants!!

My fluffy little lady has never looked better right?

Happy (belated) birthday Soph!!!