I Enjoy Facebook Way To Much

Fugetta bout it.

Last night was Yankees v. Red Sox and I got lucky enough to attend (thanks Carrie and hubby!) Which is good because I have this Yankees t-shirt that I bought in the beginning of the season, and it needed some use. Its all about the fashion people. After chowing down on some delicious stadium food, we cheered for the Yankees only to be disappointed by their loss.

On a sidenote, we were very surprised at how many "inner-team" couples we saw. All these guys wearing Yankees gear with their ladies wearing Red Sox gear. I mean, I think if I ever brought a Dook fan home to my family, my dad would have a heart attack right there on the spot and my mom would just not speak to him. Ever. That's a deal breaker right there. That and height. And jewelry, I don't like jewelry. And needs to be super ambitious and have his life together. And really smart. And good with electronics and handy with tools. I digress.

Modeling for the camera

Go Yanks!

Nice view. I heart ball players.

Who's got two thumbs and likes #62? That girl.

Cheeseburger in Paradise

So Friday afternoon, some girls and I hopped on the train and headed out to the beach for the weekend (Amagansett, NY....for all my NC people who are wondering where there could POSSIBLY be decent beaches in NY!). We got there early Friday evening, changed and headed out on the town....yummy dinner out and at the Talkhouse patrons got a treat when Jimmy Buffett hopped on stage and started playing! Free concert!

We went to bed early on Friday night to prepare for the big brunch party the next day. Saturday morning we woke up early and walked into town for coffee....and as we were walking, I noticed Leiv Schriber and Noami Watts with their newborn baby just enjoying an early morning stroll and walking right past us! They looked very casual and relaxed...it must be nice to hang out where people leave you alone. We hurried back from coffee to help set up for the big party the house was throwing....complete with a tent, professional DJ (shout out to DJ Daddy O), brunch and all the mimosas one could want! Then after the party it was off to the beach for some sun and sand. I miss the beach but this might as well have been NC with all the Southern folks there! TONS of UNC people!

Sunday we woke up, grabbed a few more hours of beach time and then it was time to hop on the Hamptons Luxury Liner and head home. The bus ride was one of my favorite experiences ever....unlimited snacks, bottled water, magazines, movies and leather recliner seats? Yes please. It dropped me off a couple blocks from my apartment and I was home before I knew it! Thanks girls and guys for such a fun weekend!

James (I mean, the future Mr. Ellen Mann) setting up for the party. Seriously, a cute Sea Island boy with his act together and the ability to organize large parties complete with professional DJ's, streamers and color coordinated cocktail napkins? Its like my dream come true! Organize baby, organize!

Kelly laying out the "brunch". Slightly less organized that James, but "type A" none the less.

I couldn't be more proud.

Nothing 100 bottles of champagne can't fix. Complete with table cloth and plastic champange flutes James brought in his carry on bag from Florida. He thinks of everything!

The girls!

Hi Wes! (and creepy 40 year old dude in the upper righthand corner that wouldn't leave me alone all day.)

Brian and I....I promise I have a bathing suit on, it just doesn't look that way.

Enjoying lobster rolls and margaritas at Cyril's

Smile Andrea and Tucker!

Looking pretty good for having spent the day on the beach!

Mrs. Chuck Bass

Whew boy do I have some celebrity updates for ya'll! We will start with last Thursday night....I attended a launch party for Coca Cola's new aluminum bottle at the SoHo Grand. So myself and a couple people are sitting there and in walks......wait for it.....wait for it......Chuck Bass. No, I don't know his real name, I think its Ed Westwick? Who cares. He is Chuck Bass to me. He was sitting in a cabana directly accross from me, eating up all the appetizers that should have been coming my way and drinking Coke out of their new aluminum bottle, as a good celebrity should.

So trying to act VERY cool and casual I snapped a couple camera phone pics that you will find below. Now here is the best part. I SWEAR to you he kept looking over at me and making eye contact. I am not making this up and, no, I don't have a distorted sense of reality. Because we were sitting directly across from each other, every time the crowd parted, we were in each others line of sight so we kept catching eyes. Strangely, he DIDN'T get up, walk over and ask for my phone number like he should have. Hmmm.....its probably because Blair would get jealous and then all sorts of drama would follow.

More celebrity news from the weekend to follow in my next post, but I must do some work before I get to that!

Livin' La Vida Crazy Train

Uhhhh. Mes thinks I see a pattern here. First Clay Aiken, then Ricky Martin? Say what?

I find it hard to believe Ricky Martin couldn't find a lady friend who wanted to have his babies. Remember Ricky-mania back in the day. (No I'm not talking about Ricky Ricardo although I do like it when he shakes his bon bon, shakes his bon bon, shakes his bon bon on Nick at Nite.) I deduce that there is another type of "announcement" Ricky should be making, know what I'm sayin'? KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?? *Wink wink* I think you do.

On a separate note, I used to work at Blockbuster Music back when (a) I had a work ethic and (b) they didn't have iTunes so the best summer job was one where I could get free cds and junk. That summer Mr. Martin's first album "dropped" as the kids say and seriously no less than 40 million people came in asking me where they could get this FABULOUS album. And we had to play it over the store stereo systems. Everyday. Non-stop. Really loud. Just viewing this album cover just now made me automatically want to curl up into a ball on the floor of my office, suck my thumb and cry. Either that or shake my bon bon.

"I can still hear you."

I have been a VERY BAD blogger this week and I apologize! Things have been crazy around here (in a good way!) To give a quick update, last Saturday Alston and I went out to Brooklyn to hang out with our cousin and his family. We were going to go sailing on his boat but weather was looking ominous so on Friday night we scrapped that plan. Well, needless to say it ended up being GORGEOUS on Saturday! Then I headed back into city, stopped downtown to pick up Carvel Fudgie the Whale and Cookie Puss cakes, headed home to shower and then was off, cake in tow, to our friends 30th birthday! Much food, drinks and Michael Phelps watching was had and it was an excellent time. And can you believe it? I took NO pictures!!! Very bad Ellen.

I'm feeling so bad about being a bad blogger, I will brighten your Wednesday with the below commercial. Enjoy!

Running, Corn and Donations

THANK YOU!! Wow. All I can say is wow. People are continuing to donate to the Susan Komen 5K Race for the Cure online and I'm getting checks in the mail everyday! Everyone's support, encouragement, funny emails, suggestions for running outfits (see below), etc. have me laughing and SO PROUD of the people in my life! I'm keeping some good company, that's for sure!

My friend Tatum is running the NYC Marathon and I think she would look FAB in this running outfit. Very flattering. I like the gloves too.

My friend Lollie sent me a donation recently and I had to share this funny email I got from her.

Omg, I feel bad that I couldn't do more. But, unfortunately I chose to spend my money this month on superficial, materialistic things such as clothes, booze, and 18 corns. Not to mention, round trip train/bus tickets to the Hamptons. So, $25 was all I could spare for the worthwhile cause.

I'm gonna go lie in traffic now......

I informed her that every donation counts and I certainly have spent too much money on corns this month too. Mmmmm La Equina grilled corns....my one true love!

Keep the donations coming and THANK YOU to all that have given! It means a lot to me :)

Kel in the ATL

So our friend Kelly recently moved from the land of traffic, rappers and homeless people (NYC) to the land of traffic, rappers and homeless people (Atlanta). We miss her greatly and know that the past couple months have been a time of adjustment for her. Prior to moving, Kelly worked from home - aka shot out a few emails circa 830am, took her dog for a walk, inevitably meet a cute boy on her walk and got asked on a date, came home, ate lunch, went to gym, answered more emails and then met the girls out at happy hour. NOW Kelly has to work in a dreaded office....with real people. And her office is VERY open. I don't even think these qualify as "cubes" they are just desks. She even has someone who sits directly across from her, how awkward! There is no privacy....for emailing your friends, online shopping and such. Geez!



Girls, so we can picture Kel's new life in Atlanta.....this is the view from her desk....and that's the someecard I had just sent her which made her laugh out loud.

This is the straight 70s style sitting area on their floor...I think she created that lovely painting which appears to be an ode to Splenda.

The view from her window...this makes me miss the South...all those brick buildings! *sigh* I'm coming back soon South, I promise! Only a little longer!

He works hard for his monies

Rives was hard at work the other morning - Lovey in one hand, mouse in the other - crunchin' numbers and evaluating 3Q budgets. Its hard work for a 1 year old, but JP Morgan doesn't pay him the big bucks to sit around watching "Go Diego Go!". Guess who is doing my taxes next year?

Fashion Police

Why skinny jeans shouldn't be worn by everyone. Even that homeless man in the background agrees with me, look at his face. He's all "Skinny jeans on THOSE tree trunks...with gladiator sandals? Not doing anything for ya, honey."

I can do anything better than you.

After reading my last post, my dear buddy Carrie sent me this video with a subject line that simply read "Must add to blog". Well ok. (She's kinda bossy when it comes to The Internet. And my hair. )

I think I speak for Carrie as well when I point out - both peeps in this clip are Tar Heels. Woot woot! We know your jealous.

Check it out.

Flashback

Some friends and I were talking about this commercial the other day. Nike (who is undoubtable one of the kings of advertising, all while maintaining the same catch phrase for years on end...no small feat) debuted a new commercial recently during the Olympics which is GREAT (and also happens to feature one of my favorite Killers songs...coinncidence? I think not. Clearly Nike wants me to be their next be athete sponsor.) Check it out here.

So this got me thinking of other great commercials and feeling all nostalgic and I have decided that if I had to pick ONE commercial that was my favorite of ALL TIME? It would be this. I DARE you to watch it and not feel all warm and fuzzy. Seriously.

Which THEN reminds me how awesome my ala mater is? You can watch this :) PS How glad are you the TV and film quality is so much better now? Geez.

Sidenote: Youtube is strange and sometimes you have to hit refresh to see the videos or else they will say no longer available.

I WILL find them filming in NYC.

Captures pretty much everything I love about Gossip Girl and Chuck Bass.

Tie? Check.
Button down? Check.
Croissant? Check.
Preppy rich kid? Check.
Talk to the hand? Check.

If only they had cast Chuck Bass as Edward Cullen in the new Twilight movie, my life would be utterly complete.

Kayaking the Hudson

Well, I'm sitting on a terribly boring conference call at work so thought I would quickly post a few pics from this weekend. It was a quiet weekend here in NYC and the weather on Saturday was gorgeous so Jenny and I decided to go kayaking in the morning. We couldn't have had a better day to go and the views from the water were really pretty. Funny to remind yourself that you live on an island! I didn't get any pics from the kayak because I was afraid to bring my camera into the water for fear of dropping it! Post-kayaking we went to eat at the Boat Basin, an outdoor spot with delicious hamburgers. Mmmm.

Opening Ceremonies

So tonight is the Opening Ceremony for the Beijing Olympics and, strangely, I'm pretty excited for these games. NBC's Today Show has been in Beijing all week showing behind the scene's of the Olympics and talking to the various athletes, etc. and it was REALLY interesting. Also, GE owns NBC, which owns the rights to air the Olympics, which will hopefully drive up stock price, allowing to me to retire at the ripe age of 28. That's a bonus too.

PS If you get a chance, definitely watch the Today Show in the morning so that you can view the crowd behind Matt Lauer. The Chinese definitely have their own fashion sense, I'll give them that. And no, I'm not talking about SARS medical face masks.

Thank goodness I have DVR

Is it just me or is TV about to get a lot more awesome. I was looking at my calendar and realized that the next few weeks are going to put me in season premiere hog heaven. Let's review in chronological order shall we?

The Hills: only 11 more sleeps! Thank goodness too because, while this show is incredibly scripted, cheesy and in no way based in reality? I LOVE IT. I'll tell ya, I cannot get enough of Lauren Conrad. I love how she dresses and I think she is so gorgeous and I enjoy looking at pretty people. Plus she has good hair that I could only dream of having. I usually get together with my good friend Marie to watch....we make fun of the show the whole time, while shhhing each other so that we can watch. It also usually involves eating Thai food which makes just about anything great, but I digress.

Gossip Girl: 25 more sleeps We have already covered this show so I will just briefly mention that it is my DREAM - nay - my QUEST to find them filming on the streets of New York one day, kidnap Blair Waldorf and lock her in a makeup trailer, and step into a scene...preferably one where she is making out with Nate Archibald. This show is FULL of good quotes and the next season has socialite and celebrity cameos (Tinsley Mortimer, Lydia Hearst, me, etc) that should prove interesting.

90210 (not to be confused with real Beverly Hills 90210): 26 more sleeps

ARGH. I'm not sure how I feel about this one. First of all, didn't they already remake this and wasn't it called The OC? Rich kids, meet new poor kid, poor kid has to adjust to their world, trouble and good times follow? Anyone? Anyone?

I think the main problem I have getting too excited about this "90210" (other than the fact that they think they can just erase the "Beverly Hills" part out..arrogance) is that I LOVED. LOVED. LOVED. the old version. I'm afraid that this show will stink and it will RUIN all that is sacred and holy about my old version, specifically Dylan McKay. My best friend Liz - who is in INSANE viewer of BH90210 reruns on the Soap Network - has assured me that this new version will be good too, but we will have to wait and see!

In the meantime, here are some pics from back in the day that were featured circa 1992 (?) in a BH90210 calendar. That I owned. I kid you not, Santa Clause brought me a 90210 calendar one year and I thought it was the most awesome-ist gift EVER. And I also couldn't figure out why Andrea was wearing a flamenco shirt on the beach (or why all these cool kids were friends with her). Only later did I discover that she was, in fact, 63 when they were filming this show and that's probably why they didn't try to force her in a bikini. Those aren't glasses she is sporting people, their bifocals.

Brass Monkey, That Funky Monkey

You know what makes for a good Saturday night? A big crew of people, ICBLs, and my amazing dance skillz. Ok, maybe not my dance skills BUT you get the drift..... Saturday night, after sampling a variety of delcious margaritas at Los Dados with Carrie, we headed to Brass Monkey to meet up with a bunch of folks. That funky monkey sure was funky. A little TOO funky for Carrie who wisely removed herself from the bar circa 1am. (Why, oh why, didn't you take me with you?) My friend Thomas and Jon joined us, as well as Lollie and her crew. It was also Angstadt's 30th birthday so you can see why it was cause for celebration! Once Brass Monkey got a little too crowded, we headed to Bulls Head Tavern - blissfully UNCROWDED.

Sidebar: One of the best parts about living near The Poons (other than access to car, grown up apartment and Guitar Hero) is splitting cabs. Although I'm pretty sure that circa 3am when we headed home, Brian told the cab driver not to slow down, opened up the cab door and kicked me out, causing me to army roll onto 1st Avenue. Or at least that is what my body FELT like he did on Sunday. Evil, evil Sunday. With your "sunshine" and "happy people" who DIDN'T stay out too late on Saturday. Blast you Sunday, I'll get you next time!

My friends, Thomas and Jon, with Lissa, Lollie and Tyndale!

Lissa, Tommy and Jon

Poon, Maloney and Nutz - Happy 30th Birthday Angstadt!

Carrie and I

I have no idea why I'm smiling like Paris Hilton.

El Padre and Orlagh on the way to Bulls Head

Hello Margaret!

A bedazzeled Daddy.

Whitey, Terry and Brian - An abstract shot.

Margaret and Whitey

Um. Awesome.

So I stumbled across this dude's blog who apparently decided to go all out for Halloween 2007 and create an authentic Optimus Prime costume. For those of you who don't know who Optimus Prime is? We can no longer be friends, please stop viewing my blog.

So he started a blog basically documenting his plight. I think the best part is how he thanks his girlfriend for not dumping him during the SIX WEEKS it took him to create this costume. She must really love him. I wouldn't have dumped my boyfriend either, but I defintiely would have cheated on him. With some dude creating a Megatron costume. Again, if you don't get it please delete my cell phone number from your phone now.

It got me thinking about Halloween 2008. What do I want to go as? The options are limitless. 2 or 3 years ago I went as an Angel and that seemed to fair pretty positively with the gentlemans at the bar so maybe we will break out the ole wings again? Or I could carry a bike wheel and walk around with Brian and Carrie as their Third Wheel. (AKA most friday nights) Or PERHAPS I will start building my very own Optimus Prime costume? You'll have to wait and see.

This little piggy went to market....

Here is a quick video of us getting Rives all jacked up on sweet tea and Bo'berry biscuits. The camera is shaking a bit because I'm laughing so hard....he tries to copy us and attempts to scruntch up his nose and snort like a little piggy. And then of course I get a smootch at the end! :)

My run

Working it out

I had a good work out Saturday morning!

3.33 miles
31 minutes and 56 seconds
9'35" min/mile
and best of all I burned 363 calories so I didn't feel bad about going out on Saturday night!

THANK YOU to everyone that has donated to the Race for the Cure 5K! I have reached my fundraising goal and am going to keep going and see how much money I can raise!! Every little bit helps so if you haven't donated yet, please do! It really means a lot to me and I appreciate everyone's support more than you know! I have such wonderful friends and family!

31 more sleeps...

...until Gossip Girl season premiere.

Also, I think the latest ads all over NYC for the season premiere are hilarious. They basically show pictures of all the kids smooching each other and took critics comments and pasted them at the bottom. So the posters read: "Every parent's nightmare." and "Very bad for you." etc,

What better to way to get people to watch?

The below comment is from the Parents Television Council. I'm sure they were THRILLED to see their critique show up as a promotion for the show.

Ahhh. Nate Archibald, I love you. Best. Show. Ever.

Sing Us a Song, You're the Piano Man

Ok, follow me on this one….

Last night coming home from Counting Crows, I was reminded of one of the funniest stories ever. This might not be funny to people who don’t know him, but trust me. Its funny.

Here is how we got around to this topic of conversation to begin with. We started out discussing:

Counting Crows…Lumpy kinda looks like lead singer, Adam Duritz, if he shaved his dreads and beard…..Lumpy trying out for Yale accapela group with the audition piece “Lady in Red” – but singing it in Spanish….Lumpy dancing with band member at Poon’s wedding….people singing with the band at weddings….Mazza’s wedding…karaoke at bar at Mazza’s wedding weekend….MBMc is my hero.

To protect the innocent (and so if my family or friends ever met him, they won’t give him the stink eye) we will refer to him with the cryptic initials “MBMc”.

The very short version of the story is basically this….Mazza’s wedding was in the great city of Chicago and was a lovely affair. Everyone had an amazing time and even though I was feeling a bit under the weather (and got borderline assaulted by a Yale dude only to be saved by my hero Daddy Eages) we went out on the town and had a blast. MBMc and a crew made their way to a karaoke bar. Karaoke as you know is the ancient art of singing in front of a crowd and generally making a fool out of yourself. HOWEVER, MBMc is a professional wedding singer (ok, not really but every wedding I’ve ever attended with him he rocks out a variety of tunes with the band and I’ve been repeatedly asked if he is available for Bat Mitzvahs and 50th anniversary parties…he is by the way) Well, at this particular karaoke bar, an argument ensued between one MBMc and another patron we will call “Some Girl”, apparently over the karaoke song book. The argument between MBMc and “Some Girl” became so intense and so heated (“I said I was going to sing Piano Man you tramp!”) that MBMc proceeded to throw his drink in her face and then get right in her grill and scream “Hit me! I DARE you to hit me!!” Causing even his wildest friends to stop and think to themselves “Whoa. Dude LOVES some Billy Joel.” And also causing the bouncer to bounce MBMc outta the bar.

If I have missed anything or misrepresented this story in anyway feel free to correct me and comment below but I think I got the main points out.

Bottomline – If you run into a handsome, rugged gentlemen with the initials MbMc at a karaoke bar? Let him have control of the song book and walk away. Just WALK AWAY.

Counting Crows at Jones Beach

So last night I left work and headed to Jones Beach for the Counting Crows concert!!!

I had never been to Jones Beach before, and my friend Fay has been home alone since her main man Hove has been working in Stamford the past few weeks, so Carrie offered us her two extra tickets to see Counting Crows. Maroon 5 opened for them and I was amazed to find out that Fay actually knows Adam Levine and the band - they grew up together in CA and they went to the boy school to her all girls school. They even played at their Semi-Formal! He ALSO dated her friend Jane (thus their first album titled "Songs about Jane") and is apparently a huge poser with a huge ego. But he's still hot.

Counting Crows was amazing, one of the best concerts I've been to in a long time and to top it all off? We got to ride home in style...in Brian and Carrie's new car. THANK YOU BRIAN for driving us...and for buying a car. I love your car. Seriously.

We had such a good time on the ride home - listening to music and laughing - that we think "Club Poon" is our new favorite hang out. Its mobile, its clean, caters to exclusive clients ( I'm always a VIP there), they have great music that we can control and - other than the lack of toilets and single men - I can't imagine a better place to hang out.

Jones Beach

Maroon 5

Brian and Carrie

Carrie, Ellen and Fay

I have no idea what Carrie is doing.

The venue - to our right

The venue - to our left

Swams came out to check out the show!