Can't deal with Reality?

well then, AR or augmented reality is perfect for you and what better time and place than Springtime in Philadelphia?
If you are not familiar with AR then download one of the many apps jumping on the bandwagon like Layar or Paparazzi http://www.iphoneness.com/iphone-apps/best-augmented-reality-iphone-applications/ but nothing beats experiencing it live and so we Philadelphian's are in luck to be home to one of only two Augmented Reality art exhibitions happening right here in April.

The first exhibition is a collaboration between Breadboard and Layar in a partnership with VPAP and runs April 7th-May 1st as part of the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA). http://pifa.org/

VPAP@PIFA : a city-wide virtual public art exhibit will feature over 25 works of art placed strategically around the city like this giant Miró Alien Chest-Burster, by Jon Rafman "on the steps" of the Philadelphia Museum of Art

this Ying Yang splash "hovering" in front of the Franklin Institute and

an 8-ball, by Guthrie Lonergan, near the Thinker at the Rodin Museum

The virtual art sculptures will be located around the city and can be viewed via VPAP’s free Layar App. Click here http://breadboardphilly.org/programs/virtual-art-pifa for more information and to view the Google map that shows locations and lists of all VPAP artworks.
This is just one of the 125 events planned for PIFA 2011 over 25 days representing 1500 artists...all here in Philadelphia!
How is that for reality?

“Everything’s Amazing, and Nobody’s Happy"

Love this guy and couldn't agree with him more...we are all so spoiled!

It's official when

you can check the 10 day forecast and, may I say, it's looking good!

61° and

in London and

69°and

in Paris

Now I know the country is gearing up for the "wedding of the century" but...

are they ready for the Sherman Invasion?



Tha Russian connection

hurts so good!
With the usual anxiety, I drifted over to my wax guru Emma at the International Salon on Sansom. What possesses me and the thousands of her followers to return month after month is beyond me but it’s like a cult and you do walk out feeling a few lbs. lighter if you know what I mean.

It’s definitely a no frills kinda place and you should be glad that you don’t speak Russian cause you really don’t want to hear half of what they’re saying but I digress. Today was like any other visit except Emma didn’t talk on the phone while waxing and, I got a pretty good dose of some major gossip that I will now share!
After playing the usual Russian geography with her daughter who used to be married to a friend and knows many friends of friends, we stumbled upon the diamond in the sand or, I should say, Brighton Beach.

So, apparently, the reality TV people have finally recognized what I’ve been saying for years, that the Russians are prime for reality TV and need to get their own show. You can’t even imagine the amount of material out there just waiting to be unleashed on the unassuming American people and according to source; one is in the works and will include an ex-friend’s brother and wife. The ex-friend is a whole other story that I may get into later but this was juicy enough and so I did some major snooping and found all kinds of goodies out there…gotta love the internet!
I will share more once I confirm the validity of this but for now, all you need to know if that Boris loves Renata…nuff said.

Oh yeah and if you are thinking of going to see Emma, no Aspirin before and no Sex after…no kidding!

The passport has arrived and so

the packing and countdown to Europe begins...wish me luck!

So fantastic, I had to share!

http://savvyage.tumblr.com/post/486267204

The shopping gods are

against me, I’m sure of it now!
Not only was the jaunt to Woodbury a complete disappointment with the Chanel boutique closing and the BALMAIN dress upset but the stuff that I did manage to buy like this Rock & Republic Adrianne top, broke before I even had a chance to wear it.

To make up for it, I spend the following Monday at Franklin Mills and although that trip was much more successful, my coup de jour, a pair of size 24 Joes jeans that I “stole” for $39 came home with the sensor tag attached. So it's as if I did steal them and now, have to take them back to get the tag removed or, ship them back to Neimans so they can remove the sensor and send them back to me…pain in the you know what if you ask me!
The Gryphon crochet sequin top is too cute to return but I’ve already spent an hour sewing the sequence back in place…I guess with an extra 30% plus 10% plus plus off it too, was a real steal from $275 to somewhere around $70 so I’ll suck it up.

So lesson learned and when you think something is too good to be true, it probably is. Now, who wants to take a ride to Franklin Mills with me and a pair of size 24 jeans…did I mention they fit!?
I guess if the shopping gods are against me, the fitness gods are right by my side!

Addicted to Angry Birds?

If you are like millions of others then the answer is yes so check this out, hilarious!

I'm convinced that people love it when

you're miserable, down on your luck and live under a black cloud. Otherwise, you're just not interesting enough, deep enough and way too “happy” to care about. You are just not "Reality TV" worthy...

When you’re in the dumps, friends you haven’t seen or heard from in years suddenly reappear and want to be by your side, a shoulder to cry on, your strength and support during the saddest, hardest time of your life. And so it goes until they see that you are happy and finally, realize that they have nothing more to give. You are no longer a sad case, a broken person for them to feel good about fixing and so they disappear. Sound familiar or am I talking out of my a--? People just don’t like happy people and thrive on others misery and pain.

So, if you're here for the fun, the fashion and for the occasional sarcasm, glad you're here and hope you keep coming back but if you're looking for misery well...you know what they say, misery loves company and so you should look elsewhere.

Thanks for stopping by but we’re just not meant to be and yes, it’s not me, it's you!

Sex and the City marathon got me

inspired to clean out my closet, do a little online shopping and start packing for Europe.

Ironically, it's the episode where Carrie moves to Paris with the Russian and so I watched part Un and Deux and now, I'm merchandising and dreaming about strolling through the streets of Paris in my stilettos and tulle organza gown.

Yeah right but a girl can dream can’t she...now, what to bring what to bring!?

 

Thats how we Roll

These past few months have seen an increase in Russian restaurant activity and being out of the circuit for some time, I have to say that I really missed it!  The food, the fashion, the fun; it’s all there but on a whole other crazy over the top level that most people have never experienced. 

We Russians or, I should say, Eastern Europeans, sure know how to party or…so I thought.

Just when I thought I’ve seen it all, comes my latest entry into the super over the top gifting ever and all in time for my Birthday…hint hint!

Last weekend we went to my closest friend’s mom’s 60th Birthday party at a Russian restaurant in NY and it happened to be on the same day as my friends husband’s actual Birthday.

Now, Russian etiquette dictates that when you go to an event especially at a Russian restaurant that as a gift, you bring a card with cash.  Not a present but $ and it’s usually the amount you think it cost per person plus a little extra.  You can, of course bring a present in addition to but that is really not necessary although flowers for a woman are always appreciated.  For some reason, some people have a problem with that but that, my American friends, is just how we roll and I personally think it’s genius.  Well, in honor of her husband’s birthday, a friend who lives in Russia must have either 1. Decided to start a new tradition or 2. Accidently left off the “d” in c-a-r-d and gifted him a brand new BMW 750Li. Can you imagine?

I, of course, saw this as perfect timing for me as my Birthday is fast approaching and it will most likely be at a Russian restaurant so friends, please come and don’t forget the car…I mean card!!!

Popular?

Prove it!
You know you love to shop and we all know I love to save so what’s more perfect than this?
Click below to my personal invite for you to save on Rue La La, the destination that delivers everything for a life of style all at private sale prices. New fab fashions daily and each available only for a short time.


http://www.ruelala.com/invite/asherman259

How is it that

a bad mani/pedi can ruin your...I mean my whole day?  Ughhh
I realize that I'm extremely picky when it comes to my nails and thats mostly because I can do them myself really really well so when I finally found Michelle, I was elated!
She is just as meticulous as I am and does a fab job every time.  Not only that but she is extremely reliable but sometime unavailable and that's mostly because others like me who know of her have bragged about her to others which has made it that much more difficult to book her.  

On a few rare occasions however she has been out or, unavailable and I've had to settle for her less than perfect counterparts and today was one of those days.  Of course we have a party tonight and of course I had an appointment but she was, in her defense, at a funeral and although I'm extremely sadden for her, I'm extremely disappointed with my nails.
I know, worse things can happen so I should just get over it right?
Ok, I'm over...just had to vent so thanks for listening...I mean reading (-:
BTW, found out that my favorite color, Lincoln Park at Midnight, is in Limited Edition so if you love it as much as I do, stock up!

What hair color goes with boredom?

I mean 40...
In my 20’s I used to color my hair for fun but now that 40 is right around the corner and sprinkles of silver…not gray, silver are making an appearance, I need to give this subject some serious thought so...what's the take on hair color. If you're a brunette like I am, do you go for a subtle change so no one notices or, if you're a Leo like I am, do you go for a complete Wow, who are you and what have you done with Alya transformation?

I think I would look silly as a blonde but am totally willing to try it and, it might spice things up a bit too if you know what I mean!? Looking for suggestions but kinda loving Jennifer Lopez’s hair color these days so maybe that’s a nice compromise.

Also, home color or salon? I’m a do-it-yourselfer on all accounts but if I go lighter, could I be looking at a complete disaster?
If they could only bottle Jacob's golden color...now that would be heaven!

Green with envy

Ok, so after months and months of research and deliberationh, Phil gets a super duper new phone.  One that's much cooler and most importantly, newer than mine!
I can hear it already; can your phone do this? can your phone do that? 
I say, bring it on and let the smart phone war begin...

Eight years and counting

Wow, has it really been 8 years?  I remember my first day like it was yesterday and it was not a good one!  Much has changed over the course of those years so here's to what the next 8 ++ have to bring and much like the holiday I started on, hope they're lucky.
Speaking of luck, Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Not knowing more than you drink your face off on St. Patty's Day, I decided to do a little research on what this holiday really means so here goes...bottoms up!

Saint Patrick's Day (Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig) is a religious holiday celebrated internationally on March 17th. It is named after Saint Patrick, the most commonly recognised of the patron saints of Ireland and is observed by the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion (especially the Church of Ireland), the Eastern Orthodox Church and Lutherans. Saint Patrick's Day was made an official feast day in the early 17th century, and has gradually become a celebration of Irish culture in general.
The day is generally characterised by the attendance of church services, wearing of green attire (especially shamrocks), and the lifting of Lenten restrictions on fasting and drinking...there it is, which is often proscribed during the rest of the season.
I knew the drinking would come sooner or later but funny how it's way at the end!?

Saint Patrick's Day is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Newfoundland and Labrador and in Montserrat. It is also widely celebrated by the Irish diaspora, especially in places such as the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand, among others.
So how do you do St. Patty's right?

and really wrong!

"Many an opportunity is lost because a man is out looking for four-leaf clovers"~Author Unknown

Pretty little things

Had to share my new find that although is located less than 5 blocks from where I live and work and basically exist, I just discovered by sheer accident. As I strolled past Bella Turka, I couldn’t help but stop and stare at the irresistible and unusual pieces from all over the world especially Turkey and Israel.

The owner, Koray Avci, is Turkish and hand selects his goodies for an unbelievable collection that makes this spot a treasure trove like no other. From all things evil eye to these killer bracelets, you know I had to try on everything but zoned in on these beauties...now which to get is the question!?

Located in Liberty Place, Bella Turka is a must go-to if you're looking for something special, looking for something different or, just looking...have fun!http://www.bellaturka.com/

Playtime with Jacob =

Best moments of my life!
Me to Jacob: Where are you going?
Jacob: Packing
Me: Packing to go where?
Jacob: To go save the universe, we’re taking the train to Mexico