I have never been a fan of dolls. Paper dolls were too flimsy and gave paper cuts. Barbies were boring and their boobs were scary. Cabbage patch dolls smelled funny. For me, it was all about the ponies. Now, I'm also not a fan of real horses as my childhood self thought they were too stinky, not cute, and may involve getting my shoes dirty (I was a very meticulous child!), but the My Little Pony toys I could easily fall in love with. My Little Ponies are cute, colorful, and just big enough to be substantial, yet easily fit into a kiddie-sized overall pocket. One day, my massive pony collection will be handed down tenderly to my future daughter(s). Given that they've proven themselves worthy of course.
Hasbro has created the "My Little Pony Project: 25 ponies for 25 years." This program features ponies designed by real designers, artists, and celebrities to support the Give Kids The World Village program, a non-profit organization that helps terminally ill children. The ponies designed through this project will be auctioned off in NYC with partial proceeds going to the charity. You can find out more details about the project here.
I'm so hooood! Doesn't this pony remind you of that song by DJ Khaled? You don't want to mess with this pony in a dark alley. Design by Claw Money.
I had a blue pony just like this one, without the board shorts and surf board. Mine however would have looked even more kick-ass in this outfit since he had a neon green mohawk, a tatoo on his ass, and went by the name of "Beau". Design by John Stamos (Uncle Jesse!)
I love how Kimora's pony resembles her: big hair, big bling, too much makeup. Someone explain why her hooves are so dirty?! All us high-maintenance chicks know that is such a no-no. Design by Kimora Lee Simmons.
The pony is certainly too 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse for me, but I love the freaky bunny!! He's just so cute and evil! Design by Superdeux.
The best for last. Purple is certainly one of the girliest of colours, plus big sparkly stars, and long wavy locks? I think secretly we girls wish we could be half as rock-star cool as this pony in real life. Design by Twinkle Hope.
Note: I would like to thank the unnamed blog(s) that I first found out about this story from. Unfortunately, due to jetlag, I cannot remember which one it was! Apologies.
Labels: Culture
Lately I've been asking myself the question of how much commitment do you have, not just to your significant other, but to your friends? For myself, as well as for many others out there, friendships are one of the most important things in my life, for without your friends, what joy would there be in living? Life cannot be fully lived in solitude - so much of the richness of our experiences and emotions comes from our personal relationships; however, it would seem that not all theseexperiences are good. At times, friendships can require as much maintenance as a romantic relationship.
A certain amount of maintenance is expected in a romantic relationship. If you wish to be that close to another person, of course you will have to pay that much more attention to their needs and feelings. Friends however, don't usually have such an intense relationship and there is a more forgiving leeway to basically "cut each other some slack". Friends don't get upset if another friend doesn't call the other back within an hour, or when a friend bails on them for their latest booty call. If these instances are not common occurrences, then friends should shrug and move on, knowing that they too will someday likely do the same to their friend. I have had friends ditch me at times to hang out with their boyfriend/girlfriend after making plans, and while it was an annoyance, so long as they didn't do it repeatedly, I got over it. However, lately I have noticed that some people are much more touchy regarding "faux pas" such as this. In my own experiences this would have to do with returning phone calls. Firstly, I would like to apologize and acknowledge that yes, it is annoying to not have someone return your call, but the calls in question were 1) not phone calls, but text messages 2) were returned within a 24 hour period, despite my phone dying from lack of power and 3) did not seem to be of an urgent matter. Perhaps people have gotten too used to me answering my phone on the first ring like a loser, but I have a life too people! Plus I was out of town at the time!
Nonetheless, you would be mistaken at thinking that I advocate ditching one's friends at any moment and basically being careless with their feelings. If you have made concrete plans with friends, i.e. mutually agreeing to do a certain activity at a certain time and place, then you should certainly show up. However, in that huge gray expanse between booking time together and actually saying "yes I'll be there" is a whole obstacle course of perceived snubbings. I am beginning to hate hearing or saying the phrase "I'll call you to make/confirm plans." That is a loaded gun!! Within that supposedly harmless phrase, there lurks hidden expectations by one party that plans have been made, and by the other thinking that nothing is set in stone and between that is the gray expanse of perceived snubbings. From now on, both parties should simply commit to either being there or not, because why do we all feel the need to call each other at the last minute when we've already got a hold of each other and could just make the plans right then? Perhaps we are such a commitment-phobic society that we are all making each other one's "back-up plans" in the hopes of something better coming along. As in relationships, what usually happens is that "something better" doesn't appear and the thing we've got gets fed up and ditches you. So here is the solution I plead for myself and everyone else to follow: make your plans when you're talking about them, and forget the "oh I'll get back to you" crap. If you're unsure what you will be doing in the near future, then make that clear up front! And for those who get all riled up when the other person bails on you, don't see it as them bailing because really you never did get them to commit anyway, so suck it up and realize you have or will probably do the same to them. Oh, and while you're at it, realize that the universe does not revolve around you and that life is too short to be upset, or to damage friendships over something so small.
Labels: Culture
Get caught looking at boobies! I don't normally promote women flashing their assets, but this is for a good cause. This site created by Rethink Breast Cancer and Schick Canada uses its initial shock value to get young women, and everyone else, thinking about breast cancer. Besides showing titties, the site promotes self-examinations in young women, who often don't do regular self-exams thinking that cancer isn't possible yet for them. As someone who's had several family members affected with this disease, I know too well that a little bit of prevention can mean everything. It's worth checking out and passing on to any other female you care about.
On a more cheerful note, I've also got 2 great blogs to promo! One is Couture in the City, a great blog on designer fashion and celeb trends and the other is Une Boutique tres Chic, another interesting fashion blog written by a London fashionista! Enjoy!
Labels: Culture
I like to believe that I give good dating advice as I've spent many an hour helping various friends through their relationship dramas. Recently, my friend Mona*, somewhat newish to the dating scene, asked me for my interpretation of the following two situations to determine whether these guys were just being friendly, or flirty.
Situation 1
Occasionally in her spare time Mona enjoys ballroom dancing. During her last class, she noticed that one of the studio dance assistants kept glancing her way and smiling a lot at her, and he repeatedly cut in to whoever she was dancing with to whisk her away for himself. At the end of the class, Mona saw him looking at her again, so she asked him "how's it going" to which he then asked her what she was doing that night. Sadly, Mona did not take him up on this SOOO obvious offer to ask her out! I would say the fact that he kept trying to grab her attention and smiling especially at her, is a giant clue that he is being flirtatious.
Verdict: Flirty
Situation 2
Mona received a message via Facebook the other day from an acquaintance asking her how she was doing since her status indicated that she was feeling kinda down. Mona replied back, explaining current happenings in her life, and he replied promptly back expressing his sympathies, then asking if she'd like to hang out sometime. This situation is a tad more ambiguous than the first. I would say that this boy is "going fishing". In my experience guys are usually interested in a girl, if a girl will only give him some signal that he can make a move. In this case, I'd say this guy is interested in getting to know her better, be it as a friend, or as something more if the opportunity arises. Why else would he initiate a conversation like that? It is up to Mona to decide if she wants to show interest and take things beyond friendship. It also implies that this boy is probably shy, but sweet. He's probably not a creep because for some reason, creeps are very brave and forward in their intentions, perhaps in a misguided belief of their own desirability. The boy probably thinks she's cute, and wants to see if there is any possibility of friendship. She doesn't have to worry about this one hitting on her right away I'd say; he's probably just being more friendly than flirty.
Verdict: Friendly, with possibilities of future flirtations
So these are my interpretations. If anyone else has any differing opinions, or their own ambiguous situations that need interpretation
Labels: Culture
- Be strategic at buffets. Do not bulk up on carbs, but instead only eat veggies and meats where possible. Only stock up on select carbs, if you really love them. Also, take tiny portions of everything because there is a very wide variety and you will never get to try everything otherwise.
- Bring a moisturizer. Las Vegas is in a desert so your skin will get dry. Lip balm is essential.
- Alternate alcoholic drinks with water. This is key!!! Else you will end up as drunk as this author and wishing that you were dead the next morning.
- Shopping in Las Vegas is a fashionista's dream. Take it all in slowly and savor the moment.
- Don't hesitate. If you see something, buy it! Sigh, such as my hesitation buying Kate Spade aviator sunglasses.
- Don't wear newly bought jewellry to the club. I had purchased a really sweet gold chain charm bracelet from Juicy Couture, wore it to the club that night, and lost it. Now all I have is this picture below of it :(
- Dress to impress. Whether walking on the strip, dining out, or partying at night, people in Vegas love to dress sexy and fancy. Take this opportunity to ditch the sweats, but be sure to wear comfy shoes.
- Don't sleep! Vegas is too fun to waste time sleeping.
- Invest in a nice hotel. Cheap deals are everywhere for Las Vegas and a 4 star hotel at least is well worth the money. Make sure your hotel is in a strategic location, such as near the middle of the strip because the strip is too long to walk, especially if you don't follow #7 and wear non-comfy shoes.
- Invest in Photoshop or some other photo editing software. After looking at all your embarassing party photos in Las Vegas, you will want the ability to make yourself look so not-utterly-drunk-ass.
Labels: Culture
My friend has a problem. His BFF has recently moved in with his girlfriend after only a few months of dating and it seems that she is slowly tightening her claws around his semi-youthful throat. My friend is afraid that said BFF is settling for the first girl that's actually stuck around and that this girl is not good enough for BFF because she is
- slightly mannish (she has large hands)
- bossy
- school-marmish (she's a teacher, but not the cute kindergarten kind)
And so, said friend has asked for my input on how to break these two semi-young lovers apart before BFF is doomed to be with the mannish school-marm forever! But how do you break apart two people? Not being a particularly malicious person, I'm unsure on how to go about this. My first thought would be to use BFF's pet peeves, and somehow implicate school-marm in committing those much-hated peeves such that BFF will become repulsed and dump her. Second thought is to introduce BFF to someone else who is so fabulous and gorgeous and interesting that BFF will be dazzled into forgetting who school-marm is and will run into the sunset with the new improved-and-approved girlfriend. And lastly, my third thought is, isn't it cruel to try to ruin your BFF's relationship? Sure school-marm could be boring and bossy, but having large man-hands could be useful on a woman - she will always be able to open those nasty pickle jars, and he won't have to worry about her getting mugged when she goes out alone at night. So what to do?
Would you intentionally try to break up a couple or would you just hope that your friend comes to their senses? Or if you did decided to break them up, how would you do it?
Labels: Culture
I just read this post from Globe & Mail while eating my pasta salad at my desk at work and I almost wanted to jump up yelling "You tell it sister!!" I'm so feeling this girl's words.
Feminism seems to have been sold out for "sex power", if you even want to call that "empowerment" - I'm sorry but every girl I've personally met who says that with a serious face is an idiot.
Women haven't gotten equality, they've just gotten more stuff to do. The author makes a good point in saying that women are now expected to not only look smoking hot, but also be able to keep a clean home and work her way up to CEO. How the heck does an ordinary person do that?! If you have the answer please tell me. Sometimes I get really tired of people acting surprised when I tell them I'm studying engineering because I'm "cute"; is this a compliment on my appearance, or an insult to people's assumptions on who can be intelligent? I don't blame men for the way the world is, because the blame is partly on women as well. Women need to stop putting down other women and perpetuating these stupid ideas of what a women "should be like" - until then, we'll have stupid guys like David Leonhardt who chalk up all of women-dom's problems to the fact that "the new American dustiness affects women's happiness more than men's."
Labels: Culture
With the announcement of a reunion tour for the Spice Girls, it got me reminiscing back to my old days when the Spice Girls first came out on the scene... I was eleven and I distinctly remember telling the other girls in my jazz funk dance class that Wannabe was a one-hit wonder and that in a few years nobody would admit to having loved the Spice Girls. I was short, sassy, and into hard alternative at the time. I apparently was also psychic. The Spice Girls disappeared eventually like all the others, but now, like the Backstreet Boys, they're back! But, do the Spice Girls, or rather Spice Women, have what it takes to make a comeback, especially against their modern incarnations, the Pussycat Dolls?
Both exhibit some key similarities: both are multiple member singing and dancing groups who pump out catchy dance tunes and pop ballads and spout out ditzy feminist slogans such as "Girl Power!" and "We're sassy, not trashy". As well, both are highly manufactured and run like businesses with tons of merchandise ranging from dolls to movies (in the case of the Spice Girls). After watching The Search for the Next Doll though, I'd have to give the sheer talent and work ethic award to PCD. Those girls work hard! They practice dancing and singing everyday while being watched under the controlling eye of Robin, their creator. Plus Nicole definitely sings better, and they all dance better, than the Spice Girls ever could - and in stilettos no less! Also PCD is much hotter than the Spice Girls, but their hotness is also part of what makes them unappealing to me.
I don't have anything against attractive women or embracing one's femininity, but the PCD style of feminism via pole-dancing and their stripper roots doesn't strike me as entirely ideal as role-models for their large pre-teen female audience. Also their "sassiness" seems really insincere to me. Artists like Pink are sassy and you know it's for real, but when Nicole and co. speak about how they don't need a man to buy their own bling, or how they hump and dress like hos "only for themselves," it just seems canned and as if they're speaking lines. Plus, what the heck are the names of the other dolls?! Anyone can say each of the nicknames and describe the personas of each Spice Girl, but does anyone know if the other Dolls even speak?! I swear, sometimes it seems like there are 5 Dolls in the music videos and sometimes up to 7! For instance, when did that other girl who sings in the Buttons video show up? I swear she wasn't in Don'Cha. At least the Spice Girls sang about safe sex and true love. PCD sings about tempting a man in front of his girlfriend and telling him to "loosen up my buttons" faster - how is this female empowerment??
I suppose the old expression "sex sells" is true and it's certainly working for PCD, but I prefer the Spice Girls innocent sauciness. Or maybe I'm just getting old. I think in terms of musical success, the Spice Girls seem to win - after the band faded, many of the girls went onto moderately successful solo careers and Victoria Beckham has certainly maintained her celebrity status. I doubt anyone could say the same of the majority of PCD members. However, it seems that PCD wins in terms of influence; I've heard many girls my age echo the same "I'm not skanky, I'm smart!" lines as them and who follow the "hot girl" philosophy that they preach. It's scary actually how many believe this kind of thinking to be valuable. I just hope, that when PCD inevitably follows the Spice Girls into oblivion, that their way of thinking does as well. Overall, the final score would see PCD win on talent, and the Spice Girls on personality, but since this is after all my blog, I'm going to give it to the Spice Girls. I'd never thought I'd say this, but
Go Girl Power!
As we all know, Halloween is that special time of year when every little girl can indulge in her inner slutty side and dress up in as skanky a costume as she please. Whereas guys seem to go for costumes that are humourous, girls seek only to look as "hot" as possible. This is not to say that there is no creativity involved in a girl's costume; on the contrary, there is a lot of careful thought put into such costumes as "sexy librarian" or "sexy prisoner". Don't mock the hours of hard work put into making strategic rips in one's clothing and the purchasing of nipple cups!
For myself, in the past two years I have been a hawaiian hula girl, a bunny, and last year, I was a fairie. The fairy costume was a cheap sell-out based around the fact that I wanted to show off my new white fur suede boots, but this year I am totally going legit with a trashy halloween costume from trashy.com This year, I will be a flight attendant, a la the Britney Spears video for Toxic. I found the costume thanks to my friend, who also is getting a costume from Trashy, as a soda pop girl. Normally, Trashy is a skank version of La Senza, offering a wide range of lingerie and "costumes" modeled by people like Dita Von Teese, but for Halloween they expand their wares with tons of great costumes like schoolgirl/scout uniforms, storybook characters, cowgirls, athletes, french maids, and cheerleaders. Based out of LA, they have many famous customers, such as Ms. Trashy herself, Britney Spears.
Now normally, I argue that women should value themselves and not be skanky, but as the expression goes, everything in moderation, including moderation, so for one night of the year I will say that it's not only ok, but good, to slip on those stilettos, cinch up that corset, and head into the night.