ALL ABOUT ME AND MY CRAZY COMPANY!

Meet Our Top 3 Finalists!

2009-10-26T13:56:00.000-07:00

Hello Mackenzie Blue Fans!

I've gotten tons of emails from you all today asking about our finalists. I'm happy to report the top 3 finalists in order:

1. Lexxi
2. Katherine
3. Mary Sarah

Congrats to you girls! To the other 7 girls, I want to thank you for participating. You were all amazing, and as I cast other characters for this web series, I will keep you girls in mind. And a special thank you goes out to the Mackenzie Blue fans! You guys cast over 68,000 votes!!! And our top 3 finalists received over 50,000 votes combined! That's amazing!

I will be in touch shortly about the next round of voting. Please keep spreading Mackenzie Blue to your friends. Let them borrow your book, and introduce them to our site. Zee has the best fans in the world. I can't wait to share a sample of my new book, THE SECRET CRUSH.

Peace, love, & shopping...

TW

On the road again...

2009-06-04T11:24:00.000-07:00

So unfortunately for me, I'm rarely without a suitcase and plane ticket these days. I love traveling, but 'tis the season to be home in my garden! New Jersey is so nice this time of year! My roses are blooming, the bunnies are taking over my yard, and my porch rocking chair is calling me. But alas, I'm out and about promoting my dear Mackenzie Blue.

I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed meeting so many of you. You inspire me! And I love that Mackenzie reminds you of you. And thanks for the emails! They make me laugh and really put a smile on my face. Keep those notes coming.

I'll be back home tomorrow, and I can't wait to see my friends and plan a fun dinner at my house. I love to cook, and I'm going to start posting some of my favorite recipes.

Talk soon!

TW

Packing for my book tour...

2009-05-09T18:40:00.000-07:00

Ok girlies...packing for a book tour is not easy - especially when you're trying to pack in a carryon! I've been planning my wardrobe for about a week now. Let me lay out some of my packing challenges:

1. I'm going to 5 cities with all different climates.
2. I'm trying to pack everything in a carryon bag.
3. I can't get anything wrinkled!
4. I have over 15 events!

Well, you'll be happy to know I got it all in one bag! I'm going to share some pics from the tour so you can see everything. The crazy thing about traveling like this is you aren't just worrying about clothes. I wear glasses and contacts, so I have to bring extra, and this quart bag of liquids thing is also going to be a challenge!

My biggest concern is not getting sick. So I'm packing tons of Vitamin C and Golden Seal, hand sanitizer for the plane - oh and a few soft t-shirts to cover my pillows with in hotels. Anything to make it feel a bit more homey.

Ok it's time for bed now. I'll check in from the road. I may even start tweeting!

Peace, love, & shopping!

TW

Almost there!

2009-04-15T13:29:00.000-07:00

I'm super excited that it's ALMOST TIME for Mackenzie Blue! May 5th is the big day, and I can't wait to hear what you think of the book. Please make sure you drop me a note and share your opinions and story ideas. And I'd love to know your thoughts on the ending! Were you right about who stole Zee's diary? I'll be blogging from my book tour. Until then...enjoy the site!

Peace, love, & shopping,

TW

Got the sniffles. :-(

2008-08-29T09:08:00.000-07:00

Well today I am for sure feeling under the weather. I had just enough energy to get through the photo shoot yesterday. By the time I got home, my fever was out of control. I ate some chicken noodle soup, popped a few Nyquils, and passed out. OF COURSE I had to tape Barack's speech! When I woke up at midnight I watched it. Not sure if I was crying or tearing up from this cold/flu thing, but I was so happy.

Once I figure out how to post pics in here I can show you guys some outtakes from the shoot. I'm headed to Toronto next weekend (CAN YOU BELIEVE IT'S SO SOON ALREADY!??!!), and I NEED to find some fab clothes for the trip. All of my girlfriends are like, "girl, shop in your OWN closet!" But I need something new. Cocktail dresses are on the menu today. I will find something...I swear net-a-porter.com is my saving grace. I can see how things look on the models, read their pics in their own mag, and shop brands I can't get locally. It's just phe-nom-en-al.

Ok. I'm sneezing all over my comp so it's time for me to make more rose tea (yum! from La Duree', my fave Parisian tea house) and cuddle up on the couch.

Peace, love, & shopping!

TW

Back in the saddle...

2008-08-28T06:55:00.000-07:00

Ok so I've realized that I've been so blatantly awful with keeping up with this blog. I don't even blame you if you've given up on me. But seeing as all of my fabulous girlfriends have their own blogs (have you checked out that amazingly Shake Your Beauty Blog - www.tiawilliams.net/blog) from my lovely friend Tia? So hot.

Today should be an interesting day. Most of the buzzStaffers are off enjoying their last few days of summer. I've opted for a Staycation, mainly because I bought a house last year and barely had time to enjoy since I travelled the first six months of the year. I lived at my house like it was a hotel! So I need to enjoy the nice weather, iced tea on the porch, BBQs...everything we love in South Jersey. Of course I'll be back on the saddle and in Toronto for the festival next weekend and in Spain later on in Sept. So it really is the end of a nice staycation...;-(

So today I'm shooting a feature for the Style Section of the Wall Street Journal. I have been working on my fall wardrobe for a little over two weeks? And already I have to be ready to showcase the best for fall?! It's been a bit stressful, to say the least. I had to get rid of my beloved summer curls. I've (or my hair stylist, really), replaced them with a jet black longish (for me at least) bob. I'll try to post some pics from the shoot once it's done.

Ok. Time for me to go and do some work. Or appear to do something, at least!

Peace, love, & shopping,

TW

Sorry Peeps!

2008-03-19T18:32:00.000-07:00

I’ve been chastised for not keeping up with my blog. So so sorry. I can’t even believe it’s been this long since I’ve posted. And boy, has there been a lot going on.

So as I’m sure you know, I bought my house back in September, and chose not to move in until right before Thanksgiving (I had some slight remodeling to do). Ever since then, it’s been nothing but cooking, cleaning, remodeling, decorating, and traveling. I swear I’ve only been in my house like a collective 30 days. It’s just pretty much a storage unit!

So let’s talk TV. I so wasn’t planning on paying attention to Lipstick Jungle, having gotten all caught up in Cashmere Mafia (chello! Where is THAT show?!), but that flew out the window. That show is just fabulous. I’m not so happy with Nico at the moment, but I love me some complex characters, so I’m totally in. And just like that, the season finale is on it’s way. Maybe I’ll get a little bit of cashmere back in my life. And I’m still holding out for a bit of Private Practice. That would make for a great spring. I’m trying to get into American Idol, but the people just don’t seem very good. Am I missing something, b/c these kids used to be bone chilling good. Even Clay Aiken could belt out a hit. But crucifying The Beatles should be like, sacrilegious.

Anywho, I’ve got to get back to picking out my spring shoes. There are some exciting things going on. From Payless to Prada, there are so many options. I was watching a Payless commercial, and I was just beaming with glee. Shoes should seriously not make a person this happy. And girls, if I can give you one tip, it’s this: buy your summer shoes now. Yes, you read right – now. As in, right now. I had to learn this lesson the hard way. Shoes aren’t sticking around as long as they used to. Things sell out and designers move on. You’ve got to get ‘em while they’re hot. I just came home to find my fab Tory Burch snakeskin silver sandals waiting for me. I’ll break them in next weekend in Miami. I can almost feel the sun now…

Until next week (okay, I’m going to try…)

TW

Books, books, books....

2007-05-05T21:10:00.000-07:00

So I guess it's time to reveal a secret. You've been reading my blogs for long enough, so I guess I can start revaling some things. I am obsessed with Amazon One-Click. I decided that I needed to say something, because I'm buying an avaerage of 3 books per week. I dont know when I'm going to have time to read all of them, but I keep tryng to convince myself that I'm going to go on a vacation and read all of them.

So I just got back from LA and of course on a 6 hour flight, one would think they could read a book or two, but I just slept. I almost bought three books today alone. I settled for one - the Don Cheadle book about Darfur.

I think I'm going to post my reading list soon. I'm way too tired right now to get all of them together, but the list is long. Good too. ;-)

Peace, love, & shopping...

TW

Spring Cleaning III

2007-04-14T15:30:00.000-07:00

So it's totally terrible that it's been A YEAR since my last post here. I have to get better about posting. There is so much going on! The funny thing is, I'm blogging about spring cleaning AGAIN. I have decided that I read way too much. I spent my entire Saturday cleaning out magazines in all of my baskets in my living room and bedrooms. I have yet to tackle the pile in my loft. That's an all day project.

I also had a little spring cleaning fashion party for my girlfriends this afternoon. I let go of some Marc Jacobs, Jean Paul Gaultier, French Connection, and even some H+M! I have to make room for all of these things I keep buying. I considered buying another dresser for my bedroom and thought that was just a bit insane. So, I'm consolidating. Once my friends and sisters have picked up everything they want, I'm going to deliver the rest to my favorite charity, Sisterhood Inc.

I'm about to sear some tuna for dinner and make some risotto. YUM. You just have to love Saturdays. Oh and I did make some time to see The Reaping today. SO SO GOOD! Between that movie and the Perfect Stranger, it's been a good movie weekend!

Ok back to cooking and cleaning. I don't understand why people don't think its fun...

Peace, love, & shopping...

TW

Spring Cleaning II

2006-03-27T16:08:00.000-08:00

So as you're sorting through your spring wardrobe, if you're like me, you can't help but sort through your Blackberry. ;-) I have a friend who had something quite awful happen to her last week. A particular gentleman had been trying to get a date with her for 2 YEARS. Yes, 2 years. She dodged every date, but was feeling a little charitable with spring approaching (warm weather has a way of doing that to you). So she finally tells the guy yes. For his part, he's not too shabby. He's a tad annoying, but happens to be a doctoral candidate in biochemistry at an Ivy League school. He also happens to write poetry and loves sports. Even though my friend is less than thrilled about this date, she decides it's time to try new things. Needless to say, the guy is beyond happy she said yes.

So they make plans for a week later. They'll be doing dinner at a super swanky hot spot in the city. It's my friend's favorite, so she's pretty into it. Even if the date is horrible, the food and ambience will be fab.

One day before the date, the guy IMs her - yes, no call an INSTANT MESSAGE - to say it's not his week to get paid, and he'd like to move the date to the following week. My friend graciously agrees, and is actually relieved, because she didn't want to go. If only her girlfriends were so forgiving!

Here's what angers me. He should know this girl isn't concerned about money. He could have suggested they meet for coffee! They could have gone to a museum instead! Is he really that awful at date planning??? And this is a guy who LOVES to brag about how much money he has! Now all of a sudden when he gets to go out with a girl he's been STALKING for 2 years he's broke??

Oh, but it gets better. He calls the girl a week after the cancelled date to see if she wants to go out THAT NIGHT. He called her at 7AM, to be exact. Woke her up with a TEXT MESSAGE asking her out. No 24 hour notice - not even 12 HOURS! She declined. He did this again the next day - and she declined again. After the 3 day - and 3rd declined invitation, he IMed her to talk about it.

When she told him it was not cool to ask her out the same day, he called her HIGH MAINTENANCE!!!! Needless to say, I told her he needed to be thrown out this season. He just doesn't get it.

I will say, however, that it's always nice when you can pull out an old faithful from your address book and enjoy a nice meal and great company. Those types of guys are ALWAYS in style and look good with any outfit. ;-) Mr. Same Day should be moved to the Do Not Call Me - EVER - List. So glad my friend took my advice. ;-)

Peace, love, & shopping,

TW

Spring Cleaning

2006-03-27T14:44:00.000-08:00

Let me first apologize for my lack of recent posts. With Spring's fantabulous arrival, I've been totally focused on my two seasonal obsessions: clothes and guys. ;-) The new acquisition of clothing has been much easier compared to the latter. So let's start with SPRING FASHION! I actually attended fall fashion week, so I saw all of the hot stuff last September. So I want to give you my fashion tips for acquiring a must-have spring wardbrobe. Let's start with shopping tips:

1. When you're heading out to shop for the day (yes, for the day. This is major shopping season! 1 hour doesn't do it!), make sure you're wearing jeans (if they're your bottom of choice the majority of the time), a basic top in a basic color (I usually wear a stretchy splendid black tee), a piece of jewelry (long, ropey necklace), a belt, knee high trouser socks, and shoes with a low heel (right now, I'm wearing cowboy boots). My reasoning is, this outfit is perfect for trying on ANYTHING. The necklace is perfect for trying on dresses and shirts to see how you'll rock them in real life. Jeans (like my True Religions) are also a needed staple.

2. Speaking of jeans, head to your local boutique and pick up the latest season style and color of your favorite brand. For me, it's True Religion. Trues fit my shape perfectly. My friend Whit looks amazing in Sevens. My sister is a little hottie in her Citizens. Don't buy the latest fad - buy what looks good on YOU.

3. Now that you've picked up a few pairs of jeans, head to TARGET. Yes, Target. Pick up a few pair of Mossimo velour cropped pants. I'm practically living in them right now. They're comfy and look cute for coffee runs to Starbucks. I pair them with my Juicy jackets, b/c I'm totally over those Juicy bottoms that don't fit anymore. Totally thanks to mass-production. Target also has the hottest t-shirts and dresses! You should also pick up some accessories there. Oh, and at least 3 pair of the same (yes, same) faux seude flip-flops. I have searched high and low, and only Target delivers the best flip flops for the season. They're $6, and will last about 3 months with daily wear. I usually buy 3 pairs at once.

3. Forever 21 should be your next stop. Their tops are AMAZING. They look extra hott with True Religion jeans, and they have the best trends! I picked up 3 or 4 striped shirts here. I also got some basic pastel shirts that look hot with spring necklaces.

4. Wet Seal. I haven't been here in a while, but a very stylish girl working in Steve Madden suggested I go over there to purchase the ultra hot top she was wearing. I picked up some cute pieces here!

5. Marc by Marc Jacobs has the must-have handbags of the season. Girls, you just can't buy a cheap bag. You'll use it too much. At least, I do. You need to know that you can beat up your handbag. And Marc by Marc Jacobs bags are around $350. Worth every penny.

6. For my other shoes besides flip flops, I'm loving Christian Louboutin shoes. Their spring wedges are superbly hot. I also have a pair of wedges from Marc Jacobs from last season which I'll definitely wear this year. I also picked up a pair of gold leather flats from K. Jacques. Love them! I also picked up a pair of Jimmy Choo slingbacks in turquoise which are beyond hott. I'm looking at some Jimmy peep-toes, too. Steve Madden had a few hott buys, which I've also picked up. FYI, if you want Christian L. copies, go to Madden. They definitely cover the hott designer styles the best.

7. For my jewelry, I picked up most of my stuff on a recent trip to Honduras. I have a lot of handmade stuff that's really unique and cool. I also picked up some odds and ends from Charlotte Russe and of course Target!

8. Ok, now you should shift your focus to online shopping. My favorite site is shopbop.com. I literally buy one item per week! Everything is unbelievably fabulous! I also love eluxury.com. This site is great for Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton.

9. My final tip is to pick up Lucky magazine for the stickers! Use it when searching for seasonal finds from Victoria's Secret, Newport News, and Spiegel. I alo always grab Marie Claire, which every season has THE BEST top 10 trend report.

Don't forget to get rid of those old items you don't need anymore! Donate them to a local shelter and make sure your items are getting to people in need. ;-)

Up next, we'll discuss guys...

Here Comes Oscar

2006-02-04T19:38:00.000-08:00

So I have not been doing a good job with this blog. Whit always reminds me to update it, but I forget. I'm seriously busier than ever. I'm taking classes at Wharton, which is adding some much needed fun to my life. I know you wonder how more work can be fun, but it actually is. But let's get back to the movies...

My most recent pics were Munich, Annapolis, and Something New. We'll get to the last two in a minute. Munich was fab, but I'm quite biased to Eric Bana and Daniel Craig. You MUST rent Layer Cake to get a feel for Craig's acting. Sienna Miller is also good in that one.

Munich was pretty long, but lucky for me I had Starbucks and good company. ;-)

Since I didn't get to blog my Oscar picks before the noms came out, I have to respond. Let's get my predictions started.

The one movie I need to see that I haven't seen yet is Walk the Line. I've heard it's pure brilliance. I would agree that even though Joaquin grabbed the Globe, I'm not sure he can surpass Phillip Seymour Hoffman's Capote. Terrance Howard is great as he ALWAYS is (I know the academy would like to think this was his breakout year, but he has made fab films for years), and I did like Heath in Brokeback Mountain, but the cast hasn't been doing well so far in picking up awards for acting. So I'm going w/ Hoffman.

Best Supporting Male is tough as well. I loved Cindarella Man and I don't get why they're not getting more praise for the flick. Maybe the world didn't want another boxing movie so soon. Russell does have two Oscars, and there's an obvious reason why. So I'm going to go with George Clooney here. He was good in Syriana. Although, Paul Giamatti could surprise us and win. He did win the SAG, and his performance in Sideways is still looming.

If there's any actress people are willing to win this year, it's Reese Witherspoon. We all know how much I love her. Yes, there's a lot of talk about Felicity Hoffman, but I think it's Reese's time. I'm also sad Gwenyth Paltrow didn't get a nod for Proof. I loved that movie.

As soon as I saw Capote, I knew Catherine Keener was getting a nod. She was absolutely fabulous as Harper Lee. Frances McDormand was great as well. I'm sure former Dawson's Creek star Michelle Williams is just enjoying the nod. Rachel Weisz is really cleaning up this season, though, so I may have to go with her. RGH...then again Oscar does make some risky choices...if I could choose my fave performance, I'd go with Catherine.

I think Brokeback Mountain is a given for the best picture, but I don't think it was. Crash was by far, and Capote was so compelling. I CANNOT believe Walk the Line didn't get a nod in this category. I would LOVE an upset with a Crash victory.

Ok enough Oscar talk for now. Annapolis was fabulous. My brother school while attending the all-women's Hood College was, in fact, the United States Naval Academy. Yes, our President at the time used to bus Midshipmen in for our dances. I LOVE the academy and love those guys. The movie was definitely a good flick and I didn't know James Franco could be so good.

Something new was something refreshing and wonderful. Sanaa Lathan is always good, and Simon Baker was great. I've never seen one of his movies before, but I like him.

On a final note, I will say I've been indulging in retail therapy a lot lately. ;-) We all know how I feel about that, and yes, I did snap up some fab turquoise Jimmy Choos. If you have no clue what I'm talking about, refer to my old, old post about guys and shoes, and read between the lines. I'm going to start putting up some shelves for the new shoes so I can look at them all day...

Peace, Love, & Shopping,

TW.

More Movie Talk...

2005-12-26T20:01:00.000-08:00

So I haven't posted about movies lately because I just haven't been to see any! In the last few weeks, however, I've definitely caught up. I was looking back on my Oscar/Golden Globe predictions, and I was pretty ok! There were several movies that weren't out yet, so I'm trying to see them all now. I recently saw:

1. The Family Stone - AMAZING cast that really works. Sarah Jessica Parker is HILARIOUS and totally deserving of her GG nod. She's so not Carrie in this movie!

2. Brokeback Mountain - I didn't get why Heath would get nominated for a GG and not Jake - until I saw the film. Heath's character, Ennis Del Mar, just HAUNTS you. I got the same feeling I also got from the stars of Capote (also GG nod for Hoffman!). Anne Hathaway and Michelle Williams are also fab in this flick.

3. Rumor Has It - Rumor has it this movie sucks, and it does. Kevin Costner is FAB, though. Jennifer Aniston is just playing the same character again. Quite different from her turn in Derailed. I'm surprised she didn't get a nod for that, btw.

Speaking of...Both Aniston and Angelina Jolie were not on the nomination list, even though both had great movies. Mr. & Mrs. Smith was a major box office success AND the acting was great. Could too many tabloid headlines be to blame? Maybe the foreign press isn't too into that.

So I obviously have many more movies to see before I can cast my votes pre - GGs. I am VERY HAPPY Wentworth Miller got a nod for Prison Break, and I think he's the one to beat in that category. The show is fresh and he's a fab actor. In the comedic actress category, I'm also hoping Mary Louise Parker upsets the Desperate Housewives. Weeds was really unique and funny. I really love her. ;-)

So, there are a few movies I'm NOT looking forward to seeing, including King Kong. You just don't need to make a 3.5 hr movie about apes. And are we supposed to think she's falling for this ape? Jack Black is too annoying to watch for that long. Adrien Brody, thankfully, is not. ;-) As for Naomi Watts - she was fab in 21 Grams and I'm not sure about much else.

Munich and Syriana are on my must-see list right now. I'm not quite sure about Pride & Prejudice, but I do love Jane Austen. I just saw the preview today for Match Point, and Scarlette Johanssen looks fab as usual. I really don't think she makes a bad movie - or ever has bad co-stars!

Ok, so I'm going to keep watching and hopefully I'll have some predictions for you next week!

Until then...

Peace, love & shopping!

TW.

Get Ready For Oscar

2005-10-31T18:20:00.000-08:00

Ok folks. Anyone who knows me knows how much I LOVE the movies. I literally go to see 3-4 movies PER WEEKEND. So when darling Whitney suggested I start blogging about films, since it is pre-Oscar season, I figured I'd give it a try. I've done pretty well predicting some careers in Hollywood (Kiera Knightley before anyone was keen on her, and on fire star Wentworth Miller were all Buzzed first), and I'm usually 95% correct on my Oscar predictions. So here goes nothing.

If you asked me what films you HAD to see right now, I'd say:

1. Capote - Philip Seymour Hoffman and Catherine Keener should both be getting Oscar nods. Both are brilliant.

2. In Her Shoes - Cameran Diaz and Toni Collette are AMAZING in this movie. Cameron should get a nod, but they may not see her as serious enough. I'd look for her to get a Golden Globe nod though.

3. Prime - Uma Thurman and Meryl Streep are both fabulous in this fim. Newcomer Bryan Greenberg is beyond hot too.

4. Proof - Gwenyth Paltrow is REALLY amazing in this movie. Jake Gyllenhaal was really good in this movie, but Hope Davis really stole the show. I definitely think she'll be getting a Supporting Actress nod.

5. North Country - Charlize Theron is hoping to follow the lead of select Academy Award Winners who win back to back. Her peformance really is fantastic, but I hope we'll start seeing her in some happier films. Frances McDormand will probably be looking at a Supporting nod as well.

So those are my picks so far. I'm still waiting to see:

1. Jarhead - I think Jake may have something here.
2. Brokeback Mountain - Jake again with Heath Ledger.
3. Walk the Line - Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix are going to be the ones to beat this award season. Both are brilliant actors who really don't seem to gobble up every press opp. Joaquin has already said that he's not going to be campaigning for the Oscar, so that makes him even cooler. And Reese's comments about not wanting her daughter to idolize girls who make a living playing dumb are right on time. They honestly don't need to campaign.

Ok. I have one more thing to add. Put this film in the category of WEIRD. I saw Stay this weekend. And as my sister said, you really just want to leave. You need to know going into this film that you just don't need to try to figure anything out. Just go with the flow, and you'll appreciate it for its artistry and not really look for a big finish.

So I'll be back each weekend with a fresh update for you guys. This weekend, I actually packed in 4 movies:

1. Prime
2. Saw II
3. Stay
4. The Fog

They were all really great, with the exception of the aformentioned. ;-)

Peace, love & shopping!

TW.

It's Been Too Long...

2005-10-01T19:21:00.000-07:00

Hi there!

So I have to thank you guys for all of your emails - you made me return to my blog! I have to say that this summer was one of the craziest summers ever. I usually get to relax a bit and travel, but this summer, it was all about work. I also moved into a new place in August, so I'm spending most of my time trying to find the perfect couch and cooking.

Yes, believe it or not, I COOK. And I love to do it. It's quite therapeutic. ;-) And no, I don't just make chicken soup and instant mac & cheese. I'm a big fan of pasta and seafood. Right now, I'm pretty obsessed with salmon. I have seriously figured out every way there is to cook it. So if any of you have any good salmon recipes, PLEASE email them to me.

As far as couches go, I'm trying to decide between three right now. I think I need to make a decision quickly, because I can't take one more night in that pod chair. I've recently discovered the joy of On Demand cable, and with winter on the way, a couch will come in handy, and be a nice compliment to the fireplace. ;-)

I've also decided that I'm going back to school. No, this is not a Tommy Lee kind of prank. I got accepted to Wharton a few years ago and never went, and I think I'd like to start taking classes now. I'm one of those crazy people who loves to learn, and I miss being on a campus and talking about books, and yes, even getting GRADES. I know, it's disgusting but true. It doesn't help that my brainiac sister is 23 w/ an M.B.A. I've got a lot of work to do.

It's my dream to be a professor one day, so I need to get back to it. Ok, time to go cook and try to decide on a couch.

Peace, love, & shopping! ;-)

TW.

The Best $16 I've Spent in a Long Time...

2005-06-18T09:26:00.000-07:00

So I finally succumbed to the pressure/desire/sheer pleasure of owning the newest Backstreet Boys record. I wasn't sure what I'd think. We all know how rough critics are (and honestly, don't you usually end up feeling the opposite of what most say??), so I wasn't sure what I'd think. Now, I must preface this by saying I have been a BSB fan since high school. Say what you want about them, but their music is just good, easy-listening music.

Never Gone should have been called "Never Hotter," b/c every song on this record (ok I'm lying, I sorta didn't like 2 of them) is hott. They're not trying too hard, they're not denying who they are, and it honestly just feels like 5 friends got together to make some good music. Some might say it's predictable, but it's the sort of predictability you really want.

So if you're looking for something to pump in your SUV w/ the sunroof open (my method of choice), this is the record for you.

Peace, love, & shopping...

TW.

I Heart Finland

2005-05-26T17:39:00.000-07:00

I've just spent an entire day in the lovely country of Finland. The day got off to a rocky start with me being detained by the guards to "further investigate my passport." 10 min later, my passport was stamped, and Whit and I were on our way!

So Whit and I met our friends Markus and Antti from our partnering firm, 15/30 Research, and got our first surprise of the day: being picked up in a Cadillac Escalade! So not Finland to me!

After a stop at a cute coffee shop (not one Starbucks in all of Finland), we were off to a student art exhibit. It was honestly the most amazing work I've ever seen, and I can't wait to showcase it to you guys in upcoming research reports, issues of the magazine, etc. Those few hours at the exhibit made the entire trip worthwhile. To see such amazing ideas, forward thinking, collaborations and innovations coming from young people was inspiring.

I did an interview with the local FInnish paper, which was also fun. Next was another highlight of the day - meeting with an entertainment company called Sulake, who created this amazing onlin site habbohotel.com. If you haven't heard of it, check it out, because it's going to be MASSIVE.

I wish I could have stayed longer, but I had another reporter waiting for me from FInland's major business magazine. I was pretty out of it by that time (I've gotten little to no sleep since I've been in Europe), so hopefully my answers weren't that bad. It was quite an interesting discussion on ethics in marketing, U.S. youth vs. Finnish youth, etc. Markus plans to translate the highlights for me.

Too tired to enjoy a traditional Finnish meal and even shopping (yes, I know, totally horrendous news), I enjoyed the comforts of Hotel Kamp. I'm glad I was so jetlagged, b/c I don't know if I would have gotten to sleep. Since we're so far north, it doesn't get really dark at night. It just looks like it's 5AM. WEIRD - but totally cool.

Time for tea and a quick nap before the flight back to London. Let's cross our fingers that they'll let me back in! I have to finish my shopping!

Peace, Love, & Shopping!

TW.

I'm Retiring My Passport

2005-05-24T17:45:00.000-07:00

I never thought I'd say this, but I think it's time to give up the traveling for a bit. I came to this conclusion while I was sitting in my lovely hotel room in Chelsea. You see, today was unlike any travel day I've had before.

It started out wonderfully relaxing on Virgin Air (the flight was so fantastic I didn't want it to end). I first hit some troubles going through immigration. Calling it troubles is an understatement. Let's just say I have a very well-traveled passport (Honduras, Austria, Germany, France, Switzerland, Canada, etc), and it looks it. I think it has something to do with it getting caught in a horrendous rain storm in Honduras (our professor wasn't bright enough to tuck them away). I tried to get it replaced, but I was told it was damaged enough. Well, I say tell that to the lovely lady who barked at me today. She made it quite clear that if I tried to re-enter the UK with my current passport, I'd be put IN JAIL and then promptly sent home! Can you imagine how hard it was for Whit not to laugh at the thought of her boss being thrown in jail?? And she made it clear she was documenting that in my file. It was all I could do to NOT LAUGH! How does someone who's passport is supposedly not showing up have a file to be documented? Just like I thought - she was having a bad day and taking it out on me. ;-)

So I pick up my bag (more on THAT later) and go to meet our driver. I casually drop the name of our hotel, but I guess our driver wasn't listening, because he took us to the wrong hotel. So after listening to him yelling about how absolutely crazy people are, he drops us at the right hotel.

After checking in with no problems, we arrived at our lovely room - with ONE BED - at the completely sold out hotel. LOVELY.

So I finally decide it's time to lay out my clothes for tomorrow and get showered, and I discover I GRABBED THE WRONG SUITCASE. Yes, someone else traveling on my same flight has my SAME EXACT brown crocodile suitcase. I don't know if I should be laughing, crying, screaming or what (lots of missing Jimmy Choos, Junkfood t-shirts, and Citizens jeans right now), but hopefully it gets sorted out in the morning.

For now, I'll drink my tea and watch "Win A Date With Tad Hamilton." Seems like a nice way to end a ridiculously awful day.

Peace, Love, & Shopping!

TW.

P.S. If I do run into that terrible woman at Immigration again, I may need you all to write some FREE TINA signs for the stint in jail she promised me. ;-)

Can Sprint Honestly Be Any Worse??

2005-05-22T18:09:00.000-07:00

It's a story that's been told too many times by too many people. It normally starts with someone's phoone being shut off for owing 25 cents, or a phone that doesn't work. It usually ends with the customer being hung up on, told there's nothing that can be done, or asked if they'd like to purchase a home plan. It's the horrendous experience that comes with being a customer of Sprint PCS.

It's a story I know all too well, as a 5 year customer. Google Sprint PCS and you'll be appalled at the number of angry posts you'll find. People complaining about fake credit agencies hounding them for money, complaints about lack of customer service - let's put it this way - not good publicity for a company like Sprint PCS.

It leads you to wonder if they're honestly that lost that they don't know how much people hate them. I mean, I'm a 5 year customer and I truly abhor and totally detest Sprint PCS. Yet every time I go to cancel them (I mean honestly, do I care about the $150 fee??), I end up buying something else.

In Round 22 of my I Hate Sprint saga, I bought the new world phone. My lovely sales rep, who we'll call Luke (probably the one nice person who works in customer service), sold me the world in 3 minutes flat. A beautiful world phone, tons of great features, and oh yes Ms. Wells, all your numbers will transfer...$800 later, my numbers can't be transferred, the store doesn't carry SIM cards, and I can't even buy a travel charger!

So let's get this straight. They can sell you a ridiculously expensive phone, but can't help you take care of it or even charge it. Good to know there's so much common sense flowing through one company.

While I'm waiting for the obnoxiously rude sales assistant to look for a charger at the store, I loudly remark that I should switch to Verizon. He pointedly remarks that "they're no better." What a slick move. Not only does he look like the cocky idiot he is, he actually confirms how horrendous his company is!

So I could rag on and on forever, but we all know I'm sticking with them. Thank God for blogging and spinning. You have to get the frustration out somehow. ;-) Hopefully, Sprint will get the message to stop running their "How To Be Nasty To Clients" seminar in favor of something much more happy. Until then, there's always blogging.

Oh, and Raman noodles and Law & Order: SVU do tend to make the frustrations disappear as well...

Peace, Love, & Shopping!

TW.

LET THE TRAVELING BEGIN

2005-05-21T16:19:00.000-07:00

Hi Guys,

Sorry I haven't been blogging lately. I've gotten all of your nasty emails and IMs beckoning me back to the blog, so here I am. ;-) Honestly, I've just been living like a nomad for the last few months, traveling all over. And my traveling has only begun! For those of you who really know me, you know this is a dream come true. I literally have an emergency bag packed for traveling at any notice.

So I'm leaving on Tuesday for a week in London, with a stop in Helsinki, Finland. Whit and I will be doing some research in Helsinki with some teens and young adults, so that should be fabuously fun. OF COURSE there will be tons of shopping (all my little heart desires is a stop in the Bershka shop on High Street). If any of you have recommendations for places to eat in London, PLEASE email me, b/c I didn't make too many smart choices last time I was there.

For those of you who asked me about my love life...I COULD WRITE PAGES UPON PAGES...I will just say this - when I was in LA, I bought 2 pairs of Jimmy Choos, which totally renewed my faith in great shoes, and totally confirmed that they were much better than a boyfriend. Shoes aren't complicated, and complicated seems to be a word that frequently comes up in relationship conversations.

I promise to write a few times while I'm away. I'm sure Whit and I will have funny stories from the road. Traveling for me is always an adventure. If I could figure out how to upload some photos, I would! So if anyone knows, email me!

Peace, Love, & Shopping!

TW.

Life Begins At 25!

2005-04-25T08:27:00.000-07:00

Well...that's what I keep telling myself. I just turned 25 a few days ago, and I already feel old. I don't remember things like I used to and I just feel older. Or maybe it's just me being dramatic. I think I'll be excited to turn 30, 35, 40...somehow 25 just doesn't seem as fabulous.

So I enjoyed a nice dinner at Nobu, where I ran into my favorite male artist of all time (well, of right now, let's be honest), Mr. John Mayer. Very polite and VERY TALL. I also received more flowers and cards then all past birthday's combined. It's always interesting to see what people really think of you, and I think your birthday shows you (I got tons of pale pink roses, jewelry, starbucks cards, broadway show tickets...). I'm just happy it's over. Too much attention for me.

Peace, love, and shopping!

P.S. I'm sorry to report I didn't survive the "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" song at Dave & Buster's on Saturday. Anyone who knows me knows that my greatest fear is a group of people I don't know breaking out in a birthday tune for me. It's weird, it's scary, but my parents did it anyway. Love ya Mom and Dad. ;-)

life begins at starbucks...

2005-04-16T18:08:00.000-07:00

so after almost 24 hours of no caramel macchiatos, i have to say i miss the 'bucks in my blood right now. i've been thinking abt posting abt 'bucks for a while now. my addiction is so out of control! when i started to think abt all of the people, speaking engagements, industry invites, friends i make, etc that all comes from starbucks, it's a bit insane.

i can tell you who makes the best macchiatos in zurich (right in the town center near the train station on your way to the shopping center!), london, and toronto to name a few. i've also befriended barristas on both coasts (yes, i can walk into at least 5 locations where they know exactly what i want). i will say that you shouldn't depend on a good cup of 'bucks in london (they should stick to their fab teas) or paris (une cafe w/ a bit of cream and sugar is superb).

i think when i'm done running buzz, i'd like to retire and run a nice starbucks. that's my new dream.

peace, love, & shopping!

tw.

sweet home NJ

2005-03-27T14:58:00.000-08:00

OMG. I HATE AIRPORTS! Totally disregard everything I said previously about people watching, yada yada yada. Where shall I begin?? Well, let's start with United Airlines decided to downsize the plane for our cross-country LAX to PHL trek. Then, they overbooked. So I show up to the gate w/ no assigned seat and somehow knew I wasn't getting back to NJ on fri at 6am as planned.

There is nothing worse/funnier than watching 25 people duke it out for a seat on a plane that we all know 5 extra people will actually board. So for the first time, I decided to make a deal. I happened to be #19 on the list, so I knew I wasn't getting on. I ended up w/ a few free tickets and some nice upgrades. All in a day's work. ;-)

So my big friday off was spent flying all day, but that's totally fine, b/c I spent the day reading the BEST BOOK EVER - "Good to Great," by Jim Collins. Anyone who really knows me knows that I'm rarely seen without a magazine or book, and this is my book of the moment. EVERY business owner should have to read it.

So I'm actually going to get back to reading the book (by the fireplace, of course - and, WHY is it so cold here in NJ that I can still do that comfortably??).

it's about time!

2005-03-24T11:09:00.000-08:00

so i have finally taken my diary from the .doc to the www! can you say MAD PUMPED! so i have to say i'm beyond tired right now. i've been in LA since mon and have been working 24/7. it has finally stopped raining in LA, and i'm pretty pleased with that.

i'm taking a redeye back to the east coast, and i CAN'T WAIT for the flight home. i honestly love airports. it's the best place to read mags, eat the most unhealthy stuff, and just watch people. airport fashion is just so so important. it says a lot about the traveler. are they rockin' juicy w/ cute ballet flats? PJs? all so interesting to me.

so it's back to NJ for a fun family weekend and then off to nyc on tues. tues will be a super fun day b/c i get to speak at The Door, which is an AMAZING organization for youth (www.door.org).

ok kids. time for me to sign off and get to work. keep your fingers crossed that some handsome stranger from london sits next to me on the plan.

P, L, & H,

TW.