Friday, June 29, 2012

Joisey Review: Semi-Charmed Life by Nora Zelevansky


Since my knees were feeling somewhat better, I decided to go to a Gilt City book event located at this Lower East Side boutique 143 Ludlow which the address of the boutique is also the name of the boutique. Kinda of quirky in its own right I gathered. The boutique was used for a book launch with champagne and cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcakes. I did not imbibe in either as I do not drink and the cupcake looked to be more frosting than cake. Now I do like cupcakes but I want cake not cake with my frosting. The boutique itself was small and got very crowded due to the subject matter of the book whose title is Semi-Charmed Life by Nora Zelevansky. Most of the time I sat outside until it was time to hear a reading from the book which made me laugh as well as receive my copy and a gift bag filled with various beauty products from Aveda, Stila makeup, and Liz Earle. This event was sponsored and coordinated by Gilt City, like I said above.


The book which is Nora Zelevansky’s hilarious debut, Semi-Charmed Life, is about an Upper West Side naïf, Beatrice Bernstein, gets swept up in the seemingly magical life of socialite Veruca Pfeffernoose, while ghost writing her blog. Veruca’s glitteringly opulent world soon seduces Beatrice away from her own insular, arty family with a promise of fancy parties, travel outside Manhattan (for once) and one desperately cute guy. But when her new glitzy lifestyle starts to take on dark undertones, Beatrice has to decide who she is—once and for all. With her own magical touch, Zelevansky explores the world of Manhattan in this modern fairy tale of first love, finding one’s voice and growing up.

Immediately when I read the description, I thought "Oh it is another version of The Devil Wears Prada" but as I delved into the book more it is simply not that. The writing is superb and much easier to understand. It is quirky, laugh out loud, fun. This book has so many twists and turns that you will not want to put it down, which I didn't, for three days. Hey I am a bookworm...what did you expect? If I had to compare the writing with its various art and pop culture references, Nora is a twin of screenwriter Amy Sherman-Palladino whose work is most known for the television show Gilmore Girls and we all know how much I adored that television show.

If this is the type of book that you enjoy, prepare to be fully charmed! Definitely recommend. Semi Charmed Life by Nora Zelevansky is available on July 3rd at your local Barnes and Noble or you may get the Kindle version/Nook version on that date as well.




Thursday, June 28, 2012

Things I Love Thursday -- June 28th Edition



Second round of Euflexxa shot in my left knee and an second M.R.I. done....you would think I am some sort of athlete but I am just a Jersey/NYC Girl living the dream. This week has gone by in a big whirlwind but nonetheless a happy and grateful one. With this said, here is what I am in love with this week.

~~Thunderstorms that make references to The Mighty Thor
~~My dog Hudson being back to his usual goofy self.
~~When my joints pop and it relieves pressure and does not cause pain.
~~Reading three books at a time and not confusing/mixing plots together.
~~Going to a book event in a fashionable Lower East Side boutique.
~~Watching reality television with my mom, especially Swamp People and Hardcore Pawn.
~~Second half of French classes start today! Wondering if I should make a weekend/what I did blog post all in French?
~~That Sugar Slam 3: Batter Royal is in full swing!
~~The way my other dog Sweetums comes into my room and head butts me in the leg so I can scratch her.
~~In This Moments new song "Blood" Take a listen!
~~This graffiti I found on the way home from the book event
~~Having the author from the book event retweet and reply to my tweet. The book launch I went to was for Semi-Charmed Life by Nora Zelevansky. Blog about the event as well as the book comes out tomorrow!
~~Receiving a Chad Ochocinco Cincinnati Bengals jersey simply because he changed his name back to Chad Johnson and he is no longer on the Bengals.
~~Seeing some inappropriately dressed 8th graders during their awards ceremony. It is a lot of fun going "oh...you have a lot to learn" as well as "WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU WEARING? WHERE ARE YOU GOING?" Yes I am being judgmental but it is also a way of being nostalgic.




What are you in love with this week?


Thursday, June 21, 2012

Things I Love Thursday -- June 21st Edition



As I sit here with my left knee stretched out on a chair since it is filled with fluid again, (hey I go hard I guess), here is what I am in love with this week:

~~My dad installing my air conditioner in my bedroom. Summer in NYC decided to show up like a bull in a china shop!

~~Catching up on my reading and leaving books/magazines in various spots in NYC.

~~Getting tickets to see Hugh Laurie with my friend V in September.

~~My new sunglasses from Lucky Cupcake Hair Clips! I got the 8 bit sunglasses in Black and Hello Kitty sunglasses in Black with White polka dot bow. Lucky Cupcake is also the one that has made my custom wrestler hair bows. She is AWESOME. Check her stuff out!

~~Having a dance party, well while sitting due to my knees, in my bedroom to WWE themes.

~~Late night conversations with Michael.

~~Making new friends via YouTube.

~~Finally using Meetup.com for my geek girl interests.

~~Veggie chips!

~~That my dog Hudson is well on his way to a speedy recovery from a pinched nerve.

~~The television show Dallas on TNT.

~~Summer trip anticipation and planning.

What are you in love with this week?



Friday, June 1, 2012

Sugar Slam III -- Batter Royal

I am so very very happy to announce that there will be a Sugar Slam 3 this year! Now in case you do not remember, or are new to my lovely blog, Sugar Slam is the brainchild of Natalie Slater, semi-professional baker/writer and fan of professional wrestling. One of her close friends is CM Punk, and since I am a fan of CM Punk this is how I met her and realized just how cool she is, and when they are together they have a cake feud -- she is a fan of frosting/icing who feels dessert is not dessert without it (I agree!) while he vehemently hates it. One day there were going back and forth about it and she said "Hey- we should do a wrestling-themed bake off because fighting and eating are fun!" He agreed to be the judge and like a true heel he picked a CM Punk dessert as the winner! Furthermore, she is heavily influenced by punk rock and is an inspiration to all those who follow the beat of their own drum. She has a unique style with an intense flair that draws you into her blog. She does not have a bakery at the moment and has a 9-5 job as well as the proud owner and partner of GreySlater Goods which is a eco-friendly boutique dedicated to to supporting small businesses with Made in the USA products. Although she has no culinary education, no fancy degree, but yet she knows her stuff and what makes baked goods GOOD for you as well as taste. You can find her blog, Bake and Destroy, here -- Bake and Destroy, her Twitter here -- Natalie Bake and Destroy, and her Tumblr page here Bake and Destroy.

So now...Sugar Slam 3 is back with a vengeance! The most delicious championship in sports-entertainment is the tagline. Last year's competition had over 100 entries. Just like last year, there will be two prize levels - the Championship, as chosen by the esteemed Sugar Slam 3 judges -- UCBW MegaStar Zach Linder, former WWE Diva Amy "Lita" Dumas and US Air Guitar Champion Justin "Nordic Thunder" Howard. Plus there is the People's Choice Award winner as chosen by the fans. This year's competition will also feature guest "commentary" by author/musician Mike Edison. Just by this alone, don't you want to enter? If I had any decorating ability I sure would!

Check out last years entries here -- Sugar Slam 2011

If you would like to enter SugarSlam 3 please go here for official rules and how to enter: Sugar Slam III: Batter Royal Official Rules!

UPDATE: SUGAR SLAM 2012 DEADLINE EXTENSION! The deadline is now AUGUST 15TH so now you have no excuse to not enter!