Apartment Seven

What Happens When Mean Girls Grow Up?

2011-02-18T19:29:00.001-05:00

No, not Lindsey. The Washington Post just published a really great article that discusses what really happens when mean girls grow up and past high school. It's a really great read. Read it here.

Is It Real Food?

2011-02-16T21:28:00.001-05:00

Here's another chart I found interesting, see if it works for you. Funny thing though, I keep trying to use this for yogurt and it keeps coming up as not real food. Hmmmm...

Take Your Government Hands Off My Vagina

2011-02-15T17:30:00.004-05:00

This is a great piece by Andrea Grimes, a once pro-life Republican who had a rude awakening after having her own pregnancy scare in college.

And in other news, a South Dakota committee is trying to pass a bill that would make it legal to kill anyone who intends to harm a fetus. Here is a quote from the original article by journalist Kate Sheppard of Mother Jones. You can find the full article here.

Breaking News: Barbie and Ken, Back Together.

2011-02-14T17:31:00.000-05:00

Here is something to help you celebrate V-Day: Barbie and Ken are back together after breaking up in 2004. Apparently Ken went on a groveling spree, begging Barbie to take him back, even going as far as professing his love on Billboards, websites and taxi cabs.

I know, I know, they're just dolls, but it makes for great, mindless conversation fodder.

Happy Valentines Day Everyone!

Should You Shave Your Legs Flow Chart

2011-02-10T20:51:00.001-05:00

Thinking you have to shave your legs but can't decide? Maybe the following chart can help!

Have Shovel, Will Work

2011-02-10T18:32:00.001-05:00

Here's some good news: this article in the Hartford Courant reports that the recent bad weather has led to a spike in labor for the state.

Connecticut was hit with four major snow storms in January 2011, and the weight of the accumulating snow has caused entire structures to fall, including a 120-year old building in Middletown.

This has led to a great windfall for contracting companies and day laborers. It's nice to see that so much snow can actually lead to something good. So if you want to make a couple of bucks and don't mind working outside, this just might help you out.

And Now, for Some Poetri

2011-02-09T16:34:00.001-05:00

I loved HBO's Def Poetry (and still sincerely hope it'll come back someday!) So below, here is one of my many favorite poems from the show. Here is a very funny and talented young gentleman named Poetri reciting the original poem, Dating Myself. Enjoy.

Dick Blumenthal, I think I Love Ya

2011-02-08T18:18:00.001-05:00

Last week on The Huffington Post, Richard Blumenthal, US Senator for Connecticut wrote a very eloquently stated piece about the current attempts being made in Senate to limit women's access to comprehensive reproductive health care. In the article he writes,

"It has long been my belief that in matters of women's health, there are no better people to decide what is best than a woman and her doctor. These efforts to eliminate choices for women and put private decisions in the hands of politicians must be rejected."

Demography in America

2011-02-07T07:53:00.001-05:00

In this New York Times article, demographers are now realizing what my high school Social Studies teacher predicted for years; that there is a new generation of diverse and ethnically mixed young Americans coming our way.

What does this mean? Among other things, that the cultural climate is changing, and this may very well lead to a huge cultural and social shift in America.

This may also mean a huge political shift as well, but I don't see this happening much in the immediate future. Although people of color are quickly closing the gap in population, we are still seriously underrepresented in colleges, media, and politics. And here lies the problem: while we wait for this new generation to come of age, there are still people in power who do not hold our best interests at heart, and will hold on for as long as humanly possible.

I highly recommend you read the article, and maybe donate a couple of dollars to the college scholarship fund of your choice.

Young Americans Increasingly Diverse

Books that you want to read

2011-02-06T10:02:00.003-05:00

I love reading books that are fun, interesting and have content. My biggest pet peeve are books that have a million sequels just to give you watered-down story lines that could have easily fit in one volume (Sweep, House of Night, I'm talking to you. )

BitchMagazine.org has featured a list of actually good books that wont take your money and make you angry. Take a look, and if you want, check out their website too.

Miss Representation: A movie about how women are portrayed in the media

2011-02-05T18:58:00.000-05:00

I so want to see this. Its an honest documentary about how women are portrayed in the media. So far it is one of the most watched movies at this year's Sundance Movie Festival.

If you're interested, go to their website and schedule a screening in your neighborhood/school/library.

http://www.missrepresentation.org

Redefining Rape on The Daily Show

2011-02-04T18:43:00.000-05:00

There has always been this push and pull between women's rights and politics. Personally, I don't think party politics have any business in Women's Rights, but like a friend once said, I'm a Feminist, of course I would say that.

Watch the clip below and decide for yourself.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Rape Victim Abortion Funding

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show Full Episodes

Political Humor & Satire Blog</a>

The Daily Show on Facebook

I don't think anyone else could have put it better.

The Incredible Edible Adventures of Kendra and Jane

2010-08-10T17:21:00.001-04:00

This morning, after second period had started and they were safely alone, Jane decided she needed to lose weight, and promptly shoved two fingers down her throat in the girl’s bathroom.

It was, of course, Apology Monday. After spending two days straight getting stoned and drunk until four in the morning, Mondays were the days Kendra and Jane spent making amends. They did everything they could to balance out the damage they did on the weekends: getting facials, doing homework, and sometimes eating nothing but fruit and granola in lieu of all the junk they ate on Saturdays and Sundays.

Dreamguy

2010-08-10T00:05:00.002-04:00

(I wrote this back in high school. Published in the Metro Bridge, February 2001)

(PS Don't judge me to harshly, I was 16 and the rose-colored glasses were still firmly on).

I want him to be nice

And sweet

And to hold me like no one before

I want his smile to prove my safety

And his eyes to prove his love

Today

2010-08-06T08:47:00.000-04:00

I caught myself writing a poem today

What do I do? What do I do?

completely out of the blue

What is that? Is that you?

I wrote it down with paper and pen

What do I do? How can this be?

and hid it in my shoe.

My heart has got the best of me.

time

2010-08-03T00:30:00.000-04:00

time does not stop.

it continues past love, past pain, past experience.

a constant reminder of our own mortality with the thumping of our hearts.

you would think that time would have the decency to stop during the most dire situations,

and let us pay some semblance of respect.

let us mourn our loss

let us capture the moment and savor it, taste the reality of the moment, roll it on our tongues and say, " I understand."

but time does not stop.

it's a constant reminder between moon phases

when the leaves turn and the first snow starts to fall.

time is constant,

the one variable that remains the same in this experiment.

even after death time continues.

the body decomposes while time moves on.

And you lay there

forgotten.

our enemy is time.

Me

2010-08-01T16:50:00.000-04:00

(old poem from 2006)

I'm the girl who's always late,

waiting at the bus stop

with everything I own strapped to my back.

And sometimes it rains.

I burn my fingers when I cook.
My yellow rice comes out orange and I put ketchup on everything.
Sometimes I pay my bills late.

Often I press ignore when my father calls,

and I always hope its someone else calling,

not you, Dad, because you didn't love me when you should've.

I want someone who can.

I cry when I read sad stories

and laugh to myself when I think no one is watching.
Sometimes I foget myself and talk too much about sex.

I never say the right thing or laugh at the right time.

I don't have the answer and I over react.
But once in a while I get it right.

think of me

2010-08-01T16:40:00.000-04:00

Think of me as you wake

and know I'm thinking of you too

for you my body aches

and no one else will do.

Think of me as you wake

yearn, obsess, dream

hunger often ends

but until then, think of me.

Confessions of a Salesgirl

2010-05-24T23:29:00.001-04:00

Have you ever wondered what kind of things happen inside of your average store? We’ve all heard the saying, “the customer is always right”, but what about the person behind the register? Paying my way through college, I’ve worked at some of the most well known stores at your average mall, and some of the things I’ve seen and heard will downright shock you. Every person inside a mall has a story to tell, and well, I’m here to tell you some of mine. They include the rude, the mean, and the disgusting. Read on, you might just recognize someone you know (never you, of course).

Know Your Mushrooms

2010-05-23T23:27:00.000-04:00

New Car, Old Catch Phrase

2010-05-22T23:24:00.000-04:00

Gummi Evolution

2010-05-21T23:15:00.000-04:00

The Blackout

2010-05-20T13:10:00.000-04:00

Ponderables

2010-05-19T12:41:00.001-04:00

I once read this book called When did Wild Poodles Roam the Earth full of random questions that readers would submit like, "Why are there lines under Snickers bars?", and "What's the purpose of that dent in the middle of your top lip?".

I realize that in the age of Google, books like these will probably become extinct, but for now, I'd like for my 3 readers to indulge me and take a look at some ponderables, my style.

1. Why do porn stars always look like they're about to sneeze?
2. If you have sex with 6 different people, all with the same name, does that set your number to one?
3. When is it universally ok to bitch slap someone?
4. If you have sex with your boss, can you put it on your timesheet?
5. If Goldilocks had been black or latina, how fast do you think those bears would have called the cops?
6. Who the hell keeps giving Sarah Palin book deals?

I'm sure I'll think of a few more, but for now, this is it.

Loss

2010-02-23T22:21:00.001-05:00

Like every Sunday morning, today I stood in my mother’s kitchen daydreaming about cool things, about cold ice cream and snow. Anything, really, that could help me bear the heat a little longer. We were in the middle of an insufferable heat wave, and I had run out of ways to stay cool.

So I daydreamed.

My sisters always hated it. I was at my clumsiest when I daydreamed; sometimes I walked into walls and forgot my own name. To them I wasted my time thinking about useless things while the world passed me by. Dreaming, they said, when I should be doing. But my daydreams were always sweeter than the sweetest candy, and much better than the painful routines my family was so fond of.

Who needed the real world?

When to Drop a Plummeting Relationship Stock

2009-10-26T21:04:00.001-04:00

When I first met Michelle, she was the friend of a friend, of a friend, the chubby girlfriend of one of those guys that I rather wished I didn’t know. Michelle was a college freshman that was habitually missing classes and papers because she was too busy keeping her boyfriend in line. In the short time that I knew her, she went from being a B student to academic probation. On the same day The Boyfriend left her for another girl, Michelle was pleading her case in front of the Dean.

Her boyfriend did not even qualify as a player; he was neither smooth nor good looking. He was just a punk kid who lied a lot, had no job, no high school diploma, and no future. Yet Michelle put up with his crap. When he cheated on her, she showed up at his job. When he lied, she followed him. And when she couldn’t find him, she would call me.

Consequences

2009-10-25T20:49:00.001-04:00

On the morning of her first real job interview, Amy broke a heel.

She cursed under her breath as she worked to regain her balance. The last thing she needed was a sprained ankle, after all, but with her luck lately it was just as well. She leaned against her car and stared at the broken heel that now barely clung onto her shoe, completely ruined. It had been her favorite pair, the last pair she bought guilt-free a lifetime ago, and she’d only wore them twice before. She was very tempted to scream at the top of her lungs, if for no other reason than to keep from crying. There was no one around to hear her, no one to see, but she still considered crying a sign of weakness, and she refused to be reduced to tears.

Screaming was better.This was just another thing in a long line of misfortunes, and she was reaching her limit.

Tie Me, Please

2009-10-25T20:38:00.000-04:00

(WARNING: Sexually explicit material below and not for children under 18 years of age)

Matt is the kind of guy that makes you lose your train of thought just by being in the same room with you, and it’s incredibly inconvenient. Every time I realize that I’ve lapse into a daydream about him, I bite my nails and count to ten, like a smoker trying to quit.

It’s like guys like him are made in a lab specifically to turn the savviest would-be scientist into a horny preteen, which means I have absolutely no chance. I cross my legs and bite my nails, trying ease the constant pressure that seems to always pile on my clit these days.

It’s not even like English Lit is that riveting. I’ve never heard of any one getting hot while reading Hawthorne and Thoreau, so I can’t even use that as an excuse. Nope, Matt gets me hot, no doubt about it, and every day after class I have to run to my dorm and get off before I explode.

I glance at Matt from behind my hair. He has dark hair and blue eyes, and the kind of slight body that is a far cry from the foot ball player physique I’m usually attracted to. Since high school I’ve gotten used to dating guys who are bigger and taller than me. I need a guy that can give as good as he can get, and it’s usually the football type that can pick me up and fuck me against the wall just the way I like.

But Matt has this lanky look that makes me want to make an exception.
I want to do more than just fuck him. Sex is easy to find on a college campus. What I want is to strip him down and feel the heat of his skin, and ride him as he watches me with those deep blue eyes.

It’s just my luck that he sits right next to me in class. I’m barely hanging on to a C, and I have no idea what’s going to be on the midterm next week, all because I’m always thinking about Matt. The teacher, an ancient relic who should’ve retired in the 60’s, insists on assigned seating in all his classes, although half the students have already dropped out and the class is nearly empty. I have the sneaking suspicion that he does this because he can’t remember our names, though it doesn’t seem to be helping. Every time I go to his office for help he looks at me like he’s never seen me before, and I have to remind him who I am. But the seating arrangement is non-negotiable. This means, of course, that with Matt’s last name starting with an O, and mine with an N, we are destined to sit together until the end of the semester.

It wouldn’t be so bad if he wasn’t so hot.

Whenever I’m coherent enough to make conversation, we talk about the material before class and compare notes, and fill each other in when the other is absent. We have become what some may call Classroom Friends, two people united to achieve a common goal for three months and then never speak to each other again after that.

“Hey Amy, you’re biting your nails again,” Matt whispers in my ear when class is over, making me jump a little. He has a deeper voice than anyone would guess, and it always throws me off. His question makes me groan a little.

Of course I bite my nails, I think. It’s the only thing that keeps me from jumping your bones in front of the entire class. I’m sure the teacher would object to that. But of course I don’t say that. I don’t think Matt is aware that I want him, and speaking my thoughts out loud isn’t the exact way to start. Instead I scramble for an answer as we walk out of the classroom, trying to keep from looking into his face for the sake of coherency. “Just a little worried I guess.”

“About what?”

“I don’t know. Take your pick. Global warming, getting a job after graduation, Thirsty Thursdays.”

“Why Thirsty Thursdays?”

“I never know whether to go and risk getting groped by an overweight biker or sneaking alcohol into the dorms.”

“And getting a job? You’re not graduating for another two years.”

“Like that matters. A degree these days is not worth the paper it’s printed on.”

He laughs, flashing me his killer smile in the process, and I melt a little inside.

“Wow, you worry a lot. How do you sleep?”

“Standing up in my closet with a textbook clutched in my hands.”

“That’s funny. Why a text book?”

“I learn through osmosis.”

“I should try that. I didn’t know college girls were so stressed.”

“Are you kidding? I’m considering dropping out and becoming a dominatrix.”

The words are out of my mouth before I can stop myself. So much for not speaking my thoughts out loud. I mentally kick myself and look at him, hoping he missed that. But there’s no chance of that. He’s already stopped walking and is looking at me strangely, with a raised eyebrow. Thankfully no one else heard. We’re both standing in the stairwell alone and out of earshot, so no one else caught my blunder.

“That’ll be interesting to see.”

I roll my eyes and try to be nonchalant about it, but I can’t miss the smoldering look he’s giving me.

“Sorry Matt, my leather corset is in the shop.”

“Oh, come on, you can’t just say something like that and walk away. I’d pay to have you as my dominatrix.”

My jaw drops. I can’t believe what he’s saying. Can it really be this easy?

“You wouldn’t be able to handle it,” I say.

“Why not?”

“Because you seem like the kind of guy that hasn’t done anything wilder than oral.”

He grimaces. “Ok, true, but I doubt there’s anything you’d do that would send me running.”

“That’s what you think.”

He smiles at the challenge in my tone, and puts his hands out to me, a mischievous look in his eyes. “Tie me, please.”

“You’re on.”

**

A dorm room, I realize, is no place for romance. Between the beige, concrete walls and the twin sized bed, it’s a room more suited for writing angry letters to the government than a night of hot kinky sex, but that afternoon I try to make the best of it.

Thankfully my roommate graduated early, so I have the entire room to myself with no risk that someone will walk in. The last thing I need is an interruption while I’m busy violating every inch of Matt’s body.

I strip the mattress and put down only a blue fitted sheet, and then I pull the bed to the middle of the room. Then I run around and hide clothes and those little things that are on the floor in my closet.

When I’m done I go take a shower. I’m nervous and jittery, so the hot water will definitely help me unwind.

“Hot date tonight?” My dorm mate Julia asks when I walk into the bathroom. She’s the only person there, washing her hands.

“How can you tell?” I ask.

“The look of absolute fear in your eyes.”

I try to take a deep breath as I undress behind the stalls.

“It’s not really a date. It’s this guy from my class. He’s super delicious and I don’t think I can go through with it.”

“Oh I’m sure it’ll be fine. What are you doing?”

“I’m tying him to my bed and fucking his brains out.”

For a few seconds I don’t hear anything, and then the shower curtain opens and Julia is watching me as I scrub my skin. There is no point in being modest. There is enough girl on girl action in this dorm to make even the most uptight virgin loosen up and try something new.

Julia likes to be fingered standing up, with two fingers in her cunt and one in her ass. If you’re nice enough to suck her clit and make her come, she’ll return the favor any way you like. I bought a purple strap on cock especially for my nights with her, so that she can fuck me while I suck on those amazing pink nipples she has.

Julia also gets me hot. She has a bad girl side that would get most girls arrested, but she always manages to wiggle herself out of trouble. It doesn’t help that she has a wicked smile and an incredible set of tits that she always has on display. I don’t think that she even owns a sweater, which is good college morale, considering a lot of men on this campus would sink into a deep depression if Julia’s tits weren’t constantly present. The one thing most people don’t know is that Julia is one-hundred percent gay. Most people wouldn’t guess. Their idea of a lesbian is spiky hair and combat boots. And while Julia is gay, she is all woman.

This is why I can tell her anything, because most of the things I’ve done have been with her. Even then, Julia isn’t easily fazed. She’s a bad girl to boot, and isn’t afraid to show it. She’s also a great person to have in your corner.

“Seriously? You’re going to tie him?” She asks, giving me that wicked smile again.

“Yeah.”

“Good girl. I remember the first guy I tied up.”

“Was it willing?”

She shrugs. “Mostly. He was this really loud frat guy type that kept saying ‘you’ve just never had a real man!’” She says in a mocking tone. “So before he knew what I was doing I tied him to the bed and dripped hot wax on his chest. He was a screamer.”

I shake my head. “Poor guy.”

“We’ll he never bothered me again."

I turn back to the shower. “I’m pretty sure Matt isn’t like that.”

“Need any pointers?”

“I think I’m all set.”

“Want me to join you?”

I consider that one. The idea of Julia and Matt in the same room, naked for me, makes me weak to my knees. I can have Matt fuck me from behind, I think, and I can eat Julia’s pussy at the same time.

The mental image is enough to convince me, but I want Matt to myself at least this once, I want to taste him first, and then I’ll share. “Maybe next time,” I tell Julia, giving her a full soapy kiss, not caring that I’m getting suds on her shirt. She tastes like Strawberries and wine, and I groan, full of pleasure.

“Come in here with me,” I ask.

She smiles sheepishly and raises an eyebrow. “Oh come on, Amy. Anyone could come in.”

“Who gives a fuck?”

With that she starts to undress. I can’t wait, so the moment she’s in her underwear I pull her in with me, soaking her bra.

“You’re a bitch,” She chuckles, but kisses me again. Her lower lip is full and sweet. I take my time sucking on it while I peel off her wet bra and throw it outside of the shower. Her tits are wet and slippery, and I rub them against my own, feeling her hard nipples against my skin. She has this incredibly soft skin that I can’t get enough of. I hold her against me, running my hands down her back and on her ass, spreading my fingers on them.

We shower together. I stand still while Julia spreads soapy suds all over my body, slicking her hands down my stomach and between my legs. She slips a delicate finger between my legs and kisses me. The feeling of her touching me is amazing her, and I open my legs wider, wanting more. She wraps her fingers around my clit and tugs at it gently, back and forth. It makes me come so fast that I almost fall to my knees, but Julia holds me up.

“Man, I really needed that,” I tell her as I get on my knees, getting ready to return the favor.

“You know how much I love that,” she says to me, caressing my hair. I find my way to her clit with my tongue as I slide two fingers in her willing cunt. Her clit is like a ripe raspberry and I suck on it willingly as I slide another finger in her tight asshole. She wraps her fingers in my hair and leans into my mouth, giving me more access to her clit as I feel her come hard in my mouth.

“You’re so good at that,” she gasps.

“You too,” I say slapping her on the ass. “That’s why we’re so good together.”

**

Matt is fifteen minutes early, which is good because I was ready half an hour ago. Thought my shower with Julia helped take the edge off, I’m hot and wound again, thinking about Matt and all the things I want to do with him.

He doesn’t disappoint. As I open the door he looks hotter than ever, with freshly washed jeans and a buttoned down shirt that makes him look amazing. Anyone looking at him would think he was picking me up to go see a movie or playing pool.

“Wow,” he says, as I let him in, staring at the way I’m dressed. I lied, my leather corset is not in the shop, I have it on paired with the high heeled boots and it fits me like a glove. And on my ass I’m wearing a simple black thong. I’m not a dominatrix, far from it, but I plan to live out every fantasy I’ve had of Matt since September, starting with this one.

I close the door and gently push him against the wall. This is something I really want, I think, and lean in slowly to kiss him. His kiss is sweet and slow, the type of kiss that makes you warm to your toes. I kiss him back slowly too, enjoying the heat of his mouth. If nothing else, I will have this kiss to remember.

I pull back after a while, not really wanting to break the kiss, and look at him. “Changed your mind?” I ask.

He shakes his head and smiles. “Not even a little. Do your worst.”

“Ok. The rules are simple. I’m Mistress Aurora and you are my filthy worm. If at any time you feel uncomfortable or are in pain at any point, you will immediately say the words ‘may-pole’. Is that clear?”

“Clear.”

I nod. “Take off your clothes.”

I lean back on the bed and watch him peel off his clothes self-consciously. “Socks too.”

“But-”

“What did I say?”

He nods and removes the socks too. He’s completely naked standing at my door, and I can see that he’s already starting to get hard despite his reservations. I try to hide my reaction, but the sight of his juicy cock makes my mouth water. Though he’s not a big guy, he’s still completely muscled with a six pack abs. It’s like someone took a pencil and drew the curves of his body, and I can see every single one of them. It doesn’t disappoint, and neither does his cock. For a second I want to forget the games and get on my knees. I’ll give him the best blow job of his life, I think. I’ll suck his thick cock any way he wants and have him begging for more. But I manage to stop myself from kneeling on the floor in front of him. If I give in now he’ll be gone in minutes, and I want to enjoy him for a little while longer.

“Get on your knees.” He looks afraid but complies, staring at me as he gets on his knees. I point a leg out to him and smile.

“Lick my boot.”

His jaw drops.

“I don’t think-”

“Did I say you could speak?”

He shakes his head.

“Lick my boot, filthy worm,” I repeat, a little afraid that he’ll change his mind and run out the door. But after a few seconds he complies, licking the full extent of my boot from toe to knee.

“Good boy. But I have to punish you for arguing with me.”

He looks up at me, waiting for my command.

“Stand up.”

He stands, and I stand up with him, walking around his back side.

“Bend over.”

He does, and I spank him hard across his butt cheek. I hear him groan so I spank him even harder so that I can feel my own hand sting.

“Did I say you could whimper?”

“No,” he responds.

I spank him again.

“No, what?”

“No, Mistress.”

“Good boy.” I spank him again for good measure, and the meat of his ass. His cheek is slightly pink, and the sight of it excites me so much that I pinch it. He stays quiet, knowing I will spank him even harder if he speaks, so as a reward I run my tongue slowly up his cheeks.

His ass smells like soap and heat, and it reminds me so much of my earlier shower with Julia that I linger there a little while longer, kissing and licking his ass cheeks between small slaps.

Then I get a naughty idea and start licking closer toward his crack.

Guys like Matt, I think, probably never have sex like this in a lifetime. And I want to make sure that he does, I want him to remember me always, starting with this.

With him still bending over, I grab a chair and place it behind him. Then I slick my hands with warm edible oil I’ve been saving for a special occasion.

From behind, I wrap my slick hands around his hard cock. He’s completely hard now, and I start working on him slowly, pleasing him but not enough that he might come. Then I slide my tongue towards his ass again, probing deeper until I’m probing at the pucker of his anus. The action makes him shiver, and he angles his ass in my direction, silently begging for more.

“That’s enough, worm. Now get on the bed.”

He walks over to the bed, looking slightly dazed, sits on the edge and looks at me. I take four scarves out and tell him to lie down. When he does, I start tying him to the bed, not too tight so he can still move.

When he’s secured, I climb on the bed and cover the base of his dick with kisses, flicking my tongue against his balls lightly, enjoying the scent of his sex. He groans, trying to point his dick in my direction in the hopes that I’ll put him out of his misery, but that’s not my plan.

Instead I run my kisses up his chest, leaving him He’s begging me to fuck him with his eyes, too afraid to talk, knowing I will silence him with a scarf.

I hover above him on the bed, dipping my fingers in my cunt, making him watch.

“This is how I like it,” I tell him as I rub my clit between two fingers slowly and deliberately, using the fingers that are covered in my juices.

“And this is how I taste,” I tell him, kneeling above his face so he can sample my pussy.
He laps at my clit obediently. It feels so good that I close my eyes and lose myself in the feeling, feeling the warmth spread across my body.

When I’m close, I slide down his body to his dick, still standing in full attention. It slips easily inside my slit, budging my tight muscles aside. I ride him, alternating between hard and soft strokes because he feels amazing inside me. His dick is so hard that it feels like warm stone, and every time I slide him back inside me, the head of his cock taps my back wall, driving me crazy.

It’s too much. I had planned on playing with him, on teasing him to insanity all night and making him wait to come, but I don’t have the self control. I want him now, I’ve wanted him for months, and stopping now seems impossible.

“Tell me you want it,” I say to him, breaking character.

“I want it, oh I want it so much.”

I come for the second time today, it’s a hard and slow orgasm, one that is still vibrating thorough me when he comes inside of me like warm champagne.

I am completely drained of energy. We are both gasping for breath, and I can tell that Matt came just as hard as I did.

“That was amazing,” He says.

I push my hair away from my face and look down at him.

“I’m glad you think so, because I’m not done with you yet.”

He raises an eyebrow at me. “Oh really.”

“Really. What are you doing tomorrow night? I have this friend named Julia…”

Writer's Block

2009-10-25T20:22:00.001-04:00

(WARNING: Sexually explicit material below and not for children under 18 years of age)

She’s sitting on my desk when I look up, wearing one of her skirts again, the type that always flash the bottom curve of her ass whenever she walks, making me hard.

“Want to talk about it?” She asks, her nipples showing through her shirt, and I can feel my dick twitch despite myself.

“I have to finish this report, but I can’t seem to get it right,” I tell her, rubbing my temples. “I’m just frustrated.”

“Maybe you need a break.” She says, uncrossing her legs, flashing me her underwear so that I can see her lips beneath them.

Before I know what’s happening she turns me around and kneels in front of me, undoing my belt in the process.
Her plump lips, warm and wet and lovely, wrap around the base of my cock so tightly that it sends waves of electricity down my spine.

She gives the kind of head that would make any man fall in love.

I pull her by the shoulders to kiss her, to pick her up and lay her down on the desk, never losing contact with her lips. I open her legs for a full view, tracing my thumb down her slit through her underwear before I bury my face in it, surrounding myself in her flesh, in her scent, in her sweet taste.

I take her clit into my mouth hungrily, making circles around it with my tongue.

“Fuck me, Mike,” She half moans.

I shove my dick so far up her cunt that I almost come in that one movement. It’s a rough ride, just the way she likes it. When she comes she squeezes every drop out of me until I am completely hers.

“Want more?” She asks.

“Yes. The report can wait until tomorrow.”

Stripper

2009-10-25T20:19:00.000-04:00

(WARNING: Sexually explicit material below and not for children under 18 years of age)

I am hypnotized by the curve of her hips as she dances, the same spot where her underwear meets skin. It seems like a great place to hide a kiss, where no one would ever find the outline of my lips printed there.

I try to exhale slowly, feeling my face grow hot at the thought. Until today, I had never seen another woman naked, and I’m shocked stiff at my intense arousal. Lola has a ballerina’s body and beautiful skin. I can’t seem to look away, instead I want to worship her, to give her everything I am and be her willing slave.

“You’re Beautiful,” I tell her, my words slightly blurred by scotch, the wonderful drink that gave Lola the courage to strip for me.

She smiles at me like she can read my thoughts, and leans in to kiss me. Her tongue is like silk, and her kiss is so passionate I lose all my other senses.

She leans toward my ear, her warm breath on the nape of my neck.

“Tell me,” she whispers.
“Can I touch you?” I ask hesitantly, but even before the words are out of my mouth she places my hands on her firm breasts. Her nipples are rock hard under my touch. She continues dancing to the music, holding my hands to her body so that they slide across her skin as she moves.

My hands slide down her chest down her stomach to her hips. I’m tempted to plant my kiss there, but I’m too afraid, and instead cup her perfect ass.
“You’re beautiful,” I say again.

“You are too,” She says. “Why don’t you dance with me?” She asks, tugging my shirt slightly, and before I can think twice, I raise my arms and oblige.

Under the Wisteria

2009-10-25T20:17:00.002-04:00

(WARNING: Sexually explicit material below and not for children under 18 years of age)

I found your old letters today, tucked between old books and photographs. The discovery made me laugh, and I wondered how you would feel seeing them again, the letters you wrote when we first fell in love.

“I dream of that first time, under the wisteria”, I read, suddenly tumbling back to that hot afternoon in your parent's backyard. We were lying on the grass, too hot to move after riding our bikes, when you suddenly picked me up and threw me in the pool, clothes and all.

“You were so pissed, but it was part of my plan.” Yes, I remember. You got me so mad I was shocked stiff when you kissed me, and by the time I knew what was happening, I was yours. It didn't take long before we were both naked, before I climbed on your stiff cock right there in the pool and fucked you senseless.

Good thing your parents weren’t home.
It was my first time and yours, that summer before college when everything seemed possible, and we were ready to conquer the world. We took every chance we could to be together, tongue fucking and dick sucking under the wisteria whenever we were alone. I loved the taste of your warm champagne, and you always got me begging for it, sucking on my nipples until all I could see were stars.

The memories of those days get me wet as I put the old letters on the kitchen table. I will read them to you tonight. And then, we will make new make new memories together.

Home Alone

2009-10-25T20:17:00.001-04:00

(WARNING: Sexually explicit material below and not for children under 18 years of age)

The party had been a waste, I think as I walk into my room, not bothering to turn the lights on. It’s only eleven and I’m home, horny and alone, and I wonder what I can do to salvage the night.

I start to strip in the dark considering my options, leaving just my fishnets on when I see him, my next door neighbor whose window is right across from mine, giving me an almost perfect view of his bedroom.

And tonight he’s watching porn.
Bingo.

He’s in bed with his hand down his jeans, stroking his erection to the girl on the screen, a large breasted blonde with a heart shaped face, and for a second I wish I could have one of those pink nipples between my lips. A flash of heat runs through me at the thought, but no, tonight I’d rather have him.

I pull up a chair and sit down facing him and tear a hole right in the middle of my stockings. Anyone looking could see me like this, exposed and open to the world, but I really don’t care. I’m just playing along to him.

I circle my clit, tugging and teasing it, matching his rhythm, imagining what it would be like to ride him as I dip my fingers in my juicy slit.

He keeps his erection in his pants, but I can tell by how fast he’s going that he’s close. I can see the beads of sweat on his chest, begging me to lick them off.

Then he sees me. I come with his eyes locked into mine. He frees his erection, glistening with his orgasm, and I watch him until we’re both done.

I smile a thank you and walk to bed. Maybe I’ll introduce myself in the morning.

Do It to Me

2009-10-25T20:07:00.000-04:00

(WARNING: Sexually explicit material below and not for children under 18 years of age)

“Do it to me,” Alice asks, interrupting my thoughts. She knows that I can’t say no to her, although I’d never really want to, because saying no to her would be worse than saying no to myself. She knows this well and uses it to her advantage. There was a time when all Alice had to do was smile, and I would be on my knees kissing the ground she walked on, waiting to do her bidding.

It’s definitely the hair, I think, looking at the soft waves of her dark red hair fall across her back. Not that her perfect ass is lacking, but it’s that dark red hair paired with her almond shaped eyes that have me hypnotized.

Now, as she lies on my bed after a shower, completely naked, clean and sweet with her ass in the air, I realize that nothing has really changed. She is still my Alice, and her body is the wonderland I worship, even after all these years.

I still get hard at the sight of her.

I kneel on the foot of the bed and look into her eyes. She has a mischievous glint there,and I run my hands up her legs, feeling her soft skin, kissing my way up her thigh.
Her legs open involuntarily, giving me a full view of her hidden sex. I cup both her butt cheeks and spread them apart so that I can make circles around the small opening of her anus with my tongue.

She flinches reflexively, and as her punishment I dip my tongue deeper in her hole, making her groan.

She’s getting wet, and I can imagine her swollen clit calling out to me, begging for me to suck it. But this is what she wants, so while I continue to dip my tongue into her asshole, I wrap two fingers around her clit, tugging at it, teasing it softly. She comes within seconds, bucking and twitching, trying to escape my touch because the sensation is too much for her.

But I’m not done yet. When I’m sure her orgasms have subsided I work my way up her back. I’m still completely dressed, but I still manage to pull my stiff cock out and start fucking her from behind, loving the way her ass feels like a cushion. I wrap myself around her, placing one hand on her clit again, and another around her stiff nipples.

This is where I belong, I think as I ride her slowly, grinding slow circles into her opening when I’m completely inside her.

“Come inside me,” She demands, and I do barely needing her permission, but grateful for it regardless, knowing I will always do what she says.

Baby It's You

2009-10-25T20:02:00.000-04:00

(WARNING: Sexually explicit material below and not for children under 18 years of age)

I’ve never seen Hector without a hard on.

In the few months we’ve dated, his dick is always standing in full attention even before his pants come off.

I asked him why once. He simply smiled and replied, “Oh, baby, it’s you. I always get hard thinking of you.”

I think of this as he sits next to me, wondering if it’s really true.

“Something on your mind?” He asks with a playful smile on his lips.

Hot sex, I think, but just shake my head taking another drink of water, cursing my dirty luck that I have to study for me Senior Thesis sitting next to a guy who should never be fully clothed.

“Liar,” he says, calling my bluff as he sneaks a hand up my thigh.

I can’t stop him. I don’t even want to. I just sit there as I feel him nudge my underwear aside. The feeling makes me gasp and I’m glad the library is nearly empty; otherwise I couldn’t never live down the embarrassment.

I give in, opening my legs to him and running my hand up his crotch to find his bulging erection waiting for me there.

“See, it’s always you.”

He nudges me onto his lap. I can’t resist. We’re all alone, after all, hidden in the research section, and as I feel his throbbing erection slide smoothly inside me, I couldn’t have cared less.

I just want to fuck him.

I ride him that way, fully clothed with his hands on my clit, facing away from him so that our only connection is perfectly fitted between my legs. The fact that we can get caught any minute gets me so hot that I come within seconds.

When he’s done, I tell him, “Let’s hope no one caught that on tape.”

The Other

2009-10-14T20:53:00.000-04:00

(WARNING: Sexually explicit material below and not for children under 18 years of age)

How can I begin to explain?

It happened slowly, and yet it happened so fast, like being hit by lightning while you’re standing outside enjoying the rain, and you’re never, ever the same.

I woke up to another nameless day at dawn. If you had asked me, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you what day of the week or what month it was. All my days are the same, filled with never ending routines that I perform in a detached haze, half asleep and half awake.

It was while making breakfast that I finally woke up. While I watched the bacon sizzle in the pan I suddenly remembered that you hated bacon, too much fat you said, and just like that, I woke up out of my cloud and realized that this is not the life that I wanted. That this quiet surban life you worked so hard for was slowly killing me inside. And I knew I had to get away.

You didn’t notice my quiet desperation, of course. How could you? You, with your sweet disposition and sensible ties, you believe I’m the happy housewife, and I don’t have the heart to tell you otherwise, that I always hated the routines, the way my life is nothing but a schedule and I merely exist in it.

So I waited until you left, then I called The Other, The Other whose name I can never say out loud, although his ghost haunts me every day.

He answers my call on the first ring.

“Tell me,” he says, knowing full well that it’s me even before I speak.

I don’t have to explain. Instead I tell him to come save me, dressing to greet him. I put on the black heels you hate. The ones I never get to wear anymore because they make me look taller than you, and I paired them with a red dress no housewife should ever wear. I decided that for today I will not be your wife; instead I will be me. And without a word I stepped into his car. The same car he’s been driving since high school, during the days when I would pick flowers and whisper his name.

The familiar scent of leather feels like home, and as I lean back against the seat it’s like I’m sixteen again, with his hand between my legs. He fingers me as I watch the houses of our quiet neighborhood roll by, teasing me to insanity so that I’m ready and wet when we reach the motel.
And before you get to work, before you set foot in your office with the view, I was already in his arms.
His fingers burn my skin, leaving scorch marks in their wake. I lean into it, feeling the heat and the pleasure from his touch ignite my senses. My dress is quickly discarded, and we are both naked and tangled even before the motel door is closed.

Oh to feel alive again, I think as I feel his weight settle on top of me. He fucks me hard and deliberate, all the while whispering in my ear to leave you, telling me to let you go, and as I taste his familiar lips I wonder why I ever chose the safe over the untamed, why I walked away from someone that is such a part of me.

And I want to be his again.

So I bargain with myself as the phone rings. Between sucking his dick and tongue fucking, I remember to call and let you know that I am not home, that there will be no dinner tonight and maybe I’ll tell you that I’m fucking someone else. I tempt the fates: if at two rings you pick up, I will keep my mouth shut and be the perfect wife to you. If you pick up after three, I will tell you the truth and let the chips fall where they may, but if you don’t pick up at all I will leave you like the bitch in heat that I am and let you hate me.

But you beat me at my own game and pick up after half a ring, saying sweet hellos and I miss yous.

I swallow my guilt as I answer your questions.

Yes, my sister feels better.

Yes, I will be home tomorrow.

Yes I love you, because I do love you, but as I hang up and feel him cup my breasts, I realize I need him too.

I will spend tonight with The Other. I will arch my back to welcome him, lying back on a no name bed and smell the sulfur of his skin. I will be a slave to his desires.

And then I will go back to being your wife in the morning.

I Heart Charlotte Russe

2009-09-03T17:43:00.000-04:00

Stores like Charlotte Russe and Forever 21 are a budget girl's best friend.

The clothes are trendy and cheap, giving you the freedom to experiment with your look without breaking bank. And if you only get to wear them once, who cares?

Have you ever seen Carrie Bradshaw or Blair Waldorf repeat a look? I don't think so.

This fall, Charlotte Russe has debuted it Heirloom Collection, a collection of pretty, feminine pieces that can update your look for back to school.

But there is something for every type, from the Rocker to the Diva. Just check out their website at http://www.charlotterusse.com/.

Make Your Own Alfredo Sauce

2009-08-18T21:11:00.001-04:00

Alfredo sauce is the yummiest of the bunch, but it's also the hardest to eat. If you go to a restaurant, its probably loaded with calories and fat,and the store bought stuff never tastes quite right.

To save a buck and get my domestic on, I attempted to make this sauce at home. It wasn't easy. It kept clumping on me, and it wasn't until the third try and half a gallon of milk later that I finally got it to work. It was sooo worth it! Here's how I did it after the jump.

Meet Julie

2009-07-31T20:02:00.001-04:00

Julie Buxbaum, the beautiful lawyer turned bestselling writer, is following the success of her critically acclaimed book The Opposite of Love with the highly anticipated title, After You. Her sophomore novel, due out August 25th is already getting high praises, and if her debut novel is any indication, you wont be disappointed.

Julie was sweet enough to give Lady Sweet Face an interview, so not only does she have beauty, brains, and a kick ass law degree, she also has time to talk to talk to the little guy (yes, I'm gushing. Sue me.) You can find her answers after the jump.

Broke? Overweight? No Problem!

2009-07-18T20:12:00.000-04:00

Many yoga studios are offering what is known as Donation Based Yoga, classes open so you pay what you can, not a penny more.

Although prices may vary, the usual suggested donation is $10, but no reputable studio will turn you away for lack of funds.

Want to find one? Yogajournal.com has a search engine that lets you find studios that are in your area. Once you find a studio near you, check our their website or give them a call to find out the details.

Now go out there and strike a pose!

It's All Going to The Bees

2009-07-11T19:27:00.000-04:00

This is a perfect example of the interesting paths life can take you.

Marina Marchese, once an illustrator and product designer gave up the 9 to 5 life after tasting a fresh batch of honey from a neighbors apiary (I actually had to look up that word after she told me).

Now she is a budding writer, a full time beekeeper, and the owner of a yummy line of handmade, honey-based skin care products all available for order on her website, http://www.redbee.com/ along with a list of events, recipes and fresh honey to order.

You'll be surprised what you learn. For example, did you know that honey does not expire? And that honey has unique flavor differences depending on the flowers the honeybees visited?

Even if you're not a natural skin care product lover like me, I dare you to try to go back to store bought soap after trying a bar of their Honeybee + Beekeeper Favorite soap.

Her book, HONEYBEE: From Hive to Home, Lessons from an Accidental Beekeeper has been reviewed as, "One woman's charming and personal account of abandoning the rat race to live blissfully as a beekeeper." It's not due out until September 1st 2009, but can be preordered here.

Baby, you got style.

2009-07-10T23:23:00.000-04:00

One of the best ways to save money on clothing is to figure out what clothes look best on you.

Take some time to think about your personal style. What colors flatter you? What are your favorite outfits? What fashion icon do you admire the most?

Understanding your style is a great way to save your money because you learn not to spend it on things that you never gonna wear.

Be honest. How many times have you bought something really cute, only to leave in the the closet, because its too tight/small/bright/stylish for the usual you?

You know what they say, when you look good, you feel good. And looking good starts at feeling comfortable in your own skin.

Because Who Doesn't Like Makeup For A Dollar?

2009-07-03T20:55:00.000-04:00

Eyes Lips Face, the cheapest makeup brand you're not wearing, is turning 5 this month.

E.L.F, which started in 2004, is famous for its core line of products, all $1. It has since spawned three other lines, but nothing beats (the price of) the original. How do they do it? The products are mostly sold on the Internet, and their advertising is mostly word of mouth. They even have a Refer A Friend program, which could earn you free makeup for life, all ways of keeping the cost of the products low.

I heard about E.L.F through a friend and checked them out immediately. Within the day I bought over 20 items and had them shipped to my home.

My favorites? Definitely the New Moisture Care Lip Color in Pink Lemonade '06, which is a shimmery baby pink that makes your lips look like you, only better. And the Earth & Water Mascara Duo in Noire. I'm not a mascara girl, but I never leave home without it.

The best part was that I bought all these tools like eyeliner sharpeners, wedges and brushes all for a dollar each. And if a color didn't quite match, I was able to mix them with other powders and create new eye shadows and lip colors. This is the best way to bring out your inner creativity. Who cares if you screw up? It was only a dollar.

Now that the E.L.F. is celebrating its anniversary, the website is chuck full of savings and specials, all for you. Wanna check them out? Click on the banner below for $2 shipping when you use the code 2ship during checkout.

Sisters

2009-06-30T00:09:00.001-04:00

I sometimes wonder if my sister is real.

Sometimes, when I’m forced to face the harsh light of day, I wonder if I dreamt her up, if somewhere down the line she became an imaginary friend gone bad and I am now clinically insane. It scares me, that thought, because if it were true there is a chance I belong in a padded room somewhere, working out my issues with some shrink who thinks I had the hots for my daddy. And it scares me because some part of me would be relieved if she wasn’t real, if life were normal, and in that relief I am ashamed of myself.

But she’s real. When I tell her of my fears, she laughs at me, one of those deep, throaty laughs she gives me whenever she thinks I’m being silly. She says the world would be better off without her, that I shouldn’t be ashamed. But disagree. I have to. She’s my sister.

Keys

2009-06-30T00:06:00.000-04:00

When I was young, I had one key.
So if my mom wasn't home I could always get in.
In high school I had two keys,
one for home and one for my diary.
For a while I had a handcuff key.
Just for laughs, nothing here to see.
When I fell in love I had no keys
because there was only one shared between him and me.
And now I have eight keys
and twice as much responsibility.

At-Home Hair Conditioners

2009-06-27T20:39:00.001-04:00

Dry Hair?

Here are some simple ways to deep condition your hair with the stuff that's already in your kitchen.

Method #1
Got a couple of avocados that are about to go bad? Take half of one and mix with about two ounces of olive oil and slather on your hair, combing it through.

Cover your hair with a plastic bag and chill, read or watch TV for half an hour. Then in the shower shampoo TWICE with a mild and gentle shampoo, and condition as usual.

You will not notice it right away, but on day two your hair will feel softer and shinier.

Summer Reading List

2009-06-26T16:31:00.001-04:00

If you're looking for something to keep you entertained this summer, look no further. Here is a short list list of books to fit every mood and personality, and of course, you can always suggest your own.

Something Old
Sad part is, the movie gives the book a run for its money. Julianne Moore plays such a beautiful and frail Sarah, that you can't help but love her, even if she is cheating on her husband.

However, The End of the Affair (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition) is no hack job. In World War II London, two years after Sarah ended her secret relationship with Maurice, we find that he is still not over it and wants to know why he was tossed to the side. It's a tale abut obsession, love and hate, and how sometimes they are interchangeable.

On days like today

2009-06-26T01:52:00.001-04:00

Printed in The Recorder on February 22, 2006

Living with four other women is hell. I wake up to the sound of my sister's voice. "Andreina."She says."Mamí wants to know where you put her curling iron."

I groan. It's five in the morning. FIVE in the Mother-Loving-Morning!

So that means that I've only had three hours of sleep. Just great.

"It's sitting on top of my dresser," I say. My sister grabs the curling iron off my dresser and runs out my room. "Shut the door!" I scream after her, but of course she doesn't hear me. And so begins another day.

Lazy Girl Muesli

2009-06-25T20:21:00.000-04:00

Muesli is a breakfast food that has all these great benefits for your body. Its usually made of a combination of oats, fresh fruit, dried fruit, nuts, fruit juice and milk, helping you lower cholesterol while providing you with calcium, fiber, Omega-3's and protein.

Because I am a lazy girl on a health kick, I have found a way to make this really good breakfast food without breaking the bank.

First buy a box of granola. Not bars, mind you, but good old fashioned loose granola. I like Kashi Mountain Medley. It has cranberries, raisins, almonds, pecans, sunflower seeds, and coconut flakes. But of course what granola you pick is entirely up to what you like.

Mix
1 cup granola
½ cup skim milk
1 large banana, chopped
½ teaspoon of honey (very optional)

You can also substitute the skim milk for soy, almond or rice milk, whatever suits your fancy. Make sure you mix, stir and shake the mixture enough so that the milk gets on everything. Put it in a sealed container and refrigerate over night, mixing again once before going to bed.

The next morning you will wake up to a mushy but yummy and healthy breakfast that your body will thank you for. Enough for two.

Save Yourself Some Money

2009-06-25T16:25:00.000-04:00

If you have a job and a cell phone, do yourself a favor and call your wireless carrier today.

Almost every cell phone company offers employees discounts for people who work for large companies. Students may also qualify, especially if you work for the school you go to.

The discount can be anywhere between 5- 30% on your monthly bill and equipment, saving you hundreds of dollars a year.

All you need is proof of employment. So check online, call or go to the store and ask. The worst they can say is no.

Also, if you have a plan with hundreds of minutes you're not using, now is the time to negotiate with your cell phone company to see if they can put you on a cheaper plan. No one likes unused minutes.

Easy Peasy Facial

2009-06-24T21:49:00.001-04:00

Your skin is red, blotchy and you're breaking out all over the place. And to top it off, you've got no money.

What is a girl to do?

Well its easy, actually. Raid your kitchen and find these ingredients: Oatmeal, whole milk and honey. Each of these has great benefits for your skin. Oatmeal can decrease redness and absorb oil, milk is a natural exfoliant and has great vitamins for your skin, and honey is a natural moisturizer, so your skin wont dry out.

Feel Your Boobies

2009-06-23T18:06:00.000-04:00

It goes without saying that women should always be careful of their reproductive health, and feelyourboobies.com is bringing this information to the masses.

Feel Your Boobies is a non-profit organization created in 2004, after Leigh Hurst was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer at the age of 33. It now has a following of over 35,000 on Facebook.

The message is simple. Breast cancer affects about 1 in 8 women in the USA. Self examination is a quick and lifesaving way women can detect any lumps or changes.

So go ahead. Feel your boobies. We're not watching.

Sephora Sampler

2009-06-23T16:54:00.000-04:00

For a limited time (not sure exactly how long that means), Sephora is selling kits of their favorite and best selling items for $40 or less. Some of these kits are mascara, skincare and lip gloss samplers.

My favorite one is the Deluxe Fragrance Sampler, which includes perfumes made by Prada, Vera Wang and Dior.

Pick your favorite at Sephora.com

M.A.C. Buy Six Get One Free

2009-06-23T03:01:00.000-04:00

For those of you who love M.A.C. Cosmetics, you'll be happy to know that The Back To MAC Program allows you to return 6 empty M.A.C. containers for a free lipstick, lip gloss or eyeshadow worth up to $14, not including Viva Glam.

They have to be empty containers, lipstick tubes, eyeshadow pots, etc, not boxes.

Happy Shopping!

Stila is Still Stylin

2009-06-22T22:53:00.000-04:00

After months of speculation, Stila is back in business. The makeup brand founded in 1994 closed its virtual doors for business on March 24th, with a note stating that some orders filled that night would not be honored.

Me thinks this would not have happened if a certain giant makeup company hadn't dropped Stila like a bad habit back in 2006, but I digress.

As of June 9th, the Stila website is back in business with some yummy deals as a special thank you for those who believed.

Other not so lucky brands? Jane Cosmetics, and Vincent Longo. Although these companies are keeping mum, its hard to ignore big OUT OF STOCK signs all over the Vincent Longo website. It has also magically disappeared from Sephora.

You may not even find Jane in stores anymore. At first it was believed that Jane was restructuring, and would not be sold in Walgreens anymore, but the truth is Jane is no more.

Add Some Hard Candy To Your Diet

2009-06-21T23:28:00.000-04:00

Hard Candy, the brand that started with just one small bottle of "Sky" nail polish, is having a 50% off sale on their website.

Is the brand going out of business? Probably. Rumor has it that Hard Candy is now part of Urban Decay. These brands have been somewhat interchangeable for their glittery eyeshadows and cutting edge colors, and will probably merge in the future.

But for now, you can make out like a bandit.

Perfect Makeup for Less

2009-06-20T23:55:00.000-04:00

In these trying times, everyone is trying to cut back. Even I had to break up my many years long relationship with Clinique. The conversation went something like this:

Me: We need to talk.
Clinique: Did I do something wrong?
Me: No, no, its just... we can't see each other anymore.
Clinique: But I can change! I can give you more!
Me: I know, but when I have you, there isn't anything left for anyone else.

And so, I turned away from the mall and walked into my friendly neighborhood CVS, and was pleasantly surprised. Store brand makeup has come a long way from the cakey stuff my mom used to wear. There were cute colors, shimmery palettes, and many many choices.

I swapped out m pricey Sephora Brand Mineral Foundation ($22) for Neutrogena's Mineral Sheers Powder Foundation ($12.99), and bought the cutest N.Y.C. lip gloss in Pink Lemonade.

And the best part: Stores like CVS, Walgreens and drugstore.com have policies that allow you to exchange makeup if the color doesn't quite match, just as long as you keep your receipt.

It does take a bit of trial and error, and you should double check with the store policy, but it is possible to find the perfect foundation, worry free.

What Retail Workers Know (But Won't Tell You)

2009-06-20T02:37:00.000-04:00

One of the great things about working at the mall is that you are privy to all the sales, markdowns and coupons.

I once did all my Christmas shopping on a budget and bought a Land's End dress for $4. Granted, its a size too small, but as bob as my witness, I will fit in it someday.

Even without the sales I still got a good deal. Some of the higher end clothing stores offer employees a 40% discount. And when you work in the mall, you always know someone who works in the store next door.

For those of you who are not part of the retail elite, you can still afford the brands you love on a budget. If you love a certain brand or store, sign up for every newsletter they can offer. You may not need them right away, but it'll allow you to catch those awesome sales that come around every once in a while.

Stores like Marshalls and TJ Maxx are amazing places to find great deals, but if you're an online shopper with something specific in mind, and want to shave a few dollars off, there are websites that share coupon codes for any store you can think of. However, I don't know how legal this is, so tread carefully.

And as always, be nice to the girl behind the register.

Nyla

2009-05-02T02:18:00.002-04:00

(this is the first incantation of Nyla, not to be confused with the blog.)

I’ve always been in love with Nyla.

At the age of ice cream and action figures, when little boys are expected to hate girls, pulling their hair and running away, I was already in love with the girl next door.

I met her the day she moved to my neighborhood. Her father was a self-made man, a salesman who had traveled to Nueva Yol and made a profit buying and selling silk clothes and bedclothes to those who could barely afford them. He wanted to show off his new money, and the first step was to move his family from their humble Barrio to the shore, where la gente rica, the rich folk, lived.

THE BAD BOY SYMPOSIUM

2009-03-20T12:31:00.001-04:00

(I didn't write this one, I was interviewed for it. Read on.)
(Copyright @ The Hartford Courant 2001)

The magazine invited a group of Hartford area students to talk to us. We gave them bottles of soda and sat them around a conference table. We told them we wanted to know about bad boys.
We became intrigued by the topic when a news story broke about the assault of a woman by a man she knew. We were told in the newspaper article that Monica Camby, the 21-year-old sister of NBA star Marcus Camby who was attacked, "liked the bad boys." Was that a fair comment about somebody who was sexually assaulted, had a knife held to her throat and was in fear of her life?

EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER IS JUMPING DOUBLICIOUSLY

2009-03-19T22:26:00.002-04:00

A lot of jumping is going on inside the Roger Wolcott Early Childhood Center.

The center on East Wolcott Avenue is home to many after-school and summer programs, and for the past seven weeks it has also been the home of the Doublicious double-Dutch team.

Head Coach Lisa Williamson and Assistant Coach Lisa Williams run Doublicious. Williamson, a mother of five, also runs both the double Dutch rope-jumping program and the drill team at Windsor High School. She is also a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves and head of the security at the high school.

"That's how I got most of the girls this summer," Williamson said. "They either came from the high school, or they heard about this through word of mouth."

PROGRAM PUTS STUDENTS TO WORK

2009-03-19T22:25:00.002-04:00

For some students, summer means spending more quality time with the remote control, having fun or just hanging out. It is a time of relaxation and, one might say, full-fledged laziness.
For others, it's an opportunity to experience full-time employment without having to balance it with class schedules. That was the case with Corey Brinson and Brad Steward of Hartford, two college students in the city's Student Internship Program who were assigned to work in the corporation counsel's office.

Their duties included assisting the lawyers by doing research, attending court cases, discussing the cases with the lawyers and offering their points of view as people outside of the legal system. Cases involved employment issues and on-the-job injuries involving city employees.

HEALTH FAIR PROMOTES GOOD LIVING FUN CONTINUES DESPITE SOARING TEMPERATURES

2009-03-19T22:24:00.001-04:00

Sounds of salsa music floated above South Green/Barnard Park Thursday at the Hispanic Health Council's 10th annual Health Fair for Children and Families.

"It's a celebration," said Nelson Cortez, 26. "We get to cherish what is really important: health, life and knowledge. And we get a bit of music while we're at it."

Cortez was one of many people dancing, listening or just looking around in the park during the fair, despite the extremely hot weather. Organizers were distributing free bottles of water to help combat the heat.

PAINTING THE TOWN HARTFORD CHILDREN'S THEATRE STAGES FREE CARNIVAL FOR COMMUNITY

2009-03-19T22:22:00.004-04:00

(Copyright @ The Hartford Courant 2001)
Everyone was paying attention to the pie-throwing contest. The set was made to look like a castle, and three heads stuck out as targets, but all the children aimed at the one in the middle, Hartford Children's Theatre teacher Jason Shusterman.

"You hit him, you get a prize!" shouted student Jennifer Labbe, who handed out prizes of candy and plastic jewelry to the lucky winners. Jennifer's twin sister, Melissa Labbe, was the one handing out the pies. Well, not pies exactly, but plates full of whipped cream.

It wasn't easy to ignore the enthusiasm that surrounded the student-based carnival the Children's Theatre held Thursday. Laura Thompson and other students went up and down the block with painted faces and billboards announcing the event to passersby. One read: "Don't be shy."

FINE CROP OF FARMERS' MARKETS A LOT TO PICK FROM

2009-03-19T22:22:00.003-04:00

Maria Solano was on her way home to cook for her family Friday when she saw farmers selling produce in front of the Old State House.

"I was wondering what all these people were doing, and finally realizing what was going on, I got the ingredients I needed for tonight's dinner," said Solano, a resident of the Frog Hollow neighborhood, speaking in Spanish.

"I was surprised to find so many other products for sale," she said.

25 Random Things About Me

2009-02-06T21:50:00.001-05:00

1. I miss my grandmother everyday.
2.I want to be a writer, but so do millions of other people.
3. I think napping is awesome.
4. Sometimes, when no one is looking, I sneak an oreo.
5. I think my cat is awesome.
6. I have read Practical Magic 18 times.
7. I still don't know what I want to do when I grow up.
8. I never learned how to ride a bike.
9. I often fantasize what it would be like to win the Powerball.
10. I hate how much I say "I".

Attention All Shoppers

2009-02-01T18:55:00.001-05:00

Hello Ma'am, how are you today?
Oh, you had trouble finding a parking spot?
I'm so sorry to hear that.
No, I take the bus, and I've been here since 6 AM, so I wouldn't know.
Yes, you can make a return.
Do you have your receipt?
Oh, lost it?
Well, let me see what we can do...

Valentine's Day

2009-02-01T11:12:00.001-05:00

(Published in The Recorder on Valientines Day of 2008)

Maybe I’m a single girl reformed.

Or maybe I’m a hypocrite.

Last year, Valentine was a soulless holiday meant to make ‘us’ single people feel left out, this year I spent the day making my friends nauseous.

See, here’s what I think happened: somewhere along the lines someone began praying for snow during the holidays. Problem is, this person didn’t specify that the holiday they were referring to was Christmas, hence our snow storm on Valentine’s Day.

Dear Britney

2009-02-01T01:20:00.001-05:00

(Published in The Recorder on February 28, 2007)

I know life has been hard since Justin left. He was cute as hell, after all, and I’m sure if he had left me I would act crazy too. But I don’t blame you.

Sure, you married a backup dancer who already had a kid and a wife… allegedly. And, ok, so what if he was out partying with your money while you were giving birth to his kids? It’s all in the past now and the future is ahead of you.

Throwing Snowballs in the Ghetto of Hartford

2009-02-01T00:36:00.001-05:00

(Published in Silicon Valley Debug on June 2, 2005)

I remember when they used to throw snowballs at me.
After school during those winter months, the boys of my neighborhood would appoint me their moving target and walk behind me, throwing snowballs in my direction during the walk home. My mother always told me to ignore them, but I couldn't help but take it personally. To them I was always invisible until it came time to find someone to pick on. Then somehow I would become significant, a mere target for teenaged aggression. Those boys, who now, only six years later, are almost all either in jail or dead, were my first real education about what urban life is really like and how it affects people. I grew to hate snow, and eventually distrust men, so that even now as an adult whenever a guy tries to capture my attention, half of me can't believe my good fortune, and the other half is wondering whether he's just another boy holding a snowball behind his back.

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry

2009-02-01T00:32:00.001-05:00

(Published in The Recorder on March 28, 2007)

My friends say I have caviar taste on a dollar menu budget.

This was first said one Saturday night when I refused to go to a fast food restaurant and call it dinner. Instead, while my friends were content eating burgers and fries, I wanted Chicken Cordon Blue, and the label stuck. They thought of me as a spoiled brat; this was partly because while they were saving up for apartments and cars, working two jobs to pay for weddings and master's degrees, I would spend whatever money I had freely on the things I wanted.

As I figure it I'm making up for lost time. I'm undoing years of eating nothing but rice, beans and chicken, spending nights watching Telemundo at home or at church. By the time I turned 12, I was tired of the same things, and by 17 I could do something about it.

Awesome Books Everyone Should Read

2009-01-31T23:23:00.001-05:00

Anytime someone asks me to suggest books to read I say, "Anything by Terry Pratchett." I just think you can't go wrong with anything of his, butttt, for those of you who aren't that into the Fantasy/Brit genre, after the jump, a more varied (although, admittedly, girlier) selection.

Superheroes

2009-01-31T16:49:00.000-05:00

We all dream of superheroes,
of those masked men, and sometimes women,
whose sole desire is to save us, to catch us when we fall,
to set us free.
The superhero is the one who,
during Act Two, Scene Three,
will appear just in time to give you the happy ending you've always wanted.
They're the ones who have all the answers
and know all the secrets to your soul.
The ones who know exactly how you like to be kissed.
But Superheroes don't exist.
They will reach no further than the glossy pages of
DC and Marvel or the silver screen.
I think all my life I've been waiting for my superhero to show up.
To kiss me. To love me. To save me.
To set me free.
But this time I will not wait for some one else.
This time, finally, I will save myself.

Let's Dance in the Rain...

2009-01-31T16:37:00.001-05:00

Let's dance in the rain, baby
And I promise not to laugh,
Or giggle, or point my finger,
At the funny way you dance.

Let's dance in the rain, baby,
It'll be just you and me.
Show me how much you love me,
Come on, baby, dance with me.

Happy Couples

2009-01-31T16:35:00.001-05:00

Happy couples make me sick.
They're everywhere, in school, at the bus stop, on TV.
Even on myspace they seem to find me
When you find a cute guy who has a big picture of a chick
With a tongue ring and a banner that says, "My Baby!!!!"
Makes me sick.
One girl in my class wouldn't stop flashing her ring and talking about
Her engagement.
Me, I'm single and bitter, and I live in a basement.
I guess I could put a stop to it, and start dating, and quit my bitching
But remember: It's better to be single and horny, than satisfied and itchy.
I want true love, like in the pages of a book,
The type that sets on your fire with a touch or a look
But true love hasn't found me, at least not yet
And I'd rather be alone than with someone I regret.
So I write these words to those who have what I haven't
Who parade their love like an effortless talent.
Be happy, be joyous, be free,
But please, respect the single, and don't do it around me.

Eleven Reasons You're Too Single

2009-01-31T16:32:00.001-05:00

Sometimes being single just sucks. Below are some examples that prove you need to get out of the house, pronto.

1. You're starting to get carpal tunnel, and it ain't from typing.

2. You can't remember, why, oh why, you broke up with any of your exes.

3. A good Saturday night means a bottle of tequila and a fresh pack of batteries.

4. Your MySpace profiles song is " I Will Survive".