It's in the bag
When it comes to contests these last two years, I've been on a roll. My dad must be pulling some strings up there for me, that's the only way I can explain it. I never used to win anything and then I got a free GenArt membership last year and a trip to Marco Island when I went to The Tony Danza Show. Now, I just received an email saying "Congratulations!!! You have won the February BagTrends Giveaway."

I don't remember entering any contests, but have visited their site before.

My prize is the Kooba Sienna Bag in Cream - a limited edition color. The retail value is $595.00! I've never owned a bag that expensive before. In comparison my red winter Coach purse that I love cost $250 on sale at the outlets, which was my most extravagant bag purchase. However I do own a lot of $100 range purses, so I guess I've spent that much before when adding them together. This one is free though. I also needed a bigger summer purse, since my summer bags are more clutches and flimsy things. Yay! Sorry to brag.

The purse is leather and as smooth as butter. The inside lining is a very soft suede in lavender coloring, which feels like a delicate baby blanket. The outside looked whiter under the florescent lights at my office since I was carrying it/modeling it around the halls but when I brought it home it looked more cream like. I was already told by a co-worker that it's "trendy" and I saw an article online with Sienna Miller (thus the design's name) wearing it in the same color.

The attached tag reads "this Kooba bag has been crafted from the finest Italian Cowhide. The difference of grain and slight discolorations are evidence of the naturalness and authenticity of true quality leather."

Now here's a question, is it too early to start wearing it? I think I'd at least have to wait to April when it's more spring time.

Here are some photos of my new bag, oh and the necklace that I mentioned buying here.

Thursday Confession
(I haven't done these in awhile, sorry)

I'm terrible distinguishing between my left and my right. I'm that annoying person in the car that is in charge of giving directions and will point to where you have to turn or say left when I mean right, causing you to have to turn around at a gas station and double back. I'm getting better at it, its just when put on the spot that I sputter and say "left, no right." When I'm writing directions, I'm better. Oh and don't get me started with North, South, East and West. Unless I'm in the grid area of Manhattan, I don't know my compass directions to save my life.
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Yesterday on my way to work I saw a small filming crew in the park that I cut through in the mornings on my way to work. When I say small I mean like 40 people, unlike the Law & Order filming's that take place near me, which have trailers and all this crap blocking the streets. Anyway, they were filming near the basketball courts and dodgy public bathrooms and I saw Michael Imperioli from The Sopranos. I'm not sure if they were filming a shot for the TV show or if he was doing a movie on his own. He was walking and talking covertly with another man near the bathrooms for the scene so it looked like something that could be for Sopranos. I didn't want to be a tourist and stare, so I kept walking to the subway, plus it was cold out.

News: Elusive Coyote Is Captured in Central Park. A crazy story, thanks to Population Statistic.

You'll never see them again
There are certain restaurants and hoods in Manhattan that can remind you of a bad date or old flame and there’s that certain concern that you might run into them again, since you may still frequent the same places or have the same subway route, etc. Well, let me put your mind at ease, you will never see them again! Yet, you’ll still run into old school chums on the subway and every day friends, it’s one of the miracle’s that is New York City!

I was speaking with a girl friend of mine who says she is so surprised that she never runs into her ex, considering she has similar friends and goes to the same places, but two years later no run-in.

I’ve also had my fair share of dates, yet have never run into any of them again, phew. I’ve done the looking over the shoulder too. Meanwhile last week I unintentionally ran into my friend Stacy on 50th Street and a girl I had went to college with on the E train. How is this possible? I don’t know but so far it has rung true.

Link: Spank the Monkey I can do 327 mph! lol.

PS: My Film School Rejects DVD reviews are now getting picked up by Blog Critics. My latest are on the films Prime and North Country

Keep your mitts on
New Yorkers have to continually maneuver around some icky situations in the city, from dog poop left on the street, throw up outside bars, pee puddles in the subway stations, never mind the general germs from the millions of people that pass on a daily basis. I carry anti-bacterial gel in my purse to use after hanging onto the poles on the subway trains during my commute. I often leave my gloves on to avoid the sharing of germs, but then my nice gloves get just as icky. I'm far from being a germ-a-phobe but it just makes sense to be a bit cautious as to what you touch while on public transit.

I'm obviously not the only commuter to be concerned, just last week City Mitts debuted, the "germ-free solution to city and subway grime." Granted you can wear any gloves during your ride to protect from touching germs directly, but the nice thing about these is that they have grips on them to avoid slipping and falling on riders around you and they are also light weight and thin for warmer weather use.

They come in black and silver or black and pink and are made from a new antimicrobial microfiber, embedded with silver ions, inside and out, which prevent growth of bacteria. I first saw the gloves at the Shecky's event last week and have since spoken with the Founder, Emily Beck.

She said, "I was always that person on the subway trying to balance themselves on one finger so I wouldn't have to grab the slimy pole. City Mitts kills germs inside and out, looks cool and sleek, and gives you one less thing to worry about--just grab the pole!"

Still not sold on the idea? The New York Daily News found on the subways: Feces and skin infection at the Penn Station ticket machines, e.coli on the R train, urinary infection on the C train, diarrhea on the 7 train and influenza & cold virus on the #4 train. ewww!

Besides City Mitts there is also the TranStrap, which could be used as a more of a manly alternative to protecting against germs while on public transportation.

DVD Review: Yours, Mine and Ours

Seems Like Old Times
My college friend Jacquie is in from Boston and staying with me this weekend. She had business in the city on Thursday and extended her trip so she can hang a bit in the city.

When taking a taxi to my office, she hailed the same driver that she had from the day before and he remembered her and where he dropped her off even. In all my years here I can't recall ever riding in the same taxi, what are the chances even?

We spent the very warm Saturday in Central Park without jackets trying to find the Bethesda Fountain. Eventually we did after going from the east side to the west side and then having to phone a friend to look up the exact location on the Internet. Here's a photo of Jacquie before the fountain and one of me in it (it's empty this time of year).


That night we headed to Canal Room to see Debbie Gibson perform at their I Want My 80s Party. She started off with a bunch of jazzy Broadway hits, which we actually enjoyed a lot, especially the Cabaret song "Maybe this Time." Then she moved onto the pop stuff after a 10 min break. She looked great, very skinny, rocking different wigs & weaves for the different sets and full of energy. We were right next to the stage near a VIP seating area, which during intermission Olympic skater Sarah Hughes came in to sit down at with a group of other girls, apparently it was one of their birthday's. The crowd otherwise consisted of some sketchy people and some Gibson stalkers.


Guest Blogging: I took notes during my office's annual networking event and typed up a recap on their corporate blog, Toasting Digital Defrost: A New York State of Mind

NY News: Littlejohn's blood was found on plastic ties that bound Imette St. Guillen I say we cut off his "little John." The graduate student's murder was horrible and has many of my friends in the city concerned. My mother called me to remind me to not walk home by myself late at night and Jacquie said she was nervous about it this weekend while visiting too.