Shira, Etc.

From the Archives

An old-school classic from The Queen Motifas.

Here are a few motifa-riffic fashions that are just tre magnifique! Each style has three steps or fewer and takes only a few minutes to create! We have recruited some fashion saavy Queen Motifas to model these hot new looks, so be sure to check them out!

The critics say:
“That Bootifa Babushka is extremely fashionable in my country, but I am not so sure it would be thought of well in the US! Perhaps it is trendsetters such as yourself that will bring the fine fashion of Russia to the Western World!”

USA BDAY

Happy Almost Fourth of July everyone!

My commutes to work lately have felt like REM sleep extensions. The songs on the radio provide the plot lines of the mini-dreams I have between 215 West and Flamingo St.

I’ve been volunteering at the World Pastry Forum all week, and will continue to do so all next week–so the days have been long (21 hours awake, 5 asleep). But I have one more-normalish shift on Thursdays now (2pm-10pm) so that’s good! It seems that Wednesday night is becoming the traditional night out on the town. It’s nice to have a bit of a social life, even though that only involves going out once a week, I think it’s healthy to get out and talk to people. (Now if I can just stop getting lost on the way to the bars, everything will be great.)
couch.jpg

We bought a couch! Whoohooo! After multiple cushion cover washings, a half a bottle of febreeze, and some hot makeshift maroon slipcovers, she’s a real beauty. We also get the newspaper delivered everyday, so between the living room furniture and the daily deliveries it’s pretty much like Jen and I are a real family now.

Excess Baggage

What’s up with the plastic-bag-saving fetish? Everywhere I go people are saving their plastic grocery bags; wadding them all up into one giant bag or stuffing them unceremoniously into the handy plastic bag saver they got at IKEA. Come on, I know you do it too. What are you saving them for? You’re NEVER GOING TO USE ALL THOSE BAGS IN A MILLION YEARS.

I feel the root of the plastic bag fetish lies in good old frugality. Why throw away such a useful, versatile, free-ish product? Money down the drain! Somewhere down the road that plastic bag will come in handy–whether it’s to carry a wet bathing suit or wrap an impromptu birthday present– the thought that we might really need a plastic bag for some Important task and be without one is terrifying in the extreme.

But I ask you. Do we really need to save HUNDREDS of plastic grocery bags at a time? I mean, they’re taking up an entire closet: that’s valuable storage space. Will we ever really have occasion to use 468 plastic bags?

I go shopping about twice a month and average 7-10 bags per trip. That’s about 20 bags a month, times 12 months a year, equals 240 plastic bags a year. And that’s a conservative estimate for a single 20-something female. What if you’ve got a family, or more than one person in your house goes shopping! You could be hording upwards of 400 plastic bags a year. Think about it. Is this excessive baggage necessary?

Having just moved into a new apartment, I’ve been shopping a little more than usual in (what seems like a neverending, futile) attempt to set up an organized household. I have at least 120 plastic bags lurking underneath my sink already, and it hasn’t even been a full month yet. I mean, I don’t even have a couch or a decent chair to sit on, but I’ve got over a hundred stupid plastic bags. Perhaps I should use them as a noveau pillow stuffing and make a giant plastic-bag-filled bean bag couch for our living room.

I’m starting a campaign to live more simply. Simplify. Get rid of stuff you don’t need. Let go of superfluous habits that are cluttering up your life. Throw a couple of those plastic bags into the plastic bag recycling bin at the grocery store next time you go. Or make a plastic bag craft or something…(I’m seeing plastic bag mini hot air balloons and parachutes, plastic bag quilts, and why not sew them together for some attractive grocery style curtains?). Why did Rapunzel go through the pain of letting Prince Charming climb up her hair when she could have tied together her grocery bags and made an extremely sturdy rope? Helloww?!? What do you do with your plastic bags?

I started my Move To Europe Fund today. At the end of everyday I’m going to empty out my purse, pockets, shoes, etc. for all change and one dollar bills and put them–no, not in a plastic bag– but in a pot whose plant didn’t survive the pilgrimage to Las Vegas. (Alas, it was my lucky bamboo too!). I can’t wait to go! I’ve always wanted to live on a farm with goats in Europe (where I’ll wear pigtails and blue dresses just like Heidi did in the movie. I’ll probably take up yodeling too). It feels so good to put a real plan into action!! I mean, I’ve got well over 24 cents in my little pot–I’m practically there already!!

If any of you out there want to start a fund too, we could totally go together.

Weekend

clown.jpgSunday and Monday are my weekend days this week. YIPPEE! Since it’s 120 degrees here, you’ll find me out by the pool or decorating my room in the comfort of my air-conditioned apartment. I think it may be time to venture into the big Downtown Las Vegas…perhaps see a show or something. I was thinking it would be fun to watch a movie tonight if anyone wants to come over for popcorn and cold Diet Pepsi? I’m probably going to fall asleep around 7:00 though (I had to get up at 2:30am to go to work this morning!!!), so you better come early!!

Noteworthy new talent: I can peel an entire bunch of bananas simultaneously!!

Interesting Siting: As I was heading home today–a new route through the bowels of the Venetian–I encountered a man in street clothes and full clown make-up sauntering along, dramatically smoking a cigarette (yuck). He had that I’m-too-important-and-busy-to-say-hello-to-you air about him, it was absolutely hilarious!! Oh, and the bonus was that he was also wearing lavendar clown shoes with huge puffs on them!! Only in Las Vegas.

Fun Fact: Every supermarket and gas station in Vegas and the surrounding counties have slot machines in them!

Roadtrip USA

I know you’ve all been anxiously awaiting Official Photo Documentation of The Roadtrip…

Well, wait no longer!!!
Coming to you live from MoltenChocolate.com

Roadtrip USA

Share in the cross-country experience and travel state-to-state with Dave and I as we head for the mighty Pacific. Read entries from our travel diary and see historic sites you always wished you could visit! Want the complete Roadtrip Experience? Watch the short home videos I’ve included and you too can visualize what it’s like to be in a car for eleven days straight! With any luck, you might even get carsick!! Wahoo!! Just make sure to bring your map so you can get back home safely. Hope you enjoy!