easy glee snark

What are your thoughts on Glee's newest character Coach Beiste?

 I personally think it's great that Susan Boyle got into acting- we know Coach Beiste will defintely inspire the team with her rendition of "I Dreamed A Dream":

The Office family

Thank you Splitsider (I swear you guys are missing out if you're not checking that site) for bringing this NYMag Mindy Kaling profile to my attention.

I'm rooting for Mindy. all the way. now especially more than ever because she publicly gave "You've Got Mail" the credit it deserves.

I'm feeling compelled to either a) go into a chat room, if those exist anymore and find love OR b) put on my DVD of the movie while I drift to sleep tonight.

 Coin toss time....

-Jaci

frogs, princes and puddles

You know that cheesey "you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince" saying? It serves as a metaphor for me and rain boots. Season after season,  you can expect one rain boots post here on Everyday Sassypants. My first pair was a tacky impulse buy that embarrassed me every time I left the house; my 2nd was a more classic style that I found uncomfortable and accidentally left in the street on the Lower East Side the night the ceiling caved in on my improv group. I've yet to find a pair that I truly love and find comfortable but learning from the past I think I need to go classic and cozy:

Quilted Faux Shearling Lined, L.L Bean

Suede/Rubber Wellies, L.L. Bean

Shearling Lined, L.L. Bean

oh hearts

making moves

Every now and then I do something a tad stupid in hopes that it will turn into an awesome success story. Like the time I quit my job during an economic crisis because I was 98% sure I'd move to NYC and be running Glamour magazine in no time.

That didn't happen, we all know that. But I'm here guys right? And though we don't have the awe-inspiring results just YET I'm pretty sure that I'm heading in the right direction. This type of thinking is why I, in a more fragile economic state, signed a lease in the East Village yesterday.

I was a wee-bit nervous about the finality of such things until I found myself in a re-assuring situation last night. You see, I was walking down the terminals of the LIRR to board the 1:37 after an evening at UCB (Harold Night and The Monoscene and a celebratory official NYC'er drink with Tubz.) I often head to the terminals closer to the A-C-E to avoid interactions with drunk people I went to high school with. (Did I offend you? I'm sorry- but late night LIRR isn't my finest hour, the bitterness of hopping on a train to leave the fun is enough to put me in a 'do not disturb' frame of mind.) So there I was in a more abandoned neck of the woods that is the LIRR terminals- and I had stopped to make sure I was getting on the right track.

While reading the monitor, I felt a hand clutch my ass and then pat it twice. I quickly turned but the person, the stranger, kept walking briskly. I screamed "are you kidding me?" after him but he didn't even flinch. Just kept walking. He couldn't have been more than 5 years older than me- or he could have even been college aged. Just your run of the mill a-wipe lurking in the LIRR waiting to ass grab strangers. I was so infuriated by the whole thing. The worst thing about it was I was powerless. No one saw it happen- and really what was I going to do- run after him and give him a nice scolding? Instead I just thought of the lease I signed. No more LIRR. No more rushing to get a train that runs my social  schedule. No more late night jerks harassing me in Penn Station.

But Jaci- you're moving to NYC, it's a city full of harassers you may say. But you know what guys? They'll harass me on my time, my terms, my agenda! arrrrrgh. Anything to make a girl feel better.

to drive-by-ass pats, lease signings and big dreams,
-cheerio,
me

aint got no hoes

How I'm feeling right about now- thanks Kanye baby, I can always find a way to relate to your music:
 

a little to a lot- you know the deal

Yesterday at happy hour with Jake, Enrica and Cara- Enrica started telling us about her friend's upcoming show. "Wake Up, You're Dead" is a project from Enrica's friends Aaron and Maggie, I've had the pleasure of meeting both of them and wanted to show them some support here on the pants.

The show combines elements of puppetry, performance art, stop-motion film and (oh boy) a dance party. It runs at La Mama from Oct 29- Nov 7th. I will be attendance and I hope you will be too- if you'd like to show some love in advance you can spare $2 (or more!) their way to help cover production costs. In making a donation of any sort- you get a gift back. Reciprocal giving=love.

For more information on the show (backed by the Brooklyn Art Project) and how you can help visit this website and watch the video for a tease of what "Wake Up, You're Dead" will be like.

season leap

After a lot of time going through each runway show on NYmag.com, I've chosen my favorites from Spring 2011 Fashion Week:

View the entire album here (*some images from Fall '10 are saved toward the end of the album, a system glitch that has prevented me from posting this sooner)

If you don't have the patience for that I'll be posting my top 10 later this week

-jaci

be a beautiful girl

9 more days until Janie Bryant's collection is available on QVC. Bryant, the costume designer for Mad Men, is calling the line "Mod by Janie Bryant" and it's a 20 piece capsule collection inspired by the fashion of the 60's.

Get a sneak peak here

apt. hunt

My best friend, and future roommate, on gChat this morning:

Laura:  I've started flagging people who list Fee apartments in the no fee section by the way
 
We've had it up to here with NYC brokers.  

When one called me back yesterday, I said I must have called in regard to a no fee apartment. He said he didn't have any. I said we're only looking no fee- to which he snidely replied "do you work for free." I said to him, "no but I also don't work with people like you." and hung up on him. If you'd like, I can give you his cell # and we can collectively harass the hell out of him. Just to keep stuff on his level of ass-holeness.

fashion historian

Kate Spade always tweets to What I Wore- which of course, compelled me to check out the blog. I should have known I'd enjoy it, the high praise from Kate Spade being an obvious indicator.

Check out What I Wore- a tumblr blog documenting the outfits of Jessica Quirk, a former fashion designer/current author/blogger. Not only am I jealous of her blog, but what a colorful last name--- it aligns perfectly with her modern take on 50's/60's dressing.

I'm currently reading "The Gospel According To Coco Chanel" (see the quote I posted earlier) so of course my mind is abuzz with ideas about style and fashion. Once I have the money and time, I think I'm going to do a major closet edit and re-work some stuff. I have a lot of adorable THINGS but not they're not workable pieces. This makes getting dressed frustrating. I want the perfect oxford, layering scoop neck tees, knit skirts and flat boots. I want the easiest of blazers, chunkiest of camel sweaters and most comfortable weekend pants. Owning these items and then tailoring to your style is what makes one have potential to be someone like Jessica Quirk. I don't think she deliberately sets out each day to have a fantastic outfit- it just happens naturally because her closet has the pieces that make the magic happen with ease.

By the way, the book is really good, now that I'm reading again I'll probably do a full re-cap of recent reads soon. This style oriented read is unique because it's not a "how to look great bible" it's more so a profile of a very successful woman who went about business in her own way. I'm feeling just as inspired as I was by Wacky Chicks.

I can't wait for the day when my biography documents the time I wrote a blog entry about my love for reading profiles of successful, quirky, women while sipping coffee and wearing just a blanket. I had about $50 to my name but damn, I was feeling good.

too-da-loo,
me

back to school

Check out what courses I'm taking this semester, maybe we're in some of the same classes:

ECON301 Return to Paying Rent after living at home for 1.5 years

PSYCH501 That wasn't okay: Self Control in the Modern Age

PHYSED201 Your Apartment is a Walk Up

COMM600 Drunk Tweeting Prevention

HIST400 Reflections on Past Disasters: Learn From Your Mistakes

I'll be on my best behavior- aiming for Straight A's...

frame of mind

"  How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something but to be someone."

- Coco Chanel

this is happiness

It's totally okay if this makes you cry.

finding the funny

I really enjoy this website: Splitsider.com - heard about it through the UCB grapevine as it is run by a UCB performer who left his job at Gizmodo to start this up.

"Splitsider is a website about comedy and the people who create it. It covers movies, TV shows, web videos, books and any other format that exists to make you laugh.

In the age of the Internet, there’s a lot of talk about how the web and web videos are forcing change in traditional media. In no genre is that more true than comedy. Comedy is made for short-form video, for 10-second jokes, 3-minute sketches and 140-character puns. Splitsider is here to not only showcase the best comedy coming out every day, but to chronicle the changing landscape that comedy is released into.

Splitsider is currently run by Adam Frucci and supported by all sorts of straight-up awesome contributors. You can get in touch with Adam at adam@splitsider.com.
Splitsider is published by the enterprising David Cho under the umbrella of The Awl. Have business- or advertising-related questions, or just want to shoot the breeze? Shoot him a line at david@theawl.com."- Splitsider.com

 Take a look!

it's not that I don't love you

Apartment hunting is a full time job

lady of the night

I'm blogging well past midnight- so there is potential for this to be a bit introspective. That's bound to happen at this hour. I'm one week into unemployment and my promised explanation is way overdue. I also owe an apology for a lack of posts late last week, not being in front of a computer all day has created a distance between myself and the pants.

Contrary to what it seems, lately I've been in the mood to write- about my friends, my parents, my siblings, my thoughts on society, politics, relationships, my experiences with love, with work, in college, in fear and in hope. I have this voice over kind of popping up in my mind - of how I would open these various stories. I am happy that I'm hearing that voice again. For a long time, my mind was too cluttered otherwise to fully open the gates of my imagination.

My job ended on great terms, with encouragement from my employer to pursue my passions. He asked me what my long term vision was in my role as Marketing Director and I, my verbal diarrhea always in tact, gave the honest answer of an admitted "this isn't forever." He told me that a Marketing company was pursuing his business and I agreed that it's best he move in that direction. I understood why he would do so. Had I lied, I wouldn't be unemployed right now, nervously considering the $$$ in my bank account and on a social hiatus. Then again, had I lied- I would have kept that cluttered mind.

Passions. Oh fuck. I hate that I even used that word. Our generation has this problem of using "passion" and "happy" as cultural buzz words. Whenever I find myself using them in a conversation I worry that I appear to be someone who thinks she is living in the movie Garden State. I spoke with my brother yesterday about the word "happy" - how it's become such a weighted word. "you deserve to be happy" "when were you the happiest?" "are you happy with yourself?" I see the credits rolling.  These words have become so ingrained in pop culture that I don't think we even take them that seriously. and the truth is, how do we ever know or trust that whatever we are feeling is happy?

I'm a generally happy girl. I laugh multiple times every day. I love the company I keep. But does that equate with being happy? I don't necessarily know if those numbers add up. I certainly wasn't feeling happy every day from 9-5. Maybe it's because I knew what I was doing wasn't really what I wanted to do be doing. But I felt trapped. I went to college to get a degree in Public Communication and Marketing; for three years out of college, I've worked in that field. But I was looking at things the wrong way. I went to college to find out how much I loved improv, to be inspired by the intellectual and creative minds of my peers and to find joy in working as an Orientation Leader, Resident Assistant and as a student leader.  Those things that I learned are the skills that I want to put to use every day. Does it matter what degree is stated on my diploma? Not so much. What matters is what brings me joy. I think investing any time in being happy is time well spent. And so be it that my time happens to be 4 years long and tons of borrowed money's worth for something that you can't find in a course catalog. I don't think we need to think with such convention in regard to "what we do with our college degrees." I know I WILL do plenty with what I gained in college and that has zero to do with a career in Marketing.

I read a book last week. I picked it up on Sunday night and finished it on Wednesday evening. I hadn't been able to focus on a book in months. This is how I know that I am in a better place. This does not mean I am worry free. It means that I'm able to tune my mind away from my worries. I think this means I am happier. Sure I can weigh all of the not so good things to tip the scales in the other direction... but my current hope has me leaning the other way. It meant so much to me to be able to concentrate on that book. To get on the train or subway and open up a book to escape. Instead of feeling trapped with yourself.

Cara and I also talked about this the other day- and I told her that my happiest time in recent memory was those few months before we left D.C.  The stretch from early fall through that insane car ride to New York on December 22nd, crammed with her, Liz and all of our belongings. There are specifics about those months that made it so great for me- but overall I think it was the sense of abandon that we approached those limited days with. We made the most of our time with one another, with our city and with our friends.  And I was excited to move back home and start a life in New York. I was loving life and looking forward to what came next. I'm not saying that I haven't been enjoying my time since then- I just feel that that time period had an amazing energy.

I've always known that you can't recreate things. So while I sometimes wish I had a magic wand that I could wave to instantly recreate those circumstances, I know that it's not going to happen and it's not what is best. I also know that the aforementioned time period was something I achieved. It didn't just happen. It was a place I got to, it was a place I earned. The things we earn are the things we think we deserve. We believed we deserve certain things so much that we work to get them. That's how it SHOULD be. The only thing deserving of something is the time put forth to gain the reception of it. Otherwise the idea of "deserving" is silly and ignorant.  I need to believe I deserve to adore what I spend majority of my time doing. I'll continue to fill my days with family, friends, improv, writing, fashion, comedy, movies, music and all of the things that tickle my core. The tricky/not so ideal aspect of this is that you need to make it so that you are earning money while also earning this ease with your world. No conclusions on that front yet- but here is my plan, aka what I've been answering when people say "so what are you doing?"


- continue to take classes at UCB, I start level 401 on Sunday
-continue to practice regularly and see shows regularly, soak up every opportunity to learn and grow as an improviser
-blog, blog, blog
-write, write, write
-read,read,read
-babysit? wait tables? make ends meet. maximize the hours in the day.
-take commercial acting class at UCB, do my acting resume and get head shots done
-start up my Passion Party biz once I move so that my Dad isn't freaked out by the trunk of vibrators that will be in my possession
-be more involved in When I...
-study for the GRE and apply to grad school for Higher Education Administration. Last year I only applied to NYU because it didn't require me to take the GRE. I didn't get in. Perhaps I'll fare better with a less lazy approach.

Wish me luck. I certainly would do the same for you. This Mumford and Sons song was playing as I drilled out that list- and this lyric is all too fitting,


"In these bodies we will live,
in these bodies we will die
Where you invest your love,
you invest your life"- Awake My Soul, Mumford and Sons

It's about time I start investing properly,
-me

subtracting and adding

 Four new cast members are joining SNL with the news of Will Forte's departure and Jenny Slate not returning. Today Entertainment Weekly introduces us to Jay Pharoah, the latest addition to new cast members, and they shared his "50 Impressions."

Check them out here:

Really impressed with his Obama, Will Smith, Walken and Owen Wilson

be sure of

This is the video I said I was going to post- the harmony is perfect, Carole's voice pains me in the best way possible. I love this song, Amy Winehouse does a great cover too but I think this is my favorite version:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Lo and To plus 6

A very Happy 34th Anniversary to my Mom and Dad! These two lovebirds still keep it kicking - check out this video of them dancing it up at my godson's 1st birthday party in August, the last few seconds take it from sweet to funny:


*Ignore the girl with the nasal Long Island accent saying she only dances to hip hop. For the record, she attempts to- but what she does really can't classify as dancing.

to twirl to

To celebrate the release of their new perfume Twirl, Kate Spade is giving away a free playlist-

take advantage HERE

They've also launched a slew of Twirl products, I really adore this necklace:

See more of the collection and stop in store to sniff the new scent.

Round and round we go,
-Jac

logging in time

Killing those last few hours before the long weekend? See what I've been up to in comedy/improv related stuff over at 10,000 Hours In A Basement

And since it's hard to comment on Tumblr if you aren't a user, let me know what you think over here.

Desperately-Seeking-Validation-At-All-Times

-Me-

make it daily

Have you been checking in over at The Daily Batch? When I was in D.C. Carly showed up for drinks wearing a vintage bag similar to this current MJ one. That's a testament to her eye for style... which isn't her only area of expertise; Carly has it covered-from handbags to what pans to use for baking. Just reminding you to head over there and take a look!

a little KLG on Today

I was watching a music video (plan to embed shortly after this) on msnbc and this video automatically started playing after.  Honestly, it's amazing that I watch this and think Kathie Lee is doing an impersonation of Kristen Wiig's impersonation of her- that's just how much of a caricature KL truly is. Here is a little dose of cukoo for the day:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

I can't handle this. I'm dying at my desk. KLG is out of control.

signature style

Today is my last day of work here, without the motivation to dress for Corporate America how will I find an incentive to dress this well?

(photo from L.L. Bean)

This is just so good that I will find a reason to copy it. I will meet all of you desk workers for lunch under the guise that I have been at work since 8am too, it will be the role of a lifetime.

Check out more ideas from the L.L. Bean Signature Collection Look Book

More coming your way, almost as full force as Hurricane Earl

sound the trumpets: priority

I like the idea but maybe I just really like the music:

Either way, going to test this thing out.

rocking to awareness

I have a themed outfit planned for this weekend's When I event, perhaps you should come:

I'm looking forward to another great evening and also to the future of the non-profit.  I'll be far more involved with the organization come next week, specifically event planning and co-sponsorships. I"m really psyched about this. Everything  has been incredible thus far but we certainly could use some help. We are always looking for charitable assistance/involvement and currently we are specifically looking for someone who would re-design the website for us, free of charge. Please contact me, (my personal gmail, sassypants@everydaysassypants.com or jaclyn@wheni.org) if you are interested, or pass my info through to any parties that would be!

imaginary homes

My apartment searching is well underway, though September just started I feel like October 1st is going to sneak up on me. That's why I've already started to decorate this non existant place with soon to be purchased items such as this Manhattan poster:

found via The Cut

funions and some other fun

Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis: Sean Penn from Between Two Ferns

Brilliant lunacy.

made the rest, feel second best

We have arrived at my #1 look from Fall Fashion Week, sent down the runway by Diane Von Furstenberg- it's cozy, easy and yet striking:

 I love that neutrals act as a base to this very technicolor dream coat, unfortunately it's hard to find something that compares when trying to maintain a moderate price point. Here are my attempts:

Cardigans by Asos
Pumps by Jessica Simpson

Cardigans by Vila
Pumps by Max Studio

Pumps by Steve Madden
Skirts at ModCloth

Shortsleeve Tops by J.Crew
Pumps by Steve Madden

Tees by J.Crew
Pumps at Macy's

Cardigans by Arden B
Pumps by Max Studio

Tees by Nation Ltd.
Pumps by Sofft

I think we're officially ready for fall. Or maybe we're ready for Spring... yep! Just when you thought my FW loving was gone, SP'11 is right around the corner. Don't worry, fall is always #1 in my heart.