Public Discomfort - Subway Shenanigans

father is letting 5y/o dangle from hi-bar on train. part of me is hoping kid slips when train comes 2 sudden stop. think i'll just shake my head in disgust.

Public Discomfort - Evil Thy Name is Walmart

walmart is evil. not sure why i am here. every time i come to this disgusting supermarket i lose a little more faith in humanity.

Mama's Gotta Brand New Bag

I have a terrible habit. It’s a habit that drives people crazy, hell it drives me crazy when I do it, but I can’t seem to stop. I constantly rummage through my purse. I primarily do this in two places: the car (when I am a passenger, of course!) and when I sitting in a restaurant. I am always double checking to make sure that everything is there, or I am organizing it's contents. I am not sure why I do this perhaps its done out of nervousness or some mild form of OCD. I do know that I am never looking for anything specific. Sometimes just as a cover, I will pull out my lipstick or lip balm and apply it, this way The Captain doesn't think I am insane.

Recently the contents of my bag has gotten out of hand. Do, in part, to the hugeness of the bag itself.

This past Christmas I treated myself on a giant, bright yellow Guess bag (or if you are Popi it is pronounced “Goose”). It’s a fab bag. It’s big enough to carry around everything a girl needs through out her day….Ok, maybe I don’t need everything.

Here it is; my secret. Here is everything I carry with me on a daily basis:

iPod, ear buds, book, business cards, wallet, lip balm, cell phone, lipstick, USB, camera, table-top tripod, keys, papers, pen, hat, Excedrin migraines, matches, Altoids, jewelry, hair clips, work diary, and calendar...Phew!*

*Also on occasion you can find my lunch and an extra pair of gym clothes in there too.

But no more, my friends, no more. I am changing my ways. I have paired down my bag into a one medium sized bag o’crap. Really, just the most essential crap:

Don't mind the crappy picture.
My camera has taken a turn for the worse :-(

I have chosen this sweet, soft leather Kenneth Cole that I bought last season (along with the wallet pictured). It is big enough to carry my book but not so big that items are hard to find. So no more rummaging.

This is going to make my summer that much sweeter.

Public Discomfort - A Whore You Say?

lady on fone - "she was in the delivery room & the dr asked if she had any, um, STDs. well she asked the baby daddy 2 leave. you know why, cause shes a whore"

Public Discomfort - We've Only Just Begun

set up txt message updates. this will make my bus ride much more enjoyable. keep an eye out for a new feature called "PUBLIC DISCOMFORT."

*These messages will remain as I text them, spelling errors and all. The only edits I plan to do are titling and labeling.

My Inner Rock Star is now an Outtie

I wasn't planning on doing another product review so soon, but I have fallen in love...

Not to long ago, my mom and I went shopping and decided to forgo our makeup routine at the house and get “makeovers” at Sephora. Ok, so they weren’t technically “makeovers.” We actually just went to Sephora to put our makeup on and “test” the most expensive products we could find, and perhaps buy something. Unlike my mother, whose makeup always looks the same regardless of price, I actually used that as a chance to try on makeup brands and colors I would never think to try.

Since the spring, I have been on the search for a nice pink lipstick. Because of my ruddy skin tone, pinks and reds always look funny on me. They reds tend to turn pink and the pinks were never the right shade.

Well ladies, I found something pretty kick ass. I found exactly what I was looking for by the most unexpected brand.

…this edgy color collection exemplifies old-Hollywood glamour with an L.A. vibe…From pin-up perfection to rocker chic, this limited-edition lineup allows you to tap into your bad-girl side and unleash your inner artist.” Sephora.com

The Color: The color, Backstage Bambi, is fantastic. It is a nice bright, almost, hot pink.

Kat Von D: Painted Love Lipstick Backstage Bambi

The Finish: I give it big props on being a matte finish lip color. Being a matte finish, it allows me to wear it while driving with the roof down. My hair does not stick to my lips. If matte finish is not for you and you prefer a high gloss look, just put on a top coat of your favorite gloss or chapstick and BOOM instant shine.

The Sustainability: Dude, seriously, this lipstick lasted all day. It faded a tiny bit while eating and drinking, but did not require reapplication (another plus for me, I always forget to reapply).

The Taste: none

CONS: It will come off when you kiss someone or something. Poor little Chase (my cat) had a pink paw for a day. I forgot I was wearing it, Oops.

Another plus for this product is its packaging. Being a graphic designer and a nerd I can’t help but be drawn to a product’s packaging. Hell, I have even made purchases based on the packaging. Not the wisest way to spend your money. I have been fooled many, many times.

The picture doesn't do it justice. If you are ever in the store, swing by and just feel it.
For the Graphic Designers reading this, it reminds me of FiberMark Touche Cover

The box is well designed but it is the actual tube that is amazing. The lid is covered in a fantastic, soft-to-the-touch material with flowers etched in silver (as though it were tattooed. Oh Kat Von D, you are too clever.) It just begs to be handled.

I love this product. I will admit it is a bit pricey for a lipstick ($18), but it is well worth the money. Apparently it is on sale for a limited time, I am considering purchasing another tube of Backstage Bambi as well as some of the other colors available.

Your Daily Barista

Images taken from Sephora's website.

Audio books vs. Actual Books - The Battle Continues This July

For the past few months now, the Captain and I have been having an ongoing dispute in regards to literature. We both agree that taking in new pieces of writing is an important part of being a well-rounded person. However, where the disagreement comes into play, is what is the way to “read” them.

I was never a big fan of reading growing up. My parents are both avid readers (my mom a die-hard fan of Stephen King, and anything dealing with vampires, ghosts, witches, and mystery. My dad opts for WWII history, preferably on the Japanese end of the war) so it’s not like books were not available to me as a kid, I just found the act of reading laborious and boring. I used to dread the first day of school after I had avoided my summer reading book like the plague. But as I got older I discovered a love for reading I thought I never find.

It came in the form of an Oprah Book Club book of all places. She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb was the first book I remember reading for pleasure. I was a sophomore at college and spending up to 2 hours (collectively) on public transportation a day. There was only so much music I could listen to during the course of the day (this was right before the iPod boom).

Today I average about a book every month to a month and a half, depending on how much I am in love with it. And thanks to swaptree.com, I have a stack of books waist high that are yearning to be opened.

One day, a few weeks ago, my mother and I were going to this giant book sale at the Free Library of Philadelphia. When I left, I asked the Captain if he would like me pick him up any books for the summer. He smiled and said, “No thanks. I have a lot of audio books to go through.” And that is when our audio book vs. physical book debate started. Although I am glad that he is expanding his mind with the Classics (he doesn’t seem to be interested in new pieces of literature), I find it hard to take him serious when he says he “read” The Sound and the Fury, when in fact he means he “listened” to it. I know when I read, I like to get into a comfortable position with a nice drink (usually coffee) and settle down. Is he doing the same with his iPod? I find it amusing picturing him sitting on the sofa staring straight ahead (like David Puddy) while an ominous voice reads aloud to him. When I tell him my vision, he informs me, that he does the bulk of his “reading” in the car on his 1-hour commute to work.

I asked the Captain to explain to me why he considers listening to a book the same as reading a book. His response (which let me add, I do find quite amusing) was “I know how to read, I don’t need to practice.”

But is it really that simple?

Ok, I can’t blame him for listening while he is driving. I openly admit to having a few audio books on my iPod. The audio books I have are copies of my favorite books that don’t have intricate plot lines and sudden twists. But I don’t use them as my first introduction to the book. I find the act of reading as not “practice,” but rather as a way to further your education. Through reading one builds better vocabulary, grammar, problem solving, writing, and yes, even reading skills.

Earlier this week, I asked the Captain if he enjoyed The Sound and the Fury (which I read many moons ago in while at student at WTHS), he replied, “I couldn’t finish it. There was this one character that spoke funny and I found it annoying, so I turned it off.” I smiled at him and said “Perhaps it wasn’t the fault of the narrator but, in fact, that of the author. Maybe was how the character was written. You would never know because you have never actually read the book.

Boo-yah! Score one.

Your Daily Barista