UrbanAddiction.com: April 2007 Archives

April 30, 2007

Ruff Ruff Royality

Ok granted this is a very bad picture of Princess Beatrice of York. I think she picked up this ensemble from the Quaker Factory on QVC. Is that the sequins from her bag reflecting on the side of her face? Don't they sell those sequin bags at Kohl's? The thing that bothers me the most about this young lady is the junk on her wrist. I mean you are royalty correct? At least rock some Tiffany & Co. or crown jewels or something!

Grand mom does it up right!

Posted by Liz at 09:40 AM | Feedback (1)

April 26, 2007

Cypress Inn, Doris Day & Us

On the road too see Big Sur and in a departure from the Grand Canyon Ranch setting, Julie and I are booked at the lovely Cypress Inn (co-owned by Doris Day). Elegant and dog friendly, we plan to languish in the stunning beach town of Carmel along with Julie's doggy, Fizz. We have already decided afternoon tea is a must!

Watch this video of Big Sur:

Posted by Liz at 12:31 PM | Feedback (4)

April 25, 2007

TagTool: Urban Lightwriting

I love lighting. Neon lights or any special effects lighting. Have you seen this new graffiti art form yet? Of course you haven't cause I'm just telling you about it now. :)

Posted by Liz at 06:26 PM | Feedback (0)

Newsflash

The other day I heard some news that honestly did not surprise me. I wasn't delighted with the news about this person because frankly it was the final blow to an otherwise dead friendship. People make their own choices, you wish them the best and in this case I moved on a while ago. In spite of everything, I found that when I reached out people were there for me in a very real way. I think I needed to be reminded of that. Maybe I was isolating and didn't realize it? Irregardless, I am so overjoyed to be where I am today and especially grateful for the friends I can turn too. Thank you to those who know exactly what I am referring too here.

Art by: May Ann Licudine

Posted by Liz at 10:07 AM | Feedback (2)

April 23, 2007

Saddle Up Partner, We're Going To a Ranch

Julie and I are now booked for the Grand Canyon West Ranch! Since we want to be on the west side of the Grand Canyon, near the sky walk, these are the best accommodations.

"But Liz, you and Julie aren't exactly the cowgirl types!"

True enough, but we are up for the adventure. First of all the area is breath taking and we want to enjoy that without wasting time driving in the car looking for places to eat etc.. We are staying in a cabin that has two beds, air-conditioning, a bathroom and a fireplace. You eat three meals a day at the ranch dining hall with the cowboys! At night there is a campfire and singing under the stars. Everything you need in one place. We are so excited. I've already promised my Mom we won't try anything too daring like roping cattle (yea right). Emergency room visits are not on the itinerary.

Ranch lodging includes tepees.

Campfires under the stars.

The Cabins Above photos courtesy of Flickr

Inside the cabins Photo courtesy News 7

Posted by Liz at 09:14 AM | Feedback (4)

April 21, 2007

Feel Like Browsing?

Click here for a cool fashion website. I love the Charlotte Ronson stuff. Cute!

This blog has some amazing inspirational fashions as well as accessories for the home.

Posted by Liz at 12:07 PM | Feedback (0)

April 20, 2007

Bjork on SNL Tomorrow Night!

Click here for more Bjork talking about her new album, Volta . BTW- I love her hair and dress.

Posted by Liz at 02:27 PM | Feedback (2)

Dad, Is That You?

When I listen to the ranting and ravings of Alec Baldwin (Who I happen to think is a great actor) it amazes me that men like this don't understand why their kids or wives can't stand them. How is this working for ya Alec? I mean really? My dad should have lost visitation rights with me years ago. HAHA! Remember parents, your kids pick out your nursing home.

Click to hear the self-esteem building lecture Alec Baldwin gives his daughter.

Alec: He's Such a Baldwin.

Update:
Get the ringtone here!

Posted by Liz at 08:59 AM | Feedback (4)

April 19, 2007

My "Manifesto" (The sleepy version)

Posted by Liz at 09:37 AM | Feedback (4)

April 18, 2007

Who is to Blame For the Tragic Virginia Tech Shooting? I'll Tell You Who.

In 2007 we take for granted the crazy people roaming about among us. Everyone refers to it and it's basically common knowledge that you or I can encounter an unstable or dangerous person at anytime. Many of us has encountered unstable people in the work place. Maybe you knew a kid in school who bullied others, abused animals or was such a loner they never uttered a word in plain sight of anyone. I knew a lot of those kids in school. We referred to them as "weirdos."

I'm so angered when I hear about another school shooter's bizarre history. It really infuriates me when people relay stories of fires, threats, stalking and class assignments that were down right disturbing. This individual roamed the halls of a building filled with unsuspecting murder victims. I don't blame Cho Seung-Hui's parents. I don't know that they didn't spend years trying to get their son help. Maybe they thought college was the first step to him getting better?

I blame something I saw happen in the 80's. It was wrong then it continues to have a lasting a horrific effect on our society and that is Ronald Regan's action to cut social services for the mentally ill. It was frightening and remains a horrible aspect, along with nonexistent universal health care, of living in the United States.

"Conventional wisdom suggests that the reduction of funding for social welfare policies during the 1980s is the result of a conservative backlash against the welfare state. With such a backlash, it should be expected that changes in the policies toward involuntary commitment of the mentally ill reflect a generally conservative approach to social policy more generally. In this case, however, the complex of social forces that lead to less restrictive guidelines for involuntary commitment are not the result of conservative politics per se, but rather a coalition of fiscal conservatives, law and order Republicans, relatives of mentally ill patients, and the practitioners working with those patients. Combined with a sharp rise in homelessness during the 1980s, Ronald Reagan pursued a policy toward the treatment of mental illness that satisfied special interest groups and the demands of the business community, but failed to address the issue: the treatment of mental illness."

Imagine what it was like back then. Suddenly the streets were littered with the bodies of societies lost souls. The cities were hit the hardest but all over the newspapers were filled horror stories of people desperate for help that was no longer available for them or their loved ones. In the usual compassionate tone of the Republican party Ronald Reagan had this to say about the mentally ill and homeless,

"There are always going to be people," he replied. "They make it their own choice for staying out there."

Most likely the president of Virginia Tech will lose his job. The police department should be investigated for their handling of this nightmare. I'm sure lawsuits will follow and victims families will receive monetary compensation if that's even possible. But who will clean up the real underlining problem? We spend billions of dollars fighting a war in Iraq when here at home we still haven't managed to clean up from the havoc Ronald Reagan left behind.

Another cowboy. UGH! Do you see a pattern here?

Posted by Liz at 10:10 AM | Feedback (6)

April 17, 2007

Today's Thought

I look at my nieces and I see the beauty in the world. Hope for the future.

Becca Loves Olives.

Becca Smiles!

Posted by Liz at 10:10 AM | Feedback (4)

April 15, 2007

Anticipating Spring

The weather today is awful. This whole month is a wash out so to cheer myself up I was surfing for some summer must-haves before I leave for L.A. This is what I've come up with....

* I love a MaryJane style shoe. I've seen girls with large size feet throw on a big heavy shoe and that never made sense to me. Try something ultra-fem and light weight like these for example.

* I just saw these sneakers in Elle magazine and I thouhgt they were really cute. Hemp sneakers, who knew?

* I beat the same drum every summer, I know. STAY OUT OF THE SUN and tanning booths? Gross. There are so many excellent products to get a tanned look for your pale white skin. I plan on using this one before I hit Malibu this summer.

* I'm totally loving a footless tight this Spring, but please ladies don't slip on this look. Wear it with a very adorable dress not a big shirt. Yes the dresses come in all sizes so shop around. I'm thinking this will make a cute/comfy look for my six hour flight!

* For the Bargain Hunter:

Payless this selling an adorable Mary Jane ballet shoe with a side button. I have seen the exact same shoe at Macy's for three-times the price. I purchased the Payless shoe in black. Believe me, the quality on the more expensive shoe was only slightly better. Over all the look is the same.

Posted by Liz at 12:41 PM | Feedback (2)

April 14, 2007

Ask Yourself

If you use a slur like, nigger, ho, faggot, towel head, bitch, cunt just to name a few, are you giving the people around you permission to use the same word? Do you think it's alright for some people to use certain words and not others? What if anything, is the cost for those people to use such slurs?

Art entitled Self Portrait By: Jessica (age 7)

Art by: Jessica Click to enlarge

Art by: Jessica

Posted by Liz at 02:12 PM | Feedback (5)

So Fun!

You can make one of these profiles yourself. I love the graphics. You can even put it on your MySpace page.

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Posted by Liz at 12:46 PM | Feedback (0)

April 10, 2007

Larry Birkhead: You ARE The Father!

Larry acts like he just won an academy award or five million dollars or something. Oh....wait a minute....nevermind.

Posted by Liz at 08:08 PM | Feedback (1)

Rutgers Blasts Imus' "Despicable" Remarks

"Unless they've given 'ho' a whole new definition, that's not what I am," said player Kia Vaughn.

Click here to listen to the Rutgers basketball coach put Imus and people like him to shame. Her message is amazing.

The Rutgers women's basketball teams identifies Imus' remarks as not only raciest but sexist.

Imus scrambles, soon to be made aware of how far reaching his raciest and sexist attitudes are.

Food For Thought.....
Who has the right to use to word "Ho" without repercussion?

Posted by Liz at 07:40 PM | Feedback (3)

Nappy Headed Ho's, Jiggaboos & Wannabes

Reproduction of an old, tin sign advertising Picaninny Freeze, a frozen treat.

Don Imus Is a crusty old geezer. I know his type as most of us do. It's his generation- they're pontificating fools. They think they know everything, they aren't open to other opinions and worst of all they feel they have nothing left to learn because they've "seen it all."

This old dude finally got it thrown back in his face. Before he could take the cotton out of his ears and shove it in his mouth, he should have stopped to think what the women of Rutgers were up against to get where they were in college basketball. Like many racist and sexist men of his generation, all he could think about was whether or not they looked pretty running down a basketball court doing what he could never even dream of doing. He thought he was being funny, but don't these types always think they are funny? Amongst their own, I guess they are.

These old guys always want to use the excuse that they are good people and meant no harm when they open mouth and insert foot. Doesn't a really kind, good person THINK before they say things? It's not always easy I know I that, but isn't that why he's paid the big bucks to be a mouth piece on the air waves? Can't he get a point across without the use of racial slurs?

One final thought on this friends... I would like to challenge the African-American community to stop participating in the usage of words like nappy and nigger and all the other terms that stem from self-loathing brought about from an ugly time in American history. I know the reasoning about wanting to "own" hate words, but does anyone really need to own these words at this point? It's 2007 and we are potentially going to have a Bi-racial presidential candidate for the first time in our history. Soon the "Imus" generation will die off. Can't we let those terms die with them?

Posted by Liz at 01:53 PM | Feedback (1)

StriVectin Update

Well folks, there is good news and bad news. First the bad news- I never realized how bad I needed Botox. The good news is- this StriVectin is really better than Botox!

I posted a while ago about purchasing the creme known to reduce stretch marks and used it on my face as directed. I saw a difference but to what extent, I wouldn't realize until the Easter photos were uploaded. I'm use to seeing my picture and zeroing in on the usual shadows but the shadows weren't there! Also, I have noticed my upper lip is fuller from applying the creme to that area. Wow, am I loving this stuff or what?

I went from this...

To This..........

An Untouched Photo of Me Taken Easter Sunday.

Posted by Liz at 01:18 PM | Feedback (1)

April 08, 2007

So In

Here are two looks as shown on Cory Kennedy (Age 16). Old Lady chic is so trendy. I love the real old lady standing right behind her in that pic! Next we have those old Ray Bans. How 80's, I love those shades.

Photos were taken by TheCobraSnake.

Posted by Liz at 10:24 PM | Feedback (5)

April 07, 2007

Check It Out While in L.A.

* Fred 62- A diner in Julie's neighborhood where the crowd is a mix of pierced and tattooed button-down executives, families, small business owners, artists, writers and late-night club-goers. The after-hours bar crowd is particularly good for people-watching. Recent guests have also included an endless parade of celebrities, such as Ben Stiller, Drew Barrymore, Mike D., Naomi Watts, Britney Spears, Cameron Diaz, Mandy Moore and Heather Graham.

Posted by Liz at 07:52 PM | Feedback (1)

Which Witch

Hanging around my nieces and seeing the toys they play with brings back memories of my childhood games and toys. The other day they burst through the kitchen door telling me they needed to go to McDonald's immediately because they were getting a new shipment of Wizard of Oz dolls in. I reminded them that we don't do McDonald's on Aunt Lizzy's watch. After the three little faces dropped in protest I offered a compromise.

We went to McDonald's and purchased three Happy meals. I requested the dolls they needed for their collection and we threw away the food. When I saw the Wicked Witch of the West doll, I flashed back to my own childhood witch doll and I had to have her. That restaurant was out of witches that day, but I will go back and try again for the girls and.... myself. :)

Hey! does anyone remember the Which Witch board game? Of course they do. I loved this game along with my little green witch doll that glowed in the dark. I think her name was Esmeralda. I never got into collecting dolls as an adult, but I do think the following Hitchcock themed dolls are really cute...

Posted by Liz at 09:12 AM | Feedback (3)

April 06, 2007

Happy Easter and on that Note: The 25 Best Crime Thrillers of All Time

Hi Everyone! Happy Easter weekend (or whatever you celebrate). Chocolate bunnies rock but... I won't be indulging. :) In case your wondering Aunt Lizzy bought the kiddies gift certificates to Ruby's Diner. The girls call gift certificates "credit cards." Isn't that cute? HEHE.

Anyway, AOL has compiled a list of the top 25 cop dramas of all time and I have to say I whole heartily agree with their choices. Here is the list, along with my two cents. Put them on your NetFlix queue...

25. Constant Gardner- SEE THIS MOVIE! You have to stick with it but it's SO worth it. The surprise ending is one of the best ever!

24. Blue Velvet- Frankly, I haven't seen this since the 80's, but I'm sure it's worth another look see.

23. The Killing- One of those cool old movies from the 50's with amazing character actors, my moms remembers it so I just added it on NetFlix.

22. Blood Simple- A Coen Brothers original, I just added this to see for the first time. I'm excited.

21. The Fugitive- I'm not a big Harrison Ford person so I didn't think I would care for this, but I loved it.

20. Cape Fear- Robert Mitchum and Gregory Peck, two of my ALL TIME FAVORITES. I was terrified seeing this as a kid and it stills holds up.

19. Body Heat- Have you ever seen this? It's from the 80's and its amazing. Love, love, love the ending. So Hot!

18. Dial M For Murder- Know this about Liz Fine- I worship Hitchcock and chocolate cake, in that order. SEE THIS MOVIE- the stars, the twists, the suspense. Only Hitchcock can do it like this.

17. Memento- I saw this ages ago and loved it. It's not as hard to follow as you might think.

16. The Departed- Leo was amazing in this movie. As an actor he can do anything. Leonardo DiCaprio is a two time Oscar nominated actor and one of the best of his generation. He says he sought out a relationship with Martin Scorsese and the duo is making tremendous strides together. This movie is loaded with SUSPENCE. It's air tight crime/drama, a must- see.

15. Vertigo- I've seen it a million times. It's addictive, it's Hitchcock. I love it.

14. Reservoir Dogs- This Tarantino flick is such a treasure. It's no fluff piece. After watching it you just feel tougher. I love this movie and the acting is off the charts.

13. Marathon Man- Another film that will put hair on your chest. In the 80's I had a tough time watching it, but it really is beyond terrific.

12. Double Indemnity- SEE THIS MOVIE. Let me fill you in, first it landed in theaters in 1944 and it's still a nail biter to this day. Another film that has off the chart character actors. I actually saw it recently for the first time and I was glued. You will love it. Just watch it and then get back to me.

11. L.A. Confidential - I have a love hate thing with this movie. I saw it years ago in the movie theater with two friends and they loved. I was tired that night and didn't pay attention and didn't get it. Years later I watched it again- amazing.

10. Chinatown- This was just on TCM the other night. I love it. I can watch it over and over.

9. Fargo- I own this one and it's brilliant. It takes you to the scene of the crime and drops you in the middle. I love this amazing cast of character actors.

8. Manchurian Candidate- Another film I first saw back in the 80's. I was stunned. Please do yourself a favor and see the original. Don't bother with the remake.

7. Seven- I saw this in a theater and yes it is shocking and sad, but I think I might has put the film Misery or Delores Claiborn in it's place. This is my least favorite on the list.

6. The Usual Suspects- Another film you MUST stick with. It TOTALLY pays off in the end. I loved it! The acting is unreal.

5. The Third Man- I saw this movie rather recently via Netflix and loved it. Loads of suspense that actually pays off in the end.

4. North By Northwest- Another thriller from Hitch. Dashing and chilling all rolled into one movie.

3. French Connection- Amazing acting and drama. A classic from the golden era of the 70's.

2. Rear Window- I've seen it a million times and can never stop buying into it.

1. Silence of the Lambs- Anthony Hopkins, Jodie Foster. This was total fright and suspense. I still love this movie and can watch it anytime.

Posted by Liz at 01:23 PM | Feedback (4)

April 04, 2007

Doing My Part For Britain

I ironed Keith Richards face.

Posted by Liz at 12:38 PM | Feedback (3)

April 03, 2007

I'm So Excited/ The Grand Canyon

Part of the itinerary on my summer vacation this July includes a trip the Grand Canyon. While I might not seem like the rugged outdoorsy type, I actually adore being around nature. Maybe it's the Sagittarius in me, but all aspects of gorgeous scenery delight me.

I have always wanted to visit the desert. Like a lot of people I've seen the desert in movies and it's vastness amazes me. The desert has that dangerous quality. It's not like being lost on a highway or in a city, you could perish in the desert.

We are going to visit an Indian reservation that happens to be the new location of the Grand Canyon Skywalk. I can't promise I will have the nerve to walk this plank but we're planing on loads of pics and video either way.

Idea! Julie and I should write a script ALA Tarantino style, about two women that cross the desert but end up at war with each other. Knock down, drag 'em out gun slinging stuff. Maybe throw in a hot guy and a sleazy motel! I know exactly who I want to play me (don't laugh) and who I want to play Julie. Stay Tuned!

Posted by Liz at 01:40 PM | Feedback (8)