Jasmine Shops

I've moved!

2007-11-24T20:50:00.000-06:00

JasmineShops has moved to Wordpress. Please change your bookmarks to http://jasmineshops.wordpress.com.

The mostest for the hostess

2007-11-21T17:31:00.000-06:00

The piece I wrote for Time Out Chicago is up. Sorta. There's a URL but no content. My friend Jeff tells me it's on page 34 of the actual magazine, so I will brave the crap weather to buy my own copy at Walgreen's. The mostest for the hostess [TOC]

Oprah's Favorite Things 2007

2007-11-20T09:08:00.000-06:00

Yes, it's on right now. No, I'm not going to liveblog it. Sigh. But I will recap it for Thanksgiving. Think of it as my gift to the tens of you who read this. "Oprah Showers Die-Hard Fans With Loot" [NYP]

for when I am missing home

2007-11-09T20:11:00.000-06:00

New York style pizza in Chicago: Time Out Chicago's pizza issue ran a lovely piece on New York pizza in and around Chicago. This is definitely getting printed out and stuck to my fridge. [TOC]
I haven't lived in a building with a proper stoop in ages, but there's no reason why I can't keep myself prepared for an impromptu game of stoopball with a spaldeen in my handbag. [Spalding.com]
Just because I don't drink coffee doesn't mean I don't sometimes crave a piping hot drink in a classic blue Greek diner coffee cup. New York First offers the real thing but I think I'll save the environment some grief and go for the ceramic version. [NewYorkFirst.com]

Chicago museums and their Christmas cards

2007-11-04T23:13:00.000-06:00

Most of y'all who know me and are, most of the time, on my Christmas card list are getting cards with Mr. T on them. Yes, that Mr. T. The rest of you are getting something a bit more respectable. In the interest of supporting Chicago museums and cultural institutions, I'm limiting my search to the gift shops of The Museum of Contemporary Art, The Art Institute, The Field Museum, and The Chicago History Museum. The finalists are below.

Chicago Skyline Boxed Cards from the Chicago History Museum: Elegant, simple skyline in green, underlined by a vivid red ground. A simple "Season's Greetings" finishes the message of holiday cheer. [Chicagotogo.org]
#352 Kashimagawa Holiday Cards from the Art Institute: So far, my favorite. The photograph used for this card is so magical and gorgeous -- should look great anywhere from your mantel to your desk. [Artinstituteshop.org]
Bedcover Quilt Holiday Cards: Another gorgeous design from the Art Institute. I'm not into doing crafts myself, but I love the look of it. Not all of it -- just the folksy stuff that makes me want to move to Vermont or rural Pennsylvania and start making my own cheese. [Artinstituteshop.org]
Gorey Gold Bow Holiday Cards: I love Edward Gorey, dogs, and Christmas. This design has all three. Therefore, I love this design. [Artinstituteshop.org]
Chagall The Triumph of Music Holiday Cards: Marc Chagall, people, means one thing always: gorgeous. Also genius, lyrical, lovely, sublime, and beautiful. Okay, that's six things. The thing about Chagall's work is that I always want to fall into it. Okay, maybe not the White Crucifixion so much, but you know what I mean, yes? [Artinstituteshop.org]
Sueson's Greetings Note Cards: Sue, the most famous (and one of the tallest) residents of the Field Museum, brings the spirit of the the holidays. Which is pretty nice for a T. rex, eh? [Fieldmuseum.org]

And I'm not doing gifts this year except for the children of people I know. Although I don't object to receiving gifts myself. And if anyone's asking, I quite like this Cylinder Seal from the Suq gift shop, located in the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago.

Ugly shoes, squirrels, and red ribbons

2007-11-04T21:27:00.000-06:00

Ugly Shoes: A Brief History -- I love the Shopping section of New York's web site for inspired lists like this. Okay, maybe you don't think it's inspired, but I do. Also, while I enjoy this list, I'm ashamed to say that I've owned, worn, and (worst of all) enjoyed three of the styles. Can you guess which ones? [NYM]
FredFlare.com is featuring oodles of adorable new items. Which is their usual bag, I know, but the newest batch are so cute I could just lie down and die. Check out: a lint brush that looks like a squirrel; lip balm in the shape of petits fours; a tea light holder in the shape of a camp fire. Squee! [FredFlare.com]
I was going through old imported links from browsers I used to use, and found a link to Nam Kim's site. How could I forget about a designer who makes such cute-ass bags? Stupid me. I should rectify this injustice by ordering a bag immediately, maybe the Red Ribbon Bag. [NamKim.com]

OMG you guys

2007-10-25T00:14:00.000-05:00

New York magazine is right -- this Samsung printer is gorgeous. I bet you could trick it out with some blue lights and make it look like the movie Tron! [nymag.com]
The Times takes a look at the swag offered by the 2008 presidential candidates. They've got Obama and Giuliani in the lead with to win voters over with "fashion-conscious and youthful gear". [NYT]
I'm working on something for Time Out Chicago. Yes, I'm excited about it, too. I'll let you all know when it runs. Yay me! [Time Out Chicago]

PS: Is it a sign that I'm a bad writer that I've forgotten if magazine names and newspapers should be italicized when writing about them? Oh gosh I hope not.

what i bought yesterday: starting the fall wardrobe

2007-08-25T13:55:00.000-05:00

Nina 'Vikki' sandal: I don't understand how this hot little sandal comes in a 9 1/2 Wide, but it does, giving hope to me and other girls out there with Fred Flintstone-like feet. Old Navy Women's Plus Cowel-Neck Top in "Basil": This is a big "we'll see". Not because I distrust the quality (of which I don't expect much) or the price, but because the fit vary depending on the style, cut, and fabrication. I usually stick to the t-shirts but I thought this top was too pretty to pass up. It just sucks, though, that I couldn't try it on in person as the stores no longer carry women's plus-size clothing. Jerks. But I still shop there. So maybe I'm the jerk?

Ines Rosales Sweet Olive Oil Crisps

2007-08-23T10:26:00.000-05:00

Tortas de Aceite de Ines Rosales: Christine brought these to an outdoor movie in June, and I haven't been able to get them out of my mind. I finally found them for myself at the cheese counter at the Whole Foods on Ashland & School. They're crisp and sweet with a little bite -- the olive oil and anise will do that for you. If you can't find them at your local "Whole Paycheck", you can buy them on-line at Tienda.com.

what i bought today: tee-rrific

2007-08-09T13:24:00.000-05:00

"Keep Calm and Carry On" t-shirt: You can read the why and the wherefore of the phrase here. I know it's expensive for a t-shirt given the exchange rates, but I like to think of it as my own fashion statement for these troubling times. Also, powder blue and red in combination look really good on me.
Levi's Ergo Pencil Skirt: Thank you, Sears, for hooking a chubby girl up. The plus size selection at the Levi's Store has only some jeans, a jacket, and some shorts. I thought about getting this jacket, but didn't want to be running around this fall wearing a Canadian tuxedo.

what i bought today

2007-08-06T23:02:00.000-05:00

plane ticket to CDG for post-Thanksgiving trip: Okay, I didn't buy this ticket so much as part with 50,000 hard-earned frequent flier miles on United. I'm thinking I can convince somebody like Commander Robot to come with me, as more airlines fly out of JFK and it shouldn't be hard for him to find a deal.
seats on flights to and from Paris: thank you, SeatGuru, for prolonging the fun of planning travel. Who cares if I still need to get a passport, visa, and hotel room, never mind saving up enough money to eat and do shit? I can use SeatGuru to help me figure out which seats to get on my 8 and 9 hour long flights!
ten (10) 3" flower pots from Home Depot: I returned the A/C Support as my window is all stupid and would not let me install properly. Or maybe I should have gotten the bigger size? Whatevs -- I was frustrated after three failed attempts at installing left me sweaty and with no a/c in the abode. The Lincoln Park Home Depot doesn't carry bricks, which is where the flower pots came in. I bought 10, figuring that would be more than enough to stack on the outer sill (unsecured, yes, but I figure the a/c would weigh them down). And guess what? Eight worked perfectly -- organized in stacks of 2, they support the part of the a/c that sticks out (what I like to call "the butt") and now I have a nice and cold apartment. Total cost? $0.56 per pot, so it's $5.60 plus tax. Actually less, because I only used eight pots. I win!
DVD of Roger Michell's Persuasion: I will watch happily watch any film or television adaptation of Jane Austen's work, but this 1995 adaptation of my favorite Jane Austen book is probably the best. I don't know what it is that pushes it slightly ahead of Ang Lee's Sense and Sensibility, which is also wonderful -- the natural lighting? The angstiness? Who'd win in a fight -- Ciarán Hinds's broody, tragic Wentworth or Alan Rickman's broody, tragic Brandon?

lip gloss, anthropologie, blankets

2007-08-02T11:21:00.000-05:00

The Find: Pink Lip Gloss -- New York magazine writer shops for pink lip gloss. Now who do I suck up to get a gig like this? Sigh.
Anthropologie Doesn't Care About Black People! -- The first dispatch in the I Work Retail column for my new favorite blog. Well, my new favorite blog after Disgrasian™ -- holla!
TV Blankets: Mindy Kaling extols the virtues of snuggly blankets for TV watching. Which will be good to remember when it's freezing in winter and not ass-numbingly hot like it is now. For now, I prefer to hang out in my nightie with the windows open while I eat fudgesicles in front of re-runs of "Degrassi" and "Roseanne".

what i bought yesterday (and Thursday): the Norwegians are up to something

2007-07-27T09:44:00.000-05:00

Neutrogena® Energizing Body Wash: Is it a Norwegian thing? How else to explain the wide range of Neutrogena face, hair, and body products available at Nordstorm Rack? This new body wash is my favorite -- moisturizing with a lovely citrusy scent, great for waking up my lazy arse in the morning.Lodis gold leather wallet: It looks a lot like this Kate Spade wallet listed on ebay, but did not cost anywhere near as much. I like the shiny. The wallet is no longer listed on the Lodis site, so I can only guess it dates back to last fall/winter, or even last summer.Chanel nail polish in Black Satin: Yeah, I know it's totally summer '06, but it looks great on me.Acme Made 5G iPod Wallet: My only complaint is that there is no strap or latch to close this iPod case. Otherwise, I love everything about it, from the Hermès-like orange pebbled leather to the card slots for my Chicago Card.

i want: Giant Robot Panda t-shirt

2007-07-24T10:13:00.001-05:00

Do you see this t-shirt from Giant Robot? Do you understand that because it has a panda sitting on a couch typing away on a laptop that it must be mine? It must, and yet it might not because the only size available is a girl's small and while I am a girl I am most definitely not a small. Boo! Image via Giantrobot.com.

what i bought today: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss, "Cherries in the Glow"

2007-07-16T17:47:00.000-05:00

Not much to say about this gloss except that it's awesome and it makes my lips look so pretty. You can get your own at any drugstore that sells Revlon. I got mine at the Walgreen's on Jackson and Wacker.

what i bought today

2007-07-13T22:22:00.000-05:00

Not a lot today, but one big-ish ticket item...

plane ticket to PHL to see Nadine, geek out over HP7 together, and hang at the Jersey Shore
mani/pedi at Nail Spa - Chanel nail polish in Jasmine on toes, Essie nail polish in Starter Wife on fingers

Pnoy Apparel KFlag hoodie

2007-07-07T03:00:00.001-05:00

Patrick and Anna share some Connie's, originally uploaded by missjasmine.

Yes, I know the pizza looks delicious, but check out the hoodie my brother is wearing! Patrick nabbed it last month during the Philippine Independence celebrations in New York. Lucky gothamites, they got a slammin' parade and a Pnoy Apparel booth at which to shop. For those of us who couldn't get down with the brown, you can get your own awesome hoodie (which itself is a meditation on the evolution of the RP flag over the ages) on-line at pnoyapparel.com.

No candy for Jasmine!

2007-07-05T12:10:00.000-05:00

It seems like I've been buying more candy since I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes in early 2005 then before, but I only ever buy it as gifts for other people to consume so I can live vicariously through them. As today is Jacinda and Jalissa's mother's (we call her "Ja-Mamma" though her name is Cynthia) birthday and I spent yesterday with the family celebrating July 4th, I got her a great big bag of candy from my favorite store, Walgreen's:Reese's Limited Edition Elvis Cups: Reese's give their classic peanut butter cups the royal treatment by adding a layer of banana cream and slapping a cartoon Elvis Presley on the package. Just the right hint of banana taste, though I think I would have preferred a peanut butter and banana sandwich (on Wonder bread, of course).Harry Potter Blood Pops: I didn't get to taste this, but according to what I've read it stains your mouth red. And no, I don't remember how they figure in the books, which I need to re-read before the last book and movie of book 5 come out.Lemonheads: A seriously big box which I thought would have, like, a bajillion servings. But as a normal serving is 10 pieces (really? that's so much), the box had only four. These were a favorite of mine in childhood, and the Ferrara Pan candy company is local, so I must support them.Hot Tamales: Because Ja-Mamma is a hot tamale, something she will tell you herself. Hee! The package also made reference to a new icy flavor of this cinnamon candy, which sounded appalling to everybody.Strawberry Twizzlers: A classic, though it is not in the Candy Hall of Fame where it should be. I cry foul!Dots flip-flops: Not candy, but flip-flops with the Dots candy box pattern on the soles. With clear pink straps, they were adorable! Too bad I got the wrong size, though. D'oh!

what i bought this weekend: ugliest. shoes. ever.

2007-06-13T12:28:00.001-05:00

I didn't mean to do it. Buy these shoes, I mean. After a lovely afternoon spent getting a facial at the Aveda Institute (so cheap! so relaxing!) and watching "Once" at the Landmark (so romantic! such good music!), my intention was to buy some cute retro sneakers for the walks I do every year. At some point, I'd like to lose enough weight to actually run the Shamrock Shuffle instead of the shorter Shamrock Shuffle walk (which to me seems to be made for the chubby, infirm, and lazy). But until then, I will walk that and other races -- Chase Corporate Challenge, Race to the Taste, Rudolph Run -- in these profoundly ugly yet comfortable sneakers. It's the least I can do. The cute guy at the store was so helpful. He made me walk barefoot around the store so he could examine my walk. I felt self-conscious, for though my pedicure was intact, no amount of Chanel nail polish can change the fact my feet look like Fred Flintstone's. He recommended the 1122, which are for running and suited my wide feet. Apparently, I bear down on my heel, which the shoe will correct or do whatever it needs to do so I won't have worn my feet down to stubs by the time I'm the age of the old lady I saw on the bus this morning who was wearing the exact same shoes. I have been wearing them -- they're too comfortable not to wear, even if the words "geriatric raver" come to mind whenever I look at them. They have all this fancy stuff like a Rollbar that keeps my feet from wobbling from side to side. They are a 9.5 extra-wide, a size I didn't know even existed. They have paint on them now because I wore them all day Saturday for the Chicago Serve-a-thon, which found me painting classrooms at a school in South Shore. They're probably the greatest shoes that ever happened to me but I am far too superficial to look past their appearance. I imagine that this is what it must be like to date a really sweet, smart, and funny guy who is not even remotely good-looking or sexy. And am I wearing them now? Of course not. I'm at work, and carpeting is alright even if I'm wearing shoes that are a size too big or too high. I should be wearing them, but I wore pink Jack Purcells instead. The Purcells are no slouches in the comfort department -- they're not even pinching, even though they are not extra wide -- but they don't give me the extra height the geriatric raver New Balance 1122 sneakers do.

Hi, my name is Diddy, and I'm a shopaholic.

2007-06-06T09:59:00.000-05:00

I read the "Party Lines" feature on New York's web site regularly, though I tend to get tired of hearing the same semi-celebrities who are like "Oh I just rolled out of bed looking like this" when you just know there is a team of hair dressers, makeup artists, and stylists hiding behind a potted tree going "Say what?" Dude, I know you care -- just admit it takes the work of many, many people to make you look as though your hair is the exact color of honey and that you do not, in fact, have pores. So it's refreshing to come across this kinda awesome quote from Diddy, who is not a young starlet and yet loves to shop and loves to dress:

How big is your closet?“It’s two bedrooms I’ve turned into closets. I’d say I’ve worn maybe 40 percent. I’m up there with the girls. I’m a shopaholic. This is not something I’m proud of. I’m just trying to be honest with the problem that I have.”

Diddy, you are my shopping hero.(New York, "Party Lines: The 2007 CFDA Fashion Awards")

what i'm listening to today

2007-06-05T10:25:00.000-05:00

Loudon Wainwright III, Strange Weirdos: Music from and Inspired By the Film Knocked Up -- Everytime I hear "Daughter", I want to burst into tears. Because I'm a girl, and that's what girls do. When I listen to "X Or Y", I want to jump up and start dancing around. But I can't do that, because I'd probably knock stuff over. Also, he was Karp's dad on Undeclared, and how can you not support the awesome Hal Karp? Oliver Wang (curator), Soul Sides Volume 2: The Covers -- Soul remakes or remade soul. You can't do better than this. I only got this in the mail the other day, so I'm not done with the first real listen. So far, I'm in love with Sharon Cash's "Fever", Byron Lee & The Dragonaires' "Express Yourself", and Donovan Carless's take on the Wiliam DeVaughn immortal "Be Thankful For What You Got".

What's black and white (and Canadian) all over?

2007-06-04T12:32:00.001-05:00

I came across this post on PerezHilton.com about the launch of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's new line. First, it's nice to see the two of them looking their age and relatively healthy. Secondly, I appreciate the coordinated black-and-white outfits -- the clothes look particularly casual in the way that expensive things only can, and they're not especially distracting. Mary-Kate and Ashley wear the clothes, the clothes don't wear them, and therefore the ladies do not look underfed, Muppet-ish, or a combination of the two.But for two public figures who've managed to parlay their reputation into not one but several lines, I would have expected their outfits to be a bit snappier. I mean, it's not like we haven't seen twins in coordinated black-and-white outfits before.Maybe it's because the sisters Olsen are too young to remember the eighties (or they were too busy spending it with John Stamos and the rest of the Full House gang), but aren't they aware that they're just ripping off Heather and Erica, the slightly spazzy twins from Degrass Junior High and Degrassi High? Heather and Erica spent the entirety of their high school careers wearing black-and white togs that just screamed "Contempo Casuals clearance". I realize that part of Degrassi's charm (and mission) was to cast real kids who looked natural instead of shellacked adults with wrinkly foreheads. And maybe I lowered my expectations because it was Canadian television. But would it have killed Heather and Erica to at least slap on some pink lip gloss, or some red socks?And to bring us back to shopping...I got an eBay win in the mail today -- a pair of light gray/taupe Sigerson Morrison heels for $36.00. The originally cost $365.00. Gray, a combination of black and white, though I don't believe these shoes could ever be mistaken for something you'd find on the feet of Mary-Kate, Ashley, Erica, Heather, or any other black-and-white loving twin you may find on network television today.

what i bought yesterday: alumni weekend pub food special

2007-06-03T14:58:00.000-05:00

passion iced tea at Starbucks -- actually, Sean bought this for me for the trip down to Hyde Park
cheeseburger, brat, and large fries at Jimmy's -- lunch for me and Sean. Kevin snagged some fries when he arrived. I also pitched in a few dollars towards a pitcher of Leinie's Red
Yikes! brand University of Chicago t-shirt and baseball cap -- from the campus bookstore. I spent about 20 minutes debating sweatshirt options before I decided not to get one. I wanted gray with "University of Chicago" embroidered or sewn-on letters, with a zipper and kangaroo pocket. Alas, nothing was close enough for me to spend upwards of $50.00. Balls! But the t-shirt (mine is gray) and cap (mine is maroon) are loverly.
40 wings at the Pub -- afternoon snack shared between me, Jacinda, Sean, Joe, Kevin, and Gabe.
Cobb salad and chocolate milkshake at Seven Ten Lanes

mommy the trendsetter

2007-06-01T13:30:00.001-05:00

Remember how I bought my mother a parasol for Mother's Day? She loves it, and apparently the people of New York City (okay, maybe just people in Queens) love it, as well. She's been getting compliments and questions every time she uses it. She told me this herself when she called me just now to say that she will be attending the Philippine Independence Day Celebration this Sunday in Manhattan.The last time I attended a Philippine Independence event in New York, it was 1994. It was a hot day. I had missed the parade, but had been one of the fortunate to catch a 5 year old boy in a blue velvet tuxedo perform "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You". I could have used a parasol (and some earplugs) then. I hope my mother and her charming parasol will not be subjected to such entertainment this year. Though if there are small children singing pop ballads, I hope she has the decency to take some pictures.

what i bought yesterday: Santa Monica Yoga Mat Bag

2007-05-24T00:18:00.000-05:00

In the interest of doing better by my saggy, fast food-eating Type II diabetic self, I'm working on, well, working out. The city of Chicago, seemingly aware of this, has all manner of free or low-cost fitness events that are easy to get to on public transit. One such event is Saturday morning yoga, part of Millennium Park Workouts, which start on Saturday, June 9. That day will find me wandering to the Great Lawn, not struggling under the weight of a yoga mat that refuses to remain rolled-up as I will be hauling it in Crescent Moon's fabbo Santa Monica Yoga Mat Bag. Truly, it was some old dead White man who advised that people beware of ventures requiring new clothes. I can guess he was probably thinking about handbags and other accessories as well, but I'm sure he never had to lug anything around town on the 151 bus, did he? And this bag is versatile -- it's not like cheapie drawstring bags that are still awkward (or sometimes painful -- trying to hitch a drawstring over your flabby upper arm is not fun) for getting to and from yoga. There is plenty of room for a magazine or two, wallet, extra shoes, and a zip-pocket for smaller items. Smaller items like the bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit you couldn't quite finish before talking rolled oats with your fellow yoga practitioners? Namasté, my brothers and sisters.