Are We Focusing on Loving the Wrong Person?

".....I got to thinking about relationships. There are those that open you up to something new and exotic, those that are old and familiar, those that bring up lots of questions, those that bring you somewhere unexpected, those that bring you far from where you started, and those that bring you back. But the most exciting, challenging, and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the you you love, well, that's just fabulous." - Carrie Bradshaw

This quote is empowering in a way that I did not expect.....empowering because it's not from a place of pain or bitterness regarding love, it's from a place of revelation and acceptance. Learning to love oneself, genuine self-love is elusive and harder to grasp than one may think.

In our 20s, we are so pressed at finding Mr/Miss Right before our clocks start ticking at age 30. We make simple mistakes, love hard, and fall even harder! We are all over the place with no clear destination except to find the "end all, be all" loves of our lives. I honestly can not remember not 1 chapter of my life in my 20s where I focused on ME. (I am almost embarrassed to speak/type that aloud) I actually lived HARD AND FAST, making simple mistakes with huge consequences.....but now in my 30s as a single woman, "me" keeps popping into the plan without an effort.

I want to live out my dreams, explore my weaknesses, improve on some of the chore characteristics that are Erin Danielle Bush. Gone are the days of feeling the need to be loved unconditionally in order to love ourselves in the same manner.

Seeking validation from others has easily transitioned into self-affirmations. Fear melts away and you embrace that inner voice that you have ignored or muffled for years....the voice of strength, the voice of love.

Go ahead and love yourself ladies, be good to yourself. Replenish yourself.

Smooches & Self-Love Quick Claps

Not one drop of my self-respect is dependent on your acceptance of me. - Quincy Jones

Want Some Seamen?

It's like Christmas in May Divas.....it's FLEET WEEK in New York, God Bless America!

Pull out your low cut dresses and short shorts, expensive panties, your diaphram, and some SICK pumps - the boys are back in town! (get excited) I don't even do boys and the site of the young, dapper, tight ab saliors in crsip white uniforms looking all nautical makes me a bit moist! lol

I must admit that I do not know what exactly happens during Fleet Week or why there even is a Fleet Week, yall can google it - back to the boys! lol With 13 US and Canadian ships docking (that is the correct word right, docking/parking/pulling in), there will be plenty of EYE CANDY for us all to see!!! (there are some servicewomen so I might get lucky too)

Anywho, get ready for the boy toys who serve our nation along with LOTS of liquor and some hot parties in the city's bars and lounges.

Smooches & SEAMEN Quick Claps

Carrie's Quandary.......Erin's Quandary

"Soul mate....two little words, one big concept. A belief that someone, somewhere, is holding the key to your heart and you dream house. All you have to do if find them. So where is this person? And if you love someone and it didn't work out, does that mean they weren't your soul mate?"

- Carrie Bradshaw

Good question right? It has me up late thinking.....as if searching for this soul mate isn't hard enough while maintaining your own independence, now you have to wonder if you loved and it didn't work out or end in "I Do" whether or not is was just timing or because they are not your soul mate?!?! (I have to pour myself another glass of Moscato on this one)

I don't personally see marriage as the end all be all, at one point I thought I was missing the "bride gene" too (like Carrie) but then I realized how many marriages I know of that are faux; a facade, glossy and pretty on paper but weak and lacking that "thing". I am longing for a deeper connection, one that compliments the many dynamics of my multi-facaded personality. The dress, the ring (real or fake), the small details are not of any importance to me if we do not carry one another in our spirits.

Because I am an optomist, I am going to say that I believe in soul mates but that I also believe in timing! I have found my soul mate but we are not together.......how do I know? (I knew you were gonna ask! lol) Because with her I have grown exponentially, she brings out the extreme and real Erin - soft, sexy, pained, beligerent, protective, compromissing, caring, and posturing. She was strong enough to catch me and hold tight - period. (amazing in itself)

Now the timing thing......that's for another day!

Smooches & Quandary Quick Claps

One Fifth Avenue by Candace Bushnell

I’m a huge fan of “Sex and the City”, “Sex and the City’ the movie and “Lipstick Jungle” and I will go out on a limb here and predict that One Fifth Avenue will become a series that will have women glued to their TVs for that one hour of pure decadence and pleasure.


If you are a big fan of Candace or if you have a girlfriend who also enjoy her wit, One Fifth Avenue would be a great gift.


I won’t spoil it, but I will reveal that just like her two other major hits, One Fifth Avenue takes place in the Big Apple (of course) and focuses on the residents of a historic Manhattan building after the death of a elderly socialite resident who has passed away leaving her huge and very-much-enviable New York apartment up for grabs.


This book, like so many other Candace Bushnell books, is filled with likable and unlikable characters (but you still love to hate them) that make for a hilarious read — the young Lola Fabrikant, the gorgeous actress Schiffer Diamond, the reserved but intelligent character of Annalisa and the overachiever Mindy Gooch … to name a few.Candace Bushnell is a great story-teller and this is a great read that will leave you smiling while you are reading all the juicy details of the gossips and the social happenings involving the residents of One Fifth Avenue.


My suggestion is to get the book, curl up under your favourite blanket and set your cup of coffee or tea on your coffee table (I prefer a Mimosa but you do you) and enjoy an afternoon of decadence by losing yourself in Candace Bushnell’s One Fifth Avenue!

Bag, Borrow, or Steal

I have totally heard of this site before but it actually slipped my mind until I saw the SATC Movie and J Hud's character was renting her way into fashion fabulosity....Bag,Borrow, or Steal is like the Netflixs of accessories! (HEY NOW) The site allows you to borrow designer handbags, jewelry, and sunglasses from a stock of more than 4,000 items from top designers.

Rent for a week, a month, or forever if you choose which would be the "steal" option! Prices vary from a cheap Coach bag (does anyone carry those anymore) from $15/week to a hot Vintage bag from $150/week. No knock-offs, everything is certified authentic and goes through a rigorous 10-point refurbishing process before it is shipped to you.

Simple - borrow, enjoy, return!

Smooches & Rented Quick Claps,
Erin

http://www.bagborroworsteal.com/ui/welcome

How To Rock a Sex and the City Lifestyle

Hey all.....you know what today is right??? THE RELEASE OF SEX AND THE CITY THE MOVIE!!!! (Mr Big & Manolo Blahnik Quick Claps) I will be attending with my ultra-chic and fellow fashionista friends this evening followed by cocktails at a rooftop Lounge to discuss and disect every shoes, evry hot outfit, every trend that was scene on teh big screen. (yes, it's THAT serious)

So in honor of this joyous occasion I am here to inform you of how YOU can rock a Sex and the City Lifestyle! (no thanks neccessary) In the picture abouve Carrie is sporting two items that I, the self-proclaimed often imitaed but never dupliacted Shallow Shoe Whore, have been able to identify:

1. Eiffel Tower Bag by Timmy Woods - hand crafted, Swarovsky crystals, 8.75" H by 4.5W " by 3.75"D $450 - $3,000

2. Dior Extreme Gladiator Platform - smooth grained leather; open-toe; contoured bands over vamp, top of foot, and around ankle; round silver metal studs throughout connect bands in patch-like construction, 4.75" leather-covered stiletto heel $770

A bit rich for my blood but a girl can dream, right?

Smooches, Sex and the City Quick Claps, and Carrie-Fever Love,

-Erin

What's in a Nameplate?

When SJP sported her "Carrie" necklace on the original season of Sex and the City almost 10 years ago, it drove fashion girls into a nameplate frenzy!! (I must admit, I got one but can't find it now to save life) Street jewelry gone majorly luxe: It seemed genius at the time. Now Gossip Girl's Leighton Meister AKA the bitchiest girl on the block AKA Blair Waldorf wears a rose gold pendant, engraved with her last name, "Waldorf". Blair's necklace is more granny chic than hip-hop bling, but, still a nameplate is a nameplate. Get yours here.

Unless you're over them, of course. Are you?

Get your granny chic version here, http://garlandcollection.com/.

Smooches & Nameplate Quick Claps!

Stuart Weitzman & the City

HOW EXCITED ARE YOU ABOUT THE SEX AND THE CITY MOVIE???!!!???

I AM SUPER EXCITED AND CAN NOT WAIT TO SEE IT TWICE - the first time to oh and ah at the fashions & the second to actually pay attention to the movie! LOL (thank God my Boo likes the show too or this would be torture for her)

So, I just wanted to give you a sneak preview of some of the Weitzman styles that the ladies (my friends in my head, ALL of them) will be rocking in this film.

Above, Samantha sports the FEVER - gorgeous pointed toe, sexy contoured shape, 4" heel, $250.00.

Smooches, Stiletto Quick Claps, and Much Love-

Erin

Celebrity Spotting (MAJOR)

*Actual photo taken by Marcia with her cell phone!!

Good Morning Ladies! My Diva Fashionista friend Marcia had ANOTHER celebrity spotting over the weekend. (quick clap for Marcia, live from 5th Avenue) Okay chicas, prepare yourself as this is the ULTIMATE in celebrity spottings as she is a FASHION ICON (from her wardrobe on the show to her always well put together outfits for the red carpet) that we have worshiped as we watched each and every episode of Sex in the City - SARA JESSICA PARKER aka Carrie Bradshaw!!!!!!!!! (OMG, OMG, OMG, I SO wanna be her when I grow up....well I sort of am her in a Carrie Bradshaw kinda way with this blog) She was spotted on Friday 9/21/07 on 5th Avenue & 57th in front of Tiffany's. (how Audrey Hepburn of her) She was wearing a cream gathered dress with a large flower on the right shoulder (remember when she started that phenomenon) and some SICK pumps (most likely Manolos of course) filming a scene for the upcoming Sex in the City movie to debut in May '08. (mark you calendars NOW)

Lets revisit the character of Carrie Bradshaw: She is the most fashion forward of all of the girls on the show with a mixture of haute couture pieces side by side with vintage frocks, downtown club wear, and MILES of Manolo Blahnik stilettos. She expressed herself through her style and was an absolute fashion chameleon going from streetwise, to neo-bohemian, to timeless classic, to racy and cutting edge! Every season she had a signature accessory piece: the nameplate necklace, the flower pins, gloves, newsboy hats, and diamond/gold stackable jewelry. What more can I say - the bitch is FABULOUS!

All hail the Queen of Fashion - Sara Jessica Parker aka Carrie Bradshaw.

Until tomorrow - Smooches, Quick Claps, and Much Love,

Erin