So I was shopping the other day...

I was in Good Vibrations the other day and happened across a vibrator that caught my attention. OhMiBod's music powered vibrator. Connected to your Ipod this vibrator pulsates to the sounds/rhythms of the music you listen to. I don't know how I feel about attaching anything like that to my Ipod, but the concept is certainly one that caught my attention.

http://www.ohmibod.com/

(picture from www.ohmibod.com)

The Melting Pot

So in the midst of this rainy afternoon full of debating I managed to make it out to The Melting Pot with the roommate. I wont like I was intrigued mainly because I had seen it on The Girls Next Door. Also the premise of the restaurant (fondue!) had me intrigued.

Upon arriving at the restaurant we were told the wait would be about 45 minutes (looking around at the empty tables I was a bit skeptical...but never the less did as the hostess instructed and sat at the bar to order a drink. No sooner had the drinks arrived than a table magically appeared for us to sit at. The food was pricey, but good. We split an artichoke and spinach fondue pot, each had salads, and split the Ying/Yang fondue dessert.

My opinion: The food was a bit pricey for fondue, though it was very good and fresh (they mix the food at your table). I did like that I got an unlimited amount of dippers, but the food was still a bit pricey. The ruse to get us to get drinks at the bar before being seated was a bit much, as well as the somewhat pretentiousness of the restaurant itself (what appeared to be the manager carried our drinks over herself to one of the empty tables). That being said I highly enjoyed the concept and would recommend going. The appetizer of fondue was more than enough to fill two grown women and the dessert selection was very good.

Check it out:
The Melting Pot
www.meltingpot.com
76 Arlington Street
Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers
Boston-Back Bay, MA 02116
617-357-7007
Check website for menu, directions, and hours

Alyssa Milano comes to Boston

Apparently Alyssa Milano aka Sam Micelli from "Who's the Boss?" is coming to Boston to promote her sports clothing line. She'll be at the Red Sox team store from 5:30pm-6:30pm (boo I have to work then!) to promote her line. You can check out this Red Sox shirt and other women's wear sport fans gear at: http://shop.mlb.com/category/index.jsp?categoryId=2838550&sr=1&origkw=2838550

And Alyssa has a blog as well: http://alyssa.mlblogs.com/

I just love that she turned what has mainly been a male dominated thing -- sport fan's gear and turned it so that there were more female friendly options available. Considering sports aren't just a passtime that men enjoy it makes sense that sport fan clothing should reflect that.

Practical Magic

I have spent the last few days researching graduate schools, juggling two jobs, taking four classes, and trying to figure out my financial situation. Needless to say I've gotten a bit bitchy and in trying to keep my sanity afloat have emersed myself in a multitude of movies that are now readily available to me, as I have a larger cable package now. One of those movies last night was Practical Magic. While the movie will probably not go down in history as Nicole Kidman's finest role...it is definitely one of my favorite guilty pleasure movies.

The movie centers on two sisters played by Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock who are witches. They are raised by their aunts in the art of witchcraft. In addition...there is a family curse that the men the women in their family fall in love with are doomed to die. Now these two sisters are as different as can be. While Bullock's character is somewhat reserved and wants the white picket fence life, Kidman's is somewhat of a wild child. Fates bring these two sisters together when Kidman's character falls in love with a man who is no good (played by ER's Goran Visnjic).

The movie features a host of great actors including a young Evan Rachel Woods and a fabulously good looking Aidan Quinn. It also has a great wardrobe...which is something I discovered while watching it for the bizillionth time. I particularly loved Bullock's flower printed dresses and cardigans...something about it all seemed so effortlessly gorgeous. Kidman's more quirky and flesh baring outfits were equally appealing.

Apparently I cannot be the only one who enjoys this movie as it played on ABC Family over the weekend during Sandra Bullock weekend. Needless to say it is definitely something worth checking out as the Halloween season approaches.

(picutre from www.wikipedia.com)

Zach Morris is Back!

Ok, so its not exactly Zach Morris but Mark Paul Gosselaar whose back on the small screen with TNT's new drama "Raising the Bar." Another source of my TV addiction, this show follows all sides of the courtroom drama (prosecution, defense, and judge's quarters). It also delves into the personal dramas of the character's (think Grey's Anatomy, but in a courtroom and wearing suits). Gosselaar plays a Jerry Kellerman, a defense attorney with a heart for those who would not otherwise get a good defense. Sigh...while the Zach Morris day's are over, there is still a part of me that yearns for the good old days. Luckily Gosselaar appears as yummy as ever, and delivers in a great performances in a terrifically written show. Despite some scathing critics of the show hopefully it will be on for a bit...if not for the eye-candy.

Picture from TNT Raising the Bar website (www.tnt.tv/series/raisingthebar)

Stephen King and such...

Too tired to write anything insightful and still several more pages left to go in this seemingly endless week of homework (oh wait its just Monday...). That being said I will just leave this link to this nice little short story/graphic novel/animation that I happened to stumble across in my dazed and procrastination infused state. www.nishere.com

Apparently up for quite some time now, this animation of one of Stephen King's short stories is somewhat addictive and hard not to sit through the whole thing. Comprised of 25 short little clips (each about 2 minutes each), the story focuses on the suicide of a psychiatrist following his encounter with a patient titled "N." Creepy less in the King sense of similar novels, but more in its deliverance through vocals and animation I sat through the entire story in one sitting. Definitely check it out if you have a chance!

Confessions of a Shopaholic

This looks so cute!

Sick...blah!

Just got off of a rather long evening shift so I'll make this one brief...

Apparently Agent Provocateur is planning to open a shop on Newbury Street! So excited. According to the Improper Bostonian the store is set to open in October. If you have never heard of Agent Provocateur then I highly suggest heading over to their website: :http://www.agentprovocateur.com/ This British lingerie store has apparently been expanding internationally over the past year and plans on launching the new Boston store soon. (http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/daily/080811-agent-provocateurs-expansion-plans.aspx ) Popular with celebrities, the store features some naughty but not cheaply done lingerie. I cannot wait! Also check out Maggie Gyllenhaal's new ads for the sexy lingerie store...fantastic: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-479630/Maggie-Gyllenhaals-steamy-Agent-Provocateur-campaign-revealed.html

On a side note according to the Boston Globe an 18 year old was discovered to have the Bubonic plague. Creepy! Apparently he had visited Wyoming, which is where they suspect he picked it up. The CDC in Atlanta has already confirmed the case. While I am definitely sick with a fever, I am quite sure it is not the Bubonic plague...thank goodness! (http://www.boston.com/news/local/connecticut/articles/2008/09/13/doctor_bubonic_plague_victim_fully_recovered/)

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Gotta Love a Beerfest!

Nothing says Autumn in New England quite like a trip to Salem, MA. I absolutely love that my favorite holiday is in the fall...Halloween! So the fact that I live in a state that combines both is not something I hope to overlook this year. So I was really excited to see that Salem has a Harvest Fest - Wine, Meads & Craft Beer. What could be better than Salem, Halloween, and beer! It takes place Saturday October 18. Check it out at: http://www.salemharvestfest.com/

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Stopping by Coolidge Corner a few weekends ago I stopped in to see the new Woody Allen flick, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona." The movie focuses on two friends (Vicky and Cristina) who travel over to Barcelona and become involved with a painter - Juan Antonio- (Javier Bardem) who seduces them both. The story becomes more twisted as Antonio's mentally unstable ex-wife returns (played by Penelope Cruz).

I was a bit hesitant to go to see this film at first, as trailers touted the seduction scenes as big draws to the film (particularly a dark room scene between Cruz and Scarlett Johansson). I was pleasantly surprised upon viewing this film that it wasn't as tarty as I expected. While the film does not lack in sex scenes, it did it in such a tasteful way that it did not become the main focus of the film. Some of this can be attributed to the narration that accompanied the scenes throughout the film. While I tend to shy away from film narrations I did not find it as distracting as I thought it would have been.

Adding to the beauty of the film itself was the Barcelona backdrop, which was sensual in and of itself.

While all the actors in the film added to the movie it was Cruz who I felt shined in this film. While her part was only minimal the intensity of this disturbed character was almost palatable.

I highly recommend seeing this film either in the theatre or when it comes out on DVD. Either way it wont disappoint.

(picture from www.wikipedia.com)