The glory that is fountain soda

So, I'm totally addicted to soda. It's my favorite thing in the whole world and I can't get enough of it. I drink it all day and all night and never ever get sick of it. But the very best is fountain soda. Even more specifically, Cherry Coke fountain soda. Man, it's delicious.

As you're all aware, I'm on this stupid Jenny Craig deal which obviously doesn't include cherry coke fountain sodas on the menu. What it does include, though, is diet soda. I can have as much diet soda as I want. (The consultant said that approximately 367 times.) And believe me, I do! I drink diet sunkist, diet 7-Up, diet pepsi, diet coke, diet dr. pepper ... BUT IT IS NOT THE SAME. While I don't full out HATE diet soda, I must admit, I don't really like it. The aftertaste is horrendous and joy that I get from regular soda is just not found in these sugar-free cans of grossness.

For as long as I can remember, I've been told that I would lose so much weight if I just knocked out the soda from my diet. Apparently, it's the devil. I've heard it's bad for your teeth and can make rust literally disintegrate. ("Just think what it's doing to your stomach!" say all the haters.) And, do you remember Sammy from Days of Our Lives? I think she's still on the show actually. Anyway, as we all know, she was a bit heavier back in the day. (Which during college, when everyone is a bit heavier, was weirdly reassuring.) But then all of a sudden she lost a bunch of weight and now she's small. (Small, with a big head, but still, she's small). ANYWAY, , I came across an article with her and she credits her weight loss to increased exercise and ELIMINATING SODA FROM HER LIFE. She too was addicted but she beat it. And now she's small.

Sammy was always really annoying, wasn't she?

I can't wait I'm off Jenny Craig and have a cherry coke fountain soda. I'm so OVER this diet pepsi.

Jennifer Aniston vs. Gisele Bundchen

So, I'm a pretty big fan of Jennifer Aniston. This isn't news to anyone who knows me (I mean, I still wear my hair like she did on the 7th season of Friends.) I think she is classy, beautiful, and very good at delivering funny lines. And I also like her facial expressions. She dominates.

Anyway, a few years ago, she wore a gorgeous Chanel gown to the Emmys and was absolutely stunning. Her golden hair flowed, her smile was bright, and she rocked that gown like no other.

Then, several months later, Gisele Bundchen accompanied Leo Dicaprio to the Academy Awards and wore a Christian Dior gown very similar to Aniston's Emmy masterpiece. Both have been praised for these dresses--each making the best-dressed list at her respective event.

However, a friend of mine (who will remain nameless so people don't barrage her email box with hate mail) emphatically stated Gisele's dress was better. I've included pictures of both so you can decide. (although it seems pretty friggin' obvious to me!)

The fight is on: Jennifer vs. Gisele.

cause I'm deeper than just material things.

So, I thought I'd blog about something UNmaterialistic today to show the readers of this blog (all two of you) that I'm about more than just designer bags and shoes.

I am on day 4 of Jenny Craig. For those of you reading this and don't know me, don't jump to any conclusions. I'm not super huge - I'm just trying to drop the extra 15 lbs. I put on during my cross-country move about 8 months ago. Even though Nick looks at me lovingly and tells me I look exactly the same as the day we started dating (cough bullsh*t!), my clothes are telling me something else entirely. So blah, blah, blah, I'm doing Jenny Craig.

And while the food isn't terrible and includes some carbs (which already helps it score higher than Atkins, the diet of the devil) I'm not TOTALLY feeling it. The portions are tiny. TEENY TINY. And while I've always been known not to eat big portions, even to me these seem small. At my first consultation, I asked about eating out and how drinking affects the diet. I was told I could have one glass of wine or beer every so often. But if I did, I'd have to run an extra 20-30 minutes the day before, the day of, and the day after the alcohol entered my body. First of all, 20-30 EXTRA minutes? How much did she think I was already running? And THREE DAYS of extra exercise for ONE glass of alcohol? Something seems wrong here.

This Wednesday will be the end of week 1 and also when I'll have my first weigh in. (Sounds fun, huh?) After the weigh in, there is a 20 minute 'consultation' with a 'consultant' where you talk about how the week went, etc. I think I might accidentally forget to tell her about the two pitchers of beer Nick and I had last night while bowling. (Oops!)

Anyway, for those of you not dieting, enjoy your freedom. I'm getting ready to go to the movies and skipping the popcorn is already causing me to shake. Hopefully a diet coke and Jenny Craig mini toffee bites will be a sufficient substitute.

Christian Louboutin

So, the truth of the matter is I'm 5'2". Most people are surprised to hear that since I'm never, ever caught wearing shoes under 4 inches tall. I've always loved high heels and and am so delighted that wedges and platforms are all over the fashion runways and in stores. When I first started at this new job, I was introduced to the red-soled genius of Christian Louboutin. I'd admired his work for years but had no idea who was creating the shoes I was lusting after in my Us Weekly magazines. So, for those who don't know, his stuff ranges from $500-$1500 a pair. Occasionally, you can find a pair for less and sometimes his previous season goes on sale for less as well. (Note: he has a wild side and some of the shoes for sale are really crazy and loud and not-tracey style.)

Since I'm currently not a movie star, pop star or big-time novelist, I'm unable to pay $500-$1500 per pair of shoes. So instead, I've been buying the knock-offs that steve by steve madden have been doing. They are hot but after all my years of publicly asking everyone I know, "honestly, how can anyone carry a fake bag? Who do they think they're kidding?" I feel somewhat like a hypercrite. (Though it should be noted, the pairs I buy do NOT have red on the sole that some knockoffs have to REALLY try and fool people.) I bought three pairs - each at $150 - and I've worn two of the pairs once and the other pair never. Turns out, the steve maddens aren't all that comfy. So I have three pairs of shoes that are really hot, but are super uncomfortable and are not the real pairs of shoes wanted!

What have we learned? Well, I wish I had just gotten one pair of the louboutins instead of spending $450 on three pairs of knock-offs I'll never wear. I'm starting to see some of his fall line and they're looking pretty hot too. There's this one very-high, black suede knee-high boot that I've got my eye on. Maybe I'll splurge on those....

Who doesn't love the name Michael?

So, since I work on a fashion website, I'm constantly forced to browse lots and lots of designer clothing. And every so often, something makes me stop dead in my tracks. In this case, it's the most beautiful dress I've ever seen. It's by Michael Kors and it's perfect. I've been admiring it from afar on Netaporter.com for what feels like 5 years though it's only been about 6 months. I've watched the price drop from $1,880 to $846. I've spent full 5-minute periods just staring at it and imagining places I could wear it (if only I'd had it for the MTV Awards!) And in my weakest moments, I've gathered co-workers to talk me OUT of actually spending nine hundred dollars on a dress that a) isn't a wedding dress and b) hasn't even been tried on and c) COSTS $900!!!

Anyway, I've put it into my shopping bag on Net a Porter, hoping that one day I'll check on it and they'll have marked it down to $200 or $300. I realize it's a pipe dream, that michael kors would probably step in front of a speeding bus before selling his stuff for less than $500, but a girl can hope, right?

I think the reason the pull is so strong is because the dress has actually spoken to me. The first time I came upon it, it whispered, "Hey there, ace. Listen, I know you don't normally tread in the $1,880 dress arena, but I was actually made specifically for you. Well, in full disclosure, I made the dress for Angie Harmon, Michael's muse.. and to be honest, she really ROCKS IT, but seriously, it wouldn't look half bad on you. You should TOTALLY buy me." This dress is SO ME. I'm not being vain - I'm not saying it would look so good on me, I'm just saying, the colors, the shape and the detailing feel very Tracey. (que everyone I know: don't you mean totally tracey? I need to rename this blog. But I digress.)

So, I leave you with this... if you EVER see this dress for $300 or less, please let me know immediately. The MTV awards are an annual event and I can wear it next year...

the perfect bag

So, I totally love handbags. More specifically, designer handbags. It's an addiction I've had for about 5 years now and the end is not in sight. And after five full years of looking for the perfect bag, a few months ago I found it. Don't get me wrong, I still love, love, love my gucci. And both my louis vuittons will always hold a special place in my heart, but when the pearly gates of heaven open, I'm PRETTY sure this is what is waiting for everyone when they check in.

The Chloe Paddington Bag.

I adore it. I love it. I dream about it. I am totally 100% obsessed. I love the leather, the hardware, the classic look. I need to have it.

But here's the deal -- it's $1,540. That's a 7-day vacation. That's 3 pairs of Jimmy Choos. That's 7 pairs of joe's jeans. It's 1,540 slurpees. I want to buy it so badly, but I just can't do it.

Nick would immediately drive into the bay. (I know this because he tells me everytime I mention Chloe.) And I like him quite a bit so I wouldn't want that to happen.

And the worst part is, it will never go on sale. It's been out for awhile now and some stores STILL have a waiting list. So even if I'm patient, this little leather masterpiece will always be fifteen hundred dollars.

At dinner the other night with friends, it was pointed out that if I put aside $5 every day for a year, I'd have enough to buy it. It was also pointed out I could buy it NOW and then put aside $5 a day to pay the credit card. That's pretty much the same thing, right?

You're in the army now

So, after my freshmen year of college I was sitting in my parent's kitchen when my mother walked in carrying the mail. In it was a card promoting Army ROTC at my school and immediately I yelled, "hey dad, check this out!" He looked at the card and then at me and said, "you wouldn't last a week."

Well.

I don't do so well being told what I can and can't do. (I mean, I was voted most likely to be grounded in high school). It took about five minutes for me to sign up.

My sophomore year of college began two weeks earlier than the rest of my roommates since new army recruits had to report for training. (I know... it's hard even for ME to keep a straight face while writing this. ME? IN THE ARMY?) We were issued BDUs (battle dress uniforms) and boots and started crawling around in the dirt.

There are SO MANY anecdotes from this experience and I just don't have the time to go into them. So I will just share a few key things to help you better picture this time in my life:

- I was the only girl who wore makeup.
- I was the only girl who flirted with the boys.
- Shooting an M16 was terrifying, cool, and very, very real.
- I had to go away for a three-day training exercise with only my BDUs, my helmet, MREs (meals ready to eat), and some blush I smuggled in.

A couple months ago I bought a cute little 'message' T-shirt that has ARMY written across the front and I love it. While I was clearly NOT into wearing camouflage around campus for an entire semester (I'm still reeling), I'm secretly kinda proud I did it.