The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Murder. Mystery. Family Secrets. Corruption. Sex. Rape. Nazis. Journalism. Investment Banking. It doesn't get much more intense than that.

And with a movie in the works for release in December 2011, you only have about 16 months to finish this 590 page thriller (although it only took me about a week). So enjoy! But don't be disappointed with the ending... this is the first book in a trilogy. They're bound to get together in the end.

Twenty-One. It's like I'm finally a legal immigrant.

Birthdays. Illegal immigration. Okay, go with me on this. I'm about to blow your mind with this anology.

So twenty. We've all been there (or most of us have - sorry to any of you youngins out there)... but really any age under 21. You wanna go out, you want to go to the bars have fun with your friends or maybe just have some drinks in a basement somewhere. Whatever. The law says you can't. Bummer.

So you sneak alcohol into your purse. You party when your parents aren't home. You carry false identification to get into the clubs. Sure you might be breaking the rules, but you're bringing something to the party. You're bringing your energy, your jokes, your dance moves, your drinking abilities, your all around sluttiness - whatever it may be, you're making the party a better place just for being there (whether you're supposed to not).

So isn't illegal immigration kinda like being underage? But like, forever? Forced to sneak across the border, avoid the police and take on false identities... sure, maybe you're not technically supposed to be at the Party in the USA, but you're bringing forth your talents, work ethic and traditions to make the county a more happening place. I say party on.

Except no one wants to be 20 years old forever. And no one like getting ID'd by cops in bars (Como). So back off Arizona. You're really a buzz kill.

The Maine - Black & White

"With eyes like a sunset, baby and legs that went on for days"

After being serenaded, not once but by two different boys to The Maine's "Into Your Arms" I fell for The Maine... sorry boys. Neither of you quite made the cut.

So I was very excited when I heard they released a new cd this week. Called Black & White, I likes it! Give it a listen. One of my favorites: "Right Girl" - The Maine always seems to find the lyrics that might as well be your life (or at least my life. And I'm not trying to sound conceited - I do have really long legs.)

Download for free here and enjoy The Maine!

Now if only their skinny jeans weren't tighter than mine...

Thought of the Day

Do blind people who use eye-seeing dogs have to pick up their crap? That just seems cruel.

That probably could have just been a tweet. Oh well.

I love lace

If I've learned anything from watching countless episodes of TLC's Say Yes To The Dress - other than I don't want to get married, I just want to have a wedding - it's that I love lace.

These beautiful pieces have been brought to you from American Apparel. And yes, I might have seen the ad from the Text From Last Night homepage. No judging.






Pretty, soft, elegant and a little bit sexy. Seriously. These high-waist lace panties? If you think grandma, think again.




So throw on some lace to make an outfit more feminine, soft, sexy, however you're feeling. Just make sure you wear a cami with an all lace top. Nobody wants to see your boobies - and if they did they would just check out the American Apparel website - plenty there.

Perfectly Lonely

Yes. I'm alone. In my large empty house. For an entire week. (Side note- if you are a murder/rapist/burglar, I have an extremely vicious dog named Franklin protecting me. Umm sure... Well, he is rather large.)

I'm not usually good at being alone. In fact, I can probably count on one hand the number of times I was left home alone when growing up. Living with six other loud, tall, boisterous people I didn't find peace and quiet very often. But when I did I savored it- people didn't get it. Maybe they saw too many scary movies or just thought I'd be scared in an old creepy house by myself. But seriously people, ME time is me time - and we're talking about ME here (I really like me).

But something strange happened when I went to college. I had tons of time to myself... probably too much time judging from some of my old facebook posts. I started to crave the company of others- all the time. I'm not sure if my friends just thought I was obsessed with them or crazy or both but I really started wanting to be around them all the time. (I mean it was kinda understandable- they are kinda amazing :)

So where am I going with this? Do I crave what I don't have in terms of spending time with myself/others? Knowing me probably. However, I am happy to report that this week has pleasantly surprised me. Sure living life as a recluse has its occasional downsides but I like to think Boo Radley was a little bit sexy. Drowning myself in text messages, dvr on my tv and redbox movies hasn't been bad either.

So maybe I've mastered it. The perfectly loneliness John Mayer sings of. Okay, so I think he was talking about being single, but let's get real, we all know I'm terrible at that. And although I've learned a lot about myself this week - don't expect any miracles.

Or maybe all my inner insecurities will build up and I'll go batshit crazy. Maybe I'll wake up at 3am unable to be coaxed back to sleep by the continuous Mad Men marathon on AMC (ps- how awesome is that?!) and need to be comforted by my cat or my mother or Mika or even our household ghost my family swears to. Maybe I'll even call you. That could be fun.

I swear haven't heard any voices yet but if I do I promise you I'll go out and find some kind of social interaction. Until then, I figured out I don't really mind being alone. And I like to think that's some kind of growth (or back-years thinking, depending on how you look at it.)

The Lovely Bones

As part of my goal to read 30, yes thirty, books in 2010, The Lovely Bones was the newest addition to my book list. This is actually my second time reading the book, but considering I first read it as a freshman in high school, I thought a little maturity and growth on my part over the last seven years might lead to a better understanding of the novel.

Well it's still a pretty weird book. Still a good book, but weird nonetheless. (And I read Chuck Palahniuk on the regs.) If you don't know the book, it is narrated by a young girl who was murdered by a neighbor and is now stuck in the "inbetween" between heaven and earth. The first half is very emotionally compelling- I didn't cry, but Jaimie couldn't stop- still, the second half seems to drag a little and get away from the focus that made the first half so unique.

The movie is interesting to say the least... although the imagery of the film is amazing, the storyline had to be altered a bit to fit a more traditional movie storyline and I found it distracting comparing book to movie (as I often do)

Still it's a book you won't come across everyday that gets my wholehearted approval (hey, after all I've read it twice - usually that feat is only reserved for Harry Potter novels.) But unless you don't have a soul (like me) you might want to invest in some tissues. Tear jerker alert.

Sidenote: This author also wrote a book about matricide (killing your mom). I bought the book for my mother for Christmas without knowing what it was about. Fun times.

Parisian Perfection

So simple, so chic. I could just see walking aimlessly through the streets of Paris or maybe picking up a fresh baguette from a local cafe. Oh Paris, when will I see you again? Until then I can dream of my future European wardrobe.

July Playlist

July is a great month isn't it? To me July means jumping into lakes, birthday cake, sparkly things, popsicles and cute flats. I'm not sure you can get more random than that.

So I tried to keep the same scattered theme for this month's playlist - a little upbeat excitement (because it is Summer afterall) paired with chill, relaxing beats for those long Summer Nights - sorry all your musical theater lovers, no Grease here... at least not for now anyways.


1. Animal - Neon Trees
2. Dream City - Free Energy
3. U + Me = - Dan Black
4. I Don't Wanna Lose You - Rooney
5. Take it Easy - Sufer Blood
6. Baby (Justin Bieber cover) - Neon Trees
7. Electric Feel - Katy Perry
8. Bang Pop - Free Energy
9. King of Anything - Sara Bareilles
10. White Night - The Postelles
11. Gold Lion - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
12. Passes and Passports - Reverie Sound Revue
13. Stars and Stripes - Rooney
14. The High Road - Broken Bells
15. From the Morning - Nick Drake
16. Cousins - Vampire Weekend

Give them a listen... and let me know what you think. Until further notice I'll be working on my (lack of) a tan. And eating popsicles. Obviously.

Welcome to One Thirty Seven!

I know you've missed me. It's been many a days since the myspace blogs and facebook notes so I thought I'd give this a try.

I promise to write longer entries for your tickled enjoyment from time to time but mostly I'll use this to share random pieces of my life - music, fashion, pretty things, books, my favorite people and places and other various addictions.

I promise not to get too girlie or emotional (that's what's tweeting if for after all - that and keeping all your secrets...) and I'll try most times to be brief. Try is the main word there.

So enjoy! My first piece of randomness. An old picture I used as a screensaver awhile back.



Wouldn't it just be a dream to wake up, put on your over-sized costume jewelry and look like that? Glamorous. Timeless. My beauty inspiration for the day.