Monday, February 27, 2012

Oscar Night-Best and Worst Dressed

Oscar Night 2012
Fashion world, take note.

Best Dressed

Emma Stone
Red on the red carpet...I don't care. Nicole Kidman wore this...I don't care.
 I love this! And yes, I will always be partial to red heads....always.

Stacey Keibler
Those elves must be proud. She looks stunning.

Gywneth Paltrow
I loved this dress with the cape better than without. I loved the cuff. I wish her hair was parted down the middle and pulled back...what can I say, I am very particular.

Kristen Wiig
I loved the color, the fitted bodice and the fluffy skirt. This also reminds me that I have to swiffer my floor tonight.

Cameron Diaz
I thought this fit her perfectly and the color was fantastic on her.

Louise Roe
The more I look at this the more I love this. Kind of business-y, kind of fancy.


I Can't Explain Why I Like This

Shailene Woodley
I like the waist, the details, the color, the long sleeves....everything about it.

Worst Dressed

Angelina Jolie
OK, this was originally on my best dressed but then she kept doing this weird thing with her leg and that annoyed me, then I realized how skinny she is and that annoyed me, then I remembered she stole Jennifer Aniston's husband and that really pissed me off. Worst Dressed, infinity.

Jennifer Lopez
Dynasty called, they'd like their wardrobe back.

Natalie Portman
Too lady bug-y

Meryl Streep
There is a seafood restaurant on the PCH called Gladstones. When you are unable to finish your meal instead of to-go box, they take gold tin foil and wrap your food in it...and then shape it like a crab, whale or, and I can only assume after today, Meryl Streep's Oscar dress. Because gold tin foil is the fanciest of all tin foils.

Glen Close
Congratulations on winning the Masters.

What Makes Me A Fashion Expert/What I Wore on Oscar Night

This is the honest to God truth.......
Nike shoes, Under Armour socks, Nike work-out pants, Nike long sleeve hooded T under a gray T-shirt.
Hair
Down and under a Lacrosse Helmet.
Make-Up
None, except what was left from the previous day.
Accessory
A radar gun.
Why
Because I was standing behind a goal clocking how fast Brock could shoot a Lacrosse ball.
But Why
Because that is how we spend Sundays.

98mph by the way, thus the helmet.

Friday, February 17, 2012

Veal Chop Johnny

One of my all-time favorite people in the restaurant business is Johnny V. I first met Johnny in Mclean, VA at an open call for Not Buca (name has been changed to protect Maggiano's). In he walked; Greek, mid-late 60's, 5'1", bald, belly like a bowl full of jelly, thick accent, in other words, everything you wanted in a fast paced, high tech restaurant. As Johnny went through the interview process we noticed he was missing several fingers on each hand and he was not shy talking about it. Johnny had spent the early part of his 20s in the military and on one particular day as he was escorting an American Colonel through a field they were hit.  Johnny went to shield the Colonel  and in the process lost several fingers but also gained American citizenship. And so Johnny came to America, was hired at Not Buca and the fun began.

We soon realized that Johnny couldn't see without his glasses which he rarely brought with him. Eyesight was important when ringing the orders, it was crucial when you wanted to ring in orders correctly. Johnny was not concerned with the latter. At any given point in the night, there would be anywhere from 5-7 misorders from Johnny sitting in the window. The staff ate well those nights.... those sitting in Johnny's station, not so much.

We also realized that a station rotation was not in the best interest of Johnny. Great pains and lengths go into making sure servers are rotated fairly between stations. A new station for Johnny meant that everything he rang in would be on last nights table numbers. So it was agreed upon that Johnny would stay in one station...until the end of time. Station #6 would become Johnny's. It was 3 steps from the computer, 3 steps from the kitchen and the table numbers were simple; 10, 11, 12, 13  (about the same time that it was decided that Johnny would only be in Station #6, it was decided that he would only have 3 tables).

I'm sure by now  you are wondering how Johnny made money with all the challenges he encountered. HE MADE A TON. Whatever he lacked in technical skills he more than made up for in personality. People waited to sit in his section. While they were waiting on their food (which they did a lot in his section), he gave them back rubs, the best back rubs, what he could do with those little fingers was amazing. When Johnny had down time, he walked around the dining room and gave everyone back rubs, he played with babies, he joked with kids, he flirted with the ladies, he loved and they loved him back. But alas, one day it was too much and we did what any good business would do with an employee who is struggling in their current position...we promoted him.

That's right, Johnny became the Maitre 'd. You know, that guy who plays an integral part in the success of the business by quoting accurate wait times, rotating seating, planning the floor for the night and working closely with the host stand which was mostly girls in their 20s.  Johnny was mostly a figure head, meaning the guy you wanted to shake hands with and tell stories with.....not the guy who wanted to count on having your 22-top ready at 7:30 on Friday in December. So Johnny continued to walk around and give back rubs and kiss little kids while managers stepped up and assumed the technical part of the Maitre 'D role.

This all worked well...until Mother's Day, the mother of all days in the restaurant business. Due to the large amounts of reservations and large parties, there is really no room for error, we gave ourselves a 3 table cushon that day. It should also be known that the Maitre 'D position is one that relies heavily on nonverbal communication and hand signals from across the room. There are hand signals for "break down a table", "flip it up", "unflip a table", "highchair", and of course, "number to set the table for".  Unfortunately for our guests that day, there are no visible difference when Johnny held up the number 7 or 6, or 8 or 9, or 3 or 4, or 2 or 5, or 9 or 6...and so on. After seating numerous parties at the wrong table, Mother's Day did not go well. As we were digging ourselves out of  being behind by 3 hours and struggling to keep Johnny in check, a guy walked up to us and said, "So, I see you hired Veal Chop Johnny". We sheepishly said yes and then inquired about the name, Veal Chop Johnny. He
explained that managed "That's Amore" in Vienna and on the computer screen, right next to the "Send" button was the "Veal Chop" button. He further explained that it was not uncommon on any given shift of Johnny's he would accidentally hit the "Veal Chop" button instead of the "Send" button no fewer than 8 times a night. Within the first week of working there he known as "Veal Chop Johnny". We all had a good laugh and continued to pay Veal Chop Johnny to give back rubs for the next 2 years.  

He was a good, good man and I miss him.

Monday, February 13, 2012

Grammy Fashion?

Oh, Grammys, I don't get you.

What I Liked

Corrine Bailey Rae
Love this fun, fluffy dress. Love the Payless Shoes (no joke) even more!

Kelly Osbourne
This dress is great for her figure. My fav of the night.

Paris Hilton
Love white! Paris Hilton, not so much.

Rihanna
Sexy.

Taylor Swift
I usually find her fashion uninteresting, but she looks great in this.

Katy Perry
Looks like blue frosting...which I love.


What I Didn't Like and/or Scared Me

Bonnie McKee
Wow! That is all.....


 Sasha Gradiva
There have been some burglaries in my neighborhood which is where this bad ass dress should be worn...it has no place on the red carpet.

Fergie
Orange you glad I'm wearing underwear?
Yes, yes we are.

Jessie J
I like this better when my baked potato wears it.

Nicki Minaj
Is it me or is that outfit on the left just a little pompous for the Grammys?

Robyn
Remember a few weeks ago when I was thinking about getting bangs? Yeah, I don't think that's going to happen.


What I Wore**
In a bold move I paired navy blue yoga pants with a black hoodie (gasp). Shoes were grey Nike tennis shoes, hair was straightened, red and pulled into a chignon (low bun for you pedestrians). Make-up was natural with only moisturizer and a kool-aid mustache.

**Ginger Scone has no formal training in fashion and taste.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Buffalo Wings


Three Things to Know
I always make buffalo wings on Superbowl Sunday.
Our dog, Maverick, has really bad gas....but only 100% of the time.
I'm not sensitive about my cooking.

So as the 2nd quarter approached, the wings were in the oven and we sitting on couch with Maverick in between us.

Brock: (sniffing) Hmmm....
Brock: Is that the wings I smell or does Maverick have gas?

Well, for the next 5 minutes we took that statement and had a good laugh. We exaggerated that statement and chuckled as we joked, "Is that raw sewage or the Buffalo wings?" and "Is that a dirty diaper I smell or just the wings we are about to eat?".  Brock apologized and said he didn't mean it come out like that, just that something was creating a stinging sensation in his nose. As the joke ran its course we went back to watching the game and after a few minutes of silence passed....

Brock: Seriously, I still can't tell if that's the wings or Maverick's gas.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Ginger Genes

I have a love hate relationship with jeans. America loves them. I hate them. So imagine my delight when the Kardashians announced that their line of denim had officially arrived at Sears. I think it may have been the same week as Sears announced they were on the verge of  bankruptcy but I doubt one had anything to do with the other. Anyway, finally people who understand what America wants in their jeans. People so in touch with the everyday person that they can't help but be spot on with their clothing line. These are the three jeans that the Kardashian Kollection for Sears has in store for us.

The Kim Jean-A sexy, low cut, straight leg jean.
The Khloe Jean-A tall curvy, high rise, boot cut jean.
The Kourtney Jean-A gorgeous skinny leg jean.

Ok, I see what you are trying to do here, Kardashians, take your 3 different body types and provide a jean that compliments and celebrates the differences. I applaud that and I don't want to cause trouble but I'm not sure you are going to able to compete with my denim line, Ginger Genes (pronounced "jeans", the name works on so many levels).

The  Preg"not" Ginger Gene-Do you ever find yourself looking longingly at clothing in the Maternity section at Target. Picturing how easy and comfortable life would be with flowy tops, elastic waistbands and stretchy front panels and then being resentful that just because you aren't pregnant you will never be able to experience that kind of joy. Well, wait no longer America, Ginger Genes presents the Preg"not" Jean all the comforts of a pregnancy jean but without the baby. Not sold in the maternity section.

The Reunion Ginger Gene-For those occasions that you need to look your best and create jealousy in other women wear the Reunion Gene. For your 20 year class reunion, a work party, or a trip to a state fair, nothing says "Lookin' sexy" like this jean. Its over sized rear pockets make any butt look small, the dark denim is slimming, and the stretch fabric forgives even the slightest over-indulgence. This low rise trouser says it all, but most importantly it says, "I look better than you"....literally.....it's stitched down the side of the right pant leg.

The Ginger Chaps-Want the illusion of wearing denim but without have to commit 100%? The denim chap is a perfect solution. Why should cowboys have all the comfort? Works best when worn over sweatpants.

Coming soon to a store near you........now accepting pre-orders.