Brandon and I started an Alias marathon about two weekends ago and have made it almost all the way through—finally on the fourth season.

Alias is one of my favorite shows of all time, but mostly because it was a huge high school fixture for me. I wanted to BE Sydney Bristow, or…Jennifer Garner. I cut my hair like her. I wanted to have arm strength like her and mostly—I wanted her on-screen (and off-screen) boyfriend, seen above.

[Spoilers Below!]

While watching the series, I was again reminded too of how completely beautiful Melissa George was in the series (playing good-girl-gone-bad Lauren Reed) and why so many Alias fans rooted for her, even as she tried to kill…almost everyone.

We used to have Alias nights at my house and invite a few friends over and my mom would make popcorn and my sister and I (well, mostly my sister) would make cookies and we’d all sit around and watch. So fun.

There are a few things I can look back during my four years of high school and say, without a doubt, I was having fun, but Alias nights were one of them. Perhaps (definitely) more geeky, playing in the band and orchestra and taking long bus rides with my best friend Lisa and my sister to go play at concerts was another.

But, Alias still takes me back to great times and rewatching the series with my husband only reinforces the fact that this show will be one of those special ones I can always pull out from the stack of DVDs and rewatch and love.

[Also doesn’t hurt that the show has so many awesome female characters!]

And, because this is a fashion blog—here’s a look at a few of my favorite Sydney Bristow “aliases”:

[Most photos from here.]

Me and My (Sensitive) Stomach

My sister and I have a lifelong history of weird stomach ailments, aches, pains, bloat and general discomfort. To be honest, I thought for the longest time that it was normal to severely bloat every time I ate/drank and that it was just normal stomach behavior. When I learned that wasn’t the case, it became a near obsession.

When I was (incorrectly) diagnosed with Celiac disease, I lived a gluten-free diet for over a year. I was sure that once I had eliminated all gluten from my diet, that I’d be feeling better. Nope. So, the doctor suggested that I may have a lactose intolerance as well. No dairy now, either? I was down to eating apples and lettuce, and for a dorm student, it was hard to get enough to eat. I couldn’t go cook myself some vegetables, after all. And, to make matters worse, the small, private liberal arts college I attended was entirely vegetarian, which meant tons of soy and gluten-laden products. It was rough.

When I had the endoscopy done to confirm (using actual stomach tissue) that the positive blood results I had for Celiac were correct, I got a surprise. A few short minutes after waking from my anesthesia, a doctor came in and said that my tissue had tested negative for Celiac and/or a gluten allergy. “Go home and eat a pizza,” the doctor said. I did.

Once again, I should have known. Although my stomach problems were alleviated somewhat by the spartan diet I was on, they never fully went away. The bloating, in particular, was still a huge problem.

So, here I am, almost five years later with the same stomach problems I’ve had for years, with no discernible medical explanation.

I like to do my own “tests” to see how my body reacts to certain foods. Shortly after I got the bill of health on the Celiac front, I began to eat bread and soy in order to test my body. See if it could really handle that kind of gluten load after so long without it. My stomach was more or less fine—that is, to say, the same as it had always been.

For dairy, I did the same. I could have milk on my cereal, cheese and all manner of other dairy products (cottage cheese, yogurt) and, like with the gluten products, my stomach stayed more or less the same. Not great, but not catastrophic either.

I want to backtrack a bit at this point and discuss what I mean by “bloating.” This isn’t the water-weight-laden bloating that women are familiar with pre-cycle, and this isn’t post-Thankgiving dinner glutton bloat either. This is an uncomfortable, unstoppable, every-time-I-eat noticeable change in girth. No lie—when my stomach is all its all-time worst, I change dress sizes just by having a sandwich. It’s horrible.

Then, I learned about something called fructose malabsorption, a sort of evil cousin of irritable bowel syndrome. It’s basically exactly what it sounds like. Someone with fructose malabsorption cannot process as much fructose as a normal person, and this problem is made even worse through the intake of artificial sweeteners/high fructose corn syrup.

I had always suspected that high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) may be the culprit behind many of my symptoms. Bloating and stomach irregularities are hallmarks of HFCS. But, I don’t eat much high fructose corn syrup. I eat fairly healthfully! Err, maybe not. There are hundreds, thousands of products that I wasn’t thinking about that have artificial sweeteners or high fructose corn syrup. My initial reaction was, “I don’t eat much candy or junk food!” But, I do occasionally eat white bread, most of which has high fructose corn syrup included. (Even some “whole grain” breads contain HFCS.)

I started to think back. I’d always feel horrible if I drank soda, especially diet soda (which I’ve nearly cut out, only drinking very rarely), ice cream, most fruit juices, soup, etc. etc. (The list goes on and on.)

Big wake-up call. Could I be THAT sensitive to processed foods? After reading the experiences of other people who had similar symptoms, I tend to think yes. And while this isn’t a diagnosis from a medical professional, I am already noticing improvements if I carefully evaluate everything I eat. And, now that I am not a dorm student (thank god!), I have access to a kitchen where I can cook vegetables and other wholesome foods more easily.

It’s a strange road my stomach and I have gone down, and I don’t foresee an easy resolution to the problems I’ve had over the years. But, this may be a start. Cross your fingers for me.

EASY (LAZY? NOT FANCY) ICED COFFEE

I got a whole bunch of questions about my iced coffee “recipe” when I mentioned yesterday how much of it I have been drinking.

I’d like to think that I’m quite the coffee snob—except when I make it at home. At home, I’m simply satisfied if it tastes good to my unrefined palette.

Here’s what I do:

1. Brew some Tim Hortons Coffee, courtesy of my grandparents or parents picking me up a big can of grounds or beans. (Thank you, thank you!) From this point, you can use a covered container (like this one) and chill in the fridge for an hour or two, or, if you can’t wait…

2. Just pour the coffee into an ice-filled cup. (See below for a tip on how to use your ice cubes more creatively!)

3. I don’t like sugar in my coffee, so for a bit of extra flavor, I just add a tiny bit of fat-free vanilla flavoring. I know, I know, it’s full of chemicals, blah, blah, ruins the coffee. I think that is certainly true, if you use too much. But a small, delicious drop isn’t going to do you in. Yet.

And, there you go. I’m sure you’re considerably underwhelmed by my masterful iced-coffee making directions, but hey—if you want the fancy, go pay $4! :)

Here’s a tip from Steph on how to get more coffee flavor!

• “Just read that you are making/consuming iced coffee by the bucket (if you could send some up to Boston, I’d appreciate it!) so here’s a little tip: make coffee ice cubes so that you can keep your coffee cold without sacrificing any flavor!”

Yum! Thanks Shaun! And only $37.

• You should look into a Toddy maker. toddycafe.com/index.p… Cold brewed coffee makes a better tasting iced coffee, imo. From their website: “A bold, super-smooth taste that’s easier on the stomach.” I agree.

I go through definite phases, where I tend to use or wear certain things more often than others. I get on tangents where I wear the same earrings every day for two months straight, and then I switch and latch onto the PERFECT lip gloss that I can’t keep off my lips for another two months.

Here are my favorite things, right now.

• Molly and Milo’s Dog Bed. Our bed was a gift from my mom, but you can buy dog beds almost anywhere. For an affordable, cute option, check out Target or your local ROSS or Marshall’s. I never in a million years thought our spoiled dogs would sleep in their own designated bed after being invited up onto couches, real beds and laps their whole lives, but Molly especially is in this thing for hours every day now while I’m at my desk. Bonus points if you put it somewhere cozy and dark, like a little cave.
• Sharpie Retractable Pens. Like a pen, but better—because it’s a Sharpie and this time, it doesn’t bleed through paper. I don’t have to worry about losing a cap, either, because these are (!!!) retractable. I’m the type of person that can wander the pen aisles for days, so yeah, of course these are on my desk!
• Old Navy Flip Flops (Magnum Gray). Over the course of the summer, I usually put between 2-3 pairs of flip flops out of commission from my constant and devoted usage. All the better when they only cost $3.50 a pop, last a fairly long time and are the perfect shade of gray to match absolutely everything in my closet.
• Marc Jacobs Daisy In the Air (Limited Edition). Coty generously sent me several fragrances to review and sample and this was one of them. Oh-my-giddy-aunt, it’s fabulous. So light, fresh—but with a bit of spice, just how a good summer fragrance should be. (I’m also a sucker for adorable packaging and LOVE the flower cap.)
• Target Floral Romper. Unfortunately, Target no longer makes my favorite floral romper, but I wear that thing everywhere. Rompers are as far down the wearing-sweatpants-out chain as I’ll go, but in terms of comfort, they’re pretty much there. The only thing that bums me out about rompers is the entire undressing exercise that has to happen when you have to pee. Think about it.
• Faux Diamond Studs. I have some faux diamond studs that I’ve been wearing for nearly a month now. You can pick up a pair at any H&M or Forever 21, but if you have real diamond studs, by all means, go for it. I love the classic, sparkly look and I feel so chic and polished with them on.

What are your favorite things right now?

This weekend, Brandon surprised me with a “Congratulations!” present to beat all presents. As you’ve probably noticed, we don’t often spoil ourselves, but either by necessity or by virtue of our “let’s wait!” nature, we end up saving such moments for when we really, really need it.

So, onto the surprise. Brandon booked me a massage at the Varuna Aveda Salon in Annapolis (about 20 minutes from our house) and deposited me at the door, unwaxed eyebrows and about 3 weeks overdue for a nail polish change not withstanding. I’m always a bit shy about massages. I get a little anxious thinking about the intimacy of a stranger touching me in such a wonderful, relaxing way, but my therapist—Kelly, was her name, if you decide to go visit yourself—was unbelievable. So kind, so understanding, so very talented.

Let me say a few words about the salon first. They offered me water or tea before I could even check in, invited me to sit and made me feel welcome and comfortable—even though the salon was busy and they had their hands full (ha, a pun) with customers. Also—the salon is incredibly clean. No hair on the floor (a pet peeve of mine) and the whole place smells of lemon, lime, lavender—all the familiar Aveda product smells, if you’ve ever used them.

Back to the massage: like I said, I get fairly anxious about massages which may explain why this was only my second (yes, second) massage ever. The first was a gift from my sister right before my wedding and this—a gift from Brandon—was my second. And it was knocked-my-socks-off, wanted-to-cry amazing. Kelly was a miracle-worker and it was so incredibly selfless and wonderful of Brandon to do this for me.

If you are interested in visiting the salon, it is located right beside the Westin Annapolis off West Street. Parking is available below the hotel at an hourly rate. I had the Elemental Nature Massage, which incorporates deep-tissue techniques with aromatherapy.

My new office! A work in progress, yes, but after I get some paint on the walls and find a place to hide Brandon’s mountains of DVDs, we’re good to go.

What are your best tips for a home office (decor, supplies, etc.)?

I’m sorry for my sporadic blogging over the past week, but I have been busy getting ready for a huge project and getting my life in order!

I have exciting news!

Today is my last day working in DC.

I will continue doing contract PR work for several of my clients and will be embarking on several new adventures and opportunities, but the biggest one is the launch of a new website that will soon be live!

I chose a photo of peonies for this post because my new office (also our guest room) and desk have peonies set in the corner and right now, those flowers represent so much to me: time, home, health and happiness.

I have never been more excited or encouraged and I have finally realized that, yes, what I put out into the universe does make a huge difference.

I am thrilled to start this new chapter in my life and the best part about it is that all of you will be right there with me. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that the little blog I set up in December 2007 could give me such joy and fulfillment—from the friendships I have gained, to the lessons I have learned, to the complete and utter excitement I feel when I find awesome shoes for $20 and share them with you.

Thank you so much for sticking with me and I hope you enjoy everything that is to come! And, a huge thank you to Brandon, for telling me, “I don’t care what you want to do, as long as you are happy.” And—to my family, for creating a space inside my head for new opportunities to grow. There’s a quote below from Laura Munson that expresses everything so clearly, but here’s a question from the same book that, thanks to my husband and my family, I can say a huge YES to. “Do you know the value of someone who has so much faith in you that you don’t even have to deliver?”

Let’s do this, people! :)

xoxo,

Jackie

“If we deprive ourselves of our greatest dreams, how are we setting ourselves up to be treated by our husbands? Our loved ones? Everyone around us? If we neglect our own souls, how are others to react to us? What are we creating?” — Laura Munson in This Is Not The Story You Think It Is

I’m reading This Is Not The Story You Think It Is by Laura Munson for Jackie’s Book Club (aka Summer of the Trashy Reads), but this is most definitely not a trashy read. In fact, I haven’t finished it yet, but couldn’t wait to share what I thought was the most fantastic passage—on page three of the book, no less.

“So let me get this straight. You base your personal happiness on things entirely outside of your control.”

“Yeah, I guess. If you put it that way,” I agreed. […]

“That’s insanity,” she said. “Just so you know.”

This little bit of dialogue here represents something that I have only recently come to terms with.

I have always kidded myself about the level to which I can and cannot control the things around me, but I finally realized that is no longer going to happen. I’m going to be brutally honest with myself.

Where does my personal happiness come from? It’s always come from things that I told myself I could control or that I wanted, but now I can see more clearly that that is not the case.

Now, I am making a concerted, conscious effort to put my personal happiness (and, existentially, the happiness of my family) in my own hands. I don’t want to rely on anyone else to get me through my life, or to afford me small bits of what I consider a fulfilling life by compromising other larger things.

No one knows better than me the details of what I want and no one is more motivated than me to go out and get it!