Bailey 44: A new Hot Line

Hello Ragers,

Well, as you know, Heather and I, being shopaholics (we are scaling back these days though), are always on the hunt for a hot new line.  We always want to find something no one else has yet.

 I found this one -- Bailey 44 -- at a boutique I frequent.  Note: It's on Zappos. Go there! More affordable. You can also find this line at Nordstrom's, Saks and Bloomingdale's if you like to go out and shop.

Leather is very in this year especially when mixed with fabrics such as a t-shirt or sweater. And the pieces I have found in this line are pretty much classic -- they are not going to go out of style anytime soon.  Here is the top I bought for $140.  However, it's $100 on Zappos.  It looks great with a pair of dark blue jeans and black boots. And leather is always great for the holiday season!
Send us your comments or any of your favorite finds our blog.

Bailey 44 Touch Screen Top

LOVE this product: Laura Mercier "Universal" Invisible Loose Setting Powder

Ok Ragers,

We're all looking for something to make our skin look better, right? Think about lucid clear skin.
The first time I wore this loose powder, everyone asked me if I did something different or had aged 10 years. I'm not kidding you.  I already told you in an earlier post that I love love Laura Mercier anything now.  Interestingly enough, this powder is actually white in that it is supposed to be  invisible.  It's good for any tone or hue, and it just gives your skin a nice light coverage and a translucent look. Love it.  Check it out...

Where Are The Hybrids?

All summer I dated a player.  Creative, charming, hot and unavailable.  I'm sure he is on to the next one already.  But he sure was interesting and a lot of fun.

Last week, I went out with a really nice normal guy.  He confirmed our plans in advance. He doesn't text (a hallmark characteristic of the players who are just too busy to even pick up the phone and call you), and he is a perfect gentlemen.  This is the kind of guy I should be dating. Everyone says it.

However, these guys... they're just so boring.  I kept trying to talk about things other than his kids or work, but we never go that far. I wanted to talk about my favorite shows on ShowTime on Demand (although as aforementioned, I am not ShowTime On Demand, I do like ShowTime on Demand) or cool restaurants or good vacation spots.  But we didn't get that far.  My eyes kind of glazed over after a bit, and I nodded and winked like a blow up doll.

Saturday night, by pure random chance, while raging with my college bestie, I met a fairly handsome but clearly fun loving guy.  He bought our drinks and our dinner, offered us cigarettes, more Vodka and begged me to go out with him.  But I just knew this guy was bad news.  Too charming, too much booze, you know the type.  I later found out from some friends of friends that he has a drinking problem and is, you guessed it, a player.

So, I want to know (and many of my girlfriends want to know), where are the hybrids?  Where are the guys with good values and decent manners who also like to drink and travel and listen to edgy music or read Italian poetry?  They exist. I know they do.  I've dated them, but they all appear to have vanished.  You get either total boredom or total fun because of the anxiety produced by knowing this guy is a player and going to leave you at anytime.  I think I'm a hybrid -- although I may border on the more unstable vs stable side of the equation. I have some very cool girlfriends who are hybrids -- but I feel we are caught in this trap of boring Bills or Loose Louie's.  At this point, I think I may prefer the  latter.  At least you can get about 3 to 3.5 months of good restaurants,  good wine, hot sex and some laughs.  Jury is still out though.....

My New Favorite Find AND I'm NOT a Blow up Doll.

Hi again Middle Ragers,

Well, we're back on again for hopefully a more productive autumn season than our debacle of a summer. With my work and Heather's kids, we've been totally remiss and apologize for our failure to deliver fresh and informative content.  Let's try again!

First, as my friend Margaret said to me tonight, over a great glass of Sauvignon Blanc at our sexy, sophisticated friend's Isabel's house,  "I love wine. I love it in San Francisco or Argentina or Hudson, Ohio. I love the way it tastes. I love the way it makes me feel."

Tru dat, Margaret. We agree.

So I want to recommend a new favorite find.  Actually, I've been into this for months but have failed to disclose it because I never write anymore due to some inexplicable block.  It's this great Podcast -- Wine For Normal People.

This great young lady (now a sommelier)  takes you through all different types of wines from Bordeaux to Malbecs to Champagne each and every week in a unique podcast -- Wine For Normal People. She teaches you how to learn about wine, the region, the tastes, the experience, AND she dumbs it down for normal people.  She also gives you great recommendations about affordable wines that you can buy and share with you friends and family.  It's awesome. Download it NOW.  It's great to listen to while you cook and DRINK WINE!

My second piece to discuss today is: I will not be a blow up doll is about dating (another one of my favorite topics).  I had a date last week with this great guy who is smart and sophisticated and charming and not a player, to boot (imaging that).  BUT (and there is always a but clause), all he did really was talk about himself -- a lot (and I mean a lot) about his kids, then more about the kids, then the job and then the puppy that was coming this weekend.  I find that on these dates (and this one by the way lasted FOUR hours), I suddenly, somehow, become a blow up doll.  I have a cord that can easily be pulled with 4-5 stock responses:  "Wow, that's great your kid is doing so well! Sounds like you have a great kid."
Or "Wow, sounds like you have a great job and are doing really well at it! Good for you!
Or "Wow, sounds like you had a rough day. I can see why you are so stressed out!"

I mean, really. Really? Is that all you guys want -- some blow up doll to just sit there and listen and nod her head up and down? Pull her cord and few (and similar) stock answers come up? I have also (by the way) noticed this same pattern in men I do work with professionally.  They also just want to talk and have a blow up doll next to them.  They also ALL want to show you there iPhone Photos of everything that is of interest to them and of zero interest to you -- their kids, their dogs, their travels. I mean WTF? Do you think I whip open my iPhone and make people look at my nieces, my recent furniture purchases, my vacations, my friends? Especially when they never even asked to look at the same.
Men, come on, if you want a doll, get a doll. There actually very inexpensive, pretty and durable.
Not a bad investment. However, if you want to be a real person (not a doll), engage with a real persons.
If you want to go on a date with me, ask me SOMETHING about me.  Try maybe just a little bit to get to know me instead of showing me pictures about your life.  I'm kind of  done with the blow up doll thing.  You're going to have to get a real one next time.  And maybe that will actually suffice.  I think you can have sex with them too??

More soon ragers.... C.

Mules et al.

After a summer hiatus,  Heather and I are back with a vengeance.  Despite my grants and her kitchen remodel, we're going to try really hard to make it and show up and write.

So today, we're going to tell you about our three favorite new things.


1. Moscow Mules -- Da best.  Tru dat.

This refreshing fall drink is quite simple -- Vodka, Ginger Beer, and Lime.  However, the ginger beer now is all the rage especially for the Middle Ragers so you have to stock up.  And you have to get the copper mug which it is traditionally served in -- keeps it very cold AND if you lick the cup, you can get that copper on your tongue thereby preventing a DUI. (Just kidding)
Best drink on the planet.
I think Oprah and Gayle are now really into it too. Not that I care what they are doing . . . .

2. Trish McEvoy Gel Eyeliner -- This really is the bomb.  It is a pencil but lines your eyes like a gel, and the color is rich and never moves.   I heart the Deep Aubergine -- a nice dark brown/plum color.


3.  LuLu Lemon Still Yoga Pants -- You have to try these.  Unlike all the skin tight yoga pants out there, these are flowy and loose and comfortable.  I have 5 pairs. I like them that much. AND they last forever.  The fabric will stand up for years.  A must have.

Comments on the Goldman Sachs Unofficial Guide to being a Man

Our guest contributor, Ann Williams, recently sent us this link from Business Insider, which contains the Goldman Sach’s guide to being a real man.  We liked this a lot and agreed with most of these excellent recommendations. 

See: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-gselevator-guide-to-being-a-man-2013-9#ixzz2eaOxIHaa

Today, on MiddleRage, we highlight just a few of our favs.  Comments welcome.

1.   Stop talking about where you went to college:

Christine’s view:

I don't know. This may be a DC or a DC/NYC thing where I spent my formative years, but please. Stop telling me about WHERE you went to college and the glory days of the Princeton supper club, the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, or the Yale Club. Clearly, you are smarter than I am, and clearly you are stupider because we have the same job and you paid 200k to get your education. We're very proud of our pedestrian, low-brow STATE COLLEGE education.  Save it for some one who cares.

                                                        

2.   Burn your khakis.

Christine’s view:

Get a decent pair of jeans or a suit. Come on. You don't have to look like my Midwestern dad.  Orange is the new black, and khakis are a fossil.  If you went to any of the aforementioned school referenced above OR even if you didn't, surely you can afford ONE pair of hot jeans or ONE hot suit. Get with it. 

Ann’s view:

I agree re:  khaki issue. But I’d like for there to be some clarity around what we mean by “decent pair of jeans.” If your only pair of jeans looks like it lost a fight with a BeDazzler, then I’d rather you stuck with the khakis. You know what girls like? Levis. You know what we hate? Vanity. Put on your Levis, buy me a real beer, and let’s see where it goes.

3.   Never date an ex of your friend.  

Christine’s view:

This goes without saying. Come on. Do you ever think (no matter how hot the guy) I could date someone my bff dated? No way. Move on. There are MANY other girls.  Who wants to compare notes?

Ann’s view:

As someone who has recently broken this rule, I cannot express to you enough how important this rule is. You will always, always be the asshole in this situation. Not worth it. Get over it and find another girl.

4.   People grow tired of the funny, drunk guy.  

Christine and Ann’s views:

We are now officially 20 years out of college. Be the entrepreneur. Be the artist. Be the do-gooder. Be yourself. But be something other than the drunk funny guy you were in college. It's just sad. Holding your liquor is the other new black.

5.   Tip more than you should.

Christine and Ann’s views:

Life is too short to be the cheapskate. Tip 20% for average service and scale up from there.  If you are going to go out for a nice dinner and you can allegedly afford it, then tip appropriately. Even a bit excessively. Now, that is hot.

         

        6. Don't split a check.

                                                        

Christine and Ann’s views:

Really? Enough said here.  I think the person who asks, pays -- at least until a month or so into the relationship, when it’s okay to ease into a splitting situation. (Except for special occasions, where the planner pays.) See rule above about life being too short to be the cheapskate. If you ask a girl out and end the night by asking her to split the bill, you’re a dick. Fact.

7.   Be spontaneous.

Christine’s view:

Wow. Nothing is hotter than this. Do something REALLY fun and really outrageous at the last minute.  Take a road trip. You only live once! Do it.

8. No selfies. Aspire to post pictures in the company of a beautiful woman.

Christine and Ann’s views:

Narcissism is out -- has been out since the 80s. You aint Gordon Gekko, and no one likes him anymore anyway. We are tired of seeing nothing but photos of YOU in Provence et al. Show us some PEOPLE. Show us some women. This one falls into the vanity bucket. Please stop.

9. My personal favorite:  The New Yorker is not high- brow.  Neither is The Economist.

UGH. Stop telling me about what you read and show me what you KNOW. If you are really reading these magazines, you should have learned something. Tell me about that.