My Ten Best

My French Cafe Ensemble

         I was joking around with my friend Maura that the way through my heart is by complements. I was..... let me re phrase that.... only half joking when I told my friend Maura that the way through my heart is by compliments.That conversation got me thinking- what are the best compliments i've ever received? So since that point when ever I got a really great one i've written them here and now I finally have 10 so bare with me while my less then subtle side shines through. I am an actress after all so I do tend to relish in attention :)

"your hat it reminds me of that prince song and your outfit looks like you've been at lunch at a 1950's Paris Cafe"

"I've never met Patty but I know her daughter very well and I feel like through Shannon I know Patty"

"your painting looks like a Van Gogh"

"You're always so well accessorized and have such a great smile and so kind. The highlight of my week is seeing you"

Vargas's Painting of Me

"She is like the Beyonce of SCCC she's got all the personality and all the pizazz she doesn't need anyone else"

"I love your blog it's so inspiring"

"I've been dreaming about how to paint those eyes all week"

"You look like you stepped right out of the pages of The Great Gatsby novel and into the modern world"

"Shannon has the most creative imagination"


In regards to my Joan Harris Halloween costume: "I LOVE you for this for so many reasons. P.s. your dress is actually better AND you look better haha" 

         In this crazy world we barely ever take the time to acknowledge one another and it's even rarer to have someone genuinely see you and give you a truly honest heartfelt compliment. I cherish these words because it helps me understand how the people I interact with see me. I feel honored that in my life there are people who are kind and sweet to me and not everyone has that. So here's a challenge when you are going about your day try and notice the people around you maybe their unique style, a work accomplishment, or something about them you've always adored and tell them. I'm sure it will make them happy and you can walk away knowing you made the world a little more beautiful that day. Go! Be Brave! Be Kind! Make Someone's Day!

Becoming Joan

            I have now deemed my new actress role model to be Christina Hendricks. If you have ever watched mad men you can see the persuasive power and sexiness Christina as Joan has throughout the show- she is so frickin awesome. For a few months I was struggling with the idea that I could not be "me" fully at work. Sometimes I want to wear something not in dress code, or spend more then 2 minutes talking to a counselor, and sometimes, I know this one is a shocker, I am not 100% pleasant, joyful, and smiley like my jobs reacquires me to be. I felt so torn from the way I wanted to be and the way I needed to be in order to perform my job well and somewhere in that inner turmoil I made a choice- I will play a character.
    I had already been dabbling with incorporating Joan like qualities into my somewhat similar job of running the center at night. If there is anything truthful about the myths about secretaries it's that they have all the power and knowledge and none of the recognition. I would dress with small retro touches, use subtle suggestion to get the results I needed, and kept up this illusion that I had everything together and under control. I am still utterly shocked when I confess how close I was to loosing it at work and people say "I had no idea you seemed so cool and collected."
           I only fully came to the realization that I had somehow along way made a choice when one college said "You know you sound totally different on the phone like it isn't even you talking" I replied "I know I do it on purpose. Since I can't always be how I want to be or how currently feel which may be sad, angry, hurt etc I am just going to be a character- I'm Joan" he seemed to take this as a satisfactory answer and dropped it. I on the hand was shocked with what had just come out of my mouth clearly my conscious brain was now becoming aware of something my sub conscious has been doing for the past month or so- faking it.
         See like Joan I wield a great deal of power over how things runs because I am in charge of all the rooms and scheduling. I always try my hardest to be fair and equal but you can't tell me someone who gave you a birthday gift and someone who always gives you attitude will fall equally on the likability spectrum- we're human that's just not possible. It's a balancing act between being strong and resilient and being open and friendly. It's a challenge for even the most well rounded individual.
        So today I was particularly not very cheerful after being in a bit of a slump the past week. I found out a decision that effects my future and it's wasn't entirely favorable... I cried. I can not help myself from crying if I feel it it's coming up no matter how potentially embarrassing the environment like lets say an office where a hundred people come and go it can not be contained. I really tried to calm myself I even said I didn't need to take a break but then a friend insisted. I went to the bathroom and let myself bawl my eyes out for one minute to just release it. I literally had a vision in that moment of Joan crying in this one episode after being teased. One minute is all you get then you pull yourself together fix your makeup put on a smile and you go back to work. I unfortunately haven't been wearing makeup and didn't have any with me so there was no hiding these swollen eyes.
         I went to my desk and I smiled and in my head I sang this old charlie chaplin song "Smile though your heart is aching Smile even though it's breaking. When there are clouds in the sky you'll get by. If you smile through your fear and sorrow Smile and maybe tomorrow You'll see the sun come shining through For you" it helps. Sometimes we don't get to be what we want to be in a given moment so all you can do is the best you can and I learned that from Joan  she says “This is why I don’t allow crying in the break room. It erodes morale. There’s a place to do that, like you’re apartment.” - in a world of power and struggle she found a way to survive and be the envy of all the girls while doing it. I'm still trying to find my way but for now I'm just going to stay in character.

5 Ways I'm Like Joan:

1- She's know what she wants and isn't afraid to ask, push   boundaries, or find a more coy way of getting it
2- She's sexy but covered always classy
3- She can run the entire show and make it look like child's play
4- She knows everything about everything and everyone and yields that power gracefully
5- She's the one everyone wants to pigeonhole but actually she is too dynamic to figure out

More Joan Wisdom:

 "Men don't take the time to end things. They ignore you until you insist on a declaration of hate. "

" Well I learned a long time ago to not get all my satisfaction form this job."

Joan (to Peggy): "No matter how powerful we get around here, they can still just draw a cartoon. So all you've done is prove to them that I'm a meaningless secretary, and you're another humorless bitch."

“I was just made Director of Agency Operations. A title, no money of course. And if they poured champagne, it must have been while I was pushing the mailcart.”               

“Fun-loving girl, responsible sometimes. Likes to laugh, lives to love seeks size six for city living and general gallivanting. No dull moments or dull men tolerated.” 

5 Ways I'm like Christina:

1- She's not trying to be a size 2 twig she enjoys having curves
2- She is proud to show off her glasses and makes them look sexy she will even rock them on the red carpet
3- She won't put up with being called different, full figured, or fat she fights back saying i'm a women period
4- She takes her acting roles seriously and is all about creating the character
5- She's been nominated for emmy's and won SAG awards! (ok I haven't done that yet...but just wait)

More Christina Wisdom:

"I don't think any woman in the world could get tired of being compared to Marilyn Monroe."

" I think Joan's advice would be: always know more then anyone else, always be discreet as possible. And never cry at work"

"I thought, well, you might see curves there, but that's just a bone- so even if I lose weight that's not going to change anything. That's how I look. That's my shape. Do the math."

"I've always been someone who really watches other people, human behavior. To watch it and be able to express it through your version has always been really exciting to me"

100 Blogs 100 Loves

I Love this Lame Graphic!

So this my 100th Blog- what to do with such a momentous event? I wanted to say something worthy of such a ranking but could only come back to the word love. I've often written about my experiences with people in regards to love but I'm going to write about what I love. Me as one person living my life and what matters to me excluding people (because obviously I LOVE you!).
Written in non ranking order:
1) Acting
2) Everything Irish
3) Flirting
4) The Ocean
5) Animals
6) Soft Sheets
7) Buddhism
8) Mountians
9) My Camera
10) Sunshine
11) Pilates
12) Peanut Butter
13) Jane Austen
14) Colors
15) Rock N Roll
16) Drive in Movie Theaters
17) Photo Booth Pictures
18) Adventures
19) Paris
20) Red Lipstick
21) The Sound of Rain
22) Blue Eyes
23) Humming
24) Dreams
25) Feathers
26) Sunflowers
27) Cranes
28) Psychology
29) Roller Coasters
30) French
31) Regency Era
32) Retro Styles
33) 20's music
34) Sunsets
35) British Mini Series
36) Boston
37) Doctor Who
38) The Beatles
39) Doing Shots
40) Fashion
41) Scarfs
42) Northampton
43) Road Trips
44) Postcards
45) Fans
46) Yearbooks
47) Romance
48) My Prom Queen Tiara
49) Spoon Ring
50) Sea Otters
51) Love Letters
52) Surprises
53) Swimming
54) Bananas
55) Collecting things
56) Scarpebooking
57) Painting
58) Teaching
59) Making Movies
60) Laughing till you cry
61) High Heels
62) The Hollywood Sign
63)  Secrets
64) Cosmopolitans
65) Grace Kelly
66) The Little Rock
67) My Cali License Plates
68) CIder Donuts
69) The Summit House
70) RENT the Musical not my bills
71) Skype
72) Lavender Lotion
73) Quirky Acessories
74) Hitting Snooze
75) My MAC
76) Giving Advice
77) Horoscopes
78) Mall Pretzels
79) Van Gogh Paintings
80) Elaborate Gardens
81) Articture
82) Live Jazz
83) Making Out
84) Campfires
85)  National Parks
86) Succulatns
87) Mocassins
88) Cashmire
89) Hot Tubs
90) Reading
91) Supporting Causes
92) Free Parking
93) Butterflies
94) Playing Bejewled
95) Telling Stories
96) Getting Unexpected Gifts
97) Netflix
98) Nature Walks
99) Drunk Dancing
100) Love
Can I use Love in a list about things I love? Sure it's my blog and I love to make my own rules... I also love to break rules too :) ~S~

Styles of Shoes Styles of Men.

At work I often have a lot of time to just think since there is usually a point in the day when you have done all your tasks, talked to all you coworkers, and still there are no customers. Also the women's shoe department has the highest percentage of straight male men and it's right across from me so inevitably it comes to mind from time to time. Now I noticed each guy in the department has not only their own unique personality they also have a unique way of interacting with the customers and coworkers. Each a little different with their pros and cons but essentially all the same "product" at the end of the day- men.

The Gil- The Espadrille Wedge: is a shoe that is still exciting because it's high but it's also more comfy then a stiletto. It's cute and fun for a casual day out but it's not something you wear everyday. If you date a Gil you will have fun and flirt but there's no long term commitment.
The Dale- The Ballet Flat: is the least threatening shoe it's like the best friend of footwear. You can wear it anywhere with anybody sure it can be sexy but mostly you feel safe knowing you won't fall. If you date a Dale you may lack excitement but you will always have a solid footing.   
The Kevin- The stiletto heel: when you put on a pair you feel sexy your legs look long and fine and you are ready to party. Sure they are fantastic but only for about an hour then they kill and you would do just about anything to have any other shoe on your feet. If you date a Kevin it will be a roller coaster kick ass time until he gets bored and moves on to something sexier.
The Freddie- Classic Sneaker: you can't go wrong with a piece of footwear that is timeless, easy, and hassle free. If your looking for a no frills easy going relationship and on occasion a few compliments thrown in then date a Freddie.
The David- Patent Leather Pump: under the guise of being sexy patent leather usually looks a little cheap. You get a nice one liner and wink from time to time but that doesn't really end up satisfying you when all is said and done but maybe you don't want the commitment anyways??
The Don- The Bootie: Sure it sounds dirty(picture Sir Mix A lot) but it also sounds innocent (little babies wear booties right??) that's what you get when you date a Don you get both sides, someone who gives off the vibe of being tough and sexy but really is just a softie at heart.
The Matt-Knee High Boot: This is a classic stable item every women should own it's not only practical but sexy too. When you date a Matt it may seem simple and understated at first but it also comes with the surprise wow factor when you least expect it.. and it will blow your mind.

Now some women have a staple piece of footwear they never take off...some like to switch it up depending  on the occasion or their mood but ladies never forget there are as many men as there are styles of shoes....choose wisely! ~S~

The "Aspirationals"

         If you know me you know that I love meeting new people, studying them, and trying to figure out what makes them tick. One thing I have learned since entering the corporate retail world is the idea of the aspirationals. These "aspirational" people don't have "it" but they certainly aspire to. For instance if you can't afford $300 sunglasses you probably should not be shopping in a high end store (the logical assumption). However we will market to these people and they will come in and buy said sunglasses and the either A- not pay a bill/ buy necessary items or B- buy them wear them realize 300 is there car payment and return them a few days later. I see this EVERYDAY!!!! I think why??? why do you do this to yourself?!?!? I don't even go in stores right now because I know I can't afford it (logical reasoning) not to mention I develop strong emotional attachments to things like "I NEED that bag"- really I don't and neither do the "aspirationals." Then again don't I want to have those nice things, luxury handbags and high end fashion? Sure... but at what price when is too much- too much?
     I then expanded this thought to LA in general there are the people in this town (why do we call it the town... it is a CITY???) who have "made it" and of course everyone else who is trying. This whole town is full of "Aspirationals" literally everyone I meet is aspiring to something bigger then what they are. Not that it is a bad thing because it is what makes people strive and have goals. Of course I am an aspiring film actress and I aspire to be happy- aspiration is what makes us work for our future but I really don't think we need to aspire to shop at high end stores.

Why Women Go Mad for Mad Men

The sexiness that is Jon Hamm as Don Draper!

So I just finished watching the first season of Mad Men- I know... I know... Season 5 airs tonight. To be perfectly honest I am more intrigued by the fashion and allure of 60's more then the plot but I have spent most of the weekend watching it so it I must enjoy it. However what is better then all that is the pure sexiness of Don Draper and the other characters. I find myself watching how the ladies hold their cigarettes and the way they move their eyes and I am captivated. Sure we no longer have finishing schools (unless you're Kate Middleton) but there is a certain grace that is hard to come by nowadays. I use to take the bus to UMASS everyday and after a while you start to see the same faces. One morning a guy who I had seen several times before got on wearing a fedora... I nearly died. Before I thought he was cute but now in that hat I wanted to talk to him find out who he was and ask him why he was wearing a fedora. A few days later I saw him talking to a theater classmate but when I asked him who he was Pat had no idea who I was talking about. Fast forward 2 years- I am at a Halloween party of a friend who lives in a completely different town. Towards the end of the night in walks the guy(he has a name but I am not disclosing) I was stunned... how often does a stranger who you have seen before walk into your life so randomly? Of course I confessed my whole story and we began talking about different eras and how they have different appeals. He was shocked that I was not a Mad Men fan and I said one day I would give it a try (at the time the show seemed extremely sexist and the feminist in me was rebelling). I went on to say how sexy I thought regency era gentlemen are. I find top hats and cravats to literally be mind meltingly appealing. I do have to say as a fan of Mad Men now (and fedoras) the guy definitely gets a point for good taste. I began to think why are women attracted to accessories? Every morning I have to walk through the men's department to get to my floor and sometimes there are the most devastatingly handsome men shopping. Of course the store is marked as fashion for the "essential look" that makes you better then the rest. But I walk past the ties, the hats, the cuff links and I swoon... and they are not even on men!