here come the holidays!

At this point, all I can say is that I’m damn excited that the holidays are comin! We all know that this year hasn’t been the best money-wise… for anyone. I can’t even begin to think of what I’ll be getting my loved ones for Christmas. It’s scary to think of how little I have to work with. =/ But, even with that in mind, my feeling towards the holidays remains unchanged.

What I am excited about is that Christmas feeling- you know, that holiday cheer. It’s not about getting presents… it’s more about spending time with the family, sitting at home on cold nights cozying up to that special someone and watching dvd’s til you fall asleep. Once the big days come around (Thanksgiving, Christmas, NYE), a full feast awaits! And if you know me, you know I’m excited about anything food-related. I know others hate it, but I love listening to Christmas songs. (98.1 plays them 24/7 during holiday season!) Streets are adorned with pretty lights. Tree lighting ceremonies add to the cheer. Starbucks cups go from white to red and green. People start to bundle up in cute scarves and coats. Couples hug a little tighter. It’s a season of getting closer and keeping each other warm.

Just thinking about decorating my Christmas tree (which I will be doing soon enough-believe that), brings a big smile to my face. So in these tough times, I’m glad that the holidays are just around the corner. Just goes to show you that no matter how bad things get, there will always be something great to look foward to, every year, without fail- it’s the holiday cheer, something priceless that doesn’t cost a thing.

i heart sf.

Honestly, I don’t give a fuck that you’re from New York.

 

I despise when I’m at work and someone comes up to ask a question only to in some way, shape, or form mention to me that they’re from New York. … AND???

 

“So I need a recommendation for a great restaurant tonight… I’m from New York.”

 

SO? You act like the restaurants you have in New York are God’s gift to tummies everywhere.

 

“My boys and I really want to have a good time tonight. Hit a great club and meet some nice lookin’ ladies…Yeah, and we’re from New York.”

 

And that’s supposed to mean what? New York ain’t Vegas buddy.

 

“We want to walk around town today. Where should we go? Oh, and keep in mind, we’re from New York.”

 

And I’m from San Francisco where the blocks are three times longer, the subways are cleaner, the people are nicer, the weather is ten times better, and what we think about our city has SHIT to do with where YOU’re from.

Hi God! Pleased to meet you.

I went to the sneak peek opening of the Disney Family Museum yesterday and while I was in the giftshop, I found this really neat book of questions- just random ones, some very open ended, some very specifc. One question really got me thinking: “How would you introduce yourself to God?” …. I think my intro would go a little something like this:

“Well, hey there God! I’m Izelle. First off, you’re the S-word… let me just start with a big THANKS for everything. Ummm, as you know, I’m a very happy person. I’m lucky. People like to talk about the ‘hand they were dealt’ in life… so, thanks for the Ace King suited. Hmmm what else? I’m 26 years old and I work at the W as a concierge. I really love it. I feel childlike and naive at times. And other times, I feel jaded and annoyed with young(er) people’s carelessness. My upbringing was storybook and problem-free. My parents loved each other everyday of their lives and now I know that even death cannot stop that. I have two brothers and two sisters. I am the middle child without middle child syndrome. I have a ton of friends, but no best friend. I make friends easily but choose close friends wisely. I have way more guy friends than girl friends because I relate to them more easily and believe that my outlook on life is much more similar to a man’s. I love going to cafes- not for the coffee, but for the conversation. A face-to-face exchange of ideas floats my boat and helps me believe that there’s hope afterall for us humans in an increasingly technological world. I am not materialistic. I have not shopped for myself since maybe last year. Needless to say, I’ve been re-wearing a lot of the same clothes and I can use the same purse for several months at a time. I can read people very easily and have a super strong intuition. (Thanks again for that- I’d like to think it’s a superpower of sorts.) This too adds to me choosing my close friends wisely. I have no time in my life for bad food or diets. That being said, I give in to much temptation- foodwise. Food really does have a special place in my heart. I am a responsible person and truly appreciate punctuality. I feel horrible when I’m late for anything. I hate cigarette smoke, but it loves me- wherever I move, the smoke seems to follow me. No matter which way the wind is blowing, cigarette smoke finds a way to get in my eyes, into my lungs, and stuck in my hair. I believe a cigarette is the single thing that can turn a beautiful girl to mediocre. I love, love, love to dance- as if no one’s watching and as if everyone’s watching. My family is a make up of the funniest people I know, so laughter is a huge part of my life. Making someone laugh gives me one of the greatest feelings of accomplishment ever. I am a lover of music- bossa nova to be more specific. It is the first kind of music I ever remember hearing and singing. The relationship I have with music is the same as what I would imagine a relationship with a best friend would be like. I love him; but at same time, I can be very judgemental because 1. I have the right to due to our closeness and 2. I know his potential so I can call him out when he seems to be lacking. I am passionate. I am loyal to a fault and if you wrong me, I can be very unforgiving. I’m sorry about that and it’s one thing that I am trying to change. My mom raised me to be a lady, and my dad was the epitome of chivalrous- the result? Me being a polite little lady who appreciates the likemannered. I don’t like when people burp or spit. I feel a warmth in my heart when a man opens a door for me, stands up when I enter the room, or tips his hat as I pass by. The latter two are rare but true signs of a gentleman. The closest things I have to a hobby would be eating out, cooking, talking and playing volleyball. I have yet to discover my ‘gift’ or ‘talent’ in this life. But I can say that I am a lover of people. When I love someone, I love them wholeheartedly and will give up any material thing, any hobby, any prior arrangement, any restaurant reservation for that someone. I put people first and believe that the people I have in my life are the greatest gift you’ve ever given me. So there you have it- Izelle- in not so small of a nutshell. Forgive me if I put too much sugar in your coffee. I tend to do that.”

“P.S. I got straight A’s in grade school and graduated from UC Berkeley, so according to the great state of California, I am an intelligent and educated person. I thought of that just before I posted this (showing just how much of a technicality or sidenote, more than anything, this addition is).  As you know, there’s more to life than socially acknowledged accomplishments; but seeing as to how you created the rest of mankind, you might be interested in how they size me up.”

what makes ME so special?

So I’ve often thought of why people would take the time to even read this. You know, what makes me so special that people would want some kind of Izelle insight? I think part of it is the fact that I’m willing to let people in. I’m putting it out there for you to read. I don’t mind sharing my thoughts or my opinions or my strange but wonderful humor. There’s something very comforting to read someone’s ideas and feel the same way. In the non-cyber universe we refer to as reality, it would take a lot for me to recognize you as a good friend, much less share my wit and wanna-be wisdom. So I guess that’s what I’m offering up here. Just a chance for someone to get to know the way that I think- to familiarize themselves with the vast realm of Izelle.

 

It’s not often that I’ll have the chance to sit down with someone at a coffee shop and just talk, so in the mean time, this will have to suffice…

wondering where izelle went?
check me out… ihopizelli.wordpress.com.

be there or… be not there! haha.

fashionista

oh dear… i’m getting pretty tired of the whole clothing industry. hahaha. i mean, it’s cool that people are doing their thing- making moves designing and stuff. but after a while, to people that don’t care that much- like me- everything starts to look the same. ok, i get it…. shirts with guns on them or shirts with silhouettes or SF shirts. as a result, all the people that dress this way are starting to look the same to me too.

maybe it’s just me being ignorant… or maybe it’s just me getting old. everyone’s entitled to dress how they like. and if you like what everyone else likes, that’s cool. that’s popular.

what does catch my eye is when people are effortlessly stylish. people that wear what they like. people that don’t need anyone else’s ok to purchase a new pair of shoes. they don’t just follow hypebeast or buy the newest merchandise at true. people that can act themselves no matter how expensive their entire outfit is. they can buy a shirt they notice in the window without even realizing what store they walked into. they really don’t give a shit, as long as they like it. these people believe in their own style- not anyone else’s. as cliche as it is, you wear the clothes- the clothes don’t wear you. these people have a certain je ne sais quoi. they don’t try, but at the same time, rock their shit better than any other person that might be wearing the same damn thing. they dress with conviction.

at this point, i’d like to reference something a very good friend of mine once told me. “i went to a private high school where everyone had to wear the same thing- had to wear uniforms. then you could see who was really ugly.”

gimme a break…

Oh PUH-LEASE! god, sometimes i hate people.

when you work in the hospitality industry like me, usually it’s because you like working with people. you like being helpful and meeting new people. then after you’ve done it for years, you decide that people aren’t as cool as you thought.

I work for a hotel that used to cater to the well-groomed, wealthy, childless jet-setting exec’s. Ever since our economy has shot itself to shit, our clientele has definitely changed. Not that we no longer house the aforementioned type of guests- just that nowadays there’s a lot more of those other kind of guests…

Traveling from out of the country? “Can you book me a flight to blah blah blah and a room for 2 nights at a hotel in that area?” NO, i’m not a travel agent!

Got your kids with you? “Any really good family friendly restaurants?” NO, all the best restaurants in SF will definitely take a reservation for you and your kids but they will not be happy about it and they will put you so far into the corner that you won’t have room to squeeze your stroller past the table.

First time in San Francisco? “Can I get tickets to Alcatraz for today?” NO, especially in Summer. You better be ready to swim your ass to Alcatraz cuz that’s the only way you’re gonna get there.

Coming up from the 949 or 310? “We’re from SoCal. Any 18 and up clubs? ” YES, it’s called Club Six. Wear your skimpiest dress and highest stilettos. Super VIP club.

Stranded in the middle of the city? “I’m stuck at the corner of blah blah blah just two blocks from the hotel. Can you send a car to come get me? Oh, and I don’t want to pay for it.” YES, the charge will be $98 for a towncar or I can call a cab to come pick you up or you can walk your lazy ass two blocks and get here faster. Whatever/whenever means we can get it for you- but be ready to pay whatever it costs whenever you need it. The last time I checked, nothing in this country is free- especially nowadays.

Just checked in? “What floor is room 912 on?” NEXT please.

People, save your stupidity for Google.

bizarre love triangle

we’ve all been there… or will be there at least once in our lives. it’s that crazy love triangle. no one can escape it. it’s person A and person B… and person C. and it just so happens that A and C are friends. most people call it “rule number one” – you don’t go after your friend’s significant other (or ex significant other for that matter)… whether it be kissing, f*cking, or seriously trying to start a relationship.

the sad truth is, regardless of whether this rule happens to be number 1 or rule number 148, the probability of it being implemented in real life is just about zero. if it hasn’t happened to you yet, it will. and keep in mind, it may come in different forms. in some instances, you’ll be person A and it will be your friend (person C) that happens to go after your sweetie pie (person B). other times, you might be person B- the object of affection to two people that happen to be friends (person A and C). or you might even be person C- the dastardly friend that takes a liking to person A’s person B.  

now let’s break this down a bit before we start pointing fingers. let’s take A and B. they are a couple. everyone knows they’re a couple. whether they were together for 6 months or 6 years, it’s a relationship that those around them are familiar with- it’s no secret to anyone. great. fair. good.

now here is the tricky part. C is a rather complicated position to be in. you’re a friend of person A- herein lies the problem. now the key to all this is context. how close of a friend are you? and what’s the timeline we’re working with?

if you’re anything like best friends, rule number one should stand. that’s your best friend dude. you shouldn’t even let your emotions get there. once you are introduced to that person as your bff’s honey bunch, you should never even be able to look at them in that light. and if you do take it that far… you better watch your back because it’s gonna turn right around and bite you sooner or later. not to mention, you’re going to lose more than just a best friend. any trust people may have in you will go down the drain. your dependability as a friend- gone. get used to trying to make new friends.

if you fall under the category of “acquaintances” (you would consider each other as a friend, but would never hang out on a one-on-one basis), then i see it as fair game. this world is too small to avoid it. there would be virtually no one left. if you don’t already know someone that this person used to date, you’ll find out later on down the road and it usually won’t come as a surprise.

if you aren’t the best of friends but do have a closeness to the extent that you would call this person to kick it and you do have a good history with them, then you really must weigh your options. this is you jeopardizing your friendship. how much does person A’s friendship mean to you? does it mean more than how much you might feel for person B? is it worth losing a friend? person A has been a good part of your past and present, but person B could mean so much to your future. in any case, if you do get to this critical point, things will never be the same between the three of you. in fact, it may sever ties completely. on the other hand, the rewards may greatly outnumber the sacrifices. so choose wisely.

i know i’m not old enough to passionately speak on it, but i’ve had my share. and in my experience, as much as i’ve tried to avoid it, that love triangle will find you. my point is- don’t be blind to it. don’t think it won’t happen to you just because that’s goddamn rule number one. for those who follow their heart, this is just a testament to the weight of emotion over reason. within the boundaries of emotion, all rules go out the window.

follow your heart, but don’t let it drag you off a cliff.

i challenge you…

www.ihopizelli.mybrute.com

relationships 101.1

i have this really cute coworker- adorable, sweet lil’ lady. anyway, today she tells me that she’s just recently put herself on a very strict diet. reason being her boyfriend coming to town soon. and i just thought that was the cutest thing! she’s been with her boyfriend for a few years already and she still makes it a point to look good for him.

just because you finally got your pick of the litter doesn’t mean you should slack off and not look good. afterall, now you have someone specific to look good for.

i know what you’re saying- it’s just that you’re so comfortable with your sweetie that they except you any which way you care to look. and yes, you’re right- BUT wouldn’t it be nice to look at someone and still get that knock-you-off-your-feet feeling?

this is something that we must never forget. keep it sexy for the one you love!