I am not very adventurous with my style. I like cardigans, I like scarves, I like them together...that's about it. That doesn't mean I don't love looking at what other people are wearing or how beautiful I *could* be dressing if I spent a little more time thinking about it. Here are my favorite blogs to peruse:

5. The Sartorialist - You all read this, right? Every day? He posts the most beautiful (and inspiring!) photos every day. I think he is a great example of how media is changing. I never buy fashion magazines (I do still buy The Atlantic, Mental Floss and Wired though), but I visit this site religiously. Knowing that, I think there's such a huge opportunity for unique advertising on this site. I normally only see American Apparel ads on it...

4. Garance Dore - The girlfriend of The Sartorialist. Her blog has more writing along with photos. Dore write her blog as if she is writing letters to her very best girlfriends (and that you are one of them). I believe she has someone translate each post into English, as she is very French! I'm a little sad to share this blog, as it feels like one of those things that should be kept a special secret. It's too good for you to miss out on it though!

3. Sea of Shoes - I don't visit this one all the time, but I'm so curious about it. I don't understand. Why does this young girl have so many shoes? What does she do with them all? How does she afford them? If she lives in small-town Texas, where does she get all of her inspiration from? So many questions about Jane Aldridge, including a motherly-type lecture about how she should go to college. Lovely blog though. 

2. Polyvore - A crowdsourced fashion community. Have questions about what to wear? They can help. Have a trend you'd like to copy? They can help. Have a skirt you can't figure out what to wear with it? They can help. It's like an army of stylists right at your fingertips. Only they are all probably 12 and living in Eastern Europe. Whatever, it works. 

1. Go Fug Yourself - Painfully funny. 

Leveling up isn’t just for the ladies. Dudes can man up, too! Here are my Top 5 suggestions on how boys can man up:

5. Aim for quality, not quantity. Figuring out what you like in a woman by ‘dating’ (ahem) every girl you can is fine when you’re younger, but when you want to be a man, aim high. I’m not suggesting every girl you date needs to be someone you’ll take home to your mother, but if you *wouldn’t* take her home to your mother, is she really worth the challenge?

4. Figure out how to tie a tie, why there are different types of collars, basic rules around brown shoes and own a suit. Don’t use “cannot afford” or “not comfortable” as an excuse. Find a local menswear store that you’ll go back to over the course of your life. They’ll help you figure out your style without you ever having to step foot in a mall :)

3. Read Emily Post front-to-back-to-front. Manners aren’t just for impressing moms, they’re real social lubricant (booze is fake social lubricant). Knowing how to act in a variety of situations is empowering. Guys that are well-mannered with ease exude a confidence that appeals to both women and men.

2. Have a go-to drink. No, the world isn’t about drinking, but sometimes events are. Sure, you can always order a beer, but knowing your scotch, mixing a great martini and not panicking when faced with a wine list are skills that others appreciate.

1. Take care of the people around you. Use your strength, knowledge and skills to improve the lives of others – your family, your friends, a stranger. That self-absorbed thing is what boys are made of.

I"m sure people have written far better "How to be a man" lists than this. I suppose you should know your power tools, be fiercely loyal and believe with all your heart you have what it takes to be an international spy/assassin if your country needed you. However, these were just the first fives things that came to me. It would be great if some guys made their own and posted a link in the comment below.

Sooner or later, we all kind of want to be women instead of girls, just ask Britney Spears. Along my lo-oo-ong journey into adulthood, people have given me some pretty solid advice about this. I’ve listened to some. I’ve learned some stuff the hard way. Here are some of my superficial favorites, without getting into too much personal growth. Take ‘em or leave ‘em – it’s just a top 5 list:

5. Ditch the cosmopolitans and anything involving Sour Puss. Both are acceptable for girls in college looking to get drunk, not for adults. Find something that you enjoy drinking that doesn’t involve mix. If you honestly can’t, I suggest not drinking. Why would you consume something you don't like the taste of?

4. Carrying an overpriced handbag covered in logos usually means you haven't figured out your own style. Stop coveting items like this. There is nothing wrong with an expensive purse/shoe habit, but if you have the spare cash kicking around to indulge it, go for unique, quality items that build your personal brand, instead of hiding behind a label.

3. Be kind, not nice. There’s a difference. Nice girls keep the peace, play the part and want to please everyone. Kind women are compassionate, empathetic and helpful. Being nice is easy, but it just makes you a pushover. Being kind takes effort and you often get nothing in return, but trust me, it’ll take you everywhere.

2. Have a superhero set of skills in your back pocket. We’re not all good at everything, but we’re all good at something. Build up your repertoire as you figure out what you love to do. Whether it’s baking cookies, fixing cars, being a knitting queen or building empires, being excellent is hot.

1. Take care of yourself, in every way you can.

So I just like writing top 5 lists, but this is important if you’re looking to woman up: Define what being a woman means to you. It is easier to become a woman if you have a clear idea of what that means. Also, keep in mind that you should aim to progress towards this definition, not perfect it. Sooner or later, maybe I’ll get to the more important Top 5 ways to be a woman, serious edition. I think I’m still figuring that out though.

I Could Be Wrong (Feat. Ezra Koenig) by Chromeo

(download)

Click here to download:

chromeo - i could be wrong ft ezra koenig.mp3 (4.6 MB)

When she's leading me on,

I sat in the Calgary airport on Saturday for seven hours Awesome. I think sometimes when we fly often, we forget how crummy things can be when they go wrong. I'm here to tell you, it can be really crummy. As i sat down in my original seat, I may have mentioned that I was stuck in between a fat guy and a dog and that the universe would need to make that up to me. Lesson learned: Don’t tell the Universe what to do because it will throw it in your face.

5. I can't imagine why anyone would work for an airline, especially the customer facing part. People. Are. Rude. I don't know why people think that yelling at the ticket agent is going to get them anywhere, but I find it completely inappropriate. Where are your manners?! Manners aside, why would anyone yell at the only person that can help them?

4. Time spent in airports/travelling is time spent not being awesome.

3. I am a professional worrier. I can worry about anything, for an incredibly long period of time. I recognize that worrying gets me nowhere. I’m trying to stop. Instead of worrying, I just get up and do something. I don’t plan, I don’t make a list, I just do. So far, this means I’m productive in strange ways. I kind of hope this keeps up. You might all get hand-knit scarves for Christmas.

2. I am not a good reader of fiction. Nor am I a good watcher of tv shows. I read a good deal when I was younger. Now, I crave that feeling of not being able to put a book down as I have no idea what will happen. Instead, I find I can usually skip large chunks because I know exactly how it will go. I hate that. If you have an amazing page-turner that you think will keep me up all night, please let me know. I've never really watched tv. I don't know why. I feel like I should be really good at it, but I always either can't sit still or fall asleep. There's no happy medium.

1. I miss making Top 5 lists and song lyrics o’ the day. Refer to #3. Expect more Top 5 lists and song lyrics o’ the day.

She said, Hello mister
Pleased to meet ya
I want to hold her,
I want to kiss her

I have no idea what the deal is with the hair. You'd think being in a band with his sister, she'd be kind enough to let him know this look isn't doing him any favors. Maybe she hates him, I don't know. Angus and Julia Stone, you have a kooky sense of style, an annoying flash website (that's kind of cool if you've got time to kill) and a great song!

Today is my mother’s birthday. I sang happy birthday into her voicemail and secretly prayed nobody would buy her Groupon’s deal of the day (6 weeks of pole dancing) as a gift. She’s 62, knows the Internet better than I do, loves to give out hugs and baked goods, has the legs of a 21 year old, has incredibly wise advice if you ask for it and is always proud of me. So yeah, pretty much the best mother in the world.

5. The back-to-school uniform for college girls: Fake tan, old school athletic shorts, college t-shirt, hair band holding back messy-haired pony-tail. There is zero deviation from this ensemble. What ever happened to dressing to impress?

4. If some one offers you a “Sparks” don’t drink it. It’s a Red Bull-like malt beverage and tastes even less appealing than you’d think.

3. When you are a consultant, half of your time is spent helping other people, for free. This is fine, but choose who you help wisely.

2. OMG tornado warning! It seems odd to me that growing up in Canada I was sheltered from severe weather warnings, but I’ve never been close to a tornado. Dr Cuddles was at the hospital and suggested I go hang out in the serial killer basement (alone) for an undefined period of time. While I appreciate that he just wants to keep me safe, the chances of that happening are about the same as me getting a unicorn for Christmas. Note: my first tornado warning was largely underwhelming.

1. Here is my best social media talk in less than 50 words: To build an online community, you need an exhausted-by-the-end-of-the-day amount of effort along with at least two of the following in large quantities: time, innovation, cash. Preferably, you’ll have all three. If you think there is any type of magic involved, you will fail. 

Oh my goodness, what a day this has been! I'm very happy/proud to say that a talk from TEDxYYC was the talk of the day on TED.com - Ben Cameron, from the Doris Duke Foundation talking about how arts currently faces a crisis of relevancy. I'm biased, but if you haven't already, I think you should watch it right now. Other than that, here's this week in a nutshell:

5. I realize that on the Internet, if you look closely enough, everyone is crazy. I'm sincerely hoping this isn't a reflection of society's overall sanity, but rather just reinforces the idea that everyone has moments.  

4. It turns out, I am really good at Scrabble. I thought I was, but then Dr Cuddles beat me...for approximately an entire year. I've got my game back. Hell yes I've got my game back.

3. I watched Kick Ass. That wasn't what I expected. I expected something between Juno and SuperBad, only with costumes. Holy bloody violence Batman. Also, Nicolas Cage is possibly the worst actor I've ever seen. I don't understand how he can be a part of La Famiglia Coppola. 

2. The people of Columbus are crazy about football. College football, to be exact. It's weird, yet cool at the same time. It's like the entire city goes into drink-together-eat-chocolatey-peanut-buttery-thingies-together mode. You can't complain. 

1. Today, I woke up to a gazillion emails all being super helpful and lovely. Holy does this reinforce that I love what I do. Also, the TED.com thing happened, I booked a flight home for one of my best friend's birthday, my oldest and dearest friend posted pictures of her beautiful new baby boy, Dr Cuddles made me an americano and gluten free cornmeal muffins for breakfast and then tolerated looking at dresses with me. He's in the kitchen right now making ceviche and homemade tortilllas with no shirt on. I win at life. 

Where in the world is Sarah Blue? Yeah, usually in airports, if this week is any indication. Phoenix, Chicago, Ottawa, Kingston, Toronto, Calgary, Toronto, Columbus this week. I’m over the Foursquare Jet Setter badge and am wondering if there’s a might-be-homeless-and-just-lives-in-airports badge. Let me know if this already exists. Here’s what’s the haps over the past week (it’s a little airport focused):

5. I am clearly a sucker for punishment. I know United is horrible and yet, I keep flying with them. Seriously, I no longer blame United, I blame me. I should know better.

4. $20 is too much to pay for a crappy burger. Especially when you don’t even eat the bun. Food should never be expensive and disgusting, yet airport food is always both. Airplane food? Fine, I’ll eat whatever, I still think it’s a miracle we’ve figured out how to fly, let alone being able to serve hot food up there. I do not feel this way about airports. There’s a huge opportunity there for delicious food. Someone needs to make this happen. The tired and hungry masses will thank you.

3. The only language I type in is Internet speak.

2. I worry that I shove so much into my carry-on suitcase that one day I will be rolling it through the airport and it will pop open like a jack-in-the-box. I have visions of my undergarments all over the airport. I always chuckle a little when I get the “can we look through your suitcase” at security. It’s a skill-test. If you cannot zip this suitcase back up, you are not smart enough to be working security.

1. Italian family weddings are good for the self-esteem. Everyone is happy, everyone tells you how pretty you are and everyone wants to feed you. Does life get any better? No. The second part of this is that there is nothing more important than family. Now, I might be lucky because I come from a really big family with people doing all kinds of amazing things. However, if you don’t think family is important, I really think you’re doing it wrong.