The other day Ernessa posted a blog about longing for her dream trip and regrets of trips not taken. It inspired me to write this blog. My husband and I have quite the list of dream trips that we plan on taking. We’ve already taken a few (Bora Bora, a summer in Europe, and a cross country road trip) but we have an extensive list, and being that life is short, we really need to get cracking. We know we will be taking a trip this winter…and we’ve saved up enough travel points to make it happen, but where exactly? That is what we are unsure of. Christmas in the Alps? Playing with the elephants in Thailand? An Outback adventure in Oz? Or climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro? As we work on making our dream trip a reality, I wanted to share a few ideas and tips to help get you that much closer to your dreams. 1. Paradise Falls: JP and I were inspired by the Disney/Pixar movie, Up. If you haven’t seen it, you’re missing out on some cinematic greatness. The protagonist couple of the movie is in love with idea of travel. Their dream trip is to visit a magical place called Paradise Falls. All their lives they scrimp and save to take their dream trip, but cars break down, and roofs need replaced, and they constantly need to break their savings bank. Sadly, they never make the trip together. After JP and I watched this movie, we made a commitment to each other that we wouldn’t let this happen to us. We set up our own savings account called Paradise Falls that is separate from all of our other accounts. It exists solely to pay for our travels, and is never to be touched,...

Loafers and Slip-ons have been fashion staples for decades (and centuries) for their ease, comfort, and style.  Right now, they are fall’s most coveted flats for women and men. We all know and love the classic Penny Loafer and Smoking Slipper, but designers this season have really taken these slip-ons to the next level. Velvet, glitter, studs, and even plastic, here are a few fun twists at every price point for you guys and gals to try out… Now Boldly Go! Featured image credit: grabadonut (Cropped from eugene) [CC-BY-SA-2.0], via Wikimedia...

Fiercely Anticipating: A new book by Sara Zarr A new book by J.F. Freedman (can you tell me how “Against the Wind” was never made into a movie?) A new book by Tatjana Soli (Is the “Lotus Eaters” going to be a movie? Please say yes.) More hilarious picture books by Anthony Browne Kinda Wanna — Play Hooky Instead of staring at the computer screen, I’d love to: Go out to high tea Go on a shopping spree at Sephora Go to the nearest Christian Louboutin and try on shoes with four inch heels and pretend I can walk in them Go to Central Park and spend the afternoon on the swings Get a four hour massage Go home and find a message from a top editor: We LOVE your new manuscript! Wouldn’t Write About the following, if you paid me: Developing amnesia – so damn overdone Reality TV vampires Kim Kardashian George and Laura The first dog Golf Hot tubs Plastic surgery Locavores Slaughtering your own….you fill in the blank. Blood sausages Bangers and Mash If you liked this post, please do us the further boon of Liking the Fierce and Nerdy page on FaceBook. Also, we’re giving great stream on Twitter, so do give us...

Frankie Says… TRY IT. In the spirit of love and all that crap, I’ll give you a snapshot list of all the things I love in my life right now: I love warm LA days in February. I love my new apartment. I love making eggs with sautéed kale or spinach in the morning and eating it standing up in my kitchen. I love seeing my name in print – one of the many perks of getting published and the biggest rush when you flip to that page. I love Sunday dinners with my family. I love my mom. I love my hair – (I’m blessed with great hair, what can I say?) I love looking at the books on my shelf that I have no time to read. I love checking things off my to-do list. I love boys. I love being confident in being single. I love Starbucks Valentine’s cup (however, I do not love Starbucks.) I love sitting in coffee shops and writing. I love people watching in coffee shops, too. I love new music – anything different and non-mainstream. I love my bed. I love scarves. I love greaser boys – their outfits make me smile. I love finding a new great watering hole and sitting at the bar alone. I love going to the movies alone, and I love that my older sister cries because she thinks it’s so sad that I go to the movies alone. I love movies. I love making movies. I love film festivals. I love dressing up. I love buying new dresses, even if they sit in my closet for months unworn. I love shopping online for shoes, putting them in my basket, and then clicking out of the page. I love making fun...

Frankie says… Always have at least two to three jobs. The difference between Carrie Bradshaw and myself is pretty slim: she has an insanely expensive shoe collection of Manolo Blahniks and Jimmy Choo’s and the cutest rent-controlled apartment in all of Manhattan. Otherwise, we’re both with cigarette in hand and typing on our Macs about relatively unimportant topics like cute guy in the coffee shop we frequent, or last night’s horrible date, or a disagreement with a friend. Where I take issue with Ms. Bradshaw is in the very difference of our so-called economic status. (Yes, yes I know she is a fictional character, but for arguments’ sake and because she was a very real part of my life for 10 years, let’s just pretend we’re in the same universe, shall we?) I live in a crappy single on the Westside and drive a crappy little car. I can afford new shoes from the DSW clearance section about twice a year. And I have to drink well-vodka sodas, not pretty pink $15 cosmos. However, my situation has recently changed. In addition to my income as a freelancer (low, I assure you, and unpredictable), and my side job as a nanny (8 hours a week at $15/hr), I’ve gotten two more jobs! The first is about 5-10 hours a week reorganizing an artist friend’s studio at $15/hr and the second is another part-time nanny gig for 15 hours a week at $17/hr. I’m up about $1400 each month. This is hugely significant in my life. This means I can actually entertain the idea of moving into a bigger place and I can finally pay off my credit cards. I was even naughty and saw a pair of pants I liked at the Steven Alan Outpost...