I hope people “crushing” on New York Governor Andrew Cuomo were paying attention to the news today. The New York state budget is past due — the deadline was midnight — though this afternoon Cuomo said he’d reached a tentative deal with lawmakers. Under that deal, cuts to Medicaid are still on the table. You’re…
PSA: Tele-Health Links for New York City
New Yorkers! Right now, city officials are advising people to NOT go to a hospital unless it is a true emergency and you feel like you can’t breathe. The system is so overwhelmed that if you have mild or moderate COVID-19 symptoms (fever of over 100F, dry cough, fatigue, loss of sense of smell/taste), you…
OG Bloggers Talking About Life Under Quarantine
Here’s a real #ThrowbackThursday photo for you: In 2009, we touched our faces and thought nothing of it! The gorgeous woman with me in the photo is Jennine Jacob, who inspired me to start this blog in July 2007. Jennine had launched her personal-fashion blog, The Coveted, in 2006, and I started leaving long comments…
Meet the Real Andrew Cuomo
Nature abhors a vacuum. With a torrent of lies, rather than leadership, coming from the White House, people who are craving guidance during a crisis have gravitated toward New York’s tough-talking governor, Andrew Cuomo. Maybe they’re being tongue in cheek when they say, “Cuomo for President!” After all, I’ve jokingly suggested funny cats and social-media…
Follow Me on Instagram for a Silver Surprise
Follow my business Instagram, Wendy Brandes Jewelry, because I’ll be giving away some sterling-silver statement rings via IG stories! I started doing this last week with the remnants of my silver collection. I figured people need some cheering up during the coronavirus quarantine, and if somehow my jewelry business — and the jewelry industry in…
Remembering the “Social Distancing” of AIDS
While I would have liked to spread some … … tonight, I just can’t. I’m as angry as an Italian mayor who sees people jogging and throwing house parties instead of staying in quarantine to slow the spread of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus. Italian mayor addresses his citizens about their irresponsible behavior (in a very…
Throwback Thursday: Arresting Bitch Face
After my February 5 arrest for civil disobedience in Washington, D.C., I teased photographer/activist George De Castro Day for not getting a photo of me actually being handcuffed in the Capitol rotunda. No one had gotten a photo of me being arrested a week earlier on the Capitol steps either, and I was like, “Dang,…
The #Rotunda10: Membership Has Its Prisoners!
Six weeks ago today — on Wednesday, February 5, in the hours before the GOP-led Senate acquitted the impeached president without holding a proper trial — I sat down on the floor of the Capitol rotunda in Washington, D.C., with nine other women for a final act of protest ahead of the vote. Meet the…
Practical Accessorizing: Tiaras and Shields
Quick! Look at your fingers right now. Are you wearing any rings? An engagement ring and/or wedding band? Take them off! To avoid the novel coronavirus, you should be washing your hands more than Lady MacBeth, and that kind of scrubbing isn’t good for your fine jewelry. I never wear my rings at home, and…
Take Off Your Rings and Wash Your Hands
In December, when actress Emma Stone showed off the pearl engagement ring given to her by writer/director Dave McCary, my first thought was, “I have to write that ‘Pearl engagement rings are bad‘ blog post AGAIN? Nah … I’m not gonna.” A few weeks later, actress Michelle Williams was spotted wearing what looked like a…