Ladies who Lunch (at Apple)

I am completely spoiled in that whenever I'm sick of eating a turkey sandwich for lunch I can just pop over to Apple. I'm even more spoiled that when I have friends in time going to lunch at Apple is always on the vacation agenda.

Today was one such occasion and my friend Trey and I struck off for some Infinite Looping. It quickly turned into looping as the campus was spilling over with Appletinis today and the parking situation was worse than at Darius Rucker's appearance last Friday. It is also a very gray day down in Appleville which seemed to encroach on everyone's mood. Of course that did not slow Trey down as he experienced Apple-land for the first time. (Though, he was disappointed to learn there is no tram circling the parking lot.)

Highlights of our lunch included comments such as "Apple should start a baroque ensemble and call it Infinite Lute" and "Why are there so many apples in the cafeteria?" The conversation took a downhill plunge upon entering the Corporate Store. The tag line t-shirts now include a tribute to Siri but they are still only in men's shirts. Apparently women don't want to wear a shirt asking Siri if its warm enough to wear a t-shirt. Even toddler's are in on the fun now with shirts proclaiming their Mac compatibility. But no, not women. We brainstormed briefly on what the women's line should say and who should be pinged, but unfortunately I don't think the favorite are appropriate for general consumption. Ping me separately and I'll send them on over to you.  

In any rate, keep a lookout for Trey's iFail line coming soon to a CafePress near you.

Loving your Lemons

You know that feeling when you stumble across a website that you know you are going to have a long relationship with? You know, like when you first saw Facebook (if you can remember that far back) or more recently when first got lost in the beauty of Pinterest. It is that magical excitement of all that is to be. And when you see that the site is still in beta? Thrilling!

So I'm sure you can imagine my excitement when I first dove into LemonCrate. It is a shopper's wonderland. Literally, you can shop for hours in the comfort of your own home with your coffee and slippers, or in your office Monday morning when the week has become too real already. You can scroll forever and never run out of gorgeous shoes and sassy sunglasses to drool over. You can customize as you go and mark items as 'love this' or search for similar peep toe heels. Or you can just create your own search by color, price, brand, whatever. But unlike slogging through google shopping or Zappos it's fun! The website is sleek and stunning and incredible addictive.

As if this couldn't get any better when you do find an item you have to add to your closet you can pull up the price history. You can see all the stores carrying that perfect clutch and what they are asking for as the purchase price. Some items even give you the lowest price in recent history so you can plan out when to make your big purchase. And if you can't make up your mind you can easily send it to your girlfriend for her feedback. It's the complete shopping experience but without the lines and the hassle of a department store. It has the boutique feel we all crave, but you can compare earrings from different boutiques. Genius. 

As I said it is still in beta so not all features are on every item but its getting there. Plus, the best part of beta is giving feedback on the features you want to see. I know you're still upset about being the last person in your group to start pinning so here is your chance to get ahead of the curve. Get out there and start loving this at LemonCrate!

(If you don't know where to start check out the Kate Spade page for inspiration. Ahhh, Kate Spade...)

Groupon with some Padding

I'm sorry for my disappearance on the blog front the last few days. I am back now and ready for action.

I had hoped to post an update on the new iPad but I'm afraid its still too hot a topic. (Don't worry I won't make any 'how many new iPads does it take to bake a cookie' jokes.) Despite this, over 3 million were sold in the first four days of availability. It certainly makes you wonder how many will be sold when people figure out all the new features besides just the incredible screen. We'll have to wait for the next round of commercials since that is the only user's guide Apple provides for its incredible products. Of course this isn't too upsetting since there is a bushel of Apple Geniuses standing by to answer every question and demonstrate every feature.  Personally, I can't wait to worm through the throngs of people at the Apple Store to check out the new games on display for the iPad.


Of course one app that doesn't need a killer display is Groupon. I have received the groupon eblast for quite some time but had not ventured over to the app until recently. Why didn't anyone tell me it was so great? (I'm sure all of the daily deal apps are phenomenal but this is the first one I've tried so far. Anyone using Living Social or Bloomspot?)

I am finding a great way to explore my new hometown, and really all of Silicon Valley, is through daily deals. Its a relatively pain free and low risk way to find great places. Yesterday I found a cute little nail salon running a groupon deal for a shellac manicure. It was only $20, that's right $20! In the city you could pay $20 just to add the shellac to your regular manicure. Amazing. But the real beauty of it was I found a deal happening that day, paid for it and redeemed it all on my iPhone. It is really pretty ingenious and so much better than probing through the emails and remembering that pesky little voucher.

Well done Groupon. Well done.

Tweet Smarts

I ventured onto Twitter for the first time this week. I know, I know, I am so behind the times and totally not cool, but I never really understood the draw before. Now that I've been dangling my toes in the bird bath for a couple days I'm starting to get it. Its nice getting my daily cliff notes of everything I should have read or heard about. For example, did you hear Britney Spears joined Path? Haven't we already had a close enough look at her life?

That being said I am totally the nerd who looked at the tutorial just to make sure I got it all. (No shame here, I already admitted how completely uncool I am.) But at least I got on twitter before my husband. He is still standing strong against the tweet wave and offered me no help when setting up my profile.

So now I turn to you for help. Are any of you on twitter? Can you share secrets of the trade and the best tweeters to follow?

Pies-R-Us

In honor of Pi Day I am indulging in an ode to pies. I LOVE baking pies. Unfortunately I love eating pies as well so they don't make an appearance in my kitchen often. Many people seem to be intimidated of the pie-making process, which I attribute largely to the crust portion of the ordeal. Homemade pie crust is one of the best things in the world, so if you have the time, go for it instead of going with the store-bought crust. After all, it doesn't really matter how perfect your pie looks - it matters how it tastes! Below is my tried and true pie crust recipe. (Which by my I mean my mother's, and by mother's I mean whoever she took it from. Ah the glory of family recipes!) Baking may be difficult at time but I'm a big believer in instructions. If you follow the recipe it will turn out. If you don't it may not. And that is why my husband isn't allowed to bake. Well, the lack of instruction-following attitude and his tendency to throw in random ingredients. He once made me a dirty orange martini - don't ask.

If you want a delicious tasting pie but need to know it will actually be delicious and won't take an entire day to bake check out Real Simple. Like many women I believe Real Simple has an answer for everything. And for you more adventurous bakers look to Tasting Table for inspiration. This savory spin on an apple pie may make me lift my pie ban in our kitchen.

Or if you don't want an entire pie jump on the pie pop bandwagon. You can buy a pie pop maker or try making them by hand. Here are some great tips and and a yummy recipe courtesy of South By San Francisco.

The Apple Pi

And for those who hoped for something related to math or general geekery on this fine holiday - I'm sorry. That is just not my forte. But here is a joke courtesy of my husband:
What do you get when you cut a jack o'lantern by its diameter? A pumpkin pi!

Pie Crust:
2 cups sifted flour
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup shortening
1/3 cup ice cold water


Combine flour and salt. Cut in shortening until mixture resemble coarse crumbs. Stir in water until mixture forms a ball. Divide dough in half, and shape into balls. Wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight. Roll out on a floured counter and use as directed in pie recipe. 

Slapping it On

One of my favorite accessories is my iPod nano. That's right, I said accessories. Yes the nano is amazing on the go and especially for running. Of course lately the Nike run history is just making me feel guilty that I haven't been out more. But the BEST part of the nano is the watch feature. I wear mine nearly every day. For one thing it is really cute. For another, I can switch the watch face to match my mood, the occasion or my outfit. But mainly it is filled with my favorite pictures so throughout the day I can look down and see something that makes me laugh.

I wanted the option of wearing my nano in professional settings so I went with the Hex leather band. It is not as daring and fun as some of the others but the black band goes with just about everything while still being understated. Well, as understated as a watch can be with a giant square face that is. Of course the options are really endless with the bands. And if you go with the bolder colors you can get a few to mix and match with your favorite shoes or purses. They are even making bands based off of slap bracelets if you really want to get crazy. (Of course it's great for guys to wear them as well, but the women are really going to have more fun with this.)

And if you enjoy wearing your Apple pride on your sleeve you may want to check out Mohzy. They have designer iPod/iPhone cable "loops" which end up being awesome bracelets. I may have invested in a few versions if I didn't have so many cables stashed around the house. (The joys of living with a geek - I find a new cable hidden away nearly every day, but at least I know what the Apple cables are for.) But this product would be great for students or someone always on the go. It is also ideal when traveling so you'll never be stranded with a phone running on empty.

Duking it out in Planet Tech

Since moving to Cupertino I have heard endlessly about the Duke of Edinburgh. It is an English Pub in a Chinese shopping center, and happens to be across the street from our apartment. We have ventured over for dim sum but had not made the journey for fish and chips. Which is really silly considering every local I have met knew where I lived in reference to the Duke. Apparently, it is quite a hot spot for techies and locals alike. It is close to a few of the Apple campuses, as is everything in Cupertino, but it is also across from HP so it qualifies as a diverse tech-spot.

Surprisingly the food was not bad. That is how I've heard the food described by everyone so far - surprisingly not bad. There are plenty of beers on tap and a nice full bar selection if beer doesn't tickle your fancy. It is kitschy and ancient which is probably why it is such a staple in Cupertino life, but I did have a great time there. However, I was with a group of Appletinis who were highly entertaining, which I'm sure influenced my assessment of the place.

I have genuinely liked and appreciated everyone I have met at Apple so far. They have all been sweet, personable and crazy smart. That being said, watching a group of Apple-ites in a social setting is like being at the zoo - they are absolutely fascinating. And no matter what, you (the non-tech person) are just an outsider observing the conversation. It's not that they try to exclude me. It is actually the opposite. They try to steer the conversation into something that may interest me and ask me questions about my work, but the conversation quickly turns back to tech. The magnetic pull is just too strong.

And then I am left to sit back in awe and admiration for the tech culture. It really is a country in and of itself, with its own language, customs and traditions. I try to follow what they are talking about and listen for key words to keep me on track - as anyone learning a new language would do. I marvel at their jokes and wonder what I'm missing about that particular term or code that is so funny. And every time they speak to the waitress I wonder if they are picturing her as the chick from the cover of Dungeons and Dragons. I realize this is a terrible stereotype that I should not continue. But one of the most defining moments in my relationship with my husband was the first time I heard him speak Dungeons and Dragons to a pre-pubescent kid in a comic book store. And yes they were both eyeing the chick on the cover.

Musiccas

A friend of mine sent me the link to his new company, Musiccas. And let me tell you, I was floored. "MUSICCAS streamlines the media intensive audition process by automating the submission and receipt of audition material." That is directly from the website which also has a snazzy video about the process. But it really does just that - it makes auditioning simple. The concept is so straightforward and incredibly needed that it truly is genius. I am amazed at the thought process when people run into a problem or an annoyance in their daily life, and one day realize this is ridiculous. And not only is it ridiculous but it doesn't need to be this way and I'm going to change it. Now given, this isn't that astounding in Silicon Valley. Everyday someone comes up with a brilliant idea that is marketable. What impresses me about Musiccas and its founder is the application of improvement to something as traditional as classical music.

Don't get me wrong, classical music is changing every day. Incredible musicians are advancing and modernizing what the classical masters wrote constantly. But what is great about Musiccas is that it goes straight to the heart of the institution and structure of classical music. It may not seem like such a huge deal to digitize the audition process for those who have never gone through it, but what a relief to upload one video and send it on its merry way. And not just one merry way but to every festival for the coming season. It is miraculous for the amateur musician practicing 8 hours a day to see where he stands in the audition process worldwide with a click of a button.

Musiccas is another example of the incredible ingenuity that flourishes in Silicon Valley. 

For Love of the Launch

Apple Launch Day is a mystical time when fantasies become realities and the whole world wait's on baited breath. But what I love the most about Launch Day is that it is the most honest day in our household. 

Suddenly, my husband can tell me about his day - not everything, but somethings. It is phenomenal. Because just like every Apple guy my husband loves his work and all things Apple. He can't wait to discuss every point of the announcement.

The new iPad apps will make my impressive workarounds on the iPad 2 unnecessary. 

Have you watched the trailer for the new Infinity Blade?

Siri is learning Japanese! 

Yes, the excitement goes on and on and I absolutely love it. Of course I am only guessing at what the highlights of the conversation will be since my husband hasn't made his way home yet. But I am well prepared for when he walks in the door. However, I must admit I had never watched a keynote until joining the Apple family. Now I can't wait to see everything that's rolled out and line up all my questions for when my husband gets home. You know why it is so great? Because he can answer me!

To have all your questions answered just visit the Apple homepage. You can watch the entire keynote or just see the stunning new iPad and new Apple TV.

Factoring in Fido

San Francisco is one of the dog-friendliest cities on earth. Dogs actually outnumber kids, which is obvious when frequenting the city’s parks – the kids are fenced in, not the dogs. 

Most places in the city will turn a blind eye to a dog trotting through the aisles, but I'm sorry to say I just haven't been too adventurous with my girls down in Cupertino. It is very jarring after living in the city for so long to not be able to walk my dogs while running errands. First of all, nothing is walking distance from my apartment expect for boba tea - which of course I'm grateful for. Secondly, I'm afraid store owners would start screaming if a dog tried to patron their establishment. It's a legitimate fear considering there are absolutely zero dog parks in the city of Cupertino. Apple should actually be ashamed to be located in a city that is so dog unfriendly. 

Thankfully, I have Fido Factor. If you have a dog it is a godsend. It’s basically Yelp for your dog and of course its free. You can search for all nearby bars, restaurants and shops which allow dogs. They even list which have water bowls and poop bags. Don't miss the golden paw print for tips on each location. The app doesn't cover all cities yet but it seems to do a good job in the Bay Area. It is definitely a must have for life in the South Bay. 

If Apple Ran the World

Last night my husband and I traded in our car. We had received quotes from the Salesperson and knew what we wanted before we arrived. It seemed like it would be a fairly straightforward affair, as straightforward as any car purchase can be. We arrived at the dealership at 7pm with excitement in our eyes and left at 11pm feeling a little dead inside. What went wrong you ask? Well, we were at a car dealership.

But the whole ordeal made me wonder - What would it be like if Apple ran the world?

Can you imagine what a pleasant experience buying a car would be with Apple at the helm? To start with, you would never have to search endlessly for a salesperson. Apple Stores are the only stores in the world that overflow with staff who in actually are completely irrelevant. After all, you can go to an Apple Store and purchase your new laptop case without ever speaking to an employee. All you need is your iPhone and an iTunes account, and you are on your way.

The endless forms and paperwork would be gone. No excuses of why "it can't go digital because we need too many signatures" like we heard last night. No justification of "we need a live signature or we have to send your fingerprints to the bank." Absolutely not. With Apple we would just blindly click the accept on the Terms and Conditions and never have to see the pages and pages of clauses. Nothing bad would happen with that blind click and South Park will remain the boy who cried wolf.

There would be no haggling over price either. None of this "write down your counteroffer here and I'll take it back to my manager" bullshit. Because Apple, thankfully, tells it like it is - "You'll pay what we tell you to pay and you'll be thankful to buy our products." And we are thankful! And we can't wait until they tell us what to buy next.

So thank you, Apple. Thank you for making the world a better place, and please consider going into the car business.

Oh Google- Why have you forsaken me?

I LOVE all things Google. I know, I know, I'm not supposed to admit that as an Apple Wife - but its absolutely true. I use Gmail and have never even opened Mail or iCal. I make my husband use Google Calendar so we can synchronize our lives. I don't believe other search engines exist and have only recently been swayed to start using Flipboard, though I still jump on Google Reader before pinning. (Pinterest that is.)

But since moving to Cupertino, Google has started to fail me. Google Maps that is. I have relied heavily on google maps to navigate my way around town but it seems to be a crapshoot. Cupertino is really odd in that streets meld into each other. But instead of the name just changing the street literally ends and the other street starts on the other side of a sidewalk that has suddenly appears in front of my car. I can see my destination on the other side, but short of jumping the curb I have to find another way around. Given, bikers and pedestrians can cross through and continue on their merry way, but cars can't. I am no newbie to google maps. I search for driving directions, not walking directions. So why does google maps keep failing me and sending me in circles? And why does this odd scenario only take place in Cupertino?

I have come to the only logical conclusion - Google hates Apple and will screw all living in Cupertino just on the off chance of irking an Appletini.