Moxie Girl Joelle is a designer and author from San Diego.

She sings music your grandparents like and makes a damn fine martini. Read more...

AIDS Walk San Diego Please Donate!

I'm walking in AIDS Walk again this year for my 4th year in a row. I've raised close to $7000 for local HIV and AIDS services over the last four years via AIDS Walk San Diego, but they can always use more.

The event is on September 28th and I hope you'll reach down in your pocket and pluck out a buck or ten or twenty or whatever you can afford. Any donation is welcome. It would mean a lot. Thank you!


BlogHer Ad Network

More from BlogHer




AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Welcome to 2008. Where’s my Robot Maid?

Joelle said in the early morning on January 2, 2008

Objects May Be Closer Than They Appear
Another fireworks shot here.

So, here we are… 2008. I feel like I should have all these profound things to say about starting a New Year and hope and resolution and dreams and all that, but really, I’m just wishing the kettle would whistle because mama needs a cuppa.

I remember when I was a kid I would daydream about the year 2000 and how old I would be and the husband, dog and mid-range sedan I would (not) have, but while I was still 26 in the year 2000, I didn’t really plan beyond that.  None of my fantasies said, “In the year 2008, you’ll be 34 in your bathrobe, foisting your thoughts on people all over the world via this thing called the Internet”.  Though, I did think that perhaps by 2008 I’d have some kind of flying car or magic Jetson’s dishwasher or something.  What gives, Science?!

My New Year’s Eve was pretty mellow.  I spent the afternoon working on some personal design stuff, listening to music and chatting with this guy.  Then later on, I made some mushroom cavatappi, watched Ocean’s 13, then ran outside at midnight to get some shots of the fireworks over the bay.  Of course, I didn’t have a tripod, so out of 100 shots only 6 came out, but I guess that’s the nature of the beast.

I guess it’s time for the requisite resolutions portion of the post-New Year’s post.  Having had my fill of resolutions gone bust, I do better with goals.  It’s all semantics really, but resolutions are just made to fade away around the 2nd week of February, amidst wrinkled weight-loss flyers and dusty Thighmasters.  Valentine’s Day desserts have a way of derailing even the best of intentions.  I’ve never met a tiramisu I didn’t like. Ok, yes, I have, but do you really expect quality tiramisu from a place called Vito’s?  I don’t think so…

read more >

Got My Boots… Dusty.

Joelle said at some point on January 3, 2008

Well, we booked our flights to SXSW Interactive this morning.  Here we come, Texas!  I’m so excited!  Yippee!  Wait… that should be “Yee haw!”.

This is the first time that Kathy and I have been able to attend one of these conferences together, so we’re looking forward to hanging out together (always a good time), meeting everyone and getting our cocktail on.  And, of course… learning stuff. There are panels, after all. 

At first I was bummed that our panel wasn’t chosen this year, but they get so many requests and it’s not like we’ve not done it before.  So, whatever!  Maybe next year.  In the meantime, we’ve got passes, we’ve got plane tickets and we’ll be there with bells on.  Or books on, as the case may be.  We are in the process of working out a signing at the SXSW Bookstore, so if you’ll be there, say hi!

Or if you see a blonde and a brunette with pink laptop bags strutting around with that “I just had a Bloody Mary” face, that would be us.

In other news, ChickChat Radio contacted us for an interview on January 9th at 7:30pm EST and we’re really looking forward to it. Now that we’ve been “radio de-flowered”, we’re looking forward to more interviews coming our way.  Plus, the chicks at ChickChat, Lara and Heidi, have been our clients for quite a while and they’re really nice, so it will be great to chat with them in a different capacity.  ChickChat Radio is available via podcast or on XM Satellite Radio Channel 155.

And with that, I’m off to answer emails. grin *scurries*

The Weekend Warrior

Joelle said in the early morning on January 4, 2008

I’ve been getting to know my neighbors a bit here and there.  The English Couple from across the street invited GFI and I over for a drink during the holidays, which we’ve not had a chance to do yet, but I think we will soon. They’re really a nice older couple and I’m dying to see their backyard (what I can see of it looks pretty sweet).

I know the guy upstairs next to GFI in Furley’s old apartment.  We call him Slick. Then there’s The Lawyer next to him. Downstairs from him is Granola Guy and between the two of us lives a really cool nurse. I have no name for her other than her first name, so for the purposes of this blog, we’ll just call her Nurse New York.  In the building next to us is Crazy Pajama Bird Man.  He’s got parrots, a poor relationship with his baby mama and can often be found outside in too-big socks and ratty pajama bottoms using a cherry-picker to trim the trees.  And finally, also in the building next door, we have The Patio Lesbians.  Man, those women sure love their patio.

I figured I’d gotten to know enough of the characters for a while, but that was before the man next door to The English Couple got a Harley for Christmas.

read more >

Hell Hath No Fury Like a Woman with a Digital Camera and a Blog

Joelle said around mid-afternoon on January 7, 2008

The Weekend Warrior

Behold… the Weekend Warrior, who apparently keeps his head in the back of those saggy jeans because he just spent the last 15 minutes revving and idling in his driveway for no reason other than to stand back and admire it.

I’ve decided I don’t like this man.  May the fliers of a 1000 penis pumps grace your mailbox, sir.

Listy McQueen

Joelle said around lunch time on January 8, 2008

I mentioned one of my goals for this year is to have more boundaries between my work life and my life life.  Well, I’m doing a pretty decent job so far and making lists and setting up calendars is really helping with that.  When you work for yourself and you don’t have a staff, you have to plan out your life almost 6 months in advance. At least, I do. It kind of cramps any spontaneity, but spontaneity doesn’t pay my cable bill.

My friend Mel told me that she started scheduling everything a while back and it really helped her.  Since I don’t think I’m nearly as organized as she seems to be, I was skeptical that it would work for me. I felt so overwhelmed, I didn’t feel like something as simple as making a list or adhering to office hours would help.  I’m pleased to report that so far, scheduling is working out well and even though it’s only the first couple weeks, I’m hopeful.

I had to start out slow or it wouldn’t take. I knew back in the Fall that I wanted a new way of life and a new way of working in 2008, so I started out by implementing Basecamp to manage my projects. Then, I implemented a “daytime, nighttime, anytime, clients pay me on time” invoicing service… by Freshbooks, of course.  These two things, coupled with Google Calendar and Gmail have made life easier, that’s for sure.

Now I just recite my office hours as a daily mantra while I work furiously throughout the day.  I think giving myself more structure will allow me to ultimately have more freedom.

Have you started organizing your life somehow? Any tips… work related or otherwise?

Break It Down!

Joelle said in the late morning on January 9, 2008

Yet another glimpse into a work day…

Joelle: So, have you ever caught yourself doing like some weird dance and then thought, “what the hell?” and looked around like someone was watching you?

Kathy: hahahaha.  yes. all the time.

Joelle: I was just totally doing a funky dance at my desk

Kathy: I did one earlier when i got out of the shower lol

Joelle: was it like a funky chicken or like a roger rabbit? cabbage patch? hustle? or just your own interpretive dance?

Kathy: it was kind of a version of a roger rabbit but with less oomph

Joelle: lol! mine was kind of a combo of the Snake and that 70’s dance where they look like they’re hitchiking. Kind of like a hand-jive, I guess.

Kathy: I was just doing the chair bounce as we speak

Joelle: sometimes it’s just the neck

Joelle: *neck*

Kathy: HAHAHAHHA *neck*

Kathy: speaking of… i need some actual music to do this to

Joelle: wait, you had no music?!

Kathy: no hahahaha

Joelle: truly the beat of your own drum, sister.  *neck*

So, it’s possible you’re thinking we’re a little weird or just found out you’re not alone.  Surely we’re not the only ones who’ve done this.  wink So… what’s your “move”? 

read more >

Covering Your Assets

Joelle said around mid-morning on January 10, 2008

I’ve got to go by a client’s place today and introduce him to WordPress (mmm mmm!) and I’ve made an executive decision: I’m stopping afterward to buy myself a new office chair. This chair I’m sitting in is an assault on the human body, specifically my lower back.  I bought it in a pinch, thinking I would get one of those ergonomic jobs that I’ve seen at Office Depot.  I’ve been waiting for it to go on sale, but every time it does, I miss it. I’ve been riding this $40 mesh donkey from Target at least 10 hours a day for a year now and I think it’s time to put it out of it’s misery.  It wasn’t built for web designer wear n’ tear.  Come hell or high water, I’m treating myself to a new chair, sale or not! 

Speaking of assets (Men, feel free to check out here), Ms. Pants and I were chatting this morning about Spanx. I mentioned to her that Target carries Spanx, but they’re called Assets and are $10 less.  She told me I won her “Baby Daddy Award” for the day, so I have to assume she’s pleased.  So, just a lil’ PSA: if you’re a Spanx die-hard, you probably already know, but if you didn’t and are looking to save a buck on your Spanx foundation garments — Spanx = Assets by Sara Blakely.  Sold at Target!  It’s not like they carry all the novelty things that Spanx offers, like the fishnets or the reversible tights, but for your garden-variety foundation stuff in black or nude… get Assets. Same same.

Do birds in tuxedos lie?

Joelle said around mid-afternoon

I popped into YouTube at random today and saw this in the “recently viewed” area.  Based solely on the thumbnail and the title and knowing nothing of Frank Bell, I was expecting something ridiculous.  I waited for the suckage and the suckage never revealed itself.  I’d have to hear more to say for sure, but I rather enjoyed that. What do you think?


The One Where I Say Pants More Than Usual

Joelle said before her coffee on January 11, 2008

Last night, GFI, Modigli and I went for drinks our fave neighborhood cocktail bar — I won’t name it lest some employee does a Google search and I end up with spit in my martini.

To say I love this place is putting it mildly. It’s just my speed… inside it’s very “70’s cocktail bar meets modern lounge” complete with natural and wood wall coverings, amber glass here and there and some really cool giant 70’s-looking light fixtures.  Their food is delicious. I’d only ever tried their garlic aoli pomme frites (fancy name for French fries), but last night we had the cheese platter with Stillson, brie, fresh honeycomb and some funky little raisins. Good stuff.

Anyway, the bartender has this pair of pants that he wears every time we go.  I can’t tell if it’s a uniform, if it’s just coincidence or if he really, really loves those pants.  No one else seems to be wearing a uniform, other than maybe the hostess, who is usually in all black.  He’s got a hipster thing going for him...he’s got a definite style. And while I’m not really all that partial to men in skinny pants, these are pretty cool pants.  Black and white hounds tooth, I think?  Or perhaps they were just checked — the print was small and it was dim lighting.  I just find it funny that he’s sporting them every time we go in there and if it were a uniform, wouldn’t someone else have the same pants on?  I have another hipster-y friend who also wears a specific pair of pants very frequently.  I’m beginning to think hipsters only have one pair of pants.

But, Repeat Pants or not, I like our bartender. He is sometimes a bit slow and GFI isn’t wild about his martinis, but I have faith!  Out of the roughly 8 martinis I’ve had from him since we’ve been going there, about five have been alright, two have been awesome and one was like drinking Sea Monkeys.  He got a little crazy with the “dirty” part of a dirty martini.

I think GFI is throwing in the towel and switching to Cosmos, but like I said, I have faith.  He seems like a nice guy and he’s starting to remember us, so someday, I fully anticipate he’ll know exactly what and how I’ll order when I come in the door.  It would also be nice to be greeted with “NORM!” but I won’t push it.

Moral of the story: Make friends with your bartender. Even if he’s only got one pair of pants.

The Moxie Girls Meet ChickChat

Joelle said around mid-afternoon

Hey there!  We did that interview on Wednesday evening with ChickChat Radio and I just listened to the podcast. I cropped out our little snippet for our press files and thought you might like a listen.  Oh, and we mention a whole smattering of y’all, so keep listening.  cheese Oh, and note my Carefree Socialite Laugh I throw around 11:47.  I’m not sure what that was about.



Moblog Entry: R.I.P. Judy

Joelle said around mid-morning on January 12, 2008

R.I.P. Judy 1995-2008
posted from my cell phone

Moblog Entry: Grieving

Joelle said in the late morning

How I Grieve
posted from my cell phone

She’s Been Rode Hard

Joelle said in the late morning on January 13, 2008

If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time, you’d know that Judy, my ‘95 Chevy Cavalier, has always given me a bit of trouble.  From replacing the starter twice in Dallas and again just recently, to having my steering column catch fire and then recalled and repaired, to my rear-view mirror falling off when the weather turned Africa Hot and dangling from the windshield while I drove.  Two months after I got the car, it was sideswiped in my friend’s driveway and the dents live there still.  Three months after moving to Texas, a garbage truck took off the driver’s side mirror and I only replaced it 4 years ago when a junkyard happened to have one lying around.  The trunk light doesn’t work, there’s rain damage in the back, the driver’s side window lost it’s seal from several encounters with a Slim Jim, the seats are falling apart, I’ve replaced the brakes and tires more times than I can count and the alignment… well, that word doesn’t mean anything to Judy.  Judy hung to the left.

But still… through all that, Judy held up.  I got her gently used in 1998 after I drove my (just paid off) Geo Metro under a ‘78 Chevy van at 35mph.  I didn’t choose Judy… she was assigned to me.  At that time in my life… 24 years old, my credit wasn’t great, my income wasn’t either and the only car I could get was Judy, so I overpaid for her and vowed that once she was paid off, I would never buy another car until the engine fell out and I had to power her with my feet, like the Flintstones.

Well, she was paid off in 2003 and yesterday, the engine almost literally fell out the bottom of the car. In fact, the mechanic told me that if I had gotten on the freeway, as I was intending to when my car stopped accelerating, he said that it could have dropped out and potentially killed me.  So… good thing I didn’t get on the freeway.

read more >

The Cone o’ Plenty

Joelle said before her coffee on January 15, 2008

I’ve written before about Booty Parlor and how much I love them.  Kathy and I have been big fans of theirs *cough* since they opened and tell just about everyone about them. We love them so much, we’re in cahoots with them about some upcoming stuff for The Moxie Girls.  They’re courteous, their products are great and while you can get some of the items for less elsewhere, the nice-ities that Booty Parlor offers makes it feel like you’re shopping at Victoria’s Secret, not at Bob’s House o’ Lube or whatever.  Plus, they include batteries *cough cough* and throw in lots of freebies and wrap it all up like lingerie.  In a nutshell, they’re the cat’s pajamas.

Now, most “massagers” (I can’t say that without laughing, I’m sorry… haha!) are fairly self-explanatory. You can determine it’s purpose just by looking at it, but yesterday, Kathy and I spent a good five minutes after our morning meeting yesterday staring at this:

read more >

Cheep! Cheep!

Joelle said in the late morning on January 17, 2008

So, yesterday I’m sitting on the couch around lunch, having a snack and watching a little boob tube when I hear a sudden and unexpected chirping. “cheep! cheep!” — really quickly in succession, followed by a few second pause, then the chirping again.  While I do have parrots in the building behind me, it sounded more like some kind of computer alert than a parakeet, and it was coming in the general direction of my computer, so I ran over to find out what it was.  There were no alerts on either my desktop or my laptop, but I started hearing it again.

“cheep! cheep!”

I checked my tower, it wasn’t coming from there. I checked my monitor… not there either. I heard it again, this time fainter… then loud again. I turned off my computer speakers and it seemed to stop, for whatever reason.  Just as I walked away from my desk, I heard it again… behind me!

My TV was starting to chirp.  After systematically turning on and off each thing (DVR, DVD, TV, etc.) it seemed that again, turning off the speakers seemed to fix it.  And again, as I stood there pondering what it could have been, I heard it again!  This time from my laptop speakers.

“cheep! cheep!”

read more >

Page 1 of 2 pages  1 2 >

MommyCast… Now in Glorious Technicolor!

Well, it’s been a long time coming, but MommyCast Video is up and running!  MommyCast, the … MORE...

MommyCast Video Lipstick Lifestyle Lipstick Powder n’ Paint The Anomalous Life