It’s Thanksgiving weekend, and if you’re not too full, then it’s the opportune time to take advantage of some killer sales and wicked parties.

SHOP TO IT (SHOPPING AND INDULGENCES)

Black Friday is tomorrow, and more than ever stores are seeking to draw consumers in with huge discounts, online and offline. If the thought of waking up at 4 am to hit the crowded malls makes you queasy, then look for online discounts.

With Black Friday comes Cyber Monday, and here in DC you can attend an event by Shop.org to help the cause for online shopping. Shop.org will provide lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe, laptop computers with high-speed Internet access, and will raffle off thousands of dollars in gift cards to shoppers. Shop@Lunch made easy.

Tax free shopping in DC this weekend on purchases that are $100 or less. Stock up on gifts for yourself and others. Look for more local deals from Washingtonian. Bethesda Row is a great place to start the shopping fever!

Shop for a good cause next Wednesday, December 3rd. The Carpenter Shelter for the homeless in Alexandria benefits, while you save! 50% of the proceeds go directly to The Carpenter Shelter. Shop goodies from local designers showcasing their chic apparel, accessories, jewelry, arts and services at HUGELY discounted savings (up to 70% off). 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM at the Westin in Alexandria. Check out the event on Facebook for more details.

Ann Taylor Loft, J. Crew and Banana Republic are featuring sales with up to 40% off. Stock up on professional looking winter wear.

• Ann Taylor Loft has 40% off already marked down sale prices.
• J. Crew offers an extra 20% off from mark downs if you enter the code EXTRA20 online through December 1.
• Banana Republic has 40% off of cold-weather items (think sweaters, gloves, etc.) through December 1.
• Work off those holiday pounds with cute and comfy clothes from Lucy. 40% off outerwear and up to 30% off already marked down items through December 2.

Looking for a special holiday or New Year’s Eve dress? Check out one of my favorite stores, Cusp, which has great sales and is offering free online shipping with with the code THANKS and an order over $150. Stock up on cute gifts for under $50 such as hand-knitted purple gloves ($34), a Bobbi Brown limited-edition lip gloss trio ($45), and shine on with super shimmery Lippmann Collection gold nail polish ($15).

Pre-order the latest book from Harry Potter series author J.K. Rowling, set to release on December 4. The Tales of Beedle the Bard are sure to delight, as all five of the wizarding fairy tales that appeared in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows are featured in this treasury of tales. Barnes & Noble is offering it for $7.59 for B&N Club members. An extra 5% will be taken off if you order online. Amazon is even cheaper with a standard edition for $7.14. For the really hardcore fan, a special hardcover collector’s edition is offered for $100.

For some family holiday fun, check out the Polar Express in IMAX at the National Museum of Natural History. Check out http://www.si.edu/imax/ for details and showtimes.

SCENE AND BE SEEN (EVENTS AND PARTIES)

Thanksgiving weekend features parties all week. A few highlights:

WEDNESDAY

• The exclusive Shadow Room is having a pre-Thanksgiving bash tonight. RSVP for complimentary admission (which means free for ladies until midnight, and free for gentlemen until 11PM with RSVP). Absolute Addiction is promoting.
• The newly redesigned Eyebar is having its own Thanksgiving Eve bash, with no cover and open bar for all, starting at 10 pm. Gobble, Gobble! Go to Primo Productions for more detail.
• Itching for a Dewey Beach reunion? Head to Clarendon Ballroom for their annual Thanksgiving Throwdown, featuring Kristen and the Noise. HiBall events sponsors. Come early for $10 admission, and get in for only $5 with two canned goods. Prices increase through the night.

THURSDAY

• Spend time with your family you turkey!

FRIDAY

• My friend (and new Wizards girl) Lyndsay is hosting an event at Midtown on Friday night. (For those who don’t know, Midtown is the new Play.) The Little Black Dress party is sure to be filled with beautiful people, so make sure you dress to impress.

In other news, select summer 2009 shows are now on sale at Wolf Trap. Take advantage of purchasing Disney’s High School Musical tickets (which are sure to sell out) and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. TLOTR will feature the complete film in HD with performances by a live orchestra, chorus, and soloists. HSM will be arriving on September 1-6, 2009 and The Lord of the Rings is coming August 28-29, 2009. For more fun and to purchase tickets (including Riverdance and 42nd Street), go to Wolf Trap’s website.

EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY (FOOD AND DRINK)

Thanksgiving is all about food. And, what better way to celebrate food than to share with others. Washingtonian is creating a Thanksgiving recipe box, where readers can submit and share their favorite family recipes.

This is a great time to think of others. Consider volunteering at a local shelter or food bank. Many need extra help for the Thanksgiving holiday, but consider volunteering at another time. Help is needed year round. If you can’t volunteer your time, please volunteer your dollars. Check out Food and Friends, Capital Area Food Bank, So Others Might Eat (SOME), Bread for the City, and the DC Central Kitchen.

Union Jack’s new Ballston location is hosting a grand opening next Thursday, December 4th. There will be a free buffet to sample food, and lots of fun to be had for all. Could be a great overflow spot for Rock Bottom’s Wednesday night $1 beer debacles.

Tomorrow I’ll be posting information for a contest to win a 1 lb. box of Enstrom’s toffee. If you’ve never had it, I highly recommend you get into it. More to come…

NOTE: Posted this a bit early this week with the holiday in mind. Check back every Thursday for a weekly round up.

It’s been a long time coming, and I’m proud to say that the new and improved City Sparkle has officially launched!

Many may remember me from my personal blog in 2005-2007, City Sparkle. I’m back as City Sparkle DC - with a whole new attitude.

I started blogging back in 2005 with a group blog (The Butterfly Network) about dating and relationships. In July 2005, I broke out on my own with City Sparkle, under the pseudonym Asian Mistress. I met a lot of great people in the DC blogging community, learned about blogging, and even secured a great job from my success. Some of my old blogging friends are still writing away, others have since retired.

The blog was my personal diary, documenting my good times with friends, reflections on the world, and of course the ups and downs of being single in DC. I grew a lot in that time, and can see that reflected in my writing, some of which is cringeworthy now.

In the past year, I took some time off from personal blogging. My personal and professional life had finally come together, and I needed time to dedicate to that. And now, I’ve grown up.

The blog is back, and this time - I’m coming out. If there is one thing that being a social media consultant has taught me, it’s that authenticity and transparency reign. I could have deleted all my older posts and started a fresh, new, more professional blog. But, that would mean not being true to myself, and dismissing the very words that helped bring me to where I am today, and shape the person I’ve become. Some of my past posts may be unflattering, too personal, and unprofessional - but I was learning, and growing through it all.

So, here I am, just Larissa. And, I hope to become a conduit to bridge together the DC blogging community that got me started, and the local PR/tech/social media community that has embraced me since then.

City Sparkle DC’s focus will shift slightly from what it was before. I plan to feature the following post topics:

• Current event commentary (politics, entertainment, etc.)
• Restaurant reviews - local and while traveling
• Movie reviews - because everyone Googles movie reviews
• Recipes and cooking photoblogs - from recipes I’ve made to ones I want to try (maybe we can do a joint post sometime, M!)
• DC events round-ups - where the hot parties are at, cool things to do around town, etc.
• Shopping and playing in DC - where to go, what to do, where to live, etc.
• Guest posts and Q&A’s with local DC bloggers
• Social media marketing analysis - check out some of my past posts on The Buzz Bin

Thank you to everyone for their support, and I hope that I can contribute some great content to a wonderful community. Over the next week, I’ll be updating my blogroll, tweaking the look and feel of the site, and hopefully sharing a bit more about what I’m up to these days. I hope you’ll join me for the conversation.

A very special thanks goes to Shannon Whitley - who migrated and set up this new blog for me. Shannon is a great asset and well known and respected in the technology and Web 2.0 community. You can contact him on through his blog, Voice of Tech, on Twitter or via e-mail at swhitley [at] whitleymedia [dot] com.

A few things I just had to get out, with no particular relation.

Sports vs. relationship talk. We all know that when men get together, they tend to be able to bond over sports. It frequently comes up in conversation, is the point of many countless debates and bets, and serves as a common ground for most men to stand on. For (most) women, that same common ground seems to be relationship talk. Think of the Sex & the City episode where Miranda gets so upset that all they ever talk about is men. These smart, successful women, who can’t find anything of substance to discuss. Sometimes I feel like I have that problem with my friends…and it sucks to think about. I have a very fun and busy life, why spend my lunches and dinners with girlfriends discussing relationships and men? Well, perhaps it’s just the one thing that we can all relate to.

Bachelor vs. bachelorette. I have decided, from the few bachelor party pictures from friends that I have seen…that they are way more fun. I kind of wish I was a guy, in fact. Think about it. Bachelor parties (from what I can tell) usually involve some kind of cigar, taking shots, reminiscing about the old times, and more often than not a naked woman or two. Sometimes a steak dinner is involved. Bachelorette parties usually include drinking as well, but also silly plastic penis straws, little tiaras or veils, (in fact, anything penis related), and stupid games to “test” how well you know your fiancee. Occasionally a stripper is found and sometimes you get a cute t-shirt made, but usually it’s just a bunch of women screaming “whooooo” and trying to finish a scavenger hunt that involves sucking something (Lifesavers off a shirt, blow job shot), finding something (condom, boxers), or kissing someone random. Boring. Lame.

Christmas shopping. This year, I was late. Really late. Usually I am done, signed, sealed, delivered by Thanksgiving or shortly thereafter. Oh, and Christmas cards have been sent at least two weeks before (they are still sitting in the box now as I write, not going to happen this year). I am just now finishing the final touches on my gifts for family. I was in REI last night, and I hate going in there. Everytime I go there, it tricks me into thinking I need something. First of all, I am not so much an outdoorsy person. Second of all, what the hell do I need another fleece coat for, or snow pants? There were glorious snow pants there. Gloves, boots, and jackets that I wanted. Then I had to remind myself that I do not do well with the elements, and that my money would be much rather spent on high heeled boots or nice jeans and a sweater. (Or, rather, not at all since I’m still paying off a shitload of debt.) It is also funny though that the more I shop, the more I see that I want to buy. I am a Christmas decorating whore, I love it all. Or, buying it all. Bags, paper, little trinkets I don’t need, candy (obsessed with the Hershey’s miniatures mint medley). Although, this year will be my first year without a Christmas tree (even at the parents’ house). That’s kind of sad I think.

New Year’s Eve. So expensive. So overplayed. Yet, still participating. I will be in Georgetown for NYE this year, and am looking forward to what 2008 will bring.

So, I was driving through the city along 14th Street yesterday, and through the sweltering heat I saw many young men trudging along to or from the metro, long sleeved shirt, loosened tie with shoulders slumped and defeated and a suit jacket flung above the shoulder…and I thought to myself…poor guy, I’m glad I can wear short sleeves and skirts if I want to. The heat and humidity in DC can be downright oppressive. On the other hand, I did see a finely toned and extremely tan gentleman running on the mall, with sweat glistening over his taut arms and stomach…and I thought to myself…God bless this heat.

You know how sometimes you have these dreams, and you wake up and think what the fuck, how did that random person get into my dream? Why was I dreaming about hanging out with my second grade teacher, my cousin’s boyfriend’s sister, the guy I met at the bar last week, and my seventh grade crush? Then, it made me think…do I show up in random people’s dreams? Am I the offensive random person that makes you question just how much you were thinking about me, or how and why your subconsiousness decided to let me participate in a dream - good or bad?

Also on a more serious note, in my mid-twenties, is it normal to feel so…behind the curve? I mean, there are people that I graduated college with who are buying houses (alone!), getting married, and some are having kids. I can barely afford my rent, am still drowning in debt, and haven’t had a real decent date in 9 months (and even then decent is putting it nicely). I have friends who are managers, who have their own offices, and who genuinely love what they do. I still can’t figure out what I’m doing or if I even like it, and if I don’t like it, I still don’t know what I will do next. Does all of this mean I’m somehow on my way to being socially inept? Am I not stepping up to the plate, reaching my full potential and being aggressive enough about my future? Maybe I’m too passive in just trying to enjoy life and get by, perhaps I should be reaching and striving for something more. Maybe I’ve lost the drive, the hunger.

And, speaking of hunger…I’m on the first week of my new diet. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t going to blog about it, because I didn’t want to share with the world and open myself up to more criticism…but then I decided to be honest about it, and maybe I’ll help other people who are struggling. So, anyway, I decided to start Jenny Craig. Yes, the D-list celebrity diet featuring Kirstie Alley and Valerie Bertinelli (who? right). It’s actually not that bad, and hopefully it will give me the little boost I need to keep going on my own. It’s a pretty easy system, and although it costs a lot (about $100-$150 a week), it’s worth it to provide me with something I don’t have to think about. Basically they give you a breakfast, lunch and dinner (maybe a snack) and then you supplement your own salad, vegetables, fruits and yogurt/milk. My best friend is actually doing it with me, so that helps in that we can share our thoughts on it and actually last night we even got together to hang out and eat the food together, so we wouldn’t be tempted to go out to eat.

I did feel kind of like a loser signing up, because I think there is some stigma to going on something like this, as opposed to saying you’re doing Weight Watchers or something of the sort. It’s like admitting I couldn’t do it alone. But you know what, I couldn’t. Even though I KNOW what to eat, what to buy, what to fix…it was hard for me to get into a routine and be disciplined enough to stick to it. But now, paying for this…I don’t have to think about it, and I’m more likely to stick with it since I am paying so much for it. I don’t have to count points, to plan meals, to cook chicken and vegetables, and weigh my food. Call it the lazy person’s diet, but it works. In theory, it should help me learn to eat more (6 times a day), eat complex foods (not just eating crackers, soup, cereal and salad as most of my other “diets” have gone), and portion control. I need to be able to manage what I eat in the long run, so that I can keep the weight off that I lose, instead of gaining it back and then some. I think the tipping point for me was getting on the scale the other day, and realizing that I’m out of control. No matter what I do, the numbers are not going down, and my yo-yo dieting and weight loss and subsequent gain times two haven’t been helping the cause. I know I’m never going to be a size 2, or maybe even 4. But, I would like to get back to where I was even in 2004, which wasn’t my ideal weight then, but is certainly better than where I have ended up. I need to just find the happy medium where I feel OK, and realize that I’m never going to be perfect, and never going to be that size 2, and accept that. So, here’s to new beginnings, and let’s hope the start of something good.

I know, it’s been awhile…

Things have been good, what can I say? I’ve been busy working and living life, as have we all. I just haven’t had the motivation to blog lately, obviously. But, my new job is great…I’m working for some big clients and enjoying it. It’s not perfect, but what job is? It’s definitely a good place for me to be in the path of my career - whatever that may be.

I’ve been super busy the past couple months otherwise, and actually don’t have a free weekend until the middle of June.

A few highlights of what I’ve been doing:

• I took a Saturday about a month ago to work with a friend to produce a commercial for a local clothing store, Liberte. The shoot went well and I’m looking forward to seeing the final product.
• Going out: I had a great time at a “tini and toy” party with some fun girls a couple weeks ago. We started with a toy party (think tupperware but sex toys) then ended the evening with a table at Rain. I also recently celebrated my good friend’s birthday at Blue Gin. I’ve been to a couple happy hours at Buffalo Billards, and a few in Arlington. Stayed out way too late on a worknight, had a great dinner at Felix and enjoyed pitchers of margaritas at Lauriol Plaza on one of those warm nights we had a couple weeks ago (where are they now?!?).
• Have a bachelorette party coming up this weekend…bridal shower Mother’s Day weekend…and wedding the beginning of June. I’m super excited, it’s my first time being a bridesmaid, and I think it will be a lot of fun.
• Speaking of weddings, my college roommate/best friend got engaged on April 1. And, we all know about a certain DC Blogger doing the same recently. It must be in the air!
• I celebrated the anniversary of my adoption on April 2. Always a nice thing to remember. Especially when it is commemorated by a poem from a good friend a la Talladega Nights:

Dear sweet sweet 6lb 7oz baby Jesus laying in your manger, not knowing how to talk yet so omnipotent, thank you for making little baby AM all extra cute and shit, so cute the sweet dear white couple had to stop in their tracks and pick to adopt little AM and deliver from a life of rice and orphanage to a life of Lacoste and Ralph Lauren. Thank you baby Jesus.

• Speaking of family, my parents just informed me that they are moving to New Mexico at the end of June. They have a condo out there, so I guess it’ll be Christmas in Taos for me!
• Easter Sunday I attended the first competition for DC101 Last Band Standing. A band I know from college was competing, and although they didn’t advance to the next round, they performed well and all of the groups were great. I’ve really started to get into the local music scene, and finding all sorts of connections of people I know with it, so that’s kind of cool.
• Signed up for the 5K Race for the Cure Run/Walk with a group of fun ladies. I’m looking forward to a good time for a good cause, and I’ve already raised $250!

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And, I must of course note that today marks the terrible “massacre” (I hate that word, but…) at Virginia Tech. The tragedy hit pretty close to home for me, since I went to school a mere 15 minutes away. The community is very small, and all very connected. My heart goes out to everyone down there, and I can’t imagine how those students feel, and I know it will take a long time to heal and recover from such a senseless act. For today, we are all Hokies.

One of my friends wrote this and I was touched by it, I hope you will be too.

I grew up not an hour from Blacksburg, where 30+ people today lost their lives at the whim of a senseless man. I spent four years in Radford, a 15-minute car ride from Virginia Tech.

Southwest Virginia has always been largely forgotten by the mainstream media, and even many Virginians from the more privileged northern and far eastern parts of the state. The CNNBCSPAN Blob only shows up when there’s bad news. We’ve kind of become our own state. I live in Northern Virginia now, not exactly by choice, but because it’s one of the few places in the country you’re nearly guaranteed to find a job.

Southwest Virginians don’t know what it’s like not to care about someone. We don’t care if you drive a rusty Merkur XR4Ti or a Maybach 57. Most of us have never met strangers. And we have a hard time adapting to places where murders barely make the B-block of a newscast. But we adapt all the same.

No doubt… this will be hard. Hard in a way no English word should have to describe.

Being the site of the worst shooting rampage in American history is a badge I do not want my home to bear. But it will bear it, and it will survive it.

We will heal from this horror, much as we have others: the torrential flood of 1985; Hurricane Hugo; the widespread unemployment stretching from Henry County to the coalmining country of Lee and Tazewell counties; the horrible corruption by public officials in Henry County; the shootings at the Appalachian School of Law; the murders committed by Earl Bramblett; and hopefully we’ll soon start to heal from the murder of the Short family in Oak Level. These events have all had different effects on different people, but we did not lie down and let the punches come.

Make no mistake, what happened today at Virginia Tech is by far the worst event in recent memory, but we will make it.

I write this from my house in Gainesville, roughly 30 miles outside of Washington, D.C., but my home is Southwest Virginia, the first place ever referred to by our founding fathers as “God’s Country.” As Pat Conroy wrote 20 years ago, your home is permanent press: it does not wash out. It is with this pride in the hard-working, God-loving people of my home that I assure everyone who reads this that my home will prevail, and we will inspire the rest of the state, the entire country, and the world to grieve, embrace, and remember.

Indeed, God bless us all: the people of all small towns, of all nations.