Saturday, October 20, 2007

Trixie Guide to Finances


Contributed by Mackenzie Miller

For many Trixies, its just hard to exist on $45,000 a year, while spending $1,000 per month on an adorable pre-War bungalow near the Canal, a few outfits from Saks and trying to keep a Jetta on the road. But these items are important to Trixie Happiness. So therefore, we offer these key guidelines to make your life more enjoyable:

NOTE: Most of the situations described below expect that you have a boyfriend, husband or similar significant other. If you don't have one to call your own, stop now, go out and find one, and then finish reading.

1. If someone else is willing to pay, let them.
This works in many situations. Of course, when you're out to brunch with three or five of your best friends, who also are stretching their funds, you all have to chip in equally. But if you're out with co-workers, and one of them happens to be a manager or equivalent, you should expect them to offer to put the tab on their American Express card. They'll get reimbursed for it, because you did talk about work, right?

2. If you're out with a guy, make him pay.
If a guy is nice enough to hold the door for you, then he's nice enough to pay to have your company for dinner.

3. If at a bar, someone else always pays.
So, you're out at the Vogue or the Mineshaft after work with two or fifteen of your best friends/co-workers after a long day. Your pocketbook is running thin, because you just paid rent, your car and insurance payments ... and you're saving $200 for those new Pumps that you're planning to buy at Frankeys after your morning jog on Saturday. So what do you do? Any smart Trixie will know how to locate a small to meduim sized group of TrixieMales and charm them into supplying your whole group (or at least you and your closest, cutest friend Mandy) with drinks for the evening. Simple chatter about work and the Broad Ripple neighborhood works best, with a few comments about athletics thrown in for good measure ("Ohh! I just love to play volleyball with my old sorority friends at the park!").

4. When engaging in a financial transaction, always bring an attractive friend.
Let's say you're buying a new car, opening a bank account, or even buying a new condo. The first rule of thumb is to always bring along an attractive, yet quiet, best friend. This trick always works, because the guy on the other side of the desk is always going to give you better service and better deals when he has attractive Trixies in front of him (unless he's gay of course). You always thought you'd have a good opportunity to smile and make someone happy -- now you have the chance to get something out of it! This simple trick is even easier for the Trixie who practices the fine art of the fake smile. It doesn't matter if you're sincere or not -- this is a quick and easy one-time solution! You won't be seeing this guy around again (at least you hope you won't).

5. Always bring up your needs and desires at the best possible times.
You need a new bike, a new car, or a new Chanel handbag, but the pocketbook says no. Well, there is usually a quick and easy solution for the smart, on-the-ball Trixie. It's easy. Just know when to bring up subtle comments: At a dinner party where your boyfriend's boss or other influential parties are present, out to dinner when the waiter is at your table ("oh, thanks for the compliment on my new dress. I'm just waiting for Chad to buy me the matching Chanel bag and shoes!").

It's all good.


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Monday, October 1, 2007

The Man Who Did Not Belong ... In A Yellow Porsche


- by Amanda Brooks Baker

Today I was heading over to my favorite Starbucks at 56th & Illinois in my black Jetta, which I purchased at Park Place motors in Carmel (since it's got the Park Place plate frame on it, no one will know that I only pay $199 a month for the next 96 months). Anyway, as I was driving south after just passing Westfield Boulevard, I approached the left turn onto 56th to park in the lot behind the Starbucks. Now, let me tell you something about this parking lot. It serves three of the most popular stores on my daily list: Starbucks, Kincaid's Boutique Butcher Market, and 21st Amendment Liquor Shoppe. And with those three fine establishments, you can bet there are lots of other Trixies in their new $199 Jettas vying for the same parking space that I am.

As I'm about to turn left into the parking lot, this guy driving a canary yellow Porsche pulls out of the lot, and waits to turn onto 56th. He is blocking my entrance. As I pull to a stop and prepare to shoot him a nasty glance from beneath my Ray Bans, I take a good look at him. I figure that he looks good enough (and not to mention the car!) to have a lot of money, or at least be someone important, and possibly worth knowing. So I quickly decide to snap on a smiley face and proceed to grin at him. He looks back at me, and I gesture that I want to turn in. The guy gives me the middle finger. Can you believe that?! And this was someone I was planning to be friendly towards (which is rare in itself!).

I quickly slide him one of my very best nasty glances, as he finally pulls out of the lot. I quickly jot his plate down, so that I can have a police friend of my fiance's look up his address. I just love to send bad drivers a copy of my column detailing their idiotic driving.

As I run into the Starbucks to get my coffee, I remember that I failed to wipe the nasty glance off my face... but they probably all deserve it anyway ... they're just retail workers ... and what can they do for me, anyway??? But thankfully, I don't meet anyone I know -- or anyone worth knowing -- inside the Starbucks.

Good luck this week navigating your way around our lovely Village!

~Amanda

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Trixie Member's Jetta Accosted at Starbucks - Fingerprints Found on Plate-Glass Window


Saturday, September 27, 2007, 9:01 AM

Society member Jenny Wilson was at the Starbucks at Broad Ripple Ave & Guilford happily perched in a large, brown overstuffed chair drinking an extra-shot chai half-decaf skim soy latte when an unidentified man made several unwelcome advances toward her through the plate-glass window.

Jenny immediately went to complain to the manager. She had to fight her way to the front of the line, and when she got back to her chair, the keys to her Jetta and her iPhone were missing from the table.

Jenny quickly ran from the store out onto the street, where she noticed the same man rummaging around in her double-parked Jetta across the street at Jimmy Johns Subs. With the able assistance of the friendly Jimmy Johns staff, the man was quickly evicted from the Jetta and Jenny's keys recovered. Unfortunately, her cell phone was lost, presumably stolen by the yet-unidentified man. Jenny also discovered a banana peel and several wadded-up Burger King wrappers littering the floorboard of her car after the incident. She is certain that these items were not there prior to the incident with the creepy man.

A police report was filed in the matter.

THE BROAD RIPPLE TRIXIE SOCIETY

"Simply making the BEST of what we have"