ruby shoe blues

changes...

2010-05-27T00:51:00.000-05:00

someday, I will find a permanent blogging home; until then:

www.lemonpixie.wordpress.com

there isn't anything there just yet (it's 1am thursday) but there will be lots of bloggy goodness starting...oh, tomorrow evening.

--miss coco

Me, From the Inside Out

2010-05-18T23:01:00.000-05:00

Things have not been going so well since Gabby died.

I know a lot of people out there are thinking "It's just a dog" or "animals don't have a soul" or some such stuff, but all I can say is that I cannot explain the love between myself and my dogs to anyone who has not loved a four-legged baby.

I have gone so far as to make an appointment with a grief counselor, because I have pretty much neglected myself for the past week and a half. All the things I was so excited about have lost their appeal, I am not taking care of myself at all, and crying has pretty much replaced yoga.

Why am I such a failure now? I used to tell myself to do something, and then I did it. This past year has been a repeat of "wake up earlier, go to yoga every day, eat better, don't drink caffeine, drink water, take off your makeup, etc, etc" and I keep on failing. Gabby's death is, in a way, the ultimate excuse. I lost my first furbaby/best friend, so obviously putting all that stuff on hold for another little while is okay, right?

Well, no. First of all, Gabby loved me. Loves me. She would not want me to be like this. For each moment I regret not having with her is a moment that I can have with my family still here on Earth.

Some of the things I plan to do are silly: buy a dog jogging stroller so I can take my girls out to the park and get an extra hour and a half with them, make a doggy-safe room so that they can run free instead of stay in a crate so I can go to the gym or yoga after work and not feel guilty, start waking up and doing yoga in the morning so I can spend more time with my girls. Some of them are just the same things I have been needing to do all along: eat a better raw diet, drink water, be consistent with yoga, sleep better.

Clean up the apartment. !

I am cleaning up "me" from the inside out. You are welcome to follow what I am sure will be an interesting journey (yes, complete with shopping, too!)
Next on the list: actually blog more often.

Sleep in Peace, Little Gabby

2010-05-12T00:06:00.001-05:00

Monday morning, Gabby crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

We knew it was coming. She suddenly seemed very old, confused, and just not like herself. We suspected that she had a stroke. We knew she had liver disease.

I still wasn't prepared.

I just kept telling myself that she wouldn't die yet. Chihuahuas live forever, right? I hear about 18-year-old chihuahuas all the time. Gabby was only 11. Against all odds, I figured we would still have Gabby around for a while.

Gabby lived with my mom and stepdad, but she was still my baby. I brought her home when she was 8 weeks old. I was 19, a sophomore in college, and I had my new best friend by my side. She was a cute little brat. She walked for miles with me, without complaint. She drank out of my Evian cap when she was thirsty, and shared my cereal with me when we got home.

"Hi"

I could write a novel about Gabby and our time together. She was my first baby, and nobody or nothing will ever replace her or make this heartache go away.

Not very many people know just how much she meant to me. She stayed glued to my side when I was very depressed. She was my best friend when I had no friends. For some reason, when I get depressed, I can't sleep in bed; I sleep on the sofa. She slept on that sofa with me as long as I wanted to sleep, and gave me kisses when I cried. She once growled at a guy who told me I was ugly; it was like she knew what he said.

Between my moving and my being sick, Gabby ended up living with my parents. They quickly fell in love with her, and even though she was still my baby, she was their baby too. They gave her an amazing home and spoiled her like crazy. I have never seen two people so completely in love with a dog.

The past few months were hard for Gabby. She was unable to walk correctly, see correctly, smell correctly. She lost interest in her food. It was sad, the kind of sad that leaves you wondering why in the world people live so long while our four-legged companions live unfairly short lives.

I am heartbroken. I know she is still with us, and I know she is waiting patiently for us to join her. Sleep peacefully, little Gabby, and thank you for everything. We all love you.

Gabrielle Rosita

2/21/99-5/10/10

May Day...(mayday, mayday!)

2010-05-01T11:49:00.000-05:00

In Scotland, some of the University of St. Andrews students party on the beach late on April 30, and run into the North Sea at sunrise on May 1 (May Day)...sometimes in the nude.

Sounds like fun right about now, as it is getting hot and steamy here. My energy is just sapped lately, and I am slowly getting it back. The past few weeks have been a mess of work, schoolwork, and basic "life-repair." As many times as I say I intend to take care of things that nag me, no matter what.

Two biggies are happening this month, and I am excited and terrified. The first thing is nothing to be scared of--I am finally rebuilding my credit. Let's just say that I had amazing credit (thanks to paying a student loan off in full and keeping up with all my bills) up until about 2006. I would have to back up about four years, though, to tell the whole story. When I first started getting sick, I did rely on conventional medical avenues. I went to doctor after doctor for test after test and took pill after pill. Thanks to my payment history, I somehow received a credit card with a limit that was over two times my then-salary. I know, right? When my insurance stopped paying, I made sure my doctors took AMEX. At one point, in 2006, I was taking a medication that cost $780 a month with no insurance. (Some of the things that employers call "insurance" are complete jokes. Hm.) (This was also the last chemical pharmaceutical or OTC drug I ever took, save for an antibiotic drip they forced on me when I had a staph infection. Sure, it made my sciatica pain go away, but it caused some ridiculous side effects. And cost $800 a month.) Add to this my "cure" for feeling sad/depressed/angry about feeling unhealthy and getting no help at all: shopping! I bought any damn thing I thought could help. Every back pain device, home exercise machines, books, and of course, my retail-therapy-marathon clothing binges.
A few years later, I am much healthier, but my credit score is a little bit sick. Mind you, it isn't terrible...it just isn't good enough to say, get a loan to buy a condo some day when we move. (I'm surprised...I would have thought it would be worse, but who knows?) I considered getting a secured card (a "credit card" that you have to back up with a savings account, and yet still pay off) but waited a few months, never wanting to sink $500-$1000+ into this thing that I would still need to pay each time I used. (It's not a debit card. You only get your deposit back when you no longer want the account and close it.) I have watched my score gradually inch up month after month (I assume from paying my student loan?) and finally, the other night, applied for a regular old credit card. The same one, in fact, I had when I was 18, in college, and had no credit.
And they approved me.
This should not be exciting. This is an everyday thing for most people. I'm pretty sure, though, that many people have no idea how credit works, why some people get approved and some don't. Honestly, it makes no sense to me sometimes. All that aside, though, I am ecstatic. I can start working on the one thing that overshadows my financial health. (And of course, I can buy things that go on sale even when I don't get paid for another week without using my school savings money. Sale day will no longer be depressing as I watch things sell out Tuesday when I get paid Friday!)

(Yeah, my mind always goes there.)

The other thing I am excited about? Since I no longer have to spend part of my next paycheck on this secured card (as I was planning to do) I can use it for something else. And I know just the something else to use it on.

This may come as a shock to you, since I am constantly talking about toxins and poisons and won't even touch tap water...but I am considering Botox. Before you scream, let me explain.
I have suffered from TMJ and jaw clenching and teeth grinding since...well, forever. I have spent thousands on mouth guards, splints, and devices. I have chipped teeth but can't get veneers because every dentist says I will just break them or grind them down, and waste $20,000. It's a nightmare, it really is.
Because of this lovely condition, one of my jaw muscles is slightly larger than the other. People say they can't notice, but I do. Every day. I quit yoga for six months because I could not stand to look at my dumb-looking face. Besides, it is also painful. I get headaches. I don't sleep well.
I can help reduce all this by making sure I eat my 100% raw diet, stay away from stress, and chew as little as possible. (The stress one is kind of impossible, though.)
I could, if I wanted, have a $35,000 surgery that would make my face symmetrical. I do not have that kind of money, and I don't really want surgery.
A few weeks ago, I was reading research about Botox and TMJ, and studies that were done showing the effectiveness of Botox in reducing TMJ problems. I also, in a fit of boredom, googled "jaw reduction" and imagine my surprise when I saw that some cosmetic surgeons were using Botox to reduce the size of an unevenly-enlarged jaw muscle (or masseter.) I freaked, and started looking for doctors in the area. I mean...surgery, no way, can't afford it. Botox? A stretch, but doable. Best thing? Botox for wrinkles must be re-injected about every six months. Botox for jaw reduction? Should be permanent after 2-3 treatments, as long as you don't start chewing gum (a habit I find disgusting anyway) or gnawing meat all day (also repulsive).
Yes, Botox is a weak toxin. I am still deciding whether or not to even do it. My rationalization is that I will not be doing it forever. Many homeopathics, which I do use regularly, are basically very diluted toxins as well.
My consultation is May 18. I hope she says that she can do this, or will try. I am not going to have her inject my jaw immediately. I am not sure how my body will react, so I will probably have her do between my eyebrows as a "test patch." If that muscle is paralyzed for six months, it will be an annoyance. If I have a bad reaction and immediately inject one entire side of my face? Nightmare. Better safe than sorry.
I wear my face every single day. I have no desire to hide behind my hair for the rest of my life. If this can make it even 50% better, I will be happy (of course I wish it would just go back to normal. A girl can dream.)
I don't want to avoid cameras and mirrors anymore. I want to smile and not worry about which way to turn my head.
Sorry for the long post! I needed to get that out. Now excuse me while I go run naked into the sea...

Nuts and Seeds: My Sworn Enemies, and Where are the Shopping Posts?

2010-04-27T17:03:00.000-05:00

Earlier today, someone was talking about how they thought eating vegan would be "boring." I told her I was a raw food vegan and assured her that I found my food far from boring. Fruit excites me! Wheatgrass makes me tingle! Coconut may as well be a drug for the way it makes me feel!

That is not to say that it is never difficult. I often feel the need (I would call it a "craving" but it runs deeper than that) for something a bit heavier. Most raw foodists turn to raw seeds or nuts when they want something heavier. I do the same: sunflower seeds are my favorite, and they are easy to sprout and therefore transform into a truly living food. (Note: roasted sunflower seeds or ones covered in salt will not sprout. I am not assuming any of you don't know that, but you never know...) I love raw nut butters, too. Right off the spoon.

But starting tomorrow (since I already had massive amounts of almond butter today, sigh) I am giving up the nuts and seeds unless I feel a dire need, in which case I will march my butt down to Whole Foods and buy an ounce from the bulk bins. (Hey, I already buy three Brazil nuts at once. Why waste?) My body simply cannot handle any more than that, and I won't let it ruin another yoga class, another day at work, another night at home. Nuts really don't do my digestive system any favors, and the fact that I can fit half my daily calorie allowance on the end of a spoon kind of freaks me out. It's time to find another "savory" food for those times when sweet fruit just won't cut it. I'm just not sure what to try.

On another note, I know that since this is supposed to be (at least in some ways) a shopping blog, people might be wondering where the shopping posts are.
Well, I am still working out the balance. I tend to swing from season to season between shopping a lot and focusing on it too much, to throwing it totally out the window and obsessing over yoga. I want to try to get to a point where I am 100% focused and committed to my body and my health, and still just a little bit obsessed with shopping. (Meaning, will I call in late to work for a sale? Hell, yes! Will I skip yoga to go do Anthropologie fitting room reviews? Nope, never again.) I am also devoting a large part of my budget to yoga gear/workout gear and clothes that just feel better on. Face it, I am going to be a counselor, so I won't be in business formal attire at work, and since too many accessories, frills, or embellishments just overwhelm me, I need to tone it down. I am also going to see someone about "fixing" my "angry lips" which are a hereditary nightmare that needs to end. Natural? Maybe not. Am I concerned enough to do something about it? You bet. I wear my face every day. I need to feel comfortable smiling. That is worth an Anthropologie dress or two.

I will still write about shopping. Trust me, I still love shopping way too much to ever stop! Right now, though, I still need to work out that balance, and again, thanks to all of you patient readers:)

My Return To Blogging, Revelations, and Yes, Saturday Shoe Obsession!

2010-04-24T11:11:00.000-05:00

I must begin by saying that I am so excited to truly begin my education as a counselor. Admittance to the program I am in is very selective, after which you must pass the Intro class (which I have recently been informed that I did, in fact, pass.) My impatient side is not wanting to be in school for 3.5 more years, mostly because I want to move away, but I am working around that.
I have decided that I need more balance in life (lots more on that later) but I am officially going to return to blogging. There may be weeks when I only post a few times, but that just means I am working on not procrastinating on my work. So there you have it--I am officially back!

I did a lot of thinking during my non-blogging weeks, and came to a conclusion (that I am sure I have come to before, and which should be common sense for me now.) I need to spend a lot more time (and money!) on my health, my body, than I do on clothes and shoes. I wear my face and my body every single moment of every single day, which is more than I can say for any clothing item of pair of shoes. What does this mean? Well, first of all, I am going to cut into my shopping budget a little bit and make my food budget more realistic. I feel best on a raw vegan diet, which does include some expensive things, especially considering that I thrive with wheatgrass juice and I like to eat as close to 100% organic as possible. (Wheatgrass is expensive to buy, but I am going to invest in a growing kit and hope for some luck. I will post about it here.) I refuse to limit my spending to $60 a week so that I can buy just one more Anthro item while I continue to suffer from bad digestion, headaches, fatigue, and continue to struggle to get back to my ideal weight. It just isn't worth it. I am also going to re-enroll in the unlimited yoga plan, which will cut about $140 per month from the budget--we are talking about one item here, so it isn't a huge deal--but is worth it. Three times a week doesn't cut it. I took a long (needed!) break, but I am ready to go back to doing doubles and re-gaining strength and flexibility. I also have a few somewhat controversial reveals in the future, but I will have to save those for when I know a bit more. Sorry for the secrecy:)

Next up: SHOES!

I recently ordered these:

...and am patiently waiting their arrival. Along with this. And yes, okay, this too...because I tried it on and it looked awesome in an experimental kind of way. And I have a great outfit in my head with it, just you wait!

Anyway. I am not sure about the shape of the sandal, as it is unlike anything I have ever tried before. A thong-style sandal with a full back? Hmm. We shall see.
Sooner or later I will start doing OOTD posts again so you can see some of my newest favorites: these
(yes, they are awesome) and these:

...which go amazingly well with just about everything.

I didn't really have much of a theme in mind for today, but looking at the past two photos, I see that a theme has found me. I have a pewter obsession lately, and I wonder why I hadn't noticed this before. See, I detest gold jewelry--it looks awful with my coloring, and sometimes even real gold looks cheap to me. Antiqued gold-tone I can sometimes do, depending. Silver jewelry is where it's at for me. But shoes and bags? The silver trend of a few years ago drove me batty. I just did not like the look of silver leather, no matter how fancy or expensive or textured. It may have reminded me too much of my rave party days when silver was where it was at. Who knows? Anyway, when I started seeing more and more pewter, I was hooked. A metallic that was also neutral, that could make a statement or just a whisper depending on the outfit. So today, I will talk about neutral metallics.

What's not to love about this? This looks like a warmer pewter for gold-loving girls, and the cut is super-flattering to the legs. Since it is a wedge, I am sure it is walkable, too. (Click photo for more details.)
Want more wedges? Here is a gorgeous wedge thong (no, not a wedgIE thong...eek!), a strappy wedge, a great deal, and a beaded wedge.

Everyone needs casual flip-flops; why not infuse them with style?

This is the Reef Butter, which I know for a fact is awesome-comfy and lasts forever!
Also try these or these for extreme comfort.

For heels without wedges, try something like these:

(I love the "distressed" pewter look, too!)
Here are some Target cheapies, some dressy heels, slides, and some super-trendy, super strappy, super high heels.

And finally...flats!

And more, under $20, a gladiator, ballet-style flats, and something interesting.

Happy shoe shopping girls, and I will be back later with the story of my extremely weird Thursday night--pictures included--and my Featured Fruit of the Week!

A Story About Why This Belt Frightens Me

2010-04-21T16:46:00.000-05:00

Let's talk about this belt, shall we?

I am historically a belt-o-phobe, so my foray into belt-shopping is pretty recent. I have had some icky luck with Anthropologie belts (I love my Snakebite Belt, even though the "Small" is too big unless I put it over a few layers...other belts were falling apart in the store...so pretty, yet so wrong) but I always check out the belt section to see if anything catches my eye.

And today, the little number mentioned above is the one that caught my eye. "Wow, that is black, but could work for summer!" I thought, since I am not much of a brown person. I am sorely lacking in the nice, non-hoochie, work-appropriate-yet-not-dowdy summer clothes department, so this excited me.

Until.

I zoomed in on the photo and saw a close-up of the braided leather hot mess that is this belt. Why a hot mess?

Well.

I was in high school in the mid-90's. This sort of belt was very popular among the guys. Very popular. In fact, I had a boyfriend who wore a brown version of the braided leather belt, every single day.

Sadly, I cannot recall the exact sequence of events that led to our relationship some 14 years ago. He was part of my current "hang-out" crowd, I thought he was cute, we talked, there was some drama with another girl (isn't there always?) and then we were dating. I can remember that for high school, it was a fairly long relationship. He was not the player type, not a pothead. Probably a bit too much of a do-gooder. That kind.
A little backstory: in high school, I was unbearably picky about guys. Sure, I would date around a lot, but I would always find something huge that made me second-guess my choices. (Yes, these things were mostly just my imagination, as you will soon see. Let's not psychoanalyze my delicate, teenage-girl personality, okay?)
When this boy (let's call him Timmy) and I first started hanging out alone, we were like normal (at least, normal to me, and normal for back then) teenagers--sure, we made out, but all in all we were pretty chaste and didn't see a lot of action. I mean, we were what...16 and 17? So sure, there was physical contact, but the clothes below the waist stayed on. (Ugh, I feel kind of gross, like I'm writing makeout scenes for teenagers. Oh, wait. They did that way back on Dawson's Creek, so the world has been desensitized to that already. *sigh of relief*). A couple weeks in to the relationship, I began to notice a distinct crinkling-type noise coming from his, er...waist/pants area. After a few days of freaking out, I confided in my best friend:

"I think Timmy wears diapers."

Sure, I look back and wonder where the hell my brain was, but come on--it was a very valid concern (to my 16-year-old self) and something I desperately needed to confirm.

My friend thought it was kind of funny, but helped me devise a plan--one that, looking back, could have lead to some pretty embarrassing confrontations. You know, like grabbing his booty, laying my head on his lap while watching television, snooping...anything that would get me nearer to the knowledge of what exactly was going on down there. I figured that if I were correct, I would find boxes of Depends, or feel something squishy when brushing against his butt...you get the idea.

Weeks of discreet butt-brushing, interesting head-placement during movie night on the sofa, and acute listening for stray crinkles, I figured out where that damned noise was coming from.

His belt. His fake-leather braided belt. The "strands" were rubbing whenever he moved, and the sound that the thing made when they all rubbed at once sounded eerily like the crinkle of a diaper.

I know. Laugh now, but back then, I was mortified. And relieved.

And that, ladies and guys, is why I am terrified to wear a belt like this, no matter how cute it is. I am freaked out by them to this very day.

And I am Still Alive

2010-04-20T23:05:00.000-05:00

The rest of this week is still going to be a crazy mess, but I will be back with lots of new posts/ideas/recipes/etc very soon.

Until then, I leave you with my latest obsession.

After I turn in my giant paper/projects/end-of-semester work, I will be back with talk about yoga, plastic surgery, alley shopping (aka dumpster diving), dwarf citrus trees, and how to get your chihuahua-children to give you a Mother's day gift! Or something like that.

What the World Needs Now...

2010-04-14T13:36:00.000-05:00

...are shoes, sweet shoes.

(I stole this from a notebook I saw at Target last week. I am surprised I didn't buy it, but since my husband has some sort of weird office supply obsession, we have an abundance of notebooks, so there you go.

It has been a while since I made a shoe post, so one is (way over-) due.
Since I last posted, I have become the proud mama to these,and my first-ever pair of Chie Miharas is on the way to me! I don't even want to add up what I have spent on shoes lately. Let's just say that I have spent the last, oh, ten summers wearing only running shoes (for working out) and flip flops (everywhere else) so my shoe closet is in need of some warm-weather updates.

I have my eye on these (but in the solid black) because the black strappies I have now are a cutout wedge (love them!) but I find them too high for short skirts:

I don't own any Tsubos yet, but hear they are comfy, and they look stylish. I need both. I do!

This next one will probably never make it into my closet, but I love it nonetheless:

It comes in other colors, but this pink catches my eye. The problem? I have no idea what the heck to wear it with! However, the longer I write this, the more I am convincing myself that I need a bright shoe that is of high-quality. Hmm. Borns are very comfortable, and I can see this working well at work (anything goes as long as I can stand and walk in it all day!) and anywhere else. Okay, I've convinced myself.

I keep saying I will someday buy myself a second pair of Louboutins...someday. These have me wishing someday was sooner than later, because they are seriously ME with the juxtaposition of flannel/peep toe. It just says warm-weather nights and FALL, FALL, FALL. I would wear these every day from the first 60-degree day in Fall to the first snowfall. (There's a lot of fall in that paragraph.)

J. Crew, I hate you. I have learned my lesson. Wait until the sale for your shoes! I love these, but am making myself wait. I like all the colors, so I figure that they will hit sale with at least one color left in my size!

I am 99.9999999% sure I will never own this next shoe, but I drool over it. I wear brown-shoe outfits maybe once every two weeks, so these would never be worn enough to justify the price:

And for purely-foot-eye-candy purposes, we have these, which are an impractical color for the price and look like they would be painful to wear:

But I loves them.

I have to do some work now (boo!) but will be back later with some more fun...until then, enjoy the foot candy!

Back From a Break, and a Cherry Chocolate Smoothie!

2010-04-13T22:33:00.000-05:00

I am trying to come back from my little blogging break, but will be "in and out" for the next few weeks, if that makes sense.
I will continue with the shopping posts soon (very soon!) but in an effort to bring more balance to my life, I have been spending a lot more time at the yoga studio and developing new smoothie recipes. I have to credit the inspiration for this one to Colleen, who said something about chocolate-cherry the other day and got me thinking about how to make a raw vegan chocolate cherry smoothie.
The results were delicious, and since I used coconut water instead of fresh-squeezed juice, it literally took three minutes to make. Love it!

First, I made "coconut-sunflower" milk. (The above photo is the "before" photo). This is, I am pretty sure, an invention of my own. Nut and seed milks are not new. Many, many vegans make/use almond milk, hemp seed milk, Brazil nut milk, and more. But, basing it with coconut water instead of water water? Just an experiment. (And it worked; I tried this later with super-cold distilled water and the taste was kind of bland. Hooray for my invention of coconut-water-sunflower-seed milk!)
If you want to get technical, the correct way to make nut or seed milk involves a straining bag, but I just wanted a "creamy" base for my smoothie. Therefore, I poured the coconut milk and about 1/2 ounce sunflower seeds into the VitaMix and let my baby pulverize those seeds! It looked kind of frothy:

Next came the cherries: (I used frozen cheat-cherries. Organic cherries are impossible to find right now unless you get the frozen cheaters. Oh, well):

Now for the fun part:

Raw cacao powder!!!! There is so much controversy over this stuff in the "raw food world," people going so far as to call it "crackao" and saying it is addictive, but I can take it or leave it. (It's tasty, but I have never felt a "need" for it.) I have never had adverse effects from eating it, so I use it if I feel like it. Anyway. I used half an ounce--it doesn't take much.

On the VitaMix it went, and this came out in the end:

Kind of brown and icky looking color-wise, but it was delicious, in a natural chocolate-cherry kind of way. I have made this twice since, and would do it more if I had a way to get real fresh cherries I could freeze myself.

I have a lot of posts planned, so keep checking back! Hopefully the last couple weeks of school won't burn me out, and I will be back to posting every day soon.

under construction

2010-04-03T16:07:00.000-05:00

I started this little blog mostly as an experiment.
I wasn't a stranger to blogging by any means, but I had yet to find a real "niche" in the world of online writing.
In an attempt to come to terms with my somewhat nonsensical assortment of interests, I decided to integrate everything I do, think, and care about into one big mass of blog-ness.

The shopping aspect of this blog took over, as the shopping aspect of life did the same. I began to skip yoga and workouts to go to Anthropologie. I missed my morning smoothie due to scoping out the new arrivals every morning. I would have actual anxiety about things like "when can I make it to the store?" "do I get paid soon enough to buy my cart?" and item sell-outs.

I moved my blog so that I could add more links, more pictures, more more moremoremoremore.
(Okay, moving wasn't a bad thing. I can use blogger at work easily.)
However...
After having many bad weeks of feeling sick and run-down, not eating properly, and becoming more and more depressed, I have come to many realizations (that I have come to before, yet never took to heart):
1. Taking care of myself has to come before shopping, blogging, and even work.
2. Having great clothes helps me feel better about myself, but they cannot replace feeling good about myself
3. Writing about what I believe in is more important than having 1000s of followers
4. I don't need to apologize for my opinions
5. ...and more...

My little space is under construction. For the few of you that subscribe, don't be surprised if the blog title changes on your blogroll. If you want to unfollow, I won't be insulted (it has already started happening). I'm not going to quit shopping, or quit writing about it...it just won't be the focus of my life any more. I have big things to conquer right now, and thinking about shoes and clothes all day, every day is doing me a disservice.

I want to make friends online, not fans. Thanks, readers, for your support:)

And...Big Sigh

2010-04-02T12:45:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was our first over-80-degree day of the year.

That is way, way too early for me. I got up at the butt crack of dawn to walk the dogs with my awesome friend Emily and her newly-adopted Golden Retriever. Ezra and Piper growled at him at first, but he was so laid back they eventually ignored him. Little bitches.

After that, I panicked. It was hot in my living room, hot in the bathroom, hot, hot, hot. I started to get the obligatory hot-weather-migraine and couldn't find anything to wear. Realizing this would be my pre-work struggle in the coming days, I decided to go shopping.

First up: sandals. I have lots of sandals, but none that I really like, save for a couple pair of Calvin Klein wedge sandals and some dressy Michael Kors ones. Not really good ones for work. Not good ones to wear with jeans.
What did I discover? Well, that sandals this season are completely fugly. I am going to buy these next week, and then be kind of done with the whole shoes-that-go-higher-than-my-ankle thing. That is enough.

We also don't all want to be wearing gladiator sandals, all the time. Feh. Come on, DSW! Get with it!

I also discovered that I have ugly-ass feet. And legs. Oh, cry.

I left with two pair of black sandals, one of which is going back. Nothing special. They add a few inches, are comfortable, and aren't gladiators.

(Can you tell how excited I am about warm-weather clothes?)

Next I went to the mall (bleh) and hit up Anthropologie. Thanks, Anthro, for carrying a bunch of clothes I find absolutely hideous right now. It will be nice to spend some money elsewhere.
I tried on some trousers and a couple tops. Everything looked clownish to me. (I did, however, put an end to my Cloudfish Skirt obsession.) It seems like the fashion world is loving the nautical look, but I am already tired of it for the most part, and never liked it that much in the first place. (And seriously...weren't any of you traumatized by a well-meaning parent dressing you in a sailor suit in the spring? EEEEEEEEEEEEK!)
I left empty-handed, a serious first.

The Dillard's juniors department was interesting. Some of the tops rivaled Anthro's applique tops, and at ridiculous prices. ($29? Seriously?) However, all the cute tops were only left in L and XL, which made me sad. Grabbed a skirt I am not sure I like, but will be heaven on humid days here in hell.

On to REI, got a North Face top and a Patagonia dress, which I am sure you will see in photos sooner or later.

I still have a long list of Anthro wants, and a few others, but this post has another point.

I am not very thrilled by spring and summer fashion. I don't enjoy getting dressed in the morning. I feel like the key word is "LESS" as in less makeup, fewer accessories, less ... clothing. I can deal with layers, tights and boots, coats. Warm-weather fabrics seem cheap and ill-fitting, outfits are harder for me to put together, and overall I just end up looking silly.

Therfore...while I will still post fitting room reviews, my purchases, and some OOTDs...the warmer months will bring a bit of a different focus to this little blog. I will no longer ditch yoga to hit up Anthro, spend my wheatgrass money on clothes, or cry if something sells out. (Until about August, when fall stuff starts hitting stores. I hope to have a small savings by then, too, to get my fall fix immediately.)

I have smoothie posts galore for the next few days. I have hair product tips. I have yoga posts to write. I have three adorable Chihuahuas who want to be blogstars (like movie stars, but on the internet.) The stingrays are coming back to the local zoo and my Monday and Thursday ritual will be going to see them (I can walk to the zoo, it's so close.) I am dusting off the bicycle. And I am practically buzzing on fruit, which means I am feeling re-committed to eating the way I need to be eating right now.

Sure, you will still see plenty buying and shopping posts. But you will also see (and read) much more.

I am off to revisit my April budget (see, still those shoes are calling my name) and do some work, but stick around, I actually do have an OOTD for later!

The Best Satchel Photo EVER

2010-03-31T22:04:00.001-05:00

This is my "special girl" Satchel. Her blue eye will not photograph well no matter what I do. It always turns red and she looks evil. She is the opposite of evil, I promise. Her tongue sticks out often. She has an overbite and her little tongue is so long! I always wanted a dog with a stick-out tongue...Satchel is perfect!
I have one recent photo that kind of shows her eyes:

It's been a slow week, guys. It was newsletter week at work, which always stresses me out, and I have been re-committing to certain things in my life. I will be back to my regular posting soon. Until then, enjoy this adorable Chihuahua. She is, sometimes, the reason I get out of bed in the morning. (To be fair, she and both her sisters. That's Ezra in the background. Piper is constantly moving and vibrating with energy, so she is the least frequently photographed Chi. I am still trying.)

Trend Watch--Culottes. Are you Serious?

2010-03-31T12:42:00.000-05:00

**Please don't get the wrong idea here. I make fun of some trends but fully acknowledge that I pick up on some heinous ones as well. Also, I admit my fashion mistakes, i.e. the year that I absolutely hated my body and convinced myself that wearing something identical to this every day (with a regular top or t-shirt, of course) was, um, attractive...or something.)**

The word bothers me. The sound of it rolling off someone's tongue makes me shudder. Face it, ugly fashions have ugly names, and like "romper," "culotte" makes me want to barf.

Besides just being heinous, culottes bring to mind many things that I don't want to associate with my wardrobe. Mumsy, matronly, and "I have given up." (See link to swimsuit-skirt above. Yes. "I. Have. Given. Up." ) I am guilty of truly frightening non-style days. I will admit it. I will make fun of it. But I will also gripe about the trends that make me wonder, "Is that the designer's idea of a joke, to see how far we'll go?"

I guess it's true what they say: fashions keep re-appearing; save your clothes for your kids because they will be in style again someday.

(Photo found on thezaz.nationallampoon.com by searching "tight rolled jeans")

The photo on the left is the ~~winner~~ loser. Eek.

Other trends from my childhood/junior high years have been showing up recently.

I wanted to cry when tapered jeans (cleverly marketed as "skinny jeans") started to reappear on shelves. And...high-waisted pants? Come on, I know we are all sick of seeing 13-year-old's underwear, but mom pants? Meh. I finally embraced the "skinny jeans" look because I wanted to try the whole "jeans-with boots" thing, but $108 later, I own a pair of jeans that have never been worn. Not once. Yay, me. At least I spent less than I normally would on jeans. Still.

When rompers made a reappearance (a word I can only associate with drool, sticky apple juice, and strollers) I thought, "Okay, this is one of those runway things that no one will actually wear in public." And even though the silly adult onesies are showing up on all kinds of mainstream shopping sites, I have yet to actually see someone wearing one in public in a fashionable way. (Wearing a "lounge" romper after the gym does not, in my book, count as a "fashionable way." Especially taken into account the Crocs and the backwards baseball cap.) Anthropologie came out with a few one-piece outfits, and the long-pants version from last year was least offensive of them all: I called it a "cheat-suit" more than a romper; the top and bottom were not the same color, at least, and I saw at least one person pull it off gracefully.
However, I still don't like the things. And on my now-defunct old Wordpress blog, I posted a little whine about this. Because, I mean, the court jester? Not my fashion idol. In that little post, I actually said..."What's next? Culottes?"

And...since I don't really follow runway fashion(I just get lost), I had no idea, but I was 100% correct.

(Gladiator sandals and their brethren are starting to make me angry, as well. We don't all want our damned ankles covered all the time.)

Some of these things are okay, but come on, seriously? I find it hard to be attracted to any piece of clothing that brings to mind moms dropping off the kids (in the 80s, yeah) and girls who thought skirts were for sluts (again, in the 80s). Also, I am not sure how these things are figure-flattering. Maybe this just means I am too old (um, at 30?) to be fashionable, to be trendy. If I can remember trends from before, am I too old to talk about them, look at them, dissect them, now? Or maybe I am simply jealous that I "can't pull it off" (mainly because I would feel ridiculous if I tried.)

Rompers, culottes, Ked-style shoes with the laces removed, those horrible canvas shoes with elastic on each side of the "tongue"...do you own them? Wear them? Love them? Hate them? I want to know. What do you currently love? Hate? Need immediately?

"Shattered Dreams" May be a Bit Melodramatic, But I'll Say it Anyway

2010-03-29T22:46:00.000-05:00

Being the crazy obsessive that I am, I check Anthropologie's website every morning for new arrivals.
My wish list, therefore, is updated the day that things appear online.
One such thing that I have just been waiting to buy is the Cloudfish Skirt:

Honestly, it is really the only Spring skirt I like from Anthro this year. (And really, from anywhere else.) I need skirts to survive the hot weather, and this year's choices have been dismal.
Anyway, I was so excited to see a review on goldenmeans today. Seeing the skirt on an actual person is so much better than only seeing the Anthro-rolly-mannequin-thingy.
However, the review brings up a point I had not yet considered--the fish add a somewhat nautical aspect to the skirt.

Oh, no. The deadly "N" word.

See, I am not a fan of the "nautical" look. In fact, I am quite a non-fan. I wish I could explain why, but most nautical pieces join the revival of Keds, rompers, and culottes (post coming soon on that) on my fashion-trend shit list.
I think my Big Buy Wednesday shopping list just got smaller, especially considering that I have decided to put away half the cost of the Tangerine Rind Clogs (for sale time) instead of buying them now, because I am not so sure I can successfully style orange shoes. *sad face*
(These win for now. And maybe, maybemaybe these.)(But are L.A.M.B. shoes even wearable? They look almost painful.) (*cries*)

I just spent a few minutes trying to de-nauticize (another made-up word; don't you love it?) the Cloudfish Skirt:

I think I was fairly successful. I don't want this to be a one-outfit skirt, though, so for now it is back on my "maybe" list.

Any ideas for how to style this skirt? How to style the Tangerine Rind Clogs?
Any pieces that have you stumped?

Start Your Week with a Smoothie--Bowl of Cherries Smoothie--Plus Wheatgrass Juice and Raw Food, MY Way

2010-03-29T22:29:00.000-05:00

Today (tonight) you get to see what I had for "dinner": a delicious smoothie and a shot of fresh wheatgrass juice.
Here are my supplies:

Healthy Juicer Manual Wheatgrass Juice Extractor,
fresh cut bagged wheatgrass (the closest to a flat of still-rooted I could get at a moment's notice), two grapefruit, Cuisinart CCJ-100 Citrus Pro Juicer
(Christmas gift from my husband.) Not pictured: frozen fruit, still in the freezer.

Look at the gorgeous green grass!

The auger twists the blades to extract the juice.

The "pulp" looks like a dreadlock, or a smokeable drug.

Gorgeous greenness!
Wheatgrass is great for you. Check out The Wheatgrass Book: How to Grow and Use Wheatgrass to Maximize Your Health and Vitality
or Wheatgrass Nature's Finest Medicine: The Complete Guide to Using Grasses to Revitalize Your Health for more information than I could ever give. I generally use it to 'replace' leafy greens as most do not agree with either my stomach or my autoimmune issues. I really don't love the taste--it tastes just like a freshly mown lawn smells.
Luckily, I can "chase" it with my smoothie!

Cute Chihuahua: not a smoothie ingredient, but definitely good for you!

Hi Miss Ezra!

Now for the smoothie:

After juicing the grapefruit, I added papaya, pineapple, a tiny bit of banana, and the special ingredient: cherries!! The green stuff is Green Stevia Herb Powder
which acts as a natural sweetener.

The end result:

(I rarely post amounts for the ingredients, because the combinations can be tailored to your own tastes. I think unless you are using bitter things like leafies, it is hard to make a "bad" smoothie. Just dump it in and have fun!)

Now on to a more serious issue. My success with eating a raw vegan diet is definitely not by anyone's book but my own. There are a ton of books, websites, and forums that will tell you exactly how to eat raw and exactly what you are doing wrong. I have to force myself not to listen to them when they say that what I am doing is wrong, is going to cause XYZ, is not the way "nature intended." When I start to listen to this "guru" or that "guru" I get discouraged and end up doing something that makes me sick--every single time. So I use coconut oil. So I drink wheatgrass juice in lieu of several heads of kale per day. So I sneak in some organic caffeinated beverages. Does that mean I am destined to suffer ill health?

Pish. I came to raw veganism because my digestive system had completely shut down. When I started experiencing all the other positive effects, I was convinced that the way I was eating was right for me. Of course, being quite a Type-A, I had to read every book, join every website, make all kinds of "tweaks." And really? I was healthier and happier before. Sure, discovering new foods and throwing out those that don't agree with me is fine. But trying to live up to someone else's ideas and percentages and supplement obsessions? Not for me. If I need to come back and read this post every day, I will. I need to stay on MY track, and do what works for me. If I can give my readers ideas and inspire them, great! I think fewer animal products and more real, fresh, organic produce is a good idea for everyone. I love to give advice. However, the day I say that you MUST eat raw with less than 10% fat, or MUST eat only non-sweet fruit and greens, or MUST take hundreds of supplements (all things I disagree with, by the way), or MUST do anything specific with your raw diet, that is the day that I become a power-hungry person abusing my position as a knowledgeable advice-giver. (When I say "I," I mean anybody who does these things...just a clarification.) I, personally, am done with listening to the "MUSTERBATORS" (like my made-up word?) and am going to listen to my body and explore, explore, explore, and learn.

Because nobody makes history by listening to everyone else who tells them what is right for them:)

Enjoy the smoothie, and I dare you to try a shot of wheatgrass from your local juice bar or Smoothie King or Jamba Juice or whatever you have nearby.

Just a Little Thought...

2010-03-28T19:58:00.001-05:00

Judging how long it took me to create this:

More Anthropologie...

I am afraid I may wait for a sale to buy these shoes I have been drooling over for weeks and weeks.
(And I hate the way I look in crops, so this look is really, really imaginary.)

I did, however, pick up this top in ivory, and I loves it!!!
(I returned this cardi...the colors just aren't doing it for me.)

Today is/has been major cleaning day, so I may or may not be back later. Have a great Sunday:)

Yes, I Buy a Lot...Now Let's See What I Don't Buy

2010-03-27T12:00:00.000-05:00

Many of my blogger friends have endured comments (ranging from curious to threatening) about how much money they spend, how much shopping they engage in, and how they suck because of it.
While I have been lucky enough to avoid the rude anonymous comments (so far), I have been on the receiving end of such words (from family members, friends, coworkers...) and I am sure they exist if only in some people's minds.
Yes, I spend a large portion of my income on shopping (most of the rest of it pays for my education right now, if you want to know the truth) and I don't make a whole lot of money. A lot of people don't seem to have quite so much left after the bills are paid, and I have to assume it is because of many things that people don't think twice about. How do I end up with so much shopping money? What don't I buy?

Cable TV
Cable is expensive. No, really. Many people pay that bill each month without even thinking about it, but after years of not having cable, dish, DirecTV, or whatever else it is called, I realize that I don't miss it. I quizzed a family member about their cable bill, and the answer made me nearly wet myself: over $150 per month for TV and internet service. On the other hand, I have the fastest wireless I have ever used...and I pay $19.95 per month. $150 per month is like a pair of mid-range shoes. Eek.

Soda/Designer Coffee
I used to be a diet soda addict. I could drink 6-12 diet root beers a day. Since going raw and kicking out chemicals, I quit the diet soda habit. My husband pats himself on the back for cutting back to one soda per day, but it's still a lot (in my opinion). Besides the fluoridated water and HFCS (or aspartame, or Ace-K) you are consuming, soda can get pricey. Most people grab a 20oz bottle. Right? Around here they go for $1.29 plus tax to $2 out of a machine. I also used to be a Starbucks addict. Quitting dairy helped with that (no more $4 cappucinos five days a week) but what really killed the habit was swearing off tap water and switching to 100% organic coffee. Even the $2 a day Americano adds up. No diet Dr. Pepper, no Starbucks...even at only five days a week, that's a top from Anthropologie.

Magazines
At one point, I was buying about 40 magazines every month. All the fashion magazines, all the fitness magazines, yoga magazines, spa magazines...holy crap. Magazines are about $3.95-$4.95 apiece, so...yikes. Even one a week seems like a lot to me now. I subscribe to Yoga Journal for $10 a year. And that is it. I should have just thrown dollars into my recycling bin, since all the information in most magazines is recycled anyway, and all the ads are for stuff I probably won't buy. All those magazines I was buying? That's like a monthly payment on a Kia. Which brings me to my next thing...

Car Payment
I have an old car. I like my old car. I am not sure I will ever buy a brand new car. Nothing wrong with having a car payment, I just don't have one.

Cigarettes
I have a friend who lives in a city that charges much more for a pack of cigarettes than my city does. She and I both used to smoke a pack a day. I quit a few years ago. A pack was about $4 then. That's about $120 a month. She once wondered about my purchase of a $300 bag, when I could get a "perfectly good one" from Payless for $30. I pointed out that I no longer buy smokes (which in her city cost over $8 a pack--yikes). Trade the smokes and the Payless bag in, and there you have your $300 bag. And I have cleaner lungs. I know quitting is hard, but trust me...it's worth it. And you won't gain weight unless you replace the smokes with candy, chips, other food, or soda.

Bars/Alcohol
I love a good glass of wine. I just don't drink it every weekend. I have seen some girls' nightly bar tabs. I don't spend $50-$75 each Friday and/or Saturday for drinks in clubs. (I buy shoes instead!)

Restaurants
I once dated a guy who ate out three meals a day, every day. We were totally at odds (but, er, the sex was good, so...yeah. Sorry for the TMI, but that could be why I put up with it.) He always argued that when you added up the cost of groceries plus the time it took to prepare food, eating out was less expensive. I think he was nuts. (Also, incidentally, the once greyhound-lean guy looks kind of like Jabba the Hutt now. And that is sad.) Anyway, since I'm raw vegan, most restaurant food is out. If you like steak and lobster, go out and eat it once a month!...but don't come home from that meal to yell at me for a $100 dress. Because your $50 meal will be, er, in the toilet soon. And my dress will be in my closet. (Hi, Mom!!!)

Hair Salons/Nail Salons
I do my own hair after years of spending up to $200 every 5-6 weeks. I don't get fake nailz (they are bad for your real nails, anyway) and I do my own manicures/pedicures. (Yes, my nails look like crap right now, but they strangely look about the same as they did when I did get manicures every two weeks.) Once a month, twice a month...at least $30 for both, and often more. I'm saving my cash for something else.

Tanning
I used to be a tanning bed addict, but I quit. Even before I did, I spent $25 a month on my membership, surely money you can find in the couch cushions. However, many girls are serious about their tanning, and can spend up to $200 a month to bake in a bed. Even the $25 a month that I save gets me something nice, like new tights or a top on sale. I'll take the $25 and hold the wrinkles, please!

Communications
Yes, I am one of those people who kind of freaks if I leave my phone at home. However, I don't have my life inside the thing. I pay for phone service and unlimited text messages. I don't pay for zillions of iPhone apps, internet service, etc...and I don't pay for a landline. Someday I may join club CrackBerry or the iPhone clan, but until then, I sign over my $65 a month and know that it's about half of what many other people pay.
And it works for me.

Children
I don't have children. I am not saying there is anything negative or positive about having children, I am just pointing out that they are expensive, and they are a responsibility that you must consider if you have them.

Dog Groomers, Car Washers, House Cleaners, etc...
There are tons of other things that many people delegate to service professionals, and I do myself (or at least, ask my husband to do himself.) I bathe my dogs, wash my car, clean my own toilet.

...and things I do buy or pay, with care...

Gym Membership
I think this one is important--trying to jog outdoors can get boring, and difficult in certain weather. Around here, I have seen gym memberships that are $40-50 a month...up to over $100 a month. I don't need a bathroom attendant , I just want clean machines that work and good hours of operation. I pay $22 to have 24-hour access to over six clubs in my area. Free group classes, too. Just be firm and say no to the personal trainer they push at you.

Organic Food
I buy organic food as much as possible, meaning, when it is available. I shop several stores for the best price and ask for bulk discounts for cases when it is close to closing time. Sometimes it works.

Student Loan
I funded the completion of my undergrad degree with a (quite large) student loan. It is the only debt I have, and I hate paying it, but that BA got me into grad school, so it was worth it.

There you have it. I am sure there are many other things that I don't buy, but this is the list of biggies.

I will conclude by saying that I did not give up any of these things in order to fund my shopping habits. These are things I don't buy by choice; it is just a nice "side effect" that not spending on them allows me more shopping dollars. This is my personal list, not a guideline or a judgment.

What don't you buy?

Saturday Shoe Obsession--The "Stretch Jeans" of Shoes

2010-03-27T10:49:00.000-05:00

Okay, okay...I am fully aware that the title of today's post doesn't really make sense-yet.

I promise it will, very soon!

See, if you are thinking about shoes, you eventually have to think about feet, whether you love yours or hate them. Shoes protect your feet from the ground, can make your feet look cute, and can keep your feet warm. They can also give your feet blisters, contribute to bunions, and cause your feet lots of pain. (Unless you keep several pair of shoes on a shelf, for gazing purposes only--which is totally fine under many circumstances.)

Today, I am comparing shoes with clothing--meaning that you have your I-can't-breathe-but-I-look-hot evening gown of shoes all the way down to your ex-boyfriend's-old-ratty-oversized-boxers-and-a-nasty-tank-top-on-a-sick-day of shoes.
(And then you have your good-for-your-feet-but-very-ugly-and-reminds-me-of-monkey-feet shoes, which I almost purchased from REI with my dividend the other day, but sadly put back on the shelf. Yes, they are beneficial, but they are so ugly--they would only see nighttime jogs because I would feel weird during the day outside in them, and I would not even be able to wear them in the gym. Vanity, thy name is shoe shame.)

I chose "stretch jeans" thinking of a nicely-tailored, dark pair like these. They look nice, and you will feel stylish wearing them shopping, wearing them out at night, and (if you are lucky enough) wearing them to work. They make your butt look good without any suffering.

In other words, today's post is about comfort shoes that aren't granny sandals or frumpy pumps. I have a few favorite brands, and some new ones I would like to try, so let's get on to the shoes!
(And for the record, comfy flip flops don't have to be ugly. I am in love with these , and they go with me to the gym, to yoga, and around the house. And they have sequins.)

When I started working again last year (doing something other than teaching Pilates) I picked up my first pair of Aerosoles. The brand evoked mom-shoes and nurses, but a trip to DSW put that thought right out of my head.

Aerosoles tend to have wider toe boxes (good for bunions, or the prevention of them), super-flexible soles (your feet are supposed to MOVE with each step!), and have genuine rather than synthetic uppers (meaning they don't look super-cheap). The one thing they lack is a lot of arch support, so if you need it, consider inserts. The other great thing? The price--I think I paid $65 for my most expensive pair. Here is a great summer sandal option, my favorite comfy pumps, a cute bootie, and the flats I love. Makes me want to buy six pair of Aerosoles instead of these with my next paycheck, but I think I am too obsessed.

A brand I have not tried (but am dying to) is Korkease. I tried on a pair of clearance Korkease wedges last year at DSW and they felt heavenly, but they were (barf) yellow, and I can't really do yellow. It makes me look like a cadaver. Anyway, these boots are on my "definite buy" list:

Their heeled shoes tend to be wedges, which I love anyway, but I know some people don't like. If you like a chunkier heel at least sometimes, be prepared to swoon: they have some hot pumps, sandals, and slingbacks. It is getting harder for me to keep the money in the wallet here...

A brand I discovered by accident last fall is Clarks. I bought these boots (in black) and fell in love. This sandal reminds me of something you could buy at Anthropologie:

Granted, they probably aren't Aerosoles-comfy, but they aren't pointy Manolos, either. They do have lines of shoes that aren't quite fabulous, but check out these sandals. These peep-toes. This shootie/oxford/cute thing. And booties!

Finally...let's talk about those days when your feet just won't take any more heels. You need to have some style going on in the foot area, but even your back aches from 4 straight days of 3+ inch heels and your calves are cramping. Earth shoes are my go-to shoes for days like this. Maybe they aren't quite sleek, but I guarantee a day in these will put the spring back in your step and make you heel-ready for the next night out.
I am in love with the Sizzle; I don't know why I don't own it yet:

I own and love these flats (in a platinum color), LOVE these boots, and am quite partial to these.

Tell me about your most comfortable stylish shoes...and your nightmare, I-can't-wait-to-take-these-off shoes.
As always, I love suggestions, so if there is a brand, style, or issue you want to see on the Saturday Shoe Obsession...let me know!

An Unplanned Smoothie Post

2010-03-26T09:43:00.000-05:00

I love thunderstorms, so seeing one in the weather forecast filled me with joy.
Yesterday, however, had other ideas. I woke up (still a bit sick) to rain. You know, not the histrionics of a thunderstorm, just the cold wetness of a steady, all-day shower. The kind of thing I only like when I have an umbrella and nowhere important to be.
After schlepping to REI to spend my dividend, Whole Foods to grab oranges, and random other places, it was time to head to class. And I went, smelling like wet cashmere and sporting a limp, dead auburn fox on my head (aka, my hair after a day in the rain.) I pathetically realized that I own 0 raincoats, trenchcoats, or other non-cotton non-wool non-cashmere coats. Every piece of outerwear I own (besides a Columbia active jacket, which does not count--it's for jogging) is completely inappropriate for the early-spring pissdown.
What do I do? Head to the mall directly after school, of course.
The trip was not very successful, but I did see a woman nursing what looked like a pina colada inside a California Pizza Kitchen. (I absolutely loathe that stupid "if you like pina colada..." song. Hate it. Okay, back on track in 3, 2...) My exact thought was, "That looks f*cking delicious," which is funny since 1. I hate rum, and 2. I was shivering for 8 hours straight all day.
After finally finding a nondescript black long semi-rainworthy coat thing at Macy's, I left and ran back to Whole Foods. I had a great smoothie idea: recreate the pina colada, raw food vegan style!

Here is a young coconut. I have already violently cut off its head and opened it. This one was very full. It squirted me as I chopped the hole into it. (Insert gross perverted joke here.)

Here is the coconut water that came out of it. (To really learn about everything good that comes with coconut water, read this book: Coconut Water for Health and Healing. The author is really cuckoo for coconuts and has several books to prove it...and I totally understand, because coconut rocks.)

Hooray for pineapple! I added a lot. I would have added some coconut oil for smoothness and flavor, but I already had quite a bit today.

Blended!

What the hell is this?

This is a glowy, flowery straw that my husband bought about 2 years ago...and I never used. Too bad I can't find the plastic coconuts I have somewhere. Sadly, I don't have any paper umbrellas.

(Satchel looks positively insane here, and I think it was because my coconut-cleaver match scared her. Oops. She is usually not all kinds of insane, I swear. A little special, but crazy? No.)

The finished product was delicious! I wanted more when it was gone.

And a shot of my "happy sick day" flowers from my husband. Aww.

There you have it...my raw virgin pina colada. (Everything I say sounds dirty today!) complete with glowy-lei-flower straw.

Anthropologie Fitting Room Reviews (with a couple not online yet!)

2010-03-26T09:40:00.002-05:00

As promised, here are the (very late) Wednesday Anthro fitting room reviews. This was a sick day, so I am doing my best to hide my face. Let's start with the Natty Blazer from Allihop.

I grabbed this purely for the blog. Blazers tend to make me look like a kid playing dress-up, like a teen in grown-up clothing. They really aren't "me," and I shy away from them even when I see a look I love that includes one. However, I loved this blazer. The cottony-soft material, the length, the floral lining...this one was not full of itself, it did not brag about the chichi law firm it works in, it did not cover my wrist tattoo (as per company policy.) All joking aside, this one made its way on to my "buy at full price!" wish list and only did not make it home with me Wednesday because I had not looked at the photos until I got home. The top button looks like it is pulling but it is really just the placket folded beneath itself, something I did not notice until I went to take it off. And frankly, the way I was feeling, it was too much effort to re-shoot the photos. Bleh.
I think the length was perfect for a short-waisted petite like me--it gave some length where I needed it but did not cover my body all the way down to my hips. Love this one!
Close up of fabrics:

Next we have the Lunar Eclipse top:

and a shot where I am trying to hide my red skirt (I pick the worst things to wear to try-on sessions, don't I?)

I loved this online, and was surprised to see it at my store so soon. The bottom is a sheer material, and that made me sad when I grabbed it, but I snatched it up anyway--and I am so glad I did. I tried this on with my black cami underneath, and this was an instant winner. I did not have to pose, stretch, pull, change my angle, or anything. I just took the photo and said, "this is mine," and that was that. I love that it is machine washable, super-soft, and made of unique colors. It fits well, meaning it is not a smock on me, but not so tight and low as to be work-inappropriate. It could have cost less than $78, but I had returns, so I cared very little. If you like the looks of this, grab it up--I love it!

The first thing I saw when I walked in was this dress:

I instantly gravitated towards it. I don't see it online yet, but I will call it the New Orleans dress, since I thought it had crawfish on it. (The SA called it the Red Lobster dress, but whatever.) It is by edme & esyllte, one of my favorites. The price is right at $138. Why did I not bring this home with me? Well, I will wait for a sale...the dark color is navy, not black, which makes me kind of sad, and I am not a fan of the whole "nautical" thing going on lately. To me, this is reminiscent of zydeco and the bayou...but after the SA said "lobsters" I started to think of sailing, and it stuck in my head. Yes, I am slightly insane.
I love the fit, but the top is pretty low-cut. My 32B chest wanted to come out and say hello, so you have to excuse the grey sports bra in the shots. I would wear something (I guess?) dark navy under the top to hide any impromptu Playboy-esque peep show moments. The fabric is light and summery, and the length is work-appropriate but not matronly.
Close-up of the ~~crawfish~~ ~~lobsters~~ whatever:

This next top is so far out of my comfort zone, I don't know what I was thinking.

I don't see it online yet, and I am tempted to call it the "grandma blouse," but I know a few girls who could rock it, so instead it is the Odille Mystery blouse. EDIT: THIS IS THE Wind-Tossed Blooms Blouse. How did I miss that?
This mother is SHEER. Black cami underneath was required. The puff sleeves end in elastic, which I know some girls will hate. The neckline ruffle, I loved. The ruffle down the front, I could have done without. I actually had this in my "maybe" pile but was glad I put it back once I got home and saw the photos. Pretty print, though, almost like a Liberty of London:

This strange cardigan thing is also not online yet: Wait, yes it is...the Stretching Days Cardigan,
which just looked different to me somehow.

I grabbed this chartreuse-type color because I have way too many black tops, but it proved to be an unflattering color. The cut is...odd. I know so many people who could pull this off, but not me. I am tempted to go back and try this with jeans, though, and in (of course) black. It is thin; perfect spring/summer cardigan, and unique...but it immediately went to the "no" side. Especially after seeing the side view:

Next up we have the Tuberose Tank by Bailey 44:

Finally, a non-preggers Bailey 44 top!!!

Lovely flower detail, same lovely Bailey 44 material, great cut, no extra fabric to add a 5-month old fetus to my frame. Love it. Took it home. Wanting to die over $98 price tag. Rationalized it. *sigh*. I love the fabric Bailey 44 uses, but lately they are using too many layers or making cardigans that are either too long or too short for me. I grabbed this out of fear of a sell-out, but like the story of my life...watch it go on sale. Soon.
Finally, the Speckled Ink Dress.

I tried this on when I first saw it, sans camera. I put it on my wish list, where I watched it go to backorder (for over 2 months!) I wanted to love this more than I do. I love space-dye, but then, this isn't really space-dye...it's space-dye-look. I love the top, but it kept flopping off my left shoulder. I love the shape, but the zipper threw me off--it gives the dress a weird shape, IMO. I have a Bailey 44 dress with similar features, and it is a pull-on, and it works. This one I just thought gave me a weird shape. (I am admittedly carrying quite a few more pounds than usual, but still...) Sizing up from a P to an S did not help, the S just looked big (kid playing dress-up again.) If it were a real space-dye knit I would buy, but right now it is in limbo on my "maybe if on sale" list.

Blogging about clothes makes Satchel tired:

And here is one live shot of the Three's a Charm Skirt, but I took it off so fast I really can't say a lot about it:

The embellishments would make this a tuck-in on me, and I am so short-waisted that I cannot ever do tuck-in...back to the rack.

I also scored the Edana Cardigan (no longer online) for under $60 due to a small snag that I can easily repair. Go me!!!

Be back next Wednesday with more reviews for you...until then, if you have tried any of these, let me know!

Big Dreams for a (Slightly-Un)Glamorous Life

2010-03-24T23:02:00.000-05:00

**I am having technical difficulties, so the Anthro fitting room reviews will be up tomorrow, along with another fun shopping post.**

The first time I can remember wanting to be "a writer" was in 1987. I was in the second grade, and my teacher assigned us to write a one-page story about a "happy thing that had happened" to us.
Of course, I couldn't just do the assignment. I walked up to her desk and asked her if we might possibly be also writing a sad story. Why? Well, because my happy story hadn't happened until after my sad story.
She thought for a moment, and said, "Well, yes, I was going to assign that tomorrow, but you can turn in your sad story tomorrow, and turn in your happy story the next day."
With my second-grade sense of creative freedom, I skipped home to tell my heart-wrenching story of pain and illness and deceit--the day my mother took my puppy to the vet and came home with a piece of paper that said "heart murmur" and no puppy. And then the story of how I got a new puppy. See? Sad, happy.
Throughout junior-high "Honors English" classes, advanced high school writing courses, and writing-intensive college courses, I wrote, and expressed, and entertained, and sometimes scared my teachers. (A seventh grade story about a girl who cut herself on purpose comes to mind. Apparently, that sort of thing is "inappropriate for a private school." No, I never did cut myself...but it kind of worries me that the teacher never questioned that, and only lectured me about the R-rated story I turned in.) I somehow knew a novel was in my future.
Fast forward many years. I have that novel inside me, and I have a basic framework written on paper somewhere. It will still come out someday, and hopefully, that "someday" is someday soon.
I took a detour because last year, I decided to go to grad school. Instead of getting an MFA in creative writing, I am getting a Master's in counseling.
For someone who, in high school, only wanted to change the world and go down in a blaze of glory, counseling seems like an unglamorous career. Many times, I have found myself in tears because the thing that seemed so promising, the thing that was "it", suddenly seemed like a prison sentence.
Until I remembered exactly why I chose counseling as my eventual career goal.

I hate to see people sad.

I always seek the good in people, even the people that the rest of the world has given up on, tossed aside, forgotten about. The people that seem to have no "good" in them at all.

And as for the glamour, the mystery, the excitement? Well, maybe it isn't high-profile, but I will get to hear secrets all day. And keep those secrets forever. And help people work constructively with those secrets.

Finally seeing someone smile, or finding their "secret" talent, excites me more than anything.

In the meantime, I will still be working on that novel (along with countless other things). Who says I have to choose one thing to do with my life?

A Very Sick Coco

2010-03-24T15:32:00.000-05:00

Yesterday at work I started feeling achy and confused, which is a good (not-so-good?) sign that I am going to have a flare-up of autoimmune issues. Sure enough, after I drove home in a fog, my hands and feet started to stiffen and ache, and my left hip started throbbing (damn you, RA). I spent the night with every lymph node on the left side of my body swollen and what I like to call "claw hands," meaning I could do nothing. I am a bad dog mom...I couldn't even get the container open to feed my girls. They ate a banana. (Which they loved.)

This morning I felt better, but not that much better. I have been drinking some fresh-squeezed OJ (thanks, Benji!) and am slowly feeling more myself. Not quite let's-go-to-yoga well, but I'm-going-to-do-my-fitting-room-reviews and I'm-going-to-the-gym well. So plan to see some fitting room reviews later tonight.

And...that's all I have right now. Except this is pretty amusing.

My Bluefly Obsession

2010-03-23T14:08:00.000-05:00

Before my obsession with Anthropologie, an online store like no other took hold of my heart (and wallet.)
Bluefly.com is one of my favorite places to score deals on both classic pieces and fun, trendier things.

Today, I spotted this dress, and you'd better believe that Thursday morning means making this one mine:

I will probably sound like a Bluefly commercial...but I can't say enough good things. Easy returns, constant coupon codes, cash back if you join bigcrumbs, and fast shipping. The one time I got a messed-up order (wrong size sent!) it was fixed immediately.

They have also started carrying some Leifsdottir pieces, which should delight all my Anthro-fan readers.

Today is another "Manic Tuesday" at work, so I am taking a break to share my favorites right now on Bluefly. (No way can I afford all of this right now, but a girl can dream, right?)

I don't need any more sunglasses, since these are my babies and they serve me well (hey, it's a small price to pay to stop freaking squinting all the time) but if I needed some, these pink ones would be on my to-buy list.

I have cut back on jewelry spending lately, and have been making do with what I have/relying on Target and Limited costume jewelry, but if I really wanted to buy an over-$100 piece right now, I would definitely choose this one. Also sorely tempting me: this lovely simple piece, as is this, but I have my eye on too man6y shoes and dresses (and, um, tuition payments) to buy jewelry right now.

I have an obsession with bird prints, and this is no exception. I also have a koi fish obsession. And holy crap this is a pretty top.

Lately, I want skirts, skirts, and more skirts. I have always favored skirts and dresses over pants and (ugh) shorts, but recently, it has been a full-blown love affair. My jeans are getting dusty, and I don't care. (But what is this trying to say? Stop looking at my *%#(!, my face is up here...no, higher...yeah, there...?) I love this one but wonder if I can pull it off at 30 years old, and I'm fascinated, but unsure here.

I will admit that there is a serious ugly belt presence at Bluefly, but this baby above? Gorgeous. And $33. So I say, grab one now. I also love this edgy look, and this one by Linea Pelle, who makes the coveted Snakebite Belt.

I am purposely leaving shoes out of this, for fear that I will get too greedy-eyed and add to my burgeoning list of shoe-must-haves.

Tell me...what are your favorite online stores? I love to find new places to shop, so share something with me!

Start Your Week with a Smoothie--the "In A Hurry" Green Smoothie--PLUS Bonus Pictures!

2010-03-22T23:43:00.000-05:00

A few days ago, I promised that I would start posting some smoothies/fruit info here, and tonight, I deliver.

This smoothie is one of my favorites when I am in a hurry. It's a green smoothie without any actual leafy greens--it is made with wheatgrass powder. I don't usually use green powders/supplements, but when I feel like I need a hit of greens and don't have time to cut and clean the leafies or juice some fresh wheatgrass, I cheat a little bit.

What you need:
citrus juice (I fresh squeeze all of mine; it tastes better and contains more nutrients than pasteurized...but bottled can work, too) Today I combined grapefruit and orange; I was working with a pretty empty fridge
frozen fruit (Again, I cut fresh and freeze it, but bagged works and is easier!)Today's selection was banana, pineapple, and papaya
green powder (I usually frown on supplements, but in a pinch I like to use Amazing Grass Organic Wheat Grass Powder. It adds a pleasant flavor, not a bitter or powder-y one, and makes the smoothie a gorgeous color, too!)
coconut oil (I still have to make the promised coconut post, but for now, I have to mention that I LOVE coconut [it's how I was nicknamed Coco] and that the tastiest coconut oil ever is Coconut Pacific 100% Pure Organic Extra Virgin Raw Coconut Oil)

Ready for some fun?

Step 1: Make (or pour) your juice.
My fruit:

Citrus juicer action shot:

...and juice!...

Step 2: Add fruit to your blender cup (Yes, I use a Vita-Mix. It is worth every penny--give up just one pair of shoes and this baby will be with you forever. I use mine 3-5 times a day, so I know it holds up well. Also, no more lumpy smoothies!)

Step 3: Add your green stuff. (I also added frozen wheatgrass juice cubes, which I call Cheatgrass, to boost the Amazing Grass. Remember, this is the fast version...I will do a really fresh green smoothie soon!)

Step 4: Add your coconut oil. (Yum. Today I actually used Jungle Products Coconut Oil because I ran out of my favorite and had to run to Whole Foods. It was pretty good, too.)

Step 5: Blend! (Check out the Vitamix Action Shot!)

Step 6: Pour into a glass and add a straw...enjoy

Please let me know if you have any questions/suggestions. I love to try new combinations, so if there is a fruit or juice you would like to see featured, leave a comment and I will try to create something tasty and healthy with it!

Chihuahuas (and all dogs) love smoothies too--just make sure to use 100% dog-safe ingredients!

Isn't Ezra's face just crazy in the second photo?

Introducing--my fruit cutter...my husband!

He did not want his picture taken.

Ben with Ezra

Put that thing away!!

Aww

and Ben with Satchel

Sunday Essentials (A Day Late)--Spring Sweaters

2010-03-22T14:47:00.000-05:00

Being a cold-weather loving girl, I am naturally obsessed with sweaters (in fact, I often call myself the Cardigan Whore). In years past, I got a bit depressed when the weather turned warm--was I relegated to tanks and tees until October? This year, however, I am exploring a whole new avenue in the clothing world--warm-weather sweaters. Looser knits, lighter fabrics, brighter colors--and yet, still a sweater. How genius!

I own quite a few lovely Spring-appropriate sweaters, and of course, I would like to own many, many more.

The Curlytop Cardigan from Anthropologie stole my heart when it arrived in the mail last week. The lace-like knit is cool but still covers, and the ruffles add detail that save it from being just another grey cardigan. I wore this to class and got a ton of compliments. I have heard rumors that this baby is backordered, but it is worth placing your order now. I will surely feature it in an OOTD soon!

This Acrobat Cotton Open-Front Cardigan from Bluefly is gorgeous in person. The shape is divine and works belted or open, and the color is a great shade of blue. I wore this Friday but had no way to take OOTD photos, and a migraine stopped me from grabbing the camera and heading to the gym, but I am sure I will re-do the outfit again soon so you can see it. This cardi is completely worth the price. It comes in black ombre cotton, black/white stripe cotton, and grey silk-cashmere blend too!

The Pergola-Shade Cardigan from Anthropologie is a gorgeous, thin open cardi that doesn't skimp on style. I tried this with a dress and with jeans, and it works with both! It has no closures, but can be pinned at the top of the ruffles with a cute brooch. The blue color will work into Fall. Grab this one while you can--I predict a sell-out.

Here are a few on my wish list...

And a few more I can vouch for:

Cartography Cardigan

Blushing Bouquet Cardigan

Unwinding Cardigan

Edana Cardigan

(all from Anthropologie--big surprise, huh?)

Aaaand...I am kind of obsessed with this.

Spring Cleaning a.k.a. Getting Rid of Stuff

2010-03-20T14:15:00.000-05:00

Thursday in class, my professor asked us to take out a sheet of blank paper.

"What would you do if I asked you to write down the thing you are most ashamed of right now?" he asked.

Of course, it was an exercise in the importance of confidentiality and rapport in counseling, but I didn't even think to hesitate. I am not a big secret-keeper. I figure, if I feel like something about me is "wrong," maybe I can talk about it and help others who won't speak up.
Or, maybe my "secrets" aren't that juicy.
Either way, if you read my blog at all, you know that I live with a husband who works 80+ hours a week, work full time, go to grad school, work out 14+ hours a week, and have 3 dogs. Which all means...messy living space. And I hate it. It has, in fact, gotten so bad at times that I feel we should be featured on one of those shows where the woman and man bring a camera into someone's home, filming their surroundings as they weave through furniture and wade through clothing and knock over stacks of paper.
I hate to blame anyone, but I really don't remember being so disorganized before I got married...and before the three Chihuahuas stole my heart. But I digress.
I am a firm believer that sloppy surroundings make all areas of your life sloppy as well. And I am living proof.
My workout routine is in the crapper, my yoga practice is schizophrenic, my raw vegan diet is now the raw vegan expensive packaged as-close-to-junk-as-raw-gets diet, and my sleep just sucks. (I know, whine, whine, whine.) I blame it on the mess. (I blame my bad moods on the mess, too. Just so you know.)

Today being the Vernal Equinox (a.k.a. THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING), I have decided to commit to a total "Spring Cleaning." I hate over-used phrases, but really, what else can I call it? My mind, my home, my body...all of them are overdue for a "get-the-crap-out" session. I mean, I have big dreams, and a mess does not fit into the plan at all.

What does this mean for you, dear readers? Well, hopefully, a more organized blog. I admit to being kind of Type-A, and having some regular features would make me happy. You will definitely see at least one smoothie per week on here--and probably some other ideas/recipes. I will also (eventually) get a real space cleared for OOTD photos, so at some point I can stop using the potty mirror shots and do something a bit more flattering. You might even see some pieces for sale on the blog.

How do you go about clearing clutter from your life? And (please help me with this one) what do you do with things you are emotionally attached to, but that take up space you don't have? (Love notes, dried flowers, souvenirs...I wish I weren't such a pack rat.) Help! I am drowning in random junk!

Saturday Shoe Obsession

2010-03-20T06:00:00.006-05:00

Today's Shoe Obsession will focus on a few things.

1. Shoes with shizz hanging off them.

Ever since the internet obsession with the Budding T-Straps, I have been fascinated with shoes that have embellishments...dangling appendages, if you will.

I am obsessed with the L.A.M.B Veena, and I'm kind of...surprised. I love me some Gwen Stefani, but never saw anything from the line as "me." And then I looked at the shoes. The. Shoooooooooooes.

These babies are on my "YES!" list for the next Big Buy Wednesday, which is (sadly) April 7. Eeek. (Yes, I am horribly impatient.) (I also wonder if they are uncomfortable, because then they will be going right back. Sad.)

These are the Berry Trifle Flats from Anthropologie. I would predict another craze (like the aforementioned Budding T-Straps) if it weren't for the high-top look. Tien has mentioned a few times that she is not a fan of the cutaway bootie look, and while a few pairs have caught my eye, in general I have to agree. I don't want to cut my legs off at the ankle every single day, and these would have been at home with me last week if they 1. Had a heel/wedge or 2. Had an open-back style or 3. both. Yeah.

The J. Crew Lily Peep Toe is calling my name.
(I need to pause and tell you a little story. Piper ate the bow off my J. Crew bow peep toes from 2008, and I was mad. I am only consolable because they were too small and hurt my feet, and because of this:

She is too cute for me to stay mad at her for very long.

Even though she likes to eat shoes.

This is called the Poetic Licence Miss Betty Pump (and yes, the link has it spelled "licence," which irks me) and I want it.
That is all.

This Goffredo Fantini Women's Wooden Heel Sandal is killing me. It has a real wood heel, a cork platform, and a giant, neutral flower on the top. The footbed looks padded. The L.A.M.B. shoes may have a contender.

2.(Remember...two themes today?) The shoes above are today's other theme...i.e. ones that don't have shizz hanging from them, but that I am completely obsessed with!

The Tangerine Rind Clogs have been almost a regular feature here on Ruby Shoe Blues lately. I am in love with these, and seeing the way shoes sell out on Anthro like crazy, it is hard to wait for a sale on these babies.

The Anthropologie On Air Wedge is pretty much a cutout bootie (you know, the kind I was just complaining about above) but I think the structure, the cutouts, and the platform wedge make me absolutely positive that I could rock these.

Okay readers...let's just say I have to choose two out of these three:
L.A.M.B. Veena
Anthropologie On Air Wedges
Anthropologie Tangerine Rind Clogs

...which two should I give a definite home to, and which one should I wait for a sale/discount?

Enjoy the shoes, girls...and let me know if there is any shoe designer/style you want to see in future editions of the Saturday Shoe Obsession.

Anthropologie Fitting Room Reviews: Molded & Melded Tee and Chantico Tank

2010-03-19T23:20:00.000-05:00

I have been reading a lot about these two tops; namely, that people were excited to see them in person. I was definitely one of those people.

My Anthro usually gets newer items later than other stores, so I was surprised to see the Chantico Tank on a rack Thursday.

Ooh, I feel like a Greek goddess, just like in all Bailey 44 tops and dresses. The grey was soft and gorgeous, the fabric was stretchy and substantial as usual, and the detailing beautiful. Love. Right?
Well. That was where it ended. Turn to the side and ...PREGGERS TOP!!!

I realize this is a bad angle shot, in a mirror, that is foreshortening my legs and making them look shorter and squatter than they are. But trust me, the side view of this top really was that dismal. *sigh*

I moved on to the Molded & Melded Tee. I am trying to understand why this has 27 mostly positive reviews online.

Is it the amazing, gorgeous detailing?

It can't be the fit. I mean, I had to take about fifteen shots to get this semi-sort of-flattering photo:

It gave me a shape. A shape I did not want:

Hello, extra boobs and belly! Yikes.
I think this would work better on someone else, but I am not sure who. Someone taller? Someone more pear than hourglass, who wants a little extra on top and in the middle? Sadly, both of these gorgeous tops went back to the rack.

I would love to see them on others...someone else review them!!

Outfit of the (St. Patrick's) Day and Tips Haul (of course)

2010-03-19T22:52:00.000-05:00

Men in kilts. I die.

No, really...it can't be just me who loves a man in a kilt.

Also, seeing a huge semi drive down the tiny city street was interesting.

St. Patrick's Day is HUGE in my neighborhood, and the day was gorgeous. I took the day off from work to bartend at one of my husband's restaurants (we had a bar set up outside) and now I am tempted to quit my job and bartend full-time at a really busy bar. 8am-6pm went by so quickly, I had fun getting fancy with the Irish Car Bombs, and I even passed the attempted liquor sting by IDing the undercover guy.
And here was my silly outfit of the day (I have about 5 layers on top; it was cold when I walked there at 7:30am!)

Shirt: from the restaurant!
Other shirts: Target cheapie tank tops, sports bras, and a Hanes cami
Skirt: cheap Dillard's skirt from my clubbing days
Tights: Leg Avenue fishnets (that were supposed to be green and I got them too late to resolve the issue)
Socks: Target
Shoes (barely visible): Saucony Jazz Originals
Headband: Walgreens

There you go...my silly outfit of the day.

Oh...wait! I have to share some of the stuff I got with my tips from the day!

I am in love with this picture. I am in love with this Ad Infinitum blouse. I am in love with the $39.95 price tag. I am in love with how I never would have tried it on (the sleeves!) but I took a chance and now it is mine:)

I don't really look at all like Christina Ricci in real life. I swear. But the Jacquard Drape Jacket is now mine, at the cool sale price of $59.95.

I also grabbed a dress not yet online (strapless dark blue, by maeve; you will see pictures in the future), and this, and this, and a pair of corduroy pants from last year (for $19.95!!!)

I have to apologize for teasing you...I talked about some possible news, but I really can't elaborate until I am more positive. Trust me, you guys will be the first to know (besides my husband and, er, my job. Because, yeah.)

Good night all!

A Couple Sick Days, With (Possibly?) Exciting News

2010-03-18T21:23:00.000-05:00

~~It was a dark and stormy night~~

~~Once upon a time~~

~~It was the best of times,~~

Yesterday and today have been hellish. (Kidding about the silly "stolen" first lines up there. But you knew that. Right?)
I worked 14+ hours yesterday bartending at the St. Patrick's Day parade in my neighborhood. I stood downwind from an industrial-sized barbecue pit all day, and have spent half of yesterday and all of today feeling like utter and total crap.

It didn't stop me from going to Anthropologie to spend all my hard-earned tips, though. So tomorrow night I will post a review of two tops (the Molded & Melded Tee and the Chantico Tank) and the lowdown on what I scored.

I also (might) have some exciting news. Serendipity stepped in and sent a possibility my way today! I have to get up super early tomorrow to, er, do...something, but I will be able to tell you what it is all about soon.

I hope.

Until then, I apologize for the lack of quality posting (especially since I am trying to, you know, actually get some readers) but I am dead tired and need to rest.

Until tomorrow...

Outfit of the Day, Anthropologie Sale Scores, and Giveaway Winner!

2010-03-16T22:51:00.001-05:00

Today's outfit was one of those "I have five minutes, what can I throw together?" kinds of outfits, and I was actually pretty happy with the results.

I wanted to hit my local Anthro before work, and was excited to be able to take an OOTD shot before my day was half (or completely) over. My hair was less disheveled! My makeup still half on!

I threw the hat on for fun, and because I wanted to show one of the SAs how I had removed the feather and replaced it with a vintage brooch.

What else can I say? I really liked this one, except for one thing...had I more time, I would have found a different pair of tights or changed shoes. The two were too similar in color and you couldn't see how cute my shoes were!

Sweater: Hayden Cashmere from Bluefly c. 2008 (similar here)(and here)(not cashmere but super-affordable!)
Cami: Banana Republic
Skirt: J Crew Wool Bungalow Skirt
Tights: Anthropologie, no longer online but try these (and these)
Belt: Flower Skinny belt from Limited (best belt ever-the flowers are removeable!)(try this too)(and swoon)
Hat: Target cheapie with vintage starburst brooch (hat had a feather that I removed/covered with the pin) (similar) (another) (one more) (try this pin)
Headband: J Crew (this has an interesting texture)(relive some disco for $1.99. DISCO!!!)(most similar I could find)
Shoes: Anthropologie Headmistress Peep-Toes (similar)(whoa, baby!)

So...this morning I decided to hit my Anthropologie store instead of trying my luck online. I got a few huge surprises.
One, there was one (ONE) Candied Sweetbriar Cardi on the sale rack, and it was my size.
I took that as a sign. I grabbed the Sprinkling-of-Pink Jacket on a whim, and ended up quite liking it.
I also grabbed up the Jacquard Drape Jacket, which I love, but I am still undecided. It is Spring. I have 1,564,569 jackets, and I desperately need warmer-weather clothes. Hm.
(UPDATE: I left this one at the store. If it is still there next paycheck, I will reconsider.)
Oh, and also:

*squeal, squeal, squeal**eek**dances*
(Excuse the tights...I had about 10 minutes from this shot to check out and get to work, so I was not about to take them off!)

I don't need it, no, but come on. It. Has. Cacti. And I own nothing this bold right now.

Okay, maybe I do need it. I rationalized by telling myself that I will wait for my other current Anthro dress obsession to go on sale before I buy it.

You will definitely see some of my new pieces in OOTD photos soon!

Finally...

the winner of my little tiny Everyday Minerals gift is....

DEA from The Dea Diaries!!!!
She has amazing style, and check out her outdoor OOTD shots.

I picked the old-fashioned way...scraps of paper from my hat.
It gave me something to do at work.
This one was waaay too easy...I will do another giveaway when I get a decent pack of followers:)

Please check back soon for tomorrow's OOTD...it is going to be a super-fun one!

Add ruby shoe blues to your bloglovin feed...

2010-03-16T13:46:00.001-05:00

Follow my blog with bloglovin

All About the Alternatives: Handbags!

2010-03-15T23:34:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you, but I have always been a purse girl. I mean, even when I was carrying a brand new bag, I would have my eye out for yet another. I don't know what it is about bags, but I can never have enough. Never!
These days, I have tried to curb my spending on bags...I mean, I can only have so many of each color, and when I get tired enough of one, and am sure I won't use it any more, I try to sell it on ebay so I can get some spending money (for a new bag...) and give it a new life.
My main criteria for bags are as follows (and will likely be different from yours, but...yeah):
1. I try to keep it under $200. I have a couple of "investment bags" and for now, they are enough. Someday, maybe, but until then, I need to save my spending money for um, shoes, and clothes.
2. I don't like gold hardware. At all. I will deal with an antique-looking brass if I absolutely love the bag, but shiny goldtone? Nope.
3. I despise faux leather. (Ha, this from miss "vegan." I am a food vegan...but yeah, I like me some leather. Oops.) If I ever find a fake leather bag that does not look fake, I will be all over it, but that day has yet to come. *sigh*
4. I am not big on logos...so those are out for me.
Other than that, I am open to anything.
Today, I will try to showcase some gorgeous bags that may not be perfect for you for whatever reason...and offer alternatives to satisfy any tastes and wallets.
Now, for the eye candy.
I want...

...this gorgeous black Balenciaga bag.
But...
I want to pay my bills this month, too
I'm a *real* vegan, biotch, I don't want a dead cow to put my stuff in!
I want some color
Too boring AND too big...give me a small bag that pops

I want...

Marc Jacobs Asa Crossbody Bag
But...
I'm not a fan of that gold hardware
I need something edgy
I'm not a fan of that color
I'm not a fan of that price

I want...

(to attract a swarm of bees with) the Valentino Summer Flower Tote
But...
Let's tone it down a bit
Let's save the flowers for evening, 'kay?
Let's avoid any bee encounters, shall we?
Let's get over this flower-applique-on-everything trend, please?

I want...

Prada Saffiano Bowler ( I am kind of dying a little bit for this one)
But...
I must feed my kids/dogs/self
I must not carry a patterned bag
I must buy a blue bag this season!
I must have a crossbody strap

Well...there you have it. Four handbags with many alternatives. I kind of want them all, you know?

I have a crazy week, because St. Patrick's Day is HUGE in my neighborhood. Think Mardi Gras in New Orleans crazy. And I get to bartend during/after the parade!!

I will post the giveaway winner this week (you guys made it waaaay too easy...I need me some followers/readers!) and I really do promise to get to that coconut post...

I must buy a blue bag this season!

Anthropologie Fitting Room Reviews and Outfit of the Day

2010-03-14T19:41:00.000-05:00

I walked in to Anthropologie today with a mind to step outside my comfort zone and try on things that I normally would not (for whatever reason) (and also to see if the store had received my current obsessions, the Oroya Dress and the Rustling Treetops Dress; no luck) and that is exactly what I did. I was both pleasantly and unpleasantly surprised.

I will start with something simple--the Creative Outlet Tank.

I wasn't sure about this one in the fitting room, but now I like it a bit more. The material was super, super soft and stretchy, and the detail is simple but gorgeous. I had two gripes about this one: the colors are navy and kelly green; I am not a navy person, and I have a kelly green cardi that I am still deciding if I like enough to keep...and one piece per season is enough of that color for me. Gripe number two is that the same thing that makes the fabric comfy and soft also makes it clingy, and I thought it looked weird over my jeans:

Maybe without the pulling from the security tag it would look okay. This was the XS and I found that it fit me well.

This is the Anna Sui Pachyderm Parade Dress:

I found the ribbon detail at the right strap to be superfluous...I thought it took away from the dress, so I tucked it in for the second shot.

The ribbon looked kind of sad to me.

Twirling action shot!!!

After I took this one off, I noticed that the straps are removable, so this dress can be worn strapless as well. There is an inner bra-strap elastic-and-hook that goes around your back, and as someone who usually cannot go braless, I was happy and surprised to see how well this dress held the girls in place. Two things keep me from putting this on the "willing to pay full price" wishlist, and I bet they won't keep anyone else from buying this baby right now. One: I never dry clean because the chemicals scare me, and even though I can easily get away with hand washing most things, I just don't see it happening here. That would mean I could only wear it until cleaning became necessary, and then I would have to dry clean it and bag it up and sell it on ebay. Two: The ribbon at the top that I don't like would be easy to remove, but I can't help thinking that I would like this dress better without the ruffle around the top--it looks fine, but isn't really "me." That part would not be so easy to remove, so the dress went back on the rack:(

Here we have a top I cannot find online yet:

I was worried about the sleeves being too ruffly, but now I see that I was worried about the wrong half of the top. I loved the top of this blouse! It looked much better on than it did on the hanger. However, the bottom part just made me sad. I thought it added weight where I don't want any, and it only seemed to sit correctly when I had one of my arms up in the air. Silly me, I forgot to look at the tag or take a photo of it. I apologize.

Here we have the We Love Vera Salitre Blouse. They only had a 2, which I figured would be too large, but I tried it anyway.

I swear I spent about three minutes examining this top for a zipper, but there was none in sight. The back top half is elasticized, so over my head it went. That part sucked...I wear makeup, and am already paranoid about getting it all over clothes that I try on/put on, so getting this on was a struggle. Once it was on, I was not as "eeeww" as I expected, but I wasn't in love, either. The sash was too wide and stiff in my opinion, and the bottom flares out just a bit too much (although that could be just because I need to get my true size 0.) The color is really orange, and it isn't a color I normally wear, so I was shocked that it didn't look horrid.

In all, I was pleasantly surprised. I thought it would be a preggers top from the side for sure, but it was not nearly as bad as the Bright Burning Tank was last week. Maybe if this shows up in my store in my true size, I will give it another try.

The Blazing Rays dress was on my wishlist forever, until I saw it weeks ago in-store and felt the nearly canvas-like fabric.(Same with the Around the World Dress). This time, however, I gave it a try.

I like it, but I am still not thrilled with the thick fabric. The top was almost too small for my 32Bs. This was the size 0. I could size up for the bust, but would be afraid the bottom half would look funny. And this last photo just makes me want to say "pissed-off Mandy Moore" for some reason...

Um, okay, whatever.

Now for the "comic relief" portion of today's reviews: the Sweet-And-Sour Blouse.

My first thought upon seeing this lying on the table was "clown top!" but I picked it up anyway. I am still not sure why.

If the polka-dotted clown-tie thing were non-existent, I would like this top, which is odd since I don't usually do yellow unless it is mustard. Excuse the funny faces, but I could not take myself seriously in this. This is so far from being my style at all...I had to roll my eyes. The fabric, which I think is a silk blend, is gorgeous and feels like heaven. That is really the only nice thing I have to say about the fabric. The fit was...interesting, being that the tie is actually an extension of the shoulder straps. Besides the weird tie, I liked the way this fit, but in order for me to actually want to buy it, it would need a complete redesign. This was a definite NO.

The winner of the day was, surprisingly, the Dewbud Tee. Navy usually makes me go "meh" so I grabbed the teal. I would call this a tunic instead of a tee:

The fabric was soft and gorgeous, and the detail was intricate. I have read reviews that suggested a true XS would be sized out, but I kind of like it as an oversized tunic. Maybe over some shorts or really skinny pants? Definitely not tucked into a skirt a la Anthropologie model, though. I am still trying to decide--too large? Works as a tunic top? I almost left with this one, but need to think on it. I don't need another full price top that I don't wear going on sale and pissing me off, and then still sitting there unworn when the season changes (cough, cough, Decorating Committee Cardi and MANY others. UGH!)

Finally, my outfit of the day, which was oddly inspired by Reese Witherspoon's character in the movie "Penelope," even though it looks nothing like anything she wears in the movie:

I got dressed in five minutes! I was okay in public with it, though, which is more than I can say for a lot of my five-minute outfits:)

Cardi: J Crew (similar here)(inexpensive)(PINK!)

Tank: Target cheapie

Jeans: Paige Laurel Canyon (for rolling up or wearing flats I wear the petite version)

Boots: Clarks Flirty(you've heard it all before)

Bag (not really pictured): Michael Kors Double-Handle Bowler (like this)(or if you want to skip paying the rent this month)

Shopping makes me tired...I am off to be lazy for a while before I hit the gym. If I don't get back on tonight, tomorrow I will write about one of my favorite places to get fashion deals, and about coconut...yum

Saturday Shoe Obsession (Dear Shoe Fairy)

2010-03-13T23:00:00.000-06:00

Dear Shoe Fairy:

I only have two requests this week.
I am still pining over these, which I am fairly certain will end up on sale in the future since they are not already sold out. Please let me actually have money when they do go on sale, so that I may buy them.

I found these earlier this week, and I think I may die if I do not acquire them. I will be saving my pennies, but I see that they are available on endless.com, and I kind of sort of maybe wish hope that the amazon/endless shoe fairy will visit my little blog and decide that I deserve to be the spokesmodel for these babies. But I know that is unlikely. You know, wishful thinking.

Also, I am drooling over some Biviel platforms this week:

Ever since I acquired my Carved Celadon Heels, I have had a fascination with Biviel shoes. I see a long-term love affair in the future.

Tomorrow I will be back with loads of links and photos from my two favorite places to score great deals on gorgeous stuff, and a post about one of my favorite foods in the world--COCONUT!

Pale

2010-03-13T14:28:00.000-06:00

Since it's Stuck-at-Work-Saturday, I am going to save the fashion roundup for later and talk about something a little different. Something that, a few years ago, I would have skipped over, scoffed at, ignored. Something that so many young (and not-so-young) women do without thinking twice.

I'm talking about tanning.

I'll try to hold any lectures and instead, whine about my battle between pale vs. wrinkles and weird moles.
I jest. Really. No whining here, I promise.

The first time I went to a tanning bed, I was 15 years old. I was on vacation with my mom, and the beach just wasn't cutting it. Hey, I had a 16-year-old hottie with a driver's license waiting for my return home, and I wanted him to think "Wow" when I stepped off the plane. Y'know?

I came home super, super dark, but since my friend had broken up with said hottie's friend, they were no longer "in our loop" and my crush never got to see my tanned and toned legs. *Cry.*

I don't remember tanning again until college; I was in my first apartment, which was (purely by coincidence) right on Sorority Row. I felt blindingly white compared to all the girls surrounding me, and suddenly, I realized that this was bad. Very, very bad. I purchased a package and got a tan, but never kept up with it. I moved to Colorado. I focused on other things. Was I pale? Sure. Did I care? Nope.

And then, I moved back here. You know, here. Where I live now. And one of the first things I did was get a job in a gym. A gym with a tanning bed. Soon began my nearly 10-year relationship with tanning beds, a love-hate relationship that I still pine for despite the scars it left on my face.

I closed the gym every night, and then set the tanning bed for the maximum time (20 minutes.) One night, I remember thinking, "Hey, I don't have to be home yet...I'm going to tan again!" It was free. And at 21 years old, "free" is more pressing than "Hey, you can get skin damage and wrinkles!" So there I was, up to tanning for 40 minutes most nights of the week, after my workout. I was dark. And I liked it.

See, I am pale. And I don't mean ivory-skin, gorgeous-model pale. I mean, see-through to my blue and green veins, I-look-blue-when-I'm-cold, Scottish-heritage pale.

After the gym closed down, I took a job at what is now a big, nationwide tanning salon. Back then, it was "CITY I LIVE IN Tan Company." With my position came free tanning credits that I could use on the fanciest bronzing beds in the nation, and when those ran out, free tanning in the basic beds. It wasn't written anywhere, but the unspoken rule was that we were required to be as dark as possible. The job sucked, as it was pressure-sales based, but I met a great guy through the job and we dated for 2 1/2 years. After I quit, the tanning continued. I was the Operations Manager's girlfriend. I got the ELITE membership--free tans in any beds, any location, at any time. I went every. Single. Day. Even after we broke up, he kept me on for a few months. (I know. Sweet, right?)(Hahahahaha.)

At this time in my life, I began doing yoga every day, and found Bikram yoga. I remember walking into the room, in February, and looking in the mirror. I didn't recognize myself. I was a color that no little Dutch and Scottish girl should ever be, and compared to the other Caucasian folks in the room, I looked...ridiculous.

Still, I didn't quit tanning. I just cut back. I was convinced that pale made me look fatter, sickly, unattractive. I tried, I made valiant efforts, but I just had to be tan. I bought a t-shirt that said "Pale is the New Tan!" and (tried) to wear it proudly, but nothing worked.

I could go on about my years of tanning, but I finally broke the habit right after my 30th birthday. I have a sort of youthful look, and despite that, I can see the little wrinkles forming. Wrinkles I would likely not have had I not spend countless hours in tanning beds throughout my 20s.

I still miss the feeling of taking a nap in a warm, bright tanning bed. Nothing can compare to that. However, I am trying harder every day to embrace my pale, and it does get easier every day.

Don't get me wrong--I will still get some real sun, when it decides to come out. But no more tanning beds for me, thanks. I am done with them.

Outfit of the Day and Other Assorted Silliness

2010-03-12T21:42:00.000-06:00

While I was doing my OOTD photos tonight at the gym, I realized something: this is fun!
I mean, durr, of course blogging is fun, or I wouldn't do it...but cameras and I usually don't get along. At all. So while I know that I must have some sort of photos in order to make my blog more than just words, I usually dread the idea of ... pictures of myself.
I am no fool, I know it's all about lighting and angles and such, but with limited options (for now) I usually end up with bad quality photos taken in the bathroom at work (as you have seen) and leaving you with a sense of a person without a face.

Well.

I have decided that I quite like the bathroom at the gym, and will go to that location more often now. The mirror still distorts things a little, and I am still working on my tripod at home setup, but until then, this is so much better.

On to the photos...

I am just a little obsessed with the ruffle on this top...

Cardigan-less shot

Close-up of skirt pattern

Sort of (kind of, I guess) what I look like

I am not feeling myself up, I am straightening my ruffle!

My bracelet, a recent Anthro sale score that someone had returned

Cardigan: J Crew from 2008 (similar here) (and another)(and now I need this)

Top: Target GO International c. 2008 (kinda like this)(or this)

Skirt: J crew Silk/wool Terra Paisley Mini (try this one)(cheap from F21)(similarly cut J Crew skirt in solid color)

Boots: Clarks Flirty (get them while they are on sale because they are the most comfortable heeled boots I have ever tried on)

This outfit was simple, but i loved it!

I will leave you with this:

Sunset Juice!

It's really just regular OJ and blood orange juice, fresh squeezed (of course).

See the funny, adorable, cheapie figurine behind it? That was a gift from my dad. The box said "Lavghing Chihuahuas" which was the funniest thing ever--I mean, they got the "u"s in "chihuahuas" but not in "laughing"?

Oh, to be so easily amused...

Just a Reminder-Enter my Everyday Minerals Mini-Giveaway

2010-03-12T09:29:00.000-06:00

Don't forget to enter my Everyday Minerals Mini-Giveaway before the clock strikes midnight (Central Time) Sunday!

I will be back later today...until then, try to score yourself some free makeup!

Outfit of the Yesterday (Back on the Toilet) and a Homemade Fix to an Anthropologie Sell-out

2010-03-11T22:56:00.000-06:00

As much as I don't want the warmer weather to come, it is definitely on its way.
Yesterday, I layered black over lighter colors, and quite liked the result:

Sorry, I am still using the work-bathroom setup (until I can get some friends over here to help me clean and set up my mini-photo studio!) Here are some more shots.

This one is blurry but shows the color better.

My shoes! And yes, my feet really are that funny-looking. Thanks, Grandma! :)

For the first time ever, I carried my Fresh Leaves Shopper!

I love the detail!

Not my best, but I had fun putting this one together, and as silly as it sounds, the final look was very French, in my opinion. I love simple outfits with a twist; sometimes I feel like my look says "trying too hard" and I feel uncomfortable on those days.

Sweater: ancient (like 12 years old) from Wet Seal (get an updated version here or here)(try something different)

Cami: Old (7 years ago?) from now-no-longer-available-to-USA La Redoute (*cries*)(so try this)(yes it is a nightie, who cares?)

Tank under cami: Black cheapie by Hanes

Skirt: J Crew Silk Dupioni from fall/winter 08 (but I freaking wish)(I wish, again)(realistic)(& one more)

Shoes: Tod's Cap-Toe Flats (similar without the crystal detail)(with a bow)(not so expensive and cuter, too)

Tuesday was warmer out, and I took the opportunity to wear one of my Anthropologie "fakes."
I can't remember the name of the jacket offhand, but earlier this year, Anthro released an olive-colored jacket with a large flower on the upper chest area. I loved it, but I talked myself out of it because as much as I am Cardigan Whore, I am Coat and Jacket Whore about 100 times more. I have way too many jackets, and this one, for over $100, just didn't make the final cut. Of course, when my size was all sold out, I decided I wanted it.

So I "made" my own.

I took an olive-colored cotton jacket (from about 2006, Target juniors department--best Target clothing purchase ever; I love it!) and attached my Anthropologie Full Bouquet Clip, and VOILA:

Again, sorry for the crap photo quality. You will have to bear with me while I work it out!

I normally don't look so...creepy...but I had to add this one to show you that this flower is HUGE, as in, almost the size of my face!

Also, having fun is important, and a funny face is the best accessory of all:

The look on my face is just saying...

"Oh, you've never heard of me? Hmm...that sounds absurd to me!"

Bonus points for recognizing that line:)

I know, it isn't exactly the same thing, but I loved the look, loved the big, overdone flower with the beaten-up old army-style jacket.

This weekend, I hope to get my "about me" page up, post some smoothies, and talk about (ominous drumroll) TANNING.

Big Buy Wednesday and Help Me Choose a Dress

2010-03-11T13:25:00.000-06:00

Well, I have been trying to post my outfit from yesterday and other random fun stuff, but Blogger is not letting me upload any photos, so I will do this little post instead.

This thing I call "Big Buy Wednesday" is basically the one time a month I get a paycheck where no bills are due...so I go shopping. This mini-spree was less Anthro-ful than usual, which was my goal (remember the Anthro-diet?) but now I am regretting it a bit (more on that later).

I had a Bluefly coupon code, so I grabbed up a skirt I lost on ebay due to slow work internet a couple months ago, and a new blue cardi to replace my ugly old grandpa-ey Gap one. (Leifsdottir! On Bluefly!!!)

someone please buy this if it is your size! It's gorgeous!

With my Modcloth.com store credit from Christmas, I grabbed these (because who can resist a pair of shoes with their nickname?).
From the Anthropologie store, I gave in to this (and got 20% off for a loose snap that will be an easy fix), and when I went home and got online I grabbed this and this.

I got the pink, but would it be weird if I got all three colors?

The lack of fitting room reviews is not due to Blogger's photo thingy being broken--it's due to my Anthropologie sucking, and Anthropologie's sizes sucking this season. Let's see, after this dress, this dress, and this top looking like shapeless sacks (and in one case making me look even paler than I am) I gave up. Sigh. My Anthro never really has the new arrivals that I am dying to try on.

I'm talking to YOU, gorgeous and expensive top, you spawn of the devil with your tempting unavailability and high price. :P
Which brings me to the next question for you guys. I need help deciding which new dress to order, since the free shipping is still going on, and it seems like my store may never get them. I wanted to hold out and wait for a sale on both, but I am afraid if these are not in stores, they will sell out online fast, and I may miss them both. I will allow myself to order one, and if it works out, keep it...the other will need to wait while I play the sale chance game.
Here we go...
Dress #1 is a "me" dress through-and-through. The colors, the pattern, the cut. I would wear this thing so much that people would get sick of seeing me in it, and then wear it some more. I have one little fear about this dress--it is listed as 40" long, and that is way too long for someone who is just shy of 5'3" tall, in my opinion. For, me, at least. I guess it would be an easy fix at the tailor, but my "I hate feeling rushed and busy and running errands" side hates having to go to the tailor, plus, my "tailor" bag is overflowing and easily has about $300 of work in it.

Dress #2 got me again with the color. Got me with the neckline. Even got me with the name. I have a good history of fit with Marimekko (no sacks here) and usually love the fabrics they use. This looks like a great Spring-into-Summer dress and the kind of thing I would wear when it was too hot to wear anything else. The length worries me--it is supposed to be long, I get that, but I worry that it might hit my legs at an odd point.

Option #3 (always a "Plan C"!) Forget the dresses, get this and this instead.

Whatever I don't get will more than likely have to wait until April 7 (ouch) and no doubt by then I will have a slew of newer arrivals on my wishlist, Spring shoes to buy, and a lot of "Out of Stock" on my wishlist. In what I call the "Battle of the Ws" the wishlist always beats the wallet--it's so much larger.

So...
Dress #1?
Dress #2?
Wait for sale on both and grab the top and skirt instead?
Help!

I have one more question.
Why?

Just Today

2010-03-10T14:57:00.000-06:00

This morning I got up very early, as part of my go-to-sleep-earlier-wake-up-earlier plan. It went well, but I was disappointed that the usual yoga teacher was not at the gym so we ended up doing something that was *not* yoga. I did not. Get up. At 5am. For that.

I have been in a weird mood all day, probably because I am horrible at planning, and today was one of those days when I realized that my lack of planning is going to leave me in a somewhat depressing situation in days to come. As I thought about it, that little voice inside (you know the one) kept telling me that someday, everything would pay off.
"Someday."
Well, today, I told that voice to screw off. I am tired of "someday."
I tend to think that most children are happy. I, however, hated being a kid. I was 9 going on 39, and I spent more time wishing I were an adult than I did "being a kid." I am not sure I fared much better as a teenager--I wanted "out of high school into the real world" and even though I filled my days, nights, and weekends with misdemeanor teenage fun. I went away to college excited for the new start, but quickly reverted back into my old ways--at 17, I was, of all things, concerned with finding "the one." (Go ahead, laugh, because I do. Also, this preoccupation stuck with me until I was about 27 years old, when I decided not to think about it any more. And months later, I started dating my husband, but that is another story.) My point is, although I have read books about it, written about it, meditated on it, and probably had dreams about it, I have never been able to really just enjoy where I am right now, to like where my life was and how things were going. At one point, I really did have a good start on it, but to this day I cannot figure out what went wrong. It just changed, went away, and I was back to the discontent.
I am angry at myself for my mood, and my unhappiness. I may feel that my current financial situation is depressing, but it's definitely a relative thing. It's a silly thing to worry about in the grand scheme of things. My point is not to whine, but to try to put it into perspective. Where is the middle of the road? I need to plan for the future, but I also don't want to continue to suffer from "tomorrow disease." If preparing for tomorrow means being unhappy today, what is the point? Who knows if I will even be here tomorrow? The super-popular Lululemon tote bags read "The pursuit of happiness the source of all unhappiness,"
and every time I see that on my bag, I am reminded that so far, "tomorrow-thinking" has gotten me nowhere.

I am slowly learning to distinguish between things I really enjoy doing, and things I do because foregoing them will make me feel guilty or bad "tomorrow". Two things I wish to banish from my life: regret that I didn't do something I wanted to do, and guilt because I didn't do something I really didn't want to do.

I will be back later with some actual fun...I am going to Anthropologie after work, so many fitting room reviews are on the way!

How to Make Me Almost Destroy my Computer by Spitting Water on It

2010-03-09T16:25:00.000-06:00

I give you...Poop Freeze.

Wait, that isn't the funny part. The funny part is that there was one "external ad" at the bottom of the Amazon page. And it was for my husband's hairspray.

Okay, maybe it is only funny to me.

Poop Freeze???

Building a Spring Wardrobe

2010-03-09T13:55:00.001-06:00

This year may be the first year since I moved from Colorado that I am excited for the upcoming warmer months. (And it has been 10 long years.)

I am a cold-weather-loving girl. Give me snow any day, mountains over the beach, sweaters and tights and boots and layers over bare arms and sandals. Spring and summer fashion usually leaves me uninspired. I can't see past the pastels and brights, neither of which really work for me. The humidity where I currently live makes me sweat uncontrollably, and I usually end up with a makeup-less face and wilted hair and clothes before I even get to where I am going. I don't like heat, it doesn't like me. You get the point.

However. I have really been trying to focus on finding pieces I like this year, instead of bitching about the upcoming months. At the very least, the warm seasons are friendlier to my budget--I like less, so I spend less. (Gotta look on the bright side.) Today I am going to highlight some of my must-haves for Spring, so I can share my finds with you and so I can see what I still need to pick up.

You know me--of course I will start with footwear.
I need comfortable sandals for work. Sure, I wear heeled shoes 4 days out of the week, but on days when my toes can't take any more, I need something stylish that doesn't cause pain--and doesn't look like what I dubbed my Granny Sandals from last summer.
Earth shoes are the most comfortable for me--they position your feet so that your heel actually sits lower than your toes (like walking up a very low-grade incline) and seriously reduce my back/hip pain (thanks, rheumatoid arthritis!) Some of the styles make me go "meh," but many of them, like this Sizzle, are a great choice for days when my body feels "meh."

Other contenders for Spring-into-Summer footwear for Miss Coco?
These are kind of patent and strappy and fun, this pair makes me want to sing, and the price+cuteness factor of these excites me. (But I keep seeing "Snoopy." They should have thought that name through a bit more, don't you think?). Also, I wish I had prettier feet and a larger bank account.
I would get into peep-toes and other shoes I need for the season, but it's time to move on to another favorite of mine: skirts!

I love skirts, and since I historically don't "do" shorts unless I am in yoga/at the gym/jogging, I live in skirts during the warm months. I tend to spend more on "going out" skirts than work skirts (for obvious reasons--dog claws, dog drool) but still need to look good.

This lovely lavender skirt is from Forever 21, so it definitely won't break the bank. I like the length--it isn't what I would necessarily call a miniskirt, but it doesn't hit my knees, either. Want more spring skirts?
I usually don't like florals unless they are loud and unique, and this fits the bill. I picked this up in a darker shade the other day, and I am pleasantly surprised with how much I love it. I love me some eyelet. And I am not sure why I love this, but I do. Finally, the nature girl inside me loves this.

The skirt's more well-endowed sister, the dress, is another warm-weather staple. I know you are sick of seeing this one, but I will stalk it until it shows up in my store, and then cry if it is too long:

The Oroya Dress is my summer print dream-come-true. I am also admiring this one, this one, and this one. I love dresses. I must control myself.

Moving now to tops. I love spring cardigans (I am the self-professed Cardigan Whore) and have had my eye on this one since the day it showed up online:

The Curlytop Cardigan is on my "buy" list for tomorrow! I tried this the other day, and it's fun (they just didn't have the color I wanted in my size.) I like this a lot, too. And a bolder print. Cardigans are like shoes: I can talk about them for days. I won't. I still have to get to tops!

This one has been on my Big Buy Wednesday list for weeks.

I just picked up a similar one from Banana Republic, but I am going to try this one on to see which I like better. (My concern? Michael Stars is "One Size Fits Most" which usually doesn't. Darn.) I could have a million tops and still not have all that I love--there are too many styles and colors and fabrics. But here are a few: for a twist on the basic t-shirt, for feeling like a flower, simple embellishment, and, of course, ruffles.

Accessories need their own post!
I am definitely more excited for the warmer months this year, fashion-wise. What are your go-to pieces when the days get hot?

Goodbye, and Good Riddance

2010-03-08T20:26:00.000-06:00

Dear Television Set:

This Saturday, you will be going into retirement. You will have a nice home in a basement in a "progressive town" south of the city. You will get much rest and time off, and you will be living with retired furniture and other assorted ~~junk~~ retired items.

Don't take this the wrong way, but you have made me lazy. We really don't need you, because we only used you to watch DVDs, and we can use the computer for that. Do not worry; we have not replaced you with any of your evil new-fangled brethren. You and all your ilk are exactly the same. How innocently you tempted me to purchase a cable package so you could continue to throw loud, moving pictures around in front of my husband's glazed-over eyes. You truly are the spawn of Satan. Do you know what I can get each month for the cost of 2,273,563 useless channels? This. Or (most of) these. Or (most of) this.

The only reason I am not donating you to a shelter or nursing home is because I feel sorry for you (and because even those places already have replaced your kind with your younger brothers and sisters). I tried to send you away before, but you sucked me in with your promise to help me pass the time during a boring treadmill workout. Screw you, I have a library card.

I lived for years without one of your kind before my husband came along. We can live without your kind now. Enjoy your retirement. If we come across a person or family who decides they need you because they cannot afford to pay for one of your fancier siblings, we will call you back to work again. Until then, remember not to talk to the vanity mirror (she is vain) and don't disturb the talking Ernest doll (he is very, very old but still likes to make wisecracks if you don't watch out.)

Regards,

Coco

My Favorite Makeup, Natural AND Glamorous, and...A GIVEAWAY!!!

2010-03-08T00:55:00.001-06:00

My Sephora train case (trust me, you need one too)

One of my purposes/wishes in writing this blog is to show the world that "natural" doesn't have to be at odds with style, glamour, and beauty. Yes, I am a raw vegan fruitarian who does not use any kind of pharmaceuticals or household chemicals. Yes, I have sworn off dry cleaning of any kind. Yes, I read every label on every thing that I may put in or on my body--and won't use 99% of the cosmetics/hair products/body products out there. However...I am not dirty. I am not walking around makeup-less. I still have a bathroom full of fun girly products lined up in the shower and dominating the under-sink space. I'm just extra-picky, that's all.

These days, natural products are getting better and better. Girls who want it all (all meaning products that are good for their bodies and make their bodies look good) can now have it all. A little thing called "The Mineral Makeup Wars" has made being naturally gorgeous easy and affordable.

BareMinerals, the mineral makeup line by Bare Escentuals, has been around since 1976. I love their products and own many of them, but they can get a bit expensive, especially if you want a huge color library. Recently, with the social emphasis on "being green" and more information about chemicals in cosmetics available to the public, more and more big-name drugstore cosmetic labels have been introducing mineral makeup into their lines. Cover Girl, Maybelline, Revlon...the list goes on. Yes, they are affordable, but these all contain chemical preservatives and other yuckies. (Trust me. I have read all the labels. While being followed by an employee who thought I was either insane or shoplifting.)

After so many let-downs, I was excited to find out about Everyday Minerals. (No, I am not an employee, and I am not an affiliate...yet. I can hope, though!) The reasons I love Everyday Minerals:

Affordable
A ton of choices--over 90 eyeshadow shades, 35 blush shades, 35 foundation shades, and several other unique products like lucent face powders and illuminating concealers
It's a small company you can feel good supporting
The website is absolutely gorgeous
Generous free samples with every order
Fast shipping that doesn't cost as much as a night at the movies
No chemicals. None!
Every month, the company chooses a charity and donates all proceeds from one chosen product/kit to that charity
Keep reading for more...

These are the full-size foundation bases. It took a little practice, but I now love powdered mineral base and will never go back to the liquid stuff. EDM (what I will call Everyday Minerals from here on out) has four formulations for look and coverage: original glo, semi-matte, matte, and intensive. I use the shade "Fairly Light Neutral" in original glo and semi-matte. You can try shades within your color family (i.e. warm/cool/etc.) to find the perfect match. For $5, you get four shades, one in each formulation, so you can find the perfect shade and choose your favorite fourmula. The sample sizes are generous--mine lasted over two weeks of daily use. The full size is huge and is only $12.

One of my favorite things from EDM--my eyebrow makeup! I won't leave home without it on. It makes my eyebrows match my hair exactly, and I can make it more dramatic for night by loading the brush with more, or keep it subtle by using just a little.

These 4-shade kits conveniently combine coordinating little pots of eyecolor and cost only $10. Did I mention that all the eyecolor can be used dry or used wet for dramatic looks and as eyeliner? Genius!

You can get a "try-me" size of any eyecolor for $2.50. It will last forever, though, trust me. This is the difference between the sample size and the full size, which they (kind of hilariously) call "mini" and sell for $6.

All the try-me sizes I could fit on my thigh (I was playing with the camera and my collection on the bathroom floor). Check out all those colors!

Now for the fun part!

I know I just moved my blog and have very few followers, but I am so excited about everything I write about that I have decided to do a mini-giveaway. This one is small because it came out of my own pocket, but it is really, really fun.
To enter, leave a comment about your favorite makeup memory--secretly borrowing your mom's, sharing with your sister, anything (mine is sharing makeup with my friend Philip before going to see a drag show!). You will get an extra entry if you follow Ruby Shoe Blues, and a third if you mention this giveaway on your blog. Entries must be in by 11:59pm, Sunday March 14. I will randomly pick a name to receive a small box of EDM goodies:
One "try me" size Heart 2 Shop eyecolor
One 3-piece "try me" Evening Star eye kit
One 3-piece "try me" Pink Sheen blush kit
One Eye Blending Brush
An EDM "how to use" flyer (I know you aren't stupid, but it is really helpful!)

Pictures of the loot:

Thanks so much for reading, you guys! I love to write, but it wouldn't be nearly as fun without readers.

Super Busy Sunday: Friday's Outfit of the Day; J. Crew, Banana Republic, and Jean Paul Gaultier for Target Fitting Room Reviews; and Gabby

2010-03-07T23:34:00.000-06:00

I am just going to get right down to it, since I still have a big fancy important post/announcement to make later.

Friday's outfit of the day, mirror shot courtesy of my gym. I loved how this came together, so I had to finally post it.

Cardi: J. Crew Bling Button Cardigan

Top: Anthropologie Climbing Cowlneck

Skirt: Anthropologie Floreat skirt (forgot name) (kind of similar here)(or try this)(or a whole dress!)

Boots: Clarks Flirty (more) (for a change)(yes, please!)

Headband: Anthropologie Rose-is-a-Rose Headband (be daring)(but please don't wear it like this)

Now, on to today. I didn't plan to go shopping, it just ended up that way. After gym/yoga, I went to my mom's house. Gabby fell asleep in my arms, and I wanted to cry.

Gabby used to live with me, but she lives with my mom and stepdad because she ~~loves~~ needs my stepdad. She is his little baby, but first, she was my first baby. She just turned 11, which is young for a Chihuahua, but her health is not the best. We think she had a stroke recently, and she has liver problems.

(I know it looks like I am doing something gross with my left hand...I'm NOT...I was petting her belly and my mom caught the wrong split second with the camera.) I love Gabby immensely and will be really sad when she crosses the Rainbow Bridge.

Okay...tears over. Time to go shopping!

I was out looking for this because it sold out in my size online, and even though it says "online exclusive," guess what my local store had? My size in the color I wanted! My excitement was short-lived, though. It was a disaster. I mean, when you pick up a dress labeled "00P" you think maybe it will fit...or possibly be a little too tight. Oh, no. It looked like a sack. Okay, maybe not a sack, but it looked matronly on me, probably because I am just not glamorous enough to jazz it up. Or maybe I just have issues with Ann Taylor's sizing. (Pssst....something called an "XXS" or a "00" should fit similar to or smaller than other stores' size XS and 0. I'm just sayin'.) It was so despicable on me that I deleted all photos.

On to J. Crew.

Please excuse the after-yoga flip-flops. And can you tell I left my real camera at home?

This is the Poplin Wednesday Skirt (does anybody else despise the word "poplin"?) and a top I am having trouble finding online but is similar to this.

I have read a few negative reviews on the skirt, but I kind of liked it. This is the size 0, and I would have liked it to be a bit...smaller. Kind of like the one on the model. I desperately need summer skirts, but felt unconvinced by this one, so I left it at the store. It may end up being an online purchase. The top came home with me:)

On to Banana Republic, where I got this and this and this (I needed some basics; my closet is starting to look like and Anthropologie exploded in it) which was light on the wallet because they were handing out little envelopes with anywhere from 25%-50% off coupons for this weekend only. Guess which one lucky me got? It seriously tempted me to buy more, but I only got what I truly loved and needed-yay me. It was hard when the sales girl brought me this dress. Because, I mean, see?

But, this little baby stayed in the store, waiting for a new home. I have probably eight little black dresses and nowhere to wear them, at least not right now. I am kind of kicking myself, though, because even if it does go on sale, will it ever again be 50% off? *cries*

Finally, I hit Forever 21, and scored this, which looks ugly in the photo but really good on. (You will see photos in May when I go to the event that I purchased it for. Sorry to be a tease.) I did take it home and remove the chains. I do still have a bit of an edge left from my younger days, but they just looked cheap.

Oh no! I forgot Target! I have stayed away from that place for a couple of months now, because I end up with bags full of clothes that usually end up being one-wearers, meaning that no matter how meticulously I care for them, they end up snagging, running, unraveling, stretching, seam-shrinking-sideways, or otherwise baring their ugly (cheap) teeth at me in a mocking way. However...I walked in and saw this Jean Paul Gaultier for Target dress, and even though it isn't really "me," it found its way into my cart.

I can't even find it online. Probably because it came out so long ago, and I have been ignoring Target. And their designer lines. Usually they disappoint me. We shall see how I feel about this one when I actually end up trying to wear it. It may end up back at the store.

It has been a long and eventful day, but I am still working on my next post, so keep reading! I promise it is coming soon.

Never a "Duh" Moment?

2010-03-06T21:36:00.000-06:00

*Let it be said that I grew up when that awful "Full House" TV show was popular, and I have always hated the expression "DUH." It just fit into the title too well to pass up.*

How many times have you said or done something and immediately wished the ground would open up and suck you in, thus eliminating any chance of facing up to what just happened?
I'm not sure about being sucked into the bowels of the earth, but the feeling of being utterly mortified is more than familiar to me. At least once a week, I respond with "Hello!" and a smile to a friendly stranger, only to realize they were greeting someone behind me. I have been caught pulling up my tights (or pulling, er, out my thong, by customers at work who have wandered into the back staircase thinking it a public way downstairs. I have, in fact, even choked so hard on a stupid flax seed cracker that I wet myself and had to hide in the back room until the coast was clear. (I don't eat flax seeds anymore.)

Embarrassing occurrences are part of life. They don't just happen to you, ditzy women in Lifetime movies, and teenagers who write into magazines (those used to be my favorite part of teen magazines--the "embarrassing moments." Oh, to be so easily amused.) All of us, at some point or another, freeze in utter abashment, hoping to hell that nobody saw (or heard) what just went down.

So why is it that it is so easy to ridicule someone when they have what I call a "stupid moment"? Is it that funny when someone trips up the curb and loses a high heel? When someone walks into a parking meter? (That one was me.) When someone interrupts a silent yoga class with some not-so-silent yoga gas?

Yes and no. I can't be alone when I say that other people's embarrassing moments tend to humiliate me more than it seems to bother them. (Don't get me started on Pilates teacher etiquette. I fail. I can't not laugh when people fart in class--it's not them farting that is funny; it is the utter desperation in my mind to not laugh that makes it impossible to keep a straight face. It's one of the reasons I am glad I don't teach classes now.) I think I laugh at someone's mini-misfortunes when I identify with them 100%. Think about it--we all want to be happy. Funny things make us happy. Sure, watching someone's discomfort as their dog humps someone's leg is funny, but we truly enjoy seeing this because we can relate. We see, for a tiny moment, that everyone else, no matter how young or old, short or tall, fat or thin, rich or poor...is human.

Tonight I had to contain my laughter when an unfortunate man drove away from the gas pump...with the pump still in his gas tank. As the hose ripped from the island, he slammed on his brakes, jumped out of the car with a confused look on his face, and said, "OH, FUCK!" Of course I laughed a little bit--his expression was priceless. But when I was finished giggling, I realized: maybe we need to laugh with each other more, and at each other less.

If we start seeking the beauty and joy in the world, it will start to find us on its own, even when we aren't looking. There is enough sadness out there, enough hostility, enough injustice. Don't suppress your snicker next time you see someone's "derf" moment. Just remember that it's only funny because it helps you realize just how much we all share. And then, go and help them pick up the groceries they dropped or find the car they "lost" in the massive parking lot. Most likely, they will laugh with you.

(My husband surprised me by telling me we were going to see Alice in Wonderland in 3-D tonight, so again no hair product post. Tomorrow I have a special surprise/announcement, so pretty hair will wait until next week.)

(p.s. Last night I had a dream, an actual dream, about this. And how freaking perfectly perfect it is. Now I will fully admit to an obsession.)

Saturday (Stuck at Work) Shoe Obsession--Jeffrey Campbell

2010-03-06T13:25:00.000-06:00

Oh, Saturday. It is my longest work day of the week, and (usually) the day I start getting impatient for Tuesday/Wednesday (paydays in my world) so I can clear some open Firefox tabs. (Am I the only person the keeps about 20 tabs open, all with full shopping carts, awaiting payday?)

Today, I am wearing my favorite shoes, a pair of Jeffrey Campbell shoes that I picked up on a whim at a department store called Von Maur. I had never heard of the place before. I was in Omaha for a Pilates certification and needed a new pair of yoga pants. As I was walking out, I saw shoes with the exact shade of yellow as my elevenses coat, and I knew I needed them. They are well-made, well-presented, and super-stylish. The best part? Real wood heels...which I love...and a $99 price tag. Those babies went home with me, and to this day I have no idea why I have not checked out more Jeffrey Campbell shoes. Until today.
(and here is a crappy picture of my shoes--bad angle, bad color...sorry, all I could do without other people wondering what the hell I was doing!)

Comfortable, too!

Now, down to business. I searched for the best Jeffrey Campbell shoes out there, and ladies? If you love shoes, you just might be having a shoe binge day. I am drooling over every single one of these, and the prices are much more budget-friendly than many other shoes of such high quality.

This is called the Lamp,and the price is great for a high-quality shoe. I have been on a real "shootie" kick lately, and if I hadn't just scored a pair on sale from Anthropologie, I would order these in a heartbeat. More Jeffrey Campbell booties here, here, and my favorite here.

This gorgeous pump reminds me a bit of these without the price tag. I know, not the same...but these days, I can't spend so much on something that one of my dogs may chew on. Or that I may step in poop in (since I work with dogs right now). *sigh*
I also love this color right now--I am thinking I could make it work for at least three seasons of the year.
More embellished pumps for the fashion-brave, for some serious black-shoe fun, if you are still in winter mode and want a sale.

Does anyone not like t-straps? I think that t-straps are perfect fun work-wear. They are pumps with a little added joy; heels without ho-hum. And, ooh, a peep-toe version for my fellow members of the sexy toes club! (Peep-toe t-straps? The wallet is coming out right now!) And some summer sandals.

Bows! Wedges! Bows and wedges together!! I keep saying "these are my favorite kinds of shoes!" but...I keep saying that. Seems like maybe...I love all shoes? Who, me? Know what else I love? Platforms! More!

Finally...I am really starting to love flats (in my "old age"). Black and pink? Mine! More Jeffrey Cambell flats for embellishment-lovers, if you are into the snakeskin trend, and of course, with bows.

Time to go for now, but I will try to be back later with the promised hair-product post.

Do any of you readers have favorite shoe designers? Who are they? How did you "discover" them?

Anthropologie Fitting Room Reviews: Magnified Geranium Blouse, Pincushion Blouse, Bright Burning Tank, Twist & Flow Top,

2010-03-05T13:51:00.001-06:00

Yesterday, I returned more stuff (return whore) because this was too large and just not working, this showed up with a mass of skipped stitches on the side seam, and I got this in the navy when I thought it was the only color available, but when the pink came out I knew I had to have it. (I never wore the navy because I have the "navy" Torsade Tee, which is more of a slate blue.) I, of course, took the opportunity to try on some new arrivals!

This photograph of my (currently unfit) belly is just to show what it looks like without a top on--this is important later.

My first choice was the Magnified Geranium Blouse. I won't lie--I loved this top on, even though I expected to hate it. I thought the color was flattering, which surprised me. As you can see below, you would definitely need something under this one--you can really see my grey sports bra through the placket. My only gripe? I am not sure the ruffle front is really "me." This kept me from taking it home last night, but now I am regretting that decision. I am trying to be on an Anthro-diet (see more below) this month, so I am going to try to wait for a sale.

And the side view. Yay, not a preggers top!

Oh hai sports bra! Luckily you match this blouse!!

The second top I tried on was the Pincushion Blouse:

I died when I saw this online. Why? Well, for some reason it reminded me of something Scottish, and since my ancestors were Scottish, I felt the need for this top. (As a side note: I am even more obsessed with Scotland since my family took a trip there in 2006. I was invited, but of course that was right when I went back to school to finish my BA, so I had to miss it. Looking back...I should have postponed a semester. Hindsight...)
Anyway, this top fit nice and snug in my bust and ribcage area, but my opinion is that the waist gets too loose, too soon. It would work better if it had a corset-like fit all the way to the peplum, but alas, at least for me, it did not. The photo below shows that if you aren't careful (or wearing a cami) you can show some belly. (All you can see is my jeans, but I had fiddled with it a bit...and on taller girls, this gap will hit right at the belly. Or, maybe the particular top I tried on was in need of a steam.)

I wanted to like this one more than I did. The closures are large snaps, and they were not sewn on very well. I think if I played with the styling, this would work better for me. It stayed on the wishlist, and I may cave in before sale time.

Here we have the Bright Burning Tank. I was ecstatic when I saw this online last week, and immediately put it into my cart for next Wednesday. The colors! The word "slubby" in the description (love that fabric)! The price is right ($58)!

Look at the neckline! I love the neckline, fabric, and pattern, but that is where the love ends. The reality? "Meh" at best. Remember that photo at the top, of my belly? Check out the side view of this top. I am less than amused.

Finally, we have the Twist & Flow Top. The top of this top (haha) is a silk-y blend (?, didn't look) and beneath the empire waist is a stretchy, cottony fabric. (I should have read the tag.) I liked the juxtaposition, and this top seemed very well-made; no pulls, snags, skipped threads. Excuse the fact that my bra is still on.

I found the fit to be off for me--fitted through the bust area, and a sudden "BOOOOSH!" of billowy fabric at the empire waist. I have issues with Deletta often, though. I was disappointed. I wanted to love this top, but at best, it might make it to my cart on sale day.

The side view. Still feeling "meh" on this one.

I have three things (*love*, *dies*, and a maybe) in my cart for Big Buy Wednesday (explanation of what that is later!) because I am going on an Anthro-diet. I am trying to quit my full-price habit, unless I think I will die without the piece. (I might die without this, if it isn't too long; we'll see if I can "take the sale chance"). I need to expand my wardrobe, so next week I am ordering goodies from J. Crew, Ann Taylor, and Bluefly as well. Stay tuned for reviews!

Later tonight I will be back with a post about HAIR PRODUCTS! (As long as I am not exhausted...or it may be tomorrow.)

10 Under $50: Statement Necklaces

2010-03-04T23:16:00.000-06:00

$31.04 at ASOS
Statement necklaces: personally, I love them. They are the easiest way to accessorize an outfit (since adding too much other jewelry with a necklace of this scope would likely result in that dreaded "bag lady" look) and an instant way to make an outfit from a plain top.
As a petite, I try to watch the size and length, but sometimes I can't resist.
One thing about me and jewelry: I used to spend a lot more money on semi-precious stones (I love jasper!) and real metals. However, I have been more clothing-and-shoe focused lately, so the rise of better-quality costume jewelry is making me very happy.
I have been wearing in-your-face-out-there necklaces for years. I hope this doesn't become a trend that will die a terrible death.

This simple option won't break the bank--it's $44.50 at the Limited! I need to re-visit the Limited as a potential accessory heaven. See my current necklace obsessions here and here.

Technically, this one breaks the budget (at $50.75) but it is so gorgeous that I had to include it. Bib necklaces seem to be gaining in popularity and for those who can wear them, they can turn a plain t-shirt into a high-fashion top.

I could see this dressed up, with a sheath dress or a shift dress, or dressed down with a simple top and jeans or a skirt. Definitely a good match for a scoop-neck top in a fresh spring color. Plus, it's only $30.

I know, I've been showing all my love to the silver-toned pieces out there, but I know I am kind of alone in my vendetta against gold. (It makes me look washed out, and blah.) However, so many ladies out there can rock gold costume jewelry, so I included this lovely bib from Ann Taylor Loft--it's priced right at under $40. Gold-loving gals may also want to pair this unique two-toned piece.

Technically, this one is called a flower bib, but all this talk of "bibs" is making me think of burping and babies (not sure why about the burping part--?) Maybe we shall re-name it "the lei." Anyway, who wouldn't want to add this gorgeous bouquet to their collection? At $45, this one will become a favorite. Look at that mix of colors! I think I need this one now!

Of course...I knew I couldn't get through a post without some Anthropologie! This delicious necklace is called the Atlas Gems Necklace and comes in three colors. The best part? The $28 price tag. You can bet that this one is waiting in my cart for next Wednesday.

With all the excitement of moving the blog, plus school and work, I have not done OOTD posts for a few days, and I apologize. I am slowly working on setting up the tripod to take real photos (not potty shots) and hopefully I will be able to start that within a month or so. I was so tired today, but I did make it into Anthropologie, so tomorrow will bring a set of fitting room reviews!

From One Shoe Addict to all of You: Get $10 off at Shoebuy.com/Get Invited to Private Shoebuy Sales

2010-03-04T09:33:00.002-06:00

Today's Deal of the Day especially for SHOE LOVERS:

"Get invited to Shoebuy private sales!"

Shoebuy Events features private sales events with up to 90% off on leading fashion and lifestyle brands. Click Get Started now and receive $10 off your purchase of $50 or more.

View >>

Don't forget to sign up for BigCrumbs to get an amazing 15.3% cash back on Shoebuy purchases.

The Elusive Anthropologie Thousand Days Skirt

2010-03-04T03:19:00.001-06:00

*I know, these aren't the same...but I have been trying to find some that are close. Let me know if you find any others/better ones, but in the meantime, find your favorite "instead of" and soothe that pain of the crappy thing we call "out of stock."*

Inexpensive, navy, similar shape...worth a try:

And more:

Shorter, with a schoolgirl vibe.

Super full, flirty and fun.

A summery kind of version, with visible pockets and tie at the waist.

Ok, completely different, but don't you want this?

Liked the rust color?

I am still obsessed with this.

Worth a try:

(You know, there are a lot of ugly-ass orange/rust/sienna skirts out there. Ugh.)

(It's always about shoes, for me. SHOOOOOOOOES.) (I can't focus on anything when shoes are involved.) (*dies*)

Losing My Half-Ass

2010-03-04T03:17:00.000-06:00

Do you ever think so many things are important to you that you begin to lose the grasp on all of them?

I never used to do things half-assed. That includes school, work, working out, eating right, and partying my ass off. (Seems there's a lot of ass in this post.) I tend to look back at my 20s and think, "God, I was a hot mess." But what I don't immediately remember is that I was 100% devoted to the things that were important to me...and I said "meh" to the rest of it.

What has happened, exactly? Where did my energy go? My drive? My "fall-down-get-back-up-again" outlook? Have I just burned out, given up? Or has experience taught me that things just get worse? Or is the universe trying to tell me to lose my half-ass and focus on the stuff that really matters?

What does really matter? To me? Well...my health. My relationship with my husband. Making friendships that will last. My three dogs. Grad school, because it is at least a start. Being fruitarian. Yoga. Working out. Just being peaceful, being comfortable, having fun.

As much as I don't want to put this out there, work is not on the list. I don't mind work itself; it's the office/store politics and everything that entails. There has to be something I can do, for now, that does not sap my life away and leave me feeling smaller and smaller inside every single day. It can't be that everyone around me hates their job and lies about it. I won't, I can't, believe that. Stuff is not so great. I have never been in such a position where I needed the income, and that makes me feel more trapped. So I search, and search, and search. Do I take a position unrelated to my future, because I need to? Or is that counterproductive? Your guess is as good as mine.

I also need a peaceful place to be. The past year has taken its toll and I am living in an episode of that TV show with the trashed houses. I can't half-ass the cleaning anymore. Nothing bothers me more than trinkets on the tables and shelves and counters, tons of crap tacked to the refrigerator, things lying around. I just hate it, but I am cursed with the packrat gene. If someone I care about gave it to me, I can't get rid of it. For shit's sake, I have a copy of my dad's resume (half faded; it was the end of the ink cartridge) sitting in a pile of crap on the table because he wrapped it around a check he sent me. Why do I need my dad's resume (besides to critique it and try to help him, but I digress)? Because it is physically painful for me to throw it away. Writing this is making me cry. What if, someday, that is all I have left? Will I feel some comfort, when he is 95 and does not recognize me, that I have a list of his career accomplishments that he printed out after a sudden layoff? I do my best but still can't get rid of everything. Little by little, the junk is clearing...but it needs to disappear faster. Mess makes me lose my focus.

And school...am I just a quitter? Or do I not fit in anywhere? I feel like what I have learned so far is that I am supposed to do nothing but parrot back what people tell me. Maybe my future career is a kind of counselor/life coach hybrid? I actually want to listen to people, for a few hours, for a few hours a week for several weeks, whatever it takes...and then help them find ways to better their situation. I wonder, then, if I am spending tons of time and money for an uncertainty. I thought I had thought this through. And now I wonder if I half-assed my decision process.

My theme for the rest of this year, and beyond, is doing things 100%, or not doing them at all. If I feel like half-assing it (unless I am sick), I figure it must not be that important to me...and I should save my time for the things that are.

Question of the day: Why is it that some people hear laughter in the other room and smile, and others wonder why someone is laughing at them?

All About the Alternatives: Shoes!

2010-03-04T03:16:00.000-06:00

Since I tend to look all over the internet before purchasing anything (I want the best price. I want to be able to use ebates or bigcrumbs. I want to be able to buy more, darn it!) I am starting a regular feature called "All About the Alternatives." I'll feature popular, classic, and/or drool-worthy items, and then list alternatives for all sorts of situations.

I am a shoe fanatic, but I am very picky about my shoes! I don't think that is odd--in fact, I am sure that any shoe lover is pretty particular. Let's start with a classic.

I want:

Christian Louboutin peep-toes

But:

I need to pay the rent!

Heels are painfully uncomfortable/I am on my feet all day/I have wide feet.

I'm sick of black; I want a different color.

I love shoes, but I'm vegan. (Note: I am a food vegan, but I do still wear leather. I know. Hypocrite, right?)

I missed my pedicure appointment/I don't like toe cleavage.

I want:

Frye Tall Cuff boots

But:

I want more heel height!

I want something on sale.

I have a wider calf.

These boots are made for walkin'--I need comfort, please!

I want:

Jimmy Choo metallic leather sandals

But:

Those are gorgeous, but my wallet is crying.

I want flat sandals.

I want something pretty for wider feet/I am on my feet a lot.

It's spring, darnit!/I don't do neutrals.

I want:

Shooties! (This is the Luxury Rebel Jenny Shootie)

But:

Hmm, not ready to go quite that ankle-high, but like the look!

I'm afraid the trend will die and want a bargain pair.

I want something unique and girly.

I have sexy toes. Enough said.

I could go on and on about shoes, but I trust that you are on shoe overload after all that! My bank card is definitely cowering in the corner under some dust bunnies. I will definitely feature shoes again, and if you have any requests, please let me know. I would love to do a request.

About Face

2010-03-04T03:14:00.000-06:00

Yep. That's my eye.

I would like to think that it doesn't look 30 years old yet. Sure, there are some lines, and I tend to get dark circles, but pretty good for a recovered tanning-bed-addict, huh?

People often ask me what I use on my face, especially after they hear/read that I don't use chemicals and won't touch most cosmetic products. I think they are expecting a dirty-haired, unshowered, smelly person!

I can assure you, that is not the case. Finding products that work well, contain minimal (preferably no) harsh chemicals or soy derivatives, and are fun to use took a little time and a lot of work, but I have an amazing beauty arsenal at my fingertips now, and there is only one full-chemical product that I still use: this, mixed with developer from the beauty supply. (I cannot find a natural dye that is soy-free and the right shade. *sigh*).

I could go on for days about shaving gel, soaps, bath products, hair products, everything including laundry soap. But I won't (at least not today). Today I want to share everything I use for the skin on my face.

Face Cleansers by Suki

After a couple years (!) of trying nearly every single natural cleanser out there, I have settled on this one: Exfoliating Foaming Face Cleanser by Suki. It is suitable for almost all skin types, and works like a charm. Bonus: smells delicious. The 4oz jar is not cheap, but lasts quite some time--I got one the day after Christmas and it is still almost half full, even though I use it twice a day.

After removing my eye makeup, I use one of two products in my eye area. Derma e products are great "gateway products," meaning if you are just starting to use more natural products, Derma e is perfect for you. They textures and product types are similar to things you would buy at a cosmetic counter, and there are tons of products for every skin type. I like the Fruit Smoothee Eye cream, and use it in conjunction with Bieaux Skin Power Lift & Repair Serum.

Face Moisturizers by Suki

I love my E3 Light Creme, but my favorite moisturizer is another product from Suki (I use the "balancing" formula).
This does look and feel almost like an oil, and it does have a very natural, fresh fragrance. If you are new to natural and freak out about putting something that seems like oil on your face, stick to this instead. As silly as it seems, I use these throughout the day--I tried it once on a trip, and now I always have at least two of the minis with me all the time.

Other good moisturizers to try are here for dry skin and here for not-as-dry skin.

If I get a spot (pimple, zit...why such ugly words?) I use Evan Healy Blemish Stick, but the consistency and scent are, again, typical of natural products so for starters I would try Suki Transformative Cleansing Clay or Nature's Gate Natural Results. (As a product whore, I have all three.)

Don't forget lips! I use this stuff all day long. I first found it while on my honeymoon, and I love it. Since you essentially end up eating whatever you put on your lips, good ingredients are super-important. Don't eat chemicals, petroleum, and animal by-products. Weleda Everon is my favorite, and I have at least six of these in my purse, yoga bag, gym bag, every room of the house...you get the picture.

Of course teeth aren't skin, but they are a part of your face! Yes, I really do brush my teeth with this--Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Liquid Castile Soap. It took about three tries to get used to it, but my teeth have never been so white and clean. The hype about fluoride being good for your teeth? Do some research; read here or check this out at your library. Is that really something you want to use (or give to kids?!??)

That's all I have tonight--I am exhausted. This weekend (or before) I will do a big makeup post, plus make an exciting little announcement!

Anthropologie Sale Picks & Surprises

2010-03-04T03:13:00.000-06:00

Please, Dress Fairy, send me the dress above!

This morning I woke up at about 8:15 (late!) and immediately headed to the computer (of course.)

I was surprised and excited, and...perplexed.

Surprise #1: I think I scored the Headmistress Peep Toes this morning--let's hope I get a shipping confirmation soon. I had no idea these even existed in my size.

Surprises #2 : I can only assume this did not sell well and received bad reviews, because it is on sale pretty early. It looked great on Roxy, so I am hoping she grabbed it! I could be wrong, but I thought this dress just came out? Oh well, hopefully some of you guys got a great deal!

If my wallet were more full, I would have picked up this. I am hoping that this baby sticks around and gets a second cut, but I am not holding my breath.

Not surprised here. I loved the catalog shot, but in person I was less than impressed.

Finally...if you are pining for a lime green dress but find the Lime Juice dress too long, too matronly, or just plain unflattering (c'mon, Anthro, what's with the long dresses?), please buy this or I will obsess over it.

I will be back with more later. Until then, I really wish these had silver-tone buckles instead of gold. My budget is glad they do not.

Outfit of the Day, Sale Sadness, and No More Excuses

2010-03-04T03:10:00.000-06:00

Today's outfit was last-minute. I got this sweater on ebay and when it showed up, I knew I had to wear it. Now, I'm not so sure about it. I think it is too bulky and needs to be paired with very skinny pants or a skinny pencil skirt to work. I felt like a heffalump and honestly that made me have a bad day. But more on that later. Let's see some photos!

The requisite "potty shot."

Cardi tie detail

From the front, trying it with a belt.

Detail close-up

Timer shot

Another timer shot

Washed out photo...trying to "fix" the cardi.

Cardi: Moth by Anthropologie (try this)(I want this, like yesterday)

Cami: Target cheapie

Skirt: Anthropologie Great Escape Skirt (kind of similar, I want this!) (closest I can find--if you wanted the Anthro one and missed out, try this)

Tights: ancient heather grey tights (try these)

Shoes: earth Aria (more detailed) (love this color!)

Today started out sad. This showed up at my door-with a hole in it! Yes, I am a big baby. I really am a cardigan whore. Also, why must they tease me so? And please make a petite size because 40 inches long, WTF?

We all know what tomorrow is...Anthro sale day! I officially suck at shopping, because I tend to snap up everything I can afford at full price out of fear that my sizes will sell out before they even go on sale...and then I have zero budget come sale day. I really am trying to fix that, but with things like this coming out, and me having a nonexistent Spring wardrobe, I am finding it next to impossible. Nothing on my wishlist will go on sale tomorrow, because the entire damn thing is from this week and last week. Oh, well. I have a "waitlist" now, and I will just go bug my local store to find items for me when they go on sale. (Waitlist=things I really, really love but won't die without. Good luck to me on that "wait" part.)

Also, I am done being a junk-raw vegan. I am swearing off GoRaw raw bars and raw nuts and nut butters. I wish I could figure out how to keep a smoothie the right consistency and temperature to last me through until midday and late afternoon.

Any ideas?