On Another Note...

I meant to post this yesterday but

Can I just say that Sunday night's Grammys were ROUGH? Thank GOD I had twitter to entertain me or it could have been a disaster.

However, there was a moment or two of awesomeness.

I loved Eminem and RiRi and oh hello there Dr. Dre, you are looking quite fatherly these days.

But my most-favorite moment?

Cee Lo Green and Gwyneth Paltrow bringing down the house.

(Image from here)

Seriously, I'm not normally a Gwyneth fan but it was just inspired. The outfit, the duet, everything.

And Mick Jagger was pretty awesome too.

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On a related note, I posted about Grammy fashion over at All Things Chic.

Oh Hey, It's Monday.

First up and most importantly... it's a Launch Week Party this week over at All Things Chic. The first giveaway is a $100 Zappos gift card. Hello, $100. To spend on shoes and purses.

Run, don't walk.

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Also, I spent my weekend trotting up and down Michigan Avenue to every store (twice) and I only spent $12.95 at H&M. Not even kidding.

I know, it was disappointing to me too.

Fortunately, I have pictures like this to make up for it.
Don't ask. It seemed like a good idea at the time.

Also, you know what sucks about fancy cameras? Nobody else (who doesn't have a fancy camera) can take a picture of you that's in focus on it.

Live and learn.

Happy Monday!

All Things Chic

As you guys know, I have been writing for the beauty and fashion site Chic Critique for a year or so now... (yeah, I have no clue how long it's been.... only that it's been awhile, ok?)

But today, I'm so excited to announce, Chic Critique is re-launching as All Things Chic.


All Things Chic focuses on not only beauty and fashion (my favorites!) but also home and decor (my Achilles heel!) and family stuff.

There are a TON of giveaways and fun stuff happening over there next week... so get excited! (And probably hide your credit cards... there are some fabulous deals and steals over there too!!)

In other news, I have to work tonight so I'm not going to be able to watch the Real Housewives reunion live. I know, my life is hard and it's all very tragic.

But don't worry, I have the weekend and Friday off so I'll be watching it bright and early tomorrow. I'm disturbingly excited.

I Know, I Promised....

Well, today was supposed to be "let's finish talking about Chicago so we can move onto more important topics" day but.... unfortunately Sephora.com's Friends & Family sale took all my internet time this morning. So stressful! And I'm running late too!

So instead I shall direct you to Chic Critique to tell me what you are ordering. Because I'm nosy and I care.

Go forth and spill the beans. I command you.

Happy Monday!!!!

Genius.

I worked an 11.5 hour shift yesterday which put me home at approximately 1 am. Probably didn't get to sleep until around 2.

And yet I still thought it'd be brilliant to meet some co-workers at 10 am for the first day opening of a brand new Ulta in my town. This is a Big Deal because the only place to buy makeup in this town? Elder Beerman. Straight out of 1982.

Therefore, we are excited about Ulta.

So excited that we are meeting at 9 am at IHOP to celebrate.

I've never actually had IHOP so I'm excited. The response when I told the girls this? "It's not that great, don't get your hopes up."

Whatever, hope is up.

On the other hand... I might die since I have to work till 10 pm tonight. My face is already drooping with sleepy.

Yay for ULTA (and TJ Maxx cause we'll be right there) and pancakes on a Monday morning! Tired-ness be damned!

And, if you're interested, I posted a list of my favorite Columbus day sales over at Chic Critique. Loving the LOFT sale. Definitely gonna order.

Happy Columbus Day everyone!

And Happy Birthday Week to ME!!

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!!

First off... today's the last day to enter my contest. Go forth and enter, ok?

Edited to add: soo... I deleted my giveaway post. Actually, I didn't delete but it no longer exists. wtf? The last comment I saw was from A Yankee Belle at 2:47 pm. Soo. Yeah. If you didn't get to enter... ask me a question (about anything!) on this post here, by midnight tonight. And I'll add you to my list of people who are awesome. (And to my list of people who could win a $30 Target gift card and a Fekkai glossing kit.)

Tomorrow I announce the winner and start answering questions.

Also, I wrote about nail polish over on Chic Critique today and need your input. I'm in a nail polish rut and I can't hide it anymore.

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That's all for today kids. Too many late night at work this past week have totally zapped my energy and my will to blog.

Happy Monday!

Let's Talk Eclipse, Finally!

Ladies, how is it possible that I didn't gush on and on about how awesome Eclipse was?

But let's not dwell.

How awesome was Eclipse?

Well.... pretty damn awesome.

First off, anybody who thinks they are too cool for Twilight should just get over themselves right now. By clicking that red X in the upper right corner.

So, as far as I know, nobody particularly comes to the movie for the excellent acting. Surprisingly, I thought this film, out of the three so far, delivered SO much better than the previous three. I honestly just felt like the cast put so much effort into this film!

I felt like the storyline stayed pretty true to the script, although I haven't read the books since November so I can't be positive.

You know what I liked most about this movie though? Honestly?

It was just so hawt! For me, I felt like the tension humming through every scene was just crazy.

My BFF, sitting next to me, kept whispering, "We know how it's going to end. It's going to be FINE." And then something would happen and we'd be squee-ing and clutching the arm rests and generally acting a fool.

(In our defense, the women next to us were HAMMERED and smelled like pot and were annoying us... so we were just adjusting to our environment. By acting like fools.)

S0, by now, please tell me you've all seen Eclipse.

Do you think it's the best one so far??

I do!

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On an unrelated note, I'm talking about Goody Spin Pins over on Chic Critique. Easiest hair bun ever!

Happy Monday!!

Funky Chicken. And Ice Cream.

I don't know what it is... but lately I've been feeling kind of down.

Maybe it's exhaustion or work or PMS or life but I'm just pooped. Everything feels like a big deal and everything feels like the end of the world. (Side note: Do I sound like a 13-year-old or what?!)

I'm pretty sure that a few Lifetime movies, a few bowls of chips and salsa, and probably a giant vat of ice cream would probably cure me.

Unfortunately for me I've got a million things to do and I get to work late tonight. And to top it all off my ice cream kinda-sorta thawed at some point and it's all ice-crystal-ly. Gross.

And, side note, I just tried Snickers ice cream from my favorite local ice cream shop. O.m.g. So delicious. You should totally try it.

So, what's your favorite ice cream flavor?

I'm partial to cookie dough, vanilla, and Haagen Dazs Dulce de Leche. Mmmm... ice cream.

Hope everyone is having a fabulous Monday!!

And P.S. I posted about a new eyeshadow product over at Chic Critique today.

Why Do Trolls Have All the Fun??

As I mentioned in yesterday's post... I was seriously terrified to post about swimsuits. Or my body. Or anything.

Like I said yesterday... posting about yourself in a swimsuit... well, it's just not done.

I was expecting a variety of hateful comments.... ranging from "You'd be less mushy if you stopped eating all those cake balls" to "I thought you said you had fat thighs, you stupid skinny cow." (Hmm, maybe I was just hoping a little bit for the second one. I'll never tell.)

So I wasn't too shocked when Anonymous showed up... but then, I kinda was.


And of course she (he?) came back for more. Once was NOT enough.
Anon, I give you points for brash commenting and not being afraid to have conviction. I mean, you see what your little mind creates, I suppose.

But I would like to clarify.

Have you been here before, anon?

Cause if so, then you have heard me complain endlessly about my flat, sparse hair.

And today, I am wearing a skirt to work and I haven't shaved my legs since Friday. And trust me, nobody will be able to tell.

So, Anonymous, your theory is falling apart. I believe the only thing you were seeing is my va-gine-huh. Because I'm a girl and I have one.

So, in the future, if you were going to attempt to make me feel bad about myself - well, you should try a new tactic.

How about one of these topics?

• Pale Skin
• Dark Spots on Skin (Sun Damage)
• Chunky Thighs (No amount of leg crossing/posing makes them go away)
• Posting Vain Pics of Oneself on the Internet in a Swimsuit
• Having Unpainted Toenails
• Having an In-Betweenie Belly Button
• Being Ugly in General

So, Anonymous, those are some helpful hints for next time.

And for all of you, my most favorite-est and sweetest readers, group hug. I feel like we talked out some body therapy yesterday and it just gives me the warm squishys. Especially since you all kept mentioning my flat stomach. Which is an optical illusion.

This mirror right near my "posing area" always captures the less flattering angles. You can tell that despite massive amounts of "sucking it in"... the pooch remains. Oh well.


Oh, and dear readers, one more thing.

You are all beautiful. Pooch or not, skinny or not, bikini or not.

And anyone who tells you otherwise is a troll.



P.S. Some of you asked about my hairstyle from this weekend... I posted directions and pictures on Chic Critique.

Woof.

Stick a fork in me, I'm done.

I know I whined on Friday about my rough work week... but ugh. I worked Saturday and Sunday and... woof.

I got home around 11 last night (yep, on a Sunday night)... and worked some more on schedules until midnight.

Went to bed, sure that I would collapse from exhaustion.

You know where this is going, right?

I did fall asleep after a long while... maybe 45 minutes of tossing and turning.

And.... I woke up at 3:45 am.

Tossed and turned (lather, rinse, repeat) until about 5:30 when I decided I needed to get up and work. On work - the real job work kind of work... not fun work like reading and writing blog posts.

So, this schedule I've been working and working and working on?

Totally craptastic. I am working 6 days next week. 6 long days.

I get to fill in for one of my co-managers that stepped down due to "stress" and train someone else to take her position.

And did I mention that one of those nights I'll be working until midnight?

So I'm sitting here and I know that I should be freaking out. There is SO MUCH overwhelming stuff going on that I feel like I want to cry... but then, I don't.

Because I'm a helluva lot stronger and a much harder worker than I thought I was.

Although... if I wake up tomorrow (on my day off!) and this weeklong sore throat turns into a full blown cold.... well.... I might rethink that last sentence.

Any and all good vibes are appreciated today. Cause all of a sudden I feel like a good cry might be a good thing.

Anybody else having a rough Monday? Wanna b*tch it out? Leave me a comment and I'll reply with something to make you feel better.

(Technically, is something simply saying "You and me both, sister"? Cause that's about all I've got these days...)

Happy(ish) Monday, Lovelies!

(And P.S. I'm posting about an AMAZING drugstore mascara at Chic Critique. Seriously, it's amazing.)

Talkin' About..... Eyeshadow

If you want to find me today, I'm over on Chic Critique talking about eyeshadow.

I'd love for you to chime in over there.

Happy Monday!

My Goodness!

Ok, is it me or was this past weekend non-existent? Seriously!

How is it Monday already?

I slept barely at all on Saturday night and overslept this morning (till 8 o'clock! Which is basically the latest I ever sleep, except when I was in college and my roommates attempted to sleep train me).

On Saturday night, I saw the movie When in Rome with Kristen Bell and Josh Duhamel.
Predictable cheesy romantic comedy, but it was cute. I'd see it again.

Plus all of the scenes in Rome made me want to hop on a plane. Definitely making me regret the fact that I didn't go abroad during my sophomore year of college when several of my friends did. DUMB!

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I tried on this dress at Target yesterday and wanted to love it because it's such a fun print.
(Why yes, I was too exhausted to take off my turtleneck and jeans... so I just put the dress right over the top. Lazy much?)

Unfortunately the fabric is... stiff. I felt like I was wearing wrapping paper because it crinkled too much. For only $20 though, I'm still considering it.

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And now it's 9:30 and I still haven't picked up groceries or showered.

But I did write a very thorough review on L'Oreal Lash Boosting Products over at Chic Critique.

Go read it and tell me what you're thinking.

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FYI, the job I was supposed to hear about by Friday? Still haven't heard. No clue.

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How was your weekend? Did you catch up on sleep for me?

Wah-BAM!

Hey everybody,

I'm not sure if you've heard the news yet or not, but Christmas is here. Aand there are only 17 days 'till New Years.

That's not a lot of time and I am most certainly feeling the crunch!

So in lieu of accomplishing the things I needed to do this weekend, I made cookies.

The most delicious cookies ever, in fact. Ok, so I've posted about these cookies before but not until recently did I notice that I left out a key ingredient. The sugar.

So, let's pretend that never happened and just focus on the now, shall we?

Oatmeal Cookies

• 1 Cup Butter, Softened
• 1 Cup Shortening
  
• 4 Cups Light Brown Sugar, Packed
• 4 Eggs
• 4 Cups Flour
• 4 tsp Baking Soda
• 4 Cups Quick Oatmeal
• 4 tsp Cinnamon
• 2 tsp Vanilla Extract

1. Cream together butter, shortening, and light brown sugar.
2. Beat eggs into the mixture.
3. Sift together the flour and baking soda, then add oatmeal to the flour mix.
4. Add the flour mix slowly to the sugar and egg mixture.
5. Stir in vanilla and cinnamon.
6. Wrap the dough and chill for 1 hour.
7. Pinch off the dough and roll into very small balls (maybe 1/2 a Tbsp). Place balls on lightly greased cookie sheets (I used crisco to grease) about 2 inches apart. Bake at 350 degrees for 7-9 minutes. Cool completely before adding the filling.

Here's the directions for the filling... it's actually kinda complicated, but SO worth it.

• 1/3 Cup Flour
• 1 Cup Milk
• 1 Cup Soft Butter
• 2 to 2.5 Cups Powdered Sugar
• 1 tsp Vanilla
• Dash of Salt

1. In a small saucepan, combine the flour and milk with a whisk. Turn on the heat to medium, and stir constantly. DO NOT WALK AWAY - burnt flour and milk is gross. Just keep stirring with that whisk over medium heat. Eventually it will start to thicken - keep stirring. I usually "thicken" until my arm starts to hurt and then give up.
2. Cool that mixture - and make sure you don't burn the paste with the hot pan - I usually cool mine in the sink in some cold water.
3. In another bowl, cream the butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt until light and fluffy.
4. Gradually add in the flour/milk mix a small amount at a time until it's all smooth.
5. Frost the cookies and enjoy. Store in the fridge for best consistency.
   

*This recipe makes about 100 cookie sandwiches – you may want to cut it in half.*
*Make sure to use butter where stated - not margarine.*

I usually hate cookies that have that extra, added step - but in this case, it was TOTALLY worth it.

As I stated last week, I am REALLY interested to hear all of your holiday baking traditions - please spill the beans!! I want your recipes!! So feel free to share!

And if you are of the flat, limp hair society like I am, you may be interested to read about my "new" hairstyling solution over at Chic Critique.

As for me, I'm off trying to finish my holiday shopping today. I'm sure that'll go over well. Or not.

Argh

Well well well, it's Monday.

So anyways, I had all these ideas for a cute post that I was going to write about when I got home from a meeting that was supposed to get out at 9 PM last night. I didn't leave until 10:20.

When I turned onto my street, I could tell something was off - and then I realized the electricity was out.

I have twittered in the past that my power was out and everybody is always like "where the heck do you live? The 1700s?" And the answer is basically yes.

So last night the power guy comes and it's just 5 houses that are without power, mine being one of them. On Friday, the transformer for these 5 houses "blew" in a spectacular boom in the middle of the day, which left me in the dark for about 4 hours.

It blew again last night when I was at my meeting... but I figured they'd hit reset and the power would come back on.

I watched out my front window from 10:30 to midnight and the guy clearly wasn't having any luck. He kept walking back to his truck, looking at the transformer, and walking back to the big pole. Yeah, effective.

So he leaves at midnight.

An hour and a half later, he's back. With about 6 other trucks and a basket lift thing. I'm in bed by this point, but I keep getting up to see what the heck is going on. They fiddled around for at least an hour and then the power comes on - THANK GOD!

So I can finally turn on my fan and go to sleep - at 2 or 3 in the morning. Praise the Lord.

Of course I didn't sleep any later than I normally do, so now I'm grumpy.

Plus, my wireless internet got fried and so my laptop is basically useless.

My life has a case of the Mondays.

In other news, you should go read about my adventures with dry shampoo at Chic Critique. Because goodness knows I hate washing and blowdrying my hair.

Sephora Friends and Family

Heh, I got off to a rough start this AM and forgot I was supposed to be subbing over at Chic Critique. Oops.

I actually only ordered 1 of the items I featured over there - the last one... but the other two have been tempting me - and there's still time to save 20%.

So go check it out and tell me what (if anything) you ordered (or are going to order) during Friends and Family 2009.

Sorry for the double posts!

Mish-Mashed Monday

Well well well... here it is again. Monday.

Lately I have been obsessing about clothes. I want to get my wardrobe in tip-top shape. I want to be able to mix and match items easily.

So I've been obsessing about a few things.

Number 1: Where do you buy plain long-sleeve t-shirts, the kind for layering and such?? Everyone always says Gap or Old Navy and I pretty much hate their shirts. It's not that I dislike the shirts... but they always stretch out.

Currently, my long-sleeve t-shirts are from H&M; however, they have changed the fabric content of their shirts so I don't think they are as nice anymore. I'm going to have to make a trip there soon and check it out.

The downside to the H&M shirts is that they can make you stink, so you have to wear deodorant. It must be the synthetic fabric content that holds in the sweat, because I'm oneo f those people who doesn't even sweat enough to need to wear deodorant.

Where do you buy long sleeved shirts for layering? Do they hold their shape well?

Number 2: Sweaters. Currently, I am hating chunky sweaters. Cable knit, which I really do love, just seems so stifling to me. I'm on the hunt for thin, easy cardigans... like the one I'm wearing in this picture.

Do you have any nice, thin cardigans? Where'd you get them??

Number 3: Hola, Etsy. When I asked you all for jewelry ideas, a bunch of you said to check Etsy. I had known about Etsy for a long time... but I obviously didn't understand it. Thank you all for making me check it out! I will probably post about some of my Etsy finds very soon... because I'm obsessed.

If you have a favorite etsy seller... spill it sister!! I want to know!

Number 4: I wrote a post over here about my favorite new show. I'm obsessed so you should go check it out.

Happy Labor Day everyone!! Please spill your favorite places for t-shirts and sweaters and Etsy shops... because inquiring minds want to know!!

Inspired

As you may or may not know, I fancy myself a bit crafty.

I enjoy making things and I love having the ability to shake up old things and turn them into something new.

A couple of weeks ago, I painted this little guy:

On one hand, I kind of like it. Do you see how the navy blue kind of makes a star shape? I definitely didn't even plan it that way!

I like the painting, but it's just not really "me." It's a bit intense for my tastes.

So I'm trying to be inspired by something, but I'm having zero luck.

Do you have any inspiring websites that give you ideas? I'm always on the lookout for those.

Do you ever do your own crafts or do you leave those to the professionals??

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Have you ever had a case of the extreme Mondays? A day where just about anything and everything goes wrong?

I think this picture explains it all:

I'm actually curious to see if some of you can't see the problem in this picture.. so I'm not gonna explain it.

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Also, I've got a post up today at Chic Critique talking about some storage solutions for bath and body products and accessories. If you have any solutions of your own, I'd love to hear them!!

Monday = Fun Day + Giveaway!

Well, well, here we are again. Is it me or does time seem to fly and have no meaning when you're unemployed?? Maybe that's just me...

So anyway this week is definitely going to fly because I've got a whole bunch of stuff on my list.

Today I've already spent an hour on the phone with Comcast trying to figure out if a house my dad is looking to rent is wired for internet and cable. In the words of my dad, "I know how you get the shakes when you can't have internet..." haha, so true.

I've got to do a month's worth of laundry (seriously, how does it pile up so quickly?), job hunt (hahahahahahaha), and then I'm off with the girls to lounge poolside for a few hours (every day should have some fun, right?).

Tuesday through Thursday is doctor appointments, cleaning, packing, job hunting, viewing rental houses if we find any, gardening....

And Friday is the best day of all. Friday I'll be up early at the Nordstrom Sale scooping up shoes and purses and dresses, oh my! And Friday afternoon I think I'm helping a friend paint her apartment.

Saturday I'm up to South Bend for a wedding... and then we're back to Monday again!

So on this post here I begged for questions about my life for post ideas. I never really think to look through my old posts so I know I have a lot of gaps in my little story here.

So, once again, I'm opening up the floor for questions. NOTHING is off the table here, so please please ask away.

And just to encourage your asking... I am going to give you a little incentive.

GIVEAWAY ALERT!!

For every comment you make on any of my posts this week, you will be entered to win $50 worth of True Blue Spa products from Bath and Body Works.

All you have to do is leave a comment on each of my posts this week, today through Friday.

You can earn one bonus entry for commenting about my new favorite beauty product.

Easy enough - right?

Today, just tell me what you want to know about me. Ashley and Andhari have already asked about my hair and my dresses...

So what do you want to know?

Happy Monday!

Everybody Likes Talking About Bras, Right?

This morning, I woke up determined to try on this cute red bra I wore, um, *cough* six or so years ago.

I know, I am nuts, right? In the past six years, I have gained at least 20 pounds and a few cup sizes.

But when I woke up this morning, it didn't seem that important... I just wanted to wear the red bra.

Well, I didn't find the red bra. But you know what I did find?

18 bras. Eighteen. And I suppose I should mention at this point that I got rid of 4 bras on Friday (including the red bra I was looking for this morning-can you say space case?). I clearly have so many bras I can't even keep track of them.

So if you count the bras I just trashed, that means I had 22 bras. Twenty-two, the same as my age. One bra for every year of my life. Or something.

Which brings me to my point: I have too many bras. Sure, a bunch of them are useful and good and I love them. But others? Need to go.

Polka dot bras on the left - you are itchy.
Hot pink bra - you are too big.
Black lacy bra on the left - you have no purpose in life and are lumpy.
Bra with blue lace on the right - you are the most comfortable bra I have ever owned but your elastic is pretty much shot.

Do you have a lot of bras? Do you have this many? Do you unnecessarily hold onto bras that are a size too big or too small because you might grow or shrink? Because I never do that (liar!).

I am leaving these bras on my bedroom floor until I pare them down... the surplus bras just take up too much space and they don't even fit - so why am I keeping them around?

Share with me your bra problems... so I won't feel like such a clotheshorse brahorse(?).

Happy Monday!

P.S. I am showing everyone how to get the best performance out of their mascara over here. Go check it out.

Legs

Did you know that shaving your legs can lead to permanent sun spots on your legs? I'll tell you how...