Steady As She Goes...in 2009

Okay. So yes I know it's like halfway through January, but lots of people/books/movies always are preaching that it's never too late to change and turn things around so I'm gonna go with that. I've thought about it the past couple of weeks, and have finally decided on resolutions that I really think aren't that far fetched, and who knows - there might be a remote possibility that I might be able to achieve these things I'm laying out for myself. Here Goes Nothing:

1. To completely STOP shopping at malls. Yes, those who know me will probably think I've either lost my marbles or have been abducted and replaced by some blogging poseur psychopath - but this is me talking. I live in an area of the country where there's not so very much...room...for creativity as far as fashion goes. It also happens to be the same part of the country that has the highest unemployment rate as well as having lots of negative light cast on it from all over the media in terms of economy and how the area government is run (which is true but unfortunate). This is not a time for me to be spending spending spending on mall impulse purchases that I won't wear/use in about a year, and things are far to dire for my money to just be sitting lamely in my closet. With the increasing availability of original and much more beautiful things via the internet at discounted prices, there is no reason I should be buying unoriginal pieces from the mall at retail price. Even sales at the mall have become such a huge waste of time, and you have to buy them then and there. In the past couple of years, things like sample sales and vintage buys have been steadily increasing via the web, and I fully expect to take advantage of these things. And anyways, some of my favorite designers aren't even carried at places like Saks and Neimans. So bye bye mall. Maybe next year.
2. Keep a continual workout schedule, and maintain a healthy diet so I can drop the extra 12 lbs that I've been toting around with me for the better part of 2 years. I know there are some of you that want to stab me for always talking about this, but there it is. I am by no means fat, but I just am not happy with how my body now responds to my aging metabolism. Plus I eat like a crackhead. I starve myself one day, then binge the next. No good. So that I stop annoying people by talking about it all the time, I'm going to get on this lovehandled horse and ride it till I get into a groove of maintaining myself in a healthy way. But I will not give up chocolate - how's that for a challenge?
   
3. Find a new job...elsewhere...by summer. I've been here for 2 years now and the time has come for me to move on. I have to grow, and I've hit my ceiling of growth here most definitely. Enough said.
4. Pay off debt. Loans. Credit Card (I'm down to one!!) - Enough said. I can do it.
5. Be a little more daring. Last year, when faced with doing something like going out or being productive I would shrink into my apartment and hide. I wore a t-shirt every day, to every occasion. I slept too much. You know that feeling when you step outside of your box, get no sleep, take chances and overall feel a little bit wired? Well, I want that. Instead of sleeping 10 hours a day on the weekends, I'm going to go venture out. Even if it's just a trip to the bookstore or sitting at a park, I'm going to do it (thank God gas is cheaper now). I'm going to bury my t-shirts behind my oven and only take them out when it really is a slouchy occasion. I'm going to wear more interesting things. So if you see me walking around with a necklace on my head or my pants pulled up to my temples, it's only because I'm on a stepping stone to get to the more daring side of me. I apologize now for any future whackiness that might upset you, but I gotta do what I gotta do.
6. Do a crossword puzzle every week. I heard that this fights off the onset of any kind of dementia and just basically keeps your mind sharp. I want that. My ex-boyfriend's grandpa is 88 years old and does this every week, and he's sharp as a nail. Those of you that know me know that my greatest fear is to die whacked out of my mind and alone. I can't predict the not dying alone, but I definitely try to stave off the nuttiness with a crossword puzzle or two.
7. Get things done within a week of promising to do them. This is good because how many times have people said that they are going to to do something, only to put it off for days then weeks then surprise! it's 2010 and all those things you never did are just jumping off points for depression.
8. Take more pictures. I received my very first ever camera for christmas this year, and I intend to use it every opportunity I get. I'm not letting that thing go to waste. 

That's about it, as far as my realistic goals for this year are concerned. If I am able to accomplish that short list of things, I might be able to tackle my crazier goals like oh, say, learning to speak French or actually being cool again. Who knows? One day.

Bright Lights, Shiny Disco Balls

Wow so it's been a while since I last looked at this thing. It's been pretty busy working here in Detroit. Right now there are two categories of people: The hordes of those that are laid off, and the hordes of those that have to pick up the 3, 4, 5 extra workloads of the people who were laid off. That's me.

Luckily, things have been winding down here at the offic

e so I am taking it upon myself to blog again. And this particular post is a little shoe oriented because one of my boochie cousins is getting married and I have the very delightful task of helping figure out shoes. I know I have shoes on the brain most of the time as it is, so this shoe finding task fits expediently into my shoe obsession.

A lot of the Fall 08 shoes have been geared towards texture, texture, texture. Delightful. While suede has always been the go to material for fall, there are so many more options this year:

miu miu

Also, let's not forget about how animal print has always been such a cold weather staple:

Lanvin

YSL

Alaia

Happy Fall!

If I had $5,000 to throwaway...

Last night I was laying in bed with a pint of Hagen-Daas Dulche de Leche (my lover and my enemy), and I was flipping between old reruns of SATC and What Not to Wear. It occurred to me that a lot of times on these reality surpise makeovers, that these loser people just absolutely do not (gasp!) want a makeover, so they usually put up a very good fight by obnoxiously using the money they're given to buy more expensive versions of the the ugly clothes that they were advised to toss and stay away from. This totally annoys me for obvious reasons, but mostly because I hate it when people buy ugly things for a lot of money. Like those women who buy those retarded crystal eggs for like $8,000 or my ex-boyfriend in college who bought a Versace t-shirt for $250 simply because it was Versace, but it was ribbed with gold piping and looked like a cast-off from Boogie Nights.

Anyways, if someone gave me 5 grand to spend, this is what I'd blow it on (assuming that the problems of starving children and endangered dolphins had been solved, natch):

20 Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers, $19.00 x 20 = $380

+

Jennifer Meyer Rose Gold Wishbone Necklace, $700

+

Miu Miu Dragonfly Clutch, $1,390

+

Christian Louboutin Zipette, $995

+

YSL Evening Clutch, $1,395

+

Matthew Williamson Flame Edge Silk Tank Dress, Spring 2008, $1,415

+

YSL St. Tropez, $895

+

Cathy Waterman White Topaz Earrings, $3,720

+

Vernissage Gold Dragon Bracelet, $13,000

And probably a calculator, since I can't add:)

EL344RB Metric Conversion Wallet Calculator w/ Extra-Large Display, $15.99

Lazy Wardrobe Revamp

So it's been quite a while since I've shopped for anything besides makeup and shoes, and usually when I haven't done anything to keep my clothes updated for a while I start to feel overwhelmed. Mostly because when I look at all new collections I want to get everything at once and get frustrated because I know I can't, and while staple pieces are just fine and dandy, I'd much rather have fun and exciting new up-to-date clothes. Which is why I was so delighted this morning while I was perusing the new Elizabeth and James spring '08 line.

Normally I don't buy into celebrity clothing lines because I think most celebrity affiliations with labels are tacky, but I think the Olsens have done a good job keeping their name completely out of their collections The Row, and Elizabeth and James (named after their younger siblings). Plus I just love every single one of their pieces, and it's more or less the kind of clothes that I can see myself wearing at least for the next year or so. Unlike the Kate Moss Topshop line, which was pretty relevant this past year in Barneys Co-ops nationwide, the E&J line seems to be better quality when it comes to fabric and make. I love lines that are so effortless and easy to put together and I've been wearing way too much Marc by Marc Jacobs these past few years and I'm getting kindof tired of the cutesy colorful clothes, so I think I'll give this line a try.

I've always been a sucker for any kind of fringed mini-dress, and this one is a nice version to the classic. It's a nice party dress to have on hand but hopefully when the occasion calls for this dress, my body will be in tip top shape. It doesn't leave much to the imagination. The best part about it is that supposedly it is machine washable (score!!)

Again, my legs will have to be slammin' in order to pull these off, but i'm determined.

Am I all about the dress or something this season? I know there are tons of versions out there of this sillhouette, but when I was in high school the look I always aspired to emulate was good old Jennifer Aniston's. I haven't lost that admiration apparently and every so often I always find myself admiring something that I can't help but think she would be wearing right now.

This ridiculous model doesn't do this ultra cool blazer justice. The Elizabeth and James website shows this jacket belted on their model with incredibly chic boots, exactly what I have lurking in my closet waiting to see the light of day.

It's not that I'm so uncreative that I want to jack the styling of this celebrity fashion line, it's that I'm so lazy right now to actually completely revamp my entire wardrobe by spending the whole entire day at the mall, or all morning at work and having to pay shipping. I'd rather just knock it all out in one go.

Dropping my christmas list hints...

So here i am again, i must be bored because i just remembered that i had started this thing. Thanks to my cousin who sent me a link to a nameless chick's blog who we shall call "Harry Potter" - i'm back on the blogging track, and what better to use it for than to drop some hints of what I would like to receive for christmas? (besides world peace and love for all mankind, of course...)

I was browsing my local Sephora trying to not find things for me, but for the people I love. Alas:

Bvlgari Rose Essentielle Perfume $62-69.00

Apparently I am a Bvgari girl, I already have Omnia Crystalline, and I only recently tried the Omnia Amythyste which I loved but didn't buy for myself because if felt too much like Crystalline because they come in basically the same bottle, which I know is silly since they smell entirely different, but I guess that's more or less my reason. Anyways, Rose Essentielle is absolutely perfect for those who don't love that "alcoholic-y" perfume smell that makes most perfumes stick; it's quite light and flowery without smelling old lady like, which Bvulgari gets right every time. It's very fresh and according to the description, has some tones of blackberry as well. Sooo yummy.

Sephora usually has the best gift sets all year round, so Christmas time is just another excuse to check them out.

Caudalie VinoGo Weekend Kit ($50 value) $32.00

The cute little kit includes the Instant Foaming Cleanser, a full size Beauty Elixir, Contour Eye & Lip Cream, Energizing Skin Cream, the Cabernet Shower Gel, Nourishing Body Lotion and the Lip Conditioner in a full size. Everything in this kit meets travel regulation standards - the bag is see through, and everything is under 3.0 oz - and the bottle for the cleanser is even refillable! And I've always loved the Beauty Elixer - much better than those "refreshers" that you buy that are basically just water in a spray can. The Beauty Elixer has all sorts of essential oils for your tired skin, and smells pleasant to boot.

Clarisonic Skincare Brush, $195.00

I put this on my christmas list to my mother as my big gift. Who needs pots and pans for your new apartment when you can have great skin? And I even have Oprah standing by my decision.