horsin' around

Only Anthropologie could come up with a dress printed with horses and have me fawn all over it. My regrets that it is $300.



hm. On the other hand, I can't say the same for this migrating mallard cardigan.

girl's night in

Wayne's in the Bay today and tomorrow, visiting friends, so what have I been doing with all this "me" time? Tonight, I watched "Pretty Woman", which was showing on TBS, and then I spent the rest of the evening watching how-to hair tutorials on youtube. Tomorrow, it's the local farmer's market and then scrapbooking!!!

I love this romantic 'do. And this one is a fun one for short hair!

Oh, and speaking of hair, I was totally daring this past weekend and did my own hair for Alton and Charissa's wedding, which is actually unprecedented and completely uncharacteristic of me (this was pre- youtube tutorials, mind you). I am HORRIBLE with hair, and I had no idea what I was doing (and didn't really trust Wayne when he told me it looked fine, because really, what does he know about hair?), but I think it turned out okay!

(taken from Christine's facebook album).

um... I don't like it.

Karli wasn't bad... she was super nice and easy to talk to. But she did give me a mushroom (augh!!), which was first a mullet until I asked her to even it out. And because we had to cut off the mullet, my hair is shorter than I had wanted it. She did do a good job on the actual layering, though, so I'm sure my hair will look great once it grows out... sigh, the story of my salon experiences.

Okay, so here are the pictures.


...Ready?

Are you sure?

Brace yourself....

AUGH!!!!

Okay, it's not that bad, right? But that was right after coming back from the salon. You can really see the mushroomness after I styled it myself the next day. See the poof on the left side of my head? Yeah, I don't like that. At least now I know I don't like shorter layers framing my face. And believe me, it's worse when it's not fresh from the flat iron, because the layers meld, creating that dreaded mushroom.

Here, I have pulled that chunk from the side of my head. I'd rather my hair be like this:

I'm crazy, huh? But I'm just not completely sold on this new cut. I'm not so devastated as in the past, though, perhaps due to the fact that I'm older and mature enough to know that life will go on, even while sporting a mushroom cut. I don't know if I'll go back, though... maybe. I mean, all relationships need work, right? And perhaps Karli and I just need time to feel each other out. I think I should have emphasized more how untrendy and low-maintenance I am, and I've had bad experiences with mushroom cuts, so please don't give me one. Maybe I SHOULD have worn jeans and a sweatshirt, since really, I'm a jeans-and-sweatshirt kind of gal... with an Anthropologie top thrown in here and there. Or maybe I'll just check out Honey Salon next time. We'll see.

In the mean time, I'll be mastering such tools as The Flat Iron and The Bobby Pin to manage my new 'do.

pre-date jitters

I left Magic Salon a few months ago. I loved Michelle, who gave me haircuts that I actually LIKED right out of the salon, but when she left, my coif was entrusted to another stylist. I gave her two chances, but she wasn't cutting it (haha, get it?), so I did what I had to do. I started searching for a new salon.

It's hard finding a good salon. There are many out there, but I want a quality place that is still affordable, that is progressive without being pretentious or overly trendy, and most importantly, I want a stylist whom I trust and will give me a haircut I love.

I scoured yelp and found two salons that fit the bill: Honey Salon and Amithyst Boutique Salon. I actually really like the name Honey Salon and almost made an appointment based solely on that, but Amithyst had an opening tomorrow morning. Plus, they have cheery yellow walls and Amithyst, herself, makes darling feather hairpieces that she sells on Etsy. And anyone who sells anything on Etsy is cool in my book.

So I have an appointment with Karli at Amithyst Salon tomorrow, and I'm excited and a little nervous at the same time. Kind of like a first date, if you will. When you think about it, your relationship with your stylist/salon is much like dating, isn't it? You bounce around from salon to salon, arriving at each appointment with high hopes, only to have them dashed when you leave with a mushroom cut. And this happens over and over... until you find "The One". And then you stick with them for life.

I keep thinking about what Karli will be like. Will she listen to me, or insist upon her own ideas? Will she be patient with my wishy-washiness and how I never know what I want exactly but know exactly what I don't want? and... oh, should I even dare to hope... Will she be able to tame my baby hairs?? And as ridiculous as this sounds, I've even thought about what I am going to wear tomorrow, because I want my outfit to most accurately reflect who I am, so Karli can give me a haircut that will suit me best.

So here goes! Tomorrow morning, 10am. Wish me luck, and if all goes well, hopefully I'll be posting pictures!

only in my dreams...

I've been shopping for shoes to wear to Stef's and Sam's weddings. And of course, my favorites would be these beauties:


$900 Jimmy Choo's.

No, I am not even remotely considering them. But aren't they lovely?

anthropologie complimentary shipping!

Anthropologie is offering free shipping for all anthro members during the month of March! YAY!!!

I am such an anthro fan, I signed Wayne up for his very own anthro card... so that during June, HIS birthday month, he can give his 15% coupon to me. :) Although... if I had been truly clever, I would have listed his birthday in December or January, to allow ample time after my birthday coupon in May! ... I wonder if I can still change that.

grow, bangs, grow!

I went in to Magic Salon for a much-needed haircut today. I've been going there since moving to Sacramento, and Michelle, my stylist before she moved to San Diego, was AMAZING and the first person who has ever given me a haircut that I like right away. This time, I had Sonya for the first time. Everything was going well... until she gave me a "corner" in my bangs, which are basically really short bangs on one side of my head. When I realized what she was doing, I quickly told her to stop; I'm always trying to get rid of my baby hairs, and now I have lots! haha, oh, well. I will be tucking these under for sure, or parting my hair on the other side. The great thing about hair is that it grows!

auck! I look like I'm 12!

biore

I found some old biore strips as I was clearing out my bathroom, so Wayne (after a little cajoling) and I applied a couple to our noses. And just like the commercials, we peeled off the strips after ten minutes and marveled at each other's strips. Except, mine was almost clean and Wayne's was FILTHY! Little dark flecks dotted the entire strip! I couldn't stop looking at it! And if I remember correctly, Wayne's nose was just as dirty last time Stef and I made him biore with us our Freshman year of college. I think it's time I recommend a good facewash for my grubby hubby.

Sacramento's Next Top Model

NOT! ...but I did get to catch a glimpse into the life of the tall and beautiful last night after I agreed to be a part of a fashion show that was sponsored by Nordstrom's Women's Active and The Rail departments, where we modeled, yikes, bikinis and boardshorts! The fashion show was held at Social, a chic night club downtown.

The show was scheduled to start at 10:30pm, but the "models" arrived at the club at 7:30 for hair and makeup (hair by Mosaic Salon and makeup by MAC). I felt like such a star with 3 people working on me at the same time! We were supposed to get spray tans too, which would have been nice for my farmer's tan body that I've acquired from running outdoors, but alas, the tanning salon backed out last minute. Oh, well! Hopefully the bird nest on top of my head was enough to distract everyone from my white belly!

Wayne arrived at 10pm to support me! The classic dork that he is (which I love), he hung around the wall and read a Star Trek book on his PDA while he waited for me. At least he looked good (and at least he wasn't carrying around the actual book)! I had called earlier to remind him about the dress code, and good thing I did, because he was planning on wearing khakis and a polo; cute, but not very "club-like". So I navigated him through his closet over the phone to pick out a dark button down shirt (which I untucked when I saw him and rolled the sleeves up), dark rinse jeans, and black shoes. (By the way, Mr. To was voted "best dressed" by the students this year! I feel just as proud and flattered as if I had received the award myself). I know he felt completely out of his element, so I'm really thankful he came. Thanks, Sweetheart!

The show finally started at 11pm. We each rocked two outfits, in which we had to get in and out of super quickly, and 2o minutes later (if even), it was over! What a whirlwind! Definitely a fun and different experience! (Good thing I have no shame!)

more Anthro news!

Did you know this? I didn't even hear about this until Emily forwarded the email to me. I guess we get separate marketing emails from Anthropologie... I want them all!

Alas, I am subbing for Wayne again tomorrow (he has another workshop to go to), but perhaps this is for the better.

Oh, and I guess I should promote my own company... Nordstrom's Women Half-Yearly sale starts Wednesday, May 20th and lasts until the end of May! Sales start at 33% off, and if you have a Nordstrom card, you get double points during the first 4 days of the sale!

okay, that's all.

Free Shipping at Anthropologie.com!

That's right, FREE SHIPPING! This almost never happens! This offer is good until September 7, and all you have to do is link your anthro account to your online account. This is especially good news for those, like me, whose nearest Anthropologie store is over 3o miles away. YAY!

edit: to link your anthro number to your online account, go to www.my.anthropologie.com.

...these are a few of my favorite things!

Today was a full day. First, I ate oatmeal. Not just any oatmeal; it was Kashi's honey almond oatmeal mixed with regular oatmeal, AND I ate it in one of my new bowls from Anthropologie.

I needed that oatmeal to fuel the rest of my day, because... by 7:30am, I was out the door with Lucy to get her spayed. After dropping her off, I got a much-needed oil change for my car. Then, killed some time at Target before my hair appointment.

Yes, I got another haircut AND I like it! No, I love it! Never again am I going to cheap Asian places. Not because they can't cut hair, I just think their sense of style is different. If I let them do what they want, they inevitably give me shaggy mousy tails, and I don't like mousy tails, at least not on my head. I'm anxious the whole time I'm there and I give them all sorts of directions that I think I want and I end up with something I only complain about. But Michelle—I totally trust her, and she explains everything she's doing! I was actually just going in for a bang trim, but I asked her what she would do if she were to cut my hair short (something I've been aching to do), and she described all the neato things she had in mind, and I said, "Okay, let's go for it!" She snipped, razor bladed, and calls it a "shattered bob", inspired by Lily Allen's new 'do... and the whole time I didn't flinch! (Sadly, Michelle is actually moving back to San Diego at the end of this month... WHY?!?)

Then, I "ran errands" at Nordstrom Rack and Nordstrom (aka "shopped"). Then picked up Lucy, who, poor thing, is still super groggy and uncomfortable.

And then tried my hand at risotto for the first time, which, I think, turned out really well!

I just realized this post is full of my favorite things—food, Lucy, and shopping. hm, I should include Wayne in here somewhere... uh... Wayne mowed the lawn and pulled lots of weeds while I was cooking. Thanks, sweetheart!

subbing for Sevens

I picked up a last minute sub assignment today for a science teacher at Samuel Jackman Middle School. And while subbing is SO not my pastime of choice (the exception being subbing for Wayne or even simply at his school, where he's known), I took on this shift to atone for my shopping habit.

So today, I taught six classes of seventh and eighth graders, showed "The Human Machine" twice and "Planets" four times, sent a student out for being disruptive, wrote down the names of seven students, verbally warned many more, and paced the classroom to maintain good behavior enough times that I don't feel so bad for skipping my run this morning.

Perhaps the title of my last post should have been: "designer denim—worth the headache?"

designer denim—worth the price?

Okay, I need to know... Are designer jeans really worth it? Are they really THAT much more comfortable, better fitting, etc? Whether your answer is "yes" or "no", please tell! And which brand of jeans is your favorite?

I may have a super-employee-discounted-yet-heavily-guilt-inducing pair of denim on the line (yes, that prompted my last entry)... Right now, they are inching their way toward my go-back pile.

weak.

I thought it was going to be okay. I told myself that I would exercise self-control, that this time it would be different, that I would be good. People warned me... but I went ahead and did it anyway. And now I'm realizing that I am not as strong as I thought I was.

Yes, I have worked less than a month at Nordstrom and have already fallen prey to the dangers and temptations of... The Employee Discount.

sigh...

hello kitty kouture

I find this hilarious...

my new kicks.

I've been on the search for the PERFECT black flats (which I think I actually found a few years ago, but passed them up because I bought the red version of them instead, thinking I'd be able to find another comparable pair of black flats, but alas, who knew black flats would be so hard to find... and now I'm kicking myself for not nabbing the black ones too... but anyhow, back to the shoes at hand—or, foot).

So I found a pair of black flats from Coach at Nordstrom. I'm not usually one for brand names or designer fashions. In fact, I was raised to shun brand names (yes, shun) which my parents felt would breed materialism (I can see that), and so the fact that these shoes were Coach actually DETERED me from getting them. But this post is titled "my new kicks", so you already know that I caved. They were SUCH an amazing deal, especially after my discount, I just couldn't leave them behind! And while they are more modish and chic than my usual plain-jane style, I kind of like that. I've been watching a lot of "What Not to Wear", and I imagine Clinton and Stacey nodding in approval.

So, here they are (insert fanfare)... my new kicks!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree...

J.Crew is one of my favorite stores... but really?



And get this, the dress, aptly colored "pine bough", is on sale for $300! (down from $650).

cute sweater!

I've never been a huge fan of clothes for animals, but this makes me want to change my mind!


This is the Lambswool Cable Sweater in muslin, on sale for $29.99 at jcrew.com (originally $60). Too bad they only have xxsmall left. It's such a cute sweater... I wouldn't mind owning one too! haha, then Lucy and I could match!

What Not to Wear in San Diego!

I've recently started watching a lot of "What Not to Wear" and went on their website to see how to get on the show. Sadly, they are not accepting nominations for the Sacramento area, but they ARE for SAN DIEGO!!! (Another reason why we need to move back to SD!)

I've been racking my brain, trying to think of someone I can nominate, haha! If someone were to nominate me, I wouldn't be offended. Well, maybe a little, but then it would quickly pass as I embarked on my $5000 shopping spree!

I thought I'd include the information here, too, for those in SD or have friends in SD. If each person nominated someone at Harvest, the odds might be pretty good that someone would get chosen! I haven't seen an Asian girl on there yet...

for details about getting on the show, follow this link.