Nailing it

Happy almost-Friday everybody! I wanted to post a quick update today about a project I've been working on. It's called Project Stop Biting My Nails. :)

Remember how I told you that one of my New Years resolutions for 2010 was to stop biting my nails?

And then how just a few weeks before the year was up I realized that I hadn't accomplished that seemingly simple goal and decided to really and truly stop? (So I could say I did successfully meet at least one of my resolutions!)

Well, I've stuck with it and I'm happy to say, I have nice, long(ish) nails! Even through the stress of work and another editor change (Monday was a doozy to say the least), I haven't bitten all my hard earned white tips off.

Even happier, I received that free Zoya polish I told you about (except Kelly, she's still on backorder). Since I've always been a nail biter, I'm not so skillful at painting my nails. But practice makes perfect, right? Here's the colors I've been wearing:

For the past two weeks, while waiting for my three free to arrive, I was wearing Zoya's Laurie, a pale, sheer, creamy pink. Since I am so fair and have cool undertones in my skin, this polish is almost my perfect nude. It would be great for a French manicure, too.

Because Zoya received tens of thousands of orders during their three free promotion, it took a long time for them to get the polishes shipped. And I really needed some products to help me maintain my no-biting policy. So I ordered Laurie and Zoya's Color Lock System, which comes with remover, base coat, top coat and "HurryUp" drying drops. I have to say I love the remover-- it works so fast and has a fairly nice scent for nail polish remover! It's not overwhelming like some can be. I'm also in love with Zoya's base coat, called Anchor. It does what it says and dries within seconds.

I finally received Edyta and Isla-- two of my three free-- last week and I was so excited to paint my nails last weekend. But I was a bit too tired to be bothered. However, Laurie was starting to lose her luster-- though I have to say she did hold up well; hardly any chips!-- so I made the time last night to try out Edyta. (Which I am guessing was named after the sexy Polish dancer on "Dancing with the Stars." The color does remind me of her.)

Here's the results:

Though my dad and brother thought it looked black and "goth" at first, I showed them that in the light, it is actually a dark green with shimmering gold. I think it's unique and pretty. What do you think?

I'm so proud of myself for actually committing to this "project" and not relapsing into my bad habit. It's nice to be able to give myself a manicure and not worry while taking notes during an interview if the person notices my gnawed on nails.

There's only one problem: Now I want to buy tons of nail polish! Like I needed another beauty product to be obsessed with, right? Well, I have my eye on a few other shades: Ibiza, Charla and Julieanne. And I'm lusting after Zoya's entire spring collection, Intimate. (I especially want Marley!)

I probably would have quit biting my nails a lot sooner had I known how many beautiful nail polishes are out there! Thanks, Zoya, for the motivation.

Recent splurges

I don't know what's with me this week, especially given that we just went through Christmas and I got plenty of gifts, but I keep buying stuff! This is a problem, I know, and I feel a little guilty about it. So, in a feeble attempt to wipe my conscience clean, I thought I'd confess to you my shopping sins.

First purchase this week:

Shop- Elephantine

Item- the chic and simple, but so beautiful, fay necklace.

I had my eye on this dainty piece since the moment Rachel added it to her shop. But I always talked myself out of buying it, convincing myself that I had enough necklaces. (But honestly, in my world there's no such thing as too many necklaces!) But when Rachel's newsletter showed up in my inbox Sunday announcing a 20 percent off sale (sorry, it ended yesterday) to ring in the New Year, I simply couldn't stop myself any longer! Isn't it pretty? There are so many others that I'd like to add to my collection, like this pendant necklace, a light and airy bracelet, and these rings.

Second purchase this week:

Shop- Sephora

Items- Urban Decay Naked Palette and Sephora's Glass Nail File

My justification for these purchases is this: I have heard rave reviews about the Urban Decay Naked Palette. (One of you first told me about it when I posted about this gorgeous Tarte palette, which I got for Christmas by the way.) One look at the UD palette and you know why people are gushing. Look at all those wearable shades! Plus, it comes with mini version of UD's cult-favorite Primer Potion. So why didn't I snatch it up in November? It was out of stock! That's how popular it is.

Well, as I told you before, I'm what they call a Beauty Insider with Sephora, which basically means they tempt me and test my willpower via email every week. They're always sending me new offers and codes! This week's deal: Enter 2011 at checkout and get two free mini products to celebrate the New Year. That's what got me browsing Sephora in the first place. When I saw the Naked Palette was finally back in stock I, again, couldn't resist! So there you have it. And why a nail file? To get free shipping, of course (I had to add a couple bucks to my order to reach the threshold). But it is a useful purchase. This will explain why...

Third purchase of the week:

Shop- Zoya

Items- Nail polish

Zoya polish in Isla (a rich, blackened red shimmer), Kelly (a neutral gray with soft blue and purple undertones), and Edyta (a dark metallic with hints of gold and olive)

I was watching new YouTube beauty guru Nancy and she mentioned that Zoya, to celebrate reaching 20,000 "likes" on its Facebook page, was giving away three free nail polishes; just enter FB2011 at checkout and pay shipping. Well, I am still doing pretty good on my whole not-biting-my-nails-even-when-I'm-super-stressed-out thing and I figured what better way to motivate myself and keep my tips looking nice than spoil myself with some new nail polish (and the aforementioned nail file)? Especially free polish! Each bottle is usually $7 and I paid just $6.95 for shipping. If you want to get in on this act fast-- the offer ends tomorrow! What do you think of the colors I chose?

Ah, I feel better now that I have gotten that off my chest :) Do you think I'll be forgiven for my shopping sins? Are they good enough to get me a free pass to retail heaven?

Please do share your recent splurges, too! Shopaholics unite.




Ok, full disclosure. I just realized this post doesn't even take into account my run to Kohl's late Monday night. I had $40 in Kohl's cash from my Christmas shopping that was about to expire and I wasn't going to let it go to waste! Someone needs to save me from myself. Or confiscate my wallet.

Hello, 2011.

It’s that time of year again. Time to self-reflect. Time to set goals. Time to beat yourself up over what you didn’t get done last year. Ha! I’m kidding, kind of.

See, looking back at last year’s resolutions, I’d have to say that they mostly all still apply today. It’s a bit discouraging seeing that I haven’t made much progress in the past year-- though I have in the last two weeks stopped biting my nails. Right now I even have little white tips. It’s all very exciting. I hope this time it sticks!

Anyway, like I was saying, it is a bit of a bummer to look back and feel like you didn’t accomplish the goals you set out for yourself. But, there’s no point in dwelling. Just keep swimming! (Gotta love that Dory.) Perhaps I should print that 2010 post out and hang it on my bathroom mirror so that, while I’m brushing my teeth of all things, I’m constantly reminded of what my resolutions are. I really might just do that but while I’m not going to add a bunch of bullet points to that list, I will talk a little bit here about a few personal goals I’d like to work on in 2011.

In the online world, my perpetual resolution is to be a better blogger-- post more, comment more, you know the drill. But in general, I’d like to work on being a better friend, which can happen online but more importantly in real life. I work so hard at being a good employee and yet I still feel like no matter what I do it’s never going to be good enough. I think if I put my effort into being a better person, a better friend, that would be infinitely more fulfilling. And yet it is so easy for me to let the busyness and stress of daily life get in the way of doing the things I love and spending time with the people I love. I have found, particularly in the past year, that it is all too easy to neglect the things that make us who we are and make us feel good to concentrate on the things that we are supposed to do, demanded to do-- even if those things aren’t what build us up and inspire us. 

There’s a balance to be found, for sure, and it is a difficult one to master. There shouldn’t be all work and no play or the other way around, though that way would definitely be more fun! But I guess what I want to strive for is that "timeless" adage: work hard and play harder! What a motto, right? I sound like a sorority girl. (Oh wait, I was one.) But, hey! I’m only 25. I don’t want to look back on my life and only remember all the sleepless nights spent toiling away at my computer. If there is sleep deprivation in my future-- and I know there will be-- I hope it is more often a result of dancing till my feet hurt or spending hours chatting about life with a girl friend, not stressing out over work. Here, here! (Cue me raising a champagne glass.)

My overarching desire for 2011 is this, and I’ve said it before: to be happy. I want to discover true happiness, in all its forms. I want to find what makes me happy and do those things more. If it means taking risks, then I guess this timid, afraid-of-change girl will just have to find her courage, too. 

On the flip side, I want to find what doesn’t make me happy and then do my best to change it or cut it out of my life completely. I’m sure that exercise will be more difficult than it sounds but I really do believe joy is a choice and if you are letting things into your life that stomp all over joy, then really who is to blame for your unhappiness but yourself? So yes, finding, grabbing and holding onto happiness is my simple yet profound goal for 2011. Sure, to really stop biting my nails for good is definitely on the list again too, but I’m thinking that a happier me will be less prone to nail chewing, don’t you?

So here’s to a 2011 with more smiles, laughter and adventure. And here’s hoping your year is full of that, too.

xoxo,


Images via: 1, 2, 3, 4 + 5

Accomplished

You know how on Myspace (not that anyone uses that anymore) there's a place where you can select your mood? And a little box drops down full of adjectives to choose from-- that once posted, match up with a cute little emoticon?

Well, if I were to choose my mood tonight, it would be "accomplished." Yes, I had a very successful Sunday. Saturday was pretty good: I took Hazel to the dog park, where I chatted with a cool girl while holding down my dress so the wind wouldn't reveal my Victoria's Secret to the world, and later hit up Border's to satisfy my urge to shop (don't worry, I just picked up two magazines: Self and Women's Health, the latter being a new one to me).

Still, today was a particularly productive day (minus the waking up at 11 a.m. part, ha). Here's the rundown:

• Went through my towering stack of mail
• Paid some bills
• Took care of some bank stuff that needed to be done before the end of the month
• Applied for a credit card with 0% APR on balance transfers so that I can transfer my massive balance from my Chase card (remember my New Year's resolution?) and actually start paying it off (I have a 29.99% APR right now. Ridiculous. Cross your fingers I get approved!)
• Dropped off my tax documents with my mom because she's going to do them again this year. Hallelujah! Thanks, mom.
• Ran some other errands
• Did my laundry, including my hand wash items. (Such a pain!) I actually still have one more load to do... (Also a pain since my washer thinks hot water is cold water and vice versa)
• And perhaps the biggest accomplishment of all: Went to the gym! (Also a resolution)

Yep, you read that right. Me. At. The gym. I signed up for a membership with 24 Hour Fitness Wednesday night. I was motivated by the fact that my best friend has a membership and she had wanted me to come with her and take some classes. There was a special going on last week-- hopefully it isn't even lower now, I don't want to look!-- where a one-club access membership costs just $26.99 a month. I figured I could swing that and I'm tired of looking and feeling like a blob.

We (the boy, the roommate and I) were only at the gym for about 50 minutes but we did the elliptical for 20 minutes (I ran 1.7 miles and burned 260 calories) and played basketball the rest of the time. Nothing too intense but I felt the burn and it felt good. I was pumped up leaving the gym!

So yes, I'm feeling mighty accomplished tonight. Let's hope this feeling lasts throughout the week as I tackle all the phone calls, interviews and story writing I have to do in the days ahead.

And, perhaps more importantly, let's hope it gets me back to the gym! (Hold me to it!)

So, did you have a productive weekend? Or did you have a blissfully unproductive weekend? Either way, I'd love to hear!



Image via we heart it

10 in '10

We’re seven days into 2010. Is it too late to make New Year's resolutions?

I’m the worst when it comes to keeping them but I still see the value in the year-end tradition of self-reflection and of setting goals that (if accomplished) will make you and your life better.

So here goes. The trick is deciding what to resolve to do. There are many things I could and should do in all areas of self-improvement. But I don’t want to overwhelm myself. So I’m setting the limit at 10. Ten resolutions for 2010.

Here they are, in no particular order:

1. Save money. I haven’t had a savings account in far too long and 2009 was a tough year on the ole bank account. So I am going to take my best friend’s advice and pledge to save $5 a day. A latte here, a fast food lunch there—it shouldn’t be too hard to do, right? Thing is, I have to deduct that money from my paycheck immediately or else… it will be spent before I know it!

2. Stop biting my nails. Seems simple enough but I have had this unattractive habit for as long as I can remember and I can’t seem to break it! I have tried to quit before and my resolve will last a few weeks or so but the minute I get a hangnail or stressed out beyond belief, bam! I revert back to my old ways. I must stop though. It’s bad for my nails, bad for my teeth and it doesn’t help me distress in the slightest!

3. Eat more healthfully—more fresh fruits and veggies, less carbs carbs carbs—and smaller portions. Also, crack open my cook books and actually make some of the delicious dishes I see on the Food Network!

4. Exercise. I’m not even going to quantify how much this year because, who am I kidding? Any exercise would be better than what’s been going on. (Someone needs to brush the dust off the 30 Day Shred. Yep, that someone would be me.)

5. Read more books, see more movies, visit more museums! I didn’t do nearly enough of any of these in 2009. I need more culture in my life! Even if it is pop culture, ha. Plus, there are dozens of unread books on my book shelf, it is ridiculous. I want to try to read one book a month, which doesn’t sound too hard, I’m sure, for you fast and avid readers out there. But it is so difficult for me to devote the time to just sitting down and opening up a book.

6. Be more productive career-wise. There’s more I could do in my current job—like pitch more feature ideas and not just let myself get bogged down in news—and I still need to organize my clips, but what I’d really like to do this year is direct more of my writing efforts into freelancing. Time is always my excuse but it is important that I branch out and get my foot in the door at magazines that I’d eventually like to work for one day.

7. On a related note: Move to New York. That seems pretty far-fetched even to me but this is my bestie’s resolution, too. Recently she said to me that she wanted to make the move to the East Coast before October when she turns 25. Her reasoning is that if she doesn’t do it by then, she probably never will. Well, gosh, the truth in that gave me a start! So I want to make it happen. And the first step toward this goal is a little thing called saving money that I mentioned before.

8. Pay off my credit card. I have a few credit cards in my wallet but there is one in particular that I am talking about. One whose balance didn’t go down much last year thanks to a nearly 30 percent interest rate. (I’m talking to you, Chase.) That’s another resolution: to transfer my balance!

9. Continue to reconnect with old friends and make some new. Working at home is tough. There’s no coworkers to gossip with or go to lunch with. Friends were easy to come by in college but not so much any more. So I am resolving to put myself out there more and to pick up the phone more. My get-togethers with friends during the holidays (as well as my first blogger’s meet up last Sunday—stay tuned for that post soon) just reconfirmed to me how good friends are for the soul and the spirit.

10. And finally, to be happy with myself and love who I am, no matter what. Even if I fail at these resolutions!

So what do you think of my 10 for ’10? What are some of your resolutions? And if you have any tips on how I can actually accomplish my goals this year, by all means, let me know!

images via we heart it 

Breathe and reboot

TGIF! So glad it is Friday. Yesterday, I was thankful for it just being Thursday since that is the day when my work week starts to wind down. I finish last minute stories, do the police blotter, that week's paper gets "put to bed" as we say and then I ... relax.

Well, I did a little more than relax yesterday. I have a secret actually. But I can't spill just yet. Let's just say I have some big, exciting news to share (well, big and exciting to me, anyway) but I can't divulge until I have talked to my parents. See, my mom reads this blog and if she found out on here first, I don't think she would be too happy. So, I'll leave you in suspense for a day or two. Till then, feel free to guess in the comments. I'll rule two things out though first: NO, I am not engaged. (Ha!) And NO, I am not pregnant (double ha!).

As you probably can tell, since I haven't posted since Tuesday (sorry!) I was pretty busy this week. So I am very glad that tomorrow is the weekend! I still have lots of to-dos to scratch off the list today but it is a little easier to breathe on Fridays. Does anyone else get that feeling? See, on Mondays and Tuesdays and even sometimes on Wednesdays, I wake up with this stress-ball-in-the-pit-of-my-stomach feeling because of all the stuff I need to get done, especially now that my editor has two papers to put out instead of one. I really need to be on my game simply to make things less stressful for him. (As I kind of talked about in this post about two weeks ago). My days go something like this: Call this official. Interview this person. Go to this meeting. Set up this photo. Write this story. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

So while this schedule still applies to Fridays because I do have to get a jump on next week's paper, my deadlines are a few days away and I feel better. Like, deep-breath-and-release better. TGIF, indeed.

I have resolved to take advantage of my weekends more instead of falling into my routine of just sleeping in and laying around the house-- which is nice sometimes but definitely boring. Inactive. Un-fun. So this weekend I am already planning to go to Simi's 20th annual Cajun Creole Music Festival. It is pretty much the biggest thing that happens in my town all year and it's benefits local organizations so, why not? I used to go with my family as a kid but I haven't been now in ages. Should be a good time and I'll post some pictures Monday.

I am also hoping to find time to read a book this weekend and maybe see a movie (I am dying to see The Soloist. Very appropriate, me being a journalist and all. You never can get too far away from work, can you?)

Do you have any fun plans this weekend? Love to hear them!

Image via Leave Happier via lostinthisworld666's Photobucket

No time like the present

Yesterday I told you my overarching resolution for 2009: to welcome change and move toward transformation instead of scurrying away. So today I thought I would share with you what else I have on my list of to-dos, the smaller alterations that I would like to make in my life that, not coincidentally, also relate to change.

While I am never sure about making resolutions, since the mere act of making them is usually the only success anyone has, I figured it is better to make some resos with good intentions than to not make any at all. The process of recognizing what you should change or better about yourself is worthwhile, I think, even if you stumble or never completely cross that "to-do" off the list.

So here's what I got. There are some pretty typical resos that I think almost every woman resolves to do, probably on a daily basis, but there's a few more personal ones in the mix, too:

1. Exercise 3x a week (I haven't made much progress on this resolution. I need a big dose of motivation to put on my workout gear and haul my butt off the couch to the gym.)
2. Eat healthier, meaning more fruits and veggies and less carbs (I am making baby steps on this, but I just love pasta way too much! I mean, I'm not even Italian, but I could eat it like everyday. Tomato, Alfredo, Pesto, Mmm... but I digress)
3. Save money (This is a tough one. I can barely afford my rent but I really do want to stash a little cash away for the future... or a new car)
4. Read more, and I don't mean magazines. Got that covered. I would like to read all the wonderful titles sitting on my book shelves so that instead of just looking well-read, I actually am. Maybe one book a month?
5. Organize my clips and put them in portfolios. Finally. I mean, I got clips overflowing in boxes in my apartment and my parents' house. It's out of control!
6. Be a better friend. For me, this means reconnecting and staying in touch with my old college roomies, who I love and miss, and even making more time for my friends nearby. I'm thinking Sex and the City-style brunch get-togethers to talk about life, love and--what else?-- window-shopping (Well, it is a recession. And see reso #3).

I'm sure I could go on and on, seems like there are so many things in my life I would like to improve, but I think six is a good enough number for now. Still manageable. 

Well, your turn. What resos did you make? And are you keeping them?

Hello, lovely.

Fifteen days into the new year and I am finally doing something I have been meaning to do for quite some time: start a blog. A relatively simple venture but I had my reasons for staying away. I mean, put my life out there for the world to see? Sounds a bit scary. (That is, if people read this. And I hope that, eventually, they do.) But see, that's the thing. Even though all the NYE hoopla is two weeks behind us, I think I can still safely make a few resolutions and maybe keep them (hey, I am still seeing some holiday-themed commercials after all), and the one I want to make most is this:

Embrace change.

Or even, create it.

"Change" was the buzzword of 2008. We saw it everywhere. And people were looking for it everywhere. They still are. With the economy a mess, people are searching for hope on the horizon. And many times, hope comes in the form of change.

Yes, I voted for Obama. I voted for Bush, too, but that's a different story. Although I pledged my allegiance to Obama at the ballot box this past November and I stand behind his dreams and goals for our country, I wouldn't consider myself an Obama maniac. (Or an Obama Mama? No, no.) And even though I am a reporter and I tried my dardest to keep up to date on the campaign--covering local politics for the Simi Valley Acorn kept me pretty busy. We had quite a mayoral race. Ha ha-- I never got completely swept up in the hysteria surrounding the election of our first black president. I never chanted "Yes We Can" with the fervor displayed by the masses I saw on TV.

And yet, with just four days left before the inauguration of our 44th president and excitement reaching a crescendo, I am reminded of why change is so important and not something to resist. How turning from one path to another can lead to something... Well, I guess we don't know what yet. But I am starting to think "Yes We Can" instead of the hemming-and-hawing, weak-and-wavering philosophy of "No, I can't, I shouldn't, etc. etc. etc."

So while I don't know where I'm going, this blog will document the journey-- sometimes seriously, sometimes not so seriously. I hope you will stay with me for the ride.

Image via www.allposters.com