Lush looks

Have you seen the March catalog for Anthropologie? The photography is as gorgeous as usual. I never expect anything less. But I am in love with the feeling of the images too. They have me dreaming of warm, lazy summer days, preferably in a tropical locale. They have me wishing for sunlight streaming through windows, using the light only to curl up in a chair with a good book. They have me wanting to throw on a breezy colorful dress that is perhaps too dressy but completely perfect for taking a stroll through a garden. Oh, and they have me wanting to dive into this impossibly cheerful ruffled bedspread. Sounds nice, doesn't it? :)

Well, if you haven't checked out the catalog yet, take a peek at these beauties, my favorite lush looks:

Wishing you sunshine, no matter what the weather outside or how hard the wind blows...




P.S. I got a 15 percent off discount card in the mail from Anthro, a little birthday present from them to me. So if I am really good, perhaps one of these lush looks will be mine. Which one would you choose? (If money wasn't an object, of course.)

Oscars Fashion

Oh, Oscars fashion. You left me dazzled. Wasn't this year's red carpet simply divine? At least, I thought so. Watching the arrivals in the hours leading up to the 83rd Academy Awards, I found it hard to find much that I didn't love (hence the longish, photo heavy post to follow). Almost every star who walked out on the carpet looked fabulously glamourous-- just as they should for Oscar!

Still, I have to play favorites and so my picks for Best Dressed of the night are... drum roll please...

(If you've read my awards show fashion recaps in the past, you know I love color and so my choices won't surprise you...)

Jennifer Hudson in a shockingly good, electric tangerine Versace gown that hugged her curves in all the right places. If those recent ads weren't reason enough to join Weight Watchers, her Oscars look has me almost running to sign up. (Did you catch that? Almost running? Ha. Me. Run. Ha.)

Tied for fabulosity on the red carpet was the always smoldering Mila Kunis, who still looked hot even in a romantic lilac lace number by Elie Saab. Now, if I lived in a dream world and actually strolled down an awards show arrivals line, this I imagine is how I'd want to look. Fun, pretty, vibrant... and still smokin'.

Now, onto my long list of runners ups... I told you there was a lot to love!

Near the top of my list was Academy Award winner for Best Actress, Natalie Portman. She and her growing baby bump look so regal in this aubergine Rodarte gown. I heard some criticism of her "matchy-matchy" look-- note the Jimmy Choos and tassel earrings-- but I think she looked perfect and radiant... ready to accept an Oscar.

These ladies were equally stunning, all in very different ways.

Amy Adams sparkled in a midnight blue L'Wren Scott column gown, and I loved the contrasting pop of emerald jewels at her neck and wrist.

Jennifer Lawrence looked like a "Baywatch" bombshell in a form-fitting tank dress by Calvin Klein; her blonde flowing locks and bronzed makeup were just right, too.

Reese Witherspoon, one of my all-time favorite actresses, went classic in a black-and-white Giorgio Armani Prive gown-- which reminded some of the Valentino Julia Roberts wore when she won the Oscar for "Erin Brockovich" and others of, well, vintage Barbie. Both not bad comparisons in my book!

Then, there were those ladies who simply sparkled and shined...

How adorable to Hailee Steinfeld look in this Marchesa frock that she helped design? I swear, this girl knocks it out of the park every time. Don't we all wish we had stylists when we were in high school?

Also cute as ever was Michelle Williams in a simple but body-con Chanel sheath.

Mandy Moore looked elegant in a nude, crystal-encrusted Monique Lhuillier gown (which, I have to say, looked much better on TV than in this photo).

And Hilary Swank, who is not usually a fave of mine, won me over this year with this fun and feathered metallic number from Gucci.

Thanks to the eternally gorgeous Oscars co-host Anne Hathaway, the fashion surprises didn't stop once the celebs went into the Kodak Theater. She had eight-- including her red vintage Valentino bustle gown she wore pre-show-- wardrobe changes. What girl wouldn't love playing dress up in these designer frocks? (I think my favorite is the first, the burgundy silk Atelier Versace gown.)

via Bitten and Bound

Unfortunately, her counterpart's sudden wardrobe change wasn't as fabulous. Moderately funny, but not fabulous.

Poor James. I had high hopes for Franco but he was just so lackluster, I half expected him to fall asleep. Luckily for Anne, it made me appreciate her over-the-top enthusiasm that much more. At least with her I could tell she was actually delighted to be there.

So... what was your favorite fashion moment from the Oscars? Or favorite moment in general? Admittedly, the red carpet was, by far, my favorite part. I can't lie. But there were some genuine speeches that left me tickled and pulled at my heartstrings (sometimes simultaneously, like Luke Matheny's). And I loved seeing the PS22 chorus close out the show with "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." Those kids rock my socks.

Oh, and while there were many nominated films I have yet to see ("The Fighter" and "The Social Network" to name a few), I really want to go check out the night's big winner now, "The King's Speech." Though, it will probably come out on DVD before I find the time... story of my life.



Images via here, here, here, here, and here

A quick hello!

what better way to welcome March than with an adorable girl and pastel balloons?

Hello, everybody! Just popping in real quick to give a big, warm thank you to all the lovely ladies who left such sweet comments on my last post. You guys truly lifted my spirits and made me feel cared for and loved. Thank you thank you thank you. While I still have had a few moments of feeling sad and lonely, overall I am feeling much better. It is mostly being busy with work-- a blessing in disguise-- that has kept me away from here. But I can't wait to catch up with you all once I get a bit more time! I have been dying to post my fave Oscar fashions-- you know how I love a good pre-awards show red carpet. So look for that (hopefully) later tonight.

On another note, I can't believe it is March 1! Where is the time going? Well, no use looking back at wherever February went... welcome spring (it is hiding somewhere behind the clouds) and welcome March, my birthday month! :)

Hope you are having a wonderful day! (I just finished my second mug of hazelnut-flavored coffee and a sugar-crusted apple turnover... so other than the deadlines hanging over my head, I'd say I'm doing pretty good :)

xoxo,

Image via we heart it

Breaking up is hard to do

Wow. Being the breaker-upper is not much better than being the breakup-ee.

As some of you may have gathered from my last post, or from my facebook status change last week, my boyfriend and I broke up.

I’m the one who did the breaking. It was something that I’ve needed to do for a long time. Safe to say we both saw it coming and yet we both didn’t really want to do anything about it. I finally made the move.

We were together almost four years. It would have been four years April 15.

Like I said, I know it was the right step to take but it wasn’t easy. Despite my own feelings, despite my friends’ prodding, I put it off and off and off because I was afraid. Afraid of being alone. Afraid of losing a friend. A best friend, really. Afraid of how I would feel after. Afraid that I wouldn’t find anyone else to replace the empty feeling in my heart that I knew would only get bigger once I actually said the words that needed to be said: I think we should break up.

And I had never broken up with anyone before. (I was the one who was completely devastated-- several times I might add-- by my high school-into-college boyfriend.) I wasn’t sure what to do or how to say it.

As far as breakups go, this one was … nice? I don’t know the word. Calm? I simply said that things weren’t working out and that we both deserved better-- to find someone who truly makes us happy and gives us what we need. I didn’t feel it was necessary to delve into all the things that I think he has done wrong. Or how he hurt me. What would be the point, really? I knew that once I got those words out-- I think we should break up-- there would be no going back. Nothing he could do to change my mind. Pointing fingers wouldn’t solve anything and we still have a dog together that we both love. And mutual friends. We will still occasionally talk and see each other so I wanted to make the breakup as “nice” as possible.

I think he did, too, because he didn’t get defensive either. As sad as this fact might make me, he pretty much agreed with what I said. It would have been nice if he had tried to fight for me, but I knew going in that wouldn’t be the reaction and it wasn’t. Which is exactly why I knew it all needed to end. So it did.

Luckily, last week was as busy as usual and work kept my mind off of what had happened. Valentine’s Day was a Monday and I had a horrific City Council meeting to attend. (Horrific because it lasted six hours. Longest meeting of my life!) I had meetings almost every night last week in fact. And those deadlines to meet. But then the weekend came and bam! Everything I didn’t want to think about has hit me. The rainy, gloomy weather didn’t help either.

I never really talked about my relationship here and in general I try not to get too personal, but I decided to write this all down because I just called the ex and it left me a bit rattled. I called because he still owes me some money and the bill is coming up this week. (Another reason I did my best to keep the split amicable.) I was slightly dreading calling him but it was harder than I imagined it would be. 

The moment I got on the phone with him and he asked me how I was, it took all the strength within me not to burst out crying. My voice cracked a little and I had to cover my mouth. I didn’t want him to know that I was hurting. It was me, after all, who did this. Surprisingly, for an ultra-emotional girl like me, I didn’t cry that much during the actual breakup. But this weekend, in the privacy of my room, under the covers of my bed, tears have soaked my pillow, coming down heavy like the rain outside.

I still know that I did the right thing. For both of us. But it still hurts. My heart aches because I miss my friend. Heck, I miss my dog. And I hate feeling so incredibly alone. Thankfully, my best friend just returned my call and I’m already feeling a bit better, just being able to talk to her and let out all these emotions swirling inside. Writing it all down has lifted some of the weight, too.

Today, the sun broke through the clouds and I know that this internal storm will also pass. Until this weekend I wasn’t letting myself feel the pain and I’ve realized that even though the breakup was expected and needed and my own doing, it is still okay to feel sad. I spent the last four years of my life loving this man, even if he didn’t love me back the way I needed. I shared my hopes and dreams and fears with him. He saw me laugh and he saw me cry. He was there to talk to when I had a bad day. He was there to go to dinner with and see the latest movie. It’s hard to lose all that. So it’s okay to be sad.

I’m going to let myself feel that for a while and then I’ll get back to the regular, cheerful programming. If you made it this far, you’re awesome. Thanks for reading.

xoxo,


Saw this photo today on Etsy and it seemed to capture my feelings. Find it here, by tamgutlich

The right hands

A heart is a funny thing.

It can be so strong

for the people it loves

and yet those are the very ones

who can break it so easily.

Still,

when held in the right hands,

a heart can be so full

and so light

all at the same time.

So while 

it may not be smart

to keep giving away my heart

so freely,

I will keep on giving

until the day that it finds

the right hands.

penned Feb. 2, 2011

felt again Feb. 12

still feeling today

Image via we heart it

Mailbox pretties

Happy almost-Valentine's Day, my loves! Sorry I have been so MIA... I have been busy busy busy, as usual. But I just had to share with you these cute Valentines I made for The Stationary Place's first-ever handmade Valentine swap!

I met Lyndsey at Dionne's SoCal Blogger's Bee on New Year's Day, which I never posted about-- sorry! It was amazing of course. Nothing less with Dionne as the organizer. (I mean, just check out this Chocolat-themed Valentine's party she threw. I am in awe. Who wouldn't want to be invited to that party?) Maybe one of these days soon I will post about the incredible goodie bags us SoCal bloggers received... so many wonderful artists represented in that bag!

Anyway, like I was saying, I met Lyndsey at the meetup and soon after discovered her blog, dedicated to all things paper. When she announced she was having a handmade Valentine swap, I couldn't resist joining in the fun! Here's a closer look at my creations:

Now, I can't take all the credit for these adorable greetings. I used a kit from my favorite stationary store, Paper Source. Still, I made them my own by adding a few extra hearts here and there and on the interior. And of course the message inside was all my own. I hope the ladies who received them loved them as much as I enjoyed making them!

So, did you send any Valentine's this year? Don't you miss those grade school days when you would bring Valentine's and chocolates for the whole class and drop a little sweetness in each of your friends' pouches? At least, that's what we did at my school...

Hope you are having a sweet, love-filled weekend!

xoxo,

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.