Champagne Wishes

A New Milestone

2009-03-04T00:32:00.003-06:00

Several years ago, I would not have been caught dead doing this. I still would not be caught doing this on a Friday or Saturday night. Yet, for the first time tonight, after a trip to J. Crew to exchange some things, I --- get this ---- went to see a movie . . . BY MYSELF!!! Considering my weird work schedule and the abundance of time I have off during weekdays, I have been thinking about this often, but have been to lazy to follow through on it. This couldn't have come at a better time, though, because there was a movie theater at the mall, and this movie was starting just a minute or two after I browsed up to the marquee to see what was playing.

What did I see, you ask? Confessions of a Shopaholic, of course! Lame, I know, but I love Isla Fisher, and I have read almost all of the books, despite the fact that they became increasingly annoying with each new one. Besides, I don't know of too many other people in my vicinity who would like to go see this movie anyway. Furthermore, I pretty much AM a shopaholic, and the subject of this movie is something I can relate to!

Overall, I thought it was really cute and really funny. Better than expected. And lots of eye candy in terms of great costumes, scenery, and the cute leading man! Plus, there was an appearance by a J. Crew item; the Campo de' Fiori sweater dress from last year. It was worn by the main character's roommate and styled with hot pink tights to make it look completely atrocious. But I was happy by the sighting, nonetheless. Seriously, I am a COMPLETE dork!

Random Thoughts

2009-03-03T00:40:00.003-06:00

For some reason, I can't sleep. Actually, I think the reason is that it is one of my days off, and I'm trying to adjust to a "normal" day schedule, when I work nights. I went to bed at two a.m. last night (or, I guess, morning) and woke up at four. Luckily, Mauri was wide awake in D.C. and was there to keep me company via text message. Ugh, it was seriously a boring weekend since two of my best friends were out of town!

So, onto the randomness:

-Today I went to the dermatologist to get some suspicious moles looked at and to see what the heck is up with my face. Normally I have clear, porcelain-like skin and rarely break out, but the past few months I have been getting cystic acne and an increasing number of blackheads on my chin, as well as tiny little bumps all over my face. To most people it's not noticeable (seeing as I still get complimented quite often on my complexion), but to me, it is quite troubling. Well, first of all, the good news is that none of my moles look cancerous, according the the doctor. Second, I got a prescription for a topical gel for my face called Epiduo. I had never heard of it before, and on researching it when I got home, I found out that it just hit the market in January. According to the press releases, it's supposed to be the next big thing in acne treatment. It combines a benzoyl peroxide and a retinoid, and is supposed to be more effective than putting on each one separately. To those who know me, it's no surprise that I love having and trying the newest products, so I am very excited to be among the first to try this out. My local CVS pharmacy didn't even have it in stock, so i will have to wait to get it until tomorrow, but in the future, I will be sure to report on its effectiveness.

-I've known about the outcome of the Bachelor finale for several weeks now, but that didn't stop me from watching it. I'm gullible, so I truly want to believe that Molly didn't know this ending was coming. It's like a twisted fairy-tale ending for her. For every girl that has lost her true love, it is something that you always hoped that would happen, but of course, it never did. But don't get me wrong, I have much more sympathy for Melissa and know that it would SUCK to be in her shoes! I feel like I have been in her shoes before, in a sort of similar, but sort of different way, if that makes any sense! Before me and my most recent ex started dating exclusively, he dated me and this other girl at the same time before deciding to commit to me. I remember at that time actually feeling like I was on the Bachelor, waiting to get that rose, because I was aware that there was another girl that was vying for his affection as well! Long story short, he ended up "choosing" me, we were together for three years, broke up, and then less than a month later, he was already sleeping with that other girl from years ago. C'est la vie, I suppose. But I am much better off now, and Melissa will be, too, I can guarantee it!

-I feel one hundred percent better now that my roots are no longer a light reddish color. Ladies, let me tell you, your hair is too precious to trust to an acquaintance that does not have years of coloring experience under her belt! I made this mistake about a month and a half ago. Under pressure from mother to lighten up my almost black-brown hair (she said I looked like, and I quote, an "indian," whatever the heck that is supposed to mean), I went to a former coworker of mine from my cocktail waitressing days to get some *subtle* highlights to break up the color a bit. My normal hair stylist moved to Arizona about a year and a half ago and only comes into town about once every six weeks, so I decided to take a chance and let my former coworker do my color, as she is apprenticing at a hair salon and needs more practice and more clientele. Needless to say, it did not turn out at all like I wanted. Those "subtle" highlights lightened my hair several shades, the virgin hair at my roots lifted several shades lighter than the rest of my hair, and my whole head took on a reddish tone, when I should be a cool brunette, due to my coloring.

It was a disaster. I went back to her a week later to get it toned down, and while that made *some* improvement, it still wasn't what I wanted. When my regular stylist came in town the other week, I had her try to tone it down, and it *still* wasn't fully corrected. The roots were still much lighter and just drove me up the walls. I couldn't take it any longer and decided to just dye over all of it myself, so now I'm pretty much back to square one. Sorry, mom. But I am back to looking like Snow White, just like I like it! It's just been very difficult for my mom to accept me as a dark brunette, seeing as I was born a blonde, and kept my hair highlighted to a bright Southern blonde all the way up to a few years ago...

-So now the only thing I need to make all of my hair problems go away is to get a weave! Sorry, did I say, "weave,"? I meant very classy hair extensions! Another mistake I made the other month was to chop off my long hair into a bob. While my hair stylist is excellent at cute angled bobs, I knew that there was a reason why I have not had my hair shorter than shoulder length for nearly 7 years. It just does not suit me. I feel and look like a soccer mom. I have been looking longingly at pictures of me from a year ago when my hair was well past my shoulders and looking dark and lovely. Sigh. I will be so happy when 2010 is here and all of 2009's hair mistakes will be behind me!

- Drawing inspiration from other bloggers I have become familiar with through J. Crew Aficionada, one of the things I have decided to give up for Lent is buying new clothes. Let me tell you, it is already becoming difficult. After a little over a month of pretty much ignoring J. Crew, I have already discovered many new items that I want! I do have some stuff that I need to take back there. I wonder if I exchange those items for new things instead of just crediting the funds back to my credit card, if I will still be keeping my vow? I suppose only the good Lord will know!

Since I'm Doing Absolutely Nothing Today . . .

2009-02-24T17:54:00.004-06:00

. . .I thought it'd be the perfect time for a good ole' post about a recent J. Crew purchase! Yesterday the UPS man brought me the Dressy Grecian V-Neck Long Dress in Oasis Green. Although I typically don't purchase items meant for spring/summer wear in winter months (and vice-versa), I had just received my Spring Rewards card, and had a feeling that this dress wouldn't be around for very long. Well, I was right, because I noticed only a few days later that the dress was sold out in my size in the green color!

The color is very pretty and similar to how it looks on the website. The jersey is of a nice weight and not as unforgiving as those side-tie jersey dresses from last year. The size also runs true to what J. Crew jersey dresses usually run. Since I'm small-chested, I wear an XS, which fits perfect. Even though I'm pear-shaped, the dress is flowy enough that the XS is still a good fit. At 5'5", I'm a bit too short for the dress, but that can be easily fixed, as the dress is un-hemmed. I don't trust myself enough to cut it evenly, so I'd probably still take it to a tailor to have it done. Although I am small-chested enough where I wouldn't need to wear a bra with this dress, I like how it is not too low-cut in neither the front nor the back where I can still have the option to wear a strapless bra with it.

Overall, I am very pleased with this dress and glad I made the purchase. It will be perfect for summer brunching on the patio or for a Mexican beach vacay which I plan on taking with the girls later this year! It will look just fabulous with some gold accessories or some chunky wooden bangles or necklace.

New Adventures in Consumerism (or How I Became a Crazy Cat Lady)

2009-02-17T00:25:00.008-06:00

One of my half-assed, non-specific resolutions for the new year was to spend less money. Or buy less stuff. Something like that. And if we are talking about buying less stuff for moi, I guess you could say I’ve been somewhat successful at that thus far. However, I have a new addition to my household, which has sparked a spending frenzy. Meet Stephen Patrick Morrissey, or Stephen for short:

He is my $1000 ball of fluff. A handsome little Siberian kitten. Hypo-allergenic, sweet, and very smart. And since I always have to have the very best, why shouldn’t my cat? Here are some of the products I have purchased to make Stephen the coolest, most spoiled kitty on the block:

Every cat needs a carrier, and this is definitely the best-looking, most functional one that I found. The Sleepypod doubles as a bed, with the mesh top that zips right off. Of course, Stephen doesn’t sleep in this. But he looks pretty cool when I take him to the vet.

I bought the Cat Livin’ Climber in hopes that Stephen would use it to satisfy his climbing and scratching needs, and leave my couches and countertops alone. It certainly looks a thousand times more attractive than a traditional carpeted cat tree. He does scratch on its sisal surface, but hasn’t gotten brave enough to climb on its shelves.

The Hepper Pod bed was my first purchase; I bought it even before I put the deposit down on Stephen, because it was on sale, and it just looked soooo cool. The green color matches the décor in my apartment, and reminds me of a UFO. This is another thing that Stephen doesn’t use, but I’m hoping to bribe him by putting treats in it.

One of Stephen’s favorite toys was also one of the cheapest things I bought for him. It’s the Turbo Scratcher. He never seems to get tired of chasing the plastic ball in the track.

The Peek-and-Play toy box is fun for hiding treats and toys in. It’s also entertaining to watch Stephen try to get them out.

I got these cute bowls from Petco.

Probably the most important thing I got for Stephen is the Litter Kwitter system. I cannot stand the litter box, and getting a kitten of my own did not change that hatred. The Litter Kwitter allows you to train your cat to use a human toilet. We are now on to the “amber” stage. I hope that within the next two months Stephen will be fully trained. He is doing an awesome job so far! It’s a pretty messy process, though, with litter being thrown everywhere every time he hops down from the throne.

Which led me to purchase the Dirt Devil Kurv. Quite possibly the most attractive hand-held vacuum ever! Has been a necessity in keeping the bathroom floor free of litter.

Speaking of litter, until Stephen has been completely toilet-trained, I have been using an all-natural, wheat-based, flushable litter called Swheat Scoop. Ha ha. Get it? Not that I have ever had any prior experience with litter, but I have been pleased so far, and the fact that it doesn’t have any chemicals in it is nice. The flushable part is a must, too, because Stephen likes to push the litter into the toilet.

A lot of the stuff I got for Stephen I found through a blog called Modern Cat. A must-read if you have a cat or are interested in getting one, if you want to find cool, non-frumpy cat stuff that fits into your lifestyle.

A final note before I conclude this blog post: While I am first and foremost a dog person, I also believe in being a responsible pet owner. As a nurse who works twelve-hour shifts, I thought it would not be right to get a dog, as it would be unfair to leave one inside for that long without a potty break, in addition to the fact that they thrive on human attention and would get lonely. I also feel badly that with the millions of homeless pets out there, I made the decision not to adopt a cat from a shelter. However, I am allergic to cats, and upon doing research, I discovered the Siberian cat, which is a hypoallergenic breed. The downside is that there is no way you are going to find one in a shelter or from a rescue group (believe me, I looked on Petfinder!). Which is why I had to shell out the cash to purchase Stephen from a breeder. It has been a worthwhile investment though. The breeder is wonderful and it shows in how intelligent and well-socialized my cat is. She also calls me every so often to check in on him and see if I have any questions or concerns. Disclaimer complete!

I have a strange job.

2009-01-13T23:44:00.003-06:00

Happy 2009, everyone! First off, I would like to apologize to my thousands of loyal followers for my lack of posting in the last several weeks. I am very sorry to let you down. With the holidays and finishing up my critical care nursing residency program, I have been very busy. But now I am DONE! With the residency, that is. Beginning tomorrow evening, I will have my first shift without having someone hovering over me, watching my every move. I am excited, but very nervous at the same time. Now if I make a mistake, there is no one to catch it. It's all on me. Needless to say, I will only be taking care of the most stable of patients in the ICU, if I can help it!

My last shift in residency was on Sunday, and it seemed only fitting that I had my first patient death. That may sound kind of grim to some people, but it was like a natural transgression. I started off taking care of very stable patients and gradually transitioned onto sicker and sicker patients, to finally one that was so sick that there was nothing left that could be done.

He already looked like a dead man from the moment I started that shift. His skin was mottled, extremities were cold. You couldn't feel any of his pulses. Pulse oximetry monitoring wouldn't work on him since his peripheral blood circulation was non-existent.He was on three different vasoactive drips to keep his blood pressure up. He was maxed out on two of the medications, and so our only option was to gradually go up on the third until that one was maxed out. And from there, we just waited for him to go.

It was a bit tense, standing in the room with the family members, all staring at the monitor, watching his heart go into arrythmias. Brief runs of ventricular tachycardia. Blood pressure kept dropping. I had to just turn off all the alarms on the monitor because the constant blaring was just a reminder of how quickly this man was going down.

Onces the blood pressure dropped into the 30s and 40s, my preceptor and I attempted to find either a carotid or femoral pulse. Nothing. Decided to page the on-call doc to examine the patient, because at this point, he probably really was dead. On-call doc was just an intern. Idiot intern. He didn't show up for nearly 20 minutes. He couldn't feel any pulses either and decided to call it. "So, is there like a form or something I need to sign?" he asked me. "I don't know. You're the doctor," I replied.

The respiratory therapist came in and disconnected him from the ventilator, while me and my preceptor turned off the numerous IV pumps, turned off the monitor. I'm not sure why I expected the man to move or breathe or anything like that, but of course he didn't. Everything was still, quiet. He was dead.

After all the necessary paperwork was completed, I went to get the keys to the morgue and a gurney on which to put the body. By the time we zipped him into the body bag, it had been almost three hours since he was officially declared dead. I was surprised that his body was stiff. Weird.

But it got even weirder. After unlocking the door to the morgue, there was yet another door to unlock, which was the door to the cooler. Yes, it was about the size of a walk-in refrigerator at a restaurant. Not nearly as big as you would expect for a hospital as large as the one at which I work. Four or five other gurneys with adult-sized bodies were in there. To the right, there were shelves with plastic storage containers that had tiny, baby-sized body bags. And there was a big red barrel that said "Placentas Only."

The third key was to open up the box where my dead patient's chart would go. And then I had to sign him into the morgue; much like you would sign someone into a doctor's office or a meeting.

So there you have it. My job, my work as a nurse. Well, only a small part of it. A small, strange part of it.

The Best Part of Holiday Shopping . . .

2008-12-21T22:04:00.002-06:00

. . . is that you will hear "Last Christmas" by Wham! at least three times during each trip to the mall. Word.

Observations from the E.R.

2008-12-15T23:23:00.002-06:00

As part of my orientation, I got paid to spend the day (a.k.a. sort of work and observe) in my hospital’s E.R. I had a really good time when I rotated through there during nursing school, and this time was no exception. There were several things that I noticed during that day:

1. As much as I enjoy working with the unconscious or intubated patients who cannot talk to me up in the ICU, I also really enjoy working with the “crazies.” At the county hospital, there is definitely no shortage of those. Take, for example, the old prostitute (so insist the ER nurses) with a walker who demanded to speak with the head of the hospital because we would not prescribe her narcotics. Or, the older African American gentleman who suffered a minor burn to his face after lighting a cigarette while on his oxygen tank. He was there so we could “get this black stuff off of his face.”

He couldn’t even tell us why he needed to be on oxygen in the first place. I must be a bit of a risk taker, because as agitated as he was getting, I still dared to put a catheter in him since he wasn’t able to “go” and we needed to get a urine sample to do a drug screen. He had initially flat out refused to get a catheter put in, but I was able to sweet-talk him into it. For that, I earned the nickname of “Angelina Jolie.”

2. I am getting better at putting in IVs. I was batting 1000 that day. Three for three, baby! I’ll be honest though; every person I stuck had veins fat enough that you’d have to be blind not to get one in. But whatever.

3. The ER nurses are a lot nicer than the SICU nurses. Don’t get me wrong, I do like (most) of the people I work with. However, as talented as they are, there is some serious attitude that gets thrown around, and it’s something I didn’t quite fully realize until I went to the ER. As much as I love my coworkers’ sick sense of humor and can relate to them on many levels, I just hope I don’t get fully sucked into their cult of superiority. I’m telling you, the nurses in my unit have a reputation around the hospital, and now I can see why!

4. Docs are around constantly. I thought we saw them a lot in the ICU, but they are literally there all the time in the ER. That is where they live. And all the hot ones are married.

5. If you are a trauma patient (car accident, fall, shooting, stabbing, etc.), expect a doctor to put his finger in your rear. The trauma hall was very busy that day, and on every admit that I saw, the same doctor was always sticking his finger up the patient’s butt. Yes, yes, there is a totally valid reason for it (to check for bleeding and rectal tone; no tone can mean a spinal cord injury), but the juvenile side of me smiled. I secretly wondered exactly how many butts had this doctor stuck his finger inside of during his tenure in the world of medicine? I was also amused by the male patient who screamed expletives while getting his special exam, as if the doctor was taking his manhood away from him . . .

6. There is nothing like getting to meet a patient up on the helipad. Okay, so I’m sure by the hundredth or even tenth time you get to do it, it would get old, but I was absolutely giddy inside when I learned that I would get to watch the CareFlite helicopter land and help wheel the patient on a gurney all the way back to the trauma hall. The warm wind, the setting sun, and the Dallas skyline in the background made for a perfectly surreal experience. You couldn’t pay me enough to be a flight nurse, but I’d love to take over once the copter lands! In a word: awesome.

Random musings about J. Crew

2008-12-11T19:33:00.007-06:00

I'm just going to quick hit a few deals I got and make a few comments about a few items:

Salina Iridescent Patent Leather Flats in Guava:

I think I got these on sale, plus 30% off, so they were around $60. They are very pretty and the guava color is neutral enough to go with almost anything.

Large Odile Bag in Driftwood:

Once again, a great neutral to go with everything. It's also the type of neutral that will work year-round. The leather is very soft. It is lined with cotton twill. I was a little disappointed that it didn't come with a dust bag, but I can live with that. It was only around $150 including shipping after 30% off the sale price. I actually ended up with two of these bags after I got an e-mail stating that my original order had been cancelled. Well, I reordered the bag since it was showing as still in-stock, and what do you know, both my original and the new one arrived at my doorstep. While returning the extra bag, a woman in the next line over loved it so much that she decided to purchase it after my return was complete.

Italian Calfskin Jamie Bag in Dark Cloud:
The leather on this bag is soooo soft and pretty, but it will scratch quite easily. It is quite roomy and lined with a silk grosgrain type material. Unfortunately, on my second day of using it, the tassel on one of the zipper-pulls came detached. It's hard to describe, but basically I am going to have to try to take it to a shoe repair and see if they can do anything about it. J. Crew was already sold out of the Jamie bags in this color, but they did credit 10% of the purchase price back to my card to cover the expense of getting it repaired. I got this bag on sale for around $210, which is almost half of what it originally cost.

Morgan Cozy Cardigan:

I posted about this earlier on my list of things that I wanted. I bought it, but now I am having second thoughts. It is super soft and cozy. However, it is not made entirely of alpaca wool. It also contains acrylic, which is not acceptable for a sweater that costs nearly $200. I was in my local J. Crew today, and they had the sweater on sale for $130 (plus an additional 30% off), so I might see if there is a store that has my size left and repurchase it at the lower price.

Cashmere Sweaters:

They are all only $99 in stores, plus an additional 30% off. I got an off-white cardigan and a black turtleneck. Boring, yes, but they are just some staples I needed for my wardrobe.

My local store was pretty close to clearing out all of their winter merchandise and predominantly featuring their spring/resort collection. Some of the items are very pretty, but I have barely even started to get wear out of my fall and winter stuff! I just need to hold out for as long as possible, knowing that it will eventually go on sale. While I love the J. Crew Aficionada blog, reading it all the time makes me become a bit irrational. I decide I *have* to get a certain item right as soon as it comes out, because it won't be available for long. Well, that bit me in the ass more than a few times, because practically everything I ever bought at full price ended up sticking around and getting marked down big time! This is good for J. Crew, but bad for my checking account...

Real Ladies Wear Underwear

2008-12-08T17:15:00.004-06:00

Okay, so I was sitting in class/work the other week and could not help but stare at this girl who was in the row in front of me, because her pants were dipping down so low in the back that you could see her crack. Yes, her crack. I don't know how she didn't know that thing was hanging out; you would think it would get a little drafty back there, no?

It got me thinking about why exactly some women choose not to wear underwear. I just do not understand. I find it disgusting, and with all of the new undergarment technology out there, there is really no good excuse not to. Are you wearing low-rise pants? They do make low-rise underwear, you know. My personal favorite is Hanky Panky's low-rise lace thong. It is made of super-stretchy, super comfortable lace, and one size fits almost all.

You say you don't want VPL (other wise known as "visible panty line")? Try Commando brand underwear. These things are totally thin and seamless. If they show underneath your clothing, do you think, perhaps, it's not a good idea that you wear something that tight??

What I really don't understand is when some women don't wear underwear when they are wearing short skirts. Really? You want to rub your vag all over dirty public surfaces and flash it to strangers? Worse yet for the rest of us, we have to sit on the juices that have rubbed off from your bare cooch. Yes, I know that sounded gross, but I'm trying to make a point! And the point is, in case you haven't gotten by now, please, for the love of sweet Jesus (and the rest of your fellow human beings), wear underwear! Me and your grandmother will thank you.

The Holidays are Here!

2008-12-04T19:45:00.007-06:00

I just spent the afternoon buying a few festive things to get my apartment in the mood for the holiday season.

First off was this pretty wreath from Pottery Barn:

Right now their holiday decor is up to 50% off, so I got this for only $49.99, down from $99. There's no way in hell this thing is worth anywhere near the original price, so I was glad I could get it for less, since it is the only wreath that really caught my eye. They also have some cute woodland creature and acorn ornaments that I might buy on after-Christmas clearance sale if they are still around (and I'm sure they will be).

To really get myself in the spirit, I stopped at Starbucks to pick up a Peppermint Twist Mocha. I have no idea if this is supposed different than the regular Peppermint Mocha, they probably just changed the name to entice suckers like me to buy it. They also have a new Espresso Truffle latte, which I tried yesterday. Tomorrow I plan on trying the Gingersnap Latte. Once again, this is probably just the Gingerbread Latte with a snazzier name. Btw, my local Starbucks is now carries some hot, savory breakfast items. They are tasty, but it brings the bill close to nine bucks. Oh, I think I would be very disgusted with myself if I added how much I spent on breakfast and triple grande holiday-themed lattes at Starbucks this week.

Next, I went to Target to pick up a wreath hanger and a few other random holiday things like some winter white place mats with metallic branches and leaves embroidered on them, and some glittery pears to replace the fake apples in this green glass bowl that sits on the counter top. Target really does have some cute Christmas decor, grouped into cute themed collections, like Birchwood Chalet, Snowfall Splendor, and Arctic Solstice.

I also picked up a few bird ornaments. Although I sadly do not have room for anything other than a miniature tree in my apartment, I am collecting bird ornaments, because one day I hope to have a full-sized tree that has nothing but birds on it. I love birds. Except for grackles and pigeons. I think when I am older and own a house, I will put all kinds of bird feeders in my backyard and become an amateur bird watcher or something. Anyway, it seems like I am in luck, because bird ornaments are just everywhere this season. Anthropologie has some especially adorable ones.

Once I put out the decor and put the pine-tree scented refills in my Wallflowers (which I wisely bought well over a month ago, because the holiday scents always seem to be sold out before Thanksgiving!), my humble abode will be ready for holidays! All I will need to do to make it complete is play my Rat Pack Christmas CD and pour a glass or two of champagne. It's about time I made a dent in my seven (yes, seven) bottle stash...

Word of the Day

2008-11-20T13:49:00.004-06:00

squirrelly (skwûr'ə-lē, skwŭr'-) adj. Slang
1. Eccentric.
2. Cunningly unforthcoming or reticent.
(Source: 2006 American Heritage Dictionary)

It wasn't the first time I'd heard this word, but I was recently reminded of how awesome it is by a patient I was helping to admit a few weeks ago. He said that he had a drug allergy to morphine. When asked what, exactly, happens when he takes morphine, he replied, "It makes me get real squirrely." This made me smile. And vow to use the word "squirrelly" more often in my everyday conversations.

New Arrivals at J. Crew: Hits and Misses

2008-11-18T17:27:00.009-06:00

Okay, so this is like my millionth post in a row about J. Crew, but whatevs. It's keeping me blogging, so that's good, right?

Anyhow, J. Crew has updated their website with some new arrivals for the holidays. There are a few things that I'm excited about, some things I wish I was excited about, and some things I'm not too excited about.

Let's bring on the cute, shall we?:

Metallic Houndstooth Marie Jacket, $425.

If only I had a man to take me to some fine establishments so I could get some use out of something like this! Or if only I lived in a place where people walked further than the distance from car to building and back so I could show this baby off. I love how effortlessly sophisticated the model looks in this picture. This is a jacket that could definitely be dressed up or down. Want it. But still have zero use for it.

Liquid Gold Sequin Skirt, $250.
Once again, another item I have no use for but absolutely love. If only I had some fancy holiday party to go to! And for a full skirt that is entirely covered in sequins, I'd say the price is just about right. With the insane prices J. Crew has been charging for their Collection items, I'm surprised they didn't price this item higher.

Merino Sequin Chiffon Shell, $148.

More sequins, but this is a piece I could actually fit into my generally non-dressy lifestyle. It would look cute with with some dark jeans and heels for a night out. I would have to try this on in person, however, because the shape on the model looks a tad suspect.

Morgan Cozy Cardigan, $198.

If I had to sum up my winter style in one item of clothing, this would probably be it. I live for this kind of stuff. Plus, it is made from baby alpaca wool, which is insanely soft (but does have a tendency to shed).

And now for the pieces I'm not so pumped about:

Sanibel Crawford Blouse, $160

Don't get me wrong, I adore the print, but as you can see in a previous post, I am not a fan of the shape of the Crawford, at least not on me. I would love to see this pretty print on something different! And an extra $72 for the print on this blouse (as compared to the solid colored version) is a bit extreme.

Cashmere Chunky Cable Sweater, $450.

Wow, this even makes the model look puffy. That's saying something.

There's nothing else that really catches my eye and makes me say, "yuck," but I will say that I am disappointed in the lack of new dresses that J. Crew has rolled out with this time. I'm not sure exactly what I've been looking for, but I do know that J. Crew does not have it. There are a few okay dressy dresses, but nothing that wows me. And there aren't enough casual cute dresses either. I wish J. Crew made some more cozy sweater dresses, or some shirt dresses like they did last winter.

And of course, there are many more things in this latest roll-out that have caught my fancy, but it would probably take me the rest of the night to blog about them!

Has J. Crew been reading my blog???

2008-11-18T17:24:00.002-06:00

Haha, doubtful!! However, I did find this cute little notebook amongst the new holiday arrivals on their website:

Coincidence?

Disappointment.

2008-11-17T13:04:00.003-06:00

Don't you just hate it when you are really looking forward to receiving a piece of clothing that you ordered online and then it does not live up to your expectations?

Meet Crawford. A huge disappointment. And she looked so cute on the model!

What isn't readily apparent from the picture online is that the cinching in at the waist is accomplished by a self-sash that ties in the back (or the side or wherever you would like). Being that it is made of silk chiffon, it doesn't stay put, and makes the shirt look sloppy. The cinching effect would have better been accomplished by some elasticized stitching at the waist. Or by a false sewn-on, non-tying sash, and the shirt could have a side-seam zipper.

Another aspect that contributes to the sloppiness of the blouse is the fact that it is button-down all the way to the bottom (which you also cannot tell from the picture). Which means that the two halves of the shirt just kind of hang open at the bottom. Which wouldn't be a problem is the shirt was made of a material that wasn't floppy like chiffon. If the buttons only went about halfway three-quarters of the way down the shirt (like their "popover" blouses), the look at the hem of the shirt would have been much neater.

And while I'm busy picking apart this poor shirt, another thing that bothered me were the cuffs. I have pretty slender wrists and forearms, and I could barely fasten the hook-and-eye closures at the the cuffs. I felt like I had sausage arms!

So there you have it. If you can find a way to make this work, then more power to you. I am jealous!

Fug.Ly.

2008-11-12T19:51:00.003-06:00

Are you kidding us, J. Crew??? Do you think your legions of admirers are actually dumb enough to shell out $500 for THIS????????!!!!!!!!!!!!:

The description is laughable:

Extra-luxe, ultraplied-up Italian cashmere in a 3 gauge knit—transformed with dramatic feather trim to create the ultimate statement piece. We only have a few (and know they're going to fly).

Ha. Ha. This looks like something that an overweight, frumpy, middle-aged woman from Oklahoma school teacher would wear to church or a holiday open house. (Hey, I'm from Oklahoma, so I can say that!!). It would be her "spunky" wardrobe piece that she would wear when she wanted to be the envy of all of her friends.

Seriously, though. It looks like something SteinMart would have carried in the late 1990s. What were you thinking, J. Crew? Even without the detachable feather collar, the color, the shape, the knit of this cardigan is just wrong and extremely dated. Look forward to seeing this gem in the "Final Sale" section very soon.

Item of the Week: The Wide Patent Leather Belt

2008-10-14T16:22:00.003-05:00

Ugh, so sorry for being a lazy blogger! I've been a very lazy, tired person in general, lately, what with the new job and all of the partying a newly single person does on the weekends!

Anyhow, I thought I would take this time to praise a very simple item that has really added a lot to my wardrobe as of yet. It is the wide patent-leather belt from J. Crew in Dusty Rose, $55:

Normally, I hate spending money on belts. Or accessories in general. I would rather spend the money on a shirt or something. I'm slowly but surely starting to see the light, however. This recent purchase has already done a few useful things for me. On a sort of casual night out on Friday, I used it to cinch in the waist of a simple, flowy black tank top from Old Navy. Not to brag, but I got several compliments on this outfit. I love how the right accessories can add a bit of interest to otherwise cheap and boring items.

I also wore the belt on Saturday to a wedding with my Watercolor Floral Madison Dress from J. Crew. The almost neutral color of the belt worked well with the deep blues and aquas of the dress. I pulled together the look with some patent-leather platform pumps in nearly the same color as the belt.

One of my favorite things about this belt is its lack of holes/grommets. This means you can always adjust it to fit you perfectly. I always seem to have issues with belts that are made to go around your waist; they are usually either too big or too small. Problem solved with this belt. I am so pleased that I am going to pick one up in black as well. I think it would look great to tailor the look of a bulky grey cardigan. Besides, I'm such a sucker for black patent leather!

A Case of the Mondays

2008-10-06T20:26:00.002-05:00

I was planning on a fun, superficial, shopping-related post (finally), but this whole day just turned out awful. The fall allergy season has not been kind to me, causing sleepless nights spent hacking up boatloads of post-nasal drainage. And I got rear-ended on the way to work this morning. By a deaf woman with whom I could not communicate. It was rainy and dark, which made the situation even worse, so I ended up only getting her license plate number. I think this is just going to end up going on my uninsured motorist coverage. Why is it that the only people who run into and/or damage my car(s) happen to be uninsured or unwilling or unable to fork over information? Grrr. My poor, poor car. I think I have lost count of how many times stuff has happened to it. And it is only 4 years and 33,000 miles old. Sadness. I am so cursed when it comes to cars. I'm starting to think it is because I never name them...

Boys are Idiots, Part III

2008-10-02T18:44:00.003-05:00

Okay, so remember the idiot who thought so highly of himself that he thought I was going to sleep with him after only minutes of knowing him??? Well, a few days after breaking the news to him that I didn’t want anything to do with him anymore, I received this e-mail at 12:27 am. It was a freaking novel. Some of the things he said are just so unbelievable, I had to share. It kind of reminds me of the infamous “Dimitri.” Here are a few choice excerpts:

Next, I am confident in myself. I am not immediately concerned with what happens between us, beyond that we stay in contact. You have a life to live as do I and if something develops it does. If it does not, it does not. I am in no place to judge you or become upset if you go on a date or whatever. What you do in Dallas is your business. I am confident that if this is meant to be it is meant to be. If not we will both go on with our lives separately. But, one thing I will not do is let something slip through my fingers with out exploring it.

He won't let me slip through his fingers? Sounds like a bit of a control freak to me.

Maybe we will end up as friends, as lovers, as a fling, as a life experience or a love like no other. Who knows? It is far too early to tell. But, whatever it is we won’t know if we run away before we explore it. I don’t like talking on the phone either. And I’m not looking to take up all your time. I’m not looking to pressure you into anything. But I won’t allow myself go off into the sunset with out articulating my thoughts. We had a damn good night, and I think we could have a lot of fun.

A damn good night?? A drunken conversation that took place over a few hours at a blackjack table?? And I hate when people use the word "lovers." It conjures up images of frolicking in rainbows, playing with kittens, and riding in hot air balloons. Barf.

I have lived a life like few others. Some of it good. some of it bad, but all of it lead me to be the person that I am today. I may have come on a little strong, but I wasn’t going to go home wondering, “what if?” I won’t allow myself to live a life under a cloud of, “what if.” I make my own destiny. I won’t dwell on things but, I won’t allow myself to sit idly by and be a person who didn’t act. In my line of work we have a motto, (a bit cliché I know,) “Lead, follow or get out of the way.” I’m not much for “B” or “C.”

This dude is a walking, talking cliche.

We only get one time around on this ride and I won’t look back and see tons of regret or missed opportunities. I will look back and see one Hell of a story. The question is, are you going to write yourself out of it before we know what your role in it is?

Gag. Me.

Look, I had a great time and I think you did too. You said you were looking to explore what you wanted out of life and see what it was that you wanted. I am an excellent chance at that. I am looking to do the same. I think being as that we are going through similar things at the same time we may be a good balance for each other. Not too close and no too far. There is plenty of breathing room.

Uh, so he thinks that HE is what I want?

You have piqued my interest. But your decisions are yours to make. Don’t pass up a whole lot of fun and self discovery, when there are no expectations and no pressure from me. We hit it off pretty well as was evident by the evening in Vegas. I think you should look into this just a little before closing this door. And if you do decide to just know it isn’t locked. You can walk through it again whenever you like. I am not mad and I do understand, but why not have some fun?

In the words of Nancy Kerrigan, "WHY ME?"

Boys are Idiots, Part II

2008-10-02T18:35:00.002-05:00

I think I might have to change the focus of my blog to the adventures of being single, because this is what my life has come to!

To further drive home the point that it is IMPOSSIBLE for me to have a simple, friendly conversation with a guy, and to further prove that guys never just want to be friends: A few weeks ago I was hanging out having brunch, when a friend of a friend showed up who was new to town. I, of course, being the friendly girl that I am, talked to this guy. We got on the subject of triathlons and marathons, and he mentioned that he needed someone to do some muddy buddy race with him in a few weeks. I said that I might be able to, but I wasn’t sure, but maybe we could at least get together sometime and go for training runs. He told me that he was just looking to meet new people, blah, blah blah, and I believed him. Well, after a week or two of texting and trying to figure out a mutually agreeable time to go for a run, I finally came to the conclusion that I am really too busy for all of this at this point due to the demands of the critical care nursing residency program I am in right now (and this is completely true), and told him this.

WELL, what do you know, he sent me a text back that he understood if I was too busy, but that he would like to take me out for dinner or drinks sometime. SERIOUSLY? Do I just need to stop talking to members of the male species all together? This is getting ridiculous. And I really thought this guy just wanted to be workout buddies. I can still be so gullible sometimes.

Boys are Idiots, Most of the Time

2008-10-01T16:25:00.001-05:00

Notice how I used this word “boys” and not “men.” Anyhow, this is not consumerist-related, but I think it is worth discussing, because this is something that continues to amaze me. I have barely been single a month and already I have had to tell TWO guys the following, albeit a little bit sugarcoated:

“NO, I do NOT want to be in a relationship with you. Hello? Have I not told you that I JUST got out of a VERY long relationship? NO, I do NOT want to date you. NO, I do NOT want to just hang out or talk, even as friends. Please leave me alone.”

Somehow, it seems that guys get the impression that if you are not a complete bitch to them and if you talk to them for more than 2 minutes that you are so OBVIOUSLY into them and cannot wait to hang out with them again, have sex with them (YES, one of these dudes thought so highly of himself that he assumed that I would totally sleep with him if he had the proper protection on him that night. SERIOUSLY???????????), or go visit them in New Orleans. After only having known each other for half an hour, tops. Whoa, buddy, get a hold of your ego, there!!

Okay, so maybe in these two instances I might have given out my phone number when asked, but it was only out of not wanting to be perceived as being mean. Well, I have learned my lesson now. No more Miss Nice Girl from now on. I simply don’t have time for that crap anymore. Life is too short to spend parts of it talking to or dealing with people who irritate you or add no value to it.

It was already a step in the right direction for me to tell these two idiots point blank that I don’t want to be friends with them or talk to them anymore. This, by the way, is completely necessary, because if you agree to hang out with a guy under the pretense of “friends,” it is only a matter of time before he tries to make his way into your pants. I am of the school of thought that it is a rare occurrence that a straight guy will actually want to be platonic friends with a woman and nothing more. Feel free to disagree, but this has been my experience.

So now I just need to practice not giving out my number, as this will prevent me from suffering through future unwanted phone calls or text conversations in the first place. I have already figured out my line next time an idiot asks for my number: “Sorry, this just really isn’t a good time in my life for this right now,” or something to that effect. Do you think it will work??

Vegas Adventures: Tiny Indulgences

2008-09-25T17:53:00.009-05:00

I passed by this store twice before at the Forum Shops in Las Vegas, but didn’t dare step inside due to the fact that I was with my mother both times. It’s just underwear, you might say. But this isn’t your everyday underwear. Agent Provocateur carries the sexiest, prettiest underpinnings you will ever lay your eyes on. Luckily, the third time I saw this store, I got to finally go in and see for myself.

The items at Agent Provocateur range from sweetly demure to all-out raunchy (WARNING: Picture below is NSFW! Scroll down really fast!) . But the most high-end raunchy you could imagine, trust me! You will even find things to fulfill your naughty fantasies, such as whips, blindfolds, sequined pasties, even nipple balm (which me and Lesli proceeded to test out, but that’s another story).

If you are planning on trying on items at Agent Provocateur, you need to leave your modesty at the door. A sales associate, dressed in a cute pink satin 1950s waitress-style dress will pull the items you are interested in and go in the dressing room with you to assist you in trying on. She will measure you to make sure you are wearing the correct size, and will show you how to properly position the “girls” into the bra. The girl helping me, Amber, was a sweetheart, and was helpful in letting me know which styles fit and flattered my body the most.

After trying on several lovely styles, I ultimately ended up purchasing items from the Francoise collection. The bra and knickers are made of a pink floral lace with black Chantilly lace overlay. In a word, GORGEOUS. The quality is impeccable, and the fit of the bra is perfect. Let me tell you, as someone who is slightly challenged in the chest area, it is difficult, if not impossible to find a pretty, well-fitting bra that doesn’t have padding. It’s as if bra manufacturers just assume that if you are under a certain cup size, you shouldn’t leave the door with out at least 2 inches of foam in your bosom.

The price of owning such beautiful lingerie? Not cheap. At all. But still not as expensive as La Perla (the pretty La Perla, not the basics), and certainly much more inspired. This was a complete splurge for me, but after this experience, I am a firm believer that every woman should go out and buy herself some super pretty, quality underthings that she will be able to treasure for a long time to come (or at least as long as she still fits into them). Something that will make her feel sexy and beautiful every time she puts it on, even if no one else sees it but her. Those knickers may be expensive, but that feeling that they will give you is definitely priceless.

Vegas Adventures: Off the Beaten Path

2008-09-24T20:07:00.009-05:00

I have been to Las Vegas several times and absolutely LOVE it every time I go. It truly is the adult Disneyland. As a simple person, I am easily attracted to and distracted by the bright lights, ringing noises, crowds of strange people, and the lure of hitting it big. It is definitely a party city. However, as I recently found out, it is also a place where you can truly relax once you get the initial partying out of your system.

After spending the first few days at the Venetian, I was fortunate enough to try the Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa. It is only a few miles off of the strip, but the experience feels worlds away. The whole place exudes modern luxury, with red-tinted glass doors and sleek, sparkling crystal light fixtures. As the name implies, there is a casino there, but it is not as migraine inducing as the ones you would find on the strip.

You can choose a room that has either a view of the strip or of the stunning canyon. I was lucky enough to have a room with a canyon view, although I didn’t get to spend near enough time enjoying it. The beds are to-die-for, and I swear the thread count of the sheets had to have been at least a million! The toiletries are also larger-sized than what you normally expect from a hotel, and have a clean, refreshing scent.

One of my favorite parts of the resort was the awesome pool area. Modern lounge chairs with brightly colored cushions surrounded the circular main pool. Smaller, rectangular pools fanned out from the main pool like sunrays. Since I was there on a weekday, the pool area was not at all at capacity, making for an extremely relaxing experience. Our waitress was also friendly and attentive; making sure I always had a fun cocktail in hand.

Equal in awesomeness is the spa. I haven’t been to many spas, but out of the spa at the Bellagio, Bliss Spa at the W Dallas, and the spa at the Hotel Crescent Court, this one is by far my favorite. Instead of being bright and airy, it was dark and lulling, which I definitely enjoyed. When I want to totally unwind, I don’t want bright lights in my face! The treatment I opted for was the Hydrating Full Body Wrap, which consisted of light massage, an exfoliating scrub, a warm hydrating wrap, and a final application of moisturizing milk. My technician, Shelly, had wonderful hands and made me feel totally at ease. Next time I go there, I will book a massage with her!

Don’t get me wrong, I really like the strip, but if you want to try something new in Las Vegas, you should definitely give the Red Rock a try. I certainly hope my first experience there won’t be my last!

A Quick Break to Celebrate Moi!

2008-09-23T18:49:00.003-05:00

Yesterday I started my first-ever job in nursing. Yay! This week and the next few will consist of orientation, classroom time, etc. I'm doing what's called a Critical Care Nursing Residency at a major teaching hospital and level one trauma center in Dallas. The program is 4 months long, during which you are schooled in the ways of critical care nursing through both classes and clinical time.

There are three or four phases of the program, each of which must be passed before you are allowed to move on to the next. Your preceptors are rating your performance at the bedside and you also must pass written tests. It's essentially like getting paid to learn how to be an awesome critical care nurse. I'm not going to lie, the ICU and ER nurses at this hospital are complete badasses. After successful completion of the program you are hired on as a permanent member of the unit and off on your own. The unit I will be working in is the surgical/trauma ICU.

Even though it's going to be another few weeks before I get down and dirty providing actual patient care, today marked a significant milestone for me: I received my ID badge today, making me an official member of the nursing staff. Below my name it says, "Nurse Resident: Trauma Services." Trauma Services?? How cool does that sound??!!! It's enough to make me break open one of my half-bottles of Veuve to celebrate.

Next milestone: A day or two after October 17th, which is when I will find out whether or not I passed the state boards, taking me from graduate nurse to registered nurse!

Vegas Adventures: Christian Louboutin

2008-09-22T18:54:00.009-05:00

After a long, drawn out day of shopping, when the rest of our group had dropped like flies, Sara and I soldiered on to the Christian Louboutin store at the Shops at the Palazzo to try on some his famously glam red-soled shoes. Oh how I absolutely adore that red sole! And the red theme is carried on throughout the tiny, jewel box of a store. To steal a line from Carrie Bradshaw, it was like Sara and I had died and gone to shoe heaven! In fact, it was so heavenly, that I considered actually investing in a pair, in the event that I found one that I fell in love with.

I was eager to try on some classic black patent peep-toe platform pumps that Mr. Louboutin does so well. After all, I am constantly wearing knock-offs of the one he did with the stacked wooden heel by Steven. Sadly, my feet were just a tad too wide for the real deal, and ended up spilling out the sides. Stupid wide-but-not-so-wide-enough-to-be-considered-truly-wide feet!

Speaking of my stupid, stupid feet, who was there to tell me that they were, and I quote, "adorable?" None other than the lovely and beautiful Angie Harmon. She was friendly, radiant, and save for the small baby bump, very thin. She was trying on some pretty, copper-y wedges. At least a wedge is a bit more practical for pregnancy, eh?

I also tried on this adorable black satin peep-toe pump with a bow. These ones actually looked good on my feet, but at $795, I just couldn't let my first true luxury shoe purchase be on some highly impractical satin shoes that I would rarely wear, and would surely get ruined.

So fortunately for my wallet, but unfortunately for my inner-crazy-splurging-Vegas wild-child, I left the store empty handed. But it was a fun experience nonetheless. For now, I will keep my eyes peeled for whenever these babies go on sale, and hopefully my foot won't runneth over:

Vegas Adventures: A Sight for Hungover Eyes

2008-09-20T19:41:00.006-05:00

On my über-fabulously fun Vegas trip with the girls, my dear friend Sara introduced me to my favorite new beauty product.

The Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Puff Eye Roller delivers a soothing cool serum to your delicate under-eye area. I'm not sure exactly what the extent of the anti-puff action actually is, but all I know is that it feels awesome when you are tired and/or hungover. Which tends to happen a lot when you are in Vegas. Sara was kind enough to let me use it throughout the trip. I loved it so much that I couldn't wait to purchase one for myself before we left. I think it was only around $14 at a Walgreen's on the Strip, so it is a complete bargain.

I've even been using this on normal days, just because it feels so good. I am so indebted to Sara for bringing this fabulous product into my life!

Oops, I did it again.

2008-09-20T18:41:00.007-05:00

I really do need to say about a million Hail Marys between now and next Sunday, because I just did something truly awful.

You see, there is this watch I have been coveting for several years now. When I was in Las Vegas, I looked for it, but not too hard. Then last night I went to a birthday party for some random chick I don't know, and she was wearing one. Then today, as I was purchasing a new pair of jeans on the second floor of Nordstrom, I saw one on the wrist of the salesgirl who was ringing up my purchase. She had awful breath. How could she have one of these beautiful things and not me? I felt myself becoming weaker.

Here's the deal: I just finished up my second bachelor's degree. I even got the diploma in the mail today (Summa Cum Laude, bitches!!). I am also about to embark on a new career. And I just experienced the ending of a three-year long relationship. I needed something to signify my new beginnings. This would be a present to myself that I could enjoy for years and years to come.

So I took the escalator to the first floor and walked over to the watch case. I spotted my prize and proceeded to try on a few different styles. I debated over whether it would be too flashy for someone as young and casual as myself. She said it didn't look too over-the-top on me. I wondered if I should really be spending this much money. She told me it was an investment piece. I said I would sleep on it. She told me I would get triple points on my Nordstrom card. Done.

And now it sits upon my wrist. Shiny, sparkly, keeping time with great accuracy. Don't make fun of me, but I was never that great at telling time on a non-digital watch. But I will stare at this watch face so much that I will soon become an expert.

Without any further adieu, behold the Michele Mini Urban Diamond:

The picture doesn't really do it justice. Not only is it beautiful and unique-looking, what I really love is the fact that you can change out the straps. I went with the traditional stainless-steel bracelet (as shown in the picture), but hope to receive some alligator straps (especially the white one) in the future, for say, Christmas or my birthday. It will be like getting an entirely new watch every time! At $200 each, the alligator straps are just as expensive as any other watch I have purchased in the past. In fact, the watch itself is the most expensive item I have ever bought, save for my car. Granted, it's not Rolex expensive, but still. Do you think the good Lord will forgive me for my sin?

The Wait is Over

2008-09-20T18:35:00.003-05:00

To my thousands of adoring fans, I truly apologize for my extended hiatus. On this beautiful Saturday night, I will commence posting to this blog. And then maybe go out and grab a cocktail.

If you are wondering where I have been all this time, I was fortunate enough to have gone on a lovely vacation to Las Vegas with 4 of my bestest girlfriends in the world. I'm sad that the 5th could not make it, but she was there in spirit! Anyhow, I'm just about recovered from that trip and ready to blog. Look forward to posts revolving around my consumerist adventures in Vegas!

My Apologies

2008-09-04T10:34:00.003-05:00

Sorry to disappoint you, ladies and gents, but posting will be light to nonexistent for the next several days. I am in Oklahoma visiting the 'rents and plan on being generally lazy and spending quality time with my darling dog, Kodi. I'll try to make up for it next week!

Crock Pots: Magically Delicious!

2008-09-01T22:05:00.015-05:00

I am such an old lady. But I adore the crock pot! Yes, that item that everybody puts on their wedding registry (along with the KitchenAid mixer) but never uses. Shame, shame! Don't you know what a wonderful tool of cooking prowess you have sitting right under your nose? I know, I know, you say you can't cook. But the awesome thing about the crock pot is that even a monkey could make a delicious meal using one of these things. You just throw a bunch of crap in there, set it on low, and 8 hours later you have a yummy concoction.

Take for example, this recipe:

Ashley's W.T. Mexican Stew

A few frozen chicken breasts or tenderloins

1/4 packet low-sodium taco seasoning

1 can condensed reduced-fat cream of mushroom soup

1 cup of salsa

1 can of black beans, drained

1 can chopped green chilies

Put the frozen chicken tenderloins into the crock pot and sprinkle with the taco seasoning. Throw everything else in. No need to stir. Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours. Shred the chicken and stir. Makes 3-4 bowls.

This is a recipe I adapted from some a couple of similar recipes I found on Sparkrecipes.com. I realize the combination of ingredients sounds a little nasty and oh-so pedestrian, but it turns out to be kind of like a creamy, spicy black bean soup. And you can't tell me that you can't make it because there is zero prep work involved. Unless you count opening cans as prep work. By the way, I made that in my mini-crock pot, so you could double the recipe to use for a bigger one.

Speaking of crock pots, I found my dream crock pot in my new Williams Sonoma catalog. Behold the All-Clad Deluxe Slow Cooker ($279):

How pretty and amazing is this thing??? Not only can you remove the inner liner, but you can actually put it on your stove to brown meats, as in for a beef stew, and then transfer the liner back into the cooker, eliminating the need for an extra pan. Genius!

I think it's time for me to start my own registry. Or if you own the pretty All-Clad Slow Cooker, a KitchenAid mixer, or any other useful kitchen gadget that's still in its box and collecting dust and taking up valuable storage room in your kitchen cabinets, I will gladly accept these items as a donation from you and put them to good use. I might even use them to bake you some cookies or any other number of delightful treats at Christmas time. You're welcome.

Football Style

2008-08-31T19:08:00.014-05:00

Can you believe it? The beginning of the NFL season is nigh upon us, and you have less than a week to figure out what to wear!

First of all, for the love of sweet, baby Jesus, don't show up in one of these:

Seriously? The last time I checked, there wasn't a single team in the NFL that had pink as one of their colors. I think part of the problem is that manufacturers of woman-sized NFL fan gear don't realize that there's a big enough faction of women out there who actually want authentic looking stuff, just cut a bit smaller to fit our girlish figures. While there is a growing number of options out there for women, they're still relatively difficult to find unless you order online.

Me? I sport a number 81 jersey in a Youth size Medium, which, although was a gift, can be easily obtained at a local Academy Sports:

Which brings me to another source of frustration. I really want a T.O. Tee. If you watch Hard Knocks on HBO, you will know what I'm talking about. Yes, I know, I am a big dork. But they only make the cool ones in dude sizes! Check out the ladies' version:

Are you kidding me? "iDance"? "iModel?" I'm sorry, but I do neither. However, I do love me some me. Why can't I have a shirt in my size that allows me to say that to the whole world??

Anyway. If you want to be a little more fashion-forward while still showing some love for your team, Retro Sport makes some good stuff. All of their apparel has, you guessed it, retro team logos on it. But they look cool, and the fabrics are super soft. And they don't do just NFL; they also do college, NHL, and NBA. You can buy Retro Sport at boutiques, online at places like Revolve Clothing or NFL Shop, or directly from Retro Sport. I wouldn't mind adding these two items to my collection:

And for the spoiled fashionista fan who has everything, I bring you this:

It's like a Judith Leiber, except not. Although at $2449.99, it sure is priced like one!

As IF!

2008-08-31T18:31:00.012-05:00

Let me preface this by saying I am NOT getting married anytime in the near future. However, if I was, these are some dresses I would love to try (all from J. Crew, of course):

The Luxe Drapey Jacquard Turner Gown, $1300

I am in love with the neckline of this dress, and the jacquard is a nice departure from your typical lace or satin. So chic and elegant.

Lisette Gown, $2000

This dress is just so unique. I love how the flower applique carries on up the straps of the dress. This would be perfect for a beach or countryside wedding.

Eyelet Cascade Gown, $1200

This sweet little number would look absolutely adorable for a summertime shotgun wedding!

And I would just absolutely FORCE my bridesmaids to wear either one of these cute berry-trim dresses:

Berry-Trim Strapless Nathalie Dress, $350

Berry-Trim Nathalie Tank Dress, $350

The color would be bright peacock, which is a pretty teal that would flatter everyone's skintone, and would work practically year-round.

While J. Crew's bridesmaid dresses are on par with or slightly more expensive with your typical bridesmaid dresses, I think one of their greatest advantages is that they have versatility (a.k.a. they don't just look like bridesmaid dresses).

I am amazed with the pricing on the wedding gowns, however. Many of the styles are unique and beautiful, and cost much, much less than your typical wedding dress (or at least much less than something I would expect to buy). Plus I like how many of the gown have straps, which are pretty much impossible to find these days in the sea of strapless wedding dresses!

The Stylish Nurse

2008-08-29T23:01:00.014-05:00

I'm sure this post is relevant to almost no one but me, but it's my blog, so I don't care!!

With that being said, as a recent graduate of nursing school, one of the things I am most excited about is ditching my school uniform of a white scrub top with maroon pants for something with a little more style. Keep in mind, the use of the word "style" is relative, since we are talking about scrubs here, not runway couture.

Pretty much all of the cool nurses wear Urbane scrubs. They come in lots of different solid colors and have contrasting trim on the scrub tops. As much as I am one to not follow the herd just for the sake of it, some of the color combos were just too cute for me to resist. My favorite is Arctic Ice with Chocolate trim. Plus, they are super comfy. The main downside to Urbane is that they have only one measly pocket on the scrub top. Where the heck am I going to keep my phone, PDA, alcohol preps, scissors, cash, pens, etc? Fashion comes with sacrifice. I have also noticed, however, that all the cool nurses don't carry a lot on their person anyway. Note to self: Must learn to be cool.

I bought 8 sets of scrubs, i.e. my entire work wardrobe, for under $300. Jealous?

I am also excited to ditch my filthy, scuffed-up white Danskos (I dubbed them my Smurf shoes) for some shiny black patent ones. Yes, yes, yes! And the shiny patent surface will guarantee that any and all bodily fluids will just roll right off.

I initially ordered some MBTs, lured in by their promise of comfort, and more importantly, toned legs and backside. Even though I told myself that my vanity would not win out over the possibility of having skinnier thighs, I just could not get over how huge these things were. They looked like big, dorky moonshoes. Needless to say, vanity won this battle.

Once I have worked for a while and have established myself as a cool nurse, I am going to rock everybody's world when I show up to work in these bad boys:

Yep, that's right. Leopard-print patent leather Danskos! How I covet these shoes. But for now I am going to lay low and not draw too much attention to myself by wearing the black ones. Good things come to those who wait.

I've Been a Bad, Bad Girl

2008-08-29T21:49:00.008-05:00

I think I just bought my bus ticket to hell. Okay, not really; that was a complete over-exaggeration. But I indulged in way too many guilty pleasures yesterday. I deserve to be in time out.

1. I went to J. Crew for the second time this week. Additional Items Marked Down + An Extra 40% off + 15% Student Discount = I Can't Believe My J. Crew Card Isn't Maxed Out By Now. By the way, the Watercolor Floral Madison Dress that I bought on Monday is now only $79.99, plus an additional 40% off. Are you freaking kidding me? That dress is awesome, and a complete steal at that price.

2. I went to the American Girl Store. Yes I did. I'm a grown-ass, childless, 27-year old woman and I totally went there. I've been wanting to go ever since it opened up in the Dallas Galleria last year. It's not even like you can just stop in there on your way to a more age-appropriate store since it's not actually connected to the mall. American Girl Dolls were a childhood obsession of mine, particularly Kirsten, the Swedish Pioneer. I loved her so. I also had Felicity and Samantha, but they got the red-headed stepchild treatment. I guess it didn't help Felicity's case much that she actually was a red head.

I was so disappointed to see that Kirsten is probably one of the least popular dolls now. They even took away some of her outfits, as well as her school bench and lunch. Blasphemy!!! How is she going to even compete with these newer broads who have doll best friends and roller skates?? I think I'm taking this a bit too seriously. After all, I briefly considered asking the stylist at the doll hair salon if they would be able to do anything to tame my Kirsten's frizzy tresses.

3. I skipped working out in favor of some mango margaritas.

4. I went to see The House Bunny. Obviously it's not going to win an Oscar, but it entertained my small, margarita-buzzed brain for approximately 90 minutes. I was mesmerized with how tiny and perfect Anna Faris' body was. Why can't I look like that? Oh yeah, it's because I skip workouts to sip on margaritas.

5. I ordered champagne, I mean, sparkling wine, at a pub. Can we say "high maintenance"? I'm ashamed to admit that I do this quite frequently. Slap the cuffs on me officer, I'm guilty as charged.

The Lazy Hostess: Pretty, Easy Cocktails

2008-08-27T14:30:00.010-05:00

Summer's not over yet, and this upcoming Labor Day Weekend is the perfect excuse to enjoy some fruity cocktails by the pool (given your pool has not been infested by Crypto). Lucky for you, the great country of Mexico was kind enough to share their delicious fruit nectars with the gringo. Jumex Nectars come in a blue can and can easily be found (in Texas at least) in either the Mexican foods section or the funky soda aisle of your local grocer. Available flavors include Apricot, Peach, Guava, Apple, Pineapple, Mango, Pear, Plum, Papaya-Pineapple, and Strawberry Banana. At only 33 cents a can (which is what my local store was charging), you can afford to pick up one of each and start mixing.

Mango, Guava, Peach or Pineapple would be delicious with some bubbly. Pour a little bit of nectar into a champagne flute, top off with some André, and you're good to go. Or, if you adore you some pear-flavored vodka, you could a shake up shot or two with some of the Pear nectar for a martini that is muy delicioso.

If you are fortunate enough to live in the vicinity of a Target that sells alcohol, you can also fake some homemade sangria. The super-cute Wine Cubes offer both red and white sangria. My favorite is the white sangria. Just pour some into a glass of ice, add some fresh fruit, and everyone will think that you actually made an effort. You could even kill two birds with one stone and use frozen fruit instead of both ice and fresh fruit. How fun!

You can even attempt to recreate my beloved Sparkling Mango Sangria from La Cubanita. Fill a large wine glass with ice, pour in a few splashes of Mango Jumex, followed by some Target white sangria, then top it all off with some sparkling wine. It doesn't taste exactly like the real thing, but it's close enough.

Now that I have given you all these ridiculously simple drink ideas, there's no excuse why you shouldn't greet me at the door this weekend with a fabulous cocktail. Oh, and don't forget to wear one of these:

The Look for Less? Shopping With a J. Crew Personal Shopper

2008-08-25T19:09:00.013-05:00

Like I said in the previous post, there just is no substitute for bonafide J. Crew. And when you gotta have it, you gotta have it. Well, what better way to feed your need than with a discount and some free style advice? Since early this month, J. Crew has been running a promotion where you can get 20% off all of your full-priced purchases when you make an appointment with a personal shopper and spend at least $100. Done and done.

To be perfectly honest, I wasn't so sure about the personal shopper thing at first. I'm pretty particular about what I wear, and I didn't want the added pressure of having to spend a lot of money because I have someone helping me out. But after hearing other J. Crew aficionadas rave about their experiences with their personal shoppers, I decided to take the plunge and set up an appointment. My growing wishlist of new fall items also helped nudge me in the right direction.

When I first got there, the personal shopper, Lana, had already pulled several items in my sizes and put them in a dressing room. We then talked about what my (fashion) goals were and walked around the store and pulled some more stuff that I liked and that she suggested for me based on what I said I wanted, or what would go with pieces that I already recently purchased.

I thought I went in with a fairly open mind and with the intention of trying everything the personal shopper suggested. However, I soon realized that my already negative opinion of certain items didn't miraculously change once I put them on. The Donegal Tweed Ecole Jacket? Eh. It looked okay undone, but I don't really see myself as a blazer person. Glass-Button Featherweight Merino Cardigan? This is one of those long, v-neck cardigan shapes that is becoming popular. I didn't like it at all. Even in an extra-small, this thing swallowed me and just looked shapeless and sloppy. This is definitely one trend I am not going to adopt. The Dream Taffeta-Sash Cardigan was very plush and soft, and slightly better than I expected, left untied and over a graphic tee, but not something I'm going to spend $150 on at this point. Maybe it if goes on super-sale in the future...

So what DID the personal shopper help me accomplish anyway (besides allowing me to get 20% off)?? She was able to tell me what styles worked for me and what didn't. She was able to come up with suggestions on how to pair certain pieces together. Who would have thought to put a purple Jackie Cardigan over the Serengeti Tank? I know I wouldn't have thought of it, but now it's an option that I have, and it's awesome! And girlfriend squeezed me into a size zero dress that I never would have even considered trying on, because I never thought my hips would allow it!

Oh yeah, and she also enabled me to spend much more than I wanted to, but damn, I am all the more happier for it! I mean, I actually SAVED over $300, so really, it was a no-brainer.

Bottom line: Lana rocks! And did I mention that she has the most adorable eastern European accent? She sounds just like my friend Miriana, who is from Bulgaria. I can't promise that your local J. Crew will have an eastern European Lana, but they probably will have a personal shopper there who can give you some good style advice, as well as 20% off some fabulous fall clothes if you get in there by August 29th.

What was that you say? What did I buy? Oh yeah. Now the fun stuff. I won't show you EVERYTHING I bought, because that would just incriminate me.

Cool Website: 6pm.com

2008-08-25T13:43:00.010-05:00

I'm pretty sure I already have espoused the many virtues of Zappos.com to all of my friends on more than one occasion. In case you've been living under a rock, Zappos is a magical place where millions and millions of shoes live. You want orange high heel clogs in a size 10? You can find them quickly with Zappos "search" feature, and then they'll appear on your doorstep the very next day. Free (overnight) shipping, free returns; it seriously doesn't get any better, especially when you are trying to find the perfect pair. Not to mention the fact that you don't have to deal with some creepy mid-40s dude oh-so-delicately putting your foot into a shoe. Grossness.

When Zappos shoes don't make their way into a good home, they go to 6pm.com, where their prices are drastically reduced. The downside? No free shipping, and you are going to have to march your arse to the post office and mail them back on your own dime if they don't fit. And there is no real user-friendly search feature. You have to browse pages and pages and pages of shoes until you can find the right one, unless you already know the exact name of the style you are looking for. Part of me wonders why they just can't transport Zappos search feature onto 6pm.com, but then I can see why making it difficult for customers actually helps the bottom line. You see, while having to sift through pages of shoes looking for those orange clogs, you might come across a pair of purple heels that you didn't even know you needed. And then you have two pairs of shoes in your shopping cart instead of one. Sneaky, eh?

Anyway, I have actually found that 6pm.com comes in handy as a resource for "replacement" shoes. I recently was able to find a pair of Steven Persuade (a calf-hair leopard print flat --- see pic below) in my size for only $69 to replace the worn out pair that I bought over 2 years ago for $110. And I can't tell you how many pairs of shoes I was able to find on there that are already in my closet, at prices sometimes 75% less than I had originally paid. (Some of you are probably thinking, "Ew, her shoes must be so ugly, no one would buy them at full price." I say to you, this is a testament to my superior and unique style, which obviously no one else gets!!)

If you are a Nine West fan, there are literally thousands of styles available, most of them going for only 30 bucks. I even saw a pair of decent looking all-leather boots for $50. There are also several "occasion" shoes, so if you need something to go with that bridesmaid or holiday party dress, this would be a good place to look for that pair that you're only going to wear once.

Now get to discount shoe shoppin'! And you can thank me later.

The Look for Less? Target vs. J.Crew

2008-08-24T20:53:00.014-05:00

In case you didn't know, I love J. Crew. Love, love, LOVE! And while nothing is a substitute for the real thing, I couldn't help but noticing several familiar looking items as I browsed the women's clothing section at my local Target. J. Crew version is on top, followed by Target version below.
Lamé Tanks:

The one on the bottom is from Target and the one on the top is J. Crew's. Target's is $17.99, while J. Crew's is a whopping $98. Both are made from a cotton-lawn type of fabric, and the Tarjay version looks a lot more flowy in person. Since most of us probably don't incorporate lamé into our outfits on a regular basis, I'd say go with the Target version.

Pretty Floral Prints:

J. Crew's beautiful Watercolor Garden Lydia Blouse ($110) is beyond compare, and I can definitely see one of those making its way into my closet very soon. But if you like that floral print, Isaac Mizhrai has shrunken it down considerably and put it on a cardigan and the mini-sweaterdress ($39.99) above. The dress is actually very cute in person. Not sure if I can pull it off, though...

Abstract Floral Prints:

I couldn't help but notice how similar Richard Chai for Target's rose print (available in the above-pictured dress, as well as a tank and a button-down shirt) looked like J. Crew's Abstract Rose Print strapless dress ($165).

Tiered Dresses:

This look is certainly not for everyone (namely anyone who has the slightest bit of a rear-end), but if it IS your cup 'o tea, you can spend either $650 for J. Crew's Fontaine Dress (also available in a long, wedding-gown version) or a mere $39.99 for the Isaac Mizrahi version. I am struck by the similarity in the necklines of the two.

Long V-Neck Cotton Cardis:

I don't know how I feel about this trend yet; I'm not so sure that it will look good skimming the hips of a pear-shaped person such as myself. I haven't seen either version yet in person, but given my ambivalence, I think I'd opt for the Mossimo version at only $19.99 over the more expensive J. Crew version at $88.

Tie-Neck Tees:

J. Crew: Silky, pretty jersey; elbow-length sleeves; long and flowy; $58.00. Target (Merona): Ugh-looking cotton stretch fabric ; short sleeves; short and fitted; $9.99 (on sale). I think J. Crew wins this battle. I actually scored the J. Crew version in a pretty teal color in-store, on-sale for $39.99, plus an additional 40% off.

Contrasting Color Cardigans:

Okay, it's not really fair to Merona to compare their $19.99 cotton-blend sweater with J. Crew's luxurious wool-cashmere blend cardigan with FAB crystal buttons ($118). But if you like the contrast-trim and don't have the money for J.Crew, the Target version would be a good bet. Thank goodness I have enough credit left on my J.Crew card...

Models:

I have a problem. I really do. Last week when I was signing for my purchases at SuperTarget, I looked down and saw the above promo featuring the same adorable model that also makes regular appearances on the J. Crew website and in the catalog. Lord, help me.

Welcome.

2008-08-24T20:48:00.001-05:00

I am bored. Really bored. So what better time to create a blog, right? All the cool kids are doing it. I intend for this blog to be a mish-mash of my life and things I find interesting. Namely buying things. Too many things. Or wanting too many things that I can't afford. Because I have champagne wishes and a sparkling wine budget. Like any other woman, I enjoy a good glass of Veuve Clicquot, but most of the time I'm rockin' some Martini & Rossi Asti, and there's nothing wrong with that!