Tuesday, January 31, 2012

out with the old...February

January is coming to a close today, so its time to review the "out with the old, in with the new" goals for the month, and set some new ones!




First, January:

In with the New: Drink at least 2 big smart water bottles every day (about 68 oz. - and I don't have to stick to smart water, that's just the bottle I use for workouts and my measuring guide)


I'd say I did this 90% of the time. I started drinking big cups of ice water during the work day, and I always drink water during my workouts. However, I still stick mostly to soda in the evenings (generally I'll get through 1 a night, caffeine free diet coke). I'd like to eventually eliminate soda from my diet, but 1 a day ain't bad.

Out with the Old: Don't eat chocolate for the month. (its a vice, I'm not saying go without for life, I'm not into denying foods - just go without for 30 days. I don't like it when I feel like I have to have something, and a bit..or more, of chocolate has become a bad habit).

Again, I did a decent job, in that I improved. I did not, however, manage to avoid chocolate for the month! What I did was stop eating it at home, and only one small piece a day, of high quality tasty super dark chocolate, at work. I do think it has made a difference.

So, yes, I improved on both counts. No, I didn't blow these goals out of the water.

On to February! (I know what I'm about to type, and its making me cringe a little!)

In with the New: Make a gosh darn budget already. Its sort of ridiculous that I wing it. I need to build up my savings. Pay myself first, etc. etc. I am committing to having a reasonable budget put together by the end of the day tomorrow (the 1st). I think Mint.com may help me in my first step: where does my money go now?

Out with the Old: Sort of related to the New: no new clothes. (slightly hyperventilating). Yep, no clothes shopping. No shoes shopping. No jewelry, accessories, or other accoutrements shopping. Small exceptions may be made for 1) tights, if all are worn out/have runs. And...um, that's it.Woooo. breathe. ok. ya. I'm committed.

Now I'm trying to convince myself that it is not okay to sneak in some last minute J Crewing today. That would be following the letter of my law, not the spirit. If its meant to be, well, those things (or better things, better things!) will be there come March 1.





Monday, January 30, 2012

just, you know, do it.


First off, that little girl is cute, I'm loving her yellow jacket =)


This is true, for me. When I'm doing Plyocide in my living room, hands on my hips, catching my breath, I feel like an Olympic athlete. Working really really hard physically is so satisfying in a way that not much else is.

When I'm shaking out my arms after pushups, I feel like Michael Phelps (or Daria Torres, I guess), prepping for the big race. When I finish a tough workout, I feel like bouncing around the house, high knee tucks.

This, this is the feeling that keeps me coming back for more. Who cares what you actually look like? It's about your feeling, your experience, your motivation.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

playing with makeup

i've always thought that maybe I just don't have a face for make up. Whenever I try to do more than a daily natural look, venturing only as far as a cat eye, whenever I try to do heavier, it looks like a mess. I look funny. Well, I think I do anyway. So, I decided to play around with some new make up, some heavier make up, and try to get better at it.

First up, I tried an easy smoky eye. Just some black cream liner pencil, and some sparkly navy shadow, some highlighter, and some mascara. Here's the results...



and then the cat jumped on my shoulder in the middle of my self photo shoot.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

no ice cream

last night, I was making a smoothie for work, and Fred wanted some RIGHT NOW. he was really psyched on the smoothie.

I blended up kale, blueberries, a banana, some soy milk, and a scoop of protein powder.

Fred drank it, said, is there ice cream in there? and then proceeded to lick the cup.

I love that guy.

01.26.2012

It is Thursday, right? Exxxcelllent. (like Mr. Burns style). 

Today is one of my favorite work days all year, one of my favorite work tasks. But I can't tell you what, cause you know, work. Sorry. Sometimes it's hard to be a manager, but today, its good.

So, a P90X 2 update..
I started P90X 2, and then I had to stop for a bit because of my goose noises cold. But I'm back on my game now, and today, I did X2 Yoga. 

I've forgotten how tough it is to run through a workout the first time. I never watch the DVDs before doing a new workout..I like the surprise.. but then I also have no idea what's coming. X2 Yoga is pretty tough, pretty demanding..but I like it, a lot. 

Here's how its different from the original.. 

With the original, which was over 90 minutes, you had clear sections - a flowing poses section of about 45 mins, a standing/balance poses section, abs, and stretching. The first 45 minutes were pretty brutal, the last, very nice. 

With this one, you have more like mixed segments. You'll do a series of sun salutations, flowing into balance postures, with some stretching thrown in. So, while its not 45 minutes of flowing poses (read, sweaty), its 67 minutes of them...mixed with other stuff. Different, not necessarily better. I do like the yoga abs portion of this workout better..not easier or harder, just personal preference. This is definitely a good, tough workout. If  you do this alone a few times a week, you will become fitter.

After my workout, I go upstairs to do my makeup and hair, and this morning, as I was attempting to put on eyeliner, I got the fatigued muscle shake in my legs. Awesome, also inconvenient, haha.

I got my foam roller yesterday and I'm inflating my balance ball tonight, so I am now fully geared up on the P90X2. Although, I was doing ok with my weights, bands, and medicine balls. And towel. And um, chair. Seriously, my little exercise gear corner of the TV room is getting busy. May be time to take this operation downstairs. As soon as we find a place for all the stuff down there. Like furniture. And car parts. And 500+ magazines (ahem, Fred. who's the magazine addict NOW) Seriously, read Details from the mid 90s, its awesome.

By the way, here's what I have on today. I apologize for the fuzzy pic.



Today we have: 

Sweater: Loft
Blouse: J Crew
Pants: Talbots
Shoes: Banana Republic  (and rather crush worthy they are),
(one of those oh, yes. purchases)
Necklace: Banana Republic
Rings: Tiffany and Mall kiosk


Wednesday, January 25, 2012

01.25.2012

What I'm wearing today:


Cardigan: Banana Republic
Blouse: Loft
Skirt: J Crew
Tights: Hue
Boots: Rockport
Necklace/Rings: Tiffany
Other Ring: Mall kiosk

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

i missed it

yesterday was national handwriting day. is there a day for everything? Yes. Moorea was kind enough to clue me in.

And here is my handwriting sample!  (i'm pretty sure my "y"s indicate that I'm a huge egomaniac or bossy or some such)


happy annivesary

hey all - guess what today is? It's my 1 year anniversary at my job. Awww. yay.

okay, so a couple of things to share with you today!

First, my outfit:

t

Today, I have on:

Suit jacket: Banana Republic
Top: Banana Republic
Jeans: J Crew Factory
Shoes: Nine West (there I go again with the needing to hem. I'm short, people, short!)
Rings/Bracelet: Tiffany
Other ring: Mall kiosk


Second: Fred and I have discussed a couple times possibly buying a Fiat 500. We just enjoy them, and he needs a more reliable (like, newer than '87 with 300K miles?) type commuter car. Obviously, I have seen the mint one, below, and I now need the mint one. But since Fred will mostly be driving it (except on the weekends, on the weekends, it's mine, yes), I'm so not getting a mint one.




No, but I may finally finally get my Volvo 240 next week. There is a good one for sale not far from here, actually has everything I want. Nice. Of course, I get Volvo, no Fiat. Even though my Volvo will not be newer than an '87, It will have less than 300K miles.  We like old cars, apparently, I dunno. My daily driver is an '07, its the newest car we own by 20 years. Oh, by the way, Fred has 5 cars. Remind me to tell you about that sometime. And how sometimes none of them work, and all the time 3 of them don't.


Third! Third, I have had an inspiration, an epiphany, a calling. You know that whole 30 for 30 thing that Kendi got us started on? Read up here. I'll wait. Ok, done.

Okay, well here's what I was thinking about. What if I do a challenge where I have to wear every single (seasonally appropriate, occasion appropriate) thing in my closet within oh, well we'll see how far we get in 30 days.

See, my problem, (I have many) is that I go sour on clothes rather ...quickly. Its not that I don't still like all my clothes..its that I like the new stuff more. Perhaps my fashion sense is just that constantly emerging and evolving and growing like a beautiful butterfly...or maybe I just like new things. (actually, I like old things. Vintage cars. Vintage housewares. Vintage clothes?). Anyway, the new things.

I get into habits, patterns. For weeks, months, say, I will be ALL ABOUT blouse with slacks and blazers, and then I'll veer entirely into sweaters with skirts and boots. And the blouses and slacks and blazers...they are still good, you see - but I am not into them right now. So they languish, in the closet.

At any given time, I am into wearing maybe 1/10th of my closet.

So! So, i thought. I will attempt to wear it all. Why? Because the leftover stuff, that I cannot bring myself to wear? That will be donated / ebay-ed. Also, I will learn to mix the new and the slightly less new. I will develop new favorites. It will be fabulous.

Here's what I'm going to do - I'm going to separate out any non seasonal or non work appropriate attire. What's left, I'm going to count off. blouse 1, blouse 2, pants 1, pants 2, skirt 1 - you see how. And I'm going to make a list. And when I wear things? I am going to cross them off the list. This is going to be brilliant.

I may scare you with my list - I have a lot of clothes.

Anyone else want to try?








Monday, January 23, 2012

high end

so, I've had this conversation with many a people. There are tiers of clothes. You've got your 3 tiers of Gap: Old Navy/Gap/Banana. This one company pretty clearly represents the "mall" categories.

Your UrbanOutfitters/Anthro dichotomy.

Your Madewell/J Crew.

So, after a certain amount of years of working fairly hard and progressing in my career, I would say I am now solidly in the J Crew / Anthro / Banana world, with some forays into the mid-range brands of a Nordstroms, or say a Club Monaco or so. My jeans fall into the Citizens / Hudson genre. That is not to say that I no longer shop at the Targets or Old Navys - nay, I am merely saying where I top out.

My bags are also of this tier, what I call the Coach tier.

My question, the ongoing conversation, is how much money do you have to have to progress to the Elizabeth and James / DVF tier? or eve the Chanel/Oscar type tier? For the most part, I say, I can't imagine having the kind of disposable income that would allow me to spend $3000 on a dress or $8000 on a bag. Can you imagine? I don't think I would ever want to! Who are these people and how much disposable income do you have to have before you pay a mortgage for pants?!?

I can see myself at the Elizabeth and James / DVF tier, say, if I wanted an iconic DVF dress, or something really special came out that was a couple hundred bucks, and on sale, and I loved it, and would wear it every day if necessary, and it was extremely versatile, and if it was the best thing ever made to put on one's body, etc. etc. I haven't gone there yet.

Now, I never can really imagine myself wanting that upper tier. Its not worth it. It's silly. And then, then I see these pants.


Actually, the whole outfit. Its perfection. I wish I had it on today. And tomorrow. This is Oscar de la Renta, by the way.

And then, then, because I've not lost my mind, nor changed my mind...I become very very thankful that the J Crews, the Bananas, and the like..they will copy the hell out of the Oscars. And then, then I may have cerulean trousers.

And then I realize...wait, I already can...










01.23.2012


Good morning! Today, I inadvertently dressed to match the afghan I'm making for my couch, which is going to match my Missoni for Target throw pillow. I guess I just have these rich, natural colors on my mind! The afghan will be a chevron pattern, I'm super excited and a little nervous, I've never undertaken such a big crochet project before!







The yarns are cascade yarns eco in black, chocolate, sierra, butternut squash, straw, and cinnamon.

My outfit is:
Dream sweater: J Crew Factory
Cafe Trouser: J Crew
Booties: Ann Taylor
Necklace: Banana Republic
Bracelet: My mom's
Rings: Tiffany and my grandmother's.




Friday, January 20, 2012

01.20.2012

Here it is, Friday again! It's been a really productive week, even though its been a special short week. oh, how I love holiday Mondays.


Here's what I have on today. You know, I'm a short person, 5' 3", but wow, are my legs just REALLY short. These jeans aren't even particularly low rise - but I look much better in high rise, I think. Gives me some extra fake leg length =) Don't get me wrong though, I like these short little legs just fine. 

Jacket, Sweater, and Scarf: j Crew
Jeans: Hudson
Boots: Frye
Rings/Bracelet: Tiffany and mall kiosk

Thursday, January 19, 2012

01.19.2010 outfit


Hello, I'm Sara, and this is my bathroom. Welcome. It was too dark and dreary today to get any good outside light for my morning pic - sad.

Here's what I'm wearing today:

Sweater and Blouse: J Crew
Pants: Talbots
Shoes: J Crew
Bracelet: Nordstrom
Rings: Tiffany / Mall Kiosk Dude

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

last

Last

film you watched I Don't Know How She Does It
song you heard Vomit - Girls
beverage you drank Natural Raspberry Fruit 2 0
thing you ate Starbucks Protein Bistro Box
text you received AT&T acknowledging my payment
time you cried September maybe
time you laughed out loud earlier today, just your average crazy Recruiter stuff
items you bought Coffee and aforementioned Bistro Box
last book you read The Leftovers - finished last night
last person you hugged Fred

outfit 01.18.2012


Good morning! I'm still feeling rather ill, nasty cough and cold. But, I'm trying not to look it!

Here's what I'm wearing today - variation on "the uniform"

Blazer/Sweater/Skirt - J Crew
Tights: Hue
Boots: Rockport
Necklace: Banana Republic
Rings: Tiffany

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

lush for life

ohh, how I adore Lush. I am all about the fresh, handmade products. I am, of course, all about the no animal testing. But really, I just adore these products, and what they can do.

Here's a few that I've tried..

 1) Dirty Body Spray. This may be a "men's" product, I can't tell and don't really care. Its an amazing post-workout refresher. Its tarragon, spearmint, sandalwood, thyme and lavender. It gives you a nice cooling jolt and makes you feel all fresh.


2) Full of Grace. During the winter, my skin gets dry and bitchy. This face serum has rose oil, mushrooms, and some tropical butters I've never heard of. It makes my skin less bitchy. It comes in solid form, like a small soap, but melts wonderfully on contact with skin.

3) Conditioners Forever in Bloom and American Cream. Forever in Bloom is a lighter conditioner, which with my curly, color treated hair, made me go, ummm, nah, at first. But it works really well. See, although I have an ass-ton of hair, it individually is fine. This is a good daily conditioner. It has chamomile, jasmine and honeysuckle.  What I do with this is use it as an allover conditioner while I'm deep conditioning my ends. My hair gets all bouncy and happy.




American Cream is a little heftier, probably more along the lines of what a traditional conditioner feels like. It smells of  honey, vanilla, strawberries and orange. It does the job well.

4) Shampoos - Godiva solid and Cynthia Sylvia Stout. I just picked up the Godiva solid shampoo, and I must say - it smells divine. I'm not sure about the rest of it yet. I'll have to let you know once I've used it a bit more.

Cynthia Silvia Stout - god, I love this stuff. Cynthia Sylvia Stout is made with stout beer, which contains protein to give your hair weight, smoothness and gloss. It's excellent for hair that tends to go frizzy in damp or humid environments. I mean, yes.  Anti-poof.




5) Things to put in your bath! Flying Fox..its a shower gel/bubble bath/shampoo if you want it to be, and it just smells sexxxxy. It's honey, jasmine, ylang, cypress and palmarosa. Wonderful.

Lush is probably most famous for its bath bombs, and they don't disappoint. I am also a HUGE fan of the bubble bars and bath melts - all things that you just drop in your bath. Right now, I'm loving Sex Bomb (Jasmine, clary sage and ylang ylang "to make you feel like a lover." hehe) and Karma (Karma is one of their signature scents - orangey and spicy). 



6) Face Cleanser - Herbalism. Now, this says it is for oily or problem skin. I got a bit as a sample with another order, and my face was happy. My face is not oily nor problem. But this made it happy. It has calming rose and chamomile in to soothe and ground almonds for a gentle exfoliation, What's not to like?

If Lush had been around during my Body Shop days (at least locally), I probably would have jumped ship. Lush addict, who, me? 

All of these products, and so so much much more at www.lushusa.com. I wish this post was sponsored.




















sniff sniff blargh

'allo. I have a cold today. One of those awesome coughs that stays dormant generally but when it emerges you sound like a dying, honking, goose. And I feel warm, and generally oogy.

yay!

So, I slept in quite late (oops) and I don't have an outfit post today. I am, however, wearing clothes, not to worry. I have on all black, to reflect my health. haha. No, its easy. I'm tired. Where's the bed.

Friday, January 13, 2012

I read..like a lot.

I was just reading Holly's 2011 Book re-cap, and I thought, hey, self, you read a lot, you should do this. And then I thought, hey, self, can you be trusted to remember what you read for a whole year? (you see, Holly wrote it down. smart). Self, no, you cannot.

But I do remember the last 5 or so. So let's take a look-see at those, mmmmk?

Currently reading:

Tom Perrota's The Leftovers.

The premise of this book is that there is a Rapture-like event that makes several million people across the world up and disappear. This is about the lives of the people left. I sort of love it right now, but I'm only 1/2 way done.

Last book finished:
Well, shit. See, ummm.. hmmmm. Wow. Short term memory fail. Oh, wait, I know.

Jeffrey Eugenides' The Marriage Plot



I actually delayed my purchase of this book, which is completely unheard of when it comes to me and Eugenides - because I was still working on the last book, which I'll get to. So, I heard some things, some things about this book, in the interim. Mainly that the ending would make me want to throw the book against the wall in anger. Maybe it speaks to my experience with the subjects addressed in this book, but no, not so much. I took it all in stride, quite calmly I may add.

Anyway, I definitely enjoyed this book. Thumbs up. Read it. Now.

So, before that, I was reading this, which is completely my favorite book of the year, and possibly a long time, but I hesitate to go for EVER.

Neal Stephenson's REAMDE

 (Which my Dad is reading right now. Cause I shared.)

This book has it all - RPGs, Russian mafia, Japanese hackers, American and British Intelligence. It is awesome, and complicated, and a magical dance of subplots that come together beautifully. I have long loved Mr. Stephenson's writing, and this book was super super really really great.

In between REAMDE and the Marriage Plot I read the whole Hunger Games series, in like a weekend. It was good. Light fare, for sure, but quite good. There could've been a lot more THERE there, though, you know? More substance. I hope they rock that movie version, it has potential.


And then before THAT, I read these.


But beyond that, which takes us back to about October, I have no idea. I think I'll be like Holly and start writing it down, you know? Yes.

More importantly, do you have any book recommendations?









outfit 01.13.2012

Friday, and before a long weekend to boot. Lovely! And its Friday the 13th...but I'm not superstitious so that is a-ok with me.

It's casual Friday 'round here - here's what I'm wearing today.





Jacket: Anthro
Scarf: Do not recall, sorry
Sweater: J Crew
Jeans: Citizens of Humanity
Boots: Frye, thrifted
Belt: American Eagle
Bracelet/Rings: Tiffany

Thursday, January 12, 2012

love it.

hi, I'm the most awesomest dress ever, here to remind you that its not summer. Yay! (seriously, would like to own this dress). the bike lane dress.




outfit 01.12.2012

hey hey, happy Thursday!

Here's what I'm clad in today:


Yes, I'm wearing jeans on Thursday. I don't know why or when I decided that "fancy" jeans were okay the rest of the week, not relegated to Friday, but I did, so there you have it. 

Blazer, Sweater:  J Crew
Jeans: Old Navy
Shoes: Nine West (not that you can see them, ahem, Sara needs to have her pants hemmed)
Necklace: Anthro
Rings: Tiffany and random mall kiosk dude.

For your viewing enjoyment today, there is a Bella cat on the bed. She's camo.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

outfit 01.11.2012

morning!

man, ever since I had 10 days off (oh, so long long ago) for Christmas/New Year's, I am having a hell of a time waking up in order to fit in my hour of P90X (2). With that much time off, my schedule started to slip from 7am to 10pm normal towards, oh, 10am to 3am. haha. It hasn't quite made its way back. This morning I only had about a 1/2 hour to work out, so instead of doing half of my P90X, I did Jillian's 30 day shred. It felt gooood.

Not enjoying dipping out on the first week of P90X2, though - time to wrench myself out of bed just a bit earlier.

Here's my outfit today - it feels old, like too mature for me. I dunno. I like all the pieces (love all the pieces), but something about it just didn't jive today. Well, I like it better looking at it now then I did when I took this pic. Anyway...

There I go with the pencil skirt and boots again...hey, if it works..

Jacket: Anthropologie
Blouse: Zara
Skirt: J Crew
Boots: Rockport
Tights: Hue
Necklace/Rings/Bracelet: Tiffany

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

the wu for tarj

the look book for Jason Wu for Target came out today. Check it out..here

I'm still pretty delighted, but I think the strongest look was the one that I posted before...

What do you think?

what i wore 01.10.2012

good morning! here's today's outfit:


Pants: Talbots
Sweater: J Crew (on sale!) 
Shoes: Ann Taylor
Bracelet: Tiffany
Rings: Tiffany, and inherited from my Grandmother

can you spot Miss Tasha cat in this pic?

Monday, January 09, 2012

outfit 01.09.2012

Happy Monday morning! how dare we have a full week of work! =) At least we have a three day weekend coming up.

So, as I said, I'm getting back on this outfit posting train. Today, I am wearing what I have come to realize is my new uniform. Pencil skirt, sweater, tights, boots. It's easy, its comfortable, its stylish. And its pretty versatile!

I have this skirt (J Crew No. 2 Pencil Skirt) in 3 colors - this one, charcoal, and black. I suppose I'd get it in camel too if it didn't sell out constantly.

The sweater is a multiple, too - its J. Crew's Tippi sweater, and I have it in navy, camel, flame, purple, and the same green as this skirt.

I definitely need a J Crew sponsorship, right? I have shopping issues, yes I do.

Anyway, I didn't exactly set out to build this uniform, but I did, and it works so well.

Do you have a default uniform?

Sweater, Skirt: J Crew
Boots: Rockport
Scarf: Nordstrom
Tights: J Crew
Bracelet: Don't remember
Rings: Tiffany
Watch: Timex Weekender





Sunday, January 08, 2012

the haps round here

hi all! thought i'd drop in and clue you in on what I've been up to lately.

first, I told you I can knit, right? I can mostly knit! here's the project I've been working on...which will either one day be a scarf...or just a reminder of my remedial skills at the start =) its a nice cozy charcoal wool on size 9 needles.

also, I made a little piece of art for my office/craft/sewing room...this is one I've had on my mind for a long time.


the quote seems to have gained some popularity since I first read Slaughterhouse Five, but i've always loved it.

i bought a plain canvas and painted it all over with Liquitex Heavy Body Acrylic paint in Payne's Gray. I let that dry over night, and then I did the lettering in Liquitex Parchment.

I kept things semi-straight (didn't want it to be too perfect!) with my gridded cutting board and a ruler.

I'm super happy with the final product. its a melancholy quote, but it makes me smile every time I look at the painting.

In other womanly arts, I made some amazing cookies yesterday. they are really simple:

1/2 cup butter
6 TBSPs brown sugar
1 TSP vanilla
1 cup oat floar
1 cup almond flour

That's it! Mix it up, drop those suckers on a tray (i used some parchment paper too), 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  Delicious!

Finally, I started P90X2 yesterday! Yesterday was X2 Core, and today was Plyocide. I didn't go for any of the bells and whistles gear that BeachBody sells (medicine balls, foam rollers, etc), but it seems like I'll get more out of the workout if I do. I know I can pick them up cheaper at Dick's Sporting Goods, so I'll likely be making a trip there this week.

This is a very different workout than the first, with some similarities. The set up is the same, Tony and the "kids" in a similar studio. A lot of the stretches are now focused on the foam roller and stability ball, but you can revert to what you learned in P90X and get by fairly well.

Plyocide, despite its name, is actually easier to get through than P90X Plyo, in my opinion. But I feel like its a better workout, in some way I can't quite describe. We'll see how sore I am tomorrow!

This system is also different in that it is a little more self-paced. There are three stages, and you could progress through each in 3 weeks, following with 1 week of recovery, like the original. Or, you can stay on one for 6 weeks, and do 10 days of recovery if that's what you need.  It's based around building up a near mastery of each section before moving on, while maintaining the muscle confusion philosophy.

Overall it feels really great to have a whole new set of workouts to do! I'll let you know how it goes!

Well, off to enjoy the last few hours of the weekend...sad.