Thursday, December 29, 2011

christmas wishes?

just the other day on Christmas, I was lamenting to my sister how I have bought SO MANY PAIRS of skinny jeans, and I hate all of them. I almost always buy online, and I have tried skinnies from my favorite tried and true brands (Citizens, Hudson, Lucky, Joe's) and some I haven't tried (J Brand, James Jeans). Every single one got sent back.

A few months ago, I bought a pair of AG Adriano Goldschmied skinnies, ,the Stilt Cigarette jeans. link. I hadn't tried AG before, but they were on sale, and I really liked the wash. And I REALLY liked the 30" inseam, as a petite girl, our skinnies choices are limited. Yes, I know they can be tailored. No, I am to lazy for that...just kidding, I'm not..but I do try to pursue petite jeans now that most brands make them.

So these AGs, I tried them on, they didn't fit. They were too small, but in that way that you know you'll fit them like 5 lbs later. And as I said, I really liked the wash, and I liked the leg fit quite a bit. That's a tough thing about skinnies for us in the 10-12 range, the leg fit can be off, out of proportion, or rather, i suppose in proportion, but not for me. These were proportional. So, instead of sending them back, I popped them in my drawer, promising to try them again before deciding to return.

Back to that conversation with my sister...she said she has to pretty much hate a new pair of jeans for a week before she likes them. And I got to thinking..and yeah, that's true. I mean, I can tell right away if they are mostly right - wash, cut, fade, proportions..but it takes a good couple of wearings to really tell. I have many a favorite jean that BECAME a favorite jean only because my old favorite jeans died a sudden death (i.e. they got worn out) and I had to wear them...and voila...a few weeks later, fav pair. Of course, my drawers..and the GoodWill..are littered with pairs that never did make that cut. Why are jeans so hard? Why? You know what would fix it? We all get measured for jeans twice a year, and we all walk around with our special jeans measurements in our back pocket, and every brand of jeans accepts our measurements, and says, oh yes, ma'am, they'll be shipped to you in a week. Because jeans are very personal...and they only fit well once we have molded them, beaten them, into forming to our exact measurements.

Anyway, the last two days have been a cleaning frenzy for me, including a full purge and organize of the closet and dresser. I am ebay-ing and donating a lot. But I came across these AGs, and once again, they made my cut. I just still liked the look of them. I've lost maybe a couple of pounds since I bought them, but I wasn't in the mood for an ego bruise, I was cleaning, dammit! So I didn't try them on.

Today..well, today, I didn't FEEL like wearing my trusty Hudsons. They are getting a bit saggy, a bit have to hike them up sometimes. I didn't feel like wearing any of my other boot cuts. I felt like wearing skinnies today, dammit! I felt this last night, too, as I browsed Nordstrom and Piperline and thought about trying another pair, yet again.

So today, I went upstairs and I yanked these AGs out of my drawer. Tugged them on. They fit! And I was right, they are amazing! I give it three wearings before they fit ideally. I have to be able to wear a t shirt with all my jeans before they can even start to look like front runners - i.e. no damn muffin top! These aren't quite there yet....but they will be, I can feel it.

Looks like I might be a skinny jeans girl after all. What am I, 5 years late? Damn! Good thing I really love wide legs too =)

Friday, December 23, 2011

glitterati









 Oh, I am feeling the glitter and sequins! I love that final blouse...Zara, sold out, much to my dismay =(

Merry Christmas to all!

Thursday, December 22, 2011

midnight in paris

I finally saw Midnight in Paris last night. I never seem to go to the actual movies anymore, so I'm always super-excited when the ones I want to watch come out on DVD. I do love a Woody Allen movie, and I was not disappointed in this one. It was a lovely film, very Woody, and just delightful. I think my favorite part may have been Adrian Brody as Dali.

Dali!


I still can't quite express just how much of a bitch Rachel McAdams' character is - and its very out of character for her! It doesn't quite fit! I know, I know, she was Regina George! But this, this is different. You end up despising her very quickly.

Like Gil, I too am enchanted by Paris of the '20s, but I wouldn't have kept nearly as cool as he in the presence of the Fitzgeralds, Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, Cole Porter, and Picasso. Of course, the point of the movie, and isn't it true - is that the present is very difficult to appreciate. Good for Adriana in La Belle Epoque, not so good for that detective in Versailles...and a reminder to us to appreciate our lives - and to make our own golden age.

ballerina in training

I tried a new workout this morning! Ballet Beautiful, by Mary Helen Bowers. Mary Helen danced at the NYC Ballet for 10 years and trained Natalie Portman for Black Swan. Just the Black Swan part is enough =)

I love the idea of ballet workouts, with barre workouts becoming more and more popular. I like this one - but it is tough! (which is good). Mary Helen leads you through the workout in a bare white studio, with very serene classical music playing. She seems to effortlessly progress through 5 bazillion inner thigh, outer thigh, arm, and..gosh, I've blocked it out..oh yes, arm, core, and cardio/strength moves. All with the extreme grace of a professional ballerina. And then when she stretches, oh so casually, and pulls her foot to her nose. Ahhh, yes.

But I digress - I do like this workout. It will take me a while to work up to the speed and number of reps she's doing. Ballerinas are bad ass, apparently - because I've been hanging with P90X for 3 months and this? Yep.

If you've ever wanted to know how ballerinas can hold their arms up for a whole performance, so elegantly? This will demonstrate just an iota of the arm strength needed.

I do highly recommend it - and I'm going to be trying some other ballet-inspired workouts too. I think I'll keep doing this one mixed in with my p90. I do think my posture is a bit better for having done this workout this morning!

Here's the link to the Ballet Beautiful site: link






Wednesday, December 21, 2011

an oldy-goody

i was at ye olde CVS on Monday, browsing the make up aisles, as I do, when I stumbled upon a long forgotten favorite.

Wet n' Wild lip pencil in 666 (the devil's pencil), also called Brandywine. (here's an awful picture, sorry!)

This stuff is the most perfect color. And I knew that, in high school. And I used it all the time, in high school. And I was in high school in the early to mid 90s, and one might be concerned about the whole grunge / brown matte lipstick thing..and yes, one could certainly go heavily in that direction with this pencil. But with a little clear shimmer gloss, or heck, even vaseline? Defined, fairly long lasting, nice plummy brown lip color.

and I forgot about it entirely until Monday.

You can buy it here, but like paying for a candy bar with a debit card, I will make fun of you if you buy this online. (p.s. I just bought Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Rebelle online. Dudes, I have lipstick issues. also, work is a little slow this Dec 21st).

I'm sorry if I ever make fun of you, Wet N' Wild. Between this and your liquid liner, you rock my socks.

Do any of you have any cheapy favorites?

Friday, December 16, 2011

like a bendy straw

flexibility. I love it, I miss it..and I'm getting some of it back!

When I was a kid, I was a gymnast, training several times a week and competing. I loved gymnastics. I hated competition, though. For hours a week, I was stretching, conditioning, dancing, tumbling, and flipping. I had a six pack and remarkable flexibility.

Do you remember the presidential fit tests we did in elementary school? With the sit and reach? I had a crowd gaping at me at the sit and reach. Splits? I could do not only regular splits with ease, but I could do splits with both my feet up on low balance beams, hitting the floor. I could pick up a foot and put it right next to my ear, no problem. I could even do the Kristy Phillips beam mount. If you are old enough to remember, she mounted with a handstand, then brought her feet over to meet her hands on the beam, in a major back bend, before standing up. On a beam.

I miss this flexibility dearly! Until fairly recently, I could still rock a great bridge and maybe bust out a back walkover, but I seem to have lost even most of that. Okay, I can still do a bridge, but only on a good day, and not for long.

However - I'm getting it back! One of my favorite workouts in p90x is the stretch day. I LOOOVE the stretch day. My favorite stretch is the one-legged hamstring stretch. The other day, I went to do this stretch, and BAM! forehead makes contact with leg. I could have thrown a party, I swear. I have a list of flexibility feats I need to get back:

1) Forward bend with forehead to legs - done!
2) Right, left and center splits
3) Bridge
4) Finally, I want that foot up against my ear again.

How long should I give myself? My goal is 3 months for 1-3, 6 months for 4.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

a little about me



#1. What's a nickname only your family calls you?
I don’t have a nickname really – Sara is pretty easy to say! Once in a while, someone will call me Sar, but that’s just laziness.

#2. What's a weird habit of yours?
Everything I do is perfectly normal, haha. No, but really, I’m having a hard time with this one. Ah, okay. Earrings. I never change them. I get a pair, wear them until they break or are lost, and then replace.

#3. What's a song you secretly LOVE to blast & belt out when you're alone?
Someone Like You by Adele. That’s not too shameful. I Remember You by Skid Row.

#4. What's one of your biggest pet peeves?
People who do not comprehend merging. People who are impolite to waiters, cashiers, taxi drivers, etc. It’s the mark of a bad person. Say please and thank you, dammit.

#5. What's one of your nervous habits?
I have a gap in my bottom teeth that I’ll flick my tongue on, it makes an annoying sound, so I’m told (Fred.)

#6. What side of the bed do you sleep on?
The left side.

#7. What was your first stuffed animal & it's name?
I’m not sure what the first was, but I’m pretty partial to a momma cat and kittens that I had. The kittens would stick on a Velcro piece on the momma’s belly like they were nursing.

#8. What's the drink you ALWAYS order at Starbucks?

Grande Decaf Sugar Free Hazelnut Soy Misto. Or just a grande decaf.

#9. What's the beauty rule you preach.. but never ACTUALLY practice?
hmmm. I don’t know..I’m great about taking off makeup, I moisturize like a mo-fo and I always wear sunscreen. On my face. There’s one. I am bad about sunscreen on the rest of myself.

#10. Which way do you face in the shower?

I almost never take showers, I’m a bath person. But when I do, away from the shower.

#11. Do you have any 'weird' body 'skills'?
Double jointed thumbs. I used to be able to fascinate people with my flexibility, need to get that skill back.

#12. What's your favorite 'comfort food'/food that's 'bad' but you love to eat it anyways?

Chocolate.

#13. What's a phrase or exclamation you always say?
Absolutely.

#14. Time to sleep- what are you ACTUALLY wearing?
Either satin jammies or sweats and a T. Jammies with shorts/Shorts and T in the summer. Never ever socks, ever.


_________________

I saw these, umm..sneakers, I guess, on ShopBop today, and I really WANT to hate them. Instead, I am drawn to them. Why am I drawn to them!?! I have always been very anti high-heeled sneakers sort of madness. I see skinny jeans, gray v-neck ts, and big soft cardigans..with these. What?!?


See for yourself


Monday, December 12, 2011

monday

Given the timing of Christmas, I'm going place bets on this Monday being the last truly productive Monday of the year.  So let's enjoy it.

Last week, I ordered a long-line bra from a company that was recommended by the stylist for Mad Men. I mean, if you're going to buy good retro undergarments, I'll take her recommendation, right? I got the Rago Lacette Long Line Bra. It came over the weekend and I have it on today - wow. I feel VERY Joan. I highly recommend it. There's something delightful about wearing fancy underthings under work wear. A little secret wink, haha.

In other news, I thought I had my gift wrapping theme down for this year...yes, I have gift wrapping themes each year, don't make fun. But then I saw this, and I want to do this! Isn't this incredible?




Here's how: link

P90X update time! 

I have 3 1/2 weeks left before I'm done with my first 90 days! I had to take a break when our TV broke, but I only missed a few days and have been back on the wagon since our new TV arrived last week. The 3rd segment of P90X kind of pulls together everything else you learned so far, so its nice in that there is a variety of workouts. If I could change one thing about this system, it would be to add in a couple of different non-weight day options. As is, on your "Active" weeks, its Plyo, Yoga, Kenpo...and its been that way since week 1!  I suppose I could slide in a Cardio X or a Core in there and it wouldn't hurt.

I am going to get P90X2 to start in the new year. I may be bored of these workouts, but I don't completely hate Tony and gang, haha. I'm excited to see what they've come up with for version 2.

I have lost about 0 lbs. So that's awesome. I feel slightly more fit, but nothing fits dramatically different. Slightly better, all around. I did notice that sweaters I haven't worn since last year are all gapey and stretched out - so maybe I'm overall smaller in a manner that doesn't lend itself well to visual cues? I didn't measure myself pre P90X because I have a full work up of measurements that my trainer did last year. I need to check myself against those.

I have also heard that in the test group for P90X, a lot of the participants didn't see results until Section 3. I'm waiting =)

Have any of you done P90X? or a similar program? What was your experience?

Finally, polka dot pumps. discuss...

These are new from Nine West. I can't decide if I like them or not. I think the platform is a little too Minnie Mouse/kinder-whore, but I could possibly rock the pumps. Of course, this is moot, because I do not buy shoes unless I am in love with them, head over ummm, heels. And I just don't fall in love as easily with shoes as with clothes. But these, these intrigue me, you know?








Sunday, December 11, 2011

traditions

do you have any Christmas traditions?

My childhood is filled with Christmas traditions, from Dad reading The Night Before Christmas to going to the midnight service at church. Christmas Day was filled with multiple present-opening and food eating sessions. It still is, haha.

As I've become an adult, I've made some that are kind of just for me. I always watch Love Actually on Christmas Eve before bed. I always bake bread during the day on Christmas Eve, wrapping presents while it rises. As an adult, work seems to bump right up to the day itself..if I didn't take days off, it would just blend in, which is sad, really. Having these traditions let me put my mind in the right place.



Saturday, December 10, 2011

10/31 - 12/10, 365

Oct 31st
Q: Halloween plans? What's your costume?
A: Wow, these are really better when they're done on time! Halloween night was actually a Monday, so we just handed out candy.

Nov 1st
Q: What was something you couldn't do today?
A: I honestly can't think of something I couldn't do today. I did Plyometrics, if I can do that, I can do most other things.

Nov 2nd
Q: What's your biggest expense right now?
A: Rent

Nov 3rd
Q: When did you last hold a baby?
A: It has been years, many years. But I'll get to hold a new one at Christmas!

Nov 4th
Q: Today you made
A: Stir Fry

Nov 5th
Q: What should remain as-is?
A: The state of my non-wrinkly skin? =)

Nov 6th
Q: What time did you go to bed last night?
A: About 1am

Nov 7th
Q: Who is your hero?
A: My mom, really. Also President Obama.

Nov 8th
Q: What topic are bored talking about?
A: Weather, Kardashians (I never talk about them, but if they come up, I'm instantly bored),various house chores.

Nov 9th
Q: Did you leave work on time?
A: There isn't really an "on time". There is, however, a slightly more usual than other times time, and yes, I did.

Nov 10th
Q: Where do you find pleasure?
A: Books, exercise, Fred, girly stuff (makeup, lingerie, etc.)

Nov 11th
Q: What do you always avoid?
A: Travel. Working on it.

Nov 12th
Q: Is there anything missing in your life?
A: Travel. Working on it.

Nov 13th
Q: What song could be your self-portrait?
A: That's a weird question. Ummm. How about Sara? Take your pick as to which version, I'm partial to Dylan's.

Nov 14th
Q: What do you need to vent about?
A: Work, usually.

Nov 15th
Q: Waking up was ___________
A: Just lovely, actually. Plenty early, no rush

Nov 16th
Q: What are you obsessed with right now?
A: I don't much get obsessed with anything, but I'm working on redecorating our guest bathroom, and for once I'm trying to have a theme.

Nov 17th
Q: Which friend(s) did you last speak to?
A: Fred, if we're counting him. I do =)

Nov 18th
Q: What is your dream job of the day?
A: Can't talk about this yet as I might actually jinx something.

Nov 19th
Q: When was the last time you checked an online social network?
A: Like 5 minutes ago.

Nov 20th
Q: What do you have to get done?
A: Christmas shopping, only one person left on the list.

Nov 21st
Q: What are your favorite shoes?
A: Tough question! Probably my Tretorn casual sneaks.

Nov 22nd
Q: What are you trying to do?
A: Get rid of a headache, get in shape.

Nov 23rd
Q: What is your favorite brunch food?
A: I love brunch. Either the waffles my mom and dad make or eggs benedict.

Nov 24th
Q: Who have you recently deleted from your contacts/address book?
A: Noone, if I didn't like you or work with you, you probably wouldn't be in there.

Nov 25th
Q: How much water did you drink today?
A: Not enough, about 16 ounces.

Nov 26th
Q: What three words describe your family?
A: Smart, Loving, Awesome.

Nov 27th
Q: Who inspires you?
A: Everyone I love

Nov 28th
Q: What was the last risk you took?
A: See the question for Nov 18th, I'll hopefully tell you about it soon!

Nov 29th
Q: What five words describe your mood?
A: Chilled, Content, Dreamy, Thoughtful, Inspired

Nov 30th
Q: Today you almost ___________
A: Went to the craft store for a new canvas, but I decided to go later...so I guess technically I'll probably still do this today.

Dec 1st
Q: What would you like your epitaph to read?
A: Lived and Loved.

Dec 2nd
Q: What details from today would you like to remember?
A: Fred's hair looked absolutely adorable today, when he came out to help me carry groceries unasked. Hey, it's the little things!

Dec 3rd
Q: On a scale of one to ten, how happy are you?
A: A solid 8

Dec 4th
Q: Do you want to know how it ends?
A: No, surprise me.

Dec 5th
Q: Who do you miss?
A: Friends I haven't seen in too long.

Dec 6th
Q: Today you gained _____________
A: Hmmm. I have no idea. Probably some knowledge about some subject.

Dec 7th
Q: Where do you see yourself next year?
A: Right here, but even better. I can't complain.

Dec 8th
Q: How ambitious do you feel today?
A: Oh, man, barely. Haha.

Dec 9th
Q: What is your most recent act of generosity?
A: I donated at the CVS.

Dec 10th
Q: What surprised you today?
A: How long it has been since I answered these questions!



Tuesday, December 06, 2011

some things

This house, in Bruges, Belgium. It's just 1.35M. Let's all chip in.


This couch. If ever I could convince myself to spend this much on a couch - you would be it, darling.


This makes me really crave Brussels sprouts, which is quite a feat. Just kidding, they're tasty.


who's coming to Barcelona with me?


my hair needs to do this, now. Actually...I may be able to get my hair to do this! project!


Vancouver is so beautiful. 

 
 
Some of my favorite blogs right now...one, two, three, four.
Have a wonderful Tuesday!