A Little Game Called Catch-Up

It's been quite a while since my last post- I really need to be better about that.

SOOOooo What's chnged since Christmas? Jordan and I moved!!

Finally- Huntington was getting me down. Not really, but kinda- it's just really far from our friends who all live in the Costa Mesa area. So we moved to Irvine- it isn't quite Newport, but it's certainly a step closer. It reminds me of home... I'm originally from Northern California where its beautiful and green and spread out a bit more... Irvine at least has lots of greenery and things are a little more spread out and it isn't built on a grid like HB. Our new place is a tad bigger but still a one bedroom, but it's been so fun to decorate!! I built my own headboard and painted a wall in the living room... ok so there hasnt been a LOT of decorating yet, but hey, I'm still only working part time and last I checked, crate & barrel hadn't start a scholarship program. Here are the projects I've done thus far:

HEADBOARD:

Here's the bed before... Excuse the mess, we were still in the midst of moving in...

Particle board from Home depot

 Foam mattress cover from HomeGoods:

 Quilt batting from JoAnn's

 Fabric (by Waverly) special ordered from JoAnn's (We went with an outdoor fabric to stand up against body oils on our hands and heads- but it isn't plasticky at all).

 HERE is where we encountered the problem... I had planned on putting the fabric ont he middle section first before doing anything to the wings, but somehow I got ahead of myself and we ran into the issue of defining the corners.

 Had to just make-do.

 And here it is all finished- not perfect, but at least I learned what NOT to do next time!!

Close up of the lamps I found at HomeGoods:

We also painted our bookshelf:

I painted these letters from Michael's and made a gallery wall with LOVE

I made a cord cover with muslin and a hot glue gun!!

I Painted the Wall my fireplace/tv is on: Color: Plumage by Martha Stewart

And then I revamped the whole wall! Doesn't it look nice?? Well actually, it looks a little cray cray in this picture... still need to work on the perfect accessories, throws, and pillows, but that will come with room in the finances!

I hung some plum drapes from Target, and 3 lanterns with fake candles (also from Target):

We also bought this beautiful trunk from Crate & Barrel:

 Achilles got a new tag :)

So that's pretty much it for DIYs recently... other than that I took up horseback riding- which I am LOVING!! how could you not- with this beauty as my companion:
It's been challenging but so rewarding, who needs a therapist when you have horses?! Seriously it's the best thing I've done in a long time.


My birthday came and went and now I am officially in my mid-twenties. 25 feels so much older than 24.

I took my little bro to the Zoo for his bday!! It was actually very fun- saw some gorillas and tigers... and a lot of boring animals- all those deer-like/ goat-like things? How many of those do I really need to see??? I wanna see more wild cats!! And a grizzly!!!




Aside from all that, I'm still on the hunt for full-time work. I've only had a few interviews since my last post, which has been disappointing, but I'm confident that the right thing is coming and I'll know when it shows itself. I'm currently waiting to hear back on an interview I had last week! Cross your fingers! If that one doesn't work out I'm going to have to look into what it'll take to become a super model- that seems like it shouldn't take to long, right? I any case, I'll be putting the job hunt on hold until I'm back from Europe.

EUROPE!!!! Jordan and I are going to London & Paris for 2 weeks in May- SO SO excited! His parents are taking us along with them on their very first trip to Europe- Jordan and I have both been over there a few times, so we'll be the seasoned travel guides!!

All in all, life is pretty dang good.

Gift Guide!!!!!!!

'Tis the season to give to the ones you love... now, I know there are a million "gift guide"s out there but believe me- THIS is the only one you need pay attention to.

Here is a well researched list of the BEST gifts this year has to offer for everyone on your list!

Happy Shopping!!

For your fashionista gal pals:

Pajama Jeans are the best combination of function meets fashion- any woman would LOVE to be seen in these fashion-world-shattering gems!

For Your Tech-Savvy Friend:

iCarta is perfect for anyone who's even been spending quality time with the porcelain throne and thought, "Gee, I wish I had some tunes to enhance my toilet experience."

For Your Workaholic Father:

Anychair makes working around the clock an appetizing reality- you never have to go home for bed again!

For The Golf-Enthusiast:

Uroclub- it's a golf club that doubles as a urinal- need I say more?! Includes a privacy towel so you can pee on the green and no one will any the wiser!

For Your Pregnant Sister:

Fetus Cookie Cutter is clever and cute- perfect for baby showers, bridal showers, christmas parties and more!!

For Your Mommy-Friends in The Mid-West:

Peekaru makes keeping warm while walking while keeping track of your baby and keeping your baby warm easier than you ever thought it could be- comes in this fashionable fleece! Mommy & me was never so cute!

For Your New Yorker/European Friends:

Smoking Mittens- finally!! A solution for those who hate gloves but still need to keep their hands warm while they smoke! Lung cancer never looked so chic.

For Your Teenage Brother:

The Snuggie now makes it possible for your brother to keep warm under a cozy blankie while he plays his video games! All his friends will be so jealous.

I hope you enjoyed my 2011 Holiday Gift Guide!!!! Merry Christmas, dear ones!

Hire Me

So I've interviewed for this new job- a real, grown-up, full time job. It's perfect. An opportunity to use both my creativity and business knowledge in one exciting position. I won't hear back about a second interview until Monday, but the longer I wait the more I transition from glad I at least had a good interview to desperately longing to hear the words, "we'd like to offer you the position." There are so many reasons I want and need this job... Jordan and I are planning on moving next month, and since the rental market is up, we're going to have to increase what we pay in rent- thus we need an increase in income. Also I'm tired of living in Huntington Beach... need to move to Newport!!

Other Reasons I Should Get The Job:
1. I'm perfect for it
2. It's perfect for me
3. It's in a city I want to work in
4. I can learn from it
5. It's an organization I can identify with
6. My waistline can't take another rejection binge
7. I look great in office attire
8. I already spent $300+ on a new job wardrobe
9. Jordan really needs a vacation, vacations cost money
10. I'm awesome
11. I lose weight when I'm busy
12. I need to lose weight
13. I found the perfect bag to be my new "grown up busy woman" bag
14. I'm fairly certain the girl who interviewed me could be my new bff
15. No one could do this job better or look better than me while doing it

**some reasons may be an exaggeration

Healthy Schmealthy

Recently, Wholefoods opened a new store a cool 5 minutes from my house. I was excited- even though I'd never actually been to one. Also I did my senior business strategy project on Wholefoods... shoot, maybe I shouldn't have mentioned never having been to the store before.. whatever. So anyway, a few months back I started a heavy-duty diet, and so I went to Wholefoods to stock up on all their healthy foods. Since then I've been back, uhm, twice. BUT what I've come to discover is that I don't necessarily have to shop there and eat their food to be healthy- I feel healthy just being in a Wholefoods! Jordan and I popped in there this weekend for a quick bite for dinner and, although I got pizza, I just felt healthier! Jordan has been on my case these past 3 weeks or so to get back on a healthier meal plan- gnocchi in pink sauce apparently doesn't qualify as a health-conscious meal choice. And neither do sourdough bagels with cream cheese. Bollocks. So here's my plan, continue with my gnocchi, bagel, and chocolate milk diet (did I mention my recent obsession with Trader Joe's chocolate milk)- oh Trader Joe's is another store that I figure, "If it's from TJ's, it's gotta be healthy." Anyway, I'll just stay on that diet but spend a lot of time at Wholefoods. Who's with me? I should write a book...

People Get Ready....

Ashton is coming! Well, I hope so... I just had a phone interview for a new full time position! AND I just got an email today requesting an in-person interview this Monday! Whoo! I'm so excited and nervous and happy... Nothing makes you feel better than getting positive feedback on a job interview- feeling like you're wanted and accepted and a possible asset. Nothing beats that feeling- except maybe getting offered a job.

SO now that I have a face-to-face interview coming up it's time I get shopping. Fashion Island, here I come!!! Of course I'm going to prepare for this in ways not relating to my apparel, but appearances make a huge impact on your success, and if you think they don't, you are sorely mistaken. I've worn my BCBG Maxazria suit to the last couple of interviews, so I think it's time for something different. Once I've got that in the bag- literally, I continue with my prepping via continued studying of the position requirements, the program, and answers to anticipated interview questions. I spent pretty much half of my 4th of July weekend in Big Bear practicing and overhauling my resume, all of yesterday studying and preparing for the phone interview... But you can never be too prepared. Remember the 5 P's: Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance.

Wish me luck, darlings!

Goodbye Flaky, Helloooo Supple!

Last week I found myself in a crisis because suddenly I couldn't find my Burts Beeswax Chapstick!! That stuff is as much of a ghost appendage as my phone is. And it just vanished. For 2 days I was in lip hell... of course I have backups at home but I didn't think to toss them in my purse on my way out the door- I mean, Burt is always with me so I simply forgot he'd left me high and dry. 


Finally when I had a spare moment I dashed to a nearby beauty shop to restock. Imagine my horror and panic when I discovered they didn't carry Burts Bees! I wasn't about to settle for some cheapy Chapstick brand... but I was desperate (however not quite desperate enough to shell out $15 for the brand the sales consultant recommended) so I grabbed a brand she mentioned as being good and thought to myself on the way out, "I'll just toss this in the unused beauty bin at home when I pick up Burts somewhere else tomorrow."


But here is my shocking discovery: I found something better- yes, better than Burts Bees.... Hempz!


It's so smooth and absolutely the best lip moisture product I've tried! It left my lips mousturized and soft all evening, all night, and they were still soft the next morning when I woke up... just from the first application! I didn't go rushing back to it every hour after most chapsticks wear off and your lips are parched again- no! It stays on so long and feels so good. 


So run out and get some for your flaky ass lips today! Feel the difference! 

Makin' Changes

I've started another blog... don't worry, this one isn't going anywhere, I'm just doing a 30 day blog about the new workout and meal plan I'm on.

For Skinny's Sake

Check it out! But it's ok if you don't... the less people who follow it, the less people know if I give up after a week and spend another week bingeing on bon bons and pizza. Which I'm quite tempted to do.

In other news, I've started looking for full time employment- what with my home graphics business slowing immensely and the part time position I'm in now not giving me the challenge and hours I want... it's time. Jordan and I are moving out of our apartment this fall and we'd like to move up to either a bigger place, or a nicer place or both in a new city! And when you live in Orange County, a new city is only 10 minutes away. But of course to do that and to save up to own a home in the coming years we need to have a higher income, and now it's just the right time. So cross your toes and fingers and say a prayer for me that I get something- preferably a job I want to do for interest and career's sake.

I'm ready for change! And I hope it greets me fondly.