Quick and easy sparkle nails

The Interwebs has been abuzz with nail art ideas these days … ombre nails, peacock feather nails, starry night nails, studded nails… personally I don’t have the time (or energy) to spend on creating individually painted nails when they’re chipped two days later. I’ve tried Shellac nails, which is $30 and supposed to last three weeks, but lasted barely a week.

BUT, I found something that’s within my reasonable budget and time to have nice looking nails, and I wanted to share it with you, blog lovelies. Sally Hansen’s Salon Effects are pretty much just these sticky little nail polish sheets that you lie on your nails, file off the excess and presto – fancy looking nails that don’t smudge, zero drying time, longer lasting than regular nail polish, and are only $10 (for about two applications). I did these sparkle nails for NYE, but they have some cool lace nails, leopard print, hot pink, etc.

Fancy pants!

Currently Feeling: Excited to jump into some new projects with fun wine brands in the Bay Area!
Currently Anticipating: Fancy dinner tonight at Chambers.
Currently Loving: All the plans and excitement I have going in 2012 already – trips, visitors, goals. It’s off to a good start. Woot!

THREAD Show SF

On Sunday, I went with my friend Tammy to an event called THREAD Show. It was a small gathering of independent fashion and accessory designers selling their goods (for cost) with some food samples, wine, art and DJs. It was one of the most fun things I’ve done on a rainy Sunday! (Considering I spend 99 percent of my Sundays in bed reading and watching movies).

So many pretty trinkets, sparkly gems and lovely silky items I wanted to make mine immediately! If I had endless amount of dollars to spend, I would have bought the moon. What I loved best about this shopping event was that each curated piece for sale was made by a local designer and unlike anything you can pick up in a large mainstream store like Forever 31. Plus, your purchase supported their art! I came home with some beautiful pieces that I feel are what I like to call, “conversation starters.”

These feather earrings are from Turosum – artisan handmade jewelry from SF. Feathers are all the rage and ubiquitous in earrings, but what I love about these is they feel a little bit more “upscale” and special with their gold plating and soft, multi-colored cream and brown feathers. This designer had so many gorgeous feather earrings, many incorporating semi precious stones too. I kinda wanted to buy the whole rack.

My friend and I had a conquer strategy that included scouting the entire room for what we wanted before we purchased anything. I found this vintage light gray bag (worn with chain or as a clutch) with a hot pink hand-painted and fabric aplique created by De La Luna Designs and immediately fell in love. I walked away for three minutes before I turned back around and immediately bought it. I couldn’t bare the thought of someone else snagging it! The artist also does gorgeous appliquéd wallets, flasks, shoes and more. I wish I had a million people to buy birthday gifts for because these pieces were extraordinarily special.

These little friendship bracelets from Paolo Loves to Shop caught my eye when we first walked in. Friendship bracelets and “layered bracelets” are really in right now, and I love the studs (and rhinestones) braided into these ones, so I bought two! It feels like a fun throwback to my youth to have a friendship bracelet tied on my wrist all day (even if I did give it to myself), but modernized with the studs.

THREAD does Indie fashion pop-up shows in other cities on the West Coast (the best coast) such as Seattle (!!), San Diego and Los Angeles, so look it up and mark your calendars for next year’s shows. It’s something not to be missed!

Currently Feeling: So very, very excited to see my parents and my little sister when I land in Seattle for Thanksgiving week! Going home now feels like I’m 15 since I stay at my parents’ house without a car, but it’s nice to have so much concentrated family time to make up for how little I get to see them.
Currently Anticipating: A week of catching up with Seattle friends I haven’t seen since I moved (six months ago now)! There is lots of partying in my future. I’m going to have to work out extra hard this week.
Currently Watching: Hangover 2 on the plane! Don’t remember people really loving it, but I think it’s hilarious! Many laugh out loud moments (even if a lot of it is kinda crass, sea bass).

Fall and Winter Shoes

Tell me, blog lovelies, what kinda of fall/winter shoes do you wear these days?

I’ve felt a struggle with my shoes for awhile now. I used to be the girl who wore pointy heels every day, all day long, everywhere. A lot of people would say to me, “How do you wear heels allll day?! I could never do that.”

It drove me crazy. And, well, now I’m one of those girls.

Chalk it up on the list of things I thought I’d never do or say, right there along with staying in the majority of the week, making out with 23 years old when I’m almost 30 and eating fish. I guess one of the best parts of being a woman is that we always have the right to change our minds. (Because those cheesy Kathy magnets say so, right?)

I don’t want to wear pointy heels all day long anymore.

I’m trying to find shoes that are comfy and fashionable, but I don’t love most of the styles out there right now. I don’t want to wear sky-high 60s inspired platforms (not realistic), I don’t love the “dated” retro feel of the T-straps and loafers (too 90s). I don’t know how to style booties and feel like they make me look stubby (I need height). I’m not comfortable in pointy heels all day (unless just dinner or out), but you have to walk everywhere in SF, so I prefer comfortable heels or boots! And I need something to wear with skinny jeans and flares.

I’m still dedicated to the wedge heel … but can’t find tons of cute ones at Nordstrom and the like, so it makes me feel like they’re not in style. (I did pick up the above pictured wedges after scouring the Internet for the perfect shoe for $70 on Amazon.com, originally $170. Might be my score of the season.)

What are your most favorite shoes right now?

Currently Feeling: Awesome that I made it over my 10K steps goal today! (I’m starting to track daily).
Currently Anticipating: Dinner with my old boss and a few girls we know mutually tomorrow at Tyler Florence’s new restaurant – Wayfare Tavern.
Currently Reading: “Before Ever After” by Samantha Sotto

A little peek inside

I thought it’d be fun to show my blog lovelies a peek inside my San Francisco apartment*! (Taken from my iPhone, which is the reason for the video shape):

Humble San Francisco Abode from Je on Vimeo.

After living with roommates my entire 20s (minus one year I first lived alone, post college), I knew I wanted to try living by myself again when I moved to SF. At first I was a bit nervous that I’d hate living alone as much as I did in my early 20s. I’m somewhat of a “social butterfly” and have always liked having someone around to chat with, make dinner and watch reality TV with, or be there if I’m sick or something goes wrong.

But over the past three months (!!!) I’ve been in San Francisco, I’m happy to report that I freakin’ love living on my own and am so glad with the decision I made. It’s not anything against my roommates in the past because I’ve had some great ones who I miss (minus the one absolute crazy roommate off Craigslist who owned more than 20 houseplants and a cat that rubbed its butt across the floor, collected antiques, left all the cupboards in the entire house open and only bought in bulk at Costco).

Ahem, tangent.

Anywho, there’s just something so nice about having your own apartment. I’ve loved decorating it just the way I want, and have gone on many “skies the limit” trips to Pier 1 (my favorite home store) and am constantly perusing Etsy for homemade decor.

I also love only worrying about my mess, and the couch and DVR is always mine! And I can buy flowers for my kitchen every week and play music loudly when I’m getting ready without worrying about someone sleeping, I never have to fight for the bathroom, or who’s cleaning it, and there’s no tempting bad food around to steal and then have to replace later.

My apartment just feels so special, and all mine, and is my own personal oasis to relax. Le sigh.

Do you live alone or with roommates? What do you like/dislike about it?

*You can see the before photos of my apartment here.

Currently Feeling: In love with lulu’s WunderUnder crops – I think I might love them better than the Groove pant now.
Currently Anticipating: A fresh new haircut, a meeting with a potential new (fitness) client, and the Clap Your Hands Say Yeah concert tonight. Great day!
Currently Loving: White peaches. Or summer fruit in general. Been devouring homemade fruit salads left and right.

Tiny Bubbles

Ladies and gentleman (but let’s be honest, very few males read this blog), you should know already that I’m completely obsessed with lip gloss.

I’ve previously written about my obsession with keeping empty lip gloss tubes just cause I can’t bare to part with my favs when they’re gone, and I’ve also shared a pic of my ridiculously full drawer of lip glosses in every color, flavor and brand.

It’s taken my well into my 20s to find the perfect lip gloss – but I HANDS DOWN recommend Victoria’s Secret Beauty Rush gloss. It wins in flavor, sparkle, color, consistency and price. A few of my favorite go-to flavors that I purchase over and over are Cupquake, Strawberry Fizz, Mocktail Hour and Slice of Heaven.

BUT, recently a friend of mine pulled out of her bag a Beauty Rush flavor I hadn’t seen before – Tiny Bubbles! It’s the most amazing, high sparkle glossy pink gloss that makes my knees weak and my heart swoon. Turns out it was a limited edition only around for Christmas, so I did what any lip gloss obsessed girl would do – I found that shiz on eBay and bought six back-up tubes! Natch.

You can too, if you’re so inclined – it’s even cheaper than the price of tubes in the stores! Tell me, if you’re a lip gloss lover – what’s YOUR favorite brand? Lord knows, I could use another tube.

Currently Feeling: Kinda restless lately… ugh.
Currently Anticipating: Sushi dinner tomorrow at a place I’ve never been! Love new sushi restaurants.
Currently Loving: The new Survivor: Redemption Island season – anyone watching?!

Well I did not expect this to happen

I ordered a slew of Victoria’s Secret bathing suits last week, thinking I’d probably like zero or maybe one, and return all the rest. Nope – I liked THREE, three I tell yah! I even liked myself IN them, while trying them on after eating dim sum for the first time and having a bloated MSG-in-Chinese-food-makes-me-sick belly. Why do I eat Chinese food?! Anywhoo, tangent. Finally, finally all my hot yoga, pilates and gym trips, and skipping huge meals and alcohol during the week is starting to pay off. HAAAAAA-le-lujahhhhh.

If you haven’t ordered suits from Victoria’s Secret before, here are a few reasons I love their swimwear:

• They have 100s of styles – one is bound to fit and flatter your body
• You can mix and match sizes (large bottoms and a medium top is what I wear, what can I say – I have junk in my trunk!)
• You can try them on in the privacy of your own home – without glaring fluorescent, unflattering mirrors that make you think, “Yuck!” more than you’d probably normally think, “Yuck”
• You can mix and match – fun tops with solid bottoms, solid bottoms with fun tops
• Contrary to their over-the-top hot models, you don’t have to be 38, 27, 30 to find something that fits

Here are the three bathing suits I’ll be sporting in Maui one week from today!

I bought these bottoms – I love, LOVE them! The gathering is so cute, and accentuates my “assets” superbly, I think:

Then I bought these two tops to go with them:

This jeweled top is a little bit glam! And the heart-shaped top is perfectly girly.

Then I was like, “What the hec – I’ll give this red ruffle bathing suit a try,” and it’s ADORABLE! The bottoms have cute little flirty ruffles and are really flattering on the bum.

You can click the images to find any of the suits on VictoriasSecret.com. Do any of you have mid-winter vacations planned to warmer locations this year? I hope so!

One-week countdown begins for me today, blog lovelies! xoxo

Currently Feeling: Like dim sum just isn’t really for me.
Currently Anticipating: A three hour “soft cheese making” class with one of my longest and bestest girl friends tomorrow! I hope I get to make brie cheese!
Currently Watching: All the Sex and the City reruns on E!. Oh man, how I’ve missed you, my longtime friend.

Artistic and whimsical and free spirited

Last week, I signed up for ShoeDazzle.com – are any of you members, blog lovelies? If you haven’t heard of it, ShoeDazzle was started by Kim Kardashian, and is a monthly shoe membership for $40. Each month, you’re given a hand-picked “show room” from top Hollywood stylists, and can choose one bag, jewelry set or pair of shoes for $40. I’ve yet to receive my first pair, so I’ll let you know what I think of the quality and comfort when I do.

When you first sign up, you’re asked to take a “style quiz,” picking shoes that you love, celebrity style that most represents your own, etc. After taking the quiz, the above image was what they sent me. My style is… artistic, whimsical and free-spirited. This couldn’t be more spot on! There’s even peacock feathers in the image – a top favorite of mine (and you can tell from my blog header!), and a butterfly, which I have a tattoo of!

If you’re a ShoeDazzle member – let me know what you think!

Currently Feeling: Relaxed – got some reading in this weekend, some organizing and cleaning, some good meals, and some family and girl time. Success!
Currently Anticipating: The opportunity at a fun, “column” writing opportunity I received today for a new magazine starting in Seattle. Back to my dating writing roots!
Currently Reading: Just Kids, a memoir by Patti Smith.

I need a luluvention

Confession time.

I am unfathomably and incomprehensibly addicted to lululemon athletica.

I need an intervention! No, I’m serious. I’m not just being facetious.

I mean, I love that I’m free and clear to spend my money and time in any way I want, but I’m thinking that I should get knocked up just so I’ll have to spend my money on something else besides lululemon.

It started back in October when I received some good accolades at work. So I decided to “treat myself.” At that point, I’d been going to hot yoga classes for five months and sitting next to EVERYONE in their head-to-toe yoga clothes with that little tiny lululemon circle on their sides, back and butts. I’d been avoiding stepping foot in a store because of the price point and scoffed, “$100! Why would you need to spend $100 on a pair of yoga pants when you can get ones just as good for $30 at Target. Psshhhh.”

Yeah, okay. I strand corrected. They’re worth every penny of $100, and no, you cannot find pants like them at Target for $30.

Oh the thumbholes! And the brushed Luon! Oh fit! Comfort! Oh Stride jacket and Groove pant! You’re all going to be the death of my bank account.

There is nothing in the world like their Groove pant – it doesn’t sag, it holds all your lady bits in and makes you look more fit (I swear), and it’s oh so comfy. And if you want to purchase a zip-up hoodie you’ll never want to take off, buy a Stride jacket in brushed Luon immediately.

When I become fixated on something – I take fixation to a whole new level. Since October I’ve purchased two pairs of Groove pants, one pair of Wunder Under crops, one pair of Groove shorts, two Stride jackets, one Swell jacket, two Scuba hoodies, five yoga tanks and one jump rope. (Uh, for my suitcase?) In December, I actually drove an hour and a half south of Seattle, by myself on a Sunday, just to go to the lululemon outlet store. By.my.self. Now I’ve started searching eBay for “limited edition lululemon sweatshirt” cause some people sell styles that aren’t available anymore. VINTAGE lulu!!

The worst (or perhaps best) part about it is that I’ve realized now that working at a tech startup means I don’t actually have to get dressed and fancy every day. I work with boys. Who wear T-shirts and tennis shoes every day. So I started just to wear my yoga clothes to work since it saves me a step when going to pilates at lunch or rushing to yoga after work.

So obviously now I need an ENTIRE yoga (cough lululemon cough) wardrobe, so I don’t wear the same thing to work every day.

Ahh! Cut me off!

I’m going to be the little ole lady who lived in her lululemon!

Currently Feeling: Tired and “off” this week – is it a full moon? Am I getting sick again? Is it the weather? Hmm…
Currently Anticipating: Celebrating with MOST of all the people I love in my life on Saturday. I love birthdays!!
Currently Loving: Smartfood popcorn! I never buy the stuff cause I read somewhere it’s actually pretty bad (think it’s chocked full of trans fat). However, a friend bought it when she stayed with me last weekend and left it here. Damn. Forgot how GOOD that shiz is.

Expensive heels and priceless moments

• $24.95 for a cobalt blue, tafetta strapless dress (Forever 21)
• $5.50 for a rhinestone belt (Forever 21)
• $9.50 for a crystal and rhinestone flower ring (Wet Seal)
• $7.50 for silver, rhinestone dangle earrings (Forever 21)
• $2.50 for gold and silver glitter, coconut-scented nailpolish (Forever 21)
• $89 for the most fabulous pair of Enzo Angiolini gold platform, disco glitter heels (Nordstroms)

Le Sigh

• $35 + $7 tip to get my hair curled and styled at Habitude Salon in Fremont (they did a great job)
• $28 for a custom airbrush tan from Tropical Tan (seriously, once you go airbrush, you’ll never go back)
• $10 for a bottle of Chateau St. Michelle Sauvignon Blanc for prefunking (Sav Blanc is my all-time fav white wine)
• $65 for tickets to a silly expensive party at a waterfront cruise terminal event center in Seattle, featuring Jermaine Duprie (Ha!)
• $15 for town car trips to the party and back
• $18 for two whipped cream vodkas and soda water + $3 for a bottle of water (I drank a lot before the party)

= The most ridiculously overpriced evening of my entire life

Not paying a single dime to hear a crush of mine tell me sometime after midnight that “I’m good at life”?

PRICELESS.

Currently Feeling: In love with new restaurants and wine. I’ve been trying to be good and tone down the meals out, but I tried Ravish in the Eastlake neighborhood of Seattle tonight, and it was FABULOUS. Worth every calorie.
Currently Anticipating: First Thursday Art Walk in Pioneer Square tomorrow with my family to celebrate my dad’s birthday.
Currently Reading: The Hangman’s Daughter by Oliver Potzsch. (Only $3.99 for the Kindle!)

NYE Dress Swoooooon

I want, I want, I want!

This fabulous dress from Betsy Johnson (my fav designer) came up on RueLaLa.com yesterday, and I’ve thought about it nearly every hour of the day.

“I’ll wear it to New Years, and find the man of my dreams who can’t resist me!”

“I’ll be ‘the girl in the best dress at the party’!”

“It’ll swish when I walk and fit me in all the right places, and it’s shaped to hide my flaws.”

“The glitter says celebration in just the right way.”

“It’ll look fabulous with hot pink heels… or, oooh red!”

“It’ll start out 2011 for me in the MOST perfect way!”

“It’ll be the dress I meet my husband in!”

Turns out the dress sold out.

Looks like I’m not getting married in 2011. Darn.

I didn’t really want to spend $180 on a NYE dress, so that’s why I hesitated. But the above is precisely why I never hesitate and usually always just buy. Now I’ll just be thinking about how I won’t be dancing in the perfect NYE dress I wanted so much. Woe is me.

To balance out the spoiled bratty of this post, you should all know that I’m attending a holiday benefit tomorrow for orphans in Cambodia, so I’m not all that bad.

Currently Feeling: So sleepy, but need to work on a lot of stuff this evening. I just want to curl up and read, so tea it is for a mini shot of caffeine!
Currently Anticipating: A Mashable Holiday event tomorrow, followed by a holiday fundraiser party. Double dipping holiday parties tomorrow. Good thing I have Friday off!
Currently Loving: That I received a full set of eyelash extensions from a friend for Christmas. So cool!