Archive for the ‘Girl Stuff’ Category
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!
Twelve Holiday Gift Ideas for You from Je
(Singing not included this time, I promise).
- Handmade Moccasins from the Darlingtonia Moccasin Company, $130
I found these moccasin’s from an ad on the side of a new fav blog of mine, A Beautiful Mess. My sister and I have been drooling over them ever since – hand cut, stitched and delivered in a pretty bag and box! Le sigh. - Panjore Lychee Voluspa Candle in a Decorative Tin, $25
Purchased this from a boutique a month ago, and have lit it every night since. It fills my room with the most pleasant smell – I’ve started to fall asleep with it lit (safe, I know). I love it so much it’s nearly gone already! Guarantee to make mom, best friend, aunt or coworker smile. - Book Chandelier and a Copy of my “Best Book of 2010,” The Help, $80
Have you ever seen anything more elegant? I want one hanging above my dining room table so bad. I think this pair would be the ultimate gift for a book lover. And if you haven’t read The Help yet, read it immediately. - Humanity for All Leather Wrap Around Bracelet with Crystals, $30
I blogged about this earlier, but I bought this recently from Duque Salon in Ballard, and it is THE most complimented piece of jewelry I’ve ever owned. I love to read the positive message every morning when I wrap it around my wrist. - NorthFace “E-Tip” Gloves, $40
Is there anything more annoying than peeling off gloves because your iPhone can’t detect your fingers through them? Solve that problem with special gloves from NorthFace that have silicone gripper palms are ingeniously designed with material at the thumbs and index fingers, allowing you to easily use touch-screen cell phones, laptops and MP3 players without removing your gloves. Great for male or female gift! - lululemon’s Stride Jacket, $118
I bought myself one of these two months ago, and want one in every color! This jacket is perfect for throwing under a winter jacket, or over yoga clothes on the way to workout. It has the sleekest, softest material of anything I own and of course includes the infamous lulu thumbholes. Loves! Purchase it for the exercise lover in your life. - Handmade Wood Laptop Tray, $60
An ex-boyfriend of mine gave me this for Christmas last year, and it’s one of the most thoughtful, useful gifts I’ve ever received. When I work from home, I can do so comfortably now on the couch or in my bed, AND have a spot for my mouse and cup of coffee. Awesome. Gift it to the 9-5 desk jobber, and they’ll love you forever. - A Clever Skin for a MacBook, $12
I love these cute vinyl sticker skins for a MacBook that use the Apple logo in a clever way! Apple Fan Boys and Girls will love it too. - Seattle Neighborhood Poster (or the city of your choice) from Ork Posters, $35
I started a buying frenzy when I featured this poster I bought on my blog two years ago. These are the ultimate cool screen print to have hanging in your house. Seattle pride! - Morse Code Necklace from COATT, $36
Dainty and feminine with a fun or sweet secret message – like invisible ink, but more fashionable. The fashionista in your life will swoon! Great gift for mom or sister too. - Amazon Kindle, $140
If I had to purchase only one thing in 2010, it’d be the Amazon Kindle. I love, love it. You can read the 10 reasons why I think it’s amazing here. - Pickle of the Month Club (or Bacon of the Month Club w/ Bacon Wrapping Paper), $135+
There is no gift like the gift of bacon. The end.
Happy Holiday shopping, lovelies!
Currently Feeling: An awesome sense of balance right now.
Currently Anticipating: A “shop local” event tomorrow with Girl Power Hour, featuring gifts from women entrepreneurs only. Fun!
Currently Loving: Super bummed I bought all the stuff to make my wine cork board, and I’m still half of the wine corks off from it being complete. I’ve been saving for more than a freakin’ year!
Here is where I serenade you and offer up a BIG giveaway
Last week, I was given the opportunity to host a Wrapped in Goodness party courtesy of Lean Pockets, which means I was sent a HUGE ass box stocked with Snuggies for my guests, a questions party game, coupons for free boxes of Lean Pockets’ new Culinary Creations, and $100 for additional food and wine. (That was my disclosure part). What ensued was 12 goodnesses wrapped in a party… And yes, I did really make all my guests pose with their chosen number of snacks while I sang probably the crappiest version ever of The 12 Days of Christmas, using a YouTube karaoke video. Oh the laughter! Sometimes I wonder if my life is real.
What I’m giving YOU, lovely friends and readers for suffering through my high pitched craziness is a chance to win an entire YEAR’S supply (183 coupons) of Lean Pockets. Heyo! All you have to do is leave a comment here telling me your favorite Christmas song (Here’s hoping it’s my awesome rendition of the 12 Days of Christmas). For an extra entry, you can head over to the LP Facebook page and like it, and let me know here. AND, if you Tweet about it, tag me @jeannabarrett and use the hashtag #goodnessparty & #giveaway, and I’ll throw an extra entry in there. I’ll choose the winners at random by Friday at 5 p.m. and announce by Monday! Good luck!
Currently Feeling: Tired from staying up till 2:30am to knock out that video. Once I get my mind on something, I can’t stop.
Currently Anticipating: Girl Power Hour’s Cocktail Holiday party on Thursday!
Currently Loving: That I can wear yoga clothes to work every day. Love my job.
Girlsgiving
This year, I decided to host a Girlsgiving (Girls + Thanksgiving) purely because I found a recipe online for cooking a turkey that included champagne. Drunken turkey! That seems like a good enough reason as any, right?
To be honest, the turkey totally skeeved me out, and I had to call four people and put rubber gloves on to psych myself up to deal with the “gizzards” and “pulling out the neck.” Don’t know that I’ll be cooking a turkey again anytime soon, but at least I can cross it off my Bucket List!
We had a potluck and each girl brought her own version of Thanksgiving classics – we had a green bean casserole, a mushroom, kale, squash and sweet potato hash (a hippie dish from my nutritionist bestie), pumpkin pudding, Parmesan mashed potatoes and more. I also baked a sweet potato pie for the first time. Oh, and of course wine! None of us are really masters of the kitchen, so it was fun to experiment and give thanks to the wonderful friendships and amazing women in our lives!
Hope you all had a full belly and tons of fun during your Thanksgiving festivities this year! Now back to our regular scheduled calorie counting and healthy eating…
Currently Feeling: Totally stressed out about my tailbone – I want to work out! Waaaahhh.
Currently Anticipating: An overnight cabin trip tomorrow to the woods and snow.
Currently Needing: To finish all this leftover wine at my house – any takers?!
Girls are like apples on trees
I joined 2010 today (or shall I say 2005) and signed up for a StumbleUpon account… who knows why it took me so long to jump on that social band wagon since I’m on every other.
I clicked Stumble on a blog I was reading, and was brought to this cute little image:
It’s a bit more bitter than I really feel, but I do relate…
Sometimes I feel, even at nearly 29, that the boys I interact with are still interested in young girls, hot girls, party girls. At what point do I start meeting the guys who want the smart, driven, successful girl? With hobbies outside of bar-hopping (or perhaps I should say in addition to) and similar interests. Cause that’s me now more than the former. But we’re a little tougher to snag than the low-hanging fruit…
Currently Feeling: Freaked out from watching Psychic Children – this show gives me goosebumps!
Currently Anticipating: Catching up with Kristen tomorrow over dinner and a walk.
Currently Loving: My new yummy, pink Voluspa candle in Panjore Lychee.
Pretty new blog design
I’m counting this as my NaBloPoMo post today – mostly because I’ve spent probably 24 hours total or more on this new blog design this weekend. I know I change blog designs more than Kate Hudson changes boyfriends, but I felt the extreme need for something a bit more… light. Less emphasis on the black and hot pink – so click through from your readers to check out all my hard work with your own beautiful two eyes!
If you’re curious, here’s how I did it:
Free Cupcake WordPress template from SimplyWP.net
Peacock feather and colorful ornate decoration images from iStock.com
Crown blog bling from Google Images
Angel Tears and Cursive Handwriting Tryout fonts from FontFreak.com (the only font Web site I use)
Cute (and free!) blog images from ShabbyBlogs.com
Scribble social media icon set – with instructions to make your own
Lots and lots of Googling for WordPress help since I’m self taught and don’t know what I’m doing half the time
And – voila! A totally free new site design. All it took was two full days, holed up in my room, geeking out.
Currently Feeling: Proud I’ve officially made it two whole weeks through NaBloPoMo. I’ve had a few rough patches (blogging when getting home after four glasses of wine), but all in all, it’s been awesome to get back into writing!
Currently Anticipating: A full week – and getting over the speaking on a panel hump that’s looming over my head until Thursday’s over.
Currently Loving: Fires and home-cooked meals at my parents’ house.
Dream It Launch It Live It
I had the pleasure of attending a business and entrepreneur conference for women today called Dream It, Launch It, Live It. The speakers featured at the conference were an amazing display of creative female minds behind brilliant businesses such as Bella Cupcake Coutoure, CRAVE Guides for Women, and of course, Darnell Sue – the founder of Girl Power Hour.
I loved listening to Zhena Muzyka, the founder of Zhena’s Gypsy Teas (my most favorite tea brand, carried at Whole Foods, Tully’s Coffee and other retailers). Zhena told us how she was raised by an Ukranian gypsy, immigrant family, and none of her family members had ever pursued education past high school. “I didn’t know what success looked like,” Zhena said during her panel. She traveled the world, earning a degree in aromatherapy, and eventually found herself a single mother making $1,200 a month and spending $800 of that on rent.
Zhena started creating and selling teas out of a cart on the streets in California, then moved to wrapping tin cans taped with paper labels to sell them in stores, and is now the brains behind one of the more successful tea companies in the nation. The best thing about her teas – they’re fairtrade, organic and sourced from Sri Lanka, where her employees benefit from guaranteed health insurance, education, safe working conditions and no child labor. Zhena has even won tons of accolades for her business, including Enterprising Woman the Year and awards for her packaging and sustainable business practices.
Holy cow – can you say empowering?!
Zhena’s Gypsy Tea in Coconut Chai has long been a staple in my desk drawer at work – and now I’m an even bigger fan. Give it a go next time you’re at the grocery store!
You can learn more about Zhena and her tea company here.
Currently Feeling: Bummed I couldn’t make it to yoga tonight cause the class was full when I got there – bogus!
Currently Anticipating: Catching up with my good friend John tomorrow, whom I haven’t seen in at least two months.
Currently Loving: Gingersnaps from Trader Joe’s and their Mint Meltaways! Hey there sweet tooth.
Humanity For All
A couple weekends ago, I went to the Ballard Farmers Market with my mom and stopped into a cute little salon boutique in Ballard called Duque. They have a fabulous selection of jewelry, makeup and other items perfect for treating yourself or picking up gifts. My eye went straight away to a few bracelets they had displayed on the front table and fell.in.love. This beauty came home with me immediately, and since, I’ve had a ton of compliments on it:
It’s a leather, silver-stamped, Swarovski crystal bracelet from HumanityForAll.com that wraps around your arm and displays a message of humanitarianism, focusing on social justice and the environment. The designer is a woman from L.A., and the brand, particularly this bracelet, has been popular with celebrities.
Celebrity aside, I love the message. When unwrapped, it reads:
Plant peace. Live in unity. Make a differene. Accept diversity. Speak kindness. Pave the path. Lead the way. Humanity. Give back. Seek wisdom. Come together. Truth. Forgive. Believe. Faith. Sow Love. Humanity. Make a difference.
It’s the best message to have wrapped around my wrist, in a daily reminder to be the best human I can be.
If you want one, head over to Duque (they’re on back order until three weeks from now) or pick one of the select colors available on the Web site. (They’re only $24 and make the best gift for birthdays or Christmas – every time someone wraps it around their wrist, they’ll think of you!)
Currently Feeling: So relieved I stayed in tonight to rest up and work on a ton of things I needed to do. Feels great to be responsible sometimes on the weekend.
Currently Anticipating: Meeting up with the fam in the morning before my sister heads back to college, and hitting up a hot yoga class in the afternoon. Low-key Sunday.
Currently Wanting: Another new blog redesign. I know, I’m crazy about changing things up all the time, guys. But I just feel this one is a little too dark. I want something a bit more clean, so expect some changes soon!
Rawr
I checked another item off my buck list tonight…I bought myself a set of satin sheets. I know this is a random thing to have on a bucket list…but I’ve always wanted to try to step up the luxury, so to speak.
Not only are my sheets now satin, they’re zebra print satin. (With a hot pink duvet on top, of course). Rawr.
Stella is NOT a fan. I think the design is totally bugging her eyes out. While I was putting them on my bed, she was spinning in circles and looking crazy eyed like when I dump cat nip all over the carpet. I wish I could have caught it on video, but alas, this photo l will have to do.
Hopefully these sheets won’t have to same effect on certain *ahem* other visitors.
Capital H. Double Capital M(s).
//via Flickr
A couple weeks ago, I was out with some of my guy friends, drinking brewskies at The Polish House on Capitol Hill. (If you’re from Seattle and haven’t been, it’s a community center that opens on Fridays only as an Polish beer hall and restaurant. Totally awesome, I know). I can’t remember what exactly the topic at hand was, but one of them asked me something along the lines of:
“Is that when/where you’re going to meet the guy you’re going to marry?”
And I promptly responded:
“Oh, I’ve already met him.”
Mostly, I was joking. Perhaps referencing some crush, acquaintance or old boyfriend worth rekindling a romance with. But later (as in, the type of thing you think about in the shower), I was thinking… WOW. I said that so fast and confidently I even surprised myself. And even weirder… what if it were true?
What if I’ve already met the guy I might share a mortgage or shop for garden gnomes with (because who doesn’t want one of those someday). Who I’ll argue over baby names, or what type of family dog we’ll buy and what we’ll name him. The man I’ll sit next to when we decide whether to dine in or dine out, whose family we’re going to spend Christmas with this year, what school we’re going to send our children to, or when it’s appropriate to talk to them about religion and politics, before they can form their own opinion.. Who I’ll decided between Bali vs. Greece for our honeymoon with, and red paint or blue paint for the kitchen (and where he’s going to let me sneak in some pink 
).
It’s strange to think about those things. I suppose those are the things I equate with marrying someone one day.
It’s even stranger to think I might have already met Him. Capital H.
That perhaps he’s someone whose eye I caught on the bus, whose hand I shook at a networking event, or who I ran a 5K next to.
Who poured me a glass of wine one time, served nachos to me at my local bar, or sat next in the booth next to mine at trivia night.
Maybe it’s even someone I’ve known and laughed with before – for years. How ’bout that.
Maybe he’s someone I’ve laughed with for five minutes.
Hell, maybe he just made me laugh.
See – life is crazy. You never know who is going to be in yours for 5 minutes, 5 years or 50. Friends and acquaintances come and go – loves fizzle and rekindle every day. So many girls worry daily that they haven’t met “The Man They’re Going to Marry.” Double capital Ms. H.E.Double hockey sticks.
Isn’t it much easier, dare I say much HAPPIER, to not feel like you’re going in and out, every day, in search of something you can’t find or can’t have? Wouldn’t it be nice if you could just wake up every day and take it work hour by work hour, Sunday morning by Sunday morning, happy hour by happy hour – in no rush for any particular moment you feel you’re missing because someday IT.WILL.COME?
There wouldn’t be a need to try too hard, wear too much makeup, laugh a little too loud, stay out too late when you’d rather go home, just to make sure you’re not missing out on meeting Capital H. Double Capital Ms.
Really… there’s no need, see. You already met him. And some day, when it’s time, the universe will open up with a drink and a smile. And all the fussing wouldn’t have been worth it in the first place.
Cause Capital H. Double Capital Ms had been there all along.
Currently Feeling: Antsy for the four day weekend – hello Memorial Day weekend, the kick-off to awesome Seattle summers.
Currently Anticipating: Me + 13 friends in a cabin with a hot tub and barbecue on the lake. Perfection.
Currently Wondering: If I should try out the 30 day yoga challenge in June – decisions!
