Sunday rocker

I love the leisurely feel of Sundays. But that doesn't mean I like to forget fashion. The fun lies in combining the two. Even when you're feeling a bit edgy. And with a smudge of black mineral liner, red lipstick, and a pair of shades, I'm ready to go sip mimosas out on my (thankfully) private-ish patio...and channel my inner rock star, of course.

Boy shorts, Spencer's. Tank top, Old Navy.

Random snaps

Here are some random photos of highlights from the past few weeks. :)

 Exploring the wine section at World Market

 Remanence of lunch at California Pizza Kitchen - Club pizza and margaritas

 Warm weather unlikely mix-and-matching (pink and purple with Camo-shorts? Sure, why not?)

 Shopping for summer "essentials" at Garage

 My first-ever pie from scratch (lemon) for Steve's birthday

Shaggy hair, with new fringey bangs

Glad I tried the gladiators.

 I'm not usually a fan of gladiator sandals, but at a recent trip to Burlington Coat Factory, Steve forced me to try these on. Once again he was right. They looked pretty awesome. And they were comfortable. And they looked more glam-edgy than straight-up gladiators. Ok, they'll do.

...Now I'm pretty much in love with them.

I love the easy little outfits that get thrown together when the weather first gets warm again.

I also love when accidentally blurry photos turn out looking like you were trying to be artistic. Ha. Or maybe that's just wishful thinking. :)

Silver lining

As unorganized as my life has felt over the past 6 weeks or so (crazy illnesses that wont go away, travel, being apart from my fiance for way too long, auditions, wedding planning, "real" work, and acting work...), I've had a real craving to stay as organized as possible in smaller ways. My current purse had recently become so worn out that the now fraying straps are in danger of snapping at any moment. Rather than waiting until that happens while I'm out shopping somewhere, I decided to take the plunge and purchase a new handbag today. Always fun!

I love the color silver for a purse. Infact, when I bought my last purse, I couldn't find anything I liked in silver so I settled on a white one. It was a cute bag, but the color gets dingy so quickly, even when you try to keep it as clean as possible. I was happy to find something in a more realistic color this time around! (Purse by Croft & Barrow from Khol's, 40% off 49.99).

It's so fun "moving in." I'd actually done a decent job of keeping my old handbag pretty clutter-free, but getting a new one is always a good time to check and make sure you're not constantly carrying around anything you don't actually need.

 What's in the bag:
"Bottom row" left to right:
- My wallet, which I am still loving and showed off HERE
- I also bought the little polka-dotted bag today (Walmart, $2.97) to keep essentials like floss and band-aids (for when those heels start hurting! Or, obviously, for an actual emergency...um...yeah...) plus, some personal items and a couple medications in the main (i.e. opaque) section.
- Gum! I'd been out for a while...it's always nice to have around to freshen up while you're out.
- Hand lotion. I apply this about 60 times a day, so having some on-the-go is a must for me.

"Top row" left to right:
- Make up bag with touch-up items like pressed powder, mineral concealer and brush, eyeliner, and lip gloss.
- Check book and pen (always carry a pen with you! You'll be glad you did).
- Chapstick. If I could only have one item in my bag, this would be it.
- Aviator sunglasses.
- Hair bands in case my hair decides it needs to be put away for a while.
- My beautiful compact mirror, a gift from a friend in China!

Back to bed

Lately, my Saturday mornings seem to consist of waking up, brewing coffee, and crawling right back into bed with a movie or my beloved Sex and the City DVDs.

I highly recommend investing in a silky robe like this red one from Khol's. It makes you feel quite "Marilyn Monroe".

What's your Saturday routine??

Fashion-militant

Really enjoying my new dress that I bought from a company in Hong Kong on Amazon.com. It's business-like but fun, which makes it really versatile. I like the slight military feel to it as well. It's perfect to pair with black leggings and a pair of boots. And I LOVE dresses that look cute but provide some warmth, too!

 Dress from Uxcell at Amazon ($17.00)

I'm not a huge online shopper, but I have found that Amazon.com is a good place to find unique clothing for a very reasonable price.

Shopping spirit

Yay, me. I got an appropriate amount of Christmas shopping done today. The weather has been super mild here this week, but unfortunately that has been accompanied with lots of rain. Between that and the usual crowds/traffic (is it just me, or does Christmas shopping suddenly mean it's totally ok for people to just walk into you and act like they don't even notice?), it was a little hectic. But it feels great to get a good chunk of it done, and I'm having so much fun picking out gifts for everyone! Besides the Christmas spirit, here are some "go-to's" that helped me on my shopping trip today:

Raindrops on my coffee!

Shopping fuel:
Starbucks grande soy latte + one Splenda pack

Shopping soundtrack: 
Noel Gallagher's, "High Flying Birds" album, which my brother gave me for my birthday last month. Check out the strings in track one. Beautiful.

Shopping style: 
My knee high boots. Stylish, rain proof, and only a small heel.

To be honest, I got these boots at Payless for $20 or so, about three years ago. They've held up great and I still LOVE them.

Wow, it is absolutely POURING down rain now. I got home just in time!

The Christmas Effect

 For some reason, the holidays and retro-style just seem to go hand and hand. They're both nostalgic, I guess. 

I've been a little Bridget Bardot inspired lately.

The holiday season tends to be a busy time of year for all of us, as you can tell from my recent blog-post-slacking, but I kind of love the hustle and bustle. However, my schedule has felt completely out of wack lately, which is one reason I didn't post last Friday. Steve has had the last two Fridays off (it's nice when you have so much vacation time left at the end of the year, that your company is literally forcing you to take days off. Yay for three day weekends in December!). I kept thinking that Friday was Saturday, so I literally forgot to post!

But maybe it's a good thing for me to ease up on myself a bit. I've had a ton going on, and I never want blogging to get to a point where it feels forced or I don't enjoy it.

Remember to enjoy it...which might mean being a total dork. Like me.

During all the insanity lately, I've made an effort to try and maintain a lifestyle that will allow me to
a.) not look like a bloated pig over Christmas
b.) feel healthy
c.) stay energized

It's important to center yourself and have sort of a neutral place to come back to whenever you stray...and trust me, I DO stray. Between Christmas parties with junk food and cocktails, crazy schedules, shopping traffic, traveling, etc. etc. etc., it's almost impossible not to end up feeling like a big 'ol mess at some point, whether it's from stress or bad eating habits. Or both.

So here are some of my tips to counteract the "Christmas Effect", as I will call it.

1. Do some physical activity every day, for at least 15-20 minutes.
On good days I'll do 30-45 minutes. Usually it'll just be a power walk/run on the treadmill, and on really good days I'll do crunches, push ups, and lunges afterward. I've actually been trying to get in 50 crunches each morning before I do anything else. A great routine to get into! None of this has to take a lot of time, and I can't tell you how much better I feel on the days when I've worked out for even 15 minutes.
p.s. Shopping trips CAN count (as they say), but try to add it to your day as a bonus to your treadmill time. You'll feel even better and more accomplished.

 Rarin' to go...and feeling good afterwards.

2. Eat healthy when not around tempting situations.
I know there are going to be so many times this month where I will be surrounded by delicious foods, and I am just NOT going to be that girl who turns down a Christmas cookie (or 2, or 3...) or a cup of eggnog (with rum...) when it's offered to me. But I feel less guilty (and in the long run: less full, less bloated, and less lethargic!) about letting myself have those foods when I know I've been eating really well during the majority of the week.

My everyday "yes" foods:
- Blackberries (sometimes I'll sprinkle a little feta cheese on top)
- Grape tomatoes
- Baby carrots
- Hummus (Usually as dip for the baby carrots or grape tomatoes)
- Hot tea (with honey and a little vanilla soy milk)
- Coffee (usually with just a splash of soy milk. Coffee's great if you don't load it up with calories!)
- V8 juice
- Chicken breasts
- Eggs
- Canned tuna (in water)
- Whole wheat bread (in moderation)
- Water. Stay hydrated.

3. Winterize your beauty routine.
Take time to put on your favorite body lotion after a shower to protect against dry skin, try using a deep condition (my hair is SUPER dry, so this is a must for me), and/or invest in a teeth whitening treatment (no dentists - just strips or a good toothpaste). You'll feel great "maintaining" yourself a bit in the dead of winter. Maybe opt for a slight change to your hair. I just recently re-did my roots, and I'm considering cutting some bangs to spruce up my hair even more. Give yourself a home manicure/pedicure one night in front of the TV. Slather lots of lotion on those dry feet and put on your comfiest, fuzzy socks. I also highly suggest investing in some warm pajamas. Something comfortable, but a pair that still makes you feel cute.

My PJs of choice: Target, $20

 If you have any tips or feedback, please share!

Leather and lace

I must say, this has felt like a good week. And I'm so ready for the weekend to begin and Halloween festivities to follow. I feel like the fact that it's Halloween-week, plus the fact that Fall weather has made an appearance again, warrants me trying out some more daring stuff, fashion-wise. I love coming up with things to force myself out of a rut.
The other night, the doorman at a bar complimented my outfit. "Thanks", I said.
"Wait, that is an outfit, right?"
"Um, yes?"
I was confused. I later realized he might have meant a costume. Granted, the outfit did look a tad 1920s inspired, but still. I didn't think it looked like a costume...at all. But at least if you're wearing something strange around Halloween, people will just chalk it up to the time of year. Ha. I quite enjoy getting weird looks and double takes from people anyway...to me, it means I've done something right.

Yesterday was basically a day off for me, so I threw on a new combination of clothing and headed out to enjoy the cloudy-cool day. I got some shopping done at Target and even ran into a couple friends while out and about. I also tried my first-ever soy latte, and was happy to find that I really enjoyed it.

Lace top and "leather" (fake) shorts, Forever 21. 

Black hooded sweater, Target. Wedges, Burlington Coat Factory. Tights, Halloween Express. 

Back view: I kinda love when it looks like the sweater is the only thing I'm wearing. Tee hee.

Sitting at the bar in the cafe after shopping. I love that my Target has a Starbucks!!  
Sunglasses, Burlington Coat Factory ($5.00!!)

I'm still totally in love with my new wedges. I can't get enough. I'll probably be horribly sick of them in a month from wearing them so much. Haha. But, we should all have at least one fashion love affair per season, don't you think?

Plus, I got a ton of double takes because of them yesterday. Score.

Enchanted

The weather has turned colder, the high temperature dropping about 20 degrees from yesterday. I'm pretty neurotic about watching the weather, so I expected it. A perfect change right before Halloween weekend, I'd say. It's completely cloudy today as well, but it actually feels great outside (it's not bitterly cold, just comfortably cool), so maybe I will try to get out for a bit. I'm also looking forward to the coziness of my apartment and some of the left over sweet potato soup I made last night. Isn't it funny how the cold makes just staying inside, and avoiding the weather altogether, feel different...better, even?

I usually know when the Summer is really starting to become Fall, before there is really a noticeable change in temperatures, because my skin tells me. After my shower, I'll throw on my clothes like usual, and suddenly my back or my legs will get stingy and itchy with dryness. Not enjoyable, but as soon as I slather on some lotion, it goes away. It's become that time of year to start doing that as soon as I step out of the shower.
I like to change up some of my beauty products this time of year anyway, to go along with the season. I'm kind of in love with the two new body lotions I got this week (I couldn't decide between them, so I bought both) and a new fragrance (I tend to prefer body sprays to heavier perfumes. Plus, they are way cheaper, and you don't feel so bad if you get tired of it and decide to go for something new).

1. St Ives Oatmeal and Shea Butter (This has a really nice, calming scent; you really get a hint of the oatmeal. But it wont overpower if you're wearing a compatible fragrance along with it.)
 
2. bodycology body spray in Enchanted Forest (perfect for Halloween, eh? Hints of jasmine and nutmeg. Very interesting musky scent for the colder months, with a hint of sweet. Fell in love with it immediately.)

3. Vaseline Cocoa Butter* (This has petroleum jelly in it too. It's a heavier lotion, great for elbows, legs, etc. I'll probably be using this one primarily for my after-shower body lotion, where the St. Ives is perfect for daily hand lotion - which I apply about 15 times a day.)  
*Vaseline also makes this in a gel/body oil form. I tested it out at the store and it was absolutely amazing. It made my skin feel super silky and full of moisture. It'd be a tad heavy for a hand lotion most of the time, but it'd be amazing for areas like your legs because it'd also make them look shiny. In the end, I settled for the lotion because the gel was twice as expensive. Maybe next time. The bottle looked really cool, too, because of the gold-colored, bubbly gel inside.

I've gotten to where I primarily buy my beauty products at Walgreens or H.E.B. (here in Texas), because they just seem to have a wider selection than my usual  ol' Walmart. I used to go there just because it was a bit cheaper, but the other places have broadened my horizons a bit.

Collage

My boyfriend had to work all weekend, and I missed him a lot. Here are some photos from my boyfriend-less adventures.

Freshly opened Creme Brulee coffee to start the day.

70s-like jumpsuit. I was also wearing a tiara. Yup.

Finally discovered the entire room of shoes at the very back of Lucy in Disguise. It was like Spice Girl heaven. I resolved to buy all my shoes there from now on (wishful thinking).

Trying on vintage clothes with two of my girlfriends. So much fun. Plenty of laughs...and a smelly dressing room.
1. Fabulous 60s cocktail dress (notice the back view in the mirror). Didn't fit right (everyone knows women in the 60s had small boobs) and  its re-wearability factor is probably slim. I was very sad.
2. Horribly awesome, sequined, elaborately shoulder-padded 80s dress. I 80s-danced around the store in it. The guy working there was laughing at me, and people were staring. It was pretty awesome. I didn't consider buying it.
3. Beautiful vintage-inspired dress at another shop. Wanted it for my cousin's wedding next month. Didn't fit right. It's my damn boobs again. Still pouting....it was a pretty dress.

Adorable popcorn bowl, which I promptly bought. (Burlington Coat Factory, $1.99)

This is what my hair looked like after being braided all day on Saturday (you can tell how sleepy I was)...always better than when I try to use a curling iron to make it look styled. It's naturally wavy anyway, so usually I just straighten the top few inches...whenever I want instant Rachel Zoe hair.

Said braid, plus my outfit from Saturday (this whole post is out of order. Oh well), which was fun enough to keep on from coffee with my girlfriend in the afternoon, to a little champagne get-together downtown that night.

Platform wedges (by Soda, Burlington Coat Factory, $14.99. Yes, you read that correctly). Words can not express the love. And get this: they feel like flats.

Pretty snazzy weekend. Some highlights not pictured:
- Lunch at Homeslice Pizza (white pizza with spinach and pools of ricotta + lemonade + big chocolate chip cookie).
- Live music by my friend's new jazz duo, The Jazz Destroyers (I demand you go "like" their Facebook page).
- Champagne with my friend Greg to celebrate his vampire novel, Thicker Than Water and its release at the Amazon Kindle Store (If you're interested, click for info on the book and how to get it for 99 cents). Sorry for all the shameless plugs. I like to support my talented friends when I can.

Have a great week! xx!!