Book of Randomness

I was LONG over due for purchasing a new pair of black flats. About a year over due. My current (at the time) flats still looked “decent” as in they were wearable in public, but they no longer offered any support and they began to smell quite a bit. Yes I know that is extremely gross, and trust me, if I hadn’t put myself on the spending freeze I probably would have immediately purchased a couple of pairs to replace them. That’s right, I said a couple. I mean, can you really ever have to many pairs of black flats? It is like jeans, they come in all kinds of shapes, designs and “colors.”

The choices can be overwhelming. We’re talking flat black (no pun intended), patent, sequins, velour, suede and that is just fabrics. Imagine the shapes and “extras” like chains or bows. There is A LOT to choose from, and what girl wants to choose just one?

This one does. Maybe want is the wrong word, required is more like it.

So what does one do to prepare for making such a monumental decision? Well they do some research. Some online comparison shopping. Check out the usual suspects, aka favorite stores. Definitely look at all of their local Ross and Marshall’s like stores (discount stores for all you rich folk) just incase they have something.

What are you looking for? That “perfect” shoe has many requirements and it all depends on the future purpose of the shoe. In this case, the shoe I was looking for had to be flat, and I mean flat, I’m not really a “kitten heel” kind of girl. It had to go with my casual and nice outfits. Definitely had to be black (it wouldn’t really make sense to replace my black shoe with a purple one for example). It had to be simple, but still fashionable.

They sound like simple requirements for a shoe, but have you been shopping lately?

Every decently priced shoe was sold out or uncomfortable, and every decently made shoe was ugly or overpriced. Why does it seem that designer flats are just plain odd looking? Let’s face it people, you can overdo it on a shoe.

Finally with a little research I found the shoes I wanted!!! For $24.99, Target had some simple flat, black, suede shoes!! I have shared some pictures with you, but if you want to find them here is all the technical mumbo jumbo from Target (I wish I could put the fancy pronunciation in my writing).

These wonderfully priced and COMFORTABLE shoes are made by Mossimo and are the “Valda Ruffle Flat.” They are completely flat, have a small pointed toe, are real suede upper, and have detail ruching (ruffles) around the toe area. If you are concerned with your toes getting pinched, get over your fear because these will not! Nor will you get any nasty blisters on your heel.

I ended up going with a half size smaller than my normal shoe size. First of all, they didn’t have my normal size in stock. Second, when I thought it through, these shoes are made of suede, so they will stretch out to fit your foot. I’m SOOOO happy I went smaller. After only a day’s worth of wearing the shoes, they had already formed to my foot.

I highly recommend you run out and find a pair of these shoes. They also come in “Mushroom” (a dark brown/gray), “Cognac” (an orangey/brown) and “Cranberry” (kind of a pinkish maroon). You can check on Target.com first to see if they have them in stock, but make sure you call to confirm. Otherwise, you can order them online. They may be a little back ordered right now, but trust me, they will be worth the wait!!

Amazon also carries the shoes, but they are out of the black ones. BUMMER!! Here are the other available colors though, same price as Target!

Just like many women tend to wonder why anyone would feel the need to wear sexy/cute/expensive “under garments” under their clothes when they know NO ONE will be seeing it, they may also wonder why you would want the same for a sports bra.

Let me explain before you start thinking I’m crazy.

Then I’ll show you my favorites!

There is nothing like being a hot sweaty mess (and not in a good way) to tear you down and make you think you look like crap. So if the theory that wearing sexy/cute bras under clothes works, then where else would be better to apply it than at your “worst cute moment”, at the gym!

Plus you never know when you will get hot and need to take your shirt off!

My picks!

C9 by Champion® Seamless Camisole Bra – Turquoise Stripe

C9 by Champion® Racerback Running Bra – Fuschia

C9 by Champion® Seamless Racerback Bra – Mandarin

Nike Women’s Updated Determination Sport Bra

3-pack, FRUIT OF THE LOOM, Spaghetti Strap Sport Bras

Moving Comfort Women’s Phoebe C/D Bra

My thought is that sports bras are going to wear out their elasticity no matter how much you spend on them. If you buy cheaper ones, you will not only not regret wasting the money, but you will get to have new styles and colors all the time!! How much more exciting is that!?!

I personally have about 10 C9 sports bras from Target and I love them!

Remember to get the support you need if you have a larger chest. When you wash them, wash them in warm water and hang them up to dry. You don’t want the heat to ruin the elastic fibers.

Have a good (and cute) workout!

Part 2 and 3 of the rekindling relationships post… since they are shorter.

Old Navy

I used to shop at Old Navy throughout my middle school-high school years, mainly for the basics. It was never one of my “favorites,” but it was definitely on the store rotation. Once I hit the end of high school and headed into college though, it seemed that the only items they carried were either bright, stripes or weird little creatures stitched into the clothes. These trends were hardly my style.

Finally during this economic downturn (the personal one, not the national), I found myself in desperate need of new jeans.* After looking at my normal stops for jeans (Marshall’s for Sevens, Gap, and New York and Company), and realizing that not only did I not need to spend that much right now, I definitely did not need to spend that when I still had a few pounds to lose. There is NO point in spending a lot on jeans that will not fit down the line.

Somehow I landed back in Old Navy. I supposed I figured that since I like Gap Jeans, I may just be able to find something at their sister store.

Boy was I right. I tried on several pairs, and walked out with two pairs of jeans, two ¾ sleeve tops, three tank tops and a purse for under $140 (I still spent too much, so I ended up taking back two tanks and another top). The jeans were on sale, but not by much, I believe they normally all go for $45 and under. They fit really well and look totally normal, a.k.a. they do not say OLD NAVY really big across the butt.

All in all, Old Navy once again has some great basics to add to your wardrobe, just stay away from the bright & stripes that they still carry. Also, I recommend trying on several pairs and sizes of jeans. The styles all seem to fit differently, and I walked out of the store with two VERY different size jeans.

Cash

Here is a lesson in life. Credit cards are evil. Well not so much the card as the company. They are dangerous little pieces of plastic.

My smartest relationship that I got back to this year is not using my credit card, and only using cash. Cash makes you think twice about things you really don’t need, and besides, if you only spend what you have, you can’t get into trouble. I barely know what my credit cards look like anymore, and I would like to keep it that way. The cards will only be used for online and/or large purchases.

I feel much more comfortable with my spending now that I have gone back to my habit of only spending in cash. I highly recommend you try it out for a month and see how your spending changes.

Good luck!!

**You can thank my lack of jeans to my weight loss, then gain, then loss again. BOTH of my pairs of Seven Jeans split!! Saddest two days of my life.

What happened to the days when we spent our time trying to decide between a witch, ghost, devil or angel? Halloween costumes seemed so simple when I was a kid.

I remember the years when I was getting a little too old for trick-or-treating… it was a sad sad time. I was no longer able to dress up! Yikes! For several years, I was in musical theater, so my mother had it easy. During those years, it was just a matter of WHICH costume (ones she had already made for my plays) I was going to wear that year. I had soooo many choices. Indian, munchkin, cartoon, Dorthy, Woodstock and you name it.

There was a lull of about four or five years where I was too old to go trick-or-treating and too young to party. Depressing…

Funny!!

FINALLY I hit college where costumes were the oh-so-important party accessory.

It was about this time that I was introduced to the various costume websites that are available, mainly, to girls. Yes those often extremely risqué sites like Three Wishes where I am sometimes a little embarrassed to look, yet they always have cute options.

I have been searching around for this years’ costume since I am still in the Halloween Party stage of my life. It has been SUPER difficult.

Not only am I on a budget this year, but I also need to find something cute. When most of the costumes are somewhere in the range of $30-$100, it is hard to find cheap ones that interest me.

I assume that most people are finding they are in the same situation as I am. Their problems including: too expensive, too sleazy or too many choices.

When did all of this pressure start for girls to have the perfect costume?

In the end, I have decided to go as a bunny… not a Playboy bunny… just a bunny. I already had the ears so I only need to purchase the tail and figure out a cute black outfit to wear. It may be unoriginal, but my lack of a “Halloween Budget” has led me to the decision.

SOME of the costumes I WANTED…

*Some of them I like the “idea” but would have needed a little more “fabric”*

• Aurora- my favorite Disney Princess!
• Robin Hood
• Sherlock
• Sailor- even if I was one a few years ago…
• White Russian- I just think this one is funny/cute
• French Empress- not sure I get it, but it is cute
• Burlesque Babe- I just think it is cute! I love pink (as if you couldn’t tell from the website)
• Magic Bunny- If I could have afforded it… I think this would have been my choice!

That is all for now. I could have gone on forever!!

SEE TOO MANY CHOICES!!!

Does anyone know what they want to be for Halloween this year?

I’m pretty sure the Ghostbusters didn’t have THIS in mind!

What happened to the days when we spent our time trying to decide between a witch, ghost, devil or angel? Halloween costumes seemed so simple when I was a kid.

I remember the years when I was getting a little too old for trick-or-treating… it was a sad sad time. I was no longer able to dress up! Yikes! For several years, I was in musical theater, so my mother had it easy. During those years, it was just a matter of WHICH costume (ones she had already made for my plays) I was going to wear that year. I had soooo many choices. Indian, munchkin, cartoon, Dorthy, Woodstock and you name it.

There was a lull of about four or five years where I was too old to go trick-or-treating and too young to party. Depressing…

Funny!!

FINALLY I hit college where costumes were the oh-so-important party accessory.

It was about this time that I was introduced to the various costume websites that are available, mainly, to girls. Yes those often extremely risqué sites like Three Wishes where I am sometimes a little embarrassed to look, yet they always have cute options.

I have been searching around for this years’ costume since I am still in the Halloween Party stage of my life. It has been SUPER difficult.

Not only am I on a budget this year, but I also need to find something cute. When most of the costumes are somewhere in the range of $30-$100, it is hard to find cheap ones that interest me.

I assume that most people are finding they are in the same situation as I am. Their problems including: too expensive, too sleazy or too many choices.

When did all of this pressure start for girls to have the perfect costume?

In the end, I have decided to go as a bunny… not a Playboy bunny… just a bunny. I already had the ears so I only need to purchase the tail and figure out a cute black outfit to wear. It may be unoriginal, but my lack of a “Halloween Budget” has led me to the decision.

SOME of the costumes I WANTED…

*Some of them I like the “idea” but would have needed a little more “fabric”*

• Aurora- my favorite Disney Princess!
• Robin Hood
• Sherlock
• Sailor- even if I was one a few years ago…
• White Russian- I just think this one is funny/cute
• French Empress- not sure I get it, but it is cute
• Burlesque Babe- I just think it is cute! I love pink (as if you couldn’t tell from the website)
• Magic Bunny- If I could have afforded it… I think this would have been my choice!

That is all for now. I could have gone on forever!!

SEE TOO MANY CHOICES!!!

Does anyone know what they want to be for Halloween this year?

I’m pretty sure the Ghostbusters didn’t have THIS in mind!

My FAVORITE book EVER! Ok maybe it is my favorite possession….? I guess that could be stretching it, but this book is definitely WAY up there.

So what is it you may ask?

Freakin’ Fabulous by Clinton Kelly. I feel hesitant to share this with everyone because, well if I share, then you may become more fabulous than I am… oh well. The more fabulous people the better!

Everyone has seen the TLC show What Not to Wear on at least one occasion (and if you haven’t, you must be living under a rock). Clinton is half of the hosting duo, Clinton and Stacy. Clinton is also touring the country’s Macy’s stores for Make Over America (sadly I was not chosen ) He is undoubtedly funny on the show, and it translates perfectly into his book. He had me laughing cover to cover.

Freakin’ Fabulous is like my new life bible. I have only had the chance to read it all the way through once, but I frequently refer back to it. I actually began to annoy my friends and family by saying… “Clinton says….” or “According to Clinton…” I even had my DAD quoting the book!! Weird.

By the first few pages of the book you will wish Clinton was your best friend!

Freakin’ Fabulous is the book that you need if you want to know “How to Dress, Speak, Behave, Eat, Drink, Entertain, Decorate, and Generally Be Better than Everyone Else” according to its sub-title!

Highlights of the book… according to moi!

• Dress: Includes everything you need to know from accessories, to tailoring, dressing for certain occasions and a page of very ugly shoes (clearly the DON’T page)
• Speak: Definitely the section I need to read again… and AGAIN. The proper use for words. My greatest accomplishment so far has been taking the “s” off of the end of anyway! The pretty pictures and doodles help my learning… what can I say, I’m a visual person!
• Behave: Don’t butter the entire roll!! Holding wine glasses, eating oysters, texting with company and even a section on “bodily functions.” This section is definitely a must read. Did you know you should never bring your own food item to a party unless requested? I did not know that one, but you can ruin the theme/atmosphere.
• Eat: Four recipes you should MEMORIZE, cutting onions and other great recipes.
• Drink: I was laughing from the first page of this section as Clinton says, “Gin has made me do a lot of stupid things, but I forgive it.” Obviously there are drink recipes in the section, but my part is the section on wine; descriptions, how to serve, how to order and which wine pairs best with your food.
• Entertain: Plan for 1 bottle of wine per person!! Now that sounds like a party! Covers food to serve, music, booting people at the end of the night and making the potty smell nice! The “Mac and Cheese with Bacon” looks and sounds delicious… although it reminds me of the overeating experience I had at Yardhouse.
• Decorate: I cannot wait until I have my own house to be able to do all of this!! Room by room tricks, organization (“Kill the Clutter”), and fresh flowers. Never include baby’s breath or ferns IN an arrangement! Clinton suggests using Flowerbud.com for flowers.

  The book is full of color and information. Clinton has done an amazing job with this book balancing entertainment and information. I suggest it to EVERYONE. Give it to your girlfriends for their birthday or as a bachelorette party gift.

  You don’t NEED a reason, just get the book for crying out loud!! You will thank me later!

My FAVORITE book EVER! Ok maybe it is my favorite possession….? I guess that could be stretching it, but this book is definitely WAY up there.

So what is it you may ask?

Freakin’ Fabulous by Clinton Kelly. I feel hesitant to share this with everyone because, well if I share, then you may become more fabulous than I am… oh well. The more fabulous people the better!

Everyone has seen the TLC show What Not to Wear on at least one occasion (and if you haven’t, you must be living under a rock). Clinton is half of the hosting duo, Clinton and Stacy. Clinton is also touring the country’s Macy’s stores for Make Over America (sadly I was not chosen ) He is undoubtedly funny on the show, and it translates perfectly into his book. He had me laughing cover to cover.

Freakin’ Fabulous is like my new life bible. I have only had the chance to read it all the way through once, but I frequently refer back to it. I actually began to annoy my friends and family by saying… “Clinton says….” or “According to Clinton…” I even had my DAD quoting the book!! Weird.

By the first few pages of the book you will wish Clinton was your best friend!

Freakin’ Fabulous is the book that you need if you want to know “How to Dress, Speak, Behave, Eat, Drink, Entertain, Decorate, and Generally Be Better than Everyone Else” according to its sub-title!

Highlights of the book… according to moi!

• Dress: Includes everything you need to know from accessories, to tailoring, dressing for certain occasions and a page of very ugly shoes (clearly the DON’T page)
• Speak: Definitely the section I need to read again… and AGAIN. The proper use for words. My greatest accomplishment so far has been taking the “s” off of the end of anyway! The pretty pictures and doodles help my learning… what can I say, I’m a visual person!
• Behave: Don’t butter the entire roll!! Holding wine glasses, eating oysters, texting with company and even a section on “bodily functions.” This section is definitely a must read. Did you know you should never bring your own food item to a party unless requested? I did not know that one, but you can ruin the theme/atmosphere.
• Eat: Four recipes you should MEMORIZE, cutting onions and other great recipes.
• Drink: I was laughing from the first page of this section as Clinton says, “Gin has made me do a lot of stupid things, but I forgive it.” Obviously there are drink recipes in the section, but my part is the section on wine; descriptions, how to serve, how to order and which wine pairs best with your food.
• Entertain: Plan for 1 bottle of wine per person!! Now that sounds like a party! Covers food to serve, music, booting people at the end of the night and making the potty smell nice! The “Mac and Cheese with Bacon” looks and sounds delicious… although it reminds me of the overeating experience I had at Yardhouse.
• Decorate: I cannot wait until I have my own house to be able to do all of this!! Room by room tricks, organization (“Kill the Clutter”), and fresh flowers. Never include baby’s breath or ferns IN an arrangement! Clinton suggests using Flowerbud.com for flowers.

  The book is full of color and information. Clinton has done an amazing job with this book balancing entertainment and information. I suggest it to EVERYONE. Give it to your girlfriends for their birthday or as a bachelorette party gift.

  You don’t NEED a reason, just get the book for crying out loud!! You will thank me later!