The Nail File

 Anyone who knows me knows my adoration for nail polish.  But sometimes this can be problematic.  Not because it's a bad addiction but because I simply have so much.  I refuse to count how many bottles I have because I fear that the answer.  And well, another problem is the storage issue.  I've had it stored in a 2 drawer stand in my bedroom but it's difficult to look through.  I recently decided to part with any polish that isn't OPI or Essie.  I didn't open the "other" drawer in over a year, so I put all of those in a basket to bring in to my office.  The college students were very happy to go through the basket and take some bottles off my hands.

Anyway, I have often thought of a new creative way to store the polish, but haven't figured out a way that isn't completely ridiculous.  So the polish lives in the drawers.  Then the other night, a friend  posted the most brilliant idea on Facebook.  A fabric jewelry organizer.  I had purchased one in January and it holds all of my jewelry perfectly and it's hidden away in my closet.  I never thought of using it for polish.  But my friend's picture inspired me to go out the next day to get the new organizer.  This morning I tested it out.  And by that I mean I should have been getting ready for work, but found myself putting all of my polish in the pockets. 

 Look at that!  This organizer hold about 70 bottles (on both sides).



I have to categorize by color still, but I think this is an excellent way to organize. I think it'll hand on my closet door.   Oh, and for the record, I still have a few spots open on the back so I don't have 70 bottles of nail polish....yet.  haha. 

Happy Thursday!

Goodbye Greenie

Unfortunately, it's time for this post.  I've known the end was near but I didn't want to admit it.  So I'm doing it here so I have to follow through on the end.  What in the world is this girl talking about? (I'm sure you're asking)

I'm talking about my absolute favorite article of clothing, my green trench coat. 

You see, I've had this particular coat since approximately 2000.  And I know this for a fact because  I purchased this coat and then proceeded to go to see Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon in the theatre with some friends.  Don't ask me how I remember these silly things.  But anyway, it was purchased from the Gap and I actually paid full price because I loved it that much. 

Here I am wearing it yesterday.  Bad lighting but it's definitely green. 

Anyway, I loved it back then and figured I'd wear it for a few seasons and then it would be donated somewhere.  But a few seasons turned into 11 years.  For the record, I have NO other article of clothing from 11 years ago (aside from a few t-shirts that I'm using to make a t-shirt quilt).  For whatever reason I became very attached to this coat.  I think we took a few breaks through the years but it always remained through all the closet purges.    And in the last few years I've brought it back in full force.  So much so that it's now dingy and gross.  It's been washed and dry cleaned frequently but the wear and tear of 11 years is evident.  It's particularly worn at the pocket area and the sleeve cuffs.  But I still wear it.  I realized a few months ago that this would be it's last season.  But now that it's almost time, I'm bummed.

Here it is back in 2001.  My friend Beth and I in Maine.

And I realize this is probably a really silly thing to be blogging about but I have a theory about clothes.  I don't get attached because styles change so much and I get tired of things and I figure if I have a picture of me wearing it, that's good enough.   But this one, this one is gonna be tough to retire.  I haven't been able to find something to replace it.  It's got a zipper and snaps and it's my signature color.  It's stood the test of fashion for 11 years.  That's good stuff. 

So once it gets warm it'll be time to retire my beloved coat. You've served me well, Greenie!

Do you have any article of clothing that you are attached to? 

Happy Tuesday!

Objects of Desire

Today FLEW by!  And I was in better spirits than I have been in weeks.  One of the reasons is because it's spring break and the students are all home or off on a cruise somewhere.  As much as I love working with them, I need them to go away so that I can catch up and get paperwork and other projects.  I got a few projects done so that explains the day flying by.

Tonight I'm relaxing at home under the electric blanket (because it's still SO effing cold out) doing my usual "window shopping" on line.  What am I currently looking at?  Well, since you asked so nicely....

A monogrammed pendant.  I found this cute Etsy shop that I'm going to order from.  I can't decide if I want it 3/4" or 1".  I'm leaning towards 1".    All I know is that it's exactly what I'm looking for.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/GaudyBaubles

I also am currently lusting over this Michael Kors zip around wallet.   I've seen it in person and I think it's perfect.  I'm in the market for a new wallet because I am still rocking the ultimate Vera Bradley wallet that I have had for two years now.  I'm kind of over Vera and that wallet is huge.  I'm ready to go back to leather and a more sly design.  Picking a wallet is serious business for me.  I don't change wallets often so I like one that will fit all of my needs.  I change my bag so often that a wallet tends to be my only constant.  I can't decide if I want it in brown or black.  Either way, I'd be in love.

The next one is kind of a annoying.  I really, really, really want a new ipod.  I just upgraded last year to a new nano but I only got an 8G and that's proving to be too small still.  So I'd like a 32GB touch.  I use it ALL. THE. TIME. so I think this isn't completely frivolous.  I have to stop trying to think I won't fill up the memory.  I need to get on board and realize I absolutely will.  Maybe I should just get the 64GB and call it a day.

And lastly, but definitely not leastly...a new Keurig.  I got a mini from my Aunt last year and I LOVE it.  But I want that one to live in my office and the big one to be at home.  I need the option to make a travel mug sized cup.  I don't have that option with the mini.  And it would be nice to not have to fill up the reservoir every single time.  Especially on a lazy Sunday morning. 

Ha. I guess that's it for my one line shopping wish list right now.  And to be honest, I think I make these posts for me so I can keep track of my objects of desire.  It's not like I'm going to running out to get all of these next week.  I wish I could have a life like that. 

 Plus, I'd like to help any secret admirers out there decide what anonymous gift they should send.  HA! 

What are your current objects of desire? 

It's a Date

It's been a very quiet weekend.  Yesterday I didn't feel well so I pretty much layed around all day resting.  It was nice.  I felt better to go to craft night at my friend Angie's.  I'll be showing you what I learned to make soon.  I have to finish the project first.    Today I got up and cleaned and then went to my office to catch up on on some work.  It's spring break for the students so I'll have the entire week to do projects.  It's good, because I'm not really in the mood to be really busy. ha.

Tonight I don't want to write about anything real.  Instead I want to think ahead to a theme party I'm going to have with my girls.  As I've mentioned a million times, I love royalty.  And I'm SUPER excited about the upcoming wedding in April.  I remember watching Princess Di and Prince Charles get married when  was really little.  It seemed so magical back then and I had little to no idea what I was watching. 

So I decided that I am going to take the day off and host a viewing at my house. It's going to be a slumber party style deal since it'll be on so early. But that's okay. We'll wake up in our best PJs (with hats, of course) and have breakfast/brunch.  Complete with tea and mimosas, clearly.

Now, what kind of hat do I want to wear?  (I didn't buy this one but I kind of wish I did)

And I think since it's going to be slumber party themed, we should do our nails (obviously).  So I've been scoping out some possible colors that we may (WILL) need:

"No More Waity Katie"

And "Dating a Royal" 

OOOH, and maybe I'll even wear my favorite shoes.  I'm sure they'll go with my pajamas.  I mean, it's a royal wedding, I'm gonna need to be festive! 

And I'm sure I'll come up with some other ideas for the day.  You know I love a good theme party!  Let me know if you think of other fun things for us to do at the royal viewing party.

Happy Sunday!

What I'm Loving

I feel unspired to blog lately.  I could write about how blah I feel.  Or that Syracuse basketball broke my heart on Sunday night.  Or that I could barely walk this week after I started the 30 day shred (don't worry, I'm much better now).  Or that I have a cold and I think it's my body telling me I need to slow down.   Or that I'm in love with a dummy.  Or that 2011 was supposed to be much better than this.  Or that I want a new job in a far away city.

But none of that sounds like fun. 

 SO, I'll share some things that manage to make me smile despite my aforementioned crankiness. Are you ready?  Okay, here goes...

1.  I purchased my eye cream that I mentioned awhile ago.  It was $52 and I know that's crazy talk but I don't care.  I like it that much and I work hard and deserve expensive eye cream.  I just hope it works....ha!

\

 2.  While I was in Philly, I went to Sephora and purchased this year's mascara collection.  It's amazing.  Whoa.  I look forward to putting on my makeup when I have new mascaras to play with.  (And for the record, if I could max out a credit card in any store, it would most certainly be Sephora)

3.  Adele's new CD.  I got it last week and I haven't stopped listening yet.  It's amazing and I don't think I'll get sick of it anytime soon.  If you haven't heard it, you must. 

 4.  And I've only recently discoverd Moscato.  I like wine but I'm pretty clueless about them.  I usually go with my standard White Zinfandel--so boring.  Anyway, I tried some Moscato and now I want a bottle of wine to live in my fridge.  I've never been the girl that drinks a glass of wine while watching TV but I think I could do that with this one.  It's delicious.  And it's also nice to sip while listening to some Adele.  It was the most calm I've felt in awhile.

And there you have it--things I'm loving right now.  It's the little things that sometimes make a bad week seem a little more pleasant.

What are you loving right now? 

Shred

I pretty much hate everything right now.  Okay, well not everything but I'm really, really wishing I could move away from my current life and never look back.  Like witness protection style.  Ha.  I'm only half kidding. 

Anyway, I have been feeling pretty blah since I came home from Philly so I decided that this week I needed to start something new to focus on.  So today I started the 30 day shred .  It's a short workout but I'm pretty sure Jillian Micheals is going to be my frenemy for the next 30 days.  She's not messing around.  It's a 20 minute workout that is actually pretty intense.  I was sweating by the end.  I'm not usually one to use a DVD to work out, but I've heard such amazing things about this program that I needed to try it. 

This is going to be my warm up for p90x and training to run a 5 k or 10K in the fall. 

I hope you are all doing well.  I'm actually going to get to bed because I've got to be up to spend some quality time with my new trainer, Jillian in the morning. 

Good stuff!

Happy Monday!

It's Always Sunnyish

Well, it was quite a busy week.  That's that.

I'm really happy to be in Philadelphia at a professional conference this weekend.  My friend Greg from Syracuse picked Jill and I up on Saturday morning and drove down here.  The conference doesn't really start until tomorrow so we spent yesterday finding our way around, ate at the market and spent the night watching TV in our very comfy hotel beds.  Oh, and I learned how to spell tchotchkes.  Time well spent.

Today we did one hour of "work" and then we walked around to shop a little.  But not before we got Jill a new phone.  Her phone bit it this morning.  Thankfully the crisis was averted and Jill didn't kill anyone in the process.    And thankfully we lunched first.  Business style.  And by that I mean cocktails were consumed. Verizon is way more pleasant in that case.

Downtown Philly.  We have walked a lot. 

Now I didn't buy this but it sure would be fun to wear on St. Patrick's Day OR to the royal wedding. Either way, really.  I've decided I need to wear more hats.

We ended the day with the most cost effective manicure/pedicure ($25).  I am in love with the color (Going Incognito by Essie). 

We had the intention of going back out to dinner but instead decided to stay in and order some Chinese and lay around.  It's been pretty relaxing for a conference. Tomorrow sessions start, but not before we head over to Sephora.  I can't possibly conference without buying new beauty products.

Hope you all had a good weekend!

The Winner Is...

We were blessed with a huge snow storm on Sunday night.  So bad that I got snowed in on campus (work) and had to spend the night there.  Luckily, that just meant that I had to sleep at my friend Jill's house for the night (she lives on campus).  It's pretty rare that I get stranded but the roads were bad news.  So that meant that Monday was a snow day and everything kind of got off track.  Including picking the winner of the OPI Shatter Giveaway.  Where were my priorities?? 

I did take time out of my work day today to pick a winner.  Here is the basket with all of the entries.  All 7.  I guess Shatter isn't as popular as I thought.  But good for the ladies that entered!

Since I was at work, I decided to get a little help from my friends.  Jill and one of my favorite students (and one of the funniest) were the ones responsible for drawing the winner.  Okay, they hammed it up for the camera a little, but it was for the effect.

And the winner is...

Woooo Hoooo!  Alisha, I'll have your stuff in the mail ASAP!   Congratulations!

A Day to Play

This morning started out really early.  I went to a flea market at a local church with Angie and Sabrina.  It was a pretty quick venture but it made me excited about yard sale season!  Anyway, I only bought a few things but nothing especially noteworthy. Or so I thought.  I did purchase this Samsonite train case for $3.  I'm not sure why I needed it...but for some reason I've always been attracted to these kind of cases.  Secretly, I think I've always imagined that this is exactly what movie stars carry their makeup and treasures in.  So for $3 I figured I could use it for craft supplies or something useful. Practical. 

Look at the good mirror and the tray .  It even  came with the keys for it. 

 And it's super clean and has been kept in good shape. 

After I thought about it, I decided I wanted to bring the vintage feel back into my life.  So I'm not going to be practical about it and use it for craft supplies.  I'm actually going to use it for makeup and products when I travel.  Yes, I want to be that girl.  I think it'll be very useful and I think it'll be fun to have a train case.  I mean, a girl has to have a little movie star sometimes, right?  And I have two trips coming up so I will be able to try it out.  And just for a reference point, I googled this and it seems that I got it for a very reasonable price.  This exact one is going for over $30 on ebay.  Even better!!

After the flea market I did some errands and then came home at lunch time to spend the afternoon relaxing before the SU game at 4 pm.  I tried out a new color for my nails.  Green-wich Village.  I got it last weekend and had planned to wear it for St. Patrick's Day.  But I figured I'd try it out now. I decided I love it.  I think it's great. Not the kind of polish I'd wear for a job interview but for the weekend or a specific outfit...you bet.

For one of my errands, I went to the mall and  I got a new skirt today that I wanted to wear for tonight so I thought I'd add a splash of color by having bright green nails.   

So what was going on tonight, you ask?  Well,  I was going to a fundraiser event for our local YMCA. That calls for being cute.  I went with a few friends (Gillian, Sara and Angie)

 It was a fun time.  It was a Pub & Grub so there was beer and wine and food from local restaurants.  It was a nice time and for a good cause.  I like trying to do new and fun things in town. 

(Here are Gillian, Angie and I waiting to get the grub)

I'm already home but I'm happy to be laying in bed watching TV.  Unfortunately, tomorrow will not be as carefree as today.  I have a lot of work to do so I'll be heading to the office early in the day.  But today was one of those Saturdays that I love. The kind that I do whatever I want.  The kind of day that requires me to own a train case.  Because I'm totally movie star. 

HaHaHa!

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend and that you have entered the shatter giveaway.  EVEN if you don't want to win the shatter, let me know what polish is your fave.

One of those Days

This has been a pretty busy week.  I mentioned that yesterday but I don't think I can say it enough.  It's that time of the year that I can be at work for more than 10 hours a day and I STILL can't do everything.  It's typical of what I do but then I have moments like today that I realize that no matter how much time I spend at work, I truly really like what I do.

I had a conversation with my friend at dinner about how sometimes people go to college to get a degree and have no idea what they want to do with their life and get a job and they never feel passionate about what they do.   I feel really lucky that I was able to get the degrees that enable me to go to work and feel like I make a difference. 

Not in every moment of every day.  I get frustrated.  I get tired.  I get sad.  I worry. 

But I never doubt this is what I'm supposed to be doing with my life or career.  And the icing on it is I work with people that have become my friends along the way.  I know no one goes to work to make friends, but I have found some close friends along the way.  It makes work seem less like...work. 

Today was Bid Day and I encouraged our professional staff to support this by wearing their letters or a Greek event shirt.  So here are three of us sporting our shirts. (This is outside of our offices)

 And two wearing the sorority recruitment shirts. 

Bid Day is a fun day around here...there is a lot of excitement in the air. 

Every year it makes me stop and think about how lucky I am to do what I do for a living. 

Happy Friday!

Trash to Treasure

Work is crazy right now.  I  have been going NON STOP for days.  I literally come straight home, make some dinner and go straight to my bed.  And do everything from there.  I mean, it IS after 9 pm every night this week...but whatever.

I have gotten out and about this week between meetings and commitments though. I did manage a pedicure and a trip or two to the Dollar General.  (I live on the edge, I know)  Anyway, the Dollar General sometimes has some stuff that can be overlooked because of...well, presentation. 

But the other day I found this cute print.   Of course it came in a not so nice frame (with no glass)  The print was stapled to the back.  The bird and quote were so cute that I needed to have it.  I figure I'd find something new to do with it.

 I got a little frame and cut the print to fit.  This picture doesn't do it justice but it looks really cute now that the focus is just the image and the quote. I like it much better.  AND I'm saving the other frame so that I can paint it and re purpose it in the future. 

The quote is "We loved with a love that was more than love."  Edgar Allen Poe

 My friend Alisha liked it so I went back tonight to get her one too.

I also got this little thing.  It was half price after I told the cashier that it was broken (the plaque part came off the frame backing while I was in the store).  Even better because I don't think it's the best thing ever.  BUT I do plan to paint the frame white to make it more cottage style and I'll reattach it.  I will put it out in my enclosed front porch with the wicker furniture.  My goal is to make that space more beachy and cottage feeling.    I have a jar of seashells out there that was my inspiration for the beach theme. 

 I think this will be cute when I get to paint it up.  I'll be sure to show you when that happens. 

Right now, not so cute. 

Don't forget to enter the OPI Shatter Giveaway! 

Happy Thursday! 

OPI Shatter Giveaway!

Giveaway!!

I've been waiting to do this until now because I was doing the photo challenge last month.  I haven't done a giveaway since I first started this little blog, so I thought now would be a fun time to do it. 

As many of  you (if you've been reading for any amount of time or actually know me) I love nail polish.  Besides coffee, it's the only addiction that I claim these days.  And I generally favor OPI products so I thought I'd share the love and give away a bottle of the OPI Shatter.  Fun, right!

Plus, I'll throw a nail file in as a little bonus.  I mean, you probably want that too!

So all you need to do is to leave a comment on this post and tell me your favorite nail polish color of all time.  Please comment by Monday, March 7th.   

Get thinking about what color you'd put under the shatter and tell your friends too!

Hob Lob Love

Welcome March!  The photo challenge is over. Now I'm back to write about all the random things that I want.  So  to kick off the new month, I'd like to share my new found appreciation for the Hobby Lobby.  I've read about this place on blogs for awhile and wondered why it was seemingly so magical to all that ever wrote about it.  Clearly, I'd never been in one.  That all changed this past weekend.  My friend Angie was going to the closet one (about an hour away--and it's relatively new) so she brought me and our friend Sabrina along.  We spent two solid hours in that store and I STILL didn't get to look at everything.  But I did manage to pick up some cute stuff.   Let's have a little looksy...

These plates are going to be on display for something fun for the spring/summer.  Perhaps used as a gift. 

I loved these Paris plates.  They will most likely live in my office room (also known as the weird room)

This little glass cloche is so cute.  I just put the candle in there for photography purposes.  I'm not sure what's going to fill it yet.  But I like it.

And these prints came in big white mats but I took them out and got some cheap black frames.  They are going in my bedroom.  And yes, I was drinking wine while I did this little project.

 This is a brilliant idea.  Sabrina told me she had found these metal decorative wall hangings the last time she visited the Hobby Lobby.  I bought two because they were about $2.  She told me how she transformed them.  And since I thought it was fantastic...I decided to try it out. Here is is before....

And now here's how it looks.  YES!  Sabrina found this great adhesive fabric that happened to fit PERFECTLY to the shape of the metal sign.  I slapped that bad boy on there and attached ribbon to the back. 

And as I was admiring the cuteness and brilliance of the project, I realized I had two magnetic clips that coordinated perfectly with the material.  YES.   It was meant to be.  Here it is in it's finished glory.  Actually, I hung up a notepad on one clip and hung it in the kitchen so I could write my grocery list on there throughout the week.  I think the whole project cost $5 but I absolutely think it's great! 

 Thanks to Sabrina for the wonderful idea. 

And the best purchase of the trip was this birdcage!  I have been looking for a cute birdcage for awhile now and I got this one for $20.  I can't wait to put a plant in it.  I love it!

So the moral of the story is that I need to make another trip to the Hobby Lobby soon. 

Hope everyone has a great first day of March!