selective potential & widgets

Just wanted to do another new post  thanking/advertising the absolutely lovely Tieka of Selective Potential. Because I am a blogging novice & also a bit dim, Tieka told me how to add fun buttons and widgets on the side toolbar over there.

So now you can formspring me and also see Tieka's lovely face and visit her awesome blog. Do it! Go now! :)

hair product round-up

I may or may not do an outfit post later. The outfit I have on is kind of kooky, so I want to photograph it to see how it looks in real life. I'm heading down to my Mom's later, so hopefully my brother is home and can snap a few pictures of me with his fancy-pants camera.

For now, I present to you, my favorite, can't live without them, hair products:

1. 1. Aussie "Catch the Wave" Mousse + Leave in Conditioner: When I do my hair wavy/curly, this is an  absolute miracle worker. It defines the waves while keeping them soft and preventing them from getting too fluffy.
2. No Frizz by Living Proof Shampoo & Conditioner: Seriously amazing. I just got these this past winter, so they haven't been tested in high-humidity conditions, but I feel like they will be up to the test. After I dry my hair when I use these, I can see how much smoother and straighter it is. I feel like it gives a tiny little bit of hold to the hair too.
3. No Frizz by Living Proof Wave Making Cream for Medium to Thick Hair: Another miracle worker. I actually use this to dry my hair straight, I like the extra hold it provides. I've used it when I leave my hair wavy too, and I haven't been thrilled.
4. Moroccan Oil: I use this every single day. I fear what would happen if I didn't use it, even if I'm just slicking my hair back into a wet pony. It's kind of pricey, but you seriously only need a little drop so a bottle lasts me about a YEAR. That's totally worth it in the price-per-use breakdown. Makes my hair soft and shiny. Plus it doesn't get heavy or greasy, ever.

So that's it! I feel like I have about a million more hair products in my bathroom, but these are the real leaders of the pack. What are your favorite hair products?

sunshine & mia

I stopped at home today to see Mia and had Mom snap a few pictures of us. I think they came out pretty good, considering I had her use my phone!














She loves to snuggle <3 The lighting in the sunroom is awesome in the morning and late afternoon. I'll have to get pictures in there more often.



I like how shiny my hair looks in this one. :)

I'm posting this entirely with my phone, which is how I will be doing any updates while I'm away next week. It's not as convenient as the computer, but it's excellent in a pinch!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

my happy song

This is totally my happy song. Nick made fun of me when he found out, hehe. But I'm sorry, very few bad days can't be cured by taking a drive and belting out your favorite songs, even if you can't sing. And this is a great one to really get into. :)



Also, I highly recommend watching Funny Girl if you haven't already seen it!

but seriously...

I love videos with little kids.

http://videos.nymag.com/video/Kids-Reenact-The-Hills

packing for myrtle beach!

I love packing for vacations. Some people hate it, but I love whittling down a list of my favorite things, making sure things match and are interchangeable. Usually I type out a nice neat list complete with fancy fonts and check boxes, but this trip I decided on a different approach: visuals!

This is part of what I am bringing on my trip to Myrtle Beach. This is mainly the accessories etc. Three pairs of shoes: one neutral wedge sandal, one flat black sandal, yellow flip flops, and my neon sandals from Target might get thrown in too. A comfy hoodie and a pair of yoga capris, a sundress (that's the bright blue thing off to the side with the sunglasses on top), two pairs of sunglasses - my Ray Bans and just a big black pair, a neutral colored skinny belt, two bathing suits, a neutral colored cross-body bag and a black clutch. Also my sleepy sheepy sleeping mask for the car, my travel slippers, headphones, and a little iPod speaker for the beach. Phew.

This is what I am bringing for clothes for the week. Not that much, truly! About seven tank tops, two pairs of shorts, one pair of skinny jeans, three t-shirts (one homemade with my favorite insult: YOUR FACE, across the front. Don't ask). One long sleeve, a cardigan for layering, and a jean jacket. I doubt much else will get thrown in at the last minute.

Obviously I am bringing tons of other things - beauty products (95% of them travel sized! Thank god Living Proof now makes my No Frizz & the shampoo and conditioner in small sizes!), hair supplies (my amazing hair dryer is coming. I attempted to use the hotel dryer last year and definitely regretted it) and all kinds of other odds and ends. But I promise I didn't go over board. I'll post a packed suitcase pic once I'm done.

Sidenote: Check out this awesome t-shirt I just got!!

The Catcher in the Rye is one of my favorite books, so when I saw this on ModCloth I snatched it right up. I got a size XL because people were saying it ran small, and boy were they right. You can't really tell from the picture, but it's small. I was hoping it would be kind of over sized, but no matter. It's still awesome!

The tag that was on it is super cool, it's a library card! How cute is that? I love it.
:)

pop-up video: soul sister ukelele

I love children singing. And playing the ukelele.

weekend update

Just spent way too much time trying to be creative with my blog layout only to decide simple is better.

ANYWAY, this weekend was awesome and I am here to share!

Saturday was a nice quiet afternoon. Went walking with Mom, then grabbed dinner at Qdoba with Jamie (courtesy of my Dad, he gave us coupons for a free meal), followed by dessert at Dairy Queen since Blizzards were buy one get on for a quarter! We brought Nick home a Blizzard because we are nice. Then we watched The Bounty Hunter. After that we had to quickly get ready to meet her sister at a bar in Beverly.

Bestie and I, being very happy :D

Sunday was a busy day. Nick and I got up and got ready, then stopped by my cousin's birthday party for a bit before heading down to Providence.

River Walk

I wanted to leave early so we could get to Providence before American Apparel closed. I figured as long as we were there I might as well get to shop! I finally bought the dusty pink colored hoodie I have been coveting for months. Then we walked around downtown, and grabbed a snack at Joe's Bar & Grill. Providence is a pretty cool city to walk around.

  Nick in the street                                          Me on the River Walk

There were some cool art displays to look at. The first picture is of a huge tile mural that looks like it was done after 9/11 and the second picture is part of a HUGE multi-window display of costumes from a performance art group. It was amazing.

We just walked around until the main event...Streetlight Manifesto at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel! The venue was really cool inside and was kind of set up like a chill bar that just happened to have really great bands playing too. I was sooo tired but the show was still awesome. I fell right into bed at soon as I got home. Amazing weekend :)

tgif

Today has just been one of those days. I woke up feeling great and motivated, then once I got to work everything I tried to do became an aggravation. Luckily it is Friday and I have all weekend to recuperate.

I did not complete my no pants challenge, but I'm going to try it again in the summer. By the time the end of this week rolled around I just wanted my old standby jeans, t-shirts and sneakers. Sad, but true.

Tonight is family dinner night, which is always a nice relaxing end to the week. Then maybe I will finally get to spend some time with the boyfriend just relaxing.

This weekend I have a girls day planned for Saturday Radurday and a busy Sunday Funday with a family party and then seeing Streetlight Manifesto in Providence with the boyfriend! Yay!

Then only one more week until Myrtle Beach! :) I'm so excited. I need a getaway with my two favorite people very, very badly. I just want to relax and have fun. Then, when I come back I'm starting my new diet. A friend of mine is doing it and he's lost 18 pounds, which is amazing. It's basically the South Beach Diet, but I'm modifying it a bit due to my picky eating. Hopefully with his support and advice (he's not the type to baby me, he'll be harsh if I mess up!) I can stick to it and see results. I just need to be more strict with myself, which I think is a problem I have in general. It is time for change.

i'm not wearing any pants challenge: day 3

Okay, so day three was the last day of my no pants challenge. Day Four (today) it was supposed to be rainy, plus I woke up with a mysterious rash on my forehead, so I was cranky and just wanted my jeans. So I wore them. But yesterday it was beautiful!

I asked boyfriend to take my picture but didn't tell him what it was for. Hence the terrible quality. Plus, I did not edit the pictures because I am L-A-Z-Y.

This is my "I. Am. Awesome." pose. Wearing an Old Navy dress that I forgot how much I loved. Really need to get better detail shots when I do these pictures huh? Express cardigan and flats from TJMaxx.

Yikes do I look tubby. Really buckling down on a diet when I get back from vacation! What, don't judge me for putting it off! Who can keep up a diet while they're on vacation?!

In other news, check out these sweet sandals I got in the kid's section at Target. I love having small feet. Truth be told they're a smidge big, but kids shoes fit a bit different than adults. They were only seven dollars! And I am really into neon right now.

let's talk multi-vitamins

Outfit posts to come later...but let's just digress a bit.

I recently started taking a multi-vitamin. It just seemed like a good idea. I'm sure I'm not getting enough of the essential vitamins and minerals from the crap I eat, and my mother was horrified when I told her I didn't take them. She also would not allow me to get the gummy kind. Sad face.

Anyway, multi-vitamins are always the size of a small stone or a large pebble. I realize they are cramming all the nutrients from A to Z in there, but seriously. They intimidate me. I take the pill out of the bottle, and already I have anxiety. I have to stand up, these pills cannot be faced sitting down. I need gravity to be completely on my side with this.

Some days I can't get it down. I panic and my throat just rejects the vitamin. I keep chugging and trying and panicking, but no luck. Now the vitamin has begun to dissolve. Do you know what a dissolving vitamin tastes like? Disgusting. I'm trying to be consistent and take it every day, but if I don't see some kind of discernible change in my health then I'm not sure these are worth the trouble.

Side note: I am attempting to spice up the lay-out of this bad girl blog...how am I doing? My computer graphic-ing skills are pretty much at zero. In my head, the outline I have planned is delightful and pretty. Maybe someday I'll figure out how to make my vision match the final product!

i'm not wearing any pants challenge: day 2

Back to work today, sadly. Happily it was warm enough to go sans tights. Again, home alone with no tri-pod. Today I propped it up on my dining table. I really need to get someone to take pictures for me, but my boyfriend and I are rarely home at the same time. Plus once I get home I usually change into comfy clothes to lounge around or work out in.

Here I look like a giantess because the camera slid down so it was kind of pointing at an upward angle. Sigh. Maybe tomorrow will yield a camera-person.

It's supposed to be warmer tomorrow, so I am hoping for more skirt-sans-tights weather! Though that does leave the issue of what to put on my feet. Hmmm.

Today I opted for my Oh Deer! boots that I got on Overstock last year and I love them. Except for one feature which I'm sure was supposed to be a selling point:

 The back of the boot is open to reveal a metallic copper-colored strip. Did not know about this until I received the boots. Not to mention the edges fold over and stay that way from me crossing my legs all day. I actually hate this about these boots, but I try to ignore it since I seldom see the back of my legs. (Which by the way, look heinous at this time of year, sans tan.)

Close-up of the stupid slit, in all it's folded-over glory.

i'm not wearing pants challenge: day 1

Okay, true to my word I am not wearing pants this week! Luckily, it looks like the weather will cooperate.

Today was a holiday where I live (Patriot's Day, or Marathon Monday, the day of the Boston Marathon) so I just had to go to an eye appointment and I had a few errands to run.

Unrelated, but cool: I now see 20/20 with both eyes combined! My left eye (or my Nemo Eye, as I like to call it) is seeing 20/25, but the doctor hopes that will improve over the coming weeks. Super exciting!

Sorry, the picture is a little smaller than I intended. I tried to crop some of my (messy) living room out of it. I don't have a tri-pod, so I basically prop my camera up on whatever is handy. Very unreliable.

 

Old Navy sweater, Express t-shirt, Old Navy skirt, tights from TJMaxx and SM New York boots via TJMaxx

I scored these boots at TJMaxx forever ago, but I rarely wear them. I feel like the sole is too clunky for the rest of the boot, and it is an awkward height on my calf. They look okay with black tights though, so I try to wear them when I can. I figured I'd wear the black tights today when I don't have to work since they will most likely get repeated later in the week.

i'm not wearing any pants

Okay, I am wearing pants right now. But while I was just sitting here, dreaming of warm summer days, I decided to pose a little challenge for myself.

For the entire week next week - that is, Monday through Friday - I won't be wearing any pants. No, I won't just be wearing a shirt and my underwear, I mean I will only be wearing skirts or dresses all week. I have such a big collection of dresses that I never wear because I just instantly reach for my jeans. I want to break out of that habit, so I figured this challenge would be a good way to start.

I'm not sure what to expect for weather next week yet, maybe I should save this challenge for a warmer month? See already I am baking out of my own idea! Fine, weather permitting I will be wearing a dress or skirt all week next week. I only have so many pairs of tights. Maybe I'll make this a seasonal thing. How I wore pants for a week in the spring, summer, winter...etc. That would be fun.

Alright, that's it. I'm doing it. I'm committed.

Here are some dresses I'm feeling right now:

Dress from American Eagle: I'm really into pairing neutrals with neons and brights right now, so I would probably stack on some multi-colored bangles and my neon green belt.

Dress from ModCloth: I have nothing but complete love for this dress. The stripes are flattering, the belt has a bow, it's made of soft jersey. Reaching for my credit card...

Dress from Forever 21: Can't beat this - it's $23. Another bow belt - can you tell I'm into those right now? Plus I'm into chambray for spring and summer, and I love the sort of 50's housewife feel this has. Definitely scouting this one out.

Skirt from ModCloth: I always forget about skirts for some reason. I need to buy more. This one is soft, pretty, with a light pattern. I like the idea of pairing it with a striped top for some fun pattern mixing.

Dress from ModCloth: I'm a sucker for dresses that look like skirts and tops. Much like when I was in middle school and was a sucker for those shirts that looked like two layered shirts but weren't

Skirt from ModCloth: Every time I pull up the site and see this skirt I am drawn to it, despite the fact I think it would look horrendous on me. There is a dress with the same pattern as well. I think it's the pattern that really gets me.

Harry Poppa

This legit just made my entire morning. I don't care if that makes me a dork. ;)



Otherwise a typical Monday, no motivation, just want my weekend to continue as opposed to being at work. Working on a special project this week, stay tuned for its big reveal next Monday!

wish list

My eyes are really bothering me today. I hope I can manage to make it through the day at work. It's frustrating not to be able to see clearly, plus I am tired and cranky. I have to snap outta this!

To cheer myself up I'm compiling a little spring shopping wish list.

THiNGS FOR SPRiNG

 

Fedora 

Leopard Sandals

Reef Sandals

Military Shirt Jacket 

Hoodie

My wish list for Spring is surprisingly short this year. Lately I have been all about re-working the things I already have as opposed to buying new things. Plus I need another hoodie like I need another hole in my head. But the color is just so awesome! It's the best pseudo-neutral. Imagine it layered under that military jacket!

I want the fedora for the beach, but I will probably go to Target and hunt around the men's section, since my head is large and I can only wear guy's hats, okay?! Plus it will be cheaper. Those leopard sandals WILL be mine, because I feel like they would add a little bit of glam to a basic shorts and t-shirt combo or a sundress. Leopard is also a fun pseudo-neutral in my book.

The reef flats are cute, but not a necessity. I must have that military jacket because I have a bizarre craving for one and this lightweight option seems like a keeper.

What's on your spring wish list?

wouldn't it be nice

Walking the beach at sunset

Making dinner with a friend

Discovering new (and disgusting) things at the grocery store

One little, two little, three little...

Just some pictures of life lately :)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Sunshine!!

It's 90 degrees today and I am loving it! Wish I could have gone to the beach but sadly I was stuck inside. Oh well, less than a month til Myrtle Beach and then summer!

Getting my hair done tomorrow, very excited, then dinner with a long lost friend. I love reunions.

Mia outside enjoying being dirty.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

i can see clearly now!

Well, almost. My vision still isn't perfect yet. Staring at the computer or watching a lot of TV are actually the most uncomfortable things to do since it puts such a strain on them. Unfortunately, I work 8 hours a day in front of a computer. Grrr.

The surgery was a piece of cake, seriously. I had two of my wisdom teeth taken out at the dentist with only Novocain and that was far, far more horrendous than having my eyes lasered.

They offer you Valium to take before hand, but I always get nervous things like that will make me sick, plus I didn't want to be all loopy, so I didn't take it. When I got into the surgery room (they legit line you up assembly-line style to take you into the surgery, it only takes maybe ten minutes to do the actual lasering) the doctor asked if I took the Valium. When I said no, he said "Well then don't squirm" with an attitude. So I said "I won't squirm" with an attitude right back. And I didn't squirm. Afterward he admitted I didn't need the Valium, I did so well. Told him so. It was really just a bit uncomfortable but really not bad at all. I was seeing better immediately after, but things were still really fuzzy. The next morning it was like a miracle. It will take a few weeks before I am seeing perfectly, but I am able to see and function and drive and everything. I highly, highly recommend it.

More post to come on recent activities and whatnot, but I really haven't wanted to be in front of the computer, unfortunately.




My life now - tons of eyedrops! But my sunglasses are back!




I had to change the font on my work computer to Extra Large. Getting more Nana-like every day.

my big day!!!

Today is a very, very exciting day for me: I am having laser eye surgery!! I have worn glasses/contacts since I was in sixth grade (I'm 24 now!) and I really just want to be able to wake up in the morning, open my eyes, and see! After today, I will finally be able to do that.

It's pretty expensive, but since my mom convinced me to do it, and because she's an awesome mom, she is paying for about half of it. I'm bummed I have to dig into my precious savings to pay for this, but it will totally be worth it in the end.

I've had to wear glasses for the past three weeks because you can't wear contacts before the pre-op or the operation. It's been torrtuurree.

I'll be sure to do an update later tonight or tomorrow, depending on how much I can see. I can't wait!




Say goodbye to these bad girls!