Yay shopping!

Recently, I came across a little place on the 'nets called RueLaLa.

I know I'm a little behind to the party, but, what can I say?  Nothing.

How the site works is as so:  It's invitation only, and They send out an e-mail every day to members at around 11:30 est.  This advertises the day's sales (which they call "boutiques") along with upcoming boutiques.  The boutiques are open for 48 hours.  They carry designer clothes and accesories at closeout prices.  Usually, the "good stuff" doesn't last the full 48 hours (some items sell out as quickly as 3 hours after the boutiques open).
I've been watching the site, quietly waiting for something to REALLY pique my interest.  Lo and behold, I found it.  Today they opened up a Vera Bradley Boutique.  Prices ranged from 19 dollars, to 39 dollars.  They only had four patterns, and the one I've been buying Up latley (Carnaby) was not one of them. 

However, I like the Pinwheel Pink as well, so I went ahead and made a purchase. 

I bought the miller bag which will hold my important electronics (by that I mean, laptop and camera) on the long trek to Ohio for Labor Day.  This was the biggest bag offered in the print I liked, and it normally goes for $84.  I snaged it at $39.  Over 50% off. 

I went back later to buy the matching wallet too, but by that time it was sold out.  Which is well and good, because tommorrow they open a Philosphy Boutique.  And well, I need my monies saved up for those goodies.

Want an invite to the site?  just click HERE.  Please use my invite too!  Once you join and make a purchase, I'll be gifted with a $10 credit to my account (You'll get the same deal when you invite people), which I can turn out and use to buy more things to blog about, so really, it's kind of like a gift for you. ;)

Saturday nights in the life of a boring me.

Tomorrow we're having a surprize birthday for one of my favorite great aunts.  I decided to whip out my card making skills to creft up a birthday card for her.

This is what I started with:

 

• A pile of Ribbon Scraps
• Adhesive roller
• xacto knife (IN PINK)
• scissors
• a little baggie of the beads neaded to spell out "Happy Birthday Aunt Margie"
• a cutting mat
• markers
• a selection of five notecards
• and a piece of really pretty scrapbooking paper
• my iPhone for listening to some tunes.
  

This is what I made:

First I went through the cards and ribbons to find the best match with the paper.  It didn't take long to settle on these. 

 

Then I went to work threading the letters onto the ribbon using a bead needle.  This was much harder than it looked; I broke two needles and had to break out pliers at times to get the ribbon through the small holes in the beads.

 

After that I improvised a little bit extra.  I used the adhesive roller to get these ribbons to stick on the back of the card and in two spots each on the front to make sure they stay in place.

 

Then, I used the same technique to attach the ribbons I beaded the letters onto.   I'm pretty pleased with the way the front of the card turned out, but the pictures makes it kind of look like an 80's prom dress now that I see it.

 

After that I used the exacto knife to cut a piece from the paper to cover up the ribbon ends on the top half of the card.   Again, the paper looks much better in person.

 

I also lined the envelope, but took an easy way out and lined it all the way to the edge.  I'll figure out a way to enclose the envelope tomorrow, but for now, I'm super happy with the lining. 

I used the markers to write the message on the inside.  

And, just because I'm a classy broad, I did it all with a glass of water in a wine glass at my side:

So, over the past few months I've been in generally missing the life I left behind on Ohio.  I know that going back wont make this life re-appear, as so many of my friends also left the state.  And there's that whole "not in college anymore" thing to contend with.  But I miss my college life a lot. 

Lately (the past week or so) I've been missing one specific summer.  We called it "the summer of the blingin' shoes."  I was home from school and my best friend from high school (Miss Amber Lane) and participated in more scandal, shopping, and fun times than you could ever imagine.  I ruined fantasies, names were forgotten, cats were threatened, trees were urinated on, gnomes were hunted, blondes had more fun, booze was snuck into bars in tupperware, and the responsibilities seemed to vanish completely that summer.  I worked at a store in the mall for 20 hours of the week, and never had to be there before noon.  It was probably the most fun summer I ever had.   

Now it's (dear god) 5 years later.  How did I spend my summer?  I did go on vacation (twice, but the week long one was in the spring, and the other was only a weekend), but other than that, I worked... worked... worked... at a job I'm not very happy at.  I spent my weekends sitting at home with Brett, because we STILL haven't made any friends here outside of work and my family.  I spent countless hours facebook stalking my friends from Ohio wishing I was there for birthdays, trips to the bar, shenanigans, planning weddings, and lazy days by the pool (side bar: I accidentally typed "poop" and it immediately cheered me up a bit). 

I realize it was my choice to move here.  I really do.  But I miss the life I used to live in college. 

Sent from my iPhone

The first day of the rest of my life or something, right?

So, Tonight I start running for real.   I'm taking my workout out of the gym and onto the roads.  I've been planning this transition to outdoor running for weeks now, and today comes... currently, it's 94 degrees, with a heat index hovering at 103.  It's about to start raining.  So, do i brave the rain, and and chance it?  Do i brave the sweltering heat?  Or do i just humbly go back to the gym, and struggle in front of all of the fit people?

 

I'm thinking... brave it.

 

That's how much I hate running at the gym.

 

I hate people looking at me like a freakshow as I huff and puff my way to a better bod.  I hate how the treadmil makes me dizzy, and I hate how the scenery never changes.  These are all problems fixed by taking it outside.  If someone looks at me funny, who cares?  I'll be gone in a few seconds anyway! 

 

So, I'm gunna do it!

 

 

Charlie is ready for his dinner

- post from my iphone

Test

Testing

Sephora/ULTA Haul

Today, I hit up two of my favorite stores for some retail therapy: Ulta and Sephora.

And boy did I ever have a marrathon sesh.  Here's the haul ladies:

ULTA:

 

First up Is DDF 10% Glycolic Toning Complex.  This will apparently help rid my face of my premature wrinkles, and hopefully will help heal the scars from my latest bouts with skin picking.

 

I also Picked up NailTek III for dry brittle nails.  I love this stuff.  It will help you grow your nails, keep them strong and is currently working to heal my nails after some serious damage done by myself when I decided to rip off the Acrylics that I wasn't happy with.

 

Also, swisspers, cause I was out.

 

To top everything off, it all came with this great Free Gift!  A cute clutch filled with some Ulta Brand cosmetics.

Then, I hit up Sephora:

  

Continuing on with my nail care trend, I picked up these colorful mini-buffers in a pack of three.  I figure I can keep one in my desk at work, for those days when I just can't keep my hands still.

 

I also picked up a glass nail file, which I've always wanted to get, but never have.  I'm really not sure why, at only 8 bucks they are too cute to pass up!

 

Hope in a jar.  I like to call this stuff "miracle potion of the gods"  seriously, it be awesome.

 

Bare Minerals FINALLY supplied me with a refillable brush!  Gals who apply make up in the car in the morning everywhere have rejoyced!

 

Finally, a small size of Ojon dry shampoo.  For days when a shower seems like too much, but my hair wont behave.

Well, that's it ladies, that was my day of retail therapy.  And now I'm off to go play with my loot!