Home Office Tour (2nd Time)

Well last fall I welcomed you in via vlog to my home office and my personal touches that I added to the room besides painting it from ugly tan to beautiful grey and a striped accent wall.  You all know by now that I love change and I got the itch when I started seeing all these fun makeup tutorials pop up on my pinterest feed.  I thought to myself, I have no place to do my make up! I have a small master bath that was somewhat remodeled when we moved in (new vanity and toilet) and of course I chose a vanity based on looks and not functionality. Well I'm surely paying for that one now.  I have no countertop space besides the area to the left/right of the sink and that just allows my toothbrush holder and some soap. That's about it.  With that said, you can probably imagine how awfully messy it is (come on, I'm messy to begin with) and with make up products, hair products, and tools all over the place, it really is just not nice.  I said, that's IT.  I'm going to figure out somehow to make my home office into a more functionable area so I can do my hair, and make up.

First and foremost I have to give a major shout out to these nifty pieces of foam and plastic that were invented. The EZ Sliders were seriously a life saver when I had to move my heavy ass bedroom furniture around the weekend before.  I used them again this past weekend when I swapped things around in the formerly cat room-turned-office room. P.S. if you are kind of turned off by the price tag, $16.99 and $19.99 do not doubt yourselves. If you are moving any kind of furniture in a carpeted room, you want these. Just get two $5.00 off coupons and go to Bed Bath! (P.S. I really liked these products and wanted to share.... I wish I was promoting them because I got them for free! ha, yea right).

Ok, so moving along. Here are some pics!

I'm really so happy with how it turned out.  If you didn't tune back to last years post with the vlog, basically I had everything set up opposite.  Moving the mirror wasn't an option as I drilled incredulously large holes in the walls to place anchors so it was staying (and partially because I was super lazy to fill the holes in and paint over it). I picked up the small* vanity mirror for $19.99, the little bowl that I place bobby pins, hair ties and clips in for $6.99 and the perfume/hair product tray for $12.99 all from HomeGoods.  I do so well there!  I already owned the 5 tray organizer so I moved it from my closet to here, thank goodness it's not TOO ugly, and I "made" the make up brush holder (trip to the dollar store to buy the cup and beads). OH, I lucked out finding the nailpolish tray in Marshalls, and that was $4.99.  I'm really digging my new space.  At first I thought it was not going to work with inadequate lighting, but it actually is just about right. So far, I've been able to do my make up 3/4 days (I was home "sick" on Tuesday) prior to leaving to get to the van. Success!

*I say small because it fits on my desk, but it's actually quite large! So perfect for doing makeup and my hair.


And because it wouldn't be fair not to share, my favorite furry friends were helping me as I rearranged the room around:

8 different reasons that make me a shopaholic

I've come here every day since my Ikea post. And for the past 6 days, I started a post and never finished.  I just have nothing good to say and I hate lackluster posts. On top of all that, I had all these post ideas planned, even the pictures to go with it but I'm SO damn lazy to upload them and edit them. Plus, I forgot my SD card in my other purse.  (I change my purse about 2-3 times a week).  I know it's in my Ballet Slipper Maise. I know that it's in the little cellphone pocket. And I also know that it is home in it's designated spot in my Target Cube Organizer. For $40 bucks, it really is the perfect purse organizer. But dammit. I really wanted to share my birthday with you all! I took the most adorable photos of my new Fall items that I got. UGH!

So for today, I'm going to vent about how I am a shopaholic.

1. Last weekend, we went to Ashley Furniture hoping to leave with a loveseat.  Not only did we leave with a loveseat, but also an entire bedroom set and new mattress.

2. And of course because we got a new love seat, I've been searching for the most perfect side table, ever. Insert the cutest side table ever, thank you #Marshalls.

3. So now that I have my side table, it's only normal to get a new lamp too?  In all fairness to my poor wallet, we did throw away this old side table we had, that had a lamp attached to it.  It did us good for 5 years in our place, but it was time to say goodbye to the Grand-mama type side table, and hello to a more modern style (where a lamp isn't ATTACHED).  I did find a lamp by the way...in Marshall's during the same trip I got the table. 

4. I have my side table, lamp, and 2 new frames (come on, did you think I wouldn't get them?) you know that I need to paint the back room, and bedroom too, right? Oh, well I did that. All. Weekend. Long.  In fact, I was so impatient that I went to Lowe's Friday evening picked out paint based solely on the paint card and said YOLO (my life motto lately) and rolled with it (ha ha, no pun intended. Rolled it, as in I rolled the paint onto the walls, haha get it?? I'm so funny.)  I really have no time to hmm and haw over samples.  I told the paint man my life story about living in the house for 5 years with no updates to my bedroom, the contractor "tan" walls and how they aggravated me, and my new bedroom collection, hence me ordering the paint.  He was quite interested and told me that Ashley furniture sucked unless it was the Majesty version or some shit like that.  I rolled my eyes at him and told him I got it on a good deal and could give two shits if it was made in China because I've been sleeping on a full size bed with a rolly-poly for the past four years and it was time for an upgrade. And then I left. P.S. I need to lift more weights because the walk from the cashier to my car was rough. Two gallons of paint is no joke. Side note: 1 Gallon for my bedroom and 1 Gallon for the back room. Color: Valspar Aquatic Edge

This is not my bedroom but gives you an idea of the color.

5. These shoes, inspired by this outfit post from this blog, turquoise & teale. 

6.  This will be mine in a few short weeks. The Neverfull MM in Damier Ebene.

Ok, Ok calm your horses. I didn't buy a REAL one. Please. Do you think I would actually spend over $1000 on a coated canvas bag? No. But doesn't stop me from getting a fake one. P.S. I don't care if you think its tacky. But whatever, add it to my bill!

7. Glass pumpkins, Annalee dolls and "The Witch is In" decor.

Really Homegoods? Is it REALLY necessary to taunt me in 5 aisles of Fall and Halloween decor goodness? I wish I had a picture, but I don't. 

8. Kindle Paperwhite, KS and Tom Brady. Holy shit, I just wrote Eli Manning and had to go back and delete that.  Our 5 year "dating" anniversary is in two days and we got each other a gift. It is important to remember these milestones! Every year, Michael and I also celebrate our "getting engaged" date by going out to dinner in the same restaurant that we went to that night.  It's also a plus because it was the day BEFORE Valentine's Day, so it's never busy! Anyway, I'm getting off track here. Michael likes the New England Patriots. I (kind of?) like the Giants.  If he knew I mixed Tom Brady up with Eli he would probably shake his head in shame with me!  I got him a real official Jersey for the start of the football season (he got me the KS bag, well I got it, and he's giving it to me ha).  And my birthday was just last week and he got me a Kindle!! So exciting, but so $$$ right there.

           

So there you have it. Can I get any more out of control?

From now on, I am not entering Marshall's, Homegoods, TJ Maxx, Target, or anywhere else that I can do damage. This will be me:

I can do this. I'll start with the month of September.  Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Another weekend has passed!

I've been trying to do a better job at documenting my weekend, because hello, I'm a blogger and the weekend didn't technically happen if you don't have pictures to prove it.  Everyone will just think you binge-watched Hart of Dixie on Netflix instead. Well, that did actually happen yesterday, but who cares? Side note: if it weren't for Rachel Bilson, I probably wouldn't watch the show.

Friday: I worked at home and actually felt accomplished. I got so many meetings set up for the remainder of the year. I don't know why I'm not allowed to work at home more often, seriously! I then went to the pool but I was too lazy to take pictures and I don't need to be traipsing around my blog in my bikini anyway. And then I met up with Valerie at a potentially-cute bar for a couple drinks and it was like we've been friends forever! I say potentially cute because it was still really early and we were surrounded by old men, and three women that thought having two arms full of Alex and Ani at age 35 was really cool.

Saturday: We went to the lobsterfest in Bradley Beach and I got the lobster quesidilla. It was SO good. I was too chicken to try the lobster rolls because I'm not to keen on mayonnaise and was worried I would hate it and waste ~$20. It was so freaking crowded. We almost gave up, but I decided to park closer to Avon and we walked about a mile but I didn't care. Then we saw baby Isabella and she's just honestly the most precious baby to exist and she was wearing the world's most adorable baby-romper ever. We also matched so that was exciting too.

Sunday: I already told you, Hart of Dixie ALL DAY LONG.  I could not leave the couch. First it was sunny, then it was cloudy, then it was rainy, then it was sort-of cloudy, then I couldn't decide if I wanted to go to the pool but ultimately laziness won. I then decided it would be a good idea to go to Marshall's because I needed a shopping fix and walked out with a hundred dollars in shit. What is wrong with me?

• DKNY Shower curtain, I was sick of my old one!
• A new TMNT shirt for Michael
• A candle holder which will be used as a pencil/pen cup in my new office at work (will update you soon on this)
• The cutest frame I ever laid my eyes on
• A clear plastic cube box for colored paper clips, obviously
• Some kind of note pad that was irresistible
• A PURSE (OMG i know.)
• A gift bag that I really didn't need but it was cute and came with matching tissue paper for $1.79 I can't pass this garbage up.

I think that's it. Honestly, you can all give me a pat on my back because I passed on TWO shoe purchases. Since I've been lovin on Peanut so much lately (how could I not?), I included a cute pic of Mr. Linus being a lazy bag of bones on the buffet server. Here is a photo dump, you are welcome :)

 

 

Linking up with Biana! <3

Dress-turned-skirt

You guys, I'm super excited right now. You see, I used to have this crinkly-type white skirt from Forever 21. I wore it ALL the time in the summer but as you know, whites don't stay crispy white after YEARS (bought in 2004 maybe? omg TEN years ago. wow) of washing and wearing and honestly the style just wasn't really "in" anymore.  I haven't been able to find a white skirt since, and seriously I've been looking.  So let's step forward to 2011 when I took my engagement photos in a strapless white cotton eyelet dress.

Sidenote: Isn't this gorgeous? This is at Princeton University

So as you can imagine a few wash and dries later (I never ever used to hang dry items) the dress has shrunk, and is now borderline-hooker when I wear it. :(

Now that is 2014, and it's the year of shopping your own closet and reinventing things (thanks pinterest and instagram) I had this nifty idea that I could wear it as a skirt. Well I tried to wear the dress, and then wear the shirt over it, but that didn't solve the shortness of it and it looked stupid, so then I decided to fold in the dress and it's awkwardly sitting on my butt and hips but I'll go with it.  I paired it with this cute shirt I bought in Marshall's (where else, really) and a statement necklace and, voila! My OOTD.

Top: Marshalls (Kenar Brand) / Dress: Macy's (similar) (simliar)/ Necklace: Kohls (searched for 15 minutes and couldn't find anything haha)  / Sandals: Payless ON CLEARANCE!

How do you like me rocking my straight hair style? Can't even tell I have ombre! I think I can pass this off as a skirt.  I may even have my mom make it into one with an elastic waist.  Can't be that hard right?

it's all in the bag

Weekends really go by too fast. But we all know that so there was really no point into writing that. Actually there was, it was the "I don't know how to start this blog post so I'm going to write that" point. Whatever that was probably the dumbest blog post introduction ever.

It was a really nice weekend. Here it is in short points: Drop Dead Diva, Kate Spade, 8 mile bike ride, Car appointment, McDonald's oatmeal (so good), Wash/Wax my car, BBQ for Dad at brothers, Dinner at Gma's for my husband's family.

It was a good weekend. It really was, and I finally was able to use my new camera again.  You know how I wanted to use it to go to the Zoo....we didn't get there again.  But I guess I kind of figured that would happen being it was a holiday over the weekend.

Wait a minute, back up, did I mention Kate Spade in that paragraph before? I most certainly did!! I decided to order a purse + wallet while they had a "Surprise" Sale last week. But really I don't know what was so "surprising" about it considering I just checked the website and it's still FOR SALE. But none the less I can say that I participated in the Kate Spade Surprise sale. Ha, whatever. So here is the bag!

Kate Spade Grove Court Small Sloan in color: Dark Geranium

Shirt: LC Lauren Conrad (old) | Necklace: Forever21 | Shorts: H&M | Purse: Kate Spade | Wedges(old): Steve Madden (similar)

I should tell you, when you look at the picture on the KS website, don't you think it looks like a dark coral color? Well, don't think that. Because it's totally not. I sure was "surprised" when I got the bag in the mail. I can say I was slightly let down, but the bag has grown on me now that I used it all weekend.  I should have read the reviews, because stupidly I checked them after I got the back and what do you know this was on the reviews: "However, if you're thinking that it will be a coral pink, it is actually a (very bright) hot pink. " It truly is a stunning purse and I LOVE IT.  I got this cute wallet to (somewhat) go with it.  Different kinds of leather but matching colors.

 Not my best angle, but I got the skirt + tank from Marshall's.  I can't remember the brand specifically on the maxi skirt, but it was SO affordable ($16.99 people!!) and I liked the tank because it was a little more upscale than a good old Target white tank top.  It was $9.99 and the brand Cynthia Rowley.  I have a lot of her things (from Marshall's).  I do so well there!

 Happy Father's Day! This is a great picture of me and my dad.

And of course, me and Michael! I just love this man.

How was your weekend?? Linking up with B Loved Boston and Champagne & Suburbs today!

late anniversary, early birthday

Don't you just love early birthday presents?? I certainly do. But before I talk about my upcoming birthday, I will back track to March/April.  On March 31st, my husband and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary!! We went to Niagara Falls and it was extremely cold but such a wonderful sight to see.  He had a few gift ideas in mind, but of course being the man he is, he wanted to ask me first what I would prefer.  Most girls would be annoyed by this, I am grateful.  I would much rather prefer a gift that I asked for, than a surprise with something that I don't like.  That sounds totally snobby, but it's true.  If I don't like something, I have the HARDEST time accepting it and acting like I like it.  Out comes the bold personality in me. Anyway....we came back from our trip and I was feeling bummed that I still didn't receive a present so he took me out and he bought me the Isaac Mizrahi perfume.  At first I LOVED it.  I got the idea from a co-worker who started wearing the samples she got from Lord and Taylor to work.  I just thought it was such a nice, refreshing scent that didn't leave me with a headache.

We bought the perfume, but the sales lady loaded me up with free samples.  So naturally, I have been using the samples ever since.  Well I just about ran out two weeks ago and tried to use the actual bottle of perfume.  It was a gift set that came with a lotion, a shower gel (who uses that stuff?) and an adorable polka dot umbrella, in the cutest circular box.  Think of a hat box, but smaller. I threw the box away because the top just would not sit properly.  I go to spray the perfume, and it doesn't come out! What the. . .  I said, okay, its brand new, enough perfume didn't get into the tube to come out. Oh I was pumping what seemed like for a good minute before I decided that I just got a dud of a bottle. Wah :(

I look at my receipt and I'm literally 5 days away from the return period expiring.  I hate going to the mall. Shocker- right? Ever since I moved out I just never go anymore. Target, Marshalls and Kohl's are my main shops nowadays.  So, we went to the mall on a Friday night (what were we thinking) and I returned the perfume.  I wish i could say the return was as easy as me writing it.  It's a really long story but the fact is, we got our $80.00 back.  So now, I am left without an anniversary present and my birthday is rolling around in another month so......

in comes Marshall's to the rescue!

We had to go to Kohl's (in the same complex as Marshall's) to return a shirt I bought.  I got it in the store and it was really cute, but then tried it on at home and just didn't look right. You know how that goes. I begged Mike to "just take a quick look!!" in Marshall's.  Smart man, his response was "it's never just a quick look, we end up spending at least 20 minutes in there every time!"  Now think what you want, but I am someone who doesn't like to go shopping alone.  I really should invest in some girlfriends down by me.  But being the loyal guy he is, of course he comes with.  I do my usual routine, stroll through the clothes that are staring directly at you when you walk in, turn right and check out the dresses, then skip down to the purse aisle where I see. . .

THIS AMAZING BAG!

a cognac Michael Kors cross body bag??? YES!

My eyes lit up like it was Christmas time. It was larger than most cross body bags I've seen so I was worried about the price tag.  Ladies, it was only $150.00.  that is a big 'hell yes I'm buying it' in my book. It was originally $248 so I'm just thrilled.  It's a really nice size on the inside too.  it has a phone pocket under the flap, and also a pocket in the back (not shown), and fits basically everything I need for the day.

While we are at it, What's in my bag?

Nook. Eyeglass case, pretend Wallet, eye drops, car keys, invisalign case.  Pretty rad, right?

So my birthday is next month, and I promised Mike that he doesn't have to get me a gift.  Do you think I'll end up finding another present for my birthday??