All That Sparkles

I love the holidays. Whenever I think of Christmas and New Year's, I immediately think sparkles. Every fashion magazine and store catalog I've picked up has pages dedicated to the glittery obsession, and this season I've already indulged. From nail polish to accessories, sparkles are definitely in style.

I scored a pair of Steve Madden Miami pumps in Gold Glitter for $59 $45 at DSW (I used $15 worth of rewards certficates). Can you say LOVE? Here is a similar pair that I liked also, but the heel was a bit tall for my 5'11" frame.


Steve Madden 'Caryssa' pump



Of course you'll need some sparkly nail polish too to go with these fabulous shoes. I just tried Sally Hansen's Xtreme polish in Celeb City. At $1.99 a bottle, it's a keeper!

Sally Hansen 'Celeb City'



OPI 'Burlesque' collection

In the midst of looking for New Year's Eve attire, I found a cute alternative to the standard LBD or sparkly dress (although I always love those too!): a sparkly tank with a pair of trouser shorts, tights and cute platforms or booties. I may just have to rock this look instead of my 'ole go-to dress this year. 

Whatever sparkly piece(s) you choose this holiday season, you'll be sure to stand out. Happy shopping!



                                 







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So LUSH

While in Santa Barbara, I discovered the most amazing natural bath and beauty store ever: LUSH. I'm sure I'm the last person to have heard of this store, as they don't have a shop in San Diego, but boy am I glad I discovered it! When I strolled by the brightly-lit store front with all of the fresh, handmade products in the window, I couldn't pass up stopping in for a peek (hey, I was on vacation).

Immediately I was greeted by a knowledgeable sales person who was so enthusiastic about the products, it made me want to work there. I tried an array of massage bars, lip balms and sugar scrubs. Each product was more amazing than the next. Another sales person gave me a demo of their Candy Cane Bubble Bar, which I immediately scooped into my shopping bag to try back at the hotel. Who doesn't love an extra bubbly, awesome scented bath?

The great thing about LUSH is that all of their cosmetics and bath products are made with fresh, organic  fruits and vegetables, safe synthetics and essential oils. The packaging proudly displays who invented and packed the particular item, adding a very personal touch to the buying experience.

You can check out two of the items I purchased:

LUSH -- Once a Year
LUSH -- Bubble Bath Product - Candy Cane BUBBLE BAR slice

Sugar Plum Fairy Scrub

Bubble Gum Flavored Lip Tint

Once A Year Massage Bar

Candy Cane Bubble Bar

I was sent home with a sample of a bath bar appropriately named Honey, I Washed The Kids. I don't know about washing any kids, but it sure has kept me squeaky clean.

If you're unlucky like I am to not have a shop located near you, LUSH will ship items directly to you lightening quick (2 day) for just $8.

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Blessings

November is generally the time when we think about giving thanks, and this past year I have thought of many things to be thankful for throughout the year. This Thanksgiving and all year, be sure to let others know what you're thankful for. Here are is some of what I'm thankful for:

• My handsome and amazing boyfriend, which I don't know what I do without (he is currently taking care of me while on bed rest for getting my wisdom teeth pulled). When he had his surfing accident earlier this year I was absolutely terrified that I would lose him. I'm so thankful for him everyday.

• My wonderful and amazing friends, who may be spread across the country, but are always there for me no matter what. I love you all!

 

•  I'm thankful for my very large and loving family. Many of them have helped shape who I am today and for that I'm forever grateful. I'm looking forward to visiting them at the beginning of December (these are just a few photos I could find).

•  Lastly I'm thankful for the talents I have been blessed with:  

Writing

Making others laugh

Being a great friend

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Four years

Wow, I've been busy. Halloween came and went and now everywhere I look it's Christmas! Crazy how fast time flies.

On Wednesday my boyfriend and I celebrated our 4 year anniversary. I can't believe it's been that long already. It seems like yesterday we were going on our first date and now we are living happily together and planning for our future. We are taking off tomorrow morning for Santa Barbara to celebrate our love. I'm so excited to get away, relax and just enjoy each other for a little while, away from a our everyday life. I look forward to many years to come with Jon. I truly believe I have met the one person on this Earth that I was meant to be with forever.

Whatever you're doing this weekend, have fun and enjoy!

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Memories

'83 came on during a John Mayer iPhone shuffle sesh yesterday in my car and it immediately brought back memories of sophomore year in college. I remember listening to Room for Squares on repeat on my multi-disc CD player and never getting tired of it. I felt like I could relate to so many of those songs and I loved how it felt like the music was speaking to me. I've always loved John Mayer's music (regardless of all the tabloid BS written about him). Sure, he might not be an American Idol as a person, but his music is written from the heart.

I brought up this song because there is a verse that talks about him missing his brother, Ben who is 18 months younger than him. Coincidentally my boyfriend's name is Jon and is younger brother is Ben. I chalk it up to fate - I'm sure my boyfriend thinks I'm crazy, but I think it means something special. I always knew there was a reason I loved this song.

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Cocktail Rings: Big & Bold

Lately I've been really into finding unique cocktail rings. For me, the bigger and brighter, the better! Since I consider myself part of the "Young, Fabulous & Broke" crowd, I'm always looking for a fun statement ring at a budget-friendly price.

So far in my search, Forever 21 has been my gold mine for finding rings I can afford. You can also find some great rings at online shops such as Etsy, where individuals sell their handmade and one-of-a-kind items. I like the rings to be larger than my ring-finger size, so I can wear them on my middle or forefinger. I get a thrill out of hunting for the perfect ring for an outfit and usually discover it will work well with many different items in my closet. Statement rings are also great for showing off an awesome manicure. Whatever piece you find, it will be sure to dazzle!

  

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"Crushing It"

Happy Friday everyone! I'm thankful we had Monday off for Columbus Day, so this week really seemed to fly by.

I wanted to share this inspiring book I'm currently reading called Crush It! by Gary Vaynerchuk.  I received a copy of the book at a seminar my company put on recently and have been reading it intermittently since. The title refers to the author's idea that anyone can take their passion and make money using social media networks (i.e. Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, blogging, etc.). His main idea is that social media outlets help an individual build a personal brand. This book contains valuable information on how the Internet is changing people's everyday interactions with one another and how virtually anyone can use social media to start a business and expand their brand.

Vaynerchuk goes into great detail using his own successful company, Wine Library TV as an example. Basically, he took his knowledge and love of wine to YouTube and started stating his opinion to the public. Love him or hate him, people were tuning in and subscribing to his channel. From there, he built a platform for himself in the online business world and started making money talking about wine. Who wouldn't like getting paid for that?

As I've stated in a previous post, I would love to make a decent living as a writer. The author has a section discussing journalists and how they can use social media platforms to jump start their careers making considerably more money than what the usual poorly-paid journalist currently brings in. Of course this immediately sparked my attention and got me thinking how I can use the Internet to make my dream a reality.

I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a change in their life and who wants to make a living doing what they love most. I liked the fact that the book is a quick read and the concepts are easy to grasp. It was definitely written to appeal to the average Joe. You can pick this book up at Amazon.com or local retail bookstore such as Borders. Here's to "crushing it!"

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