SORRY

i have been AWOL. i know. this may last for the time being, or maybe forever. but if i continue to not feel like writing anything of interest and if you for some reason find my life enthralling and must know what's going on, you can find me on:

TUMBLR

INSTAGRAM



... all under the same moniker as my blogspot!

changes

let's see, what has gone on since my last cryptic post?

1. after quite a bit of fake agonizing over not pouncing on the purchase of a Coachella ticket early on (as they had sold out a mere week or so after their release) due to the fact that I had just lost my job around that time... I started my internal debate on whether I should shell out a few $100s to actually go, as 20 or so of my closest friends including our beloved Aussies were going and I would be the only one stuck moping at home. then started the true agonizing. see, the first bit was for the benefit of my friends bc I was really set on saving my money as I didn't really have any coming in. I also didn't think much about the value of an experience vs. the value of a bit of money I could earn back later. then it hit me as the dates grew nearer and I got more and more serious about my ticket search (read: desperate) and ended up finding one with g's childhood best friend. I was ecstatic, and eternally grateful. we left on a thursday, came back on a monday. it was rough out in the desert, but more than worth the week's worth of outer and inner physical recovery afterwards. also, a bit of advice: don't overdo it with face sunscreen - the sweat and heat will wreck your skin... take it from me, the 23 yr old who had to take an oatmeal bath after that camping experience...

2. I GOT THE JOB (with the company that sells all those products starting with "i")* THAT I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR FOR NEARLY FOUR MONTHS! and hardly talked about for fear of jinxing things... seriously.

I am welcoming the old, sassy working me back with open arms. I really don't fare well without a job and responsibilities. unless of course, I didn't HAVE to work, but that would be a completely different story... I think.

final note: *I find this necessary in case of google searches. for whatever reason, I find it really important to stay a little secretive...

Listen, ladies... If you are legally single, as in you may or may not have a significant other but are NOT married, the following things will ultimately place you into the "you might be crazy if..." category:

1. You announce to the world, while potentially hinting to your SO, via the Internet* that you want a baby.
2. You announce to the world, while potentially hinting to your SO, via the Internet* that you want an engagement ring.
3. You announce to the world, while potentially hinting to your SO, via the Internet* any kind of commitment issue you are currently dealing with on his end.

*the Internet is merely a replacement for any public mode of conversation that is not generally private. Because let's be honest - no one needs to know your couples' issues or your unhappiness with your situation but the two of you, and maybe your closest girlfriend. It's passive-aggressive, immature and... Crazy.

you know what's kind of unsettling? when you reach a certain age and realize that all the jokes you made are now becoming real life. case in point: it has come to my attention that about half of my friends from elementary and middle school are married, expecting or already toting around mini-mes. and these are the normal, well-adjusted ones (as huntington beach was not - and is still not - known for teenage pregnancies and the like; however, it is now becoming more well-known for other more unfortunate and disappointing things such as DUI arrests and the bro-infestation but that's another blog post I will probably forget to write about!). now, I'm being 100% impartial and not at all envious or piney as some women may be, as I am not at all ready for the stress case I will surely become when I have to start Planning, but man. it's kind of unnerving to realize a quarter of a century is creeping up and grips of people you know have already grown up and blown right past you! and by that, what I really mean is: it's scary to think my "wild" days may be closer to an end than I think...

*please note: this post does not apply to my lds friends, as about 85% have tied the knot and your data would surely skew the numbers. although, on second note, I hardly knew any before 2008 so disregard this whole section!

gadget-obsessed

when i get an idea about something, it sticks. the more i think about it, the further it sinks into my subconscious. now, i may be a shopaholic and i love clothes-shopping as much as the next woman (maybe even more so!) but when it comes to technology, i need it. it doesn't just make me happy, it fills a void in which can only be filled by backlit LED toys with touch screens and multi-function gadgetry. and it all started when i was very young... my dad always decked us out, and while my mother could care less, i was always thrilled to have a great sound system at my fingertips and a nice TV to watch my movies with. as i got older, it branched out into a desktop that i begged for, a laptop i saved for, multiple ipods, cell phones, gaming systems and now, AN iPAD!!!



i am in love. i am obsessed. i am on it as many hours as the day allows. in fact, I'm using it to type up this post! and i went on a bit of a journey to get one, which probably only strengthened our bond. i'll spare you the details as the story gets long and wordy, but basically it consisted of weeks and weeks (closer to months) of serious deliberating, calculating, planning, scouring the amex points mall for a deal, religiously checking the apple store to check stock of refurbished models, using said amex points for an apple gift card essentially for no reason, scouring craigslist to no reply and to no avail, driving 30+ miles to the only verizon store that had a first generation 16gb model for $299 (it was a short-lived fire sale) in stock and having them deny me, then sucking it up and buying the 32gb model for $100 more at the verizon store 2 miles from my house. worth it? hell yes. does anyone care? no, it's far too nerdy.

anticipation.

it feels like a ball in my throat. a few things have changed recently that make it feel like the ball is starting to get rolling again. like i'm finally able to fast walk, maybe jog towards our destination. i'm not entirely sure, but i think it's possible that we may be able to get unstuck. i sure hope so.

yes, this is cryptic, but unfortunately, i am a believer of jinxing things (as i seem to be the person that does it most often, which makes it hard to believe otherwise) and will partially disclose whatever it is i'm talking about later.

on a brighter note, sanrio donated 100% of its proceeds to the red cross for japan relief on thursday and what did i buy?



hello kitty yahtzee. i've never played the game and gary has made fun of me numerous times for it so what better way to make him want to eat his words than to make him teach me how to play using large dice with sanrio characters on it?

don't mind me!

this is supposed to be my year... so why does it feel like 2010 all over again? i'm lacking inspiration, motivation and all kinds of optimism. the job search has been so hard - both the act of it and the mental effects. not being able to make money to save for my future, and in turn delaying the inevitable and desirable, is so saddening. it makes me wonder - where is all the positivity and good fortune and blessings? and this weather sure isn't helping! ...wait... i do live in orange county, right?

i just want my good life back!

shopping for charity

there are a few ways, as i'm sure you already know, that you can donate money to help with the japan earthquake/tsunami devastation. you can donate via texting 90999, livingsocial (where they matched your $5 donation and would do so up to $1 million) and now there's another way:



until 11:59pm tonight, assuming it is EST bc i have not noticed any specifications, 100% of forever 21's proceeds will go to relief efforts in japan. as i've said before on other media sources, if you're going to shop there, you might as well make today the day. i can't imagine a better time to shop whether you have to, need to or just want to - especially if it is going to a cause much greater than most of our daily goings on.

there is something wrong with women

it's kind of like inception. plant an idea and watch it grow on its own, maybe wilder and wilder than you intended. sometimes, it spins out of control and neither you nor the subject can control it.

wellll, this analogy can be used to describe this hypothetically hypothetical situation i hold in my hands. tell a woman you intend to marry her, she will dream of the future. tell a woman you are saving to marry her, she will dream of when it will come. tell a woman you want to know more about the "tools" of which you will marry her with, and SHE WILL NOT STOP GOOGLING.

it seems most women have the inherent incapability to "keep it in their pants," so to speak, when it comes to diamonds, rings, settings, etc... while some women just don't care. i have yet to meet that woman, bc even the most independent of them want them either for themselves or just bc they are sparkly.

in the end, i come to only one conclusion: this needs to stop. I CANNOT LIVE LIKE THIS FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS TO A YEAR. i know nothing about customs or traditions (strangely enough) and had no idea i even had an option to choose... i always imagined there would be a great element of surprise and that i would hopefully not end up having a carrie moment like when she found her ring in aiden's duffle bag and proceeded to projectile vomit. horrible. that was a sex and the city reference btw, and i apologize for the dreamy images juxtaposed against one of a retching pea green color. yikes.

shows how much i know. it's a very strange feeling, dipping your toes into a land full of unknowns. i like to think i'm a bit of a know-it-all and this is where i fall flat... on my face. "enough with the quips, already!" i hear ya. i must run myself out the door and start a thing called "exercising"... i know, it's foreign to me, too.

a few hours ago, i made the mistake of drinking green tea and now cannot sleep even if i tried. except i haven't, so...

in the late night/early morning blog updating haze, i completely forgot a few big things that happened in february.

first, my friend barry's birthday was celebrated in good form in vegas! the only way we know how to do it. our party of 12 (we roll deep) stayed at the vdara, and walked + ran approximately 10 miles all weekend to get from hotel to hotel, within hotels. sometimes in heels. clearly a great idea, every time. we experienced marquee for the first time, and let me tell you: LED walls are just as incredible as they sound, and watching their dancers is like watching a free burlesque show. not to be equated to the movie "burlesque," this generation's "glitter" and the shortened trailer of which i have seen about 20 times thanks to hulu plus. i apologize if that sentence did not make sense bc i have reread it about 10 times and can't understand why it doesn't sound right. it's clearly time for bed. but not before this upcoming bombshell!

secondly, I DYED MY HAIR FOR THE FIRST TIME. actually, my new hair stylist dyed it and it was only an all-over partial foil (highlights), but it's obvious enough that my good friends had to question their memory and attention to our friendship before asking if i had gotten my hair done. 23 years of virgin hair! waved goodbye at an aveda salon near me (hue in hb). i don't regret it for one second, though. they give the most killer scalp massages with every appointment...

the moral of the story is, i experienced much personal growth during that last week, if only when it comes to who touches/cuts/colors my hair bc it will eventually just grow back. thankfully, it turned out very nicely. come to think of it, i might have to use that last bit in a yelp review...

it is so hard for me to keep up with blogging, though i have nothing but time on my hands (it seems)! that might actually be the root of the problem, as with so much free time, you tend to let it slip away bc you don't have a real sense of time...

in martha stewart's words, february was a good thing. esp. valentine's day, which is a first bc i have never celebrated the holiday in the traditionally materialistic (but symbolic, right?) fashion. flowers were delivered to my door early one morning (around 9am) and intercepted by my mother, who grilled the delivery man as to who they were sent by when she saw there was no name, later telling me "you never know what kind of scam they're running these days... you don't want to fall into a trap." then she asked me who they were from and I could only react by rolling my eyes and asking, "how many boyfriends do you think i have?"; i made a few heartfelt crafts G said he cherished bc no one had ever made him any art; i took him out to ruth's chris for a man's meal (which is my favorite kind); and he surprised me with... a future stay at la costa spa resort in carlsbad! it was all very shocking, as i'm not sure if the man has a romantic bone in his body, but the thought he put into this fabricated holiday was incredibly sweet.

now, if only i could sleep, it would prevent me from blogging further about nothing...

love desserts.

via weheartithappy valentine's day! to the singles: be your own valentine and you will never be disappointed. to those with lovers: expect only love, today and everyday. also, maybe some sweet heart-shaped sweets.

how to spend your (my) savings

quick and easy.

just like how valentine's day should go. a lot of pressure can turn a silly hallmark holiday into a big disappointment. so, make this! simple.


via designsponge

find the how-to here.

if only...

BREAKING NEWS. for fear of falling in love with unattainable items (which is something i do quite often as it turns out), i have never immersed myself in the depths that is david yurman jewelry. tonight, i broke my fast and found out that there is something for every budget.

i say, forget tiffany's (forgive me... i know not what i'm saying right now). forget van cleef & arpels (i'm really digging myself a hole here). forget cartier (and now i'm underground). sidebar: you could never forget harry winston - can't even utter the words - so i won't go there. but it has been done; david yurman has won me over. in fact, i'm mentally saving for a few rings as we speak.



from left to right, up and down: $75, $325, $595, $790, $975, $1400, $2200, $5900

and funny enough, the first 2 are my favorites, with the onyx to die for. however, the wheaton ($2200) is my dream right hand ring, and also one of my favorite dog breeds.

i'm all over the place. i know.

Super Bowl Sunday

While getting ready before heading out to our friends R+A's house to spend SBS, I had what I thought was a really amusing idea. Definitely something different, and maybe something the man would be interested in. It would be a wager on who would win the big game, and the stakes? Valentine's Day. Yep, you read right. Instead of going right for his wallet, I was willing to bet on the Steelers getting the ring (like I really cared) and that would determine whether we celebrate the trite holiday. I win, we do. He wins, we don't. Now, I'm glad this was never officiated because I would have been out a holiday, many of which I get pretty animated about and hate to miss. Feb. 14 included, despite how little I really care for it. But in the end, it turns out that G wouldn't have agreed to the terms anyway. Good sign of a good man. So all in all, I suppose V-Day lives on this year. Can't tell if I'm happy or disappointed... I'm a very backwards woman sometimes.

who's MIA? not me.

back but doubt it is for long. not much has changed except: 1, i no longer work for the people i couldn't stand (long story i'd rather not go into), 2, which means yes, i am newly unemployed, and 3, i hold a greatly renewed interest in fashion. i'm talking eat-sleep-breathe kind of energy (because i have that much free time). will i ever direct my focus and blog on it? honestly? probably not, because it takes a considerable amount of time and i can't seem to focus on this thing for too long anyway.

with that, here is a quick synopsis of my current obsessions:

1
real simple magazine

2
via SOLESTRUCK
foxy wood by jeffrey campbell (as with most JC, it's just a restocking waiting game...)

3 allsaints leathers. their 70% off sale killed me to know that sizes sold out months before, and i will never be able to get my hands on the STANTON...

4 valentine's day crafts. love it/hate it, depends on the day. post more on this later.

5 chinese new year. again, more on this later. happy year of the rabbit! and good riddance to that awful tiger.

6 and last but not least, RUMI NEELY. i'm obviously terribly behind on all things music and fashion via blogs, as my previous job kept me from having time for my old life (spending hours "educating" myself on the topics of my choice...) but as it turns out, this gorgeous fashion icon of her own making is the much more focused, expanded and dreamy version of my own blurred vision. my style has always been all over the place, while slightly refined over the years, but in the back of my mind, i've always had this idea, this image of something more free than the confines of structured and overproduced clothing. literally and figuratively! for the past few years, i've begun to lean more towards loose and flowy silhouettes, even when G vocalizes his neutrality (psych) on it all. she makes me think, WWRD? what would rumi do? lame, maybe. but she is my current inspiration. and where i am at currently in my life, confused and stagnant, i think that's a pretty big deal.

until next time, whenever that time may be,
L