Oh happy day

Despite — or maybe due to — the fact that I’ve been insanely, mind-bogglingly busy at work over the past two or so weeks, I’ve found myself in even a better mood than normal lately. I have a number of suspicions why that is, and frankly I’m not ready to share them yet (give me time!), but the general good mood has me wanting to share the smiles.

So if you’re having a bummer day, or maybe you just need a little pick-me-up, I’ve compiled five things that should make your day a little brighter:

One: This dress. The color combo and cuteness factor just makes me grin.

Two: The Hunger Games is out. Now, I’ve never read the book and know nothing about the story aside from the basics: Utopian world, children competing (to the death?) for … funsies? And yet, for some reason, I’m beyond excited to see the movie.

Three: WINTER IS HERE!!!! (You get a million gold stars if you understood the reference before I explain … now.) About six months ago, I marked in my planner when season two of “Game of Thrones” would start … And that date? Is SUNDAY. “Winter is coming” was kind of a mantra for the show throughout its first season. No more waaaaaaiting!

Four: Sticking with the big and small screen happies: This.

These movies became popular when I was in high school, and for me, they represent the start of my favorite genre of movie: the raunchy comedy with a heart of gold.

Now, allow me to highlight the introductory conversation to what I’m anticipating as the greatest hookup ever:

Jim’s dad: Who’re you?

Stilfer’s mom: Stifler’s mom

Jim’s dad: Oh! … I’m Jim’s dad.

Five: I just bought a necklace I’ve wanted for ages.

Naturally, you’re thinking, “Why should it make me happy that you bought a necklace?” Well, my friend, it’s because today’s the last day to use coupon code “spring” in the beautiful little shop from whence Bamboo Italy was born, tru.che. I found out about the sale from tru.che’s Facebook page. Be a fan.

Your turn: What’s making you smile today?

My purse, my purse, yay my purse!!

I recently blogged the obituary to my favoritest purse on the planet, the brown fake leather hobo bag.

Yesterday? It got replaced — by the bestest purse everrrrrr. The key wasn’t in the “hobo” so much as in the “slouchy.” I found it at Kohl’s, and it’s a Daisy Fuentes bag in fall colors … but it’s a spring bag. Whatever, it’s amazing, in this orange,beige and white zig-zag pattern. It’s the most I’ve ever spent on a bag, even with the sale price and my 30 percent off.

And ya know what? Worth every penny.

It has a magnetic close and little zippers at either side. It is, in a word, magical.

If you want your own, I found it here, also available in white.

 

In which I am a grumpy pants (or, I couldn’t be a pessimist if I tried)

I am feeling very negative today. It’s not negative in that way that ruins your entire day, but more in that way that has you poking fun at things or rolling your eyes a bit too much. I don’t feel upset or angry. I’m just noticing things that I find annoying or icky or, as I shall call it, “grumping.” (Not to be confused with “bitching,” which is most certainly accompanied by negative feelings and a ruined day.)

I try to keep this a positive space, but I’m gonna give myself a pass today. Sometimes, a gal needs a pass.

(I’m linking up with Shell over at Pour Your Heart Out.) (Even though the link up doesn’t start until Tuesday.)

Reason to grump No. 1: I’m SO FREAKING CLOSE to 500 sales. I feel like I rush, rush, rushed up to that number, and the final few are being elusive little bastards. (Update: Um, scratch that. I scheduled this to post at 6 p.m., and by the time I walked in my apartment a half hour later, I had three more sales. Wheeeeee 501!!!)

It’s a stupid reason to grump because first, as I type this, I went from three sales away to two; and second, I never ever ever thought I’d get to 100 sales, let alone 500. As Mr. McCartney would say, Baby, I’m amazed.)

The 498th sale.

Reason to grump No. 2: I was just perusing an online shop (not an Etsy one) and found a ridiculously fabulous skirt. I hate buying clothes online because I’m an 8/10 that can range from small to extra large, depending on the brand/style of clothing. But this was a flowy skirt that, as long as the waist fit, the rest would fit. The item came with measurements, and I found that the large included a 29-inch waist. Come again?

Now, I’m by no means a dainty gal — there is quite a bit of junk in this trunk — but since I was in junior high, I’ve had a small waist. It’s not nearly as small as it was even four years ago, but still. Tiny. There is no way on God’s great earth I could wear a skirt with a 29-inch waist without muffin topping all over that bad boy. Tell me, on what planet is a 29-inch waist large?

It’s a stupid reason to grump because that’s why there are a million and one choices out there. Clearly, this is a bad choice for me.

This is the only kind of skirt where a 29-inch waist should be considered a large. (Also: Heeeee, tubby thighs!!!)

Reason to grump No. 3: I’m confused by all the chambray love going on in the blog world. I look at a chambray shirt and see jeans for your chest. (For the uninitiated: Chambray is a material that is lightweight and yet looks suspiciously like denim.) Despite all the women who blog their chambray love being generally well-dressed and adorable, I’m still seeing this strange trend crop up, oh, everywhere. And despite the fact that I know these bloggers to have great taste, these bizarre shirts are often ill-fitting and unattractive.

Oh sure, I wear ugly things. I have this Donald Duck sundress that’s ridiculous that I absolutely love. I wear the crap out of it in summer, over bathing suits and on days when I’m playing bridesmaid (because of the way it ties, I can get my hair did and remove the dress without messing anything up … and yes, I’ve played bridesmaid enough in the past two years to have a designated “before the bridesmaid” dress ). But I would never put the sundress on and take pictures of myself telling you that this is something fashionable you could try.

It’s a stupid reason to grump because different strokes, Jac. Different strokes.

Now he could get away with wearing chambray.

Reason to grump No. 4: My phone at work is possessed. Twice last week, I miraculously received a voice mail without the phone ever ringing. And twice today, over the course of 10 minutes, it happened again. I had my coworker call me, and I watched her dial and watched my phone stay silent and un-lit-up. So I called IT. An IT fellow came over, looked at my phone, pulled out his cell phone and called me. Of course (we all know where this is going), my phone rang. It’s been silent since then. I have no idea if I’m missing calls. Kind of important for a reporter who waits for sources to call her back.

It’s a stupid reason to grump because screw that, it’s a totally legit reason to grump.

What things have you grumping lately?

Green is my new fav

I dig green, especially that shade that’s the color of really fresh grass — kind of the shade of green the Crayola crayon is. When I left my sunglasses in the bar in Mexico, I bought new green Wayfarers, and they rock the casbaugh.

We were told to be sexy. I can't do sexy (obviously). And yes, that's free champagne at noon as we waited for the taxi to come. (The bride in the middle was seeing us off -- after everyone left, she and her husband got to have an actual honeymoon.) All-inclusive resorts are pretty much amazing.

Anyway, that’s the shade of green of awesome.

On my giveaway post up at My Girl Thursday (which ends today, if you haven’t entered!), someone commented that her fav item from my shop was this:

Because, “That color was just on Today fashion as the perfect green to match everything.” Well that’s kind of awesome! I wasn’t able to find the story, but I did find this pretty rad green slideshow from Redbook.

Here are some of my favorite green goodies (click on any of the images for more):

I’ve just decided I need to get more grass green in the shop, though I do think I have some awesome emerald and mint goodies: vintage earrings, the green cameo locket, the extra long sage wicker necklace and this Y-necklace with bold emerald green beads,

Which green treats are your fav?

Thanks J-Bon. Great ideas.

Earlier last month (as in FEBRUARY, because it’s finally MARCH … you know for the two boringest months ever, January and February went dang fast), I had a little “Man I haven’t been blogging much, I’m so uninspired” pity party.

A friend and former coworker had a comment that I keep going back to and thinking about.

Sista J (That’s me … I think it’s a name we came up with on Twitter?) – I feel the pain of boringness. If anything just write. Tell me why you picked the socks you wore today. Why did you drive a different route to work. Explain to me your jiggy dance.

Why do you want blue M&M’s banished and replaced by plaid?

These are subjects I wonder what my friend thinks about.

From a writer and friend who is weighted down with bp but still enjoys life and writing even 50 words in blog form five times a week.

I like the random-like nature of his requests, and I’m going to answer each and every one of them. When little is inspiring, this is a pretty great way to find material.

Tell me why you picked the socks you wore today. Today, I’m in slate gray tights. I’m wearing them because I have a dress on that is striped and obnoxiously bright. It is: navy, slate gray (matching the tights), macaroni and cheese orange, bright red orange, a deep magenta, pale pale pink and royal blue. It sounds like it should be a mess, but somehow, the H&M dress I picked up a few years ago totally works. It’s a super odd length through — past my knees and way above my ankles — and I usually wear it with strappy sandals. Today, it’s the tights and a pair of black leather pumps.

By the way, I totally found a pic of it. Here we go:

It looks awesome with this pair of strappy heeled sandals I have that are mainly plum, but the cross straps are lime green, orange and something else. What kind of shoes would you wear with such a crazy dress???

Why did you drive a different route to work? I am boring and drive the exact same way to work every day. If I switch it up, it’s because there’s this red light on Main Street that makes me want to spit on it. It breaks up traffic, but there’s no need to break up traffic.

Explain to me your jiggy dance. Oh, so many jiggy dances to explain. There’s the Happy Food Dance, which involves bouncing my shoulders up and down and moving side-to-side when something especially delicious is placed in front of me. There’s the weird cartoon bird dance I do at the beau more than I should. I keep it up because it makes him laugh oh-so hard, and that sound makes my heart happier than Stephen King, Donald Duck and Italy combined.

Why do you want blue M&M’s banished and replaced by plaid? I don’t think blue M&Ms should be banished, per se, but if there were plaid M&Ms, wouldn’t that character in the commercial be great?? I think it’d be a little like SNL’s Stefon, my favorite SNL character since Mary Katherine Gallagher.

Thanks, J-Bon. These were great. (To anyone else who has similar burning questions, drop them off in the comments for a future post. I dig!)

My first Birchbox: I dig!

I totally forgot to mention when I first posted this that through the money you spend and people you get to joint, you accrue points. When you hit 100 points, you get $10 to spend in the shop. So if you sign up because of me, pretty please use this link!

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I first heard about Birchbox by the lovely Tara over at Fabulous But Evil. About a day later, Kate told me about it over at Suburban Sweetheart.

In case you’ve missed it, Birchbox is a beauty company that will send you a box of sample-size treats for $10 a month. You get well over $10 worth of goodies, and if something tickles your fancy, you can get back on the Birchbox website and order the full size. It’s about the best way I’ve seen to try those higher-end products you’d hate to blow $30 on and end up hating.

Birchbox has you fill out a survey about your tastes and tones and complexion to try and customize each box for each beauty.

To give you an idea, here is what my February Birchbox held for me, in the order that I tried them:

Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Serum – I’ve had acne since I was in the second grade, and I’ve tried a lot of skin clearing treatments to various success. I’d never heard of Juice, which retails for $29 for the full-size, and was excited to try it. After four or five uses, the giant tumor on my cheek did not go down. It didn’t get larger or redder, which is important, but it did not go away, either. Juice boasts salicylic acid, which you can find much cheaper in Biore or Neutrogena. And frankly, I’ve seen my acne react much better in recent years to benzoyl peroxide.

Juicy Coture Viva La Juicy perfume – A very unusual scent, mixing sweet and musky. I kind of like it, but I’m not sure I’d splurge on the $69 to $89 full-size. The descriptor card tells me the fragrance has top notes of wild berries and mandarin, middle notes of  honeysuckle, gardenia and jasmine and base notes of amber, caramel, vanilla, sandalwood and praline.

Benta Berry G-1 Moisturizing Face Cream — This is a French skincare line that is new to the States. The descriptor tells me the product is all-natural and regulates oil levels, keeping the skin matte. I’ve used this about three times, and by the end of the day, I’ve definitely seen less shine each time. I really dig this and, at $22 for a full bottle, may make a purchase. It goes on oh-so lightly — the cream actually feels soft somehow — and the light smell is lovely.

Eye Rock Designer Liner — These are what can only be described as stickers to place at your top lash line in lieu of liner. They come in different thicknesses and designs. I have not tried them yet, as I’ve not seen it fit to wear them to work, but I’m insanely excited to give them a whirl. I love playing with makeup, and I’ve never seen anything like these before. These retail $13 for two packs of four. Might be worth it.

Chuao Chocolatier Spicy Maya ChocoPod — I’ve not tried this yet, mainly because I’ve kept my Birchbox in the bathroom and never think to eat chocolate when I’m at the sink. My guess is that it will rock, as I adore chile and cayenne peppers in my dark chocolate. (I suppose I could try it as I type this, but it’s 10:21 p.m., and I’m trying to not have anything but water after 8 p.m. For two days, I’ve done quite well.) A full-size bar of this runs $6.

As an added treat, Birchbox sent me six free tunes from Green River Ordinance, an indie rock band. Have I heard of them? No. Do I dig them? Oh yes. Listen for yourself:

Anyone else get the February Birchbox? Which treats did you like best?