The Snooze (and Shopping Hiatus)

You Snooze, You Lose

That couldn't be more true. Some of you commented on the last post that hitting the snooze is a bad habit from which you suffer as well. Glad to hear I'm not alone! The longer I work, the more I hit snooze. It's bad. (It also doesn't help that the Blackberry alarm's first option is "Snooze for 5 min.") And I am 100% totally and completely convinced that the more you snooze, the more you lose. In other words, not waking up immediately after the first alarm blares means more difficulty getting up when you actually decide that you cannot call in sick and spend the day dreaming away.

I typically find myself in one of 2 scenarios:

1. Alarm blares. I can't bear the thought of getting out of my warm and comfy bed because I didn't get enough sleep last night (probably b/c I was up way too late watching Netflix episodes of Law & Order: SVU). Lola is adorably snuggled up against me. Snooze at least 3 times before getting up.

2. Alarm blares. I can't bear the thought of getting out of my warm and comfy bed because I've been having a great night of sleep, at least 8 hours, and I want more more more. I am, no doubt, in the middle of one of those deep, vivid and pleasant dreams. Each time I hit snooze and shut my eyes once more, I am immediately transported back to my dream. Sleep is so good. Snooze at least 3 times before getting up.

Both scenarios suck. The moral of the story? Don't hit snooze. It's bad news. Every article and blog post I've read about "becoming an early riser" says to set your alarm every day for the exact same time and to stretch and spring out of bed immediately after the alarm goes off. The first time.

Admittedly, I did not follow this rule this morning. I could not, for the life of me, fall asleep last night despite being in bed by 10. I knew I had to be at work before 8 a.m. today (that's REALLY early for moi) so I knew I needed lots of sleep. I didn't get it. I tossed and turned until 2 a.m., and even when I heard the alarm go off, I knew I had yet to fall into a deep reverie. I hit snooze twice.

So, from now on, there's a new policy in my house. Absolutely NO SNOOZIN'. Who's with me??

Shopping Hiatus (Attempt Deux)




Remember last year when I implemented a self-imposed shopping ban for a month and failed miserably? Yeah. This time we're doing things differently. Following suit from Joslyn's shopping hiatuses, I'm going to attempt to not buy extraneous and unnecessary items, but if I do mess up (and inevitably I will), I will come clean on the blog and move on. That way, there's no guilt or pressure but I'm still held accountable. Sound good?

California, cont.

Saturday

Saturday of last weekend was devoted to my two loves: shopping and eating. After yanking Ma Soeur outta bed (she usually sleeps till 2 p.m. on weekends!) and a quick breakfast, we headed to Valley Fair Mall, a giant mall in San Jose that is always packed. I must confess, i'm not a huge mall person anymore and much prefer to do my shopping at individual boutiques or outdoor shopping centers. But while Ma Soeur and Bro were at Macy's, i headed over to the giant Forever21 to see if i could score any goodies. And i did! They had a big selection of F21's other lines, and i was especially a fan of Twelve by Twelve. Got this adorable skirt (which looks way better in person, i have to say) and a couple of fun necklaces, all for a great price! J'adore the good things F21 is doing these days!!

After the mall, we went to another outlet mall in Millpedes (sp??), and wow, it was GHETTO. After quickly perusing H&M and Neiman's Last Call, we hightailed it outta there! Made a quick stop at Ma Soeur's fave consignment store, and then headed home to get ready for our fun night out at Santana Row. My Pour La Victoire's made their first appearance!

{I'm wearing Anthro top, AA leggings, PLV shoes and Hayden Harnett bag. Ma Soeur's wearing Old Navy dress and Zara shoes.}

Santana Row is a GORGEOUS, upscale outdoor shopping mall in San Jose. If you're familiar with Austin, it's what The Domain should have been had it been done right (boo so disappointing). I love Santana Row and make it a point to go every time i visit the Bay Area. Beautiful shops, great restaurants, fun ambiance, and pretty people. :)

Our first stop was Kara's Cupcakes! We picked up a few to-go for our post-dinner treat.

(Note: the cupcakes weren't bad - i got chocolate with cream cheese-coconut frosting. The cake was good and moist, but the cream cheese frosting was way too sweet.)

Then i hit up H&M (again) for some more shopping, and after waiting in line for 25 minutes (my PLV-clad feet were not happy), i scored a Matthew Williamson for H&M belt (the hot pink studded one!), linen shorts, a rad printed tulip skirt, and a seafoam green top. Success! Last stop before dinner was Paper Source, my FAVE paper store ever that has finally opened a TX location in Dallas (but it's disappointingly small). The BEST Paper Source is in Georgetown - sooo jelly of you DC-ers!! You have Tranquil Space AND Paper Source! Anyway picked up couple of goodies, including a pink notepad with the words "Do Something Creative Everyday" written on the top. Love!

Finally we went to Pizza Antica for dinner for some of the best thin crust pizza i've had in awhile. I had this tall glass of goodness:



For an appetizer we got crispy hearts of artichoke with aioli and lemon and a delectable warm early asparagus salad with lemon, mt. tam triple cream cheese toast (INSANELY GOOD) and speck.




For pizzas, we ordered the three cheeses, shaved broccoli, caramelized onion and pancetta and the spicy calabrese sausage, onions, peppers and parsley. Both were good, but i preferred the spicy calabrese sausage one b/c i LOVE sausage (i know i know) and it had such a great KICK!


After that massive dinner, we decided to digest by walking to Borders where i picked up SARK's Make Your Creative Dreams Real for 40% off avec coupon :). Needless to say, after all that walking and standing, my feet were pooped. But didn't my yellow toes (Chanel's L.A. Sunrise) look fabulous w/ my PLV's??

I might be breakin' out these babies again for this weekend's festivities :)

Are You A Shopaholic?

From Secrets of Simplicity (which i am FINALLY getting around to reading):

"The questions below will help you recognize the signs of an unhealthy shopping habit that may be around you and help you to release.

1. Is most of your free time spent either purchasing or returning items?

2. Do you use shopping to change your mood? [Ok seriously, what girl doesn't?]

3. Do you have a junk room, junk drawer, or storage unit that has unknown contents?

4. Do you hate to wear things twice for fear that someone will notice?

5. Has your credit card debt become excessive?

6. Do you hide your shopping habit from loved ones and friends?

7. Would you be embarassed to ask for help to curb your shopping habit?

8. Do you avoid inviting people to your home because of your accumulation of purchases?

9. Is shopping one of your top five favorite things to do? [DUH]

10. Is reorganizing a weekly ritual for you?"


Now - the most important question of all. How many "yes" 's = unhealthy habit??

Pet Peeves/Weekend Plans/Etc.

I've been doing some doc review at work (sounds boring, but it's an easy breezy way to get some hours!), and i'm appalled, APPALLED, by some of the spelling/grammatical errors. Not that i'm not guilty of making some mistakes myself (hello, Manhatten? bah still kills me!), but people, COME ON. Some of my pet peeves...

1. Your vs. You're
2. Affect vs. Effect
3. Using " 's " to denote plural instead of possessive.
4. Misspelling "definitely"
5. Misspelling anything you should have learned how to spell in grade school.

My friend S works at a big time law firm in NYC and shares my sentiment when it comes to these types of errors. She emailed me the other day to say she was doing some doc review and came across an email between 2 lawyers that said something along the lines of, "That's what we must due." I mean... REALLY??

Okay enough of that. If I've offended you, i am truly sorry. My bestie is a self-proclaimed awful speller, but at least she utilizes this little thing called spell check. As for the other issues (aka #1-3 above), well, i just don't know what to say...

Speaking of my bestie, i am beyond excited that we will be spending a delicious 2 days of uninterrupted gabbing/drinking/laying-out/eating/having FUN together this weekend. We've been planning to get out to Galveston (the nearest "beach" around, if you can even call it that) for awhile now because her parents have a lovely (and by lovely, i mean HELLA NICE) bay house there. It'll be my first visit, and i can't wait. I just need a GET-AWAY, ya know? And since i can't exactly hop on a plane to Miami, Hawaii, or let's say, the South of France, this will have to "due". ;-)

In other news, i'm dying a little bit because i learned about the Rebecca Minkoff Sample Sale being held in NY, L.A., SF, and NOT Austin. :-( I've been longing for a Rebecca Minkoff "Morning After" bag for ages now, but clearly can not/should not be spending that kind of cash on a bag.

Am also lusting after the Foley + Corinna Mid City Tote in this gorgeous, blingtastic GOLD:



There was a GILT sale on F+C this morning, but of course, everything worth buying was snatched up by 11:01 a.m. (sale started at 11 CST). That's really starting to get on my nerves... And don't even get me started on missing the R.M. GILT sale awhile back. Was during my "spending hiatus".

All that being said, my wallet is most certainly pleased with my lack of online sample sale shopping. The sad reality is that with all my student loans becoming due and other annoying necessary expenses (like rent), i don't have much play money left at all. To say i'm a Bitter Betty would be an understatement - I'm pissed. 3 years of painful law school just to have thousands of dollars a month going to pay off my law school loans?? No, thank you. No wonder young attorneys feel trapped. This morning I calculated what kind of salary i'm "really" making (i.e. after paying monthly student loan bills), and it came out to be almost $30k less. Le sigh. One of my fave new blogs, Brunette On A Budget, just blogged about happiness versus big salary. Very interesting and something worth reading. I haven't figured out my answer yet... have you?

P.S. I realize the above paragraph makes me sound spoiled and ungrateful and for that, i apologize. I'm lucky to work at a law firm in Austin - tis not an easy job to get, and mine sort of fell into my lap. So please excuse my brattiness for this one post. Merci!

Earth Day Sale!

Bonjour, mes amies!! I apologize for the lack of posting (as the darling Sarah pointed out, hehe) but this week has been insanely busy. A couple things though...



1. Today is EARTH DAY so make a plan to reduce your carbon footprint NOW!



2. Today is also Staff Appreciation Day so be sure to take the time to thank your staff for being so wonderful. I baked cupcakes (chocolate with cream cheese frosting and vanilla with fresh strawberry frosting) last night for the staff in my office, and they are thrilled. :-)



3. In honor of Earth Day, the incredible Kimberly Wilson is offering a 15% discount on her incredible line of sustainable, bamboo lounge/yoga wear TranquiliT with the code: EARTH. This line is fantastic, and the spring colors are gorgeous!! I ordered the hoodie and savasana throw in peony - the best pink EVER. Happy Shopping!

AA Jersey Pocket Skirt

Remember this American Apparel skirt that everyone knows and loves?



Well. I'm happy to report that your local Tarjay carries a Mossimo look-alike for one-third the price. That's right - $10! And it's just as comfy, soft, and sweet. I picked one up in red yesterday and am fighting the urge to go back and get one in every other color as well. (i think it also comes in white, black, turquoise, and heather gray). Unfortunately i couldn't find it online, but it's pretty new so find thee a Tarjay pronto!!

Online Sample Sales...

are the DEVIL.

That being said, they are fabulous, and if you'd like an invite to Rue La La, Ideeli, or Gilt Group, just leave a comment with your email address! One of my dear readers sent me an email asking for an invite to Gilt, and i thought, DUH, i talk about these sites all the time and have never offered an invite. So if you'd like one, just let me know!

Happy online shopping :-) :-)

04.02.09

It's a good thing i'm (1) on a shopping hiatus and (2) in Austin b/c otherwise i'd be here on April 2 spending all KINDS of dough.

P.S. What i miss most about living in London? Afternoon tea @ The Connaught and TOPSHOP!

My Last Supper

1. "Robin" nude platform sandals from Banana Republic that i'd been eyeing for quite awhile. The good news is that i got them for basically 50% off after lots of complicated coupon-ning/having S buy them for me in NYC/etc. They are insanely comfy and just need a pair of heel grips to keep them from slipping off. Nude is huge this season and really do make your legs seem miles-long.


2. The devafuser hair diffuser that i first read about in a magazine, ripped out the page, then decided it wasn't worth it. THEN i read about it via Nina from Femme Rationale, and her promises of voluminous hair were enough to convince me that it was definitely worth trying. (i love me some big Texas hair!) Looks crazy eh?


3. This thin cotton nautical/French striped tee from the GAP. Being top-heavy, i normally don't do horizontal stripes, but the loose fit and low neckline of this tee actually seem to work in my favor.


4. These Boutique 9 "Idalia" suede peep-toe T-strap wedges (could i throw more adjectives in there??) that i scored at TJ Maxx for $29.99. They are a tiny bit on the snug side (a 7 when i'm really a 7.5), but completely worth the discomfort. ;-)



And that, my friends, is why i'm DONE shopping. I've been contemplating how long this Shopping Challenge should last... I'm thinking a month to start? We'll see how it goes.

In other news? I woke up this morning exhausted beyond belief, hating everything in my closet, and having a major "fat day". Bleh. Hope your morning's gone better than mine!

Red Robster and More Weekend Fun

Bonjour, dear friends. I hope your weekend was lovely and that you got more sleep than moi. Having 2 dogs spend the night is quite different than having 1 dog, lemme tell ya. Plus i consider Lola a pretty low-maintenance pup whereas Sofie, Ma Soeur's darling little beast, is un peu more complex. ;-) I woke up to a very tired Momma Park, a very tired Lola, and a huge puddle of pee in my kitchen. Who's to blame? SOFIE!

That being said, it's been a fun-filled weekend. My sister and her hubby arrived late Friday night, and it's been a whirlwind since then. Jenn (sis) and i spent Saturday getting pampered at the spa, hanging with the dogs, lunching, shopping, dining at 34th Street Cafe for dinner, and having a fun little photoshoot (planning to revamp my blog, more details to come as i will need your help!).

On Sunday, Momma arrived with LOADS of delicious Korean food. After a yummy lunch, we spent the rest of the afternoon bargain hunting. First we hit up Neiman Marcus Last Call where i found these gorgeous Michael Kors pumps for a phenomenal price.

Am wearing them today! Mom got cute Cole Haan flats and a to-die-for leather jacket for practically nothing. Afterwards we went to TJ Maxx where i found another pair of shoes (Studio 9 - black suede, peep-toe, T-strap wedges) for even closer to nothing. I know I've been on a shoe buying binge, and my Mom looked at me like i was crazy, but then i reminded her that starting Monday i would be on a spending hiatus, so this was kind of like, my "last supper". She found that hilarious, and therefore didn't interfere with my purchases. (In fact, she bought the Michael Kors pumps for me!)

Oh - funny/not-funny-at-all Mom story. As were perusing the shoe aisles of Neiman Marcus Last Call, i heard my Mom call out excitedly, "LOOK, MIYUN! [that's my korean name] STUDS!!" I looked up to find her holding a pair of black flats with, you guessed it, silver studs. My only response? "STOP READING MY BLOG, MOM!!!" (See previous post.) (Strictly entre nous, i must confess that i found this comment ever so slightly sweet and endearing. Especially since i know my Mom had no idea what "studs" were before she read my blog.)

Last night we met up with the bro-in-law for dinner at one of my Austin faves, East Side Cafe. A delicious end to a great weekend. I left Momma at my apartment with the pups, and she and Jenn are going to pop by the office in a couple of hours to meet up with moi for lunch.

Oh and the whole "Red Robster" thing? At dinner last night, my Mom started telling us a story about how she and Dad went to eat at "Red Robster" after seeing all these commercials for it. I just about fell out of my chair laughing, as i find the switching of "r" and "l" the funniest thing ever. I realize that makes me sound narrow-minded and slightly racist, but it's OK b/c i'm Asian, and she's my Mom, and i just think it's CUTE. In my Mom's world, "refrigerator" = "refrigilator", "Red Lobster" = "Red Robster", and "Royal Lane" = "Loyal Lane". Love it.

Ok should prob. get to work. ;-)

xoxo,
C

Shopping Challenge

I'm finding it harder and harder each day to ignore the craptastic economy and the fact it's starting to hit close to home. Very close to home. Although i'm probably in a better situation than other young associates in that my firm is smaller, structured differently, and Texas-based, i'm also fully aware of the fact that i could lose my job at any moment. Enter - the Stiva Shopping Challenge 2009.

My friend Stina and i have decided it's time to really slam on the brakes when it comes to our shopping tendencies. Both riddled with debt and $1000+ monthly rent (that's a lot in TX... NY and DC - ers, i'm sure your jaw is on the ground!), we have decided to begin this challenge with the purpose of helping one another spend less, save more, and basically become better people. (FYI - The term "Stiva" comes from a combo of our college nicknames.. hers = Stina and mine = Diva [do NOT judge moi, it was given to me by my dear friend Laoura back in high school and i love it].)

Step 1? Accomplished. As of Monday, March 16, 2009, i will no longer have cable. Or DVR. I must admit the realization is more painful than i anticipated, but you guys are SO RIGHT. It's UNNECESSARY, and i will probably spend my time doing much more active, productive, and inspiring things. Btw, does hulu.com cost money??

Step 2? The shopping. Here are the Stiva Spending Challenge Rules:

1. Set entertainment budget for the month and use CASH ONLY.

2. Set grocery/dining out budget for the monthy and use CASH ONLY.

3. Absolutely no shopping for non-necessities - i.e. clothes, shoes, accessories, makeup, magazines, home decor, etc. (Rare exceptions MIGHT be permitted, but only on a case-by-case basis and at a max of 1x/month.) [This one is killing me already as the new issue of GQ has my love, Rob Pattinson, on the cover. Be still, my heart...]

I'm sure there will be more rules once we get into the swing of things. Any suggestions? I'm thinking we'll start on Monday, March 16 (Monday's are always a good day to start these things, n'est ce pas?). I know it may seem like cheating, but my sister and bro-in-law are in town this weekend, and i don't want to spoil the fun. Then again, my sister is probably treating me to a pedicure at Milk + Honey on Saturday, so technically i'm not spending a dime. ;-) Plus i plan on spending this weekend perfecting the rules and calculating the appropriate entertainment/food budgets. :-)

P.S. If you're like moi and feel the need to severely curb your spending, i invite you to join Diva and Stina in this challenge!! I will DEFINITELY be blogging about my struggles and temptations (i feel some low moments coming), and you guys can comment on your journeys as well. Yay!! :-)

Closet Makeover

Bonjour, dear friends! It's a BEAUTIFUL day here in Austin, which makes running errands around town 100x more pleasant. I've had a GREAT day as I managed to hit up Buffalo Exchange (consignment type store), and lucky for me, the line wasn't very long. I've never really shopped there (i sort of have issues with wearing clothes other people have worn before... weird i know and really bad for vintage purposes), but this time i was feeling adventurous. And holy moly, i totally scored!! I got:

1. Trina Turk skirt for $15! I'm getting it hemmed so it's shorter (but still work appropriate), but i LOVE it. It's got beautiful watercolor florals that are very in for this Spring.

2. Fun pink silk skirt - good for dinners out! Only $13!!

3. Ikat-inspired purple skirt that's very appropo for work - only $9!

4. Jeffrey Campbell peep-toe lace up heels for only $25! They are BRAND NEW, too. By far, my favorite purchase.

5. Blue/silver western style belt (hard to describe). Most of my friends will say it's ugly, but I will pair it with the most perfect outfit. :-) $10

All in all, because I sold some clothes I actually ended up getting $40 even after all my purchases. GREAT shopping day.

I'm excited to add all these new purchases to my closet b/c last night, i did a complete closet overhaul makeover without spending a SINGLE dime (see pics below). Just reorganized my shoes, slapped up some cheap IKEA black/white striped wrapping paper on the walls, and added some fun pieces like my mirrored side table. Also created a fashion inspiration board with a corkboard (already had) that i wrapped with IKEA fabric i bought forever ago. I love the result!! The scarves are tied along the closet bars b/c i haven't figured out a good storage solution for them yet... Ideas?

Shopaholic Fever

Bonjour, mes amies!! I apologize for this late post; life's been quite hectic. I spent last weekend in Dallas visiting the parentals and spending time with Ma Soeur and bro-in-law. Highlights of the weekend include: eating my mom's delicious Korean food, driving to Dallas in my new ride, and seeing Confessions of a Shopaholic on Saturday!!! I absolutely adored the film, despite expecting the absolute worst. I had some serious issues with (1) Becky not being British, (2) the movie not taking place in London (my second favorite city in Europe, after Paris), and (3) Luke Brandon not being some tall, broad-shouldered high power PR executive. Now, after having seen the movie (twice, i must confess), i am: (1) still a bit sad that Becky's not British because really, nothing's cuter than a British shopaholic, right?, (2) OK with the fact that the movie took place in Manhatten (mostly b/c i'm going to be there in just a few weeks and can't WAIT to hit the shops!!), and (3) completely head-over-heels in love with Hugh Dancy, the darling Colin Firth/Hugh Grant hybrid that played the perfect movie version Luke Brandon. Oh and (4)? I ABSOLUTELY ADORE ISLA FISHER. I mean, look, can you imagine anyone playing a better Becky Bloomwood? (Totally loved her courageous color combos and fabulous gloves! Oh and can I pull off red hair?)





I've been reading lots of negative press re: the movie and how it's completely inappropriate in a time like now. But honestly, it's a light-hearted, fun, funNY romantic comedy at heart. The shopaholic angle definitely struck a chord with me (especially considering i first read the book nearly a decade ago and related with Becky way more than i ever intended to). There was one quote in particular that stuck with me. When asked, by a very angry, very handsome Luke Brandon why she shops, a tearful Becky replies: "When I shop, the world gets better...the world IS better! And then it's not anymore. And then I have to do it again." Sad? Perhaps. True? Very. And although i can honestly say that i'm on the road to shopaholic recovery, part of me can only hope that i look this happy when i hit the streets of Manhatten:


P.S. And boys? If seeing Isla Fisher in fitted tops, short skirts, and major stilettos isn't enough incentive for you to tag along with your girlfriend or gal pal, you should go just for the laughs. Seriously, this movie is laugh-out-loud F-U-N-N-Y. Plus, you might gain some helpful insight into the very complex mind of the beloved women in your life...

MAC + Hello Kitty

= Perfection in Carolyn's world. I mean, REALLY?? I own close to probably 30 MAC eye shadows, 10 lipsticks/lipglosses, and 15 eyeliners. I just adore the vivid colors and uniform black matte packaging. That being said, my fave thing about MAC is that they release these often fabulous lines with "LIMITED EDITION" lipcolors, nail polishes, etc. I'm such a sucker for these as i ALWAYS end up buying more than i need. Well since returning from London, i decided that since my days of crazy colored eyeshadows were numbered, i would stop buying more and use what i have. My progress, i must confess, has been inspiring. Who knew I could stop buying makeup so easily? That is, until today, when i went to Nordstrom on my lunch break (like a FOOL!) and with a confident swagger i walked up to the MAC counter to see this...

Pardonnez-moi? MAC and my BELOVED Hello Kitty?!?!?!?! Since WHEN?! Why wasn't i alerted? HOW DID I NOT KNOW?! Swathed in candy pink and shiny black, this new line is all kinds of girly fun. Glitter liquid eyeliner?? I wanted every color. Lipsticks in all kinds of cool pinks and purples. And don't even get me started on the adorable eyeshadow compacts... UGH. Restraint. Practice restraint. And that's precisely what i did. And oh my GOD, it hurt. It really killed. See more of the line here, and since i was so good today, don't you think i deserve a pair of these? Despite popular belief, it DOES rain in Austin...

Orla ROCKS!

I'm on a tight budget these days (increased monthly costs, trip to NYC in March, general overall fear of the crumbling economy), but every now and then something spectacular comes along that proves itself quite the exception. For moi, that something is the new Orla Kiely collection @ Tarjay. Since i can't afford normal Orla Kiely stuff, i've been drooling over this affordable collection since i spotted it on various design blogs in early January. It was rumored to arrive in stores Feb. 1, but of course got delayed. Last night i made an impromptu trip to Tarjay (NEVER a good idea) and lo and behold, what did i find? Orla Kiely!! They didn't have everything, but they had a good selection of her storage products (shown below) that i scooped up for my office. I figure it's a good pick because it's (1) cute, (2) not pink cute and therefore a tad more acceptable, and (3) matches the sort of hideous brown furniture i've no choice but to use. Once i get it all set up, i'll post some pics of my newly not-so-hideous workspace.


(photo courtesy of www.decor8blog.com)

I also found a few kitchen/houseware products, but a good chunk was sold out. I did score some cute cork placemats, coasters, and a darling apron. What i REALLY wanted, though, they did not have in store - these oh-so-cute mugs! Since coffee and tea play such an integral part of my daily routine, I figure Orla mugs are a responsible purchase. (Shhhh...) I hopped on Target.com and found them, along with this fabulously retro two-tier tray and flowery, versatile serving tray. Apparently they won't be shipping until mid-March, but that's okay. Patience is a virtue, right?





God bless Tarjay!

Craft o Rama!!

Bonjour again, mes amies. I'm currently sitting at a fab little coffeeshop on south 1st called Summer Moon. I was introduced to this lil joint by my dear friend Judd (who has since left me for a kickass clerkship in D.C. - h8er!). I've had a lovely, Austin day, my favorite type.

Darling M woke me up with a phone call with some potentially great news. Turns out her boyfriend's friend from college, whose family is ridiculously wealthy, might let us crash at his oh so fab Saint Tropez family compound during our stay! This would cancel our hotel stay in Cannes, and i'd be um, perfectly fine with that. So keep your fingers crossed!

After that bit of good news and a "i can't believe we're going to France soon!!" phone call w/ M, i hung up and got dressed in my yoga togs for a noon power flow class at Breath and Body. What a great class! I forgot just how much i swear in a heated flow class, and even though it was only an hour, oh Lord, i was feeling quite nauseous by the end of it. Note to self: drink more H20. She ended the class by laying an icy colf, lavender-infused washcloth on my eyes/forehead while i was in savasana, and it couldn't have been more heavenly. I really love yoga studios who add that extra touch. Kimberly Wilson, for example, always ends her classes with some lavender aromatherapy spray (also while in savasana), and i just love it. After yoga i got showered and dressed and ready to spend my afternoon on an "artist date". There's a store on South Congress called Craft o Rama that i've driven past and been meaning to stop in. After some googling i discovered that it's a fabric/sewing/knitting shop. AND they carry Amy Butler! PARFAIT! Sadly their Amy Butler stock was limited but the place was just darling, and i'm definitely planning on taking a Sewing 101 class in September and a knitting class in the fall. I've been wanting to learn how to sew and knit for so long, and it seems like the perfect environment in which to try! I may be a domestic goddess in other aspects (cooking, cleaning, etc) but i have a feeling sewing/knitting might be a bit trickier pour moi. Still what a fun new skill to acquire, n'est-ce pas?

After hitting a couple more shops on South Congress (and scoring a FAB maxi dress at a fun new shop on SoCo, perfect for lounging in fabulous Cannes or Saint Tropez), i decided it was time for an iced soy latte and some computer/journal time. Happy day, eh? It's times like these that i wish i lived in South Austin. The vibe is just so cool and laid back and so... Austin. How great would it be to just wake up, walk down the street to Jo's and grab coffee and a croissant? Or brunch at SoCo Cafe? I love the Triangle and all its amenities, but they really should've done a better job at their restaurant selections. Love Flipnotics, my local (ok - more like 10 steps away from my patio!) coffeeshop and i love the breakfast migas at Galaxy Cafe, but the rest of the food is mediocre at best. Which Wich? Fish City Grill? (ICK) I want more Austin favor, independent mom and pop sandwich shops and such. I can't help but think that i live in one of the most Dallas-y residential neighborhoods of Austin, and didn't i want to get away from everything Dallas? I digress, but you get my drift. I'm definitely going to be considering another 'hood for my future home.

Tonight i am dining with a dear old friend from college who also just graduated from law school (U-Penn) and who i'm also visiting in DC in September. We're going to one of my Austin faves - El Chile Cantina - in east Austin (another potential future neighborhood..?). YuM! Until then i plan to chill out here and maybe make a pit stop at Whole Foods to buy some nontoxic sunblock for my trip. YAY FRANCE HERE I COME!! (Too bad my French has gone completely out the window... stupid bar exam!)

Bon weekend!

Thank You's

I'm sort of obsessed with beautiful Thank You cards lately. As I am a firm believer that you can never give/send too many thank you's, it's just something you can never get enough of, especially because you have to really think about who the recipient of the card is before selecting the appropriate card. (e.g. you don't send the managing partner of a law firm a pink polka dot card). I've got about 4 varieties on hand right now, and during me and mum's trip to Tarjay earlier today, i picked up another. It's absolutely DARLING, and i think my favorite thus far. And so cheap!! It was $4.99 for 10, and they are so beautiful and ornate that you'd think they were from Paper Place (or Paper Source for you non-Austinites). Reason #326 Tarjay is the best thing that's ever happened to me... (ok not really, but it's pretty high up there).