Sexy Sunday....

Taking in a Sunday has always been part of some of life’s more decadent things. Things that don’t really get done when you’re fussing about during the working week, escorting kids from school to sports or dance, arranging meetups with girlfriends that you haven’t seen in four days…

It’s the little things that for a few short minutes, take us away and make us feel ultimately sexy. I love this. I am first to admit, Sundays are bonafide ‘Days of Luxury.’ This is no secret, so to devote a posting each week in response to this day, well it seems pretty damn fitting. To begin this, I thought really hard about some of the things that I do to primp and prune. Spruce to sexify, all to add a little extra bounce in a typically upbeat strut. So many ideas came to mind and for this week, it’s an obvious.

Manis and Pedis

How can anyone deny the time it takes to have your nails doted on to perfectly vanished perfection? It’s a hard one to debate. Imagine going into a nail salon for a pedicure, you walk in and are served champagne, ushered to a giant massaging chair and a bath of warm water that has floating petals. For that short period of time you can let loose and just relax. Forget about remembering to transfer funds from one account to the next covering the mortgage. Nope, not there. The atmosphere doesn’t allow it, the massaging of your calves won’t even suggest a glimmer of a thought of anything but silence.

What is it about having freshly painted toenails, whether it be the darker hues of the winter months or the neon (s) and bright pink (s) for the heated summertime? The first time I went and had a pedicure, I about died. I was that nervous nelly that looked like a deer in headlights. You want to dip my feet in what? Why are you massaging my back when my gnarly toes need a touch up?

Oh, but I would like another glass of champagne though. Oh that color looks good with my eyes, you think matching sets for my fingernails too?

Hook. Lined. Sunk.

{HAND JOB, San Francisco, CA}

Now, I am more of a pedi type of a lady and will always be the one shooting out text messages for a ladies day get together at a nail salon. It’s basically like meeting up with friends at a bar or getting coffee, only you’re being pampered in a different sort of way. Rather than indulging on the caffeine or that extra cocktail for the week-the budget gets forgone and you leave a salon feeling like a million dollars. A very sexy million dollars.

My latest obsession is Shellac. It’s an incredible process that allows the polish to last for several weeks. Imagine that! While your toes are rubbing in the boots (because lets state the obvious-it’s now boot season) the polish is staying nice and shiny. Perfectly un-touched. Slinking away for a manicure and pedicure is an instant mood booster, de-stressor and automatic given for making you feel a little more confident about what’s going on inside of the socks.

Staying in or going out, Sundays are a day for anything. And for this lady, it means to head out for an appointment in a couple of hours. With the cooler air, the deep purples with a touch of shattered glass are in the forecast.

Are you craving an appointment yet?

A Silver Couch, Chocolate Chip Meringues And An Idea

There are days where you want to stay inside, curl up in your zebra printed snuggie and then there are days where you want to bust loose out of the house because cabin fever has taken its hold of you.

It’s cold. Freezing cold. And while I love nothing better than to go out for long walks, when the wind chill is a biting negative something a-rother I shy away and head for the treadmill. Or lets face it. The couch.

The other day, in desperate need to get out I stumbled into my friend’s boutique and spent hours getting lost in the mass sea of clothing, the lovely smells of scented oils and good ol’ fashioned chatter.

We got to talking and a bunch of others came in and joined us while we sat on her silver couch munching on chocolate chip meringues. Just at the point where you are comfortable and want to sprawl out, I got hit with a potential opportunity to join something very fresh and new, something innovative and necessary in times like these.

For a little bit, my friend clued me in on the fundamentals of her business prospect and asked if I would be willing to take a risk and join her on this sort of venture that sounds pretty amazing. It is dealing with the public in a formal sense where I would be writing (yes yes YES) but would need to get licensed in an area I know nothing about. Oye!

So here’s the question that gets posed and seems ridiculous to ask out loud but curiosity killed the cat.

Do you research something that is completely fresh and new or do you jump in trusting this person who has years of experience in the field (and many more) and has a year-long plan already in place?

I’ve already put off getting a masters degree one year because of the economy, is it worth it to put it off another year?

I’m all for making crazy and rash decisions..I did pack up and move far far away from everyone and anyone I have ever known..twice in two years. That and what else am I doing right now? If this gets me out networking well then what’s the problem right?

So I’m weighing my options, still sending out resumes and like buying a swimsuit this idea is brewing.

On a totally different side note. Many many thanks to both Runaway Bride at the Chronicles of an Arranged Indian Marriage and Ashley at "Delightful,yet...?" for giving lots of love to this blondie!

Ashley-I can’t wait to see how Mr. Thursday Night is! RB…you are a brave woman I would flee the country or at least my family if they ever tried to arrange anything for me! It's bad it enough when my mother will say on the phone.."but he's so clean M, you'll like him." Fail.

Until the next post….

Beauty Spotlight: The Eyes

Eyeliner

Alright ladies, when lining your waterline you want to find a liner that goes on smoothly right? One that is not going to rip up the sensitive skin or make your eyes water the second you start to apply the color.



I am a budget finder and live for scouting out deals. Mainly because I don't see the point of cashing out $60 for a YSL eyeliner or mascara. No thank you(even if the mascara does smell delicious and like roses!). So when I was rummaging through Target I stumbled across Jemma Kidd's I-conic Eye.



Incredible and a definite beauty find. The pencil is comprable to MAC or even Stila's soft kohl liners and sells for an easy $14. I love how stores like Target or convenience shops are beginning to sell better quality makeup lines. Don't get me wrong, Covergirl and Revlon make fabulous finds but for this particular product Jemma's got them beat!

The products are sold not only at Target, but through the JK website as well as Amazon.com.

Entering a woman’s closet is another entrance to her soul

I am not a fashionista though sometimes I would like to think that my style is apparent and some trends I do follow. I take pride in dressing up and dressing down for that matter.

Walking into my closet this morning trying to figure out what to wear, I started touching each of the pieces hanging up.

Remembering where each had come from, when they were purchased and why they hold a spot on the racks.

For a very long time I never allowed myself the simple pleasure of picking up a new pair of shiny shoes, a flattering dress or a sweater that was snug and fit perfectly.

For some reason, it just wasn’t important. There was always something else that needed to be paid for, someone else that needed to be taken care of. I wasn’t important.

Someone very close said recently, you are what you wear. I never put any emphasis into this because I am not a materialistic person. I am perfectly content with simple things but still take time to appreciate the finer things whenever they are introduced.

I can remember a time (not that long ago but definitely before the walk in closet!) where I only had a single pair of heels that I would walk two miles home in each day, barely enough dress clothes to get through two weeks of work before having to do a repeat performance.

I was un-happy. I was not placing the importance on myself. It wasn’t as though certain items couldn’t be afforded it just wasn’t a major priority.

With the silky salmon blouse, the patterned blue chiffon dress and the rows of heels I still cannot believe that all what fills my closet truly is me. It smells of peace and a freshness that can only be achieved when you are in that place. That place of greatness, a closet.

It is an entrance to my world. It is not a fashion statement. It is not a budget buster. It is simply me.

Me to a T.

There is warmth and comfort in all that is found in that closet and I embrace it with love and acceptance. Inside is the strength of body, sense of protection and a vision of being steadfast. It is not just clothing but is taking value in your life, appreciating everything that you have, that you are involved with, that you are and what you can be.

Take a minute and appreciate what you have and all that you can have and know that you will have it.

PS…it’s Friday so have a fantastic day!

Can you pass the wine please

Later today I get to get spruced up, add a little extra curl to the hair and throw on a set of heels (me in flats, not gonna happen! Stalky leg syndrome) for a cocktail party. I am ridiculously excited for this that it’s almost pathetic!

If it weren’t for one person I honestly think I would have packed up and flown the coup a month ago, but that is not the case and I have made a friend and with that friend came a network that I am very slowly but surely getting involved with.

Over the weekend I got invited to this party of sorts, more like a wine night filled with a bunch of ladies from town, gossip and outright fun.

I need this more than needing to sharpen the eyeliner that keeps digging into my waterline. I cannot stand not having some girls to call on for a wine and bitch-fest night. It’s not as though I have not made an effort within the community or been holed up inside of my flat because I definitely am not and have done quite the opposite. I’ve put myself out there in more ways than one and am still coming up short. But I’m revamping my style and going to try something a little different which will hopefully turn out, we’ll see.

Most of the ladies that are coming out are the elite of the town I live in, which is really quite strange because how in the hell did I even manage to get inside of this little network is by pure chance. I am not elite, I don’t live in a mansion nor own my own hair salon let alone magazine.

No, far from unfortunately. I just so happen to enjoy shopping and stumbled into a store, got to talking with the owner and wham, instant friendship and intro into the “network.”

At the last wine night I went to, my outgrown bangs got touched up (there was a stylist there) and then proceeded to sip many glasses of wine in between conversations of cheating husbands and determining waxing specialists. Do you have popcorn yet! I wish I had some just stating this out loud, reality tv in living form.

So I have a feeling that tonight will go one of two ways.

Either I will avoid the glass of wine because of the immense amount of guilt I would feel due to this challenge I am putting myself through. Or I will not be socially awkward and take up a drink if I feel like it. Because I am worth it.

I have sort of cut a deal with myself. I need to let loose because life is short. Why put so much pressure on yourself if you can’t even stop to actually enjoy the things that are happening around you.

If you can answer that question then you are a stronger person than I because I honestly think it’s not worth it to the degree of blinding oneself to your surroundings.

I love my body (and respect every ounce of it) and am working very hard on the challenge but challenge be damned for a few hours if I am having a good time and am actually (gasp) enjoying life and a party.

So this is what it all comes down to, if I want it then I will take it. Because I am worth it.

I repeat this because this is something I need to remember. It is part of the resolution that I said I would never make but surprisingly did. I need to have fun, need to keep networking, need is the common theme here. Especially coming from an essentially non-needy person.

With that being said, I’m jetting off with this fine cup of coffee and see which dress to wear tonight. I’m thinking one of the two with accessories and pink lip gloss.





But then again I may just stick with the ever faithful leggings and an open back lace shirt. If I am not an elite, I can at least fake it until I make it though I don’t really think I’d want to snag a membership to their dysfunctional housewives club for fear of transforming into a platinum blonde botox goddess, oh forget it I am rambling! All of these decisions, I love it!

Happy Tuesday, by the way it’s SNOWING!!

Little things that make a smile contagious

With everything that has been taking place over the course of this week thus far, I was in need of some serious therapy. Whether that be going out for a walk to clear my mind and meditate or actually (gasp) do something out of the ordinary and treat myself to a much needed reward.

A reward sounds absurd but, for the sake of today, this week and everything else that is what I’m going with.

I phoned up my aesthetician and decided that it was time for a follow up appointment. If anything, I can at least make myself feel somewhat attractive and desirable despite whatever else is going on right?

Right.

So I’m in her little office, filled with the serenity of the quiet and candle filled calm. The light sounds of music playing in the background. And for the entire hour got lost in conversation with my Bulgarian aesthetician.

I got the full rundown of her adventures in the Virgin Islands and spending an entire day in a police station because of a bizarre taxi accident, she asked how I was doing with meeting people and whether I flew back for the holidays and then we got to talking about dating.

Because this is on my brain and obviously hers as well.

The longer we talked, the more I couldn’t scrap the thought that her issue with her ex-husband completely mirrored the issue with the stranger ex. It was all too surreal and of course I told her this but it made me really think about how the universe works.

Sometimes, and this is a stretch. But sometimes I think that there are certain things that we manifest in thought and is brought right in front of us for the taking.

Take this appointment for example. I do not know this woman outside of her being a certified professional and yet she and I both are experiencing almost identical dilemmas and we were in her small office together for an entire hour.

Universe or not, you can’t deny the inner workings here.

Walking out of the appointment, I felt rejuvenated and as crazy as this sounds. More like myself. For the past few months I have waivered from feeling okay to saying I feel okay and not really allowing the reality to register that there was ever a faltering in my emotions.

Today, sitting with my Bulgarian lady something snapped inside and it was like an inner voice telling me that everything is what you make of it and that this is just a part of life. There is so much happening all around that I cannot allow something to take reign on me and control how I feel. If I do, then only allow it for a short period of time and then let it go. Life is happening and moving like a carousel, it’s time to give the usher my ticket and claim a spot on the ride.

It’s fundamental and of course I already know all of this but it is easy to become blind to a situation, a numbing of emotion, etc. Being around someone and seeing how they are getting through whatever it is they must to survive puts everything into light.

At the end of the appointment, we chatted for longer and I ended up walking out wearing a huge smile. Who knows how and where you meet people and how they may affect your life. It’s funny that way, but for some reason I was meant to be in that room today having that conversation with the aesthetician, who for this little piece was transformed into a counselor of sorts.

Only she carries an electrical wand to close up your pores with. It’s nothing magical by any means. Oh but you know what I mean.

Soaking it up in the form of liquefied valium

With all of this movement on my poor and pliant body, I have taken up an intense love affair with bubble baths. There is nothing more luxurious than slinking every limb into a bath filled with hot water. The beaches in the South of France are equally as luxurious but for the sake of argument, this is about the bath.

This coming from a woman who hated baths for much of her lifetime. Thankfully that came to an abrupt end with a stay at a local B&B. The bath was the size of a studio flat (not really but it was very deep and oh so sexy) with the water pouring into it from the ceiling. A Japanese oasis spa experience in the middle of peninsula nowhere-land.



Talk about absolute bliss and a cherry popper for reclaiming bath devotion.

For some reason I had not even touched the bath in the new place and decided it was well in need for a good breaking in. For a long time I’ve held Sundays on reserve for “days of luxury” as an ex-boyfriend used to call them.

On those days, I’d make a pot of coffee, stay in pj’s all day and pretty much get comfortable on the couch with crappy made for TV movies ( Lifetime is televised crack). At some point during the day the nail vanish came out, fingers and toes got done up and a mask went on. Pure luxury. This little tradition has been tampered down slightly and things are done infrequently.

Hence the solo date with Prince Liquid Valium. No nail painting this time.

Lights off. Candles lit. Bubbles set. It was on.

For my achy body!

How long did I stay in the water, this I could not say. It was like slipping a valium and being swept away into the sweet valley of relaxation. Without the influence of a one aforementioned substance.

I love simple joys like taking a bath and how great it makes you feel. Your body feels fantastic afterwards, you are completely overheated and for a short while your mind is free from all of the clutter that filled it earlier.

My closest friend sent a moisturizer from London at Christmas which was perfect timing in testing it out.



Pick it up! Soap & Glory’s Righteous Butter is a nice after bath/shower addition. The scent is faint and the texture is just the right amount of cream vs oil. The creamy shea butter soaks into damp skin leaving you silky soft for an entire day. Big plus, it’s affordable and caps out at under $20.

Target used to sell Soap & Glory products but I think there are troubles with distribution. I know Boots does in the U.K. If anything it’s on ASOS.

Enough rambling about baths and promoting products that I clearly do not know where they are sold, the day awaits.

Have a very Happy Tuesday.

Getting Beautified 101

Back in October I started taking part of a local volunteering project that makes and delivers meals to seniors. Part of the reasons that I chose living in the town that I am in is because of all of the amazing ways to give back to the community and those in need. There is a real “Lend a Helping Hand” feel to the area that is all encompassing and I was more than willing to get on the acts of kindness boat.

I ended up picking two people to cook meals for that month and had the best time. Entertaining is wonderful, but at the same time being able to cook and spread some joy into someone else’s life through a warm and home cooked meal is equally as rewarding.

Last night, I received a phone call from one of the people I had cooked for. We had talked a little bit after I delivered the meal and I checked in on her for Thanksgiving to see how she was doing. Yesterday, she was feeling down.

For the holidays she had wanted to get her hair treated with a permanent perm. She called me and asked if there was any way I would be able to find a place for her and drive her to get “beautified.” Tis the season to be there for those in need. And whatever that need may be, you can count on me!

We chatted for several minutes and I immediately started thinking about where I could take her. Lucking out on a stylist is not going to fly for this lady. She’s an elderly woman, has particular wants and desires for her hair. All that matters is that she gets her hair permed out with a cost that is relatively affordable.

Challenges are the best! The need to find a salon close by that does affordable perms by the end of the weekend is on. This penny saver is going to get the job done, bring back a smile and mark off another good deed for the day.

Here's the real question, what are your favorite ways of helping people out? Or in what ways do you like to be helped out in? Physically, emotionally, spiritually....how do you like it?

Click here to find volunteering opportunities through out the United States

Click here to find volunteering opportunities through out Canada