Resolution inspiration.

Happy 2012, everybody! I had a great holiday season: I got to spend time with family and friends, play cards into the wee hours of the morning, drink wine, open presents, eat delicious food, go thrifting with my mum, finish my wedding thank you notes (FINALLY), watch trashy shows on TLC (Extreme Couponing, anyone?), check out the Boxing Day sales, and receive THE most fabulous coat (thanks, Mum!). My husband and I capped off 2011 last night with a small get-together with a too-large menu. We watched "Trading Places" and played cards, again. It was a wonderful time.

Now, it's a new year, and I feel a need to make resolutions, as I often do. This year, I decided to link my resolutions to amazing people I've read about as inspiration and motivation.

First off, I want to stay healthy: continue on the Diet, drink more water, take care of my skin, get enough sleep, and take up exercise, especially yoga and/or meditation to reduce stress. If people in their 80s and 90s can do it, so can I!

Next, I want to give a Spending Fast (or at least a Spending Diet) a shot. Anna's story is so inspiring, and this year people are pledging to join her. Having a group of people with this shared goal will be a great motivation. Now I just need to figure out my parameters...

Of course, I want to improve my creative side: writing this blog, getting back into making art, and possibly start posting outfit photos again (like these fantastic ladies!). I need to focus more on this and less on just noodling about on the internet.

Lastly, I want to focus on all the wonderful people in my life: my husband, our families, our friends, our cats (they're people too!), and all the lovely folks out there I have yet to meet. Watch out world - you're getting a hug!

Too good not to share.

As it turns out, repairing my computer would cost... a lot, so I decided to deal with my screen problems and save some moolah. I popped online for a few minutes tonight and saw a quick and easy updo tutorial for New Years' Eve that I couldn't keep to myself. Follow the link for the video diy.

Happy New Year!

my favorite body wash.

I have a problem with bath and body products. When I see a sale sign next to a conditioner I've been meaning to try, I snap it up, even if I have other conditioners stockpiled already. My shower currently houses (and this doesn't include my husband's stuff!):

• 2 bottles of shampoo and 3 of conditioner,
• 2 hair treatments (colour enhancer and shine glaze),
• 2 face products (tea tree oil cleanser and blackhead mask), and 
• 3 bottles of body wash.

The most recent addition to my shower clan is a "body butter"-style body wash. I justified the purchase because winter is coming soon and I need a moisturizing body wash to keep my skin soft. Oh, and because it smells like CHOCOLATE FROSTING.

{Here it is in vanilla - the chocolate does not appear to exist on the internets.}

Every time I use this stuff, I want to eat it. It smells like I am cleaning myself with confectionary, and I LOVE IT. I would bathe in a vat of it, given the opportunity. I would like a lifetime supply of it, please. Could you make that happen, Softsoap? I'd give you my firstborn child, or something. Failing that, could it go on sale more often? 7 bucks for body wash is too rich for my student-loan-encumbered blood.

In conclusion? If you like chocolate, try this. You won't regret it. 

a thought.

"In fact, the less I see my own body as a positive asset, the less I have wanted to interfere with what other women choose to do with theirs. If they want to parade in bikinis or shroud themselves in burkas, then so be it. I can see the pleasure in both.

To accuse them - as I used to do - of being the victims of social or commercial or religious control now seems to me to be a fairly cheap hit. How we present ourselves to the world is never a free choice. For both women and men dress is always the subject of social constraints.

The question is how you make those constraints work for you. Take women's make-up for example. It can be the ultimate symbol of an oppressive culture that refuses to accept women's faces as they really are; it can also be celebratory, joyous and fun."

- Mary Beard, "A Point of View: Age, beauty and Miss World"

Red but not rad.

ruffled dress: H&M // cardi: thrifted, Ann Taylor // slip: thrifted // grey tights: Joe Fresh // leather boots: Miz Mooz // black bangle: dollar store // locket necklace: local store

I have recently become obsessed with red lipstick, as you may have noticed. I found a lovely pinky-red that rather suits me, and am excited to wear it! However, it makes my husband wants to kiss me, but he doesn't want to come away with my lipstick smudged all over him.

So I start looking for longwearing red lipstick. I find one with good reviews on MakeupAlley (Maybelline's SuperStay) and go buy it in a shade that looks nice and dark in the tube. And oh, it's dark all right - too dark, especially with this cheerful red-orange dress.

At least my outfit worked out! As I was walking home from work one day, I saw two girls wearing cowgirl-esque boots with grey tights and flimsy pink dresses within about a minute of each other, and I knew as soon as I was done the 30 for 30, I'd recreate the ensemble with my own closet.

Plus I was so excited to rock my new Miz Mooz boots, purchased on eBay for a song. I don't plan on taking them off until I absolutely HAVE to switch to summer footwear...

I really need to practise so I'll be able to braid my bangs like this. So great for days when my bangs aren't co-operating...

This makes me want to dye my hair red again.

source.

Artist, sadly, unknown.

The "My Little Pony"-loving 80s child in me covets, covets, COVETS this hair.
source.

little old lady rockin' the sparkles.

hope I'm just as sassy and classy as this Milanese dame when I'm older. Love the dash of sparkle on her earlobe! via The Sartorialist.

What gorgeous texture! Wedding hair for some lucky lady? Courtesy of A Cup of Jo.

Breathtaking.

gorgeousness all courtesy of whichgoose on etsy.

pale green nail polish.

When I was visiting my friend Gigi in Rhode Island in August 2008, we had manicures done. Gigi was being done first, so I killed some time by perusing the nail polish colours. And then I found it: the most perfect shade of pale green by some random off-brand that I've long since forgotten. I adored it and refused to remove the nail polish off my fingertips for weeks after I'd arrived home.
Ever since then, I have been searching for the perfect shade of pale green nail polish. I tried a shade by Sally Hansen, but it was too pale and sparkly: it was like being transported back to junior high.

Then, Chanel's "Jade" limited edition nail polish reached my radar. Oh, how I coveted. But could I justify spending $30 on a little bottle of nail polish? Not on my student loan budget, I couldn't. Sigh. It is sold out now anyway.
See the one in the middle? I think my prayers might be answered.