Blue Print Cleanse {Day 1}- What the hell was I thinking?

The title says it all folks.

It's 2:29 in the afternoon. Here's my day thus far:

7:15 A.m.- Wake up! Check email, feed the kitties, weigh myself on the wii (down 1.5 lbs from yesterday- probably water as it is that time of the month), got dressed, drank some warm water as directed by BPC instructions.

7:31 A.m.- Left house with water bottle and BPC Bottle #1 i.e. the green juice.

How is the green juice?

At first, it wasn't so bad. It tasted like something, but I couldn't put my finger on it. I figured it out half way to class- a spicy sweet pickle puree. I dislike sweet pickles greatly. I drank a little under half the bottle and could not drink anymore (I was in class holding back my gags)

9:00 A.m- Get out of class head to post office and errands

10:30 A.m.- back at home- write a few business related emails

11-now- Nap. I fell asleep on the laptop (I was up waay past my bedtime last night watching hulu).

2:36 p.m.- Bottle numero dos is staring at me. Bottle 2 is called P.A.M. and contains filtered water, pineapple, apple, and mint.

*cracks open bottle, takes sip*

Drinkable. It's not fantastic- but it's not bad either. But.. the more I drink, the more it grows on me. If I had to name the flavor, I'd say pineapple mint. No chaser needed.

Juice 3- Green Juice (yuck)
Juice 4= Spicy Lemonade (like the master cleanse, but tastes better.)
Juice 5= More Green juice
Juice 6= Cashew Nut Milk (I'm very excited for this- I've had a sip and it tastes like rice pudding :D )

Overall, at this moment I regret going on the cleanse because I'm not going to be able to drink the green juices in their entirety (I'll maybe be able to get down half a bottle per sitting) so I will not be reaping the full benefits.

I'll let you know how I feel tomorrow.

Blue Print Cleanse- Who's with me? (I have a coupon code...)

On Monday I went back on the medifast diet. I blogged about it earlier in the year and had major success losing 3o some pounds in three months. In April my husband graduated OCS and was back home for awhile, there were celebrations, events, etc.. I stopped my diet.

Did the weight stay off? I'm amazed to say most of it. I gained back nine pounds between April and now. But I deserve those nine pounds (and probably more)- I've been eating like crap.

Since Monday I've been dropping a lot of water weight- and you know what? I feel better. I've been diet coke free for two weeks, eating my diet food, and missing food that is bad for my body like the desert misses the rain (anyone know that song?!). I'm having terrible, sometimes uncontrollable, cravings.

A few weeks ago I recieved a 30 percent off coupon from Calypso.com to try the blueprint cleanse




aren't the bottles pretty?

The blue print cleanse is relatively expensive. For a three day cleanse it's $150 something + $60 for overnight shipping. Crazy, right? The shipping cost can't be helped- the juices need to be sent overnight. As for the $150 in juice- it is my understanding these bottles are packed with pounds and pounds of organic vegetable and fruits. Did I mention I got 30% off? I'm a sucker for those percentages.

As I sit typing this, 18 bottles of juices are in my fridge waiting to be devoured. I start tomorrow. I will be doing the second level of the cleanse "renovation." Sounds scary, eh? I've been preparing myself this week by cutting out some of the meat (I have been on medifast so I've been eating a good portion of protein at night) and eating more vegetables.

Do I expect to lose major weight in three days? Of course not. I expect this to help curve my cravings, maybe make my skin glow (?), and a challenge. I'll be chronicling my three day journey right here in my blog. Wish me luck!

And if you're interested in giving it a go- BPC sent a 20 percent off coupon to my inbox. Coupon Code: SOBEROCTOBER

grrr.. Etsy...

I received a comment from someone who purchased a piece of furniture from the same seller as I on etsy. I'm not going to tell the whole tale- but it was a scam. I also ordered a custom dining table from another etsy seller- also a scam.

Kind readers- please be wary of who you buy from on etsy. Make sure they have 10+ positive feedback and if they don't make sure you pay with a credit card or paypal that makes disputing a transaction easy. Etsy customer service is of little help- they refer you to this form and that, nothing ever comes of these forms. One of the seller's started a new shop after I scammed and I reported that shop- etsy has done nothing and more people are being scammed.

Beware how and who you give your money to.

Awesome etsyness {and whine of the day}

Today I finally was able to get a hold of the storage company. The soonest they can deliver our belongings is on August 10th- we close this Wednesday. That means another week on the air mattress and I won't have anything to cook with :P I miss having more than three changes of clothes.

In other news, I purchased an return address label stamp from etsy seller NoteTrunk. $24.95 for something Adam and I will cherish forever. This is our first purchased home- we probably won't live in it for more than a few years- but still. I have this idea to have one of these babies made each time we purchase a new house. Maybe someday our grandchildren will think we're awesome (or wonder what snail mail is).

Away Message

Adam surprised me and moved up our closing from the 10th to this Tuesday. I'm in a mad dash in an attempt to get ready to drive back down to Virginia on Tuesday. We won't have internet immediately so posting will be light (errr.. non existent) for a little while. We will be broadcasting from Virginia shortly.

These are a few of my favorite (etsy!!) things!!! *singing*

Lately I have been obssessed with etsy.

I've been looking for a coffee table forever. I had actually given up the search when I did a random search on etsy and EAMESREVIVAL popped up. I picked out this table:


They're actually going to remove the gold thingies on the bottom, stain it to match my other furniture, and make it to fit my specifications (much smaller). I die. I even have a tray to put on top of the table so things don't fall through. I feel oh so grown up!

More Etsy Love:

4 Pack All Natural Essential Oil Soap Bars (Elegant Rose)- $20.00

LOVE LOVE LOVE the peppermint ice. It's tingly and oh so nice. My husband is a fan as well ;) Also check out her bath bombs. I'm into mint and peppermint- but the grapefruit is great as well. I'm not a bath person so I break them up and put them on the shower floor for a nice smell.

Wrap Skirt-Elegant Flattering Classic and Casual Asymmetric Handmade Skirt by Tasi Fashion- $59.00

Me and jersey have got something magical going on. This year I have bought so much jersey. You may also consider checking out this seller's:

Raglan Wrap Dress- $(I don't remember the price and it has sold- but I'm sure she can make another one)

I'm the worst kind of liar..

Soo... in my last post I imposed another shopping sabbatical. Ha! That lasted a few hours.

It was late. I was alone. I started looking on hautelook.com .. and BAM! Before I knew it I was ordering a must have item.

In my defense, it is like nothing that is in my closet. Nothing. And I have an extensive closet.

Tart Breanne Top- $49.00 (I had a ten dollar credit + UPROMISE gave me 16 bucks!)

It doesn't look like much in this photo. It's styled rather poorly and not being worn correctly (hautelook had it right, unfortunately they removed the photo). I love it.

Another self imposed shopping sabatical.

Today I was looking over my last seven months of purchases and have decided I have spent waaay too much. :) Sooo.. this blog is going to turn back into its old self consisting of the items I drool over and love (as well as some purchases). I'll also be blogging a little bit more about our new home and how we're decorating. I hope you stay tuned!

30 percent off at J. Crew

I'm sure 99 percent of you know J. Crew is offering 30 percent of on final sale items if you spend $150.00+

I have a confession.

I'm not loving J. Crew as much as I once did. Maybe it's because my style is becoming a little less preppy and a little more.. I don't know what to describe it at. What I've been buying lately consists of Anthropologie and designer ebay finds (DVF, Nanette Lepore, Butter By Nadia). I still like J. Crew- but some of my recent purchases have be disappointing quality wise.

My recent Anthropologie purchases (sorry for the small sizes!):

Everywhere Dress: Sold out


Midnight Petal maillot swim suit- Sold outSprinkled and Shined Tank- Sold out
Magnolia Blouse-Sold out

Bedroom Vision

Our bedroom staged:

My vision:

Living room: Vision

I just splurged on a new couch- but we've been saving for months to make this happen. I feel it's important to create a space where you feel comfortable and enjoy being in. After coming home from a long day of school/work Adam and I like to make dinner and watch a movie- sometimes I go online and Adam play's Wii or XBOX (we're so cool).

So.. Here is out living room (not our furniture):

These are the pieces I would *like* to put in this space (the only for sure is the couch. Adam has vetoing power on the rest):

I'm considering an ivory rug in lieu of the gray to help the space appear brighter. The curtains we are using will be ivory curtains- again, the space is small so we want it to be bright. I'm looking for a way to bring color into this room- someday Adam and I will be re-painting the space but not for a few years. We figure why fix it if it ain't broken.

Any color suggestions?

Bought our first big boy couch (and bed too!)

Meet Reese:

This is our new couch. Reese will be replacing our old, stained, dilapidated couch love seat. We're super excited- this is our first "big purchase." When we were in college all our furniture was from walmart of furniture clearance centers. To furnish our first place cost approximated $2500 dollars. It's a lot of money but that purchased: bed, mattress, dresser, couch, tv stand, dishes, silverware, plates, linens, towels, rugs, cutlery, pans, pots, cups... you get the idea. We were young people building a home from scratch.

Meet Portica:

Portica isn't replacing anyone, but she's beautiful. Our first "bed" was a walmart platform I bought for 79.95 +shipping. It was broken within six months. We used it until we moved out of the old Detroit apartment. For two years we were sleeping on our mattress and box spring. Classy. Since June (when the movers came to take our stuff) I've been on an air mattress. The air mattress is where I'll stay until August.

These were two of our "splurges." Adam and I sat down and discussed a budget to furnish our new place. After deciding we wanted quality over quantity I started shopping. I quickly realized quality is expensive. We decided to invest in a good bed and sectional. I can see this sectional staying with us for 20+ years as well as the bed. I consider them investments.

I'm currently hunting for a coffee table on craigslist and am relying on west elm for carpets, window hardware, and dining chairs. We're spending more than we would like we would like to spend zero, but as my dad once brilliantly stated, "your home should be comfortable." And he's as cheap as they come.
I'll be posting photos when the items arrive. Don't start holding your breath- they won't be arriving until late September/Early October.

I'm baaaack!!!!

Sorry everyone. I stopped blogging in February as the diet was getting to me. All in all I lost 30 lbs I've kept off for 4 months and am about to go at it again to lose the remaining 20. I also got REALLY busy after February.

What have I been doing since my last posts?

Well... Adam graduated Navy OCS and we moved from Michigan to Virginia Beach! Adam is currently deployed and I am in Michigan- long story. Short version: We bought a condo, the deal fell through ten days after closing (shady), so we bought a new condo we're waiting to close on. For the past seven weeks I've been living at my parents, sleeping on air mattress, and roughing it with only three changes of clothes (all of our stuff is in storage).

Other changes are I launched a photography business and am back in school for something totally unrelated.

Overall, things are great- I've been cutting down my shopping (that's really a blatant lie), but that doesn't mean I don't have things I drool over.

It feels good to be back!

Weekly Weigh in- 4 weeks on Medifast (sort of)

Before announcing the results I would like to apologize for a few things. 1. I promised reviews, tutorials, pictures- essentially I promised awesomeness that I have not delivered. I am very sorry. The awesomeness is on it's way. It's been an odd week I will not elaborate on - but I've got fresh raspberries in the refrigerator that MUST get used so the Macaroon's are coming soon! 2. This weeks weigh in sucks. I'll admit I cheated this week. My sister and brother both took me to lunch on different days. I did my best to follow the rules- it's not the same as eating at home though (I found out I'm not allowed to have pineapple- which I ate on both occasions.. oops..). Oh.. And during the failed macaroon tutorial I ate a few of the rejects..

So without further adieu.. This week I have lost 1.1 lbs for a total weight loss of 18 lbs for my first month.

My thoughts:
I'm ok with the results. I did cheat and I haven't been following the exact medifast plan. I eat their meals when I'm hungry (2-3 a day) and have my lean and green portion. The medifast diet is really strict on carbs (you're not allowed fruit or even onions!)-I haven't been true to it. Occassionally I eat a few grilled onions on my salad. This week I need to get back on it and be a little stricter with what I'm eating. I'll probably also go back to weighing myself everyday- but will only post on Thursday.

My goal when I started this was to lose 50 lbs by the time Adam graduates OCS (in 9 more weeks) I'm four weeks into my diet and have already lost 18... 38 more to go.

Coming Soon...

My new DSLR Camera arrived today AND we're expecting a HUGE snowstorm meaning I might be off Tuesday/Wednesday!! Do you know what that ultimately means? Macaroon tutorial!!!! BOH and I attempted the recipe Saturday night and it was a complete failure.. this time I have a feeling.

I just hope the snow holds off until tomorrow afternoon, Roxanne has a vet appointment. If I can figure out how the DSLR works (haven't used one since highschool.. well I've never used one. In high school we used film in our Nikon's) I'll post some photos!

BOH's new wedding.

So.. BOH and Ginger are kaput. It's for the best, and she is doing well. She deserves better. Anyway, new start means a new wedding inspiration board. It will change when she finds someone, but for now, I can dream. This one was inspired by the sunset.

Daily Love

I've become much more internet savvy since getting married. While organizing my bookmarks which are perpetually always unorganized because there are so many I came across this link:

Rare Device- Very thin gold ring- $80.00

This would have been the perfect wedding ring for a girl like me. When searching for our rings I had two criteria my own (... ok three): 1. White Gold 2. Moderately Priced 3. THIN band.

What I ended up with was a white gold band that was 2.5mm thick (the thinnest I could possibly find at the time) that cost around 50 dollars. Only now do I find the PERFECT wedding band in the ring pictured above- and it comes in white gold! Pfft...

Is it already Thursday? Medifast weigh in #3

Typically I weigh myself everyday on this diet, but the past week I haven't had the time and when I don't lose weight it's always kind of a downer and I get frustrated. To counteract my frustration I decided to follow through with weekly weigh-in's instead.

*drum roll*

Since last Thursday I have lost 3.7 lbs. For a total weight loss of 15.7 lbs in 3 weeks. I am fairly pleased. I have ten weeks until Adam comes home from OCS, although he may go to baby SWO school first (Surface Warfare Officers either go to a 3 week school for "job training" or the Navy throws them directly on a ship and they learn while they work) In which case I will have another three weeks on my diet.

Until next week...

Until my camera is back... Enjoy some key lime meltaway's

I thought I would leave you with a post from my other blog that's about being married to the military/our married life in general. It's mostly a journal I guess. This blog is a bit superficial filled with all my wants and desires... but I've got to put this stuff somewhere. And what's life without a little superficiality? Really.

So.. without further adieu I give you Key Lime Meltaway's:

We picked up a bag of limes some time last week that were getting old ( I must say, they were some of the juiciest limes I have ever come across). So the decision was made to give my mom's recipe key lime (or in this case plain old lime) meltaways a shot.

These cookies are tart with a hint of sweetness on the inside, coated in powdered sugar on the outside. NOM NOM.

Yield: 5 dozen (but I doubled the recipe)

Ingredients:

12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
Grated zest of 4 tiny or 2 large key limes
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 3/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour (a.k.a. 2 cups minus 2 tablespoons)
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt

1. In a bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, cream butter and 1/3 cup sugar until fluffy (you can use a plain old bowl and hand mixer.. of if you're really feeling feisty do it by hand) Add lime zest, juice, and vanilla; beat until fluffy.

Before the lime juice/zest/vanilla

After the lime juice/zest/vanilla.. sooo perty.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, and salt. Add to butter mixture, and beat on low speed until combined.

3. Between two pieces of parchment paper, roll dough into two 1 1/4-inch diameter logs. Chill at least 1 hour.

4. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment (ok.. so I just greased my sheets).

5. Place remaining 2/3 cup powdered sugar in a resealable plastic bag. Remove parchment from logs; slice dough into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Place rounds on baking sheets, spaced 1 inch apart.

6. Bake cookies until barely golden, about 15 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool slightly, just three or four minutes. While still warm, place cookies in the sugar-filled bag; toss to coat (I used a bowl). Bake or freeze remaining dough. Store baked cookies in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Well-ah! Enjoy!

Make sure that when you zest your limes the zest is small. I couldn't find the zester so I used the zest side of a regular grater- my zest was sort of big and didn't taste the best in the cookies. Overall, this isn't an amazing recipe- but it's pretty good for something that tastes light and is slightly sweet.

My camera is still on the fritz...

Sooo.. My camera is still on the fritz so I have to put off my anthropologie/RueLaLa *hisses at the thought of Ruelala customer service* reviews, macaroon making tutorial, and dying tutorial off until my new camera arrives. I snagged the Canon Rebel Xsi off of ebay a few days ago and have been patiently waiting for it ever since!

These are a few of my favorite things!

I lust after things I will never wear. Cocktail dresses, evening gowns, sequins, and beads. In my last life I was a debutant. I love the idea of getting dressed up for an evening out, but I never do it. I feel funny when I dress up. Where I'm from, you dress up for two things: Weddings and Funerals (and you're not allowed to wear sequins or beads at either- unless it's tastefully done- which it usually isn't).

Wendy Top by Kate Spade- $695

Love it. I think it would be super cute with a pair of dark jeans, slacks, skirt, almost anything. I would never buy this because in reality I would only wear it once if I were lucky- but I would look at this top everyday and I would love her.

Alice and Olivia Sequin Dress- $495

I actually own a dress by Alice + Olivia. It's not the keyhole dress it's the sequin tank dress in black. I got it off of ebay for $150 bucks. I've never worn it, but I dream of wearing it. I dream of wearing it all the time.

I also lust after this and this... but for some reason Nordstrom's won't allow me to post photos of these two gorgeous dresses.

I have decided I will never buy another cocktail dress again. I only use them once and I never look at them again. I'll also never buy another cocktail/evening dress because I discovered the website Rent the Runway.

Rent the Runway is exactly what it sounds like- you can rent designer dresses for 50+ dollars. If you're like me and a cocktail dress isn't something you wear very often perhaps this would be a good website for you to look into. Some of my faves:

Wedding Guest Attire:



Fancy Navy Event:

Cocktail Party/ Fun Night out:

Questions from readers...

Someone sent me a question about what I do for work. I was surprised and deeply flattered that someone cared to ask, let alone people actually read my blog.

To answer the question:

It's a little complicated. I currently work in the IT field which isn't what I went to college for, but the economy is tough. I manage a chain of car dealerships online inventory and take care of advertising through the internet. I like my job because my boss is my father and I'm allowed to wear sweat pants to work when it's cold (I have to go outside a lot and catalog the inventory). I don't like my job because while I like working for my dad, he sets precedence by underpaying me severely. I'm getting ready to train my replacement- he's getting paid 3 times what I am.

Once Adam is stationed I'm returning to school for a second B.S. degree (I should say BSN) and will probably work part time as a CNA/volunteer- How I got to this point is also has a story behind it, but I won't get into it. I'm at peace with my decisions and needed to do things my way.

Thank you for taking an interest in my world!

Don't forget!!

Ulta is offering 20 percent off your entire purchase with the code 20680!!!!

Anthropologie Update

I wrote a few days ago about my anthropologie purchase. I received a reply yesterday which I was really happy with. The person writing sent a new top, shipping label so I could choose between the two, and is supposedly sending a coupon for anthropologie. Pretty awesome. Since it's getting kind of late and I need to get the kitties fed I'll write more about it tomorrow and will also tell you about my terrible experience shopping with Ruelala. Good night!

New Spring Faves from J Crew

Every seasons I put out a list of my favorite new items. It's always fun to go back and see what I ended up purchasing for my personal collection. Sometime next week I'll do a J Crew winter wardrobe break down and figure out what made it off the list into my closet.

Here are my spring favorites:

Silk Bonfire Dress- $88.00

Ruffles? Does this make me a hypocrite?

Jeweled Celestial Dress- $695

Love the concept. To fully appreciate the dress you must view the back. Very sexy but understated. I likely will not purchase this dress, but if J Crew ever did something a little simpler it would definitely be in my cart!

Pearlized Sequin Dress- $650

Already sold out in all sizes (except 4 and 6) this dress is beautiful, and like the one above needs to be appreciated from the back. If I were getting married this year, I would wear this as my wedding dress.

Silk Camisole- $55.00

At first I was on the fence about this top, but then I started loving the simplicity. Simplicity was the reason I initially fell in love with J Crew. I'll never forget my first purchase: A blue merino crew neck sweater and a canvas pencil skirt with a little bit of eyelet ruffle on the bottom. This top brings me back to that happy place- but it's a happy updated place now.

Unagi Tweed Pencil Skirt- $115

I like the color. I can't help it. It's something different. Over the winter I built up my neutral wadrobe purchasing a lot of gray, black, and brown. This skirt reminds me of Easter.

Rose and Ruby Sale Still going on!!!

Is it time for a coupon code?!

Ulta is offering 20 percent off your entire purchase with the code 20680!!
Enjoy!

Thursday Weigh in...

I've been on Medifast for exactly two weeks... since my last weigh in almost a week and a half ago I've lost another 6 lbs for a total weigt loss of 12 lbs in two weeks. I'm taking into consideration that the first 5-6 lbs was probably water weight because this week I've lost weight much slower- but still there's a substantial amount and I feel goood!

Next Thursday I'd like to be down 3-4 more lbs!

In the works..

Just wanted to let everyone know I'm in the process of writing a post on my recent purchases. Both showed up with major issues (one company shipped the completely wrong items-the other defective).

Writing letters of complaint... (Dear Anthropologie...)

As a customer, I hate complaining about goods and services. If the server screws up my order- I eat what he or she brings me and pay for it leaving a full tip. If I recieve and item I'm not totally satisfied with- I typically keep it as well if I like the concept. Example: Anthropologie Magnoila Dress:

See how large the sequin mangnolias are?

Now here is the actual dress:

(I will insert a photo when my camera starts working)

Big difference.

I was dissapointed, the version I have looks cheaper- but maybe I can pull it off. I can't help but love it. The color and the sparkle. If I had to pick 5 articles of clothing that describe me- this one would be in the mix.

Anyway, today I recieved my Anthropologie Corset Top designed by Anna Sui. It is exquisitley constructed and the material has substance. The textile quality at J. Crew, Anthropologie, and other retailers has gone way down (IMHO) within the past few seasons.

The corset was packed very nicely and in plastic. As I examined the piece I noticed 1. The black straps were missing. Ok. I used to be all about the strapless look, but in recent years I've found I prefer straps. Even thin ones. It makes me feel more covered up, and I associate strapless with a more sexy formal look (I'm just not the sexy formal type. Some women pull off this look well- me? Not so much. Maybe on special occasions. Otherwise I look funny). 2. Deodorant stains on blouse. I paid $79.95 + $10.00 shipping and handling for a piece of clothing that needs to be take to the cleaners.

The deodorant didn't bother me so much. Yeah, it sucks but I can deal. The missing straps? I want those straps. I bought the corset because of those straps. Where are my straps?!?!

As I sat in the car wondering if I missed them in the box and frantically started looking, I decided it was time to contact customer service. I cringed. I work in the automotive industry. The thing about cars is they break. I understand people get upset about their new car breaking, but we take care of it (unless it was their fault). So many people come in with their stories and either don't know how to act or how to stop. They go on and on and on (and on!) about the vehicle. We know. We will fix it. Some people come in and are ready to fight. Why? We want to help! Even after smothering them with kindness they're still dickheads- I don't get it, and I know all customer service represenatatives deal with this behavior because I've encountered it everywhere I work where good or services are exchanged. There is a fine line between standing up for yourself and being an asshole. A very fine line.

So I hopped on my computer and composed a message to the people at Anthropologie. I didn't want to be a jerk, but I also wanted them to know my displeasure.

I'll post an update when I hear back from Anthropologie and will provide you with real life pictures of the corset top which is oh so pretty.

Is it coupon code time?!

I have a couple today!

First is a Bliss coupon: 15% off all Bliss and Remede products. CODE: FEB210
Second is a VS coupon: Take an Extra 20% off clearance items! CODE: EXTRA20



Lastly, Nicole Miller- Save 20% on all sale items! CODE: 20OFF

Happy shopping, and don't forget to use ebates! At VS you'll save an additional 2% and at Bliss/Nicole Miller an additional 4%!

http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=n%2B8HwBpbUw5aHWZ4Zb0rBg%3D%3D

To click or not to click...

I'm not having the best day today. I miss Adam. He's been gone for 3 weeks and won't be home for another 11+ weeks. He's still in holding and suspects he'll be back in the mix within a week if a spot opens up. I have learned is the military is likes to guesstimate and the guesstimate is never correct and will probably change several times.
I don't mind being apart, it's the limited contact. They keep him really busy so he never has time to write. He calls once a week, but I work most of the day so if I'm on the lot away from my phone I miss the call. It's difficult to hear in his voice his homesickness. In our relationship, I'm the tough one. He's says I'm his rock and he wishes he handled things as well as I do. Well, the truth is I don't handle things very well at all (though I'm deeply flattered he feels that way and am happy to hear it makes things easier for him).

I've been feeling a little weak the past few days. Hormones. ugh. And I miss him.

Thanks for listening.

The point of this post was I saw this on J Crew today:

Cashmere Ribbon Pullover- Marked down to $199!!!

So yeah, I know this makes me a hypocrite (ruffles!!!! ahh!!) But I LOVE this sweater. The problem: I ask myself, "is it worth $200?"proceeding to go through all the things I could buy with $200. 1. DVF Red Jersey Dress I've been watching on ebay 2. Staub Braiser I have also been watching on ebay. 3. $200 towards our new Room and Board bedroom set 4. Student Loans 5. Anything practical

I think I'm going to allow the sweater slip away. I made an anthropologie impulse buy this week that I may or may not be happy with. All my credit cards are paid off- I hate to see them blemished with a $200 dollar purchase. Whenever I talk myself out of something I'm reminded of a blog title I saw once: "Life is Short Buy the Shoes"

No, Maureen. You will not buy the sweater. Maybe it will still be around when a 20% code is offered or I'll see it on ebay someday. I'll keep dreaming.

J. Crew (possibly not so) arrivals...

I thought I looked over the new arrivals very thoroughly and was semi-disappointed. I remember a time when I wanted to buy everything J. Crew offered. It just hasn't been the same since the introduction of all these ruffles. It's not that I'm a ruffle hater, I worry ruffles won't be cool next year. It's sort of like men and frosted tips. In 2000 I remember 90 percent of the men I knew had frosted tips. They were hunks. Now? Not so awesome.

It's really nothing like frosted tips.

My ruffle purchase for this year? The falling petals jacket. It's all the ruffle I can handle. And I mostly love it. I am considering another ruffle purchase though. And this purchase consists of the two things I dislike most from J Crew. Ruffles and hammered silk. I'll be honest- I don't like the hammered silk anything. But this:

Whisper Tussah Silk Dress- $225

I can't help but like it. It's the simplicity. You know, the closer I look at this the more it appears to be fabric with a pattern. Hmm.. I think I may have to visit my B&M.

I also love this:

Taryn Gown- $395

If I was getting married again, I would wear this. In this color. I never liked the idea of wearing a white dress, but was pushed into it by my mother. The draping of this dress is so beautiful. J Crew really did something wonderful.

but I also love:

Twyla Tank- $65.00

So pretty. I'm not a pink person, but I may make an exception. It's simple, feminine, soft... what more is there? I'll probably wait for this to go on sale (I've noticed these types of tops never sell out before reaching the sale section) and pick it up in ivory as well. I purchased a shocking pink perfect pencil skirt a few months ago on accident and have been stumped on what to wear with it.

I can't wait for the Spring new arrivals and I hope J Crew adds more to their Top's section. I feel like they've been slipping in that area.

Review: Wii Fit

So I realize this blog doesn't pertain to anything in particular, but this is my world. I've reviewed wedding dresses, J Crew/anthropologie/DVF/ Nanette Lepore/[insert designer here] apparel, pet supplies, chronicled my new diet, and much more. Today I would like to review my new favorite technology item: The Wii Fit.

I wasn't a believer. I purchased the Wii for Adam as a Christmas gift and this came with it. He got home a few days before Christmas from OCS and found it already hooked up. We were sitting on the couch and he looks at the television and says, "What's that?" Next thing I knew he was up turning it on making "happy noises."(My husband makes happy noises when he's very pleased)

He played quite a bit during his two weeks off from OCS. Two weeks ago I decided to try out the Wii Fit for myself and was amazed. A lot of the exercises are a lot of fun- I love the hula hoop aerobics. The object of the exercise is to move your hips in a wide cicle as many times as possible. It sounds silly, but is a lot of fun. Another wonderful aspect of the Fit is it teaches a person with bad posture (like me) better posture and balance.

Cons: Some of the exercise are a little boring. Maybe it's me, but I don't care for most the yoga. Also, the games aren't very difficult. I like the hula hoop game because I can feel the work out.

Overall, it's a great way to keep track of your weight and learn better balance while having some fun. I have a little weight chart with my goals. It's a definite motivator and a great investment.

I guess it's jewelery day here on the bright side!

I found this website a few months ago. Dawes Design. I love love love love love love (REALLY LOVE) the rings and necklaces. Check it out: