Shoes for Christmas

5:59 PM

I know I'm probably the very last person in the entire world to get on the TOMS shoes train, but I'm thinking of procuring some as Christmas gifts this year.  In case you're even more under a rock than me, TOMS shoes are slip-on style casual shoes that run about $50 - $70 a pair.  You may be thinking, "seventy bucks for canvas shoes?!"  Stop.  You need to understand:  you're paying for the brand. 

See, the TOMS brand stands for helping children in need.  The shoe company donates a pair of shoes for every pair purchased.  So really, you're buying shoes for a child in need as well as rocking some trendy kicks that scream "I'm doing something to help others."  I figure it's perfect gift for Christmas. 

Check out some of their designs on www.toms.com.  

Black Friday

Personal financial planners will tell you to not buy impulsively.  Only buy something you've already been meaning to buy.   So with that in mind I've been working on pre-meditating a lot of purchases for this Friday.  I started following @blackfriday and @blackfriday_org on Twitter which has been  a major help in my search for Black Friday deals.  My metrics for success this year are simple:  buy warm clothes for my upcoming trip to New York.  Macy's has Charter  Bay cashmere sweaters on sale for $39.99 (regularly $80), and Loehmann's is offering 25% off their already low prices for coats, boots, and denim.  GAP is having 60% off their in-store purchases.  OMG. 

I've also been checking out these multi-day deals including the IKEA 3 days sale.  Retail stores will be crazy this weekend and I can't wait to be part of it.  

Please let me know of any other deals I'll need to check out. 

I'm going to be in San Francisco early on Friday.  Wish me luck.. And safety!!

Get cozy

Nobody likes shivering through cold winter nights or lazy winter Saturdays. Thats why you should get some stylish sweatpants to keep you warm when you are just laying around the house. While I love my Santa Clara University yoga pants, they don't offer the warmth needed for winter days. I recently found a pair of Ralph Lauren sweatpants at Costco for $19.99. I love them because they are thick and baggy; the perfect lazy pants. I've also discovered that this week only, you can get your hands on some $6 sweat pants at Target.

Black Friday Wonderland

Our family has a long tradition of getting up early on the Friday after Thanksgiving and hopping onto BART to head to the city for some good old fashioned bargain hunting. First stop this year will be Loehmanns. Loehmanns carries this year's designer fashions at crazy low prices. The Loehmanns in San Francisco is huge, with three stories of clothes and accessories and a basement of shoes. This year's black friday deal is 25% off select regular priced coats, denim, boots, shoes, & cold weather accessories. These deals are perfect for getting ready for the Christmas season. Its a good idea to pick up a present for someone special or even yourself. Loehmann's backroom is the best place to find the best deals. The backroom is full of discounted items such as formal dresses and wool coats. In past years, Loehmanns hands out coupons to the first people in the store on Black Friday and the following Saturday. I wonder what this year's coupon will be. I really appreciate how many stores have extended black friday savings to the whole weekend. Some items that I will be looking for this Friday:

Coming back to life with a warrior weekend.

This weekend I came back to life after a very busy season at work.  Here's how I chose to spend my long weekend:  I cleaned up my little container garden (which is a lot more work than it sounds), cleaned the house, hit the gym, got a pedicure (crazy midnight blue color), took in a Giants game at AT&T park, visited my local animal shelter to say "hi" to the cats, hit the club for a friend's birthday party, cooked a simple but fantastic home-made meal for myself & the hubs, cracked a bottle of wine we'd been saving, caught up on some magazine reads that have been piling up, and am looking forward to a 50-minute "pure relaxation" massage this evening.  This is my idea of being a weekend warrior.

Business Girl

My internship has been a learning experience like no other. It is rather fun to dress up and go to work everyday in an office. I answer emails and take care of many important accounting tasks. Its really great because many things that I learned about in my introduction to accounting courses are coming into play. Like the puzzle is coming together.

I've started bringing an iced tea with me to work so that I don't have to buy a drink at lunch time. I buy lunch everyday either at the cafeteria or somewhere close by. Subway is amoung my favorites. I try to keep it on the inexpensive side. I have not brought my lunch to work because I just don't really know where I would eat it. In my cube? at the cafeteria? If we had a break room , I would eat it there... but no break room.

This summer I've started selling my school textbooks on half.com as a mini business, which is a very easy way to get rid of unwanted books for a little change.

This week and last week I've been trying to squeeze in a workout before work. Hitting the gym in the morning makes me feel so awake by the time I get to the office. I'm down to one cup of coffee a day.

I'm beginning to see what work life is like for people after graduation. It is a little sad that while friends are free to eat out together, go swimming, to the beach, or anywhere else, I'm in a cubicle under florescent lights. But here's my secret: Jergen's Natural Glow. I just put on the moisturizing tanner every morning and I look like I've been to the beach this past weekend.

FredFlare.com

I recently re-visited one of my favorite shopping sites:  FredFlare.com.  My favorite department is the Home section, with household essentials like a table saw cake cutter, shadow of a duck shower curtain and an ice cream sandwich pillow, it has long been my favorite destination for whimsical, offbeat, and downright hipster accessories.  Please enjoy:  http://www.fredflare.com/AT-HOME/?orderby=&all=true

Cubicle decorating

I have started my internship for the summer and part of the fun of having my first office job is decorating my cubicle. I found a picture of Audrey Hepburn and the Eifel tower at Icings for about $8. I got the orchid at OSH for about $10. The best thing about OSH is that if the plant dies, you can bring it back. I've never had a plant of my own so hopefully I don't kill it. My coffee mug is from home but it adds that "cozy office" feeling. I found pink sriped binder clips at Wal Mart for $3 and the purple mouse pad came with the cube. I brought in my pink flower magnets to put on the filing cabinet. I need to decorate the other side of the cubicle now because all the decorations are on the side with my computer. The job itself is really good.

Summer Internship

Finals have settled now and its time for all the wonderful things of summer including the beach, disneyland, camping, salsa dancing, bowling, freedom from homework, and a full time internship. I am very thrilled to report that I have found a summer long internship with a silicon valley high tech company. Now I am on a mission to assemble a wardrobe for a professional work environment. I have checked out Target where I picked up some tops that were on clearance and a couple pairs of work pants. I bought a pair of shoes from Nine West that are a little tight but I'm hoping they'll stretch. I also picked up a gorgeous blue purse from Target. Several necklaces and work blouses have made their way into my closet too. I feel like my collection is pretty much complete. The work environment is very business casual so I dont need to wear a suit or anything like that. I want to look stylish and professional at the same time.

Forever 21's Accessory Wall

Last weekend I was reminded yet again of why I LOVE Forever 21's accessory wall.  Oodles and oodles of the CUTEST necklaces, earrings, sunglasses, hats, scarves, bags, and now even shoes!  Never mind that they're made of the cheapest junk available.  They're trendy and fun.  At $4 for a necklace and $5.80 for a pair of sunglasses, who cares if they tarnish or crack after the 10th use?  At that price I can buy the entire collection rather than just one piece.  I love it.  Here are a few items from my recent personal collection of Forever 21 accessories.

FYI:  the jumbo pearl strand has been worn 30+ times and I get compliments on it all the time!  Just saying...

Graduation Reflection

Hubs and I just got back from an amazing week in our nation's capital going to visit a very dear friend of mine graduate with her masters in international relations from Johns Hopkins.  It was a fantastic week filled with friends, wonderful sights, and some fantastic food and bars!  It was also --surprisingly-- a week of reflection.  Between the astounding collections at the Smithsonian museums, the majestic national monuments, stately federal buildings, and the Johns Hopkins commencement ceremony, I was left reflecting on how I'll make a mark on the world. 

I read a quote somewhere that well behaved women rarely make history. This thought keeps running through my mind as I watched my friend acomplish something extraordinary.  This is a troubling quote because I generally like to play safe.  My father-in-law made a comment this winter while we were skiing (an outdoor activity that generally terrifies me) that "unless you're scared and falling down every once in a while you're not pushing yourself hard enough."  Aargh!  None of these thoughts are comforting to my sense of self-preservation, but they do inspire me to take a step into the unknown and to continue to push myself towards exellence.

Physically, I'm exhausted.  (DC requires comfy shoes, a water bottle, and not a few packed Luna bars.) Intellectually and spiritually I'm inspired and refreshed.  This was a fantastic week and I wouldn't give it back for anything. 

Whole Earth Weekend

Davis is such a fun place to visit during Whole Earth Festival. Hippies come out to dance and sing about environmental issues. "For the next 250,000 years, whatcha gonna do with that stuff?" referring of course to nuclear waste. Vendors sell yummy vegetarian food and the plates are all sturdy plastic plates that you pay a dollar for and then return when you are finished to get that dollar back. What a genius way to limit waste. I bought a hippie necklace, which has a small piece of clay with "peace" written on the back in Japanese and a pretty design on the front. There were hippies dancing in the center of the square and tie dye everywhere. Normally I would object to any form of tie dye, but at the Earth Festival, I decided it was acceptable. I really liked the vendor who was selling beautiful capes that you could lift to look like butterfly wings. Very Earthy. The entire festival was just what you would expect from Davis.

Disneyland - my most recent "grown-up" trip

My husband & I went to Disneyland this weekend, which is flooded with adorable little kids running around experiencing the Magic Kingdom for the very first time.  A lot of our conversations started with "when we have kids..."  and --after witnessing the cute little kids have a complete meltdown-- our conversations ended with "... but that won't be for a looooong time."  Disneyland is the place for imagination and dreams...and that's exactly where I'd like to leave our children for now.  Instead of lugging our tired kid-on-a-leash around, we hit up our hotel happy hour, lounged by the pool, and went on every single ride that had a height and heart-health restriction.  As long as we steered clear of Fantasyland we were generally having a blissful newlywed vacation.

Here are a few shots of our romantic getaway!

Design your own Handbag!

I am thrilled about this new website I found called Elemental Threads. I discovered it because they are offering a Trubates coupon to pay $17 and recieve $52 worth of designed bag. Shipping is $8. All the bags can be completely personalized to whatever design you want. They have options for Organic Cotton, Cotton, Tweed, Canvas, and Bamboo. All the fabrics are fun colors or great designs. The bags have customizable zippers and linings to match what ever you like. You can also send in old t-shirts, jackets, or blankets that you don't use anymore for them to repurpose your fabric into a unique handbag or pouch. I just might buy one of these beauties myself! very chic and fun!

iPad 2!

Yes, it's true.  My company is buying me an iPad 2.  I'm so excited!  The $700 expense is not mine to bear!  Delivery is scheduled for 5/11.  I am counting down the days.  I plan on receiving the following benefits:

1. I'll look cool
2. Won't have to take my work laptop home every single night - my handbag and shoulder is looking forward to this!
3. In this same vein of thought - Martha Stewart magazines are all available at the iTunes store!  No more lugging my 12 different magazines! 
4. I'll be able to access work applications from the convenience of my tablet. 
5. I'll get to play with FaceTime technology
6. Did I mention I'll (finally) be cool? 

In case you're wondering, I got the white one and bought a pink cover for it.  :-)  

LA - A belated Post

I'm waiting in LAX for my flight to San Jose.  This has been an eye-opening trip for me.  Here's a list of the things I've learned:

• There was no sour cream available for my colleague's quesadilla at the hotel.. Presumably because it has calories.
• All the women are very thin and very tan.  (I kind of stuck out.. It's time to get back on the elliptical and make an appointment for my airbrush tan…) 
• The weather actually is quite fabulous here.  Although I think the entire state got hit with some gorgeous California sunshine this week. 
• It turns out there really ARE small dogs everywhere.  The mini poodle at breakfast today was adorable. 
• I found out what "so LA" means - the woman who came with the mini poodle at breakfast looked like Gwen Stefani with her bright lipstick, bleached hair, sunglasses, and tats.  Her boyfriend was just as stereotypical in his black cotton tee-shirt, jeans, un-shaven face and Ray Bans circa 1993.  It was kind of awesome. 
• The valets & bell boys are hot - presumably they are actors looking for their big break.
• The (young) women in the service industry are bitches - presumably they are suffering from hypoglycemia. 
• The cab drivers are cranky old men who refuse to join the 20th century (not even the 21st century) and accept credit cards. 
• There are a lot of smokers in LA - gross!
• I learned that downtown LA isn't as dirty as I thought it was.. At least during the day.  At night men leer at you from open-window bars… turns out ignoring them and walking quickly is sufficient.   
• Don't settle for crappy food.  There are TONS of great places to eat (and drink).  Had some REALLY good cocktails here. 

Hawaiian Vacation

This past spring break, I took a trip to Hawaii's big island with the parents and experienced some great things, like colorful fish, a steaming volcano, and delicious restaurants. The hotel we stayed at provided us with some magazines listing fantastic restaurants in the area but on our own, we found some great restaurants. Jackie Rey's was by far the best restaurant of the trip, decorated in cute Hawaiian decor and delicious fish straight from the ocean outside, it really completed the Hawaii experience. One disappointment was that we drove to Hawi at the tip of the island in search of the best restaurant, called Bamboo, according to our concierge but when we found it, they were closed! However, the town of Hawi was very cute with retro Hawaiian souvenirs. Maybe worth the long drive from Kona. Kikaua beach is where we found great snorkeling, and according to my magazine, is the best snorkel spot on the big island.Here we saw sea turtles, and many colorful fish without going very far out.If you aren't in the mood for a touristy restaurant, Ultimate Burger is where you want to be. truly worthy of it's name, this burger joint blows in-n-out away. Mauna Kea is not worth the 1.5 hour drive unless you are a mountain or astronomy fanatic and go all the way up. But, it is still interesting that it is the largest mountain in the world base to top. Hilo is on the wet side of the island and looks very tropical and rainforesty. the nearby volcano and water falls are worth visiting with a lava tube to walk through, steam spewing out of the ground and the most beautiful plants. However, be ready for lots of rain. We also took a glass bottom boat ride and saw a couple sea turtles.

Cutest Commercial Ever!

Spring Skirts

I recently came to the realization that while my closet has many sundresses from the past couple years, all my skirts are quite old and outdated. I decided in that moment that I would not rest until I found some new skirts to replace my old shabby ones. I searched Target and Target.com and found no cute skirts. I browsed Old Navy to find a $36 skirt in a pattern that would be difficult to match and didn't speak to me at all. I hit Kohl's Juniors section to find their only skirt was adorable, frilly and pink. However, it was still priced above what I wanted to pay. Luckily, I had connections to a 30% off coupon, putting this skirt within my budget. I kept this skirt in the back of my mind as I moved on to Forever 21 where I discovered an abundance of adorable skirts all under $15 each. I tried on at least 7 different skirts before deciding on what to buy. In the end I brought home two from Forever 21 and one from Kohls. I can't wait for Spring to wear my new skirts.

Velib

Omigosh.  A colleague just came by to talk about an event our company is having in Paris in a couple of months and mentioned this thing called Velib.  It's a free bike rental service.  You can rent a bike for free, and bike around town to the next Velib station and drop it off.  My infatuation with Paris just intensified.  This weekend I'm going to work on my French lessons and check airfare…I can practically taste the café and baguettes.  

New York Dream

Last week I was lucky enough to be sent to New York on business.  Kind of fabulous.  I arrived after dark at JFK and hired a car to take me to the Big Apple.  As I approached Manhattan, the world-famous Chrysler building, Empire State Building, and the rest of the enduring skyline came into view and I paused in wonder.  If there ever was an American city, this is it.  My goal in NY was to hit up all the famous boutiques and bring home a souvenir, but was unfortunately too busy with work to make it out to the shopping district.  As the car glided past the dark Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Prada I longed to return when they were open. 

The hotel turned out to be just south of Central Park.  It was 119 W. 56th street at Le Parker Meridian between 6th and 7th.  It turns out that there are several fabulous restaurants in that area.  I was able to benefit from the company buying my dinner at the fabulous Ma Peche.  The food was amazing and  absolutely melted on my palette. 

The next morning I set out to explore the city a bit.  I walked south on 6th for 5 minutes and turned down toward 7th to find myself in the middle of times square! 

I met a coworker for a quick bite at a Carnegie Deli where apparently there is a $3 fee for sharing your food.  I had plans for a later lunch, so I ordered the cheapest thing on the menu:  the soup du jour.  My friend ordered a full-on corned beef sandwich.  The waitress looked at my with a sneer and said, "There's a $3 fee for sharing."  I told her I had no intention of sharing because I was going to lunch later.  She looked at me suspiciously and went off to place the order.  When she re-emerged with our food, she put it down in front of us, walked 10 paces away, and commenced staring at us to make sure we weren't going to share.  Good old New York hospitality. 

An hour and a half later I went to lunch with another coworker/friend at Serendipity 3, made famous by the movie Serendipity.  It was the cutest place I'd seen in New York.  It was like an ice cream parlor meets tea house meets Alice in Wonderland.  The food was kind of normal, but our waiter was flamboyant, witty and made us laugh.  He was my favorite part of the entire experience.  We finished off our meal with their frozen hot chocolate.  After lunch I had to head to the airport to catch my flight home, and poof!  7 hours of Jet Blue TV later I was back in San Francisco. 

I can go a while without that flight, but the city itself is magnificent.  I can't wait to make a return trip.  

Relax while studying

No one likes finals or midterms, but if you're still in school, they're something to deal with. To keep myself from losing my mind but still pull good grades, I try to reduce the stress and keep perspective. However, it's very easy to get overwhelmed. Here are some suggestions that would help anyone going into finals season. I like to get a cup of coffee or tea before I sit down for a study session. Finding a comfortable quiet space is very important when it comes to actually getting work done. Public places tend to be best because then you aren't surrounded by the laundry that needs to be done or the TV show that everyone is watching. Study breaks are important as long as they have a specific ending time. For instance, a fitness class, or your own workout routine is a perfect study break. I love my Monday yoga class because I leave feeling energized and relaxed. Another suggestion you may consider, is go out for lunch or cook a meal. Your need to eat is perfect for a study break, because it can get your mind off of school work and allows you to recharge before hitting the books again. If you don't need your computer to study, don't bring it to the library. If you choose to listen to music, make sure it is soft and soothing. Loud, fast music can create anxiety if you aren't careful. Lastly, keep it in perspective. An all-nighter before the test will probably do you more harm than good. If you're feeling too tired to study, maybe your study break should be a 30 minute power nap. Go outside, even if its just for a couple minutes, sunlight does wonders to boost your mood and re-energize you.

Have Fun on a College Student's Budget

If you are a college student or just someone looking for ways to save money on fun outings, spa treatments, or fitness classes in the Bay Area, Trubates.com is the place to search. They have many services and products to buy in advance at a deeply discounted rate. Just today, I tried a new local coffee shop called Coffee Adventure using a coupon that I bought on trubates for $10 and redeemed it for $20 worth of coffee and food. And tonight I am going to Sonoma Chicken Coop with a coupon from trubates that I paid $12 for and is worth $20 of food and drinks. And because I'm a new cutomer I got an extra $5 off just by typing in the promocode: new. Restaurants are not the only places offering discounted services on Trubates, but local spas, fitness clubs and outdoor recreation facilities. If you are ever stuck for an idea of what to do on a Saturday night, browse Trubates and you are sure to find some fun, discounted activity.

Loving the Rain

The bay area has been experiencing rain this past week and as a result, girls are bringing out their cute, patterned rain boots. I own 2 pairs of rain boots myself, and enjoy the rain because of the opportunity to rock my stylish rain boots. I also own an adorable polka dot umbrella but I do not own a rain coat. And further more, I do not see many people wearing rain coats. I suspect that this is because there is a lack of stylish raincoats on the market. However, the Bubble Umbrella is quite stylish now.

Rainy weather tends to drive people indoors. Coffee shops, book stores, libraries, and malls become packed with people trying to escape the wet weather. However, what is the point of having such stylish raingear to wear in your local coffee shop or mall? Here are some ideas of how to embrace the rain: take a walk in the rain with a friend or with your sweetheart (nothing is more romantic than kissing in the rain). Go puddle jumping. Embracing your inner child is good for the soul and the fun activity will chace away those rainy day blues. Play tennis or basketball at your nearby park. The courts are always full in dry weather, now is your chance to play like no one is watching. And everyone's heard that rain is only good weather for ducks; why not take the chance to go feed the ducks?

Sister Pants Night Out: a coupon success story

Tomorrow night the Sister Pants are getting together for a night of nostalgia and fun.  We're heading to our local skating rink with our Groupons that we bought a few months back.  Nothing says "awesome Friday night" better than rented roller skates, a pretzel, and a sugary beverage for just $6. 

We're starting the night off right with a trip to another local favorite:  Sonoma Chicken Coop.  (a Living Social Deal I picked up a couple weeks ago) 

What's better than re-living the dream?  Getting it on sale.  

Anthropologie Announces Wedding Line

OMG.  My deepest apologies for not getting this post up sooner.  I've been thinking about it since I found out on Friday:  Anthropologie announced a wedding line on Valentines Day.  www.BHLDN.com This is the best thing to happen to weddings since Paper Source opened.  The Anthro wedding line will (of course) make it a lot easier to achieve that artistic and ultra-romantic style that we see in so many of the gorgeous weddings on Style Me Pretty, Love and Lavender, and the Knotty Bride.  I kind of wish I could have another wedding right about now…  Shockingly, the Anthro gowns are pretty affordable!  Starting at $600 with the most expensive hitting $3K. 

Here are some shots I borrowed off their page.  

Don't discount your local thrift store

One place I like to browse is my local Goodwill store because if you look around long enough it's amazing what you can find. For instance today I found this gold Fossil purse that was a bit worn but only cost $6.99!I also found this like new Old Navy white and gray striped sweater for $5.49. This past fall I found this green spring time dress for $9.99. My local Goodwill store also gets many items from Target, so I have found new picture frames from Target for half the price at my Goodwill store. It's also possible to search and buy items from Goodwill at shopgoodwill.com. Another great store for retro clothing is MoonZooom in San Jose on West San Carlos Street. They have a vast collection of pieces from the 50's to the 80's. Everything is for a good price too. Another local thrift store to check out while you are bargain hunting for unique pieces is Savers. They have a larger variety of clothing than Goodwill, but Goodwill has a larger assortment of household items. Where ever you decide to look, don't get discouraged if the first trip doesn't bring excellent finds. It can take several trips to find that amazing item.

Valentines Day - in the Office

My favorite day of the year: Valentines Day! (well, if you don't count those other holidays that are also my favorite day of the year) I'm pleased to report there were many in the office who'd been bitten by the love bug. Check out the signs of love that I spotted today!

Heart chocolate chip cookies

Sweets for my Sweetie! This fun twist on the ordinary treat, makes it clear that the secret ingredient is love.

Staycation

While staycations can't compete with a two-week adventure in Maui, they're a great way to get some much-needed R&R for you and your bank account. It's all in your attitude. As a dear friend of mine likes to say, "I'll be a lady of leisure." So thinking to myself - it's the middle of winter in the San Francisco Bay Area and the sun is shining! It's the perfect time to enjoy a little "winter escape" in my own backyard

Before you set out to enjoy your ladyship of leisure, take some time to set yourself up for success with a few tricks:

Start with a clean space - you can't clear your mind of your troubles unless your space is clean. Whether you're staying at home or taking a road trip, make sure your space is tidy.

Set a budget - don't cheat yourself out of indulgences out of a fear of not having enough money. By the same token you don't want to damage your wallet by indulging in everything. Be smart and balance your splurges with some free/low-cost options to get the most out of your staycation.

Write an itinerary - budgeting your time is just as important as budgeting your money. Those PTO days are scarce!

With these tips under your belt you should be set up for success to enjoy your "free" time with the most potential for relaxation.

Bonus: Here are my brainstorms for taking my own staycation.

Budget:

• Enjoy a luxurious breakfast of toast with eggs over-medium and a cup of tea.
• Mix a cocktail/mocktail and lounge in the afternoon sun
• Take a bike ride in the woods and finish it off with a picnic.
• Hike the local trails and get back in touch with God's creation.
• Make a challenging recipe at home and enjoy it for dinner with your loved ones (extravagant meals are a lot less expensive when you do all the labor)

Splurge:

• Visit the (museum/aquarium/touring art exhibit) that you've heard so much about and linger. (Bask in the absence of families with their small children!)
• Make a reservation at that restaurant that you've been dying to try.
• Be a tourist in your own town! Chances are you've lived in your city for years but have never visited Ghiradelli Square, enjoyed the mini donuts at Pier 39, or been to Alcatraz. So go do it now!
• Stay at a hotel in San Francisco, Sonoma or Monterey and enjoy the local culture for an entire weekend.

Valentine's Dinner

Instead of going out to face the restaurant crowds on Valentine's Day evening, I am planning to stay in a cook a yummy dinner for me and my sweetie. The main dish is Garlic Spaghetti with Tuna. I will serve it with a side of garlic bread. Should be delicious here is the recipe:
salt
1 lb Spaghetti
1/2 lb Bread, cut into chunks
2 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
3 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cans of tuna, drained
2 tablespoons fresh chives

In a sauce pan, boil 3 quarts of salted water over high heat. Add spaghetti and cook until pasta is tender to bite. (about 12 min)
Meanwhile,Chop bread crumbs until coarse. Melt butter in a frying pan over medium heat. Add bread and cook, stirring often, until crumbs are lightly toasted (about 9-10 min). remove from heat and transfer to a plate.
Wipe frying pan clean and return to high heat. Add broth, garlic, and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 2 minutes.
Drain spaghetti is done, drain it well then return it to its cooking pan. Add the broth mixture along with the tuna, toasted bread crumbs, and chives. Mix well then transfer to a serving bowl and serve immediately.

I thought this recipe was simple enough and sounds so delicious that I had to give it a try and what better day then Valentine's Day right?

Fitness Fashion!

Last night I went to Target because my gift card from my birthday was burning a hole in my pocket. Since I have been trying to make a habit of going to the gym between classes, I wanted to get some new activewear tops. I found the last cute stripy top on the rack and bought it. I think it is very important to have clothes specifically for working out because then I have something to be excited about when thinking "I need to hit the gym."

Obsessed

My Bath & Body Works shipment came today! Last week I bought a $15 for $30 Groupon for Bath & Body Works' online store and spent the entire $30 on White Tea & Ginger soap and body wash. (scented lotion is kind of wasted on me) I've been looking for this scent for over a year since receiving it as an engagement gift. My search was sadly in vain as it is WAY marked up on ebay and you can't get it in the store. Alas after this shipment it will most likely be years before I run out of this glorious scent.

It's a gentle floral scent with ginger as a VIP player. Not sure why it isn't available in the stores, but at our house it will be around for a very long time.

White Nail Polish

Recently I have noticed a growing trend of women wearing white or cream colored nail polish. While some magazines claim that black nail polish is still a "do" I am beginning to suspect that white nail polish is a "do even more". Emily Maynard, on the Bachelor, is the first girl I noticed with striking white finger nails. I also spotted several girls on campus sporting the same white nails. White nail polish is very practical because it will match whatever color you decide to wear. It also has the effect of making your hands look tanner than they are. This is one trend I will definately be giving a try myself.