Birchbox is here!!!!

I was so excited to get my first Birchbox in the mail yesterday! For those of you who missed my other posts on the subject, Birchbox is this awesome site that a friend turned me on to. For $10 a month, you can sign up to have a box just like the one above delivered to your door once a month. The box contains all kinds of yummy samples, and you can order the ones you like best from their website (free shipping ladies!)

It's like a little bit of Christmas.....

Here's a pic of everything I got-

1. Annick Goutal perfume sample (kind of fruity, which I like, but not sure how it works with my skin chemistry). I love perfume samples because I take them with me when I travel-so much easier than trying to haul my large spray bottle

2. AHAVA Essential Day Moisturizer. Tried this and its mild, smells good and leaves my skin soft and smooth.

3. Nia 24 Physical Cleansing Scrub- Haven't used it yet but I do like a gentle scrub for occasional exfoliation and this looks like it might be perfect.

4. Orofluido Beauty Elixir- A hair treatment oil for wet or dry hair, just a few drops to smooth and condition, and it smells amazing!

5. RGB Nail polish -This went on more clear than nude, but I only used one coat. I like that there is just the barest hint of color to it, kind of a fun alternative to my usual basic nude polish.

6. Tea Forte Skin Smart Tea- Now this is something new and exciting, a tea created to help your skin look more radiant and give your body lots of antioxidents. And with flavors like Cherry Marzipan, Honey yuzu and Cucumber mint-well all I can say is YUM.

If you sign up for Birchbox, be prepared to be put on their "waiting list" for at least a week or two. Not quite sure what the point of this is-I honestly think its more of a marketing tool than anything else, makes them look more exclusive! But all that aside, my shipment arrived in a timely manner once I got approved for their "club" and I'm totally thrilled with the contents!

I can't wait to see what next month brings!!

Shoes on the fly....

I had to make a quick trip to the mall the other day and found myself ducking into Payless shoes. Their window displays, full of bright spring colors, caught my eye, and I'm always looking for fun and inexpensive footwear.

And look what I found!

 These pretty and very trendy sandals are from the Christian Siriano line (the designer who won on the 4th season of "Project Runway") They were on sale for $21.99, which is such a deal, and I'm happy to report they are as comfy as they are cute!

I love a nice wedge shoe, because it gives you height without discomfort, and these sandals combine the color-blocking style that is hot this spring, as well as the woven look of the wedge-both trends that have been listed repeatedly as "must-haves" this season.

While Payless is not always the best choice for shoes (if you are on your feet all day, I think it's important to spend a little extra for the health of your feet!), I love that you can sometimes find super-cute, comfy and affordable shoes there! And those of us who live in places where we can't even wear these kind of shoes most of the year, it seems silly to get too carried away on designer sandals!

So if you are looking for some fun summer shoes, don't be afraid to step into good ol' Payless! They had a great selection, have regular sales and its kind of nice to be able to dig around and try stuff on without having a salesperson at my heels....

Breakfast of Champions!

I know, I'm supposed to be on a mission to lose some weight. But I just couldn't resist this lovely breakfast treat (hey I figure it's better to eat it early when I have a chance of burning it off over the course of the day!)

I just had a birthday, and my sweetheart boyfriend made an amazing dinner for the family, as well as getting cupcakes from my VERY favorite local cake shop, Superstar Pastry Design, or as I refer to it "Superstar Cupcake Bar". Started in 2004, this is the only place in town that has a "cupcake bar", where you can walk in and order a cupcake (or an assortment of cupcakes) custom-made just for you. You can choose from one of their creations or make up your own. Pictured above is the Peppermint Patty, a chocolate cupcake with fudge filling, chocolate buttercream icing, crushed peppermint and a delicious little york mint candy! My other favorite is the "Little Princess", which is a red velvet cupcake, bavarian cream filling, raspberry buttercream, sprinkles and a cherry.

The cupcakes however, are really just the tip of the iceberg. They also make amazing wedding cakes, birthday cakes-really any kind of special occasion cake you might need! Check out their Facebook page here for images of some of their best cakes.

Located in midtown Anchorage, in the little mall on the corner of Benson and Minnesota, they are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. They even offer free WiFi in their lounge area if you want to hang out.

Ah...nothing like a cupcake and coffee for breakfast! It's still my birthday week after all, I think its okay to indulge a little....

Party like a rockstar hair.....

When I was younger, I used to wash my hair every day without fail. I have fine hair and if I didn't wash it, it would be limp and yucky. Well, I'm not "quite" so young anymore, and my hair has changed alongside a myriad of other things! I've found that if I wash my hair every day, it ends up dry as...dry toast! Lots of breakage and no shine. So  I try to keep the washing to every other day at most, even though I'm not always happy with how my hair looks a little dirty!

I was recently advised to try this product:

Rockaholic "Dirty Secret" dry shampoo by TIGI. Helps extend your time between washings by minimizing oil and residue build-up. Best of all, it gives a nice little boost of volume!!

This is how it went on:

No complaints. I was worried it might not absorb well, but it barely showed in my hair at all (it actually goes on kind of white and powdery) and when I rubbed it in lightly with my fingertips, it looked great.

I was advised to "shake the bottle until you literally cannot shake it anymore" to properly mix the powder, which might be the only downside. Otherwise, I think this is a great product, especially for those girls who straighten their hair and don't want to deal with having to do so every day (not to mention the damage straightening does...)

TIGI products are available at salons everywhere, so rock out that hair with Rockaholic!

Old Navy Deals and Steals

While it isn't always my top shop of choice, I like Old Navy for fun summer wear and good wardrobe basics. I shop there for my kids often, prices are reasonable and their sales can be phenomenal!

I recently took my son there to get him a couple new outfits. We were given this coupon at checkout:

Bascially, if you come back next month during a specific timeframe and spend $60, you get $30 off!

I think that is an awesome deal, and I'm sure I can spend $60 there on various items! I have to say, sometimes Old Navy is hit and miss with quality, but overall I am never disappointed with how their clothes hold up. Of course, I also understand that a $5 t-shirt is just that-a $5 t-shirt!!!

They always have great sales and their clearance rack sometimes discounts things to well under $5. I've gotten board shorts for my son during off-season sales for $1, as well as swimsuits for myself. And because their clothing tends to be basic in style and design, is great to purchase off-season because it will still be "in" the following year!

I'll be heading back there during the week of April 9 to see if I can make my $60 price point to get my discount!!

Anchors Away.....

The things she carried.....

I found this Harajuku Lovers purse in Seattle this past winter-found it on sale in a little shop for 40 percent off, what a steal!

I love it and get tons of compliments on it. The only problem is it is kind of a hobo-style, which means it doesn't compartmentalize my items very well. I seem to end up toting around a hoarder's supply of crap. Here's an example of what I found in my purse today!

Now these are all "necessities" in my opinion! My lipsticks include NYC in Mocha, which is a great all-around color and is available at Target for under $5. I also have my Sephora Lip Attitude in a pretty purple color-it doesn't go on as dark as it looks, its actually quite sheer. And my Buxom lip gloss, which I've already blogged my love of! Lastly a couple chapsticks. I adore Chapstick brand in True Shimmer Botanical Berry. Gives just a tiny hint of sparkle, while moisturizing those dry, winter lips.

I also always carry a travel size hairspray and a mini lint remover. Well, its officially called a lint remover but its more of a hair remover for me-dog hair, kid hair, my hair....

This is my wallet, a Coach knock-off that I found in Texas of all places!

Its held up well, considering it cost $10!

And this is kind of interesting, floating around the bottom of my bag...

We bought this when we went snorkeling in Hawaii last September. I haven't gotten the pictures developed yet as you can see, but I am carrying in my purse so that I will eventually remember to drop it off at the photo shop!!! Maybe I just don't want to see myself underwater in a swimsuit.

And this is a very cherished item! My Menchie's Yogurt card!! I sometimes have Menchie's for lunch. I know, not the healthiest but I figure its lower fat than ice cream, right? (shhh, lets not talk about the sugar intake)

That's just some of the baggage I carry, what's in YOUR wallet? :o)

Things I love....

A mix of things, products, moments and people...all of which I love....

I love that it feels like spring is coming (finally! The older I get, the longer the winters are....) This is my favorite spring and summer buy-

It gives a nice smooth look to your legs, covering imperfections while still enjoying summer fashion and NO hose (yes we've discussed the whole nude hose issue...)

I'm also coveting a pair of these for summer:

Havianas flip flops are awesome! Comfy and well-made, and they don't break the bank. They can be found at Nordstrom and other stores.

I have lots of products I "love". But as most of us know, they aren't the most important things in life. Here are some other random things, silly stuff about me and what I love....

My kids, the loves of my life, always.

I love to make them fun cakes for their birthdays every year!

I love to cook-this is a chicken posole I made. My first attempt at homemade tortillas, I guess my speck of Latina blood didn't come through, they tasted okay but were a little thick!

I love to eat too! This is a sandwich from Great Harvest, hands down the best sandwiches in town!!

I love to travel, love Hawaii and love hopping on a plane at a moment's notice. When I was a child, I used to watch the planes fly overhead and wonder where they were going, wishing I was going too. I used to save my money all winter when I was a teen, so I could take a trip somewhere-I flew by myself to visit relatives, see friends. That led to a career in the travel industry and the wanderlust has never really left me. I haven't been able to do that in kind of a long time, with working so much and trying to pay off the darn bills. But we do make an effort to get to Hawaii at least once a year, no matter what.

I love my doggies. I love that when I take one of them with me to pick up my son from school, they watch every single kid coming by, waiting for him to appear....

I love that I have a boyfriend who loves me THIS much:

He loves to make me smile, and always goes out of his way to do nice things for me. And I love that he says he hates my dogs, but then I see this:

I have a love-hate relationship with where I live. I love many things about it, and hate a few (super long winters....) But I love that every day, this is my general view:

And I love that I can see something like this guy in my suburban neighborhood

Sometimes people say I am like a big kid (my boyfriend especially-luckily he doesn't mind!) I guess thats true, considering I have this silly little collection on my dresser:

I love cute tokidoki stuff! Not in a crazy way, but I do own a couple t shirts similar to this one:

Anyway...that's a little window into me....enjoy your morning and think about what YOU love today!

Ah-mazing online stores....

I've said it a million times (and you'll probably hear me say it a million times more), I love online shopping. There is nothing like getting a package in the mail, makes me feel like its Christmas or my birthday every time I see a box arrive at my door or in the mailbox.

I recently discovered a few "new to me" sites, that I thought I would share!

My girlfriend sent me an invite to Rue La La , which offers sales and deep discounts on various designer labels.This includes clothing for men, women and children, jewelry, furniture-they even have a travel discount section! The cool thing is you only pay $9.95 shipping once every 30 days. So if you have a ton of stuff you want to order at once, its only $9.95 shipping. Or if you order a couple things, then later that month want to order a couple more, your second order is free shipping! Pretty nice.

I found these shoes from Lucky, on sale for $40.

Super cute!!

The sales are all temporary at Rue La La, giving you different choices on a daily basis. The downside? They sell out FAST, so don't waste time.

Another fun site is One King's Lane

They offer furniture, household items, linens, decor, again all at discounted prices. Shipping is mostly via Fed Ex but seems reasonable based on the list I saw on the website (haven't ordered from them yet myself but planning to soon!) They also have sales that change on a daily and weekly basis and sell out fast- so make sure you hit them up and make your purchases in a timely manner!

Look at this adorable blue basket:

Varying sizes from 14 to 24 inches, priced at $45-85.

For upscale clothing with downscaled prices, go to HauteLook.

This is another site that offers a wide range of designer items, from clothing to rugs, as well as beauty products,  at deep discounts. As with other sites, don't hesitate or you may lose out on the sales! New sales are announced every day at 8 a.m., and they even have an iPhone app for your convenience.

I was tempted by this Jessica Simpson dress, on sale for $62

 The one downside to HauteLook is their shipping can take up to 14 days, due to the way they receive their items from suppliers.

So if you want to have a little holiday in your mailbox every so often, visit some of these fab online stores for the "super cutest" things you've ever seen!

Target finds!

I found these shoes at Target last night, super cute!!!

I think they are a great start to my spring and summer wardrobe, and they were only $23! Very comfortable, and I love the detailing with the crochet-lace look. They will go great with skinny jeans, shorts, a little skirt-fun stuff! I also found these...

I've been on the hunt for some basic, comfy black flats forever. I just wanted something inexpensive that I could throw on with my skinny jeans or leggings once in awhile. I normally have an aversion to flats, but some outfits just require them. These were on the clearance rack, got them for $11. Can't beat that! I thought they were pretty and sparkly, and felt comfortable (we'll see how that pans out after wearing them to work).

I love Target, they always have something I never knew I needed! :o)

The Wild side!

Since I am not really into manicures (love my pedicures but manicures?...eh) I'm always on the lookout for fun, new nail polish colors. And as a girl on a budget, if I can find an inexpensive polish that lasts, what a bonus!

I was excited to see a new polish from Wet-n-Wild cosmetics yesterday and grabbed a couple different colors to try it out. With a name like "Megalast", it has to be good, right? And the colors were awesome!!

The color on the left is "Wet Concrete" and the one on the right is "Bite the Bullet". They look similar but Wet Concrete is a pretty shade of light brown, a great nude color for spring. Bite the Bullet is lavendar, another spring color that looks good with everything.

I went with Bite the Bullet for my nails

It went on quickly and very smooth, in part to this ingenious brush! Look how wide and flat it is! It gives much more even coverage than a standard polish brush...

Part of the reason I don't care much for manicures is that no matter how careful I am, I end up with chipped nails. And I'm not inclined to pay twice as much for the gel polishes, touted to last 2 weeks, at salons. Its just easier for me to keep my nails fairly short and put a clear coat of polish on them for shine. I decided to put this polish to the test by applying it right before I left for work at my part-time restaurant job.

This is how my nails looked at the end of the night, after schlepping food, glasses, pouring wine, dropping menus, etc.

Still pretty good! And this morning I'm looking at them and they have no chips, no wear around the tips, nothing.

Wet-n-Wild Megalast is available at all drugstores. I got mine at Fred Meyer for $1.99 a bottle! What a steal of a deal! An inexpensive spring addition to your wardrobe and style, check them out!!

The things you can't get back....

There are things in life you cannot recover;

Stones after they are thrown....

Words after they are spoken....

 Occasions that were missed....

 Time, after it is gone....

 A person, after they die.


Hold on. Hold on to your family, friends and all levels of love in your life-preferably with both hands. Forgive, accept people for who they are and understand that we are all flawed, all doing the best we can in this crazy world. Cultivate joy, happiness and peace.

Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Continue to learn. Appreciate your friends. Cherish your family. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.

Easy-up Messy Bun...

I decided to do a quick, messy bun this morning with my hair:

The whole trick of the messy bun is it is supposed to look, well....messy! I used a hair tie that has a cute little fabric flower attached (a little retro, but I like it!). I simply twisted my hair into a bun and secured it with the hair tie, smoothed back the top a bit and sprayed the crap out of it! There ya go! Easy morning up-do!

And just because I think its the super-cutest ever....this is the necklace I'm wearing today...

Kind of a Tokidoki style, I got this at Forever21 for $1.50! I love their costume jewelry.

This weekend, its going to be all about sunglasses as an accessory!! Stay tuned...