Wedding Wear Part Deux

I swear, looking for the perfect ensemble to wear to someone else's wedding has turned out to be just as difficult as finding my own dress!! Holy moly.  Well out of the 10,000 dresses I narrowed my choices down to I finally decided on one...and guess what? It wasn't even one of the original contenders...shocker!

I have the bachelorette party this weekend in AC, the shower in a couple weeks and the wedding in about a month so I think I'm finally all set on my outfit for each event...I'll share some pics that are sure to be entertaining after this weekend's fiasco but for now I'll share a polyvore set of what I decided to go with for her 'big day'...

what do you think? I haven't set the accessories in stone but I did purchase the dress and shoes...

Xtine's Wedding by justinsmami featuring ASOS

Items in this set:
ASOS Double Strap One Shoulder Slinky Dress, $64
Michael Antonio Tinsley, $48
ASOS Panelled Twist Lock Clutch Bag, $30
Raven's Gold Chunky Brown Stone Fashion Cuff Bracelet, $23
Wedding Food Information: Signature Drinks

Brides.com#slide_213988

Have a happy weekend everyone, thanks for reading!!!

Holy Tuesday!

Well the weekend sure flew by - I cannot get over how absolutely gorge the weather was.  We, my fam, tripped it out to the Philadelphia Zoo on Saturday followed by City sightseeing and sushi dinner so it was a good day for us.  It was a stunning 79 degrees here in Jersey/Philadelphia and Sunday was no disappointment either.  I believe the high temp throughout the day on Sunday was 77 degrees.  I absolutely love love love this sunshine and springy weather.  Although yesterday was a rainy mess the clouds are beginning to break today for what looks like another day of sunshine :)

You bet yo arse I was wearing flip flops and tanks all weekend.  Which brings me to tanning - it is officially time.  Although I'm not much of a fake baker I usually do it for about a month in April (so we're just in time).  I'm naturally very fair and unfortunately the ultra ultra fairness that winter brings is not nearly as cute as a base tan.  I'm not talking Jersey Shore color, my friends.

Speeee-aking of which....who caught the premier episode of the ULTRA ridiculous 'Jerseylicious' on the Style Network Sunday night? I find it incredibly hard to believe that any of this show is even remotely real and that there are actually people who act like this who have jobs, let alone careers.  Here it is in all its ugliness. 


I feel bad for these people, seriously.  They are being mocked beyond control and I honestly don't even think they realize that.  Oh well.

On a separate note, since I didn't post for yesterday's 'Manday' here is a snippet of who I would have otherwise featured...because he is freakishly hawt...Gilles Marini (Mr. Marini is currently starring in the ABC series Brothers and Sisters on at 10pm EST on Sunday) you may also remember Gilles as Samantha's LA sex craved neighbor on SATC the movie?? Ya know, the one with the tight buns who showered naked on his back porch - the one who Samantha watched nightly?

And if you love SATC as much as I do, then you already know that

S L A T E D   F O R    R E L E A S E   M A Y   2 8 ,   2 0 1 0

yay :)

That's all for now....xoxo

Just another manic Monday..er Thursday

Because you all definitely need to know my life updates, here goes:

1. NO, I have not been going to the gym in the mornings - why you may ask??? Because HUBBS GOT CALLED BACK TO WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Woot Woot - shout it out - woot woot

So because hubbs is now full time actively working again I cannot ditch the sleeping booger in the AM to go to the gym because DYFS does, in fact, frown upon leaving your children unattended - so after next week (when god for saken class is over) I'll be hittin up the gym, evening style. 

2.  I am totally, ridiculously stressed about my real estate exam.  The pre-tests are ridiculous they ask the most off the wall nonsensical questions that you'll NEVER ever use in real life - why on Earth do you bog down my mind with uselessness. 
I  w i l l  p a s s  t h i s  t e s t  w i t h  f l y i n g  c o l o r s

3. Kohl's purchase - bust.  Nothing fit the way I hoped it would.  Everything was cute but ehh didn't look so hot.  I plan to try on some different sizes with different shoes, accessories etc. IN the store to achieve better success.  Lauren Conrad I have not given up on you my dear

4. I'm going strong without meat - feeling better than ever!! Not gonna lie, I was craving chicken yesterday but didn't do it.  I am enjoying this. 

5. Spring is almost (officially) here.  2 more days. Oh and guess what? I wore flip flops yesterday!!!! yay

Now I am very excited for this weather, but am prepared for much rain because according to the good ol' Farmer's Almanac its gonna be a wet one this year.  So in anticipation of same, I plan to purchase one of these lovlies:

First Pair - Aldo Ramirec currently on sale here for $59.98

Second pair - Aldo Sliney currently on sale here for $39.98

Use promo code VIPOFFER for free shipping :)

As enticing as the first pair is, I may just end up playing it safe with the cheaper shoe - who knows, maybe hubbs will let me splurge ;)

Of course, coupled with:

Old Navy Belted Trench can be found here for $49.50 and use your ON card and receive $10 off using the promo code THANK YOU

And topped off with this:

Aldo Zenon can be found here for $42 which is a STEAL for this uber cute bag in my opinion

On top of the free shipping promo code above for Aldo - sign up for their e-mail list and you'll receive a coupon for 10% off

Now tell me that wouldn't make rain look fabulous!

If I had it my way; however, I'd be rockin out in the rain like this:

More Be & D...

This stylebook makes my heart skip a beat, those Loubs are seriously orgasmic.  I need those in my life.

And I want to give a big shout out to my girl Dona (that's Doh-nya, hehehe) for passing her insurance exam, she is now officially licensed to do biz in the State of North Carolina - you go girl!!

If you need Aflac insurance, let me know - I'll hook ya up.

Questions, Comments?

Housewives

This post is 2 part/2 meaning. 

First, let's talk about being a housewife. A legitimate housewife, that is. To me, a legitimate housewife is one whose husband has a stellar career that financially allows for the wife to not have to work.  In my humble opinion, if you do not have children there is no reason to be a housewife.  Because then what would the reason be you are not working? As a housewife, you look after/raise/educate the children including but not limited to taking them to and from exploratory classes and ventures, play dates, doctor's appointments, etc.,  you cook the meals of the home and you clean your humble abode as well as run most of the household errands and if applicable, pay/manage/organize the household builds. Enough things in a day to basically take you from 9am-5pm.

I'm a part time housewife.  I work a 9-5 every day and am currently embarking on a new venture.  As much as I would have loved to stay at home and raise my booger from birth to kindergarden, I did not have that luxury by any means.  It was a terrible thing to have to return to work when my babes was only 8 weeks old but that's what I had to do. 

That being said, I think housewives tend to get a 'bad rap' from those of us who are 9-5ers.  I'll admit it, too that its somewhat from an envious standpoint.  However, I cannot stand to hear a woman who has the leisure of not being forced to work to complain about how exhausted she is or how she couldn't get 'this' done or 'that' done because frankly, I get it done...AND I worked all day so my time is basically limited to 3 hours a day and then weekends and that includes
1. dinner
2. cleanup
3. errands.
4. walking the dog
5. family time
6. gym
7. bath time
8. story/bedtime
9. Then throw in your occasional dinners with the fam, visiting with friends (and their children), after school activities, fundraisers, school programs, continuing education for the parents, sports, recreation and birthday parties!

And did I mention....ALONE TIME! No, I didn't because that's non-existent. Did I mention a social life? Nope, not much of that either.

Don't get me wrong, there are pah-lenty of housewives out there who get every last thing done, every single day without missing a beat...and they don't complain about it and their children are top notch! But there are more than that who don't...but don't worry their bodies are hawt, their hair is perfectly highlighted and their shopping trips are abundant.

Part 2...Here is the reason why most of the housewifes act the bratty ass way they do:

Don't get me wrong, folks I love me some Real Housewives on Bravo...because its entertaining.  But the sad reality is that its become 'cool' to be a non-productive wife/mother as long as you look fabulous. 

Now don't get it twisted because I am all about being fabulous, looking hot, having hot shit...but don't be a brat too.  And don't act like your life is so friggin tough that you personally can't even raise your own damn kids.  You don't need a nanny and you don't need a chef...because guess what darling? That's YOUR job and if you're like me and you do work, then it's partially your job and the other part belongs to your hubbs.

It just rubs me the wroooonnnngggg way when a mother is more concerned with her botox and breast implants than she is her own damn kids (a la Tamra in RH of OC) or how about Theresa (RH of NJ) who doesn't teach her darling little girls shit except how to drop $10K on summer clothes, wear lipstick and be an actress at the age of 5 oh wait! Then there's Alexis (OC) who has like 3 nannies...the woman only has 3 kids!! and she does not work, at all - ever! -- this little excerpt is derived from Bravotv.com "Keeping up appearances is important to Alexis, who devotes two to three hours each day to personal maintenance including working out, waxing, tanning, manicures and various other beauty treatments" Wow! Just wow! 

It's becoming socially acceptable to have other people raise your kids and do your 'duties' and it aggravates the bejesus out of me. I'd love love love to have the opportunity to even be home with my boy for one month straight let alone an entire childhood and I find it hard to swallow that so many people take complete and utter advantage of their own opportunity. 

enuff said, i guess.

Comments, anyone? I'd love to hear your take -whether be housewife or 9-5er? Am I too harsh or right on the money? Thanks for reading.

KWEENO, KICKBOXING AND ANN TAYLOR

Quinoa (pronounced kwee-no) -- a fabulous nutritional grain, cereal like.  Nutritionally MUCH better than even brown rice.  It's protein content is unusually high (12-18%) and unlike rice it contains a very balanced set of essential amino acids for humans which again, makes it a complete protein source.  A great source of dietary fiber, gluten free and easy to digest.  To make quinoa, you have to first soak the grains in hot water for a good 5 minutes in order to remove the bitter outer coating called saponins after soaking you will drain all the water (using a mesh strainer if you have one as the grains are very small) you then cook to a rolling boil and once boiling, cover with a tight lid and let simmer for 15 minutes.  After same, take the pot off the heat (still covered) for 5 minutes, fluff with fork after and you're set. 

I had this with my dinner last night and I must say, I was pleasantly surprised at both the taste and the texture.  Now, when I boiled it I substituted the water for chicken broth and there are TONS of tasty recipes online.  Try it.

This is what the uncooked quinoa looks like...similar to pastina if you've ever had that. 

I found THIS great recipe that I'm going to have for lunch today.



On to other news, SURPRISE its snowing again today! Shocker.  I mean, when is it going to stop already? I have 3 ready to pop pregnant friends and I don't believe that a blizzard is very good 'I'm on my way to the hospital' weather.  So enough already.

I'm taking a kickboxing class tonight at 5pm (will probably get my own butt kicked) but will let you know how it goes.  I cannot say enough how much I really loved that pilates class on Tuesday...my abs are still burning! I know if I continue to take the class each week I'll definitely see an improvement.  I'm hoping they add a 2nd convenient class that I can take.  I've decided that Mon, Wed, Fri I'll do the 6am gym and Tuesdays and Thursdays I'll take a class at night.  Will keep you updated on my progress!

I know this post hasn't been tooo exciting but I just had to share my excitement for this new food as well as the fitness updates!  For my fashion and beauty segment today, I'm going to share my rant about Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor Loft.  Let me start by saying this is one store I always looked at as an 'older' store - I always thought it was a store that women in their late 30's and early 40's shopped at to look somewhat cute and on trend.  I was a very sadly mistaken young girl when I thought this.  The oh-so-adorable Chloe at Chloe's Conspiracy has me HOOKED on Ann Taylor. 

However, my dears, I very quickly came to shocking revelation #1 - I cannot afford to shop at this store, not even on sale I mean, some stuff has ok prices, $39.99 isn't bad for a nice cardigan but $128 for a statement necklace or $88 for a shell? 
They just have the most adorable, feminine, gorgeous pieces of everything - they have very cute jewelry and their ruffly, flowery, girly colored tops are to die for.  Here is my "want list" of Ann Taylor items that if anyone really loved me lots would get for me!! btw my B-diddy is 12/31, my Anniversary is 7/25,  Christmas is ALWAYS 12/25 and Easter this year is 4/4...K thanks, xoxo

Whirlwind of a Week

Well ello there...let's recap Tuesday-Thursday

1.) Snow Sucks - period. We got a ridiculous amount of it here in Northwest New Jerz and I shoveled with hubbs like 14 times in one day...just stupid.  My car is still covered in snow because neither of us felt like digging it out for the umteenth time

2.) Blackberry's suck.  I remember when I got mine and though "oh yay, I'm so high tech and well connected now" yeah, right.  I can log on to my blog via BB and see posts, etc. but cannot write new posts or even schedule already drafted ones because "the page you are trying to load is too large" so awesome, I'm SOOO glad I pay $30/month to be so 'well connected'

3.) 2 days off from work in the middle of the week is awesome! Although I kept thinking yesterday was Sunday and anxiously surfing the channels wondering why Keeping Up with the Kardashians wasn't on? Well, darling because it was Thursday! But woot woot today is casual Friday and then another 2 days off.  Yessssss!

Speeking of the crazy K's...guess who was on Regis and Kelly yesterday? My fav beotch, the 'Tush'...I seriously have a borderline stalker obsession with this woman (exaggerating here, people), I have never envied someone else (celebrity or not) as much as I do her.  She is just stunning at every single moment, its just not even fair.  Although, Kim's flaw - she's really not good at anything in particular.  She's gorgeous, yes - fun to watch, yes - but all in all she really is famous just for being famous, that's it.  I mean she's a successful business woman for sure, she's branded herself in a way that arguably takes a lot of work (or a good momager/agent) 

Kudos to the fact that she has now added a perfume line to her success but whether it smells like dog poo or not, people will buy it by the boat load just because its 'hers'.  I am severely upset that on Monday she will be at the NYC Sephora signing autographs and launching her new fragerence (which will be sold exclusively at Sephora) -- but guess what? Boss will be royally ticked if I take off so I can't go. Wahh  ::::wipes tear::::

Here she is on yesterday's show, where Regis creepily sniffed her several times (check out the kool aid smile he has on the ENTIRE time she's sitting next to him) -- and Bush is on Monday's show :)

Realizing

Now that Manday has made me feel better I think I can make some useful notations about myself to all 7 of you wonderful followers :)

---I definitely cannot hang like I used to.  Which means I probably shouldn't try to.  Drink way too much vodka that is. I should stick to my 1 glass of wine with dinner and bump it up to 2 glasses on a Saturday night.  Period.

Realization #2...I'm getting fat.  Not even kidding.  I don't know if it's hormones or what, but lately (and lately means since Christmas) I have just been eating like a heffer.  I crave things, I binge eat and I just feel yuck.  I have been a very strict eater for about 3 years now. I gained a disgusting 94 lbs. when I was preggo for my wonderful little boy and had a gross and unflattering battle losing it afterwards.  But when I did, I was so proud of myself, my hard work and dedication.  Not only did I lose the 94 lbs. I shed an additional 10 or so more and toned my physique like it had never been before.  I was very happy. 

When hubbs and I started dating, about 2 or 3 months in I just stopped going to the gym...I was too busy with him, ya know - dating and all that jazz and I was just content - we were in love (well maybe not at 2 months, but eventually) and I just let my gym routine fall by the way side.  I kept up my strict eating habits though so I didn't gain any weight, but I was quickly losing my toned physique I had worked so damn hard at.  I went back to the gym in the months preceeding the wedding but again, let it fall by the way side thereafter.  Its just effin ridiculous.  I'm not joking.  I just cannot get motivated, what so ever and on top of not going to the gym I find myself eating the worst foods more often than not.  I don't know why looking in the mirror wearing last year's swimsuit, gagging at my appearance and woefully putting the suit back in its box has not been enough, but wtf!!! My lovely partner in crime, Dona turned me on to this really great '10 minute solutions' pilates DVD that is actually 50 minutes total if you do the whole thing and I think its great and its definitely a start...but I need more motivation. 
Then, after reading Miss Veronika's blog this AM, I felt even worse about being such a fat bum because she is clearly VERY motivated and gets her arse to the gym ALL the time and is wearing a size 4...wtf, why can't I be back in a size 4 and be motivated?

When you feel good - you look good and you act right...you just exuberate that in your entire outer appearance. From your hair and makeup to your desk at work

For example when you look and feel good your car doesn't look like this:

Your sink doesn't look like this:

And you don't look like this when trying to put on your favorite pants

And unfortunately, my friends, my car does look like that and if I didn't have a wonderful husband, my sink would look like that too and I'm exaggerating but I do feel like that woman above! So now that I'm done whining

Tell me - how do YOU get out of a rut? How do you get motivated and stay motivated?

Da Big game ;)

I suppose I cannot depart on the Friday before Super Bowl without paying some sort of homage to the All American Event, hubbs and I are heading over to a friend's house to watch the game on the big screen, I'll be a good little wifey and make some yummy treats for all the men but in all reality, my ultra shallow partake in the festivities boils down to the fact that...

I absolutely ADORE Kim Kardashian and since her man is the very sexy Reggie Bush...I'm rootin for the Saints.

:::Go Saints:::

Say hello to arrival

A die hard follower of many blogs, from fashion and beauty, finance, decorating, renovation, DIY and many many more...I thought it was about time that I start my very own, not that my life is that important that someone else wants to read about it- but hey, I do it so why not.

Although I know about zero regarding blogging - how to create a fauncy *pronounced fauhncee* headline or text, I suppose it just may be quite boring for a little while.  I'll more than likely post outfits of the day (ootd), pictures of my decorating and renovating extravagazaaa's at home and random bullshicky I see around me that I find interesting enough to share with others

And for what it's worth - Maria is my alter ego est. about 4 years ago in Maryland on Route 95
 Oh, and for shits and giggly's here's a picture of the hubbs and I on the plane headed to Mexico for our fabulous honeymoon...