My favorite things on the internet.

These are the only things that can cheer me up when I'm PMS-ridden or full of break-up angst. 

My most-loved sites for shopping, photos, articles, etc......

XoJane

Recently discovered this site...full of articles, opinion columns, & reviews, etc. .  These writings are so honest, hilarious, feminist, insightful, unafraid, and real.  I'm addicted!! 

Etsy

Like a virtual open-air bazaar with handcrafted goods, art, clothing, accessories, products, etc.  Also great source for vintage finds.  All price ranges and tastes.  Also, great to support independent crafts-people. 

SHYB

Feeling bad about your physical appearance? I try to look at this site every day to remind me that there are all shapes and sizes out there and I shouldn't waste time hating myself!!   Real people and real pictures.

The Perfumed Court

I am addicted to perfumes/oils/fragrance.  This site allows me to indulge without spending a fortune.  They decant small amounts of luxury/classic/niche fragrances in vials/rollers/mini- spray bottles for very affordable prices.

Pinterest

An obvious choice. But so addictive.  The best part , for me, are the recipe ideas.

Frocks & Frou Frou

Fashion blog.  This girl is Australian, curvy, classy, unique, naturally beautiful, and I absolutely love her style. 

Underground New York Public Library

Where I go to find ideas for which book I'll read next.  Also, I can vicariously ride the NYC subway via the photos. 

Modcloth

Awesome online boutique.  Not always the cheapest. But everything is MY STYLE to a "T."

Simple Dreams

Visual inspiration for all things 1930s-1960s. 

New Phase

I spontaneously decided to give myself a mini vacation this week. So I called in "sick" to work yesterday and today.



And guess what I've done..... I hung up EVERY ARTICLE OF CLOTHING in my wardrobe!!!!


Majorly patting myself on the back.


I've been more productive in two days than I have been in, hmm, a year?



This signals the beginning of a new phase if I do say so myself.



Today, I'm continuing to clean and organize. I'm also cooking some tamarind chicken in the crockpot... a recipe I just made up myself. I ordered some Tamacon Tamarind paste online a few weeks ago from an Indian grocer on Amazon. So I used what was left of a bag of frozen chicken breasts (two large pieces), drizzled the tamarind concentrate all over it..probably roughly added up to 2/3 cup..... and 1/2 a can of stewed tomatoes, and then added several dashes of cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and curry powder....several spoonfuls of farmer's market apple butter, and three capfuls of olive oil. It's been simmering on low in the crockpot for a couple hours now.. (I'm letting it cook for probably 6-7 hours total). Halfway through I'll probably throw in some sea salt and dried onion.

That's how I typically cook... I just randomly throw things in... but I've never had a dish turn out badly. In fact, they are usually delicious. I've discovered some interesting flavor combinations that way, too.


I'm also pondering ways to display/organize/hang the vast array of scarves I own. I love them all, and they are too pretty to be folded in a drawer, or in hidden in my closet. Not too mention, I forget I own things when they are tucked away like that.



Some ideas so far:

The top photo is from Etsy for $28.99, the next from ebay for $12.49 (I like this one a lot, and it has 20 clips, but I don't know where I could hang it from....) and the bottom one from Amazon for $149.99 (!!!) Ouch. Not getting that one.. but I like it the best... I just need to find something similar.

Well... back to my frenzy of productivity! ;)

Winter Blues

I've been feeling completely un-sexy lately. I think it's just because I'm currently stuck in the middle of winter: I've got a little extra "padding" after the holidays, hairy legs (I rarely shave my legs in the winter.. always wearing pants, tights, or leggings) , ultra pale and dry skin, and chapped lips. My eyes have been red lately from staring at a computer all day at work. And I also cut my very long hair a couple of weeks before Christmas. I liked the change at first.... but I miss it now! I feel like long hair is such a sign of sexiness, beauty, youth, and health.... sigh... I was very vain about my hair. Not to say it's awful now... it's just shorter, very layered, and will take awhile to get back to where it was. Sometimes it dries like a mullet because of the extreme short and long layers... and then I do hate it. Ugh.

**sigh** I'm so vain in general.. and I just want to feel pretty!!

I'm just waiting for winter to be over... so I can get some SUN, produce will be cheaper (antioxidants!!), and I can get outside and work out (without worrying about falling down icy steps like I did a month or so ago).

For now I'm trying to watch what I eat... using my handy new Calorie Counter app. And eat as many fruits and veggies as I can (can afford that is). Stay stress free.. and positive-minded. These are the best things you can do in winter, I think.


And back to the topic of hair, when it grows out again I may keep it, or I may try a cut like this:
Yes, it's also short. But I like the all-one-length-ness. Still looks sleek and sexy, and yet edgy, too. It's very cute and face-framing also. I wonder if I could pull it off?

Dreams and Reality

I had an awful dream last night that it was New Year's Eve and in the morning I realized I hadn't been with J all night, so I went outside in the snow in a nightgown and ran around looking for him...among all these strange houses. People passing me by starting warning me of a "doomsday" type thing saying something was coming and I should take cover. I go back inside the house I was in for New Year's Eve, only to find a letter from bank saying that my wages were being garnished.

If this isn't my subconscious screaming about the things that are distressing me, I don't know what is!!!

In reality, I have not spoken to J in two days... this is the longest it's been in quite some time.


I got a new cell phone yesterday. With unlimited calls, texting, and internet usage to boot! It's Erin D 2011 as my dear friend Amber put it. haha.
But with it came a new phone number, that J does NOT have and will not be getting. And I feel a huge relief that he can't even contact me.


However, as for the second frightening factor in my dream --wage garnishment-- I suppose this could be a real possibility. The student loan debt, the bill collector calls, and the endless letters I get terrify me. I simply do not have the money to pay these bills. And the whole situation scares me so much that I usually avoid it all... I discard the letters, ignore the calls. But now the possibilities of what the consequences could be are creeping into my dreams. I have to call these companies to figure something out. I've known this for a long time, but I have to really do it.



Onto more pleasant things....I had a delicious and relaxing evening at Bailey's Chocolate Bar with Marisa and Simone. I had a Basil Mozzarella Tomato Spinach Pizzetta , a Cocoa Pumpkin Bar with Cinnamon Ice Cream, and a glass of Shiraz. What could be more perfect????
And I finally got a full night's rest last night. Feeling much better. Might even go back to sleep for a bit .. just because I can! :)

Buon appetito!

One of the best things I've discovered in the last few months is how much I love cooking, how great of a creative outlet it is for me, and how damn good i am at it!

Grocery shopping has become one of my favorite pastimes, as well browsing recipe sites, and digging through the pantry to see what random spice I can throw into a dish.

I took Jesse to Global Foods in Kirkwood this week and we picked up some delicious items.