Extra, Extra: My Blackberry is about to EXPLODE!

I woke this morning, 6:30AM PST to find the below e-mails:

Neiman Marcus "Reinvent yourself the Juicy Couture way + Free online shipping at ANY PRICE" (yes, I want to reinvent myself...the juicy way!)
J Crew "Extra 20% off spring sale. Online only" (like I needed another reason to shop J.Crew)
Glamour Magazine "Save up to 74%" (odd number---due to their anniversary or something---)
Neiman Marcus "The Good Event at NM Stores: $40 Donation Gets you 30% Off"(that is a good event, no cleaver response)
Apple "Last Chance!"
Royal Caribbean "Earning a Cruise Could Be Easier Than You Imagined!" (are they hiring me?)
Neiman Marcus "Invitation-Only: Two-Hour Event" (oh, so special! ONLY Two-Hours---SHOP NOW!)
Bergdorf Goodman "Jimmy Choo Pre-Fall: An Aggressive Nature" (WTF?)
Origins- "Welcome to Origins: Learn About Sales and Special Events"
Sephora-"Try this before it launches-FREE! (better get on it before it fires away...and everyone can buy it...)
J. Crew Factory "Special savings for summer" (another plug for J.Crew...once again, no need to sell me on it...)
J. Crew "Are you missing out?" (please, spare me, my credit card tells me I am CLEARLY not missing out...I am simply buying out the store!!!)
Bellagio "Special Rates and Packages"
Aveda Pure Privilege "Earn Double Points May 8-10)

With the economy (or moreover, the focus on the economy and the current struggles) it shouldn't surprise me that EVERYONE is trying to grab our attention with ads, commercials, e-mails with "special offers". But seriously, can't I just have 1 or 2 a day?!

This must stop. MUST STOP....which is why I went and removed my e-mail from all (except J.Crew of course).

My new career is fitting.

Today was the second day I sat in on the pre-med course I will be teaching at a four-year university next fall. As part of my job, I will be a co-instructor of a course that helps students preparing for health professions. And I am proud that in my class, future nurses, doctors, and surgeons await...it is a bit ironic, too.

This evening, while in bed (watching my new favorite show Gossip Girl), I started to realize my severe inflammation is back...long story short, I have had heart surgery due to a life-threatening heart problem, and compilations from the surgery led to a lasting chronic pain in my chest (near the original opening in the sternum). I get inflamed, severely, about once or twice a month. Another surgery last April to help resulted in a minor improvement and another may be needed.

When I started to feel a little hopeless that I am going to spend my life like this, and balancing medication and doctors...I realized...that perhaps, just maybe, one of my students will be my future doctor, and help me :)

But for now, it is a few medications, and a heating pad and ice pack ;)

Product Review: Tiffany Key Collection

A few weeks back I received a beautiful brochure from Tiffany regarding their new Key collection. They looked very chic.

Today, I went to my local Tiffany & Co at South Coast to purchase one for myself (and have my engagement ring maintained). And I did. However, my key pendant has since been returned (yep, I purchased and returned in the same day).

The Tiffany Key Collection ranges from entry-level pieces (including the sterling silver vintage oval key) to a $16K version in platinum. However, a few things put me off---

1) The item appears to be becoming too trendy for my taste. While waiting to purchase one, I noticed 15+ teenage girls buying theirs. My friend (and one of their managers) told me they have sold out of thousands just at my local store.

2) Unless you can afford the 18kt or platinum diamond versions, the keys are actually lackluster. The silver ones are just boring and really do not look very eye-catching on (IMHO).

The Key Collection seriously reminded me of the Return to Tiffany collection...popular, somewhat cute and now unoriginal. Clearly, this is just my opinion, and I urge you to check them out yourself if you have a store nearby.

Thoughts on Possible Handbags?

I hated to post this right after my product reviews (so be sure to check out my current favorite products in the post below!!!!)...but would LOVE my readers opinions on the following bag:
Marc Jacobs Patent Leather Blake
I had a similar MJ Blake before, with classic calf leather and gold hardware, with suede interior. However, the newer bags now come with cloth lining which will make it so much lighter, and in the patent outer material, to make it more durable! Thoughts? Is it classic? Or is going out of style? I know it isn't my dreamy Louis Vuitton Trevi I cannot afford or the black small Burberry Beaton I cannot find to save my life!

FORGOT TO ADD:
Or should I go with the Damier Speedy?

I like the Damier Speedy, but am worried that because it doesn't fit on my shoulder, I may not get as much use (note: this was edited ;) )
Oh well, better to wait than rush into it...

Saturday Night Product Reviews: LONG

No creative title, and really nothing to post about, so I thought I would do a product reviews-type post. I am stealing the idea from the ever-classy and preppy JGIWC. Due to the fact I actually am ill with a chronic thoracic/heart condition, posting the pics inside my medicine cabinet are off limits. But I would like to share
with you products I swear by, and always will. I know we are in a recession, and some of the items below are a bit pricey, but I honestly believe in them, and that they may be worth the splurge!!!!
PERFUMES
I live by two: Delices by Cartier for Fall-Winter; Pure by Tiffany for Spring-Summer.
I purchased my Delices by Cartier from either Saks or Nordstroms (cannot remember!) however the higher alchohol content sisters can be found at discounts stores such as Target or Lohmanns. It contains fruits floral notes like cherry, bergamot, as well as florals such as violet, jasmine and freesia. The amber must and sandalwood make it a slightly warmer scent. It comes in a variety of price levels (due to that wonderful alcohol level) Mine at home is about 1oz and was $125 or more----cannot remember exactly.
The Pure Tiffany isn't online, but you can find it at your local store. I believe I paid $100 for 1.7 ounces. It contains jasmine, water lily, may blossom and tuberose. I find it light, and uplifting.
COSMETICS
I like to say I know my makeup, but I don't. The ONLY product I have used consistently is Dior Show mascara. I live by it. It nearly never clumps, always goes on smooth, and gives you great, but natural looking eyelashes. Especially when I use my Sephora curler. You can buy it most stores, including Sephora which lists it at $25.
HAIR
For my longer-time readers, you may recall my attempt at saving money by cutting down on my haircare products. However, the experiment went poorly, and now I am bad to my basics. Ted Gibson products for hair are fantastic. If you don't know him, you should! I was a one-monthly hair model (where his students would practice on me both with cut and color) for him in the Flatiron District. I buy his shampoos and conditioners. Worth the splurge, and the beauty is you can buy them at Target, Nordstroms, Sephora or at TedGibsonBeauty.com. The standard shampoo and conditioner (Daily Cleanse) is $24.99 a bottle. Your hair is left clean, shiny, and manageable. Also, it is left with the most beautiful smell of a fresh orchid.
I also will use Aveda Color Conserve on certain days.

SKIN
ORIGINS, ORIGINS, ORIGINS!!!!! Never met one of their products I didn't LOVE. I use the following:
Origins a Perfect World Scrub ($36) ---leaves your skin smelling and feeling great. It exfoliates well, AND never leaves any residue behind. And mmmm...that White tea smells good!
Origins Gloomaway Body Wash ($21)----need I say more? The title says it all :)
Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash ($18.50)---my skin has never looked or felt so healthy since I incorporated this face wash into my morning and evening routine.
I just started using a few more of their products---and will keep you updated! They are: A Perfect World body lotion ($37), A Perfect World for Eyes (.5lf oz for $32) and A Modern Friction (4oz for $37)

RANDOM PRODUCT
L'Occitane's The Vert Green Tea scented candles. Perfect for those lonely nights when you feel like the world is crashing down, you can relax for a short time with the simple flash of fire ;)

YIPPY! New Arrivals!

I have been anxiously awaiting new arrivals at J.Crew (despite the fact I managed to still find a few more last season items I needed yesterday night at the Mission Viejo mall!).

Here are some of my new favorite picks:



I am sad no new handbags came out :( well, they just took the hobo and changed the colors...because I am still looking for a new one, and want a nice alternative to the LV Trevi I am lusting over!

Unstylishly Exhausted

I am trying not to complain, because really, I am very lucky to have a fantastic job. I love where I work, my co-workers, the office, the company, the location, everything! But the past two days of training have been utterly exhausting---and I have no one to mildly rant to about it, because I feel guilty.

I am so tired I barely had energy to eat dinner, and make a bath. The condo is a MESS and it is to the point I am thinking of getting a cleaner once a week, to do things like the tub, etc. Heck, I barely have time to check my favorite blogs, or the J.Crew sale section! I even received the Tiffany catalog/advertisement with the new key collection and haven't had a moment to spare to go to their website or store to look at them (be shocked, and note the title of my blog---I am a sick fan of the jewelry store---despite the fact I acknowledge the prices are very high, and the quality may be diminishing...).

So now it is about 8:30 and I am in bed, in ugly pjs and in need of some kind of pampering, waiting for just some small bit of energy...waiting, or praying.

Gossip Girl, L'Occitane and Water!

Pure perfection to an end of a very stressful, but very exciting day!

My new job seems really, really perfect (once I get settled). Mike even sent a big, beautiful bouquet that arrived at my work! And my parents took me out for dinner (some yummy salmon and a good drink).

Now, after a nice cool shower (it was really hot today!) I am now in my bed, watching Gossip Girl (and wishing I had Blair's wardrobe) with a great candle and tall glass of ice-cold water.

New Start

"The beginning is the most important part of the work"-Plato

Nervous is the only way to describe my feeling right now. Very nervous about tomorrow...first day of hopefully a long and happy career! The job is at a company I used to work for, but with a new department. I am super excited about the new and much shorter commute (15 minutes, but 5 minutes on a toll road!). I also am really excited about my new boss, whom I swear is the most friendly person on earth! But I still feel like I did that first day of Kindergarten...and simply hope for a smooth transition.

To calm my nerves this evening, I am on Twitter, reading blogs, shopping online, googling, watching my new favorite movie (DO NOT LAUGH-I KNOW IT IS PATHETIC: Twilight) with a nice ice cold drink to beat the still lingering heat (it was 95 at the pool today for our BBQ with friends of ours). I also enjoyed a nice dinner of Russia food at my parents to celebrate Russian Easter ;)

Weekend Update

I haven't posted in a while, because I am still recuperating from my weekday vacation, which wasn't really a vacation at all...

As you know, on Thursday I checked into the super cute Chamberlain Hotel near a venue I had a little gig to attend on Sunset Blvd. The West Hollywood hotel was adorable, clean, relaxing, etc. The restaurant we ate at was also fantastic (I ordered a French Kiss and Organic Veggie Burger...). And even the gig was nice...the trouble came at 2:30AM (or around then).

Fire Alarm! Yes, early in the morning, a very stupid, probably drunk, person jumped up and down on his bed, hit his head on the sprinkler, and set it off---leading to a massive flood on hotel (a significant number of fire alarms managed to be set off--along with the sprinklers around them). We spent the early morning standing in the drenched lobby watching fireman run up and down, the staff on their hands and needs wiping, the furniture, and LARGE tubs and trash cans collecting the water.

In total, I got 3.5 hours of sleep in the relaxing hotel :)

At least the weekend is here, as I prepare for new job Monday!

Weekday Getaway

What do you do when you are utterly busy, tired, excited, and energized all at the same time? You take a mini-vacation. Okay, perhaps vacation is too drastic of a word...

I booked a suite at the Chamberlain West Hollywood for one night, tomorrow night. It is perfect, because it is less than a mile from the Rainbow Bar and Grill where a friend is playing at 9:30PM. After my night of cocktails at the hotel, mixed with a beer at the bar, I get to wake to a fun-filled day: my very last day at work :)

TWITTER HELP!

So I was officially one of a select few in my group of friends that did not use Twitter. What is the deal? How do I really use it?! I just signed up and am totally lost :(

Tweet Tweet!

Pearls of Wisdom

Oh, pearls of wisdom...my favorite, of all-time, is "Life is really simple, but men insist on making it complicated"-Confucius.

Whenever I get so caught up with everything that is going on around me and start to worry (which includes the new job changes, worrying about my brother, health for our family in general, my own heart/chest pain, Mike's career path, finances, etc) I realize that life could be simple...or at least, a little more simple. Instead of worrying about jobs or careers, or shopping and trends, and focusing on the little joys of life, things could be...really simple.

On Sunday evening, having MISSED mass (they changed the times, and removed my usual 5:30PM without notice!), Mike and I opted for a quick burgers and shakes at Ruby's Diner and then parked our bottoms on the sand in Laguna. We spent 30 minutes sitting and watching the sunset. It was simple, and very pleasurable. I focused on what was there around me---and not about all of the other racing thoughts in my head. It was, for once, quiet.

Of course, that did only last 30 minutes. And Monday came before I knew it!!!! When my angered boss came in, I simply looked at him and thought of Confucius---because after all, it does state "men insist".

Happy Easter

Wishing all my lovely blog readers a very happy easter, or holiday season....

Weekend Update

Today I had a unique day---a nice one, I suppose. I woke up, enjoyed Cosi and a diet coke (I am addicted), hit up Nordstrom, Tiffany (for a ring inspection and cleaning) and my beloved J.Crew (where I returned some items, and purchased some more).

We re-booked our honeymoon for the millionth time (and a year later!). In lieu of our stressful, and slightly longer/expensive Eastern Mediterranean Cruise to 6 nights on the Big Island at the Fairmont Orchid. I have been to Hawaii a number of times, but always love it. It is so relaxing---and I think that is what we really need right now after our very stressful year. We want to do Europe in a few years, after I have been at my soon-to-be new job for a while, and are more settled.

I am including pics of the place we are staying at.





After re-booking our honeymoon, I did the unthinkable...I went golfing with my father, brother and Mike. Haven't been in 6 years, since I gave it up. Long gone were the days of countless travels to tournaments across CA and the country, or hanging out with friends (some of those I played with are now pro golfers that you may see in commercials---like Paula and Christina). I was actually, once really good (except for one round of CCS---where I choked beyond belief). But, to really play a sport, I mean truly play it, you have to love it. I liked golf, but never loved it.

Well, our family will go out for breakfast tomorrow for Easter, but we actually celebrate Russian Easter, so will wait a little bit to break out colored eggs, and good food!

An Angel is in Heaven...

This isn't typical of my blog...but I felt like I needed to post about this.

Today, a new angel, Nick Adenhart, is in heaven. He shouldn't be. He should be in Orange County, CA today.

As someone who has lost friends to drunk driving, this, along with the other countless tragedies such as the one recently at my work, devastate me. Interestingly, today I realized that I had both a cousin who was killed by a drunk driver, and another, who killed while drunk driving. Both lives were lost/damaged, in the end.

Never, ever, drink and drive...seems so simple, but apparently so hard not to do.

Follow My Blog!!! Please?

“I was born with an enormous need for affection...”-Audrey Hepburn

Okay, I altered her quote a little and it isn't entirely true of me! However, since I have now decided to really dedicate myself to getting this little blog going, I would like to ask you, any of my lovely readers, to "follow" my blog, and if possible, get the word out to others to start reading it. And in return, I will do my best to post (hopefully, interesting and fun random posts)...

A million thanks for the affection ;)

Happy Announcement!!!!

I got a new job.

So excited, I will be literally 10 minutes from our condo. No more worries about putting thousands and thousands of miles on my beautiful Saab each year :) :) :)

"Did I tell you how divinely and utterly happy I am?"-Holly from Breakfast at Tiffany

A Girl Should Be Two Things: Classy and Fabulous

I bought my very first pair of sunglasses that I absolutely love. In LA it is so hard to find an understated pair. Everything has rhinestones, or major logos. However, working in education, and being fairly plain, I wanted something classy, fabulous AND understated. Hence, my beautiful new pair of sunglasses courtesy of Chanel. With the hue of black (my staple), and a classic quilted-type pattern, and a VERY small logo, this pair of sunglasses had everything I loved.


If only I had that Trevi to pair it with :), perhaps for Christmas? Oh, fantastic and chic sunglasses are a start to jazz up my drab wardrobe.

I'm Back...

I think I took the necessary blogging break. I needed some time during the past few difficult weeks of work (and accompanying stress!). However, these past few weeks were not without some joyful drama.

1) In a little more than two weeks, I will enjoy a change in my work environment :)

2) On my way to meet Orlando Bloom (my best friend knows him, through SGI predominantly, as well as through UNICEF)--I found myself in jammed 405 traffic next to McDreamy. I have met countless "celebrities" and normally have no care about them (they are just people after all), however my heart stopped and started to then race when I saw the beautiful specimen of a man in the 1970s Mercedes racing car he drove. As soon as he realized I noticed him, he started to smile. I then proceeded to be a rude "paparazzi" when I rolled down my window and caught him by surprise by taking his picture (I felt terrible, apologized, and he said no worries, and then smiled and said "hello"). I got a good solid 5 minutes of drooling!

3) My Dad had a truck jump a median and hit him (he is safe, thank God!). The joy, obviously, is that he was UNINJURED. Unfortunately, we cannot say the same for the person who hit him :(---and we still do not know about the 3 other drivers involved.

4) I enjoyed a major cool concert of Elton John and Billy Joel. Worth every penny ($180 per seat). I cried with a number of songs "Tiny Dancer", "Candle in the Wind", and of course, I was a waterfall with "Piano Man". I did feel out of place though---had to be one of the youngest people there.

5) Mike and his "man friend" (aka husband of my girlfriend) got some sweet tickets courtesy of her firm to the first Dodger pre-season game, and enjoyed stuffing themselves with the free buffet and drinks.

Anyway, that is my update. I am including the pic of McDreamy. Trust me, I feel bad for snapping it, and apologized after (although, I was not alone, the girls in the convertible behind me had about 3-4 cameras pointed at him). I swear he smiled and waved after (of course, you have to take my word for it).