I Use My Oven For Storage

Ch-Ch-Changes

2005-11-30T09:43:00.000-05:00

Whew! I lot has happened over the last month. For starters, my hair has gone from a sunkissed blonde to a chestnut brown. I love it and if you been on the fence about whether or not to take the plunge to brunette, I highly recommend it. It's so much fun to pick out new make-up colors and it's a great excuse to go shopping for new clothes to match your hair. Some of my favorite make-up picks for brown haired beauties are below.This palette is by Too Faces and has such a great range of colors that even blond babes can get some use out of it. The best part is that it comes with its own mini makeup brushes and folds up so you can stash it in your purse for touch ups on the go! It's available at Sephora.

What goes better with sultry dark hair? Exotic eyelashes of course. To get the sexiest look out of your hair, long thick lashes are a must. MAC's ProLash is perfect! For a more natural look, but still sexy look, you may opt for MAC's Mascara X.

My other big change, and what I consider to be the second best accessory (a bangin' body is of course #1), is that I got a new car! I was getting so tired of showering, blowing my hair out, putting on makeup, perfume, and cute clothes, to have it all ruined the moment I sat down in my smelly 13 year old car! I realized that I am an adult now and I make enough money (well, almost) to buy myself some nice things, so I upgraded to an Audi A4. It's silver with black leather interior and I love it! So now, that a large wad of my money has gone into my car, you can see why this post has focused on makeup rather than fashion... makeup is much cheaper!

The many layers of winter

2005-11-29T13:08:00.000-05:00

Has it really been over a month since I last posted. Woah! For all my loyal readers out there (the one or two that I know are there) I apologize. I guess I have been so busy getting my winter wardrobe together before the temperature really drops, I have forgotten to post. Speaking of, I wish the weather would make up its mind. Last week it was in the 30's and this week good ole NC is back up to 70! How am I supposed to make up my mind on what to wear when the weather won't make up its mind? The answer, I have learned, is layering! Layering sounds easy enough in theory, but in practice it's a whole other story. The trick is to have enough on to keep you warm without looking bulky. You also need to be able to take off layers when the air warms up without looking half naked. So here, I present my fool proof, tried and true recipe for layering. First off start with a sweet cami. I like Theory's Mirabel Metropolitan tank in Stucco.

Next, add an embroidered cardigan and top it off with a cute blazer. For daytime, I like tweed, wool, or corduroy. The jacket pictured below is Cythina Steffe's donegal fur trimmed vladimir jacket. Night time begs for a switch to a velvet jacket and/or sparkling cardigan.
What you wear on the bottom is your choice. For work, I opt for a pencil skirt and heels or an A-line skirt with knee high boots. Anytime other than work it's usually jeans for me!

Charleston, SC

2005-10-19T07:35:00.000-05:00

I've just returned from a long girl's weekend away in Charleston, SC. Well, more precisely we stayed on the Isle of Palms in an AMAZING house. It was huge and we had our own private pool and hot tub. It's been very hard to be back at work since I was gone on such a spectacular trip. If you've never been to Charleston, I highly recommend it. Shoot me an email and I can tell you the best restaraunts, bars, and shopping. Speak of shopping, King Street is absolutley fabulous. Some "must check out" out stores are Luna, Copper Penny, Finnicky Filly, and a Saks. I actually didn't buy as much as I thought I would. Mostly because I've already bought most of my fall/winter clothes. I did however buy a pair of Saint Grace pants in Date. I already have them in Ruby and Branch. The ones I got in Charleston are the exact same one Jessica is wearing here. I also bought 2 more pairs of hanky panky thongs, which are uber comfortable. I've even been able to convert my friend Melissa to thongs with the hanky panky's. She swore she would never wear thongs. My only other purchase was a pair of hot, hot, hot Steve Madden shoes.

I can already taste it...

2005-10-12T08:35:00.000-05:00

The victory, that is! To date, I am the top scorer in my Fantasy Fashion League. Oh yeah, baby! Of course that could change at any date, but it's never to early to plan out what shoes to get with my $1,000 shoe shopping spree. It's not too late to join www.fantasyfashionleague.com !!!

I heart purses!

2005-10-12T08:16:00.000-05:00

As anyone who knows me well (you don't even have to know me that well) can attest to, I absolutely love purses. At last count, there were 23 in rotation. Each purse is absolutely necessary for each outfit they go with and I'm always scoping out new colors and styles. My favorite purses are designer (obviously). I have the requisite coaches, kate spades, and juicy coutures, but I just haven't been able to afford the Chloe's and Balenciaga's at this stage of my life/career. Thus, imagine my elation when I stumbled upon Lush Fashions. I almost had a heart attack looking at their collections! Designer style purses at relatively dirt cheap prices!!!!!!!! See my faves below. Note: All pictures are from www.lushfashions.com

Brad and Jen's humble abode

2005-10-03T08:05:00.000-05:00

Well, it's officially over. As I mourn the loss of Hollywood's once golden couple, feel free to take a tour of their house that is now on the market. Jen and Brad's old house

Depressed Hair

2005-09-29T08:53:00.000-05:00

There is a woman I know who always wears her hair in a ponytail. She is in her 20's with gorgeous, thick, shiny, chestnut hair that has subtle auburn highlights. BUT, she always wears her hair in a freakin' ponytail. A chronic ponytail is depression for your coif. Spice it up. I want to shake her and scream, "WEAR YOUR HAIR DOWN. A PONYTAIL EVERYDAY FOR THE PAST 4 MONTHS IS RIDONKULOUS! ACT LIKE YOU ARE A TWENTY-SOMETHING YEAR OLD AND LET THOSE LOVELY LOCKS LIVE FREE!" Here are some hairstyles to inspire:

Fantasy Fashion League

2005-09-20T09:05:00.000-05:00

This is the woman's answer to the male obsession with fantasy football. I just joined today and for $18 a person you can either join a public league yourself or start a private leagues with 5 of your friends. The season started this past Sunday with the Emmy's and will conclude in March with the Oscars. Each league's winner will be entered into a drawing for a $1,000 shopping spree from zappos.com, and there are weekly prizes as well. Go to http://www.fantasyfashionleague.com to find out more information and sign yourself up. It's not too late!

Recent Purchases

2005-09-20T08:35:00.000-05:00

Well, so far my workout and organic diet routine has been going well (Thanks for the inspiration Jessica). I've lost 2 pounds! Hooray! To celebrate, I treated myself to a shopping spree this weekend. I've been dying for a pair of Saint Grace Carol Pants and bought some in the dark olive color. Since I'm 5'8", I was especially pleased with their 36 inch inseam and the color is perfect for fall. The pants are going to go great with my new juicy couture bowler. I also bought a juicy pullover to match the bag, and ordered a pair of the Hanky Panky panties; after hearing rave reviews from friends and magazines alike, I thought, why not give 'em a try. I was especially tempted since right now you can get 30% off at girlshop.com by entering the promo code DCGIRLSHOP. I took the 30% off opportunity and also bought this super cute knot bag.

Still on my "to purchase" list for fall:
1. Michael Kors Clogs

2. Frye Harness Boots - I prefer these to cowboy boots because they are less trendy. This style has been around for years and I don't see it going away any time soon. The beauty of a boot like this is that it only gets better with age.

3. BCBG fur trimmed sweater I've been drooling over this for a few weeks now and trust me, it is to die for!

4. JEANS, JEANS, and more JEANS!!! Gotta have 'em.

The best accessory....

2005-09-06T08:32:00.000-05:00

The best accessory for any season is to have a bangin' body. Every once in a while I get inspired to work out and this weekend I went on a 2 mile run/walk at a lake near my house. I met a woman who talked to me about the benefits of eating organic foods. She ate organic foods all summer and lost weight even without working out! With her words to the wise in mind, I'm going organic. I've also joined a gym and and I'm going to work out every day (or maybe every other day... baby steps). Some organic foods to try:

1. Ezekiel bread. It is a flourless bread made from ingredients listed in the Ezekiel chapter (hence the name) of the bible. It is delicious with organic peanut butter and organic raspberry jam and it contains all the essential amino acids.

2. Silk soy milk, very vanilla flavored. This tastes exactly like a french vanilla milkshake. It's a great substitute for me because I looooove ice cream. Just plop a few ice cubes in this drink and you'd think you just whipped up a guilt inducing treat.

3. Fruits and veggies. A crucial part to any diet, not just organic. Although with organic, you aren't getting all the nasty pesticides.

4. WATER!!!!! duh!

These are going to be the main staples of my organic diet. See workout inspiration in upper left corner. This is a shot from Jessica's recent cover shoot for Maxim (courtesy of sweetkisses.net). I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Hurricane Katrina Relief

2005-09-02T13:04:00.000-05:00

I am very thankful that my only problem as a result of Hurricane Katrina is that I have to spend some more money at the gas stations. I still have a roof over my head, good food to eat, family, and friends. Please help out the others who have been less fortunate. You can donate money, even if its $1.00, $10.00, or $100.00. Here are some worthy organizations:

The Red Cross
America's Second Harvest
AmeriCares
The Louisiana SPCA

Buy this dress now!

2005-09-02T12:56:00.000-05:00

For a long time, one wardrobe staple has eluded me. Developed by Coco Chanel, I never have been able to put my finger on the perfect little black dress. I wanted something that was fun and could be dressed up or down. Not too trendy, lacey or frilly, but not boring either. My quest ended yesterday afternoon when I received my new copy of Marie Claire in the mail. All my searching in vain and time in the fitting room with rows of black dresses is over. I present to you, Marie Claire's find for the perfect little black dress. Buy this dress now, it's perfect in every way and it won't be there for long.

I'm baaaaack!

2005-09-02T12:53:00.000-05:00

Sorry I have been gone so long! These past few weeks, I have forced myself to live on a *gasp* budget! Needless to say, my shopping excursions have been very limited. My only splurge was a pair of emerald green suede Charles David pumps. They are divine. Living on a budget has been hard work, but I pulled through. The visit from the ex-girlfriend was disasterous, as I had predicted. Luckily I am skinnier, prettier, and much better accessorized than her. mwahahaha!

Exes and Accessories

2005-08-18T11:12:00.000-05:00

Alright, listen up people! My boyfriend's ex-girlfriend will be rolling through town next weekend. As they had an amiable breakup and remain friends, I will be meeting her for the first time. When meeting a boyfriend's ex-girlfriend, it is important to make sure that you look better than her at all times. This includes looks and personality, but I will focus on the former.

You don't want your boyfriend to know that something is up, so you need to intimidate the ex-girlfriend in a subtle way. This can best be accomplished through accessories! They are the most inexpensive way to update your look and also relay the unspoken message that you know what's up and you got "it" (not to mention him). This fall, big bold accessories are baaaack! Hello, 80's - but with a modern twist, of course!

For earrings I love these vintage swallow charms by Lucky Looloo . The locket earrings are also a great choice because you now have his heart. For necklaces, wood works as a great transition piece to take your style into the fall. I also love punchy colors to spruce up an otherwise casual look. I've never been one to wear rings, but for bracelets, you can't beat a good gold cuff . This one is especially appealing because of the wood with the gold studded detail. For the rest of my intimidate-the-ex-girlfriend look, I'll wear a cute basic tank top with my sevens, some stylish flats, and of course a sweet "back off biatch" attitude. Ahhh, the beauty of understated elegance.

Lo from Laguna Beach

2005-08-10T10:31:00.000-05:00

I must admit it! Laguna Beach is one of my favorite shows right now. Yes, I realize I am a 23 year old who is obsessed with the lives of 17 and 18 year olds. Some might say this is pathetic, I myself just call it reminiscient. Their lives are not much different than my HS life was, although my shopping budget was not quite as unlimited as theirs and I did not live in a huge mansion. The similiarities lie in the boyfriend drama, parties, and friends. Anyways, I digress.... I recently came across a webshots album that featured Lo's pictures. Doing some research, I found that some people believe these were all photoshopped pictures. I for one don't know how in the world someone could have photoshopped them and I do indeed think they are real. Please see for yourself and tell me what you think!

http://community.webshots.com/user/sexybiatch101

Rain Gear

2005-08-10T09:09:00.000-05:00

With the ever looming onset of fall, the future months promise to bring lots of rain and other sorts of precipitation. Since I rarely see snow, just lots of rain, in the winter it is time to focus on rain wear that will keep me dry and warm while protecting my clothes, but still look just as fashionable as what is underneath. The 3 essentials are:

rain coat
umbrella
rain boots aka wellies

All 3 aformentioned items should coordinate in some way, although you don't want them all identical in print and/or color unles you like resembling a walking blob.

Here are my favorite picks to add a bit of cheerfulness to an otherwise dreary day.

Rain Coat

Umbrellas

Rain Boots/Wellies

Well girlie girls, I hope you find something that works for you. Any of these options will make you happy to venture out in a downpour. I myself will be stocking up on LG's strawberries and polka dots umbrella, the multi-color polka dotted boots, and the Gallery hooded snap front coat in lilac. Looks like the forecast calls for cute!

Monday Blues

2005-08-08T10:30:00.000-05:00

Ahhh, woe is me. I'm back at the office after a weekend away at the beach. I'm quite tired this morning as well, since I chose to wake up at 5 am to get to work rather than leave on Sunday and miss a few hours at the beach.

Although I practiced safe sun and wore SPF, I still conceived a small sunburn on my shoulders and chest. Therefore, I would like to digress from fashion and talk a little about safe tanning alternatives. My personal fave is the Mystic Tan. It is loved by celebs such as Jessica, LL, and Paris. Although sometimes they tend to go a little overboard on the Mystic (MTV Movie Awards, anyone?). For those of you who don't know, the Mystic Tan is a booth that sprays self tanner all over your body. It sprays for about 15-20 seconds on the front, then you turn around and it sprays the back. Once the spray is finished, you hop out and towel off as hard as you can. You may feel like you are rubbing the tan away, but the secret lies herein the toweling.... the harder you towel dry, the more even your tan!

Pros: It's fast, quick, and doesn't rub off on your clothes. I even did it last Thursday before Alive after Five, and an hour later I was sweating and worried I would look like a dalmation. However, I wound up with a nice golden tan a few hours later. No spots visible.
Cons: The barrier cream. You put it all over your feet and hands so that they look like you just dunked your phalanges in glue. I have yet to master how to get it so i don't wind up with splotchy wrists and ankles.... though in my own defense, I have improved a great deal. Practice makes perfect.

You can also get self tanner sprayed on by a professional which I have heard gives a very even color that lasts a few days longer than Mystic. However, I, for one, am not comfortable getting down to my skivvies or wearing paper panties in front of a complete stranger!

For those of you who want a cheaper alternative (1 session of Mystic is $25.00) there are always self tanners. My favorite is Sublime Bronze by L'Oreal. Their spray is great! I just towel off after my shower and spray it on right there in the tub. The only thing is it's hard to get your back and you still have to rub it in. I tried the Mystic technique of toweling off using the L'Oreal tanner and it really did rub off my whole tan.

For a quick fix, I am in love with Benefit's Jiffy Tan. It uses the same concept as their Benetint, however the geniuses there have developed a golden color in a lotion form. It stays put through sweat (trust me, I do live in the South) and rain, but still rinses off easily with soap and water. It's sparkly which also gives a dewy finish. My boyfriend doesn't like it though because the sparkles rub off all over the seat of his car. Ooops.

All in all, be sure to wear at LEAST SPF 15 every day. SPF 30 is even better and try to stay out of the sun... unless of course you're at the beach;).

Hangover Friday

2005-08-05T09:22:00.000-05:00

Goodness me! After an eventful Thursday night at Alive after Five I find myself hungover at work. Being stuck here, hungover, for 8 hours with no bed in sight has got to be one of the worst things ever. It makes me cringe almost as bad as the new short shorts trend sweeping Hollywood. Ugh, I mean, seriously girls, shorts???? Shorts should have left your wardrobe the same time training bras did.

Onto bigger and better things, it's (drum roll, please) FALL SEASON! In a matter of months the weather will start getting cooler, sleeves get longer, humidity levels will drop. This also brings about a whole new slew of clothing and any girl worth her weight in fashion knows to start shopping now to get the best stuff. Being a summer lovin girl, I have always protested fall and winter by not purchasing new sweaters. This season, however I can't wait to go shopping for some delectable new fall clothing. Everthing this season is all about soft and luxurious. A few key pieces that will definitely be joining my mini boutique of a closet, and that should also find their way to yours are:

1. anything velvet. I looooooove this velvet jacket from Banana

2. T-strap shoes are still here and I'm happy to report that metallics are in for another season so feel free to stock up.

3. A large purse. Ideally, a Gucci horsebit hobo would find it's way into my closet, but alas I think my budget might only afford me this lovely saddle bag by Emily

4. Faux fur! Fall is very Russian inspired this season so look for faux fur collars and boleros to pop up everywhere.

5. A fully flowy skirt which looks fabulous with wedges. *** Note:Make sure to save your flats for your pants. These do not look good with any type of skirt, unless they are a ballet flat.

6. BELTS!!!!! They're not just for holding up your pants any more. Belts have made a huge comeback. Wear a skinny one around a cardigan or choose a braided metallic or leather belt wrapped around a flowy dress. Braided, studded, skinny or wide, belts are back and can give chicness to any outfit.

Toodles for now, I must go in search of Starbucks for my hangover.

p.s. Here's a question to ponder over the weekend and I look forward to your responses on Monday.... If you had $1,000 and had to spend it all on ONE fashion item for fall, what would you purchase?

I like my money right where I can see it... hanging in my closet. -Carrie, SATC

2005-08-04T08:19:00.000-05:00

I decided to start this blog in my spare time at work. I see it as something to keep me entertained when the work week is slow. Which tends to happen quite often around here.

I absolutely love shopping more than anything, well except for my friends, boyfriend, family, and God. But clothes, shoes, and purses are where it's at! Funnily enough, I don't like to spend my money on expensive make-up because I would rather save it for clothes and shoes. However, I'm certainly not above the occasional beauty splurge once in a while. Some things are just worth it, i.e. hair products, perfume, and lip gloss. My boyfriend tells me that I need a new car ( currently have a '92 Geo Metro Convertible, with a hole in the roof), but I am just not ready to take that part of my budget away from shopping to make a car payment. The way I see it, if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

I'm utterly and completely obsessed with jeans! Sevens are my favorites, and I have at least 11 pairs of them. I also have a few Citizens, Joe's, and the requisite PDC. For my next pair I'm eyeing a hot pair of Joe's Jeans. I need to balance out the other brands with my sevens.

Kate Spade purses are my favorite for their timeless style and classic shapes. I have the black Claire bag that i bought over a year ago. I use it as an everyday purse for work and it has yet to lose it's structured shape no matter how much junk I've been able to pack into it. Coach purses come in a close second to my Katies.

Raleigh, NC isn't much for shopping but there are a few goodies stuck in here and there. We are lucky enough to have both a Nordstrom's and Saks. A few of my favorite boutiques are Uniquities, http://www.uniquities.com, though I think they tend to be a little overpriced. I also love Rouge for their selection of up-and-coming LA designers. Online shopping is great at http://www.shopbop.com, http://www.girlshop.com , http://www.goclothing.com, and http://www.eluxury.com. You can't beat the Limited and Express for inexpensive trendy pieces and accesories.

Well, this is ShopGirl signing off for now!