February 5, 2013

Tablet Technology



It’s hard to believe that it has been less than a year since I first broke down and bought a MacBook. Since then, and somewhere in between starting a blog, opening a number of social networking sites, and finally succumbing to the beauty of texting, I became a full-blown technology convert who couldn’t wait to get her hands on one of her birthday gifts- a new iPad. Now that I have one (and adore it), I’m eager to dress it up a bit. These cases definitely fit the bill or, in this case, the tablet.

February 4, 2013

Birthday Bowl

An ornate, and delicious, birthday sacher torte in honor of the occassion


Every so often, including this year, the Super Bowl falls on my birthday. There’s something nice about a Sunday celebration, when the pace is a little slower, and it seems as though the whole weekend is building up to your special day.  I am not one of those people who dread the idea of adding another year to my age, but I do sometimes find that there can be a lot of undue pressure to make it extra special. This birthday was memorable not only because it happened on a weekend, but also because everything seemed to fall perfectly into place without much thought.  There were many surprises, a much-anticipated dining experience at Tru, and a lot of time doing the things that I love most, like shopping, reading, and catching up with friends and family. Though it was not too long ago that 32 sounded alarmingly old, I have to admit that it’s not such a bad age after all. 

One of the most thoughtful gifts ever: a year subscription to Birchbox from my two best friends
A new toy with which I plan to curl up on the couch
Gold accents at my birthday dinner
Souvenir menu and take-home citrus financiers from Tru
Gorgeous hot pink roses for my desk
An unexpected spa gift that I look forward to cashing in on soon

January 24, 2013

Small Steps



It’s the time of year when I begin to cling to little things in order to maintain my sanity and make it through the winter months in one piece. You know, a late night FaceTime session with best friends, a thought-provoking documentary, an unexpected package in the mail, the smell of baking brownies, the shade of a new lipstick, or the quiet that settles over everything when you’re spending quality time alone.

I’ve been using the Fitbit for about two weeks now. To be honest, I purchased it on a whim because I had a gift card that was burning a hole in my pocket. I spend most of my day sitting in front of a computer at work, and I thought it might be a good way to track how often I move and encourage me to get in 10,000 steps a day.

Though there have been times when I have neglected to achieve my daily goal, overall, I’ve found that it’s relatively non-intrusive and can—literally—push you to go the extra mile. Because it automatically syncs with the computer to report on your progress, the commitment to the device is merely the act of putting it on in the morning and taking it off at night. In fact, I usually forget that I’m wearing it. 

So, you can imagine my surprise and delight when I received an email report letting me know that I’ve already walked 50 miles! Though most of those steps were on the treadmill or out in the cold, it almost seems like an exotic gypsy-esque accomplishment, and an occasion that’s certainly made the list of things getting me through January. 

January 23, 2013

Warby Parker

Hello.

As sad as I was to learn that it’s time to ditch my 10-year-old Anne Klein reading glasses and upgrade my prescription, I jumped at the opportunity to try Warby Parker’s Home Try On Program.

I’m happy to report that the program is a complete breeze and, as a person who loves browsing in stores, this even has me rethinking the way that I shop. You simply select 5 pairs of their gorgeous glasses, and within no time, they arrive right on your doorstep in a pretty little box. You have 5 days to try them on, wear them around town, and choose which pair you want to make your own. 

Then, you simply pack up the box, drop it off at a UPS store, and decide if you want to place an order online. Did I mention that the whole process is no-commitment and completely free? Or that the glasses with prescription lenses only cost $95? Or that for every pair of glasses that you purchase from Warby Parker, they donate a pair to someone in need? Needless to say, my new black matte-framed Becketts are on the way, and I’m already channeling Jenna Lyons….

Consider me excited
Choosing, aka the hardest part of the entire process
The beloved Becketts


January 22, 2013

Bed Bound

Stocking up on every variety of Deschutes, which has finally made its way to us after all these years

This has to have been one of the laziest weekends on record. I waved goodbye to my boyfriend on Thursday night, and with the exception of a trip out to get a massage, buy new bedding and stock up on groceries, I pretty much slept…A LOT. Lest you think I was comatose for the full three-day weekend, please know that I enjoyed several lengthy games of Words with Friends, an inordinate amount of online shopping, and tons of TV watching, interrupted only when the power went out in our building for 8 hours due to intense wind gusts outside. Luckily, a plethora of candles and my latest book kept me company as I hunkered down in our new sheets and pillows.

My boyfriend's old college sweatshirt, which I practically lived in all weekend 
The kind of easy dinner that you can get away with when there are no men around
Moving away from dark polishes in the hope of warmer weather
Fresh eucalyptus (and tons of candles) in the bathroom