Ho[o]dini

I was always amused by magic tricks when I was younger. I suppose it's because I never knew exactly how the trick would end, but I always knew I'd be in for a surprise. And I've always loved surprises.

Sweater - Thrifted, Scarf - Random, Jeans - Just Cavalli, 

Faux Fur Trimmed Boots - Macy's

But not the kind where you come out of a resto and find a parking ticket on the windshield of your car, even though you've got time left on the meter and there's a car parked in front and behind you, indicating you are indeed in a parking zone. But some toy cop parking officer decided you weren't.

Or the kind where you walk into the shower, drench yourself in the steamy water, then discover there's no soap left.

Or answer the phone expecting your favourite person, then get asked by a dodo lovely telemarketer if he could "speak to your mother or father" Um, did it occur to you that some grown women can still sound like toddlers?

Or come home from the gym hoping to gorge on have a scoop of some ice cream, then find your greedy hungry husband ate the last of it.

No, those surprises I don't like. So much. 

But I do love...
when I do the laundry and find some very clean money when I empty the machine.

Or when the grumpy lady who always scowls, catches your eye, then gives you a smile.

Or when your so called greedy husband, saves you the last piece of cake in the fridge or the last cheesie puff in the bowl.

Or when you come home late at night feeling tired and irritable but you decide to check the mail anyway, and find this...

 

card and key and rhinestone bow necklaces 

A super sweet surpise. Especially cause I didn't even do anything to deserve it. A lovely card and some super cute neck candy from my sweetheart of a friend sister from another mista', Summer (aka Bacon, DimSum and Sweetpea). Thank you, sweetpea, I love you.

And yes, I love hoods. Because they are full of surprises...

Now you see me

Now you don't

Just sound? Yes, I know. I act like a toddler too.

Happy weekend, loves!

Hoping they're full of little surprises!

xo Ela

p.s. Thank you sooo much for all your support with that guest post!
You guys are awesome :)
p.p.s. Please forgive me about being slow to comment today, I'll catch up over the weekend for sure!

Beetlejuice

I'm here but I'm not...
guest posting over at The Beauty File. It's my first guest post ever so I could really use seeing your friendly faces over there :)

Blazer - Vintage, Ruffled Blouse - Mario Serrani (worn here)

Liquid Leggings - Winners, Ankle Cuff Sandals - Fergie
Studded Cuff - F21, Black and Gold bracelet watch - Vintage

My feet'll kill me for this but car to doorstep dropoffs, 

make the 5sec exposure to Winter air bearable. 

Hope you guys are having an amazing mid-week!

xo Ela

p.s. Please forgive me, a few days ago, I misread a post and posted some *news* here on my blog. Apparently if I see the word "baby" in a post, I take that to mean someone is having one. Kristin, thanks for laughing it off! xoxo

I Could Have Done Without

I'm laughing here....

but this is how I really feel...

Wiped.

Wool/Mongolian Wool Vest - Thrifted, Turtleneck - Random

Pants and Booties - Zara

Did the 5:30am gym thing again. 
Can I just say...my friend H is discovering I am *el cranko pantalones* in the a.m.?
With a side of giddy...to keep her from slapping me.

So stinkin' tired this morning. I eyed the toothpaste which was next to my perfume. At the same time I stuck my bare toothbrush in my mouth. Then remembered - "I'm missing something", which then led me to pick up said perfume and nearly spray my toothbrush with it. I kid you not. That's the extent of my multitasking at insane hours.

Watch - Swatch

I'm fairly certain I could've done without filling in my right eyebrow today. It would've meant 2 extra minutes that I could've spent in bed. Sigh...

Over the weekend S and I had a Christmas-in-Jan party to go to. We also had dinner at our next door neighbours. Literally, next door but we were still 10 minutes late. Go fig. Anyhoots, after a lovely dinner their 2 and 5 yr old girls proceeded to give me and their mom quite the performance: a musical number from Highschool Musical. The 2 yr old, J, knew all the words. She topped it off with a sway of the hips and said, "I'm fabulous!" Sassy lil thing. I die.

Then she sat on my lap and snuggled into me. Which made her mom ask, "You really like Ela don't you?" To which J nodded and said, with a point of a finger, "And that one too." Following her finger, we realized she was pointing at S. I love that I get a name and he gets "that one". I think I'll start calling him that from now on.

How were your weekends?

I've missed out on a ton these last few days! Wanted to wish the BonBon Rose Girls Happy Blogiversary! Iva, belated Happy Birthday, I hope your day was as wonderful as you are!

What else did I miss???

xo Ela

My Side of the Bed

So remember the other day when I slept for 2 hours then woke up at 5:30am to go to the gym? I full on expected to fall asleep 12 hours later but guess what? I wasn't even tired till after midnight and went to bed at 12:44am. Who'd have thought that I could be more productive on 2 hours sleep and a workout, than on a day when I get 7-8 hours and no exercise? Have I been doing it wrong all these years??? Oh well, at least now I know....
...I'm a robot. 
Or a cylon. {Yes, I speak geek}
Not sure which yet.

Thankfully, I think these last few days seem to have fixed my insomia. Last night I went to bed just after 11pm then woke up before 7am. I'll do the 5:30am days whenever my friend H wants to go to the gym, otherwise I'm sleeping in till 7.

Since I'm on the topic of sleep, I thought I should mention how much I love my bed. It's a king and though we've only had it for about 2 years, I'm not sure I could ever do without it again. You see the king bed allows me to run away from S in my sleep. He's the touchy feely let's snuggle type and well, I'm more of a man the I need my space, don't breathe in my face type. Because why on earth would I want to breathe your recycled air?

via Restoration Hardware

Our bed looks like this but with higher front panel.

So I pretty much keep to my side of the bed, actually so close to the edge that one wrong turn and I'll end up on the floor, leaving him with about 80% of the bed. Where he can roam free. But does he? Heck no. He's all up in my grill back. Trying to chase and hug me without pushing me off the bed. He's mastered it to an art. While I squirm and tell him how annoying he is. Aren't I the best wife ever? The bestest I tell you.

While he was painting our master ensuite over the Holidays, we slept in the guestroom to avoid the paint fumes. On a queen bed. Suddenly I felt trapped, and breathed on, I couldn't get away, there just wasn't room. It was not pleasant. 
He on the other hand, loved it. Shocker.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not an ice queen. I love hugs and kisses. Slow dancing in our kitchen or family room. Being entangled in his arms while we watch TV on the couch. I'm all for affection in my waking moments...just not when I want to sleep. I dunno, maybe I really am a robot. Or a cylon.

Am I alone in this?

xo Ela
p.s. Remember my first DIY, that bib necklace I made? Elaine won it a while back, and it made me so happy to see how amazing it looks on her! Take a peek here and if you haven't been to her blog yet, I promise you'll love it...and her ;)

Who Needs Sleep Anyway?

So this morning I did something I never thought I would willingly do. At 5:30am...I hit the gym. It all started with S working out with our friend B. They went 3 days last week, which is more than S has ever gone since we got our membership in June 09. Apparently B is better at talking my hubs into doing the right thing. Yes folks, it's the right thing. Trust. xx lbs over almost 8 years of marriage...hitting the gym couldn't be more right.

For the past few months, our gym memberships have meant nothing but us paying $30/month to have a "fancy tag" on our keychains. I am over the moon {huh?} that's all changed in the last few days. So since our husbands have been going, my friend H and I thought we should go together as well. Last night she called to confirm if 5:30 would work for me. 
"In the morning???" I asked. 
I laughed hysterically {yes, outloud, on the phone} at the thought, only to have H tell me, she was indeed serious. HA! Then I laughed even harder. Well, all that laughing turned to anxiety {and sore abs} and I couldn't fall asleep. I finally dozed off at 3:00am...only to wake up 2 hours later. Here's what I wore...

I kid. Posting what I wore to the gym at 5:30 am won't be happening. I barely remembered to put a bra on.  But it is what I wore on New Year's Eve over our quiet dinner at home. S said I was "very sparkly". Just what a woman wants to hear...um...thanks, I guess.

All I had to do was set the table and S took care of the rest.

  

Had a votive-lit dinner

S prepared some seared foie gras

Anthony Bourdain says "one cannot live on foie gras alone". 

I tell you now, I may just die trying. Love it so.

In between courses, we slow danced in our living room. Oh yes, we did.

 Shrimp swimming in garlic butter. And some crab legs {ate too fast to capture} 

And some other tasties I didn't get to take pics of. Yums.

Since we don't drink, we rang in the New Year like 5yr old's...with a glass of champagnenade. Which in case you didn't know, is carbonated grape juice that smells like wine. Classy.

 

Is it just me or did 2009 just fly by?

I mentioned before that Filipino tradition {or superstition} says you must wear something new on New Year's eve, this top was purchased almost 2 years ago, but I just ripped the tags off and wore it for the first time that night, so I guess that still counts.

Rhinestone Bow Necklace - R.J. Graziano, Silver Cuffs - Bittersweet, 

Liquid Leggings - Winners, Sequin Top - Century 21 NYC

Hmmm...it's 1:30pm and I've eaten twice already, taken ALL the Christmas decor down and vacuumed the main floor - including the couch. Rotated all the couch seat and back cushions, swiffered the hardwood to make it extra shiny, and did a batch of laundry. I could get used to this 5:30am thing. Right now I'm thinking: Who needs sleep anyway? The verdict's still out cause right now, I also have a feeling I may just pass out before the sun goes down.

Hope y'all had an amazing New Year's and that 2010 has been off to a good start for you!

Tell me something...anything!

xo

Ela