Things I...Ch 3

A few days ago after a heavy lunch, S and I decided to take a long walk short stroll few steps in the park. It's amazing what I learned from the brief time I was there...

1. Heels + Rocks = Not such a good idea. Did I really just learn this now?

2. All you need is a safety pin to add some dimension to a long top/tunic.
Just gather and pin {pin from the inside. duh}

3. Looking down as you step from rock to rock = Good idea.

4. I can't do up my hair in a bun at this length, but I can do a ponyhawk.

5. I squint a lot little when the sun is in my eyes.
Which makes me look a tad angry, no? HA.

6. I kinda like hay....that is what this is right?

7. Whoa. I gotta lot of moles. See the 4 on my cheek alone?

8. Pockets on skirts are awesome but so are pockets on tops! 

Perfect for putting my glasses in. Oh wait, where'd they go?

9. The best part about taking a walk in heels is finding a place to sit.

10. Big rocks are actually quite comfy. Not even kidding. This one would've been perfect for my lawn or backyard. Made me wish I had a flatbed truck to haul it. Or a big monster of a man to pick up perfect rock-chair on his back.
Though it's probably illegal to steal rocks from a park...

Blazer - Necessary Objects, Striped Tank - Winners
Ankle Zip Grey 'Jeggings' {I hate that word} - H&M,  
Grey Suede Shoes - Juicy Couture 
Earrings - Heidi Klum, Necklace - Adina Reyter 
Rest of jewelry- Vintage

Sorry for all the pics in the same outfit. I cropped my head out of a few so you wouldn't have to keep staring at my face.

You're welcome.

Learn anything new lately?

xo Ela

Now You Know...More

Blazer...it's a sweatshirt with a diagonal zipper - Winners

Striped Tee - H&M, Jeans - Just Cavalli,

Red Denim Platforms - Nine West (2002), EPI Pouchette - Louis Vuitton

So the other day I shared 3 {of 7} unusual things about me here....so here are other 4....

4) S and I don't drink alcohol. I find that when some people learn this, and learn that it's a lifestyle choice we've made, they look at me as though I just hit them in the face with a frying pan. Then once they've recovered, the questions fire away. And no matter how much I explain, I can't seem to quench their thirst.

Now I don't mind questions, in fact I'm happy to answer any question relating to the subject. But when I get the judging eyes, not so much. I never bat an eyelash or make a mental judgement when I know someone does drink, so it'd be nice if when I share that I don't, I didn't get the whats' wrong with you face. Or be looked at as though I suddenly sprouted a halo on my head and wings on my back. Though if I did, that'd be pretty cool, no?

 

Bow Necklace - gifted by Summer, seen here

5) I am a clown. Well, not really. Cause clowns freak me the heck out. Plus I made the mistake of watching the movie IT when I was 12. Watched it at my friend's house. Big mistake. It's the last time I ever failed to ask, "what's it about?" Anywho, I'm the girl that's not afraid to get silly at a party. Dance in the middle of a circle as I impersonate Elaine from Seinfeld {please tell me you've seen it}. Put on my friend's prom dress and top it off with a bicycle helmet. And yes, since you've read 4) you know I do all this sober. Granted there is a time and place for everything so you won't catch me doing this when it's not called for. Yes, there are times when it is called for. I will make you smile if I know you need it, I will liven up a party if it's gone lame-o and I am never afraid to laugh at myself.

6) That said, I am quiet. Or at least I can be. I attribute this to growing up, for the most part, as an only child. My brother came later in my teen years and my parents both worked full-time. I became independent and learned to love my alone time. I'm perfectly happy being left to my own devices. And perfectly capable of entertaining myself. Even in a crowd I can be quiet and sometimes quiet is the way to go. I get to observe and catch all the good stuff I sometimes miss out on when I'm being loud and annoying fun.

 Zip it.

7) I may wear my heart on my sleeve, be warm and open. But I don't open up to just anyone. So if I share something with you, trust that I haven't shared it with a ton {or even four} other people. I open up to people I feel a connection with, to people I think can relate to me, to people I feel I can trust.

That said, some things, even those dear to my heart, I will share with the world {or with anyone who happens to read this}. Either way, I share pieces of me. And what you see is what you get.

So...now you know.

Your turn.

xo Ela
p.s. Are you a rockstar? Enter my girl J's contest here until March 21st.

Now You Know

Dress - Kensie, Skirt (layered under dress) - H&M seen here, 

Blazer - Morphine Generation, seen here, I love the buttons on the sleeves spiking out, Necklace - Tiffany

Recently my gorgeous lil gumdrop Sarah Hannah from down under tagged me to list 7 unusual facts about me. Easy peasy.

Let's start from the beginning shall we...

1) My mom nearly named me Allergy. As in "Achoo! Excuse me, it must be my allergies". She loved the way the "name" rolled off her tongue. Really? Cause I think I'd choke everytime I'd have to introduce myself. Seriously, why would you want to give your child a name that'll pretty much guarantee she'll have zero friends, suitors, confidence....

But then again, had she given me that name, I suppose I would've made it work. I would've given myself the nickname "Allie" but knowing kids are cruel, they'd probably refuse and call me "Algae". I'd probably be the girl with a chip on her shoulder the size of a boulder. Or the girl with a perma-look plastered on my face that said watcha lookin' at? Or I'd have rocked the 'ish outta that name and been the one *Allergy* all the girls {and boys?} wouldn't want a cure for. Either way, pretty sure when I was 18 I would've legally changed my name. To...anything other than that.
Thankfully my grandmother had the sense to ignore my mother, chocked it up to the Demerol or Epidural talking and talked her out of it.

Patterned tights - Hue, Shoes - Michael Kors

2) Speaking of names, my maiden name = married name. So what? I kept my name right? Yes....but that's not all. S's married name = my married name. What you married your brother? NO! So you met a guy with the same last name...you're sure you're not related? Nope.

When I got married and it came to changing my name, I knew I wanted to keep my name so I decided I should hyphenate. But with S, our relationship, our marriage is all about unity. About being "us" and "we". It was really important to him that we shared the same last name and felt that hyphenating my last name would still give us different surnames. I explained that keeping my name was really important to me. Suddenly a smile crept across his face, his eyes lit up as he told me he had an idea; he would change his name instead, and take mine. He caught me completely off guard, it's something I hadn't even considered! But that's exactly what he did. And everytime I write my name, I love and appreciate that he did that for me.

{I'm laughing because S is over in the corner...mocking me}

Love the arched hem at the back of this blazer

3) I'm warm and rather affectionate. Maybe being warm and affectionate doesn't make for unusual. But in this day and age being "sweet" makes people think you're *sketchy*. Rest assured, it's real. There's a reason why I've been called "sweet" pretty much 98% of my life {the other 2% of the time, I am PMSing}. Sometimes people take it for granted and the little things I do become expected, rather than appreciated. And at times because of that, I'd rather be something, anything  other than "sweet" but it's who I am. And I can't be someone other than me.

When talking face to face with a friend, I may touch her arm or her hand or her knee. You might make me laugh and find me playfully pushing your shoulder. I may rest my head on your shoulder for a moment or two. If I call you "hon" or "love" or whatever *sugary* name I want, it's because I geniunely like you and mean it to be endearing. If I say "I adore you," it's true. If I say "I love you," I mean it. If I say "my heart breaks for you," it does. So if you take something I do or say as anything less than geniune, I have to put the sweet aside, be blunt and jump into my 2% mode and say, I'm sorry but that's your loss.

I know I've only listed 3 facts, I'll save the other 4 for later...

Tell me something.

xo Ela

Special {super} late thank you to the lovely Anna for the One Lovely Blog Award and the uber creative Sophia for the Circle of Friends Award. And more recently to the fabulous Nikosmommy for the Beautiful Blogger Award and The Best Blog Award,  the talented Jennifer for the You're a Doll Award and The Happy Award, and the sweetie that is KS for the Blogger BFF Award and Master of Karate and Friendship Award.

Thank you so much.
p.s. I really enjoyed reading your comments from my last post, nice to know I'm not alone ;)

"Be Ready in Ten Minutes"

Those were the words out of S's mouth when he called the other day letting me know he was on his way home and that he wanted to head right out so we could grab a quick bite to eat. The eating part I like. The getting ready part...I like hearing those words almost as much as I enjoy being asked, "is that what you're wearing?" Um, seeing that it's on me and I'm about to walk out the door, yes, I think it'd be safe to assume that is what I'm wearing. Thankfully I can count on less than two fingers the number of times S has posed that question.

Although, being asked to be ready in 10 happens more often than I'd like. Well, at least S has come to know: you can't always get what you ask for. Asking me to be ready in ten minutes is like asking me to sneeze with my eyes open. Pretty much impossible. At least for me. Especially when I get the call as I'm mid-swing on the elliptical, sweating up a storm glistening just a tad and smelling like someone...who could use a shower. Never mind that having a shower, blow drying my hair so I it doesn't freeze when I step out the door, getting dressed, running down the stairs, finding my purse, and my keys, grabbing a coat, playing hide and go seek with my boots, and gloves, and running back upstairs to get my b-berry takes 20 minutes. At least. Am I alone here? Or is getting ready in 10 minutes actually the norm?

 Sweater - Dex, Boots - Zara, Gloves - Ugg

Leather Bomber and Jeans - 7 for all Mankind

When I bought this sweater a few years back, it had little boils balls of yarn sewn all over it. I'm sure the lovely folks at Dex thought it added "whimsy". I thought it made my sweater look like it had warts. I detached the little nubs soon as I got home. Had I left them perhaps you'd be asking "is that what you're wearing?"

Bag - Thrifted

So in love with this bag I picked up last year, I've no idea why anyone would want to get rid of it. The leather is buttery soft and it's the perfect crossover length. Plus it cost me less than my usual Starbucks order {a lemon poppyseed loaf and a tall hot chocolate}.

Is it just me or is this post awful random and all over the place? A little bit like my thoughts before bed. Which reminds me, thank you so much for all your tips on my last post. Just in case you didn't know...you guys are AWESOME!

Have a great weekend lovelies!

xo Ela

p.s. Giveaway's open till Feb 28th, do enter if you haven't already!

I Need Sleep

No really, I do. I've no problem taking a nap on our couch on any given Sunday or catching some zzzzs in the middle of S telling me a very interesting story as we drive in the car or sleeping through at least a third of any movie that is longer than 105 minutes. But lately, when it comes to getting sleep at night...in a bed...forget it.

Dress - Winners, Floral Necklace and Belt - F21

 Logo Tights - Chanel, Mary Janes - Via Spiga (via 90s)

I'd love some good old uninterrupted sleep, to not have to get up in the middle of the night because I suddenly remember we need to buy potatoes, or because my bladder thinks it's 6am when really it's only 2am, or because the big lug next to me decides to see how perfectly his elbow fits in my eye socket{I feel you Tiffany}.

And please don't say "at least you don't have a crying baby keeping you up." Cause then I'd have to slap you that would be music to my ears. Yes, I'd still want sleep but at least getting up in the middle of the night would be purposeful. This however, has no purpose. Other than to give me puffy sullen eyes and a cranky disposition.
 

Actually, I'm getting ahead of myself. Yes staying asleep is hard but falling asleep is the hardest part. What's keeping me up, you ask? Nothing. I'd love to blame it on S and his snoring but 97% of the time I can tune it out. 2% of the time it's actually somewhat soothing. Like listening to static. And 1% of the time, I want to stick a pillow over his face but instead I stick one over mine.

Truth is, mostly, I keep myself up. My mind just won't stop. Thinking. I'm not trying to memorize the first 3,000 digits of pi. Nor am I trying to solve world peace. I'm just stuck on thinking about things that really shouldn't be keeping me up at night. Like what my ex-boss' daughter's name is. Or why in the world people like egg salad. Or how S can think Richard Gere and Harrison Ford are the same people. WTHeck. Not even close, right? Which leads to me wonder how much Calista Flockhart weighs. Which makes me think, "for sure I weigh more". Which makes me wonder what my BMI is. Then for a split second I forget what BMI stands for. Then I make up what it stands for. Then make myself giggle. Quietly, to not wake the hubs. Which makes me look at him and get jealous of how well he's sleeping. And how loud peaceful he is. Which makes me want to poke him and ask "are you awake?" Then I wonder if there's anyone I can call who would be awake. Then I realize it's 2:46am and everyone else is sleeping. Then I start to freak out because I imagine how hard it'll be get me out of bed in just a few hours. Sigh.

Any tips? And no, I won't be taking any pills. Drug-free suggestions only please.

xo Ela
p.s. If you haven't already, do enter my Orient Watch Giveaway!!!

Name Calling

S and I tease each other a lot. It's what we do with people we love. We also have a thing for calling each other names. No, not those names. We tend to make up words actually. So the other day in the car, while he was driving a *tad* over the speed limit, I called him a "squindrel". Kinda like half scoundrel, half squirrel.

S: What'd you call me? 

E: A squin-drel. Keep up.

S: What the heck is that? 

E: Does it matter?

Leopard tank and Shrug - Winners, Jeans - Just Cavalli, OTKs - Guess

Suddenly I pictured S and I as little kids. Me calling him names with him looking at me with a blank stare. Me having to explain myself, him being a gnat. Him hogging everything, me screaming "MINE!" Suddenly it dawned on me...

E: I'm glad we met later in life.

S: What? Why?

E: Mmm...I don't think we would've liked each other as kids.

S: [Laughs] Of course not...we don't like each other now.

E: [Laughs].....squindrel.

And that folks, is how we stay happily married.
Hope you had a fabulous weekend!

xo Ela

iPhon't Think So

For the last year or so, S has been trying to convince me to get an iPhone. Scratch that. He's been itching to buy me one. But you see, I refuse. I don't want it. The thought of not having a tactile keyboard does not work for me. Never mind that the darn thing doesn't even register my finger half the time. I *press* things and I tell you, NOTHING. HAPPENS. 

S says it's cause I'm "not human". Sometimes he softens the blow and blames it on my "dead skin". Frankly, I'm not quite sure which of his theories paint me in a better light, so I just blame the phone.

How do I know I detest this phone when I haven't even given it a chance, you ask.

I borrowed it for the day a few months back. But only because I had left my cell phone at home. And the thought of not being able to communicate with people people that I like for a full 8-12 hours was not an option. So he set up my email on his phone to keep me connected. Between me not knowing how hit the right keys and iPhone's auto complete, I was hopeless...

instead of "DimSum" I got "dumdum" NOT okay.

instead of "drolly" I got "frilly"..."dolly" I could understand. But frilly? Um ok.

Luckily, I double checked before hitting send but making the corrections...brutal.

Imagine how intelligent caveman like I must've looked typing hacking away with one finger. Brows furrowed, lips contorted mouthing the words as I went along and practically breaking a sweat trying to put together a 5 liner. Hard to feel pleased with yourself when 5 sentences takes 14 mintues to type. I mean come on, it's not like I've got flippers. I've been told my fingers are slender and dainty. I don't see why they're not compatible with the iPhone when S' grubby little paws just dance away on that thing.

Did I mention that when I answered the phone I hung up on my best friend's husband?

Once because I pressed the wrong *button*.

And a second time while he was on the line and my cheek pressed against the phone.

Did I mention he was calling to let me know why my BFF was in the ER?

Can you say panic and frustration.

Thankfully, I figured out how to call him back and everything turned out fine with my girl. Side Note: I headed over to the hospital to keep her company while she sat waiting in the ER.

But I can't have a cell phone disconnect a call simply because the *buttons* can't be pressed. Or because my chipmunk cheeks press slightly against its surface. So it won't take my fingers but it'll take my cheeks??? Am I the only one that thinks that is stoooo-pad?

I'm married to man who LOVES gadgets. But seriously, I'm not quick to embrace them. I don't need shiny and new all the time as long as I've got something that works. So me say "yes" to an iPhone? iPhon't think so. I didn't even want a Blackberry when he got me one. Of course I love it now but that's besides the point.

fell in love with the leather insets of this thrifted vintage fur

love the fun lining of this coat

Belt - Chinese Laundry, Dress - Winners, Boots - Diba/Bronx

Have I mentioned I don't even own an iPod?

Gasp.

Though I do know how to use one. I just don't need it.

At this rate, perhaps S isn't so far off when he says I'll be like one of those old people who refuse to learn how to use a computer. But seriously, just like they do, I'm sure I'll get by.

xo

Ela

p.s. Don't forget to entery my Orient Watch Giveaway!!! GET TO IT!!!

Petunia

I met my friend T interning at the ad agency. I tend to give all my friends nicknames so shortly after, T became "Petunia".

 Sweater - Kensie Girl, Blue Belt {worn backwards} - Vintage
Cami and Skirt - H&M, Booties - Fendi {via eBay}

Now let me explain that before we were friends...we weren't. Petunia did not like me. How do I know this? A co-worker once invited both of us to lunch. Without hesitation I agreed to come along. It was my first week and I was happy to be welcomed. Or so I thought.

When we finished lunch Petunia reapplied her lipgloss at the table. Side Note: I was and still am obsessed with lipgloss. I thought the colour was really pretty but I had never used that brand before so I decided to ask P a few questions...
Ela: How do you like that lipgloss?
P: [Rolls eyes] It's lipgloss. What do you mean?
Ela: I dunno...is it sticky?
P: Sticky? [Stink face]
Ela: You know how some lipglosses are sticky like when your hair blows then it gets stuck to your lips...
P: No. I don't know what you're talking about. If you want to know so much, why don't you just buy some.
Ela: PMS much? Um...ok...

She was snarky most of the time. But it didn't stop me from being nice to her. It was week one, she and I would be working on pretty much the same ad campaigns and I had about 15 weeks to go - the last thing I wanted was to start some office conflict {ala the 90s version to Erin and Olivia on The City}. Plus, I had seen her be nice to other people, so I knew she wasn't a complete cow had it in her. After the PMS train left the station about a week or two later I wore her down she and I became inseperable. We bonded over shoe shopping, questioned whether it was legal to get paid so little, discussed the likeness between 8yr old Dewey from Malcolm in the Middle and our manager's 28yr old boyfriend{like twins I tell you} and counted how many Joe Louis Cakes our diabetic manager would eat that day. Petunia has a very nasal voice, I on the other hand sometimes speak at a pitch only dogs can hear. Yet somehow, we had started to rub off on each other. Picture Minnie Mouse congested. And on painkillers. That was us.

[via weheartit]

P later fessed up and gave me the reason behind all the 'tude. She told me I was "just so nice" that she figured I had to be up to something. When she realized I didn't want her man or her job have a hidden agenda, she finally saw that I was being sincere. Funny thing is, she's actually one of the nicest people I'll ever know{when she's not being paro}. It's been 8 years and P and I are still dear friends. Occasionally we relive our lipgloss convo - except she'll say my lines and I say hers then we pull each other's hair out die laughing. Funny how some of my best friends are girls, who in the beginning, I didn't like or didn't like me. Although it's never quite worked out with girls when the feeling was mutual. Go figure.

A little while ago, P and her husband B welcomed their first baby girl to their family. Congratulations, P and B!!! Lil Petunia is just darling. No need to wait and see, I know I love her already.

because I can, and it's fun 

Ever have a friend who didn't quite start off that way? 

xo Ela

Apparently I Like Being Told What to Do

Okay fine, that's a big fat lie. I don't like it and probably never will. But I AM loving the recipe calendar I picked up late last year.  A new recipe each and every day. And though I haven't gone all Stepford on the hubs, I am loving trying 2 or 3 different recipes each week so we're not stuck having heck knows what for dinner night after night.

 

[via amazon]

I'm thinking I need a calendar like this for all aspects of my life. Of course I wouldn't do everything it told me to, but it'd be nice to eliminate some "hmmm, what should I do?" moments. 

Like when your girlfriend's 1 yr old wants to stick the drooly plastic stick he's been chomping on, into your mouth. Because he doesn't know you're the BIGGEST germaphobe ever. Or does he? I mean do you a)Smile and let him stick it in your mouth and say "nom, nom, nom" b)Politely decline and get him to stick it back in his mouth or c)Smack it out of your face and say "heck no". 
C of course is not an option. 
But it might be if a calendar told me so.

Or when family members tell you you've gained weight. Then wink. Do you a)Smile and say "thank you(?)" b)Cry because you're not pregnant but your dress makes you appear as though you are or c)Tell them their hairlines have receded since the last family BBQ. 
Of course B and C aren't options.
But they could be...

Or when the driver in front of you decides to drive 40km/h in a 70 zone. Do you a)Pretend he has a bumper sticker that says "Honk if you Love Dogs" b)Get out from behind him, siddle up and ask if he'd like to drive a donkey cart instead or c)Pull over and walk home. It'll be faster.
Of course A, B or C aren't options.
But they could be...

I kid. I couldn't do it even if a calendar told me to. But catch me on a bad day...

Embellished Tunic - F21, Leggings - Aritzia, OTKs - Guess(2008)

With my type A personality, I like order in my life so I tend to stick to what I already do or know. But maybe, in doing so, I've missed out. Maybe not on the drooly stick. But I kinda dig this trying new stuff. Is it weird that I'll take dinner suggestions from a calendar rather than just have S tell me what he'd like to eat? 

I suppose it helps that the calendar won't make a sad face if I say "no".

xo Ela
Hope you had a fabulous weekend!

Sweet and Sour

S is always teasing me about having a "refined palette". He says I like "bland" food. I say, I enjoy subtle tastes. I also just need one bite in order to appreciate flavours. He however, needs a mouthful to savour the tastes. We eat the same amount but go about it differently. For example, I eat one chip at a time. And one popcorn kernel at a time. Partly because I enjoy it best that way...and partly because I know it drives S mad. He on the other hand, shoves a handful at a time so he can "actually taste" it.

Apparently, he's not that great at detecting "sour"....

S: [Chuckles to himself] That's funny.
E: What is?
S: Sweet and Sour Chicken.
E: Mmmmkay....if you say so.
S: [Stink eye] It's not really sour...
E: Uh, sure it is.
S: No. It's just sweet.
E: No it's not!
S: YES it is.
E: Fine. It's not "sour" per se, but there's definitely a tang to it.
S: Tang's not one of the four tastes.
E: But it's a type of sour...and there's five not four.
S: Five what?
E: Tastes
S: [Eyes bugged out. Insert heckling here] Name them.
E: Sweet, sour, salty, bitter and...
S: HA!
E: Give me a sec...I've got mushy brain [pause] Spicy!
S: Bwahahahahahahahaha. That's not a "taste"!
E: You can taste it can't you?
S: [Pause] No...it just burns.
E: Sweetheart, for people with taste buds, spice is a taste.
S: [Sad puppy face] But it just burns...
E: I don't know what else to tell you, hon....just eat your "sweet" chicken.

Leather Moto - Ralph Lauren (circa 2002), Plaid Top - Winners, 

White LS Tee - F21, Leggings - Aritzia, Boots - Lucky Brand {being sold here}

Gotta bundle up!

Scarf - via sample sale

Please excuse the bedhead, pale face and um...lack of eyebrows HAHA - hair/makeup to be done in car, hence the sunnies (YSL). Lipgloss was on though.

Well, since rehashing our convo. I've come to learn that I'm wrong. Shhh...I haven't told him yet. In 2002, they did indeed introduce the fifth taste: Savory. However, if you go by the ancient Chinese Five Elements Philosophy (according to Wiki), spicy is the fifth. Since, I'm Asian (oh and 1/8 Chinese btw) I think that makes me partly right, no?

Happy weekend, loves!
xo Ela

Tie it With a Bow

I've been a terrible blogger as of late...
S has had the flu, he was getting bettter then got hit with a fever for 3 days. So, I've been busy ignoring him playing nurse chef/errand runner/babysitter...ever notice when grown men get the flu, they suddenly act like babies? He says he can't help it. That's okay, I love him, big baby and all.

Though last night, S seemed to feel a ton better. And suddenly decided he needed to buy a MacBook Pro. That very night. So he called up his friend C who qualified for an "educational discount". We all headed to the Apple store and C showed his student card to get the discount. When the total was rung up and the rep expected C to pay, C turned to the rep, motioned at S and said, "My uncle will be paying for it". 

My Uncle???
Did I mention C is Chinese.
And S isn't even Asian.
Never mind that there's only a 6yr age gap between them.
And here I thought I was a terrible liar.

Anyhoots, we left the store. S giddy with having a brand new Chinese nephew MacBook Pro. Then headed a few stores down to get me a box of Cinnabons. Mmmm...cinnabons. It was the first (and last) time, we left the mall with S' total wayyyy exceeding mine.

I was just too tired to even bother looking - let alone shop. I think my body's been trying to fight off his flu cause I've been super duper tired. These days I just want to stay in my pj's all day. Too tired to even think about what to wear. It's no wonder the last thing I wore was inspired by an after dinner snack...

 Skirt with pockets - Penguin, Shoes - Winners, Belt - H&M

Bow Blouse with Gold Pinstripes - Juicy Couture

Blue Snakeskin and Gold Bow Bangle - Rachel Leigh  

Black/Gold Bangle Watch and Unicorn Bangle - Vintage/Thrifted

The after dinner snack that thoroughly amused me...
 

"vacuum sealed corn???", you ask. 

wait, it gets better.
it comes with a paper bag... 
"uh huh," you say...

but you see, the bag keeps it cozy while in the microwave...

and after a few minutes,

 

it comes out looking like this...

with a cob left to nibble on...
maybe you've all seen this and I'm years late in this discovery but it amused me nonetheless. "before"

"after"
 
Hope you're having an amazing week!
Anything you've discovered recently? 
xo Ela
p.s. Please read Lilu's Love Harder post or make a donation directly at http://www.loveharder.org/

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

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