SURPRISE!!!!!!! I actually LOVE you.

Happy Friday!

Who doesn't love a surprise?

I'm guessing my readers are a wee bit like me...and WE LOVE SURPRISES!

And since I kinda love you too, I'm giving you a surprise!

A surprise Giveaway.

Here's a hint,

It's a little somethin'-somethin' I whipped up at my fave charm store:

BROOKLYN CHARM!

Believe me, this store lets your creative juices run wild, lets you get your "cute" on with their selection of merch, and all around is just awesome! 

I take all of my friends here when we hang out in my 'hood.

So my little friends...new and old;

all you gotta do is

1. follow my blog-either here or on my FB fanpage

2. Leave your email address in the "comment"

(how else can I contact you if you win?)

And voila, you're entered!  Pretty simple and easy as pie, right?

I'll name the RANDOM winner next weekend--Sunday 1/16/10,

so make sure to enter before 8pm (NYC time!)

***
PS-none of these pics are my own, just sayin'

A Ring Obsession

Have you ever seen something that you can't get out of your head?

It plagues the mind sorta like one of those annoying headaches you can ignore,

but it never really goes away.

At the Chictopia conference on Saturday, there was a moment where The Glamourai was sitting in the row in front of me. When I wasn't ogling her precision cut 'do, I couldn't take my eyes off her ring. It appeared to be a rough cut amethyst, extremely large, and something I would love to own for myself. I imagine someone of her caliber (I think she's got amazing style, so chic and put together, way beyond my comprehension, so I put her up on a pedastal-in the realm of fashion)would have the real deal-as in an item I can only covet but never own, oh bills and real life how you mess up grand plans I have for my wallet.

(Now just about two weeks ago I made an internal, private decision that I needed to wear rings more often, and the majority of those I own are dainty vintage costume pieces bought at an antique store while I was still in high school-so I've been keeping my eyes peeled for rather large, cocktail like, rings...rings...and more rings. So you can imagine what this lady's ring did to my brain; besides the bewitching factor it had on me, it was an "a-ha" moment where I knew that her ring was right on target for something I should have for myself)

Ok, so life goes on...I exist day to day without her amazing ring. I keep thinking about it, and I keep remembering that I want some rings, but no big deal.

After work on Tuesday I had all intentions to stop by Urban Outfitters, instead I was sidetracked and ended up spending 2 hours in stupid Forever 21.

Just as I was about to purchase my frivolous finds, I figured why not scan thru the accessories section really quick. Yeah, why not?

And BAM! There is was!

A complete, cheap, knock-off version of the very ring I had been thinking of since Saturday!

WTF?

Ok, so I'll be the first to admit this is such a horrible excuse for her ring, but at $10.50, am I about to pass up the very look I'd only coveted days before?

Hell no!

So yeah...this will work for me. Especially considering I am not one to own nice things because I usually break them, discard them, lose them, or grow tired within weeks.

So this little cheapie version will suit my lifestyle very well.

I just can't believe out of nowhere this thing in the back of my head that I could not shake was sitting right there in a little crystal bowl at Forever 21.

My lucky day!

____________________________________________________________________

On another note, my bangs were in my eyes!

I almost can't see, and they're sooooo long that I don't really keep them in their position for long. Usually after about 2 seconds I flip my head so the bangs naturally swish to the left. And/or they take it upon themselves to split in sections all of their own choosing, whatever the case they never lay like this on my forehead when at this length-I just can't work with them tickling my lashes.

So out with my crappy scissors, and snip-snip!

I suppose my newly trimmed bangs will make their appearance this weekend-being as how that will be the next time I have a post.

(and oh man--what a busy weekend I have ahead of me. A baby shower, a birthday party, and an all day photoshoot for my friend's clothing line. So much for thinking I'll get to catch up on my much needed sleep. And to top it all off, none of the subways I can/need to take are running this weekend-supposedly a shuttle bus is what NYC thinks is a suitable replacement. Great!)

Thank ya, Thank ya very much....

Thank ya very much, INDEED!

Sorry, I swear this is my last birthday post....as it's been over a week since the actual event.   But tonight I got a chance to go through (moreso organize my list of thank-you cards) all my lovely gifts from all my lovely friends and family....and I cannot believe all the goodness that was bestowed upon me.

Again, seriously......

BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!!!!!

The GOODS:

(Thanks Bonnie, Eva, Mr. and Mrs. Wolf, Aunt Liz and Uncle Harry)

The FASHION:

(Thanks Gaut-I can't believe you found such an appropriate t-shirt)

(Thanks Kristine-glad you stuck by me even though my taste in music is questionable)

(Thanks Jewel, Kris, and Jane--Jewelry and make-up always a plus!)

(Thanks Jewel-a magazine from South Africa=soooooo Interesting!)

The MAN I LOVE:

So freakin' DROOL-WORTHY!  I HEART U BIG TIME ELVIS!

(Thanks Bonnie, Monique, and Kris--you obviously know what makes me SWOON!)

The FEEDING of my OBSESSION(s):

-Vintage and Owls

(Thanks Mr. and Mrs. Wolf--you hit the spot w/antique owls and the vintage purse)

(Thanks Mel-it doesn't get much cuter than this!)

The COCKTAIL HOUR:

(Thanks Nate-classy wine for a cl-ASS-y lady like myself, 

no seriously, thank you very much, can't wait to taste this)

(Thanks Amy and Michael-I want to keep this on display FOREVER!  Vodka in a skull!)

The SHOPPING:

(Thanks BF's parents, Thanks BF's sisters/family, Thanks Adriane, Monique, and Mr. and Mrs. Oberg--this will allow me to lift my self imposed "Wallet-Lockdown" if I feel so tempted to purchase some indulgent items)

And thank you to everyone for all those items not shown here. 

(Matte OPI nail polish/Aveda goodies courtesy of Abbey, The Necklush courtesy of Michael and Amy, $ courtesy of Rita, Roses courtesy of my dad, perfume/lotions courtesy of BF's sisters, and CARDS CARDS CARDS courtesy of many)

But thank you mostly for the honor of your presence at my party--it was an honor for sure.  I loved every minute of it.

Without everyone who made it, it would not have been the same....and that itself is the most important gift of all!