oh the shame

My bf said he would buy me the Louis Vuitton wallet I've been
coveting. But only if I bit his toe nails off.

Sadly, I'd probably do it had he not quickly said "just kidding!"

Dang. I'm truly a Louis whore.

bloom town

I recently found this cute little website Etsy that sells handcrafted wares from regular folk like you and me.. Well, maybe a little more talented than me, but you know what I mean!

Some of my favorite jewelry pieces come from BloomStudios. They're pretty affordable and I really like knowing that they're made-to-order.

How cute are these two rings?




Now I just have to decide which one I like better! Not that I'm going to buy anything.. No sir!

save jake

Save an extra 10% on sale items at Jake with the code "extra10"! Good through Friday.

up against the wal...mart

Oooh... Norma Kamali is coming out with a line for Walmart! I'm not sure what direction it's going to take but the collection is said to include women and kid's clothing, accessories and shoes.

I've only been to Walmart once but maybe I'd go more often now. Or maybe not.

Not sure when it's going to debut... I'll let you know when I find out!

just looking

I went to the Gap during lunch yesterday and they had a lot of cute stuff going on. I guess it's the Gap's turn to have a cute season.. Old Navy was cute last year, but I'm totally not diggin' the safari stuff. I don't even like going outside, let alone wear stuff that makes me look like I'm outside.

Of course, I get into one of my obsessive modes and I popped onto their site to see if there was anything else that I missed. Lo and behold! A couple pairs of flats that I like are now on sale!





What I really want is this sweater. It's not on sale yet.



I have one from last year in black. It's not as cute as this one because the seams are on the outside, so people are constantly telling me my sweater is inside-out. It's called style, people! Sheesh.

Hmm.. Since's it's called the boyfriend cardigan, does that mean my bf has to buy it for me? Thanks hunny!

UPDATE: I just went to the Gap again. I tried on the suede flats... I actually like the brown ones now. I don't need any new shoes.

queen for a day

Because my parents own a jewelry store, my dad likes to call this stuff "fake jewelry". Yeah yeah.. It's 14K and the diamonds are probably about the size of sand. But darn it if daddy doesn't sell fun stuff like crowns and skulls.. Not to mention the fact that I can't exactly afford to buy his *ahem* real stuff. (And no, I can't just take stuff for free.. At least not while my mom is watching. Dad lets me "borrow". *wink wink*)

This is bauble is now on sale at Ron Herman.

MAR10

How witty... My friend sent me this press release from Mario's.

MAR.10 spells MARIO

Join Mario’s for 10 days of family, fun, and fashion!

From March 1-10 customers who spend $200 or more will receive 10 percent of their purchase total back in the form of credit on a Mar.10 gift card. On March 10, customers get the opportunity to spin Mario’s special “Prize Roulette Wheel” and wheel to win merchandise from Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Ermenegildo Zegna, Armani Collezioni, and more from Mario’s collection of esteemed vendors (every spinner is a winner; one spin per customer; over $50,000 in merchandise!).

Customers will receive a commemorative “MAR.10 spells MARIO” T-shirt when they make a donation to the Coyote Central Foundation (Seattle) or Children's Healing Art Project (Portland). Buy a raffle ticket for fabulous Mario’s prizes, and proceeds will benefit the charities.

In Seattle, the charity selected as a benefactor is Coyote Central, an organization that creates creative learning opportunities for an ethnically-diverse group of junior-high youths. In Oregon, the charity selected is Children’s Healing Arts Project (CHAP), dedicated to healing children by leveraging the creative and restorative power of art. More info below.

March 1 (Saturday) - special in-store appearances from kids who receive support from Coyote Central (Seattle) and CHAP (Portland)
March 8 (Saturday) - family day at Mario's! Bring the kids and enjoy entertainment from skilled magician and get pictures taken with Bigfoot :-)

Regular store hours: 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Mon-Sat, 12 – 5 p.m. on Sun.; Mario's 3.10 at Bridgeport Village store hours are 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Mon-Sat, 12 – 6 p.m Sun.

Seattle: 1513 6th Ave, Seattle, WA, 206-223-1461
Portland: 833 SW Broadway, Portland, OR, 503-227-3477
Mario's 3.10 at Bridgeport Village: 17031 SW 72nd Ave., Tigard, OR, 97224, 503-601-7310

*sigh* 10% off really isn't much.. Basically no tax. Hmmm. Let's go to the Oregon stores.. Then you can save on tax too!

Thanks Nicole!

don't remind me

Did you get the email with the subject "Engaged?" from J. Crew this weekend?




I mean really... Did my gramma call them or something? Is this some kind of cruel joke to remind me that I'm getting close to Old Maid territory?! I'm totally removing myself from their mailing list in protest.

deal or no deal

While I was waiting for my bf to pick me up from work on Friday, I decided to pay a visit to Club Monaco. They had a ton of stuff on clearance! I spent $83 including tax and came out with a dress (orig. $229, on sale for $19!!), a cape and a pleated top (both orig. $149, on sale for $29!)

I know I said I would refrain from shopping, but could you pass up on this deal? Of course not! I practically made money!

Furthermore, on Saturday, I went to Vancouver BC for the day and did NOT buy a single thing! Well, mostly because the exchange rate sucks and Canada doesn't give a tax rebate any more. And you thought Washington state tax was high? It's like 14% there!

And I also deserve a pat on the back for not buying anything at the Duty Free store! I was really really REALLY tempted to buy the Diorshow mascara because it was only $22 (as opposed to $29 at Nordstrom) and the Capture Totale moisturizer that was $99 ($120 at Sephora). But I didn't!

And then I went to the Rack on Sunday and found some cute Tory Burch flats for $120 and I still didn't buy them!

I must be ill.

he loves me, I think

My loving bf said he'd love me even if I gain 30lbs. What does that even mean?! Is he talking about 30lbs over the average weight of an American women? Or is he talking about 30lbs over the weight I think I should be?

Because if it's the latter, I think I'm already half way there.

I'd probably love me more if HE gained 30lbs only because he's so effing skinny that I feel porky. I have low self-esteem.

goo

I finally opened Revlon's 3D mascara that I bought last month.



I do not like it at all. The bristles are supposed to be short, but they're so short that the product just coats the entire wand. My lashes are so heavy and stiff!

But I'm still going to use it because I paid for it and I don't want to waste it.

superstar

Nearly every year, I buy a new pair of sunglasses. And every year that I buy a new pair of sunglasses, I tell myself that I won't ever want to buy another pair because the ones I bought are just so fabulous. But every year, I want to buy a new pair.



I first saw these in Paris near rue de Rivoli, after we ate Butter Corn Ramen (miso ramen with corn and a huge pat of butter!)

Don't you just adore the flower? Chanel has outdone themselves again! I haven't tried them on yet because I might fall madly in love and have to buy them. Then again, they might not even fit my face because of my flat nose.. But they'd totally be worth it to have creases on my cheeks.

I'm a bit scared to ask how much they cost, but on Ebay, they're about $330. They're probably fake.

vicarious

It's fun spending money and buying fancy things - especially when you're using other people's money!



I went to Nordstrom to pick these Christian Louboutins up on behalf of one of my girl friends. I even tried them on! Maybe if I find them on sale, I'll get a pair for myself. Until then...

so fresh & so clean

Have you seen this facial product that Oprah has been swearing up and down the street about?



What planet have I been on? I had no idea it existed. But I might have to get it because at $200 it must work. I will have eternal youth! muuuuahahahahaha!

If you sign up for the "automatic shipment", you can get 10% off and free shipping at the Skin Store!

Thanks Serena!

mission

For the last week, I've been on this mission to find the perfect (inexpensive) silver clutch that my friend is desperate to own. We had to clarify what inexpensive meant since sometimes my sense of value is quite different than the rest of the world.. I guess I could've named my blog "thinkrichbitch".

Anyway, she wants something preferably under $100. I'm starting to realize how difficult it really is to find something of quality in that price range. The really cute ones are all at least twice that.

By far, this little one by Lauren Merkin is my fave.



Of course, while I'm at the site, I click onto the SALE section. What do I find? Can I be more selfish?



It's on sale and I didn't buy it!

grumble, grumble

I've actually had to work for the past couple days and have had no time to goof off and post on my beloved blog. Phooey!

Who does "The Man" think he is???

confession

I took a mini break yesterday and walked over to Nordstrom. I'd been obsessing about getting a nude colored lipstick and at 3:30 pm, I decided I had to have it right then and there.

I picked up an ArmaniSilk lipstick by Giorgio Armani in #27. It looks darker online than it does in person.



That purchase totally satiated my need to spend money. So much so that even though I spent an hour at Target killing time before dinner, I didn't buy a single item!

*cheers*

Speaking of makeup, Rimmel stuff is on sale at Walgreen's through Saturday.. Buy one, get one free! I love their mascaras. (And no, I didn't buy any!)

hard times

I wonder what's going on at eLuxury.. They can't seem to get rid of their sale items. I could've sworn it was final markdowns like a month ago and now they're having this President's Day garage sale with an additional 30% off.

Remember that Thakoon dress I liked a while back? It's cheaper now.. But I am B-R-O-K-E! And I guess I don't like it that much any more. Have you noticed that when you have money, clothes just look cuter?

But I digress... I did notice that some of the sale dresses on eLuxury (namely the marc by marc jacobs ones) are from several seasons ago. I'm totally over it.

my hero

Shout out to my girl in Japan who just ordered THREE pairs of fancy mary janes!

Gucci

Manolo

Christian

When I grow up, I wanna be just like you! *smoochies*

Gotta admit it though.. The girl works hard and deserves it all!

i can do it too

Here's Lily Allen sticking her fist in her mouth..



I can do it too! And I can get way past my knuckles. Amateur. (Ask me to show you when I'm super drunk... But watch out. I might barf on you.)

I won't post a picture of myself here, but I'm sure there's one floating around online.

at least they were clean

So I pulled me jeans out of the laundry this morning.. All fresh and clean.

Cut to 10:45 am at work - as I'm walking to water fountain to get some water for my plants, something starts creeping down my leg. What is that? Why, it's a pair of PANTIES! It totally came out of my pants! No one saw.. I hope.

D'oh!

work it out

Ugh.. I'm finally going to go to the gym tonight. I need to work off those 10 lbs that Self.com says I need to lose in order to be happy. Why can't I be like Pazzo Kevin and just lose weight by breathing?

What a bitch.

Pilates and turbo kick boxing tonight.

get lucky

So in the latest Lucky magazine, they had this simple outfit that I thought was pretty cute. I happened to have all the pieces and put it together today for work. How nice! I got several compliments.

Ingredients included: a blazer, a denim mini skirt, tights, a white top (I wore black) and flats. I added a big pink scarf, my new Kimberly Baker earrings and of course my lovely (if I do say so myself) Chloe bag! Totally looked like I threw it on without a second thought. Love it!

Too bad I snagged my tights TWICE! I just need to rip it a little bit and I'll be Britney Spears! Yikes.

good girl

I went to the Kimberly Baker flagship store yesterday to check out the sale. I really wanted to get that ring but when I got there, I saw another ring that I liked even more!

Of course I liked the gold one.. And of course it was way more expensive. I didn't buy it though. It was only 10% off. I suppose I'll just wait until she has another clearance sale.

Instead, I bought a pair of gold filligree earrings that were only $30. *clap clap clap*

ready, set, GO!

Finally! In a few short weeks, Target's GO International line featuring Jovovich-Hawk designs will be in stores!

From looking at the photos, it looks like more of the country bumpkin-chic that their known for. (I'm not sure why the pix turned out blue! Sorry!)



To see more (and BETTER) photos of the line, go here.

UPDATE: Duh! I forgot to say that it comes out on March 2, 2008. See you there!

talk me down...

My friend has been all a-twitter with excitement from her purchases at Seattle jewelry designer, Kimberly Baker's shop in Fremont. For the last two days she's been sending me links to the cutest pieces! ARGH.

I really want to go! But I'm not supposed to.. But I want to! Maybe tomorrow. No! What am I saying? I just spent a crapload on my Chloe bag... How about if I only buy a little tiny ring? You won't even notice!


Edgy and elegant at the same time! I love it.

Available at Kimberly Baker.

Thanks Nicole!

what are you smiling about??

No, I'm not in a bad mood. I'm just paranoid that I'm starting to get this smile like across my cheeks - the way my mom does. Eep! I have two options:

a. botox
b. stop smiling

I'll choose option b until I'm 35, then botox! So if I give you a dirty look, it's not about you. It's about me trying to keep my youthful skin.

hags at it again

For more backstory, go here.

On to the main event:
hag: by the way, are you and I ever going to get our lunch in?
hag: how does your schedule look?
hag: why don't you let me buy you lunch?
LRB: i actually ordered a sandwich already
LRB: gonna pick it up in a bit
hag: well i wasn't necessarily talking about today. How about maybe tomorrow or one day next week. And if you don't want to just let me know.
LRB: i have yoga tomorrow
hag: okay never mind you answered my question. I won't ask anymore.
hag: i give up and I'm tired of trying

five minutes pass...

hag: i hope your happy
LRB: i am perfectly happy
hag: that's exactly what i mean. all you care about is you. That's sad. And you feel good about that? Wow
hag: so much for being a team
LRB: what does having lunch have to do with being part of the "team"? it's my lunch hour. I can do as a please.
LRB: I do my work. I pitch in. So don't even say that I'm not doing my share
hag: ok
hag: then just say you don't want to have lunch. Stop beating around the bush and making up excuses all the time.
LRB: fine. i don't want to have lunch.

What the eff is her problem??

gung hay -skinny- choy!

Is there such a thing as a happy weight? According to Self.com, I need to lose 10-11 lbs in order to be happy. I suppose I would feel a lot better about myself if I lost that weight. *sigh*

Here's the formula (or you can just click on the above link to go to the calculator, though they're slightly different, the answer is about the same):

Multiply your height in inches squared by .031
add 1 lb if your sibling is obese
add 2 lb for ever decade over 20
add 1 lb if you allow yourself a treat once in a while

Good luck!

Speaking of fat though, while we were having dinner one night in Budapest, the waiter served us some bread along with what I thought was butter. It didn't quite look like butter so I tasted it... It was straight-up LARD! No joke. Tasty, wonderfully delicious lard.... ahem.

I only tasted it! I swear!

Happy thoughts...

I need a vacation!

If only to have a reason to buy one of these adorable Stella McCartney for LeSportsac bags!







Seriously. How cute are you to be rolling around a Stella at the airport? Not cute enough!

If I pre-order, then it'll be like I'm not spending any money right?

angel baby

While in Paris, we came across Parfums de Nicolai. It's a lovely little shop by Patricia de Nicolai who is the grandaughter of Pierre Guelain. I guess it's really rare for a woman to be a perfumer because our sense of smell changes so quickly.

She has a frangrance "Petit Ange" that is formulated for children and it's heavenly - tangerines and lilacs. It just smells really fresh and clean. Anyway, I picked up a bottle for my bff who's having a baby. (Okay okay.. I actually bought a bottle for myself and then half a block away, I realized I should buy one for her too! So I'm only a little bit selfish... sheesh!)

please pass the... nevermind

I feel bloated just thinking about the food in Prague and Budapest. I don't think I'll look at slow cooked food in quite the same way ever again. Don't get me wrong, I love my gramma's beef brisket, but some how those Czechs and Hungarians make the food taste so unfresh. It's like they made it months ago and just heat up when you asked for it. Blech.

And what's up with the dumplings? Maybe cos I'm Asian but the dumplings I'm used to are delicious, tender little bites - with or without meat in them. Potato dumplings are these massive loaves that are sliced and taste/feel NOTHING like potato gnocchi. And bread dumplings? Don't even get me started on those. How is bread a dumpling? Isn't that just, you know.. BREAD?

I get the impression that their M.O. with food is just that it fills you up for hours and leaves you constipated and that it's not something to be enjoyed.

We ended up at Pizza Hut on our fifth night. I couldn't stand another plate of goulash. I mean, the least they could do is name it something more appetizing. Goulash just sounds like someone vomiting - much like appeler Raoul. But that's neither here nor there.

By the time we arrived in Vienna, we were so ready for some schnitzel. Pass the tonkatsu sauce because deep fried meat is good anytime.

get back to work!

Been back to work a day now and vacation already seems a millions years away. Obviously, I didn't meet a rich French man with a chateau and a vinyard. I guess I'll have stick with my little Stinko.

I'll be posting random anecdotes about the trip in the coming days but in the meantime I thought I'd share a photo of my new baby. Isn't she pretty? I don't think she's available in the States yet.

Ugh.. I totally meant to look for a bag that was on sale but this bag was just calling my name! Seriously. I could hear look... rich... bitch... Or maybe it was just my cousin saying something about how bitchy the sales gal was. Oh well. I figure since I used my miles to pay for my airfare (saved me about $700), the money I saved was put towards my new bag! Yep uh huh. So I still saved! (Note: there's no sense in trying to figure out my logic.. just accept it.)

Anyway, this bag seems to be available only at Net-a-Porter right now. And no, I didn't pay that price. Even with the exchange rate being depressing, it was still cheaper to buy it in Paris. Now I know what the Canadians used to feel like when they'd shop in the US. Boooo.

By the way, I love my new Chloe fragrance too! It was just launched last Monday. Ohmygosh, does this qualify me as an It-Girl??