the old man is snoring...

How cute are these Loeffler Randall rain boots?? I was just think that I needed to invest in a pair after I stepped into a ginormous puddle the other day.

(Yes, it's been rainy in Seattle. Hardy har har. You can stop gloating now.)

I'm obsessed with boots!

i'm no beauty expert

But I do love free stuff! I've been an Allure Expert for probably a year or so and I finally got my first reward!

I got a L'Oreal Bare Naturale mascara and a mini size of Ban antiperspirant. Not too exciting but they were FREE!

Here's how it works:

All you have to do is sign up and periodically Allure will send you online surveys to complete. Each time you participate, you receive points. Once you accumulate 20 (I think) points, they'll send you an email to confirm your shipping address and VOILA! Free stuff!

Easy peasy.

Another neat thing about this program is that sometimes they'll even send you samples of products for you to actually review! I'm currently awaiting one of these samples. I don't know what it is yet, but I'm excited to participate.

I'll let you know when I get it!

and then there was dior..

So Nordstrom had a Dior cosmetics event last week and of course I got talked into making an appointment to have a makeover. What girl doesn't love to be beautified??

I promised myself that I wouldn't buy anything but when push comes to, well, mostly it was just a nudge, I'm a sucker for all things pretty - especially me!

As soon as I sat down, my makeup artist took control without even asking what I wanted done. I do like to be dominated once in a while! I have to hand it to her though. Her enthusiasm for the product was intoxicating. If Mango wasn't there to rein me in, I'd probably buy everything!

Who am I kidding? I'm planning to buy everything eventually. I'm just being somewhat good about waiting until I finish what I have at home first!

For this occasion though, I decided it would be okay for me to purchase only the colors and none of skincare*. I'd been lusting after the Gaucho palette since the Anniversary Sale but I hadn't tried it yet. But when the artist showed me to achieve both a simple day look and a sexy smoky eye, I was sold!

I also picked up the Lip Maximizer. It's supposed to plump up your lips by bringing the collagen up to the surface. I don't know if that's actually happening, but I do know that I love the way my lips feel. It's not that burning sensation that I get with the Lip Injection stuff and my lips feel moisturized instead of irritated.

And finally, I got this eye liner brush. I love how the bristles are really short so I can get super close to my lashes. It just fills in all the extra space between my sparse lashes to make the look my lush.

Oh! I almost forgot to mention that I got a neat little makeup case too! I'll try to remember to post a pic as soon as I take one!

I'm just about ready to send in for another of the Dior VIP rewards!

*For Seattle-area Dior-fiends: Did you know that the duty-free shop on the way up to Vancouver, BC carries nearly all the Dior skincare at a discounted price?? And of course you don't have to pay tax! Just be sure to take the exit to the truck border. I'm waiting for someone to go so I can send them on a mission for me to pick up some Capture Totale!

soon to be mrs..

I just started another blog that will be all about my wedding planning.

Don't worry. It won't be filled with gushy-mushy stuff about how HB and I met and how we're soooo in love.

Ick. I think I just threw up a little bit in my mouth.

Anyway, I didn't want to bombard you folks with boring aisle-walking musings so I'll keep this and that separate.

Now I'm going to stare at my ring again..

oh no she didn't!

In the words of Michael K, what the hell kinda GD outfit is this??!

This is what I had to look at during my bus ride to work today. And yes, those are white patent boots.

I have to give it to her though. All her colors were coordinated and she rocked it all like a champ!

he's not that romantic

And honestly, neither am I. But as unromantic as both of us can be, Hunny Bunny and I decided to get engaged!

Last Saturday, while I was working at my parents' jewelry shop, HB came and took me to lunch. After lunch, he came into the shop for a visit and said we should look at rings. I showed him the one I liked though I didn't actually think he was serious but my hilarious mom made him fill out an invoice! Ha! Good little mommy!

And then he left. Did that just happen?

Later that night, as we were heading to our neighborhood drugstore, I had to ask. "Uhhh.. Are we engaged?"

"Sure."

That's so us.

I didn't want to really tell anyone until I had the ring so I'd been keeping mum all week. Let me tell you, I felt like barfing the whole time! I've been totally anxious and unable to sleep! Basically a nervous wreck.

Then yesterday after work, we went to pick up the ring!!

This is where it gets even less romantic (if that was possible!)... He handed me the box as we left the shop. (He was rushing me because he was parked illegally!)

I jokingly said "Aren't you going to put the ring on my finger?"

"No. You know that's not my style."

And then he dropped me off to have dinner with my girlfriends. That took all of 30 minutes.

Dum dum da dum....

get high

TamPham and Diabolina have both been all atwitter about high waisted skirts. And so of course, so am I! I'm such a follower!

But how could I not be? Am loving the styles from Marc by Marc Jacobs and 3.1 Phillip Lim.

I love fall clothing so much more than any other season! And with the dreary weather we've been having in Seattle, I can picture myself wearing skirts and tights and boots!

Ugh. I need a new wool coat too. Been needing one for a couple years now but have been making do with this icky Kenneth Cole one that I swear I bought nearly 10 yrs ago. I just can't seem to find the perfect one.

pick and choose

Ugh. I've been sooo indecisive about my head gear! I swear I've been blabbing incessantly about all these headbands that I want and I still haven't purchased a single one.

I tried a couple feather ones at BCBG but because they're black and my hair's black, Mango said they looked like spiders. *shudder*

I tried on a couple at Urban Outfitters but I swear, every single one was bent out of shape! They just throw everything everywhere so it was big tangled mess. Have some pride people!!

There were also several silk/elastic headbands that I liked too but I think my head is misshapened (or maybe just gigantic!) that they don't really stay put. Phooey.

And what to my wondering eyes should appear? The newest Marc by Marc Jacobs diadem. It arrived at Nordies today and I actually really like it! The blue stands out in my hair, but not in a loud way. I may have found The One.

This is what happens when I start wandering the streets of downtown Seattle during my lunch break.

don't buy it

I've been coveting this little Chanel enamel flower ring for the longest time. I absolutely adore how humongous it is on my finger! I've tried it on a billion times.
(The blue clutch in the back isn't too shabby either!)

But I've been really bad lately - not keeping in my budget... Balenciaga shoes.. Boots from Urban Outfitters (they arrive later today so I'll decide if they're worth keeping then!)..

Basically, I'm not allowed to buy it. It's not super expensive, in fact it seems almost cheap! For Chanel any way. But I mustn't. I can't. Don't pressure me.

My bday is coming up in a couple months. Maybe then. A little present to myself.

i won the mega million!

Heck no, I didn't. If I did, you'd never hear from me again! MUAHAHAHAHA. *ahem

Anywinner, this award was so graciously bestowed upon me by the ever lovely TamPham. I guess she thinks my blog is tops! Yay!


Now I need to pass this along. Hmmm.. I nominate the following:

PazzoKevin
LoosyInTheSky
SoulTanggg

Now, here are the award's rules:

1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contribute to the blogging community, no matter what language.
2. Each award has to have the name of the author and a link to her/her blog to be visited by everyone.
3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that presented her/him with the award.
4. The award winner has to link the Arte y Pico blog so everyone will know the origin of this award.
5. Show these rules.

am i crazy?

For some reason, I really like these LNA zippered leggings at ChickDowntown..

I really don't know how wearable they are, but I just like them. I do! I do! I DO!



(Note to HB: See how easily those two little words just roll off your tongue?!)

Anyway, I better think about it some more before I whip out the CC. They're kinda edgy and I'm kinda not. Not to mention the fact that I'm too cheap to pay $99 for them!

Maybe I'm just swept up in the 80s look that Katie Holmes has been rockin' with those rolled up jeans!

this "girl" is totally gonna win

I'm not really an avid fan of America's Next Top Model. I really only watch it during those monster marathons on MTV when there's absolutely nothing else to watch.

ANTM addict PazzoKevin figured out the next twist in the upcoming cycle. If you haven't guessed yet, there's gonna be a tranny!

As if there isn't always a tranny-look-alike in every cycle. But that's neither here, nor there.. I guess "Isis" was featured in cycle 10's homeless shoot.



Anytranny, she/he's totally going to win. Or at least be in the top 3. Tyra doesn't go to all this trouble to create controversy if it isn't going to last all season!

balencia-ah-ahhh-ARGH!!!!

I had some time to kill before meeting some friends for happy hour on Friday so I thought, why not go to the Rack.

What's this?

Another designer shoe delivery, even more fabulous than Ms. Style-ish's last visit?! I had trotted over there as quickly as I could but all the good ones were already gone.

I was lucky this time! (Perhaps a little 8-8-08 charm?) I couldn't resist picking up these gorgeous, yet simple, Balenciaga sandals. I'm a Balenciaga-virgin, ya know. I love how the insoles are this amazing metallic blue. You can just barely get a glimpse when I walk.

But wait! Get this.. The shoes are marked as size 39 wide! There is now way my 7 1/2, sometimes 8, feet can fill out a size 9 shoe. When I saw them, I just knew they couldn't be a true 9 so I tried them on and voila. There you have it - not a bit big.

Found some lovely Valentinos too but they were a 38 1/2 and waaaaaay too big..

Moral of the story, it never hurts to try!

need a new vibrator

I don't know why I didn't hear about this sooner! Take a peek at this
New York Times article (photo by Tony Cenicola/NYT).

Estee Lauder and Lancome just came out with mascaras that have vibrating wands. That's crazy! I'm such a messy mascara-applier, I'd probably get it smeared all over my face!

At $30+ each, I don't know if I am willing to pony up the dough. Hmm. I guess it kinda makes the Givenchy mascara I've been thinking about sound cheap.

At the moment, I'm back to using good ol' L'oreal Voluminous mascara. It was buy one, get one free at Walgreens a while back and of course I couldn't say no! It doesn't go on quite as smoothly as DiorShow but for the price, I don't mind combing my lashes a bit - it's every bit as volumizing though, if not more so. My lashes almost feel heavy!

Thanks Nicole!

i likey

I went to Urban Outfitters during lunch on my feather quest and what do I find instead? These adorable slouchy boots!

They're not exactly the Loeffler Randall Mathilde boots that I've been oohing and aahing over for months but these are like $600 cheaper too!

I mean if I wanted to spend that much money on some boots, I'd be getting these
delectable Valentino ankle booties!

Just dreaming.

Ahem! So I think I'll return those UGG boots that I bought during the boring Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and pick these little guys up.

for the birds

As I continue my quest in perfecting my skills in accessories, I find myself a little bit obsessed with these anti-PETA headbands.

I blame Diabolina because she's been blogging incessantly about her adoration of all things feathered.

And then DailyCandy goes and sends me my morning email with some exotic plummage. How can you not love this Pluma headband?

But is it wearable or will I look like the crazy bird lady from Mary Poppins?




Over the weekend, I also tried on Forever 21's version. At $10, it's a steal but I wasn't crazy about the colors. The more natural colors didn't quite stand out in my dark hair and then there were the fakey colors. Yikes.

I need to mull this over. Please feel free to weigh in on this - to feather or not to feather.

i want to try this

But daaayaaam! Givenchy's Phenomen'Eyes mascara is $27!

You there! Reading the blog. Yeah you! Buy it for me. Thanks!

I've read some good reviews and am rather curious about that little knobby wand. But do I want to drop that much cheddah on mascara? Heck no. Will I buy it? Probably. I'll just wait until I have a bad day and need a pick-me-up.

frosting

So I'd been kinda, sorta complaining to Hunny Bunny that I'm just not that good at accessorizing. I have a handful of jewelry from my parents' shop that I just rotate but I'm not adventurous when it comes to the costume-y stuff - you know, statement pieces.

Lo and behold, HB actually paid attention! He bought me this set of pretty enamel bangles from Banana Republic to get me started on my new adventure in accessorizing. Granted, they were in the clearance bin for $4, but still.

Now I just need to figure out when/where to wear them.

And then I need to figure out how to get him to accessorize a certain little finger next.. Hmm.