Thanksgiving and more importantly, BLACK FRIDAY

This Thanksgiving I decided not to fly out back home to L.A.  It would have been way too expensive, and so not worth it as half the time I would have just been en route.  So I went with my floormate Shelly (whom I loveee) to her friend's dorm with a kitchen and we made a little Thanksgiving dinner.  I had something a bit more clean and...more organized in mind, but everybody was super chill so it was fun.  There was no meat to be seen (the girl, Racine, was a vegetarian) so we had all these interesting vegetable dishes.  One was actually quite delish.  Everybody ate all my macaroni and cheese and they loved my cake (which I artfully saved as it almost turned into a mess due to a lack of proper tools) so I was happy.  I'll post the cake recipe later!  I would have liked to accompany it with pictures but I didn't think to take any...

But moving on: BLACK FRIDAY.

Okay so I will admit I was scared.  I've only been Black Friday shopping like once in L.A. and all I could picture in NYC was pure chaos.  As I said to my friend, "I want to go shopping...but I don't want to, like, die."  I was trooper though, and totally woke up at 6:30am, was on the subway by 7:00am, and in Herald Square by 7:30am.  I went to the huge Macy's that's there and got the boots I was eyeing last time for 30% off!  So from $129 to like $79 or something.

They're even real leather...

I really wanted a purse but all the ones I were interested in were either not on sale or still way more than I wanted to pay.  I popped by Steve Madden and Victoria's Secret but by that time it was around 10am and it was wayyy too crazy.  I went to Aldo and I got this cute purse to go with my boots for only $26!

 

I still need a grey one though!

 

So, by this time I was already over my allotted budget of approx. $100, but then I went into H&M, just to see what was happening in the accessories, since I don't tend to prefer their clothes (they just never fit me quite right).  BUT, there were having these $10 fabulous finds AND everything that was on sale was 2 for 1 so I just had to get this cute plaid shirt dress that probably everyone and their mom will be wearing since I saw so many people checking out with it but either way:

Originally $34.95.  So not worth that much...

 And this cute knit beanie...not on sale but still cheap:

I popped by this random discount store called Daffy's.  I wasn't really feeling much in there, but then these shoes just popped up out of nowhere and they were so cute and unique looking I could not resist.  I may still return them because I don't tend to just wear heels out and about.  But they were just SO adorable I could not resist.

OMG!

They were on like super sale too.  UGH!  This is like Confessions of a Shopaholic or something.  Although after talking to Shelly, who went with some girls on a 14 hour shopping expedition in a limo throughout New Jersey...I'm not that bad.  ;D

Really I'm just glad my roomate from hell is not here and shouldn't be back until tomorrow.  More on that situation another time.

Hair Disaster

...THAT STILL ISN'T FIXED!  @#PI$&%P!U#HF

Ok so I don't remember if i blogged about this or not but I bought this super nice package from Alternative Adverstising from Gio Studio Salon where I could get a haircut, scalp/neck massage, highlights, plus some other random irrelevant stuff for $60 + $10 product fee and 20% off any other service.  This honestly was a bit of an amazing deal seeing as just a haircut in NYC will set you back like $70 soooo I said I'd try it.  Plus I checked them out on CitySearch.com and they were totally top rated.  Even when I got there, everyone had gorgeous hair color.  This should turn out great right? 

NOOOOOOOOO.

First of all, I don't know what is up with this stylist Ezequiel.  I made it very clear that my hair color was *dyed* dark.  For those of you who are color virgins this is very significant information as and single lightening process will not work on the dyed part.  Bleach or a color removal process is necessary aka a DOUBLE PROCESS.  I said, "You're going to need to do a double process right?" And he said yes.  NOTE: A Double process is always significantly more expensive, sooo I'm paying top dollar.  Yes I get a 20% discount, but its still $160.  I expect to come out of the salon looking fly and fabulous.

However...when he was done....I looked like a brassy streaky messsssss.  Whenever I get a hair color change, its always a bit of a shock and a bit hard to judge immediately.  So I payed and I left a nice tip or whatever (mostly for their shampooer Alfonso who has THE MAGIC TOUCH.  I think it was the scalp/neck message a clouded my judgment) and I was in like Loehmans trying to judge it and I was not feeling it.  Anyway, when I got home I cried, made a quick run to Ricky's to get some color to dye over it but my mommy talked some sense into me, so I called and scheduled another appt. to have it fixed.

Hmm..it's not so bad you are probably thinking, but this next one really shows the horror!!!

 

Hot mess!!

WTF?!  That doesn't look a thing like this beautiful, rich brown color does it?
 

 

NO.  IT DOESN'T.

So this is what really makes it.  I went back the next day, and it still isn't fixed.  My roots are super light, my ends are still too dark, and I still have that brassy mess of highlights through the front.  He's afraid to bleach my hair properly or even use a developer more than 15 vol, and I'm like UM WTF DID YOU CHARGE ME A DOUBLE PROCESS FOR THEN?  That weak shit isn't going to do what I need it to do.  And yet he wants me to get some perm which is more likely to ruin my hair even worse.  I don't even know what he did last time.  All I know is I'm getting fed up and I'm supposed to go back on Sunday (tomorrow), but I don't think this "Ezequiel" knows what the hell he is doing.  If it is not done properly and I don't look like a star, I am demanding a refund so I can so someplace where they know what they're doing and get this fixed.  And its going to cost me a fortuneeee I already know.  UGH.

:*(

I love trying on stuff...

One of my favorite guilty pleasure type movies--just because it was SO cute--is def Confessions of a Shopaholic with Isla Fisher. I guess I really relate to the whole shopping addiction bit.  I always like to joke with my cousin Tara that I have a shopping problem, and on the phone I'll be like, "Hello is the Shopaholics Anonymous?"

These are from earlier this month back when I got my first HUGE paycheck.  It was a whole month's worth because I'm *so* stupid and I didn't realize that saving your timesheet wasn't enough, you had to submit it too.  Those were some dark days...

ANYWAY, I went to a whole bunch of discount stores to find some good basics on sale.  Nice winter coat...a bag...some boots....etc.  I love taking pictures in the store and texting either Tara or my mom with them because I'm so indecisive.  Even though I usually like what I call business shopping (basically, when you're about to drop some big $$$ on for stuff you actually need and so you have to try on, compare between shops etc.) alone, I still need somebody else's opinion, plus it makes for good reference, so I take tons of pictures.  I only have a crap camera phone (I'm saving up for the real thing) but the quality isn't too bad...

 I saw this one at the HUUUGE Macy's over in Herald Square on 34th Street.  That Macy's is like shopping heaven.  It takes up a whole block and its 13 floors of pure shopping heaven.  This one is American Rag, and it was cute but it wasn't warm enough for the NYC winter months.  I'm a Cali girl so you know I need the warmth more than anybody.

Another day I went to Chelsea to check out the Burlington Coat Factory.  Right outside of the 23rd St. subway station there was this cute little jewelry store having an everything is $1-2.99 sale.  Some of it looked a little too cheapie, but I got a whole bunch of cute studs (my favorite).

This purse was effing huge.  It was Jessica Simpson, and technically luggage.  I liked the style but it was just way too big so I wound up getting this one:

Nine West!

Looking back...this next coat was actually really cute....Why didn't I get this?  It was Miss Sixty...

 

WELL whatever the one I did get is super girly and preppy and *unique.* I'll stand out in the sea of gray and black that is the NYC streets:

Lol at my little wrist flick...what is wrong with me?

And for fun...

Its sooooo flashy and gaudy but I kinda love it.  I really want a furry type jacket thing but they're not actually really warm (since they're faux anyway) so it was too much for something so trendy.  I have to head to Forever21 or Necessary Clothing for that one.

There was a whole bunch of super cute underwear but I had to restrain myself.  Its one of those things where you're like oh it's cheap and cute I want it all and then you get to the cash register and you're like, "Wait a second.....where did $50 come from?"

Anyway...that it all for now.  I can't wait until Saturday.  Hair changes are so exciting.  :D

Essie: Mint Candy Apple

I've been lemming this color since I saw it on Makeup and Beauy Blog. I went to the lady doctor yesterday, and on my way back I walked down Amsterdam and there was this nail salon called Pinky around 70something street. I'd never go there because yeahhh I can't do $18 for *just* a manicure. But they're the first salon I've happened to come across that actually had Essie's new collection and I just had to get it. Needless to say, I love it~! Its such a unique color. It reminds me of MAC's Peppermint Patty (which I never got to get because it sold out too fast).

Also on my way back, I stopped at SEPHORA. I need a new foundation really badly but instead of getting something I need I had to get this:

What a pretty box! But whats inside it???? HMMMMMM...

*Faints*

It's Tarte's treasure chest and there can be no better title. This palette is effing huge. There are 16 shimmery colors, 16 mattes, 4 blushes, a bronzer/highlighter, and 16 lip glosses. The lip glosses are a bit meh but still. I effing love this! If I can get pictures to come out well on my camera phone I'll try and share a few looks.

I'm getting my herr did on Saturday! I'm so excited. I dyed it a bit dark back in September...kind of closer to my natural color but now I'm bored and I want something new! I'd lavlavlav to go blonde but alas it is too high maintenance and my hair is too damaged anyway so I'm still waiting to live out that dream. I want a color a bit like Chikako Watanabe:

I bought this introductory package off the street for this nice salon in Chelsea from this cute guy for $60, so I can get highlights a haircut and a neck/shoulder massage....all for $60. :D I still have to pay like $80 for a color change, but thats not bad considering my usual salon charges like $130 just to get a root touch up. -_- This is my first time going to a non-Japanese salon so I hope they do right by me.

Ok this is enough confessions of a shopaholic for now. I need to finish my French composition...and I have a presentation for my STUPID sociology class today. Ugh. I hate school.

PLUG: Katrina is a Princess~

I'm plugging Katrina is a princess, or KatrinaLomidze.com as she goes by now.

She's one of my favorites because its not just makeup or beauty stuff, though I do appreciate that too. ;d She gives us a little glimpse into her life and I love that. She's got an adorable baby and husband and I get so much enjoyment from just checking out what they're up to.

Go look at her!

Yay!

Sooo since my last blog I started my diet regime! I've mostly stuck to it except for about a week when I got sick and fell off the wagon. Anyway, it's been about 3 week and so far I've lost about 5.6 pounds! Just 9 more to go yay! I feel really proud of myself because at the very least I got back to my net weight (130) and now I'm a little bit under (~129) so I feel like I'm on my way to my goal. SOOO:


Dieting Tips for You

• Drink nothing but water. Such cliche advice, but you'd be surprised how many calories you can save by cutting out juice, soda, fancy frappuccino lattes, bubble tea, etc. Just from staying away from a grande Starbucks frappuccino would save you about 450 calories--which is basically an entire meal! You also feel so much more full and for much longer when you eat instead of drink your calories.
• Indulge--but find a lighter replacement. I personally can't go super hardcore with my diet. I just can't eat bland flavorless 'diet' food like skinless chicken breast with lettuce in lemon juice because even salad dressing had been put off limits. I tried to once before and I lasted all of a couple of hours. Basically, if you want to have the cookie, have the cookie. If you want spaghetti--go ahead! Or if you want icecream, try frozen yogurt instead. Just make sure you stay within your calorie range and you should be good, which brings me to my next tip...
• Keep track of everything you eat. Some of my friends think I'm crazy obsessive but you know what--it works. Munching around really adds up, and its those little things that slip your mind that end up being what keeps you from your goals. You might think you've only eaten 1350calories until you remember that handful (or 3) of chips. I like to use Sparkpeople.com to log food intake. They have a data base so you can just search what you're looking for, and if its not there, you can just add items yourself. What's especially great about doing this is it helps you get a better perspective on exactly how many calories what you're eating has. For instance, with things like salads, you think "Ohh....big bowl of lettuce this wasn't bad at all..." until you add the almonds, the mandarins, the chicken, the craisins, avocado, andd the salad dressing, and realize that salad was actually 700 calories, and dietwise you may as well have gotten the BigMac. Though the salad has a lot more nutritional value, when it comes to dieting and losing weights, its not what you eat so much as how much you eat.
• Find what works for you. I personally have noticed that if I eat too much bread/pasta I start blowing up. However, this might not be the case you. Have some awareness of what's going on with *your* body because every body is different and things that may affect you may or may not effect others. Same for your work out. For instance, yoga gives me the kind of body I like: lean and tone but without any real muscle definition. Weightlifting, on the other hand, builds my muscles up instead of slimming down so I don't get that more stream lined look I prefer. But maybe yoga does shit for and you need to lift 20lbs on the abs-machine to see any difference. Always keep that in mind.

My whole goal was ~Hot by Halloween~ but what am I going to be for Halloween? At first I was thinking Cleopatra:


But then I got over wanting a completely legit costume because....you only wear this crap 1 time a year, and I'm a poor college student so I've got to use my funds wisely. Anyway, I decided to be a kitty cat! I already got the ears from Disneyland like last year...they're pink and white like Marie from the Aristocats, and instead of being on a headband, they're clips so it actually looks like the ears are coming from your head!



I got a tail...it's black though. But its okay because I can just be a black and white cat! I was going to get these cat gloves/claws thing, but I think I'd prefer to get real talons aka NAILS for claws instead (from my store):

I'm not sure if I'll want to do fingerless gloves or not. I haven't put together the final image yet as I haven't decided on the outfit exactly. I just know I don't want to be too slutty, but still sexy because hello what's the point of getting ~Hot for Halloween~ if I don't show it off, right? All I know is that for the make-up I'm definitely doing a super dramatic smokey cat eye. I got a little bell collar too! And I might get some little pink clip in extensions for fun too....

As for what I'm doing, I'm certain me n mah buddies are going to the Halloween parade~ and then clubbing afterward. We've got to plan in exact detail though, because I do *not* want to get stuck going, "What are we doing...?" the whole night. I've got midterms next week, so this is how I'm treating myself. Plus, I've been a good girl this past month and I've hardly partied, gone out, etc., at all in favor of keeping up with school and getting back in shape.

Believe it or not I don't actually like going out all that much. I prefer like once or twice a month. Going out actually takes a physical tole on people. The drinking (the calories!! and the bloating!!) staying up late, etc., and I take my health fairly seriously. Like, I like to get regular sleep and stuff because otherwise I get really cranky and I seriously can't function.

Anyway, next week Friday is also payday! Whoooo! I can't wait to finally go shopping for winter clothes...get some shoes...my hurr did...all of that good stuff. I've been working hard for a month in more way than one so I really feel that I deserve some pampering.

Until next time...

Ack!

OMG I'M GAINING WEIGHT!!!!

I'm nipping this in the bud right now though. As for now I am OFFICIALLY ON A DIET and EXERCISE REGIME. 1200-1500 calories a day--water only! NO JUICE/BUBBLE TEA/COFFEE/HOT CHOCOLATE/SODA! I'm going to work out in the mornings with my suitemate--at least 45 mins on the eliptical on M, W, Th/F, St/Sn. She is soooo good--always getting up to go to the gym. I will learn from her.

Its just so hard because our dining hall literally is an all you can eat buffet. You can always go back for more, and there is always MORE waiting for you. Plus its sweets galore. I can resist certain things--like I won't eat pancakes or a waffle or something every morning for breakfast. Even muffins hold little allure for me because I know how flipping calorie dense they are and in the end they're never really worth it.

One thing I love about NY compared to LA is that at all chain-type restaurant they have the calories on display right next to the price. That has literally stopped me in my tracks soo many times. And its a good guide too, because for instance the other day I was debating...'Should I go with the Smoked Cuban Panini....or the Turkey Sandwich...the turkey sandwich is probably less fattening...'

Except NOT! The Panini was 470 calories (and I only ate 2/3s of it--Hoorah!) and the Sandwich 860 calories.

I almost died. Not really but you know. ;p

Yesterday night me and my roomie went on a field trip to SoHo in search of Yogurtland! It was all the way on Bleecker St. but so worth it! Only problem was they only had the huge cups--and I didn't realize they were the huge cups, so I filled it half way thinking that was the usual amount I get. Only when I went to the register and the total was $7.62 did I realize. Ah well, I probably won't be back over there for a while so its all good. I had PinkBerry the same day (my diet starts today! lol) and though I thought they tasted the same...Pinkberry does win the taste test.

While we were over there we went in this store called Fantasy Land. They had a whole bunch of costumes and things. I think I'll head back over there in a couple of weeks to get the Cleopatra costume. So cute! I've never dressed up for Halloween but I think I want to this year.

They also had an assortment of porn and sex toys. LOL! There were even the flesh-toned dildos in a variety of colors depending on your preference. Black, white, "mulatto," they had them all. XD

My roomie is so adventurous and we were going to stop by a psychic so she could get a basic reading. But DAMN can you said rude. The lady clearly saw we were trying to get in, but she didn't think to move from her book until we started knocking. She said she was "Waiting for an appointment." and had the nerve to go like we were doing something wrong when the door clearly said "Open! Walk-in's encouraged!" Oh well...she missed out on the $20.

In like 3-4 weeks (maybe around Halloween time) I'll let you all know my weigh-in... There's no better incentive to stay on track than having to share your result come weigh-in time.