I Still Love Collecting Stickers!

120 here to be exact!

I love it when markets do those promotions when you earn a certain amount of stickers you get to take something kitchen related home with you.  This time it's Cuisinart pots!  Sure it would be easier to buy a nice new set...but what's the fun in that??  To be honest all our pots are pretty mismatched!  And well used.  

I suppose we should have really registered for pots and pans and house stuff.  Upgrade to better stuff.  But the concept of registering for gifts is still so foreign to me despite the fact that I was born and raised in America!   All the weddings I have gone to are Vietnamese and it's all cash for gifts.  Even when it's not I like to give cash.  Unless I know it's gonna be super weird then I will definitely pick something off the registry.  B even give cash.  Despite the fact that it's traditional in my culture, it's just practical.  In the American culture cash as gifts is viewed as tacky and thoughtless?  Heck sometimes my favorite gifts are gift certificates.  Another post for another day...

So yes we saved enough stickers to get a 6 quart pot with a lid!  I remember when I was a kid how my Mom would love collecting enough points to earn China pieces.  Each time she would get a new plate or tea cup she would get so excited.  We were only allowed to use them for special dinners each week.  I remember the pattern... delicate blue flowers on a white background.  We didn't have a lot of money growing up so whenever we got soemthing new in the house it was a really big deal!  Even something as small as a new tea pot.  Our whole family would sit together at dinner and be excited to use whatever the  item was do the very first time:). 

So I guess I got that excitement from earning things from supermarkets for free things from my Mom, no doubt!  I have my eye on the lasagna dish next!

Xo

Invitations

Well I have a wedding to go to in January...

It happens to be mine;). Invitations finally went out.  The semi-DIY project took  a long time.  Just the mini kangaroo type pouch.  The bow.  The glue.  The tissue paper.  Sigh.  It was all overwhelming.  The good news?  No paper cuts.

I think I had to pick THE most colorful floral invitations I could find.  I believe I succeeded.  Got the matching outer envelopes.  Matching return envelopes.  Had them first printed on 100% recycled.  Didn't like the finish and upgraded to linen.  What a wonderful decision.  I'm so happy with how they turned out too.  A couple of snafus where the ink bled, but new ones were sent out and received within three days.  

I have to remember to keep one or two for myself as a keepsake for sure.  When I saw these I fell in love.  I did look at so many designs.  From classic white paper and black lettering to the modern whimsical nautical themes.  But these were the ones I kept returning to over and over again.  They are bright and cheery.  Each time I look at them I just feel happy:)

For future brides looking for invites my suggestion is to not really seek any suggestions.  Go with what you love not what other people think is appropriate.  The hardest part was the plentitude of suggestions.  All well meaning, but sometimes a girl just needs a little support in her decisions.  There really is no right or wrong - traditional can be mixed with modern.  And modern can be ultra slick.  Heck, my wedding is in the thick of winter, yet my invitations have a definite spring/summer feel to them.  But c'mon, it's never winter in SoCal.  Besides, the second ceremony is being held in an outside garden gazebo...I justify the invitations in all their rainbow floral glory that way anyways...  

So... if you want them to match the theme of your wedding, then great.  If you don't, then your guests will be surprised by what they will see when they show up.  Honesty, I still haven't nailed down the colors of the flowers and we are two months out.  I haven't even chosen the flowers to be quite frank.  I have a good idea though.  Gonna see what the wholesale flowermart will suggest 2 week out (that's when they told me I should contact them!)  DIY-ing the flowers is gonna turn out frugally fabulous... or I could possibly be seriously fucked.  Gonna definitely keep it simple, no doubt.  Stay tuned to see if I made the right decision or if I should have listened to my Mom... (and sorry Mom for using a swear word in the same paragraph with mention of you...)

Xo

The Overpriced Casual Bag

Unless you get it on sale:)

This nylon Longchamp that everyone is sporting for a casual outing or work commute was something I had been on the fence about for a long time.  I mean come on... who pays $125 for something this... generic looking?  And somewhere along the way, I too, bought into media propaganda.  Of course, this was only because I found it at the outlets.  I paid a bit over half price.  Score!

Now don't get me wrong.  I still was debating purchasing this bag when I was at Bloomingdales The Outlet Store.  I was on the wrong side of the display holding onto an orange number unsure what to do.  It must have been at least four women who stopped by the display while I was there... of which three picked a bag up and walked away.  I walked around the otherside debating if I should get the large orange one with long handles and then I saw it... the exact one in pink but in a medium size.  I got so excited.  They had a ton of the ones that were handheld or just went up to the crook of your elbow.  But it was the over-the-shoulder ones that were limited.  

When I saw the medium pink one I grabbed it with glee!  I quickly folded and put back the large orange one.  There was even a pretty sky blue medium bag available.  Pink it was!  The only reason why it was there at the outlets was because it was a discontinued color of pink.  Good news that all shades of pink are my favorite color!  It was meant to be.  

When I had made my purchase, I walked past the display on the way out of the store.  Of the four pink bags with the long handles,only one was left!  I should have known the popularity of these things.  It was on display right when you walked into the store.  And I quickly realized it when everyone was grabbing one when they walked by.  Crazy. 

So of course, the moment I went home I clipped the tags.  No way this was going to be reconsidered and returned.  I took her out for a spin shopping.  So lightweight!  Water resistant.  Full zipper closure.  I even took her to the gym instead of my usual Kate Spade leather bag.  And the size?  Perfect without the bulk.  I'm short.  So sometimes when a bag is so big, I get swallowed up.  Not this one.  It's so cute!  So casual without being sloppy.  Although I did see a girl sport this to a recent wedding... hmmmmmm...that was kinda weird... but why not?  Maybe she just bought it and paid full price;)

Xo

Talked out of getting the butterfly stamps...

From the wedding expert secretly wearing a USPS uniform actually...because you can use a butterfly stamp anytime you like... he said... 

What knowledge one may glean when open to suggestion.  After all, I was mailing out wedding invitations.  It should have made sense, but had to get literal as my mind has been on overload with all this wedding planning.  Oh rationale... sometimes you escape me.  I was perturbed by having to pay the surcharge of having an envelope over the 1 oz mark too.  Weighing in at 1.2 (damn you ribbon for being so pretty!) I was forced to purchase the seventy cent-er.  Oh well... at least they were cute.  In my next life, I will consider postage first and design second.  

I know, it could have been a lot worse.  My ribbon could have been too thick and that would have been an additional 21 shiny copper-colored coins.  Or I could have given into the square envelopes with those modern inside pockets and that would have cost me my photobooth.  Can't do wedding these days without a photobooth!  Wow this whole wedding thing is some serious work.  Now on to addressing this things without offending the traditionalists and Nazi Feminists.  I've accepted I'm screwed either way... I just hope I don't spell anyone's name wrong...

Xo

Until Someday Chanel Boucle Jacket...

Uh... Say Whaaaaaa?  Take an additional 30% off?!?!

And I didn't even look at the price tag.  So when I did, it was like 'Sweeeeeeet!'  I thought it was gonna be around $40 for a Chanel-esque jacket.  Because a Chanel tweed jacket really only exists in my dreams... or when I'm waisting time Googling images of said jacket.  So when I walked in to get something else, I walked out with this number that was barely over $9... marked down from the retail price of $110.  Score!  

Whenever I'm in one of my funks I always take a trip over to the Frugal Fannie's in Westwood.  Oh the fun bargains you can find!  And for some reason today, whatever I tried on fit so well.  Maybe eating more lean protein and this gym membership is paying off a bit:).  And this jacket!  I've been wanting one of these for some time now and this just appeared on the clearance rack for my shopping enjoyment. Had to have it.  At first I wasn't loving the blue and black, but now I like how it's still somewhat neutral and will go with many of my blue jeans and tees - so even though I'm dressed uber casual, this jacket will definitely add some polish:)

Xo

Frozen Love.

How can I not want to try soemthig that is love spelled backwards?

And surprisingly yummy!  I found it in the healthier frozen food aisle of the local supermarket.  It fills me up without the guilt.  I can't wait to pop another one in the microwave for lunch tomorrow.  Fast and deliciously and only 8 WW+ Points!

Xo