You Know You Want It: SWEEPSTAKES PEOPLE!

You know you want it:

Check out the hottest new decor lighting item, that will literally allow to you change the room with the tap of a remote: http://www.coloryourworldsweeps.com/

From now until April 18th, you can enter to win this fabulous beauty. And, in case you're wondering how I know it's so hot? It's because they sent me one to test out! SWEET! While you're waiting to win it for yourself, you can follow my journey of trying it out in my fabulous new Seattle Apartment (that I'm still currently moving into, but no worries! I'm still taking this over to try out in the various rooms!

Below you see the shot from the kitchen, into the dining and living rooms. It looks small in this picture, but it's a pretty decent sized space.

Of course the 80's light is going. To be replaced with a chandeleir, ASAP. But I have to get the furniture in first!

Here it is fresh out the box!

Here's me getting all excited when it arrived at my office!

So, first up will be me putting it in the living room, when I get the couch in there, and also I think I'll try it in the entry way, when I get my console set up (all happening this weekend!)

Don't wait for my posts about how good it looks! GO WIN ONE PEOPLE!

Tis the Season

I know, I really do know, how awful I've been about posting. It's not from lack of desire to post, trust.


I have about 10 things I would like to sit down and do lengthy posts about, and who knows, maybe I'll get a wild hair and do some this weekend. But I did want to tell you about something great that isn't being super promoted, but should be!



JCPenney's Angel Giving Tree Online



This is new for JCPenney I believe, at least I have never heard of it before.

Why am I telling you all about this?

Well, I'm SO glad you asked:

(shut up, you knew there was a list coming)

1. JCPenney is my dirty little secret. My grandpa Dick (my mom's dad) worked for Penney's for MANY years, in fact I think he retired from there. This gave my grandma Dot (my mom's mom) a lifetime discount to the store. Yes, a LIFETIME DISCOUNT. She had a credit card looking thing that seriously gave her some crazy lifer discount. I could barely contain myself when she took me there for my (belated) high school graduation present when I went to visit her my Freshman year of college. (She was in Eugene, OR, and I was going to Reed in Portland)

2. Even though I don't have her lifer discount (I know, sad it doesn't transfer down), I still go there because they have really sturdy clothes, that are both classic and trendy, that you can afford on ANY budget (just wait for my $.88 skinny jeans post later this month).

3. You are always going to hit a sale.

4. They just started a rewards program, and I already earned a $10 gift card that I promptly used to buy two cute sweaters (don't worry, post to come still).

5. They have awesome sales staff that are always helpful.

6. It's always empty so I feel like I have the whole store to myself.

7. They like to give back to local communities.

So, if you don't already have a charity in mind this year, you should really just check out the JCPenney's Angel Giving Tree Online and possibly consider donating. You can search for a certain area of the country or a type of person to give to.

It's a great cause, and you can be guaranteed they will receive something that is quality.

Doesn't giving feel GREAT?!

Yum and awesome

Okay, so I'm in week 3 of my "Couch to 5K" running program, and it's going really well. And of course I'm doing my best to eat well, without killing myself. Over the long weekend, I kept my alcohol intake to 1 glass of wine, and 1 mimosa. Not bad for 4 days at the beach. I also only had 4 onion rings and 1/2 a raspberry shake when we hit up the classic Lakeview Drive In (which is a tradition, and far be it for me to stand in the way of tradition).

So this week, I'm working really hard to keep the momentum going. I went to Safeway today for lunch, to grab a bag salad. You may have seen their new-ish brand, Eating Right. They have really got the basics down, and now have some fun snacks that are not at all bad for you.

So I grabbed a bag of the awesome (and my new favorite snack of summer) Sour Cream and Onion Soy Crisps.



Oh god, are they good! You can have 17 of the delicious and tasty rounds, for a mere 110 calories! WHATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT?! I know, right?!?!?!

And, what's even better is that there's 7 grams of protein in each serving, and only 15 grams of carbohydrates. Plus, you're getting the obvious benefit of the soy, with only 3 grams of fat.

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE, SOY CRISPS?

They have like 5 flavors, but so far I've only got the sour cream and onion.

Oh yeah, there's also 2 grams of fiber. and they're only like $2.19 a bag. and there's 3.5 servings per bag.

Suck it, chips, I'm dating someone new, maybe you're heard of him, his name is Soy Crisps.

And another thing!

So in my house and at the condo, we have doors that sometimes need stopping! Like when we come back from Costco with arm loads of stuff, and we're running between the car and the lobby, then the lobby and the elevator, then the elevator and the hallway, and finally the hallway and the front door of the unit. (Phew! I'm out of breath just thinking about it!) These "Tube" door stops would be great for that, because they'll hold any door, they're small so I can put them in my car, purse or pocket, when needed, and they're COLORFUL so you wouldn't forget you put it there (unlike those ulgy old doorstops you remember from Sunday School, libraries or hospitals).

Then, for the screen door at the house, and other party like situations, I'd want something more design oriented, that is a bit whimsicle (sp? sorry), and old school, to fit with my eccletic style:

Like this hot little number, from Design Within Reach (or without reach, God, who's paying $100 for a doorstop again? remind me of where they live, so I can go steal this from their rich front porch).

I'm making that knot myself, and I'm doing it this weekend, with the help of my Eagle Scout boyfriend, and handyman brother in law. (Sorry guys, you're knot off the hook this weekend! ha Ha, get it? know? hook? yeah....................)

I'll punch your lights out. If you don't give me coffee.

Funny but true, if I'm in a grumpy morning mood, (which only happens on mornings where I wake up, so that's only 100% of the time really), I need a steaming cup with cream and sugar.

And now I can have a mug that says that, without necessitating me either:

1. talking to you

2. punching you in the face

Thanks, Karich Design.

You're Welcome

You need to know about this:

Fyndes.com

Because of this, this and this.

You're welcome.

Plane Jane: who knew?!?!?!

This is a Seattle area specific post, so sorry to those of you to whom this does not apply, but if you ever come to visit, I'll make sure I tell you how to get there.

This past Sunday (Mother's Day of course), Paul and I were at his parent's house for brunch. My mom and her husband also came out for brunch, so we had a 2 mom situation. :)

Paul and I really couldn't figure out what to get either of them, but luckily Mark (Paul's younger brother) had already taken care of a present for their mom, from us kids. Paul and I decided to hit up the local QFC for some flowers at least. So we headed down to the neighborhood shopping plaza, in Klahani (an area of Issaquah, which is a suburb of Seattle).

http://www.planejane.info/

(this picture is old, because of course it's from their website, and what's in stock now is super cute, and I want one of everything!)

As we are pulling up (mind you I've been to this grocery store many times over the past 4 years) I noticed a cute little store just to the left, called Plane Jane. It's front doors were open, and I thought, "hmmmmm, I don't remember seeing that place before, I wonder if it's new?" and then I realized they had all sorts of cute clothes and accessories inside. So I said, "honey, let's pop in here real quick, just to see if they have anything."

I was very cautious to get anything, because my mom is basically the queen of jewelry and has everything and more that she could ever possibly wear. (I think if she wore a different piece every day, she could go almost a year without skipping a beat).

But as soon as I walked in, I saw this great gold chain necklace that SCREAMED my mom's name (for those of you who know her, and are my college girlfriends, you know her as the Naaaan-DA, or "the Nons").

So for $50.00 plus tax, we got her this really cute, long necklace that she says she can already wear a few different ways! sweet! (and it's cute, so I can totes borrow it!)

The owner, Naoko Vaughn, is really nice, and we liked what we saw, although we were on the run, so I really have to go back and explore more! Plus, it's next door to a coffee shop, and a nail salon and a spa, so this is the makings of a great girls trip! Woo hoo!