Jewelry Overload

I really love accessorizing, but I fall into ruts where I find myself picking up the same necklace, bracelet or earrings because they’re in plain sight.  But, I realized that I’m missing out on so many of my great pieces because of laziness.  Or worse, I buy something very similar to what I already have because I forget I had it.  Clearly, something needed to change.  Well, fortunately, I live in a place with large closets with lots of extra storage space (please don’t hate me).   I had a set of drawers that I wasn’t using to their full potential, so I changed that.

Do you see that??  Three whole drawers just for jewelry!!

So I organized my necklaces:

And, another drawer for my bracelets (and a few more necklaces)

And, then I figured my earrings and rings needed something a little different.   This means I still have an entire drawer left to fill with jewelry.

My earrings and rings sit comfortably in a jewelry box Sean got me last year for my birthday. 

Here’s a little peek inside:

Actually, the jewelry box is kind of a funny story.  Sean and I went shopping for an engagement ring in January and my birthday was in February.  He kept saying that he thought I was really going to like my present.  He never says that.  Buying presents for me always makes him nervous.  So I was like, “Sweet!  I’m totally getting engaged!!”  Then Sean walks in with this big box for me to open.  I was thinking it was a little abnormal for an engagement ring, but thought maybe he was just trying to throw me off.  Then I picked it up, and it was kind of heavy.  Still not discouraged, I tore into the box.  It was a jewelry box, how fitting!  I thought I was going to open it up and see a little ring inside.  So, I flipped open the box, opened all the drawers and there was nothing.  I loved the present, but I felt so awful because I’d created this big build up for myself, and then there was no engagement ring.  I could tell Sean was expecting a much different reaction, and had I opened this present at any other moment, I’m sure I would have been ecstatic.  Damn that engagement ring build up!

So how do you keep your jewely organized?

Gift Guide

So, I’m not one of those people that shop all year for Christmas presents so that by the time December rolls around, I only have a few things to get.  Nope.  You’ll find me scouring the internet and paying for overnight shipping to get my gifts in on time.   It’s not even that I don’t have ideas of what to get people.  I think the problem actually is that I have too many ideas and can’t decide.

Usually I peruse magazines and the internet for gift ideas, but I often find myself discouraged by what’s in the magazines because they are WAY out of my price range.  Now, I don’t know what Christmas looks like at other people’s house, but at my house, we don’t spend $300 or more per person on gifts.

But, for those of you that need some ideas (most of them reasonable), Lonny Magazine has some great suggestions (p.s. why is Lonny magazine is everywhere now?  And where the hell have I been that I just found out about it a week ago?).

Of course I love the Etsy suggestions:

My favorite of the Etsy finds is the bowl and the necklace.  The bowl is from seller Etco and the necklace is from Orit Hadad.  Yes, the necklace is a little steep, but the rest of her jewelry is so reasonably priced, and absolutely gorgeous!

And, here are some suggestions for the Artsy person in your life.

I am in LOVE with that camera.  I’m not sure how great the pictures would be, but it’s adorable.  And, did you see that iPhone case?  Love it.

And for the Eco friend of yours…

I’m loving the Vegan purse, and the Moccasins.

And, for the French-loving, girly girl:

This page, I’m liking a lot of the non-budget friendly pieces, like the scarf, sparkly purse and vase.  Sigh…

Which are your favorites?

I did it

The brazilian blowout that is. 

I had a hair appointment for Saturday to get my regular highlights and the most minimal haircut you can imagine.  But, my hair girl called me on Wednesday to ask me if I’d heard about the brazilian blowout.  Of course I told her I had and that I was dying for one, but they just weren’t in my price range.  Well, she said she could do it for 50% off.  I almost fell out of my chair.  I immediately told her to schedule me and the count down to Saturday was on. 

To give my curly hair it’s proper goodbye, I wore it natural for the next couple days.  And I actually took pictures.  Here it is:

So, I was a little nervous about the process because it’s so new and I don’t know anyone that’s actually done one.  But, I read a lot about it so I felt educated enough to go for it.  We started with my regular highlights, and then after everything was rinsed out (with a sulfate-free shampoo), it was time to start.  Basically, she sectioned off my hair and started combing the brazilian blowout stuff in.  I was shocked how little it took.  She poured out 2 little capfuls to use and that was it for my entire head.  Slowly we made our way through my whole head.  At first it was fine, but as she got closer to my face it burned my eyes a little bit. It’s not a strong smell, so I can’t really describe why it hurt them, but they started to water. 

Then, she started blow drying my hair with the solution on and then flat ironed it.  She sectioned off my hair again when flat ironing to make sure she got every inch.  Apparently the heat from the flat iron is what sets the solution and makes your hair straight. 

So you want to see what it looks like now?

Ok, but that was after the salon.  The real test was what it was going to look like after I washed it.  Well, here it is, air dried no flat ironing or blow drying:

(and only half my face because I was wearing no make up.  Truthfully, I was trying to take a picture in the mirror.  Um…it didn’t work)

So for the next 10-12 weeks, I will have straight hair all the time.  You have no idea how excited I am.  And, I know that if I wanted to curl it, I can.  But for now, I’m happy with straight hair.

Brazilian

Anyone done one?  A brazilian blowout I mean.  I’m obsessed with Groupon, and twice now there have been offers for brazilian blowouts.  Each time I’ve click on the link, read all about the salon, and then got nervous and didn’t buy it.

Source

Perhaps I should give you a little background about why I want one.  My hair is naturally curly.  I know a lot of you are probably shocked because you’ve never actually seen me (or a picture of me) with curly hair.  That’s because I straighten it.  Everyday.  Yep, I shower, blow dry and flat iron my hair all the time.  I know it’s terrible for my hair, and during the summer sometimes I’ll say eff it and just wear it curly because the thought of blow drying my hair when it’s 110 outside is just so unappealing.  But, can you imagine how much time I would save if I could just get up and shower and let my hair dry naturally but still be beautifully straight?

My sister and I always say that we wish we had a magic wand we could wave to get us ready because it takes forever.  And, I truly hate the process, yet I do it all the time.  I tried to find a picture with my hair curly so you could see what it looked like, but I don’t have one.  If I know pictures are going to be involved, I straighten my hair.  Sadly, I’m not kidding.  I think it has something to do with having curly hair as a child that my parents found unmanageable and would therefore cut it short like a boy’s haircut to not have to deal with it.   They would affectionately refer to it as a “rat’s nest” and I think that has made me dislike it more.  Thanks, mom and dad.  But also, I feel like it’s huge when it’s curly, and I know it’s not, it’s just not what I’m used to.

But seriously, has anyone had a brazilian blowout?  Would you recommend it?  Any pointers if I should decide to get one like what to look for when choosing a salon?