Trying It - Lash Extensions

Before vacation, I do a lot of stuff...  Besides researching my intended location and coming up with a (very) thorough packing list, I primp.

Haircut.

Manicure/Pedicure.

Hair Removal.
(you know what I mean)

Etc.  Etc.

Sometimes, this routine has included highlights.  But, after more than a year of trying to grow them out from a previous vacation, I decided that our first cruise didn't warrant that kind of commitment.

Instead, I decided to try lash extensions.  Of course, my decision was helped along by a Groupon (aren't the best decisions always?).

So, I submit the following (not very flattering) photos of my eyelashes before my treatment:

Do I even have eyelashes?

(seriously)

So very wimpy!

I bought my Groupon, made my appointment and showed up to the Shadyside Lash Spa Studio the Saturday before our cruise (which sailed on Monday).  I was quickly shown to a reclined chaise and the fun began.  The first step was for my lower eyelashes to be taped down to my cheeks with some sort of adhesive pad.  This was surprising and uncomfortable for awhile.  I did eventually get used to the sensation at some point within the following hour and a half it took for the process.

My technician, Angelica, (not sure what they call lash extension staff persons?) attached each lash with a bit of glue, working back and forth between the two eyes.  Every once in awhile, she'd have to pry my eyelid off of the pad on my cheeks because the glue would stick my lashes down.  This was kind of odd, but not nearly as uncomfortable as the original step.

Then, after nearly falling asleep a couple of times, they were done!  I was handed a mirror and saw this:

Whoa, them's some lashes!

For realz.

I was kind of shocked at first.  I had chosen the "everyday" lashes, not the "special occasion" ones.  But, they seemed over the top.  Perhaps this is because I very rarely wear make-up/mascara...  It was a lot of lash for this girl.

On my way out, I got a list of instructions with such things as:
- don't get them wet for 24 hours
- don't use mascara
- don't use make-up remover with oil
- brush them out after showers (they provided me with two types of brushes).

I did get used to the lashes very quickly.  I really liked the way they looked...  I woke up and looked wide awake (maybe made-up just a bit) with zero effort.  Wonderful for vacation in a climate where makeup melts off my face within minutes.

And, they lasted way longer than I expected.  The last three came off just last night, about six and a half weeks later.  I won't say they looked amazing the last couple of weeks, but it wasn't quite as crazy as I feared.

Did I like it?  Yes, I'm glad I tried these and enjoyed having them on vacation.

Would I do it again?  Maybe for a special occasion or vacation...  I'd have to find a good deal and I definitely wouldn't be up for everyday maintenance.  I'm thinking about trying lash tinting next to see how that compares.

Would I recommend it?  Sure.  It seems like a great option and it was kind of fun to have long, thick eyelashes for a change.

35 Days of Focus

Every once in awhile, something comes along that motivates me to start eating better, exercising more, generally working harder towards my physical and health goals.  A lot of times, it's a vacation or a get-together (wedding, reunion, etc.).  Vanity and the fear of horrible pictures of myself can be rather motivating.  But, this time, it's the looming bio-metric screening at work... September 1st, 35 days out.

This screening determines if I'm eligible for discounts on health insurance throughout the upcoming year...  Or, if I have to participate in a wellness program in order to get them.  Last year, I ended up sitting through 10 weeks of Naturally Slim web videos.  And, while I assume that the program helps some people, it just served to make me angry for 45 minutes each week.

Why?

Well, I already know the difference between a carb and a protein.  I know that drinking water is important.  But, I don't think that you should be able to eat whatever you want just because you make every meal last 25+ minutes.  I don't think that cheese covered broccoli should be the ultimate example of a vegetable.  And, I don't think that it's reasonable to expect people to eat only once or twice a day.  But, that's just me.

So, this year, in an attempt to avoid another anger inducing set of videos, I'm trying to buckle down and get my 3 (or more) acceptable measurements.  I like to think that I'm pretty close, especially compared to last year, but I don't really know...

The hubby and I have been doing CrossFit since December.  We're pretty regular, usually three mornings a week.  Plus, I've been trying to get back into yoga (I actually made it to class last Saturday).  And, I joined a women's golf league that gets me out for nine holes once a week (barring weather or work related issues).

But, I've been at a standstill (weight wise) for awhile and I want to jump start my progress again.  Focus shifts to the eating portion...  doesn't it always?

Last October, I started my first Whole30, which finished right before Thanksgiving.  It was amazing!  I felt better than I had in years.  The regular pains in my feet and back seemed to disappear.  I had more energy.  My seasonal vertigo symptoms cleared up.  I slept great.  And, due to my positive outlook, I signed myself and the hubby up for our gym's CrossFit Fundamentals.

After getting through the holidays, I did another Whole30.  Similar warm and fuzzies.

Then, I got lazy.  It's hard to meal prep for EVERY SINGLE MEAL.  Because, no matter what people say, if you're really trying to stick to a paleo diet, you can't eat out at most restaurants.

I'd go on and off trying to follow the program.  Weekdays only.  80% of the time.  All sorts of crazy exceptions, etc.  Then, as soon as work kicked up with budgeting season and the summer started (with all of it's parties and travelling), I was done.

Which brings me to current day...  Aching feet.  Allergies out of control.  Not sleeping a lot of nights.  Struggling at the gym (and anywhere else that requires moving).

I want to get back that "Tiger Blood" feeling...  Today is day two of really getting back to it.  I'm trying to stay accountable to my goals and pay attention to how I'm feeling (physically and emotionally) each day.

I'll wrap up with a few examples of what I've been eating so far...

Yesterday, I made this saute of garlic scapes, beet greens and sausage.

Half got mixed into eggs and topped with salsa for breakfast.

The other half topped off a baked sweet potato for lunch.

I love double duty mixtures!

Today, I used leftover pork roast to top off another baked sweet potato for lunch.

Finally, I've been using these paleo blueberry muffin(ettes) as snacks.

Cutting out snacks cold turkey is impossible for me...  

But, I can make smarter choices.

My First Stitch Fix - A Review

Yesterday, when I got home from work, this was waiting for me:

My first Stitch Fix!

I ordered this 'fix' specifically for our upcoming vacation to Jamaica.  I wanted some items that would travel well and might work for the vow renewal ceremony we'll be attending while there.  I filled out the initial questions on the website and started a Pinterest board with some of the beach stuff that I liked.  I gave a brief description of what I was looking for and scheduled my delivery.

All of this is pretty typical for what I've seen in other reviews of Stitch Fix...  But, I was kind of skeptical about this whole thing.  Why?  Most of the other reviews I've seen are written by women who are much smaller than me.  I currently wearing a size 14 pant and XL shirts.  I usually can't wear button downs because I'm super top heavy.  Trying on clothes is generally a painful experience.  Item after item after item...  Many times with not a single thing that works.

All that aside, I was hopeful.  Oh so hopeful.  Maybe I'd end up with one piece that I liked enough to buy.

So, now, I'm going to skip all the other details about how Stitch Fix works (mostly because it's all been said before... and, if you're searching for reviews, you probably already have a good idea on it)...  Instead, I'm going to dig into the box and show you what came out.

A reminder of how it works...  Nice packaging.

There they are...  My five pieces.

An envelope with all the details and the style card...

A note from my stylist and 

some ideas for each of the pieces.

At this point, I was getting more and more excited.  It's always hard to picture things on me when I see them this way.  A flat picture is hard to translate.  Heck, even a mannequin doesn't work for me most of the time.  I need to see the clothes on my body.

Now, before we get to the next section (the one in which I post pictures of myself in the clothes), I'd like to make a disclaimer: I do not take selfies...  pretty much ever.  I suck at it.  I couldn't get the lighting right.  The flash did not work (ha, cause of the mirror, I learn quickly).  My poses are stiff and I'm usually looking at the phone to make sure I'm in focus.  But, I got a couple that at least show the pieces and how they fit.  

Without further ado, here we go.

Item 1: Dovette Draped Detail Dress

I LOVE this dress!  The fabric is perfect for travel.  The color is fantastic.  And, bonus, it fits wonderfully.  I'm definitely keeping this one.

Items 2 & 3:  Jayla Front Twist Sweater & Calla Solid Swing Skirt

Skirt - more LOVE!  This has a gorgeous color.  The fabric is great.  And, it has a wonderful weight to it.  I don't know exactly how to describe it, but it works.  Plus, its lined, which I really appreciate for a day skirt (no seeing through my legs, thank you very much).

Sweater...  When I first tried it on, I wasn't sold.  Then, I went back and re-read my stylist's note, suggesting pairing it with the skirt and a cami.  Out came a dark blue tank, and voila, my mind was changed.

Keeping both pieces.

Item 4: Alan Cowl Neck Asymmetrical Cardigan
This is a fun, unique piece.  Might be a little heavy considering the warming temps, but I really like it.  Additionally, this was my husband's favorite piece (he patiently watched the entire fashion show).  It's a keeper.

Item 5: Fiona Embroidery Detail Striped Maxi Dress
As soon as I pulled this from the box, I loved it.  I so wanted it to be perfect.  I slipped it on and it fit.  It felt great...  And, then, my husband said "the lines don't match at the seams, it makes it look cheap."  Boo.  Hiss.  I still loved the way I felt/looked in the dress; but now all I could see was the mis-matched lines.

This was the only item I really, really debated keeping.  Then, I did some math (see below the picture).

My Math

Option 1 - Buy everything:

Dovette Draped Detail Dress	$58.00
Jayla Front Twist Sweater	$78.00
Calla Solid Swing Skirt	$58.00
Alan Cowl Neck Asymmetrical Cardigan	$58.00
Fiona Embroidery Detail Striped Maxi Dress	$78.00
Total	$330.00
Minus $20 Stylist fee	$310.00
Minus 25% Discount for All	$232.50
Option 2 - Buy everything except the maxi dress:
Total ex. Maxi Dress	$252.00
Minus $20 Stylist fee	$232.00

So, for an extra 50¢, I'm totally buying the dress.

I have to say that any expectations I had for this service were met... and then some.  I'm already planning on seeing when I can get my next 'fix'.  I can't wait to see how they handle everyday work clothes.

(FYI - I received nothing from Stitch Fix for this review...  I couldn't even find a coupon code for my order, lol.  I have no affiliates.  I wrote this b/c when I was deciding whether or not to order from the site, I read A LOT of reviews.  Hope this helps someone out there.)

The Last Supper (as Singles)

... Also known as the reherasal dinner.

... Also known as another outstanding item on my to-do list.

Lately, we've been trying to narrow down our options for this decision.  And, to be honest, there was only one restaurant that we've ever really considered using over the last few months.  So, on Monday evening, we headed over to Emiliano's Mexican Restaurant & Bar to meet with their event coordinator.

To begin with, this restaurant is a lot of fun.  The decor is bright and cheerful (and maybe just a little over the top).  We love it:

Main Dining Area & View from Upstairs both from the Emiliano's Website

And, we've eaten there enough times to know that we enjoy a variety of the menu items.  Our meeting actually started with a question about our favorite foods there...  I had a hard time picking one but the FI answered by explaining that his family is mostly Mexican and that Emiliano's offers the most authentic food he's been able to find in Pittsburgh.  

From there, we moved onto menu options and explanations of price structures.  Since we'll be having 20-30 guests, a sit down meal with three entree options was suggested.  (They do offer buffet dinners but recommend that for parties of over 30 people.)  And, the price per guest would be based on an average of the entrees we picked.

We ended up choosing four dinner options for our guests: enchiladas suizas, fajitas (chicken or steak), molcajete cabo (a huge seafood dish) and flautas.  We felt like all our bases were covered with these options: steak, chicken, seafood, fried, not fried, etc.

Plus, we added a few orders of two appetizers, queso fundido and guacamole, that will join the chips and salsa already included with the meal.  Finally, we rounded out the meal with the adult beverage options of margaritas and Coronas.

Perfect.

And, it is all well within our "budget" amount for a "rehearsal" dinner (turns out we probably won't even have a traditional rehearsal, but more on that later).

After we wrapped up our meeting, we got a table and had dinner.  We each ordered an item from our selected rehearsal dinner options that we hadn't tried before, just to make sure.  I had the enchiladas and he ordered the molcajete cabo; both were delicious.  Plus, the margaritas were amazing.

Overall, this whole process was painless.  I'm so happy with our decision and think this restaurant will provide the casual, fun environment we're hoping for to enjoy this special time with our families.

Did you have a favorite restaurant in mind for your rehearsal dinner early on?  Or, did you have to do a lot of homework to find the right place?

Hold up! Wait a minute!

I was all set to come home and write a little bit about how my first three venue tours led to a serious bit of thinking about budgets, discussions with the fiance about what was really important for our wedding and a major change in the direction of the entire plan...

Then, I got home and found something in my mailbox.

(I tore into the envelope before I even thought to get out my camera...  So exciting!)

Engagement pictures!!!

First thing I noticed was the adorable packaging.  The note attached to the case said the following:
"The DVD case in your hands has been hand made using recycled Floppy Discs and love letters from the World War II era.  We hope you enjoy the old school packaging as well as the modern technology inside."

Adorable.

Then, I popped the CD into my laptop and reveled in the glory of beautiful pictures (quality of the pics, not necessarily the goofy couple included)...

We started at 21st Street Coffee, in the Strip District...  Where the barista made a heart in the milk foam.

Then, we headed across the street for some posing in front of the warehouses on Smallman Street.

Then a bit further down the street for some time with the iconic Acme Banana Co. (Maybe not iconic generally speaking, but I see a ton of this in e-shoots...  Can't always be the first.)

Notice the quick costume change?  Actually, it took forever and involved me dropping a large earring into a very disgusting sink drain, fishing said earring out with my finger and trying feverishly to wash it off enough not to feel like I'd get bacterial meningitis when I put it in my ear.

Close up of the boots I bought in Detroit over Thanksgiving.

Random parking lot shot.  That's normal, right?

And, lastly, train tracks, a kiss and a popped foot.  Now, that's iconic.

I'd be lying if I said there wasn't a bunch of cringing as I paged through the pics.  But, overall I was so pleased with the results.  I definitely have enough for facebook sharing, save the dates, our wedding website and mini moo's (if I go that route).

I realized that I like the pictures where I was more comfortable (read, in jeans) a bit better.  But, I'm really glad that we have a few dressier pics.  

I also realized that I need to get in gear with the fitness/diet aspects of my wedding prep because I do not want to have to build an entire wedding album based solely on those pics that don't show my many chins (actually, it's more like a single, frog type chin, but I digress)...  That is a topic for another time.

For now, I'd just like to give major props to Rodger Obley Photography and thank them for all the great pictures above.  I know they are going to do an amazing job shooting our wedding and I'm so happy that we hired them.

Now, back to regularly scheduled programming...