I got a couple more Holiday Headbands listed HERE and HERE in my Etsy shop. More to come along with other lovely holiday accessories and gifts for yourself and loved ones.
I was hoping to get a new sparkling belt up but I just ran out of time. So sorry! I will have it up this weekend or by Monday for sure.
I didn't realize the first Holiday Headband was going to sell out so quickly! I have more to list tomorrow. Not sure how many I'll have time to list, but check back here and I'll post an update. :)
Oh! And there will be a brand new dazzling bridal belt... stay tuned!
I have to mix it up at times and release some creative energy using different mediums. I just finished a little painting for the Etsy shop. It is part of the Twigs & Honey "Haven" collection that I have been neglecting for too long. The piece is hand painted and embellished with vintage leaves, silk flowers, and other bits. It comes framed in a shadow box style frame. Perfect gift for yourself or someone you love. Enjoy!
Elizabeth Messina has a b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l family. I always love seeing her gorgeous girls photographed in the most beautiful way that only Elizabeth could do. Earlier this month, it was her precious Jasmine's birthday (happy be-lated birthday!). I love these photos of her in all her cuteness:
Photo credits: Elizabeth Messina And yes... she's wearing a twigs & honey hat in the middle picture... and yes, that is her on my website homepage. I can't get enough of her and you can see more on kiss the groom blog. I talk with the hubby sometimes about how we wonder what our kids will look like in the future. Matt hopes that they get my skin (tans, doesn't burn) and my dark, thick hair... I hope they get Matt's big green/blue eyes and height. We're both hoping they get Matt's fast twitch muscles (he was a hurdler) and my endurance (I ran distance) so that we could have the most awesome 800m track star. Aw... we shall see. ;)
I've visited the Jetsetter branch of Gilt Groupe a few times and it really makes me want to plan a romantic getaway with the hubby. I know... we just got back from Istanbul, but that was traveling and exploring... not relaxing. Next trip we go on, I want to kick my feet up and relax with my honey. There are some very good lodging deals on Jetsetter. Luxury hotels with deep discounts. Still spendy, but if you're going to splurge, might as well get the discount. If you're more into splurging on travel than clothes, Jetsetter might be the ticket for you. Here are some current sales:
Hotel de Crillon in Paris The Lodge at Torrey Pines, Southern California Some upcoming sales: I think this would be a great place to get deals on romantic getaways for special occasions, a honeymoon, anniversary... or just to escape. I'm telling the hubby. *wink* You can join through invitation HERE.
Visit Cinebarre. Matt and I went last weekend on opening night. It is located in the old Regal theater next to the Salem Mall in the downtown. They have a handfull of locations around the U.S., and I was surprised that they would pick Salem, OR of all places. We had been frequenting "another" theater down the road from us for the dining theater experience, but Cinnebarre is the newer, flashier version. So far, we've had a great experience... Good food, good service, clean theater. You can order from your seat, so you don't have to climb over people in the dark to get a drink refill or dessert. Last week, we watched The Fourth Kind, and my only gripe was that the sound was really quiet. They have some vegetarian options on the menu, which is nice too! Anyhow, we'll be visiting tonight for 2012. See you there? Or another time, yes?
It's been a little while since I did a Gilt Groupe post! If you haven't heard of it, Gilt Groupe is a great place to get huge discounts on designer brands. I love great fashion, but either don't have the funds or feel so guilty buying expensive apparel so Gilt Groupe is perfect for me! You need to be invited and can join HERE. You can also build credits by inviting your friends and after their first purchase. I've gotten amazing discounts on Hunter boots ($26!), Lauren Moffatt, Paige Premium Denim, Anlo, Banfi Zambrelli, and more. Aw~ a guilt free way to indulge in my guilty pleasures. Friday, there will be a Monique Lhuillier sale and on Sunday, Carolina Herrera. Enjoy!
Did anyone get a chance to watch the Martha Stewart segment last week with Shabd Simon-Alexander? I love everything Shabd creates. Her tie dye is the best. Plus, her Martha Stewart segment shows you how to make your own tie dyed leggings. I can't wait to try it out! View the instructions HERE.
Some funny/interesting/cool things I've noticed since cutting out meat, dairy, eggs, processed sugar and white flour: 1. My teeth feel incredibly clean. When I brush my teeth, my teeth feel clean before I start... no gunky stuff. My tongue stays clean too... no whitish crap. 2. I don't crave sweets. I don't crave much actually. I used to crave bad food, but I feel less excited about snacking. 3. I've lost fat all over. In particular, I noticed a happy loss of almost an inch on my waist... down to 24"! 4. My skin is incredibly clear, smooth and soft. I have tried so many topical gimmicks, but this diet trumps them all. Matt says I have a radiant glow. 5. The whites of my eyes are brighter and whiter. Yay! 6. I get over sickness faster. This one is funny. I have only been on this new diet for a week, but Matt got sick all last week and through the weekend. Pretty bad. Over the weekend, we stayed in and watched 5 seasons of The Office while he was recovering. On Sunday afternoon, I started feeling sick after spending literally every waking minute with him... real sick. Just like his symptoms. Less than two days later, my sore throat is almost completely gone.
Aw~ So happy with the side effects thus far. Oh! I also drank some Kombucha on Sunday and yesterday, and that *may* have helped. I think it tastes like vomit (sorry if you like the taste), but I was ready to try everything because I can't afford to be sick again!
Matt and I watched 500 Days of Summer last night and I really loved it. For sure, I'll be getting the soundtrack... but if you haven't seen it, please do! It came out a little while ago already and I'm sure most have seen it, but I was being cheap and waited until it came out at the $3 theater. Of course, Zooey Deschanel was as charming as can be... Spoiler alert:
I was completely surprised at how refreshing and cute this movie was and loved the nice balance of artsy. Normally, I'm not a big fan of artsy films (I just really like good movies that are enjoyable and suspend my disbelief for 2 hours, blah blah), but this film did the best job of infusing bits of artsiness (if that's a word) throughout, which made for a very memorable film. I loved the karaoke scene and leaned over to tell Matt that, "it is so awkward, I think I'm going to vomit." Not many a film can achieve this feeling in me (the TV show, The Office, is great at doing this). Matt and I really appreciated the scene when they go to the art gallery and were looking at very modern art (that was literally sh!t), giggled, and were like, "you want to go watch a movie?" You see, we love really good art, but don't always understand super abstract and feel like it's for a secret society and we're not in the club. We also appreciated the very end when the main character looks at the camera after the girl says her name is Autumn. Impeccable timing. Genius. Don't we all have those moments where we have a huge realization? So much of this movie is so raw and funny and it really just isolates every ridiculous thing you do when you find yourself falling in love. Go watch it!
I was describing to the better half how I've been feeling great... a new kind of "great". I'm still at the very tail end of my sickness (just a touch of a runny nose) and I'm detoxing a bit but beyond that, I feel this new "lightness" in my body and mainly my head. It sounds so goofy and out-there, but it is so hard to describe in words. I was likening it to my head having emptied weight. If before, there was crap in the empty spaces or this general heaviness... that's now gone. Really weird to describe. I suffer from migraines. Sometimes not for weeks, but other times for days... it is/was miserable. So far, my head is feeling better than I can remember. I'm still feeling really tired in the morning, but after I pass that, I feel energized. I think the morning blues are the detox symptoms, but they are diminishing. Just a sampling of what we ate yesterday: Morning: Toasted whole wheat bread with organic peanut butter and Earth balance spread. Lunch: Homemade thin crust pizza (whole wheat) topped with organic tomato sauce (home seasoned), tons of mushrooms and colorful peppers, a drizzle of olive oil and vegan cheese. Dinner: Seasoned and lightly boiled broccoli, a slice of whole wheat and flaxseed toast with Earth Balance, a side of whole wheat pasta with tons of veggies and light tomato sauce to coat. For my super patient hubby, I made a side of chicken to add a meaty protein and I made my broccoli portion bigger. Snacks and dessert: homemade granola crispy treat (organic granola, agave syrup, carob chips, organic peanut butter)