To Shop or Not To Shop

I love shopping.  It's one of my favorite things - shopping for me or others, finding gifts for people, and browsing the interwebs.  I don't need to "swipe the plastic" to get the exhilarating feeling I get from shopping.  So why do I go out and buy a new top when I want it or a vase for my place, even though I have nowhere to put it yet... 

Every year I give up something for Lent in an effort to be a better person.  I've given up soda, meat, swearing, and many other things.  Most of the time, I tend to find out more about myself and make alterations to my life.  I recently gave up cheese for the month of February and it made me realize that it A) doesn't really effect me the way I thought it might and B) is something I don't need to eat every meal.  I'm hoping this round, I'll save more money to spend on memories, not materials.  I also hope that I focus on the things I already have, since I am so lucky to be able to have as many clothes and things as I do.  Joy doesn't come from material things.  And I need to remember this!

Have you given up something for lent?  Would you ever consider giving up shopping for yourself for a period of time? 

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Bachelor Women Tell All Recap

So how about that Women Tell All last night, ladies?!

I was out in Pittsburgh for a business trip, so I missed the first 15 (most likely boring) minutes, but made it just minutes before the issues started between Britt & Carly.

Looking back on it, while I like Carly, she was pretty mean.  She definitely had some jealousy issues over Britt which is probably where a lot of this came from.  But I don't think she was wrong about Britt.  She acted like a spoiled brat who has never felt pain before, and "I'm just such a good person, why'd you have to go and be so mean."  And the crying, oh the ugly crying.  I just hope she finds a friend who can get her to pull herself together and realize that she looked for love on a television show.

Also, that whole comment about how much she loves children and sponsors children, and goes to other countries for children.  Seriously.  We get that you're a good person, and you get it, too.

Jillian - no one cares what you're saying.  You're the girl with the censor block when you're not in a bikini.

Moving on to Ashley S.  My favorite. person. ever.

Seriously - Can she be my best friend?  I love how weird she is!  And I completely understand wanting to act silly in front of the cameras.  I'd probably be the same way.  She's probably the most intelligent person who's ever been on this show and NO ONE knows.

But let's discuss the best part of the night: Kelsey and Ashley I.

Kelsey is still a crazy person and her eloquence and calculated words aren't fooling anyone.  I'm not sure where she went to college, Miss "Crazy Smart" doesn't have a LinkedIn, and, trust me, when you go to one of the top 10 schools in America - you brag about it.  So I she is living in quite a delusional world.  But you do have to feel for her when it comes to talking about her husband being "made up".  You can't get away with that on national television.  And for Ashley I to think that everything Kelsey said about her to be just the same as the accusations she made about Kelsey, it is pretty out of line.

But that's because I think Ashley I is the worst person ever.  The most fascinating thing is that she watched those episodes of herself on tv and doesn't realize how AWFUL she is.  For a girl who looks in the mirror 8 hours a day, she really should see the faces she makes and how unattractive she looks.

What were your favorite moments??  Does anyone else think that Kaitlyn may be the next Bachelorette?

[All photos found on zap2it]

Bachelor Recap & Other Things

| Bachelor Recap |

What the heeeeeeeccccckkkkk was up with this episode?

First: Love Guru.

I was so incredibly uncomfortable the whole time.  I'm loving Carly the more and more she's on the show so I felt AWFUL that she was forced to go on this incredibly awkward date.  I mean, aside from the awkwardness that had to have been there for Carly & Chris, I felt, as a viewer, that this was crossing a line and violating my personal space.  ABC - not well played.  I did feel really bad for Chris when he was opening up about his profession and how he wasn't expected to make much of his life.  Poor guy - that's awful!

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Group date -
Megan........ I'm sure you're a very nice girl and I'm sorry about your dad but SERIOUSLY.  Have a brain.  She didn't understand the concept of "New Mexico".  Is it Mexico?  Is it America?  Is it a country?  Is it a state?  I don't know what's going on up there, but she should really run her thoughts by someone before going on television.

Also, Jade has a condition where she can get hypothermia easier than the average person?  I find that interesting since usually you would wear a lot of clothes if you had something like that, but she's posing nude for Playboy so....

Oh.  Burn.

And did anyone else think at the cocktail party that 1) Jordan was a lot prettier than I remembered and 2) aside from her annoying voice, Whitney is actually pretty awesome.

I wonder what Ashley I. thinks about herself now that she's watching this air live and all of America thinks she's awful.  Literally.  Maybe it was just a ploy to get on television so if that's the case, applause.

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Britt -

I'm so confused by her.  How is it that she's waking up and rushing out of the hotel wearing dirty socks and she looks like that.  I don't believe it.  Also... she has really nice skin, so if she sleeps in her makeup, either she has the best genes ever or that whole not sleeping in your makeup thing is a LIE!

And finally... what we're all waiting on:

KELSEY

WHAT A CRAZY WOMAN!  As a guidance counselor, she has just solidified herself never getting a job again in America if they ever decide to look her up.  I wouldn't be surprised if someone decided to look into her husband's death as a homicide.  JUSSSSTTTT SAYING.  And her breakdown?  Give that girl an Oscar.

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| Vanity Fair |

I love reading Vanity Fair.  I like to call it intelligent celebrity gossip.  I think what I like about it most is I learn a lot about the "upper-class elite" that I never knew about.  Sometimes it's awful, but knowledge is still power, and I love learning about the world I live in - good or bad.  Do you have a magazine or online publication that you can't get enough of?

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| Shopping Dry Spell |

I'm giving up shopping for Lent (I know - cheese in February, shopping for Lent... who am I?!) so I went shopping this past weekend to get it out of my system and update my wardrobe before spring since I won't be able to shop again until April 5th.  I'll discuss all of the details in a later post... but I was surprised at how little I actually liked.  I felt like I couldn't find as much as I wanted.  What is this - a dry spell?!  I'm afraid that I'll want tons of things in the middle of the shopping break.

| Blogger Spotlight |

The Boston Fashionista has done a ton of posts on women in business lately and I've really enjoyed the spin that she's added to her blog.  Since blogging isn't my first job, it's really helpful to hear from other women out in the business world how they live their lives.  Great inspiration!

| Barcart Obsessions |

I've been wanting a barcart since before Christmas and I just can't find one that I'm willing to make a part of the family.  Look at these beauties!

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My Go-To Shirt (3)

| Glasses - Warby Parker | Similar | Earrings - Kate Spade | Similar | Shirt - Express | Similar | Sweater & Booties - Target | Similar Sweater | Similar Booties | Skirt - Loft | Similar | Bracelet - Forever 21 | Similar |

Do you live on the East Coast?  If so, you understand what it's like to see the snow everywhere.  I woke up Monday morning to this and the last thing I wanted to do was get dressed for the office.  What did that call for?  MY GO-TO SHIRT.  Yes ladies and one or two gentlemen, the go-to shirt was grabbed in real life.

I would normally wear different shoes, but the snow demanded otherwise.  Are you enjoying this weather?

Bachelor Recap & Other Things

| Bachelor Recap |

If I was the head of a psychiatric hospital, I would contact the producers of The Bachelor and come up with a plan that when you leave, you aren't sent home, but to my hospital.  Seriously.  I have found the crazies of America.  So let's recap:

Camping:

I HAD SUCH HIGH HOPES FOR KELSEY.  Ugh.  When I heard her laugh that one time, I was a little scared.  But I thought, we all have our flaws, don't focus on this.  But she acted like a spoiled brat.  And I'm sorry, I love the Midwest and Chicago, and think Lake Michigan is awesome, too.  But if you're going to be all bratty about lakes I just want to remind you that us coastal people have OCEANS, and those are so much better than a lake - great or not.  JUSSSSTTTT saying.

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Also, let's discuss Ashley I. and her obsession with her virginity.  Seriously.  I'm convinced she's not and this is all a ruse.  I want some guy to come forward and debunk her claims!  MAD props to Becca (who is my favorite contestant - not necessarily for the winner, but I love her as a person) for admitting that she was too, and that she isn't making a big deal out of it!  LOVE HER.  

Princess Date:

I loved this date.  I loved how sweet Jade was and how cute they were together.  She's lived in Nebraska, too, so she understands the Midwest.  I loved how upset Ashley I. was that she was going.  I just loved this... and then...

Jason Biggs found pictures of sweet innocent Jade posing nude for Playboy.

GAH!

So disappointed.

Mud Race:

Do you think they purposefully sent Jillian on this date because they knew she would win and it would force him to see how awful she was?  Yes?  Because I do.  +5 points to Carly for being hilarious.  I feel like her and I would have a lot of fun together.  

Jillian on the other hand was a train wreck.  I really appreciated Chris's jokes "She starts talking and all of a sudden I think of unicorns and rainbows..."  Don't cry Jillian about "not being vulnerable".  You put yourself on a pedestal, you were incredibly harsh to a lot of the girls in the house the minute you got out of the limo, and wore more makeup than I own.  MOVE ON.

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But the real story here is the departure of Ashley S.  Let us morn my FAVORITE contestant of all time.  I LOVE HER.  Her exit was absolutely perfect.

I feel........................................................ NOTHING.

Ashley S. please find me and be my best friend.  You are hilarious.  My new thoughts on her are she did all of this as a ruse.  She wanted ample tv time to show she can act crazy, because really she's making fun of everyone.  Yep.  That's what I'm going with.

Seriously girl, call me.

Is everyone else excited to see Kelsey's melt down next episode?

ALSO!  If you want to take a fun quiz, Chris partnered with ProFlowers on a compatibility quiz - I failed (no shock) but you may not!  Find it here! 

| Shonda Thursday | 

Did you miss Grey's / Scandal / How to Get Away with Murder this week??  I'm not a big fan of Grey's (I stopped long before most people) but the other two are SO good.  I felt SO exhausted after Scandal.  Theories on who has Olivia?  Even more exciting, Shonda is in the works of creating a new show regarding a female forensic scientist.  But there's a part of me that thinks she may be pushing her luck...

| Fromage-less February | 

I'm giving up cheese in February.  I feel like I eat way too much cheese - I look at it as a condiment or spice... like ketchup or pepper.  Yep.  It's going to be quite the test, but I think it's my downfall and I want to see if I A) lose weight giving it up and B) feel better.  I don't look at this like "gluten-free"... I just feel like everything should be consumed in moderation.  And cheese, yeah, I don't consume that in moderation.  

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| Ju-NO | 

Juno was an utter disappointment if you lived on the Northeast coast and not New England.  I'm going to say it now that it's almost February, SNOW already.  Like really snow.  Make it impossible for us to work for like 2 days and then move on.  Let us live our lives!  I'm sorry I keep complaining about all of this but really.  It's tiring.

| Super Bowl | 

I am excited for the Super Bowl tomorrow because, who doesn't love a little friendly competition??  In some ways, this is a fun year because I could care less about who wins, so it can be fun.  Katy Perry has been very funny, and I'm sure she'll put on a decent show.  And who doesn't love the commercials?!  I will say, I'm a little disappointed so many are leaking before.  What happened to the days where this whole thing was a spectacle?  Regardless, I'm ready for some FOOTBALL!  Who are you rooting for???