Diary of a Shopaholic Material Girl

Presents of Mind

2012-01-03T13:06:00.000-08:00

Vince waffle-knit sweater, Bird by Juicy Couture shorts, Wolford tights, J. Crew boots

For Christmas I got this super-comfy yak/wool sweater and these amazing ankle boots, and I've already been wearing them to death. So in love, especially with the boots (all my friends and family are tired of hearing me wax poetic about how the boots are not only sort of '90s grunge-ish, in a more polished way, but also sort of equestrienne-preppy, a la J. Crew).

Apologies for the poor camera quality (courtesy of my beloved Blackberry) and my awkward faces.

xoxo,

SMG

At Last

2012-01-03T12:51:00.000-08:00

Sequined sweatshirt from J. Crew, Bird by Juicy Couture leather shorts

I'm ecstatic about finally getting my hands on a pair of leather shorts. These black beauties are from Bird by Juicy Couture, which isn't really a brand I wear but I definitely fell in love with the classic, simplistic design of these. And they're so weather-versatile that they've already become a staple of my wardrobe.

xoxo,

SMG

Back to the Future

2012-01-01T13:52:00.000-08:00

Topshop dress, vintage Coach bag, Repetto oxfords, and Prada sunglasses

Happy New Year! Hope everyone had fun celebrating... I have a good feeling about 2012.

xoxo,

SMG

New England Summer

2011-09-03T13:16:00.000-07:00

Martha's Vineyard

Provincetown

Ogunquit, Maine

I had an amazing time this summer visiting family in New England! It was great to see family who I hadn't seen in ages, and to grow closer with some of them - my second cousins are more like sisters now :)

xoxo,

SMG

She Wore Dior

2011-08-08T19:34:00.000-07:00

Love my new Dior heels! Got them for a great price, and the wooden platform and heel are amazing!
They go with almost everything - no wonder people say that animal print is the new neutral.

xoxo,

SMG

P.S.

Hahaha please kindly ignore the fact that my feet are a different color from my legs :) a summer of golf will do that to a girl

but there's more

2011-08-08T19:28:00.000-07:00

He shrugged. He held the cigarette out in front of him and they watched it burn, a single ember in the heavy, humid night.
"I thought it would make me look..." He tapped the cigarette and flakes of ash fluttered to the ground.
She knew she was meant to finish the thought but she smiled instead.
"Well, it doesn't," she said petulantly, stepping closer and setting her wrists onto his shoulders, her fingers brushing against the back of his neck as they knitted together. They looked at each other for a moment. He crushed the lit end of the cigarette into the potted plant to his left.
"You know, smoking's bad for you." Her hands slid along the sides of his neck until she cupped his delicate jaw in her palms. She tilted his face up towards hers.
"Lots of things are bad for you," he murmured. The air around them lost its dampness and crackled.

you said you don't like erotica

2011-07-24T22:16:00.000-07:00

She watched the stream of smoke curl out of his lazily parted lips into the warm, dark air. Eyeing the skinny, lit cigarette in his pale, stylistically posed fingers, she reached over and took it. First holding it unceremoniously between the pads of her thumb and index finger, she slid it until it rested against her middle finger. She took a fraction of a second to glance at her hand, checking that the image mirrored that of photographs and films, before popping it into her mouth.
"You smoke?"
She glanced up at him through blackened lashes.
"No," she replied, removing it from between her lips and holding it aloft, for him. A column of ash topped the cigarette and snowed to the ground as he took it from her fingers. He assessed it nonchalantly, staring at the ring of shimmery pink that her lips had printed on it before closing his mouth over it and taking a long drag.
"Since when have you?" she asked, glancing out into the silent street. A flash of lights and exhaust rushed by and then disappeared.
"Since when have I what?" he replied, tilting his chin up and puffing out a stream of smoke rings that drifted up towards the sky. He followed them up with his gaze.
When he looked back down she was standing, in front of him, tracing a loop around the inside of the last ring with a single finger.
"Smoked," she answered, her hand still poised in the air as the smoke drifted and dissolved around her outstretched finger.

Boots

2011-07-19T22:13:00.001-07:00

A quick sketch of my new boots from Free People

You'll definitely be seeing them at some point - they're much more fall than summer so it may be a while, but I'm very excited to wear them!

xoxo,

SMG

Summer, Part II

2011-07-19T16:54:00.000-07:00

Ring from Free People, necklace made by me (seashell from Duxbury beach)

Essie nail polish in Turquoise & Caicos and Geranium

White eyelet is my favorite in the summer!

(from top) Sunglasses by Fendi, Juicy Couture, and Chanel

The second installment of my FAVE SUMMER THINGS post!

Actual outfit posts are soon to come :)

xoxo,

SMG

Summer, Part I

2011-07-17T08:42:00.001-07:00

Light Blue by Dolce &Gabbana, lobster charm by Juicy Couture, Bumble and bumble Surf Spray, anchor necklace by Tiffany & Co.

Bracelet from Calypso

I wanted to share my favorite clothes, accessories, and beauty products of summer!

My summer wardrobe is unique in the fact that I make an effort to abstain from wearing or using "summer" things for most of the year. That way those items remain wholly Summer, as opposed to being tainted by the depressing stench of school and stress. (A tad melodramatic, I know. But still.)
So when it is summer, like now, I go all-out in wearing summer clothes and accessories. Which, of course, only adds to the fun of summer!

Part II of this post is very soon to come! Here's a sneak preview :)

xoxo,
SMG

Note: the word "summer" was used 9 times in this post. So, naturally, it began to sound like gibberish and I had to google it to make sure it was an actual word.

Remember winter? Me neither!

2011-07-09T12:35:00.001-07:00

Elie Tahari brocade shift dress, coat from Antropologie

I love these Tory Burch heels!

I'm enjoying summer SO much right now but I thought I'd juxtapose by posting this holiday brunch outfit from a few days after Christmas.

...Also I forgot to post these a million years ago but this outfit is so cute I wanted to put it up anyway!

Hope those of you on holiday are having a great time!

xoxo,

SMG

Story of My Life

2011-03-09T23:51:00.001-08:00

This is basically how I feel at all times.

xoxo,

SMG

With the sun in your eyes

2011-03-09T23:31:00.000-08:00

Free People slip worn over Cosabella slip, sweater from Anthropologie, boots by Vanessa Bruno

So over the winter I scored these amazing Vanessa Bruno boots - I'd been searching for brown leather lace-up boots for ages and I finally found this perfect pair. I love the Victorian-Secret Garden-bohemian-military look of them; boots like these are surprisingly versatile and do a lot to amp up any outfit - even just a couple of slips layered as a dress!

Loving these boots so much... maybe one of my favorite purchases EVER.

(Check out the cool gold studs that the laces wrap around!)

xoxo,

SMG

Georgia May Jagger

2011-02-13T14:54:00.000-08:00

This girl. Love her photos, style, Chanel campaign, and she comes off quite well in interviews. And she's only 19.

Sorry I've been gone for a while - expect some new posts and news coming up soon.

xoxo,

SMG

Rings

2010-11-25T18:07:00.001-08:00

From top left, clockwise: locket ring by Free People, silver rings I picked up in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, a ring I got for 1 euro in Paris, and a hulking cocktail ring I got at Intermix.

Usually I'll wear one of these to add interest to my outfit, depending on the color scheme, theme, or feel of what I'm wearing, but today I just decided to throw them all on at once. Sort of a gypsy meets batty old lady style that I'm digging.

xoxo,

SMG

Dancing Dress

2010-11-25T17:51:00.000-08:00

Dress by Xinya, worn with Juicy Couture clutch and Kate Spade heels

Got this dress a while ago from Neiman Marcus Last Call, and wore it to a few dances... it's really fun, though my mother did comment that it looks like an Olympic figure skating dress.

To which I responded, "What's wrong with that?"

xoxo,

SMG

The Lion, the Wedge, and the Wardrobe

2010-11-25T17:24:00.000-08:00

I'm in love with these gorgeous new patent-leather Prada wedges!!

My favorite vintage belt: gold, skinny with adorably tiny little lion heads on the clasp

The other night I went out to dinner downtown, which was great, but I spent a majority of the time obsessing over my new Prada wedges, which are actually quite comfortable and crazy gorgeous - my mom found these puppies at Neiman Marcus.

Used the lovely little belt to cinch together a dress I fashioned out of an oversized netting/lace top from H&M worn with a gold sequined Free People slip underneath.

xoxo,

SMG

Sheer Genius

2010-11-25T16:39:00.000-08:00

Wore this to school the other day...

My new Free People blouse and tank top, worn with Sevens skinny jeans, a Juicy Couture velvet jacket, my favorite new patent-leather Prada wedges, the usual chunky white Toywatch, and a necklace I "made" by putting an antique brass key on a silk cord.

I loved this top so much I got it in a cream color as well!

xoxo,

SMG

Holiday Wish List!

2010-10-07T18:58:00.000-07:00

The holiday season is FINALLY here, and you know what that means... yes, presents for family and friends, but moreover, a new list of gorgeous things I absolutely have to have!

1. Sequined party dresses (see Balmain, Pucci, Alice+Olivia)
Not that I go to lots of parties, but if I had a dress like this one, I figure the parties would find me!

Sidenote: I loved Emma Stone in Easy A - she was hilarious and so endearing! (Not to mention, she's gorgeous.) It's such a funny movie, I suggest you watch if you get the chance.

2. Over-the-knee tights and socks: insanely cute and leg-lengthening - what's not to love?

3. a leopard-print coat (a la Brigitte Bardot)

There was a good picture of Bardot herself in a leopard-print coat in Lucky a while back, but I couldn't find one online so I got the next best thing...

Yep. Kate Moss.

Anyway, these coats exude effortless glamour, and remind me of this:

Ahh, classic Season One Gossip Girl (what's up with Season Four? we can chat about that later).
Incidentally, it happens to be Thanksgiving today, so a big Happy Thanksgiving! to my American readers!

4. opulent flapper-style dress (drop-waist, fringe, perhaps some beading)

Anna Sui had some amazing ones last season (see right):

5. various boots: Victorian-style lace-up boots (see above, left), over-the-knee boots, and ankle boots

Mmm, just writing this list makes me want to go shopping...

Luckily tomorrow is the infamous Black Friday. Unlike years past I don't think I'll bother getting up at 1 am to go shopping... but I will pop into several stores once the sun's up!

xoxo,

SMG

"just another manic school day"

2010-09-27T13:36:00.000-07:00

Polo top, What Comes Around Goes Around pleated miniskirt, tights by Wolford, watch by Toywatch (Nikon camera)

She tucked the white piece of paper into her pocket and slug the strap of her Nikon camera around her neck. Then she folded the waistband of her navy blue pleated uniform skirt over, shortening the skirt so that it barely covered her navy blue tights-clad butt cheeks. One thing she wouldn't miss if she went to boarding school was Constance's horrible uniforms.

To be honest*, I'm always very inspired by the outfits in the original Gossip Girl novels, especially those of Serena van der Woodsen, who is possibly the most glamorous character ever. Today's outfit was loosely based off of this excerpt from It had to be you: The Gossip Girl Prequel.

*admitting my secret obsession

No, I don't actually have a school uniform. Haven't had one since the 7th grade... don't miss it much. Anyway, this skirt is seriously short, which is why I wore it with tights - the tights have a pattern of circular holes that's hard to see in the picture. They're really fun, especially with this miniskirt!

xoxo,

SMG

Hey Street Boy, What's Your Style?

2010-09-27T13:25:00.000-07:00

Juicy Couture top, Sevens miniskirt, Converse shoes, vintage silver bangle

You know that old Runaways song?

Yeah, I saw the Dakota Fanning movie, too.

Anyway, this outfit I wore to school made me think of it. Though the pictures turned out a lot less grungy than I'd hoped... admittedly, "grungy" is not exactly my thing, but I got this super-cute skirt so I thought I'd have some fun with it. The pictures turned out a little "runaway girl escapes to the woods and befriends imaginary fairies," but I think it's just the lighting.

I've been ridiculously busy, but there's more to come!

xoxo,

SMG

2010-08-22T10:49:00.001-07:00

Hey, everyone! I just got back from a rather long trip to Boston and NYC. Sorry for the lag in posts, but now that I'm back, you be seeing more of me!
xoxo,
SMG

Summer Showers

2010-07-06T12:27:00.000-07:00

Burberry coat, shorts from Anthropologie, flats from Galeries Lafayette

Went shopping the other day, and we had some light rain.

These pictures were taken before I got my hair cut... now I can't really put it in a long side-braid like that. But I like my hair shorter now, I'll post some pictures soon!

xoxo,

SMG

"Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall..."

2010-07-06T10:28:00.000-07:00

I love this J. Crew sweater... it's light enough for summer and I love the sea-foam green ombre color. It's a bit over-sized so it's super comfy, and makes me think of clam bakes and New England seaside fun.

Worn with my favorite Juicy Couture cutoffs and Tiffany's gold key necklace.

xoxo,

SMG

Happy (Late) Fourth of July!

2010-07-06T09:55:00.000-07:00

To all my American readers (do I have any?): Happy Fourth of July!

and to all my British readers: ...I guess your country was sort of involved, too... recipients of the Declaration and all that... so, cheers!

So I know the fourth was a couple of days ago, but yesterday I had a golf tournament so I'm posting today...

In celebration of our nation's birthday (only not exactly, but whatever), I went with my family and some family friends to Whole Foods, where we ate dinner and then went up to the roof to watch the fireworks!

I tried to dress in red, white, and blue (don't we all?)... regular readers might have seen this Juicy Couture top before. I wore it with J Brand shorts, some oversized red sunglasses from Francesca's, and my brand new bag by Loewe, which is this fantastic Spanish brand. The bag is just gorgeous, in this amazing chocolate color, classic design... thanks, Mom!

And I accessorized with my favorite gold anchor necklace from Tiffany's, some vintage gold hoop earrings, my white Toywatch, and my Marc Jacobs Lola solid perfume ring. That thing weighs a hundred pounds.

Hope my fellow Americans enjoyed the holiday!

xoxo,

SMG

Fresh Faces

2010-06-14T20:00:00.000-07:00

Top by Madewell, tennis skirt by Adidas, Michael Kors flipflops, and Toywatch

Ah, summer! Sunny days are here again. And by that I mean: I need to get a better tan! That's really the only reason I ever go swimming - I treat each trip to the pool like some sort of chore...

To Do List:

-pick up dry cleaning

-buy milk

-sit in sun for 3-4 hours in cute Juicy Couture bathing suit trying to keep the latest W out of the pool water*

*I suppose this is my cue to remind everyone to wear sunscreen to prevent skin cancer and whatnot, but I hold the belief that those warnings really only speak to a fraction of the population and it's rather ethnocentric to disregard evolutionary differences between people and their natural defences against the sun. But, you know, don't go getting skin cancer or anything - for many of us, the safest thing to do is slather on that SPF 50.

Anyway, this is a new skirt that I got for golf... I play a lot of tournaments during the summer. I played one on Monday, have another scheduled for next Monday. (Golf's the reason my tan is so awful in the first place - remind me to show you my insane tan lines later.)

Hope you're having nice weather and enjoying the sun!

xoxo,

SMG

P.S.

Anyone notice how hot chunky white watches are right now? Check out my post-Christmas post and you'll see... I basically started that trend. (Hahahaha...)

Tie-Dye Cowgirl

2010-06-14T19:40:00.000-07:00

Silk tie-dye shift by Rory Beca, turquoise necklace from Santa Fe, and vintage leather belt

First outfit post of the summer! Many more to come, but these photos were taken on a whim because I happened to like the outfit a lot after throwing it on.

The belt was my dad's, until I stole it a couple months ago, and he wore it throughout the eighties, so it's well-worn. I love the rustic feel of it and I think the yellowy-brown leather goes nicely with the reds and yellows of the dress. The clash between the rough leather and the silk is cool, too.

And maybe you noticed, this is the first time you've seen my face on this blog! I've kept it well-hidden until now, but I thought it was time to reveal my true identity to my faithful readers.

xoxo,

SMG

I'm a Big Liar

2010-06-14T19:08:00.001-07:00

Yeah, I know. It's been forever... so sorry for that! I was just going crazy with finals, tests, essays, video projects, art projects, and all the other crap teachers like to throw at students at the end of the school year.

Lame excuse?

Okay, sorry for that but it's really all I've got. Thankfully I survived all the tests (am taking one class for credit over the summer but that hardly counts... right?) and now I'm here to post pics and outfits for you that are BETTER THAN EVER.

Why's that?

Because I'm finally revealing my top-super-secret-take-it-to-the-grave identity on DSMG! That's right, you'll all be seeing my gorgeous face in a few hours. That is, if you visit the site. (Don't expect me to show up on your doorstep, darling!)

Stay tuned for my swear-to-god-I'm-not-lying-this-time debut!

xoxo,
SMG

Au Revoir, Mes Amies!

2010-03-10T19:51:00.000-08:00

Sorry, sorry, sorry that I haven't posted part II of the Vintage Treasures series! I suppose I'm building suspense... haha.
But the real reason that I haven't been able to put up pictures is that I've been so busy preparing for my trip to Paris! I'm leaving tomorrow and I've been SO excited. I can't wait to visit adorable shops like Agnes B., APC, or... Chanel. Of course, shopping in Paris is rather unreasonable, especially compared to prices in America, but I do hope to come back with a few nice pieces to remember the trip by! It will be my second trip to Paris and I'll be sure (I promise) that I'll post pictures and tell you all about it when I return on Sunday!

Of course, I can't speak French at ALL but I hope to have a great trip anyway (perhaps I can get a cute French tutor to help me... haha).

I really must go, but rest assured that I will tell you all about the trip when I get back! Hope you all have a lovely time wherever you are!

xoxo,
SMG

Exciting New Developments!

2010-02-27T21:06:00.000-08:00

Hey, everyone!
I am just TOO excited, so I decided to write a quick post.

Here's what I'm excited about:
1. new Wolford knee-high tights (they work over-the-knee, too, which is just too cool) in a black Honeycomb
2. new tiny metallic pink kooba purse with a long, long chain that makes me want to go out and party (long chain purse = party?)
3. new dresses - I have 3 new dresses that I've never even worn
4. the first edition copy of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (the novel) that I bought on Tuesday and was printed in 1925
5. the dream that I had last night. Can't remember what happened but there was a waterfall, a pool, a hotel, and a really really high terrace in some jungle. I'm pretty sure a group of people and I were spying on somebody, too.
6. Kim Yuna's outfits (watch the Olympics, anyone?)! That girl is the bomb, and her one-shouldered LBD for her short program went perfectly with how awesome she is.

Vintage Treasures Part II is coming up soon, so stay tuned for that! And thank you to all my new readers - and my old ones! I love and cherish you ALL.

xoxo,
SMG

Vintage Treasures: Part I

2010-02-21T18:08:00.000-08:00

Hello, darlings!

Yes, it is finally time. I promised you a vintage post a long, long ago. But this is going to be a two-part series because I went out and bought more.

I picked up a super-fun sequined vest (pictured below) in a darling cream color. It's such an easy way to spruce up a simple outfit.

Worn with a Juicy Couture top and True Religion jeans, with a belt from Intermix

And I had to have this colorful '70s suede patchwork mini! I love how bohemian-chic it is, and so versatile, too. Here I styled it as "classic sophistication with a touch of youthful spontaneity" [insert haughty look here].

Worn with a Juicy Couture velvet blazer, Cosabella lace-edged camisole, maroon tights, and Cole Haan wedge boots

I'll be back soon with more of my finds (we're talking '90s velvet dresses and statement jewelry)! Thank you all for being so wonderful, by the way!

xoxo,

SMG

Grey Matter in the Kitchen?

2010-02-07T19:20:00.000-08:00

Hello, darling readers. It's been a while since I've posted, I know. But there's more to come soon, soon, soon! And I've picked up more vintage pieces that I'm DYING to tell you about, so expect a vintage post soon. Meanwhile, I've picked up a bunch of new things and I've become a tights-aholic.

So about the tights. Where I am right now, the weather's been about 50 degrees Fahrenheit, which is perfect for tights with dresses and skirts, in my opinion. I've been wearing tights more than jeans lately and I'm loving it! I'm wearing tights as I'm posting this...

Anyway, I've picked up a few pairs from Juicy Couture, and they're shimmery! (I know, right?)

Worn with a new Juicy dress

Amazing new ring from Intermix and vintage hammered silver bracelet

xoxo,

SMG

P.S.
Yes, that's the kitchen in the background. Thought I'd do something new... and it was dark out.

Reminiscing Sunday Brunches as We Return to Mundane Mornings

2010-01-04T18:17:00.000-08:00

One of the loveliest parts of a holiday are sleeping in until ten, and then enjoying a lazy breakfast in bed or a brunch with the family. My family happens to have an annual holiday brunch on a Sunday of the holiday season at the Four Seasons, and, as always, I leapt at the opportunity to dress up.

A gorgeous Nanette Lepore top worn with a Leifsdottir skirt, paired with my favorite gold Kate Spade heels and Juicy Couture clutch

Please be kind and ignore my lovely tanlines, darlings.

There's more to come of the 2009/2010 DSMG Holiday Recap!
Until next time,

xoxo,

SMG

Happy New Year!

2010-01-03T17:27:00.000-08:00

Hello, hello! The new year is finally here, and it's 2010 now. I'm sure we're all exhausted from parties, presents, and other festivities, and ruefully returning to our daily lives. My winter vacation has either been totally crazy or totally lazy, it's hard to tell. But either way, I have much to tell you, and over the next few days I won't hesitate to do so - I have plenty of new clothes, new outfits, and tons of accessories that Santa was so generous to give me.

Christmas day was fun but uneventful for me, as I was recovering from a nasty stomach virus from the day before. But I managed to document some new gifts and new occurrences to keep you all up to speed.

So on Christmas day I wore an emerald green, cashmere Catherine Malandrino sweater-dress, to match the tree, of course, and with my new Toy Watch (a pristine white, with a shimmering mother-of-pearl face and crystals) and a gold bangle cuff from Francesca's.

And how am I showing you these lovely items, you might ask? With my new Nikon digital camera, compliments of my grandmother (thanks!).

Like I said, over the next few days we can relive the glorious vacation (I hope yours was glorious, anyway) and the exciting things that happened over it, so stay tuned!

xoxo,

SMG

P.S.

Want a peek of what to come? We're talking vintage treasures, summer dresses, shorts, and sandals, high fashion for hotel brunches, and other fabulous outfits!

Winter Break is Near!

2009-12-10T18:58:00.000-08:00

But final exams are imminent. Yes, dear readers, next week I have finals, and I'm currently freaking out. So I just wanted to post quickly to say that I will get back to you AFTER finals, and to leave you all with what I personally believe to be the most gorgeous picture (of Blake Lively) ever.

Maybe you didn't know, but I'm head-over-heels in love with Blake Lively. I actually spend my free time trying to look like Serena van der Woodsen ("yeah, let me know how that works out for you").

At the Where the Wild Things Are premiere (hence the semi-themed outfit)

xoxo,

SMG

P.S.
If you're obsessive like me, you can see the picture in a better size at http://gofugyourself.celebuzz.com/2009/10/14/91870869.jpg

Lookin' Good in the Neighborhood

2009-11-22T18:04:00.000-08:00

Ralph Lauren button-down, BCBG skinny jeans, Cole Haan boots, and a tie of my dad's

Joie top over a Velvet tank, BCBG skinny jeans, Burberry flats, Juicy Couture lipgloss pendant

Romeo+Juliet Couture jacket, top by Juicy Couture, BCBG skirt, Burberry flats

Hey, there!

The weather around here has just turned a bit cold, so it actually feels like fall now, though I guess we should be past that. Anyway, these are just some outfit pics I've been wanting to put up of what I've been wearing lately - inspirations come from Gossip Girl season 1, Lucky magazine, and my new jacket from Romeo+Juliet Couture!

xoxo,

SMG

Pumpkin Picking for Halloween!

2009-10-30T20:42:00.000-07:00

Hello, my little ghosties and ghoulies! It's been a while, hasn't it?
Tomorrow is Halloween, and we're all excited - a holiday just for dressing up? Sounds perfect.
But what else is Halloween about? Of course:
Pumpkins.
Smooth -or bumpy and gnarly-, round, orange, and perfect for Fall. If they're good enough for Cinderella, they're good enough for me!

Marc by Marc Jacobs Dress, handmade purse, Dorothy Perkins tassle necklace, Prada boots, and light grey tights from... I'll get back to you on that

Love these Prada boots! But you knew that.

I'm going to be Peter Pan tomorrow, but, as usual, it's sort of a last-minute costume. I'll be sure to let you know how it turns out (in other words, prepare for pictures with loads of green).

xoxo,

SMG

A Day in the Life

2009-10-06T19:57:00.001-07:00

This is just a quick update because I feel super-guilty whenever I don't post. So just to let everyone know that SMG is still live and kicking...

Here's a series of randomly assorted photos depicting my everyday life (through vague snapshots of various outfits and items of clothing)!

Waiting to eat dim sum on a Sunday morning.

Madewell tank (worn over a tank by Velvet), Ann Taylor silk scarf, shorts from Francesca's, and sandals by Marvin K.

GAP tee-shirt, vintage bead necklace, Juicy Couture lipgloss pendant, J Brand jeans

My mom's new Chloe bag!

Gold Converse

I'll be sure to post something more substantial maybe later this week.

xoxo,
SMG

A Darling Dress, Dinner, and Dessert

2009-09-14T17:46:00.000-07:00

As usual, I'll start out the post by apologizing for its lateness...

Sorry it's been over a week. For those of you who've been pulling your hair out and worrying about where I am (anyone?), I've been fine - just embarrassingly lazy.

But here's what I've been meaning to show off:

D+G top, J Brand shorts

I bought these on Labor Day weekend, along with some J Brand courdoroys.

Worn with a Madewell tee and stylishly bare feet

And as an extra-special update, I went to dinner with my family last night at a pretty fancy restaurant, and of course, used it as the perfect excuse to dress up.

Vera Wang Lavender Label Dress, Kate Spade heels, Juicy Couture clutch, Swarovski earrings and ring

You probably can't see from the picture, but I went with the color scheme of a basic (yet adorable) black dress, with silver undertones (silver nails, silver earrings and ring) and gold overtones (gold necklace, clutch, and heels). It was so much fun!

And, if anyone cares, the food was great (half a smoked quail, a pecan-encrusted snapper, and chocolate mousse on legs of fudge).

xoxo,

SMG

Pre-Labor Day Update!

2009-09-04T19:02:00.000-07:00

Nothing much has happened this week, but since it's finally Labor Day Weekend, I'll probably do some shopping soon. This week, however, I did discover a trend that I liked, mostly from watching Gossip Girl re-runs: dark nail polish.

Now I know that burgundy nails came up in 2007, and again the next year, and so on, but I decided to do a different take on it with dark purple nails (in OPI's OPI Ink). Of course the nails should be short and neat - save the long, dark talons for the Adam's Family.

I also wore an outfit the other day that surprisingly caused a lot of talk in school. People in my school don't generally wear loud outfits, especially not sequins. But I adore a good sequined top, especially in my favorite color, gold.

Vintage top, Warehouse skirt, Miu Miu flats

xoxo,
SMG

The Art and Style Poolside Fashion Show and Fete

2009-08-30T17:21:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't posted in the past week - it was actually the first week of school for me so I was pretty busy. But yesterday I went to a benefit fashion show at one of the new condo buildings downtown with a friend.

I wore a Madewell top, Juicy Couture demin pencil skirt, and Chanel tote.

The fete was poolside.

They had some food (the mini cupcakes were my favorite!)

and quite a crowd.

They didn't have the actual show until around 8, and by then it was dark so sorry if the pictures I took for you are bad... basically there were cute day dresses and casual/sexy outfits.

It was a lot of fun, and for a good cause. I love going to events like these.

I'll try to keep posting regularly, although I probably won't be able to do half as much shopping to tell you about as I did during the summer.

xoxo,

SMG

Looking Forward to Fall...

2009-08-18T08:53:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't posted in a while.

On Sunday I went shopping with friend (as usual). She had on an awesome shirt, and when I asked where she got it, she told me her mom made it! Her mom actually sews and makes clothes as a hobby, and made this top:

I didn't really find much shopping, but my mom picked up some great fall clothes for me at Ralph Lauren, all from the Rugby Collection.

Ralph Lauren Rugby polo, Ralph Lauren Rugby kilt, Prada boots

(I was originally wearing Cole Haan boots but I changed because I decided that the Prada ones go better with the skirt.)

These are actually my mom's but she lets me borrow them

The look is perfect for fall, what with boots and a felt skirt.

I might do some shopping today, too. If I pick anything good up, I'll let you know! (Obviously they don't call me "Shopaholic" for nothing!)

xoxo,
SMG

On a Hot Summer Day

2009-08-07T06:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went out.

To the Japanese Market

To my backyard

And to Neiman Marcus.

Splendid top (which I bought at Neiman's), denim shorts from Francesca's

I wore a Juicy Couture top, denim shorts, my favorite turquoise necklace from somewhere in Santa Fe, a jade necklace (worn as a bracelet) from Chinatown Vancouver, and a cocktail ring from Saks to go out shopping yesterday.

I bought the Splendid top pictured above as well as a red Cosabella chemise that I had my eye on at Neiman Marcus (where they're having their huge Last Call sale). I actually needed a red slip of some sort to go under this red knit dress that my great-grandma made me. I'll probably post about it soon.

And the bag I'm carrying in the Japanese store? She made that too.

Great-grandmas are awesome.

xoxo,

SMG

A Shopping Odyssey

2009-08-01T10:20:00.001-07:00

odyssey: (\ˈä-də-sē\) n. 1. a long wandering or voyage usually marked by many changes of fortune

Juicy Couture pencil skirt, Tahari top, Miu Miu flats, vintage turquoise necklace

As I mentioned in the last post, on Friday I went shopping with a friend. We really didn't buy much other than a lot of frappuccinos and iced chais, but I got MAC Lipglass in Viva Glam VI, as well as the denim Juicy Couture skirt pictured above. I love it - it looks professional and cute at the same time - especially with a shirt tucked in.

We were out shopping rather late - for a total of about 5 hours. It was way fun and there were actually a lot of sales. Most stores had an additional 25% off of all sale items, including Juicy Couture.

And actually, when we went there we discovered the new Juicy Couture perfume (you might have heard of it, I hadn't), Couture Couture. It's very clever - it somehow smells like both other Juicy perfumes combined. And the bottle is gorgeous.

Speaking of new perfumes, I've been meaning to check out the newly released D+G scents - Harper's Bazaar describes them as "distinctive and provocative." Sounds good to me!

So was it an odyssey? I'd say 5 hours is "long," and as for a change in fortune, well, I certainly have less money than I did before I went!

xoxo,

SMG

Just Checking In

2009-07-28T14:21:00.000-07:00

Theory dress, Swarovski ring, tassle necklace from Dorothy Perkins, vintage bead necklace

I haven't been up to much lately, just golfing and a bit of shopping. I went to Neiman Marcus Last Call on Sunday where they were having a crazy sale - 50% off of all color-stamped items.
I got this Marc Jacobs cardigan:

and this little Escada jacket (type thing):

at an insanely low price.

I also got the sequined dress pictured above. Other than those purchases not much has happened. But I have plans to go out for shopping and dinner, and then downtown, with a friend on Friday... so I'll have a much more exciting post (hopefully) for you this weekend!

xoxo,

SMG

P.S. Sorry about the crappy photo quality... I was in a hurry so I took them with my webcam.

La La Land

2009-07-21T16:09:00.000-07:00

It's not like I live in L.A., or anywhere near it, but I've suddenly become interested. Some may call it obsessed. I never used to be, and I think it all started with me reading the Poseur series (love you, Rachel Maude), and was fueled by reading the A-List series, which is also fab.

I mean, it doesn't all appeal to me. I don't have that much interest in making it as a model, actress, singer, producer, director, agent, craft service, or valet... but I do adore L.A. style.

Some of the lifestyle seems fun. Living large - going to parties, shopping on Rodeo Drive, meeting friends and eating at exclusive restaurants and lounging by the pool. (People, I totally realize this isn't the average person's Los Angeles, okay? Humor me.)

And no, I don't mean this:

But, you know. Mingling and whatnot.

That's all good, but mostly, it's the style.

Casual but stylish, with light layers, boots, big glasses and a huge purse, I think it's the perfect look for a day out. It's effortlessly chic and totally comfortable.

xoxo,

SMG

Phones and -yawn- School Clothes

2009-07-01T14:45:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about getting a new phone but I can't decide between a Blackberry Curve or a Palm Pre. You've probably never heard of the Pre, but basically it's a lot like the iPhone (which I can't get because I don't have AT&T), but sliding and with a QWERTY keyboard.

I know Blackberrys are mostly for business, I don't actually do business, but I still totally love them. Basically, I'm torn, so let's compare

Blackberry: they're cool, and business people use them (so professional). They look pretty nice, too, I guess (http://www.blackberry.com/blackberrycurve/)

Pre: probably better for me because I don't do business, with a touch screen and downloadable apps, and a full keyboard, which is nice (http://www.palm.com/us/products/phones/pre/)

But the Pre is also kind of an iPhone knockoff, whereas the Blackberry is a league of it's own, if I may.

I am unbelievably tired as I'm writing this so I'm kind of not paying attention to what I'm writing. Maybe it sounds like crap - I wouldn't know.

Another issue is school clothes. And I don't mean that like I outgrew my old ones and need larger versions of my old clothes (like when I was, say, seven). I mean, what do I want to look like this year? (Or, at least, the beginning of it, because towards the middle of the year I'll just forget about all that and go back to normal.) I have no idea what my theme will be, so how can I shop for new clothes?
Um, buy the ones that look cute?
But you guys know what I mean, right?

xoxo,
SMG

P.S.
I don't mean "yawn" as in boring (though this might be boring, I really don't know), I mean it as in I am so tired I can barely keep my eyes open.

It's Officially Summer (according to moi)

2009-06-18T10:25:00.000-07:00

I haven't written, but I have a good excuse this time (like, really good): I was on an Alaskan cruise! Yes, it was awesome. I saw a bear, eagles, whales, sea lion, sea otters, and dolphins as well as nice scenery. But now I'm back home and sweltering in the heat.

Anyway, I kinda wanted to talk about a bunch of things, including celeb couples. My favorite? Joe Jonas and Camilla Belle. Why? Because they look like twins! Or brother and sister... no, not in a creepy way. Please! I mean the dark hair and bold eyebrows. Just look at them!

Okay, so Joe needs to do something with his hair. But that's beside the point.

Not to be too ADD here or anything, but I'm going to change the subject because I really want to talk about sailor-inspired clothes. I'm talking navy-and-white stripes. I'm talking red, white, and blue. I'm talking crisp cotton short and cute tees and tanks. Anchors, ropes, the whole 9 yards. It's all just too cute - and perfect for summer. Simultaneously sophisticated and casual.

Here's a picture from D&G's spring (I know, I know) collection which is exactly what I'm talking (so much) about. I realize that was -gasp- an entire season ago, but I think it's fab for summer.

As much as I love that style, I think something entirely different is needed for lounging poolside. I'm not quite sure of that recipe, but I feel that it goes something like this:

hot weather + lounge chair + sunglasses + fruity drink (may be substituted with something exotic and fizzy) + magazines = amazing pool experience!

Of course, that's not perfected. I could use some tips (hint hint, leave a comment, hint hint)...

xoxo,

SMG

Blathering on about Books, Boys, and Brits

2009-05-27T18:17:00.000-07:00

Really don't have time to write much now, sorry. But I've been reading some books lately (while I should be studying!) - Bridget Jones' Diary and now I'm reading Confessions of a Shopaholic.

I don't recommend Bridget Jones, really, unless you want to pick up British slang (which I do - someone tell me what "sod" means, please. I know it's rather nasty... but what's it mean?). Bridget is rather a sad character, and makes 128 lbs seem terrible. The romance isn't very good, mostly, and they're all drunk a lot. But there's some excellent feminism.

At first, I thought Shopaholic was awful because Rebecca what's-her-face is rather silly and has zero self-control. She can't manage money at all, and I find that irritating and stupid beyond belief. But don't give up hope - there's men involved eventually and then the plot thickens, and she does some actually smart things. But, like I said, I haven't finished.

I feel very strange, because I keep using words like rather, excellent, and nasty in places that I normally wouldn't. Why? Because of that aforementioned obsession. Didn't get the hint? Look at the initials of the title of my last post, and then watch the Narnia movies and google William Moseley. He's fabulous - pretty and sweet. And I think he has a six-pack, but I wouldn't really know. Anyway, in the end, I go through phases of obsession, and this is a package deal: WM and the UK, basically. If you live in the UK, maybe you think I'm a loser (would you be right?), but everything's just so lovely there! Like the manner of speaking.

Anyway, that's why I'm reading predominantly British authors. This post is silly, but that's what happens when you listen to Taylor Swift while you write. Maybe I'll delete this later - enjoy it while you can.

xoxo,
SMG

What I'm Loving Lately - I Adore May?

2009-05-19T18:52:00.001-07:00

I know it's been way too long - and I feel awful.

So I'm giving you a quick update on what I've been into lately... Quick because I'm still really really busy (finals much?).

Tea

I mean English tea, really. I know my trip to London was, like, a million years ago, but I really fancy drinking afternoon tea (around 4, actually) - with half a teaspoon of sugar and some milk.

Nature-Inspired Jewelry

Did you know I love Peter Pan? I don't remember if I mentioned it (it's really been while). But I do. And for some reason, I adore leaf- or branch-motif jewelry because of this (he lives in the woods, wears leaves for clothes). Okay, does this reasoning sound silly? I'll try again.

I love how artsy but simple these pieces are. They're very stylish, but still so natural, and a lovely sort of effortless.

Star Trek

No, I'm not a Trekkie, but this movie is fantastic for just about everyone. Think this movie is just for 40-year-old nerds who live in their moms' basements? No. It's for people just like you. Didn't you wonder why they made Captain Kirk so hot?

This Picture

Saw it today in an old Vanity Fair... fell in love. I don't actually watch Gossip Girl, but obviously I know who Blake Lively is. I KNOW I wrote about tulle last time, but this just looks so graceful and glamorous. I love how she's wearing an enormous Versace couture dress and hasn't got her shoes on, and the fact that her face is rather blank makes it seem much more candid and less "Say cheese!" I just find this photo inspiring.

And do I adore May?
Sort of. I mean, it's a lovely time of year, nice weather and all. And it's almost summer! But there's FINALS, like I said. So it's a love-hate relationship, really.

xoxo,

SMG

P.S.

There's a hint at one other thing I'm loving in the title. Actually, I'm obsessed. Can you guess it? (Okay, there's no way most of you'd ever guess it, but can you get close?)

P.P.S.

That really wasn't quick at all, was it?

Tutu Cute!

2009-05-01T18:54:00.000-07:00

Nothing new has really happened, so I decided to dedicate this post to something we all know and love (or maybe it's just me):

Tulle.

As in tutus. And veils. Yes, I think they're fabulous. Tutus are so very feminine, and at the same time extremely fun. I mean, you can find girls in London subways wearing them with ripped tights and Converse low-tops, and it's still completely adorable. I find that what's best about them is how stereotyped they are. That material - tulle - is associated so strongly with girly-girls (ballerinas, old-fashioned movie stars, debutantes) that it's perfect for juxtaposition. Like what I was saying earlier, with the punky English girl, if you put tulle next to something tough, maybe masculine, like a leather jacket or gray jeans, it looks indisputably cool, simply because it's unexpected and unique in an eye-catching way.

I wish I had tulle in my closet- I don't have any. I'd love a tutu or something... I'd dress up and take photos, most likely. Or just hang it up and look at it loving. Because that's the kind of gal I am.

(About the picutures: the first one is a Betsey Johnson dress, the second, I don't know, the third, or course, is Marilyn Monroe in a tutu, and the last is an Alice and Olivia dress.)

xoxo,

SMG

A Sketchy Weekend

2009-04-27T19:18:00.001-07:00

This Sunday I went to an event, Sketch, which was a little fashion seminar for teen girls, with a friend. Fashion designers, boutique owners, and fashion journalists talked to us about their careers and the industry. It was an RSVP event, but I actually had an invite this time. It was fun, held at a cute boutique called Bows + Arrows, with some indie clothes and designers I've never really heard of (pictures above).

Plus, there was free cupcakes and cookies afterwards, and we had a drink while we chatted with the designers and journalists. It was really fun, and educational! They also talked about trends that would be in this season, and they said it would be boyfriend jeans and rompers (how on was I?).

The masquerade party was awesome on Saturday, in case you were wondering. My outfit is pictured above for you! (Sorry that my head's cut off, but see the previous post for the mask.) It went from 5 to about 10:30, and we ate dinner, danced, and socialized. Lots of fun!

xoxo,

SMG

A Masquerade!

2009-04-20T18:42:00.000-07:00

First off: Wore a romper today - so comfy! It was totally cute and really fun.

But what I'm really excited about is this Saturday. I'm going to a masquerade Quinceanera (for those of you who don't know, it's a big 15th birthday bash, like a sweet 16)! It's going to be loads of fun. There will be dinner and dancing... and, of course, masks!

Funny, I was just telling my mother the other day how I wanted to go to a quince.

So my mask arrived in the mail today (we ordered it online), see it above. I'm wearing it with a cream/gold brocade shift dress by Elie Tahari, my gold Miu Miu flats (which, unfortunately, have taken a bit of a beating from my scrambling all over the place in them), and a gold Juicy Couture clutch.

As you can see, my color scheme is cream and gold.

Basically, that's it. I actually really need to buy some self-tanner (golfing has left my legs tan, feet white, and thighs somewhere in between)... any suggestions? I've never used it before, but of course I've heard terrifying stories about streaking and orange coloring and all that, so I really want to do it right.

xoxo,

SMG

Happy Birthday to Me and Happy Easter/Passover to You!

2009-04-12T14:59:00.001-07:00

My birthday was this weekend! And it was awesome.

I got some wonderful presents, including:

- 2 Juicy bathing suits (one's a halter-bikini with a skirted bottom in this fabulous yellow print with navy accents, and one's pictured above, except mine is a cream color they call "Angel)

- an adorable Velvet navy tank-romper (okay, I made that term up, but it's a romper with spaghetti straps like a tank top, and I mean Velvet the brand, not the fabric)

- a cute Juicy charm for my overly-adorned, 1000 lb. Juicy charm bracelet

- chocolates!

- some fabulous, sparkly bangles

- a gift card to Anthropologie (thank you, Kira!)

and more...

I just want to take a moment to appreciate how wonderful Juicy Couture bathing suits really are. There is nothing in this world more delicious than a Juicy swimsuit. At least, in my opinion. They are flirty and cute, with little skirts attached (a look I've liked ever since I was 3!), and in fun prints and colors. And I love love love the shirred swimdresses - so flattering to all body types, and kind of retro-chic. These babies are wonderful and stylish without being too revealing, and totally comfortable, too!

(Really, I should be getting a check in the mail from Pam and Gela any day now. All I do is advertise for them... but j'adore Juicy, I can't help it. Hehe.)

xoxo,

SMG

Jeans...

2009-04-04T18:02:00.001-07:00

Okay, so I haven't posted in a while... but I just couldn't think of much to say. There are no interesting movies out (I think), I haven't gone shopping since I last wrote, and there's really not much to tell.

So I'm going to talk about jeans.

I could say I love jeans, but everyone loves jeans. Well, almost everyone. But even if you're really girly or really preppy or whatever, and I don't mean preppy in the A+F sense (please!), I mean in a pleated-skirt, button-down, silk-tie, knee-sock way, you probably wear jeans anyway.

I'm going to talk about my favorite brands.

J Brand:

These jeans are comfortable enough, when they're the right size (except for high-waisted ones, which I learned the hard way). The best type to get with J Brand are probably the dark, wide-legged ones. You can see Jessica Alba and people wearing them in, like, InStyle, and for a while they were really popular in Hollywood. I don't know about now, but if you're into the dark 'n' wide look (and it works better if you're tall or in heels, I think), J Brand is the way to go.

7 for All Mankind:
Ah, yes. These are what I think of when I think "designer jeans." They're a classic. They're comfortable and come casual enough that you can wear them without being concerned about things like dye bleeding (watch out for that in rich, dark jeans), rhinestones falling off (they stay on really well, haha), or not being able to run because you can't move your thighs. They come in all different styles, and if you're only going to have one expensive pair of jeans in your closet, I recommend 7s.

True Religion:I love these for the horseshoe design on the back pockets. It's their signature. These can be really flattering, but are generally low-riding, so they go around the widest part of your hips or just below (or at least they do on me). They look good, but can be a little stiff around the knees and thighs.

Paper Denim & Cloth:I wouldn't be surprised if you haven't heard of these. They're not underground or anything, but not as famous as the ones I already mentioned. But these are soo comfortable and really casual. They fit like a glove (if you have the right size, of course). They're the best for those days when you ate way too many chocolates or you just don't want to squeeze yourself into anything.

Hope this is helpful or interesting for you guys. What are your favorite brands? I don't really know much about Chip and Pepper, Joe's Jeans, or Hudsons (and a million other brands I don't know at all), but I know they're pretty popular.

xoxo,
SMG

P.S.
I've just written the word "jeans" so many times that I was starting to suspect it wasn't actually a real word. I had to Google it to be sure. (It is.)

An Impromtu Fashion Show

2009-03-29T09:19:00.001-07:00

So last night I went to a fashion show with my parents. It was no big, we didn't have anything to do that evening so we decided we'd check it out. It was just a little promotion deal, with models wearing clothes from the stores displayed (Neiman Marcus, Louis Vuitton, St. Thomas, Intermix, Calypso). It was an RSVP event, but we've got connections (*wink*).

I wanted to take some pictures for you guys, but spaced and left my camera at home. Sorry :(

Anyway, it was cute, held outside with appetizers and things like that. The clothes were okay... lots of resort-type dresses from Calypso, leather fringe-covered vests from Intermix, and Chanel bags from Neiman's. There was some food, and live music afterwards. But while we were down there, in the street (that had been closed off) between two blocks of stores like Juicy Couture, Ralph Lauren, Intermix, and Diesel, I noticed that between the window displays and the clothes worn on the runway, there was a lot of white.

St. Thomas's evening dresses were all white, RL's window displays (all Black, Blue, and Purple Label) were all white, and most of the Calypso dresses were white. Maybe this is old news for you guys, but it was the first I'd seen of it. I've always associated white with winter or maybe summer, never spring. But whatever. White's cool, sure.

xoxo,
SMG

P.S.
I guess spontaneity is the thing this week!

Impromtu Shopping Trip!

2009-03-26T19:43:00.000-07:00

Tonight I went shopping!

I know it's a school night, but my mom had to make a return, so she took me and my grandma to Neiman Marcus Last Call - the home and mothership of all sales and brand names. Love that place. My grandma got Frye boots (no joke - and for like $30), and my mom got some awesome knee-high boots (pictured above, but hers are brown). They're my size, too... and look great on me, too (we've decided to share... hehe). As for myself, I got some gold Miu Miu flats (above) and pink-framed Juicy sunglasses. They were such good deals, you wouldn't believe!

If you have a Last Call anywhere within 50 miles of your house, you should get yourself down there! I know the economy's bad, but if you still want to shop (and you have the cash), that's the place to go. Because we're all cutting back on spending... but that doesn't mean cutting back on shopping. They'll give you 20% off your entire purchase, and if that isn't a good way to shop, I don't know what is.

xoxo,

SMG

P.S.

You see those white-and-gold Tory Burch heels in the title pic? I BOUGHT THEM. A while back. They are my love! Those shoes are to me like Edward Cullen is to Bella. They are too high for me to wear, really, but they are in my closet... waiting about 5-10 years. Hahaha! (Wild and overexcited laugter)

Back from London!

2009-03-22T18:22:00.000-07:00

Oh my gosh, it's been a really long time. I'm sorry for not posting for 20 days! I've been really busy, and then I went to London for spring break! I have a hunch that some of my readers (you know who you are) are from England, but for the rest of you, here's an update on the current London fashion:
- Tights are big. Everyone is wearing them all over the city. Grey, black, red, blue, purple, green, you name it. All except for white. Girls and women alike wear them with skirts and skirt suits.
- Boots! It's chilly in England this time of year, and in London the temperature has been in the 50-60 range this past week (in degrees F), around 15 or 16 degrees C, which is surprisingly good weather. So the Londoners have been wearing boots (a lot of Uggs and Faux-Uggs!) with tights and with jeans tucked in.

As for shopping in England, well, it's Europe. And in Europe (like Paris or London), the type of shopping that's good is the kind where you intend to spend a lot of money on the latest and greatest designer looks. They have well-updated European designer lines (such as Gucci, Versace, Prada, Burberry), but absolutely no sales. So for you savvy girls who are addicted to discounts and live for good deals, it's not so hot. The U.S. is much better for finding 25% off True Religions.

As for music, the UK's got some good bands (I like The Script), but a lot of the popular songs and artists are American, like Lady Gaga and T.I.

You should really visit the UK sometime if you haven't already. It's great, and the people are really friendly! And the food is much better than they say.

xoxo,
SMG

DSMG's New Look

2009-03-02T17:44:00.000-08:00

Thoughts, please! I changed it up, as you can see. Reorganization of just about everything...
So tell me if you like it, or hate it (nicely!) in a comment.

I don't have much time to post today, but I thought I'd give those of you who aren't Sephora Insiders a chance to try the new Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer. If you're going to be shopping at Sephora online (and spending over $25), at the checkout, enter the promotion code SMASHLAB and you can get a free sample of the lid primer, which isn't out in stores yet... while supplies last.

So comment on my new picture, and let me know if the primer's any good!

xoxo,
SMG

Juicy Couture Spring Collection!

2009-02-17T17:52:00.000-08:00

So I hope I haven't totally bored all of you fashion lovers who are here for clothes with movie reviews. Trust me, I will satiate your appetite for style today.

Today I got in the mail the Juicy Couture Spring Catalog ("Spring for Some Couture")! It's pretty cool. They totally changed their look! For those of you who don't receive their catalogs, the last one they sent out, the winter one, was all Juicy Pink. You know, that light pink color that they dump on everything? Well, I love it, but it was AWOL in the Spring Collection.

So I'll sum up the Juicy Spring Style:
The Look: Sophisticated, bohemian with a dash of preppy, bright colors and fun prints
The Clothes: Dresses, tunics, jewelery (beads, metals, bracelets, necklaces), gladiator sandals, summery jersey dresses, trench coats, shorts, bathing suits (to die for!)

It was unexpected, and not the girly princess style we all have come to know and love. But it's a good change, and cute all the same. Vibrant and fresh for spring.

In other news: several fashion crimes committed at New York Fashion Week (Shenae Grimes, Aubrey O'Day...), the new Clique book is out, and Louis Vuitton is newly expanded at Bloomingdale's in NYC.

Until next time...

xoxo,
SMG

A Movie I LOVE

2009-02-14T18:18:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day, all! Ahh... love. Okay, not really. There is zero love flying around me this V-day. But it's still good.

Anyway, in honor of this lovely occasion (hahaha...) I would like to discuss a wonderful romantic comedy that came out exactly two years ago - Valentine's Day, 2007.
Yes- Music and Lyrics. Also known as my new all-time favorite romantic comedy - and those are my favorite types of movies, too!

Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant have adorable chemistry in this movie. I would describe the plot, but you can find that out at http://musicandlyrics.warnerbros.com/ or somewhere else on the web. The plot is carried out so well in this movie- it's progressive and not predictable at all - in most romantic comedies it takes about 3 scenes for the protagonists to fall in love. This movie does it in a slow, natural way that is sweet and just darling. There are little backstories to each of the characters, and their personas have a lot more depth to them. The supporting characters are hilarious, and there is funny banter between the two stars, too. The lines are clever, and the characters both have quirks that make them less than perfect, but more like real people.
The soundtrack is also great, with cute '80s-style songs and wonderful love ballads (and yes, with great music and lyrics).

And Hugh Grant is hot.

Overall, I love the movie! If you haven't seen it yet, you need to.

And I hope my readers don't mind that most of the movies I review are kind of ... old. Haha. I want to see Confessions of a Shopaholic, of course, but it doesn't look that great. The timing, of course, is terrible. The middle of a huge economic recession, and they spit out a movie about a girl addicted to spending, with no concept of srimping or saving? Great.

Anyway, hope you all have/had a good Valentine's day!

xoxo,
SMG

For Your Beauty Toolbelt...

2009-02-11T18:30:00.000-08:00

Hey, I haven't posted in a while, have I? Well, sorry about that, if you've been concerned. Hm, maybe I should do it more regularly, like a certain day every week. Maybe, I'll think about it.

Anyway, today I would like to talk to you about a grave issue in our society: EYELASH CURLERS.
Okay, so it's not a grave issue. But it's still important. You see the thing is, they are AWESOME.

I pledge allegiance to the eyelash curlers of the United States of America
And to all the ones in other lands,
One eye,
At a time,
For lashes that aren't invisible,
With curled eyelashes for all

(I don't know if I have any non-American readers, but for those of you who don't get it at ALL, it's a reference to the Pledge of Allegiance...)

Point being, I love my eyelash curler like I love Harry Potter: A LOT.
I use it every morning, although, and this may surprise some of you, I hardly ever wear any makeup. A lot of people wear a little mascara, but I don't. I have dark, black lashes, and when I curl them, people actually think I'm wearing mascara. And then they don't believe me when I say I'm not! Hahaha.
It's way quicker and easier than mascara, but just as good, if not better (no clumpiness, but I suppose it's not as great if you have light or blonde lashes).

That's about it, for now

xoxo,
SMG

PS: I'd like to give a shout-out to my one and only follower... Kicking Couture! I don't know you, but you are very dear to my heart. Rest of you - check out Kicking Couture's awesome blog at... kickingcouture.blogspot.com

Keeping You Posted

2009-01-29T19:08:00.000-08:00

Okay, since no one commented on the last post I'm assuming it bored you all out of your minds... although it was rather interesting, in my opinion. Haha.

Recently I interviewed Rochelle Rae of Rae Cosmetics (raecosmetics.com). It's not like they're famous or anything but it was interesting. I did it for a class I have in writing. She was really nice, and used to be a painter, in college, got an art degree, modeled for a bit, became a makeup artist, and then created her own line of cosmetics. I'm mentioning this because ... it's the only interesting thing that's happened of late.

Oh. Today I watched Baby Mama, via NetFlix. It was good. It was kind of funny, but less funny than you'd expect from Tina Fey. But it was really... heartfelt and sweet. I thought it was a good movie.

I cannot WAIT for the weekend. I am firming up my plans with a friend, and have lot of golf planned. Did you know I play golf? I do. And I adore it. Those of you who think golf is for old people and weaklings - you're wrong. It's great but I can write about that some other time.

xoxo,
SMG

I Really Do Love Perfume...

2009-01-25T13:48:00.000-08:00

Okay, I know you're all dying to know what my new signature scent is, right? Yeah, right.
I'm going to tell you anyways: Victor and Rolf Flowerbomb. If you guys know it and don't like it, well, too bad. Because I ADORE it. It's sweet but not too sweet (not like Pink Sugar) and a bit flowery but not too much so. That bottle is adorable and the packaging is so cute. Have you seen it? It's like pale pink, like the bottle, but has black seals on it, like the bottle.

Love that stuff. LOVE IT.

So now that I've obsessed over it enough to bore you to tears, let's talk about other perfumes, too. I'll give a really quick review list, because I have to study. Hopefully these comments can help you. Or entertain you, whatever.

SMG's Perfume Review:
Vera Wang Princess - okay, but too sugary for my taste. A lot of people love it.
Marc Jacobs Daisy - light and flowery, but a little grassy...
Angel by Thierry Mugler - Nice, a little exotic and chocolaty, but way strong. Not for day.
Bvlgari Omnia Crystalline - love this stuff. Nice scent, I can't put my finger on it... but almost like colonge, in a feminine way. Good for night and day.
Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue - good for summer. Light and bright, almost lemony, but not.
Pink Sugar - smells like cotton candy. Apparently it's a best-seller at Sephora, but I find that hard to believe. It's kind of nauseating. (No offense to those who wear it, heh heh.)

So there you have it. My opinions on a few perfumes. Hope these are useful to you.

xoxo,
SMG

P.S.
Wondering which ones I own? Light Blue, Angel, and Bvlgari.

Movies, Movies, Movies!

2009-01-20T17:32:00.000-08:00

So the title of this post is a little... enthusiastic. Well, here are some comments I have about movies I've seen recently.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Usually I like romantic comedies and chick flicks, stuff that makes me laugh and doesn't get me
down. That's why I wasn't crazy about this movie. Romantic? Maybe. Comedy? Not so much. It was 3 hours of random scenes, going in detail through Benjamin Button's (long) life, and lots of depressing news about so-and-so dying, and so-and-so getting hit by a car. It was a total downer, so don't watch it unless you have something fun to do later on, or you may fall into an unhappy funk.

Leatherheads
Yeah, I know it's old. But I've got Netflix so that's alright. Anyway, it was funny and cute, just like John Krasinski, who plays Jim in The Office, and up-and-coming football star in this movie. It's a sports movie, but not really. The characters are clever and quirky, and there's lovely plot twists, and adorable romance.

Son of Rambow
Fairly new, but I Netflix'd it, too. The cutest thing! Wonderful movie. It's charming and heartwarming and clever and fun. There's no romance, but, hey, it's about kids! Not that that's a reason not to watch it.

So maybe you can check out some of these movies. Check out the next post for my new signature scent and other perfume adventures in the life of a Shopaholic Material Girl.

xoxo,
SMG

Got What I Wanted!

2009-01-16T17:02:00.000-08:00

You may have noticed that my WL is shorter... but that's because I
a) got a Tiffany's pen for Christmas and
b) figured out what my signature scent (SS) is. My mother is giving it to me as a Christmas present, sort of, because I would rather have it than the perfume she got me. Not that I don't love what she got me!! But, seeing as this is my future SS, I need to have it!

Thank you, Mother!

I'll try to think of more things I want... just so I have goals and all that.

Want to find out what my SS is? I bet you do. Stay tuned to find out!

xoxo,
SMG

Manicure 101

2009-01-16T16:37:00.000-08:00

What a treat- 3 posts in a row, huh? Well, it is Friday after all.
So I promised I would write about something more, let's say, universal. I will proceed to write about something everyone cares about (or should).

Manicures.

We all know that getting and maintaining manicures are not easy. We do everything with our hands, and it's insanely difficult not to chip or nick the paint on our wee little nails. (By the way, if you're nails aren't wee little, consider cutting them, because right now what's in is dark, short nails. Obviously, because dark long nails would be... trampy? Vampy? Something like that)

I got a lovely fresh manicure last Saturday, in OPI's Bastille My Heart, from their new France collection. It was gorgeous! But how did I keep it that way?

Well, I kept it that way for the first 3 days or so. Then it was all downhill. So maybe these basic guidelines and tips will help you with keeping your manicure looking good for at least a week.

Things to Avoid:
- Smudges from when the nails are still wet. Don't do ANYTHING while they're wet. Sit on your bum and watch TV. Don't even think about touching them for at least 10, 15 minutes.
- Bubbles. Seriously, if your clear coat has bubbles in it, it will look like your nails have little zits or something. I have enough of those on my face, okay? (Haha, not too many, though.) Make sure your clear coat doesn't put little bubbles on your nails. I don't think there's anyway to stop it if it does... if you know, please post a comment explaining how.
- Chips. Try to be gentle with your fresh manicure. Don't rip things open, or, you know, scrape them against the pavement. Just use good judgement, that's all.
- Nails growing out. Obviously they will and you can't stop them, but if they grow out and there begins to be a sliver of unpainted nail on the tip... cut it off. Seriously, not that hard.

That's all I've got for now! Enjoy!

xoxo,
SMG

Just Say No to Gum and Fanfiction

2009-01-15T18:39:00.001-08:00

Two days in a row! Are you loving it?

So I've decided to quit gum and fanfiction. Aren't you proud??

I used to be a total gum-addict, but those days are over. I so don't want to get huge, muscular jaws. And it's not healthy to be addicted to anything. Sure, gum only has 4 calories per piece, but that's quite a bit if you're chewing constantly. Hahaha, counting calories much?

Fanfiction is just dangerous. I was reading a LOT of Clique FF, and even if the writing isn't very good, I get hooked. And j'adore reading, but carrying a book around is much more convenient than carrying around a laptop, right? Plus with books you know the writers are pretty good to at least get published, right??
I just have to go to the library and pick up some interesting books.
But oh my gosh I would be glued to the computer screen reading this crap. Don't do it. Just say no to fanfiction.com.

So I guess that's what's up with my life today at least. Hope this didn't bore you to tears. Hey, maybe it even inspired you to quit your disgusting addictions. (Come on, we all have them. For me, it's gum and recently FF. For you it could be... smoking or biting your nails? Ew and ew.)

xoxo,
SMG

Oh, and I promise next time will be about something more interesting. Not just my life. Comment if you want to be nice! But if you're trying to be nice, don't post a mean comment, haha.

I'm Back!

2009-01-14T15:28:00.000-08:00

I do not even know if anyone bothers to read my blog, but it doesn't matter. I AM SO SORRY FOR NOT POSTING IN LIKE A MONTH.
I'm just so effing lazy. And I've been busy, with school and stuff. Which, by the way, I haven't been doing extremely well in recently.

So I want to do a quick post and say I'm sorry and I love you guys even though it doesn't seem like it. I won't abandon you like that again.

To make up for it, I'm telling you what you all want to know: everything that's happened since Dec. 24.

Christmas Presents: Lots of stuff - I heart Santa x10!
I'll try to keep it quick:
Tiffany's pen, Tiffany's earrings, Juicy Couture notebooks and binders, 3 pairs of Juicy knee-high socks, a Juicy giftcard, lots of chocolate, a cashmere shirt, BCBG dress, beautiful Elie Tahari coat, perfume, gold Juicy clutch, and more!

Jealous much? Hahaha, just kidding.

My New Obsessions:
Tiffany & Co. and Peter Pan

My Outfit Plan:
Now: Casually Cute (jeans, cute tees, flats, Uggs)
Later (aka early Spring): preppy! with a dash of equestrian (skirts, knee-high socks+mary janes, button-downs and polos, riding boots, ties as belts)
Much Later (aka Mid-Late Spring): ...think, "Forest Nymph!" (dresses, greens, long flowy hair, sandals)

And, as a special apology bonus, I will share something personal with my readers...

My New Year's Resolutions:
1. Watch Less Television (30 min per day)
2. Excersize More/Eat Less Junk
3. Study Hard and without Distractions
4. S.A.B.

I guess to keep NYR #3, I should get back to work.

Wanna know what S.A.B. means?? Comment, and maybe I'll tell you!

xoxo,
SMG

Brunches, Bazaars, and The Blonde Theory

2008-12-23T17:44:00.000-08:00

So what have I been up to? (Why, thanks for asking.) Well, I've been enjoying my vacation, that's for sure. I'm not going anywhere, but I've been hanging out at home with my family. We've done brunches, bazaars, golfing, and fun stuff like that.

I've read two books since yesterday (Elegance and The Blonde Theory), both of which were pretty good.

And we watched this really really sad Mexican movie (con subtitulos en ingles) about illegal immigrants. Ok, so it doesn't sound very sad; but the little 9-year-old boy gets separated from his mom, and his grandma dies, and his dad who he never met meets him then stands him up, and his only friend gets arrested by La Migra (the INS).
I'm a big movie crier. I've even cried while watching Full House (don't hold it against me: Michelle's grandpa was going to be her show-and-tell and visit her school, but he dies. You'd have cried, too). So I cried like on six seperate occasions while watching La Misma Luna.

Well, whatever. Point is, I've been having a good time. How 'bout you?

Provolone, Mozzarella, Giving, Shout-Outs... Mmm, Cheesy

2008-12-20T19:21:00.001-08:00

I forget how long it's been since I last posted, and believe it or not I am actually too lazy to check. (Hitting Backspace and Page Dn? Oh yeah, it's exhausting.)

So who's excited for the holidays??? ME. And everyone else, I should hope. I am totally hyped for December 25 (making an effort to be politically correct?), and you know why?
PRESENTS.
But not for me. I mean, sure, I'll be getting presents, and I have a hot tip from my mother that they're gonna be pretty good this year (like all the other years. Just kidding...sort of), but what I'm referring to is giving.
Cheesy? Absolutely.
True? Yes.
In recent years I have discovered how fantastic it is to give people (my family members) really great gifts. Of course, this is only if they appreciate them. Which they SO will. Trust me.

Ok, so I don't have much else to write about. However, since I'm being cheesy today, I'll give a shout-out to my friend, "Tom." Why? Because I love him/her.
Ooh, look how secretive I'm being.
And I'm sure Tom is wondering why I'm using the name "Tom."

Or maybe he/she gets it, I don't know.
But I'll explain, just in case: "Mosh for Tom!" "No, mosh WITH Tom!"

For the non-Tom population, uh, have a good holiday.

Celebs I Love, and Information is My Enemy

2008-12-16T14:17:00.001-08:00

Ok, so things are getting less busy. However, I still don't have anything extremely interesting to talk about... so I'm writing about some of my favorite celebrities (in no particular order).

1. Jennifer Aniston:

One word: Friends. Loved it. And she's so pretty. Personally, I think she's prettier than Angelina, but whatever.

2. Audrey Hepburn:

Ok, I'm not comparing Jennifer Aniston to Audrey Hepburn. I'm just saying I like them both. If you have to ask why I adore her... keep it to yourself. Maybe you'll figure it out one day. (By the way, about the picture: I think she looks like Twiggy! It's adorable. Also, I didn't want to use some generic Tiffany's picture - like the one on the title image.)

AND I am crushed. I know I've only given you two celebs I like, but this is related. See the Louis Vuitton ad above? So everyone was saying that was ScarJo. I didn't want to believe it. I mean, I not that big of a fan of hers, but I love love LOVE those LV ads. And I found out that's HER.

I know, you're like, "duh." But I just assumed it was a model who looked like ScarJo. Not who was her.

Jeez.

If I'm wrong, please let me know. I'd love that.

xoxo,

SMG

Hey, Again

2008-12-13T09:40:00.000-08:00

Okay, so it's been a while, and I hope no one minds.
My excuse for this lateness? MIDTERMS. Have I been studying enough? NO.
Oh, well.

So now I'm just saying hi, and I don't really have any exciting news... except I am really really really excited for the holidays. I've gotten all my friends and family presents except for my mom! I want to get her a fake pearl necklace (did I mention this already? Whatever.) but I'm having trouble finding the perfect one. Well, it's not like it's my top priority right now. (Sorry, Mom. Haha, I'm sure she'd rather I do well on my exams.)

Uh... so I don't have anything to talk about. Uh... I'm not going anywhere special for the holidays, but my uncle is visiting from South Korea. That should be fun.

OKAY. I know what I'm going to talk about (briefly).
My mom ordered all this Juicy Couture stuff online (Bloomingdales) without telling me, so I got a pleasant surprise the other day when she had me try on a bunch of stuff. Loved it ALL. Or, at least, almost all of it. Whatever. Point is, it's like these super-adorable tee-shirts from Juicy, but not the kind with little phrases on them... just cute tees with pretty designs. One of them is a navy blue polo with these cute buttons and all that. J'adore my mom.

So that's all for now. Maybe I'll make a better effort to be interesting later... haha.

My Most Fabulous Favorite Furniture

2008-12-07T11:22:00.001-08:00

I've been muy busy, and I still am, but I am taking time out of my busy day to post. Be grateful. Or don't, whatever.

But remember how I said that I would put up furniture or whatever? Yeah, that's what I'm doing now. (See above). That's a picture I took at the Louvre of my favorite piece of furniture in the WORLD. So there you have it. If you can afford to buy it for me, then please, pretty please, do so. It's gold (my old/new favorite color), and crystal. What's not to love? And I adore vanities. Please, do buy me one.

That's all you're going to get... for now.

This'll Be Quick

2008-12-04T20:29:00.000-08:00

Well, thing is, there's midterms and projects and all sorts of stuff I have to do, and I have a debate tournament tomorrow that'll last forever, so I have to get sleep tonight, but I wanted to post anyway. Unfortunately for anyone reading this, it's not going to be long. Just ... uh, I was going through my mom's stuff she was gonna throw out and found a ton of cute stuff that I want. ("You have time to go through your mom's clothes but not enough time to write a good post?" Yeah, basically. Gotta prioritize. No, just kidding.)

Uh... so I got some new shoes today. My mom was gonna give them to me for my birthday, but wasn't sure if I'd like them, so showed them to me today. That's the shoe you see above. But I have two of them, of course. They're really cute and would go great with my new black dress (see 1st post ever).

Was this quick? I don't know, you can be the judge of that.

Sorry!

2008-12-03T19:37:00.000-08:00

I try to post everyday, but this week has been so BUSY for me. And I probably won't get to post again until, like, Sunday, for those of you who care...
I have soo much stuff to do. I don't even know if it's just my imagination or something, but I'm swamped. (How can that be my imagination? I guess I could be blowing it out of proportion.)

So I don't have anything interesting to say. Uh, today I wore a Juicy Couture pink, layered, velvet miniskirt (like a ballerina pink) that's actually basically too small for me (I used to wear it soo much) over skinny jeans (my favorite BCBG jeans), with my new Juicy tee shirt (black, reads "My Dog for President") and my new flats (which are grey). Lots of parentheticals in that sentence, but it was actually a cute outfit. If I do say so myself...

So I guess that's something to think about. Also last night I composed a list of possible winter outfits. Maybe I'll show you. Sometime when I'm not swamped.

Ok, I don't really write In/Out lists, at least not on my blog. But I will write a short one, just this once.

IN/OUT

Freudian Slips/Small Talk

Secret Clubs/Freelance Gossip

Giving Gifts/Giving Thanks

So that's all for now, basically. I'll write later, when I can find the time. Ciao!

Holiday Gifts: Teen Girl

2008-11-30T16:11:00.000-08:00

So when my parents saw my blog, they were like, "are you advertising for Saks or something?"
Whatever.

Since I always like looking at lists of gifts people will enjoy, I'm going to write one. Right here, right now.

Perfect Holiday Gifts for a Teenaged Girl:
Beauty
1. Sweet Spot Lipgloss from Hard Candy - because they're super-cute and sparkly
2. Vera Wang Princess - girls love this perfume (Too sweet for you? Try Vera Wang Flower Princess- it's less sugary and more flowery. Personally, I prefer it.) ALSO try Vera Wang Princess Perfect Pair: a lipgloss and a rollerball perfume set found at Sephora. A great stocking stuffer.
3. Urban Decay Stoned Poison Ring - a chic ring that opens up to store 1 pot of XXX Shine Lip Gloss (it comes with 3 interchangable shades) - I swear, I have always wanted a poison ring. No joke.
4. Urban Decay Shadow Box Skull - well, I don't know about the skull thing, but the colors are adorable and there are a variety, for different looks

Fashion
1. Juicy Couture Ruffled Date Top - perfect for girls who like to look sweet or trendy. You could pair it with a girly skirt or some jeans
2. Ali Ro Paillette Tank Mini Dress - I don't know how parents would feel about giving this to their daughter, but I love it!
3. Nanette Lepore Tea Party Cardigan - again for preppy, sweet-type girls, not for everyone. But I just couldn't resist!
4. Jacquard Short Sleeve Pocket Tunic from Free People - so cute!

Accessories
1. Toy Watch (any type, really) - bright, cute, and youthful, not to mention functional
2. Dirty Drama Stone Cuff from Juicy Couture - sooo sparkly
3. Large Monogram Gallea Ring, Yellow Gold, from Louis Vuitton - if you have the money and for some reason you want to spend it on a teenager, this is so pretty
4. Resin Cuff Bracelet with CHANEL Signature and Stripes of Strass - (see 3) it's totally chic and wearable

Enjoy!
Oh, and by the way: this is just kind of a wish list for me... it's not all very affordable, but maybe it'll give you ideas.

I realize that I didn't put anything about room decor and things like that on this list, but maybe I will later. Guess you just have to stay posted!

Black Friday and More!

2008-11-29T18:38:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I didn't post yesterday because it was BLACK FRIDAY and I needed to shop. I got up at 11:45 pm on Thursday to go shopping on Friday, get it? And I didn't get home till, like, 6 am. I slept until 9:30 am, then ate and shopped some more. Oh my gosh! It was crazy! Crazy fun!

Today I went hiking with my family and a little, wee bit of shopping.

Don't you want to know what I got??

- an adorable Juicy Couture stationary set

- Juicy charms: lipstick and scooter -that gives me a total of 9!- see above

- a too cuh-yoot Juicy tee-shirt (see above)

- Grey Burberry flats

- a Pink Polo

- 2 headbands

- Gorgeous gold Kate Spade heels

and that's it. Not much, but it totals up to VERY CUTE.

Also: I watched The Clique (the movie) yesterday... and it was... uh... well, they gave it a good try. No, just kidding. It wasn't bad. But I don't think anyone can really appreciate it if they're not a Clique fan. They were mostly true to the book, I suppose, but I am always ultra-critical about movies not being exactly the same as the books I love. They added a few things, which worked with the plot, but it was funny when they tried to throw in some lines from the book that didn't fit, and it's like, okaaay... why did you just say that?

But it was a fun movie if you're a (big) fan of the books.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T11:21:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

I love Thanksgiving! Cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, turkey, all that. And, you know, giving thanks. Unfortunately whenever I try to give a speech during meals like this, no one takes me seriously. THANKS A LOT, FAMILY.

But it's still fun. It's almost 1:30 now, and we're not starting dinner until about 5, so until then, I'm going to plan out tomorrow's shopping. My mom and I, and some friends, have been thinking about going out around midnight tonight, but we still have to discuss that. I'm all for it- the more time to shop, the better. And we all know the best items will go fast. However, my mom's not as enthusiastic about it. I also have to decide what store's we'll go to, and in what order. We will be very organized this year!

I should probably do some cleaning, too. There's a lot of clutter around my desk. Jeez.

Tomorrow is going to be insane. I'd better sleep up tonight!

Catalogues, Perfumes, and Britney

2008-11-26T08:36:00.000-08:00

Well, nothing new has happened between yesterday and today, except I got to sleep in.
We did get some catalogues in the mail... actually, I like looking through catalogues, so holiday season is good. The Nordstrom catalogue was alright, but it reminded me of my perfume dilemma. I mean, it's not like it's a really bad crisis or anything, but still... also I'm curious about Love, Ralph Lauren.

Speaking of being curious, this morning I saw 2 commercials- one for Britney Spear's Curious, and one for -what was it called?- Fantasy. Actually I like Britney Spears, unlike 99% of the population, it seems. Yes, she doesn't have that much talent, and sure, she's crazy. But she seems like a nice, well-meaning girl, and I feel sorry for her because of all the pressure her dad and the media give her, and her bad reputation. I mean, her life must be hard. And she works really hard, too. Although she always gets put down, she keeps coming out with new songs.

I don't know where this topic came from, but whatever.

So if anything interesting happens, I'll post again. But today will be a slow day.

Pre-Sale at Saks

2008-11-25T17:52:00.000-08:00

So, for the first time ever, last Thursday began a pre-sale at Saks 5th Ave. They have never done this before, but due to our economic recession, they are doing anything to get the merchandise off their shelves.

And that merchandise has been flying off the shelves into my house!

If you recall, on Friday, I went to Saks with my mom to do some shopping. Well, today we finally got to take them home, and I got:

a little black BCBG dress

a Juicy tee-shirt
a Juicy purse

AND what my wonderful mother picked out for me when I wasn't looking:

a white Elie Tahari button-down

a Lacoste polo

a cute green tee-shirt

I am happy times 10! But there's more!

As it turns out, they did have the right size of the tee-shirt I wanted to get for my aunt. It's coming in the mail... sometime later. And now I have one, too. How cute is that?

Speaking of holiday shopping, I still have to get presents for my mom, dad, grandma, and uncle. I know what I'm going to get my dad and my grandma, and I have some gift ideas for my mom. But I have no clue what to get my uncle.

Well, I have time to think about that. For now, I'll enjoy Thanksgiving and the many shopportunities that lie ahead.

Thanksgiving! (and Other Holidays)

2008-11-24T17:12:00.000-08:00

Well, it's that time of year again. Yes. SHOPPING.

I love the holidays. The air is crisp and cold but the feeling is cozy and warm.

And we get vacation time.

I cannot wait for Black Friday. The best shopping day of the year! Time Magazine says it will be a bit of a bummer (at least for retailers) this year, with the economic recession and all that, but I still think people will show up on BF. Especially since prices will be great and everyone's trying to save money.

I'll probably be shopping all day. Ideally I'd hit like 3, maybe 4 different shopping centers, but I don't think my mom would be up for that... but I'll try to convince her about at least 2.

Unfortunately I don't have much of a list. I couldn't think of much for my WL (Want List), so maybe I'll just get whatever seems cute, or gifts for my friends and family.

I don't really need any new clothes... but I should get some button-downs and maybe jewelery or something. Whatever. I don't need a long list to have a great time shopping (and come home with tons of stuff)!

Favorite Colors and Signature Scents

2008-11-23T18:38:00.000-08:00

I am currently without a favorite color OR a signature scent. How sad is that?

I used to love gold (yes, I do consider it a color) and I still have feelings for it - basically I still like gold stuff: purses, wallets, etc - but when fall '08 came in, I fell for purple, fall's big "it" color. But I am sick and tired of purple. Seriously, I OD'd on it, and now I can't stand the stuff. Sigh.
So I'm not sure if I want to go back to gold or if I like turquoise better (my favorite color from 5th grade, haha).

Ah, relationships.

But I also don't have a signature scent. I bought Angel (Thierry Mugler), but it's way too musky for day, really strong. I wear Light Blue (Dolce Gabbana) every day because my mom's best friend gave it to me and it smells good, but I don't think it's really ... me.
So I went to Nordstrom and sniffed perfumes until I could hardly smell anything. And I narrowed down my options to:
Viva La Juicy
Victor and Rolf Flowerbomb
Ralph by Ralph Lauren

If anyone has thoughts or suggestions (for either colors or scents) I would appreciate them. But don't bother suggesting Daisy (Marc Jacobs), any of the other RL perfumes, or Princess (Vera Wang).

Oh, and I am so over red.

The Twilight Movie

2008-11-22T21:14:00.000-08:00

This afternoon/evening I went to the mall with some friends to shop around and watch Twilight, which came out yesterday. (All I bought was a nail buffer from Sephora.) I didn't really expect the movie to be good... and it wasn't. I'm a fan of the books, especially the first one, and the movie really didn't do it justice. I mean, I don't even think Robert Pattinson is that hot. And the acting was mediocre. It was depressing and dark, with none of the comic relief and attitude of the book. Movie Bella was a bored and depressed sort of person, and you couldn't tell that she was actually in love with Edward. And you couldn't really tell that Movie Edward was in love with her, either. It just suddenly happened, and you're like "What?"

I don't regret seeing it, because I was curious. But there was none of the sweet and awkward forbidden romance of the actual novel.

I also didn't like the interaction between her and her father, Charlie. It was cute how he gave her pepperspray and all that, but most of the time he was very detached from her, sort of like an uncle you don't know that well, or a stepdad you're not close with.

But the baseball scene was good. Definitely the best. (You should see how Alice pitches!)

My Style

2008-11-21T21:02:00.000-08:00

I realize I haven't said much about my style. So I'll try to describe it for you.

My style is preppy and trendy, mixed with classy and cute.

What I'm Loving Now:

Miniskirts, tights, leggings, riding boots, flats, knee-high socks, charm bracelets, retro clothes/accessories- think '60s.

I like to wear skinny jeans with riding boots and a tee-shirt, or skinny jeans with leg warmers and flats, and miniskirts with tights with flats or boots, and polos and button-downs, and I love blazers.

Some of my favorite designers are Juicy Couture, BCBG, and Ralph Lauren.

By the way, above are some outfits from the newly released Clique movie. I don't know if it's any good (those books are my, uh, guilty pleasure), but the clothes are cute!

Hey, People

2008-11-21T19:41:00.000-08:00

Shopaholic Material Girl... that would be me? Hahaha, not really... I love shopping, and who doesn't love material?
I guess this blog will be about my life - or just my shopping/clothing/accessories. Designers and all that.

So: tonight I went shopping at Saks after school. It was a pre-sale, and I got an adorable Juicy Couture tee-shirt that says "My Dog for President" that I will either keep or give to my aunt for Christmas (she has the cutest dog, I swear!), a Juicy black velour purse (by the way, j'adore Juicy Couture), and a gorgeous black BCBG dress that's kinda casual, kinda fancy. I adore BCBG, too.

What I Wore Today (if you care): BCBG skinny jeans, a purple Madewell tee, brown Juicy flats that I looove, and a red Bebe dress-trench (a trench that is almost like a dress, it is so cute).

Kay, well that's all for now!
xoxo
Gina