You'll laugh about this... some day.

Scarf: Target, Shirt: Old Navy, Skirt: Lotus, Bag: ShoeDazzle, Earrings: Stella & Dot, Watch: Michael Kors

Have you ever done something that makes you cringe with embarrassment throughout the work day, and then kind of laugh when you tell your friends about it, and REALLY laugh (years) later when you think about it again?

I've done a lot of ridiculous things over the course of my career. For example...

• At the start of my career I wore a brand new pair of pants to work, with the tags still visibly on them. Like, it was hanging out the back near my belt loop,  AND the long sticker that they usually stick on the thigh area.. yup... still there. Then, when a guy I worked with asked if they were new "Hey... new pants?" (I had no idea the tags were on them) for some reason I was all like... "Nah, not really?". THEN he pointed out my tags. I was mortified. Not because I forgot to pull off a few tags, OR because I may or may not have told a little white lie, but because I was walking around all morning advertising my effing PANTS SIZE. What a dip shit I am.
• Or... the time when I pulled my black heels out of my downstairs closet and put them on right before I walked out the door, only to realize (in the middle of a big meeting) that I had in fact pulled one 3" navy heel and one  4" black heel out. I thought something felt off when I was walking to my meeting (and my back started to bother me after a couple of blocks), but it wasn't until I was sitting down at the conference table that I looked more closely. Yup... two completely different shoes. Different colors, different heel sizes, one a round toe, the other a pointed toe. Whaaaaat... thhhheeeee... helllllllll. Moron. Capital "M". 
• How about the time I was getting ready for work and forgot to rinse the conditioner out of my hair? What if I blow-dried said hair and it looked like a stringy, greasy, pile of dog shit?  I looked homeless. Fo' Real. All day.

All of those are my stories, but today. I heard a "doozy" and I am STILL laughing about it.  My girlfriend at work pings me (it's like Instant Messaging) and says... "Do you want to hear something funny". Naaaaturally I said, "yes please".

She proceeds to tell me that this morning before work (probably in the 7 AM hour, on what happened to be the single coldest morning in years) she was trying on bathing suits. Weird, right? She and her hubby are going to Mexico in 2 months, but weird nonetheless.... and... wait for it... she forgot to take her bikini bottom off and just put her pants (fitted) on over the top of them. WHAT???? Yup, there she was, sitting at work, looking all normal to the untrained eye, when underneath it all... she was in HELL. I mean, she must have been!?!?! Have you ever worn a bikini bottom? They are uncomfortable enough without a pair of slim-fit trousers layered over them. She had to sit in them for 8 hours. Sweet LAWD. I was dying. I laughed out loud when she told me, and then under my breath every time I saw her. Poor thing. Hilarious. I am so glad she shared though.

OH... and they were the kind with the side ties... THE WORST. 

Oh, and this is what I wore today. Tags off, matching shoes, AND clean hair. BOOM!

Bargain Booties and a Bonus Beauty Post

Poncho and Jeans: Old Navy, Shoes: Target, Scarf: Lotus, Watch: Michael Kors, Ring: Lotus

1. This is my casual, day after New Years Eve outfit. Hair back, over-sized sweater, and comfortable shoes. I didn't have a hangover after the festivities, but I was beat, and boy did my feet hurt! Shit. 

2. It looks as if I only have one arm in the first photo, but I assure you that I still have two. It was oddly tucked into my poncho. It's cold outside and I hate wearing coats, so I always put my arms inside of my sleeves like a small child and end up looking like am amputee.

3. Yes... those are zippers on my jeans. No... it is not 1988. I never thought I'd see the day that zippers made a come back, but here we are. Welcome back, ankle zippers.Welcome... back.

4. These adorable booties are not TOMS, although they look a lot like them. They are knock offs from Target. I like the TOMS (and I really love the concept of buy one, give one), but the TOMS didn't have a high enough wedge for my taste. Also... and the real deciding factor... these bad boys cost $35 as opposed to $90. Whoop Whoop!

Bonus Beauty Post: 

5. I have written about how I use olive/castor oil on my face before and I got a lot of feedback from that post. A lot of people were intrigued, but kind of turned off by the thought of "oil". SO... I thought I'd share this little gem of a find with you all.  It's a starter kit for those of you who are curious about using oil for face, hair, and nails, but don't want to give up your fun, delicious-smelling "products". It's all Argan Oil based from Josie Maran's line (which is AWESOME).

This set contains:

• Argan Cleansing Oil (55ml)
• Argan Infinity Intensive Creamy Oil (15ml)
• Argan Oil Hair Serum(15ml)
• 100% Pure Argan Oil (15ml)
• Whipped Argan Oil Intensive Hand Cream in Vanilla Apricot (30ml)
• Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter in Vanilla Apricot (59ml)

The Products:

Whipped Argan Oil Intensive Hand Cream (30ml) - Full Size (70ml) $26

"An ultrahydrating, never-greasy hand cream infused with 100 percent pure argan oil and shea butter, and lightly scented with a natural vanilla apricot fragrance."

 

Argan Infinity Cream Intensive Creamy Oil (15ml) - Full Size (65ml) $34

"An innovative 99%-natural creamy oil with an infinite number of uses such as hydrating skin, conditioning lips, and illuminating complexion." 

100% Pure Argan Oil (15ml) - Full Size (15ml) $18

"A lightweight oil that can be used as a daily moisturizer or treatment for skin, hair, and nails." 

 

  Argan Oil Hair Serum (15ml) - Full Size (15ml) $16
"An anti-frizz treatment that creates exceptional shine."

 

Argan Cleansing Oil (55ml) - Full Size (55ml) $12
"A gentle, all-natural cleanser with nourishing argan oil."

Whipped Argan Oil Ultra Hydrating Body Butter Vanilla Apricot (59ml) - Full Size (240ml) $42

"A velvety, hydrating body butter that's whipped to perfection."

 So... after I wrote this post I went online to try to find the kit for $39 bucks (the price I paid) and I couldn't. It's a holiday kit and the holidays are technically over, I guess. It's sold out online at Sephora, BUT, if you live near a Sephora I'd call them to see if they have it and ask them to hold it for you.

If you REALLY want all of the products and are cool with paying full price, I found it HERE. If you're wondering which products are the absolute must-haves out of the bunch, my personal picks would be  the 100% Argan Oil and/or the Argan Oil Hair Serum. The line is NOT cheap, but it is ridiculously amazing AND here's a note from Josie Maran, whiiiiiich makes me love it that much more...

"I was introduced to Argan Oil by a woman I met in the South of France -- she was 70, and looked 40 -- and when I saw what pure, organic Argan Oil did for my skin and hair, I knew I'd found the liquid gold that could help me realize my dream.

In 2007 I started Josie Maran Cosmetics, with 100% Pure Argan Oil as my signature ingredient. Today, JMC is a global brand with the motto, "Luxury With a Conscience." We use pure, Fair Trade Argan Oil, grown and harvested responsibly by co-ops of Moroccan women who earn a living wage. We partner with earth-loving, women-empowering organizations, use eco-friendly packaging, and we never stop striving to improve our products and our impact on the world."

Christmas Elf

Shirt and Pants: Old Navy, Shoes: Aldo, Belt: Target, Necklace: Lotus, Rings: Jared (LeVian)

Did you notice the white stuff on the ground in these shots??? Yup... snow. I am not in sunny North Carolina anymore (although my high heels, short pants, and lack of coat may lead you to believe otherwise)!

A few days before Christmas I decided that I was going home to New York to surprise my family!!!!! I had not been home for Christmas since 2010... so this would have been the third year in a row that I missed. FrigginUnacceptable!

My manfriend swooped in all superhero style and got me a last minute plane ticket (because he's pretty much the best human being on the planet). My brother, Michael (the only person who knew I was coming), picked me up from the airport and one by one, over the course of the next two days I surprised all of my family and a few friends by just kind of "showing up". IT.WAS.AWESOME!!!!

As a matter of fact, I had only been in NY for ONE hour and I had already ran into 3 of my "bestest" girl friends from high school! One at baggage claim, and the other two at the mall (my bro and I ran in for literally 15 minutes and on our way out I walked straight into them).  They all looked like they had saw a ghost... I thought my friend, Danielle, actually may have shit herself.  

Being home was wonderful. I got to see my niece and nephews open up presents, I watched cheesy Hallmark channel Christmas movies with my mom while we wrapped gifts, bonded with old friends, overate (there was LOTS of homemade red sauce and amazing desserts... thanks, Beanzo and Weezy), and I got big ol' suffocating bear hugs from my dad and all of my brothers. Really good stuff.

This is what I wore to Christmas dinner.

"You look like an elf!"... that is what my step-mom said as soon as she saw me at Christmas dinner... and she was right. I do kind of look like an elf in my head- to-toe green. If elves wore hooker heels... leopard print belts.. and obnoxiously large necklaces, of course.