Auntie Anne's = Best Snack Ever

Too good to be true? Don't believe me? Check it out.

Auntie Anne's.

Donating the Easy Way~!

This is seriously one of the greatest ideas on the planet. Next to the dominos pizza tracker. Genius. If you're like me, you have bags and bags of clothes you want to donate but you never get around to dropping off. I usually pile up, let my friends go through it first, and have it either sit in my trunk for "when i'm near by a drop off center" or for my church's annual Garden Leaves (another genius idea where girls donate their clothes and we sift through while nibbling on sandwiches. All proceeds go to a charity of our choice. Awesome.) Anyway, Salvation Army has this thing where you can schedule a pick up and they will come to your door and pick up all of your clothes! For a lazy person like me, this is PERFECT.

Tunes for Trees

For every 10 tracks you download from itunes, Tunes for Trees will plant a tree! This is a perfect way for all you ituners to help out the earth while doing something you'd do anyway. It's almost like...a way to justify your indulgent music purchases~!

Click on Tunes for Trees to install the program and just download music from there!

For the Boobies~!

The Breast Cancer Association needs more ppl to click on their site daily to meet their quota of at least one mammogram a day to an underprivileged woman. Check out their site and make sure to visit every day~! Takes literally about 5 seconds to do. Do it. Do it NOW!

Art Prints

So I'm really in to getting some cool art prints for my room right now. I think it has something to do with the fact that I am currently (for the most part) shopped out of this season's clothes and stuff. I'm ready for next season. In the meantime, I have been spending unholy amounts of time on both eBay on art gallery websites looking for some interesting prints.

Turns out, I really like eerie cartoony pictures of either children or women. Read into that what you will, but I like it when it's kind of haunting and dark.

Exhibit A: screenshot of the paintings from Kathie Olivas' Misery Children collection.


Creepy but cute, right? And, from my uneducated perspective, a little reminiscent of Yoshitomo Nara's work. (see previous post on Yoshitomo Nara glasses)

Exhibit B: screenshot of Brandt Peters' Slap Happy collection



Kind of makes me think of a weird version of old Disney Channel cartoons, for some reason.

And finally, here's what I scored:



Collaboration print between Kathie Olivas and Brandt Peters.


More artists and prints to come.

Temporary Tattoos

As per the New York Times temporary tattoo article, fake tats are all over the place right now.

So why not get a funny faux watch?



Art as Art - Temporary Tattoo Watch. 4 euros or $5.91.

Yoshitomo Nara Glasses

Yoshitomo Nara Set of Glasses. 27 Euros, or $39.88 at collette.

PUPPY!

Do you love puppies? Do you love pugs?!

CLICK THIS.

It's awesome, I promise.

Charlotte Ronson Jacket

Do you love it? It's has detachable sleeves and looks really comfortable. From the Charlotte Ronson Fall 2007 collection...which means if you can find it, it's probably on sale for about half off now.

Apple + More Ram= Happy Mac-user

Hello all,

It appears that I am on a blogging frenzy. Two in a row, that is unlike me considering that I have been MIA for a while. BUT, I digress...

I have been an (un)happy macbook owner for about a year and half now. I purchased the macbook when it first came out, making me a first generation owner. I cannot stress this enough but do NOT ever EVER ever buy a first generation gadget. ever. Because the first time is always guinea pig time and there is an upgrade following soon after with a million improvements and you will end up hating your purchase. 

My macbook has malfunctioned since the day I bought it and I have taken it into the mac store about 10 times and have never been able to use it daily. My internal fan has broken twice, my cd insert has broken twice, my backlight once, and my computer crashes and is super slow. All this without ever having used it consistently. 

SO, after crashing from trying to install the new OS Leopard, I pleaded and begged my mac Genius who, after MUCH testing, gave me a brand new one! FINALLY! i can be a mac lover like everyone else! 

But one of the most important necessity for mac lovers to have a highly functional and speedy mac, is having more RAM. Learning from my graphic designer friends who are always in need of more RAM, I learned that this is mucho importanto. SO, for anyone who is looking to purchase more RAM, buy from HERE

RAM and other stuff is very cheap. 

Fresh~!

So in my frantic attempt to get rid of a headache that has given me a headache for the last 2 weeks, I booked an appointment with Zola, the shoulder and neck massage-goddess, at the spa near my house. Great spa, amazing massage, REALLY expensive for only 30 minutes. not cool. Everytime she rubbed a spot which did nothing for me, I would be thinking, "STOP TOUCHING ME THERE WE ONLY HAVE 30 MINUTES!" so needless to stay, my headache, which I've webmd'd (online diagnostics) and concluded that "it's not a too-muh", is the result of tension headaches. 

Anyway, I digress. Mid-getting-ready-for-yet-another-wedding-with-my-ultra-chic-friend, I was reminded about one of NYC's greatest treasures/bargains. Totally forgot and I could shoot myself for it but I thought I'd share it with y'all...

For every dollar you spend at the fresh spa, you get to redeem the same amount in fresh products. Yes, take a second to soak that in. Say you get a massage for $100. You then get to leave with $100 of fresh products~! for fresh lovers, this is an AWESOME deal. however, fresh is known for their overpriced goodies, but whatever. if i'm going to be spending my hard earned loan money on something, I better get the best deal in town~!

Blackle.com

Energy saving seach engine powered Google! Proponents of the idea that every little bit helps.

"Gimme More" Cover

So I don't know much about this guy, but I like his sound, and he seems to have a funny sense of humor.

David Choi.



More Youtube videos.
Myspace - where he has some amazing songs. Seriously, this guy is really good.
Buy some mp3's here.

Saks Special One Day Deal

Saks Fifth Avenue.

Coolest Kids EVER

DJ Sara and DJ Ryusei (8 and 5 years old respectively):

Stella McCartney for Adidas

ON SALE.

Still a bit crazy in the prices (um, $90 for what is essentially a workout shirt? Who does she think she is? The child of a legendary rockstar? Oh...uh...nevermind.) but still - sales are always my friends.

ShopAdidas.com

And get free shipping for all orders over $75.

Clutch Me If You Can~!

Hello all....long time no nothing. Yes, I know, you've missed me. shh...it's ok. it's ok. While T has posted 793879237483 posts, I have been away during the break and refused to look at the internet the whole time. It was liberating. It was...amazing. haha jk. (I was actually starved for the internet and internet window shopped undercover.)

ANYWAY...moving on....so recently I have been obsessed with finding the perfect clutch. Clutches are great. They're perfect for most occasions and can be handy dandy when you dress up or down, or all around. My bag type ranges from big bags where I can just throw everything I own into it, or something like a clutch where my phone, wallet, and makeup essentials can fit neatly. I absolutely, fantabulously abhor small bags. They're like...what's the point. like... all 5"1 of myself feels like a big fat giant carrying a tiny purse....like i'm trying to be cute but it's really like....wtf. 'nuff said. I, unfortunately, own many small purses, not by choice.

So...here are the contenders:
1) Jill Stuart Patent Annika Clutch:


I really love this clutch and wish I saw it before. It has a flap closure with magnetic snap. It will fit all your necessities to keep the night going, it's trendy without being outlandishly gawdy, and it can be worn with both formal wear and with jeans. Absolutely love the gold buckle, it gives it an elegant and simple flavor. $185 at bloomies!

2) Laura Merkin Char Embossed Suede Clutch


I really like this clutch as well (obvi, otherwise it wouldn't be posted). I love the croc-ish, suede-ish, this-fabric-makes-me-feel-weird-but-for-some-reason-i-like-it, look. It's pouch-y so it can fit a good amount of things, but it may be deceiving since it has a slight bottle neck top. Meaning, it may not fit a long wallet. $220 at Neiman.

And for those of us who live in the real world and cannot afford to make $200-300 purchases on random little pieces of leather that we stick together and call, a "purse"...here are some affordable good finds.

1) Leather Foldover Clutch from Urban Outfitters.

Sleek, trendy, simple, and will match almost every outfit. Not quite for formal wear, but still. You can pull it off at a wedding. Right now on sale at Urban Outfitters for a whopping $39.99~!

2) The BWRSTLCK Black Gold Clutch (I know, sounds more like a product code than a name) from Steve Madden.

This is the clutch I ended up purchasing. I heart this clutch because it's roomy and it has a wristlet thingamajiggy, which is handy because I am prone to dropping and losing. The brass hardware gives it a little bit of a dressy and trendy look, yet it's not too Dominatrix, S&M-ish (i am very sensitive to that. very.)
$88 at Steve Madden BUT if you buy it through ebates (please see previous blog on ebates), you get an additional 10% off. AND if you put in the product code 20percent, you get an additional 20% off.

So, happy shopping! let us know if you find any other good finds, or if you like any of our suggestions!

Get Blair Waldorf's Headbands

She is so cute, no? And her signature headband look is amazing, right?

Headbands are things that I wore all through my childhood years, never thinking that it was cool or uncool - but that as I got older, they faded from my wardrobe because of the "childish" stigma that went with them. In recent times, I've dabbled in more and more headband wearage - particularly in the simple stretchy ribbon ones that JCrew so generously offers.

Last night, while watching Gossip Girl, I noticed that Blair Waldorf had a theme of turban-styled headbands going on that was fantastic with her perfect brown curls.



I WANT! I NEED!

And now, thanks to my OCD shopping, we can all look like Blair Waldorf, at least from the hair up.



Barneys, and on SALE for $49.99! Yeah, yeah, $50 for a headband is a little excessive, but sometimes money is a small price to pay for looking good.

Shoe Bag

"Shoe Bag" sounds almost like an insult, don't it? You big SHOE BAG! I don' know, I'm hungry. My brain is not working correctly.



Every girl needs a shoe bag, especially if she does a lot of commuting, because wearing heels all the time SUCKS. But heed this warning: don't you ever dare wear some ugly CROCS or sneakers with your work clothes when you're commuting. Do NOT be one of THOSE women in their sneakers and pencil skirts. Yuck. Thanks.

This was a public service announcement.

Pottery Barn Shoe Bag: $19.00.

Paramore - aka Band I'm Obsessed With Right Now

Dang that Hayley can wail. LOVE THEM!

Check out their myspace to listen to their whole album and get a sweet deal ($9.99) on buying both their cd + iPod version of their songs.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

No, I'm not talking about the tortoise and the hare. (Although, if you'd like, I've got a so-lame-it's-funny joke for you about the tortoise and the hare. No? Maybe some other time?) Slow and Steady Wins the Race is a clothing brand. But more specifically, what the're known for are their bags.



Look familiar? The bags are based on modern "iconic" bags - I'm sure you all recognize some of them, if not all. We've got the Balenciaga, the Birkin, the Chanel, the Dior, the Gucci, and what they call the "grocery tote" but what looks to me like maybe a Bottega Veneta. All the bags are made out of cotton muslin or canvas twill and then "distilled with the sparest details of hardware and shape to identify the original."

I used to think, "Why would I want a knock-off or a look-alike? Why WOULDN'T I just invest in the real thing?" Well I'll tell you what. The real things are EX-PEN-SIVE. And though they are status symbols of women either in the KNOW or women who just have a lot of money but don't know the significance of what they're carrying, would you rather look like a clone - or would you rather get one of these plain cotton/canvas bags, some fabric paint/markers, and make a real statement of who you are?

You think on that while I shop some more.

Buy them here fpr $100 each.

Domino's Pizza Tracker

Now, if you order pizza online from Domino's, they have this really amazing new thing called the Pizza Tracker.



I ordered my food online, clicked the tracker link, and literally 1 minute later, my pizza is baking in the oven. No joke! 1 minute! I mean, sure, they could be lying and my dough is still sitting around on the counter, but why would do that? They still have a time limit to live up to.

Also, the fact that it says "patent pending" faintly on the tracker, makes me think that this is legit. Now I'm no expert on patents (although I do want to take the patent bar sometime this year), but anything that is patent pending sounds impressive to me.

Anyways, next time you're going to order from Domino's, check it out. It's kind of fun...in a loserish-I-don't-have-a-life-when-I'm-in-New-York kind of way.

Tips For Flying

In the last year and a half, I've flown just around 20 times and though I think most everyone is experienced in the airline and flight...milieu...I thought I would put together a few helpful pieces of advice for the next time you plan on traveling.

So here goes, in no particular order:

• If you're going to check your bag(s), don't do it on your way out. Because if you're going to have your luggage lost by the airlines (which seems to be happening a lot these days, trust me), you may as well lose it on your way home. You REALLY don't want to be on a weekend trip with none of your things for at least 24 hours.
• Bring a snack, or a few, for the plane. Nowadays, they don't have peanuts OR pretzels offered on every airline, and they will charge you like, $500 for a sandwich (which there are limited amounts available to begin with) so be smart. Bring your own food.
• Bring a scarf. The plane gets FREAKING cold, and there aren't always enough blankets to go around. Also, do you really want to be using some blanket 10s, maybe 100s, maybe MILLIONS of people have used before? Gross.
• If you have the choice, don't fly AA. I've flown with their airline all 20x that I've traveled, and EVERY time, the flight has been A) delayed, B) super delayed, or C) delayed and cramped to the max. Why do I keep torturing myself, you ask? It's those dang "Advantage Miles." I gotta get something out of all my hardships!
• Don't forget your technology: ipod, ds lite/nintendo/games, camera, and chargers for all!
• Pack a small bottle of lotion or balm because it gets DRY in the plane. Without it, you're going to feel icky and itchy all the live long day. And be sure to put it in your ziploc bag at in easy reach for when you go through security.
• This last bit is going to sound gross, but...don't wash your hair the day you're going to fly. If you want to wash it the night before, do it, but don't do it morning of. This all goes back to the dry plane thing. Your hair is going to be crisp and staticy, so your natural oils will actually help a little bit.

Sorry for the lack of pictures, but I just got home from the airport and this entry was detailed enough. =) I'll make it up to y'all later.

Unpretentious Cool

Sick of all these totes that are overly girly, colorful, and/or flashy?

Check out the "Grocery Tote" by Porter. (Of Head Porter aka brainchild of Hiroshi Fujiwara fame.)



Clean and minimalist, this tote is made of khaki leather and blue cotton (specifically "typewriter cloth," which is apparently used for the printing ribbon of typewriters), it looks just like the kind of paper bag you might get at a grocery store, but infinitely better. Two sizes, it's only available right now at B.Yoshida. Small size for 10,500 yen (or $96.20), large size for 13,650 yen (or $125.06).

Laptop Clothes

As the holidays slowly fade into memories of stuffing your face and spending more money than you have, some of us are already back to the daily grind, working hard for the money. So hard for the money. Others of us, on the other hand, face another dreadful nemesis: back-to-school.

I, for one, hate spending hundreds of dollars on textbooks that teach me very much and that take up a lot of space on my otherwise-filled-with-good-books-and-dvds bookcase. What I don't hate is back-to-school shopping. And though I am not a particularly GREAT student, I really enjoy buying school supplies. And to me, my laptop is not only a school supply, but an essential part of my life. In short, my laptop is my WORLD.

So why wouldn't I dress my laptop in nice clothes, erm, sleeves? Check out these Barry's Farm cuties:


9-5 Sleeve: $45



Tree Sleeve: $40



Ice Cream Sleeve: $40

Made of vinyl exterior, foam cushioning, and nice soft flannel lining, your precious laptop can be kept adorable (and safe!) in these sleeves. Each design comes in different sizes, for all your laptop needs.

Back to Tote Bags

Coming full circle to the root of ~S~'s obsessions, here's a tote bag that is campy cool and looks like something a hipster Japanese teenager would carry on the street (which is to say, very edgy and a little off the wall).



Only 100 made for a Seoul art exhibit called "Wake Up Andy Warhol," one side feature the above pictured LV Speedy with "Fake" written across the bottom, while the other side shows another LV Speedy with the word "Pefect" written across the bottom. According to the description, this is the artist's criticism of the idolatry brand names and the "prevalence of fakes." Sounds deep.

Comes with detachable ribbons...so that I guess you can pretend that your bag won an award? Also reversible to be plain blue, for those days you aren't so much into making a statement as just having a plain tote bag.

$80 at Poketo! (Um, $80? I realize only a limited amount were made, but who do they think they are?)

Airhole Ninja Masks

...Intrigued by the title already, aren't you?

Founded by pro snowboarders, you know it's got street cred, and I am all about THAT. You know. Because I've got street cred, too. Or something along those lines.

Good for your typical outdoor winter activities, like snowboarding, skiing, ice-skating with your girl/boyfriend when you don't want to be recognized in public, general shenanigans with your buddies, etc.



Look at the NAMES of the masks. We've got "Pirate," "Katanos," "Fukiya," "Tanto," and "Holmes." Sounds like a crime-fighting superhero team, if you ask me. Or a bunch of hooligans up to no good. Either way, you can't lose.

Buy online at these authorized retail dealers until their new website is up and running.

Tightboards has the largest selection of all the websites. Price range from $20 - $30.

Sno-Baller

Ever try to make a snowball recently (well, not recently-recently, unless you've been skiing lately because there is a surprising - not that I'm complaining - lack of the floaty white stuff this year)? Did you end up realizing that it's a lot harder to make a proper snowball than you'd think? First, it's hard to get the size right. Then it's hard to pack it tight enough that it'll stay a ball. And THEN it's even harder not to make it so tight that it hurts the crap out of whoever you throw it at.

Enter the "Sno-Baller."

Made of injection-molded high-impact plastic (I don't know what that means but it sure sounds fancy), this thing is cheap and fun. And who doesn't like cheap and fun in whatever form it comes in?

Get the Sno-Baller here for $8.95.

Update on Chanel Blue Satin

It's still available right now on Nordstrom.com.

As are Azur, Rose, and White Satin! Better get to it.

How All Men Should Ask Women Out

Cool Shoes...for Guys

Common Projects.

Barney's
660 Madison Avenue
New York NY 10021-8448
TEL: 212.826.8900

Gargyle
68 Jay St #212
Brooklyn, NY 11201
718 246 5813
www.gargyle.com

Nom de Guerre
640 Broadway
New York, NY 10012
212.253.2891

Odin
199 Lafayette Street
New York
212.966.0026

Seven New York
110 Mercer St
New York, NY 10012
646 654 0156

Steven Alan
103 Franklin Street
New York, NY 10013
212 343 0692

Theory Gansevoort
40 Gansevoort Street
New York, NY 10014
212 524 6790

Forty Five Ten
4510 McKinney Avenue
Dallas, TX 75214

Movie of the Day

What's that? Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, and Grace Kelly? Grace Kelly's last movie before she became the Princess of Monaco? A musical based on "The Philadelphia Story?" Awesome, I know.

First song of the movie by Satchmo himself:




Funny song by Frank Sinatra and Celeste Holm:




Grace Kelly speaking French and being purposely ridiculous:




Duet by Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra:

Happy New Year's Day!

"Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days o' auld lang syne?"

Translation:

Should old acquaintances be forgotten,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintances be forgotten,
and days of times gone by?

CHORUS:

"For auld lang syne my dear,
for auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
for auld lang syne."

Translation:

For times gone by my dear,
for times gone by,
We'l drink a cup of kindness yet
for times gone by.