Sayonara, 2009!

Ready.

Yeah, that pretty much describes how I feel about this evening. I'm ready for the new decade. 2009 has been one of the most challenging years of my life... I have grown so much in so many ways, personally and professionally.

I am so blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life- people who care so much about me that they put themselves second when I need them. I have a boyfriend who is way way way way way too good for me. And my family is pretty incredible too (much as they drive me crazy sometimes!).

2010 is going to be good. I'm going to have a job, like a real grown-up. I'm starting my own life... no more college. I'm not going to make 'sweeping' changes- just minor tweaks every month so that 2010 can be a healthier year.

So, Happy New Year, Happy New Decade, and have a wonderful and safe evening.

XOXO,
Lindsay

Is there a better way?

I'm on my way to starting a very new, very exciting, very scary step in my life... I'm leaving college, leaving the security of San Luis Obispo (officially!), and I'm going to be a real. freaking. grown-up!

I had a meeting with the teacher I'll be subbing for the next month or so on Wednesday before Christmas. I'm so terrified, but I'm also really excited! I think that this will be such a wondeful opportunity to grow as a teacher. Because frankly, right now, I got a LOOOONNNNGGGG way to go before I become a "good one." I guess that's a good sign, right? I actually care enough to want to improve in my job! Hey, I could do this for awhile! :)

Sadly, the "getting dressed quandry"-also referred to as GDQ- is going to become more complex, simply because the new town I'm moving to is gang-infested, to put it lightly. So I'm contemplating getting rid of my red Coach canvas tote- red denotes affiliation, I guess? No blue picque jacket from Tulle, I guess? (And damn, is it cute...). Whatever... I'm trying to decide... do I risk it? Do I play it safe?

What a horrible thing to think about, huh? I'm a white girl with no gang affilitation whatsoever, but apparently, it doesn't matter. If you wear red, or you wear blue, someone could shoot you, simply because you are showing a "preference" for another gang. I mean, excuse me, I really like red, and not because I like your gang! I like that its vibrant and lively and powerful... it has NOTHING to do with you! My friend Megan was outraged...

"Really, Lindsay, you can't let it control your life!"

But then she thought about it, and realized that its a safety issue. Is being stubborn and wearing a color worth the risk?

What do YOU think? Play it safe? Or say, "Screw you, you fricking heathens. I'm a teacher, I'm not in your stupid gang!"

Uh.

So, so sad, on so many different levels.

I'm going to go drown my sorrows in a glass of wine, a hot bath, and the December issue of Allure with Kirsten Dunst. (I'm not sure I like her cover very much. But didn't Natalie Portman look divine in Marie Claire?)

'Night!

In another life...

I know I paint this girly picture of my life on this blog, but I think you'd be surprised to hear what I do in my other life... my real life, my day to day, just living life.

I weld. Yes, weld- you know, hot metal, electricity, welding hoods, smoke that sticks to your skin. Yup. And even scarier, I teach high schoolers how to weld.

I judge the mammary system (aka udders) of dairy cows. I also look for "dairy strength," found in several places on the dairy animal, like in the chime. (I didn't make that word up.)

I demonstrate how to dissect preserved sheep hearts. We make root beer- as a legal, school approved example of the process of fermentation. :) ("Adult beverages" are made through fermentation, too.)

I show students how to use a band saw and miter saw and drill press.

I lay a 20x30 concrete slab. (Okay, I got help on that one.)

I'm an agriculture teacher.

And that's why I get to wear kick ass rain/mud boots like these from DAV. I love them, especially when I'm judging dairy cow's mammary systems :)

Because I may be an agriculture teacher and spend time in cow crap and mud, but I still love pretty things.

Hurry!

Thought you might be interested (because I was)...

Tulle4us.com:

InStyle09 gets you 20% off of every item in your order, and I'm pretty sure it qualifies you for discounted shipping- it did for me. Don't wait! Expires 12-31-09

(P.S. I'm loving this skirt... I can't wait 'til I get my damn camera back!!!!!!)

Ninewest.com:

Want free shipping on any order? Want 30-50% of selected sale shoes? I do. Go to ninewest.com; offer ends 12-31-09. (I am so excited for these!!!!!)

Good 'n bad

Moving 5 times in 6 months?

Bad.

Moving 5 times in 6 months and purging out your closet every time?

Very good.

There's a silver lining in a lot of crappy situations, huh?

:o)

Two (okay, 3) questions for you....

First of all, why would Express sell this maxi dress in the middle of winter? Yes, I bought it... but it only made me crave summer weather in the very worst way!!!! (And I don't really want to tailor it so I can wear it in this weather- you know, so it doesn't drag on the rainy sidewalks...) The irony of this feeling? I never crave summer, I love winter. And I guess this brings up another question... are maxi dresses "out?"

Second of all, is it inappropriate to wear one of those big, chunky multi-multi-multistrand necklaces [that are so hot right now] to work? I really wanna do it... but can't decide if its work (as in at a school, as a teacher...) appropriate. What do you think?

Where have I BEEN?

I fricking love Tulle4us.com!!!!!!!!


Can't wait to wear this cute skirt with some tights and booties. Woot!

Yesyesyesyesyes!

My favorite kind of day...

...a "No-Makeup-But-I'm-Definitely-Wearing-Makeup-'Cause-I-Look-Horrid-If-I-Don't" kinda day.... and for me, those days are rainy Sundays. Really, what's the point? My makeup will do the slow roll south if I do put on full makeup, and I think that I should be allowed a day of rest. After all, didn't God rest on Sunday after he made the world in 6 days? I mean, I'm not creating the world or anything, but its not always easy to put on decent makeup that many days in a row. I am making something out of nothing, just on a smaller scale.

(I mean, I could NEVER be the girl that wears makeup every day. Did you hear about that woman who wore makeup every day for 15 years or something? No, FREAKING, way!)

So, my Sunday face...

I start with Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Luminizing Face Primer. I will always hold a fond place in my heart for Laura Mercier Oil Free Primer, but this is a good second bet. And its so affordable! And it makes me luminous, but not too luminous, if you know what I mean.

Photo from ulta.com

I use Benefit 'Boi-Ing!' concealer for dark circles under my eyes induced by late night socializing lesson planning.

Photo from macys.com

I use one of two blushes, depending on my mood for the day...

Nars the Multiple in Portofino...

(and this color, friends, is NOT Portofino. I think its Maui.)

Photo by bloomingdales.com

or Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush in Rose Petal... (this picture does not do the color justice- such a soft pink with little flecks of gold. Very natural yet polished.)

Photo from ulta.com

I use two kinds of mascara, but I consider the base coat of black mascara to be of the least importance (as long as it VOLUMIZES), because I found this lil' thing right here that I LOVE.

I'm not a big believer in brown eyes being all that special. I consider my brown eyes, in particular, to be pretty run of the mill. But with this stuff on, I swear there's a special sparkle to my brown peepers. Bless Benefit Bad Gal Plum's soul!

Photo from bloomingdales.com

I finish with two- make that 3- maybe 4- okay, I lied, I use a lot more- products... Bobbi Brown Face Powder is a must, must, MUST! This is my very favorite face powder ever. I use Benefit Instant Brow Pencil so it looks like I actually have eyebrows. Most of the time, I use a Mini-Mark-It Stick in Gold Opal under my eyebrows. I think it warms everything up. Finally, I finish with Benefit One Hot Minute on my cheeks, to add a little pop.

Oh, and then I put on VS Creamy Lipstick in Melt, and dab it off, then reapply. (And it is NOT that disgusting looking brown on the website... its much pinker than that.)

And that, my friends, is my Rainy Sunday No Makeup Routine. Yes, its a lot... but I promise it doesn't look it. My friend Jessica watched me put on my makeup like this one day, and she was genuinely surprised at how much I was wearing! :)

Thanks, Ann Taylor Loft

So I popped on over to anntaylorloft.com- I love Ann Taylor, but can't really afford it. (Chloe from The Chloe Conspiracy inspired me to take a peek at the website...)

I'm clicking about on the website, and then I see:

"LOFT LOVES TEACHERS" on the bottom of the page. Well, whaddya know? I'm a teacher... I love being a teacher... hmmm....

I click, and I see that Loft is commited to making teachers look GOOD. WOW! Thanks! A company that sells clothes that I can wear in a classroom and STILL look feminine/fashionable/cute/like myself? YOW-ZA! So I sign up, and learn that Ann Taylor Loft gives teachers discount on clothes occasionally. Um, THANK YOU!

Not only does Loft Love Teachers (why, thanks again!), they also are supporting St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, a charity and organization that are very near and dear to my heart. My sorority helped raise thousands- okay, like $40,000- for the cause when I was in college, and St. Jude does amazing things not just for sick kids in their hospital, but for sick kids everywhere. So, I think I've found a new favorite. And yup, this is definitely a company that makes me smile- great clothes and a charitable spirit? Talk about the best of both worlds.

Countdown...

20 days 'til me (and my wardrobe! :) move to a new town to start a new life with a job... that PAYS! HALLELUJAH!

And in other exciting news.... I blow dried my hair tonight. In a tragic turn of events, however, I looked outside and realized its raining. Yes, the forecast calls for rain all. day. tomorrow.

Ah... love my life. 15 hour days on the job just can't get me down, especially when I'm going to see The Nutcracker in two Sundays AND go to an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party this Saturday.

Yep, life is preeeeettttyyyyy sweet!!!!

And I promise you, I'm being 102% sincere.

And a final question for the evening...

WHY OH WHY DO I HAVE SUCH A STRONG AFFINITY FOR PARTY DRESSES?

Why won't this madness stop?!?!?!?

:)

Fishing lures and non-sober sober drivers

I wore my fabulous sparkly INC dress to a fabulous shin-dig on Saturday night. Just what the doctor ordered- a bottle of wine, to myself, and some outstanding h' ordeurves. (sp?) I rocked my dress with round-toe pumps, black tights, and a black blazer. I sparkled like a damn fishing lure, and it was damn wonderful! Not only were my sparkles completely and gloriously obnoxious (hehe), I couldn't get left behind in any of the dive bars we visited. (Yup, I definitely stuck out like a sore thumb, and it was completely fun and refreshing! I used to love doing that in SLO.)

Perhaps the best part of the evening was how it ended. And I'm not talking hunched over a toilet (thank GOD!) Nope, it ended outside a bar in 25 degree weather watching our ride leave without us. I'll explain, because its quite the doozy!

So the evening's hostesses rented a party bus for a sober ride for the evening. Smart and responsible, no? The bus was AWESOME, too. A converted school bus, it was painted not yellow, had black leather seats along the edge with white piping, and a tool box that had been converted into a cooler. Yeah, I know it sounds... odd- but let me assure you, for a group of almost 20 people headed out on a liver-destroying evening, it was perfect! And the sound system was outta this world.

We get onto the bus, and it is so much fun! After our first stop at a small bar, we get back on the bus, and it smells, um, illegal. Catch my drift? It gets worse and worse at each stop... until finally, at the last bar, 40 minutes away from home, we come out and see the BUS DRIVER indulging in "illegal substances." Um, yeah. Our sober driver... not so sober! Perhaps in a rash drunken moment, or in a moment of complete clarity (I'm not sure which, but I sure side with her!) one of the hostesses sent the bus home.... Here we are... all dressed up, 25 degrees outside and far, far from home. A $60 cab ride later (and an angry conversation with the bus' owner, who REFUSED to give a refund...) we made it safely.

Honestly- honestly now, was this for real? I mean, I can't stop laughing enough to get mad. How ridiculous! This was probably one of the most hilarious holiday parties I have ever been to. It was AWESOME!

AND I NOW HAVE A JOB!!!!! If only temporarily, but a job, nonetheless.

Talk about blessings when one probably doesn't deserve it.

Oh, I think I like it!

Lindsay's little helper...

www.retailmenot.com

I feel so sneaky going onto this website! However, this sneaky feeling quickly disappears when I think about the major deals on purchases I've made- free shipping, 25-40% off... you catch my drift.

If you're a babe on a budget, this website could be your new secret: the I'm-ashamed-to admit-it-cause-I-feel-I'm-cheating-but-hot-damn-its-cool-saving-my-limited-cash-funds best friend.

(Obviously, I'm not ashamed. I'm frigging broke and this helps me get some "bang for my buck," so to speak!!! I'm so excited that this website has helped allay some of my retail guilt- I'm a terrific spender, but saving isn't my strong suit :). Thank you, retailmenot, for helping me succumb to my sometimes unnecessary- but always fabulous- clothing, shoe, and purse desires. Gulp.

See, I made this deal with myself when I realized that I had to tighten my belt- refer to post at the beginning of November- that I could only buy stuff on sale with coupons. And I have stuck to that promise. Like my aunt says, "Look at how much money I saved buying it on sale! I could have bought it full price, and I had to have it anyway, so I saved lots." Yeah, its backwards, but it does help me feel a weensy bit better about this clothing habit I've acquired...)

(And speaking of retail guilt, I DO NOT RECOMMEND IT. AVOID THIS AT ALL COSTS. You end up returning really great clothes, and then you feel return regret. I assure you the latter is INFINITELY worse!!!!!!!)

I've been bad...

Dammit!

I swear, this shopping thing is a compulsion. I do well for a few weeks- I brown-bag my lunch, swear off online shopping, avoid malls like the plague... for heaven's sake, I didn't even go shopping on Black Friday!- and then I crumble. Like a kid desperate for more candy after Easter morning, I'm in a blind rush for the pretty item I've been fighting against buying for so long.

I am a total product of my generation.

So what pulled me back into my spendthrift ways?

This dress, which is going to be an outstanding addition for the upcoming holiday season.

And no, I didn't spend $100 on it... I got it on killer sale. (Well, I guess $60 including tax is my definition of a killer sale. Weak, I know.) I'll get lots of wear- um, hello, holiday work parties and holiday friends parties and New Years and Las Vegas and whatever else I set my mind to! I can't wait to wear it- this weekend I'm going on a "girl's night out" that specified "your best cocktail attire." Now this may not be cocktail, but it certainly catches one's eye, right?

And did I mention that I purchased a fabulous new bag that makes me feel a lot tougher than I really am? I mean, a girl's gotta do what she can when she feels pretty low. (Another reason why I shop so much- stress. Shopping is like a huge stress relief for me. The hum of the customers, or my computer, depending on the venue... the cha-ching of the cash register, the confirmation email in my inbox and that shiver of anticipation at the package waiting at the front door for me after a 12 hour day- very few things brings me such a child-like sense of happiness. - and don't think I'm entirely materialistic... but I do love pretty clothes and shoes. Who doesn't like looking good?)

So as I continue my search for the perfect foundation and foundation primer for under $10 a piece (excuse me while I sob a little), I'm going to enjoy my shiny, sparkly dress that is currently sitting in my closet, waiting for its shiny, sparkly debut, and my big tough girl purse that makes me feel ferocious. :)