today's inspiration

Listen. I know she's kind of crazy and out there, and maybe she's even a teensy bit gross, but I tell you, Katy Perry has a new big fan:

Me.

I'm obsessed with her eye lashes and lipstick and retro.

She also has fantastic hair and I'd be lying if she isn't partially to blame for my interest in having black, cool hair.I'm not kidding. Gimme that hair.

Incidentally, she also has a rad voice and sings songs that make me feel like, "I could do that too." Baby, I AM a firework for realsies.

Katy, thanks for being my style/thin inspiration today. I'm totally going to take a page out of your book. Let's be best friends and borrow each others' headbands.

christmas wrap up

It's kind of too bad that there are so few people in my life who really, truly appreciate the fact that Taco Bell isn't so much a "staple" in life so much as it is a "food group."

But for real.

In other news, I've re-reapplied myself in this weight loss thing. Like, Wii Fit is great, and Michael Jackson The Experience will certainly be a fun addition, but as much as I've reapplied myself for months, I'm serious this time. Like how I was serious in May serious. This is happening.

I need that Esther Williams bathing suit for springtime like whoa.

And maybe also this dress.

130 in 24, everybody.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY: we rescued a cat for Christmas! His name is Trevor and he's the darlingest thing in the world.

Can all you people who know me at all even believe that I, the most self-proclaimed dog lover in the world, have fallen in love with a cat? WELL BELIEVE IT. He's the most precious-- he was stuck in that cage for like six months and we just had to save him. So we did. He's from the same adoption shelter that my parents' dog Sprout came from. He's just a cat! Just a sweet, unassuming cat with eyes like Puss in Boots. Am I right?

Long story short, he can't live with us till we move in a few weeks, but we wait with anxious anticipation.

Also tonight is the 2-year anniversary of my first "date" with Ames. Of course, I also had two other, simultaneous dates that night... but we're going back to Tuchanos tonight to celebrate anyway. Why has the last two years felt like seven hundred? I love it.

I can't imagine a better way to spend 2011 (aka Year 3) than losing 20 more lbs and snuggling up to a cat in an apartment with no noise from upstairs.

Did you all have a nice Christmas?

prabbles

Guys, I literally have never had more papercuts all over my hands than I have right now. There's one right on the very pad of my left ring finger that's particularly irritating since I have to use it to type. Bandaids everywhere, not to mention my nicely bruised right middle finger that I smashed while (defeatedly) trying to move a couch the other day.

If I were a Victorian lady, people would judge me.

I've got news:

1. I started the new gig. So far so good. Still learning the ropes, but I'm pleased with what I've been able to learn in two days. More than anything it's a matter of getting myself and all the materials organized because it's as if everything went KABOOM! and here I am to make sense of it. Everyone in the office is really nice and helpful, though. Aside from the papercuts, and the fact that I go home exhausted from learning, it's going smoothly. I'm happy. Good choice.

2. I've been cast in a play. More specifically, I've been cast in the ensemble of A Tale of Two Cities at HCTWV. Ames will be playing Cruncher. We've got all kinds of friendlies in the cast with us, but more than anything I'm thrilled to be taking a step forward. There were literally hundreds of people who auditioned, and it looks like there will be about a dozen or so women in the cast-- I am so so lucky.

3. Wii Fit Plus is the greatest invention of all time. We got a Wii for Christmas and were forced literally FORCED to open it early! I've had my eye on a Wii for a real long time because I've always known that if I could play video games that would trick me into exercising, I'd be must more successful about losing weight-- especially since I've totally plateaued. Anyway, if you didn't know, it turns out that I'm a secret Rhythm Boxing chamption. Also, I a Snowball Pro. If you have a Wii consol but are among those who haven't got a Wii Fit yet, I highly recommend it. I love tracking my progress and shaving off a few extra oz every workout. Just you watch-- I'm going to be 135 lbs before this show opens. IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

4. I'm joining the ranks of crafters at Etsy. Shortly I'll be debuting PRIBBLES & PRABBLES: THE STORE at Etsy to try my hand at selling some of these crochet things I've been yarning. I have compliments all the time on my headbands, particularly the ear-warming kind, so I figure I'll see if I can at least keep this habit self-funded, right? Looking forward to that, hopefully sometime over Christmas break.

What's new in your lives?

CORRECTION

The vague comment about prospects in my post yesterday seems to have caused some confusion.

I am not pregnant.

I am starting a new job on Thursday.

It's all very sudden and whirl-windy and someday I'll post all about it, but lest our imaginations get carried away with us, I wanted to set the record straight.

I'm looking at you, Kyle and Angela.

emily's favorite things

There are some things happening in life that are almost ready to be revealed but I don't think it's 100% professionally responsible for me to say it yet. Cryptic, eh? That'll keep you coming back for more, eh? Suffice it to say, life is unpredictable and interesting and I'm excited by prospects.

But anyway, the point of this is that E! and the Style channel haven't been able to get enough lately of showing clips from Oprah's recent Ultimate Favorite Things episode. I mean, I guess if I happened to be in the audience to be the recipient of things like glittery Ugg boots, embellished tunics, iPads and chicken pot pies, I might have had a come-apart too. And this wasn't just Oprah's Favorite Things, it was her Ultimate Favorite Things, meaning more favorite than all other Favorite Things. Big difference.

In honor of Oprah, the recent passing of Black Friday (which went basically uncelebrated by the Bells-- we're just not that materialistic, guys! [joke]), and now that we're well into embracing our American right to consumerism, I'd like to share some of my Favorite Things for the season.

Note: this is in no way a giveaway. I don't even have the kind of cash to get this stuff for myself. But if you happen to know any financially generous folks who'd like to giveaway these Things to me...

Emily's Ultimate Favorite Things 2010

OMG YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11!!!!!!1!!

Number 1-- Crouching Tiger dress at shabbyapple.com
This is possibly the most perfect dress in existence, second only to the other dress at Shabby Apple which ran out of my size before I was able to order it. Shabby Apple tends to be a bit pricy, so I've been hesitent to buy anything before reaching my Goal Weight. Some may call this silly (because I could have the dress in the meantime or whatever), I call it smart. Either way, this dress is a Must Have Someday (Soon).

Number Two-- Toggled Coat from Target
This coat also comes in mustard yellow, though I figure I have enough mustard colored accessories that I might over-do mustard with a mustard coat. This coat is super coze, only $49. Target always manages to provide some pretty gemmy gems (I have four Target coats and jackets in varying styles)-- not disappointed by this.

Number Three-- Anna Sui Flight perfume at urbanoutfitters
Guys, this is the most lush perfume I've ever smelled in my whole life. I'm not usually big into really aromatic perfumes-- I tend to prefer subtle, fresh smells-- but this is just gorgeous. My friend Emily bought it a few months ago and it's been on the top of my Wish List ever since. Also there's a peacock on the cap of the bottle.

Number Four-- Michael Jackson: The Experience for Wii
I'm sorry, say what you want about the man himself, this looks like the funnest game ever. And it comes complete with a glittery silver glove (only don't wear it while playing-- my guess is Nintendo is trying to avoid a lawsuit involving some fan wearing the glove and the Wii controller slipping out of their hand and flying across the room into an heirloom vase).

Number Five-- Captain Planet "Wind" ring from captainplanet.me
This is real, guys. You can get your own Captain Planet collector's edition replica ring to represent your favorite element and/or character! A $20 "donation to the Planeteer movement" is all it takes. I'm kind of obsessed with them. I think I'd pick Cyan (Wind) because it's the prettiest ring and I always thought Linka was so pretty, but I dig Red (Heart) too because I want all animals to love me. INTERESTING FACT: did you know a surprisingly long list of Hollywood celebrities were voices on Captain Planet? Aside from the obvious Whoopi Goldberg (Gaia) and LeVar Burton (Kwame), the show also showcased the talents of Ed Asner, Tim Curry, Jeff Goldblum, John Ratzenberger, Meg Ryan, Martin Sheen, and Sting, among others. Now you know!

Number Six-- Sharpie Pens
These are seriously the greatest things to happen to me since the Bic Velocity Gel Rollerball Comfort Grip with Retractable 0.7mm Tip. Seriously. Precision and weight of a Sharpie with ink that doesn't bleed through the page! Brilliance.

Number Seven-- Baked Lay's potato chips (any flavor)
God's gift to potato chip lovers who are trying to watch their waistlines. That's all.

Number Eight-- Yarn by Stitch Nation
If you are obsessed with yarn (I am) or are looking for yarn to get you hooked into a yarn-related project (I always am), THIS YARN IS THE GREATEST.

Number Nine-- Horn rimmed glasses by Lucky Brand
In reality, these are at the top of my Need-Slightly-More-Than-Just-Want list. I've been jonesing for glasses of a similar style for a long while, and recently my eyes are in hate with contact lenses but my current pair of glasses are very heavy on my face. Ta da! Perfect solution.

Number Ten-- Home Offices
If I had the time/space/money to create something like this to work in, I'd get every degree that was ever invented for college. And also become a research assistant and sit at home reading and studying instead of watching TV (except for ANTM, etc). Really, though. This office. I should stop watching HGTV because it makes rooms like this more of a reality than they should be considering we rent our place and have carpets and aren't allowed to paint the walls.


What are your Favorite Things?