Progress Report

Holy Hair!

When I was a little girl,

I always wanted to be Ariel from The Little Mermaid.

She had the best movie songs,

that awesome tail,

an underwater treasure room filled with forks, 

a handsome prince (obvi),

and best of all, 

gorgeous, long, amazing, perfect hair.

But my mom always told me my hair got stringy when it was long.

She was totally right, so I just kept it short-ish.

Not Anne Hathaway Les Mis short,

but just shoulder length or so.

Even now, as an adult, I want long hair.

But never really grew mine out for one reason or another.

So, a few months ago, after reading PIPM

(who has the most gorgeous hair ever), 

I got these little Phyto pills

that look like chocolate covered raisins,

and started taking two every morning.

Y'all.

These. pills. are. a. miracle. worker.

In the photo above, you can see my progress in 4 months.

The first pic is September 15, 2012.

The second pic is December 18, 2012.

The last pic is today, January 18, 2013.

Crazy, huh?!

Resolutions, of course.

via

Yeah, I know. 

Less cookies, more sit ups, less Little Debbie, more vegetables,

blah blah blah.

Over the years I've probably made thousands of resolutions.

Honestly, I can't remember which I've kept

and which I've completely broken.

So, on the train from France to Italy

(did I mention we went to Europe for the holidays?)

at the tail end of a perfect December, 

I made a list of things I'd like 2013 to hold for me.

Then I threw the list away.

There's so many things I'd like to do.

With today, tomorrow, this month, this year, my life.

It's almost impossible to write them all down.

And truthfully,

this year, all I really want is to be a good person.

I want to love my husband, my family, and my amazing friends.

I want to plan trips, to Rome and Greece.

I want to keep working hard, and playing hard too.

I want to take care of my body, inside and out.

I want to collect things I like, 

instead of things I think other people will like.

I want to fall in love with life

and to have it love me right back.

Isn't that all we can ask for in a year?

Happy 2013, friends!

Faux Fur Coat!

 One of the things I've had my eye on for awhile now was this coat.

But I didn't want to pay $200.

(I live in Dallas. There are only about 4 days a year I can actually wear this.)

Image via Nordstrom.

Sorry to totally spoil the ending

but I didn't buy the coat.

Instead, I found this beauty at JCP.

(JCP is one of my favorite stores. Don't knock it til you try it.)

Image via JCPenney

It's literally the exact same coat.

I paid $70 on Cyber Monday

and I really couldn't be happier.

My mom would say this is an example of how patience pays off.

I say I'm just a really good shopper.

You...Supplement Me

Jonathan Adler Vice Canisters

I love supplements. 

Every single morning, I drink a packet of Emergen-C.
Sometimes, if I hear someone cough near my office, 
I'll drink another.

I also take gummy vitamins, bee pollen, liquid oxygen drops, Phyto pills,
and occasionally melatonin. 

The gummies are a given
everyone needs vitamins.
The bee pollen I take to control my allergies,
(but obviously, don't take if you're allergic to bees. Duh.)

The liquid oxygen drops are a natural energy boost, 
they're tasteless, which is perfect.
  
The Phyto pills I just started taking because of PIPM
who says they are miracle worker for hair growth.
(I've been taking them for about week now,
and my hair looks amazing. 
Seriously. SO shiny.)

The melatonin I take when I can't sleep.
Those suckers will knock you out
for a full 8 hours. 
Try that on your next international flight, 
you can thank me later.

The gummies, Emergen-C, and chewable melatonin are all from the grocery store, the bee pollen capsules I get at GNC, the liquid oxygen drops are from Amazon, and the Phyto pills are from Ulta.

Cross your fingers for a US book tour!

So,

I kinda love the royal family.

Actually, "love" is an understatement.

Obsessed, passionate, fanatical...

those all sound more accurate.

Of course, I pre-ordered a copy of Celebrate,

Pippa Middlton's first party planning book

I guess people think Pippa can't plan a proper soiree,

because this book has been getting a lot of flack.

(I mean, she was in charge of one of the royal receptions

for Wills and Kate. 

She had disco balls hung in Buckingham Palace.

Enough said.)

No matter what any silly reviewers say,

I really enjoy this book. 

It's thicker than I expected, which is always good.

But best of all, it teaches Anglophiles like myself

British recipes and traditions.

And would make a really great Christmas

(or more appropriately, Boxing Day)

gift for the girl in your life.

Book Worm

When was the last time you read a book?

I don't read that often anymore

but if a book is good, I re-read it over and over and pass it along to all my friends.

A recent favorite is called Debutante Divorcee.

A little bit silly, definitely witty, mostly cheesy

just the kind of book for me.

It's by Plum Sykes, who just has the cutest name ever.

She wrote Bergdorf Blondes too!

If you have a long plane/train/automobile ride in your future,

or if you want to escape your family's questions about when you'll be having a baby,

(ahem.)

pick this one up.

And, I mean, the cover is pink. Duh.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

I desperately want something with foxes on it. I don't care what, but you would think with Tory Burch putting little foxes on all her fall items, it would be easier to find! This is the shirt I really want, it's by British retailer Aubin & Wills.