$135 for a T-Shirt?!

Hi again, dear readers.

I don't have anything really exciting to report on, yet I've been incredibly busy.

One of the things that have kept me busy is dealing with my new (skinnier) body. Of course, with a new body comes new clothes. Hardly any of my clothes fit anymore. Sounds great, right? Yes and no. I do appreciate my new bod, but I'm trying really hard to save money, so now's not the best time to splurge on clothes, like I did in the past.

I decided to give it a go this past weekend. I hit up my local malls, but when I didn't find anything, decided to head to Robertson Blvd. to check out Nanette Lepore, Sky, Kitson, etc. I was hoping some fall sale items would be available. They were, but I realize that in LA, the size 0s and 2s usually end up flying off the shelves, so I ended up buying nothing. I also checked out James Perse, the perfect brand to fit the laid-back Cali lifestyle. I found this great T-shirt that I couldn't wait to try on (pic is from jamesperse.com). Then I looked at the price tag-$135. No way...I was hoping to get a pair of jeans and a T-shirt for that much. Have I really been out of the shopping game for so long that I'm the only one who feels this can't be normal?! Yikes...let me know what y'all think.

Hello, 2012!

Finally...I'm back! For the last month, I've been trying to post several times, only to find that my entries never went through. I'd have these posts all written out, then when I'd hit "Publish Post", nothing would happen. Oh, well, no use dwelling on that now.

Anyway, Happy 2012, everybody! I have good feelings about leap years. 2008 was a pretty good year for me, and I believe that 2012 will be even better.

I meant to do this on 1/1, but couldn't (read the first paragraph for the explanation), so I'm doing it now. Here are 3 lists that reflect what happened to me in 2011 and what I anticipate will happen in 2012. In honor of the "11" number and the fact that there are "3" lists and that I turned "33" in 2011, each of the lists has 11 items (I can't help it--I'm a numbers junkie!).

Things I (Hope to Have) Left Behind in 2011:

1) worrying about work-related matters outside work hours

2) being overweight

3) worrying about finding Mr. Right

4) willing people to be different than they really are

5) taking rude people's rude comments too personally

6) foolish spending on clothes/shoes/accessories I don't wear/use

7) not getting enough sleep

8) feeling "old" about being in my 30s

9) not exercising enough

10) unnecessary drama

11) focusing on what's wrong in my life

Things I Take From 2011 into 2012:

1) being in good shape

2) wearing all the fabulous shoes and dresses I bought in 2011

3) the thrill of traveling

4) my end-of-year bonus!

5) my renewed zest for dance classes

6) my renewed sense of domesticity

7) taking pride in my job, but realizing that a balance is important

8) memories of the time I spent with my family and friends

9) pride in tackling a huge portion of my student loan debt

10) realizing the importance of staying in touch with old friends

11) a newfound appreciation of champagne

Things I Look Forward to in 2012:

1) drinking more champagne!

2) joining Facebook to stay in touch with friends? (yeah, right...but I will stay in touch)

3) losing a few more pounds

4) a trip to NYC

5) a trip to the Middle East

6) saving more money for future dreams

7) a higher sense of self-esteem

8) more home-cooked meals

9) more time with family

10) becoming a better professional

11) trying a new hairstyle

Remember that entry from November when I was on a search for the perfect party dress from Rebecca Taylor? I found it a couple of weeks later! I leave you all with this photo of me in the dress, which I picked up on sale through the Saks e-commerce site. I'd been searching for it forever and nearly shelled out $400+ for it at full price, but couldn't even do that cuz I couldn't find it in my size. And that's because, after all my efforts and sacrifices, I can finally wear a size 2 again! Here's the dress, paired with a purchase from my East Coast adventure, my Christian Louboutin batik python No Prives:

Also, I wish to welcome my 4 new followers. I'd name you each individually, but for some reason, I can't see your names when I click on my followers page. Anyway, you know who you are, and I say hi to you and "Happy 2012" to all my readers!

My Hermes Bags

Today I will post about the most popular Hermes category of goods: bags.

First up, I will talk about my Paris-Bombay, the bag in the front. It's PM size and made of black vache liegee leather. I saw it in the Hermes ad in several fashion magazines, in white, and fell in love with it. However, I'm always afraid of how easily white bags get dirty. So I thought, I'd love to get that bag in black. A few weeks later, I spotted the subject of my thoughts in the display case at the boutique. My sales associate (SA) told me that they had gotten so many requests for that particular bag, but as it was the hot new bag at the time, there were no waiting lists. It was either podium/special order or try your luck at the boutique. That edged me toward getting it, and it was a great buy because I have used it as an evening bag at quite a few functions.

Onto the Birkins...the one on the left is a 35 cm, and it's made of rouge garrance clemence leather and palladium (silver) hardware. It was an impulse buy. I was again back at the boutique with my friend M. It had literally arrived just a few minutes before we got there, and our SA told us that it was for sale. I'd been thinking I wanted a red Birkin, and there was my chance. I snatched it up right then and there. I'm so glad I got it because rouge garrance is now discontinued. It's the perfect shade of "lipstick red".

The one on the right is a 30 cm, and it's made of blue jean togo and gold hardware. I told myself, years prior to getting it, that if I ever got a Birkin, it would be blue jean. I've been told by many SAs that, for years, blue jean has been the most popular color for Birkins, right beneath black. As a blue jean Birkin is extremely hard to find on the shelf, I knew my only shot would be to order one. I also knew that even if I did find one, they're usually made with palladium hardware. Did a blue jean Birkin with gold hardware exist? I learned the answer when I saw a picture online of Victoria Beckham with one. It's a pretty famous pic, she's walking on a street in Spain, wearing a matching blue sweater that just barely skims the tops of her thighs, and nothing else. As soon as the next podium came around, I knew what I wanted.

I love that I have at least one bag made just for me, to my specifications, and others that were bought just because. Will I ever buy another Birkin? Maybe. They're so special, so to own even one is a blessing. I don't know if I could pass up a black one, and since it's extremely hard to find, I know if I ever do see one, I'll have to grab the opportunity. Maybe an exotic, but that'll have to wait until some other stuff gets taken care of...so a possible 40th birthday present? We'll have to wait and see.

My Hermes "Big Silks"

I hope everyone is having a great Thanksgiving Day! As I understand Thanksgiving Day is an American holiday, I would like to say "have a great day" to my readers outside the US, whether you're celebrating something or not.

Next category of Hermes goods to be introduced are my "big silks". These are my scarves, in gavroche size. I have just 2 of these right now. I make it a point to buy these only if I like the style enough to frame it. I am likely going to do that someday with these scarves. The style on the left is called "Chasse en Indie". I absolutely love the colorway of this. I've worn it tied around my waist with a solid black dress. The one on the right was the special scarf created in 2007 for the opening of the Wall Street boutique in New York City. I bought it during my trip to NYC that year, at the Wall Street boutique. It had been open for less than 2 weeks when I visited it. The writing around the edges of this scarf names the various neighborhoods of NYC.

The trip to New York City that year was a memorable one. It was the first vacation I ever went on that I paid for myself by myself, 3 years after getting my Master's degree and working hard at jobs that required long hours. I was 28 years old traveling in the big city all alone. I felt like there was so much to see and that I wasn't even close to fulfilling my dreams, but I knew I'd get there one day. Today, at having just turned 33 years old, I feel like I'm just a little closer. It's exciting, knowing the best is yet to come.

Tomorrow's category...drumroll, please...bags!

My Hermes Leather Goods...with a Reveal

When my lunch break started, I eagerly ran outside (I get no cell phone reception inside the hospital where I work) and immediately saw that I received a voicemail message this morning at 10:04 am. I knew who it was without even checking the missed call log...and I was right. My lovely sales associate called to tell me that my item was ready to be picked up, as scheduled. So you're wondering what the heck I picked up at Hermes. Wonder no more! Here it is: a Kelly dog bracelet in blue electrique swift leather! I expected it would arrive today, so for the occasion, I repainted my nails in Chanel Blue Rebel (from the very limited-edition, for Fashion's Night Out 2011 only, Les Jeans de Chanel collection). I got a lot of compliments on this nail color, many of them about how the color was so unique. I didn't think it'd match so well with the Kelly dog, but I think it does. Bonus! I love this bracelet so much I think I'll get another one...but it has to wait until after Christmas...and I'll need a whole lot of luck to hunt it down! I also bought agenda refills with the 2012 calendar. I know it's a little early, but those sell out so quickly! And I know most people store all their info in cell phones now, but I'm an old-fashioned gal in a lot of ways, and the idea of scribbling notes and writing appointments in my calendar still appeals to me. Interesting little tidbit: if you buy the calendar refills for a Hermes agenda, you don't get just the calendar. It comes with an address book, too!

So...onto my next category of Hermes goods: leather items. The bracelet has been introduced, so next will be the item in the middle in the pic. It's an agenda made from barenia leather. This leather is extremely rare and, as far as I know, is discontinued, and may be available by special order only. Notice all the scratches? Those aren't anything to fret over (they were all made by me, of course; the leather was unscratched when I bought it). The patina they make over time is part of the beauty of this leather. The item on the right is a compact Bearn wallet made of box leather. I remember the occasion on which I bought the item clearly. I went with my friend M. to Hermes to buy an item to commemorate me leaving a stressful job to go to a new one. I had just gotten a Birkin right before that, so I couldn't get another bag, but a wallet was just perfect. I literally had my sales associate bring out every compact Bearn wallet in the store (plus a few other styles), and we went through them all. I didn't want a black one (I already had a black Chanel wallet), so I would look at this one, then put it back and look for another one. I kept going back to the black box wallet, so I finally decided on buying it. Now I'm so glad I did. Box leather, like barenia, develops a patina further enhanced by the scratches made by the owner. It just gets better with time...just like all other Hermes goods.

Tomorrow's category: "big" silks.

My Hermes Shoes

At this point, I have only 2 pairs of Hermes shoes. I have a pair of striped Hermes espadrilles that I bought during my early days of Hermes-collecting. The first time I wore them was to a meeting that I had to attend during my first job after getting my professional license. I expected this meeting to be a battle, and it was. It was also longer than I expected, and I remember throwing little glances at my shoes to make it more pleasant. As soon as I left the meeting, I headed to a fast-food restaurant to grab a quick lunch and thanked my sales associate. She seemed genuinely happy I was happy and subtly suggested the matching hat. What? Matching hat? There was a matching hat? I liked the idea immediately and promised to check out the emailed photo she would send me and "measure my head", laughing with her as I said it. I really did measure my head, as soon as I got home, to make sure I got the right size. I also ran the decision by my Hermes-hookup buddy. She said she had seen the hat at the boutique and that she thought it was very cute. I was sold. The hat came a few days later, and now I've got the matching set.

I saw the nude patent sandals in the runway photos from the Spring 2006 show. I get a lot of mileage from these shoes. I've worn them soo many times, including to the Jason Derulo concert that I went to with my friends for my birthday last year. One of my friends, who wears only flat shoes, asked me where I got them because she said she'd be willing to wear heels if she could get a pair like these. They truly are comfortable, which is probably why I've worn them so many times and will continue to wear them for many years to come. Not to mention, they're cute! Don't you just love the perforated "H" on the big strap?!

Orange Sunshine

There's something happening in LA today that happens only a few times a year: rain. I don't feel like going out and getting all wet. I'm also feeling a little under the weather right now (pun intended!), and I HAVE to go to work tomorrow. So I'm staying home today-all day.

Being that I'm back in a Hermes state of mind (after a LONG absence), and that it's raining today, I decided to make my own sunshine-with orange boxes. It's fitting
also because I'm trying to scale back on luxury purchases, and one of the best ways to do that is to take inventory of what I already have. It's like shopping in my closet! I went through my closets and drawers and gathered all the orange boxes I could find I realized that I'm sitting on an (orange) gold mine! I'd forgotten about all the goodies I had and it was so thrilling to rediscover them.

I know that you, my readers, wants to see what's in those boxes. Well, I love reveals and I love teases. I also love stories, and each of these items has a little story. So instead of having extremely long entries, I'm breaking the items into categories, one revealed each day this week.

We begin with clothing. Here I have a brown cotton V-neck shell, a chunky charcoal alpaca wool turtleneck sweater, and a purple-gray sleeveless cashmere turtleneck sweater. I spotted the shell during a sale. I was ready to leave, after being disappointed with not finding anything. Then I tried it on, and I thought it would be a nice addition to my wardrobe, so I bought it. The other 2 were purchased at full-price. I just saw them, and I decided I wanted them. The gray sweater is sooo cozy. It's too bad that LA weather rarely gets cold enough to wear it, but maybe when I'm in a cooler-weather climate in the winter, I can sport it then ;)

People will splurge on Hermes bags and accessories, but I don't hear much buzz about the clothing. I guess because, for clothing, there are infinite options. You can get clothing of good quality that's also inexpensive. However, if you decide to splurge on Hermes clothing, know that you're getting the best of the best. I came upon this info after asking my sales associate why my sleeveless sweater had a "Made in Scotland" label: Hermes is a French company (obviously), but the best cashmere comes from Scotland, so from Scotland is where Hermes gets their cashmere. Quality at its best indeed.

Tomorrow's category: shoes.