Holiday Tunes

It’s the time of year when I switch from iTunes and Spotify back to Pandora for the Christmas stations. But I’m finding that I have strong reactions to the songs – about half positive and half negative.

One album I’d recommend is Amimee Mann’s “One More Drifter in the Snow.”

What music are you rocking out to this December?

Thanksgiving & Black Friday

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

This year my parents are out of town visiting our extended family in Ohio/Kentucky. Every year my dad’s brother rents out the bowling alley and tons of people bring food and hang out. It’s great because there are all sorts of age ranges and bowling is pretty family friendly.

I got a couple Thanksgiving invitations from friends, but it looks like I’m going to be hanging out at home in bed with this lingering cold and cough. I picked up a turkey breast and some butternut squash soup from a local restaurant, so I will have some yummy stuff to eat and no work or clean up!

Is anyone going shopping for Black Friday? I have to work that day, but I know some stores open early and we have a big shopping area right near my office in case I want to run out at lunch. I’m sorta over Black Friday though, because I feel that the deals aren’t that good and the craziness is too exhausting. If you have time to camp out for 24 hours to save a couple bucks… well couldn’t you just work and make way more money for the time?

However, I am excited for the day after Christmas, which has been a great shopping day for me in recent years. For example, Banana Republic has run a 50% off all sale items and I’ve been able to get a bunch of stuff super cheap. (Like $5-$10 tops.) Of course, my closet/house is packed with too much stuff, so I don’t really need to go buying things.

What are your plans?

Julep Maven

The following is an email response I received from Julep about their nail polish subscription program, Julep Maven.

Hi Carly,

I apologize that you have not had a more than stellar experience with our Julep Maven program. I hope to explain a few changes that we have made, and maybe this can better your future thoughts regarding your subscription.

I apologize that your first order was not received at the rate that you would have wished. Please understand that much of our order processes are automated and so any error we had made in the past was not intentional and we were not aware of. We have finally cemented a system that has so far seemed to ensure that no further glitches can occur that will prevent a Maven’s order from being delayed. Along with a new processing system, we have changed delivery carriers. Our previous provider FedEx, was not delivering packages in a timely manner to our Mavens and it we were just as frustrated that this was the service we were providing. We are now working with USPS, who has delivered our November Maven boxes at impressive speed! Not only do they provide prompt delivery dates, they send out a tracking email 2 minutes after the package has been scanned at the facility. Our Mavens have said nothing but great things about this change and we hope that you will keep that in mind for the future.

We very much appreciated your feedback regarding the shelf pull and selections as we value the opinions of our Mavens. In fact, we have concluded that the shelf pull for the next month will be presented in a different manner, such as the way you have suggested. Also, keep in mind that if there is no selection that you are excited about, you are more than welcome to “Skip a Month.” We would hate for you to make a payment for a package that you are not more than excited about.

Please keep checking back with our company as we are rapidly growing and making improvements to better serve our customers and fans, feel free to reach out with any further questions or concerns.

Shine On!
Jennifer Hwang

Julep Maven Team
Julep Nail Parlor Company
P.O. Box 19523 | Seattle, WA | 98109

NYC November!

I finally bought tickets for mom and I to take the train to NYC for a day in November. Prices kept changing (exactly like booking a flight, except with no competition) and trains I wanted kept selling out, so we are leaving out of DC at 5:25 am (I know, I want to die just thinking about it). We should be in NYC by 8:45 and then our train home leaves at 6 pm. We could have left a few hours later, but I was concerned about driving home from DC so late. The train trip takes about 3 and a half hours and I am really hoping to sleep on the way up.

Top stop is the brand new Orla Kiely store. I just remembered how expensive designer stuff is, but it will be fun to try on a $500 dress, and I’m hoping to pick up a new purse and maybe some housewares.

I also got the recommendation to visit Uniqlo, Zara and Top Shop. I’d also like to stop in the huge H&M (5th and 52nd) but it’s always packed and I’m not sure what my tolerance will be for that nonsense.

I’m not sure what else we will have time for. I normally stop in the Met when I’m in town because it is donation-based admission and is huge and awesome. I also need to figure some good options for breakfast and lunch.

Winner!

Back in September I actually won a fabulous prize from My Milk Glass Heart’s 3 Year Blog Anniversary contest. I was entry #1 and the random number generator actually picked that number. I never win anything!

The package arrived the first week of my terrible mystery illness, so I didn’t get a chance to use most of the stuff for a while.

My favorite item is the Ulta makeup bag (full of makeup!). It’s the red bag, which is a neutral color palate. I am really liking the eye liner, mascara, and the eye shadows. I have been getting a lot of use out of this makeup kit!

Ulta Makeup Bag

The next best thing is this beautiful handmade alpaca scarf, which perfectly matches a pink tweed coat I own. It’s not cold enough yet, but I look forward to wearing this.

Probably the weirdest item (that I turned out loving a ton) was a Japanese wash cloth. It’s like a shower poof that isn’t gathered up into a poof shape. This makes it easy to wash your back, or wrap it around your arms/legs and scrub all sides in one go. The material makes a great lather with just a little liquid soap. You can buy your own here on Amazon.

Thanks My Milk Glass Heart (aka Lara)!

My new bunny

Successfully made it to the fair yesterday. It was pretty huge and we didn’t get there until 3:30, so we still need to go back hopefully Thursday or Friday night.

Mom borrowed a wheelchair and pushed me around all day because I wouldn’t have had the stamina to walk around on my own. [Still sick, feeling maybe 10% better. Still no diagnosis.]

We didn’t see the livestock up for ribbons, but we did make it to the petting zoo where they also had animals for sale. I ended up impulse-buying a baby bunny.

Domino the Bunny

I bought a cage and a few days’ worth of food from the people selling the bunnies, but had to go to the Tractor Supply Center this morning to get him a water bottle and some more hay.

I’ve decided to name him Domino. He’s supposedly about 2 months old and will about double in size until he weighs approximately 4 pounds. He is a mini rex, which is a breed known for short, velvety fur. He is so soft.

I’m trying to get him used to people. He will cuddle sometimes, but also likes to bite me on the hand and forearm. Bunnies like to chew everything, but I hope he outgrows the biting because the sucker can hurt.

They can be litter box trained, which I want to try to do, but apparently it can take weeks.