To Gel or Not to Gel...

Being a girl and all, I'm a huge fan of the occasional mani/pedi.  In Brentwood we have these super inexpensive (my mom taught me to use this word instead of cheap) nail salons.  They are like the McDonald's drive through of nails salons.  I mean walk in, "you pick cola", you're in a chair, and you have two super fast woman at your service.  If you're from a different planet and have never experienced this, please watch this video! She does an excellent job imitating the experience at most inexpensive nail salons.


With all that said, today I went to my not usual place because I had a Groupon (oh yes, I love deals) and got a mani/pedi.  The Nail Garden normally charges $30 for regular m/p and I got one for $20 and it even included some salt scrub, fancy!  Since I saved a bundle, I decided to give these OPI Axxium Gel Nails a try.  I'm always watching my money, so I can never bring myself to spend the extra cash.  But let's face it, we basically get manicures because the clean up our cuticles, not because the polish lasts.  Mine lasts maybe a day or two without chipping and then it's chip city and once it chips, well they're history. 

These new Gel Nails are supposedly better for weak nails (check) and are said to last two weeks plus.   We shall see about that.  If anyone puts their hands to the test it's me - constant washing, cleaning and dish washing can really put a ladies hands to the ringer.

I will let you know how I end up liking them, but for now, here's a pic of mine. After trying to take about a zillion pics, I realize that I wont be a hand model any time soon.  Please excuse my ugly hands.  I tried to at least take a pic of my pretty ring to offset the hand uglies. 

Now off to get ready for Daddy D's Birthday dinner at Upper West! 

XO,
S

The Art of Manliness...

Husband (Man) of the Year

Drum roll please...

Goes to

SHANER!

 My most manli man!

 As you might already know, I'm a little OCD and like things just so.  Our landlord promised new carpet on our one year anni at our place, so of course I had to have it, despite the fact that we'd have to move ALL our furniture in order to have it put in.  Side note, I loathe carpet and Shane loves it, not a reason for divorce, but definitely something I would recommend discussing before the vows. Shane is currently winning this war, so if carpet is what we must have, new carpet beats old.

While I'm in Michigan working, Shane is at home taking care of everything.  

 See all the stuff piled up outside? 

 That's pretty much the contents of our house.

Bless his heart.

Shane, I love and appreciate you so much!

Can't wait to get home, kiss you and roll around on the new carpet! 

Yippee...

XO, 

S

BOLD or bust!

I dropped and broke, yet another phone and thus ended up at Verizon Store right before leaving on a business trip.  I checked out all the fancy iPhones and touch screens, tempted as I was, the BLACKBERRY still won!  They are durable and for this klutz, that's a MUST.  I went with the BlackBerry BOLD and I'm so happy with it.   It's fast, sleek and Shane is happy because the keys don't make little sounds that resemble rats nibbling in his ear when I'm texting while sitting next to him on the sofa (at least not yet).

Anyways, the BOLD has two thumbs up from this little lady!

Hello from The Henry in Detroit, MI.

XO, 

S

Tragedy that can't escape my mind

As many of you close to me know it's been more than a rough and trying couple of weeks.  Some friends in my life, that I consider family at this point (I've known them so long) have been hit with horrible tragedies that I can't begin to explain or imagine.  I've known Kristi Kaplon since I was a very young girl.  We met at my cousin's Bat Mitzvah and became even closer friends when our paths crossed again in junior high at the North Valley Jewish Community Center.  Through Jr. High and High School there was a group of us that spent all our time together.  College came, and took us our separate ways, but I ended up getting to see Kristi quite often once again because she met and fell in love with Brian Kaplon in Santa Barbara where Brian and I attended UCSB.
Brian was the kindest man I've ever known, he had an incredibly large heart and loved Kristi with every ounce of it.  They had known one another since preschool and their bond was unmatched.  They dated and went on to marry and have a beautiful daughter Chloe with twins (a boy and a girl) on the way in just one short month!
You could say their life was a fairytale, until Brian's life was taken in an unspeakable tragedy that I can't even begin to explain. 
I'm left with love for Kristi and her growing family in my heart and not a whole lot financially that I can do myself.  My mother and I are brainstorming another fundraiser, but for now, here are the sites on a fundraiser next week and how you can help immediately. 

http://levinsonfamily.blogspot.com/2011/04/kaplon-family-fundraiser-at-fresh.html

https://sites.google.com/site/kristikaplon/home?pli=1

 Please watch the video on the first link. 

Hug your loved ones a little tighter tonight. 

XO, 

S

Love & Photography

There is nothing better than being in LOVE. 

A couple weekends ago, I had the pleasure of assisting my friend Jillian Rose on an engagement shoot for a couple that is very much in love.

Meet soon to be Mr. & Mrs. Hogan! 

Check out a sneak peek of their engagement shoot here.

Looking so forward to assisting on their wedding in August! 

XO,
S

The way to a man's heart...

... is through his belly. 

 

The more I cook, the more he loves!  

I made these and they were YUMMY!

XO,
S

P.S. My heart can be reached through my belly as well...  Think sweets.

Garage sales and at home hair "colour"...

The accumulation of junk over the years of me moving from place to place, finally getting married, etc. and my mom's collection had grown out of control.  My parent's garage was only fitting one tiny Mercedes that is so small it hides amongst large SVUs in most parking lots.  JUNK was taking over our lives!  OKAY, I'm being dramatic, it wasn't even bad, but it was time to Spring clean, sell stuff and donate the rest.  So that we did. 
My mom, being her cute self, researched how to put on a successful garage sale and we gave it our best shot.  We advertised in local papers, put up signs, started out with high prices and worked our way down. Shane gave us a few chuckles with his Spanglish and salesman skills. We got rid of a lot, but still have quite a bit to donate and most of all we're all just glad IT'S OVER! Operation get the second car in the garage is almost complete!

On another note, the domestic diva in me decided to do a little at home hair color!  I did a consumer testing focus group last week for John Frieda's Precision Hair Colour (note: Colour, not color, fancy schmancy huh?).  It got me thinking that my hair could really use some brightening, it had become faded and brassy and just needed a good all over color.  If you know me, you know I don't like going to the salon and getting my hair done.  For me it feels like some form of torture, although I'm glad when it's done and my hair looks great! Plus I really love my hair dresser, but she's in Thousand Oaks and I really need one on the Westside (suggestions welcome). 
It's been years since I bought a box of at home hair color, but after my focus group, I was ready to brave it and try out this new and improved foam colour that was supposed to be easy to use.  I chose a medium brown and it was SO easy, no mess and I'm really happy with the color.  In about 30 minutes,  I was done and came out pretty fantastic (if I don't say myself).

Happy Do It Yourself Monday!

XO, 

S