Anna Sheffield for Target Now Available. Yay !

It is Thursday, September the third, 2009 and Anna Sheffield's jewelry line for Target is now available. Yes, I know... Let's all celebrate!

I want everything in this new jewelry line for Target, unlike the Erickson Beamon and Subversive collections for Target where I had certain picks, not because of the design but because of the quality of the materials used. Of course the Target lines can't be as good as the designer's original collections -- something has to give, but nothing is lost in Anna Sheffield's interpretation of her collection for Target. Most, if not all, is 14K over sterling silver. It looks 100% real though. Anna Sheffield uses yellow, white and some rose gold. Some alone but many are combined colors. There are quirky rings, fun earrings (posts, hoops and dangling styles), on-trend necklaces made up of multiple chains, a charm bangle (very unique) and other charm bracelets. This collection runs the gamut, unfortunately for me because I want everything from it! YIKES ! I am really in trouble now.

I didn't cave in today though, so I showed some restraint. I got one item -- the "white cubic zirconia bird ring" for $19.99. It looks like an engagement ring, so since I am single, I give it to myself. I promise to be true to myself. There... And I am sending to the Universe that I will get married someday (if you follow The Secret, you know what I mean.) A girl has got to dream... Well, you got me. I'm way into womanhood, but it is never too late...



Prices for this collection range from $19.99 to $79.99. Even though Target offers amazing stuff at affordable prices, it still adds up. I guess my car will remain somewhat functional (it takes a while to start up) and my broken molar (recently broke a tooth with a filling) will just have to wait. I know it's sad...

I am definitely a "frugalista" (Target's new coined term) on her way to being a "brokalista" (my own coined term.) Wish me luck!

"Let the Right One In" -- Best Vampire Movie Ever!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let_the_Right_One_In

The above link is a synopsis of the movie and the novel it is based on.

This past Friday, I finally got to watch on DVD the critically acclaimed Swedish film (2008) based on the Swedish novel (vampire fiction) published in 2004. I didn't hear about this movie last year; I don't know, I must have had my head buried in dirt for me to not know about this film. Thanks to a co-worker for recommending this film to me and a classmate's accolades of this film to prompt me to rent the DVD -- finally.

Wow, I haven't seen anything this good in a while. Every two or three years, I get to see a film this good. "Let the Right One In" is now my most recent favorite, and I highly recommend it, if you haven't seen it yet. You don't even have to be into vampires to enjoy this film. And yes, it kicks "Twilight"s butt -- the film anyway. I have neither read the books for "Twilight" nor "Let the Right One In," but in my opinion this film has a better story, be it a love, vampire, or survival story. It is a darn good drama.

The cinematography was beautiful too. Some of the most beautiful night shots I have ever seen. I'm also glad that CGI was kept to a minimum, allowing the characters to lead the story/plot and be the focal point (like it is supposed to be) -- not the CGI as what often happens in Hollywood fare.

This Swedish film is and will be a CLASSIC for many years to come. I hope the US version that is supposed to be released in 2010 does justice to the original film and story like "The Ring" did for the Japanese original, "Ringu", another horror/drama that I enjoyed. I will definitely watch the American version in theaters, as I missed the Swedish original on the big screen, but it better be good...

Cutest Jewelry Storage by UMBRA

Partridge Jewelry Tree by UMBRA

I just found the cutest storage for necklaces, bracelets and watches that I use on a regular basis. I like to store my jewelry and other accessories, but sometimes find it a nuisance digging them up when trying to quickly get dressed. This is a great solution for keeping my everyday jewelry handy. (Granted this post is a bit biased, since I work at The Container Store, and we carry many Umbra products.) Anyhoo, TCS just recently started carrying this model, and I quickly got one at the end of my shift.

LOVE THE LITTLE
BIRDIES -- that's what enticed me to get this in the first place. There's another model TCS carries by Umbra, but I was never really enticed by that other jewelry organizer. However, the birdies are irresistible! In fact, I don't have too many items that require it to be hung to be accessible, but I just had to have this. Can you blame me? Just look at it. It is ADORABLE !

If you want one too, it is available at The Container Store for $19.99 (not online yet as of 8/29/09), umbra.com for $21.00 and I'm sure other retailers (but you'd have to look that up yourself.) Umbra calls it the "partridge jewelry tree."

TIP: Do not store silver jewelry on this hanging storage as it will tarnish
quicker. Store silver in plastic baggies or tarnish-retardant storage to
prevent oxygen contact and keeping them tarnish free.

This organization solution is best for gold, faux jewelry, beaded items,
watches, you get the idea. Just not silver.

Tootles. Keep your accessories handy and organized =)

Norma Kamali for Walmart

I ordered 3 items from Walmart.com from it's new line by Norma Kamali, and was extremely pleased. I got a pair of pencil jeans in navy blue, a boyfriend blazer in black, and a spotted jersey skirt (black and cream.)

The price points are incredible! Fifteen dollars for the jeans and skirt and $20. for the blazer. And that's regular price !!! Well, the downside is that jeans didn't fit, I have to return that one, but that's about it. I was surprised by the quality of it. No threads sticking out or any other irregularities or lack of quality that could be indicative of the price of $15 for jeans. The sizing just ran smaller than what I'm used to. I'm usually a size 16 in mass market brands such as The Gap and Target. I sure wish the jeans fit though, it would have been very slimming with it's narrow leg and navy blue color.

The blazer fit, although a tad snug in the arms, but nothing that losing a few pounds will fix, which I need to do anyway for my health! The quality is superb for $20. It looks better than some boyfriend blazers I've seen over the $88. pricepoint. It's lightweight and is perfect for a Fall season in Miami.


The spotted skirt was my favorite buy -- it fit me perfectly! I don't know how to call the waist-band, bit it didn't have zippers or buttons and it wasn't elastic either -- it just had a band of fabric. Anyhoo, I was very excited about the fit. It didn't constrict my size 16 waist, and the pencil shape gave me a narrower contour. The jersey is of good quality, and the print is to die for. I paired it with a black cowl-neck shirt and was ready to go to school and then work a couple of hours (retail.)

Ahh, I love quality finds for dirt-cheap prices...

Ode to my Pink Cowboy Boots

Pink cowboy boots, you are my favorite pair of shoes
Rarely do I get to wear you though
My favorite shoes, my pink cowboy boots
Size 9, I thought you were too big
When I first got you from Zappos
But now, as I wore you tonight
You were squeezing the living daylight out of my feet
Like sausages my feet looked like
While they were in my favorite shoes, my pink cowboy boots
Suffer I may, suffer I did
For the two hours I wore you
I didn't even walk in you for very long
In fact I sat down most of the time
At the celebration dinner
But don't you worry, I complain NOT
For you are still my favorite shoes, my pink cowboy boots

by Maria C. Aquino

"Julie and Julia" was A M A Z I N G !!!

It wasn't my idea to see "Julie and Julia" tonight, but a co-worker wanted to see it while her kids went to see other movies, and I took her invitation to see the movie. The trailers never really enticed me to see the movie, in fact the little blips of Meryl Streep doing Julia Child annoyed me a bit, but it did have two amazing actresses in it (Meryl Streep and Amy Adams) so it seemed like decent Friday night fare. It couldn't be that bad...

Well, I was surprised and delighted! It was a great foodie film in the least; you will surely be inspired to spend some time in the kitchen creating treats for friends and family. It turned out to be a good love story too. The portrayal of the marriage between Julia Child and Mr. Child was tender and adorable. I'd like to order a man like him from the menu -- loving, supportive and adores the woman he loves. Check please! The acting, do I need to say anything? Of course it was great. After all, it was Meryl Streep and Amy Adams. I was completely wrong about Meryl Streep as Julia Child as annoying. She was a delight as Julia Child. The trailers really do a disservice to the film. Meryl was funny, charming and adorable as Julia Child. Amy Adams stretches her range by playing a bit of a bitch. You ask Amy Adams, a bitch??? Never! But yes, she was able to pull it off. But a likable bitch. Anyone else playing the part would have been to bitchy. Great job Amy!

This movie makes me want to cook everything in butter. Well, I don't actually cook that much, but it did make me want to spend more time in the kitchen. Cooking in butter. Or just plain eating butter. I definitely want to try the Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

All in all, a great Friday night. I'm glad I went to see it. Sometimes the best movies are the ones you had no intentions of seeing.