World According to Shia

Originally Posted 5/10/11 I am really bad at buying items and only wearing them in one particular outfit.  Also, how many times do you buy something new that looks like something you already own?   So I thought enough is enough I am going to do a little "shopping" in my very own closet.  So last night I came up with 5 new outfits in just 20 minutes. So I started with this skirt which I bought on  clearance at Banana Republic about 3 years ago. A) Nine West - bought at an outlet on "sale" about a year ago. B) Ann Taylor Loft - bought on clearance about a year ago. C) Worthington - bought on clearance at JCPenneys about 3 year ago.  This is a great Monday outfit because with minimal  effort it is a cute and polished office outfit. A) Ann Taylor Loft embellished tank- I bought this as part of my "looking at engagement rings outfit" I have never worn it without the sweater I bought for  that outfit...

Originally Posted on March 25, 2011 So if you are like me…getting a good deal is your passion in life.  However, when is a deal a deal?  There seems to be so many ways to “save” money but are you actually saving any money?  Coupons – They are all the rage at the moment.  There are entire blogs and websites devoted to coupons.  However you only save money when you use a coupon for something you need and usually buy.  Coupons are like little cut out advertisements – they entice you to buy items that you don’t normally buy because you’ll say to yourself – “it’s okay I have a coupon for it.”  Of course if you are a coupon queen and you are saving tons on every item you use – than good for you but in reality most people are just getting duped into buying crap they don’t need just because they have a coupon. Clearance Items – This can be hit or miss.  I’ve found some great deals on clearance of stu...

Originally Posted on January 3, 2011 So how many of you have old clothes in your closet that you're keeping for who knows what reason?...too small - will fit one day...too big - will fit one day, etc. Well since I have cleaned out my closet, I've noticed that Paul has clothes that he is holding on to. People he has STONE WASHED JEANS - and yes they are HIDEOUS as they sound and some of the other pieces of clothing are just as HILARIOUS. There is a vest! YES SHIA SAID VEST!!!! You thought stonewash was hilarious .... I can tell you that he'll NEVER wear any of this stuff but it's just comical that men hold on to old clothes too. But trust me....FUNNY STUFF. Also, it's just amusing to know that those quirky things that women do....MEN DO THEM TOO!  So, next time your guy is giving you a hard time about your wardrobe or hoarding stuff. Look in their closet...it's definitely entertaining to say the least. What hilarious stuff does your guy hold onto? ...

Thank you all for your comments while I'm on vacation.  This is literally the first chance I had to actually sit down and really look at my blog {only because it is raining}.  Paul and I have been on the go go GO our entire vacation but you'll have to wait until I come back to see and hear all about it.  I just wanted to jump on and give a quick shout out to all of you reading and enjoying my blog montage.  I really appreciate all your support! Well there's a few days of the montage left and I have tons of entries to read on all of your blogs...but don't worry I'll catch up with all of you when I return. ♥ Shia

Originally Posted on March 23, 2011 istockphoto So we all have bad habits….mine as I have said is too much tv and going to Starbucks.  Bad habits can really be anything…nail biting, always saying yes instead of saying no like you want to, always being  5 minutes late, gossiping, facebook & twittering too much, over texting and of course things that are bad for your health like smoking, overeating, drinking and drug use.  Here are some tips to help break a bad habit: Identify your bad habits:  Compare yourself to your value standards – are you living up to your standards?  Look for the things that you consistently do that don't live up to your own standards – those are your bad habits. Listen up:  There are two sides of us inside – think of it like the cartoons with the character with the little angel and devil on his shoulder questioning which one to listen to.  If you keep listening to the little devil – its voi...

Originally Posted on September 18, 2010 So, while recuperating from my mini bike adventure (click here to read) I decided to watch Season 1 of Bored to Death. It’s a pretty good series on HBO. It’s about a writer who decides to be an unlicensed private detective on the side. Anyways, I digress. So of course while watching this NYC based show I look at the female characters and see that they have style and I’ve thought…what’s my style and do I have style?  Okay honestly I’m thinking…no I have no style. I just buy what fits or is on sale. Does that make style? I see these characters and I see that they have planned out outfits down to accessories, etc. I’ve just never been that type of girl who is going to pay $29.99 or MORE for some plastic jewelry to accessorize my outfit. I mean to me jewelry is important not something plastic.  For our first Christmas Paul bought me a three stone diamond pendant necklace. I wear this EVERYDAY because it means something to...

Originally Posted on July 12, 2011 So I read recently three tips on knowing if you are buying a fake designer handbag.  Well chances are if you are buying it off the street in NYC or from your local flea market it is indeed a fake.  Would you buy a fake?  Before you rush off and say no....what if you are getting a fake bag that looks real for under $20.  I'm not stating to purchase something for $100 that you indeed know is fake, but what if it was cheap and fake.  Would you care?   If you go to NYC, you will get hit up from countless people trying to get you to buy a purse from them.  I bought a purse from a guy near Battery Park.  It was a black coach bag and had the actual store tags on it. I doubted it was fake...five finger discount maybe...or maybe it was fake, but for $15...who cares!  Plus, I now have a funny NYC street story to tell.  Also, if it is so horrible to have these bags on the market, why are there tons of them on s...

Originally Posted on March 12, 2011 So I am the queen of knowing what products work.  I've tried practically everything and if there's a convincing ad - I'll try it at least once.  My sisters and friends have received many of my cast offs.  The bathroom used to be a nightmare - there was just so much under the sink and most of it was I never used.  So I pick through it - throw away the absolute crap and then give the rest away.  Things still get a little out of hand but now everything under the sink is actual stuff I use.  I've really narrowed down the products I use and now I rarely buy something new to try because what I use REALLY works.  However, occasionally there will be a new product bought.  The other morning I was getting ready for work and there was a pretty deep line on my face near my eye.  The first thing I thought was OMG I need botox which I literally found hilarious because I disapprove of any sort of plastic surgery but ...

Originally Posted on March 31, 2011 Have you ever thought about snooping?  You have a shady boyfriend and you want to look through all of his stuff the second he leaves you alone in his house.  Think before you snoop because you might find that dreaded something you're looking for. Also, why are you snooping?  If he's keeping something from you and you have a gut feeling....that is enough to go on.  You don't need validation for a couple of reasons.  First, he'll flip the script on you...you're now the guilty party for snooping and second, if you find something there's no way you can forget it and move on without telling him you snooped. Good relationships are built on trust.  If you ask yourself...can I trust him and the answer is no...then this is not a good relationship.  Sure we all lie to ourselves and try to make that not so special guy "the one" but sometimes you just need to realize...he's not "the one" and move o...

Originally Posted on June 12, 2011 New Redken Products I Am Using.... A) Curl wise - This works great on styling naturally curly hair.  Just apply and let it dry naturally it has a little bit of hold so the curls stay put. B) Thickening Lotion ~ This works great when blow drying.  It adds volume. C) Shine Flash ~ I love love LOVE this stuff.  It is basically shine serum in a spray.  I normally hate any kind of shine serum because I just think it makes my hair look greasy in one spot and that it doesn't move well through my hair so it ends up clumping to my roots and making my hair look greasy.  This stuff is great because you can evenly cover your hair with shine without the build up in one spot. D) Glass ~ Okay so I know I just said that I hate shine serum...however I just received a tip from a hairstylist to try it in wet hair.  Since I bought this and never use it because of what I posted above I thought I would give it a try. ...

Originally Posted on March 26, 2011 So I think like most chicks I am obsessed with my hair.  Currently my hair is at the longest it has been for a decade and I want to get a trim but live in fear of any length being cut off.  So instead I am obsessed with taking care of it and of course making it look good.  So here are some products I use and they really work.     1) Redken Quick Dry 18 Hairspray - Before trying this hairspray...I thought hairspray was hairspray no difference. Not only does this hairspray live up to it's name but it doesn't get stiff yet it holds great. I use this when I curl my hair with the curling iron. I'll curl my hair, style it and then spray it and tada....Kardashian Hair! When you first spray it on it seems like oh no stiff but within seconds it's the slight stiffness disappears. {Price - I only buy Redken products from Ulta when they run Buy 2 Get One Free - 14.95; if you don't have an Ulta - check y...

Originally posted March 22, 2011 So recently I had a friend laugh when she reached in my bag to grab my car key for me.  She teased and said that I was like a little girl playing grown-up because my huge bag had three things in it...key, wallet and phone.  It is true that day I pulled out a bag from my closet and tossed in my cell and wallet and headed out of the house.  I will say that at the time I wasn't carrying a purse everyday.  I was just lugging my damask gym bag to work.  I recently got a new bag and I've been working on my blog at lunch so no need for the damask gym bag at the moment.  So here's what is currently in my bag.... 1) This notebook contains my blogs in the works.  Basically it is a title with a brief outline of what direction I am looking for and then when I blog I just fine tune it. 2) My Ipod - I actually wore it all day at work - it really helped tuning out loud co-workers.  I also have some earplugs in my purse...I gu...

Originally posted 10/28/09 Okay I have no clue who this chick in the picture is but you will understand why I googled and found this picture. I once read in Seventeen magazine how to cut your own bangs. The instructions were comb down your bangs and then gather them and twist (just like my assistant over here on the left ... thank you whomever you are and check out her how to instructions ) then cut. Viola "straight" bangs. Well honestly this trick really did work but I have curly hair so any imperfections might have been hidden by the curl. Anyway it seemed to work. Well now (as you can see from my profile pic) I sport the side bang with my straight hairdo so will the Seventeen trick work now?  Well I have been letting my hair grow out so I have refrained from going to get a trim for fear that the stylist would cut off all the new growth (which seemed to be happening every time I got a trim no matter how much I pleaded for the lenght not to be touched). So the ...

Originally posted 10/3/10 So it finally seems like fall is right around the corner. As another year begins to wind down I would like to stop for a second and just enjoy the moment. Every year there seems to be highs and lows. The holidays wrap up and start the new year fresh. What's to stop us from just pausing for a moment and enjoying it now?  When I think of fall, I think of cooler weather, cozy weekends and comfort foods. It's such a pleasant thought isn't it? I think Floridians really don't grasp the true essence of fall. Sure it's 80 out with a nice breeze and it doesn't feel like 150 when you go outside but I seriously miss those northern things that make you think of fall. The trees turning brilliant colors of yellow, orange and red. Apple cider being sold at the stores or on the road side. Man I miss the North! So since we're in a cozy place think about what the last 9 months have brought. If you're someone (like me) who thinks i...