Anniversary Threads

B and I celebrated three years earlier this month.  We celebrated with our traditional dinner (Domenica, yum) and movie (Fruitvale Station - go see it).

Club Monaco dress
Dolce Vita sandals
Jewelmint Collective bracelet (total Cartier knockoff)
Stella & Dot Signature hoops

Make A Statement with Stella

I held a Stella & Dot trunk show at my house before my birthday party back in May and have since been hooked on the jewelry.  I'm a huge fan of their necklaces.

Joe Fresh shorts

Tank from Fab, sorry, can't remember the brand

Rebecca Minkoff handbag (obsessed)

Dolce Vita archer sandals

Stella & Dot Carmen Necklace, $158

Really old Old Navy dress 

same shoes

Stella & Dot Lilith Fringe Necklace, $69 (on sale!)

I loved hosting the trunk show because it was no sweat off my back and I got jewelry credits.  I'm doing an online trunk show that goes through September - so if anything strikes your fancy, shop away using this link!  Here are a few things I'm looking at:

Carobella hoops, $16, on sale!

Sutton necklace, $129

Nancy studs, $24

Rebel Pendant necklace, $79

Sanibel pendant, $69

Gone to the Dogs

Visited the No Fleas Market while taking a break from writing my dissertation and was informed that the French Sole boutique that closed in the Shops at Canal Place donated a bunch of shoes.  I picked up a pair of Yosi Samra flip flops for both myself and my mom for $7.50 each.  They sell for $50 at piperlime and shopbop.   I'd say I got a deal.

A portion of sales from the No Fleas Market go to charities like Dogs of the 9th Ward and Animal Rescue of New Orleans, Gus' saviors.  Visit the market for some killer deals and to fund a worthy cause.

5ive Days in Oahu

I went to Hawaii for the annual American Psychological Association convention.  I have had a blast exploring Honolulu and beyond.  For posterity, here is a quick list of how I spent my time.

Day 1
Arrived at 6am.  Took a cab.  Rookie mistake.  Should have used Roberts shuttle service and saved myself $30.

Registered at the conference.  Did some conferencing (e.g., networked, watched a couple presentations,  and bought some touchy-feely nerdy stuff).

Got a massage.

Headed to Lanakai beach.  It was unbelievably beautiful.  Turquoise water and gentle waves.  It was heaven.

Ate at Keo, a thai place - yum!

Day 2
Woke up at 6, because that's what happens when you're 5 hours behind.  Side note -- I got 8 hours of sleep every night of this trip.  8.  Hours.

Breakfast and last minute presentation touch-ups at The Coffee Bean.

Did our presentation.  Rocked it.

Abandoned the conference for good.

Ate some mochi.

Relaxed at the beach by Hole Kala, right outside Fort Derussy Park.  Beautiful, albeit rocky, water.  Went way, way out in the ocean.  Loved it.  Savored a mai tai.

Shopped up and down Kalikuah Ave like a boss.  Got B & H matching Hawaii gear.  Found the best store ever -- Brandy & Melville.  It's like a cheap All Saints.  Got a maxi skirt and crop tops (!!!) - I figure I can pull them off if they're long enough on the sides.  We'll see.

Day 3

Scuba diving with Rainbow Scuba.  Had mad trouble equalizing but it was totally worth it - I definitely needed to refresh my skills in preparation for the Philippines this December.  Also swam with turtles. New favorite animal.

Got a burger from Kua 'Aina - delicious.  Stopped at Nordstrom Rack.  Refrained, somehow.  Though I did end up with a new pair of MbMJ aviators.  35$!

Met an old professor and friend at Rum Fire for a sunset rum punch.  He gave me some excellent internship advice.

Accidentally walked the wrong way down Kalikuah Avenue away from my hotel; as a result, saw some insane shopping that is very condensed- Waikiki has really gotten the treatment due to an influx of tourists from Japan.  And I'm grateful - the window displays at Marc Jacobs, Fendi, Chanel, Prada, etc. etc. were multiply entertaining.

Bought some ridiculously big, flowy pants from a teeny place called Island Sweetie.

Day 4

Got some breakfast, free wifi, and advice from the Hiking Cafe.  Highly recommend it.

Hiked to Manoa Falls.  It was beautiful, and not at all a bad hike, even for this anti-hiker.

Reveled in the pool and jacuzzi at the hotel.

Ventured back down the big avenue to hit up half price appetizers at Sensei.  Was 9th in line for the bar!

Ate some more mochi.

Walked back to the hotel alone the shoreline.  I love that you can do that in Waikiki.

Day 5

Woke up early and headed to the beach, since I enjoyed my walk so much the night before.  Spent lots of time in the water outside the Hawaiian Village, and at the Duke Kahanaloku lagoon.

Contemplated more mochi.  Addicted to the stuff.  My favorite is chocolate espresso.

Checked out of my hotel and spent most of the day at cafes getting some work done, and maaaaybe did a little more shopping at the Ala Moana Center.

I loved my mommy alone-time.  I love my family more, but the break, as you can see, was nice.

I Read A Book.

And it wasn't related to to stress, trauma, social emotional learning, or psychology in general!  I read a bona fide novel, and in one sitting.

Vendela Vida's Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name.  And it was very good.  Better than And Now You Can Go.    Both stories are about a tortured girl on a journey.  But LTNLEYN delves more into identity, and it's sad, pretty, and ends with grace.  I won't bother with real details - if you're interested, go google it.

I'm writing this post more to express the fact that I need to read more.  I enjoy it, I'm fast, and I feel like I accomplished something for myself when I'm finished.  I've only ever read one book straight through like this in one sitting (the Harry Potter series doesn't count)  - Janet Fitch's White Oleander (oddly enough, i'd use the same description above to summarize it).

I'd love to sit here and make a promise to read more.  But I won't, because with Henry, and with school, there are just no guarantees.  But I am going to sit here and mull over the story I just read and fantasize about the next time I economize my time well enough to read an entire book in an acceptable period of time (e.g., not wait so long that I forget how it started).

OMG. NMH. IN NOLA.

I love my life and I love my city but I don't get to go to nearly as many shows as I did in New York or Philadelphia.  That's thanks to being way down here, where not every tour comes through (don't get me wrong, it's not like the music scene isn't bumpin in other ways).  But guys, I just got my tickets to Neutral Milk Hotel at the Civic in February -- wheeee!

I love NMH.  In the Aeroplane Over the Sea was the only album I listened to all the way through while I was in labor.  

A few other bands are rollin through that won't need much convincing for me to go; in fact, I already have tix to the Lumineers.  Any takers for the other shows?  Especially the two at Tip's.

09/21

Man Man - Howlin' Wolf

10/01

Aimee Mann + Ted Leo - Tipitina's

10/03

Sigur Ros - Champions Square

10/05

Jimmy Eat World + Matt Pond - House of Blues

10/16

The Lumineers + Dr. Dog + - Lakefront Arena

11/13

The Head and The Heart + - Tipitina's

And to top if off, VooDoo Fest this year is a total high school throwback for me - Pearl Jam, NIN, and Alkaline Trio are among the acts.  That's high school and beyond.  

And finally, these two things exist.  Would probably not go to either, but for different reasons.  But seriously...how amazing?