by the by

I'm moving...

2009-08-20T12:40:00.000-07:00

not boxes and bubble wrap moving (quite yet) but blog moving! my new company has a great blogging platform so I'm heading over there...don't worry, aside from a few aesthetic changes, nothing about my little blog will be different. still the same old random ramblings from little old lo. come on over to bytheby.onsugar.com!

need a job?

2009-08-17T16:49:00.000-07:00

you should borrow this top.

my friend T borrowed this shirt for an interview a few weeks ago and she got the job. I wore it to an interview last week and I got the job (!). it's now the lucky interview shirt. let me know if you need it.

and by the by, I can't even explain my excitement. because it's a really cool job. and I'm beyond excited.

albeit jewelry

2009-08-17T15:37:00.000-07:00

aren't these dainty little necklaces adorable? I love thin gold chains with small charms (like the viv&ingrid necklace K got me that I get asked about every single day). these are a new take on initial necklaces, since the letter is part of the chain, not hanging from it...love it! the line is called albeit and you can buy them here.

via

2009-08-14T20:05:00.000-07:00

friday flashback

2009-08-13T22:30:00.000-07:00

a few weeks ago when I was in LA for work, my friends and I went to the penthouse for drinks. it's on the top floor of the huntley hotel in santa monica. the views are amazing and at sunset hour their apps are only $7.

in case you couldn't tell, those are not my pics. the iphone is amazing, but not that amazing. below are shots from my visit. and yes, those halibut ceviche tostadas were delish.

classy fox

2009-08-13T22:11:00.000-07:00

I generally feel like megan fox tries too hard to say ridiculous things that will get eaten up by the press which annoys me. I also generally think that she looks a bit trashy with all her tummy baring shirts, thigh high slits, and visible tattoos. alas, the exception. she's looking downright classy in this pic.

illustrations

2009-08-13T00:00:00.001-07:00

I could wander through garance dore's illustrations (ok, entire blog) for hours. perhaps I could commission her to do an illustration of me? or perhaps she only does illustrations of impossibly chic french women?

house tour: sea of shoes

2009-08-11T21:12:00.001-07:00

we all know the fabulous jane from sea of shoes (see her shoes above), and now we get to know where she lives. of course her mom, judy, is to credit for the fabulousness of their chic yet comfortable texas home.

some of my faves include the louis ghost chairs (all 6 of them!), the liberal use of sheepskin, and the unique lighting fixtures. for more pics...

happy weekend!

2009-08-07T15:46:00.000-07:00

via

I wouldn't mind working here

2009-08-07T08:42:00.000-07:00

my friend A (yes the blackhearted one) works at this awesome space in santa monica. when I was in LA earlier this week my other friend A and I stopped by her office to have lunch. I loved the place so much I just had to take some pictures (hello, picture walls!)

did I mention that they also have a fully stocked kitchen, ping pong table upstairs, get to order in lunch every day, and are encouraged to wander online? I think I need to change jobs.

leave a note

2009-08-06T11:32:00.001-07:00

aren't these hilarious?! they are business card size notes to leave on the windshield of cars parked so horribly that they make it impossible for you to get in to your car or out of your space. or just ridiculously enough to warrant a note.

move over gwenyth

2009-08-05T14:48:00.000-07:00

rachel zoe's new daily newsletter started filling up inboxes this week. I must admit, I am enticed by the frequency of zoe's lifestyle newsletters, but she could never knock gwyneth off the pedestal that I have so carefully placed her on. yes, sometimes goop gets a little full of themselves from up there, but I sincerely love her thoughtful and interesting topics.

good thing I don't have to pick between the two because I am also a huge fan of rachel zoe. i die for her show, and it's pretty much bananas that I have a glamorous new daily read to add to my list.

I'm in love

2009-08-05T00:33:00.001-07:00

isn't she beautiful? and at only $584 it's quite the steal, no? perhaps I'm delusional (my mom would make that definitely) but I would say any high quality, amazing leather handbag under a thousand qualifies as such. especially one as perfect for my pyramid stud obsession as this one.

I'm also seriously loving the clutch version, but at $444 it's a little much for something that has the potential to be lost/left during a long night out. check out more novella royale.

I don't have a car...

2009-08-04T10:28:00.000-07:00

...but if I did, it would be this one.

via

wilfred.

2009-08-03T23:45:00.000-07:00

have you been to aritzia? the canadian based boutique opened in sf about a year ago with a nice mix of well known (marc by marc, juicy, twelfth street, etc.) and their own brands. I bought one of my favorite alexander wang style pocket tees there a while back and have loved (and worn) it quite a bit ever since. it's by their in house brand wilfred that's not too expensive, good quality, and has a great fit. I'm anxiously waiting for their fall collection to hit the website in a few weeks.

2009-07-31T16:14:00.000-07:00

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friday flashback

2009-07-31T10:14:00.000-07:00

the sf marathon was last sunday and it made me realize just how pathetic it is that this time last year I could run 13 miles no problem and now 5 would be tough. my friend T and I ran the half marathon portion of the sf marathon as part of our training for the nike women's full marathon last year. since completing the full marathon last october, I have run approximately twice. one 10k fun run on thanksgiving, and a 3 miler with friends in february. anyways, memories from when I was in shape...

T and me. mile 1 in the dark, cold, morning.

almost to the finish line, about 3.5 hours later. no longer smiling.

delirious after the finish. pure exhaustion and excitement.

our loyal supporters.

we did it!

looking back at these pics makes me feel ready to train for something. I still feel a huge sense of accomplishment for finishing a whole marathon and seeing the photos makes me remember how great it felt that my body could do such a thing. I definitely needed a break after the full, especially since I trained for most of it alone. let me just say that running 18 miles or so by yourself with no music is not something you want to be doing, nonetheless doing every sunday morning for weeks. training with a friend or a group is much more motivating and entertaining. maybe I can con my friend T into training for something with me when she moves to the city next month?

i {heart} k

2009-07-31T00:13:00.000-07:00

for bringing me flowers for no particular reason.

from my favorite flower shop no less.

where do I get one of these?

2009-07-30T16:05:00.000-07:00

barney's blowout

2009-07-30T10:41:00.001-07:00

so my friend H and I arrived bright and early at the warehouse sale this (dreary) morning.

there was a small line that went quickly. but it really wasn't as packed as I thought it would be. I guess people really do work in this city.
things were pretty well organized. RTW was by size and designers were grouped together. (ps who brings a stroller to a warehouse sale?)
designer pieces were marked down a little more than RTW it seemed. sadly no bags really. shoes were hit and miss. if you wear a size 5 though, you're probably in luck.
they also have a pretty awesome men's selection that isn't so difficult to dig through.
overall not the most amazing warehouse sale. the markdowns weren't that impressive and if you went to barney's sale in their stores a few weeks ago, you've pretty much already seen everything.

but if you are going to go (and you should, if just for the thrill of shopping a warehouse sale) you definitely need to go in with a plan. some of my tips for successful warehouse/sample sale shopping:
1. if you can, go in the morning when everything has been cleaned up from the night before.
2. wear a cross body bag. you need both hands free.
3. bring a friend. you need someone you trust to help you make quick decisions.
4. grab everything you see that catches your eye to try on. if you wait, it'll be gone.
5. wear a tank and cute undies. you'll be changing in front of people.
6. only buy things you love. don't confuse a great price with a great piece.
7. have fun. warehouse/sample sales are all about the thrill of a great deal. even if you find 1 thing it's worth it.
pics of my (few) spoils to come...

in a word. adorable.

2009-07-29T21:25:00.001-07:00

I had the day off yesterday and my friends C and J played hookie from work (!) so we went to see a matinee.

this movie came highly recommended by our blackhearted friend A. let me give you some background. we started calling her blackhearted because she hated the movie the holiday. who didn't love that movie?! but, after her last two movie reviews, we are sure that her black heart is melting and she will love all romcoms from this point forward. she gave raving reviews of the ugly truth and then called 500 days of summer adorable. well let me tell you, she was right (about both).

zooey deschanel is probably part of the reason the movie fit under the adorable category. so imagine my excitement when I opened up the new instyle and there she was. her adorable little self.

she's definitely adorable in the movie, in real life,
and in real magazine spreads.
she makes me want to keep my bangs. which I am in the (excruciating) process of growing out.
other adorable looking movies I can't wait to see...

*the time traveller's wife (if you haven't read the book yet, you must)

* julie & julia

*post grad (yes I'm a dork)

*funny people

someday I'll be able to put holes in my walls

2009-07-29T09:59:00.000-07:00

and there will be a lot of them.

I love the look of mismatched frames, paintings, photos, and mirrors hanging artfully together on a wall. it seems haphazard but there really must be a science to getting all those different pieces to look like they belong together. kind of like a puzzle that doesn't fit perfectly but you still know what it's supposed to be. I think carrie bradshaw's updated room (below) in the satc movie is a great example of the impact that a grouping of frames can have in a space.

photos via, via

2009-07-28T08:34:00.000-07:00

dear gillian,

2009-07-27T22:20:00.000-07:00

what were you thinking? first you break reid's little heart because he just wasn't ready to say I love you. even though, obviously, he loved you. then you reject kiptyn and his six pack. based on what? oh, that he took too long to tell you his feelings. are you so dense that you can only tell if someone loves you if they say the words out loud? then reid gave you another chance to make the right choice by giving you exactly what you wanted, a proposal. and yet again, you send him home.

now you are left with ed. seriously? ed? just because he was the only one that committed to a proposal doesn't mean he's the right one. I mean, he couldn't even get it up. that is a red flag in my book. not to mention that he can't match his own clothes, and clearly is a workaholic with no friends. good luck with that.

but I will thank you for giving us two great options for the next bachelor. watching either reid or kiptyn every monday night will definitely be worth my time.

the sale of the season

2009-07-27T15:01:00.000-07:00

it's about time this city got some sample sale love. I went to their warehouse sale in ny a few years back and it is definitely worth a trip (or two).
see you thursday morning!

miss moss

2009-07-27T09:27:00.000-07:00

does kate moss never age? she is the essence of young, careless, and stylish in this french vogue spread.

also, please note her hair. that's where I'm trying to go, with the length anyway. of course there won't be any body or wave like hers but I've accepted my fine, stick straight hair at this point. it just can't grow fast enough. I'm dying for long locks. kind of like katherine heigl in the ugly truth after she gets extensions. they just looked fabulous. and by the by, the movie (and bree) was quite funny. definitely a must see. not even a total chick flick. lots of shocking sexual things coming out of gerard's mouth, so definitely enjoyable for the men as well.

happy weekend to you

2009-07-25T09:48:00.000-07:00

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friday flashback

2009-07-24T12:19:00.000-07:00

K flew down to LA today to catch a special screening of his sister's movie and go to a swanky LA afterparty for the cast. I am supremely jealous and sad (sorry bree!) that my work didn't allow me to make the trip (surprise, surprise). anyways, work frustrations aside, not only will he get to see the movie but he'll most likely be enjoying some beach time as well.

K and I both love the beach, ocean, and all things water. he's a great beach/pool companion because unlike most guys, he's content to lay out for hours without getting too restless. it might have something to do with the fact that he enjoys getting a nice tan (and tans so easily, damn native american) and maybe not so much with getting quality lo time, but I'm content to believe it's the latter.

this photo is from 2007 when we went to hawaii without my M+T accidentally (that's a whole other flashback story) to celebrate my college graduation.

so wishing I was on the beach right now. I would even settle for anywhere warm enough to wear a bathing suit. or a tank top. short sleeves even.

compost or die

2009-07-24T08:49:00.000-07:00

these are of course the words of my mom, a master gardener who has been composting since way before it was cool to be green and has been on me about san francisco's "mandatory" composting law (that I prefer to think of as voluntary) since I moved. but who wants to compost when the kitchen pail the city provides looks like a little mini green hazardous waste hospital container? well I guess I have no more excuses now that I've discovered this classy composting pail on one of my favorite blogs, domestic reflections.

it actually looks nice enough to put on the kitchen counter, making it much more likely to be used if it's sitting right in front of us. I think I'll order one. and I'll let you know how it goes.

I've been digging deeper into domesticreflections since there's been a lack of new posts for a while now. I'm really crossing my fingers that she'll return soon. come back jora! we miss you! another of my finds while browsing her blog...this glass bottle.
one of my favorite beverages, lorina lemonade, comes in this kind of bottle and I always thought I'd just have to buy the drink and peel off the labels to get the bottles. but, alas, they can be purchased brand new! such a great way to make any beverage, water included, a little more fancy.

2009-07-24T03:46:00.000-07:00

why am I still awake right now?

it feels like fall

2009-07-23T14:26:00.000-07:00

I know most of you are sweating through 80, 90 and even 100 degree days in your normal summer climates, but here in the city it feels more like mid november. it's overcast, chilly, and a bit foggy (big surprise). to be honest, it hasn't been the most unwelcome change in my book. I like the outfit variety it allows me (shorts on sunday, cashmere coat on monday). and it's got me dreaming about fall fashion and wondering exactly what I'll be needing to add to my cold weather wardrobe this year.

after browsing the fall rtw collections and zeroing in on one of my favorites, phillip lim 3.1 (above), I think I'll be needing booties, some type of embellished vest (sequins, fur, fringe etc.), something sequined (if not the vest), and perhaps a modernish cocoon cape-like coat. of course this is a working list. expect additions and changes.

see this: the ugly truth

2009-07-23T10:04:00.000-07:00

this much anticipated rom-com comes out on friday. I've already bought my ticket.

cutoffs

2009-07-22T15:43:00.001-07:00

via, via

2009-07-22T13:00:00.000-07:00

via

from blog to book

2009-07-21T15:00:00.000-07:00

scott's new book is on preorder now and comes out in stores aug 12. I'm quite excited about the pages upon pages of inspiration that it will contain. not to mention it will look nice on my coffee table. if you don't want shell out the dough for a copy, all $16 of it, you can get some of the same great images from his blog. which, if you haven't already visited, you probably should after you get out from under that rock.

bree's favorites

2009-07-21T10:16:00.000-07:00

aside from being a great actor/dancer/all around performer (you should see her in a game of guesstures) bree is a fabulous person. always funny, never predictable, very generous, super sweet, and definitely cool. I'm lucky enough to consider her family, which is how I got her to put together this list of favorites while crazy busy promoting her new movie, the ugly truth. bree's picks...

L.A. is an exciting, authentic and enigmatic place to live. Here are my top 10 favorite places in the City of Angels...

1. Griffith Observatory

2. The Rose Bowl Flea Market
3. Larchmont Beauty Supply
4. Cinespia Cemetery Screenings
5. OK on 3rd
6. Cantaloop Yogurt
7. Grauman's Chinese Theater
8. Sushi Nozawa
9. The Grove
10. Harvelle's Blues Club

fresh produce

2009-07-20T14:50:00.000-07:00

I think my love of farmer's markets began on warm wednesday nights in college when we went for the food stands, live music, outdoor drinking, and kettle corn rather than the fresh produce. these days I shop farmer's markets because the fruits and veggies are less expensive (sometimes), often organic, more green (because they came from over the bridge, not across the country), support local farmers (and economy), and are at their peak freshness when they reach your kitchen. so whether you're going for the food, fun, or freshness, check out your local farmer's market (like I did this weekend) and don't forget your reusable bag!

coming to you live...

2009-07-20T10:38:00.000-07:00

...from my new computer!

me and my dell have done just fine for the last, oh, six years (the last two of those have been without the "c" key). I got it when I went to college and remember the debate at the time was whether to buy a desktop or a laptop, with the laptop winning out. so after seeing me through the invention of facebook, countless college papers, lots of aim chatting, multiple itunes purchases, and the beginning of this blog, I am finally leaving the dell behind and moving on to the mac. made possible of course by the generosity of my M+T (thanks!), the nice mac guy that let me use my old college id for the student discount, and some additional personal funding, I am the proud new owner of a macbook (pro).

red carpet style: bree turner

2009-07-19T22:20:00.000-07:00

dress. tadashi (love it!)

shoes. brian atwood

earrings. tiffany & co

husband. one in a million

oh happy weekend!

2009-07-17T15:04:00.000-07:00

I was like a normal monday thru friday worker this week. which means I have the whole wonderful weekend to sleep, read, brunch, lounge, sun, walk, wander, shop, nap, and play as I please. in no particular order, of course.
photo via

friday flashback

2009-07-17T14:19:00.000-07:00

my adorable little nephew ethan turns 4 next week. how did that happen?!?! when I have kids I'm going to freeze dry them so they never get older. that sounds morbid, but you know what I mean. my nieces and nephews aren't even mine and I can't believe how fast they've grown up. he's such a different little person now than he was in this picture. happy birthday little man!

keep calm...

2009-07-16T23:43:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty sure this poster could get me through anything from a bad day to a burnt dinner.
originally created as british propoganda during WWII and recently reproduced in many forms, this poster definitely resonates during these tough times. tough times or not, I really love the message and it would be so cute hanging in my apartment, wouldn't it? lucky for me sfgirlbybay sells hand silkscreened reproductions on her etsy site...and they're on sale!! I just can't decide between the green (shocking, I know) and the grey (god, I'm predictable).

boy

2009-07-16T11:01:00.000-07:00

boy by band of outsiders via

I love me a good jacket.

too good to be true

2009-07-16T09:22:00.000-07:00

have you seen this site?

I'm skeptical. and confused. are they real louboutins at a crazy insane discount? are they really good knockoffs? are they counterfeits? are they last year's styles and this is their outlet? I need to know if this is legit, because if so, I will be placing an order. anyone??

update: did some online research and yes. too good to be true. isn't it always? they are obviously counterfeits. and counterfeits are bad. I was blinded by the price.

2009-07-15T10:15:00.000-07:00

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book worm

2009-07-14T21:43:00.001-07:00

stocked up on some used books today. the great overland book co on webster is (sadly) going out of business by month's end. as if used books aren't already cheap enough, I got an extra discount for buying so many. has anyone read any of these? I'm quite excited about my varied selection of serious, not so, classics, and newbies. a book to suit every mood. I think I'll start with Genuine Authentic. it's about ralph lauren's life.

also, a quick review of my latest read The Middle Place. it was great. a quick, easy read, but heartwarming (there's got to be a less cheesy word for that, anyone?), funny, and honest. it's a memoir about being a parent and a child at the same time, hence the title. I imagine it'll be good to read again after I can actually relate to the being a parent part, but it still resonated with my kid/adult version of the middle place.

no human should ever eat this

2009-07-14T21:31:00.000-07:00

the bar that we went to on saturday night for drinking and dancing and singing just happened to be 2 doors down from the famous bob's donuts that I keep hearing so much about. our first order was just two donuts each. then we decided a dozen was much more economical. and just as she was closing our pretty pink box we spotted the giant chocolate round. that's when we decided to really live it up.

an armfull

2009-07-12T09:04:00.000-07:00

via jakandjil, seaofshoes

call your grandma

2009-07-11T11:00:00.000-07:00

old people don't get enough love. they are so cute and sometimes we forget about them. and sometimes we don't call our respective old people because we are busy. but maybe they aren't that busy.

and receiving your 2 minute phone call or 3 line letter would basically make them smile for the whole week. a shiny denture smile for a whole week would certainly be worth our time wouldn't it?
photos via sartorialist, around the bend

as long as I'm dreaming of far away places...

2009-07-10T10:09:00.000-07:00

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friday flashback: kauai photo album

2009-07-10T00:27:00.001-07:00

my kauai trip was about a month ago and I still can't stop dreaming about it. I guess living in the past isn't so bad when the past is hawaii right?
some memories from my trip that should make you more jealous that you weren't there and me more sad that I left.

"big wave dave" (as my dad refers to himself) on the beach. ps his name isn't dave

one of the many stunning sunsets from the 15th hole behind the house

sea turtles! they were quite the attraction swimming so close to shore

it's 5 o'clock somewhere. family happy hour in the hot tub

little gecko man crawling thru the house. these guys are everywhere. including my bed during my last visit.

this really is all you have to worry about in hawaii.

I love monkeypod trees. if not for their coolness, then for their name.

crazy sunset in an old town that made me feel like I was living in the past.

loved this japanese fishing glass. wish I had bought some to bring home.

this old record cover pretty much sums up how I feel about this place.

7pm on the dot...waiting for the sun to set on the 15th hole.

coffee trees as far as the ocean.

only in hawaii do they have orange lifegaurd towers.

riding bikes.

had to stop and enjoy the view.

waimea river. it doesn't get more green than this.

I could live here. no problem.

corny waterfall shot.

oh hawaii...until we meet again.

outfit inspiration

2009-07-09T13:28:00.000-07:00

photos via

do this: support small businesses

2009-07-09T09:15:00.000-07:00

have you heard of the 3/50 project?? it's all about supporting the independently owned businesses in your area by spending about $50 per month in 3 of your favorites (not $50 x 3, but $50 total). in these times, the businesses that hurt the most are the small ones. you know, the mom and pop deli down the street, the really cute boutique that carries your favorite brands, or the specialty store where you can get those hard to find items. whatever your favorite small business is, make an effort to stop by, say hi, and buy something that makes you smile. if we don't make an effort to keep them around, who will?

some of the spots that I'll make more of an effort to support are:
juicy news...a magazine shop that carries everything including european editions. haven't shopped there yet, but why not get my magazines there each month instead of safeway?
2354 fillmore street
natural market...I think I could spend $50 per month just at this place. it's beyond convenient, so even though it's a little pricey, I'll continue to pick up late night cravings, bottles of wine, and movie snacks here.
2201 pine street
serendipity boutique...I'm already pretty loyal to this boutique when I'm in sacramento. I did work there for 5 years after all. so I'll definitely keep making an effort to pop in every time I head that way.
5362 h street, sacramento ca
the bud stop...the best flower "shop" in sf. they're always my go to for special occasions, maybe now I'll stop by to make any old day a little more special.
union and fillmore
jest jewels...great go to place for a gift, or a little treat for yourself. the owners are sf natives and are very involved in promoting business on their street.
1869 union street
la canasta...awesome take out mexican food. owned by the same cute couple since 1987.
3006 buchanan

what's your favorite small business you wouldn't want to see with a closing sign in the window?

2009-07-08T23:19:00.000-07:00

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consolation prize

2009-07-08T12:06:00.001-07:00

all of my friends, and I mean all my friends (including my boyfriend) went to tahoe last weekend for the fourth. of course I had to work and couldn't go. so it's only fair that I got some sort of consolation prize right? I thought these very iconic american sunglasses were fitting. also they're polarized, and I've been wanting polarized lenses. and if I do say so myself, the gold frame looks quite nice against my blonde hair and (at the time) tan skin.
with this purchase, I would say my sunglasses collection is complete. I have a classic plastic tortoise shell pair that I've managed to not lose for about 4 years. I also have a really large, all black, more sporty pair that I sometimes think are too big. and now I have a classic gold metal framed pair. let's hope I can hang on to these three, or god forbid, I would have to replace them.

she's a total betty

2009-07-08T11:45:00.001-07:00

while we all wait patiently for the new season of mad men to start on august 16th, I thought this might help with the withdrawals. it's no secret that I have a girl crush on january jones, I think I let that out of the bag when I dressed up as betty draper for halloween last year.
she is hot. also betty draper is pretty f*ing awesome.

I ask myself, how does she rock a middle part without looking like white trash? which is what I look like when I attempt one. I guess I can just answer this myself. I'm not january jones, I get it.

photos via

shacking up

2009-07-08T11:40:00.000-07:00

living in sin, whatever you want to call it. there comes a time when a boy and a girl move in together. perhaps this is before marriage? I do not know. I do know that it must happen eventually on the road of a 6 years and counting committed relationship. but this is a first for me. so off to my trusty friends for advice. some have done it, some are doing it, and some can't even think that far ahead, but here are their words of wisdom:

I would TOTALLY do it again! it was honestly the best thing that we did for our relationship. I know that some people look at it as 'playing house', but we went into it with a more serious outlook. we knew that we wanted to be together and it was the best way to see if we would kill each other or not. and to be honest, the first 3 months were HELL. we both were at each others' throats. but we made it and I think that our relationship is the better for it. we learned that we have to work things out because there is no place to run. it's not like you can go back to your place if you get in a fight. we also found that there wasn't that first year of marriage hell that so many people talk about. we did that when we moved in, so we could just enjoy the new chapter in out lives and go with it.

***

I lived with my boyfriend in Hawaii for six months after graduating from college. Partly out of necessity (rent is insanely expensive in Honolulu) and partly out of not wanting to be alone (we didn't know anybody else). Aside from the logistical matters, I think we mostly did it for the adventure--and, we knew it would only be for six months.We had the time of our lives, it was very romantic. I looked forward to seeing him everyday when we got off work. We really had a blast and rarely fought. It was perfect-- but, with that said, we were basically playing house.
We've been living separately for almost a year and a half now, and both look back very fondly on the time we shared. But, we don't have plans to do it again. It was a test of both our individual characters and the strength of our relationship. It is a growing and learning experience, and I think you learn a lot about yourself, your partner and your relationship. You learn about communication and compromise, generosity, being selfish, how to make someone smile, you name it! It is a big commitment, but I think that times are changing, and we need to change with the times. If you feel ready to live with someone before you are married, you should do it!! I highly recommend!
***
I actually have mixed feelings on it. I definitely don't think it is bad before being married, because you need to test it out. Living together changes everything and you either are compatible or not. But I also think there should be no rush, especially if you see yourself spending the rest of your life with this person. This is the time to live with girlfriends or even on your own and have your own space even just to escape to sometimes. That is what I really miss. I have had an amazing time living with him. Just like everything in life, there are ups and downs. The main thing that influenced it right now was the financial aspect. We have had an amazing time together and it gives me hope and excitement for the future, but we are not getting married anytime soon so I think when I move I will try to live with friends or even myself to gain back some independence.
***
That scenario is so far from anything that resembles my life that I can't even begin to think about it...but, if you think about how many 'best friends' become enemies after living together, I think it's probably a good idea to test the waters before diving in.
***
I would have never married him if we didn't live together first. Staying over all the time is way different. Everyone has their strange little quirks and it is good to know how well you can live together before you get married (and then it's forever). I was lucky he is a very clean guy but if he was always leaving dishes in the sink and making a big mess well then we would have had to come up with compromises before we got married, but at least I knew how he was before I committed to forever. I would do it over again in a second. Just go for it especially if he is the one for you.

photo via

celebrating bloggers

2009-07-05T21:54:00.000-07:00

last week, holt renfrew (basically the barney's of canada) debuted six new windows. each an ode to a different fashion blogger. in case you didn't know, bloggers are pretty much taking over the world. some of them I read daily, others I've heard of, and a few are new to me. check out these awesome windows (not the best photos sorry) and if you haven't been to the corresponding blog already, you should go. they're getting international recognition for a reason.

jane aldrige from sea of shoes happens to be one of my favorites. she has incredibly unique style, is well travelled, designed a capsule shoe collection for urban outfitters, counts kayne west as one of her followers, and oh, did I mention that she is just 17 years old. seriously? I was interested in fashion at that age, but I still didn't know any better than to wear express jeans and bebe logo t shirts. it probably doesn't hurt that her mom is a former model who at one point had her own collection and now has a fab vintage site. anyway, you must check her out.

jak and jil is another of my daily reads. on tommy's blog "everyday is fashion week". which means everyday on his blog is my favorite day of the year. great photos.

ok so I guess I have more daily reads than I thought. street style blogs are some of my favorite, and the sartorialist is one of the best. mostly street style in nyc, but really from everywhere that fashionable and interesting people are.

I'll be adding this one to my list. garance dore is an illustrator from france who blogs about street style, her exciting life and travels, and most importantly, fashion. a little piece of france never ruined anyone's day.

I've apparently been missing out by not reading bryanboy. he's "a cult read in fashion circles" according to style.com, and now that I've visited his blog, I know why.
ps. he's gay, fillipino, and hilarious

with the name I want I got, I think we'll get along just fine. anita's a blogger from toronto who's been writing about fashion for quite some time and uses her blog to do more of the same. most posts are dedicated to shopping wants and sales. works for me.

photos via

happy fourth!

2009-07-03T23:36:00.001-07:00

coney island
july 4th, 2006

celebrate

2009-07-03T17:18:00.000-07:00

preferably by wearing some combination of red, white, and/or blue,

spending time with family and friends near water,

eating fruit (yes, strawberry shortcake qualifys),

and lighting sparklers.

via scherenshnitte, a cup of jo, the sartorialist, around the bend, and wide open spaces

one of those botticelli chicks

2009-07-03T10:46:00.000-07:00

stumbled upon this line in vogue. I'm really loving it. and my amazing/healing/horoscope reading friend T told me that I'm low on the metal element, so it's good for me to wear metals. like I really needed an excuse to add to my layered bracelet collection.

the mariner link (far right) is on my list. and out of my price range.

spent bullet casings on leather. love.

7 lucky spent bullet casings.

mixed metals.

this should perk you up

2009-07-01T09:08:00.000-07:00

don't you wish your underwear drawer looked like this? if you owned a lingerie boutique like mlle. frou frou, it probably would. she gave us a little sneak peak into her fabulously girly boudoir last week and I just had to share it's pink perfection.

mirrored anything makes a room more fabulous

fresh flowers don't hurt either

sign me up for a louis ghost chair please

check out her post for more pretty

welcome home, marc

2009-06-30T13:12:00.000-07:00

so I saw this beautiful bag at nordys when I was home the other week. of course they just happened to be having a huge sale on designer handbags and I obviously have trouble resisting a sale on classic, quality items that will last me forever, but somehow I managed to walk away empty handed. that is until the next day when after thinking about it all night I went right back to pick it up. to justify (obviously not hard for me to do), I have been needing a smaller bag since most of mine almost qualify as duffel sized. and trust me, I tried to satisfy this need with an inexpensive clutch but it just didn't do the trick. so I am now the proud owner of my first marc jacobs sans marc by. mine is black, but I'm really loving this color that I found online. it's also on sale, but the better deal is at nordys.

wellie style: glastonbury 2009

2009-06-29T23:38:00.001-07:00

images from style and vogue

wake up

2009-06-29T10:13:00.000-07:00

original art by

I love to sleep, and I especially love to sleep in. so it's probably perfect that my job allows me to sleep until about 10am if I so choose, and still be on time. generally, I get up with just enough time to get ready and leave. but lately I realized, I wouldn't mind a little morning time for myself before work. perhaps I can watch some morning shows, have a healthy breakfast, pack a lunch for the day, browse the internet, or catch up on some reading. so this week, I am going to wake up (and get out of bed) with plenty of time to do these leisurely things (hence the morning post). maybe my days will feel a little longer and less revolving around only work. do you have a morning routine that includes more than just running out the door for work?

quick trip

2009-06-28T22:01:00.000-07:00

after K's brother's 17th birthday party on saturday (remember that age??) and a little laying out at the country club on sunday morning (maintaining the tan, obvi), K and I drove to napa to meet my M+T for an early dinner at mustards grill. haven't been to napa in a while, so it was a welcome road trip, even if it was 100+ degrees! I almost fell asleep in the car on the way home...probably a sign that I ate/drank a little too much. can you blame me? there was wine waiting for me when we got to dinner, and have you been to mustards? there's no way not to eat too much. or perhaps that stop at chandon for a quick tasting before dinner wasn't so necessary...

my kind of place, they just throw the bread on the table for you.

ahi sandwich with pickled ginger. didn't even know I liked ginger till I tasted this.

cute little umbrella man fountain out front.

how is the food so good, you ask? probably because it comes from out here, a lovely garden on the property.

with sunflowers. big ones.

note to self: live somewhere with enough room that you can have raised planting beds.

did I mention the sunflowers?

K and me after dinner. very full.

friday flashback

2009-06-25T22:41:00.000-07:00

in honor of the late ed mcmahon, I just had to take it back to the 80's. star search was seriously the best show ever. basically paved the way for the all the talent shows of today (i.e. american idol, so you think you can dance etc.) and did it with such 80's pizazz.

I'll be going home more often

2009-06-25T22:10:00.000-07:00

if this is what it looks like!
I was home earlier this week for a late father's day celebration and my mom made me this delicious breakfast before I left. I think she knows how to keep me coming back...breakfast and french toast (vegan of course!) are two of my very favorite things.

vegan french toast:
1 cup rice milk
1/4 t vanilla
1/2 t cinnamon
thickly sliced whole wheat bread
combine all ingredients except bread in flat bottom pan. set bread slices in the pan, turning to soak each side. cook on griddle until each side is browned. serve with fruit and pure maple syrup. enjoy!

house tour: my bedroom

2009-06-25T21:02:00.000-07:00

a blog I sometimes visit via my sister's, hosts "show us where you live fridays" and this week it is master bedrooms. it's so much fun to peek into other people's houses so I thought I'd stop just looking at everyone elses and join in! since I rent an apartment and live with 3 other girls, my room is technically the living room, not quite a master bedroom, but it will have to do. welcome to my room!
this is looking in from the door to my room. I have the front room so my windows are large and the room is bright; I also love the original fireplace, it adds a lot of character. another favorite part of my room is the flokati rug. it sheds a lot and I have no idea how to clean it, but it's so fun, don't you think?
the paint "color" is great no? how did the owners know that I love anything in the gray, slate, mushroom, or mauve family? the painting on the right is from my mom. she painted and framed it just for me and it's been in every room I've lived in since the dorms in college. and yes, that is my blankie on the end of the bed. I stole it from my grandmas around 7 years old and haven't parted with it since.
there's a sneak peak at my "closet" on the right. since it's technically the living room, there is no actual closet, so I had to improvise.
a rolling rack for all my hanging items (and my robe collection in the front there), green baskets for all my jeans, loungewear, and workout gear. you didn't think that was it did you? there are plastic bins under my bed for the rest! my shoes are hanging on the back of my door and the ones that don't fit line the floor. my laundry hamper (black and white on the right) is from a great store called summerhouse in mill valley. it was pretty much the only thing in the store that I could afford.
the fireplace holds my tv, books, W magazine collection, pictures, and other special trinkets.

I love having pictures of family and friends in my room. it reminds me of all the memories and people I don't get to see all the time (like my la friends amy and tay in this pic). the green vase is murano glass from k and my trip to europe. we were on such a budget for the trip that it was quite a splurge even though it wasn't that expensive. we carried it for the last 2 weeks of our trip in backpacks and managed to bring it home in one piece!
here is my "office". my mom got me the table for 20 bucks at a store closing sale- great find! the dress form is "borrowed" from my mom and holds my scarves and some purses.
more memories and trinkets. lucite lamp and shade from target!

whoa

2009-06-25T20:53:00.000-07:00

this has been quite a week. first ed mcmahon, then farrah fawcett and now michael jackson. I guess it's true that bad things happen in threes. it's so surprising when someone dies who isn't really old or sick and you just have no warning. even though he seemed a little strange in the past years, how can you blame him? wouldn't you go crazy if you were that famous? famous doesn't even do him justice. he was a worldwide icon and a pop music legend. he will surely live on through his music.

michael jackson
august 28, 1958 - june 25, 2009

2009-06-25T10:21:00.000-07:00

via wordboner

sleep it off

2009-06-24T16:32:00.001-07:00

I know I'm not the only one who tosses and turns trying to fall asleep at night (or trying to stay asleep in the morning) so I thought I'd share this adorable find.

via sfgirlbybay

these sourdough sleepytime eyemasks are handmade in sf from vintage fabrics, lined with silk, and have a little lavender inside. the perfect sleep accessory!

the uniform project

2009-06-23T08:57:00.001-07:00

this girl has pledged to wear only one dress for an entire year. yes, I said one. if that's not ambitious, I don't know what is. I can barely wear the same jeans for a week without getting bored...

two months in and I'm very impressed. she's cute and obviously very creative. check out more on her daily blog, and learn about the great cause that her project is supporting.

via a cup of jo

kipling comeback

2009-06-22T17:22:00.000-07:00

I've never been a huge fan of anything kipling besides the monkey keychain (it turns out you don't have to buy a whole bag to get the keychain, they sell them for $9 on the website!), but after seeing a cute clutch from them in july's harpers I had to check out the website. here are some of my finds...

marla canvas bag

they're even doing message totes!

love the gray
leather at a great price

the classic duffel...with classic keychain

perfect little pink pouch

get ready for the cutest baby ever

2009-06-19T19:58:00.000-07:00

according to the web gossip that's been going around for a while now, gisele is pregnant. they are literally the 2 most beautiful people ever, and I'm pretty sure the universe will explode with the ridiculous cuteness of their baby. is it weird that I'm almost as excited to see this baby as I was to see my first niece and nephew?

like my new look?

2009-06-19T13:10:00.000-07:00

in case you hadn't already noticed, I have a new, beautiful header, thanks to my talented designer friend emily at frenchieandflea. what do you think?

friday flashback

2009-06-19T10:16:00.000-07:00

I hope this is a far in the past flashback for you. if not, it's time to get serious about sun damage people.

this sweet smelling lotion was my "sun protection" of choice growing up. I don't even think it has any spf. I might as well have rubbed baby oil all over my fair skin and spared myself the sticky sweetness of this overpriced browning lotion. did anyone else risk serious sun damage by using maui babe instead of spf?

that's what vacations are for

2009-06-17T22:13:00.000-07:00

eating, really? I know you are forgiven many things while on vacation, mainly food indulgences, but I just hate bringing back more unwanted pounds than unnecessary souvenirs, so I made a (apparently not so) good effort to keep things on the healthy side for this trip. the first few days we cooked at home and enjoyed fresh scallops... snacked on hummus and veggies...

and stuffed our own zucchinis...

and then... we stopped at mermaids in kapa'a for fish tacos...

ate the cake that I made for dad's birthday (now you know where I get the sweet tooth from)...

ordered smoked brisket (I know, gasp!) and beans and cole slaw and salad and cornbread...

and had chocolate cake and a corona for lunch (I think this was the low point)...

so in an attempt to redeem myself before heading back home, we got ahi from the market in town and had a fabulously fresh and healthy dinner...

luckily I didn't have my camera during all of my meals (the almond croissant breakfast, bread basket at the beach house dinner, the chocolate cake dessert at scotty's, etc.) but when the plane touches down tomorrow (and no sooner) the binge will finally be over and it'll be back to real life, and thankfully, real food.

this is what I'll be doing today if you need me...

2009-06-17T16:35:00.000-07:00

aside from the shark incident...

2009-06-17T11:41:00.000-07:00

...we had a great day on the east and north sides of the island.
first stop: the kilahuea lighthouse that sits out on the northernmost point of the main hawaiian islands and is one of kauai's most visited tourist spots.

then to hanalei for lunch at dad's favorite spot, tahiti nui. this is what you see while your eating on the front lanai. when there's been more rainfall that mountain is covered in waterfalls.

" the nui" is the oldest restaurant on kauai.

they still have the original carved barstools from over 50 years ago.

after lunch (and some bathing suit shopping in hanalei) we headed to tunnels beach. great snorkeling.

just watch out for sharks!

making our way back towards the south shore, we stopped in princeville at the queen's bath. it's an ocean fed pool that's been carved out of lava rock and when the tide's just right creates a calm swimming area. but when the tide's not right (usually in the winter months), and because the ocean is unpredicatable, it can be very dangerous. better to check it out from the lookout above.

last stop for dinner in kapa'a at scotty's on the beach.

shark attack

2009-06-16T23:22:00.000-07:00

more like heart attack. when I saw this guy while snorkeling at tunnels beach.

shark pictured isn't actual shark. I didn't have an underwater camera, and if I did there's no way I would have stuck around to get a pic.

I looked at him long enough to realize it was a shark, turn the other direction and swim as fast as I could to the sand. which took me much longer than I would have liked since we were pretty far off shore. a few minutes later, feet firmly planted in sand and heart still pounding, my dad swam in to inform me (and everyone else on the beach) that it was just a white tip reef shark (not a maneater) and it was one of the biggest he'd ever seen (over 5 feet long). he also asked if I wanted to head back out (hell no).

a beach house birthday

2009-06-16T23:08:00.000-07:00

for dad's big birthday we had dinner at the beach house restaurant. at sunset the tables are empty because everyone is outside taking pictures.

the perfect cover up

2009-06-15T13:29:00.003-07:00

the perfect cover up is just as important as the perfect bathing suit. you need something that is light enough to put on in the heat, relaxed enough to not stick to freshly sunscreened skin, cheap enough to not worry about, and cute enough to wear to the beach bar.
perhaps the most universally known beach cover up is the sarong. it meets all the qualifications of a great cover up: very lightwieght, easy to throw on, usually less than 20 bucks, and when tied correctly, pretty cute. but be careful, when chosen in a bad print, worn in a weird tied around the neck way, and accompanied by a puka shell necklace or plumeria in your hair you run the risk of looking like a hotel luau dancer or even worse a clueless tourist. best to stick with solid colors or small prints.
ok this one does not meet the price qualifiactions but since it's a great print, very wearable off the beach and comes with an optional belt, you might be able to justify the price tag. switch out the bathing suit for some sandals and wear it to dinner to get your money's worth.

alas, the perfect cover up. it's not meant to be but it is. it has pockets, comes in a bunch of colors and is machine washable. it's also one of my favorite velvet (brand) summer dresses.

island adventures

2009-06-15T12:33:00.001-07:00

on saturday we decided to head over to the west side to check out a beach that had just been reopened after some flooding during the winter. polihale beach is one of the largest on the island with 17 miles of uninterrupted sand. it lies at the base of the na pali coast and is the farthest point you can go on this side of the island without a boat. to get to polihale you have to drive 5 miles off the paved road. the dirt "road" is rough enough that rental car agreements don't allow you to take your rental down the road. based on the number of chevy malibus we saw on our way, I'm guessing that no one actually pays attention to the agreement.
although, we would probably have been better off in a rental car than in a 15 year old jimmy with over 200,000 miles on it, broken 4 wheel drive and no air conditioning, along with a really squeaky back window. let's just say it was a bumpy ride, until we hit sand...

...and the car got stuck. my dad insisted that we weren't stuck, but I'm pretty sure having a local (who only helped us because we were in his way) behind the wheel while the three of us pushed to get the car out of the sand qualifies us as stuck.

once we made it out of the sand and parked on a downhill slope (just in case the car had trouble starting) we hiked over the sand dunes to find the beautiful polihale beach. just like the guidebook said, sand as far as you can see with very few visitors. if you've ever been to a hawaii resort, this beach looks deserted compared to the throngs of people that usually take up half the sand.

the na pali coast on the right can only be reached by boat or by hiking in from the north side of the island. the beaches you find on that stretch of coast are emptier than this one since you need a permit to camp there.

even though it looks overcast in the pics, the clouds actually make for a perfect beach day. it's still warm but the hot sun isn't beating down on you making it almost hard to lay out without shade.

so we enjoyed an hour or so of perfect beach day until this cloud rolled in and it started to rain. rain is common on kauai (which is why it's the greenest island) and usually it's nothing more than a refreshing drizzle. unfortunately for us the refreshing drizzle turned into pouring rain that didn't let up. after we and everything we came with were completely soaked we decided to head out.

good thing we parked on the hill because the car barely started and we might not have made it out of there without the downhill roll. 5 bumpy miles back onto the paved road and we were finally headed home...but not until we stopped in town for some groceries and backed into a rental car trying to get out of our parking space.

house tour: dad's poipu pad

2009-06-13T12:42:00.001-07:00

aloha! the front door's on the left

the "front door" leads to a "courtyard"

looking at the front door from the inside of the courtyard

outdoor living on the left, pool, garage on the right

perfect size for a quick dip and a soak in the hot tub

outdoor shower to rinse off after the beach

the outdoor living space

the entire glass wall folds back for a seamless indoor/outdoor space. don't forget to take your shoes off!

the great room looking out towards the courtyard

the great room from the glass door entrance

both these windows fold back to create an open air corner that looks out onto the golf course

bedroom #1's bathroom opens out to the front, easy access to the outdoor shower

bedroom #2 (#1 looks about the same) windows on the left face the golf course

entrance to the master suite

the master bath with open shower, tub and door that leads to...

...an outdoor shower

looking at the outdoor shower from the indoor shower

mahalo for visiting!

surprise!

2009-06-13T12:32:00.000-07:00

my stepmom and I have been plotting for a few months now to surprise my dad for his 60th birthday in hawaii. they have a house on kauai and have both been here for a week already (tough life, right?) and when I showed up yesterday, my dad was speechless. and if you know my dad, you know that doesn't happen often.

aloha!

2009-06-12T16:51:00.000-07:00

just landed on kauai...off to the beach!

sneak peak: alexander wang for gap

2009-06-11T12:20:00.001-07:00

the alexander wang/vena cava collab for gap comes out next tuesday in stores and online. hopefully they're hiding the best pieces from us because other than the crop motorcycle jacket below, I'm feeling a bit underwhelmed. I get that it's a nod to gap's favorite fabric of choice, but khaki in general is a bit underwhelming, no? for more check out racked.

just one more...

2009-06-10T14:56:00.001-07:00

so I have also been stalking these see by chloe jellies after seeing them in purple on the streets of sf. they are now on sale! still a little much for jellies but I'm thinking that my neon toes would really like some neon shoes. I'm also thinking that I didn't realize how much I loved shoes until I started a blog and half of my posts had to do with them.

I think I have a thing for neon

2009-06-10T14:39:00.001-07:00

I fell in love with this wallet at the private sale and am really regretting that I rationalized not getting it with already having a perfectly good wallet. my perfectly good wallet isn't hot pink is it?

pedicure for lunch

2009-06-09T22:56:00.000-07:00

I treated myself to a pedicure on my lunch (half) hour today. it was the perfect way to break up the day. I usually love essie for ballet slippers, but I just can't resist their neon collection. how can flirty fuschia and pesky purple not just make your day? punchy pink sure made mine.

the picture doesn't really do the color justice.
oh and yes I know I am still wearing a toe ring, but I like it and I can't seem to part with it quite yet. don't judge me.

get the entire neon collection here

it was only a matter of time

2009-06-09T12:49:00.000-07:00

I knew this would happen, I just didn't know when. the new iphone is out and now mine suddenly seems so inadequate. all the things I wish my iphone had, this one does. text photos, camera zoom, video capability, voice activated calling, and so much more.

the diet is done (finally)

2009-06-08T23:37:00.000-07:00

I kicked off the non diet weekend with some funnel cake at the union street festival, french bread at dinner with the fam, and these delish vegan cupcakes at the bbq.
don't worry, I didn't abandon all healthy eating. fresh fruit, mom-made orzo pasta salad and veggie garnish for my portobello mushroom "burger" were also on the menu.

it's about time

2009-06-08T23:04:00.000-07:00

I hadn't seen my family in forever. so long that I had yet to see my newest niece and nephew who are both around a year old until this weekend. my sister and her family and my brother and his family came home for a little summer visit. so I headed back to sacramento on my days off for some family fun and warm weather (!!!).
it's safe to say that I have the cutest nieces and nephews around.

grant man (my sister's) 10 months old

miss maddie (also my sister's) 3 years old

ethan (my brother's) almost 4 years old

anneliese (my brother's) 14 months

the whole gang...you try getting 4 kids under 4 to look at the camera and smile all at the same time...

kids love kale

2009-06-08T22:55:00.001-07:00

ok, maybe just maddie loves kale. these pics were too cute not to post.

sunday funday!

2009-06-08T22:14:00.001-07:00

on sunday we had a little bbq at the house. great weather, lots of kids, and lots of fun!

lo and lex

lexie's jackson

sisters
barb and lo

albe and kale (and grant)

reesey

miss milly

mama oki and ethan

ethan
surprise! we celebrated tommy's birthday too

anneliese and cooper

mandy and cooper

coop dog
tommy and anneliese
lo, mandy and coop

sister and grant

anneliese, liz and brett

maddie and mike
grant and grandma

hit the snooze button one more time

2009-06-08T16:29:00.001-07:00

with this product you can skip the shower! my roommate J has this stila hair refresher and I think the bottle spends more time in my room than it does in hers. it is the perfect solution to greasy hair when you don't have time to shampoo (and when you have bangs that barely last a whole day). just pour a little powder on your roots and massage it in with your fingers. it works wonders in my blonde hair because the white powder just blends right in, but I have heard that its a little harder to hide if you hair is darker.

friday flashback

2009-06-05T11:39:00.000-07:00

remember these? if you didn't wear them, your mom didn't love you. ok, she probably still loved you, but just didn't get the memo on this childhood staple. I think the cutoff for wearing saltwater sandals is around 8 years old, so I guess it's wrong that at twenty something I kinda want a pair? (they make them in adult sizes for a reason right?)
there are just so many more options since the original white leather ones from my younger years. floral, patent, and plenty of colors to choose from, they even have their own website!

apparently I've been living under a rock

2009-06-04T22:21:00.000-07:00

how did I just discover that eLuxury was closing their retail operation? they announced back in january that instead of selling luxury goods online, the site's "new mission will be to create an 'e-window' into the world of luxury, by serving as an information reference for luxury in fashion, art de vivre, leather goods, wines and spirits, watches and jewelry, gastronomy, cars, yachts and services" (nbcny)
so basically they are starting a blog?
anyways, back to the main point here. closing doors = major sale. they've been unloading merchandise for almost 6 months now, so it's no surprise that there's not much left. random sizes, less than half the brands they normally carry, and still some full price items (?). but you might just get lucky, so check it out before it's all over at the end of this month.