Pre-holiday round up...

It's been a busy week and I'm exhausted...its not even Christmas yet!  Yowza!  

Last Friday, GQ and I went to see SF Ballet's  "The Nutcracker".  What a thrill!  The Opera House was spectacular and the dancers phenomenal. The entire extravaganza was brilliant and we had a blast.  We enjoyed a fabulous dinner at Absinthe before, caught the 49 bus home (yup, us all gussied up sitting next to the best that the streets of SF have to offer!), and stopped off at Antica for some dessert (they've got the BEST affogato there...) and split an entire bottle of the Cuvee Rose Brut.  SO GOOD!  The entire night was such a treat.  I feel...satisfied.

Saturday, GQ drove me through some of the more adorable neighborhoods that the East Bay (cough, cough) has to offer.  We went shopping on 4th Street and then hit up Solano.  I was really surprised that there was such character and charm in both areas.  We had dinner at a Korean restaurant on Solano (GQ's first time!) and ended the night watching "Slumdog Millionaire" (which I loved...loved...and have such a crush on the leading couple...yes, both of them!).

Sunday offered a lovely brunch at Emily and Rob's and then Christmas dinner cooked by GQ and I.  We made roasted chicken with sage butter, 5 cheese mac-n-cheese, and a mix of green veggies with shallots...accompanied by some seriously kickin' spiked spiced cider. Yummm...I ate myself silly that day...and went to bed with a full tummy and big smile on my face.

Monday, GQ and I walked down to Union Square and shopped almost the entire afternoon.  Utter exhaustion.  

I'm finally home now (San Diego).  Some delays at the airport, but nothing major.  I even upgraded to first class...what a treat.

We're all caught up now.  I'll be back for more later this week...

HAPPY HOLIDAYS ALL!  

Love and lust...

I LOVE Kate Winslet's make up in this picture! She looks SO gorgeous and her makeup is PERFECTION. (PS - she's TOTALLY wearing Spanx under this dress. You can kinda tell...yes...way to go, Kate!)

I LUST after Leo Dicaprio. I always have. I would like to have my way with him.

That's all. :)

What a way to start my day...

...I admit, I woke up a little late and was slow in gettin' started today. But, I allowed myself some time by calling work and informing them of faulty alarm clock.

So, I walked to work. It was 45 degrees outside, it had just rained, it was crisp, I walked through Union Square all decorated, I could see my breath as I walked...and...

...it was GLORIOUS!

It's gonna be a good day...

What to wear...

This past weekend, GQ announced to me that he had gotten us tickets to see the SF Ballet's "The Nutcracker" for this coming Friday! AHHHH! I'm so excited! 1) I've never seen The Nutcracker and 2) I've been wanting to see the SF Ballet! Apparently, GQ has been going to see The Nutcracker since he was a child and he's just as excited! But, now I'm stuck! WHAT does one wear to the ballet in the WINTER in San Francisco?! I have a few cute cocktail dresses that I could wear in LA. But, it's COLD up here! And how could he keep this secret from me until less than a week before the show and expect me to figure out what to wear!?! How dressy does the ballet get? Is it dressier specifically for The Nutcracker? ACK!!!

I'm stuck...ideas? I'm going shopping tonight...I'm so excited!

Failure...

Ugh...I gave in. Although I'm miraculously still on my weight-loss plan (just the eating portion (six 200 calorie meals per day, every 2 hours) not the exercise portion (haven't really gotten around to that yet!)), I'm off the wagon on the spending freeze. Ack. There are just TOO MANY good sales out there. I blame my sister. The moment she came into town, we hit up Macy's (2 blouses) and Cow Hollow/Union Street (overnighter bag, a 2nd Christmas gift for GQ)...and the virus just started to SPREAD like mad!

I bought a bunch of 2nd presents for peeps on my list on etsy (can't post those here...). And then, I began to treat myself as well. Let's talk shoes. Here's what I got:

I wanted some rugged flat boots. (I was inspired by a cute pair of Frye boots my friend Jeannie owns). So, these were on sale at Macy's:

The vintage black flat boots I bought off etsy didn't turn out to be as cute or as comfy as I had hoped. So, I found these on sale at Macy's too:

I'm committed to start running. Amber promises me its not as bad as it seems. I'm pushing towards a 5k by the end of Q109. So, I bought these:
GQ and I have been going walking/hiking a lot lately. He lives in a perfect neighborhood to do so. So, I got these cuties (they've got a great tread on the bottom...and not too "hiking boots" looking) on Piperlime (on sale):

My sister had the cutest Me Too flats on when she was visiting. I remembered how much I really loved my 1st pair that took me through my first 6 months in SF. I got these as a 2nd pair, on sale on Piperlime:

Can you believe it? Not a high heel in the bunch! And none of these pairs are typical of what I've got in my closet. Nice. Function. Variety. I'm sure 1 or 2 of these will end up being returned. Let's hope I don't love 'em all. I just bought 5 pairs of shoes in a day! Ugh...

Dilemma: fashion vs function...

Times they are a changin'. When I was a SoCal girl, I wore heels ALL the time. Why not? I'm short. I drive everywhere. And its all about the fashion, right? Well, what a difference 11 months and hills galore make! I have the hardest time wearing heels now. My back hurts. The balls of my feet get callouses. I can barely walk! What? I'm so sad. R.I.P to the days when my legs looked long and lean and I had my sexy walk! ha!

Now, my new dilemma is finding the CMCFW (Cutest Most Comfy Flats in the World). It has been such a battle. There are cute flats. Then there are comfy flats. But finding the combination...and mind you "comfortable" takes on a whole new meaning after walking to work (Russian Hill to SoMa)...seems impossible.

Alas, I found these:

I know, not quite CMCFW material. But... Ok, listen, I would NEVER have even CONSIDERED these 11 months ago...heck, not even 3 months ago. But, Clarks are quite possibly the most comfortable shoes I've ever put on my feet...better than sneakers! The pickin's are slim...most look like orthopedics...but this one's not so bad, huh? I need feedback! Am I selling out to the NoCal/Haight/Berkeley granola-eatin' hippy ways by wearing these? Or would a respectable Marc Jacobs fanatic be able to wear these while walking through the Financial District? (I'll immediately change into some cuter heels once I get to the office, I promise...)

My back and feet are screaming for these. I think I need to heed their call.

Sooo jealous...

Women's Wear Daily asked top designers what Michelle Obama should wear at the inauguration ceremony and ball. They posted some of the phenomenal sketches submitted (although many declined the offer...presumably in the race to ACTUALLY dress her, maybe?)

WHAT I wouldn't do to have all my favorites design 1-of-a-kind pieces JUST FOR ME! (I'm having heart palpatations just thinking of it!) I'd ask Marc Jacobs (natch!), Phillip Lim, Peter Som, Derek Lam, Diane von Furstenburg, Stacey Bendent (alice+olivia), Zac Posen, and Georgina & Keren (Marchesa).

Anyhoo...here are my favorites from the bunch:

Diane "You are the woman you always wanted to be" von Furstenburg.

Class. All class.

Karl Lagerfeld. EXCUSE ME, GORGEOUS?!

Monique Lhullier. Showstopper. Nuff said.

All eyes on you, Mrs. Obama. WORK IT GIRL! ...can't wait...

All shapes and sizes...

As I finish up the first week of "The Biggest Loser" competition for my office, I am reminded that everyone comes in all shapes and sizes. Some are tall, some short. Some thin, some bigger. Some lean, some poochy. I'm charging forward with my 1200 calorie/day (six 200-calorie meals every 2 hours) meal plan and I'm doing ok. I cheated a couple times this weekend with my sister in town (hello? Bix Restaurant? YUMMMMM!). But, I've lost 3 lbs this past week and feeling good! I won't be obsessive. I won't be unhealthy. I'll just be dedicated...and see how it all turns out.

In the same vain, I went to the tree lot yesterday and found my 1st San Francisco Christmas tree. So, as I looked through the selection, I realized that trees, too, come in all shapes and sizes. And, as I turned the corner down the 2nd row, there he was...mine...in my shape...and in my size. Wide. Short. Perfect. :) I paid for him, lugged him up the brutal Filbert hill, and dressed him up all pretty.

Here he is...sparkling away, spreading all kinds of Christmas cheer in my home...

This always makes me happy...

In the 4th grade, I had a first year teacher named Mr. Todd Bell. He was great. He was kind and goofy. He wore a huge "Jesus" belt buckle. He made us listen to classical music and do reports about composers. He had a piano in his room. And he put on the first ever student performance at our elementary school. Our class performed "A Charlie Brown Christmas". He hand-picked the leads...and I...well, I got to be Lucy. It was my one shining moment; my time in the spot light; and I got 7 curtain calls. That's right, I was the shizznet.

Every year since then, I always get happy when "A Charlie Brown Christmas" comes on tv for the holidays. Its just a no-brainer-make-Susan-happy program. The message is beautiful. The characters are true-to-form. And the music...ahhh...the music.

So, when GQ, my sweet, sweet fella, handed me a CD with the words "A Charlie Brown Christmas" on it, I almost cried. He didn't know about my starring moment. He didn't know how much this show makes me smile. He didn't know how this program is what really puts me in the Christmas spirit. He just likes the music. And he likes me. And he wanted to share.

And now, not only this program...not only the music...not only the holidays...but also my fella...this is what makes me happy.

It hurts, it hurts...

Ack, I foolishly decided to surf the web this morning and found myself (shocking!) on the Neiman Marcus website. The first thing I saw:

NOOOOOOOOOO! Ack! But, I'm not allowed to spend any money this month! Argh! Grrr! Ugh! I can't look...I can't. Ok, so I took one little peek and the first thing I saw on sale...

Cashmere Burberry scarf! NOOOOOOOOOO! Ack! But, I'm not allowed to spend any money this month! Argh! Grrr! Ugh!

*le sigh*...I hope someone jumps on that bargain immediately and enjoys it all winter long. Alas, that someone will NOT be me.

:(

Self-control...

Today starts my 2-fold attempt to get some self-control over the out-of-control areas of my life: weight and money.

Ok, I'll say it: I'm 5'0 tall and weigh 127 lbs. According to online sites, I am obese. I know I don't look particularly terrible. But, in all honesty, I am a sausage in Spanx...sucked in and barely breathing. I am all boobs, belly, and butt. I had to buy a minimizer bra this weekend...because my new blouse was splitting between the buttons. I was shocked that as I wore my long cardigan, my ass rivaled...Oprah's. And my belly...well, like I said, if I'm not wearing Spanx, I'm wearing an XL top to cover it all up. So, we're starting a "Biggest Loser" contest at my work today. And I'm in it...wish me luck...

Ok, I'll say it: I make a really good salary...and should have more savings to show for it. I ride taxi's entirely too much. I buy lunch every day. I like to eat out...a lot. And, shopping is my rush. It used to be Target...its now Neiman Marcus. And Christmas time is the WORST...I like to buy presents. I should own a home. Instead, I own about 25 dresses...all new within the last year.

So, today starts a new chapter...a healthier and wealthier me. Exercising will be my friend. Food will be a costar, not a leading man. Alcohol will be for toasting only. My credit card will be put in storage. My savings account, ready for the automatic transfer. I'll walk to work, pack my lunch, pay only in cash, and...I'll be fine...in fact, better than fine...

...I'll be in control...