"If I was a rich girl" Window Shopping Spree...

Thursday!!! Hurray for another window shopping spree...

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned quite a few times that my wardrobe of choice, probably 90% of the time, is the jeans and a tshirt look. This is how I live the majority of my life! Considering I mainly just have to get from point a to point b in order to change into a costume, it's the most convenient! And if it's a day with no costumes involved, it's nice to not have to fuss.

But let's be honest- what girl doesn't like all the fuss of getting really dressed up for a special occasion? I thought, since my 1 year anniversary with the person is coming up I would do a window shopping spree of my ideal outfit for an evening out on such a day. Most of the time I feature things that, budgeted right and with the right amount of ramen noodles, totally doable purchases! 

Today that is not the case!

I have gone all out to put together this outfit. Chock full of designer crap and ringing in at a nauseating $16,749. WHAT DID SHE JUST SAY?! $16,749. 

I think I just peed myself a little- that's the down payment on a house!

Thank goodness it's thursday and on "Window Shopping Spree Thursdays"- real money means nothing! So here it is, the current outfit of my dreams-

1. Oscar de la Renta dress- a whopping $4,990... thank goodness it's not $5,000 because that would've been ridiculous! It's the high class cousin of the dress I featured last week!

2. White gold aquamarine earrings- The most reasonably priced item today at $599. I can't tell you how long I've been drooling over these...

3 & 4. Mikimoto pearl bracelet and necklace- Yes I already have a set but clearly not Mikimoto. Coming in at $1,170 and $3,300- I'd say it would take me a little while before I could splurge on these staples.

5. Christian Louboutin shoes- These need no introduction. If I could only have 1 of these things, hands down I'd go with the shoes. Too bad they're $3,995

6. Louboutin evening bag- This sparkly handbag is $2,695. I'm in love.    

Now, it's a good thing I posted this all now because you all have plenty of time between now and February to save up for my birthday! I'm so thoughtful that way. And I crack myself up.

But seriously- How can anyone justify throwing down that kind of money at one time? If you can, more power to you and I absolutely hate you am ever so slightly jealous of your life. Now that you've seen my picks, if money were no factor, what designer staple would you splurge on?

Till next time...

A little indulgence...

So... I want to start this by saying I am really awful at spending money.

Anyone close to me can tell you- it takes an act of God to make me actually make it from the aisles of the store to the check out counter to actually make a purchase. If it's necessary things- groceries and the like, I'm all about it!! Things like random shopping, I cannot do it! That being said... Thursday's adventure was very out of character for me.

Back in April I posted about a particular camera that makes my mouth water. I've been saving for this camera since March. I just always find something else that the saved money is better suited for! I've paid off credit cards, afforded apartment deposits, paid my taxes- all on separate times I reached the saving goal to actually go get said camera. I was relaxing at home on thursday, blogging about window shopping and very successfully NOT spending my hard earned money. As I normally do on my days off, I started to peruse all of my favorite blogs, commenting and drooling as I went. I am not blind to the fact that my iPhone photos, while phenomenal in the realm of cellular photography, look seriously lame-o tucked into my blog. Enough is enough people! Time for a big change around here...

I was trying so hard to assert myself. Just get off the couch, get in your car, and go get it! I had priced the camera everywhere, even considered going through ebay, and as much as it pained me, the cheapest place to buy was *dun dun dun* Walmart. This place is a great money saving grocery store/shopping extravaganza alternative but to be frank this place scares the crap out of me, I avoid that place like the plague... I just prefer Target. Honestly, I in no way judge other people who shop there (unless you've ended up on peopleofwalmart.com, in which case I judge, laugh, and forward to everyone I know!).

**Ok, I have to admit, I just took a break because I got stuck looking at those pictures... hilarious! They get me everytime!**

The point is- I wouldn't hate my life so intensely every time I have to venture to Walmart if my encounters were a little less like the adventure I'm about to unfurl. 

When I finally got up the nerve and arrived at the Walmart that had the camera in stock, I had the pleasure of meeting a lovely mart of walls employee. I waited in the photo section for a solid 15 minutes while she helped other customers and possibly because I'm so pint sized, she failed to notice me and walked away when she was done with them... But I'm sure people stand in front of the locked camera case for 15+ minutes all the time without actually needing assistance. Totally not her fault... (Is the sarcasm oozing yet?) I called her back over and I politely asked her why the listed price was so much higher than the online price. I mean, we're talking an extra $60! I always try to be really sweet to employees because I assume it'll make them more inclined to want to help me. Nay in this case. She just said- "Yup! That's how it is. Like, a convenience fee or something," and she proceeded to walk away again. What the?! 

Luckily, a coworker of hers was in ear shot and he came right over and let me know that their website allows you to do same day pick up and that way I'd be able to get the camera at the online price. SCORE! I popped a squat in the photo section, pulled out my handy dandy iPhone, and went to the Walmart website. Maybe another 10 minutes later, my camera was paid for via the internet and I had a confirmation email. I went to look for the friendly employee again and he came back over to help me "complete my transaction." So- this is a new service for the store. So new that none of them knew how it worked. He tried calling the managers over to assist and for whatever reason they weren't responding to the pages. After waiting a while he decided it would probably be best to go get the manager... I was left to hold down the fort when a line of disgruntled customers formed... Not fun! When he finally returned, he informed me that unfortunately, the 2 systems are not in sync and I wouldn't be able to take the camera until the store got the notification of the order...which could take up to 4 hours... and it was 8...

Long story short...errr... not as long as it could be? I treated myself to dinner at Crispers (delicious steak and blue flatbread!! Yum!) and returned after killing time talking to my best friend... The nice employee had gone home and the original girl was back manning the section. Oh goodness, cross my fingers and wish for luck. She was very quick to say I'd have to come back tomorrow and then bing! "Oh there it is. Here you go." I left Walmart at about 9:40 pm, new fancy camera in tow.

BAM!!! My new baby- the Nikon D3100

I didn't get to play with it the first night but I definitely roamed around the apartment the next day just messing with it. In true "me" fashion, I read all the instructions before I'd let myself play with my new toy. Not that reading it made me any more prepared to take on a little hobby I know nothing about...

It was still a whole lot of fun though.

He loved playing model for the afternoon... I sure am one of those people that takes pictures of their pets...

Much, much more to come. I haven't been able to take pictures in the real world because I don't have a case yet. *Wah wah* Maybe next payday! I still can't believe I actually bought it... Is it still considered an impulse buy if you've been saving for it for 5 months?

Till next time...

A blog identity crisis and an introduction...

A post like this has been a long time coming. Get ready, it's word heavy.

Anyone that's close to me can vouch for the fact that I've been very focused on this blog lately. I keep doing research on other lifestyle blogs, seeing how they're pushing theirs forward, and possibly how I can get mine to keep going. It's difficult to see my humble little posts and imagine that at any point I'll have over a hundred followers stopping by regularly to see what I have to say or what I'm going to do next. But I'm going to keep trying. I believe that I have a voice and if I see this through, other people will see it too.

If there's one thing I've noticed from all of the successful blogs I've been stopping by, it's that they have a specific view. There's purpose to their writing, a specific direction in their topics, and a consistency in the blogger themselves. For a while I thought, how do I find that? What am I missing and how can I translate who I am in person into my posts. There's such a large community out there of blogging mommies and as much as I LOVE seeing their blogs, that's not where I am just yet. Luckily, I just joined a community called 20 Something Bloggers and I'm loving slowly seeing what all the 20 somethings out there have to say. I never intend for this to be nothing but a spew of words as many angsty blogs appear to be but it's also not JUST a list of how-to's and recipes. It is, in all aspects, a lifestyle blog that does, and will continue to focus on- recipes, crafts, decor, style, and the life of the blogger herself- yours truly. Thank goodness focus is nailed down, now onto this other part...

I came to the conclusion that, as I had the tendency to do in the past, I've censored myself when I sit down to write. I worry about who's stopping by, perhaps people I've met in the past or even friends my mom may have passed the link along to. But I've been getting so caught up in writing for so many different audiences that I've often stopped fully being myself or at least completely being honest. It's imperative, for my voice to come across, that I stop doing that. That's where my humor really comes out. I am hilarious. At least once a week. :) Be me, without thinking about potentially being judged or maybe even losing out on a certain section of my audience as it is now, and who knows where my blog will be in a year. I believe there's an audience out there that will continue to follow me and many more people that will come by and stick around because they like what they see. In short- I am awesome and I intend to continue showing you all that.

So, without further ado-

HI! I'm Krystina- the quirky blogger behind the blog you're reading.

* I turn almost everything I say into a song. But a really terrible song.

*I think fart and poop jokes are hilarious

*I do the Toddlers & Tiaras walk in public places just because it makes my friends laugh

*I, straight up, competition jazz dance around my apartment when I'm home alone

*I often have to be told I'm speaking WAY too loud

*I'm not, nor will I ever make it to 5'. I've been 4'11.5" since probably 7th grade!

*Country music makes me cry

*I make ridiculous faces constantly. Even when I don't think people are watching.

*Daily, I pretend I'm a really famous rockstar when I walk out on stage at work

*I laugh at people when they're grammatically incorrect. But don't expect grammar here. I write like I'd say it, which is almost always disjointed.

*I wrestle with my boyfriend, and that's not a euphemism (what kind of girl do you take me for?!). Literally, wrestle, because someday he's going down.

*Every now and then, I say bad words... Not the big ones lol 

*I'm always either on my way up or down a whole 20 pounds. Whoops!

*It's almost impossible for me to go into Target without getting a Grande White Chocolate Mocha from Starbucks
*If there's Sangria on the menu... chances are I'll be drinking it as soon as the waitress can get it out to me

I'm sarcastic and outgoing, terribly shy around people I don't know or don't feel comfortable around, and mildly inappropriate often at the worst possible moment. I know that's a completely random list but that, in a nutshell, is what you'll see behind my posts. Well, that and so much more that I can't actually put into words. I love my family and the people I surround myself with, and that also comes through. But let's be honest, I'm in my mid-twenties and anecdotes of my life will occasionally be rated PG-13. The PG-13 of now which is probably the rated R of 1998. So just keep that in mind. 

If you do like what you've seen and find me as entertaining as my friends do- PLEASE!! Click the "join this site" link off to the right. :) I'm going to be looking into some possible blog designers so there will be lots going on around here at Cup 'a Hot Chocolate in the coming months. Plus you just should follow me. All the cool kids are doing it. That's right, peer pressure. You should probably succumb to it.

I will now proceed to write about whatever and however the hell I want. :)