A Return from the Dead

Thought I had fallen off the face of the planet, huh? 

Well, I'm baaaaaaack! 

So where have I been for the past year? Mostly working. I took on a new position in my company and I've been working to help build up my area for the last year. I also started taking classes for my MBA again. I just finished my Marketing class and got an A (AN A!!!!! Mind is blown.)

Oh, and I started co-hosting a nerd-themed podcast called Geeksters. If you have a few minutes, go check us out. Be warned though, we use bad words.

So, why am I coming back now? Primarily because I miss you guys! I miss writing to everyone weekly to talk about my life, my passions, my thriftiness, and the things that just make me happy. I have quite a few posts planned in the upcoming weeks. 

Stay tuned and stay gorgeous! Til next time...

Boston

It is only a few hours after the bombs went off at the finish line for the Boston Marathon. Questions are still swirling about who, why...more senseless acts of violence. I don't understand it.

My thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Boston.

Til next time. -Erika

Weight Loss Check In

This pretty much sums up my check in. Til next ti....

Oh, I guess I should give you a little more info, huh?

In short, a week spent at my sister's place, sick (many thanks to my nephew for sharing his day care germs with me), scarfing pizza like it was going out of style, a week of so-so, half hearted attempts of getting back into my eating and workout regimen, then a week of my mom heading down to see my sister which plunged me into a full-on college coed diet of tortilla chips and ice cream.

Before all of this, I had gotten myself down to a low of 182. After coming home from my sister's house, I was up to 187. (Insert mental image of me freaking out and shouting expletives while standing on a scale here.) After my half-hearted week, I lost 2 lbs. Not bad for not really trying too hard, I guess.

But once again, I hit a wall at 185. Just 15 lbs from goal. I am so close, yet so far. So that's where I am. Sitting on the ground next to my wagon and searching for the motivation to plop my rear end firmly back in the driver's seat.

Til next time! -Erika

Theories on Inexpensive Art

In addition to the new section of a library I brought home, I also found a beautiful statue that I added to my collection while I was on vacation.

I caught the statue out of the corner of my eye while strolling through The Front Porch of the South. The fact that it was only $4.00 was a bonus. The statue itself is well-made from wood and metal, but the form and grace of the piece was the ultimate clincher for me. When I saw it, I immediately thought of traditional goddess statues, carved in different cultures. I knew I had to have it.

When I am looking to buy art, cost is always a factor. If I bought every piece of art that I wanted, I wouldn't have any money left over for things like food and my mortgage. When I am considering a piece, I look some key things:

-Content: Obviously, I want to purchase a piece of art that speaks to me, that has something in it that is significant.

-Quality: Regardless of the cost of a piece, I want, no, I demand quality. Any money paid for a piece of art is an investment and eventually, I want to be able to pass my collection on.

-Cost: You know, the food and mortgage thing. 

There are some things I don't consider, too.

-Resell value: While art is an investment, like any investment, return on your investment isn't guaranteed. It would be amazing if I could buy a piece for $100 and find out it's worth 100 times that, but whether it will ever happen...let's just say that's not my retirement strategy. I'm sure there are people who do buy art as a way to make money, but I'm not smart enough to fall into that category.

-Does it match?: I look for good content, but I don't worry as much about whether it "matches" other pieces in my collection, just that it has that special something. My whole house is pretty eclectic.

So, what other kinds of art do I have?

A little bit of everything. Landscape watercolours, photographs, mixed media, sculpture, whatever I find that fits my standards and my home.

I have some of my own art hanging in my house as well, to inspire me to keep working. The piece above is a pinhole photograph I took back in college. It's one of my favourite pieces.

Ultimately, I want to be surrounded with creativity and beauty. What more could I ask for? Until next time! -Erika

Recovered from my Birthday Hangover

Each year, I spend pretty much the entire month of February celebrating my birthday. For the second year in a row, I was able to wrangle a two week vacation from my job and I took a flight down to see my sister in the South.

When I left on my flight down there, I had two books with me.

Coming home, I had...a few more.

Thirteen more, to be exact. Between the Last Chance rack at Barnes and Noble, the book sale at the Columbus city library, a huge indoor antique shop called The Front Porch of the South and my sister's library, I was really worried that I wasn't going to be able to fit everything into my luggage home.


It may be safe to say that I have a small addiction to books.


Til next time! -Erika

Nail Strips - The Results

A few days ago,I blogged about how impressed I was with the Sally Hansen nail strips and Gelous top coat. I have long since changed my nail polish, but I wanted to let you know how it worked out.

To remind you all of what it started out looking like, here is the Day 1 picture:

At Day 5, I was impressed that my nails were still looking fabulous. On day 6, that's when my nail polish started messing with me.

It started with a little tiny chip on my right hand. I'm sure the manicure would have lasted a few more days if not for the fact that I immediately start picking at chips.

So, to summarize, 6 full days before I suffered a chip using the polish strips with Gelous top coat. My conclusion: I don't know if the longevity of the manicure was a result of the strips, the top coat or the combination of the two together. I haven't used the top coat too many times before, so I would have to try it with regular polish to see if it lasts as long. Overall, I am pretty satisfied with the combination and I would definitely use it again, especially if I have a special occasion.

If you try this combo, let me know how it works for you. Til next time! -Erika

A Polish That Really Lasts?

For Christmas, my cousin got me some Sally Hansen Salon Effects nail polish strips.

These are little boxes of one time use, pre-measured nail polish strips that you apply to your nails, no dry time required. They advertise that they last up to 10 days. Now, I've used a lot of nail polish in my time. Most of them have promised not to chip or shine really beautifully or mop the floors or made some other outrageous claim at one point or another. Very few have ever lived up to their promises, so I wasn't really sure how well this product would really last. I was afraid that after a couple days, they would be peeling off and there goes my $9.00 instant manicure.

I decided to give them a try since a) they were a gift and b) they couldn't be any worse than the nail polish I usually use. I am exceptionally hard on my hands. I have never been able to resolve the fact that I am constantly working with my hands with the fact that I like to have nicely manicured nails, short of getting acrylic nails, which are not an option for me.

So last Saturday, I sat down and read through the directions and started applying the strips to my nails. About 40 minutes later, I had a pretty decent looking manicure. The only problem that I had was that I wasn't too thrilled with how weak my nails still felt. My nails are fairly thin to begin with, so I added two coats of Gelous top coat and let it dry. This was the result.

Not perfect, but not bad for my first time. I was pretty happy with the results.

Now here it is, almost 5 days later. I have been to the gym 3 times, crocheted on a scarf, hammered on a piece of art, painted, typed, showered (which is a death sentence for my usual manicures) and this is what my manicure looks like tonight:

Almost no difference! You can see some nail growth, but no chips that weren't already there (had a few boo-boos from when I put them on.) 

The product says it lasts up to 10 days. I am going to see how long they go without chipping. Stay tuned!

Til next time. -Erika