Marc Jacobs Ashley Hand Bag

This morning right at 9 am, I was waiting anxious on Gilt.com for the Marc Jacobs hand bag sale to start.  I just knew that I had to get one!  Marc Jacobs purses are some of my favorite among designer purses.  I love the fact that they don't plaster their brand name all over the bag like LV or Gucci.  The Marc Jacobs quilted signature look is very classic and represents good quality and timelessness.  I would never spend that much money buying a logo purse - they don't pay me to advertise their brand!  If they did then I will in a second hahaha.

But oh my goodness was it hard to add something to my shopping cart.  I bet tons of other people had the same idea as me, because as soon as 9 o'clock hit, I tried to add a few different purses in my cart and they were already in someone else's cart!  This is what I hate about Gilt.  I guess since the demand of the items is so high, and supply is limited, everything is always in someone else's cart.  So basically that means that they have 10 minutes to purchase the item once it's in their cart.  If they let the 10 minutes expire or they decide not to purchase the item, then it becomes available again.  At which time it gets snatched up by someone else right away, so it's virtually impossible to be able to add something to your cart, unless you sit there and keep clicking "buy it now" endlessly.  That is precisely what I did.  I opened up 10 different tabs of different purses I wanted, and I just went through each tab in turn to try to add to my cart, non stop.  Within 10 minutes, some of them said "sold out" already.  But I kept clicking anyway.  And it paid off!  I finally, after about a whole HOUR, was able to add the navy Ashley bag into my cart.  I could not believe it actually happened!!

 

How cute is that!!  I love the color combination.  It's very different and unique.  This collection is from Spring 2009, so last year's collection.  But I like it so much better than the Spring 2010 collections.  This year all they did was add long tassels to purses, with fugly colors.  I guess the cowboy style is in again?!  Ugh.  Well I like last year's collection much better and I'm very glad they went on sale!

This purse retails $1095.  But the Gilt price was $549.  I had $300 account credit, so I only had to pay $249 for it!  Well, plus $12 shipping.  But no taxes, so it's a great deal!  It's a small purse though, the measurement shows length 9 inches; height 6 inches; width 4 inches.  Drop handle 3 1/2 inches.  I do need a small purse since I've been exclusively getting large purses in the past few years and it's weird to go out at night with a big old purse.  Small purses are more versatile.  

*Mini satchel bag

*Quilted leather with contrast leather and glazed pebbled leather throughout
*Flower tassel and lock on front
*Single metallic grosgrain top handle with flap opening and magnetic snap closure
*Two main compartments with zip closures
*Leather interior with single zip pocket

I did consider getting the larger version of this purse - the Mackenzie.  The measurement for this one is length 14 inches; height 10 inches; width 5 inches.  But I didn't like the color combination as much in the larger size as I do the smaller one, for some reason.

I like the Mackenzie in black better.

I actually considered canceling my order for the Ashley purse and getting the Mackenzie instead.  But they wouldn't let me cancel my order after 10 minutes had passed.  I was able to add the Mackenzie to my cart though and briefly considered buying it anyways.  But it's $849 (down from retail $1750), which is still pretty pricey.  If they had let me cancel my order for the Ashley I probably would have splurged.  So maybe that was a good thing!  Save me some money!

Some other purses I would have gotten maybe instead of Ashley if I could add them to my cart were:

Penn - kind of too businessy/old woman like for me, but it was cheap at $399 from $999 - more than 50% off.  And I would have only had to pay $99 with my account credit.

Venetia - another Marc Jacobs signature look.  Very cute, perhaps a little more mature too.  Priced at $629 from $1250.  I probably would have got this one instead of mine if only I could add it to that damn cart!  God knows I tried....

Duffy Kanako - cute and versatile.  Would go with everything but definitely not as "fun" as Ashley.  Priced at $399 too, from $795.  So it wasn't as good of a deal.  

Wow the Marc Jacobs sale is pretty much all sold out now on Gilt.  In fact all the popular (cheaper) items sold out within a few hours.  I had been checking on and off all day after I got my purse, and pretty much every purse was "in member's cart" at all times throughout the day.  Craziness!  I guess people love Marc Jacobs!  

My purse should be arriving later this week or next.  I'm mentally preparing myself to see a very very small package though.  I hope it will be able to fit my iphone and wallet!  Ha!  Wouldn't that be funny to spend so much on a purse that can barely fit any of my stuff... I also hope the blue is not bright in person but a muted darker tone.  Can't wait!

Lululemon Inner Strength Tank

So I hadn't bought anything at Lululemon lately since I'm tired of all the same designs and colors.  Basically everything came in either lagoon (teal like color), chirp (baby yellow), or tang light (orange).  I have a chirp Scoop Neck Tank and a lagoon Run:Swiftly Tech SS and I'm done with those colors.  Nice colors, but how many things in those colors do you need?  For me just one each.  Tang light is ok I think, but I'm not sure how it goes with my skin tone.  I think I will hold out for a lavender color to come out later. 

Well, the new Inner Strength Tank came out this week.  Finally a new nice design!!  I fell in love with it right away when I first saw the product notification, even though it looks awfully like the Cool Racerback.  I tried it on today in store, and it was super comfortable and cute, so I actually returned my Cool Racerback in chirp that I bought recently for the white/teeny stripe Inner Strength tank.

 

This tank comes in white (as shown above - the one I bought), lagoon, hot pink, and black.  The white one is the only one that has different colors on the shoulders and back.  I didn't like the other colors because there's just nothing too special about them.  I'm having an overload of those colors.  They don't even have nice contrasting colors or prints.  Why spent $52 to get one when you can spend $39 and get a Cool Racerback and nobody would even be able to tell the difference.  So I got the white one even though I already have a Cool Racerback in white that looks similar - at least I have different colored straps!  Hehe.

The Inner Strength tank has built in shelf bra, and the band is adjustable!  I love this feature because some Lululemon tanks have very tight bra bands that can be uncomfortable after extended wear.  Basically the adjustable part is on the inside of the tank so you can't see it from the outside.  It's like a normal bra hook, but on the front, on both sides.  There are at least 5 different levels you can adjust to.  I'm leaving it on the loosest hook as of now and it's SO comfortable, barely there type of feel.  If I'm doing more high impact activities, I may adjust it tighter, but not like I have much boobs to hold in place so I may just leave it as is!

Plus this color scheme matches my Stride Jacket perfectly...

I got this tank in the same size as my other Lululemon tanks.  The length of the tank is about the same as the Cool Racerback - both long fitting tanks, but it fits tighter in the tummy area.  I love how form fitting it is.  I didn't notice this in the store, but the front is slightly longer than the back.  It kind of curves a little.  Not very noticeable at all, otherwise I would take it back to the store to get hemmed straight.  I'm just normally not a fan of the curvature on the bottom of any tank/shirt.  

Anyway, I really hope the Inner Strength tank comes in more new colors.  I would buy another one in a second if it came in, say, lavender!  I just saw the new Lululemon spring/summer color palettes, and lavender is one the list.  So that's what I'm looking forward to!  In the meantime, if they keep coming out with different stuff in lagoon, chirp and tang light, they are going to be saving me A LOT of money.

Tumi T-Tech Move Portfolio Hanging Toiletry Kit

 

I got the Tumi T-Tech Move Portfolio Hanging Toiletry Kit from Gilt today.  I was looking forward to today's Tumi sale all week because I wanted to get another Tumi suitcase.  However, I didn't like any of the suitcases they were selling today.  A lot of the ones up on Gilt were hard cases which I'm not a fan of - I like to stuff my suitcase to the max!  Hehehe... and the soft fabric ones were kind of ugly.  They had bright red and orange.  Ugh.  I just would prefer a muted colored suitcase.

So I only bought the hanging toiletry kit.  There were no pictures of the inside, so I'm not sure what it's going to look like.  But I need one of these, it was only $29 (retails $60) and it matches my Tumi T-Tech Move Overhead Frequent Traveler Suitcase!  

 

That was the only picture I could find of the suitcase, which I also got from Gilt back in November or December last year when they had Tumi sale.  It's from the same line as the toiletry kit!  In matching Taupe! 

The description of the toiletry kit says:

* T-Tech Move portfolio hanging zippered toiletry kit.

* Tuck away hook to hang bag.
* Fully lined with water resistant lining.
* Two elastic organizer straps.
* Interior mesh divider and mesh zippered pocket.
* Approximate measurements: 10.5"H x 7.75"W x 3"D.

Sounds good to me.  Wish there were pictures of the inside, but Tumi makes great stuff, so I will put my faith in them!  

The delivery date of my new toiletry kit is between 4/6 and 4/15.  Ugh, so slow as usual.  Like I said before, that is one bad thing about Gilt.  I really hope it gets here before 4/10 because that's when I'm going to Lake Tahoe for my boyfriend's 30th!!!

50 Mile Milestone!

I'm so excited because I reached 50 miles with the Lululemon run club tonight!  That's by going there every Thursday night for a 6 mile run.  I started in December last year.  We took a few weeks off during the holidays.  So finally I was able to reach it tonight!  They have promised me goodies for reaching this milestone which I will find out next time I go in.  I'm hoping for some cool Lulu gear or gift card!  The only damper to it was my boyfriend had been going with me weekly, but he started a new job this week so he can't make it there at the time we start running anymore.  He's only 6 miles away from the prize!  I wish he could have been there to reach it with me. 

On top of reaching the milestone, I also ran at a very good pace tonight without huffing and puffing at all.  It was actually the easiest/lightest I ever felt.  I think it may just have been my best run yet!  I averaged 8 minutes a mile, that's including some uphill and waiting at traffic lights!  I love it.  I have never been a runner (still don't enjoy running that much, just do it because I know it's good for me) so this is big for me.  I can't believe how a year and a half ago, I couldn't even run at all.  My cardio was wayyyy worse, and I had a meniscus problem in my right knee, and because of it, I couldn't do any high impact activities for a long time.  I couldn't even do a proper squad since I couldn't put too much weight on my knee.  I think I always overcompensated with my left side.  When I got a massage one time, the masseuse told me that my left butt cheek seemed to be bigger than my right!  Ugh... so that got me to finally go visit a doctor and get knee surgery, as silly as it sounds.

A month after my knee surgery, I decided to train for my first 10k!  I started running at level 4 on the treadmill (about 12 min a mile), and my face would turn bright red, and I would usually get a cramp a mile into it.  It was so hard to run even 2 miles, so 6.2 miles was unthinkable to me.  When I ran the actual race, I was dead at the last mile, and walked most of it.  I finished in an hour and 20 minutes or so.  What a difference from tonight!  I remember my legs were so done afterwards and I was sore for days.  Nowadays I run at 2% incline on the treadmill at a speed of level 7-8 (7 min - 8 min a mile) for at least 1 mile a day.  Obviously Thursdays are my big run days.  My face never turns red anymore.  My breathing and heart are so much better so I don't get cramps (unless I eat right before I run).  When I trained with a great personal trainer who kicked my ass, he told me repeatedly how surprised he was at what good shape I was in!  He said that I was the best he'd ever had at their first time with him. 

Just a mere 1.5 years later, I really am in the best shape of my life.  I run at least 10-15 miles a week, spin once a week, go to boot camp, boxing, kettlebell and weight training at least 3 times a week, and I do yoga/pilates at least once a week.  I also walk minimum 2 miles a day!  It's such a huge difference in my life.  I guess I never knew that having one bad knee was holding me back so much!  I'm very glad I decided to do something about it and kick start my exercise routine and in turn changed my lifestyle.  Now that I know what it's like to be fit, I will never stop!  If I have kids one day, I will teach them to lead an active and healthy lifestyle, with lots of exercise and eating well!  I know I'm still "young", but I really wish I could have started earlier.  The last 10 years of my life would have been way different.

Gym at Beginning of the New Year

Ok I have to vent.  I understand that a lot of people have new year's resolutions of getting in better shape and the gym is usually more crowded in the beginning of the new year.  After a couple weeks, most people stop going.  At least that was the case in prior years.  But this year, they just keep on coming!!  It's already March!  What's going on here?!?

I'm annoyed because all of a sudden the gym is twice as full as it used to be at 6 am.  I take this boot camp class at 6 am on Tuesday and Thursdays which has always been popular.  But normally I could show up at 5:55 and still be able to get a decent spot.  Ever since the new year, that class has been PACKED!  I now have to show up at 5:45 at the latest and I'm still not able to get my usual spot.  I guess I have to start going at 5:30 or so?! Ugh, whatever, at least that gives me plenty of time to run on the treadmill before class, and I will burn at least an extra 200 calories.

Also, my amazing spin class on Wednesdays have been filling up super fast!  Equinox lets you sign up for spin class online up to 26 hours before class starts.  They reserve a small number of bikes for in club sign up up to 30 minutes before class actually starts too.  So normally I wouldn't even need to sign up online because there was always a bike open the day of.  However, since the new year started, the class has been "full" from online sign up about 22 hours before class!  So I showed up at 6 am (class starts at 6:15) one day thinking that I would be able to sign up for a bike in club, but those were full already too from people that showed up before 6 am!  So lately I've had to set an alarm on my phone at 5:30 am on Tuesdays to sign up for my Wednesday 6:15 am spin class.  Ridiculous.

I keep telling myself that these new year's resolutionists will give up soon, but they are really not budging!  At first I thought Feb would be better, but no, it may even be worse.  Then I thought maybe people want to work out until Valentine's day and will stop after that.  Still they kept on coming.  Today is March 3, and I suppose people will continue coming until spring break??  Then summer will be right around the corner.  Sooo I guess there's no hope of the gym returning to its prior state!

Good for Equinox I guess.  But aren't we in a recession??  Still so many people willing to pay $150 a month for a gym during these hard times??  Seriously I've never seen my gym so full in the past 3 years I've been going to this location.  I am very confused.  Perhaps it's because they cancelled their pricey initiation fee for new members due to the economy?

One of the reasons I am willing to pay the premium price is because of how I never had to wait for a machine.  It's just not a motivator to think about getting up at 5 am everyday and having to fight people for a spot in a class.  Makes me want to stay in bed.  I still love Equinox, but it's just not the same anymore.

Gilt & Jetsetter

Ok so I've been a member of Gilt.com for a while now.  It's basically a shopping website that hosts different high end brands to sell at a discount.  You can get some pretty good deals.  They show you the retail price and the Gilt price.  Of course I'm always skeptical of the retail price because many times you can get the same item for much cheaper.  But I know a good deal when I see one, and I've bought a few things from Gilt over time.

They have multiple labels on sale at a time, and each retailer lasts about 2 days or so.  But if you don't get on it right when the sale starts (9 am PST everyday), a lot of popular items will be gone.  I don't know how many of each item Gilt gets, but it doesn't appear to be too many.  I've heard that Gilt is so popular now that it's a huge privilege to the retailer to be able to sell on Gilt, even at the discounted price.

They have a nice website, with nice graphics and it's pretty easy to navigate.  They also show you what brands are coming up in the next week which I love.  I will always mark the day that a brand I love will be on sale so I can be sure to get on it right at 9 am to grab what I want!  For example, this Friday they will have Tumi on sale.  I grabbed a very nice Tumi luggage for $150 last time it was on sale (amazing deal if you know Tumi prices), and I wouldn't mind getting another one.

 

There's a screen shot of the Gilt site.  They also have an iPhone app which I have as well.  But I would never use it to shop for high demand items since iPhone 3G connection is just not nearly as fast as being on a computer.  But it's nice to browse on it sometimes just to pass time.

Gilt also gives $25 account credit for every friend you refer.  I have gotten about $350-400 from account credit so far!  I am saving up to get an item I really love whenever it comes on sale.  I don't really have anything in mind, but I'm sure I'll know when I see it!  Patience! 

Hmm what else?  Well shipping could be cheaper.  I think normally at least $8 for a SMALL item.  They do offer free shipping once in a blue moon and if something I want happens to be on sale at the same time then it's great.  I think last time they offered free shipping, I got my Tumi luggage, a Vera Wang bracelet, a hot pink crocodile skin makeup bag and an Incase (best hardcase cover for Apple laptops and iPhones/iPods) Apple MacBook laptop cover!

Gilt also has a few affiliate sites - Gilt Man, Gilt Fuse and Jetsetter (if you scroll up to the picture I posted of the site, on the upper right hand corner you will see links to these three sites).  Obviously Gilt Man sells stuff for men.  My boyfriend has bought some shoes and shirts from it.  Gilt Fuse has lower end brands so you can find some really cheap stuff there.  And Jetsetter is the travel site.  I love browsing on Jetsetter because it has amazing pictures of different hotels around the world that are on "sale".  However, most of them are super expensive still.  Like today I was looking at some hotels in Anguilla for almost $2000 a night! 

I bought a night at the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs today.  My boyfriend and I used to go to Palm Springs a lot when we had access to this nice mansion there and spent pretty much every weekend driving down there.  Also, we went to the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournaments in Indian Wells for the past 2 years.  We've always heard of the cool Ace hotel, but have never stayed there since, well we always had free accommodation before.  So when I saw that Ace hotel was having a sale on Jetsetter for only $90 a night during this year's BNP Paribas Open, I had to jump on it.  Apparently they are supposed to have a really cool and unique look.  Plus a very nice pool, and a lot of young and hip people stay and hang out there.  I will have to check it out next weekend and see what the fuss is all about!

I was also tempted to buy a couple nights at the Ace Hotel in NYC.  It's right by Broadway, the pictures look really cool, and they are only $100-150 a night on Jetsetter!  That is great value as any decent hotel in NYC costs at least over $200 a night, if not closer to $300.  Too bad it's snowing there right now and I just can't take any weather colder than 55 degrees after living in SoCal for 5 years! 

Trader Joe's Thai Lime & Chili Cashew

 

I went to Trader Joe's over the weekend and noticed this new product - thai lime & chili cashews!  Wow very interesting, they have herbs all over them that looked like they could be very tasty, so I had to get it to try.  The other one they had was the honey and sesame cashews which also sounded good.  But these just sounded way too exotic to pass up.  

Boy are they spicy!  I love spicy food and these definitely have some kick to them.  They are a very interesting flavor.  It's for sure Thai.  I can taste the lime.  And it's interesting how the more you eat it, the taste becomes different!  They become less spicy and more addicting!  I guess I'm not doing a good job describing the flavor.  It's really one of those things that you have to try to understand.

I just don't know if I will buy it again though.  I think I prefer sweet flavor on cashews, like caramelized.  Or the good old salty ones lol.  But I must give props to whoever at Trader Joe's that came up with this invention.  I would never have thought of this flavor!  I love Trader Joe's for their creativeness.  There's really just nothing like it!  That's why I love Trader Joe's!