Samsung 32" LED-LCD HDTV

I finally got myself a TV for the bedroom.  Something about being able to watch TV or a movie in bed, especially on a cold day when you have nothing to do, is just divine.  I actually went to Best Buy for a new dish washer - the water doesn't come into mine for some reason, not sure if it's the pump or the dish washer that's broken.  But I didn't see any dish washers I liked, so I wandered over to the TV section instead and saw the Samsung 32" LED-LCD HDTV on sale for only $350!  There were other LED-LCD TVs that were the same size for lower prices, or bigger size for about the same price.  But I think Samsung makes the best TVs so it's the best bang for the buck.  For my bedroom I think a 32" is the perfect size.

So I've had this TV for a couple weeks now, and it is awesome!  It is sooooo light and thin, like all LED TVs are, I can easily carry it myself.  The picture quality is amazing too.  I have a bigger LCD TV in my living room but I think this one actually has clearer picture.  That's probably the LED difference.  I love that they are more energy efficient too!  

I think the sale price for this TV is a really good deal.  Actually when I was at Best Buy deciding between TVs, I saw about 5 different people come by and pick it up.  So I actually ended up getting the last one they had in stock at that location.  

So needless to say, I am very happy with this new TV.  It's great to be able to watch all my shows from my bedroom when my fiance wants to watch ESPN in the living room.  We have DirecTV with multiple recorders in different rooms, so we can watch everything we record from any of the rooms - pause on one and continue on another, I love that!  And it gives us room to record 6 different shows per hour vs. the regular 2. 

Not that I need more reasons to waste time watching TV, but I have lots of shows that I love!  I recently got into HBO Go, and could not believe how awesome it is!  It has all episodes/seasons of HBO shows and movies that you can watch at any time and it's free as long as you have HBO at home.  It's almost like NetFlix for HBO which you can stream everything right there and then.  I would have signed up for an account sooner, but I thought you could only use it on an iPad for some reason.  But you can actually use it on the iPhone as well as on the computer.  However, when I watch shows on my phone, I can connect to my Apple TV and have the sound come out of the TV, but not the picture.  That is the only lame part.  Why would I want to watch something on my phone but have the sound come out of my TV?  It feels very weird.  The only way to transfer picture onto the TV through HBO Go is by connecting the laptop to the TV and using the TV as a monitor.

Ok that was way too much digression!  Can you tell I'm a nerd?  Hehe.  I love technology!  And back to my original point, if you are in need of a TV, I highly recommend this Samsung! 

Badgley Mischka Dreamy Flower T-Strap Sandal

I went to the mall today to meet with a friend and as I was leaving the Kiehl's counter with my refill of Creme de Corp lotion, I happened to stumble upon Bloomingdale's shoe sale section.  I have serious shoe addiction, and I have also been looking for the perfect pair of nuptial shoes.  But I don't want to wear white shoes with a white dress, and I'm super indecisive so I've been having trouble.  I've actually seen Badgley Mischka's Dreamy sandals on Hautelook and some other sites like that before but I couldn't decide if they were "the one" so I never bought them.  But today when I saw them at Bloomingdale's in person, they looked much cuter than in pictures.  And when I put them on, I fell in love with them.  And they were on sale from like $225 to $92.  So I had to buy them.  Even if I don't end up wearing them for the wedding, I could still use them for a fancier night out.  But I think unless something amazing comes along, I will probably wear them for the wedding!

The only 2 colors Bloomies had were nude and black.  I know they also come in white and pink.  I might have preferred the pink if they were available, but I went with the nude.

So for some reason, the pair I bought have mostly the sheer organza pieces on top of the feet, so you don't really see the leather "leaves" or whatever.  I actually like them better that way.  They look very feminine and whimsical.  The name "Dreamy" fits them perfectly.  The reason I hesitated when I saw them online before was because I am usually not a fan of sandals that have a strap across the ankle.  Most of the time I feel like they make my legs look shorter because the horizontal strap cuts them off.  But I actually don't have a problem with these.  I got them in my normal size 6 and they fit perfectly.  I don't think they are the most comfortable shoes, as they are 4 inches high and do not have any cushion on the sole, but they do not pinching my feet or anything so I think I could wear them all night.  

Though I must say, I almost walked out of Bloomies without these shoes since the shoe guy that was helping me was so weird.  He kept giving me attitude one minute and then calling me "sexy princess" the next minute.  Wtf??  It's like he couldn't decide whether to be nice to me or rude.  Plus it's just creepy to call your customer that.  I really didn't want him to get the commission from my business.  But a quick search on bloomingdales website on my iPhone yielded only a size 9.5 black pair left, and higher prices on other sites, so I had to suck it up and give him my money.

Butter Click Pump & Why Gilt Waitlist Works!

I finally got the perfect pair of patent leather nude pumps!  I've been looking for a pair forever, seriously like a year!  They are everywhere, but I was being picky and it was unusually hard to find a pair that fit my wish lists.  I wanted some that were no more than 4 inches high so I can actually walk in them all day.  I also wanted just the right shade of color, no visible platform, no man-made material, and does not cost an arm and a leg.  I came across some from Gilt about a month ago, I was uber excited!  Except they were all sold out!  So I clicked on "wait list" and forgot about them.  But they actually became available for me earlier this week!

And they already delivered them today!  I think they are gorgeous and just perfect in person.  I got them in my regular size 6 but they are a tiny bit tight.  So I hope they stretch a little bit as I break them in.  They are the perfect color and they are so soft and actually rather comfortable on.  They will go with pretty much everything, any color, any style, pants, shorts, skirts, dresses, whatever.  I love how nude pumps make your legs look so much longer and leaner!  These also have a hidden platform, so they elevate you without making the heel feel higher.  Equivalent to a 3.5 inch heel I believe.

Well what do you know, I guess Gilt actually does email you when your wait list items become available.  I couldn't believe it!  It has to be meant to be!  I have only added a few items to my wait list before but have never got an email so I didn't know it would work.  This week I actually got 2 different emails of items that have become available again.  Presumably due to returns.  The other one was for a pair of black diamond white topaz earrings that were sold out again by the time I clicked on the link to buy them.  Yikes.  So I guess it only works if you grab them before someone else who also has it on their wait list adds it.  

So when you get the good news email, there is a private link that takes you to the item.  It looks like this:

And then you just add to your cart and pay as usual.  Pretty cool stuff!  I will definitely be using wait list more often if I miss out on stuff I really want again.

My DIY Wedding Bouquet

Ok, so my wedding bouquet DIY project is done, and I'm ready to show off my handy work.  I actually can't believe I made a bouquet as I've never done any floral arrangements before.  So it's amazing to myself that I was even able to put everything together into a bundle!  YouTube tutorials helped.  But I guess mostly you just have to get in there and do it.  Surprisingly it wasn't all that difficult given the proper tools, such as pliers, floral wire, floral tape, and a hot glue gun!

I'm not 100% sold on my own bouquet yet.  Lol.  My fiance says he likes it, but what else could he say after watching me struggle for hours.  I am glad I have something for now, and I can still consider buying either a vintage jewel bouquet or fresh flower one from a professional.  But nevertheless, here are some pictures I took of my work!  I tried to go for a more rustic look given that my wedding will be surrounded by mountains and lake...

Remember these flowers I bought a couple weeks ago:

I used most of them, and now they look like this:

View straight from the top

Side view

Slightly tilted to show the more "colorful" side

So there it is!  I tried to add different pops of color, as well as some bling without making it look too crazy.  I do believe it was as good as I could have done, and I actually enjoyed the process.  So regardless of what happens, I had fun doing it!  So maybe I should hold it proudly as I walk down the aisle and not be self-consciously thinking that everyone else hates my bouquet!  Hehe.

Pink Lotus Drawstring Hem Sweater

I made one purchase from the Green Dragon and Pink Lotus sale on Hautelook a couple weeks ago.  I have been hooked on their stuff ever since I first ordered it from Hautelook almost a year ago.  So I kind of had to buy something when I saw it again.  I didn't see anything super eye-catching, so I just got this drawstring hem sweater.  I can't believe how cute it is on, and not to mention super comfy!  I was practically living in it all weekend!

Really I think the model pictures don't do the top justice.  It is a loose fit, but somehow very flattering.  It's a thin and very soft material which almost reminds me of a really nice towel on the inside.  The drawstring is made of this cloth fabric that doesn't have any stretch to it, and I guess I could do without it.  But it makes the top a bit more interesting I suppose.  The bottom band doesn't have any elastic in it, so if I were to remove the tie, it would hang straight down past my butt.  I think it definitely looks better tied up a little bit.  I just have to remember that it doesn't have any stretch, so I have to make sure to tie exactly where I want it.   The thickness of the fabric is really perfect for the weather right now when it's not too cold out but a little too chilly to go outside a short sleeve.  I also loved it for lounging around the house this weekend too.  Too bad I cooked with it on and managed to splash some sauce on it!  But I think it will come off.

I think I have 3 pieces of clothing from Green Dragon / Pink Lotus before this one, and I've loved every single one of them.  They make some really great stuff!!!

My New Painting!

An art wholesaler came to my work building for a couple days last week to display and sell his art.  He had some really nice original paintings that were painted by his sister in Bali and then shipped here by boat.  I hate spending money on mass produced generic art work, which is why most of my walls are still empty.  I think maybe from some of the pictures I've taken, you can see a huge painting on my wall - it's kind of the only decoration art work I have right now.  A friend painted it and even though he's not an artist or anything, it's still original!  Well his wife is a celebrity and she worked on it as well, so maybe I can resell it one day... hehe.

So I took the opportunity to get one of these unique paintings last week.  At first I wasn't sure if it would go with my place, but I love it now!  The colorfulness of it definitely brightens the place up and gives it a very interesting look.  My walls are a tannish color, which I think looks fine with the painting.  Unfortunately I haven't put it up on the wall yet so I don't have a picture of it hanging up.  It's going to the space above the couch in the living room.  But I did take a picture of it when it was displayed at my work building.  Here it is!

The wholesaler guy told me that his sister painted it based on a photograph he took at the Borobudur Buddhist temple in Indonesia (one of the 9 world wonders).   Being a wholesaler, he takes her paintings to different art galleries in LA, and they always sell really well, especially the monk ones.  But of course if you buy it from the art gallery, the price will be $1000-3000.  He was willing to sell this one to me for $250 which I think is a great price for any original art work, let alone something this unique and big!  The painting is about 4 X 3.5 ft canvas.  It took her a week or so to finish it, but she refuses to sign her paintings because the culture there is different - people do not want to draw attention to themselves.  So apparently, some guy bought 5-6 of her paintings from one of the galleries here, and signed his own name on them!!!  Wow... that's pretty shady.  Maybe I should sign my name on it too and proudly display it as my own work!  Hahahaha.  Kidding, of course.  I can't believe someone would outwright steal this poor Indonesian woman's hard work!

So anyway, this seller has a permanent studio in Venice.  Maybe I can stop by some time later if I feel like I need another painting!

Most Expensive Coffee in the World - Kopi Luwak

One of my coworkers is from a pretty well-off family and likes to enjoy the finer things in life.  He decided to give me a packet of the most expensive coffee in the world - Kopi Luwak, an Indonesian breed.  I guess this coffee costs about $50 a cup.  I'm not much of a coffee drinker, but I decided to give it a try even though it sounds quite disgusting how the coffee beans are collected - basically the raw beans are eaten by some birds and half way digested, then passes through their body, i.e. pooped out.  Apparently this process gives the beans unique flavor.  And because of the lack of quantity, it costs a lot.  I'm the type of person that would try most exotic foods at least once (with the exception of belut and some other stuff), so I did it!

Since we were at work, I probably didn't get the full experience of the $50 cup, as I had to make it myself.  Maybe the packet costs less than $50, who knows, I didn't ask.  It was designed pretty convenient for DIY, all I had to do was cut open the packet and pour hot water into it slowly.  I took pictures for fun!

Before I poured water into it

After adding water, waiting for it to sip through

So the coffee is definitely not as bitter as any other coffee I've ever had before.  In fact, it kind of had a sweet flavor, but very very mild.  I was told that I should not have any creamer or sugar with it because of the unique flavor.  Adding other things would just make it taste like regular coffee.  I really had a hard time drinking it, because it didn't taste particularly good to me.  Maybe it's because I don't normally drink coffee.  But I found it painful to drink on its own.  It's very possible though, that I made it wrong (maybe I don't know how to pour hot water properly - too much water?  Too little?  Poured too fast?  Too slow?).  And I also believe it probably would taste much better at an actual coffee shop.  But that was my experience with the most expensive coffee in the world!  I would not pay $2 for it.  Hahaha.