Friday I'm In Love

It's Friday and I'm in love with ALL of the following items:

Clockwise from left: Dappled Flask | Coast to Coaster Set | Ceramic Jewelry Tray | Gold-Dipped Playing Cards | Reiko Kaneko Drip Tease Mug Set | Black and White Striped Bandage Skirt | Animal Colorblock Cardigan | White Ceramic Coated Cookware | Round Gold Druzy Quartz Ring | Luminous Gold and White Dots Pillow | Black and White Striped Circle Scarf | Shanna Murray Black and Gold Salad Plates

I'll most likely be pining all weekend for these Friday Finds.. but I suppose there are worse things..

Hope your weekend plans include coziness and oodles of fun!

xoxo

HANDWORK.

As I waddle through my construction worker "adventure," I am becoming increasingly aware of one thing: this line of work and my body are frenemies.  Sure there's been some upsides, I secretly love how tired I feel at the end of each day and I'm convinced there is some definition in my abs that's happening beneath the layer of skin that is literally "bodyguarding" them.  I have also probably bulked up in the bicep/upper arm region.... although that outcome is straddling the friend vs. enemy line.  But one thing is certain, after slinging the shovel for four hours my back will feel like a boy scout's practice rope.  Today, the glamorous task of "handwork" was bestowed upon me.  What's "handwork" you ask?  It's the job-site euphemism for moving dirt with a shovel that you are holding in your hand.  

                                 I feel ya, B.

Luckily for me, however, I received one of the best gifts I've ever gotten, earlier this year, from my mama:  A monthly membership to Massage Envy Spas, a national chain of spas which offer professional (and might I add: excellent) massages and facials.  .... And the perfect antidote for "handwork."  (ba dum tss!)   When I first "opened it" I did not believe it was real.. A guaranteed massage every week?!  Shut the front door!  But now that I'm a "member" I can attest, it is the real deal. ladies and gents.  And it is every bit as glorious as I imagined.

                              It's just delightful!

If you weren't quite sure what the "Massage Envy Spas" you've no doubt seen around your local center of commerce, were all about, now you will know.  They are a "regular" wellness spa where anyone can go to get a facial or massage but they also have a very unique element as well.  You can get a membership where you pay in advance for one year's worth of massages or facials once a month, at a reduced "membership rate."  If you do not use your massage for that month, it rolls over.  I personally like to accumulate mine so that I don't have to go through that feeling of having to wait another whole month once I've used one, for the next (yes I know, that is totally sane advice :).  A little insider tip: the prices of the monthly massage vary based on where you sign up for your membership, so I might recommend shopping it around if you care about saving a couple dolla bills, but I have seen them in the range of $40 to $60 for the "membership price."  The best part though, is that you can use them at any Massage Envy location... So if you travel for work, or your nearby location is all booked up, you can go to another location and your membership will apply.  

All of the locations I have been to (5) have been very nice inside and since they are franchised and have to maintain the brand's image, I am confident that all of them are nice.  I personally like knowing what I can expect from a brand... But I also like Starbucks, so take that as you will.  The waiting and treatment rooms are spa-like, relaxing and clean (there's no "funkiness," if that means anything to you) but most importantly, the therapists are highly qualified and extremely good, in my amateur opinion.  They also have couples massage treatment rooms if you're feeling so inclined.  Basically, it's amazing.  That's best word I feel I can use to describe it.

So, if you can swing it, like I can swing a shovel full of dirt, I say you treat yourself to a once a month treatment, because by golly, YOU DESERVE IT!

Fanny Pack Revamp

My absolutely adorable but also totally legit friend makes these to-die-for fanny packs that completely dispel any notion that you've ever had about fanny packs.   Fanny packs are coming back y'all and you better jump on board before the train leaves you at the station, ya hear?  But make sure you jump on the right train, because your mom's fanny pack from the 90's is NOT taking off from wherever it stalled out.  Oh no... All the cool kids these days are rocking the "festival fanny" and they're rocking your socks off! I'm proud to say that, as far as I'm concerned, my friend is an innovator on this front and people leading the fashion charge are exactly the kind of people I want in my cool kids clique.  So please, allow me to introduce the "Swagger That" Fanny Pack:

SO fresh, right??  I am a huge fan of these fannies because they've got that gangsta swagga that cancels out any mom-ness/dorkiness that was ever associated with these undeniably convenient carrying compartments.  When my friend first started handmaking them, they were originally intended for festivals, but I can speak from personal experience when I say that these fancy fanny packs are ideal for almost any occasion when you don't want to lug around a heavy purse (AKA: All The Time)... 

Obvi, I have one and and lucky me, mine is a custom job (yep, I'm a big deal :) that according to the "artist" was designed with my Vegas alter-ego in mind... Well, I guess, not so much an alter-ego as much as an exaggerated version of my everyday self where I am glitzed up to the nines and can't be bothered to stop dancing... And I can attest that these bad boys are IDEAL for Vegas outdoor pool parties where you can never be sure that your belongings are safe anywhere but on you.... But with one of these, security is no longer an issue.  Plus, I think we can all admit that dancing with a purse limits your freedom of expression.  So naturally, I am supporter of anything that prevents the squashing of a free spirit or unbridled creativity.  Here is the one I have:

She also has a other fun treats for the ladies in her shop, Swagger That, which I strongly encourage you to take a look at here.           

If you're a dude and I've still got your attention, you are about to be rewarded with some dope goodies just for you:

These fanciful bowties for lads will have the ladies swooning and the other gents crooning (hee hee).  

This creative little chickadee also makes over these sweet fold up chairs so you can be stylin' anywhere you want to have a sit:  

As you can see, the girl's got mad style, which means... that any of her products are guaranteed to boost your swagger.  Trust me on this one.  

Now go! Go get yourself one of these killer items and finish off the rest of the week with OG finesse! 

Craigslist Counterplay

I have some old pieces of furniture I've been trying to shed for, we'll just say, "a while now" on the ol' Craig' and apparently, some people browsing my local Craigslist just don't think the pieces I'm throwing up there are worth the prices I'm asking for them.. Or, they just don't like what I'm offering... Snobs. Juuuuust kidding!  In all honesty, I can hardly blame them as I'm the ultimate stickler for what I allow in my home, so why should I expect them to want my discards?  But sadly or not, I haven't given up hope just yet that my not-quite-trash might be one lucky winner's treasure..... Not. yet.

I'm also not going to admit to y'all how long my "treasures" have been "collecting dust online" but just know that it's been long enough that I decided I needed to look into a new strategy.  And guess what?!  Lo and behold, I recently came to "find out" about furniture consignment just in the knick of time!  I mean, I had always known about the concept of consignment when it came to clothing but for some reason, it never occurred to me to look into consignment for "retired" large scale furniture items.  Since putting them up online wasn't a viable option when you consider shipping in relation to the price I'm asking and a garage sale would not garner enough visibility for my current locale, it seemed the Craig' was becoming more of a ball and chain than a resource.  And just one more grievance I want to air before I digest all of these sour grapes, have you all noticed that "bartering" now seems to be a prerequisite for shopping on Craiglist?   (I mean, in reality, I am probably an equal offender myself when the shoe is on the other foot).  Which creates the dilema that if you price your items too high, you may not get any "bites" but if you're too low, you're going to get the inevitable "friendly negotiation" thrown at you.  But blah, blah enough of my whining, I think you've gotten the idea by now that the consignment concept has shaped up to be an exciting new alternative that I will be dipping my toe into.  

                                                                      Truth.

If this idea is novel to you all as well (which was my hope when I opted to post about this topic), here is a basic breakdown of what the process entails:

* There are furniture consignment shops in each city, just do a basic internet search for them in your area.  I would also recommend contacting more than one if you have multiple options, to try to ensure maximum earning potential for your, no doubt, furniture gems.

* My experience with mutliple consignors thus far has been that they will ask you to submit photos of your piece(s) and if they are interested, they will let you know the price they think they can get for it.  Also, fairly standard within the industry, the consignor will take 50% if the item sells, netting you the other half.  

* If you are comfortable with the price they are willing to set (factoring in your percentage), they will come out to look at the item, to make sure it is in the same condition as it appeared in the photo.  If they determine it is and the price still stands, they can either take the item with them to the store for a roughly $50 pick up fee. 

 * If your item doesn't sell within their pre-established timeline (usually a few months), they will lower the price or you can come pick it up (or have it delivered back to you for a fee).  In some cases, they only offer the option to donate it if you don't wish to pick it up.  But that would probably never end up happening because all of my blog readers have good taste.

Conversely, given this recent "discovery" of mine, you will probably be able to find me personally at these shops on the regular because... Um, WOAH, a flea market everyday of the week?!   Lord help me.  

"Namastare"

I had an onslaught of nightmare last night and have been dragging like a half-human/half-zombie all day today as a result.  (Is it normal for people my age to still be getting nightmares?!)  I may have also had a breakdown at work that included tears for no discernible reason, BUT that is neither here nor there.  I'm convinced that this sleeplessness and vulnerability to these "night terrors" is coming from some underlying anxiety that I haven't quite put my finger on just yet.... but luckily, I am a woman with a plan: YOGA.

I have been resistant to yoga for too long as I suspect I am the only person on the planet that hasn't jumped on board this proverbial "magic carpet ride" and really, for no good reason at all.  Just one of those stubborn, I-am-not-a-bandwagon-person pointless stands I have a bad habit of making, in all honesty.  But some force to be reckoned with has apparently decided to intervene through my dreams (how cheap) because now I am feeling compelled to look into ways to calm my nerves.  

But before I completely surrender to this ethereal force without any glory, I have decided to reward myself for doing nothing and make the transition just a little bit easier by buying myself this yoga mat: 

                                             BUY IT HERE

NOT ONLY am I going to be completely calmed while contorting my limbs because I am on this m̶a̶t̶ rug but you know I'm gonna be stylin' it up in the yoga studio and I have no shame in admitting that that is important to me :). 

If you're like me and are always trying to put your best foot forward (I mean, you never know when you could meet the love of your life ;), this totally radical brand called "Magic Carpet Yoga Mats" has a fresh-to-death collection of yoga mat designs which include the following:

                                            BUY IT HERE

                                               BUY IT HERE

                                             BUY IT HERE

                                           BUY IT HERE

                                                                               BUY IT HERE

                                                                                 BUY IT HERE

I mean, these mats could make even the hardest core of resisters convert to the yogi lifestyle, could they not?   It's like yoga and home decor recently met and they created some gorgeous babies.  The yoga room is about to be pimped, y'all!

Alright though babies, I'm just about spent so I'm signing off to go snag some zzz's.  G'night!