Uncategorized – Page 6 – Eliza Grey in Love

Manic(ure) Monday: Go Overboard and Other Gems

February 21, 2012April 22, 2013Posted in UncategorizedTagged baking, essie, furniture, manicuremonday, vintageLeave a comment

On the nails – Go Overboard by Essie from the new spring collection. It is on my toes and fingers and it is totally prepping me for the spring. Saturated hues are great on the nails and look so good with a tan. (Need to work on that last part). I even managed to capture me giving it a thumbs up, totally accidental.

President’s Day meant no work for me today! I relaxed at my apartment ad loved sitting by the heater with the sun beating in through the sun porch at my apartment. Since meeting Charlie, I’ve been on a baking spree! For breakfast I ate a tasty slice of banana bread with french vanilla coffee – heaven. I thought about putting dress-up stuff away from the weekend like sparkly purses, but the sun looked too pretty hitting the sparkles! Then I tried to think of a good place for my favorite piece of furniture – vintage chest. Didn’t get very far because I just kept looking at it and loving it right where it is. I did around the design of the blog a bit, let me know what y’all think.

What is your favorite thing to do on a mid-winter day off?

❤ Eliza

Love #5: The People that Make you Shine

February 17, 2012Posted in UncategorizedTagged family, loveLeave a comment

My family is my rock. No ifs and or buts about it. Beyond being the folks that raised me, they are my constant supporters in everything I do. Today’s post is all about my dad and what he’s taught me. I’ve written about our family history and if I could figure out hyper linking on an iPad I’d totally link back…sorry, but his family is fascinating. My post earlier this week was about my mom and many of her wonderful traits that I see in myself, but today, this story is about my dad.

He taught my brothers and I curiosity – in my opinion, a core tenet in the life of successful happy people. Life isn’t boring when you are curious, there is value in learning something new, anything new, and curiosity didn’t kill the cat, it just taught him something new – he has nine lives, not one as previously thought before curiosity. Along with that curiosity, we got into tons of trouble: a burning boat at a Venetian night on the lake I grew up on, learning how many fireworks it takes to successfully blow up a Ft. Dearborn model made from pretzels, the basics of engines – steam and internal combustion, how to use power tools (safety first), how to build a lofted bed and not hit your head, mastery of tedious handmade pasta and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies… we learned a lot.

Of course none of these adventurous things play a role in my day to day life (but I’d be happy to build furniture and engines all day), the curiosity for everything remains. Flying used to scare me a tad because I didn’t get it – large metal objects don’t fly. Until you learn physics and it all makes sense….well, it makes sense to a PhD, but the basics of physics make me feel safe, you get the point. Learning will help you conquer all fears – real and rational or those other kinds of fear (ahem, irrational anxiety).

My dad taught us to question things, my mom taught us to trust our emotions, and together they taught us about the importance of love in a home. They are the people that make me want to shine brighter, go further, be smarter, and laugh more. Day five of love! Tomorrow will be about my girlfriends. Unless of course we drink too much wine at my bestest’s annual dip party and I postpone the post until Saturday.

Love #4: Cookies and the sweet things

February 16, 2012April 22, 2013Posted in UncategorizedTagged baking, loveLeave a comment

I love cookies, especially cookies that remind me of being a kid baking with my dad (theme of tomorrow, I’m excited!). Double especially when I make the first batch and they are as ugly as the ones below. Then I smile when the next batch looks less droopy and mashed. And then, the third batch that burnt a bit … well, they are my favorite because dipped in milk, they yield the best dark chocolate and oatmeal flavor and crunch. This, folks, is why cookies are great – even in the less-than-perfect ones, there is perfection. Life lesson taught through love and cookies.

Also, meet my new mixer. Thinking of naming her Charlie. Or would it be a him? Nope, her name is Charlie!

Also, I was going to bring cookies to work, but got anxious because they are so ugly. My mom told me that these cookies have always been ugly, but nobody notices because they are so good. Maybe next adventure in baking, but for now, new baking jitters are getting the best of me. Is this normal?

Love and cookies,
E

Love #3: Love in a Mason Jar

February 15, 2012April 22, 2013Posted in UncategorizedTagged cohabitation, love, masonjars2 Comments

After planning to go out for dinner we scrapped it, ordered takeout and drank a bottle of wine. Absolutely perfect Valentine’s Day with Leo – my best friend and the theme of Love today. He’s the best, makes me laugh, always cures a bad day and is my partner in crime on all the good days! Love in a mason jar.
Hope you are all having a great Valentine’s Day!

Manic(ure) Monday: Love #2 Nail Polish and Books

February 14, 2012April 22, 2013Posted in UncategorizedTagged books, essie, love, manicuremondayLeave a comment

One day before Valentine’s Day! A little pink, purple and gold plaid on the nails and a big smile on my face. I’m making cookies for Leo for Valentine’s Day, reading magazines and relaxing. That leads me to two of the things that I love a ton – nail polish and printed material (books, magazines, heck, I even love maps). I stopped in to my local nail polish supplier and picked up a few new colors for late winter and into the start of spring, but the main goal was a fun magenta base for v-day nails. You’ll note these pretty bottles sitting a top a very pretty Harry Potter book. See how I’m combining two loves into one Manic(ure) Monday?

My favorite magazines include all the fashion glossies, some women’s lifestyle, cooking and home decor with a dash of history/culture with the Smithsonian.

In the book arena, I love all things popular and have no qualms about reading enjoyable literature – romance novels, textbooks (history), biographies, young adult (Potter anyone? What about The Hunger Games?), the list goes on. If it feels like a book and smells like a book and barks like a book, I love it. I’m even liking books on my iPad, but shhhhh, don’t tell my English Lit lover of a grandma. She’d be heartbroken.

Off to eat my dad’s Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and then to bed! And yes, that’s a hint for Wednesday’s post.

Hope you lovelies have a wonderful Valentine’s Day and don’t forget to tell someone and some more ones that you love them! Everyone needs a little more love, that’s why holidays like tomorrow exist!

xoxo,
E

Love #1: Celebrating my Mom

February 12, 2012April 22, 2013Posted in UncategorizedTagged family, loveLeave a comment

This week is Valentine’s Day, so to celebrate I’ll be posting seven days of Love.

Today is dedicated to my mom! She’s my best friend, she’s the one I call after good days and bad, and she inspires me to be a better person. She is smart, pushes me to always be smarter and push harder – most of all, she is compassionate! She also helps me balance my emotions with logic and always gives me the best advice. She’s the shit.

My mom knows me better than anyone and makes me laugh all the time. Last week, she sent me an early Valentine’s Day present that is 100% me. This little bottle of perfume from the Harajuku Lovers is hilarious. I laughed when I opened it because I knew my mom was trying to cheer me up. She’s good like that! When my dad lived in Japan, I picked up a habit of loving all things Japanese, and have a super soft spot for Hello Kitty and Japanese packaging. And superheroes named Super G? That are blonde and wear glasses? Yep, this is one of my alter-egos in a jar. My mom lives far away but she knows how to make me smile and always reminds me that she is never too far away.

Another great thing about my mom is that I see a lot of her in me. A few of my favorite characteristics – sensitivity, intuitiveness, kindness, passionate and compasionate – are directly from her!

Day one of Love goes to my mom! How do you celebrate the people you love?

Theme of the Day: Work Smarter, Not Harder

February 8, 2012Posted in UncategorizedTagged balance, work1 Comment

In to the office early with a fresh head. That’s the best way to start working smarter, not harder. Here’s to an efficient day!

Source: ornamelle.com via Eliza on Pinterest

Manic(ure) Monday: Y’all Come Back Y’Hear?

February 7, 2012April 22, 2013Posted in UncategorizedTagged manicuremonday, orangeLeave a comment

The power of polish: having a busy week, or know that one is coming up? Find your favorite color (orange), find your favorite activity (painting my nails), and find your calm happy place (relaxing quietly at night).

Source: etsy.com via Eliza on Pinterest

Painting nails and super calm playing on my iPad (orange cover, of course).

BOOM. Mood inspired to perfection.

Source: pics.livejournal.com via Eliza on Pinterest

Color is Y’all Come Back Y’Hear? From OPI’s Texas collection. It is a weird color, almost jellie orange and requires three coats. Not the easiest to apply, but super glossy once dry. Just don’t fall asleep and get sheet marks all over your nails…. which I do every other week, this one included.

Let’s talk money – in-depth and longwinded

February 1, 2012April 22, 2013Posted in UncategorizedTagged 20something, mint, money, saving, shoppingLeave a comment

I’m a worrier, it is what I do. I worry about money, I worry about job stability, I worry about budgets, I worry about bills, to put it simply, I worry. To help quell my worrisome ways, I like to dedicate a substantial amount of energy to the things that I can control. Hmmm, are you sensing a theme here?

Anywho, my worrying ways are usually really funny and mostly irrational. I have a great job, I am fairly cautious with my money, I split bills with Leo, and I have almost no debt. And the debt that I do have is 100% interest free. Under no circumstances (except for school loans, so I guess that’s one circumstance. whatever.) will I not pay to borrow money – interest is the devil, I’m not interested. But budgeting – thats a real worry of mine. Last year, my finances were horrific (in my eyes). Sure, no debt and some savings and I bought a car. BUT, I also spent an ridiculous amount on shopping. Do you use Mint.com? You should for one year to fully grasp your spending habits.

I did it and now I’m assessing. I don’t like starting budgets on January 1st. It is so close to the holidays and starting your year off worrying about how much money you spend on the holidays is no fun. Buying presents for others makes me happy, I shouldn’t feel bad about it. Here’s the other trick – February is a short month meaning your money will go further if you are a salaried employee. Those two days? It counts.

Please note, for all of 2010 and part of 2011, I had two jobs. Cutting that second income was rough but it makes me be way more cautious. So, looking back last year on where my money went:

22% Home (Rent, Home improvement, Furnishings, etc.)
21% Auto and Transport (Bought a Car, Insurance, Public Transit, Gas)
14% Shopping (this is a real zinger. need to cut this number by a third this year)
11% Food and Dining (I’ll break this down later)
10% Travel (went to some great places this year)
7% Bills & Utilities
5% Non-categorized (Not sure what this is, but by going through my Mint account at the end of each month I can categorized these charges and understand where this dinero is going.)
10% Other stuff that adds up

For the month of January – here’s what it is looking like:

30% Home
24% Food & Dining
16% Auto and Transport (Me and the City of Chicago got in a fight about parking tickets…that was most of this amount and the City won, it always does)
8% Shopping (Late Christmas Gifts, hobbies)
*These percentages do not include savings

For the rest of the year, I have some big goals budget-wise:

25% Home
20% Food
15% Travel (Atlanta, Colorado and maybe Costa Rica? We’ll see!)
10% Savings
8% Shopping
8% Auto & Transport
8% Everything else (gym, hair, entertainment, student loan)
6% Bills & Utilities

To get to this budget, I’ll be investing in more important things (travel, eating good food, loving my home) and be careful. No self-deprivation here, only prioritization. One month in to the year, I’m confident that I’ve done really well without really trying. To be honest, I’ve spent more on shopping (in cash only) because I pay for groceries and Leo pays me back in cash. It’s called lying to Mint.com and it is a terrible habit that I have. Oh well!

How are you tracking your 2012 financial goals? Are you a Mint user? Lover? Hater? Cheater?

Manic(ure) Monday: Steady as she Rose

January 31, 2012April 22, 2013Posted in UncategorizedTagged manicuremonday, opiLeave a comment

Two shots of color inspiration for this week’s edition of Manic(ure) Monday.

Source: abriendo-puertas.tumblr.com via Eliza on Pinterest

Source: houzz.com via Eliza on Pinterest

Steady as She Rose by OPI – Pirates of the Caribbean with an accent nail (aka the most obnoxious form of rebelling the is allowed in my super conservative life) in Show it and Glow it. Hard to see the color because it is to pale, but I adore it.