Out sick, but wanted to thank random girl on metro

I've been running a low fever for the past two days and sneezing and coughing like it's my job. As far as health goes, I don't really mean to complain since in the grand scheme of life I'll take this cold any day over the pain of falling off a mountain bike with no doctor for miles, or a real physical ailment.

FYI, I act like I'm at most 9 years old when I'm sick. I want to lay in bed all day, eat homemade chicken soup, and wake up 3 days later feeling all better. I also have a low tolerance for "things gone wrong" (like losing something, forgetting something else, etc.). Combining the two is a recipe for disaster.

Where's this going?

I got off the metro all rushed because I was working up until the last minute and quickly scrambling to pack my work notebook in my purse tonight. I had that feeling (that I have anytime I carry too much) that I had left something on that train. I always have this feeling about planes, hotel rooms, rental cars...and usually it's a mental thing. OCD perhaps? Anyway, I felt compelled to get back on the same train car to check, and right where I had been sitting was a smiling woman holding out these babies.

These were a Christmas gift from my sister when I first moved out to the freezing East Coast. I wear them just about everyday between Nov 1 and Feb 1 each year. For obvious they're so cute but more so sentimental reasons, I seriously would have been heartbroken and just broken down crying upon realizing I left these on the stupid metro. So I'm glad my intuition told me to jump back on the train and ride out an extra stop and back :)

I seriously feel like I won the lottery or something, just because I can't stand losing things...and I don't believe you can replace things that have huge sentimental value (it's in my genes, my dad can buy a new computer each week but I was touched to hear he hadn't replaced his 4 year old UGG slippers because despite how paper-thin they had gotten, they were a Christmas gift from me...aww!)

So a long post to thank random blonde smiling girl on metro who made me forget about how exhausted and sick I'm feeling and reminded me of happy things like my family :)

Patience, got any to spare?

Rumors are running wild, but confirmations are starting to roll in...YAY!
The MacBook Airs have started to ship (and mine is still sitting there, ack!), slowly but surely it will make its way into my eager hands. Rumors also say that since the first batch of orders will be fulfilled by Friday, the stores will have these babies by the weekend. Grumble grumble, where's mine Mr. FedEx? (ya, I know...not really something to complain about but I'm excited!)

additionally,
I'm selling a boatload of never-used fashion overindulgences on eBay and the auctions end tomorrow. Gotta love the influx of "intelligent" questions from potential buyers: "can u except a money order even though you only accept paypal?", "your listing says you don't ship internationally, but can you ship to Australia?" Ummm, that's all a resounding NO people. I mean really, it's hard enough to part with this stuff and now you expect me to break my established guidelines for your misspelled request? Ha!
Then I'm wondering will this stuff even sell? (only 1 item has met the reserve, doat!--maybe I should bend the rules) I hope I can make enough to fund some more pilates personal training or will I make just barely enough to buy a bottle of wine at next week's (dedicated post to come) wine festival?

and since my Gocco's instructions are in Japanese and I have a fever (= my brain is worthless tonight), I instead whipped out the camera to annoy my little Summy:) **note her ever present "babies": her weiner dog/monkey and her squeaker tennis ball

But I can't wait to figure out my Gocco and start making stuffs :)

I can't keep surprises darnit

So Jeremy's vday gift came early, and since it was fresh and handmade and I knew I would be too excited...I handed it over. I'm a dork, a giant dork.

Etsy amazingness

Most of us have heard of Etsy by now, and even if you haven't, the best way I can describe the plethora of options and my frustration is the feeling I get on that yearly occasion when I attempt to score a deal at a Filene's Basement, Loehmann's, or the like. My head explodes just thinking about the massive amounts of options and stuff that you have to dig through for that gem. To some it's a sport and the prize is the find. And to be honest, there are some amazing necklaces, cards, camera bags, everything on Etsy! It just requires patience I wasn't born with.

Anyway, just this week I stumbled up on some Etsy recommendations from friends and I had to share them because they're just that cool!

I admired and shared the first one with a few of you yesterday because it was a total favorite but they sold out before even I could get my hands on them. I'm hoping for a second round offering.

From another very talented Etsy seller, something for the lady photographer (a replacement for that lame camera strap):

I think these go well with my Shootsac!

And we're gettting better

(at photo-editing) yay :)
AFTER

Salvaging an overexposed P&S picture with elementary Lightroom skills is tough stuff!
BEFORE:

Missing my alfajores

We haven't gone grocery shopping in 2 weeks, so we're really scrounging to make do with the random frozen fish, shrimp, and veggies in the fridge.

I adopted the bad habit of dessert with every meal while traveling. Raisins for dessert after my light shrimp scampi with wheat pasta tonight is not cutting it.

I want an empolvado-style alfajor (the perfect combination of "light" cake with dulce de leche and some powdered sugar)!

Mmmm, tasty!

It's like non fugly Uggs for my new baby

I just couldn't pass up this MacBook Air Mail case. Here's the goods direct from the AirMail folks:

What is this made of?
The AirMail laptop sleeve is handmade out of durable upholstery-grade vinyl, and lined with fuzzy, soft fleece. All AirMail sleeves have the same dimensions as standard interoffice manila envelopes, which will serve to remind you -- and everyone around you -- that your new MacBook Air really is the thinnest laptop in the world!

Why?
Well, we think Apple's MacBook Air is a revolutionary computer, and we thought we'd take Steve Jobs up on his idea that it can fit inside a standard manila envelope. Besides, we wanted a cool case to show off our new laptops!

Is this padded enough to protect my laptop?
AirMail laptop cases are lined with thick fleece, which will protect your laptop from any cosmetic damage and smudges, and keep it safe from bumps in daily use. It is not suitable, however, for any extreme use. But geez, treat your MacBook Air kindly!

No sleep until February 13

and that's because I'm so freaking excited!

Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a personal no-need-to-explain-beef with Apple (the tech company, not the fruit). I've begrudgingly adopted to the itunes and ipod way of life (my 2 minis, nano, and shuffle can attest to that), and I'll even admit that I love my nike+ system.

But now check out what's coming my way...

This is seriously shocking on so many levels:
- this is possible only with the endless generosity of the Ergs
- I finally found a laptop that's sleek enough to hangout with my Chanel East-West and the rest of my closet goodies
- I never thought I'd be a sucker of the "switch" campaign
- I don't even think my hand can do a single click (I've read that you can change that setting to the ever-familiar double click routine, phew)
- and the announcement timing was pretty incredible, given that just last week I started looking for a replacement to my faithful but "tired" 4 year old Vaio

So to say that I'm excited is an incredible understatement, I can't wait to start editing my photography on my new baby.

And to dispel any ideas that I am a sucker for this product or that I didn't do my specs research, I know it only has 1 USB port, no ethernet, a built-in battery, blah blah. I DON'T CARE. I got a USB hub, I can't remember the last time I used my ethernet port, and despite my dad's strong urgings I never replaced my 4 year old Sony's battery. Whoops :P And the whole 80G hard drive concern, I'm pretty sure that the nice little TB I have will supplement just fine. Besides, since Jeremy feels the need to have a triple-boot option (Windows, Ubuntu, and Leopard) it looks like a Time Capsule will soon be on it's way to the Doggpound.

I also know it's not built with the brains of the MacBook Pro workhorse, or even scarier, Jeremy's 50lb (it feels like it, I swear) Dell XPS...and that's exactly how I like it. I'm an internet-shopping, message board reading, photo-editing, style-conscious laptop user. I want it light, portable, sexy, and easy to use.

And I'll even feature "her" clothes (yes, the MacBook Air is clearly a "she") in my next post :)

It's going to be a long "no-buy" until my bday

I'm proud to say I haven't shopped for myself in over a month (slightly miraculous huh? not even on vacation!), and I'm tempted to do this no-buy thing again until my birthday. Then again that's a ways away and might be pretty impossible. (and perhaps I can't wait on the low light lens before Italy?)

Until then, I'll blog about my "wants" (instead of impulse buying them, waaaaaaah!) and pretend that the online-checkout window I closed filled the void of shopping. We'll just consider this an early start on the birthday wishlist :P

1. a lens for lowlight/no-flash situations (moderate telephoto)
Sony 50 f/1.4

2. a Macro lens for my baby
Sigma 105 f/2.8EX or what's looking like the better contender: Sigma 18-50mm/f2.8EX (or 100mm f/2.8 Sony)

3. Zakkers magnets for my daily commute, an attempt to salvage my work pants

4. the *pink* Clarisonic face cleanser system

5. Domino magazine subscription

6. a Lauren Merkin clutch, the smaller one of course (still needing a leather clutch since they seemed to be extinct in Buenos Aires) code: GRECHEN for 20% off ;)

7. Customized stationary (this style but in pink + brown, as described below)

dotty border color: dark pink, initial color: chocolate, single letter initial: m
Paper Color: White, Envelope Color: blossom, Set of: 25

8. Orchid Pink patent Tory Burch Revas (size 6 of course)

and when we're rich(er) :P
- David Yurman Petite Albion ring, Prasiolite stone (custom ordered to my size)
- my dream lens is the Carl Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 Telephoto (for portraits)

Theory makes the best feminine work shirts

I'm loving this color and style, for work and play :)

And we're back to normal

Lilly Pulitzer, you impress me (I guess my prepster-side holds a special place in my heart for these beach-ready rehearsal dinner *ahem* designs):

Middle dress, I've got my eye on you!

We're back!

While I wait for my Lightroom software to arrive (so I can fix the metadata on Jeremy's pictures, and the lighting on our overexposed ones), I thought I'd go ahead and share about 20% (a sampling) of our pictures from our 18 day adventure through Santiago, Pucon, Puerto Varas (Chile), Bariloche, Buenos Aires (Argentina), and Montevideo:



Back to regularly scheduled blogging sometime soon.