25% off Stella + Dot? It IS a Happy Thanksgiving!

happy thanksgiving, my little turkeys!

so glad to be able to offer you guys this opportunity - just visit www.stelladot.com/alannastrei 

order whatever strikes your fancy,

and the most expensive item will be 25% off!

xx,

seasonally appropriate indian princess alanna

p.s. what i'm thankful for?
my fellow service-members, underway, overseas and standing duty!

halloween and cashmere

Halloween was, of course, fun.  Friday night we went bowling downtown for a friend of a friend's surprise party.  We went to a large party at the VFW (it was just as classy as it sounds) on Saturday night and then I Lilly'ed on Sunday, so Trip and I went to see that Katherine Heigl/Josh Duhamel movie - 'life as we know it', I believe.  It was pretty good!  Definitely a romantic comedy, so pretty predictable, but very heartwarming :)  It's our 6 month anniversary on Sunday but I have duty, so we have a busy/romantic Saturday planned!  Yay!

Halloween: Me, Becky and Christina as german beer girls

Today, I decided to replace my windshield wiper blades as I haven't had any in months (fortunately, in San Diego, you can do that...not bragging, just saying.  okay, I am bragging.  it's 88 and sunny today, Nov. 3...of course, McDonalds is more expensive than anywhere in the country and it costs 11.25 to see a movie, so I think I'm paying for all this sunshine somehow...).  Anyways, unfortunately, while I could remove the old blades, I cannot figure out how to put the new ones on.  Score: Wiperblades: 1, Alanna: 0.  Hopefully it doesn't decide to start raining :/

As a shocking aside, I have not lost any weight and am still hovering around that stupid effing 150 mark I've been hovering around for months.  I don't want to be content with it but Trip is a foodie too and we are always going new places and ordering amazing things...Bloody Mary brunch at Crabcatcher's and then dinner at the Melting Pot is sure not to help my case on Saturday - but at least we are going kayaking in La Jolla Cove beforehand!

I'm totally crushing on this Lilly Pulitzer Katherine cashmere cableknit sweater for this winter (we got samples in the store before resort came out and it's delightfully long with a fairly deep v-neck so I really liked it).  The sample was in lavender and I loved it, so I know I'll be getting that one.  Unfortunately, they also have three shades of blue and I don't know which I want - turquoise, skye blue, or shorely blue!  Halp!!



Lavender - already definitely getting it...it's almost like periwinkle, so pretty!



From left to right: Turquoise, Shorely Blue, Skye Blue

How am I supposed to choose?!  

I'm also considering getting a Babs...our manager, Sami, has one in black, and she wears it tossed over her shoulder and it looks so elegant!  You know me though...I'd go for this one:

and the most important thing I've done recently? 

I cut up one of my credit cards! 

Wooo, on the road to debt free living!

xx,

alanna

denise richards-srsly!?, lilly resort 2011!!! and Cabo

First things first...we all made it back from Cabo alive and well!

We didn't get particularly tan as we spent every port visit drinking, but c'est la vie.  Especially because if you look at the Denise Richards photos below you'll see that the power of botox far outweighs the power of a good tan.

Becky and I - the original two!

 the staff of Billygan's and the four winners of a free round of drinks, and then, courtesy of Rachel and her booty-shaking bikini contest abilities, a free round of shots!

Christina, myself and Rachel!

Okay, back to my botox/Denise Richards reference:

[images courtesy of http://www.thesuperficial.com/]

how the hell is this humanly possible?! she looks freaking amazing!  Yes she looks botoxed, but SUCH a good job...booking next appointment in 3...2...1....

Finallllly, Lilly Pulitzer Resort 2011 first shipment is at Lilly Pulitzer Fashion Valley!  Some of it is SO cute and while all of the cuts aren't particularly my thing, the prints are DEFINITELY gorgeous so I'm going to end up with a few pieces...probably for sure the new Adelson in this gorgeous coral-y pink, a Cassie Slub (or 3!) and another one of those "Large Tote" bags that I use ALL the time.  My current one is the Sea and Be Seen Large Tote, which is on sale right now at Zappos!  I really like mine!

The one I currently have is on the left; the new resort one I will soon own is trimmed with gold sparkly handles and is super cute as well!

And now, via C. Orrico who have kindly already put up their Resort 2010 first shipment photos, here are just a few of the pretty pieces I'm looking forward to:

 [all images courtesy of www.corrico.com]

 From Left to Right - Cassie Slub, Adelson, Connie, Jillie, Adalie
Cassie Slub - I am minorly obsessed with.  Imagine the belt/shoe possibilities - skinny belt, wide belt, heels, wedged boots, over the knee boots...
Adelson - They're making it in a coral-y pink that's just stunning.  As my co-worker said (she was not as pleased about this as I was), it's "a little bit neon".  yAy!
Connie - We'll see when we can try it on...but I like that print.
Jillie - Hopefully it doesn't actually look like a maternity dress and it's just because the model is so thin!  The dress looks beautiful and like it has *so* much potential.
Adalie - my always favorite...the best wrap dress ever that I blogged about only a few months ago.  I don't really like that print (at. all.) but I'm sure they'll be doing it in others.

Check out their site for more images as they're added!

Finally, a few more pics from the Sophie Pyle Style Blog and the amazing new Lilly Pulitzer Furniture Line:

Can't wait!  Happy Halloween!

xx,

alanna

Lilly FURNITURE!! ...and stupid halloween candy

one fun-sized snickers has 72 calories.  seventy. two. 

that doesn't sound so fun anymore, does it?

looking forward to fall and winter now - going on a cruise on friday, las vegas for thanksgiving, and skiing with the family (and trip!) for christmas.  i *WISH* i could show you girls all the new Lilly things for resort - they. are. amazing.  first shipment is on the 25th!

instead i leave you with these images of the new Lilly Pulitzer FURNITURE line from the Sophie Pyle Style Blog...SO excited!

Sooo...OBSSESSED with that kitchen table and the bed!  The green and white striped couch is UBER cute as well...and the inside of that media display?  I die...

It's all a little like the amazing Coastal Living furniture, and probably at the same price point :-/

I will probably be starting a Lilly Pulitzer Fashion Valley blog for the store soon, with updates and news flashes and getting to know you's and opportunities for people to participate by sending in photos of you loving your Lilly!  So psyched!

an ode to things I love...this may get mushy.

I can't get over how much I genuinely love things when I love them.  I write them love sonnets in my head, think about them before I go to sleep or while I'm driving or having a conversation with someone boring.  I think about them when I'm doing something that's a subpar subsitute for whatever it is I love, I think about them while I'm with/doing/eating other things I love...basically, once you worm your way into my heart, you're there for good.  That being said, here comes the list:

I love:

1) Pretzel M+M's

they're sweet. they're salty. you can crunch them or you can suck on them till you get the pretzel.  the bags are plastic-y, not paper-y, and oh by the way...a whole bag is only 150 calories!!

2) Lean Cuisines

Image Courtesy of: http://www.notmike.com

Okay, so this isn't my freezer (it basically was in college!).  Mine has one half filled with frozen dinners, and the other half filled with bags of frozen vegetables.  I love LC's for a million reasons: the assorted varieties (there are SO. MANY. and there are always new ones!), the ease and convenience, the pre-portioned calorie count-ability, and most importantly, the FLAVOR!  i feel like i'm going out to eat at every single meal, because I can eat exactly what I would order at a restaurant but not feel too full.  My only gripe with them used to be the price, which brings me to my next love:

3) The COMMISSARY

 image courtesy of: http://cache.daylife.com

No, that's not me, and I'm not even sure if it's my Commissary, but that is a great example of the ridiculous size and scope of the Commissary.  I wish I had thought to save my last receipt and scan it for you, but the prices are ludicrously low.  Bags of frozen vegetables go on sale for 2 for $5 at Ralph's, a local grocery store.  At the Commissary, they are always around $1.37.  Why do I know the exact price?  BECAUSE THE COMMISSARY DOESN'T CHARGE TAX.  i rest my case.

4) My car

It's a white 2007 VW Jetta Wolfsburg Edition...meaning it has everything I want in a car with the insurance of a much less well equipped vehicle.  Heated light-colored (a must in sunny San Diego!) leather seats, sunroof, huuuuge trunk space...this car could not make me happier if it tried.

5) Crystal Light Individual Packets + my Camelbak Water Bottle

 I know it says to mix them with a 16 oz. bottle of water, but my Camelbak is 24 oz. and those things are still crazy potent.  I drink more water (and consequently use the bathroom more - I consider it fair given how long people's smoke breaks take) than anyone I know.  I have been at work for less than three hours and I'm on my 3rd bottle.  I have four Camelbaks (in different colors, obvi) because I have ones that I don't mind carrying around in uniform (navy blue and kind of a slate gray) and ones that are way more fun for the gym and Lilly (pink and green, of course).  SO happy!

6) My Boyfriend!

Can you blame me?

xx,

alanna

Disney Princess Half-Marathon/Lilly RESORT 2011!

I cannot even tell you which I'm more excited for.  We got the Lilly Pulitzer Resort 2011 linebook in yesterday and I spent a SOLID three hours flipping through.  Every single delivery is full of GORGEOUS pieces, from dresses to Murfee scarves to wedges!  the prints are just beautiful - so many aquas and turquoises, and, of course...pink!  i can't wait until the first shipment comes in...fall, i'm so over you and it's only halfway through September!

And now, onto the Disney Princess Half Marathon...

competition begins in: 163 days, 12 hours and 20 minutes.  I, personally, have only ever completed a 5k, and that was on a treadmill, during deployment.  Regardless, I think that I can do this, especially with Trip leaving for Pakistan for a year and my work schedule being less taxing than it used to be.  therefore, i can be...this:

photo credit: http://www.disneyprincesshalfmarathon.com/

So using my trusty 'how to run a half-marathon' guide from Self magazine, I've started my 'training'.  Fortunately, it starts with 'how to run a 5k', which, frankly, is just what I need.  The good thing is that there's all sorts of different work outs - some days, it's strength training, some days, it's a Speed 1 workout (warm up for a mile, sprint half a mile, walk half a mile, sprint half a mile, cool down half a mile), and some days, it's my favorite: rest!

photo credit: http://www.nataliedee.com/

on an entirely more boring and unrelated note, i haven't lost any weight and in fact, gained two pounds because of Trip and I's Cabo vacation.  Fabulous.  Hopefully this training will help that out, because Lord knows that my coming to terms with the fact that I am really really loving this whole eating meat while sober and in front of people thing, combined with the fact that Trip has decided (get this) he is going to eat everything he may possibly miss while he is in Pakistan, I have had wayyy too much access to delicious food. 

I'm not going to post my weight, but suffice it to say that I'm getting kind of close to not being able to ride my dream water vehicle anymore:

photo credit: www.skymall.com

the SkyMall Children's Inflatable Sea Doo. 

The closest I will probably get to owning a jet-ski, this puppy maxes out at 155 pounds, but at only $199, it's a reasonable investment for a San Diego resident, concur?

speaking of reasonable investments, I've finally learned to accept the fact that there is no employee discount for this desirable land-transporter:

photo credit: www.lillypulitzer.com

Looks like it's a good thing I'm working on my running, since I won't be able to get around any other way!

jessica simpson, no0o0o0o0o... + lilly pulitzer fall

i know, i've been MIA for entirely too long.  way too much vacation + new job at public affairs + less income = less blogging.  but fear not, y'all, cause trip is leaving for pakistan and i am going to have entirely too much time on my hands very soon. 

first things first:

jessica simpson?

photo credit: http://www.wwtdd.com/

why??  and yes, i understand the other photos in the article do show off that her legs are still very toned, but that dress? with her curves?  i don't think i've seen a worse fashion misstep since...lady gaga's meat dress: 

sick.

i'm sorry i did that to your eyes.  to make up for it, i offer you my personal, full, must-buy recommendation from lilly pulitzer fall:

the adalie wrap dress.

if they made this dress in one million prints, i would buy every. single. one.  and at only $148,  i wouldn't even be in serious debt!  i am not lying, this FLEW out of our store so quickly that some of the girls that work there didn't get one!  i have worn this to an interview, to a rehearsal dinner, AND to a hail and farewell...talk about versatile! 

i also picked up this adorable (and very reasonably priced) shift:

but this is what i'm really excited for:

the shauna tunic engineered...i just looove dresses with sleeves for winter, and this one is still really fun.  we're not getting it at fashion valley, so we'll have to see if my dedication leads me to order it from another store...

Rihanna, drinking for thirty years and shopping for 23

hey girls! (and boys, although i think that probably only applies to trip)

it's been a whirlwind last two weeks.  two of my best friends from high school flew out to visit, so you know i had to show them a good time, right?  we drank our way through thirty years, hitting up an '80's bar crawl, a "'90's house party" (at a bar) and, of course, going out in normal clothes ONCE just so we encompassed the '00's.  we lost one of my best friends the second night, and waking up in the morning, i called the bar where we last saw her, but i was still pretty out of it so my message sounded a little like this:

"uh, hi! this is alanna!  we lost my best friend last night?

[giggles]

her name is judy!  she is 4'11 and she was wearing '80's gear!!

[giggles for about two minutes]

call me if you find her!! she is very nice so maybe she is still there!! see you in a few hours!"

appropriate, given the severity of the situation, huh?  well, we of course checked facebook and little judy had managed to get online and message me to tell me that her phone was lost, her purse was soaked as she had decided to mermaid it up in the pacific ocean, and her side pony was just all out of wack.  we picked her up from her new location (seriously thirty minutes away...girl must have been on some adventures) and proceeded to make our 1115 champagne brunch reservations...

oh, that's '80's and '00's, you ask?  [and yes, the second photo is 00's...despite the psychedelic pattern, it's a Trina Turk '10 swimsuit coverup that happens to make a fab sundress] what happened to '90's?  obviously judy forgot her camera cord and she can't upload them!! that's what 96 hours straight of drinking through 30 years of clothing does to you!

i also wanted to update y'all on my couch...SO, after it wouldn't fit (see last post) and i listed it on craigslist, i came home to find the entire structure of it gone.  fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it) i still had the cushions in my apartment.  thus, i give you, the uncouch-couch:

hilarious, eh?

other than that, things have been going well. 

Rihanna and the rest of the big stars for the new movie Battleship made a visit to the USS Stockdale yesterday and a couple guys from my office got to go photograph it - having seen the 'before' photos (unretouched), Rihanna is really. freaking. pretty. girl has no blemishes whatsoever, and her skin naturally looks airbrushed. 

becky (http://www.happinessisaprivateship.blogspot.com/) gets back on friday so i'm looking forward to another antics filled weekend!

xoxo!

P.S.
there's a $50 Chili's Gift Card giveaway at http://www.theundomesticmomma.com/ !