i'm loving right now...

...1) end of season sales:
South Moon Under is offering an additional 30% off their sale items with the code EXTRA30.  Stella and Dot has also taken some major mark downs.  Worth it? UM, yes! Look!

BB Dakota Lace + Cotton Tube Dress $108 $54 $37.80!

 Stella + Dot Paige Chandelier Earrings $69 $52.00!

Eight Sixty Gold Brocade Dress $118 $82.60 $57.82

Stella + Dot Eternity CZ Necklace - Gold 60" $128 $82.00

... 2) Haiti Relief Efforts

Want to help but don't know how?  From now until Valentine's Day, 20% of the profits from all orders on my personal Stella + Dot website will be donated to Haiti Disaster Relief through Save the Children.  All you need to do is visit www.stellanddot.com/alannastrei and make a purchase – shopping you can feel good about!  

...3) getting extended

I know, it sounds counterintuitive...I shouldn't be happy at all.  I kind of am, though, because it means another month of tax free income!  It's pretty sad when you're so used to shipboard life (being underway for more than 50 days anyone?) that you can see the bright side in staying on deployment...instead of being super bummed about it, I embraced my new collateral as Public Affairs Officer and looked at some photos of the cool operations we do:

These were both taken during deployment...not too shabby, huh?

Photo Credits: MC2(SW) Bitter, CM1(SW/SCW) Goff

Pantone Color of the Year: Turqouise!

"Turquoise is a color that most people respond to positively. It is universally flattering, has appeal for men and women, and translates easily to fashion and interiors. With both warm and cool undertones, Turquoise pairs nicely with any other color in the spectrum. Turquoise adds a splash of excitement to neutrals and browns, complements reds and pinks, creates a classic maritime look with deep blues, livens up all other greens, and is especially trend-setting with yellow-greens.  In fashion, Turquoise makes a statement that can look elegant and dressy in fine silk and gemstones, or casual and fun in cotton and athletic apparel. Because of its versatility, Turquoise is a great accent color in jewelry, purses, shoes, hair accessories and even nail polish for women, and ties, shirts and sportswear for men." - Pantone's press release unveiling TURQUOISE as the color of the year!

Paris knows the power of turquoise...come to me, Matt Leinart!  i will wear nothing but turquoise swimwear and accessories!! it sets off your unnaturally red skin! come to meeeeeeeee!!!!!
[Par-bear is wearing: Stella + Dot Charlize Bib Necklace]

Look at how well Lilly hit it on the head - "...especially trendsetting with yellow-greens..." with the BEAUTIFUL and elegant Lilly Pulitzer Petula Dress Printed (comes in 3 shades/prints - I'm also a huge fan of the pink + green coral one).  Imagine this with a super tan (I wish the dress form was tan!), 

these Stella + Dot Starfish Earrings and

some white and silver Bonannos!

 or, keep the Bonannos, switch to a gorgeous brilliant white dress (a la Eva Mendes at the Golden Globes - I know is is from last year, but Rachel Zoe is ON POINT as a stylist!) like this Merona Sundress ($31.99) and and pick a turquoise necklace (like the Bloom Flower Necklace or Turquoise Sea Necklace) and/or cuff (like the Colorburst Enamel Cuff)!

[sidenote: i do NOT know why they chose black shoes for her...weird].

On a totally unrelated note, weighed in this morning at 146.4.  I've decided to make it a personal goal to hit 140 by the time we pull in to our next port.  It's a couple weeks out and at 3 pounds a week weight loss, it's allegedly feasible...the thing is, I've gotten really good at tracking what I eat, and really good at not doing other things while eating and focusing on the food.  the bad part of that - i realize how good some things are and want to eat more and more and more!  Wish me luck losing weight, and staying away from my nemeses:

haiti

so, Haiti seems a little more close to home for this middle east reppin' gal right now, given that the support Pres. Obama decides to send distinctly effects when we return home. it's times like these i have to give a shout out to my girl Cher (also very timely as we keep Brittany Murphy's family in our prayers):


"So like, right now for example. The Haitians need to come to America. But some people are all, "What about the strain on our resources?" Well it's like when I had this garden party for my father's birthday, right? I put R.S.V.P. 'cause it was a sit-down dinner. But some people came that like did not R.S.V.P. I was like totally buggin'. I had to haul ass to the kitchen, redistribute the food, and squish in extra place settings. But by the end of the day it was, like, the more the merrier. And so if the government could just get to the kitchen, rearrange some things, we could certainly party with the Haitians. And in conclusion may I please remind you it does not say R.S.V.P. on the Statue of Liberty. Thank you very much."

on a related note, what are your opinions on Royal Carribean returning to Haitian port visits? this Yahoo article is very unsupportive, but it brings up some bold points - for an area so dependent on tourism (hair braiders, vendors, etc.), to even eliminate that form of income is to guarantee more poverty in the area. at the same time, enjoying opulence around the corner from turmoil and utter poverty is nothing if not nauseating. i can't decide how i feel - all i know is that if helping Haiti means that we'll be out here for a few more months, that's a sacrifice I'm willing to accept.

yay!

oh my gosh i am TOO excited...i just figured out how to log into my blogger account IN ARABIC! it has taken me this long for some odd reason (because once we started getting our email server from over here in the middle east, everything switched to Arabic...including Google!). Yay! I can't wait to catch back up with everyone's blogs!

meanwhile, we're still out here in the middle east, fighting the bad guys and defending the freedoms...the usual ;) christmas was uneventful, as was new year's - fortunately i'm used to spending my holidays in the sun! i did have to finally tell off my little marine officer buddy - i'm talking "do not come to my room. do not call me. do not email me. i don't want to be friends and frankly, i'm not comfortable being coworkers. i'm hanging up the phone now, and if i have a problem with you again i'm going to have to tell your supervisor." - tell off! i'll give you details later but gosh! some guys don't get the message!

speaking of some guys, unfortunately received a facebook message from abusive ex boyfriend apologizing and trying to make amends...nooo chance. i wish there was a website where i could warn other girls not to date him.

on a happier note, i am SO obsessed with Stella & Dot jewelry! i have been seeing it in blogs and magazines for a while now, and finally found a friend who was a stylist...of course, as i added things to my shopping cart on her site, i realized i might as well become a stylist, too! lo-and-behold, my new website: www.stellanddot.com/alannastrei ...a little 'after christmas' shopping anyone? it's perrrrrfect to beat the january/february blues and just in time for resort season and spring break!

Starfish Earrings - Silver, $34

Boca Chic Necklace - Coral, $69

Palm Necklace with Starfish - Silver, $98

How AMAZING would all of this look with the new Lilly that's out? I'll be stocking up immediately! i seriously cannot even PICK my favorite pieces!