delicious. decor.

Alison Rubke is the co-owner of the incredibly darling, French-inspired lingerie boutique Faire Frou Frou located in Studio City, California. Faire Frou Frou is pronounced ‘fair fru fru’ and comes from a French phrase meaning “show it off”. Cute huh?

So, how does a lingerie boutique owner decorate?

“She takes her creativity, carves out three days (mainly for repainting her floors and furniture white), and sets her mind on transforming her bedroom into a lovely sanctuary for all things beautiful and pink. Alison did all of the work herself for this incredible result. Images on this post show her gorgeous, new bedroom.”

post- holiday eating stress

Did you eat too much over the holiday?

Now that the holidays are over, it's time to get back to a normal, healthy routine.

Monday marked my first day back to the gym in a month and boy did I feel the pain! Now that i've eaten all the chocolate, ice cream and whip cream mochas that I could find--it's time to return to my healthier eating habits. Here is a good article i found at about.com:exercise. All things that I will seriously consider as I try to shed these extra lbs I've gained during all the holiday cheer.

• Get moving. It may be the last thing you feel like doing, but getting the blood flowing is the perfect remedy for a food hangover. Think simple -- walking, light strength training, or yoga. Even a few minutes can boost your mood and your energy levels.
• Drink water. That bloating you're experiencing could be due to an overload of salt, which can cause water retention. Many holiday favorites contain way more salt than the body needs, so drinking extra water can help you get rid of the extra bloat.
• Eat lightly. After eating too much, you may be tempted to declare, "I'll never eat again!" You may also be amazed that you're actually hungry after all that eating. Starving yourself, however, isn't the answer. Nibble on light fare such as salad, soup, sandwiches and fruit to give your body nutrients without overloading it with calories.
• Make a plan. One of the worst side effects of eating too much is the guilt that comes after. Guilt is sometimes inevitable, but you can use that feeling to motivate you into something better. Make a plan for the next few days for how you'll get back on track with your eating and exercise. Just the act of planning can make you feel better...just make sure you follow through.
• Plan for the future. Last, take some time to think about the mistakes you made this season and what you can do to avoid those same mistakes in the future. Doing this can also help you make good choices more consistently so that overindulgence isn't a frequent problem.

rebel wishing.

I’m going to try a little experiment this year.

For Christmas I received $120 total in cash & checks.

I’ve been obsessing, to say the least, about this Canon Rebel camera ESO 12.2 megapixel for about…oh I’d say, two months now…

The only teeny tiny problem is… I unfortunately do not have an extra $575 just lying around somewhere. So…..(drum roll please)….

I am going to have to save the money, the good ole’ fashion way, and earn the camera myself.

Luckily, I am the kind of girl that wishes (and works) hard enough for the things that I want most in life.

In fact, my lifelong motto has always been “I usually get what I want in life...and if I do not, well…then I probably didn’t want it that much anyway…”

Here I come Rebel… only $455 to go!

12 days until I’m 23.

new years magic

Only a few hours into 2010 and I can already feel the magic!

I feel like 2010 has a lot in store for me this year. Here are some things I was thinking…

WHAT WILL HOPEFULLY ACCOMPANY 2010:

a canon rebel SLR camera.

Frequent donations (money or time) to charities

A career (not a 'job') offer with decent compensation

A move to Seattle

Trip to Thailand

Some toned arms. ...and maybe some legs, butt and abs...

Lots of laughter and good company

happy 2010.

“I'll be living the fabulous life--two stilettoe'd steps ahead of the game..!”

Okay Portland, put on your party shoes!

It's time to ring in the new year!

These are the babies i'll be toasting with this year...

A toast of celebration to all of you--Have a happy and safe new year's eve!

This will be my final post of 2009

Today I had a thought.

What if I had never met you?

Don't laugh at me, but maybe we could be each other's soulmates??

No matter what happens to you in life, you will never get through it without your girlfriends.

I have the best girlfriends in the world.

And this week...I have felt love from all of them.

Thank you to my friends. Each one of you holds a special piece of my heart.

{image:girlfriends}

martini...or two...

Here is a fabulous new Martini to go with your fabulous New Year's Eve dress!

I'm not sure who invented this, I added a few of my own touches, but it's delicious! Please try it...and please, take all the credit yourself, you will love it!

I call it a New Year's Celebration!

Here's what's in it:

1.) Half shaker of ice

2.) 1 oz. Grey Goose Vodka

3.) 1 oz. Amaretto

4.) 1 oz. Peach Schnapps

5.) Shake and pour into a sugar-coated rim martini glass

6.) Enjoy and make more for your friends!

2009 Recap

What do we say? "Out with the old, In with the new"? I'm hoping that 2010 brings me a lot of good luck and cheer, but here is a look at what happened in my life during the year of 2009...

In 2009 this happened:

Saw Britney in Vegas

Had the worst summer of my life

Applied to many jobs, didn’t receive any offers

Thought about law school

Started to develop heartburn due to massive amounts of stress

Started blogging

Said “I love you” to my boyfriend, after 3 years

Lost a good friend

Decided to not go to law school

Decided I want to move to Seattle

Wrote an ad campaign

Still paying off the 2008 Europe trip

Had total of 5 roommates

Worked in marketing and public relations

Watched my younger brother leave home to the east coast

Became a better artist

Started downloading songs legally

Gained 10 lbs

Started reading again...for fun!

Watched all my friends graduate

Made new friends as a result of not graduating

Started my own interior design business

Dealt with a lot of difficult people

Learned some things from dealing with all the difficult people

Received a lot of great business advice

Started thinking about a job in sales

Threw fish at Pike’s Place Market in Seattle

Helped host a few career fairs

Bought a new computer

Went to Whistler and Lake Shasta with my sorority sisters

Worked a ton, but made hardly any money

Learned to sew

Took my last college exam

Celebrated a good friend’s engagement

hands-free oregonians.

It’s our turn, Oregon.

Beginning January 1^st, 2010 Oregon will become a first-offense, cell-phone-and-driving, state. In Oregon, you will now receive a $240 ticket for driving with a cell phone in hand; you must be “hands free”.

Like that will really solve the problem of all the idiots on the road.

Translation:

As Oregonians, our cell-phone experience will now consist of us imitating robots, and talking to imaginary people, with tiny devices that fit into our ears. All the while, forcing us to become more socially stupid, and still being idiots on the road.

I know. I’ve seen it firsthand. We look ridiculous.

I love when I experience a conversation with someone, and mid-talk they immediately begin having a different conversation, while remaining in front of me.

“Excuse me?” I say… because I don’t understand.

They continue their conversation as if they are brainwashed and being spoken to by aliens.

I get very confused and feel embarrassed for them. Until finally, I realize this person is not talking to me. They are speaking on the phone! Who knew…?

I feel like a fool.

But really, I try to remember, this person is simply cell-phone stupid.

Thank you to the Oregon legislature for allowing our state to join the fool-pool, where we can all wait to be diagnosed with brain tumors and act like social idiots. I can’t wait.

So, I got one. A Bluetooth. And after two hours and 45 minutes of trying to figure the damn thing out I finally have it hooked up and ready for January 1^st. I guess I’m a pretty law-abiding citizen. Stay tuned.

W.T.F. kind-of-day.

I’m sorry to admit, my post-holiday-Monday did not go so great. I'll probably be dealing with the repercussions of this one for awhile...

Here's what happened:

5:30 a.m.- alarm goes off.

5:45 a.m.- I think about getting up, but decide I need a few more minutes.

6:00 a.m.- my mom comes in and tells me to get up. Annoyed, I yell back…“yes mom, I know! I can set my own alarm. I’m 23 years-old for god’s sake!”

6:05 a.m.- Finally, I get out of bed, but in a hellish of a mood, nonetheless; early. Did I mention…early?

7:00 am- Tore a run in my favorite tights on my way out the door. Drove to work with my mom in the dark, still feeling like hell and mad at my tights for ripping.

7:30 am- Arrived at work. Made some coffee. Cleaned up the kitchen, after everything had sat for four days. Put on a new pair of tights and complained when I had to throw my favorite pair away.

8:00 a.m.- Hung up on a couple of my mom’s clients while trying to hastily answer the phone and transfer them to other lines. Opps. Got in trouble. Obviously.

8:15 a.m.- called FedEx for the 3^rd time in the past 2 days to come pick up their damn package. My hellish mood took spite over me as I reminded them how their business works: We call to request a pickup... then they, pickup. I realize they are busy with the holidays, but we have a business to run; we’re busy too, I tell her. They assured me they would be there soon. I told her…”yah, I’ll believe it when I see it…”

8:30 a.m.- FedEx guy comes. He is not happy with me. Well, let me tell you something sir: I am not happy with you either. Sometimes you have to yell to be heard. That’s the lesson I learned here.

9:00 a.m.- I am hoping that the caffeine in my coffee kicks in soon, so I can return to my normal, more delightful of a mood.

9:30 a.m.- Decide that probably was not going to happen for me today when Chase Mastercard calls to verify some recent skeptical activity made by my debit card. They leave a voice –activated message asking me to return the call. I call back, here is how the conversation goes:

Chase woman: Chase fraud department, how may I help you?

Me: um yes, hi… I’m calling in response to a voicemail I just received about some possible fraudulent activity with my card ending in 1558.

She asks some personal information to verify it’s me she is speaking with. I calmly, oblige.

Chase woman: Ma’am, can you please verify the last transaction that you made using this account?

Lady, I don't know? it's a debit card, I use it everyday....

Me: Well, no. I’m not by my computer right now and I cant remember.... Probably something on saturday? In Portland, Oregon.

Clearly, that was not an acceptable answer for her. We go back and forth about it for awhile. I get frustrated. Just tell me what the hell is wrong with my finances!

Chase woman: Can you verify a charge made for $456 in (somewhere) California? (I cannot understand the city because she either does not speak very clear English OR she cannot annunciate her words, properly.

I start to get annoyed that I now have to deal with this mess.

Me: well, no. I’m sorry. I cannot verify any recent funds made outside of the city of Portland in the past week. I can assure you, those charges are not made by me.

Chase woman: Are you sure ma’am that you cannot verify them?

Just like that. Like I'm the incompetent one. Are you kidding me!?! Do I really need to explain this again?

I roll my eyes and mouth “WTF!” to my coworker. Again, my hellish mood takes over...

Me: Lady, listen to what I am telling you! I appreciate that you’ve called to let me know about the compromised activity with my account, but I do not live in California, nor have I even spent any time in California for the past 6 months, I don't care what city it's in! Now, I will tell you again. Please. Do not authorize any charges made in California or any other state that is not Oregon! Got it? Okay? Thank you!

She tells me that my account now has a zero balance due to transactions made in southern California this past weekend. She also adds that I no longer have any funds available to me for 7 to 10 business days while they investigate and issue me a replacement card.

Great.

9:30 a.m.- Just as I am getting off the phone, my coworker spills his coffee all over my purse, completely water-damaging my ipod and camera. They are so done-zo. Completely unworkable.

I spent the rest of the afternoon feeling sorry for myself and regretful that I was too lazy to put the camera and the ipod back into their cases before I threw them into my purse. And then, even more, that I didn't take the time to put the purse up into the cabinet, where it is intended to go while I am at work.

Until…

4:00 pm- When I saw a 15-year-old boy’s body, wrapped in tarps, on the downtown, Portland, pavement because he fell from an 11-story parking structure.

Cool.

I cried the whole way home.

I am SO drinking tomorrow.

Sex and the City 2 Trailer HD

I cannot even wait!! the girls are BACK

Merry. Christmas. Everyone.

I'm terribly sorry i've been away for the Holidays. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and got to spend lots of quality time with those they love. I have to admit that I've spent all day yesterday & today watching the best of Audrey Hepburn dvd collection that I received from my parents. aaaaaah i just love her! Merry Christmas!