Author Archives: haneybee

Friday Fancies

Posted on by under Friday Fancies

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I recently discovered that Jack Rogers sells their iconic, handmade sandals on Amazon. (I called the Jack Rogers office to confirm the shop’s authenticity.) And every now and then, certain styles and colors are on sale! If you’re going somewhere warm for winter vacation or simply trying to add to your collection, be sure to take a look at Amazon’s selection. I just ordered the Navajo in fuchsia and the Hamptons in bronze. If you’ve never owned a pair, I highly recommend that you take advantage of this deal (the classic styles are rarely discounted) to try on the most flattering and versatile sandal, first made famous by Jackie Kennedy. (This month marks the 50th anniversary of JFK’s assassination, in case you’ve been living under a rock.)
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Dunkin’ Donuts debuted a Red Velvet Latte last week. While I didn’t notice any trace of red velvet, it tasted like cake, so it was good enough for me! This sugary goodness in a cup pairs perfectly with even more sugary goodness in the form of the Holiday Star (Bavarian cream-filled) Donut. (The Red Velvet Drizzle Donut is available this season, but the location I visited was all out.) There aren’t too many Dunkin’ Donuts shops in Ohio, so I never really cared about it before. But in college, my East Coast friends must’ve passed along their obsession because I love living near one now!

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My sister just got this quilted tack jacket from J. Crew, and I have to add it to my Christmas list. It’s incredibly flattering, and I especially love the corduroy collar. Currently, only the crimson is available online, but the stores will probably still carry this olive color or the navy.

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I saw these Rold Gold Peppermint Dipped Snowflakes at Rite Aid (am I the only one who can’t leave any store without first walking through the Christmas aisles?), and I obviously couldn’t resist. The saltiness of the pretzel, the sweetness of the white fudge, the kick of the peppermint, the claim that these are shaped like snowflakes when they’re clearly more like stars… What more does a person need in life?elfster1-2Since my friends are now scattered all over the country, this winter I’m organizing a Secret Santa gift exchange on Elfster, and so far, it’s been a neat website. After a group’s exchange is planned, each participant simply enters her email and address, and Elfster will facilitate the drawing of names online. A participant can also add ideas to her account’s wish list, giving her Secret Santa plenty of suggestions. I love how Elfster has taken a Christmas tradition one step further for friends who can’t always be together, but still want to share the holiday cheer!

Friday Fancies

Posted on by under Friday Fancies

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Last Friday, I raved about Fresh Sugar, but since then, I’ve tried the other products that come in the Sugar Rosé Royalty Set. I’d been wanting to try the Soy Face Cleanser for a while, and it did not disappoint. It smells like cucumbers and roses and feels very luxurious. I haven’t used it while wearing makeup, but it’s supposed to remove that, too. The Seaberry Restorative Body Cream contains seaberry oil, which I featured a while ago, as well as skin-improving omegas.  It also has a natural plant scent and a creamy texture that doesn’t feel greasy. Fresh products are a bit pricey, but I’ve found their quality to be worth it. And Sephora carries many Fresh sets at great deals, so you can try smaller sizes to see for yourself. The above set is particularly nice because it comes in a cute makeup bag and would make a great gift.

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On the day after Halloween, I stopped by the grocery store to stock up on leftover candy. Sadly, the shelves had already been cleared of Halloween candy. But fortunately, they’d been replaced with Christmas candy! These Candy Cane Hershey’s Kisses are one of my favorites. You just can’t go wrong with white chocolate and peppermint. IMG_0332

I love that jeweled collars are “in” this year. They’re gorgeous and can make a dull outfit more festive for the holiday season. This sleeveless shirt just sold out on the J. Crew website, but a similar top is still available at J. Crew Factory.

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I recently found out from my sister that once you join the Godiva Rewards Club (it’s free), you can get a free chocolate each month from any Godiva store. It’s that simple! Trips to the mall can get pretty stressful at this time of the year, so go ahead and do yourself a favor. Last month, I picked this Strawberry Crème Tarte Truffle. mzl.ikzynduo

About a month ago, my friend Jennifer let me know that if you’re not using the Chipotle app, you’re doing it wrong. Since I go to Chipotle at least once a week, ordering ahead has probably saved me from hours of standing in line. (There’s only one Chipotle where I currently live, and the next closest location is over 50 miles away, so out-the-door lines are inevitable.) I just love walking directly to the register to pick up my order, bypassing 50 hungry people who probably hate me, but are also kicking themselves for not taking 10 seconds to order ahead!

Happy NaNoWriMo!

Posted on by under Dance, NaNoWriMo, Writing

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While November is mostly known as No Shave November or Movember, it also happens to be National Novel Writing Month or NaNoWriMo. Anyone and everyone is encouraged to take time out of this month to write 50,000 words, keeping track of the word count on the NaNoWriMo nonprofit’s website. Obviously, the point of this project is not to create a novel and have it ready to publish in 30 days, but to get the creative juices flowing and the ideas, both good and not so good, out on paper/Word. But as it turns out, there actually are some successful novels that began with NaNoWriMo, including Sara Gruen’s Water for Elephants, Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus, and Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl. So let that encourage you.

If the thought of writing a novel seems daunting, consider writing a short story, poems, blog posts, journal entries, screenplays, letters, thoughts on an article, book, or film… Whatever you want, really. All that matters is that you write. NaNoWriMo recognizes that everyone is super busy–probably too busy to write 50,000 words. But it’s precisely for this reason that you should participate anyway. Because, honestly, you would probably never be motivated to start during any other month of the year, right? And the world needs not only more writers, but even more people who are thoughtful, creative, and understanding as a result of writing.

So register for an account here and begin. You have absolutely nothing to lose, but so much to gain. If you end up reaching 50,000 words before the end of the month, you win! (And there are prizes awarded by the organization for finishing.) If you need ideas for writing topics or want someone to look over a draft, I’d love to help.

Also, for some added inspiration (both in art and life in general), check out Sarah Jessica Parker’s new web series about the New York City Ballet. Twelve five-minute episodes capture the demanding, but amazing lives of some of the world’s best dancers–people who know all about making sacrifices to live out their dreams.

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Friday Fancies

Posted on by under Friday Fancies

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After giving this J. Crew merino V-neck sweater to my sister for her birthday, I think I’m going to have to order one for myself. The wool is delightfully soft, and it’s currently available in a wide variety of fall colors. Of course, a monogram adds that extra special touch.

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Of all the great options this year for getting your pumpkin fix, I’d say my favorite is The Cheesecake Factory’s pumpkin cheesecake. It’s not even fair. Nothing stands a chance against cheesecake.

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I’m not a big makeup person. Though I’m a fan of “natural beauty,” I mostly just hate spending more time than necessary to get ready each morning. Usually, I’ll buy a makeup product because it was recommended or looked fun, use it once, never touch it again, then finally throw it out a few years past its expiration date. So the fact that Fresh Sugar is the only product I’ve ever completely finished should tell you how amazing it is. Imagine licking your lips and then having them remain that dewey (not sticky or waxy!) for hours. This stuff of miracles revives even the driest lips, while protecting them from sun damage and giving them a natural shine. It’s available in a bunch of colors, but Rosé (a subtle tint) is the way to go.

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The greatest M&M’s (yes, better than coconut, pretzel, and mint) to ever grace the earth, this White Chocolate Candy Corn edition will be responsible for my imminent diabetes. A festive candy shell encloses the white chocolate (the only chocolate that matters, even though it’s not real chocolate) core. Basically, these little guys are nothing but sugar, milk, butter, and an unnoticeable trace of candy corn flavoring… Perfection! I may or may not return to Walgreen’s post-Halloween to clear out the shelves of my new favorite candy.pocket-mastheadFor all those times when a Facebook friend posts an article with an interesting title, but you don’t have time to read it at the moment because you’re actually supposed to be doing something else… There’s Pocket! Formally known as Read It Later, Pocket stores all of the articles, videos, etc. that are found past your procrastination limit. Its interface is neat and simple, and the app is available on most popular devices, so you’ll always have your collection handy for when you finally get a free moment.