Retail Therapy Done Right: High Society

IF you remember my last blog, it was all about trying to kick Murph’s bad luck. While I didn’t quiet 100% successfully do it here, it worked for the rest of the week! I had an amazing girl Toniya who helped me. She had a great sense of fashion and really listened too. Knew I was on a budget and yet wanting to splurged so we went shopping in the sales racks.

I had already picked out a funky light blue top that can be dressed up, down and even go to work. So functional; too useful and unique of a shirt. I was wanting to splurge a bit more since I was so depressed from the previous store! We picked out dresses and some other tops.

She picked out one white dress that has butterflies and pleated jersey dress. (Pics to come soon hopefully.) It is something I’d never pick out, and yet looked amazing so sweet and carefree. It is an angelic dress that was a great fit. The other dress is the complete opposite side of the spectrum. One of the Salvage items she showed me, it is black with mesh, lace, gambits, and other fabrics. All black, ties up every which way short and totally punk rocker eat your heart out.(Pics to come.) Did I really just buy both of these two dresses at the same time? Yes, Yes I did.

To top it off she was great, working with me and listening. Had some great suggestion and service. The style of the store is unique. I loved that they buy a limited supply and try to carry rare designers. Wore the top out for a bit feeling better already, and wore it to work for real the next day. Everyone L-O-V-E-D it! Starting my week of right, this is why people do retail therapy.

Murph where are you.

Have you ever had a really bad day? Well try a bad couple of days, because I swear Murphy hanging around me somewhere. Everything has been going wrong. Being me, I get sucked into others drama trying to help. Well I need to learn to stop because I just end up with the short end of the stick.

This week has been the worst, I got locked out which isn’t the least of it. From the little things like people stealing and eating my lunch, to bigger ones of friends and work drama it all goes wrong. I am working like crazy and being pulled in every which way and not because of my needs everyone else. The harder I try the more it seems to get messed up. There is a lot of crap on every which way that I DON’T want to get into it and won’t.

So today is a day off and I try to kick the bad mojo that has been following me around. It starts out by myself promising call my dentist to start on fixing my aching tooth. Naturally I get a call back right away. She is amazing Ann Donnelly, DDS in my hood on 2827 Franklin St. feel free to call her, I truly love her. Call her at 415- 776- 1900. Well she snuck me in and saw what is going on and recommended me to a specialist. I leave on happier note feeling like I am taking care of myself and my luck is turning. Right?

Wrong! I decide to walk to where I am pet sitting, and go to do a bit of retail therapy thinking my budget would be around $70 right? I go to Ambiance the “Best in the Bay” and had the WORST experience. I walked around and was looking taking my time. Down in the dumps so trying to smile and keep my spirits up… do I get a smile or a hello? NO! I came in here to spend money to help myself feel better and instead I walk out feeling worse. How is that possible? To go into a store and walk out feeling bad not because they don’t have the item in, because they ignored you. I actually was so mad I called up and talked to the manger of operations and yelped. She said she was sending me something for me to give them another shot. Let’s see what happens right?

Well I did go to another store and spent way more than $70 I meant to, this of course being because I was in such a dis-hearted mood due to the poor service at the store before. I ended up spending $200.. EEK! But I am feeling quite happy and everything was on sale which helps. This is regardless if my bracelet broke while in the shop sending beads everywhere. It’s more pathetic when you realize that was the first time wearing it out. I told you Murphy is following me.

The shop was great though, Toniya has great taste and really works with you. I told her I am wanting to keep on a budget and she went straight to her favorite pieces on the sale rack. She helped me pick out one seriously hot black punk rocker dress by Salvage which was 30% off (they are the only store in SF who sells it) It was. The next two items were 60% off and thus too good to pass up on. The dress is totally her, I would have never picked it. It is a seriously sweet and fitted white dress with butterflies on it. I know butterflies, really! Plus to walk out with two dresses, one black and one white and both totally represent that spectrums color. Oh I can’t wait to wear them. I also grabbed a top that is great for work or to go out it is just really fun. In such a bad mood I change into the shirt and leave feeling happier, satisfied.

STRONG E1: VIP WineTasting 06/2010: Artesa

Getting everyone together was hard enough on its own but so worth it. The zipcar made it really easy and it was just a matter of picking people up. Once we did and were all together the fun could really begin. Napa is just so lovely and we had a sunny day. Everywhere there is love rows of green everything so perfect and neat. I usually am not a OCD clean neat girl but love watching the rows. How you can see perfect straight lines in the diagonals too. The drive is lovely but then you get welcomed into a relaxing world where water plays everywhere.

There is something about running water that is so relaxing. It really sets the mood of a tranquility, of another world. Anyone just looks around and with the views, the green, the blue of the water its just like a painting.
As we walk up the stairs, being able to choose from two, our eyes follow the water. This place is like art itself, no wonder it is called Artesa. So far it seems like a promising day as the car ride was full of laughter and good chatter.
We are greeted at the door by Ms. A a wonderful women who invited me and my friends to this great night. Ms. A was great, a wonderful educator in the vineyards and in wine tasting. She greeted us with a bottle of champagne as we started the tour.
The building is really interesting and quite green especially considering how old it is. They cut off the top of the mountain, dug in and created the cellars. The whole building is naturally with out air conditioning it regulates correctly to store the wine.
The Spanish are known for bringing the outside indoors with courtyards. I have to say it is something I love and the place is spacious and elegant without being stuffy or pretentious.
Ms. A told us a story of the owners as they were working and exploring a property they found a statue poking out of the creek. They pull it up, had it touched up and appraised. Found out that the statue did date back to the 1600's and donated it to a museum, but not before making replicas for their properties. To this day it is the only Madonna that has been found holding grapes.
The picture above is not a reflection as one cannot be photograph. Somehow quite by accident when they built this courtyard they manage to create a hologram. I really am not one to believe in divine interventions but that is pretty mystical. Wine makers finding the only Madonna of the grapes on their property, then having one of it's replicas creating a hologram. Hmm.
After a serene tour we sit down in our own private room looking out into the courtyard. As Ms. A starts to pour and explain to us the finer points of tasting. The swish of the wine to help open it up, allow the wine breath.
The smell of the wine is really interesting, trying to figure out what it is... even more interesting. How can wet stones be a smell?? It is. I fell in love with the reds, they were so smooth and well rounded. Ms. A was amazing, helping us figure out and distinguish the wines.
As we go through the flights, tasting and trying. We each settle on a glass that is our favorite and Ms. A reloaded us generously and continued to introduce us a bit before she had to part to pick up her poor kitty from the vet.
The special treatment was amazing, being introduced around and given the "insider's discount" of 33% off!!! You know we couldn't resist that and with our own tender Jesus, yes Jesus was his name. We were very well taken care of.
We proceeded to hang out, enjoy the sun and the view while we chatted amongst ourselves. Every so often one of us would get up with somebodies glass in hand too and go get a refill extension of our tasting from Jesus. The more I hang out with these girls the more I realize how cool they are. I can't believe that it is the first time for two of them and been such a long time for the other.
We finally decide that our grumbling tummies needed to be listened to and we start to head off. Of course this isn't before a bit of prancing and posing and being tipsy goofy girls. OK well three of us were! We piled into the car and off were went.
Driving around and using cell phones for GPS is so the way to go. I specially remember playing fire drill. Not because we wanted to run around the car at a stop light, but rather because of starting to feel car-sick. Let's face it if that is the case they do better in the front seat. Thanks for giving up the seat I really do appreciate it! Yet my home girl has always taken care of me, so not surprised she did here.
ZinValley was a great place to stop and eat; we were very thankful for the recommendation. They really were great and in good humor which helped keep our group flying high. It was wonderful to see friends all click and everyone blend. Who would have ever guess that many just met for the first time that day, not the waiters that is for sure! They all thought we were old hat friends.
More of everything kept coming, from drinks to food and then dessert. We laughed and talked and it is great. Heck one of my girls even stuck a feather in my hair, make sense since we were headed back to San Francisco.

All I know is that I have to do this again. Lets keep STRONG!

Fear Vs Love

"It is better to be feared than to be loved" Machiavelli said. Well isn't that a load of BULL! It is way better to be loved than feared. I am guessing he never had to sell anything to even an idea. Wonder what that is like.

When your nice, people want to be nice back. Karma is a real thing and it comes back to you. When you put the good and positive out then it comes back, yes some will use it but you have to filter them out. Love makes people do amazing things for the ones they care about, they are more willing to give up to work harder for you. It makes them WANT to do it, do you think fear can make people WANT to do anything?

If you love your job and do it well it will show, I guess it did in my case. One of my clients somewhat fell in love with me and gave me her card telling me to call her for a tasting/tour. She works for a winary! So I connect and a month later asked if I could. To which she responded overjoyed, telling me to bring 6-10 friends that we would get a VIP Tour and Tasting. Later in the week she emails me asking for my guest names, so she can make personalized tasting mats. I am just floored.

So let me tell you a little bit about where she works, it is Artesa Vineyards & Winery

Artesa Winery is a study in the harmony of natural and man made spaces. Designed by renowned Barcelona architect Domingo Triay and built in the early 1990's, the avant-garde structure was conceived to blend seamlessly with the surrounding landscape.

The naturally insulated winery is set into the highest hill of its 350-acre estate, with a protective covering of reserved earth and native grasses. A sweeping staircase set between twin cascades of water and fountains leads to the winery entrance. An expansive terrace offers 360 degree vistas of the surrounding countryside, and on clear days, a view of the San Francisco skyline.

The point, be good to other and what you do... it will come back. I will let you know how the tour and tasting goes this weekend!

Quality in basics

Every job has perks right? Well mine had a contest in which we could earn money for products of the particular company. This company Hanro is great, has incredible quality with timeless basics. Not only does it look great it feels it too. So you can imagine how excited I was to get my package in the mail. I got one shirt, one cami/tank and one full tank.

The cotton on this shirt is so soft and seamless. In general I just love how simple sexy cool it is. Girl next door.
Cami's are great specially ones that give great cleavage. I love how the straps are adjustable and makes it fit so well. Plus its long and get easily tucked in!
Yet I have to save the best for last, the Touch Feeling Tank. This tank is a micro fiber, so soft and strong. It smooths everything out, keeps you warm and is just like heaven to wear. I mean I thought the other were soft but this takes the cake. I am so happy to have it in my wardrobe as I know it will last for years to come. I get sick of having to buy a new one every year and watch them get ratty in a month or two. I am a fan of quality and that is exactly what these are!

Garden Failure

I failed, I will be the first to admit it I failed miserably. I was so excited to see seeds sprout and even grow. I was over watering them at first, then under watering them. Then I don't know what I did. I kept them inside by the window, it's SF I was afraid for them to get too cold. I might have gotten them too warm too with how I keep my apartment. All the mothering I tried to do, was unsuccessful. I will be trying again soon as I do want fresh herbs for my salad.

A black hole within one

Have you ever felt that your purse was a black hole? I know I have, it really is one as the lining is black and if it is dark or the object it dark... well it can't be found. Thus it becomes an annoying hunt for the: Cell phone, wallet, keys, what ever is next on the list. Some times I feel like I do a better job without looking, just feeling and identifying.

Yet lately things have gone missing. I mean I KNOW it is in my purse. I know I didn't take it out. Heck sometimes I can even feel the object I am looking for I know it is that lip gloss but I cannot get to it. So what is the deal? Well I realized that my purse which I have always considered a black hole has a hole in its lining. Actually it has TWO! A black hole within a black hole... $#(!

I know this should be the sign that I need to stop using this purse but for some reason I love it. I looks real, so is not. Perfect fake Jimmy for SF multiple personality disorder weather system we have. So now I am trying to figure out how to sew a hole inside pockets... ok more trying to remember how big the holes are and/or not use the pocket. Yet this might be getting ridiculous.