Black paint & red shoes

The boyfriend and I are watching Superman while enjoying a few beers and some homemade popcorn. Owen just said, and I quote, “What will happen when you hit that kryptonite, boy?” and “Do you know how much resistance force water exerts?” Yes, he’s talking shit to the TV screen/Superman. Oh, how I love this boy. In other news, I think Brie just ate a may fly. 

This explains a lot. Thank you, Jezebel, for providing me with useful news. 

I don’t have the best skin nor do I have the genetics to overcome my skin woes. Therefore, I try to micromanage my little issues with an intense skincare regimen and amazing makeup (Bare Escentuals..I’ve been a convert for almost 2 years). Imagine my surprise when I read today that I could have completely clear skin if I just forgo all my maintenance and let my skin just exist for a month. As tempting as this sounds, I’m not sure that I can leave behind all my trick-of-the-trades or specialized face creams…not to mention that I’m not a fan of my bare skin. So, I suppose I will continue with the status quo: troubled skin with a side of concealer. I find it funny the things we refuse to do without despite the greater good that could be achieved with minimal sacrifice.   

I’m a self-professed magazine addict. The list for titles that I purchase habitually each month far out-numbers the list that I don’t purchase (including dated, disappointing Cosmopolitan). However, I see these purchases as an investment, because being current on fashion trends is applicable to my chosen career path (at least, that’s what I tell my boyfriend when he complains about the stack in our bedroom). My dilemma has always been when I should trash these invaluable resources (or if I even should).

That’s when I came up with the brilliant idea (ha, I probably internalized it from an article I read in one of the aforementioned magazines) to create an “Ideas & Inspirations” portfolio. So, for the past year I’ve been cutting out various things that strike my fancy (from makeup tips to exercise programs to interviews from influential people) and putting them in my uber-special binder.

Ta-Dah!

I’ve divided the sections into “Diet/Exercise,” “Articles/Random,” “Interior Design,” “Hair, Makeup, Fashion” and “Music, Literature, Etc.”

For example, this is the beginning of “Interior Design.

My selection process is quite simple. First, I have an initial reading that takes place immediately after purchasing the magazine. Then, I let it incubate for a few months. At this point, I’m no longer attached to the new-ness of the publication and can part with it without regret. Then, I have a final review where I select those random things that catch my eye. I cut these out, hole punch them and place them in the book under the appropriate tab.

A page from my “I&I” book. I find this Marc Jacob’s chair very inspirational because of its simple lines and vintage appeal.

This is just an idea on how to eliminate clutter in your own life and maybe find a place for those things that you find especially striking.