small changes can lead to big differences.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

new SALE section

I've arranged a new SALE section in the shop! Some new items have been placed there for quick-sell! Don't miss out on these great prices & cute items! 

Vintage Floral Tin - $5


Dusty blue school bag/city bag - $22


Bubble gum dress - $22


Citrusy shirt - $11


Retro kitchen tin - $5



nautical shirt - $11 

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Mailing list!

Yo peeps! I finally got my act together and created a mailing list! and I mean a LEGIT one!

Get the scoop on what's coming, special previews, discounts and giveaways!

Sign up to the right of this post or the top of the page. Or, you can email me at pianosauruses@gmail.com and ask to be added to the mailing list. Don't worry, I hate spam and crowded email boxes too, so I'll only send one email a month!

Thanks!

Saturday, May 19, 2012

summer lovin'

Marjorie and Majorie (Yes, those are our names) took over the backyard yesterday and had a summer photo shoot featuring tons of new items for sale! Remember, the May2012sale coupon code still works until tomorrow, may 20th! Use it to receive 20% off your order! AND it'll be shipped today or tomorrow! win! 

sweet salmon button up blouse by liz sport. just $15!

1970's mosaic skirt - $16

colorful cropped top. can be worn with or without something underneath. perfect for those upcoming scorching summer days.. $16

1960's yellow carry on bag by royal traveller. $32

red and white striped cabin cardigan by liz claiborne. yellow plaid suitcase is also for sale here. Sweater is $30

lightweight 1990's floral dress - $26

summer picnic apron-dress with two pockets. -$26


a one-of-a-kind colorblock shirt. I used upcycled fabric and a gently worn gap tee. just $22

Thursday, May 17, 2012

traveling tips for infrequent fliers.



Most days, you'll find me like this: 



I am usually a very happy flight attendant. But some days, I look like this: 


Travelers and crew members have those days too, you know? Especially when you find out that those three flights you were gonna work are now cancelled because the plane decides not to work correctly. 

Moving on, there are many different ways and things I bring with me when I go to work to cheer me up when things like that happen, or I have a loooooooooong day of flying ahead of me. While airline crews do get a per diem to cover food expenses, it really isn't healthy or practical to buy every meal at the airport. I've come up with a list of must-have items that help me save money, eat better and make me happy. 

1. You need to drink water! Water is the single most important thing to me when I fly. I'm walking around for hours at 37,000 feet so I lose a lot of water. Short story time: a few months ago, on the 3rd day of my trip, I started to get a sore throat. I decided to drink green tea, but only half a litre of water. I woke up the next day practically immobile. I could barely walk, and I couldn't drink or eat anything. I went to the doctor the next day, and I was dehydrated. That's it. The sore throat, headache, fever -- it was all because I had practically no fluids in me whatsoever. That just goes to show how necessary water is - especially when you fly, even if you are just a passenger. 

Save money and bring your own, empty reusable water bottle. Fill it up at one of the many water fountains once you get past security. Water in the airport costs at least $3 a bottle and bottled water is a gimmick anyway as well as terrible for the environment. 

2. I love coffee and tea.. a lot. Starbucks is an awful rip-off, and the airplane coffee is kind of a last-ditch effort for when caffeine is absolutely necessary.. so I fill up at the hotel and bring my own instant coffee as well as my own reusable coffee mug. If you're an obsessive caffeine drinker like myself, bring some of your own tea packets (make sure you bring your favorites! Chai Green Tea by Stash or Jasmine Blossom are my two absolute favorite types!) and perhaps a reusable coffee mug (the amount of starbucks coffee cups people throw away on any given flight disgusts me!) and just ask the nice person behind the counter at any coffee place or starbucks for some hot water. It's free! Starbucks in particular is pretty relaxed about giving you hot water. Dunkin' Donuts or Tim Hortons might be a little stingy with it.. which makes no sense. You can also ask the flight attendants on your flight for hot water, too. This goes for instant coffee as well - Starbucks Via is really not that bad if you pour just the right amount in and use just the correct amount of water. 

3. Please bring snacks. The food in the airports is notoriously expensive and greasy. With a few exceptions, I really won't touch anything in half the airports we go to. (The exceptions are Heidi's in Denver and PotBelly's in Dulles.. as well  as Starbucks but I'm trying to kick the habit!!) Almonds and mixed nuts are always a good choice. Make and bring a huge fruit salad and call that a meal - because it really fills you up! (plus you can feel awesome about your healthy choice all day long!) The bottom line is that airlines rarely give out snacks these days, and you'll be better off by just bringing your own food. 

4. Cold? Bring a blanket. I never travel anywhere without my tiny travel pillow and a blanket. Take it from me: It's hard to control the temperature on an aircraft. I get so many requests on a single flight about the plane being cold. I have asked the pilots twice to warm it up, which they did, and if it's still cold, oh well... it's out of our control. I get so annoyed with people who complain about  not having blankets and pillows on the aircraft. When was the last time you boarded a plane - a regional one, at that - that had a blanket and a pillow on every seat? Oh and we're given blankets - but the same people complaining are the ones who steal the blankets and ruin it for everyone else. So to be safe, just bring your own. Less germs that way, too. 

5. Don't be afraid about your green tagged bags. Our plane is a lot smaller than those 747's and most carry-on items need to go in the cargo compartment for the flight. Therefore, you're handed a green tag and told to leave it on the jetbridge. Most people do this with ease and understand the process, but some people skip the jetbridge altogether and bring the bag on the plane. You're more than welcome to try and fit your bag, but if the flight attendant tells you it's too big, it's probably too big. We practically live on that airplane, you know. 
After your flight, they bring the bags back up to the jetbridge and you basically pick them up where you dropped them off. All you have to do is wait a few minutes against the wall and you'll be on your way. It's no big deal and yes, it's free! 

Anything I missed? Leave a comment! Happy travels and if you have any questions send them my way!







Wednesday, May 16, 2012

too much.




Warehouse sale!!! Or maybe I should say.. Attic apartment sale?

After my totally awesome curtain rod fell down for the last time, I discovered I have no room for all this etsy merch! My binge shopping habits have screeched to a halt and it's time to sell off what I have before I can step foot in a store for more merchandise! (and I'm trying to learn moderation.)

Suitcases, dresses, skirts, shoes, coffee mugs.. I've got it all, and it's all on sale! But only for 5 days because I have to go to St Louis for a week on the 20th!

Any and ALL items will be shipped on prior to the 20th, and all items purchased after will be shipped on the 25th or 26th. Flight Attendants need refresher courses to keep you guys safe, so that's where I'll be.

Enjoy & happy shopping!!

xx

Marjorie

Thursday, May 10, 2012

simplicity

If you're like me, then you're a 25 year old female who still gets zits. Yep. They're not nearly as bad as they were in high school, but if I go a few days without washing my face, there they are!

When things just got worse, I was about 19. At the suggestion of my friend, I went to a spa that offered facials and extractions, which is when they just destroy your face every other week for a lot of money. It did work, though! If you're really at a loss, your zits are horrendous, in your late teens/early 20's, I highly suggest facials and extractions if you have the money. The products I bought to compliment that process were extremely expensive (hundreds of dollars expensive) but for the most part, they worked.. and at that time, I would do anything to have clear skin. Along with the extractions and expensive products, I also had a humidifier right next to my bed to keep my face from getting dry. All of this combined curbed my zits but didn't clear them completely.

After I quit my job, though, I had to cut this whole process out. I had to switch to something affordable and hope that the lack of facials and extractions wouldn't reverse everything I've done. I chose the Neutrogena Acne Stress Control line that I could easily buy at Target.
here's the entire set. I'd use these every day

The most expensive product from this line was about $10, the rest no less than $5. You had to purchase the whole set for it to work, though - and it never really worked. It would always minimize the zits, but never fully get rid of them. Whenever I travel (which is often since I'm a flight attendant) I'd have to carry all of these products with me which was a huge hassle! They took up space, some would leak/spill.. it was vey frustrating! After about 2-3 years of this, I decided that there was no way Neutrogena was going to get rid of my zits for good. I was still getting them and sometimes I'd get them by the masses, so I was ready to try something new.. which brings me to the single most disastrous thing you can put on your face..


Proactiv. Listen, I think it works. But not only does it cost an arm and a leg, you have to suffer for a few weeks before it starts to work. I'd wake up every day and I would not be able to move my face because it was drying it out. I felt nasty putting pure chemicals on my face, and this only lasted a few weeks before I cancelled my subscription. I came to the conclusion that yes, zits suck, but I'm not that desperate to get rid of them.

Then, one day I ended up in the mall in Manchester with two groupons for the Body Shop. I decided to try something new, and asked the sales rep what she thought about acne control. My face at this point was disgusting - huge zits all around my mouth and chin.. it was embarrassing to even walk around! She took one look at me and knew right away what I was dealing with and led me over to their face wash section. She showed me their products and I figured "why not? I've tried everything else!". I also liked that she recommended using 100% tea tree oil on zits - something pure and natural. I decided to give it a try, and haven't been disappointed yet! 

My simple routine - tea tree oil on each zit for 5 seconds, face wash and moisturizer

My "more involved" routine. Tea tree oil on the zits, then face wash, then exfoliating about 2 times a week. Then "day" creme and of course, moisturizer. Tea tree oil night lotion at night. 

Since I'm on the go constantly, carrying around any extra weight is not an option. So most days, I do my "simple" routine, and when I'm home I'll do the extended. To date, my skin has never been clearer!! 

Less is more? Yes, absolutely. When I was spattering chemicals upon chemicals on my face, I'd often dry out, get red blotches, and the zits would never really disappear. Ever since I switched to something more natural and simpler, it's like my face glows. Yes, I do get a zit or two from time to time, but it's much more acceptable than 40 zits on my chin at any given time. I don't stress about them anymore because I have the confidence in my products (and stress is a huge factor in zits!). 

If you're having trouble with zits and you're in your mid-twenties, here's my suggestion: 

Start with 100% tea tree oil. Use a cotton swab, dip it in the oil and then press on your zit for 5 seconds or so. Then use your facewash of choice after about a minute. After, you can use day creme if you'd like (I used to use toner, but honestly, I don't think it's necessary since I don't wear a lot of makeup.) and get some really good moisturizer. Moisturizer is mostly the same to me - I use the Body Shop, Neutrogena, Target..  I don't think I've never gotten more/less zits from using different moisturizer. 

Note: Use the tea tree oil once a day at first to see how your face reacts. If my zits are really bad, I'll use it twice a day, but for the most part I only need to use it in the morning. At night time, I'll use the Body Shop Tea Tree Oil night creme. 

You can buy tea tree oil at Whole Foods, Trader Joes, or at your local co-op. Tea Tree Oil at the Body Shop is expensive and it's only 15% oil. 

The key is patience. Nothing happens overnight. It took a few days for me to notice a difference in my skin after I started my current routine, and a few weeks to actually get almost clear skin. Once I stopped stressing, that kept the zits away as well. So just relax, and make sure you wash your face 2x a day! 

Good luck! And know this: you're not alone!!! You're beautiful no matter what, and don't forget that!! 

xo

Marjorie