January! I actually like January, it never really gets cold here in Los Angeles, maybe a few days of rain, but so far there have been more beach days than umbrella days! I love winter time because I can go to winter but I don’t have to live in it.

So what’s up in the month of January in Bead 109-hood?

I just discovered a hidden trove of lovely Bobbi Brown Lip Shines that I squirreled away in a drawer. I forgot why I squirreled them away in the first place as they are so nice, like a hybrid between lipstick and lipgloss! Pretty. I like pretty.

I’m using this calendar for my ballet class schedule and notes. I love the drawings by graphic illustrator Shinzi Katoh. It’s small so it fits nicely in my dance bag and has plenty of blank pages in the back for notes and drawings and the like. I am completely inspired to draw my own calendar for next year, The 109th Bead Calendar 2013, stay tuned… it could happen 😀

I’ve added a regular Intermediate class with Awesome Ballet Teacher to my ballet class line up of Ballet 102 & Ballet 103, which are like intermediate beginner and advanced beginner classes. So that’ s ballet classes on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. I might be ready to add a second Intermediate class on Friday next month… we shall see 🙂

I’ve discovered these great leggings and shorts from Dancewear Solutions. I love the grey. The fabric is heavy enough to pair with a tee shirt and be done with it or pair up with a leotard for extra warmness.

but when I’m feeling like looking particularly cute, I have this new ballet skirt from GG Skirts! I love the pink waves with the black & white polk-a-dots 😀

Later this month, Carboy and I will be heading to Chicago to brave the cold and see The Trocks at the Harris Theatre! I love the Trocks but interestingly enough I only bought the tickets as part of a “French” package to ensure that I got tickets for Paris Opera Ballet in Chicago this year. So off we go to Chicago in the height of winter, gotta break out the real winter gear!

We will get back just in time for the Grand National Roadster Show…

And the Joffrey movie, Joffrey Mavericks of American Dance, comes out the same weekend… cool cars and ballet, what a weekend!!!

That pretty much sums up the month, other than the neverending dissertating and dayjob for $. But February kicks off immediately with another ballet mini-vaca… so let’s go, let’s go!

1.  Just because its obvious that isn’t your natural hair color doesn’t mean that you can’t rock it out!

2.  Bangs are hot.

3.  Strappy sandals in every height can be worn with every thing.

4.  Wearing black tights with any outfit means a quicker change into ballet class clothes.

5.  Sunglasses might just be too obvious, why bother hiding the energy and effort of putting on fabulous false eyelashes behind shades… a girly umbrella or a whimsical hat can keep the sun off your face just as well, maybe even better.

6.  Short skirts rule but if you’re uncomfortable with the thought of a tiny mini throw on a tiny pair of denim shorts underneath for a kicky undercarriage surprise.

7.  Moisturizer and pink blush makes a face pretty.

8.  It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity… wear cotton gauze! From frilly girly tops to sun dresses or boho tunics, gauze keeps a girl from looking like a sweated through dishrag.

9. Can’t decide on one color for your pedi? Use them all, brightly multicolored nail polish is adorable & flirty.

10.  You’re never too old or too young, too skinny or to chubby, too short or too tall, to be who you are. Beauty isn’t the cover of Vogue, it’s having the confidence to take care of yourself and be yourself – it’s a runway out there, my peeps, so get out there and work it!