January 31, 2008

Weekly Fashion Tip #3

Shake Things Up With Ethnic Style

Tired of what's in your closet? Add a few ethnic-inspired pieces to wake up your wardrobe.

Last year, I bought two kurtis (Indian tops) to pair with jeans and heels, and I can't even count the number of compliments I have received when I wear them. Also consider adding a bold piece of ethnic jewelry to a simple outfit. I purchased a large silver, coral, and turquoise cross necklace in Cozumel, Mexico about five years ago. I wear it with plain, white button-ups or a black turtleneck to add unexpected life to a simple, classic look.

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Filed under: Beauty/Fashion | Shopping | Weekly Fashion Tip

January 22, 2008

Fab Fashion for Winter

When I get really cold in the dead of winter, I start thinking a lot about two things: hazelnut lattes and cozy new sweaters, in that order. The coffee shop down the street takes care of the coffee fix, so that frees me up to concentrate on finding all those wonderful sweaters.

I've been a turtleneck-kinda girl for the last few years, because my neck is my least favorite body part. But I have started to cut myself some slack and hate it slightly less these days, so I have been looking for some cute crewnecks and v-necks. I have noticed the new A-line, trapeze-style sweaters this year on some of my friends and women I see out shopping. I first found them at the Gap (this one actually is turtleneck though), then I saw a cute, affordable one in cashmere and silk at Victoria's Secret, a colorful one with an interesting collar at Goody's, and one in print from Macy's. Best of all, Target's Mossimo line has one too! Doesn't get much better than that.

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December 18, 2007

Holiday Fashion

I was beginning to feel a little unpopular, like the last kid left when everyone was picking their teams at school. I am usually fairly confident, but I have been wondering lately if maybe my charm has been wearing off. All because I hadn't gotten a single invitation to a holiday party.

Then, finally, I started to feel a little better. First came an invitation to my SIL's father's surprise birthday party. Then yesterday, I got an invitation to a New Year's Eve party, and the party thrower even said kids are welcome! (Yeah, like my teens really want to spend New Year's Eve with me...) Then when dh came home from work yesterday, he let me know that his friend--who turns thirty-something on New Year's Eve--asked if he and his wife can come over and celebrate at our house, since they had so much fun with us last New Year's Eve. That's right ladies and gentlemen, it appears that I still have it. A little of it, anyway.

Then it dawned on me that I need something to wear, not only to the above mentioned events, but also to midnight service at church on Christmas Eve. Luckily, I found some pretty great ideas on the Web for holidays outfits, and here they are:

For my casual holiday attire, I think I may go with the Sakura Kimono top I got recently on clearance at White Houise Black Market, with these Flared Curvy Low Rise Pants from the Gap, with high-heeled black booties and a black cardigan. And for Christmas Day, when my family gathers for chilli and casual fun at my house, I'm topping jeans and a long-sleeved white t-shirt with a hand-knit capelet I picked up at etsy.com (from haute.hooked.designs), and my new Handbags by Daphne tote (also from etsy) looks fabulous with it. I'm not sure what my dressier holiday outfit will be, yet, but I'm on a mission to find a fabulous one!

Happy Holidays everyone!

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December 08, 2007

Holiday Gift Ideas

Typically by this time of year, I have finished my Christmas shopping. But somehow, this year life got in the way, and I haven't purchased a single gift. Oh, the shame...

Well it's not that I haven't been looking, because I have. And the bright side of my procrastinating is that I have some fabulous ideas for holidays gifts to share with you. And I'm a big believer in the concept that the best gifts are the ones you'd love to receive yourself, so my list is comprised of items I'm buying, want to buy, or wish someone would buy for me. Here there are, in no particular order:

  • Scents: Let me tell you about my new favorites scents. This is really big news, because I have stuck with my fragrances (Coco Chanel for Winter, Calvin Klein Escape for warm weather) for many years. But the other night, I ripped a perfume sample out of a magazine and left it on my dh's nightstand--hint hint. I was instantly in love when I smelled Very Irresistible by Givenchy. You can pick it up at Sephora.com. And for my daughter, I found the perfect, sweet fragrance: Vera Wang Princess, also available at Sephora.
  • Bath-o-licious: A few years ago at the Market on Means Street in Atlanta, I met a woman who made bath products. But not just bath products, the most wonderful-smelling bath products and lotions I have ever tried. Barbarabars.com is her home on the Web, and if you buy nothing else, try the Lavender Orange and the Lavender Patchouli Vanilla Soap Bars. They'll be great stocking stuffers.
  • College Gear: Ok, I know I have college on the brain, so sue me. (My kid is early awaiting her acceptance letters. We're eternally optimists around here, and she's like a genius anyway. Well, practically. Not to brag or anything.) So I thought it might be fun to get college gear for some of the kids in my life. I have already purchased a Georgia Tech pennant for my son, and I'm thinking about picking up a few more pennants and other goodies at Collegeflagsandbanners.com.
  • Books: For the fortyish (or over) women in your life, check out The Wisdom of Menopause, by Christine Northrup. I've already given a copy to my SIL, and it's full of everything women this age should know about their health. For the younger, single women in your life (think co-workers and cousins and such) check out The Single Girl's Survival Guide, by Imogen Lloyd Webber. It's super-cute, funny, irreverant, and full of lots of great advice on everything from dating to work to family management. And for my useless-facts-loving teenage son, I'm picking up The Book of General Ignorance by John Mitchinson and John Lloyd.
  • Tunes: iTunes, that is. Every teen in my life has an iPod, and we parents are tired of them downloading songs at our expense. So take matters into your own hands and get them iTunes cards at Target.
  • Sweets: My 82-year-old Dad is a toughie when it comes to gifts. He wants nothing, needs nothing, and likes to live a very simple, uncluttered life. For years, I've been sending him Harry and David Gift Baskets, because he loves fruit and chocolate. But this year I wanted to get him something different. As I was hunting around for some gourmet caramel apples (for myself, of course), I found Amy's Candy Kitchen. Then it dawned on me: caramel/chocolate apples have my Dad's two favorite things: chocolate and fruit. So I'm going to send him one of the cute Holiday Baskets from the site.

That's it for my holiday list, but you don't have to stop there if you're still looking for great gift ideas. Also check out SheSheMe's Holiday Gift Guide, and More magazine's Girlfriend Gift Guide.

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Filed under: Shopping

October 15, 2007

Just A Few Closet Necessities

Now that my soul-cleansing closet cleanout is complete, I felt the urge to go shopping. Now, I know what you're thinking. "How could she go on and on about purging herself of that stuff, then go get more stuff?" Well, it's like this: I decided it was time to shop smart. I decided that unless I start doing this, I'll have to stage those closet cleanouts often in the future, and I'll never really get to the point where I have good, classic, necessary pieces in my wardrobe. I like clothes, and, my goal was not just a less-cluttered closet. My goal is to make a habit of making good purchases, build a truly usable wardrobe, and avoid the unnecessary crap that fills my closet and fills my life when I'm not paying attention and just snatching up whatever catches my eye.

To that end, I thought about what I really need, and managed to find a pair of ribbed knit pants and a hoodie at Ann Taylor Loft. In the mornings, I often drive my son to school, instead of letting him take the bus, because he's in a before-school sports program. I rarely shower beforehand, and I usually just throw on sweats. But let me tell you, I usually look like one hot mess when I pull up to the middle school.

For the days when I work at the home decor store, I was looking for casual but polished-looking separates. I found this Elbow Sleeve Point Collar Wrap, also at Ann Taylor Loft, and I have already paired it with a clean, tailored denim pencil skirt from the Gap. And when my comfy black sandals literally split in half last month, I scooted over to zappos.com to pick up these wedge sandals that I can stand in comfortably for my eight-hour shifts.

With the holiday season coming up, I thought I'd better find one dressy, festive top to wear with a black skirt or skinny pants for all those parties I am sure I will be invited to. I found this Sakura Kimono at White House Black Market, and it was on sale!

Last but not least, I knew I really needed a new handbag. I have several cute, small handbags, but it's becoming clear that I really need something large enough to fit my leather organizer, since my entire life is contained on those pages. I wanted something very classic, very sturdy, and I have alway lusted over Dooney & Bourke bags. They just weren't in the budget, though. So I scanned eBay and managed to find a large tote that was available for a great price and got it. I'm now the proud owner of new-with-tags tote, and I saved about $100 off the retail price.

That's my fashion update for now. Stay tuned.

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Filed under: Beauty/Fashion | Shopping

June 05, 2007

I'm a Shoppin' Fool

I've found some great buys recently that wanted to share with you:

  • Ann Taylor Loft trouser jeans (don't seem to be available online) are quite wide-legged and comfy, but still stylish. Their black-pinstripe-ish style makes them easy to dress up.

  • Chunky, studded slide sandals from Lifestride--I've been looking for something like this for about two years now, and finally found them!

  • The world's most perfect, lightweight, and stylish laptop case from Rainebrooke--only $24.95 on sale, and free shipping! I am currently traveling and love this bag more every day. (I got the light pink to brighten up my life a bit : )

  • The cutest wrap top and espadrilles from Newport News, just in time for my summer trips.

  • And if you happen to make your own jewelry like I do, check out the beads from asia-charisma.net. This company is in Thailand, but shipping is cheap and fast, and their silver is beautiful.

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Filed under: Reviews | Shopping

April 18, 2007

Fun Fashiony Blogs

Looking for some fun fashion-related blogs? Here are a few I like:

  • The Perfect Closet: Cool fashion finds and some nice travel photos as well. Be sure to check out her Frugal Friday posts.
  • Into the Fray: It's funny and smart, and it's one of my new faves.
  • SheFinds Weblog: Reviews of cool stuff and where to get it all. Be sure to sign up for their mailing list--it's Fab.
  • coolchiq: With a subtitle like Style is Everything, Comfort is Nothing, what's not to love?
  • Now Smell This: This blog with the uber-cool name offers up "perfume reviews and fragrance news".
  • Frugal-Fashionista: I like this blog because it shows pics, the price, and where to get the clothing they feature.

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Filed under: Beauty/Fashion | Reviews | Shopping

April 05, 2007

Stuff I Want

I've been making my list (checkin' it twice) of some cool new things I want, all available online and all uber-cute. Here they are, in no particular order:

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February 19, 2007

They Like Me. They Really Like Me.

Is it the height of tackiness to talk about your blog's advertising in a blog post? Well if so, I'm getting ready to be really tacky. So if this offends you in any way, please stop reading.

. . . . .

Okay, so I went to my mailbox the other day and saw an e-mail from Text-Link-Ads.com, the company that handles sales for my blog's text ads. I get e-mail from them often, and usually, it's a notification about a new ad request that requires my approval. And this e-mail, on that day, was no different. At least, it didn't seem different...

I went to my admin area of the site, logged in, and clicked on my "Approve New Ads" link. When I arrived at the page, I saw one word there, to identify latest request: Prada. "Wait.....WAAAAAAATTTTTTTTT? PRADA!!!????? Am I dreaming? Is it a site that sells Prada knock-off purses or something, because if it is, no way am I going to be involved with that", I thought to myself. But, not only was it not a knock-off site, the site requesting to advertise their Prada merchandise on my crazy little blog was Saks Fifth Avenue. On my site. Mine. For a moment, I felt like I was starring in an episode of Sex and the City or something. And I was Carrie. It felt kind of like that.

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Filed under: Meaningless Gab | Shopping

February 12, 2007

Shopping Roundup

This week, I mourn the loss of something that was very special to me: my leather coat. Somehow, I ended up with someone else's leather coat in my closet, and I have no idea who it belongs to, but the owner of this coat probably has mine in her closet. It seems like a situation that could be easily remedied, doesn't it? Well it might be, at a different time of year. But in December, I hosted a surprise birthday party and had many people (at least 50) at my home. The owner of the coat in my possession--who probably took my coat by mistake--could be anyone of those guests. I also attended a Christmas party at the home of an acquaintance, and it was a large party and I knew few of the guests. I might have picked up the wrong coat on my way out. I also attended a few church events, and we all normally drop out jackets off at the door. I might have taken the wrong one home at some point. Now you see why tracking down my coat has been such a challenge?

I've begun to contact people about my poor missing coat, but haven't had any luck yet. And I must say, it sounds silly, but I LOVED that coat. It was just the right size, which is a feat in itself for me. It was soft but not too soft, long but not too long, and just right for our recent cold days. It's the only real coat I've owned in many years. I've had it for five years, and it took me several years to find it. It was so perfect. I feel like I might cry.

Anyway, with several weeks (at least) left of cold weather, I had to break down and find another coat. I refuse to buy another leather one, because I'm still clinging to the hope that mine might show up. Luckily for me, many stores are hosting outerwear clearance sales. I picked up a fabulous Fleet Street coat that looks like this one (except mine has a velvet collar and removable hood) at a big discount last week at Macys. I also hit Kohls today and got this Sonoma sweater and apt. 9™ Solid Belted Tunic, both buy-one-get-one-free. (The tunic looks GREAT over skinny jeans!) To finish up my very productive shopping day, I stopped at Target to get my daughter a Valentine's gift and my husband a Valentine's Day/anniversary gift. For my girl, I got a pair of chenille-like pink socks and white socks with a rhinestone heart at the top. For my husband, I picked up this iHome Portable iPod Stereo, so he won't have to hook his up to mine anymore ; )

I hope you all have a great week, full of love, happiness, and mind-blowing clearance sales.

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Filed under: Meaningless Gab | Shopping

January 09, 2007

A Fresh New Start

Holy cow, is it really 2007? As in, the year in which I will turn 43? Yes, apparently it is. Christmas and New Year's day zoomed by in a blur, and now I am left with fresh new year; a time to ponder what I'd like to change and what I think is going just fine.

I don't normally make official resolutions, and I really don't know why, because I love making lists for everyday things. When it comes to putting down long-term goals on paper, I just can't seem to commit. Still, during the first week of January each year, I do tend to think a lot. I try to take stock of my life, and think about what I'd like to change and what I think it working just fine and should continue.

So call them resolutions or whatever you'd like, but I've come up with some things I'd like to do or focus on at some point this year.

  • Purge my closet. I'm actually pretty good about keeping my closet organized and tossing things out. But there's always room for improvement. This year, I'd like to finally let go of my dingy, old t-shirts. I'd like to replace them with my favorite tees from the Gap. And while I'm at the Gap, I think I'll pick up some of their cute new sleepwear, because my pajamas are beyond ratty.
  • Focus on my tootsies. I love shoes, but sometimes, finding cute, comfortable shoes in my size (5-5.5) can be a little tough. So this year, I plan to keep an eye out for great shoes, like the Anne Klein shoes I bought at a huge discount and are so comfortable I wear them several times a week to work. (They look a bit like these, except the heel is thicker.)
  • Fix my darn eyes. As I age, my eyes get worse and worse. I've gone from glasses to contact lenses, but my vision is now getting so poor that I'm going to look into Lasik Eye Surgery this year.
  • Great gifts. I love the fact that I am a great gift giver. I know it sounds conceited, but I take notes of what people love all year long, and often manage to surprise them, as well as please them, with my unique gift choices. This year I want to get even better at it. And to start, I'm going to get my husband one of these Miracle Cans from Orange Lola for his birthday (he collects religious art). And for my daughter's best friend Ashley, I am picking up this earring holder (scroll down to the bottom of the Wall Decor page) from abitofparis.com, made from an old picture frame, because she loved the one I got for my daughter for Christmas.
  • Stay organized. This year, I got very organized. Now, I just need to make sure I stay that way. And my most important tool for keeping me organized is my new Blackberry 7105t. I sync it up with Microsoft Outlook and my e-mails, contacts, calendar, and task lists are all easily accessible, whether I'm at home or on the road.

So that is my list of focus items for the year. I may be adding stuff (I guess I do need to address some more serious stuff, like being more thankful and meditating more) but bear with me. My list, and I, are both works in progress.

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Filed under: General 40ish | Shopping

September 04, 2006

Homecoming Dress Stress

gownDear daughter (a.k.a. DD) and I spent several days last week looking for a homecoming dance dress. Well, not just a homecoming dress. No, that simply won't do. We had to find the homecoming dress.

DD wanted to stick to some rules, if possible, in our quest for formal gown perfection. They were:

1. It must be short (not super short, but no longer than at the knee).
2. It should be red. If not red, then it definitely must not be black, because too many people wear black dresses to the dance, and she wore black two years ago.
3. It should be different (so no one else is in the same dress) but not too different (so she would not feel awkward).

So of course, we did not end up finding a short, red dress. We did however purchase a long, strapless, black gown with a slight pattern (gray swirls), made from a glittery, stretchy fabric. A long, strapless, purple sequined gown was a close second.

Lessons learned this week:

1. You must take along a friend (your daughter's best friend, preferrably) because mom's opinion means absolutely nothing when it comes to dress shopping.
2. Very few dresses will fit perfectly. When figuring your budget, make sure to budget for alterations as well (unless you can do those yourself).
3. Salewomen will tell your daugher everything looks great. Especially the more expensive gowns.
4. Once you find your gown, check the Internet before you buy. I found the purple gown (a.k.a., our second runner-up) online for $100 less than it was at the formal dress shop. But be careful--some online stores, especially those selling with formalwear, do not take returns.
5. All the arguments, exhaustion, and disappointment will melt away, when your darling daughter steps out of the fitting room looking like a beautiful, elegant woman, and you both realize and say in unison: "Oh my gosh. This is it. This it the one."

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Filed under: Beauty/Fashion | Parenting | Shopping

July 23, 2006

End of Summer Clothing Finds

There's just something about the warm weather that makes me want to reinvent my look, and I was lucky enough to find some really cute clothing and accessories over the past few months. One of my favorite summer shoe finds was a perfect pair of black, lace-up espadrilles, which I nabbed on sale at Off Broadway Shoes. After wearing them almost everyday for a week, I decided to go back to the store to try to find the same pair in other colors. But as luck would have it, there was not a single pair of size 6s remaining in any color. I tried a few other places, but couldn't find another pair anywhere in my area. It seems that I'd discovered how comfortable and versatile espadrilles are just a bit too late.

With summer winding down and fall shoes beginning to appear, I'd just about given up hope. Then I took a quick look at Zappos.com and found this adorable pair from Tommy Bahama. I'd been looking for a cream-colored pair, and when I saw those nifty purple polka dots, I was beside myself with joy. I also stopped by Solestruck.com and found these Floral Espadrille Wedges in magenta, and knew that these bright and fun slip-ons would be perfect for my upcoming beach vacation.

I decided to ride the momentum of my fabulous summer finds and keep looking, in hopes that I'd find some cute, light-weight tops that I can wear for at least another month or two, since I live in the South and we'll have warm weather through September. I was thrilled to find Soft Surroundings, a nifty women's clothing and accessories store, and I went gaga for this Lotus Flower Tank and Petite Good Karma Tunic. But it was these Jack Rogers Navajo Thongs that I couldn't stop thinking about, because when I was a teenager back in South Florida in the 1980s, I lived in Jack Rogers thongs. What a trip down memory lane! And now, of course, I simply must own a pair.

That's it for my summer finds, and soon I will start hunting for fall fashions. But for now, I'm off to the beach for some R&R! Back soon!

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Filed under: Beauty/Fashion | Shopping

July 18, 2006

Blouse Bonanza

It was one of those days. I stood in my closet, looking at all the clothing I have to choose from, and nothing seemed quite right. Then it dawned on me why I might be feeling this way: while I do have nice things to wear when I want to dress up a bit, my everyday clothing selection consists of jeans, t-shirts, and polos. Not that there's anything wrong with any of those items. But here's the thing: I am going to be 42 years old in a couple of weeks, and my closet looks an awful lot like my 16-year-old daughter's closet.

I was standing there, trying to figure out which pair of jeans and which t-shirt I would wear that day, and I thought about a couple of women I know and how they always seem to look great, even when they are casually dressed. Then it occurred to me why: they look like women--real, grown up, sophisticated women, even when they are very casually dressed. Because while they wear jeans often, like I do, they don't usually wear t-shirts: they wear blouses. Yes, that's what I need! I decided that my current disappointment in my wardrobe lies in the fact that I don't own enough cute blouses. So today I began to search the Web for blouses that won't make me look older or more conservative than I am, but will help get me out of my I'm-over-40-but-trying-to-look-younger rut. And this is what I found:

I can't afford to buy all of these tops at once, but I just wanted to send this out there, into the world, and make a sort of cyber commitment. I want to start dressing like a grown up. And finding some cute tops on the Web is one little baby step toward that goal.

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Filed under: Beauty/Fashion | Shopping

June 07, 2006

Summer Fun & Teen Fashion

Well I'm feeling feeling almost normal again. It's been quite a week. First of all, I was sick sick sick and just couldn't shake it. And also, dear daughter broke up with her boyfriend, so it's been an emotional roller coaster around here. We're really glad she is moving on, but it's painful to see your child go through these difficult life lessons, even if they are supposed to be pretty grown up. She's doing great and has a date on Friday night with, what I am told, is one of the "hottest boys at school." He better watch out. Mama don't take no crap when it comes to her little girl. Not anymore.

So we went shopping and bought her some cute clothes, for what she calls "her new single life." Picked up this very cute top at Forever 21, to be paired with a pair of white shorts from Hollister. Also found a denim skirt that looks a bit like this one at Forever 21, to be paired with a black tank from The Limited. Did she plan it this way, to need new clothes just in time for her fun, fabulous new life? Who knows. But I was telling her the other day, "This should be the most exciting summer of your life." Aside from ditching the boy, she is 16, driving and has her own car, and surrounded by some really great friends. Until she finds a job, her days consist of tanning by her friend's pool, sleeping late, and talking on the phone with friends. Talk about lucky. All the silly boys in the world can't take away the feeling of being young and beautiful and smart, with summer unfolding before you. She's got parents who love her and a little brother who adores her. Okay, so when she reads this, I am dead meat. Don't worry honey, mommy loves you and is proud of you. And I did buy you new clothes this week, so you can't be too mad at me ; )

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Filed under: Beauty/Fashion | Parenting | Shopping

May 31, 2006

Memorial Day Recap

My stomach hurts so much I can hardly sit up. Yep, I've got some kind of funk and I feel like death today. At least it started after the holiday weekend. Monday, the four or us went to play miniature golf and ride in go-carts together. It was funny to take my 11 and 16-year-olds there because all the families had little kids. My daughter said: "Well, at least I won't see anyone I know there. So it shouldn't be too embarrassing." Haha. She's so precious.

Darling daughter and I also hit one of our favorite stores--White House Black Market--on Saturday for a bit of retail-assisted mother-daughter bonding. I treated her to this black lace top and a gray tank top. It was her reward for bringing home a 4.0 this semester, despite an Honors Chemisty class that nearly killed us all. I picked up this white crocheted top to wear over a white tank. My reward for--well I don't know, I'll think of some reason later.

Dear son was happy with cash for his stellar performance this semester, which he will put towards more video games, I am sure. By the way, if you have sons in middle school, have you ever noticed that when they sit in a room for a while playing video games, the room really starts to smell? I mean, really smell. Once my daughter came out of my son's room and said: "Oh my God. It smells like pre-teen boy B.O. in there." That pretty much sums up my life. Dodging teenage girl drama and figuring out how to conquer pre-teen B.O. Let me tell you, my life is fascinating.

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Filed under: General 40ish | Meaningless Gab | Parenting | Shopping

May 10, 2006

Party Dress Saga Continues

dressI went to Ann Taylor Loft on Monday, fully intending to purchase the strapless dress my site visitors overwhelmingly voted for in my Help Me Select a Party Dress plea. Well of course, they didn't have my size. I mean, that would just have been too easy, wouldn't it? (Even if they'd had my size, it probably wouldn't have mattered. Read on to find out why.)

So I tried on other dresses. Actually, I tried on every dress in the store. Then I went to White House Black Market and tried on most of the dresses in that store. I found plenty of very pretty dresses, but NOTHING FIT ME!!! NOTHING!!! NADA!!! ZIP!!!

I've been looking at clothing these last two days--I mean really looking at clothing. And I wonder: who do they make this stuff for? Why do I have to get so much of the clothing I buy altered? Am I a freak of nature? Well, I don't think so, because I can't think of anyone I know that fits perfectly into a size. In my case, I am a size 0 petite, and I wouldn't dare sit here and complain about that because that would just make me the biggest bitch alive. But what makes me so crazy is that when you are as small as I am, the clothing available tells you that you are not supposed to have boobs. Well excuse me, I do. They aren't huge, but they are ever so slightly bigger than you would expect. So I have to go up to a 2 or, more typically, a 4 for dresses, so that my chest isn't all smashed. But I can't wear a 2 or 4 anywhere else, so I either have a smashed chest or a saggy waist and a bunch of puckering at the butt. Doesn't that sound attractive? I mean, can you imagine how incredibly hot I looked in these dresses?

After two hours, I decided to give up on dresses, because I don't have time to get anything altered. I will be underdressed for the event, which incidentally is this weekend not next weekend like I thought. I bought a very cool, drapy black top at White House Black Market and a cute, a-line skirt (black and white, with little sequins on it) at The Limited today. I'm wearing my pointy, high-heeled black pumps, and I'm going to whip up some jewelry between now and then to wear. (Betcha didn't know I make jewelry, huh? Okay maybe you did.)

I wish I could have worn the dress you all picked out. But thanks so much to all who voted!

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Filed under: Shopping

May 05, 2006

Help Me Select a Party Dress--Please!!!

So dh comes home yesterday and says "we're going to a big association dinner and party in two weeks." And I'm like "woohoo! I get a new dress!" Then it hit me: I have to go find a new dress. As in, I have to either drive around and hit a bunch of stores and try stuff on, hoping that something fits and that I can afford what I want. Or I have to sit at my computer, find something that looks absolutely fabulous on my screen, and cross my fingers (hope, pray) that it fits and looks good when it arrives a week later.

Working from home has tons of benefits, and that's probably why I have done it for most of the past 16 years, except for two years in the middle when I went to work for my biggest corporate client. But one of the pitfalls is that I don't really have the need for nice clothing. I live in jeans, and while I do have some khakis and casual skirts for stuff like going to church, my closet looks more like the Gap than Nordstrom. This suits me just fine on most days, but when I need something very professional or even kind of dressy, I have to go buy it because I just don't own that kind of stuff.

So I found some dresses online and I need your help. Take a look at my list of links and tell me which one you like best. I know this is not fair because most of you don't know what would look good on me since you've never seen me. But hey, just tell me what you think is cute, okay? Some cost a bit more than I would normally spend on a dress, but I figure Mother's Day is coming, and I am prepared to plead my case to dh ("but this is your career honey"..."this is a very important event, don't you want me to look nice"...)

Okay, so here's the list:

A million thanks for your help!

Posted by L.C. at 08:28 AM | | Comments (8) | TrackBack
Filed under: Beauty/Fashion | Shopping

April 28, 2006

Fab Five Friday-Five Things I Want Now

For today's installment of Fab Five Friday, I bring you five things I lie away at night thinking about. Okay, that's an exaggeration. But I'd really love to own this stuff:

1. Sex and the City, The Complete Series--Owning this set would pretty much make my life complete.
2. Scotty Dog Laptop Sleeve from Shop City Girl--Sold out, but I'm waiting.
3. Transcend's JetFlash120--Ever since I saw my friend wearing a necklace with his flash drive dangling off the end, I've been pining for one of my own to hold all my work documents. These come in cool colors.
4. Linea Paolo 'Lourdes' Pump--I want a pair in every color they offer. The little studs make this pump fun and unique.
5. Anything from Bella Art--This online store would make any avid crafter drool.

Posted by L.C. at 08:05 AM | | Comments (4) | TrackBack
Filed under: Friday Fab Five | Meaningless Gab | Shopping

April 14, 2006

Coolest Gift for a Teenage Girl

My daughter will soon be a licensed driver, and a few weeks ago, I was looking for a birthday gift for her. Of course, she has just about EVERYTHING she needs (not everything she wants, but most everything she needs). So I was trying to think of something that was just really cute, different, and maybe even a little practical for a girl her age, when I found the Safety Girl Roadside Emergency Kit. This fabulously clever kit includes all you need for on-the-road emergencies, like:

  • an emergency blanket
  • instructions for changing a flat tire and jump-starting a battery
  • bandages
  • safety matches
  • and other safety items.

But every girly girl knows looking and feeling fabulous will also help you get through a true emergency, so the brilliant chicks at Safety Girl have also included:

  • aromatherapy headache remedy
  • deodorant
  • tampons
  • a nail file
  • a piece of chocolate
  • and other fun stuff, all contained in a cute, pink, lunchbox-style tin.

Brilliant. Simply, brilliant. And my daughter and her friends love it.

Posted by L.C. at 04:29 PM | | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Filed under: Parenting | Shopping

February 25, 2006

My Online Shopping A-List

I started shopping online one Christmas, about six years ago. It was when eToys was all the rage, and they used to send those red baseball caps free with your order. (Do they still do that?)

Online shopping is great for people who love getting new stuff but don’t like shopping. Sure, you have to pay shipping costs sometimes, but driving to the mall isn’t free (especially with current gas prices). And I like to think my time is worth something too. I don’t want to spend it driving all over town looking for the new Carlos Santana shoes I want, when I can just go to Zappos and get them much more easily.

So I’ve compiled my list of favorite online shopping experiences for you:

1. Amazon—C’mon, who doesn’t love Amazon? Wishlists, pre-sales, free shipping on large orders.

2. Apple—Instead of battling the crowds at Circuit City this Christmas, I ordered my daughter’s iPod directly from the Apple Store. It arrived in two days, and I even had her name engraved on the back. And the site’s Support area is awesome.

3. Chadwicks of Boston—For classics like wool blazers and ribbed cotton sweaters, no one beats Chadwick’s prices. Although their shipping isn’t exactly speedy at times, they make up for it in selection, good customer service, and low prices.

4. K-5 Boardshop -- Yeah, you read it correctly. My son and nephew dress in skate/surf/snowboarding apparel, ONLY. This online store has a good selection, and they ship quickly. Jay’s Board Shop is a good one too.

5. Itunes –I can’t remember the last time I bought an actual CD released by one artist at a store. There’s really no need to do that anymore. I just jot down the songs I like, download from iTunes, and load them onto my iPod or create a CD. No more skipping through the bad songs on CDs you buy, either.

6. Harry & David’s – My dad loves fruit and chocolate, so he gets a basket for nearly every gift-giving holiday.

7. Blooming Cookies-- If you need a unique, or just really, really cute gift basket, this is the site to hit. And when the recipient opens the door to a bouquet of cookies, let’s just say you’ll be their new favorite person.

8. eBay—I’ve bought everything from cowboy boots to scented candle tarts to Kate Spade sandals on eBay. I’ve also sold clothing, books, and a few antiques there. If you need something, you’ll probably find it here. Just make sure the seller has a good rating before you bid.

9. Artbeads—unless you’re a beader, you’ve probably never heard of Artbeads. But their selection is fantastic, their customer service even better, and their shipping is fast and FREE.

10. iStockphoto—I recently signed up for a membership on this site because I had some clipart needs that my Microsoft Clip Art Gallery just couldn’t fill. Now, I’m addicted. Fabulous illustrations, photos, backgrounds, and more can be found here, and locating what you need is quick and easy.

Posted by L.C. at 11:00 AM | | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Filed under: Shopping