Category Archives: Fashion

Feeling Green

I’m a little in love with the latest green in fashion.  I loved it so much, I actually ordered a couple of items from ASOS last week and absolutely fell in love with them.  Check out what I bought…

Ming Green Vila Linen Blend Belted Dress, $16.57.

Jade London Rebel Classic Pointed Toe Ballerina, $33.14

I also picked up a bag to go with this ensemble (that I wear with black pants).  It’s a super cute tote for only $16.57.

Pieces Noella Shopper.

I like the yellow and purple with the neutral tone.  It goes perfectly with the ensemble so I don’t come across as wearing too much green. 

I paired this look with a green lace bangle I picked up at Mango in Milan, Italy for about $5 and this bauble from Bauble Bar:

Currently only comes in turquoise, $38.

My total purchase for ASOS came to $66.28.  Not bad for a dress, shoes and tote.  My favorite of the buy?  I love them all. 

The Outnet’s Big Clearance

Badgley Mischka dress for $99.
Badgley Mischka dress for $99.

Fantasy Wardrobe lovers answer me this: If I bought a pair of Bally heels, 2 Salvatore Ferragamo scarves and a Jas MB oversized leather tote that would cost me what?  Almost $2,000? 

How about $370? 

You think I’m joking?  Well, that’s what I paid for all of those items at The Outnet’s big clearance sale.  But alas, you can only access the sale if you are a subscriber (which is free).  Then again, you should already be a subscriber so you can get in on the big anniversary sale coming up this summer.  You know…that anniversary sale I’ve talked about before where I got a $3,385 Valentino dress for $2.

In the past women have scored Christian Louboutin heels for $1, a Fendi bag for $2…you know…the big name designers.  They got those items for that low, low price based on The Outnet’s anniverary year.  This year they’ll be three years old, so that means everything will be $3 for a select group of subscribers whose names are pulled out of a hat (or however they randomly select shoppers).

So the reason why you haven’t subscribed to The Outnet is…

For those who are subscribers, you better run, not walk…dust off those credit cards you’ve been saving for a fashion emergency rainy day and use them on this sale.  This is the kind of sale that is too good to pass up.

The sale lasts for the next 5 days.  Inventory is starting to run low as word is getting out. 

Oh, and any brides looking for a dress…I’m pretty sure I saw a couple of weddingish dresses for under $200.  If you shopped the site last night, you would have found a couple of couture wedding gowns around $86.  Can’t beat that.

[Note: The Outnet is Net-a-Porter’s clearance site.]

Friday Loves Being Home Again!

I’m back in the States.  The trip will be told in the coming weeks (be prepared to read a lot…it’s currently 40+ pages and I’ve only made it to day 10 of the journey across Italy). 

Now, some crazy stuff happened while I was in Italy.  When I got home, I decided I would never leave again for a summer vacay, because the cat almost died while I was away.  Apparently, there was a blackout while I was gone…which meant no A/C for the princess (she was sleeping in the bathtub to stay cool).  She drank all 7 bowls of water and ran out.  She was almost on day two of no water when I walked in to a screaming, crazy cat.

I understood immediately why she was going crazy when I walked into the apartment.  I dropped everything, and ran to the sink to get her some water.  She not only drank it too fast and threw up three times, she started bleeding the next morning…scaring the crap out of me.

NO MORE SUMMER VACATIONS FOR ME! 

But don’t worry…after spending the day home with her on Wednesday, brushing her for hours upon hours on end and getting her rehydrated, she’s doing much better.  She’s back to her happy diva self again and knows she’s in 100% control of our domain. 

(Guilt card is definitely in play.)

So here are the top Friday loves…being home again.

1.  I Lost My Phone in Verona, Italy.  So you’ll find out over the next few weeks what happened in my trek across Italy that was very much on the strange side…as in…Death was following me.  A gypsy woman confirmed it when she saw me and had to give me some charms to ward him off (which are now at home close to the cat).  While I was in Verona, I was so sleepy after seeing the performance of Aida at the Arena (an outdoor coliseum), I must not have put my phone back into my purse when I reached for my wallet to pay for the taxicab.

Of course, this freaked me out, because that’s my alarm clock!  That meant I would have a few sleepless nights until I got a new alarm clock/phone.  [Plus, I never do stuff like this.  I never lose anything.  That freaked me out even worse!]

Well, thanks to watching Hulu Plus, an advertisement from AT&T showcasing the new Samsung Galaxy S3 kept replaying.  I thought…what a cool phone.  I went in and got that phone the next day. 

Sure, I’m upset that my BlackBerry Torch with all of those interviews I was going to type up this summer (like the Kovalchuk part 2 story) are gone forever…it was just a reminder of the world that has ended.  I’m retired.  I can no longer write those hockey stories.  (Sorry, Ilya.  That was the most important part of the story…lost in Verona, Italy…FOREVER.) 

[I just love how the universe makes sure that I really should not go back on my word or even reconsider retiring from hockey writing.]

Luckily, AT&T helped me out with purchasing this phone by giving me some options like using my brother’s upgrade, and he could use my upgrade in October (which means he can get the iPhone 5 at that time).  This brought down the cost of the phone to $199.  Switching upgrades worked out perfectly since my brother is an iPhone lover and the new device won’t be out until later this year.  It gives them time to work out the bugs (as he says). 

Now, what I love about this phone…it’s everything I love about the Nook Tablet in a phone.  The whole fact that the phone is an instant WiFi HotSpot is probably the only feature that is lacking in the Nook…but works perfectly while traveling or just commuting to work.  For instance, I watched “Once Upon a Time” on the way into the office.  I love that it hooks up to my Netflix and Hulu Plus accounts. 

While I could read books on the Galaxy…I’ll just keep the Nook for that.  The Nook has a bigger screen.

This device has been creating quite a stir.  Even the guys at the AT&T store love it.  They gave up their iPhones and Blackberry devices for it.  For those at AT&T who don’t have the Galaxy S3, they are hoping to get it soon.  That should tell you how amazing the buzz is around this product if they’re giving up their iPhones and Blackberry devices for this device. 

Apple, on the other hand, might be a little threatened by the success of the Galaxy S3.  There’s a rumor they’re releasing the iPhone 5 on 8/7 instead of October.  It’s just a rumor…but it should also tell you how amazing this new device is.

So in retirement…and my first few days back in the States I’ve discovered I’m becoming a techie…

Yeah…we’ll see how long that lasts.

2.  Young Adult Bestsellers.  So, I may be cheating a little on my New Year’s Resolution.  I just finished reading book number 34 this year.  That’s probably a record for me since we are only in July.  I’m going to share my secret…I have an addiction to young adult book series.  I plow through them in a few days because they’re filled with so much action and adventure…I just can’t put the books down. 

While in Italy, I was sad to finish both the Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan and the Nicholas Flamel series by Michael Scott.  Both authors brought their series to an end.  I was sad and almost cried because I didn’t want the adventures to end.  But the symbolism in seeing an adventure come to an end…yes, you’ll read about that symbolism in the coming weeks as I recount my adventure through Italy. 

Even though I ended the journey with these characters I loved, I started a new one with Peter Pan in the “Peter and the Starcatchers” series.  A Broadway show is currently playing in NYC with huge success.  I definitely plan on seeing it soon.

I realize that even though one adventure comes to an end, no matter how much you enjoyed it and the characters in it…sometimes it can mark the beginning of a new adventure.  With Peter Pan, it is all about being forever young and never growing up.

3. PASTA!  I don’t care what the diet books say or the fact that my hips may have grown a little bit while in Italy…but I’m in love with tagliatelle noodles. 

They look like fettucine noodles, but they’re actually egg noodles. 

My first meal in Italy was Tagliatelle al Bolognese in Venice, while I was sitting right next to the Grand Canal.  It was the most amazing dish I had throughout all of Italy.  It was sooo good.  It was the noodles that made the difference.

While I was in Florence, I searched everywhere for a shop that sold tagliatelle noodles and finally found them.  I bought two boxes and bought another bag before I left Venice to come back home. 

Last night, I made a pasta sauce and boiled up a batch of these noodles…and all I can say is that these noodles just make everything taste better.

Since tagliatelle is not easy to find in America, I found a recipe!  Actually, I bought a cookbook in Florence (in English) with the recipe for Tagliatelle al Bolognese to make at home.  It takes two hours to make the sauce, so I’m going to wait until the fall/winter to cook up a pot (it’s too hot to cook in the summer).  As far as making the noodles…I found a recipe for you to try!  Homemade Tagliatelle.

I’ve never had noodles that redefined a pasta dish, but tagliatelle did it for me.  FAN FOR LIFE!

4.  Marty’s Better.  So while I was in Vatican City, I decided to mess with a few nuns while they were praying (you’ll read about it in the travel log).  After I left the prayer room, God answered my prayer.  I’m not joking when I say it happened right after I left the prayer room.  I looked down at my phone and there was the news!  Marty Brodeur is still a Devil for two more years.  I could almost kiss a priest.  Almost…  (they creep me out…especially since I can read their sinful minds…just disgusting human beings some of them are).

Anyway, the Martin Brodeur Facebook page just linked to a really awesome shirt that I have mad lust for.  It’s a Marty’s Better t-shirt.  You’ll have to click the link to see. 

That shirt is just as awesome as the new Dallas Stars jerseys featuring #68 on the front.  Jagr in the back.  [Just happy he decided to go with a team that didn’t have orange in their jerseys…bleh.]

5. A New Wardrobe.  So the great thing about going to Europe is the fact that I can bring back fashion that will not be in style until next year. 

I like being ahead of the fashion curve.  After all, I like knowing I’m wearing something that other people can’t own unless they go to Italy themselves to purchase it. 

While in Milan, I didn’t have time to do anything before heading to Verona, so I headed to the train station early and luckily, they had shops galore.

One store that captured my attention was Mango.  I’ve only seen a cheaper brand of Mango at JC Penneys, and all the fashionista seem to love the store, so I decided to go in.  Luckily, the store was 50-70% off.  I picked up the striped top (in the picture) a new bag and a bracelet for 29 euros.  I really couldn’t believe my luck!

While in Sorrento, I picked up a few lightweight (aka see-through) tops that can also serve as dresses (but I wouldn’t recommend wearing nothing but underwear underneath).  I wore the longer piece as a tunic because of the drastic lines and wore a pair of jersey pants and a t-shirt underneath.  I got so many compliments on it because no one has seen this kind of top here in NYC. 

Jewelry…came in the form of Karl Lagerfeld.  There was a shop in Verona that gave me 50% off the two Lagerfeld necklaces I found.  They were so willing to make a deal…and everything was so beautiful in their shop (all major couture designers). 

Of course, the most important finds were all about the purse purchases.  I bought a new bag in every single place I visited except for Bologna and Naples.  The most amazing find wasn’t just the 100% Italian Leather bags…it was a scarf bag I picked up in Sorrento, Italy for 6 euros.  It was the cheapest bag of the lot, as well as the cutest.  You’re not going to find that bag anywhere else in the world except in Sorrento, Italy. 

In Florence, I picked up a scarf from a store right outside the Uffizi Gallery.  It is the only place in the world that you can buy this scarf because it was specifically designed and made for that store…and there’s only one store in the world.

For the Fantasy Wardrobe followers…this is actually how I create my wardrobe.  After you get past all of the basics and have added a lot of couture pieces from your favorite designers, all that’s left to do is to define your look by wearing what no one else can buy…unless they go there themselves to buy it. 

I always hate when I see someone wearing something I own.  I like wearing items that no one else will have…yet, they also want it very badly. 

Something to keep in mind whenever you venture away on vacation…always look for the boutique stores.  Take a look around.  You’ll always find something that is unique to that place you’re visiting and something you will love from your time being there.  Just keep in mind that whatever you buy to add to your wardrobe…it’s something that you will actually wear at home and not just on vacation.

So if you’re in Jamaica buying a sarong, make sure it’s something you won’t mind wearing at home or displaying over a table or chair when you get back home.  That’s how you determine what you’ll actually buy as far as clothes go while you’re on vacation.

Even right now, I’m wearing a top I picked up in Raleigh, North Carolina when I went with a friend to see the Columbus Blue Jackets play against the Carolina Hurricanes.  Sure, the CBJ guys like to talk about my big ass octopus bag they saw me buy…but the top I picked up during their nap…that’s the piece I love the most.  That top was a reminder of a fun trip and of a marvelous city. 

So for those vacationing soon…always look for something you’re going to love owning for the rest of your life.  I said LOVE.  I LOVE all of the pieces I’ve picked up from all over the world.  Those pieces always have more meaning to me than any of the NYC finds.  It doesn’t matter if I picked it up from one of their local JC Penneys…all that matters is that I picked it up in that place while I was traveling.  It’s a great way to remember those places you visited beyond just the pictures you took, because there’s a story and an adventure behind those pieces.

Friday Loves The Summer Getaway

The HEAT is definitely on in New York City, just as it is throughout most of the Northern Hemisphere right now.  While most are planning their summer vacations and getaways, especially with the Fourth of July just over a week away…I’m heading out for a very long trip around Italy.  {That means this is my last post until mid-July.}

Here are some of the things I love about the summer getaway.

Photo: Marina Oliphant

1.  A Time To Read.  One of the things I love most about traveling is that I get to catch up on some reading without distraction.  Between the empty time spent at the airport, on the airplane and trains…catching up on a few good books is essential.  My aim…to read some fabulous reads where I can’t put the book down.

While traveling in Europe last fall, the books of choice were The Help and The Paris Wife.  The only thing I wished I had done…was bring more books with me!  By the time I hit Africa, I had read both books cover to cover.  That meant I had some very boring nights after curfew hit and I was stuck in my hotel room with no TV.

As an early birthday present to myself, I decided to break out and just buy the Nook Tablet from Barnes & Noble.  I got it in May because I wanted to make sure that I downloaded everything I could possibly need or want well in advance of heading overseas.  It also gave me enough time to troubleshoot anything that could possibly go wrong prior to leaving.  {Very glad I did, because there was a reset problem…fixed in no time!}

The good thing about the Nook Tablet is that I can watch TV on Hulu Plus, movies on Netflix, play Sudoku and Scrabble games, search the internet, and have an arsenal of books at the ready to read.  Luckily, there are plenty of Free Books out there that made the first month basically pain-free on the credit card.  Every Friday, they have a Free Nook Book that you can download.  You can get the free book from their blog! 

So far, I’ve read an Amish book on Free Friday that was about a female reporter who tried to educate the world on what happens to children in war torn parts of the world.  Some asshole decides to set a car on fire, load it up with a bomb, and send it sailing right towards her while she’s filming.  She ends up surviving the bombing…but needing a place to heal.  This New Yorker heads to her Amish grandmother’s home in Lancaster, PA, where she rekindles her Amish family roots and falls in love with the Amish man next door.  Did she give up her life as a war reporter to marry an Amish man?  Well, you’ll have to read about it in “A Time to Love.”

Even though I’ve loaded up on plenty of Free Friday Nook Books for the last month and a half, I decided to pick up a few others to read over the next couple of weeks.

Here’s what’s on my Italy reading list:

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson.
In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson.
Birdman by Mo Hayder. {Today’s Free Friday Nook book}
The Enchantress (Nicholas Flamel series) by Michael Scott.
Billy the Kid and the Vampyres of Vegas (Nicholas Flamel series) by Michael Scott.
The Death of Joan of Arc (Nicholas Flamel series) by Michael Scott.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.

The books I link to above are based mainly upon Barnes & Nobles’ recommendations.  The first two are New York Times Bestsellers.  The first one is based on a historical look at the World’s Fair in Chicago and how a serial killer was able to abduct, torture and kill women without anyone knowing about it for years.  TRUE STORY.

The second story is about America’s first Ambassador to Hitler’s Germany.  I usually don’t like reading war books or watching war movies, but I got a sample of the book and read the first 50 or so pages…have to say, I am intrigued.  This is also a TRUE STORY.

Birdman is today’s Free Friday Nook Book.  The Enchantress is great for the kids (if they’re reading the Nicholas Flamel series…Enchantress is the latest book in the series).  The Night Circus is the book I’m looking forward to reading the most.  It was front and center on BN.com today and looks like an amazing story. 

Getting the Nook was probably the smartest thing for me since I go through a lot of books when I travel.  It’s lightweight and simple to pack and carry around.  It’s also the best birthday present I’ve ever given to myself…nurturing the traveler and the book lover in me.

If only Eyewitness Travel would put their guidebooks on Nook…would be so much better (that Italy guide weighs a friggin ton). 

2.  Summer Whites.  Would you believe I ran around during my lunch hour looking for 2 things?  A white lightweight flyaway cardigan and my favorite white tank.

Luckily, I found everything I needed in two stores…right as the torrential downpour began in NYC.  Luckily I made it back to the office in the nick of time.

Earlier this week, I had stopped into Ann Taylor to pick up this sweater.  I bought a similar one last summer in white and it was the perfect lightweight sweater to wear with everything.  Even in the Sahara Desert, it was perfect over tanks and dresses.  But I had to retire the sweater because the usual end of the summer sweat stains just made it unsalvageable. 

It is a rule…every summer YOU MUST buy new summer whites.

Unfortunately, that sweater from Ann Taylor is nowhere to be found in the NYC area.  So I settled for this sweater for $19.99 (in stores).  It wasn’t exactly what I was looking for but it would do for the moment. 

I decided to take my chances at Ann Taylor Loft today for a flyaway sweater in white…and luckily I found one on sale today for $29.70.  It wasn’t in my normal size, so I tried on a smaller size…lo and behold…I found out I lost weight!   {Eat pizza for two weeks straight…don’t ask me how this works.}

As mad as I was at the Gap earlier this year for sacrificing quality, I went in anyway hoping that my Favorite tank would be back to its old self again.  Luckily, it was.  I stocked up on a couple of white tanks, a navy blue tank, and a navy blue/white striped tank.  They were on sale for $10.  At the end of the summer they usually hit between $3-$6, but I needed them now.

Even though I missed out on getting the right cardigan at Ann Taylor the first time around, I did find this shirt for $29.99 (in stores).

This find made the whole trip worthwhile.  It’s a beautiful color…and one of the colors of choice I’m wearing in Italy.

So make sure to stock up on your summer whites.  After all, they are the most beautiful whites of the year…crisp and clean.

3. The Carry-All Tote.  So I may be just a little bit in love with my new Rebecca Minkoff tote that I picked up during her sale (after the Devils had that horrible loss). 

I found that the answer to styling my summer wardrobe with this tote is to wear bright colors.  Teal green, orange, purple…(my main colors for Italy) all match this bag.  I don’t have to wear just a solid.  I can wear prints and the bag looks even more fabulous with what I’m wearing.

When traveling I highly recommend a nice big tote to carry around while traveling or hitting the beach.  I always keep my camera and wallet towards the front corner of the bag so it’s closer to me and easier to pull out.  I basically leave the guidebooks, etc. in the back…just in case some pickpocket comes along and tries to take something from it.  The most important items are closer to me and my body. 

Totes are also great to throw purchases into without having 50 different shopping bags to carry.  For me, after seeing how plastic bags do not break down and can litter the Saharan Desert…I don’t like using plastic bags.  I told my driver in Morocco that I wish I could just take a photo of this calamity…but how do you take a photo of miles upon miles of plastic bags littering the Desert?  It’s impossible.  All I can tell people is to stop using them. 

If you plan on doing some extra shopping, make sure to throw in some extra shopping totes that you can get just about everywhere these days.  They definitely make it easier to carry extra purchases, and the bags are easy to collapse and carry inside your tote.

Also, the best way to move around in tote bags (the organizers way)is to put everything in pouches.  I keep my makeup/emergency tampons in my YSL cosmetic case.  I keep cords for laptops, blackberries, etc. in a pouch of their own that makes it easier to find, so your not endlessly searching all over the bag for your headphones.  Pouches are a godsend for those who carry big bags.  They’re also easier to transfer items from one bag to another.

My favorite place to get pouches?  Well, I love SakRoots.  But I get my collection of SakRoots and R & Em pouches through trading at Little Black Bag. 

4.  Stay cool.  Want to know my secret to staying cool in the summer while temps are scorchingly hot?  I wear fabrics that are lightweight.  Now, I hate seeing women wearing tight camisole tops with their bra straps showing (as well as all of their rolls).  Keep that stuff for home, ladies.  There’s no reason to bring it out in public. 

Trust me, that look even makes me feel like I’m going to die of heat exhaustion.  People always look so disturbingly sweaty and roasted…it doesn’t look ‘cool’ in any shape or form. 

The trick to surviving the summer all lays within the fabric used to make your clothes.  Think breezy fabrics like silk and linen.

Take for instance this top from Tracy Reese (Plenty collection).  It’s a linen/silk blend.  It may be expensive, but you can find Tracy Reese on Gilt.com for $45+. 

My stylist introduced me to Tracy Reese last year.  I thank her every single time I wear that top because it’s a godsend in the summer.  It’s light, breezy, and sweat free.  Even if you’re sweating on the inside…it doesn’t show on the outside. 

The bonus about this style and fabric is that every time a breeze hits, the fabric sort of picks up that cool air and circulates it around you…keeping you cooler than if you had a sticky, sweaty camisole glued to your body. 

These are the types of fabrics you shoot for in the summer months.  Today, I have on a silk chiffon dress from Warehouse that is perfect on this 98 degree day.  To feel the breeze picking up and circulating inside of your dress…it’s what keeps you cool on a scorchingly hot summer day…unlike those cotton/polyester blend tops and dresses. 

Ladies, keep it cool not by shedding your clothes.  Keep cool by wearing the right fabrics.  Your body will thank you. 

5. Don’t Forget the SunBlock!  I don’t kid about this.  A sunburn can lead to skin cancer.  I got burned horribly in 2000…in 2005 I almost died from skin cancer.  Now, I have to live with that mistake I made in 2000, because I will always have skin cancer.  It is a matter of the cancer being dormant or active. 

Protecting yourself from the sun is a serious matter.

I got stuck out in the sun yesterday morning and now my head, neck and face itches like crazy.  I realized that I must have sweated off the sunblock…and I should have worn a sun hat. 

Make sure to always have some sunblock in tow.  The rays are getting worse as we lose more and more of that protective ozone layer every year.  Even though it’s hot out, you should pick up a lightweight sweater to wear over your sleeveless tops and dresses, too.  It’s one more layer protecting you from skin cancer.

Have a great 4th of July.  This is where I’ll be…drinking a limoncello. 🙂

Channeling Monica Bellucci

One of my favorite movie stars/models is the Italian siren Monica Bellucci. The first time I saw Malena, I couldn’t help but think…WOW…I want to be her. 

[youtube=http://youtu.be/8j-53yv1nD4]

Well, for $32 a pop…you can get the same lip color in siren Monica Bellucci reds from Dolce & Gabbana (at Saks.com).

She looks amazing, sultry and super hot, right? I’ll let you in on a little secret about her…she’s 48 years old!  Can you imagine looking that amazing at 48?  She was the same age as me when she starred in Malena (36 years old). 

There’s something about Italian women that just screams absolutely sexy, right? 

Well, since I’ve entered the dating sphere again, I’ve been thinking about the type of woman I want to be, especially as I head towards 40.  I want to be like Monica Bellucci…at least that kind of woman she comes off to be in her films and photos…a very confident, beautiful, sexy and strong woman. 

So channeling Monica…here’s what’s on my mind…

RED.  How many of you have ever worn a red dress?  This dress is from Zara ($79.90).  From my recollection…no other color stops a man dead in his tracks than the color RED.  That may have something to do with those STOP signs and STOP lights.  A woman brave enough to don this color in a dress…that says WOW!


THE SHOE.  It’s Christian Louboutin ($625.00). It’s classic.  It’s sexy…and nothing says really sexy than how you feel knowing you have Christian Louboutin shoes on your feet.  Your confidence level goes through the roof!  Oh, and it also helps that there’s that little bit of red underneath.


THE DARE.  Monica always likes to show off her assets (aka ample bosoms).  This is a dress that Monica would dare to wear in public and look absolutely amazing in.  This Akris Belted Jersey Dress ($4,990) may be out of price range for most of us…but maybe I can get it at 80-90% off somewhere???  The trick here is that this is not trampy.  It’s black, sophisticated and designed well.  It only highlights one asset…not the whole package.  Your attention goes to one area…not the whole package.  The trick is to show off your best asset in a very subtle, yet daring way and bring the attention to that one spot. 


THE DESIGNER.  One label sticks out above the rest in sexiness, and that is Dolce & Gabbana.  Monica wears a lot of D&G…and she always looks fabulous!  This sweater is $180.  It’s very reminiscent of the sweaters that Monica has been seen wearing in many photo shoots.  Although…she wears nothing underneath.  A black lace bra or lace tank underneath will still get the brains a whirring…


THE LBD.  If you’re a woman, you know all about the LBD (aka Little Black Dress).  We all have that go to dress that makes us feel hot and amazing.  Well, here’s one in the D&G ($390) variety that screams sophistication dripping with sultry sexiness.

WHAT’S UNDERNEATH.  I’ve always loved the sultry ‘what’s underneath’ clothes from the days of old…like this Jucca slip ($85).  I think these days fashion consultants everywhere have us now trained to think: MUST WEAR SPANX! Since when did grandma panties become sexy?  Sure, it holds us in, but I feel more uncomfortable than I do sexy.  Every girl knows that if you want to feel sexy, sometimes something as classic and simple as a slip with a touch of lace at the hem is all you need…or even a sexy pair of La Perlas.  {I didn’t say Victoria’s Secret…I said La Perla!} 

A NEW LOOK.  Sometimes a fresh new look is all you need to feel confident in your own skin.  A new cut and color can truly transform the way you look and get you out of your old tired and boring look that you’re so used to.  Even coming home to your guy with a sexy new hairdo is enough to spark a little more passion… (just saying)


A NEW YOU. You think I’d miss mentioning diet and exercise? HA!  The most important and key thing about being beautiful isn’t just about confidence…it’s about being the change you seek.  That starts with being healthy and beautiful inside and working on having a healthy body each and every single day.  Eating the things that your body needs is vital.  Cut out all of the crap in your diet, because you know if you eat it, you’ll end up wearing it somewhere on your body.  Workout, not because you want to look beautiful, do it because your body needs you to do it in order to run efficiently. You don’t want plaque clogging up your arteries that will one day lead to a heart attack.  You don’t want to feel your bones become brittle because you didn’t get enough calcium or exercise to make your bones and muscles stronger.  You do this FOR YOU…not to look better.  You do this to BE BETTER. 

Your health is the key thing when it comes to hitting the next milestone in life and being a person you’ve always dreamed of being.  For me, I’ve always wanted to have that aura of beauty like Monica.  It’s in everything she does…all the way down to the way she looks at the camera.  She’s an enchantress of epic proportions.  That’s what I want to be when I’m her age.  That dream begins today.

This Week’s New Baubles

I am in love with these two new pieces of arm candy I picked up from JewelMint.

I had a couple of credits just sitting there, so I decided to just splurge and order something. 

The Mumbai Bracelet (in the silver) is always sold out.  It’s one of their more popular pieces.  I’ve been wanting this bracelet for a long time now, so I was lucky to log on and see that it happened to be back in stock. 

The bronze cuff is called the Gold Swan Cuff.  I think I got it more for the name…which makes me love it even more. 

For those new to the whole Jewel Mint world, JM is curated by the lovely actress, Kate Bosworth and Cher Coulter.  It’s a members only site, where you can order pieces from the collection for $29.99 each (aka a monthly membership service).  You can always choose to skip a month. 

I’ve slowly been getting into JM, because I’m so used to the quality from BaubleBar, and it seems like JM is starting to become a little more qualitative, almost the same caliber as BB. 

What I love the most about the Mumbai Bracelet…this is part of JM’s ‘Celebrities Give Back’ campaign.  The proceeds from the sale of the Mumbai Bracelet goes to benefit actress Emmanuelle Chriqui’s charity of choice.  [She’s wearing the Mumbai Bracelets in the picture.]

Emmanuelle chose RAISE Hope for Congo, a charity she’s been working with for years which “raises awareness and helps protect Congolese women and girls against the sexual violence in the conflicted region of the eastern Congo.”

So in a way, this is a ‘feel good’ kind of purchase. 

I’ve always liked the collection from the ‘Celebrities Give Back’ closet.  You’ll find several beautiful pieces from the charitable giving collection that you can order [when in stock] which will help benefit others around the world.

That’s probably the best thing about Jewel Mint…the charitable giving collection.  Take a look around.  Who knows, you may find a few pieces you’ll love.

 

Anthropologie Wish List

I really can’t wait to get back from Italy now.  Leave it to Anthropologie’s new catalog to entice me to go shopping for awesome looks.  Here are a few of my favorites from their Look Book.

Glimmered Ankita Dress, $198.

Shivali Dolman, $158.

Half-Day Maxi Dress, $168.

Color Swatch Tee, $58.

Parted Paisley Tank, $78.

Dime Novel Wide-Legs, $98.

Cut Lace Caryall, $198.

Handpainted Taika Flats, $128.

Yuzu Mary-Janes, $168.

Isn’t everything just adorable?  Can’t wait to get back from Italy and add all of these items to my closet.  I think my favorites are definitely the lace cut out tote and the handpainted Taika flats.  Those flats are apparently from Tuscany, Italy.  I’m going to be on the lookout for the artisans there to see if I can pick mine up while I’m in Italy.  To be continued…

Packing for Italy

Ah, Italy.  What does a girl traveling on her own take with her when she’ll be running all over the country for two whole weeks?

Well, the first thing is a QUALITATIVE suitcase.  My last trip in Europe cost me two suitcases, and I retired a third one after my trek across Ottawa in the snow, salt and mud.  I’m down to two suitcases now.  A Polo Ralph Lauren carry-on and a bigger American Tourister suitcase that I picked up from my grandfather’s house after he died (to lug back all of the memorabilia, photos, etc. I wanted from his home). 

For me, having a suitcase that can pack the punch all over a European country is ideal…and very difficult to secure because cobblestones will ruin every single suitcase you can muster to find.  So I’m just praying that my grandfather’s suitcase will survive this trek across Italy.

The key items I’m carrying is my great big Just Cavalli tote bag (biggest bag I own) and my new Rebecca Minkoff bag.

This Minkoff bag is one of the key pieces I’ll be toting around.  The mission is to structure my wardrobe around this key piece.  Sounds crazy, right? 

Well, blame The Glamourai for inspiring what I’ll be wearing on this trip.  I saw their photos from their trip to Marrakech and I couldn’t help thinking “What a great idea!”  BE THE FASHIONISTA while traveling. 

I probably do the fashionista look while I’m traveling most of the time, but the other ‘most of the time’ I’m basically in jersey pants and a tunic.  While the Moroccan men have informed me that I’m stylish and my clothes are 100% acceptable…the only time they raised a fit was when I wore a pair of jeans.  My driver tried to turn me right back around to go and change until I remarked, “But I’m riding a camel today.” 

He stopped and said, “I forgot. You can stay in jeans today then, but don’t wear them again after today.”  He referenced the Saharan heat as the reason why I should not wear jeans.  So taking his advice…you’ve probably heard how HOT Italy can get in the summer…not to mention the humidity.  Keeping that in mind, I’m structuring my wardrobe around being fashionable, in cool fabrics (no jeans), and comfortable.

I decided to take the lead from two fashion icons from their time in Italy.


What better way to get into the spirit of the Italian holiday than to be inspired by America’s favorite sweetheart, Audrey Hepburn, from the movie “Roman Holiday.”

Even America’s favorite first lady, Mrs. Jackie Kennedy Onassis, is even a worthwhile candidate to be inspired by.

The key components here are 2 MUST HAVES: 1) ballet flats and 2) amazing shades.

Jackie always has her classic Gucci hobo on her arm.  The most important part of her look all lies in her accessories.  From her necklaces to belts to scarves, she dresses up even the basic of garments. 

Did you also notice that everything pictured here are basic colors, with only the dress for a special night out with the print?  Even her skirt could be mixed and matched with the other colors she wore during her different visits to Italy.

Both Audrey and Jackie remind us to keep it classic and to keep it simple.  Both can go a very long way.

Most importantly, Jackie definitely shows how we can wear relaxing outfits, and still look absolutely amazing. 

So the key to packing for this trip?  I’m packing fewer things, but better things.  [Remember that theme?]

To keep cool, the maxi dresses and maxi skirts will be the number one item in my suitcase.  Jersey pants, tanks, tees and a cardigan will keep me comfortable.  Plus, I always make sure to bring a travel sized bottle of Tocca’s Delicate Wash to wash my clothes to hang and dry overnight or while I’m out and about. 

The most important way to pack is to make sure that you have a color scheme that compliments each other in about 100+ways.  In other words, you could pack 10 key pieces and interchange them with each other into over 100+ outfits.  That is probably the most important way to pack.

Most women usually choose how they pack based on one outfit at a time.  That then equates to 10x too many clothes and a suitcase that will barely close.

Take for instance this montage from The Stylish Geek:

These 11 items can pack a punch.  She was able to come up with 10 different outfits with these pieces.  I’m sure she could have come up with way more (but that would have been a very long post)…but the key here is in the accessories.  She could come up with a lot of outfits thanks to all of her different accessories.

When it comes to accessories, I’m really big on scarves.  Lately, Valentino scarves.  Believe it or not, I’ve been trying to come up with a zillion different ways to wear a Valentino scarf…especially as a shirt.  Bag Snob showed us a few of the different ways you can turn a scarf into a shirt:

Looks fabulous, right?  What’s really great about the scarf as a shirt?  Packing a scarf is so hassle-free.  It’s so lightweight, it takes up no space at all. 

For those who don’t like the thought of showing their belly…I always wear a tank or a tee under the ‘scarf’ as a shirt’ look…just in case anything were to fall out or the scarf came undone.

As for accessories…I’ll be packing a lot of statement jewelry from Bauble Bar, and a few different belts.  Shoes?  Besides my tennis shoes, Speedo sandals and ballet flats…that’s all that’s coming along.  Shoes can take up a lot of space.  If I’m going with one suitcase, a tote bag (for shopping) and my new Minkoff bag…trust me, I’m not bringing a lot because I want to bring some bulky stuff back with me.

My sun hat arrived from Little Black Bag.  It’s nice, foldable (a neutral color) and easy to maneuver into whatever shape I want.  It’ll be a lot of fun to wear with the many outfits I’ll construct.  But most of all…it matches with my Minkoff bag!

Will I wear something hockey related?  Well, that Jagr shirt is just itching to be worn, but I’m itching to remove all Flyers notations in the shirt…even if I have to cut a hole in the middle of the shirt to remove that logo (don’t think I won’t do it).  It would provide some serious ventilation in the back. 🙂

But we’ll see if it even makes the suitcase, because my goal is to keep it 10 clothing items (not counting shoes) to get me through the two weeks all over Italy. 

As you can probably figure out by now…the color schemes will all compliment the Minkoff bag…but I can’t start putting together the Italy wardrobe until it arrives.  So excited! 

More to come…

Friday Loves


1. Frozen Planet.  I am all about the BBC’s “Frozen Planet” this week.  It is probably the coolest and most intriguing documentary I have ever seen.  I’ve learned so much from it.  These guys filming the North and South Poles have the coolest jobs in the world (figuratively speaking, as well). 

After watching the behind-the-scenes video of the filmographers capturing footage of the penguins in Antarctica, their job also looks like it has to be the scariest adventure too.  If these guys are caught on the coast filming penguins when 80-120 mph winds pick up, they’re screwed.  Camp is 2 miles away…and they have to get back somehow (with all of their equipment).  They could either lose one of the camera guys (they struggle to not get blown away), or get lost when those winds come down. 

Other times, they felt their cabin getting ready to be lifted up while they were in it…and this was during the summer!  It’s like an Antarctic Hurricane.

I keep watching these guys thinking…I so want to be on that adventure! 

The cat even sat down on the couch to watch the white wolves in the Arctic as they were hunting.  She’s enjoying the program just as much as I am. 

In America, Discovery released the video of the same footage as narrated by Alec Baldwin.  I prefer the untainted BBC version (because they’re the ones that filmed it).

Check the videos out online.  Discovery has many of the videos available online for consumption.  Not only did I learn a lot, including discovering species I never even knew existed, but I enjoyed the scenery.  It was absolutely beautiful.  I especially enjoyed watching how a snowflake is created.  No two are ever alike.  🙂

Even though I picked up these DVDs from the library, I’m definitely going to have to buy them.  I love the show!

Can’t wait to start booking some nature trips in the near future. 

{I also learned that I don’t like killer whales.  They’re beautiful, highly intelligent, but absolutely cruel.  They need to learn to eat just fish…not seals or other whales.  I’m having a hard time watching the killer whales while they hunt.}

2. Seaweed Chips.  Since hockey is still ongoing for me, I like to pick something up for dinner on the way to the arena (because I can’t always eat what they offer for the media meal).  I think the Devils are used to my weird diet and how it’s difficult for me to eat, so they just let me do whatever and bring my own food.

Well, while I was picking up some soup and aloe water, I saw Seaweed Chips with Olive Oil.  I thought…why not?  It would be a healthy alternative to the chips and onion dip offered up in the press box. 

Gotta say…I LOVE THEM!  I think the perception when most people look at it is that it will taste horrible, but they’re actually really good.  For 30 calories per serving, I’m good with just making it my meal.  It can be filling and very easy to digest. 

It has a little bit of a salty after taste, but no salt is added.  That’s the natural sea salt you’re tasting.  It’s not added, because seaweed comes from…SALT WATER.  It’s the sea salt from the ocean you’re tasting.

What’s great about the ‘easy to digest’ part…seaweed actually helps to boost your metabolism and get rid of BELLY FAT! 

While I could say, “Eat Up!”  I know people go haywire and overindulge in something they find out is good for you (or in this case…trigger word was ‘get rid of BELLY FAT!’).  Like everything, eat in moderation.  I usually eat 1/2 a pack of seaweed chips (comes in 2 serving sizes) if I’m snacking.  If it’s my dinner, I eat the whole pack (60 calories).  That also means that I eat this one or two times a week, not every single day.

Your body needs a lot of different things…just not all at once.  So add this to your diet, but don’t overdo it. 

They’re a good, healthy snack to add to your diet.  My friend recommended this to me during a time when I needed to find a strategy in sneaking iron into my diet.  Seaweed chips were easy to get down and digest (i.e. something that my stomach liked).  Now, I eat them as the healthier snack alternative because I choose to “Have Fewer Things, But Better Things.” 😉

3. Spaghetti Aglie, Olio, e Peperoncino.  Thanks to Fab Fatale for directing me to this recipe from Yum Sugar.  It’s a great way to get me into the ITALY state of mind (t-minus 26 days and counting until I hit Italian soil).

What is it?  It’s spaghetti with minced garlic, olive oil, and chili flakes.  What did I do differently?  I added grated parmesan and freshly grated Romano to the recipe (I also used whole grain/whole wheat penne and fusili instead of spaghetti).  I mixed it up and used it as a base grain for the week (easy to grab during the week). 

As a base recipe, I was able to take this basic pasta and make a few different meals out of it, so it was like I was having something different every night.  One night, I added chicken with a tomato sauce on the side.  Another night, I added ham and peas.  Tonight, I’m going with capers, fresh tomatoes and fresh bell peppers. 

It’s so delicious!  It beats having just the plain pasta with nothing on it in the fridge (and then it ends up getting tossed because I won’t eat it or come up with new recipes). 

4. GabiFresh.  If you’ve noticed what are the latest things trending around the world right now, you might have found that one of my favorite bloggers, GabiFresh, has become the subject of some controversy over one of my favorite posts she’s done recently on her new bathing suit.

Now, for those of us followers, we knew about the bathing suit long before the blog post.  When I first saw the bathing suit (before the post), I thought…wow, that is so cool.  She looks fabulous.  It’s daring, but she looks fantastic!

I would never be brave enough to pull off the bathing suit (you should see the Muslim one I adopted for travel in Africa), but I thought it was incredible that she did it and she was willing to share her brave moment with the world.  Not once did I ever think that anyone could look at her fab photos and think something negative…until I saw FATKINI trending.

For those of us who are loyal to GabiFresh…we know what her blog is about.  It’s about inspiring women, no matter what your size, to be comfortable in your own skin.  It’s about being brave enough to wear something so scary as a bikini or even a pair of skinny jeans or a sexy dress that hugs all of our curves.  In other words, there are ways to look, be and feel beautiful in your own skin…it all begins with being brave enough to take that chance to wear something you’ve always dreamed of wearing and just take the plunge and do it!  That is the message of her blog.  And that is exactly why she is this week’s favorite blogger that I love to stalk that I’m sharing with all of you.

I think I’ve been following Gabi since December.  All along the way I’ve found her site to be very inspiring not just for me, but I realize for other women out there.  I know what it’s like to be so overweight, you can’t wear anything they put out in the stores.  Designers snub you if you’re bigger than a size 12…and sometimes a size 8. 

I remember the days when we were stuck with mumu dresses, sweatpants, oversized sweaters and tees.  We were too fat to be fashionable.  We were the world that the fashion world stuck their nose up at, and said crap about how unhealthy or overweight we were. 

It’s bad enough that we say this crap to ourselves…even worse when the world echoes those depressing feelings.  We’ve all been there at one point.  So I applaud Gabi for going out on a limb and empowering women to be comfortable in their own skin and showing us how. 

And if you don’t like it…as Rich Hardesty sings, “If you don’t got nothing nice to say, then don’t say nothing at all.”  Just look for the beauty of the moment like most sane people do.

5.  Pekka Rinne.  Now, there’s a reason why Pekka makes my top 5 loves.  I’m helping to promote him for the NHL 13 cover.  He’s currently up against Claude Giroux after defeating Henrik Lundqvist and John Tavares.  I mean…he BEAT Lundqvist.  I have no idea how that is possible, but he did.

Pekka is also part of the Puck Agency family (you know…the agency that represents Ilya Kovalchuk, Anssi Salmela, Anton Volchenkov, Johan Hedberg), so of course I’m going to lend my social media world of support for Pekka, especially after Scott Hartnell decided to tweet something about sending Rinne back to Finland (almost ranks up there with that BizNasty’s ‘commie’ tweet). 

So for those who are not Flyers fans, vote for Pekka Rinne. He’s probably the nicest (most innocent) guy I’ve ever met…and he’s never been suspended for getting pissed off and delivering a headshot to some innocent guy out on the ice (like Giroux did). 

I still find it funny that Pekka is petrified of Las Vegas.  We were able to snag an interview with him for Inside Hockey while we were in Vegas last year for the NHL Awards.  He had just become an uncle for the first time right around that time.  But the whole Vegas deal…this guy spends 82+ games a year stopping a flying puck made of vulcanized rubber from entering into his net…and he’s scared of Vegas.   

UNBELIEVABLE, but true.

So fans, vote for Pekka Rinne in the NHL 13 Cover Vote and vote often HERE. 

Friday Loves A Rainy Day

Who loves a rainy day?  Well, it can become very bothersome for most of us when our hair frizzes up and our clothes and feet are wet from downpour after downpour for a whole week straight. 

But every single one of us would take those weekly downpours for a three-day weekend filled with sunshine!

So in honor of those rainy days…here are my top 5 loves on a rainy day.

1. RAIN SHOES.  Rain shoes were probably the toughest thing to find for those of us with large calves.  It was like getting penalized by the fashion world for having such huge calves.  We couldn’t wear those tall rain boots like everyone else was wearing.  Instead, we sloshed through the rain in shoes that ended up getting tossed the second we went indoors because who wants stinky wet shoes? 

Well, someone out there finally realized there was no need to just go with tall rain boots.  There was a whole market out there for rain shoes of a different sort.  For those with big calves…there is an answer!

Sperry Top-Sider, $55.99 (ON SALE) at Zappos.com.

These boots are perfect during the colder rainy days.  The only downside to these boots, you’ll need very thick and tall socks to avoid blisters on your lower calf.  For me, I just wear fuzzy chenille socks and there’s no blistering problem.  Keeps my feet super dry and warm!

Sperry Top-Sider Kendall, $90 at Zappos.com.

Rain ballet flats!  Not only are they super adorable, but they are also perfect to wear during those warmer rainy days.

Hunter-Aston Wedge Ankle Boot, $125 at SaksFifthAvenue.com.

Not to be outdone by Sperry Top-Sider, for those fashionistas that prefer the name brand…Hunter sells ankle boots and ballet flats for the rainy days, too! 

2.  You Can Stand Under My Umbrella.  Finding a good, qualitative umbrella can be a feat in itself.  I bought a $70 umbrella and it was destroyed in the first gust of wind that hit it.  There was no amount of trying to bend it back into position…it was done for.  My $5 black umbrella I picked up from a street vendor has had more life in it than that $70 umbrella…and it’s still going.

Here are some of the best umbrellas on the market that can withstand those high winds.

 

Galleria Van Gogh Irises Auto Openclose Super-mini Umbrella – Irises, $25.00 at Amazon.com

Galleria Paris Folding Umbrella, $25.00 at Amazon.com.

London Fog Umbrellas Auto Stick Umbrella (Black), $25.30.

These umbrellas are ranked as being some of the best umbrellas in the biz.  Galleria and London Fog can both stand up against those blustery days.

3. The Trench.   Nothing is worse than walking out in your work clothes only to find that your clothes are so drenched, no amount of umbrella or rain boots will keep you dry.  Well, honey, that’s what a trench coat is for!

Burberry and London Fog have been well known for their classic trenches. 

Burberry London Colorblock Trench, On Sale NOW at SaksFifthAvenue.com for $837.00 (was $1395). 

As for me, I have the classic Burberry trench…but I also have the FUN trenches to wear.  Take a look at this one…

Desigual Trench, $89.99 at Macys.com.

This trench is perfect for the spring/summer months.  Can’t wait to get my hands on one!

For those that are budget conscious, JCPenney has the classic trench for $20.  If you take a look around JCPenney.com, you’ll find trenches for as low as $7!  Now, that’s a deal!

4.  A good book.  Nothing says a perfect rainy day like curling up with a book and a cup of coffee (tea or hot cocoa, whatever your preference). 

Lately, I’ve been curling up with some scary tales just because the lightning and thunder outside gives the book an extra eerieness to the story.  Try picking up The Woman in Black: A Ghost STory (Vintage) or one of The Last Apprentice Series.

But if scary tales isn’t your thing…there are plenty of amazing books out there like The Oracle of Stamboul or One Hundred Years of Solitude.  Whatever your flavor, there’s a whole world of stories awaiting to be read. 

5.  A good movie.  My tastes vary on rainy days, but nothing says loving like a chick flick day.  Jane Austen is probably the way to go on rainy days. 

OR you could watch a great ghost story like The Woman in Black with Daniel Radcliffe.  I read both the book and watched the movie.  They were two very different (but similar) tales, and both were equally as good.  Both stories scared the bejesus out of me.  It’s the way ghost stories should be told…in the old fashioned kind of way.

I was so scared at the end of the movie that the cat crawled up onto the sofa and sat there staring at me with this confused look on her face.  I realized that the end…that really scared the crap out of me.  I think I was as scared as she gets when there’s a thunderstorm brewing outside. 

Friday Loves

1. Fresh Day, 38 W 48th St (between 5th Ave & Rockefeller Plz), New York City. I am a tad bit addicted to this Manhattan deli that I came across the other week.  It’s your typical run of the mill kind of deli…unless you’ve discovered its secret.

To the back of the deli, on the right, there’s a Korean food station.  Who will you find there?  REGULAR customers that seem to come by almost every single day.  They order something different off of the menu every single day, and they are all addicts…just like me.

My office has dubbed their udon soup with fresh vegetables with your choice of meat as the ‘Barrel of Soup.’  For $7, you’re getting a huge barrel of soup filled with fresh ingredients.  What makes the soup so addictive?  The broth.  The broth is what has every single one of us coming back again and again and again. 

Even if you don’t get the soup, everything else on the menu is superb.  If you get an entree, they give you a small container of the broth with fresh green onions floating at the top.  It’s that broth…that’s the addiction.

Everything on the menu that I’ve tried so far is AMAZING!  It’s not so often you make a discovery this incredible.  To walk in at the spur of the moment, walk all the way to the back and discover something this good?  That rarely happens. 

The Korean counter has the same group of luncheoners every single day.  We’re all addicts, sharing with each other what we had the day before and what we thought of it…really, it is a cult following.  No place else in Manhattan have I ever seen a group huddled around a food station talking about this dish or that dish or the “What are you having?” to complete strangers.

The two Hispanic guys that cook up the meals for us…they just laugh every single time they see another regular.  The food is really the best Korean food I’ve ever had in my life…and I’ve been to Korea!

If you’ve never had Korean food before, and you’re going to try it out for the first time…see Fresh Day and the Mexican guy in the back.  He’ll whip something amazing up for you!

2. KOMBUCHA! You can first blame Winter Adams and then Georges Laraque for my new obsession.  Winter texted me and told me to try Kombucha because it made her feel better.  Of course, I asked, “What in the hell is Kombucha?”  She replied back that it was a tea…to just try it, I’ll understand.

Well, while I was at Fresh Day, I wandered over to their drink case and noticed that they had Kombucha.  I thought…well, Winter has never done me wrong before, so I bought a bottle.  It was $5! 

I made the mistake of picking up the ginger one.  I should have gone with a flavorful one, because that was the nastiest tea I had ever tasted in my life! 

Georges Laraque followed up by telling me that one of his companies distributes Kombucha.  He told me to give it another try…there were better flavors.

Take Two.  I got the cranberry one…and then because the deli keeps changing the flavors on me when the other flavor runs out, I tried the citrus and then the three-flavored trinity or something flavor from Synergy over the course of the next couple of weeks. 

Guess what? Ends up that was the wiser choice.  It actually tastes better.

What is the importance of Kombucha? 

From Wiki:  “Proponents claim it aids cancer recovery, increases energy, sharpens eyesight, aids joint recovery, improves skin elasticity, aids digestion, and improves experience with foods that ‘stick’ going down, such as rice or pasta.”

So for those of us that are sick…have a history of cancer, etc. this detox fermented tea actually assists the body, especially the liver and digestion.

For me, it just gives me hot flashes a lot like HCG drops do.  {HCG drops are a homeopathic detox cleanser that helps eliminate fat from the body.}  I think there is a possibility that Kombucha does attack fat cells (at least that’s how it feels to me).  The most important thing is that it does give those with ailments an added vitality that makes them feel a whole heck of a lot better.

For those a little scared of Kombucha, it’s been around for 2,000 years, made more popular by the Russians in the 1900s.  It’s a lot like vinegar in a way…and my grandpa was a believer that apple-cider vinegar was a cure-all for what ails you.  So going along the same lines of ‘vinegar’, Kombucha would have similar benefits.

If you see it, try it out.  It can be rather expensive, but the health benefits are fantastic!  But like all crazes to cure-alls…read the fine print and drink in moderation.  Here’s MSNBC’s take on the Kombucha craze.

3. Glass Jars.  Pretty soon it will be that time of year again to start canning the summer bounty.  It’s a great economical way to keep the summer bounty going well into the winter months when fruit/veggie prices skyrocket.

Canning is actually easier than it looks.  One of my favorite recipes is a corn relish from Food & Wine.  I usually buy corn for two weeks straight just to make this recipe and can it.  I eat the corn relish with almost everything because this recipe is so divine.

But let’s talk about JARS.  The jars pictured here are from The Container Store.  I saw them in Martha Stewart Living recently with a really cool recipe attached.  I thought…what a brilliant idea for bringing lunch to work.  I love the flip top and that it seals in liquids tightly.

I don’t use plastic containers to bring my lunch or to store food in the fridge.  I use only glass containers.  I’ve made huge batches of my favorite tortilla soup and put them in jars I saved from Archer Farms (Target’s generic brand), various salsa and spaghetti jars, etc. and have taken the soup into the office, just because there’s enough for two lunches in each jar.

The thing I like most about giving jars a second life is that it makes it easier to store big batches of soup.  It’s easy to just grab and go. 

I like these French hermetic jars because I’ve used the glass bowls with plastic lids and guess what?  Forget about carrying around anything liquid.  But truthfully…I’m just a huge fan of these jars with flip tops.  Not only are they perfect for canning the summer bounty, but spillage is less likely. 

There are tons of creative uses to jars beyond canning.  You could pack your salad in a jar (make sure dressing/liquidy parts are at the bottom then add other veggies, etc. put the lettuce at the top so it won’t get soggy), oatmeal, cake, you name it…it can be put in a jar which makes it much easier to grab and go.

Salad in a jar.

Cake in a Jar.

 

Oatmeal in a Jar can be prepared the night before.

A lot of people use plastic containers to store food and take it to go.  To me, glass is the more eco-friendly alternative.  It can be reused again and again.  Not all plastics are recyclable.  Glass is always recyclable.  Besides, I think it just looks cooler to have glass around rather than plastic.

4. PEONIES!  I have a new favorite flower.

I actually can’t wait to have a house of my own so I can plant peonies all over.  In Martha Stewart Living, she described the methods to having a successful crop of peonies…they live on neglect.  The more you neglect them, the more abundant the flowers will be.  It’s like a no-nonsense plant that you don’t have to worry about at all and it thrives!  

When you put peonies in vases around the house, they are so fragrant and just burst right open, lasting for several days.  

I think Blaire from Gossip Girl is making peonies even more popular, because that’s her favorite flower.  Can you blame her?  Look how HUGE the blooms are!  

Tis the peony season!   . . . that’s right now!

5.  The Glamourai.  Look who’s in Marrakech, Morocco!  The Glamourai is currently visiting and you should see her fashion shoot and photos!

Like always, I like to share what blogs and sites I’m currently stalking, and The Glamourai is the latest.  Her photos are so glamourous!  I wish I had thought of doing a fashion shoot while I was in Morocco. 

It’s kind of fun looking at her photos, because she’s visited all of the spots I visited.  But what makes her site even more fun…it’s like seeing a glamourous fashion take of the same spots I visited.  It’s soo cool. 

Check out the site.  You’ll love the colors and photos.  Just beautiful. As the Moroccan men would say…”LALA!”

My New Motto

Have Fewer Things, But Better Things.

— Suzanne Rheinstein —

I’m not sure what magazine I clipped this quote from, but this motto just really leaped out at me.  “Have Fewer Things, But Better Things.”  Why didn’t I ever think about that before?

Because we live in an age of NOW.  We want it now…not tomorrow…not six months from now.  We want the latest gadget, latest fashion trend, latest phone, latest car, latest social media platform NOW…not later.

We would rather not eat in order to buy a pair of $800 shoes now, instead of saving our money up to buy the shoes when they go on sale.  We want everything now, now, now, now….NOW!

Guess what?  We’re collapsing on ourselves by doing this to ourselves.  Accumulation…clutter…yep, most of us (including myself) are hoarders of something.  We are not minimalists at all. 

Well, frankly, I’m kind of sick of my clutter, so I’m making myself change by changing my belief system.  I’m forcing myself to live by the motto: “Have Fewer Things, But Better Things.”

So instead of furnishing my home with cheap stuff just because I need to furnish it somehow and give it character…I’m going to invest in more qualitative things now that most of the apartment actually is furnished.  Sure, I could add some character here and there with little cheap finds, but I can also upgrade my life by saving up for those better things. 

Think about it…say you need a new sofa (like I do).  Instead of getting another cheapo Ikea one because I need something NOW (and different)…I could just stick with the one that I have now, put a new slipcover on it to give it a new look, and start squirreling away for something that will be an upgrade to my current look.

Take for instance this “Cowling” Velvet Sofa from Horchow.  This classic beauty is $6,059.  It’s not something you would toss after 20 years…it’s something you would invest in for the long haul.

The point is learning to save for the bigger purchases instead of trying to buy everything NOW, NOW, NOW!  Sometimes we sacrifice on quality because we want to consume a lot of things NOW.  We then end up not happy with what we have and then end up buying more because we weren’t 100% happy with what we just brought home. 

Then that item ends up in some corner, or on the floor…basically in a place that is forgotten until we’re rummaging through and finding 50 of the same items, but none of them was the one item that made us happy.  We start to hoard collections of things until we get it right.  A lot of times, what we spent on the ‘didn’t make it’ pile ends up costing us more than the more expensive item cost to begin with that was the item we coveted the most.

Am I losing you?  Let’s talk fashion…

I am a purse hoarder.  My purses have their own closet…and now I’m shopping for a new armoire to put them all in.  Lately, I’ve been forcing myself to go through my collection to declutter it.  I have so many bags, I carry a new one every week.  I’m so backlogged on new bags versus old bags, that I’ve not been able to get back to carrying an old bag, because I still have another 20 new bags I still haven’t carried yet. 

I had to force myself to stop accumulating more bags.  That’s where that quote came in.  “Have Fewer Things, But Better Things.” 

So I changed my belief system about my purse collection.  I am now only adding couture designers.  Most are vintage right now, but for the new bags…I’m forcing myself to save up to buy the “Better” ones that will last for the next 50+ years that I can pass along to my daughters and granddaughters.  These are the Fendi, Prada, Valentino, Chanel, Hermes, Louis Vuitton and Yves Saint Laurent bags of the world.

If you know your purses, you know that all of these have a starting price of well over $1,000 for the bags that last a lifetime. 

Right now, I am coveting an Yves Saint Laurent bag to add to my collection.  My savings goal (I included the taxes) is $1,695.  Here is how I’m forcing myself to make it happen:

  1. Buy NO MORE BRAND NEW bags. {Exception on purse collection is if I find a vintage couture bag at a great price.}
  2. For every book I read (this is in conjunction with my 2012 New Year’s Resolution), I am putting the cost of the book into the jar.  So basically, if I got the book from the library (for free), I put the same amount into the jar that the book would have cost me if I had bought it, because basically I saved that amount by not buying the book.  If I actually bought the book I completed reading (and this could be any of the books in my library at home), I have to put 3x the amount into the jar, or take the money out of the jar that I paid for the book (to force myself to not spend money on books…so if I paid $13 for a book at the bookstore, I penalize myself and end up spending $52 for the book because 3x that goes into the jar and the $13 I used to pay for the book, or I lose $13 from the jar).  What happens to that $13 taken out?  Well, looks like I spent it on a book already.
  3. For every gift card I receive to Saks, that is a BONUS and is deducted from the amount I’m trying to save up.
  4. To curb my spending and to add to the jar faster, for each breakfast/lunch I do not buy during the week, that money goes into the jar.  That’s a savings of about $20 per day that could go into the jar.  That’s almost $400 saved every month.  That’s a great incentive to get me to take my meals to work!
  5. For every classic book I read, I put $25 into the jar (because it’s difficult to get through classic books or get myself to read them).  For every 10 classics I read, I add in an extra $250.  That gives me more incentive to read more classics!
  6. For each week that I successfully complete five days of exercise…I put $50 into the jar.  It’s not $10 per exercise day…five days per week have to be completed in order for the money to hit the jar.  This will force me to work harder on accomplishing my dream of having a yogalicious body when I hit 40. 

The point in creating these rules for myself was to help me accomplish other goals that are also important to me like my 2012 New Year’s Resolution to read 1 book every week (52 books a year).  Of those 52 books, 26 of them have to be classics.  So far I’ve read 22 books, only 2 of them were classics. 

Other belief systems I’m changing is how much I spend on what David Bach calls the “latte factor.”  Saving $400 per month to go towards my new motto…actually forces me to curb my spending on a daily basis.  If I’m willingly spending $20 per day, that’s $20 I’m not putting towards my new covet item.  What do I want more…the NOW factor or that INVESTMENT factor? 

I’ve found that when I write down what I eat/drink every day for the doctor’s office, I also keep tabs on what I spend.  I found a link between eating and spending in my life.  I find that when I’m healthier and making wiser decisions with what I put into my body (like cooking my own meals), what I spend is actually lower.  When I get careless with my food diary and my diet, my spending is also OUT OF CONTROL. 

I mentioned this to my doctor once and he thought it was the craziest thing…but I saw a correlation between the two.  It has a lot to do with the NOW factor and wanting everything NOW instead of saving and investing in what I really want out of my future.

So now that my main focus on my GOAL BOARD is going to be “Have Fewer Things, But Better Things,” I’m going to incorporate it in all walks of my life. 

When you think of your diet, think of having fewer, but better things.  When you think of buying that new handbag, don’t think of how many bags you can accumulate, think of buying a better handbag…one you’ve been really coveting that seems out of reach.  You’ll appreciate it more…just like I do my first Burberry and my first Fendi.

This is just one of the first steps I’m taking in changing my life for the better.  Sure, I’ll meet the girls once a month for dinner or some other activity, because happiness is important…and sharing time with your friends is important.  It just doesn’t have to be every single week. 

I am on spending lockdown right now.  I am making sure that I maximize my savings so that I can start investing in the future that I want.  Everyone wants a nice future filled with nice things.  We have to be the change NOW in order to have those things in the future.  Instead of instant gratification, learn the lessons from our Great Depression grandparents…save for the future. 

It takes a change in mindset to focus on what you want for your future.  We’re so busy living in the NOW, that we oftentimes forget that our future eventually becomes the NOW.  It’s best that we have that future covered too. 

For me, when I think about the future, I’m thinking about my future family, my future home, my future health, and my future retirement.  Those are the things that are important to me, but one lesson I learned from the head of one of the top law firms in the country a long time ago…don’t get so wrapped up in the future that you forget to live in the now.  Focus on the things that are important today, but don’t forget about tomorrow, because it will eventually become the now.

 

When You Believe

So I got myself a little pre-retirement gift from hockey writing.  When I saw it up on Little Black Bag, I knew I had to get it!  Considering how far both the Devils and the Rangers have gone this year in the post-season, it seemed fitting.

This “Believe” necklace from Disney Couture ($50 retail) was the perfect little gift to commemorate my final season.  I like that Tink Tink (Tinkerbell) is right above the ‘e’. 

But being the masterful trader that I am, that wasn’t the only Disney Couture necklace I got.  I got one more just for the extra luck…

And yes, that is Tink Tink with her magic wand at the ready to grant that Wish (retail $45).

So from now until the Stanley Cup is lifted…guess what I’m wearing?

If you know how Little Black Bag works, you’ll know that I got both of these items for only $49.95.

If you don’t know how LBB works, let me explain…

1. You have a choice of joining the monthly service (which you can skip a month if it’s not in your budget) for $49.95+tax or just the one time buy for a little bit more.

2. You can pick whatever item you like.  After you select your item, add it to your bag and then they’ll reveal two to three mystery items (just the name of the brand, what type of item it is and the retail price).  They won’t tell you what the two items are until after you checkout.

3.  After you checkout, they will show you your bag, including what the two mystery items are.  You then have the choice of having them send your bag to you, or trading what’s in your bag to other members of LBB over the next 7 days (ship at any time you’re satisfied).  After 7 days, your bag automatically ships with what is in your LBB after the trading period expires.

4.  They don’t charge you until your bag ships.

You are never stuck with anything that you don’t want (unless you’re just a really bad trader). 

The thing about LBB…what I love about it is the trading.  It is the fun part in the whole process.  For those new to LBB, I recommend giving the site a two bag trial (I’d say 2 months, but I seem to be a weekly shopper), because the first time, you’re just getting into the swing of things.  The second time around, you’ll be more masterful at it and learn how to get exactly what you want and appreciate the whole idea of LBB. 

I’m a bit of an addict when it comes to LBB.  I have a new bag every week.  I trade like a mad woman.  I usually end up with 4-5 items after my bag ships.  The first week I ended up with two purses and a bracelet.  Another week, I traded up a storm for an Urban Expression iPad case in blue sequins, a BCBG watch, and R&Em/Sakroots pouches (which are my latest obsession). 

They have new merchandise on the site every single day, so you’re bound to find a whole lot of somethings that you will love and trade like a mad woman to get. 

What I love is that when you have something that someone desperately wants, your $50 retail item could get a trade for $90 worth of merchandise…which means a bigger bargaining chip for you to go after other items you’re lusting after.  Trust me, I’ve done those $90 deals only to turn around with 5-6 items in my bag that I trade like crazy for what I really want.

In the trading frenzy for these two necklaces…even I’m amazed at what I did to make it happen.  I traded that Believe necklace for a Wish necklace and then turned around and got that Believe necklace back in a different trade.  Like I said…Mad Woman Trader here. 

But the point in all of this is…I was happy at the end of the day because I scored two necklaces from Disney Couture for $49.95+tax to commemorate my final season…savings of $45 (i.e. it’s like I got the Wish necklace for free). 

I’ve priced both necklaces around and have seen that they were cheaper elsewhere, but that was for one necklace.  It was still cheaper to trade like crazy at LBB to get two of them for $49.95.  LBB was the better deal.

As far as a lot of the bags, etc. on there, sometimes you’ll find a bag at a cheaper price on another site or store, but keep in mind that you’re getting 2-6 items for $49.95.  Even on super blowout clearance, you’re not getting that good of a deal elsewhere.  That’s why I’ve stuck with LBB and not purchased the same items elsewhere. 

So give them a try…for those trying to curb their spending, this is a great way to shop for your Achilles’ heel items (hello…purses for me).  I think the added adrenaline rush of trading makes this site more fun than just your regular everyday shopping.   

Happy Trading!  That site again is LITTLE BLACK BAG!

My Favorite UK Shop: WAREHOUSE

Want to know what my GO TO store is for dresses, especially for big events (like the NHL Awards)?  That shop is WAREHOUSE!

I first got wind of this site last year when the soon to be Her Royal Highness was out shopping for her honeymoon.  She made a stop into Britain’s own Warehouse and bought some of the cutest outfits I’ve ever seen.

Well, if it’s good enough for a Duchess, it’s good enough for me!  What I was astounded by…how affordable everything was (especially when you hit their SALE tab). 

I got so many beautiful dresses that they have become my go to place just for summer dresses.  Sure, I could shop there all year long, but they really catch my eye around summer when I can’t find what I’m looking for in the dress department.  Warehouse is always a savior.

Well, luckily for us ladies in the US, Warehouse has gone stateside as of today.  You can now shop exclusively online through their US site (instead of their UK site).

Here’s a look at some of this year’s summer cuteness:

This dress is $142.

This tropical number is only $89.

This delicious orange slice is $134.

This butterfly midi-dress is $116.

This one is my favorite!  This butterfly silk maxi is $178.

What I love most about Warehouse is their broad range in sizes.  Each item usually ranges in size 2-16…and they are true to size. 

My NHL Awards dress fit perfectly…and I interviewed 13 different dresses.  The Warehouse dress was the only one that made the cut.  The other summer dresses I got from Wareshouse were perfect, too! 

As far as basic dresses for summer, I picked up this bandeau dress last year.

At $46, you can’t go wrong!

The dress was very comfortable!  The only thing I didn’t like about the dress was the slit…it went from the waist on down.  I actually took it to my dry cleaners and had them sew the slit up.  After that…perfection! 

For those who see something you like, use code: LFW20 to take 20% off your first order.  Talk about a nice savings to start your summer dress collection.

For those who see a whole lot of something you LIKE…you can enter their UK site’s Warehouse contest.

Follow the link, and then follow the contest instructions.  You could win your Must-Have wardrobe from Warehouse. 

More Vintage Finds

In my Friday Loves post, I mentioned my newest addition to the purse closet…a vintage Gucci handbag.  Yes, I love it dearly!

Thanks to Bonanza.com, I’ve been able to acquire a Fendi messenger bag, Prada handbag, and a Gucci leather hobo.  I think the Fendi has been my favorite find of the lot, because it was a $1,000 bag that was sold to me for $49.00 (the guy got it at an estate auction and had no idea what he had on his hands…he paid $1 for it. I bought it from him for $49, knowing it was a $1,000 bag…here he was thinking he made a good buck.  He could have sold it for a whole lot more because it had never been used). 

The thing about buying vintage from Bonanza.com, I’ve been focusing on buying only major couture designer names for the same price I would pay for most of these cute non-designer names. 

Now, I’ve added two more names to the purse closet.  I’ve been wanting a Valentino Garavani bag for a very long time.  Well, the wait is over.

This is an authentic Valentino tote bag that I picked up for $99.  It definitely beats the Red Valentino price of $450 and the Valentino prices of $1,000+.  Inside the bag is the signature red silk that Valentino is famous for.

But that wasn’t the only bag I picked up.  I also picked up this Giorgio Armani (never used/mint condition) bag for $45.

Armani bags are not cheap at all.  Starting price is $880.  For $45…really you’re not twisting my arm at all.

Bonanza.com has actually been my go to place as of late for major designers that I’ve been lusting after for a long time.  Unlike Ebay, they don’t have the auctions.  You’re not bidding against anyone.  You see it, you like it, you put it in your cart and checkout.

I’ve had great service from every seller.  I got these two bags very quickly.  I ordered it on Friday, got them both on Monday!  I got the Gucci bag the very next day. 

Everything is as described. 

Bonanza.com is a stickler about fake items.  If you see something that says FAKE all over it, you can report them immediately.  The link is right there in every sale item.  They even follow up with you after you receive your items to make sure that the item you received was authentic and not fake.

Now, the key to knowing what’s fake and what is not fake…do your research online.  I think probably the hardest fake to figure out has been Louis Vuitton.  There are hundreds of sites that will show you how to spot a fake Louis.  It will even explain how the serial numbers work on each bag.

Also, if you’re like me and travel with designer handbags, you never want to carry a fake into a foreign country, especially in Europe.  I had a Just Cavalli bag with me when I was traveling from London to Paris by train.  They saw my bag, made me empty out all of the contents and then they inspected the bag itself!

They were checking to make sure I was carrying an authentic Just Cavalli bag.  Thank goodness for the hologram image and the huge Just Cavalli hardware inside the bag as proof (I mean…I paid over $500 for the bag…it better be real).

Each time I went between London and Paris they did the exact same thing again and again…they inspected the bag to see if it was a fake.  I’ve even had it happen in Canada when I was traveling between the US and Montreal.  They inspect the bag for authenticity.

Also, something you should really think about…if you’re going to buy a fake for the exact same price that an authentic vintage item would cost…that may not be the coolest buy you’ve ever made.

If you can’t go brand new, at least try to go vintage.  I know some girls are broke college girls that just want the IT bag right now because they saw it on Gossip Girl.  Ladies, don’t waste your money on the fake Louis Vuittons of the world.  Buy something cute and in your budget range.  If it’s couture you’re looking for…try sample sale sites and Bonanza.com…or save, save, save for that luxury purchase.  You may find that after you can afford it, you may not want it anymore. 

Then again, I always say…if it’s meant to be, you’ll find it on sale at the price you want to pay.  If it’s not meant to be yours, it will always be out of your reach.

As for me…I’m saving up for a new YSL bag.  $1600 if I buy it brand new at Saks, $1,000 if I buy from a sample sale site, $700-$800 if I get it used from Bonanza.com.  Hmm…

Friday Loves

I haven’t done one of these in a while, so I thought I’d share some of the things I love right now.

1. Yves Saint Laurent’s Paris Premiere Roses.  I bought this fragrance a few months ago, just so I could rack up $250 worth of YSL purchases so I could get the free cosmetic bag (with samples) {it was cheaper than buying a YSL wallet/clutch/case which rings in at $450}. 

I usually don’t buy fragrances so blindly without sampling it, but I liked the name “PARIS” (who wouldn’t) and the bottle.  What I didn’t expect was how much I would love it! 

The scent of roses reminds me of the riad I stayed in when I was in Marrakech, Morocco.  The woman who owned the place had the entire riad smelling like roses.  It was so fragrant that I had to ask my driver and guide to ask the owner what the fragrance was.  We then set off on a mission to find the bottled scent of roses.

I walked away with the wrong bottle of ‘roses’ and ended up with jasmine instead (which I love just as much), but this bottle of roses makes up for buying the wrong fragrance in Morocco. 

I love YSL’s Paris so much that I spray it on my sheets every morning so that when I go to bed later that night, the bed will smell like roses.  The scent isn’t too strong or parfumey.  It’s the right scent to make you smell just like roses. 

I highly recommend!  Price is $95 per bottle.

2. Vintage Gucci.  I am a little beyond obsessed with Gucci right now.  I mean…vintage Gucci handbags. 

It’s interesting to read the history behind vintage Gucci handbags from the 80s and 90s.  Gucci used to cost $125 and every girl wanted one. 

Here I was squirreling away Saks gift cards and savings for a $1,690 Gucci tote bag!  $125 for Gucci????  Please give me a time machine!

THIS is the Gucci lust in question:

Well, thanks to Bonanza.com, I don’t have to invent a time machine to purchase Gucci for $125.  I can pay vintage prices today.  The vintage Gucci bag in the first photo was in excellent condition.  I got that baby for $55. 

When I opened up the box to reveal my newest vintage Gucci addition…it was so beautiful I almost cried.  This is my second vintage Gucci that I’ve purchased for under $100.  The first one was for $35 because the girl wasn’t for sure if it was authentic or not…oh, it was alright.  I inspected that bag to make sure all of the Gucci details were there.  Number one sign it’s probably authentic…it’s leather, not pleather.

I really, really love this new addition to my purse closet.  I really can’t wait to start carrying it around.  You never know how wonderful Gucci is until you open up a box and you’re so happy to have Gucci in your hands, you almost start crying.

3. Pangea Organics Lip Balm in Egyptian Fennel Grapefruit & Sweet Orange.  There is something strange about this lip balm.  It will enamor your pleasure sensors when you put this on your lips.  It actually produces a happy rush that gets the happy endorphins flowing in your brain.  Then it gets your addiction senses going that you just have to have this on your lips all of the time. 

No lip gloss, Chapstick, lip balm or whatever you want to call it rivals that addictive power of Pangea Organics lip balm. 

And it’s organic! 

Birchbox sent me the Egyptian Fennel Grapefruit and Sweet Orange ‘scent’ in my box last month.  I tried it as soon as I took it out of the box and it was like a “WHOA!  I LOVE THIS!” moment.  Not too many beauty products get that kind of reaction out of me.

The next day I went online and ordered another one…just in case the one Birchbox just sent me would run out in the next day or two (yep, I loved it that much). 

The rational side of me now has one at home and one that I carry in my purse.  It’s replaced my love for Body Shop’s Watermelon (or Pink Guava) lip balm.

This is a highly recommended product for those girls who prefer lip balms over lipsticks.

4. The Last Apprentice book series.  If you loved Harry Potter and just want to get your hands on a new book series for kids, I’d like to introduce you to the Spook Series from Joseph Delaney. 

His first book in the series: The Last Apprentice (Revenge of the Witch), drew me in.  I am so hooked that I ended up heading to the library and requesting the books from all of the other libraries. 

It’s a story about a boy from England from centuries ago that is sent to be an apprentice of a Spook.  A Spook is a demon hunter, ghost buster, witch hunter, and master over taking care of things that crawl out of the shadows.  They are the soldiers against the dark.  Little does Tom Ward know that he has a knack for this job…and he doesn’t know why.

He befriends a young girl who turns out to be a witch.  She becomes his only friend as the books progress (and I think she’s starting to turn into his love for life).  Together, along with the Spook, they go out and fight some of the most frightening creatures of the dark.  

What I love most about the book, there are always little lessons in forming the minds of kids.  Like this quote:   “If we could only change the hearts of men and women, the dark would be weakened.”

There is so much truth in that quote. 

At any rate, I highly recommend this series, especially if you like those scary kinds of books.  If you don’t, this isn’t the right book for you.  Try FableHaven…that was equally as fun of a read with loads of adventure and fairies and unicorns and all of that.  {There were scary creatures, too.}

5. Fashion By Alicia. I always like to leave off my Friday Loves with a blogger who has a site that I love to stalk.  Let me introduce you to Fashion By Alicia.  I’ve been following her blog for a long time now.  I always like to see what she finds and puts together for her site. 

Recently, her site (and Twitter) has really peaked my interest because she’s been running and working out!  You can definitely see the change in her photos and she looks fabulous. 

For any fashionista, it’s kind of cool to watch someone’s look change when their life changes.  Even her hair is different!  You can tell that she’s much happier about her new look and her new physique.  She’s working hard, doing marathons, and sharing with us how she’s changing. 

It reminds me that I should probably follow suit and start working out more.  Sure, I have a contest with my boss to see who can stick to a push-up mentality for the next year.  It’s our challenge to work on our bat wing arms and challenge our bodies.  As for Alicia inspiring me, she just makes me feel like going running more often.

Take a look at her site.  She has contests, fashion finds, and many upon many ideas to share.  You’ll grow to love it just as much as I do. 🙂

Mint to Be Mint

So I’m a little behind in shopping posts…I blame this on the extra workload at the office, both of my teams in the playoffs (i.e. I have two teams to cover, but mainly the Devils), AND I’m just a little beyond obsessed with trading at Little Black Bag.  You should have seen some of the stuff I scored…oh wait, I was supposed to share that with you…  (in time)

But today, I’m going to share with you a dress I just had to buy. 

Isn’t it gorgeous?

This just so happens to be a Lucky magazine find at Lulu’s.  This Mint to Be Mint dress from Lulu’s is $26 with Lucky code: LUCKY1.  {Without the code, the dress is $44}

This dress sold out quickly the first time around.  I put my name on the list for notification when the dress came back in stock…a few days later it was back in stock (in my size) and I instantly whipped out the debit card.

This dress is perfect for just about anything this spring/summer.  From date nights to weddings to just hanging out with the girls in the park after work…this is the perfect warm weather essential.

It will also be perfect for Phoenix in the upcoming weeks. 🙂

Do Your Homework

If you’ve ever walked into one of these discount retailers like Loehmann’s, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Daffy’s, etc., you’re usually bombarded with items that are cheaper than the department store prices.  The thing you need to keep in mind…you’re not always getting the best deal.

Take for instance the Valentino scarf.  Each scarf retails somewhere between $330-$540 in finer department stores. 

I’ve seen Valentino scarves hit sample sale sites for somewhere between $105-$300.  Good deal, right?

At Loehmann’s, I found the scarves discounted at $99.  Getting better, right?

How much did I pay for my closet full of Valentino scarves?  At Daffy’s, I paid $50 for each scarf.  That means that I paid 9%-15% of the retail price at Daffy’s.  They didn’t even have the scarves in the discount bin or on clearance.  That was their starting price.  Imagine if I did find their scarves in the clearance bin…talk about even bigger savings!

I actually spent a lot of time in Loehmann’s last night…just looking for a good deal.  I was in there a very long time, because the deals I’m used to were very hard to find there.  By the time I headed to the counter, I had a pair of Ellen Tracy kitty heels and a Pink Tartan cashmere shell in hand. 

The retail price for both items came to $304.  I paid $44.12.  Even the sales lady was shocked at the deal I found…and I had to look for a very, very, very, very, very long time to find these deals (in my size). 

The Pink Tartan top came to $14.  I found it on their clearance rack with the take an extra 60% off sticker on it.  Considering I’ve been trying to get a Pink Tartan top from Gilt.com for about a year now when it hits their sample sale…this deal was far better than any sale that Gilt could have offered.  Same goes with the Ellen Tracy kitty heels. 

For those who are a bit astounded by these deals, here’s the trick to how I’ve been building my fantasy wardrobe.

1.  Shop around.  I shop around. 

Don’t always lay your debit card down when you see a sale.  Sometimes you can do one better at either a sample sale site or other discount retailer.  It only benefits you to know who is selling what you want and their prices.

I usually stop into Daffy’s each week to see what new stuff they have.  It’s very rare that I see the same stuff over and over again.  There’s always new stuff and new displays.

Daffy’s is probably one of the best ways to comparison shop in NYC.  I have found the biggest discounts with them.  Knowing what they have and what they offer, when I go to other retailers (like Loehmann’s or Bolton’s), I know what Daffy’s going price is for the item.  It helps me to decide what the better deal is. 

No, that Valentino scarf at Loehmann’s is not a deal…but those Ellen Tracy heels are.  Pink Tartan?  They don’t sell the brand at Daffy’s, but on Gilt, the same sweater was $44 last month.  I was willing to pay that amount at the time (before they sold out in my size).  So $14 is definitely a steal that shouldn’t be passed up!

Don’t always rush to buy things when you see the big SALE sign come up.  I’ve found that a little bit of patience will score that item at a lesser price.  Who knows?  You may decide a month later you don’t really want that DKNY dress after all.

Also, you never want to have buyer’s remorse a month later when you see how that same item went down by a lot!  You can’t return it because you wore it already.  You can’t do a price adjustment because that period had expired. 

Sometimes it’s better to wait it out for a better price.  If it’s meant to be yours, you’ll find it at a lower price you are willing to pay (and be happy about it).  If it’s not meant to be yours…then it won’t resurface.

2.  Have Patience.  I have only ONE friend that has patience enough to sort through the racks like I do.  All of my other friends would rather pay the retail price at their favorite retailer than to bother sorting through racks.

If you’re like me and realize that a true shopaholic finds the adventure and excitement in finding and scoring an amazing deal…then you know that patience is virtuous. 

I am a stickler about quality.  I only stick with designers that have a consistent history of putting out fashionable and qualitative merchandise.  It’s like my love affair with Valentino…I know his workmanship just by touching the fabric.  I know it belongs to him before I even check the tag.

Finding the right items for a fantasy wardrobe lies completely in incorporating items that will last you the next 20-30 years (and still be fashionable).  Those are the couture pieces.  Finding those pieces at prices you can afford or are willing to pay…it takes patience and waiting for the right time to pounce on a deal that is too good to be true.

I’ve bought Valentino shoes for less than $100, a dress for $2, scarves for $50, sunglasses for $60.  It took patience and a lot of looking around different sample sale sites and discount retailers to find Valentino for under $100.  When I did find it, you better believe I bought it! 

When you walk into these giant discount retailers, go in with patience to sort through racks upon racks of merchandise.  You’ll always find a hidden jem somewhere that’s on some back wall with a big clearance tag plus an extra big percentage off.  It will be a huge steal.  That’s what you’re looking for in the hunt.

For me, if I see something I like, I then look at the quality, designer, and then the price (in that order).  If any of them do not agree with my likes…it’s not worth the buy. 

*****

Now, some people may get the idea that I’m a bit snobbish when it comes to what I buy…only buying designer.  I buy both designer and non-designer.  What determines if I buy something non-designer…it has to be a basic staple item (like a tee, cardigan, tank, pants, etc.) because these are items you’ll always wear, which means you’ll have a slightly higher turnover.  When I buy designer, I’m buying an ‘investment piece’ for the wardrobe.

When I want to feel beautiful…I wear Valentino.  It’s one thing to wear something beautiful, quite another to radiate beauty from within.  His clothing gives me the confidence I need to feel beautiful, all the way down to the way the silk feels touching my body…like a whisper.  That, to me, is worth the investment. 

Very few pieces of clothing have ever made me feel that way.  Valentino, on the other hand, always makes me feel that beauty confident.  That’s why I invest in his clothing.

I know women like to pay a lot for designer shoes.  I won’t wear designer shoes outdoors…only indoors.  I wear cheap flats wherever I can get them for outdoors (Charlotte Russe is one of my faves). 

Rule of thumb, I never spend a lot on fad items (like this season’s neon color).  If it went out of style back in the 80s and had to wait almost 15-20 years to re-emerge…it’s a fad item.

Of course, you could keep those fad items for when it re-emerges 15-20 years later…but you would be banking on your body never changing, never being ruined in storage, won’t be too young for you when the trend re-emerges, and that it will survive all those years of lugging it around from one home to the next.

You invest in the pieces that you will wear again and again for the rest of your life.  When you pick up a fad trend, spend very little money on it, knowing you’ll be donating it within a year or two.

Because I’ve had over 15 years to build my wardrobe with the basic necessities (from little black dresses, underwear, coats, suits, etc.), I can now start adding couture pieces…one at a time.  Once upon a time, that was so far out of reach, but thanks to living in NYC, discount retailers and sample sale sites, it’s made that fantasy more realistic without going into debt for that dream.

Just remember that couture deals are to be had…you just have to have patience…and you have to go looking for it!  Like I say, if you want something badly enough…it will eventually come into your universe when the moment is right.

****

Thinking about fads and keeping them…

I’m reminded of the things my mother packed up and kept as a memory of her years before having me.  That just so happened to be her first clothes when she came to America back in 1972.  Back then, she was a little itty bitty woman…90 pounds, 5 feet tall.

She had these bell bottom jeans in several different colors with faces of people on it.  They were ugly…and I do mean ugly!  But she loved them for some reason.  She thought that a) they would come back in style, and b) that she’d one day return to her 20-something figure. 

Forty years later, they would have made for awesome handbags, because those jeans never came back in style again, yet she kept them thinking that after two children she’d be able to get back into her clothes again.  Forget about the age 30+ spread and the post-baby fat that NEVER goes away.  That dream just never came to fruition…and those jeans ended up disappearing in a trash bin 25 years later during the divorce.

We moved from home to home several times in my youth.  Those jeans survived all the way to when I finally went off to college.  It was only then that she finally let them go, admitting the truth to herself.  It never came back in style…she never got her old body back.

If you’re going to keep something that long…either upcycle them into something you could use (even as a piece of canvased artwork, those jeans would have been cool on display…but not to wear) or let it be something iconic like a Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress that has still been in style since she first introduced them to the world (just watch a young Cybill Shepherd in Robert DeNiro’s legendary “Taxi Driver” from 1976…that DVF dress never went out of style) …or save something iconic like what Jackie O or Hepburn would have worn.  Look to the fashion icons and follow their lead.  Those are the pieces you keep…never the fad items.

My Little Black Bag

Not too long ago, I wrote a piece about a new members only site called Little Black Bag. For $49.95 a month, you get to choose one item from their collection. After you checkout, they reveal two other items in your cart that you won’t know what it is until after you’re done with checkout.

This is where the fun begins…over the next seven days you get to trade what’s in your cart for something else that others have. People will make offers on the items you have in your cart…and you can make offers on what others have.

For me, the trading part has been the best part of the whole Little Black Bag experience. Last month, I was able to score two handbags and a Steve Madden bracelet.

I’m a stickler about quality, so when I traded some jewelry for an R&Em canvas tote, I was hoping I wasn’t getting anything that would get a thumbs down. Well, my hopes were all good because these items were of superior quality…all the way down to the leather bag I picked out at the start.

This has been a bit of a godsend for me because I buy 2-4 bags every month. Little Black Bag actually allows me to budget at $49.95 for 2-3 bags…instead of paying the $300+ I pay every month (depending on what designer I add to the closet). They have a lot of different designers to choose from.

This month, I have a BCBG Max Azria ribbon watch (a gift for a friend) and a Matt and Nat wallet on its way. I was shocked that someone offered up the wallet to me for a necklace I didn’t even like!

As far as the retail total in this month’s finds, retail came to $170.  Not bad for 2 faves that I only paid $49.95 for.

So ladies, if you’re like me and need to budget yourself when it comes to your fashion fetishes, this may be the best site for you. They not only have purses and wallets, but they also have jewelry, makeup, home items, and other fashion accessories.

Depending on what you find, you could end up with a box of goodies worth well over $150 that you only paid $49.95 for. Keep in mind, there’s no way that you’ll end up with a box of stuff you didn’t even want. Trade, trade, trade is the answer. You’ll always find someone who’ll want your mystery items and trade it to you for something you’ll like.

You are not always locked in to spend $49.95 every month. You also have the option of skipping the month. Since you have until the 5th to pick your item, if you don’t see anything you like at that time, you can always skip the month and wait until you see something you like (they have new inventory all of the time)…or just try again the next month (or skip). It’s up to you.

Oh, and when you invite your friends to join, you’ll also receive an extra item for each one that joins.

Trust me, you have to try it to enjoy it. It’s the trading part that makes Little Black Bag so much more fun.

Mirror Mirror

Last night, I got to get a sneak peek at the new Relativity Media film “Mirror Mirror” starring Julia Roberts.  It was such a cute event with little kids running about, little girls dressed as princesses and prizes galore for the little ones.

While I could critique the film and blah, blah, blah…I’m not going to.  Instead…I’m going to share with you some inspiring looks from Snow White (or the Queen).  The theme throughout was fantasy, vibrant colors, and nature.  You, too, could take a little hint from Snow White (or her wicked stepmother) and weave your own spring fantasy wardrobe look.

{BLUE=Snow White; Red=Queen}

1. ATOS Lombardini, $190. (Only size 6 available)

2. Liu Jo, $268. (Only Size 6 available)

3. Yigal Azrouel, $440. (Only available in size 6)

4. European Culture cape in gray, $118. Also available in black. (Cape is only available in Small). 

For the more budget conscious and bigger than a size 6…don’t worry…I’ve got you covered!

1. From .Tessa, $35. (Available in XS & M…but it’s a cape and us bigger ladies could manage the Medium).

2. A Saks Fashion Fix (must be a member to buy at the price listed). From T-Bags, $72.

3. Another Saks Fashion Fix. Catherine Malandrino, $173.

4. Another Saks Fashion Fix. Wren, $144.

 
5. From Rue La La’s “Now Playing: Iconic Style from the Silver Screen” sale. Laundry, $79.90.

6. Also from Rue La La…”Now & Forever Classic Silhouettes” sale. Ali Ro, $159.90.

7. From Rue La La’s “Every Woman Should Have…”, Taryn Rose “Bennett” Patent Flat, $149.90.

 
8. From Rue La La’s “On a Light Note” sale: Shae Blazing Yellow Open Front Cardigan, $49.90.

9.  Betsey Johnson leggings, $15 at the Modnique.com “Betsey Johnson” sale.

10.  Also from the Modnique.com Betsey Johnson Sale, Metallic Dress, $49.

As for me…if I could choose just one item that would make me feel every bit the fairy tale princess…it would be this dress from the Marchesa Spring 2012 line.