Step Up in Style

As if marrying Channing Tatum wasn't enough of a reason for every woman in America to envy her, Jenna Dewan apparently went on a Honeymoon shopping spree at the celeb-popular hotspot Intuition, and purchased this very cute ArynK Halter Dress. It's pleated, halter-style & is a flattering fit right above the knee. You can buy your very own at www.shopintuition.com.

Now if only we could buy our very own Channing Tatum online.

Girls, don't get any ideas. Looking for guys on Craig's List is just desperate.

Jon & Kate? You Need to Get it Straight.

I never was a fan of Jon & Kate Plus 8. I always said, from the first time I heard about their show (because I wouldn't waste time watching a show in its entirety unless I absolutely had to) that they'd end up parting ways. Actually, what I said about them was much more vulgar, more than likely, and probably completely inappropriate, but moving right along...

I also had an issue with two people having that many children as a publicity stunt. First off, I can understand girls who use, say, Playboy, as a stepping stone to an acting gig. But reality TV with 8 kids? What were you hoping to accomplish through your invitro? Exploiting your kids to get famous or wealthy has to top my pet peeves list. I feel as though they should be friends with Joe Jackson. Kate may be able to get a referral for a new plastic surgeon from the Jackson clan.

As you can see, I am not a big Jon Gosselin supporter, and Kate isn't any better in my eyes. Honestly, I don't care that Jon has moved on to a 22 year old; hell, if I was married to Kate for a day, I'd date a 22 year old, too. What I do, however, have a problem with, is that because of his children, he is now getting all these opportunities with designers like Christian Audigier, (of Ed Hardy fame) and starting a clothing line, partying in clubs with the young weed smoking child he's shacking up with, and wearing far too much hair gel in his 'do.

So, today on Chelsea Lately, she mentioned how he was seen trotting around NYC buying $950 shoes for himself. Clearly, to quote Drake, "the money ain't the issue," but all I kept thinking was, $950? Seriously? For a pair of men's shoes?

Two quick observations:
a.) Jon Gosselin is secretly gay.
(As few straight men run around town buying $950 shoes just for kicks.)
b.) Jon. Dude...take that $950 & hook Kate up with a new haircut.
She looks like a parakeet. Hateful bitch or not, she's still your baby mama.



P.S.--Just a little style/beauty advice: since you are now dating girls who should be your children's babysitter, you should probably give up the smokes, doll. You've already got decades on her, you can't afford to get more premature wrinkles.

Boy Meets Girl, Girl Shops too Much...

This is going to be a super short blog entry, just to preface with a warning, but I had to make an LC Public Service Announcement to say that I am loving the line Boy Meets Girl, and although they've already been on the block for a while now, I think they have a uniqueness and, they're one of those lines that, for people who follow fashion trends and lines, can be immediately spotted by the trained eye, which, for me, is always incentive to purchase a new brand or label.

This hoodie, from Intuition, can be ordered with your names above the "boy" and "girl" and I've read on all the blogs lately that Melissa Rycroft of Bachelor fame was wearing one all through the season. Since I don't believe in the idea of throwing yourself onto national television to find a man, I only saw the final episode, and she was wearing a ball gown by a swimming pool (always a genius idea, I put that on MY to-do list everytime I'm going swimming.) But I digress. Should you want to purchase one for yourself, go to www.shopintuition.com.

I love these hoodies so much, they almost make me wanna run out and find a man so we can have our names on my hoodie. Then again, I think ordering the hoodie is far less hassle, so if you've got a love in your life, order yours today, and for those of you single & looking ladies, check out the rest of the line that doesn't entail your boyfriend's name.

She Works Hard for the Money...

As a teacher, going back to school doesn't just mean picking up school supplies for your students or decorating your classroom (although that's an expense in itelf, also.) It also includes buying yourself a fabulous new outfit for the first day, (and maybe a few for the days to follow, if you're anything like me.)

Ever the fashion plate, I try to keep in mind that as a teacher, I also make a pittance in comparison to women who work in the fashion industry in high powered careers. However, I don't believe one should ever have to sacrifice style in the name of your budget. I try to seek out deals on designer clothing and shoes wherever I can, but sometimes, it takes a very savvy, fashion pro to find such steals.

The past two years I bought Calvin Klein dresses to wear the first week of school. Now, most teachers out there are probably shaking their heads and wondering why I would do such a thing, because I don't make a fortune, but these were what I like to call "investment pieces." Calvin usually makes dresses that are very neutral, with clean lines and classic, tailored fits: clothing that makes you look like a modern day Audrey Hepburn while still being very contemporary and modern. At the same time, I always know exactly when a dress is going to hit the sale racks: I always have had a knack for this. Hey, some people can predict the weather, I can predict sales. What can I say, I didn't get to pick my talents, I was just born with them. Consider me blessed.

On that happy note, Nordstrom is having their Anniversary Sale storewide right now, and online, so, because I am a die-hard fan and an avid customer, I wait in anticipation for the opening day of this sale, and plan out my purchases accordingly. On one of my (read: several) trips to Nordie's during this sale, I found THE cutest Calvin Klein dress to wear to work, and you can even take it from day to night with the right shoes and accessories. Punch it up at night with a cute pair of red heels (and if you've got the money, honey, make those babies Jimmy Choo's.)It's office appropriate, party pretty, and hell, if someone happens to die, you can even wear it to a funeral. (Let's hope it's someone you never really liked, and not someone you loved.) The guarantee is, you WILL love this dress, and so many more items at Nordstrom's, the price can't be beat for Calvin Klein, and the other guarantee? You will look drop dead gorgeous while saving your hard earned money.

Two Kids in a Candy Shop

So, April and I love Sephora, this is no big secret...we can spend hours in there, trying every beauty product in the store, until our hands are covered in stripes of eyeshadows, lipsticks, and eyeliners, and our hair reeks of perfume, so that when we leave, we smell like french whores, bathed in Chanel & Marc Jacobs fragrances.

Yesterday, we were like two little girls in a candy store, and we came across some amazing finds on our Sephora trip. Because I have, literally, seventeen things I'd like to purchase IMMEDIATELY but am forcing myself NOT to buy right now until my credit cards are paid off, I am limiting myself to mentioning my top two discoveries in this blog entry.

BEAUTY LUST PRODUCT #1:



BLISS Oxygen Facial Mask: OMG! I have read so much about this, and about the beneficial results that accompany oxygen facials. Some stars even have oxygen facial machines at home (I'm jealous!) but I haven't had the pleasure of getting an oxygen facial yet. So, when the sales girl at Sephora demonstrated the product on my hand, I was totally in awe. You could literally see your skin's surface transformed after rinsing it off. Not to mention, it smells great and feels fresh. Run out and purchase this ASAP, your skin will thank you later.

BEAUTY LUST PRODUCT #2:



Dylan's Candy Bar Body Scrubs: This rich, thick texture will exfoliate even the driest skin, remove all the impurities from your skin's surface, leave you with soft, shiny, glowing skin, and replenish the moisture in your skin right out of the shower. And when you smell it for yourself, perhaps you will be like I was: hungry! April had to pry me away from it so we could go to dinner, because it was so yummy, I wanted to eat the body scrub. The packaging is cute, too. And, Dylan Lauren, the company owner, is the daughter of Ralph Lauren. So you know style is in her genes.

When we were little girls, April & I would spend hours combing our Barbie dolls' hair and primping them, so they'd look red carpet ready everytime they'd leave the Barbie dream house. And although we've transferred that attention to glamour to ourselves, we still can spend hours primping and, even more entertaining: finding products to get ourselves our most glam.

Sephora is still one of our faves, so run in and check out these products and so many more today...or check the online store if you don't live close to a Sephora store: www.sephora.com.

Flannel Fab

People always bitch & moan because they say they can't afford the same looks they see in magazines, on celebs on TV, and on the red carpet. In case you're a fashion novice, let me fill you in: the entire fashion industry stays afloat because designers copy couture looks, replicate them, and make them accessible to the general public by selling similar looks at more affordable stores and boutiques.

I love Mary Kate Olsen, I know, everyone makes fun of her (on occassion I find myself asking my friends "are you pulling a Mary Kate?" when they don't order food at brunch) but still, I love her style (because if you're going to dress like a homeless lady with Christian Louboutins on at the same time, you've got guts, girl.) So, of course I love the Olsen's line, Elizabeth and James, and even love the sort of grungy, flannel shirts that I actually used to wear back in 7th grade. Something about this look reminds me of Seattle, Nirvana, cans of Sprite from the vending machine, and my bottle of hairspray in my junior high locker. However, had I asked my mother, in 7th grade, for a flannel top from Elizabeth & James that cost $252, (www.shopmoodyblues.com, for stores, or to purchase online) she would have laughed in my face, shook her head, and said that money doesn't grow on trees.

Fast forward some 14 years later, and I still know money doesn't grow on trees. That being said, while you can buy the super cute top at Moody Blues (one of my faves!) for $252, you can achieve a similar look by buying one of Express' (www.expressfashion.com) flannel tops for $39.95, pair it with a cute pair of cutoff shorts, some gladiator sandals, & you'll be adorable and very reminiscent of my junior high years. Or, you'll look like an Olsen twin.

But please ladies, for the love of God, comb your hair. Mary Kate is the only one who can pull off the "I slept under a bridge" look.

In Perfect Harmony

Initially, I'll admit, I wasn't the biggest fan of online shopping. Browsing through boutiques and spending lots of quality time at Nordstrom and Neimans and Target (yes, I am a Target lover) is another way of burning calories for me. Shopping is my cardio. Not to mention, it's therapeutic. But, give me a deal, show me a coupon I can use, and I'm so there.

Since I started online shopping, I have grown to love receiving packages in the mail. (It helps that our UPS guy is easy on the eyes.) Everytime I can rip open a new delivery, it feels like Christmas morning, in the middle of July. On top of that sheer bliss, I've also discovered plenty of super cool websites where you can not only buy the latest & greatest, but look at photos of celebs who've probably been styled by a professional, & that helps give some inspiration, too, when putting together different looks for yourself.

From time to time, I'll feature a boutique that also has an online store, so if you are not close to LA or planning a trip out there soon, you can still shop there, from the comfort of your couch (or bed, or office, or strip club dressing room, wherever it is that you people work a 9-5.)

Check out www.shopharmonylane.com to get all the latest from designers who have major celebrity following. They carry everyone from Plenty by Tracey Reese, comfy staples from C&C California (love that label!) and great jeans from lines like Antik Denim, Genetic Denim, Earnest Sewn and William Rast.

And try to neglect the fact that Paris Hilton shops here. I mean, you can't hold that against Harmony Lane, even young women who dress like cheap pole dancing trash need a place to shop, too.

Have fun shopping, lovers! ;)

A Price Worth Paying

Ahh, don't you just love boutique shopping? I think the thrill of finding new goodies for myself that I know very few of my friends will have, (even the most stylish among us) is what makes them all the more appealing to me. The thing is, I often feel about boutiques the way I feel about men. It's always nice to see what's out there. Let's face it ladies and gents, we like to look in Carolina Herrera and Louis Vuitton because everything is gorgeous and wonderful, until we flip the price tag over and nearly fall on our asses when we look at the four digit numbers. We always want what we can't have. But eventually we wisen up and realize that the boutiques (or those people we lust after) are never going to be accessible and that they may not even be worth the price we have to pay. And it isn't that we are settling, but we search out places (or people) who can fulfill our needs while still making us happy, because happiness? Shouldn't have to come with a hefty price tag.

Francesca's is one of those stores for me. When I first walked in, I was overwhelmed by the selection; so much to take home under one roof, it was bliss. Wall to wall assortment of clothing; cute wall hangings with unique sayings and cliche quotes; decorative items for your home; and the most impressive array of costume jewelry I've seen yet. There are helpful sales ladies (honestly, some more friendly than others, that's something that could be improved, admittedly) and one of the women who helped me recently when I ran in and bought two new handbags made me laugh and shared stories about her daughter and her purse addiction (her daughter and I are about the same age.) The prices are affordable, and you can get apparel and accessories that are from the same designers and labels as you'd find in a lot of Scottsdale boutiques, but for much more reasonable prices.

I bought a sexy orange dress and wore it to a baseball game a few months ago and it was a big hit everywhere I went; perfect for Spring, and I only spent $25.00 on it, which, if you saw it, was worth every penny.

No matter what it is you're lusting after: a man, or a new pair of ballet flats, there are some sacrifices one just should not have to make. Your finances are no exception. In the game of life, your heart may get broken along the way, friends, but if you shop at a boutique like Francesca's, one thing that won't get broken is your bank account.