M Bar, Boston.

I met up this late afternoon with Frogger... With the initial intention of finding her a new look for a bat mitzvah she has to attend next weekend. But, when I pointed out that a really hot look right now is the "tuxedo blazer over sexy cocktail dress" look - she realized that she already had in her closet what she could wear to a black tie extended family event.

So, the "shopping" part of our afternoon took about five minutes. And with that out of the way, it left us an early "call time" to the lounge at M Bar, inside the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

It was a cute space downstairs, at the street level of the hotel. When we tucked in at about 4:30pm, it was somewhat busy... But not bad. Frogger and I each ordered a martini... She an espresso one, and me a coconut one...



It's like we were drinking chocolate and plain milk!

And since you can't drink hard liquor on an empty stomach. we got a goat cheese plate and some vegetarian spring rolls...





Both were delicious. As was the New Zealand Pinot Noir and Prosecco we ordered with Bail when she arrived an hour or so later.

Definitely a good place, as far as cocktails go. The "scene" is very Euro-old-guy... But it was early afternoon and on a Saturday. We will have to go back on a Friday night to check it out.

"What Part Of 'God Wanted Me To Have It' Did You NOT Understand?""

Really, people... I am not a kleptomaniac. But when I come across an interesting item, sometimes I must insist on taking it. Especially when I randomly find the item on a seat, and no one comes by to claim the item during the four hours I am seated at the seat. After four hours, and no response from the owner? I think the item is up for grabs.

The item in question? A lovely and cashmere-y soft burgundy plaid scarf...



This beautiful scarf was on my seat when I arrived at M Bar this early evening for a cocktail with Frogger. We sat through a few cocktails, some cheese plates and veggies spring rolls... And a visit from Bail... And no one came by to claim the scarf. So I decided it was meant to be mine.

But..

When I got home... I got this long lecture from The Husband about "stealing stuff." He is not happy with me about the pillow incident. But I pointed out to him that this time it wasn't "stealing." It was, as Bail pointed out when I debated about taking the scarf, that it was "scarf karma."

The scarf was meant to be mine.

Truth is, actually... I wrapped the scarf around my neck during cocktails, and I forgot about it till after we walked out of the bar. And then I figured since no one had come by to claim it after four hours of sitting there, it was meant to be mine... Since I absentmindedly walked out of the bar wearing it.

It is a really great scarf. And I don't know that I would ever find a scarf as nice on my own at a boutique. I think this is a real find. Plus, it was free.

20-Minute Fish Tacos.

Sometimes I don't really know what to make for dinner... And when you eat meat, it can often take foresight or a willingness to leave the house... Because usually it means you have to defrost something or head out to the grocery store.

But last night I was able to whip together some veggie and fish tacos in less than 20 minutes, and without having to defrost anything... As I had the fish in the fridge from a few days before, after a grocery trip.



They look delicious... And have spinach, onions, carrots and avocado. Healthy, quick and tasty!

Springtime?

Is it Springtime yet?

I spent a good part of the afternoon out walking. It was an attempt to soak up as much of the mid-50 degree weather I could. It was fantastic being able to walk around outside without a coat. All I wore was a blazer, sweater, jeans and a scarf.

Proper Spring attire!

I went for a long walk. Through the Common...



Looking at all the signs of Spring...





Up through Beacon Hill and along the Esplanade...



And around Back Bay...



It's a shame that tomorrow it will turn cold and then snow on Sunday.

Dress Code: "Smart Chic."

Frogger and I have some shopping to do tomorrow afternoon.

Well, actually... I don't have any shopping to do for myself... We will be in search of some stuff for Frogger tomorrow, and have plans to meet up late in the afternoon for shopping and a cocktail. Since we'll be at the Copley/Pru/Boylston Street, we have decided that we should try out the M Bar inside the Mandarin Oriental Hotel for our cocktail...

Their specialty cocktail menu includes a lot of fun-sounding martinis and high balls... Like the "Missing My Cereals" (vodka, meletti chocolate liquor, milk), "Aladdin's Love" (vodka, jasmine, green tea), "Singing Tokyo" (gin, limoncello, yuzu juice, raspberry puree), "Moscow Mule" (vodka, ginger beer, lime juice)... And if you like a good dirty martini, the M Bar makes it with vodka, dry vermouth, and an olive brine cube.

As for me, right now I have my eye on a New Zealand Pinot Noir they have on the wine menu. And since I think I have my drink choice out of the way, all I need to do is figure how to dress fr the afternoon. The bar, apparently, has a dress code of "smart chic"...



I think I have an idea of what that would be...



See! Who says the LBD is what you wear as the default for any occasion? It's jeans, blazer, blouse and heels!

Tom & Giselle Are Married?

According to US Weekly, they are.

Sorry ladies of Boston... He's off the market. And 99.99% of you have no way of competing with Giselle.

I wonder if she and I will ever run into each other in town, wearing the same shoes?



Can you imagine how awkward that would be? I look kick ass in these shoes!



She may be able to kill me in every other body area... But the feet? I have awesome feet.

Travel Books.

While out this afternoon, I finally decided it was time to pick up a much needed selection of travel books...



Frogger and I are still going to go to Europe in April, for the Amsterdam/Brussels/Paris trip. And with the move to Toronto in May, I figured I should go ahead and pick up a tourist book and street map for there.

I have six weeks till Europe, and about 12 weeks till Toronto. A lot of reading to do before then.

Music To Write To...

I bought The Husband an iPod two years ago for his birthday. I had it engraved on the bag to read, "For all of Humanity*." But he never uses it. That's because he doesn't know how to add music to it himself. He relies on me to do it, and he doesn't like the music I initially added to it. So I am trying to re-do it for him, as I would really like him to use the iPod I bought him.

While digging through all of our music, to change up his playlists, I was reintroduced to all my old CDs. CDs I had long forgotten about because I don't remember the last time I bought a CD. (I think was 2003. I buy all of my music, ad most of my movies, digitally.) And I found myself wanting to add a lot of songs to my various iPods.

"Some of these would be really good to have on in the background when I am writing," I concluded.

I am one of those people who needs a slight distraction when writing. I don't like just sitting around in silence and writing. I need "outside" stimulation to get the creativity expanding. So I put together a playlist and begin throwing songs into it. And I have discovered something...

I consider a lot of the following artists' music worthy of "creative stimulation":

• Dixie Chicks
• Pet Shop Boys
• David Gray
• Dave Matthews
• Madonna
• Beastie Boys
• Scissor Sisters

The only one that is odd, I think, is the Pet Shop Boys. I had long forgotten that they were one of my favorite all-time groups. I picked up their Discography CD as a freshman in high school, and I am surprised I didn't wear the CD out with the number of times I listened to it.

All in, I have 75 songs and 5.3 hours worth of music on my "Creative Writing" playlist. That should keep me writing for a few hours each day. Now to finish The Husband's list...

How Often Do You Color Your Hair?

I am always lagging on the beauty treatments.

I get my brows waxed only every four or five months. Bikini waxings happen a little more often. I stopped getting regular facials, but could use a more regular peel to ward off wrinkles. The last time I had a proper pedicure was late last Summer. And my hair color??? This is probably the worst.

I like to get my one-color process (to cover the grey, blonde and red) of brown every two months. But I usually wait till about three and a half or four months to get it done. I get side-tracked with trying to schedule the hair coloring around Bikram classes, and I just never get to it. Because once I get my hair colored, I can't go to Bikram for at least two days. The color would run out from all the sweat.

But I was curious as to how often otehr people get their hair colored. And if they do it themselves, or if they get it done professionally... The polls are to the right.

Christian Lacroix Ribcage Skeleton Necklace.

Not happy with your bone structure? I myself have always wanted a longer torso... And maybe if I wore this Christian Lacroix Ribcage necklace...



... my current torso would look longer in comparison to it.

Not a fan of it, though. And I haven't bothered to research the price, as I am sure it is quite insane. Would you wear it?

Healthy Dish For The Weak: Lentil Bolognese.

This is probably the most delicious dish I have made in... Well, I can't remember how long. And it's very healthy too.

Bolognese is, hands down, my favorite sauce on pasta. And quinoa pasta, rather than traditional semolina pasta, is a great source of protein. It is also gluten-free, which is nice too. So the spicy sauce and tasty pasta were a great combo. Not only that... Because I used lentils in place of meat, it was a fantastic and healthy combo too!

Ingredients

• 1/2 box of quinoa spaghetti
• 1/2 (large) jar marinara sauce
• handful chopped white mushrooms
• handful chopped baby carrots
• 1/4 chopped yellow onion
• tablespoon olive oil
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup green organic lentils

Directions

1. Cook lentils according to the bag directions. This should take about 25 minutes. Drain lentils and set aside.
2. Cook quinoa pasta
3. Heat saute pan over medium high heat with olive oil.
4. Toss carrots in, heat till softened.
5. Throw in onion, heat till translucent.
6. Throw in mushrooms and heat till soft.
7. Toss garlic and lentils in, toasting for a minute with the rest of the mixture.
8. Add spices (basil, oregano and pepper flakes).
9. Add marinara sauce, heat through. Lower the heat to a "simmer."
10. Drain pasta, add to sauce. Serve it up.

YUMMY!

Tremont Starbucks: Timing & Positioning Are Critical.

No longer having to go to an office very much has its advantages for me...

• I can (and often do) sleep in until 8:30am.
• I can hit the 11:30am or 4:30pm yoga classes I like.
• I can train at the gym in the afternoon, when fewer people are there and The Trainer and I have better access to equipment.
• I can grocery shop for food each day, picking up whatever I am in the mood for at that particular moment.
• I drink a lot less coffee.
• I have time to read online news more thoroughly. (Including all the gossip sites.)
• And, last but not least, I can sit in Starbucks each afternoon and enjoy sitting at a table while writing.

I used to try to come into Starbucks on Tremont Street during the weekends... But it was almost always a useless effort. There were never tables available. From the time they open till an hour or so before they close, this Starbucks never has tables available. Even during the weekdays, it can be difficult to get a table at this location. But I think I have established pockets of time where one can actually snag a table on weekdays...

• 9:15am
• 9:45am
• 2:30pm
• 4:45pm
• 7pm and on

The day here ebbs and flows with traffic where people are committed to sitting down. And some people (I'll admit, like myself) like to camp for a few hours at a table. But sometimes this requires knowing where the outlets are at this particular location, so that you can charge your computer...

Here's where I have found them:

• The small table to the right of the door, after you walk in... There's an outlet behind the condiment bar.
• The tables all the way to the back, near the windows and the second door. Their a re a few outlets back there, and you have to have a long cord to reach them... But they are there.

Any other tables, though, do not appear to be near them. So it is imperative that you be strategic when coming to Starbucks. Timing and positioning are critical to your enjoyment.

K'naan's "Wavin' Flag" Lyrics.

Don't you hate it when a song gets stuck in your head, but you don't know the exact words to it... So you try to look them up online... And you can't find them... Only half-assed horrible versions of the lyrics?

Well, I have had K'naan's "Wavin' Flag" stuck in my head. (If you haven't heard it, you should go to iTunes and give it a listen.) So I downloaded it, and decided to write out the lyrics here:

When I get older
I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom
Just like a wavin' flag

When I get older
I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom
Just like a wavin' flag

And then it goes back
And then it goes back
And then it goes back

Born to a throne
Stronger than Rome
But violent prone
Poor people zone
But its my home
All I have known
Where I got grown
Streets we would roam
Out of the darkness
I came the farthest
Among the hardest
Survival

Learned from these streets
They can be bleak
Accept no defeat
Surrender, retreat

So we struggling
Fighting to eat
And we wondering
When we'll be free
So we patiently wait
For that fateful day
It's not far away
But for now, we say

When I get older
I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom
Just like a wavin' flag

And then it goes back
And then it goes back
And then it goes back

So many wars
Settling scores
Bringing us promises
Leaving us poor

I heard them say
Love is the way
Love is the answer
That's what they say

But look how they treat us
Make us believers
We fight their battles
Then they deceive us

Try to control us
They couldn't hold us
But we just move forward
Like Buffalo Soldiers

But we struggling
Fighting to eat
And we wondering
When we'll be free

So we patiently wait
For that fateful day
It's not far away
But for now we say

When I get older
I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom
Just like a wavin' flag

And then it goes back
And then it goes back
And then it goes back
And then it goes...

When I get older
I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom
Just like a wavin' flag

And then it goes back
And then it goes back
And then it goes back

And then it goes...

And then it goes...

And everybody will be singing it...

And you and I will be singing it...

And we all will be singing it...

When I get older
I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom
Just like a wavin' flag

And then it goes back
And then it goes back
And then it goes back

And then it goes

When I get older
I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom
Just like a wavin' flag

And then it goes back
And then it goes back
And then it goes back

When I get older...

When I get older...

I will be stronger...

Just like a wavin' flag...
Just like a wavin' flag...
Just like a wavin' flag...

Flag...
Flag...

Just like a wavin' flag...

Healthy Dish For The Weak: Veggie Fry-Up.

Just stating it here and now... I am giving up meat for Lent.

No, I am not a practicing Catholic... But I still like to attempt to be disciplined and give up something during Lent. This year's thing: meat and poultry.

I will still eat fish... And lots and lots of veggies. I know most people like to give up vices, like coffee or swearing. But their ain't no way in Satan's finest den of hell that I am going to give up either of those things. So meat and poultry it is!

And while I don't have to worry about 86-ing meat and poultry from my diet for a few more days, when Lent begins... I decided I would just start it tonight... (Forgetting about the eggs and sausage that I had for breakfast today, of course.) And I made a veggie fry-up for dinner.



Ingredients:

• Carrots (a handful, chopped in bite-size chunks)
• Onion (half a yellow one, cut in slices)
• Mushrooms (half a container of sliced white ones)
• Basmati rice (1 cup of rice)
• Spinach (two handfuls of leaves)

Directions:

1. Make the rice according to the directions on the box.
2. Toss some olive oil in a saute pan, heated over medium high heat.
3. Throw the carrots in once it is hot.
4. Once carrots begin to soften, toss in mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Throw in the onions once the mushrooms begin to get soft too.
6. Once onions turn translucent-y, toss in the spinach and let it wilt for about two minutes.
7. Mix everything together and dump over the rice.
8. Serve with soy sauce.

The Missus Says: "8 Things About Me..."

Well, it only took me a month from idea to concept to creation... But I finally got my first podcast, complete with images, done today.

Yay!

What's not so "yay" though is the quality. It's my first attempt at it guys, so I apologize for it's "roughness."

Oscar Fashion: Some Good, Some Bad, Some Bad Hair.

Oh wow!

For the first time in a long time, I actually watched an awards show last night. Well, I didn't watch all of it. I went and took a bubble bath halfway through it, and ended up missing Heath Ledger winning his award. But I watched a lot of it. And you can bet I was paying attention to all the fashion "good" and "bad" going on at the show. Here are my thoughts:

GOOD

Tina Fey


SEXY! I love a writer who can dress and look hot!


Marisa Tomei

I would wear this as a wedding dress, myself. But she looked fantastic in it.


Frieda Pinto


As far as I am concerned, she was the big winner for the evening. I loved the color and the cut.


Anne Hathaway


Beautiful dress. Beautiful face. Beautiful voice.



Taraji P. Henson


Great color and great cut.


BAD

Jessica Biel


This girl just can not get things right when it comes to the big award shows! If I had her body, I would NOT be covering it up with an awkward bow down the front.


Amy Adams


BAD color for her hair. And the necklace makes things too "patchy." When you are a red head, you need to be careful with certain shades of red. A little is good... But a lot can be overwhelming.


Amanda Seyfried


She was an awkward presenter. She had no delivery. She also had no body in her dress. I am not liking the "bows."

Miley Cyrus

Honey... You are 16, not 60. This dress ages you, but not to 21... To retirement age.

Beyonce


No. No. No. Girl, you have hips, just like me. This kind of dress only accentuates what you have, and not in a good way.

GREAT DRESS, BAD HAIR

Sarah Jessica Parker


I love the Dior dress. Your boobs are "BAM!" And it has that "ballerina-tu-tu" feel. But the hair? Love the color, not the big curls and middle part.


Kate Winslet


The dress was great. Sexy. Sultry. But the hair? No.

The Expectations Of Some People...

Okay...

I worked in the search marketing field for about six years. And part of being a marketer where you buy media from businesses (like Google, Yahoo, MSN and other online ad networks) is that you get free stuff.

Sometimes, you get lots of ridiculously insane free stuff. Like:

• Ski trips
• Gaming systems (like PSPs and Wiis)
• Flowers
• Food baskets
• iPod Speakers
• Kick-ass hotel rooms in NYC
• Dinners and lunches at great restaurants
• Alcohol

I always liked the free dinners and lunches. There was one time where I got to stay in a great hotel because of a media vendor I worked with, and that was nice. And if I was out somewhere, and a rep wanted to buy me a drink, I would let them. But I never asked them and never expected them to. And I guess that's where I have a problem...

The expectations.

In this economy, I get irked when I see/hear about search marketing people taking advantage of and making it clear that they expect the freebies from vendors. I was just online and saw on Facebook someone had posted this as their status:

SO-AND-SO reminding media reps that i like free beer and knicks tickets.

WTF? Okay... First of all, you are a director-level person at an agency. You do NOT need the free stuff. Second, you are teaching the people that work under you that it is "okay" to expect and demand these types of freebies from media reps.

Sadly though, this kind of attitude and expectation is often seem throughout a lot of agencies. I had one director once tell me (when I was trying to get a bigger raise for one of my team members) that the "vendor incentives are considered part of the salaries."

"Yeah," I told her. "No, it's not. And that's not okay to make them think that. Free drinks every Wednesday night at Globe, courtesy of a vendor, is not going to help them pay their student loan bills and rent."

I think there needs to be a change in the attitude and expectations for search marketing and online marketing people...

A "gift" is a gift, and you don't expect it. When you come out and openly ask for something, that's just you being an asshole.

Hunter Wellies & Socks: $93.

I've been craving a pair of wellie boots lately. Since I saw Coraline earlier this month, I've loved the look of wellies and jeans.

Now, I am almost 32, not a tween... So I really can't pull off the bright yellow ones. But a pair of black or navy ones would definitely work for me. A pair of proper Hunter wellies. And lucky for me, I found a pair on sale for 50% off at The Tannery on Boylston Street...



I asked the salesman why all the Hunter Wellingtons were 50% (making them $58).

"It's because we don't have the boxes for them," he said.

Not that I really care about the box, but it did make me wonder where they received their supply of them from, if they didn't come in boxes. But they are real Hunter wellies. And they had them in a few different colors, all for 50% off the original price.

In addition to getting the boots, I also got the Welly socks...



These are fleece inserts that go in the boots, keeping your feet very warm in cold weather. So you can wear the boots year-round... In rain or snow.

But what a great deal! The boots and the socks cost me less than the boots at their original price!

Cankles: I Don't Got 'Em.

Just following up from an earlier conversation this weekend...

Cankle (defined): An obese or otherwise swollen ankle that blends into the calf without clear demarcation.

Some jealous person left a comment on my blog trying to give me a complex about my legs. He (at least it read like it was a comment from a "he") told me I had cankles based on this picture.



Umm... You can't even see my calves in this picture. You can barely see my ankles. So I figured I would take a different picture...



This was not easy to take. I had to take it in a mirror without the flash. But clearly, I do not have cankles.

Fashion "Eww": Shoulder Pads.

I sometimes fear for the sanity of fashion-forward celebs.

Normally, I dig whatever Mary Kate Olson wears. Other than her whole fascination with fur, I really like how she puts herself together... Messy, casual but still sexy.

However... I can NOT get on board with what she was sporting tonight at the Independent Spirit Awards...



Really, MK? Shoulder pads???

Ew!

Sleep? What's That?

Ugh!

This is the second time in two weeks where I find myself awake in the middle of the night. I went to bed about 10:30pm... And then woke up at about 1:15am. I laid in bed for over an hour, trying to get back to sleep, but had no luck.



So I just decided to get up and watch some TV. No use just laying in bed of you're not going to sleep, right?

Tomorrow, I will make an effort to tire myself out... In the hope that it will help me get to sleep more easily tomorrow night. I didn't leave the house till after 5pm today. (It was just too freaking cold to step outside!)

Sorry, "Anonymous" Cyber-Bullying Not Allowed.

For you jackasses who may not be aware... I have a policy for this blog.

"If you're going to leave a nasty comment, at least take the time to make up a fake name."

I do not allow negative "anonymous" comments. I appreciate all comments, even the kind that are left by losers who have nothing better to do than leave bullying comments. But you MUST leave a name. That way, I can efficiently address you.

As I have written before, I am perfectly happy with comments that disagree with my view on something. But comments that are only meant to criticize and not stimulate productive commentary are not welcome if left anonymously.

XOXO,
The Missus

Spicy Cacciatorini & Chilean Pinot: This Is My Yoga!

Hmm...

I picked up a Chilean Pinot Noir and some cacciatorini sausage from places down Tremont Street this afternoon...



I wanted something spicy for a late afternoon snack... And I wanted a juicy wine to compliment it. It was perfect!

So perfect, in fact, that I wanted more of the sausage and wine... For dinner!

Using my typical "go-to" essential for dinner lately (frozen pasta), I decided to "mix-it-up" with the "mix-ins."



I used the spicy sausage (crisping it up in a pan with some olive oil) and chopped green olives.

Delicious!

The Husband and I both agreed that this was one of the best meals we had ever had.

Shoes!

There are no words...



Squee!!!!!

(Please 'scuse the skanky pedicure. I haven't re-polished in over two weeks.)

"Obscene-Chic": Ridiculously Large Bag.

"Bigger is better." At least that's how we often assess things in our own brains...

• A bigger car is better.
• A bigger house is better.
• A bigger budget is better.
• A bigger diamond is better.
• A bigger ass is better. (Maybe it's only Sir-Mix-A-Lot who feels this way?)

But sometimes, bigger is not always better!

While out dilly-dallying on Newbury Street yesterday, I came across the most hilariously large bag I have ever seen...



The Deux Lux Kanoko Bag.

I saw it lying on a shelf; attracted to it by it's "sheeny" fabric. But then I realized how gigantic the bag was... And I was scared!

It measures 30 inches in length. And it is 20 inches high. A positive, though, is that the bag's strap is also 20 inches long... So you can easily fit it over your shoulder, while fitting everything you own in it. And the bag is only $58. So it's affordable "obscene-chic."

Rodarte Tall Leather Boots: Thin Thighs Needed.

I know... I know... I know... I've written a LOT about fashion this week. But it's FASHION WEEK, people! (Cut me some slack!)

And while we're doing some cutting... How about trimming a few inches off my thighs so that I can wear these bad boys...



The Rodarte Tall Leather Boots. YUMMY!

They have a "bondage" feel to them, with the leather straps lacing up around them. And your foot is elevated on a platform, so your heel isn't actually that much higher than the ball of your foot. The only thing is...

The elastic around the top of the thighs!

You must be skinny and thin in the thighs to wear these. Otherwise the look will just not work. So most of us will not be able to wear them.. But the looks is so severely cool.

Christian Louboutin Carnaval Peep Toes.

I want to go to Carnaval!

And, I also want to go to Barney's to try on these...

Peep toe Louboutins with silk feathers!  They are similar to the petal sandals we all loved but find completely impractical to buy. Only these would probably last you longer, as the petals are higher up!

Madewell Boston.

So... Yeah...

The much-hyped Madewell store opened on Newbury Street yesterday.  I got over there today to take a look at it and to check out the merchandise first hand.  

First, the positives:

• It's a cute space.  Very light and airy.  I've never been to Nantucket or the Vineyard... But in my mind, that's what it felt like.
  
• The merchandise is cute.  They sell Hunter wellies...  And I really loved these boots.  
  

(I just wished they were in black.)

Okay.  Now, what I didn't like:  The price points are mostly too high.  I am sorry, but they are... 

• Over $100 for Madewell jeans? (In some cases, $200!)  These aren't designer jeans the likes of Raven, Pine IV or Paige!  
  
• The sandals, in my opinion, were of the same quality you would find at Urban Outfitters, but priced way higher.  I found myself wondering, "How long till these fall apart?"  I would rather buy the the Deena & Ozzy Metal Gladiators from UO and pay a third of the price.
  
• Cotton tees for the same price you would find at J. Crew - around $35? (I was confused as to whether or not this was supposed to be a slightly less expensive line than J. Crew. That's what I originally thought it was.)

It's a good store, with a lot of "basics." But to be honest, you can find better quality basics at better price points.  And again, with the jeans... I honestly just know where they have the audacity to try to price their jeans that high.  You go see a real denim guru and get quality designers jeans at that price!

I will probably go back to Madewell... But I don't know that I will buy anything anytime soon. It's worth checking out though.

Miss Dior Gladiators On Giselle.

Okay.  I had to know what the deal was with those shoes on Giselle!

So... I went to the Copley this afternoon and peeked into the Dior boutique.  I spotted what I thought was them on a shelf in the back.  So I went in to get a closer look.  

I started chatting with the boutique manager about these shoes that I had scene in an advert for Dior, on Giselle.  I guess the advert is so new, they weren't aware of it yet.  I was explaining how I loved the shoes, but couldn't tell if the ones they had on the shelf in the store were the same ones Giselle's feet...

"But I have to know the details on these shoes," I told him.  I wanted to know what they were called and what the price point on them was.

They are new, and part of the Summer collection... Not the Spring collection, as some may have reported.  

They are called the "Miss Dior Gladiator Sandals," and they are in the same price range as the "Extreme Cut-Out Gladiator Sandals" that are still all the rage.

I Want Giselle's Dior Heels!

Saw this new advertisement for Dior with Giselle online...

And I really want these heels!

I will be spending part of the day trying to research these bad boys!

"Stimulus Maximus" Has Been Signed.

And everyone gets a pony!!!

Kidding.  Only Frogger gets (got) a pony.  (Inside joke.)

Seriously though...  President Barack Hussein Obama (I still get a kick out of writing out his full name - seven years ago, who would've thought?) signed the stimulus bill today.  

And while individually we may feel hesitant about certain parts of the bill (I personally do not want to see homeowners bailed out or the auto companies - sorry), I do like that most Americans will be receiving some kind of tax breaks of $400 (for individuals) or $800 (for couples).  It will show up in your paychecks beginning in June of this year, and is estimated to be about $13 less a week.

I also like that tax incentives will be given to consumers who purchase cars or are a first-time home buyer.  And the 65% subsidy for unemployed workers paying for COBRA... That is awesome! (If I had used my last company's PPO insurance, it would cost me about $680 A MONTH to continue my coverage. WTF?)

I think everyone needs to just take a breathe now, and remember that the only way to keep the American economy moving forward and strong is to go out and make comfortable and smart purchases.  Here are a few things I recommend:

• Starbucks stuff. It's an American company.  And I love their coffee, just not their soy milk. So I support keeping them in business.
  
• Clothing from small business-based boutiques. I love clothes, but enough with the mass-produced and over-priced chain stuff! Support your local small businesses.
  
• Local restaurants. Same as the clothing... Support your local small businesses. (Including the independent coffee shops that are not Starbucks.)

Need help finding legitimate businesses to stimulate the local Boston economy? I recommend the following sites to help you:

• Universal Hub
  
• Open Table Boston
  
• Jean Therapy
  
• Chowhound Boston
  
• Boston City Search

Anyone else have any good sites to get information on various local reviews or local businesses? Leave them in the comments, please!

Barbie's Fashion: I'm A Barbie Girl!

LOL!  How fun!

When I was a girl, I loved Barbie.  I had the Barbie townhouse, the Barbie dream cottage, Barbie motor home, Barbie McDonald's, Barbie and the Rockers Stage...  

I loved Barbie.  And because I loved Barbie so much, I also had a ton of Barbie clothes... All of which I wished came in my size.  

Well, flash-forward 20 years, and now I can find Barbie's clothes in my size!  Barbie had her very own runway show at Fashion Week!

My favorites are:

All the Christian Louboutin shoes worn by the models...

And the Diane vonFurstenburg outfit...

So very "Barbie." I want the shoes and the DVF dress!

Chanel Resin Cuff.

While out walking last week, I strutted past the Chanel windows on Newbury Street and saw this...

A yummy resin cuff.  Very "punk rock."  But then, I looked a little closer and noticed the price, which was taped to the inside of it...

It is $1,080.00.  YIKES!  So NOT "punk rock!"

I still love it though.  I still love it.