I want my junk TV.

Having toddler twins who have discovered the joy of a teepeed kitchen and the delight found in tormenting the dog, I've had to drastically streamline my TV habits.
And so my DVR has said goodbye to John Stewart, Anderson Cooper, Oprah, even the women of The View.
But there is a group of women I wish I could quit, but I can't. Gretchen, Bethanny, Nene, and Kim beckon me week after week, season after season.
What is it about the Real Housewives that makes this real housewife tune in every Thursday? Could I be feeling a bit of schadenfreude watching these women, who spent so frivolously and needlessly, now having to rein in their spending habits and downsize in this new world order?
Actually, I should say most of these women have reined in their spending. Last week's show had Lynn Curtin being served with an eviction notice on her rented house. She handles this financial dilemma by taking off for the weekend to San Francisco and splurging on a $1500 leather jacket that would have been at home in Love is a Battlefield.

Poor, poor Lynn (literally and figuratively).  If she had only known about Yoox, the fashion online superstore. The range of designers is deep including Stella McCartney, Missoni, Marc Jacobs and Valentino. I've been shopping here for years and especially love the lesser known designers featured. What really makes Yoox rock is the sale section which now has almost 1000 items up to 90% off.

 Under $20

 

  

  

  

Under $50

  

 

  

  

  

  

Many of the sale items come in very limited sizes and colors, but with almost 1000 items reduced, it's time to put down the remote and start thinking inside the Yoox.

Yoox website

RIP Alexander McQueen

Ahhhh.........the sadness. 

British fashion designer Lee McQueen (aka Alexander McQueen) died in London yesterday. He was 40 years old.

His many accomplishments include winning "British Designer of the Year" four times between 1996 and 2003, becoming one of the youngest designers to achieve this honor.

He was head designer at Givenchy from 1996-2001 and had boutiques across Europe and the US. 

Dressing everyone from Bjork, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Madonna, to Kate Moss and Lady Gaga, his influence in the fashion industry is substantial and far reaching.

Reports indicate he committed suicide.
This follows the suicide of his very close friend, writer Isabella Blow in 2007, which haunted him until his death, and the death of his mother Joyce last week.
I hope he is with both of them now, at peace at last.

Winter of my discontent

Snowapolooza,  Snowpocalypse,  Snowtorious B.I.G

You know sometimes the posts just write themselves.
We're entering Day 4 of Snowmageddon 2010, Oy!
Snowblowers everywhere are in overdrive. (Why did Lindsay Lohan just flash through my mind?)
True, I am technically in Chicago and not DC, but the nonstop news coverage and the nonstop snow here has definitely made this the winter of my discontent.
What better way to lift my spirits than writing about all those fabulous all weather boots that are now on clearance?
You don't even need to bother putting down your warm beverage since most of these come with free shipping and delivery.
Next thing you know you'll be stumbling down the snowpiled streets with the chicest winter boots this side of Gstaad.

 

Pajar Bomba in Orange @ Lori's Shoes $109.90

 

The North Face Nuptse knee high boot @ Backcountry.com $118.97

 

Nine West Linnie ankle boot @ Endless.com $79.82

 

Sudini 'Teton' Waterproof Ankle Boot @Zappo's $103.62

Charlotte Ronson Agata Suede boots @ShopBop $72.60

 Emu Australia high hip boot @Endless.com $49.90 

Okay all this shoe browsing has left me in a much better mood, although I could probably still be talked into throwing a snowball at someone. 

Now where's that hot toddy recipe again?

 

 

Emily Post it!

 Evite is so last decade once you check out Paperless Post.

 It's a new website to create custom online invitations and announcements with a large variety of designs, fonts, and envelopes to choose from. Once created, you send them out using online stamps. One stamp equals one invite and you automatically receive 25 stamps for free when you sign up.

  

The finished product is an invite or announcement
that is classic, sophisticated and tasteful, just like you.

Paperless Post on Facebook 

Cheap Trick up your sleeve.

Every holiday season without fail the "must have" toy comes out and certain parents will work themselves into a frenzy to get it for their kids.  And every holiday season I laugh ever so smugly at these parents. How many Christmases does it take before they realize their toddler is way more interested in the box and wrapping paper than the toy itself?

That is why I have no qualms about shopping at the Dollar Store for my girls. When they invariably rip the pages out of their books or yank the heads off their dolls, I feel much better knowing I've only spent a few bucks on them (the toys, not my girls). My only beef with the Dollar Store is that there aren't more things I'm interested in.

Now I'm sure some of you are chirping like birds right now, "Cheap, Cheap" but wait till you check out this website:

The 15 Dollar Store.com

The site has clothes, shoes, accessories, and kids clothes all for, well $15.
Brands include Grass, Linq, Romeo & Juliet, and Sweetees, all lines I carried in my so-trendy- but-now-victim-of-the-recession-boutique.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So maybe these aren't clothes you'll keep for years and years, but this site just might be the trick up your sleeve needed to look oh so glam in a glum economy.

Because I live in Illinois and they still rock.