Feeling Left Out.....by one of my favorites- What happened to J Crew?

My Farewell Toast ......



J Crew, has left me, I have been dumped. I feel lost, lonely and so darn unhappy.

 I can no longer afford any of this stuff. It has been a long time coming, they have been pushing their prices up for a long time but I finally hit rock bottom when the last catalog arrived yesterday. It is time to unsubscribe. I will have to walk by in the mall..I have to...

As all of you know  my love for  J Crew  led to them being one of the first blog posts on this site. I raved about their shoes, the clothes, the style. You know me, I could on for days about how much I love them. But yesterday was the final straw.. my catalog arrived and there it was, a cotton button down shirt for $150.00. There I said it, I cannot afford to buy a button down for $150 bucks. I just cannot justify it.
You know in this economy, luxury has been the one area of the market which has continued to do well and Mr Drexler and his  J Crew team have to go where the money is.  Hey,  I don't blame them, I would do the same thing. Their target market had to change too folks. Michelle Obama loves J Crew, even she seems unreachable to me now.  I thought she was pulling for me when she started wearing their clothes but she has pulled away and left me in the dust. Sorry Michelle, I had to get off of the high speed train.

My co workers and I were lamenting our loss last week and that was even before this catalog arrived. We all agreed that we can only shop in the sale section,  if at all.
As usual I salivated over everything from cover to cover but the button down shirt,  no, " The Perfect Shirt " on Page 098 The Perfect Shirt , hurt, deeply. How could they?

After a car payment, child care fees, food how can I justify a shirt for $150.00 not to mention The Martina Wedge Martina Wedge for $350.00 but wow, are they beautiful or what ?
J Crew had to follow the money, I don't blame them one bit, I wish them every success. It's business folks, Rest Easy J Crew.


Fashionmom

Merry Christmas! My Gift - Acer Tablet....now what about a cover? accessories? ..for a Fashionista well..

Well, after years and months of budget saving ( DH) , and months of  research by (DH) and years and months of listening to hearing me raging against the IPAD users( I am anti Apple, yes it's out now ). After years of listening to my condemnation of the conspicuous consumption of Americans ( a 10 year old with an IPAD, unreal!), this forty something, got an Acer  (Android) tablet http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Computers-Promotions/Acer+Iconia+A500+Tablet+Highlights/pcmcat239100050005.c?id=pcmcat239100050005&ref=30&loc=KW-3738&s_kwcid=TC|8064|%2Bacer%20%2Btablet||S|b|15568168039 for Christmas from DH and DD.
 DH is in the technology world and spent a lot of time doing research and listening to my needs before choosing the Acer. I know that I am using one of the best tablets on the market.
Thank you DH!

I also received a camera which we will be happy to use again. After a year or two of using our phones we finally realized that everyone taking pictures with cameras had an advantage over us, so sorry the pictures just looked a whole lot better! My blog pictures will be better in 2012!

I have to admit that using this tablet, will change my life...less books to recycle.... it was becoming a serious problem and less hard cover books for my library. I can finally read the NY times and WSJ without thinking that I am about to slap the person next to me in the face and arm with my papers.  I can Skype with our friends in Nigeria and my friends and family all over the world. I am looking forward to reading all my magazines and logging notes for my blog on my notepad. It is very convenient for someone who spends 90 percent of their time as a road warrior.

For current users- Let me know style and brand what you have now and why you like it.



But the big question...what type of cover ? and which part of my fashion persona will emerge with this purchase?  Just like DH it will take me some time to decide and choose my cover because this cover will be an ambassador of sorts, it  which will represent me and my "brand"  to colleagues, friends and family. As you know from reading my blog there are two sides to this fashionista, vintage and modern.  I love minimalist clothing but I also love accessories vintage and modern.  I favor vintage and retro prints for accessories, probably an ode to my mother and a rebellion against the strict minimalist tendencies I try to enforce with  my clothing choices,  so this could be a difficult journey for me.  But it is going to be fun I hope!


Here are some first looks let me know what you think.  Stay Tuned!

Vera Bradley

Vera Bradley- I already have a purse so why not... a little too fussy?


Michael Kors

Kors- Monogrammed case- Slick, Minimalist and Shiny!


Le Sport Sac

Le Sport Sac E Sleeve

Guess Sparkler


Guess Case at Macy's



Casemate at Macy's

Case-Mate 2 with Stand



Coach for IPAD

Coach for IPAD



Love it, love it! for all of my ladies who love labels!

Louis Vuitton for IPAD


Kindle Cover from my favorite folks at Franklin Planner

Kindle Cover by M Edge for Franklin Planner


The team at Moleskin makes wonderful notepads and it IPAD cover is exceptional.

Moleskin

I will keep you posted on my search and final pick, please let me know what you like!

I look forward to hearing from all of you!

Fashionmom!

Stampede at my local Target for Missoni. Score one for Target for getting them into the store!

I thought I was early..... I wanted to get a good look at the Missoni Line for Target and post an update on my blog, well.... I was  very late. The clothing racks were cleared out, all of the home items were gone, no bags, no luggage nothing. Women were walking around the store some looking a bit sheepish with shopping carts piled high with anything......I mean everything and anything.
It was shocking to see this much consumption during at such a difficult time in our economy but it also meant that certain segments of the population are not feeling any effects of the recession, it was shocking. Or to be fair,  it could also mean that so many people are out of work that sellign Missoni online to people all over the world is a great prospect.
I got my lip gloss and proceeded to the cash register where I was sandwiched between many women with carpets, rugs, boxes, clothing all Missoni.
The cashier told me that a lot of women told her that they would be selling their goods on EBAY, well there will be lots of choice on EBAY folks and I suspect that there will be lots of returns too, either because of very angry spouses or just plain old reality. It is a jolt though to learn that while some people are working to pay bills and keep their children on the straight and narrow other people out there are just having splurges at Target.
Some reality.

Happy Shopping folks!

Summer Travel and Shop, East Coast Towns! Our Top Picks

Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Newport, Hamptons and Cape Cod.

All of the towns listed above have been beloved summer towns year after year. These stores listed (many housed in pretty white clapboard cottages) make the weekend experience special. They all have that old world general store feel and offer a mix of home, clothing and jewelry. They offer a wonderful respite from the beach on a lazy summer afternoon.

Martha’s Vineyard

Midnight Farm

Department store which sells everything from Diptyque Candles, JR Watkins lotions to bedding and bohemian type clothing for the entire family.

18 Walther-Cromwell Ln, Vineyard Haven

The Great Put On

Sells clothing for the family, shoes, gifts, jewelry and accessories by fantastic indie labels.

1 Dock St, Edgartown MA

Nantucket

Eye of The Needle

Ultimate preppy Basics for men and women, Palm Beach in Nantucket.

14 Federal St

Patina

Beautiful jewelry and vases are shown to perfection amongst stunning accessories and clothing.

23 Centre St

Newport

Mandarine

Jewelry, accessories and clothing and designs from all over the world. Madarine also has a sister boutique on St Barth’s. A must visit.

16 R Bannister’s Wharf

Tastemaker and Cottage Garden

Tastemaker offers exquisite flea market finds while Cottage Garden sells a wide array of plants, containers and pottery for the home.

64 Thames St and 9 Bridge St

Resails

Gorgeous assortment in juicy colors and a side array of styles. A dizzying selection, come with your card you will be leaving with a lot. The company was one of the first to recycle sails, and their creations are one of a kind, chic and the prices are excellent!

400 Thames St

Cape Cod

Design Works

Home goods based on Scandinavian design and exquisite vintage jewelry make this store a must visit.

159 Main St, Yarmouth Port

Midsummer Nights

The store sells everything from bedding, candles and jewelry to clothing with a preppy but ethic vibe.

471 Main St,

Weekend

I love New England stores because they all remind you of a family general store, Weekend has this and more, they sell beautiful clothing, home goods and wares all under one roof. A must visit on your list.

217 Main St, East Orleans.

The Hamptons

Jarlathdan

Sumptuous home goods store with everything from furniture to beautiful accessories, this store is a must visit for furnishing your cottage.

255 Main St, Amagansett

Roberta Freyman

Think exotic, want something exotic for you or your home.. Roberta Freyman, this large store sells her exotic jewelry , clothing and accessories.

66 Newton Ln, East Hampton

Turpan

Turpan inspires you to head to the kitchen while on vacation but you can also pick up designer jewelry and clothing too. One stop for fantastic finds.

55 Main St, East Hampton

Henry Lehr

Where you head to get your jeans fix satisfied or pick up some eclectic finds including cool sweaters and throws for chilly nights in late August.

16 Newton Lane

Tracy Feith

Prints are his signature and you will find plenty of that and some at this boutique located in the Surf Lodge in Montauk. A must visit for both!

183 Edgemere st, Montauk

Off of the coast

Maine

Antiques By Zaar

you can"t go wrong with the personalized service and prices from this store. Owner Ruth Olbrych is one of the nicest people on the planet and helped guide me through my purchase of a Chinese daybed from my initial phone purchase to final delivery to my home in New Jersey. She travels around the world for her finds and you will not get better pieces at a better price anywhere else. Exquisite pieces. Ask for Ruth Olbrych

301 Peacock Hill Rd, New Glouchester. 207-777-3800

http://www.antiquesbyzaar.com/info.php?info_id=41

Happy Shopping!

New "Things to Treasure" Laduree comes to New York, Essence, Town and Country, Real Simple Family and Golf reading for children.

Laduree has arrived!  

Momofuku cookies are divine, Crumbs bakery has scrumptous cupcakes,  but we have to stop for a minute and consider what Laduree will unleash in New York City this fall.

If you have not eaten a macaron before, wait, have one from Laudree on August 22nd and let the obbession begin.

Laduree is a Parisian patisserie founded in 1862  and it is most famous for it's double decker macarons. The bakery is credited with inventing the double decker macarons. There are Laduree shops all over the world in addition to four in Paris, there are bakeries in  London, Milan, and Istanbul among other places but never one in New York City. They will open a store this month, on August 22nd  at 864 Madison Ave, NY ( between 70th and 71st). The location will have two areas one for enjoying macarons on site and the other for orders ( mine included) .

It is said that in the 16th century Catherine de" Medici brought the macaron from Italy to France. Louis Ernest Laduree was a miller, who opened a bakery on the Rue Royale in Paris. In the 1930's his second cousin Pierre Desfontaines, invented the double decker macaron, a flavored ganache between two macaron shells. If you have had a macaron, if not well made, the ganache can be too sweet, too crumbly or too pasty, it has to be just right, the shells and the ganache, Laduree always seems to get it right.

They come in fantastic variations by season Mint and Strawberry, Lily of The Valley, Almond Morello Cherry, Granny Smith Apple and other delicious flavors.

Find yourself at Laduree this month or get on the phone and place your order!

Town and Country and Essence have new editors and this is change I can definitely believe in.

Town and Country's editor is Jay Fielden of Men's Vogue fame, Pamela Fiori left months ago and the void was filled briefly by Stephen Drucker but this is my second Fielden Issue and it is excellent. The articles are insightful and colorful, I read the magazine from cover to cover.  There is some interesting insight from Ashraf Kahlil  about the changes in Cairo, from both a colonial and present day view. There is a profile of the three homes owned by the late reclusive heiress Hugette Clark, a wonderful story about the relationship between a woman and her favorite scents by Gully Wells then last but not least two stories about Ernest Hemingway and his family. The magazine has zoomed to the top of my to read list, the stories have great depth, grab a copy or download it now! The fashion is still there but the magazine now has so much more.

Constance White has had a significant career in fashion from her role as the NY Times Fashion contributor, to EBAY fashion director and now to editor in chief at Essence magazine. Her second issue is stunning, Essence has gone global, the stories, beauty and fashion reads have a global perspective and that is truly refreshing. There is a story about Women from the Diaspora which covers black Brits, another profiles women from countries all over the world and what they are wearing,  and under Work and Wealth excellent tips for Storage Ssolutions at home and do not miss the Reader's Choice awards!  Another one for you to read cover to cover.

Real Simple is one of my favorite magazines, I love the stories about family and cooking among other topics and  now we have the same fantastic formula with Real Simple Family, it is a single issue magazine and you need to grab it before it is gone. They cover great issues from how to tackle homework battles, to fixing boo boos to schedule streamlining. Fall 2011, is on newstands or downloads now.

I was at the PGA Championship today and met wonderful author Susan Greene who was promoting Count on Golf and my daughter loved it for her read before bed tonight and we loved it because it exposed her to something new and she was counting and spelling at the same time with Jimmy the bear, it was fun.

The books are

Count on Golf- counting from 1 to 10 using golf accessories and rhymes .

The ABC's of Golf - Learn the alphabet and the game from A to Z.

Consider it Golf- Rhymes and Etiquette and golf safety.

Opposites with Golf- learn the game using the concepts of opposites.

Junior golf Journal - Track progress and enjoy memories.

Worth every penny!

Enjoy your new treasures and please send us your feedback about those delicious macarons.

FashionMom

Italian Day continues- Missoni for Target- Our Must Have for Fall

Missoni for Target- Our Must Have for Fall

I cannot wait for this collection to hit the stores. My focus will be on the accessories, scarves, and handbags you cannot lose with those. I can finally own something from the venerable fashion house, yeah!

In Stores and online September 13th!

Looking your Best! Take the best Photographs on vacation. Best Photo Sharing Sites.

Here are some great tips for taking the best shots of you and your family while having fun in the sun or snow this year.

We also added some of the best sites to share your photos, enjoy!

1. Food- I would like to take more food photographs for the blog but I am never sure where or what to do. Make sure that your plate has no smudges and take it by a window, food photos are best in soft natural light.

2. Planes- Avoid the glare by turning off the flash and press the camera flush against the window.

3. Landmarks- Keep the landmark or monument to the side of the camera lens, as opposed to the center, for a more artistic look.

4. Sports- Stick to a sport that you know very well, so you know when the next great shot is coming. Use your action button if you have one for the best shots.

5. Self Portrait- Reach out at far as you can so your two faces have a backdrop and always try to shoot from above to avoid double chins.

6. Landscape- Keep the sun behind you and aim to shoot during dawn and dusk the first and last 60 minutes of the day are the best.

7. Group shots- Be sure that random objects like tree branches in the frame do not appear to be growing from the person’s head. If shooting 8 or more stand on a chair.

I have tried a few picture sharing sites and have never returned because there is always something that never works for me. Here are a few of the best for everyone to try.

Flickr- For those who want to be photographers, this is a great site. There is drag and drop organizing and an online photography community. They make first time sharing a breeze. There is 100MB of uploads each month and there is access to user friendly tools for creating calendars and cards.

Transfers photos and videos to your computer and photo sharing sites!

Picasa- For the tech geeks- it is Google’s answer to photo sharing. Your account will hold thousands of photos and offer one click editing tools like red eye reduction and image effects designed to turn gray skies blue or color pictures to black and white. You can map your photos too tell them where you took your pictures and it will display them on a Google earth satellite map.

One of the best cameras on the market, bright 3 inch screen and optical stabilization is just one of the many options from this camera.

Photobucket- for the Facebook addicts. One click of the mouse and you can post images to all of the popular social networking sites. Posts to FB,Blogger. Also has a video sharing capability.

One of the best cameras on the market.

SmugMug- For Semi Pros- for a small yearly fee you have unlimited photo storage, advertising free pages, full screen Flash slideshows and personalized galleries created with themed templates.

This can wrap around anything and keeps your camera steady. Excellent!

Update July 22 nd, 2011 NOW AVAILABLE IN BLACK! J Crew Does it Again- The Spring Must Have ! MacAlister Boots for Women

Major Fashion Fall Alert!  The Mc Alister Boot is now available in Beautiful Black with the tan heel. Please note this color is only available in STORES. Check it out, in stores, it is absolutely gorgeous!

Also available in Brown via the catalog.

I saw it in the catalog a few weeks ago and I felt my pulse race slightly. This is a classic FashionMom item. The heel was not super high and I love wedges, I could wear this with skinny jeans

Image from Style.com

Perfect silhouette for these boots(above)- Francisco Costa for Calvin Klein Fall 2011

 or cargosBanana Repub Cargos, slacks or the new wide leg jeans Wide Leg Jeans  or pants. I can also wear it with a flared skirt, skinny skirt or shorts with tights.

This is an everything shoe. And, it was available in gray,  a color which would match with my black and navy clothes. Gray...I dreamed about these shoes for a few days but it was back to reality. They are $198.00, that was not in my budget, family and food first.

Then, I visited the local mall a few days ago and stopped in the J Crew store and I saw them, in the color of the moment, nude. They were divine, creamy, tan heel, beautiful. And they were causing a fuss in the store. I knew it, they were hot! A young lady came into the store went straight for them and asked for her size. She tried them on and within five minutes was at the register. Done!

The desert boot especially in nude is the super trend right now, any mall, any men's store window, the mannequins are wearing some type of desert boot, Clarks, MacAlister type boot in almost every window. The men's version of course is flat.

Where was FashionMom? Well, I could not resist it, I asked if I could try them on, here we go, pulse is racing again,  the seduction is on, the fix is in, salespeople are hovering giving advice. The shoes came out, he told me to sit in the comfortable chair. I put them on, I have fine ankles so these types of shoes are not always a good style for me, but these were perfect. They molded to my ankles, they fit like a glove and they were  in a word, beautiful.

I tried to find a reason not to buy them, other than the price, I found the perfect excuse! They did not have it in gray in the store and I realized that this nude color was going to be on the feet of many women, I knew that gray would set me apart.

Link to J Crew MacAlister Boot

The manager would not be detered by my whining about lack of gray,  he rushes to the red phone and calls, returns to tell me that they have it in my size and that it can be shipped to me no shipping charges.

I knew I had to leave, I know that all of you have been in this situation before, the high pressure was on and I could not afford it. I could whip out the plastic and it would all be over. Oh no, that would not be good folks! Control, calm down, control....

I told him I needed to go home and look at the gray on line since he had confessed that he liked the tan better than gray. He pushed a bit more, but you can return it he said, I pushed back I need to see them and with that I walked out and escaped.

That was close, I came home looked at them again and looked at the price.

Valentine's Day just went by, my birthday is in September, Mother's Day they will be sold out.

There is always E Bay, but ladies this is the shoe to have, it is simply georgeous. If you can afford it, get it today, it will be gone very soon!!


Just a bit of History......

This type of crepe soled desert similar to a  Chukka boot was made famous by British officiers in World War 2. Chukka boots were worn by British officiers during the Western Desert Campaign. They were popular in the late 1940's and 1950's as casual wear. They were usually made in calfskin or suede.

Desert Boots are different they are looser at the ankle than Chukka's and have a crepe sole.

Clarks http://www.clarks.com/ are the most famous makers of the classic desert boot. They made the boots for the British Infantry in Egypt during the second world war.

The soldiers needed a boot that kept their feet cool while traipsing through the hot desert sand. They also needed a boot that was lightweight and able to hold up on the brutal sandy terrain. They enlisted the help of merchants from the Bazaar in Cairo to create a boot that met those needs. The Desert Boots were made to resemble these boots and the design has remained untouched since then.

They are truly timeless classics now interpeted by J Crew for women.

Love the concept and the boot.

Enjoy!

The Ulitmate Tote Bag! My search for the perfect one or two.....

"The Bag is central to every Parisian's style." It can make life easier (with special pockets for your phone of lipstick, a spring clip for your keys, an integrated flashlight) or make life hell (a big bucket bag into which everything is thrown together), and in which even a cat would have a hard time finding her kittens" Choosing the right model is all important. The Parisian chooses her bags on impulse, and not because she has been told what to carry around this season. She is not interested in the latest IT bag, but very keen to find the iconic bag for her"
Ines De La Fressange, Parisian Chic, a Style Guide.

I have been trying to find MY Iconic bag for the last few months since moving into our new home. Due to closet constraints (I do not mind it means I will buy less.....)  My bags have found themselves trapped in the attic in lovely plastic containers some of which may never see daylight again. The daily grind of changing bags has become tiresome.  I have to admit to being a bag hoarder , I part with one or two bags every year but I always hold on to one or two for nostalgia. My Pan AM and British Airways flight bags from EBAY really need to be on my vintage site and not in the attic, but I think I would love to have them on hand for some travel nostalgia someday soon....not soon enough. My Gwen Stefani Animal print bags I will pass on to my daughter since they are now worth a fortune on EBAY. The Vintage Hermes Constance will remain in tissue for my daughter because it is just too precious to part with and that was from Goodwill years ago. In addition, I need a bag which can handle constant plane and car travel for my job.


I would like an everyday bag and I need to contribute my unused bags to the Dress for Success organization, it would be an excellent way to help women going back to work. http://www.dressforsuccess.org/home.aspx
My final choice should be able to accommodate a laptop if needed, a big folder with all of my job information, my makeup bag, planner, phone, purse, sunglasses,  keys, wipes and must have at least one book, Leapster and some crossword puzzles. With that I will also need a cross body bag no?  Yes, just in case.


My search began in earnest after reading two really great books


Parisian Chic by Ines de la Fressange










































I Love your Style by Amanda Brooks






























Ms. Brook's book is divided by style type (Classic, Minimalist, High Fashion etc.) and under the classic chapter she writes


"Some people are really into collecting handbags these days. I am personally not so into it. It's ridiculously expensive and a great way to ensure that you never know where your wallet, keys, and phone are hiding. Trust me. If you are a classic dresser, or like the simplicity of a consistently carrying one bag like I do, a Black or Brown Handbag is all you really need. Choose carefully and spend as much as you can- or even a little more1 Avoid excessive hardware; you'll get sick of it over time, and it will often interfere with your jewelry or your outfit. If you usually wear gold jewelry, buy a bag with gold hardware and vice versa if you're a silver/platinum jewelry wearer. That might be the matchy-matchy side of me speaking, but I suspect that most of you classic dressers are pretty matchy-matchy too. "
"Amanda Brooks, I Love Your Style"


That cemented it for me; I already knew I was a classic/minimalist dresser with a touch of eclectic because of my accessories. That meant a bag in brown or black with absolutely no hardware, my accessories will do the talking, not my bag.


Color


I decided that black would be my color, brown would not match with a lot of my black heavy wardrobe, I like to keep all of the colors the same. Navy will come later, I love navy.


Hardware?
Hardware not gold, too glitzy that meant no Juicy Couture handbags or sorry Gwen no Lamb Handbags. Silver or platinum hardware it would have to be or just plain, black and please no logos, so no Coach, No Dooney and Burke, No B Murkowski!
This is getting easier......


Style /Shape


In her book Ines de La Fressange picked five shapes The Big Tote Bag, the Clutch (not good for every day), the Satchel (not big enough but that is always on my list), The Ladies handbag (not good for everyday) and the Straw bag (more casual). Straw bags have had a huge comeback this year, buy one at the end of the season for next year and you will be ahead of the trend for spring 2012.
For the Big Tote she says quote" A faithful friend for every day, you can slip your clutch inside, handy if you are going out after work and cannot go home first. Take out our clutch and leave your tote bag at the office."


Ms. Brooks chose the Slouchy Bag and the Crafty bags for her Bohemian girls, a Classic shape for her minimalists in black, brown, gray or tan or even lizard but always little or no hardware, perfect!


Based on my needs, a Tote would be the best choice, not a slouchy tote, something that is firm, sturdy and roomy, the straps would be the perfect length, and it can work over my shoulder or in my hands. It would be roomy enough to fit all of my goods and maybe if it has a zipper that would be nice too. They should all have pockets inside front and back with zippers. I do not want a divided Tote which tends to reduce space and restrict access to items.  A Hobo is my least favorite, everything swims at the bottom of a Hobo bag, and it drives me crazy.
Now for the search...


There are lots of choices out there in all price ranges of course, but the best investment totes for a working woman are in the mid $150 to $250 price range, so I zeroed in on a few brands which made which made it to the top of my list from my first time perusal of stores (Nordstrom, Macy's, Bloomingdales and on line).


Kate Spade- classy hardware but still too much.
Kate Spade Bon Shopper

Kate Spade Vanston Jackson



Loved these two bags but I wanted a bag with the same color strap and something without so much hardware. The prices are out of my price range.


Ralph Lauren- love the matte color, minimal hardware and the hidden logo make this a winner (straps are the right length for shoulder or hand).
RL Nylon Tote

RL Leather Tote



The leather bag is divine.


Le Sport Sac- The shiny black texture provides a nice contrast for minimalists. 
Downtown Tote Le Sport Sac

I like Le Sport Sac bags because of they are made from parachute fabric which will never tear and they are super light! You cannot find better travel bags and luggage anywhere. The shiny black is a great option for a minimalist girl who wants to add some punch to her all black daily wear. I really like this bag.


Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Medium Tote

Love the non-hardware look of this bag, this is a close runner up and there are lots of little nooks in and around the bag. Also check out the diaper bag in this style, it is awesome.




Michael Kors - too much hardware for me, but great handbags!
Python Black Kors

Kors Option 2

MK Leather Tote (too slim for me)

Back To School Bag- My pick, the most practical and reminds of Prada!

Mr. Kors does many variations of totes, some are the collapsible type which would result in all of your belongings swimming at the bottom of the bag, however he has a fantastic range of upright Saturday totes in a variety of fabrics and colors. You will have to decide if you are a silver or gold girl, there is a lot of hardware, lots of bells and whistles.


Tory Burch 

Tory Burch Nylon Tote- Love this Bag too!!



Talbots
Talbots Tote
Love this bag for the size and shape but the strap needs to be a little longer.

so my final picks..

Drumroll Please...

My overall pick is the Black Newbury Tote from RL, for its versatility and classic shape along with the lack of loud branding and hardware.
My second pick is the Le Sport Sac Tote because of the shiny texture which adds a stylish touch to a bag that is otherwise plain and practical.


What is your favorite tote ? Brand?


Please let us know...


Happy Shopping!

CamBria Cove- The Farewell Sale

One of our favorite sites is saying goodbye. The wonderful Cambria Cove which sold wonderful gift items and quirky pieces is closing it's web doors on July 31st.


http://www.cambriacove.com/

We will miss them and we hope that they return one day soon!!




Wine Aerator.







Best Wishes to the Cambria Cove Team!

Father's Day Gift Suggestions

 

There are many new and exciting gift products on the market for Father's Day this year and  I thought the special men in our lives deserved a special post this week.
Let's skip the ties and socks, here are a few gift suggestions and I hope that Dad loves them!


Living Social Deals http://livingsocial.com/deals/7234-nascar-package-77 (now over)   - Groupon and Living Social have some of the best deals and some of my favorites include the Nascar  Racing Experience at a 50% off savings or the Atlanta skydiving experience. http://livingsocial.com/deals/28607-tandem-skydive. Keep an eye out for deals this week something special may pop up!



The Gingham Check Shirt- Summer classic with khakis and leather flip flops or Sperrys, very cool!

Thomas Pink Check
RL Custom Fit Harbor Gingham
J Crew Washed Summer Gingham
Gap Gingham - On sale $37.98!


The Camo Pant/Shorts - Camouflage has had a resurgence in the men's world again, every brand out there has done at least one interpretation of the classic print.  Macy's offers a great assortment across all of their brands. They have different prints and different colors from a wide range of designers including Tommy Hilfiger, Roca Wear, Sean Jean and Polo.
http://www.macys.com/
Levi's Camo at Macy's



EyeBobs- Some of the best looking, coolest reading glasses on the market  at a phenomenal price. Style, style and style.




















http://www.eyebobs.com/why-eyebobs.aspx

The Beckel Canvas Bag or Tent! The Necessary Bag Beckel Products

For our dads who love travel, camping and fishing,  Beckel Canvas Products from Portland Oregon sell the best US made tents, bags, packing equipment.  Dad will love the canvas briefcase, or the Necessary Bag( love the names). My favorite is the Olive Drab War Bag. Do not be shy while browsing all of these products are also for us and the entire family, I love the bags which are super sturdy, hold a ton, travel bags at their best!



Garmin Sports Watch with GPS - You cannot lose with this gift, stylish and a time saver for you and the entire family! ha!























IPAD Joystick
Dads like to have a little downtime and even on the road while travelling this could be lots of fun for him.
The IPad joystick along with thousands of games. Perfect!
IPAD Joystick



The J Crew McAllister Boot
A few months ago I profiled the women's version modeled after the original, classic and suitable for men of all ages. Never goes out of style
Presenting the McAllister Boot from J Crew.  See the leather version, very nice!
The Best Boot from J Crew.




Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix

Snow Phoenix is a limited edition( 12,000 bottles) scotch made in sherry, bourbon and whiskey casks aged for 13 to 30 years. The result is an excellent very smooth scotch.
http://shop.glenfiddich.com/shop/index.html

Motorized Grill Brush
Give him a break with the motorized grilling brush, which contains a steam cleaner to soften the grime while the brush takes it away.
Motorized Steam and Brush cleaner




Formula One Experience- My favorite gift  http://www.formula1.com/tickets_and_travel/ because I would buy tickets for the entire family.
The History, the glamour, Fangio, Senna, Mansell, Schumacher, Hamilton the wonderful and  most racing exciting sport in the world at some of the most glamorous locales in the world. Buy him a ticket to Monaco, Montreal, Brazil, Turkey or
India. Wherever he goes it will be an unforgettable experience!!





















or get him the Playstation 3!




















See the best- Golf

For the golfing dad a trip to a major USGA or PGA championship would be the ultimate experience.
go to http://www.pga.com/home or http://www.usga.org/default.aspx  for information and tickets about the best about the tour.

Happy Shopping!!!


Happy Father's Day to all Dads!

Improvement in one week- Lancome's Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate.

Anyone who works in the retail industry often suffers from overexposure to beauty products, treatments, apparel, perfumes among other things. You can become jaded after a while, everything seems the same, they all do the same thing... that was before I tried Genifique by Lancome Concentre Activateur De Jeunesse, Youth Activating Concentrate.
Lancome Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate 1 oz / 30 ml
Genifique promises to improve the look and feel of aging skin, very quickly and I have to tell you it was fast.
The official company description ... Genifique is a serum which is infused with a hydrating cream. They promise that" it boosts the activity of genes and stimulates the production of youth proteins"
I used it for the first time a year ago but I my skin felt and appeared dry and even slightly itchy, so I packed away my almost full bottle. I decided to try it again last month when a  Lancome beauty advisor told me to ensure that I used it under a moisturizer. She told me it was one of their best selling products and that I would really see results in one week. I pulled my bottle out of storage. Every morning I put it on before my Dr Pat Wexler Moisturizer and at night I put it on before my Ponds or Yes to Carrots night cream.
After one week, my skin appeared clear, smooth, almost flawless and my makeup glides on my skin.  I am not looking for my lines to disappear, anything outside of plastic surgery or Botox is hard pressed to do that but this concentrate does smooth your skin and really gives it a wonderful glow.  I have not had any flare ups or dry skin, no problems.
I may have to count my pennies but I will be buying a second bottle of Genifique as soon as this one runs out, I don't want to let this one go!

Try it today  see the online link below or try any fine stockists anywhere. You will not regret it!

I also added a few of my other favorite products from Lancome, the Oscillation vibrating primer and Mascara at phenomenal.

Happy Shopping!































































The best Primer on the market, no clumping.























Layer on over the primer for the longest lashes without falsies.


Happy Shopping!

Protect Me Please! Sunblocks for Kiddies!

.It is that time of year again, my daughter's school sent the sun protection notice last week, they will be tracking the heat index daily and  they requested that  parents apply sunscreen every day at home as a precaution, they will reapply during the day but they wanted the children to arrive at school sun ready.

I chose a spray from Aveeno, I like sprays but I am not sure the coverage is even.
Then, I saw these some great sunscreen suggestions in cream formulations in Lucky Kids Magazine and here are their suggestions for you. They promise that these creams are super absorbing, that is very important, no white residue please!


Here they are...

Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Sunblock



Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Sunblock Lotion, SPF 60, 3 Ounces (Pack of 3)

JR Watkins Natural Apothecary SPF 30 Sunscreen






Aveeno Baby Natural Protection Mineral Block SPF 30 Sunblock






Aveeno Sun Natural Protection Baby SPF 50 Stick, 0.5Ounce

Sunbow Dora The Explorer Sunscreen SPF 30





Yes to Carrots Hydrating Body Lotion with SPF 30




Yes To SPF30 Body Lotion - 4.2 oz.


Please remember to reapply all day!

The Perfect Gingham Check Shirt, Land's End Canvas vs JCrew

Land's End shirt


I love J Crew, we all know that,  everyone loves J Crew, but it takes me a long time to save to buy something from them. I stopped being a regular J Crew customer a long time ago, the prices are too high for my budget,  but I still love everything they do...until now. This spring button down shirts in wonderful prints and gingham checks  are the  "It' items of the moment for women everywhere. Pass on the basic tee this year and snag a button down and a lively color and change your look. It looks fresh, new and peps up your look !
You can choose your price range, I know my price range,  J Crew is $72.00 JCrew Gingham   and Land's End Canvas......$44.50 Lands End shirt
They look the same, they both have a bit of stretch and they are both available in almost the same colors, actually Land"s Ends has sold out of their brights, more are coming I hope!
Why would I pay $72.00 vs $44.50?
 I will be the only one who knows I am wearing Land's End over J Crew because they also fit almost the same.

A bit of history,  Land's End Canvas is the trendy sister of Land's End the venerable company founded in 1963 in Chicago.  The look is very J Crew or to be more precise,  J Crew is very Land's End this year.
I think that it is ridiculous to pay 30 plus more dollars for a shirt that looks the same and fits quite well by both companies.
J Crew has some lovely Neon colors J Crew neon check    but not to be outdone Land's End has some great colors too, I love the Willow Green Check Willow Green Check

J Crew Shirt.

There is a wonderful shirt made by J Crew that comes in some fantastic prints,  the "Perfect Shirt"in Casbah Paisley( see below) but I really cannot afford it at the $88.00 price tag, yes $88.00. It may be a one of a kind print and I am one of those who will think of that in order to justify paying $88.00 for a cotton shirt. It is a classic print, another reason to justify paying $88.00 but then I go back to Land's End Canvas and I can buy two of those wonderful plaids for the price of one shirt!

The Perfect Shirt, love this but I wish..it was just a tad cheaper. ....

Land's End Shirt just $24.99

The perfect shirt in solid from J Crew.

Find a wonderful Land's End Canvas shop at your local Sears

link Canvas Locators( they are not many but you must visit one) and J Crew shops are located in select malls http://www.jcrew.com/footer/StoreLocator.jsp. I suggest you try them on to ensure the right fit, I went up a size in the Land's End shirt but the size was the same in the J Crew.

Happy Shopping All!