Thursday, November 6, 2008

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I'm sadly a pretty devout Gossip Girl fan, so I couldn't help but see the infinite number of commercials for Stylista on the CW. I vowed that I would not submit myself to watching the teenbopper show that seems to make a joke of the skill involved to working in the fashion magazine industry. But, low and behold Wednesday night rolled around and I was craving mindless television so I gave in.

The show follows eleven aspiring fashion enthusiasts who vie for a much-coveted editorial job with Elle magazine. They work as assistants to Elle's Fashion News Director, Anne Slowey (think Heidi Klum) and each week one aspiring fashionista gets the boot and most likely balls her eyes out. It's like Project Runway and Real World reality drama dumbed down for high school girls.

Last night, they had to plan a 10th birthday party at FAO Schwartz and then create a Mother/Daughter trend page spread. Even if the contestants on the show drive you crazy, they do have some cute challenges and it's fun to see the drama queens suffer through fashion slave labor in NYC.


Wednesday, November 5, 2008

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What a proud day to be a citizen of the United States.

I'll keep it simple today; Congratulations Obama!




Show your support and buy this print as a T-Shirt on www.etsy.com by the seller "OutsideOfTheBox".

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

So I was going to blog today about something voting related (ohh such long lines, what a good American citizen you are, etc.) but then I realized that I should be writing with the assumption that you're better than that. Of course you voted! I'll save the political blogging for when we have a new President chosen tomorrow!

So while everyone is in their "I can change the world" mentality, I have the easiest way ever to support non-profits, and all you have to do is search the internet!

Think of how many times a day you Google something and think of how much money Google already has. Now, think if you could give to charity just by changing the search engine you use.

With each search you launch on GoodSearch.com, about 1 cent goes to the charity or school of your choice. You simply select an organization from a database of thousands or add your own. Set it as your homepage to replace Google and let the do-gooding begin.

GoodSearch also has a spin-off online shopping mall, GoodShop.com that donates a percentage of each sale to the charity of your choice. Participating retailers include Apple & ITunes, Banana Republic, Bloomingdale's, Ebay, Gap, Nordstrom, Old Navy, Sephora and Target (and that's just a few!)

Not sure which charity to choose from the thousands? Here are a few of my favorites:

Crittenton Women's Union (transforms the course of low-income women's lives in the Boston area so that they can attain economic independence and create better futures for themselves and their families)

Operation Prom (helps low-income students attend their proms by providing free prom dresses and tuxedo rentals)

Teddy Bears for Hope (provides new teddy bears to children around the world whose lives have been ravaged by tragedy)

Big Sister Association of Greater Boston (helps girls realize their full potential by providing them with positive mentoring relationships with women)

Everybody Wins - Metro Boston (increases children’s opportunities for success in school and in life through one-to-one reading experiences with caring adults)

So good work for voting but c'mon, everyone voted! Go a little further to do good.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Sephora Steal

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Browsing in Sephora is like being a kid in a candy shop. I never know quite where to begin. Every few months I avoid a trip to the Pru and order my "signature scent" online, complete with 3 free samples, free shipping and free gift wrap (steal!). I avoid wasting an afternoon shopping as well as spending a significant portion of my paycheck on completely unnecessary products.

I always wish I could venture away from my normal scent, Stella McCartney Stella. I try, but the oodles of bottles are so overwhelming and eventually all of the scents I try just end up blending to one weird flowery musty smell on my wrist.

Sephora's currently offering a set for choosy girls that are looking to invest in a new perfume, or just for those who want to pick up some freebie travel samples and try new scents.

The Scent Sampler Best Sellers for her includes ten samples of Sephora's top-selling women's fragrances for $50. The catch is that the set also comes with a gift voucher for $50 that can be redeemed at any Sephora store for a full-size bottle of any one of the samples included. So you can sample them all and then choose your favorite. I'm thinking it's perfect to give leau of a gift certificate for the holidays and much safer that picking out a full bottle for someone else.

The samples include: Aquolina Pink Sugar, Bulgari Omnia Crystalline, Calvin Klein Euphoria, Givenchy Very Irresistible Givenchy Sensual, Gwen Stefani LL.A.M.B., Lavanila Vanilla Grapefruit, Marc Jacobs Daisy, Philosophy Amazing Grace, Stella McCartney Stella, and Vera Wang Princess.

I'm thinking the Stella is going to be the first sample to go, but who knows-maybe this choosy girl will end up making a switch (sans a smelly wrist)!