When In New York City, Shop Here...
Mood:  lazy
Now Playing: Kara New York
Topic: Beauty Thoughts & Reviews

While returning from my trip to the dentist, I happened upon a boutique-sized store with Forever 21 prices. The store is Kara New York and it is located on 1052 6th Avenue between 39th and 40th Streets. It was filled from ceiling to floor with inexpensive accessories and the trendiest clothes of the season. They had everything from polka dotted tops, nautical striped tunics, skinny jeans, hobo faux leather bags, straw totes, and ballet-styled flats in all colors and materials (none with arch support unfortunate for me). The most expensive item there was $29.99. If it was payday and I was ten years younger, I would have spent a could amount of loot there. Actually, I may go back and still spendt a good amount of loot since the accessories topped out at only $7.99.

Kara had a wall filled with $6.99 watches. They had link band, leather band, chainmill, bangle band, and bracelet band watches in gold told and silver tone. I could have bought a costume watch for every day of the week and for every occassion from work to black tie events. Their collection of long, long necklaces were sweet. They had delicate goldtone, faux gemstone, and wooden disc necklaces to name the least. They also featured the accessory trend of the season, lucite. 

What really floored me, however, were the 1980s-esque plastic kitschy earrings. There were dangly star shaped earrings with red polka dot or navy blue polka dots. There were also anchor shaped earrings, big circle earrings decorate with red or blue polka dots, and also big circle earrings with red or blue navy stripes. The nautical theme was very heavy and very alluring to moi since it is one of my favorite fashion themes. Unfortunately, because of my age, it would have looked too costumey. Since I was a teenager when these styles first appeared, I wouldn't have looked retro but outdated. This doesn't mean I won't be back to buy the goldtone chain necklace with the navy blue open-circle pendant. 

Visit this store! You may also go around the corner to Layla Ladieswear at 20 East 40th street between 5th and Madison Avenues.

If the Dress Fits...Buy 3!
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: Woman Within a.k.a. Lane Bryant Catalogs
Topic: Beauty Thoughts & Reviews

As much as I love fancy shoes, pretty frocks, and playful accessories, I don't shop for my clothes that way. Normally, I buy clothes based on the following criteria:

• It's very inexpensive ($50 or less per item);
• It fits (not necessarily flatters);
• and It's machine washable  (no ironing needed).
  

This means that I'm not the most stylish librarian in the stacks. Even worse, I buy my shoes based on the following criteria:

• They're comfy and have arch support (no heels);
• They're a neutral color (meaning black, brown or taupe);
• and they're inexpensive ($75 or less).
  

This also means that my feet are healthy but are horribly dressed. Fortunately, I've found an inexpensive, well-fitting, machine washable and fashionable piece of clothing from an unexpected source: the normally dull and practical plus-sized catalog king Lane Bryant Catalog (not to be associated with the retail chain Lane Bryant). 

I received my order for a matte jersey, mock-wrap, black & white print dress from Lane Bryant Catalog with little hope for fashionability but strict practicality. However, when I opened the package and tried on the dress, I was wonderfully surprised. (I haven't been this wonderfully surprised since I found the plus-size, short inseam, flat front, stretchy dress trouser from Old Navy.) This is the most perfect dress I've ever owned.

 

The deep V-neck can show off clevage if worn with a push up bra or beautiful necklaces if worn with a traditional bra. The three-quarter sleeves can hide flabby upper-arms and allow you to showcase bracelets and gorgeous watches. (Speaking of gorgeous watches, check out Joan Rivers' Fashion Color Bold Watches at QVC's website.) It creates a waist if you lack one and accentuates an hour glass figure. It skims without clinging, and can go from day to evening with the right accessories. Not to mention, you can wear a bold color shoe to punch up the fun factor, and it is easily a three season dress. I'm planning to buy another one in a solid black color.  If you wear a size 14 and up, I recommend that you give this $25 winner a try.

Yes It's Been A Long Time
Mood:  rushed
Now Playing: Shut Up! It's Stacy London
Topic: TV: The Soft Blue Glow

First off, this is my first entry since giving birth to my youngest daughter nearly seven weeks ago. She's a cute, fat faced little peanut and her big sister, the Munchkin, loves her dearly. Well, almost too dearly. She's damn near made herself the second Mommy. On a beauty note, I will say that there is no amount of beauty products one can use to help them feel better after a C-section. Who knew something that would be so small in your arms to hold would cause so much pain coming out of a six inch incision? And any beauty product you use while taking care of a newborn and an energetic two-year-old better be a fast acting multitasker.

Speaking of mulitaskers, did you catch the pilot episode of TLC's Shut Up! It's Stacy London? on Friday, April 6th? The host of the new weekly fashion and style show is TLC's What Not to Wear co-host and fashion critic Stacy London. The show's title comes from London's trademark remark of surprise and glee, Shut up! 

Shut Up... will be a weekly night time talk show feautring shopping trips, interviews with beauty and fashion gurus, giveaways, and makeovers (of course!) airing on TLC beginning in the fall. (Why make us wait for so long?) Stacy's solo gig is terrific--like a fashion and beauty magazine come to life on television. My current goal in life is to be a studio audience member on that show. The gift bags she doled out were insane--make-up, jewels, bags...! Also, she gave certain audience members the jewels right off her body--a jeweled lucite bracelet and a broach. Okay, so they weren't personally hers, but damnit she was wearing them and giving them away.

 

 

Survey Time
Mood:  party time!
Now Playing: Take the Budget Fashionista Quiz
Topic: Beauty Thoughts & Reviews

I just wanted to let you guys know about The Budget Fashionista's Second Annual Shopping Survey, which attempts to gather a non-biased view of the habits, budgets, etc. of shoppers and fashion lovers worldwide.

Survey Link:

http://www.zoomerang.com/recipient/survey-intro.zgi?p=WEB225YQDR4BA9

It's Getting too Hot for Faux Fur
Mood:  caffeinated
Now Playing: Global Warming

What fun is fall and winter fashions if it is always too warm to wear them? (I’m not making this stuff up, read this report: http://www.cnbc.com/id/16224813) Patterned tights, knee-high leather boots, wool-cashmere blend coats, and faux fur mufflers will all be things of the past if we all don’t get on the ball to stop (or slow down considerably) global warming. If this warming trend continues at the rate it is going now, Manhattan (bye-bye Carrie Bradshaw-esque fashionistas), San Francisco (can’t get Bene Tint if Benefit disappears) and parts of Florida will be under water. Washed away. Gone. Never to return. Global warming will do worst than anything al-Qaeda or homegrown terrorists can do.

 
On January 6, 2007, New York City will achieve record temps in the low 70s. Hello? It’s January!!! Where is the cold? The blustery wind? Sleet? Snow? Or even a little black ice? December 2006 was the third warmest December on record ever in New York City. Reportedly, 20 out of the 31 days saw temps in the low- to mid-50s. Partisan politics aside, you can’t tell me that something isn’t terribly wrong. It’s either Global Warming or the biblical End Days. Even if it is the latter, we should still do something to help the environment.

 
Ten Things You Can Do:

1. Write your city, state, and federal representatives and demand that they come up with better (and enforce) laws to protect the environment. Remind the politicians that you are a registered voter.
• Find your state representatives: http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.shtml
• Find your state senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
• (Senator Joe Biden of Delaware is pro-reducing U.S.’s dependency on oil: http://biden.senate.gov/newsroom/details.cfm?id=263981&&)
2. Write big businesses, especially car manufacturers and factories. Tell them to make good faith efforts to reduce air pollution and create environmentally friendly automobiles. Remind them of your consumer demographics and all of your disposable income. Ceres.org can help.) 
3. Use the energy-efficient cycle on your washing machines, clothes dryers, dishwashers, and refrigerators. (If you don’t have these cycles, wash your clothes and dishes in warm to cool waters.) 
4. Lower your thermostat by 5-10 degrees, and then splurge on fancy window coverings to keep the heat in your home. (Improve your entire home’s energy efficiency: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home_improvement.hm_improvement_index)
5. Unplug your chargers and turn off power strips when not in use. Go old school: if you’re not in a room, turn off the light. (Use energy-efficient light-bulbs! FYI: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls)
   
6. Walk, bike or use public transportation to go to work, go shopping or run errands.  If you must drive, use fuel-efficient cars or cars that run on alternative fuel sources. (For a list of alternative fuels, check out: http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/altfuel/altfuels.html)
   
7. Help control the human population. There are now more people than the earth can sustain. Abstain from sex, use birth control, or adopt and love babies and children already here. Control the pet population by having your pets spayed or neutered. http://atlas.aaas.org/index.php?part=1
   
8. Use less water! (For tips on how: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/personal-finance/50-ways-to-save-water-805/index.htm)
9. Join StopGlobalWarming.org and rent the DVD An Inconvenient Truth
   
10. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! (http://www.earth911.org/master.asp)

• Choose recycled products.
• Choose products with recyclable packaging. 
• Reuse paper bags.
• Recycle paper, plastics, and metals.  
• Print and photocopy on both sides of the paper.

THE NFL BE TRIPPING...
Mood:  irritated
Now Playing: NFL Suspension of Hollis Thomas for Steriod Use

Can you believe this? Talk about being overzealous. --Kiki

 

 NEW ORLEANS (Dec. 5, 2006) -- Saints defensive tackle Hollis Thomas was suspended for the final four games of the regular season for violating the league's steroid policy.

Thomas, backed by the team, appealed the suspension, which he said was caused by using asthma medication. He uses an inhaler daily and it apparently contained a banned steroid.

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
Copyright 2006, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved

 

---

Here's my letter to the NFL. Let me suggest you also write them. This is crazyness. --Kiki 

December 6, 2006

Roger Goodell

Commissioner of the NFL

280 Park Ave.
New York, NY 10017

 Dear Mr. Goodell:

 As a football fan and a lifelong asthmatic, I'm a deeply offended by the suspension of New Orleans Saints' tackle Hollis Thomas for steroid use. Any competent doctor will tell you that the best preventative treatment of an asthma attack is the use of oral or inhaled steroids. I trust that the doctors employed by NFL teams are some of the best in the country, and they would not deny this fact.

To suspend Mr. Thomas for perceived illegal or abusive steroid use is to reveal your gross ignorance and horrible lack of flexibility. A steroid used in the treatment of asthma does not give athletes or regular people an unfair advantage. It provides the fairness of being able to breathe normally like everyone else. Other asthmatics, in and out of the NFL, will agree. Please revise your steroid use policy and rescind Mr. Thomas' suspension.

Beauty is Made For Me, Part 1
Mood:  hungry
Now Playing: Making Bed Rest More Bearable with Beauty Products
Topic: Beauty Thoughts & Reviews

Beauty and Hygiene Products That Make

Being Pregnant and on Bed Rest More Bearable

 

As you probably gathered from my last couple of posts, being home preggers and on bed rest is not very much fun especially if you do not have the credit line to indulge the shopping urges that QVC and the Home Shopping Network inspire. Not to mention, pregnancy hormones do things to your body that make PMS feel like a walk along the beach. (The parks in Brooklyn, NY are not that pleasant to walk through, in my opinion.) You get extra hair in all possible places; develop the most delicate of stomachs; and develop a sense of smell that would put a bloodhound to shame. There’s also bouts of oily skin and  back-acne. However, I’ve put together a list of helpful beauty products that have made this wonderful change easier to get through.

The skin on my body from the breasts up have been a mess. I did not have such an acne and oil problem during puberty. Fortunately, I’ve found some great beauty products that have helped  until my hormone fluctuations evened out and my skin started to control my oil production on its own. Everyday, I wash my face and décolleté with Black Opal’s Blemish Control Complexion Bar, which controls oil production and helps fade any of the acne scars you may develop. I then wiped my face, neck, and behind my ears (especially important if you wear glasses!) three times a day with Neutrogena’s Clear Pore Oil Controlling Astringent. If the smell is too strong for you, I also recommend Witch Hazel.

And since I’m on the topic of my face, let me tell you about the excess hair that I’ve been growing out of my chin, jaw line and cheeks. It isn’t the cute soft lady peach fuzz. It’s is dark, thick, coarse hair, and too many to just pluck! When you’re on bed rest, you can’t just waste standing up time by taking 30-45 minutes to pull hair out of your face with your trusty Tweezerman. You have to get hardcore! That’s right, ladies, I’m talking about home waxing. Avon makes a wonderful no-heat waxing products: Avon Skin So Soft Hair Removal Wax Strips . It comes in large strips that you can customize with scissors to fit on your face. The wax job lasts about 10 days to two weeks depending on how fast your hormones pushes out hair. Since your pain threshold will probably be lower than usual, I wouldn’t recommend using this product on your legs, underarms, or on your stomach which will also be struck by an overproduction of hair.

 
I have to ask: how is it biologically possible for me to have a stuffy nose and be able to smell everything at the same time? The further into your pregnancy you go, the higher the likelihood that you will develop a stuffy nose. This will force you to breathe through your mouth, and your lips will suffer the consequences. They will become dry, and crave more moisture than you can consume through just drinking water. Let me suggest a long lasting, moisturizing, and non-goopy lip gloss by Victoria’s Secret. Their Beauty Rush Lip Gloss is wonderful. They come in wonderful scents and flavors. However, if your stomach is too disagreeable to handle the scents, try Rite Aid Honey Pure Spring Lip Gloss. It doesn’t last as long but it is as moisturizing. In a pinch, petroleum jelly will do.

 

---

~~to be continued

Next up: gentle body washes, unscented deordorant, and combating dry skin. 

 

I'm No Queen of Sheba
Mood:  don't ask

Being home on bed rest while pregnant is starting to become a real pain in my ass both literally and figuratively. Not only am I nearly completely sidelined from my life, I’m starting to feel abandoned(well, that's really way too strong of a word) from my friends and family. While I'm stuck in dullsville, everyone is continuing to live their lives. I’m surprised how quickly the weekly phone calls and e-mails have disappeared. I would call them, but they’re all at work during the day. I like to spend time with my hubby and my darling daughter in the evening, before zonking out at 10 p.m. My anti-depressants keep me emotionally balanced and not depressed, but they don't necessarily cancel out any of my feelings of loneliness and helplessness. I try to convince myself that this is a life of luxury, but I think luxury living would allow me to leave my house to shop and go to the movies.

I'm not necessarily bored, because I do have video games, DVDs, daytime television, and gossip radio to keep me occupied and entertained. My favorite part of the day is when the mail comes, and one of my seven magazine subscriptions arrive. Or, when one of the samples I've ordered from www.startsampling.com comes. That's like a surprise birthday present since it usually takes 8-10 weeks to get a sample. Finally, I do spend a small amount of my day rubbing my belly and communicating with my baby telepathically.

I've reintroduced myself to two of my greatest pop culture loves while on bed rest. I have reacquainted myself with British pop music star Robbie Williams www.robbiewilliams.com, whom I discovered in 1999. (Let me recommend my favorite album of his, Sing When You're Winning, and the concert DVD What We Did Last Summer)  Although the crush has softened a bit, I'd still have sex with him (post-pregnancy) in a bathroom stall if he asked me nicely. Secondly, I've been rereading my collection of Peanuts (a.k.a Charlie Brown a.ka. Snoopy) comics and laughing out loud.

Enough of the complaining and self-pitying, it's time for this blogging baby carrier to hit the sack. My lower back is starting to stiffen from all this sitting up at the computer. Ta ta for now, and watch Ugly Betty!

 

 

I've Been Sidelined
Mood:  cool
Now Playing: Pregnancy

I know some of you have been wondering where moi has been for the past two months. I've missed commenting on some of the most important fashion events like the MTV Music Awards, the Emmys, and the beginning of New York City's Fashion Week. Most importantly, I've offered no valuable commentary on the new fall season. Well, I've got a good explanation fans. Kiki's pregnant! Throughout July and August, I suffered terribly with morning sickness and fatigue. I only had enough energy to go to work and then drag myself home to sleep. 

 

Moi has had very difficult pregnancies in the past resulting in no biological children, so my doctor has relegated me to six months of bedrest. This means I have to stay home all the time except to visit my doctor. I have to be in the reclining position for most of the day. Not really a bad deal considering how tired I've been, but this is preventing me from window shopping at mall and creating my new Fall '06 wardrobe. But don't cry for me Argentina! I'll be able to blog more. Yeah for you. Since I can't really leave my house, most of entries will probably be about my pregnancy and gossip I see on E! I could be writing about worst things, right?

 

Speaking of gossip. Have you seen pictures of baby Suri Cruise, yet? Isn't she just adorable with all that black hair and big blue eyes? She does look older than than 4 months old, though, but I halt my conspiracy theories at children. 

 

This DeeJay Might Save Your Life
Mood:  party time!
Now Playing: My Brother Has A Radio Show


Check out my brother, Dj Eastwood, on new his weekly internet radio show spinning discs and vinyl. He will be featuring house, hip-hop, old school, and he hopes to have a segment where he breaks new artists. Check him out every Saturday afternoon from 12-2 p.m. starting on July 1st at Down Shift Radio. His shows will be archived the following Monday on the website. Check him out!

The Devil Wears Club Monaco
Mood:  happy
Now Playing: The Devil Wears Prada
Topic: Movie Reviews
The cinematic version of The Devil Wears Prada was a joy to watch, even from the front row. The theater was filled with couples of all shapes, sizes, races, genders and orientations. Even straight men with their girlfriends laughed at all of the appropriate moments in this so-called "chick flick"-- which doesn't leave the sickly sweet aftertaste of the majority of films that get slapped with that demeaning chick flick moniker. The Devil Wears Prada retains the bitter bite of the movie's "Devil," editrix Miranda Priestly.

Anne Hathaway plays fresh-out-of-college Andrea "Andy" Sachs as the na?ve and idealistic journalist the way you would imagine a Northwestern journalism grad to be. As so sharply pointed out by Stanley Tucci's character, fashion editor Nigel, Andrea feels that working at the fashion magazine Runway is beneath her training and intelligence. She's only there because one year as Miranda Priestly's assistant will guarantee her a spot at any of the more "literary" magazines in New York City.

So desperate for that big break, Andy plays peon to Miranda's #1 assistant and spends every waking moment as Miranda's handmaiden--appeasing her most bizarre whims. She sells her soul to the job, leaving friendships, family, and a very cute boyfriend, played by Entourage's Adrian Grenier, twisting in the wind. Everyone sympathizes with Andy, but don't understand why she continues to allow herself to be abused. Andy knows but is afraid to say it--she wants to be successful. As the movie follows Andy down her career path, we realize that Andy is as fierce and as competitive as Miranda when it comes to her career. Who is the real devil in this movie? Is it Miranda Priestly who knows what she is and plays to win at all costs? Or is it Andy who pretends she has no choice to do what she does to get ahead?

Meryl Streep deserves a Best Supporting Actress nomination as the cold, berating, insulting, patronizing, condescending, back-stabbing, anal retentive editor Miranda Priestly. With her asymmetrical silver-haired bob and air of superiority, anyone within 100 feet of her should be both duly impressed and scared. Even when Streep allows the bitch-editor to reveal her humanity, we never feel sorry for her. Why? Because Miranda doesn't want it and you better not give it.

The Devil Wears Prada is a whirlwind of Manhattan scenery, top shelf wardrobes, pretty men, good music, and stunningly beautiful fashion. Half-way through the movie, my eyes were as wide as Andy's black-rimmed doe ones. My heart was in my throat as they flashed the montage of Paris Fashion Weeks' top runway shows. I was envious. It was at that moment that I understood what fashion is as Miranda sees it. It is a fantasy land to the outsiders, and they long to be in the positions of Miranda and Andy.

I tried to read the novelby Lauren Weisberger in preparation of the film. Reportedly, the book is based on her experiences as Anne Wintour's assistant at Vogue magazine. The book was overwritten, tedious, and exhausting. I lost my patience of wading through for the conclusion at 250 pages with about 100 to go. The movie was significantly retooled, and is a faster and smoother story. The flick was better then the book, so don't read it. See it!

~~~~Trailer Report~~~~

There is a new movie coming out later this year starring Nicolas Cage as a New York City cop on duty the day the terrorists slammed a commercial jet liner into the World Trade Center. It is called, simply enough, World Trade Center. Even though they were using recreated and not actual 9/11 news footage, watching just a few seconds of the destruction and pain that day caused made tears run down my face. I can't say whether or not it is too soon for U.S. audiences to see a film about 9/11 considering Hollywood made World War 2 films during WW2, but I do know it is too soon for New Yorkers to see. (Especially since firemen, EMS workers, policemen, and other rescue workers are still dying from respiratory conditions developed directly as a result of the debris from the WTC.)

There's also a whodunit movie based on the real life death of George Reeves (the the 1950s TV Superman) starring Adrien Brody, Ben Affleck, Diane Lane, and Bob Hoskins. I'm totally excited to see that movie. It is called Hollywoodland

Meeting a Fashion Web Icon
Mood:  vegas lucky
Now Playing: How To Be A Budget Fashionista: The Book Party
Topic: Beauty Thoughts & Reviews
I was fortunate enough to score an invitation the Budget Fashionista's, Kathryn Finney's, exclusive book signing and cocktail reception last night. Can I tell you just how cool it was? I felt like I was swept up into the oft-portrayed-as-glamorous-world of a fashion editor.

The soiree was held at an out of the way bar in Greenwich Village (New York City) called Madame X. It was a dimly lit bar, which boasted excellent $5 drinks and red velvet settees. Be warned though, the door of the woman's body features a larger-than-life painting of a naked and busty voluptuous woman. The art is reminiscent of graffiti artist muse Vaughn Bode. (You have to appreciate the super-curvy female specimen he creates. Not one of his female characters makes you think of skinny as sexy.) The men's bathroom features the naked lower half of man, but not as voluptuously drawn.

Upon entering, I immediately met the Budget Fashionista's hubby, Tobias. He gave me a pink gift bag with faux pearl handles. I nearly giggled, but tried to remain cool. The second person I met was Kathryn--The Budget Fashionista herself. She was tall and curvy and was wearing a wonderful dress. (A Macy's sale peice, she informed me. But of course!) It was a drop-waisted white dress with tropical colors splashed across the front. I wanted to take a picture, but due to a human malfunction the batteries in my digital camera had died.*ack*

I hob-knobbed with four accomplished and professional black women: three book publishers and one PhD scientist. While enjoying jumbo shrimp and crudit?s from platters surrounding us, we talked fashion, science, babies, and scoring deeply discounted clothes. I was feeling severely fashion-impaired for the event since I had just come from job at the library, but the ladies assuaged my fears by complimenting me on my slim-fitting slacks, V-neck blouse, lavender & khaki-colored scarf.

All the women there were fashionable and well-dressed in their own styles, proving that having style doesn't mean emulating what the fashion pundits declare is stylish. There were also an array of well-, and a few outrageously-, dressed gay men who were introduced to people with prefixes such as "Sexy..." and "the Fabulous...." I'm not hating, they were fabulous! I also met a wonderfully effervescent woman who was a personal stylist. Her main clientele are fresh college grads who need help transitioning from the campus lawn to the corporate offices. (My first year after college found me wearing over sized Black Power tee-shirts over leggings to work!)

After my one cocktail, the Indecent Proposal (a combo of champagne, orange juice, and peach schnapps), went to my knees, I bid adieu. I complimented Kathryn effusively on her book, and thanked her for a great time. While on the train, I rummaged clandestinely through my goody bag. There was a handmade necklace from up-and-coming jewelry maker Jessica Hicks, a lariat necklace from Claire's Boutique, CVS' version of the Olay Regenerist night cream (which was true to the TBF's modus operandi), and a $10 gift certificate to Shoebuy.com. This made me squeal like a schoolgirl!!!

On the way to the subway station after leaving Madame X, I stopped by mid-level priced costume jewelry store--several varieties of these shops have been popping up all over Manhattan. The walls are covered from ceiling to floor with earrings of all lengths, colors, tiers, styles, and materials. The least expensive pairs are $5 and there was a buy 2 get 1 free deal for the least expensive ones. The most expensive pair of earrings I saw were $35. There shelves of bracelets, bangles, wristbands, chains, necklaces and pendants in leather, silver, goldtone, silvertone, beads, and plastic. There were also jewels for cell phones, key chains, and zipper pulls. It is the adult version of Claire's Accessories. If you were to spend a $100 in this place at the beginning of the Fall and Spring Fashion seasons, you would be able to update your entire clothing wardrobe with a season's worth of trendy and chic accessories.

The name of the store is Crystal Collection: Fine Jewelry/Silver & Hair Accessories. It has two locations: 177 Bleecker Street, NYC, between Macdougal and Sullivan Streets and at 1370 Palisades Center Dr., West Nyack, NY.

~~~~~~~~

To begin my long 4th of July weekend, I'm going to ride my fashion high straight to the movie theater to see The Devil Wears Prada. I hope to have a review up by July 4th. The critics seem to be enjoyiing it thus far although the fashion press seems to be balking at the clothing used in the movie. I've read a majority of the book, and it is more true to life about the magazine industry than anyone dares to admit. (I know, I used to work in the magazine industry!)

All That and A Bag of Chips
Mood:  bright
Now Playing: How to Be a Budget Fashionista : The Ultimate Guide to Looking Fabulous for Less
Topic: Book Reviews
The Budget Fashionista has released a wonderful style, fashion, and shopping book. Aside from the The Pocket Stylist, Kathryn Finney's debut guide, How to Be a Budget Fashionista:The Ultimate Guide to Looking Fabulous for Less, is the best fashion and shopping book out there. Kathryn takes the wit and humor that made her website famous and turns it into a very helpful book. She takes you through the steps of getting your finances straight to defining your style and where to get the best look for less. Folks, this is the most thorough book you're going to find on how to look great and how to shop. What's best is that it isn't a weight read filled with fashion and style jargon that goes way over the readers' head. It also enlightens the new fashionista to the tricks of the trade in the fashion and retail industry relating to vanity sizes to the true definition of a sale to how to spot a fake designer bag. It also has the quality that makes fashion magazines helpful: quizzes! This quick five minute questionnaires help you to define your style, and they are surprisingly reliable. There also homework assignments that help you with making smart style choices. How to be a Budget Fashionista gives readers lots of opportunities to highlight important facts and make notes inside the margins. Since it is quite a small and lightweight book, you can stuff it into your purse and take it to the mall with you. You will fly through the incredible easy read in about a week, and find yourself going back to it as an important reference. My favorite chapter is the one developing a proper underwear wardrobe. She lists wonderful stores and websites to fill all your underwear needs no matter if you're as flat as a board or your breasts make Pamela Anderson look like a 12-year-old boy. Many of my womankind brethren, especially the older ones, are in a serious need of a bra makeover. Girls, your breasts can be separate from your stomach!!!

I LOVE THIS DAMN WEBSITE
Mood:  chillin'

I Think What I Think
Now Playing: BET's Walk the Faith
On Sunday morning, BET aired a show called Meet the Faith which is a weekly talk show. I watched it because there was going to be a discussion on overweight black women and their positive self-image. The three guests were controversial Thomas Lopez-Pierre, the social director of the Harlem Club, plus-size model Toccara, and author and spiritual adviser Iyanla Vanzant. What could have been a thoughtful conversation turned into a shouting fest where nothing useful or positive or intelligent was said. I like Toccara for being pro-big women, but the girl is about as smart as a bag of rocks. Putting Lopez-Pierre was just an excuse to have a dubious target. (It has been widely documented in the mediathat this upper-class Black man is a chauvinist and believes in a very outdated/colorist notion of Black female beauty.) The conversation then turned to the topic of upper-middle class and upper-class Black women aggressively pursuing men outside of their race, since it is very difficult for them to find a black men who is on the same educational and professional level as them. Even less useful things were said, and basically ended with Iyanla shouting "But what's your of Black?"

Well...Here's my two cents.

1-cent. I have no problems with men or women entering into relationships with people of other races. I don't believe interracial relationships should be pursued out of a need to satisfy a fetish or ; to make "pretty light-skin" babies; to have children with "nice" hair; to leach off the opposite races' supposed advantages; and out off self-racial/ethnic hate.

I believe that each ethnic race or nationality has its own attributes of beauty that can be appreciated from someone outside of that race. Deep down, pheromones recognizes other pheromones. If social, religious, or familial constraints forces a person to stay within their own race, I think that is okay and not necessarily racist. A Catholic who prefers to marry a Catholic is not necessarily anti-Semite. Romantic relationships are tough enough without adding cultural differences to the mix. However, if a couple has the guts for it, then go for it. I'm not hating.

2-cents: Being overweight or fat or chubby or plump or even slightly obese does not necessarily make a person unhealthy, irresponsible, a glutton or unattractive. According to the weight charts, I am obese at 180 lbs on a 5'4" frame but ask my doctor about the results of my last physical.

My sugar-levels are fine; my cholesterol levels are low; my EKG results were excellent; and my blood pressure is in normal range (squarely not barely in normal range). I do have fair to poor lung capacity, but that is only because I am a lifelong asthmatic. My bones or my joints or my muscles don't ache from carrying this weight. Yet, as soon as someone would hear my weight, they would automatically assume that I am unhealthy. Studies have proven that a naturally slender person with a sedentary lifestyle is more unhealthy than an overweight person with an active lifestyle. In the end, weight really doesn't add up to all that much.

There are thousands of reasons that people are overweight that have nothing to do with not pushing themselves from the table. Many women, including myself, have a hormonal condition called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), which causes uncontrollable weight gain. Thyroid problems can also cause people to be overweight. Not having access, due to your neighborhood or salary, to healthy food options, a gym, or affordable health care can all be factors. Suffering from undiagnosed depression or taking certain types of medication for depression or arthritis can also make one overweight. It isn't just about gluttony.

It is true that African-American and Caribbean men find beauty in women who are over a size 14. But as my brother would say: "you can be fat but you can't be sloppy with it." Meaning, you have to take care of yourself from the inside out and not walk around like a self-pitying mess. And as I say, Black women got too much other shit to worry about in this country then to obsess over then their weight.