Loeffler Randall Matilde Boots: Worth The Wait!!

I have been wanting Loeffler Randall's Matilde Boots for forever.  However, the price tag of $695 was a little too steep for me.  So I have been hunting and waiting and hunting and waiting for a pair to go on sale.  I'm not talking about 15% off or even 20% off.  I wanted at least 30% off!  And I wasn't finding it.  These lovelies rarely go on sale and are often sold out.  But I was persistent and would obsessively check the sale sections of numerous shoes sites.

Finally, I hit jackpot on Nordstrom's website while on the train home for Thanksgiving (thank you 3G iPad)!  I found a pair of black Matilde boots in size 6.5 for 40% OFF!!

That meant $414.90 with free shipping.  Being the sale hunter that I am, the question that popped into my head was, "Could I do a little better?"  The answer was, "Yes!!"

Ebates was offering 5% cash back on purchases via Nordstrom.  That translated into an additional $20.75 off which means I was able to get these lovely, city-walking friendly boots for a discounted price of $394.15.  Okay...not the cheapest boots but a great deal for these boots!!

If you're looking for comfy chic boots, these are it!  Now that I have them, my advice is that if you find them on sale for 25% off, grab them.  Lots of promotion codes are floating around so don't stop checking around and don't forget that if you get a nice sales rep, they may price match even if the size or color isn't the same.  And don't forget about Ebates...you may be able to get some cash back.

UPDATE:  CUSP.com is having a 20% off regular priced boots promotion (no code needed).  This boots promotion expires on 12/15/10.  I know I said 25% off, but they are pretty well stocked in sizes and color!  Plus, this sale INCLUDES HUNTER AND UGG!!!

Conair Infiniti Pro - Mighty Hair Dryer For A Tiny Price!!

There are certain things that I am SUPER frugal about and one of those things (for some unknown and illogical) reason is hair dryers.  I find it hard to plunk down $100+ for a hair dryer despite it being a personal appliance that I use EVERY DAY!!  It makes no sense, I know.  The most I think I would spend on a hair dryer is probably $40.

Hair dryers under $40 basically leaves me with the choice of either Conair or Revlon.  I went with Conair's Infiniti Pro because it was purple and boy did I get a huge surprise!

It didn't just cut my hair drying time in half...it now takes only one-third of the time!! This is the BEST hair dryer for the price.  I got it for $24.99 at Ulta.  It was on sale for $29.99 and I then used a $5 off coupon.  It's still on sale at Ulta.com for $29.99 (but only in the orange version) and if you use the code "54609", it's an additional 20% off!

If there's an Ulta store near you, you can use the following coupon: Ulta 20% Off Personal Care Item.

Note:  Both code and coupon expires on 12/4/10.

Benzaclin + Cerave = Cement Mixer

When it comes to benzaclin, I don't play around. I use it every morning. I am not a fan of adult acne.

Recently, I switched from Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer with SPF 15 to Cerave AM with SPF 30. It was not one of my brighter ideas. Something in Cerave AM was reacting with the benzaclin so that not only did it not get absorbed, it got pasty and dry. It reminded me of the cement mixer shot: Bailey's + Lemon Juice + a Swirl In Your Mouth = Curdling. A no-no.

At first I thought maybe it was something in Cerave AM, but then I tried using the regular Cerave cream and I got the same weird reaction. My face was streaked with curdled Cerave/Benzaclin. It's not something you want to deal with the first thing the morning. I've since switched back to Kiehl's.

I am happy to report that Cerave does NOT react with tazorac. Hence my love affair with Cerave PM lotion. However, Cerave PM is not cutting it for winter. I'm currently using the regular Cerave cream as my night cream. I'm hoping they will come out with a Cerave PM cream...

Update On Life...

I've been rather remiss on postings and video reviews lately but I do have a good reason!!  I've been busy moving back to NYC!!  Packing was time consuming enough but the unpacking, finding/purchasing of furniture (not to mention building of furniture), and cleaning has been overwhelming. 

Plus, being the anal person that I am, I want the apartment ready now.  Actually, I wanted the apartment ready the day I moved-in.  Not the most realistic (as Sunshine has been continuously been pointing out), but there you have it.  I tried to get my new 1 bedroom apartment ready in the span of 1 week.  Obviously, that didn't happen.  I'm now shooting for 2 weeks.  The one piece of furniture that I really need (not just want), is my new bed.  And unfortunately, that's not getting delivered until later this coming week.  Sleeping on the sofa was okay for 1 night, but after 1 week, it's getting kinda old.

Out of all of this, I learned one very important lesson: unless you're building a single Billy Bookshelf from Ikea, pay for the Ikea assembly service and get your Ikea furniture built by someone else.  Building Ikea furniture sounds much easier than it actually is.  Being the sale seeker that I am, sometimes you gotta splurge.  It will save you not hours, but days!!  And if you bargain a little, you can knock down the price a little.

And yes...I missing my cable tv and my broadband internet service.  3G is great for your phone and iPad, but exasperatingly slow for you laptop.

Oh and before I forget: when measuring a room for furniture, don't forget to take into account the depth of your baseboard.  It can make or break you room arrangement.  (Yes, I learned it the hard way.  I couldn't fit a bookshelf into a nook thanks to the baseboard.  I was short 3/4".)

Bed, Bath & Beyond: Using the Right 20% Coupon

Ever since Linen-N-Things went out of business (I'm disregarding the "new" LNT website because the prices aren't that great), it's a scramble to get a 20% off coupon from Bed, Bath & Beyond.  LNT used to freely offer 20% off printable coupons that you could bring to BBB.  BBB would honor it without question.  Sigh.  It was an easy life back then.

These days, you have to either wait for a 20% off flyer in the mail or a click-through e-mail for a 20% off printable coupon.  And it's a long wait.  If I find a BBB coupon, it's usually a $5 off $15 coupon, if anything.  So it was a big surprise to me this weekend when I received one 20% off flyer AND one 20% off printable coupon.

Let me say this: 20% off BBB coupons are not created equal. 

There are two fantastic brands that are excluded from the 20% printable coupon but are NOT excluded from the 20% off flyer:

• All-Clad
• Tempur-Pedic

If you're in possession of both coupons and are looking to make an All-Clad or Tempur-Pedic purchase, get 20% off by using the right coupon: the 20% off flyer coupon!!

If I Owned This Sheet Set, I Would Never Leave My Bed...

I was in Home Goods the other day and I found this microplush sheet set:

What a brilliant idea!!  I am a HUGE fan of plushy material.  My collection of plushy items includes a plushy robe, a plushy comforter, a plushy pajamas set and a plushy throw.  I was very tempted to buy this sheet set but I would never leave my bed if I owned it.  So I passed.   :(   It was soooo tempting but I can't live in my bed...can I?

Maybe it could be my weekend sheet set.  Just think: plushy sheet set and breakfast in bed!  That sounds like a winning combo in my book.  :)

Rebecca Minkoff: MAB vs MAB-Mini

Like many of you, I was kinda stumped when it came to sizing for Rebecca Minkoff's Morning After Bag (aka MAB) and Morning After Bag Mini (aka MAB-Mini).  The dimension of the bags are similar...so how does that effect overall size?  I've been to numerous websites and I've yet to see a clear-cut side-by-side size comparison of the MAB and the MAB-Mini.  I've found plenty of pictures of models wearing the bags, but I'm smaller than average (5'3" on a good day!) and most models are taller than average.  How do those model shots help me?  They don't...not really.

I finally got my hands on both the MAB and the MAB-Mini simultaneously (thanks to Stefanibags.com)!  Here are side-by-side pictures of the MAB (on the right) and the MAB-Mini (on the left):

• Front View:

• Top View:

• Side View:

• Me With Both Bags - Front View:

• Me With Both Bags - Side View:

Hope this helped ladies!  IMO, the MAB is a great work-size bag and the MAB-Mini is great weekend-size bag.

Here's my video review of the MAB-Mini: Video Review: Rebecca Minkoff's MAB-Mini

My video review of the MAB is coming soon!!

How I Get My Daily Dose of Multivitamins and Minerals

Getting your daily dose of mutivitamins and minerals is important (per my primary physician).  I've honestly tried the whole horse pill route.  I have a collection of women's multivitamins and minerals bottles from GNC, BJ's, Up&Up (Target), etc.  And each bottle is basically new because I have a problem swallowing such large pills. I even purchased a pill splitter but that gets messy (the pills crumble) and the blades in the pill splitters are not travel friendly (TSA anyone?).

This past Monday, I explained my good intentions to my doctor but all she heard was, "excuses, excuses, excuses."  She told the following:  Flintstones Complete (the chewable multivitamins and minerals tablet for children) works just as well!!  The only caveat: since I'm iron deficient, I have to take additional iron supplements.  This was fine by me because I'm already taking additional iron supplements.

I went to Target and purchased Up&Up's Children's Multivitamin Dietary Supplement (the Target house brand version of Flintstones Complete).  A quick comparison of BJ's Women's Daily Multivitamins and Minerals and Up&Up Children's Multivitamin Dietary Supplement shows that while the vitamin/mineral breakdown is not exactly the same, it is indeed comparable for the most part.  (For those of you who need more calcium, you will need to take a calcium supplement.)

I now take a children's multivitamin dietary supplement tablet and a iron supplement tablet daily.  I'm feeling good about being more pro-active in maintaining my health...and I'm hoping that it translates directly into more energy!

For those of you who are like me and have a hard time swallowing large multivitamins and minerals pills, grab the children's chewable multivitamins tablets!!

Note:  I was tempted to buy the multivitamins gummy bears.  However, after a comparison of the labels, the multivitamins gummy bears fall short on what you need.  Skip it. 

I May Iron Like Crap, But I Steam Like A Pro!

I suck at ironing.  I iron wrinkles in rather than iron them out.  In addition, I have singed not only my clothes but also myself.  What's a gal to do with a closet full of wrinkled clothes?  Buy a garment steamer (on sale, of course).

I was able to snag Conair's Deluxe Compact Fabric Steamer for about $20 (from Kohl's) and I can now steam clothes like a pro!

This garment steamer is indeed compact compared to the "pro" versions that have built-in racks.  In lieu of a built-in rack, the Deluxe Compact Fabric Steamer comes with an over-the-door hook that will hold hangers and the hose head:

The hose wraps around the tank for easy (and compact) storage.  Two attachments are included: crease and lint.  I'm pretty sure that I will never use the former and may occasionally use the latter.

Unless you're going to consistently steam your entire wardrobe, don't shell out the big bucks for a pro version.  This compact version works quite well.  I steamed about 8 items and it took me about less than 15 minutes, probably even less than 10 minutes.  (I will keep you posted as to durability. I'm hoping that this is a quality garment steamer and won't conk out on me after several uses.)

There was a slight learning curve but if you keep the following in mind (aka "my mistakes"), you'll be a steaming like pro as well:

• Steam your clothes from the bottom up.  Heat rises up...and that means steam rises up.  Steaming yourself is not fun.
• Steam goes through fabric.  Hold your item taut from the bottom only.  If you hold it taut in other areas, you may accidently steam yourself.  Again, steaming yourself is not fun.
• It take longer than the stated 5 minutes for the steamer to be ready.  If you're in a rush, forget steaming.
• You clothes may be slightly damp after steaming so let them hang dry for 2-3 mintues.  Again, if you're in a rush, forget steaming.
• Do not put your freshly steamed clothes in a pile...especially if they're still a little damp.  They'll just get wrinkled again.  Make sure you hang them up.  If you have the hangers ready, it'll lessen the urge to pile the clothes up.

Food Therapy: Manzo @ Eataly

I love meat.  I love Italian food.  I had to try Manzo at Eataly, the new Italian supermarket/food court/wine bar/restaurants (and more).  To avoid disappointment, I went in with NO expectations.  As a result, I left with a fantastic experience!!  (Let me just say that (a) it's crazy crowded inside Eataly, (b) it ain't cheap to eat at Eataly and (c) it takes a few trips to get a feel for the layout of the place.) 

Since we didn't have reservations, we had about a 45-minute wait.  What did we do for 45 minutes?  We kept ourselves busy by tasting an antipasto tasting platter and downing some prosecco at the wine bar!!

• We ordered an antipasto platter of cured meats and cheese:

• It also came with honey, figs, and bread (wrapped in brown paper):

• Between the three of us (me, Sunshine and my dad), a bottle of prosecco was the better value than having everyone order by the glass:

We received the "You Table Is Ready"call just as we were finishing up our antipasto platter.  It turns out that we didn't get a table but three seats at the bar. And it was probably better than getting a table!  It's more relaxed and if you want the attention of your waiter, you have it...because he's right in front of you.  Think sushi bar experience (less the sushi) rather than bartender bar experience.

I wanted to order the Beef Tasting Menu (because how could you not want to with that name??), but we were all a bit full from the antipasto, so we ordered a la carte and shared every dish.

• We kicked off the meal with the Carpaccio Of Tenderloin: (Beef carpaccio has always been a favorite of mine.  I didn't really want to share this one...)

• It was then followed by a very addictive Agnolotti Del Plin with brown butter and pargmigiano: (My dad didn't really want to share this one...)

• I really enjoyed the Pappardelle with sausage and radicchio trevisano:  (Sunshine really didn't want to share this one...)

• I ordered the Fried Quail as my entree:  (I'm a huge fan of both fried food and quail, so how could I not??)

• And the boys ordered the Ribeye For Two as their entree:

Yes, I did share my quail...because I really wanted to taste the ribeye.  The ribeye was good but I'm still partial to the Grilled Ribeye For Two at Babbo (my waiter told me that the chef hails from Babbo) because I really appreciate a drizzle of balsamic vinegar over my ribeye.

I will make reservations next time for the Beef Tasting Menu.  This way there won't be a wait and I won't end up filling my tummy with antipasto.

Note: Eataly is located at 200 Fifth Ave (b/w 23rd and 24th St), NY, NY.

Target: Cozy Chic Sweatshirt Cardigans!!

Every time Fall rolls around, I go cashmere nuts and then when Winter hits, my dry cleaning bill skyrockets.  My favorite cashmere items are my cashmere wraps/cardigans.  I live in them.  But I think I found a great dry-cleaning-free alternative today!!  Every so often, I find something in Target that's just perfect.  And Target has hit it out of the ballpark with this Mossimo wrap cardigan in sweatshirt material for only $29.99:

I'm going to get this cardigan in deep purple!  I'd post the deep purple but the shade is all off in my pix, so that's why the heather grey one is being shown.  It runs large so, I'd size down if you're in between sizes.  And since it's made from sweatshirt material, no dry cleaning is needed!  I'm also looking forward to the lack of pilling that inevitably shows up on my beloved cashmere wraps/cardigans.  If this cardigan goes on-sale, I may buy all three colors: black, purple and heather grey!

I also found this Merona shawl-collar cardigan in sweatshirt material for $19.99 that would make a great alternative to your hoodie:

I adore grandpa sweaters/blazers and this totally reminds me of a grandpa blazer.  I know this cardigan doesn't look so fabulous in the pix above but trust me, this cardigan looks way better on the body than on the hanger.  Oh...and I'd pass on this cardigan in the other colors.

My Summer Project: Kitchen Renovation!!

I spent the summer gut-renovating the kitchen and the thing I missed most about not having a functional kitchen?  Ice.  And now (now that winter is here and I have a less pressing need for cold drinks), I will never want for ice again!!  Yes...the kitchen renovation is done!!

The renovation took longer than expected and I went slightly over budget but the resulting kitchen is fabulous!!  I wanted a light, airy, easy-to-maintain kitchen with clean lines and that's what I got!

My 2 favorite things about the new kitchen?  The white marble-like granite countertop and the glass backsplash.  We wanted to use white marble for our countertop but apparently that was a big no-no.  It took many trips to the granite fabricator and then the granite wholesaler, but the perseverance paid off!  We found our white marble-like granite slabs!!  As to the glass backsplash, I always cringe when I think of tiles and grouting and the cleaning involved to keep everything look new.  So I went with full sheets of frosted glass as the kitchen backsplash.  Spray with Windex and wipe...and you're done cleaning!!

Here's the before:  A very old 20+ year old kitchen.

Here's the after:  A new kitchen that's ready to bake cakes, cookies and brownies!!  I will eventually get around to cooking other items...

Food Therapy: Vietnamese Coffee

I like pho and pork chops with broken rice, but what I really like is vietnamese coffee.  It's a thicker, stronger coffee with just the right amount of sweetness (which means it's sweet!).  Vietnamese coffee is what gets me to a pho restauarant, not pho.

You can't replicate v-coffee at home with a regular coffee maker.  In fact, you can't even really replicate v-coffee with a Moka Express (see here for more Moka Espress info: Bialetti's Moka Express).  And I won't even bother trying with a french press.

The correct coffee maker to use for v-coffee is this little handy-dandy gadget that you put over a mug/cup:

Yes...it only makes 1 little cup of coffee at a time.  It's a kind of drip method that thankfully doesn't require paper filters.

You put coarse coffee grind (approximately 2 heapings) into the bottom of the coffee maker and then hot water over the grind.  The coffee then drips into your mug via the bottom/filter.

 
(I'd like to note as this point that this little gadget comes with a lid.  I've lost that lid so I can't show it to you.  Try not to lose the lid.  It's great to use as a "saucer" for the actual coffee maker when you're done with it.  It'll collect any remaining coffee drippings and keep your tabletop clean.)

The special ingredient in v-coffee is sweet condensed milk.  Once you get hooked on sweet condensed milk with your coffee, you can kiss milk and sugar buh-bye.  Thanks to its high viscosity, sweet condensed milk helps the coffee to remain thick rather than watered-down.  I use a small cup when I make v-coffee because...well...you can't really make much with the coffee maker.  I fill about 1/4 of the cup with sweet condensed milk.

V-coffee makes perfect iced-coffee.  Just pour the v-coffee (premixed with sweet condensed milk) over ice and you'll get sweet but strong iced-coffee!!

You can buy the coffee maker at any Asian grocery store.  I recommend using Cafe Du Monde coffee grind.  Enjoy!!

Uniqlo: Cozy In Velvet

Uniqlo is without a doubt a go-to brand for inexpensive chic basics.  Velvet by Graham & Spencer is without a doubt a go-to brand for comfy chic tops and dresses.  Put these two brands together, throw in some cashmere and what do you get? A cozy chic cashmere sweater/cardigan collection that kinda makes me yearn for colder weather.

Given that Vince cashmere sweaters are easily running $300+ these days, this lovely Di Cashmere Off Turtle Sweater in gray seemed like a sweet deal for $129.90:

The sweater is long than it looks...it easily covers the booty. I will be wearing it all winter long with long-sleeved shirts underneath.  Note the generous opening of the neckline.  Not the choking tightness of a turtleneck but not the dramatic looseness of a cowlneck.  It is a a very happy medium indeed.

I was eyeing the Di Cashmere Dolman Sleeve Sweater but I'm a practical girl, so I let that gorgeous sweater stay on the rack.  It looked great when I tried it on but due to the cut of the dolman sleeves, the sweater rode up (way up) when I attempted to put a coat over it. The Di Cashmere Stole Cardigan (cardgian with an open cascading neckline) was only $129.90 and if I didn't have so many similar cardigans already, I'd be snapping one (or two) up.

If you are looking for basic v-neck and crew neck cashmere sweaters, Uniqlo is offering them in various colors for only $79.90.  Basic cashmere cardigans are running $89.90.  If you're build up your cashmere collection or need to replace some articles, Uniqlo is a great place to start!!

The thing about Uniqlo is that if you see a top/dress/swetaer that you like, you have to buy it on the spot because it's a pretty good bet that it won't be there the next time you go.  They're great at stock new items but they don't really re-stock existing items - especially when it comes to pieces from a collaboration.  I made the mistake last year of not buying a sweater that I loved, hoping it would go on sale, and I never saw it again.

Food Therapy: Clinton Street Baking Co. & Restaurant

I take brunching seriously.  It's an excuse to eat whatever you're hankering for (from pancakes to steak) and drink whatever you want (from coffee to bloody mary).  However,  a truly outstanding brunch spot is hard to find.  Mediocre ones are aplenty.

And the brunch at Clinton Street Baking Co. & Restaurant (4 Clinton St, NY, N&) is beyond truly outstanding!  It's one of the few brunch spots where I'm willing to wait 2+ hours for a table.  I know it sounds crazy but if you want truly exceptional blueberry pancakes and huevos rancheros, than that's what you gotta do.

A couple of weekends ago, Sunshine and I sucked it up and waited (and waited and waited) for a table.  It was well worth it!  Here's what we had:

• Huevos Rancheros: We each ordered our own...so as to preserve the relationship.  ;)  The star of this dish is the chorizo - very addictive.

• Blueberry Pancakes: This we shared.  Initially, Sunshine was humoring me with this "side" dish but I'm pretty sure he ended up heating 2/3rds of it.  I'm pretty sure that Clinton St has the BEST blueberry pancakes in the city.  They're kinda crispy around the edge and have an inherent sweetness to them (rather than a flour-y taste).  It goes without saying that they're light and fluffy. The warm maple butter is heavenly.  

Reverse-Reverse: 2 Inhabit Knits For You!

It's rain and cold outside.  All I think about are plushy pajamas and cozy knits.  Thanks to RevolveClothing.com's Reverse-Reverse.com website, I can satisfy my longing for cozy knits!  Here are two super-discounted Inhabit sweaters:

• Cashmere Drape Cardi ($141) in lichen:  I love cardigans like this Drape Cardi because you can throw it with jeans and a tank, and you're out the door in a second.  It's not just an effortless chic look...it really is effortless and chic!

• Chunky Hooded Pullover ($90) in flannel:  Wear a long-sleeve t-shirt underneath this pullover and it becomes an all-winter pullover!

[Images Courtesy of Reverse-Reverse]

Food Therapy: Hill Country Chicken

The other weekend, for Foodette's B-day dinner, a group of us headed on over to Hill Country Chicken.  Given my love for Hill Country's smoked chicken wings, I had high expectations (too high?) for Hill Country Chicken.  I wasn't completey disappointed but I wasn't overly impressed.  The fried chicken was good but not the best.  (My personal favorite is still Rack & Soul near Columbia University at 258 W 109th St.)

The setup at Hill Country Chicken is similar to Hill Country: cafeteria style.  You wait in line to order and pick-up your food.  Then you make a mad dash to find a table (if someone from your group hasn't already "saved" one).

You have a choice between fried chicken with skin (Hill Country Classic) and fried chicken without skin (Mama Els').  As a person who immensely enjoys fried chicken skin, my gut reaction was to order everything with skin.  Foodette convinced both Big Buddha and me that we should also try the fried chicken without skin.  Since it was her B-day, we reluctantly agreed.

To my surprise, Mama Els' fried chicken was good!  The meat was juicy and the coating (albeit skinless) was crispy and tasty.  To my disappointment, Hill Country Classic fried chicken was just okay. The skin was crispy but not as tasty as Mama Els' version and the meat was drier.

I did, however, fully enjoy the blistered corn salad.  We also ordered the cheesy fried mashed potatoes and the creamy coleslaw.  They were good but not great.  I would have appreciated mac-n-cheese as a side order.  I also would have enjoyed sweet tea, like they have at Hill Country!!  Instead, they had mint iced tea.  As a lover of sweet tea, it just wasn't the same.

Hill Country Chicken is a good addition to the neighborhood but if you're craving for really, Really, REALLY great fried chicken, troop it up to Rack & Soul (Note: It's not the hippest/newest/friendliest/well-maintained restaurant, but after one bite of the fried chicken, you're not going to care.  Plus, they have sweet tea!)

Loehmann's: 20% Off Entire Purchase!!

It's been a while since I've been pleasantly surprised by Loehmann's and I'm pleased to say that I was pleasantly surprised today due to the following: Loehmann's 20% Off Entire Purchase Coupon!!

The coupon expires on 10/4/10 (Mon), so use it before you lose it.  ;)

ShopBop: Facing Fall

Thanks to the heat waves last month, I've been in denial about the arrival of Fall.  Now that it's October 1, cool and rainy, I've come to accept that Summer has ended and Fall is here.  I'm looking forward to my cozy sweaters and plushy blankets!  With that in mind, I found these 3 Fall-appropriate items on sale at ShopBop.com:

• Ugg Sweater Knit Scuffette Slippers ($40) in navy (only Size 6  is available):  Comfy slippers for the house/apartment!

• Elizabeth and James Myla Deep V Cardigan ($185.30) in black:  The zipper makes this cardigan perfect for lounging/errands.

• Haute Hippie Dolman Sleeve Cardigan ($137.50) in light heather grey:  Oversized and slouchy-chic, throw this cardigan on over skinny jeans and a tank and you're good to go! 

[Images Courtesy of ShopBop]

Stefanibags.com: Happy 3-Yr Anniverary Sale!!

It's Stefanibags' 3-Yr Anniversary and in celebration, they're offering a One-Day Sale (30% off) on all Kooba, Botkier, Linea Pelle and Treesje bags (good for both regular priced and SALE). Use code "PARTY30" (expires 9/27/10).  Here are three bags to snap up (2 of which are on sale!): (Note: Prices reflect 30% discount.)

• Treesje Crimson ($256.20) in black:  If you need a little more info on this rocker chic cross-body bag, check out my video review of it (Video Review: Treesje's Crimson)!

• Botkier Uma Satchel ($349.30) in black:  A classic Botkier bag at a great price (Video Review: Botkier's Uma Satchel)!

• Linea Pelle Dylan Medium Tote ($301) in black:  Gunmetal hardware...need I say more?

[Images Courtesy of Stefanibags]

White + Warren: Drape Neck Cardigan

I was able to nab this White +Warren cashmere Drape Neck Cardigan for $100 on NeimanMarcus.com:

It was on sale for $150 (and still is), but thanks to a $50 promotional gift card from Neiman Marcus, it brought the price down to $100.  Throw in free shipping, how could I not get it??  My old dry-cleaners had shrunk my previous White + Warren cashmere cardigan, so I'm happy that I finally found a replacement at such a great price!

Note: Even if you didn't receive a $50 promotional gc from Neiman Marcus, $150 for this cardigan is still a great deal!  Use code "NMSEPT" to get free shipping (expires 9/27/10).

Prescription-Strength Hydroquinone: Not Covered By Insurance But Still Cheaper Than Whitening Beauty Products

Last week, I went to a follow-up appointment with my oral surgeon.  I went in knowing that he was going to admonish me for getting a tan on my recent trip to Bermuda.  And yes, he did admonish me.  He re-stressed to me that tanning and scarring don't mix.  Basically, he was thinking, "What the hell was she thinking??"  

I was really good the entire summer.  I avoided tanning and I used sunblock every day.  But when I'm on vacation, I just can't help it.   I like to tan when on vacation.  I still use sunblock but when you're on the beach, you tan.  KWIM?  

So what did this mean for me?  Before I could start my laser resurfacing treatment to correct the scarring below my lower lip, I had to lighten up the scar area.  My doctor prescribed to me prescription-strength hydroquinone (4%) - the generic version.

Much to my surprise, prescription-strength hydroquinone - even the generic version - is usually NOT covered by insurance.  Cash price for generic hydroquinone cream (4%) was $43.  Okay...this is not a huge amount of money, but what the heck am I paying my health insurance company for?  Per the pharmacist, hydroquinone is considered a cosmetic prescription, so most health insurance plans do not cover it.  I argued that I needed it for corrective purposes, not cosmetic but it fell on deaf ears.

I've been using the bleaching cream for a few days now... and not just on the scarring below my lower lip but also on a dark spot on my left leg.  I don't know about the scarring below my lower lip, but the dark spot on my left leg has lightened in a most dramatic manner.

What's the point of this post?  If you're out there buying over-the-counter bleaching products to lighten darks spots, consider going to your dermatologist for prescription-strength hydroquinone. Even at $43, there's a good chance that it's still cheaper than whitening beauty products from a department store.

Food Therapy: Simply Lite's Dark Chocolate Bar

I am an unabashed chocolate lover (addict?) and I LIVE for dark chocolate!  For me, it's all about the taste and not about the sugar, carb or calorie content. This means that if there's a dark chocolate bar in the house, I eat first and ask questions later.

Usually, the chocolate in the house belongs to me but a few weeks ago, I found this dark chocolate bar lying around:

I didn't really look at the label except for the part that reads, "Dark Chocolate" and immediately, I started eating away.  It was actually pretty good and I took a second look at the label.  I was surprised to find that its was low carb, sugar free and gluten free.

Simply Lite's Dark Chocolate bar is sold at Trader Joe's and I'm pretty sure that I've bypassed it many times due to the "Sugar Free" labeling.  (Have I mentioned that I'm a sugar addict too?)  This is a good option if you're trying to be healthy but still need a chocolate fix.

Would I buy this myself?  Maybe...I do feel significantly less guilty when eating a Simply Lite Dark Chocolate bar than when eating a Vosges Dark Chocolate bar.  But it feels a bit too healthy for me.  Dark chocolate should be a luxury and an indulgence.  However, if I find another bar lying around the house, I will most definitely eat it again.

Note:  People have stated that they've had some issues with the maltitol, a sugar substitute, in Simply Lite's Dark Chocolate bar (think Olestra), but I haven't had any problems.  Maybe I have a stomach of steel?

UMIL: Surprise Mold in the Subzero

These past few months, I have been consumed with my kitchen renovation.  We gutted everything and the only appliance we kept was the Subzero refrigerator.  I had meticulously cleaned the Subzero before the kitchen guys set it aside for the summer.  So it was a HUGE UMIL yesterday, when I realized that the interior of the Subzero contained mold upon opening it (the first time since construction began).

Apparently, I had cleaned the Subzero but did not let it completely dry.  The result of this mistake:

Moisture + Summer Heat = Mold.

I spend the better part of yesterday cleaning/sanitizing the Subzero, yet again.  So the next time you clean your refrigerator, make sure it's completely dry before you close the doors and start using it.

BasicBoutique.com: TGIF Sale - 40% Off!!

BasicBoutique.com is offering 40% off today (09/17/10) because it's FRIDAY!!  Use code "FRIDAY40" for the entire site.  So what would I nab for 40% off?  These four September-appropriate items:

• Rachel Pally Oversized Origami Top in ivory ($59.40):  The draping on this top is causal and not overly done.  I'm thinking this is a great fall top to wear to brunch or a casual dinner. Just avoid red wine if you wear this top to dinner!

• Myne Cassidy Dress in grey ($147.60):  Wear this floaty chic dress while you can!  We're still expecting a few 80s days here and there.  And when it cools off, pair this dress with a swingy cardigan/wrap.

• Loeffler Randall Spaghetti Shoulder Blouse in black ($75):  I'm a firm believer that you can never have enough black tops, sweaters, and shirts.  The spaghetti shoulders adds a nice edge to your basic black silk top.

• Line Gaile in taupe ($83.16):  I live for cashmere but cashmere isn't always the best choice (think rainy days, cool-ish but not quite cool/cold days, something to throw on right after the gym...you get my drift).  And how could I not like the pockets??

[Images Courtesy of Basic Boutique]