Stefanibags.com: Katherine Kwei's Amber Switch Bag

Wanting another cross-body bag, I decided to peruse Stefanibags.com after hearing about their weekend sale:  take 25% off site wide (with a few exclusions) with code "SHOP25".  I wanted something with a downtown vibe but I didn't want to go crazy with the hardware.  So I was happy to come across Katherine Kwei's Amber Switch Bag.  With it's Chinese eternity knot weaving, this bag is edgy and delightfully distinctive!

This bag has 3 different "faces": black weaving, silver/black weaving and black lambskin.  The "knotting" is at the bottom of the bag.  I like having the option of using this bag as a large clutch as well.

[Images Courtesy of Stefanibags.com]

The only unfortunate fact is that the Amber Knot is a pre-order and thus excluded from this weekend sale. However, the 15% pre-order discount (code "FORWARD15") is whispering my name lovingly. As Sunshine likes to point out, I'm great at convincing myself that I don't just like or want something, but that I need it! (I have no idea what he's talking about, do you?) So who knows? I may end up needing it!

Update (06/01/10):  I wanted to know how the 3 different faces worked, so Katherine Kwei was nice enough to lend me the Amber Switch for review and here it is: Video Review: Katherine Kwei's Amber Switch!!!  The bag's ability to "switch" is ridiculously cool!!

Loehmann's: Linea Pelle Bags

Linea Pelle bags have hit Loehmann's!   I found a wall full of LP bags:

The prices were impressively low and with this week's additional 20% off for Insider Club Gold/Diamond members (for more info, see this post: Loehmann's: Stepping It Up With The Discount!), it's a great deal!  Here are my LP bag picks:

• Hobo bag ($169.99) in dark brown:

• Satchel ($149.99) in coral:

• Clutch with wrist strap ($89.99) in light brown:

Nordstrom Rack at Union Square: Signage Is Up!

I like to check up on the construction progress of Nordstrom Rack at Union Square from time to time.  I was very excited to see that the Nordstrom Rack signage was up!   Just one more month...

I hope that they meet the target opening date of 5/11/10!

Food Therapy: Calexico Food Cart

I finally decided to try the Calexico Food Cart (located on the corner of Crosby St and Broome St).   Yes, it's parked right in front of a wonderful parking garage.  I waited 30 minutes but IT WAS WORTH IT!

I ordered the carne asada taco.  I should have ordered TWO!!  The steak was seared a perfect medium rare, and the corn tortilla, salsa and guacamole were fresh and tasty.  No muddled flavors here.  I am so going back...soon!

Here are the prices:

• Carne Asada (steak):  $8 Burrito, $7 Quesadilla, $4 Taco
• Pollo Asada (chicken):  $7 Burrito, $6 Quesadilla, $3 Taco
• Black Beans: $6 Burrito, $6 Quesadilla, $3 Taco
• Sides are $2:  Chips, Guacamole, Beans, Rice

Japan Size = We're Tiny and You're Not

This "Japan Size" tag brings me back to not-so-fond memories of my attempt to shop in Tokyo's Ginza department stores last year:

Japanese women are tiny.  I'm small but not tiny.  So I was completely taken aback to find that the department stores carried, for the most part, ONE size for their clothing.  The one size was somewhere between XS and S.  This meant that most things fit, but not in the best way.  And the things that did fit weren't the things that I wanted.  Trying to shop in Tokyo department stores was an exercise of futility for me.  Godzilla, I feel your pain and frustration... 

My Horoscope For April Via A Facebook App...

The timing for my horoscope for April via a Facebook app couldn't have been better or more appropriate after my Fishs Eddy post:

"Handling any kind of kitchen knives, sharp objects or weaponry is particularly discouraged this month. Be cautious too with glass or other shatterables as the very shards might decide to slice a piece off one of your fingers."

Ha!!!

Fishs Eddy: Distinctive Drinking Glasses

I may not cook at home, but I do tend to drink lots at home (no...not alcohol (these days); think water, soda, iced-tea, etc).  As a result, I'm constantly using and breaking drinking glasses.  I don't know why but those suckers are slippery to wash and then oops, another drinking glass is broken.  So it must come as no surprise that I've given up on being matchy-matchy with my drinking glasses.  Now I'm determined to find distinctive drinking glasses.  One store that I love to buy from is Fishs Eddy!  They have distinctive but inexpensive drinking glasses (and ridiculously cheap dinnerware).  My favorite dinnerware/glassware line, the Hula Girl, has been sadly discontinued for the most part and only drinking glasses remain: (I will be stocking up!)

I'm ran across these stripper-themed glasses and thought them very appropriate for the upcoming bachelorette party this weekend:  (Where else can you find a male stripper with ass-less pants on a drinking glass?)

It's not just the cheap dinnerware (like the $1.99 plates below) and glassware that keeps me coming back.

It's also the harder to find kitchen items that make Fishs Eddy a great shopping and browsing store...like these cute soft boiled egg cups.  Soft boiled eggs is one thing that I will cook in the kitchen!

And for you beer drinkers, there are $0.99 Bud Light pint glasses!

Fishs Eddy is located at the corner of 19th St and Broadway (889 Broadway, NY, NY 10003).  If you can't make it to the store, you can visit their website:  www.fishseddy.com.

FYI: As tempting as that super cheap bucket filled with silver-plated flatware is, DO NOT BUY ANYTHING from it.  They look pretty at the store (and I love the idea of silverware), but those things tarnish like crazy.  Trust me.  I purchased several silver-plated stirring spoons and they are just sitting at the bottom of the flatware drawer in the kitchen.  I can barely get myself to polish my silver jewelry.  What made me think that I would polish silver spoons?

Dear Store Associates & Managers...

Dear Store Associates & Managers:

If you could try to avoid arguing (and/or heatedly discussing marketing/sales strategies) amongst yourself during business hours, it would be greatly appreciated.  It makes for a very unpleasant shopping experience...especially when you work in a very small boutique.  It's impossible for me, as a customer, to ignore.  Thanks!

Bank Of America: A Free Weekend At The Museum(s)

If you're a Bank of America cardholder, you can visit museums nationwide for free during the first full weekend (Sat and Sun) of every month.  As an fyi, your BOA card will only grant free admission to you, the cardholder, so you can't go wild and bring the entire family.  However, if you and your SO both have BOA cards, this would be a cute (and free) date.

This program is called "Museums On Us."  Here are the remaining dates*:
5/1/10 - 5/2/10
6/5/10 - 6/6/10
7/3/10 - 7/4/10
8/7/10 - 8/8/10
9/4/10 - 9/5/10
* Dates for Oct, Nov and Dec are to be confirmed.

For NYC, the following museums participate in this progam:  The Met, Bronx Zoo, NY Aquarium, Intrepid and the Whitney Museum.  (I think I'll be hitting the Bronx Zoo in June.  I've never been!)

Club Monaco: Two Sweet Tops

I don't shop often at Club Monaco, but I do like their clothes and accessories.  For some unknown reason, it's just not a go-to store for me.  However, I passed by today and I found these two sexy but subtle tops on sale:

• Draped Jersey Tank ($39) in dark grey (light grey and black versions are available):  The draping in the front is gorgeous (when you try it on, you'll know what I'm talking about), and the slits running down the back of the shirt is a nice touch.  But what kind of bra are you supposed to wear with this tank given those slits on the back?

• Silk One-Shoulder Top ($69) in navy:  There are a lot one-shoulder tops out there but the rope and knot detailing on the front of this one really makes it stand out (in a very good way).  I'd like to see the price come down a little more, but this is great for date night!

Tria Beauty Blue Lounge: Free Beauty Treatments!

I got accosted today by a lady in a blue wig near the Flatiron Building.  She thrusted a flyer into my hand and directed me to the cross the street and go into the Tria Beauty Blue Lounge.  I usually ignore the flyer people (as I like to call them) but when she mentioned free beauty treatments, I thought, "What the heck...I'm going in that direction anyway."  I was expecting something rather shady but instead I was pleasantly surprised to find that this was a legit promotion.

Tria Beauty has come out with a new product, the Clarifying Blue Light:

The claim per Tria Beauty's brochure is that the blue light emitted from this device will "[heal] existing breakouts and [eliminate] the bacteria that causes them."  I can't really say whether or not blue light therapy works but it was fun for about 2.5 minutes.  Then I got bored running the device over my face.  The suggested therapy time is 5 minutes.  Personally, I will be sticking with my Tazorac.

I passed on the free make-up application session as well as the free hair "blue" out, but I did snag a blueberry gummy bear on my way out!

The Tria Beauty Blue Lounge will be open thru 4/13/10.  If you're in the Flatiron neighborhood and want to check this out, here's the address:  155 Fifth Ave (b/w 21st & 22nd St), New York, NY.  The hours are as follows:  M-F 11:30 am - 7:30 pm; Sat 10:00 am - 6:00pm; and Sun 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm.

Food Therapy: An Ice Cream Truck Story

I don't know about you but when I was a kid, summertime meant ice-cream trucks for me.  I would strain my ears to listen for the tinkling music from the neighborhood ice cream truck.  To me, the ice cream truck was the Pied Piper.  Even though I'm now grown, apparently it's still the Pied Piper to me.  Here's my ridiculous ice-cream truck story:

A couple of years ago, I was hanging out with Big Buddha and Mei at their parents' house during the summer.  The windows were open and suddenly, we heard it...the faint tinkling music of the ice cream truck.  And it was getting stronger by each second.  As we were scrambling to find our wallets, the ice cream truck music started to fade.  Huh.  Someone forgot to tell this particular ice cream truck driver that you're supposed to drive slowly through the neighborhoods, not pretend that you're Speed Racer!

By the time we found our wallets and had our money in hand, we could barely hear the ice cream truck music.   But since we were adults and no longer kids, we did the sensible thing.  We all piled into my SUV and started driving around their rather large neighborhood, listening for the ice cream truck music.  Let's just say that there was a lot of starting, stopping, shushing, ear straining, arguing, and going the wrong direction.  But...we eventually found the ice cream truck!  I think the driver was slightly (okay...a lot) taken aback when the three of us jumped out of my car and started running for him.  He was probably thinking, "They have a car.  Why were they following me?  They could have just gone to the supermarket."  Yes, I'm sure you were thinking that too but where's the fun in it?

Loehmann's: Stepping It Up With The Discount!

This is what I like to see:  Loehmann's stepping it up with the discount!  In celebration of Insider Club's anniversary, Gold and Diamond members will be able take 20% off theirs purchases during 4/8/10 - 4/11/10 (thurs - sun).  This is way better than the usual 10% off.  In addition, earn $10 bonus dollars for $50 that you spend.  The bonus dollars are good from 4/18/10 - 4/25/10 (sun - sun).

For your Gold/Diamond 20% discount, print and bring this coupon:  Gold/Diamond 20% Off Coupon

Botkier's Howard St. Satchel and Sunshine's iPad = Perfect Fit

Sunshine's iPad that I'm borrowing (ahem, ahem) fits PERFECTLY into my Howard St. Satchel by Botkier!!!   It's a sign...that the iPad is now mine!  Won't Sunshine be surprised? 

Loehmann's Insider Club Gold Membership: It Makes Me More Likely To Purchase

Every so often, I get an e-mail from Loehmann's that shows my annual "savings" from my Insider Club Gold Membership.  This got me thinking.  While the aggregate savings amount is not huge (compared to the aggregate amount I actually spent), the additional 10% off always seems like such a good deal when I'm at Loehmann's that I usually end up buying the top, dress, jeans, etc. (when I would have otherwise left it on the rack).   Hmm...I really am the perfect little consumer that Sunshine claims me to be.  I totally fall for additional discount marketing schemes and I'm sure that the next time I visit Loehmann's, I will not remember this post and make another purchase.  The additional 10% off will have pushed me over the line from browsing to buying, again.  Does this happen to you too?   

ShopBop: Dressing Up!

I have gone completely nuts for dresses...for now.   ShopBop just released some new spring sale items and these three dresses have my index finger hovering over the "Add To Cart" button.  Now that I've unintentionally lost some weight (due to an unfortunate accident right before this past Christmas), my clothes are about 1 size off.  On top of this, I FINALLY have my smile back (one day I will show you the before and after pix of my teeth; my dentist is not just a dentist - she's an artist!).  I'm ready to go out and about again, and what better way to do it with some pretty dresses, eh?   Here are the three dresses that having me going back to ShopBop's website:

• Mike & Chris Charles Moto Dress ($206.50) in grey (a blue version is available and on sale):  This is a dress that I would wear repeatedly.  I am loving the zipper detail and the pockets!!

• Geren Ford Rope Gown ($278.60) in bleach (a black version is available and on sale):  Ok.  You caught me.  I'm too paranoid to ever wear this dress.  One spot or stain and it would be over for me.  But I can dream, right?

• Myne Namoi Dress ($184.80) in black (a purple version is available but not on sale):   Did I mention that I'm ready be eat, drink and be merry?  Sunshine...are you reading this, honey?

[Images Courtesy of ShopBop.com]

Bolt Bus: Maybe Not $1 But Still A Pretty Good Deal

Now that the word is spreading about BoltBus.com, it's hard to find a bus ticket for $1.  However, at $14 for a last minute seat (and it doesn't get more expensive that than), it's still cheaper and more convenient than Greyhound.  And I mean convenient in that you are guaranteed a seat.  At Greyhound, it's a first come first serve system...which means you can end up waiting for 2 hours if you're at the end of the line on a busy day.  So if you need to travel to a major city located between D.C. and Boston, check out BoltBus.com.  The seats are cushy, there's electrical outlets for your laptops and the wifi is free!  (Yes - this is similar to Megabus.com, but an East Coast-only version.)  Oh, and the bus drivers are friendlier.  For you sticklers, BoltBus.com is affiliated with Greyhound but think of it as the younger, smarter, more attractive sibling.

I Need A Gold Clutch...I Think.

I'm going to be a bridesmaid at the end of the month and one of the wedding colors is gold.  To my own surprise, I don't have a gold clutch...or gold any-kind-of bag for that matter.  I think I need one, right?  For some unknown reason, gold evening clutches are rather difficult to find.  I found a sweet-looking gold Tory Burch wristlet, but I know that it's way too casual and therefor inappropriate for a wedding (sigh).   So I'm now down to these two golden lovelies:

• Stefanibags.com:  Whiting & Davis Mesh Clutch ($99) in gold (I like that I can use it as a clutch but that it also comes with an optional shoulder strap.  I'm less likely to lose the clutch at the end of the night, if you KWIM.  Plus, I would be taking an additional 20% off with the code "Therapy20".)

[Images Courtesy of Stefanibags.com]

• WinkNYC.com:  Lauren Merking Louise Cluctch ($79) in gold (I'm a fan of Lauren Merkin's clutches, and this is a good price after an additional 15% off with the code "S8P9X".  Though the code expires today, which means I have less than 3 hours to decide.  The pressure!  Ahhhh...)

[Image Courtesy of WinkNYC.com]

Random Thought: Rompers and Bathrooms

I like rompers.  They're like dresses:  one entire outfit from one article of clothing.  No need to think about matching a top and a bottom in the morning.  And it's one piece versus two pieces of laundry.  The only issue, and I'll admit it is a major issue, is when you have to make a trip to the bathroom.  It's weird (and rather vulnerable) to be standing there....well, you know what I'm saying.

In the Nude at T.J. Maxx

It's been awhile since I dropped by T.J. Maxx, so today I decided to do just that.  I'm loving the emphasis on neutral colors this spring because I don't really do pastels.  I found this lovely romper and cute dress both in nude (taupe-ish):

• Calvin Klein Jeans Romper ($34.99):  The best part of this romper is that the shorts are not short shorts...and I know you know what I'm talking about.  The pockets don't hurt either!!  ;)

• Yoana Baraschi Dress with Embroidered Flowers ($59):  This dress is super cute for a casual dinner date.

Did I mention that both go wonderfully with my Botkier Howard St. Satchel in cement?  I am LOVING this bag...even when I use the shoulder strap!!