Tied?!

Last Friday the 34th Daytime Emmy awards were presented in Los Angeles. I often reference soap operas so it's pretty obvious that I'm a huge fan. Having said that I was so excited for the awards, I know lame right! But there's just something about seeing the characters out of character; how does the actor look, what is the actor wearing, who is the actor sitting by - you know typical intriguing questions. Anyway my favorite soap is The Young & the Restless, so needless to say I was rooting heavily for the show and any cast member nominated for an award. When it came down to announcing the best soap opera of the year (Outstanding Drama Series), Rachael Ray shocked us by saying, "there's two, it's a tie!" What the?! A tie, are you kidding me? The committee couldn't reach a decision? Anyway, The Young & the Restless was a co-winner in this category. Whatever! They win outright in my book.

Other notables:

Outstanding Lead Actor
Christian LeBlanc, Y&R

Outstanding Younger Actor
Bryton McClure, Y&R

Outstanding Achievement in Live & Direct To Tape Sound Mixing
Y&R

ShopBop sale

One of my favorite online shops is having a major sale. Do numbers like 30, 50, and 70 mean anything to you? Well these are the percentages that are being taken off the normal price of designers like Juicy Couture, L.A.M.B, Seven jeans, and my favorite Rachel Pally at shopbop.com. If you're not familiar with this online store, shopbop carries women's clothing, shoes, and accessories by a wide array of designers. Now is the time to pick up those skinny jeans you've been penny pinching for or those ballerina slippers you've been eyeballing. These markdowns are great, but to top things off shipping is absolutely free. No not next day shipping, lets not get greedy! So take the money you gained from the stock market's rally the past couple of days and check out the site.

J'adore Nadal

Do you like this look? This is the look Rafael Nadal has been wearing on the tennis courts for some time now. The Spaniard just won the French Open tennis tournament on Sunday beating Roger Federer in four sets while sporting a sleeveless muscle shirt and capris pants. I for one think his shirt is ultra sexy, especially since he has the arms to pull it off. The capris however I'm not so sure about. I'm pretty sure that this look on a man is more acceptable in Europe, although I'm not certain anyone else on the tour is rocking the capris look. Nadal is super cute, but what do you think of his attire?
Score update:
Nadal 40 Capris love

The world is flat (kind of)

The latest shoe craze is surprisingly not a 5 inch high platform. Lately as I shop through the many sources I adore for shoes, I've come across a really cute look. A closed (or peep) toe wedged heel between 1 and 2 inches tall in a covered foot or slingback. Many shoe makers, from high-end all the way down, are participating in this design style. They look super comfortable and usually comfort is synonymous with non-sexy, but in my opinion the look can make an outfit pop. My girl friend says they are all over her college campus.

Look at these, they are absolutely so hot in the pointed toe. I of course picked up a pair (being the shopaholic I am) in a round-toe and wear them to the office, but they're a great transition for after five o'clock too. These are all taken from Zappos, but this look is everywhere. Jessica Simpson, for example, has a nice variety in her line (not pictured above) that are very cute. Since I'm already taller than the average female, I am pleased that the latest shoe trend is taking it down a notch so to speak.

Theme of the weekend

This week sucked major bleep (for lack of a lady-like term) at work. So this weekend I'm letting loose! For those who know me know I'm pretty conservative, so my "letting loose" is probably equivalent to someone else's normal night out on the town. The weather is going to be just right to rock my Balenciaga bag against all the skin I'll be exposing. Rihanna has a song, "Don't Stop the Music", on her new CD that is going to have to be my theme this weekend.... Well the part where she talks about dancing your stress away and partying all night. A boy would be icing!

It's getting late
I'm making my way all the time
My favorite place
I gotta get my body moving
Shake the stress away
I wasn't looking for nobody when you looked my way
Possible candidate, yeah
Who knew
That you'd be here, be here looking like you do
You make and staying over here, impossible
Baby, I'm a say your aura is incredible
If you don't have to go, don't
Do you know when to start it?
I just came here to party
But now we're rockin' on the dance floor, actin' naughty
Your hands around my waist
Just let the music play
We're hand in hand just to dress and now we're face to face

Lyrics from www.azlyrics.com

Daddy Yankee yo!

My man, my boo, my bo, my honey (however you want to label it) released his new CD today titled El Cartel: The Big Boss. Daddy Yankee is top rated in his field of Reggaeton, a genre becoming more and more popular. This album is a mix of rap, song, and reggae, with sweet melodies, horns and ill beats. It's majority Spanish speaking, but don't let that deter you. If you can appreciate good music you'll love it just the same. This CD is fun and will make you want to move, whether from your seat or while in your seat. With 21 energetic tracks including A Lo Clasico, Mensaje De Estado, and Impacto (released single) you're sure to endure nonstop entertainment.

Ocean (not the movie)

I soooo want this mobile phone by Helio called Ocean. It's a slider phone where one part is for conversing and another for the typewriter keyboard. And it's so tiny, which is good for when I carry a small bag or clutch. I first noticed it all over my fashion magazines, but apparently I'm behind - its been available on the market for a month now. Slashgear does a great write-up on it. Babs and I talk about ending our ties with Verizon, this might be the push I need. Isn't it cool!

beep beep!

I'm getting a moped! Isn't this one super cute in a butter color! Okay let me slow down... I want a moped. Gas prices are out of control and these babies get around 80 miles per gallon, if not more. Gas prices in my area have come down, but by very little. There are a few downfalls however. Mopeds only get up to around 55 miles per hour, not very fast so no highway driving. Where I live I'll be on this thing maybe a good 6 months out of the year, not that long. Mopeds and scooters start anywhere from $700 to $3,000 from what I've seen, not so cheap. But if you do the math I think I'll make out in the long run. It doesn't sound like gas prices are coming down in the foreseeable future, so have to think of ways to be fuel efficient. What better alternative to public transporation, and a lot more fun.

Holiday shoppin'

Did you take advantage of any Memorial Day weekend sales? I was very good this weekend, meaning I didn't break the bank and justify it by saying, "but it was on sale"! Anyone who knows me knows that I am a shopaholic, but this past weekend I wasn't feeling it. Don't get me wrong, I did venture out to a mall or two but the sales weren't anything to write home about. Having said that, I only ended up with one thing - This long sleeved tee. I had to pick this up.... It's so girly with the rhinestones so I'll look extra cute when I tailgate this fall with the boys. So what did you purchase? Did you get a good deal?

Happy Memorial weekend

I am so looking forward to the this weekend. One because Monday is a holiday for us and I don't have to go into work (yea!) and two, a lot of people use this weekend to have pool parties, picnics, or cookouts. The weather is going to be relatively good this weekend around the country, so I will use this long weekend to catch up on my favorite blog sites and my magazine subscriptions (which just happens to be piling up) while sun-bathing at the pool. This is also a great weekend to go shopping. A lot of boutiques, department stores, and shops love to lure us in by "marking down" the prices on a lot of their products and calling it a Memorial Day sale. I for one don't need a reason to shop, but I just love a good deal. So get out and eat, shop, and tan not necessarily in that order. Have a get Memorial Day weekend!

Dressing your boy

Guess I've been kind of oblivious, but women's jeans aren't the only ones reporting a $100+ price tag. My boy Nate came to me wanting my expert fashion advice on some jeans he was contemplating purchasing. To my surprise they were designer jeans, but he is one of my male friends who is into that. Anyway he was looking at a pair of William Rast, True Religion, and Rock & Republic. Of course after he gave me the rundown I let him know to expect to pay a hefty price, but I wasn't prepared for this.... The William Rast pair he was interested in would run him a whopping $230! True Religion is selling a pair for $280 (not the pair he showed me). The Rock & Republic pair wouldn't be far off. I was shell-shocked. I asked him, "are you sure you want to spend this kind of money on jeans?!" Guess that's what I was for, to talk some sense into him! In all seriousness, I liked all of the styles he chose. They each had a little something different about them whether it was the wash, or the cut, or the pocket style. The jeans look pretty darn sexy on these male models, but I convinced my boy to wait a while and sleep on it before he went on a spending binge.

The Limited no more?

Last week Leslie Wexner, founder of Limited Brands, sold majority stake in Express Fashions to a firm in California. The reason: Wexner wants to focus on intimate apparel and beauty & personal care products i.e. Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works. He's been selling off apparel branches for years now starting with Lane Bryant then Lerner New York. Rumor has it that the Limited stores are next. Living in Ohio, where Wexner started his chain, the Limited brand has been very influential in my style. Express in particular. Express is a great place for me to purchase daytime wear and night life fashions. I can say that Express is one of the first brands that began selling pants and jeans in different lengths, recognizing that not every woman is 5'5" tall. I will admit though that I have not been fond of Express' rising price points. I can recall a couple of years ago my sister and I ventured there for holiday shopping and found sweaters being sold there for $200! We were shocked and had to look at the name on the building to make sure we were in the right place. This is Express right!? Not sure if they were trying to keep up with the Versaces of the world, but I had to take a small break from that place.

The break was a small one and their prices are still higher than expected, but the clothing and accessories are still really cute. I always receive compliments when wearing an Express piece. News stories report that distribution centers and headquarters will remain in Ohio, so consumers may not notice or feel the change in ownership. I'll keep my eye on this story.

Got my nails did

I went to the nail salon a few days ago for a little pampering. I usually take care of my nails myself, but thought it was time to have a professional touch them. I visited the local nail salon who take walk-ins and signed up for a basic manicure, and was pumped! As she started the manicure process a thought came to me. I remembered watching a TV program where an aesthetician informed people not to have your cuticles cut. That cutting your cuticles makes them grow back faster and thicker. Eww, who wants that right?! But as my manicurist was tending to my nails the cuticle trimmer came out, and I said nothing. I figured what the hay, I'm sure this isn't THAT damaging to my nails. So I happily accepted the manicure, chose a pretty nail enamel, paid her and went on my way. Much later I went to wash my hands in hot water (as I tend to do) and my hands, no my cuticle area was stinging! Then, dun dun dun, I saw BLOOD! Okay I'm being dramatic, but I know the next time I will have her keep her cuticle trimming tool in the drawer and simply have them pushed back. But if that's your thing don't let my story discourage you.

Slow music week

This Tuesday (as with every Tuesday) musicians drop their CDs for the world to purchase. There are a couple CDs which I am anticipating will be very good, partly from the band's history and partly from the released single.

1) Linkin Park - Minutes to Midnight
2) Tank - Sex, Love & Pain

I'm a pretty big Linkin Park fan, I have all of their CDs. Well the Collision Course CD featuring Jay-Z is my boy Hen's, but it's in my possession for now! Their new single What I've Done starts with a riff resembling the musical theme to horror flick 'Halloween', which immediately caught my attention since I'm a huge fan of that movie series. "Well trick or treat?!" Okay sorry for that, couldn't resist. Tank I'm not really a fan or a non-fan of, but I just love his new single Please Don't Go. I'm into sappy love songs so this one is right up my alley. This single has a great track, good lyrics, a really good voice. Other than those two, I'm not looking forward to any other releases this week.

Sunglasses Hunt

Now that we're well into spring and headed very quickly into summer I have been obsessed with finding the perfect pair of shades. I found a pair by JLo that I love for my South Beach trip, but for some reason I'm not satisfied - I want more! I think the main place this is coming from is while in Miami, of course everyone had on some designer trendy pair of shades, I spotted a pair on a random woman just passing by as I was basking in the sun. On this woman these sunglasses were so cute. Since she was passing by I couldn't see the designer (usually located on the side) but they looked so hot. A dark lens with the frame a gold metal - it just looked so luxurious. But I'm not into spending a ton of cash on sunglasses. Surprisingly, since I am a label whore, I plain just don't think it's worth it. Most sunglasses, if not all, being sold today are UVA/UVB protected so you end up paying for nothing more than the name on the frame, and in some cases the case that come with the pair.

These are Fendi and are super cute, but I cannot justify paying the $300 price tag. Yeah I'll just keep looking.