Cheap Chic: Looking Forward, Scaling Back

In my previous post, I highlighted a handful of designer diffusion lines with prices under $30 - perfect for gift-giving this Christmas. In the same vein, I'm looking forward to the collections yet to come from the likes of Charlotte Ronson, Thakoon, and Alexander McQueen. It's a perfect way to spend all those gifts cards you'll receive this Christmas...

Thakoon for Target

Thakoon for Target

Thakoon for Target

McQ Alexander McQueen for Target

Hayden-Harnett for Target

Hayden-Harnett for Target

Charlotte Ronson for JCPenney

Charlotte Ronson for JCPenney

Cheap Chic: Designer for Under Twenty Bucks

It seems that nearly everyone has a diffusion line with a megabrand megastore these days, with plenty more on the horizon still to come (Thakoon, Hayden-Harnett, McQueen, and a second Rogan line for Target, Charlotte Ronson for JCPenney, Matthew Williamson for H&M, and the list goes on). 

Even though Comme des Garçon's collection for H&M might still be a wee bit out of price range for gifting this Christmas, there are plenty of other designer options - at recession-friendly prices. 

First up, here's a look at a few gift ideas that are all under thirty bucks - the most noteworthy being Norma Kamali's collection for Wal-Mart, with cute tees for just $6. Check back for the next post wherein I look forward to the newest designer diffusion collections yet to hit stores. 

Norma Kamali for Wal-Mart, $6

Norma Kamali for Wal-Mart batwing sweater, $18

Jonathan Saunders for Target vest, $13.49 on sale

Jonathan Saunders for Target tee, $8.49 on clearance

Jonathan Saunders for Target knit ponte skirt, $18.89 on clearance

Sigerson Morrison for Target flats, $29.99

Patricia Field for Payless "Salsa" sandal, $24.99

Lela Rose for Payless "Keefe" clutch, $30

Dean Harris for Target pod pearl necklace, $29.99

You Win This Round, Undereye Bags: A Las Vegas Story, Part III

Whew. What a NIGHT. 

And now, with our faces washed clean and a little worse for the wear, we would drive back to Long Beach, forever remembering the cuh-raaaaziness of our Las Vegas weekend. 

You Win This Round, Ho: A Las Vegas Story, Part II

You know what? This is a story about Las Vegas (and, in fact, my very first visit to such a place), so I'm going to adopt the affectations of a certain character to tell the rest of my story. I mean, that's what parents do with their kids, right? I can still remember my dad reading Berenstain Bears books to Jody and I and replacing all the "Brother Bear" and "Sister Bear" characters with our names. So pull up a carpet square, children. Mum's going to tell you a little story about a magical place called Las Vegas, Nevada. 

"You Win This Round, Ho: A Las Vegas Story." By Laurel Dailey

OH EM GEE, you guys. So my best girlfriends and I were like, "We're SICK of men! Men are soooo stupid and soooo retarded. We need to just, like, get AWAY from it all." You know? And WeHo just isn't far enough this time so where else should we go to lose our inhibitions and really ENJOY life, right? Vegas! I KNOW, RIGHT? Wooooo! SRSLY, guys, I'm going to get sooooo drunk. Like crazy Britney-drunk. I'm gonna get one of those margaritas that they serve in those huge Eiffel Tower cups. No. I'm going to get TWO of them. Because I DESERVE IT. 

So, me and my best betches got dressed up because hel-lo, EVERY girl likes to get dressed up. It's like the most fun thing about being a girl, next to a lower tolerance for alcohol and a proclivity for mini skirts. ANYhoo, we got to The Strip and I was like, "Betches, let's PARTY! WHOOOO! VEGAS! YEAH!" And my betches were like, "YEAH! LET'S GET DRUNK! AND PARTY! AND WOOOOO!" And I was like, "Gurls, that's what I just said, OMG, you're SO drunk right now." And betch #1 was like, "This pinot grigio is so strong!" and I was like, "Betch, please. That's not pinot grigio, that's tequila." 

So okay, guys, I'm totally being confessional here, but: I would LOVE to be a Las Vegas burlesque-type girl. I mean, not a stripper. Ew. That's so trashy and I am so not trashy. I'm like...classy. Yes. I'm completely classy 100% of the time because I am not a girl, I'm a WOMAN. And I can totally rock this satin tunic as a dress and you're going to LOVE IT. Aaaanyway, I mean, okay so like I think I could really be good at something really classy, like a burlesque type thingy. I mean it's not like Jenna Jameson, you know? It's more like Katy Perry. OMG, I LOVE THAT SONG. 

Speaking of, I TOTES need to reapply my chapstick. 

So we thought it would be really funny to keep a tally of all the hott guys who hit on us while we were strutting our stuff, and you guys, I'm not even kidding, we were such a HIT. Like, we got hit on at least 13 times. I decided I need to get like, a gold plated necklace with a lucky number "13" on it, and I can wear it every day and remind myself of how fierce I am, like on days when I'm totally PMSing and life is like, TOTALLY whack and I'm like, Ugh, what is UP with my cellulite count right now and I'm so not as cute as my girlfriends and I'm going to be a spinster forever. Because I will NOT be a crazy cat lady, you guys, I will NOT. I swear. Because I'm gonna be one of those really cute old ladies who still drink cosmopolitans and wear Lilly Pulitzer and go out with their old lady girlfriends and, arthritis or  not, I will STILL WEAR HEELS. Always. And forever. OMG, I'm SOOOO drunk. I need another cosmo, like right NOW. 

So okay, we walked around The Strip(per) HAHAHA I am so funny. Seriously. Sarah Silverman who?

So okay, we walked around The Strip and were like, "Hi, boyz, we're so much cuter than you and your ho's, so DRINK IT IN." Speaking of, wow, I could TOTALLY go for something really hard right now, like a margarita. So like, we went into the Paris hotel (not like Paris Hilton. Ugh. I HATE her. She gives pretty girls such a bad NAME. We aren't all that stupid and slutty. Just Paris and her ho-bag friends. HATE them), and guys, I'm not kidding, it was JUST like being in Paris! I mean I've never been, but I've always wanted to go, and like, get proposed to on top of the Eiffel Tower. Wouldn't that be fab? It so would. I'd totally say yes, I think. 

So, okay, confession: I totally can't find my skirt right now. I mean, I know Sienna Miller totally was a fashion maverick when she just wore tights out on the town, so I'm feeling pretty fashionable still, but seriously, guys. Where is my skirt?

You Win This Round, Nature: A Las Vegas Story, Part I

First things first. If it sounds like I'm in a chipper mood (and it should...you should hear the sun shining a little brighter and birds chirping harmoniously at this very moment), it's because I'm basking in the warm, loving glow of a 4-day weekend abutted against yet another 4-day weekend and even my molecules are rejoicing at this wondrous occasion. If you don't, in fact, hear Angels singing in 4-part Barbershop harmony ("Goodnight, sweetheart, well it's time to goooo [bah-bah-nah-nah-NAH!]"), then there might be something wrong with your cold, cold heart. I will pray for you.

*cough*

Excuse me, I nearly choked on my own smugness. Where was I? 

Oh yes. Making the most out of life. That's right. On Friday night, I (and the rest of the former AA crew) celebrated Heather's departure from AA at our favorite Silver Lake bar, Good Luck. It's sort of tradition now whenever anyone leaves my former place of employment to celebrate there, so I wouldn't have missed this occasion for the world! Times were predictably fun, and I found myself cruising home after Last Call, dreading the fact that I had only given myself a paltry 2 hours to sleep before our targeted departure time for Las Vegas in the morning. 

Celebrating with Cinn and Kevin

But who cares! VEGAS, WOOOOO! YEAH! WOOO!

Ahem. We got on the road and after a little snaffoo with the GPS system (more on that in another far more bitter post, I assure you. I'm sharpening my claws as we speak), we were on our way. Jess's cousin Anne is an ornithologist who lives out there and graciously opened her home to us. I should also mention that Anne has TWO dogs. And...wait for it...they are both labs. One chocolate and one yellow. Oh, what's that? That's just the sound of my heart exploding into a billion little pieces. And then my head erupts in a massive volcano of love, and I'm like, "What? You mean to tell me that not everyone goes atomic at the sight of labrador retrievers? Oh me, oh my. The world is such a dark, cruel place..." 

It's a mess but oh, so worth it. 

Before we got all gussied up in our best Windsor and Bebe stuffs - I'M GONNA GET SOOO WASTED with you girls, you girls are my BESTIES. You know what? SCREW MEN! WHO NEEDS THEM! All I need is my best girl friendz and maybe one of those huuuuge mojitos and then LOOK OUT WORLD! Here I COME! yeah! VEGAS! WOOOOOO! - we decided to see the other side of Las Vegas, the side not permanently plugged in and glowing with artificial light.

Anne took us to Red Rocks National Park, and we explored the desertscape in the failing late afternoon light.