Posts from — December 2008

It is less than a week from Christmas and I know you still have people left on your list to shop for.  Maybe co-workers, neighbors or friends that you just want to give a little treat to for the holiday.  If you are like me, your funds are dwindling fast though.  Here are some cute gift ideas for girls all under $30, so they won’t break the bank. Anyone would like one of these trinkets in their stocking.

J Crew Mini Mirror-Metallic Blank Notebooks, $9.99

iLuck Braided Good Luck Charm Bracelet, $26

Henri Bendel Gilt Trip lip gloss set, $28

 Express Crinkle Scarf, $29.50 (Buy 1, Get 1 %50 Off)

Gap cable Knit Slippers, $14.99

UrbanOutfitters Birds on Branch Jewelery Stand, $20

Urban Outfitters Monogrammed Mug, $8 (Bonus if you fill it with red and green Hershey Kisses)

Anthropologie Stockholm Floral Apron, $28

Point Rewards Cards

While I love Sex & The City, I hold it responsible for bringing sky-high designer heels into style.  I can barely wear a 2″ heel without wobbling and now that stiletto Jimmy Choo’s are the trend,  it is almost impossible to find a pair of fashionable heels I can walk in.  Every designer is making shoes higher and higher.

One of my problems is that I am a clutz and lack any grace.  So in heels I wobble and trip.  I look like I am walking with a broom up my butt because I am trying to keep steady all the time.  The other issue is that for some reason I am slightly in between sizes.  An 8 falls off my foot when I try to walk but a 7 1/2 often cramps my toes, leading to severe blisters.

I have tried Cushies (silicone pads that you wear under the balls of your feet), Peds, and other stick-on blister blockers.  None of them work!  I have heard foot petals are great but I can’t find them anywhere.  I really don’t know how Budget Chic does it everyday!

I have been on the search for a cute pair of heels that I can actually wear and walk in and I finally found a couple of pairs! I stopped in Marshall’s and found some really great options for really good prices.  They have revamped their “Shoe Mega Shop” and have increased their stock of shoe styles and brands.  They had everything from Coach slip-ons at a really great price to classic Nine West heels for half their original cost.  I ended up buying two pairs of shoes for $50!

I am walking around the store with two pairs of shoes in my hand (a pair of Nine West flats with a silver buckle & the Nine West peep-toe heels above) and they announce that they are giving an extra 20% off of clearance items.  The peep-toes happened to be on clearance so I only paid $20 for a pair of genuine leather shoes. Damn, I love a deal.

This pair of Bandolinos have a heel of the perfect height.  Not too high, but just high enough that they still are dressy.  I wore them last night to a Christmas party without a problem.  I can’t wait t go back when I have more money and get the cute flats with the buckle.

When you live in Florida the nights can get more than a little warm and stuffy.  All Floridians run the ceiling fan all night long if they know what’s good for them.  But sometimes that is just not enough.  I often wake up with my nose stuffed and my feet hot, as if I am wearing wool socks to bed.  But now I have found The Chillow (sounds cheesy but I assure you they are not paying me to write this).

You know when you wake up in the night feeling warm and clammy and you flip your pillow so you can put your face up against the cool side?  Well, using the Chillow makes your pillow cool all night long - no need for flipping!  It’s a vinyl pillow that you fill with a few cups a water.  The physics of the water, a padded core and lack of air inside the vinyl pillow make it cool all of the time.  Just slide their pillow under your pillow case. It’s not cold like ice, more like the temperature of a cool ceramic tile up against your face.  It really is the most soothing night’s rest.

Not to sound like Goldilocks, but my opinion is that the Chillow is a little too hard to use alone as a pillow, although you could, so I actually slide it under my pillow at night.  While I sleep, one arm under the pillow, my body is slightly cooled by my Chillow. My other fave use is sliding it to the end of my bed to rest my feet on. Once my feet are cooled my whole body feels more comfortable.

How soothing it would be for a woman going through menopause kept up at night by changing body temperatures, or when you go to sleep with a mild headache?  Coolest thing the makers of the Chillow have come up with is a Canine Cooler for dogs that like to lounge on the cool kitchen tile.  They have an oversize mat, that works just like the pillow and cools your pet.

At $39.95 it is a pretty inexpensive way to get a night’s beauty sleep — literally.

Correction 12/19/08: I mentioned in my post the the Chillow was made of vinyl.  Technically this is not true, I was just trying to give you an idea of what the surface felt like.  For those of you with sensitive skin, the Chillow made from a latex free medical grade material that is safe to use up against your skin.

I totally treated myself this week for my birthday and bought myself this set six lipglosses from Smashbox at Ulta.  They are on sale for $29 and worth every penny!  I love every single shade in the box, all just hint of color and sparkle, and they have a yummy cotton candy scent. Six glosses split amongst your girlfriends’ stockings would be a great gift.