Laina Turner-Molaski

When you look at the fashion magazines it can be easy to feel inferior to the gorgeous, skinny models and it can be frustrating to see that most designer items shown are not always in a normal gals budget. In the last issue of In Style magazine, they had an article about a company called Rent the Runway (renttherunway.com) where you can rent designer duds much like a movie from Blockbuster. You go online, check out the fashions, decide what you want, and voila it appears at your door step. It even comes with a pre-paid envelope to ship it back when you’re done. It’s very affordable and a great way to put high fashion in your budget.

Another great site for accessories is Shoe Dazzle (shoedazzle.com) which was started by Kim Kardashian and besides having an affordable monthly fee for shoes, handbags, or jewelry there are stylists tips so you are assured to be the most fashionable.
Now for those of you that don’t really like the idea of wearing clothing that many others may have worn before you there are many other online sites that have designer clothes and accessories at reduced prices.

Check back tomorrow for the run down on some of those places.

Laina

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We are in the process of putting Stilettos & Scoundrels in audio form and have been doing research on audible vs. iTunes vs. all the other mediums out there when someone mentioned cassette tapes. That maybe we could be totally retro and record the book on cassette. 8 track was even mentioned but I think that’s going a little far. Besides I still have a boom box somewhere and would have no idea how to go about getting a 8 track player.

Why do I have a boom box (sorry but I love the phrase) because I have to have something to play my old Poison, Ratt, Kiss, and Cinderella tapes. Not to mention Cinderfella by Dana Dane which incidentally is over 25 years old. Check it out here – Cinderfella.

What are your thoughts on cassettes?

How I wish I had thought of that title.  I went to the bookstore today (as I do almost everyday) and came across this hilariously named book. It’s about a woman, Crazy Aunt Purl, who comes home from work one day, has dinner with her husband, and then he informs her he is moving out and their marriage is over. As expected she is devastated and at a loss. To try and lift her spirits one of her friends suggests a knitting class, the New Yoga she calls it. Skeptical at first, Crazy Aunt Purl gets started knitting and can’t stop. She loves it. Now it of course doesn’t replace a husband but this funny true story shows you just have to pick yourself up and move forward. You can’t wallow forever.

Crazy Aunt Purl, hats off to you. All of us divorcing women appreciate it!!!

Check out her site at Crazy Aunt Purl!!

Now ladies, we all know that ponytails are great for when we DON’T want to do our hair. Not that ponytails can’t be sheik and dressy but when I’m lazy, almost every day, I use a ponytail to get my rat’s nest out of my face. However, I have been jealous of women who have cool ponytails with the bumpy thing on the back of the top of the head (did that make sense). Without buying a bump-it (As Seen on TV and available at Wal-Greens) I thought I would do some research and see how to get that little bump. I came across the followng video and while it didn’t create a bumb it did make one heck of a pomytail. But then I began to think…why all the effort for a ponytail.

here take a look. How to create the perfect ponytail.

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Wow! Over a week without a blog update. Not acceptable but I am full of excuses. San Diego got the best of me. It was a non-stop flood of work and presentations. the the holiday and now today my inbox is exploding and I feel I will never catch up. But it’s good. It’s all good.

Met some fabulous people in San Diego and got great ideas galore. Now Amy and I are hard at work trying to follow up on all the leads, and people, and ideas we came up with.

One thing that is our focus is our social site for women Chiczofrenic.com. If you haven’t been on check it out.

Women rock and if agree also check out this blog Women’s Life Link

We started out the morning at La Jolla beach. Beautiful walk on the coast dipping our feet in the water and looking at hot surfer dudes. However, when we went to walk back to our car we both realized we had been so excited to walk on the beach that we forget to remember what street we parked the car on. I even have an iPhone app for that and I forgot to use it. It took longer to walk up and down the streets looking for the car than the time it took to walk to the beach. But…we found it. Finally. That’s all that matters.

Today was our last book signing, outside the SHRM conference, at Buffalo Exchange -  San Diego (5th and University). Another great day (although the Jamba Juice beforehand helped) and again we met some awesome people. I was also excited because I got to wear my Goodwill, made out of curtains skirt.

Our main goal this trip was to get west coast exposure. We knew we would with the organized book signings but we also took stock to use for “street promotions.” To walk around downtown San Diego and pass out books to folks. Just a meet and greet. We started it tonight to get some practice and it was a blast. A few people looked like we were trying to hand them poop in a bag but most folks were excited. It’s sad that people are apprehensive when you try to give them something free. But I do understand that “free” is often not really “free” so I get it.

We ended the night with a great meal of yummy Greek food at Athens marketplace and are starting to feel like real San Diegoans

Friday started off with us actually being able to eat before 9pm at night. We had a great breakfast at a place called Café 222. I had peanut butter and banana stuffed French toast. It was sooooo good!!

We then worked all afternoon until time to go to a boutique called Pure Boutique. This shop is focused on bringing in local designers and artisans. The jewelry was amazing and they had a cute line of Angry Girl logo’d merchandise that was adorable.

Afterward we went to Old Town for some margarita’s and Mexican food. This area has a lot of Mexican culture and the atmosphere was lively.

Each place we go to eat we have been taking a few books and passing them out to other customers. Hoping it will generate some excitement and exposure. This has been one of the best parts of our trip. People have gotten excited and tonight they were lined up for me to sign their books. In each free book we give away we place a card asking them to go to my blog and post their review. Hopefully we can create many new friends this way!

Laina

Thursday’s trip to LA started off wonderful. Even the drive up from San Diego that took 4 hours (to go about 120 miles) was nice and relaxing. Of course it didn’t hurt to be able to enjoy the sunshine.
We got to our first stop, Buffalo Exchange, on Melrose Ave, no we didn’t see Amanda Woodward, Billy Campbell, or Dr. Peter Burns, and had a blast. Buffalo Exchange is a resale shop with anything from jeans and T’s to really cool vintage and designer stuff. The store was packed and we had fun going back to our retail roots and interacting with the customers. I did get a surprise when I got yelled at by someone I guess I didn’t say “hi” too. She I think felt I was discriminating by not saying anything to her although I greeted the lady she walked in with. Some people you just can’t make happy.

As the day was winding down a guy walked in with an obviously fake, and not a great fake at that, moustache and beard. Walking around the store on a mission he eventually came over to us and asked if we wanted to be in a short because he was the “most interesting man in the world” We looked at him like he was a homicidal manic until the girls that worked at Buffalo Exchange said it was ok, this happened all the time. As we followed this guy to where they were filming he told us that Desperate Housewives actress who plays Karen McCluskey (real name Kathy Joosten) was in the short as well. While we didn’t have to say anything, we did a great job of sitting there for 2.5 seconds looking fabulous. Soon we will be on You Tube and surely to be discovered as the next greatest thing since Julie Roberts (ha ha even I’m not that delusional).
While it in some ways has been a bit stressful these last couple days, I have also been overwhelmed with how nice everyone has been.
All in all, another great day!!

Laina

Our adventures in San Diego started off with a long flight and a never-ending stand in the line for the rental car. Amy was lucky enough to see a guy attempt to spit tobacco in a bottle that had a cap on it but it was all good when Johnny, a rental car place employee, told me I looked 26 and upgraded us to a 2011 Mustang Convertible. There was no way after that the day could end bad. So even though by the time we got our car, and drove to our first stop, we only had minutes to spare it was worth it.
It did take us about 15 minutes to figure out how to close the convertible top which is a bit excessive for 2 college grads but we prevailed. After a successful book signing we checked into our hotel and took off for Little Italy where we had a great meal and glass of Pinot Grigio.
Tomorrow off to LA!!!!!

Elizabeth Leffler-Agia, owner of Cecilia Boutique in San Diego, has worked hard to create a stylish collection of name brand designers such as Sanctuary, as well as local clothing and jewelry designers. Originally from the mid-west, Elizabeth started as a stylist for a photographer and went on to be a personal stylist saying “I enjoy the personal connection I have with people.” Gaining inspiration from her grandmother, Cecilia (for whom the boutique is named after) and who was an avid artist, Elizabeth wanted to create an environment for women that was as comfortable as they would be in their own closet and in my opinion she has succeeded.
See some snapshots of the great merchandise below.
Laina

I arrived in California with no job, no car, and no money, but, like millions of other girls, a dream.
Victoria Principal