Buying jewelry online can be tricky.

You need to be able to visualize how the jewelry will look on you, and you need to trust in the jeweler you’re buying from. Why is that second part so important? When you shop at the mall, you can see the piece with your own two eyes. You can determine the clarity of a stone, or see the clasp on a necklace. When you shop online for jewelry, you need a jeweler you can trust. WhiteFlash.com is a company that values the customer and their shopping experience - so much so that they’ve got a section on their site specifically for testimonials from their past customers. If you’re looking for an engagement ring that will dazzle, or a gemstone to sparkle for yourself, take a look at what WhiteFlash.com can do for you. You can search by stone and setting, or design a customer jewelry piece. You can also learn about diamonds and how to select one by reading the articles on their site.

The Victoria’s Secret convertible bra I just bought is going back to the store. It stinks!

I had planned to wear it yesterday with a new tank top to a 4th of July party. I hooked up the straps, criss-crossing them into the racerback design. Three times I put it on, and three times, a different strap went flying. Now, I’m not a well endowed girl, so I knew that wasn’t the cause of the issue. The problem is simply poor design. The metal on the end of each strap only slips into a teeny little cloth holder, and that’s all holding the whole contraption together.

So not worth the $45!

I tried on the two tank tops I bought at the Gap outlet and realized I need a new bra to wear them. I could technically wear them with my regular bra, but my straps would stick out, and I think that’s tacky. I need a racer back bra, which means a trip to Victoria’s Secret. (No time to order by mail!) I don’t know that I’ll get to the mall this week, so I might have to hit it this weekend. Hopefully they have what I need in stock so I can wear these shirts on vacation.

(Although, given the temps I’ve been seeing for Canada, it may be more “sweatshirt weather” instead of “tank top weather”.)

Jim had the bright idea for us to get matching t-shirts for our vacation. Isn’t he cute? (Reminds me of Clark Griswold, in a lot of ways…LOL!) We’ve done the matching thing before, for our Disney cruise. I had a dress and the girls had matching dresses, and Jim and the boys had matching Hawaiian shirts - all courtesy of the Disney store.

Since we’re going to Toronto and Montreal and our vacation is kind of hockey centered, he decided that we should have hockey t-shirts. Last night I logged onto the net and searched around for some deals, and found out that the NHL shop at shop.nhl.com was having a sweet sale. I ordered us each a Tampa Bay Lightning shirt (black for Jim and Matthew, pink for us girls) and then I ordered each of us a Montreal Canadiens t-shirt (all red). Won’t we be cute? (Or nauseating? You decide.)

Side note: Why do the Montreal Canadiens spell “Canadiens” with an “E”? Should it be CanadiAns? What’s that all about? Just like they add a “U” to color and favor, they’re removing A’s and replacing them with E’s. Crazy people.

I hit a Gap outlet on Sunday at the outlet mall also. Unlike the Gap Outlet in Ellenton, they didn’t have a kids section, but the ladies section had plenty of good deals to keep me busy. I got two new tank tops with buttons halfway down the chest, and a pair of brown linen capri pants. I wish they had more colors - they only had brown, blue, and green. I would have bought more if they had black or a khaki color. The capris are the style with the drawstring at the calf that scrunches them up, and I wore them yesterday. Comfy AND cute. I think they’ll be coming on vacation with me.

I convinced myself to make an Old Navy run yesterday, and it wasn’t worth the trek. Is it just me, or is the material that Old Navy is using for their shirts getting thinner? I found a few shirts that I liked, and the material was super thin cotton - practically see through. In a face instances, the shirts were designed to be layered, so I can understand why they are thin, but c’mon - this is too thin. I liked the look, but I think the quality is going down hill fast.

For the past few days, I’ve wanted to stop and shop on my way home from work, but duty (the mommy kind) called. My schedule hasn’t allowed me to get to the mall on my lunch break either. And I find that once I get home and into my routine, I’ve got zero motivation to go back out and shop for myself. And each morning, the cycle continues, when I peer into my closet and get discouraged seeing the same old things to choose from!

When we packed on Thursday night to go away for the weekend, my oldest daughter neglected to pack her bathing suit. No big deal, we ran into the store at our resort to pick one up. The only problem was that they had adult bathing suits, and bathing suits for little girls and boys, but nothing for teens or preteens. Same issue at the theme parks. So finally, we went over to Downtown Disney and went into the store to buy one. Holy sticker shock, Batman! They had bathing suits for teens and preteens, but it was all name brand stuff. We ended up getting her a really cute Roxy bathing suit, but it cost $44! Eeek!

My closet is in sad shape.

When I had my garage sale 2 months ago, I got rid of a lot of shirts. You know, things I hadn’t worn in 6 or more months. I was happy to do it, thinking I’d get back out in the stores and buy a few new things to replace what I got rid of, but it hasn’t happened yet. I bought 2 new shirts before Easter, and nothing since. Life has been crazy and I’ve been spending my money on dumb things like cpap machines and homeowners insurance. Where the heck are my priorities?!

Now is a great time to check out the newly revamped Belisi website - it’s so much more than just shopping now. It’s a fashion community of people where you can get advice (do these shoes go with this purse?) and tips on fashion and trends. Consider it an online version of What Not To Wear for your own personal use! No matter what your style is - completely trend setting, casual and comfortable, or dressed for success, you’ll find great advice on the newest fashions and trends all in one place, as well as advice on how to make the most of the new looks on your body. (I really want to get a look at the new fall 07 handbag line - I’m a sucker for that new leather smell!)

And let me add that I love, love, love brands and stores that do good for the community that supports their business. The Belisi Fashion line, makers of Belisi Neckties, scarves, purses, and pocket square - well, they’re no exception. They donate a portion of their proceeds to the charity of your choice, and one options is Susan G. Komen! And you all know how much I love anything and anyone that raises money for breast cancer research and early detection programs.

Belisi Fashions Launches New Online Destination

Innovative, Luxurious, Online Shopping, Fashion Advice … Lifestyle

PALM BEACH, Fla., May 2 /PRNewswire/ — Fashion, it’s not just a New York game anymore. South Florida has become a top contender of those “in the know.” Palm Beach-based Belisi Fashions (http://www.belisi.com), a driving force behind this new fashion movement, combines luxury, innovative style and distinctive creations, setting it a part from the rest of the fashion industry. Fashion-forward designer Peter Belisi of Belisi Fashions is unveiling his new and improved online destination http://www.Belisi.com, which is more than a shopping website-it’s a community where discriminating consumers can find valuable fashion advice, keep up with trends and so much
more.

I really want to get a look at those new handbags - I’m a sucker for real leather!

Belisi Fashions is synonymous with luxury, a brand that represents a growing collection of fine Italian silk ties, pocket squares, and scarves. Peter Belisi inspires and surprises with characteristic versatility and responsiveness to an ever-changing market. The very essence of his
collections reflects his emotional and artistic view of life’s experiences; thereby, creating a personal style inspiring men and women to dress and accessorize according to their own personality.

Belisi was built on the philosophy that a necktie
or a scarf
is more than an article of clothing-it completes your look. “There are plenty of Web sites where you can buy accessories but few where you feel like you’re a part of a fashion community,” affirms Belisi. “A tie is a focal point that makes a bold statement. When we design and
create a tie, pocket square or scarf, we first think about the person who will wear it. We want our products to enhance customers’ lives through quality, using the most au courant in fabrics and signature detailing,” confirms Belisi. “These accessories add flare to any outfit with an accent of color that creates a whole new look.”

The Belisi brand is flourishing, and anticipates the release of its new luxury handbag collection in Fall ‘07. As with all Belisi products, the handbag collection will feature extraordinary detailing including real gold hardware, soft treated Italian leather and brushed fabrics, plus many other
exclusive features only available through Belisi.com.

About Belisi.com

Belisi.com is an online community where customers are “Insiders” instead of order numbers. Being an “Insider” means access to special privileges including free shipping, gift wrap on all orders and a designated place on the Belisi Insider’s Advisory Board. Belisi Insiders’ opinions are more than thoughts expressed in cyber space. Peter Belisi embraces each comment, suggestion or question and responds to his clients personally. Belisi’s fashion blogs offer up-to-the-minute insight from
fashion, beauty and lifestyle experts. Find out more by visiting:
http://www.TheDivasDreams.com for women and http://www.SharpByDesignblog.com for men.
Belisi also has a beauty blog, http://www.BeautifulMeblog.com, which keeps customers “in the know” about all things related to beauty-inside and out.

About Belisi Fashions

The Belisi brand is the brainchild of Peter Belisi, whose lifelong aspirations were to fuse the luxury and prestige of Palm Beach with Italian sophistication. Belisi embodies the spirit of true entrepreneurship with a passion for the best of everything, which is evident in the quality
products produced. Each dramatic detail in a Belisi tie, pocket square and scarf represents Belisi’s unwavering commitment to creating fashion products that embody timeless sophistication and enduring beauty. Peter Belisi is loyal to his community and remains steadfast in giving back to those in need, never forgetting his roots and the journey that led him to where he is today. Through the “Belisi Luxury with Meaning” program, a minimum of 10 percent of the company’s pre-tax profits are donated to those in need. Thus keeping in-line with Belisi’s mission to create a
community within a community, customers decide which charity to make their contribution. Some of the charities include: Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Foundation, American Heart Association, and 1-800-Save-A-Pet.com.

When did concert t-shirts get to be expensive? Last night was the first time ever where I paid more for a t-shirt than I did for the ticket. (Ok, ok, I’m not counting the Guns N Roses show where my ticket was free). Tank tops for the Gwen Stefani concert were $30, and t-shirts were $40. Forget albums sales and ticket sales - the real money is made in the merchandising!

We’ve been to the dentist a few times in the past few months for the kids checkups and cleanings, and every time I go into the office, all of the dental assistants are all wearing brown scrub tops, and black bottoms, with black crocs. That was cute the first time, but now…it’s boring. Should I recommend they all check out UniformCountry.com for a huge selection of medical scrubs? Doesn’t the dentist know that brown and black don’t go together? Why so drab? Why so plain? You deal with kids - why not cartoon characters? You can go online and buy the scrubs (super cute styles and colors by the way!) and have them delivered in a few days. Just in time for my next appointment!

Are you a purse swapper outer?

By that I mean, if you’re wearing black shoes, and black pants, and a black shirt - you’d switch to a black purse too, right? Not me….and I didn’t realize it til I got to worry. I’m wearing all black (well, the shirt does have color in it, but it’s mostly black) and carrying a big brown leather purse. Tacky! I was just too rushed this morning to swap out my purse for another. It’s kind of a pain. Normally, it wouldn’t bother me, but I’ve got SO much black clothing on, that the purse sticks out like a sore thumb.

If you lived in my neck of the woods, you’d know how limited I am if I want to buy lingerie or sexy costumes. My choices include a few stores in the mall that are overpriced, and other stores that are kind of sleazy. I’m personally not buying my lingerie from a place that also shows adult movies in a 25 cent booth, but hey - to each his own, right? Maybe you’ve got a little sports fantasy going on, and you want to dress up like a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader? Why try to shop at a local store when you can hop online and shop safely from the privacy of your own home? You’ll find a great selection, better prices than the mall stores, and a much nicer shopping environment than the local stores!

If you’re dying to see what I ended up wearing Friday night, there’s a picture of it here. I bought that navy blue dress 4 years ago when I was out shopping with a friend. I found it on the clearance rack, and it was less than $10. In fact, the shoes cost more than the dress!

When I spilled ice cream on myself in the car that night, coming home, my husband made a Monica Lewinsky joke about my favorite blue dress.

I’ve got a fancy schmancy dinner to attend tonight, and I’ve already changed my mind about what I’m wearing 3 times. I originally had planned to wear a black skirt and a new print top, but decided the skirt was too short and perhaps a bit hoochie-mama-ish. In all actuality, the skirt is fine, but this is an event for my husband’s job, so I wanted to dress a little more conservatively.

Option #2 was a black dress…but it requires my black heels that I wore yesterday and killed myself walking in. My blisters do not want me to put the black heels back on.

So I moved on to option #3 - a simple navy sleeveless dress. Conservative but classy…just like me. (HA!)

What’s your fashion style? Back in high school, it was so easy to identify people by how they dressed. She’s a prep (sweater from Outback Red with pegged jeans and penny loafers), he’s a jock (baggy jeans, Nikes, football jersey), she’s a goth (all black, from head to toe). It’s not so easy anymore. I have a lot of different clothes in my closet for a lot of different situations. I can dress up for a business meeting in a suit and heels, or I can be found lounging at home in denim shorts and a t-shirt. It something looks good and feels good, I wear it. And speaking of looking good, ElectricLadyLand.com has some really neat couture lines, but they carry everything from t-shirts and jeans to dresses that would be fit for the red carpet. (Fitting, since they’ve got celebrity clients!) If you like Faith Connexion, you’ll love the selection of products they have. (Personally, out of my price range for a tank top, but I love the look!) The Rex T Shirts are more my style - love the ones stating “not in rehab”! If you can’t find the styles you want locally, this store is worth a look. They carry mens and womens clothing that you won’t find in any mall!

Color me clueless. I know that woman have all sorts of access to fancy underwear and lingerie, but I didn’t realize that there were companies that did the same thing for men. Oh sure, I’ve seen the lame bikini underwear and thongs for men with tiger stripes or a little tux…I’m talking about NICE underwear. Things girls will actually want to see men in!

I’ve got a guy who wears boxer briefs (a switch from the boxers shorts he was wearing daily as of a few years ago) and I looked at the boxer briefs in the Impetus mens underwear line - oh la la! Ok, maybe it’s just the models. They are smokin’, aren’t they? But aside from the hard bodies, I like the underwear! It’s a lot more stylish than the stuff you can buy at the department store, and the material looks extremely comfy. Don’t the ones in the picture above look nicer than what your husband or S.O. is wearing right now? As someone who regularly washes the laundry, and folds the laundry, I think yes. There’s no ugly elastic waist band and it’s all soft material that won’t rub your guy the wrong way

Jim’s got this work event to go to on Friday night, and I’m still figuring out what to wear. I bought a new shirt when we were out shopping last weekend, but because of the cut of the arm and neckline, it requires a racerback bra. I don’t have a racerback bra, and I’m not sure if I can make it to the mall this week to hit Victoria’s Secret.

My other shirt option is the one I wore to dinner last weekend - a cute black and white print, and I’d wear it with the black skirt I bought. It’s hard deciding what to wear, because it’s a work function, and I’ve seen the way the women dress at his workplace…I’m not sure if they’ll all come dressed like that (business - dark slacks, nice shirt) or if they’ll show a little leg.

Every time a new Kohl’s opens up, all of the stores have a big grand opening sale. I’ve never been to one, but I’ve seen the ads on TV all week, and one is being held this weekend I think. I can’t think of anything I NEED to get, but I’m always up for a good sale. I’d love to find some more Skechers on sale, or maybe some clothes for the boy - he desperate needs some shorts for the summer. And I love the selection of frames at Kohl’s, and I do have a few more pictures that could go into those!