What to do

So I have these sequin pants (not THESE particular sequin pants, they are Michael Kors $335), actually, I have two pairs. navy leggings from Niche and pink full legged Emma Black ones, and I'm not sure what to do with them. Are they formal and deserve a fitted jacket with bow blouse or are they retro with a t shirt and roller skastes? I thnk I will take the same approach I did with my sequin tap shorts from Anthro and pair with a fluffy sweater (or lace fitted T) for the pink and long navy stripe cashmere tunic for the leggings. How 'bout that huh?

Duster

Feathers! Sparkle! Teeny-ness! As far as evening bags go, this has it all. White is a refreshing change from the boring black norm, yet still will go with pretty much anything www.coach.com

Gift Guide. Again

When buying gifts for the hard to please you cannot miss by shopping at www.fredflare.com. Well, unless you have uncool friends, then I suggest a box of those drug store chocolates Frannie Farmer or whatever. Top o the list: log pillow, 2012 Nice Jewish Guys calendar or perhaps a anime onesie(for adults) DJ Cat Scratching Deck $40 I LOL'ed at this, literally

Little Monsters Christmas

Oh Lady Gaga I love you and so wish I could go to NYC to see your Barney's pop up shop with all things that are you. Shown above are some highlights from the website: www.barneys.com. Too much? Lots of inexpensive candy if you go to "Treats", including a realistic Gaga cookie. Was hoping for a hair hair bow to match my tresses but alas i have to actually go to New York for that. Perhaps a Christmas trip for after sales?????? Press on flame nails $225, Swarvorski teacup $695, headband/sunglasses $295

Honeysuckle Home

Going green is all right n stuff but I seriously need practical storage options while saving the whales. This recycled tire bucket will do the job. $64 at Honeysuckle Home 948 N Alabama 202-4663

Have you been in this store? Super cute and much needed downtown source for kitchen and gifts. Everything is a quality product from the mundane but wildly practical to the whimsically useful. Then go to the English Ivy next door on Tuesdays and get the Two Fer special

Cyber Monday overload

Betsey Johnson's latest (ok, it's been around since spring. work with me here) collection, Pink Patch, stays true to her wacky style but is geared toward the younger set with price points staying under $100. It's a gateway line, if you will. Get it at Macy's, eBay and www.Betseyjohnson.com where it is on sale 40% tonight ONLY. Get busy

Timer. Yup.

If you follow Minx on facebook you know we kind of have an owl problem. Let us carry that over.

JCPenney is stepping it up with their super modern "Wrapt" department for the holidays. Teaming up with MOMA, Maxim and Dylans Candy bar, this pop up shop has really cute gifty things for low billies. In store or online www.jcpenney.com

Gift Guide #2

Hahahahahahaha

But seriously, once you get the gaffaws, how irritating would it be to have that shit on your face?

http://www.etsy.com/shop/bylauradesign#

Gift guide

Here ya go. A gift suggestion as required by the cultural expectations of bloggers by today's consumer per HOLIDAY. 5 pound gummy bear. I love you

www.worldsbiggestgummybear.com OR www.redenvelope.com

Everything is better with bacon

My friend Amy sent me this candle for my birfday. Since my house usually smells like this on the weekends anyway, I'm going to save it for when I have bunches of guys over. Or perhaps when I am sweet talking a contractor.

Update on the Bond candles as promised: they are divine and worth the money. Really! I am burning Brooklyn right now and Love. It. Hey, my house may not have a ceiling but it sure does smell nice

The glut of Christmas catalogs has begun

Hi there Sundance Catalog! Wow you are looking quite vintage, instead of just boho granola, I likey

See also kitten knit hat, always amazing embriodered cowboy boots and indian blanket messenger that looks suspiciously like the Opening Ceremony one I featured a few months ago. At least I am consistant

Too bad real ones are so durn noisy

Grandinroad is the perfect place to find "All things stylish, functional, and affordable". They said this themselves. I personally do not find scary kissing Santa fish ornaments, a remote controlled lighted garland or moose footrest for $200 any of these claims, and in that order (see how I did that? look again)
I am sort of imnpressed by the tree trim kits especially this blue purple and teal peacock one. 50 ornaments/garland is not nearly enought if you ask me but since Martha Stewarts name is on it, the $149 price tag seems bargin=ish

www.grandinroad.com

Obsession again

There are websites I check pretty much every day. Dlisted, The Cut, Racked, and Lamebook are just a few. Then there is one that is seen hourly, yup, hourly. No, not my blog stats, silly. PINTEREST. and I completely blame by sister for this.Just like it says, it's a virtual pin board where you can post and save cool photos and ideas. A bit heavy on the wedding, inspirational and cute kid stuff but also unusual design concepts, easy and fattening(the best kind)recipes and amazing hair will pop up too. Check it if you dare and *warning* there is a waitlist to participate. I know, i asked WHY as well, just go with it

I'm so confused. Inspired or just a big FU steal-athon?

wow when I first saw the ads in my (subscribed for) New York Times yeah, I'm liberal, I'm cultured, I'm um whateve) for C Wonder i shrieked with delight thinking Kate Spade escaped her Liz Claiborn shackels and was once again opening her own store, then I thought maybe the Juicy Couture girls decided to go cutie then I figured the Contemporary Art Museum in Chicago decided to go mainstream yet NO. Chris Burch, formerly married /giving a poke to designer Tory Burch, has decided to open a lifestyle store and oh yes it is glorious. Pink retro bikes, graphic face pillows and serious mirrored furniture are justa teeny bit of the offerigns chez CB. Tantilizingly, it is storefront only but I say if you are going to pay the big gun adverts you MUST have a shopable website. Retail 101 jeez

Good luck buyng these

Rather Who-ville, isn't it: the thought of having a whole world at your fingertips. Or perhaps just a musing to mess with a stoner. These "Fragmented Chronicles" rings by the Hong Kong design group Shannnam, will do just that, mary jane enhanced or not. While designboom.com coos about their fantastical snowglobe qualities, I see symbolic struggles with extentialism and epic loneliness. But then again, I am German.

http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/8/view/17546/shannnam-fragmented-chronicles-ring.html

While your at it check this site too www.mocoloco.com. Way crazy personal self and house jewelry

Be still my

Whiting and Davis has been making metal chain mail bags since the 1800's. Surprising when you think of how modern metal is to be purposed into a handbag, usually quite small and always gleaming. WAD has certainky tried tried to moderninze, the signature material is being still produced today in the form of hobos and small clutches, all of which I am very meh about. But in time for the holiday festivities they have launched a minaudiere line in a structured heart shape. Red, white, leopard and pink: pick your personality. Way cheaper then those handful of bling Judith Leiber bags @ $150 too. ww.whitinganddavis.com

Look Muffy a book for us

Do you miss the J Crew catalog circa 1990? Yeah, me neither. But in case you beg to differ, Jack Wills University Outfitters will bring you the collegiate sweatshirts, kakhi pants and blazers of yesteryore. Busily selling prepware in England for years, they have made the jump stateside in light of the Will and Kate fascination with all things British. In fact, their tagline is "Fabulously British" with a dapper pheasant silhouette for a mascot. (which I like quite a lot, it is smashing!)A few nods to modernity do abide such as fab beaded flapper dress, shrunken tux jacket, sweatpants worn with heels and skinny colorful jeans. Guy stuff too, but aside from the shoes, quite concservative. www.jackwills.com

Marcia Marcia Marcia

The greatest giant polyester pants ever! Cuffs the size of dinner plates eating my feet whoo hoo. Do not underestimate the power of the stretch. However a bit manrepeller...what say ye?

Swanky Abode yes quite

Have you ever tried to do a U-ie on Westfield Blvd in downtown Carmel? It can be done and so worth it if you are heading to Swanky Abode in the Indiana Design Center. But you must hurry, as this pop up shop is a limited time offer, vanishing in December. Full of serious retro furniture and an amazing turquoise leather sofa, this Columbus Ohio outpost will fill all of your mid mod needs. Cutie Isreal Jones also stocks MTW spray paint which is kind of a big deal, I guess. Taggers?? Even if you are not into retro,(thats Ok, more for me) the "Best seller" candles are worth a sniff and he is happy to enlighten you on the bird chair providence which i assure you, you will find facinating

3 awesome pendant lights $600. My friend Dave also has this design in round chandeliers he snagged from an IGA in rural Illinois, msg me.

Surprise

When did Fossil get so, dare I say, EDGY?

Sadie Bootie $128 www.fossil.com

2K of originality

Fresh off his lawsuit FAIL, Christian Louboutian has actually created a new handbag concept that is pretty amazing. Take your basic clutch, add interchangable handle and, wait for it....fancify the thing and call it shoulder jewelry I really really love this. It's like your bag has it's own fascinator. Choose feather fluff, spikes or satin bows and note the bag is lined in that signature but not exclusive to RED. www.christianlouboutain.com

Smeller's the feller

Is it weird that I'd like my house to have a unique signature scent? OK maybe it is. The bigger challenge is finding ways of dispensing fragrance that does not make the dog cough. Those plug-in are boring and terrible and anything from BBW is a guarenteed choke. I find the soy based not very long lasting and again, I'd like soemthing really unusual. Thanks to a Saks gift certificate I managed to not quite spend $90 on a Bond candle
(yes there does exist a NINETY DOLLAR CANDLE). I'll let you know how that goes.

In my rsearch I did come across this intriging premise from one of the oldest perfumeries in the world, Cire Trudon, in the form of Stink Bombs
Small glass capsules that are meant to be thrown or broken open releasing a burst of scent for, as the press release states, "fragrance emergencies". See title.
www.ciretrudon.com