Archive for December, 2009

The Shoes you should NEVER Wear

Thursday, December 24th, 2009

alexander mcqueen shoes gaga

Oh look, let’s trot about in horse hooves that have been bedazzled? How about NO.

ShesSmart.com ladies, if I ever catch you wanting to wear a pair of these Alexander McQueen shoes (or knockoff’s) I’m giving myself permission to slap you silly! Not only are they unattractive, these are shoes that were so intimidating that models Abbey Lee Kershaw, Sasha Pivovarova and Natasha Poly (probably all famous, but I don’t really follow models too much)  all decided not to walk in McQueen’s show, lest they have to wear them and risk tripping. If you’re not Lady Gaga, you don’t need to be wearing these things which look like horse hooves! (Image from Grazia.)

See, those models were smart. You could twist your ankle so fast in shoes like these. And I guess the point isn’t just about these particular McQueen shoes – if you have a pair of shoes you’re considering buying but you’re thinking they’re dangerous and will be tough to walk in… you have to make the tough call and let them stay at the store.

As you know, Sophomore year of high school is a VERY important time in a young girl’s life. I went on a sho ... Read More

Twilight Fans: Would you Wear Blood?

Thursday, December 24th, 2009

Wear a necklace ... with fake blood? Think I'll pass. By meekssandygirl on Etsy.

Wear a necklace ... with fake blood? Think I'll pass. By meekssandygirl on Etsy.

Even for the most devoted Twilight fan, are you really inspired by this crochet necklace? It’s made of silk cashmere and is meant to look like a vampire has bit you. It’d probably freak out old ladies if the blood looked more realistic and splattery. I think the point is, do you really love Edward so much you’d wear this ridiculous necklace? Etsy is a place for great handmade twilight gifts. Points for creativity – don’t get me wrong.  And it looks very well-made! It’s just not very attractive. It those were crocheted to look like red flowers, I’d think it was very chic. Something about wearing blood just isn’t up my alley. And my alley allows for a lot! I think that wearing a vial of real blood (a la Angelina Jolie) is slightly less creepy than this!

Even though I think you’ll regret this purchase, we at ShesSmart.com says that because it’s only $10.00, if you really want it – go for it. You have to embrace the crazy things you love sometimes. We all regret certain purchases in our lives ... Read More

Giveaway! Why Don’t YOU Have an Automatic Litter Box?

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

litter box
I know you don’t want to deal and touch a cat box more than you have to. The ScoopFree self-cleaning litter box is the perfect solution.

Is there anything more annoying than cleaning out a cat box? Well, I’m sure there are some things that are more annoying – but it’s still definitely a major pain! As someone who’s has lived with both a cat and a dog I also know that a dog will (an eww moment is about to happen – brace yourself) go into the cat box and eat what’s there because of the protein content. So, keeping that box clean is not only important to ensure your cat uses it (cats are neat freaks) but in keeping your dog from being super-de-duper gross!

Enter, the ScoopFree Automatic Litter Box, which is a great self-cleaning litter box for your cat(s). After your cat has used the box a rake will go across the box and sweep the waste into a covered area. You never have to touch the stuff, because you throw away the tray. And the trays you buy have pretty blue Fresh Step® Crystals which will contain odor better than that normal, ugly litter. This means you can put this cat box anywhere – it won’t smell, and it’s actually p ... Read More

Why Shopping Online is the Better Shopping Experience

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

angry cat

ABC News is doing a story RIGHT NOW about why Best Buy is better than online retailers like Amazon and Overstock. The reasons cited is that everything is “real” and people can even smell the products and comparison shop (obviously they mean between whatever THEY offer).

Well, I’m going to have to argue that the products you buy online are also real, no one wants to smell electronics, and you can much better comparison shop online!

Another strong reason ABC News is pushing as an angle is that people want to talk to other people. Well, I often go to a couple different popular electronics stores for small things sometimes. The problem with these stores is that the people working often there don’t know anything. I went to one store and asked about the popular J Buds earphones and they had no idea what I was talking about.  How can they help me understand what to buy if they don’t know anything about the product other than what the price tag tells them? (And whatever costs most is what they steer me towards, as well as trying to get me to buy extra warranties. One employee tried to guilt me saying that people get fired if they don’t sell enough warranties. I’d get an extended warranty for a large item, but if it’s under ... Read More

David the Gnome & Wife Celebrate

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

shell angels

David the Gnome and his wife are always around, especially for Christmas. Even little choirs of elves! Smart gals never forget their childhood joys, or let go of the magic that Christmas used to bring.

... Read More

If Life Were a Musical…

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

fdaf

These legs know how to shimmy and shake. Photo by Tornatore on Flickr.

Did you watch The Sing-Off on NBC? Yea, I didn’t either. I mean I did a LITTLE. Enough that I was able to know what I liked and go on Youtube and find clips for you. I’m good like that, tcha. See, singing (watching but especially singing yourself) has been proven by doctors to make you happier. I don’t know why, it just does. Even if you’re a bad singer (which I am – I’m terrible like you wouldn’t believe) it can still improve your mood. I think it has something to do with using endorphins (or making them?) and expressing yourself. Expressing yourself always feels good. And wouldn’t it be cool if your life was a musical and as things happened, people surrounded you and musical acts took place?

Like, you wake up one morning and realize everything is going your way and your Prozac must really be working? Then this song would be great…Mr. Blue Sky (Ensemble).

... Read More

Do You Remember that thing called…Gratitude?

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

Large Branches of Hope Necklace - Aquamarine

Large Branches of Hope Necklace - Aquamarine

I recently had the opportunity to  interview Waves of Gratitude founders Cheryl Nordyke and Kim Wierman. The Waves of Gratitude website sells inspired jewelry and inspired apparel – all with the aim to let you wear symbols of gratitude. I asked them about the name of their company, balancing business with vision and the quality of gratitude itself. Not only are they talented women who know what they’re doing (and doing it well), but I really do believe that they’re grateful for everything good in their lives. The products from Waves of Gratitude are not only designed to be an investment in making your life more stylish, but enhanced on a personal level, too. What could be better than that?

___________________

As two women who were already friends, was deciding to go into ... Read More

Our Smart Tips for a Better Restaurant Experience

Monday, December 21st, 2009

Tiramisu picture by blhphotography on Flickr

Tiramisu picture by blhphotography on Flickr

There are some secrets and tips  that can help you better enjoy your time in a restaurant.

She’s smart, because she…

…is careful when trusting the waiter’s opinion. If you ask if a certain dish is good, they are not allowed to badmouth it even if they dislike it. Notice if they’re vague in their answer. I like to ask them what the most popular dishes are, or what they themselves like to order. After all, since they work there they must know what’s actually good.

…is cautious about the of soup of the day. The daily special or the soup of the day is sometimes because a restaurant has too much of something, or the expiration date is just about to arrive.

…omits the lemon in her drink. Those lemons get touched by unwashed hands, and then are dropped into your drink!

…also omits the ice in her soda. Ice in your soda pop waters it down, and means you’re getting much less of the soda. I always ask for no ice. Because they keep the soda cold anyway, why bother with ice? Plus, you need to ask for les ... Read More

Steal Kate Beckinsale’s Haute Look

Sunday, December 20th, 2009

kate beckinsale

Kate, honey, I’m sure your husband* is a very nice man. But maybe help him out on the style front. Red cord pants with suede loafers? Not loving it. But I’m loving your look a hell of a lot. The elements are simple, and half of the magic must be in how shiny you got your hair to look. The mid-calf black boots are chunky and look fun to storm around in – even if you aren’t the storming type. The tight black pants are a super nice touch when paired with what looks like a basic black t-shirt and a gray cardigan that could be from anywhere, in any price range. All paired off with black sunglasses and fresh pink lip gloss, this look is perfection and easy to recreate. Hope you don’t mind if we steal it.

I see your look here and it’s amazing to me how you are so sexual and look so young, but I know that you’re a Mom who probably brings cupcakes to PTA meetings. I see your l ... Read More

Bamboo Pet & Fat Cat Review and Giveaway

Saturday, December 19th, 2009

great cat toy

As a pet owner, I adore giving my pets treats and toys. I recently learned about the website for Bamboo Pet and Fat Cat, and the company graciously sent Shopcat and Shopdog some products so that we can see how they like them. And because we ended up loving this stuff so much, we’re doing a giveaway so that you guys can win some products!

Shopcat has gone just about flippin’ CRAAAZY for this Zoom Stuffers Catnip Toy that’s shaped like a funny-looking, cute-tastic bunny. The bunny has a pair of shorts on (with a carrot design – because this bunny is stylin’!), and there are these really amazing catnip “pods” included (2) which are little satchels of organic catnip. You stuff the pods into the bunny’s pants! Now, I’ve stood in aisles and looked over cat toys. You may have seen pictures of Shopcat where there’s a littl ... Read More