Saks 5th Avenue on 5th Avenue in Manhattan is ready for the holidays; the building has been decorated with giant snowflakes that light up at night. New York is such a great place to visit around the holidays: there is great shopping, great restaurants and all the holiday decorations really put you in the mood. And now that the Broadway strike is over, you can even see a show while you're there.
If you are looking for an unusual holiday stop this year you might be surprised by what you discover at the Newport Aquarium in Newport, Kentucky. Newport Aquarium's "Scuba Santa" swims with sharks and amazing aquatic creatures in a 385,000-gallon tank during the holiday season. Daily dive shows are part of the Newport Aquarium's "Scuba Santa's" Water Wonderland, now in its fifth year at the Newport Aquarium. Santa will be at the aquarium from November 23rd until January 1st. In addition to the aquatic Santa and seahorse sleigh the Newport Aquarium is also home to thousands of other animals including penguins, eels, sharks and alligators.
Some of Washington D.C. society's most fashionable hostesses coming out of the closet. No, not that closet -- the Costco Closet. That's right, they are shopping for party items at Costco to save money. They even serve Costco's frozen appetizers.
Mr. Perle, the neoconservative and former adviser to Donald Rumsfeld, offered to walk through his local Costco, pointing out the products that he said were increasingly drawing D.C. power shoppers like himself.
That Richard Perle? The gourmand with a home in Provence who once dreamed of opening a chain of souffle restaurants?
Yes, Mr. Perle proudly shops in Costco's concrete warehouses stocked with three-pound jars of peeled garlic and jumbo packs of toilet paper. And he has no problem serving the store's offerings to dinner guests.
"Because it should have been Dean & DeLuca?" he asked, sounding half incredulous and half amused. "I really think there's a socio-cultural thing here, and people are entitled to their pretensions."
As a recent article in Vanity Fair lamented, the days of glamorous Washington dinner parties are long gone. Indeed, some hostesses today aren't above serving Costco salmon, nicely dressed up with a dollop of creme fraiche.
Mr. Perle said he shopped at Costco once a week when he was in town, and at a dinner party he held recently for several colleagues and friends, most ingredients were from there - the beef for his daube a la Provencal, the limes for his lime souffle. The salmon for gravlax - also from Costco. He said he always received compliments, and he always got double takes when he told his guests where he shopped.
He's not the only D.C. host or hostess to go big box.
"I do it - Costco all the way," said the writer Sally Quinn, who is known for the power salons she puts on with her husband, the former Washington Post editor, Ben Bradlee, at her Georgetown town house. "I just started."
Ann Jordan, the wife of Vernon Jordan, also calls herself "a big fan" and says she has used Costco food for parties, especially for the fund-raisers she held during the Clinton years. Ellen Bennett, a fine art photographer and the wife of Robert S. Bennett, President Clinton's personal lawyer in the Paula Jones case, has thrown an open house "Costco party" each Christmas since 2004.
"Pigs in blankets, salamis, salmon, shrimp, pate, cheese," said Mrs. Bennett, remembering her parties.
Juleanna Glover, a lobbyist and former aide to Vice President Dick Cheney who is also known as a hostess, was an early convert. And, she added, almost as if confiding a secret, "You recognize the brownies and black and white cookies at some of the most prominent individuals' homes."
Susan Lacz, chief executive of Ridgewells, the largest catering company in the Washington area, said she knows the trend all too well. "My gosh, it drives me crazy," she said. "Some of the people I hear are going to Costco, I think, 'Oh, you must be kidding me.'"
Caterers told the Times that hostesses have asked them to buy all the food at Costco, then serve the food on china plates while pretending that the food was made by the caterer. Most caterers draw the line at that, and who can blame them?
Social hostesses have been lamenting the lack of a nightlife in D.C. under the current administration (President Bush reportedly likes to go to bed early and hates formal dinners). During the Clinton years, there were parties almost every night (the president was a night owl and loved to socialize). We somehow doubt that anyone was serving warehouse food during the Reagan years (although Costco was founded two years' into his administration.) Everyone loves Costo (or Sam's or the local equivalent), but really -- they're serving frozen quiches at Embassy parties? That's certainly a change from the days when the Iranian Embassy was still open, where the champagne and caviar (the really good stuff) used to flow 24-7.
Sarah Jessica Parker was the guest judge on last week's episode of Project Runway and one of the cool prizes was that the winning design would be featured in Sarah Jessica's new inexpensive fashion line, Bitten. Bitten is exclusively available at Steve & Barry's stores nationwide.
Sarah Jessica chose Victorya Hong's outfit (a trapeze dress with a tiny, plaid racer back vest) as the winner. Her outfit was the inspiration for
an actual addition to Bitten's Holiday
collection. A stretch-cotton dress ($19.98) similar to Hong's
design is available at Steve & Barry's stores across the country
in both black and burgundy, as is a
separate plaid vest ($14.98) in grey/black.
The actual winning design is being displayed in Steve & Barry's flagship New York City store at the Manhattan Mall.
"I loved Victorya's design immediately when I saw it during my appearance on Project Runway, and am very excited that Bitten shoppers will have the opportunity to add our interpretation of the dress to their closets," said Sarah Jessica Parker.
We love Sarah Jessica Parker and think it's great that she wanted to design a fashion line that is affordable for those with a very limited fashion budget. She certainly didn't have to go that route when she decided to design a line of clothing; she could have done something much more upscale that probably would have been more profitable. At this price point, the profit margins are going to be small, even with the inexpensive fabrics and a high volume. The line has had mixed reviews but is doing very well, according to reports. The line reminds of the kinds of clothing seen at Forever 21, but the sizes go up to 22.
You can see Sarah Jessica's Bitten website here. You can see the Steve and Barry's website here.
Today is Cyber Monday and there are many great deals available online. Most of the deals are for today only. We combed through many of today's offers and these are some of the best online deals we found.
West Marine is offering 10% of all Internet orders for Cyber Monday.
Best Buy has a long list of computer and electronics offers that end today. Offers include the Samsung SC-DC173 DVD camcorder for $249.99 ($50 off) and the Plantronics 330 Bluetooth Headset for $24.99 ($28 off).
Office Depot's Cyber Monday deals include the HP Photosmart A618 Compact Photo Printer for $39.99.
You can find many more Cyber Monday deals here on ShoppersShop.com's Deals page.
This is the hottest electric gadget/toy available this Holiday season: his name is Pleo and he's a remarkable electronic dinosaur which responds like a puppy. He burbles baby talk, he wakes up, he walks, he wags his tail, he responds to light, he purrs or goes to sleep when you pet him and even knows not to walk off the edge of the table. He can also interact with other Pleos. The Pleo would make a great gift for an executive who loves fun gadgets on his desk (it's a real conversation starter) or for a pre-teen or teen. It's expensive -- around $350 at Amazon.com. The Pleo is available for pre-order (it's available on December 18th) but it's sure to sell out. Check out this video to see Pleo in action:
In a recent poll, eleven percent of Americans admitted that they had been caught shopping online by their bosses. That's a real tribute to American ingenuity because 50% of workers are planning to
shop online during work on Monday, November 26th -- Cyber Monday.
The study was conducted on behalf of BJ's Wholesale Club of Natick, Mass. and surveyed more than 500 working people across the country.
Although more than 11 percent said they had been caught shopping by their boss while on the job, the survey showed that the temptation to find a great bargain is so strong, they would spend an average of nearly an hour shopping online this Monday instead of working.
As on Black Friday -- where "door-buster" specials prompt shoppers to line up in the wee hours outside stores on the Friday after Thanksgiving for small numbers of low-priced items -- many online retailers offer some of the most exceptional deals of the year on Cyber Monday.
However the desire to find bargains online lasts far beyond Cyber Monday. The BJ's survey showed that about 50 percent of those surveyed said they do all of their online shopping at work, while 13 percent said they have shopped online during a conference call.
Thirteen percent admitted that they were buying stuff off of Ebay during a conference call? Well that certainly explains some of the odd conference calls we've been on where one person didn't really seem to be paying attention. We think it's especially impressive that only 11% have ever been caught shopping when they should have been working. Shop on!
We blogged earlier about some Black Friday resources and tips. Malls and stores were packed today with early risers seeking in-store deals. There are also some great deals available online if you just can't face the mall today. Here are some of the best online deals we found:.
The George Foreman Grill is only $29.99 at Linens N' Things. Other Linens N' Things deals here. Offers end 11-24-07.
Mac owners should check out the Office 2008 for the Mac rebate. Tidbits says this deal is too good to miss if you have a Mac .
Hot Topic is offering $25 off orders of $100 - if you want something from Hot Topic today's the day to buy it. Offer is good today only.
Land's End is offering free shipping with no minimum required until 11-27-07.
Black Friday is Pink Friday at TigerDirect with a portion of purchases going to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Apple has discounted some iPods, iMacs and other electronics. The store is also offering free shipping for today only. You can find the Apple Store's online deals here.
Amazon is participating in its first Black Friday with discounts in a variety of categories. Amazon's Black Friday website can be found here.
Trendy fashion retailer Shopbop is offering the following coupon: Spend $150 and get $25 off, spend $300 and get $50 off, spend $500 and get $100 off, and spend $1000+ and get a $250 off. Just enter code "GETAJUMP" at checkout. Offer ends 11/26/07.
Charles Tyrwhitt, a maker of quality shirts in England, is offering $100 off orders of $250 or more plus free shipping. Offer ends 11-26-07.
Gaiam.com, a retailer of green living, yoga, fitness and organic products, is offering 1 cent shipping until 11-30-07.
You can find more online deals here on ShoppersShop.com's Deals page.
Ah, Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving is now the biggest shopping day of the year. And in order to entice you to roll out of bed at some preposterous hour to hit the mall, retailers are slashing prices on popular items. Many of the deals will last all weekend. Black Friday takes place in the real world: you'll stand in line, elbow other shoppers to get that last widescreen TV and wonder if there isn't an easier way to get a bargain. Black Friday, which falls on Friday, November 23rd, is then followed by Cyber Monday when retailers offer amazing deals online.
So how does a smart shopper get the best deals on Black Friday? How do you find those deals? And -- more importantly -- how do you keep your sanity in all the chaos?
Merchants usually have different deals for their physical stores and their websites. You can find many of the online retailer deals which extend from now until next Monday on ShoppersShop.com's Deal page. ShoppersShop.com also continues to list deals on this page throughout the holiday season.
To find the bricks-and-mortar deals - also known as in-store deals - check websites like blackfriday.gottadeal.com, bfads.net, www.blackfriday.info, www.dealtaker.com and theblackfriday.com. Another web resource is the Black Friday Twitter - which is providing ongoing news and updates and linking to online articles and news releases. Checking the retailer's websites directly may also be useful as some retailers now post the in-store deals on their websites. The other option is to check your local newspaper which will be packed full of Black Friday ads for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
Black Friday is an event that both retailers and shoppers take very seriously. Last weekend 100,000 Best Buy employees participated in a Black Friday dry run that included simulated lines of shoppers. Other retailers are probably making similar preparations. Your fellow shoppers will be taking the day seriously as well. They will be getting up as early as possible to beat you
to the store. Several articles are providing tips for how to best handle Black Friday. You can see some of the articles, here, here, here, here and here. We've analyzed these articles and below are some of the common themes we found.
Web Research: Find information about the deals before you they show up in the newspaper. You are reading this blog entry so you are on the right track. You should also check prices online (TheStreet.com suggests using comparison shopping tools) and make sure the Black Friday deals you are interested look like they are really as great they look.
Get There Really Early: There's a reason Target's Black Friday tv commercials show shoppers practicing for the big day. A lot of people get up
very early to get the discounted items before they are sold out. If you want the best deals you need to be an early riser as well.
That means being at the store when it opens to make sure your discounted item is still available. Yes, even if it is four or
five in the morning. Black Friday shopping is serious business.
Teamwork: Useful for carpooling and splitting up to get items. It's also useful for waiting in queues - what if you need a bathroom
break?
Have a Plan: List the deals and items you are interested in and focus solely on them. The best way to save money is by not getting distracted by other items in the store.
Returns: Familiarize yourself with the store's return policy and use your credit card - if you want to return something later your
credit card will come in handy. Your rights as a consumer are much stronger legally with a credit card than with a debit card,
because a debit card is considered cash. Many credit cards offer return protection and sale price protection.
If you love the excitement of a crowded store or mall, have a "must buy" item that you need a deal on, want an excuse to get out of the house on Friday or you have a competitive nature Black Friday is the shopping day for you. If you find the concept horrifying, you should wait until Cyber Monday and shop from the relative calm of your own home.
If you're feeling overwhelmed that Thanksgiving is upon us -- perhaps you've just found out that there will be 12 for dinner instead of 8, or you're not feeling well -- you can always send someone to the store for an emergency frozen pie. But which one will taste the best?
The San Francisco Chronicle rounded up an expert panel and demanded that they rate frozen apple pies based on taste. Here's what they found.
Generally speaking, none of them liked frozen pie -- what a surprise! But, when pressed, here are the brands they liked from best to worst, out of a possible score of 100:
Vermont Mystic Pie Co. - 67
Sara Lee Deep Dish - 67
Trader Joe's - 65
Duarte's - 24
Mrs. Smith's - 24
Traditional - 24
Christine's - 20
Sara Lee - 18
Mrs. Smith's Deep Dish - 12
Wholly-Wholesome - 12
Amy's - 4
We think if you are forced to buy a frozen dessert, you should go with Marie Callender's Peach Cobbler. It's uncooked; you put it in the oven and bake it per the package directions. Add some vanilla ice cream and you're all set. We don't think a pre-cooked, frozen pie can be anything but a mushy mess. Go with frozen, but uncooked. And if you're really pressed for time, buy a pumpkin pie at your local grocery store or bakery. Central Market, Whole Foods and many other stores will be open on Thanksgiving Day in the morning.
It's that time of year again, when Oprah chooses her favorite things and her lucky television audience goes insane with joy when they realize they are going to get one of each of said favorite things to take home.
Christina Applegate is the new face of PETA -- she's starring in an e-card which shoppers can send out asking people not to give fur for Christmas. Christina, who is a vegetarian, talked
about why she supports PETA:
PETA: What prompted you to go vegetarian? Was there one incident?
Christina: I was eating lunch on the Married With Children set, and they served me some kind of meat (I don't even know the names of them all anymore because it's been so long). I looked down and there was blood on my plate, and it was that realization, that I can't eat something that has been alive, I just can't do it. So I stopped, and that was it. That was the last time.
PETA: Have you always had animals in your life?
Christina: Always, ever since I was a little girl, my house has been basically a zoo. Everything I have has dog hair on it, and that's just the way it is.
PETA: PETA does a lot of provocative things in order to keep people focused on important issues. How do you feel about that and about some of PETA's outrageous tactics?
Christina: I think it's great that you guys do that. I think that it's important -- sometimes you do have to shout out to be heard.
PETA: We hope your ad will encourage people not to buy fur as gifts during the holidays, which we think should be a time for compassion and empathy toward others. Is there anything you'd like to say to people, with that in mind?
Christina: They make really great synthetic fur -- you really don't need real fur. And it's cheaper, so why spend the money? The holidays are also a time when people freak out about their finances. If you don't want to spend the money, why not try some of the other options instead of killing a bunch of animals?
You can see the ecard here and you can see Christina on her new hit comedy Samantha Who? Mondays on ABC. And if that doesn't do it for you, you can read about how she once
married another woman in Las Vegas. But she's not a lesbian. It's all very confusing.
When she's not writing bestselling books for adults and teens, the always hilarious Meg Cabot finds time to share her thoughst about important issues of the day with her readers. Here, Meg discusses the horrors of neck creping and what can be done about it. Meg's latest mystery novel (for adults) is Big Boned.
Hayden Panettiere is the new face of Dooney & Bourke. Peter Dooney is aiming squarely at young consumers with his new design, The Hayden Bag. Hayden was the inspiration for the handbag, which the Heroes actress will pose with in print ads. Hayden told Peter what she wanted: a large leather shoulder bag with puffy pleats, a buckle closure and great style. So that's what she got. The bag is a limited edition made in Florence, Italy and retails for $500.
The bags are scheduled to hit Dooney & Bourke retail boutiques by the end of the year. They will also be available at department stores such as Bloomingdale's, Lord & Taylor, Macy's, and Nordstrom and online at dooney.com.
Hayden said there is an arrest warrant out for her in Japan because of her actions in trying to save dolphins from slaughter by Japanese fisherman. We think her stance is very brave and that the Japanese government's position on killing dolphins and whales is absolutely despicable. (The U.S. government has been at odds with Japan over its merciless and wanton killing of whales for years.) Annoy the dolphin and whale killers and support Hayden, we say.
The season four opener of Project Runway was excellent. Heidi looked fabulous and sounded like Minnie Mouse on the location shoots, Tim Gunn was adorably unflappable and the new contestants appear to be the most qualified group yet. This year's resident loony is the Accidental Designer named Elisa Jimenez and she really brings the crazy. Her dress for the first challenge -- which was to be something that really shows who you are as a designer -- was a skin-tight, powder-blue mermaid gown with an eight foot train of random, colored material that was just tacked onto the bottom of the back of the skirt. Heidi said "Elisa's model looked like she was pooing fabric" which was pretty much dead on.
When asked to describe her inspiration, Elisa took off into a flight of incomprehensible chatter.
"I wanted something that would be sylph-like, you know, aerial, water, air....Going for, like, a haiku of a cut - just very simple, but beautiful, like swoooooooshtp! Then this cascade of, like, pwaaaaaat! coming out the back." Guest judge and designer Monique Lhuillier cut to the chase: "I don't know anyone in their right mind who would wear the dress the way it is."
But did the Rain Goddess Woman (as another contestant dubbed Elisa) get booted off the runway? No! Instead Simone LeBlanc was kicked off the runway for her poorly-constructed gown and jacket combo that looked terrible together.
Michael Kors asked the model to take the jacket off so he could see the top of the gown. When she complied he then screamed "Put it back on!!"
We can't wait for more of the same as the season progresses.
On the Top Chef Emmy nomination: "[It] was a big f***ing deal."
On life after her divorce from husband Salman Rushdie: "I'm really f***ing sad."
On writing her new cookbook: "Finishing the f***ing book was like being in labor for two years!"
On hosting dinner party: "I pulled this out of my ass."
Talking to Harvey Weinstein about her charity event: "I'm an ambassador now for Keep a Child Alive and we're doing a campaign and an event and you should buy a f***ing table." Weinstein's smiling response: "I will buy a f***ing table."
Responding to Russell Simmons who asked if she had a boyfriend:
"No, I don't," Padma said, laughing, "and if I did, I couldn't tell you. My husband would call f***ing Reuters."
On tabloid coverage of her romance with Salman Rushdie and her bra size: "[A gossip column] ran an item saying we were together and they ran my bra size," said Padma, laughing. "Except they got it wrong-they said it was 36C. I said, 34C, motherf***er!"
On her current living situation: "Now I'm staying in a hotel with all my shit in storage."
Yikes. Why do we have the feeling that the editors had to work overtime on Top Chef to delete all of her colorful comments? Actually, we'd love to see her uncensored comments on Top Chef when Anthony Bourdain was a judge. No doubt they terrified the contestants.
The new book giveaways sponsored by our sister sites, ReadersRead.com and WritersWrite.com, include:
Autographed copy of How to Get Somewhere in the Music Business:
From Nowhere to Nothing by Mary Dawson (CQK), the must-have
guidebook for every aspiring songwriter.
Still Summer by Jacquelyn Mitchard (Warner Books), the
exciting and moving story of three women and their unexpected
and shocking adventure.
Widdershins by Charles deLint (Tor), the captivating bestselling
urban fantasy set in and around the mysterious town of Newford.
Science Fiction: The Best of the Year 2007, Edited by Rich
Horton (Cosmos), the collection of short stories that will
thrill sf fans. A Locus Recommended Reading Selection.
There's no entry fee of any kind and all email addresses are kept strictly confidential. Winners are selected monthly from a random draw. The entry form for the Book Giveaways can be found here.
Dita Von Teese is looking mightly fine in her new ads for Frederick's of Hollywood. The lingerie company, which is determined to knock Victoria's Secret off its pedestal has gone for a
vintage glam look for its 2007-08 Holiday collection. Dita has signed on to star in the company's upcoming "Pin-Up Parade" Holiday campaign.
"Dita is a perfect fit for Frederick's of Hollywood," said company Creative Director, William Ford. "Her retro-glam style and persona highlight Frederick's iconic brand and rich Hollywood heritage. The catalogs featuring this burlesque legend will be collector's items for years to come."
"As a longtime fan of the history of the Frederick's brand, it's a great honor to be chosen to represent the company by appearing as the star of the 2007 "Holiday Pinup Parade," said Dita Von Teese. "Frederick's of Hollywood has been giving women the accoutrements they desire to bring glamour and sensuality into their lives by offering a wide selection of both the elegant and the risque since 1946. I'm proud to be the face of such a legendary institution of lingerie!"
For the new line, Frederick's drew inspiration from it's own line of lingerie that it made in the 1940's (the company has been around for 60 years).
"Dita is the ideal cover girl for the Frederick's brand," states Yolanda Dunbar, Frederick's of Hollywood Senior Vice President of Brand and Marketing. "She marries a classic vintage look with a modern Hollywood twist which is what the Pin-Up Parade Holiday line is all about. When two inspirational icons as Frederick's of Hollywood and Dita Von Teese join creative forces, the product can only be spectacular."
We can't think of a better spokesperson to sell lingerie than Dita. She's not stick thin: she actually has curves and looks fantastic. You can see the collection and order a the Ditapalooza catalogue at
Fredericks.com
The Writers' Strike
shows no sign of ending anytime soon. Things are so bad that the parties aren't even negotiating. The writers are picketing. Celebrities are delivering fast food to the picketers. The studio bosses are busy firing all of Jay Leno's staff and trying to find a guest host that will cross picket lines and sit in for
Jay (clearly, someone that never wants to be a future guest on The Tonight Show).
The short-sighted studio heads (there are actually only six giant conglomerates that control almost all media that you see on TV) have their heads stuck firmly in the sand, as technology is leaping forward. They are refusing to pay writers even one penny in residuals for new media. When all television eventually goes digital and DVDs are obsolete, tv shows will be downloaded, streamed, or zapped onto viewers' televisions, cellphones or PDAs. Writers have no deal in place for the new technology -- all they want is a tiny percentage of the profits -- if there are any. It's a fair deal, because DVDs are going away (the writers currently get 4 cents on every DVD sold).
Why not show your support for the hardworking scribes who create all your favorite TV shows? Despite what you might have read, the majority of screenwriters make very low salaries and are unemployed much of the time, as they only work from project to project with no job security at all. You can find lots of cool writers' strike swag at StrikeSwag.com. All profits support the WGA.
You can find full coverage of the Writers' Strike (What's it all about? What's the current status of all my shows? Where can I find breaking news to read instead of working? What celebrity delivered what food to the picket lines today?) at our sister site WritersWrite.com's comprehensive Writers' Strike Section.
You may not be ready for the holidays but they are certainly ready for you in Beverly Hills. Rodeo Drive is ready for holiday shoppers and as part of the city's holiday promotion, several hotels are offering package deals so you can shop to your heart's content. From the official release:
Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows:
Now through Dec. 28, the legendary property is offering guests a "Holiday in Beverly Hills." The exclusive package includes superior guest room accommodations at only $335 per night (up to a seven night stay). For more information or to make a reservation, call (310) 276-2251 or visit beverlyhillshotel.com.
Holiday Wish List Package at the Luxe Hotel Rodeo Drive
The Luxe Hotel Rodeo Drive is featuring the "Holiday Wish List" package. Priced at $259 per night, guests enjoy deluxe room accommodations; a welcome glass of California wine or a warm cappuccino; Continental breakfast for two; two passes to the Paley Center for Media - make sure to stop by and see the jolly man in red; a complimentary book and 10% discount from Taschen Books; and complimentary gift wrapping at The Paper Source. The package is available through Jan. 15, 2008. For more information or to make reservations call (866) LUXE-411 or visit luxehotelrodeodrive.com.
The weather in L.A. is usually great in December, and a weekend shopping sounds like the perfect follow-up to Thanksgiving. You can't walk a block without hitting a spa in L.A., so it's a great time to get in some pre-New Year's pampering while you're at it. We know we will. You can find out what's happening for the holidays at lovebeverlyhills.org.
Guerlain, which created the first automatic lipstick and the first solid lipstick called "Forget Me Not" in the 1920's, has now created the world's most expensive lipstick. Called KissKiss Gold and Diamonds, the lipstick retails for $62,000. Custom designed in France, the lipstick is adorned with 110g of solid 18-carat yellow gold and 199 diamonds.
The lipstick case is a replica of the original top-selling KissKiss lipstick created in 2005 by Olivier Echaudemaison (the famous French makeup artist who began his career by traveling with the Duchess of Windsor when he was but 17 and went on to do royalty and celebrities) and perpetually chic designer Herve Van Der Straeten. Mr. Van Der Straeten (channeling Karl Lagerfeld) had this to say:
"Lipstick is simple, yet mysterious. One never really knows what she may uncover when the top is removed. This element of surprise creates curiosity and longing, which is what I hope each woman experiences when she clutches KissKiss Gold and Diamonds in the heart of her hand. It is powerful and unimaginable, unique and desired, obtainable and unobtainable at the same time." So far, we haven't felt any particular curiosity and longing as we wondered if it was time to re-apply our lipstick during the day, but perhaps we were just in a hurry.
When not in use, the lipstick is housed in a black lacquered wooden case, where it can be properly worshiped on your altar of makeup. It is refillable and comes with its own lip brush and protective black suede pouch. The gold casing can be customized with an engraved name or message. The lipstick is available in 15 customizable shades hand selected by Olivier himself.
The shades include:
6 Pinks: Rose Fleur 574, Rose Malicieux 568, Rose Desir 566, Reve d'Or
544, Maxishine Cherry Shine 621, Maxishine Strawberry Shine 663
6 Reds: Folie de Grenat 525, Insolence de Rouge 522 , Purple Strass
571, Maxishine Red Shine 620, Maxishine Orange Shine 622, Maxishine
Mango Shine 641
3 Neutrals: Envie de Beige 540, Brulee d'Impatience 548, Maxishine
White Shine 600
You can book an appointment to order your diamond-encrusted lipstick at
at Guerlain Boutiques at Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus San Francisco, The Breakers West Palm Beach and Epcot. We were shocked to see that there is no way to buy this in Las Vegas. Because, trust us, that is the one place on Earth where they can sell lots and lots of lipsticks that cost more than a BMW.
If $62,000 is not in your makeup budget this fall, we recommend Guerlain's new oversized compact which has the loveliest bronzing powder we've ever used: Terracotta Poudre D'Orient. It costs a mere $65 at NeimanMarcus.com.
Two home trends gaining in popularity are second kitchens and underground garages. A Newsday article says the second kitchens fit into three categories.
Second kitchens tend to fall into three categories: those still-rare high-end restaurant-style kitchens for personal chefs and caterers, lower-cost functional kitchens for home cooking too messy or smoky for the luxury show kitchen seen by guests, and small auxiliary kitchens used primarily for religious holidays or for entertaining.
These kitchens are ideal for homes that hire a personal chef. Homeowners that do a lot of entertaining may also find a second kitchen a great place to allow caterers to set-up their gourmet deliveries.
"This is the new thing," says John Kean, a luxury home builder based in Cold Spring Harbor. "We really didn't get much call for it until the last few years."
His clients want restaurant-style kitchens in their huge vacation homes in the Hamptons, Palm Beach, Fla., and Vail, Colo., for their personal chefs and caterers to use. "Now we're starting to see it more on the North Shore of Long Island," he adds. "Some clients suggest it to us, and others, a light bulb goes off in their heads when we suggest it to them."
Shawn Elliott, broker-owner of Woodbury-based Shawn Elliott Luxury Homes, says big elaborate butler's pantries (which may have every appliance but a stove) and separate kitchens become more common the closer the home's value is to $5 million-plus. But in any case, whether and how it's done depends on local rules and regulations.
"The plans have to be approved; there's no hiding a second kitchen," he says. "But it definitely can be done. Where there's a will, there's a way."
Another emerging luxury home trend is underground garages. A Dallas Morning Newsarticle says the idea is becoming more popular for homeowners who want an underground garage so they can save space for a bigger yard or a pool.
Local builders say many of the homeowners opting for a basement or underground garage are transplanted Northerners accustomed to having a subterranean space.
"As land gets more expensive, you have to either give things up or try to find a different way," Mr. Moore said.
"It costs less to put part of your house underground than by buying another lot."
That's why Ed Abraham started putting underground garages in all his company's residential projects three years ago.
It adds about 10 percent to the cost, so a $400,000 house costs closer to $440,000.
"It gives them the ability to have at least a five-car garage," said Mr. Abraham, president of Park Cities Custom Builders. "All my houses have five-car garages; some have six. Plus, it gives them room in the basement to do like a media room."
The article does flag some concerns about water problems in underground garages and the need for a sump pump.
Court papers reveal
how Britney Spears and Kevin Federline spend their money.
Britney's Expenses:
$102,000 on entertainment, gifts and vacation
$49,267 on mortgage payments
$16,000 on clothes
$4,758 on eating out
$2,500 on phone bills
Kevin's Expenses:
$5,000 on entertainment, gifts and vacation
$7,500 on rent
$2,000 on clothes
$1,500 on eating out
$750 on phone bills
So, to recap: Britney spends roughly twice the amount of her mortgage payment on entertainment, gifts and vacations and she spends $4,758 on eating out. How is that even possible? Her every meal is documented by the paparazzi and McDonald's just doesn't cost that much. Clearly the alcohol expenses are being reported in the entertainment column. The travel expenses add up if she charters a jet when she flies, or travels with five people first class several times a month.
Britney makes $737,000 per month and pays $15,000 a month in child support payments to K-Fed. But that's going to go up if she loses custody, of course. We didn't see a category for "payments into college fund for minor children." What a surprise.
It looks like her legal fees are going to eat up more of her disposable income. A judge just ruled that she has to pay $120,000 of K-Fed's attorneys' fees because all the hearings were necessitated by her behavior.
Supermodel Gisele Bundchen has
dumped
the dollar due to its plunging value and is demanding to be paid in Euros. The world's richest supermodel joins many major investors who are putting their funds in Euros instead of the shrinking U.S. dollar.
Like billionaire investors Warren Buffett and Bill Gross, the Brazilian supermodel, who Forbes magazine says earns more than anyone in her industry, is at the top of a growing list of rich people who have concluded that the currency can only depreciate because Americans led by President George W. Bush are living beyond their means.
Even after the dollar lost 34 percent since 2001, the biggest investors and most accurate forecasters say it will weaken further as home sales fall and the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates. The dollar plummeted to its lowest ever last week against the euro, Canadian dollar, Chinese yuan and the cheapest in 26 years against the British pound.
"We've told all of our clients that if you only had one idea, one investment, it would be to buy an investment in a non- dollar currency," said Gross, the chief investment officer of Pacific Investment Management Co. in Newport Beach, California, and manager of the world's biggest bond fund. "That should be on top of the list," said Gross, whose firm is a unit of Munich- based insurer Allianz SE.
*****
When Bundchen, 27, signed a contract in August to represent Pantene hair products for Cincinnati-based Procter & Gamble Co., she demanded payment in euros, according to Veja, Brazil's biggest weekly magazine. She'll also get euros for the deal she reached last October with Dolce & Gabbana Spa in Milan to promote the Italian designer's new fragrance, The One, Veja reported. Bundchen earned $33 million in the year through June, Forbes reported in July.
"Contracts starting now are more attractive in euros because we don't know what will happen to the dollar," Patricia Bundchen, the model's twin sister and manager in Brazil, said in a telephone interview in September from Sao Paulo. She declined to discuss details of the arrangements last week.
"Gisele has contracts in dollars," said Anne Nelson, Bundchen's agent in New York at IMG Models, in an interview today. "When she works in Europe she gets paid in euros, when she works in the U.S. she gets paid in dollars, when she works in Brazil she gets paid in reais, and so on and so forth."
Procter & Gamble's Sao Paulo-based external relations director for Brazil, Andre Quadra, said he couldn't give details of the Pantene contract because of a confidentiality agreement.
So how low will the dollar go? Estimates are in a range, but most experts expect it to go to $1.50 against the Euro by Christmas. When the Euro was originally created, it was expected to be equal to one U.S. dollar. It now costs $1.44 to by one Euro, which is making European travel a nightmare for all but the wealthiest Americans.
The Writers Guild will go on strike on Monday, November 5th, causing Hollywood's wheels to grind to a halt. The Screen Actors Guild is supporting the WGA in its strike, as well. So what does this mean to the average TV viewer? It means sad times are ahead, that's what it means. The first shows to go off the air will be the talk shows: The Colbert Report, The Daily Show, David Letterman, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Tonight Show -- all those will go into reruns. If the strike drags on, the soap operas will then go off the air.
All dramas and sitcoms will go off the air as soon as they use up the episodes they have already filmed. That means no more Ugly Betty, Chuck, 24 or Grey's Anatomy. So what will there be to watch? News shows and reality tv shows will be unaffected. That's about it. If only Top Chef hadn't already ended. Still there's America's Top Model, The Amazing Race and the upcoming Project Runway.
There hasn't been a writers' strike in almost twenty years. The last time it happened, it got really ugly for television viewers and film goers. We heard that people actually had to read books and talk to their significant others in the evenings.
You can keep updated as to the status of the strike on WritersWrite.com's Writers' Strike section.
Just about everyone we've talked to today has a Halloween Hangover. Some are because of alcohol, but most of the hangovers we've encountered are due to too much sugar coupled with Congress' stupidity which resulted in Halloween starting an hour late this year. In case you didn't notice, we were supposed to have Daylight Savings Time a week before Halloween.
It's fall, so this is the one where you get to sleep an hour later -- our favorite day of the year. But Congress, spouting some inanity about saving power, moved Daylight Savings Time a week later. That means in the Central Time Zone that sunset began around 6:30 or so and it didn't get dark until 7:00 p.m.
Since trick or treating doesn't start until sundown, everyone with small children stayed up an hour later last night. How is that going to save power? If it's darker in the morning, people will just use more lights in the morning instead of the evening. We think it was all a plot to mess with Halloween. That's it. It's the War on Halloween!
Pictured is one of the jack-o-lanterns we carved yesterday -- we know just how he feels.
Sarah Jessica Parker was the guest judge on last week's episode of Project Runway and one of the cool prizes was that the winning design would be featured in Sarah Jessica's new inexpensive fashion line, Bitten. Bitten is exclusively available at Steve & Barry's stores nationwide.
This is the hottest electric gadget/toy available this Holiday season: his name is Pleo and he's a remarkable electronic dinosaur which responds like a puppy. He burbles baby talk, he wakes up, he walks, he wags his tail, he responds to light, he purrs or goes to sleep when you pet him and even knows not to walk off the edge of the table. He can also interact with other Pleos. The Pleo would make a great gift for an executive who loves fun gadgets on his desk (it's a real conversation starter) or for a pre-teen or teen. It's expensive -- around $350 at 
If you're feeling overwhelmed that Thanksgiving is upon us -- perhaps you've just found out that there will be 12 for dinner instead of 8, or you're not feeling well -- you can always send someone to the store for an emergency frozen pie. But which one will taste the best?
It's that time of year again, when Oprah chooses her favorite things and her lucky television audience goes insane with joy when they realize they are going to get one of each of said favorite things to take home.
Christina Applegate is the new face of PETA -- she's starring in an e-card which shoppers can send out asking people not to give fur for Christmas. Christina, who is a vegetarian, 
Hayden Panettiere is the new face of Dooney & Bourke. Peter Dooney is aiming squarely at young consumers with his new design, The Hayden Bag. Hayden was the inspiration for the handbag, which the Heroes actress will pose with in print ads. Hayden told Peter what she wanted: a large leather shoulder bag with puffy pleats, a buckle closure and great style. So that's what she got. The bag is a limited edition made in Florence, Italy and retails for $500.
Padma Lakshmi did a no-holds-barred 
Dita Von Teese is looking mightly fine in her new ads for Frederick's of Hollywood. The lingerie company, which is determined to knock Victoria's Secret off its pedestal has gone for a
vintage glam look for its 2007-08 Holiday collection. Dita has signed on to star in the company's upcoming "Pin-Up Parade" Holiday campaign.
The 
Guerlain, which created the first automatic lipstick and the first solid lipstick called "Forget Me Not" in the 1920's, has now created the world's most expensive lipstick. Called KissKiss Gold and Diamonds, the lipstick retails for $62,000. Custom designed in France, the lipstick is adorned with 110g of solid 18-carat yellow gold and 199 diamonds.
Supermodel Gisele Bundchen has
Just about everyone we've talked to today has a Halloween Hangover. Some are because of alcohol, but most of the hangovers we've encountered are due to too much sugar coupled with Congress' stupidity which resulted in Halloween starting an hour late this year. In case you didn't notice, we were supposed to have Daylight Savings Time a week before Halloween.
