Sing Along all day long!

I am the internet queen. You want to know about someone or something, i'm your go to girl. I can find property records, divorce decrees, criminal infractions and obscure clothing lines. Every once in awhile my friends surprise me and come up with something i myself just didn't find. I am grateful to those friends, because they keep me grounded.

So i'd like to acknowledge my friend Barbara from http://www.shopbarbara.com/ for 2 great sites.

First, for those of you who love music, try out http://www.pandora.com/ you can create your own music stations, genres etc., and play them all day long. I have hooked everyone in my office, and move from office to office listening to everyone's favorite picks. Sometimes i even sing along,

Second, for the shoppers out there, this is a goodie. http://www.retaildish.com/ wow, talk about down and dirty, you can search by state and find out which of your local stores don't pay for their goods and aren't responsible in their buying! OUCHHHHHHHHHH! No worries, B.Dazzled is not on those bad boy lists!

Etsy!

My whole world has changed, with just 1 click of my computer. First let me say, i have not a creative bone in my body. in kindergarden, my stick figures had 3 legs and my clouds and trees were never right. I have always envied those who could whip up an invitation, create a scrap-book, sew, (although does anyone sew anymore?). Then it happened! The other day the solution to my problem of having not one ounce of creativity appeared in a flash. I was wondering the web and came across http://www.etsy.com/. Now at first, i admit i stumbled upon it, the way you keep clicking through one link to another and had no idea the magnitude of my find. And then a day later there it was a whole world of creative people who could cut, paste, sew, bead, decoupage, string and were willing to sell me these pre-made goods! I've placed a few orders already, (i'm a bit compulsive when I find something I like)

try it you'll love it!

Its going to be a bright bright sunny spring!

Back from the spring trade shows in NYC. And here's what i can tell you about what you'll be shopping for this spring. Lots and lots of yellow. From simple cotton tee shirts to Silk dresses and going out tops, Yellow is the color of spring. Follow that purchase with eyelet. Not just white eyelet dresses, but shirts and pants and shorts, Eyelet in bold colors, even eyelet in madras print. Burn-out is back and your choices are plenty for tanks, tops, dresses in every color of the rainbow.

For jewels, you'll be seeing lots and lots of enamel bangle bracelets and bright colored stones.
Engraved disc necklaces are going to be popular too!

I'm happy to report that the weather was like spring this past week, so for a girl like me who lives in Florida, it was no jacket required. But what i quickly realized is, that in order to be a city girl, you must own knee high black boots! Doesn't matter if they are black patenet or suede or leather, stilletto heal or wedge, but the black boot MUST be worn to be considered New York chic!

Third Avenue haunts and fashions predicitions

So i'm off to NYC on Monday for spring tradeshows. Flying up with the "vice-president" (otherwise known as Mom, or Nadene to those of you who know her). This is the first trip i've taken on spirit airlines http://www.spiritair.com/ . The flight was so cheap, we are hoping there are seats in the plane! We are also staying at Ian Schraeger's Paramount Hotel in NYC, http://www.nycparamount.com/ what a bargain, we got a winter rate of 139.00 a night. Hopefully there are beds in the room and a bathroom. My mom loves to stay in Times Square, not me, i'm an east side girl, through and through. What beats the Third Avenue staying near Bloomies, the original Scoop http://www.scoopnyc.com/ and Citarella http://www.citarella.com/ and gracious home http://www.gracioushome.com/ and kate's paperie http://www.katespaperie.com/ and of course dylan's candy bar wwwdylanscandybar.com ? With such great hotels as The Dylan, The Benjamin, The San Carlos, The Alex and The Sofitel.

But i digress, i won't make it to any of those locations on my quick trip, so here are my fashion predictions for spring. Still going strong on bangle bracelets, but this time in enamel. One of my favorite designers, Rachel Leigh http://www.rachelleighny.com/ is breaking out some fortune cookie necklaces, and i for 1 can't wait to see them. Color, hmmmm they always seem to show yellow for clothes for spring and while it looks fabulous and fresh, i never see it translate to stores when i'm actually shopping in the spring.

Pizza, games, bargains!

We are in the final days of winter break, and I just knew I had to get out of the house with the kids today for everyone's safety and sanity. Chuck E. Cheese seemed the perfect option. The kids were excited enough, and I was looking forward to having the older one act as the perfect big sister chaperon while I chilled at the table with the book I have been trying to read since October. I am happy to report that everything worked out exactly how I had planned. Imagine that! It must have been my lucky day.

The icing on this cake of a day were the free tokens offers I discovered at the Chuck E. Cheese web site. I absolutely never go to Chuck E. Cheese without a coupon in hand (you shouldn't either!), and I had gone online to print one out. Not only did I find the coupons I was looking for, but I also learned that you can redeem good report cards for tokens! Better still, they have these downloadable "rewards calendars" covering everything from potty training and ending thumb sucking to using good manners and doing homework. Totally genius. Check them out before your next visit to the house of the rat: www.chuckecheese.com/promotions/rewards-calendars.php