Kittyprint Tuesday: Changing Her Spots

It’s time to switch over to the Winter Kittyprints!  My wardrobe “needs” are simple this winter: I purchased one pair of black suede boots at DSW.  They cost me only $25 with my reward certificates so boo-ya!  I’ll buy a few knit separates in a month or so when they go on sale and I’ll be DONE.  It’ll be a HUGE improvement from the way that I used to be!

Kittyprint Tuesday: Here We Go Again

Kittyprint stilettos by Jimmy Choo

The turning inward during the low part of my PMDD cycle gets very intense as we move into Fall. I get extremely psychic, which, depending on my mood can be really good or really really bad.

Given the signs at work: Weekend emergency muster drills, Continuity of Operations course offerings, etc. I’m pessimistic and cranky tonight. “Continuity of Operations” is code for martial law.

Sometimes when I want to reconnect with the wonder and awe of this world I visit the Crop Circle Connector. I think this one, found at Cherhill, nr Calne, Wiltshire last August, is very pretty.  Nearly ALL the crop circles that appear on this site are found in Wiltshire, so that must be the place where they keep the machine ;-)  Yes, I am a cynic: Crop circles are neither magical happenings nor gifts from martians. Humans have this technology but for some reason they hide it from the public. I think I know why, but that’s a story for some other time.

Half Nekkid Thursday: Skinny Bitch (with Cute Shoes)

Here is THE PERFECT WAY to save money and lose weight, especially if you’re broke: Cut up your credit cards, and THEN become extraordinarily picky. That’s right: Become a connoisseur, but only AFTER you’ve eliminated the means to indulge yourself. You won’t be able to afford much of anything; consequently you won’t buy much of anything. It also means you won’t eat much, either. It’s the Skinny Bitch Way.

Yes, I have the book, and the Skinny Bitch in the Kitch cookbook. NO, I do NOT plan to go 100% vegan; I’m happy being mostly-vegetarian and mostly-organic, but a girl must cheat sometimes. Still, the Skinny Bitch concept is sound: Just don’t eat crap. If it has aspartame, msg or corn syrup forget it. Grab an apple at the local convenience store if you forgot to pack one at home. In the presence of healthy choices play it like this: If it’s not orgasm-inducing GOOD, just don’t eat it. If nothing thrills you, wait until you get home and cook dinner yourself!

If you can only afford a grass-fed ribeye steak twice a year then guess what: Congratulations! You’re practically a vegetarian! If you and your sweetie are only able to afford to eat at an exquisite restaurant on once a year (or less), well then you know what you’re gonna do: Just forget about the cheap restaurants with the frozen/reheated foods. Take the money you save NOT going to TGIFriday’s and use it to splurge on your anniversary.

Hershey’s chocolate? Are you kidding? Moi, the Hedonistic Pleasureseeker, will not eat any chocolate that isn’t Belgian truffle quality. If that means I have to wait until Christmas to even find it, let alone afford it it, so be it. I have an incredible confectioner close to home, but she’s only available seasonally. When she’s around I can only afford to buy a few chocolates at a time, and I make them last a week or two. Consequently my chocolate habit has a negligible effect on my waistline.

You can extend the approach to any buying decision: Unless it’s perfect just don’t buy it. Shop around until you discover perfection (it could take years). When faced with perfection but without the means to put yourself in debt you’ll have to make some hard choices: Save up for it, or just do without. What a concept! Most of the world operates this way; it’s only Americans who think they can run amok, buying now and paying (and paying, and paying) later.

This is how I reined myself in with my shoe habit (well, this and just plain running out of space): Unless the shoes in question are high end, extraordinary, comfortable and at least 70% or more off retail I just pet them and whimper, then leave them behind at the store. They also have to fill a gaping hole in my wardrobe before I will buy them, and I must have the CASH on hand to pay for them. When does this precious confluence of events occur? Almost never. It’s been a barefoot summer . . . almost.

(These made the cut)

Half Nekkid Thursday: I can quit any time I want to. I swear.

These Coach peep toe pumps, perfectly tailored and comfortable (for heels), retailed at $250.

At DSW they were $170, STILL too much for this fashionista to pay. Unless they’re couture I won’t pay over $100 for any pair of shoes, ever. But DSW put this pair in the back room at 70% off so I grabbed them, put them on my feet and danced around screaming MINE MINE MINE! OK I didn’t really scream, but I did dance a little. Plus I had a $10 gift certificate, bringing the total price down to

$24 !!!

I Know My Addiction, But Prada Never Broke My Heart

Labels or Love by Fergie

Shopping for labels, shopping for love
Manolo and Louis, it’s all I’m thinking of
Shopping for labels, shopping for love
1, 2
Manolo and Louis, it’s all I’m thinking of
1, 2, 3 Turn the lights on.

I already know what my addiction is
I be looking for labels, I ain’t looking for love
I shop for purses while love walks out the door
Don’t cry, buy a bag and get over it
And, I’m not concerned with all the politics
It’s a lot of men I know I could find another.

What I know is that I’m always happy when I walk out the store, store
I’m guessing Supercalifragi-sexy, nothing to be playing with
I love him, hate him, kiss him, diss him, tryna to walk a mile in my kicks

[Chorus]
Love’s like a runway but which one do I love more?
No emotional baggage, just big bags filled with Dior
Love’s like a runway, so what’s all the fussing for?
Let’s stop chasing them boys and shop some more.
1, 2, 1, 2, 3, Turn the lights on.

I know I might come off as negative
I be looking for labels, I ain’t looking for love
Relationships are often so hard to tame
A Prada dress has never broken my heart before
And, ballin’s something that I’m fed up with
I’mma do the damn thing, watch me do the damn thing
Cause I know that my credit card will help me put out the flames
I’m guessing Supercalifragi-sexy, nothing to be playing with
I love him, hate him, kiss him, diss him, tryna to walk a mile in my kicks

Gucci, Fendi, Prada purses, purchasing them finer things
Men they come a dime a dozen, just give me them diamond rings
I’m into a lot of bling, Cadillac, Chanel and Coach
Fellas boast but they can’t really handle my female approach
Buying things is hard to say
Rocking Christian Audigier, Manolo, Polo, taking photos in my Cartier
So we can’t go all the way, I know you might hate it but
I’m a shop for labels while them ladies lay and wait for love

[Chorus]
Love’s like a runway but which one do I love more?
No emotional baggage, just big bags filled with Dior
Love’s like a runway, so what’s all the fussing for?
Let’s stop chasing them boys and shop some more.
1, 2, 1, 2, 3, Turn the lights on.

Shopping for labels, shopping for love
Manolo and Louis, it’s all I’m thinking of
Shopping for labels, shopping for love
1, 2
Manolo and Louis, it’s all I’m thinking of
1, 2, 3 Turn the lights on.

Half Nekkid Thursday: Showoff Shoes

I’ll find a place at which to show these off by summer’s end Jeweled mules by Giuseppe Zannoti, the last pair in the boutique, grabbed for 75% off their scary-prohibitive retail!

Kittyprint Tuesday: Barefoot Contessa

Weather permitting, the Hedonistic Pleasureseeker always drives barefoot. These are patent kittyprint slingback pumps by Luciano Padovan, comparable to Casadei or Giuseppe Zanotti in price/quality. Found mine on superduper (80%) clearance of course. Now if only this Dolce & Gabbana bag would go on superduper sale, too. Like, 90% off because it’s the only way I could afford it!

Perfect Day

It was a perfect day today: No work, blue sky, poofy clouds, warm breeze. It was a shorts and sandals day and I made the most of it: By sleeping until noon (11 hours sleep total) and shopping the rest of the day.

That’s right: I totally blew an opportunity to 1) do my homework and 2) play in my garden, all for the sake of personal errands and a 50% off sale at DSW. Shame on me!

I’ll do better tomorrow I promise: I’m very, very VERY well rested!

Half Nekkid Thursday: Repeat Offender

(Massimo Baldi ponyhair pump, Italy. Maybelline Wet Shine in Juicy Tomato)

I have a few weaknesses when it comes to clothes shopping:

1. The color white: When will I ever learn?

2. Linen: Since when do I iron, come on.

3. Lingerie: Honestly, join a 12 step program already; sweet Jeebuz on a cracker, damn!

4. Ponyhair kittyprint footwear. It’s so fragile, but I fall for the softness and the kittyspots every time.

Oh well: At least I’ve succeeded in giving up pantyhose and Dry Clean Only!

Kittyprint Tuesday: Rain Rain Go Away

Sigh. The recycling comes every other Kittyprint Tuesday. Unfortunately, if it rains I need to wait another two weeks to put the paper and cardboard recyclables. Since it’s still raining, and I have no garage and no basement . . . damn. Where am I going to put it all?

I found these at David Barrie’s website (Tag: Fashion). They originally came from the Style section of the Sunday London Times.

Half Nekkid Thursday: Red Hot

Red shoes are the sexiest. I can tell from my choices in footwear these days that it’s going to be a frisky summer!

Both pair by Guess, each on clearance at Marshalls for $29.

My date for the evening. I think I’ll take him to bed with me tonight

Half Nekkid Thursday: This Little Piggy

I had my hands full this evening, so there was only enough time for half a pedicure and no you can’t see my little nekkid piggies. Happy HNT!

Fantasy vs. Reality

Fantasy

Found at Organizingla.com

($18,000 at Crowne Closets)

I’ve been assembling do-it-yourself-style modular/stackable shelving in my bedrooms. I chose particleboard with a dark espresso laminate finish for the master bedroom and Tinkertoy-style wire shelving for the spare bedroom. I’ll take pictures when I’m done!

Unfortunately for my sense of aesthetics but fortunately for my checking account I’m in the Reality Zone:

Reality

$35, Stacks and Stacks.com

$12-$14, Target

$30-$40, any discount big box store

Kittyprint Tuesday: Stalking Shoes

I’m convinced that certain animal prints trigger a reaction in the limbic system, that ancient part of the human nervous system that ruled our cave dwelling ancestors. Perhaps it’s just an adrenaline response creating the sense of danger, but one way or another the witness is put on notice: A predator lurks.

I can’t decide which of the below stilettos I like the best. Scorpio likes the white ones. What do you think? One would think I had enough ponyhair predator shoes but please understand: I don’t have kittyprint d’orsay peep toes! It’s an important distinction!

At least, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

 

Sugar and Spice

I must have lost my mind. But you know what? I kind of like it.

I was at Bed, Bath and Beyond last month and encountered a few remnants of this pattern in a corner on a bottom shelf, on clearance. I saw the pink mules on the shower curtains and lost my mind: I had to have them. It was time to redecorate the Master Bath!

 

As things turned out I already had most of the other decorator bits around the house so I moved them all in, and as you can see the result is ultra-girly. Actually it looks kind of like a French bordello. Now my Spa Days will be extra decadent!

I had no idea the little mules on the shower curtain would be decorated with real maribou. Aren’t they cute?