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 !!!

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.

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!

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!

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!

(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!

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:

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.

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?

It’s my Friday off and I can do anything I want!!! I think I’ll go window shopping for shoes. Just window shopping. I mean, unless they’re on clearance, or they look like these:

I have several pair of red stilettos; they make me feel frisky and sexy. Slingbacks, classics, casual and spunky, no two pair are alike. There are even days when I’m convinced that all I need in my closet is a collection of black Armani separates, a good 3-season suit, a few thin coordinating sweaters and several pair of red shoes.

I have shiny fire engine red vintage spikes from Italy, like new, that I found at a secondhand store almost ten years ago. They’re wing tips so I can wear them to work! Can you imagine a businesswoman in red stiletto wing tips? I couldn’t until I saw the perfect shoes to put me in the mood for Hump Day and grabbed them for a whopping . . . Four dollars? I think I’ll wear them tomorrow.

Every now and then my VISA Rewards Program offers something insanely gorgeous for an insane number of points that I never have. Rats.

So when are animal prints going to be “out of style?” I’ll poach people’s castoffs from the local Goodwill, because I need my occasional kittyprint fix! Last weekend it was a few padded hangers from Homestore, $2 apiece. Now that’s in my range these days. Dealing in cash only (no VISA!) has been a challenge, but in a perverse kind of way I sorta like it. There’s something very rewarding about finding something luxurious and beautiful for next to no money at all.

It was bright and sunny today, but way too cold to be outdoors, so I went shopping with a new $10 DSW gift certificate. Yes, I was armed and dangerous but I was prepared: Since I cut up my VISA on New Year’s Day card I’ve only been able to use cash while shopping.

I definitely scored a pair! The photo to the side is not of the actual shoe, but it’s pretty close. Instead of cork mine have the traditional stack heels, plus the heel is sturdier. And they were cheap!

Max Studio “XTRA” peep toe slingbacks

Retail: $149.00
DSW Price: $119.94
Purple Sticker Discount (50%) $59.97
Additional 30% Sale $17.99
$10 Gift Certificate

TOTAL: $31.98

SAVINGS: $117.02

That price is nearly impossible to beat that these days. However, my advice for everyone else out there is to wait a month or two. The economy is in free fall, so save your mad money for the inevitable store liquidations. I just plumb forgot about that.

I’m so excited about my new peep toe slingbacks I want to wear them now! Unfortunately we’re having record breaking freezing temperatures and it’s going to be awhile before the blooms come out. But they will!

I had a $10 certificate for DSW that was about to expire, so I just HAD to spend it. Unfortunately my sprained ankle made trying on high heels impossible. I couldn’t even get my left foot into any of the high heeled pumps I’d already fallen in love with.

So I bought fuzzy kittyprint slippers instead. With the certificate, they cost $2.