She's Got Leggings, and She Knows How to Use Them

Leggings have really come along way. In the beginning, they were something you wore to aerobics class, but now they can be dressed up with heels and taken out on a night on the town. Here's a few examples of leggings that really take it to the next level.

Acid Wash Cotton Spandex Leggings ($32):

Sequin Shimmer Leggings ($24.80):

Pierre Balmain Leather Leggings ($1,855):

AG Adriano Goldschmied Exclusive Velvet Stretch Leggings ($178):

EXTREME STRETCH STELLA JEAN LEGGING ($79.90)

IKEA Helped Furnish My New Home: Hemnes Bookcases and TV stands

I know IKEA gets a bad rap sometimes, but when you've just bought a new home and need to furnish it quickly, IKEA is the way to go. Yes, there are some things that can be iffy at IKEA (ie, any type of upholstered item, rugs) but for the basics like bookshelves and TV stands this place is pretty good. Check out some of the items we bought to help create our family room wall unit:

We started with the Hemnes TV stand ($199) in gray-brown:

Then added the Hemnes bookcases ($180 each) on both sides of the TV stand:
Finally, we added Hemnes bridge ($120) to finish off the look and make it a fully functional wall unit:

Total cost of this project: $679. Not bad considering how big the unit is. I searched far and wide for something of this size elsewhere and the prices ran well into the thousands. Plus the Hemnes line is real wood, not particle board.

The Twilight Engagement Ring: Proof that a Twilight Fan Will Buy Just About Anything

Infinite Jewelry Co. must have been suffering big time. What else would explain their great desire to partner with Stephanie Meyer and create a whole line of Twilight Jewelry. As far as I can tell from their website, that's all they sell now. The newest addition is the Twilight Engagement Ring.

The hoopla around this ring broke out today, a few days after the new trailer for Twilight Eclipse was released. The trailer included a glimpse of the ring, but apparently that was enough to get everyone excited about this piece of jewelry. If you are a die-hard Twilighter, then this ring is for you. If you have some taste, then you may want to skip it, and have your man get you a real ring. One that wasn't designed for a fictional character.

Here are the stats on the ring:

Available in 14K yellow gold or white gold (rhodium-plated for luster)

13 Diamonds - Brilliant cut, SI1 clarity, G-H color, approx. 1.06 carats

Price: $1979

PS: The $35 Fashion ring (all fake) and the $479 Fine ring (real gold, fake stones) are also available.

David's Bridal Redeems Itself

David's Bridal opened in Manhattan not too long ago. The store is just a couple of blocks away from my office. I pass it everyday on my way to work and everyday on my way back home. Most of the time, the dresses in the window are unimpressive. As is the customer service I've been told. But about a week ago, they put this dress in the window:

It stopped me in my tracks. It was that breathtaking. The picture really doesn't do it justice. I think they must have some new creative minds working for them, because the dresses have become progressively less ugly and more couture-like. A little shocked by the price ($1,150!), considering they are a "discount" bridal store (Home of the $99 wedding dress!). Nonetheless, I think David's Bridal has a winner on their hands with this one.

MirrorMate Frames

Need to transform a stale mirror in your bathroom to something that looks a little more custom? Enter MirrorMate. An easy and affordable way to update the look of your bathroom.

Ordering the frame is easy, just pick the style you like, enter the measurements of your mirror and then bam! Within about a week or so you get your custom frame shipped to you. Putting it together is relatively easy. You will need a second pair of hands to help you stick the frame onto the mirror.

The price of the frames depend on the style you choose and the size of your mirror. I have to say the MirrorMate frame made a big difference in my own bathroom...it completely updated the room. 4 stars for MirrorMate!

Gap Jeans Reinvented

I don't know what Gap did with their jeans but whatever it is, it's good. Real good. I bought two pairs of jeans recently that I have to say may very well be the best jeans I have ever bought. And I have a lot of denim. A whole drawer full of denim. Some of which cost me in the triple digits and these jeans still beat that!

I am a proud owner of the Real Straight Jeans $69.50

And the Always Skinny Destructed Jeans $69.50

The fit is just fantastic. The rise is not too high, not too low. Plus you get an automatic butt lift!

The Clear Banister Gaurd Kit

Bought the Clear Banister Guard Kit from Cardinal Gates a few days ago. The gaps in between the rails of my banister are just too big, and I felt that this posed a safety risk for my son. The kit contains a large plastic sheet, a hole puncher, and some ties.

It's relatively simple to install. My husband did it in about a half hour (it's a small banister). All you need to do is measure the plastic, mark where the rails are, hole punch the plastic sheet and put the ties through and around the rails. Once all of the ties are securely around the rails, the plastic sheet will cover all of the gaps. No need to drill or screw any nails into anything.

So far it's working pretty well. My son is intrigued by his reflection in the plastic but other than that he pretty much stays away from the banister. It's barely noticeable, which is nice.

The plastic rolls are available in 5ft ($21.95) and 15ft ($47.88) lengths.