Celebrity Look-Alike Dresses on The View

Attention all fashionistas! You'll want to catch "The View" Wednesday, December 24th at 11 AM EST for a very special segment on “celebrity look-alike dresses”. Our friends at Faviana, a hot designer of prom dresses in plus sizes, will interpret the dress Nicole Kidman wore in a recent appearance to promote her new movie Australia. The short dress is stunningly simple nude chiffon with a sweetheart neckline and swingy skirt. Elisabeth Hasselback will commentate the segment, which also will feature dresses worn on the show by guests Alicia Keys, Teri Hatcher, Anne Hathaway and Faith Hill. Check you local ABC affiliate for time and channel in your area.

Last Minute

The holiday celebrations are about the begin! Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year's are all quickly approaching and I haven't completed my shopping! If you're like me, we'll need to hurry and do
some last minute gift buying. Jessica London has great suggestions
and prices with its Top 25 Great Gift Ideas. Silhouettes offers pages of "Gifts in Style" including sweaters, jewelry and handbags. Then there is "Holiday Cheer" at Sealed with a Kiss Designs. You'll find a great collection of gifts for you and those special people in your life. Be sure to visit the Holiday Shop at Woman Within where Santa's gone wild with gift solutions from just $4.99! Finally, enjoy "Happy Savings" at Kiyonna.com with an extra 50% off final sale items until December 24th at midnight PST. Happy Holidays and Happy Shopping everyone!

Top Priority

Sorry, I've been away for a while...still recuperating from hosting Thanksgiving for the family! Anyway, I have a new Top Priority now and it's not shopping for gifts! It's actually shopping for me! The holiday parties have started and I need something to wear! I have a really great pair of black slacks and so I thought I'd just get several new tops and create a new look for each event. BelleAvenue.com (one of my favs!) has an awesome collection of dressy tops. These are some that I'm considering...what do you think?

Holiday Cents

The economy has everyone (including me) scared, so I've been trying to figure out a way to save cents this holiday season. Luckily for me, I read an article in our local newspaper this past weekend on just this very topic. A lot of the suggestions were simply good old-fashioned common sense...like buy less, shop sales, and use coupons. One of the best ideas though was to be sure to shop the Black Friday and Cyber Monday online sales. You'll definitely want to take advantage of the unbelievable savings on these days! What a great way to kick off the holiday shopping season and save some cents (and hopefully dollars too)!

Introducing Prom2009.com

While I've been worried about getting my holiday shopping done, I see the young ladies are already looking for the perfect prom dress! Since I've had several teens contact me about what's "in" for Prom this year, I decided to put the holidays aside and concentrate on Prom 2009. The good news is you will find everything you need to know at Prom2009.com! They have a wealth of trendy information starting with a super prom planning guide! Prom2009 also has lots of suggestions to help you chose the best dress style to compliment your figure, and you will also find a ton of tips on hair styling, makeup and the perfect accessories! Start your prom plans now at Prom2009.com!

As Seen In O

Have you seen the wide-calf microsuede boot at Silhouettes? They were featured in this month's issue of O, the Oprah Magazine. You can choose from a variety of colors: wine, brown or black and they have a side zipper too! These boots are just what I've been looking for and the good news is they're on sale now!

Holiday Convenience

Wow, I just found out that one of my very favorite places to shop on the web, OneStopPlus.com, has launched a new gift card program just in time for the holidays! Plastic gift cards as well as e-cards are available. I don't know about you, but I love receiving gift cards! Also, this will make my holiday gift buying so much less stressful than in previous years! A gift card is the "perfect fit" for anyone on your list! Be sure to check out all the details at OneStopPlus.com!

Trick or Trick

It's no trick, but oh what a treat! You can save 25% on ALL styles at Kiyonna.com until Monday (November 3rd) at midnight. This delicious treat also includes already reduced final sale items. Be sure to use coupon code TREAT08 several times this weekend! Happy Halloween!

Winter Warmth

Well, I returned yesterday from my big shopping adventure in Chicago! My daughter got several new items for winter, but I mostly looked...and now I've made a decision about a new coat for winter! The winter white coat is definitely hot! I saw several shopping along Michigan Avenue, and then I searched online. I found three that I especially liked at Jessica London. I have decided on the belted coat with the funnel neck. I love that style neckline as it isn't too confining and allows a color contrast with the top or sweater I am wearing underneath! It looks great with boots too! And I got the best deal ever...Jessica London has a special coupon for 40% off your highest price item good through December 31st!

Shopping Spree

I can't wait to visit with my daughter this weekend in Chicago! We plan to shop and eat, shop and eat, and do some more shopping and eating! We're also thinking we'll need a pedicure after all that walking! I think we'll find time to visit a psychic, too...we've had some pretty exciting palm readings in the past from the psychic on Ohio Street, just across from the Inn of Chicago! Well, let's get back to my shopping strategy for the weekend! I'm going to target these stores: Avenue, Fashion Bug and Lane Bryant. They're all less than two miles from my daughter's apartment, so it will be an easy walk. I'm going to see what I like and then when I get home I'll order the items online and use the online coupons offered by each merchant. The best part of my plan, however, is that I won't have to deal with hauling all my treasures on the plane, and I won't have to pay the airline's extra baggage charge! I'm going to have a fabulous weekend!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Just about everyone I know has been impacted in some way by breast cancer, whether by personal experience or as part of a support network for a family member or friend. The American Cancer Society publishes yearly facts and figures and so we learn that in 2008, an estimated 182,460 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among women in the United States. The frightening reality is that the chance of developing invasive breast cancer at some time in a woman's life is about 1 in 8 (12%). AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals founded the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the year 1985. It is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention and cure. The number of companies promoting breast cancer awareness has increased has over the years. For example, Torrid.com has a variety of breast cancer awareness items and with a donation to the National Breast Cancer Foundation you will receive 10% off your purchase of $50.00 or more (use promo code BCHOPE08). At AlwaysForMe.com, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each pink Enell bra will be donated to FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered). LimogesJewelry.com has a special collection of Breast Cancer Awareness Jewelry and 5% of all proceeds will be donated to BreastCancer.org. Finally, Shop Pink at Shoes.com and 10% of all proceeds go to Komen for the Cure. Oh, and please don't forget to check out the ACS recommendations for early detection of breast cancer. Be well!

Be Bold!

You'll be thrilled with the latest fashion trend if you love bright greens, radiant reds, shocking pinks, rich blues or royal purples! Jewel tones are in style this Fall! They're a collection of bold hues that illustrate the classic color associated with a particular gemstone. Look for your favorite colors of Fall at Jessica London and Roaman's. You won't be disappointed!

Do's & Dare's

Everything you ever wanted to know about denim can be found at OneStopPlus.com! The style and shape shops provide you with the information you need to get the perfect look. There's also a listing of the Top 10 Denim Do's and Dares. I wish someone would have shared these tips with me a long time ago!

It's a Plaid, Plaid, Plaid World!

I love Sunday mornings! There's nothing like a hot cup of coffee, perusing the newspaper and then watching one of my very favorite TV shows... Charles Osgood's Sunday Morning on CBS! It's a great way to start your day! This past Sunday the show had a fashion segment on of all things, PLAID! I had no idea, though, that there were so many types of plaid....argyle, buffalo, gingham, glen, lumberjack, Madras, Tartan, and even windowpane! It seems to be a fall fashion trend year after year, so I guess it really can be said that "plaid is forever!"

Purple Reigns!

Want to know what's hot this Fall? Visit the Trend Shop at Avenue.com and you'll find out! The most exciting trend for me is 'the color purple'! It has long been a personal favorite and always looks great with metallic shoes and handbag. A silver necklace and earrings complete the look!

Labor Day Sales

The first Monday of September is a U.S. federal holiday that celebrates the contributions of the American worker. It's Labor Day.....the traditional end of summer for me and that means lots of great sales! You'll want to check out the huge Labor Day Blowout sale at Woman Within. There are also super savings at Blair and Lane Bryant....and Silhouettes has $20 off a purchase of $100 through September 2nd! Happy Shopping!

Back To School Sales

I've finally found the Back-to-School sales! I don't know, maybe I just wasn't searching hard enough, but it seems like I missed most of the back-to-school promotions! Where I live the kids are beginning their second week of school already and I'm just finding the sales! Anyway, I did find some exciting online promotions! Torrid has everything from plus size tops to dresses with prices starting at just $9.99! Target has something for every age group from grade school to college! They also have uniform shirts, jumpers and pants in girls plus sizes with free shipping with a minumum purchase. You can also find uniform cardigan sweaters here. JC Penney has girls plus and juniors plus sizes too. You'll want to check them out for uniforms, tops, bottoms, trendy shoes and purses and save 20-50% on the Right Trends and Brands!

The Right Bag

My oldest niece, Michelle (who is "thirtysomething") and my youngest niece, Ellie

(who will be 12 on Friday!) spent the weekend with me. We had so much fun! It was nonstop eating and shopping the entire visit! It occurred to me this weekend that they are both headed back to school in a few weeks. Michelle has been a TV reporter at KATV Channel 7 in Little Rock, Arkansas for several years now, but decided to go back to school last year for an additional degree in meteorology. Ellie will be entering the 6th Grade in a few days. So besides the mutual interest in food and shopping they both are school girls and needed new school bags! After searching for the perfect bag we decided one of the best places to look was online at eBags.com. Michelle hasn't found the one for her yet, but Ellie likes the JanSport Wasabi backpack. Oh, and eBags.com has a back-to-school sale and free shipping too!

Warm in San Fran

It's been a busy year already! I've attended so many showers, weddings, graduations and birthday parties that I didn't think I'd have time for a real vacation. The good news, though, is that I might have a few free days in August! That would be a perfect time for a mini family vacation. My daughter starts law school the last week of August so it would be great to spend some time with her before then. I understand it will be nothing but study, study, study for the next year or so! Anyway, my husband and I visited San Francisco many years ago, but we have never vacationed there with our daughter. So this may be the perfect place for a short get away! However, I need to plan a little better than last time. The average high temperature is 66F and the low is 54F. As I'm always cold, I remember freezing the last time we went to San Francisco, so I'll be sure to take plenty of warm clothes for this trip! I found a fantastic selection of sweaters and jackets at Woman Within. I like the Only Necessities® One-Button Swing Cardigan for the daytime, and the Willow Lane® Boxy Mini-Quilt Jacket to wear during the evening. I'm thrilled too with all the super deals at Woman Within! I especially like this one: Woman Within - Take 30% off highest-priced item in your order with code WW23807, 7/1-8/31!

Love My Shoes!

I was looking this past week for several pairs of shoes to wear to my niece's wedding. I needed shoes to match my outfits for the rehearsal dinner, daytime wedding ceremony and also the evening reception! The good news is that I was able to find them online and avoid the time and frustration of going to several stores to find the perfect pair! I also saved a considerable amount in gas money! One of my favorite places to shop is LoveMyShoes.com. They have just launched a new website and I think you'll love it! The homepage features the latest styles in shoes and accessories and the top 15 best sellers. Checking out is also quick and easy.

Independence Sale

In the United States, the Fourth of July is a national holiday commemorating our independence. Families often celebrate with a picnic or barbeque followed by a fireworks show. Federal institutions and most corporations are closed to observe the day, but many retail stores remain open for business. This is great for me because, as you know, I LOVE to shop! Even better, though, I've found so many fantastic deals at my favorite online stores! I don't even have to leave my home to benefit from these outstanding sales! So when your belly is full from the barbeque and all has quieted down, get online and shop!

Shop Jessica London's Pre-4th of July Sale

Go Fourth Summer Sale At One Stop Plus

20% Off Everything Holiday Sale at Kiyonna!

Celebrate Your Independence At Roaman's

Shop the Fashion Webmall

I'm really excited to let everyone know about OneStopPlus.com! It's an online fashion webmall specializing in sizes 12W to 44W. They also have women's shoes up to size 14WW. The mall features these well known brands - Woman Within, Roaman's, Chadwick's, Jessica London and Avenue. You'll find great prices on all your fashion wants and needs at OneStopPlus.com!

What To Wear?

My goddaughter is getting married June 21st on the beach at the Marco Island Beach Resort. This will be my first beach wedding and I have no idea what to wear. The bride's mom said the guests will be dressed in everything from shorts to evening gowns! She suggested a sundress, not too casual and not too dressy...so I've been searching some of my favorite sites for the perfect dress. I want to look good, but be comfortable at the same time. I've decided on a short dress and found several that interest me at Belle Avenue. Also, there's a lot to choose from at Roaman's and Sydney's Closet. I especially like Sunset Beach from Sydney's Closet. It's the perfectly named dress for the beach wedding I'll be attending at sunset! Love and best wishes to Megan and Aaron!

Memorial Day

In the United States, Memorial Day is celebrated each year on the last Monday of May. It is a day set aside to honor men and women who have died in military service to their country. For many it begins with attendance at a memorial service or a visit to the family gravesite. The remainder of the day is typically celebrated with parades, swimming, backyard barbeques and shopping. If you plan to shop, be sure to save this Memorial Day with these dynamic sales!

The Great American Sale at Woman Within

20% OFF all orders of $150 with coupon code: CLOSED08 or more at Kiyonna.com

Chadwick's Memorial Day Mega Sale: Over 900 Styles!

Save 20% on $100 or more* at Avenue.com! Click Here for Details.

Just For Curves

I heard this past weekend that Mimi's Curvy Corner had a makeover and has a new name! It's now Just for Curves and specializes in trendy women's plus size clothing and junior plus size clothing sizes 14-36. You'll want to check out the classic to sexy plus size dresses, tops and bottoms all at great prices! Just For Curves also has a luxurious collection of plus size lingerie you won't want to miss!

NEW Junior Plus Size Swimwear Collection

My daughter goes to school in Chicago and will be spending the summer there also. She lives within walking distance of Lake Michigan and plans to spend her free time at Oak Street Beach. With so many shops in Chicago you'd think it would be easy to find that perfect swimsuit. Well, it hasn't been so easy, but she did find a fabulous selection of swimwear online at AlwayForMe.com They have a new junior plus size swimwear collection and now she has lots of great choices!

Super Deals!

Wow! You really have to check out the fantastic deals at Bargain Catalog Outlet and Closeout Catalog Outlet! BCO has plus size women's fashions in sizes 12W to 44W and is the discount website for brand offers from Woman Within, Roaman's, and Jessica London. CCO has incredible markdowns on classic fashions and career looks from Chadwick's! Sizes and colors are limited so be sure to shop often at BCO and CCO for unbelieveable buys!

Kiyonna's Got It All

It seems like everyone I know is getting married! I have five weddings to attend between now and July 12th, and two of them are out-of-town! I'm also hosting two bridal showers and will be guests at several others. There's even a weekend bachelorette party in Chicago! I think I need to get another job to pay for all the gifts, travel expenses and new clothes I will need for all these events! I was looking at Kiyonna and they have some fabulous tops in their new Uptown Girl Collection! I especially love the wrap style blouses and color block tops. They'll look great with a skirt or pants. I also found a beautiful little black dress. It has a steel blue tie and will be perfect for an evening reception! One of the weddings is in Marco Island, Florida and we plan to stay a few extra days so I even got a swimsuit! I was so lucky to find Kiyonna...they have everything I need to look great for every occasion!

Taillissime At Roaman's!

It's been quite a week! My car was stolen from my driveway last Sunday and involved in a police chase on Monday evening. The damage was extensive and my insurance company determined the car was a total loss! Well, that's a bit of bad news and good news for me! The bad is that I'm without a car...but the good is that I already have the insurance money. After this experience I decided I needed a little pick-me-up so I spent some of the money shopping online! Roaman's has a fabulous new French line called Taillissime! I bought the crinkled V-neck tee, linen blend culottes and beaded sandals! The outfit is perfect! I love it! Everything you could ever need for your Spring wardrobe is at Roaman's!

Getting Swimwear Ready

I have a few out-of-town weddings coming up which should be a lot of fun. One is in May in Phoenix, and the other is in June at the Marco Island Resort in Florida. We'll be sitting around a pool visiting with family and friends for a few days..... so that means I'll need to get a new swimsuit. I always dread going to the store and trying on swimwear. It's so depressing for me, but I have a new plan this year! I'm ordering my swimsuit online! I just got an e-mail from AlwaysForMe.com and they're having a huge sale on most of their women's plus size 2007 collection swimwear. This includes suits from the Carol Wior, Miraclesuit and AlwaysForMe Chic collections! They're 25-50% off the regular price! I've seen several that I think would look great on me! Check it out! You won't want to miss this fabulous sale at AlwaysForMe.com!

Now That's Special

Look fabulous on Valentine's Day! Get a new dress from Kiyonna, complement it with shoes and a handbag from Sydney's Closet, and then accessorize with jewelry from Limoges! Something special for someone special...you!

Plus Size Dress

Hi everyone! I'm back! After having been away for a few days, I just got word that boxes and boxes of gorgeous new plus size dresses have filled the closet! One of my very favorite dresses is Escapades from Sydney's Closet...you MUST check it out!