POSHVICE

I’ve always been a complete & total sucker when it comes to snazzy new gadgets - I pretty much worship all those online shops & mall stores that sell them, even when they’re admittedly kinda gimmicky. I mean, for example, I have a USB-powered plasma ball - betcha didn’t think anyone still was entertained by those, huh?

But recently I stumbled on something so incredibly cool that it managed to evoke my classic OMG MUST HAVE WANT BUY BUY instinct without setting off any silly/tacky/pointless alarms. Ladies and gentlemen, I am now lusting over a digital frame. If you haven’t seen them before, they’re basically dynamic photo frames - you can display any image from your computer or digital camera on a what is essentially a LCD monitor styled to look like a classic white picture frame. This means that you can change the image whenever you want without any fuss - and most of all, it just looks so effing cool. I want one SO bad.

I know that ankle bracelets aren’t as trendy as they used to be, but come summer every year I still do see a few girls rocking them. I’m not a huge jewelery person (I don’t even have my ears pierced - mostly because I know it’d be pointless as I NEVER remember to even wear what jewelery I do own, and the holes would probably close right up anyhow…), but I have to admit, there is something that I find kind of classically young and summery about a thin gold anklet when the weather gets warm. Silver is okay, too, and I usually prefer it over gold, but in this one instance I always notice myself favoring gold - maybe it’s because I associate the warm tone with summer, which, to me, is anklet season? Who knows.

Is anyone out there wearing an ankle bracelet this summer? What kind? Do you prefer thick or thin, gold or silver, plain or bejeweled? I just realized I hadn’t even THOUGHT about anklets for ages until I saw a girl wearing one at the store today, and it got me wondering.

One of the most stressful shopping seasons for many women is right before summer - when it becomes time to start looking for new swimwear. Body insecurity issues aside, there’s an overwhelming amount of suits, styles, colors & shapes to choose from - and it can take hours of hanging out in the womens swimwear department before you even find ONE suit that manages to be both attractive and flattering.

The most common problem that I personally have when shopping for swimsuits (and tops in general, really) is that I’m - ahem - very well-endowed in the bust area, and most clothing that fits my chest is really baggy everywhere else; while things that fit the rest of me are too tight in the chest. I’ve actually been browsing plus-size lines like Christina swim suits in hopes that maybe I can find a swim top that I like there (since retailers seem to assume that if you have big boobs, the rest of you has to be big as well) and then a cute bottom from a place that stocks “straight” sizes (weird terminology, I know), like Ocean Pacific, or something.

Though if anyone knows of any stores that cater to my body type, I’m open to suggestions.

As many of you know, I recently moved into a bigger & better place to live. The only downside to moving on up in the real estate world is that now my old furniture just looks so… old. I’m ready to find some new pieces of pretty, stylish furniture, but would prefer to NOT break the bank while doing so. So this has resulted in me scouring the internet for good sources of discount furniture that also manage to provide quality craftsmanship & appearance. I’m envisioning a gorgeous, chocolate brown sofa - maybe microsuede? - so wish me luck!

Like almost all women, I’ve struggled with breakouts - mine are mostly hormonal, but I find that generally, unless I’m eating REALLY well, taking tons of supplements, get lots of sleep, and exercising like crazy, my skin seems to suffer. Since I suck at willpower and tend to indulge in fast food and spend my money on entertainment purposes rather than endless bottles of skincare pills, I’ve found the next best thing to help keep my skin clear: natural acne treatment.

Part of why I have to be so careful about my lifestyle & beauty products in order to keep my skin clear is the fact that my skin is EXTREMELY sensitive. This has led to me pretty much only using all-natural products, and Like almost all women, I’ve struggled with breakouts - mine are mostly hormonal, but I find that generally, unless I’m eating REALLY well, taking tons of supplements, get lots of sleep, and exercising like crazy, my skin seems to suffer. Since I suck at willpower and tend to indulge in fast food and spend my money on entertainment purposes rather than endless bottles of skincare pills, I’ve found the next best thing to help keep my skin clear: Acnexus is my current favorite brand. They use tons of soothing ingredients like aloe vera gel as well as things like white willow park to purify gently & naturally. I’ve been using their face wash for about two weeks and so far I’ve noticed a huge difference - so if you have sensitive, acne-prone skin or just want to try a natural skincare regime, give them a shot!

I’ve always had this secret passion for sexy shoes - every costume party or Halloween or what have you is only special because I get the opportunity to dress up in outfits normally reserved for the party-til-7am-in-Miami crowd, which I most definitely do not fit into. But that doesn’t stop me from browsing shoe websites and lusting over the highest of the high heels while I plot my next Halloween costume! I mean, I know it’s crazy, but I can’t help but admit that deep-down, I really want a pair of light-up lucite stilettos. Sorry!

I broke my foot last year, and in the time where it was healing, working out was obviously out of the question. As one would expect, I gained some weight. My foot finally healed properly, so I’ve been doing my best to lose the excess pounds - eating right, working out almost every day, walking the dogs more often & longer… it’s going, but it’s going VERY slowly. So I decided to look into a bit of a cheater’s tactic: weight loss pills.

After all the bad press that some past diet pills received, it was clear to me that thorough research about each brand and their side effects was necessary. Luckily for me, I found the Weight Loss Research website, an absolute treasure trove of reviews & ratings of all the top diet pills. I’ve been making my way through all of the reviews, and it’s definitely been helping me to narrow down my choices, so I thought I should pass on the URL in case anyone else is in the same boat as I am!

Once I do pick a diet pill and start trying it out, I’ll be sure to post my experiences here, so check back if it’s a topic you’d be interested in.

Mother’s Day is quickly sneaking up on us, and it’s probably the one holiday that’s the hardest for me. You see, my mother is incredibly hard to buy for - she simply doesn’t like most typical Mother’s Day gifts (anything involving bath and body or makeup or fragrance, etc, is completely lost on her) and she tends to be brutally honest about my gift-giving skills… which, according to her, tend to be sub-par. It’s always a challenge, because I WANT to pamper her - she works hard and I feel like she deserves some cushy reward for it - but just about everything I’ve ever gotten her in that realm of thinking has been met with a less than enthusiastic response.

However, while I was browsing around the web earlier, an idea dawned on me: Bathrobes! Buying my mother a luxurious, super-plush bathrobe could be a good equilibrium between my desire for spoiling her and my mother’s desire for practicality. Terry Robes serve a purpose, but they can also be extremely indulgent. You can find Robes in every fabric from microfiber to chenille, from terry to velour. Plus, adding personalized touches like a specific pattern, monogram, or even a hoodie will take the robe to the next level of gifting goodness.

I’m not 100% decided on the exact robe that I’ll be getting her, but I have faith that this is an idea that she’ll enjoy much more than my usual attempts. Wish me luck!

I checked my e-mail for the first time in about a week, and I had TWO messages asking for me to post again talking about my experiences with Payday Loans. So, this post goes out to you two & anyone else who is still curious about what exactly these sort of services entail.

Honestly, I think the easiest way for me to explain is by walking you through how to get one in the first place - and the first step is to find a reputable lender, for example this Payday Loans website. Once you’ve thoroughly read their website and gone over their terms carefully, fill out their online application. Make sure you also check out your individual state’s laws about these kinds of services (they can be found here, at the State Licensed Cash Advances info page). The nice thing about this website in particular is that you can apply 24/7 - so if you realize that you’re about to be broke at 11PM on a Sunday night, you can still put your application through right then & there.

You’ll receive an answer within a few moments, and since your credit score isn’t a factor, even if you’ve got debt/bad credit you CAN still use these services & get approved. You’ll be told how much money they can lend you (basically, they won’t lend you more than you can pay back realistically), and once you accept the deal (ie, you pay the money back within a certain time frame with a certain amount of interest on top) your money will show up in your bank account within a day or two via direct deposit.

Paying back the money that you’ve borrowed is pretty simple - you can pay it either via direct deposit (have it taken out automatically on your next pay day) or online through their website. In my experience, their customer service department is really friendly and helpful, so if you end up needing an extension or more money, don’t be afraid to ask - these companies basically exist to help you, after all. Just stay honest with them and don’t borrow more than you can afford in the long run, and these types of services can be a really great way to help dig yourself out of a temporary financial hole.

Hope that helped - if anyone has any more questions, feel free to comment & I’ll respond ASAP!

CRUNCH Fitness Candlelight Yoga has been a staple of mine whenever I’m actually doing a decent job at working out consistently & being healthy. It’s actually the DVD that got me into yoga, and a lot of that has to do with instructor Sara Ivanhoe’s wonderful teaching style. She explains all the postures and movements well without being patronizing or annoying, and has developed a wonderful, relaxing program that you’ll never get bored with. I love doing this as my cool-down after a tough workout, or just to get the kinks out after a long day at work. It’s gentle enough for beginners, yet once you’ve gotten really flexible, it’s still challenging because she shows you different versions of the postures.

The postures and “Vinyasa flow” will gently tone your body while improving your flexibility - so this is an absolutely wonderful DVD if you’ve never done yoga, or if you’re just looking to supplement your current collection with a new, soothing, relaxing program.

The DVD also includes a supplemental 15-minute energizing routine that you can to do begin your day or as a pre-workout warm-up. Either way, it really does wake your body up and it’s a great way to relieve any stress from sleeping funny or working too hard! Sara also gives you a tiny introduction to “mudra”, or yogic hand signals in this section - namely, she shows you the mudra that is supposed to help keep your mind focused & your body energized.

If you like to listen to your own playlist while you workout (as I do), the DVD also gives you the option to toggle the audio options. You can pick from the basic audio track that includes Sara’s instructions and their own soothing soundtrack, or you can choose the instructor-only track when you want to listen to your own music, or just focus on your breathing.

Overall, I HIGHLY recommend this DVD - I’ve had it for five years and still don’t get bored with it. I lend it to all my friends who want to try yoga, so I definitely recommend it to anyone out there who wants to try yoga, needs a good stretching/flexibility routine, or just wants to soothe their body and relax!

The CRUNCH Fitness Candlelight Yoga DVD is currently available for $10.99 @ Amazon.com!

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m looking to become much more financially savvy & responsible. Not that I’m in huge debt or anything, but I often feel rather clueless about the whole realm of personal finance. It probably stems from the fact that I grew up EXTREMELY sheltered and really wasn’t even allowed to have any money or a checking account until I graduated from high school - I opened my first bank account (with disastrous results - avoid the Bank One in Flagstaff at all costs, y’all - I would deposit my paychecks and had a few of them NEVER SHOW UP in my account… um, what) when I left for college. So yeah, I never really had anyone explain to me a good way to manage money other than my mother’s attitude of “credit cards are EVIL, never get one!!!!”.

Thankfully for me - and others like me - there are helpful websites out there that can aid the financially clueless in our quest for understanding the mystery that is credit cards. Services like the website Your Credit Network have been an incredible resource when it comes to figuring out exactly how credit cards work, which cards are good for those of us just starting out, and how to apply for said cards instantaneously & online. I just wanted to pass it on in case any of y’all are as mystified by the whole world of credit & finances as I am. Hope it helps!

Just wanted to throw up a quick notice to those of you who may not be aware - the Bath & Body Works website has lots of stuff discounted at the moment. You can grab hair products for $5/each (I grabbed one of each of the moisturizing shampoo/conditioner in Sweet Pea), most of their home fragrance oils are knocked down to $4/each (with all my stinkybutt dogs, I’m addicted to home fragrances, so I scooped up oils in Vanilla Coconut, Melon Sorbet, Japanese Cherry Blossom, Fresh Linen, and Black Raspberry Vanilla. Also got two Wallflower refills in the new Pineapple Orchid scent - the double pack is on sale for $6 right now).

Lastly, they have a REALLY cute pink & green Goldie tote bag full of various skincare samples that you can score for $20 with any order of $20 or more - BUT I found a promo code (enter 6805 at checkout) that knocks the price down to $10, so hell yeah.

Just wanted to share in case anyone else wanted to take advantage of the low prices!

I may have mentioned this before here on Posh Vice, but when it comes to absolute dream vacations… more than anything, I’d love to go on a cruise to Antarctica & the Falklands. I have this weird thing for remote places, as well as snowy/arctic climates. It’s been a lifelong fascination, and I really don’t know where it stems from. Anyhow - I’ve recently started to slowly put money away, saving little by little so that in a few years I’ll be able to afford the cruise of my dreams.

Obviously, this means that I’m already starting to do some heavy research into potential cruise lines. Since I’ve never been on a cruise, I’ve started by looking at some of the more well-known cruise companies - Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean, of course, and the Norwegian Cruise Line has an advantage just based on their name (Norway is another place that I dream of someday visiting).

The most helpful website that I’ve found thus far has definitely been Cruise Vacation Center - it’s like one of those discount airline/hotel websites, but for cruises. They have itineraries reaching up to five years in the future, so it’s good for people like me who are going to have to plan & save well in advance to be able to afford their ideal cruise vacation. They also have a really nice “specials” section, which is consistently updated with new deals and discounts. As a matter of fact, right now in that section they’re featuring some REALLY tempting cruises to the Greek Isles and Alaska, both of which are other places I’d love to travel to in the future… but I need to stay focused! Antarctica first, THEN THE WORLD!

Like most college kids, thus far I’ve gone through life pretty much only owning cheap office furniture. As long as it was, you know, a desk and a chair and under $100, I was fine with it. Of course, in the long run that’s a pretty terrible point of view… because let’s face it, you get what you pay for. I’d drop $50 on a new desk and have one of the crappily-produced shelves fall apart when I set a drink on it, or the rolling keyboard shelf would constantly come off its track… just endless annoying problems that usually resulted in me having to go out and buy ANOTHER replacement desk within a few months!

So this time, I’m trying to think a bit more long-term and am looking into slightly pricier office desks that will stand the test of time. The “Price Point Grey” desks that I found here from Inter County look really promising. Not only do I really love the “wave” styles, but the desk top itself is thicker (25mm as opposed to the normal 18mm) which will make it a whole lot sturdier. Since I’m totally old school and still use a desktop computer (laptops just bug me, I don’t like the smaller keyboards and their tendency to overheat), I need good quality office tables that can support the weight of a bigger monitor, speakers, a mouse, and my keyboard. You’d be surprised at how many desks actually CAN’T take even that small amount of weight without bowing or just breaking down. It’s kind of ridiculous.

It looks like the Inter County site also offers an EIGHT YEAR guarantee. That’s amazing, in my opinion. Now it’s just a matter of deciding which aesthetic I prefer - the wave style or the crescent style. Hmm.

Watching the girls from this cycle of America’s Next Top Model tool around in their crazy SUV/limo hybrid (or whatever you’d call it) got me wondering to exactly how much a ride like that would cost you. I actually managed to find the Dallas limo website, which offers the same sort of services: they have a fleet that includes everything from a minibus, to the Hummer SUV limos, to stretch limousines, to the more normal sedans & minivans. Crazy! I guess you can rent them in cities all across the United States, for any number of reasons, but I couldn’t find a solid quote to help me figure out exactly how much Tyra must’ve been forking out for the girls’ transportation. I guess if you want to talk price, you have to either fill out the “instant quote” form with all your info, or just call them. I’m not trying to piss anyone off by submitting fake information, so I guess I’ll just keep wondering for now. Let me know if any of y’all have an idea of how much this kind of thing costs, I’m weirdly curious!

I found this via another blog and received my free sample today, so this is legit (although there wasn’t much doubt, it’s from the official Escada website, after all) & I thought it was time to pass on the goodies to y’all!

Escada releases limited-edition fragrances pretty regularly, and the current one is called “Moon Sparkle” - supposedly “evoking memories of hot summer party nights filled with a sexy, magical intensity where anything is possible, Moon Sparkle for Women is the essence of summertime. Captured here, to be enjoyed year round, is an luscious mix of irresistible sweet red fruits and delicate florals, infused by a sensuously smooth base of creamy woods.” Or so the description at Sephora says!

Anyhow, I’m usually not really into overly fruity scents, because they have a tendency to turn generic and headache-inducing with my body chemistry, but the notes in this one (Strawberry, Blackcurrant, Citrus Cocktail, Red Apple, Sweet Pea, Freesia, Jasmine, Rose, Raspberry, Musky Notes, Sandalwood, Dry Amber) sounded really intriguing. I was imagining a mix between Comptoir Sud Pacifique’s Mora Bella and Bath & Body Works’ Sweet Pea fragrances - both of which are favorites of mine - and I wasn’t disappointed. I’ve been wearing my sample of Moon Sparkle for about an hour now, and it’s really pleasant… unique, light, fruity with a hint of creamy musk. I may have to invest in a full-size bottle, we’ll see.

So, if you want your own free sample, just fill out the form here at Escada’s website. They’ll send you a cute postcard with one of those little towelettes moistened with the fragrance attached - enough for one or two applications. Enjoy!

A lot of people are always really surprised when they find out that I’ve actually used pay day loan services before - it seems like the general consensus is that any cash advance service (other than credit cards, obviously) is too good to be true, and thus a scam. Obviously, always do your research first - a quick Google of ANY online merchant should always be a prerequisite to giving them your information, in my opinion - but know that many of these services are completely legit and employ people who actually WANT to help you. I actually got into a financial bind about a year ago (one of my pets had a violent allergic reaction to their flea medication and racked up some SERIOUS vet bills - so um, yeah, don’t ever use BioSpot, okay?) and I ended up borrowing some money from an online cash advance website. Not only did they completely save my butt, but everything was extremely straightforward and easy. Yeah, you have to pay them back the amount you borrowed plus a service fee, but in my case it wasn’t even that bad - like $15 on top of the money I’d borrowed.

I was talking to one of my friends about my experience with this, and it dawned on me that a lot of people could probably use the knowledge that not only do these kind of services exist, they actually work… and work well. Obviously, you don’t want to end up reliant on borrowing - it’s the same principle as avoiding credit card debt, don’t spend money frivolously and only borrow when it’s necessary - but if you use these services smartly and at the appropriate times, they’re fantastic. Especially for young people like me who may be in college or living check to check; if an emergency pops up and you don’t have family to bail you out, cash advance loans are seriously amazing. So I just wanted to put my experience out there, so that some of you reading who may end up in a financial scrape would know that many of these places ARE good, reliable places to turn for help when you’re in need.