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Cougars and Cubs: No, we're not talking Animal Planet

First there was Samantha from SATC, then that Jane Seymour episode in How I Met Your Mother, countless jokes, a few websites, two bad reality shows and now....drumroll please!

The California Cougar Convention is coming! Yup, November 6th, that's a Friday - you can sleep off the hangover on Saturday- it's a mostly all day event at the Beverly Hills Crowne Plaza Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA. LUCIA, "Queen of the Cougar Jungle" and author of Lucia's Lessons of Love will deliver the keynote address. And one lucky woman will be crowned Miss Cougar California during this shindig. Hmm, should it be Mrs. or Ms?

Anyway if you're around that area and want to see young men, oops cubs, and older women chasing each other down the halls of the hotel, or attend eithe their rapid dating mixer or their dance party - they are packing a lot into one day -check out their website Cougar Events.

So, what do you think of this whole cougar deal? Are you for it? Against it? Would you do it?

Claim Your Pair of Ruby Slippers!

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the classic movie The Wizard of Oz. It boggles the mind that the movie, flying monkeys and all, is that old!  CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements and World Products invited  designers to  re-create the classic ruby slipper  with Swarvoski crystals. They were asked, “If Dorothy were living in the 21st century, what would she wear?” Alberta Ferretti, A.Testoni,  Jimmy Choo, L.A.M.B. by Gwen Stefani, Lisa Pliner,  and Manolo Blahnik are just some of the stellar names who answered that question.                                  

The shoes will be on display at the CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements store in New York City (499 Broadway, between Broome & Spring, 212-966-3322), until September 23, 2009..Then the collection will be auctioned off, for the benefit of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS foundation at the Warner Bros. Entertainment’s “Emerald Gala” at Tavern on the Green on September 24, 2009.Dying for a pair of ruby slippers by Oscar de la Renta,  Roger Vivier or Christian Louboutin, but you're not in New York CIty? Don't despair! The auction will be held online, so that global shoeaholics can bid!You can go to Ruby Slipper Auction

online and view all the shoes now, then on the day, make your bid.

Not only will you be the proud owner of a pair  one-of-a-kind ruby slippers, but you'll be assisting a great cause.

Guess Who Shops at Wal-Mart and Target?? C'mon Guess

Think you're too hotsy totsy to shop at Wally World AKA Wal-Mart? Only hit Tarjay for paper towels? Next time you're in one of those shops, take a walk through their racks and look at their very fashion forward items.

On your left is actress Kate Beckinsale. She's wearing an up-to-the-minute maxidress with all the right accents. How much do you think she spent on her Susie Rose? $100? $300? $1100? Nope, $15! It's a Wal-Mart exclusive! Yeah, Wal-Mart!

Michelle Obama, or uber-chic first lady is wearing a Merona for Target dress when she and her family went to Arizona for the weekend. The dress cost about $30, and while it's no longer available, Target has other on-point and fashionable clothing.

So please stop thinking that you have to bankrupt yourself to look good. If celebrities are wandering through mass stores like Target, Wal-Mart or Kohl's, what's holding you back? Remember the key to being fashionable is being smart. You can pair up a $12 dress with a $300 bag and look like a million.

Just open your eyes and close your wallet.

Do you have a favorite store? Do you have a great tip on how to look fab without going broke? What's the least you've spent on an item?

Please leave me a comment and let me know!

*photo of KB courtesy of  Michelle Marie PR, photo credit for Michelle Obama- Merona for Target

Fashion's Night Out - Get Ready to Rumble

Fashion's Night Out is on September 19, 2009.  Vogue, CFDA, and New York & Company have come together and organized the New York City event. If you haven't heard of the event, it's a one night global initiative to get people out of the house and spend, spend, spend. September 10, is also the first day of Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week. There will be a lot of exhausted and delirious fashion people in the streets that night.

As you can imagine, almost every store has an event going on. Here's my list of stores that I think would be fun to visit.

Macy's Herald Square is having a boatload of events- Michael Kors and Debra Messing Will be making an appearance to promote Micheal's newest fragrance, Very Hollywood. Tommy Hilfiger is hosting a performance of the Michael Freo Jazz Trio. You can meet designer Rachel Roy and Jewelry.com is debuting a collection inspired by the iconic images of New York City; The Brooklyn Bridge, Grand Central and more.

Barneys New York (Mad & 61S t) has the mayor, Manolo Blahnik, Brian Reyes, Thom Browne and other celebs making appearances. Yes there will be drinks and nibbles.

Rebecca Taylor (260 Mott Street bet Prince & Houston) is combing glamorous, feminine, sexy clothing with a cotton candy machine! How cool is that??!!

Nine West (675 5th & 53 St) is launching their new Nine West Vintage America Collection and the Vintage America Voices Contest that night. They're collecting gently used footwear for Soles4Souls. Look for appearances by Miranda Lee Richards (Singer/songwriter and Nine West VAC brand ambassador), Fred Allard (Nine West Creative Director), Tiffany Johnson (Soles4Souls spokesperson and musician).

MAC Cosmetics (113 Spring Street & Mercer) will have performer Jonelle Manae will be making a personal appearance and DJ Harley Viera-Newton will spin. Other MAC stores -148 Columbus Ave- DJ Chelsea Leyland, 175 Fifth Ave - DJ Lola Schnabel, Macy's Herald Square - DJ Lady Starlight, Macy's Rego Park - TBA .

To get the full checklist, visit Fashion's Night Out website.

*photo by PJ Gach

More VH1 Reality Shows in Your Future

C'mon, admit it, as much as you can't stand reality shows, you just keep watching them. It's like slowing down when you see an accident; it may be horrible, but it's fascinating too.

VH1 in their infinte wisdom-um, didn't they learn anything from the Megan Wants A Millionaire debacle, will giving viewers more, not less reality shows in the near future. Here's their fall line up:

Eddie Griffin: Going for Broke - premieres September 14, 2009. We get to watch a comedian with eight children and five exes try to make alimony and child support.

Tough Love:Season Two - premieres November 15, 2009. More desperate, neurotic women in search of a man, not sanity. BTW- it premieres on my birthday....hint....hint.

Sex Rehab With Dr.Drew -premieres November 1, 2009. Hmm, is there anything this man is not an expert of?  I mean, really. Is he going to be the host of a show for the style challenged next?

I Want to Work for Diddy:Season Two - premieres November 2, 2009. We get to watch more people debase themselves for a job. How many meldowns per episode is the burning question.

Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew - premieres January 10, 2010. See! See! Ah well, we get to see more of his tie collection.

Oh no, I'm not immune to the strangeness that is reality television. Come Thursday nights I am glued to Bravo for their Real Housewives franchise. Atlanta and New Jersey are tied for all-time crassness. As much as their behavior boggles my mind, I can't help watching the insanity unfold. Being a NY'er, I've bumped into Alex McCord at a few events and am convinced she'll go to the opening of an envelope.

Ah well, if they're going to keep pumping them out, why can't they document my search for a sane single man who makes me laugh?