I need some therapy!

I'm using my moderately public forum to promote the greatest charity event in the history of ever (according to me, anyway): Retail Therapy IV: Shopping For A Cause.

Some of you may be familiar with past Retail Therapy events in which we had a fleet of limousines chauffer dozens of shoppers on a one of a kind boutique crawl. As fun as that was (and believe me it was!), we found ourselves restricted to a limited number of participants. In an effort to share the wealth this year we have changed things up a bit.

Your favorite Outer Banks boutiques, designers and artists are taking over a gorgeous oceanfront home in Nags Head and turning it into the ultimate trunk show. It's the perfect opportunity to get together with friends, enjoy some food and drinks compliments of your favorite restaurants, and shop OBX's finest all under one roof. We've got plenty of surprises in store for you as well! You can knock out all your holiday shopping, pick up a little something for yourself, natch, AND you get to support a local charity in the process. Seriously, does it get much better than that?

I'll be back with more details & to keep you updated with all the info you need, including a list of participating boutiques & restaurants. In the meantime, here are the details:

Friday, November 14
6-9 pm
VIPreview Party
$40
Be the first to get your hands on all the loot!
Wine tasting, hors d'oeuvres, raffles, live music and some amazing surprises. Limited number of tickets for this event. Your VIP ticket is valid for the Saturday event as well.

Saturday, November 15
9am-9pm
$20 ($25 at the door)
The ultimate trunk show.
Shop, snack, sip and celebrate all the fabulousness the Outer Banks has to offer.

Grab your spouse/significant other/boyfriend/girlfriend(s)/parents/co-workers/neighbors and come join the fun. All the proceeds raised from ticket sales will support the ally&maddy Retail Therapy Fund* and every penny will stay on the Outer Banks.

*The ally&maddy Retail Therapy Fund was established by a group of local women business owners who wanted to give back to the Outer Banks community. Through seminars, workshops and other outreach, our goal is to promote financial independence, business ownership and entrepreneurship for girls and women on the Outer Banks. Retail Therapy: Shopping For a Cause, our signature fund-raising event, first took place in Fall 2005 and has since become the most unique charity events on the Outer Banks. All the funds raised through Retail Therapy will stay on the Outer Banks to help young girls and women learn to be empowered, independent and successful. The ally&maddy Retail Therapy Fund operates under the umbrella of the Outer Banks Community Foundation, a 501c3 organization.

Heeeeyyyyyy Donuts!!

I logged on to finish my post about Retail Therapy (something exciting to look forward to tomorrow, kids!), and I came across this tasty little tidbit:

Krispy Kreme giving out free donuts to voters on Election Day

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Oct. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. wants to applaud Americans who exercise their right to vote in the 2008 Presidential campaign. On Election Day, Nov. 4, 2008, participating Krispy Kreme stores will offer one free star-shaped doughnut with red, white and blue sprinkles to each customer wearing an "I Voted" sticker. While voters may not always agree on the best candidate, voters can agree on one thing: Celebrating one of America's most coveted constitutional rights can be oh-so sweet.

I clicked through to the article fingers crossed, hoping it was a Dunkin' Donuts promotion - cause we've got a couple of those down here now - only to crumple in disappointment. And then I read this part:

"We can't guarantee that your candidate of preference will win on November 4, but we can guarantee that your right to voice your choice will be rewarded with a patriotic doughnut that will remind you just how tasty freedom really is," said Krispy Kreme's Chef Ron Rupocinski. "Krispy Kreme encourages everyone to take part in this historical election and vote."

Yes Mr. Rupocinski, freedom is indeed tasty. And nothing screams America more than trans fat and sugar loaded deep-fried dough.

"The star-shaped treats are made from Krispy Kreme's signature, yeast-raised dough and available only on Nov. 4. The promotion is good for one doughnut per customer. Select stores may be offering yeast-raised doughnuts in the standard circle shape, but decorated with red, white and blue sprinkles."

Of course, this begs the question: (and I think you know where I'm going with this) if Obama wins do we get free chocolate donuts? And if McCain emerges victorious....day old crullers?

Keep your pants on

When the following headline popped up on my computer screen, I just couldn't resist investigating further:

No Pants Is The New Skinny Jean

Wow. Apparently it was the trend for designers to send their models down the runway in what basically amounts to bejeweled panties. Though this is one trend I'm not TOO terribly concerned about catching on, I can actually see where one could make an argument in its favor.

I'd like to take you on a trip through what I like to call the evolution of an outfit. Here's how it works: you've got one article of clothing you KNOW you want to wear. So you put it on. Let's say, for this argument, that it's a killer pair of shoes. So you strap on the shoes, and start rummaging through your wardrobe in search of a coordinating piece (but not matchy-matchy cause that would be just wrong), and your eyes fall on a pretty blouse. So you put it on. Cute! Now to the bottom half. Hmm...these pants go with the top, let's try 'em. Very cute pants, but they cover the shoes, so no go. These pants over here are the perfect length and go GREAT with the shoes. Put those on. But they don't look so hot with the blouse. But you know what does?? That sweater. Put it on. Ack! No. Take it off. What about that super cute new dressy tee. It's good, but it needs a little somethin. The cardigan? Nope, that looks like crap. OOH I know - that coat! Perfect. The top part of my outfit is fantastic, but doesn't really go with these pants. Let's try these pants over here. Not good for the butt. Maybe a skirt? That would show off the shoes a little better. So, off with the pants, you try on several skirts, and after 4 or 5 tries you just can't get the proportion right.

Now, at this point, you're probably about 20 minutes late for wherever you're supposed to be heading, and possibly starting to break into a bit of a sweat as well. Your husband/boyfriend is starting to get annoyed (you're not dressed YET? What the hell was wrong with the first 3 outfits you tried on?), you explain you'll be ready in TWO MINUTES I SWEAR (which is code for put a sock in it, cause I'm bloated and you have NO IDEA how hard this is all you had to do was throw on some pants & a button down so just step off). At this point, pretty much the entire contents of your closet are on the floor and/or the bed and you're ready to give up, throw on some sweats and call it a night, when in fact what you really want to do is this:



Of course I would recommend a bra, and a little more effort on the hair, but you get my point.

T.F.G.I.F

Which means it's one day closer to....



Can we take a minute to discuss the fabulousness that is this video? We'll skip over the fact that it's completely out of sync, which really only adds to its charm. Check out that amazing lighting, that tricky choreographed dance move (up two three four, back two three four), those incredible pants -- are they man-pri's or gauchos (man-chos?) -- the striped socks on the drummer, which if I'm not mistaken he has paired with a plaid shirt and suspenders, the hair, the tight satin shirt on the lead singer. It's a cornucopia of cheesy 70's goodness. No need to thank me, just enjoy.

Ugh.

Today has been a very Monday-ish Thursday. So this song goes out to me.

...and we're auf...

PR finale just began. if there's anybody out there, feel free to join me in the comments. first question: can we virtually bitch slap kenley?

Phew!!!

Did you ever play the tunnel game when you were little? Or play it now with your kids? You know the one-you're traveling- usually on an actual trip- and a tunnel looms in the distance. Everybody starts taking deep cleansing breaths. In and Out. DEEP CLEANSING BREATHS. Then, suddenly, the car/truck/SUV take-yer-pick is actually in the tunnel. And the car is absolutely quiet. No talking, no whispering, no whistling... in fact... NO BREATHING is going on in the entire car.

Everyone is holding their breath, trying to make it the whole way through the tunnel and out the other end without another gasp of oxygen. (I assume the whole concept has something to do with the fact the most tunnels are underwater where human beings can't naturally breathe.) Eyes bulging, fingers scrabbling frantically, unspoken voices pleading with the driver through sign language to go faster! Go faster! (I finally learned not to play this game if actually driving the car since the risk of an oxygen deprived blackout is probably not in your passenger's best interests). And finally! There! The light at the end of the tunnel! Getting closer, closer until..... PHRSCHEW!!! All the breaths are released and life returns to normal.

That's kind of how I feel being almost at the end of my self-imposed blog blackout. You know, the one that started about the same time that Project Runway got really, really boring. I didn't want to talk about it yet knew if I was blogging I would have to and then the entire show would start to REALLY annoy me and PISS me off... but it ends tonight. Big wup. woo-hoo and all that. Now here are some things I'm going to get to ASAP...

the Presidential Race. Barack Obama. Michelle Obama's clothes. This year's mall fashions. The search for a great OBX manicure. Ignorant people. Properly handling hair crises. HSM 3. My Awesome Halloween Costume.... the list goes on and on... c u soon.

**And big thanks to Bravo for making the whole blog vacation possible. But next time can I borrow a few things from the Blue Fly wall?

Tomorrow night is the season finale of Project Runway.

Does anyone give a shit?