HAPPY NEW YEAR!

So glad that 2009 has arrived!

Let's hope that positive "change" is really coming!!!

WANNA PIMP YOUR HANDBAG?

I'll tell you, there is nothing inconceivable anymore. Someone has decided to add a TV to a handbag-- one of the most hideous ideas that I have ever heard of!

"Bag TV" is what this latest innovation is called-- a handbag equipped with a 7" LCD screen and a DVD/MPEG player built in.

I just want to know who thought a person would need a TV on their purse?

To read more about this nonsense, click here.

A SIDE TOPIC: ANYONE LOOKING FOR GUMDROPS?

My Funny Gumdrop Experience

My fifth grader is having a holiday celebration party in his class on Friday. This past Monday night, the room parent sent out an e-mail to request help and some extra items for the party. One of the things she needed help with was for some people to help coordinate two or three crafts for the kids. Although I am a creative person, I've never contributed an idea for a craft before. I do show up at all holiday parties, though, and help out with crafts. So I thought that maybe I'd offer out an idea this year. My idea: gumdrop pops!

The idea came from Martha Stewart's website, and the candy figurines looked really cute and easy to make. "Piece of cake", I thought. Wrong! I could not find gumdrops anywhere. After going to the candy store in the local mall, Walmart, Smart and Final, Michaels (where I did find a container of small ones), I still needed large ones. After all, the gumdrop pops needed to look like the examples on the paper. Yes, I will claim the perfectionist title. : )

The next day, I continued my journey to find gumdrops, and went to See's Candies. See's had to have them. Wrong again! I perused the store, in search of red and green gumdrops. All of the store clerks were busy ringing up orders. Finally, I got in the short line where you pay for pre-packaged boxes of candy. When I got to the cashier, I asked if they had gumdrops. She looked at me as though my question was unheard of. "No, we don't have them", she answered. I responded, "didn't you carry them in your store before? I thought for sure you had them in plastic bags with a bow on them." I guess I must have stated my question really loud, because in just that instant, the whole store made a roaring sound, and the discussions began. One lady answered, "the gumdrops can usually be found at Easter". You could hear others also claiming that red and green gumdrops once existed. Another lady answered, "try Walmart. I needed gumballs for my store, and I found a big box of them there, in all colors." Now, how did we go from gumdrops to gumballs? Anyhow, I left the store, amused at how gumdrops and gumballs became the topic of discussion just that quick!

My gumdrop dilemna was resolved, after spending at least 20 minutes at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, another mall store. The woman working there, who appeared to be the owner told me, "just go down to Long's or Sav-On Drugstore, and look for the off-brand candies. You will find gumdrops." She was right! I found at least three brands of them! Usually, I frown at the off-brands, but I've never been happier to see those off-brand gumdrops! My search was over, two days later. The funny thing about it is, the kids won't even care where they came from!

THE "MATERIAL GIRL" DOES GOOD WITH LOUIS VUITTON

Check out these new photos of Madonna (courtesy of NY Daily News) , promoting the latest Louis Vuitton handbag line.

So much for the focus being on the handbags-- at age 50, Madonna is in great shape! I'm sure she's open to finding any means to distract from all of the negative publicity she's been getting in her personal life, lately!

WANT TO KNOW HOW TO SPOT A REAL HANDBAG FROM A FAKE?

One Word For This Chanel Mobile Art Handbag Exhibit... WOW!!!

You have to check out this amazing Chanel Mobile Art Exhibit, which opened today in New York's Central Park!

The 2,300-square-foot structure — the Greatest Handbag Pavilion Known to Man — designed by Zaha Hadid, houses art inspired by Chanel's iconic 2.55 quilted handbag with the chain straps.

Also included is a pit inspired by the depths of a woman's handbag, an S&M-inspired room, a giant handbag, and more.

I wish I could personally visit this exhibit-- If you're already in New York, you don't want to miss this one!

(Source: NY Magazine)

Gorgeous Leather Clothes and Accessories at Bottega Veneta's Spring 2009 Show in Milan

If you're into leather, this collection by designer Tomas Maier will not disappoint you! The leather outfit shown above is just a small teaser of what this show had to offer!

The leather handbags in Bottega Veneta's Spring '09 collection at the Milan Show definitely stood out! Many of the reviews that were written about Milan Fashion Week stated that this show was one of the best shows there.

The beautiful, stylish handbags are impecccably crafted in muted brown tones, ranging from caramel and copper, to sage and chestnut. The handbags reflect the everyday lifestyle of women who want to purchase items that can be worn for years, and aren't necessary looking to dress seasonally, which was stated by the designer extraordinnaire, Tomas Maier, in a backstage interview at the show.

Check out some of the handbags from the runway show:

Isn't it amazing what's being done with leather these days? Very feminine bag!

I really like the multi-colored tones of this bag!

What do you get when you combine a basic style made up in some good leather, with leather embellishing? A gorgeous bag!!!

The exotic leather used for this clutch adds elegance without all the frills!

We can't leave out the shoes... cute, cute cute! Love the exotic leather on both pairs!

And to get an even better idea of how great this show was, check out this video:

Enjoy the show!