This One is for Ladies...It's Time to Give "The Girls" a Lift!!!

Hey, Ladies, have you gone for a professional bra fitting lately? Not only is a properly-fitting bra good for your "girls' health", it'll also help you look sooo much better in your clothes!!!

I would know! I recently went for a fitting myself and what I discovered seriously surprised me! Did you know that you could go into a European "department store" and find a 34G bra easily? It's really quite amazing that Americans have been conditioned to believe that a DD sized bra is super large. Guess what. It's not. It's actually the average size!!! A large-breasted woman should actually be wearing something MUCH larger.

And when I say that we should all go out and get professionally fitted (about every four to six months because (a) bras aren't made to last much longer than that and (b) weight and other factors can cause us to change size within that amount of time), I don't mean going to Vicky (Victoria) Secret. Wanna know what her secret is? She's a big fat liar! The fitters that work there (and at other similar stores with a limited range of sizes) are trained to "fit you into their bras". That's right! They will tell you that you are a size that they offer just so they can fit you into their bras! It's a travesty! So deceptive!!!

I had read reviews from other women who had tested the above-mentioned theory and I decided to try it out for myself. After getting professionally fitted and finding out my true size (which VS definitely does not offer), I went into one of their (VS) stores and asked one of their fitters to fit me. She fit me into the largest size they had to offer, which was about 10 sizes off. No friggin' kidding you! I couldn't believe the blatant lies that were spewing out of this woman's mouth! The sad part was that I think she may have actually believed what she was saying. I didn't want to make her feel stupid so I didn't say anything more than "thank you". But I so could have schooled her!

Ladies, listen up! Let me debunk some myths most of us have been taught by the women that came before us:

1) A properly-fitting bra can actually be comfortable!!! You don't have to want to rip your bra off as soon as you get home!
2) A looser band isn't more comfortable. It actually offers less support. Bra straps stretch! Sometimes as much as seven inches!!!
3) So, when in doubt, increase the cup size, not the band size!!!

I found an absolutely wonderful blog on Xanga that talks about "The Bra Matrix" and how to break out of it. Please, check it out and learn how a bra should fit/feel and other valuable information!!!

Eternal Voyageur is very passionate about this as well! She's done the research and knows what she's talking about!

Just click on this link, Ladies! And please, DO pass it on!

Let's help each other break out of the Bra Matrix!!!!

Shoe Dazzle: High-End, Personalized Shoes at only $39.99/pair!!!

Kim Kardashian considered the "little people" when thinking up her latest webstore concept. You know, the inner fashionista that would like to buy designer, high-end shoes but can't afford to pay the price of a month's rent to buy a pair? That's right-- the average woman!!! Kim found a way to offer the average woman designer shoes at the low-looow price of $39.99/pair!!!

Enter Shoe Dazzle: Your Personal Shoe Stylist.

At ShoeDazzle.com, you receive:

1. "Personal recommendations from shoe stylists.
2. Membership INCLUDES one pair of shoes per month.
3. You pay only after you select your first pair.
4. Free Shipping (within the contiguous United States)."

Here's How it Works:
"ShoeDazzle is a monthly membership society. Every month, for just $39, you will receive an extraordinary pair of shoes. The shoes are handpicked for you by our fashion experts. There is no obligation to purchase shoes once you register, and you are charged only after you choose your first pair of shoes. In any month, you may choose to "Skip This Month" in your account section."
All you have to do is:

• "Take our Fashion Survey:
  It only takes a few minutes for us to get to know your style.
• Our stylists pick 5 shoes for you:
  Based on your survey results, our fashion experts provide you with a choice of 5 fashionable shoes each month, from which you choose one. If you do not like your choices, you can select "Skip this Month" and you won't be charged for that month.
• Choose the pair you want:
  We provide free shipping. If you are unsatisfied with your shoes, simply return them to us using the pre-printed return shipping label provided with your order."
• (Check out the FAQs if you have any further questions.)

How great is that, Fashionistas-in-the-Making???!!!

My sister, Single Mom with Acting Goals, has signed up for Shoe Dazzle and she's going to be at the ready to review their quality of service and products as soon as she gets a good feel for the company. So, keep an eye out for that upcoming post!

And as always...

Happy Shopping, Ladies!!!

In NYC and looking to shop for higher-end clothes/makeup/household items at discount prices?

If you're going to be in NYC anytime soon and are looking to buy some higher-end items at discount prices, check out the following stores:

1. Gabay's Outlet
actually carries overstock from some of New York's finest department stores, including Bergdorf Goodman and Henri Bendel (and they're available from 50% - 80% off!!! Isn't that a great find?!). Gabay's Outlet is family owned and operated. They even offer a mailing list that you can sign up for, where you can get the inside scoop to hear about new arrivals.

Address: 225 First Ave. (between 13th and 14th)
Phone: 212-254-3180
Subway: L to 1st Avenue; 4/5/6, N/R/W to 14th Street/Union Square

2. Loehmann's
offers clothing at 30-65% off retail. They have a famous "Back Room"where they have high-end designer merchandise at bargain prices. Go to their website and sign up for their "Insider's Club" if you would like additional coupons.

Address: 101 Seventh Ave. (near 17th St.)
Phone: 212-352-0856
Subway: 1/9 to 18th Street

3. Century 21
is marketed as "New York's Best Kept Secret". But it's hardly a secret at all. If you plan on going there, be prepared to face throngs of "in the know" shoppers. This is usurped by the fact that their are amazing discounts available. To beat the crowds, going in the early morning or the mid-afternoon (when a lot of people are at work) will more than likely help.

Address: 22 Cortlandt St. (between Church St. and Broadway)
Phone: 212-227-9092
Subway: E to World Trade Center; 2/3 to Park Place; N/W to City Hall

4. Find Outlet
offers ever-changing inventory. Sign up for their weekly email so that you can be in the know on the current week's offerings at the stores. (If you plan on trying on the clothes though, be prepared for tiny dressing rooms.)

Chelsea Location Address: 361 W. 17th St., between Eighth and Ninth Aves.
Phone: 212-243-3177
Subway: A/C/E to 14th Street

SoHo Location Address: 229 Mott St.
Phone: 212-226-5167
Subway: 6 at Spring St., N/R/W at Prince St.

5. Syms
offers designer clothing lines, such as Tommy Hilfiger and Kenneth Cole. For convenience sake, there are differently shaped tags for men, women and children and different colors for each size. (Which makes things much easier!) You can sign up at their website to get 10% off of your first purchase.

Midtown East Location Address: 400 Park Ave.
Phone: 212-317-8200
Subway: E/V to 53rd/Lex, 6 to 51st/Lex

Financial District Location Address: 42 Trinity Pl.
Phone: 212-797-1199
Subway: 4/5 to Bowling Green

5. Cosmetic Market
is somewhat like a discounted drugstore, but at the same time, so much more than that. There's a lot you can pick-up here, but if you are looking for a specific high end brand you more than likely won't find it. When going to Cosmetic Market, walk in with an open mind and ready funds, and walk out with some amazing deals.

Address: 15 East 37th Street (near Madison Ave.)
Phone: 212-725-3625
Subway: 6 to 33rd St/Park Ave, 7/B/D/F/V to 42nd Street, 4/5/6/7/S to Grand Central

As always,
Happy, Happy Shopping!!!

Funny-of-the-Week: Let's Compare Men and Women...

NICKNAMES: If Gloria, Suzanne, Debra and Michelle go out for lunch, they will call each other Gloria, Suzanne, Debra and Michelle. But if Mike, Phil, Rob and Jack go out for a brewsky, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla, Peanut-Head and Useless.

EATING OUT: And when the check comes, Mike, Phil, Rob and Jack will each throw in $20 bills, even though it's only for $22.50. None of them will have anything smaller, and none will actually admit they want change back. When the girls get their check, out come the pocket calculators.

BATHROOMS: A man has six items in his bathroom-a toothbrush, shaving cream, razor, a bar of Dial soap, and a towel from the Holiday Inn. The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 437. A man would not be able to identify most of these items.

GROCERIES: A woman makes a list of things she needs and then goes out to the store and buys these things. A man waits till the only items left in his fridge are half a lime and a soda. Then he goes grocery shopping. He buys everything that looks good. By the time a man reaches the checkout counter, his cart is packed tighter than the Clampett's car on Beverly Hillbillies. Of course, this will not stop him from going to the 10-items-or-less lane.

SHOES: When preparing for work, a woman will put on a Mondi wool suit, then slip on Reebok sneakers. She will carry her dress shoes in a plastic bag from Saks. When a woman gets to work, she will put on her dress shoes. Five minutes later, she will kick them off because her feet are under the desk. A man will wear the same pair of shoes all day.

CATS: Women love cats. Men say they love cats, but when women aren't looking, men kick cats.

DRESSING UP: A woman will dress up to: go shopping, water the plants, empty the garbage, answer the phone, read a book, get the mail. A man will dress up for: weddings, funerals.

LAUNDRY: Women do laundry every couple of days. A man will wear every article of clothing he owns, including his surgical pants that were hip about eight years ago, before he will do his laundry. When he is finally out of clothes, he will wear a dirty sweatshirt inside out, rent a U-Haul and take his mountain of clothes to the Laundromat. Men always expect to meet beautiful women at the Laundromat. This is a myth perpetuated by re-runs of old episodes of "Love, American Style."

OFFSPRING: Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and soccer games and romances and best friends and favorite foods and secret fears and hopes and dreams. A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.

LOL! I'm betting you smiled and agreed with at least two of these comparisons!!! Hope you're enjoying your day!!!