Ain't it a Fine Life Carrying the Banner Through it All

I've been posting some of my favorite musical numbers on Fridays the past few weeks and I can't believe that I didn't start the series with 'Newsies'. It was the first movie musical I ever saw and, like a lot of you I hope, left an enormous impression on me.

How much did you want to be Sarah? Admit it!

'Twilight' themed Lip Gloss? I'm in.

I'm a sucker for a good move merchandise tie-in (especially anything and everything 'Twilight' related) so I can't wait to get my hands on Lip Venom V. Made by the good people at DuWop- a reported favorite on the set of 'New Moon', the packaging is brilliant: a sinister looking container reminiscent of a vial of blood. I can't wait until the "crimson lip stain" is sitting snugly in my make-up bag!

Going forward, I have a few suggestions for DuWop in terms of expanding their 'Twilight' themed make-up line:

Bella Blush: Forks' favorite transplant has a penchant for endearingly clumsy moments that often result in her (singing) blood rushing to her cheeks. This blush, made up of pinks and peaches, is as soft and romantic as Bella herself.

Topaz-colored contact lenses: One of the best part of the 'Twilight' series is the infinite ways that Stephenie Meyer finds to describe Edward's eyes (I swooned every time). Why not make a pair of Cullen Family inspired contact lenses for all those nonfiction boys who aren't afraid to bite?

Dazzling Body Powder: Pamper your body with a luxurious, sparkling body powder so realistic that it may raise the eyebrows of the Volturi. Solid, granite-like muscled body sold separately.

Blue Jean Baby

My uniform almost always includes jeans. They're ripped in the summer, layered with thermals in the winter, but they remain a constant throughout the year. For how much I love my jeans, I don't invest a lot in them. Most of them are thrift store finds for $10 (I've scored pairs from Habitual, Blue Genius, and Bebe) and the only full priced jeans I've ever bought were from Target. If the absolute perfect pair of jeans ever came along, I'm scared to think of how much I would pay for them. I'd probably be willing to pay more for the perfect pair of jeans than for a wedding dress (after all, you only wear the dress once).

It seems maddeningly luxurious, but Earnest Sewn offers handcrafted, custom made jeans. Made on site at their New York City flagship, lucky customers choose a silhouette, decide between imported denims from all around the world, pick out the jeans' hardware (options include a 24K, copper, and ebony buttons), pick out a color for their locker loop, and are measured so their jeans will mold to all their curves. The most personalized part of their custom made jeans is also my favorite: they embroider your signature in colored thread on the inside back of your jeans.

The average pair takes two weeks to make and costs between $600 and $900. I have a hard time wrapping my head around that price tag since I'm a girl who averages $15 on most pairs of jeans. Still, the custom made jean remains so deliciously tempting!

Jour de Bastille Heureux!

Appréciez belle Edith. . .

Pretty Poppy: The Coach Party

Last night, I went to a party at the Coach store on Michigan Avenue party promoting their new line Poppy. It was fabulous! I loaded up with goodies including a Coach Poppy pencil case filled with candy-colored pencils, pins, a look book, and a generous helping from their candy bar (oh man, I forgot how much I loved Nerds!). The food was great too: grapefruit lemonade and mini hot dogs and hamburgers served by waiters in leather Coach aprons. The Misshaps DJ-ed and there was a giant "Poppy-razzi" photo booth where my girlfriend Cindy and I indulged our inner Heidi Klums.

The collection was really fun too! Everything was youthful and enthusiastic in rainbow colored patent leathers and edged in sequins and metallic crackled leathers. The new prints are punky, bright, and remind me of '80s cartoons. I'm obsessed with the shoes they showed: printed flats with sequin toes, pointy-toed gray flats with a tiny bouquet of Coach buttons, and these high-heeled Mary Janes with sparkling heels and toes. Everything is going on my Christmas list!

Cinderella Complex: Would you Wear a Tiara?

There's a time a place to wear a tiara including bachelorette parties, Halloween, and taking your pack of pet corgis for a stroll around Buckingham's grounds. Otherwise, would you wear a tiara?

Coach has recently released a tiara in their accessories collection. For $148, it seems frivolous and more than a little vain. It also seems to buck against the direction they have been pulling their brand image towards these past few seasons. Lately, they have been trying to get out of the shopping malls and into the hands of a more upscale clientele by using elevated materials, designs, and prices. The tiara seems way out of place in the newly imagined Coach line (perhaps it would feel more at home with Juicy Couture).

How about you, lovely readers? Would you wear a tiara?

Youth's a Stuff Will Not Endure

I've had my eye on these Nine West Orsino wedges all summer long for a couple of reasons:

1) Anything gold- I'm in.

2) I love the crackled leather. Most metallic leathers end up looking shiny and almost patent leather like, but the crackled leather looks worn in, comfortable, and glamorous all at the same time (like a rock star wore them on her 6 month European tour before she gave them to you).

3)Wedges can navigate grass-lined BBQs and outdoor weddings better than heels.

4) The name, inspired by Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night', reminds me of Channing Tatum's character Duke Orsino in the way underrated Amanda Bynes movie 'She's the Man' (also inspired by 'Twelfth Night'). Seriously, it's good stuff. Go put it on your Netflix queue right now!

Orsino Wedges, Nine West $29 (on sale from $79)