Having the day off from the monkey house is always a treat. I can work on freelance projects, buckling down and getting work done… which ends up meaning I spend hours online scouring boutiques, fantasizing about clothes and shoes I can’t afford and contemplating a life on the pole to attain the objects of desire (ummmm…)

British online boutique Brown’s Fashion is always a place I lurk, stalking their fabulously edited shoe and accessories collection, drooling over their eveningwear and bridal shop. Since I’m avoiding work and am in dream land, I put together a collage of things I would buy with my hard-earned skripper cash.

1. Acne Dress / 2. Lanvin Bow Pumps / 3. Felipe Oliviera Baptista Dress / 4. Giles & Brother Necklace / 5. Moschino Frilled Jacket / 6. Benoît Missolin Lip Headband / 7. Maison Martin Margiela Disco Shoes / 8. Benoît Missolin Bunny Ears

Those bunny ears are to-die-for. If you had a skripper cash, what would you crave? 

I’ve been over Gossip Girl since they started their unrelentless re-runs and NYC Prep came and blasted Blair and Co. out of the TV water. Though my XOXO phase is over I can still salivate over the preppy style that will forever be associate with GG. It seems that Anna Sui is salivating as well, so much so she has based her Target Go International collection around the Upper East Side gang.

While the styling is head-to-toe Gossip Girl, it seems the inspiration for many of the looks is Anna’s own runway show, which gives me a bit of relief. Here are my favs.

How does Anna Sui x Target make you feel? XOXO (I couldn’t resist)

This goes without saying; we’re all feeling the effects of the recession. Jobs are evaporating left and right and the idea of career growth is fading fast in our faces. Several of my friends have lost jobs due to the recession and if you’re like me, you’re employed marginally and looking to create a passion for your work. However, the recession is telling all of us with job dissatisfaction to stay put. Is this as good as it gets, I often ask myself? Well, it doesn’t have to be.

Just because the country’s in dire straits doesn’t mean that we have to put the pause button on our lives. This is a good time as any to get out and start setting yourself up for when the recession finally lets up.

Here are some tips/suggestions on living in spite of the recession:

• A head of the class: Being laid off stinks and brings a myriad of issues and stresses. But if you find yourself in that position, take it as an opportunity to get your ducks in a row. Enjoy your severance or unemployment and go back to school. Furthering your education will only future your skills and when the jobs come back, you’ll have the upper hand.
• Part-time passion: This is not the time to quit your job and pursue your life’s calling. But it is the time to start working on that passion if only part-time. If you’ve always had a money-making idea, but put it off, the recession is the time to explore that and start building upon it.
• Network, network: I hate networking. It seems like a fakey stakey way to get something, but with that said, now is the time to get out and meet people. While you may be employed you never know when you’ll need to that contact. Plus, use social media contacts to your best ability.
• Get Organized: Cutting back and getting organized is the perfect way to deal with the recession. Getting control of your debt and beefing up that emergency fund will ensure that you will float through fine.

These are a few simplified tips, but are a start to stop feeling “recessed” and begin feeling ready for whatever life may throw at you.

The world has lost its biggest talent and that in itself is disheartening. We all have had moments with Michael, whether we knew him personally or not. He pervaded our lives, entered our psyche and came through our television screens and radio speakers. He changed the way we listened to and loved music and he changed the way some of us looked at the world.

Our parents grew up with Michael as a young boy, bred for the spotlight, precocious and beyond his years talent-wise and we grew up with Michael the superstar, who wielded his celebrity for good and lived to entertain us. In his darkest years, some of us stood by him and that’s when he truly needed his legion of fans most. The cult of celebrity is a trap that some never make it out of and  just when it seemed Michael was regaining his footing, he was called home.

Michael Jackson will be sorely missed, not because he was the greatest entertainer in the world, not for the vast array of people he influenced, but for the void he has left. His tragic undoing was his greatest show and while he lived for the spotlight, this is his final curtain call. Rest in Peace Michael, you finally can.

My prayers go out to his children, his family and close friends.

I love The Coveted and the amazing Jennine had a $50 vintage giveaway for a Rice and Beans Vintage. Since I rarely win anything (I’ve got no luck) you can imagine my surprise when Jennine emailed me to say that my comment on which Rice and Beans vintage piece was my favorite was selected as the winning entry!!! Woohoo!  Now I have to decided what I’ll buy, since Rice and Beans has an amazing vintage and modern selection. Decisions, Decisions.

So I’ve been M.I.A. for a bit, apologies dear readers, but I promise that while I’ve been absent I have not been idle.  I’m in the midst of moving and getting settled in my new apartment (construction is completed and I finally have my keys!!!), working on a few freelance projects, starting a fashion-related business with a good friend and planning a great re-design for Stylish Thought. Not to mention working my very full-time job that involves blogging full-time!  Whew, I’m tired just typing all of this. But no compliants here, I love being busy and coming up with new projects.

Here’s a quick snap of my new digs, which I’m totally in love with by the way. I got to choose the colors and I loved the idea of  Tiffany’s-esque blue. Look forward to a few interior design posts, as my mind is fully consumed with decorating my place.

Updates will go back to normal in the next week or so, I promise. Please don’t curse me through the internet.