Midnight Madness

KDP & I had this great idea to head out to Tanger to get a jump start on the holiday shopping. We left my place at 11:00 pm and were making good time to Riverhead. Until we hit exit 70 on the LIE. As soon as we passed the ramp, the cars stopped. We had two exits to go and it was already midnight. But, as far as the eye could see were cars. Three lanes of them plus the losers in the shoulder lane who happened to be stopped, too.

We sat for an hour before reaching exit 71. I asked KDP what we should do. She said we should continue on since we had come all this way. Another hour later, and two crazy phone calls to Crak & Cowboy, we made it to exit 72. Where we drove past the main entrance and the hundreds of cars waiting to get into the lots. I headed for two other potential entrances but we were cut off by a State Trooper. Who pulled in front of one of the entrances and shooed a car trying to drive under the police tape. When that car moved, I pulled up and rolled down the window. KDP asked "How do we..." and he yelled "ITS CLOSED". So she said "Yes, but how can we..." and he yells again, "ITS CLOSED". She said "Then where is another entrance?" (we were thinking that they wanted to regulate entrances and certain ones were closed) to which he said "The whole place is CLOSED. SHUT DOWN. They are beyond capacity."

So we drove further east, hoping to find a place on the side of the road. Nope. We drove about a half of a mile and found cars everywhere. On the street. In parking lots. On the grass. In places that cars should not be parked.

So we turned around and drove home. I got in at 3:30. I had been driving for 4 & 1/2 hours. Without a single purhcase. Without even getting out of the car once!

How does one go from being on the cusp of glitterati status at LV last week to being a reject from Tanger Outlets this week? My life hits faster than a Page Six article!

G L A M O R O U S

"Flyin' first class......up in the sky.
Poppin' champagne......livin' the life........
In the fast lane..........."

For some (unknown) reason, I received an embossed invite to the sneak preview of Louis Vuitton's holiday collection this year. The invite was for Wednesday evening at the Fifth Avenue Store at 7pm. A chance to be 'glitterati' for an evening? I was so there! I asked around but, alas, had no one with whom I could attend. And then, last minute, KDP called and asked if I was still going solo. I said yes & she was actually free & wanted to go with me. And off we went.

We met up & hopped a subway to 57th street. We walked over to the closed LV store and saw that the window displays were covered so that "mere pedestrian types" could not catch a glimpse of what was in store for the holiday rush. People were asking a woman, who was standing outside with a clipboard, how they could get in to this soiree, and she turned them away.

Exclusive!

KDP & I approached the woman, gave my name, and were ushered in to the foyer where we were met by model men with trays of Moet champagne. It was so tasty! We wandered through the store, sipping and browsing. One of the models saw that our glasses were almost empty and he was quick to refresh them for us.

Needless to say, three glasses later, I was feeling pretty good. The store was beautiful, the accessories stunning (and, sadly, not anywhere near my price range....where is my rich husband?) and I was buzzed.

On a Wednesday night.
In the middle of a work week.
In Louis Vuitton on Fifth Avenue.

luvin' my life at the moment.

Thanks for Giving

To all who have stood by me through this year:

With all of the ups & downs that I have endured, you have been there. You have offered me laughter, a sense of sanity, reminded me that it isn't "me" but usually "them", encouraged, inspired, and offered me bail money (in some cases).

I am thankful for having you in my life.

Be well..................eat well.......................
Enjoy the holiday.

A Chocoholic's Dream Come True

This weekend was the 10th Annual Chocolate Show. Of which, this was my fourth. I was hauling it in with my parents, three of their couple friends, and one of the couple's two children + a fiancee. All in all, there were twelve of us. We bypassed the line outside and entered the intoxicating-scented room with samples galore.

I ate my weight in chocolate samples and bought more than necessary. I saw Crak's friend, Fred, who assists a chocolatier at the event. She looked so pretty! Three hours later we headed out to find lunch. We went to this great restaurant that we ate at last year & I had an amazing panini with a side salad that helped to settle my nerves a bit from the chocolate overload I was experiencing.

We then headed to Macy's to see the Waterford New Year's Eve ball, which is on display. It's so much smaller than I imagined.

I came home and passed out from my over-eating and the depression of having to buy a bigger pair of jeans after just one afternoon excursion.

CodeGirl's Pricy Party

Codegirl, who will now be known as "Looie's Mom", since she is head-over-heels for her bulldog (referring to him as her son and 'the boy'), decided to host a Spa Party the other night. She invited twelve women to a Friday evening filled with yummy food and spa products being demo'd by a "friend of a friend".

The products, while pretty, enticing, and indulgent, were so---wait make that SO--- expensive, that we didn't know what to do. She can afford these things, but many of us think that $30 for a shower gel is a bit much. But, how often will one attend such a party? Probably only once (if she is smart). So, what did we do? We bought the $30 gel. Almond scented. Mmmmmmmm. Hard to get out of the shower and function after using it since it smells so good and relaxes you so putting on pajamas and lounging seems like the more logical choice.

The plus-side of the party was that I got to hang out with Looie's Mom outside of work AND I got to meet her sister. With whom I have a history from last year. She wanted to set her boss up with someone. LM said she thought I'd be a good match. They talked about us....so her sister knows way more about me than I of her, and they gave him my screen name. He and I had chatted a bit. Which is when I found out he works & lives in Jersey. ??????? Anyway, I had sent him my number, which he never used. Then I found out that he was being fired because he technically stole a car from his job. Don't ask.

Her sister is so nice & funny & everything LM is so being with the two of them was great. We laughed at this poor guy's expense, sipped wine, bought bath products, and pettted Looie. Love LM's parties!