Houston Healthcare Rally

Rock the Vote is sponsoring a rally for young voters who demand healthcare reform. It is Thursday, September 3 at 6:30 pm at Hermann Square (900 Smith Street). You can RSVP by clicking here. I hope I see you all there.

Sale, Sale, Sale!

If anyone has some time over the next two days, make a trip to Dillards--they are offering an extra 40% off of all sale merchandise! Even BCBG (my favorite) is offering an extra 25% off of their sale merchandise. AWESOME! The Saks Outlet is also having a huge sale which includes ALL handbags and shoes being an extra 30% off through September 1!

A couple of things I am working on: still the burka story, the possible bankruptcy of photographer extraordinaire Annie Leibovitz due to an outstanding $24 million loan, and exceptional travel deals for Fall (imagine an Irish cottage for two weeks over the holidays--you and 4 friends--for only $150/person!)

I am also looking into the replacement of the late Mr. Kennedy in the senate. He wrote and asked for an immediate appointment to replace him to keep the balance in the healthcare debate--but will the Govenor honor his last wishes?

Burka Ban in France

This article is taking some time, but will be posted soon. Keep checking back! For the time being check out the CNN coverage of Sarkozy's now infamous comment that the Burka is "not welcome" in France.

Rehashing Health Care

There is an article in the NY Times, in which Senator Jon Kyl claims that no Republican senators were responsible for spreading the death panel rumors, that it is the cost of the bill that will ultimately kill it, and that most Americans are satisfied with their health care.

Well, Senator Kyl (I find it funny that his last name is so similar to the death panel issue--euthanasia--aka kill the old people) it is the 15% of Americans that are UNINSURED that aren't satisfied--and is the largest minority (yep, the Hispanic population is just under 15%) in the US. Duh Mr. Kyl.

This FAQ is helpful, and details exactly what is being proposed and what is not. Check it out!

Saks Outlet Coupons

Here you go guys: Print these out and take them with you to any Saks Off 5th Outlet from the 19th through the 25th of August. Bon chance!

snakeskin tote

Ok. They look similar, right? The "jenna" bag on the bottom by Beirn is $325 at Neiman Marcus (and $195 at bluefly.com) the bag on the right--a whopping $23 at Target.com

First Fall shopping Outing

Ok, so I made it to Target yesterday and found some real gems! Unfortunately, my camera died the first time I tried to take a picture. So, I am going back today--pictures to come! But, I will give you a little preview of what I found: a great snake-skin tote similar to a style I saw at Neimans, a LBD that is super flattering and super versatile for $15, simple ruffled tanks in gem tones that look great layered or alone, and a funky black fringe vest on sale for $6 that would be perfect for a boho day!

The biggest flop was in the shoe department. There was nothing, nothing, nothing!

I have been nosing around online and found some great pieces at great prices, so here you go:
American Eagle boots for $70!

This Alice + Olivia sequined tee is $128 on the Gilt Group Site (which is members only, but free once invited--and offers designer duds at sample sale prices) The dress is from the same brand and site for $148!
Ok, that is it for now--those Target pics will be up soon!

Fat September Issues, Labor day looming, the school year starting... You know what this means: Fall Fashion Week is around the corner!

Yes yes, I know, I live in Houston. So, the only thing "Fall Issues" signifies to the fashion devotees living in the Devil's armpit is that they now must suffer to wear their new jackets, sweaters, coats, and scarves--because we have--what, at least 3 or 4 more months of 80+ degree weather to look forward to? Joy.

Nonetheless. It is my favorite time of year! My mission this week will be to seek out and find all those "must have" Harper's Bazaar and VOGUE looks at REAL people prices--and then determine if the are wearable off the catwalk or streets of Manhattan.

On my list: Trench coat, baggy trousers (a la Etro or Akris), statement shoes-jewelry-and clutch, great neutral bag with a longer strap (preferable in leather or suede), neon pops (see Michael Kors and Marc Jacobs), easy layerable tank-tops (like those from The Row)--the looser fitting the better, the boyfriend blazer, something sparkly, a pair of booties that don't make my calves look giant, and the newest freshest beauty look out there for fall (and don't worry, I won't be bleaching or shaving any eyebrows even though Armani, Balmain, Calvin Klein, and many others are sporting the look in their fall ad campaigns and runway shows). I am also in the market for a perfect white button-up, a light weight scarf, a new pair of jeans or two, a great party dress, and chic wear-with-anything watch.

This will take me all week, but I will be posting my finds--along with pictures--as I go.

I want to preface this shopping excursion with this: I am quite skeptical of several of these falls trends--particularly neon and pointy shoulder pads. I am of the old school which meant fall was the return to all of the deliciously sumptuous neutrals--gray, beige, camel, blush, charcoal, black, navy, cream, etc.--in great fabrics like cashmere, silk, and wool. Pair these with subtle gold touches and you have a perfectly polished and transitional ensemble for work or play. I find the problem with statement pieces is that they tend to make too loud of a statement. And who wants to go around shouting the same thing at every occasion all season? The key is to find a good weighty sculptural piece that will be the finishing touch to any outfit, but not actually BE the outfit. See the difference? Louis Vuitton has a necklace out for fall that is the former, it is huge, and unavoidable--so for us that will need to re-purpose our purchase for more than one "look" this is not a good choice. However, Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquiere created some amazing bangles--that look more as if they belong in the MOMA than a jewelry shop, which add just-the-right-touch of Modern to any fall composition.

I have my work cut out for me--and I am setting my price limit at $150 for each major piece, and $50 for smaller items such as necklaces. Of course, there is room for fudging if something is particularly fantastic. My favorite haunts are: the 70% off rack in the BCBG Max Azria boutique at Dillard's or the freestanding boutique (I also like Kenzie--and Antonio Melani is great for work pieces), the SAKS outlet--they email me coupons--for high end pieces at a great price, Forever 21 for seasonal pieces, Express (just make sure you weed through the sleazy stuff), the Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Zara, Target, Nordstrom, and Wal-Mart (which I used to loathe, but have been very pleased with of late).

More soon to come!

Links to information on the new bill

This is a good summary of the bill HR 3200 provided by the Senate.


Here is the CIA website I used for collecting my statistics:
Infant Mortality Rates

Life Expectancy at Birth

Health Care Reform--Bogus "Big Government" ploy or legitimate attempt at self-improvement

To jump right in--I have been researching today. All of the hype around our "health insurance reform" bill irritated me. Well anything sensationalized irritates me, hyper-erroneous claims that take up time and discredit whichever party the "claimer" claims more than the one they intended to attack. Anyway--this is what I have found.

Truth: Canada, the U.K., and France all have lower infant mortality rates than the U.S. We are actually sandwiched between the Faroe Islands and Cuba (which just beat us out). This is disconcerting--and I got this directly from the CIA World Factbook--we are only 180 out of 224 (the higher the number, the lower the ratio). Our life expectancy is not much better. The U.S. is number 50 (in this list the lower the ranking the better) beat out by the same three big bad socialist countries--and countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina! Now I have a friend from Bosnia, and have heard the horror stories--how are we living shorter lives than them?!? We can derive from these simple statistics that indeed, our health care system is nothing to be proud of--nothing we should cling to as if our life depends on it (because, well, it does, and it hasn't been working out so well for us now has it?).

As Americans, we have been raised to believe that "big government" is bad--communist, think 1984 "Big Brother," right? But, is it so bad to confine capitalism to sectors not devoted to the nurturing and preservation of life?

Health care and drug costs soar because the U.S. is privatized. The same medication in a regulated system costs much less (and I don't mean just the cost to the consumer, the cost period). That is just fact. But, many complain that regulation blocks the individual's freedom of choice because medicine that does not fall within the predetermined cost-to-benefit equation would not be permitted. So while both sides haggle about who loves their grandmother more--which option actually helps keep granny's money in her pocketbook and keeps her alive long enough to buy a new one next season?

Well, we can infer from the life expectancy statistics that the French, Canadians, and British will be enjoying Granny's Christmas Gooseberry Pie longer than we will. Now--this is not all due to the availability of prescription medication--it is due in large part to the focus of the entire health care system. We, as Americans, are tough. "Walk-it-off," "rub some dirt on it," or "just give it some time" are all American euphemisms for "we aren't taking you to the Doctor--so get over it." Now if this is applied to a heavy feeling in your chest instead of a sprained ankle, you could be putting yourself at serious risk for a heart attack. Other countries, where health care is no big deal, do not have this aversion to the Doctor. You don't feel well, you go see the Doctor, and as such, the Physicians are able to take more preventative measures rather than trying to fix years of unchecked deterioration.

So, re-orienting ourselves to the way we view health care is just as important as political reform. Do I think that health care should be an enumerated right, and therefore constitutionally protected? Yes. You know the whole "life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness" bit? It is hard to fulfill your American entitlement if you aren't healthy and can't get the treatments you need. The real antipathy towards anything "socialized" I believe arises from our innate and over-fed selfishness. The people who speak out the loudest against the reform all have insurance, and have yet to be screwed over by their insurance company. They shouldn't have to pay for other people's sloth and inability to pay! Outrage! If a 37 year old woman dies of kidney cancer because she didn't have insurance and therefore didn't have access to expensive treatments that could have saved her--too bad, good riddance, one less social-leech? But if that same 37 year old woman were to abort a 10 week old fetus--murder, protests, indignation? How is the right to life which they claim to hold so dear not extend to the uninsured ill? This position seems a tad counter-intuitive. Either you believe in the right to life or you don't, right? Now, don't get me wrong--I am open for debate on how far pre-birth that right should extend--but if something with no brain waves deserves it, then surely an adult should be privy to the same consideration.

How is it so different then from the social security that those same people feel entitled to collect? Everyone pays in--some more than others--and everybody reaps the benefit when they need it. My biggest qualm so far with HR 3200 is the cost. At just under one trillion and 50 billion dollars for the first 9 years, it is a steep price. But, as the Canadians have, we will get better at "trimming the fat" (and no, by that I don't mean the old people) but curbing unnecessary administrative expenditures, etc.