Dry Cleaner be gone!!!

Having recently moved to NYC and finding myself STILL unemployed - I found it necessary to bid adieu to my expensive dry cleaning habits. Back in Vegas, taking 3 dresses, 5 shirts, 4 slacks and two alterations to my neighborhood cleaner would have cost me around 60.00. New York? I brought 2 dresses and a skirt to a cleaner who shall remain nameless (pick one) and paid $72.00 for the 3 items. When I received the bill, the only that prevented me from soiling myself is the slacks I had on were also Dry Clean Only.

Frugal friends rejoice! I did my homework and after much deliberation, made the decision to purchase the portable McCulloch home garment steamer. Its a fabulous little machine that comes in a a fun yellow and includes a nifty extend-able hanger rod and has casters for easy mobility.

I had used Conair steamers in the past which were OK - but this bad boy had 3 dresses, a blouse, a sweater and a pair of slacks steamed and fresh as can be faster than a dry cleaner can say "That'll be $72.00". The best part? It only costs $44.00 and shipping is free. Now we know why they call it "Taking me to the cleaners!"

Get yours here

Revamping Your Closet

We have all heard and likely said "I've got nothing to wear!" a time or two in our lives - hell I find myself saying it daily.  My boyfriend once told me about a book that while I have yet to read it, its title has resonated with me and tattooed itself on my brain ever since the words were uttered: "The Paradox of Choice".  Its not that I am lacking in my choices, its that there are too damn many thereby rendering me incapable of making a decision which inevitably ends in frustration.  

Every six months or so I do "revamping" session on my closet to ensure that A) I am keeping my look updated and B) I'm not getting bored.  The last time I did this I enlisted the help of my girlfriend Rhia to assist in the mission.  Do you recall the scene in the Sex and the City movie when Carrie is holding up items from her wardrobe while her girlfriends held up signs that read either "keep" or "toss".  It was kind of like that only we weren't sipping champagne in a NYC co-op and my closet doesn't begin to touch Ms. Bradshaw's - yet. 

Having a fresh set of eyes with a different perception of what is fashionable literally changed my life and my wardrobe.  Rhia  promptly retrieved items from my toss pile and began pairing the would be discarded items with the "I'm probably never gonna wear this but its on sale" scarves and belts, layering fall pieces over summer ones and vice versa and in the process opened a new world of fashion possibilities for yours truly.  I had in my midst about 20 new outfits I would have never thought to put together.  The added bonus?  I felt like I had spent hours boutique shopping and didn't spend a cent.   

This morning I came across a delicious little site that I like to think of as my virtual Rhia:

MyCloset.com | The place to share your world, collections and style

The concept is simple and its downright brilliant.  Simply upload pictures of your clothing, accessories, shoes or whatever to your closet and organize and create looks by yourself or with the help of other members on the site.  You can create a profile for personal use or build a store and there are of course links to shop should you choose to add more.  So while I don't think I'll be converting the diva den from this:

To THIS:

Anytime in the near future, I'll be damned if it isn't for lack of trying.  

Enjoy!

Love, 

Leah