Special Bulletin

Tara Jarmon is now at Target

I popped into Target last weekend and caught a glimpse of the new Tara Jarmon designs. In general the colors were muted and feminine and the shapes are basic and easy to wear. So far the racks are filled with cute spring jackets and pretty camis. I’m waiting for the sundresses to show up.

Outdoor Grills: The Next Generation

Okay, forget that this grill looks like the Starship Enterprise, not only does it look cool, it might just solve every grilling problem for city dwellers and those of us with limited storage space.

Outdoor grilling is one of the greatest things about the summer months. Grilling is a fun way to make all kinds of delicious foods (I grilled some pineapple last year and it was amazing). However, now that we live on the second floor, we spend a lot less time in the backyard and even less time using our grill. We have a big old Weber charcoal grill that has languished beneath a tarp for two summers running. It works really well, but using charcoal is messy and time consuming. Add in an extra flight of stairs and cooking outside quickly becomes a fond memory. Until now! While researching gas grills I came upon an exciting innovation in outdoor cuisine, it’s called the Q Portable Grill. Idea for couples and small families, it has a 105 sq. inch cooking surface, weighs a mere 13 lbs. and uses a standard 1lbs Propane Canister. I can’t wait to get it! It folds up so we could easily store it in the garage or on our back porch in between uses. It’s so light and compact that it’ll be a breeze to take it on car trips to the park, beach or tailgating parties. Most importantly it’s truly affordable. The Q Grill is $99, cheap when compared to some other portable grills that are $200-$300. I’m going to try to pick one up this weekend.

See this portable outdoor grill on ShopLocal.com!

Critters in the Mist

You may recall, from past entries, my affection for esthetically pleasing humidifiers. Well, as it happens, I have discovered yet another good looking air moisturizer. It’s aptly named the Crane Adorable Humidifier. Though most likely meant for a child’s room, I think these charming humidifying creatures might make a cheerful addition to a tired old office or a drab guest room. I also think they might make an amusing gift. Let say you have a friend who loves elephants and you’re stumped for a gift. Why not send them an elephantine home appliance; a gift that is both practical and darling.

You’ll find several animal incarnations of the Crane Humidifier on ShopLocal.com.

Breaking News! Haute Couture to the “États-Généraux”

Paris Designer Tara Jarmon is next in line to take over the Go International campaign at Target. For weeks fans of Luella Bartley’s punk inspired pieces for Target have enjoyed perusing the racks for affordable limited edition fashion forward clothing and accessories. Like H & M’s joint effort with Stella McCartney, Target commissioned Bartley to create a variety of pieces, offering her exclusive designs to the masses. Soon Target will bring us another delight from across the pond when the Go International racks are filled with items by French designer Tara Jarmon. This summer, our closets will get a French twist. Items include a darling polka dot shirt dress and jaunty Bermuda shorts.

Picture Perfect

I love looking at photographs. Whether they’re stunning images of my cousin’s trip to India or silly snapshots from last night’s dinner out, I always get a kick out of seeing frozen moments in time. Unfortunately, I’m terrible at putting together photo albums. My husband and I have boxes of loose pictures that chronicle more than a decade in no particular order. The randomness can be amusing, but mostly frustrating when pictures of a special occasion are missing. Luckily, my aunt put together a wedding album for us. Left to our own devices, there would undoubtedly be a box marked “misc. wedding”.


While surfing the internet today I found this cool new photo album kit, the Adesso Polaroid Guest Book Kit. For about $140, you get a cloth-bound album, a Polaroid camera, and two packs of film. With the kit, revelers can snap pictures, save them in an album and write a note on how drunk they are while helping you organize your favorite pictures. I think it’s perfect for a big birthday party, anniversary celebration or baby shower. Here’s where to get the Adesso Polaroid Guest Book Kit.


If you prefer the DIY approach, check out these instant cameras on SL.

The Wave of the Future

As you all know, a few weeks ago I bought a curling iron for the first time since 1983 in order to give my locks an exciting twist for a party I was attending. Though a somewhat time consuming process, I was very pleased by the results and received many flattering comments from my friends. So pleased was I, that I have since decided to fire up the curling iron a couple of times a week. Whether I’m off to have dinner with friends or seeing a show with my husband, I’ve started to polish up my look with a few turns of my new curling iron. I don’t feather my hair like I used to (though I’ve been tempted) instead I wind my hair into soft tendrils for a modern feminine look. It’s not for everyday, just when I want a little boost.

I got my Vidal Sassoon Ceramic Curling Iron at Walgreen’s, but you can find them anywhere- CVS, Ulta, Beauty.com, etc.

Check out these curling irons on ShopLocal.

Good Luck and Good Shopping!

The Toast Master

I fought it for a long time but, last weekend, I finally bought a toaster. For more than four years, my husband and I were rendered toasterless after I nearly defenestrated our old toaster in a rage over crumbs. No, I didn’t throw the retched machine of tin and filth out the window, but I did sell it at a garage sale for $2.00.

A life without crumbs was grand, however the mornings grew long without the comfort of toasted bread and a BLT was never the same on soft bread. The hazards of life without a toaster became all too apparent when I actually turned an English muffin into a lump of coal having left it under the broiler too long. I just didn’t know if I could go back staring at a giant metal box on my countertop covered in grease and crumbs.

Desperate for answers, I headed to Kmart. Scanning rows of small appliances, I found what I was looking for- the Proctor Silex 4- Slice Cool Touch Toaster. It was clean and white, not too large, and wallet friendly at $19.99. I rushed home with our new appliance and in minutes we were enjoying BLT’s for lunch. Wow, did I miss toast.

Toasters can get pricey. My sister-in-law’s toaster was $120.00! My toaster isn’t particularly fancy, but it really does a nice job. The toaster evenly browns the bread, the slots are wide enough for bagels, the settings offer a wide range of doneness, and there’s a handy cancel button if you think your toast is done. Oh yeah, the crumb tray is easy to remove for a thorough clean up too. My toaster is better than sliced bread, it’s toast!

Check out new toasters on ShopLocal!

My Final Four

March Madness is giving way to the final showdown in college basketball and this fine spring weekend I will be engaging in my own final four- the final four boxes on my back porch.

Since we moved a year and a half ago, I’ve been rearranging and stepping around the same four boxes of crap on my back porch. It happens whenever you move, inevitably there are boxes filled with miscellanea; items that defy categorization and don’t merit a padded box of their own that, nonetheless, must accompany you where ever you go. Personally, I was surprised my husband and I only had four such boxes to move. But now, since the weather is warmer and the days are longer, it’s time to tackle the junk and go to the final four.

My game plan is just to keep my head down, dig deep and stay focused. With a little help from above I hope that all my hard work pays off, and the back porch gets clean. I’ve got some good experience emptying boxes and I’ll be looking to my husband for help when I don’t know if I should throw something out or not. I just want to thank my mom for teaching me about spring cleaning. This Final Four is for you Mom!

Check out more ideas for "springing ahead" on ShopLocal!

How I Cleaned Up on Poker Night

Last weekend my husband held his first annual poker tournament and stakes we high. Twelve card savvy friends arrived at 1pm and left at 1am. Naturally, being the hostess with the mostess, I went all out and made dozens of mini roast beef sandwiches, a vat of homemade macaroni and cheese, deviled eggs, chips and salsa and fresh bloody marys to wash it all down. Between the eating and dealing the floors took quite a beating. The little cup holders on the poker table just couldn't hold up against the fist pounding excitement of the tournament. Our hardwood floors were constantly being splashed with everything from coffee to cola, with a little beer thrown in for good measure. The chips we stacked against the floors but my trusty mop came to the rescue every time. I don't want to sound like a silly television ad, but my Clorox Ready Mop is the best. After soaking up the big spills with a towel I got rid of the sticky residue with a few quick passes with the Ready Mop. It's fitted with a refillable container of floor cleaner and uses disposable pads to wipe away the mess. Once the mess is gone I throw the pad away; no wringing, soaking or squeezing necessary. I actually replaced the original cleaning fluid with a nicer smelling cleaner I found at my local apothecary for a fresh scent. I've had the mop for almost four years and it's as good as new. It really makes cleaning up easier. If you're looking for a new mop, check out the Clorox Ready Mop or the Swifer. Here are some options from ShopLocal. If you're interested in poker check this stuff out.

The Three Faces of Eating

Just as we must eat from a variety of food groups to achieve a healthy diet, so must we shop at a wide variety of grocers in order to get the right food at the right price. For those of us with limited free time, it may seem a bit extreme to make three stops while stocking up on weekly supplies, but your pocket book and your tummy will thank you. My three stops are Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods and Dominick’s Finer Foods.

My three pronged approach to shopping begins with Dominick’s. It’s a nice big store with a complete selection of all the basics in food, beverage and household supplies. Coupons and in store specials are plentiful every week and prices are generally very competitive. In recent years, Dominick’s has expanded its produce department to include a salad bar and now offers great homemade prepared meals like pizzas and roast chickens. At Dominick’s I do my foundational shopping, bread, milk, eggs, flower, cleaning supplies, toilet paper etc. This is where the bulk of my groceries come from because $50 really goes a long way.

My next stop is California’s gift to grocery shopping, Trader Joe’s. Specializing in specialty foods at special prices it’s a must for stocking up the freezer or preparing for a party. I love their frozen haricot verts and the frozen seafood aisle is stocked with beautifully prepared salmon filets. Party planning is easy with Trader Joe’s where tasty cheeses and savory crackers are abundant. You’ll find the famous “Two Buck Chuck” or Charles Shaw wine for $1.99 a bottle in the extensive wine area along side other great wines at great prices. If you’re in the mood for fresh flowers, Trader Joe’s has an excellent seasonal variety of fresh cut flowers as well as some nice potted plants.

My final stop, is Whole Foods. This delightful food emporium specializes in organic foods, bulk grains and beautifully prepared foods. I make it my final stop because it’s my chance to indulge in something special for dinner after I’ve gotten all the basics for the week. Truth be told, if I went to Whole Foods first I’d have one gourmet dinner instead of a weeks worth of groceries. Usually when I go I have a special recipe in mind or a new cuisine I’d like to try. No matter what you have in mind, Whole Foods satisfies your wildest culinary dreams. Last week I made a giant seafood paella and found everything I needed from the briny mussels to the fine threads of saffron.

Do yourself a favor, take the time to cut corners where you should and indulge your taste buds where you can.

Good Luck and Good Shopping!

Misty Water-Colored Memories

The last time I used a curling iron it was 1988, and I was wearing an electric blue off the shoulder number adorned with rather bulbous satin flowers and my prom date wore Doc Martens. So damaging was the whole experience, I have not since held a curling iron.

The curling iron is the hallmark for the 80’s in my book. I spent the entire decade searing my skin and scorching my hair in the constant pursuit of beauty; or, at the very least, in the constant pursuit of looking like Valerie Bertinelli. Admittedly, I had a lot to learn. In the aftermath of the 80’s, I put down the iron and tossed my hot rollers, opting for a more natural kind of aesthetic. In essence, I got a little lazy with my locks. But, like leg warmers and lip gloss, some things are worth trying again. So here I am, once again, in the market for a curling iron. If all goes well, I may glam up my hair for this fairly formal 40th birthday party I’m going to on Saturday.

I’ll be checking out some of the irons I found on ShopLocal, so I’ll be sure to give you a full report.

Good Luck and Good Shopping!

Happy Trails Ahead

This past week in Chicago, Mother Nature teased us with a taste of warm weather and instantly I'm reminded of all the joys of summer. I know I may be jumping the gun, since March in the Midwest rarely goes out like a lamb, but I can't help but dream of sunny days and long bike rides. Nothing beats a trip through lazy trails that end in the green splendor of the Chicago Botanic Gardens. When my husband got me a new bike for my birthday, we started taking extended rides through the surrounding forrest preserves and up to the Gardens. Starting on a Saturday morning, we'd stop to enjoy a picnic lunch in the afternoon before continuing on to enjoying more of the tree-lined trail.

With sunny days ahead why not dust off your old ten speed or, better yet, get a shiny new Schwinn and hit the trails cycling. Old fashioned fun is great exercise! Just think, if Paul Newman in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid didn't keep in shape while riding a bike with Katherine Ross, they would have never out run the posse as long as they did.

Try ShopLocal if you're looking for a new bicycle!

Mush!

Last weekend I had the privilege of witnessing the inaugural run of the Chiditarod here in Chicago. Modeled after San Francisco’s Urban Iditarod, contestants form teams of “dogs” and “mushers”. Using a shopping cart for a sled, teams race to complete a five mile course, collecting food along the way to give to charity. The course this year began at Wicker Park’s Pontiac Café and ended (appropriately) at a local bar called the Hideout. Before the 12:30pm start time, crowds gathered in the Pontiac parking lot, some to cheer and some to prepare for battle.

Spring was in the brisk March air as racers and revelers gathered on the bustling and much ballyhooed Wicker Park corner of North and Damen. Carts adorned with colorful drapes and fashioned with cardboard cutouts, stood majestically before their mushers and “dogs”, who were equally resplendent in spandex and spangles. The electricity was palpable as onlookers cradled lattes and team members stayed limber by smoking cigarettes. Suddenly, an eruption of whistles signaled contestants to take their marks. Shouts of joy and anticipation came from the surrounding crowd. In an instant, the thunderous crack and telltale plume of smoke from the starter's pistol rose up, and the carts were off in a blur of steel and fanfare. As the teams rattled and surged up the block and out of sight, fans waved flags and made calls of encouragement. How would the racers fair? Where would they find food to load up their carts? How would they survive the perils of the city streets? It would be an adventure only they would come to know.

I’ve already started recruiting potential mushers and hounds for next year. I can’t think of a more perfect company event for ShopLocal.com than sponsoring a cart in next year’s Chiditarod. Maybe with a little coaxing we could sponsor the whole event! Perhaps I could be dubbed Queen of the Ciditarod and start carrying a scepter to work…

I think I need a cup of coffee.

Good Luck and Good Shopping! Remember, it's always a good time to donate to a worth cause, rain or Chiditarod.

My Oscar Gift Basket: A very hot item

Included in my Academy Award prize for winning the Oscar pool this year was a unique new beverage from the kitchens of Wolfgang Puck. I received two cans of Wolfgang Puck Gourmet Rich Espresso Latte in an exciting "New Self- Heating Can". Being a coffee aficionado (or aficiona-jo)I was thrilled to have the opportunity to sample this specialty coffee with its innovative design feature. I thought it only fitting to take it to work and enjoy a warm and tasty beverage while at my desk.




Heating the beverage involves a few, relatively easy to follow, steps. First, you turn the container upside down. On the bottom of the can is another pull tab which you use to remove a metal cover to reveal some plastic innards. The latte is in a can within a can. If you look closely, you can see a greenish blue liquid inside.





Next, you are instructed to depress the plastic surface "until the liquid disappears". In doing so, you combine the enclosed water and calcium oxide. The ensuing chemical reaction produces heat. After ten seconds you turn the can right-side-up. Now, the waiting begins. As the FDA approved quicklime substance inside the outer can begins to heat up, the beverage starts to warm as well. In 5-8 minutes the pink dot on the side of the can turns white indicating your latte is ready.

Finally you shake the can, twist the top lock open, flip the other tab and Voila! It's java time! The creamy warm beverage was tasty, but left a Splenda aftertaste in my mouth. (I like plain old sugar.) Nevertheless, it stayed nice and hot for at least 30 minutes.

It wasn't necessarily less time consuming or more satisfying than a trip to Starbucks, but it was an intriguing little project that was a welcome diversion to my otherwise humdrum Monday.


Good Luck and Good Shopping!

London Calling

“Ladies and Gentlemen, Rule/Cool Britannia is now officially a TREND!” proclaims Vogue.com columnist Camilla Morton.

This season’s wave of fashion weeks around the globe has apparently stirred up a new theme inspired by our friends across the pond. So how do you get the look without breaking the bank? Sure you can buy a counterfeit bag from the guy on the corner or perhaps forego paying the rent and have that gorgeous Burberry Prorsum fitted plaid jacket. But these aren’t your only two options. With a little imagination and creativity you can have most any look you like just by choosing the right pieces. Today let’s go Britannia!

The first key piece is the trench coat. Picture yourself dashing through the spring rain to a black cab or strolling through Kensington Gardens with a newspaper tucked under your arm. Fashionable and practical, the trench coat is a must. Find the color and shape you like best and you’ll have it for the rest of your life.

Next on your list is a shiny pair of black shoes or boots. Wear them with some black tights for a simple and sharp look that would make Her Royal Highness proud.


Finally, round out your look with something a little irreverent like
a Luella from Target top or some edgy silver jewelry. Adding a bit of London punk will make your outfit feel modern and chic.

Above all, remember that fashion is fun. Embrace new trends on a budget and you’ll feel free to be creative and practical at the same time.

Good Luck and Good Shopping!

Ah, Wilderness!

It takes a certain kind of store to overwhelm me, Eva the Shopping Diva, and Costco is one such place.

My parents, inexplicably, go weekly to this uber-store as if they were constantly restocking a fallout shelter. Not to be out done by their shopping prowess, I decided to face the gaping jaws of this mega-retailer after work the other day. I should have eaten my Wheaties.

Everything is extra large in Costco. Shopping carts move like barges through the aisles, and stacks of pallets and boxes rise like icebergs up two stories to the corrugated ceiling. Beacons of fluorescent light reflect off cellophane wrapped cases, obscuring content. Hoards of flat screened TVs blink with cloned, muted images next to displays of coffins and coffee pots. I've only taken three steps and I'm out of breath. To the south, I can see racks of bread rising in the glow of the meat department cases. To the west, a field of outdoor furniture stretches out toward towers of paper products. I am a retailing pioneer left to my own devices, braving the vast territory of bulk products.

I reach for box of tissues and realize with horror that it's not one box but 12. It takes two hands for me keep the whole display from tumbling down on top of me. My thirst drives me to an aisle full of juices. To my dismay, the two-gallon set of apple juice form concentrate encased in cardboard and plastic is too heavy for me to lift off the floor. Sweat beads on my brow as I push the unwieldy shopping cart forward. I must press on. Ahead of me, beyond mounds of fleece pullovers and tube socks, I spy giant tins of cookies and pillowcase-sized bags of candy. My salvation! I ditch the cart and grab a tub of roasted nuts. Thankfully, it's right in front of the check out counter. The rest is a blur until I find myself back in my car, in the parking lot, elbow deep in roasted nuts. My breathing slows and I realize that I'm not quite the shopper I thought I was, yet.

Good Luck and Good Shopping!

Ad-Vonage??

About four months ago, in response to the growing costs of maintaining a land line, my husband and I made the switch to digital phone service with Vonage. Though our cell phones bear the brunt of our telephonic communications, we still wanted to keep a separate number for our home. Just in case. My husband did a little investigation of our options and we chose Vonage for about $25 a month. The almost insurmountable upside is the super low flat rate for unlimited local and long-distance service, very tough to beat. The downsides are few yet a little strange. At times the service can be sporadic and elusive. It's a little like our phone is possessed.

Because Vonage uses our broadband connection, we occasionally experience similarly fickle service in our phone, cable TV and internet access. If it's a little stormy outside we might not get a dial tone or get online. No biggie. However, sometimes friends will call and the phone just won't ring. They'll reach us on our cell phones and tell us to check our house phone for trouble. We pick up the receiver and the hollow sound of the dial tone answers back as if there's nothing wrong at all.

Sometimes it will ring just once and then go silent. For the person calling, everything seems normal, they hear the ring and it goes to voice mail. No one would know that we were actually home.

We try to pass it off on a bad connection, trying not to let dark thoughts creep in...but? What if the phone was trying to muffle the rings, suppress the calls, cut off our link to the outside world?!

Sometimes when we answer the phone we can hear the other person, but they can't hear us no matter how loudly we shout. More troubling are the noises. Every now and then the ring tone will change completely without any outside interference. There's actually only one ring tone option on our phone, yet once in a while it will chirp strangely or ring continuously for a solid minute.

If the phone service is out completely, calls are redirected to my husband's cell phone. So, if I call our house to retrieve messages, I am instead connected to his cell phone. It's as if it doesn't want us to know who called.

Open the pod bay doors HAL.

Olympic Fever Strikes ShopLocal

Rampant Torino-mania is sweeping the office as we speak. Well, it's really only swept over my desk so far, but it's only a matter of time.

I love the "thrill of victory” and the "agony of the drunk", oh, I mean, "defeat". The lugers have razor sharp focus and the snowboarders are exuberant and rad. The skaters are poised and the skiers are daring. Emotions must run the gamut for these O.C.-aged athletes as they mingle in the Olympic Village, vying for their piece of gold, silver or bronze.

In the hopes of finding a sporty commemorative visor or cap emblazoned with Torino 2006, I checked ShopLocal.com for some merch with which to temper my Olympic fever. I think the above long sleeved t-shirt is my best bet. Donning it for the gym, I can celebrate the Olympiad and go for the gold as I chase the dream astride the stationary bike.

Mob (Shopping) Mentality

I spent last weekend with a bunch of girlfriends in Key Biscayne, Florida enjoying the comforts of The Ocean Club (which included 7 swimming pools, 5 hot tubs, a spa, and poolside drinks) courtesy of some friends with parents in high places (i.e. the 14th floor of Ocean Tower Two). The weather was hot, the sky was clear and the margaritas were plentiful. (Yes, I just came back from Mexico, but when a friend invites you to stay for free in a beach paradise you have to strike while the iron's hot.)

There isn't much shopping on Key Biscayne unless you want a leopard print pillow for your white leather couch or a set of serving tongs shaped like coral. But that didn't really stop us from trying. The closest shopping opportunity was the local CVS. We stopped in for things like sunscreen and magazines, but left with so much more.

At first I noticed a rack of beaded necklaces with shells in a variety of colors and lengths, and then suddenly I sensed a frenzy of activity by the front door. My cohorts were gathered around a wall filled with brightly colored sarongs and beach cover-ups. At first we were just pointing at ones we liked, and then my sister-in-law grabbed one and wrapped it around her waist. "I think this is cute!" She exclaimed. I felt inspired and a little bit jealous, so I reached for an orange one, but before I could touch it, my friend Kathy boxed me out and took it for herself saying, "Ooo, I love orange!" In an instant everyone was pulling at the rack like sharks at a whale carcass, things were falling on the floor and display started to rock a little. Then I saw it, the perfect color. It was a brilliant fuchsia sarong with little shimmery beads dangling from the hem. This time I would not be thwarted. I pretended to look a something else while I inched closer to my quarry. I saw my friend Anna out of the corner of my eye and panicked. I made my move, plunged my hand into the fray and felt the gauzy pink cloth with my fingers. Extracting myself from the melee, I stepped back and wrapped the cover-up around my hips, it was wonderful. It would be the perfect compliment to my turquoise bikini. I looked up to see the awed faces around me. "Oh, that looks great" chirped my sister-in-law. "&*$@!, I should've grabbed the pink one" mumbled Anna.

Buy the time we left CVS we had purchased 14 sarongs between the six of us. The young man behind the counter was speechless as he rang us up one by one. As we filed out of the store he nodded his head solemnly and exhaled heavily staring up at the ransacked display. A store circular fluttered and skipped in the breeze as the door hissed closed behind us.

We came, we saw, we shopped.

Breaking News

I was just in Target looking for snacks to take on my trip to Miami and I came across more pods for my Senseo coffee maker. They're actually tea pods. Just like the coffe pods, I place them neatly in Mr. Senseo, but this time out comes a steamy mug of citrus green tea, or a robust cup of Early Grey. What's next soup pods?