Bette Midler with Joy Behar

Bette Midler is making the rounds - just a few weeks ago she appeared on the BBC's very funny Graham Norton Show, and now she's chatting with Joy Behar on CNN.



I thought everyone knew she had panic attacks before going on stage? Or is it only me?

Save Our Oceans

Just because it's the holiday season doesn't mean we should forget about the stuff that goes on every day on our planet. Nautica is introducing a limited edition Save Our Oceans t-shirt, of which 100% of the profits will to to support the continuing relief efforts on the Gulf Coast.

The t-shirt retails for $25.00 and can be purchased at Nautica.com, 100% of the proceeds from the sale benefit Oceana, Inc. (Purchases from the following states will not benefit the charity: AL, MA and ME).

I have one t-shirt to give away, in the size of your choice. Just leave a comment and you'll be entered in the drawing. Contest ends December 22nd.

The fine print:

Entrants who have won a prize from any Minx blogs will be ineligible to win again for a period of sixty (60) days.

Only Entrants who provide valid e-mail addresses will be considered in prize drawings.

Unless otherwise specified, Entrants must be 18 or older and located in the US or Canada only.

The odds of winning are dependent on how many entries are received.

Winners will be chosen randomly and notified via email.

Merry Christmas to Me!

I've been a very good girl this year, making very few fragrance purchases (three full bottles in April, at Sniffapalooza, and only samples the rest of the year), so I decided to treat myself for Christmas with a couple decants I've been craving.

While I usually buy decants from folks at Scentsplits, I found even more goodies at Crystal Flacon. My gift to myself was five 10ml decants from three different Crystal Flacon sellers (Mudassir, Archmemory, and Strifeknot): Chanel Coromandel, Annick Goutal Musc Nomade, Chanel 28 La Pausa, Etat Libre d'Orange Like This Tilda Swinton, and Odori Iris.

So did you buy yourself anything for the holidays? Do tell!

Burlesque Madrid Premiere

What's wrong with this photo? Sixty-something Cher can still get away with wearing mini skirts, ok, I get that. But why is 20-something Christina Aguilera wearing such an unflattering below-the-knee hem length? And why is she wearing yet another black dress to a Burlesque premiere?

Joan Rivers Back on TV

...in Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?, premiering January 25, 2011!

OMG... Wouldn't you want to curl up into a ball and die if your mother was Joan Rivers?

Beyoncé Heat

While I'm not normally a huge fan of celebrity fragrances, I just had to mention singer Beyoncé's first fragrance, Heat. It's a woodsy, fruity thing, something that I have seen described as a "fruitchouli" and similar to lots of new fragrances that are popular with the younger set. It's not bad at all, actually.

Before you yawn, check out this potentially great stocking stuffer:

A ginormous cocktail ring that contains Heat solid perfume. The ring is heavy, huge (the top is about 1 1/4" x 1"), and utterly fabulous. And it comes with the cute little pouch, too. $35. Someone on your gift list is bound to love it. The only problem I can see is that the ring is about a size 6.5 or 7, which is huge on my tiny fingers, but may be perfect for other folks. YMMV.

Beyoncé Heat Notes: magnolia, neroli, red vanilla orchid, blush peach, almond macaroon, honeysuckle, crème de musk, giant sequoia milkwood, tonka bean, amber

ASOS Comes to the US!

From reading other fashion blogs, I understand that British fashion company, ASOS, has some really in-demand garments, particularly in plus sizes. And now they're available in the US!

What's more, for the next few days international shipping is FREE!

Click here to shop ASOS.

Give a Gift of Beauty for the Holidays

If you're looking for some gift ideas in the beauty/fragrance department, here are some of my recommendations. If I find more, I'll do another post.

L'Eau Ambree Gift Set $76 at Sephora

Includes:
1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray
3.4 oz Hydrating Body Lotion
0.2 oz Eau de Parfum

I got this yummy set for Christmas last year! The scent is a rich amber that is a bit on the cool side, with a touch of chypre to my nose. Notes: Mandarin, Lemon, May Rose Absolute, Gardenia, Amber, Patchouli, Vanilla, Opoponax

Philosophy Holiday Parade Set $25, exclusively at Macy's

Includes:
6 oz each Butterscotch Candy, Bubble Gum Blow Out, and I Love Red Licorice shampoo/shower gel/bubble bath

I love Philosophy products because they 1) smell great; 2) are versatile. No need to have multiple products in the shower when one will do. This would make a really cute gift for a Secret Santa or a co-worker.

Nest Holiday Candle $32 at Saks

Created by Laura Slatkin, this candle is the essence of the holiday season with its notes of pomegranate, mandarin orange, pine, cloves, and cinnamon. I got a votive as a freebie at Sniffapalooza last year and loved it so much, I bought the 8oz version to burn this year. It really makes my whole house smell like Christmas.

How about another one of my new favorite scents, Iris Noir?

Iris Noir gift set, $40 at Yves Rocher

Includes:
1.7 oz Iris Noir EDP
6.7 oz Perfumed Shower Gel

Notes: bergamot, coriander, iris, ambrette seed, patchouli, Tonka bean

Nothing to Do...

...with fashion or beauty, I know, but I LOVE Dr Drew (and Celebrity Rehab is one of my favorite guilty pleasures - see my tribute here., and I'm excited that he will be getting his own show on HLN soon.

CNN Heroes

Here’s a sneak peek from the event hosted by Anderson Cooper and airing tonight at 8on ET/5pm PT on CNN. Watch it for the heros, or watch it for the celebrity fame whores in their one-shouldered dresses: Demi Moore, Halle Barry, Renee Zellweger, Bon Jovi....

CNN Heroes has illustrated the best of humanity through the telling of stories of selfless acts of kindness, courage and perseverance. More than 10,000 nominations for CNN Heroes were received from more than 100 countries.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Bergdorf Goodman 2010 Holiday Windows

I probably won't get the opportunity to see the windows at Bergdorf Goodman in person this holiday season, so this video is the next best thing.

Did anyone else think, as they were watching, "I want that job!" ?

A Gift That Gives Back

Want to do something to "give back" during the holidays? Well, this adorable Rebecca Taylor tote, designed by her husband Wayne Pate, can help you do just that.

100% of the proceeds of this tote, available now at RebeccaTaylor.com, will be donated to the National Wildlife Federation's efforts to clean up the BP oil spill in the Gulf.

That sounds like $135 well spent.

Look! It's Blossom!

Blossom star Mayim Bialik attended the 2010 CNN Heroes All-Stars Tribute last weekend wearing her great-grandmother's dress and the same hippie hair she's been sporting for decades. While it's nice to see her out and about, it would have been nicer to see her dressing her age.

Didn't What Not to Wear do her any good at all?

2010 American Music Awards

Music awards always offer up a tantalizing variety of trashy costumes, and this year's AMAs were no different. However, there were also a surprising number of tasteful and perhaps even somewhat matronly looks.

Short and shiny. Fergie chose feathered epaulets, while Jenny McCarthy works a disco Wilma Flintstone look.

Cray-cray obviously runs in the Pinkett-Smith family. Mother Jada looks like an interplanetary harlot, while her daughter, Willow, looks as if she just escaped a special Nickelodeon-inspired mental ward, leaving half her straight jacket behind.

Heidi Klum and Rhianna both borrowed selections from their granny's lingerie chest. Rhianna's matchy-matchy hair and dress color would probably send Nina Garcia into apoplexy.

Katy Perry looks unusually tasteful and subdued. As does Miley Cyrus, but why didn't anyone tell her that she was trailing an entire roll of toilet paper behind her?

I can't even begin to describe Nicki Minaj's special brand of insanity. Maybe Phoebe Price (just back from a remnant sale at Mood) can help me....

Sarah Palin is Your Fault

Fran Lebowitz joins Joy Behar tonight at 9, where you can hear her thoughts on Sarah Palin, and the possibility of her beating Barack Obama in 2012:

Well I think there’s a possibility. And the fact that it’s a possibility is the fault of Barbara Walters…I don’t mean personally, but it’s the fault of the media. In other words, the fact that we know who Sarah Palin is, is your fault. And there’s no difference between the Kardashians and Sarah Palin...same. It’s not as if their accomplishments are inescapable and we have to pay attention to them…they have no accomplishments so if you stopped paying attention to them…they’d disappear.

The Royal Engagement Ring

Kate shows off the ring.

The ring on Diana's hand.

After eight long years of dating, Prince William finally popped the question to girlfriend Kate Middleton. He gave her his mother Princess Diana's engagement ring, a large oval sapphire surrounded by fourteen small diamonds, designed by former crown jewelers Garrard & Co. Back in the 80s, similar rings started showing up on the fingers of engaged commoners everywhere - will we see a resurgence today?



Similar rings are available on the Internet, like this $18,500 baby from Bluenile.com.

Personally, I'm a round-diamond gal and am not at all fond of colored gemstones in engagement rings, particularly large ovals. What do you think?

JCPenney Wedding Party

JCPenney is holding a special online wedding party this Thursday, November 18th offering participants an opportunity to get expert advice on styling everything for your wedding – from the hair all of the way down to your undergarments.

Perhaps the best part about the party is that JCPenney will be giving away 10 prizes every 10 minutes. So participants not only will receive expert advice for wedding day beauty but they will have the chance to win tons of prizes!

The party is scheduled for this Thursday, November 18th at 8pm CT. Register now for the party here: http://bit.ly/cs4Hqz

Also, refer 2 or more friends to the party and if they watch the party, you will receive $25 in free dining!

Ann Taylor Friends and Family Event

It's time once again for the Ann Taylor Friends & Family Event! Enjoy!

Jesse Tyler Ferguson on The Joy Behar Show Tonight

From the hit ABC series "Modern Family," Emmy nominated actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson who plays Mitchell, one half of the show’s very loving couple, will be on tonight’s episode of The Joy Behar Show. Among other things, they talk about a new study that Modern Family viewers tend to skew Republican, according to Jesse:

“We focus a lot on family values and the core family and bringing up kids in this great way. And it just so happens that there’s this gay couple in there. It actually relieves me to hear that the Republicans love our show so much because I think that we caught the Trojan Horse, we kind of sneak in there sometimes. They don’t even realize that they’re enjoying this great gay couple”

Tonight at 9 p.m. ET on HLN.

2010 Latin Grammys

While plenty of nicely-dressed folks showed up in Las Vegas for the Latin Grammy Awards, it's so much more fun to look at the outfits of those who have, shall we say, "taste issues."

This person, who calls herself, "D'manti," (diamante? Del Monte?) had so many tacky outfits from which to choose, she decided to wear two. Which do you prefer, the slutty figure skater, or the slutty Country singer?

Rosario likes to show off her rack.

As does Lucero...

...and Mayra Veronica. Do you detect a theme?

Speaking of jugs, Charo's are still perky after all these years.

The bitch is 69!

Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2010 Tatiana Del Gado chose to cover up her breasteses, but I'm not sure this baby pink and feathered number is any less tacky than the dresses above.

JLo, on the other hand, looks very subdued.  I like the hair, but the gown's not working, particularly because it's too tight around her big butt. I know she likes to emphasize it, but when the fabric pulls that much across the front, I worry for her seams.

Gift Certificate Giveaway

The holidays will be here before you know it and I have one $55 gift certificate to CSN Stores to give to one lucky winner. All you need to do is leave a comment telling me why you would like to win. Please make sure to leave a valid e-mail address with your comment so I can contact the winner. Other contest rules can be found in the right-hand sidebar. ----->

So what can you do with a CSN gift certificate? Why, you can buy any number of things, from a purse to a dog toy, from a kitchen tool to a suitcase! They really have everything under the sun. My dog, Milo, has been enjoying the dog toys I bought for him a few months ago. So much so, I might just have to order more.... :)

Contest ends 11/24.

Weddings and Shoes

Let me tell you a story about my wedding shoes. I had wanted my footwear to be the "something blue" element of my ensemble, and picked out a really cute pair of blue strappy shoes with moderately-high heels. I figured I could wear them on other occasions because they didn't look like wedding shoes. And they were the perfect height for the length of my gown.

Until my gown was altered.

When I fetched it from the bridal shop, the dress had suddenly become another inch or so longer! I wasn't about to spend the extra money to have the skirt hemmed, so I returned my blue shoes and bought a pair with higher heels. Unfortunately, I couldn't find anything that fit my budget, was the right height, and were blue.

Maybe my shoes weren't perfect, but my husband is. :)

Anyhoo...one of those Kardashians judged the Wedding Central If the Shoe Fits Contest in which thirty brides-to-be duked it out, searching to find eleven pairs of designer shoes among a sea of shoe-boxes. The winner received a $5,000 check and $5,000 worth of wedding consultations from Wedding Central's celebrity wedding experts.

The carnage.

I coulda bought nicer shoes if I had $5000. My whole wedding didn't cost that much.

The Fashion Show Ultimate Collection

Tonight is the season 2 premiere of Bravo's answer to Project Runway, The Fashion Show. TFS has been rebooted with a new hostess in the form of the rather intimidating Iman, and a new 2-team structure. But will it be better this time around? Watch tonight and find out.

Angel Giving Tree by JCPenney

The Salvation Army and JCPenney have teamed up again this year for The Angel Giving Tree Online Program. The program allows customers to adopt an "angel" (a needy child or senior) and then shop for gifts for their angel this holiday season - a great effort to create positive change and give back this holiday season.

Every user can adopt their angel based on location, sex, and age and then choose items off the child/senior’s list to give them for the holidays. In collaboration with UPS, Angel Giving Tree gifts purchased through jcp.com can be shipped free of charge to a local Salvation Army collection center.

To learn more about the program and to adopt an angel yourself head here: http://jcp.com/angel

The program is really perfect for those who want to participate but don’t have the free time to head out to the store – you can just register online and purchase everything from your home! Friday, December 10th marks the deadline for supporting children and seniors in need through The JCPenney Angel Giving Tree program.

Cher!

Cher looks fantastic, doesn't she? Better now than she did 10 years ago, I think. Her surgeons should be commended. But there's something about her profile that makes me think of Frank Langella. Is it me, or do you see it too?

Chunky Necklaces

Necklaces have become chunkier, crazier recently, featuring a mix of semi-precious stone beads, with or without metal accents. Here are some of my favorites,. Most were from Bergdorfs, although the top one can be purchased at this Etsy Store.

Minx Bead Jewelry African Turquoise, wood, pearl, glass, and bone necklace, $175

Jose & Maria Barrera Turquoise and Pearl Chain Necklace, $940

Jose & Maria Barrera Stone Pendant Necklace $1190

Ranjana Khan Gilded Horn Bib Necklace $1100

Steven Dweck Multi-stone Drop Necklace $690

Steven Dweck Indian Agate Bead Necklace $695

Congratulations, Gretchen Jones

From what I can tell, the whole blogosphere is up in arms over Gretchen Jones' win on the Project Runway finale last night, and I can't understand why. From the first episode, Gretchen showed that she was a versatile designer who understood fabric and made clothing that women could and would wear. Sure, she grew fatigued somewhere around week 10, but I had no doubt that she had this competition in the bag.

Mondo may have been the crowd favorite - in our eyes, his metamorphosis took him from oddball lonely boy to confident winner. And while his clothing was fun, joyful, when I saw photos of his finale show I thought of the complaint heard in other seasons: he had designed clothes, not fashion. His mixing of patterns was masterful, but like season 3's Uli Herzner, they may have seemed a bit of a crutch. Tim Gunn should not have advised him to leave that all-black dress out of his collection.

Andy South was my pick from episode one. Unfortunately, he pulled a Santino and showed a collection that, while beautiful, was largely safe and lacking a lot of the edgy side of Andy we saw during the competition.

So what did you think about the finale? Are you also pissed that Gretchen won?

At Your Service Black Friday Sweepstakes

To jumpstart the holiday shopping season, JCPenney has just launched the “At Your Service” contest on their Facebook page offering customers a chance the ultimate Black Friday shopping experience.

JCPenney is giving away 15 shopping sprees to take place on Black Friday. The prize includes the following:

• $500 JCPenney Gift Card
• Limo Transportation to and from their nearest JCPenney store
• Personal Shopping Butler
• JCPenney Styling Salon Holiday Makeover
• Holiday Portrait Sitting + “Memories Portrait Collection”
• Holiday Wardrobe Styling Consultation
• $25 American Express Gift Card for Morning Fuel!

The contest is live now under the sweepstakes tab at http://facebook.com/JCPenney and ends November 8th.

And of course head to JCP.com to check out the latest looks for the holiday season.

Project Runway Finale Tonight!

Tonight we find out which of three finalists - Andy South, Mondo Guerra, and Gretchen Jones - emerges victorious. (If you want a sneak peek at their finale collections, you can find them linked here.)

While I've been a fan of Andy's from the first episode, I do love me some Mondo. And I must say I would not be too upset if Gretchen wins. I know she has a lot of haters, but honestly, she reminds me of me.

Who do you want to win? Who do you think will win?

poll by twiigs.com

Minx Designs

Are you a blogger looking for a spankin' new banner or logo? Maybe a whole Blogger template redesign? How about a logo, business card, album or book cover? Well, I know just the person to help you out - me! I know I post about my jewelry here from time to time, but that's not my only artistic endeavor -- I'm also a graphic designer.

Here are some examples of blog graphics and templates I've designed:

http://andreerose.blogspot.com/
http://polyvinylman.blogspot.com/
http://www.minxeats.com/

http://armandocmartinez.blogspot.com/
http://www.armandooutaloud.blogspot.com/
http://microcosmk.blogspot.com/

http://thebeautyalchemist.blogspot.com

http://pmlove.blogspot.com/

http://www.adventuresbaltimore.com/ (banner only)
http://www.flamingosandflipflops.blogspot.com/
http://tasteofbaltimore.blogspot.com/
http://stateofthesoul.blogspot.com/
http://travelinmanusa.blogspot.com/

Other examples of my work:

http://cockychefclothing.com/ T-shirts and logo

http://pizzaplusonline.com/pizza.htm logo and site design

http://vintagestructures.com/ logo and site design

http://www.fscp.us/about.htm logo and site
http://codenamecarla.com

My prices are reasonable, cheap even. Just drop me a line at theminx1@gmail.com and tell me what you're looking for and we can negotiate a price.

Paris Fashion Week Spring 2011 RTW - Zac Posen

Considering that most of Zac's models look like they're planning to run around town in their unmentionables, there are some really gorgeous looks in this collection. I'm particularly fond of the two black/white ombre gowns.