I Simply Must Have It - Furla Pink Candy Bag

I'll start by confessing I'm a designer bag hag. No matter how many expensive designer handbags I have, I always want one more. I have my favs like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Coach! Not big on Chanel, Fendi or Prada. It's all about what I like, not the price. Because if I like it, I'll move heaven and earth to get one. This past Christmas I had to have a Furla Limited Edition Pink Candy bag. When I say limited, there were supposedly only 150 made and sold worldwide. I simply must have it!

Getting one was a horrible experience that totally ruined my Christmas. It seems the big international retail, Furla, in New York, decided to do Christmas instead of customer service. The bag cost $398.00 and there was an offer of free 2 day shipping. On the Dec  22, I placed my order and inquired via customer service email about whether it would get to me by Christmas Eve. Nothing. They never responded back. So I found the customer service phone number and I guess Laurie (yes, only one customer service rep in New York!!!!!) was off for Christmas. And Furla's customer service voice mail box was full! Can you believe that crap!?! What frigging retailer takes off for Christmas? Anyway, the next day, I log into Furla and it says my order was shipped. They never bothered to send me a shipping confirmation number, email... nothing. Oh but it gets worse. Here I am hoping to get the bag before Christmas and that only left Christmas Eve. I log into Furla again hoping for some dregs of information and my account shows a total different bag had been shipped! WTF? Okay by this point I'm pissed and there was no one to ream out over my fucking order. The 23rd past with no response from Furla. The 24th passed. I didn't get it before Christmas, and at that point I wasn't sure what bag was coming. The 25th passed. The 26th arrived and Laurie's still out on Christmas holiday! UPS and USPS weren't running...they were all doing Christmas too. On the 27th, I got my bag. Yep, it was the right bag. It was the Furla Limited Edition Pink Candy Bag!

Furla Limited Edition Pink Candy Bag

I love it! This is my second Furla Limited Edition Candy Bag. The first was an all black that was also limited, but not to a lowly 150 available worldwide. The bottom is a snakeskin print leather and the strap is something new. First time I'd ever seen one. The plastic is a pale pink PVC and as far as bags go, that plastic is a bit heavy.

After the bad experience I had with Furla over getting my order, you'd think I'd be willing to forgive and forget. Nope. I've written a letter to the company president. My 25 years in customer service won't allow me to just let this crap go. Improvements need to be made. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find an Italian address for Furla yet. If anyone knows how to got about getting that, by all means, please share.


SharonH


Update --- Want to see the bag in action? Check out my Spring Preview!

I Simply Must Have It - OPI Shatter!!!!

One of my most favorite fashion accessories isn't, technically, an accessory! Nail polish. But I tend to like very nontraditional colors. This is someone who has three different shades of black in her collection. And when you get right down to it, no, even all blacks aren't the same.

My favorite brand of nail enamel is OPI. Only once you get your hand on some OPI... or rather get some on your hands, will you too find out that not all nail enamels are created equal. It last longer. It chips less. The colors are in the hundreds, but they can be hard to find locally. Try Ebay. Anywhooo OPI is about to introduce a black that crackles over a colored nail polish creating a leopardy print look.

 

Honestly I'm not sure who Katy Perry is (that's a lie) and I couldn't care less about whether some of the OPI line has Serena Williams' name on it (that's not a lie). I'm not interested in any of the other colors as I have plenty of colors of my own and all I really want is that black. 

I also want to mention visiting the OPI website is well worth it. It's a wonderful experience! This is where you can see all of their latest colors, sure. You'd expect that. What I like is the animated section where you can try on any of their colors. In this "Try This Color On" section you get to choose the tone of the hand, the nail length and to "virtually" try on all the colors they have to your little heart's desire without having to deal with a messy cotton ball. Really, what more could ask for? (Oh I know! Free nail polish!)

OMG! That is awesome. I just can't wait. However I heard it won't be out until the new year. Bummer. When I find it... and I will... I'll be sure to let you all know. 

SharonH

I Simply Must Have It- The Arachne Scarf

I recently featured this seller in one of my Etsy treasuries and I just had to share. The name of the shop is Kteis and she's in Croatia. She has gorgeous gothic items and I would love to have the scarf.

Vampire silk scarf spider web red Victorian fashion- Arachne

Gorgeous! I love the hints of red and black mixed into the scarf with the spiderweb over it.

Ethereal goth silk blouse tank top gray spider web - Arachne

Arachne done is a silk blouse!!!

Goth dress heart silk tunic hand painted designer fashion - Arachne

Check out the hand painted heart!!!!

Steampunk silk tie silver spider web mens fashion

And a silk tie for the man in your life.

Although Kteis' items are very Gothic, any of these items can be worn with everyday fashions and "wow" would be the impact. Imagine how many people would ask where you got such a thing from. I so love being able to say I got if from exotic designer in Europe. Okay, I'm a show off. Sue me. I love unique and the Kteis shop fits the bill for unique. This is where you step out of the mundane and treat yourself with something awesome! Clicking on any of the above pictures will take you directly to her shop, but be sure to drop back by and comment.

I Simply Must Have It - The Arachne Scarf

SharonH

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I Simply Must Have It - SweetMillieP's cake

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Image via Wikipedia"][/caption]

I was recently added to a treasury collection on Etsy featuring Sookie Stackhouse and that's where I was introduced to SweetMillieP's shop. For those of you not familiar, Sookie is the main character in a series of books by Charlaine Harris. I've been reading the books about vampires in Bon Temp, Louisiana for years and then about 3 years ago HBO turned the books into a drama series called "True Blood". I was a Sookie fan long before the HBO show. The show really isn't as good as  the books (they never are), nor does HBO stay dead on track with the books. Nevertheless, the "True Blood" series is a lot of fun and now has a cult following all its own. I love it! It gave faces and personalities to some of my most favorite vampire characters.

What does SweetMillieP's Etsy shop have to do with Sookie Stackhouse, you ask? Well Ms Millie make a Sookie Stackhouse cake that you would have to see to believe. Obviously, Ms Millie is a Sookie Stackhouse fan like me, because she's got a few other "True Blood" items listed in her shop as well. Being a consumate  dinner and party thrower during the holiday season, I would love to have any one of these items gracing my table. Okay so I'm a show off! Sue me.

Unfortuanely, there is bad news in all this. Ms MillieP doesn't ship most of these item. It's always the things you can't have that you want the most. If you're lucky enough to be in the Orlando, Florida area, she does deliver.

Sookie Stackhouse Cake

I have died and gone to True Blood heaven!!!!

YUMMY LEMON STRAWBERRY TWIST

Pink Silk Cupcakes

[caption id="attachment_630" align="aligncenter" width="590" caption="Twisted Sister Cake"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_652" align="aligncenter" width="590" caption="Pound Cake"][/caption]

Fortunately, she does ship the Lemon Pound Cake, so that's what I'll have to get and cry over all the other stuff in her shop that I can't get. However, I am in the process of talking her into moving to Houston, TX. Wish me luck.

Related Articles

• Vampire Bill And Sookie Stackhouse Got Married! (perezhilton.com)


• "'True Blood': The truth about Sookie Stackhouse" and related posts (lovingtruebloodindallas.com)


• Charlaine Harris gets another TV show, featuring detective work, casual sex and ghosts! [Grave Sight] (io9.com)


• True Blood Poll: Will Sookie End Up with Bill or Eric? (tvwatch.people.com)

I Simply Must Have It!!!! - TiVo Slider Remote

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="80" caption="Image via CrunchBase"][/caption]

First off, I'd like to apologize for not keeping this article mired in the fashion industry and taking it to a tech level. But I had to remain true to the title. I Simply Must Have It! Just 5 minutes after finding out about the brand new TiVo Slide Remote, I had my credit card in hand and I was ordering it. Hell, I don't think it was 5 min. before I had an email payment confirmation.

About TiVo.

I'm not a real tech-y person, but I can tell you about TiVo. TiVo is a subscription DVR service that started up in 1999 out of California. My personal history with TiVo started in 2001. That's when I bought my very first expensive TiVo box for $5oo and began paying monthly for the service.  Almost 10 years later and I'm still paying for the service.  A couple of years later the rest of the world began to get DVR service through their local cable and satellite providers, but those DVRs paled in comparison to TiVo.

I've tried to quit TiVo. I told myself, "It's all the same DVR service. Save some money and use the cable DVR." Now mind you, I've done this a couple of time over the last nine years. The last time was 2 years ago after Hurricane Ike came through Houston, tore a sunny hole in my roof and caused over $10,000 worth of damage. Three months later and I was begging TiVo to take me back.

What's so great about TiVo?

Well it's a DVR  just like the one some of you have on your cable and satellite systems.  It's how TiVo does things that, I think, really stands out and sets itself apart from the other DVR services. Remember, I'm not real tech-y so my descriptions may be off. One of the most noticeable things I remember the last time I stupidly quit TiVo for 3 month was that Dish Network didn't have Season Pass. Instead of allowing me to record just the new stuff for.... say CSI Miami, I'd have to record all of it, hundreds of programs because it couldn't accurately differentiate the new shows from the old. TiVo does that. Then there's the Wishlist search, which can be based on keyword, title, actor, director, and or category.  Meaning I could set up TiVo to find and automatically record every movie Denzel Washington is in that come on TV. Forever. Or not. Or I can be more specific and set it to record Denzel's "Book of Eli" whenever it finally comes on TV. Now that could be 6 weeks or 6 years from now, and TiVo is going to record it. I don't have to think about anymore. I don't have to check back.  Just one day, the movie I've been waiting for is going to pop up in my Now Playing List. This is just one of two or three other features that I'd gotten used to and can't live without or can't live with some other DVR services' version.

[caption id="attachment_448" align="aligncenter" width="263" caption="TiVo Slide Remote"][/caption]

Here are the specs just in case someone else besides me actually has TiVo and is interested in the details. OMG folks! It's got a QWERTY board!!!! It's slides open! No more shuffling through each letter to enter a word. I gladly paid $107 for this remote with shipping and taxes. List priced at $90 on TiVo.

Introducing the TiVo remote with a slideout keyboard.

The TiVo^® Slide remote puts the full power of TiVo in the palm of your hand. Hidden inside its ergonomic, peanut-shaped exterior is a fully retractable QWERTY keyboard for quick and easy text entry.

• Finger-friendly slideout keyboard: Full QWERTY-format keyboard enables faster and easier text entry for Search, YouTube™, RSS and more


• More powerful signal: Built-in Bluetooth^® provides increased range and strength to accommodate clutter-free setups inside cabinets


• One remote does it all: Learns commands for power, input, volume and mute directly from the remote controls of your TV and receiver


• Easy to use in a dark room: Light sensor automatically activates glow feature on backlit keys and keyboard, so you never have to turn on a light


• One-step activation takes seconds: Easy plug-and-play setup puts you in control in moments


• Compatible with all TiVo Series3™, TiVo HD/HD XL, and Premiere/Premiere XL boxes. (If you received your TiVo Premiere from RCN, check back for updates on the availability of TiVo Slide for your box.)

So I love TiVo. I'm happy with TiVo. Maybe in a few years I'll get up the nerve to check out ATT U-verse. I did hear they have an awesome DVR service. TiVo doesn't give you  the ability to view recordings on any TV in the house unless you buy an expensive TiVo box for each TV. U-Verse one upped TiVo on that. But for now, that new TiVo Slider Remote...I simply had to have it! I even paid $3 more for 2-day shipping and its coming tomorrow via UPS. I can't wait!!!!

SharonH

Related Articles

• New DirectTV TiVo delayed into 2011 (electronista.com)


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I Simply Must Have It!!! - Black Nail Color

A few days ago a local customer ordered one of my Santa Barbara Off Shoulder Dresses in Pumpkin. I think she was getting in the proper fall season frame of mind because she mentioned looking for the perfect black nail polish to wear for Halloween. The Santa Barbara Off Shoulder Dress is very popular this time of year because the Pumpkin is a perfect fall color.. Imagine it with shiny black nail color!

[caption id="attachment_305" align="aligncenter" width="800" caption="Santa Barbara Off Shoulder Dress"][/caption]

Keeping in with the Halloween spirit, I'd like to feature three Black nail polishes that I'm familiar with.

Opi Black Onyx  Ebay $5.00

[caption id="attachment_308" align="alignleft" width="163" caption="Opi Black Onyx"][/caption]

Avon Warm Black Ebay $3.99

[caption id="attachment_311" align="alignleft" width="249" caption="Avon Warm Black"][/caption]

Chanel Black Satin  Ebay $21

[caption id="attachment_314" align="alignleft" width="221" caption="Chanel Black Satin"][/caption]

I own all of the nail colors listed above so I figure I can at least give you my take on them. Yes. I actually have 3 different black nail colors, and they are not the same. Each one has subtle differences in the color, tone, texture, performance and also price.

First off, the economy brand is definitely Avon. It's not too expensive and performance wise, I don't feel it holds up as well as the Chanel  or Opi brand. Nevertheless, I use it faithfully and consider it my everyday use black nail color. I'm not sure if Avon even still makes this color, but that would never slow me down, so long as someone is selling it on Ebay.

The Chanel is awesome. For $21 it had better be! The Chanel is my special occasion black. It tends to hold up best with less chipping and flaking, but is that because I dare not stick my $21 a pop nail polished hands in dishwater or because it's actually that good? I don't know.

Once upon a time, I believed all nail polish was created equal. That was until I got my first bottle of Opi.  Opi Nail Color comes in more shades than I can count. It's expensive. Locally I could pay around $12, so I always buy it on Ebay for half that. But what I love is the Opi website. This is where you can choose a nail color, a hand the same tone as yours and virtually try it on before you buy it. You can even control the nail length on the hand too! So I really enjoy visiting the site to try on my next shade before I decide on what to buy. I already know their formula is awesome. I tend to use Opi Black Onyx whenever I just feel like treating myself special. I admit, it's my favorite.

http://www.opi.com/

So what can I say about the different shades of black? Well the Chanel has just a bit of pearling in it and tends to look great with silver accessories and just about any color clothing. The Avon would be great for Halloween because it's a very flat black, with a brown undertone. Very graveyard-ish. LOL!  And the Opi is a black black. Meaning. It's a very basic black color and probably the one most likely to look like what you would expect a black nail color to look.

I really didn't mean to write a review when I first started out with this article. But since I had all of them on hand, it was the only direction I could take. Like they say, write about what you know. I've already got all of them, but for the Halloween season, YOU simply must have it!

SharonH

I Simply Must Have It!!!!! - Atomium Ring

This is first of my very short weekly articles on one item that I'd like to feature.

Today it's the Ulala shop in Barcelona, Spain . Her shop is on Etsy at this link...

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ulala?ref=seller_info

She makes gorgeous rings in several different colors. Frankly I just like the little round balls. (I've got this little fetish about round things.) Here's a couple of pictures of her designs. Although she offers them in several different color combination, I really like the natural tones of the one pictured below. It's absolutely perfect for fall.

I love this ring!!! I love the color options! She also offers this design in a necklace form! Awesome!

These are so cute! And at $25 each, what an affordable and unique gift! It's on my Christmas list!

SharonH