Cheap and Chic - OR NOT "Christmas Edition"

Has anyone ever received a gift from the Neiman Marcus "Christmas Book" catalog? It's basically a collection of the most extravagant gift items from around the world. I first became aware of the Christmas Book when I heard the story of the Egyptian sarcophagus. See, someone at a museum was browsing the catalog's "His and Hers gifts for someone who has everything" section and stumbled upon an ancient sarcophagus. They purchased it for their collection and upon receiving the shipment heard something rattling around inside. They carefully opened the sarcophagus and inside it contained a fully mummified mummy! Quite a steal for $16,000! Now, I'm totally into Egyptian stuff and have "visit Egypt" on my "before I die" list, but I don't think I want my own personal mummy laying around the house. The whole idea of these crazy and unique gifts really intrigued me though, so I decided to check out what the recession-proof set will be buying their loved ones this holiday season. Here are a few of my faves to add to your wish list:

Limited Edition Fighter Motorcycle = $110,000
- It's our street-legal sci-fi dream come to life, in the form of the limited-edition Fighter Motorcycle.














Dallas Cowboys Texas Stadium End Zone Package = $500,000
- To honor battles won and heroes lost over 38 glorious years, you can put 530 square yards of sporting history into your own backyard: An entire Cowboys Texas Stadium end zone. Our exclusive package also includes the VIP treatment for
the last regular season Cowboys game in Texas Stadium.














His and Hers Life-size Replicas in Lego Bricks! = $60,000/each
- The perfect gift for that newlywed couple in your life.
Send in detailed photos and measurements, then Nathan gets to snapping and BOOM! One-of-a-kind, life-size sculptures of yourselves in LEGO bricks. We priced our exclusive gift individually, so Nathan can "brickalize" you and the S.O., the kids, Granny and/or anyone else you obsess about. (Just make sure you have the rights to their likenesses; we're not here to judge.)

Authentic Guinness Home Pub Package (awesome!) = $250,000
- The folks at RiRa Pubs will design a fully functional, traditional Irish pub and build it in your home in 2009. It will be crafted from historic Irish architectural elements and authentic Guinness artifacts. There's also a VIP trip for two to Dublin with first class airfare, luxury accommodations, and insider access to the magic still being made at the historic working St. James's Gate brewery. (All members of your party must be at least 21 years of age.) Plus fresh Guinness Stout for your pub. For an entire year.

And the absolute most extravagant Christmas gift ever! Coming in at a measly $10 million dollars...yes, they take Visa and Mastercard...is
Three Chimneys Farm Thoroughbred Racing Stable Package = $10,000,000
- You want the best, you go to the best. You want a working, turnkey, in-the-running thoroughbred racing enterprise right out of the starting gate? You go to Three Chimneys Farm. For this exclusive package, you get the works because Three Chimneys means business. They will build you a stable of 12-15 thoroughbreds and with your input will train them, house them, select races, enter them in races, provide you a personal racing concierge, and manage the entire enterprise for the next four years. As the owner, you get to name your stable and any unnamed horses, design your own silks, attend races, pose for pictures, give quotes to the media ... and keep all the purses and trophies.

Holy shite! Someone can actually buy a thoroughbred racing stable out of a catalog! That's some serious Christmas shopping. Well, I guess I'll go back to Amazon and see what else I can fit in under the "free shipping" plan. I'll leave these gifts on my wish list!

Top 5...Christmas Edition

Happy Tuesday everyone, hope you all had a fabulous weekend! We are a mere 9 days from Christmas and this year I decided to hold out on the Christmas music until 2 weeks before. Yes, I am one of those people who hums along and even bobs her head to 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree' at the office. Previously I've had it on the week of Thanksgiving but there's only so many Christmas songs you can hear over and over before wanting to take a blow torch to dear old Frosty! It hasn't really hit me that Christmas is almost here, I'm more excited to have a week off from this desolate auto industry atmosphere but I'll try and get you all in the mood by bringing you my Top 5 list of the worst Christmas songs ever created.

5. Wonderful Christmastime: I'll probably be struck by lightening by the Rock N' Roll gods when I post this list for daring to make fun of their king but Paul McCartney must have had a momentary lapse in good judgement or maybe he just got tired of all those years playing guitar and decided to pick up his synthesizer and create this song. It's not catchy, it's not warm and fuzzy, it's just lame and doesn't even sound Christmasy!!






4. 12 Days of Christmas: Could there be a more annoying song? It's the Christmas equivalent to '99 bottles of beer on the wall' or 'The Song that Never Ends' with the repetitive tune. It used to be funny to challenge someone who might not know all the verses but now it just seems to go on forever!

3. A Soldier's Christmas Song: Ok, so I'm a cold heartless bitch for even having the balls to make fun of a song about an American Soldier saving Christmas but I have to be honest, it makes me cringe. Aren't Christmas songs supposed to make you feel good instead of crying?!? I support the troops and greatly appreciate their service for our country but this long, drawn out story of a song is too much to bear more then once a year.

2. Christmas Shoes: Go ahead and call me Ebenezer Scrooge, but this song is one of the sappiest, corniest, cheesiest songs of all time, let alone in the Christmas category. It could easily be the theme song for a Hallmark Channel Christmas special, in fact I think I might capitalize on that and get to work on a screenplay! I hope I can get Treat Williams to star as the shoe store owner and McLuvin to star as the young boy trying to buy shoes for his dying mother! This could be a huge hit!

1. I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas: By far, without a doubt the most awful Christmas song ever created. I don't know if it's the screechy high-pitched voice or the fact that she uses the word "Hippopotamuses" that makes me hate it more! Either way, it has earned my top spot as the worst Christmas song of all time!

Keeping it Cool

The day has arrived!! I haven't been able to sit down and type anything yet today because I'm just a ball of energy. I know it's completely lame and weird to be as excited as I am about a concert, but it won't be denied. Tonight is going to be a fantastic way to wrap up the super fun year that was 2008. Sure there's always NYE, but in my book it's the most overrated night of all time. So now I will try to find a way to spend the next 3 hours without annoying everyone I know. Maybe I'll hop on the elliptical or maybe I'll spend 3 hours washing my hair...I dunno can't decide.

I hope you all have a great Saturday night. I will leave you with the final Oasis trivia lyric. This song was my favorite during my freshman year of college. I played it so much that my roommate actually became a fan by force. So Nikki, if you're reading, you should still be hearing this in your sleep. :)

Cos I've been standing at the station
In need of education in the rain
You made no preparation for my reputation once again
The sink is full of fishes
She's got dirty dishes on the brain
It was overflowing gently but it's all elementary my friend

Top 5 fashion takes...battle of the sexes

Today I present to you a special top 5 (okay so it's more then 5, I know), list complete with guest commentary by our very own Diva Lisa and our Diva-Wannabe Jeremy Koscielny. There's a lot of talk about women dressing for men's attention vs. other women who will be around and this highly scientfic study of mine will try to answer the question of whether pleasing both sides is possible. As host of this battle of the sexes I've asked both participants to comment on several fashion trends found in today's women's wear. We really can't claim to be an educational blog but ladies may want to take note of what one regular joe is thinking while you rock the latest trends!

Fashion Trends:

1. Huge Sunglasses:

Jer - "huge sunglasses suck!!!!!!"

Lisa - "There is nothing better on a hangover day then huge sunglasses. The more of my face that can be covered, the better."

2. Booties: Go for it ladies, especially with tights!

Jer: "booties are cool"

Lisa: "I'm on the bootie bandwagon! I have to say I'm sold on them now, but definitely only closed toe booties!"

3. Ugg Boots:

Jer: "another thing I do not get is Ugg boots! Or wearing boots in general with any outfit!"

Lisa: "I don't love Ugg boots at all, but I do love boots!"

Leigh: I can only say that they are against the Uggs because they don't have a pair, they are so warm, soft, and comfortable in the snow everyone should own a pair for utility purposes at least!!

4. Velour Sweat Suits: (not exactly the most current but Jer was passionate about every woman getting rid of these!!)

5. Skinny Jeans/Pants/Leggings:

Jer: "the skinnier the better, leggings look great"

Lisa: totally on board with the skinny jeans in boots and with high heels

6. Wide Leg Pants:

Jer: "hate them, they should never be worn!"

Lisa: "Like them with the right shoe"

Leigh: Personally I think they're cool on tall, skinny women, otherwise they don't flatter the body!

7. Black or similarly dark nail polish:

Jer: "should only be worn in the month of October"

Leigh: We both love the dark nail polish!

8. Animal Prints:

Both give a resounding, "never wear them"

Leigh: I however like a little bit of animal print here and there...in fact I love Amanda Bynes purple silk leopard print dress she's wearing on the cover of Cosmo this month! When in Vegas, Miami, or at the right party I think the animal print can be done right, in small doses!

Jer would also like to comment on a few of his other fashion pet peeves:

1. Hates too much eye shadow

2. Hates low rise pants that cause muffin tops to spill over (this shouldn't be news to any girl out there)

3. Hates large earrings (no explanation why...)

4. Hates baggy pants

I think the moral of the story is to keep the pants tight, lose the oversized sunglasses, never wear boots, and stay far far away from anything that doesn't show off the body if you want to dress for the Y chromosome, not exactly shocking news!!! I won't be winning any prize for this study!

For the Fellas

Good morning and happy Friday! I was just discussing the new GQ cover with a couple friends and thought, why not post it on here for everyone. Guys, you will thank me. I guess you can consider this our hottie of the weekend. She's 38-years-old and looks fantastic, but seriously what is up with that pose?! I'm not trying to be a psycho feminist, but the doggy pose is a bit of a stretch. I think it has something to do with her new movie "Marley and Me" that's coming out on Christmas Day, but the whole nudity/patriotism thing is confusing me a bit. It's like she's saying "I'm excited about the election of Obama, go see my movie, and by the way I'm naked.

What do you guys think? Is it desperate or awesome?

Hottie of the week....

This week’s pick, (sorry boys we gotta please the ladies this time!), may seem like I picked a name out of a hat filled with sci-fi has-beens but for anyone tuned into what I think is one of the best shows on TV it should come as no surprise that David Duchovny gets the nod. He may be best known for his stint on the X-Files but I’d be willing to bet that his best work is actually on his current show where he plays one of TV’s hottest bad boys on the hit Showtime series Californication. A complicated character, Hank Moody, combines so many despicable traits with so many lovable and honorable traits that you’re torn between wanting him to succeed and wanting him punished. Californication could be the edgiest and most risque show on television but also one of the most genuine and real I’ve ever seen. Probably too true to form David plays the sexually obsessed, self-loathing, writer with a realness that is beyond believable. His level of dedication to the character must be on the extreme side based on his recent public scandal in which he released a statement saying he was entering therapy for sexual addiction. Good news though, he appears to be attempting a reconciliation with his wife Tea Leoni!

Rating:

Mental Stimulation: 5/10 - I've only seen him as a co-host on Kelly and Regis but he wasn't a great host at the time, trying to use way too much bitter sarcasm for morning TV. He was however a frequent guest on the Larry Sanders show for which he has received much praise. He gave directing a try by first directing an episode of The X-Files and then the movie "House of D" which failed miserably.

Physical Fitness: 8/10 So he's no Hugh Jackman but he's pretty much butt naked about 50 times an episode and he's looking pretty darn good for the ripe old age of 48!

Body of Work: 9/10 I wasn't a big X-files fan but from the few shows and first movie I actually saw he was pretty believable as the sci-fi investigator. As executive producer and the lead on Californication I have to give him some major points for the shocking lines, images, and scenes that come out on this show, truly original and hilarious!

Total Hotness: 22 points, -1 for being a "former" vegetarian (I'll never understand that), and -1 for being a Canadian..."we want more moooney"

Interesting Article - Liberal Warning!

I was about to post another Oasis quiz, but realized that the blog is quickly becoming nothing but Oasis trivia. So I thought I'd take this moment to deflect attention from the Gallagher brothers and onto something more current event-ish.

Now I'm not here to blab on and on about political/moral issues, but I wanted to share a link to a really interesting Newsweek article about gay marriage. It's this week's cover story so maybe you've already seen or read it. I read it a few days ago and thought it was super interesting and noticed a follow-up bit today about all the responses they are receiving on it from both conservatives and liberals. It's obviously touched a nerve. The basic premise of the article is deconstructing what the Bible says about gay marriage, if anything, and why lots of religious conservatives use the "Bible tells me so" reason for not supporting it. It's a fairly quick read and definitely an attention grabber for anyone on either side of the issue. Now full disclosure: yes, I do realize that Newsweek is considered a liberal media outlet and they do support equal rights for everyone. But they have given both sides a chance to react to the story, so everyone gets a fair shot.

BTW, I went to 15 years of Bible school (still in recovery) and COMPLETELY missed that part about Abraham, Jacob, David, etc. being polygamists. Could have been my fault for not paying attention, but somehow I doubt it.

And finally, a big shout-out to JC for keeping it single! Next time someone harrasses me about getting married, settling down, bla bla bla, I'm just going to say "Yeah, well Jesus Christ was single!"

Ok, here's the link:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/172653