Today, as I was browsing my Twitter feed, I saw this quote that caught my eye. I completely agree. In fact, I could not agree more with this. It's really brilliant.

"Fashion is ART. If you don't occasionally shock a fellow human on your walk to work, you're missing one of the joys of life."

~E. Jean, the witty, tell-it-like-is advice columnist for Elle Magazine, who clearly understands a thing or two about what it really feels like to get dressed! Tomorrow, when you get dressed, put something on that makes someone pause (in a good way, of course). And if they pause in a bad way, well, that's a fashion fall taken-- pick yourself up, dust off those Manolos and try again!

I’m always yakking about this elusive bucket of diamonds that I’m looking for. And while it sounds very appealing, I feel like I should clarify why I want a bucket of diamonds for all you cynics out there. I have my reasons, and I feel as if they’re pretty darn good ones.

1) It’s the ultimate status symbol. Anyone can buy a luxury car or a mansion, but a bucket of diamonds? That doesn’t seem so easy to come by, now does it? I’ll know I’ve made it when I have a bucket of diamonds sitting on my dresser.

2) I’ll know it’s love. Everyone buys their significant other a ring. Think of how many rings are sold every day in the world. And then think of how many of those rings end up at the local pawn shop after a fiery divorce. Rings are sub-par. I’ll know it’s serious when loverboy shows up with a bucket of shiny rocks.

3) I’d dazzle the world. I won’t be selfish with my bucket. Think of the things I could accomplish with all those diamonds just sitting around at my disposal. There are so many situations where a fat rock could come in handy. My good friend goes through a break-up? Here, have a diamond. It’ll make you feel better. A relative has surgery? Nothing says, “get well soon” like a sparkling hunk of carbon. Graduation gift? Who needs money for college when they could have a diamond?

As a joke, the folks at my office got me a bucket of fake diamonds to sit on my desk at work. It’s more of a reminder than anything. Last week, a coworker brought their 4-year-old daughter into the office and she became enamored with my bucket of diamonds. And just like I’ve always promised I’d do, I shared one with her. And then I apologized to her mother profusely for helping promote a life of unrealistic expectations and materialism. But hey, start ‘em young.

Oh, and PS: I would totally buy this car. There’s definitely a buckets worth of rocks covering this bad boy. And apparently those really are diamonds.

And PPS: Now that you've finished reading this, you should head over to Harry Winston (the jeweler behind that adorable drop earring pictured above) to scout out your own diamond baubles.

Patterns are a playful way to play up nearly any outfit. Why wear solids when you can turn yourself into a canvas for artistic expression? Don’t get me wrong, solids are great—and absolutely essential to maintaining balance in your outfits—but there are several patterns I depend on year after year to add a splash of texture, color and fun to many of my favorite basics. Here are my three favorite patterns!

1) Plaid: Ever since I discovered the amazing world of Burberry I’ve been mad for plaid (the right kind, of course). But take that Burberry nova check pattern, for example. It’s timeless. It’s basically neutral. It’s a symbol of classic style. Plaid, when done right, can add a whole new dimension to your look. Perhaps that’s why Burberry has been lining its classic trenches in plaid for decades.

This Burberry trench coat is a modern take on the classic plaid!

2) Polka Dots: Nothing says, “Hi, I’m a lady” like a polka dot frock. From a feminine dress to a silk scarf adorned with polka dots, it’s a playful, girly way to soften up a look.

This Michael Kors dress, covered in dots, manages to be feminine without forgetting the fun!

3) Zebra Print: The cougar in me naturally gravitates to sassy animal prints. And while some animal prints get a reputation for being trashy and unappealing, zebra (when done correctly) is something that always makes me smile. A pair of zebra print heels paired with the right outfit is surprising and unexpected. While a zebra print pencil skirt adds a safari-inspired elegance to a look. Michael Kors is known for making zebra a classy, all-American look. And when done right, a little zebra in an outfit can get you a lot of chic points.

Never experience a lack of sass with these fantastic Michael Kors pumps!

Those are my three favorites. You might be surprised that stripes didn’t make the list…but I’ve seen stripes done wrong too many times to be in love with them. And as for Paisley? I love myself a Lilly Pullitzer paisley for the beach, but simply see too many unflattering paisley patterns done wrong. Argyle? I’m a big prep at heart and have a lot of love for Argyle, but sometimes find argyle unflattering (especially on girls).

What are your favorite patterns and how do you wear them?

It’s a good thing I can shop this month, because retail therapy was definitely in order over the weekend. It’s funny how a pile of designer clothes can make me smile on even the most depressing of days. (There’s no doubt a bucket of diamonds would have had a much more desirable and lasting effect, just saying.) Anyway, to give you a sneak peek into my sick and twisted world, here’s what I bought this weekend:

:: Tory Burch Blouse
:: Diane Von Furstenberg Blouse
:: BCBG Dress
:: Max Studio Dress
:: Joe’s Jeans

So while I may be eating ramen and drinking Karkov (instead of Ketel) for the next month, I’ve got some fashionable duds to dress myself up in. And in my head, that’s a sacrifice well worth the price. Shop on!

Any good retail therapy for you over the weekend? Share your purchases in the comments section!

My great aunt Truby passed away on Wednesday night. She was very old and had been sick for quite some time. And while this was a very sad happening, my great aunt Truby was truly someone to be celebrated for her pleasant demeanor and sassy sense of style (with a name like Truby, you've gotta' be sassy).

You see, my great aunt Truby was someone I spent a great deal of time with until I was around six years old. She was a complete firecracker—always sporting sassy red lipstick, driving a cute little car and wearing completely accessorized outfits. She was the epitome of a sassy lady. She was always bubbly, always entertaining and always (always) put together.

In fact, aunt Truby gave me my very first pair of heels. She could be credited as the one who started it all. She wore a very small size shoe (I believe a size five), which means that around fifth grade she started giving me her hand-me-down heels to play around in. It was around that time when I realized flat shoes were so not my thing.

She liked shopping and took me on several trips “to town” with her when I was a child. On one of those trips she accidentally locked me in the backseat of her car and frantically ran up and down the street telling people she’d locked a child in the car. One cool, calm and collected man simply looked at her and asked, “Did you ask the child to open the door?” Within seconds, I had flipped the switch and saved the day.

On another occasion, we went on a picnic and she ended up running over a stump that marked a parking spot in a park (probably because she was checking out her make-up in the mirror). That stump stayed knocked over for years after that. She wasn’t the best driver…and I guess that rubbed off on me, too.

I got to see my great aunt Truby last summer. She was very ill and barely recognized me. But she did one thing I’ll never forget. Lying in her hospital bed, barely able to move or speak, she reached into her pocket, pulled out a tube of lipstick and proceeded to apply it. What can I say? She taught me everything I know.

So this weekend, I’ll be lifting a nice, cold glass of Tang to my great aunt Truby (who always had Tang). After all, I think she’s one of the people who taught me what it was like to have your own individual style and to carry yourself with grace, elegance and class no matter what the world throws your way. But most importantly, aunt Truby taught me never to leave home without lipstick.

I finally reclaimed my title as a shopper last night. After work yesterday I decided to venture to a place I hadn’t been in a while: the mall. On the way, I was giddy with excitement. My heart was pounding. I couldn’t breathe. I broke out into a cold sweat and started shaking all over. Just the prospect of going to Macy’s was enough to make me channel a 16-year old on prom night.

After browsing the contemporary apparel and talking myself out of the most gorgeous Trina Turk color block dress I’ve ever seen, I ended up with a modern, hip and trendy BCBG number that (if I must say so myself) makes me look like a supermodel and a Herve Leger-inspired bandage dress (because it made me feel like Bethenny Frankel…just not as “naturally skinny”). And then I topped it all off with a pair of leopard-print heels I found on the clearance rack. Because let’s be honest, if you find a pair of leopard print heels that look like the other 15 pairs you’ve worn out in the past 3 years, and they just so happen to be 75% off, then you just have to buy them. (Leopard print heels actually go with just about anything. And if you don’t believe me, read this.)

So, world, I’m back in the game! My shopping abstinence was a good exercise to go through. But at the end of the day, it’s just not me. I’m good at shopping. And I like it. And it gives me stuff to blog about (and you stuff to read about). Shopping inspires me and keeps me on my toes—it helps me be me.

Will I ever take a month off shopping again? Perhaps. If I’m broke. But let’s not assume the worst.

Hi. I’m Emily, and I’m a shopaholic. And I’m totally okay with that.

Today I was cleaning out my email box and I came across an email I sent to my Dad on December 19, 2006. I was on winter break before going back to my last semester in college. This is a classic.

Dad,
Guess what I got in Accounting? A "B!"
And it's not even a low B, it's a HIGH B! I scored an 87 on the final
exam! Woooo-hooo!
I went out more than ANY OTHER SEMESTER and I'm making TERRIFIC GRADES!
Especially given the fact that this was ACCOUNTING class.
Just thought I'd share that with you!

Emily, Your Daughter
CPA

The truth is, this email was probably an assurance to good ole' pops that his checks were being put to good use. Also, for those of you questioning my intelligence and my priorities, let's clarify something. First, I always got A's in all of my classes...except for math classes. Math just stumped me (but I'd love to see what some of my former teachers think of the PPW theory, now that's relevant math in action). Plus, I partied like a rock star my last year of college. So I think I have reason to be proud of this achievement!

You've gotta' love coming across a paper trail highlighting one of your finer moments.

I spend a latte on lattes. There’s no denying that $4.00 here and there certainly adds up (for more on that, click here). However, I recently discovered a lower-cost alternative to my afternoon desire for an iced latte. The solution? Starbucks Via (instant coffee) dissolved into cold water with ice and a splash of milk or cream.

The coffee flavor is rich and robust, plus, a 3- or 6-pack of Starbucks Via is a small fraction of the cost of a latte. I can get a 3-pack for $2.95. That equates to around $1.00 a beverage! That’s quite a PPD (Price Per Drink). The good news? I don’t even have to leave my office. Click here to check out more information about Starbucks Via or check out your local Starbucks to grab a pack of Via and try this penny-pinching trick yourself!

Here’s to my girls who are to be pretty, poor and packed with caffeine!