I had 31 entries in total on the TANtalizer giveaway! Thanks for leaving your comment for a chance to win! Unfortunately, only one of you can be tan (but you're all still fabulous). I selected a comment at random (using the handy dandy random number generator) and the comment selected was lucky comment number 23. That comment just so happens to belong to Pretty and Poor reader Nikki Tran. Nikki, I'll be in touch!

For those of you that didn't win the TANtalizer, head on out and try a bottle for yourself! And stay tuned for the next giveaway on Pretty and Poor!

If any of you read the blog Meagan Gets Her MRS, you probably recognized a very familiar face in the latest post. Meagan is a sorority sister of mine from college who recently started a blog about wedding planning! She has some great ideas and fabulous insight. So if you're planning a wedding, head on over for some uber-classy inspiration.

Her latest post was all about the beauty of the bouquet toss. And, low and behold, I made several of the pictures. Look for me wearing a flashy red dress!

Thanks for the paparazzi shots, Meagan! And I actually blogged about catching the bouquet after this wedding. Click here to read the original post.

I'm loving this feminine take on the classic Burberry trench. The ruffled detailing paired with the whimsical pink color make it a splendid little spring jacket. But would you wear it? Leave your answer in the comments section.

As for me, I would definitely wear this adorable ruffled trench, pending the ruffles didn't emphasize the size of my hips. Kind of makes you want to skip around with an umbrella singing show tunes, doesn't it?

It was recently brought to my attention that people think I’m a snob. That’s funny. Someone told me that when they think of me and my wardrobe, they think of Neimans, Saks, Nordstrom and Burberry. They told me that I’d probably never buy clothes at Target or step foot in a Wal-Mart. While I do buy some key pieces from the more affluent stores of the world, there are a host of very unsnobby stores that I shop at. For example:

Wal-Mart: I love Wal-Mart. (I have a feeling that everyone is going to lash out irrationally, but hear me out.) I grew up in the south and Wal-Mart is a way of life there. And guess what? Everything is so cheap at Wal-Mart. When I pay the bare minimum for boring stuff like toilet paper, I have more money left over for things like handbags and cashmere. Don’t you dare judge me.

Target: I actually find a lot of cute clothes at Target from time to time. My friend Maggie is the queen of finding cute purchases at Target, but for me it’s more hit or miss. Some notable purchases include an adorable burgundy sweater dress, brown riding boots and a hound’s-tooth skirt.

K-Mart: They sell Martha Stewart stuff, so of course they’re cool. Martha Stewart’s Christmas décor is some of the most adorable around during the holidays. Last year she had a fabulous assortment of sequined birds and pastel bulbs that made my tree look adorable.

Dollar Tree: This might be the biggest shocker of the group, but I love Dollar Tree. It’s my guilty pleasure. They have so much candy that’s only $1. So many little do-dads that no person would ever need—and those are only $1, too. And one time I found Banana Boat Sunless Tanner at Dollar Tree. It was only $1. The best Dollar Tree finds, however, are the seasonal ones: the Halloween decorations, Christmas flair and Easter finds.

And you know what? I might occasionally even be spotted in a thrift store. So yes, I can rock a Trina Turk dress paired with Coach shoes one day, and a dress from Target the next. Good fashion isn’t necessarily about where you shop, it’s about wearing things with confidence and making them your very own.

I'm not gonna' lie, if I had these unbelievably chic Chanel skis (or even a Chanel snowboard) I would be the ultimate snow bunny! Would you rock these on the slopes? Aside from the fact that they're Chanel (duh) they are amazingly sleek and minimalist! Sign me up.

Chanel Skis? Now that's money.

I have a strange obsession with glasses. I love them. I think it’s because I view them as another accessory (and you know how much I love accessories). But here’s the thing, I don’t wear glasses. In fact, I think part of my obsession stems from the fact that every time I go to the eye doctor, I secretly wish that he would say, “Well, looks like you’re gonna’ need glasses little lady.” But I usually only get a, “Well, looks like you’ve got 20/20 vision.”

I know I’m very lucky to have good eyesight. It’s hard being so perfect. (Sorry for those of you who just threw up in your mouth, I had to say it...I set myself up.)

This has been going on for a while now. In college, my friend and I were watching the movie Grease. She started to see parallels between our own group of friends and the cast of Grease. One of our friends was Sandy, another Rizzo and I just happened to be compared to the Marty Maraschino of the group…because one time I said, “Gosh, I wish I had glasses. I’d look so much smarter.” And in the movie Grease, Marty puts on a pair of glasses and says a very similar phrase.

Glasses are just awesome. I actually have a couple pairs lurking around my bedroom that have the lenses punched out. I use them for themed parties—the only time it’s really acceptable for someone who doesn’t wear glasses to wear glasses. Maybe someday I’ll stride into the optical, buy a sick pair of shades, get lenses without any prescription put into them and wear them around. And I’ll just tell everyone I’ve always worn glasses…like it’s no big deal.

I have a friend who supposedly wears glasses. Only thing is, I’ve never seen the glasses. For all I know, they don’t exist. I’m starting to believe it’s all a bluff and that like me, this person views glasses as an enviable perfect accessory.

So, what’s your take on glasses? Got ‘em? Love ‘em? Hate ‘em? Wish you had ‘em? Sport a really cute Dolce and Gabbana pair like a girl I work with? Or an adorable Chanel pair like my best friend wears?

If you see me rocking a pair of intelligent looking Versace frames next week, chances are my eyesight is still fine…I just felt the need to accessorize my life even further.

Situations are always what you make of them. Take Saturday afternoon, for example. I finally decided to leave the comfort of my sofa around 4:30 p.m. to venture out on a shopping trip and to get Chinese food. It was a rainy, cold, dreary day. After getting in my car and venturing outside of the neighborhood, I turned on to the main drag only to think , “Wow, there’s so many potholes on this street. Someone should really get on that.” Little did I know that about three miles down the road I’d run straight into the biggest pothole in America (that was strategically covered up by a puddle).

I was cruising along, minding my own business when BAM! I ran into a huge hole. My tire immediately busted and I scrambled to get off the road. Good thing I was right next to a strip mall. I pulled over into a parking lot, called roadside assistance and hung out for a while. I walked to a coffee shop, grabbed a mocha and by the time I arrived back at my car, a nice mechanic was there to switch my tire. So I hung out in my car, listened to Lady Gaga, drank coffee and read a magazine while the world’s coolest mechanic changed my tire.

“Hey, any chance you’d know where the rim key is?” Asked the mechanic.

“Um. I don’t even know what that is,” I replied. “Does it look like my regular key?”

“No, it’s like a special cylindrical thing for taking the rims off,” he said.

“Oh yeah, I know exactly where that is. I hang out in my garage and take the rims off my ride all the time.” I replied with a smart-ass grin. “Kidding. I have no clue what you’re talking about.”

Luckily, homeboy and I found the rim key (it was in a far reaching corner of the glove box). And why do they call it a glove box? Should I be keeping an assortment of stylish driving gloves in there? Is that the intent? I guess I could do that…but I’d need more adorable driving gloves.

So yeah, changing your own tire is overrated. Especially if you’re a girl wearing an adorable outfit. But as unfortunate as this ordeal was, it still didn’t manage to ruin my day! I curtailed my shopping trip (after all, looks like I’ll be buying a nice, new tire) but I got the Chinese food I’d been craving. So start your week off right: don't let anything rain on your parade!

I have some of the world’s sassiest readers, which I love. And to show you how much I love you, I’m giving one very lucky reader a bottle of Lorac’s TANtalizer. I blogged about it last week (read about it here) and giving a bottle away seems like the perfect way for me to help you add sunshine to your winter.

At $30 a bottle, winning Lorac’s TANtalizer is a nice surprise that helps leave your wallet a little fatter and your skin a little bronzer. So enter—because it’s easy. Here’s what you need to do.

How To Enter:
You must leave a comment on this blog post telling me why you want the TANtalizer! Make sure that when you comment, you leave a valid email address (when prompted) so I can contact you if you win. It’s that simple. Just comment, tell me why you need sultry, glowing skin and I’ll pick a random winner from the responses on January 30th. You can leave as many comments as you want, up to 10! So go for it!

I’ll contact the winner and send them a brand spankin’ new bottle of TANtalizer on January 30th! Good luck—I can’t wait to read the comments, and brighten up your winter! Comment now for a chance to win!

One of my favorite rainy Saturday activities is watching TLC's What Not To Wear. Stacy and Clinton are fantastic at dishing out style advice to people with no style-- even if they do sometimes have to deal with the most unpleasant, curmudgeony people. On an episode today, one woman refused to acknowledge that she was pretty. It made them mad. And it made me even angrier. Then, they finally laid down the law and Clinton said some words that I completely agree with.

"Get used to looking in the mirror and admiring your own beauty.”

~Clinton, from What Not To Wear, who knows that it's okay to throw modesty to the wind for the sake of good self-esteem. All too often we're bombarded with pictures of supermodels and the latest thing to make us better. But just for minute, today, stop, look yourself in the mirror, and tell yourself how hot you are. There's absolutely nothing wrong with admitting that you're pretty!

It probably doesn’t surprise you that I love pink. Especially hot pink. In fact, a couple weeks ago when I had a record amount of traffic to my website, I demanded that a bartender make me hot pink shots out at a bar. It was a challenge, but luckily this particular bartender rose to the occasion and made me a host of tasty, vibrant pink shots. Click here to see the shots on the Pretty & Poor Facebook Fans Page.

So when I saw that Club Monaco was playing up pink hues in the best way this January, I just had to share! Check out these adorable outfits from one of my favorite stores. Then, think about how you can take the pink plunge yourself.

I love the slouchiness of this hot pink sweater, especially paired with layered jewelry. It’s modern elegance with a pop of pizzazz. Plus, you could easily substitute the skirt for a great pair of jeans for an easy-going, weekend look that’s luxurious.

If you’ve been looking for a way to embrace leggings, look no further than this perfectly proportioned (and pink) shirt from Club Monaco. Belt it, bling it and pair it with leggings and you’ve got the look down.

So paint the town pink! Hot, vibrant, electrifying pink! You’ll be a little bit prettier, a smidge poorer and whole lot pinker!

Last night my roommates and I had a quick girl talk session before we went to bed. Somehow we ended up landing on a funny subject.

"You will marry a guy who either has a Ferrari, a Lamborghini or a Porsche. Mark my word. I guarantee it."

~My roommate, who seems to think I have pretty high standards when it comes to automobiles. That, or I just attract a particular type of individual. Now, does that exclude anyone? Take notes, gentlemen.

PS: I'd be more than satisfied with a Bentley. Kidding!

It’s rare that I discover a miracle product (or maybe I just don’t like to tell all my secrets). That’s because I believe that most beauty comes from confidence and an inner energy that some possess (it’s true…just take a look at some of the “beautiful people” you know). But occasionally, I discover a product that makes me believe in all things superficial. My latest obsession is Lorac TANtalizer Body Bronzing Luminizer. It. Is. Simply. Amazing. It completely changed my beliefs about body shimmer lotions and bronzers. When I rub down in this silky-smooth serum, I instantly look tanned, toned and (yes) like a celebrity.

My boss has been recommending this product for months now and I’ve been reluctant to try it because there’s really no use in trying to fake a tan during Minnesota Januarys. But during the weekend I broke down, went to Sephora and shelled out $30 for a bottle of this bronzy goodness. Good call. Before heading out on Saturday night I rubbed it on my arms and chest. I was surprised by how well it blended into my skin without streaking or smuding. Plus, it barely took a smidge! At this rate, the PPW on the Lorac TANtalizer would be much much cheaper than trips to the tanning salon (and a lot healthier). And when I’d finished rubbing this all over the top half of my body, I couldn’t stop myself—I did my legs (even though I’d be wearing tights) and my stomach (even though I wasn’t necessarily flaunting that) and the results were just as pleasing. And the semi-sparkly color didn’t rub off throughout the night or in bed. It stayed right where it belonged—on me.

So whether I’m pasty (like I am right now) or have a sun-kissed glow (like I normally have in the summer) this product will make my skin look ravishing and, to be honest, quite tantalizing. I’ve never been able to fake an instant, glowing tan so well. And with the TANtalizer in my beauty arsenal, I don’t think I’ll ever need to.

Click here to get your own bottle or stop by your local Sephora. And remember. It’s rare that I share a beauty secret this good—so consider yourself lucky.

I am not a graceful person. In fact, I have a severe lack of coordination. That’s why it’s unfortunate that I live in a place where the landscape resembles the last ice age. So imagine me, in a pair of boots and a pencil skirt, with 18 bags of stuff, losing control of my feet and landing on my face. Now that’s a great way to start a Monday morning. Yes, I fell in the parking lot on the way into the office this morning. Yes, some guy saw the whole thing from his truck. And Yes. It hurt (my knee is, in fact, swollen and bleeding). But my pride and my fashion sense paid the biggest price. You see, I ripped a pair of those Betsey Johnson tights I love so much. And if I find so much as a hint of scuff on my new black boots there will be a hissy fit in order.

(Aside from the big, trashy looking snags in my tights, my Monday morning outfit would be rather adorable. A zebra print pencil skirt paired with black tights, boots and a black turtleneck are just what a girl needs to get the week off to a great start-- not a parking lot tumble.)

And just when I start feeling really bad for myself, I think to myself, "At least I'm not THIS girl." (Click the link to watch one of my favorite YouTube finds of all time.) So, here’s to getting the week off to a good start-- with as few tumbles as possible! Happy Monday, everyone!

Head on over to Denim Debutante to read my guest post about Juicy Couture denim. Jaime, who's in charge over at Denim Debutante, is arguably my favorite denim blogger. There's hardly a thing this girl doesn't know about jeans. Enjoy the post and make sure to leave some comments for Jaime to read!

Everyone has fears—some are rational, some aren’t quite that rational. I’m not sure where this fear falls on the spectrum, but it’s horrifying, nonetheless.

One of my biggest beauty fears is the growth of unnecessary hair.

Seriously. There’s really nothing less attractive that a girl with a mustache. (And apparently, there’s a whole cult of people who agree with me…just see for yourself.) Yikes. Just thinking about it gives me the chills.

But here’s the thing: mustaches aren’t even good-looking on guys. So why, oh WHY would they be acceptable on a woman? I know that if I ever spotted so much as a hint of a mustache on my upper lip I would stop, drop and wax. I wouldn’t even give myself time to blink. But then I have this completely unrealistic fear that I’m so used to looking at myself I might not even notice the excessive growth of hair on my upper lip! Gosh, I hope my friends would buck up and tell me. I know this is out-of-control. I know this is obsessive. But who wants a mustache (unless of course you’re one of the special people who might actually be trying to grow one)? A mustache would constitute total beauty panic mode.

And just when I really start to get all jammed up, I settle, and remember that a good esthetician is just a phone call away.

So what's your biggest beauty fear? Hair? Wrinkles? Sagging skin? Yellow teeth? (Clearly I've given this a lot of thought.) Share yours in the comments section!

My black riding boots have saved my life on more than one occasion this winter. These suckers are the perfect alternative to snow boots in cold, slushy weather. They’re sleek and stylish without being awful and ugly. They protect my feet, keep my legs warm and look good with a host of skirts and pants. I’ve had mine for about three years and I’ve definitely got my PPW out of them. If you don’t have a pair, I’d make an investment now.

These Frye riding boots are an “investment” to say the least. At around $400, they have the large price tag. But if you’re familiar with Frye, you know you’ll have these boots for years. The quality is high…and so is the style. When looking for a riding boot, look for one cut like this with rounded toes and with delicate hardware.

At about half the price, these Franco Sarto boots are sleek and fashionable with a hint of practicality. They’d look great pair with a pencil skirt, or over a hit pair of skinny jeans.

Last week, I wore my black riding boots with a couple things. My favorite outfit was when I paired them with a black pencil skirt, black v-neck sweater and chunky pearls. Someone described it as “emo chic,” while another described it as “preppy goth.” I would have described it as, “cute.” So go out and find some riding boots. And don’t be afraid if they make your feet look long and skinny when you slip them on—my feet look gargantuan in my riding boots. But the good news is, no one really notices.

I like fairy tales. Here’s why. Reality really isn’t that fun. It’s actually really unfortunate sometimes. You could watch the news and hear about things like bombings, genocide and financial crises, or you could surround yourself with ongoing beacons of false hope where everyone is fabulously wealthy and winds up living happily ever after. I prefer the latter. That’s because reality is all too unkind sometimes.

So when I watch movies (especially love stories) I prefer them to be littered with lies and uncommon happenings. Magic. Fireworks. Miracles. The stuff that fairy tales are made of. Not the stuff that all-to closely depicts the horrors of everyday life. If you live through that stuff every day, then why on earth would you want to pay to watch it? Here are three movies that are on my permanent “Do Not Watch” list. I’ve seen them once, and that’s enough.

My Best Friends Wedding: What’s to like about this movie (besides the scene when Cameron Diaz does karaoke)? I remember watching this for the first time in college, I bawled. Bawled. There’s awkward tension the entire time. Julia Roberts’ character doesn’t get the guy. And at the end of the movie you think she’s happy, but really, she’s just numb and trying to hold it together because she’s a classy broad (can’t relate to that. Oh wait…).

And I’d like to think that there’s a sequel to this movie called “My Best Friend’s Divorce” where D-Bag McGee realizes (in his late 40’s, of course) that he isn’t happy and he and his much-younger wife have grown apart. Then one day he wakes up and realizes that Julia Roberts’ character was right all along. But it’s too late. Her character lives on an island in Dubai with the love of her life. Serves him right.

500 Days Of Summer: This movie was not at all what I expected. And at the end of the movie, I wanted to slap Summer into a different universe. Maybe that’s because I am Summer (which my friends so kindly pointed out). We have a lot in common. But that doesn’t mean I think she’s a good person. Anyway, I don’t like the ending one bit. This sort of thing happens every day: boy meets girl, boy falls head over heels while the girl is wishy-washy, you don’t know what’s going on then BAM! one day somebody shows up engaged. Then heartache ensues, someone wonders what “could have been.” Yuck. I’m over it. I’d rather spend the rest of my life alone, surrounded by shoes and cats than have to sit through another showing of this movie—probably because I’ve lived this movie. So why on Earth would I need to watch it set to the scene of emo music? Just makes it all the more depressing.

The Break Up: Worst movie ever. Sure, people break up…I get it. But if I wanted to watch two hours of non-stop arguing and awkwardness I’d flashback to a former relationship. I’ve always loved Vince Vaughn, but this painted him in an all-to-realistic light. I’ll stick to Wedding Crashers (the movie where two best friend fall in love with two hot sisters who just so happen to be daughters of the Finance Secretary and they all spend the weekend in their plantation home on the Chesapeake).

So yes, I do think glass slippers exist. And I’m going to keep holding out for my bucket of diamonds. And while I’m waiting on that bucket to arrive, I’ll watch movies like Sex and the City, Something’s Gotta’ Give and Grumpier Old Men (where even a crotchety old man can snag the hotness that is Sophia Loren). I might live in a fairy tale, but I guarantee it’s a lot more fun on this side.

The weekend always reminds me of martinis. After all, that is my drink of choice this year. Last year was the year of the greyhound. This year, it’s the dirty martini. My friends say I make a pretty mean dirty martini—and I guess I’ve become the go-to girl for a good dirty. So how do I make the perfect dirty martini?

(Seriously, the flowers are great...but the martini makes the night!)

The Nine Step Martini (because ten steps would have been one too many)

Step 1: Cut a whole in the box. Just kidding. Start with good olive juice. (Every time I hear the words “olive juice” I flash back to sixth grade when my friends and I would look at people and mouth the words “olive juice” in a seductive manner. Try it. Looks just like “I love you.”) The best olive juice, and my personal favorite is called Dirty Sue. If you try to use the stuff from the jar, you’ll only wound up with an inconsistent, disappointing martini. And since olive juice is the key element to a dirty martini, you don’t want to shortchange yourself. Dirty Sue makes a perfectly proportioned dirty martini any time. Click here to order yourself a couple bottles online. This is all I use these days.

Step 2: Pick your favorite vodka. You know my thoughts on this: I’m a Ketel One girl through and through.

Step 3: Grab a shaker. You’ll need a shaker to get your martini cold and properly mixed.

Step 4: Ice ice baby. Throw some ice in that shaker. The more the merrier.

Step 5: Add two shots of vodka for every one shot of olive juice. Put this carefully measured ratio into the shaker with your ice. If you want, you can add a splash (and when I say splash, I mean just a smidge) of vermouth. But this totally isn’t necessary. It’s just if you want a little something extra.

Step 6: Shake it up! Make sure you put the lid on your shaker first, then let the moving begin. I suggest turning on a sweet techno beat to help you get into the grove. Shake it up for approximately 20-30 seconds.

Step 7: Olive time. Get two olives, thread them on a decorative drink sword (a toothpick will work, too) and place them into a nice martini glass.

Step 8: Pour it in the glass. Open your shaker so that the martini concoction will pour through the shaker, then tilt and pour into the glass. When it’s almost full, stop. You won’t want any spillage running out of those sometimes tough-to-control martini glasses.

Step 9: Lift, drink and love. Enjoy your martini by slowly sipping the salty, sophisticated mixture. Eat one olive when you’re halfway through your beverage and the last olive with your last drink.

And who says talking dirty can't be fun?

Today's Pretty Proclamation consists of eight little words of wisdom that every Pretty and Poor girl should live her life by.

"Slap on a little lipstick...you'll be fine."

~Jodi Hills, from her book bearing the same title. She reminds us that a bright shade of lipstick for ten bucks a tube can help heal a broken heart, boost confidence or maybe even get you the compliment you deserve. Now that's a smart PPW. So open that tube, twist up and slap on a little love.

One of the things us ladies do to keep our legs warm in winter and look pulled together during the cold season is to wear tights. Yes, I know they’re a huge pain in the ass (they can literally give you a monster wedgie or bunch up so peculiarly that they actually become a pain in your rump, not kidding). But, for the last year I’ve embarked on a love affair with a brand of tights that I just can’t get enough of. Betsey Johnson’s fabulous line of tights and leg wear is great. It’s comfortable, it moves with your body, it’s not binding and I guarantee there’s a sassy solid or playful pattern just for you. The best part? It’s a surprisingly affordable fix for the fashionista on a budget!

You can snag a two-pack of these adorable tights (one pair patterned and one pair solid) for around $36.00. But I guarantee you’ll wear them again. Plus, the last time I was in my local TJ Maxx, they had tons of these tights available for about 60 percent off the retail price. So it’s worth a look.

(In the above picture, I'm rocking my favorite Betsey Johnson tights. Every time I wear these I get 9000 compliments. And yes, as a matter of fact those are magenta suede heels I'm wearing.)

Betsey Johnson tights hit at just the right location on the waist, they’re not to thick and not too thin, and the blend of fabric is stretchy and comfortable. Fashionable? Check. Fierce? You got it. That’s why they’re the official tights of Pretty and Poor. (Okay, that might be overboard…but if there were an official pair of tights for Pretty and Poor, my Betsey Johnson fleur-de-lis patterned tights would so take the cake.)

I like to think of myself as the primary breadwinner in my household of one. That’s because I am. I work all day, I come home, and I put dinner on the table for myself. I buy myself gifts. I take myself out to dinner. I put clothes on my own back. And these things make me very proud. In fact, having a good job that I enjoy is something that is a huge priority in my life—and this mentality has been hardwired into me from childhood. In fact, I remember my very first job fondly…

When I was in 4th grade I got my first job: a paper route. And the only reason I wanted it was because I had a huge crush on the full time paper boy (an older, more mature sixth grader with spiky hair). He was a dreamboat—athletic, family-oriented, good teeth. And I was a nerd—cool bangs, straight A’s and obsessed with horses.

It all started one day when I got a flier in the mailbox. The headline read, “Assistant Paper Boy Needed!” Naturally, I was outraged that it didn’t say “Paper Girl” (I’m a lil’ bit of a feminist). So I decided to step up to the challenge and prove the world wrong one neighborhood paper route at a time. Before I knew it, I was chucking papers at the front doors of my community from the back tailgate of my Dad’s Tahoe (bikes were so 10-minutes ago on those suburban paper routes). Naturally, things never really worked out between me and the full time paper boy (if I had it to do over again I’d probably just slip on my ruffled two-piece and ride my bike around his cul-de-sac), but my paper route enabled me to earn some sick spending money (that I likely spent on Pogs) that made me feel like a real contributing member of society. Even if I was stimulating the Tomodatchi market, that money was going somewhere. And the thrill of spending it was too much to bear.

I eventually retired from the paper delivery business. And in the late 90’s, I built a babysitting empire that kept me in Banana Republic clothing through high school (sometimes I think about going back to this business model since it was so effective and profitable, but then I remember I don’t have that much patience with children).

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of making your own money and then spending that money. That little wad of cash can burn quite a hole in your pocket. Money makes the world go round…even to someone as wide-eyed and naïve as a fourth grader!

So what was your first job? How did that spending money feel? And what in the world did ya' spend it on? Tell me in the comments section!

I’ve always thought New Year’s resolutions were fairly foolish. I mean, for about two weeks out of the year everyone gets super-fixated on accomplishing goals that aren’t quite realistic. And everyone always has the same New Year’s resolutions, like working out more or losing weight. Of course you want to drop 10 pounds, you just spent the last two weeks of the year eating cookies, sucking down gravy and pouring hot toddies down your throat.

When people ask me if I’m setting New Year’s Resolutions I usually say yes because I don’t want to offend them. And when they ask me what my resolutions are, I come up with some of the most random goals I can think of. These resolutions add spice to my life rather than make me a better person. So, to put your curiosity at bay and to go along with the status quo, here are my slightly warped resolutions for 2010.

1) Dress more like Lady Gaga. (Several of my closest friends are choking right now, or rolling their eyes thinking, “we need to schedule an intervention.’) This doesn’t mean I’m going to start rocking leotards. Relax. This simply means I’m going to be open to pushing boundaries and trying to new things fashionably (or maybe I’ll start wearing my Halloween costume out on the weekends).

(Okay, so this Gaga getup might be a little much...that's actually me in the middle, with two of my besties. However, Gaga's spirited approach to fashion is something we can take to heart every day.)

2) Wear heels whenever I want. I often find myself censoring my shoe selection because of others. I slip on a pair of heels and people say, “Oh, you’re dressing up?” Instead of throwing on loafers and going with the crowd, I’m going to keep the heels on and answer, “Damn right I’m dressing up.”

(Life is way too short to wear boring shoes! And yes, you can quote me on that.)

3) Try more restaurants and bars. I have to maintain my status as a go-to girl (or the “girl about town,” as a coworker referred to me.) But there’s still so much out there that I’ve yet to try. Dinner and Drinks? Cheers to that!

(Keep the martinis flowing and the sushi rolling-- I'm hitting the city in full force this year.)

4) Find my Sugar Daddy. I’m kidding. But did you know there are actually people out there that think I’m dead-set on a finding a rich old man to settle down with? Most of my Sugar Daddy talk is complete nonsense—in fact, it’s more likely that I’ll end up someone’s Sugar Momma someday (Stay At Home Hubbies, inquire within).

(He looks like a Sugar Daddy...but he's actually a Ken doll. That's right-- Barbie and I might be competing for a boyfriend this year.)

5) Challenge myself to a month with no shopping. I’m sure lots of people don’t go on shopping trips weekly (like yours truly). But this year, it’s my goal to pick a month where I don’t shop at all (except for groceries…you know, so I don’t starve). But no shoes, clothes or random trips to Target. I’m thinking February might be the right time to roll this out. After all, the gifts I get from the throngs of men in my life around Valentine’s Day might help make up for my lack of self-gifting.

So there you have it—my “resolutions” if you will. And none of them revolve around silly norms like eating right. Leave your resolutions in the comments section…but if they’re boring, don’t bother.

Tonight I was watching Jay Leno and Kim Kardashian was a guest. I was reminded of how much I loved her when she deep fried Oreos while wearing a shift dress made entirely of sequins. So I decided to drum up a Kim Kardashian quote for the latest Pretty Proclamation.

"If Paris Hilton thinks my butt looks gross I really don't care. At least I have a butt."

~Kim Kardashian, who reminds us all to love what we've got (even in the face of adversity)!

For some reason I live in a place where it can’t even be 0 degrees on any given day. It has to be less than 0 degrees…like 25 degrees less than 0. That’s right, when I arrived home from my weekend getaway on Saturday night it was -25. This is terribly impractical, let’s be honest. When it’s that cold, it becomes hard to balance function with fashion. On one hand, you don’t want to freeze to death. On the other hand, you don’t want to look like a fat kid in a snow suit (or resort to this).

So how does one look good when it’s -25? Relax, and let me enlighten you.

1) Don’t go outside. Temperatures that cold do weird, highly unattractive things to the human body. Hair could get dry and static-infused. Skin gets scaly and all that stuff up your nose starts to freeze. Geeeew. I get grossed out just thinking about it. If you don’t have to go outside, then don’t do it! Make yourself a pot of coffee, throw on your long underwear and have a movie day.

2) Buy more fur. It sounds expensive and that’s because it is. It also sounds harmful to animals…and it might be. But where do animals go when it’s -25? They don’t have gas fireplaces to snuggle up next to. No, they brave the elements and you don’t see them dropping over dead or complaining. Get a fur coat and roll like an animal.

3) Wrap you up. Never leave home without a scarf, or seven. These big, long layers of wool and cashmere will feel like a hug embracing your body throughout the day. Whether you wrap it around your head, your neck or get really creative, you’ll always want one of these suckers nearby. And if coordinated correctly, a scarf could add a splash of pizzazz to your outfit.

4) Nurture your noggin. A lot of statistics suggest that humans release lots of body heat through their heads. Keep that heat where it belongs by rocking a hat. And no, I’m not talking about a baseball cap. I’m talking about something sassy—with a lot of attitude and possibly a big fuzzy ball on top.

5) Get a cuddle buddy who’s just as stylish as you. We all know that two bodies produce more heat than one. So grab a down comforter and a stylish friend and let the snuggle party begin!

To answer questions that you probably have, yes, I do feel a little bit crazy for living in such a cold place. And yes, I have considered moving many times. But sometimes we do crazy things to work at jobs we love and be around people we enjoy. And hey, not everyone has a good excuse to buy fur.