SHOP TO IT (SHOPPING AND INDULGENCES)

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, right? Two sparkling events are happening this week from the diamond industry. The Baubles and Bubbles event at Chas. Schwartz & Son in Mazza Gallerie tonight will feature special pricing on $5 million worth of diamonds (from 2 to 10 carats). Talk about bling! Mervis Diamond is also having their annual trunk show this weekend in Tysons. Stop by for a fabulous opportunity to get something sparkly for that special someone.

SCENE AND BE SEEN (EVENTS AND PARTIES)

Friday night just keeps getting better. Start the night at Midtown where they are rolling out the red carpet to host a charity event for Becky’s Fund, which is sure to be a blast. A $20 donation to fight domestic violence is suggested, and the happy hour starts early at 5 PM.

After that, make sure you stop by the City Tavern Club from 8 PM to midnight for a not-so-naughty drink in honor of the 75th Anniversary of Repeal Day. The Repeal Day Ball is a classy soiree featuring some snazzy drinks and jazzy costumes, so make sure to dress the part (sophisticated cocktail attire is recommended). It may be a recession, but we can still drink to old times. Visit www.dccraftbartendersguild.com to purchase tickets. Can’t get enough of the CTC? Their annual Santa Soiree is Saturday night. This black tie event is sure to be an affair to remember.

Get into the holiday spirit by taking part in a DC tradition. The Mormon Temple’s (no, not the Magic Kingdom) Festival of Lights is happening right now at their Visitor Center. Be dazzled by displays of Christmas cheer. For those with a wilder side, make sure to check out Zoo Lights at the National Zoo. Cuddle up with that special someone with date night at the National Zoo this Saturday, December 6th. Tickets are only $30 per couple for FONZ members and $40 for non-members. Starting at 5:30 PM, warm up the night with hot chocolate and gingerbread men, and a cuddly plush animal gift.

A personal note, the Alexandria Singers will be having their annual holiday concert, “A Mall and the Night Visitors” on Sunday, December 7th at 3 pm at Bishop Ireton HS in Alexandria. Come out for good family fun and an entertaining musical event. Yours truly will be there with bells on. Purchase tickets online at www.alexandriasingers.com. Make sure you mention my name when you buy!

EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY (FOOD AND DRINK)

Holiday treats include on of my favorites, cookies! Check out Rock Creek at Mazza on Saturday, December 6th for Baking for the Holidays the Rock Creek Way at 10 AM. For $65 per person, you can enjoy a class from the pastry chef for healthy holiday desserts, including cookies and gingerbreads. That’s a deal when you factor in lunch and goodie bags! Santa will also be making an appearance at the mall from 9-10:30 AM, so come early to get in the holiday spirit!

A new matchbox is opening in DC. For those who love the Chinatown staple for great pizza, brunch, and more; make sure to visit the newest location at 521 8th street SE (near E). matchbox opens on Friday night.

P.S. For more great events – check out my latest issues of The Scene in Bisnow.

SHOP TO IT (SHOPPING AND INDULGENCES)

Black Friday is tomorrow, and more than ever stores are seeking to draw consumers in with huge discounts, online and offline. If the thought of waking up at 4 am to hit the crowded malls makes you queasy, then look for online discounts.

With Black Friday comes Cyber Monday, and here in DC you can attend an event by Shop.org to help the cause for online shopping. Shop.org will provide lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe, laptop computers with high-speed Internet access, and will raffle off thousands of dollars in gift cards to shoppers. Shop@Lunch made easy.

Tax free shopping in DC this weekend on purchases that are $100 or less. Stock up on gifts for yourself and others. Look for more local deals from Washingtonian. Bethesda Row is a great place to start the shopping fever!

Shop for a good cause next Wednesday, December 3rd. The Carpenter Shelter for the homeless in Alexandria benefits, while you save! 50% of the proceeds go directly to The Carpenter Shelter. Shop goodies from local designers showcasing their chic apparel, accessories, jewelry, arts and services at HUGELY discounted savings (up to 70% off). 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM at the Westin in Alexandria. Check out the event on Facebook for more details.

Ann Taylor Loft, J. Crew and Banana Republic are featuring sales with up to 40% off. Stock up on professional looking winter wear.

• Ann Taylor Loft has 40% off already marked down sale prices.
• J. Crew offers an extra 20% off from mark downs if you enter the code EXTRA20 online through December 1.
• Banana Republic has 40% off of cold-weather items (think sweaters, gloves, etc.) through December 1.
• Work off those holiday pounds with cute and comfy clothes from Lucy. 40% off outerwear and up to 30% off already marked down items through December 2.

Looking for a special holiday or New Year’s Eve dress? Check out one of my favorite stores, Cusp, which has great sales and is offering free online shipping with with the code THANKS and an order over $150. Stock up on cute gifts for under $50 such as hand-knitted purple gloves ($34), a Bobbi Brown limited-edition lip gloss trio ($45), and shine on with super shimmery Lippmann Collection gold nail polish ($15).

Pre-order the latest book from Harry Potter series author J.K. Rowling, set to release on December 4. The Tales of Beedle the Bard are sure to delight, as all five of the wizarding fairy tales that appeared in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows are featured in this treasury of tales. Barnes & Noble is offering it for $7.59 for B&N Club members. An extra 5% will be taken off if you order online. Amazon is even cheaper with a standard edition for $7.14. For the really hardcore fan, a special hardcover collector’s edition is offered for $100.

For some family holiday fun, check out the Polar Express in IMAX at the National Museum of Natural History. Check out http://www.si.edu/imax/ for details and showtimes.

SCENE AND BE SEEN (EVENTS AND PARTIES)

Thanksgiving weekend features parties all week. A few highlights:

WEDNESDAY

• The exclusive Shadow Room is having a pre-Thanksgiving bash tonight. RSVP for complimentary admission (which means free for ladies until midnight, and free for gentlemen until 11PM with RSVP). Absolute Addiction is promoting.
• The newly redesigned Eyebar is having its own Thanksgiving Eve bash, with no cover and open bar for all, starting at 10 pm. Gobble, Gobble! Go to Primo Productions for more detail.
• Itching for a Dewey Beach reunion? Head to Clarendon Ballroom for their annual Thanksgiving Throwdown, featuring Kristen and the Noise. HiBall events sponsors. Come early for $10 admission, and get in for only $5 with two canned goods. Prices increase through the night.

THURSDAY

• Spend time with your family you turkey!

FRIDAY

• My friend (and new Wizards girl) Lyndsay is hosting an event at Midtown on Friday night. (For those who don’t know, Midtown is the new Play.) The Little Black Dress party is sure to be filled with beautiful people, so make sure you dress to impress.

In other news, select summer 2009 shows are now on sale at Wolf Trap. Take advantage of purchasing Disney’s High School Musical tickets (which are sure to sell out) and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. TLOTR will feature the complete film in HD with performances by a live orchestra, chorus, and soloists. HSM will be arriving on September 1-6, 2009 and The Lord of the Rings is coming August 28-29, 2009. For more fun and to purchase tickets (including Riverdance and 42nd Street), go to Wolf Trap’s website.

EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY (FOOD AND DRINK)

Thanksgiving is all about food. And, what better way to celebrate food than to share with others. Washingtonian is creating a Thanksgiving recipe box, where readers can submit and share their favorite family recipes.

This is a great time to think of others. Consider volunteering at a local shelter or food bank. Many need extra help for the Thanksgiving holiday, but consider volunteering at another time. Help is needed year round. If you can’t volunteer your time, please volunteer your dollars. Check out Food and Friends, Capital Area Food Bank, So Others Might Eat (SOME), Bread for the City, and the DC Central Kitchen.

Union Jack’s new Ballston location is hosting a grand opening next Thursday, December 4th. There will be a free buffet to sample food, and lots of fun to be had for all. Could be a great overflow spot for Rock Bottom’s Wednesday night $1 beer debacles.

Tomorrow I’ll be posting information for a contest to win a 1 lb. box of Enstrom’s toffee. If you’ve never had it, I highly recommend you get into it. More to come…

NOTE: Posted this a bit early this week with the holiday in mind. Check back every Thursday for a weekly round up.

Case in point this past weekend where I was alone out shopping for a white dress for an all white party…but ended up with a lot more. I spent (and by spent, I mean charged) an obscene amount of money. I won’t disclose the full amount, but let’s just say from Saturday to Tuesday I bought 2 pairs of shoes, 3 dresses, 3 or 4 shirts, 2 sweaters, 3 Vera Bradley bags, a few presents for my mom, Aunt and Grandma, Chanel No. 5 perfume, cologne for my boy, and the worst of all, a David Yurman ring. I shopped at Nine West, Ann Taylor, White House Black Market, Cusp (very expensive boutique I love), another boutique, Sephora, and Bailey Banks & Biddle. And this isn’t the first time.

A binge is defined as: “a period of unrestrained, immoderate self-indulgence.” That is one way of looking at it. I am completely out of control, and I know it. I mean, my bills get paid each month, eventually – but at the same time it leaves me cash poor and broke, relying on credit cards to live. It has to stop. And, I keep trying…consolidating cards to 0% interest, paying off what I can when I get extra money. But, I know it’s not enough. I have car payments, computer (Dell) payments, Lasik payments, 3 credit cards, cell phone and rent/utilities, and a hefty loan payment (from other consolidation). It’s mind boggling. I need to go on the great American debt diet. I need to re-examine my priorities. I’m drowning in debt and I’m the only one who can stop it.

The thing with addictions are, that they become a hard habit to break. I literally have a positive physical reaction to shopping and being in a mall/store. I am happier, I feel elated when my arms are full of bags and I have new fun items I have been coveting. I like to look good, to feel good, and to have nice things. I have expensive tastes. I like it when my nails are manicured (french), I have pretty rings on my hands, and my clothes are well made and luxurious. Not only do I like to look good, but I like to smell good, wearing expensive perfume and high end makeup. My closet is ridiculous, and the amount of shoes and bags I have. I have trash bags full of clothes that I don’t wear anymore – some to donate, some just sitting. I have to transfer out clothes to fight for hanger space.

It’s shameful really, all of it. And, I know it. But I can’t stop. I cut up cards, I transfer balances, I pay off what I can – but it’s never enough. And then, I go buy more. And more. And I feel good about it. Until the bills come.

UPDATE: I got an automated phone call from my credit card company to verify some purchases, I’ve spent so much they thought it was stolen.

In any case, last week I bought two hot items that I just wanted to share. Althiough I usually can’t pass up a good sale, it’s nice to buy things once in awhile that are made well and that you know will last for a long time.

This hot Michael Kors sweater, which is soft and heavy, yet not too suffocating. It’s perfect for a casual Friday at work or a weekend brunch. The buttons even say Michael Kors on them hehe…classy I know.

The other thing I bought was this cute INC dress. I plan to wear it to a couple parties. It’s really fun and comfortable too!

This here is a really cool invention, I would love to have it! Even if the shoes aren’t color coded – it’s still a cool idea and a great way to keep heels in order.

In addition to my fashion purchases (and desires), I also enjoyed some good food and culinary experimentation over the weekend. I stopped by Trader Joe’s and picked up some yummy food…and created some good things. For example I took a chicken breast, sauteed it in a pan with olive oil, minced garlic, pepper and sea salt…then I cut the chicken into chunks and placed it on some 4-cheese focaccia bread rolls I bought. Then I took a slice of havarti cheese and melted it over the chicken, and finally topped it all off with some avocado slices. It was amazingly good.

Sigh…here we are, about to plunge headfirst into the Holiday season.

But then I was true to myself and I thought…you know what? I love it. I am SUCH the ultimate consumer…I even get excited at holiday paper towels and decorative tissue boxes. Yes, I am that girl…and I am only slightly ashamed.

You see, ever since I can remember… I have LOVED the holidays. I love the cooking and the family and the gift getting (and receiving) and tradition. Most people hate the crowded malls but I love the bustle and hustle of it all (and I love to shop no matter what time of year it is)…and of course the cheesy songs. I am a sucker for the old Frosty the Snowman and Rudolf cartoons, the Charlie Brown Christmas story and the Carol of the Bells. ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and Here Comes Santa Claus. Movies like Home Alone, Elf, The Santa Clause, and all of the others. Oh, and of course the real reason for the season…I love church at Christmastime. Advent and Christmas carols and candles…it’s all beautiful.

Of course, with all of my favorite foods, things, and people around…I’m going to have to be extra careful with my money. This year I can’t afford to go overboard on presents and cute trinkets and decorations. I have to be frugal with my Christmas cards and candy. And, I know it’s going to be really hard.

So, I’m hoping that the Christmas season will pass by just as quickly as it arrived, and while it will raise my spirits, it won’t do too much damage to my wallet.