Looking for unique gift ideas? Want to support local entrepreneurs? Interested in original designs and stylish artwork? Then check out Mamamade!

Mamamade is a group of Nashville area moms who have put their creative minds together and started an online bazaar. You can order directly from most of their websites listed on the Mamamade blog or you can go to their 2008 Spring Market to be held on April 26th at Lillie Belle’s Tea House in Franklin, TN.

Personally, I can’t wait to get my hands on this:

The Nashville Bag!

Blogger and wife of blogger, Christy Nicholson was featured in this week’s All the Rage:

“I wanted to sell things at Target prices,” she says. “I think everyone needs that option.” So several business classes and research sessions later, the entrepreneur now offers Web surfers stylish treats like purses crafted from recycled saris in India, locally made lip balms from Thistle Farms and even a few of her own crocheted creations, with most items less than $30.

 Check out shopghia.com and pick up a few pretties for yourself.

Who said we weren’t a bunch of hotties running this joint?

I am thrilled to announce that Food Editor, Claudia Young, made the cover story of this week’s Nashville Scene!

Claudia Young

When Claudia began chiming in on Bites, the Scene’s food blog, we could tell instantly that she knew her way around a kitchen, a menu and some of the finest restaurants in the country. But when we logged onto Claudia’s own website, we realized that her recipe for lamb shanks with three-hour polenta wasn’t the only thing in her gourmet kitchen that was lean and hot. With a broad smile and wavy mane of dark blond hair, her photograph leaps off the cyber-page, where it is posted among photographs of her daily culinary exploits, from bottarga (sun-dried mullet roe) to tarte tatin. A native New Yorker and veteran of songwriting circles, Claudia, 46, works from home, where she can be close to her kitchen and computer. In between running her “multi-hundred-dollar enterprise,” she spends her time cooking exquisite meals, eating them and then fretting about everything she has eaten, hence the name of her appetizing and amusing blog. Desperately seeking a domestic goddess? Log onto cookeatFRET.com. You may not win Claudia’s heart, but if you enjoy pretty food and pretty people, you’ll definitely find quite the dish.

Congratulations, Claudia, for this much-deserved recognition!!!

Who knew there was a Top 10 List for Vegetarian-Friendly State Prisons?

Well, PETA creates just such a list and their latest assessment says Tennessee ranks 8th in the Top Ten Vegetarian-Friendly State Prisons according to their press release.

The story is headlined “State Is Feeding Inmates’ Hunger For Healthy, Non-Violent Meals” and includes the following:

“Prison food has traditionally gotten a bad rap, but you won’t hear many complaints from vegetarians and vegans who are serving time in Tennessee. The vegetarian sweet and sour entrée, vegetarian chili, and veggie burgers have inmates asking for seconds.”

Who knew? Not me.

Y’all, Christy is a life-saver. She’s got a bundle of make-up tips for Christmas, none of which I’d heard or read before.

An example:

3. Let makeup be makeup, and sunscreen be sunscreen. Never the twain should meet. I learned this one the hard way. For years, my “special occasion” makeup that I used for photos, performances, and other events was thick cream foundation that included sunscreen. These products often include light-reflecting material as their active ingredients (titanium dioxide or zinc oxide). Well, when a bright light — such as a flash — hit the light-reflecting particles on my face…….um, light was reflected. In other words, I looked as pale as a ghost. So for those holiday photo sessions, skip the built-in sunscreen. A better option for protection is a product that contains a chemical sunscreen like oxybenzone.

Husband’s work Holiday Party is Sunday. I’m buying new makeup on Saturday. ;-p

In spite of the warm weather it cannot be avoided. They will not be denied and will never be defeated no matter how hard we try. It comes around each year and yet, the first one to make an appearance shocks me every time.

What is this fright of which Finn writes? Go and see, but try not to scream!

I’m not a huge fan of Bill Maher, but found myself nodding and chuckling in agreement while reading his recent essay for Salon.com, “American flag pins are for idiots.” The gist of the story, in response to hand-wringing over Barack Obama’s lack of a flag pin on his lapel, is that the focus on such trivialities is stupid. You don’t expect subtlety from Bill Maher.

Maher writes:

New Rule: Show me a man wearing an American flag pin in his lapel, and I’ll show you an @$$hole. I’m sure there are exceptions, but in general people need to remember that lapels aren’t for wearing pins to create the illusion that you’re supporting the troops. They’re for wearing ribbons to create the illusion that you’re helping cure a disease.

Last week we had the first genuine controversy of the presidential campaign: the shocking news that Barack Obama doesn’t wear an American flag lapel pin, so apparently he and America are no longer going steady. “No lapel pin, Senator? It’s like not wearing pants. Why don’t you just stab the Statue of Liberty in the eye while b*tch-slapping a 9/11 widow?” Another in a series of bullsh*t non-stories that have zero effect on the troops, the war or anything in the real world — or, as Fox calls it, “Breaking News.”

Of course, wearing a flag pin doesn’t automatically make someone an idiot. Thinking that the presence or absence of an accessory actually means anything about one’s patriotism or qualifications may be a different story.

Shauna has a shout-out for her friend.

Los Pollitos Dicen is a local business run by a new friend of mine. She makes super cute t-shirts and more featuring sweet and simple drawings of baby chicks illustrating Spanish words and sayings — “pio pio pio” is just the beginning.. They’re always available on the Los Pollitos Dicen website, but this week a few designs are also available at Target.com. (I shouldn’t have waited so long to write this — the items will be there through tomorrow, I think.)

Women sometimes blame men for the fact that they have to spend so much on clothing, makeup and cosmetics. If we weren’t such neanderthals, obsessed with appearance over personality, they wouldn’t have to work so hard to meet our impossible expectations.

No doubt there’s truth to that. I’m as swayed by appearance as any other guy. But there are some things I will not be blamed for. I have never, ever judged a woman, positively or negatively, based on the size of her ankles. Ladies, if you are obsessed with your ankles it is your problem, not mine.

Remember Claire Suddath from the Nashville Scene? Our favorite Vandy journalism grad got her fair share of criticism until she wrote a very touching article about a woman with an eating disorder, which received kudos from the community and bloggers as well.

Well, like one of our other favorite writers, Claire has moved on to a big city–the big city. She’s only been in New York a month but she’s already hit the “scene” there (sorry, couldn’t resist) and reports on a very unique Fashion Week party in the New York Times.

Alison shares her distate for a fashion trend: skinny jeans. Not just on women, but on men, as well.

I was “reading” a supplement to the September Vanity Fair in which somewhat local band, Kings of Leon stated that they had their mom alter their jeans to be super skinny. I have to say, that really reeks of uncool to me, but I think if there were a cool competition between KoL and me, they’d win.

But I fear that if this trend continues, we will see the zipper leg jean again. Or worse–pinch-rolling/peg-legging. And nobody wants that. I’m going to be one of those old holdouts that walks around wearing five-year-old jeans because I can’t find any new ones I like.

Did you hear about Kyla Ebbert?  Seems her choice of outfit nearly got her bumped from a Southwest flight recently.  (Follow the link to see the offending outfit…and yes, it is SFW). 

Ebbert’s so-called objectionable attire included a white, tight-fitting shirt, a green cropped sweater, and a white denim skirt cut high on her thighs.

But wait, this wasn’t the first time it’s happened to a woman on a Southwest flight. 

Back in June, Setara Qassim said she was flying home to Burbank from Las Vegas when a Southwest Airlines flight attendant gave her a blanket and told her to cover up.

Qassim’s three month old “outrage” is complete with photos of her posing in a blanket on a leather chair, which is suppose to recreate her Southwest anguish.

Luckily for us, For Peter’s Sake has a new idea for a governmental agency creation that could address this issue.

Even though a lot of people are up in arms about Southwest’s decision, I think it’s the best idea ever. I think they should make a whole new branch of the Transportation Safety Authority dedicated exclusively to fashion. It would make flying a much friendlier experience.

Two posts about female fashion that caught my eye.

First up is Finn, talking about going in search of a bathing suit today.

This weekend I must don my strongest armor of indifference, cast away my sensitivity and self doubt and go on the hunt for that most elusive of beasts.

A flattering bathing suit.

Ok, that’s probably asking way too much so I will even settle for a semiflattering bathing suit that doesn’t involve a skirt of some kind. Or gives me prominent wedgies.

Ahhhhhh, can you hear me screaming already?!?!

On the other end of the spectrum, we have Graceless talking about the wonders of her little black dress.

Upon purchasing this Dress, I wasn’t aware that for one hundred dollars I was buying more than just fabric and a zipper. I was buying super powers. Much like Superman’s Cape or Aquaman’s Claw, the Dress gives me capabilities that, in the wrong hands, could prove fatal.

Even though I am quite experienced in how to wrangle the Powers of The Dress, sometimes it takes on a mind of its own and I simply can’t help myself.

Libby of the City Paper’s Style Arbiter blog must have been lookin’ pretty stylish when she randomly met the managers of the new Anthropologie store.

They liked my outfit - mainly the fact I was wearing shorts with my new white Frye boots (pics to come) - and asked me if I wanted a job.

Go see how she handled the situation.

And if it’s your kind of thing, go ahead and check out that new Anthropologie store at the Hill Center in Green Hills. It opens today. (I get the catalog. I love it. I also own two Anthropologie skirts I’ve found at thrift stores and they happen to be two of my favorite pieces.)

The Junior Slartis are rockin’ the duds, my friends.

Braisted braisting away at a memo from Metro Schools central office ‘clarifying the dress code’ which states that if a kid isn’t wearing a belt, perhaps someone could be inventive and use a rope:

Umm, yeah…if you want a lesson in how to embarrass the hell out of a kid, cut a piece of rope and tie it around their waste. Seriously, while I understand they want to enforce this, unless the pants are falling down, just tell the kids to bring a belt the next day. Dressing them like a “tramp” from the 30s seems a bit counter-productive to the whole purpose of the standard school attire.

Bruce Barry from Pith has the entire memo in all of its adornment glory..

Bloggers have a synchronous mind. More than once I’ve seen other bloggers write what I’m thinking or name their kids what I am gonna name my kids. (Can’t let it go, Amy. Just can’t. ;-p)

That’s why I think it’s great that Heather answered Slarti’s blog post from a week ago with one of her own.

I tend to believe that the female equivalents of these men would not have a lot of boys lusting after them. At least not boys who don’t live in their parents’ basements and one day hope to kiss a girl. That was judgmental…..so sorry, but I’m trying to paint a picture for ya here. I just don’t think that ridiculousness, odd hygiene, receding hairlines and a silly laugh are pluses in most guys books.

You have to go see who some of her choices for hot guys with no female equivalent are. (And yes, I’m linking to this because she, like I, thinks Duff is a cutie-pie.)

And on another note: Is there a male equivalent for the word “butterface”? I didn’t think so. Doesn’t that say something right there?

Jeff Atwood:

Ask yourself this one question when you consider buying your daughter shorts with words on the butt….”Do I really want to be responsible for encouraging young men to be looking at the backside of my daughter?”

My dad NEVER bought my clothes once I got older than 6. He may have never bought my clothes before I was 6, but then again, I don’t remember. Something also tells me that the girls with “Juicy” and “Princess” on their toushkas might just be buying those duds themselves.

I’m over at my house, taking a look at new products for sale.

Diana on one of my fave stores, Steve & Barry’s:

Steve and Barry’s clothes are well cut for the price, and (this is big) buttons are reinforced. How many times have you bought something from a department store that has buttons that unravel after the first few wearings? Their buttons are sewn on so well that they require “breaking in” to be loose enough to button quickly.

Anyhow, after about 45 min. of walking around and trying stuff on, I walked out of there with two long-sleeved button-down shirts, a fitted tee from the Bitten line, a black corduroy blazer, and a short-sleeved button down for $60, including TN sales tax.

The prices at Steve & Barry’s are awesome. I do have a few complaints about the store, though. First, it’s at Hickory Hollow, and I despise Hickory Hollow. That, I can overlook, but the service at Steve & Barry’s is usually pretty crappy. I always have to hunt down an associate so I can try stuff on. And you *have* to try stuff on there- the sizing is quite random, some shirts I have to wear an XL in and others I can fit into a medium. And some styles, I can’t even fit into the XL. So try stuff on if you go to Steve & Barry’s.

All that aside, I’m still a major lover of Steve & Barry’s.

Trashley points out a website that makes me want to puke:

Are you a bad parent? Do you like to dress up your children and parade them around like dolls, but still can’t get over that nagging feeling your baby looks too - human? Well, luckily for you, there is now a place to retouch those baby pageant photos that you so desperately, desperately need. Really, there’s nothing more precious than a child who’s had all the life Photoshopped out of their smooth, sad faces. I’m sure little Madison McKayla will never grow to resent you or your waste of her college fund.

I have a gorgeous daughter. Many people have told me I ought to enter her into pageants, modeling, etc. I don’t, because I want her to learn that she has value outside of her good looks. I just don’t understand pageant moms at all.

Head on over to Trashley’s to see a seriously vomit inducing retouched picture.

It’s wrong that I laughed at this. Right? Right?

The Dark Knight Yawns

Dude. Drunk monkeys. Drunk. Monkeys.

A favourable exchange rate, indeed.

Want.

When Reality TV isn’t reality.

That commercial is so…gay.

See…he said ‘Democratic’. Twice.

Over at the nascent City Paper fashion blog, The Style Arbiter, Libby asks readers what they consider the upper limit of a bargain.

When is a bargain not a bargain? I generally think that $30 is too much to pay for a T-shirt or other basic. But for a casual dress that you’re only gonna wear one season, it’s pretty dang good. What’s your cutoff? When is a bargain not a bargain in your book?

I’ve been almost exclusively shopping for clothes at thrift stores since I was a teen, so for me, if something is over $5, I think twice about whether it’s worth it. But it’s not really about the price; it’s about the versatility and quality of the item. If I find pieces that are cute but appear to be fleeting trends, and since I’ll probably only wear it a few times anyway, it can be of lesser quality as long as it’s not too cheap-looking. I don’t like to pay much for those — the 50% off everything sales at Goodwill are great for that kind of thing. But if I find something that’s a classic — a well-cut black skirt, for example — and it fits my style effortlessly and it’s in good shape, I will almost always buy it (unless my wardrobe is bulging with black skirts… which, let’s be fair, it is).

And in those cases, almost no matter what the price tag says, it’s a bargain.

What about you? Comment here or over there, whatever suits your style.