In Any Event...

It wasn't my intention to take almost the whole month of February off from blogging, but somehow almost all 28 days passed by with nary a peep from me. I even forgot to post a cute picture on Valentine's day anthropomorphising my dog, like I normally do. Why, you may have been wondering, did I forsake this blog for nearly a whole month (granted, the shortest month of the year)?

It's because I have been busy starting a new business, Harrington & Luscia Special Events- I am now officially working as an event planner!  Please check out my new website (still a bit of a work in progress): www.harringtonandluscia.com (The "Luscia" part is my great friend, former Martha Stewart colleague, and business partner, Anthony, who is also an exceptional planner and more fun than should fit inside one human man).

Don't worry, I'm still keeping up the housewivery, and I still love to make/fix/clean/cook things and write about them, so I will keep up this blog and my other writing. But, in some ways, planning parties in an official capacity feels like the fulfillment of my destiny. I have always loved throwing parties- when I was a little girl, I used to make the guest lists and plan the menus for my birthday parties six months in advance, even though I had (and still have, for the most part) the exact same group of friends I made in preschool. In college, I was the Social Coordinator for my women's club, and even once erected a large white party tent myself in order to save money (good thing it wasn't windy that night). After college, I went to work for Martha Stewart Weddings magazine for five years, where I was the Real Weddings editor, and spent my days designing crafty decorations, arranging flowers, and tying thousands of "perfect" bows on programs and favors (in 2008, my own wedding was in the magazine). I've helped many friends plan their weddings and parties through the years, and had my first "official" wedding in February, which went off without a hitch!

Event planning (and wedding planning, in particular) suits me because it's creative, aesthetic work, that also feeds my appetite to be hyper-organized with lists, timelines, and spreadsheets, get to know people people and families at an exciting, celebratory time in their lives, extol the virtues of tradition and etiquette, and boss people around a little bit (but never my clients!). It's kind of a perfect fit.

We are still building and expanding the business (look for a blog on all things party and wedding-related to come!) We are planning events all over the country in the next few months, and are always excited to talk to other people in the industry, or to offer advice and help to party planners and engaged couples. So please be in touch!

Meanwhile, thanks for hanging in there with me on this blog! I promise much more frequent posts and updates in March.  (But, just in case, my dog says Happy St. Paw-trick's Day in advance).

Where's Wife-O?

When I'm disappointingly absent from this blog, you may wonder to yourself what it is I'm doing that is so freaking important. Most of the time, I'm actually in the kitchen whipping up my little concoctions, or cleaning up the inevitable mess created by said whipping. Or I'm lint-rolling my lampshades, organizing the linen closet, tending my mini-garden, cleaning out the fridge, and all the other mundane things I write about. Otherwise, what would I have to write a blog about? Writing a blog? That's so meta, I would bore myself to sleep, and the whole blog would just be a long line of zzzzzz's.
But sometimes, when I'm not here, it's because I'm over blogging at BonAppetit.com.  Like today, when they posted a little story I wrote for them about how to host a cookie swap party. Sounds like fun, right? I know! So be good little girls and boys and hop over there and check it out.  It's like during sweeps when TV networks do crossover episodes and characters from CSI: Miami show up to help solve a crime on CSI: LA, or CSI: Las Vegas, or CSI: The Moon, or whatever.  Only it's me, instead of David Caruso, who's popping up. And there won't be any dead strippers involved in impossibly disgusting deaths. And it's about a cookie party. Actually, okay fine, it's not really like CSI at all. It's better! So go over and check it out, and click on the links and comment (if you feel like it) about how you've never read a better story about cookie swap parties and whatnot, so they think I'm super popular. In the meantime, I'll be here, washing my dog.

How To Throw A Holiday Cookie Swap Party at BonAppetit.com

Selling Power

Earlier this week, I dropped my phone, shattering the display glass (prompting my ever-so-tactful husband to sigh and say, "maybe you just shouldn't own fragile things"). After I shot him a steely glare of fury, I decided that instead of paying someone to repair the phone, I would do it myself (in my typical, frugal, DIY way) using a kit I got off the Internet, and instructions via Youtube. I have a good sense of the mechanical, and better-than-average fix-it skills, and the nerds in the video made the repair process look like a breeze, so I really thought I had it in the bag.  But as I was trying to pry the little fragments of broken glass off the phone, I heard an ominous crunch from inside the phone, which portended what I already knew to be true- I had made a bad situation much, much worse.  All of this is to say that I had an unexpected major expense this week in the form of a new cell phone.

In order to offset the cost, and for a fun little goal for myself, I decided I should try to recoup my loss by selling stuff from around the house. Drawing inspiration and advice from my friend Rachel, who has sold more stuff than Ron Popeil, I got out my digital camera, and set to work. Here are the best ways to sell your stuff- even the junk you think is worthless- to easily get some quick cash. Remember, one girl's trash is another girl's brand new iPhone 4. Or something like that.

EBay: I have long been an eBay buyer, but I recently took my first foray into selling. Almost anything you want to sell, you can find a buyer for on eBay. I mostly have sold clothes- anything brand name in good condition will fetch you at least a few bucks- just take flattering photos of the article on a hanger against a white background. Be honest about any flaws, and start the bidding low. I suggest listing a bunch of things all at once- people who like one of your items might check out the others, and you'll save yourself a bunch of trips to the post office when you ship them.


Craig's List: If you live in a fairly metropolitan area, you should list your items on your local Craig's List. I have used Craig's List to sell old furniture and household goods. Again, nice pictures that show the item in a flattering light are a must. Check to see what the going rate is for similar items, and undercut it by a few dollars, and feel free to haggle with buyers. The benefit of this selling method is that the buyer will pick up the item from you (no shipping!), but to be safe, you should meet them at a well-lit, crowded spot, like the coffee shop on your corner. If you are selling something large like a piece of furniture and must let the buyer in your home, make sure there is someone else there at the time- the world is full of freaky people, and one of them might show up at your door under the guise of buying your old boombox.


Gazelle.com: If you have old computers, cell phones, iPods, video games, PDAs or other electronics lying around, Gazelle.com wants to buy them from you. They will even send you secure prepaid packaging in which to return it to them, so you don't even have to worry about postage. I sold them an old laptop that was totally dead and a Palm Pilot that I had in the 90s, and they actually gave me money for them. Ironically, they even bought the cell phone I trashed. 


Second Spin: You know how all of your music is on your computer now? But you still have stacks and stacks of old CDs lying around taking up space, don't you? Second Spin will buy your used CDs and DVDs for a decent price. So you can clear out those drawers or shelves of all those ugly plastic cases (and put money there instead).


At Last Resort:  If you have stuff you can't sell, but is still redeemable (i.e. a whole bag of gently-worn Old Navy tank tops), there's still one thing you can do- give it away. Take it to a non-profit thrift shop (try Housing Works in NYC, or the Salvation Army nationwide) and get a receipt so you can deduct the donation from your taxes. It won't technically make you money, but it might save you a bit come April. Plus, it might actually help someone else out, too.

If you have never tried selling things, you'll be amazed at how fun, and oddly addictive, it is. Give it a try- I foresee your closets getting less cramped, and your wallets getting more so.

Travel Tip #008: Red Car(pet) Treatment

JM and I don't own a car, so between destination weddings, weekend trips to Boston, random Ikea pilgrimages, and all our other travels, we end up renting a lot of cars. This used to be my least favorite part of traveling- the whole process of getting off a plane, taking a shuttle, waiting in line, filling out the paperwork, and then having to walk around the car looking for dents... it just really got my goat.  One time, after a long-delayed flight to Denver, we arrived at 1 am at the rental car desk to find a line of twenty people, with just one person working behind the desk, and I almost burst into tears. We didn't get out of there until almost two hours later, and thereafter I had an almost sickening dread of the whole car-renting enterprise (no pun intended).

But then, something wonderful happened! JM and I found out about the premier memberships at car rental places, and signed up for them, our lives changed for the better, and we lived happily ever after. The End.

Premier memberships at rental car agencies allow you to skip the line, go straight to your car and drive out. They also make you first in line for upgrades and other perks. Basically, they eliminate all of the unpleasant parts of renting a car, and make you feel like a VIP (even if it is just at the rental car parking lot).  But, best of all, if you are a little wily, you can get them for free. Shut up, right? But I won't shut up because it's true.  Like you, I always thought that you had to pay for those perks, but it turns out paying is for suckers - the agencies waive those fees for a wide variety of reasons, and some of them may even apply to you (and even if they don't, you can pretend they do). Here's how to sign up for some of the major rental companies premium service totally gratis.   You don't have to thank me- just wave at me as we both zip past the line and out of the parking lot.

The below programs are always free, for everybody. I think the only reason everyone isn't already signed up is because they seem exclusive. Don't be fooled and let the sheep stand in line. One caveat- you will have to enter your credit card information to sign up (and be sure to read the fine print, as with any offer).

Avis Preferred
Alamo Quicksilver
Budget Fastbreak
Dollar Express
Thrifty Blue Chip

Hertz #1 Gold: Hertz offers free Gold membership to American Express cardholders, US Airways frequent fliers, and many others (otherwise there is a $60 annual fee). You can check all the associations to which you belong, to see if you qualify, or you can just use this link, enter
Program Name: US Airways Preferred
Promotion Code: 6173
and be on your way.

A few more tips:
-Try to concentrate rentals on one or two agencies you use the most (we use Hertz and Avis), so you accrue points and free rentals.
-Lots of companies and associations offer discounts at rental agencies, so if you belong to AAA, USAA, AARP, etc. or you work at a large company, make sure to enter that info or mention it at the counter. You'll be amazed at the discounts.
-When all else fails, don't forget to check online coupon websites to find promo codes.

Travel Tip #007: Surf Wisdom

Dear Readers,
okay, I'm back now. For real this time. This has been the summer to end all summers with my travel schedj/busyness level, but that's no excuse for neglecting you as I have. Thank you for your patience with me, and I promise never to abandon you again. At least... not until next summer. 

Given that I grew up in Southern California, have long, sun-bleached blond hair, occasionally use the word "gnarly" in earnest, and take every opportunity available to get a suntan, it's no wonder that I frequently get asked the question "do you surf?" Given that he grew up in Boston, wears a suit most of the time, and can frequently be seen carrying copies of the Wall Street Journal and the Financial Times in his L.L.Bean tote bag, and occasionally uses the word "chuffed" in earnest,  it's no wonder JM does not frequently get asked that question. But, come on, people, didn't your mother ever tell you not to judge a book by its cover?

While I prefer to build sandcastles and read US Weekly on the beach (how tan can you get in a wetsuit?), my ever-unpredictable husband has taken up surfing, and, as is the case with everything he does, he has thrown himself in headlong. And it turns out, thanks to impressively large big toes, and a lifetime of ice skating and skiing, he has better-than-average balance, and a natural affinity for the sport. Within days of his first lesson last winter, my Google searches started auto-suggesting "used surfboard, nyc", and copies of Surfer and Surfing magazines started showing up in our mailbox (yes, those are two different magazines- there's also Surf, Gold Coast Surf, and Eastern Surf, it turns out). And while I have mostly been content to stack these by his bed, or shove them into the aforementioned tote bag (along with the Economist), I found myself flipping through this month's issue of Surfer, and, in addition to enjoying the eye candy of beautiful people shredding in beautiful places, it's surprisingly well written and... I actually learned something.

So this week's travel tip comes to us from the editors of Surfer, with our compliments, and wishing them warm waters, perfect breaks, and gnarly sessions, or whatever.

Here it is: Before traveling abroad, scan the important pages of your passport into your computer, and email the files to yourself (my own suggestion would be to also save them to a Google Document, so they are easily found in a pinch). That way, if your passport gets lost or stolen, you will be covered (and lest you think the editors of Surfer have taken too much water in their ears, the State Department website also suggests you photocopy your documents before you travel- but methinks an accessible electronic copy is better than a paper copy you might forget or lose along the way). While you're at it, I might suggest doing the same with your birth certificate, credit cards, social security card, and driver's license (just be sure to make the files private and password protected, and title them something nondescript, like "Travel").  As a bonus tip, Surfer also recommends that you "don't waste money taking a fish to Hawaii," whatever the hell that means.

See? And here you were, thinking all surfers were brainless, and then they go surprise us with this wonderfully clever tip. Boy, were you wrong about surfers.




Well, maybe not all surfers.


photo credit: via rougerouge on flickr.

Old School

It is a gloriously beautiful hot day outside (the first great one of my vacation), and frankly, there are a hundred things I would rather be doing than sitting inside blogging (like, pretty much anything). So, instead of writing my own little version of 2010 Housekeeping Daily, I present to you this actual magazine article from Housekeeping Monthly from 1955. Just in case you think I'm too much of a throwback, take a gander at these Good Wife tips. There are some real gems in this one, so I'll just let it speak for itself.  We've come a long way, babies!

Transcribed text:

-Have dinner ready. Plan ahead,  even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready, on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal (especially his favourite dish) is part of the warm welcome needed.

-Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives.  Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.

-Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.

-Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.

-Gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper, etc and then run a dishcloth over the tables.

-Over the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering for his comfort will provide you will immense personal satisfaction.

-Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair and, if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part. Minimise all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer, or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet.

-Be happy to see him.

-Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.

-Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first- remember his topics of conversation are more important than yours.

-Make the evening his. Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner, or other places of entertainment without you. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax.

-Your goal: Try to make sure your home is a place of peace, order and tranquility, where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.

-Don't greet him with complaints and problems.

-Don't complain if he's late home for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through that day.

-Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or have him lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.

-Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.

-Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.

-A good wife always knows her place.


Article found on:carolynspreciousmemories.com
Finder credit: John Fink (thanks, dad!)

Go Ask Alice

Sometimes I feel like my husband's and my dog's personal assistant-  if I'm not picking up the one's dry cleaning, I'm keeping track of the other's vaccination appointments. Which is all well and good (I mean, I know what I signed up for with this homemaker gig), but sometimes I wish I had my own personal assistant to remind me to schedule a haircut or that we are running out of paper towels.

Thankfully, I have discovered, whatever one's problem might be, there is some internet geek out there working on a solution in the form of a genius new website. So while I still have to monitor my own split ends (for now), the brilliant minds behind Alice.com have got me covered on the paper towels (and toilet paper, and dishwashing soap, and moisturizer...)  Alice.com is like the dry goods/drug store of your dreams- they carry thousands of great products (a huge number of them eco-friendly), and deliver them to your door with quick, free, shipping (and the prices are lower than my neighborhood brick-and-mortars).  What's more, they keep track of your favorite products and how often you go through them, so they can send you a reminder to stock up on tissues seconds before you pull the last one from the box. It would almost be creepy, if it weren't so darned helpful.

Hey, internet nerds, can one of you come up with a website that puts away my husband's socks next? Thanks.

Virtual Cleanliness: How To Clean Out Your Inbox and Voicemail

A tidy and organized life doesn't just mean shiny, clean floors, dust-free lampshades, and every object in it's place (although that's an excellent start). It also means that you have all your information sorted and put away, too.  And it helps if your conscience is clear of unanswered emails and voicemails, as well.  While my apartment is starting to feel quite clean and fresh from all the spring cleaning I've been doing (if I do say so myself), sadly my email inbox is a jammed, disorganized mess, and the answering machine on our landline (yes, we live in the 1990s), has been flashing "FULL" for a week. So if you've tried to call or email me lately, please accept my humble apology- I'm working on it.

Here are my strategies for managing the "digital clutter" that makes its way into our lives, and keeping on top of all that virtual mail of the e- and voice- varieties. Now, I just need to employ them myself...

1. Separate Email Accounts: I have one email address that is for personal email, one that is for the blog, and one that I give out for reservations, online purchases, and anything else that I expect to generate spam or ads. That way, I can prioritize, and the most important emails don't get lost in a sea of spam.
2. Archive, Don't Sort: Don't bother sorting emails into folders, simply create an Archive folder. Once you have read and responded to the email, or dealt with it, either delete or archive the email. This way, you can just keep things you actively need to deal with in your inbox, and you won't waste time unnecessarily sorting emails into folders. And you will be able to search for the email just as easily in the archive as you would in your inbox.
3. List As You Listen: Get a paper and pen as you listen to voicemails, and write down the info for the one's that require active attention, and then immediately delete them. Be honest- you are far more likely to deal with it if you have the info in front of you than if you save the message to your voicemail, where it just sits making you feel guilty every time you look at your phone. Then return the calls one by one.
4. To Maintain: Try to answer the phone when it rings, even if you don't feel like it (just don't do it in a restaurant or  when you're with a friend)- don't put off til later what you can deal with right now. Also, don't always have your email open- it will destroy your productivity.  Check your email at regular intervals- like every two hours, and only when you have time to answer them immediately. 

Right, now I've just got to go archive the 1254 emails that have come in while I was writing this.

Less Is More

I have a very stylish and savvy friend who is a master of getting deals. Seriously, if discount shopping were an Olympic sport, this girl would be lousy with gold medals. She owns Black Friday, hacks Cyber Monday, and could write the book on discount shopping on every other day of the week, too. She goes into Lohmann's and Nordstrom Rack like a well-seasoned general going into battle, and always departs with the bountiful spoils of war (she actually expressed disappointment that, due to a short timeline planning her wedding this summer, she wasn't able to get her dress at the "Running of the Brides" dress sale at Filene's Basement in Boston).

While I admire, and frequently envy, her bargain-getting skills, I have come to terms with the fact that I just don't have it in me (whatever "it" is). I like what I like and if I can afford it, I'll buy it.  Ideally, I'd like my deals to come to me. And, that's why I love Yipit.com, a deal-aggregator website that was started by my friends Vinny and Jim. Yipit allows you to enter your location and interests (say, "Spas" and "Bars and Clubs", or as specific as "Teeth Whitening" or "Boot Camp"), and shows you the best deals relevant to you in your area, which are compiled from sites like Groupon, LifeBooker and Dealist. Instead of getting a ton of emails full of "deals" that aren't interesting to you, you get one email tailored to the things you like. Trust me- it'll fit better than an off-the-rack wedding dress.

Yipit is currently available in Boston, Chicago, LA, New York, and San Francisco and is coming soon to Atlanta, Las Vegas, London, San Diego and Washington, DC.

Want bargains in your neighborhood fast and cheap? Deal with it.

Paperless Press: Online Magazines

I've always been a little bit obsessed with magazines- I think it all started with my subscription to Highlights for Children when I was six. Since then, I've been a faithful reader of all kinds of magazines- first Jane and Seventeen, then Cosmo, Travel and Leisure, Bon Appétit, Vanity Fair, Real Simple, and even my college boyfriend's Maxim, to name a few. I even worked at Martha Stewart Weddings for four years after graduating college, so great was my love of the printed word (and picture).

But the last couple of years have been tough ones for magazine lovers- one of my faves Domino went under, and then Condé Nast folded the institution Gourmet and several other titles. It was chaos- there was a confetti of glossy paper falling from the sky and ink was running in the streets. I started hoarding my collection of mags, and trolling eBay for the ones I'm missing. But last fall, amid this magazine apocalypse, a bright spot, and an exciting new genre arrived on the scene: the online magazine. As someone who loves the feel and smell and dogear-ability of a physical magazine, I was skeptical at first, but these publications have won me over, and, if they haven't already, they will get you, too. First of all, they take up no space in your apartment (and therefore require no justification to your husband), they are filled with beautiful ideas, and they're free! What's not to love?

Here are the two online mags I am obsessed with right now:
Lonny, a home and shopping mag from a former Domino editor, just released it's third issue, and seeing it posted, I admit I felt that same warm rush I felt when a "real" mag arrived in my mailbox.
And Nonpareil, an online weddings mag is filled with great ideas for all kinds of parties and entertaining, comes from the girls behind the Inspired Bride and Paper Crave blogs.

I guess it's time I get with the times. Turns out even Highlights has a website.

Face(book) The Facts

Sometimes it feels like the world of technology is moving faster than etiquette can keep up. And nowhere is that more apparent than on Facebook. Unless you are ultra-selective with your friends, your Facebook friends aren’t the same thing as your REAL friends. They’re more like your Facebook acquaintances. And, as such, they shouldn’t have (nor do they want, most of the time) access to your most intimate life details. If you really need advice about a break-up or you notice your friend is looking “puffy” and want to know if she’s pregnant, this is not the venue to ask. Write an email, or pick up the phone - (that’s that thing with the numbered buttons, remember?). While the helpful PSA above outlines the basics, I've added some of my own guidelines (some of which I am guilty of having broken myself in the past). Just follow these simple rules and you'll be able to keep your head and save face on Facebook.

Facebook Etiquette 101

1. Never change your relationship status alone- it should be a joint decision when, and whether, you go from “It’s Complicated” to “In a Relationship”, lest your affectionate outreach end up unreciprocated. And never, ever, ever, break up with someone by changing your status to “Single”. That is ice cold. Your former flame deserves to know it’s over at least half an hour before his or her 387 best friends do.


2. Don’t “friend” people you don’t know. It’s fine to go through your friends’ friends looking for hotties, but ask your friend for an introduction first. If you absolutely can’t resist “friend”-ing someone you don’t know, at least send a message to them introducing yourself. Unless you are confident enough in your profile pic that you think it speaks for you, I guess.

3. Conversely, it is absolutely okay to decline a friend request from someone you don’t know (I recommend it, actually). No matter how good you make your privacy settings, they only work if you don’t friend anyone who asks. It’s like installing a high-tech security system in your house, and then leaving the door ajar. And it’s okay to un-friend someone after the fact, too – they won’t receive notification that it has happened (although they might try to look at your profile or get a “friend suggestion” for you, blowing your cover. If they confront you about it, just claim Mark Zuckerberg must have screwed up something in the system.

4. “Poking” isn’t a substitute for real friendship. If we went to high school together and haven’t seen one another in years, a “poke” isn’t exactly the best way to catch up. If you want to be in touch with someone, write something on their wall, message or email them, instead. Or, if you don’t particularly care about them, then keep your virtual fingers to yourself.

5. When going in to Facebook from someone else’s computer, always remember to make sure they are logged out before you sign in, and that you log yourself out when you are done. When my now-husband and I were dating, I saw that an old friend of mine and I weren’t Facebook friends anymore. I friended her and jokingly wrote the message, “OMG, biznatch, did you un-friend me?” Turns out I was logged in to my boyfriend’s profile, and they hadn’t met yet. Oops. I had some 'splaining to do after that.

6. It’s nice to update your status every now and then, but don’t go overboard. If you find yourself logging into Facebook to update your status to say what you’re doing before you actually do anything, then you need to reprioritize your life, dude. Plus, not everyone wants to know the embarrassing details of everything you (or your baby, or your dog) do. Look through your friends, and choose one (like your friend’s dad) to use as your standard-bearer. Before you update your status to, “iS ssoO/)ooo drrunk, and hungary fot pIZtza”, think of Mr. Friends-Dad, and whether you want him to read it when he wakes up in the morning. Then press “delete”.

7. Give your photos a serious, critical, look. Don’t be an idiot- take down, or at least un-tag, that pic of you playing beer-pong in a bikini (even if your butt looks great in it). Not only is your friend’s dad gonna see it, but so might potential employers. If you post pictures of friends, keep the same thought in mind for them. Once something goes ON the Internet, you can never fully take it off.

8. There’s a reason Facebook has “wall posts” and “messages” – they are two different things. “I luv u baby, you r so hott” is something best said (or messaged) in private, not posted on your paramour’s wall. Wall posts should be things that other people will find funny or interesting, too. The exception to this is birthday posts, because having a wall-full of birthday wishes from people you hardly know makes you feel all warm and fuzzy.

Follow these rules and you'll be interacting in the virtual world with just as much grace as you do in the real world. Just please don't ask me for etiquette tips for your World of Warcraft or Second Life avatars.

Playing Dress Up

I'm a big fan of the interweb, and the various gifts it has bestowed upon us: Twitter, Youtube, Facebook, Seamless Web, online shopping, Wikipedia, and (ahem) blogs, among them. But one way my quality of life has deteriorated since the advent of Al Gore's brainchild is that, with pictures of every wedding and event I attend showing up on Facebook, I find that I can't wear the same dress more than a couple times until it seems like everyone has seen me in it. And with eight weddings this summer, all those new dresses can really add up.
Luckily, thanks to the lovely ladies at Rent the Runway (including my friend, Jenn), the internet is about to resolve this particular problem, too. Rent the Runway has dresses from designers like Lela Rose, Proenza Schouler, Tibi, and Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti (as well as many others) available to rent for a fraction of what it would cost you to buy them. And if the only designer things your budget allows are the Target and H&M versions, here's your chance to try the real thing and live like a celeb for a weekend. Just choose the dress you want to wear and it's yours for your choice of four or eight days. Rent the Runway sends you two sizes to ensure you always get the perfect fit. And each dress comes with a pre-paid return envelope, so once you've worn the dress, you can just drop it in the mailbox to send it back. Genius.
Here I am in a Yigel Azrouel number at an event in Las Vegas this weekend. While I would never splurge on something this daring, and, well, red, in real life, I loved getting to wear it for one night. And now it's on it's way back, and I'm back on the site, choosing what I'll be wearing next!

The full site launches November 1, but sign up for membership now at www.renttherunway.com, and check out a preview of just some of their dresses now at www.renttherunway.com/prelaunch.