Boyfriend Out Leads to Girls Night Out

I've never believed in "the one", but I did believe that Brad cared deeply for me - especially after those two-carat diamond earrings showed up! Brad was a dream come true: super successful, caring, the whole nine-yards.

Knowing I was thrown for a loop by my recent unemployment woes, Brad was kind enough to send me for a weekend of rejuvenation at the New Age Health Spa. Little did I know that while I was getting my chakras opened, so was he - though in totally different ways.

No job, cheater boyfriend, what's a girl to do?

Round up the girlfriends for a night on the town, of course! There is nothing like good friends and bad wine to help you forget a bad breakup.

Of course, retail therapy doesn't hurt either, so Kim and I headed down to the POSH store room to get some ideas for our girl's night out. What did I need? The perfect "find a boyfriend substitute" outfit.

Nothing makes a girl feel prettier than pink! Wish I could find something this cheap at the stores, this dress won't be on sale until May 13th at the POSH Sale, but it's only $40!

Kim keeps reminding me that she's a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl, but I am determined to show her how wrong she is: doesn't she look great in this little black dress we found for $30 in the POSH store room?

"Reverse Infomercial" -- Going from a Size 2 to a Size 8 in Just 4 Weeks

It turns out that working from my "home office" also means working a little too close to the "home kitchen". My blackberry has been replaced by the TV and the infomercials on how to go from a size 8 to a size 2 in just 4 weeks air over and over again. Since I am unemployed, home and bored, I have accomplished the exact opposite – I have gone from a size 2 to a size 8 in just 4 weeks. I have gone from granola to brownies, oatmeal to Oreos and cashews to chocolate chip ice cream. How'd I get here? It was a three step process:

Step 1: Lose your job
Step 2: Find out your boyfriend of 2 years has cheated
Step 3: Eat all the comfort food you can get your hands on

But I've decided to add a step and put a positive spin on the situation:

Step 4: Clean out my closet for the spring season, and donate clothes to the POSH Sale before attending the sale next month to buy new clothes that fit!

You, too, can make needed room in your closet by donating your new, never worn, (see the photo of my bolero jacket – what was I thinking? I was NEVER going to fit into that!) or gently worn designer brand clothing and accessories.

Donations are accepted year round, but remember the POSH Sale is only once a year! So buy your tickets soon!

And don't forget, you can still donate your new and gently worn duds to POSH, too. It's starting to get warmer outside, a little spring cleaning might be just what you were looking for! (POSH donation guidelines) Check out some of the stuff I donated:

I really loved this outfit; absolutely perfect for spring. But at a size 2, that skirt isn't gonna fit any time soon! Ditto for the outfit below. By the way, all the pieces in these two outfits are going to be sold for $30 or less at the POSH Sale. Let me tell you, that is NOT what I paid for them when I bought them :)

I bought this size 8 blue satin evening outfit without a real event to wear it to. It's now turned into one of those dresses you have in the back of your closet that you completely forget about and never end up wearing but is still perfect for someone else. And even though I've never worn it, you can still get it at POSH for $40!

(you can always check out more photos on my Flickr page!)

From Pink Drinks to Pink Slips

After a night out celebrating a friend’s birthday at Cipriani’s (with those little pink bellinis, of course), the first email of the day seemed fuzzy. It read: “Come to the Vice President’s office for a Business Review meeting.” It was a good thing I was wearing my navy pencil skirt, tailored white-collar shirt with cuff links and those power patent leather heels with grosgrain bows that cost a fortune. I was looking good and ready to wow my bosses!

But a “Business Review” meeting it was not. More like a “Pink Slip” party. Without warning, the magazine I worked for had folded, and now I, and the rest of the staff, were suddenly out of a job. So many worries flooded my head. Can I pay my rent; can I buy food; and dear God, can I still go shopping?

I had spent 4 years building the marketing department with my big ideas (while wearing my biggest heels). And now there was no doubt that action item #1 on my “Pink Slip To-Do List” was to get an interview suit, shoes and bag to carry my portfolio in. I just didn’t know where to start.

But as they say, “I get by with a little help from my friends”. Kim Rossi is a great friend of mine, and as the Online Content Manager for Lighthouse International, she saw an opportunity. She knew I loved fashion, I loved a good cause, and that I’d make a great volunteer for the organization. Enter the POSH Sale, where I now get to peruse the racks of New York’s leading fashion fundraiser for inexpensive ways to keep my wardrobe stylish, all while sharing my adventures with you.

Every “pink slip” does have a silver lining – just like the one in the suit I’ve got my eye on in the POSH storeroom.

I tried on this great suit by Daquin that would be perfect for interviews. Size 6, $30! The shoes were Jimmy Choos, size 9 and drastically out of my price-range at $500 - but they were awfully fun to wear! (check out more photos!)

And since trying on clothes is never fun alone, I had Kim try on this stunning Danielle Looveren size 4 suit ($30). I adore that color on her. And I've got a feeling that she didn't want to take her $500 Jimmy Choos off either, especially since they were donated to the sale by Kim Cattrall!

(check out more photos!)

Looking POSH is Affordable at New York's Supreme Buying Extravaganza: Lighthouse International's POSH Designer Sale

If you're a fashionista on a budget, the POSH Sale is not to be missed! This sale is known among stylish New Yorkers as an exclusive fashion event with a legacy (in fact, POSH is now in its 37^th year!)

Interested? Imagine four days of "shopping heaven". Offering thousands of couture, designer, contemporary and vintage items for women, men and children, all available at highly discounted prices. Up to 80% discounts on new and gently worn merchandise from top designers such as Burberry, Christian Lacroix, Coach, Dolce & Gabbana, Giorgio Armani, Comme des Garcons, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Kate Spade, Kay Unger, Oscar de la Renta, Tory Burch, Zac Posen and more!

What can you find at POSH? It could be the Jimmy Choo's or Manolo's you long for, the Kate Spade you love, or that Carolina Herrera you can't live without. The inventory is replenished daily, offering a multitude of great fashion finds.

POSH is more than a great sale; it's New York's leading fashion fundraiser, so as a shopper, you are truly a fashionable philanthropist. At the POSH Sale, you can feel good about shopping in these recessionary times: all proceeds from these designer bargains benefit Lighthouse International. Lighthouse International is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting vision loss through prevention, treatment and empowerment.