Style Week Providence – Opening Night

Monday, August 29th was the opening night of Style Week Providence at the Providence Performing Arts Center (which was pushed from starting Sunday August 28th due to Hurricane Irene).  Roughly half the state of Rhode Island is currently without power due to storm damage so it was a welcome distraction to get back in gear with Style Week.  While I unfortunately had to miss Maria del Carmen Mercado‘s runway show, I was able to make it in time to attend the next three shows.

Not only was I lucky enough to just attend, I had front row stage seating.  I could actually place my feet on the edge of the raised white runway.  Such a difference from January’s Style Week where I could only attend the last night, standing room only in the back of the Providence Biltmore.  It was amazing to be so close to the models, the lights, the cameras.  It really made me look at each piece of clothing so differently.  And this time around I could also focus in on the shoes and accessories as well!

We all know how much I love my shoes and accessories!

Denise Hajjar was my first show of the night.  Her line is described on her website as a “classic modern look.”  There were times I really felt like I was staring back into some 1970′s fashion but yet it didn’t seem really dated either.  It had an edge to it making it look like something I would want to wear now.  She had some really nice styles for the fall and I was in love with all of the brown tones, as well as some adorable dresses.

Kara Wickman‘s website describes her line as a “mix of ready-to-wear separates and old Hollywood glamorous gowns for the effortlessly chic,” she aimed to design a line to transform from day to evening with the change of an accessory’.  While varied in colors, it was the teals that I found especially striking.  I couldn’t help but also notice the jewelry paired with her styles was none other than Modern Shades of Gray.  As a girl on always on the go myself I like being able to change up a look without having to do much.  LOVE that this line transforms so easily!

Samuel Vartan‘s runway show was filled with what I would describe as classy beachy looks for men and women.  Like that term?  I made it up on the side of the runway.  Going yachting?  Perfect! Linen was featured in several styles.  The Optix eye wear the models were sporting helped to complete the looks.

And…then there were some that looked like this.  No words.  Hold my hand.  I don’t know what to tell you.

I do know what to tell you.  All I could think in my head was Hey!  Aladdin called and he wants his magic carpet back.  Or something like that.

I digress.

So not all of this line was quite my taste.  Humor aside I could still appreciate all the work and time that went into each piece and I found it super sweet when Samuel walked the runway at the end with his little boy.

Opening night of Style Week Providence?  Huge success!  My sister-in-law Ana and I had a wonderful time and she helped me take some of the photos I used in this post.  Also… holy swag!  We missed out on the first bag since we were late but ended up leaving with two more!  Lots of goodies, including hair extensions from Indique, Palmer’s Cocoa Butter, a gift certificate from Optix eye wear and the list goes on.  Have no fear, they will be covered in future Buy-Her posts ladies!

In the meantime this week, make sure you are following Buy-Her and me on Twitter for live tweets during the runway shows each night.

Till tomorrow, when I post again!

The Digital Mom Handbook

I have to tell you about a book I waited four months for.  The Digital Mom Handbook: How to Blog, Vlog, Tweet, and Facebook Your Way to a Dream Career at Home.

Never have I ever thought to pre-order a book.  My birthday was in March and The Digital Mom Handbook went right on my list when I heard about the pre-order.  My sister was cool enough to get it for me.  Tuesday night when the boys and I got home I was beyond excited to find it waiting in my door.  I perused the pages a bit before bed with every intent to start reading it in the morning.

Can I just say, not since the Twilight series have I been so excited to crack open a book?  (That should tell you something right there.)  It tends to take me weeks to get through a book with all the chaos at home.  Only the Twilight books did I read in a few hours over a few days.  Could not put it down.  Though totally different subject matter, The Digital Mom Handbook was the same way for me.  It took me the whole entire morning but I did not put it down once, and I dog eared several pages along the way so I could go back over them later.

This book more than spoke to me, it inspired me.  It discusses finding your passion, how to begin and what to do along the way.  It was written by Audrey McClelland of Momgenerations and Colleen Padilla of Classymommy.  They broke down everything into 7 basic steps… even including smaller things along the way, such as how to set up a Twitter or You Tube account in case you are new to that aspect of social media.  While I had already done several of the things they suggested, there were some I had overlooked.

What I loved most was reading Colleen and Audrey’s stories about how they got where they are, along with excerpts from many other bloggers.  The further in I read, the more excited I felt myself becoming.  For so many years I did not know what I wanted career wise.  It was only a little more than a year ago that I really realized this was it… but part of me wondered if I was too late to the game.  The Digital Mom Handbook made me feel like it’s not too late, that there is really room for all of us.

I should also tell you that I happen to know Audrey McClelland personally.  I nervously introduced myself to her at Style Week Providence last January.  She was incredibly nice.  The Digital Mom Handbook talks about finding a mentor.  I can say that for me, Audrey is that person.  When she barely knew me she emailed me the answers to my blogging questions when I didn’t know who else to ask.  She is beyond wonderful and I hope to have a career like her at some point.

If trying to get a career from blogging is something you are thinking about, this book is definitely for you.  Even if you just want a small crash course in all things social media, this is for you too.  The Digital Mom Handbook retails for $15.99 and can even be found for as low as $10.10 on Amazon.

Haute Tags: My New Obsession

I have a new obsession.

Have you heard of Haute Tags?

Maybe not.  But that’s why I’m here.  To let you know about this totally hot  new accessory so you can say you heard about it here first at Buy-Her.  From me.  Before all of your friends find out about it and are scrambling to get their hands on them too.   (Trust me, they will.)

I am excited to say that I was the first official client.  I had been following fellow Rhode Islander (can I just say I am so proud to be from Rhode Island these days?!) Becky DiStefano on Twitter and met her in person for the first time at Styleweek Providence.

Since then she has launched her own business called Haute Tags – which she calls an ‘accessory line born of a love for social media and the connections made on sites like Twitter’.  Haute Tags (where “Haute” is pronounced “oat” in true French style) are high-end nickel plated tags with Swarovski crystals that can currently be worn on a necklace or put on a key chain.

My favorite line of hers?  ‘Let’s play tag, because in this world, you are it!’

Love it!

I wear my Haute Tag as a necklace.   Becky will eventually be adding other accessories including charms, belt buckles, cuff links, money clips and more, but for now you have your choice of the necklace or key chain.  What can you put on your Haute Tag?  Anything you want.  A favorite hashtag, your twitter handle…  Mine is my twitter handle @Liza_Rae.

Have I told you I have been wearing mine…like everywhere?  I really have.  Lots of compliments.  My boys are obsessed with it too.  Right now you can find Becky on Facebook or Twitter.  She has a website in the works for viewing shortly.  Haute Tags retail for $24.95 plus shipping and handling for a tag without crystals and $29.95 plus shipping and handling for a tag with crystals.

I recommend adding the bling.

4th Generation iTouch, The New Apple Of My Eye

Santa was very good to me this year.  Well, good being relative.  He didn’t deliver the house elves I asked for.  I didn’t get the laundry fairies I dreamed of.  If he planted a money tree in my back yard it will be months if not years before it bears any fruit. (Probably not the most efficient gift I could have asked for). But he did bring me Apple’s new 4th generation iTouch.

I am in love. *swoon*.

The 4th generation iTouch has not one, but two cameras.  A front and a rear facing camera.  Both can be used with the Facetime app,, and to record HD videos.  They both take still shots as well.  Taking pictures and posting to Facebook or Twitter with just a few taps of the screen was a huge selling point for me.  But not the only new amazing feature of the 4th Generation.

The new iTouch has what they call Retina Display.  That means the images are so pixel dense the human eye can not see individual pixels.  The images and words on the screen are sharper, clearer, easier to see and read.   The display is also includes LED backlighting and a sensor that automatically senses the surrounding light and adjusts the display for the best viewing.

The 4th generation has voice control.  The iTouch knows the music in  your library.  Want to listen to a specific song?  just ask iTouch.  Don’t recognize a song on your playlist?  Just ask iTouch, it will tell you.  The iTouch recognizes such commands as shuffle, pause, stop.    Now if only my kids would listen as well as my iTouch.

Are you like me, and always setting something down and forgetting where you left it?  No?  Show off.  OK, while I probably won’t leave my iTouch behind when I go anywhere, it’s nice to know that if I did, and I needed to find it?  There’s an app for that.  If you lose your iTouch, (and you’ve registered with me.com) you can log in on any computer, or other iPhone or iTouch, and find yours.   Can they do that with my car keys?  Maybe my sanity?

The iTouch comes in 8GB,  32GB, and 64GB and can be purchased from The Apple Store, or Amazon among other retailers.

Featured image courtesy of Apple Innovations.

DeleteMe Resolves to Clean Up the Virtual You

New Year’s is just around the corner. Here’s a suggestion for your 2011 resolution: Clean up your online visibility. Abine, a company specializing in online privacy, offers a new DeleteMe service to remove unwanted information about you from the far reaches of the Internet.
Having trouble getting a job or advancing in your career because of “questionable” online activity? Feel like there’s too much about you out there in the land of social networking and want less people to be able to find you? Do you see too many advertisements that are targeted to your online buying habits? DeleteMe comes to the rescue! They can delete entire accounts or remove individual items from search results and databases. They also can control what personal information is viewable to the world.

Here’s a fun informational video about what they do:

For an individual service the cost is only $10.00. Don’t see a service offered? You can get an estimate for the DeleteMe work you need done! Their featured service is to find all your old accounts for you so you know which ones you want deleted! There is currently a waiting list for this service because of its popularity, which doesn’t surprise me. I don’t know about you, but I don’t necessarily remember every single account I’ve ever opened in the almost 20 years that I’ve been using the Internet.

For more information about exactly what Abine‘s DeleteMe service is all about visit their What We Do page. For other awesome privacy features offered, such as their downloadable online privacy suite, check out Abine’s site.

Featured photo: Michael Francis McCarthy

A Twitter Contest: Win A Flip Video Camera

I recently participated in the Girlfriend Getaway Florida promotion for Chevy.  As part of that promotion, we were given a Camaro to drive and a Flip video camera so that we could make videos about our experiences with the car.  YAY!

Except?

I already have a Flip.

Yes, mine has less recording time than the brand spanking new one they gave me, but I’ve never had any complaints about what I’ve got.  And it seems awfully silly for me to have two Flips.

You see where this is going?

Yes, I’m going to give away the new Flip that was given to me.  The one that can record 120 minutes worth of video instead of 30.  The newer, shinier, slightly fancier version of the one I already have.  Because that’s how much I love you.

Well, OK, and because I want more people to follow me on Twitter.

What?  Yes. There are currently 2,987 people who follow @missbritt on Twitter.  I’d like to hit that magical 3,000 mark.  SO -

I’m going to bribe you to follow me on Twitter with the chance of winning a Flip video camera!

Here’s how it works.

To enter to win the brand new shiny Flip Video Camera:

1. Follow @missbritt on Twitter. (if you already do, good job! Move on to step 2.)

2. Tweet something with the hashtag #missbritt.  FOR EXAMPLE:

“I’m following @missbritt on twitter because she’s bribing me. #missbritt”

3. Each tweet counts as an entry. So, yes, you can tweet with the hashtag more than once. But, uh, I would probably advise you not to be too annoying with it because people will unfollow your ass for that kind of thing.

4. All tweets between right now and Monday at 9am EST with the hashtag #missbritt that come from an account that follows @missbritt will be entered into a random drawing.  Winner will be announced on Monday (hopefully!), so that I can bring the Flip with me to BlogHer if the winner is attending.  If you’re not attending BlogHer, I’ll ship it (but probably not until I get back.)

Good luck!!

(P.S. Like winning stuff?  If you live in Florida, you can enter to win your own girlfriend getaway by voting for me as your favorite Chevy Girl On The Go blogger.  Enter and vote here.)

4 Free Disney On Ice Tickets And Miss Britt Family Night! – if you can get to Orlando

I was complaining on twitter the other day about being in a bad mood and annoyed at people in general.

I received a direct message from a local PR rep asking if she could perk me up with Disney On Ice tickets to giveaway.

I asked her if I could “give them away” to my two kids – because, um, giving stuff to other people doesn’t perk me up nearly as much as making my kids think I do not, for one night, suck as a mom.

She said no, basically, that I had to give them to one of you people – but generously offered to put 4 tickets aside for me and my family too.

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Laptop Backpack Bag – I am in LOVE.

A friend of mine recently mentioned that carrying a laptop through an airport is much easier with a laptop backpack, as opposed to a shoulder bag.  I’m headed for Chicago next week for the BlogHer conference and had kind of been dreading hauling my laptop around for four days.

The laptop backpack seemed like the perfect solution for my aching shoulders and back.

I jumped on Twitter and asked if anyone had any recommendations for good laptop backpacks.  Within seconds, @ShredderFeeder told me about his Swiss Army bag and @Laci_Loo told me about a laptop backpack on sale at Amazon.  As luck would have it, it was a SwissGear bag (which I am almost positive is what Swiss Army bag means) that was on sale!

My new SwissGear laptop backpack arrived this week.

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Little In The Middle Jeans – A Giveaway!

Finding a pair of jeans that fits perfectly is a daunting task for many women.

If you’re a woman with a pear or hourglass shaped body, finding a pair of jeans that fits your waist and your hips can seem downright impossible.

I used to consider myself an hourglass.  And then my boobs shriveled up, my hips made room for two children and an all you can eat Chinese buffet, and Viola!  I’m a pear!  And my hips are still significantly wider than my waist.

Because of my own struggle with finding the perfect pair of jeans, I was especially excited to receive an email from my friend Maria about a new line of jeans that caters to my body type.

From her email:

I was looking for jeans and  found this brand called Little in the Middle, for hourglass/pear shapes. You know, those of us that have to wear belts to prevent showing ass cleavage or if we want something that actually fits our waist, it flattens our ass and bunches in the back of our thighs? Yeah.

Anyway, I bought some and holy fuck it’s true! I got a size …., and they are everything they claim to be. My new faves. They were $100, but totally worth it.

http://www.littleinthemiddle.com

I don’t even know what your body looks like, it’s probably not even applicable to you, I dunno, but I thought maybe your readers might like it. And I was way impressed. And too lazy to update my own review blog.

Of course I ran right over to check out Little In The Middle jeans for myself.  I then hunted down everyone in their PR and marketing department and begged and pleaded with them to let me try a pair for myself this site.

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Friday Flop: The Cuchini. Down with camel toe!

I put a call out on twitter for suggestions for Friday Flops and Suebob blew my mind with a link to a review of a product called The Cuchini.

Now, I don’t usually re-review something that’s already been talked about, and I try to avoid blasting products that I haven’t used myself whenever possible.  But I’m making an exception to both of those guidelines for The Cuchini.

Because it is just that bad.

From the Cuchini website:

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