Street Style memory game...an idea so simple, but tight. This would be the perfect coffee table, need something to do besides watch TV when I have company item...loves this.

An easy way to provide some much needed aid and make a donation is available via text messaging.

$5 Donation:

You can support Wyclef Jean's organization "Yele Haiti" by texting YELE to 501501 and a donation of $5 will be made and charged to your cell phone bill.

$10 Donation:

You can support The Red Cross with a donation of $10 by texting HAITI to 90999 and $10 will be charged to your cell phone bill.

-dottieb

These dresses are calling my name!! I want each of these in my closet immediately.

floral satin dress $26.99 charlotterusse.comB&W striped dress $32.99 charlotterusse.com

polkadot chiffon dress $32.99 charolotterusse.com

I frequent this ebay store pretty often. I haven't actually bought anything yet...mostly because of the international shipping charges. But I love looking, for inspiration if nothing else.

-dottieb

Devin Military pea coat delias.com

Cozy, chic, comfortable, these winter coats have it all. I look forward to the day when I can shop with no boundaries, you know just see something I like and buy it.  No wondering if it fits, what I'll wear it with, how it looks once I've got it on...I know, dream on right? Whatev...these coats are definitely going on the wish list.

People's Liberation Purple Motorcycle Jacket $59.99 charlotterusse.com

Windproof Quilted Jacket $34.80 forever21.com

Houdstooth babydoll coat $69.50 delias.com

-dottieb

Friends, all I can say is what a difference it makes when you keep a positive mindset. Life is good ya'll.

Here's a little something I wrote. Happy Friday!

The best part was when I embraced you

pressed my lips against yours and like a hand to a glove

connected to you

You embraced me back

gave me sweet kisses

on the small of my back and didn't stop there...

fiery, fleshy folds were baptized by the holy water of

love, life, and mad sex appeal that descend from your mouth

your spirit amazes me

keeps my heart racing and the best part is

there's so much chemistry

chemistry that could only be created

when the moon and the stars align just right

working behind the scenes to stage the perfect night

working on our behalf to create the perfect life

building the foundation for when two souls unite

Sharing real talks and passionate love

and that's not even the best part

the best part is the gift of having a lifelong friend

and knowing you'll forever and always be in my heart

-dottieb

My friends I'm so sorry for the lack of postings recently...I haven't been feeling myself lately. As much as I've tried to be optimistic and positive it's getting more and more difficult by the day.  I'm right smack in the middle of adversity and it feels like my life is spinning out of control.  I'm struggling like Florida and James Evans, at least they had each other. Anyway...I'm going to OD on some Tony Robbins, Suze Orman, and Jesus for a few days, come up with a plan, and get back to being dottieb again.

P.S. did I mention that my hair had grown to just below my ears (I've been trying to grow out a short haircut for months now...). I went for a trim and came out with the second worst fucking haircut I've ever had...oh the drama!!!

dottiebToday is my birthday. No cake, no presents, no party. Why doesn't anyone keep up the tradition of making a big deal out of your birthday when you're an adult? It's a total set up when you're a kid for your birthday to be a special day...then all of a sudden your older and it's just another ordinary day. I guess I'm a bona fide grown up. With the exception of immediate family, birthday cards and phone calls have been replaced by Myspace and Facebook shout outs and text messages with smiley faces. I know, I know...cry me a river, right?  Really I have no reason to complain and no one to be upset with but myself. I mean, if not me who the hell else is going to plan a birthday party for me?  Alright, so it'll be after the fact, but dammit, I'm going to throw myself a party...and I'll look on the bright side of things and be ever so grateful that I'm alive to see another year of life, I'm healthy, and I look great next to that Escalade in the picture....even if it's not mine.

-dottieb

Finally a menswear line that consists of quality, classic clothing at affordable prices, nothing in this line is over $20!!  And you'll never believe where it's available to purchase...Walmart!! Yes, another step in the right direction, I hope they keep it up.  Here's how the collection is described on the American Classics website:

The name Russell Simmons is synonymous with hip hop, but this collection is clearly is for every man, not just hipsters. There's a simple sophistication in each piece. Steve and Barry's (known for being a $20 or less store and Sarah Jessica's Bitten fame) were really on to something by having celebrities create their own lines exclusively for their stores, ahhh...those were the good old days...I'm still waiting on Sarah Jessica to make her Bitten line available to another retailer, or better yet open a bunch of Bitten stores on her own...I mean c'mon already!

-dottieb

I love cutesygirl.com!  Shopping here is like the online equivalent of shopping in a bargain basement, there's the good, the bad, and the ugly. But when it's good, it's great and so very affordable. Currently there's hundreds of shoes to choose from (91 pages worth!) and free shipping on orders over $50. I only got as far as page 50 but here are a few of my wish list items...

 Breckell's rider12 knee-high boots $29.99

Paprika platform pumps $24.99

Anne Michelle ankle boots $24.99

Qupid platform pumps $23.99

Soda flats $16.99

What rolls down your stairs, comes over in pairs, rolls over your neighbors dog...what's great for a snack and fits on your back, it's log, log, log...it's log, it's log, it's big, it's heavy, it's wood...it's log, it's log,  it's better than bad it's good! LMAO!! Even as a grown up, it's still funny! Long before Spongebob and Bakugon, there was Ren & Stimpy and they rocked.

-dottieb

hm.comI was browsing H&M's online mag and started to play around with their fall Black Collection via their virtual style guide.  It lets you choose different pieces to create an outfit.  The below is what I chose, some of it anyway...it wouldn't let me pick more than one item in a particular category so what you don't see are a pair of black shorts, basic gray tee (that looks great under the leather dress), and layered pearl necklaces.  Pictured however, are an amazing pair of over-the-knee boots (only $58!) that are hella sexy and faux leather mini-dress that's to die for!!

The Vanguard Team- photo taken from journalism festival e-zineMy new obsession is with Current TV. Ever since I saw a documentary on Somali pirates presented by Vanguard correspondent Kaj Larsen(2nd from the left in the photo above), I've been hooked. Current does  an impeccable job of creating a balance between humor/light heartedness and seriousness. Did you ever play that mind game where you create the perfect boyfriend or girlfriend? You know the one where you take the best attributes about different people to form one perfect person? Well Current is the television version of that game. It's like someone literally took the best features of young adult programming (think E!'s Talk Soup or MTV's True Life series) and placed it all into one network...completely out-doing the very networks and shows it was inspired by in the first place.

  I love watching the VC2 (Viewer Created Content) videos, The Rotten Tomatoes Show, and Infomania. For me, Current is filling up a void that MTV has left. Don't get me wrong I still love MTV, but the older I get, the less impressed I am.  Seriously, I don't want to see "seven strangers" engage in booze fests and bi-curious sex acts...none of it seems real or even shocking anymore. I'm really tired of seeing bitchin ass rich kids or drama-filled "reality" shows with back stabbing, boyfriend stealing best friends that are trying to make it in the big city. It's insulting. I want to be more in tune with what's happening in the world. I want to be worldly and still maintain a youthful edge. That said, I want to see television in the same way. And that's where Current comes in. From their twenty and thirty-something news correspondents to their witty and clever programs I absolutely love what their doing. It's really a breath of fresh air. If you haven't already, check it out. You just might like it.

-dottieb