It’s that time of the year again, folks. Black Friday is fast-approaching, and while there are many early birds lined up outside of some of the popular Black Friday stores already, you don’t have to worry about securing your spot now, or even worry about waking up at the crack of dawn (or sleeping outside of the department store tomorrow night), to make sure you get the best deals in store.

Nope. You don’t have to do any of that. But you can still get your Black Friday shopping on, and all from the comfort of your home.

Whether you’re looking for that awesome, state-of-the-art home theater system for your husband, the latest digital SLR camera for your shutterbug sister, or that perfect pair of suede boots for yourself (might as well treat yourself to an early Christmas present, right?), you can browse and search for thousands of products, as well as compare prices, to find the best deals from the best stores on the web, all on Smarter.com.

Check out our Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals to get started and check off your holiday shopping list without ever having to set foot outside your home this weekend.

Happy shopping, Smarter shoppers!

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Happy International Suit Up Day (and Happy Thursday), everyone! In case you’ve never seen an episode of How I Met Your Mother, “Suit Up!” is the signature phrase used by Barney Stinson, a.k.a. Neil Patrick Harris. So in honor of the show and Barney’s (or Swarley’s, for those who are fans) trademark phrase, HIMYM fans have declared October 13th as International Suit Up Day.

So, how does one celebrate said holiday? In a suit, of course!

Wear a suit to work, to school, to the gym (OK, maybe not the gym), run errands in a suit, buy a suit, drink in a suit, party in a suit — whatever you do, do it in a suit. Or, you can just pay homage to this awesome holiday by watching How I Met Your Mother and, if you feel even more compelled to do so, grab a copy of Barney’s The Bro Code and read away. I’ll be wearing a suit and watching HIMYM, thank you very much.

Now, in honor of ISUD, I thought I’d discuss why suits are awesome. Read on…

1. They say, “I’m Awesome”. Have you ever seen anyone in a suit and thought, “Wow, what a loser”? Doubt it. Suits can take your average Joe/Jane and turn him/her into a power professional in a snap, not to mention give you major cred. Seriously.

2. They Make You Feel Good. If you’ve never worn a suit before, then you’re missing out on something truly great. Sure, it may be a little too hot to wear, or that wool feels a tad itchy, but the regard you’ll get from people can be a total confidence booster. Try it out sometime.

3. You’ll Be Popular With the Ladies. OK, this one is especially for the guys. Fellas, I cannot tell you how much we women love a man in a suit. If Barney Stinson isn’t enough proof, then you better find out for yourself. I’ve never seen a man in a suit I didn’t like. Am I right ladies??

4. If It’s Good Enough for Barney Stinson, It’s Good Enough for Me. I mean, come on. The guy is AWESOME (see…I even channel him when I type!). I’ll have to admit that I was rather skeptical about a show with N.P.H. in it at first (Doogie Howser, anyone?), but after some convincing from my friend Jimmy, I found myself a devout fan of HIMYM. And mostly thanks to Barney Stinson (who is played by N.P.H.). He made me want to wear a suit every time I went out to drink with my buddies (according to him, girls can be bros, too).

So, after considering points 1-4 about why suits are awesome, I can only say, “Thank you, Barney. I promise to make today, International Suit Up Day, LEGEN–wait for it–DARY!!”

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Nail Polish Exchange

A few weeks ago, one of my best friends, Stacy, had the brilliant idea of hosting a nail polish exchange. I’d heard of these parties before and thought they were a great idea, but never really thought about hosting one myself. Luckily, Stacy is the hostess with the mostess (every group of girlfriends needs one!), and tossed out the idea, sent a Facebook invitation to all us gals and, before I knew it, I was rummaging through my box of nail polish. Stacy’s nail polish exchange was the perfect way for me to trade out those disappointing — or impulse — buys for new colors that I could actually try out before taking home (try doing that at the store).

The next time you’re thinking about shopping for new polish or even planning a get-together with the girls, consider hosting a nail polish exchange. For one, you’ll get to spend time with your closet, dearest girlfriends (and maybe make some new ones, while you’re at it!), eat, drink, and be merry (wine is optional, but recommended), and leave home with a few new awesome nail colors (and finally get rid of those colors you mistakenly thought would look good on you).

Some tips for planning and hosting a successful nail polish exchange:

• Send out invitations! Be sure to give your invitees enough time to schedule the event in their calendar — the more people the better! Also, Facebook is an easy, efficient and inexpensive way to send out party invitations to your friends, and you can easily make changes to the party info for everyone to see.
• Set party guidelines. Obviously, the main point of the party is to exchange nail polish, but you can also include other beauty products such bath and body products, hair products, perfume, certain makeup items, and even clothes and accessories. To make sure everyone gets the most out of the exchange, all products should be in almost new condition and nearly full. Also, avoid any potential bacterial infections by limiting makeup items to products which can be shaved or scraped down such as lipsticks, eye liners, powder blush and eyeshadows. Anything with an applicator, such as mascara, liquid liner or lipgloss is best if left out of the goody pot (unless, of course, they have never been used).
• Make it a potluck. It’s always great to have an assortment of goodies and refreshments at any party, so don’t be shy to ask friends to bring snacks, finger foods and other tasty treats to share. As I mentioned already, wine is optional, but definitely recommended!
• Set up shop. Once everyone arrives, have your guests set out their goods-up-for-grabs in a designated area for everyone to see. Depending on how many people you invite, you can set up items on a table, counter or even floor (a la flea market), if more space is needed.
• Get chatty! The best part about any girls’ night is the conversation. This is the perfect time to catch up and talk about what’s new, what’s been on your mind, that cute guy at the gym you’ve been eyeing, or simply to crack a few good jokes. Laughter is awesome.
• And last, but not least…bring a kitty! OK, I know this one may be hard to come by, but if any one of your friends happens to have recently acquired a new furry companion, such as a kitten or puppy, tell her to bring him! It’ll bring a smile to everyone’s face and the little baby will get lots of love! (Just make sure no one is allergic to pets, first!)

The Loot

Baby Myles

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We celebrated the night at the Beverly Center in Los Angeles, where the festivities began with an opening ceremony hosted by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Vogue’s Lisa Love, followed by a Men’s Luxury Fashion Show and Contemporary & Junior’s Show. From Aveda to Omega,  J. Lindberg to Yves Saint Laurent, retailers welcomed shoppers with live DJ’s, champagne, product samples and festive attitudes. It was the place to be in L.A. last night and with the flocking crowds of high-heel-strutting style setters, and all-around fun atmosphere, it was the perfect way to kick-off the beginning of Fashion Week. Can’t wait for next year’s Fashion’s Night Out! In the mean time, check out some of the pics we took from last night’s happenings at the Beverly Center…

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Attention L.A. Fashionistas! Even though you can’t make the trip all the way over to New York this week for the kick off of New York Fashion Week, a.k.a. Fashion’s Night Out, you can still get in on the action by heading over to the Beverly Center this Thursday!

Who: Beverly Center’s Fashion’s Night Out hosted by Nicole Richie with the Opening Ceremony hosted by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Vogue’s Lisa Love.

What: A shopping extravaganza celebrated with a Men’s Luxury Fashion Show followed by a Contemporary and Junior’s show including Bebe, Bloomingdale’s, Guess, Macy’s and XXI Forever.

When: Thursday, September 8, 2011

5:00PM – Opening Ceremony

5:30PM – Men’s Luxury Fashion Show

8:00PM – Contemporary and Junior’s Fashion Show

Where: Beverly Center

8500 Beverly Boulevard

Los Angeles, CA 90048

This is a great opportunity to come and support the fashion industry in Los Angeles, as well as be a part of something fun and fabulous! For more information and details on the event, visit their website.

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• Extended Payments, no extra charge!
• Plus, Free Standard S&H on Thousands of Items, 24 hours only!
• At least 5 Easy Payments, 6/13 only!

Summertime and the shopping is easy, especially all day today, June 13th, during QVC’s Easy Does It Day. Easy because we’re bringing you 24 hours of brands and shows like It Figures! to make bathing suit shopping easier. Philosophy Body Care and Mally Color Cosmetics to make your summer beauty regimen easier. And Clarks shoes for easy-wear footwear to take you through the summer and beyond. Plus, in celebration of Easy Does It Day, we’ll make things easier on your summer budget by offering Easy Pay on every product on-air and on QVC.com – that’s over 100,000 items! And, save with Free Standard Shipping & Handling on thousands of items on QVC.com! Whether you see the merchandise on-air, online, or on our apps, just use any major credit card, and you can make at least 5 payments at no additional charge for each purchase on every product! When everything you need to make your summer easy is in the palm of your hand — from your remote to your mobile phone — Shopping’s a Trip during Easy Does It Day, and every day, on QVC.

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After gushing a bit about our shared love for the Hotel du Palais, we got back to discussing her collection. The wedge-shoe style, striped prints, and straw bags are extremely popular in the South of France, Theallet told me, and, given that they are currently on-trend, she thought they would be perfect for her collection. She also told me she considers the shoes to be very versatile and suggests wearing them with either a black dress or more casually with cuffed jeans.

Sophie Theallet in Soho's Nine West

Theallet’s newbie collection, which retails for $36-$99, is actually part of Nine West’s newly launched “Shoelaborations” initiative, so expect the retailer to be pairing up with more high-end designers for affordable, limited edition collections. Up next? Giles Deacon will be designing a Fall 2011 Nine West collection which will hit stores in August.

Sophie Theallet talking to me about her favorite piece from the collection, The Tinna.

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Last year, Lucky Shops hosted a great range of designers and shops including Diane von Furstenburg, Rebecca Minkoff, Vena Cava and Foley + Corinna.  At Lucky Shops L.A., there were about 50 merchants which included Helmut Lang, Pour La Victoire, Kate Spade and House of Harlow 1960. The offerings included current and off-season trends at up to 70% off – insane, right?! But, then again, who would argue against the idea?

The red – I mean, pink – carpet remained from the night before, when the event got a jump-start with several celebrities including Whitney Port, Selma Blair and Mandy Moore. Friday was the first-dibs shopping day for the rest of L.A. and as the afternoon progressed, more and more anxious shoppers arrived. The first floor hosted Pour La Victoire, where frenzied shoppers snagged and tried on the hottest shoes.

After picking up a complimentary Coca Cola, I made my way to the second floor, where I fell in love with Kate Spade’s accessory table. A gold mesh cocktail bag caught my eye (it had a cocktail ring attached to it!) and asked a nearby shopper if she could model the bag for a quick picture.

After running into a fellow high school choir member, who now works for DL1961 jeans (also present at Lucky Shops), I mozied on over to the corner where Foley + Corinna were on display. The garments were simply gorgeous (hello sequins & feathers!) and the racks of clothing simply glowed in front of that window!

It was also on this floor where I also fell in love with an olive green sheath dress with ruffle sleeves, by designer Hunter Dixon. I had the pleasure to meet Ms. Dixon, based in NY, who shared that Los Angeles is a difficult market for many New York designers. Interesting point. Could it be that NYC’s polished and chic fashion sense is too structured for our notoriously relaxed and eclectic style? I don’t know, but I’m in love with this dress!

There were complimentary refreshment stations on each of the three floors of Siren Studios, while I would have loved to sip on a glass of bubbly from the second floor, I reached for my fun and snazzy aluminum bottle of Coke, instead. The third and final floor of the retail extravaganza offered an outdoor rooftop lounge where exhausted shoppers could take in views of gorgeous blue skies and soak up some good ol’ L.A. sunshine.

Just past the lounge was the final studio, where most of the shoppers were, as well as a wall- and table-full of exquisite Rebecca Minkoff handbags. The rooftop floor also hosted some of Nicole Richie’s House of Harlow 1960 and Winter Kate selections.  One of the most interesting things on this floor was the Havaianas Fruit-Flop Stand (it doesn’t get more Cali than that), where you could have your very own fresh pair of flip flops assembled (your color choice of sole and straps) right  before your eyes!

Lucky Shops L.A. was a fun event. The weather was gorgeous, the deals were amazing and retail therapy sessions were  in full swing (it’s OK to splurge every now and then, right?). Although I didn’t treat myself to anything this year (I went merely to observe), I look forward to attending the event next year, plastic in hand. And how could anyone say no to a perfectly beautiful, sunny day in L.A.? Until next year, Lucky Shops!

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The highlight of the evening, however, was a special appearance made by celebrity wedding designer, Monique Lhuillier. A favorite in the celebrity world, Lhuillier has designed wedding gowns for several celebs including Carrie Underwood, Ashlee Simpson, Jewel, and Pink. Most recently, a couple of her gowns were seen on the red carpet worn by Catherine Zeta-Jones and Mandy Moore at the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards. The very talented fashion maven presented her new line of fine tableware and home accessories, Monique Lhuillier for Royal Doulton, and asserted that fine tableware shouldn’t only be left for special occasions.

I had the opportunity and great pleasure to meet Ms. Lhuillier and compliment her on her beautiful collection. Her demeanor was welcoming and warm, as if she were a friend I hadn’t seen in a long time. After I praised the beautiful gowns she had on display, she pointed out that “the dress designs reflect in the dinnerware”. And rightfully so. The table set that caught my eye was the one displayed on the stage where she presented; delicate floral embellishments gracing the contour of the plates set a perfect background for fine dining any night of the year.

The most stunning of all, however, were the gowns worn by two very beautiful young models mingling with the guests. Monique Lhuillier has a  distinct style in her designs that sets her gowns apart from the rest. She gracefully combines modernity with classic, feminine elegance, creating an incomparable look of fantasy-meets-contemporary.

As I made my way around the showroom aisles, I simply couldn’t resist the hors d’oeuvres and sweets floating about. I particularly fell in love with the Lobster Spring Rolls by An Catering and just about lost my mind when I tried the Peach Gelee and Passion Fruit Truffles. Exquisite.

I also had the opportunity to chat with Mon Amie Bridal Salon, the largest and finest collection of couture designer bridal gowns on the West Coast. They had several gowns displayed throughout the showroom and definitely caught the attention of many brides-to-be. I was swept away by the lace overlay and tulle mermaid gown with black ribbon sash next to Mon Amie’s display table. Simply stunning!

Let’s not forget that every bride needs a little bit of under-lace….I spent a few minutes at the Agent Provocateur table where I took a peek at their spring and summer collection catalog and fell in love with their classic Italian lace negligees on display. Tres jolie!

Among some of the other breathtaking tableware collections and displays, were Marchesa by Lenox – if you love Marchesa gowns, you’ll love this tabletop collection! – Waterford Crystal, and Haviland’s brightly rimmed tableware with gold accent borders. Amazing!

After picking up my complimentary goody bag, I left The Registry at Bloomingdales in a daze. A romantic, inspired and starry-eyed daze. I can only imagine how excited and elevated all of the attending brides must have felt. I know one bride-to-be was so thrilled, she had tears coming out of her eyes. Ah, weddings….

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