Zapped

I should have kept my big mouth shut. OK, maybe this doesn't have anything to do with me, but the way I see it - everything is about me.

So this weekend, I got my Zappos shoe order. Lickety split, as usual. Free overnight shipping. Free return shipping, if needed, but the shoes I ordered are totally cute - so I'll be steppin in these kicks soon.

But this is not about the shoes. This is about what else was in the box. A catalog! Tucked beneath the shoe box, a slick, beautifully photographed publication called Zappos Life. It's so well done, it's like porn for your feet. It just can't be the first time they've done it.

If you've seen a Zappos catalog before, holler at me. I hate to be the last one to know.

Saturday Shopping List - Free Iggy edition

In honor of Ellen and Iggy, we'll take the dogs out shopping today. Although I'm more of a cat person than a dog person, I can go either way. That's why when I got a catalog called Fetchdog in the mail, I didn't toss it. This doglog has everything a pooch like Iggy could want, much of it made from earth friendly products. Check it out here.

1. Organic Sleeper : : A fluffy dog bed filled with kapok, a goose-down like fiber from a sustainably-harvested tree : : $159-230

2. Automatic Toy & Treat Dispenser : : When you're away, the dog can play for hours with a little help from Kong (watch the video) : : $110

3. Woof cosmetics : : Shampoo, soap, detangler and fur balm - all with botanical extracts. : : $14-16

4. Picadilly collar : : These fashionable collars give your dog a style all his own : : $18-27

5. Spa towels : : For Iggy and Ellen to dry their tears...no, it's a bath towel, silly : : $28-34

Lands' End vs LL Bean: Fleece fight

The weather is still pretty nice, so I almost hate to think about wool and goose down. But as you all know, if you wait too late in the season to find that perfect coat, you end up with some puffy jacket in mustard yellow with green trim. Don't ask, darlings, it was a horrible outerwear nightmare.

I now know better. Much better. But I still find myself dithering between the stadium coat at Lands End and the faux shearling at LL Bean. Over the years, I've ordered more stuff from LE than LL, so I guess it's my favorite by default. LL Bean has more online traffic and is probably better known, according to this analysis. But I figured in the interest of fairness, I would do my own side-by-side comparison. So here goes:

Catalog: √ Lands End has great scenery and smiley people plus hot models
LL Bean has great scenery and smiley people, but the models seem older

Web site: √ Lands End's site is updated frequently with a rotating lineup of hot models and cute kids
LL Bean has a slide show, but the photos are small; the kids
are still cute - and the dogs, too

Service: Lands End orders can be returned at Sears stores, but otherwise you pay return postage
√ LL Bean orders can be returned at their stores, plus you can ship it back for free; they also have free shipping for the holidays

Products: √ Lands End has more trendy clothes plus a virtual model you can dress up
LL Bean has great staples and reliable clothing you can wear for years, but who wants to wear fleece forever?

Zapped by love

Shoes are the one thing you can't buy from a catalog. I mean you have to try them on, stand up and give a wiggle to make sure they can handle your stride. At least that's what I thought.

Then I discovered Zappos.com. And OMG, it was love at first sight. Sole mates. Now, I don't even bother to glance at a shoe catalog. It would be like cheating. (Though I do occasionally sashay through the shoe department at Nordstrom - on my way to the mall, really, I swear!)

I was thinking that Zappos is so great, they should do a catalog. They'd probably reach more lusty shoe lovers that way. Just a thought. Although, I do hate to share, darling.

Saturday (night) shopping list

I do some of my best shopping after midnight, especially online. Everything seems to load much more quickly and I can focus - finally - after everyone is asleep. So here's to a little midnight madness. And here are my Five Favorite Finds for this week.

1. Little black dresses, $295-595 : : Night shifts and sheaths with designer names from Elie Tahari to Missoni : : Neiman Marcus VIT (very important trends)

2. Honey Caramel Bees, $32 : : Handpainted chocolates with salted caramel and basswood honey - please bee mine : : John & Kira's Chocolates

3. Zebra or Leopard Jacquard Towels, $9-29 : : Go a little wild in the shower : : Pottery Barn

4. Metropolitan Museum Advent Calendar, $14.95 : : The holiday countdown has begun whether we like it or not : : The Met Store

5. Leaf night light, $39 : : Because the night belongs to us : : Viva Terra

Politi-log

Here's a couple of words that don't normally appear in the same sentence: politics and catalogs.

I know you're gagging right now, but let me explain before heave up your Kung Pao.

The New York Times writes in a story today about the effect of Iowa and New Hampshire moving up their primaries/caucuses/whatever to dates that may coincide with the holiday season. Apparently, the candidates are very concerned about a Christmas/Chanukkah campaign and some say they may have to change the way they do things. For example, no direct mail because they don't want to compete with the holiday catalogs.

Now, I'd love to say - in the spirit of democracy - that there's plenty of room in my mailbox for catalogs and campaign literature. But in reality, not so much.

If I have to chose between propaganda and Pottery Barn, you can guess which gets my vote.

Bags of fun

I love these purses. OK, it's a treat bag, not a handbag, but it's still totally cute. I don't care if it's in the Pottery Barn Kids catalog. It's only $7.99 and it has free shipping-if you order by Oct.25.

My favorite is the puffy dragon - reminds me of an ex- boyfriend.

If you're thinking about it for the kids, the treat bags do have matching costumes. But they start at $59. But you don't have to order them together, so if you're battling the budget, just get the ghostly treat bag and drop a sheet over the kid's head. She won't know the difference.

Just don't forget to cut a hole in it for breathing, mommy.

Logjam

Just got back late yesterday from the Cradle of Liberty. I was certainly rocked by Newbury Street. And since I took the liberty of stuffing my face at Quincy Market, I guess Boston's slogan is right on.

I came home to mailbox full of logs. Some 22 to be exact. I hope the mailman didn't strain his back. Although, I'll probably strain my eyes late into the night, catching up with the catalog craziness.

Log love, it ain't easy.

Saturday shopping list - Newbury Street Edition

Pahk the cah, dahlings, it's time to get out and stroll along one of the grandest and most historic promenades in Boston. In just two miles, you can go from high-fashion to hipster heaven. I walked it - in the rain - and here are my Five Favorite Finds of the week from Newbury Street.

1. Burberry : : Design your own trench coat from a series of patterns, colors and lining options (or just buy an umbrella, like I did): : 2 Newbury Street

2. Johnny Cupcakes : : You can't eat these, but you can wear them. Cool sweatshirts and t-shirts with trendy cupcake themes. : : 279 Newbury Street

3. Sabon : : Soaps, candles, body oils, bubble bath. Smells expensive, but it's not. : : 129 Newbury Street

4. Maha Barsom : : This local fashionista tricks out white shirts a thousand different ways : : 127 Newbury Street

5. Madura Paris : : Tres chic French linens, tablecloths and home accessories : : 144 Newbury Street

In the land of Chadwick

That's right, logettes, this weekend I am visiting Bean Town, home of one of the most widely circulated catalogs of women's apparel: Chadwick's of Boston.

The catalog reaches about 11 million households, but not mine. Nope, I've banned it from my mailbox. Why? First of all, my grandmother orders from it and she's so old she could have shagged Paul Revere, so her style is a little, um, dated. And second of all - wait, isn't that reason enough?

Anyways, I plan to spend the weekend away from my dear logs. Instead, I'm going to do some wicked (window) shopping on that famous Boston promenade. Check back tomorrow for the Saturday Shopping List -- Newbury Street edition.

Culturalog

Museum catalogs are a breed apart. I don't get to Chicago or New York nearly enough, so when the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Art Institute send out their annual holiday gift catalogs, I like to sit back, sip a cup of tea and let the culture wash over me. Pretty sad, huh?

I could get off my ass and hoof it down to a local museum and thereby support local artists and such. But screw that. I'm the Catalogette.

And I support culture and the arts by ordering museum-quality jewelry, ties and lovely silk-screened scarfs.

Columbus returns

The Catalogette enjoyed a super pseudo holiday yesterday but she bemoaned the lack of log delivery. Instead of flicking her way through some hot new layouts, she was hustling her way through the warm and not-so-friendly crowds at the mall. Why you ask?

Catalog return. Ugh.

If only there was some way to try stuff on, say, in a cyberspace fitting room, then returns would be obsolete. I wouldn't have to wait amid the great shopping unwashed, delicately tapping my toes and furiously rolling my eyes, while you tell the sales person your catalog horror story.

To make it easier for me, I offer you a sampling of The Catalogette's Rules of Return Engagements:

1) Have your receipt or invoice; if you don't have the receipt, don't bother, just give the item as a gift or donation. But by no means should you hold up the line while the sales person picks up the phone to hunt down your order.

2) Don't reorder at the desk. They have the same catalogs you have at home. Order on your own time, not mine.

3) Don't pick up your order in the catalog department. Don't you have an address? A home? A shelter? Let the postman deliver it -- he always rings twice!

The Saturday Shopping List for late sleepers

So much fun last night, I almost forgot to shop. But I dragged myself outta bed - for a moment - to get my laptop and reflect upon a week's worth of logs. It's been a busy one and I can tell you that I'm still stuck on Neiman's e-catalog. I don't have the tree version yet, but the online one is kickin my ass. I love it! I'll never own a damn thing in it, just like last year, but hey - my love is shallow.

Here are my Five Favorite Finds for this week. Shop and tell, darlings!

1. Hello Kitty Jewelry - The Glam Edition : : Don't be catty about Kimora. She's got it goin on : : Neiman Marcus Christmas Book

2. Covered pumpkin pie dish : : Admit it, you could use some pie : : Crate & Barrel Best Buys

3. Chalet Suede and Faux Shearling Boots : : So cute, yet so sturdy. Perfect for fall//winter : : Lands End

4. Illustrated Cheese Plates, $39.99 : : I love a good gouda : : Chefs Fall 2007

5. Reflexology Rug, $199.95 : : I'm walkin on sunshine, yeah yeah, whatever : : Signals Holiday Preview

Dream weaver

Disney has published a catalog of dreams. Say what? And I thought the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book was fantasy land.

But no. Disney is king of the magic and they've got the goods to prove it. The log is full of special packages for visitors to Walt Disney World or Disneyland, like a stay at Cinderella's Castle or a chance to be Grand Marshal at one of their cute parades. Sounds expensive, right?

No again, my Goofy friend. It's practically free. All you gotta do is visit a Disney park and you could be one of the lucky winners in the Year of a Million Dreams 2008.

Could happen. Could. .... Yeah, right, dream on sister.

Neiman, my Neiman

What does a cupcake, chocolate syrup and Regis Philbin have in common? Neiman Marcus Christmas Book, of course!

Yesterday's release of the catalog (it's 81st edition, but 100 years of the brick and mortar) launches the holiday shopping season. And it's all e-catalog, so you can click here and fantasize to your heart's content.

Seriously, there's no way I'm buying a $950 celebration cupcake, even if it's Steuben crystal. Probably tastes crunchy. And a Bosco chocolate syrup painting sounds like something a kid could do for quite a bit less than $110,000. Say 10 bucks, Stewie?

But Regis is priceless. Everyone needs a little big daddy.

Neiman Marcus is such a tease

The Neiman Marcus Christmas Book 2007 should be released any day now. Sadly, I don't have any scooplette to share, but I'm certain NM won't disappoint. The ultraluxe retailer never fails to impress the little people with their over-the-top gift ideas. Last year's catalog included a $1.7 million chartered trip to space. Woo-hooo!

It's fantasy island for most of us, but a girl can dream can't she?

UPDATE: Here's the new cover

Come outta the dark

October already? Where did September go?

If you need to shed some light on where your year has gone - "it's better to light a candle than curse the darkness, some historic homie," once said - you might as well get do it with a new lamp. Restoration Hardware can turn you on with their Famous Fall Lighting Sale. Accent lamps, sconces, pendants, bathroom lighting, chandeliers, shades - all on sale with savings of up to $120 on some styles.

The sale only lasts until Oct. 21, so get your log on! I would, if I wasn't on budget, darlings. Really, it has nothing to do with not being able to face the light.