GM is launching new gas-saving programs for the owners of 2006 and 2007 model year vehicles. How about the previous models? Find out what is going on and how you can take advantage of this Onstar-loaded package. Is this a marketing gimmick or a way for GM to help drivers and owners of their vehicles?

GM Launches Program to cut Gasoline Prices

Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst at 4:28 AM

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Growing Income and Population Bring More Shopping Choices to Central San Joaquin Valley

Shopping and Dining in the Central San Joaquin Valley or Greater Fresno-Clovis Area Becomes Easier

The saying goes like this. If you build it, they will come. But we will say that if you give residents of the Fresno-Clovis areas enough reasons to shop, they will come. In fact, shoppers from the Valley have been going to places such as Santa Barbara and San Francisco or the Bay Area to shop. The taste for high-end stores has been growing for a long time. The internal migration and relocation of shoppers and loyal consumers from Orange County, Los Angeles, and the Bay Area who are used to shopping at these upscale stores also helped a great deal the frenzy building seen everywhere around here. Of course, this is not new to the number crunchers, financial managers of all the stores visited by residents of Central California. They have known for a long time that shoppers from specific zip codes come to their stores. But the volume starts going up, it was time to pay attention to the Greater Fresno-Clovis Area shopping bloc.

Right now, for these retailers that have set up shop around here first, there is lots of benefit to reap. We decided to go shopping to see for ourselves. What is new always attracts more people. Who was not there at the opening of the first Cheesecake Factory in Fresno? My best friend and I decided to hop from new shops to new restaurants in one week-end. We soon found out that the list was too long to cover in one week-end. Since that time, we have been able to divide our time between shopping at new stores and eating at new dining establishments.

To get started, we decided to go from the Fig Garden Village, Fashion Fair Mall, the Shops at River Park, Villagio Shopping Center and the spreading shopping centers on Herndon near Clovis and Champlain and Perrin by the Woodward Park areas. The Fig Garden Village which Donahue Schriber bought from LandValue Management has always had a lot of high-end retail shops frequented by most socialites of Fresno, Clovis and surrounding communities. Among many others, it will soon have Banana Republic which sells upscale clothes, accessories and shoes. J. Jill is scheduled to be there. J. Jill is known for its catalog business. It carries women's clothing that is typically aimed at affluent women between age 35 and older. Coach will open in June. It is known mostly for its high-end purses, luggage, wallets and accessories. One thing that became clear is that location is what sells real estate. The Fig Garden Village has a large group of various banking institutions, retail businesses, restaurants such as La Boulangerie, stores such as Whole Foods and the Fig Garden Village bookstore. No matter how appealing the atmosphere was there, we had to keep up with our plans. So we got into our cars and headed out on Shaw towards Fashion Fair Mall, owned by the Macerich Co. which also owns more than 100 shopping centers from Carmel Plaza in Carmel and all the way to Arden Fair Mall in Sacramento. Then, you have other high-end stores such as Chico's Talbots and Patrick James which have been doing good business here.

Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst at 6:59 AM

Updated: Wednesday, 17 May 2006 8:10 PM

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There was some truth to the rumors. The two were separated for some time.

In a joint press release, they confirmed the rumors. They will remain friends and parents of their two girls. "After selling his share in the company to Universal Music Group for $100 million in 1999, Simmons returned to the Def Jam fold last year in a joint venture with the Russell Simmons Music Group. He's also been active in political and social causes, founding the Hip-Hop Summit and participating in campaigns for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Kimora Lee was discovered in her teens and became a sought-after model thanks to her exotic good looks (her father is African-American, her mother, Japanese-American). She has become a hugely successful designer, with her Baby Phat clothing label and the Hello Kitty jewelry. Additionally, Lee's a reality-TV personality, appearing on best friend Tyra Banks' America's Next Top Model and her own VH1 series, Fabulosity, which is also the title of her first book, published last month by Regan Books. "

Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst at 5:48 PM

Updated: Sunday, 2 April 2006 6:03 AM

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See Shakira's complete video at BlackLabelReviews: Music, Videos, games, software and more.

Shakira and Wyclef Jean paired up to release a great rich rhythmed song magnified by her hip shaking and various clothing games.

Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst at 5:40 PM

Updated: Saturday, 1 April 2006 5:41 PM

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No swan dresses, no Bob Mackie showgirl costumes, no self-designed frocks were to be found at last night's Oscars. With the proliferation of online media ready to rip apart a starlet's sartorial choices in excruciating detail, no actress who values her career dares to step outside the house without being vetted by a virtual army of stylists, makeup artists and publicists. This has led to major increase in the number of actresses who look quite pulled-together on the Red Carpet, but -- alas -- has also caused the event to lose some of its best fun: looking for the actress who'll be this year's equivalent of Bjork in a giant swan outfit with matching egg-shaped purse.

Here are some women who got it really, really right last night. On the far left is Jessica Alba looking enchanting in a gold column dress with halter top, sweeping train and elaborate embroidery by Versace. Jessica told Isaac Mizrahi (who didn't grope her even once) that she was wearing Christian Dior lip gloss, that they have the best lip glosses.

Nicole Kidman looks stunning in a Balenciaga strapless ivory sheath dress which features ivory embroidery. Her rose-cut diamond earrings are by Fred Leighton.

New mommy Jennifer Garner really looked fabulous in this low-cut, empire-style dress with Swarovski crystals and sterling silver flowers, by Michael Kors. The dress also has quite a train on it and when Jennifer went out to present the award for Best Costume, she tripped on the hem and nearly avoided a nasty fall. Ever the trooper, the Alias star quipped "Thank you. I do all my own stunts." Did you hear that they're going to cut around eight of the final Alias episodes when the second half of season five starts airing in April? That makes us so mad!

But back to Jessica Alba, who noted in an interview that she was a bit nervous about presenting at the Oscars: it's true that Into the Blue wasn't exactly Oscar material. But remember, Best Supporting Actress winner Rachel Weisz got her start in The Mummy and The Mummy 2, as the announcer reminded a billion people as she made her way to pick up her statuette. So, hold your head high, Jessica and look for that script that requires you to 1) cry 2) get really angry and, most importantly, 3) look like hell. Then you, too, could have your Oscar-winnning moment.

Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst at 4:21 AM

Updated: Wednesday, 17 May 2006 8:14 PM

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Legal and Illegal Immigrants Build Our Homes & Businesses

In my daily readings, I found some numbers that show the role played by immigrants in our economy. Research organization, the Pew Hispanic Center, collected some very important data that most of us need to pay attention to. The question to ask is who are the immigrants? Who are the illegal immigrants? Where are they concentrated?

Illegal immigrants are everywhere. They may be the ones who keep our lawn pristine clean. They may be the ones who feed us at restaurants. They are the ones who cause the price of the beautiful homes we live in to be so low. They build our homes. They provide us with succulent fruits every Summer. Well, illegal immigrants can be found all over the States. They are no longer concentrated in places such as California, New Mexico and Texas, they are going to places such as Georgia, North and South Carolinas, Twin cities (Minnesota and Minneapolis). They are driving on our roads to their next destinations. Wherever they go they are making life easier for the rest of us, bureaucrats and professionals. They do pay taxes. All they take from their community is the opportunity to worship with us, to send their kids to the local high schools and shop at our local markets. By the way, they help bring us different foods. They are changing our taste and palate. We have grown accustomed to chinese food, Mexican food. No wonder that the Thai government has been rumored to commission and send huge groups of Thai chefs to key parts of this country to introduce us to Thai cuisine. If that is the case, then, I am already a believer. I like pad thai!

The Pew Hispanic Center estimates that there are as many as 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States. They are not all Mexicans. They are also Canadians, Brazilians, Haitians, Cubans, British, Hungarians, French, Swiss, Peruvians, Nicaraguayans, Salvadorans, Belizeans, Ticos or Costa Ricans, Jamaicans, Indians, etc. etc. Some came in as tourists, students and specialized workers who work in high-end companies in specific fields. Well, guess what? They overstayed their visas. It is true they had arrived in this country legally, they are now illegals. In the meantime, their lives continue. They have childen who were born here. They become the family members of American citizens. So you, our umbilical cords were cut with immigration issues. So, immigration has become a hot issue as the Senate debates legislation that would tighten border security while allowing illegal immigrants to become citizens in the future. California by itself has more than 2.5 million illegal immigrants. Where are they found mostly?

Read the rest of this article at BlackLabelReview: Music, Movies, Books & Immigration Issues

Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst at 8:45 PM

Updated: Wednesday, 17 May 2006 7:54 PM

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A major faction of our culture that now shares the consumer-gluttonous attitude should also be able to remember a time when the reverse was true. In the 1960s, many of our parents shunned all but the most basic of human needs. They endeavored to abolish the caste system and free all people from bondage-- and often that included bondage to material possessions. Our fundamental needs were a good cause, a lot of hair, tickets to a Greatful Dead concert, a beat-up pair of Levis, and maybe a Wolkswagen van to take us to the concerts all over the country. What has happened to us in the last twenty years.

Ourt attitudes have changed radically over the past 6 decades. Our taste in wine has evolved from Boome's Farm to Dom Perigon. Where we were once satisfied with friendships forged in promitive folk and rock clubs, we now require high-energy, high-visibility chi-chi, rock, and hip hop concerts such as the Black Eyed Peas with the PussyCat Dolls etc. Our attire has gone form vagabond rags to big-ticketed preppie items or European chic that barely cover all of our body. In short, we have been devoured by consumer gluttony.

To promote ourselves, we haughtily flaunt designer labels on our clothing. Joyously we exchange our own identities for the hype associated with names like Gucci, Klein, Saks Fifth Avenue, Abercombie and Fitch, Michael Kors, Vera Wang and Polo. No longer do we talk about "wearing a blue dress tonight"; instead, we boast of wearing a blue Norma Kamali or a Versace to the cocktail party or prom ceremony. Labels have become more important than the clothes they are attached to. We freely participate in reality TV shows such as the Survivor, American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, Project Runway, The Apprentice etc.

Read the end of this article at PromQuinceneraBlogger

Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst at 3:51 AM

Updated: Monday, 27 March 2006 3:57 AM

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Jennifer Aniston looks great in this dress.

How about Felicity Huffman in this one?

Check out Jessica Alba's dress

Jada Pinkett Smith and Will show their fashion taste on the red carpet

How about this British actress, Keira K.?

Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst at 5:02 AM

Updated: Wednesday, 8 March 2006 5:09 AM

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Continued from AllpromdressesWeb: Prom & Quincenera Gowns

Other leading ladies also showed their love for dresses and gowns on this special night. John Galliano for Christian Dior dressed Charlize Theron with a forest-green handpainted gown with a giant bow on the shoulder. She also commented on the leather silk satin fabric. How about Marc Anthony’s wife, Jennifer Lopez? ." Jennifer Lopez wore a lighter green gown with a fitted bodice that laced up in the back like a corset. It is safe to say that Jennifer wore one of the best dresses on the red carpet tonight. Corset is making a comeback. More and more Hollywood and New York ladies are wearing it. Giorgio Armani dressed Zivi Zhang in a black scalloped seashell-shaped lace bustier with jet beading worn with a gray Swarovski crystal encrusted full crinoline skirt. Hilary Swank was donned in a sweetheart-style black strapless gown by Versace. Ah! Versace always stunned the public with one of the house’s black creations!

Reese Witherspoon wore a gown with rows of silver beads. Her husband was very elegant in his three-piece suit with a black tie. She was happy to catch the best actress award this evening. Zac Posen dressed Felicity Huffman in a supersexy black gown with a V neck, keyhole back, sheer panels on the side and pleated bodice and hem. Salma Hayek introduced the winner of best score with Brokeback Mountain. She had on a slate blue gown. Roberto Cavalli dressed Jada Pinkett Smith in a bright blue strapless column gown. Jada Pinkett is Will Smith’s wife. Meryl Streep's plum V-neck gown with long sleeves looked superb with the dangling earrings she wore. On the red carpet, Isaac Mizrahi behaved tonight. There was no side show. Jennifer Garner wore a halter-style, hand-embroidered Michael Kors gown in nude-colored tulle featuring Swarovski crystals and sterling silver flowers. Other important ladies of Hollywood also wore key dresses and gowns. Nicole Kidman was in a cream-colored strapless gown with beautiful delicate embroidery, and Naomi Watts wore a nude-colored, one-shoulder gown with frayed fabric on the top by Givenchy. Rochas donned Jennifer Anniston in a black tank gown with a long train and a vintage platinum-and-diamond Bulgari necklace from the 1930s. Her makeup artist, Angela Levin, also used Chanel mascara on her. Helena Bonham Carter wore an off-the-shoulder, tea-length blue satin gown. Jessica Alba wore a tight gold Versace halter gown with floral beading. The cameraman caught her applying and touching up her Dior lipgloss. Pamella Roland dressed Jane Seymour in a champagne satin halter gown with jeweled accents on the bodice. Rachel Weisz had on a slinky black gown with cap sleeves which also showed off significant cleavage. Urma Thurman and Queen Latifah wore some gorgeous dresses.

Read the whole article at PromdressesBlogger

Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst at 6:33 PM

Updated: Sunday, 5 March 2006 7:02 PM

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