LBD From Lauren Ralph Lauren, only $134.00

Here's the perfect little black dress to wear all summer to cocktail parties, rehearsal dinners and outdoor weddings. Its wrap style is figure flattering for almost everyone and its matte jersey fabric means it's even easy to pack and take on vacation. Come fall when Fashion Week comes around you can wear it to swag parties at Henri Bendel too. It's available online from Nordstrom, and though it's full priced, it's so useful and quality that I'd call it a bargain at $134.00. And even though color and bold prints are supposed to be in, don't ever let anyone tell you there's anything chicer than black.

Screamer of the Week: Couture For Clowns (Spiegel Scarf Tank)

This scarf tank from Spiegel is another one of those "what where they thinking?" garments. It's a regular scoop neck tank ruined with the addition of a giant black and white polka dot scarf sewn on for a "new, easily dressed up" look. I'm thinking my kids would have loved to have this when they were playing circus this weekend. It's marked down to $17.99 from $34.00, and is available in sizes XS-M (which kind of scares me because it means people bought decent quantities of it in L and XL).

One Dollar Makeup Fixes From E.L.F.

Yes, you read that right-- one dollar makeup fixes! On the E.L.F. (Eyes Lips Face) website every single makeup item is the same price, one buck. Try the duo eye shadow cream pictured above in every color without breaking a ten, or pick an all over color stick that's the equivalent of department store lines for 1/30 of the price! Quality is excellent, packaging is minimalist but tasteful, and you can even hop on board some trends like custom compacts and mineral makeup here, so if you go completely crazy, rest assured that shipping is free over $75. Put together a travel makeup kit and be set for summer.

Deal Of The Week: Too Faced Fantastic Plastic Set On Sale At Sephora

This Fantastic Plastic set from Too Faced is plastic surgery in a box! It includes Lash Injection (a mascara alternative that creates virtual lash extensions), Wrinkle Injection (a line filler that, contrary to the name, has no needle required) and Lip Injection (one of the best lip plumpers on the market). It's a $64.50 value that normally retails for $38.50, but right now it's on sale at Sephora for a mere $29.50. I would have called it Doc In A Box!

Blog Carnival: A Trip Around With Worldstock From Overstock.com

I've shopped at Overstock.com for shoes before but I never noticed their extensive jewelry selection until the Blog Carnival pointed me in that direction. Not only do they have great prices on regular fine jewelry, they also have an extensive collection of unique handcrafted pieces from around the world inside a section called Worldstock, which also features home decor. While a few of my friends are going on foreign jaunts starting this Memorial Day weekend, I'm stuck here in New Jersey with unseasonably cold weather, so I'm going to have to get my travel fix from surfing the web with my Blog Carnival buddies.

Stevie from LA Story selected a gorgeous amethyst Roman glass bracelet (it also comes in turquoise) that fills me with longing for the sea glass I would normally be at the beach searching for this weekend if the weather were cooperating. Stella from Well Above Average picked a coolly modern freshwater pearl necklace from Israel that is elegant, simple and versatile. Tami from fête à fête chose a beautiful pearl and carnelian sea treasure necklace that truly is a treasure (and sigh, there go those sea references again).

My pick is this "Muse" pearl and tiger's eye matrix necklace from Thailand, and not just because I'm so behind in my writing that I could really use a muse right now. There's just something about the hardware on it that's so appealing to me...it looks like something a princess in a fantasy novel would wear that would turn into a magic key when she most needed it, and I can wear it to my local Thai restaurant for a little much-needed heat right now.

Sandra from Debutante Clothing is up next and I can't wait to see her choice!

Vintage Crocheted Vest From Rice And Beans

Here's a beautiful handmade vintage crocheted vest from Rice and Beans Vintage. The construction is perfect and at $80 it's a steal (trust me, I crochet, the woman-hours are worth much, much more than that). It's a one of a kind piece that will fit extra-small or small. If you're going to follow the crochet trend you might as well make it a work of art.

Sustainable Cotton Top From Convoy Apparel

Sustainable Collective by Convoy Apparel is a line of certified organic clothing that uses recycled material. It's also made in the USA by fairly-paid workers, and 1% of the profits go to 1% of the Planet, to help Global Green USA, Children's Village in Haiti, and other worthy charities. Beyond all that, it's cute, comfortable and fashionable. Check out this Bluebird Tunic Top. At $80, it's more expensive than the stuff we usually feature at Ten Pretty Girls, but it's worth it.

The Wedding Gifts I Wish I'd Asked For

Besides this blog I write for a number of other places, including guest blogging on LA Story, features on Zappos, and a column for Jamsbio, but one of my favorite places to write for is Associated Content because they pay you upfront and still give you a page view bonus. Here's an article I wrote shortly after my sister's bridal shower suggesting some truly useful wedding presents for a new bride:

Yesterday I went to my first bridal shower since my own thirteen years ago, and it got me thinking about the wedding gifts I wish I'd ask for back then. When I got married I was in my mid-20s and still living with my parents; I had never cooked a meal on my own, let alone managed a household.
Registering was fun but I ended up with lots of beautiful stuff that stayed in boxes in the attic for years. Meanwhile, I spent lots of money on the things I learned I actually needed.

To read the rest of this article go to my Associated Content page.

Super Staying Lip Gloss from Soft Surroundings Outlet-- More than Half Off!

Here's another great beauty bargain from the Soft Surroundings Outlet-- Morphos Super Staying Lip Gloss. Marked down from $22.00 to $9.99, this lip gloss gives you staying power for shine and color while plumping lips naturally with mint extract. It's available in three sweet and savory colors: Papillon (pale pink with silver shimmer), Nabi (sheer nude-brown with gold bronze shimmer), and Kabakaba (nude with silver shimmer). At this price you could buy all three and have your summer lip wardrobe all wrapped up.

Deal of the Week: Poppy Bedspread from Urban Outfitters

When I bought my new house a year and a half ago I had a lot of bedding to buy. My interior designer tempted me with tales of custom-made bedding, but carpet was our first budget priority, so the custom stuff had to go on the wish list and I had to find a way to make do with what I could find at the stores. Marshalls, TJ Maxx and Home Goods (all the same company) are excellent sources for designer bedding at low prices, but it's hit or miss-- if you need something immediately they may not have the size or color you want.

Here's a better place to search for chic but inexpensive bedding when you want a designer look but need something right away-- Urban Outfitters. This Asian Poppy Tapestry bedspread is so cool I wish it went with the paint in my master bedroom, and at a full price of $32 it's not only a deal, it's a steal.

In Honor of Mother's Day, Forget MOTB-- My Mom Looks Hot!

I've been having issues lately with the fact that I'm about to turn forty, but seeing my mother the other day in the gown she bought for my sister's wedding swept all my worries away! Shopping for a mother-of-the-bride dress is hard. The styles tend to veer towards two extremes-- short and skimpy for women who hope to be mistaken for their daughter's teenaged sister, or long, heavy and voluminous (I would call it grandmother of the bride but my grandmother had way more style than that!).

My mom found a gown by Junnie Leigh that is a true knockout while still being classic and elegant. It's a navy-blue hourglass shape with a halter bodice and discreet silver sun blast detailing on the front. It comes with a bolero jacket for upper-arm coverage, but I'm still trying to convince her she doesn't need the jacket; the gown is amazing with or without. She's a modest person so when she asked me what I thought I told her she was beautiful in it, but my honest gut response was, "Wow, Mom, you look hot!" Her gown isn't pictured on the site, but I promise to post pictures of the real thing after the wedding. In the meantime, check out this similar look in silk shantung with beaded v-neck bodice.

Screamer of the Week : It's A Skirt! No, It's A Top! No, It's Both!

I like Newport News, I really do. I went to a Redken hair showcase on Park Avenue yesterday and I wore these wide-legged jeans from them, which got me a lot of compliments (mine were in a dark rinse, of course). In fact, I'd venture to say that 1/3 of my wardrobe is from there, with the other two thirds being from Nordstrom and designer sample sales/consignment stores/outlets at Woodbury Common (contrary to popular belief, there's no "s" on the end of that name). But sometimes they go really, really wrong, and today is one of those days. Yup, it's Screamer of the Week time.

When I was a little girl (bear with me, it's relevant) my cousin Dana and I used to play Barbies for hours on end with elaborate melodramatic story lines that usually revolved around rich women who had maids that they slapped around, verbally abused and made sleep in the basement on a concrete floor. The maids would have their day in the end when it was revealed that they were having affairs with the rich Barbies' husbands. (I have no idea where we got such ideas from, except maybe that our mothers let us stay up late and watch Dallas.)

Since virtually all Barbies looked identical back then, how could you tell which one was the maid? Easy...they had bad haircuts (the maids were the dolls we'd experimented on), and their sole uniform was a longish Barbie skirt pulled up around the bust line to make a pathetic strapless dress.

Imagine my hysteria when I found out that Newport News actually makes such a garment! There it is above shown as a top and if you click on the large photo on their website you can see it as a skirt too. It features smocking and a handkerchief hemline and is on sale for $39.00. I have to admit, it doesn't look terrible as a skirt, although the picture is so tiny you really can't tell, but the mere existence of this item has me screaming this week.

Ladylike Croc-Look Tote From Bloomie's-- over $100 off!

I've been craving a good everyday bag that doesn't cost a fortune but looks expensive-- I stopped carrying my Louis around on a daily basis since my five year old took to chewing gum and doesn't understand yet that you have to wrap it up before throwing it away! This tote fits the bill perfectly, is marked down to $159.99 from $268.00, and comes in a number of different colors so you can buy a few to go with different outfits. I'm so glad there's a red one, as I have a killer pair of red Stuart Weitzman shoes that needs a red bag to go with. (Yes, I know that's matchy-matchy and stylists frown on it, but I don't care, I like matchy-matchy!) The Bloomingdales store line is always good for quality bargain accessories like this.

The Chocolate Path: Treats For the Discriminating Chocolate Palate

I'm lucky enough to live a short drive from this store, but good news for the rest of the world: The Chocolate Path now has a website where you can order the world's best dark chocolate in every format imaginable. Their mission statement is "to provide dark chocolate lovers with a wide selection of pure products from the best small manufacturers," and fulfill that mission they do! Chocolate Path's wares include premium exotic dark chocolate bars, artisan hot chocolate, and a variety of unbelievable truffles. I can't wait to try the Chocolate Moderne Caramel Caresse bistro bar, filled with soft pear and caramel, but you may want to start with one of their gift assortments that allows you to sample their fine chocolate fare. Oh, I hope someone gets me one for Mother's Day!

Cino Polka Dot Summer Dress From Willow St. On Sale

This metallic polka dot empire waist dress from Cino is ingenious because the straps are bare enough to be sexy but wide enough to cover bra straps. The cut flatters many different body types and the dress is versatile, going from day to evening with a change of accessories. It's on sale for $136.50, marked down from $182.00, at Willow St., one of Summit, New Jersey's most fashionable boutiques.

The Blog Carnival Continues with More Unique Vintage!

A week or two ago we featured a girlfriend shopping trip to Unique Vintage, one of the best vintage and vintage-inspired retailers on the web. Stella from Well Above Average picked a modern-looking but vintage-inspired top with a splashy pattern that's perfect for lunch at a 5 star hotel, and my pick was a vintage-inspired 30's style gown that's now on the home page of Unique Vintage.

Today we catch up with Stevie of L.A. Story, Sandra of Debutante Clothing and Tami of fête à fête to see what's in their virtual shopping carts.

Stevie's keen editorial eye managed to look past the dresses, as gorgeous as they are, to find some hot red-carpet worthy shoes. I'm thanking her from the bottom of my heart for this because my spring, summer and fall are full of black-tie weddings and the parties surrounding them. I can totally see those leopard print shoes on her and I'm going to have to buy the red ones for myself for all the rehearsal dinners in my future.

Sandra, our resident vintage guru, picked out a hot LBD that will bring out the Dita Von Teese in all of us, and Tami found this 1920's style flapper dress that will break hearts on the dance floor. Thanks once again to Stevie to turning us on to this amazing store, and stay tuned for the next installment of the blog carnival, which features jewelry at eye-dropping prices from World Market!

Congratulations to Contest Winner Agatha Craxie

The first "Screamer of the Week" contest is now officially over, and congratulations to winner Agatha Craxie. She correctly identified the phrase as coming from WLIR, the East Coast's greatest independent radio station. I'm jumping for joy today because while the station's frequency was sold back in 2004, I just found out it's streaming on the internet at www.wlir.com. Long live Larry the Duck, Donna Donna and Malibu Sue, and congratulations to Agatha once again.