Snakes on a ring.

HSN is the mother of all shopping channels, and the clearance rings section on its website is full of eye-candy....

...and some really random items such as this piece of fashion jewelry from D-List star Tori Spelling.

It's goldtone and has (no surprise!) faux turquoise. The price? $27.95, marked down from $39.95.

I've entertained the thought of purchasing it for the heck of it, but no, I'd rather wait for it to hit below $19.95. The ring in the above picture looks like cheapy costume jewelry, especially when seeing there is quite a bit of a gap between the bezel and the stone.

And that's not the only snake ring in the clearance section. How about this one?

For those who prefer "fine" jewelry, this one is 14-kt gold and has genuine green jade. For a bit of sparkle, there are tiny diamond accents. The price? $229.90, marked down from $299.90. Ouch.

One other piece caught my eye: a cheetah ring!

The cheetah is carved out of ivory-coloured cow bone and is framed in sterling silver. The ring itself is black resin. The price? $29.95, marked down from $44.95.

I've been really happy with the few rings I've ordered from hsn.com's clearance site. It is no surprise that most of them have cz stones. Hey, I love the sparkle! And after looking at the above cheesy rings, I think I'll just stick to the cz rings.

"About Leina" - installment the fourth

Today's installment: addicted to tv shopping networks.

For the longest time, I thought I was a total Food Network junkie. Then I remembered, that no, I've logged way more hours watching shopping channels.

I can kinda remember the first time I watched HSN. I was still in Catholic school, probably fifth grade or so. I had a regular tv in my bedroom with no cable connection. It had really long antennae and two dials: one for VHF and the other for UHF. HSN was one of the channels on UHF that had no static. The first time I caught HSN, they were hocking Connie Stevens skincare.

If I just want something on tv just to have that tv noise, I leave it on a tv shopping network. And I watch those channels so often that the phone numbers are burned into my projection tv. Oopsy.

The only shows I don't have any patience for are the ones for coins and watches. Talk about boring. I also don't have much patience for the low-budget channels, you know, the ones that have the camera focus on a spinning lazy susan full of rings because those hosts are way too loud and the jewelry doesn't look very appealing.

What weirds me out about tv shopping networks is that the same hosts rotate through them. Several hosts from ShopNBC are now on GemsTV. A married couple of hosts from QVC moved over to HSN. One of my fave hosts from QVC is now on ShopNBC. ShopAtHome (R.I.P) was a breeding ground of hosts for HSN and ShopNBC. Why, yes, I do pay attention to who is trying to sell me jewelry, food, cookware, tools, swords, slankets, and shower curtains.

I think the most random tv shopping network-related moment I ever experienced was geeking out when I met Leslie Blodgett at the Bare Escentuals boutique at Valley Fair Mall. It was like I was meeting a tv star. She kinda is, I guess, since she's a regular guest on QVC.

Another totally random tv shopping network-related moment was when I was forced to watch Evil Dead 2 with a group of movie theatre coworkers. I was bored out of my mind, but then I perked up in my seat when I recognised Rick Domeier from QVC!

D-List celebrities have been popping up on shopping networks, which definitely provides a lot of entertainment. My favourite so far has been Janice Dickinson. She was so loud and so fabulous. The most random crazy old ladies would call in on her shows, declaring their love for her and her random accessories.

Here is an example of a precious piece of Janice merchandise:

Talk about qualiITAY.

So, here is my list of channels, ranked in order of most hours watched, along with my favourite hosts.

1. HSN - the one that started my addiction - Colleen Lopez, Bobbi Ray Carter
2. GemsTV - Brook Roberts, Karen Connelly
3. QVC - Antonella Nester, David James, Lisa Robertson
4. ShopNBC - Daniel Green (the hot Brit!), Dave King, Lynne Schacher

Oh, one more thing: Although I have a viewing addiction to shopping channels, I most certainly am not a compulsive shopper. I've logged thousands of hours watching, yet I own a small handful of items purchased mostly from hsn. All of them purchased on clearance. If there's a cz ring that I like, I patiently wait for it to show up on the clearance section on the network's website.

And I've never called in and spoken to a host on-air. Ha!

You'll find your sweet love in time. Hold on.

I had to wear the payless.com boots again. I just had to!

I wore a scarf this morning because it was a bit chilly. The wool coats are not coming out until it gets ridiculously cold.

A pic before the night-time porchlight kicked in.


A pic after the night-time porchlight kicked in.

pullover: H&M.....skirt: Steve & Barry's.....scarf: hand-knit
boots: payless.com
ring: hsn.com

Also making a repeat appearance is my hugemongous IMAN Global Chic cz ring.

14 carats of cz fun!

I wasn't able to do any close-ups of the scarf, which is okay by me. It's kind of ratty from being worn so much. I've knitted various complex scarves, but this simple garter stitch one is one I always reach for.

honey, don't stop a speeding train before it reaches its destination

Almost two weeks ago, I tried on a pair of zip-up boots at Payless, but I couldn't zip them up very far. Maria tried to help me, but ewww, ouch, yeah, the zipper wasn't going to budge any further. My calves have a circumference of 15 inches, which I know won't fit in most tall boots anyway.

So, thank goodness, Payless.com had that same style in their extended calf sizing. I easily zipped up this pair, and there's still enough room in them to wear over my skinny jeans.

sweater: Loehmann's.....top: Ross.....skirt: Ross
boots: Payless.com
right-hand ring: hsn.com

I was joking around with Maria that these vinyl boots are my gateway drug to look at leather boots on zappos.com that have extended calf sizing. She had recommended that site over and over, now I'm finally listening to her!

Check out my obnoxiously garish right-hand ring!

This huge 14ct cz goldtone ring is from the IMAN Global Chic line at hsn. It is incredibly cheesy and totally looks like a costume piece, but I like it. And no surprise, I bought it on clearance!

(The clearance rings section on hsn.com is my weakness, like whoa.)

Don't turn away or you'll see me turn to stone.

I almost wore a black sweater today. Almost. But the purple sweater called out to me.

By the way, this dress is sleeveless. So, the sweater was needed to make it kosher for work.

This is how I looked at work.

Note the number of buttons done up in this picture. I have no idea why I was so self-conscious about this dress being low-cut. Even my coworker Maria asked me why I had 3 buttons done up since nothing was runneth over. Yeah.

This is how I looked when I came into work and when I went grocery shopping after work.



(Bonus "hand-on-hip" pose!)

cardigan: Loehmann's.....dress: Old Navy.....slip: Target
shoes: Payless.....right-hand ring: hsn.com


Hope Faith Miracles silver concave band ring.
(I'm still miffed that HSN stopped carrying Kristian Alfonso's jewelry line, by the way.)

Zero, one, two, three, four days without you...

I didn't plan on wearing the same sweater from yesterday, but, I have to admit that it's my fave baggy sweater. It was less than six bucks at Nordstrom Rack.

I wore three different pairs of shoes today. My trusty hot pink and black skull Vans for stick-shift driving. My heels for work. My sneakers for my lunchtime walk. Sorry, I didn't feel like changing into three different pairs of shoes for the pics. ;)

Baby's got a brand new bag!
Thank you, Brian~!!

cardigan: Nordstrom Rack.....top: Ross.....skirt: Steve & Barry's
purse: Dooney & Bourke, Las Vegas
shoes: Payless.....2 bracelets: one home-made, the other store-bought

This is Erica. :)

I truly heart the navy blue tartan from D&B. Why? Because it makes me think of my Catholic school uniform! From kindergarten to eighth grade, I went to St. Bede Catholic School in Hayward, CA. Class of 1992. Ah, the good old days.

And, yes, I am a confirmed Catholic. I've even been to the Vatican.

This bracelet combination goes really well with my funky top.

Well, I've never been to Spain, but I kinda like the music.

Today was baggy sweater day for me. And because today was Super Tuesday, a day where I'm mostly on my feet, flats were a must.

Also at work, I stuffed, sealed, and stamped a huge number of envelopes for a client. When my coworker Maria joined in on the fun, I started singing "Neverending envelopes, oh oh oh oh oh oh oh....Neverending envelopes, oh oh oh oh oh oh oh."

When I got back from the post office, Maria was at the front desk, busy working on an e-mail. I got her attention by serenading her with Ike and Tina's "Proud Mary", complete with crazy dancing. That song was stuck in my head from hearing it on the radio on my way to the post office. What was even better was that Maria got up and started dancing and singing with me. Ah, the magic of 4:45 p.m.!

sweater: Nordstrom.....shirt: Gap.....skirt: Bitten, Steve & Barry's
flats: Payless.....bracelets: same ones from yesterday.....right-hand ring: hsn.com
necklace: self-assembled

I usually wear this ring on my right ring finger, but, recently, I discovered it fits
better on my right middle finger. Yeah, random.

A client at work asked me where I got this necklace, and she was so surprised
when I told her that I got all the pieces for the necklace at Michaels. :)

This detail shot also shows that my shirt isn't a flat grey.
It's grey with silvery nylon string mixed in.

August 7, 2009 outfit - Now, my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch.

Choice tidbit about me:
My sister and I grew up watching classic movies on AMC and Disney Channel.

Another choice tidbit:
I grew up listening to the local oldies station, KOFY 1050 AM, because that was the only station my mom had her radio set to. And later on, we listened to KFRC. ...And oh boy, how thrilled was I to learn that there's now KFRC 1550 AM~!

In fact, I'm listening to KFRC online right now. Yeah!!

So let's have a toast!

Another Mad Men-inspired pose.

cardigan: Nordstrom.....secret tanktop: Nordstrom Rack.....skirt: Ross
shoes: Payless.....bracelets: silverjewelryclub.com.....right-hand ring: hsn.com

The skirt has pink pinstripes and a few mini-pleats.
It's not really a black skirt, since I'd say it's charcoal.
But I'm still putting this under the 'black skirt' label for the heck of it. ;)

silver faceted ball chain bracelet. silver rat's tail bracelet.

Another grand cz and silver ring from HSN's Xavier collection.

* * *

BONUS RECIPE!

"Prop Martini"

The original idea for this pose was just to hold something that looked like a martini. This glass was going to be filled with only sweet and sour. But, as I set up the camera and tripod, I started to think that I had to stay true to my lush-self. So, right before setting up the self-timer, I decided that I needed to hold a vodka drink.

Because it was so tasty, I had two of these Prop Martinis.

• 1 oz. freezer-cold Belvedere 'Cytrus' vodka
• 1 oz. refrigerator-cold Dr. Swami & Bone Daddy's gourmet sweet and sour mix

Don't bother with a shaker or ice. Just pour the vodka in the glass first, follwed by the mix.

Enjoy!

keep holding my hand, so we don't get separated

This Liz Claiborne cardigan is the hottest pink in all the land. And, yes, I am a sucker for pink sweaters.

Also on display are my newly created necklace and bracelet. I took two bags of mixed beads, mixed them together, and strung them all up.

cardigan: Marshall's.....tanktop: Nordstrom Rack.....skirt: Bitten, Steve & Barry's
shoes: Payless.....necklace and bracelet: home-made.....right-hand ring: hsn.com

2-carat cz silver ring

This last pic is for Rachel. Click to embiggen.

1 pink cardi, 2 pairs of shoes

I love my ridiculously pink cardigan. I bought it at a London H&M back in 2005 while hanging out with my friend Laura. Who woulda thought that a California chick like me would finally meet a Finnish lady like Laura in England?? It was fate! It had to be!

Inside Shoes

Best pair of cheap-o shoes, ever.

Outside Shoes

Worn-out, yet trusty.

cardigan: H&M.....tanktop: H&M.....skirt: Torrid
Mary Janes: Wal-Mart.....Skull Vans: PacSun.....right-hand ring: hsn.com

This is from the Xavier line of silver and cz jewelry on HSN, and this style is called "Belle Epoque."

welcome to the sixties. oh, oh, oh, oh....

In last Friday's SJ Merc, there was an article about the current crop of Emmy nominations. Featured in this article was a photo of the cast of Mad Men. In this photo, the women have their arms crossed.

I don't even watch that show, but I loved how Christina Hendricks and Elisabeth Moss looked in that photo.

So, this first shot was inspired by that cast photo.

The combination of this snug sweater and this particular grey skirt made me look curvier than usual. An outrageously huge updo would have most definitely completed the look.

cardigan: BP, Nordstrom.....tanktop: H&M.....skirt: Bitten by SJP, Steve & Barry's
shoes: Payless.....necklace: Cathie Filian on etsy
right-hand ring: Hope Faith Miracles, hsn.com

I still can't get over how this pendant is diy because it is so, je ne sais pas, clean? But then again, I shouldn't be surprised since it was made by Cathie Filian. I love her show, Creative Juice.

This brushed silver concave ring was definitely worth getting from hsn.com. I adore the simple design, and it fits right. The creator of this line was Kristian Alfonso, who plays "Hope" on Days Of Our Lives. Unfortunately, this line was discontinued.

Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood

The shoes in this post were not what I originally picked for the outfit. I had on a pair of flats this morning, and as soon as I got into work, I changed into these heels.

Yes, I keep shoes at work. Hidden away in a bottom file cabinet in the back office are two pairs of back-up shoes. My (new) manager thought it was kinda funny that I have a shoe stash, so I told her that I'm like Mr. Rogers---I have my outside shoes and I have my inside shoes. Well, not really. It's just nice having back-up shoes.

And oops, I forgot to change out of the heels when I left work.

cardigan: Nordstrom Rack.....top: Ross.....black skirt: Ross
shoes: Aerosoles.....right-hand ring: hsn.com

silver and cz, baby!

I have a small collection of silver rings purchased off hsn.com. And, yes, that is hsn as in Home Shopping Network. I don't buy rings right as I see them on tv. I just wait a few months and buy them on clearance on the website. Me = so not an impulse shopper.