SICKA THAN AVERAGE

Glamour Puss in Boots

Back in the day, I had a boyfriend who, for some reason, would gift me with items HE wanted — the only difference was he'd get me the pink version. For Christmas, I got a pair of pink Timberland boots. For my birthday, some pink-and-white Nikes. For Valentine's Day, a pink jersey dress (yes, I'm serious). And it wasn't that he was trying to do some his-and-hers, matching outfits thing (I would've gagged). He really just had absolutely no clue what I (or women in general, for that matter) deemed sexy and desirable. So he just sought out what he was coveting and figured he'd get the female equivalent (yes, the logic was faulty but his heart was in the right place! And of course, I oohhed and aahhhed over every single gift.)

Now, I remember getting those Timberland Nellie boots in bubblegum pink and trying really hard not to wince. For one, I had no idea what I'd wear them with (it's not like my closet is one big ode to '60s film star, Elvis Presley paramour, and self-proclaimed Lady in Pink Ann-Margret) and, for another, I've never been a huge fan of chunky hiking boots. Maybe it's that I associate them with hiking and construction (neither of which I engage in). Maybe it's that I like to stay propped up in sky-high heels for as long as possible. If there's a snowstorm or ice on the ground then, yeah, I'll break out my Timbs but, even then, I opt for softer, more feminine silhouettes (Really, I don't want to look at a dude on the train and see we got the same shoes on... That just makes me feel real butch! LOL). But when the weather gets absolutely fugly and we have to prioritize practicality over style, what's a girl to do? After all, Timberland hasn't always been particularly creative with its women's style offerings.

Well, I'm happy to say that, over the past few years, the most beloved boot company in the rap game (seriously, how many rap songs have referenced Timberland over the years?!) has stepped its female game way up, offering some refreshing new style options for the ladies. For Fall 2008, there are such gems as knee-high riding boots in sleek leather (the Charles Street Lexxis) and these spiffy lookers: the 14" Premium Rounded Heel boots. Made of premium distressed leather, the boots lace up all the way to the top and feature a side zipper, a 3" heel, and a lug outsole for traction. The boots can be paired with heavy cotton skirts, ruched cargo pants, or worn with jeans and a smile.

I was instantly enamored with these because they remind me of the Manolo Blahnik boots J.Lo wore in the 2003 "Jenny From the Block" video which, in turn, spawned one of the biggest footwear crazes in recent history. Women were dashing to Neiman Marcus and other high-end boutiques to buy the real thing, lurking on eBay for discounted pairs, posting want ads online, or opting for a Steve Madden replica (or one of many bootlegged pairs in neighborhood stores). And, really, those Manolo Blahnik boots just took a product that was closely affiliated with urban America (Timberland's wheat-colored Nellie construction boot) and gave it a sassy makeover by adding a stiletto heal and streamlining the shoe's form.

These here boots actually boast that same tough-girl, 'round-the-way appeal, but they're way more practical (let's face it: walking around in a tiny stiletto heel isn't exactly the move!) and affordable.

Now go take a hike (in these boots, that is!)

Timberland 14" Premium Rounded Heel boots,$165. Available in September. Visit Timberland.com or call 1.800.445.5545 to find a retailer near you.

Pacific Heights

White gardenias take center stage in Thymes' delicious Coco Monoi fragrance, the lead item in its Beauty of Bathing Collection (which also includes a body oil, shower gel, bath soap set, foaming bath and body creme). The delicate and delightfully feminine perfume was inspired by a Polynesian tradition, wherein the most robust white gardenia blooms are gathered at midnight and then steeped in coconut oil to release their fragrance (the resulting perfume is dubbed "Monoi"). Really, these exotic blooms are at the heart of many a Polynesian tradition -- for one, the tiare or star-shaped gardenia is French Polynesia's official flower, and these blossoms are often woven into heipo'o headbands and lei garlands or referenced in local song and art; and, in Tahiti, they celebrate "Tiare Tahiti Day" every December, a fantastic day when gorgeous gardenias are presented to everyone on the streets of downtown Papeete and when post offices, banks and other government buildings compete for the best tiare decorations. So clearly, gardenias are an integral part of Polynesia's culture and history.

Coco Monoi celebrates the gardenia's sensuous scent, while also incorporating notes of white tuberose, sweet osmanthus. tonka bean and warm agarwood. The resulting scent is pristine, refined, and undoubtedly ladylike.
The bottle, meanwhile, deserves its own laurels -- it's decorated with a frosted gradation of color, from deep forest green to lighter emerald hue to a gray-ish fern green, which then transition into a blush pink. The glass is then overlaid with a white floral design inspired by Tahiti's lush vegetation.

Talk about a trip to paradise.

Beauty of Bathing Coco Monoi eau de parfum, $75. Visit BeautyofBathing to find a retailer near you or go to Home101Store.com to purchase online.

Sock It To Them

When I was a freshman in college, I met this swaggalicious black girl from Philly named Thembi. We'd met during our first week there when we'd both tried to sneak into this lame ice cream party (the ice cream was allegedly free, but they were making people pay $1 for a spoon, so we were trying to be slick and steal the spoons because, well, we were broke as could be). But really, I KNEW she was going to be my good friend about a month or so later when we got into a silly argument (really, it was more like a sass fest) over an India CD (note: not India.Arie since we're both annoyed by that broad; we were finger snappin' over a CD by the salsa singer India). My friend Malik had lent me the CD, Thembi wanted it, and I wasn't having it so I told her she was gonna have to wait her turn. She gave me some attitude right back and then we both looked at each other, burst out laughing, and kinda nodded, like, "Yeah, you're my kind of chick!" Anyway, we've been best of friends ever since (she's my son's godmother).

Though both of our styles have evolved over the years, I remember Thembi's preppy style back then clear as day. Her main addictions were sweater vests and cute socks. At the time, it was funny to me because my sock game was way off. Basically, I only wore socks with sneakers (in which case I'd rock some chunky white tube socks) or during the winter time, when I'd bring out the thick wool or angora socks and slip my feet into some boots. Thembi, however, used to have drawers and drawers full of socks — Polo ones with teddy bears on them, bright yellow and orange ones with stripes or polka dots and, of course, many a pair of argyle socks. She'd match the socks to her shirt or her sweater vest, and she instantly felt fly. Really, she always pulled it off so well that, while I mocked her gargantuan sock collection, I really dug it.

Me, I've been a derelict with my sock get-down until recently, when I realized just how much they can add to an outfit. Before my reasoning was that, since I only wore socks with kicks or during the winter time, when they weren't visible underneath my long pants and jeans, there was really no point in buying any fancy ones. But then I started experimenting with my style a bit — wearing short skirts with knee-high socks and Mary-Jane pumps or oxfords (very naughty schoolgirl of me, I know), or tailored shorts with a crisp shirt, socks, and some funky buckled shoes or combat boots... The more I played with my styles, the more I started understanding how socks are valuable accessories and not just utilitarian necessities.

So when I saw these cute designs by Planet Sox (one of the largest purveyors of men's, women's and kids' socks), I instantly started coming up with outfit ideas. Check out the grey ones with the blue bow at the top — how precious and angelic are those? Or peep the purple argyle socks and how the wooden buttons at the top add a hint of sophistication and a modern twist (imagine pairing those up with tailored, cropped pants or a pencil skirt). Or think about how much you could do with the "Sweetie" socks with the funky cupcake designs (those make me think of holidays, cozy sweatsuits, and winter fun). Hey, you can even do a whole '80s look with the heart print socks. The options are limitless.

And hey, if you ever need some ideas, holla at Thembi (the sock guru). Her blog, What Would Thembi Do? (http://whatwouldthembido.blogspot.com), will give you tons of insight into her genius mind and into her quirky and fabulous sense of style — not to mention some serious belly laughs.

Planet Sox socks, $8 each. Available at Daffy's stores nationwide. Visit Daffys.com to find a store near you.

Faithfully Ours

To this very day, Faith Evans' "Soon As I Get Home" is one of my favorite songs of all time. I remember back in college, I used to sit around and play her debut album, Faith, constantly (I mean, "No Other Love" and "Won't You Come Over" are some incredible cuts!) and I'd get into these arguments about whether or not she was a better singer than Mary J. Blige (now, I love me some MJB, and I know that what I'm about to say might be considered sacrilegious to some of you but I always thought Faith was a better vocalist, that she had more control over her voice and a much stronger sense of melody). Which is all to say that I've always had a soft spot for her -- and not because she was the Notorious B.I.G.'s wife (and later his widow) or because she was down with Bad Boy. I just loved her music, her style, and her spirit. Shoo, I loved her birthmark the way white girl's loved Cindy Crawford's mole! So, clearly, I was ecstatic when I first read she'd decided to write a memoir, especially when I found out that my homegirl Aliya S. King, one of the most talented and versatile writers in the game, was co-writing the book.

As soon as I got a copy of the book, I buried my nose in it — and I really could not put it down. By now, all the tabloids, newspapers, and gossip blog sites have covered some of the juicer, more dish-worthy topics covered in the book: how she once caught Lil Kim in bed with her husband and proceeded to kick her behind how 'Pac made sexual advances to her (but she turned him down), and how, contrary to what many have claimed, Biggie was devastated and shaken by Tupac's murder.

But really, this book is about more than providing more fuel for the ever-busy rumor mill. Aliya does a wonderful job of providing excellent, vivid details (I love her anecdote about the apple-shaped hoop earrings that read Faith Is To Fly" as opposed to Faith Is Too Fly") that showcase Evans' personality, and she keeps her own ornate writing reigned in so as to stay true to Evans' voice and to her style of storytelling. And it's clear that the two women really developed a great rapport (which isn't surprising since, knowing Aliya as I do, I can say that she's not only a top-notch writer, but also an amazingly warm person) that allowed Evans to dig so deep into her memory bank and her emotional well and candidly recount all of her many troubles and triumphs. She takes us through her move to Newark, New Jersey from Florida's Dade County as a youngster, through her upbringing in a strict and highly religious household where only gospel music was allowed, her rebellious teen years, her love of bad boys and how it led to many abusive and complicated relationships, her whirlwind romance with BIG, her estrangement from her husband, and her career ups and downs — and she does so with a candor that's rarely found in celebrity memoirs. Through it all, you're cheering Faith on (even when she's describing an event where she's clearly in the wrong).

Unlike so many celebrity memoirs, which are penned as a means for vindication or simply to cash a big fact check, the motivation for this one seems pure. Like BIG would've said, Faith's got a story to tell — and she does so with grace here. In the end, Keep the Faith is a refreshingly honest and uplifting book that makes Evans even more relatable. Hopefully, it will make her legions of fans realize that they too can endure any hardships that come their way — after all, that's one of the positives of celebrity. Here's hoping.

Keep The Faith hit stores today.

Keep The Faith, $24.99; Visit Amazon.com

Home Sweet Home

Sure, you may have some Lysol spray at hand to make your house smell like an "Early Morning Breeze" or maybe to infuse it with a "Country Scent" (I'm not even sure what either of those mean, by the way! Like, what does a morning breeze smell like?!) or maybe you have a couple of Glade's scented gel plug-ins stuck to your living room or bedroom outlets. But really, you can do better than that! This is your home, your castle, so don't you want its scent to be inviting and comforting? Well, you can definitely make that happen with L'Occitane's indulgent home fragrances.

The aromas are soothing and subtle but long-lasting — a couple of sprays of the fragrance and the scent will linger for several days. A number of delicious options are available: Orange Blossom, Rose, Vanilla, Amber, Candied Fruit and Cinnamon Orange (pictured here). The crystal bottles are so elegant you'll be happy to display them on your bureau or side table.

This Cinnamon Orange scent is warm and spicy without being overpowering. But, as a warning, the cinnamon fragrance is extremely strong when you first spray it (like opening a dozen Atomic Fireball candies or a few packs of Big Red gum). But after a couple of minutes, the crisp tangerine notes kick in and balance out the cinnamon-y sweetness. The result is a fruity-but-earthy scent that will add an exotic yet soothing vibe to your home.

L'Occitane Cannelle Orange (Cinnamon Orange) Home Perfume, $24. Visit Usa.Loccitane.com

Essential Oil

Everyone is bemoaning the soaring gas prices and grumbling about the oil crisis. Yup, the oil crisis is such that John McCain is utilizing Daddy Yankee's smash hit "Gasolina" as a campaign anthem. And as a side note, McCain really needs to get schooled on those song lyrics 'cause El Jefe is talking about the kind of drilling that happens between the sheets. That cut has absolutely nothing to do with fossil fuels, gasoline, or driving — except in that R. Kelly, you-remind-me-of-my-Jeep kinda way (and let me not even get started on how disappointed I am that Yankee has chosen to endorse him!!). Fortunately, though, this whole crisis has nothing to do with the kind of oils we beauty fiends crave (See? Silver lining! LOL). Yes, ladies, we can still pamper our scalps and caress our sun-scorched tresses with delicious oils, like Philip B's new Rejuvenating Hair Oil.

This intense treatment relies on natural oils found in flowers, fruits and nuts — from lavender oil to sweet almond, olive, sesame seed, walnut, gardenia and jojoba oils. It's most effective when heated so, after applying (make sure to start at the scalp and work all the way down to your ends), blowdry for 10-15 minutes or, alternatively, place on a good ol' shower cap and sit underneath a secadora (dryer) like you would do at the salon. The amount of time you spend under the dryer will depend on your hair type, but I recommend at least 30 minutes (read a magazine, listen to some music, or get your grub on while the oil works its magic). Once you're finished, style your hair in the usual manner and keep it moving. If, however, you OD'd on the oil and need to wash it out, then apply Philip B's Peppermint and Avocado Shampoo directly onto your hair, massage it into your scalp, and rinse, repeating as often as necessary. Frankly, while I saw that the instructions called for the usage of this particular Philip B shampoo, I dismissed it as a marketing hoax to encourage people to buy more of the brand's products BUT, after attempting to wash out the oil with other shampoos, I gotta say that the Peppermint and Avocado really does remove the oil build-up like no other. After one of these treatments, your scalp will feel cooler, your hair will appear softer and more voluminous, and you'll notice a vast improvement in texture. Seriously, after a week with this product, I felt like I had gone from scarecrow head to potential Rosario Dawson or Eva Longoria hair double!

Oh, one last thing (and this is Chemistry 101, but it's still worth reiterating): remember that oil and water do not mix so don't even attempt to apply this on wet or damp hair. Got it? Now go do your own oil drill!

Philip B Rejuvenating Hair Oil, $29; Visit PhilipB.com

Beaucoup Harajuku

These bags are bananas, b-a-n-a-n-a-s. The awww-inducingly cute (yes, I mean that they'll doubtless make everyone go, "Awwwww...") totes are part of Harajuku Lovers' new offerings for fall. The brand, which dates back to 2005, was created by fashion maven and pop star Gwen Stefani as a nod to the boundary-defying, innovative style of youths in the Harajuku area of Tokyo's Shibuya ward. An admitted Japanophile, Stefani has incorporated this aesthetic into many of her music videos and designs. As a matter of fact, she refers to her four back-up dancers, Love, Angel, Music and Baby, as the Harajuku Girls.

Now, I know some people moan and groan about Stefani's appreciation for Japanese fashion, labeling her an imperialistic, culture-robbing opportunist. But I don't buy into that —at all. Truth is, most celebrities (and most regular folk, for that matter) find inspiration in other cultures, eras, and countries — if anything, it's a reflection of globalism. I'd be a bit perturbed if Stefani were incorporating these different elements into her music and style without properly crediting them (which, by the way, is what most celebrities do.. even Madonna, who I adore, was highly influenced by graffiti artists and breakdancers during the early stages of her career, and she didn't go around talking about hanging at Fashion Moda in the Bronx, a'ight?), but Stefani has been very respectful by openly celebrating the impact these cultural phenomena have had in her own work and life. If anything, she's brought a Japanese fashion movement and lifestyle into the American mainstream's consciousness. And hey, her back-up dancers get plenty of run in her videos (just look at the "Sweet Escape" video and how prominent they are in that clip!). Frankly, I think Stefani is doing society as a whole a service by encouraging this type of cultural exchange. But enough about the sociopolitical punditry. Back to fashion.

These totes ooze that same fun-loving spirit we've come to expect from Harajuku Lovers items. The blue "Juku" satchel features a spunky cheerleader character (makes me think of the "Hollaback Girl" video) and includes two large pockets along the sides, which are perfect for holding cellphones, digital cameras, and other small gadgets. The red "Bishoujo" tote features a track runner with a green bandanna tied around her head (how very Tupac Shakur of her, right?!), while the oversized green "Candy" tote depicts a pigtailed tennis player. The characters are so adorable yet so effortlessly cool that I tend to think of them as a modern, urban (and of course, Asian) answer to the Precious Moments crew. All of the bags feature the HL logo and come with a whistle (not sure why, but hey, it's a cute little addition).

So, as Gwen would say, "What you waiting for?"

Blue "Juku" bag, $58; Green "Candy" Bag, $95; Red "Bishoujo" bag, $58. Visit HarajukuLovers.com

Shut Up And Drive (or At Least Get a Hard Drive!)

If there's one thing I've learned after enduring stolen laptops, cracked monitors, short circuits, and overall computer meltdowns, it's that you always need to back up your files. I always remember that Sex and the City "My Motherboard, My Self" episode when Carrie got the "sad face" on her Macintosh Powerbook and how she was bewildered when the Tekserve customer service official kept asking her why she hadn't backed up her work. Sadly, I'd been there many a time and, while I'm hard-headed and it takes me forever to take heed of even the most sound advice, I did eventually resolve to be a bit more careful with storing my writing, photos, MP3s, and all my important files. And sure, USB devices are great and handy (you can link them to a keychain, tuck them in your pocket, or toss them in your clutch, but it's all about finding one that's stylish and also boasts superior storage capabilities.

That's where Toshiba's "The Storage You Need" Portable USB 2.0 External Hard Drives come in. They're USB-powered, so you don't have to worry about any portability challenges, and they're compatible with both PC and Mac computers, plus they can store up to 320GB of information (if you don't have that much junk in your device, you can opt for the 160GB or 250GB versions). But aside from storage capabilities, what's dope about these is that they come equipped with an innovative NTI Shadow Backup Software that eliminates the need to click on any desktop icons or repeatedly press the "save" button as you update your files. Instead, once you install the software, all of your folders and files will be automatically saved on your hard drive each and every time you modify them.

If that's not enough of a selling point, look at how sleek they are. Now available in Gecko Green (love that name, btw!), Hot Rod Red (like Lightning McQueen for all you Cars fans) and Carbon Grey, these have a steamlined, cutting-edge design that will make you feel like you've got your finger on the pulse.

Toshiba 250GB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive; $125. 320GB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive, $153. Visit ToshibaDirect.com

Itsy Bitsy, Teeny Weeny

Before y'all start thinking I lost my mind and shot a product from 50 feet away, allow me to explain what it is that you're beholding. See, this is the world's smallest book (I'm not using any hyperboles here — it really IS the tiniest tome ever printed). It measures 2.4 x 2.9 mm (to get an idea of how small that is, check out the picture with the tweezers) and was produced in the city of Leipzig in Germany.

How was it printed? Well, apparently, traditional methods and tools were used — except for the fact that miniature versions of the equipment had to be created first. Can you even picture that? A munchkin-sized printing press? It's so Alice in Wonderland, right?

The leather-bound, ABC-picture book includes exclusive alphabet artwork by typographer Joshua Reichert and comes packaged in a wooden box with a magnifying glass (which you'll clearly need!). It's exclusively available at the Concept Store within Selfridges' Wonder Room and hits the London store this weekend. Only 300 copies are available, so it's a true collector's item. On the plus side, it clearly won't take up any space in your crib. On the minus side, best of luck to you with flipping those microscopic pages! Hey, at least it's innovative...

World's smallest book, £70. Visit Selfridges.com

The Professional

When I was coming up, my mother tended to cut corners when it came to any drugstore buys. We used Dial to bathe (which to this day, I believe is the worst-smelling soap ever), Alberto V05 shampoo and conditioner (which were usually about a dollar a pop) and whatever toothpaste was on sale. When she felt like splurging, she'd invest in some Sebastian Professional products (not a joke -- this was a BIG deal). Of course, I was supposed to keep my grubby lil' hands away from her prized shampoo and conditioner but, being a precocious little thing, I'd always try to sneak into her bathroom, squeeze a little dab of each on my hands and jump into the shower. It's funny to remember that now but, really, back then I thought Sebastian Professional products yielded liquid gold!

As I got older and my hair started needing more attention (oil treatments, deep conditionings and all that extra TLC women of color need to give their locks some oomph), I stopped messing with Sebastian products because, really, they weren't designed to nourish or care for dry, coarse or distressed hair (my mom has very straight, Taina-style hair, which explains why she could still rely on Sebastian whereas my dehydrated, unruly, curly hair required a SWAT team of products!). No, Sebastian Professional was a brand that focused on styling, not on hair care.

Clearly, customers started demanding a bit more from the prestigious line and so Proctor & Gamble Professional Care spent two years conducting intensive product testing and market research to better identify what the Sebastian Professional brand was lacking. Their careful field work culminated in the relaunch and reinvention of the brand this July. The Fearless Collection addresses three key points: the Foundation line focuses on care, restoring hair's moisture, healing damaged tresses, and providing protection from environmental hazards; the Form line zooms in on styling, providing an array of products to sculpt an mold your 'do' and the Flow line provides intensive treatments to yield softer hair.

For your everyday life, I suggest checking out the Foundation line since, after all, you have to get the essentials right before moving on to styling concerns. Three different hair and shampoo combinations are available: Light, Drench and Penetrait. If you have fine to normal hair and you need minimal treatment, then opt for the Light version since it will cleanse your hair and add a nice bit of shine. If your hair is damaged or chemically treated, opt for the Penetrait shampoo-and-conditioner duo since it provides deep conditioning and reduces breakage. I highly recommend the Penetrait products, as they do moisturize and heal without leaving your hair oily or weighing it down.

Just remember: if you have a sassy toddler or pre-teen in the house, you may want to keep these products out of her reach (I tell you that from experience! ha!)

Sebastian Professional Foundation Collection: Light Shampoo, $12.95; Light Conditioner, $13.95; Penetrait Shampoo, $12.95; Penetrait Conditioner, $13.95. Available at select salons. Visit SebastianProfessional.com to find a salon near you.