Blog Posts by The_Stir

louboutinsMy once-ravenous appetite for overpriced designer shoes and handbags has mostly dissipated in the past couple of years. Unless I can get said designer item at an outlet or Nordstrom Rack, I probably won't be spending my hard-earned dough on it. But one item I've coveted lately is the patent black Christian Louboutin pump. It's classic, versatile, and distinctive.

Louboutins, like Manolos, were elevated to iconic shoe crush status by Sarah Jessica Parker on Sex & the City and later, loads of celebs. I've always assumed that the reason behind the desirability of the shoes was that they're actually extremely well-made and -- perhaps? -- somewhat comfortable. Silly me! Apparently, women only want them for their "trademarked red sole." Or so the footwear designer seems to be insinuating with a lawsuit filed against rival luxury fashion house Yves Saint Laurent last week.

More from The Stir: $200,000 Pair of Shoes: Perfect for a Stripper!

In the complaint, Louboutin's lawyers

Read More »from Christian Louboutin thinks female shoppers are stupid

With Friday's celebration of Earth Day rapidly approaching, I've been thinking about whether or not I do enough to help the environment. I recycle on a daily basis, turn the water off while I brush my teeth and, this spring, with the help of my kids, even planted my first backyard garden.

More from The Stir: 3 Sex Toys That Will Blow Your Mind

But I never considered the eco-friendliness of my sex toys. And boy, do I have a lot of toys. The only qualities that were important to me? Price, effectiveness and being phthalate-free. But it seems like I'm quickly becoming the minority. Recent statistics show that sales of eco-friendly sex toys are, ahem, on the rise.

What makes a sex toy green?

Well, being made of a renewable resource like wood, using rechargeable batteries or none at all and being vegan for starters. All of which sounds great but I'm not going to get turned on by the fact that my sex toys aren't harming our planet. If I can help out Mother Earth while I'm

Read More »from 4 ways to go green in the bedroom

Trying to build an Easter basket without a chocolate bunny is like the third pig building his house without any bricks. It cannot be done, my friend. Look what you did to the little guy at right just by THINKING about it!

It's time you learn, oh Easter basket builder, the secret of the season. The chocolate bunny is eminently more fun than anything in that basket. Take a nibble of his hiney or a nibble of his ears, and he starts to become a plaything -- who can make their bunny look the silliest?

More from The Stir: 8 Must-Haves for Your Easter Egg Hunt

You can throw him in the microwave and see how he melts down or take a solid chocolate rabbit and see how he breaks. And somehow, like snowflakes, no two bunnies ever come out of a kid's hands (and mouth) looking the same. Don't believe me? Take a gander at just how funny a bunny can look:

First up -- the classic butts and ears bunnies! The one on the left is undoubtedly saying things are a wee bit drafty in the

Read More »from 7 really funny chocolate bunnies

It's spring break for the kids, and while you're too old for party boats and beer bongs and awkward beach sex (trust me, you are), that doesn't mean you're too old for crazy springtime love. So long as you heed the words of Ask Dad. Help me help you:

Dear Ask Dad, I can't seem to get a second date. Guys like what they see when they open the door, but by the end of the date, they are done. What am I doing wrong?

More from The Stir: What Do Men Really Want?

I think it's sweet of you to give men so much credit. You assume you're turning them off by having lipstick on your teeth or saying you voted for Ron Paul or picking your nose a little too obviously, when in fact they probably made up their mind about you the moment you waved from across the bar at the beginning of the night.

So let's go with it, be charitable, and pretend that what happens during those first few hours you spend together actually matter. It totally does for me. I was once on a date when I was young

Read More »from I can't get a second date -- what am I doing wrong???

#1 mom keychain
Dear husbands, dads, and significant others,

This is just a friendly little reminder: Mother's Day is coming up, and a nice, thoughtful gift would be greatly appreciated by the moms in your life. The key words here: Nice. Thoughtful. So unless your overworked, underpaid, sleep-deprived personal chef, cleaning woman, nanny, laundress, travel agent, personal assistant wife specifically requests one of the gifts on the list below, do not give it to her for Mother's Day. Repeat: Do not give it to her for Mother's Day. Unless, of course, you never want to have sex again. Ever.

Sincerely,

Moms everywhere

More from The Stir: Make Your Own Mother's Day Corsages!

1. Exercise equipment or a gym membership. If you actually think this is a good idea, try this little test first. The next time your wife asks you if a certain article of clothing makes her look fat, say, "Yes."

2. A puppy. Let's see, she'll have to walk it in the pouring rain at 2 a.m., feed it, potty-train

Read More »from 11 Mother's Day gifts that will kill your sex life

Growing up, my sister and I -- along with my dad -- used to make breakfast in bed for my mom every Mother's Day. The two of us girls would mix up the pancake batter while my dad manned the griddle; then we'd "sneak" upstairs to "surprise" my mom with a tray of pancakes and the Sunday newspaper and hang out with her in bed all morning.

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Those Mother's Day mornings are a happy memory for me -- a memory I find myself drawing strength from this year when I find myself and my family in a less-than-happy situation.

You see, Mother's Day is a joyful day to honor all the moms we love; but for some, it can also be a day of ache as we remember those we may have lost or long for those not yet with us.

My grandma -- my mom's mom -- passed away this year as all grandmas eventually do. I miss her, definitely, but that's only a fraction of the pain I'm sure my mom's experiencing. I, for my part, wish I could be

Read More »from Breakfast in bed: A Mother's Day memory I'm holding dear

I adore the handmade Mother's Day cards and school-made gifts my boys will surely give me this coming Mother's Day morning. I want for nothing more.

Okay, I lie. When it comes to pretty handmade goodies, I want for plenty more!

More from The Stir: Make Your Own Mother's Day Corsages!

Herriott Grace; $85: I keep missing these (they sell out so fast!), but I'm DYING for one of these gorgeous handcrafted Wooden Cheese Boards from Herriott Grace. I want to put my cheese on it!

Supermarket; $15: Pretty tea towels steal my heart every time, like this Hand-Printed Green Rain Tea Towel from PataPri. More colors available.

Bliss in a Teacup; $34: This Embroidered Black Clock in an embroidery hoop with hand-stitched number markers is adorable! Sweet and statement-making on any wall.

Abigail Percy Jewellry; $115: I've had my eye on this simple but elegant Prehnite Faceted Line Necklace from Abigail Percy for about a year now. You hear that, honey?

McCheek's Mayhem; $38: If

Read More »from 7 handmade gifts I want for Mother's Day

For Mother's Day, make Mom or Grandma one of these three gorgeous homemade cards, provided to us from the folks at Fresh Home magazine, and she'll never imagine you waited until the last minute.

Read on for the materials lists and step-by-step "how-to" instructions.

More from The Stir: Make Your Own Mother's Day Corsages!

3-D Butterfly Card

Materials:

Card stock

2 contrasting colors of solid scrapbook paper (blue and red shown)

Craft knife

Ruler

Cutting mat

Pencil

Craft glue

How-To:

1. Cut and fold card stock for card.
2. Cut a piece of blue and red scrapbook paper to fit front of card.
3. Draw butterfly design onto back of red scrapbook paper.
4. Use craft knife to carefully cut along outline of butterfly, leaving some of the design areas uncut and still attached to the paper. Cut some thicker lines inside the design to allow the blue paper underneath to show through.
5. With edges matching, glue the red scrapbook paper right

Read More »from 3 last-minute DIY cards for Mother's Day (that look amazing!)