This Apple Ain’t Too Shabby

Wether she is a full-time Girl Friday or a sporadically working office temp needing to amass a chic wardrobe on a not-so-massive budge, there are online stores that serve this purpose well without needing to spend too much.

Amazingly, costume designers outfit characters playing average working girls in splendid wardrobes that often look designer chic, yet convey the idea that they are not expensive and lavish. The costume designer for the hugely popular AMC television show Mad Men is Janie Bryant, and she admits in an interview that the vintage style of the clothing is something that spills over into her personal wardrobe. The secretaries always look perfectly prim and styled on the show.

The character of Peggy (left) started out as a secretary, but was later promoted to a writer on the show.

Peggy (center) after her promotion. Betty is an executive wife (left), and Joan is the lead secretary (right).

For someone wanting the supremely chic look of Mad Men, she needs to be adept at finding companies that cater to this niche. An online shop that does very well in tailoring clothing for this particular style is Shabby Apple (www.shabbyapple.com). It specializes in vintage-style clothing, shoes, and accessories for women and girls.

Vintage-inspired cranberry dress ($72). Matching cardigan, thin gold bangles, and black ballet flats would make this outfit complete.

Black and white houndstooth cotton sateen dress ($76) looks like it was made for the Mad Men cast, and it will never go out of style.

Wearing the collar propped up definitely gives this dress ($93) a certain flare.

Fire-haired Joan would attract all of the attention in this black ruffled dress ($79). The design flatters anyone and, a little attitude goes a long way too.

The Devine Mrs. O

There has not been so much hoopla over a first lady since Jacqueline Kennedy's reigned in Camelot. Place them toe-to-toe and each is wonderfully interesting in her own respective ways. Whereas the Mrs. Obama is leading the new generation of Washington elite political and social circles, Mrs. Kennedy was a leader as a member of our nation's aristocratic elite.

First Lady Michelle Obama is a style beacon, effortlessly fitting together high-end and low-end pieces with a flick of her slim, coco wrist. She is both mesmerizing and the new envy of many. The First Lady seems like a genuinely sweet, caring, and fun mother. You cannot help but to admire someone like that. Entire Web sites are devoted to her style and wardrobe, most notably Mary Tomer's Website (www.mrs-o.org), which follows "what and whom she's wearing." Tomer is also the author of the hardcover book (above) titled Mrs. O: The Face of Fashion Democracy.

While her style sense was a little shaky in the earlier years, somehow she now better manages to pull together looks and put her personalized stamp on almost everything she wears. Her trademark elements have become belted tops and dresses, bare arms, kitten heels, lady-like pins, J. Crew (www.jcrew.com), and outfits made by the lesser known fashion designer Jason Wu (www.jasonwustudio.com).

It will be very interesting to track her style during the next three years to see whether it continues to evolve or stays the same. Either way, we will be watching!

Quinoa: Best Healthly Dish

Since so many Web sites are devoted to touting the benefits of miracle nongrain quinoa (keen-wah), there is not need to rehash those bits and factoids. The real SCOOP about quinoa is that besides being a food that is great for you, it is also is a food with relatively no taste at all, thereby making it an excellent choice to mix with other foods, creating a filling, yet variable dish.

Truthfully, it has absolutely no taste whatsoever. No matter how many others cite the flavor as "nutty," there is nothing nutty about it. Which is precisely the reason it is a great additive to vegetables; you get the flavor of the vegetables and the filling of the nongrain. Here is a quick 10-minute recipe that can be whipped up and on the table without too much fuss. Of course, you can simply add your choice of grilled or baked meat for a power-packed repas.

Start with prewashed quinoa, found in the grocer's health food section.

Next, add your preferred variety of either fresh or frozen vegetables. I used Green Giant's Sliced Carrots, Zucchini Quarters, and Sliced Beans Lightly Tossed with Rosemary Butter Sauce--YUM!

This is what quinoa looks like when cooked--sort of like beige caviar.

Finally, a beautifully presented dish served warm and creamy.

Cell Phones: A Terrible State of Affairs

Why is there not more press about cellular companies being the cunning characters that they are? They squeeze every dime out of customers. Here are a few suggestions to combat contract cell phone carriers. Research online to find the best deal for no-contract/pay-as-you go service.

Virgin Mobile (www.virginmobileusa.com) is a fair one; you get unlimited minutes for $49 per month. T-Mobile (www.t-mobile.com) has a prepaid plan, and the minutes can be add to the account by going into a T-Mobile store or going online, plus you get more minutes for your money than with similar high-profile companies. TracFone (www.tracfone.com) doubles your minutes for the life of the phone. Cricket (www.mycricket.com) is another very low-cost no-contract carrier. Lastly, there is a little-know company, Consumer Cellular (www.consumercellular.com), that has a really cool, white phone that looks like something Apple produced. If you like the look of Apple's white MacBook, then you might favor Consumer Cellular's Doro PhoneEasy 410 (pictured above). It only costs $50; you can choose from a variety of no-contract plans; and it has some nifty features, such as FM radio and hearing aid compatibility.

An infantile attachment to BlackBerries and iPhones, will keep some users (myself included) slavishly bound to the contract carriers, but if that bond can be broken, I will be on the no-contract/pay-as-you go band wagon, front and center.