We don’t care that Lindsay made court a three-ring-circus (though our tax dollars did pickup the tab). Nor, that her parents are Creeps of the Year. That Paris was grabbing for her lip gloss and has no idea who the cocaine belongs to or where it came from. Or that Mel crashed his fancy, mid-life-crisis sports car. We don’t cheer for Team Jen or Team Angelina (Really? People are still putting them on tabloid covers almost a decade later? Really?). What RPat and what’s her name are, or aren’t up to.

We do, however, care about the Gulf, unemployment, education, health care and the future of this seemingly dysfunctional country.

It’s a sad day in journalism when ratings are chosen over reporting. And it’s an equally sad day when Americans turn the channel from newsworthy stories to another station that covers who was voted off Dancing with the Stars.

Looks like onward and upward is gonna be a big mountain to climb.

Yes, we are aware that it’s a junior collection (yes, we know we aren’t juniors) but our fascination with Madonna has spilled over to her gorgeous, look alike and whip smart, new found-designer daughter.

I don’t know about you, but we’ve been stalking the fashion maven in the tabloids and online for years (not to worry, it’s a completely healthy obsession).

We read her feisty, straightforward blog that has a definite POV and personality the other day, and have it bookmarked on our toolbar. She bashed gladiator sandals (which BTW if you’ve been reading our musings, I never did find and now will most definitely not) and boasts about new indie rock groups.

The line is appropriately reminiscent of the 80’s Madonna, ruffled skirts, cropped tops and all. As we said, it’s not for your, uh, not for those of us that can legally walk into a bar or vote but it does bring back memories of yesteryear, or yester century for that matter.

So, while we are living in a material world and honestly, somewhat of material girls, we will watch as Lourdes and her mummy are sure to rule the fashion world.

Pam and I have fallen hard for some websites out in cyberland and wanna share them with you this fine month. We’re pretty sure there’s a little somethin’ somethin’ for everyone below.

1. Curly Q Cuties
2. Modern Lola
3. Paper Culture
4. i o moi
5. Calypso
6. Ever
7. How Stuff Works
8. Susie Cakes

If we’re missing out on other online fabulosity, please do share. Think of it as your contribution to stimulating the economy. And ours.

Not: BP
Nay: Cheating on your partner/spouse (aka: sex addiction)
Nasty: Red bull & vodka (or red bull with anything for that matter)
Out: Justin Bieber and his constant whiplash hair flip
So last year: Zhu Zhu Pets
Really?: Mylie bitching about being Hannah Montana

Hot: Betty White
Yay: Real women (and by that we mean r.e.a.l)
Classy: Maillots (if you don’t have a French dictionary handy, that’s a one-piece bathing suit)
In: Glee
So right now: iPad
Really!: Discount designer websites

Partisanship has taken a toll on this country. The line drawn in the sand has become a trench and the mud continues to be slung with no end in sight.

The appalling outward disrespect towards our president is an insult to every American, whether you support him or not.

When we crossed our tassels in graduation, I was ready to leave the cattiness, insincerity, and fake role-playing behind. However, the last years have proven to be far harsher, more conniving and all around more uncomfortable then the four years of angst-ridden high school.

Shame on YOU the Senate, the House and everyone above, below and in between. You seek your own destinies not those of the American people. You embarrass us: man, woman and child, with your immature name-calling, selfish lobbying and blurred sense of reality.

What are we as a nation to do or expect when our leaders consistently behave like preschool children. For God’s sake grow up! Because while most Americans are struggling to meet their bills and keep food on the table, YOU continue to live high on the hog and be well paid for continuing to dig that trench.

First things first, cleansing.
Not only is everyone woman’s skin type different from one another but the transition from season to season can reek more havoc than static on Japanesed straightened hair.
So it’s best to start from the ground up: choose a cleanser that’s right for your skin. Don’t choose a cleanser based on price or appearance, base it on the results of your skin. Oh I know, I’ve done it too, ran out a beloved product only to be at Walgreens and lured by another product’s claims and price. The reality? I end up with dingy skin, an extra few bucks in my wallet and feel obligated to finish off the bottle before I allow myself to spend more dinero and go back to my tried and true ways. Don’t skimp ladies (and gentlemen if you are man enough to admit you are reading this). We’ve only got the skin we were born with so take care of it.

With that being the perfect segue to our next step: moisturizer. No matter the skin, we all need moisturizer. I personally adore toner in between le cleanse and le moisturizer but it certainly isn’t necessary but probably more a luxury. When choosing a moisturizer identify if your rosy cheeks prefer an emollient, cream or serum. After all these years of slathering and tapping creams onto my mug, I’ve realized that said mug much prefers serum.

Eye-creams. I have day eye-cream and night eye-cream. I do not see a difference between either. Two for one has never been better and I’ll admit, the wool covered my eyes, kaching. But an eye-cream that tightens (albeit for only a while) and/or gives a lift to those smile lines is a keeper in my book. Another unsolicited piece of advice: water. The more water you drink the more it adds plump to your skin in the healthiest of ways.

Maintenance is the final step. And what we mean by maintenance is: be consistent. I exfoliate a la Clarisonic or a la a facial scrub once a week. Any more for moi is too much and my skin revolts.

Beauty basics. Who knew we were so wise.

My personal fave and at the top of my Must Have List for les printemps 2010: Michael Kors silver toed oxfords. Chic, sleek and elegantly understated, these lace-up lovelies are the perfect addition to a seersucker suit or crisp bermudas. Just need to get my legs ship-shape, or bermuda-shape before I make my oxford outing.

Good things come in small packages and Spring’s small bag trend is proof positive. Out with the enormous and in with the intimate. Bags have gotten smaller and so should the schtuff we schlep around. From structured to slouchy and slim, the small bag trend will be good to your pocket book and good to your back, neck and shoulders.

Tribal trends have been on the tundra and on the horizon for some time. There is an easy way to incorporate the tribal frenzy into your wardrobe by sticking with our mantra: less is more. One doesn’t need to compete with the high priestess of South Africa and go head to toe. No no no, one needs to layer in a little at a time. Whether it be a stunning scarf, beautiful belt or slimming skirt, one piece is often all it takes.

Check back next month for more tips and trends. And if you want us to blog, write, or spew about something specific, post it below and I’ll get on it as soon as I get back from buying my oxfords.

No need to wait for Spring Cleaning, January tis the season for cleanin’.

Best start to a new year: a new closet. We’ll have your
closet ship shape for the low low cost of free if you follow these simple
nonnegotiable rules:

1. If you haven’t worn it in a year: toss it. Nope. Zip it! Don’t want to
hear it. If you haven’t worn it in a year no matter the reason toss it or
donate it. Collecting
dust is a national pastime for most unworn garments and accessories. The
twelve month mark means its pink slip time peeps.

2. Ripped, yellowed, pilled, oh my. Garments missing zippers, sporting a
hole or are the soup du jour for les moths may not be worthy of donation,
but cotton can be recycled as cleaning rags or more, wool and synthetics are most likely worthy of the trash. Same goes
for seriously scuffed shoes, broken heels, outdated bags, and belts that are
too short, too tight and anything too beaten up.

3. If it’s not flattering don’t wear it, consign it. Just because it
looked good on the rack, or looked good on the runway, doesn’t mean every
garment flatters every silhouette. It is ok, more than ok, to admire
something from afar and to admit we are not all Kate Moss. If it
accentuates what it shouldn’t drop it at your nearest consignment shop,
stat.

4. A surplus of suits and special occasion? There are charities a plenty
for women reentering the work force and
teenagers in need of a prom dress. Keep
your receipts as you’ll need them come April 15th, but donating like-new
suits and dressy attire are always en vogue.

5. Organize it. If you can’t see it, you won’t wear it. A neatly arranged
closet lends more wardrobe functionality and more outfit options. Have
jewelry displayed, belts visible, clothing by color, and bags by size.

Go forth our fine friends. Be victorious. And when you surface from your
self imposed war zone, post a comment back here telling us how invaluable we
are. A little flattering goes a long way for those of us that fish for
compliments.

It’s appropriately called: JONESING. And we are jonesing for it. Well, at least Pam is. She has the iPhone, I’m getting mine for Christmas. Ssssh, it’s a surprise, I’m not supposed to know.

Anyhoo, so excited for Jonesing because it is no secret that I am a certified, five star shopping expert. No joke. Ask anyone that knows me. In fact, I’ve probably grossly underrated myself.

Back to Jonesing…when you download the free app, you get daily offers on your hot little iPhone telling you of exclusive sales and even more exclusive promotional codes you plug in at checkout, and BANG, instant gratification!

Not only will you be stimulating the economy AND your senses, but you’ll be protecting the pocketbook by getting the best price around!

So go forth my fine shopping friends. But go to iTunes first and get Jonesing.

We gals here at Pitch! are making our list and checking it twice, though when it gets down to the task at hand, Pam and I are quite different shoppers.

Pam is the online maven. She can order everything from a freezer to an elliptical and still squeeze in some serious face time on J Crew. She finds the best deals, greatest steals, and gets free shipping on everything!

I am a sensory shopper. I love to escape into a store and meander. Granted, if I’m armed with my naughty and nice list, I can punch out some serious purchasing power. But I still like to take-in the displays, enjoy the visuals, and be inspired.

The rapid rat race keeps us racing against the clock and ourselves. First the fax brought up our pace and our deadlines, then email took our workloads and tasks to ridiculously high expectations, and now the mobile phone has us on-duty 24/7.

So meandering = a mini electronics-free 20 minute vacay. Even if it is the official season of officially bad holiday music played at high levels. Maybe I should meander over to the earmuff section…

So go forth my holiday shoppers! But remember to stop and meander every once and a while. And if you say “What about the office? What about my cell?” To that I would say “Bah Humbug.”