Undecided.

Celebrate Women's Day with pledge, Kate Spade, book

Today is International Women's Day and countries all over the world will be honoring and continuing to strive for women's social, economic and political achievements.

International Women's Day started in 1911 and there are many ways to show your support, including signing a pledge to support the Join me on the Bridge campaign. Today, the campaign united women in Congo and Rwanda, and together they demanded peace and development. In New York and London, women walked across major bridges and gathered to make peace banners. By signing the pledge, you'll be showing the government that you want it to invest in women.

If you would rather make a statement with jewelry, Kate Spade has partnered with Women for Women International and the Join Me on the Bridge campaign, and made a limited edition bangle. It costs $48 and 25 percent of proceeds benefit Women for Women International.

If you're still not sure how to show your support, put Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women on your book list! The film inspired by the book played at select theaters late last week in celebration of International Women's Day, and shared tales of women's struggles and triumphs. You also can donate to CARE, which helps empower women to change the world.

How will you celebrate women today?!
xoxo,
Lisa Marie

Sick of sticky notes? Try online to-do lists

I've finally started cleaning up my mess of an e-mail, but I realized I was still sending myself to-do lists electronically and placing sticky notes in my purse to keep from forgetting things.

I did a little research and found there are a number of sites that offer list-building tools, which is much more effective and manageable than posting sticky notes everywhere. Accounts at the sites below are free and once you sign-up, you can build and manage all the lists you want!

Earlier today, I e-mailed myself the name of a musician I didn't want to forget (James Otto, for all those wondering!) and now I've deleted the e-mail (which would've gotten lost in a sea of e-mails, anyways) and created a list of musicians I can add to at any time. I now have a go-to spot to keep all my long- and short-term to-dos, grocery list - you name it! TODOIST has Gmail integration, which is yet another step to streamline your life, so if that's appealing to you, try it out! Toodledo and Tadalist also offer users simple list-making options, and each site has its own bells and whistles.

My plan is to continue to maintain the planner I keep in my purse so I can jot things down and have a schedule when I'm on-the-go, but keep the bulk of my to-do items in an online home instead of scattered about.

Another life- and time-saver is Doodle. If you exchange 42 e-mails before you narrow down which day to get together with your girls, you must use Doodle. You go on, pick dates for your event and send it to those invited. Once your guests answer, you're able to view which day works best for everyone without sending e-mails back-and-forth. My dear friend Lindsey got me hooked on the site and you should be too. It will change your life. Or at least the amount of time you spend planning a night of cosmos.

Cheers to simplifying life!
xoxo,
Lisa Marie

Ch-ch-ch-changes: new URL

Undecided now is located at www.undecidedinthewindy.com. The old URL (laidoffladies.com) has been redirected to the new URL. Laid-off Ladies was reinvented and renamed Undecided in November 2009. Visit the About this Blog section for more details, or comment below if you have questions!
xoxo, lm

Pretty City loves you: $59 salon, spa services

With the harshness of winter and sometimes life, a day of relaxation can be such a treat. Pretty City has teamed with area spas to make it easy for Chicagoans to get in from the cold and forget about tomorrow's to-do list.

Through Feb. 28, an array of Chicago salons and spas are offering $59 services for the Love You event. Mention you're booking a Love You treatment and you're on your way to a $59 one-hour massage, two private personal training sessions, a facial, highlights, hot cocoa body wrap or champagne and caviar facial (you drink the champagne and the caviar is part of the facial treatment!).

To view a full list of salons, spas, services and details, click here!

What's a beauty treatment or product you can't live without? I can't live without my jojoba oil. I use it to remove my makeup, moisturize my face and treat my skin after I've accidentally slept with my makeup on - opps! I even add the oil to my bathwater sometimes, which makes my skin silky and smooth. It's my best beauty find!

Happy Valentine's Day, loves!
xoxo,
Lisa Marie

Celebrate yourself at Michigan Avenue's Toast event

February is the second month of the year, the month of love to some and to Chicagoans, the month of Toast.

From today through Feb. 28, the Magnificent Mile will "celebrate life's moments" with its Toast event. Discounts and deals at retailers, restaurants , hotels, galleries and spas are one of the perks, and at 6:30 p.m. on Saturdays in February, city-dwellers can watch fireworks over the Chicago River, 401 N Michigan Ave.

Some of the deals include:

P.J. Clarke's, 1204 N State Parkway, complimentary dessert with any order $25 or more

Park Grill, 11 N Michigan Ave, $5 Thursdays, select bar menu items, cocktails, beer, wine and food menu for $5 from 5 p.m.-close. Valid in the bar and lounge only.

Filene's Basement, 830 N Michigan Ave, mention its toast to its 100-year anniversary and you'll get 15 percent off one item

Spa Nordstrom, 520 N Michigan, is offering a couple's massage for $220, which includes a sparkling drink and 60-minute massage.

MCA, 220 E Chicago Ave, has complimentary admission for February birthdays and anniversaries.

To see a full list of participating Toast deals, click here. Here's to you!

xoxo,
Lisa Marie

Girls' night at Trousseau

Get your girls together and prepare for a night of free fun! Trousseau, 3543 N Southport Ave., is hosting a night for you and your girls from 6-9 p.m. Thursday.

All you have to do is arrive with your friends and you'll get to sip on cosmos and get pampered while watching Sex and the City. You also can shop around their racks, find a swimsuit (warm weather will be here soon!) or something pretty for Valentine's Day.

Benefit will be on-hand for mini makeovers and Pinky Nails will give mini-manicures, while Art & Science offers bang trims and flat iron touch-ups.

If you make a lingerie purchase, you'll also receive a swag bag. It's the perfect way to unwind and spend some quality time with your girls. Go treat yourself!

xoxo,
Lisa Marie

Pizza and martinis? OK!

Red Ivy and Moxie are both offering great deals in January to get you out of your heated home and into their cozy Lakeview establishments. And with these deals, it'll be hard to miss it ... even if there's a blizzard and it's -145.

With Moxie's chic decor and giant, comfy booths, it's the perfect setting for something I'm sure we all have on our resolution list: stay in better touch with friends. Catch up with all your girlfriends for $3 martinis on Tuesdays during January and make sure you get up for work the next morning by downing buy 1 small plate, get 1 free. Yum!

Next door, Red Ivy is offering $3 medium thin crust pizzas and $2 imported drafts on Wednesdays in January. Grab a seat in one of the many booths or tables, chow down on Palermo's pizza and bust a move to their music. Make sure you have your wing women in tow because there's a good chance there will be some cute boys in the crowd. 

Next week, get your girls together and go! What else will you do on a Tuesday or Wednesday? Your TV will still be there when you get home. And you can Facebook stalk later (or on your phone while you're there. I've found that group Facebook stalking is highly entertaining.).

Here's to many girls' nights - filled with giggling, gossiping and glamour - in 2010!
xoxo,
Lisa Marie

Make your season bright

It's official: the holidays are almost here! I don't know if I can contain myself. After months of false holiday cheer simulated by over-eager stores, Thanksgiving's so close I can taste it. And that's when my real holiday season begins. 

 

In the spirit of the season of this week, which will be filled with all kinds of glorious things - my family, my grandma's delicious pumpkin squares, the 3 - yes, 3 - turkeys my dad makes (one baked, one grilled, one deep fried!), the Black Friday deals and the leftovers, here's some things you shouldn't forget:

- Be grateful. For the last few years, my entire family writes down what they're thankful for on a Thanksgiving placemat. My mom puts out all the placemats from years' past and all of us - cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, nieces and nephews - read what we were thankful for the year before.There have been some significant others that have made it on the list one year but not the next (which gives us all a good laugh), but reading and writing it makes us all feel really thankful. Even if last year's Thanksgiving boyfriend left you on the curb. 

- Black Friday! Here's some sites that list the deals - or alleged deals - coming our way. Sales, more sales and even more sales. Oh, wait, there's more sales, more and whew!

- Lincoln Park ZooLights start Friday, Nov. 27 at 5 p.m. Admission is free.

- Winter wonderland. All nine of the city's ice skating rinks open Saturday, Nov. 28. Admission is free if you bring your own skates. Otherwise, they're available by rental.

- Relax. Sit with some hot cocoa or cider and watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.

- Love. Give lots of hugs to all those you are thankful for!

Have a very happy Thanksgiving!
xoxo,
Lisa Marie

Sample sale at Kate Spade online

Right in time for the holidays, Kate Spade is having an online sample sale with markdowns on handbags, wallets, clothing and jewelry. It ends Nov. 13 but due to high demand and limited inventory, visit the site ASAP if you're looking to make a purchase. Go forth and conquer, ladies!

A special thanks to all the veterans out there. You're an inspiration.
Have a great day!
xoxo,
Lisa Marie

P.S. Also, if you're looking for Veterans Day deals, I found a site that has an extensive list of promotions. VeteransDaySales.com has compiled a list of deals, some which expire today and others that expire later this week.

Laid-off Ladies finally has been reinvented and renamed Undecided. Until February 2010, the URL and e-mail will remain www.laidoffladies.com and askthegirls@laidoffladies.com. More information can be found in the About this Blog section. xoxo, lm