IF THE ROO FITS…

I hate to rush this one but I have to meet my new assistant Hallie at Laguna Coffee Company at 3:30 (8 minutes). If I'm late she'll buy my latte and that makes me feel bad so I have to beat her. If you're in Laguna stop by and say hi. We'll be there chatting about my new series for about an hour and a half.

That's right. I finally have an assistant. She's going to help me with research, putting together focus groups, sorting fan mail, and hiring an intern. Having help was one of the many revelations I've had during my month of "air." The other major one was fashion related. Natch.

You see, I am going to the MTV VMAs on Sunday with one of my best friends from New York- Cheryl. I call her Roo (long story). Anyway, I met Roo at the MTV offices in NYC. We shared an office and became buddies before lunch time. She was, however, fashionable challenged. Not that I cared. She was smart, funny, adorable, and a blast to go out with. Anyway, the point is, she sort of saw me as her fashion advisor. A role I didn't ask for but embraced, as you can imagine. I remember spending a weekend laying on her bed advising her what to toss and what to keep from her closet. Most of it went.

She spent the next fifteen years filling it back up again. And we're talking some high end stuff. (As the years passed Roo became a very successful TV producer. She has done a ton of True Life episodes and even started her own company. She can afford it.)

I, on the other hand, work alone in a beach town. I love flare jeans and flip-flops. If I'm tanned I don't wear makeup and I usually leave the house with wet hair. A far cry from the old days.

So Roo is freaking out because she thinks I'm going to accompany her to the VMAs wearing UGGs. Why? Because I told her I would be wearing a dress over jeans to the event. She freaked again and begged me to shop.

Feeling the pressure I took to the mall yesterday and thumbed through hundreds of dresses.  Maybe thousands.

I bought boots.

Fabulous peep-toe ankle boots the color of a sun-kissed camel. I brought those suckers home and tried them with my old dresses. Every one of them looked new again.  The search was over. I was sold. Boots last. Dresses are a one off. Boots are the new dress.

I couldn't wait to rub this one in Roo's face. To tell her I was above dress collecting. To tell her I was confident enough to repeat outfits. To tell her just because I didn't shop all the time I still had style. So much style I could turn boots into an incredible outfit.

So I did.

And you know what she said? "Funny, I just did the same thing."

Man, I'm a good teacher.

I'll give you plenty of scoop from the VMAs and hopefully post a picture or two of the boots.

SHOUT OUT TO ROO. See you Sunday!

Lisi

XXXXXXX