BARKER HOWL

Kids,

You guys, followers, YOU are the best to stay with me as I continue to cast the line into the world of blogging. I dearly LOVE you for sticking and switching and so on.

So, I hope you will continue to do as I attempt to blend Cheeply into Barker Howl.

I see you shooting me the old side-eye, and I don't blame you. It is my feeling that Barker Howl will offer a much broader platform for topics and give Gaz the opportunity to offer his two cents occasionally in a fun arena. Hope you agree.

Some of you have with me from the beginning of Cavalier Diva...over 300 of those babies are sitting out there. Anyway, I treasure you and truly hope you will become a follower on Barker (thank you V, for already doing so). Don't forget to comment when you feel the urge.

If you opt not to step on over, I completely understand.

See ya, kids!!

BARKER HOWL...

Bark or Howl with us...

BITCHIN' IN THE PALM BEACHES!!

http://barkerhowl.blogspot.com

Yep, it's another blog, 'cause we just keep trying to get better and better, okay????

GOOGLE EARTH AND THE PLANET CALLED WEST PALM

Salud, Kids!!

Busy week, but still attempting to find chic and cheap tidbits to bring to the blog.

Evidently, my mutt (it annoys some when I refer to my Cavi-Girl as a mutt, but she's okay with it as long I keep her in sassy and flashy what-have-you, Palm Beach style)...has absolutely no difficulty in finding a truly cheap form of entertainment. Yep, she just pushes this little white waste basket over and crawls inside (well, she isn't exactly a perfect fit). Don't get all PETA on me, it is a new and perfectly pristine vessel, okay?

##

Oh, if you feel the inclination, go ahead and go to Google and vote for West Palm Beach as a best city type thing. Hey, I don't CARE if you think your city is the best, we are in the running for this lame title, so get on it and vote for a truly Cheeply Chic place to drop your faux Louis Vuitton luggage!!

##

Truthfully, I am gearing up the second saga of my little novel project called, The Bainbridges of the Palm Beaches. What? You didn't know there was even a first novel? Rest easy, you ain't alone. It is the best kept secret by the Atlantic. Listen, how do I expect to get my little fiction work noticed when Florida has all the drama of Tiger Woods, that crappy show about Jersey moving to Miami and other random scandals?

Foolishly, I forge ahead and write the second saga...to be dumped into the universe of other obscure and unnecessary fiction ramblings.

Gotta go click the keys and get on with my exquisite character development. It can be exquisite if I say so, so there!!

Go be cheep like me, kids!!

Bye now!
Pamme
It's Chic to be Cheep

PALM BEACH WEEKEND

Salud, Kids!

Today we bring you a Cheep Monday with lots of weekend videos and snaps. We know you'd rather look than read, so we're here to make that happen.

Saw the Beach Boys last night and it was incredible. Best show of the season at the Kravis. Snapped the Playbill for ya.

Brit and I zipped around The Palm Beaches on Saturday afternoon and snagged a few shots of fun architecture to share with you. It's free to take photos and look at fun places.


Now, I gotta get on with my Monday and see what else is going on...Cheeply Chic style.

Bye Now!
Pamme
It's Chic To Be Cheep

HOPPING DOWN THE HAM AND EGG TRAIL

Salud, Kids!

Time for a Cheeply Chic holiday celebration.

So, bring on the ham and Paula Deen style deviled eggs!!

Our mutt agrees...okay, she's really a Cavalier King Charles, but we don't want that to go to her head...nah, she needs to keep paws securely on the marble floor of the condo!!

Reggie agrees that it is time for ham. Too bad she won't get any of the fabulous spiral cut version I plucked from the bin at Target yesterday. For under $15.00, we will feast for days (maybe just one). Oh, we will bake with a lovely orange glaze...just to jazz it up.

Listen, gone are the days of me ordering a Honey Baked ham and then standing in a ridiculous line for the privilege of paying a ridiculous price for a, slightly, above average hunk of pork. Done with that crap.

I did splurge on a bottle of white wine, just so you know!!

Have a yummy weekend and keep it chic.

Bye now!
Pamme
It's Chic to be Cheep

ROLLING WITH THE ROLLS ROYCE

Salud, Kids!

The hell you say...a photo of a Rolls? You know how cheap I am, so if you thought that headline meant I was rolling INSIDE a Rolls Royce-well, I'm not sure you have been paying attention to the cheapness of these blog topics.

Let me tell you I try to never miss an opportunity to share my Cheeply Chic life with ALL of you. So, I offer you this photo, snapped with my iPhone, while stuck in traffic on Okeechobee in West Palm Beach. Come ON, I know it's a tad grainy, but it IS a Rolls. I promise on my Bed, Bath & Beyond, 20% off coupons (and you know how I love those things).

My theory? If you can't really HAVE a dreamy car like a Rolls...just drive around town until you spot one and drive along behind it or beside it. It's quite easy here in The P-Beaches. Try to simply ignore the glares and nasty hand gestures coming from the driver or passengers.

Well, do that until their security team attempts to curb your Ford compact and bitch-slap you into next week. Oh, if you live in a place where there is a shortage of Rolls or other exotic rides, just substitute anything that makes you feel more glam just be to sharing the road with it.

Ride, ride, ride...hitchin' a ride...beside...a random luxury car!!! Now, that's chic!

Bye now!
Pamme
It's Chic to be Cheep
PS-Let us all send a gigantic shout-out to Gaz, for sending us this zippy photo of a Ford Pinto. Ride, ride, ride...in a Pinto station wagon. We could tell you tales about one of those babies.

LET US ENTERTAIN YOU, CHEEPLY CHIC AND WEST PALM STYLE

Salud, Kids! Monday bores my Cavi-girl. Oh, yeah, she's all about the weekend. Wait, maybe it's those law books of B's that are boring her. Nah, can't be that. Anyway, we bring you Cheeply Chic weekend videos. Don't judge us too harshly, we're trying to be entertaining and we don't even really KNOW you, so it's a challenge, okay?!! Hope yours was divin!! Stay with us and remember to keep it cheap, but always chic. Bye now! Pamme It's Chic to be Cheep

YACHTS IN THE RAIN, TICKET EXTORTION AND CRAZY MONEY

Salud, Kids!

Is it just us? I'm serious. Are we the only ones attempting to discover and embrace a new dawning of chic? Perhaps.

Wait. Paula Deen, the queen of all things butter, did mention on the Food Network how awesome it is to make delicious food costing mere pennies. She threw in how it is possible and fun to find glorious treasures, such as fancy linen napkins and table decor at your local flea markets. Points to Paula for keeping it mostly real.

Okay then...Cheeply Chic AND Paula Deen. I think the rest of the world has gone mad.

Why you ask?

Did you kids see the story of the Getty divorce situation? Well, it is fascinating and insane. Evidently it takes around $300,000.00-per MONTH-for this Getty woman to live in the standard to which she is accustomed. I'm not kidding, but she has to be. Yes, yes, the Getty fortune is a million-billion or something along those lines. I don't care how much they have, the universe does not need to hear of such excess. It's not like she was asking to fund a new kidney or something. Nah, she needs to give parties and shop. Seriously sad. Help any helpless lately, lady? Just asking.

##

My Cheeply Chicness got really rankled today when I heard about AMC and maybe other movie theaters raising ticket prices---a lot. Yep, they've decided patrons need to PAY dearly for the privilege of seeing crap movies, especially the 3D variety. If you ask me, and they will never, they should pay US to come and see the drivel on the screens. We all know the prices they charge for stale popcorn and syrupy drinks is already extortion. Isn't that enough? Apparently not. Greed is so un-chic.

##

Hope you enjoyed our little video today. We love sharing with you and we look forward to hearing back from you. Maybe we'll see of you hanging 'round the yachts.

Coming soon...more consignment store chat and chic street tours 'round The Palm Beaches.

Stay with us!!

Bye now!
Pamme
It's Chic To Be Cheep

PALM BEACH KONA GIRL AND HOT YACHTS

Salud Kids!!


Things have been spinning 'round our digs, but we've been trying to keep the Cheeply Chic blog top of mind. Still, we've missed chatting with you these past few days. I've kept Brit busy doing little Cheep Chat videos, and we hope you like 'em.

Today we offer Kona as a simply divine example of a place for loads of fun at ridiculously reasonable prices during their Happy Hours. Choose one of MANY delicious appetizers and pair it with wine, beer or cocktails and fun will be had for all. Trust us. If you have a Kona near you, try it out, but get there early. It's popular and tables can be scare.

Have a fave in your area? Share it with us and we'll share it here.


##


Cheeply Chic Chat tips our Lilly Dache to our friend, Natalie, who definitely makes the island of Manhattan much more chic with her presence. Natalie shared a photo of her Mother being pampered at the Mac counter, NYC, Bloomies. She also suggested we all take advantage of a lovely and free make-over or glam session at a major department store. Great suggestion and we love ideas sent to the blog. One more thing though...Natalie thought it a good idea, and we completely agree, you buy a little something post-make-over. We may be Chic on the Cheep, but we are classy, right? Indeed!

Natalie, we appreciate your support of the blog and your Mom for allowing us to use her photo. She looks beautiful.


##


A jewel was delivered right to our 17th floor door this morning. No, not from Tiffany's, from the newspaper. Slapped right on the front page was a half price coupon for the Boat Show this weekend. When I say Boat...think REALLY BIG BOAT. Who are they kidding...it's all about the yachts.

As you can see from the snap, we can view it, somewhat, from our terrace, but for half-price, we're going all out and stepping on down to Flagler and feast our eyes on how the un-cheep, but not any more chic than the rest of us, live. We'll report back to ya!!


##


My darling one, Gaz, also tries to bring chic ideas to the blog, but I'm not sure about his latest offering. He lugged home those little waxy mini-bottles filled with fruity liquid. I wonder if he was trying to tell me something about having a SERIOUSLY cheap cocktail hour. Nah, he found them for me after I mentioned them the other night. What a guy!!

Keep it cheap, but chic!!

Bye now!!
Pamme
It's Chic to be Cheep

DRESSING FOR DINNER WITH RHYTHM

Salud, Kids!

Friday night is dress-up night (if you don't fuss for yourself, who you gonna) 'round our digs. Yep, we "dress" for dinner in a tip of our fabulous Lilly Dache (look it up) to the classic movie days when the ladies wore sparkly dresses and the gentlemen wore tails to dinner and retired to the "drawing room" for brandy.

Time to dine, have music and sip wine and champagne...all within the framework of being cheaply chic. Kids, don't ya think it's time we attempted to shove all the negative junk into the trash-heap and find simple ways of reviving the art of sophistication? They accomplished this after the crash of 1929. So, if it was good enough for them...it's good enough for us. Things may be tough in the world, but inside our little haven...we will try our best to make it a lovely retreat.

We get the impression our Cavi-girl doesn't care so much and that we are about as entertaining as reality television, which isn't saying much. But she loves to have her fur fluffed, just in case another mutt strolls into the picture looking suave. She may not be Asta, but she will do.

##

We wrap up Cheeply Chic Week with a shaking of the cocktail shaker. Now, go dress up and have a lovely dinner and cocktails. It doesn't matter what the menu, if you feel glam, you ARE glam and so is your evening.

Stay with us.

Bye now!
Pamme
It's Chic to be Cheap

IT'S ALL IN THE RHYTHM

TUESDAY MORNING ON A THURSDAY AFTERNOON

Salud, Kids!


For the Love of Big Lots, we are still roaming 'round The Palm Beaches in search of Spring Break bargains and deals, cheaply chic style, of course. The mutt decided she would just stay wrapped in a towel and let us be on our way. Smart girl.

##

Today? We zigged and zagged on Dixie Highway and Okeechobee and found, not that much really. By the time we sashayed into Tuesday Morning we were starting to feel the need for a coffee or chocolate chip cookie break. Not much there to rave about. The only treasures we secured were two insulated car coffee containers by Cuisinart for $5.99, each. Not bad, but not glamorous either.

##

Back inside the car it was time to press on to Petco for Halo dog chow, and quick peek for dog toys on sale. Nothing worth the $$.

##

Halo in hand we buzzed next door to Anna's Linens to feast our eyes on, well, linens, pretty much. Kids, there is just something about that place that makes me want to...leave. It's no Bed, Bath & Beyond. In spite of my need to flee, I found place mats for $1.99 and $2.99, each. I bought a total of eight and this purchase was accomplished in under five minutes.

##

Overall, I would rate our shopping today as below-average in bargains, but way-above-average on the fun scale. We did just a tiny video, on location.

Bye now!
Pamme
It's Chic to be Cheap

ST. PATRICK'S DAY SPRING BREAK CAKE

Salud, Kids!!

DST just won't go away, so I am giving up and accepting what I can not change and bow to the Goddess of the Sun (didn't Bob Mackie create a Barbie with that name?) with offerings of clipped crab-nail-tips and Laughing Cow cheese wedges.

Keeping it cheap this week, let's tip the shamrock to St. Patrick's Day, Spring Break, cupcakes, pop tarts, wine tasting, parking lot hangin' and sweet and tolerant mutts.

Yep, we offer you the Cheeply Chic choice of...

##Buttercream cupcakes or tiny cakes from Publix

##Listening to music while waiting in the car with your best dog friend

##Posing your mutt with Trump...signage

##A mutt who KNOWS how to enjoy a cheap evening with even cheaper people friends

##A wine tasting that is both cheap AND cheesy (even the mutt think so, if you will notice)...we say if ou can't take a joke...well, you know the rest of that quote, so there you go

Keep it green today...green cupcakes that is. Drag your sweet self on out there and find tons of cheap things to do. We all KNOW you don't have to spend a fortune to feel like a million. Spend it if you want, but we think it's simply swell to NOT.



Bye now!
Pamme
It's Chic to be Cheap

POPPIN' FROSTY WINE TARTS

Salud, Kids!

Still crabby, but slightly improved. Yeah, I figure the crab claws protruding from my fingertips have simmered down to crab-claw-tips. Keep in mind my DST-crabby is only slightly improved , so don't cross me.

Read on people, and let us welcome some new international readers!! Thanks for finding us and stay with us. Please and thank you.

##

Our Cheeply Chic Jewel For Today-Have wine glasses from The Dollar Tree you're not using with regularity? Pop 'em on the table and toss in a tea candle purchased on sale at Michael's. Adds drama, subtle mood and glow to any table setting and if the wax spills into the glass, do you really care?

##

DST vacation isn't all about pressing toes into that lovely sand on The Island of Palm Beach. So, Spring Break Video Daddy is working hard and on the job bringing cheeply chic factoids and fun to this lively blog (the level of lively would ratchet on up if you'd tap those claw-tipped pinkies against the computer keys and join in...just sayin').

So, what do we offer up today for your reading, viewing and trash-talking (we know you do it behind our backs and your computer screen, you can't kid us) pleasure? More wine chatter, via the video below. We, along with Welch's, just adore grape-gab!

##

Keep reading, commenting (come ON and comment, you know you want to) and sending us your very own cheeply chic ideas-we love 'em and will pop 'em on out here!!

Bye now!
Pamme
It's Chic To Be Cheap

CAR BREAKING IN PALM BEACH

Salud, Kids!

Sun of the beaches, I am crabby today. So crabby I'm pretty sure I see claws sprouting out the ends of my unmanicured nails. Maybe I'll just slap some red polish on 'em and see if anyone notices.

Kids, I ask you, with all due respect to those idiots (kidding!!) who wax on about how much they relish basking outdoors in the extra hours of daylight in the spring and summer months, I get super annoyed with this time change every other month. I miss my hour and I want it back and NOW!

Actually, I don't object when people want to jockey 'round on their lawn, or hang from trees in the aura of their sacred daylight savings time. I don't give a tiny gnats-ass. I DO mind this ridiculous springing forward and falling back shenanigans. Oh, I mind it very much, so could we simply put a lid it and just STICK with one? Either one will suit me splendidly!!

To shed some positive energy on my negativity, DST does cater to doing things cheeply chic style. Doesn't cost one red cent to plop a fanny into some outdoor chair from KMart and gaze at the weeds growing all around the recycle bins you stashed by the side of the garage. See? Told you I was crabby!

##

Although I am longing for my lost hour I remain the loyal and dedicated blogging servant to my readers, all five of you sensational people. I'm kicking off Palm Beach Spring Break Week in the giddy and goofy style of Cheeply Chic. Today, I have a cheaply done car video interview with a random student spring breaking from the School of Law at the U of Miami. Can you imagine how I secured THIS one? Uh-huh.

I think this one is especially relevant to the topic of being cheap. How much cheaper can you get than sitting in a car in a parking lot? See what I mean?

Bye now!
Pamme
It's Chic To Be Cheap

VIVA VIAS, VIVA VINO, VIVA RESALE VALUES

Salud, Kids!

It's Friday afternoon...well, in the Eastern Time Zone...so, it's almost time to grab that bottle of bargain wine and get cheap with me. Oh, you can get and be cheap, even in The Palm Beaches. Perhaps I should say...ESPECIALLY here. Bernie M. and his band of...well, I'll let you put a name to his band...sort of shifted the Atlantic sand dollars in these parts.

Believe it or not, consignment shopping opportunities are available and scattered from one Bentley saturated parking lot to another. Yep, from Sunset to Worth Avenue, resale and bargain basement (okay, this is in the world of pretend Florida basements) prices are simply rocking the shelves near the Atlantic O.

Seriously, people get rabid about grabbing Prada, Chanel and other la-de-da paraphernalia at rock-bottom, maybe it's sea-level, prices. Heck, they practically steal the stuff. Hold on, perhaps I should find another word...steal and Palm Beach just seems tacky these days. Let's simply say there are deals to be had on all things major, major designer everything.

In the coming weeks, I plan to take you on a virtual tour of Palm Beach vias, via Cheeply Chic Chat. These hidden courtyards (vias) were designed by Addison Mizner, and are reminiscent of shopping in Venice. It's lovely to explore the twists and turns and discover an assortment of archways, fountains, shops, lovely landscaping and restaurants. The truly best part is the exploration is FREE, which is utterly Cheeply Chic worthy.

So, you kids get on out there and do some consignment store exploration and we'll compare and share our finds in upcoming posts. Hm, I wonder if The Palm Beaches rule the roost in resale, or can you beat what I find? PLEASE don't be shy...let's find out what's ridiculously cheap and where!!

Now, relax and sip that Middle Sister, Barefoot or Cakebread (only if you found the last one on sale) wine and have a fabulous, cheap weekend!!

Stay with me...and remember...it's CHIC TO BE CHEAP!!

Bye now!
Pamme

OSCAR, AVA, CANDY JELLY BEANS

Salud, Kids!

For the love of the Dollar Tree, did you happen to catch the recent video zipping all 'round the internet of Candy Spelling and the tour she gave of her humble Los Angeles abode, "The Manor"? You know, the cottage boasting the largest and grandest square footage of any LA residence. Yep, that manor.

Old Hot-Tamale-Candy (picture tongue firmly in cheek here) has given us tiny glimpses into her rarefied world in the past, but this time she shared a little more than the gift wrapping rooms (plural) and her 1,000 china patterns. I learned so very much about the insane and insanely rich from that short clip. For instance, I had no idea one should coordinate the color of jelly beans to match each room in one's square footage. You do that you know when your dining room seats thirty and is acoustically perfect so you can hear a pin drop from one end of the table to the other.

My dining table only seats six, so maybe I should just color coordinate my rooms with little bunches of that crummy penny candy you can buy at The Party Store. I just discovered that candy this past weekend, by the way. I did wonder how often they change that stuff out. The Party Store is fun though, with some decent deals on napkins and, well, party favors. Shocker, huh?

Sweet treats aside, I swear, my cheeply chic self just shivered when I saw that video of Rock-Candy giving that tour with a straight face. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the idiocy of such excess. The richly-rich can seem so pathetically-poor these days. Poor in spirit is the worst.

##

Speaking of spirits, after seeing all that Spelling ditz, glitz and glam, I zipped right out and splurged on Moet champagne, the official swill of the Oscars. Yeah, it's not Dom, but I figured anything good enough to bubble on the nose of Meryl Streep is mighty-fine for the champagne flutes I grabbed the other day at Ross for $6.99.

My new mission...finding fun ways to keep the cheeply chic carriage rolling, rolling, rolling...inspired me to honor Hollywood royalty of the past and the memory of two stars who blazed across the screen in, Night of the Iguana. So, I grabbed a camera and hauled two good sports up to the pool deck of our building and snapped away. I think Richard Burton and Ava Gardner would be pleased with the above result, but I think they capture that movie-star-look much better than the originals.

##

Even though I haven't seen all the Oscar noms this year, I always love to settle in with some pigs-in-blankets and champagne and gawk at the egos in gowns and tuxedos. Come ON, don't judge me, you know you want to see the dresses and jewels. I keep hoping and waiting for someone to pull a cheeply chic cheek and admit their great-granny made their dress on a Singer sewing machine, from fabric snatched out of the discount bin at JoAnn Fabrics. Now THAT would be original and cheeply-chic worthy.

##

Who's gonna win this year? What are they gonna be wearing while giving thanks to all the saints and sinners and cinematographers? Will we care after a few flutes of Moet? Not much, but those pigs cloaked in puffy blankets make it all worth the watch!!

Bye now!
Pamme

SUDZ OVER MIAMI AND GERMAN PANCAKES

Salud, Kids!

Publix is making it back into the Cheeply Chic Chat today. Just a quick mention regarding their buy one...get one free promotion. It's fabulous, just watch carefully at check out...sometimes the register doesn't ring it up properly! Great deals and very cheeply chic worthy. If you don't have Publix in your area, just check for similar sales with your grocer. Buy one, get one just makes us smile 'round our digs.

##

Wine and chocolate make a perfect pairing and perfect conversation topic. Yep, looks like we've decided red wine is the perfect compliment for that chocolate pie we mentioned in an earlier blog. Red wine and chocolate, now that's a tasting I can approve!

##

Weekend is here and Gaz and I will host a lovely guest for breakfast in the morning before she jets home to a very, very cold state. It's going to be German pancakes, side dishes, coffee, mimosas and great conversation. Ah, don't you just love an international meal, even in the morning? Too bad I'm not a morning person! Well, I CAN be, especially when you slap coffee, followed with a glass of champagne and oj into my half-awake palm.

Our breakfast aside, I hear it's certainly going to be international in parts of Miami over the weekend. Got wind that some sort of foreign-based soap opera will be filming at the Miami condo building of our two B's, shown in the snap above. Who knows, they could get discovered and become famous in another country! Could happen, I mean don't you think B looks all soap-opera star-ish with his back to the camera? Wait, maybe he just doesn't want to be seen in Cheeply Chic. Nah, that can't be it.

##

Now, get out there and get some international or local bargains to chat about here at Cheeply Chic!

Bye now!
Pamme

BEYOTCH 'N BOOTS AND MOSUL

Salud, Kids!

Whoa, we've got gorgeous sun today, but it's chilly and made the glass on the outside doors and windows all frosty and shimmery looking, don't you think? Just had to share it, not that you care how frosty I am. Yeah, some people would say in more ways than one, but that's another blog.

Instead of weather or my many personality flaws, I'm going to come straight out and admit that I wasted valuable time the other evening on the WORST show you can imagine. I assure you the only reason I continued to give it the time of night was the location. Like enduring a dreadfully dull evening with boring people, I sat and watched as Giuliana and Bill, a dreadfully dull couple, fussed and fumed all over Hong Kong. What a couple. Couple of what is yet to be determined. I only give this space here because of one particular statement uttered by the annoyingly idiotic, Giuliana, which made me sniff and snort with irritation. Just a small bit, but so very telling. After receiving a compliment on her boots she sort of dismissed it with a wave and utterance of them being from last year. I swear she even tilted her head so her nose was elevated, every so slightly in the air.

As we swirl and twirl and toss our bargain hunting secrets for living large and spending small here at Cheeply Chic, a statement in that vein is more than shallow and vain. It is absurd. People are hurting, all over the world and facing financial challenges like never before, and some twit on television has the audacity to say her freaking boots are from last year. Beyotch, please! Even my beautiful and tolerant Cavi-Girl hid her face during this frivolous crap.

I decided to make a little pile of some of my boots (I promise my shoes aren't THAT much of a mess, well, not so much anyway) and snap them for you. I think they look swell...worn, but with character. So, today I salute all you kids who, like me, have been zipping and snapping on the same boots from not only last year...but, the year before that, and that, and that. I will admit the need for boot wearing isn't crushingly important here in The Palm Beaches, but my boots are still being worn, a little, and they look just fine to me. Sorry, Guiliana, if you don't approve. Boots are made for wearing 'n walking...no matter the year made. May I suggest G (as Bill calls her) get her boot-clad pinkies down-to-earth, like the majority of us?

Now, I don't recommend the Bill and Idiot show, but I do recommend the Hans Schiller Mosul wine you don't see in that lovely empty green bottle. It's German and quite inexpensive at Total Wine, so when you want a cool and refreshing white on a warm evening, pop the cork and give it a sip. I don't think you'll regret the few dollars spent.

Oh, this white was found by Gaz during one of our Wine Roulette games. Sabrina, let me know how it goes with you and T, okay? I think we should make Wine Roulette an official game all across the country...heck let's make it international. Think of the great time we could have!

Bye now!
Pamme

WINE ROULETTE WITH RAIN OVER THE PALM BEACHES

Salud, Kids!

Raining, thundering and just kind of warm and smoky-looking over the southern Atlantic and the coastal area this morning. Cooler weather coming, so time to ponder all things epicurean. Why does dreary weather make me want to cook creatively? Too much Food Network? Well, so be it. Is chocolate pie considered gourmet and would you serve it with red or white wine? Ponder that and get back to me.

You know the best part, for me, about a blog? The participation of others-revolving around hot topics, cool topics or just pointless topics. It's like being together, 'round a lovely dinner table or on a beautiful veranda simply chatting with fabulous and fascinating people you adore. When you guys comment, it's like you're here in The Palm Beaches hangin' out with me. I adore that image.

As a voracious reader of a multitude of blogs, I clearly realize how difficult it is to publicly post an opinion. Easier, by far, to be an invisible reader and simply enjoy the ride, vicariously. Understood.

However, as the creator of this new, and what I hope will become a fun and exciting blog-ride, I want to give a proper Palm Beach curtsy to those commenting in the first few days. Seriously, without you guys dropping in, I'm just chatting to myself and my Cavi-girl in a vapid void. Plus, your comments are valid and insightful. Fun too. Not to mention I'm using them, only slightly edited, in this blog! So, thanks for helping me write this thing.

Grab a beverage and let us cheeply chat a bit more about wine. You in? Excellent!

##

Funny thing about wine. It appears to me to be one of those topics...you know what I'm talking about here, don't you? True and absolute wine-snobs loathe the idea of mixing it up with mere sippers of the grape. Oh, there's a difference and it is ridiculous. Maybe not so much in the time of the rich and fake-rich of a few years ago...but, now...come ON!!

Kids, 'round our place we indulge in a finer wine here and there, of course. But, we decided, I believe on a trip to Total Wine one Saturday, to play the game a bit differently for fun AND the faux-designer wallet.

Gaz and I invented a sort of wine-roulette/adult treasure hunt game. Roam the store, independently, and come together later with our fantastic, ten dollar or less wine finds.

Admittedly, some of it is swill and is dumped, which is a waste except for recycling the bottle...but, mostly we have found decent wines, at ridiculously reduced prices. I won't kid you, we toss in a few standard favorites as back-up. Still, most of our go-to varietals can be had for twenty or under. Mostly. Oh, be sure to use your wine store discounts and coupons. We try to make it a habit, and when I say we, it's the "royal". Gaz is much better than I at the whole coupon thing. I'm crap at it, I'll just tell ya.

Amazingly, after we have our tastings...and, only AFTER...we will seek reviews on the internet and are usually in agreement. Speaking of things internet, be sure to become fans and/or friends of your favorites or future favorites on Facebook, if you aren't already. Reason? Many wine makers offer specials on their sites. We only consider this if they offer free shipping. Free shipping is BIG at our place.

READ ON and see what your fellow wine swillers have to say about some of their favorite cheeply chic grape drink...cheers to them...

SABRINA SUGGESTS-A Cabernet from Argentina called Catena is on the list of good, under $20 wines. We picked it up this weekend while at Sigel's (Dallas area)when it was highly recommended by one of the employee's...and it definitely didn't. Add DaVinci Chianti to the list of cheap and fabulous. Heck, they sell it at my local grocery store, in a town of, well you know, not very many! It's fantastic to snatch up a bottle and take into those incredible little family Italian restaurants (the kind where the focus in on food and they let you bring the wine).

GRETCHEN SUGGESTS-Red Tree, Pinot Noir, $7.00, Whole Foods. Definitely would buy it again.

TEDDY-Love Cakebread Wines, but have been enjoying BLACK BOX Wines...equivalent to 4 bottles...Sam's Club or Publix...under $20.00!!!

These are excellent suggestions, so get out there and see what you can find. Keep on dancin' and prancin' and sharin' this good info.

Lastly, from B down in Miami, who is one of those silent reader types...won't comment, but shares fab information such as this link. Oh, when I read it, for me, the very best part was simply the sharing part. Could not agree more. If the link doesn't work for you, it's salon.com.

Bye now!
Pamme
http://www.salon.com

FIREWORKS OVER THE HALO

Salud, Kids!

Whew, it's HARD to ramp up a new blog and I have four followers and three comments on the Monday post. So, I'm toasting cheeply divine wine to Sabrina, Natalie, Gretchen and Kitty. You kids...well, thanks for the support. Fun, fun, fun!!!

Now, let's just keep this thing rolling, what do you say? I am imagining your heads nodding agreement.

My cavi-girl got a reprieve from bargain store brand chow. The votes are in and unanimous. Halo it is. To be fair to B, he is feeding three cats on a strict (putting it mildly) budget while putting himself through law school, so cutting him some slack. In time, I'll let him buy Reggie's Halo AND Bumble Bee for the kitties.

Natalie, owner of the sweetest NYC canine, Tasha, suggested I visit the Halo site for bargains and coupons. I will and thanks Nat. Great idea. Do you guys use coupons, in general? I'm horrible about coupons. Must get better, must get better, must get better.

Both Sabrina (Texas sweetheart and mommy to three beautiful Labs), and Gretchen (who struts her stuff with Jon and their Golden, Murphy) agree I should stay the course, keep Ellen and Petco in the chips by buying la-de-da chow for my fluffy-paws.

Another Palm Beacher and cavi-mommycavi agreed with the concensus of dog food opinions. She also chatted about the recent festivities 'round here. Talk about cheap. Well, the festivities were free, but the reason hardly. See, the city did a $30 million (plus) waterfront renovation and it was unveiled on Saturday afternoon and evening with grand fanfare. We, including the mutt, strolled and perused and it is seriously gorgeous along Flagler. Reggie really got her sniff on and even ran into Stella, a bulldog from the building. The celebration concluded with the most beautiful fireworks display, which we viewed from our 17th floor terrace. Oh, toasting with a nice Cake Bread wine (we splurged, okay?).

Speaking of Cake Bread wine...cheap wine chat...coming. Know any good ones like the Barefoot in the snap above? You know you do, so toss 'em in the old blog hat and share the juice on the grape juice.

Bye now!
Pamme

PRICE, PUBLIX AND PETCO

Salud, Kids!

My cold and calculating heart was utterly warmed by the overwhelming response to the first Cheeply Chic Chat blog last week. Man, you kids just bowled me over. As you can see from the snap, my trusty mutt, Reggie was also blown away. What a drama-hound.

I had a comment on the blog, an email comment...AND, I have TWO official followers. Can you imagine all that attention for my humble blog? Uh-huh. I wonder if Perez, Michael K or Just Jared started with this much fanfare? Nah. Probably not even close. They probably didn't get even ONE comment. With all this adoration, you can imagine how truly inspired I am...to give my laptop to Goodwill for a tax credit. However, I'm gonna do the blog anyway. Who knows, I could get two comments before summer hits.

More wine talk later, so go ahead and send me your cheaply divine suggestions. Oh, I had to spell cheap, cheep for the sake of the url. Know you were thinking I couldn't spell. How rong you or.

Bloggers, as I take notes and seek ideas for chatting on the cheap and trying to find ways to live large, but spend small, I was sort of stopped short yesterday. Uh-huh. Isn't it always your off-spring (the one you suffered through twelve hours of labor before welcoming into the universe) that just zings the living hell out of ya?

OPENING SCENE...B (if you don't know him, you will) offered to zip on down Okeechobee to Petco and grab dog delights for family mutt (also known as the Cavi-Diva-Princess-Smartest-Dog-Ever-Reggie). Excellent. Save me a trip and he had other stuff to accomplish around The Palm Beaches.

SCENE TWO...B returns sometime later with bags of dry and canned, Halo, dog chow. I offer up many thanks, love pats on the arm and shoulder, loving smiles...you can picture the scene.

SCENE THREE...Later afternoon and B sidles (I love that word) and gives me the old side-eye and smoothly says how his cats, hanging down in Miami, eat Publix food and it works out just dandy, while Reggie feasts on Halo. HUGE price difference. Huger than huge, evidently. He sidles away, but not before shooting a dimpled grin in my general direction. Oh, his Dad, the ever-frugal one, is near the scene and trying not to say what I KNOW he is thinking.

CLOSING SCENE...Well, there really wasn't one, because...damn...I never have a quick come back. Wait, I did mumble something about being more economical and from there it sort of trailed off.

Epilogue...To come after I make a trip to Publix for store brand dog food. Will my Cavi-Girl think it's divine? Will she collapse in a heap and beg for her Halo? As you can see, she can be overly dramatic when she wants.

Feel free to send me your experience with store brand pet what-have-you. I'm very open to suggestions.

Bye now!
Pamme

It's Me, Again!

Salud, Kids!

Yeah, it is me again. Here, before you, with a new blog. So, if you are continuing to stay with me and reading this, thank you.

If you are new to my little creative world, let me tell you that I am one of those types-a round peg that refuses to slide on into that square slot. Oh, I have tried and made the most of all the corporate what-have-you. I still have friends in the corporate world of media, including one very close to me.

However, for the past few years I have focused on creative projects, including writing over 300 satirical blogs, cavalierkingcharlesdiva. Satire. During the diva blog period I discovered that many individuals don't really get satire. Maybe they get it just fine and simply don't like it. Who knows for certain. It is hard to put emotion in text, which complicates satire. Plus, it seems folks don't have the time or inclination to read much anywmore, Still, I loved doing it, but it was time to move on.

I am also an abstract artist and am proud to say I have paintings with collectors around the country. Very, very proud of that, but here in Florida I have found it more difficult to focus on painting. When living in Ohio, it was a snap. I mean my basement was perfection as an art studio and when it's cold outside, among other things, painting is a true blessing.

While living here in The Palm Beaches, I completed my first novel and we will see where it goes, if anywhere but my nightstand. Keep your fingers crossed for me, please?

I am fortunate to have the most amazing man in my life, who is exceedingly supportive of all my shenanigans. Bless him. Grateful, thankful, full of love, respect and admiration for him am I. I think it must be quite difficult, odd and strange to have someone in the family who doesn't fit the mold of regular working person...nine-to-five kind of situation. I mean what do you say about someone like me? Oh, she paints and writes, but that an five bucks will just about get you coffee at Starbucks.

Now you know a little more about the real me. More to come, but now let me tell you about my latest shenanigans. It seems to me that even though we are in a difficult economic time, there are still people, places and things that aren't reacting in a realistic fashion. Stories in the newspaper, Internet, magazines and television, I feel, are not attentive to the needs of real people. Living as I do in The Palm Beaches, it is especially interesting.

I want to bring fun factoids to this blog and chat about living life large, because we all enjoy doing that, right? Yeah, let's live large, but spend small and share our dirty little secrets with some cheap, yet chic, chat. You with me? How can we help each other enjoy fine things, fun things on the loose change in the car ashtray? Maybe that is an exaggeration, but you get the idea.

Let's kick it off with wine. Go to Target and buy yourselves a bottle of red or white, Barefoot. Kids, it's cheap, chic and divine.

Much more to come, that's a threat...

Bye now!
Pamme