fashionistas do read: getting to happy.

you may remember back in february, when i told you that the sequel to terry mcmillan's waiting to exhale would be dropping this fall. well it's here. just in time for me to take to the beach next week.

you can buy it plus read reviews over at barnes and noble. i will be buying my copy today.

i hear she's already working on the script, as well. i'm excited.

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stop acting rich.

ahh, to be young and fabulous. who wants to drive sensible cars, rock sensible clothes and live in sensible neighborhoods? i'm tempted to say it's a generation and culture thing. but truth is the love for the flash and the bling crosses generational lines. young and old, we're more pressed to look rich than to actually be rich. bet you can name about 3 or 4 people who drive a hot whip even though it loses its value the minute you drive it off the lot. those same 3 or 4 people probably don't own a home, which appreciates over time. ouch.

i love clothes and fashion as much as you do. years ago, when i first bought my place, i was still shopping like my bank account was endless. it wasn't. i wasn't rocking major labels or anything like that but retail therapy was weekly. i worked in georgetown and couldn't stay out of urban outfitters, zara, intermix, h&m and club monaco. i joke that i'm officially an ole head now because paying bills is both sickening and joyful. these days, i'm just happy to be able to pay them. and i make what's left do what it do. feel me?

anyway, i saw this book - stop acting rich and start living like a real millionaire - advertised in a magazine and wanted to check it out. it's said to be a dose of financial tough love that puts wealth in perspective and explains that being rich is more than just the symbolism that we equate with it. deep down, we already know that, don't we?

if it's not too long and preachy, sounds like a pretty interesting read. however, as long as we're seduced by these beautiful stars, driving expensive cars, drinking expensive champagne, vacationing on their expensive yachts, while rocking their expensive clothes, we'll be doing our darndest to look the part. after all, why should they have all of the fun? right? hmmm, not really.

stop acting rich and start living like a real millionaire, thomas stanley

amazon.com, $17.79

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fashionistas do read: tyra banks to publish modelland, a fantasy novel.

miss tyra banks can't stop and won't stop. and why should she? her latest venture is fantasy fiction. modelland is the first novel in a 3-book deal. she says: "it's for all the girls and guys who want a lot more fantasy in their lives ... and some fierceness and magic, romance and mystery, crazy and wild adventures, and yeah, some danger too. it's my novel called 'modelland' (pronounced "model land") that takes you to a fantastical place you've never seen, or heard about, or read about before ... where dreams come true and life can change in the blink of a smoky eye."

no release date has been announced as of yet but we'll be keeping an ear out.

fashionistas do read: alexander mcqueen genius of a generation.

alexander mcqueen genius of a generation by kristin knox will the first of many bios of the late, great designer. it hits bookstores on may 7. knox, a fashion journalist, puts together 128 pages that are full of photos and detail mcqueen's life from childhood to his untimely death.

fashionistas do read: classy: exceptional advice for the extremely modern lady.

i think we can all agree that classy is not exactly a celebrated attribute these days. skank sells. so does smut. and in the words of the one and only erykah badu, if you want to get noticed "do some hoe shit." is she lying?

every other day i'm reminded of how much of an old head i'm becoming. i say things that remind me of my mother more and more. like, it makes me cringe that chicks look up to nicki minaj more than michelle obama. you won't find a hate fest over here on nicki; i mean, she's cool but i'm just saying.

anywho, i read about this handbook by derek blasberg called classy: exceptional advice for the extremely modern lady. i haven't read it but reviews say it's a hilarious, tongue-in-cheek book that gives the low-down on fashion, socializing, dating and etiquette. no topic is untouched from fashion vs. style to identifying fake logos on handbags to being a good host or guest.

available everywhere books are sold.

fashionistas do read: bernadine, savannah, gloria & robin are back.

the ladies of terry mcmillan's waiting to exhale are back! and i'm stoked. the sequel, getting to happy, hits bookstores in september. i'll be first in line (more like online) for my copy.

pop champagne.

the bubbly bar: champagne and sparkling wine cocktails for every occasion by maria hunt is full of sparkling cocktail recipes.

time to take a trip to the bookstore.

... or amazon.com. here's what's on my shopping list:

html: a beginner's guide by wendy williard

my mission is to learn and be comfortable with html before the first half of 2010 passes. very necessary especially with the new direction sgb is taking ... you'll hear about it soon.

the little guide to vintage shipping by melody fortier

a handy little guide to the entire vintage shopping process. yes, i'm doing my due diligence to learn and re-learn everything i think i already know.

antique & vintage fashions 1745-1979 by barbara johnson

this photo-heavy book chronicles over 200 years of fashion trends. it'll be so interesting to see how fashion repeats itself.

barnes & noble nook.

so i've heard so much about these ebook readers, i had to read up and see what all the talk is about.
the nook is by barnes & noble. it must be living up to its hype because their website says that it's temporarily out of stock until next month.
this style allows you to choose from a million titles and access 1,500 books, newspapers and magazines. they come with pretty cute cases, too.
personally, i like my books the old school way - 2 covers and pages in the middle. i understand the convenience but i'm thinking my mom may appreciate this even more than i would. i just may have a mother's day idea already.
check it out here. it goes for $259.

the return of the babysitters club.

well looky here. my late 20s/early 30s readers may get a kick out of this. remember ann m. martin's babysitters club series? kristy, mary anne and claudia?

well the new york times is reporting that martin is back and writing the prequel to the series called, the summer before, aimed at tweens.

i hope there are at least a handful of tweens who may appreciate some good ole' innocent fiction. not a bit of scandal here.

i was a book worm as a young girl. loved to read and write. i remember reading the babysitters club. i appreciated it because it complemented my huge desire for entrepreneurship - 3 girls starting a babysitters business and getting paid for it. bet! i was hype at the possibilities. my entrepreneurial ambitions soared ... and are still soaring.

fierce style by christian siriano.

my favorite project runway winner has a new book called, fierce style: how to be your most fabulous self. christian siriano's goal is to make readers feel, look and act fierce in their everyday lives. fashionistas such as victoria beckham, heidi klum and others make page appearances, too.

fashion game book.

want to buy a gift for your favorite fashionista? of course you don't. you want to buy it for yourself. how about this:

the fashion game book is full of q's and a's and quizzes, accompanied by vivid photos. covers designers like zac posen and marc jacobs and all aspects of fashion - from high, runway fashion to jeans and tees.

check it out and tell me how it is.

how to be a hepburn in a hilton world.

i swear i have no time to read for fun these days. but as soon as i do, (honeymoon, on a foreign beach, pina coloda in one hand, this book in the other, perhaps) i'm copping this book by jordan christy. in it christy dishes old-school advise from a present perspective and addresses how some good ole class can make a comeback in a world of thongs, bad-girl behavior, rehab and all that other nonsense that has us reading tmz and other gossip blogs excessively. yes, youngsters, once upon a time, class trumped raunchy.

our mothers would be proud.

and the final winner of wendy's book ...

... is miss shannon! shannon will receive a copy of wendy's new book, ritz harper goes to hollywood.

if you missed it, you can click here and purchase it!

and the 1st winner of wendy williams' new book ...

... is miss anissa from over at glamaddicts.wordpress.com! she guessed misa hylton brim as the celebrity stylist and diddy's ex in the big poppa video.

anissa will receive a copy of wendy's new book, ritz harper goes to hollywood.

i'm giving away 1 more tomorrow. so tune in early!

sgb giveway: wendy williams' new book!

so last week, i told you that wendy's new talk show was scheduled to hit fox this july. this week, sgb, in collaboration with sneak attack media, is giving away 2 copies of wendy's new book, ritz harper goes to hollywood!

heard of it? i hadn't but if you know wendy, you know it's scandalizing drama!

ok. i have 2 books to give away. i'll give one today. and one tomorrow. and i'll keep it pretty easy for yawl.

since diddy has never been off limits to wendy's gossip rants, watch today's old school video and tell me the full name of the celebrity wardrobe stylist who appears in it, who happens to be diddy's ex chick. i want her full name.
then send your answer to halimah@suigenerisboutique.com. the first person to send a response to that email, not the comment section, wins a free book.

biggie, big poppa:

if you miss today's give away, come back tomorrow and try your luck. if you miss again, then grab your wallet and purchase it here.

beach book.

has anyone read this? me neither but its reviews are great. and since some of you may be lucky enough to be headed on vacation, pick this up to keep you occupied while you're on the beach.

jennifer johnson is sick of being single by heather mcelhatton: funny, honest and witty cautionary tale about how getting what you want can be the worst thing for you.

connie briscoe's sisters & husbands.

there's no way i can find "free" time to sit down and read a book. at least not within the next 6 months. but when i can, i'm grabbing sisters & husbands by connie briscoe. this is a sequel to her 1994 best seller, sisters & lovers. it follows the story of beverly, the dating cursed sister, as she plans her wedding.

are you there vodka ...?

do you watch chelsea lately? oh, the wit and sarcasm. gotta love it.

i'm sure her book is nothing less than her actual show. the title alone, a play off judy blume's are you there god, it's me margaret title, sells me.

have you read it?

go ask alice.

remember this classic? growing up, i loved to read and this was one of my favorites. i was a youngin and swore i was reading something scandolous.

go ask alice came out years before i was alive, in 1971 and tells the story in diary form of a troubled teenage girl who dies of a drug overdose in the late 60s.

the book is currently in my bookcase and i'm going to re-read it. and i never knew a tv adaptation aired in 1973 but i'm going to try to dig it up and watch it.