Plan your own sailing adventure à la Fifi LaMode, The Budget Babe's International Travel Advisor and seafarer extraordinaire. —BB




by Fifi LaMode
If I can sail, anybody can. I'm terrified of the sea, terrified of getting seasick, terrified of huge sea creatures and medium sea creatures; ok, I'm a big scaredy cat. I overcame all these fears during our week in the British Virgin Island's and you can too.

We booked through a company called Sunsail, which is British, but they have U.S. headquarters too. They offer flotilla vacations in Greece, Turkey, Croatia, the British Virgin Islands, and the Grenadines. They're either 1 or 2 weeks, and they have different grades of difficulty.

We took the baby grade and there were a lot of families with kids. Of course the kids knew more about sailing than I did. There were also couples with not a lot of sailing experience (moi!) but as long as the "captain" knows how to sail, they let you use their boats. You can contact them through www.sunsail.com. You pay for the boat, not per person, and most of the boats can hold up to 6 people.

The original Havaianas sandal is now available at Forever 21. At $16, it's kinda pricey for a piece of plastic but millions swear by them for comfort and style. I think their eye-popping ads in recent fashion mags are so stunning and hypnotic, I might just jump on the Havaiana bandwagon, too.

P.S. Havaianas are also available at Urban Outfitters, and right now when you buy one you can get a second pair half-off. Good to know, right?

Do you live in your Havaianas? Are they really the world's best rubber flip-flop?

If you've never experienced la différence of La Redoute - a French-based purveyor of affordable fashions - then now's your chance. During their blow-out summer sale, you can score quality basics and the latest styles at up to 75% off. It's the perfect time to complete your summer wardrobe (just kidding, that's never complete!).

The selection at La Redoute is so big, it can be a bit overwhelming. Our advice: Think of things you really need or really want and then shop accordingly. Otherwise you could end up spending more than you bargained for on things that end up unworn, chilling in your closet with the tags still on. Soapbox, off.

Bonus: Get FREE shipping on any order $50 and up with code LRFREE50 at checkout.

Shown here: These ET VOUS Cuffed Linen Tie-belt Shorts come in black or white and are the perfect, warm-weather staple. Was $69.99 Now $19.99

Floral-print evening dresses blossomed on Ralph Lauren's Spring 2008 runway. We're talking flouncy, full-length, silk-georgette gowns with big, bold blooms and an utterly feminine color palette. Thank goodness Lauren paired them with stark black hats, gloves and heels to provide some relief from all the petals and pollen. You can almost smell the fabric, they're that floral! While flowery prints may be too fussy for some, they're perfect for free spirits who want to make a splash. If you've got a wedding or a garden tea party to attend this summer, then keep reading. We've put together a veritable bouquet of budget-friendly floral dresses to help you get started.

[1] Forever 21 "Ursula" Dress, $24.80
[2] Newport-News Wrap Dress, Was $49, Now $25
[3] Forever 21 Whimsical Floral Dress, $27.80
[4] Isaac Mizrahi for Target Floral Chintz Wrap, Was $39.99, Now $27.99
[5] Newport-News Strapless Dress, Was $49, Now $39
[6] Ann Taylor Loft Smocked Summer Dress, $39.50
[7] Newport-News Blue Floral Dress, Was $74, Now $49
[8] Newport-News Pink/Orange Floral Dress, Was $74, Now $49
[9] American Living for JCPenney Floral Halter, Was $100 Now $50
[10] Spiegel Floral Print Slipdress, Was $99 Now $89
[11] La Redoute Floral Dress, $89
[12] Coldwater Creek Watercolor Floral, $119