The Rachel Leigh turquoise beaded hoops on the left have just the right amount of glam to punch up any outfit, but at $88.00 they're a tad steep for costume jewelry. After a quick search, I found a similar looking pair of hoops at Forever 21. They look light and airy and I think I actually prefer the fish hook hanger to the Rachel Leigh posts. You could also splurge on the designer earrings for Mom (Mother's Day is May 11th!) and get the fun cheap-o pair for yourself. (You'd do that for your mom, wouldn't you...?!)

Left: Rachel Leigh bead hoops at Shopbop.com, $88
Right: Beaded Hoop Earrings at Forever 21.com, $4.80

According to People.com's StyleWatch, small braids are big news for Spring hair style trends. The timing couldn't be better, too, with prom and wedding season right around the corner. Anne Hathaway, Jessica Alba, Nicole Richie, and Lauren Conrad are just a few of the stars sporting this boho-take on the up-do. Best part is this is definitely a look you can do yourself without having to pay a stylist. We love it - just keep the braid loose, the look natural by not using to much product, and embellish with something that sparkles for evening.

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• Allure's Best New Spring Makeup Colors

I know that stealing is wrong. My Mother told me so. But I find it hard to reduce fashion plagiarism to a normative argument of "right" or "wrong," and here's why: Designer clothing is so very "You can look, but don't touch." So here we are, gals with a genetic predisposition toward cute clothes, fashionable styles and pretty dresses, looking and drooling at designer clothing from afar...but we're told not to eat of the fruit. Along comes Forever 21 and says, "Go ahead, pluck the apple!" as they dangle designer knock-offs in front of our noses.

The ability of copycats to so easily perform their evil deeds further complicates the issue. When my boyfriend covets a Porsche 911 Turbo, it's not like he (or a car manufacturer like Kia) can even come close to producing a reasonable facsimile of the object he desires. But with a dress, it's another story. To imitate (not reproduce) Fendi's color-block tiered frock above, one need only have access to fabric, a needle and some thread. OK, I know it's not that easy but let's assume, for the sake of argument, that you can construct a dress that comes pretty darn close (if you argue that Forever 21 can't make a similar reproduction, well then, we wouldn't be having this discussion.) Suddenly, it's the $2,500 price tag attached to the Fendi dress that starts to look like the crime.

But Mother also taught me that just because you can do something doesn't mean you should, and it certainly doesn't make it right. And since this is a blog, I'll leave it at that for now.

>> Left: Fendi Tri-Color Trapeze Dress at Net-A-Porter.com, $2,490
>> Right: Multi Tier Sleeveless Dress at Forever21.com, $32.80

Is it a museum, monastery or hotel? The Budget Babe's International Travel Advisor Fifi LaMode reviews the Casa Santo Domingo in Antigua, Guatemala. —TBB


by Fifi LaMode
The Casa Santo Domingo in Antigua is a most unusual place. It's built along the ruins of a colonial monastery and in addition to being a 5 star hotel, the best in Antigua, it houses several museums. From the outside you can't imagine its grandeur, but once you enter through the gates, be prepared for surprises.

The hotel itself is outstanding - the rooms have fireplaces, balconies overlooking wonderfully colorful gardens (more toucans and parrots!), and along the passages are neat pieces of antique statuary and furniture. Very old-worldish. The ruins of the monastery are a museum in themselves, but they also house statues, paintings and other Spanish colonial artifacts. There are also a couple of art museums on the grounds, and a very small pharmacy museum. All are free to hotel guests, and non-guests pay a very reasonable fee.

The ambiance in the hotel is superb and the staff is dressed in these monk-like cream-colored outfits: loose linen pants with matching hooded tops and a brooch/clasp in front. Very elegant. The hotel also has the usual amenities: pool, restaurants, bar, etc., but more of an open air environment - you access everything by walking through the gardens. The restaurant serving the huge buffet breakfast is out of this world - made-to-order omelets, waffles with fresh strawberries and whipped cream, local specialties, fresh fruit and bread, everything your heart desires in the morning, accompanied by birds singing and a gentle breeze. The rooms are spacious and the bathrooms are grand. What more can a person ask for after a long day's touring?