Viva (No) Lost Wages! Stuntin' on the Vegas Strip on a Budget...

Greetings Urbanites!

I hope every1 enjoyed a fantastic July 4th celebration, if you're here in the U.S. For those abroad, I hope you had a very Happy Monday.

I'm finishing my holiday celebration in America's playground, Las Vegas. I'm proud to say that this entire trip only cost me $200! How did I manage that you say? Keep reading for my personally tested travel tips:

1. Frequent Flyer Miles = Spontaneous Jetsetting
Using my miles, I was able to book a last minute flight for only a $2.50 processing charge. I advise each of you to sign up for a frequent flyer rewards account for EVERY and I mean EVERY airline you ever fly. If you don't you're simply cheating yourself b/c the airline is gettin' your $$$ either way. It's not too late to repent for past sins (metaphor seems appropriate given my current locale). Most airlines will allow you to apply past trips up to the past year to redeem credits towards your account.

2. Discount travel sites
I've been luxuriating at one of the most popular 4-star resorts on the Las Vegas Strip for a whopping $94/night. How do you ask? HOTWIRE! I can't sing enough praises about this site. I've booked hotels all over the country & haven't had one bad experience. Plus, they've even issued me "Hot Dollars" for future use on a few occasions when my travel plans changed at the last minute. Yes, it's true that you don't find out the hotel until post-purchase, but that's actually part of the fun for me. The trick is searching by a zip code in your desired location, checking the appropriate star-rating (3+ stars) and voila...you're living the glamorous life for a fraction of the cost.

But I must say, the highlight of this trip has been my helicopter tour of the Hoover Dam & the Grand Canyon. Def a must do the next time you're in these parts. Get away from the debauchery of the Strip & enjoy God's majesty. Here are a few aerial pics I'd like to share w/ you from the experience...

Hoover Dam


Lake Mead


Grand Canyon

Where in the World is the Urban Heiress?

Many of you have asked, where in the heck are you? No worries, I will be returning with daily posts before you know it. So enjoy some fun in the sun & I'll meet you back here very soon...

2011 has proven to be crazy, busy and adventurous. Life has taken me to every corner of the U.S. Not only have a racked up a ton of air miles, but I've learned even more tidbits along the way to help you live the good life w/o breaking the piggy bank that I look forward to sharing with you.

Here are just a few of the places (some more once) where my travels have taken me in the past 6 months:

"Real Housewife" Taylor Armstrong Joins BeautyTicket.com

Last night on Andy Cohen's "Watch What Happens Live," (following the dramatic season finale of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills - I'm obsessed!) cast member Taylor Armstrong let us all know that she's got beauty AND brains. Unlike many of the other housewives (from all the franchises) Taylor has a new 9 to 5 as Chief Creative Director for BeautyTicket.com. Now if you recall we were JUST singing praises about this site. Check it out!

Chic & Cheap "Couture"

I stumbled across this gem randomly on Facebook. There seem to be more and more designer resale boutiques popping up all over, but only a handful offer quality/desirable pieces. After further inspection of Couture Designer Resale Boutique's online store I must say that this is one of the few.



Couture is an upscale designer resale boutique located in the trendy West Park Village retail district of Westchase in Tampa, FL (Address: 9904 West Linebaugh Ave.). Couture offers a wide selection of woman's apparel, handbags, shoes, sunglasses, and jewelry from top-name fashion designers at 50-70% below retail cost. Inventory features premier fashion designs from Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, St John, Hermes, Armani, Valentino, Fendi, Prada and numerous other preferred labels.

Urbanistas, you can keep the fashion/retail cycle going by selling last season's pieces that you no longer want either on consignment or directly to this boutique. Couture takes a VERY low & uncommon 30% retail fee on sales. If you're familiar with consignment then you know that this a great deal. For more info or to get your shop on, CLICK HERE.

Happy New Year!

Ok, so I've been M.I.A. & I'm a little late with the New Year wishes but I'm BACK! I don't know about you, but 2010 decided not to leave without beating up on me a lil' bit more. Anywho, it's a new day, a new month & a new year! Let the good times roll!!

I did manage to enjoy a fantastic holiday season. I rang in 2011 wearing a DVF find from Rue La La just as the Urban Heiress should.

Now that the new year is here, the party is just beginning. There are tons of fabulous events coming up from coast to coast.

To help you prepare for your one-of-a-kind occasion check out Rent the Runway FIRST EVER clearance sale HERE! Get designer looks for up to 85% OFF! Kah-razy good deals :-)

To complete your look, head over to Beauty Ticket to shop up to 85% off premium cosmetic products! You can thank me later

Countdown to Black Friday: Deals on Blu Rays, TVs & More (Oh Mee Gee!)

Check out this guide to find out 10 of the best Black Friday deals on electronics and computers.

For a comprehensive list of deals/steals, click here.

I don't know about you, but I'm getting in some extra exercise & endurance training to get ready for the biggest day of consumption of the year :-)

Happy shopping!

From Commoner to Princess

Although Kate Middleton's sapphire-blue Issa dress (retail price: $636 USD) sold out in less than a day in London following the announcement of her royal engagement, you can still dress like a princess. Middleton's not the only fan of Brazilian-born Daniella Issa Helayel's designs. Other celebrity followers include Madonna, Scarlett Johansson, Keira Knightley and Kate Moss. Check out more of Issa's FAB collection HERE. I need one of the short kimono dresses in my closest this minute!

Lanvin + H&M Invasion Only a Few Days Away & Benefiting UNICEF

With Black Friday only a week & some change away, urbanistas are getting warmed up by hitting up H&M this Saturday when Lanvin's highly anticipated affordable collection hits select store locations. Check out the fashion feast here.

Also, Lanvin has decided to auction off 25 haute couture, one-of-a-kind versions of the popular crossover fashions in the name of UNICEF via online auction. For deets on this, check out Fashionista.com

JetBlue's One Day Only Sale: Fares as low as $29!

Just in time for holiday travel, check out JetBlue's one-day sale HERE.

Urbanista D.O.T.D. = Deeply Discounted DVF!

Ruelala.com is hosting a DVF boutique for the next 24 hours. There are lots of gems including signature DVF dresses & uber chic luggage. My blood pressure went through the roof as I almost missed out on this haute mini sheath. I was forced to buy a size 2 since all the size 4s sold out within seconds of me adding it to my shopping cart! Guess I won't be indulging in a lot of holiday eating, but it's oh so worth it!

Countdown to Black Friday: $3 Appliances @ Target?! "Oh My!"

Word is that Target will offer crazy bargains the day after Thanksgiving including 50% off clothes & toys, major deals on HD TVs & even $3 appliances! (I wonder if we're talking about a cheap toaster here or a high-end mixer) Either way it's pocket change, literally.

Target will announce all Black Friday deals on the retailer's website on Nov. 24th.

Conspicuous Consumption: The World's First $1 Billion Home

Some say, "if you've got it, flaunt it" or more recently, "it ain't trickin' if you've got it." But others are outraged that India's richest man has built the world's most expensive home just miles away from the extremely poverty-stricken areas of Mumbai.

Mukesh Ambani, his wife & their 3 children will soon move into this 37,000 sq foot home which includes a 27-story monolithic structure complete with three helipads, a health club, dance studio, ballroom, 50-seat movie theater and underground parking lot for 160 cars.


What do you think? Is it his prerogative, somewhat obnoxious or downright obscene?

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