Here is the promotional video from HGTV for the dream home sweepstakes for 2012.  Not only does the grand prize package feature the home in the video below, but also a 2012 GMC Terrain plus five hundred thousand dollars in cash.  Every item in the house belongs to the winner as well, and the house is sumptuously furnished.  Come and take a peek inside the 2012 HGTV Dream Home today, then visit HGTV for your chance to enter to win.

This was really hard for me to understand until a couple of years ago.  The thing is, my brother is a self-proclaimed geek or nerd.  He absolutely loves gadgets, electronics and gaming.  Those are things that I just do not want to mess with.  Luckily I have figured out that geeks are not as difficult to buy for as I once thought.  In fact, shopping for my brother and other gadget lovers in my life has become quite a breeze.  I’m almost always done with their shopping first, and I know for a fact that they will love the gifts I give them.

To help you out with ideas for the nerds that you love, here is an infographic that shows the geek wishlist.

• Luggage and bags.  A woman or man can never have enough bags, seriously.  Tote bags, luggage, hand bags, and clutches are wonderful gifts for anyone.  Not just any brand of bag will do though.  Look for luxury brands of bags that are well known for their quality and craftsmanship.  Some options would be Fendi, Chloé, Louis Vuitton, or Nina Ricci.
• Pet friendly gifts.  Like myself, many of my friends have dogs.  These pooches are some of the best friends a person can have, and so if there are any dog lovers in your life, get them a gift that they can use for their furry friend.  My favorite pet approved luxury gifts are from Mungo & Maud.  Rope leashes, toys, collars, and beds, Mungo & Muad has got your pet loving friends covered.
• Fragrance.  Just like everyone can use more bags, everyone also likes to smell nice.  If you are still searching for that perfect gift, think about giving the gift of fragrance.  With fragrance it is important to know what you are getting.  Eau de Parfum will last longer because it does not requite that the wearer use a lot, and the scent lasts all day.

Finding luxurious holiday gifts is a part of the holiday fun, so get in the spirit!

It’s not just celebrities who have expensive, cute, adorable pets.  Ordinary people like me and you own dogs and cats everyday, and we pay the same premium the rich and famous do over the years as we pay for our pets’ various needs.  It divides animals up according to their size and species.  Check out this infographic for some great statistics on how much it costs to raise various kinds of pets from the first day they come into your home.  You can learn even more about celebrities, luxury shopping, and pets by signing up for great direct tv packages today.

What do you think? Would you be willing to shell out $39,000 for an investment piece in your wardrobe? No matter how luxurious many people might consider this backpack to be, I don’t think that it would be for me. In fact, I cannot find anything in their collection that I couldn’t find at a Banana Republic for a lot less. Spending $225 for a very plain tank, even if it is Tencel, is just not something that I like to do often. I think I would rather put my hard earned money into something else, like jewelry. And wasn’t it only a few years ago that these two were designing clothes for Wal-Mart?

Watch this video to see all the buzz The Row is getting right now.

The Fab Five

1.Squawk Box- Debuting  in 1995 and this has been a leader in finance news ever since. The show is setup as a pre-game show for the stock market trading each day. The show is hosted by Joe Kernen, Carl Quintanilla, and Becky Quick. Squawk Box has been a leader in reporting headline financial news first, as well as hosting some pretty amazing interviews. Squawk Box is a great way to stay up to date on breaking news as well as getting a little more depth from your financial news.

2. Mad Money- Although very controversial, Jim Cramer has done a great job with Mad Money. The show first aired on March 14th 2005 and it has been a hit ever since. Cramer is not only educational, but he is entertaining, too. The popular segment  ”Am I Diversified” is a particularly helpful segment which helps individuals diversify their investment portfolio to help ensure better risk protection in the future. Cramer is education and smart, a deadly combination!

3. Taking Stock- This Bloomberg Television show with Anchor Pimm Fox helps investors make bettereducated stock picks for their portfolio. Top analysts and money managers debate popular stocks and provide some advice of their own. If you are into stock picking, there isn’t a better one on television than Taking Stock.

4. Kudlow and Company- Larry Kudlow is the host of this nightly CNBC that features many different topics into a very interesting hour finance television. The show provides insights on the economy, the stock market, politics, and more. Kudlow is more conservative in his economic views and the show is centered around the idea of free market capitalism. Kudlow and Company always hasgreat economists on the program that help immensely with breaking down  the economy and its future.

5. Fast Money- Dylan Ratigan serves as the chair to his very fast paced investing show. The four panelists are Karen Finerman, Pete Najarian, Guy Adami, and Jeff Macke. The  panelists debate topics and individual stocks and Ratigan serves as the moderator in the debate. The show has some very helpful trade schools information, which help beginners learn market jargon. Fast Money is in the same mold as Mad Money, in that it is a very insightful show, but it is clearly built for some entertainment value as well.

Have you ever heard of Bag, Borrow, or Steal?  This website has a unique model for getting your hands on the designer bags you crave for those special events you have coming up; instead of having to spend thousands, you can rent the bag of your dreams for as little as $50 USD per week.  Monthly rentals of the most popular designer bags are also available, for less than $200 per month.  It sounds exorbitant for something you have to return, until you consider what it would have cost you to make the purchase outright.  When you look at it that way, it’s a comparatively sweeter deal.

My cousin recently rented a bag to take with her to a fashion show in New York, and the only drawback was that she didn’t want to return the bag at the end of the rental period.  Who can blame a girl for that?  Especially for the sleek, black, pillowed Chanel bowler bag she got to keep with her at all times for an entire week, for less than $200.  She was extremely happy with her decision, it filled her needs, and saved her from getting further into debt.  So the next time you are tempted to spend your life’s savings on a new bag, consider renting.  It just might be the best option.

I have been looking at some new jewelry to add to my fabulous collection, and wouldn’t you know it I am most drawn to those pieces that are full of sparkling diamonds.  I mean I know that all girls love diamonds, and if they say otherwise, don’t trust them.  The thing is that I think I love diamonds more than any other girl in the world.  My daddy bought me by first diamond on the day I was born, in fact.  While I wasn’t able to wear it until I got older, I know that it is probably the biggest reason that I am hooked on diamonds.

The second reason why I cannot live without the shine of diamonds in my presence is the fact that I feel like they just bring out my eyes.  Only kidding!  I just love the whole look of diamonds all together.  So, while I continue on my hunt for gorgeous jewels, I have something fun for you to do!  Look at the infographic that I came across that shows the 10 most expensive pieces of jewelry.  It is really neat.  Oh, I would look super cute in a diamond bikini…I need to go talk to Daddy!  Ta ta loves!

Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries – GEARYS Beverly Hills holds the gift registry of the Kim K. and her hunky fiance Kris Humphries.  While some of their items are not my taste, I must say GEARYS is the go to place to lush living indeed.  The Baccarat Vega stemware that the couple chose is beyond gorgeous.  The $1,750 coffeepot also caught my eye.  You may be thinking that is a bit too much for a simple coffeepot, but good taste does not come cheap.  You can take a peek at the couple’s registry if you wish by visiting GEARYS website and searching for the registry.

Jessica Simpson and Jonathan Bedwell – GASP!  Jessica and her hubby to be actually have a registry at Macy’s!  Now, I’m not knocking the chain retailer or anything, and I know Macy’s helps to pay the bills for Jessica, but Macy’s, really?  I’m just not sure how to feel about this!  Now it is a small list, so I am hoping that there is another registry floating around out there that I just cannot get my hands on yet.  I do love the Calphalon cookware on the list though, you simply cannot go wrong with Calphalon.  Bonus, it’s on sale!

If you are wanting to add something a bit more personal to the gift you’ve picked up for the happy couple, I completely agree with you.  It proves even more how happy you are for the two starting their new life together.  I love to prepare baskets with organic foods and delicious wine or champagne for the couple.  It gives a true personal touch and still screams lavish.  Grab a couple of bottles of Vueve Clicquot for the two saying “I do,” and they will notice how wonderfully thoughtful you are.

Weddings are luxurious events, so why wouldn’t you show up with a luxurious wedding gift?

My darlings, I am writing to you from the state of North Carolina.  This California girl is having some culture shock, but my little brother is playing in some golf tournament and I must show support.  Today I am going to share with you some insider looks at living large.  I mean surely you all wonder about lifestyles of the rich, and I am your inside guide to all things rich and fabulous.  A lot of people like to think that the wealthy just lounge around all day by their glamorous pool being waited on, but that’s only my Tuesday and Friday schedule.  You see, when you are wealthy their are certain things that are required of you.  My dear mummy and daddy taught me this from an early age.  On top of having many leather bound books and rich mahogany-smelling apartments (thank you, Ron Burgundy), there are things that wealthy socialites like myself absolutely must do.  So, here’s a sneak peak at how I live and how I am currently living while visiting North Carolina.

Tennis — Any respectable young lady with the means must take tennis lessons.  I have been doing so for about thirteen years now, and even when I travel, I find time to hit up the local and prestigious area country club to get in my lesson.  This is also the main form of exercise that I get.  Three times a week I meet up with a gorgeous tennis pro to play a few rounds.  I love it.  My favorite place to play when I am away from my home in California is at the Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina.  After all, they are one of the top tennis facilities in the United States, so only the best for this wealthy girl.

Golf — Again, club sports are what we wealthy people love.  It must be all of the tradition and such, but I missed that lecture I think.  Anyway, I get out on the links at least once a week.  This week and next week I will be doing a lot of this since I am pulling for the little brother.  So far in North Carolina I have visited some of the well-known Pinehurst Courses, and I just played at Little River Golf and Resort down the road.  Luckily, daddy called to get us some great golf packages in advance so I can play at the best courses around.

Charity Event Planning — While I’m away planning for charity functions seems to take a backseat, but in my daily life, it is so important that the committees and groups that I am a part of take the time to plan different social charity functions.  After all, it is up to the wealthy to take care of those less fortunate.  Currently one of the groups I am a member of is planning an event for homeless animals.  So sweet!

Spa Visits — Regular visits to the spa are enjoyed by all wealthy people.  I mean, we have the money, so why not take some time to get pampered and taken care of?

So, there you have it.  It’s like a day in the life of a fabulous socialite!  Next time you hear from me, I might still be in North Carolina.  Who knows though, I might jetset back home to Cali ASAP.  Talk to you soon, lovelies!

XO Socialite Lydia