Klepto

Gah. Why didn’t they have cool toys like they do now when I was a kid? Here I thought my Barbie and her red convertible — which I had to push around the floor myself — were cool. Now you’ve got electronic gadgets coming out of the ying yang. I bet now Barbie drives her red convertible on her own … while texting.

Toys ‘R’ Us — which is still surprisingly around despite the corporate giant Wal-Mart and its lower priced toy aisles — recently released its 2009 Hot Toy List. You can read the expansive list here.

What I’m more interested is the Fabulous 15 picks — the retailer’s top picks for best new toys of the holiday season. See below (listed in alphabetical order). (Via ShoppingBlog.com)

• Bakugan Battle Brawlers New Vestroia Maxus Helios 7 in 1 from Spin Master
• ChixOs Pink Design-A-Luxury Loft from Spin Master
• Color Me a Song from Crayola Beginnings
• Disney Netpal from ASUS
• Disney-Pixar Toy Story Interactive Buddies Talking Action Figures (Buzz and Woody) from Thinkway
• Disney Princess: Just One Kiss Princess Tiana Doll from Mattel
• Fast Lane JLX Over Drive Radio Control All Terrain Vehicle from Toys “R” Us
• Laugh & Learn Learning Farm from Fisher-Price
• Little Mommy Baby Ah-Choo from Fisher-Price
• Mindflex from Mattel (pictured above)
• NERF N-Strike Raider Rapid Fire CS-35 from Hasbro
• Star Wars Fan’s Choice Anniversary Edition Home One Mon Calamari Star Cruiser from LEGO
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Construction Devastator from Hasbro
• Wii Sports Resort from Nintendo
• Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster from Cepia

Check out this video of a guy testing out Mattel’s Mindflex, a very 21st century gadget that reads your brain waves in order to move a ball through a hoop. Mad cool. (video via GadgetReview.com)

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Manifest has all kinds of deals for ya. Here are a few:

• BUY 3 BLU-RAY DVDS – GET ONE FREE
Limited time Blu-Ray DVD offer

• FREE $5 GIFT CARD
With purchase of any $50 gift card or more

• 25% OFF VIDEO GAME ACCESSORIES
Take 25% off any video game accessory when you purchase 2 games $39.99 or higher

Just click this link to find out more info.

6239 South Blvd.
704-552-8448
www.manifestdisc.com

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Going down Sept. 30-Oct. 1, the 1st annual Queen City Full Figured Fashion Week is a celebration of full-figured women. And it’s about time.

Here’s the list of events. Visit www.qcfullfiguredfashionweek.com for more information.

• Wednesday 9/30 – Curves and Cosmos @ The Sunset Club (Free) 7-10pm
Hosted by the Silhouettes of Style Plus Modeling Troupe
1820 South Blvd.

• Thursday 10/1 – Thick Thursday @ Skandolos ($10 @ door) doors open @ 6pm
Gisele Grayson – R&B Singer (formerly on tour with TI and T-Pain)
Lena Jackson and Mariah Smith – Spoken Word Artist
Fashion Show – Lajave Cordet Fashion
5317 E. Independence Blvd.

• Friday 10/2 – Full Figured Trunk Show @ Scarlett Plus Size Boutique (Free) 4-7pm
Meet some original designers in person and receive exclusive deals on original garments
4732 Sharon Road, Suite P

• Friday 10/2 -The Illusions Beauty Tour @ House of Jazz (First 30 guests free, $5 after) 7-9pm
Meet celebrity make-up artists Denise & Janice Tunnell of Illusions Cosmetics
Giveaways and sales
8630 University Executive Park Drive

• Friday 10/2 – Five Star Friday @ Allure (Free before 11pm)
Hosted by The Silhouettes of Style Plus Models
1508 S. Mint St.

• Saturday 10/3 – A Diva’s Favorite Things Expo @ The Blake Hotel (Free) 11-5pm
Expo is free and open to public.
555 S. McDowell St.

• Saturday 10/3 – Silhouettes of a Woman Fashion Show @ The Blake Hotel ($20 in adv) doors open @ 6pm
Original full figured designers and boutiques from North Carolina, Georgia, New York, California
Featuring the Silhouettes of Style Plus Modeling Troupe
Celebrity Guest Host
Guest DJ
555 S. McDowell St.

• Saturday 10/3 – Official After Party @ Urban Affair (Formerly The Rustic Martini) (free)
616 N. Tryon St.

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Check out their summer clearance sale: 20 percent to 50 percent off select items!

1217 The Plaza
704-376-3331
www.beadlush.com

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From Green With Envy:

• Your friends will be “GREEN WITH ENVY” over the amazing finds you’ll bring home after visiting our store at 1111 Central Avenue! Stop by now for amazing “Buy One Get One” sales throughout the store!! We’re Charlotte’s best kept secret for gifts, furniture and funky fashion!! Stop by and look for the orange dots … “Buy One Get One”.

(704) 344-8774
greenwithenvycharlotte.com

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Head out to Lotus and Civilian for their dress sale: 30 percent off through Sunday!

6908-C Phillips Place Ct. Charlotte
(704) 554-1908

1247 East Boulevard, Charlotte
(704) 332-2047

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I’m in precarious position. Being that I sell custom suits and do public speaking on image, I need to look my best at all times. It’s not rocket science: The better your body looks, the better your clothes look on it. So I need my body to look fit and in shape.

BUT I’m also very busy, and my schedule is hectic and unpredictable. Finding time to work out is difficult for me. So I need alternatives to accomplish my primary objective, which is to look good in my clothes. I think I may have found it.

While driving, I came across a sign that said “Lipo-Laser 704-248-4898.” Now, I’m naturally curious, so I called the number, mostly because I just wanted to know what it was about. After getting some basic information, I set up an appointment to find out more. I met with the manager, Tara D’Apolito, and she explained the concept. I thought, this is something my readers can benefit from, so I texted Kim, and we were good to go.

It’s a pretty neat. It’s a 12-session process, (preferably 3 sessions/week). Each session lasts about an hour. You just lie down, and they lay these square devices on the targeted areas. A laser then penetrates the fat cells and shrinks them. You don’t feel a thing. They move the little blocks every 10 minutes. Once that part is done, the fun really starts. They put you on what I call the “Shimmy Machine.” This thing is cool! It has individual panels you stand on. Then they start to move up and down individually. It vibrates you like crazy at various speeds for 10 minutes. It’s the funniest feeling. When you’re done, your legs feel weird for about 30 seconds. And you walk out of the office and go right back to work, or wherever you need to go.

Now, I’m in fairly decent shape. I have definition in my abs, but I also have this annoying little “fat belt” at my lower abdomen that drives me crazy. That’s the area I’m targeting. I have had 2 sessions so far, and I’ve lost about 1 ½” of fat. Pretty good considering I read Ballantyne Magazine during one session, and returned e-mails and texts and read Men’s Health during the second. I got work done, lost fat, and got a nice break from the mayhem that is my day. All of this is an hour, and I didn’t sweat once.

Obviously, there is no substitute for exercise and good nutrition. But this may be just the trick if you are getting ready for a wedding or have an event and you need to fit into that dress or tux you haven’t worn since last year.

I will keep you posted each week on my progress, over my next 10 sessions. If you want to know more check out www.LipolaserNow.com.

Neither William Wilson nor Creative Loafing endorses this product.

William Wilson is a nationally respected men’s clothier and image consultant. His clients include professional athletes, CEOs, and corporations. His homepage is www.WilliamtheClothier.com. Follow William on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/theclothier or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/williamtheclothier.

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Tribal Wisdom, located next door to Pura Vida in Plaza Midwood, is closing. Check out their close-out sale … and wish the owners good luck in their future endeavors!

1525 Central Ave.

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Whew. I think the air just went out in my office because after discovering this event, it sure did get hot in here.

Lingerie fashion shows are nothing new in Charlotte; there’s one at least once a month in some swanky nightspot, where the guys can drool over and the girls can envy scantily dressed models sporting sexy sleepwear.

At last, though, we ladies (and our gay husbands) can attend a fashion show that flaunts eye candy for us. And it’s for a good cause.

Coming up on Oct. 23, Brief, a gala benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, will be held at Extravaganza Depot. Cocktails at 7 p.m., fashion show at 8:30 p.m.

Here’s the description from the site:

Introducing the newest, hottest, most provocative and sophisticated charitable endeavor to land in Charlotte in 2009. Brief!, the brainchild of Dan Mauney, is part cocktail party and part fashion show. All the models are male (get your tickets now ladies and gents) and all the fashions are of the brief variety . . . along with boxers, accessories, and various other contemporary designs for the discerning fan of the latest fashions.

$200 – VIP: front row seat, open bar
$50 – General Admission: seated, cash bar
$25 – General Admission: standing, cash bar
(limited tickets available)

Instructions:

• Visit website: www.mcppresents.com
• Click on “TICKETS”
• Scroll down to “BRIEF!”
• Click on “Buy Tickets ONLINE”

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