Like many of us, I grew up loving shows about the wealthy and their ESCANDALO ways. Dynasty was obviously a favorite even though it was for adults, and there was the more kids-oriented Beverly Hills Teens. By 1992, I was in junior high and deep into the Brenda/Dylan/Kelly love triangle on Beverly Hills, 90210. Yet, I craved even MORE scandal. MORE DRAMA! Luckily Swans Crossing, a soap opera directed at tweenz like me, came along.

Way before Sarah Michelle Gellar became Buffy the Vampire Slayer, she played teen ultrabitch Sydney Rutledge in Swans Crossing. No wonder she was so good at portraying the EVIL Kathryn in Cruel Intentions later on! Sydney had a Romeo and Juliet-type affair with the hunk in pleated pants next door, Garrett Booth, until they broke up and it turned into a sort of hatecrush obsession.

Garrett was played by Shane McDermott, who all of you rollerblading aficionados might remember from the cinematic artwork, Airborne. There were other famous faces who got their start in Swans Crossing, including none other than Romy herself, Mira Sorvino. And Brittany Daniel, one of the Sweet Valley High twins (who I also remember from The Basketball Diaries with Leo Dicap) was new girl Mila, the whora that came between Garrett and Sydney. I was so jealouz of that b Mila. Her bedroom had a bunch of TVs on the wall that showed Kriss Kross videos, a headboard with a BEAUTIFUL painted swan, some crazy giant pink rhinoceros desk thing that held her BOOMBOX, and even her own pet cockatoo. BLEH HATECHU MILA

I kept thinking the guy on the bottom was blind, but I guess he just wore those cool guy sunglasses all the time for fun.

Clearly there were some amazing fashions displayed in the episodes of Swans Crossing. It was the early nineties after all. To be honest,  I believe a part of my love for nautical style was influenced by Sydney. There was an episode where she wore a captain’s hat and I remember wanting it SO BAD then got all pissed off when my friend found out I wanted it and waltzed in wearing her stupid captain’s hat she got from Sea World. WHATEVER. I keep going through YouTube looking for a screencap of the hat (probably why it’s taking me so long to finish this post…) but no luck. I did come across one of the best Swans Crossing playlists I’ve seen online so far. They also have the  slumber party episodes, which were my fave.

I would also try to emulate my hair pretty often to look like Sydney’s. People forget how great 90′s hair was, but I NEVA do…

I wonder what kind of ESCANDALO went on behind the scenes…

Thank you Life.com for having this photo in your archives…

Watch this commercial so you can see how ridiculous/awesome this show was!

ps. Thank you to STEVEN who came up with the name of my new NOSTALGIA column: “Ooh That Was My Jam.” IT IS PERF!

That’s right ladies…I am back with everyone’s favorite column… Dear Menz! Throw your bras in the air in celebration! This time I went a lil’ bit WILD and started a “Sexy Pizza Edition,” which means along with the usual topics of sex and romance, we’ll be talking about our favorite vegetable… PIZZA! I thought it might be a fun idea since pizza IS an aphrodisiac….right? Anyway, let’s get down to business. Today’s special guest hunk is Zak Waters, a singer- songwriter from LA whose soulful dance music is so goddamn sexy, you  will probably get pregnant just from reading this interview. He also thinks Frankenflops are a “crime against humanity.” Naturally I wanted to harass this cool menz…

What’s the sexiest thing a girl does to turn you on?

When I sing the three sweet words “Ain’t nothing wrong…”  and she chimes in “with a little bump and grind…”

Where have you had the best sex of your life? 

My bed. Sounds boring, but the whole “sex in weird places” just isn’t my thing…it’s too distracting.  It’s exciting for about two minutes and then I start to get irritated.  Nothing like the soft and spacious feel of a good ol’ fashioned bed.

Where have you have the best pizza of your life? 

DiCarlo Pizzeria on Hollywood and Hillhurst. I used to work there. They fired me. But the pizza was really good.

Give me three songs on your Ultimate Makeout Mix.

 D’Angelo- “Send It On”

Twin Shadow- “At My Heels” 

Cass McCombs- “County Line”  

If you could make your DREAM PIZZA, what would be on it?

Cheese and sauce…I’m a pretty simple guy.

Boobs or booty?

Boooty Boooty Boooty all day…every day.

Betty or Veronica?

Are we talkin’ Real Housewives of Orange County?  I’d have to go with Veronica.

Can an item of clothing a girl wears REALLY turn a guy off? I know the answer is NO so don’t even try to play…

Ok I can def play this one. My friends always tease me about how picky I am about these kind of things when I’ve gone on dates. It really bugs me when girls wear high heels that are too big for them. It just gives me the impression that they borrowed them from their mom or something. One time a girl wore a grey fur vest with a cut-up Mötley Crüe t-shirt underneath and of course some flesh-colored pumps that were def a size too big. Now did it turn me off completely? No, not quite.  It was the Gigapet adorning her keychain that did me in….

 What kind of pizza turns you OFF?

I’d have to say garlic. I mean, I love it just like anyone else, but there’s nothing sexy about garlic breath…

+++

Thank you Zak! Make sure to get his EP, New Normal, from iTunes, and follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. And check out the cute video below for his song “Flirt.”

HELLO I AM BACK FROM MY HOLIDAY HIATUS. Miss me? I know I did. And I have even more great news…it’s time to celebrate the FOUR YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF AGENT LOVER!!!!Can you believe it? But PLEASE keep your clothes on for now. We will get more into that later! Right now, we will honor my #1 Valley Girl style icon…..JULIE BROWN!!!!!! And no, tis’ NOT Downtown Julie Brown (who OBV I love too) I’m talking about the “hottest little henna head on MTV!” You probs remember Julie from my 2009 Earth Girls Are Easy post, but some of you might have known about her amazing MTV show,  Just Say Julie! , which ran from 1989-1992.

When my soul is not transporting itself through time and space, hovering between the candy-colored rooms of the Madonna Inn, the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland and John Stamos’ shower… it time travels to the set of Just Say Julie. The show had Miss Brown hanging out in this amazing Pee Wee’s Playhouse-type space, introducing music videos, talkin’ shit about the popular singers of the time, sassin’ up her guests and basically just acting like a cute ball of craylariousness.  One of the biggest reasons why I wish I could astral project/time travel to this time is not only because I want to hang with Julie but there were even MORE brilliant minds involved. The set was designed by Allee Willis who is probably my aunt in another dimension. She has a museum of kitsch (!!!) and collects lipstick-shaped things! I want to talk a lot more about Allee Willis, but I think she deserves her own post! Then there was the costume design. As you can see, Julie’s outfits were brilliant! I wish I could see these dresses and accessories in person! The designer was none other than Mona May, who I had the pleasure of meeting a few years ago. Mona was the costume designer for Clueless aka the reason for most of our EVERYTHING. Obviously, this is some triple-threat greatness right here!

So please take a great gander at the set design and costumes in the screencaps below. And take your time boo, we don’t gots to rush….

THIS SHOW IS BASICALLY MY LIFE’S DREAM!!! Who knows someone at MTV? Can I be the new Just Say Julie? “JUST SAY RIE RIE?? Make my dreams come true and allow this cleavage of mine to blast through your homes and into your bedrooms. GULP

SPEAKING OF DREAMS…OBVIOUSLY I HAD TO SNEAK IN A PICTURE OF MY BELOVED GOLDBLUM!!!!! There he is with his ex, my other favorite redheaded slash talented Olympic archer, Geena Davis. THEY ARE SO TALL! Like two sexy trees!

And here she is with Angelyne who I’m still not sure why I don’t carpool with. I’d definitely save a lot of gas if she’d give me a ride. I wonder what’s in her famous pink Corvette. Is it OCD spotless with strawberry air fresheners hanging inside? Or do she gots Taco Bell wrappers all over the floor (like Queen Latifah TRUE STORY…)? Does she have a dual CD player/tape deck like yours truly? Does she sing along to tunes while she drives? These are the things I think about when I see Angelyne driving around.

Julie and I are SO alike btw. Not only do we have magnificent cleavage, but we are also both OBSESSED with certain DREAMHUNKS! Julie always talks about Jon Bon Jovi on the show and of course my obsession wee crush on the man some people refer to as Uncle Jesse…but I refer to as SIR STAYMOIST.

YOU GUYS! She even has PRINCE CEREAL…

Let me instagram this…

LOVIN YOU JULIE

I had an idea to make a pincushion hat…THEN I SAW THIS.

You can always catch her fawning over hunks of life like I do. Should we just start a Ladyboner Magazine already? Like a Bop Mag for us grown ladies??? ADD IT TO MY LIST

And Julie also appears to be into one of my favorite sight gags….smokin’ shoes! THIS ALWAYS KILLS ME DED! I am a simple man I tell you.

You can catch up with what Julie’s doing now on her website and check out her album Smell The Glamour!

AND NOW…..A SPECIAL PRIZE! Because I love to spoil you ROTTEN, and to kick off the many more things I’ll be giving away in the next couple of weeks as we celebrate our 4 years together, I’m giving away a Best of Just Say Julie DVD! Just leave a comment and I’ll draw at random  next week! Good luck!

This past Saturday we celebrated Pygmy Hippo’s One Year Anniversary! I worked at the shop all day long with Emi and by the end of the day I kept saying I wish I had some Tazmanian Devil chanclas because my dogs were barkin’ BAD. Do you remember dem Taz slippers BTW? I used to be really into him…but not as much as DIZZY DEVIL. I think in an alternate dimension I may have a Dizzy Devil tramp stamp.

ANYWAY..this is what I wore! I wanted to match the store’s colors, because I am that guy.

I’m very much in love with this citrine necklace I purchased from Still With You! I don’t want to take it off! The lipstick is Besame’s “Red Hot” in case you are wondering. And I did milkmaid braids again, surprisingly pretty easily… considering my hair is getting down to my booty! WACHOW

♥ Vintage dress from Fairfax Swapmeet, citrine necklace from Still With You, vintage slip by Doublespeak (embroidered with “C’mere Loverdoll”,) shoes from Urbanog, socks c/o We Love Colors, belt from da mall ♥

AND THIS IS MY GORGEOUS BEAUTASHIA BEST FRIEND AND OWNER OF PYGMY HIPPO SHOPPE…THEE ILLUSTRIOUS AND VIVACIOUS EMINÉ! Look at her magnificent dress from Unique Vintage!

There is an online giveaway still going on at the Pygmy Hippo blog! Make sure you sign up for the mailing list and  comment on this post and you will be entered to win a gift basket filled with Pygmy Hippo goodies! OOH LA LA!!!

Nate, the other half of Pygmy Hippo, hand-painted this new sign!!!!

Remember when I decorated this tree in Babyfaces a few years ago?

Supercute Tatty Devine necklaces that may make you hungry since that potato chip is way too realistic!

We had tons of cute and tasty treats! I think my sugar quota for the month has now been reached.

Our friend Yumi made these cute hippo cake pops!

Nate molded these awesome hippo heads! You can win one of these in the gift basket too.

Thanks to everyone who came out and celebrated with us on Saturday!

One of my Small Business Sponsors is Sui Numeris Bride, an Austin-based bridal gown and dress company run by a lovely woman named Dee! They have everything from beautiful and affordable bridalwear starting at less than $140 dollars to exquisite designer pieces, as well as little black dresses for every occasion to handpicked, one-of-a-kind, vintage dresses! Every piece is exclusive…they don’t sell more than one of the same dress so you don’t have to worry about running into another girl wearing the same one as you, like Brenda and Kelly’s fashion faux pas during prom!

If you’re looking for a beautiful party dress or something lovely to get hitched in, take a look at Sui Numeris! Dee is offering 15% off to all Agent Lover readers! Just use the code: cybersui.

Sui Numeris is also doing a giveaway for you!

The uber fab Marilyn Monroe is an American style icon and was often photographed in beautiful dresses, particularly her billowing classic white halter dress! Name a modern day style icon and choose a dress that best fits her style from sui numeris bride for a chance to win an OPI ‘Burlesque Edition’ mini nail polish set (includes 8 polishes) just in time for holiday season!

To enter the giveaway:

1) choose any dress from www.suinumerisbride.com and post your answer in the comments.

For double entry:

Tweet your friends about Sui Numeris Bride!

make sure to mention: @agentlover and @suinumerisbride! The contest runs until this Thursday, December 22 at Midnight and the winner will be announced here on Friday! Good luck!!!

Don’t forget to like Sui Numeris on Facebook too!

~~EDIT~~ CAT D YOU ARE THE WINNER!!!! Email me at marie [at] agentlover.com to claim your prize from Sui Numeris Bride!

It’s time for my Pygmy Picks….STOCKING STUFFER EDITION! So many cute items! Clockwise from top left: Lollipop Pens, Big Chocolate Bar Mirror, 3 Wishes Faux Bones and Teeth Lapel Pin

And if you’re around LA this Saturday, please come to the shop to celebrate Pygmy Hippo’s One Year Anniversary! There will be a 10% discount along with mini-goodie bags with purchases all day long and sweet sodas and tasty treats from 6pm to 10pm. If you spend $50 or more, you’ll get a Pygmy Hippo tote bag! There will also be an in-store and online giveaway on the 17th! If you can’t make it to the shop, make sure to visit the website on Saturday! Read all about it here!

WOO-HOO! And of course yours truly will be moonwalking in the shop all day! Come visit!

The TEN winners of the Agent Lover Loves Milani Cosmetics giveaway have been chosen! The following list of winners were drawn using random.org. Winners: please email me at marie [at] agentlover.com with your mailing address! Hope you enjoy your new lipstick and nail polish! We are going to be a gang of pink-lipped ladies! What should we call ourselves??!

Thank you to everyone else who entered and as always keep your eyes peeled for more giveaways because I LOVES TO SPOIL YA BOO BOOS! I’ll be doing another one on Monday so come back for that one!

LUCKY LADIES:

1. Kysbel of makeuptemptations
2. Sarah of Fash Flood
3. Mary of missemmamm
4. Danielle of See, Shop, Love
5. Michelle Renee of Garden Rookie
6. Ashe Mischief of Dramatis Personae
7. Meg Hocking of Party4Pennies
8. Blair of Blair Necessities
9. Cassandra of The Golden Orchid
10. Amelia Hart of Amelia Butter

1. Poison Ivy  Pin Up print 2. Catwoman Pin Up print 3. Harley Quinn Pin Up print

4. Library Pin Up print 5. Sweet Treats print

Shop!: Maria Danalakis Art and Design
Discount Code: BLACKFRIDAY (25% off) Shop by Dec 19th to receive domestic priority shipping by X-mas.
Blog: Maria Danalakis
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mdanalakisart
Twitter: @mdanalakis

Maria Danalakis makes the cutest art in the world! AND she’s a fellow American Horror Story fan and comic book nerd so naturally we’ve been bonding over our mutual obsessions. If you and your boos have a kinship with the Gotham City ladyvillains, are mistresses of the biblioteca or Muggle-lovers, or you’re just looking for a sweet X-mas card for your BFF, you can find it all at Maria’s shop!

1. Fancy Fanny Circle skirt 2. Honey I’m Home dress

Shop!: Dolly Dahl
Discount Code:  AGENTLOVERLUV (20% off) Also Free shipping in the US (Priority Mail) for orders that are at least $75.00 EXP: 12/20/11
Blog: Dolly Dahl
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thedollydahl
Twitter: @dollydahl

Dolly Dahl is a classy gal with a penchant for sparkles and all things kitsch. Her shop carries the prettiest pinup dresses perfect for your X-mas and New Years Eve looks. You can even get a shirt for your mang! She also offers giftwrap services so we can concentrate more on downing holiday cocktails and less on wrapping.

3. The Hound 4. District 5. The King

1. Cherry Blossom Earrings 2. Black, Silver, and Gunmetal Spike Earrings

Shop!: Gabriel Hounds Jewelry
Discount Code: LOVERS11 (15% off!)
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gabrielhounds
Twitter: @xoGabrielHounds

Gabriel Hounds is the brainchild of native California girl and former entomologist Brooke MacBeth. A mom of one kid and one cat, she’s also a recovering goth whose style is influenced by Mi Vida Loca, (are we related???) because, as she says, “Catholic school is something I will never be able to scrub out of my psyche.”

3. Extra-Long Spike Necklace 4. Sterling silver, Diamond, Apatite, Feather Earrings

1. Cutie Cat Eye Sparkling Black Sunglasses Accessory 2. Shining Star Metallic Gold Headband Hair Accessory

Shop!: Cutie Dynamite
Discount Code: CUTIELOVER  (Free Domestic Shipping!) Shop by this Monday 12/12 to get domestic delivery by X-mas!
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CutieDynamite
Twitter: @cutiedynamite

Cutie Dynamite is an appropriate name for this longtime AL favorite, because these accessories are an EXPLOSION of color and sparkles! You can find hand-finished hats, fascinators, headbands, and bows made from vintage fabrics and a smorgasbord of Swarovski crystals. Her sunglasses are KILLER! (Read my Mad Crushin’ interview with CD’s boss lady Andrea here!)

4. Magical Seahorse Velvet Hair Bow 5. Sweetheart Yellow Sunglasses

1. Vintage 1960′s Elegant Hippie Dress 2. Vintage Mod Maxi Dress

Shop!: Moxie Jane Vintage
Discount Code: 20PERCENTOFF  through December 23rd. Shop by Dec 13 to insure domestic shipping by Christmakkuh!
Blog: Moxie Jane
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/themoxiejane
Twitter: @MoxieJane

Moxie Jane is a Philly blogger who makes badass jewelry with a vintage shop specializing in boudoir, 50′s and 80′s and IT factor items. Her passion for clothes and jewels has a purpose: to spark self expression and lovin’ your self and your body by taking your style to the next level. You can also win FREE Moxie Jane items by entering her current giveaway! Make sure to mention me in your comment, since Agent Lover readers get a second entry!

3. Vintage Ceramic Kitty Cat 4. Vintage Pink Flamingo Jar

1. 1950′s -60′s Mad Men Pastel dress 2. “80′s does 50′s” day dress

Shop!: Mary Van Note
Discount Code: AGENTLOVER30 (30% off!)
Blog: Mary Van Note
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/maryvannotes
Twitter: @maryvannotes

Comedienne Mary Van Note is not only one of the funniest people I know, she’s also a VINTAGE QUEEN. Her outfits never cease to amaze me, and lucky for us, she shares her finds in her Etsy shop! Check out these AMAZING Margaret Jerrold dalmatian shoes! If only these beauties would fit my platypus foot!

3. 1950′s Novelty Print Bow blouse 4. 1940′s wool felt tilt hat 5. Margaret Jerrold Dalmatian dog shoes

Shop!: Buy Calendar here!
Blog: Yes and Yes
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Yes-and-Yes/391071455025
Twitter: @yesandyes

Sarah of Yes and Yes makes a cool calendar every year! 12 months of sweet ideas, great quotes, weird-but-real holidays. When you finish a month, flip it over and use the templates on the back to make postcards, gift tags, book marks and greeting cards! Buy the Yes and Yes 2012 Calendar here!

GREETINGS EARTHLINGZ… I was excited to get this dress from Etsy that I had bookmarked a while ago, but when I tried it on I realized my hips were too TADOW HOW YOU LIKE ME NOW for it. BOO HOO. MUMMY’S CRYING. So I decided to try tucking it into this super old Betsey skirt and Tah-Dah….! Added some faux daisies in my hair for a lil hat tip to 90′s Drew…and ended up with a look that was very Flower Child/Marcia Marcia Marcia!

♥ Vintage dress -Superstition Vintage, Betsey Johnson skirt, shoes from Urbanog, Target socks, faux daises, homemade necklace, Grandma Marie’s bag ♥

Excuse this goofylicious pose (apparently I only had time to paint ONE THUMB) but I wanted to show off the bag I’ve been carrying lately. It belonged to my Grandma Marie! I’m not sure how old it is, guessing 70′s? I love this purse but it’s falling apart! I plan on taking it to my COBBLER (you know how I love that word…) to see if he can work his magic on this beauty! Wish me luck!

For those of you who are wondering what lipstick I was wearing in this post, It’s Rose Hip by Milani from their Color Perfect collection! And guess what…I’m giving it away! We can be lipstick twinsies!

Milani is one of my absolute FAVORITE cosmetics companies right now. I’ve been a fan of their nail polish for quite awhile, and they have definitely found their way into my basket during Girlcrack trips to Target more than once. You might even call Milani’s nail polish Girlcrack as well! Recently I’ve been trying their other items, including their lipsticks. I’ve been testing hot pink shades here and there, but when I found Milani’s Rose Hip, I knew I was in love. And for me to stray from my traditional red shades with another color more than once, you know this love is SERIOUS. Since I’ve been gettings tons of comments and questions about my sexy hot pink lipstick, I wanted to hook up with Milani so they could hook my boo-boos up!

All of this can be yours….

Not only am I giving away Rose Hip but a few of my other current favorites: Their HD Advanced Lipcolor which is PHENOMENAL. I know the blogosphere has been going bananas over Revlon’s Lip Butters, but in my opinion, Milani’s HD Lipcolor takes the cake for that ultra moisturizing sheer look with a touch of color.  I’m a TAD obsessed with finding the perfect “gym lipstick.” I KNOW. GO AHEAD AND LAUGH. HAVE YOUR CHUCKLES. But the HD Advanced in Candy Apple is what I’ve been sporting when I do my planks (hatechu planks) and chest presses. I seriously look like a resident of the MURDER HOUSE if I don’t wear something on my lips so this is perfectshia. I also wanted to give away my current favorite pink nail polish, Tropical Fiesta, as well as their AMAZING One Coat Glitter polish in Gold Glitz.  And that’s not all! Not only are we giving away these four items, but to TEN WINNERS! So you have ten chances to win! Unfortunately the giveaway is only open to those of you in the US and Canada. I’m sorry my foreign sistas! I promise to do another giveaway soon that everyone can participate in.

So leave a comment, telling me your favorite lip or nail shade, and if you’re already a Milani fan, I’d love to know what products are your favorite! I will also give extra entries to those who tweet about the contest so when you leave a comment, let me know if you do dat! Contest ends Thursday night and I will choose the winners randomly on Friday! Good luck m’ladies!