You may think it's wrong or you may completely understand, but in the World Wide Web today a webmaster any "less" in greatness than a total SEO master can get too frustrated. That is too frustrated to go on, sometimes.

I've long known how hard it can be for new sites and even harder for old sites/content with new domains (yep - just don't switch domains folks!) but when, last fall/winter, Google didn't even seem to recognize the good links we definitely did have pointed to us here at stylishwithsubstance.com, I did get literally too frustrated.

I didn't even blog for months, just searched for a job and tried to let any new "web calling" come to me. I thought of making a cool women's mag (and I even got started) with "body love" topics and more, but I'm honestly scared of how hard that would be.

Then I thought of a cool shoe site topic that would be helpful to others (a guide as much as a blog) and that's launching soon.

I'm still going to let my calling, well, call out to me - but - and this may be another truth hard for you to swallow: the good news is I will be blogging here some again, but that's been contingent for a while on obtaining a PR, sad but true.

I've missed Stylish with Substance and the kind of posts I put here for weeks now, so this is good timing for me, one could guess. One could argue that it's a rougher time because I'm also bringing back my old domain of sharpbyte.net to turn it into web design meets fashion design, but all I need to do here is post my thoughts and messages related to fellow women, posts that are about quality content.

I can't say this blog will suffer, as it's been in a coma for months anyway. I'd expect, perhaps, a post per week.

Anyway, I want to celebrate my page rank of 2 (after 0/none)!!! What is in order in a situation of a PR breakthrough?

I'll end this with a tip to you: renew your domain names and good things may happen! Yep, it's been a year here! It's even better to renew early or for a long period - but I've been cheap. I need to stop that. And be a little cheaper instead with Coach and Louboutin. :-x

See you later - and maybe even see shy me in my Louboutins. ;-)

Credit: Floating image from Practical SEO.

Onward you'll find good fun for women, men, and even TV geeks! Don't forget the photos get better, as this is a countdown...

Costumes, they are, but that doesn't make them ... right. Necessarily. On to the viewing - and fug - fun!

#12 - Miss France and her leaning "tour"

Here goes, with a swoosh, France being synonymous with "chic"

#11 - Miss USA would die kill for the cause

Which of our national treasure, the poor eagle, had to die?

#10 - Miss Lebanon, from fairy land

Lebanon is where princesses come from? *Books a flight*

#9 - Miss Great Britain, as if you couldn't tell

After Alexander McQueen's sad death, this was Miss Great Britain's best option.

#8 - Miss Venezuela. Hey, I didn't know Venezuela was in space. Oh, that's why it's called Miss "Universe"!

Lady GaGa called; she wants her haus back. Points off (seriously!) for being now-less-original.

(Fashion points for her matching shoes!)

#7 - Miss Kosovo, it's surprising she didn't win.

... What with her maenad powers and all. Scary.

#6 - Miss Australia ... is a scrolldown.

Or shall we say, "Miss Uggstralia"? Yes, those are Uggs. Heeled Uggs, to boot.

Seriously, though, is it hot and cold simultaneously there? Fur shoulders + Bare waist = Class-y.

Continue. It just gets better with the last five!

In the world of iPhone "couture", so far we have at least Louis Vuitton, Kate Spade and Lilly Pulitzer, with more to come, of course, for phone and pad. (Have you found more brand-name cases? Let us know!)

Shoppers’ Guide: With Louis Vuitton covers, you can imagine what they look like: logo’d. It’s classic monogram on a case with surprisingly little function for a “case 3G”, as one must remove the phone from the simple fabric containment in order to use. Its austere luxury goes for $250 (/£155). Buy it here (actual working product link).

Then Lilly Pulitzer covers are just affordable cute ($20). They have girly, colorful patterns that could appeal to any lady, fashionista or not.

At least one of the Kate Spade covers is ultra-chic (pictured, $40). The others are “cute, too”. Go Kate! (Shop all small goods here.)

But then there are Marc Jacobs’s covers, which are only coming soon. The company’s president tweeted recently about their October 2010 debut:

"MJ iPhone covers will be in stores in october!! [sic]" (screen cap below) (Ahh, Twitter. Kudos to Robert Duffy, a rare tweeter, for his short period on the site.)

I’d love to dress m’iPhone up in a new lovely cover, but in which love of mine?

With prices ranging like any items of different brands do, and starting lower than good shoes, a consumer still has a huge decision of which one, and only one, phone cover to purchase. Like a ring tone, this at least seemingly un-changing accessory might say a lot about a woman.

Even as a raging fashionista, your blogger truly is not sure if I personally want a designer cover at this point. Sure, my ring tone is "Fashion" by Lady GaGa, but I'm so much else aside from a fashion follower. (Why double-up a possibly shallow impression? Not a fair one, but it’s a real impression.)

My current cover is hot pink, but if I needed one right now, I'd be thinking pale blue (and not even trendy turquoise). I potentially would love a chic designer cover if it isn't all logo'd, and I do love Spade's, but ... well maybe it's that I don't drink martinis, as the illustrated girl is doing. Can it still call out “me” when the only real representation of myself is that it’s from the same maker of my sunglasses? Perhaps I just haven't met the right designer cover. (Close, but no martini!)

Thing is, even though I’m “over pink”, getting a new case might fall under the category of over-consumerism, even if the “splurge” is for $15, when my current one is holding up so well. And what about next year, another new case then? Hmm. I still plan for pale, pale blue; at some point. I just have priorities.

What about you? What do you think of these covers and what would/did you buy for your gadgets?

PopSugar has started their own brand new Facebook game, and it's for shopping/clothing. (Why not FabSugar then? Anyway....)

In the game, called "Retail Therapy", the player owns her own boutique and buys/sells fashions. One also makes an avatar after him or herself, like usual, but this time we get to download ours for display on the web, etc. That's me (or the Amazonian-me with washboard abs) to the right!

If you'd like to check it out and play, I want to first give you tips so you don't make the same mistakes I already made as a newbie. I always mess up the beginnings of my FB gaming, somehow. But now you will have a head start!

• It's built for a strategy just like those Facebook restaurant games. So you'll want to place your "storage" containers (where the inventory comes in) near the clothing tables/racks as well as near the register (as seen in the screen capture below). Otherwise in the beginning of the game, when it's just "you" working, some customers could get too impatient to purchase, or perhaps you'd just dilly-dally too much to bring in inventory fast enough.

• When one gets to level 5, he or she is allowed to hire one friend as an employee, which would help greatly. The one problem is you'll need to hire your real friends who are neighbors/players. I suggest inviting your female or fashionista friends early, and while you're at that, you may friend me (then invite me). Just please note that you're from my blog or Retail Therapy.
• Don't start playing right before bedtime, because it's quite difficult to earn enough coins to afford an 8 hour shipment. It's very different from other games, in which, for those, it's easy to build enough coins to afford all the *contracts-to-the-factories* etc. The more one orders (and the longer the order takes) the higher markup, or the more money one makes. Again, you'll need a lot of coins to afford three eight hour shipments.
• In later levels, one is allowed to purchase changing rooms, which will slow down customers between entering the store and getting in line to buy (but it will not make them more patient once waiting).
• The better a boutique is selling", the more customers will come in. In the beginning do not add too many tables and racks. I say 3, 4 max (with at least one rack if selling skirts) because even with this number, one's store will sell out before it can stock. I haven't yet (in my day of playing) found the secret to keeping stocked.
• Like I wrote, skirts require a rack, for some reason they cannot be on a table. Sensically, bags and shoes need tables or shelves.

If you have your own tips, please comment!

Now that you're sufficiently schooled, go ahead and try the Retail Therapy game!

To not let Fashion define me, but to make my personal style show off my personal definitions. I will be well-rounded and above all, loveable.

Some new people in my life don't love the moi that is "Ella Mode", etc. That is a big part of me, but it is not me. Sure, these people should go shut up and mind their own businesses, but whatever their issues, these people are now permanant in my life. They can't see beyond this pretty (I say) part of me because they cannot understand this type of woman.

No apologies from me! I am a normal woman. I'm not the one with the problem.

However there are parts of me that I do want to bring as much to the forefront as my love for style, like my love for animals. Truthfully, the "Ella Mode" in me causes a few issues here and there in my romantic relationship, so I know I can't let my life revolve around these obsessions and addictions - the addiction is harmful to me personally and potentially both of us financially.

Even though right now, Geek Chic moi is sort of obsessed with simulation city games, but I've set it up to be a cheap hobby. One that takes focus from thinking about shopping, and gives me back some pleasure and reward I lack from not shopping. (You know human psychology and shopping!!!) I'm not even counting down the days 'til my next paycheck and I have my playing time spent in check too!

This is one of my interests change phases, just like my personal style goes through slight changes every few months. I'm trying to think of dressing less fancy sometimes, less designer or less... Hmmm. Arm crook handbag, all fabulista kind of thang? Yeah. I have a new classic COACH crossbody with vintage sensibilities, and I love that it looks laid back but does not shy from its COACH quality. (Oh and by the way, it was a $35 find at an antique mall - even though not vintage, what a score.)

I won't be someone who will swear off expensive bags, and I won't be someone who buys pleather handbags. Never should one apologize for hating on the pleather!! Fake-leather purses fall apart so fast, whereas the shoes seem to last just fine. Leather shoes are better and healthier for feet, but budget will dictate. And a girl, this girl?, needs more new shoes than new bags. Still, there's a moretorium on spending, especially with clothes, not so much with home goods and beauty supplies.

Now as for the shoes I will wear; I love heels.  They make me happy. No apologies here, why should there be? These are my feet, no one else's. And I take care of my feet. All shoes will have arch supports and Foot Petals. Some people just can't understand how comfortable heels can be made to feel!

Still I wear them too much in unsuitable places because I don't live a "heels" lifestyle. I vow to not wear heels to the grocery store or any long shopping trips, but I love all my cute shoes and need to use 'em. That said, I also vow to try to focus on slightly more sensible, chic sandals this summer. Mostly one go-to pair that is the best mix of chic with wearability.

Still, as usual. No sweats to the grocery store, etc. Don't worry, I could never be too casual a girl. Jeans and a basic tee? On my man, not me, give me a belt and some pizazz - but when I get home it's pajama time. There's even a song for it, but I digress. I always have "outfits" just like Carrie Bradshaw. However, when I'm sick enough, sweats to the drugstore, all the way - but only there and back. Don't like it? Someday, if I'm rich enough, it'll be "Armani" sweats or at least Juicy Couture. Do you like that better? I don't care, I'll be fluish, anyway!!

Bottom line, I will be me. Not a label. Not a slave. Not an image. Not someone else's idea of a woman, wife, etc. A complicated, imperfect, lovely person who always looks good, and never looks as fat as she really is naked, although I love myself naked too, and often looks a little bit taller than the height chart reads - just a little bit - because I love what I am.

So there. I just keep this vow to myself quietly and to the blog. To always be not only the girly-girl (last time I checked I am female, why not be girly) but the guy's girl I am to only those who know me best. I think love lasts healthier this way. Just watch 1990's Troop Beverly Hills for an example. There, you have fun homework. Now if you want to, you might be inspired to work on some aspect of yourself - but most importantly, live an "I'm not sorry" life!

*Update: Now with a poll!*

Louis Vuitton has produced a case for the new iPad

Want or Waste?

GQ.com got the exclusive preview of Louis Vuitton's to-be-released iPad cover, and we're unhappy it wasn't shipped to women! (Hence our photoshopping.) But that's not the real story, it's all about the LV! (Although you can see our vanity here, it's always about moimoimoi, natch.)

Despite the typical Apple buzz and obvious profitability, the upscale design hauses are increasingly showing their tardiness in producing iPad accessories, and even though Louis Vuitton is the first gal-beloved big brand to showcase a case, the actual product won't be available until 2011 (no word on month). Perhaps they can blame it on the time it takes time to craft high quality luxury - just think Hermès and the ladies will understand.

Even though it is Louis Vuitton and well-crafted, you may not care for the "exclusivity" pricetag of $366 when the most cost-effective version of the device itself runs little more than $100 more ($499).

A luxurious and secure home for your precious gadget

I do make this argument to you though, depending on how you treat your iPad (examples of use below), it may be the next important gadget down from your laptop. It might hold important or private files, photos, perhaps even your work. If you would not spend this kind of money on the look of LV alone, think of the durability of the materials and workmanship and how much those things mean it can protect this Comp Lite.

If you're not sold, that's great, and you can say you're not a fashion victim. However I do ask you not to knock it ... with all that knocking over you or your clumsy friend will inevitably do with the pad.

Buying it? May we suggest the Damier - subtle is classy.

[caption id="attachment_3230" align="alignnone" width="450" caption="We photoshopped a woman's hand onto the image to make it more girl-friendly than the GQ article/photos. ;-) Should we say you're welcome or just commit ourselves? ;-)"][/caption]

Or perhaps it's protection-schmotection, if your iPad has cat scratches anyway...

If you're wondering whether I would buy a luxury case from Louis Vuitton, or wait for a lower designer like Coach, or just go with something else that's nice and suits me but is likely more affordable ...

The answer is no, but partially because I don't even have any near-future plans to get the iPad, so that would surely be a waste of money.

You see, I see the iPad as really great for two things, one: a nice point-of-sale device, useful for craft shows (and I don't have real plans to do craft shows in the future). Two: an awesome but expensive cat toy, and I'm allergic to cats. Another waste.

Wait, a double waste. Darn my dweebish, allergic body. I'd love a cat and she'd love this cat toy - I mean iPad. Not a waste of $500 plus app costs at all, right?

Bonus! Poll!

The iPad itself, is it...

[polldaddy poll=3145809]