Sometimes, special effects just kill you.

Like the time you got vertigo at the IMAX Theater.

But FX Dressed is special in a way that won't make you nauseous.

Using recycled vintage items, Orono seamstress (and fashion diva) Jessi Sader combines textiles to create something smashing. Like a light-as-air summer scarf. Or a hip tote. And, just in time for summer, she's come up with a line of ethereal dresses that are romantic without losing their edge.

She'll have trunk shows from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, July 4, at Macey's in Bar Harbor; and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 5 and 6, at Local Color in Northeast Harbor.

Don't you deserve something special?

Break out the whisk! Dust off the Kitchen-Aid! And by all means, whip up that souffle you've been putting off. It's been a long time coming, but The Second Story, the discount destination at Rooster Brother in Ellsworth, is finally open for the season! It's a cook's paradise, with closeouts, discontinued items and other random goodies. Hours are open 10 to 5, Monday through Saturday. So what are you waiting for? Get cooking!

From my friend Anna, a simple equation:

Halter top + regular bra = ridiculous.

From me, today:

Wrap dress + stiff breeze = embarrassment.

What is your style equation? Post a comment below and remember there are no wrong answers (only bad fashion choices)!

There once was a man I call ShopGuy,
Who's really one heck of a golf guy.
Last week, just for fun,
he shot a hole-in-one,
Now a shrine for that ball is a must-buy.

One Wednesday night, ShopGuy called from the golf course. I thought it was a bit strange, because Wednesday is men's league, and if my calculations were correct, they weren't close to hitting the 19th hole.

When I answered, he told me he had good news and bad news: The good news? He hit a hole-in-one. The bad news? He had to buy everybody drinks. Everybody. Now, if he had done this at a tournament, he would've driven away in a Benz. But no, he drove away with a credit card bill instead -- life is so unfair.

He got home -- fairly late, I might add -- and I immediately went online to register at Titleist.com, Ping.com and every other company that had some hand in the glorious feat (apparently, you get lots of free stuff if you get a hole-in-one). But what he really needed was a little "shrine" for the ball. One that wasn't tacky. Or made of plastic "crystal." It took me almost as long as ShopGuy has waited for a hole-in-one.

Finally, we had luck at Great Golf Memories.

At $34.50, it was quite a score. The best part? I didn't have to buy anyone drinks.

With the price of gas and groceries these days, the thought of splurging on new clothes is enough to give anyone a chill.

But a nonprofit thrift boutique in Bar Harbor might just give families a thrill.

A ShopGirl reader recently recommended The Children's Thrift Boutique at Eden Nursery School in Bar Harbor (41 Mount Desert St.). The selection is worth the drive: gently used children's clothing, toys, books, baby gear, and maternity wear.

The shop is only open on Saturday mornings, but who doesn't love Bar Harbor on the weekends? And if you carpool with a few of your friends, you might just be able to splurge on lunch. Better yet, pack a picnic and buy a few more clothes.

Damn "Sex and the City."

It's not that I didn't love the movie. It's just that it distracted me from a very important task: Sniping the gorgeous Angela Adams tote I had been following all week on eBay.

To make matters worse, my gorgeous, stylish friend Jessica Bloch strolls into the premiere with her man on one arm, a Marimekko satchel on the other and news to share: During a weekend getaway to Portland, she had visited Angela's store and -- gasp! -- treated herself to the very tote I coveted:

To be fair, she bought a blue one for $140, and the tote I had my eye on was brown and black and hovering in the $80 range when I left (see below). But let's not split hairs. You can get yours at Angela Adams.

It didn't ruin the movie, but it did get me thinking: Can a bag be better than "Sex" (SATC, that is)? If it's from Angela Adams, the answer might just be yes.

Question of the day:
White jeans -- do or don't?
I'm on the fence (although the pictured crops from Gap are pretty cute). Let me know your thoughts by posting comments below. As always, happy shopping!

I was devastated to hear the news that Brown & White Paper in Bangor was going out of business. But when I found out B&W donated its entire inventory to Ofelia's thrift shop, I felt a little better.

Ofelia's, which has moved to 586 Main Road North in Hampden, has more than $13,000 worth of party supplies and paper goods -- at a dramatic discount, I'm sure.

If you didn't already have a reason to party, deals like that are worthy of a celebration.

As always, happy shopping!

For those of you who did not have the pleasure of watching "Sex and the City: The Movie" this weekend, let me drop some spoilers:

Chanel, Diane von Furstenberg and Carrie's dear old friend Manolo Blahnik all made cameo appearances. The performances were almost as memorable as those of the fabulous foursome.

Yes, the movie seemed like one, big, somewhat tasteless product placement op at times. But with product like this Judith Leiber cupcake purse (from Bag Borrow or Steal), who cares?

Have a favorite style from SATC:TM? E-mail me! And, as always, happy shopping

This is a little embarrassing to admit, especially since I'm closer in age to the lead characters on "Sex and the City" than "Gossip Girl," but I'm completely addicted to Facebook.

There's a lot to love -- even more so now that my partner in crime Jessica Bloch told me about the "Which Sex and the City Character Are You?" application that you can add to your profile. I did, and the results were shocking.

All this time, I thought I was a Charlotte, but in fact, I am a Miranda. I'm guessing it has more to do with Miranda's workaholic tendencies than anything else. If you're also a Facebook fanatic, you should check it out.

And while we're on the topic of SATC on the Web, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the underwhelming fashions I saw at the New York premiere. Aside from Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis, Kim Cattrall and Cynthia Nixon (pictured above in an Associated Press file photo), who of course looked fabulous, nearly everyone else looked like they forgot to check the mirror before they left. Melania Trump was an obvious exception, but Ashley Olsen was not. Don't these people have stylists?

Check it out for yourself at Fashion Wire Daily.