Shopaholics, like myself, are always looking for an excuse for purchasing the desirable. Buying a great pair of jeans on a whim or pre-ordering a fabulous pair of stiletto pumps are just some of the guilty pleasures that we are perpetually indulging in. To ward off the blues or simply take some time off from a frantic schedule, I like to shop for things especially at a price I can't seem to resist. But sometimes you have to pause and think of your responsibilities. That is why discount shopping is truly the next best thing.

On top of our personal regalement, there are also other people who look up to us and seek our expertise regarding life and its delicious fruits. It's best to start with the little people who live and depend on us 120% of the time -- our children. They rely on us to provide them with everything they need and they throw tantrums if we don't give them what they want. As adults, we act like our kids sometimes when we're being unreasonable, but we don't have an excuse for it. That's considered being a pain in the ass. On the other hand, children can get away with almost anything. They can run around the house and break stuff, ruin mommy's white rug with cranberry juice, and cry for hours on end if they don't get their way. They could even get away with murder! The only thing that's inexcusable is wearing hideous couture. Yes, even children have to be fashionable, otherwise they would all grow up to be our complete opposites. High fashion parents simply would not allow their kids to go astray. So what are kids exactly wearing these days?

2006 is not the year to be thrifty, or so fashionable mommies and daddies say. Fashion gurus all over the world would agree with me when I say that nobody is too young for couture. Designers and garment manufacturers seem to think so, too, because they give importance to children's wear as much as they do to adult wear. At www.glamajama.com, you could buy rock glam with crazy marked-down prices for babies, toddlers, and women's apparel. The Spoiled Tot tee seems to be a favorite among *celebrity moms* and legendary fashionistas. They buy one for themselves and another in a slightly smaller size for their precious babies. They're just too adorable to pass up.

It's never too early to get them hot jeans that they could wear proudly. We've all searched high and low for the perfect jeans. Why not impart our knowledge and leave a legacy they will always be thankful for. Sure, people still rough it out in the streets with their favorite old pair, wear them in terrible weather, and even slit them in the oddest places to try to appear cooler than they are. But 7 For All Mankind has given jeans a whole new image. They've managed to add nonpareil class to supreme functionality which made it the revolutionized must-have jeans of the most recent years. The Boys Relaxed New York Extreme Youth jeans are cool, comfortable, and a bit on the expensive end -- a small price to pay for your son's reputation and future. Its sand-blasted cross-hatch style with distressed hems and fading denim provides a relaxed fit, encourages movement, and allows a superb lounging feel. As usual, it also has the signature embroidery of the 7 For All Mankind logo on the hind pockets, making it known to other people that style is not exclusive to hard-laboring individuals above the age of 30. Buy a pair for your boy at www.lifesizekids.com for $122 and do mankind a favor at the same time.

There is no reason for toddlers not to enjoy what their lavish parents wear simply because they're too young. With babies and toddlers dressed to the nine's, not only will they be too cute, but family pictures would look even more fetching. So instill a sense of fashion in your children while they're young and hope they carry this wisdom well into their old age. They grow up to be stylish and just happen to make their mamas proud along the way.