Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of meeting of the illustrious Mark Badgley and James Mischka at the launch of their fabulous new fragrance, Badgley Mischka Couture.

"The top notes are sexy, with pear nectar, blackberry, and dark plum. The heart of the fragrance is supremely feminine, achieved with voluptuous gardenia and hints of jasmine and violet. All this floats over a creamy wood and musk base."

One of the most exciting things about this fragrance is their chic little tube of gel -- Badgley Mischka Couture Parfum Elixir. The tube, with its lush velvet bag, is their take on the traditional portable roll-on fragrance, which they feel is too much "like deodorant." Rubbing in this gel is sensual way to apply fragrance, and as it's just slightly larger than a tube of lip gloss (a modest .5 fl. oz.), it's easy to toss into even a clutch purse -- or your carry-on plastic bag for the airport.

Badgley Mischka Couture Parfum Elixir is available from Elizabeth Arden for just $48.00. Also, watch for their new jewelry collection to be presented at Henri Bendel for Fashion's Night Out September 10!

Gas prices, global warming, and the economy are making smaller, ecologically sound vehicles more appealing, but traditionally downgrading in size has meant a downgrade in quality and features also. Is bigger always better? Ford says not necessarily. Next summer the Ford Fiesta, gone from the American market since 1980, is making a comeback and it's coming with a serious upgrade in style, performance, and high class details.

Now of course the Ford Fiesta is not a luxury car. It's not meant to be a luxury car. Its price-point is going to start somewhere under $15,000. But it seems worth sharing here anyway, especially as a 'small splurge,' since Ford has made a point of designing this car to appeal to those with more luxurious taste. The idea is that having a comfortable car full of useful features, solid workmanship, and cutting-edge technology doesn't necessarily have to be expensive, enormous, and gas-guzzling.

Now in the interest of full disclosure I am part of the Fiesta Movement, which might lead you to think I'm biased but really just means I know what I'm talking about because I've been driving one of these cars around as part of my life for the last 4 months. See the gallery below for photos and features (or see photos on Flickr) and then find out when and where you can test drive one and decide for yourself what you think at fiestamovement.com.

Summer is in full swing and although in some stores fall shoes are already starting to make an appearance in my opinion it's never too late to buy a great new pair of sandals. I tend to wear flip flops anywhere and everywhere that they're even remotely socially acceptable, which means I have a closet full of them and am always on the lookout for new cute designs. These handmade versions by Lizzie Lou Shoes are on the upscale side of the flip flop family tree, featuring comfy EVA soles, real leather straps, and lots of pretty Swarovski crystal and semi-precious stone embellishments. Prices range from $107-$123/pair.

And if you missed them before, we covered these other Swarovski flip flops earlier this month.

You can buy simple, classic flip flops anywhere these days, from Target, to Kmart, to mall stores. But wouldn't you rather have Swarovski crystals on your flip flops? If you think yes, and are willing to spend a bit to make it what we like to call a small splurge, you need Deborah Evans's crystal embellished footwear.

Evans has blinged up three lines, using Havaianas from Brazil as the base: Resort, a 3/4-inch soled sandal available in 13 colors ($130); Metallic, a 3/4-inch soled sandal available in 5 colors ($98); and High Wedge, a 2-1/2-inch wedge sandal available in 4 colors ($185). These come in basic colors like black, brown and white.

For more pizzazz, you need the D-Street line, which is made from Evans's own line of rubber sandals, but still has the crystals and comes in 2 styles: the Street, a 3/4-inch soled sandal available in 15 fun colors/patterns, including animal prints ($120); and the Mini-Wedge, 1-1/2-inch soled sandal available in 15 even brighter colors, but luckily still in animal prints ($150).

Click Wine Group, a privately held, Seattle-based company that owns and imports wine from around the world, features a great selection of recession-friendly vintages with average prices of between $10 - $13. Their Global Wine Collection consists of signature varietals from world-class appellations with easy to pronounce (and sometimes amusing) names and appealing, consumer friendly packaging aimed at taking the intimidation out of wine. They have something for virtually every palate and summertime occasion.

Fat Bastard Chardonnay:

To craft Fat Bastard Chardonnay, grapes are sourced from all over France's Languedoc-Roussillon region. The golden yellow wine with pale-green tints has expressive stone-fruit aromas with soft floral undertones and well-balanced citrus and acacia notes. Soft oak gives warmth and balance to the palate. Serve with fresh crab or shrimp, or with a roasted pork tenderloin and vegetables. Try also: Rosé.

2 Up Shiraz:

Named for a popular game of chance in Australia, 2 Up is an elegant, intense and exceptional quality Shiraz that is hand-crafted from a blend of grapes carefully selected from highly prized local vineyards. According to Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate, 2 Up represents "the type of wine value that simply can't be found in California." Goes well with Italian dishes, ribs, and grilled meats such as aged beef and lamb.

Root: 1 Cabernet Sauvignon:

Chile is one of the very few grape growing regions in the world where original European rootstocks have survived, producing the intense fruit flavor and authentic varietal character of Root: 1 wines. Rich ruby color with aromas of ripe berries and soft plum are followed by tastes of black cherry, soft vanilla and dark chocolate characterize their Cabernet. Artfully accompanies grilled meats, ripe cheeses, Italian and Mediterranean cuisine and chocolate. Try also: Chardonnay.

Carol Brodie is a jewelry designer who spent eight years as Global Director of Communications for legendary diamond jeweler Harry Winston. She's worked with celebrities like Halle Berry, who wore custom-designed jewels when she won Best Actress in 2001, and she helped create Gwyneth Paltrow's look for her Best Actress Award in 1999 -- lucky jewels!

Brodie is now launching her own jewelry line on HSN called Rarities. The collection features beautiful colored stones, and both small splurge prices and more expensive creations like the eye-catching $799 White Quartzite and Diamond Ring at right. Click through the gallery for more of the gorgeous finds.

"After 20 years of working the red carpet and appearing as the luxury and style expert on countless TV shows, bringing a new line of fine jewelry to HSN is simply a dream come true," says Ms. Brodie, who will be appearing on the channel once per month to plug her diamonds, sapphires, rubies, emeralds, amethysts, citrines, and turquoise and onyx stones mounted in gold and sterling silver.

As you can see, all that work with Harry Winston rubbed off -- the results are fabulous. Visit Rarities on HSN to get in on the line before the launch, which will air at 2pm EST on Sunday, June 21.

Lux Life Apparel recently launched an organic clothing site, Lux Green Living. (I know luxe is spelled with an "e," but this is how they spell it.) The site is just getting going, and for its first line is featuring Toggery by Kate D'Arcy, a simple, casual line with reasonable prices that the site calls "a fun, contemporary line that appeals to every body shape and is offered in all organic and sustainable luxurious fabrics." I saw only one item that cost more than $100. I randomly clicked on about 10 items, and all were made with bamboo or cotton, and some had Spandex. If you're looking for some light, breezy summer basics that are eco-friendly, this could be a place to start. See the gallery for a few items that caught my eye (too bad they don't come in petite sizes).

This is my idea of a small splurge, the Connecticut Art Trail offers an Art Pass that gives visitors the chance to experience 15 museums just $25. The pass has a $75 value and is available for any two-week period. You can order the Artpass online, select travel dites and print vouchers directly from the site. The pass includes the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, two galleries at Yale and a variety of other great museums scattered throughout the state.

[via Art Daily]

Need a personalized gift for Father's Day? Shapeways offers a way to create do-it-yourself personalized metal cufflinks with a three-dimensional look. The Shapeways Cufflink Creator lets users enter text and then select from one of the nine styles to create a one-of-a-kind metal cufflink set. The links are made of stainless steel which is infused with bronze and cured and then finished. The cufflinks only cost $49 but you have to order by May 26 in order to get them in time for Father's Day.

Celebrities like Jessica Alba (right, with baby girl Honor Marie Warren), Courteney Cox Arquette, and even Gwen Stefani have been adorning their babies' ankles with this summer's hot accessory for kids -- Bumble Bells.

Bumble Bells are not just tiny, adorable, audible anklets. They began with a future mom who went to Thailand:

"It all started when Mommy took a trip to Thailand. She saw a little boy toddling around in beautiful silver anklets with tiny bells on them. Everywhere he went, his parents could hear him toddling. And that sweet sound of his bumbling footsteps made Mommy swear that when she had a baby, she would procure herself a pair of those adorable anklets."

And you can guess what she did -- she had a baby and started her own company to bring Bumble Bells to the world!

The tiny anklets are ASTM-certified for safety, and can be worn all day and even to bed at night. The bells run from $45 (sterling silver) to $575 for the Eden Bells, Twinkle Bells, and Sea Shell Bells in gold (see gallery). You can even get a grownup-sized anklet for $97. A portion of all profits goes to Head Start. We like that.

Click through the gallery below to see our favorite Bumble Bells designs -- and why not splurge a little on a little one?

Sometimes a small splurge is also about taking the time to enjoy it. These Courvoisier truffles invite you to sit down and savor the experience.The truffles combine Bissinger's fine 55 percent dark chocolate with a cask-strength blend of Courvoisier XO cognac. The result is a rich taste kissed with a hint of warmth. A box of 18 pieces is $36.

Loyal Luxist readers know that every day at 5 p.m. we feature the Handbag of the Day. Today, we're doing the same, but bringing the price way down and featuring a simple bag with a small price -- a small splurge, we call it.

The Butler Bag, by Jen Groover, has a neat feature: an inside organizer with small slots to hold all the essentials without spilling over. No more digging for your phone, a pen, your keys ... The bag is leather with silver accents; dress it up or down. Its patented design also has a interesting concept -- that of no wallet needed. Credit cards and cash stand up for easy access and one-handed shopping transactions. The flat bottom means it stands on its own and won't flip over on front seat while driving. Hand-stitched with a zip closure.

Here, we're showing the Classic; $125. Also offered, a larger Hybrid, $165; a Satchel, $225; and a Tote, $275. Want to spend more and get more? Try the upscale Boutoure line. Add more with accessories, and give gift cards.

See the gallery for the inside view and some of the styles.

In times of prosperity many people like to splurge on fine wine. Discerning drinkers will find however that a tighter budget need not mean sacrificing the pleasures of enjoying the fruit of the vine. New York-based Dreyfus, Ashby & Co., a national independent importer and marketer of fine wines and spirits, has put together a list of six great summer wines from around the globe, ideal for various cuisines and all priced under $20. Here's the rundown:

From Nederburg, the most award-winning name in South African wine, comes Lyric (above left), a new blend of Sauvignon blanc, Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay. Freshly cut grass and green peppers meet aromas of peach and apricot to create a wine that is crisp, fresh and beautifully acidic, perfect for pairing with anything from fresh fruit to seafood. SRP: $10.99

Château de Campuget's Tradition Rosé (center left) is a crisp and fruity rosé wine from the up-and-coming Costières de Nîmes region of France, made using roughly 30% Grenache Noir and 70% Syrah. The color is obtained through a short maceration of two hours which gives it its distinctive shiny hue. Perfect with spicy and ethnic foods. SRP: $10.99

Enrique Foster is a top-flight operation with the objective of producing the best Malbec in Argentina, which is to say the best in the world. Ique (center right) is fresh and young with fruity characteristics and a ruby-red color. Its firm structure and soft tannins make it the perfect counterpart for ribs and pulled pork sandwiches. SRP: $11.99

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand is one of our all-time favorite wines. Geisen's bottling (above right) has all the ripe fruit and the crisp, green and lively components associated with the wine, aromatic, flavorful and genuinely refreshing. Perfect with a light fish with a citrusy sauce. SRP: $14.99

KOR ONE believes that being healthy and living a sustainable lifestyle is something that should be celebrated and displayed, not hidden or kept quiet in an aluminum water bottle. KOR ONE water vessels have a transparent design specially created to showcase the liquid inside, as well as a screwless lid design that is not only more convenient to use (no time-consuming twisting involved) but also more comfortable thanks to no threads and an ergonomic opening that's just the right size.

Plus, each bottle is color coordinated to support a specific earth-friendly cause. Sales of the Blue bottle supports Algalita Marine Research, the Green supports The Wetlands Initiative, Orange the Container Recycling Institute, and Pink sales go to Blue Planet Run. $29.95

This small splurge is a one-week-only option. The Borgata in Atlantic City is offering a spa week featuring special deals at their Spa Toccare and the Immersion Spa at the Water Club. The Toccare Package includes a Borgata classic room and your choice of a bamboo lemongrass scrub, almond body buff, or the Grand Master B conditioning wrap for $210 + tax. For a bit more of a splurge you can opt for the Immersion package which includes a room in Borgata's Water Club plus a choice of an aromatherapy massage, personalized facial, or a Shirodara Ayurvedic treatment for $250. The Spa Toccare and Immersion Spa Week runs from May 17th to 22nd.