When I was a little girl, I can remember Tupperware parties, and the Avon lady coming to visit my mother. That's it for "in home businesses" run primarily by women. At least that I recall.

Now though, it seems there is an explosion of "at home party type" opportunities of buying and selling things. And, it's times like these, I believe it's at one's detriment to be a girl.

Girls get invited to the chef parties, the food dippy-spicy tasting parties, the makeup parties, the spa parties, the jewelry parties, the purse parties, the "toy" parties...I get antsy just thinking about it! And of course, like any good guest, I feel compelled to buy things from the hostess. To get her free stuff. Yeah, that's it.

Between those things and the bridal shower scam, or what I like to call having to buy TWO gifts BECAUSE I'm a girl, sometimes I find I just wind up spending more money than the guys I know. I know I can say no, I know I can just not go, and I do that sometimes.

It's just that, sometimes I just feel like the deck is stacked against me and there's no way I can come out on top. No matter how much I resist.

I'm sure it's all in my head, though.