new years eve dresses: Eylül 2012

30 Eylül 2012 Pazar

Last Minute Father's Day Gift Ideas

To contact us Click HERE

Father's Day is almost here. It's coming quick, Sunday, the 17th of June. With Father's Day coming up this weekend, it's time to seriously consider some gifts for Dad. Here are a few last minute gift ideas.

American Express gift card to let Dad do his own shopping for a new iPhone or anything else he wants. Amex gift cards have no fees, so you get the full card amount to spend (so Dad can get what he really wants)
Tickets to Sporting Events (LA Lakers comes to mind) or concerts (Check TicketLiquidator.com for deals)
If your Dad or Husband likes to play Grill man, look for grill deals everywhere from Big Lots to Sears.
Dinner out at the restaurant of his choice (check Restaurants.com for deals or buy a gift card at Costco for restaurants like Flemings.)
Look for tech gadgets like iPod/iPhone accessories at TJ Maxx/Marshalls. They are always near the check out line/cash register.

Attention Wine Lovers: Big Sur Announces the 2012 Food and Wine Festival

To contact us Click HERE

Pictured: The perfect combination, Talbott Kali Hart 2010 Pinot Noir & Big Sur (photo: M. Hall)

Is there anything better than enjoying a delicious, fragrant glass of wine while looking at one of the natural wonders of California, and really the entire world? This is the premise of the Big Sur Food and Wine Festival. The Big Sur Food and Wine fest for 2012 has just been announced, promising both great wines from Monterey county plus a fantastic setting. The festival offers attendees amazing deals on some of the area's best food and wine from Nov 1-4. The Hyatt Highlands will be kicking off the festivities with what promises to be an incredible first night of epicurean delights from their Pacific Edge restaurant. If you've been to Big Sur, you know the terrain and roads can be rough and sometimes even washed out by driving rain which can bring the travel nightmare of mud slides.

Pictured: A perfect combination: Big Sur views & fresh Abalone at the Pacific Edge, Hyatt Highlands (photo: M. Hall)

That's why I'm so intrigued by the an offering on this year's festival menu, the "Gateway to Big Sur" an opening night event at the Carmel Hyatt Highlands Hotel. Centrally located between the small village of Carmel, and the open vistas of Big Sur, the Hyatt Hotel will offer a special night of tastings from 35 wineries and 18 chefs in their Pacific’s Edge restaurant including the Lounge and Fireside Room. Tickets are priced at $160.00 each. I think this is a great deal for wine lovers and foodies, especially when you consider the quality of the food that will be provided. I recently dinned at the Pacific's Edge restaurant and can highly recommend the food, especially the signature Abalone appetizer (see above). The other thing I like about this special night is that everything is offered in one location. That's makes it safe for visitors and locals, as there is no driving while drinking from winery to winery and food is offered at the same time you are tasting. Guests will enjoy spectacular sunset views as they dine on the best of what Big Sur chefs, Hyatt chefs and other invited restaurants prepare for this one special night. Check out the Big Sur wine festival website for more information and tickets. The Big Sur Food and Wine Festival is now in its fourth year, and has raised over $65,000 for local non-profit causes.

eBay Announces Designer Holiday Collection

To contact us Click HERE

Pictured: Leather Tibi T-shirt for eBay (photo via eBay)
Not to be outdone by Neiman Marcus and Target, eBay has entered the designer collection foray with their own announcement of a holiday collection featuring 7 hot designers. The new partnership will feature designers Billy Reid, Chris Benz, Fallon, Jonathan Adler, Ruffian, Steven Alan and Tibi, has announced the eBay Holiday Collective - an original, limited-edition gift collection of men's and women's apparel, jewelry, travel and electronics accessories and home dÃ©cor. Available on eBay on Nov. 12th for the 2012 holiday season, the Collective marks the first time eBay is collaborating with a group of leading designers to create an exclusive product range.

Each member of the Collective has designed a unique capsule collection to deliver, together, a singular suite of 40+ inspired gift items. From the trendy traveler and luxurious lounger to the holiday hostess and the gadget guru, the bespoke collection features gifts for everyone on your holiday shopping list. Starting November 12, the collection will be available globally, exclusively on eBay, at accessible, "Buy it Now" prices from $50 to $100 and will include free U.S. and international shipping."

Last week ELLE magazine published exclusive preview pictures of the collection. There are pajamas from Chris Benz, a Steven Alan iPad case, Jonathan Adler salt and pepper shakers, Fallon jewelry and a bright pink RUFF scarf by Ruffian plus the above pictured leather t-shirt from Tibi. I'll be interested to learn more about this one. Stay tuned.

New Fall Fashion at Kohl's: Jennifer Lopez Collection Lace Dress

To contact us Click HERE

Pictured: Jennifer Lopez Lace Shift Dress at Kohl's for $40.00

Once of the hottest trends of this year, has been the lace overlay dress and Kohl's has a terrific version of it in the edition of the best selling JLo line. The new Jennifer Lopez collection lace shift dress in now on sale for $40.00. Kohl's sent me a sample of the dress in the Corsica Red. The cut is very tailored and similar to Kate's designer dress. For the price tag, it's a nice dress. It's fully lined, and can easily take you from Summer through Fall. I went to my local Kohl's store to order another one for my sister, but couldn't find it in store, so I used the Kohl's kiosk to place my order. While doing that, I made a savvy discovery. The coupon and the kiosks default coupon seems to be 15% off, guaranteeing you even better savings. Online or at the kiosk, use code LOCKER15 until Aug. 23 to save 15%. Are you surprised this dress is in JLo's Kohl's line? I was. It's not what I expected from the entertainer's collection, which usually looks like stuff la Lopez would wear, not Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge. This dress looks a lot like an Erdum dress that Kate wore on her tour of Canada last year.

The Beverly Center Offers Shoppers Fashion Shows & Deals for Fashion's Night Out Los Angeles

To contact us Click HERE

Tonight I had the opportunity to attend a briefing on what's in store for Fashion's Night Out in Los Angeles. There will be activities going on all over the city, but the Beverly Center Mall with its central location and wide array of shops offers a great place for fashionista's to get deals from both high-end designers and discount shops (like Forever XXI and H&M.) With the wide range of price points and fashions, there will literally will be something for everyone at the La Cienega shopping behemoth. There will even be two full-on fashion shows for Beverly Center visitors to attend. But it's not only the retailers who will be offering deals, the restaurants are getting in the act too. Recently, I had the opportunity to savor cocktails and appetizers from the Mozzarella Bar and I can personally recommend both. It's a tough job to be sure, but someone has to taste the food and drink :) Other places offering shopping breaks include the Grand Lux Cafe and PF Chang's. Read on to get the scoop on all the highlights and deals that are in store for savvy shoppers. Even the Mayor and a few celebrities will be on hand to support the local economy.
I had the opportunity to cruise around the Beverly Center tonight, and there are already plenty of sales to be had, but my personal tip is to wait until next week on Sept. 6th to make your purchase so that you can enjoy the entertainment and reap extra savings.

Highlights for Fashion's Night Out at the Beverly Center, Los Angeles, CA5:00 PM RED CARPET ARRIVALS6:30 PM OPENING CEREMONY
MAYOR ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA VIDEO ADDRESS
LISA LOVE, WEST COAST EDITOR OF VOGUE
HOST LUCY HALE, ACTRESS AND SINGER
KENDALL JENNER, BEVERLY CENTER'S FNO CAMPAIGN MODEL 7:00 PM FASHION SHOW
BLOOMINGDALE’S | MACY’S | TRUE RELIGION BRAND JEANS
TRAFFIC | DIESEL | MAX&CO. | J.LINDEBERG | LACOSTE9:00 PM FASHION SHOW
XXI FOREVER EXCLUSIVE

NATIONAL SUPPORTING SPONSOR
MAYBELLINE NEW YORK

LOCAL SUPPORTING SPONSOR
TRUE RELIGION BRAND JEANS

EVENTS
GUESTS ELLE & BLAIR FOWLER - FASHION AND BEAUTY VLOGGERS
CELEBRITY DJ AND FASHION BLOGGER LINDSAY LUV
ANGELENO MAGAZINE EXCLUSIVE VIP LUXURY LOUNGE
GENLUX MAGAZINE EXCLUSIVE RED CARPET AFTER PARTYClick here for a full listing (on our sister site The Recessionista ) of the retailers and restaurants offering deals at the Beverly Center on Sept. 6th. Who says you have to go to New York Fashion Week to see a runway show?

29 Eylül 2012 Cumartesi

One More Day to Enter! Ideeli Offers Best in Shop Contest

To contact us Click HERE

Online retail is not immune to Olympic fever, as women-owned small businesses can go for the gold here at home by entering ideeli’s “Best in Shop,” a contest celebrating women entrepreneurs and small businesses. Created in partnership with New York Times bestselling author and small business champion Tory Johnson, the contest, which is accepting entries through August 7th, invites women entrepreneurs to enter for a chance to have their business featured on ideeli, the online retailer that was named to the top of Inc. Magazine’s list of fastest growing private companies in 2011.

Whether running a business that sells gorgeous gowns or fabulous flatware, women entrepreneurs across America are invited tell their story, share their creations and win a moment in the spotlight. Best in Shop is open to women nationwide whose small companies sell apparel, accessories, or home dÃ©cor, with a chance for their company and products to be featured on ideeli, the popular online retail site with more than 5.5 million members. Best in Shop entries will be featured on ideeli’s Facebook landing page, and best in shop winners will be featured on the site.
Business owners or authorized representatives can learn more and enter the contest at www.ideeli.com/bestinshop. On August 20, ideeli and Tory Johnson will announce 20 finalists and voting will open to the public. The three companies with the most votes will be announced on September 5^th, and will work with Johnson and the ideeli team to curate a sale of their products to be featured in a special fall edition of ideeli’s "Tory's Shop" (www.ideeli.com/tory), a series of sales curated in collaboration with Tory Johnson, featuring women-run small businesses from around the country.
For more information on ideeli’s Best in Shop contest, visit www.ideeli.com/bestinshop

Chef Hora Fires Up Engine Co. No. 28 in Downtown Los Angeles

To contact us Click HERE

Pictured: A 1912 Firehouse turned Restaurant (photo: M. Hall)

What do you get when you combine a renovated 1912 Fire Station with Chef Christopher Hora’s unique sweet and savory fare? A winning combination that fits in beautifully with the renewal and renovation of Downtown Los Angeles. This little gem of a restaurant was once a 1912 Firehouse replete with fire engines, alarms and a brass pole (see above) for fire fighters to slide down. Today the historic setting at 644 Figueroa St. is home to the cuisine of Chef Christopher Hora. A graduate of the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco and native Californian, Chef Hora inherited his appreciation of fresh food and savory ingredients from his Italian mother and Czech Father when he was growing up. That influence carries over to the hearty menu at Engine Co. No. 28. The restaurant serves breakfast during the week, brunch on the weekends plus lunch and dinner. There’s also a well-priced happy hour for those working in Downtown looking for relief from office stress. Other offerings to alleviate stress include a wine dinners and beer tastings.

Pictured: Cali Benni, a delicious twist of Eggs Benedict

I visited the restaurant on Sunday for brunch to get a feel for Chef Hora’s cooking skills prior to his two appearances at this week’s LA Food and Wine Fest. Brunch is a new addition to the Engine Co. 28 menu, and the fare is literally both sweet and savory. Dishes like the French Toast with Bourbon soaked Orange Marmalade offer a new twist on traditional breakfast fare. The dish is sweet but not too sweet, with just the right subtle flavor from the Orange complimenting the French Toast. “ I don’t like anything to be too sweet, “ says Chef Hora. “If it’s too sweet it just stays in the front of your month and you don’t taste all the favors.” The Cali Bennie of smoked salmon, avocado, spinach, poached egg and sauce cherone is simply a revelation. It’s just the right twist on the more traditional eggs benedict with a cherone sauce that is more robust than a hollandaise offering hints of tomato, spices and shallots swimming in a rich sauce of egg yolk. A less subtle dish is the Chicken and Waffles served with a heavy sauce that updates southern “red-eye’ gravy. While the Cali Bennie tickles the taste buds with delicate flavor, the Chicken and Waffles is pure comfort food that assaults the mouth with a heavy cream sauce laden with bacon and hints of coffee. It’s delicious, but it’s difficult to each too much of it, at least in one sitting. It goes without saying that you won’t find this dish on any menu of recommended healthy diet foods.

Pictured: Delicious desserts on are the menu too.

Other menu highlights include rich desserts like Bananas Napoleon, cream pies and a rich Cheesecake served with fresh fruit. Brunch at Engine Co. No. 28 offers everything from Porridge with toppings to Omelets, plus Bread and Butter Pudding. The simple ingredients don’t prepare the visitor for the deliciousness of the dishes. “Anything is good if you begin with great product and sound technique,” said Executive Chef Christopher Hora. His dishes are proof of his culinary talent for skillfully combining what might be considered unlikely ingredients. Who else would conceive of Hamachi Ceviche complimented with blood orange, grapefruit and cactus? (This will be one of the the Chef’s dishes at the LA Food and Wine Fest this week.)

Pictured: Chef Christopher Hora

If you work in Downtown Los Angeles, or you are going downtown for the theatre or a sporting event, put Engine Co. No. 28 on your list. Shuttle service to the Ahamanson theater is offered and the Staples Center and LA Live are within walking distance. Prices for Brunch start at $11.00 with bottomless Mimosas and Bloody Mary’s (with the Chef’s own spicy mix) offered for $20.00. There’s nothing pretentious on the menu, just simple ingredients and delicious fare that’s reasonably priced, served up in a historic setting.

New Fall Fashion at Kohl's: Jennifer Lopez Collection Lace Dress

To contact us Click HERE

Pictured: Jennifer Lopez Lace Shift Dress at Kohl's for $40.00

The Beverly Center Offers Shoppers Fashion Shows & Deals for Fashion's Night Out Los Angeles

To contact us Click HERE

Los Angeles & Orange County Spa Deal at Burke William

To contact us Click HERE

In need of a little pampering and relaxation? Burke Williams Day Spa has a great deal for fall. They are offering a Hot Stone massage enhancement and Anti-Aging Facial package. Both services are on special for the public to enjoy at all spa locations beginning in October for just $99.00. Here are the details:
October 1 through November 15 enjoy a 50-minute Signature Swedish Massage with a Hot Stone Enhancement for only $99, regularly priced at $145 or higher or a 50-minute Deep Tissue Massage with Hot Stone Enhancement for $119, regularly priced at $165 or higher. Hot stones are the ultimate organic tools used to ease stiff muscles into the deepest relaxation and increase joint circulation. Each precise stone placement, paired with a customized massage session, enhances the benefits of therapy during the treatment. October 15 through November 1 experience the results-driven Anti-Aging Facial for just $169 in Southern California and San Jose and $179 in San Francisco, regularly priced from $195 to $215. The Burke Williams Anti-Aging Facial utilizes cutting edge regenerative technology through a custom blend of stem cells and illuminating concentrate. A unique combination of H2V R3 Transform and Matrixyl Peptides lifts, firms, brightens and evens the skin tone while repairing damage. During the facial, guests have the opportunity to consult with their esthetician to create a personalized anti-aging moisturizer just for their skin type.