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Thursday
Jun252009

Shu Uemura Art of Hair Sweepstakes

We all know Shu Uemura has a world-class cosmetics line (heck, Madonna uses the cleansing oil), but did you know their hair care line is just as divine? For a chance to try their luxurious hair care products, Shu Uemura Art of Hair is having a spectacular sweepstakes that they're hosting through June 30. shuuemura_artofhair.jpg Only one randomly-selected Grand Prize winner will win one year’s worth of Shu Uemura Art of Hair products (retail value approximately $1680.00!). Wow. So my beauties, you only have about five days left to enter! To enter, go to www.shuuemuraartofhair-usa.com to fill out a profile. artofhair_shuuemura.jpg Other fine print: U.S. residents only. This sweepstakes ends at 11:59:59 PM ET on June 30th, 2009. Existing Shu Uemura Art of Hair registrants and Salon Professionals are not eligible. Consumer non–registrants must register by completing their online profile, providing their complete name, birth date, zip code and a valid e-mail address to be entered. Limit one entry per person/e-mail address.

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Thursday
Jun252009

Patric Chocolate

My pal Seneca over at Bittersweet Cafe recently sent me home with some Patric Chocolate bars. Since he's a discerning chocolate connoisseur, I know these are going to be good. My taste buds confirmed this fact after a couple tastings. patric_chocolate.jpg Image Credit: patric-chocolate.blogspot.com It's pretty amazing how just three ingredients (no soy lecithin nor vanilla, just cocoa beans, sugar, and cocoa butter) can achieve such a great chocolate bar. The 67% Madagascar has lilting touches of red fruit, and there's a dash of toffee at the end. The 70% bar is just as lovely, with citrus and berries flooding your palate. Both are commendable bars for the micro-batch chocolatier. www.patric-chocolate.com

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Thursday
Jun252009

Yosh Han Time Travel Fragrances

Known for her soulful alchemy, Yosh Han's latest Time Travel fragrances conjure up sensations from the past, present and future. Created exclusively for the Echo Park Time Travel Mart, the ten fragrances have delightful names such as Caveman, Gold Rush and Victorian Violets. yoshHAN_timetravel_fragrances.jpg Studio 54 has white pearl, juniper, coriander, lime, champagne. It even has sparkly glitter in the bottle. I can definitely pick up the lime. On my skin it gave off a powdery finish after wearing it for a while. Utopia has notes of French vanilla, nectarine blossom, cassis and green tea. This one gives off a sensual longing of an old romance. My favorite is Aztec. This one has warm and spicy notes of chocolate, rose, nutmeg, pink pepper, and cardamom. All proceeds benefit 826LA, a youth writing center in LA. Get your fragrance at www.826la.org.

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Wednesday
Jun242009

Maison LeGrand Pesto

If you work as hard as I do, I'm sure you busy bees are getting sick of the usual frozen dinner and canned soup options. Well, LeGrand's pestos are here to rescue your taste buds from those boring ideas. Made fresh every week, these pestos don't have any added sugar or preservatives. maisonlegrand_pesto.jpg They come in a few flavors (Garden Pesto, 4 Nuts & Cheese Pesto, and Sun-dried Tomato Pesto). I love the 4 Nuts & Cheese - so flavorful and zippy. If you're not a fan of pesto, they also have mild or spicy versions of their Olive and Sun-dried Tomato Tapenade and a Lemon Confit & Pumpkin Seed Aromatic Sauce. Think of this as slow food on the go. At 5.5 ounces, these stand-up packs have 6 servings to feed a family. I love using the pestos on my omelettes and toast! Yummmm. For recipe ideas, go to maisonlegrand.com. They can be found at Whole Foods.

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Wednesday
Jun242009

Juice Beauty's Sun Care

Despite the occasional foggy 'June Gloom' we have here in SF, it's still summer season and we need to remind ourselves to slap on the SPF. Sun care can be a boring thing to remember, but with a few items from Juice Beauty's, it should make your sunscreen application a little bit more fun. The non-greasy Green Apple SPF 15 Moisturizer is a nice everyday full-spectrum sunscreen. This chemical-free moisturizer also has a brightening hydroxy-acid complex (made with certified organic fruit juices) and age-defying peptides to refresh the sun-worn skin. For the body, the Green Apple SPF 20 Antioxidant Body Moisturizer soaks right into the skin. And yes, your face and body will smell delicious, just like apple pie! juicebeauty_greenapplespf15.jpg The SPF 8 Lip Moisturizers have natural mineral sun protection and also contain certified organic emollient plant oils, mango and passionfruit juices, beeswax, and honey. This trio has a clear lip color and two very sheer mineral tints. Like the products above, they also smell delish. I totally dug the non-waxy feel. juicebeauty_lipspf.jpg www.juicebeauty.com

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Friday
Jun192009

Pierre Hermé Macarons at Chez Charlotte

When I was in Paris last month I popped by the chic Hotel des Academies et des Arts in the 6th arrondissment to try their afternoon tea at Chez Charlotte. Tucked away from the busy Montparnasse/Jardin du Luxembourg area, this intimate spot is a cozy way to fill up on delish macarons and catch your breath before heading out for more sightseeing. Hotel%20des%20Academies.jpg Named after owner Charlotte Inchauspé, the gourmet tearoom serves FABULOUS and world-famous Pierre Hermé macarons and fragrant teas from Le Palais des Thés (I actually stood 20+ minutes in line for these macarons at Hermé's Saint-Germain store). This artsy hotel is the only hotel in Paris to serve his macarons. Chez%20Charlotte%20Tea.jpg If you get the chance to stay at this luxury boutique hotel, I totally recommend it. The public areas and rooms are filled with hip and ultra-modern art and decor. There's even a neat wall art you can view from the glass partitioned section of the elevator. Plus, the manager Henri is super cool. He's very helpful in helping you with any questions you might have. hoteldesacademies.com

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Friday
Jun192009

shu uemura Tokyo Lash Bar 2009

shu uemura had their 26th Tokyo boutique anniversary party here in SF last night and luckily I got to join in on the fun. As we noshed on sushi and bopped to groovy tunes, we got to check out the new 2009 Tokyo Lash Bar collection. What fun and dramatic styles! I just want to wear all of them... shuuemura_tokyolash09.JPG Alana is rocking out the Marine Tide lashes. Gorgeous. marinetide_lashes.jpg shu_fleurever_lash.jpg Fleur-ever lashes Fermina wearing Goldglam Leaf lashes. You can wear them on the upper or lower lash line. shu_glamgoldleaf_lash.jpg Nicole sporting the Snow Twist lashes for that ice princess look. snowlash.jpg www.shuuemura-usa.com

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Thursday
Jun182009

Kettle Create-a-Chip Kit Contest & Giveaway

Fans of Kettle Brand chips are being invited to create the next great potato chip flavor. For a limited time, you can get the Create-a-Chip Kit and submit your special creative flavor at www.kettlechipchallenge.com. The kit comes with everything flavor artists need to make their ultimate potato chips: four 1 oz. bags of unseasoned chips and seven packets of seasoning blends. For inspiration, each Create-a-Chip Kit also comes with 5 oz. bags of past People’s Choice winners: Spicy Thai™, Buffalo Bleu™ and Tuscan Three Cheese Kettle Brand® Potato Chips. kettle_kit.jpg To get you going, we're giving away one Create-a-Chip Kit to a lucky reader! To Enter: Step 1: Tweet this post on Twitter (RT @feteafete Kettle Create-a-Chip Kit giveaway http://tinyurl.com/nnhwxb ). IF you don't have a Twitter account, please leave an interesting comment below this post on why you like this brand (don't send generic ones like 'this sounds great'). Step 2: Email your full name & mailing address to feteafeteswag@gmail.com. Be sure to enter 'Kettle Giveaway' in the subject line and your unlocked Twitter link in the body. DO NOT forget to email your name & address after you comment or tweet, or you'll be disqualified automatically! One winner will be chosen at random. Deadline is Tuesday, June 23, at 11:59pm EST. U.S. residents only. Good luck!

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Wednesday
Jun172009

Seafood Bliss in Oléron Island

While staying in Paris, we had the most fortunate luck to visit friends living in the gorgeous Île d'Oléron. The TGV is only three hours away, so it was literally a hop and a skip down to beautiful La Rochelle. From there it's about an hour's drive to the island. oleron_oyster2.jpg At the oyster farm. The day before, we were keeling over from eating the best langoustines and crevettes ever for lunch (prepared by Anne's loving hands). The seafood ecstasy was extended further into the next day. oyster_fishing_oleron.jpg Oyster planks covered by algae to keep them insulated during high tide. That morning we got to go on a special fishing expedition with Papi Guy. We saw lightning flashing across the horizon earlier that morning, but fortunately it cleared up by the time we neared the oyster beds. oleron_papiGuy.jpg Papi Guy looking for oysters. We had to wait til the tide was low enough to disembark. Then we got down and raked for Palourde clams and cockles while Papi Guy hunted for wild oysters. It was such great fun roaming around the rows of oysters, digging for clams with our fingers. cockles_oleron.jpg Our bountiful harvesting of cockles... At lunch, we got to try the amazing clams and delicately sweet cockles. The wild oysters were so briny it was like tasting the ocean. Papi Guy then shared his precious stash of home made Pineau, the local aperitif made of grape must and Cognac. As we all did drink a substantial amount, I'm quite happy to see the alcohol didn't make anyone too tipsy...otherwise we'd all have to swim home! boat_lowtide_oleron.jpg Eating lunch and oysters while waiting for the tide to return.

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Monday
Jun152009

Colleen Quen's Butterfly Dreams

I am just drooling at Colleen Quen's recent work in the French couture realm. This Butterfly Dream gown that debuted at the Shanghai MOCA last Fall is beyond dazzling. I'm speechless each time I see this design. colleenquen_butterflydream2_wingshya.jpg I can imagine this gown taking off in flight. Just look at all the intricate detailing and hand stitching. A true labor of love. colleen_quen_butterflydream.jpg Love, love, love this piece inspired by Santiago Calatrava's architecture for the Milwaukee Art Musuem. colleenquen_calatravasantiago.jpg Photo Credits: Wing Shya, Beijing 2009 colleenquencouture.com

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