fête à fête

Marie-Veronique Organics has one of the gentlest organic facial cleansers I've tried. Although it contains 1% lactic acid to promote exfoliation, the Jade Gentle Cleanser is non-foaming and doesn't strip the skin of its natural oils. The anti-inflammatory properties of hydrolyzed jade ensures that this cleanser is usable for the most sensitive skin.

I don't usually like most tinted moisturizers, but their Creme de Soleil Tinted SPF 30 has a really matte texture and didn't leave any greasy residue whatsoever. The tint also blended right into the skin, so I didn't have to worry about having extra color on my face. This sunscreen contains the healing emu oil and the regenerative helichrysum essential oil.

I also like that they don't use any waxes in their natural skin care line. Apparently they cause the little bumps on your skin, clogging up the pores. This local company is also against using nanoparticles, parabens, fillers, and fragrances.

While this is not the cheapest 'green' skin care, it's far more affordable than many luxury department store brands. I recommend getting their Anti-Aging Travel Kit to see if your skin will agree to their formulas. Their face oils (Overture and Nocturne) are jam-packed with nourishing nutrients like krill, broccoli seed, cherry kernel, black raspberry seed, and kiwi seed oils.

www.marieveronique.net

For editorial consideration, a product sample was provided for this review.

Tagged as: beauty, Cleanser, moisturizer, organic ingredients, skin care, SPF, sunscreen

Posted by Tami Yu at 2:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Feeling sluggish from all the holiday indulgence? Most of you probably have the long-term goal to become healthier in the new year. For those in the SF Bay Area, you're in luck. Cook! SF has a delicious Real Detox meal program that's coming up in January.

Say goodbye to that awful lemon juice cleanse. You can actually lose weight, feel better and improve your mental clarity by eating whole, organic foods. To make your life easier, Cook! SF will prepare and deliver all the meals to you each week. Each dish is prepared with local ingredients and is free of all preservatives, trans-fats, and high fructose corn syrup.

Their meal kits are all pre-portioned and take only 15-20 minutes to cook. They also offer vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options. I tried one of their seafood meals and it's really flavorful for a 'detox' meal. The portion I got was so big I could have split it into two meals.

You can sign up for a 1 or 2 week plan. Based on Dr. Mark Hyman's Ultra Metabolism menu recommendations, this is probably one of the safest ways to nourish your body without starvation, suffering through meal replacement shakes, or popping tons of herbal supplements.

If you sign up for the detox before December 31, you'll also get a $20 gift certificate.

www.cooksf.com

For editorial consideration, a product sample was provided for this review.

Tagged as: cooking, detox, dinner, food, health, Lifestyle, organic ingredients, San Francisco

Posted by Tami Yu at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Some of you might have learned about Caroline Chu skin care earlier this year, and the lovely Ms. Caroline has kindly offered to host another fabulous beauty giveaway!

Just for the holidays, we're giving away a deluxe Facial & Body Care Holiday Set to one lucky reader. This set includes full-size bottles of Caroline Chu fragrance, body lotion, gentle facial cleanser, and shower gel (retail value $124).

For a limited time, you can also get a 20% discount (use code: feteafete20) on www.carolinechu.com. The discount is valid now through December 30. To make things even sweeter, a free gift is also included with purchase.

To Enter:

Step 1: Tweet this post on Twitter (RT @feteafete Caroline Chu giveaway http://tinyurl.com/yjs6buj ). IF you don't have a Twitter account, please leave an interesting comment below this post on which product you'd like to try (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 'Caroline Chu 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 Thursday, December 24, at 11:59pm EST. U.S. residents only. Good luck!

Caroline's products are also available on Zappos.com and QVC.com. Check them out!

This giveaway is generously sponsored by Caroline Chu Skin Care & Cosmetics.

Tagged as: beauty, gifts, giveaway, shopping, skin care

Posted by Tami Yu at 3:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

Recchiuti Confections just started their Twelve Days of Christmas promotion! For the next two weeks they'll be announcing daily specials (discounts, contests, special events, prizes, etc.) for the holiday season.

Here's your chance to taste some of the world's best chocolate confections. And, if you follow them on Twitter you get to learn about discount codes (15% off when you enter or mention the code JOLLY online or at their SF retail shop).

Get the yummy Christmas Motif Chocolates (signature Burnt Caramel flavor) for your loved ones. Or try the amazing Candied Orange Peel Box. Each piece is hand cut and candied in-house, and the superb quality shows off the artisan technique. I usually don't like candied orange peel because it's so bitter but these are so delicious.

The Key Lime Pears are also sublime. These delicately thin pear crisps were baked in tart key lime juice, then dipped in chocolate. If you want something way more decadent, the newly formulated Peanut Butter Pucks should do the trick. Despite its richness, it's still quite hard to eat just one piece.

www.recchiuti.com

For editorial consideration, a product sample was provided for this review.

Tagged as: artisan, chocolate, chocolatier, food, gifts, gourmet, holiday, San Francisco, shopping

Posted by Tami Yu at 10:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Jonathan Grahm must have been a child prodigy when it came to the subject of chocolate. At only 15, he took over Compartes Chocolatiers, his family's chocolate shop in Brentwood. Not many teens can claim that accomplishment.

Now, at the ripe old age of 24, he's churning out lovely truffles so lovely that even celebrities can't get enough of them. Along with Nicole Kidman and Brad Pitt, this boutique has served truffles to the likes of Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe.

These handmade chocolates contain only fresh organic ingredients. My favorites were the bestselling Smoked Salt and the Honey + Peanut Butter + Sea Salt (made with wild organic honey). The Mexican Hot Chocolate is really spicy if you like a lot of heat and the Ridiculous Raspberry flavor is one of the most zingy berry truffles I've had in recent memory. The limited edition Passionfruit + Dark Chocolate is pretty darn amazing too.

Get your Compartes holiday chocolates online at www.compartes.com

For editorial consideration, a product sample was provided for this review.

Tagged as: artisan, chocolate, chocolate truffles, food, gifts, gourmet, organic ingredients

Posted by Tami Yu at 8:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Linnea's Lights has a great collection of eco-friendly candles to light up your holiday festivities. Made of soy wax, pure essences, and lead-free cotton wicks, the line is named after the founders' Swedish lineage and the national flower of Sweden.

The holiday scents include Pomander (orange, clove, winter spices), Winter (spruce, mint, cinnamon, cranberry), and Fir. If you want something fruitier, other great options are Fig (with peach and vanilla), Currant Rouge (with citrus and tart apple), and Cassis (blackcurrant and green herbs).

Packaged in recycled materials, each of the double wicked candle burns up to 60 hours. The handcrafted candles are also triple-scented so it will maintain a strong and steady fragrance throughout the entire burn. The package also contains a little matchbox, which is a thoughtful touch.

www.linneaslights.com

For editorial consideration, a product sample was provided for this review.

Tagged as: candles, fragrance, gifts, holiday, scents, shopping

Posted by Tami Yu at 7:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

If you managed to plan ahead and bought some holiday gifts, you now have the fun job of wrapping them up! I do love some of Snow & Graham's holiday gift wrap and stationery. The designs definitely put you in cheerful spirits.

Isn't this Gum Drops gift wrap fun? Makes me think the Sugar Plum Fairy is about to drop in for a visit. Ditto for the Cardinals design. So darling!

Their boxed letterpress greeting cards are also lovely. They're printed on really thick stock so it has a luxurious feel to them. The Cherry Blossom and Snowflake designs are especially lovely. And don't forget to get a few noteBlocks for everyone. They'll remember you all year long as they scribble their notes on these cuties.

www.snowandgraham.com

For editorial consideration, a product sample was provided for this review.

Tagged as: gifts, greeting cards, holiday, shopping, stationery

Posted by Tami Yu at 9:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

If you need to buy some gourmet chocolate, Valrhona is making your holiday entertaining and shopping a bit easier. Their new online shop has all their great chocolate products (baking bars, retail bars, etc.), and they even have a new and elegant packaging to boot.

The dried fruit and nut confections within the impressive Equinoxe collection are so addicting that I had to really control myself from eating the entire box. The Milk Fig and Biscuit box had the perfect combo of alternating tastes and textures. You can crunch on a buttery biscuit pearl that's encased in creamy milk chocolate, then later chew on a chocolate-covered piece of dried fig. Trust me, it's absolutely delicious.

If figs are not your thing, there's always the lovely Gianduja Almonds and Hazelnuts box. For a really deluxe array of treats, you can get everything in the large Equinoxe Collection Box. This contains Almonds & Hazelnuts covered with Dark and Milk Chocolate, Biscuit, and Candied Orange Peel.

Or, if you're watching your waistline, the cute new mini-canisters of Crunchy Pearls and Candied Orange Rind (sooo good) will ensure that you won't over-indulge.

For more tempting ideas, the Mendiants are little disks of milk and dark chocolates, each topped with a hazelnut pearl, dried apricot and pistachio. These are so pretty that they'd look fantastic on a silver tea tray.

I also liked the Palmira bar from the Estate Grown Bar collection. With notes of honey and nuts, this bar featured select Criollo beans from the Palmira plantation in Venezuela. The Ampamakia bar from Madagascar ran a close second for me, with notes of cherry plum and plum.

For a limited time, if you buy more than $65 worth of products, you get free ground FedEx shipping.

www.valrhona-chocolate.com

For editorial consideration, a product sample was provided for this review.

Tagged as: chocolate, chocolate bar, food, gifts, gourmet, holiday

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Oh, my goodness...I used to prefer local cupcake bakeries here in SF, but I believe NYC's Crumbs Bake Shop kicked our West Coast arses. I got some sample goodies to try recently and they've helped me destroy my otherwise fairly healthy diet.

First of all, their cream cheese frosting is so much better than Magnolia's buttercream frosting (Sorry, SATC fans). I just don't like it when frostings have that mega-sugary taste that's killer enough to make your teeth hurt. The same goes for that gross butterfat texture when there's too much butter or not enough sugar.

But I digress. If you're in NYC, lucky you! If you live elsewhere, they do deliver them with dry ice so that they arrive in picture-perfect, ready-to-gorge condition. I loved the Raspberry Swirl, Oreo, and Red Velvet flavors. The seasonal Pumpkin cupcake is really moist and lovely, and the White Hot Chocolate has a white chocolate mousse filling inside. I can only imagine how delicious their holiday collection is. The seasonal offering includes Candy Cane, Egg Nog, Gingerbread, Peppermint Hot Cocoa, and S'Mores.

For mail orders you can only order them in their gigantic 6-oz. Signature Cupcake size, which is almost double the normal cupcake size. They were so big I couldn't finish them in one go. But that really didn't stop me from trying.

To learn more about their new products and cupcake giveaways, check out their Facebook page! Don't forget to place your holiday orders soon!

www.crumbs.com

For editorial consideration, a product sample was provided for this review.

Tagged as: cake, cupcakes, dessert, entertaining, food, gifts, gourmet, holiday, pastries, seasonal

Posted by Tami Yu at 9:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

The gals over at Benefit Cosmetics know how to give some good bargains. You don't have to spend a huge fortune on their holiday makeup and you'll end up looking super fab with their party-prepping color sets.

The new Glitz Glam & Gloss set ($26) features 6 new shimmering lip gloss shades. Each gloss comes with a specially-designed soft cushion paddle to make application easy. These glosses also smell like fruity bubble gum.

This set comes in the following colors:

Friends in High Places (sparkling raspberry)
Kiss You (clear fuchsia)
Almost Famous (copper penny)
Zone Out (golden nude)
I'm With The Band (golden pink shimmer)
Fresh-Squeezed (pink grapefruit)

For the gals who travel a lot, the Celebutante Personal Stylist Makeup Kit ($34) contains some of Benefit's most popular makeup products, all in one cute and lightweight travel-ready box. This kit even comes with a mini pamphlet that shows you how to use the makeup, so you don't even have to stress about it. How handy is that? This popular item seems to be sold out on Benefit's website but the HSN site seems to have some kits left, so hurry along before they are totally gone.

This awesome kit includes:

High Beam Complexion Enhancer
Benetint lip and cheek stain
Dallas Face Powder blush & bronzer
Lip Gloss in I'm with the Band (shimmering, pale pink-beige)
Full Finish Lipstick in Lady's Choice (naturally nude)
Full Finish Lipstick in No Competition (medium heathered plum)
Velvet Eyeshadow in Leggy (pink nude)
Velvet Eyeshadow in Dandy Brandy (copper spice)
Dual-ended fluff shadow/talent brush
Small face powder brush

www.benefitcosmetics.com

For editorial consideration, a product sample was provided for this review.

Tagged as: beauty, cosmetics, gifts, holiday, lip gloss, lipstick, makeup, shopping

Posted by Tami Yu at 7:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Diptyque has some luxurious gifts for this holiday season, and it's quite hard to choose which one to get for your loved ones. Every scent I've smelled from this Parisian company is quite bewitching.

To bring in a festive environment, the new trio of Holiday Limited-Edition Candles are a lovely addition to the home. Available in Roasted Chestnut, Evergreen, and Resin, these gorgeous candles are housed in colorful and elegant glass containers ($68). If those are not in the budget, there are also mini candles ($28) to consider. They come in the following scents: Feu de Bois (Firewood), Pomander (Orange/Clove), Cannelle (cinnamon), Amber, and Pine.

The new milled soaps are great (and affordable) stocking stuffers for the fragrance addict. I was especially entranced by the Do Son (tuberose, orange tree leaves, rose, benzoin, iris, and white musk) soap. I'm not a huge floral gal but this one really surprised me with its freshly intoxicating scent. I was also very happy to see it available in the unisex L'Ombre dans L'Eau (black currant leaf and Bulgarian rose). These soaps are so fragrant it made my bathroom smell so nicely. They also lather up beautifully. The soap collection also features scents of Philosykos, Tam Dao, and L’eau ($15 each or three for $38).

www.diptyqueparis.com

For editorial consideration, a product sample was provided for this review.

Tagged as: candles, fragrance, gifts, holiday, Luxury, scents, shopping, soap, Winter

Posted by Tami Yu at 5:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Vosges Haut-Chocolat has some mouthwatering chocolate flavors for the holidays. Their lovely Holiday Truffle Collection pays homage to nostalgic Victorian holiday traditions. This limited edition collection is also adorned with a keepsake Jonathan Adler peace sign ornament.

Be prepared to be wowed with updated twists on classic flavors like Holiday Plum Pudding. I really loved the creamy and decadent Mascarpone and Ceylon Cinnamon Snap (Italian mascarpone, Ceylon cinnamon, organic sour cream, 45% deep milk chocolate). The Candy Cane Peppermint (All natural candy cane, peppermint, 65% dark chocolate) is deeply refreshing and the Eggnog and Jamaican Rum (Appleton Estate rum, Grenadian nutmeg, ginger, Dominican Republic white chocolate) is just amazing if you love eggnog.

For more chocolate bliss, the Marchesa Casati Truffle Collection is a luxurious pearl that is meant to be slowly savored. This collection is named after Luisa Casati, one of the most scandalous figures of the early 20th century. She inspired chocolatier Katrina Markoff to create a sinfully delightful black sea salt caramel that's enrobed in 85% bittersweet dark chocolate. These precious truffles are then showered with real freshwater pearl dust. This is a rare and special collection and it will run out, so get yours soon!

Vosges also has an exclusive holiday discount code! Just type in BLGF09 at checkout and you'll get a 10% discount from now through December 31, 2009.

www.vosgeschocolate.com

For editorial consideration, a product sample was provided for this review.

Tagged as: chocolate, chocolate truffles, food, gifts, gourmet, holiday, limited edition, Luxury, seasonal, shopping

Posted by Tami Yu at 10:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

If you need a gift for that someone special, Jimmyjane has some sensual ideas for you. These fun items are guaranteed to place a smile on their lips.

The EMBER candle range is featuring a new special edition scent, Absinthe + Sugar Water. This sweetly sexy candle contains notes of fennel and anise to heighten your senses. It also smells a bit masculine so both men and women will stick to this like catnip.

As you inhale this intoxicating aphrodisiac scent, you can also pour the melted oil onto your partner's skin. Not only does it make for a stimulating massage, the oil will moisturize with its spa-grade jojoba, shea butter, Vitamin E, soy, aloe and other botanical extracts. This lead-free candle also contains a clean-burning cotton wick and will last 72 hours.

To compliment the EMBER, the Contour Q ceramic massage stones will work those tough kinks out. This latest addition to their massage line contains two designs that are meant for the pressure points. One has soothing rippled grooves while the other has stimulating bumps of varying sizes. You can also soak these in warm water for a hot stone massage effect, or cool them in the fridge to stimulate the circulation. Or...for more fun, check out their tutorial on how to use these fantastic massage stones.

For those who want something naughtier, JimmyJane just launched their new FORM 2 Rechargeable Waterproof Vibrator. This was part of a design collaboration with industrial designer Yves Behar.

The tip of each ear is individually powered for simultaneous stimulation, and this compact design is supposed to provide more intensity than other comparable products. With five intensity levels and four vibration modes, you're in for the ride of your life.

www.jimmyjane.com

For editorial consideration, a product sample was provided for this review.

Tagged as: candles, gifts, holiday, Lifestyle, Luxury, massage, San Francisco, shopping, vibrators

Posted by Tami Yu at 2:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

If you didn't get to participate in the Black Friday or Cyber Monday shopping madness, here are some holiday gift ideas for your loved ones. Heck, get some of these goodies for yourself - you need some pampering too!

Newly released in the U.S., Argento represents the spirit of Argentinean wines. They're reasonably priced (under $20) and are so easy to pair with holiday food. I especially liked the elegant 2008 Bonarda and the 2008 Malbec from the Reserva Range - both are extremely smooth and drinkable with meat dishes. The Torrontes is a lovely white, with notes of peach, citrus, mint, and eucalyptus.

With the dry and cold weather, we need the Bamford Body Organic Collection to nourish our alligator skin. Made with 99% organic ingredients, the chamomile body oil and body lotion are both lovely and soothing.

To stave off the extra pounds, don't forget to get some Huge Lips Skinny Hips lip gloss. Not only will your appetite shrink from the hoodia, you lips will also plump up nicely! My personal favorite shade is the holiday-ready Red Sole.

For those who are looking for an eco-friendly accessory, Escama Studio has some ingenious purses and jewelry that are made from recycled aluminum tabs. These are designed in San Francisco and the Brazilian artisans that hand craft them are ensured a fair living wage.

For cult fans of Burritoeater.com, the website has some cute T-shirts for the guys. They are only $15 (price includes shipping!) and makes a fun statement for the burrito-loving men in your life. The back of the shirt also has a slogan, "Bite, Chew, Mull." Smart words to live by for the burrito fiend.

If you've never heard of Meaghan Smith, you soon will. This up-and-coming Canadian singer has a really beautiful voice, and she just released a heartwarming holiday EP called "Wish Upon A Star". She will soon release a new full-length album in February, so go check out her tunes on her website here.

The single eyeshadows from Jouer Cosmetics make great stocking stuffers. The customizable and portable packaging makes for a fun beauty routine. Get a few shades for your favorite beautyholic!

Redken has a cool Grooming Essentials Gift Set for men, which includes a daily shampoo, cleansing bar, and a non-flaky holding gel. As for the ladies, the new Body Full hair care line will take care of all your volumizing needs.

For editorial consideration, a product sample was provided for this review.

Tagged as: beauty, gifts, hair product, holiday, Lifestyle, makeup, music, shopping, wine

Posted by Tami Yu at 5:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)