fête à fête

Finally...we now have a San Francisco dining guidebook worthy of five stars. Marcia Gagliardi's new book, The Tablehopper's Guide to Dining and Drinking in San Francisco, is on sale today!

Divided into over twenty practical sections, this book contains nearly 600 restaurant reviews that will keep your relatives, friends, dates and colleagues hankering for more. The next time you have visitors, you need to get this book and read it well before they get here. I love the one-, two-, and three-day itineraries. Marcia even lists last-minute and planned-ahead meal suggestions to make your life easier. It's like having a personal concierge at your fingertips.

Along with romantic suggestions for the lovebirds, there's another useful tidbit for those who need tips on where to dump their soon-to-be-exes. That Shituations chapter alone is worth gold (or several laughs).

If you haven't read her fun and sassy e-column, you're missing out on SF's latest and juiciest food news. For those starving for celebrity sightings, if you subscribe to Marcia's weekly e-column you'll definintely get the dish on all the gorgeous stars that have dined in our fair city's finest establishments.

www.tenspeed.com

For editorial consideration, a review book copy was provided for this review.

Tagged as: books, dining, drink, food, gourmet, Lifestyle, San Francisco

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I first fell in love with Larkspur & Hawk's gorgeous fine jewelry last year. Inspired by antique jewelry designs from the 18th and 19th centuries, designer Emily Satloff successfully reintroduced the 18th century craft of using colored foils to produce a dramatic brilliance.

Just look at the Grace Ring. The intricate 14k white gold ring is lined with 22k yellow gold, and the blue topaz contains leaf foil to bring out the extra sparkle. From the same collection, the 18k rose gold Grace Pendant contains a lovely rose quartz with a fuchsia foil.

Grace Ring & Grace Pendant

The oxidized silver Olivia Day Night Earrings would go so well with the green amethyst on the Sophia Ring. The little ring of diamonds add such an opulent touch. These colors are so rich - they make you feel like royalty, that's for sure.

Olivia Day Night Earrings & Sophia Ring

If I had a gala to attend, these Jane Day Night Earrings (with blue topaz and magenta foil) would be my top choice. And how about these Celeste Earrings? I can't believe it's the turquoise foil that's making it look so radiant.

Jane Day Night Earrings & Celeste Earrings

Most of these pieces are available exclusively through Barneys New York. Some designs are available via www.larkspurandhawk.com.

Tagged as: earrings, fashion, jewelry, Luxury, necklace, rings, shopping

Posted by Tami Yu at 4:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Just for the naughty kids, Jimmyjane has three exclusive gift sets for Valentine's Day. These gift bundles are quite the deal, considering the mega savings you'll get (at least 50% off retail prices!).

The PLAY set ($44) consists of the WINK Silk and Suede Blindfold and the EMBER Massage Oil Candle (scented with TRUFFLE + GARDENIA). Originally valued at $93, you get to save 53%. And, the silk sash from the blindfold can double as wrist restraints - fun, fun fun! If you're less adventurous, you can use it as a sleep mask. Hey, whatever floats your boat...

If you can afford to splurge a bit, the INDULGE set is only $184 (61% off - originally $470). This deluxe pleasure set has a LITTLE GOLD silent (and waterproof) 24k Gold Vibrator, an ICONIC vibrating ring, and two EMBER Massage Oil Candles (TRUFFLE + GARDENIA and GINGER + DATE).

Don't forget to check out their website for V-day goodies under $35, or the new FORM 2 vibrator.

www.jimmyjane.com

Tagged as: gift, holiday, Lifestyle, Luxury, San Francisco, shopping, valentine

Posted by Tami Yu at 2:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It's truly a blessing to be living so close to one of the world's best wine regions. There are so many great wineries and things to check out. When you're all tired from the Bacchanalial pleasures, you can relax and recharge your energy at a nearby luxury resort.

Of all the resorts I'd pick, Meadowood in St. Helena would be a superb choice. Located near the north end of the Silverado Trail, the elegant estate is tucked away in a secluded valley that stretches across 250 acres of trees, lush hills, lawns, and hiking trails.

The estate seems like a paradise that's far away from reality. Your mind will stop obsessing about the fifty emails that you need to deal with, and the concept of relaxation is at the forefront of your mind. If you're a nature lover, you'd be thrilled to see so many different types of trees on the property. You can spot tons of Redwoods, Oaks, Big Leaf Maples, Douglas Firs, California Buckeyes, Madrones and Bay Laurels.

There are 85 cottages, suites and lodges within the resort. All of them are tucked into the hillside, so you get the utmost privacy. We stayed in one of the spacious Treeline Cottages - the wood-burning fireplace was so warm that we didn't need to turn up the heat. There are two TVs so you can literally laze about all day if you really wanted to. Since it was raining, that's what we did!

Naturally, the property has a two-starred Michelin restaurant. Under the leadership of Chef Christopher Kostow, The Restaurant at Meadowood is a culinary destination for those seeking a world-class dining option.

The Molten Parmesan Tortellini was beyond delicious. We both picked the extremely tender Giant Humboldt Squid entree; the cheese tasting was also one of the best we've seen. For dessert, we were wowed by the rich White Chocolate and Foie Gras Ganache and the interesting combination of Beets, Rose, and Cocoa. As if that wasn't enough, soft snickerdoodle financiers were set upon the table as a finishing touch.

Meadowood is not just all about relaxing - there's a big emphasis on health and wellness. Tennis courts, an executive golf course, croquet lawns, and swimming pools all surround the property. If you need pointers, a resident professional for tennis, croquet, and golf can help you improve your game. If that's not enough, they even have aerobics, pilates, and yoga classes, along with an on-site personal trainer.

I also got to visit their spa and tried their signature Meadowood Harvest Wrap. A detoxing dry brushing started the treatment, followed by a tea tree exfoliation. A hydrating masque is then applied and you get a sleep-inducing scalp massage as you're wrapped in warm towels. To finish the buffing, a Jurlique anti-oxidant lotion is smoothed over the entire body. With this body wrap, you'll end up with soft-as-butter skin.

There are lots of events going on at Meadowood. From their upcoming Valentine's Day dinner to their summer charity wine auction, this Napa Valley destination is not to be missed. If I had my way, I'd love to get hitched at this gorgeous locale.

www.meadowood.com

For editorial consideration, a press visit was provided for this review.

Tagged as: food, Lifestyle, Luxury, restaurant, spa, travel, wine country

Posted by Tami Yu at 9:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

If you're having trouble keeping that new year's resolution to stay healthy, Beautifull! just opened another convenient SF location to help you stick to your diet in a delicious way.

Located in the bustling Sunset district, the new eatery has a much larger space and plenty of table seating, as well as a cozy heated patio in the back. They're also working with Susan Cervantes, Founder of Precita Eyes Muralists Association, to produce a large abstract mural in the patio representing happiness, contentment and love. How Beautifull is that?

There are a few new items on the menu since my last visit. The Moroccan Chicken and Red Thai Curry Turkey Bowl (with organic coconut milk) are my new favorites, and I love the fact that their meats are hormone-free. The Polenta Fries and Farro Risotto are also very good. For dessert, they have a chocolate chip cookie made with whole grains and flax seed. The 'chips' are actually cacao nibs, so it's lower in sugar and healthier for your body.

The best thing about their healthy menu? The food doesn't taste like diet food and it is so nutrient dense that I was pretty full for a long time. I didn't need an afternoon snack and ended up eating a lighter dinner.

Check out the entire menu at beautifull.com.

For editorial consideration, a press visit was provided for this review.

Tagged as: dinner, healthy, lunch, organic ingredients, restaurant, San Francisco

Posted by Tami Yu at 8:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Shu Uemura is channeling the sexy glam rock icon this Spring. Inspired by the stage lighting from a Parisian discotheque, their new Egerie 2010 Mode Makeup collection helps you unleash your inner rock star with ease and sophistication. This line is for the modern spirit who wants to rebel yet remain elegant at the same time.

The Eye Shimmer Duo consists of two separate products. The first item is a liquid shimmer base. You start with a thin layer over the eyelid, then finish with a swath of sparkling powder. You can actually wear the liquid base by itself for an alternate look, but the finishing powder amps up the glam factor. It also has an interesting texture - it looks like a grainy powder but as you blend it into the lid it has a smooth feel that you expect from a solid cream-to-powder eyeshadow.

I liked the Glint Blue (brown base & silvery blue powder) and the Starry Violet (grey base & lavender-pink powder) shades. They're completely buildable, so you can use it for either day or night looks. This product will definitely draw everyone's attention to your eyes.

As for the face, the creamy Satin Radiant Stick comes in two shades. The Highlight stick adds a very light pink-white shimmer to the forehead and upper cheekbone, while the Blush color brings a natural and healthy glow to the 'apple' of the cheek. It's totally user-friendly - you can't over apply since it's so light. You also don't have to worry about using it in natural light. It would be pretty hard to end up like a kewpie doll with this product.

Katie White of The Ting Tings was smokin’ at the Grammys with the Egerie colors. The indie-rocker, whose band was nominated for the “Best New Artist”, rocked a sultry look created by celebrity makeup artist Amy Chance. Incorporating Katie's signature mod look, Amy worked her magic and shared her tips:

“I prepped Katie's skin with shu uemura’s red:juvenus revitalizing retexturing cream. I then used their new UV Under Base Fluid underneath her eyes and to her cheek bones. I used Armani Luminous Silk foundation to even out her skin tone, and then applied shu uemura’s Glow On blush in M Pink 31 on the apples of her cheeks. I highlighted the top of her cheek bones with Glow On in P Gold 94.

Credit: Getty Images

On Katie's eyes, I used shu uemura's new Eye Shimmer Duo in Glint Blue so her eyes would sparkle under the lights on the red carpet. We then used the Pressed Eye Shadow in Black 990 IR in her crease to deepen her eyes and give her a "mod", vintage look. I lined her top lids with Painting Liner in Black, and then lined her lower lid with the Drawing Pencil in ME Black. I accented her lashes with Individual Flare Lashes and Precise Volume Mascara.

Katie loves pink cheeks and lips, so to give her a final pop of color, and stay with her retro mod look, we finished her lips with Gloss Unlimited PK 344, a gorgeous bright pink. We finished her skin with Armani Fluid Sheer foundation to even out her skin tone and give it a bit of shimmer.”

www.shuuemura-usa.com

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

Tagged as: beauty, blush, cosmetics, eyeshadow, makeup, shopping, spring

Posted by Tami Yu at 5:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Guerlain's Spring 2010 makeup colors emulate the first blush of springtime romance. Inspired by the delicate shades of the Far East, the Cherry Blossom collection is filled with fresh hues of pinks, corals and violet. From packaging to color payoff, this is just a stunning line.

After a cold, wet, and harsh winter, you just want to dive into these beautiful colors. The Ombre Eclat 4 Couleurs eyeshadow palette in Jeu d'Ombrelles is a kaleidoscope of purple, blue violet, pearlescent pink and white. The purples look dark in the image, but it actually goes on lightly, so it's easy to build up to a nighttime look.

The Blush Eclat in Cherry Blossom resembles an intricate part of a geisha's silk kimono. Isn't this just gorgeous? The light pink and coral shades are accented with shimmering rose to create the perfect flush on the cheeks. This is fairly pigmented, so don't slap this on.

It's all about the lips this spring, at least according to Guerlain. Replacing the Maxi Shine formula, the new KissKiss Strass delivers maximum sparkle to your lovely lips. Available in ten permanent shades, I'm particularly in love with the shimmery Rouge Broderie 321 shade (bright raspberry) and the Rose Strass 361 (sheer pink).

For the Rouge G addicts, there is a new Rouge G Le Brillant formula. Yes, ladies, this coveted lipstick collection now features ten additional colors for you to play with. I like Bella B63 (deep rose) and Bianca B21 (pink-coral). It has the same creamy texture as the original formula but this one adds a shiny finish, giving you more flirting power. C'est jolie, n’est-ce pas?

www.guerlain.com

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

Tagged as: beauty, blush, eyeshadow, Lifestyle, lipstick, Luxury, makeup, shopping, spring

Posted by Tami Yu at 2:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

While Spring and Summer are the best seasons to enjoy Northern California's wine country, I think Winter is a great time to take advantage of the region without all the tourists flocking to the area. It's considered to be a low season so hotel packages are more appealing and a bit easier on the wallet.

To start your new year off to a bright and healthy start, Hotel Healdsburg has an extremely relaxing Winter Cleansing Spa Package to rejuvenate your body and soul. The road to bliss starts with a gentle dry brushing to increase the body's circulation. A detoxifying seaweed body wrap is then applied.

To enhance the purification process you get a nice soak in the spa tub. Using detoxifying massage oils, a full body massage follows (so relaxing I almost fell asleep at this point). To end things on a beautiful note, a custom Eminence Organics facial will revive fatigued skin. The facial also includes a refining glycolic acid or a gentle enzyme peel to ensure a radiant visage.

The hotel itself has a light modern feel without being cold. The entire staff is very warm and accommodating, so you're in great hands. Upon entering our room we were greeted with a cheese plate and chilled white wine. The bathtub is really deep so you can also take a nice long soak while enjoying a glass of wine.

The adjoining restaurant, Charlie Palmer's Dry Creek Kitchen, is just as inviting. We started off with a citrusy Fennel Crusted Flash Seared Hamachi appetizer and the Dungeness Crab Tempura. The Crispy Veal Sweetbreads + Chicken Confit Agnolotti was also delicious. The killer entree for the evening, however, was the Crispy Skin Local Black Cod with a lemongrass and ginger consomme. The flesh was so milky and soft. If I could buy bottles of the consomme I'd use it on all my cooking.

The desserts were also nothing short of amazing. We had the famous Chocolate + Peanut Butter Bar and the Valrhona Chocolate Budino with Guiness Ice Cream (yes, beer-flavored ice cream).

Sommelier Drew Munro is really knowledgeable about the local wineries and he did a great wine pairing for our dinner. We're now fans of the Lime Stone 2008 Sauvignon Blanc and the Williamson 2007 Chardonnay.

If you can't make it to Hotel Healdsburg this month, not to worry. They have a great Valentine's Day weekend package that includes a two nights in a Deluxe King room, spa treatments for two, and a decadent six-course dinner. Dry Creek Kitchen also has an exciting food celebrity-studded Pigs & Pinot culinary weekend coming up in late March. For more info, go to www.hotelhealdsburg.com.

For editorial consideration, a press visit was provided for this review.

Tagged as: food, gourmet, hotel, Lifestyle, Luxury, spa, travel, wine, wine country

Posted by Tami Yu at 5:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Happy New Year! While some folks spent their new year putting 'exercise more' on their list of resolutions, I resolved to surround myself with more fun things to do and to attract more happiness into my already abundant life.

My first outing of the New Year's weekend was to indulge in the deluxe afternoon tea at the Ritz. Now, doesn't this silver tray of goodies make you drool? And yes, we gobbled it all up with great relish.

Blackcurrant scones, macarons, black cherry financiers, mini fruit tartlettes, oh my!

Unfortunately, we were told that they're ending tea service at the end of this month (hopefully because of temporary renovation plans, not the economy). If that was indeed the very last time we could enjoy it, at least we were lucky enough to sit in a gorgeous tea room with friends, listening to the harpist play ethereal notes as we sipped delicately from our teacups...

Life...is a dessert glass filled with ripe strawberries and Chantilly cream.

Wishing you all a year filled with light, love, health, success, and happiness!

Tagged as: food, holiday, Lifestyle

Posted by Tami Yu at 10:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | 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)

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)

Lia Lintern has some of the most stylish and feminine coats I've seen in a long time. Ladies, if you want to stand out in a sea of drab gray and black wool coats this season, get one of these colorful darlings.

Odessa coat by Lia Lintern

The 2010 Winter collection is nothing short of divine. My favorite is the Sofia coat. I just love the corset back and the rouched neck collar. It can double as a winter dress. What a beauty.

Sofia coat with self-tie corset back

My other fave is the Odessa style. This cashmere wool blend coat features a pretty trapunto lattice snowflake design on the waist panel. I'd feel like a snow princess wearing this one.

Geneva coat with countoured pin tuck design

These coats are not terribly budget friendly, BUT...like all high quality pieces, these gorgeous couture coats are designed and made to last for a long, long time. So think of it as a long-term investment. Plus, you are guaranteed 6 months' worth of tweaking if the fit is not perfect. It's like having a custom tailor in NYC!

Viktoria coat with upper collar and flared lapel

For the budget fashionistas - the discontinued Yuliya coat is now offered at a 50% discount. There is a size 4 and 6 left. I'm so putting this on my holiday wish list...

lialintern.com

Tagged as: coats, fashion, fashion designer, jacket, outerwear, shopping

Posted by Tami Yu at 1:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

Fashion Roller-coaster

Edited by Jennine

Wow...we've got an interesting bunch this week...word from fashion weeks has put us on a roller coaster from the creepy toenails on Shoe Daydreams to the stunning Alexander McQueen on ferOHHHsh, a much needed shopping bill of rights on dramatis personae, and Bay Area Style File wonders why cigarette cases are marketed to teens at Urban Outfitters. We've also got some new faces in our round up including one of my favorite French blogs, Morning by Foley whose beautiful photography reminds me how sweet fashion really is.

39th and Broadway - Stop Glamorizing the Recession!
Bay Area Style File - Crimes of Fashion: Chain Mess Cigarette Case
Bobbins and Bombshells - Fashionable History: Veils
BRICK MY LANE - The Longer Length SHOWstudio
dramatis personae - Ashe Mischief's Shopping Bill of Rights
Fashion Pulse Daily - Goth Chic Rules the Runways
ferOHHHsh - Alexander McQueen Spring 2010: McQueencaps
Fete a Fete - Dolce & Gabbana's new Fragrance Anthology
Independent Fashion Bloggers - FTC Ruling : An Ethical Double Standard?
Little Black Book - Velvet touch
Morning by Foley- A beautiful afternoon with girls, a fairy and bows...
Prom Mafia - Halloween, Recessionista Style. How to make smart and stylish choices when deciding on a Halloween costume.
Rags to Reverie - A stunning editorial from V Magazine and how I got my copy from New York City
Random Fashion Coolness - Garance Doré
Retro Chick - Ethical Design Spotlight - SPUN
Shoe Daydreams - Bad Trends in Feet: Gargoyle Toe & Clear Claws
Style Symmetry - New divine dresser to watch out for Giant Dwarf!
Sweet Fancy Treat - Interview: Uma Turan - Milliner
THE COVETED - Berrylicious Colors and a New Mascara to Die For from Benefit Cosmetics
The Curvy Fashionista - The Real Curves behind the cover of Glamour's November Issue
the3st - Interview with Marina Makaron

Tagged as: Accessories, beauty, fashion, Lifestyle, shopping, Style

Posted by Tami Yu at 10:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

The Dos and Don'ts of Style

Edited by Debutante Clothing

I just turned 35. It’s a landmark year not just chronologically, but style wise. I am now approaching that next age bracket in the How to Dress for Your Age features in mags. You know the ones. Thank goodness for my blogger pals here at Independent Fashion Bloggers. You’ll find some of the best style guides here this week. Guides such as Mischief My Dear’s advice on finding the perfect LBD and Fasshonaburu’s Spring 2010 trends guide. But beware the urge to dress too sexy. 39th and Broadway tells you why toddlers and stilletos don’t mix, and Squareectomy questions the taste level of visible thongs. Enjoy!

Links à la Mode : October 1st

39th and Broadway – Toddlers, Stilettos, Thongs, Oh My!
Awakened Aesthetic – features t-shirts by the Samburu Project, which provides drinking water to Northern Kenya.
Bobbins And Bombshells – veiled headband fascinator DIY tutorial
Debutante Clothing – vintage paper dresses that are anything but disposable
Fasshonaburu – peaked shoulders, sequins and tribal were on the runway again, but here are five NEW trends from Spring 2010 NY Fashion Week!
fête à fête – Vouelle’s new Fall-Winter 2009-2010 shoe collection, straight from Paris!
Friend in Fashion - – A vintage tale: gorgeous lace & bows
Hong Kong Fashion Geek – VPL’s anatomy-inspired spring collection, and how to replicate the skeletal fascination
Idiosyncratic Style – Awesome style from the brit drama Skins
Independent Fashion Bloggers – When should you start charging money for your blogging experience?
Jewelrywhore – Madeleine Albright is kicking butt with her brooches
Mishief My Dear – four versions of the Little Black Dress that should be in every woman’s wardrobe
Oranges and Apples – A guide to vintage shopping in Berlin
Squareectomy – More Exposed Bits: the less flattering side of the fashion world
Super Kawaii Mama – Travel Essentials to keep it glam! The secrets to staying fancy in flight.
The Coveted – Do Fashion Blogs Glamorize Smoking?
The Demoiselles – Elle answers a reader’s question about being an in-betweeny – not quite plus size, not quite “regular”
The Fashion Planner – shows you how to get the look of Marc by Marc Jacobs.
The Working Wardrobe – perfecting the business “ice breaker” by working your accessories (that don’t thaw out your assets).
Where Is That From? – eco fashion show featuring local Toronto designers and design collectives

Tagged as: Accessories, fashion, Lifestyle, shopping, Style

Posted by Tami Yu at 3:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I had raved about the amazing effects of Nectar Essences in the past, and their De Stress spray keeps me sane while battling daily stresses. This incredible line of holistic sprays will address everything from regulating sleep problems to balancing emotional ups and downs. Plus, these floral sprays smell so good!

Luckily for you, we're doing a special giveaway of the new Balance spray for one lucky reader!

To Enter:

Step 1: Tweet this post on Twitter (RT @feteafete Nectar Essences giveaway http://tinyurl.com/lkcakc ). IF you don't have a Twitter account, please leave an interesting comment below this post on which formula 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 'Nectar Esssences 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, October 1, at 11:59pm EST. U.S. residents only. Good luck!

Tagged as: giveaway, health, Lifestyle

Posted by Tami Yu at 7:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm a devoted fan of Vouelle's ultra romantic shoes and I was terribly excited to see their new designs for the Fall/Winter 2009-2010 season. They're getting a bit more funky and whimsical, which is always a fun thing for all the holiday parties and soirées. Just look at this showstopper 4C stiletto! Aren't those patent leather pinwheels completely adorable? If you wear this shoe, you can be sure no one else will have it.

Vouelle's 4C stiletto

I so want these Dana R satin pumps. It may be in black, but the ruffled side decoration and sexy feathers will turn heads all evening. They just scream 'Paris chic' to me.

Dana R pump

And who can resist these Emma pumps? These sassy satin and patent leather heels are totally great on their own, but you can also get a custom pinwheel added to your shoes for that extra special accent.

Emma 75 pump with pinwheel option

For you American shopaholics, I've got great news. Vouelle just started selling their lovely shoes in the U.S.! If you're in the Las Vegas area, the In Step boutique inside the Wynn's Encore resort will carry some of their exclusive designs. Call them at 702-770-5490 for more info.

To see more designs, head over to www.vouelle.com.

Tagged as: Accessories, fashion, France, Luxury, shoes, shopping

Posted by Tami Yu at 1:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I thought I've seen it all with the latest skin care trends, but the gorgeous SenSpa had something truly unique to offer in terms of skin exfoliation and renewal. I recently tried the amazing Super Hydrating Facial, one of the most popular services at SenSpa. I didn't really know what the hype was all about, but I can now attest to amazing results from this treatment.

The facial features a patented HydraFacial machine that performs a really efficient surface exfoliation. The HydraPeel tip planes off the dead skin cells, revealing brighter and softer "baby" cells (don't worry, it won't hurt at all). The tip also flushes your skin with a special blend of antioxidant-infused fruit acids. A custom mask and additional protective serums are then applied, ensuring all pigmentation and anti-aging issues are addressed.

I haven't seen this type of exfoliating machine anywhere else, so I think they're the only ones that have this special treatment in the Bay Area. I couldn't believe how butter soft my skin is. This is as close to baby skin as I'm going to get!

This day spa is really a zen oasis sitting on the edge of the Presidio. They really emphasize wellness and holistic treatments to heal your body and soul. They even have a wellness coach to help you address your personal needs. How cool is that?

There is a special skin care package going on right now at SenSpa. The first 50 folks to book the new Polarity Peel will receive a free full-size bottle of the new SkinCeuticals Retexturizing Activator ($70 value). What a deal.

Another promotion, called the SenSpa Road to Recovery, is another sweet deal to think about. From now through September 30, when you enjoy 4 treatments (valued at a minimum of $110 each), you'll receive a SenSpa gift card worth $115. You don't need to pay for all 4 treatments up front - just pay as you go.

They're also hosting a Stella & Dot trunk show on Tuesday, September 29th from 6:30-8:30pm. Try on gorgeous costume jewelry and enjoy light refreshments in the spa’s serene Presidio setting. BONUS: book any SenSpa treatment while at the event and you’re automatically entered into a drawing for Stella & Dot gift certificates!

SenSpa
1161 Gorgas Avenue
San Francisco, CA
415.441.1777

www.senspa.com

Tagged as: beauty, Lifestyle, Luxury, San Francisco, skin care, special events, travel

Posted by Tami Yu at 2:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

When thinking about weekend trips in Wine Country, most folks think of Napa or Sonoma. If you've already been to those areas, Paso Robles might be a great new option. This 'undiscovered' wine region boasts more than 200 wineries, so you'll be very busy tasting as many wines as you can. Hearst Castle is also close by, if you want to stretch out your stay.

If you do go there, the downtown area is a good home base. The lovely Hotel Cheval is the perfect spot for some well-deserved R&R. This intimate boutique hotel is a mini oasis that's just off the historic downtown area. Their airy and spacious rooms are well-appointed; I loved the high vaulted ceilings and cozy window seating area. Each of these stylish rooms also feature luxurious California King beds (so so comfy), soft down comforters, 400-thread count sheets, and flat-screen televisions.

The hotel also provides in-room spa treatments (massages, body scrubs, reflexology and facials). All you have to do is throw on a robe, sit back and enjoy the pampering treatment. There's no need to walk to any spa treatment room outside. I got the Cheval Signature Massage and it was so relaxing I caught myself drifting off to dreamland.

The concierge was really accommodating. We arrived right before the huge dinner rush and she was able to score us last-minute reservations at the totally awesome Artisan Restaurant. And, to transport you to your dinner in grand style, Chester the adorable Red Belgian Draft horse will carry you off on a fun carriage ride to and from the restaurant.

There's a few great packages currently available for your getaway. If you're a wine lover, there's a personalized Wine Tasting package that includes a detailed wine tour led by a certified Sommelier. A private picnic lunch will also be served at one of the wineries.

For a romantic rendezvous, The Couples/Elopement package includes a complimentary bottle of champagne for you to toast your beloved. Afterwards, both of you can enjoy a sensual Candlelit Couples Massage together in the privacy of your own room. If you do decide to get hitched, their gorgeous outdoor courtyard can hold up to 50 guests.

For more info and to book your package, go to www.hotelcheval.com.

Tagged as: hotel, Lifestyle, Luxury, travel, vacation, wine country

Posted by Tami Yu at 9:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Shifting Gears

Edited by Jennine

It's here. Summer's (basically) over, back to school, back to work...even in fashion today is the official first day of Fashion Week madness, and New York is only the beginning. I've always thought once Labor Day rolled around, we shifted gears realizing that the year is almost out its time to start packing it all in! This week, we've got an amazing round of links...seriously, it was so hard to pick only 20. Style Amor wonders if we really need fashion week at all...Heavy Heels sense the Winds of Change, as models start chopping their locks, The Demoiselles start a getting healthy project for a bunch of ladies, kaKofonie Of si(gh)lenS gets an remarkable interview with Patricia Ayers.

Art of Accessories - Translating the Trends: Ruffles
BRICK MY LANE - The ruffled neckpiece: part 2
dramatis personae - Plus-Sized Bras for Busty Gals Fashion Hippo - Giveaway: Tory Burch Logo Clutch
Fashion Pulse Daily - FelixRey.com: Fashion Pulse Daily Readers Get an Exclusive 20% Off!
fete a fete - Giorgio Armani Beauty Fall 2009 Manta Ray & Eyes To Kill collections
Heavy Heels - Wind of Change
Idiosyncratic Style - IdStyle File: Kaitlyn Regehr
Independent Fashion Bloggers - How Important is Trust? A Review of Trust Agents
Intrinsically Florrie - Luella Loveage
kaKofonie Of si(gh)lenS - Interview with Patricia Ayres
Little Miss Makeup - Is applying liquid eyeliner your biggest beauty frustration?
Meilily - Ruffled Makeup Bag by Christian Siriano for VS Makeup
Retro Chick - Planning an Autumn Winter 2009-10 Wardrobe
Style Amor - Do We Need Fashion Week?
Style it You - Breaking Barriers
Style Symmetry - The Last Hurrah Giveaway
Stylish Thought - Stylish Thoughts on Coco, Karl & Feminism Super Kawaii Mama - Worn Wild – MSFW’s Dark Side
THE COVETED - Mahtab Azimi's Cozy Little Black Dress
The Demoiselles - We're Getting Healthy

Tagged as: beauty, fashion, Lifestyle, shopping, Style

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Partnering with renowned makeup artist Pat McGrath, Dolce & Gabbana's The Make Up collection is too luxurious for words. With the glamorous Scarlett Johansson as the face of their ad campaign, she perfectly embodies the provocative spirit of this seductive line.

The gold metal packaging makes you feel like a million bucks, but the contents within is even better. With a powdery rose scent, the Classic Cream Lipstick is inspired by 1950s beauty. The formula is light yet creamy, giving the right amount of moisture on the lips. I don't normally wear bold red shades, but the cool and pearly Chromed 230 was the perfect femme fatale look for me. I love it. This also lasts for quite a long time, and it's the first red lipstick that didn't bleed! That in itself is worth buying this lipstick.

For the eyes, the Smooth Eye Colour Quad is your ticket to sophistication. All the colors are buildable, so they actually appear lighter on the lid. To get a smokier look all you have to do is add more layering. The silky texture feels great on the skin, and you can use a wet or dry brush to create various looks. The gorgeous Mediterraneo palette has warm shades of shimmery gold, forest green, matte brown, and deep silver while the Elegance palette contains shades of matte grey, steel grey, metallic green, and porcelain gold shimmer.

The Luminous Cheek Colour blush is one of the most decadent blush compacts I've seen. It comes with a sturdy mini brush that actually does a good job of depositing the right amount of color on the cheeks. The Rose shade is soft and delicate, giving a romantic wash of color that's also good for subtle contouring around the temples and chin.

www.dolcegabbanamakeup.com

Tagged as: beauty, blush, cosmetics, eye shadow, fashion, Lifestyle, lipstick, Luxury, makeup, shopping

Posted by Tami Yu at 3:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

I couldn't ask for a lovelier holiday weekend. I went to the 30th Annual Showcase: Taste of Sonoma (part of Sonoma Wine Country Weekend) in Healdsburg, and the drive to MacMurray Ranch was just plain gorgeous.

With over 160 wineries offering the best regional wines, this is one of the largest epicurean events in Northern CA. You can also spend hours tasting local food from 60 restaurants. Let's just say your belly will be quite full by the time it's over.

Pulled Duck & Pork Belly Sandwich from Carneros Bistro & Wine Bar

If you had too much to eat and drink, there was plenty of chef action at the Gourmet Kitchen demos. Chef Douglas Keane of Cyrus (looove that place) was one of the judges at a Steel Chef Competition.

Being a total sweet tooth, I had to try these delish Mini Chocolate S'mores Tarts from El Dorado Kitchen. To really seal the deal, these were paired with Valrhona Chocolate Cookies topped with sea salt and white chocolate chips. Needless to say, I went home a happy camper.

Tagged as: food, gourmet, Lifestyle, special events, travel, wine, wine country, wine tasting

Posted by Tami Yu at 1:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Style Within Means

Edited by Debutante Clothing

As the summer winds down and I start planning my Fall wardrobe, I’m overwhelmed by thoughts of how to create a wardrobe on a budget. This week, we have a ton of posts on how to find great style within a budget. Fashion Pulse Daily gives us the top denim looks under $50 and The Recessionista is reporting Anna Wintour is heading to Macy’s for Fashion Night Out. Enjoy!

39th and Broadway – The horrific treatment of young girls working behind the scenes in the fashion industry!
A typical Atypical – a summary of vintage eras and style history
Bonne Vie – Bamboo: Eco-friendly, or Green Disaster?
Confessions of a Fashion Editor – Interview with alternative model, Khrist!
Debutante Clothing – Q&A with Fashion Scholar and Historian Heather Vaughan
Decline Designs – Can you go a week without wearing any black?
Fabulous Finds and Co. – Lily Cole is ready for her close-up
Fade to c5c5c5 – fashion, art and interpretation
Fashion For Writers – feel good fashion from the Clothes Closet
Fashion Pulse Daily – Need jeans for fall? Check out Fashion Pulse Daily’s top picks, all under $50
Fasshonaburu ponders exactly why September is the most important month in fashion
fête à fête – Givenchy’s romantic Les Poetiques Fall Le Makeup Collection
Friend in fashion – A Sydney Story: a bridge climb, shopping and a proposal!
Grechen's Closet – Why I support independent designers
Idiosyncratic Style – A Fit of Inspiration: John Bender – Stealing style from the Breakfast Club’s resident bad ass
Jewelrywhore – Reviews Anna Sheffield for Target
Retro Chick – DIY Jersey Spaghetti Scarf Necklace
Style Margarine - – 9 Reasons why we need to over dress
Stylist Diva – Unique, Modern Plus Size line with an Edge – Carmakoma.
The Coveted: Review & Makeup Lesson Video of Guerlain Fall Collection
The Recessionista – Anna Wintour a Recessionista? She’s Heading to Macy’s Queens for Fashion’s Night out Sept. 10

Tagged as: beauty, fashion, Lifestyle, shopping, Style

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Givenchy Le Makeup Artistic Director Nicolas Degennes shows off a romantic mood in his Les Poétiques 2009 Fall-Winter makeup collection. Shimmery and vivid pinks, soft silvery lavender, and metallic gold all play a role in the dreamy and melancholy palette.

I adore the limited edition Prismissime Eyes palette in Poetique Blues. The powdery texture is super silky and glides on so nicely. The shades are all buildable from sheer to opaque. The golden beige/pink shades compliment the purples so well. You can definitely end up with a light smoky look with this palette. It's going to be one of my favorite compacts to use this season.

For a dramatic eye, you can line your eyes with the Para'Eyes Liner in Poetique Lavender. The liquid liner is a dark blue shade with a metallic finish, giving it that extra ooh la la. Finally, to finish, the lips are toned down a bit for this look, with delicate pinks ruling the game. The Rouge Interdit lipstick in Poetique Iris is a pink tinged with blue, rounding out the soft and dreamy expression.

Givenchy also just launched their new men's fragrance Play. The playful scent carries top notes of bergamot, mandarin orange, bitter orange, and grapefruit. Amyris wood, black pepper, and coffee flower act as middle notes while vetiver and patchouli round out the sensual base notes.

I personally love it. It smells so nice I want to wear it myself as a unisex cologne. The cute bottle looks like an Mp3 player too. Doesn't Justin Timberlake look cute in their ad campaign? Click on the video link below and check out the behind-the-scenes ad shoot with JT.

www.parfumsgivenchy.com

Tagged as: beauty, Fall makeup, fragrance, limited edition, Luxury, makeup, shopping

Posted by Tami Yu at 4:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm a lucky girl. As a chocolate reviewer I get to try many types of chocolate, and I'm always proud to see a local chocolatier start a new adventure in the abundant world of cacao. Enter Cocoa Absolute, a new premium boutique chocolate company.

A former pastry chef, Jewel Zimmer's foray in gourmet chocolate is a sensual wonder. Working with chocolate that's made from exotic single-origin cacao beans, she then adds her unique alchemy to each flavor profile by infusing each square with cocoa extract. These delicate pavés of chocolate are almost too beautiful to eat - almost.

I love the Rose 70% box. Made with Forestero beans from the Congo, this one has delicate floral and citrus subtleties. Jewel decided to pursue this feminine route and added rose essence to the chocolate. The result is just sublime and fragrant. Your palate is left with lingering notes of a rose bouquet, but it's not sweetly overwhelming. If anything, it reminds you of past love affairs or a clandestine rendez-vous.

The Brulee 66% is made from prized Criollo beans from Venezuela. This one has burnt sugar and sea salt - totally extraordinary. I liked how the salt particles played on the palate, as if quietly teasing the senses. The packaging is also sleek and sexy, matching the seductive contents within. While they make great presents for the gourmand in your life, I'd be loath to give them away.

To buy your own Cocoa Absolute, go to www.cocoaabsolute.com.

Tagged as: chocolate, chocolatier, food, gifts, gourmet, Lifestyle, Luxury

Posted by Tami Yu at 10:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

We all love 4-inch stilettos, but do we really want to walk a mile in them?

After years of research, Kenneth Cole has finally found the answer. Their new 925 Technology has a lot going for it in terms of providing comfort for the wearer. Each shoe has two layers of PORON foam (for shock absorption), a flexible rubber sole, and a flaxseed pillow for arch support.

For the Fall season, they just launched a special Silver Edition of 925 Technology footwear, and they have several cute silhouettes for your basic needs. I tried on the black Silver Belle pump and I have to admit, they're pretty amazing. I hardly wear 4-inch heels for fear of permanently damaging my feet, but these were quite comfortable. Granted, it's never gonna feel as comfy as your old tennies, but these are the next best thing. You can wear these and not worry about seeing the podiatrist or chiropractor.

Each design also has a snazzy silver heel and will only be available on a limited basis, until they sell out. Going forward, they will apply the 925 Technology on all their women's shoe collections.

To see more styles or to buy your heels, go to www.kennethcole.com.

Tagged as: Accessories, Fall fashion, fashion, fashion designer, Lifestyle, shoes, shopping, Style

Posted by Tami Yu at 8:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm always a fan of organic clothing, so I was happy to discover Hyde's line of comfy yoga wear. While this line is for yoga and stretching, these pieces are also great for lounging around the house or for running errands on weekends.

The Trieger tank has nice wide straps, so it won't slip while you're working out a complicated pose. The built-in bra keeps your girly parts securely in place as you bend down for those long stretches. This one also has a neat v-neck on the back, which looks quite stylin'. This top is made with 92% organic cotton, with 8% spandex.

The Engineered Seam Pant has a flat waistband so you can roll them up or down as you see fit. I like the ankle length because other types of yoga pants tend to be too long and kinda get in the way. These also have cute seams that curve around your legs, making it a bit quirky. These pants are made with 95% organic cotton and 5% spandex.

Once you're done with your practice, don't forget to cover up. The Lux Zip Hoodie is the ideal lightweight outerwear. The soft and decadent Italian cashmere and merino wool blend completes your athletic look in a feminine way. The bell sleeves also make a nice flattering line for the arms.

Hyde carries a Men's Practice Pant, so if your S.O. goes to yoga with you, get him a pair. Apparently, Deepak Chopra is a fan of them.

www.yogahyde.com

Tagged as: fashion, Lifestyle, organic, outerwear, pants, shopping, sportswear, tops

Posted by Tami Yu at 9:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Nobody does fragrances like Diptyque. I've been in love with their candles and home sprays for many years and it was so nice to see the launch of their new Art of Body Care line. Inspired by journeys to Aleppo, Byzantium, Alexandria, Cordoba, and Florence, your senses are taken on a whirlwind trip around ancient civilizations.

The collection consists of five luxurious products to pamper the entire body. I love all of them, but my favorite has to be the intense soufflé-textured Crème Riche (with Turkish rose, organic honey, argan oil), followed by the Precious Oils (organic sweet almond oil, argan oil, and macadamia oil). It's a dry body oil that absorbs almost instantly, with notes of iris, cedar and vetiver lingering on the skin.

The rest of the line is just as decadent. The Gelée Lactée creamy body wash is a concentrated olive oil formula peppered with notes of bay laurel, rosemary and lemon. The Lait Frais (fresh lotion) is very uplifting with its green notes of petitgrain and orange blossom. The velvety Baume Généreaux (hand balm) is filled with apricot kernel oil, shea butter and argan oil.

Diptyque also just introduced L’Eau de Tarocco, the new unisex cologne. The fruitiest fragrance of Diptyque’s cologne collection, this one has notes of blood orange, grapefruit, saffron, Bulgarian rose, cedar wood and white musk. If you haven't tried any of their fragrances, this one is a great one to start with.

For the jet-setters, the new travel collection features mini candles, body washes, and body lotions in your favorite scents. Each candle has a 30-hr burn time, and is available in Figuier, Gardenia, Jasmin, Mimosa, and Baies. The body care items are available in Philosykos, L’ombre dans L’eau and Tam Dao.

www.diptyqueparis.com

Tagged as: beauty, body wash, fragrance, Lifestyle, lotion, Luxury, organic ingredients, perfume, shopping, skin care, travel

Posted by Tami Yu at 8:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

I got to check out the first SF Chefs.Food.Wine in Union Square last weekend, and it was totally hoppin'. Featuring the city's culinary glitterati, the four-day food extravaganza was quite an impressive debut. There were plenty of food demos, wine tastings, dinners, and panels to keep foodies on their tippy toes.

Perbacco's house cured sardine with salsa verde, celery heart, and slow-cooked egg yolk.

The Saturday Grand Tasting tent was a food and wine mecca. Staffan Terje of Perbacco served an amazing buttery house-cured sardine fillet with a salsa verde (these were cured for 48 hours). It took a lot of self restraint not to go back for more. I saw a couple ladies sneaking seconds, so it was that good. If you haven't been to Perbacco, you need to...like right this second.

Janine Falvo of the Carneros Bistro & Wine Bar did an entertaining demo on making Frog Hollow peach ice cream with liquid nitrogen. The demo stage looked more like a mad scientist lab with the frothy concoction billowing into the audience.

Ryan Scott of Ryan Scott 2 Go served a superb roasted red grape and fennel crostini with white bean puree. Yum.

Gerald Hirigoyen and his lovely Piperade team had the most tender and refreshing calamari & watermelon salad. It's the perfect dish to revive me from the warm weather.

Ana Mandara did a fantastic ahi & hamachi tatare with avocado mousse, wasabi tobiko and orange vinaigrette. This one was so popular they ran out well before the end of the tasting.

Jenn Puccio of Cortez fired up the torch for her brûléed mission figs with kaffir lime oil and vanilla salt. These were quite irresistible.

If you missed this year's events, be check to check it out next time. This is a great testament to the rich heritage of the SF Bay Area food scene.

www.sfchefsfoodwine.com

Tagged as: chef, food, gourmet, Lifestyle, San Francisco, special events, wine

Posted by Tami Yu at 5:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Feminine Mystique

Edited by Debutante Clothing

The caliber of blog posts amongst the IFB members never ceases to amaze me. We run the gamut of style and fashion here. This week’s picks definitely appeal to the dueling femmes in me – the old fashioned gal and the powerful feminist. The debutante in me loved all the lovely posts about pearls including modern choices from Fashion Hippo, as well as the history of Mikimoto pearls by Fabulous Finds Gal. But nothing makes me clutch my pearls more than affordable Chanel looks by HiFashion. The feminist in me was thrilled to see smart posts about smart girls and smart fashion. Threadbared talks about academia and fashion, while 39th and Broadway explores the continuing inequality even within such a female driven industry like fashion. Enjoy!

39th and Broadway – Women are the backbone of the fashion industry, yet inequality reins supreme.
A Few Goody Gumdrops lets out her inner rockstar with Alexander McQueen’s Skull Knuckle Duster Whipsnake Clutch!
A typical Atypical – The Phenomena of “The Sale”
Debutante Clothing contributes back to school style for “Hot for Teacher” at Style Sample Magazine.
Dramatis Personae reviews the B&Lu Femme Dress.
Fabulous Finds and Co. – Mikimoto Pearls: The Story Behind The Cadillac Of Pearls.
Fashion Hippo – Modern Pearl Necklaces that aren’t your grandma’s pearls
Fashion Talk by Lovely Lovisa – I am the Resurrection
fête à fête – Get plumper lips with Givenchy Le Makeup’s new Gloss Interdit collection. Also, enter the lip gloss giveaway for three lucky readers!
Hi Fashion – Coco avant Chanel: how to get the Chanel look for less.
Individual Chic – What makes a good ballet flat
Retro Chick – Iconic British Union Jack style.
The Capitol Fashionista – Arise Magazine, the magazine that keeps you informed about what’s happening in Africa and around the globe.
The Coveted – Review of the New Bobbi Brown Nude Collection with Video Tutorial
The Demoiselles – Elle gets bombarded with subversive, negative advertising by Estee Lauder, and decides to take action.
The Fashion Planner shows you how to build your back to school wardrobe.
The Recessionista – Happy 80th to Jackie and Mad Men’s Casting Call for that 60’s look.
Threadbared – Pondering the mutual near-exclusivity of academic fashion studies and style blogs.
Unfunded unveils Creative Recreation’s new women’s line.
Work Chic – get 10% off Fit in Clouds foldable flats.

Tagged as: Accessories, fashion, Lifestyle, makeup, shopping, Style

Posted by Tami Yu at 2:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Ladies - here's your latest arsenal to plump up your fabulous lips. The new Givenchy Le Makeup Gloss Interdit collection is finally on the counters. Available it 15 gorgeous shades, these opaque glosses are more of a liquid lipstick. My personal favorites are Lilac Confession, Rose Taboo, and Indiscreet Beige. For a fun look, I recommend Succulent Orange and Glamorous Fuschia. The Velvet Purple is great for a goth look.

The pearlescent (Silvershine) and mirror-like (Silverglass) particles give the non-sticky formula an exceptional shine to the lips, as if you've been painted with airbrush makeup. For a plumping and moisturizing effect, microspheres of hyaluronic acid settle on the lips to fill in fine lines. The texture is comfy, without being too thick.

The lovely and elegant Liv Tyler, spokeswoman for the Gloss Interdit campaign.

Aren't these colors just divine? Makes you wanna get them all, doesn't it?

Want to try this wonderful new gloss? Here's your chance! The fabulous ladies at Givenchy are teaming up with us to give away two glosses to THREE winners each!

To Enter:

Step 1: Tweet this post on Twitter (RT @feteafete Givenchy Gloss Interdit Giveaway http://tinyurl.com/m6ewfk ). IF you don't have a Twitter account, please leave an interesting comment below this post on which shade 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 'Givenchy Gloss Interdit 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!

Three winners will be chosen at random. Deadline is Thursday, August 13, at 11:59pm EST. USA residents only. Good luck!

Tagged as: beauty, celebrity, cosmetics, giveaway, Lifestyle, lip color, lip gloss, Liv Tyler, Luxury, makeup, shopping

Posted by Tami Yu at 6:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (13) | TrackBacks (0)

My old nutritionist would be so happy for me. Beautifull!, a new eatery near my neighborhood, has opened earlier this year in Laurel Heights, and I recently got to try their healthy and very delicious fare.

The chefs behind the company hail from pedigree backgrounds (Aqua, Lark Creek, Whole Foods), so you know you're getting high quality stuff. They only use whole and natural ingredients, and everything is mostly organic and locally sourced. They don't use any refined sugars and preservatives. There's also plenty of gluten-free and vegetarian options.

One of the favorites is the Organic Turkey Meatballs with Kamut Spaghetti. The dish is hearty and flavorful, but not heavy. They use rolled oats instead of bread crumbs in the meatballs, giving you more fiber intake. The Tea-Smoked Salmon is very tender - pair it with the Red Quinoa and Edamame Salad, and you've got a superb meal.

They also have a signature mac & cheese that's made with no butter or cream. The Thai Chicken and Indian Vegetable curries are also winners and the Caesar Salad with Herbed Shrimp is another standout.

They have a great to-go section. Almost everything is available in pre-packaged boxes - all you do is grab and go. I like how they use grapeseed oil in salad dressings (such as the fab Chinese Chicken Salad). Most items last for a few days, so you can stock up for the whole family or call their food concierge to have your meals delivered. You can't get more convenient than that!

Get your lunch today at beautifull.com!

Tagged as: dining, dinner, food, Lifestyle, lunch, organic, organic ingredients, San Francisco

Posted by Tami Yu at 12:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

I can never have too many cake platters. I don't bake nearly enough to justify the desire for having these...but still, I want all of Whitney Smith's gorgeous designs.

Just look at these pretty babies. I want this dogwood flower cake platter in several colors! I'm thinking about getting the emeraude green, or the petal pink...perhaps the robin egg blue too.

The scallop edge platters are just as pretty. They sure motivate me to churn out more cupcakes in the kitchen, that's for sure! Even if you don't bake, these vintage-inspired platters make great decor items, or for serving other food items, such as cheese and crackers.

Then, when you're done admiring your cakes and pastries, you can serve them on these lovely matching plates. It's time for me to plan another tea party...

whitneysmithpottery.com

Tagged as: art, artisan, ceramics, gifts, Lifestyle, pottery, shopping

Posted by Tami Yu at 4:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Ladies - want to win a sexy trip for you and your BFF to NYC? Here's your chance to do so. Purple Lab is hosting a rockin' Kiss and Tell Your Huge Lips Skinny Hips I.D. contest with Brickfish. Just choose the lip gloss color that best represents your style and personality, then upload a photo of yourself. It's that easy.

The most viral entry gets the grand prize: a glam trip to the Big Apple, hosted by the lovely Karen Robinovitz, creatrix of this wildly popular lip gloss! Karen will take the winner around town, showing her the inspirations behind the lip colors. There will be private pole lessons, burlesque school, and you also get to stay at the chic Smyth Hotel in Tribeca! Runner-up winners will get some of Karen's superb glosses, natch!

So what are you waiting for? Head over to www.purplelabnyc.com/kissandtell.html to enter today! The contest ends August 27, 2009.

If you haven't tried the fabuous lip-plumping gloss (with Hoodia to keep those hips skinny), get yours at b-glowing.

Tagged as: beauty, contest, Lifestyle, lip gloss, makeup, shopping, special events

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

I just love my hometown. Only in San Francisco do you get to attend some of the most exciting culinary events. I was real lucky to snag a spot at last weekend's Olive Oil and Chocolate tasting at Recchiuti Confections. As part of the new “Taste Project” series, chocolatier Michael Recchiuti partnered up with olive oil expert and cookbook author Fran Gage to lead us in a multi-sensory food experience.

Tasting the oils: Arbosana from California Olive Ranch, Bozzano A2, Apollo Mistral, McEvoy, and The Olive Press Blood Orange oil.

Fran, author of The New American Olive Oil, led us on this tasting adventure. We started off with a flight of six olive oils. My personal favorite was the blood orange one from The Olive Press. We also tasted oils from California Olive Ranch, Bozzano, Apollo, and McEvoy. We learned the right way to warm the oil up, smelling the aromas (what to look for), and how to properly taste the oil. We even learned how to detect a rancid oil and was told that sediment in the bottle signified an inferior-quality oil.

Minted corn salad drizzled with Bozzano A2 oil, roasted nibs, and cherry tomatoes.

We then got to try a few unusual savory-sweet food pairings. The first one up was a warm Savory Olive Loaf made with Apollo Mistral oil, pecorino cheese, and green olives (from Fran's new book). If I had the entire loaf in front of me I'd finish it. It was paired with a cool minted corn salad drizzled with Bozzano A2 oil. Delish.

Then, to our delight, we tried the olive oil Ice Cream Push-Pop with caramelized cacao nibs and green olive toffee. This was totally over the top. Everyone cleared their plates, even the tiny nibs. To seal the deal in, we then tasted the Pan Con Chocolate and Blood Orange Macaron. The chocolate ganache was made with California Olive Ranch Arbosana. It also had a neat little pipette that contained drops of the blood orange olive oil to enhance the flavor. I could feel my eyes rolling backwards as I nibbled on the macaron, which was filled with a blood orange olive oil ganache.

Olive oil ice cream push-pop with caramelized cacao nibs and green olive toffee

To add more fun, we also went next door to watch Michael run the enrobing machine. He placed a slew of blood orange olive oil-chocolate ganache pieces so they can be properly coated into truffles. And yes, they tasted absolutely amazing.

To send us off into a sugar coma, we each got to take home a pint of the delicious and floral McEvoy olive oil ice cream. Very drool-worthy. You can get some next week if they make more - follow them on Twitter.com/Recchiuti to find out when, where, and how to get it.

Michael running the enrobing machine to coat the truffles.

Unfortunately for you, the next few tastings are all sold out. There might be last-minute cancellations, so see if you can be wait-listed. They might also have new tastings next year, after the holiday rush.

Fran Gage & Michael Recchiuti

www.recchiuti.com

Tagged as: artisan, chocolate, chocolatier, cookbooks, cooking, food, food demos, gourmet, Lifestyle, olive oil, San Francisco, special events

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

With George Morrone at the helm, Sutro's at the Cliff House is now a worthy destination for both natives and tourists. With grand sweeping views of the ocean, you can dine in style with Morrone's well-executed menu. Of course, having a background from Aqua and Fifth Floor certainly helped boost expectations.

Duo of Corn Soup

We started with the Duo of Corn Soup, which was a natural hit. The piquillo pepper corn relish added a nice zippy kick to the satisfying and refreshingly sweet starter, setting the stage for more culinary excitement. Another fun app to order, if you haven't yet had it elsewhere, is the Ahi Tuna Tartare. It's Morrone's original famous recipe, and it's prepared tableside as you look on with anticipation. Unlike others, this version lets the fish shine, and it's not overwhelmed by the sesame oil.

For the main course, you have to get the Seared Day Boat Scallops. Paired with a “classic scampi sauce” and poached laughing bird shrimp, we were totally blown away by how perfect the scallops were. It's perfectly done, tender and succulent. We also liked the moist Garlic and Ginger Pork Tenderloin, but the scallops stole the show.

Jumbo Asparagus Salad

The portions are fairly sizeable, so we only had room to split a dessert. The Frozen Lemon Souffle with balsamic and blueberries is a nice touch for an otherwise perfect meal. I heard the Butterscotch Pot de Creme is supposed to be great, so I need to go back and try it!

www.cliffhouse.com

Tagged as: chef, dining, dinner, food, gourmet, Lifestyle, restaurant, San Francisco, travel

Posted by Tami Yu at 3:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm having lots of fun with paper products these days. I'm a big fan of sending notecards (email is so impersonal sometimes), and to my delight I found some eco-friendly notecards from Petit Collage. They're printed with soy-based inks, and are made with 100% recycled paper. The set comes with four designs (by artist Lorena Siminovich) and the cute keepsake box stores twenty assorted cards in total. Plenty of writing opportunities to refine your penmanship.

For gift-giving, I always believe in presentation. The Dots & Jots Mix & Match Gift Bags are a convenient way to store your trinkets. Fabric designer Denyse Schmidt created this adorable collection of lovely bags for all sorts of uses. They're great for crafting or scrapbooks too. It comes with twelve assorted bags, in three different sizes and six designs. And, it has cute stickers to boot!

If you like to entertain like I do, these Paper Patisserie Place Mats will turn you into the next Martha Stewart. The next time you have some friends over for tea and cakes, just whip out these paper place mats and your table will be transformed into a feminine and cozy spread. How very civilized!

Tagged as: crafts, entertaining, greeting cards, paper, shopping, stationery

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

International shoe designer Chie Mihara has some very cute and feminine styles for her upcoming Fall/Winter 2009-2010 collection. I am definitely putting the the strong and sexy Misha heels on my wish list. I love the tan cotton contrast piping around the red suede. Gorgeous! These could almost be tango shoes. Sometimes I feel that thin stiletto heels will break off at the most unfortunate situations, but these heels will last a long time.

Misha style

With her eclectic background (born in Brazil, of Japanese descent), Chie went around the world studying fashion and eventually landed in Spain. She's been designing her own coveted heels ever since. These shoes are comfy and classy, with a touch of modern whimsy of course.

Aren't these Pantoja shoes darling? It also comes in a silvery metallic fabric for those who want a little drama. Love the short heel.

Pantoja shoes

Available at Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, and www.chiemihara.com.

Tagged as: Accessories, fashion, Lifestyle, shoes, shopping

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

I try not to be a stressball, but due to the nature of my job I usually end up with 10 million knots on my back at the end of the day. As a worrywart, sometimes I have trouble sleeping too.

Luckily for me (and you!), Nectar Essences flower sprays are one of the ways I combat my anxiety. Founder Jenny Pao used her background in holistic healing and flower essence therapy to formulate her unique product line. Each spray is 100% natural natural including wildcrafted, organic and biodynamically farmed ingredients. They're safe for kids too.

Not only are they incredibly powerful, these are also effective natural remedies that will heal your body, soul, and mind. I LOVE the De Stress formula. It has 15 flower essences (including Rescue Remedy) and is scented with ylang ylang, jasmine and palo santo oils. I had a personal trauma happen and using the spray calmed me down enough to carry on with my daily life. I also used it on a couple friends and they just ate it up. The Sleep and Awake sprays will assist with your sleeping and waking patterns.

To see the magical effects yourself, we're doing a special giveaway of the De Stress spray to one lucky reader!

To Enter:

Step 1: Tweet this post on Twitter (RT @feteafete Nectar Essences giveaway http://tinyurl.com/kwedq5 ). IF you don't have a Twitter account, please leave an interesting comment below this post on which formula 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 'Nectar 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, July 9, at 11:59pm EST. U.S. residents only. Good luck!

Tagged as: fragrance, giveaway, health, holistic, Lifestyle, natural ingredients, organic, organic ingredients, San Francisco, shopping

Posted by Tami Yu at 5:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

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.

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.

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

Tagged as: drink, food, France, gourmet, Lifestyle, Paris, travel

Posted by Tami Yu at 3:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

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...

Alana is rocking out the Marine Tide lashes. Gorgeous.

Fleur-ever lashes

Fermina wearing Goldglam Leaf lashes. You can wear them on the upper or lower lash line.

Nicole sporting the Snow Twist lashes for that ice princess look.

www.shuuemura-usa.com

Tagged as: beauty, fashion, lash, Lifestyle, San Francisco, shopping, special events

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

Father's Day is less than a week away - are you all ready to shower Dad with pampering gifts? Here are some lovely ideas for you to consider...

Givenchy's highly concentrated GIVENCHYMAN skin care line includes a Powerful Renovating Skin Peel to exfoliate dead skin cells. Follow up with the effective Intensive Age-Fighting Force to boost elasticity and fill in wrinkles or the Pro-Energizing Massive Moisturizer to deeply hydrate the skin.

Banana Republic has cute mini sizes of each of their men's fragrances fom the Discover collection. You can get one for $10, or 2 or more for $7.50 each. The Cordovan is a nice woody melange of green fig, leather and spices.

Clarins recently introduced their new ClarinsMen anti-aging collection, and the Line-Control Eye Balm is a non-greasy, moisturizing treatment that gives complete nourishment for the entire eye area. Paracress, Maritime Pine extract, Shea Butter, and Purslane extract help reduce crow’s feet and puffiness.

C.O. Bigelow's Elixir Blue Shower & Shave Gift Set ($14.50) is another great option if your Dad needs a new shaving routine. This includes a Barber Hair & Body Wash in Elixir Blue™ fragrance, a black body sponge and a trial-size Premium Shave Cream.

Tagged as: beauty, fragrance, gifts, holiday, Lifestyle, shopping, skin care

Posted by Tami Yu at 10:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

May is Asian Heritage Month, and to celebrate this, we're doing a special and fun book giveaway with Hachette Book Group! We're giving away 3 sets of books of the following great titles:

Free Food for Millionaires By Min Jin Lee
Trail of Crumbs By Kim Sunée
The Fortune Cookie Chronicles By Jennifer Lee
Transparency By Frances Hwang
Strangers from a Different Shore By Ronald Takaki

Each winner will receive the entire set of books (five books per set). What a deal, huh?

To Enter:

Step 1: Tweet this post on Twitter (RT @feteafete: Win a set of books! Asian Heritage Month Giveaway w/ Hachette! Enter at http://tinyurl.com/pqg2gb ). IF you don't have a Twitter account, please leave an interesting comment below on which title you'd like to read (please no generic ones like 'this sounds great!').

Step 2: Email your full name & mailing address to feteafeteswag@gmail.com. DO NOT forget to send your name and address to this email after you comment or tweet, or you'll be disqualified automatically.

Three winners will be chosen at random. Deadline is May 31, at 11:59pm EST.
U.S. and Canadian residents only. No PO Boxes please. Good luck!

www.hachettebookgroup.com

Tagged as: Books, giveaway, Lifestyle, shopping, special events

Posted by Tami Yu at 3:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (15) | TrackBacks (0)

Check out the following makeup used by Lancome for the Metropolitan Museum of Art for Vogue's Costume Institute gala. The star-studded evening included hosts Marc Jacobs, Kate Moss and Justin Timberlake, and many luminous beauties from the fashion and film realm.

Celebrity makeup artist Leslie Lopez gave Anne Hathaway her ultra-dramatic look with smokey eyes as the focal point. Leslie swept Lancôme Color Design Eyeshadow in Statuesque over the entire eyelid, then dabbed Color Design Eyeshadow in Daylight on the brow bone.

She finished with several coats of Lancôme L'Extreme Mascara in Black. Anne’s sheer, neutral colored lipstick--Lancôme L’Absolu Rouge Lipstick in Couture Suede—was the finishing touch.

Supermodel Du Juan's look:
Lancôme makeup artist Andrew Sotomayor created Du Juan’s radiance by using Lancôme Artliner in Brown on the upper lash line. He then added a few coats of Lancôme Virtuôse Black Carat Mascara, giving her lashes a boost of volume and length.

Andrew added just a touch of color to the eyes with Shu Uemura Eyeshadow in ME Brown 860 and ME Pink 100. He lined the lips with Lancôme Le Lipstique in Natural Mauve and topped it with La Laque Fever gloss in Pink Dimension, resulting in a pretty pink pout. A dusting of Star Bronzer in Bronze Dore gave Du Juan a sun-kissed complexion.

(Image credit: Style.com)

Tagged as: beauty, celebrity, eyeliner, fashion, lipstick, makeup, mascara, shopping, special events

Posted by Tami Yu at 1:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A few items from Guerlain's summer 2009 Terracotta collection is making me swoon. I just LOVE the smooth, moisturizing Gloss Cashmere Velvet Matte Gloss. It has the perfectly matte lipstick look, yet it just glides on so thinly like the lightest lip gloss. It's liquified lipstick that defies definition.

It's so smooth and soft (no wonder they named it Gloss Cashmere), and it's not drying at all. You can also play around with it and mix it with a gloss for another look altogether. The Rose Pondichery is a sweetly neutral shade while Rouge Sultan is the classic sexy red.

J'adore the Fard Indien Mineral Eyeshadow. The silky and even texture is great for blending into a smoky eye. The Jungle Dust is a gorgeous mysterious forest green that will go well on many skin tones. Blend it with a light gold shadow and you're done!

The new Rouge G de Guerlain lipstick is a killer product in terms of luxury design. Jewelry designer Lorenz Bäumer came up with this seductive spygirl accessory, making you feel like a star of your own Bond flick. The white-gold coated case flicks open to reveal a mirror (I was wondering if it's got a secret camera-pistol too) that also lets you pull out a highly pigmented lipstick.

Ground Ruby crystal powder (lab-synthesized) and liquid mother-of-pearl help provide unprecedented radiance and light refraction. Gugul resin acts as a natural wrinkle-filler while wild mango butter keeps your lips super soft.

Available at Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Bergdorf Goodman.

Tagged as: beauty, cosmetics, makeup, summer, Trends

Posted by Tami Yu at 7:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Ok, I know y'all are nice kids but if you haven't gotten Mom her prezzie yet (6 days away!), here are a few last minute ideas:

Vosges' new Les Fleur Heart Box collection is sublime. Featuring the pretty Les Fleurs du Chocolat collection, these truffles are topped with organic flower petals (rose, nasturtium, orchid, and marigold). The Siam Cirtron truffle is so delicate and lovely (hints of jasmine tea, lemongrass, and coconut enrobed in white chocolate). Platanos y Orchidus has a burst of caramelized bananas and Jamaican rum.

If your budget is lower, get some yummy Bombalinas. The Barcelona Almonds are brilliant - smoked hickory almonds mingled with Maldon sea salt and 45% deep milk chocolate.

Kiehl's has perennial faves and bestseller skin care products, and the folks there can tailor to any budget. If mom is a floral lover, get the new Gardenia lotion & cleanser set for her.

Spoon NYC has a great Breakfast in Bed Gift Basket. Serve her breakfast in style with the Perfect Buttermilk Pancake Mix, Vermont Blueberry Maple Syrup, Small Batch Strawberry Jam, Stumptown Organic Coffee, and The Best Ever Granola.

If Mom likes to eat her arrangements, get her the edible Hearts and Berries 'floral' arrangement of pineapple hearts and chocolate-dipped strawberries. If she's a gardener, she will re-use the keepsake watering can.

Tagged as: beauty, chocolate, flowers, food, gifts, gourmet, holiday, shopping

Posted by Tami Yu at 5:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

One of my favorite shopping sites Via Maris is now selling the popular Tintamar VIP Very Important Pocket. This liner bag accessory lets you put all your purse essentials - makeup, pens, phone, iPod, keys, sunglasses, wallet, and whatever else into one central location, so you can transfer it at anytime to any purse.

Très convenient and cool. No more rummaging around, and no more wondering if you brought all your stuff with you in your new hot purse. It's a time saver too. As busy fashion queens, we all like that! Via Maris is selling it in five colors (black, moka brown, army green, mastic white, and kaki). It also washes easily, ideal for travel.

*For this item only, enter the code FREESHIP at checkout and get free shipping!

www.viamarisnyc.com

Tagged as: Accessories, fashion, Handbags, Lifestyle, shopping

Posted by Tami Yu at 9:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Random acts of kindness - we all need it in this crazy time of our lives. While nice, extravagant gifts are always welcome, it's the little things in life that make our hearts sing in gratitude.

Some little things you can do for those you care about:

-Offer to change all the light bulbs for your neighbor, even if you're scared of heights and hate climbing the ladder.

-Bake a cake to cheer a friend up after a rough day, despite not being a good baker. Cake mixes are allowed!

-Send a note to your friend to tell her what a beautiful person she is.

-Doing the laundry for the entire household without being asked.

-Sneaking out of bed early on Sunday morning to cook breakfast for your loved ones.

What are some other things can you do for your loved ones?

Posted by Tami Yu at 12:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Tequila in cupcakes? Who would have thought? This Coco Loco Tequila Cupcakes recipe from Joanne Weir's new book Tequila: A Guide to Types, Flights, Cocktails, and Bites is worthy of a try. I'm gonna give them a whirl for Cinco de Mayo week.

Coco Loco Tequila Cupcakes

Makes 2 dozen cupcakes

These soft, moist, and very coconutty cupcakes should come with a warning! Not only can you not stop after eating just one, but these adult-only cupcakes provide enough kick to make you feel like you are on vacation south of the border. The inspiration for this recipe comes from my friend Tina Gherzi, who loves tequila and coconut as much as I do.

Cupcakes

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
Large pinch of salt
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
2 tablespoons fresh grated ginger
1 teaspoon coconut extract
1/4 cup 100 percent agave tequila
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 cup shredded sweetened coconut

Coconut Cream Frosting

1/2 pound cream cheese, at room temperature
2 tablespoons unsweetened coconut milk, or more as needed
2 tablespoons 100 percent agave tequila
2 teaspoons coconut extract
3 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted, or more as needed
1 cup shredded sweetened coconut

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter and flour two 12-cup cupcake pans or line with paper liners.

Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a bowl and set aside.

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, occasionally scraping down the sides of the bowl and mixing well after each addition. Add the coconut milk, ginger, and coconut extract and beat for 1 minute at high speed until well blended. In a measuring pitcher, stir together the tequila and buttermilk. Add the dry ingredients in 3 batches to the egg mixture alternately with the buttermilk mixture in 2 batches, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients and mixing well after each addition. Fold in the shredded coconut.

Fill each cupcake well about three-fourths full with batter. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes.

Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Turn out onto a rack and let cool completely before frosting.

Meanwhile, to make the frosting, using the electric mixer, beat the cream cheese on high speed until smooth. With the mixer on high speed, slowly add the coconut milk, tequila, and coconut extract. Continue beating until thoroughly combined and smooth, about 5 minutes. Add the confectioners’ sugar and continue beating on high speed, occasionally scraping down the sides of the bowl. The frosting should be smooth and spreadable. Adjust with more coconut milk if the consistency is too thick, or more confectioners’ sugar if it is too runny.

To assemble, spread the frosting on the cooled cupcakes and sprinkle with the shredded coconut.

Recipe from TEQUILA: A Guide to Types, Flights, Cocktails, and Bites by Joanne Weir. Photo credit: Lara Hata. Copyright © 2009. Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, CA.

www.tenspeed.com

Tagged as: baking, book, chef, cocktail, cookbook, cooking, cooking techniques, drink recipe, food, gourmet, Lifestyle, spirits

Posted by Tami Yu at 2:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Giorgio Armani's new Lasting Silk UV Foundation SPF 20 is a great alternative to thick TV or photography makeup (ideal for bridal pics!). The pump dispenser bottle is so well made. Just squirt out one nickel-sized dollop into your palm and spread across your face. The feel is light and smooth, and is an all-purpose formula. You get sunscreen and medium coverage for both special days or for everyday wear. This is a new water-based formula that lasts 14-hours.

The Crema Nera Eye Compact has the Obsidian Mineral Complex (key ingredients silicium, sodium, iron and potassium) that is crucial to cell regeneration. The concentrated cream absorbs so nicely into the delicate eye area. I didn't even have to dab at it too much before it disappeared into the skin. Fine lines are plumped up, and you get an instant radiant glow. I even use it on my lips to freshen up before meetings. It also has a built-in mirror that swings out for on-the-go touch ups! The matching Crema Nera Obsidian Mineral Restoring Serum is used for fighting deep wrinkles and severely dry skin. I like the clean scent - not too heavily perfumed. The length and depth of wrinkles are reduced while providing plenty of nourishing moisture.

For that golden goddess look, the Sienna Minerals Bronzing Palette evokes vivid earth shades (deep reddish brown, golden flecks, and choco brown) of the sienna landscape. The ultra smooth Microfil texture completes this sunny tapestry of summer colors. This can be used as either an all-over bronzing blush or a sculpting highlighter.

Buy at www.giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com.

Tagged as: beauty, bronzer, foundation, Luxury, makeup, shopping, skin care, Style, summer

Posted by Tami Yu at 8:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Being a letterpress lover, I am a new fan of Snow & Graham, a Chicago-based paper company. Each item begs to be bought and used for your office, your friend's birthday, or as gift wrap. The purple blossons on the Morning Glory wrapping paper is so bright and cheery I just get a smile looking at it.

The sticky notes (noteBLOCKS) come in 700-sheet blocks, making your office list making a lot more fun. I love the pretty Dogwood noteBOOK, as well as the sunny Cherry Blosson thank you noteset. The coaster greetings are fabulous for any occasion. It doubles up as a giant drink coaster and greeting card in one. Cute!

To find national retailers, go to www.snowandgraham.com.

Tagged as: gifts, shopping, stationery

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Pacifica's new spring and summer perfume collections are a breath of fresh air. The new Lotus Garden is very lovely with green notes, citrus, lotus, and olibanum. Classics Tunisian Jasmine and Egyptian Bergamot Rose are now available in spray and solid perfumes, as well as body butters. So much fun layering everything together! As always, the sprays are made with natural, pure grain alcohol (corn-sourced and gluten-free).

I really liked the Thai Lemongrass...quite playful. The ginger and lemongrass are well balanced so that it doesn't smell too citrusy or strong. The Vanilla Vera Cruz is now also in a solid perfume form, so it makes for a great scent to tuck into tiny purses. The warm clove, sweet orange, and black pepper in Madagasgar Spice makes me wanna tuck into bed on a cold day.

Their new 3-piece gift sets in Waikiki Pikake and Lotus Garden are real fun too. Celebrate Mother's Day, Earth Day, or everyday with these cute presents. Each set includes a travel sized candle, matches, solid perfume, and a body butter.

Buy it at: pacificaperfume.com

Tagged as: beauty, fragrance, gifts, natural ingredients, perfume, shopping, spring, Summer

Posted by Tami Yu at 10:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

My skin is considered to be normal, but when I'm having an off day (no sleep or sun damage) it can change my skin chemistry for a while. Once irritated, the daily regimen products I use might be too much to handle and I'm left wondering what I should use to remedy my crabby skin.

So imagine my delight when I learned about the new Eminence Organics Biodynamic Collection. The products are lighter in scent and color compared to their regular line, but I'm a big fan of this collection. Originally formulated for medi spas, the sensitive skin friendly line from the venerable Hungarian company works for all skin types. The line is hypoallergenic and clinically tested, and the potency of these ultra gentle products are not to be underestimated.

Each product in this collection contains a minimum of 95% organic ingredients and up to 88% Biodynamic nutrients. Biodynamic farming practices a holistic view of the universe, producing highly nutrient-rich ingredients. That translate to powerful and results-driven skin care.

The Lemon Grass Cleanser is a mild, creamy, and hydrating balm on irritated skin. This is great for post-peel treatments or if you've been dehydrated from baking in the sun. My skin must have been quite thirsty, as the Apricot Calendula Nourishing Cream soaked right in. My face literally drank up the active nutrients in no time. For oily skin, the Echinacea Recovery Cream has a nice light fluid texture that will absorb easily.

The Primrose & Melon Balancing Masque smells like a freshly baked fruit tart - very calming (thanks to Marigold and Primrose) and a good skin toner. The Yellow Sweet Clover Anti-Redness Masque is great for rosacea skin. I liked the Radish Seed Refining Peel. The AHA/BHA gently renews the skin while Lemon Balm helped detox the skin cells.

The Bearberry Eye Repair cream nourishes with brightening properties from the Bearberry extract. Unlike most rich eye creams, this is not heavy at all. For body care, the bioactive Alfalfa, Yarrow, and Sunchoke in the Quince Nourishing Body Lotion is great for eczema skin prone types.

www.eminenceorganics.com

Tagged as: beauty, biodynamic, green, Luxury, organic, organic ingredients, skin care

Posted by Tami Yu at 8:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Get your shopping digits ready. Neiman Marcus is hosting an online trunk show of Guerlain’s Exclusive Fragrance collection. For 2 weeks only, you can now get these rare perfumes online. Normally you can only buy these in the seven U.S. Guerlain boutiques, so this is such a convenient way to stock up on your favorite fragrances, or try a new one without leaving your home. This is great for those are who far away from the retail stores.

Available collections include L’Art et la Matiere (Cuir Beluga, Angélique Noire, etc.), Les Elixirs Charnels, the gorgeous 180th Year Collector’s Case, and La Petite Robe Noire, which debuted last month.

The Chypre Fatal and Gourmand Coquin sound so good. I'm very tempted to check this out...

Check out the trunk show here: www.neimanmarcus.com

Tagged as: beauty, fragrance, Luxury, perfume, scents, shopping, special events

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

SF scent divas, you are in luck. The super talented and lovely parfumeur Yosh Han is offering a Vibrational Perfumery workshop this Spring. This workshop isn't like any other perfume workshop, as it's based on intuition and chakra energy work. It will be quite the treat, I promise.

Yosh will do a basic history of perfume, then a run down on the technical info (on top notes, middle notes and base notes, fragrance families). You will also smell 100+ materials and learn about Perfume Design. Her special "reverse birthday candle" technique is not to be missed. Each participant will create their own Aromatic Attunement in an 8 ml French flacon bottle.

Saturday, April 25th OR Sunday, May 3rd
9:30 AM: Meet and Greet, Tea
10:00 AM - 1 PM Workshop
End or Lunch break
2 - 3:30 PM Optional shopping
Create your own Perfumer's Kit

Please RSVP - Limited to 6 people only!
Sign-up at 415.626.5385 or Yosh@eaudeyosh.com
Workshop Fee: $250.00 ($50 deposit)

www.eaudeyosh.com

Tagged as: beauty, fragrance, Lifestyle, Luxury, perfume, San Francisco, scents, shopping, special events

Posted by Tami Yu at 5:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Edgy shu uemura never fails to impress me. The new Pink Collection is yet another fine example. I'm not a pink kinda gal, yet the Gloss Unlimited in PK 378S (Hot Pink Sparkle) charmed my socks off. This collection uses patented Pink Hybrid Pigment technology, ensuring the pure, authentic pink hues.

Ditto for the Rouge Unlimited in PK359 Sheer Electric Pink. These colors are really beautiful. Conventional pinks were traditionally created mixing red and white shades, but the shu uemura team came up with a matrix of a mineral core and organic shell. This means the colors are brighter, providing high color fidelity. You just have to try it to see the difference. They are not garish and will work on all skin tones.

I paired both of these lip colors with the new Cream Eye Shadow in P Light Green. It was the perfect and easy Spring look for me. These cream shadows come in 9 non-creasing/non-fading and buildable shades (matte and pearl), and they're waterproof for summer! Yay. You can wear alone or layer with their pressed eye shadows.

In their skin care department, the new White Recovery EX Instant Spot Brightener does double duty as both makeup highlighter and well, spot brightener. You can get instant dewy skin by dabbing a bit on the nose bridge and cheekbones. Use it alone or over makeup (blend gently). Reducing melanin content by 56% (thank you Sakura Leaf and Prune extracts), this has optical brightening effects and will minimize the appearance of brown spots and acne scars immediately and over time. The convenient brush applicator makes it easy to dab it right you need it. This can last 2-3 months, as a little goes a long way. You can even use it for dark circles!

SF readers: you can call the SF boutique for more info: 1971 Fillmore Street, (415) 395-0953 or buy online: www.shuuemura-usa.com

Tagged as: beauty, cosmetics, Lifestyle, Luxury, makeup, makeup tips, San Francisco, shopping, skin care

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Hello my dear loyal readers!

The annual 2009 Glam Network Awards went live yesterday and I'm proud to be nominated under the Living publisher category. If you have a minute, I'd really appreciate it if you can show your support by voting for me here: http://www.glam.com/contests/2009networkawards/2009networkawards.php

Just go to the URL and click on the Living category, and vote! The contest lasts for 2 weeks, so be sure to get your vote in before April 13. The competition is quite fierce, so each vote counts...

Many, many thanks to all the darling readers who've participated in the giveaways, emailed, commented, or read the blog! I couldn't have done it without your support.

-Tami

Tagged as: award, Northern California, special events

Posted by Tami Yu at 7:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Sense and Sensibility

It's all about sensibility here. How do you thrift successfully? Style Symmetry will let you know. How do you dress for an fashion job interview? 39thandbroadway will show you the way (no pantsuits!). reLYME investigates feminine studs, and The Coveted talks to elegant punks. Dramatis Personae keeps it all in (corsets). The full version of Links á la Mode is here in the IFB forums.

39thandbroadway.com - What do you wear if you're interviewing for a fashion job?
A Few Goody GumDrops - An interview with handbag designer Be and D on the re-launch of the Garbo bag!
Breakfast at Saks - A little slice of heaven: Erin Wasson's Venice Beach Tree House
Consume or Consumed - Soleful Shopping: Negotiating Men's Footwear (Guest Men's Fashion Entry)
Dogmom's Dish - Norma Kamali NK: Spring Blossoms In Unexpected Places
dramatis personae - Curious About Corsetry {part 1}: Answers to Your Most Basic Question
Fasshonaburu - How to rock multiple brights this spring
fete a fete - DL1961’s 4-way stretch denim slims and shapes

Independent Fashion Bloggers - How essential is twitter to your blog?
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Fashion - Virtual Shopping Cart: Urban Outfitters
misslikey - misslikey is still zipping
Munique Fashions - Twinset and pearls with a modern twist
Or False Glitter - fall/winter 09 inspired hair style tried at home!
reLYME - Studs were all over the runway this season'a few cheaper and more girly alternatives.
Retro Chick - Ethical Design Spotlight - Tammam
Solo Lisa - Tips to take with you when shopping for clutches
Star Fashion Addict - Summer Trend Jumpsuits and Rompers
Style Eyes Fashion Blog - Cheer yourself up with a little lipstick therapy
Style Symmetry - The Best Thrifting Tip
THE COVETED - The Elegant Punks an interview with Felder Felder
Thrift Eye - Making a circle scarf, then turning it into a circle dress!

Posted by Tami Yu at 7:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

SF weather can be super cold and windy even in the Spring and Summer seasons, so imagine my delight to come upon the new Lutz & Patmos Spring 2009 collection. Teaming up with style icon and guest designer Jane Birkin, they created two ultra soft and flattering basic tops (made with 100% organic Scottish cashmere).

Jane Birkin for Lutz & Patmos - wearing her V-Neck sweater and Tank.

Layer the Jane Birkin Tank with the V-Neck sweater for that casual, sexy look. The deep V-Neck is raw edged with a slouchy fit and 3/4 sleeves, while the tank scoopneck has a delicate hand crochet finish at the neckline and armhole. Both styles come in black, grey heather, and mocha heather. The company will also continue collaborating with Birkin for Fall 2009.

I also want the Organic Flounced Dress - so elegant! It looks deceptively simple but I know it will be very flattering for most body types. It's the perfect black dress with a green agenda.

Get it online at www.lutzandpatmos.com (FREE shipping through March 31!).

Tagged as: celebrity, fashion, green, Lifestyle, Luxury, organic, organic ingredients, shopping, spring, Style

Posted by Tami Yu at 7:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm SO happy it's officially Spring season! Easter is about 3 weeks away, and I'm itchin' to bake up a batch of bunny-shaped cookies and other treats. I'm looking at these fun toys from Williams-Sonoma...I want them so I can have a proper girly tea afternoon with my friends.

Aren't these Springtime Nest Bell Jars darling? I want them all. So country chic.

I'm in such a cupcake baking mood lately. I might just have to buy this Daisy Crown Cupcake Pan to make some. At this rate I might be stuck in the kitchen all day...not that I'm complaining.

www.williams-sonoma.com

Tagged as: baking, cooking, easter, entertaining, food, gourmet, holiday, Lifestyle, San Francisco, seasonal, shopping, Spring

Posted by Tami Yu at 2:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Spring Fever: Are harem pants a passing phase? Check out what reLYME has to say...Practice your smokey eye as The Coveted gets tips from Benefit Cosmetics! Also, it might be a good time to spring clean your make up kit with What the Pros Do; If you're short on cash, Retro Chick give 5 tips to have fun anyway, and if you Do have cash, Consume or Consumed delves into her habits.

The full version of Links à la Mode is here in the forums - lots of great posts there too.

A Few Goody GumDrop If you are coming apart at the seems then enter to win torn leggings from LnA!
Breakfast at Saks - Still sifting through Paris Fashion Week shows? Be sure to make time for Ann Demeulemeester F/W 09.10
Capitola Girl Jewelry Blog - Check, Please!
Consume or Consumed - Consume or Consumed Sees Double and Triple: On Buying Multiples
Couture Cult - CoutureCult.com: Alison Lewis (formerly of Mooka Kinney), Spring/Summer 09
Debutante Clothing - Missoni is Inspired By Vintage Modernist Necklaces
Dogmom's Dish - Desperately Seeking Orla
Fashion Daydream - What your didn’t see at Fashion Week: A behind the scenes look into fashion week, fashionistas en route to the shows and models being made up.
Fashion Pulse Daily - reports on the latest colors for fall 2009
Felicia Sullivan - beauty & styling products that work for curly, coarse hair, really work. part 1: frederic fekkai
fete a fete - Larkspur & Hawk's GORGEOUS antique and vintage inspired

Independent Fashion Bloggers - Burnout Aversion Tips From Bloggers
reLYME - An analysis of the Persian-inspired trend that's hitting the runway
Retro Chick - Top 5 Ways to have fun with no money
Shopping and Info - Gossip Girl scarves bags and jewelry oh my! Solo Lisa - Sunny fashion picks inspired by Freida Pinto's character in Slumdog
Studio Purpura Fashion Blog - Shopping Hops in the Far & South East Asia!
Style Symmetry - Interview with Jennine of The Coveted!
Style With Anna - Fashion for Guys: How to Dress Like David Beckham
THE COVETED - Exclusive Video Preview & Tutorial: Benefit Smokin'; Eyes
the musings of ondo lady - Get ready for a retro prequel of Gossip Girl which is about the trials and tribulations of a teenage Lily van der Woodsen
what the pros do - Spring Clean Your Makeup Kit!

Tagged as: Accessories, beauty, fashion, fashion design, makeup, shopping, Style

Posted by Tami Yu at 12:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

DL1961 is now one of my favorite stretch denim companies. The first in using the incredible XFit Lycra technology, your jeans won't sag, stretch out, or get baggy. The fabric has 90% less pressure strain at stress points (knees, inseam, and back rise areas), meaning it won't get worn down as easily. The denim moves 360 degrees for maximum shape, style despite multiple wears.

Milano 1093 Bootcut

Hugging your curves comfortably, these sexy jeans will also shape up the derriere and legs. The four-way stretch fabric in the Milano Bootcut made me look like I've lost a couple pounds, or gotten a mini butt lift. It's that flattering. The slimming effects are evident upon wearing it. So ladies, if you were too afraid to try the skinny or straight cut, this will give you hope. The men will notice the difference, I kid you not.

Tory 1098 Straight Leg

The 27% lycra content makes this line super comfy, it's almost like wearing yoga pants. I don't recommend working out in these but it's thin and soft enough to lounge around in if you want. I might have to try it out on the dance floor for the ultimate stretch test. And, they use an enzyme wash (using a protein that softens the fabric) for that worn in look. I wonder if the traditional stone wash beats up the fabric too much in the process?

They will launch an organic line next month, so stay tuned. I'll update you on the new styles and washes.

I totally heart these guys. Keep up the fabulous work!

www.dl1961.com

Tagged as: denim, fashion, fashion design, jeans, Lifestyle, Luxury, organic, shopping, Style

Posted by Tami Yu at 8:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

It seems like my list of things to covet is never-ending. Now I have to add Larkspur & Hawk's Small Anne Day/Night Earrings to the list. Inspired by a Queen Anne earring design, these gorgeous earrings are made of faceted white topaz stones, then backed with leaf foil in a 14k gold setting. The drops are removable for a day look, and you can wear them for an evening look. (Also available in white topaz with indigo foil; citrine with fuchsia foil; white topaz with scarlet foil)

And how fantastic is this antique Chrysolite Cluster Ring (circa 1780)?? Wow. I so am drooling over this. Très élégante. Chrysolite was mined in Brazil in the 18th century and the popular stones are still sought after in modern times. I dunno about you, but I'd take this over any regular diamond ring. I just love color that dazzles the eye.

The Grace Earrings are another favorite of mine...simply stunning. You can get this in rose quartz with indigo foil or green amethyst and leaf foil.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! (Hmmm, perhaps that's why I subconsciously chose so many green colored jewelry to feature...)

Tagged as: Accessories, earrings, fashion, jewelry, shopping, Style

Posted by Tami Yu at 5:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

As Paris fashion week wraps up, we're still sifting though the fashion week madness. A Balmaniac wonders why mess with perfection on Breakfast at Saks; Dogmom's Dish review McQueen for Target; Fashion Pulse Daily hits on Christian Soriano's shoes; Style Amor contemplates the dying magazine industry; 39th and Broadway talks about the plus size industry; and Retro Chick delves into the Primark Effect. Lastly, The Coveted reviews the Vivienne Tam HP Mini after a month of travelling and blogging.

The full version of Links á la Mode is in the forums; there's a lot of great posts there too.

39thandbroadway - Fashion’s Plus Size Dilemma; A different perspective on the plus size apparel industry.
Breakfast at Saks - Biased Reporting on the Balmain show from a Balmain-iac
Clutch 22 - Exploring Etsy - Three unique talents to watch
Consume or Consumed - Stylish film looks channeled toward a more stylish life
Debutante Clothing - Special Report: YSL Vintage Clothing Auction in Paris
Dogmom's Dish - Alexander McQueen for Target: Post-Modern Punk Princess
ericdwills.com - Kanye West x Louis Vuitton sneakers called the 'Don' and 'Hi Top'
Fashion Pulse Daily - Fashion Week reviews, Christian Siriano's shoes, and much more!
fete a fete - elegant FIEL flip flops, made with love from Brazil!
Independent Fashion Bloggers - Privacy Tips for Bloggers

Mademoiselle Robot - A love letter to Jeffrey Campbell
Nico Assatly - New Spring Polish that will knock your socks off !
Retro Chick - The Primark Effect - Can cheap fashion be ethical fashion?
Shopping and Info - Win a Twelfth Street By Cynthia Vincent Sweater from the Shopping and Info Spring Giveaway.
Solo Lisa - Less expensive but equally charming alternatives to the new Tiffany key necklaces
Studio Purpura - Milan Fashion Week Fall 2009 presents creative color schemes and designs to tickle your fancy!!
Style Amor - THE DYING MAGAZINE: March U.S. Magazine Reviews
Style Bite - Geared up for Etten Eller's Newest Collection
Style Symmetry - Eyeliah loves to layer tights!
Style With Anna - How to Dress Bohemian
THE COVETED - A real life review of the Vivienne Tam HP Mini

Original post at: http://independentfashionbloggers.org/2009/03/12/links-a-la-mode-ifb-weekly-roundup-11/

Tagged as: Accessories, fashion, fashion design, giveaway, shopping, Style

Posted by Tami Yu at 5:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

If lip plumpers are not your thing, you can still get full, beautiful lips without the sting! Poppy King, the glorious dame behind Lipstick Queen, just launched her new Big Bang Theory - Illusion Gloss collection. She came up with the perfect formula of shimmer and shine to make your lips really dazzle. The 11 gram container is one of the larger glosses I've seen, so it really is a whole lotta big plumpin' bang for your buck. The colors are highly pigmented so it will go a super long way.

This is a very pretty line and it's available in eight shades. I loved Energy a lot (shimmery bright cherry red). Those who want a more dramatic lip will love Black Hole (deep wine). I only needed a couple teensy dabs as it was so pigmented. If you are into lighter shades, Time is a nice shimmery golden nude. Creation (rose) and Cosmos (ruby) look so darn pretty. And, if your color bleeds no matter what you do, I recommend the Invisible Liner. The self sharpening mechanical pencil is so convenient.

I also liked the Oxymoron Matte Gloss in Honest Politician. As a 2-in-1, it goes on nicely as a creme blush and lip gloss. The brown-pink matte tone was very neutral looking on my lips, and I needed only a tiny dab for my cheeks. Very high mileage in this product. The recessionista in me approves.

The stylish Ms. Poppy was darling enough to share her revered lipstick advice in a recent interview. Read on for her expert tips on choosing the best lip color for your skin tone, how to prevent bleeding, and more:

What's the easiest way to prevent lipstick bleeding? Dark colors, especially red, can be tricky to maintain throughout the day for busy career gals.

Poppy King: Wear a lip liner that matches the lip color exactly so that the line is seamless.....or, if you don't like lip liner you can use concealer around the line of the lip to stop bleeding. Lipstick Queen Invisible Liner stops lipstick bleeding without being seen.

What red shades do you recommend for women of color? With so many brands out there, it can be overwhelming.

PK: The bluer based/pinkish reds tend to look best on deep skins such as Latin and African American....the more orange reds look tend to look best on Asian women.

On top of the new Illusion Gloss, what else is coming up for the brand that we can look forward to?

PK: I am having a glossy year with new and unusual forms, textures and concepts in gloss. Expect the unexpected....even a gloss you can sharpen!

Any tips on how to maintain soft lips (to maximize lipstick application)? Does exfoliation help?

PK: Exfoliation and Chapstick are the best to maintain lips without getting greasy. I use a spare toothbrush to exfoliate lips.

Red is your signature color. Do you have other favorite colors you wear on 'off days' or at home lounging around?

PK: Red is my boring look in that I wear it all the time.....I feel radical when I wear other shades. I love wearing Coral and Rose from my line in both the Saint and Sinner formulas. I love romantic shades for my time off red.

Who was your biggest influence on your personal style? Why?

PK: My godmother, who owns an amazing fashion boutique in Melbourne (where I am from). She introduced me to leopard print and I have pretty much worn it since I can remember. I love glamour.

Do you ever recommend the nude lip on certain women? Or just red all the way?

PK: I recommend colors I truly think would suit someone's style and personality. I believe the two are intrinsic to each other and I read someone's whole "aura" when I recommend lips shades. A long way of saying yes.....I recommend nude all the time when I think it suits someone's being.

Tagged as: beauty, beauty product, cosmetics, fashion, lip color, lip gloss, lipstick, makeup, makeup primer, makeup tips, shopping

Posted by Tami Yu at 1:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm so happy that the Perfect Purée of Napa Valley has finally launched a retail line. Now home chefs can use the same premium fruit purees and concentrates used by top culinary professionals and mixologists! These gourmet flavorings (all natural, no colorings or preservatives - yay) will add sparkle to your entertaining plans, from spicing up your cocktails to adding oomph to your desserts.

The retail line is available in the following flavors: Mango, Prickly Pear, Raspberry, Strawberry, and White Peach (Concentrates: Blood Orange, Passion Fruit, Pomegranate). I LOVED the Mango puree. It's a great blend of varieties from Columbia, Ecuador, Mexico, Philippines, Peru, and India. I made a mango panna cotta last weekend and everyone inhaled the dessert in minutes. Yep, it was that good. Get the Mango Panna Cotta recipe here or see below. The White Peach is so delicate and refreshing - perfect for Bellinis and other fun drinks. I will try the Grilled Prawn Cocktail recipe soon.

Mango Panna Cotta with Strawberry Passion Fruit Salsa

Yield: 16 Servings
Source: Kim Massman, Executive Pastry Chef (The Marsh Spa, MN)

Mango Panna Cotta:

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
7 cups heavy cream
15 oz. Mango, thawed
2 cups whole milk
2 tbsp. gelatin powder

Method:

1. Combine sugar and cream in saucepan and bring to a scald. Remove from the heat and add in the Mango puree. Let cool for 15 minutes.
2. Pour the milk into a small bowl (not metal) and sprinkle evenly with gelatin powder. Heat the milk/gelatin mixture in a microwave for 20 seconds and add to the cream mixture.
3. Reheat the mixture to a scald and then cool for 15 minutes.
4. Pour into 16 - 5oz. ramekins, cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. Dip each ramekin briefly into hot water to release the panna cotta.


Strawberry Passion Fruit Salsa:

2 lbs. strawberries, hulled and cut into uniform pieces
3/4 cup simple syrup
1/2 cup water
1 tbsp. Passion Fruit, thawed
1 tbsp. Strawberry, thawed

Method:

1. Combine all ingredients, toss, cover and let sit at room temperature for a minimum of 1 hour and maximum of 3 hours.
2. Serve with panna cotta.

Available in Northern California specialty stores including Whole Foods Markets, Andronico’s, Draeger’s, and Mollie Stone’s. For a current list of retailers, recipes, or to purchase online, go to: www.perfectpuree.com

Tagged as: beverage, cocktail, cooking, cooking techniques, culinary, drink, entertaining, food, fruit, fruit desserts, gourmet, Northern California, recipe, San Francisco

Posted by Tami Yu at 3:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Today is International Women's Day, and it reminds us all that we have a long road ahead in ending sexual slavery across the world. To do our part, the New York Chapter of The Somaly Mam Foundation is partnering with eBay Giving Works to raise enough money to rescue and rehabilitate more victims of human trafficking.

The eBay auction features favorite luxury beauty and fashion items at 50-75% off retail.

Givenchy Spring 2009 makeup collection featured for auction

Highlights include:

Cut & color with celebrity stylist David Evangelista
Tickets to the Diane von Furstenberg Spring 2010 Runway show in September 2009
Over $1000 in Givenchy Le Makeup, Skincare, and Fragrance
The new Dior L'Or de Vie Skincare Collection
Autographed Anya Hindmarch handbag

...and much more beauty from brands including Fresh, Guerlain. Dior, Sephora, and Frederic Fekkai!

Dior's new L'Or de Vie skincare collection, one of the many auction items featured

Somaly Mam, a survivor of human trafficking, was sold into a life of sexual slavery at a very young age. She finally escaped this dangerous world and became a spokeswoman for women and children tortured in the brothels of Cambodia. In 2006, Somaly was honored as Glamour Magazine's Woman of the Year for her courageous work in fighting sexual slavery, and she has been profiled as a CNN Hero in recognition of her brave fight to save so many young, innocent victims from this horrible and silent crime.

All proceeds will go to The Somaly Mam Foundation in Cambodia (www.somaly.org). The auction site is
http://stores.shop.ebay.com/thesomalymamfoundation.

Tagged as: Accessories, auction, beauty, beauty product, fashion, international, Lifestyle, sale, shopping, special events

Posted by Tami Yu at 1:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

New on Independent Fashion Bloggers - This week it's all about the real thing. Fashion Reality TV overload on Fashion Pulse Daily, Running in High Heels on Ondo Lady, Style Symmetry finds real life thrifters in the 100% Thrifted Pool, Reality hair on Life and Liberty, and Vivienne Tam hearts real bloggers on The Coveted. Style Bite finds cute bags made of real paper! And visit 39th and Broadway's real perks for working in the fashion industry.

There's a full version of Links à la Mode here in the forums; there's a lot of great posts there too.

Tagged as: Accessories, clothing, fashion, fashion designer, green, shoes, shopping, Style

Posted by Tami Yu at 1:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The excitement may be over from this year's Oscars, but the styles from the lovely celebs will stay in our minds for a long time. Here's a few of our faves:

Vive La France! Marion Cotillard has always been a favorite of mine, even before she got internationally recognized for "La Vie En Rose." She totally nailed it with elegant drama without going over the top with Dior. Stunning, deceptively simple, yet classy - everything I adore about French couture. Oh, how I love her and her style.

Here's what Stevie, of LA-Story.com had to say about Cotillard's ensemble: I find this outfit intriguing. I wasn't hot for it right off-- but then when I took a good look at the entire ensemble, what's not to like? . The deep color is so very flattering for her and the shape of the dress creates a very retro-glam 1950's glamour that's dramatic and works for her. Unlike others who went strapless, , she wore a necklace which creates interest and leads the eye to Cotillard's face. Love the ring she has on -- it's stunning!

Penelope Cruz was totally channeling Audrey Helpburn in this Balmain vintage outfit. It was sweetly romantic and charming without overdoing it like Sarah Jessica Parker. Love it. White is not my favorite color (and some though it was too princess bride) but she pulled it off nicely a la Roman Holiday.

Stevie: I like the essence of the dress. It's much like the black one she wore at the BAFTAS and while it works a la Audrey Hepburn, the lack of color just drains the life out of her. Make this red, deep rose, burgundy, deep forest green, any range of blue hues and this would be a smashing dress. Penelope, I think you got just a bit tired towards the end. The bag doesn't work with the dress. If you are going to pull off that dress, then carry a vintage style bag too.

Nicole Kidman had the classic, ethereal, 'very Nicole' style in L'Wren Scott. She looked very retro-glam in this one, and I approve heartily. It's like a beautiful ice goddess came down upon earth to bestow her beauty for us to enjoy...

Here's Stevie's take: Gorgeous dress with unique detailing at the bodice. It's really eye-catching. Would have loved to have seen it created in a different, richer color as this almost matches Kidman's skin tone. Her hairstyle is amazing and opens up her neckline which made it an ideal opportunity to wear a fabulous-- yet delicate-- necklace to work with those earrings and either a ring or a couple of sleek thin bangle bracelets.

Taraji P. Henson was also sporting the sweet and innocent feel with her choice of Roberto Cavalli. I like the simple chic in this one. Good move overall, even if it's a bit too bridal looking.

Gorgeous dress on Taraji. I think she was truly one of the best dressed with an edgy design that flattered her body and made her truly a star on the red carpet. The color was perfect with her skintone!
Stevie, LA-Story.com

Leslie Mann had an incredible hot-mama Pamela Roland gown on. Smokin' diva! I hope to be this hottie hot when I get to her age...it draped on her body so nicely without baring too much flesh.

Stevie says: Pamela Roland should be so happy to have this dress on Leslie Mann and vice versa. It's stunning on Mann because the design skims her body perfectly. The dress is killer, smokin', sexy-hot and without showing off a lot of skin either. No mean feat that.

I wish everyone had made the right choices. I really love Beyonce, but man, this House of Deréon dress made
her look like a cartoon character. I dig her lovely curves but this matronly design exaggerated the hips which is not what we want. The severe bustline is not flattering to her voluptuous figure.

Stevie's take: Typically Beyonce "wows" you on the red carpet, but this dress makes a statement in all the wrong ways: too big on the hips, the retro-hemline, the overwhelming pattern, the top makes her look like a Barbie doll or Jessica Rabbit (my apologies to Jessica Rabbit for the comparison). This dress should teach Beyonce that you should not dump the kitchen sink of design elements into one dress. Plus what's with the lack of jewelry?

Tagged as: celebrity, entertainment, fashion, fashion design, Film, Film Stars, gown, Lifestyle, Luxury, special events, Style

Posted by Tami Yu at 12:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm madly in love with Vouelle, the new French luxury shoe label. The brand recently launched their bridal collection last Fall in Paris (too lovely for words), and the Spring 2009 women's cocktail collection will take the fashion world by storm. Adorned with exotic feathers, Swarovski crystals, and silk satin, these sexy and elegant shoes make me want to hop on the next plane to Paris and raid their showroom. One look at the flirty and feminine Andy shoe (silk satin with handmade satin flower) and you'll know what I mean.

Vouelle's Andy cocktail sandal

Co-founder Melissa Regan de Vogele was having a tough time finding her dream bridal slippers, so she tapped her friend and Creative Director Michelle Boor to come up with some ideas. Soon enough, Vouelle was born. It also helped that Boor earned her design chops from Guy Laroche and Theory.

Grace pump in handmade black silk lace

I also love the darling Carla with a sculptural black organza loop and beige feathers (named after Carla Bruni perhaps?). So very vintage inspired, so very sexy...this is so perfect for any vintage Dior suit or YSL dress.

Carla sandal

The seductive Dana is very come-hither with its feathers fanning out the pump’s side seam. The Eva, however, is the showstopper must-have for any femme fatale's collection.

Eva with black ostrich feathers and yellow collet de coq feathers

If you're in Paris, lucky you. The bridal collection can be found at Galleries Lafayette and Printemps. For those who live outside France, not to worry. You can order the Spring 2009 Cocktail Collection directly with their Paris showroom (they do ship and accept all major credit cards). They plan to retail their Fall 2009 collection in the U.S. soon, so stay tuned!

167 Boulevard Haussmann
75008 Paris, France
+33 (0)9 54 89 07 21

www.vouelle.com

Tagged as: couture, fashion, fashion designer, France, international, Lifestyle, Luxury, shoes, shopping

Posted by Tami Yu at 5:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)

As the lovely IFB bloggers wrapped up New York Fashion Week and headed to London, we've got lots of great fashion week coverage below. Also check out our own London Soiree which happened this week!

independentfashionbloggers.org/2009/02/26/links-a-la-mode-ifb-weekly-roundup-9/

Tagged as: Accessories, celebrity, clothing, entertainment, fashion, fashion design, fashion show, jewelry, Lifestyle, shoes, shopping, Style

Posted by Tami Yu at 9:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

For the Brian Reyes Fall 2009 show at NY Fashion Week, Givenchy Le Makeup creator Nicolas Degennes provided the perfect makeup to reflect the modern sophistication behind the fashion line. The focus is on the gorgeous peepers.

Runway makeup doesn't mean it has to be hard. Check out the beauty tips below so you can replicate the fresh look! I love the emphasis on the lower eye line. So very French!

Tagged as: beauty, cosmetics, fashion, fashion design, fashion show, Lifestyle, makeup, NYC, shopping, Style

Posted by Tami Yu at 6:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

ALICE Chocolate could be the new Louboutins of the cacao market. The beautiful sliding case packaging certainly made me learn to eat my chocolate in a more refined and dainty manner. It's akin to an epicurean ritual, like afternoon tea at the Ritz. The next time I do have tea there, I might bring these chocolates with me.

Timothy Hogan

With delicate citrus notes, the chewing gum sized pieces are 68% cacao and is sourced from manually-harvested Wild Amazonian Criollo (fair trade and sustainable, bien sur). Inspired by all the famous Alices in the world, one might think of Alice in Wonderland, Alice B. Toklas, Alice Prin, or our very own Alice Waters!

Available exclusively at the chocolate salon in Bergdorf Goodman.

www.alicechocolate.com

Tagged as: artisan, chocolate, chocolate bar, chocolatier, fair trade, food, food & drink, gourmet, green, Lifestyle, shopping

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Charles Dickens fans take note - the new season of PBS MASTERPIECE just began this week, and will feature an encore presentation of the “David Copperfield” with Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) in his first film role (3/09 - check listings), and an Andrew Davies version of “Little Dorrit” (starts 3/29), and culminating with “The Old Curiousity Shop” (5/3).

Claire Foy in Little Dorrit; BBC 2008/ Mike Hogan for MASTERPIECE

The Brass Sisters also teamed up with PBS to develop Dickensian comfort foods (Sheila and Marilynn Brass of Heirloom Cooking with The Brass Sisters) for the MASTERPIECE Book Club. You can download recipes like Hearty English Meat Pie, Shepherd's Pie, and Irish Sponge Cake. Or Try the scone recipe below!

Currant Cream Scones
by Marilynn and Sheila Brass
Makes 12 scones

Scones were the comfort food of the Victorians. A Scottish contribution to the English culinary menu, they were enjoyed hot with butter and jam, and clotted cream. Originally made with oats, the composition of scones has become more refined because the texture of flour and sugar and the size of eggs have become more standardized. The cooks of Dickens’ time had to break up their sugar with metal nips because it came in large cones wrapped with blue paper. They also had to pulverize it to the desired grain. Flour varied from mill to mill, and eggs came directly from the hen. Scones were enjoyed by the upper and middle classes, but the ingredients were too costly for the very poorest in Dickens’ England.

2 cups flour (plus ¼ cup for kneading dough)
1 tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ cup butter
¼ cup sugar
2 eggs
½ cup plus 2 tablespoons heavy cream
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
1 cup dried currants, plumped in ¼ cup orange juice*
¼ cup sugar

1. Set the oven rack in the middle position. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Cover a 14-inch by 16-inch baking sheet with foil, shiny side up. Coat the foil with vegetable spray or use a silicone liner.

2. Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.

3. Cream butter and sugar in a medium bowl. Combine eggs and 1/2 cup of the heavy cream and add to butter mixture. Add grated orange zest. Add sifted dry ingredients and stir until a soft dough begins to form. Squeeze orange juice from currants and incorporate fruit into dough with your fingers.

4. Place dough on a generously floured surface. Knead gently five times, turning corners of dough toward the center. Pat dough into a 1/2-inch thick circle. Using a floured knife, cut dough into 12 equal wedges. Using a floured wide spatula, transfer each wedge to baking sheet. Brush wedges with the remaining heavy cream and sprinkle with remaining sugar. Bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until tops of scones are lightly brown and bottoms are golden brown. Place baking sheet on a rack and cool about 10 minutes. Serve scones warm with butter and jam. They are best when eaten the day they are made.

*To plump currants in tea, orange juice, or water, bring the liquid to a boil, immerse the raisins, continue to boil for 1 minute and set aside to allow them to absorb the plumping liquid. If needed immediately, place in plastic container and chill in freezer for 10 minutes. If not used the same day, refrigerate and use when needed.

Recipe originally appeared as “Marion A. Carter and M. E. Carter’s Cranberry-Orange Cream Scones” in Heirloom Baking With The Brass Sisters by Marilynn and Sheila Brass, published by Black Dog & Leventhal, Inc. © 2006 Marilynn and Sheila Brass. Photographs copyright © 2006 Andy Ryan.

Check it out at: www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/dickens/

For more MASTERPIECE Book Club recipes: www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/bookclub

Tagged as: Books, celebrity, cookbooks, cooking techniques, entertainment, film, food, recipe, Television, TV show

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NY NY! - The major Fashion Weeks have begun - here in New York we have some great coverage, New York favorites on Studio Purpura, threeASFOUR on The Coveted, and some Barbie thoughts on Fashion in My Eyes. Couture Allure dresses the stars in vintage, and if the recession is making you nervous Style Amour talks about what you should do if you get fired from the fashion industry.

For more, go to: independentfashionbloggers.org/2009/02/19/links-a-la-mode-ifb-weekly-roundup-8/

Tagged as: beauty, fashion, fashion designer, fashion show, Lifestyle, makeup tips, NYC, shopping, Style

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To all my V-day procrastinators - the big day is coming up this weekend, so here's some last-minute Valentine ideas...

MarieBelle has gorgeous Valentine boxes that come in 36, 25, 16, 9 pieces of their signature truffles with cute retro graphic designs. Some truffles I liked were the Passionfruit, Spices, Gianduja, and Cardamom flavors. The deep red glamorous snakeskin-textured box is so sturdy you can reuse it as a jewelry or crafting box. Another good choice is their yummy Tropical Fruit Caramels assortment. Made from a family recipe, the handmade confections are packaged with vintage images and hand-decorated with glittery accents. Flavors include: Condensed Milk, Kiwi, Piña Colada, Guava, Strawberry, and Mango.

Guilt-free flowers: Whole Foods is offering Whole Trade Roses from Ecuador for $19.99 per dozen. Producers of these flowers ensure fair wages, safe work conditions, and environmentally friendly business practices. Available at all Whole Foods Market locations in Northern California and Reno.

For the boys, Burberry's recently launched The Beat men's fragrance is a good option. It's quite the woody cologne (notes of leatherwood, vetiver bourbon, cedrat, black pepper, and violet leaves). It's a very strong masculine scent, different from typical men's colognes. I like it enough to wear it myself.

For those with no budget whatsoever, do it the old-school way. Letterpress designer Sarah Drake has a free printable black and white Valentine card graphic for super last-minute greetings. Just print some out and use some colored pencils to personalize! Get it at:www.sarahdrakedesign.com/shop/index.php?act=viewShop&productId=34

Tagged as: chocolate, flowers, fragrance, gifts, greeting cards, holiday, seasonal, shopping, valentine

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TCHO has some nifty Valentine's gifts for chocolate fiends. Their Love Quote gift tins come with 12 "Chocolatey" hearts that feature great lines from Mark Twain, Robert Mitchum, e.e. cummings, Elizabeth Browning, Pearl Bailey, and Shakespeare ($25 per tin).

These hearts are made from molds that TCHO purchased from a castle-factory in Dresden, Germany. Many chocolate hearts were made during and after the Cold War from these molds. So when you give these away, you are also giving a piece of history. Super neat-o.

Alternatively you can also get your loved ones a Cube with 5 Hearts for $9. It includes a heart card for you to write a love note.

*Don't forget to submit a picture of you and your sweetie in a smooch to their "TCHO Your Love" gallery on their home page!

Available at www.tcho.com/store/valentine or at the TCHO Beta Store on Pier 17 in San Francisco .

Tagged as: chocolate, food, gifts, gourmet, Lifestyle, San Francisco, shopping, valentine

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This year, it's pretty wise to stay in for V-day, unless you want exorbitant menu prices and crazy couples next to ya (See the amusing sfgate.com article).

Instead of wining and dining extravagantly, why not cook at home and get some quality wine without breaking the budget? Napa's Charles Krug has a nice, bright 2007 Sauvignon Blanc for $18. If you join their wine club it's only $14.40.

Tropical and crisp (notes of guava, grapefruit, and melon), this gold medal winner is a friendly one to get for a party or an intimate dinner. This is straight from Napa Valley's oldest winery, which grows their grapes organically. Very drinkable by itself or with many dishes.

charleskrug.com

Tagged as: dinner, drink, entertaining, food & drink, gifts, holiday, napa, organic, valentine, wine, wine country, winery

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Allrighty, ladies and gents...this week's Independent Fashion Bloggers' Links à la Mode is served. Enjoy!

This week we have lots of lovely things: John Waters Inspiration from Mademoiselle Robot, Menswear inspiration from Solo Lisa; 39thandbroadway contemplates equality in the fashion industry; Or False Glitter talks about negative male perceptions on style; Fete a Fete dishes out new Givenchy Spring colors, and reLYME dishes new Smashbox beauty.

Tagged as: beauty, entertainment, fashion, fashion design, giveaway, Lifestyle, music, shopping, Style, Trends

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Armani's new Onde fragrance collection is nothing short of dazzling. Inspired by the exotic journeys to the East, each of the three perfumes (Vertige, Mystere, and Extase) are encased in beautiful vintage-inspired bottles and colored silk tassels. They're so pretty you want to collect them all.

Vertige has a very floral feel. It consists of the lush frangipani flower, with splashes of jasmine. Black liquorice and patchouli help round it out, sending us on a whirlwind tour of the Kama Sutra. The bottle is designed after the temples of India.

Representing Japan, Extase is all about the powdery mimosa, Egyptian jasmine, and narcissus. This is the sweetest fragrance out of the group, but it's very likable. Really flowery scents usually aren't my thing, but the pink pepper, Sicilian Bergamot, and cedar balanced it out.

Mystere is my favorite of the trio. Starting out spicy and rather bold, the incense and amber go surprisingly soft towards the end of the first sniff. Moroccan Rose and vanilla takes the edge off this sumptuous scent. This one takes us through a sensual trip to the Middle East. I really like this- it will definitely seduce the boys.

The ONDE Collection is available beginning in February exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue and online at www.giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com

Tagged as: beauty, fashion designer, fragrance, gifts, holiday, perfume, scents, shopping, valentine

Posted by Tami Yu at 5:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Lately I've been on a huge fascinator hat kick. Already a fan of vintage clothing, I longed for the days when I could dress up in glam outfits like my grandmother did when she was swinging out on the dance floor. When I saw fascinators being in vogue again, I've been on a mad mission to collect these beautiful pieces.

This Milly fascinator from HairFascinators.com is so cool! I can't carry this color off, but maybe one in red...or just classic black.

This Nicole fascinator from the Hems and Bustles shop on Etsy is great for brides, but I'm tempted to get it for myself! It will be so cute for tango dancing. You can use it with a headband or birdcage veil.

Nicole bridal fascinator from Hems and Bustles

JoomiNYC has some neat 4-inch ones dotted with Swarovski Crystals, silk flowers, feathers, and jeweled ribbons.

Tagged as: Accessories, bridal, fashion, fashion design, hats, Lifestyle, shopping, Style

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Kiehl's just introduced four new neutral shades of their Simply Mahvelous lip gloss collection:

· East Village Vibe - Rich, creamy milk chocolate tone
· Lights on Broadway - Earthy rose tone with light shimmer
· Mahvelous Mauve - Creamy medium soft plum tone
· New York Nude - Medium sand dune tone

The Lights on Broadway is so light it basically amplified my natural lip color with a nice sheen. I dug the rich moisture factor from the the mango seed, grape seed, and apricot kernel. They help make it smell so nice and tropical!

They also have a special Valentine's gift lip gloss trio.

Buy it at www.kiehls.com.

Tagged as: beauty, cosmetics, gifts, holiday, Lifestyle, lip color, lip gloss, makeup, shopping, valentine

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In an attempt to eat healthier, I tried the Lundberg Family Farms' gluten-free Penne Brown Rice Pasta for dinner the other night. It was a nice surprise to see that being healthy didn't mean taste had to be compromised. The penne had a nice al dente texture (not mushy at all - yay!) and held its shape after boiling it according to instructions. The recipe suggestions on their site are great for a quick meal at home when you're too tired to make a grand feast.

I also really liked the organic Tamari with Seaweed Rice Cakes as a snack. They're packed with twice the amount of brown rice (compared to other rice cake brands) so it's double the flavor. The farm runs a sustainable practice (doesn't grow GMO varietals), so it's friendly on your body and for the planet.

www.lundberg.com

Tagged as: eco-friendly, food, gluten-free, green, healthy, healthy snacks, non-GMO, organic, pasta, snack

Posted by Tami Yu at 6:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Someone Spoil Me, the social gifting site, has a pretty decent selection of valentine gifts in all price ranges. You can get your BFF a gag frog-to-prince for $10 or go all out with a Tory Burch canvas tote.

I'm hankering after the Cupid Apron & matching gloves and the red shopper bag from Carla Mancini. So adorable!

For exclusive deals (discounts, free wrapping, free shipping, etc), just enter the code SPOILME at checkout. You can also create a wish list to send to your BF as a hint. How convenient!

Tagged as: Accessories, gifts, Handbags, holiday, Lifestyle, shopping, valentine

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Love it or hate it, we all like to have some gourmet chocolate on Valentine's Day. Recchiuti Confections has lots of gift ideas in all budget ranges, such as the Extra-Bitter Chocolate Sundae Kit. It includes one jar of the popular Extra-bitter Chocolate Sauce, along with three awesome Fudge Brownies. It's pretty hard to resist this package. I was planning to make a sundae, but ended up noshing on the decadent brownies instead. Oops. Then I just spooned the chocolate sauce straight from the jar. I so need to jog.

Available only once a year, the classic Champagne Truffles are always a fave. With the timeless combo of Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs bubbly and intense dark chocolate, it's the most sophisticated way to say 'I love you.' These truffles have the best champagne flavor, not to mention the smoothest that I've had in a long time.

If you're looking to go all out, the Platinum Collection will do the trick. With 88 pieces of gourmet goodness, it's also 88 ways to show him or her how much you adore them. Some great flavors include: Honeycomb Malt, Cardamom Nougat, Cassis Strata, Burnt Caramel, Lavender Vanilla, Spring Jasmine Tea, Star Anise & Pink Peppercorn, Ginger Heart, Sesame Nougat, Rose Caramel, Bergamot Tea, and Piedmont Hazelnut.

Check out a cool video of them in action: www.recchiuti.com/about.html?id=THi6uAid

Tagged as: artisan, chocolate, chocolate truffles, entertaining, food, gifts, gourmet, holiday, Lifestyle, San Francisco, shopping, valentine

Posted by Tami Yu at 2:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In this week's IFB Links à la Mode, we have an lots of lovely things, such as funny fashion facts from Fashion in My Eyes, Luxury Fatigue from 39thandbroadway, Good Goody Gumdrops reveals Nars’ spring colors, and Retro Chick finds ethical silk...

Original URL: independentfashionbloggers.org/2009/01/29/links-a-la-mode-ifb-weekly-roundup-5/

Tagged as: beauty, entertainment, fashion, fashion designers, giveaway, Lifestyle, sale, shopping, Style, Trends, vintage

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