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Designer Dresses A-List Celebrities In Style | January 12, 2009

Marianthy Avraamides finished her bachelors degree in fashion design in England, but relocated to New York to pursue a career as a fashion designer. Over the past decade she has designed for famous international clothing brands in New York and London and traveled the globe for inspiration. “I am never satisfied with the familiar,” says Marianthy.  Her designs have been worn by famous celebrities including Drew Barrymore, Julia Roberts, Benjamin Bratt and Michael Weatherly.

After 10 years of designing for other labels, I was itching to create my own womenswear clothing collection. Therefore, after 14 years of living abroad, I decided … Read More »


 

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Children and Animals To Capture Your Heart | January 12, 2009

Melissa Raine (Carter) Morgan, talented artist and illustrator,  has always gone by her middle name Raine since she can remember. “It all started with my love of rain, playing in the rain and running in puddles as a child. Although I am older now I still find time to walk thru puddles and often play in the rain. I live in the country and also grow an organic garden every summer,” says Raine.

“I was born in Philadelphia PA to a middle class family. I actually started drawing on my bedroom walls when I was 5 it use to make … Read More »


 

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christieconnelly
 
 
 
 

Pomegranate Granita With Lychee And Gin | January 12, 2009

Pomegranate granita with lychee and gin

Are you looking for an impressive yet super easy dessert for your next dinner party?

Look no further, you’ve found it! This simple combination is fresh, sweet, cold and alcoholic. A definite after dinner party starter – for adults only!

Enjoy, Christie x

Pomegranate granita with lychee and gin
serves 6-8

500ml 100% pomegranate juice ( I used a 473ml bottle of POM Wonderful)
1 cup water
1/2 cup lychee syrup* (or sugar syrup)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
4 mint leaves
canned or fresh lychees to serve
gin to serve

1. Mix all the ingredients together, except the lychees and the gin, in a shallow freezer-safe dish … Read More »


 

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Paul David
 
 
 
 

Calvin Klein’s Neon Spring | January 10, 2009

Calvin Klein Collection Men’s Spring 2009. Photos Courtesy of Men.Style.com

My apologies for the temporary blindness the photos above may have caused. To be honest, I actually like the ‘glow worm’ look! Calvin Klein surely transformed and made me appreciate these colors which always reminded me of the 80′s. A time when excessive and exaggerated fashion ruled the catwalks and every magazine. I suggest not to wear head-to-toe neon colors. Unless you have this ongoing fear of getting hit by a car while crossing the street. And if you do get hit by a car while wearing your best imitation of … Read More »


 

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Jewelry For People And Their Pets | January 9, 2009

Barney’s Bling is a line of matching jewelry for people and their pets using genuine diamonds and precious metals.   The concept was born in 2007, when founder Bridget Livingston met her baby Barney, a Yorkie, while on vacation in Chicago.  She spoiled her new best friend with cashmere sweaters and organic treats, but noticed that his jewelry kept falling apart.  She saw an opportunity as she searched Los Angeles’ finest pet stores unable to find some real quality “bling” for Barney…so she took it upon herself to create her own.  Bridget also decided to add in some matching bling for … Read More »


 

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Phuong Le
 
 
 
 

ONO Aphrodisiac Chai MarTEAni | January 9, 2009

ONO Aphrodisiac Chai MarTEAni

Chai and apple – Can you think of a better fall/winter pairing? Get swept off your feet with this enchanting blend of Chai black tea, rose petals, lavender, and jasmine buds.

INGREDIENTS:

2 ounces of apple juice

1 ½ ounce of ONO Aphrodisiac Chai Vodka *

½ ounce of vanilla liqueur

Red apple slice for garnish

In a cocktail shaker full of ice, combine the apple juice, Aphrodisiac vodka and vanilla liqueur. Shake vigorously then strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a slice of Granny Smith apple.

*Infuse a bottle of vodka with 1/8 cup of ONO Aphrodisiac Chai for 4-6 … Read More »


 

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Christine Spencer
 
 
 
 

Five-Point Detox Program for the Mind | January 8, 2009

We’ve all heard about detox programs for the body, which aim to clear away all the toxins which block our system. Well, considering the amount of mental ‘toxins’ we indulge in everyday in the form of negative and destructive thoughts, I thought why not have a mental detox program too?

By this, I mean a series of practices you could do for a couple of weeks, or a month, at the end of which your thoughts would be purged of negativity and a new clarity and peace of mind could emerge in your life.

These five steps outlined below – meditation, simplification, … Read More »


 

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Magazine Founder Joins Chic Galleria.com | January 8, 2009

Chic Galleria.com is so pleased to introduce to you one of our new Contributing Editors, Sarah-Jane Adams. Sarah-Jane is currently a fashion editor and the creative founder of teen orientated Cause a Scene magazine, a site fusing high fashion with youth culture which has attracted a global readership of thousands and seen collaborations with industry leading talents. She also offers web design services for young creative professionals and acts as editor in chief and columnist for a variety of publications.  “I started with a degree in fashion pr, specialising in journalism, and became more and more interested in the … Read More »


 

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Mallow Bars | January 8, 2009

Chocolate Peanut Butter Mallow Bars

1 pkg. devil’s food cake mix
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
2/3 cup milk, divided
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1 jar (7 oz.) Marshmallow Creme
1/2 cup salted peanuts
6 squares semi-sweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

Preparation:

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.  Mix dry cake mix, butter and 1/3 cup milk until blended; press 2/3 onto bottom of 13×9-inch pan.  Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until center is almost set; cool 3 minutes.  Meanwhile, mix peanut butter and remaining milk.

Spread peanut butter mixture onto crust; top with small spoonfuls of the marshmallow creme and remaining cake mixture.  Sprinkle with nuts and … Read More »


 

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Denise Tong
 
 
 
 

NYC Restaurant Week Reservations Now Open | January 7, 2009

Reservations can now be made for Restaurant Week, New York City’s biannual two-week event, which will take place on January 18-23 and January 25-30.  Over 250 restaurants are offering three-course prix fixe meals, spanning all kind of cuisines and neighborhoods. If diners pay with any American Express card, American Express and NYC & Company will donate .25 per transaction (adding up to $10,000) to City Harvest.

Visit NYCGo.com for the full list of venues and their contact info. 

Photo Credit © Vadim Ponomarenko | Dreamstime.com

Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook Share with Stumblers Tumblr it Tweet … Read More »


 

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Colorful Dating Experiences Captured in Book | January 7, 2009

Christa Banister is a full-time freelancer writer, specializing in music, movies and books-related reviews and interviews and is the author of two novels, Around the World in 80 Dates and Blessed Are the Meddlers.

Christa, can you share a little bit about yourself and how you got started?

Well, ever since I was five years old, I’ve loved to write and dream up stories. In fact, my Mom always says I was an easy kid to please because all I needed were paper, pens, crayons and plenty of books to be happy. And when you grow up in a small town … Read More »


 

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Jamie Wheeler
 
 
 
 

Salem Witch Trial Barbie | January 7, 2009

When my daughter announced a few days before her ninth birthday that she wanted a “Barbie” cake, I had one of those semi-frequent moments of Kinky Friedman-style self-delusion (Kinky, a Texas singer songwriter/author ran for governor a couple of years ago.  His campaign slogan was, “How Hard Could It Be?”).   You’ve seen those cakes, right?

Sure!  I could do this! How Hard Could It Be?  I got one of those, whatchamacallit, bundt pans?  I could slap some M&M’s on there, pipe some icing…

Had to go get a Barbie, first, though, or a reasonable facsimile.  Off to Target.  Cooked cake.  While cake … Read More »


 

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Gabrielle & Paul Krake
 
 
 
 

Early Garden Planning | January 7, 2009

As spring approaches and the seed catalogs start falling through the mail slot, I grow anxious for winter to end. Although southwest Idaho has become zone 6b, we still cannot plant until the 2nd week in May. Therefore I have 3 long months ahead for planning, dreaming and more planning.

After owning and operating a landscape maintenance service for nearly 7 years we decided to make a career change that enabled us to plan our own yard and gardens. We moved into our dream home seven years ago and much of the landscape and house had been minimally maintained for nearly … Read More »


 

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Phuong Le
 
 
 
 

Steam With Tea | January 7, 2009

Steaming is a healthy and delicious way to infuse tea into your daily life. The bold, black tea leaves in ONO The Great Outdoors have been smoked over pine embers and oak wood fire. It’s full bodied and distinct smoky aroma makes the perfect complement with beef tenderloin.  ***Vegetarians use sliced portabella mushrooms as a substitute.

INGREDIENTS:
• 1/2 pound lean beef tenderloin, sliced into paper-thin slices
• A bunch leeks, cut into 2-inch pieces
• A stalk of lemon grass cut into 2-inch sections
• 2 cups ONO The Great Outdoors
• 5 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon grated ginger
• 1 tablespoon chili sauce
• … Read More »


 

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Carrie Castleman
 
 
 
 

Let’s Lose The Weight Together | January 6, 2009

Weight loss——ugh—–do those two words make you cringe like me?  Ok—New Year—-New You—New Years resolutions—yep I now find myself taking on one of the oldest resolutions of all time—–LOSING WEIGHT!  Doesn’t that sound so ick? Well to me, it does.  It brings up visions of suffering, torture, and just plain unhappiness to me.  Ok, I must admit, I am sick of myself physically. I am now heavier than I have ever been NON-pregnant—-eeeeewwwwwww—oh well that is life right?  I still believe that I am a valuable person, which is important, but this weight…ugh!!

So how do we tackle these resolutions? … Read More »