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Maison Ventury Paris Launches Millesime Collection | December 22, 2009

This Season, there is no better way to invest than in luxury gold “Carat Line”.
Epitomizing luxury, Maison Ventury Paris’ Divine series is bringing an amazing new special series right into your home.

One piece in particular will caught über-customer eyes this Christmas, and that is the sparkling lounge chair with 24 carat gold and crystals. Customers are even able to customize their own furniture pieces by selecting the materials and patterns they wish to be used. Thanks to Ventury its premium bespoke engraving service, each chair is numbered and personilized with the name of the owner or its own brand. The … Read More »


 

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Heidi Ducato
 
 
 
 

Holiday Party! What do I wear? | December 22, 2009

Yippee! The holidays are here! The holidays are here! I’m a FREAK about Christmas! Love it! Love it! Love it! But, with the holidays, also comes additional stress. Or should I say STRESSORS? Everything intensifies around the holidays, errands to run, baking to do, travel plans to make all creates additional stress. You would THINK that is the stress that I’m talking about. But, NO! I’m talking about WHAT AM I GOING TO WEAR TO ALL OF THE HOLIDAY PARTIES? I can’t possibly wear the same thing to any of them and I have such a variety of parties to … Read More »


 

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Christine Spencer
 
 
 
 

Tis the Season to be Stressed | December 22, 2009

The holidays can be fun, but they also can be a source of great stress — Holiday pressures can ruin what’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. But what if you decided not to let them get to you?

In fact:
Nearly half of all U.S. women experience heightened stress during the holidays at great risk to the health of their minds and bodies, according to a national survey by the American Psychological Association.

How’s your stress level? Feeling calm and relaxed, or hurried and anxious? Are you sleeping okay? Keeping healthy habits? How about your friends?

As girlfriends we … Read More »


 

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Holiday Treats From Sweden | December 22, 2009

Whenever I smell saffron coming from the oven, I know it’s Christmastime in Sweden. Christmas here is full of exotic spices like saffron, cinnamon, clove, allspice, and ginger. The days are short and nights are long so we spend time in the kitchen with friends baking traditional Swedish cookies. My two favorite, and most popular, are the Lussekatter (literally called Lucia Cats) and Pepparkakor (Ginger cookies). Both are easy to make and give as gifts. Traditionally we eat them with glögg, a type of mulled wine flavored with rum, cocoa, or even cloudberries. But even … Read More »


 

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Beth Anderson
 
 
 
 

Giveaway: Spexton Diamond Bangle | December 21, 2009

After first meeting in the summer of 2003, Greg Shelton & Nate McPherson opened a men’s designer clothing & accessory store inspired by boutiques Nate visited while living in Germany. The store, Underguy, happened to be in a mixed facility that housed a small machine shop which produced steel parts for the oil and gas industry.

Having spent the last 12 years as an over-the-road truck driver, Greg’s familiarity with machinery and knowledge of tools gave him an idea while looking at a steel ring Nate had purchased while living in Germany. Using that ring as a guide, Greg purchased a … Read More »


 

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Dawn Del Russo
 
 
 
 

How to Wear a Classic White Button Down Blouse | December 21, 2009

Dawn1Dawn Del Russo fashion & lifestyle stylist talks about the perfect white button down and 3 different styles to wear it. Having a few crisp white button downs in your closet is the best way to cure the I have nothing to wear in the morning problem. It always pair perfectly with a black pencil skirt, or your favorite work pants. Even on casual weekends you can pair a white blouse perfectly with a pair of dark wash denim or black leggings and over the knee boots for a truly chic look.

Dawn Del Russo is a TV personality, fashion … Read More »


 

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Phuong Le
 
 
 
 

Aphrodisiac Chai Eggnog | December 21, 2009

INGREDIENTS:

* 1 tbsp. ONO Aphrodisiac Chai tea
* 1 cup Water
* 1 tsp. Sugar (3/8 tsp of Truvia)
* 1/4 tsp. Ground Cinnamon
* 1/8 tsp. Freshly Ground Nutmeg
* ½ cup Eggnog

DIRECTIONS:

1. Make a concentrate of Chai by steeping 1 rounded tbsp. of ONO Aphrodisiac Chai in 1 cup of boiling water, then add in sugar and stir until dissolved.

2. Next, add ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg and stir. Lastly add in 1/2 cup steamed eggnog.

3. Sprinkle with nutmeg and garnish with a cinnamon stick.
Serves Serves 1 12 oz. cup or 2 6 oz. cups.

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Michelle Lehman
 
 
 
 

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year….But | December 21, 2009

Everyone is so stressed out, including me.  I have now started wrapping gifts like an assembly line.  I put names on all of my tags first (stickers so they adhere quickly) and as soon as I finish wrapping the present the label is ready and off it goes under the tree.

I have even gone one step further, I grab all presents that are like sizes measure the largest one on the wrapping paper and cut different wrapping paper designs in the same general size so I can wrap faster.  I feel like the Energizer Bunny who just keeps going and … Read More »


 

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Giveaway:The Purple Dress Limited Edition Perfume | December 21, 2009

After two years in the making, Ayala Moriel revealed her latest creation:

THE PURPLE DRESS

A salute to Sasha Argov’s famous song, The Purple Dress is just as romantic in a chromatic, nocturnal, off-beat way. Champaca flowers from India are the main theme of this spicy, floral tea-like composition, supported only by hints of white magnolia and star anise, and a foundation of black tea and smoky woods. It is sensual comforting and exotic like a combination of full-bodied, fruity mulled wine, spicy tea and smoldering incense.

Top Notes: Star Anise, Nutmeg, Mace, Orange Juice & Peel

Heart Notes: Red Champaca, Golden Champaca, White … Read More »


 

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Laura Carson Miller
 
 
 
 

My Top 3 Skin Care Picks for 2009 | December 20, 2009

The world of skin care is forever evolving. As a freelance writer with a beauty/health specialty, I’ve tried all the cleansers, creams and magic potions that come along each year, and I can honestly say that most of them don’t reveal any big changes in my skin. I give all them a fair chance; I know that many aren’t promising to work overnight.  I’m not a skin care snob either. I test brands of all price points and I’ll test a drugstore product with the same excitement with which I do one that may cost hundreds of dollars. My point … Read More »


 

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Lauri Rottmayer
 
 
 
 

An Edible Fruit Cake | December 19, 2009

Fruitcakes. They’re a joke, right? We’ve all heard how fruitcakes make great door stops and the rumor that there is only one fruitcake on earth that just keeps being regifted. Some people actually LIKE fruitcake, like my mother in law.

I have sampled fruitcake over the years and while it seems a festive idea, it’s just not a very palatable one. I remember when I was fairly young my cousin’s grandma sent a fruitcake to her family for Christmas. It was one of the times that I tasted fruit cake that I thought, wow, this is actually kind of good. What … Read More »


 

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Kristin Cuccio
 
 
 
 

A Visit With the Cake Boss | December 18, 2009

A Sunday visit to Hoboken included breakfast and a visit to the famous bakery known as Carlos Bakery, which most of you know from TLC’s Cake Boss!

The Italian family that bakes together…stays together!! Through the blood, sweat and tears they are still family and they are just as crazy in person as they are on the reality TV show. When arriving to the bakery there was Buddy outside taking pictures with customers who were waiting in line. He was really sweet and very friendly, talking to everyone even someone’s grandma who was asking him if he knew friends of hers … Read More »


 

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Phuong Le
 
 
 
 

Slimming Lemon Zucchini Bread | December 18, 2009

This is the most delicious and softest zucchini bread you will ever bake. With the addition of ONO Slim it Sencha, it is the perfect breakfast treat that is packed with antioxidants and slimming power.  A recent study has shown that daily catechin intake (588mg of catechin for 12 weeks) can reduce weight, especially body fat. Catechin is produced in the tea plant to protect it against UVB radiation, and Sencha is the most exposed to the sunlight. As a result, Sencha leaves have the most catechin and slimming power.  I love to enjoy this bread with a cup of … Read More »


 

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Dawn Del Russo
 
 
 
 

Fashion Stylist Tip ~ How to Tie Scarves | December 18, 2009

Check out Dawn De Russo’s fashionable tips on how to tie scarves!

Dawn Del Russo is a TV personality, fashion expert seen on National TV Better TV, Fox 5 NY, InStyle Magazine, Life and Style Magazine, US Weekly for her fashion and lifestyle tips and advice. She is the author of “101 Glam Girl Ways to an Ultra Chic Lifestyle”
*All opinions are Dawns, she has not received payment of any kind from brand.
Shop – www.belladawn.com

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Book Giveaway: Twists on Jane Austen Classics | December 17, 2009

Jane is my Co-Pilot: The Fine Art of Making Sense and Sensibility Totally Ridiculous
By Ben H. Winters,
Co-author of Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters

Since writing Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, I’ve gotten a ton of feedback about how nice it is that I’ve made Jane Austen appealing to certain readers — meaning readers who previously suffered a persistent allergy to The Classics. I am complimented for taking the prim and decorous Jane Austen and making her, A) really violent, and B) really funny.

The first compliment I will gladly accept. Over the decades since Sense and Sensibility first … Read More »