January 2008 Archives
Looking to make a definitive style statement with new wine drinkers, Patrick de Montpeyroux of Montpeyroux Estates in southern France, had a vision to make wine cool again with the young social elite. Knowing he neeeded to catch the attention and appeal to all the senses of the club-going, non-wine-drinking-yet consumer, Montpeyroux & Co knew joining forces with Christian Audigier, mastermind and head designer of the Ed Hardy and Christian Audigier brands, could get them the "rock star" status Montpeyroux & Co. were looking for.
The next time you are at your favorite night spot, look to see if Le Vin Cool is on the wine menu. The bottles alone are adorned with wild, daring, colorful tattoo imagery that has made Christian Audigier a household name.
Check out The Cool Wine on MySpace to get a better sense of these limited-edition, special reserve wines...with a rockin' attitude.
Extraordinique!
If you have a cat, you'll know three things. One, they can nap for days. Two, they love a good stretch after that nap; and three, the stretch is usually followed by a good "pet-icure" where the cat goes to your couch, bed corner, or cat scratcher to sharpen the claws. I think it makes them feel alive.
In our home, we keep a constant supply of cardboard scratchers, but they aren't exactly something you like to leave out as a visual when guests come over.
Until now...
I just ran across Marmalade Pet Care products and they have taken the "cardboard scratcher" to a whole new level. Marmalade calls it, "True modern furniture... for pets." With products like their Cheeky Chaise and the Sweet Lounge, these are pieces for your home, designed with ecologically-friendly materials and durably constructed as irresistible forms for cats to lounge and sink their claws into -- all the while, saving your furniture, carpet or other favorite "scratching posts" from the the daily "cat scratch" routine.
Creative Director, Arne Quinze of Studio Arne Quinze Architects reveals there are no boundaries to their work, going well beyond creating extraordinary furniture design, including major structural and creative installations down to the design of a perfume bottle. Arne Quinze influences architecture, environments and now fashion. Debuting the Spring-Summer 2008 Fluqs Collection, Quinze contributed to this innovative shoe line with Onitsuka Tiger.
Studio Arne Quinze Architects has a bold mission to "conquer the universe with a unique language. Unanticipated. Whimsical. Provocative. Cheeky." They say, "Call us designers ensconced in a reality all our own. Mood Makers. Concept craftors. Creators of strategies born of intution."
Quize & Milan has an amazing collection of indoor and outdoor furniture that bring life to any environment. PRIMARY by Arne Quinze is considered one of their classic lines designed to bring prestige to public spaces, including cityscapes in San Francisco, Detriot, Cannes and Porto. From public park to your outdoor space, PRIMARY brings simple design with bold color and function to any environment.
Arne Quinze approach to creativity, design, and modern innovation is extraordinique.
If you are looking for beautifully-scented, clean burning candles like Wild Fig & Cassis or rich, emollient bath bars, like Lime Basil & Mandarin, Jo Malone makes these perfect bath & body and home goods.
They are naturally aromatic giving off fragrances that complement, not compete. They are clean, subtle, fresh, and uplifting. You can even shop by fragrance, which includes Spicy, Citrus, Fruity, and Woody.
Learn more about the World of Jo Malone.
So, if you made a resolution to lose weight, like everyone else under the sun on January 1, 2008 you may be checking in on your progress as we approach the end of the month. I, for one, am just warming up to the idea of getting-ready-to-start-planning-for-my-weight-loss-regime.
I know it's a "change in lifestyle" thing. I know "carbs are the enemy" and "it's all about daily exercise" blah, blah, blah.
But, this little electronic eating coach sounded like something new. Something, that I have not tried before. The Powerseed is a way to restore mindful eating around the clock with a device that keeps you on track.
What's really unique about Powerseed is their Weight Loss Philosophy. They really provide a comforting approach to what they are all about. This is not about "before and after - you too can have this amazing body" approach. Their product is designed to help every individual reach their goal and attain and maintain their own personal healthy body image.
I am refreshingly surprised and thrilled to see products looking at the whole picture and restoring "calm" back to what is supposed to be about health and wellness.
The Powerseed seems unique in this way. If anyone has used this or has any experience with a Powerseed, I'd be interested in hearing more. It's something I am strongly considering while I am getting-ready-to-start-planning-for-my-weight-loss-regime.
Recently, every lipstick I have purchased has made my lips more dry and more cracked than ever before. I actually even asked my doctor on a recent visit and she said that more and more products are made with more preservatives and chemicals that dry out our skin. She said in passing, oh yeah, and some lipsticks have even been known to be high in lead.
Well, that did it for me. I vowed off lipstick and was looking for ways to restore my lips to looking healthy and also to help me feel like I have a finished and natural look.
I read about Borba's neutraceutical products and just bought their Lip Kix this weekend. I have to admit, I love it. Made with shea butter and cashmere fiber, Neutraceutical Lip Kix is all natural and intended to restore and replenish you lips.
I bought one, but now I want to go back and buy one for my desk, my nightstand, my car. I don't want to be withouth this smooth and natural lip shine. I love it!
Visiting LeLabo on a trip to NYC last year, I was inspired and educated about the unique composition of LeLabo creations. If you've ever taken a stroll down the aisles and aisles of perfumes at Bloomingdale's, you begin to question the difference from one fragrance to the next. Walking into Le Labo, you'll find a select group of distinct fragrances to test, but each one is brilliantly unique and full-bodied. Turning towards the "bar," you'll find LeLabo staff ready to help you choose the fragrance right for you and concoct the made-to-order fragrance "fresh" while you wait. Lab coats and all, making fragrance is part science, part lifestyle.
LeLabo covets their product exclusively and maintains the integrity of how they create it and how it is purchased. The fragrances are divided by men, women, unisex and baby. Each of the 10 LeLabo perfumes (fragrances) is built around a primary natural essence that comes directly from Grasse, France, the "perfume capital." The perfumes are named after their principal essence and the number of ingredients combined to make them. An example: FLEUR d'ORANGER 27 indicates that the perfume is made up of a total of 27 ingedients, with the natural orange blossom from Grasse as its principal essence.
As LeLabo says, it's very difficult to describe a fragrance. Just as "explaining kills art" explaining the composition of a fragrance is well, fruitless. LeLabo offers a great introduction to their fragrances with their Discovery Set, which allows you to chose three fragrances from their collection. You will receive them in three beautiful 5 ml glass rods (with atomizers and your name printed on the label). A beautiful way to either get addicted to one of them or to use them as fancy mini purse sprays.
Our experience at LeLabo was remarkable. LeLabo creations are extraordinique.
Several years ago, when I was shopping at Whole Foods, I was approached by a Sambazon representative who asked if I was familiar with Acai (ah-sigh-ee). He went on to tell me about this "wonder berry" from the Amazon rainforest and explained how it was going to be considered the next "super food." Taking a sip of this rich deep purple smoothie-like drink, I was amazed how this concentrated frozen berry mash tasted like every berry rolled up in to one with a hint of cocoa. It was really delicious. The Sambazon rep, smiled and didn't seemed surprised at all by my reaction. His expression back to me after one try was, "Right? Good, huh?"
It really was. I keep the organic smoothie packs in the freezer to create an awesome smoothie, especially when you need an extra pick-me-up.
Sambazon's Acai is certified organic. The acai berry is packed with antioxidants and Omega fats -- all the good nutrients we hear so much about, even on Oprah.
The Acai team has a great backstory just featured on Donny Deutsch's The Big Idea on CNBC as well. The show surprised me that Sambazon is just getting attention now. The funny part is, it only took one sip for me 2 years ago to get hooked and become a raving fan.
Sambazon's mission goes beyond bringing this super food to the U.S. They also take great care in bringing economic success through the Sustainable Development Model. Read more about Sambazon's Sustainable Acai Project on their website as well.
Here's a video of the Sambazon Acai Story.
Introducing the Apple MacBook Air. Steve Jobs unveiled what is labeled "the world's thinnest notebook" at MacWorld 2008.
Take the Guided Tour to get a glimpse of all the features of this extraordinique notebook.
A world-renowned authority on color, PANTONE has been inspiring design professionals with products, services and leading technology for over 40 year.
PANTONE now offers a way for you to save your creativity in colorful style.
Use this PANTONE Flash Drive to impress your clients or a prospective employer. Go paperless and put your portfolio on a custom flash drive that can be personalized with your your name, logo, even web address to make a statement and investment in your brand.
Offering these PANTONE Flash Drives in 14 PANTONE colors, you can expresss yourself and store your creations in style.
If you are making a fashion statement with your notebook, you might also consider a stylish USB flash drive to coordinate as well.
It used to be that configuring your personal computer for what was on the "inside" was the most important in your purchasing decision, but now personal expression -- what your laptop looks like on the outside is just as important. Relegated to the typical "black and grey" or "grey and black" outer shell for most PCs (not Mac's of course), this year may be the year where diversity, creativity and personal expression really shine in the marketplace.
Ego, Winner of the Microsoft Fashion PC Award, at last week's 2008 CES Show, has pushed the envelope making the notebook laptop as sophisticated and elegant as a luxury handbag. Now, with four different collections to choose from, including two additional limited edition collections by designers, Monique Collignon and Jan des Bouivre, Ego offers a large selection of choices in finishing, art-work, fabrics and the finest quality leathers. You can even have more than one skin for your notebook for any and all occasions.
Including a handle to clutch on the go, the Ego Lifestyle notebooks definitely make a fashion statement from the boardroom to a weekend getaway.
Recently, I have been stumbling across advertisements for the StressEraser and each time, it gets my attention. I am somewhat skeptical given where I have seen the ads, but researching this little device a little more, I am certainly intrigued.
I was impressed to see how much coverage this StressEraser received -- including Wired Magazine - Gadget Lab and Women's Health. I also found an excellent product review on Sounds True by Andrew Young. I felt it was very good step-by-step review and showed how other relaxation practices go hand in hand with this "monitoring" or bio-feedback device. Young writes: "The StressEraser by Helicor is a portable iPod-sized biofeedback device that trains you to optimize your Heart Rate Variability (HRV),a measure of your body's relaxation level and emotional well-being. My personal experiences with the StressEraser convinced me that it's very effective in boosting my HRV and calming my emotions and thoughts. It also helped me figure out what meditations and breathing exercises most effectively reduced stress. And,to my surprise,it helped magnify the effects of traditional meditation and breathwork."
Knowing that I have to remind myself to breath sometimes when the pressure is on, I'm thinking this may help restore some relaxation after a hectic day. Instead of Calgon, StressEraser - Take my stress away!
I thought it was interesting to see the Postal Service Previews for 2008 Stamps and the legendary Charles and Ray Eames will be honored with a pane of 16 stamps designed by Derry Noyes of Washington DC. In recognition of their groundbreaking contributions to architecture, furniture design, manufacturing and photographic arts, designers Charles and Ray Eames will be have their extraordinary body of creative work captured and honored as a US postage stamp.
While the stamps will not be available until next summer, it's nice to know that their innovative work is being recognized. It's thrilling that an honor goes to those who tried and tested new materials and technology to create high-quality products that address everyday problems and keep modern design moving forward.
This week there will be a bunchh of buzz on all of the latest gadgets debuting at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2008) in Las Vegas. As a quick follow up to SkullCandy's Ti headphones, it looks like, according to Ubergizmo that SkullCandy is also coming out with new headphones for the iPhone and Blackberry Curve.
As reported on Ubergizmo (ahead of SkullCandy's website itself) these earbuds are available online for $89.95, the product comes equipped with aluminum housing and noise isolating ear buds as well as a high-end micro switch connect / disconnect feature (according to the specification sheet).
Special thanks to Ubergizmo for the visual and post. These look hot. I like the design. I hope they come up with an epic name for them, like their counterparts, Smokin' Buds.
I wondered if there were some more feminine DJ-style headphones, like the Grado GS1000s and I was pleased to find SkullCandy who rocks your dome with all kinds of cool gear. The TI DJ-style headset has 41mm titanium drivers, giving you super fast high-end response.
The Fur Ti is extra cool and comes with additional Fur Ti earpads to make you look and feel even hotter!
If you are like me, you spend a lot of time listening to music via headphones. Unfortunately, you typically surrender some degree of sound quality for the convenience and portability of headphones. Yeah, you can get a pair of Bose headphones. But, quite frankly, nothing beats Grado headphones for sound quality.Grado Labs, Inc. is world-renowned for their remarkable headphone designs and has for almost half a century been the leaders in design engineering for the high-end audio and recording industries.
According to Grado, their headphones can reproduce as natural a soundstage from stereo recordings and provide as much listening pleasure as a good pair of speakers do. Grado also claims their headphones are free of room effects and placement problems, minimize any interference from external noise, offer portability and the ability to listen without worrying about the neighbors. Furthermore, Grado headphones are the antithesis of mass production, as each Grado headphone is hand-assembled.
As for aesthetics, well I personally can get down with the old-school look. Even the wood housing on the GS1000. However, if you want a more modern or trendy look to go with your iPod, there is the iGrado.
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