Feb 2010
CURATE COUTURE
Tucked behind CAFFE LUXXE (home of a terrific latte!)on San Vicente Blvd is a gem of a store called CURATE COUTURE. I stumbled into CURATE COUTURE when I could not get a parking space in front of Luxxe and had to park in the lot behind the stores. As I walked through the courtyard, I noticed a store window decorated with classy and unique items. I could not stop myself from strolling in. What I learned was that the store is a high-end consignment shop housing gently worn designer items, vintage jewelry from the likes of Christian Dior, and pieces used in photo shoots. The store is light, bright, airy, and clutter free. The manner in which the items are displayed is easy to sort through and pleasing to the eye. The owner of the store has a discriminating eye and classic taste. Designer labels such as Balenciaga, Derek Lam, Bottega Veneta, and Chloe can be found at Curate Couture. These items don’t last and rumor has it that there have been girl fights over specific items. My advice is to visit the shop weekly and put the item on hold that you are thinking about. The day you decide that you must have that dress could be the day another girl is paying for it at the counter. Trust me, I know. Just as I put back the silk, mauve Derek Lam dress back on the rack, the girl across the store sprinted towards me and snatched it up. I will not make that mistake again. New items arrive weakly. www.CURATECOUTURE.COM
11973 San Vicente Blvd. Suite 102/ LA, CA 90049
Tel- 310 4721086
tues thru sat 10-6 pm/ sun 10-2 pm
Feb 2010
ONE OF THE GROUPE??
The secret is out and I am going to share it with you. I have wasted many mornings sitting over my computer, waiting for the clock to turn 9:00 am, signaling the opening of the morning’s GILT GROUPE live shopping auction. Fingers poised over the keyboard, I would rush through the site, credit card in card, perusing the morning’s selection of designer goods on sale only to once again miss out on the best items. I would feel bewildered at how quickly all of the best items would already claim “sold out” when the live auction had just opened two minutes prior. Did I suck at shopping on line, was my computer slow, why was I not having success with Gilt Groupe. Ready to shop “attack” and uncover the ins and outs of Gilt Groupe, I would experiment by starting from the bottom up or top down. Yet, each time, most of the “in demand” items would no longer be available. This failure on my part to achieve at auction speed shopping frustrated me greatly. It almost drove me to shop for designer items at full price. Don’t worry honey, it ALMOST drove me to Barney’s. Instead, I took it upon myself to figure out how to successfully navigate Gilt Groupe and Haute Couture so that I may be one of the successful shoppers who figured out how to beat the system. Ultimately, I never figured out how to master Gilt Groupe because there is NO strategy. It is not a first come, first serve basis as we know it. Instead, I learned that the best Gilt Groupe shoppers are allowed to enter the site to shop the night prior. Simply put, it would not have mattered which direction I had started scrolling the items, I never would get first shot on those items unless I spent enought money on the site from them to notice me and give me preferred treatment. At least, I solved the mystery and no longer feel the “on your marks, get set, and go” pressure of shopping on live shopping sites. Rather, I sip my coffee and enjoy the victory of winning any item on the site and most all of the items (even the forgotten ones) are TERRIFIC.
Feb 2010
WHAT DO I GET MY HUSBAND FOR VALENTINE’S DAY?
Seriously! What do we get our men for Valentine’s day, Birthdays, Christmas, etc? I am stumped each year because my guy goes out and purchases what he wants whenever he wants. I am forced to put my thinking cap on and just when I think I have outdone myself, another gift giving opportunity is right around the corner. For our 9 year wedding anniversary, I threw out a crazy idea, one which was super affordable and required no Bling. I proposed that for our anniversary we could only spend 9 dollars on the gifts. I wrote 9 special memories on 9 crisp dollar bills and threw in a few homemade coupons for “at home” or “in the car” activities…. It was not long before his birthday and Christmas appeared and I was forced, yet again, to come up with another thoughtful and creative idea. One gift, in particular, turned out to be a real success. It is this idea that I have opted to share with you in order to make your Valentine’s shopping painless.
Most men are electronically seduced. Introducing a super cool gadget…
POWER MAT- the first ever wireless charging system for all electronic devices i.e cell phones, I Touch, Blackberry, Kindle, Nintendo DS, Bluetooth etc. Clean up those kitchen counters, get rid of multiple messy cords, charge multiple devices on a thin sleek looking mat with a single plug. Again, WIRELESS charging, full charge check, audio confirmation, and a cool industrial design…Don’t forget to buy the appropriate back panels to replace the default battery doors of the gadgets that require charging.
www.powermat.com or purchast at Best Buy.
Feb 2010
IT’S SCHOOL AUCTION TIME….
It’s school auction time and my husband loves to bid. His big complaint at holiday boutiques and school auctions is the lack of stuff for men. He always finds something to buy but after TVs, Ipods, sports memorabilia and tickets to events, he is stumped. We typically split up at auctions so we can bid on all items of interest. Most auctions showcase the same types of items. However, two years ago at our nursery school auction, a unique item was up for bid and my husband was the only and thus, highest bidder. Luckily, I discovered the piece of paper with his name scrawled on it before the auction closed. I was able to remove his name before they announced that my husband was the proud recipient of a VASECTOMY.
Feb 2010
A TIP FOR SAFETY
| Recently, a friend shared this safety tip with me and I wanted to relay it immediately to as many people as I could. > > > WASP SPRAY> > > A friend who is a receptionist in a church in a high risk area was concerned about someone coming into the office on Monday to rob them when they were counting the collection. She asked the local police department about using pepper spray and they recommended to her that she get a can of wasp spray instead. > > The wasp spray, they told her, can shoot up to twenty feet away and is a lot more accurate, while with the pepper spray, they have to get too close to you and could overpower you. The wasp spray temporarily blinds an attacker until they get to the hospital for an antidote. She keeps a can on her desk in the office and it doesn’t attract attention from people like a can of pepper spray would. She also keeps one nearby at home for home protection. > > Thought this was interesting and might be of use. > > On the heels of a break in and beating that left an elderly woman in Toledo dead, self defense experts have a tip that could save your life. > > Val Glinka teaches self-defense to students at Sylvania Southview High School . For decades, he’s suggested putting a can of wasp and hornet spray near your door or bed. > > Glinka says, “This is better than anything I can teach them.” > > Glinka considers it inexpensive, easy to find, and more effective thanmace or pepper spray. The cans typically shoot 20 to 30 feet; so if someone tries to break into your home, Glinka says “spray the culprit in the eyes”. It’s a tip he’s given to students for decades. > > It’s also one he wants everyone to hear. If you’re looking forprotection, Glinka says look to the spray. > > “That’s going to give you a chance to call the police; maybe get out.” > > Maybe even save a life. > > I urge you to please share this with all the people in your life > |
Feb 2010
BEYOND VODKA
Nobody loves a glass of syprupy Cabernet (think Mi Sueno) more than me. It is so relaxing and enjoyable to sip on a glass of wine at the end of a stressful day. And how about those health benefits? It seems like doctors practically prescribe a glass of wine a night. So what’s the downfall? THE EXTRA POUNDS ON THE SCALE IN THE MORNING! There have been many occasions where I have performed experiments proving the direct relationship between wine intake and weight gained. Last week, two different friends of mine suggested drinking vodka at night promising the same alcohol induced calm without the extra poundage. I remembered to order vodka straight up with a few olives last Friday night while out to dinner. My dinner companions from that night and my husband could not stop laughing as I suffered through my vodka. And I will admit, I did weigh less that Saturday morning. However, Saturday night, when the waiter came around to take the drink order, I buckled and went back to my red wine syrup. The sunday morning scale results supported the wine= weight gain theory. Whatever, I thought! Monday at pilates, the peanut gallery and I dissected the issue. And then the healthiest of the bunch spilled the secret of her “success.” Newly coined “BEYOND VODKA” the drink consists of vodka, a dose of pellegrino or soda water, freshly squeezed lemons, and a packet of Splenda. Delicious right? I will let you know on Friday.
