Amazing Company Needs Backing!!
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I’ve had the honor of discovering a very special apparel company called Meant4More apparel. The company was founded when co-founder, Primo Martinez, lost his dear friend to suicide. Grief stricken, he wondered what he could have done to make his friend understand that his life was meant for more.
In 2009, a group of friends of all faiths, and no faith, joined Primo in forming Meant4More Apparel, confident that such a message could reach beyond religion and secularism to empower those who have lost their way. Meant4More is a message that all of us are meant for something greater. Whether if it be in academics, athletics, spirituality, or our personal lives, it is a message that rings true in all facets of our lives. Everyone, no matter the obstacle, can aspire for greatness and reach for their goals.
The company has since embodied a passion for suicide prevention as well as creating awareness and putting an end to sex trafficking. Meant4More focuses on simple designs with empowering messages to help encourage people when they are in the midst of life’s struggles. 20% off all profits are donated to G.E.M.S, F.A.C.E.S.S., and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. They just launched a Kickstarter campaign where people can pledge any amount and receive FABULOUS rewards. Check it out here Kickstarter Please take a moment and look at their campaign and video and be prepared to be moved. These guys are doing great things in this world!
Much Love!!
Vegas Part 2: Restaurants
By · CommentsVegas is home to some of the most innovative and unique dining experiences all within a few mile radius. The fact is, you could go to Vegas solely for the food and not be disappointed. I always like to try a new restaurant when in town, but there are a few of my favorites that satisfy depending on which mood I’m in.
Best burger place-Burger Bar, Mandalay Bay. Build your own burger with most any topping or sauce you can thing of (even lobster!) Of course, your burger wouldn’t be right without one of the incredible beer choices from a menu of over 100 beers from around the world. Must try-a sampling of beer floats that come on a wooden platter with 6 different beers, each with a scoop of ice cream.
Best tasting Mexican food- Tacos and Tequila, Luxor. Authentic Mexican food with a great ambiance. Sunday brunch is fantastic with live mariachi and 2 for 1 margaritas from 11am-3pm. A must try on the menu is the Carnitas tacos comprised of slow roasted pork, salsa verde, pickled onions and orange pieces—a definite palate pleaser. Their homemade Mole is to die for; I ask for it on the side and pour it over everything!
Best innovative cuisine-Sensi, Bellagio. For those of you who want a hip restaurant without the stuffy attitude, this is the place to go. For the indecisive diner, this place is perfect. The menu features 4 types of cuisines: Asian, Italian, American Grill and Seafood all prepared in unique ways. The service here is excellent. My husband took me for our anniversary and I was extremely impressed by not only the food and décor, but also the service. Good service moment #1- true to my “bull in a china shop” form, I knocked over my champagne glass and not only spilled but broke it all over the counter at the bar. The bartender quickly cleaned it up and poured me a new glass, no questions asked. Good service moment #2- My husband had brought a bottle of vintage Veuve Rose champagne to enjoy with dinner, but to our horror, the bottle had gone bad and we were left with a sad, lifeless wine. The sommelier feeling bad brought us 2 complimentary special vintages on the menu that were priced at $26 a glass. They also gave us a free desert which was a very special touch!
Best Steak-Mon Amie Gabi, Paris. Think whimsical streets of Paris meet high energy of Las Vegas in this French style restaurant. Incredibly romantic, this menu features some of the best steak you can find in Las Vegas. Menu available here http://www.monamigabi.com/vegas/menus/dinner.html. I also love the seared scallops and both the French onion and sweet potato soup. The menu is pricy, so this is a place to go for your nicest dinner of the trip. Very upscale here but not pretentious.
Best Asian Fusion-Tao, Venetian. One of my very favorite restaurants in Vegas with a very eclectic menu and the best décor. This is a fun place to take your honey or friends and order a bunch of little things to try. My favorites are: Tuna Tartare on Crispy Rice, Japanese Seaweed Sampler, Pad Thai noodles, Crunchy spicy yellowtail roll with crispy onions, yellowtail sashimi with jalapeno and ponzu sauce. And don’t leave Tao without ordering the giant fortune cookie filled with homemade vanilla and chocolate mousses for dessert.
Other great restaurants to check out: Grand Lux Café at Palazzo (same owner as the Cheesecake Factory), Sushi Samba also at Palazzo (try their red miso soup), Emeril’s New Orleans Fish House at MGM Grand (modern Cajun style cooking), and Diego Mexican food also at MGM grand (try their pineapple strawberry infused Tequila).
Vegas…need I say more?
By · CommentsLet’s talk about Vegas. There’s never a time I don’t want to talk about Vegas. I decided to do a three part Vegas tour if you will on hotels, restaurants and gambling. The hotel I love so very much in Vegas is Mandalay Bay. Best pool, my favorite bar (Red Square), great variety of restaurants, and plush rooms. Plus, the casino is filled with a lovely Jasmine scent, so you don’t have to worry about choking on cigarette smoke. After Mandalay, my top choice comes: Aria, The Mirage, MGM, Paris then Palazzo. All these hotels are on the strip and 4 to 5 star ratings so you pay a premium for your room. That is of course, unless you gamble you can get discounted rooms. I used to stay completely free at my favorite hotels until I got smart (or maybe dumb) and stopped gambling like an addict at the casinos. Now, my rates are discounted but can still be high. So, I’ve explored other options that can save hundreds of dollars for the weekend where I’m still close enough to the action on the strip.
Recently, my family and I stayed at the Marriott Grand Chateau http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/lasvg-marriotts-grand-chateau-1-and-2/ down Harmon Ave about 1/4 mile from the strip. From here, we had easy access to the new City Center and it was a straight shot to the gorgeous new Cosmopolitan Hotel (you simply MUST see this place the next time you are in town, it is breathtaking). For a 3 bedroom Villa at 2,100 square feet, on President’s Day weekend, the rate was $300 one night and $265 another which is unreal. The place was huge and the amenities were impressive. The bathroom was about the size of half my apartment (well, not really but it was amazing). And out the window as I was getting ready was a beautiful view of Louie Vuitton…what more could a girl ask for? (Besides a sugar daddy to take her there).
Other notable upscale and boutique hotels within 2 miles of the strip are: Rumor http://rumorvegas.com/, Rumor’s sister hotel The Artisan http://www.artisanhotel.com/index.html, The Signature MGM Grand http://www.signaturemgmgrand.com/ (best bed you will EVER sleep in),and The Platinum Hotel with very spacious suites http://www.theplatinumhotel.com/.
Want advice on other Vegas hotels? Contact your Vegas Guru at trendyadvice@yahoo.com
Faux Furs and Fedoras
By · CommentsAfter some careful consideration, I’ve decided that there are two items every girl should own: a fun hat that is outside of her fashion comfort zone, and a faux fur vest (think Rachel Zoe). My comfort zone for hats consists of baseball style caps usually covering up a greasy hair day. However, a recent trip to Vegas opened up my eyes to an adorable fedora from urban outfitters. In general, Urban Outfitters had a ton of ridiculously cute hats all falling in a reasonable $25-$40 range http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/category.jsp?popId=WOMENS&navAction=poppushpush&isSortBy=true&navCount=9&pushId=WOMENS_ACCESSORIES&id=W_ACC_HATS. I paired this fedora hat with a hip cropped black jacket, dark wide-legged jeans and a silver multi-layered chain for a very urban-chic look. This look, very different from my normal look, was like taking on another persona; like playing dress up…..it was fun. Fashion is supposed to be fun, no one should be limited to same predictable style day in and day out. A faux fur vest is another item of clothing not owned by most; that’s what makes it so appealing. A quality faux fur vest can become a timeless closet staple for the winter season as opposed 
to being an obscure seasonal fad. QVC.com actually carries a line of Rachel Zoe clothing which includes a bevy of adorable faux fur vests (all with affordable price tags).
Next stop…Sweden!
By · CommentsToday I almost booked a flight to Sweden. Okay, almost is a strong word, but I did fall in love with a hotel that will now be going on my bucket list. Kosta Boda Art Hotel is so absolutely luxurious and stunning. If you remember my article on coffee table pieces, I wrote about my favorite Kosta Boda glass bowl that is one of my favorite decorations. Imagine a hotel filled with beautiful, colorful hand-crafted Swedish glass such as my table piece of all different shapes. The hotel itself is a work of art. The rates for this hotel are around $250 a night, but if you want a truly special package, you can visit www.ruelala.com. Any trip booked between February 12, 2011 and February 12, 2012 will include the following:
- Two nights in a Superior Room at Kosta Boda Art Hotel. Package is valid for two guests only. Dates are available February 15, 2011 through February 15, 2012.
- One 50-minute spa treatment per person to help you unwind on your getaway.
- A five-course dinner for two with wine pairings on each night of your stay at Linnéa Art Restaurant at Kosta Boda Art Hotel, featuring classic but innovative Swedish dishes from seasonal produce at its best. Wine will only be served to guests 21 years of age and older.
- Daily breakfast buffet for two.
- A guided, VIP tour of the Kosta Boda Art Factory to give you a behind-the-scenes glance at how masterpieces are made.
- Complimentary access to the spa, pools, and saunas at Kosta Boda Art Hotel.
- Special access to the glass-blowing facility, where you’ll create your own glass masterpieces to bring home.
All for the reasonable price of $1,050. So, with the price of airfare, food, drinks and of course additional nights, as two isn’t really enough when you go all the way to Sweden, you are looking at a pretty pricy vacation. I would think pretty worth the price though 
What the heck is this ombre hair?
By · CommentsOkay, I’m not one to jump on a trend bandwagon but this past week I did! You may be familiar with the ombre hair trend (the general fading of dark t
o light from root to end). A lot of celebs are doing it, but I kept seeing versions that looked like trailer trash. Am I supposed to pay to have my hair dyed to look like I have 4 inch dark grown-out roots? So after more research, I found a more gradual fading from root to end a la SJP’s do seen here. Basically I took this picture to my hair lady and said “I want this.” I am happy to report my hair looks fab like SJP’s and I couldn’t be happier. I Love the color and what makes this style work especially well is if you like to wear your hair wavy or curly on a daily basis. It looks good straight, but looks GREAT wavy. And the best part….you can go way longer in between dye jobs which we all know can be a BIG savings! I wash my hair at night and put in Pureology Anti Fade Complex http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002RT7262/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000YOPLEW&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1C985TVYWVKW53F2NKEW to protect my hair from fading in the sun, and Sebastian Whipped Cream http://www.stockngo.com/sebastian-whipped-cream-5-3-oz.html?gclid=CL_U557m7aYCFQEGbAod2k8TBg to give that beachy wave look. I recommend jumping on the bandwagon with this color!
I’m Nuts for Coconut Water!
By · CommentsYou’ve probably gotten wind of the “coconut water” hype at some point in the last few months. I really didn’t buy into it much until I had to do some research on the various brands of coconut water for the company I work for. I tried Zico, Taste Nirvana, O.N.E., and Naked (all the top producers of coconut water on the market). While the initial taste was rather unpleasant and salty, there was something oddly addictive about it. I find myself craving it and running to Mother’s Market to pick them up a couple times a week. At $1.69 a pop, they aren’t cheap but I justify that I would spend more on a Red Bull that has no health benefits whatsoever. My favorite is Taste Nirvana http://www.tastenirvana.com/real with just the right amount of sweet aftertaste. Upon researching, I found that coconut water has numerous health benefits such as: hydration of skin and body, promotion of circulation and organ function, replenishing when sick, and even a curing a hangover! I do recommend giving Coconut Water a try if you haven’t already. The stores that carry the most varied brands and flavors are natural foods stores such as Whole Foods, Mother’s or Bristol Farms. Enjoy!
If you ever decide you want to take a trip to somewhere fun, Rosarito is an exotic place to go for a reasonable price. Now would not be the time to go however, as drug lords are stuffing tourist bodies with heroin and sending them back across the border. It’s a lot to digest yes, but it is something you must know before traveling….hopefully it gets safer over time. My favorite hotel down there is called Las Rocas http://www.lasrocas.com/. A standard room on the weekend runs about $69 a night, but I highly recommend the Junior Suite for about $20 more. At Las Rocas, there is an adorable bar in the lobby called Bar Ole where there is actually some good live music. For an authentic drink you may only want to order on vacation, try a Miami Vice (pina colada and strawberry margarita mixed). Take a cab down south about 7 minutes and go to the little town by the water called Puerto Nuevo. Puerto Nuevo 2 is the best restaurant for lobster there. A lobster costs about $15 and includes a beer, soupy beans, rice, and tortillas. If you travel about 10 minutes north of Las Rocas is downtown Rosarito where all the nightlife is. Lots of choices for bars and most of them give you a wristband which allows for drinks all night if you pay the $20 or so. Papas and Beer is probably my favorite club in downtown. At these prices, a weekend in Rosarito can be done for about $300-$350. If you live in southern California, it’s a great way to go a relatively short distance to feel like you are in a far off exotic place.
Big Bushy Brows
By · CommentsHow important are eyebrows? Well, they only frame your face and are often times the first thing people notice. As much as I’m into beauty, I unfortunately overlooked my eyebrows for many years. They are so irritating to keep up with; to me they were just an annoyance. My sister and best friend always hounded me in fact my sister has often said, “Ugh, I HATE your eyebrows!” Well then, not one to upset people, I decided to finally shape them by getting them threaded. I went to a place where they charged $7 to do both eyebrows. You know the saying “you get what you pay for?” I got a whole lot of pain and a little burn from the thread above my eye. I didn’t mention that this was three days before my wedding, so by then the burn turned into a nice scab for my big day….fun! I’ve had waxing done, tattoos, shots, and I’m telling you the threading ranks up at the top of the pain meter! I DO NOT recommend it! From now on, I get waxed to get the nice arch shape, then I maintain by plucking. I bring this up addressed to the attention of men as well. I don’t know why men think they can get away with bushy, wild caterpillar eyebrows. Even if you have to use the trimmers on them and take a razor to the center, that’s better than nothing. Once you remove the hair, there is still some maintenance to be done (for women). One, invest in a little brush to smooth out eyebrows and remove any extra face make-up or eye shadow that clumps up on the eyebrows. Two, buy an eyebrow pencil to shape the brows when needed. Sometimes you find little bald spots in your eyebrows and this pencil does wonders for fixing them. The best eyebrow products that you can buy are by Anastasia, found at Sephora or on their website http://www.anastasia.net/home.php. Hope you find this interesting and maintain your fuzzy caterpillar eyebrows if necessary!
Your own personal shopper….well sort of.
By · CommentsI was browsing the internet which is something I spend far too much time doing. My poor husband no longer is in a relationship with me, but me and my Mac book (yes I had to name drop as I am so proud of it). Nevertheless we make it work. Without my internet browsing, how else would I bring you this fun information? 
I found a cool site called www.boutiques.com. The part I found fun was the “create your own boutique” portion http://www.boutiques.com/boutiqueprefs.py. They will ask you a series of questions to determine your style profile. There are a lot of questions so give yourself 15 minutes to complete this profile. Once you are done, you have created your own boutique where styles from different designers come directly to you! Some designers are well known, and some are not which makes for a nice eclectic mix of pricy clothing and affordable clothing. It is actually pretty cool because it really is based on your unique style. I tried it and loved many of the items that popped up in my boutique. It’s so convenient to be able to purchase right on the spot! Once you click on the item, you are directed to the website where it is available. So cutting-edge and clever in my opinion. Only problem is power shopping at the mall is such good exercise….what will happen to our waistlines with this oh so convenient shopping platform?
