Thursday, December 23, 2010

GIGI AND ZAZA






I found this company on PLANET AWESOME KIDS website, where i am a contributing photographer. Its the coolest fashion website for kids based out of Brooklyn. CHeck out this amazing shoe website called GIGI AND ZAZA by clicking on the title above. they are having a sale right now. TOTALLY AFFORDABLE!

Friday, December 17, 2010

STUDENTS FIRST FOUNDED BY MICHELLE RHEE




Watch this episode of Oprah that she was on Dec 6, and join STUDENTS FIRST and help a cause that will change America.

http://www.studentsfirst.org/pages/about-michelle-rhee


Michelle Rhee who is 41, is the former chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools system of Washington, D.C and an be seen on the current cover of Newsweek. She is a mother of two girls, former public school teacher, divorced and now engaged to a former NBA basket ball player. Six chiefs have tried to fix DC’s schools in the past ten years—and failed. When she started this job at 37, this Korean-American from Toledo with no experience running a school system who’s convinced she can succeed caused many important changes and drama.

Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty’s primary-election loss last month was a major reason for her resignations she says. Much to the Korean style of managing, her fearless, blunt, and occasionally undiplomatic style often got her into trouble with her peers. . Rhee aggressively sought to reform a school system whose students produced below-average test scores. She became known for a no mercy, straight-forward approach, seeking to purge public schools of teachers and principals who were incompetent.

WRITTEN ON WIKIPEDIA:
In 2008, Rhee closed 24 schools would close due to excess capacity. Also announced was a plan to add early-childhood programs, gifted and talented programs, art and music classes, and special education services to District schools.
She also became the target of the Teacher's unions. Why? The controversial move to end teacher tenure and promote "merit" pay. She renegotiated how the school system compensates teachers. Rhee offered teachers the choice of: being paid up to $140,000 based on what she termed "student achievement" -- but losing tenure; or, retaining tenure -- but earning much smaller pay raises. She firmly believes that in order to move forward we need to get rid of the bad and lazy teachers that are causing the children to fall behind.

In 2010, Rhee fired 241 teachers, all whom received poor evaluations, and put 737 additional school employees on notice. Teachers were observed by administrators and outside professionals for five 30-minute sessions during the year, and the teachers' performance was rated during those sessions.
Rhee's actions have earned her applause from "school reformers" nationwide, as well as the scorn of teacher unions and community activists.


She announced her resignation as chancellor on October 13, 2010 and has now started STUDENTS FIRST.
Oprah is a big advocater of her work and I think this is going to be a revolution. CHeck it out, click the title above. Join.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

DIVINE TWINE






Its time to start wrapping soon. I am all for the colorful iconic holiday wrapping but if you are going eco-friendly and going to use recyled paper, Martha Stewart featured this twine which I think is a nice touch. You can buy all the different colors or just one. $15 per stool.

Tuesday, December 07, 2010



I have been obsessed with Antlers lately. I love this set of three Antlers. This set of three is on sale for $105.

SHOP RUCHE




This website has some cool items on it. TOTALLY affordable. Everything under $100.
Click on the title to see some of their new arrivals.

MARTHA STEWART FOR PETSMART





Martha Stewart has designed a line for Petsmart. Its pretty cool. Check it out by clicking the title above.

Saturday, December 04, 2010

MARCEL WANDERS FOR MAC




This one is a bit ridiculous but I had to share it. IF you are an industrial designer, you might be gagging when you see this but Marcel Wanders just did a line of beauty products for MAC. Here are a few, but I am not impressed with it. Check it out.

CANVAS HOME STORE SYRIAN GLASSES



These are so beautiful and cheap. I love the Pomogranate glass which is 4 1/2 in tall and around $13 but a cooler way to do is mix and match a bunch of different glasses which is what I always try and do. When we used to style the pages of Bon Appetit and we would do a dinner party setting, the good prop stylist would always mix and match settings and glasses. Gourmet did the same thing. It reminds me of Italy or Paris when you go to a dinner party and its cool when nothing matches. Click above to get the CanvasStore.com.

REBEKAH MAYSLES FOR ANTHROPOLOGIE




Rebekah Maysles and Anthropologie have colaborated on some gorgeous dessert plates. Leave it up to the buyers at Anthropologie who are genius to scout out an amazing talent. I love these plates. They are on sale too for $7.95 each!

HONORABLE MENTION. I also pictured NAMMOURA porcelain dessert plates too which I think is also strikingly hip, and also loved by Elle Decor Magazine. ($12.95)

SHOES FOR DUDES








Common Project Sneakers are the hot shoes for dudes...If your guy friend, or coworker or boyfriend/husband is a metrosexual that is. A regular non affected hipster can get away with Vans or Sperry Topsider ($90 from Saks) but if they want grow up and play in the big city without a male fashionista rolling his eyes in the back of his head, well then read on.

Vanity Fair and GQ editors can be seen sporting these cool shoes around the office .

Common Project... The shoes range from around $215 to $385 but you can wear the sneakers with a suit. They are from Barneys NewYork. Need I say more? Click on the title above to shop.


HONORABLE MENTION (last two pairs of shoes above): SeaVees... My favorite if you go to the website is...The Trail Boot in Walnut are $210, the Dessert Boot in a color called Oxblood is $160 which is my favorite, and the Court Shoe in Grey is $110. Go to SeaVees.com to purchase since the link above is for Common Projects.

JASON WU FOR GE




Need to get a gift for a good friend? This might be a good one. Its about $200. Jason Wu designed this for General Electric and its getting alot of press. I LOVE the Metal series in bright YELLOW and GREEN ($179) but the one that is getting alot of press is the Leather Series ($199). Either way, the best part of this camera is that there are no cables. The USB able is on the camera so you just plug right in to your computer or to the lab that you are going to. I think this might be good for the folks 50 and older because its so user friendly and has a fully integrated memory and battery. Check it out by clicking on the title above.

SPECIFICATIONS:
12.2 Megapixels
3x Optical Zoom
2.7 inch LCD screen
4GB Built-In Memory
Built in Slide out USB Plug for Easy Connectivity

Friday, December 03, 2010

PENGUIN HARDCOVER LITERARY CLASSICS





I am love with these Hardcover classic literary books by Penguin made for people like us that like a little style on the shelves. A set of your favorite 12 classics in the fun color and patterns would be amazing!
Each book is $20. Check them out by clicking the title above.

WOOL AND THE GANG







Everyone wants to knit. This startup kit is so $89 from Wool and the Gang! I don't know if I have to patience for it or the time, but its seems like a fun thing to do at home. Here is a super cool kit that you can buy from a super cool knitting company called Wool in the Gang that is getting a ton of press right now. Best of all, you can buy everything online. When I went on, most of the cool stuff was sold out but I am sure after the holidays, the stock will be replenished. Check it out.

LIVING ARCHITECTURE GREATEST AMERICAN HOUSES



This is a great gift under $100 for a very stylish and hip person you don't know what to get. Great design inspiration too if you are redesigning a home. Click to title to get it.