Piccolo Paradiso

Rosalba Berardi is the founder and creative inspiration behind Piccolo Paradiso a line of artisan luxury soap. Rosalba lives Chicago, with her husband and twins. She started her career in marketing and photography, having worked for several award-winning advertising agencies as a photo producer. She started designing soap for her family and in a relatively short time developed her own distinctive style of soap making. Creative inspiration, an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for working with her hands eventually drove her to turn this soap making hobby into a new and prospering business Piccolo Paradiso. Rosalba’s craft is inspired by her Italian heritage, her travels to Italy, culinary arts and nature. Earth conscience, she uses many naturally derived ingredients in her soap which are healthy for your skin such as fruit and vegetable pigments, clays, minerals, herbs, organics and essential oils. Piccolo Paradiso was featured in the 2012 Golden Globes Luxury Gift Lounge with The Artisan Group. “It is an honor to be in this group of like-minded businesswomen who work together and support one another’s passions.” Piccolo Paradiso is excited about their new line of herbal soaps that will be launching in early spring. www.paradisoproducts.com

Barefoot Bath & Body

Barefoot Bath & Body is a full service body and bath products business started in 2007 by Deanna Crowe, a stay at home mom in Big Lake, MN. Always an avid crafter, Deanna decided to try her hand at soapmaking, and a few blocks of glycerine soap base started a passion for soapmaking. Barefoot Bath & Body was launched on Etsy in 2008. To this day Deanna maintains a strict standard of using the freshest oils and ingredients from reputable suppliers. All products are tested thoroughly…but never on animals! Deanna’s main goal: to never sell anything to anyone that she would not use on herself. Deanna is active in several professional organizations including the Handcrafted Soapmaker’s Guild and The Artisan Group. Recent Features and Activities include: Fox Small Business of the Day, December 14, 2011; Feature in Times Media Style Magazine’s Holiday Gift Guide, and display and gifting participant at the GBK Productions 2012 Golden Globes Gift Lounge at the Lermitage, Beverly Hills, CA. www.barefootbathandbody.etsy.com

Villa Lusso

As a residential interior designer for the past 18 years, I strive to create a wonderful environment for my clients to love to come home to. Four years ago, I created Villa Lusso (translated to luxury home), a luxurious line of Italian inspired products capturing the love and warmth of the Italian culture. It was a combination of my fond childhood memories and my passion for travelling to Italy when I created Villa Lusso to remind one of life’s simple pleasures. The products gifted to the celebrities of the Golden Globes were 100% soy travel-sized (Viaggi) candles. All of my candles and body lotions that were on display are hand-poured and have scents based on experiences in Italy. Perguia, my newest scent, was inspired by the Chocolate Festival every fall in Perugia. This scent is the most decadent, dark chocolate and is available in soy candles and body lotions. I continue to be captivated by the beautiful Italian countryside and am always inspired to create new scents for people to love to come home to. www.villalusso.com

Cassia Aromatics

Kelly A.Taylor has sailed the 7 seas, visited 35 nations, traveled up the Amazon, speaks & reads fluent Thai, and flown over Mount Everest. She was a volunteer overseas for 10 years. In 1997 she began ardently studying aromatherapy and herbal healing. She combines her love of distant nations with her love of herbs, spices, and aromas. Mixing nature’s finest oils in her 16 x 40 kitchen in Houston, TX with delectable aromas is a passion in the spa body and home fragrance products she creates for Cassia Aromatics, launched in 2008. Suffering from dry skin herself, Kelly understands how uncomfortable it is to have skin problems, and many of her customers have reported alleviated skin irritations. Cassia Aromatics is passionate about energy and resource conservation, using recycled packaging for shipping, and US grown, 100% soy wax for her aromatherapy candles. She supports indigent orphans in developing nations of Uganda, India, and Thailand specifically, and the 1040 window in general; aiming to channel resources to see injustice, poverty and slavery overcome. Currently 10% of sales is donated to her 501 c (3) non-profits. Cassia Aromatics products can be found in fine spas, boutiques, gift shops, natural pharmacies and even art galleries nationwide. Visit Kelly at www.etsy.com/shop/CassiaAromatics.

Java Jane Designs

Andie Dietz, founder and owner of Java Jane Designs, does more than create personalized gifts. As her customers often remark, Andie’s artwork “captures the heart.” Her elegant creations feature stunning black and white letters of the alphabet photographed from architectural details artfully arranged to spell a name or word. Each custom keepsake is thoughtfully designed and meticulously handcrafted with the gift recipient in mind, making it the ultimate keepsake for commemorating special moments such as weddings, housewarmings, anniversaries, and baby showers. Andie developed her signature photography style through a love of travel and exploration. Her whimsical photographs evoke a sense of stillness and beauty, highlighting elements of forgotten architecture that are often rusty and weathered, but yet delicate and ornate. Andie’s elegant handcrafted custom artwork is shared with clients around the globe celebrating life’s biggest moments and has been featured in galleries and high-end gift boutiques throughout the US. You can visit her shop at www.JavaJaneDesigns.etsy.com.

Shara’s Paperie

Confections by Shara’s Paperie opened in 2008 after the success of our brick and mortar personalized gift, stationery and invitation store, Shara’s Paperie. Confections is a unique online gift shop that allows visitors to shop and add their own personal design touch to a wide range of products. Our product line includes personalized pillow cases, clipboards, magnetic dry erase boards, cell phone cases and much more. Be sure to check out our website www.shopconfections.com to find your favorite products and designs. The Confections line offers a look that is completely unique and appeals to a wide variety of clients by blending illustration with graphic design. The line’s exclusive designs and flexibility with customization make Confections by Shara’s Paperie stand out in the market of personalized gifts, stationery and invitations. When the Confections line was introduced to Memphis in September, 2008, they achieved nationwide reach with the summer 2009 launch of www.shopconfections.com. Notable projects include designing custom coasters for the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital for Children Open in 2009, being featured in the Parents Magazine 2010 Holiday Gift Guide and the Women’s Day Magazine 2011 Kids’ Holiday Gift Guide as well as participating in a luxury gifting lounge for the Golden Globe and Oscars award ceremonies.

Taradara

Taradara is sewing company owned by Tara Rex {aka TRex}. This creative soul has brought ‘pretty’ to electronic accessories with her whimsical award winning covers. Taradara iPad covers have won ‘Best Product of the Year’ at the 2011 Moms in Business Unite Conference Inventor Showcase in Denver. Her iPhone covers are in the hands of celebrities who attended the Golden Globes. Taradara’s iPhone AND iPad covers are in the hands of the top Macworld journalists as well. Not only does she make covers, she makes wallets, passport covers, card holders, and much more at prices that will fit anyone’s budget. Taradara is an up and coming handmade business and an inspiring Mompreneur. You can visit her blog at taradaramadeit.com to learn more about TRex and see her amazing products. www.etsy.com/shop/taradara

On Your Feet

When Gary Hirsch was growing up he had a lot of nightmares. On these nights he would sit with his father in the kitchen and draw the monsters from his nightmares. They would stay up for hours and his Dad would help him name these creatures. One his father leaned over and said, “ You know, If  you can draw them, then you can also erase them.” So Gary would draw and erase and after a while the nightmares came a bit less frequently. These days Gary is obsessed with doodling robots…on dominos. These little guys are designed to interact with the viewer, to give you outrageous compliments (Joy Bot), tell you how much you are loved (Love Bot), Help you be brave (Brave Bot), etc.  It’s all about the story they tell the viewer, they help you have a conversation with yourself. Of course the Bots don’t actually talk, but something about them allows people to imagine that they do, and somehow this helps them feel better, and that is what makes them so much fun. Gary has shown his work in galleries, streets, and museums in Cleveland, Melbourne, Chicago, Seattle, and in his current home of Portland Oregon where you can see his large public works commissioned by the city. Gary has shown his work in galleries, streets, and museums in Cleveland, Melbourne, Chicago, Seattle, and in his current home of Portland Oregon where you can see his large public works commissioned by the city. When not painting Gary runs a 12 person creative consultancy On Your Feet (www.oyf.com) that uses improv theater and visual art to help some of the world’s most successful companies (Nike, Intel, Disney, and others) communicate and relate…all while having a ridiculously good time.

Helena Pion Photography and Design

37-year old Helena Pion was born and raised in Portugal, but life and love brought her to British Columbia, Canada. Having always worked as a translator, in 2009, she pursued her true passion and ventured into selling her creative photography work in an online US shoppe, and hasn’t looked back since. She quickly began designing as well, and everything is available on a variety of products you can easily personalise, if you so wish. From invitations to mobile cases, the customer can alter the templates for free simply with a couple of mouse clicks. Her shoppes showcase a myriad of textures, patterns, nature and macro photography on items that are useful as well as trendy. A truly ingenious idea for this photographer & designer’s work! www.zazzle.com/helenapion

Dave Dilli Photography

Dave Dilli has been photographing the beauty of the desert southwest for more than the past decade. His photographic style has evolved over time to what is now a vivid representation of the mood and essence of the scene as he felt it when the image was taken. From the softness of a delicate sunrise reflecting off the stillness of a lake, to the dramatic and visceral moods generated by a desert monsoon, Dave strives for the image to display the mood and emotions that he felt when the image was taken.

Dave has been a featured artist at the Raw Natural Artists Phoenix Showcase in 2011, and well as numerous other local art exhibits. Based in Phoenix Arizona, Dave Dilli Photography displays images from throughout California, Utah, Arizona and beyond. Visit him at www.Davedilli.com

Tina Dean Designs

Tina Dean Designs (“TDD”) is an upscale eco handbag company based outside of Washington, DC in Stafford, Virginia. Tina Allen specialize in upcycling/repurposing plastic bags and VHS tape into beautiful, useful accessories that are eco-friendly, easily cared for and fashionably fabulous. She is a mom-preneur and crochet artisan,and she meticulously handcrafts each item. She has been featured as a Small Business of the Day on Fox Small Business, on Fredericksburg.com, and on GoGreenAmericaTV.com. She recently, through The Artisan Group, gifted Cari Cucksey (of HGTV’s Cash & Cari) and was thrilled when Cari personally named the tote. You can see the Cash & Cari Tote here as an example of her work..

Seasons Of Wool

One of the items in the gift bags for the Golden Globe gift lounge was a pair of lightweight felted alpaca cuffs. The cuffs are knit from a lace-weight alpaca, then shrunk to size. Each pair of cuffs was then needle felted and embellished in one of 5 styles, all related in some way to the natural world. The cuffs are designed to be worn alone, or with gloves or mittens for added warmth. Felted wool and alpaca are hypoallergenic, odor resistant, thermal (keeping you warm in winter and cool in summer), water resistant and quite durable (comparable to leather).

In her shop, Lucy Chapman specialize in using natural fibers and repurposed materials to create usable felt works of art. You’ll find a wide range of products for the fashion conscious and outdoorsman alike. She offer hats, mittens, fingerless gloves, purses, totes, recycled sweater blankets, baskets, and more. she always welcome custom orders and loves to make a treasured piece that will last a lifetime. www.seasonsofwool.etsy.com

“With so many beauties Judging is a especially difficult task but one that I always wanted to do since producing our first Beauty Pageant Gift Lounge for Miss Universe Pageant in Los Angeles in 2006 when I was asked by the Pageant to act as a Judge, I was thrilled,” said Mark Harris.

It was a weekend filled with plenty of sun, parties and beautiful women competing for the Crown and then onto competing in the upcoming Miss USA Pageant in Las Vegas and Miss Teen USA held at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas.

The weekend events ended with the crowning of Miss Hoag Hospital Natalie Pack winning the Miss California USA Title and Miss Orange County Teen USA Alexa Jones winning the Miss Teen Title.

Judges were treated to first class treatments at the Rancho Las Palmas Resort, spa treatments, unlimited celebrations and gourmet meals at many of the desert’s finest joints.

This was the third year that WOW Creations provided Gift Bags.

Below is a list of the brands included in the pageant gift bags:

Flop Topz – floptopz.com
Diva Cup – divacup.com
Live Smart 360 – livesmart360.com
Tanning provided by Tropical Tanning – tropicaltanninganddayspa.com
Supple Skin Boutique – suppleskinboutique.com
Saint James Cosmetics – saintjamescosmetics.com
Don Francis Coffee – donfranciscocoffee.com
Indie Exhibit – indieexhibit.org
Dark Dog Energy Drink
Justins Organic Peanut Butter cups
Tea Tulia – teatulia.com
Udder Crème – uddercreme.com
Maui Tropical Soaps – mauitropicalsoaps.com
Noah’s Water – noahswater.com

www.wowcreationsmedia.com

Guess Seductive Homme – The man who wears GUESS Seductive Homme captures your attention with his towering confidence and intriguing appeal. Notes of pepper, violet, and sensual sandalwood. Guess Seductive Homme is available at select Guess retail stores, perfumery chains, department stores, Guess.com and GuessParfums.com, $49

Reveal the Passion by Halle Berry - Just like Halle Berry, the woman who wears Reveal the Passion is endlessly elegant and always the most alluring person in the room.  She knows intuitively that true passion is intertwined with untamed desire. “I wanted to create a scent that helped empower women to reveal their passionate sides,” Berry says in a press statement. Sexy Top Notes: Italian Bergamot, Dewfruit, Freesia, Apple. Reveal the Passion by Halle Berry by Coty, Inc. is available February 2012 at most mass retailers for $28. Watch Halle Berry on love, where she wears the perfume and her requirements for loving a man:

Playboy Play it Rock – Within every girl there’s a sassy Playboy persona waiting to emerge.  Spray on the alluring scent of Play It Rock to reveal the edgy, cool, rock ‘n’ roll you.  It’s time to get glammed up and go seduce your man.  Playboy Play it Rock is avail at most retailers, $17. To find your perfect Playboy scent to match your personality, take their fragrance finder quiz.

Do you Suffer from Sleep Apnea?

You know for certain that you snore, but not sure you have sleep apnea? If so, you’re not alone. Approximately 18 million people in the United States suffer from sleep apnea with fewer than 50% properly diagnosed. When test subjects, who were aware that they did snore, watched video of themselves, they were stunned to see that they actually quit breathing during sleep.

Sleep apnea occurs when airway obstruction interrupts normal breathing, lasting 10 seconds or longer.  These interruptions occur during sleep, with as many as 30-300 episodes per night. Sleep apnea causes daytime sleepiness and has been linked to higher incidences of stroke, heart disease, and even weight gain.

If you suspect that you may have sleep apnea and want a permanent snoring solution, it’s wise to seek medical attention from specialists in the field. Even if it’s to save your marriage,  Dr. Marc Kayem, a Board Certified Otolaryngologist, uses the latest, minimally-invasive treatments available to resolve snoring and sleep apnea. Dr. Kayem has been able to bring relief to thousands of patients and their partners.

Recently, Dr. Kayem opened the new Snoring Center in Beverly Hills. Says Dr. Kayem: “The Snoring Center’s progressive and innovative approach to treating sleep disordered breathing has improved the lives of thousands of patients from around the world,” said Dr. Kayem.  “In the past, patients would have to travel to Texas to visit The Snoring Center.  It is exciting to watch our team expand into new markets in order to provide minimally invasive, office-based snoring and sleep apnea treatment to more men and women in need.”

The Snoring Center is the nation’s leading provider of minimally-invasive, office-based treatment for snoring and sleep apnea, including the Pillar Procedure from Medtronic. Since snoring and sleep apnea can originate from various anatomical sites (nasal, palate, throat) which over-the-counter remedies often fail to remedy, the Snoring Center specializes in identifying the source of the problem to effectively treat the issue.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Diagnosis of Sleep Apnea

After a history and physical exam at the Snoring Center, and sleep apnea is suspected, then a sleep study would be ordered. The sleep study may be done at one of their affiliated sleep labs or a home sleep study might be ordered.

If sleep apnea is diagnosed, then appropriate treatment would depend on whether you have been diagnosed with mild, moderate or severe sleep apnea. At that time, all available and appropriate treatments such as the Pillar Procedure among others will be discussed during the consultation with Dr Kayem.

Thankfully, the Snoring Center believes in taking a minimally invasive approach to sleep apnea treatment. This means using technologies such as the Pillar Procedure from Medtronic, Coblation of the Nasal Turbinates, Soft Palate Coblation and Laser Tonsil Ablation, as well as the use of oral appliances. These single-day procedures with local anesthetics will get you back to your normal life in a hurry with little to no discomfort and recovery time.

What is Pillar Procedure?

The Pillar Procedure helps to reduce the vibration that causes snoring and the ability of the soft palate to obstruct the airway by placing 3 to 5 tiny woven implants in the soft palate. Once in place, the implants add structural support to the soft palate and, over time, the body’s natural fibrotic tissue response to the implants increases the structural integrity of the soft palate. The Pillar inserts are made of a the same material used in sutures and hernia meshes for more than 50 years.

More than 40,000 people worldwide have been treated with Medtronic’s Pillar Procedure. The Snoring Center has performed more Pillar Procedures than any other practice in the world.

Does Insurance Cover?
The Snoring Center participates in most insurance plans and offers patient financing for any treatments not covered by insurance.

Dr. Marc Kayem

Serving as a team physician for the Los Angeles Kings, Dr. Kayem brings over 20 years of experience to The Snoring Center.  He graduated from The University of Ottawa before completing his Otolaryngology training at The University of Montreal.  Dr. Kayem has been involved in minimally invasive treatment of snoring and sleep apnea for years, and is a recognized leader in his field.

The Snoring Center has offices in Beverly Hills, Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston.

For more information please visit www.SnoringCenter.com.

The Snoring Center Beverly Hills
120 S. Spalding Drive, Suite 340
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Ph: 855 DR SNORE

You can solve your snoring and sleep apnea problems at The Beverly Hills Snoring Center. www.beverlyhillssnoring.com

Click here to view the embedded video.

Grammy-nominated recording artists Salt-N-Pepa gave a show-stopping performance, and guests danced into the early hours with music by DJ C-Squared (Connor Cruise – yes, Tom and Nicole’s son). Christina Milian, Tristan Wilds, Brandi Glanville, Salt-N-Pepa, Zach Levi, and Harry Shum Jr. and more stopped by Siren Studios in Los Angeles on Jan. 26, 2012 and shared bite-size samples of the savory new McDonald’s® Chicken McBites™. Celebrities and partygoers danced the night away with music by DJ C-Squared and watched a show stopping performance by Salt-N-Pepa.

Guests included Christina Milian, Social Media Correspondent for The Voice, Actor Zach Levi, Chuck,  TV Personality Lisa D’Amato America’s Next Top Model,  Actor Tristan Wilds, 90210, Red Tails, Shenae Grimes, 90210, Harry Shum Jr., Glee, Lucy Hale –Pretty Little Liars, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Bridesmaids, Darren Kagasoff, Secret Life of an American Teenager, Lance Gross, Tyler Perry’s House of Payne, Meet the Browns, Laz Alonso, Jumping the Broom, Straw Dogs, TV personality Brandi Glanville Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, TV Personality Omarosa Manigault, The Apprentice, Musician Sebastian Bach Skid Row and more!

Seen & Heard:
Shenae Grimes and Tristan Wilds danced arm in arm during the Salt-N-Pepa performance
Brandi Glanville snacked on McDonald’s® Chicken McBites™ while she worked the red carpet.
Christina Milian overheard saying she was “starving” and so excited grab her own snack size McDonald’s® Chicken McBites™
Lucy Hale and friends hammed it up while taking photos in the McDonald’s® Chicken McBites™ photobooth
Connor Cruise showed off his best Michael Jackson dance moves on stage to Jackson 5 hits
Christina Milian chatted about the Voice with Connor Cruise on the red carpet
Harry Shum Jr. joked with photographers on the red carpet while popping McDonald’s® new Chicken McBites™ in the air and catching them in his mouth

CHICKEN McBITES
Made with premium white chicken breast and a savory home-style seasoning, McDonald’s new Chicken McBites offer customers bite-size enjoyment that’s big on quality and taste.Chicken McBites are perfectly poppable for today’s busy consumers, with three sizes – Snack (3 oz.), Regular (5 oz.) and Shareable (10 oz.) – to accommodate any occasion. To enhance the taste experience, customers can also pair Chicken McBites with a variety of dipping sauces for their dunking pleasure.  Chicken McBites .
Siren Studios (6063 W. Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, California

On Valentine’s Day and every day, you want your skin to look radiant, firm and smooth.  Here are LA’s the Place Magazine’s picks for top skincare products to help you look your absolute best.

Tired Eyes Be Gone

If you worked late or just had a great time out last night, you probably woke up to tired looking eyes. When you have not gotten your proper beauty rest, there’s Miracle Skin Transformer Treat & Conceal to the rescue. It covers up dark circles and blemishes on the spot with a natural-looking finish. Miracle Skin Transformer Treat & Conceal comes in 3 shades to treat, protect and enhance the skin. $36

Purify with a Peel

Just by living in a city, your skin has to filter so much pollution and grime, sometimes a fresh start is all you need. Treat yourself to a natural fruit acid peel at home with emerginC at-home Facial Peel & Clarifying Pads. Part of emerginC’s all-natural Scientific Organics line, this new easy-to-use, 2-step facial peel and clarifying kit offers an active dose of natural fruit acids, tea tree, lactic acid, cypress, willow bark, and apple extracts.  With all this natural goodness, it removes dead skin cells, while nourishing and renewing the complexion. emerginC at-home Facial Peel & Clarifiying Pads can also help to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.  Now that’s some lovin’ we all could use more of. $90

Red Carpet Make-up Secret

Learn from the stars, they know the camera doesn’t lie. When they’re on the red carpet, the last thing they want is for their foundation to accentuate fine lines. Use emerginC Red Carpet Primer before applying makeup to help fill in wrinkles and fine lines and conceal pores. The end result after applying foundation is a smooth, even complexion. This naturally tinted formulation contains advanced, plant-based hydrating and plumping micro-spheres that fights free radicals while nourishing the skin and most importantly – facilitates a flawless make-up application.  $44

Beauty Treatments In Your Sleep

DNAEFG Renewal DNA Night Renewal revitalizes the skin while you sleep and combats signs of aging. This rich night cream works to repair the signs of photo damage and aging skin with an advanced dual liposome delivery system for intensified nighttime recovery. Dr. Moy’s DNA Night Renewal provides complete support for cell repair activity during the sleep cycle for fresher, healthier skin. Don’t you wish all of life’s issues could be resolved while sleeping?  $130

Zen Toner

Sometimes, a little calm and refocusing is required. Think of Cellure RECODE Balancing Toner as a Zen moment for your complexion. With a fine mist, Cellure RECODE hydrates skin, balances the surface and refines pores while it prepares skin for ideal moisture absorption. Skin looks and feels dewy, supple and luminous. Chamomile, antiseptic and aloe help calm and soothe irritation and help bind in hydration.  $65

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Many people labor under the false assumption that they couldn’t pull off iron doors in their neighborhood, when in fact wrought iron doors can be the pride of any locale.  The neighborhoods of San Clemente are only improved by the classic appearance and quality that iron doors provide, while any business in Laguna Niguel would find their street appeal going through the roof with distinctive custom iron doors to set them apart from their competitors.  The truth is that iron doors lend character to a building in a way that nothing else can, and when they’re customized to your specifications your home can perfectly express your own personal style in an unmistakable fashion.

Baltic Iron Doors of Orange County, 714-546-3003, www.balticirondoors.com

Beyond aesthetics, choosing wrought iron doors is a sound financial decision.  When it comes to property values, every detail and impression counts, and as we mentioned nothing makes a positive impression like custom iron doors.  The beauty and high quality performance of iron doors often more than pay for themselves in home value, while businesses find themselves with a memorable feature that customers remember and associate with sophistication and class.  Wrought iron doors are an investment in the future as much as a piece of décor, an investment that has proven to be a very profitable.

With any investment you want to be certain that you’ve invested in something lasting, and in that area iron doors pay off tremendously.  Wrought iron doors outlast nearly every type of entry door available, since metal is obviously more suited to the wear and tear of the elements than painted wood.  There are wrought iron doors that were installed before Laguna Niguel and San Clemente were even founded that are still in working order.  They are as durable and tough as they are aesthetically striking.

Baltic Iron Doors & Naddour's Ornamental Iron of Orange County, 714-546-3003, www.balticirondoors.com, www.naddouriron.com

There’s a reason that wrought iron doors have been customized for homes and buildings for hundreds of years; they work better than anything else.  The main function of a door is to provide privacy and keep out the unwanted, and in that function iron doors excel.  Thick and impenetrable, criminals often avoid homes with wrought iron doors because the door is just as strong as the crowbar they brought.  Iron doors in San Clemente perform the same task they did for the castles of old; wrought iron in Laguna Niguel works as well as it did in Medieval Europe at keeping those inside safe and secure.

Custom wrought iron doors are the best option for your castle for the same reasons they were the best option for castles throughout history.  They’re impressive, beautiful and well-made.  They’re a sound investment that has been proven to be reliable.  They’re long lasting, efficient and durable.  More important than anything else, however, they keep you and your loved ones safe.  After all, the first rule of owning a castle is to defend it.

Onnit™ Labs

“Onnit™ Labs was started to fill the niche of efficacious formulas designed for a unified purpose,” says founder and CEO, Aubrey Marcus, “The synergy between our products is part of what makes ‘being Onnit™’ such a powerful experience for our customers.  We find the best ingredients, ensure their safety, and put them together in unconventional combinations that traditional supplement manufactures would deem far too expensive to bring into production.”

Used by many professional athletes in many sports, ShroomTech™ Sport improves endurance, oxygen utilization and energy by harnessing the power of the Cordyceps Sinensis mushroom. Maybe you’re not an athlete, but everyone can use more endurance and energy in their every day lives. By improving the efficiency of the ATP cycle, ShroomTech™ Sport provides cellular energy that allows athletes to work out longer, work out harder, and recover faster. It also contains green tea extract, a powerful antioxidant designed to eliminate free radicals, and helps to make ShroomTech™ Sport the optimal pre-workout formula for the athlete interested in long term health, and sustainability.

Instead of reaching for a cup of coffee to help alertness and focus at work – try ALPHA Brain™.  Onnit™ Labs developed ALPHA Brain™ to improve cognitive function, mental drive, and lucidity of the dream state. ALPHA Brain™ combines a blend of all natural ingredients, each of which has been demonstrated effective in certain clinical settings. The formula contains Acetylcholine boosting nutrients such as GPC Choline and Huperzia Serrata which support increased mental speed, memory, and clarity, while at the same time helping to deepen REM sleep, the body’s natural dream state.  When you sleep better, you do everything better when you’re awake. Powerful antioxidants work to eliminate mental fog and dopamine, and GABA boosting nutrients work to improve mental drive and create a calm focus.

Those that are looking for Nirvana on Earth, New Mood™ is the newly formulated nutrient based supplement designed to improve mood and induce a sense of relaxation and calm. The efficacy is derived from the combination of two building blocks of serotonin, L-tryptophan and 5-HTP, with a plethora of minerals, vitamins and herbs. New Mood™ is ideal if you work a high-stress job or as a daily bedtime supplement to promote rest and recovery throughout the night.

All Onnit™ Labs products can and are recommended to take together as part of a daily regimen to help achieve balance and maximize efficiency and performance in the demands of daily life. All of Onnit’s formulas come with a first bottle 100% no-return necessary money back guarantee, and are safe under the strictest testing requirements.

 About Onnit™ Labs

Onnit™ sources only the finest ingredients, each of which is supported by independent clinical research, and utilizes insightful and revolutionary combinations to create balanced formulas.  Onnit™ Labs current products include, ALPHA Brain™, ShroomTech™ Sport and New Mood™. For more information, visit www.onnit.com.

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It’s important to note, however, that proper window cleaning is not just about aesthetics.  As dirt accumulates on glass surfaces, they not only become unsightly, streaked and cloudy, but unsafe as well.  This is because even those residing in pleasant neighborhoods in Shady Canyon or Coto de Caza are still subjected to trace pollutants in the air, which bond to windows and, over time, degrade the structural integrity of the glass.  One of the reasons most large businesses and households employ window cleaners is because it’s safer and cheaper to hire them to maintain the windows than to replace them when they crack, chip or even shatter.

Broken glass is not the only danger that regular window cleaning can protect you from.  Those same pollutants that damage the glass can also damage the lungs of those who breath in large concentrations of them, for example when a gust of wind blows off a clump of contaminants attached to your window.  These particles can cause allergies, infection and make breathing difficult for the asthmatic.  On the positive side they can be easily removed by professional window cleaners, who check for buildups during their inspections in Coto de Caza and Shady Canyon.

Stanley Window Cleaning Call Stanley to schedule a no-cost visit to evaluate your needs at 949.786.0816. Visit them on the web at www.StanleyWindowCleaning.com

A good window cleaning service will scrutinize your windows for scratches, paint, stucco, chips, cracks, hard water deposits and buildups of contaminants.  The window cleaners will then use high quality scrapers to remove any hard debris from your windows, gutters and drains, then scrub and wash them to cleanse any deeper stains and residue.  The third step is squeezing the windows and wiping the edges down to give your glass that sharp, clear shine.  Squeezing, also known as detailing, can be difficult but is a service usually offered by more reputable window cleaners.

Another way to check if a window cleaning company is reputable is to check if the company is insured and bonded.  Window cleaners tend to be very cautious by nature, but it is always a good idea to work with companies that insure their employees in case of any accidents or damages while working.  It is also not unusual to ask what equipment the workers will be using; squeezing equipment is a plus, nothing but paper towels may be a red flag.  Most window cleaners in Shady Canyon and Coto de Caza provide their employees with shoe covers to wear while indoors, and ladders should be considered a given.

The most important aspect of a good window cleaning service, however, is trust.  You’re entrusting these people to clean and maintain your home or business, often while you’re not home.  It’s important to meet the service provider and get referrals or reviews in order to ensure trustworthiness.  While most of the window cleaners from Coto de Caza to Shady Canyon has good reputations, the ultimate judge should always be your gut.  After all, you’re handing them the key to your home’s appearance.

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NVEY ECO  is an Australian company that has created a  collection of high performance, long-lasting, certified organic makeup from Australia. All the ingredients are formulated without the use of chemicals such as petrochemicals or synthetic fragrances. A pioneer in Organic Color Cosmetics, they’re process focuses on safe, ethical and effective organic cosmetics for their customers. They only use regulated, approved and safe ingredients in their brand.

NVEY ECO is:
Talc Free  -  No Talc is used in any NVEY ECO product.
Paraben Free  -  No Parabens are used in the manufacture of any NVEY ECO product.
Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLS) Free  -  No SLS or derivatives of SLS chemicals are used in any of our products.
No Propylene Glycol is used in our products.
GMO Free  -  No ingredients are derived from genetically modified crops.
Not Tested On Animals
We simply don’t test on animals… only our obliging staff, and occasionally the CEO!
No Petroleum Based Ingredients  -  No mineral or petroleum oils are used in our product. NVEY ECO uses plant derived oils such as safflower, castor and jojoba.
No Nanotechnology based Ingredients  -  We do not use nano particle ingredients in NVEY ECO products, as this process is found to be hazardous and potentially toxic technology.

www.QHandmade.com

Following the Saturday night blowout bash, the fun continues on February 5th with the Maxim Tailgate: Salute to Heroes – the ultimate pre-game celebration. The festivities will be hosted by NFL Editor at Large, Tony “Goose” Siragusa, Maxim Hometown Hotties winner, April Rose, and guest honoree, Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient, Dakota Meyer. Located within walking distance of Lucas Oil Stadium, guests can enjoy a traditional tailgate atmosphere with a Maxim twist. With the purchase of a ticket fans can enjoy tailgate games and takeaways, munch on delicious snacks and sip on custom-themed cocktails while professional cheerleaders get guests into the Super Bowl spirit.

The Maxim Tailgate: Salute to Heroes event takes place from 12:00PM-4:00PM. To purchase tickets, visit http://www.elitexp.com/maxims-salute-heroes-tailgate-party or call (646) 571-0784.

There is power in the spoken word, in the ability to influence peers and raise the spirits of an entire room.  How many of us have been moved by a speaker and marveled at what we imagine is their natural confidence and talent?  Toastmasters in Redondo Beach would tell you that the mastery of a skill is not so much about innate talent as it is about practice and hard work.  For public speaking is indeed a skill, something that anyone can learn and excel at with the type of training provided by Toastmasters.

Far from the stuffy Elk Lodge atmosphere that many Redondo Beach residents may associate with public speaking clubs, Toastmasters in Redondo Beach is an enthusiastic, modern group of volunteers working to blend the oldest form of communication with the newest.  Social skills and experience in public speaking is declining among the populace at the same time that Skype and virtual conferences have created a greater need for these very abilities.  That’s where the expertise of Toastmasters comes in, offering training in skills that can improve your career and enrich your life.

Anyone interested in public speaking in Redondo Beach should consider themselves lucky to have access to the preeminent educational organizations devoted to speech and leadership.  The club of Toastmasters in Redondo Beach is one of 13,000 spread across 116 countries.  Founded in 1924 in the basement of a Santa Ana YMCA, Toastmasters has become one of the largest non-profit associations dedicated to public speaking, boasting more than 270,000 members and a remarkable reputation for success.

The lifestyle in Redondo Beach may not resemble a corporate boardroom, but that doesn’t mean public speaking in Redondo Beach is not important.  Whether you’re giving a commencement speech at Redondo Union High, introducing a band at the Pier or hoping to get a role as more than an extra on one of the many shows taped in Redondo Beach, confidence in speaking is vital.  Some of the other benefits of being properly trained in public speaking include:

Confidence
One might think that the first benefit would be the social advantages that come from being able to speak confidently in public.  However, by far the most powerful benefit is the improvement in your general confidence and self esteem. Public speaking is often listed as a greater fear than death, and facing that specter with self-assurance can leave you feeling like you just conquered the world.  Practice and repetition are the keys to overcoming any fear, and the Toastmasters have long experience with confronting self-consciousness.

In Business
In business, everyone is looking for an edge.   Being a masterful speaker gives you more than just an edge, it can move you into a different league altogether.  Your colleagues may be technically brilliant, they may have strong ideas, they may even have good people skills, but the person who can stand up in front of a group, clearly and convincingly explaining their ideas will always have an advantage others can only envy.  For this reason there are Toastmaster clubs associated with many of the largest corporations in the world.

Socially
Being quick on your feet and speaking in front of others is one of the best ways to increase your group of friends, acquaintances and your overall comfort level. Whether you are a member of a surf club or  an organizer of a charity you will occasionally find yourself called upon to speak. Instead of dreading those moments, learn to love them and use them to express yourself.

With Family
At some point in your life you will be asked to speak up. Whether it is at the wedding of your daughter or a birthday party, you can make a world of difference to your loved ones if you have the right words to say.  Everyone remembers the family member who always knows exactly what to say and how.  Toastmasters specializes in making you into that person.

Toastmasters in Redondo Beach offers training in the skill and art of public speaking, but they also offer something far more.  They offer you the chance to possess an ability that others admire, a hard-won skill that is easily mistaken for natural talent, and the power to influence the hearts and minds of your listeners.  Speech may be the oldest form of communication but it has never been more important.

www.SouthBayToastmasters.org

Far from a coalition of stuffy anachronisms, Toastmasters in Manhattan Beach is a thoroughly modern association of volunteers working to combine the oldest form of communication with some of the newest.  Rather than becoming outmoded, the advent of Skype and teleconferences have created a greater need for sound speaking skills than ever before.  Unfortunately these are the very skills that are no longer valued and taught in a culture fixated on the typed versus the spoken word.  Therein lies the mission of Toastmasters, who work to educate and train members in proper and powerful speaking.

Manhattan Beach is fortunate to host one of the preeminent public speaking organization in the world, but it is far from alone.  The Toastmasters in Manhattan Beach is one of thirteen thousand spread across 116 nations.  The Toastmasters club was founded in1924 in Santa Ana and has since become one of the largest non-profit associations devoted to public speaking, with more than 270,000 club members and an incredible record of success.

There are countless professional situations that call for a strong ability to speak in front of others, from the boardroom to sales to marketing.  Yet there are more than just business opportunities for those who are comfortable speaking in front of others.  Toastmaster members are sought out for commencement speeches, rallies, parties and motivational meetings, to name a few.   There are also many other benefits of being formally trained in public speaking.

Business is all about having that extra advantage over your competitors.   Being a skilled speaker gives you more than just an advantage, it can put you in an entirely different league.  Your competitors may be intelligent, they may have good ideas, they may even have decent social skills, but the person who can speak their ideas clearly and eloquently will have an edge others can only envy.  That is one of the reasons there are Toastmaster clubs in association with many of the biggest companies in the world.
Certainly one of the most powerful benefits of public speaking is the dramatic increase in your  confidence and self esteem.  People regularly state that they are more afraid of public speaking than death; being able to confidently face what others fear can leave you feeling on top of the world.  The Toastmasters don’t expect you to arrive without any fear of public speaking, obviously.  One of their main goals is the addressing and overcoming of that hurdle in their members’ lives.

There are moments in our lives when we would like to step up and be heard. Whether we’re saying goodbye to a colleague at a retirement party, giving a wedding speech as the best man or just explaining something you care passionately about, we all want to find the right words to show our loved ones exactly how we feel.  Toastmasters excels at teaching its members how to know those words and, more importantly, how to use them well.

Toastmasters in Manhattan Beach offers more than just training in how to speak well in public.  They offer a skill that others admire and the power to speak your mind with clarity and verve.  While it’s that speech is the oldest form of communication, it has never been more important than now.

To find out more, go to www.SouthBayToastmasters.org

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What is CEREC?

* Chairside: The technology is in the dental operatory and used while you are in the chair
* Economical: The procedure is economical for both dentist and patient
* Restorations: The procedure restores your tooth to its natural beauty, function, and strength
* Esthetic: The restorations are metal-free and tooth-colored
* Ceramic: High-strength ceramics are used that are close in composition to your natural tooth structure

Who Developed CEREC?

This technology has a track record of almost 20 years, and more than 100 studies confirm the clinical excellence of the method. The state of the art CEREC technology was developed in 1985 by dentist Dr. Werner H. Mormann and electrical engineer Dr. Markus Brandistini at the University of Zurich in Switzerland. Today, CEREC 3 with CEREC 3D software is still the world’s only chair side dental CAD/CAM restorative system.

Save Time with CEREC

A Manhattan Beach dentist that specializes in CEREC restorations can explain the convenience and quality of care CEREC provides. CEREC is more precise and predictable than traditional crowns made in a laboratory. By using a 3D camera, the dentist in Manhattan Beach uses this image to make a crown perfectly suited to your tooth’s shape while you watch.

In Southern California’s fast paced life, CEREC saves a second trip to your Manhattan Beach dentist. The permanent crown is done on the spot with no need for a temporary crown. Since CEREC only takes one appointment, you don’t have to come back for a second appointment and you don’t have to worry about any temporaries falling out between appointments.

How Does CEREC Method Differ from Traditional?

Smileworks of Redondo Beach offers CEREC 310.303.7930 www.SmileworksRB.com

Before CEREC, restorations and crowns involved messy impressions and weeks of waiting, while wearing a temporary crown. An expert Manhattan Beach dentist employing CEREC utilizes 3D imaging, not dental molds made from impressions.

By using CEREC, your dentist of Manhattan Beach can leave more of the healthy tooth foundation as is required in traditional crowing methods. Simply put, CEREC leaves more of the tooth intact, protecting the tooth’s structural integrity.

How are CEREC Crowns Made?

CEREC crowns are made from single blocks of dental porcelain. This allows the Manhattan Beach dentist of your choosing to create the crown with exacting detail, resulting in a crown that fits well and is more similar to the original, natural tooth enamel in hardness, texture and appearance. Unlike traditional crowning methods that take up to an hour to fit, the CEREC process takes only minutes and the crown is placed and polished in the same appointment.

Although this CEREC technology is revolutionizing dentist practices nationwide, many Manhattan Beach area dentists still don’t offer same-day or CEREC crowns. It’s important when choosing a Manhattan Beach dentist for yourself or your family find out if they offer CEREC crowning innovation.

One dentist when asked about why more dentists don’t use it answered, “CEREC could be one of the greatest advances in recent dental history. Perhaps those who don’t use it do not have the time to learn.”

To find out more about the CEREC crown dental technology, consult a Manhattan Beach dentist that has a proven track record of utilizing it on their patients.  It has been said that CEREC crowning offers better quality for long-term dental health and a more convenient, less intrusive experience for the patient.

Looking younger and more beautiful does not have to mean spending thousands of dollars and risking going under the knife. RoxSpa Aesthetics is a high-end medispa located in Beverly Hills and offers a variety of aesthetic services including facials, chemical peels, Botox, fillers and much more.  There are several non-surgical treatments available, many of which are FDA approved, so they are safe.  At RoxSpa Aesthetics, you are in the best of hands with their experienced, plastic surgery-trained PA and RN practitioners. At RoxSpa Aesthetics, they combine their medical expertise with advanced laser technology to offer their clients personalized, professional skin care services with optimal results.

RoxSpa Aesthetics has helped numerous individuals reach some of their New Year’s Resolutions to look and feel better.  Here are just a few non-surgical treatments to help take years off of your face, body and skin in 2012. Choose from the latest, most cutting-edge technology to restore a more vibrant, youthful you!

Choose from:

•    Botox
•    Dermal Fillers
•    PCA Peels
•    Laser Hair Removal
•    Skin Tightening
•    Photo Facials
•    Purigenex
•    Stretch Marks
•    Cellulite Treatment
•    Hydrafacial
•    Especially for Men
•    Pixel Laser Resurfacing
•    ViPeel
•    Laser360

Reserve your spot for these exclusive treatments today, by going to their website and Request an Appointment Online

Some of their services include:

Medical Grade Chemical Peels
Chemical peels are quick and convenient ways to enhance your appearance and self-confidence and achieve a healthy glow with little or no downtime. Peels have been used for decades to revitalize and resurface skin. They involve applying a chemical solution to remove the damaged outer layers of skin and reveal a younger, clearer, more radiant complexion.

Photofacials
Photofacial is a cosmetic treatment designed to produce younger and healthier looking skin. As most of us age, our complexion reveals sun damage, aging and our lifestyle choices. This aged look may include freckles, Rosacea, wrinkles, broken capillaries, dark spots, blotchy skin, redness of the face and neck, enlarged pore size and uneven pigmentation.  Harmony Photofacial is currently the most effective skin rejuvenation treatment available, combining multiple laser treatments to address the key concerns of individual clients’ skin: pigmentation, texture, tone and tightening. Approved by the FDA, these advanced technologies provide our clients the most safe and effective treatments available. Harmony Photofacial employs 2 novel electro-optical components: Advanced Fluorescence Technology (AFT) and Equally Distributed Fluence (EDF) for non-ablative skin rejuvenation.

Dermal Fillers
There are several types of dermal fillers available.  Dermal fillers are used to help revitalize your facial appearance by increasing volume in the face. Some help replenish the bodies hyaluronic acid to revitalize and plump up the skin, instantly diminishing the appearance of lines and giving a softer look. Others are used to soften more prominent wrinkles, more severe facial folds, to augment thin lips or to improve facial scarring, including acne scarring.  Treatments can last anywhere from 6 months to up to 2 or 3 years.

Botox®
Botox® is a commonly used, simple and safe, non-surgical injection treatment. It blocks impulses from the nerve to the tiny facial muscles that can cause wrinkles.  This treatment specifically relaxes targeted muscles so they do not contract. The overlying skin in the treated area remains smooth and unwrinkled and the untreated facial muscles contract normally allowing normal facial expression to be unaffected. In practice, Botox® can be used to improve facial appearance in many areas, such as worry lines in the forehead, frown lines, laugh lines and crow’s feet. Botox® can also be used to reduce sweat production in underarms, palms and feet, since it shuts off the nerve signals to sweat glands to reduce the amount of sweat and subsequent odor that is produced by the treated area.  Most patients have relief for 6 months before another treatment is needed. This is a very popular treatment for both men and women.

HydraFacial
The HydraFacial treatment is one of the newer advanced non-laser skin resurfacing techniques.  It is the only treatment that combines cleansing, exfoliation, extraction, hydration and antioxidant protection simultaneously, which leaves skin clearer and more glowing with little to no discomfort or downtime.  The treatment is soothing, moisturizing, non-invasive and non-irritating and can help improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, congested and enlarged pores, oily or acne-prone skin, hyper-pigmentation and brown spots.

Dr. Jay Calvert

Dr. Jay Calvert is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He practices in Beverly Hills, California and Orange County, California, where he performs all types of plastic surgery and specializes in cosmetic surgery. He has a special interest in face lifts, rhinoplasty (nose reshaping), and breast augmentation.

“Every person has their own vision of beauty. My goal is to develop a treatment plan designed to help each individual achieve their aesthetic goals in a safe and effective manner.”

Contact RoxSpa Aesthetics today to schedule your free consultation and you can look better than ever in 2012! Call today at 310.777.0496

Connect with RoxSpa on Facebook and Twitter.

www.RoxSpa90210.com

Read our article on RoxSpa’s PAIN FREE Hair Removal and watch Andrew P. Ordon, M.D., F.A.C.S, who stars on “The Doctors“, and is also part of the RoxSpa medical team, discuss RoxSpa’s new technology in a segment from the show.

Photo by www.1photos.com

* Applies to first treatment only. Offer expires Jan. 31, 2012

IHOP’s fundraising objective is to raise $2.7 million, for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and other local charities. How? When you come into IHOP on February 28th, more than 1,500 IHOP restaurants throughout the US will serve each guest a free short stack of IHOP’s signature buttermilk pancakes all day long, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.  In return, guests are encouraged to make a voluntary donation to support the local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital or another local charity.

Guest donations have helped Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals purchase equipment and fund a variety of life-saving procedures and treatments for seriously ill or injured children.

In addition, participating IHOP restaurants will also raise funds for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals during the month of February through the sale of “Miracle Balloons” for $1 and $5 each. Personalized and displayed in the restaurants, Miracle Balloons offer guests an additional way to show their support of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and contribute to the IHOP National Pancake Day fundraising effort.  Guests who purchase a $5 Miracle Balloon will receive a coupon good for $5 off their next visit with a $20 purchase.

National Pancake Day is the best known of IHOP’s initiatives to support the communities in which it operates. Since the first celebration of National Pancake Day in 2006, IHOP, its guests, franchisees and team members have raised nearly $8 million.

In 2011 alone, IHOP served more than four million free pancakes and raised more than $2.5 million in support of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and other local charities.

“Although every day can be made an IHOP day, there is only one National Pancake Day, so we look forward to seeing our regulars and new guests on February 28,” said Jean Birch, IHOP’s president.

“The generosity of our guests, franchisees and team members is evidence of what makes IHOP special, and what has allowed us to surpass our ambitious fundraising targets each year. Our goal is to make this seventh year the most successful to date, and bring the cumulative total raised for charities to more than $10 million.”

For more information about IHOP’s National Pancake Day, or to learn more about Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and make an online donation, visit www.ihoppancakeday.com.

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals raises funds for more than 170 children’s hospitals across the United States and Canada, which, in turn, use the money where it’s needed the most. When a donation is given it stays in the community, helping local kids. Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $4 billion, most of it $1 at a time. These donations have gone to support research and training, purchase equipment, and pay for uncompensated care, all in support of the mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Learn more at CMNHospitals.org.

For 53 years, the IHOP family restaurant chain has served its world famous pancakes and a wide variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner items that are loved by people of all ages. IHOP offers its guests an affordable, everyday dining experience with warm and friendly service. As of September 30, 2011, there were 1,532 IHOPs in 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as in Canada, Guatemala, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Under the licensed name IHOP at HOME™ consumers can also enjoy a line of premium breakfast products available at leading retailers.

For more information about IHOP’s National Pancake Day, or to learn more about Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and make an online donation, visit www.ihoppancakeday.com.

For 53 years, the IHOP family restaurant chain has served its world famous pancakes and a wide variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner items that are loved by people of all ages. IHOP offers its guests an affordable, everyday dining experience with warm and friendly service. As of September 30, 2011, there were 1,532 IHOPs in 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as in Canada, Guatemala, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Under the licensed name IHOP at HOME™ consumers can also enjoy a line of premium breakfast products available at leading retailers.

A fun fact about Pancake Day: A tradition that dates back several centuries to when the English prepped for fasting during Lent, strict rules prohibited the eating of all dairy products during Lent, so pancakes were made to use up the supply of eggs, milk, butter and other dairy products…hence the name Pancake Tuesday, or Shrove Tuesday.  To allow for a full month of fundraising for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, IHOP’s National Pancake Day will take place a week after Shrove Tuesday, on Tuesday, February 28

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Serving the Orange County and Los Angeles metro areas, Best Value Roofing’s RESCUE ROOFER takes the time to understand the homeowner’s roofing needs and educates the consumer on the most effective solution. Their technicians are trained to thoroughly inspect the home’s interior, attic, surroundings and roof. They proactively identify what is, or could be a problem during the life of the new installation or repair being performed.

Best Value Roofing’s RESCUE ROOFER takes pride in setting themselves apart from their competition through their commitment of maintaining a 24-hour emergency hotline, staying until the job is complete, offering up-front pricing and guaranteeing 100 percent satisfaction each time.

Rescue Roofer Orange County for the best roofing services guaranteed.

Roof Inspection
One of the most important forms of roof maintenance is regular inspection. Best Value Roofing’s RESCUE ROOFER offers a four-phase roof inspection, which includes comprehensive checks on your roof’s interior, attic, exterior and general safety. Save yourself the time and expense by letting their trained technicians spot any water or moisture damage, failing attic insulation, roof cracks or deterioration, gutter damage, cracked tiles, or wind-damaged shingles that your roof may be experiencing.

Roof Repairs & Replacement
Getting a roof repaired or replaced is something that most homeowners dread, so let Best Value Roofing’s RESCUE ROOFER make it a convenient and enjoyable experience for you. After a thorough inspection, your personal technician will offer the most cost-effective and convenient repair and replacement options based on your budget and then will manage and oversee the entire process through to completion.

Roof Cleaning
The roof is the most vital part of the house. Nature has a daily affect on your roof, which can cause eventual damage.  Shade, dew in the morning and rain can form mold and algae, which will continue to multiply until the entire roof is slowly taken over. Best Value Roofing’s RESCUE ROOFER provides new life to your roof by providing a fungus-fighting cleaning process to proactively protect your roof for years to come.

To schedule your roof inspection, call Best Value Roofing’s RESCUE ROOFER at 1-800-647-7663 or visit www.bestvalueroofing.com.

LA’s The Place:  What sets you apart from your competitors?

Eric Enriques, Best Value Roofing: Guaranteed arrival times, up-front pricing, 100% satisfaction guarantee, answer live with 24HR emergency hotline, full service – inspections, repairs, and re-roofs.

LATP:  If there was one thing you wanted consumers to know about your company/product, what would it be?

EE:  Fast, reliable response rate followed by up-front (no-nonsense) pricing.

LATP: What are the different types of roofs and installation methods that you offer?

EE: Residential concrete/clay tile, composition shingles, stone coated metal, flat, slate, wood shake, and integrated roof solar panels.

LATP: Why is it so important for homeowners to regularly maintain and inspect their roofs?

EE: Homes are constantly being struck by high winds, rainstorms, foot traffic, wildlife, and such. It’s recommended to have the roof inspected & maintained to prevent leak during the rainy seasons.

LATP: Besides total roof repair, what other services do you offer?

EE: Inspections, roof certification, roof and gutter cleaning, attic ventilation and insulation, emergency service, complete re-roofs, and photovoltaic solar systems.

LATP: What roofing manufacturers do you all work with and prefer?

EE: GAF-Elk, CertainTeed, Owens Corning, Boral Monier Lifetile, Eagle Tile, and Gerard Metal

LATP: What is the biggest mistake people tend to make when it comes to their home’s roofs?

EE: Neglecting inspections and maintenance because it’s taken for granted because it’s visibly invisible until homeowners discover an interior leak.

LATP: What’s the process in getting one of your representatives out for an inspection?

EE: Fill out our online estimate form or call our 24HR hotline to schedule a thorough Four Phase Roof Inspection, which includes a written report with pictures.

LATP: In this day in age everyone is looking for a fast solution, but why is it so important for your company to educate the consumer in order to make an informed decision as opposed to just going for the fast sale?

EE: There are many solutions to solving roof-related problems, but Rescue Roofer always has the latest most innovative products & solutions to solve these problems permanently. Most roofing companies only offer short-term inexpensive solutions that become more costly over time because of resulting on-going problems, such as interior damage, time, and emotional distress.

LATP: What is the future of Best Value Roofing?

EE: Best Value Roofing has evolved from a predominant re-roof contractor to a full-service roofing contractor under the name of Rescue Roofer and will continue to expand into other larger metro areas throughout the US.

Best Value Roofing RESCUE ROOFER
1.800.647.7663
www.bestvalueroofing.com

Orange County Neighborhood Locations:
Mission Viejo: 23052 Alicia Pkwy., Suite H236, (949) 770-7663
San Clemente: 555 N. El Camino Real, (949) 369-7663
Laguna Beach: 1278 Glenneyre Street #261, (949) 497-7663
Costa Mesa: 1835 Newport Blvd., (949) 646-3211
Irvine: 14271 Jeffrey Road, (949) 261-6551
Orange: 393 N. Cypress St., (714) 639-7663
Santa Ana: 3760 W. McFadden Ave., (714) 542-5222
Huntington Beach: 5942 Edinger Avenue #113, (714) 969-7663
Garden Grove: 9877 Chapman Avenue, (714) 898-6988
Anaheim: 2034 E. Lincoln Avenue, (714) 750-8300
Fullerton: 3224 Yorba Linda Blvd, (714) 525-9975
Placentia: 650 N. Rose Drive, (714) 223-7663
Yorba Linda: 10832 Lemon Drive, (714) 778-5573
La Habra: 116 E. Electric Avenue, (562) 697-6422

Los Angeles County Neighborhood Locations:
Long Beach: 3553 Atlantic Avenue #176, (562) 497-1818
Whittier: 10820 Beverly Blvd., (562) 945-9945
San Pedro: 1536 W. 25th Street, (310) 832-7663

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When hiring a Mission Viejo roofing contractor, one expects highly trained and knowledgeable neighborhood roofing technicians and specialists who take the time to understand the homeowner’s need and educate them on the most effective solution. Unfortunately, today that’s not always the case with some contractors and if you’re not careful, you could be left without the original problem being corrected and worse yet, with a host of new problems. The goal of any ethical roofing contractor is to ensure each homeowner’s 100 percent complete satisfaction.

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Here are a few tips to help make your Mission Viejo roof repair and replacement easy and convenient to make sure you hire only the best and most reliable roofing contractors. No matter the size or scope of the homeowner’s project, the following will help you to unveil the company’s ethics to avoid any unnecessary disasters.

How do you know you have the right contractor?
When choosing a roofing contractor, you have to keep in mind that all contractors are different and many specialize in certain services such as roof repair, roof maintenance, roof inspection, roof insulation or solar panels. So doing your research ahead of time and knowing exactly what to look for and ask each company is essential to a successful roofing project. Don’t be afraid to conduct background checks on any and all prospective roofing companies, which will uncover any previous lawsuits, small claims and/or credit history. This will give you an idea of the character of the company and help you choose your roofers properly. Ask questions and conduct a thorough interview prior to committing to one company. This should include everything from who will be running the project, how they overcome unexpected surprises that may arise, the company’s code of conduct and expected timelines. Get everything in writing, including lien releases for your payments, start and stop dates and hours and anything else you feel is important to protect yourself and your property. These should be included in the overall contract that is reviewed and approved by a lawyer if possible and signed by each party involved. This is a good sign that the contractor is ethical and transparent.

Mission Viejo — What to discuss with your Contractor
Every Mission Viejo Roofing Contractor has their own form of pricing structure and when it comes to roof replacement or roof repair, material costs can end up being the bulk of your total repair cost. It’s imperative that you know exactly what kind of materials, and quantities, your contractor will be using. It is always best to see this list in writing and if possible, inquire about receiving samples so you can judge the quality prior to installation.

Orange – Set Your Budget
Another costly part of roof maintenance and roof repair, and essentially what causes most to go over their original budget, is the unforeseen work that may come up and need to be done throughout the roofing project. It’s important to bring this issue up to your Orange Roofing Contractor early in the process. Although these are usually unpredictable, by knowing your Orange Roofing Company’s price structure, this can help in your planning process and alleviate most of the stress if and when these unexpected problems do come up.

Laguna Beach – Keep It Clean
Roof repair and roof replacement are huge, messy projects for any homeowner so make sure you talk to your Laguna Beach Roofing Contractor prior to starting the project and determine who is responsible for the removal and clean up of any old roofing materials. This will help keep your experience positive and efficient so you aren’t stuck with a surprise cost at the end. Any good Laguna Beach Roofing Contractor will be more than happy to include a written statement detailing the condition of your property pre-construction and expectations for how it should look upon completion at your request.

Yorba Linda – Time Is Money
Finally, make sure your Yorba Linda Roofing Contractor will commit to a detailed timeline of your project to help avoid any interruptions or delays. Roof repair and maintenance is already a stressful project so set this expectation early. While unexpected challenges are bound to occur in a project of this magnitude, this will ensure you and your Yorba Linda Roofers stay on track and make any necessary adjustments to the timeline.

Advertised special for Orange County and L.A.

Look for a roofing repair company that has done business in the area for a while, and serving the surrounding cities including Mission Viejo, Orange, Laguna Beach, and Yorba Linda. They are likely to have a lot of referrals and a track record, so you can see for yourself who the best roofing repair company in Mission Viejo really is.

Click here for more Orange County home service companies…

A lasting debate in cosmetics has raged over whether organic products or scientific formulas are better for the skin.  EmerginC, a leading cosmoceutical skincare line, has managed to blend the best of both worlds with their new collection, Scientific Organics.  While moving toward a more ethical and green  method of organically sourced ingredients, EmerginC has combined the latest breakthroughs in the science of skincare with the potent, proven benefits of marine and botanical extracts such as Kombucha.  All natural and yet scientifically tested, EmerginC products feature the established anti-aging efficacy that has made them a staple at the world’s leading spas, including Miraval, Trump International, Sedona Rouge, Wynn, Caesar’s Palace and Carnero’s Inn.

A focus on purity and quality stands out in the Scientific Organic line.  The products are all paraben-free, petrochemic-free, synthetic fragrance-free, artificial color-free and have a minimum of 70% pure organic ingredients.  EmerginC does not test on animals or use any animal ingredients, and their boxes are made out of Forest Stewardship Council and Sustainable Forest Initiative approved pasteboard.  EmerginC is a proud signatory of safecosmetics.org, and even the ink on the boxes is made of non-toxic vegetable dyes.  Furthermore, EmerginC has agreed to plant a tree in a non-harvest forest for every Scientific Organic product sold in retail.  It is difficult to find a company so dedicated to going green without compromising on their quality.

One of the products in which this quality can be seen is their Aromatic Cream Tea Cleanser.  Made from the extracts of three different types of tea, this skin cream soothes your mind as well as your body with its smooth and gentle cleansing.  Aromatic Cream Tea Cleanser thoroughly removes dirt, makeup and excess oil, and is formulated for all skin types, including the most sensitive.  Intended to be usable either in the morning or at night, this cleanser can be applied to either dry or wet faces and can be removed with warm, wet cotton.

Where Aromatic Cream Tea Cleanser truly stands out is in it’s secondary benefits.  As well as cleansing the skin, Aromatic Cream Tea Cleanser utilizes the soothing effects of matricaria and hibiscus, as well as the powerful antioxidants found in green tea, white tea and red tea.  This sweet-smelling combination of organic compounds is designed to calm the nerves, relax the muscles and improve micro-circulation.

Another example of the innovations being developed by EmerginC can be found in one of the products from their new Scientific Organic line.  Phytocell Cream is an intensive age-fighting and hydration cream made from concentrated grape stem cells.  Designed to address hydration and free-radical damage, Phytocell Cream also protects and improves skin tone and texture.  Best combined with other EmerginC products, Phytocell Cream is safe for all skin types and can be applied day or night.
Phytocell Cream also features Kompucha, a fermented tea that has been found to have many medicinal uses.  Kompucha contains something called “scoby,” made up of mild organic acids, vitamins B and C, enzymes and amino acids.  Some of the established benefits of Kompucha are:

•    Hydrates and corrects the pH of the skin
•    Minimizes visible signs of aging, tightens pores, diminishes fine lines and blemishes
•    Natural sun shield
•    Unsurpassed burn remedy
•    Refines and balances irregular skin tones
•    Effective in soothing skin ailments such as eczema, psoriasis, precarotosis, rashes, rosacea.
•    Naturally anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant
•    Reduces swelling.

EmerginC is a company that is well accustomed to progress and innovation.  They launched the best-selling Vitamin C Serum in 1996 and they haven’t stopped experimenting with new approaches to skincare since.  Today, EmerginC creates some of the most highly advanced, active and medical-grade skincare on the market using only high quality, cutting edge ingredients.  Aromatic Cream Tea Cleanser and Phytocell Cream are just the latest in a long line of excellent cosmetics from an ethical company.
EmerginC can be purchased at leading spas Miraval (Tucson, Arizona), Qua (Caesars Palace, Las Vegas), the Spa (Wynn, Las Vegas), and at the Carneros Inn and Spa, (Napa Valley, California), or at emerginc.com.

Life is beautiful but there are times when it can get overwhelming and we need a little help. Life coaches or ‘transitional’ coaches can be instrumental in dealing with tough circumstances that we all face from time to time during the journey – whether that is a death of a loved one, financial stress, divorce, job loss, illness or emotional trauma.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Life Coach Tanya Ragbeer

When it comes time to seek professional help, life coach Tanya Ragbeer has both the life experience and the educational expertise to assist in overcoming life’s obstacles. As a Certified Professional Life Coach and Licensed Master Practitioner and Provisional Trainer of NLP, she helps people on a daily basis to overcome fears in order to progress to a new level of freedom and success.

For more about Tanya Ragbeer’s approach to transitional coaching, visit www.coachingwithtanya.com

CHAYA Brasserie Beverly Hills “Midnight in Paris”

Angelenos can ring in 2012 at CHAYA Brasserie while enjoying the unparalleled tastes of a “Midnight in Paris” from Executive Chef Harutaka Kishi who draws from his Parisian and Japanese roots for an inspiring menu. CHAYA Brasserie will celebrate with:

Entertainment: Live music and performance from Sora Nova, playing contemporary tunes with a Parisian flair

First Seating (6 – 7 p.m.): $75 per person (Four Course prix-fixe menu; tax and gratuity not included)

Second Seating (9 – 9.30 p.m.): $135 per person (Five Course prix-fixe menu with Canape upon arrival; tax and gratuity not included)

Menu highlights: Bonsai Box including Hamache Mole; Wasabi Guacamole and Ponzu Lobster Tortellini; Truffle Butter and Maitake Mushroom; Foie Gras Terrine; Sourdough Toast and Pear Chutney; Seared Diver Scallop; Black Angus Beef Duo and Molten Chocolate Cake

Welcome glass of Champagne for a New Year’s Eve toast at midnight

CHAYA Downtown “New York Nights”

Soak in the city that never sleeps at CHAYA Downtown as the energetic vibe of New York is brought to CHAYA Downtown featuring:

Entertainment: Live performance from jazz trio saxophonist Anthony Long Trio

One seating only: All night (5-11 p.m.): $85 per person (Four course prix-fixe menu; tax and gratuity not included) or à la carte menu

Menu highlights as created by Executive Chef Atsushi Kenjo, will include items such as a Bonsai Box with Big Eye Tuna Temari Sushi; Kumamota Oyster and Sea Urchin Shooter; Moroccan Spiced Maple Leaf Duck Salad; Wagyu Beef Tartar;  Wild White Sea Bass Ballotine; Grilled Angus Beef Rib Eye and Red Wine Braised Kobe Short Rib; Chocolate Pave

Welcome glass of Champagne for a New Year’s Eve toast at midnight

Omakase Sushi Lover’s menu for $85 per person (at the sushi bar only; tax and gratuity not included); seating is limited and reservations are highly recommended

The regular dinner menu will be available and offered throughout the restaurant including in the bar and lounge

CHAYA Venice “Mardi Gras Carnival”

Beachcombers can enjoy a Carnival-inspired celebration including:

Live music and an appearance by the Gumbo Brothers, an eclectic brass band, who have firmly rooted themselves in the artistic tradition of Venice Beach

Second Seating (9 – 9.30 p.m.):  $135 per person (Four-course prix-fixe menu and champagne toast at midnight)

Menu highlights will feature Seared Kobe Beef and Fried Oyster Roll; Cajun Spiced Jumbo Shrimp; Crab Gumbo; Lobster Jambalaya; Grilled Angus Fillet Mignon; Half Maine Lobster Tails; Bourbon Braised Short Ribs; Bread Pudding Dulche de Leche

Sushi Bar: available for non-reservation seatings from 5 –11 p.m.

Bar/Lounge: first come, first serve (Happy Hour prices not available)

Saturday, December 31, 2011 Reservations times will vary depending on choice of dinner seating

Locations:

CHAYA BRASSERIE Beverly Hills – 8741 Alden Drive  Los Angeles, CA 90048  310.859.8833

CHAYA downtown – 525 S. Flower St. Los Angeles, CA 90017  213.236.9577

CHAYA Venice – 110 Navy St. Venice, CA 90291 310.396.1179

Reservations strongly recommended, walk-ins are also welcome.

CHAYA has an unprecedented 390-year history of restaurants owned and operated by the same Tsunoda family both in Japan and California. CHAYA began under an enormous shade tree in Hayama, Japan, centuries ago, where they offered tea, sweets, and respite to weary horseback travelers. Today, there are two locations in Japan (Hikage Chaya and La Marée de Chaya) and four locations in California (Beverly Hills, Venice, Downtown L.A., and San Francisco). Famous for serving imaginative French-Japanese cuisine and for a tradition of unmatched hospitality, CHAYA Brasserie Beverly Hills is the landmark establishment in Los Angeles that has continued the tradition and rich heritage for 27 years, along with CHAYA Venice, which has been located in this relaxed beachside community for over 20 years, and CHAYA Brasserie San Francisco located on the picturesque Embarcadero with stunning views of the Bay Bridge. CHAYA Downtown is the most recent addition of the group catering to downtown urban dwellers and local professionals for over two years. For more information on all locations, please visit www.thechaya.com. You can also visit CHAYA on Facebook or Twitter.

Great Holiday Gift idea!

Pretty Polly is a UK-based hosiery company offering a wide variety of fashionable tights is all different styles and colors. Pretty Polly’s Soft Opaque Tights are all the rage. These sexy stockings are priced nicely so you can buy many. Pretty Polly has been dressing legs beautifully since 1919.

This iconic British superbrand produces Sheers to Opaques, sleek Naturals to timeless Nylons. Pretty Polly is synonymous with famous, beautiful women. Pretty Polly also has a ton of celebrity fans including Rihanna, Katherine Heigl, Selena Gomez, and more! For everyday through to Ultra-fashionable, Pretty Polly make your legs better-than-bare. To see all their sexy, gorgeous styles, go to www.PrettyPolly.co.UK

Angie Everhart with the Glo To Sleep Mask

Great Holiday Gift Idea for Everyone!

There is nothing better than getting a good night sleep! You can help someone you know to do just that with the The GLOtoSLEEP™mask. It is produced by Sound Oasis, the company that specializes in healthy solutions for today’s busy world. It helps you fall asleep by utilizing an Eastern relaxation technique of ‘looking up,’ which converts the brain’s active Beta waves to calming Alpha waves. With four rows of photo luminescent bars inside the eye cavities, which glow blue when charged with a light bulb or sunlight, nagging thoughts disappear when the wearer glances up and down the rows of ‘glo;’ allowing sleep to follow. www.glotosleep.us