Made from biodegradable, Greenway towels are the ultimate green luxury. These plush towels are highly absorbent and become even softer with each wash. The set includes a washcloth, hand towel, bath towel, and a bath sheet, all in white (total value: $250). For more info, visit waterworks.com.
Most of the best advice I’ve ever received in my life has came from my Mom. Check out this latest tip she sent me. I will never peel a potato again. Genius!
Certain greens can help remove indoor air pollutants like formaldehyde and benzene. English Ivy is an easy-to-grow toxin fighter.
“I know how to spend extravagantly – I think nothing of spending $8,000 on a corset for my show. My accountant once said he couldn’t understand how I spent $70,000 on a single dress, but then he came to my show and saw how lavish it was and told me afterwards that now he understood.” Dita Von Teese on spending.
Valentines day is in 10 days…are you ready? You can start at Zappos.
“We don’t make our own Fondant. Fondant is hard on mixers, and for the trouble, it’s better to just go the store and buy it. Fondant is basically pure sugar. You can add candy flavorings to alter the taste if you like. We tend to think of fondant as the canvas that we decorate, but it also acts as an airtight seal that keeps the cake inside fresh and moist. When it comes time to eat the cake, you can peel the fondant off like you would an orange peel. “ Duff Goldman, Ace of Cakes, on the blatantly grotesque taste of fondant icing.
Candles…they’re not just for ambiance anymore David Burke’s Primehouse in Chicago is using candles as condiments. They make edible candles out of bacon and beef drippings (the wicks are coated in vegetable wax.) As the candles melt, it is drizzled over dry aged steaks and salads to add an extra kick of flavor. Now that’s thinking outside the box.
One of the things we are most proud of at Supernatural Botanicals is our all-natural vegetable-based sugar scrub. It took over a year and a half of research and development to create the consistency in which we wanted. Long gone are the standard sugar scrubs with three inches of sugar on the bottom and three inches of oil on the top. Our sugar scrub maintains it’s consistency, so you recieve equal portions of oils and sugar. Your skin will feel soft and mositurized, and will smell sensational. Traditional sugar scrubs leave your body feeling like an oil-slick when you are getting out of the shower, not to mention, they are full of cheap oils and fragrances. Our formula is 100% all natural, right down to the organic grapefruit essential oils for a burst of citrusy aroma. Click here to learn more.
…….Last night I had the amazing opportunity to work with Smart Talk Women to invite the adorable Miss Valerie Bertinelli to Cincinnati. And let me just say, we had so much fun! First, with the obvious….yes, she’s as cute and bubbly in person as she is on screen. She graciously and patiently signed her books and went on to speak about “taking your life back.” This girl is truly in her zone, her sweet spot, if you will. It’s hard to imagine that someone with everything that she has could have gotten lost along the way for so many years, but she did. Well, she’s found her groove and she is loving life. Happiness just oozes from her and it’s so great to see her (or anyone) who is in their sweet spot of life. Here’s what our girl, Barbara Cooper, er, Valerie, had to say:
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Without a doubt, the true love of her life is her son, Wolfie (Wolfgang Van Halen.) She delights in speaking about her son and his natural (okay, inherited) passion for music. She said that Wolfie, now 18, has chosen his path in life and that’s certainly music. He tours with his dad, Eddie Van Halen, playing bass.
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Valerie on Eddie: They have a great relationship. In fact, she texted him yesterday (on his 55th birthday) to wish him a happy birthday. They have found common ground and both Eddie and Valerie are happy now. Val said when she went to give the “sex” talk with Wolfie, she deferred it to dad, Eddie. She then realized she sent her child to a rockstar for advice on sex! ha!
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On the bikini: Val says it was hard for her to believe, too. She weighed 122 pounds in this picture, and worked very, very hard for it. She said she’s about 10 pounds heavier now, but that was a goal, and, wow, did she nail it. She looks amazing. This is a 49 year old woman looking 22! You. Go. Girl.
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Valerie on the weight: Emotional eating is what helped Val pack on more than 170 pounds. She said she was so embarrassed everywhere she went. She heard the whispers….”Is that Valerie Bertinelli? She’s so fat.” Years of being unhappy with herself is what got her to a place of being overweight.
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Flash forward: She lost 40 pounds and she’s running the Boston Marathon in April, a few days before she turns 50! Valerie says running is what has transformed her body. Did she like running? NO! But, she adjusted and is learning to love what it does for her body.
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Valerie on boyfriend of 5 years, Tom Vitale: Val says Tom fell in love with her when she was 40 pounds heavier (we love him already.) Not only that, but Tom is a University of Cincinnati graduate! Love that! Tom is obviously her pillar. She even brought him on stage at one point, pointed at him and said “this is why sex is great!” They are very sweet together. He brought her a glass of champagne when she and I were talking, and she responded “thank you, baby!”
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Jalapeno Poppers: The root of all evil. When Val was at her heaviest, she and Jalapeno poppers were the best of friends. This was her go-to comfort food. She said she’d even put cheddar and sour cream poppers in the oven and mix them around …just to surprise herself with each bite. She hasn’t touched them in three years.
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Insight: Valerie on single parenting: “You have to love your kids more than you hate your ex.”
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Not only does Valerie write books, she’s an avid reader. Val has been doing book club with her girlfriends for 12 years!
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Is Valerie in the tech-loop: You bet! You can find her on Twitter @Wolfiesmom and her blog is ValerieBertinelli.com.
