Free Entrance Days in the National Parks

America's Best Idea – the national parks – gets even better with several fee-free days at more than 100 national parks that usually charge entrance fees.*

Mark your calendar for these fee-free days in 2011:
* January 15-17
(Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday weekend)
* April 16-24
(National Park Week)
* June 21
(First day of summer)
* September 24
(Public Lands Day)
* November 11-13
(Veterans Day weekend)

Making the fun even more affordable, many national park concessioners are joining the National Park Service in welcoming visitors with their own special offers.
Here’s a tip – many of your 394 national parks NEVER charge an entrance fee. So start Planning Your Visit!http://www.nps.gov/

*Fee waiver includes: entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise.

Best Tressed List of 2010 + What’s Hot for 2011

What hair styles will dominate 2011? Will Kim Kardashian leave those horrendous cornrows in her hair? Surely that look will not make a Top 10 List. Roy Teeluck wanted to share his Best Tressed List of 2010 as we embark onto the Year of the Rabbit, Jessica that is, here are his favorite looks of the last year.

PIXIE STICKS

Even though we spent the past few months whipping our hair back and forth, Emma Watson, Carey  Mulligan, and The Biebs chopped it all off making 2010 the unofficial year of the pixie.  Roy says, "A pixie is a great way to show off your face and is very low maintenance style-wise."

 
SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING BOB

A bob is a fantastic way to take your hair from drab to fab.  By creating a blunt layer (or indie layers in ScarJo's case), you showcase those cheekbones and instantly create a timeless look.  Roy (who personally styles Hillary Clinton and Olivia Palermo) says that leaving the sides a little longer makes for a modern version that softens the hard edge of a classic bob.

 

THE TAMING OF THE DO

For long haired glamour girls, 2010 was all about change.  Taylor Swift broke up with her signature curls and started rocking blunt bangs and a pin-straight look.  Model Lily Aldridge got on the Balayage bandwagon and warmed up her brown hair with some golden highlights.  Emma Stone ditched her red hair and officially became a California blonde.  

Kanye West Monster Video

New Year’s Eve Party Looks on a Budget

Savvy shoppers can put their best fashion foot forward this New Year’s Eve by primping on a budget. Get your New Years Eve shopping at off-price retailers like Marshall's, where they can score the season’s hottest looks for less. Check out the new Marshall's on 6th ave, for more stores visit: www.Marshalls.com. Designers at a discount are the best way to go!

Holiday Looks For Less VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

New Year’s Eve Style Guide to Gorgeous Hair

For fab & festive party hair, we asked award-winning Master Colorist and Hair Expert Vasken Demirjian for his tips on hair for NYE! Demirjian suggests a few options:

Go Sleek

The past few seasons have gone wild for volume, but this season go for an endlessly chic, minimalistic style.  To create a straight look, start with a moisturizing styling creat in damp hair.  Blow-dry straight with a face-framing center or side part, and finesse the ends with a straightening iron.  For an ultra-glam style, twist your locks into a low chignon for a dynamite evening look.

Go With a Pony

Inspired by Louis Vuitton's Fall beauty looks, a perfectly placed ponytail is this season's must-have accessory.  Sweep your hair into a flirty and bouncy high pony to compliment curve-hugging dresses or gather your hair low and to the side for an edgier, asymmetrical look. 

Tip: for a perfect finish: wrap a small strand of hair from the underside of the ponytail around the elastic band, and pin to secure.

Go Glamorous

Create the lush, voluminous style seen straight off the runways by pairing long and loose curls with a deep side part.  First, work a thickening cream into the roots and blow-dry with a round brush before setting in large hot rollers for 20 minutes in order to get glossy, bouncy waves.  To make the look more natural, shake your strands and pull the hair into a bun immediately after removing the rollers: the hair doesn't look too "done" and has a sexy tousled look.

New Years Eve Beauty: Festive Nails

Taking a cue from numerous divas who have been donning the Chrome metallic nail look, Broadway Nails introduces a glue-on Chrome nail that’s longer-lasting and looks exactly like the minx manicure.

We love the Fashion Diva Nail Kits! Especially the new Broadway Chrome nails, $5.99, available at www.beautyonlinesupply.com and at major drugstores nationwide, come in longer lengths that can be filed or clipped to any desired shape or length. Plus, to add a creative accent, mix in the zebra print Chrome nail on the pinkie nail or other nails.

Ask A Doctor: How to Avoid Injury Falling on the Ice

As this record storm pummels the northeast, EverSoPopular got some good tips on how to navigate in this weather from an MD. Dr. Ronald Grelsamer, a leading surgeon and an Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at New York's Mount Sinai Hospital, as a hip and knee specialist, Dr. Grelsamer is familiar with injuries associated with winter weather and shared his expert advice on how to prevent them.

Here is some useful advice from Dr. Grelsamer about how to avoid injury during the winter season on slippery sidewalks and roads.

1. Move your feet ever so slightly apart as you walk. This will give you better balance. If the street is really slippery, bend your knees a little bit. You may feel that you look funny, but it’s worth it.

2. When going down an incline, consider turning sideways. Do NOT cross one foot over the other, as you will have no balance while your feet are crossed. If the ground is steep, bend your knees (this is where those annoying ski lessons can pay off).

3. Protect your dominant arm. That would be the right if you are a righty, the left one if you are a lefty. Since a fall occurs very quickly, you have no time to plan for that. One recommendation is to hold your coat with your dominant hand, which instinctively leaves the other one to break your fall. If you are carrying something, do so with the dominant hand. Again, instinctively you will then use the weaker hand to brace yourself, should you fall.

Happy Holidays: Yule Log

How-To Holiday Hair with Roy Teeluck

Last Minute Gifting: Say Tee’s

With the number of shopping days ticking down, a cool t-shirt can be an easy last minute gift ideas. Check out premium t-shirt maker PJE Los Angeles (www.pjelosangeles.com).

 
Made from superior fabrics and printed with water-based inks for a soft hand and luxe feel, our Fast & Loud and You Can’t Handle This styles bring a dose of lighthearted swagger to any girl’s wardrobe and are the perfect fit for your favorite badass. 

Snoop Dogg “Twas the Night before Christmas” Remix!

Snoop Dogg sits down by the fireplace to recite the classic “Twas the Night before Christmas” like you’ve never quite heard it told before.  Check out Snoop’s version of this classic tale, brought to you by Pepsi MAX, to get you into the holiday spirit!      
 

Gifts that Give Back: Until There's A Cure

In rural South Africa poverty and HIV/AIDS are leaving millions of children without adequate care and support. The purchase of these bracelets funds Thanda After-School, a non-profit organization that provides after school skills development, lessons and activities for vulnerable children. The school works to create long-term changes, with a focus on entrepreneurship, poverty alleviation, and HIV/AIDS prevention.

The Slinky Bracelets, $35.00 each, are available at www.until.org. All products are handmade in rural South Africa, enabling people to support their families, while creating pride in their work and hope for their communities.

Until There's A Cure Foundation
is a nonprofit organization that raises funds and awareness about HIV/AIDS
through the sale of The Bracelet. All proceeds fund prevention education,
care services and vaccine development. For more info visit: www.until.org.

The Perfect Gift for Anime Fanboys & Fangirls

Crunchyroll.com is the world's number one online streaming Anime (Japanese Animation) and Asian Drama site. For $6.95 per month or $59.99 per year, Crunchyroll subscribers get unlimited access to anime simulcasts as soon as one hour after broadcast in Japan and a catalog of thousands of episodes. Premium Members enjoy early simulcast access to currently airing shows in Japan, no advertisements and High-definition videos where available. A summary of Premium Membership benefits can be found at www.crunchyroll.com.

Wrestling Fans Make an Entrance…with the WWE Championship Belt!

 

With the World Wrestling Entertainment Electrovision WWE Championship Belt, $39.99, kids can make an electrifying entrance on Christmas morning just like their favorite Superstars with the ultimate championship belt! Adding a new twist to the role play experience, the new Electrovision belt takes advantage of innovative engineering to combine more than 450 frames of animation with real Superstar theme music allowing kids to recreate the entrance experience for six of the hottest WWE Superstars! Kids will raise their championship belt high in the air in victory!

Celebrity Style: Jake Gyllenhaal in John Varvatos Eyewear!

Recently Jake Gyllenhaal sported aviators from John Varvatos Eyewear while out and about in Los Angeles with his new country cutie girlfriend, Taylor Swift!  

Jake was looking suave in John Varvatos' gold classic aviator (style #V745; $300)! http://www.johnvarvatos.com/.

Celeb Spotting: Pierce Brosnan Shops at Artisan de Luxe

Pierce Brosnan shopped LA's hottest new boutique, Artisan de Luxe, on Melrose Ave in West Hollywood yesterday. The former 007 Agent shopped the Artisan de Luxe collection with legendary denim-designer, Philippe Naouri, and bought a shirt, pair of jeans and a vintage ring; http://www.artisandeluxe.com/. 

Artisan de Luxe recently launched this year and offers a premium denim line for men and women complemented with knit and woven shirts, dresses, outerwear, fine jewelry and accessories.

Janelle Monae & Karl Lagerfeld: When Fashion Meets Music

Grammy nominated artist Janelle Monae recently had the pleasure of meeting fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld during a show in Russia. 

A discussion on their affinity for dressing in black and white and to hear what the great Karl Lagerfeld had to say about Ms. Monae.  
 
Check out the "Many Moons" Short Film & Ms. Monae moonwalking at about the 4 minute mark.

Reality TV Star Kim Zolciak To Write Non-Fiction Book in Self-help and Relationship Genre

This just off the wire:

The Real Housewives of Atlanta’s Kim Zolciak – one of the hottest and most talked-about women in entertainment today – has signed a deal with Farrah Gray Publishing to write a book in the self-help/relationship genre to be released in 2011. 

Bravo TV’s reality series The Real Housewives has spotlighted marital relationships good, bad and bizarre during its wildly successful run, and now one of its stars is writing a self-help book on a topic she and her co-stars know well – relationships.

Kim Zolciak, the vivacious blond starring in Bravo’s docu-drama The Real Housewives of Atlanta, has signed with Farrah Gray Publishing to have her book released during the coming year.

Following in the footsteps of Real Housewives seasons in Orange County and New York, the Atlanta series follows six women from the city’s social elite as they cope with busy home lives and promising careers.  Rated the No. 1 cable show in its time slot, The Real Housewives of Atlanta was nominated this year for an Emmy as Best Reality Show.

Thoughts?

Kelly Killoren Bensimon and Parker Pens “Write Big”

WHAT IF YOU COULD SHARE YOUR MESSAGE WITH THE WORLD?
 
Parker’s international Write Big contest drew to a spectacular close on December 7th with a magical evening combining innovative art technology and the written word in the heart of New York City. Author and reality show star Kelly Killoren Bensimon was on-hand to help PARKER launch their grand finale celebration.
 
Over the past six weeks, PARKER invited people to share their message online at www.parkerpen.com, framing their thoughts with the question What if?
 
Out of the 160, 000 visitors, more than 53,000 entrants from around the world submitted their personal, topical or philosophical messages to be used in an original event celebrating hand-writing.
 
The groundbreaking competition concluded with the winning inspirational messages coming from 10 different countries, in 9 different languages and selected by PARKER’s judges for their democratic, original and positive output. These 30 sentences were projected onto the exterior of New York’s iconic Museum of Arts & Design* building in a breathtaking display of revolutionary, cutting edge 3D video mapping.
 
Some of the messages:
What if your small step started a massive change? - Gerri T.
What if you could save a life with a pen? Incredible! - Matthew O.
What if I was a pen, the world would be my notepad? - Daniel L.
 
Passersby from Columbus Circle and Broadway were astonished to watch these international messages, projected onto the New York skyline. PARKER thus empowered both NYC and its inhabitants during the 2 ½ hours that the projection ran.
 
The PARKER holiday pop-up shop**, located just steps away from the projections, was also a popular destination for those wishing to view 2010’s pen collections. 
 
Earlier in the evening, a presentation for press and friends of the brand was held within the Museum of Arts & Design. Author and reality show star Kelly Killoren Bensimon, PARKER President Jean-Charles Hita and Group President Penny McIntyre introduced the evening’s proceedings with comments underlining the conceptual thinking behind the event and its natural link with the sophisticated heritage and innovative values inherent to the PARKER brand.
 
“The Write Big event encapsulates all of our PARKER values: Innovation with its 3D technique, Design with the artistic creation, and Writing, with the written thoughts from people from all around the world,” said Jean-Charles Hita. Bensimon added, “I’m thrilled to have been asked to participate in tonight’s Write Big event. There is nothing more alluring than the written word. I love the intimacy of a note, and why not write it with an amazing instrument like a Parker pen?”
 
The public can relive the spectacle of the Write Big event and see exclusive footage of the evening by visiting www.parkerpen.com or facebook fan page.
 
*Museum of Arts and Design address:
2 Columbus Circle, New York City NY 10019 USA

**The PARKER Pop-Up Holiday Shop address:
Time Warner Centre, Ground Floor
10 Columbus Circle, New York NY 10019 USA

Give A Wham! for Christmas

What is it about the Christmas season that makes me think of a young George Michael…and Andrew Ridgeley in Wham! Whether its “Last Christmas” or their participation in Band Aid on “Do They Know it’s Christmas?” The best is George rapping about his street cred on “Wham! Rap.”

I’m inspired to make my own holiday mixed-tape. Actually, it will be more like a Youtube playlist… Here’s how I’ll start the party!

You know heartbreak is almost over and Christmas is almost on the way when you hear this!

According to Wikipedia this was one of the first singles by a British group to include rapping.

Now just add some Daft Punk… and it’s a modern masterpiece!

Tips for Online Holiday Shopping

The holiday shopping season is in full force, consumers are scrambling to find the right gift at the right price, and what they can’t find in stores they search for online. With $16.8 billion already spent online in the first 33 days of the holiday season, e-tailers have found additional ways to keep the momentum going. A couple important dates to remember include December 17 or “Free Shipping Day”, also if you’re planning on ordering gifts online at the last minute, remember that December 22 is the last day for Express mail service.

In addition to the dates, keep in mind a few easy tips Trend Micro suggests to stay safe while clicking from site to site.

• Know your merchant – Only shop online with merchants you are familiar with.  If you choose to purchase something from an online site that isn’t recognizable, please do your research.  The Better Business Bureau is a good place to check the legitimacy of an online shopping site.
• Keep an eye out for phishing emails – Phishing is the practice where a cyber criminal pretends to be from a legitimate organization and sends misleading emails requesting personal data. There are higher volumes of phishing e-mails during the holiday season. Cyber criminals can easily make their messages look like legitimate order confirmations or store promotions to obtain your personal information.
• Avoid the temptation of keeping your credit card information (or other secure information) on your hard drive – if someone gets on your computer or if you lose your laptop, the criminal will have easy access to this information. 
• First line of defense – Use the most up to date and comprehensive software like Trend Micro’s Titanium 2011, which offers an easy-to-use interface with the most advanced cloud technology protection that automatically updates in real-time.

Easy Glam Hair: The Posh Pony

  

From the red carpet to the streets, Hollywood’s in-crowd has been rocking the hottest new updo: the posh pony. Stars like Blake Lively & Lauren Conrad are photographed on the red carpet with the sleek look. Now you can copy these starlets’ trendy ‘do with göt2b invincible ultra glued styling gel. Powered by high-tech styling agent, Alpha XRT, the formula feels like a gel, but works like a glue to hold strands in place. 
 
After combing hair back, göt2b celeb stylist Larry Sims recommends “breaking up the texture of the göt2b invincible ultra glued styling gel by rubbing the product thoroughly through your palms and fingertips.” This will ensure that the formula coats the hair for optimal hold and performance.
 
Next, “Use a blow-dryer with high heat at a low speed to help the sleek style harden faster. Be sure to apply heat starting at the roots and ending at the tips,” says Sims.
 

 
göt2b invincible ultra glued ($5.99) is available at Wal-mart, food and drug retailers nationwide.

Sexy Stocking Stuffers from Good Vibrations

Baby it’s cold outside, so why not heat things up with our Sexy Holiday Gifts! Check out the

Stay Home For The Holidays Kit, $59, from www.goodvibes.com.

No time away can compare to the pleasures of a staycation with this kit! Filled with naughty and nice goodies, it has something for everyone. Let the celebration start the minute you open the package!

This kit includes:

• Nipplettes Vibrating Nipple Clamps (Purple)
• Please Cream Lubricant 2 oz
• Seduction Vibe
• Screaming O Cock Ring
• 2 AA Batteries

For more holiday shopping ideas, check out the Good Vibrations Holiday Shopping Guide.

P.S. Good Vibrations also recommends who not to give to - check out the NSFW gift guide for a laugh.

Nifty Beauty Gifts: Something for Everyone from Origins

Check out Origins' Holiday Wish List, a wish list gift app on Facebook that lets all your friends know just what you want this holiday season: http://www.facebook.com/Origins?v=app_10531514314&ref=ts

We love the amazing gift sets offered up by Origins. Here are some of our favorites:

Limited Edition Grapefruit Greats, $42.50;

De-Stress Hug, $39.00;

Limited Edition Clean Comforts, $35.

 

For more check out www.Origins.com and share with your friends http://www.facebook.com/Origins?v=app_10531514314&ref=ts.

Its Friday! Alors on danse!

“Alors on danse” is French for “So We Dance”

 

Check it out with Kanye on the the track…this Euro & electo sound will definitely be a bigger part of hip-hop in 2011.

BEP gets the party started. Needs more “Dirty Dancing!”

Great Gift for Anyone: The Hottest iPod Dock: Chinon AVi Docking Station

Chinon USA, a digital technology innovator, announced that its AVi video/music docking station is fully compatible with the Apple iPod nano with Multi-Touch, maximizing the music listening enjoyment of this newest generation of iPod with its room-filling 2.5W dual speakers.

The AVi is the ideal partner for the ultra-compact nano, complimenting its portability with its own. Designed after the classic all-American boombox, the AVi is lightweight and comes with a carrying handle for on-the-go entertainment at the beach, the park, the pool or anywhere else fun takes you. Just place your iPod nano into the AVi's universal docking adapter to share iTunes music, uploaded digital photos, and podcasts with your friends.

The Chinon AVi also lets Apple enthusiasts with earlier-generation, video-ready iPods view iTunes videos, movies and TV shows on its 7-inch widescreen LCD, as well as to display digital photography just as they would on a standard digital photo frame. Amazingly versatile, the AVi even receives Over-The-Air TV broadcasts to allow viewing of your favorite shows on the go. In addition it has an FM radio and alarm clock built in.

The Chinon AVi is available for $179.99 at www.overstock.com, www.vivaladeals.com and www.bundlecity.com. It comes with a wireless remote control, TV antenna, AC/DC adapter, AV cables, and Aux-in cable.  For more information, visit www.chinonusa.com.

CRUMBS to Celebrate Grand Opening with a 1,000 Cupcake Giveaway.

CRUMBS Bake Shop, the originator of the gourmet cupcake, is pleased to announce the opening of its Columbus Avenue store located on New York’s Upper West Side between 97th and 98th Streets.  The recently opened CRUMBS Columbus Avenue store will celebrate the grand opening on Saturday, December 11th. 
 
CRUMBS will celebrate the opening by inviting the entire community to enjoy 1,000 complimentary cupcakes (one per person) beginning at 8:00 am on Saturday, December 11th!  Lines have often wrapped around the block in past give-a-ways at other New Jersey, New York and Connecticut locations that by lunchtime, not even a “crumb” was left over from the 1,000 cupcakes that were given away.  Get there early to take part in the festivities!
 
“We are thrilled to bring our signature cupcakes to Columbus Avenue and the surrounding neighborhood,” said Mia Bauer, CRUMBS co-founder. “We just wanted to say thank you for such a warm welcoming by giving back and showing our customers how much we appreciate their support.” 
  

CRUMBS Columbus Avenue
775 Columbus Avenue
New York, NY 10025
www.CRUMBS.com

Day to Night with Celebrity Stylist LeAura Luciano

Dance Off: Just Dance 2

The recently launched Just Dance 2 is the perfect gift for anyone on your list. The second installment in the Just Dance line follows the success of the first installment which has sold more than 3 million copies. 

The game features:
 
·         A brand new track-list of more than 40 recent and classic hit songs including Rihanna’s SOS, the Pussycat Dolls When I Grow Up, Ke$ha’s TiKToK and more
·         Improved movement detection
·         Choreography created by real dance experts
·         Enhanced multiplayer options where teams of up to eight players can engage in a dance off
·         New modes including Duet Mode where each player will follow a different choreography mixing dance steps and poses that will respond to the choreography of the other
·         New Just Sweat mode that includes a calorie counter so players can keep track of how much they’ve burned  while grooving to the game

Fred Figglehorn says “Christmas is Creepy”

Cash Money here’s your next artist… Fred Figglehorn!