Category Archives: Brands, Sites + Technology We Love

Found: A SoleMate

Posted in Brands, Sites + Technology We Love, Decor + Style, Fashion + Beauty by

I think just about every woman has experienced that horrible moment when she realizes the heel of her new stiletto just sank in between the cracks of a city sidewalk.  It’s a paralyzing feeling; leaving you unable to look down because you know, more often than not, an unsightly and oftentimes irreparable scuffmark will be left behind. In an instant, your shoes have gone from fashion statement to fashion faux pas.

And as a wedding planner, there have been moments when I’ve found myself silently encouraging every muscle in my core to carry me  across the many grassy knolls that set the backdrop for outdoor weddings.  It’s an experience that becomes that much more difficult when your “greener pastures”have recently been watered by Mother Nature.  Ah, the joys of womanhood!

So, imagine my delight when I heard about SoleMates High Heeler®, a clever high hell protector that attaches to most stiletto and kitten heels to reduce heel pressure and prevent the heel from sinking into grass or falling into cracks. Ladies, I do believe all of our shoe prayers have been answered!!

They are currently available in four colors – Clear, Black, Silver and Gold – and will cost you about $9.95 a pair.  If you order directly from the SoleMates website, you’ll be treated to 10% off any order of 10 or more or free shipping on two or more pairs.  Retailers, such as DSW, David’s Bridal, and Kleinfield Manhattan, also carry SoleMates High Heeler® but you can also use their online zipcode finder to locate SoleMates in a store near you.

Getting Married Outside?  Then SoleMates are a must have accessory for any bride and her bride’s maids. Better yet, order in bulk and place them in a decorative container near your sign-in table for all of your female gal pals to pick up on their way in.

**all images courtesy of thesolemates.com**

A Greener Way to Illuminate…

Posted in Anatomy of a Party, Brands, Sites + Technology We Love, Decor + Style, Weddings by

Event lighting is a relatively small investment that yields a significant impact on the overall décor and ambience captured by your event.  Perhaps the least expensive and most common lighting option is candles.  But have you ever given thought to the amount of energy that is consumed making tea light candles only for them to burn for 2 hours and be discarded?  What about the amount of wax and wicker that goes into large votive candles? Depending on the number of candles you burn annually, you may be leaving behind a rather impressive carbon footprint.

A greener and safer option, which has been growing in popularity over the years, is the flameless and rechargeable candle. Until recently though, I’ve thought that what flameless candles made up for in cost effectiveness and environmental friendliness, they’ve lacked in design…that is, until I came across these ideas.

While all of these are touted as the perfect decorative light addition to your home, office or child’s room consider them for use the next time your event calls for the soothing benefits of a soft candle.

Milk Glass Cup Shaped LED Night Light Lamp

This energy saving LED Light is designed to look like a glass of milk and even comes in a fun cow-inspired package.  Standing at 5.43 inches high and weighing only 4.6 ounces, this fun lighting alternative is powered by 3 AAA batteries and an ON/OFF setting that is concealed on the bottom of the glass.  When set to ON, the light inside of the glass will turn off automatically whenever it is tilted sideways or placed upside down. Unlike the Sun Moon Jar (shown below), the Milk Glass Cup Shaped LED Night Light Lamp is not water repellent and will need to be kept dry if used outdoors. You can buy them on Ebay for about $4.97 each (includes shipping).

Sun Moon Jar LED Solar Mood Lamp Light

Aren’t these adorable?  The Sun Moon Jar LED Solar Mood Lamp Light is a completely waterproof and weatherproof lighting option – making it the perfect outdoor solar light solution that comes in blue, amber or pink.  Like the Milk Glass Cup Shaped LED Night Light Lamp, the Sun Moor Jar also contains an ON/OFF setting but the batteries are replaced with 2 solar panels which automatically charge by day and give off a welcoming glow at night. The Sun Moon Jar LED Solar Mood Lamp Light also doubles as a storage solution, and is large enough to house candy, coins or collectibles. The least expensive unit price located online for the Sun Moon Jar is $13..24 at CZRH but keep in mind you’ll be paying for international shipping and will require additional time for delivery.

Soji Modern Rechargeable Solar Lanterns

The Soji Modern Rechargeable Solar Lantern is where design meets sustainability, making these the perfectly elegant lighting solution for an elegantly posh event.  Created in a layered wave-like form on hand formed weather resistant plastic, these green lighting alternatives are unique, portable, and efficient and will never require stringing of unsightly electrical wires. Creating the effect of a solar powered chandelier the Soji Modern lantern will turn itself on at dusk to cast a stunning golden glow that can last up to 6 hours.  They are available in 3 beautiful patterns: Pure White, Pearl Motif (white with white floral pattern) and Mineral Motif (white with grey floral pattern). If you order them from LampLust, you’ll pay about $36.99 a piece but will enjoy the discounted rate of $34.99 if you purchase 4 or more and the benefits of free shipping for all orders of $99 or more.

Targetti Art Light

Created by Australian born designer, Simon Crilley, this Targetti Art Light is actually a ceramic plate that contains living, breathing, and growing turf.  Yep, you read that right…it’s alive and as it grows it changes the nature of the light cast by the lamp.  Sadly, this item isn’t for sale.


EXPOSED: Michelle and Lauren Grossberg of TopstiX

Posted in Brands, Sites + Technology We Love by

Michelle Grossberg (Creator) and sister Lauren Grossberg (Marketing / PR) are the owners and creative designers of TopstiX – plastic chopsticks that are hand decorated in 164 Swarovski crystals and personally customized to bling out your Sushi dining experience.  When I first heard about the concept, I immediately thought they were a very cute favor idea for a Dim Sum brunch celebrating the Chinese New Year. And thanks to Twitter, I was able to catch up with Michelle and Lauren for this very sparkly installation of EXPOSED.

Company Snapshot:

  • Name: TopstiX
  • Established: 2010
  • What is Your Main Line of Business? We hand make Swarovski covered chopsticks, delicately placing each stone one by one for a fun and unique gift.
  • Why TopstiX? It is a play on chopsticks (what we cover in rhinestones!) and since we do it on the top of the stick, it fits perfectly with our product!
  • What Was The Inspiration for TopstiX? Our love of everything bling! We already owned blinged out phones, ipods, and other accessories, but not a pair of chopsticks! That, combined with our love of sushi, inspired us to create a product that no one has ever done before.
  • Explain the day in the life as a business owner: We spend many hours on social media sites and outlets, trying to reach out to our fan base, and also build new connections and relationships with future ones. Not only do we spend many hours producing our product, but we brainstorm new color combos and pattern ideas.
  • What is the best business advice you’ve ever received? To never give up and keep trying. We always remember to keep our heads up and pushing the product. Since we believe we have a great product, we are always working hard to spread the word!


Reflections

  • Hometown: Ft. Lauderdale, FL
  • School Creds: We’re both graduates of the University of Florida.  Go Gators!!
  • Our First Job: After college graduation, we were fortunate enough to tag along on a business trip to China to one of their father’s business trips to China with their father. While there, we were able to take part in his export business, East West Trading Company. It was there, where we were inspired by the many colors, styles and culture of the country.
  • What keeps you up at night? We are constantly dreaming big of what is up and coming for our business, sometimes losing precious hours of sleep!
  • What are some wise words that you live by? Get in the Mix and Grab some Stix!
  • What was/is your best career decision? Starting our own business! We realized after working for others, in order to really get our ideas out there that we must take charge!

Diversions

  • Reading now: Kardashian Konfidential (we absolutely adore these empowering businesswomen!)
  • Reading next: A Shore Thing. We love reality TV and Snooki is a hot client that would be PERFECT for Topstix!
  • Last fun purchase: Hello Kitty Compact Mirror
  • When you’re not working you can be found doing what? Blinging out chopsticks! But we both love to travel, shop, read gossip magazines and eat good food!

Playing Favorites

  • Hotel: Fountainebleau  South Beach
  • Getaway: LA  (home to many of our clients *wink*
  • Entrée: SUSHI!
  • Drink: Skinnygirl Margarita
  • Guilty pleasure: Perezhilton.com

Looking For More Information

EXPOSED: Momon Photo and Print

Posted in Brands, Sites + Technology We Love by

If you follow me on twitter, you know that I was on a desperate search for a graphic designer just a few months ago. Now, you’re probably saying, how hard is it to find a graphic designer and trust me, you don’t want to know.  Each new tweet asking for a referral seemed 100% more desperate and agonizing than the one before.  It was one bad month, several bad meetings, and hours of my life that I will never get back later, when I learned that a glimpse of hope sat just 3 floors beneath me (cue harpsichord and choral “ahhhhh”).  We immediately hit the ground running and in 90 short days, the list of artistic and graphic creativity that has emerged in generating ideas, concepts and marketing pieces that effectively represent SocialBfly, is rapidly growing and will be available for your viewing pleasure very soon.  So without any further adieu,  meet Mr. “hope”….better known as Jamal Momon, CEO and creative brilliance (if he doesn’t say so himself…see below) behind Momon Photo and Print.

Image of Momon Photo CEO, Jamal Momon

Reflections

  • Hometown: Englewood, NJ
  • School Creds: New Jersey City University (BS in Computer Science), The Anthem Institute (Diploma in Graphic Design and Animation)
  • First Job: Administrative Assistant for a Travel Marketing Agency
  • Business Offering: Graphic Design and Photography

Distractions and Downtime

  • Reading now: Entrepreneur Magazine
  • Reading next: Entrepreneur Magazine (next month’s copy)
  • Last fun purchase: Hot shoe camera flash trigger/receiver set
  • When you’re not working you can be found doing what? Buying 3 for 20 DVDs at Blockbuster to add to my collection

A Few of My Favorite Things

  • Hotel: DoubleTree (don’t ask)
  • Getaway: Dominican Republic
  • Entrée: Curry Goat and Rice (Jamaican dish)
  • Drink: Goji Melon Life Water
  • Guilty pleasure: Twizzlers

Me: Explain the day in your life as a photographer/graphics designer and business owner.

JM: It’s just me and my computer (yet to be named). I enter my computer room, close all programs except Firefox and the necessary design program, and the occasional iTunes, and focus. I emerge a couple of hours later with creative brilliance!

****

Me: What is the best business advice ever received?

JM: Don’t not do it because it’s never been done. I actually just made that up lol, but I like it and I’m sticking with that answer.

****

Me: What are some words of wisdom that you live by?

JM: I love “Go for the Gusto” because I refuse to accept mediocrity. Another I swear by is “Teamwork makes the Dreamwork”. The relationship and communication between client and designer is extremely important in creating an end product that satisfies both parties.

****

Me: What would you describe as your best career decision?

JM: I’d have to say adding Photography to my list of design services. I feel like I’ve always had an eye for capturing moments, and I’m always working on providing this through my work.

Looking for more information?

Rent the Runway for Your Next Event

Posted in Brands, Sites + Technology We Love, Fashion + Beauty, The Dress, Weddings by

As a woman, I find the hardest part of getting ready for a night on the town is picking out the outfit.  After all, there’s a science to looking effortlessly beautiful in a look that only you will be wearing.  Well, the process may have gotten a hell of a lot easier thanks to Rent the Runway (RTR), a NY based online shopping experience started by Harvard Business School students, Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Fleis, who according to their Backstory, found themselves faced with the same challenge of finding something to wear.

Badgley Mischka

Registering for the site is easy and free and once complete, you have immediate access to dresses from over 95 designers at your fingertips.  Designers range from Nicole Miller to Shoshanna and are offered at 90% of the retail price.  Yes, you read that right. For $1o0, this Badgley Mischka dress, which normally retails at $1150 in stores, can be yours for 4 days.

You can also choose from an array of accessories to compliment your outfit and if you’re not sure of your size, there’s an option to have your dress selection in a 2nd size for NO additional cost.  You’re given the option of a 4 or 8 day rental (8-day rental is a little more expensive) and the cherry on top is return shipping is also FREE!

No lines + No Membership Fees + Free Shipping = Win-Win Situtation! Log on to www.renttherunway.com to find your designer runway look today!