What's in Store

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This week, we found some unique and limited items to snatch up before they become obsolete:

Splendora recommends shopping on Etsy for unique wares in limited quantities for your wardrobe, jewelry box, or home.

Stuff Magazine highlights the non-cumbersome Fio MP3 Sunglasses to keep you sunning in style while listening to your favorite music.

Gizmodo mentions that adult swim season is ahead with the new blue-grey, limited edition Zune. This item pictured is one of 500 and not available to the public, so if you can get your hands on one you can be the envy of all your friends.

Engadget points out that Sony’s latest and greatest digicam, Cyber-shot DSC-S800 will be available in May at the earliest, and only to Europeans. If you’re traveling in Europe in the coming months, you might want to check this baby out.

Shiny Shiny spotlights Apple’s highly anticipated mobile device of the year — iPhone. Oooh la la!

Omiru styles its Special Sampler Edition of the Friday Fashion Hotlist and presents vintage button bobby pins from Two Busy Bees with a flair for fashion.

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“Anyone can make the simple complicated. Creativity is making the complicated simple.”
Charles Mingus, 1922 - 1979

In 1920s joie de vivre met the pursuit of happiness and created a fabulous decade of clothes and music. The saucy independence of flappers was a perfect fit with the new genre of American music: jazz. With the New Orleans Jazz Fest kicking of this weekend, there’s no better time to work some jazz age inspired spring pieces into your wardrobe.

Rhythm

Elegant leisurewear, a.k.a. sportswear, started with the active lifestyle of the 20s. Look for a tennis costume inspired blouse in lightweight cotton or silk to add a dash of Gatsby glamour to your style.

Jump

Ferragamo realized in 1925 that by inserting a slim steel shank into the arch, he could design fancier shoes. Pay homage to the birth of the modern pump and put a little Charleston in your step with a pair of T-Strap heels.

Fusion

Simple silhouettes in fluid, drapey fabrics defined the Jazz era. You can’t drink bathtub gin (the beverage of flappers) in a stiff dress, so give the hanger a shake. The dress should be able to slink into a speakeasy. Add a belt at your hips to complete the modern flapper look.

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Wine is definitely undergoing a revolution of sorts…oenophiles are starting out younger and younger these days, and that’s more than apparent with some of the wine events targeted at the 20 and 30-somethings in my town (San Francisco), put on by local wine aficionados Courtney Cochran and Don Davis.

I graduated from a university with a world-renown Viticulture and Enology program (read: “grape growing” and “wine making”), but while I wasn’t a wine major, I was fortunate enough to take an introductory wine tasting course and have been in love with the juice ever since.

Feel like you’re ready to jump on the bandwagon? If so, here are some tips to get you on your way to being a verified wine snob…

Sip in Style

Are you a klutz like me? If so, opt for a less fragile wine receptable than the traditional wine glass, and get some stemless wine glasses that won’t tip over with the bump of an elbow. These personalized Riedel stemless wine glasses from Shopping.com merchant, Wine Enthusiast, were featured in O Magazine’s April issue, as one of Oprah’s favorite things. After they ran in the magazine, searches for these particular glasses on Shopping.com increased by a whopping 325 percent!!!

Pop the Top

Invest in a wine rabbit corkscrew opener. I use mine several times a week and it saves me the hassle of wiggling the cork out by sheer strength, which I seem to lack. You can find an affordable one at many stores…and it’s practically foolproof.

Tasting Party

Plan a wine tasting trip for a friend’s birthday. If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area or near other U.S. wine regions like California’s Santa Ynez Valley, Oregon’s Willamette Valley or Washington’s Yakima Valley, you are set. Rent a limo or charter a small bus for the day and head up with your friends in style. You can hit up several wineries to get a good feel for the different varietals grown and often buy wine at the winery at a discount.

Here’s one to start out at if you’re in Napa - PlumpJack Winery. San Francisco’s very own dreamboat mayor, Gavin Newsom, is a founder…maybe you’ll run into him there.

Join the Club

Last, but not least…join a monthly wine club. Specialty wine stores exist everywhere, so let their buyers do all the hard work of scouting down great bottles to add to your collection or just to enjoy with a nice meal. There are so many club options to choose from, where you can receive bottles of just red, just white, or a mixture, every month. And, there are varying membership levels — start out with just two bottles per month and work your way up to a case if you have the wallet to back it up. Check out K&L Wine Merchants, a California-based wine retailer which ships all across the country.

Bottoms up!

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If you thought Sanjaya was on “fiyah” or were on the other side and wished that his clothes caught on fire, at least you were watching American Idol. And while the hard smiling youngster isn’t on the show anymore (he was the sixth contestant eliminated), Idol is still the most popular show week in and week out according to the television ratings.

But what about the music? Isn’t about the music? Thanks to Epinions Music Reviewers, I’ve listed the latest in American Idol music releases for you.

Elliot Yamin - Elliot Yamin

Elliot Yamin was in the final three of last season’s show, losing only to runner up Katharine McPhee and winner Taylor Hicks. He was a fan favorite and was one of the better vocalists in the history of the show. Epinions reviewer MattBjorke calls Elliot Yamin’s self titled album on independant label Hickory Records (which is distributed by Sony BMG’s Red Distribution), “A solid debut album which has plenty to like on it.” Elliot’s first single is Wait For You.

Ruben Studdard - The Return

Ruben Studdard’s third solo album (he released a gospel album as his sophomore album) was supposed to be a return to what made him so good on the second season of American Idol when Gladys Knight called him the Velvet Teddy Bear. It is in fact, not that at all according to Epinions member roheblius who says that Studdard needs (to sing) smart ballads that cater to his cuddly, charming, shy, nice guy image that he sold so well on American Idol. Thus far, Studdard’s album isn’t exactly selling off the shelves, making it a far cry from his first album that went platinum.

Kelly Pickler - Small Town Girl

The bucket of sunshine and a quite polarizing Idol icon, Pickler has turned her short stay on Idol into quite the little career. Her album, Small Town Girl is nearing 500,000 units sold and Epinions reviewer Monnie1976 says “I think it’s great when a singer’s personality shines through the material and you feel like what you are hearing is something they’ve really experienced.” Released on Halloween of last year, the album’s newest single is I Wonder.

Chris Daughtry (his band Daughtry) - DAUGHTRY

It was a surprise last season on American Idol when Chris Daughtry was elminated before making it to the end. Fans had him pegged at least for the final two and the popular choice to win it all. But the joke is really on everyone else. Chris Daughtry (and his band) has one of the surprise albums of the year. It’s certified 2x platinum in just over 5 months after being released. Epinions reviewer Lambchops says the songs are rich with guitars and drums and injected with a good bit of pop. Daughtry’s single Home takes the place of Daniel Powter’s Bad Day as the signature tune played when Idol contestants are sent home.

Taylor Hicks - Taylor Hicks

Last season’s winner, Taylor Hicks has been getting some negative press of late based on an album that has not yet sold a million units, but it doesn’t mean that the album isn’t good. According to Epinions reviewer, tchoate, the album should be able to be appreciated by all the members of the “Soul Patrol”, and she adds that based on the quality of music, Taylor’s fan club should be growing. The album includes a Marvin Gaye cover, a Ray Charles re-working, and the song Dream Myself Awake written by Rob Thomas.

Fantasia - Fantasia

Fantasia’s self-titled sophomore album is urban rock according to her. According to Epinions reviewer speeddemon531, Fantasia has a voice that can move boulders. He also calls Fantasia one of the best female singers of her generation. The album got off to a slow start and hasn’t really picked up from a sales perspective, but with a Broadway career to go along with her music career, we’re going to see a lot of Fantasia.

Katharine McPhee - Katharine McPhee

Katharine McPhee’s often delayed rookie album was a pleasant surprise when it dropped earlier this year. Epinions reviewer kelly617 calls the album a well executed guilty pleasure. McPhee has sort of been out of the Idol limelight of late, but her song Not Ur Girl was used during the presentation of the top 6 girls for this year’s season.

Tonight, American Idol gives back with a two hour special. You can read more about it on the American Idol website.

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It’s a pretty big DVD week for shoppers. Here are the top three DVD movie releases for this week and reviews of them from the Epinions.com community.

Déjà Vu

Denzel Washington and producer Jerry Bruckheimer team up in this action suspense film. Washington stars as an ATF agent who uses time travel to try and save a woman and prevent a terrorist attack. Directed by Tony Scott and also starring Paula Patton, the DVD release also features a behind the scenes look at the movie as well as deleted and extended scenes.

Epinions Reviews for Déjà Vu

The Queen

Helen Mirren’s role as Queen Elizabeth II won her an Academy Award for Best Actress. The movie looks at Queen Elizabeth’s relationship with Prime Minister Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) in the wake of the death of Princess Diana. The DVD features a documentary that looks at the making of the film as well as commentary by director Stephen Frears and writer Peter Morgan.

Epinions Reviews For The Queen

Night At The Museum

This Ben Stiller blockbuster grossed nearly $250 million in the theaters during the holidays. This DVD release comes in a widescreen, full screen, and special 2-disc edition. Inspired by the 1993 children’s book by Milan Trenc, Ben Stiller’s character Larry meets CGI representations of Teddy Roosevelt, Attila the Hun, and others.

Epinions Reviews For Night At The Museum

If you are a movie buff and would like to add your two cents about a good or bad movie, join Epinions.com and start writing reviews!

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We’re always checking out our favorite blogs, web sites and online magazines. Each week or so, we’ll point out the cool things we find. This week, we found a bunch of neat new gadgets and umm accessories:

UberReview reports on iPod themed Baby Clothes. Gadgets gone too far or yuppielicious?

GeekSugar spotlights the Asahi Beerbot, a robot that serves you cold ones, and a Kodak locket-inspired camera.

Gizmodo features a new kid on the MP3 block: Sandisk’s Sansa Connect. Also, animal lovers can help their dogs get two legs up with the new Hotdoll, a sex doll for dogs. It’s like a traffic accident, you just have to check it out.

Splendora discovers the Squeezebox which lets you stream Internet radio to a stereo.

Engadget points out that Wal-Mart has a $299 Blue-ray HD DVD player on the way. Other cool devices were mentioned including the exotic mobile Porsche Cayenne phone and a widescreen LCD for your wrist.

Men.Style.com highlights its GPS device top-pick: the Garmin Nuvi 360 with an intuitive, easy-to-use interface perfect for the everyday globetrotter.

Productdose.com reveals Philips’ latest VoIP phone the DECT 6.0 offering Skype Internet and traditional landline calling cabability.

Stuff Magazine reviews the Creative’s Zen Vision: M an MP3 player the size of a deck of cards, available in five different colors.

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“What is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it.”
Yves Saint Laurent

When I was little, I had black patent leather tap shoes that I loved and wore everywhere. Then I had a couple birthdays and learned that what is charming on a child is not so charming on an adult. Luckily, patent leather is all grown up this season. So take a shine to some patently stylish accessories.

Shoe Shine

With everything from scarlet to bottle green to aubergine available this season, there’s no reason to stick with black heels. Keep your patent leather shoes shiny and conditioned by rubbing a little Vaseline into them periodically.

In the Bag

Remember in Funny Face when Kay Thompson’s character pronounces spring fashion is “dull, dreary and depressing,” right before she sings Think Pink? I feel that way about a lot of business bags. But not this time! What could be more fun than a glossy, shiny, sensible patent leather bag for work?

Belt Line

There are a number of practical reasons to wear belts- accentuate a waist, fake a waist, keep your pants up, etc. They’re also in fashion this season, which is practically a reason to buy a new one. Wear it over dresses and fine knit sweaters, a la Tippi Hedron. Or, pair it with fluid trousers and boots for a modern Katharine Hepburn.

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Here are the top three DVD movie releases for this week and reviews of them from the Epinions.com community.

Freedom Writers

Academy Award winner Hilary Swank stars as Erin Gruwell, a fish out of water teacher challenged by students of many different ethnicities who don’t like her because of her skin color. She must gain their respect through her teachings. The movie is inspired by a book called The Freedom Writers Diary by Erin Gruwell and the kids of Wilson High. The DVD comes out only three months after it’s theatrical release.

Epinions Reviews for Freedom Writers

Smokin’ Aces

Smokin’ Aces features an all star cast of actors (Ben Affleck, Ray Liotta, and Andy Garcia), but it’s Jeremy Piven and Ryan Reynolds who are the leads. The rated R film about a magician (Piven) turned Mafia informant and the FBI agent ordered to protect him (Reynolds) also features the film debuts of music stars Alicia Keys and Common.

Epinions Reviews For Smokin’ Aces

The Last King of Scotland

Forrest Whittaker’s role as an Ugandan dictator won him the 2007 Best Actor Award at the Academy Awards. The film is loosely based on the Giles Foden’s debut novel of the same name. Directed by Kevin MacDonald, the film features James McAvoy as a Scottish doctor who is befriended by Whittaker’s Idi Amin and sees the dictator’s moral corruption first hand and has to find his way out of their relationship.

Epinions Reviews For The Last King Of Scotland

If you are a movie buff and would like to add your two cents about a good or bad movie, join Epinions.com and start writing reviews!

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While participating in the MS Walk this weekend, I noticed a lot of fashion-focused people running along the waterfront.  If you don’t know San Francisco, there’s a beautiful stretch of park next to the Golden Gate Bridge that attracts picnickers and kite lovers, but definitely runners, walkers, and bikers galore. 

Besides the plethora of million-dollar men without shirts (hey, it kept us entertained while we fund-raised), there were a lot of folks in cool gear.  It was inspiring, but let’s face it…sometimes exercising isn’t fun or even something that we want to do, but know we need to.  If you’re like me, you might need incentive to work out: shopping incentive.  One week at the gym equals one new workout outfit. 

If you’ve earned some stylish workout wear, here are some suggestions to help you gear up while sweating to your favorite tunes.

These Fit Couture Barcelona drawstring capris pants are a hot item that many women are wearing, especially since they are versatile enough for a hike or just hanging out. 

Good athletic shoes are essential and there are many different kinds — running, walking, cross-training, etc.  Figure out which styles you need.   I narrowed my running shoe search on Shopping.com by the “Most Popular” and found the Gel Kayano Xi Athletic Shoes Asics for both men and women. 

When working out, I find it’s easy to pass the time while listening to music.  If your MP3 player has been getting in the way, you may want to buy gadget-friendly workout wear to make your experience even more rockin’.  Check out iPod-compatible clothing such as Hammacher Schlemmer’s Technology-Enabled T-Shirt.  

If you’re a sports fan, add an extra pep to your step by supporting your favorite team.  You never know, you could meet some rivals to keep your adrenaline pumping or other fans from your hometown.  And ladies, you don’t have to wear a boxy jersey, you can find cute sports-inspired clothing like this St. Louis Cardinals spaghetti strap tank top.  Go Cards!

The key is to be comfortable while you’re working out and if you can look great at the same time it’s icing.  After all, after your workout, you’ll deserve a treat.  So enjoy! 

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