Archive for April, 2011

We adore Jo Malone here at TDO, and recently tried a couple of their new Tea Fragrance Blends. Inspired by the quintessential British tradition, Jo Malone offers five different blends:  (more…)

To me, the Ritz Carlton Los Angeles at LA Live, is quintessentially Los Angeles: glitz, glamour, and grandeur all wrapped up into a very private, very VIP experience for its guests.   The hotel is situated at Downtown LA’s bustling city center and shares the building with the JW Marriott, but the second you walk into the Ritz Carlton’s private lobby you feel that you’re being transported to an urban oasis. Located on Fl 22-26 of a 54 story sparkling modern glass building,  The Ritz Carlton has just 123 rooms- each featuring a wall of windows looking out onto the cityscape and the Santa Monica mountains. It’s one of the newest and most talked about luxury properties in LA, so when I was in town last month, I made a point to check in- and check out the Ritz Carlton. (more…)

Need some gift ideas for Mother’s Day? Check out 3 picks for the accessory-loving mom!  (more…)

I normally (and sadly) avoid hair powders because the fragrances within them irritate my scalp, but if you’re traveling, or you’re trying to stretch the life of a great blowout or hair extensions, it’s hard to resist the lure of a good tinted hair powder. So when I received a sample kit from a new local company called Finley to try out, I went for it.

I was pleasantly surprised that the finely milled, silica- and tapioca-starch-based formula — while fragranced — didn’t irritate my skin at all. (Note: This doesn’t mean it’s free of common irritants. In addition to fragrance, it contains aluminum starch octenylsuccinate and several colorants such as carmine, so beware if you have sensitive skin or allergies.) On the other hand, the company credits itself with using minimalist packaging instead of aerosol cans.

Available in four shades — black, dark brown, golden blonde and white — Finley Hair Powder, $18, comes in a deceptively small bottle. You really only need a few modest shakes here and there to soak up grease and fluff roots, so the price tag isn’t so much of a shocker. The bottle lasts longer than it looks like it will. And it sure beats plain old cornstarch (my kitchen-ready standby). Give it a shot if hair powder is your thing.

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If I had a bathtub, I would bomb it this spring … with luscious bath bombs from Lush and Hugo Naturals. Lush recently sent a box of their new Easter-themed bath bombs as stylish, fun and healthy alternatives to candy baskets this weekend. (Pictured above: Donkey Oaty, Happy Easter Gift, Candy Fluff, Hippy Chick). The idea: Buy several sugar-scented bath bombs and place them in a gift basket just like you would marshmallow chicks and chocolate eggs! I initially balked at the idea of using my shower as a tub but I got inspired by my Lush-loving friend, who can’t get enough of the surprises inside their fresh, organic and handmade products. This got me thinking, why not celebrate spring with bath-goodies baskets for all your spa-day deserving friends? Kind of fun, eh? (more…)

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