http://www.brandhabit.com/feeds/whats_new /images/vendors/thumbnails/MAMA-MCH4.jpg Wed Jun 17 09:45:23 -0700 2009 Mercedes Salazar Joyeria : With incredible amounts of creativity and talent, Mercedes Salazar’s designs use traditional handcrafted techniques, versatilely combined with the most unusual materials. These beautiful and unique pieces “will connect you to the Universe”, in the designer’s own words. Besides gold, silver, bronze, semiprecious stones, diamonds and emeralds, pips, acrylic, glass, pearls, steel, aluminum, fabric and industrial materials can be found on the different pieces, creating an interesting contrast of light and color which Mercedes skillfully puts together thus creating a jewel that reflects all her love for existence and will never go unnoticed. Mercedes Salazar was born on June 17th 1975 in Bogota DC, Colombia. She attended the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes’ Craftwork School in Mexico City (2000). Her work is diverse, sophisticated, voluptuous, and always tries to show the two sides of the coin, the balance between lightness and weight, roundness and squareness. To her, opposites are fundamental. Mercedes Salazar is a young woman who watches what goes on around her and takes inspiration in the everyday life to turn those seconds and words into jewels. She spends the whole day with her artisans creating jewels, exploring and retrieving ancient techniques. Diverse, cheerful and defiant, she does not hesitate in breaking the rules with a profound conviction. The never-ending search for her own roots is the main nourishment of her spirit. Her lines are refined and subtle, and they reflect her admiration for hand-made jewelry. The Mercedes Salazar Jewelry Company was created seven years ago and its headquarters are located in Bogota, Colombia. It includes boutiques in the stylish Parque de la 93 and the El Retiro Shopping Mall in Bogota, and the historical quarters of Cartagena de Indias, the magical city that was deemed World Heritage by UNESCO. At present, Mercedes Salazar’s work can be found in fine boutiques and distribution points in more tan ten countries around the world, including the United States, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Venezuela, Australia, Japan, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Mexico. This Colombian designer has exhibited her work at local fairs as Expoartesanias, and international trade shows such as ENK - Accesorie Circuit in New York City on its three annual versions, Première Classe Paris, SIMM Madrid and Democircuit Barcelona. The Company is an active member of the Colombian American Chamber of Commerce: www.amchamcolombia.com.co http://www.brandhabit.com/designer/6436-Mercedes-Salazar-Joyeria /images/vendors/thumbnails/Spring_2009_Lookbook_and_Linesheet_pictures_073.jpg Wed Jun 17 10:51:27 -0700 2009 Talina Hermann Apparel : Virtually anything as long as you are being open minded. http://www.brandhabit.com/designer/5887-Talina-Hermann-Apparel /images/vendors/thumbnails/logo_09_copy.jpg Mon Jun 29 12:47:54 -0700 2009 Typhaney B. Jewelry : All life has to offer! Raw nature, to city architecture, living life.. http://www.brandhabit.com/designer/4370-Typhaney-B-Jewelry /images/vendors/thumbnails/Fall_Flats.jpg Sun Jun 14 12:12:47 -0700 2009 Something Moore : Customer service. http://www.brandhabit.com/boutique/24100-Something-Moore /images/vendors/thumbnails/dollshop9.jpg Sun Jun 14 12:13:04 -0700 2009 The Paperdoll : All items are hand-picked with love from independent designers. http://www.brandhabit.com/boutique/26954-The-Paperdoll /images/vendors/thumbnails/iniam_logo.jpg Sun Jun 14 12:40:56 -0700 2009 INIAM : The store environment. It's spacious and inviting and beautiful yet very comfortable. The atmosphere just makes our customers want to come back again and again.. http://www.brandhabit.com/boutique/67-INIAM Laura James Jewelry Lucite Hoops & Pink Rhinestones http://www.brandhabit.com/product/1160-Lucite-Hoops Mercedes Salazar Joyeria 35" 24k gold plated brass chain necklace and writing heart with pearl and glass charm. http://www.brandhabit.com/product/1127-I-love-my-necklace Jamie Kreitman Yum, yum! You’ll look scrumptious in our hand crafted cupcake T. T-shirt made of peek-a-boo, light as a feather cotton. http://www.brandhabit.com/product/1121-Cupcake-Tee Laura James Jewelry Thu Jun 11 07:23:38 -0700 2009 Featured on People.com! http://www.brandhabit.com/designer/5722-Laura-James-Jewelry Laura James Jewelry Thu Jun 11 07:04:47 -0700 2009 People Stylewatch Magazine Vintage ZOdiac Libra Necklace http://www.brandhabit.com/designer/5722-Laura-James-Jewelry Ali Precious Wed May 20 10:59:54 -0700 2009 http://www.brandhabit.com/designer/6081-Ali-Precious Mon Jun 08 08:51:35 -0700 2009 How to Look Like a Star: From Terrific Hair Pieces to Hair Care New STYLE Collection by Jaclyn Smith for Paula Young® Q: Jaclyn, describe your hair care routine: JS: "I don't wash my hair every day - unless I'm on a film or a photo shoot. I try to take breaks from daily shampoos and other products. That way I give my hair a chance to rest and let the natural oils work back into my hair. I use non-detergent shampoos unless I want to deep clean my hair. Q: Do you have a favorite shampoo and conditioner? JS: "I try rotating a few favorite shampoos - you'll find that changing shampoos will bring out the best in your hair. Some may give it shine, some will add body and some will make your hair softer. You will learn what shampoo works best for you depending on what you want for that particular day. Q: What is the STYLE Collection for Paula Young®? JS: "I like hair styles that are classic and timeless. My new STYLE Collection for Paula Young is an amazing, affordable collection of wigs, falls, hairpieces, volumizers and clip-ons that are both flattering and fun to wear. There is no need to be afraid of change! José Eber, "stylist to the stars", has become synonymous with beauty throughout the world. José believes that every woman has star potential if she will recognize her own unique beauty and appreciate the characteristics and traits that make her special and different. He puts it this way, "I don't make women beautiful, I show them that they already are." Q: José, Jaclyn's fans often write to us asking about Jaclyn's haircut …what can you tell us? JE: "First, let me say that I've been lucky to cut Jaclyn's hair for more than 18 years. The reason I say lucky is because Jaclyn's hair really is a hairdresser's dream come true…not too curly; not too straight … easy to blow out straight -- or add a bit of product to obtain beautiful tossels or curls. She has very 'touchable' hair -- with such amazing texture, quality and wave. Q: What special advice do you have for Jaclyn's fans? JE: "You have to be realistic. If you have fine or thin hair, your hair will not look like Jaclyn's - no matter what the cut is or who cuts it. But there are many fashion styles today and you will find one to be right for you. Also, don't be a slave to trends … and, don't let your age dictate your choice of style. There is no age limit when choosing a hairstyle. Your haircut and style will be fashionable as long as it fits your personality and your lifestyle." Q: What is the difference between a 'style' and a 'trend'? JE: "OK, let me try to answer that. There are trends in hairstyles. But a trend is not a style. You can interpret any style into the trend. One year the trend could be straight and another year curly. If the trend is for curly hair, you can have anything from flat curls to big curls or very curly to wavy hair. Ten women can follow the trend of curly hair, but have ten different individual beautiful styles." STYLE Collection: Celebrity Hairstyles in a Snap! The recently-debuted STYLE by Jaclyn Smith Collection is a magnificent line of beautiful hairpieces, including falls, clip-ons, wigs and other pieces. The line, available exclusively through www.paulayoung.com and the Paula Young® catalog, meets the needs of today’s modern woman featuring hair fashion with natural highlighting, blended colors, volumizers, add-ons and more. http://www.brandhabit.com/member/beautysavvy Fri May 08 02:28:02 -0700 2009 www.etopsupplier.com wholesale ed hardy,true religion jeans www.etopsupplier.com wholesale ed hardy t-shirts www.etopsupplier.com wholesale true religion jeans www.etopsupplier.com wholesale armani t-shirts http://www.brandhabit.com/member/etopsupplier Wed May 06 10:29:54 -0700 2009 I love the Mercedes Salazar´s Hearts http://www.brandhabit.com/member/6436-Mercedes-Salazar-Joyeria carla Thu Jul 31 05:21:05 -0700 2008 Some of you may have noticed that we have a new blog format. When you click on “blog” at the top of the page, you will see a chronological display of all of our featured posts, by all of our featured editors. If you want to read my posts, click on “CEO Blog” under “categories” on the right hand side of the page. Also check out our hysterical editor, “Boutique Peek” who highlights some of the best boutiques in the country. Finally, we have a new writer who focuses specifically on great fashion websites. This is under “Links we love”. There are more categories to come! Stay tuned! http://www.brandhabit.com/blog_entry/346-Check-out-our-New-Blog carla Sat Jul 12 08:50:25 -0700 2008 I did a Photo Shoot this week with a professional photographer. I’ve only done about 5 of these in my life. Once when I was 5, when I was 16 and getting into acting, when I was 20, when I was married, and when I was pregnant. This time, it was for business. When I arrived at Kathleen Harrison’s studio I had done my hair and make-up and I was armed with a bunch of outfits (all black and white-classic). I had geared myself up to boldly say: “I want you to make me look like a super-model who is being shot for a lifestyle magazine” Hell, if I am going to be shy about what I want, I won’t get it. Right? Kathleen shows me a few black and white photos of professionals. “No. No, no, no. I don’t want the corporate headshot stuff. It’s not me. I want these shots to be fun and flirty and casual and not too posed. This is fashion. I tried to fit into the corporate image and it just doesn’t work. I have to be me” Kathleen is probably thinking to herself, “Oh boy. I have a live one on my hands.” Realize that I make all of these demands with a big smile on my face while I am running around, digging though bags of clothes and accessories. I am a FUN, demanding bitch. We start the shoot on a white backdrop. I pretend I am a model moving to new poses between clicks. Kathleen encourages me for a while but I soon run out of moves to make. We take a quick look at a few shots on her camera and I my heart sinks. Where are my eyelids? My hair looks frizzy. Ugh, my mouth looks so tight when I try not to smile. Gosh. I am really not the person I think I am when I look in the mirror. Oh well. I look pretty good, FOR MY AGE. What a friggen show stopper that is, isn’t it? FOR MY AGE. What the hell happened to my eyelids? They are hidden beneath the upper brow. God, this is a reality check. So, we take a million more shots. I am having fun with some of them… it’s getting better. Clearly, I have no training in this because when Kathleen tells me to kick my leg up, I turn my ankle in a way that makes me look like I have a fat calf and no foot. We go outside where I can ham it up in natural light. I am embarrassed by the cars, bikes and people going by thinking, “Who does she think SHE is? A Super Model? NOT!” God forbid , I run into someone I know. A young man (boy of 20 something) walks by and then turns around to ask what we are up to. It’s perfect timing because we are having a hard time getting the reflector to stay still. He offers to help. Oh god, now I have an audience. Funny thing is, NOW I am really having fun. There is something about a young man standing there appreciating you that makes you feel… fun and flirty and sexy. These are the best shots of the day. I look at a few and recognize me for who I think I look like. Phew! Kathleen is brilliant. Here is her site http://www.kathleenharrison.com And here are a few shots. <a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii141/brandhabit/shot1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii141/brandhabit/shot2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> <a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii141/brandhabit/shot7.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> http://www.brandhabit.com/blog_entry/339-My-Photo-Shoot- carla Fri Jun 27 07:57:50 -0700 2008 Every time I go out mountain biking with my friend Patty she pushes me beyond my comfort zone. Last Saturday was the first time in a loooong time that I even went out on my bike with someone else. I like to exercise at my own pace; neither waiting for someone slower than I am or anxiously trying to catch up with someone who is stronger than me. Patty and I were at the peak of my normal mountain biking loop and I already felt like I wanted to puke. While it was only 8’oclock in the morning, the weather has been in the 100’s lately and I was probably dehydrated. “Okay, ready to circle back down?” I said “No, we have another climb,” Patty answered. “We need to climb White’s Hill and then hook up on the B-17 near Tamarancho” (we’re so damn cool, aren’t we?) “Shit Patty… I’m scared. (She laughed) Okay.. Let’s go!” Patty takes me to a peak of a mountain where I can then see all of Marin. It’s a spectacular day with funny puffy clouds and it’s clear as a bell. I wish I brought my camera. These shots could be amazing! We start heading down on the crest of a mountain with the trail falling away on both sides. I feel like I am on a carnival ride because like an infinity pool, the trail is so steep, I can’t see it over the edge. Even with my ass totally hanging off the back to combat the bike from pitch poling, my rear tire is skidding out. I know I should let off the breaks to prevent skidding but the trail is so steep my fear inspired iron grip won’t loosen. If I lose control I’ll fall off either side of the mountain and probably won’t stop. We get to the bottom of this mountain and I am silent.. almost in tears and pretty pissed at Patty. I suddenly remember this primitive feeling from when my father used to put me in situations where I was terrified and had no choice but to push through. He would take me to the top of KT 22 (a black diamond ski run) at Squaw Valley when I was just a kid. I’d cry and skid down the mountain, hating him for putting me through such terror. From an early age, my father never pushed me in team sports but he was an outdoorsman and he would take me backpacking in the Sierras. When I was 14, we went backpacking with a group of 11 friends; some of the kids were my age. My father and I split off for a few days on “solo cross country” trip. “Okay, let’s go off the trail here” My Dad said. I was filled with fear and dread right away. “Where are we going Dad?” “I don’t know.. Let’s just check it out and see where we end up!” I hate this shit. We first climb a mountain made of shale. We take one step forward and slide two steps back. God Dammit. We finally make it to the peak (we are above tree line: 13,000 feet), look down the other side and discover that the only way down is a slope of ice. I start to cry. “How are we going to get down this mountain Dad???” We can’t walk down. We decide to take off our backpacks and throw them ahead of ourselves so we can literally slide down the ice mountain. Needless to say, we survived. I have some good stories to tell but this feeling of being out of control and someone putting me in a scary situation causes me great anxiety. Patty and I aren’t done with our ride. Next she takes me on my first single track trail. It’s a beautiful trail that winds through a forest of oaks and redwoods but she instructs me not to look down. “Just keep your eyes on the trail in front of you.” The trail is about 12 inches wide and again, the mountain falls away steeply on one side. If I fall, I won’t stop. Nothing is more Zen than single track riding. You can’t think about anything else. A tree root or rock juts out of the trail, you get your tires stuck and you are a goner. If I don’t finesse my way under and around a low hanging branch or trunk I’ll be sure to dislocate my shoulder or snap my neck. Another mountain biker comes up behind us, expertly maneuvers between Patty and I on the 6 inches of trail we leave him and while he says, “You guys good? Need anything?” he skirts off into the woods. “All the cute guys are on B-17” Patty says. I look like shit when I am mountain biking.. My head is tall from my helmet. My legs feel like sausages in my shorts and that lovely Pad they put in your shorts to “protect” your underlings.. well, it is not a flattering site. Plus, I am dirty, sweaty and smelly. What would a gal like me say to a cute guy riding by on B-17? “Yeah, I do need something… I’m scared!” Patty is in hysterics. In the end, when we meet up with a trail I am familiar with, I let go of my terror and anger. I don’t need to be afraid of situations like this. If Patty can do it, I can do it. And you know what? I might just go do it again. http://www.brandhabit.com/blog_entry/328-Mountain-Biking-with-Patty- &copy; 2007 BrandHabit, Inc. All rights reserved.