Kitten Lounge

Mingling Mondays: One Night Only

KittenCouture — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 05:00:00 -0800

Weekends are essential! I get very excited about them and this one was even more exciting since Kitten Lounge Food Editor and boyfriend, Paul and I were hitting the road to go to Atlantic City to not only enjoy Halloween night but to get in some good food, spa time and a little poker - obviously not all of these would be enjoyed by me but we were both excited. As many of you know who Twitter me, I kept counting down to Atlantic City and by 5pm, I was picked up by Paul and off we went after gassing up the Murano to tackle Atlantic City. There's something about going on a road trip and if you travel with me, you can enjoy me singing along and doing dances (the closer we got to AC we lost our stations and went to 60's and 70's music which brought back memories of Sat mornings when I was little with my mom, sister and I!).

Paul and I had been invited to come down to Atlantic City and to stay at the Tropicana and to enjoy some dining. As we continued on the Atlantic Expressway into the strip, I couldn't help but think that since we took a few wrong turns, that we should definitely think about the next car having a little navigation and that we definitely want to have an SUV but that we might consider getting a Ford Flex as we will do quite a bit of traveling and you can't deny that it is a head turner - I always feel when you hit certain streets you definitely want to do the whole "see and be seen thing".

Arriving at Tropicana, I was pleased to find that we were staying in the new Havana Tower. Not only do I love that it's new but it's so close to all the food and club.lounge options. Since we were a little late (wrong turns will do that to you), we checked in at the front desk and checked in with PF Changs, went upstairs and came back down. All week I had been dreaming of Lettuce Chicken Wraps and I was not disappointed in the slightest; moreover, munching on the Crab Wontons was equally as satisfying. After a crazy week full of presentations and finishing up the Holiday Gift Guide, I was so glad to have the Mai Tai and later a Plum Collins (an interesting take on the Tom Collins which substiutes the vodka for Plum Vodka and also Plum Wine). Paul being a creature of habit, enjoyed the red wine. For dinner, I enjoyed the Sea Bass which sat on spinach leaves and Paul had large prawns. We shared garlic snap peas and for dessert we shared a chocolate dome.

I have always been a fan of PF Changs as I enjoy their asian fusion menu; moreover, when I have had it in a resort setting, I tend to enjoy the food that much more. During dinner we were able to touchbase with Courtney who is the Tropicana's PR Manager. In addition to attending events, I love meeting the people that you spend weeks chatting with in order to learn about a product or service. She let us know that there was a huge Halloween Costume Contest that would happen in the Quarter which is an annual event. While at dinner we saw various costumes and my favorite was actually a couple that we saw while we were checking in - they dressed as a bride and groom from the beyond and yet they had a pack of beer.

After dinner, we walked out into the Quarter to see all the restaurants and clubs that were available upstairs and downstairs. With more people gethering for the costume contest, we decided to step into Cuba Libre downstairs and enjoy some mojitos and of course to dance. I love lively music and everything is much more interesting when you have so many costumes around you. We popped out to catch the winners of the costume and then went upstairs to not only look down on the winners but to pop in to a few more places for a drink. We are both a fan of people watching and I have to say that the Cuba Libre upstairs has a bit of a lounge which is perfect for that. Although it was past midnight and we had only been in Atlantic City for about 4 hours, we continues to Red Square to enjoy an amazing selection of vodkas.

With such a long day behind us and quite an agenda to cover the next day, we decided to turn in. Nothing is better than having a large corner room with a spectacular view of the cities. Whether I'm in Vegas or in AC, I love seeing the bright lights. Being on the 64th floor we had an amazing view that we took in for about an hour or so.

The next morning, we knew we had a lot to do as we were heading home later in the day. Paul had to play Poker as he had been itching to do this for weeks and I knew I had a spa and both of us would meet up for lunch. We decided to do the smartest thing by ordering a plate of fruit to kick off the day! Paul played poker and I headed out to the Blue Mercury Spa. I had no idea that we have one in the city but as I walked in, I saw products that you could purchase from Model Co, Kiehl's, Molton Brown and more. When I headed downstairs, I found Erin who would perform my Blissfuls Coconut Sugar Scrub. Leaving the lockerroom, I walked into a lounge with pitchers of water filled with oranges and limes and platters of fruit. After nibbling on these, Erin walked with me to our room. This treatment had various stages. Erin rubbed coconut scrub on me, I soaked in a coconut milk bath for 20 mins, I took a shower to cool my body down and then I got an intensive full body massage. This was 100 minutes that I could have enjoyed for quite some time. Interestingly enough, I was starving by the time I met up with Paul and we headed to Carmine's.

Carmine's is an Italian restaurant that we have here in the city in Times Square and on the UWS. This family style restaurant has HUGE portions that are meant to be shared with 2 - 4 individuals. Most items are made on premise. As we thought about the menu, we munched on various breads and dipped them into an amazing olive oil ordered lasagna with a side of spinach. From presentation alone, this lasagna looked so good that the table next to us told us that they wished that they had ordered. We had so much that we knew we had to take it home with us. The General Manager stopped by and shared with us the benefits of a restaurant of this nature. When you have various people eating together, everyone has the opprotunity to share various portions of an Italian meal and everyone is able to chip in. We finished the lunch with chocolate canoli's and decided that we had to walk off lunch.

As we walked the boardwalk, we went to a taffy shop to pick up James' Salt Water Taffy. This is a must if you love this candy and everytime I go to Atlantic City, this is something that I have to do. Our walk found us at the outlets and from a little after 3 until almost 7 we shopped! I knew that AC had outlets; however, the amount of shops was surprising. After all the shopping, eating, partying and more, it was time to head home and to ensure that Sun was all about rest.

Thinking back, there are times when you want to do something fun and don't feel like boarding a plane. Filling up the car right after work to head out to AC is totally doable and once there, you can gamble but there are so many things to take advantage of! Whether it's you and hyour sig other or a large group, you won't be at a loss of things to do. The Tropicana was a great place to stay with so many options and you can still visit other areas. This is definitely an option for over night, a couple of days or on your way to something else. Atlantic City and the Tropicana was a Kitten Lounge Pick and a great way to kick off the next few weekends where we will be traveling! Next stop: our invitations to Islands of the World Fashion Week in the Bahamas and Skytop Resort in the Poconos.

Trendy Thursdays: TRICK AND TREAT

KittenCouture — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:00:00 -0700

*Editors Note: Throughout this month, each week we will include tidbits or related items from A.W. Gryphon's Blood Moon. Today, we have included the author's tips on how to look amazing, which you can find in her new book. In upcoming weeks, I will share an interview that I had with her and much more. Take some time to read her tips and then visit Blood Moon's site to learn about the first of 3 books within this series!

10 Beautiful Ways Too Celebrate The Witchy Woman In All Of Us This Halloween Season from Blood Moon author A.W. Gryphon

Gorgeous on the inside. Gorgeous on the outside. Make this Halloween yours with a few Seasonal Beauty Tricks and Treats that are all about you.

Did you think Witches were all about the pointy hats and magic spells? We’ll they’re not and traditionally these Pagans have got a lot up their sleeve when it comes to Beauty, Strength, Confidence and much, much more. Try one. Try them all. With many traditions that you will find in the novel Blood Moon and the coming books in her Witches’ Moon Series here are A.W. Gryphon’s Top Ten Steps to Making Halloween Yours.

#1 LET YOUR MAGIC CARPET RIDE: CHARM YOUR BROOM AND CLEAR THE NEGATIVE ENERGY FROM YOUR HOME.

What’s a witch without a broom? We’ve all got one, but there is much more to it than you may realize. In the Pagan tradition, Halloween represents the end of one year and the beginning of another. This is a great time for a clean slate. Start your celebration by sweeping the house in a way you never have before. Sweep one room at a time, always sweeping out, and with each motion focus on moving any negative energy out of that room, while welcoming in new and positive thoughts and desires. By the time you’re finished you won’t only see the results, you’ll feel them.

#2 MASH THE MONSTERS: LET SAGE GUIDE YOU AND YOUR HOME TOWARD A FRESH START.

Drive the ick out of your living space and make a fresh start with the time honored tradition of burning sage. Many cultures and religions practice the clearing of bad energy, unwelcome spirits, negativity others bring into our lives, and past unfavorable thoughts, feelings and incidents, by cleansing their space with sage. Bundled sage can be found in most metaphysical and herb stores. To cleanse your home, simply welcome all positive energy in, let the universe know that negativity is not welcome, and take those thoughts with you as you light the sage and slowly walk through your home as it burns. Walk along each and every wall raising the sage up high and down low, letting the smoke drift into the corners and through each room. End at your front door saying one last good bye to all that is negative and welcoming in any new and existing positive thoughts and energy.

#3 COME ON BABY, LIGHT YOUR OWN FIRE: LET THE POWER OF THE CANDLES GUIDE YOUR WAY.

Candles are peaceful, beautiful, timeless and have been used in celebrations and rituals throughout history. Expand your All Hallows Eve experience by lighting a white candle for peace and spirit, a purple candle to embrace your psychic inner workings, and a red candle for energy, strength, courage and love. Whether you light one of each or fill your home, let the light of the candle bring out your inner beauty and illuminate and enhance the grace of both you and your home.

#4 SEND YOUR WEREWOLVES BACK TO LONDON: RECHARGE WITH A LUXURIOUS CLEANSING BATH.

Be Refreshed. Be Relaxed. Be… Peace. Let yourself soak into the tub for a ritual bath that celebrates you. There are many different kinds of traditional bath ingredients and there is no right or wrong, so choose what’s most attractive to you. My favorite Halloween bath brings peace, sheds negativity and leaves you with smooth and, fresh skin. As you run the water pour in one cup of milk, add a few drops of rose oil then sprinkle lavender over the water and dip in. Not only will this feel like silk on your skin, it smells great and you’ll be glowing after 20 + minutes of this luxurious, “me time” as it sends the bad energy, and dead skin, away and encourages your inner beauty to shine through.

#5 BY THE CALMING OF THIS ONE, SOMETHING WONDERFUL THIS WAY COMES: BE STILL.

Be Still. It sounds simple, and in theory it is, but how often do we really do it? Take a moment. Take an hour… or two. One thing that our Pagan ancestors crafted into their day that would greatly serve us all, is a little alone time. Not time to figure something out, or catch up or whatever it is, time to be still within ourselves. What you do and how you get there is a personal choice. I light candles, put on calming music, and close my eyes and think of the ocean until I’m able to unplug completely. Then I let my mind, body and soul take me away for a little while. It’s wonderful. It’s like a massage for your spirit and trust me you will look and feel gorgeous when you’re done.

PARTY TIME!

If you’re going to jump in full force and follow all 10 tips, and you’re going to have a girlfriend or two… or three… over for your Witchy Wonderful Treats, the best time to have everyone arrive is after you’ve completed your, “me time” in step #5 and you’re ready to start step #6 with the group. If you are having an All Hallows Eve Party that’s all about you and only you, Cheers and keep going!

#6 OFF WITH HER HEAD! WE’LL HOW ABOUT OFF WITH HER DEAD SKIN AND ON WITH THE BEST HALLOWEEN MASK EVER! THE PUMPKIN FACIAL TREATMENT.

Pumpkins and masks. They’re tradition. You’ll want to sign up for this Witch’s Mask and start your Pagan New Year with fresh, clean and radiant skin. This wonderful treat protects, repairs, nourishes and it smells fantastic. All year we are hard on our skin from the inside out. Being kind to your face nourishes the body and the mind. There are hundreds of masks that might fit your Halloween fancy. Pumpkin is high in anti-oxidants and pumpkin facial treatments come in many forms. You can try everything from the Pumpkin Enzyme Peel by Peter Thomas Roth to a homemade fresh pumpkin mask. Recipes can be found at care2.com and many other websites. Either way it’s fun to prepare and the results are wonderful.

#7 HOCUS FOCUS: THE PERSONAL GOALS APPLE GUIDE

When you slice an apple through the middle, you will find the seeds make a five pointed star. In much of Pagan tradition the five pointed star represents the five elements: Water, Air, Fire, Earth and Spirit. In this Halloween tradition, each of the points represent a personal goal to focus on in the year ahead. We slice the apple to determine how many tasks to set our sights on. If you have four seeds, set four personal goals to focus on. If it’s just one, choose one. Write them down and keep them in a place where you will see them every day… and then crunch your teeth over this magical fruit as you move on to your next Halloween treat.

#8 BE-WITCHED AND CELEBRATE!

Raise a glass to those who have touched your life. This is a day to celebrate the living and those we’ve lost with open hearts and settled minds. Halloween, Samhain, All Hallows Eve, The Pagan New Year… we call this night many things, but one shared ancient belief is that this is a night when the layer of the universe between the living and dead is thin, making it a great time to celebrate in honor of, and even with, the spirits of loved ones of the past. Have a party. Make a toast. Pull out your photo albums. Do whatever feels best to share a moment with the spirits that flourish in the living and the dead on this precious night that celebrates us all.

#9 DOUBLE, DOUBLE LET THE GOOD VIBES RUMBLE, FIRE BURN AND HONEY BUBBLE: IT’S TIME FOR HALLOWEEN WISHES

Wishes to go. Wishes to Stay. Write it all down and make a change. It’s time to think about what we want and that includes making room for it by sorting out for what we don’t want. Write down everything you want to bring into your life this year, no matter how big or small. Use a piece of simple paper and a pencil. On another piece of paper write down everything you want to let go of and that you want out of your life. Take time with the lists and remember this is about you personally. After the lists are complete, take a candle, set in it a cauldron (a safe pot or something of the like will do), close your eyes, take a long deep breath, then open your eyes, burn the list of all that you want gone from your life and say goodbye to everything on it. After the burning has come to a safe end clear all of the materials that you used away. Next place your list of positive wishes in a jar. Fill the jar with honey, seal the lid tight and place it on a windowsill that you think is best for the positive flow of energy going in and out of your home. That’s it. The wishes are out there, now all you have to do is remember them, believe and let them come true.

#10 TREAT AND TREAT: LET’S EAT!

What’s a girl to do after a full interior and exterior beauty session? Eat! And make it something delicious and in the spirit of the holiday. A little comfort and warmth to nourish your soul and stomach is the perfect way to wind down an evening. Pumpkins represent the American take on this special night and making apples part of the celebration takes us back to our ancestors. So, how about Pumpkin Bread and Spiced Apple Cider? You can make it from scratch, or buy it at the store. You might even have an old family recipe. However you make it happen, its always a good choice and a perfect end to a perfect evening. Happy Halloween!

Giveaway Goodies: Mistral Soaps

KittenCouture — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 12:34:23 -0700

This week the amazing and aromatic people at Mistral have provided four great bath bars that are available for this week's giveaway! (This Sandlewood Hazelenut bar pictured here is actually Mistral's soap of the week and is available at a reduced price. You'll want to sign up for their updates so that you will get emails on what they're up to). I have to say, the first time that I found out about this great brand was while I worked as a manager at Anthropologie. I came across so many scents that it was hard for me to find a favorite! I really love that they include Shea Butter which is always great to provide extra noursihment for your skin.

On Thursday, during our normal beauty segment, you'll find about something that I find to be a lot fun about this brand but until then, this week's giveaway includes four bath bars that four individuals will win. Simply let me know what your favorite scent is when it comes to soap! Include your comments within this post! My favorite scent is Pomegranate (fortunately this is available on Mistral) I look forward to the responses and four winners will be chosen this Fri!

Spongelle Giveaway Winners!

KittenCouture — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0700

First, I have to say thank you so much to everyone who participated! I love when people leave comments and share something about themselves! If you have always wanted to know what you could do to relax, I would definitely take notes from the people who left their great pieces of advice! But unfortunately, we only can have 2 winners although it was so close, I decided to give away 3 Spongelle Soaps!

Congratulations Jennae who was my favorite, I think it's adorable that she is able to relax while having fun blowing bubbles with her child. Obviously, she's a busy lady between doing graphics, blogging and also dabbling in yet another form of creativity! I checked out her site at Green Your Decor and I think we should all take notes!

Another kudos to Mary Jenkins! I love taking baths too and although I find to get the perfect one, it takes some time - it's so worth it. Check her out at Now Entering Momville - I definitely started reading it when I had a second and gave me some much needed laughs!

And finally, I love keeping it simple so how could I not include Theresa N who does yoga in her garden? Maybe it's because I grew up in the Midwest and sometimes miss those serene moments being out in NYC but it made me feel refreshed just thinking about it!

Congratulations ladies and thank you to everyone who put in comments as well. As a heads up and in honor of Fourth of July we have an amazing giveaway that will include two different items which is going to be fun. One involves a food that is definitely iconic when you think about Americana dining and the other is something that is quickly becoming a typical activity that we enjoy more and more! Both will launch on Mon and winners will be selected on Fourth of July so keep your eyes peeled!