No taxation without intoxication

If tax time is all W2 much for you and you're over Uncle Sam giving your wallet the smackdown then visit UrbanDaddy for the all the Tax Day happy hour specials in LA. We're kind of wishing we were in Downtown to check out that special tax time drink deep inside the backroom bar at Cole's.

UrbanDaddy

Image source

Anthropologie arrives on S. Beverly!

The recently relocated Anthropologie threw a lil' shin dig last night in honor of their arrival at 211 S. Beverly Dr. Of course us Pretties popped in and we have all the deets. This former office building did a 180 complete with all the shabby chicness of Anthro that we love. The massive two floor shop offers new discoveries on every twist and turn. Each area is adorably themed and is tied together with in the atrium like stairway. The event was very crowded and full of Pretty fashionably dressed shoppers. Hor'dourves were provided by The Farm of Beverly Hills and drinks were from Izze and Rosangel (tequila infused with hibiscus flowers). We loved the cocktails that the Rosangel girls served up; they were very delicious and certainly hit the spot after a day of being Pretty busy. Needless to say seconds were had. As you can see we had so much fun admiring all the Pretty displays!

The new store really measures up! They have the most adorable kitchen accessories ever - even those Russian dolls open up into measuring cups. This Los Angeles tote really caught our attention and is Pretty appropriate given the location. These totes are called "You Are Here" and only the Manhattan and Brooklyn versions are available online. Rude!

The crowd surrounding the Rosangel booth - the cocktails were a complete hit.

For more pics visit Racked LA - we were busy browsing and drinking. Happy shopping!

FYI: the sale section is in the back of the second floor.
Anthropologie, 211 S. Beverly Dr. Beverly Hills, 90212

Pretty orange jello shots

Today we're all about Pretty Drinks, I think we have a case of the Mondays over at Pretty Headquarters.

Sliced Orange Jello Shots

You will need:

• 6-10 tangelos (alternatively, you can use small oranges, or large tangerines)
• 1.25 cups of vodka
• 1.5 envelopes of Knox Gelatin (this is very important, no substitutes!)
• 1 large box of Jello (your pick on the flavor)
• 1/4 to 1/2 of a cup of Trader Joe's Cranberry Juice or Triple Berry Blend
• about 2 cups of boiling water.
• A cupcake tray

Step 1:

Slice the oranges in half, then juice the halves. Save about half of the fruit juice (about 1 cup) Be careful not to break through the orange skin when you juice them; these will become your jello-shot containers later on. Set them inside of the Cupcake tray.

Step 2:

Put about 4 cups of water in a pot on the stove, and boil. Once it's totally boiling, use about 1/4 of a cup of the BOILING water to dissolve 1.5 envelopes of Knox Gelatin in a small dish.

Step 3:

Pour about 2 cups of boiling water into a separate bowl. Mix in the Jello powder. Pour in your dissolved Knox Gelatin. Mix thoroughly with a whisk.

Step 4:

Pour in your Trader Joe's Juice. Pour in about a cup of the juice from the oranges (or tangerines, or tangelos). Mix well. If you dislike pulp, strain the juice before you add it.

Step 5:

Pour in your Vodka. MIX WELL.

Step 6:

Use a ladle to pour your jello shot mixture into your orange halves. Make certain the halves are level in the cupcake tray prior to pouring. Fill to the top as much as you can.

Step 7:

Gently ease your vodka shots into the freezer for about 2 hours (for much faster jello shots). You can also put them in the fridge for about 3-5 hours.

Recommended serving size is about 2-3 Jello Shots.

Usually, I have an extra cup or so of Jello shot mixture. Use a Jello mold for the remainder, such as Christmas Reindeer.

xx,
Kim

Get your glow on

One thing we Pretties learned at the recent Spa Expo is that "eating" yourself beautiful is hugely popular in the industry. Based on the idea that it's just as effective (if not more so) to feed your skin nutrients from the inside out rather than solely by relying on what you slather on your skin, companies such as Glowelle are introducing dietary supplements that will give you the nutrients you need to Pretty up your skin.

Glowelle's delicious "beauty drinks" are packed with tons of skin-saving ingredients. We've mentioned how the antioxidents in pomegranates are super healthy for the skin, well Glowelle is onto it and has both a Natural Pomegranate Lychee and Natural Raspberry Jasmine variety of their antioxidants packed drinks. But antioxidants are only some of the awesome nutrients included in Glowelle's drinks. Lycopene, Vitamin C, Green Tea, Grape Seed, Beta Carotene, Lutein...the list goes on and on! Don't know what these ingredients do? Well download Glowelle's handbook, or their website explanation on all the nutrients that will get your glow on.

They even have powdered versions of their drink mixes with a super cute carrying case for your daily dose of Glowelle (I love mixing mine in with some sparkling water).

Don't expect overnight results however, you'll need to take your daily Glowelle consistently for a couple weeks or more before you really see some glowing changes. One study found that after 30 days, 87% of women who used Glowelle said that their skin was more radiant, and 92% said they felt healthier. Not bad results!

Get it online and get glowing!
_________

Glowelle will also be part of tomorrow's Pamper Me Fabulous event! Remember, use code lapretty and get 10% off your admission ticket!

Want free ice with a side of tea?

Here at Pretty Headquarters we dropped everything we were doing for our very important date with the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf to nab a FREE Over Ice Tea Latte. Over at our local Coffee Bean, the cashier seemed a little disappointed when we wanted our free tea, as if they were trying to keep it a big secret and we found out. (We're buds with Coffee Bean on Twitter, so we keep up with all the buzz.)


We both opted for the Pomegranate Blueberry with sugar free powder (only 170 calories!). The taste? Delicious! Not too sweet and very refreshing. However, our free version had a LOT of ice, way more than necessary. But while it was a little watered down, it was nonetheless delicious.

You have until 6 to take part in the Tea Party so get to it!

Go Bottomless!

Going out for a few drinks can be Pretty pricey. Our friends at UrbanDaddy found the best places in town to guzzle down on the weekends or weekdays. Most of these places have some yummy Pretty Eats as well.

Cafe Wa s
Any night of the week, 15 bucks will now get you a bottomless carafe of wine. Come the weekend, that same 15 bucks with brunch will get you bottomless Champagne, mimosas, screwdrivers or Bloody Marys. 1521 N Vine St, Hollywood 323-466-5400

Air Conditioned Lounge
If you're pulling yourself through a Westside Wednesday, head to this dark, compact hideaway on Pico for jazz, soul…and you just have to drop $15 for all the sangria you can drink.
Wed. 6pm-2am 2819 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica 310-829-3700

Red Rock
This Sunset Strip patio now pairs brunch with an $8 bottomless concoction of X-Rated—it's pink, and a liqueur, but there's vodka in there—and bubbly. You'll try anything once, or six times.
Sat. & Sun. 11am-3pm 8782 W Sunset Blvd, WeHo 310-854-0710

Stone Fire Pizza
Starting March 1st(this Sunday), this joint will serve up bottomless $10 mimosas or Bloody Marys. Who says you have to drink beer with pizza anyways?
Sat & Sun. 11:30am-4pm 829 N. La Cienega 310-659-8848

Rain Organics serves up some classy cocktails!

One of the best booths at the Spa Expo last weekend was the one run by Rain Organics. Free shots! Yes, they were letting passers sample some of their delicious organic vodka. I tried the Lavender Lemonade while my Partner in Pretty tasted the Honey Mango Melon. They also have Red Grape Hibiscus and Cucumber Lime. How yummy! No matter that it was 10 in the morning, it's cocktail hour somewhere!

All the flavors are hand-made in small batches using USDA certified organic white corn. The vodka is distilled seven times for exceptional taste and smoothness. The incredible quality comes from a delicate 20 day production process that includes cold-water, sweet mash fermentation, seven distinct distillations and a polishing stage that adds pure limestone water. Not bad for a bottle that will only set you back about $25!

Plus, you can make some great recipes. We suggest for the very intense-looking "when he pours, he reigns" Tom Cruise a Rain Relaxer:

2 oz Rain Organics Lavender Lemonade Vodka

4 oz lemonade

4 blueberries preferably crushed with the lemonade.

Mix together and drink up!

Get yourself a bottle at LA-area BevMos or online.

Spa & Resort Expo this weekend!

All of us at Pretty Headquarters are so excited about this weekend! Forget about the Oscars, we're all about the Spa & Resort Expo at the LA Convention Center. With oodles of exhibitors (more than 100 of them new to the expo!) there's plenty of ways to find out what's hot in the world of beauty, spa, and aesthetics. Exhibitors will showcase new products, treatments, and innovations in anti-aging, aromatherapy, detoxification, mind-body therapies, natural products, and pretty much anything else you can think of. Plus the Dr. Murad (founder of the famous Murad skincare line) will be giving a presentation with life-changing recommendations for healthier, happier and more youthful living.

But this isn't just for spa pros - there will be lots of fun things for all you Pretties to explore! Some things we're definitely going to check out:


Teavalize, a new system for drinking high quality, loose leaf teas. Their new "patent pending" stystem is a modern take on this 3000 year old tradition for the modern Pretty. Plust they offer all sorts of yummy and healthy teas!



Equifit's AgSilver CleanMat: a yoga and Pilate mad with a built-in antimicrobial protection. It encapsulates ionic silver into the mat's fibers to provice a barrier to bacteria and fungus growth. Genuis!





Rain Organics Vodka. Yeah, that's right - organic vodka. Distilled exclusively from organic white corn, this vodka is said to have a superior taste. We can't wait to try it for ourselves!

Plus, many exhibitors will be offering uber discounts on top products, and may even be offering samples! There's no better way to find out what's new in the world of Pretty. And did we also mention that it's FREE to attend the exhibit hall floor? Register here.

Spa & Resort Expo at Los Angeles Convention Center; 1201 S. Figueroa St. West Building, Hall A.

Drinking alone on Valentine's Day?

Well so are probably the other 92 million singletons in the US. Open up a bottle a wine and drink to the fact that you don't compromise! Our choice for the single ladies is Seven Daughters Winemaker's Blend. Each of their blends is composed of seven carefully selected grapes that are interesting on their own, but even more fabulous when combined.

Think of it as mixing Gary Oldman's brilliance with Dylan McDermott's blue eyes, with Jason Statham's body, OK you get the point...

Basically, this wine is sophisticated and fun - just like you. Their white is made of Riesling, Symphony, Chardonnay, Orange Muscat, Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc and French Colombard; and their red is made of Syrah, Merlot, Zinfandel, Carignane, Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. And the greatest part is its price tag: a combo of their red and white is available for $25!

Get your bottle at Whole Foods, Target, fine wine shops, and at special discounts here.

xx,
N

Three ways to toast to love this Valentine's Day

Oh Pretties, we're all about the booze, but to spend all your hard-earned cash on overpriced wine? Not in this economy! We found three perfect affordable choices for you that will give you the most romantic Valentine's Day ever. You'll be able to sip each of these with your honey, and still have enough cash left to pay for the dinner bill.
First up is Wyndham Estate Bin 505 Shiraze Rose 2006 (I found it for a mere $11.95 here). A chilled bottle is the perfect way to start off your romantic evening. With hints of dark cherry and raspberry, it's a perfect V-Day pink! You'll love it's sweet cherry and spicy fruit flavors along with its fresh, crisp finish.
Another one to try is the Campo Viejo Reserva 2004 (get it for a very affordable $16.99 here). Made in Spain, it's a smooth full-bodied wine with a long finish and hints of yummy chocolate and coffee. It pairs well with food and will bring some amore to your V-Day dinner.
And to cap off your romantic night with the perfect dessert, open up a bottle of Vau Vintage Port from Sandeman (get it for $40 here). Serve it in a large glass and pair it with a romantic chocolate torte, its fresh fruit aromas and deep ruby color will put you in just the right mood for your V-Day night!

xx,
Nicole

Boring drink? Put some Flavrz in it!

Can you name a drink that is low in sugar, low in calories, organic, healthy, can be shared with everyone (young and old), and best of all you can add alcohol to it? Well, we couldn't think of one either until now. We'd like to introduce you to our new friend, Flavrz the natural way to flavor all of our drinks. This stuff tastes delicious and unlike other sweeteners, you don't have to worry about any artificial chemicals or flavors. All you do is add you desired amount to water - no mixing, stirring, or shaking required.

The secret to Flavrz's Drink Mix is the use of agave nectar which they helped educate me on:

"Agave is high in fructose and is approximately 1.4 times sweeter than refined sugars. According to scientists from Mexico's tequila producing region say juice extracted from the blue agave plant, best known when distilled into the fiery spirit, may help dieters shed pounds and cut cholesterol. Agave contains, among other things, substances known as fructans, which are thought to reduce cholesterol (and) alter the absorption of fat in the intestine. Inulin, a type of fructan, is a carbohydrate found in many plants, including asparagus. Some scientists believe inulin helps weight loss."

The nutritional info proves it all. This is some powerful stuff and one of their 16 oz glass bottles can last up to 96 servings depending on your desired flavor strength. Flavrz has three flavors to choose from, Lemon Lime, Tropical, and Cherry Berry. We suggest purchasing a 3 pack for $23.97 because it'll last a good while allowing you to jazz up a lot of water.

Plus you can make martini's with it - try out this recipe for a Cherry Berry Martini - perfect for Valentine's Day.

• Add 1 oz of organic vodka to 1 oz Cherry Berry Flavrz Drink Mix. Shake with ice.
• Pour in a martini glass and add one organic cherry and one organic strawberry.

For us in LA, Flavrz is currently only available online; but don't worry they have reliable shipping so you can savor their goodness in no time. Our Pretty favorite flavor is Tropical!

Visit the online Flavrz store.

Give him that StripTeas you've always promised

Countdown to V-Day!

As you may have guessed from our last post, we LA Pretties are getting pumped up for Valentine's Day. I even started my day off with a super sexy breakfast compliments of LA-based StripTeas.

StripTeas is the culmination of an East-meets-West partnership between LA Pretty Emily Koteff and genuine tea guru Mridul Tiwari from Jaipur, India. Available in 7 flavors, the teas were personally created by Tiwari who also creates teas for the five-star Rambagh Palace in Jaipur, the exclusive Trident Hilton and the luxurious Palace on Wheels.

These teas are far too special to be served up in plain ol' bags! Their fresh, whole leaves and exotic herbs instead come in cute "strips" which allow for the tea leaves to move around in the hot water so that their flavors come alive. Want an even more intense flavor? Then swizzle that puppy around and give those yummy tea leaves even more room to move.
Regular tea bags can also contain adhesives and even bleaches which will compromise flavor. Instead, StripTeas use aluminum foil to package their leaves, the same material used for organic coffee and fine chocolates.

Pick up some boxes, including one that contains all seven varieties, from their online store (enter Feb14VIP before 2/7 and get 10% off your order!), or from Clever (2823 Main Street, Santa Monica).

What's Tappening with water bottles?

Did you know that bottled water is no safer than your tap water? Did you know it's a total waste to to use new bottles each day because most are never recycled? As you can see the facts about bottle water are staggering and scary:

• 96% of bottled water is sold in single-size polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles, which end up in city trash cans rather than recycling bins. The national recycling rate for all PET bottles, including soda bottles, is 23.1 percent.
• Americans buy 28 billion water bottles a year, all that plastic and the energy used for manufacturing and transportation is very hard on the environment.
• Bottled water often contains more bacteria and impurities than tap water, because the EPA regulates municipal water systems more stringently than the FDA regulates bottled water.
• City tap water can have no confirmed E.coli or fecal coliform bacteria. FDA bottled water rules include no such prohibition (a certain amount of any type of coliform bacteria is allowed in bottled water)

Also, many water bottles contain Bisphenol A (BPA), a scary chemical which has been linked to a number of diseases some being carcinogenic. That means cancer and that's Not Pretty!

Save yourself from this madness and purchase a reusable BPA-free stainless steel bottle! Our favorite is from Tappening, whos slogan is to "Think Global, Drink Local." Tappening is happening and wants to green the way we consume beverages.


Recently, I picked up a stainless steel Tappening and haven't been able to put it down. It goes everywhere with this Pretty and is always there to quench my thirst. I can fill it with any beverage (except hot ones), rinse it out and reuse with a new drink. The bottle will last forever and is virtually indestructible with the cap staying on tight and easily unscrewing when I need a sip.

So, what are you waiting for? Time to start saving your green on bottled beverages and pick up a Tappening to keep the world green.


bottle trash image courtesy Suzanne Dunn/The Post-Standard

Support Africans with every sip

LA Pretties think about the world at large in everything we do, including getting our drink on! So we love Heritage Link Brands, the largest U.S. company dedicated to importing and distributing wine produced by indigenous Africans and people of African descent in its Diaspora.

Few people realize that South Africa has a 3 billion dollar wine industry, yet less than 2% of it is owned by blacks although they make up 80% of the country's population. Heritage Link Brands' mission is to change that with every sip by being the only company to import Africa's black-produced wine en masse.

They sell wines from such places as the Bouwland Winery (pictured above) which is owned and run by farm workers who, through an exciting empowerment project, bought the majority of shares in the property. Their vineyards are situated on the historic slopes of Stellenbosch Simonsberg region which delivers arguably the finest wines in South Africa. And the Seven Sisters, a company run by (you guessed it!) a group of sisters from a small fishing village on the western coast of South Africa that formed the company after overcoming poverty and hardship.

Between drinking wines from Heritage Link Brands and the cork brigade, who's to judge your night of total debauchery? You're helping the indigenous people of Africa and the Earth. So there!

Get the wines online or at Albertsons' locations including 3343 S. Sepulvedva Blvd., Los Angeles.

Sunset Strip hotel wars

Pretty much every major hotel on the Sunset Strip has been remolded to be more contemporary. Since this is where many Posh Pretties are seen gallivanting around for attention, then they must have everything perfect, but which is the Prettiest?


It's not the Mondrian with their huge obsession over the color white. It's really not necessary to have it everywhere, but their interior very sleek. They are home to Sky Bar which overlooks the city, so you can feel awesome and talk about how cool you are. This is where those that live in the valley or elsewhere come to stay when they want to get a piece of the magic that is the "LA scene." USC will have alum or grad celebration(aka douchebag) nights here too.

Mondrian Los Angeles 8440 Sunset Blvd. West Hollywood, 90069

The award doesn't got to The Standard either. Even though the hotel hasn't been remodeled, it's still way cooler than it's sister in downtown and The Mondrian combined. Everyone that works there is actually pretty nice and laid back, sometimes stoned, but whatever it's LA. They have sweet pool parties in the summer, but it's pretty noisy for those who stay there or live nearby. The music is always bumpin' pretty late into the night. Hanging by the pool day or night is pretty much an ideal setting. It's trendy yes, but overrated no.

The Standard 8300 Sunset Boulevard Hollywood, 90069


The Riot Hyatt is a strong competitor, however it will be now known as the Andaz and opens January 8, 2009. The hotel was famous for raging parties and rock 'n roll mayhem in the '70s and '80s. Led Zeppelin even rented six floors for their entourage to stay and party. But, the cool-factor of the place has dwindled down and hasn't been a hot spot in at least a decade or more. The Andaz will be ulta hip with swanky modern interior. Their bar will "take cues from the vibrant local culture." We'll see about that post opening.

8401 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, 90069



The Prettiest hands down is The London West Hollywood. Formerly, the Bel-Age Hotel, this place was completely gutted and revamped! It's awesome because it's actually behind the strip, making it more elusive and less obnoxious. Interior designer, David Collins selected the finest of everything for their decor - including suede walls and the sexiest rooftop pool ever.

1020 N San Vicente Boulevard West Hollywood, CA 90069