Aussie Fashion Panel 9/25 @ Levi Strauss & Co. (San Francisco)

Aussie Fashion Event Alert! The Australian Chamber of Commerce Speaker Series The fashion industry is a highly competitive and fickle business and one that generates a lot of opinion and general media coverage. With the recent arrival of some Australian ex-pats to the Bay Area, the Australian Chamber of Commerce is hosting an event that highlights what it's like to operate in the US. Panelists: John Anderson, President and CEO of Levi Strauss & Co, Elizabeth Charles, founder, Elizabeth Charles, a fashion boutique in New York City's meatpacking district as well as her recently opened store in the Fillmore Street district of Pacific Heights, and Poppy King, Lipstick Queen and 1995 Young Australian of the Year. Each speaker will give a 15 minute presentation and will be followed by 30 minute Q&A session. The event will conclude with a wine and appetizers reception. Don't forget to check out "The Vault", a new exhibit dedicated to the work of the Levi Strauss & CO. A unique look at the cultural history over the past 150 years, it features clothing, documents, artifacts and posters on view from the collections in the Archives. Levi's Headquarters, 1160 Battery Street, San Francisco Tuesday, September 25, 2007 5:30 p.m. Check in 6:00 p.m. Program 7:15 p.m. Wine and Appetizers RSVP: ozchamber@aol.com Cost: Members $10 - Non Members $25. Please RSVP and sign up online at www.sfaussies.com -Tami

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A La Folie Fall Lingerie Preview

Fall Lingerie Update! Be among the first to preview A La Folie's impressive fall collection of fine European lingerie, from the new exclusive Dessous by Sophie Simmons’ to the popular Princesse Tam Tam line. Check out the flirty lace and ruffles in Princess Tam Tam’s dreamy bras, camisoles and panties. As for Dessous-devotees, be prepared to fall head over heels again with Sophie Simmons’ Parisian-inspired rompers, nighties and Viscose tanks in lovely Fall hues... A La Folie boutique 1816 Fourth Street, Berkeley, California 510-845.1616 www.visitalafolie.com -Tami

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Find Your Zen With Yogi Tea

If you live in a foggy cold microclimate like I do, there will be days where you will want to curl up with a good strong cup of tea. You might even find a moment of inner peace, especially with Yogi Tea's Chai Black tea. It has an authentic full-bodied flavor with organic ingredients of ginger root, cardamom seed, clove bud and black pepper. And if that is too exotic for you, try their other blends such as Green Tea Goji Berry, Mexican Sweet Chili or Kava Stress Relief. www.yogitea.com -Tami

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Home Sweet Home with Gianna Rose, Pacifica, and Linden Leaves

Home is where the heart is, and it's important to stock up on lovely things to ensure your pretty abode is as comfy as possible. From the bedroom to the bathroom, here are some items to refresh the ambiance, while calming your senses at the same time: Pacifica makes wonderful soy-based candles that last for a long time, with beautiful scents like Waikiki Pikake, Mediterranean Fig and Tuscan Blood Orange. Each candle is hand-poured and made with lead-free cotton wicks and pure essentials oils. Travel tins are also available for those who are always on the go. Gianna Rose has some darling drawer liners that come in beautiful prints. Scented with Tresors des Mers, Rice Flower, Tea Rose, Vanilla Pear, and Lavender, they are almost too pretty to fill your drawers. For an instant spa treatment, put a few teaspoons of the Linden Leaves Absolute Dreams Body Oil in your bath. The relaxing scents of lavender, sandalwood, cedar wood and orange will have you purring in no time. Available at: www.pacificacandles.com, www.giannarose.com, and lindenleavesusa.com -Tami

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Really Raw Honey - Really Good for You

Packed with a chockful of enzymes, vitamins and other nutrients, raw honey is a superfood that should be in your daily diet. Its healing properties have worked on all sorts of ailments, from skin rashes to allergies to intestinal disorders. It's the best type of honey since its raw form is totally unprocessed (unfiltered & unheated), containing all the pollen, propolis and honeycomb - straight from the hive. Really Raw Honey has a beautifully creamy texture and rich flavor that is great on oatmeal, toast, tea or by itself for an energy boost. Think of it as a yummy way to take your vitamins! Available at your local health food store or at: www.realllyrawhoney.com -Tami

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Missed SF Fashion Week? Check out LookSpark's Fashion Site to Win an Apple iPhone!

For those who missed the great shows from San Francisco Fashion Week, don't fret. Online fashion community LookSpark brings everything to your fingertips by sending up-to-date postings of all the runway shows, including after-party pics and a fashion blog of each night's happenings. Be sure to check out the cute frocks from Kirribilla, Emily Jane, Dcepcion, and Vian Hunter. The best part: when you post your opinion (called a "Spark") on any of the designs from SFFW, you become eligible for a chance to win an Apple iPhone (contest ends September 15). What are you waiting for? Start creating some 'Sparks' today! See ya at the fashion shows, Tami

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I Heart Dr. Oetker Organic Brownie Mix

I love anything with chocolate and I'm not ashamed to admit it. That's why my fellow choco fans will appreciate the rich cocoa flavor in Dr. Oetker Organics' Organic Brownie Mix. It produces an unbelievably chewy texture that resembles made-from-scratch versions. This mighty box of cocoa goodness packs a punch in flavor, but it's not so bad in the calorie department. It only calls for a 1/4 cup of butter, vs. the typical 1 stick in other mixes. Not only can you tell your friends you made it from scratch (they won't know the difference, trust me), you won't have to feel that guilty about gobbling up that second or third piece. www.oetker.ca See ya in the kitchen, Tami

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Get Gorgeous Hair with John Masters Organics & Kiss My Face

Summer is almost over, but that doesn't mean you're gonna be sloppy with your precious locks. If spending too much time at the beach has turned your hair into a dry frizzy mess, try the following hair care products from John Masters Organics & Kiss My Face for instant damage control. I like how my hair gets that squeaky-clean feel with John Masters Organics' Lavender Rosemary Shampoo . Great for normal hair, the gentle paraben/sodium lauryl sulfate-free formula is pretty concentrated, so you don't need to use a lot of it. The heady lavender scent makes me wanna linger in the shower. I also like to follow up with their amazing Honey & Hibiscus Hair Reconstructor. Not only does it smell heavenly, the intense nutrients (honey, hibiscus, bergamot, patchouli) leaves your hair feeling like a curtain of silk. It reminds me of the sleek texture your hair feels after leaving the hair salon. It's that good. An everyday shampoo I like to use is the Kiss My Face Miss Treated Shampoo. Infused with Palmarosa and Peppermint oils, it's a great organic cleanser for colored hair. Paired with the matching Miss Treated Conditioner, both products are paraben/SLS free, so they won't strip the natural oils from your hair. Other nourishing ingredients include rosemary and eucalyptus oils, providing an uplifting scent that brightens your mood. Available at www.johnmasters.com and www.kissmyface.com -Tami

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Go Wild With Hog Island Oysters

Oyster gourmands will be impatient to try new and classic recipes in Jairemarie Pomo's The Hog Island Oyster Lover's Cookbook. A great kitchen reference book, it shows you step-by-step instructions on shucking these sweet little jewels, as well as advice on buying and identifying oyster varieties. There's also an interesting chaper on the history of the famed Hog Island Oyster Company. With 40 ways to enjoy these bivalves, your taste buds will be crying for Fried Oysters with Cilantro Aioli, Champagne Mignonnette and Oysters, and Serrano Ham-Wrapped Oysters with Chipotle Mayonnaise. If those are not enough for you, celebrity chefs Alice Waters and Bobby Flay have also developed their special recipes for the book. Wow, my mouth is already watering. Check out the recipe below - I promise you will carry a love affair with oysters for years to come. See you at the oyster bar, Tami Oysters with Cucumber, Lime, and Sake Rodney’s Oyster House in Toronto, Canada, is famous for the variety of fresh oysters they serve. Rodney himself holds one of the first oyster-shucking titles in the region. This refreshing oyster appetizer features an unusual combination of flavors in perfect balance. 2 dozen extra-small (2 to 3 inches long) Pacific or small (3 to 4 inches long) Eastern oysters on the half shell, on a bed of crushed ice 1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and shredded 6 limes, quartered 1 3⁄4 cups chilled dry sake Top each oyster with a pinch of shredded cucumber. Squeeze a lime quarter over each oyster. Carefully pour sake over each oyster, just to the rim of the shell. Serve immediately. Makes 24 Reprinted with permission from The Hog Island Oyster Lover’s Cookbook: A Guide to Choosing & Savoring Oysters, with 40 Recipes. Copyright © 2007 by Jairemarie Pomo, Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, CA. Photo Credit: Leigh Beisch Available at local booksellers or by contacting Ten Speed Press at 800-841-2665 or online at www.tenspeed.com.

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Shu Uemura Fall Mode Makeup Event 8/31 - 9/1 (San Francisco)

Fall makeup update for San Francisco Bay Area beauty addicts! Glam looks are here again for this coming Fall season, and here’s your opportunity to try out Shu Uemura's elegant Komon 2007 Fall collection. Inspired by nature, this beautiful 125th Limited Edition collection features colors that are depicted in traditional kimonos from the Edo Period. Sip on some bubbly and groove to fab DJ tunes as you get made over into a glorious diva that you really are. The friendly and expert Shu Uemura team will also be available to advise on your current makeup regimen and skin care needs. Try out their new and lovely Pleasure of Japanese Bath oil collection! Call today to reserve your spot! (415) 395-0953 Friday & Saturday, August 31 & September 1 (11am - 6pm daily) 1971 Fillmore Street, San Francisco www.shuuemura-usa.com See you at the makeup counter! Tami

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