GIFT GUIDE: Get Her a Pair of handmade Lip Earrings by Female Alchemy
In our opinion the perfect gift should always be unique and conversation worthy. That simple critiera fits the description of the artistic Lip Hoops earrings that are part of the Female Alchemy jewelry collection by Miami ceramicist Tatiana Cardona, in collaboration with New York jeweler Konstantinos I. Leoussis.
This collection is an homage to female empowerment, imagination, ideals and art, thoughts and words, and runs the gamut from necklaces to rings. What this means is if you were looking for a gift that truly celebrates Her, then a jewelry collection that celebrates Women is the ideal fit.
Tatiana says, “My work started off as an ode to the female artists that paved the way for the rest of us. With time it has since evolved into the embodiment of the fun, creative, lively feminine spirit. Lips carry our words out into the world, and help us articulate the messages we wish to send. My vessels carry their own message of the power in female energy.”
We think that these are fantastic pieces that you are going to want to wear as much as possible, especially while knowing that to the sharp observer there is more to them than meets the eye. The earrings are designed as a pair of lips with the hoop formed from the somewhat erotic and provocative tongue. The Lip Hoops come in either sterling silver or 18 karat gold plate finishes.
Says Konstantinos I. Leoussis, founder of KIL N.Y.C, “The pieces were hand carved from wax, and I also used softer wax to sculpt in a similar manner to Tatiana. I cast them, and all of it is done here in New York City with recycled metal. The Lip Hoop design is inspired by one of Tatiana’s first collections, from a piece that I fell in love with. We both had a really similar idea in mind, and combined them to create something that could be worn daily and makes a statement.”
For Tatiana, the lip motif is inspired by the feminist movement of the 1960s and 70s, when red lipstick stood as a symbol of protest. Of course in our modern day and age, the feminist movement of the 1960s and 70s has evolved into the women’s rights movement of the current millennium. Which means that this collection might not just be a form of celebration, it might also be a form of protest. As the designer puts an edgy and contemporary motif on her creations, she believes they will not be just wearable, but also heirlooms.
The public reaction to the Lip Hoops in particular has been extremely positive. According to Konstantinos, “They have been our best sellers. Several of my friends have supported our work and wear them which is really fun and they fuel a lot of my passion.”
Good for Mother’s Day gifts, birthday gifts, anniversary gifts, holiday gifts, and 5th dates. You can find more of the Female Alchemy Jewelry collection at:
https://www.femalealchemy.com/collections/jewelry
About Female Alchemy
Each piece in the female alchemy collection is handmade by Miami-based ceramicist, Tatiana Cardona. As an artist, she strives to create lively, empowering functional art, to brighten up one’s home. The lip motif is inspired by the feminist movement of the 1960’s and 70’s, when red lipstick stood as a symbol of protest. Cardona’s work has since evolved into a positive and fun way to promote femininity in the sacred and ancient medium of ceramics.
About KIL N.Y.C.
Inspired by a life of travel and antiquities, jeweler, Konstantinos Leoussis created KIL N.Y.C. in 2018, to showcase his love of old-world techniques and motifs. KIL N.Y.C. puts an edgy and modern spin on sentimental jewelry, creating styles that are both easily wearable and instant heirlooms.
4 Tasty Finds that Food Fans Will Love
It’s always exciting to discover a new product, flavor, or ingredient combination. You feel like you’ve walked over a bridge and entered an entirely new realm of culinary enjoyment and creativity. What is also exciting is wanting to share those discoveries with a friend or family member. That’s how we feel right now, with these four tasty finds that food fans will love that we are sharing with you.
FABRIZIA LEMON BAKING COMPANY
For the fans of limoncello, that delicious liqueur made from fresh lemons, there is now an option to enjoy its taste in baked form. That’s right, there’s an entire line of biscuits, biscotti‘s, cookies, brownies, and other tasty items that are all flavored with limoncello.
The Fabrizia Lemon Baking Company is a family owned business which incorporates award-winning Fabrizia Limoncello into each and every one of its baked goods. After launching Fabrizia Spirits (the leading producer of limoncello in America) in 2008, brothers Phil and Nick Mastroianni longed to share another cultural aspect of their upbringing, in other words, food.
Says Phil Mastroianni, “Growing up in an Italian household, food was always a big part of our lives and we wanted to share that in a unique way…with a special Limoncello twist. We import all of our lemons directly from Sicily and they are the ONLY thing that provides our Limoncello with its flavor and color. That Limoncello is then used as the foundation to our cookies, biscotti, lemon loaves, blondies, cake jars and whoopie pies.”
The TasteTV food editors, all citrus fans, had the enviable opportunity to review some of these items and found that most of them were extremely popular among the testers. The baked goods captured the taste of a real limoncello without being overly sweet or heavy. In fact many of the options were quite light in texture, and we found that the cookies and biscottis in particular were hard to keep in stock. Everyone loved them.
If you are a person who likes the tart flavor of fresh lemons and citrus, this might not be for you. Although made from lemons, most limoncello brands by nature are not tart. In general they have a sweeter profile that is balanced with the alcohol. If you are a true limoncello fan however then the Fabrizia Limoncello product line of baked goods is perfect. You can get any of these products individually, or as an entire gift set. You can also have sets that include the actual Fabrizia Limoncello included for sipping, or to mix it with your favorite cocktail.
Visit http://www. FabriziaLemonBakingCo.com
MIKE D’S BBQ SAUCE
Every region and every city has its own version of barbecue sauce, kind of like everyone has their own version of chili, spaghetti, and gumbo. Mike D’s BBQ sauce comes from North Carolina and is quite delicious, regardless of the region that you prefer. It is smooth and tangy with a bit of a citrus element that goes well on any protein you can want, including chicken, beef, pork, and even fish. Not to mention on fries.
Mike D’s BBQ is an award winning family-owned line of BBQ Sauces and Dry Rubs based in Durham, NC. They say their sauces are a twist on the traditional BBQ sauce with some unique seasonings and spice levels inspired by Mike D’s African American and Latino heritage. Their BIG Sauce is the mild/medium sauce and has won many awards, such as 1st for Medium BBQ Sauce in the 2021 International Spicy Flavor Awards and 3rd place for Kid Friendly BBQ Sauces in the 2022 Scovie Awards.
One TasteTV editor remarked that it reminded them of a “high quality mumbo sauce.” If you be don’t know what that is (or “Mambo sauce”) then that is an entirely different BBQ sauce discussion.
If you prefer your barbecue with a rub, Mike D’s barbecue also has a Sweet & Spicy Rub that has won several the competitive food awards, such as 1st place in the 2021 International Artisan Flavor Awards for Rubs and 1st place in the 2022 Scovie Awards in the Dry Rub/All Purpose Category. The Sweet & Spicy Rub presents taste elements such as brown sugar, honey, and chili lime to give your recipes just the right pizazz.
Visit Mike D’s BBQ, at http://www.mikedsbbq.com
http://www.facebook.com/mikedsbbq
CHILI SAUCES FROM CHINA LIVE
Restaurateurs George Chen and Cindy Wong Chen originally conceived of China Live as a Chinese version of the multi-level and multi-location Italian food emporium known as Eataly, but they have long surpassed that vision to become a true dining destinations in the city of San Francisco and the Bay Area. China Live in San Francisco has won numerous awards for their food and their restaurant design, and they have also won many awards for their line of sauces and spices. This includes their spice and sauce sets that come with different condiments selection, all created from proprietary China Live recipes.
According to OpenTable, “When China Live opened in 2017, it was unlike anything else in San Francisco, let alone the United States. Sprawling over 30,000 square feet, the space is ambitious in its scale and offerings, with a sit-down restaurant, marketplace selling Chinese pantry items and home goods, a cocktail bar, tea counter, and more. And while much of the space remains closed, fortunately diners still have ways to sample the restaurant’s stellar Chinese menu.”
China Live’s Signature Chili Bean Sauce was a finalist in the 2022 Good Food Awards, presented by the Good Food Foundation. The sauce is mildly spicy with a rich umami flavor, and the perfect addition to your favorite dishes. Another Good Food Awards finalist Chef Chen’s Famous Chili Crisp, which George Chen says “is a delicious topping for almost anything, and a must for your Asian pantry.” It is made with carefully selected ingredients such as rice bran oil, dried chili flakes, broad bean paste, fermented soybeans, Shaoxing rice wine, and paprika. We’re sure that you’ll find a lot of uses for either of these sauces.
Visit: https://chinalivesf.com/
AUSTIN EASTCIDERS SPICED PEACH
Hard cider continues to grow in popularity every year, and each region that makes it tries to outdo the others with their creativity and product sources. Austin, Texas for example, or specifically Austin Eastciders, has a limited release of spiced peach cider that is sure to have anyone with a thirst trying to snatch them out of the refrigerator without being noticed. California, Washington State, Oregon, and New York are all well-known for their ciders, but with their new spiced peach cider that reminescent of a delicious cobbler, Austin definitely holds its own.
Brittnay Perlo, Master Cider Maker at Austin Eastciders says, “Now what is better than the perfect combination of fresh peaches, crisp apples, and mulling spices? You will taste notes of ripe juicy peaches, and undertones of orange, cinnamon and nutmeg.”
Adds Dave Rule, VP of Marketing at Austin Eastciders, “Spiced Peach tastes like we threw some of your grandmother’s Peach Cobbler in the fermentation tank. Blending mulling spices with apples and apple cider is a long-standing American tradition. It reminds us of football season, tailgating, getting together with old friends and family and huddling together to stay warm.”
Austin Eastciders’ Spiced Peach is made with real fruit, no artificial sweeteners, and is gluten-free. The Spiced Peach is available in 12-packs as part of Austin Eastciders’ Winter Variety Pack, and on draft. Visit https://www.austineastciders.com/ to learn more.
Working from Home Gets more Stylish and Comfortable with the WorkRobe
Working from home is here to stay for many professions and careers. Along with it, work from home attire is now a permanent yet new wardrobe issue. You can’t lounge around in sweatpants and sweatshirts every single day, especially when you spend most of the day still communicating online with colleagues via Zoom or WebEx. Plus, it’s hard to be motivated all of the time when hanging out in a Justin Bieber, Coldplay or Doja Cat t-shirt. As they say, “Dress for Success.”
With that in mind, you need something that you can slip on at a moment’s notice that will look totally professional and appropriate, yet if you happen to wear it all day will be casual and comfortable. It needs to not be wrinklable when you are working, and able to be worn while you’re not working and not feel constricted. One answer now on the market is the new WorkRobe.
The WorkRobe is an innovative collection of Webex and Zoom-appropriate robes that are specifically designed for women working from home. The top part — the part seen on a remote call or meeting — is chic and professional. The rest of the robe is as comfortable as it sounds… it’s a robe. For personal and professional use it is as versatile as you can imagine.
The brand WorkRobe appears to be a clever solution to the idea that you need a “Work at Home Wardrobe,” hence “WorkRobe.” (We wish we had thought of that)
The Comfort Suite “C-Suite” collection of WorkRobe™ includes two different styles:
- The Button Down Robe, a cozy oversized stretch poplin tunic with fleece lining, gives a polished look on the outside and pure comfort on the inside;
- The Blouse Robe, a stylish, incredibly soft, flattering french terry wrap that can be worn anywhere in complete comfort with a sophisticated sash closure. Both are available in black and white color options.
The entire WardRobe collection is now available online at http://www.MyWorkRobe.com.
