Sympathy for the Kettle is not your typical tea retailer. It was started back in December 2003 in the East Village in New York City. Jodi Holiday purchased the initially dark and bankrupt Korean tea room and its business, learned the art of tea, and created a whole new tea experience. She experienced tea while living in Germany and traveling through Denmark, France, and Holland. That’s when she made the switch from European coffee to tea layered in herbs and dried fruit.

(Written by Kaylene Peoples)

Day in and day out it seems that men and women face the challenge of finding great fashion that is comfortable and versatile. Yet many people shop based on a different factor – what will mask underarm sweat.

(Written by Elana Pruitt)

Tatty Devine was created in 1999. It is a unique and quirky accessory line. Rosie Wolfenden and Harriet Vine are the brains behind the successful jewelry designs. The company is based in Great Britain, and the two designers have no formal training as jewelers. Harriet and Rose met at Chelsea School of Art back in 1996. They had planned to become artists, but Harriet found some leather samples on the way home from the pub one night. She proceeded to make some leather cuffs. She and Rosie sold them at Portabello and Spitalfields markets—and Tatty Devine was born.

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Handbag designer Merrell McGuinness received her inspiration in fashion from both women’s creative backgrounds and love of all things beautiful. Once she started designing her handbags, word spread quickly by word of mouth, and orders flooded in. Merrell, while holding down a full-time job, and maintaining a growing business, realized the need for a functional bag that still expressed a personal style.

Trapped Inside the Story is so good I predict a best seller! Written by Leslie Cohen, it is the biography of Holocaust survivor Naomi Kalsky, born Sonya Hebenstreit..

I guess it’s true what they say, 40 is the new 20. 50 is the new 30 and 60 is the new forty. So why not create a modeling competition for women over 35. After all, we are all getting younger anyway! (Interview with casting director, Andrew Strauser.)

I had a sea of emails asking me to claim my prize. But this time I was determined to walk away with something worthwhile. I followed the link and embarked on a wild ride. If I completed all the offers, surveys, and shipping fees, I would receive a $500 Visa gift card. I could certainly use that gift card.

(Staff Writer)

Newcomer Rails offers refined relaxation to anyone looking for cool and comfy additions to their leisure-wear wardrobe and dress-up-dress-down pieces. Designer Jeff Abrams launched Rails during summer 2006, proving that he most definitely knows a thing or two about form, fit, and feel.

Written by Elana Pruitt

(Written by Kevin Foster)

These are the Holidays. Some of the best food sensations of the year are to be enjoyed during this time. If you try to follow some super strict program now, you’ll deprive yourself of some of what makes this season so eagerly anticipated, and so much fun. I know that sounds very unguru-like. But I’m not encouraging gluttony either. I’m simply saying enjoy the foods of the season in moderation. And maintain or increase your level of physical activity to at least maintain your fitness levels during these times. When January rolls around, you’ll have some good habits established, and you can get more specific with your diet without all the Holiday Season distractions.

Often in life we serve others and for that service we expect returns. We give to our children and we expect from them obedience and respect. We expect them to love and appreciate us. We give to our lovers and we expect them not to disappoint us. We expect life to reward us with favor, especially when we have been just and fair. Things don’t always go as planned

(Written By Lisa A. Trimarchi)