My Blog & Travel Things

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TICKET GIVEAWAY: We’re giving away a pair of tickets to see Queen Bey in all her glory in Brooklyn on Dec. 19th! Email us at [email protected] telling us your favorite Beyoncé song and why. Winner chosen 12/17.

"This is a remarkable time for both Macy’s and Thalia considering that America’s #1 department store is now entering the Latino market with an iconic brand like Thalia Sodi. We are confident that this alliance will be extremely successful and that it will resonate with the vast Latino customer base Macy’s already has," Mottola said.

HONEY Magazine 2013 Thanksgiving Giveaway This Thanksgiving the HONEY Magazine team wants to give back to our readers & our exclusive email subscribers. Email us and nominate a family to win an Thanksgiving Dinner for 12 Sponsored by BOSTON MARKET Deadline is Tuesday Midnight November 26, 2013 Good Luck! Email [email protected]

Reggae Sting 2013: The Greatest Reggae Show on Earth Reggae Sting 2013 is a few weeks away and the organizers have recently released some pretty big names for the lineup. This years edition features an all star line up with artists like 2 Chainz, Super Cat, Beenie Man amongst others. A press conference hosted by Miami’s 103.5FM K. Foxx & Melky Jean was held at NYC Griffin Cocktail Lounge this week with Hot97 DJ Bobby Konders on the turn tables. This years edition of Reggae Sting might be the best ever. It features an all star line up with artists that currently run the dancehall and reggae charts as well as artists that have earned their stripes on earlier editions of this big Jamaican festival in Portmore, Jamaica. Reggae Sting 2013 Line Up Super Cat 2 Chainz Mavado Sizzla Kalonji Ninja Man Beenie Man Aidonia Lady Saw Tommy Lee Sparta Capleton Kiprich Etana Elephant Man Roman Virgo Specialist Peter Metro Josey Wales Charlie Chaplin Brigadier Jerry Major Mackerel Nature Reggae Sting 2013 will be held on December 26 at Jamworld in Portmore, Jamaica. Join in the fun and watch live on Pay Per View or stream it live online at www.bringthesting.com

RECAP: ARTPOP POP UP: A LADY GAGA GALLERY The ARTPOP POP UP: A LADY GAGA GALLERY had an incredible three days in New York City last week. The galleries were open to the media last Monday through Wednesday to celebrate the release of Gaga’s “ARTPOP” (in stores now, through Streamline/Interscope Records). The pop ups provided thousands of fans with a chance to celebrate and engage with all things “ARTPOP”, view Gaga’s iconic outfits, props, artwork, photos and video installations, alongside interactive experiences provided by Just Dance 2014 and Beats By Dr. Dre.

MALINDA WILLIAMS (SOUL FOOD) HEADLINES THE HOLIDAY UP ORIGINAL MOVIE MARRY ME FOR CHRISTMAS Production began in Atlanta, GA on the UP Original Movie Marry Me For Christmas (#MarryMeForChristmas), a romantic home-for-the-holidays drama with Malinda Williams (“Soul Food,” co-host of ASPiRE’s “exhale,”The Undershepherd) headlining a talented ensemble cast and serving as an executive producer. Marry Me For Christmas will premiere exclusively on UP on Saturday, December 14 at 7 p.m. EST, with encores at 9 and 11 p.m. EST. Produced by Eric Tomosunas’ Swirl Films and Malinda Williams, Roger Melvin (UP’s Sugar Mommas, Love Will Keep Us Together) directs from a script by Rhonda Freeman-Baraka (UP’s Saving Westbrook High, Trinity Goodheart). “Marry Me For Christmas is a movie to bring every member of the family around the television together during the Christmas season,” said Barbara Fisher, svp, original programming, UP. “Malinda Williams leads an exceptional cast of actors who make up the extended, matrimonially-driven Chandler clan – the kind of family who deeply love each other, Christmas and family gossip – not necessarily in that order. We are happy to bring this wonderful, fun film to our viewers this holiday season.”

LEONA LEWIS HEADLINES REGENT STREET CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SPECTACULAR London’s Regent Street Christmas lights for 2013 are themed around DreamWorks’ new time-travelling comedy adventure ‘Mr Peabody and Sherman’. Regent Street will be closed to traffic all day, with entertainment from 3pm including a catwalk showcasing local fashion stores Jaeger, Austin Reed, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Juicy Couture, Hawes & Curtis, Brooks Brothers, Sebago and Camper. Leona Lewis, Passenger and Eliza Doolittle will perform at the switch-on ceremony (7-7.30pm). Actor Ty Burrell from ‘Modern Family’, who voices Mr Peabody, and the film’s director Rob Minkoff share the honour of flicking the switch this year. Former Spice Girl Emma Bunton and TV personality Jamie Theakston will MC for the event, which will be accompanied by a firework display. And Baby Spice will be reunited on the night with Sporty Spice Melanie Chisholm to perform ‘2 Become 1’, the Spice Girls’ first ever Christmas number one hit.

SOFIA VERGARA NAMED SPOKESPERSON FOR P&G HEAD & SHOULDERS Sofia Vergara, the face of Cover Girl since May 2011, has been named spokesperson for another P&G beauty brand, Head and Shoulders. Vergara will appear in a national advertising campaign alongside her own family members beginning in early 2014. “I am excited to be joining a new family,” stated Vergara, Head & Shoulders has been a part of my hair care regime and my family’s since I was young.”

COSMETICS LINE PARTNER WITH MISS UNIVERSE ORGANIZATION Lantana-based IMAGE Skincare announced a partnership with the Miss Universe Organization that will feature IMAGE as the Official Skincare Sponsor of Miss Universe 2013, Miss USA 2013, and Miss Teen USA 2013. IMAGE Skincare’s paraben-free, scientifically formulated products are currently available in local spas, salons and physicians’ offices in Broward and Palm Beach Counties. During live telecasts of the competitions, IMAGE will have a 10-second pre-packaged segment featuring contestants using the company’s products, one audio mention referencing IMAGE, backstage product placement, and the opportunity to gift its products to contestants, celebrity hosts, judges and talent.

JAY Z TO DEBUT MEN’S FRAGRANCE Jay Z reportedly rejected 3,200 suggestions for the name of his first-ever men’s fragrance, before finally picked up the bottle and said, “This is the s**t; it’s gold,” . Thus, “Gold Jay Z” was born, the 43-year-old rapper’s fragrance collaboration with Ilias Ermenidis, of the world’s second-biggest perfume company, Firmenich. Jay Z’s eau de toilette is described as “a layered blend of yellow ginger, white cardamom and grapefruit with a hint of blueberry.” There’s also a “refined infusion of violet leaf, cypress, lavender and luxurious vetiver with a thread of pink pepper gives a tailored, modern signature” and “a rich note crafted with golden amber, patchouli, teak and bourbon vanilla give a final shot of gilded sensuality.” “I was impressed with Jay Z’s style and confidence and was drawn to the ease with which he carries himself and all of his success,” Ermenidis said in a statement. “He has a natural cool that people want a piece of. In developing ‘Gold Jay Z,’ I wanted to capture both the vibrant ambitious part of Jay Z’s charismatic persona and his effortless style that he naturally embodies through a fusion of notes chosen by Jay Z.” Gold Jay Z will hit department stores November 29 and cost $39 to $79, depending on the size of the bottle.

GIULIANA AND BILL RANCIC HOST DANSKIN CHARITY RIDE AT FLYWHEEL, WEST HOLLYWOOD E! News host and Danskin spokesperson, Giuliana Rancic and her husband, Bill Rancic hosted a charity ride at Flywheel on behalf of Danskin. All proceeds from the ride were donated by Danskin to the Dr. Edward T. Rancic Memorial Fund for Cancer Research at the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health. The Dr. Edward T. Rancic Memorial Fund for Cancer Research at the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health was established to provide support for a fellowship and research working to develop more effective immunotherapies for the treatment of renal cell cancer.

# 1 BEAUTY PICK FOR AUTUMN: SIMPLE SUGARS If Cinderella had known any better, once her carriage turned back into a pumpkin at the stroke of midnight, she would have taken it home, cracked it open, and gave herself a fabulous facial. Never underestimate the power of pumpkin! With fall in full swing, we decided to give you some helpful facts on this natural beauty ingredient and highlight “Simple Sugars”. Simple Sugars scrub (the all natural skincare for sensitive skin) is one of autumns popular scent! There’s just something about Pumpkins, they are loaded with antioxidants (notably beta-carotene) and wonderful fruit enzymes that will leave your skin glowing brighter than a jack-o-lantern on Halloween! And pumpkin is one of the most comforting scents there is. It’s just plain delicious. So, skip the pie and pamper yourself instead. Or, on second thought, go ahead and have your pie and and your smoothness too! Visit http://simplesugars.myshopify.com/products/pumpkin-body-scrub

KERRY WASHINGTON INKS DEAL WITH NEUTROGENA Actress Kerry Washington has inked a deal with Neutrogena very similar to the one Rihanna inked earlier this year with MAC Cosmetics. Kerry will not only front campaigns for the company, she has also been named Brand Ambassador and Creative Consultant. As a consultant, Kerry’s duties will go far beyond just appearing in the company’s ads. According to general manager Michelle Frye, Kerry will oversee the creation and marketing of new products specifically aimed at “young women with their pulse on what is now.” As Brand Ambassador, Kerry duties will bring her in direct contact with fans at promotional and philanthropic events. Past ambassadors include Kristen Bell, Hayden Panettiere and Gabrielle Union. According to Kerry she is a longtime Neutrogena user, and cites the Healthy Volume Mascara and Makeup Remover Pads as her favorite products. “For me, there has to be a connection between health and beauty. Those things can’t be in a vacuum and I think Neutrogena really champions healthy skin and beauty with a focus on health. So I gravitated toward their values and commitment to quality,” she said. “The more I met with these smart women, scientists and executives, it became clear that the company really values intelligence and the well-rounded beautiful woman, and I felt that was something I could really get behind.” Look for Kerry’s ads to start running just in time for the holiday season.

Time Warner Cable Celebrates the Upcoming Launch of Sean Combs’ REVOLT TV Time Warner Cable is kicking-off a “Music for the People” sweepstakes to celebrate the upcoming launch of Sean Combs’ music channel, REVOLT TV. Time Warner Cable Facebook fans can enter for a chance to win one of ten “Music for the People” prize packs. One grand prize winner will receive a trip for two to Los Angeles to tour and get a behind-the-scenes look at the REVOLT TV studios. REVOLT TV is Sean Combs’ highly-anticipated 24-hour music TV channel launching across most of Time Warner Cable’s footprint on October 21(st) . Time Warner Cable customers in cities across the country can enter the “Music for the People” sweepstakes on the Time Warner Cable Facebook page or /micultura now through November 11, 2013.(*) REVOLT TV will be available for Time Warner Cable video customers in most TWC markets on its expanded basic service on October 21(st) . Customers can visit www.twc.com for local channel listings. REVOLT TV programming information and the latest REVOLT TV news are available on www.revolttv.com, YouTube (revolttv), Twitter (@RevoltTV), Instagram (revolttv) and Tumblr (revolttv.tumblr.com). For updates and more exclusive offers, TWC customers can like the Time Warner Cable Facebook page, (/TWC) and follow @TWC on Twitter.

ENJOY HALLOWEEN AT NEW YORK’S MOST HORRIFYING HAUNTED HOUSE KILLERS2 is a horrifying, immersive haunted house experience about the obsession and fascination with serial killers both real and fictional. KILLERS2 is the follow-up to last year’s widely talked about, highly successful and critically acclaimed KILLERS installment and will run through November 2, 2012 at the Clemente Soto Velez Cultural Center, 107 Suffolk Street between Rivington and Delancey on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. “Nightmare”,billed as New York’s creepiest haunted house puts you in kill rooms of America’s most depraved mass murderers. The superior set design doesn’t only rely on gallons of fake blood to send a chilling message. If you want to celebrate Halloween by screaming in terror with a group of friends, and don’t mind having nightmares afterwards about the Manson family, then this is truly the haunted house for you. For more details visit NightmareNYC.com. Follow Nightmare on Facebook or Twitter at @NightmareNYC.

FENDI CASA OPENS ON MADISON AVE FENDI CASA, the home design collection for the international luxury brand FENDI, continues its expansion to New York City. With the help and partnering of OC CONCEPT STORE located on 655 Madison Ave at 60th Street, FENDI CASA now has presence in the most exciting and bustling city as well as having showrooms across the US in Miami, Los Angeles, and Dallas. Shoppers can get a taste of the FENDI CASA collection by browsing such accessories as crocodile embossed jewelry boxes, luxury fur throws, and pillows with the fashion label’s logo encrusted in Swarovski elements®. Furnishings are covered with a skillful use of printed leathers, rich fabrics, and twisted viscose rugs to translate into a world of comfort and luxury.