Project Playhouse 2011 20th Anniversary Celebration Starts This Saturday, October 8

WHAT: PROJECT PLAYHOUSE® is the signature annual fundraiser benefitting HomeAid OC, an organization dedicated to building and maintaining dignified housing where homeless men, women and children can rebuild their lives. Visitors can view an array of fantasy playhouses that will be on display for a five-week run. The culmination of Project Playhouse will be the spirited live auction during the 20th Anniversary Celebration on November 11.

WHY: Since its debut nearly two decades ago, Project Playhouse has captivated millions of visitors, raised a total of $5.8 million and enlisted more than 10,000 volunteers. The result — 47 housing developments and 1,000 beds, providing 4.2 million bed nights over the last 22 years and 386,535 bed nights in 2010 serving victims of domestic violence, abused children and homeless families.

WHERE: IRVINE SPECTRUM CENTER®, Irvine, CA

WHEN:
Open House Saturday, October 8, 2011
Irvine Spectrum Center®
12pm – 6pm
Ticket Price: $10 donation per person, age 3 and under are free
The only time you can go in the playhouses!

Weekend Village Tours October 9 thru November 11, 2011
Fridays 12pm – 4pm, Saturdays/Sundays 12pm – 6pm
Ticket Price: $2 donation per person, age 3 and under are free
View the playhouses through the front doors


20th ANNIVERSARY OF PROJECT PLAYHOUSE GALA
November 11, 2011

Balboa Bay Club, Newport Beach

WHO: 2011 participating builders/submissions -
Sir Lyon’s Castle by William Lyon Homes
Little Diamond Head by Nicholson Companies
Tradepartners® Tribute in honor of Chuck Dreyer by Shea Homes
Over the Rainbow Cottage by Team HomeAid

To learn more about HomeAid Orange County and how you can help provide shelter for homeless families go to www.homeaidoc.org. For more information on HomeAid’s Project Playhouse go to www.projectplayhouse.org or call 949.553.9510.

The Cove To Host One Year Anniversary Party on October 7th

The Cove is our favorite local shopping find with nine stores filled with the coolest items for the fashionista, the lotin-obssessed, home fanatics, kids and more.  With clothing, jewelry, pillows, coral, skin care products and more, we always find something.  

The Cove is celebrating it's one year anniversary on Friday, October 7th.  Be sure to get down there to check it out for yourselves!  

Major Retailers Stock Up on New Pulse Charger Electric Scooter ($99)

Pulse’s first electric scooter, the Pulse Electric Chargers ($99), are expected to be so popular that major retailers, including Target, Walmart, Kmart, Sears, Toys R Us, Sports Authority, and Academy are all stocking up on them. The Pulse Scooters will be available starting on October 1.


There are eight different colors/prints available. See below for colors and the retailers where they are available.




Linkydoodles CandyChains Sweeten Up the Holiday Season -- Arriving Soon in the OC




LINKYDOODLES CANDYCHAINS GETS READY FOR NOSTALGIC, SWEET HOLIDAY

The 4th Annual Holiday Décor Tradition Is Exclusive To Orange County


September 20, 2011, Orange, CA -- Continuing the exclusive OC holiday tradition, Linkydoodles premium, handcrafted CandyChains, a timeless and tasty garland of candy cane hearts and “s” links designed to decorate the Christmas tree, mantel or centerpiece, will be arriving in Orange County starting in October.


Handcrafted in Ontario, CA by a master candy maker personally selected by Doodle-in-Chief Robin Reichelt, Linkydoodles have become an annual tradition for families across Orange County since their introduction in 2008.  Robin personally oversees the manufacturing and distribution of each year’s limited supply, even offering free delivery to her customers within Orange County.

Each $8 tray of Linkydoodles contains one garland (approx. 17” long). For a standard 9-12’ tree, 4-5 boxes of garland are required.  Individual Linkydoodle Heart Ornaments can be purchased for $3 (2 for $5 or 5 for $10) and new for 2011, Linkydoodles is also offering gift sets including an authentic, vintage Santa mug stuffed with peppermint pillows.

Featuring a unique signature stripe, the patented linking candy shapes are made in small batches with only the finest ingredients using a traditional copper kettle, a centuries-old method. Once formed, each “doodle” is dipped in confectioner’s glaze to keep moisture out and flavor in, allowing them to do double duty as decoration and dessert!

Linkydoodles have become an annual fixture at the Company of Angels boutique in Costa Mesa and will be available this year at the Patchwork Indie Arts and Crafts Holiday Show in Culver City (November 13, 11am-5pm) and Santa Ana (November 27, 11am-5pm) and the Orange County High School of the Arts Holiday Boutique (Dec. 1, 10-5).  Linkydoodles are also available online at www.linkydoodles.com.



The Linkydoodles Story
The idea for Linkydoodles came to Robin while decorating her tree one year with her 4-year old son.  “Why did the candy have to hang vertically on the tree?,” she thought. And so began the ten-year process of designing, patenting and creating the premium linking candy that is Linkydoodles. Throughout this process, Robin’s inspiration has been her love of holiday nostalgia and her desire to help families create indelible holiday memories of their own much like those in the vintage cards and images featured on the Linkydoodles packaging and website.

“It was the lights reflecting off the shiny glass ornaments, the red and white candies, the fresh green smell of the tree, and the glittering tinsel looking like icicles. Everything holding it’s breath waiting for Christmas morning, just like you. These are the holiday memories that gave rise to Linkydoodles,” Robin shares. “Enjoy!”

Blacktop 360's Party Hub Grill Fryer in the September Issue of Tailgater Monthly

If your husband is like mine, football season couldn't come soon enough. Football, to him, is everything that comes with the game... the players, the coaches, the success stories, the moments of defeat, the tailgating, the food, the competition, the friendship... all of it! So it's no wonder that he couldn't wait to see the Tailgater Monthly issue with the Top 20 College Tailgates and check out the Gadgets and Gear section, that included Blacktop 360's Party Hub Grill Fryer.

Real Simple Features Animal Blueprint Company

There are pet lovers everywhere. 
From a childhood dog to the cat that curls up with them today, there is one things I know for sure and that is people love their pets! 

Kristin Appenbrink of Real Simple loved her poodles and when she saw the art of cats and dogs from Animal Blueprint Company, she was inspired to share them with Real Simple's readers.  Thanks!

Animal Blueprint Company Adds Rescued Mutts + Cats Art

Paying homage to the classic American dog, the Mutt, Animal Blueprint Company, detailed, hand-drawn dog and cat portraits created in the original style of a 1950’s blueprint complete with schematics and design notes calling out the special features of each breed, has just added rescued American Mutts and Cats to its collection. Gift givers can find the new American Mutts and Cats, as well as over 60 dog breeds done in the company’s signature blueprint style online at www.animalblueprintcompany.com and in select retailers.


Giving new meaning to “barkitecture”, the artwork features a distressed finish to give them the look and feel of working blueprints used by architects, engineers and construction supervisors in mid-20th century. The classic renderings are perfect for animal lovers or those who want to combine style, design and nostalgia in their homes. A great stand-alone piece of art or as a collection, Animal Blueprints start at $110 with a variety of framing and matting options available and also make excellent gifts. Custom orders for specific breeds or individual pets are also available.

Artist Robert Redding was inspired to create the Mutt series after his own dog, Maddie, who is a mutt mix.  A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each American Mutt print is being donated to local animal shelters throughout Southern California. Robert also recently added the cat series to the Animal Blueprint collection, featuring seven of the most popular feline breeds, thanks to the demand from cat lovers who had seen his work.


About Animal Blueprint Company
Inspired by a passion for animals, art and architecture, Animal Blueprint Company, is the creation of artist and graphic designer, Robert Redding, who prior to this latest endeavor spent more than a decade designing apparel for the surf and sportswear industry. Located in San Juan Capistrano, California, the company focuses on animal renderings drawn in the original format of blueprints used by design and construction professionals in the 1950’s. http://www.animalblueprintcompany.com/

OC Look Raises $18,000 for JDRF + Announces OC's Most Stylish

On Thurs., August 11, at the private home of Maureen and Daniel Callahan in Ritz Cove, Orange Coast magazine, the definitive guide to Orange County life and style, hosted the 4th annual OC Look party, where the 2011 OC Look winners were announced and honored as Orange County’s arbiters of style.

Now in its fourth year, the OC Look honor has become hot ticket for summer and highly desired among the Orange County style set. In addition to honoring OC’s most stylish, this year’s party raised over $18,000 for the Dream Guild of the OC chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation with a sold out crowd of over 400.

“Every dollar raised is a dollar closer to the cure of diabetes” says Linda Goldstein, publisher of Orange Coast. “Even though the evening was full of fashion and personal style, the most stylish part of the evening was giving to JDRF.”

The fashionable set came to celebrate, the 2011 OC Look honorees who are:

Timree Gold
Eve Kornyei
Mona Shah
Mara & Keith Murray
Peter Blake
Moira Kamgar
Gregg Feinerman
Ryan Fisher
Tracey McCarter
Maryam Picard
Suzie & Sam August
James Pribram
Selly Straight
Suzan Lee Paek
Antonio Cagnolo

All of the OC Look honorees were presented with an exclusive award designed and provided by Tiffany & Co. as well as a VIP gift bag from Gifted. Portraits of each of the honorees accompanied by insight into their personal fashion philosophies will be featured in the special section on the August issue of Orange Coast.

ABOUT OC LOOK 2011
The 2011 OC Look honorees, their guests and other attendees were treated to an evening full of style and fashion complete with beauty bars by M•A•C Cosmetics and Kenneth Brown Hair Salon, and handwriting analysis courtesy of Mont Blanc. Models meandered in the hottest fashions from Chloe & Saks Fifth Ave. while attendees worked their “inner model” for photographer Lisa Renee. Signature cocktails and a Tequila tasting were hosted by Agave Underground Tequila. Chateau Ste. Michelle wines accompanied the decadent fare offered by 24 Carrots, including Maddalena Wines, while some of South County Lexus’s hottest cars were on hand.


















Gift ideas for active kids, entertainers, foodies, pet lovers + the pencil obsessed

At TO Media Co., we believe it is more important than ever to give gifts that are thoughtful and honor the receiver’s hobbies and things they love. So this holiday season, we wanted to share our top picks for: active kids, the entertainers, the foodies, the pet lovers and the pencil obsessed!


Pulse Charger Electric Scooter (Walmart; $99) – Great for kids ages 8+, this NEW scooter travels up to 10 mph and is available in several different colors that are great for boys and girls. http://www.bravosportscorp.com/

American Mutt Art from Animal Blueprint Company (http://www.animalblueprintcompany.com/; starts at $110) – A great way to mix classic and contemporary style, this new series paying homage to the classic mutt are done in the style of a 1950’s architectural blueprint.

Personalized Pencil Dish from Timree (http://www.timree.com/; $28) – What a cute addition to any desk! This is for sure a favorite for the teacher, kid or office pal!

Blacktop 360’s Pit Pan (http://www.blacktop360.com/; $19.95) – This fun way to cook over an open fire transforms any party in the backyard, not to mention it is fun for the kids to make pancakes on it when you are camping.

Vonny Designer Casserole Carrier and NEW Pie Carrier (http://www.vonny.com/; Casserole $48; Pie $64) – This is perfect for the pot luck queen or the home entertainer. Who doesn’t want to show up in style with their dish?!

Antique 1940’s Mother of Pearl Beads and Sterling Antique Brittish Medal (Engraved “MacKay Cup 1933” on the back) from Little Relics (http://www.littlerelicsjewelrystudio.bigcartel.com/; $185) – Caitlin Whelan is a 20-year old jewelry designer phenom with her own store, Little Relics in Newport Beach, CA. She focuses on one-of-a-kind pieces and mixes antique jewelry to create her signature recycled, re-purposed, and hand-made pieces.

Star Wars Helmet (Toys R Us; $25) – For the kids ages 5+, we love this NEW helmet because it’s a character and movie we can get behind plus the kids love. Nothing like reliving your childhood through your kids! http://www.bravosportscorp.com/

Blacktop 360 Party Hub Grill Fryer (http://www.blacktop360.com/; $249) – This award winning, NEW bad boy of the tailgating industry has 11 different cooking functions in one unit so you can do everything from fry to grill to griddle. Love it!


For photos, samples or more information, please contact: Allison Olmstead at TO Media Co. 949.722.8688; Allison@tomediaco.com