Archive for 2013

Charleston Bigelow Tea Style, Verizon Voices Fashionista Style Hop 6-17-2013

[ 6 ] June 17, 2013 | Shelley Zurek

Fashion Style Bloggers and Enthusiasts!

Follow Me to Charleston, SC! Follow or Join the Hop!

Disclosure: Charleston Bigelow Tea Style was inspired by an all expense paid trip via a contest that I won from Bigelow Tea for writing “Around Grandma’s Table“. I was uncompensated by Bigelow for this post but some of the content does come from that trip. Also, this Verizon Voices Fashionista Style Hop is presented in conjunction with my participation in the Verizon Voices Style program and I have been provided with a wireless device and six months of service in exchange for my honest opinions about the product. Stop by every Tuesday for all the fashion fun!

On a recent visit to Charleston, I wore this ladylike Eshakti style.

CAN YOU HANDLE ALL THIS BLONDENESS? The Chief Blonde hangs out in a Tea Field with Bigelow Tea President, Cindi Biglow and fellow Woman over 45! The Chief Blonde is wearing an Eshakti Dress ($89), Dr. Scholl’s wedge sandals ($69), Jewel’s for Hope Bracelet (c/o). Unless noted all Charleston Bigelow Tea Style photos taken with Samsung Galaxy Camera , 16MP, Optical 21x. 23MM Zoom Lens! One of my favorite aspects of this camera is that you can take video AND take pictures at the same time!

Lovely Charleston, Lovely Southern Style 1st Photo: The Chief Blonde enjoys a brief respite on the porch of the Charleston Tea Plantation. 2nd photo: Walt and The Chief Blonde enjoying the sunny Charleston weather. 3rd Photo: The Chief Blonde munching on tea delicacies by “Sugar Bakery”. Photos Courtesy of Olsonography

Getting Giddy with Bigelow Tea in Charleston, SC 1st Photo: The Chief Blonde receiving Bigelow Tea education! 2nd Photo: Walt and the Chief Blonde enjoying the Charleston Tea Plantation. Large Photo: The Chief Blonde is excited to check out all the wonder of the Charleston Tea Plantation. Photos 1& 2 Courtesy of Olsonography Large Photo: Taken with Samsung Galaxy Camera (c/o Verizon). Another feature I love about this camera is that it will has a “Best Shot” feature. You take 6 shots simultaneously and choose the best one.

TIME FOR AN AWKWARD STRETCH WITH CBIAS! While visiting the Charleston Tea Plantation with Bigelow Tea and Collective Bias. Bloggers and Staffers alike took time for an awkward stretch. Left to right: Natalie Zanatta, Collective Bias co-founder and COO Amy Callahan, Brandie and David Valenzuela, (front) Whitney Lett, (Back) Kim Janocko, Shelley Zurek (the Chief Blonde), and Walt Zurek . Photo courtesy of Olsonography

stillblonde The Chief Blonde Remarks: While visiting Charleston with Bigelow Tea, the main day was spent on tea education and Charleston history at the historic Palmer Home Bed and Breakfast followed by a trip to the Charleston Tea Plantation. We ended the day with magnificent open air barbecue with the Bigelows (of Bigelow tea)! Be sure to follow along with details on the whole trip, the Bigelow’s, and my newest fascination with tea on our new Tea Series!

Don’t forget to link up every week to the Verizon Voices Fashionista Style Hop!

Join Us Every Tuesday!

Katy from Modly Chic and Still Blonde after all these YEARS (that’s ME) will be hosting the Verizon Voices Fashionista Style Hop on our blogs. Every Tuesday, you can link up your latest style post right on Still Blonde after all these YEARS! The following week, the hop will be on Katy’s blog, Modly Chic.

Need a reminder? Sign up here for a weekly reminder that we will send out to you via email on Monday so that you don’t forget to post on Tuesday! Subscribe to our Verizon Voices Fashionista Style Weekly Reminder

Check out all the Stylists or add your own!

See all of our Verizon Voices Style Posts

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Do You Believe in Magic?

Blog Note: The Top 10 Magic Videos magic has been brought to you through a Fashoinista Event Opportunity

Check out these Magical Videos and see if you can catch the Magic! (For those on Email…come over to the blog to see the MAGIC!)

Now That’s Talent!

Ahh..the Magic of Dream and Dance

Our Favorite Magician

Or is this our favorite Magician?

Well Do Ya Believe?

What Happens When the Magic Ends?

Dogs Can be Magic

Ellen Knows about Magic

Johnny Carson as the Amazing Carnac

And Finally, for Some Candy Magic –Kinder Egg Style

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Cascade Platinum Handles it All!

[ 0 ] June 17, 2013 | Shelley Zurek

Does your Dishwasher need some extra Help?

This review of Cascade Platinum is a result of a campaign I participated in on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Cascade . I received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

At just $.26/load, who doesn’t want dishwashing benefits like Cascade Platinum is offering?

I currently use Cascade Gel. It works just fine, I am super happy with the product. I never buy anything else, Cascade works that well. So when I was asked to try Cascade Platinum, my question was…how much better could it be? I currently have a 14 year old dishwasher. As I have no ~~money~~ desire to replace it anytime soon, I do baby the old girl. I probably over rinse my dishes and take a lot of extra time, hot water, and effort in doing so.

Cascade Platinum had the following advantages that caught my eye:

Powers away tough, 24 hour stuck-on food
Eliminates the need to pre-wash dishes
Helps maintain the look of new machines and helps prevent additional hard-water build-up
Delivers exceptional dishware shine
Costs $0.26/load

Wow, those benefits along with that low price per load seems pretty great!

Putting Cascade Platinum to the Test

stillblonde The Chief Blonde Remarks: I used Cascade Platinum for a week and noticed a definite improvement in the shine of my dishes. I greatly reduced the amount of time that I spent pre-washing dishes. Truthfully, unless there was huge hunks of food, I just loaded the dishes right in to the dishwasher no matter how long they had been sitting on the counter. My dishwasher certainly looked lovely whenever I emptied the dishes. Cascade Platinum delivered on all it’s promises. The one change I would suggest is to improve the fragrance, it’s very overwhelming. I would have a fabulous after picture of the Dishwasher above but alas, all my pictures were blurry. Trust me, Cascade Platinum is the uber-pinnacle of dishwasher cleaning weapons!

Gene Simmons says “Cascade Platinum handles it all”

Gail Simmons, Top Chef judge and editor of Food+Wine magazine, talks in the video below about why presentation and prepartion are both equally important in the beautiful pictures of food today and introduces the benefits of Cascade Platinum to that process! Watch this video:

Get Social with Cascade to learn all the details on Cascade Platinum

Win a Platinum Kitchen! Enter the Cascade “My Platinum” Contest

Hurry over to the Cascade “My Platinum” Instagram contest ! One winner each week will win a Whirlpool dishwasher. The Grand Prize winner will win a Platinum Kitchen Makeover.

The theme for this week is My Platinum Clink (Entry: 6/17-‐6/23) Show them how you serve up creative concoctions in sparkling glasses.
The theme for next week is My Platinum Table (Entry Period: 6/24-‐6/30) Show them your sparkling tablescape for your most special celebrations!

PSSSTTT…That’s my entry for this week! Beat that!

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10 Tips — Protecting Your Eyes From UV Rays + Daily Contact Routine

[ 0 ] June 17, 2013 | Shelley Zurek

Tips For Summer Sun, Eyes and Caring for Your Contact Lenses

Blog Note: I wrote this 10 tips– Protecting your eyes from UV Rays + Daily Contact Routine review while participating in an influencer campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of HealthyWomen and VISTAKON® Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. and received a promotional item from Mom Central to thank me for taking the time to participate.

The Chief Blonde, pale by nature, always protects her skin from the sun. However, an umbrella, sunglasses, wide-brimmed hat and for some UV blocking contacts* is the best sun protection for your eyes.

Top 10 tips for protecting your eyes from UV rays this summer

1. Wear a wide-brimmed hat. (Remember though hats only protect for UV rays from above! )

2. Wear UV-blocking sunglasses (Label should read 99% UV ray blockage)

3. Consider your sunglass shape choice carefully. Lenses should be large and wraparound like this:

4. Consider the sunglass lense color. Darker is better.

5. For some, wear UV-blocking contacts.* UV-blocking contacts are great when you may not have some of the other sunblocking aids handy. *Although UV-blocking contact lenses are beneficial in helping to protect against harmful UV rays entering into the eye, long-term clinical studies have not been done to show that they directly reduce the risk of any specific eye disease or condition. That is why they should always be worn in conjunction with high-quality UV-blocking sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat.

6. Use an umbrella, cabana or shelter when laying by the pool or on the beach

7. Be aware–Eyes get the the highest ultraviolet radiation exposures in the morning and mid-afternoon, because the brow is not protecting them.

8. Combine methods of eye-protection for best UV-blockage

9. Why protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays? ? A number of studies have shown sun exposure may increase your chances of developing eye problems, such as cataracts, later in life.

10. Consult your eye care professional for eye protection tips. For example, your eye care professional can advise about contact lenses that offer the highest levels of UV protection.

still blonde The Chief Blonde Remarks: I love the tips about UV blocking contacts and combining the methods for ultimate protection. I must admit I hate wearing sunglasses and often forget my hat on a daily basis, but I always wear my contacts. If I can get better about combining of UV-blocking methods, I think I my eyes will get a great deal more protection this summer. As a mother of four, I can pass this advice on to my children as well. For more information, on eye health visit HealthyWomen.org “Eye Health Center”

Basic Daily Contact Routine

still blonde The Chief Blonde Remarks: In our family 4 of the 6 family members wear contacts. I have always worn contacts out of vanity. I hate my thick heavy glasses. My two oldest sons choose contacts for sport reasons. My third son choose them for appearance and convenience. But do each of us take care of and wear our lenses properly? I would say a resounding NO! My eldest son frequently fell asleep in his, my second son would never remember to change his and my third son would do things like put them in his mouth to rewet them! GAHHH! I think the most difficult rule for all of us to remember on a daily basis was to clean them properly not just drop them in the solution at night.

Here’s a great routine to follow for proper lens wear and care from Healthywomen.org. I think the “wear” tip that I will try to get everyone on board with this summer is that contact lens and water don’t mix! Did you realize you shouldn’t wear your lenses while swimming or in a hot tub? I sure didn’t and I know my kids don’t know that either. The contact lens “care” tip that my family will be embracing is to clean your lens case properly. After removing contacts, empty the case of all solution and clean it by rinsing and rubbing it in an approved solution. Then wipe the case with a lint-free tissue and turn both caps and case upside down to let them air dry. I don’t do a good job of that at ALL!

What will you be doing this summer for your eyes?

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$50 Laughing Vixen Lounge Gift Certificate Giveaway and Review

[ 88 ] June 15, 2013 | Shelley Zurek

Laughing Vixen Lounge– Baubles for the Modern Vixen

Blog Note: I was contacted by Laughing Vixen Lounge who owns a delightful Etsy Shop to conduct this review and giveaway. I was given a promotional item. Opinions are all mine baby!

Laughing Vixen Lounge Vintage Valentine Bracelet

Laughing Vixen Lounge “You Make My Heart Flutter” Charm Bracelet ($50)

YearOfYouButton still blonde The Chief Blonde Remarks: This Laughing Vixen Lounge Giveaway is part of the Year Of You^TMGiveaway Hop hosted by Planet Weidknecht. The Grand Prize Sponsor is providing the Grand Prize: $2000 in Karina Dresses, awarded as a dress a month for a year! Grand Prize Entry Form located at www.weidknecht.com. Once you have entered our giveaway, head to the Linky at the bottom to enter to win prizes at every blog listed below. Each blogger will be hosting a giveaway worth at least $25. All giveaways are geared towards a BEAUTIFUL YOU!

The Laughing Vixen Lounge has Zombies and Vintage Ladies!

In addition to the gorgeous bracelet that I was able to review in the top picture above, you can find gorgeous pendants:

Pendant Laughing Vixen Lounge

Laughing Vixen Lounge Art Deco Pendant ( $12 )

and Zombie Jewelry:

Zombies Laughing Vixen Lounge

Laughing Vixen features Zombie Jewelry including this pendant of Brains & Flesh ($32)

and don’t forget these hilarious vintage inspired pill boxes/compacts:

Pill Box Laughing VIxen Lounge

Funny Vintage Ladies Compact – Opinion ($15)

Aren’t her pieces FAB and AFFORDABLE? You can see how great the piece she gave to me goes with my outfit!

Laughing Vixen Lounge Still Blonde good

The Chief Blonde is wearing Laughing Vixen Lounge “You Make My Heart Flutter” charm bracelet ($50), Cobb Hill Sandals ($125) c/0, Dana Buchman skirt (Kohl’s) , black jacket (Liz Claiborne), pink shirt by The Gap, gold greek key hoop earrings.