| HIP BUZZ Interesting tidbits and news every hip chick should know |
| JAVA, BABY Coffee is not only one of the most widely consumed beverages on the planet, but it also has shocking health benefits. Drinking a cup forty-five minutes before working out will give you an extra boost. It has also been shown to help individuals concentrate on tasks, such as homework, better. The popular refreshment keeps you focused and helps your memory and decision-making abilities. Another reason to sip? When you travel, beat jetlag by consuming a couple drinks, and you'll also be preventing liver cancer. |
| DESIGNER CHOCOLATES Some people desire designer handbags but we prefer the chocolate ones from Choco Choco House. Designed by dessert chef, Aliya, the chocolates are almost too gorgeous to eat. Shaped like little handbags, these girly treats are one-of-a-kind and we love them. Two favorites? The Pravda Collection (shown above) is baby pink croc with an edible gold clasp and Kitty in my Garden (not shown) is adorable and dark chocolate with a dark chocolate ganache (our ultimate favorite). They also have truffles and other tasty things. Visit their website |
| BEAUTY VIBRATIONS: Sex Toys Re-discovered At the upscale New York department store, Henri Bendel's, customers can buy purse-sized vibrators that look like a tube of lipstick or a make-up brush. Apparently, New Yorkers like to play because the goodies are currently back-ordered. |
| HEMP IS HOTT You may be seeing a lot of hemp everywhere. Cultivation of hemp is banned in the United States because it contains traces (less than 15%) of THC, the psychoactive chemical found in marijuana, but hemp products happily are not, and rightfully so. Hemp is one of the most eco-friendly crops in the world since it does not utilize fertilizer or pesticides and can be used to supplement anything created from paper, wood, cotton or petroleum. One of our favorite happy hemp products is the Merry Hempster Hemp Balm that gently soothes chapped lips. |
| What is Crudo? |
| If you've read any lifestyle publications lately, you've probably heard of crudo. Both Vogue and Health magazines recently ran articles about this new American trend. Although Americans are no strangers to raw fish, it is commonly associated with sushi, but crudo is not Japanese. Crudo, which means "raw" in Italian, is freshly sliced fish that is seasoned with olive oil and fine vinegar or a dash of fresh herbs. There is no soy sauce, wasabi or ginger in sight. Upscale Italian restaurants have quickly grabbed hold of these bite-size morsels that do not have the unpleasant fishy flavor that some cooked fish possesses. |