SICKA THAN AVERAGE

Chinese Take-Out

Art fanatics can now collect eight different limited-edition, old-school Coca-Cola aluminum cans, each featuring artwork by a celebrated Chinese artist or graphic designer. It’s all part of Coca-Cola’s WE8 initiative: over the course of eight weeks, eight bottles are released (one per week). And it gets cooler than the polar bears in their Christmas commercials. Since the concept is based on the idea of East meeting West (thus the “WE” bit), each design has its very own accompanying song, composed by the best DJs, singers/songwriters, and musicians in Europe and America. Each song functions as a soundtrack of sorts for that bottle design’s overriding theme so that music and art come together, as well as Eastern and Western aesthetics.

The musicians involved include: New York City-based singer Jes, the acclaimed DJ Tiesto, Russian pianist Serge Devant, Jamaican reggae-meets-jazz-meets-soul artist Cezar, and house music DJ Kaskade. In terms of visual artists, the eight featured brainiacs (and their respective themes) are: Xiao Xue (Global Harmony), MeWe (Uplifting Moments), Xin Jing (Healthy World), Wang Xu (Happiness), Chen Shaohua (Active Optimism), Milkxhake (Human Collaboration), Joyn Viscom (Peace on Earth) and Jiang Hua (Individual Perseverance).

This, of course, is an excellent way of building up anticipation for the Summer Olympics in Beijing while also adding a forward-thinking vibe to the Coca-Cola brand. The bottle pictured above was masterminded by graphic designer and curator Jiang Hua. The horizontal red patterns are actually stylized Chinese characters for the word “Coca-Cola.” Its soundtrack song, “Be It All,” was written by singer-songwriter Jes, who says she was inspired by the maze-like quality of the bottle’s design.

To download the music or art, order your very own bottle, or find out more information, visit Coca-Cola.com/We8

Posted at 12:19 AM in Food and Drink | Permalink | Favorite This | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

July 27, 2008

Zi-Zi-Zi-Zia

So here’s the thing: I loathe the gym. Sure, I’ll do a pilates or yoga class here and there but, mostly, I prefer to do that kind of thing in the privacy of my own home, away from all those unforgiving mirrors, the harsh lighting, the uber-competitive Amazonian woman who judge me as I pant for air or struggle to lift some weights. No thank you for all of that mess! The only problem is, well, there are just so many distractions when you’re at the crib… You may plan to do some yoga, but then you start thinking, ‘Did so-and-so respond to my e-mail?’ or ‘Is Project Runway on TV tonight?’ or ‘Hey, I need to go through this stack of mail’ or ‘I should reorganize this bookshelf.’ In other words, it’s a procrastination-inducing place. Next thing you know, you’re munching on Golden Grahams and watching A Shot of Love With Tila Tequila or some other nonsense. Which would be fine if we were all born with these sinewy figures and lightning fast metabolisms but we all know such is not the case. So what do you do? Well, sure, you try to be more disciplined about working out and you make a point to eat right (lots of fruits and veggies, no late night meals, plenty of water, etc.) And then you get a little crafty and you study up about the latest advances in cosmetology (no nip-tuck necessary).

Now, I’ll keep it gully with y’all — I’ve tried so many firming creams and anti-cellulite this or that and the bottom line is that cellulite is like emotional baggage: you can minimize its appearance and its effects, but you can’t really get rid of it. That being said, there actually are some effective products that can work as quick fixes. So if you’re heading to the beach or you need to slip into an itty-bitty slip dress that shows your every curve, bump and hump, don’t despair. Instead, check out Zia Natural Skincare’s Ultimate Body Firming Treatment. Designed for all skin types, the body firming treatment contains caffeine and gotu cola to help minimize the appearance of cellulite, pink grapefruit and marine algae extracts to detoxify your skin and botanical products like yucca, aloe vera gel, licorice, gingko balboa extract, geranium, frank incense and willow bark to firm and tone. If you integrate this into your daily routine, you’ll actually see your stretch marks fading, your legs, arms and stomach looking buffer (you might actually trick people into thinking you’ve been doing some bicep curls, and your skin looking smooth and healthy.

Zia Natural Skincare Ultimate Body Firming Treatment, $17.99. Visit Drugstore.com

Posted at 12:43 PM in Beauty | Permalink | Favorite This | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

July 26, 2008

Welcome to the Jungle

First off, my lovely STA readers, I apologize for being MIA. Things got a little hectic for your girl, but I’m happy to report that I’ve made some pretty big and bold moves to ensure that I can focus on providing y’all with the best online experience — that means more posts, a wider variety of products, and overall improvements. So thank you for your patience, and I promise that all good things come to those who wait.

But enough with the sappy stuff… We just wanna have some fun up in heerrre, right?

So, check it out, gals. It seems that skate shoes (often snubbed by the major sneaker triumvirate) are now gaining in popularity and prestige. Everyone from Adidas to Reebok is experimenting with silhouettes inspired by traditional skate shoes — wider shapes, more cushioning along the ankle area, thicker laces, and softer, more resilient (and yes, shock-absorbent) leather. But here’s the thing — when it comes to skate shoes, you have to go straight to the originators: DC Shoes. After all, DC Shoes has mastered the art of crafting kicks for the most avid board bangers out there, but they’ve also made a smooth transition into the lifestyle realm by streamlining their designs (which means they’re roomy without being these wide boats on your feet, like the skate shoes of yore) and boldly experimenting with different fabrics, colorways, prints, and more. Frankly, they take more risks on a design level than some of the major sneaker companies, which is why they’ve won a place in my heart.

Take these kicks right here: the Manteca 2 Mids in Metallic Anthracite. These killer shoes manage to juxtapose a traditionally preppy fabric (the woven plaid on the side and heel panels) with a vivacious, daring metallic print that conjures up images of rainforests, exotic and untamed animals, lush green plants, and more. On a performance level, they feature: extra padding around the ankle area, very soft leather to protect you from any minor fall, trip and slip, and DC’s signature pill pattern sole (which provides excellent ground support). So whether you’re skating, running, walking or just posting up on the block, you can be the baddest HBIC out there.

And hey, just ’cause you can’t master those aerials and kickflips doesn’t mean you have no tricks up your sleeve. Sure, yours may be of the fashion variety, but that doesn’t make ‘em any less valuable. So, with that said, go get laced up and prepare to step into the concrete jungle.

DC Shoes Manteca 2 Mids in Metallic Anthracite, $70. Visit DCShoes.com for more info.

Posted at 12:11 PM in Fashion | Permalink | Favorite This | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

July 23, 2008

Boxed In

There’s something so cool about a house full of little boxes — they hide secret treasures (the whole pearl-in-the-oyster phenomenon) but, at the same time, the boxes themselves are so gorgeous that they themselves are cherished finds. It’s like when you get a dexterously wrapped present and you don’t want to rip the paper up because it’s just so gorgeous.

My abuelita always had ceramic, cloisonne and wooden boxes decorating her dresser and lining accent tables in her foyer and living room, and they always added a warmth to the overall decor (so I guess grandma was really on to something). Which brings me to this adorable Suzani Box by Jayson Home & Garden, which features handmade cloisonnes and a pattern that recalls the Byzantine Empire. The box measures 7.25 inches in diameter and 2.25 inches in height, and it’s the perfet place to store stud earrings, lockets, rings, and more. Much more than a storage place, this box will light up any tabletop and become a focal point in a room’s decor. Talk about a box that goes outside the box.

Suzani Large Box, $295. Visit JaysonHimeAndGarden.com

Posted at 10:38 PM in Home Decor | Permalink | Favorite This | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

July 22, 2008

Paint the Town Red

Every time I look at the design embossed atop this leather bracelet, I think about the sycamore tree in The Alchemist — maybe it’s because of how powerful it feels underneath the words “Revolution,” “Evolution” and “Devotion” but, whatever the case, that’s always the first thing that pops into my head. It’s kind of fitting, actually, given that in Coelho’s novel, a young boy dreams of a buried treasure by the foot of a tree and, here, we find a bracelet with a tree design on it and the bracelet itself represents a gift of life. See, this is a limited-edition bracelet designed by Julia Roberts for Emporio Armani’s Emporio Armani (Product) Red collection, which donates 40% of proceeds to the Global Fund. Every bracelet, then, represents one more step in the battle against AIDS in Africa.

Perfect for everyday wear, the leather bracelet is 0.75 inches thick and features sterling silver snap closures and tassles. Hey, if the Pretty Woman says it’s certified, it must be so, right?

(Product Red) Julia Roberts Bracelet, visit EmporioArmani.com

Posted at 02:41 AM in Fashion | Permalink | Favorite This | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)