TBL: The Bits List

Ever run out of room in your pockets? 

I have learned not to bring too many things with me when I go clubbing or to a party, so I don’t have to check in my stuff or lug around a handbag. There were times when I remembered us girls had to put down our bags on the floor and dance around them. It kept us hands free but it sort of restricted us from going too far out and someone always had to keep an eye on the bags. Besides checkin is usually a lot of hassle and there is always a wait. Of course to avoid all that, we would try only carry what we needed in our pockets, but as you know, most ladies don’t usually have pockets on dresses or skirts. Jeans have pockets, but you are limited to what you can carry unless you want to walk around with big bulging pockets. Not very attractive. It can totally ruin the chic look that you are trying to achieve.

Some of the essentials things that I always carry with me are …cell phone, keys, cash, lipstick, metrocard, credit card and an ID Card of sort. 

Well, the Japanese have hit the jackpot again. These new phone wallets have a smart chip that can trigger transactions by waving your cell phone on a special display in stores. If you hear a fairy tinkling sound means you successfully trigger the transaction. If you have one of those flip phones, you don’t even need to flip it open, it is instantaneous. How cool is that. I think it is a fabulous invention.   Now I don’t have to carry as many things in my small purse.  Although I would hate to know what happens if you lose your wallet phone - you could be stranded without a phone OR means of paying for anything. Yikes, that would be a dilemma I wouldn’t want to be in.

Click on the link if you want to read more on the Wallet Phones that are debuting in Asia.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Filed under: Electronic, Marisa, Tidbits on August 20th, 2008 | 1 Comment »

When is this baby boom gonna end? Has having babies been commercialized and celebritized? I see baby bumps everywhere I go. Websites now even has a separate category dedicated for celebrity “bump watch”. My husband thinks this is all in my head because I am expecting myself. Perhaps he is right. They do say pregnant women tend find themselves seeking and reaching out to other fellow expecting mothers. And perhaps that is why we are so glued on following up with others and reading on celebrities. However, according to researchers and studies, they have reported that we have reached a population milestone. They said a record number was recorded for 2007 with 4,315,000 babies born in the U.S. , doubling the number a century ago and a sign that points to a new baby boom era. Could 2008 beat the record? It is remarkable knowing that more and more people are having babies now even when economy is doing so poorly. Well they said is good news because now they can ensure we will have social security benefits. HA.

For fun, I have created a list of celebrity babies and bump for 2008. According to the Chinese Zodiac, people born in the year of the rat are charismatic, intelligent, quick-witted and are very social and popular.  

Celebrities Babies 2008
• Toni Collette & Galafassi - girl, Sage Florence Galafassi on Jan 9th.
• Christine Kim & David Alan Grier - girl, Luisa Danbi Grier-Kim on Jan 11th.
• Nicole Richie (26) & Joel Madden - girl, Harlow Winter Kate Madden on Jan 11th.
• Courtney Thorne-Smith & Roger Fisherman - boy, Jacob Emerson on Jan 11th.
• Christina Aguilera (27) - boy, Max on Jan 12th.
• Daniel Baldwin & Joanne Smith-Baldwin - girl, on Jan 17th.
• Chris Noh & Tara Wilson welcomed a boy, Orion Christopher Noth on Jan 20th.
• Tracie & Scott Hamilton fourth child, boy, Maxx Hamilton on Jan 21st.
• Julianna Margulies & Kieth Lieberthal - boy, Kieran Lindsay Lieberthal on Jan 31st.
• Carin Van Der Donk & Vincent D’Onofrio - girl Luca on Feb 14th.
• Jennifer Lopez (38) & Marc Anthony - twins, boy and a girl on Feb 22nd.
• Jeri Ryan (39) and Christopher Eme - girl , Gisele Lynn Eme on March 2nd.
• Brooke Burke (36) 4th child - son on March 5th! Launched Baboosh Baby.
• Melissa Joan Hart (31) second child - son Baydon Hart Wikerson on March 12th.
• Halle Berry (41) & Gabriel Aubry  - baby girl, Nahla Ariela Aubry, on March 16th.
• Soleil Moon Frye - second child, girl, Jagger Joseph Blue Goldberg on March 17th.
• Cate Blanchett (39) - third child, son Ignatius Martin on April 13th.
• Tracy Gold (39) - fourth child, a boy in April.
• Elizabeth Rohm (34) gave birth to a girl, Easton August Anthony on April 10th.
• Jodie Sweeting (26), baby girl, Zoie on April 12th.
• Alex Rodriguez (32) & wife, Cynthia (34) second daughter, on April 22nd .
• Giada De Laurentiis (37) baby girl with husband Todd Thompson in April.
• Angela Kinsey (36), - baby girl, Isabel Ruby Lieberstein on May 3rd .
• Jessica Alba (27) & Warren - baby girl, Honor Marie Warren on June 7th.
• Tori Spelling (34) & Dean McDermott - girl, Stella Doreen on June 9th.
• Jamie Lynn Spears (17) - girl , Maddie Briann on June 19th. 
• Nicole Kidman (40) & Keith Urban - girl - Sunday Rose on July 7th.
• Matthew McCormaughley & Alves (24) welcome a baby boy, Levi Alves on July 8th.
• Ethan Hawke & Ryan Shawhughes, baby girl Clementine Jane on July 18th
• Angelina Jolie (32) and Bratt Pitt welcomes Vivienne and Knox., July 19th.

Bump Watch 2008
• Gwen Stefani (38) is pregnant with baby number two. Due in end of summer.
• Dixie chick, Martie Maguire & Gareth Maguire, second pregnancy. Is a girl.
• Mary Lynn Rajskub first child with Matthew Rolph this summer.
• Lisa Marie Presley (40)& Michael Lockwood first child together due in Fall.
• Matt Damon’s Wife, Luciana Barroso (32) is expecting again.
• Nelly Furtado (30) rumors may be knocked up with her second child.
• Minnie Driver (38) expecting first child.  Due in August.
• Bo Bice (32) and Wife Caroline (28) expecting a second child in August.
• Rhea Durhma (29) & Mark Wahlberg third child in September.
• Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz expecting first child.
• Laila Ali and husband Curtis Conway expecting their first child together.
• Amy Jo Johnson exepcting first child with fiancé Oliver Giner in late fall.
• Alessandra Ambrosio and boyfriend Jaime Mazur expecting a daughter
• Naomi Watts and boyfriend expecting second child.
• Alison Sweeney announced she’s pregnant with baby number two.
• Gillian Anderson from X-Files is expecting third child.
• Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell expecting twins.
• Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck are expecting baby number two.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Filed under: Celebrities, Baby\Kids, Hollywood, Marisa, Tidbits on August 14th, 2008 | 1 Comment »

It has been said that there is a savvy, fashionable and beautiful woman inside all of us, and Starr Strung Jewelry Designs caters to that positive ideal.

Starr Keller is the owner/designer of Starr Strung Jewelry Designs, an Indiana-based business that was born on her kitchen table in 2004.  Amid a pile of borrowed tools and a big bag of beads from a travelling girlfriend, the company has come to include clientele and beautiful boutiques across the country. A self-taught artist who is currently the Editor of the Michigan based paper The Auction Exchange and Collectors News and an Associate Editor for AntiqueWeek, Starr’s spring/summer 2008 collection range from bridal designs with 1940s pearl strands to lime green turquoise and red coral work. 

Mtidbits now carries select Starr Strung jewelry pieces under our Designers section. 

Popularity: 8% [?]

Filed under: Starr Strung Jewelry Design, Jewelry, Mtidbits News, Mtidbits, Indie Designer, Patricia on August 2nd, 2008 | No Comments »

I was up in the Boston area this past weekend visiting friends.  It’s been a couple of years since I’ve been up to Boston to see my friends and we had a wonderful time catching up.  Aside from visiting with my friends, I also got a chance to visit a few surrounding towns.   

 Rockport:  A quaint little seaside village on Cape Ann that’s about 30 minutes from where my friend Amy lives (Malden, MA).  Aside from the spectacular views, delicious seafood, charming inns & B&B’s and beautiful scenery, Rockport is a shopper’s paradise with more than 150 shops and art galleries locacated within short walking distance. 

Gloucester:  a Cape Ann community neighboring Rockport.  Located 30 miles north of Boston, Gloucester is known as America’s oldest seaport.  Its scenic beauty, active fishing industry, and renowned arts community have attracted and inspired painters.  We drove through the town and I was impressed by the beautiful beaches and large houses.  That George Clooney movie “The Perfect Storm” was filmed there!    If you will also recall, Gloucester is also infamous for the “pregnancy pact” where pregnancies occurred among 17 female students in Gloucester High School.  To quote my friend Amy:  “I survived Gloucester without getting pregnant”.  Ha

Salem: infamous for the Salem Witchcraft Trials of 1692.  Today’s Salem is vibrant and rich with historic architecture, maritime & literary history, ecletic shops and more.  After a delicious lunch at Finz Seafood and Grill restaurant by the waterfront, Amy and I decided to get a tarot card reading.  Alas, getting a tarot card reading wasn’t in our cards as the one tarot reader we tried were all booked up for the day!  Go figure. 

Popularity: 7% [?]

Filed under: Patricia, Tidbits on July 27th, 2008 | No Comments »

What a coinky dink! Remember that blog entry on Fish Doctors & spas? Imagine no more. CNN has an atricle about one spa in DC area that offers Garr Rufa (fish doctor), Pedicure treatment. Owner of Yvonne Hair and Nail Salon in DC area has been offering this service for the past four months and said about 5000 customer have tried this. Many had nothing but good things to say and some are even hooked on this. Treatment starts at $35 for 15 min and $50 for 30 min. If anyone who lives in the area and had tried this, please email me and let me know your experience. Would love to hear your story. 

Now, I wonder if this is going to catch on and how soon there be one here in New York City…

Popularity: 8% [?]

Filed under: Spa, Review, Tidbits on July 21st, 2008 | No Comments »

 Katie Holmes, Hayden Panettiere, Anne Hathaway, and other celebs all have shorn their locks after the arrival of Victoria “Posh” Beckham to America.  Eva Longoria is the latest celebrity to succumb to the “Beckham Bob”. 

The bob is very versatile.  It can be tailored and styled to accomodate any hair type and face shape.  I tried it out a few years ago out of a desire for change.  It got rave reviews from my co-workers and friends.  The upkeep, however, was harder than the style looked.  I kept the bob throught the summer and fall seasons and then gradually let my hair grow out.  I still still love the bob though. 

Popularity: 9% [?]

Filed under: Hair, Celebrities, Patricia, Tidbits on July 16th, 2008 | No Comments »

Roomba 570 by iRobot, I never thought that I would ever purchase one but we are now proud owners after my husband convinced me that it was God’s gift to mankind. When I first heard about it, I used to chuckle and be skeptical about the whole concept and even commented on how people can be so lazy. Now the joke is on me. We absolutely love it.

We have hardwood floors throughout our apartment and in the past, I use my broom and swifter in an attempt to keep clean. It’s amazing how much debris, dust and hair a place can accumulate. Did you know that dust also comes from our skin?

You will surely be impressed by the Roomba which can work on carpet and hardwood floors. It cleans under furniture and can be scheduled for the Roomba to clean while you are at work. It definitely helps with housekeeping. Now I have more time to do other things and is one less thing to worry about if you have little kids or babies around. How much does it cost? It can cost about $200 to $450 depending on what model or accessories you get. It may sound expensive, but it is comparable to mid to high range vacuum cleaners.

iRobot Roomba is definitely wave of the future. I remember watching “The Jetsons” when I was little and was completely amazed with all the futuristic and whimsical inventions. I used to wish we had a “Rosie” at home so that I can skip the chores. Now we got the Roomba! It does only a franction of what “Rosie” can do but we are certainly not very far away. In a strange way, it’s scary to see how much our technology is improving and how much we depend on technology. I just hope they don’t turn out to be like in the movies, “I Robot” starting Will Smith. Now that was scary.

Popularity: 12% [?]

Filed under: Review, Electronic, Shopping, Gift, Marisa, Tidbits on June 30th, 2008 | No Comments »

Estée Lauder and Lancôme are launching a new product to the market in the coming month -  vibrating mascaras. Estee Lauder recently announced the arrival of TurboLash All Effect Motion Mascara, vibrating at 125 micropulses a second, in mid July at Saks Fifth Avenue and Lancome will sell Ôscillation, which coats around each and every lash, due out in stores this Fall.

I don’t know about you but I’m very clumsy and would probably poke myself in the eye with this. This does however sound very cool and interesting. As for the price, a typical mascara from Estée Lauder and Lancôme ranges from anywhere between $19 to $24. The new vibrating mascara from Lancôme will cost a little more, about $30. As for how it will sell, we will just have to watch and see. If anyone does pick one up and try it, please do email me and let me know what you think. Love to hear your comments.

Popularity: 13% [?]

Filed under: Makeup, Beauty, Marisa, Tidbits on June 24th, 2008 | No Comments »

There is fish we eat, fish we use for decoration but fish doctors?  Imagine going to a spa where Garra Rufa, a type of fish, are placed in a pool or tub to feed off from your dead skin.  Medical studies say this is great for patients with psoriasis as it is painless.  These little fishies just nibble but leave your skin intact.  You would only feel a tingling sensation.  These types of spas are increasingly becoming popular; quite big in the Middle East and Asia, particularly in Japan.  You can always count on the Japanese to come up with a new trend. 

I never tried it, but I guess it works like body scrub.  In this case, the fish do all the work.  I suppose this shouldn’t be too weird, since people are known to use maggots to clean wounds and leeches to suck out blood.  I don’t know about you but I get a little squeamish thinking about maggots, leeches and such feeding off me.  I wonder if this fish treatment works on calluses.  Calluses are considered dead skin, right?  If so, perhaps instead of pumice or razors, nail salons here can offer Garr Rufa foot treatment.  Imagine that.

You can read more about it on Trendhunter.com.  Photo Courtesy of Trendhunter and Mihai Flroin Apostu Oota in Flickr.

Popularity: 14% [?]

Filed under: Spa, Beauty, Marisa, Tidbits on June 18th, 2008 | 2 Comments »

Don’t forget Dads.  Father’s day is June 15th.  Here are some cool and fun gift ideas.

Hommage Syptic Matchsticks Pack $50, quickly stop shaving nicks and cuts.  Cute packaging and great to take for travel.  Sold in packs of 5.

Monogrammed Brass Finish Golf Club Links $40-60, a nice way to personalized clubs if misplaced.

Good Watch Movement Cuff Links $120, Taken from watches of the early mid 20th Century, the gears, levers and jewels reveal the secrets of synchornized precision.  Set in sterling and presented in a leather gift box with authenticity card.

Sony Ericcson MBW - 150 Music Edition $400, Bluetooth watch that works in conjuction with your handset by vibrating whenever you receive a call or sms text message.  Water resistent but doesnt’ work with all phones. 

Polarized Oakley Nanowire $300, cool shades for the summer.

Popularity: 20% [?]

Filed under: Father's Day, Accessories, Gift, Marisa, Tidbits on May 22nd, 2008 | No Comments »