By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor

My husband does not, will not and down right hates to shop. I have spent many wasted hours shopping for him, having to return most of what I had bought. I kept telling myself that, from now on, I would not buy him clothes anymore, but it did not make sense. After all, I was at the store anyway, for either myself or one of our children, I might as well look for him also. Since he would never do it on his own… He’d still wear his early 90′s garb if it was just up to him.

Then I discovered TRUNK CLUB MEN’S OUTFITTERS.

Finally a shopping site designed by a man with a man’s needs in mind. TRUNK CLUB MEN’S OUTFITTERS, based in Chicago, is perfect for the man to wardrobe himself with very little effort on his part. Once the customer registers by answering a short questionnaire on sizes, colors, price range and look preference, a stylist will contact him, either by phone, Skype or email, to personalize the shopping experience. The stylist – who basically takes on the role of a wife or girlfriend with great taste -puts together some options and then sends the garments by FedEx. Once they arrive, he simply tries them on, sees what works and returns what doesn’t with prepaid postage (no more wasted runs to the store to return clothes). Best of all, there are no membership fees and no minimums. The Trunk Club’s main line is stylish casual, focusing on jeans, casual slacks, sweaters, button downs, jackets, t-shirts and shoes.

Their store is located in Chicago and, should you be in town, they encourage customers to stop by to meet their personal stylist, have a beer and take advantage of browsing the store for future shopping excursions.

What a perfect solution to alleviate the stress and frustration of male-that-hates-shopping syndrome. Works for him. Works for me. To get started go to their website and register. I guess we can no longer say ‘behind every well dressed man, there is a woman’.

Our review of fancy grilling gear this past week combined with the – finally – warmer weather got us in the mood to fire up the BarB. And I wanted to propose a super simple recipe for you. When I serve these marinated grilled vegetables, I invariably get “wows” and then get asked how I prepared them. They make for a beautiful presentation, are truly delicious (& healthy) AND leftovers, if you are so lucky, are fantastic in panini sandwiches, frittatas (add pancetta!), or salads.

If you haven’t grilled your vegetables this way before, you’ll just go “duh” once you find out how simple it all is.

MARINATED GRILLED VEGETABLES

Pick any vegetable that will hold up on the grill. My favorites are:

• Portobello mushrooms, whole
• Bell peppers – in as many colors as you can find them, quartered
• Zucchinis – green and yellow, sliced lengthwise in about three long pieces
• Asparagus, whole
• Eggplant, skin on, sliced in about 1/2 inch thick rounds
• Red onions, peeled, sliced in about 1/2 inch thick rounds

Marinade

• 1 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
• 3 – 4 cloves of garlic
• 1 Tbsp dry mustard
• Italian spices
• Salt & pepper

Mix all the ingredients for the marinade. Prepare all your chosen vegetables (I didn’t have eggplant or onions on hand for this exercise, but these are usually our favorite. They absorb the marinate so well…) and lay on a sheet pan. Drizzle on 3/4 of the marinade (Reserve the rest to serve with the cooked vegetables). Use a basting brush to try to cover all veggie surfaces. Allow to marinate for 4 to 5 hours. Grill, serve & ENJOY!

Well, it’s been a long time coming but it seems that summer has finally decided to make an appearance. Among other things, that means BBQ season. For the purpose of this list, we assumed that you already have the essential tools (the tongs, the spatula, the basting brushes, the cleaning brush…). But what about some of these gadgets that merit an appearance at your next barbecue party. And, not that we mean to be stereotypical in the least, but think Father’s Day gifts too as you review the items below:

	Coleman Fold N Go Charcoal Grill: This little grill has innovative folding design that gives it 150 square inch (say wow) cooking surface. It’s easy to pack up, to carry and to clean. Take it to the beach, the park, tailgaiting… Buy on Amazon for approx. $50.
	Bodum Fyrkat Portable Charcoal Grill: Is this the cutest grill ever? The Bodum Fyrkat compact picnic grill comes in yummy colors (also in turquoise-blue, lime-green and boom-red). Its lid shuts closed and its silicone handle (stays cool) allows for easy carrying. Buy on Amazon or BodumUSA for approx. $59.00.
	The Grill Pillow provides an alternative, eco-friendly option for disposing of outdoor grill drip-pan grease. Watch this short video to immediately see how easily it works. Buy directly from GrillPillow.com for $9.95 for a 3-pack.    Read the full story »

By Tara Riceberg, Guest Contributor – Party Planning & Entertaining

Now is THE best time to have friends over to your home, as it has just been deep cleaned for spring!  What? You don’t like to entertain?  Worried that you can’t afford to host a party? You’ve never thrown a bash and have no idea how to do it?

NO EXCUSES!  Don’t let laziness, or fear, stop you from entertaining.

All parties, no matter how large or small, must be fun: fun to plan, fun to give and fun to attend. You must plan well and pay attention to details so that your event becomes uniquely yours. Lots of money isn’t a necessity. Originality and intelligent planning plus a flair for enjoyment are all you need!

The most important rule for a successful party is to make sure your guests feel welcomed. The first fifteen minutes will make or break your event so be sure to greet guests with enthusiasm, and a drink. Think about the best fêtes you’ve attended. To be sure, the ones where you felt you were essential to the night’s festivities were the most memorable.

The second rule is plan ahead. If you’re well prepared, you won’t be overspending or stressing. Don’t worry about what is or isn’t correct. As long as you’re happy, your guests will be too. So when planning, select a theme that you’re comfortable with. After all, you, the hostess, are the center of the party so success is dependent on your mood and how you affect your company.

Happily the trend in entertaining is for simpler parties. Fussy and formal is passé. You don’t even need a grand reason to celebrate. The best nights are “just because.”

Still scared to throw a party? No worries. Rule three: Start small and build up.

Party of One

You can’t hope to entertain others well if you can’t entertain yourself.  Plan a dinner and pay attention to the details.  Light candles, set the table, add a flower to a vase. Cook your favorite meal and dress up. After dinner, treat yourself to something fun. This means no chores or working on the computer. Take the time to catch up on your reading, listen to music or soak in a hot bath. Or practice with a sumptuous, relaxing tea time.

Party for Two

Instead of using the large, empty dining room, try setting a table on the patio or on a small table in the living room. What better way to make a guest feel important than making him, or her, the center of attention? If you’re not the best cook, don’t worry. By creating a dynamic, colorful table scape, you’ll enliven the table and set off the meal. Fine wine served in a plastic cup is no match for a so-so one decanted into a beautiful stemmed wine goblet. Again, apply to same rules to entertaining for one, to two.

Party for Four or Five

Read the full story »

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor

As we come to the end of the May long weekend we know school will soon be over (or for college students school may have already ended) and summer will be here before we know it. This is the time when we plan family getaways, day trips or just hanging out with friends and family. It is also the time of year when I stock up on bandages. Having five and seven year old daughters, I buy them in bulk. But first aid is more than just iCarly bandages. It is about being prepared for the unexpected because, as we all know, the unexpected can sometimes happen.

Here are some products that will prepare you for the possible summer mishaps:

	Hurtie Hug Hot/Cold Pack: This hot or cold pack is in a soft fleece pouch with adjustable straps that holds the pouch where it is needed. The fleece material is just thick enough to allow either the cold or heat to be felt without the unbearable direct contact. It is perfect for anything from sunburns, bumps, bruises and scrapes to strains, sprains and sports injuries. Although geared towards children, adults would find it soothing for arthritis, migraines and fibromyalgia and allow them to not loose any of their mobility while wearing it. Buy directly from Hurtie Hug for $19.99.
	Endangered Species Rescue Kit: This reusable Panda pouch holds all your first aid needs for those little mishaps and owies that happen along the way. Perfect to keep in the car or to take on day trips. A percentage of each sale goes to support the Defenders of Wildlife Organization. Buy here for $17.99.
	Kid Friendly First Aid Kit: Although it looks like a toy medical kit, this first aid kit is for serious boo boos. Filled with 117 first aid necessities it will not intimidate or scare the already injured child into believing their injury is worse than it is. A must-have for a family with small children. Buy directly from Me4Kidz for $16.95.
	QuikClot: This breakthrough clotting pad helps save lives by stopping moderate to severe bleeding in minutes. QuikClot contains an hemostatic substance that will coagulate the blood to prevent the injured from loosing too much blood until medical help arrives. It also has an antibacterial agent, so it is safe to leave on the wound for a long period of time. It is small enough to fit into a first aid kit or to take with you in a backpack. Buy on Amazon for approx. $15.27.
	Emergency Kits: Living in southern California it is imperative to have an emergency kit on hand. Every school classroom has one and it makes sense to keep one in your home and/or car. Emergency Essentials carry a wide range of Emergency Kits, from first aid to survival, on their website. Buy at BePrepared.com.

And most importantly, take a CPR course. Studies show that a victim’s chance of surviving a sudden cardiac arrest triples when someone performs CPR before medics arrive. The new CPR guidelines show that chest compressions only, without the mouth-to-mouth breath, saves just as many lives. The key is to do 100 chess compressions fast. Coincidently, the Bee Gee’s hit ‘Stayin Alive’ beat is the ideal speed in which to perform chest compressions for cardiac arrest victims. When singing the song, the person can maintain the right rhythm while administering CPR. Check your local area for CPR courses (my church offers them free every two years, the recommended time to renew your certification) and you just may save a life. When you sign up, sign up your teenager also. A CPR certification looks great on a resume.

Until then, here is a short CPR video. Something everybody NEEDS TO KNOW!

Be safe, be prepared and have a great summer.

I haven’t checked the stats, but I’m pretty sure that this has been the gloomiest spring on record. Ever. Which has me craving  technicolor. A little bright spot of color on my feet will change my day. I know it. So, I thought I’d bring you along on my virtual shoe shopping ride so that you may also experience the juiciness that is wanting to adorn your feet.

	Dolce Vita Lulu in Magenta Suede:  This flash of pink is sweet but not nauseating. Wear these slip-ons with anything from skirts to pants or shorts. Perfect spot of color to put a bounce in your step. Buy from Lori’s Shoes for $96.00.
	Pour La Victoire Aria – Teal Patent: This slingback pump is sophisticated, elegant with a minimalist dose of quirkiness. The rich hue is magnetizing. Perfect combo. Would wear this to a business meeting or on date night. Buy at Lori’s Shoes for $230.
	Topshop Sizzle Pink Suede Colour Block Platform Peep Toe Sandals: The description calls these “pink”. I’m not seeing it, but I’m seeing that these shoes scream SPRINGTIME. Yes, please. Buy at Topshop for $136.00.
	Melissa Amazonas: Love the Melissa MELFLEX trademarked plastics from which their shoes are made. Hypoallergenic and recyclable too! No worries about ruining your shoes in the rain with these: Splash around all the puddles you want with this cut-out design as the shoes are resistant to water.  Buy at KarmaLoop on sale for $77.95    Read the full story »

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor

My father loved his safari vest. He found it so convenient, especially when traveling. Even though this was before cell phones and mp3 players he was still able to fill all the pockets with change, car keys, kleenex, maps and lord knows what else (kind of like my purse). The only problem was that when worn it always looked so bulky and lumpy. Scottevest has come up with a solution for this that is not only practical but also streamlined and stylish. Their 22 pocket vest is made of lightweight breathable Teflon-treated Cotton/Nylon blend. It is wrinkle, water and stain resistant. The no bulge pockets are designed to hold cell phones, iPods, cameras, ID, change and even an iPad. Simply take it off at airport security and put it through the x ray machine. No need to hold up the line by emptying out all your pockets. Now that is efficient traveling!

Great Father’s Day gift idea for the dad who travel a lot. View the travel and active wear lines at Scottevest.com. And while you are there check out their line for women. I’m kinda digging the trench…