Sometimes it’s just too hard to punish your kids because they’re so darn cute! With the time out timer stool , you may have them volunteering. The trick is the stool looks appealing enough that it’s almost fun to sit on it while the hourglass sand empties below. The hourglass white sand is filled to time approximately five minutes, so you’ll know exactly when their time out has expired. The base is made of durable mango wood. This is not a toy, but for use only with adult supervision. Maximum weight is 150 lbs.

Mell Lawrence Architects was established in 1991. The firm specializes in residential and small, commercial buildings and their work can be found across the country. Mell Lawrence has won numerous design and architectural awards and has been published in over 50 well-reputed books and magazines. In 2001 Mell Lawrence won “Firm of the Year” from the Austin AIA for their continual demonstration of quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction.

Last year the firm was awarded at the 25th annual AIA Homes Tour for their work on The Baylor Street House. In addition to the transformed attic and the other projects that made the Victorian era home a perfect blend of both the historic and the contemporary, the design team also built a free-standing garage with an overhead apartment. Complete with tall, alley-facing windows on the Southern side of the apartment, the garage serves as both a guest house and separate storage facility.

To see Mell Lawrence Architects’ portfolio visit ArchitecturalPolka.com

The Alexander McQueen Iris Plexiglas Box Clutch is one of those statement pieces that’s sure to garner glances and comments and envy whenever and wherever you carry it. The construction is pretty simple considering its impact: molded plexigas topped with a Swarovski-embellished gold metal clasp depicting a skull sitting inside a fully opened iris bloom. Very gothic-chic (as the brand does so well) but with a decidedly lighter vibe this time. Features are basic but include a gold metal frame and inside there’s white leather trim. $2,295

The ambiance was fabulous, we sat outdoors amongst luscious palm trees and white lounge furniture. The interior looked highly presentable, with orange up-lighting and an open sushi/ cooking area. The staff with ultra friendly and wonderful at presenting the menu and appealing drinks to our liking. The lychee martini and raspberry Mojito at Makoto are definite must haves!  There were so many delicious options to choose from on the menu, including our faves: Spicy Tuna on crispy rice, Pan seared scallops w/ caramelized onion, sweet corn, wild mushrooms (Mouth Watering!), Spicy Yellowtail Handroll, Kobe Beef cooked tableside on a hot river stone, sesame dipping sauce, and delicious soy glaze chicken skewers.

The overall experience was awesome & next time we will try the rock shrimp tempura roll, as it comes highly recommended!

Re-invent your space and even fool yourself! You’ll wake up wondering where you are with cool photographic floors! Let your home be the staple you’ve always dreamt of!

From leather bracelets to statement rings, men’s fashion jewelry is back in a major way. Men’s rings are particularly excellent for adding an interesting detail to one’s wardrobe without going overboard in the accessories department. Here are 10 of the best men’s rings trends to try that will withstand the test of time and have you looking sharp for years to come.

Geometric shapes. Eschewing the traditional round form, geometric men’s rings make a modern and masculine statement. Some of the most attractive contemporary designs include audacious square and triangular shapes that nonetheless maintain a circular inner band for ease of wear.  Other unusual geometric men’s rings include hexagonal and octagonal rings with magnified facets or sides.

Industrial details. Giving men’s rings an engineered, sometimes architectural look, industrial details can range from screw accents to cable details to rivet coin edging. Some of these industrial details serve an actual function in the ring, while others exist purely for the sake of fashion.

Contemporary materials. For men who want a quality fashion ring without the price tag of gold or silver, alternative metals are an apt substitute. These contemporary materials often boast unique properties – like the lightness and bio-compatibility of titanium, the scratch resistance of Tungsten, the high luster of hypoallergenic cobalt chrome and the unique look and durability of ceramic. The quality and relative affordability of these types of alternative metals and materials mean that they often double as modern argentium silver wedding rings.

Woven designs. Sometimes called intrecciato in a nod to the more-than-passing resemblance to the intricate woven leather process of the same name, a stamped, etched or sometimes hand-woven or linked design lends a sophisticated and vintage feel to men’s rings. This design looks as equally handsome on less expensive fashion rings as it does on precious gold rings.

Oversized stones. Offering a bold and powerful look without leaning towards the feminine, oversized stones bring to mind retro power men’s rings favored in the 1940s and 1970s. Stone accents add an interesting color contrast to men’s fashion rings and can add a surprise element to an otherwise conservative outfit. Popular stone options for men’s rings include onyx, turquoise, amber and lapis.

Naturally inspired. Taking a page from Mother Nature, some men’s rings are displaying more elaborate designs. Abstract organic designs can range from rock-like patterns to the classic curving flora and vines of Celtic rings, and popular animal-based motifs include dragons, eagles and bulls.

Exotic inlays. Another great way to liven up an otherwise classic finished silver wedding band or gold tone band and add a sense of texture, exotic inlays can include swatches of leather, wood or exotic hides like crocodile, snake or alligator.

Ancient design. Some traditional jewelry forms from around the globe are finding a resurgence with current men’s ring trends. Balinese dot patterns can be found adorning men’s rings and range from small uniform circles to larger pebble-like designs. Mokume gane, a longstanding Japanese method of layering metals for a swirling wood burl-like look, is also a favored choice for men’s rings.

Mixed metals. Not only do mixed metals provide an interesting, sophisticated look for men’s rings, they also have a certain versatility, allowing them to match well to nearly any other pre-existing item of jewelry (particularly important in the case of daily wear items like watches). Classic mixed metal combinations include yellow gold and a white metal (like silver or white gold) as well as a new favorite in men’s rings, dull oxidized blackened accents paired with a glossier metal.

Gunmetal hues. The rich, deep grey of gunmetal gives an atypical yet distinctive and manly look to men’s rings. Some fashion rings for men simply use gunmetal plating on brass, but the naturally gunmetal-colored contemporary metal titanium offers a higher quality alternative.

Filipino designer Kenneth Cobonpue is skillful, detailed, and original in all of his work. His brilliant concepts and intricate hand work shine through his exquisite pieces. After studying furniture marketing and production in Germany, it’s no wonder Cobonpue can combine his expertise with his passion to create  one of a kind furniture. What’s most interesting is Cobonpue’s constant ability to experiment and succeed, he isn’t afraid to go to no man’s land and discover new things.

We love his Bed Collection 

VOYAGE: Le petit voyage crib

Rattan is hand woven on a steel frame and tired with nylon filament creating a cozy cocoon where dreams are revealed. Outdoor version is also available.

Buri Bed

(palm leaf spines) or abaca are hand woven on a steel frame and tired with abaca rope creating a cozy cocoon where dreams are revealed.

 Yin & Yang:

Natural or dyed rattan splits are wrapped over a frame of steel and wicker supported by stainless steel legs.

Suzy Wong:

Lampakanai, abaca, and rattan are woven on a wooden frame.  A grand presentation with light fixtures and back drop.

Hagia:

Skillfully crafted using buri, hagia is intricately hand-woven on a steel frame. Offers an airy and transparent personality, for an earthy indoor ambiance.

Chanel shoes are an extraordinary extension of the famous couture line, often designed in the classic black and white for which the label is known. Chanel shoes reflect the same quality and craftmanship that expert designer Karl Lagerfeld exhibits in the rest of the Chanel collections. Just to tickle your fancy, Chanel has created the ultimate in luxury pumps for women. We’re not talking just another pump to add to your daily wear, but a special collector’s item each and every ‘Posh’ionista (play on the word fashionista) should keep in her closet.

“Gold Sole Pumps” as they are labeled, are one of Chanel’s most well made additions. Just looking at them makes you gasp in wonder about how lovely they would look with that black pencil skirt or slouchy pant. Wawa-Wewa, we are in love!

What are your thoughts??

Third Generation iPad

•  it has a nicer screen
• a faster processor
•  improved camera quality
• 4G networking
• voice dictation.

 Those being the more obvious updates, here are all the details we’ve been able to dig up about Apple’s newest tablet.

• RETINA DISPLAY Like the iPhone 4 and 4S, the new iPad has a Retina display—a term Apple uses to describe a screen with a high enough pixel density that you can’t discern individual pixels at normal viewing distances. The Retina display for the iPad boasts a resolution of 2048-by-1536 pixels—over 3.1 million pixels in total—at the same 9.7-inch (diagonal) screen size as before, for a pixel density of 264 pixels per inch. (For a point of comparison, a 1080p TV has a resolution of just 1920 by 1080 pixels.) Apple also says the new iPad’s display offers 44 percent better color saturation than the screen on the iPad 2.
• NEW PROCESSOR & IMPROVED GRAPHICS The iPhone 4S and iPad 2 are both powered by a custom-designed A5 system-on-a-chip processor. The new iPad gets a significant bump in power thanks to a new, dual-core A5X processor, which also contains a quad-core graphics processing unit (GPU). Apple claims the A5X’s graphics performance is four times that of the Tegra 3 chip used in many competing tablets, although the company doesn’t indicate the metric it’s using. In addition, that improved graphics capability lets app developers increase the level of detail in their apps—and take advantage of the new Retina display
• BLUETOOTH 4.0 Like the iPhone 4S, the new iPad includes Bluetooth 4.0, the latest version of the Bluetooth standard. Bluetooth 4.0 includes all the features of Bluetooth 2.1+EDR (the version used in the iPad 2), so existing Bluetooth accessories should work fine. But version 4.0 adds a new protocol called Bluetooth low energy, which allows for devices that require much less power to operate and connect. (The folks behind Bluetooth call Bluetooth 4.0-capable devices Smart Ready.) Examples of devices that might take advantage of Bluetooth low energy are exercise and medical devices such as heart-rate and blood-sugar monitors. Bluetooth 4.0 might also be a boon for artists who want to use pressure-sensitive styluses.
• APPLECARE+  which debuted with the iPhone 4S last fall, is a version of AppleCare that covers accidental damage. Like standard AppleCare plans, the new AppleCare+ for iPad provides two full years of hardware warranty-repair coverage and telephone support (compared to 90 days of phone support and one year of hardware coverage for the iPad’s stock warranty). But AppleCare+ also covers, over that two-year period, two incidents of accidental damage—for each incident, Apple will replace a damaged iPad with a new or refurbished unit for a fee of $49. You must purchase AppleCare+ within 30 days of the purchase of the iPad itself.

The supersonic Concorde passenger jets were grounded a few years ago. However, British Airways is keeping the flying legends alive. This year, they are offering a Valentine’s Day package that includes a luxurious dinner date aboard a Concorde jet with dinner for two included.

BA has teamed up with Concorde to auction a Valentine’s Day date that will accord the winning bidder red carpet treatment and an exclusive three course dinner with champaign pairing at a table for two aboard the Concord flagship, GBOAC. However, there’s a catch; the aircraft will not leave the ground! The bidding has already begun through email with an opening tag of £ 500 ($659) and the final winner will be announced on February 13.

To enter send an email to valentines.concorde@ba.com stating how much you would be prepared to pay for the prize and give your name and contact details.

Jimmy Choo: Justine L

Hailing from the fabulous Spring/Summer 2012 collection, Jimmy Choo’s Justine L bag is a hot piece to carry. This handbag “encapsulates the mood for this season, taking its cue from 1970′s sportswear, with its cool vibe and unstructured silhouette. JUSTINE evokes the relaxed glamour of paired down palettes mixed with bright acids. The uber soft calf skin has a luxe buttery texture with an unstructured slouch appeal and is ofset against matt python detailing.”

The bag can be worn in hand and on the shoulder, it offers carriers a spacious interior secured with a zip closure, double pockets on the outside (one open pocket with easy access and one hidden compartment), chic canvas lining, and hardware exclusively designed and developed for Jimmy Choo (featuring the engraved logo).  

Valentino’s Spring 2012 collection is quite the mix-up. The collection shows off fabrics and patterns in a variety of genres, encompassing looks that go from ultra girly to vixen/vulgar dominatrix resembling.

The designers turned out their best collection yet—one dress more seductively, calmly lovely than the next, many of them walking out on flat sandals or lace espadrilles that helped give the outing its fresh feel. “Fashion is a dream, and in this moment we need dreams,” Pier Paolo Piccioli said. All of the accessories perfectly accompany this collection, offering strong attention to details.

“Beautiful” is the ultimate word for this collection and was overly used by those viewing these pieces at fashion week.

Zuzanna Bijoch, Bette Franke, Maud Welzen and Fei Fei Sun by Deborah Turbeville for Valentino Spring 2012 Campaign.

Catherine Monteiro de Barros, the founder and designer of Lisbon-based luxury children’s brand Papo d’Anjo has been brought on board as the vice president of design for the new collection. She actually closed her own line last week after 17 years in the business.

According to WWD:

“There will be a collection for girls between the ages of 18 months and 14 years old, as well as one for boys in the same age range. There will be a capsule collection for spring-summer available at Bergdorf Goodman, Harrods and Oscar de la Renta boutiques. The first full line will be unveiled for fall-winter through the designer’s Web site, as well as his freestanding stores and select luxury retailers.”

Monteiro de Barros says her designs for youngsters tend to appeal to “mothers who are interested in quality and style but who also want their children to look like children.”

In order to cultivate the new line, de Barros says they will be counting on at-home trunk shows, a tactic that launched in the early 90′s. 

If you are ringing in 2012 on the beach or traveling to a place near or far that require you to wear your bathing suit, don’t let that turkey and Christmas weight hold you down! The Posh Review is here to provide you with helpful tips on how to cleanse & trim up so you won’t need to cover up! 

1. Start with a cleanse: After all the food you’ve been consuming via the holidays (or if you’ve been out of control and want to gain back to your weight goals) start by cleaning out the gutter! There are many cleanses available through GNC or other health stores that provide your body with nutrients needed to gain the strength your body will need once you begin working out. If you want to try a home cleanse, we recommend “The Master Cleanser Lemonade.” Below are two different recipes. The first is for a single serving of the master cleanse lemonade. The second will make 6 servings

#1 (Single Serving)

• 2 Tablespoons of organic lemon Juice (about 1/2 a Lemon)
• 2 Tablespoons of Organic grade B maple syrup (not the commercial maple flavored syrup you use on pancakes)
• 1/10 Teaspoon Cayenne pepper powder
• Ten ounces of filtered water

#2 (60 oz. daily serving):

• 60 ounces of filtered water
• 12 Tablespoons of organic grade B maple syrup
• 12 Tablespoons of organic lemon juice
• 1/2 Teaspoon cayenne pepper powder

2. Practice hydrotherapy regularly by having a hot shower. While having a shower, allow the water to flow from your backbone for about 4-5 minutes. Follow the same with cold water for half-an-hour. Do this thrice a week and then rest on a bed for half-an-hour.

3. Stay Satiated: The two most important times to eat are when you wake up and after you train. You need fuel in your tank to train hard, and if you don’t fill ‘er up at breakfast, you’ll be running on fumes later. “Make sure the majority of your breakfast consists of carbs, with some protein, maybe in the form of egg whites, thrown in for good measure,” says Jacqueline R. Berning, Ph.D., R.D., an assistant professor at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs. “Low-fat yogurt, or milk and cereal, would also fit the bill.” It’s equally critical to refuel immediately after you train, when your body’s cells are most receptive to replenishing the energy they just spent.

4. Keep your body in suspense: We all ‘love’ to partake in a routine we create, but the truth is once your body is used to this routine, you’re not likely to keep getting the best results. In order to continue your weight loss it is important to shock your body with new routine and exercises.  If you are running three days a week, strength train the other days. If you LOVE cardio- try different machines to keep your body guessing what’s next! This will keep the calories a burnin’. 

5. Target Tone: Different areas of your body need different types of attention. I like to call this the baby syndrome- when you have a newborn, you pay close attention to it, as it needs you to care for it in order for the baby to grow and stay healthy. Similarly… the areas of your body that you want to work on closely, can be considered your babies. The abdomen area, the most usual baby for the masses, if one that calls for a LOT of attention. You need to target your weak spots and train them. If you want to get your ab’s in shape, you can’t just to cardio and cry that nothing is happening- take a tummy toning class or get on the mats and do crunches. If your arms are starting to weigh you down, pick up the weights and show them who’s boss! Targeting your weak spots will help you tone and grow them to the strength area in which you want them to be.

6. Eat Right: some people think that when they work out, they can eat whatever they want- including fast food and junk. Guess what, you’re not Michael Phelps and you don’t burn 10,000 + calories in training, so until you have reached your target weight or appearance… I’d say STAY AWAY!!! Reach for your MUFAs (monounsaturated fatty acids, that are considered a healthy type of fat), items that can not only improve your health and strengthen your cardiovascular system, but are known to help tame your tummy!

• Avocadoes
• Canola oil
• Nuts, such as almonds, cashews, pecans and macadamias
• Nut butters
• Olive oil
• Olives
• Peanut oil
• Sesame seeds

  It is also important to include fresh fish, grains, and greens in your diet- these delicious foods can help you get fit and stay well. 

7. Stay Hydrated: consuming loads of water before and after workout is a necessity! Your body uses hydration as fuel to keep going, without it your insides will feel like a desert. Every cell, tissue and organ in your body needs water to function correctly. it is recommended you drink 6 to 8, 8-ounce glasses of water each day.

8. REST: It is very important to your beach bod and mental well being to get the proper amount of rest. Your body becomes exhausted from working out and participating in a daily routine. Try to get a full nights rest (6 hours) a night (minimum). After you work out, if you are able, try to visit a sauna or steam room to calm your body and your inner psyche. This cool down will help revive your body and mind, giving you the strength to get up and do it again the next time. Rest is a crucial part of your routine, without it you’ll be a zombie… and zombie’s don’t look good on the beach. 

Remember, your health is your wealth. Keep with this and you will look and feel better than ever!

Elizabeth Taylor’s designer handbags go to auction

Elizabeth Taylor’s extensive collection of designer handbags, including Hermes, Balenciaga, Christian Dior, Chanel, Fendi, Cartier, Louis Vuitton and more, was previewed today in anticipation of an upcoming auction by Christie’s to be held at Rockefeller Center. “The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor” will be held beginning on Tuesday, December 13 and run through Friday, December 16, 2011. Each day will offer a different group of luxurious items once owned by the Hollywood ledged and philanthropist. There is also an ongoing, online auction of Elizabeth Taylor’s luxurious items, which is currently in its sixth session, and runs December 3-17, 2011 at Christies.com.

Elizabeth Taylor’s extensive handbag collection offers pieces from almost every luxury designer imaginable. The handbags from Elizabeth Taylor’s handbag collection are expected to sell for well over retail value as many of the handbags are limited edition, one-of-a-kind or vintage.

The designers included in Elizabeth Taylor’s handbag collection include, Valentino, Chanel, Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Gucci, Christian Dior, Cartier, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana and Balenciaga. To learn more about “The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor” and which handbags are up for auction, please visit Christies.com.

Follow Us on Twitter for updates on this article & more Luxury News! www.twitter.com/theposhreview 

via: examiner.com, Cathy O’Brien

Gladis Collection by Ayala Serfaty 

Designed by Ayala Serfaty, a Tel-Aviv based designer and manufactured by Aqua Creations, the Gladis collection offers an exclusive line of furniture, contemporary infused with a retro appeal.

The contemporary furniture chair design is handmade from a variety of high-end fabrics provided by several textile manufacturers in different price ranges. For optimal comfort, the fabric is upholstered over ergonomically shaped polyurethane foam. It looks trendy and different, and feels incredible to sit in- similar to that of a full body memory foam pillow.

The incomparable handcraft techniques with advanced technology and a sustainable, eco-friendly design; along with specialty and particularity of materials, combined with the softness of the Gladis idea, make these chairs a perfect addition to your interior decor. Adding comfort and difference to your home. 

“Being unique is the essence of luxury: By signing its Golden Premium Jeroboam, each Moët lover can elevate an end-of-year gesture into a moment to remember.” Cloaked in luxurious, golden leaves, the Jeroboam is hand-gilt by renowned French artisan Arthus Bertrand.

By signing with a specially-crafted pen, champagne lovers can create their very own Moët bottle and experience the luxury of personalization. Adorned with one’s own handwritten messages, each limited-edition is unique, creating a dazzling moment of celebration!

via: Moët & Chandon

“Super Angels,” The Posh Review’s top pick for creativity was a stellar collection of bold coloring, vivid details, and an enchanting edge. The models each stepped out in Ga-Ga-esque attire, each more spectacular and wild than the last. Here’s a peek in case you missed out.

The show featured musical guests Kanye West & Jay-Z, Maroon 5, and Nicki Minaj; three top notch performances that kept the crowd ROARING! The Models walked the runway, while singing and dancing along side their favorite performers, amazing for viewers and even more so for the models.

Images via: Victoria’s Secret