Grill To Live, Live To Grill

by Leah Lefco • May, 16 2012 • Posted in All

Memorial day is just under 2 weeks away (hooray! Summer is almost here) and marks the unofficial start of the grilling season.  It’s time to lay out your sundresses and sunscreen and fire up the grill.

If you’re planning to join in on the festivities and host the ultimate BBQ for the holiday weekend but aren’t sure where to start, we’ve come to your rescue.  Our experts are bringing you all the necessary tools and equipment you’ll need for a successful cookout.

Here are a few grilling essentials to get you ready:

  • Bizarre Foods Host Andrew Zimmern used to make his own BBQ sauce back in the day until he discovered Daddy Sam’s All Natural Bar-B-Que Sawce, which he says is the perfect balance of smoky, sweet and spicy.  Slather this on chicken and ribs for mouth-watering delicious flavor!

  • Grill master Guy Fieri can’t get enough of the Carson Portable Rotisserie because you basically sit back and watch while your food cooks — all you do is skewer your cubed meats and let the rotisserie do the rest for you! The skewers turn around and around and self-bast with their own drippings.  Talk about easy summer living!

Check out the entire collection of grilling essentials from the masters here!

Happy Grilling!

Q & A With Our Lucky Christian Louboutin Winner Dabee K!

by OpenSky • May, 10 2012 • Posted in All

Who loves Louboutins? OpenSky-er Dabee K. does!

As our lucky contest winner, Dabee’s closet just welcomed a few new additions—a trio of red-soled beauties. Here’s what she had to say about her high-heeled loot:
Q: What were the first words to go through your mind when you heard you won?

Holy S**t! (can I say that) However, I thought I won 1 pair and almost fell out of my chair when I realized it was 3 pairs.
I was completely shocked and truthfully had to do more than a double take of the e-mail I received.

Q: To paraphrase Nancy Sinatra, these shoes are made for…

Looking fabulous and making you feel even more fabulous when you wear them!

Q: The first place these shoes are headed…

My feet. I plan to wear them everywhere, they go with everything and there is no reason to not show them off.

Q: What are some OpenSky accessories/apparel you’ll be pairing these shoes with?

The pumps and peep toes go with the dresses I wear every day. So whether it is a black wrap dress (shown in the pic above) or a bright colored dress of the season, you can’t go wrong. Cynthia Rowley and Molly Sims seem to be the two curators that I look at the most. I also purchased the Twisted Romance Frame Sachel bag by Danielle Nicole and that goes with all of the shoes. I would love to buy another one! I love patent leather, so it is a win-win for me! The wedges will be warn all summer when I run around the city. These are great with a cotton dress or a great top with jeans. Whatever I wear with these shoes, I know I will look and feel great!

Q: Three pairs of Louboutins. Three pairs of statement shoes. What sort of statements will you be making with these shoes—in a word, each?

Perfect (my peep toes), Classic (the New Simple Heel), Casually Chic (my wedge)

The Ultimate Mother’s Day Gift Guide

by Leah Lefco • May, 8 2012 • Posted in All

With Mother’s Day in just T-minus five days, the pressure is on, especially if you haven’t got a clue when it comes to her present.  Flowers and chocolates always make for traditional gifts but they also say last minute shopper.  Don’t worry! We’ve rounded up 5 stellar presents you’re mom will absolutely adore.  And if you order by 12noon EST this Thursday, May 10, we will guarantee 2-day shipping so the gift will arrive just in time for her special day!

Here are a few of our favorites:

  • Every mom aspires to be as crafty as the queen of creativity Martha Stewart, and now your mom can be too with her very own autographed copy of Martha’s Entertaining: A Year of Celebrations where she’ll get her hands on some of Martha’s best recipes and crafty ideas for all occasions!
  • Does your mom have a green thumb but no outdoor garden?  Take it from Chef and Italian food aficionado Lidia Bastianich who grows her very own herbs using the Sagaform Herb Pot Trio right in the comfort of her own kitchen.

  • The fashion-loving sisters of Shopafrolic, Liz Lange and Jane Wagman, know that nothing says love like gold, so show your mom how much you appreciate her by giving her this gorgeous 14-k yellow gold plated Heart Pendant Necklace by Gauge.
  • Interior designer extraordinaire Kathryn Ireland stores her most cherished memories of her family in this elegantly designed bright leather photo album (available in pink, yellow and orange), perfect for every mom to display on her living room coffee table.
  • Author and loving mother Alicia Silverstone says this beautiful, and not to mention eco-friendly, Postino Wallet by Matt & Nat has a classic design every mom will instantly fall in love with.

Be sure to check out the entire collection of Mother’s Day gifts here and get your hands on the perfect present just in time!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Q&A with Tracy Anderson

by OpenSky • May, 2 2012 • Posted in All

Q: It seems like everybody’s biggest challenge for living a healthy lifestyle is time. What’s one simple thing time-starved women can fit into their day to live a healthier lifestyle?

Taking time for yourself each day is so important, especially when you feel time-starved.  By planning ahead and making sure that you have time each day to workout, you will help improve all areas of your life.  By working out, you will have the added energy to be more productive and get through your day feeling better about yourself.  Incorporating healthy eating habits and a regular workout will help your overall quality of life.

Q: As summer approaches, we’re all thinking about baring more skin. Can you share one of your best secrets for getting tones arms and legs?

The most important way you can get ready for bikini season is to start right away.  It’s not about quick fixes or gimmicks, it’s about toning your body and maintaining your results year-round.  If you complete Metamorphosis and follow the nutrition program, you will see results that will carry you into summer months feeling great about your body.

Q: We all know about the incredible results you can get from The Method! Can you tell us a little bit about your latest creation, Metamorphosis?

Metamorphosis has been a dream of mine realized and I could not be more proud of this product.  I have always wanted to be able to deliver the Method to everyone at home in its most authentic form.  This is a 90-day program, which gives you new exercises every 10 days, just like all of my clients in the studios receive.  Additionally the program has been created for 4 different body types, so that you can identify which body type is yours and be able to specifically target your problem areas with the program.  There is a nutrition program that is specifically designed to work with the exercises to give you the best results and you will have access to my online community to track your progress and communicate with others.  When you complete the 90-days there is an option to enroll in Metamorphosis for longer and continue to receive a new DVD every 10 days.

Q: What kinds of products and advice can your fans expect to see you offer on OpenSky?

I have learned so much about health, nutrition, and fitness over the years and am excited to share some of my favorite products all in one place.  However, with the lifestyle aspect of my brand, I will be definitely adding a variety of products and items that I enjoy daily – from lotions to clothing to food, I will be offering items that save you time and also have a practical aspect.

You can check out more of Tracy’s favorite products here!

Behind the Scenes of Design on a Dime with Tyler Wisler!

by OpenSky • April, 26 2012 • Posted in News, Our Curators

Bring together bright design talent, beautiful home products and a cause worth rallying for, and you’ve got Design on a Dime. This annual New York event showcases prominent interior designers, who transform raw spaces into beautiful room vignettes– all with donated product! The product is then auctioned off at deep discounts, with profits going to support the Housing Works charity. Here at OpenSky, we are particularly excited about the fundraiser because our very own Tyler Wisler has created a room that typifies his layered, playful style.

We stopped by Design on a Dime in New York to learn about Tyler’s vision for his space and to see how it came together.

Q: Tell us what Design on a Dime is all about and how you’re involved with the philanthropy.
A: Design on a Dime is a phenomenal charity that helps the Housing Works organization, which provides services for those living with HIV/AIDS and those who are homeless in NYC. The event unfolds like this: designers get items donated from their favorite vendors, sources, and workrooms, and those products are then sold at 50-70% off their retail pricing with all the proceeds going to support Housing Works. Everybody’s happy! I’m honored to be designing a vignette this year.

Q: Tell us about this amazing space you created! How would you describe the style of the vignette?
A: My vignette is industrial, rustic, and — c’mon– pretty chic! It started with red, white and blue palettte, sort of British style, like an old school pub or library. It’s almost like walking into a shop of curiosities and I’m just really having fun with it!

Pops of color and unusual accents are Tyler's tricks of the trade.

Q: We’re loving the bold, primary colors. How did you make such a striking palette work in such a small space?
A: I used pops of red, white and blue in purposeful ways to keep it from looking kitschy, patriotic or just plain ridiculous. It’s all about using specific accents against a really dark, neutral background and making those little bits of color sing. I’m all about using color, but not overdoing it…and that works in any room.

Q: Can you tell us more about the fabulous wallpaper that you have in your space?
A: Of course! Why it’s from fellow OpenSky curator Michele Varian’s new collection…so gorgeous. Black on black– what’s sexier than that? From far away, it’s a rich textural paper, but from up close you can see that it’s birds on branches. And my wallpaper guys said it went up really easily, so kudos to Michele!

Moody black wallpaper from fellow curator Michele Varian and an assortment of mirrors create a dramatic effect.

Q: You created a space that is truly full of personality. Who do you picture living in it?
A: A proper English gentleman would love this. But really anyone who has a sense of humor can dig this! I think design is supposed to be fun, inviting and whimsical. Hopefully people are going to just come in and smile…that’s what I want to see.

To learn more about the event and donate to the Housing Works organization visit: Design on a Dime.

Want more of Tyler’s quirky style finds? Scoop up his favorite pieces in his OpenSky shop!

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