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GREEN WEEK: Final day to enter Sweepstakes! Plus, reusable containers at Macy’s!

22 Apr

Happy Earth Day!

Once upon a time, I went through a ton of little baggies!  Not anymore! I think I’ve had the same box of small plastic storage bags in my kitchen for at least a year. I’ve developed a sizable collection of reusable containers and use them daily for packing trash-less school lunches, carrying my own on-the-go meals and more!

Plus, the containers help me keep my leftovers organized in the fridge.  This way they don’t get lost and therefore tossed!

I recently hit Macy’s to check out the reusable container options there. If you’re just starting a collection of reusable containers, a storage set can be a great way to go! You’ll get a variety of shapes and sizes. It’s also often more economical to buy many containers at once.

The Sistema containers, by Martha Stewart, seen below as a 16-piece set, are BPA free and come with easy to use locking clips. I don’t know about you, but I get frustrated when the lids that are supposed to partner with certain containers require any effort to lock into place.

16-piece set

16-piece set

The Sistema containers can go in the refrigerator, microwave, freezer and dishwasher. You’ll find a wide selection of options, including this 3-piece Lunch on the Go set.

Lunch on the Go!

Lunch on the Go!

Here’s a look at some of the other container options I spotted in store. The Salad to Go set even comes with a container to hold your dressing, a mini fork and knife. I have this one and use it often!

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GURU TIP:  When dining out, if you usually pack up some leftovers to take home, consider keeping a reusable container in your purse so you can skip the Styrofoam box.

I have two more fun eco-friendly finds to show you from Macy’s. Go orange and green with these Orioles tumblers by Tervis. The lids and straws are sold separately. I love that that the straws come in packs. That way, if you lose one, you have another at the ready.

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For Keurig users, have you heard of My K-Cup? Keurig offers an eco-friendly and convenient reusable coffee filter.  Fill the filter with your favorite coffee and use it again and again!

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Today (4/22)  is the FINAL DAY to enter our GREEN WEEK 2013 SWEEPSTAKES!  You can enter for a chance to win a $50 Shop Etc. Mall Gift Card by leaving a comment on any blog posts that run from 4/15 through TODAY (4/22). A winner will be selected in a random drawing. Open to U.S. residents, 16 or older.  Entry dates: 4/15 through 4/22.  For the Official Rules, click on this link.  Limit one entry per person.

Here are links to more green-themed posts, featuring LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics, Starbucks, TOMS Shoes at Nordstrom, Aveda and The Body Shop.

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Celebrate Teachers: Your favorite teacher could win a $500 Shop Etc. Mall Gift Card!

2 Apr

They make a tremendous impact in our lives.

I can tell you the names of just about every teacher I had from kindergarten through 12th grade .

Now is your chance to CELEBRATE TEACHERS and give back to someone who has given so much to you and others!

 To nominate a top  teacher for a chance for him or her to win a $500 Shop Etc. Mall Gift Card, all you need to do is fill out a short nomination form here, on the mall’s Facebook page.

Celebrate_Teachers_FemaleTeacher

The nomination deadline is April 3, 2013.  You need to be 13 or older to submit a nomination and personally know the teacher you are nominating.  Please note: if a nominator is under the age of 18, the nominator’s parent or legal guardian will be contacted to obtain permission to publish.

The teacher must be a full-time, state-licensed teacher, working in a public or non-profit school, teaching grades Pre-K to 12. You can read the  complete official rules here.

The nominations will be narrowed down to a group of semi-finalists, and the public will ultimately have the opportunity to cast votes on Towson Town Center’s Facebook page between April 16th and April 28th.

Have you submitted an entry yet?

A SPECIAL GIFT if you dine at P.F. Chang’s! Plus a Sweepstakes Promotion!

11 Feb

If you take your sweetheart for a Valentine’s date at P.F. Chang’s, you’ll enjoy special Valentine’s wine discounts and leave with a gift toward your next visit in celebration of a 2nd holiday — the Chinese New Year!

Today (2/11) through 2/24, P.F. Chang’s is celebrating the Chinese New Year by giving each person a red envelope after the meal.  Inside the envelope, there is a mystery coupon worth anywhere from 10% off a future meal all the way up to a free meal, valued at $75. Here’s where the fun comes into play. You can’t open the red envelope until you are back at the restaurant for a return visit.

Remember: You can't open the envelope until your return visit.

Remember: You can’t open the envelope until your return visit.

Restaurant manager, John Johnson, tells me that red is the color of prosperity and happiness in China.

The special promotion makes Valentine celebrations that much sweeter and means you get to enjoy a second romantic meal!

Plus, from Valentine’s Day through Sunday (2/17), P.F. Chang’s is offering a 20% discount on two select wines. A portion of all profits from The Colby Red, a red blend pictured on the left, are donated to heart research. Besitos, which means “little kisses” in Spanish, is described as a lightly sweet wine with rose petal and peach aromas. It is served in a Champagne flute.

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Enjoy 20% off these wines

The bottles each make for a special keepsake.

Served in a Champagne Flute

Served in a Champagne Flute

Here are a few standout menu items. Consider starting your meal by sharing a couple appetizers, such as the Dynamite Shrimp and Tataki Tuna Crisp.

Dynamite Shrimp

Dynamite Shrimp

I love the presentation of the Dynamite Shrimp. And let me tell you, the taste even trumps the display. The lightly battered shrimp has the kind of kick that becomes more enhanced after each bite!

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Served with a Kick!

They say opposites attract. The Dynamite Shrimp pairs well with the cool and refreshing Tuna Tataki Crisp.  A mix of sushi grade Ahi tuna, green onion, avocado, cucumber and cilantro in a citrus-sesame soy sauce is served on top of crispy wontons. It’s light and flavorful. This appetizer is a true test of one’s ability to share — or at least mine!

Tuna Tataki Crisp

Tuna Tataki Crisp

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Gorgeous!

Moving on to dinner, keeping with the sweet Valentine’s theme, sauce with the Mongolian Beef has caramelized sugar. It’s just the right balance of sweet and savory.

Mongolian Beef

Mongolian Beef

Sweet & Savory

Sweet  &  Savory

The Sesame Chicken is another customer favorite. Chicken, broccoli and red bell peppers are done in a spicy sesame sauce.  It plays well with the Mongolian Beef.

Sesame Chicken

Sesame Chicken

P.F. Chang’s also offers an extensive list of cocktails.  I tasted two limited-time ones. The Bubble-t-ini has a cranberry-plum-cherry flavor and lychee “bubble” tea pearls at the bottom. It’s sweet without being overly so.

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Bubble-t-tini

If you are drawn more to lemon infused drinks, consider the Lucky V.S. It’s P.F. Chang’s version of the classic sidecar cocktail and is made with Courvoisier V.S. cognac, Cointreau , lemon and sugar.

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The Lucky

GURU Special:  P.F. Chang’s is generously treating 5 readers of this blog to dessert!  The first 5 people to call and make a reservation for anytime between 2/14 and 2/17  get a “sweet treat” for dessert. Choose from Blueberry Cheesecake, Tiramisu, Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch, Chocolate Torte (gluten-free) and the seasonal Red Velvet Cake.

Sweet Treats

Sweet Treats

One more piece of sweet news to share!  You can enter for a chance to win a $100 Shop Etc. Mall Gift Card in the Valentine’s Sweepstakes. Just comment on any of my blog posts that run between 2/1/13 and Valentine’s Day! You do need to be 16 or older and a U.S. resident in order to enter. You’ll find more details here including a link to the official rules.

So tell me, what is your favorite item on the menu at P.F. Chang’s?

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Go PURPLE for the BIG GAME! GO RAVENS!

11 Jan

My son, Seth, wore the same Ravens tee not one, but four straight days recently. Luckily, he has two of the same shirt, so they were clean!

There are endless ways to show your PURPLE PRIDE!  I sleuthed the mall for some ideas.

The Sport Shop (Level 1) is Ravens Country! You’ll find jerseys, tees and all kind of accessories for everyone in the family!

With Ray Lewis’ upcoming retirement, everything with Ray Lewis is hot right now!

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Check out this plush Raven. He transforms from a Raven back to a football!

At Lady Foot Locker (Level 4), I spotted purple sneakers. The animal print ones are calling me!

I noticed these purple accessories at Ann Taylor (Level 4). Add instant pops of purple to any outfit.

Check out this purple beaded statement necklace from The Limited (Level 3)!

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At The Limited, I also saw this versatile purple colorblocked dress. It can take you from day to night. Keep it casual with a pair of flat boots or dress it up with some heeled booties!

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Your little fashionista can go purple too. I know my 6-year-old, Samara, will ask me for these outfits from Naartjie Kids (Level 3) when she sees them here. The shoes make the perfect finish!

From button-downs to ties and more, Men’s Wearhouse (Level 4) gives him many ways to strut his purple pride!

I like the mix of purples revealed when you roll up the sleeves on this button-down.

What is your favorite way to show your purple spirit? Do you have a lucky purple shirt or accessory in your closet?  Let me know!  GO RAVENS!!

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AMERICAN GIRL Casting Call

9 Jan

It’s a little girl’s DREAM COME TRUE!

Girls, ages 5-12, who wear a size 6x or 10, can audition for the chance to walk the runway to show off the contemporary and historical fashions of American Girl Dolls.

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The Towson Town Center auditions for Baltimore’s 2nd Annual American Girl Fashion Show will be held on Saturday, January 19th from noon until 2 pm in the Level 1, Grand Court.   The fashion show, which will be held in March, benefits University of Maryland Children’s Hospital and the Cool Kids Campaign, which is “dedicated to improving the quality of life for pediatric oncology patients and their families while they deal with the trauma of a cancer diagnosis and its treatments.”

Here’s a look back at last year’s Towson Town Center auditions, courtesy of the Cool Kids campaign.

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The American Girl Fashion Shows will be held March 23 and 24, 2013 at the M&T Bank Pavilion at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center (Hippodrome Theatre).

For more information and model criteria, including a link to the model application, click here.  Family members of models must purchase tickets to attend the events.

If your child in interested  in modeling and not a size 6x or 10, there is another opportunity to walk the runway during the March shows.  With the purchase of a VIP Model package, your American girl and her doll can walk the runway during intermission as a guest model. Space is limited. For more information, call 410.328.6053.

 
 
This blog is hosted by Weinberg Harris & Associates, 623 W. 34th St., Baltimore MD, 21211

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Gift with Purchase at PANDORA!

8 Dec

I wanted to let you know about a gift with purchase at PANDORA (Levels 3 & 4)!  

You can take home this holiday ornament with your purchase of $125 or more of PANDORA jewelry during December.  The ornament has a $30 retail value and will be a fun way for your recipient to remember the year she received a special something from PANDORA.  Good while supplies last. One per customer. See a store associate for more details.

Here are a few gift ideas from PANDORA.   You can start with a bracelet full of charms or get her started. If she is already a collector, there are always new beads and charms!

This blog is hosted by Weinberg Harris & Associates, 623 W. 34th St., Baltimore MD, 21211

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Hand Soothing Solutions at The Body Shop!

22 Oct

I can practically feel my skin begin to crack when I think about the months of cool weather ahead.

I popped into The Body Shop (Level 4) to get some suggestions on how to keep your hands protected, especially during the fall and winter months!

The Hemp Hand Protector is designed to help soothe extremely dry skin. The community fair trade hemp seed oil serves as a skin softening and moisturizing agent. Glycerin helps draw hydration to the skin. Conditioning community fair trade beeswax locks in moisture. It’s also available as a hand butter.

Hemp Hand Protector

The Hemp Hand Protector is water resistant and ideal for people in the kinds of professions where you need to wash your hands many times a day.

If you’re looking for something a little lighter, the Almond Hand  &  Nail Cream also contains glycerin to promote hydration.  The butter is slightly heavier than the cream but still lighter than the Hemp Hand Protector.

Almond Scented

The Wild Rose Nourishing Hand Cream and Hand Butter features rosehip oil, which is high in antioxidants. This can be a good match for mature skin and can be used by all ages.  You’ll also find such community trade ingredients as shea butter from Ghana, beeswax from Cameroon and Brazil nut oil from Peru.  If you’re looking for extra nourishment, try the hand butter. To maximize results, you can also do an overnight treatment.

Wild Rose Nourishing Hand Butter

If you’re looking for a spa experience, consider the Spa Wisdom collection. The Spa Wisdom Africa Honey & Beeswax Hand and Foot Butter contains such community trade ingredients as organic honey, beeswax from an organic source and shea butter from Ghana.  Ximenia seed oil from the Ximenia tree,  native to Africa, helps to soften your hands and feet.

Spa Wisdom Africa Honey & Beeswax Hand and Foot Butter

The hemp, rose and almond hand care collections also include coordinating moisturizing hand washes. As store manager Janeene McKale explains it, a lot of hand washes on the market use alcohol as a sanitizing component and strip our skin of moisture. The Body Shop hand washes are formulated with the same moisturizing ingredients as found in the hand creams and hand butters. The hand washes are also soap free, making them environmentally friendly.

Moisturizing Hand Wash

GURU TIPS: Make ANY purchase through 10/31 at The Body Shop, and receive a coupon on your receipt to come back and get $15 off your next $50 purchase. The coupon also must be used in October.

Plus, if you purchase a Body Shop membership card for just $10, you’ll get a year of special perks. The card pays for itself as you will get a $10 credit to use during the month of your birthday. Plus,  you’ll enjoy 10% off most of your purchases all year long, earn product rewards when you meet qualifying purchase levels and receive special store offers.

This blog is hosted by Weinberg Harris & Associates, 623 W. 34th St., Baltimore MD, 21211

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GURU Style Star: Melissa Ryan Hillman

11 Oct

When Melissa Ryan Hillman first bought this pair of light brown boots, her husband asked if she would really wear them…

THAT WAS SEVEN YEARS AGO!

After all, she purchased them to go with a specific outfit at the time. She was wearing them when I asked her to be this week’s GURU Style Star. When I spotted Melissa in the mall, the fun pattern play with her striped dress and bright scarf caught my attention. Her dress, scarf and belt are all Gap scores!

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How would you describe your style?

I feel like I’m boho-chic.  I definitely like Free People and that kind of brand.

What are your favorite stores at Towson Town Center?

Nordstrom, just because you can get everything you need. I do love Gap. You can find pieces there that you can play up and play down. My new favorite store is Express. I haven’t shopped there for years. The prices are great. I got three blazers there. I love them for work and casual.

What fall trends are you most excited about?

I love all the boots! Hunter boots with a cute outfit. You can’t go wrong with boots. I’m obsessed.

Who are your style icons?

I like Kate Hudson. I think she has cool style. I love the sophistication of Kate Beckinsale…

Any items in your closet that you can’t live without? 

My jeans. They are comfortable. I have my two favorite pairs, even though I have 12. You can do anything with jeans!

Here are links to the latest  GURU Style Stars! For the full archive, click here.  

OCTOBER

10/4  Trina Ashe

SEPTEMBER

9/27 Irene Johnson

9/20 Katie Cubas

9/13 Paige Hancock

9/6  Leigh

AUGUST

8/30 Kelsey Hampton

8/23  Gigi Fisher

8/16 Amy Apperson

8/9  Erin Simon and Bethany Brown

8/2 Meredith Pickering 

This blog is hosted by Weinberg Harris & Associates, 623 W. 34th St., Baltimore MD, 21211

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Birthday Gift Ideas at Marbles: The Brain Store!

18 Sep

Birthday season is upon us. So I found one of the best spots to grab a great present!

As a mom of a 5-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son, birthday parties are a big part of our weekend calendar, especially this time of year. Did you know more birthdays are celebrated in September than any other month? That means LOTS of birthday parties! So I’m always on the prowl for gifts that are unique, fun, inspire creativity and critical thinking, and are reasonably priced.  When I stumble upon something that parents can enjoy with their kids — even better! I realize I set the bar pretty high and sometimes fall short, especially when I’m chasing down a present an hour before the party.  I do the best when I find something amazing and stock my present shelf with as many as I can buy.

At Marbles: The Brain Store (Level 2), I found many games, toys and activity sets that meet ALL my criteria… and then some!

Marbles, Marbles the Brain Store, Towson Town Center, GURU

Located on Level 2

Every item at Marbles is carefully selected for it’s brain boosting power in one or more of these five categories:  critical thinking, memory, visual perception, coordination and word skills.

Here are just a few fun finds! I’ll definitely be back to stock up.

Don’t let the size of Rory’s Story Cubes ($9.99) fool you! This petite box houses endless play. The Story Cubes offer  the tools to help spark the creation of imaginative, improve-style stories. Each set comes with nine, six-sided small cubes with images on them. Players roll the cubes and then create a story using all nine images that land face-up. The Story Cubes can be played solo or as a group. Younger children can play with fewer cubes at a time.

It’s a gift that can stand on its own or can be combined with another one.  This would also make for a fun activity to do at the birthday party.

Rory's Story Cubes, Marbles, GURU, Towson Town Center

Rory’s Story Cubes

The cubes

Imagine fusing together a game of dominoes and Scrabble. That’s how Marbles describes Appletters ($16.99).  Players form words with the letter pieces and build off of the first or last letters of each others words. The letters come in a small apple shaped pouch, making it perfect to take on the go!

Marbles, Appleletters, Towson Town Center, GURU blog, Towson Town Center GURU

Appleletters

Giant Brain Noodles ($16.99) are a favorite in my house! We’ve had a set of these bright, super-sized, 18-inch-long pipe cleaners for years. Bend them into anything from animals to abstract designs. You can choose to make one of the items featured in the instruction guide or  you can let your imagination run wild!

Giant Brain Noodles, Marbles, Towson Town Center, Towson Town Center GURU, GURU

Giant Brain Noodles

Check out this guy! Yep, the robot’s body parts include toothpaste boxes and food containers.  Just think about what can be re-purposed from your recycling bin.

Cardboard Robot

The Makedo Find & Make Robot Kit ($14.99) comes with reusable clips and hinges to use to create your own robot, such as the one above, with recycled materials you gather up around your house. The kit also has some sticker sheets you can use for adding extra detail.

Comes with Clips, Hinges & Stickers

The Doodling Robot Mechanics Kit ($19.99) is two gifts in one! First, you get to build your robot artist. Then, let it go and watch it “create artistic patterns as it vibrates, shakes and shimmies around!”

Doodling Robot Mechanics Kit, Towson Town Center, Marbles, Towson Town Center GURU, GURU blog

Doodling Robot Mechanics Kit

This next toy is one you have to see in action! Just like the Doodling Robot, you build the Electric Dragster ($19.99) and then watch it come to life! Just click play below to see a demo video with manager Patty Soukop!

It’s always fun to tie an unexpected small treasure to the top of a gift!  At just $2.99, the Fiddlesticks make a perfect gift topper or goodie bag stuffer. Each stick comes with a dozen small pieces of wood connected by an elastic band. Bend and mold the Fiddlestick into a different shape every time.  According to Marbles, “Studies have shown that tactile manipulation toys like Fiddlesticks can help alleviate ’fidgety’ energy in the brain, thus allowing the brain to focus better on information it is trying to bring in and retain.”  Sounds I can use one of these in my office!

Fiddlesticks

Pop into Marbles anytime and try out a game or activity. The “Marbles BrainCoaches” are happy to play with you! Plus, Marbles hosts a free Family Game Night the 3rd Thursday of every month (except December). The next one is THIS THURSDAY NIGHT (9/20) from 5:30-7:30 pm.

This blog is hosted by Weinberg Harris & Associates, 623 W. 34th St., Baltimore MD, 21211

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GURU Style Star: Paige Hancock

13 Sep

As I was walking by Free People (Level 4), the juxtaposition of Paige Hancock’s dress and boots caught my eye!!

Paige, a Free People manager-in-training, is wearing a lace dress from the store, black tights and  Dolce Vita boots that she scored for just $5 at a thrift store. ”I like pairing Victorian style with military, because the two kind of balance each other out. You get an outfit that’s both girly and tough,” says Paige.

Here’s our photo session, including a close-up on her boots, and our Q&A…

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What’s the best part about getting dressed in the fall? 

Definitely layering. Being able to contrast texture and color because you have more to bundle up in.

What trend are you most excited about for fall?

I guess lace!

What is the most treasured item in your closet? 

My grandmother’s rabbit fur coat.

What is your favorite store in the mall and why?

Free People, because it has unique style. You can be any type of girl and you can find something that suits you!

If I gave you $2,000 to spend on anything in the mall, what would you buy?

 I would buy dresses from Free People. I would buy shoes at Aldo. Makeup at M·A·C. I guess that’s it. I’d spend it all.

Think you should be a GURU Style Star? Send me a picture at towsontowncenterguru.com and tell me about your style.

Here are links to recent GURU Style Star features.  For the full archive, click here.  

SEPTEMBER

9/6  Leigh

AUGUST

8/30 Kelsey Hampton

8/23  Gigi Fisher

8/16 Amy Apperson

8/9  Erin Simon and Bethany Brown

8/2 Meredith Pickering

JULY

7/26  Courtney Greenholt

7/19  Miranda Weinstein

7/12 Brittany Day

7/5  Adrienne Hunt

 

This blog is hosted by Weinberg Harris & Associates, 623 W. 34th St., Baltimore MD, 21211

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