I loves hands free mobile, but hate looking half alien with a blinking blue light on my ear.  If you also hold the same disdain for Bluetooth headsets, then tech savvy sisters I have the tip for you.

Plantronics may soon change your feelings with a new mobile headset that has apparently gotten big celebrity approval. Post-NY Fashion Week - Eva Longoria Parker, Brooke Shields, Lisa Rinna and Aisha Tyler proved hands-free communication is a big trend.

They’re all sporting the new Discovery 925 by Plantronics, the first fashion-forward Bluetooth earpiece for mobile phones. 

Celeb or not, we’ve all got just two hands, and  this hands-free “tech-cessory” offers both premium fashion and function. 

Debuting this April the first colors released will be black, gold and pink, with nine more to follow. The earpiece even comes with an innovative charging case no larger than a lipstick holder. Priced at $149 each, so start saving those dollars tech-girls.  

Okay! Here’s my fav find in a long time. I love tea, but really you don’t get new things happening in tea very often.

First there was a ‘trend’ wave of Rooibos, then Macha, and most recently I found some blends of cucumber tea and carrot tea. Um, interesting but not my cup of tea.

The latest I’ve been trying is blooming tea. They’re cool tight balls that burst into elaborate, statuesque flowers. The best I’ve seen are the teas from Teaposy - who’s tea potions are seriously gorgeous. Try the Falling Water or the Medley Mix.

Not only are they beautiful and my friends and I have ooh-ed and aah-ed over them, but Teaposy is really good tea too - all with silver needle; white tea leaves.

Want to look like a ‘gift-giver’ star?! The Teaposy gift collections include both tea and clear glass teapots, cups or mugs designed to that spotlight the blooming (the detailing & packaging are wow). My pick: their insulated mugs are super modern looking,  plus they’re double-walled so not hot to the touch. And my guy likes them because they’re not too girly (and despite the cute, subtle white daisy etched on the bottom).

The makers of Square One Vodka at Singular Spirits asked themselves “why not create a luxury spirit that leaves a light footprint on the earth yet makes a big splash [so to speak] among cocktail cognoscenti.”

Not only is this the 1st eco-friendly new vodka, but this is also a company promoting a modern platform of being a social and socially responsible company.  Their website opening pages offers a blog on green happenings.  

Square One is organic because it started from square one which is the most natural ingredients; a concept heisted from the community of inspiration of organic farmers markets.  The concept is green, the product itself is as natural as you can get and the packaging makes this product full circle the best “it” guilt free legal pleasure in the environment’s atmosphere this month.

~ Nicole, guest "it" writer.

Fondue has gone the way of cranberry drinks - so-o-o-o five years ago.* Make room for the new foodie trend: Raclette.

Its an old Swiss tradition that’s making it’s way into all the hip kids’ entertaining.  Raclette is a type of cheese from Switzerland that is prepared with vegetables on a special raclette grill that heats numerous small pans. It’s a social meal that you have to try before you truly understand its charm.

For mid-range check out this Hamilton Beach Raclette or a more budget option with the T-Fal Raclette Buffet Grill. Just add friends, stir, and eat cheese.

* Hey, don’t email me defending your Cosmos! Nothing wrong with enjoying them - they’re just not as hip, they’re now ‘classic’. ;)

"Private" comes as a book of photographs housed in an exclusive Louis Vuitton monogrammed case designed by Marc Jacobs.

Photographers Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott with guest art director Marc Jacobs have collaborated on a series of personal portraits with sitters including Drew Barrymore, Scarlett Johansson, Selma Blair, Jennifer Lopez, Lil’ Kim, Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney, and Gisele Bundchen just to name a few.

"Private" is a limited edition of 2,500 numbered copies and retails for a starting price of $375. Pretty pricey but the photos are stunning and it does have a cute case.

Trendy hipsters have a golden way of checking their email. The new gold Blackberry Pearl. 

You can now get the sexy little messaging machine in spiffy new colors: blue, sunset (red) and pale gold. As if we needed another reason to be addicted to this smartphone.

And if you really need your celeb crackberry fix there is a whole website dedicated to just that: celebrityblackberrysightings.com

October always rings with the best pink trinkets - to raise awareness of the boobs. Breast Cancer that is. This year Italian lingerie manufacturer Cosabella has the Hope Low Rider Thong.

Feetfirst and Payless Shoes both have fun satin and metal bracelets for the cause. Holt Renfrew has a private label pink cashmere hoodie promoted by Elizabeth Hurley. Estee Lauder continues to hold the cosmetic cause leader with their line of pink. 

My best pink pick is by far Coach! Coach has joined the Fight Against Breast Cancer by giving $100 in proceeds from each Positively Pink Watch toward the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The pink bridle style with pink Swarovski crystal markers straps up a winner.

At the recent BC Fashion Week, selected media, designers and celebrities were invited to attend fashion shows spotlighting some of BC’s best & emerging designers, retreat in the EFFEN Vodka Style Lounge and kick up their heels at the BC Fashion Week Sound of Fashion Launch Party (both hosted by yours truly & the rest of my team of fashionistas), and also receive a special gift bag that the It Lists helped bring together. 

The bag included some of my fav things - such as Pout Plump lip gloss, a sampling of Frédéric Fekkai’s new Coiff line, Goody Styling Therapy hair brush, Love is Heaven underwear (very Ed Hardy), Nettwerk Records’ new Um Huh Her disc (Camila Grey and also Leisha Hailey from the L-Word) that I’m loving, Linden Leave’s Gold Mist, and many other fun bits.

This gift bag is a virtual “it list” in itself, representing some of the trendiest finds to covet:
   
Eminence Organics - Herbal Eye Make-up Remover  eminenceorganics.com
Frédéric Fekkai – Coiff Line   holtrenfrew.com
Flops   dreambigdesignco.com
Goody - Styling Therapy goody.com
The Goddess Guide by Giséle Scanlon (Harper Collins)  harpercollins.com
Hip Baby  hipbaby.com
Love is Heaven   loveisheaven.net
Linden Leaves - Gold Mist  qualityfromnature.com
Lit Cosmetics  litcosmetics.com
M-13 Functional Juice   m13.ca   
Moral Fibres   moralfibres.com
The Block Magazine - Vancouver’s Guide to Modern Living  theblockmagazine.com
Nokia 6300  Fido.ca
Uh Huh Her (Nettwerk Records)   uhhuhher.com
Pout Plump lip gloss    holtrenfrew.com
 
All the products that are in the BC Fashion Week gift bag are available to you too! Enjoy - Shelley

Glamour Magazine shares with us some guilt-free sentiments…that hey, it’s okay…

 …if the closest you’ll ever get to skinny-dipping is running through a sprinkler without your shoes on.

 …to take a great deal of pride in your iPod playlists.

 …to be a little bummed out you’re related to the hot guy you just met at your family reunion.

 …to skim the front-page headlines but read every word of pieces like "Zoo Gives Panda Viagra."

 …to spend 30 minutes in the museum and an hour in the gift shop.

 …if you still don’t have a crush on Justin Timberlake.

 …if you’re the only girl at the beach whose cover-up actually covers up.

 …to ask him to pick you up at work mainly beause you want to show him off.

Her wit and flourish is the best beach read ever!

I’m reading a book that is too good to wait until I’m done, to share with you. But I have it on very good accord that it ends well. I have already given away four copies, and keep on having to replace mine to finish reading.

Eat Pray Love - Elizabeth Gilbert this book is, well, think Sex and the City, but with a spiritual twist. Insert dynamic writer for GQ, who at 31 realizes that she shouldn’t be married and isn’t ready for the baby plan in front of her. She leaves it all, and goes on a search for everything. To Italy to "eat," India to "pray," and then to Bali "to fall in love."

Maybe it’s my love of both Italy and Indonesia (especially with my pending trip to Bali in a few weeks) that have me biased. But damn this is a good read. One minute she pings me with laughter, the next stuns me and makes me ask "how’d she get into my head and capture my experiences and thoughts - but better than I could have?!"

Her self-deprecating humor make this an original travel and life journal: recalling the first time she attempted to speak directly to God, she says, "It was all I could do to stop myself from saying, ‘I’ve always been a big fan of your work." I’m now a fan of Gilbert’s work too.

Pomegranates over. Pears are hip.

When it comes to cocktails - Pears are "the next big flavor." They’re a fresh, sexy sip.

Any fashionista knows the lure of a good Cosmo or Chambard is that it’s well balanced. Not too strong in liquor and not too strong in sweet or sour.

Grey Goose La Poire is the the pear vodka preference - because it’s a natural pear flavor and damn fine vodka. Absolut Pears is a nice option, but they seem to think pear is a stronger candy treat.

But I warn you - - they go down a bit too easy. So if you’re now sold the pear is the new pomegranate try these recipes:

Tuscan Pear

• 2 parts Grey Goos La Poire
• 1 part fresh-squeezed lemon juice
• 1 part simple syrup
• 1 part OJ
• 2 or 3 pieces of crystalized ginger
• Mint leaves and thin pear slice for garnish

Pear Fizztini

• 2 parts Grey Goose L’Poire Vodka
• 1 part club soda  OR sparkling wine
• splash of pear nectar
• Pear slice for garnish 

You just knew it was coming:  Free Paris paraphernalia (or jail her) My fav so far is the Miodestino underwear line for you, him, and your dog in appropriate jailbird stripes!

Sweet boy shorties with a leg edge frill in a printed pinstripe stretch satin for a luxurious feel. Appliquéd onto the lace is the "Free Paris" or "Jail Paris" logo. Hipsters for men, and a Tinkerbell dress. Seriously.

Mio Destino will contribute 50% of the profits from the ‘Paris Hilton Protest Panties’ sales to the charity Ovarian Cancer Action .

Wear them on June 5 (the day she goes down) in a show of protest against her imprisonment. But I don’t know what good the panties will do her - since Paris never wears any!

  

What’s above your bed? Is it time to retire the Ikea futon? But not ready to go to a traditional bed and headboard. One+Only Custom Headboards is the coolest solution I’ve seen.

They inspire your space with a headboard that is literally a piece of art - that you pick and customize. My favorite is the Teal. It’s creepy, beautiful, and tranquil all at once. I don’t know what that says about me!

This find is the ultimate in expression, and would truly turn your bedroom sanctuary into "yours".  Your space should inspire you morning, noon and night. I’ll let you sleep on that.

P.S. The prices on the site are CDN.
   

Guilty! I often forget to focus on the lifestyle part of this blog. Let me share a huge "it" thing to do to make the world a better place.

My NY galpal,  Andrea shared with me a great cause www.kiva.org. It’s a program to give interest free, micro loans to entrepreneurs around the world trying to change their lives and lift themselves out of poverty.

Read the story behind the person, and what the business is they’re trying to do. See how much money they have raised towards their goal. Then you get emails updating you as the person is paying back their loan. Caution: they do warn you to diversify - so give to a few different people to hedge your odds of getting paid back.

Right now the loans on the site are mostly for Norweigan and Samoa projects, but that changes all the time. We helped a woman in Ghana with her farm, and today we added to this woman’s shop. (I’m prone to giving woman power!)

Helping others, help themselves. And feeling damn good about how you empower them.  That’s a cause I’m all about, and really an "un"guilty pleasure.

Read the New York Times Article