Vladia's Stylee Life

I found Hellotxt - Twitter x ....

2008-08-28T13:34:00.000-07:00

I always wondered how everyone else managed to update all their social network pages so often and so frequently, surely Guy Kawasaki doesnt't have that kind of time when he is making his millions...what about the thousands of others...? "How do they do it," I asked...I surely do not have that kind of time...and then I found Hellotxt...www.hellotxt.com. I found it on twitter...life is good. I am in on the secret. Check it out.

Freaky accident - how many of those 100 things to do...I have not completed yet!?

2008-08-28T12:48:00.000-07:00

Can you believe that Dave Freeman who recommended surfing naked (with sharks?) at night in Australia died after falling over in his California home and hitting his head today!?!? How freaky! This fall surely cut his adventures short - he was 47. During his life, he managed to complete half of the trips that he recommended in is book “100 Things To Do Before You Die.” Today, I had lunch with a lady who wanted to do something crazy before her 50th birthday, and so she trained and participated in a 5-day long bike ride to fight cancer from Madison to Chicago..she has never done anything like that before and couldn't believe her own willpower. I liked that story.

I personally follow a book "1000 places to see before you die"...although I pick my own places...it always surprises me when I ask someone "where do you want to travel, what do you want to see or do next?" and they say, I don't know...I am sure Dave Freeman would be surprised...I say make a list and go for it...freaky accidents happen every day...

PalmettoSky Video Produced Air Company's Second Air Retreat Video in Mexico

2008-08-26T16:22:00.000-07:00

Rehava Opening New Location

2008-08-25T10:37:00.000-07:00

Rehava is definitely stirring some emotions in Charleston. Here is the latest article:

Alternative real estate firm ventures downtown
By Katy Stech (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Monday, August 25, 2008
Looking past a not-so-hospitable welcome to the Charleston real estate community, the newly formed Rehava Real Estate Store is expanding to downtown Charleston.
The alternative brokerage firm, which stirred controversy by offering buyer rebates after a change in state law allowed them, plans to open an office at 48 Society St. The company opened its first store this year on International Boulevard at the entrance to Tanger Outlet Center.
The office will be run by Danny Sillivant, a longtime agent at John Liberatos Real Estate Co. It will start off with three agents.
Rehava, which was founded by real estate agent and broker Steve deGuzman, promises to give buyer rebates and a flat listing rate to customers.
The amount of the rebate varies with the price of a home and the agreed-upon commission payout to agents. A typical rebate of 1.5 percent could result in thousands of dollars in savings in the Charleston area, where the median home price is about $210,000.
For example, on a standard 6 percent commission on a $200,000 home, the agents representing the buyer and seller typically would split the $12,000 payout. Under that scenario, Rehava said, it would pay half of its hypothetical $6,000 share as a rebate.
While the concept could save buyers money, agents who are protective of their standard 3 percent commission haven't been supportive.
After one South of Broad homeowner heard about Rehava, he contacted the company to list his home, deGuzman said. But the homeowner changed his mind after some agents threatened to avoid showing the home, deGuzman said.
DeGuzman said he still hopes to break into the market by relying on the Internet. Since many buyers begin their home search online, he said, his listings will still get the attention they deserve.
"If you have a client that wants to see our house and a broker tells them that they don't want to show it, good luck," he said.
Rehava, which formally opened in late May, has sold five homes, according to the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors. It also has 17 properties listed on the association's Multiple Listing Service.

Zonta Celebrating 89 Years

2008-08-21T10:32:00.000-07:00

I am the vice president of the Zonta Club of Charleston. My husband still thinks that we are involved in space explorations....thanks to our sort of funny sounding name: Zontians...Well, what is Zonta? Zonta is by invitation only, it is a global organization of professionals and executives working together to enhance the status of women worldwide through service and advocacy. We have more than 33,000 member in 65 countries. Being a member of Zonta is a priveladge, famous Emilia Erhard was one of the first members soon after the organization was established in the US in 1919.

Zonta works locally and internationally to enhance the status of women. Locally, we work with young ladies at Florence Crittenton. Internationally, Zonta sponsors and funds educational, health and service programs in countries such as Rwanda (Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV), in Guatemala and El Salvador (Safe Cities for Women), in Liberia (Reduction of Obstetric Fistula). Over the years, Zonta established educational centers in Sri Lanka, after tsunami, and in war-thorn Afganistan, and HIV preventions programs in sub-Saharan Africa.

Celebrating 89 Years in 2008, Zonta International continues to be on the front lines of the fight for women's equal rights through local and global projects that promote economic self-sufficiency, political equality, access to education and health, and the prevention of violence against women. Each year, Zontians dedicate hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours and millions of dollars.

www.zonta.org

Learning about America's Great Loop

2008-08-21T10:28:00.000-07:00

So I have been learning about America’s Great Loop. Two months ago, I’ve had no idea that such a thing existed; today, not only I am becoming an expert, but I started myself dreaming about completing it one day. The Great Loop is on the list of things to do of every boater that knows about it. One usually starts with innocently reading a book called “Honey, let’s get a boat….” There is not much more I can add to that title. Then, years of research take over your life, later you search and find the right boat, start taking short trips, fall in-love with living on the water and cruising…. Did I mention that somewhere at the very beginning you join the America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association (AGLCA) because no one can do the Great Loop alone. Tons of information is needed, even more tips and advices…and AGLCA, or I should say members of the AGLCA, have all the answers one needs. And then, of you go chasing the eternal summer, as it is the main purpose of living on the water for a year or more.
The Great Loop is the continuous waterway that encompasses the eastern portion of North America – including the Atlantic and Gulf Intracoastal Waterways, the Great Lakes, the Canadian Heritage Canals, and the inland rivers of America’s heartland. It is considered one of the safest long distance cruising routes in the world. To travel all or a portion of the Great Loop or any of its magnificent side trips is truly an adventure of a lifetime.

The saga for most begins in the early spring in southeastern Florida. From the sunny state, the Loopers journey north following the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway along the southeastern seaboard of the United States all the way into Chesapeake Bay, along the way discovering charming barrier islands along the coast of Georgia and the Carolinas, mysterious river channels and estuaries, using bicycles to explore state parks and cities. From the crab rich Chesapeake, Loopers head to Montreal in Canada, exploring historic towns of immense charm and cruise by sights such as the Statue of Liberty on the way. The St. Lawrence River carries them into the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes, although uncertain and treacherous, are a dreamland of vacation cottages, picturesque waterways, granite islands, farmland and woods. Boaters must be brave and adventures to take on the Great Lakes. Once they reach Chicago, it is down South again via the Mississippi River and Tenn-Tom Waterway, and then eventually into Mobile, Alabama and the rich and warm Gulf of Mexico. To close the Great Loop, cruisers have to go around the Southern tip of Florida back to the same point where they started. Many choose to spend warm winter months exploring the amazing Okeechobee River and Lake, and tropical Key West before it all ends, and they close the loop in the Southeastern Florida.

Get Xobni

2008-08-21T09:56:00.000-07:00

My friend David Wooten who is in with the tech world told me about Xobni...Inbox spelled backwards...good one, Microsoft. I watched the "how to" video on the WSJ website and was very impressed. This product is really created for people like me - I don't store junk in my house, but my inbox contains thousands of emails, I can say about myself that I am an email-junkie. I cannot live and work without my old emails...they are my best friends, they help me think and function.

So here is some info about Xobni:
It is the Outlook plug-in that saves you time finding email conversations, contacts and attachments. After a quick install, you'll see the new Xobni toolbar appear in Outlook - and suddenly information will become much easier to find. When a new email arrives, the sender's full communication history appears in the Xobni sidebar, including past conversations, attachments and contact details. Xobni also includes a blazing fast email search tool.

www.xobni.com/learnmore/

Google Yourself Before You Apply for a Job

2008-08-21T09:45:00.000-07:00

According to Star Tribune Minneapolis, seventy-seven percent of recruiters report using search engines to find background data on candidates. Of that number, 35 percent eliminated a candidate because of what they found on-line. And please note that it is not always just professional background information that they are after. I think this number is really astonishing, considering that only a decade ago, the only way how to learn about a potential candidate was to pick up a phone and call listed referrals. Is really everyone on Google now? Does it really mean that before you even meet your interviewer, he or she already made their mind about what kind of person you are...hey, but they found it on the Internet, it must be true.

What does it mean for anyone who is looking for a job? Are we going to have google ghosts who will not be employable because a more skilled candidate in the field of social media will snatch every great job out there- kind of like credit ghosts that cannot get a car loan or a credit card? So far, I only heard about examples of people who didn't get a job based on a bad review "given" by Google. But how is one to build a goodle credit - I mean a good google credit...I guess I would start with a personal website that is professional and linked with as many reputable sites as possible. But wait, I am not the only one posting stuff on-line...

What if someone chooses to harm a person by posting terrible untrue facts on their blog? We all watch the Hills and the Gossip Girl...we learn our lessons... There is not much one can do about that...is there? Or maybe it forces us to be really, really good citizens, constantly living in fear that someone may post a lie about us...well, I don't know, I didn't really even think about this until I learned about those statistics...because it goes even further...concern friends google potential boyfriends of a friend, mothers google husbands to be of their daughters, clients google vendors, etc.

I feel like we are spending so much time on-line, managing and creating our on-line credit/identity, meeting new friends, doing damage control that sometimes we forget that we are real and some people do not care about our facebook, twitter or any other profile.

Anyway, in the meantime, I will keep on building my google credit, just in case...one never knows...

CFADA's Palette and Palate Stroll

2008-07-14T09:03:00.000-07:00

The third annual Palette and Palate Stroll was a super fun night filled with fantastic food, fine art and lots of wine! We started off in a great downpour, but even that didn't discourage local food and art enthusiasts as they poured into CFADA member galleries to enjoy some delicious cuisine from Charleston's finest chefs and new works by local and national artists. There was tons of mingling, meeting with friends, chefs and artists, everyone was greatly enjoying the evening and strolling through the city (we even got to see the sun towards to end of the event).

The event was created to raise money to support local art programs for young talented artists, but also in hopes that it will encourage more local residents to frequent Charleston galleries and restaurants in summer months. It gives many a great reason to dress up and come downtown, it was so great to see so many people walking arond the historic district with CFADA stickers. I also have to mention some food finds of the night that really sticked out: Kelly Wilson's chocolate loliepop with bacon was increadible (Cypress), also Charleston Grill's goatcheese cake with mint was to die for. I also loved the smooth and delicious soups prepared by FIG and McCrady's, both chefs opted for fresh local vegetables in season to make their soups and they wowed us all!

This event requires tons of work, but brings the "Best of Charleston" together in one night and it is so worth!

Cinebarre Grand Opening

2008-06-30T19:51:00.000-07:00

Last week, Carrie Busch, Amanda Reichlyn and myself attended the exclusive premiere party to celebrate the Grand Opening of Cinebarre on Houston Northcutt Blvd. near Whole Foods in Mt. Pleasant. The reception started at 6:30pm and it was packed by 6:45pm; nevertheless, the event went smoothly, and judging from the success of the opening evening, Mt. Pleasant crowds are ready for a new social experience.

The champagne hour was certainly a lure, but I went because I love this concept. The concept is not new, it has been around forever, but it works really well for people like me that often have to choose between a movie or a diner. I also like it because these theaters tend to be more intimate. When looking for a movie and a dinner under the same roof, which is not my house, I will definitely consider going to Cinebarre. Cinebarre's menu is basic, but there is more to pick from than just different flavors of popcorn. Many items on the menu are cleverly named after famous movies. They serve bar food (everything under $10), so it is very affordable-their pizzas looked yummy. Many asked me if they were going to show independent movies or movies that show only in selected theaters. Well, I don't know but it doesn't hurt to ask.

Cinebarre on ABC News
http://youtube.com/watch?v=RuRiulcJfkU

CFADA's new website

2008-06-25T21:05:00.000-07:00

Check out CFADA's new website ...just in time for the Palette and Palate Stroll:
www.cfada.com

What's Wrong with What We Eat by Mark Bittman

2008-06-25T20:28:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, I watched a show on the Discovery Channel about foods that are slowly, over time, killing us - mainly partly hydrogenated oils and sugar (why do I find high fructose corn syrup in almost everything including meat products!!??). Then I came across Mark Bittman's talk about What's Wrong with What We Eat on TED Ideas Worth Spreading. I actually agree with much that Mr. Bittman has to say. But then of course, I don't eat red meat, and yes, I cook using real food. I grew up in a society where each meal was cooked from food - real food, not boxes or bottles -most of it came from our garden. Even today, when you come to my house, my freezer is used as a storage for beer glasses; and I have an herb garden (still cannot figure out how to keep veggies alive in this heat, but working on it). I am a modern girl who loves to cook - how shocking! I also choose to spread these thoughts by Mark Bittman, watch at:

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/mark_bittman_on_what_s_wrong_with_what_we_eat.html

This is what I found on-line about Mark Bittman for those who don't know him:
Mark Bittman is a well-known American cookbook author and food writer. He writes the New York Times weekly column "The Minimalist" and is the author of numerous award-winning cookbooks including How to Cook Everything, Fish: The Complete Guide to Buying and Cooking, and the Minimalist Cookbook series. In 2005, he launched a PBS series to accompany How to Cook Everything. Though a non-vegetarian himself, he is known for his criticism of too much consumption of meat and its ill effects on health of humans and the planet at large.

Grand Opening Party at Air

2008-06-24T10:31:00.000-07:00

So it finally happened, air and earth are officially open! The Grand Opening Party was packed with local kiteboarding enthusiasts, young skateboarders and their parents, supporters of Air and Earth and national media. The first half of the event was devoted to skateboarding - guests watched local skateboarders and Trials FreeStyle Bike Rider Tim Moore trying to break world records, making some most daring jumps. The second part of the evening was kicked off by the AirWear and EarthWear fashion show -Red Bull girls and Air Kite Team boys introduced air's new fashion line, after which we finally "enjoyed responsibly" some Sweet Tea Vodka made by FireFly.

Anthony Spencer of Palmetto Sky Video premiered the new Air Kite Movie shot at the annual Air Retreat in Mexico. The movie is up on http://www.kiteflix.com/, so anyone can view it there.

Air Company Launches its Sport Clothing Line

2008-06-04T16:32:00.000-07:00

Finally, a sport clothing line that we can all relate to and wear! Air launched a local sport clothing line - AirWear and later on in June, they are launching EarthWear!

AirWear designs are in line with the mission of the company to bring a friendly urban shopping experience to Mount Pleasant. This includes the clothing line with intricate graffiti-like designs, urban pop art, a joint creation of local artists Ishmael and Scott Debus that covers walls of the store as well as the unique sport philosophy created by the owners of the store, thairapy.

2008-06-04T16:18:00.000-07:00

air and earth Grand Opening Schedule, June 13-15

I have been getting emails about the Grand Opening - Air Meets Earth, so here is some more info about the event:

The weekend long festivities will start on Friday, June 13, 2008, with special in-store offers and door prizes that will include skate decks from EARTH and AirWear and kiteboarding lessons from Air. The day will end with a private “Friday the 13th @ 1313” (store’s new address) VIP reception - by Invitation Only.

The celebration continues with special activities, contests and demonstrations on Saturday, June 14, at the store, and on June 15 at the beach on Isle of Palms. Saturday will be filled with vendors’ demonstrations of the latest skateboarding equipment. Vendors from all over the United States will attend the event including Ground Industries, Ocean Rodeo, Liquid Force, Litewave Kiteboarding and North Kiteboarding. Fun activities, targeted towards younger clientele taking place in the morning, will include Red Bull Entertainment, pro-skateboarding demonstrations at a mini skate park built in the store’s parking lot for this occasion, skateboard tasting, AirWear sport-clothing line fashion show.

Sunday, June 15, will be devoted to kiteboarding. The day will start with a wind clinic “Science of Kiteboarding” at Air presented by NOAA at 11:00a.m. Space is limited and reservations are required. The day will continue with kiteboarding demonstrations at the beach on Isle of Palms, featuring international pro-kideboarder Davey Blair.

EARTH is more than a skateboarding store, it is a lifestyle center!

http://www.ridetheearth.us/

Grand Opening at Air and EARTH

2008-05-19T14:47:00.000-07:00

Big News for the kiteboarding and skateboarding community - Air company is ready to reopen its store in a new location and is also opening a new store - Earth. As most of you know, Air is Charleston's only kiteboarding store founded by Adam Von Ins and Elea Faucheron in 2002. For almost five years, Air was located on Coleman Blvd. where it became a landmark. The new location at The Shoppes at Seaside Farm near Target in Mt. Pleasant is even better and the two story store is really awesome. It will open on Wednesday, May 21, 2008.

The Grand Opening Weekend will take place on June 13-15. The weekend long celebrations will feature Red Bull Entertainment, AirWear fashion show, a mini skatepark, demos by skateboarding and kiteboarding vendors. We will be at the store and at the beach, so check out http://www.catchsomeair.us/ for a schedule. Adam and Elea will also have some door prizes and will donate proceeds from the raffle to the Surfrider's Foundation's Campaign for Beach Preservation which is an important issue to those of us who love beach and sealife!

Catch some air and ride the earth!

First International Arts Festival in Charleston, SC

2008-05-05T12:26:00.000-07:00

The First Charleston International Arts Festival was amazing, the main focus was Cuba and I was very excited to work on this one. I always had a special connection with Cuba. It is the only affordable Caribbean destination for Europeans. And also when growing up in former Czechoslovakia, one didn't get to see too many foreigners, really the only ones in my town were from Cuba, wore winter coats in summer and were totally lost in the strange country of forests and lakes. My first Spanish teacher was from there as well.

The art works that arrived from Cuba a few weeks before it started were incredible. The event was a huge hit, the events' sponsors FireFly Vodka, Monza, Avery Institute did a great job. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the organizers will do another one next year. The feature country has not been selected yet.

http://www.charlestoniaf.com/

Palmetto Sky, my sister company, created the website.

Palette and Palate Stroll, July 11

2008-05-05T12:21:00.001-07:00

I just want to give you heads-up that the third annual Palette and Palate Stroll is on July 11. This event is a celebration of fine art and cuisine and of course wine. Here are the restaurant/gallery pairings. Tickets are $40 and will go fast. We sold out in 5 days last year. We only sell 700 tickets. Call 843-853-0708.

Gallery: Restaurant:
Ann Long Fine Art & Circa 1886
The Audubon Gallery & Cru Café
Carolina Galleries & Blossom
The Charleston Renaissance Gallery & High Cotton
Corrigan Gallery & Cypress
Coleman Fine Art & Social
Ella W. Richardson Fine Art & Virginia’s on King
John Doyle Art Gallery & Muse
Helena Fox Fine Art & Boathouse
Horton Hayes Fine Art & Carolina’s
Martin Gallery & Fat Hen
Robert Lange Studios & FIG
Smith Killian Fine Art & McCrady’s
The Sylvan Gallery & Tristan
Wells Gallery & Charleston Grill

FireFly Sweet Tea Vodka

2008-05-05T12:07:00.000-07:00

My client, FireFly Distillery, just launched a new product - Sweet Tea Vodka. Well, the name says it all - it tastes just like the beloved Southern sweet tea, but it has a real kick! I must say that it is a spirit for every generation! So far, only those who live in SC can enjoy it at local bars (try High Cotton in Charleston) and restaurants, but soon we will be in other Southern States as well as NY and Boston. Jim' and Nick's Bar-B-Q picked it up for their Southern restaurant chain. Check it out! I promise, if you love sweet tea, you will swear by this one!

Recipes:

Sweet Tea With Mint

1/2 Sweet Tea Vodka

1/2 Spring Water

Muddled Mint

Over Ice

Lemon Twist