First up, congrats go out to Trish Flanagan Denison, who won the Swedish Massage from Daydreams. Two of the owners form Daydream, Paul and Mark, chose from all of you who signed up for their Facebook fan page. Now the really cool thing about this is the fact that Trish’s birthday was this weekend. So, Happy Birthday Trish. We will be giving away another massage this month, so get ready for that one.

Next off, Mary Ling Vetel won the four tickets to “Cats” at The Garde Arts Center, and she has already received them. Pretty good seats to boot. Thanks goes out to The Garde for those, and look for some really cool things from them in not so distant future.

And finally, Jerry Prejean won his choice of a gift certificate to either Eli’s on the Hill in Branford or to The Stone House in Guilford. It will be a bit of a drive for him, but well worth it.

So, off to a good start this month, and in another week or two, I will announce the next giveaways, but got to think of a cool way of doing it.

YOLO Aesthetic Boutique and Med Spa and Guilford Savings Bank, headline sponsor of the contest, announced the launch of the bridal makeover contest on February 24, 2010. Brides getting married this year are encouraged to sign up for the makeover contest by April 16, 2010 for a chance to win over $6,000 in prizes and to look amazing on their wedding day. The winner of the contest will be announced at a Bridal Fashion Show at Laurel View Country Club in Hamden on April 25, 2010.

The YOLO Bridal Show is a comprehensive “wedding style” show supported by event planners, Weddingistas, complete with a cocktail hour starting at 5pm with tastings supplied by Laurel View Country Club followed by a fashion show and vendor tables. The White Dress by the shore will be featuring bridal gowns by couture designers to include: Modern Trousseau, Priscilla of Boston and Melissa Sweet. Astrid Niemelainen is showcasing mother of the occasion couture fashion and Beneath the Gown will be featuring fine European lingerie for the bride’s big day.

“Planning a wedding is the most exciting and stressful time in a womans’ life,” states Gil Simmons, Weekday Morning Meteorologist of WTNH-TV. “I’m excited to be the MC for the YOLO bridal fashion show where I can bring some fun to the process and inspire brides to look and feel their best on their wedding day. This is going to be a great party where brides can relax and leave the details to the experts.”

COCKTAIL PARTIES AND FREE SPA TREATMENTS

Leading up to the YOLO Bridal Show, a happy hour is planned for all area brides at Eli’s On the Hill at 624 West Main Street, Branford, CT. Brides are encouraged to bring friends to the events to take advantage of food and drink specials. YOLO will be giving away free spa treatments and prizes at the bar. The happy hour is scheduled for April 15, 2010 at 4:30pm.
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The makeover contest bridal registration is from February 26 through April 16, 2010. To enter YOLO’s contest, brides – to – be must submit a video and/or photo and a short essay to an entry area on YOLO’s website (http://www.yolobridalmakeovercontest.com) explaining why they think they should win the “YOLO’s Bridal Makeover” contest. The winner will be announced at the Laurel View Country Club in Hamden in combination with an elegant bridal fashion show on April 25, 2010. When the bridal makeover is complete, an unveiling party will be hosted by Café Grounded, located in Guilford, CT.

One of our projects that we are working on is video.  All sorts of video. Some will be promotional, others will be what kind of trouble can I get into. So in order to facilitate this, we have started a youtube channel. This way, in addition to linking it to the appropriate article, you will also be able to watch anytime that you want. So, here it is.

First thing I would like you to do is watch the videos on the YouTube channel now, and let me know which one is best suited for our “Destination Guilford” post. Just tag this post with your thoughts. The other thing that I would like is your ideas for videos that you would like to see us do.  It can be a destination spot, a how to video, or something that you think will just be too funny. Pretty much anything is fair game.  That includes me doing virtually everything. About the only thing that is off limits is me being pushed out of a plane. With or without a parachute.  Now, if you leave a comment, then I will choose one of you and give you your choice of a gift certificate to either The Stone House or Eli’s on the Hill.

The next thing I have is the fact that I would like to welcome aboard Daydream Massage and Facials to the site. They have a new and unique way for you to spoil yourself and save money. Just like us, they love having members. So if you become a member, you can save money on all of their fine services. Check out their fan page and learn how to become one. And to sweeten the pot, I will throw in your first massage for free. Yup, FREE, so you can try out Daydream before signing up for a membership. And here is how you win. Go to their fan page, Daydream Massage and Facials, and leave a note that we sent you, and I will have them choose from one of our members. That’s it. You don’t have to sign up for a membership, all you have to do is show up and get a massage. That’s it.

So, hopefully this makes for a better start to your week. I can’t control the weather, but I can make the week more enjoyable for you.

So, as I have always promised, when I get stuff, I am not keeping it for myself. Rather it gives me the most joy to give back to all of those who have helped me, so, time to give stuff away, and in no particular order.

First off, at The Garde Arts Center, “Cats” will be coming, and we have a family four pack for that one.  But, it gets better, The Sigels have also thrown in two tickets to” The Oasis Room” which has some really great shows, but also a much more intimate setting. If you have not seen the interior of the Garde, you have been missing out.

Next, our great friend, Chuck Still, Executive Director of The Kate is inviting four of you to come out and see  well known Boston comedian Peter D’Angelo  this Friday. FYI, I will announce a winner for that one on Wednesday. You all know how much Out and About loves The Kate,  now here’s your chance to check it out on Chuck, and Shoreline Out and About.

So, what do you do with the kids on a really nasty day like today?  How do you get them so tired that when the babysitter shows up so that you can come out and play with us, that they go right to sleep?  Here’s a thought, why don’t I give away two sets of a family four pack to the Children’s Museum Of Southeastern Connecticut?  If you have not been there, then here’s a hint.  It is a great interactive enviorment for the kids to run around in, and learn about all sorts of cool things. they also have multiple play settings so your kids can just play and have fun.

Now, what do you have to do to win these things? Well if you are a member, nothing, you are all set. if you are not, just come to the website, and join. It’s free, and I promise that we will NEVER sell your private information. Contrary to what some wonder kids think, just because you use their social media site, it does not mean that you want your information sold. More thoughts on that one soon enough.

So tell your friends, and have them come on board too. The bigger the site gets, the more I can give away, and I will start giving away some serious stuff.  All of these prizes will be given away on March 27th, except for The Kate, which will be drawn on the 17th. And all you have to do is tell friends, and come to us often. Better yet, make us your home page. Think about it, shouldn’t your home page be about your home anyways?

“Eli’s on the Hill is a great place not only to socialize with friends, but also to host a Bridal shower or wedding related event,” says Nikki.  There will be raffles, drink and appetizer specials, demonstrations, and complimentary spa treatments where brides-to-be can relieve some wedding related anxiety and ask Bridal experts their wedding related questions.

Nikki Rasmussen, owner of YOLO is especially excited for the Bridal Fashion Show to be held on April 25th at Laurel View Country Club, where the winner of the contest will be announced.  Nikki says, “We have an amazing array of Bridal Fashions provided by The White Dress by the shore (http://thewhitedressbytheshore.com/), Beneath the Gown, fine european lingerie (http://beneaththegown.com/), and Couture clothing by Astrid Niemelaeinen (web http://astridcouture.com/events.html)  These wedding professionals represent the best in the industry, I’m excited to have them participate in our Bridal Fashion Show.  Final contestants, their fiance’s and mom’s will be our invited guests, to watch the Fashion show, meet wedding professionals, feast on a delicious array of appetizers’ and possibly win additional raffle prizes”.

Interested Brides may enter at www.yolobridalmakeovercontest.com

Chris Barron

Specialists gave vocalist Chris Barron from the Spin Doctors a 50% chance of ever talking normally again – let alone singing on a professional level – when he was stricken with vocal chord paralysis. After a miraculous marathon recovery Chris Barron is back with his latest solo release Pancho and the Kid and singing better than ever, winning audiences all over again with his sincerity and that vocal tone that has made his voice recognizable to millions all over the world.

Chris will be live at “The Kate”  Saturday night, February 6th at 8Pm. Here is your chance for you & a friend to see him for free:

Just share this on any social networking medium. “Twitter”, or even easier, just go to the “FB” share button at the bottom of the page, and click.

Send me an email through the site or to edwinbartlett@hotmail.com, and you are in the running. i will post the winner of this and the Joe Bouchard tickets tomorrow at 2PM, and contact you with how to claim your tickets.

Now,if you do have to venture out, here’s a few thoughts for simple, easy, and greatly appreciated gifts. They are all local, and the for the most part, easy to get to.

Every one enjoys a great dinner. And here on the Shoreline, there are many great places to eat. So, here’s the theme of the day. Gift certificates. They are easy to wrap, and let’s face facts, everyone loves them. I can pretty much guaranty, that if you give someone a gift certificate, it will be more appreciated than that pair of argyle socks you were thinking of. Just saying.. Anyways, if in Branford, head on over to Eli’s On The Hill, and pick one up. It is one of the best places to get one. The food is great, the atmosphere is relaxed, and just a great place to hang with friends.

In Guilford, you have the quartet of Whitfield’s on the Green, Quattro’s Italian, Cafe Grounded, and The Stone House. No matter where you chose to go, you cannot go wrong. Each has incredible ambiance, great service, and some of the finest dining on the shoreline. Needless to say, what is more relaxing than having a great meal served to you. No dishes, no cleaning, and great company. Doesn’t get any better than that.

Guys, if you did not heed my warning before, here it is again. Do not make this mistake. Go to Yolo Aesthetic Boutique and pick up a gift certificate, and let her decide what she wants. Let her pamper herself, and maybe you got a gift certificate for dinner, then meet up, and have a truly relaxing day. If you buy a $100 certificate, you will also receive an addititional $25  Yolo certificate. And, you can buy these online, so you don’t even have top fight the madness on the roads.

And, finally, the cure for all that ails you. Yes, it’s Red Rooster Baking Co. cookies. You can still send them out, they just won’t make it there on time, but, hey, why not extend the season? You can stop by there today or tomorrow, and pick up a dozen to bring to dinner. Use them as stocking stuffers, but make sure it’s a BIG stocking. Or here’s the best thing. Bring the kids and pick up those oh so special cookies for “Santa”. Leave them out for him, especially since Mark O’Brien called it, I will be riding shotgun, so between the two of us, I can bet, there will be two jolly fatmen riding in the sleigh.

So let’s start off with my favorite topic. Cookies. Yes, Red Rooster Baking Company cookies. Now who does not like cookies? How about 3 and 1/2 ounce cookies. Think of what your friends and family can do with one of these. Warm it up a touch, put a scoop of ice cream on it, maybe drizzle some chocolate or possibly a simple raspberry syrup, a little whipped cream. Anyways you get the point. If you are shipping them anywhere, order them today. Kim will ship them for you, so hurry and place that order for Cousin Waldo in parts unknown. If you are picking them up, order in advance or call ahead to make sure you get what you want.

For those of you who know someone who wants to be pampered, just a little bit, heres a thought. Yolo Aesthetic Boutique. Many of you have read Nikki’s columns on the site, and know that she is all about proper skin care and technique. Not only is this a great place to pamper someone, she has some pretty great specials going on all the time. So get that gift certificate and make your life easier. Guys, trust me on this. If you are thinking toaster/vacuum cleaner/small appliance, don’t. Trust me. No women will ever get upset with you when you give the gift of pampering. And go with the gift certificate. No matter how much a women says she needs Botox, (go with ” but Honey, you don’t need that” even if it wouldn’t hurt) let her decide. Trust me, this is a very dangerous decision for a man to make.

For those of you who want to do a little bit of jewelry,  You have a couple of choices here.  Both Art Decade and Venetianware offer unique and elegant jewelry. The designs offered by both of these artisans are not something that you will see in any store. They will ship as needed, and there commitment to the customers satisfaction shows in all that they do.

It’s often so difficult to find a meaningful and lasting gift for those special people on your holiday list. Chocolates get eaten, technology becomes obsolete and the latest pair of shoes goes out of style. That’s why I always like to give interesting “experiences” to people; especially those folks who already have two of everything or can buy whatever they want whenever they want.

Here are some gift ideas that may make someone’s holiday more memorable.

My sweetheart Leif Nilsson is a successful impressionist painter with a studio and gallery in Chester (Leif Nilsson Spring Street Studio & Gallery). He is offering portrait sessions in sizes ranging from small 8 x 10 paintings to life sized 30 x 40 inches and up! He is also offering painting classes for all levels. So for those of you who always wanted to paint but never did, or simply want to fine tune your skills, here is your opportunity. For more information and to view Leif’s work, log onto www.nilssonstudio.com/gift_shop/index.html and scroll to the bottom of the page, or call 860-526-2077 to schedule a sitting.

My dear friends Sandra and Eric Lichter who are accomplished musicians, own and operate Dirt Floor Recording Studio also in Chester. Eric is a master mixer and plays 15 instruments proficiently, I kid you not. A gift certificate to the musician in your family to finally record that CD in them that has been waiting to come out makes a great gift. Since Eric is a musician in his own right, he understands the needs of his colleagues in addition to being a talented technician. Sandra says “We’re making records the old fashioned way.” You can find Dirt Floor on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chester-CT/Dirt-Floor-Recording-StudioChesterCT/32902569740?ref=ts, www.myspace.com/ericlichtermusic, or call 860-526-8137

Another great gift for yourself or a loved one is to have a portrait taken. I have had parents come with their little ones to create a family portrait for grandparents; a client who wanted to celebrate her recent success in losing weight; teenagers looking for something a bit different in a senior portrait; and beautiful babies whose parents wanted a lasting memory of their first Christmas. Right now I am scheduling sessions in my studio and outdoors when the weather permits. But you can also consider a gift certificate and schedule a session in the spring, summer or fall. It’s really a fun experience. For more information and to view my portraits, log onto www.cbdphotography.com or call 860-526-5936.

I wish all of you a happy and healthy holiday season. Caryn B. Davis

Painting courtesy Leif Nillson

Portraits courtesy Caryn B Davis Photography

]]> http://www.shorelineoutandabout.com/demo/blog/2009/12/unusual-gift-ideas-from-caryn-b-davis-photography/feed/ 0 http://www.shorelineoutandabout.com/demo/blog/2009/11/holiday-gifts-and-discounts/ http://www.shorelineoutandabout.com/demo/blog/2009/11/holiday-gifts-and-discounts/#comments Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:58:34 +0000 Edwin Bartlett http://www.shorelineoutandabout.com/demo/?p=2855 I have added a new category especially for the holiday season. For the next few weeks, I will post to the landing page, and to this category the discounts that we have, and also how to get them. Many of this involves our membership card, so make sure you find us at our various Happy [...]]]> I have added a new category especially for the holiday season. For the next few weeks, I will post to the landing page, and to this category the discounts that we have, and also how to get them. Many of this involves our membership card, so make sure you find us at our various Happy Hours, or events that we will be at. You can also stop in our office at 87 Whitfield Street, Guilford. Just shoot me a note, and a I will make sure that we are there.