Is Barak Obama "COOL?"

Our next President, Barack Obama, has been recently snapped golfing, swimming, working out, and relaxing. Take a look at a couple of the pictures and let us know what you think of Obama? 

Is he going to be the first "COOL", "HIP", and "ATHLETIC" President?! What do you think of the backwards cap? 

FERRAGAMO GOES GREEN!

The Florentine luxury goods brand Ferragamo has gone green with a line of environmentally friendly bags for spring called Eco Ferragamo. 

What makes these bags unique is that the bags are made from a nontoxic tanning technique, are lined in handwoven hemp, and use dyes from natural elements like tree bark. The final product, pictured above, is luxurious, biodegradable, and water-resistant. The Eco Ferragamo line will include 5 day bags, from small totes to a maxi hobo, in colors of tobacco brown, lemon yellow, and grapefruit pink. The bags will be available in February and retail from $1,190 to $1,890.   

Spice Up Your New Year's Eve Champagne

New Year's is almost here and that means PARTY! 

New Year's Eve is one of the biggest party nights and the staple of the night is CHAMPAGNE. So, we wanted to give you a couple of tips we found on how to spice up champagne for the big night. 

Mandarin Cocktail:

1 ounce of mandarin liqueur 

4 ounces champagne

Clementine peel, for garnish

Pour liqueur into a champagne flute; top with champagne. Twist clementine peel over glass and gently drop into cocktail (Pictured above). 

Lavender Champagne:

1/2 cup sugar

1 tablespoon dried lavender

4 bottles (750 mL) dry champagne or sparkling wine, chilled

Fresh lavender springs, for garnish 

(Serves 16)

Bring sugar and 1/2 cup water to boil in a saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar. Stir in dried lavender. Remove from heat. Let cool completely. Strain out lavender. Refrigerate syrup until ready to serve (up to 1 month). 

Pour about 6 ounces champagne and 1 1/2 teaspoons syrup into each flute. Garnish each with lavender sprig (pictured above).  

Champagne with Grapes:

Thread grapes onto a skewer and serve in each glass of champagne (pictured above).

In Spain, revelers mark the new year by quickly eating a dozen grapes at midnight. The fruit is said to be the predictor of the year ahead. Each sweet grape represents a good month, each sour grape a less-than-lucky one. Party idea - try and play the game with your guests! 

NEED CASH? MELT YOUR JEWELRY!

Are you looking for some much needed cash after the holidays? We can help! 

We will melt your gold and/or platinum for $$$! The steps are easy... 

1. Create an Ex-cessories account by clicking on the "JOIN US" button on our homepage (you can also click here to create an account)

2. Send your item to:
Ex-cessories
5500 Prytania Street
#316
New Orleans, LA 70115
*We suggest using UPS insured mail

3. Send us an e-mail or include a note stating your intent to melt the item instead of listing it on the website

4. Break-even! (Wait for your $$$); we will only retain a 5% commission

Melting your unwanted or broken jewelry for $$$ is EASY! Click here to go directly to our homepage and begin the exciting process! 

* BRIDE WARS *

Bride Wars premiers in theaters January 9, 2009! 

Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson go head-to-head in the romantic comedy that follows 2 best-friend brides who find they have scheduled their wedding dates on the same day. Watch the movie trailer below to get a closer look...  

Tom Brady & Gisele Bundchen ENGAGED!

NFL star Tom Brady popped the big question to super model Gisele Bundchen on Christmas Eve! 

According to Perez Hilton, the proposal was said to take place aboard a private jet that took off from the New York area and landed in Boston. Bundchen's parents were also on board the private jet, which was adorned with 4 dozen white roses and champagne. Gisele accepted... of course! 

Congratulations to the super star couple! We can't wait to see what the ring looks like! Any guesses on carat weight and stone cut? 

HEART NECKLACES

We have a terrific selection of heart pendant necklaces on sale! 

From white gold to yellow gold and diamonds to enamel, Ex-cessories.com has a wide variety to choose from at affordable prices! 

Click here to view our 14 karat yellow gold diamond heart necklace for $508. 

Click here to view 14 karat yellow gold heart pendant necklace with 1 0.33 carat diamond for $866.

Click here to view our diamond and pink sapphire heart necklace for $160 (pictured above).

Click here to view our Chanel enamel heart necklace for $116.

Click here to view our Joan Rivers enamel heart necklace for $40.

Clikc here to view our Lalique pink heart necklace for $70.

Click here to view our Tiffany & Co. heart link necklace for $499 (pictured above).

Waitress' Tip - A Diamond Engagement Ring?!

Watch the video below to see how one woman received a diamond engagement ring as a holiday tip! 

College President Donates Pay Raise!

Watch the video below to see how one man has sacrificed his $100,000 pay raise to help others...

After Christmas Sales

Are you braving the crowds and madness to partake in post Christmas shopping? 

The day after Christmas always brings massive crowds to malls and shopping centers and we want to know if you take advantage of the after Christmas sales? What is the best deal on an item that you have purchased at an after Christmas sale?

* Merry Christmas *

We wish you and your families/friends a very merry Christmas. Enjoy this joyous day! 

* Colorful Gems *

If you love color then you will definitely love this 14 karat yellow gold amethyst, blue topaz, garnet, citrine, and peridot bracelet! 

The beautiful bracelet pictured above contains 5 of each stone and measures 6.70mm x 6.50mm in width. The bracelet is on sale for $891.00 (appraised value $1,750!). Click here to learn more about this fabulous colorful gemstone bracelet. 

Christmas Sweaters

Do you wear Christmas sweaters? 

We know some people cherish their spectacular Christmas sweaters and others throw a tacky Christmas sweater party, so we want to know from all of YOU... do you wear Christmas sweaters?

What do you think... Classic or Tacky? Festive or Silly?

Do You Want To Smell Like Your College?

Masik has created a line of "collegiate fragrances." Their first 2 scents are University of North Carolina and Penn State University. One wonders... what does my University smell like?! 

Well... "UNC for women is a refreshing, airy and sparkling fragrance with soft base notes evoking the beauty, romance and Southern charm of Carolina’s Old Well. The top notes sparkle with lychee champagne accord. Lush jasmine and rose bring warmth and tenderness to the middle notes. The base notes end with sheer vanilla and amber woods. A light, fresh and feminine translation of Carolina Blue for the Carolina woman." 

At first, we thought these fragrances were hilarious and a bit ridiculous. But, after additional consideration we thought it would make a great gift for die hard UNC fans and Georgia fans (coming soon), which there are TONS of! Click here to learn more about Masik and their line of "collegiate fragrances."

HAPPY HANUKKAH*

We wanted to wish everyone a very Happy Hanukkah...in honor of the 2nd night, we're throwing a feast that's sure to die for! See below for our gourmet menu and let us know how YOU plan to celebrate under "comments". Enjoy the festivities and lighting of the candles*

- Appetizers Galore- Hot Onion Dip, Brie, and More!
- Mixed Greens with Walnuts, Goat Cheese, and a Tarragon Vinaigrette
- Mom's Brisket with Gravy
- Potato Latkes...the Traditional Way with Applesauce and Sour Cream
- Roasted Green Beans with Shallots
- La Bete Noire Chocolate Flourless Cake and Gelt
- Champagne, Reds, and Made to Orders

* For recipe ideas, visit Epicurious.com

* Chanel Jewelry *

We have some fabulous Chanel jewelry on Ex-cessories.com! 

Our favorite piece is the Chanel charm bracelet (pictured left), which can be viewed by clicking here. If you are looking for a fun Chanel necklace click here. The prices on these pieces are really reasonable, so definitely check it out! Both items would be the perfect gift for any Chanel loving gal. 

Tragic News - Caylee Anthony's Death Confirmed

The search for missing toddler Caylee Anthony has come to a tragic end. Yesterday, authorities in Orlando confirmed that the skeletal remains found 3/10 of a mile away from the Anthony home were in fact the remains of toddler Caylee Anthony. 

Dr. G. stated, "With regret, I'm here to inform you that the skeletal remains found on December 11th are those of missing toddler Caylee Anthony. The cause of death will be listed 'homicide by undetermined means.'" 

This has been a horrific ordeal for everyone involved and the outcome is heart breaking. Our thoughts go out to all who are suffering this tragic loss... 

Confessions of a Shopaholic Movie Trailer

Watch the Confessions of a Shopaholic movie trailer below! 

We cannot wait for this movie to come out February 13, 2009 (February 13 also happens to be the first day of New York Fashion week). Patricia Field, Sex and the City stylist, is styling this movie! With Patricia Field on board, we know the featured fashions are going to be cutting edge and fabulous! Additionally, Isla Fisher is the star of this movie and she is absolutely hilarious and adorable. So, mark you calendars for February 13!  

P&G Advertising

Chairman and CEO of Proctor & Gamble Co., A.G. Lafley, gave all media buyers, ad directors, publicists, etc. heightened anxiety and stress when he told analysts, 

"This media environment is a big 'O' opportunity for us, because we're the biggest advertiser in a lot of these countries, and we can just walk in and tear up the contract." 

P&G spent $8.7 billion on advertising in fiscal 2008! Their current advertising spending in the first 9 months of the current fiscal year has declined to $2.2 billion... 

We are just in shock that they ever spent that many BILLIONS of dollars on advertising! What do you think of P&G's ad spending and of Lafley's daring comment?  

Thread Winter Park

If you are in the Winter Park/Orlando area you MUST check out the adorable boutique, Thread! The decor and atmosphere alone are a must see, but the gems inside the store are what really keeps you coming back for more. 

They have clothing brands in every price range (from LNA and Splendid to Red Valentino and Missoni), some fabulous Valentino shoes and bags, beautiful home decor, as well as some adorable children's clothes. 

The store owners and girls that work there could not be any nicer and more helpful, so we definitely recommend that you visit Thread boutique at 365 Park Avenue South, Winter Park, Florida 32789. 

Click here to visit their website to get a sneak peak of their boutique and merchandise.  

Hanukkah is Almost Here!

Hanukkah is quickly approaching and with the holiday comes 8 nights of lighting candles. Instead of having match boxes lying all around the house or big lighters, Martha Stewart has come up with a great match box decorating idea! Now your match boxes lying around the house or sitting out by the menorah will look special and decorative. Here is what to do...

Tools and Materials:

Kitchen matchboxes

Blue, silver, and white scrapbooking or wrapping paper

Utility knife

Glue stick

Transparent tape

Covered Matchboxes How-To:

Cut a strip of blue scrapbooking or wrapping paper to fit around a matchbox. Glue on stripes in coordinating colors, if desired; wrap paper around box, and affix using a glue stick. Glue smaller strips of paper over the exposed ends. For a large carton, attach a pull by taping a piece of looped ribbon to the bottom of the inside of the box. If you like, embellish with a Star of David cutout. 

(The final creation is pictured above)

TIME MAGAZINE PERSON OF THE YEAR

Time Magazine has just announced that BARACK OBAMA is this year's Time Person of the Year! The announcement on the Today Show focused on his commitment to the American people, the economy, and the fact that he has and will continue to deliver on his promises.

Sarah Palin did make the final 5, in fact she was #4, but Barack Obama beat her to the punch! What do YOU think about Barack winning this title? Is our next President worthy of this honor, or does he need some time to prove himself? Post your thoughts under "comments" and pick up your Time Magazine Person of the Year edition as soon as it hits stands!

Bomb Scare at Printemps Department Store in France

A package containing what was thought to be dynamite was found yesterday morning in the Printemps department store in France. This scare forced a temporary evacuation of the landmark destination at the height of the holiday season. 

The tip was sent via letter to the French news agency by a group called the Afghan Revolutionary Front. The letter demanded the withdrawal of French troops in Afghanistan. 

The public's opinion... "it doesn't scare me, I have no anxiety at all." It seems that French shoppers will NOT be deterred from completing their holiday shopping at any cost... 

* Engagement Rings *

Are you popping the question this holiday season? 

With the perfect proposal comes the perfect ring and we can definitely help you with the ring! 

Finding the perfect ring can be a struggle, but do not worry... Ex-cessories.com is here for you! 

We have tons of diamond engagement rings at amazing prices! Rings that we recommend...

1.52 carat round cut diamond engagement ring:

http://shoppingcarts4you.com/excessories/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=6&products_id=210

1.41 carat diamond and 14 karat yellow gold ring (pictured above)
http://shoppingcarts4you.com/excessories/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=6&products_id=203

Platinum & Diamond Ring (pictured above)

http://shoppingcarts4you.com/excessories/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=6&products_id=201

Don't forget... if you have any questions at all or need any shopping advice please do not hesitate to contact us at info@excessories.com. 

What Should Barack Obama Wear?!

President elect Barack Obama will wear a Hart Schaffner Marx single-button, notch lapel tuxedo for the evening festivities on Inauguration Day, January 20th. 

However, this isn't stopping tons of other designers from sketching what they think Barack Obama should wear. 

Take a look at two of the designs, pictured above, by Richard James and Tommy Hilfiger.  

How-To: Decorative Pine-cones

A great decorative addition to your home during the holidays are pine-cones. We have a great and easy tip on how to prepare pine-cones with a special kick. 

What you will need:

Pine-cones: Try to pick up pine-cones around the yard or anywhere else you can find them outside. 

Silver and gold spray paint: you can get this at your local hardware store or art store

What to do:

Spray each pine-cone with the different colors of spray paint, let them dry and VOILA! 

This is really easy to do and makes a great centerpiece on any table. Take a look at the pine-cones that we created in the picture above. 

Kobe, Michael, A-Rod, and Tony Oh My!

Kobe Bryant, Michael Phelps, A-Rod, and Tony Hawk are all in the new Guitar Hero commercial and we are LOVING it! 

We also LOVED their commercial featuring Heidi Klum so kudos to the advertising gurus behind this campaign! Watch the video below and let us know if you like it as much as we do... 

Iraqi Journalist Throws a Shoe at President Bush!

An Iraqi journalist threw a pair of shoes at President George Bush! We are in shock and cannot even believe that this has really happened! 

Watch the video below to catch the entire thing and to hear commentary from MSNBC reporters. Post any of your thoughts under "comments."

FYI - It is said that in the Iraq culture, throwing a shoe at someone is one of the greatest insults one can give to another... 

Are you ready for the Holidays?!

Let us know if you are ready for the Holidays by taking our poll, which can be found on the right hand side of this page.

We found out last week that most of you keep it simple for the Holiday season with either a christmas tree or a menorah, but there are a couple of you that go ALL out. 

So, let us know if you did all of your Holiday shopping months ago or if like many people out there you are still running around trying to get last minute gifts squared away. 

Thrift Stores - "The Place to Shop"

Do you shop in thrift stores? Let us know what you think about them by posting your thoughts under "comments." Watch the video below and find out about all of the gems that you can find in thrift stores! 

Is it Caylee Anthony?

Living in Orlando, the horrific story of the missing toddler, Caylee Anthony, has surrounded us for months. Everyone around the Country has felt great pain for the family and the toddler, but at the same time have been wondering, where is she, what happened, and did Casey Anthony do it? 

Well... soon we might have those unfortunate answers. Yesterday, the remains of what is confirmed to be a small child was found 3/10 of a mile away from the Anthony home. The remains were discovered by a County employee in the woods near the Anthony home. The employee picked up a garbage bag and a skull popped out. There is no official confirmation and DNA will be tested, but the head Equusearch investigator states, "I feel it's Caylee." 

This is horrible and painful news for all and our thoughts go out to the grieving family. Regardless of the fact that there has been no confirmation, this is an unthinkable ordeal to experience and we cannot even begin to image their pain. We will be waiting and watching along with the rest of America...