in About Chef Andre, Entertaining / by kiww

April 27, 2012

Chef Andre Carthen a.k.a. the Fit Chef, is featured in Kathy Ireland’s book “Real Solutions for Busy Moms: Your Guide to Success and Sanity,” and Janet Jackson’s first book, NY Times #1 Best Seller “True You” where he contributed over 30 recipes for a healthy meal plan.
“True You” takes Celebrity Chef Andre’s exquisite recipes and transforms them into something anyone can do if they have a desire to stay healthy and lean while eating the foods they love. Chef Andre is the only African American to be appointed to the Nutrisystem Success Chef’s Council.

He is often asked to bring his culinary awareness to the media and has appeared on popular radio & television programs like “Today Show,” “Access Hollywood”, “Anderson Cooper”, “Soap Talk”, “EXTRA”, “Inside Hollywood”, “Sunday Dinner”, “Brave Heart Women”, “Healthy Women Healthy World”, “Get Real Live”, Breakfast Television / City TV”, “New Day Northwest”, “Walking on Eggs”, “On the Red Carpet” …

…and has appeared in Forbes, Palm Springs Life, Media Planet- USA Today, Desert Sun, Desert Out, and Furniture Today.

When CEO and Chief Designer Kathy Ireland saw a need for easy and nutritious home cooking ideas for families, she asked her good friend Chef André to partner with her to bring culinary solutions to families. Together they developed the ACafe Society Brand, a place where everyone can learn and communicate about cooking, and entertaining. ACafe Society by Celebrity Chef Andre is about food, fashion, fitness and fun! ….and fun means culture and entertainment. ACafe products range from Knives, Pot & Pans, Rugs, Furniture, Top of Bed, Accessories, Lighting, Wall Art, Table Top, Jewelry, Skincare, and our Candles, which have received one of the brands many Good Housekeeping Seals of Approval.

Along with his long standing partnership with Kathy Ireland, having appeared in all seven of Kathy’s platinum fitness videos (which launched his passion for fitness), Andre has had the privilege of working with Janet Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor, Halle Berry, Vanessa Williams, Marilyn Mc Coo and others. Besides his passion for food and fitness, chef Andre devotes his time to several non-profits like the Dream Foundation, Feeding America, and the Stroke Recovery Center.

Media Apperances

nutrisystem chef council

New Day Northwest

City TV Breakfest Televsion

Palm Springs Life

For more information, please contact:

Christopher Strong
Brand Manager ACafe and Jardin kathy ireland Worldwide
(310) 557-2700 x 197

Sleep Solutions

in Home, Home Solutions / by kiww

April 25, 2012

Peace of Mind…Peaceful Nights™ At Therapedic, we work hard to build mattresses that, by providing you with a better sleep at night, help take some of the stress out of your days. The sleep solution experts at Therapedic are pleased to partner with Kathy Ireland in her mission to bring families, especially busy moms, “home, health, gardening, fashion and entertaining solutions.” Every mattress in our Kathy Ireland Home collection is made with handcrafted care, using only the finest materials and is backed by exceptional warranties. With your purchase of a Kathy Ireland Home by Therapedic mattress, you can rest assured that you’re betting both a great sleep and a tremendous value.

kathy ireland Home by Therapedic mattresses are made with temperature and pressure sensitive visco-elastic or “memory” foam. This leading-technology product conforms to your body, providing both outstanding support and unsurpassed comfort.

Space Age Technology

Visco-elastic foam was developed by NASA to provide cushioning and support for its astronauts, protecting them from the intense pull of gravity during launch. This same leading-technology product is in every MemoryTouch™ mattress, giving you that same cushioning and support so that your spine stays properly aligned and you get a more restful night’s sleep.

Superior pressure relief

When you lie down on a MemoryTouch mattress, the foam quickly conforms to every contour of your body, distributing your weight evenly across the sleep surface. This even distribution, in turn, reduces pressure, eliminating the restlessness that disrupts a good night’s sleep, and increases circulation to tired, aching muscles.

You’ll love how you start each day

Independent studies show that sleeping on a mattress that reduces pressure points can improve your quality of sleep, and consequently increase your mental acuity, energy levels and well being. With a MemoryTouch mattress, you’ll wake up every morning feeling refreshed. Why? Because our unique, low-pressure sleep surface “takes the pressure off,” allowing you to enjoy a deeper, more restful, sleep.

Backed by the industry’s best warranties

MemoryTouch™ mattresses are crafted with care in the USA, are constructed with only the finest materials and are backed by the industry’s best warranties. You’ll sleep even better knowing that your Therapedic mattress will give you many years of nighttime comfort.

kathy ireland Home Office Solutions

in Home, Office Space / by kiww

April 25, 2012

Home Office Solutions

Window Coverings A-Z

in Home, Home Solutions / by kiww

April 25, 2012

Window Covering A-Z

When you’re in the market for window coverings, knowing some basic terms will make your shopping process be a whole lot easier. Let’s go through some common terms from A to Z:

Aluminum – The common material used to make mini blinds.

Bamboo Shades – See Woven Woods.

Basswood - A popular type of wood with a smooth finish, used to make wooden blinds.

Blackout Lining – A layer of neutral colored opaque material used to line window coverings such as pleated shades and woven woods. It helps block out light and provides a neutral appearance from the outside.

Bottom Rail – The bottom part of a shade or blind.

Brackets – Mounting supports for blinds and shades.

Carriers - The small mechanisms that attach the vanes to the headrail on a vertical blind.

Cord Lock – Mechanism of a shade or blind that allows the product to stop at any given point when it’s lifted or lowered.

Cornice - A decorative structure with a flat surface, mounted above a window that’s used to hide curtain rods or window covering headrails.

Dust Resistant Finish – Available on some aluminum slats; reduces static electricity, actually inhibits dust and air bound pollen from collecting.

Honeycomb Shade – Cellular-style fabric shade available in a variety of colors and styles that provides superior insulation and energy-efficiency.

Ladder – The strings on a blind used to support the slats.

Mini Blind – An aluminum blind with 1” size slats.

Opaque – Term used to describe a product that lets NO light filter through it.

Pleated Shade – A shade that is a single layer fabric, which when lowered folds like an accordion.

Recess - The window niche in which a window is fitted (inside box of a window frame created by the jamb).

Return – The part of a valance that goes from the front of the valance back to the wall.

Roller Shade – A vinyl or fabric shade, operated by a spring mechanism or clutch system, that rolls up onto a tube above the window.

R-Value – Measures resistance to heat flow. The Higher the $-Value, the more insulation the product provides.

Safety Tassel – A tassel attached to blind cords which will separate under pressure to help protect children and pets from injury and reduce the risk of choking. It easily snaps together again.

Slats – Flat pieces of material in a horizontal blind that tilt open and closed; usually aluminum, wood, or vinyl.

Sound Absorption – Measures the amount of reflected sound absorbed by the window treatment. The higher the number, the more sound is absorbed.

Stack or Stacking Space – The amount of space the window treatment occupies when opened to its full extent.

Summer Shading Coefficient – Measures amount of heat passing through a covered window versus a bare window. The lower the number, the less heat is transferred.

Tapes – Strip of fabric adhered to ladders of horizontal blinds that are used as a decorative element.

Tilter – The mechanism of a horizontal blind, which causes the slats to tilt up and down.

Translucent - Term used to describe any product that lets SOME light filter though.

Traverse – To draw across. A vertical blind that opens across a window by means of the hardware on which it’s hung.

Valance – A horizontal structure that is positioned across the top of window coverings, generally to cover the headrail and operating mechanism.

Vertical Blind - A blind with vanes that hang in a vertical orientation and are made of either vinyl, fabric, or fabric inserted into vinyl.

Wall-to-Wall – A term used for designing the window treatment to hang tightly between to walls.

Warp – The undesirable curvature in blind slat and louver material.

Width – The measurement of a wall, window, or blind that designates the distance from the left side to the right side; width measure always comes before length measure when ordering.

Wood Blinds – Horizontal blinds with slats made of wood.

Woven Wood – Fabric made of narrow slats of natural or panted wood, bamboo, or reeds, woven together with jute or yarn.

Yardage – Lengths of material that are measured by the yard.

Zigzag – A fabric pattern featuring a back and forth weave– The undesirable curvature in blind slat and louver material.

Desiging with Interior Lighting

in Home / by kiww

April 25, 2012

Interior Lighting

Lighting affects the ambiance of a room through the effect of the light generated and from the look of the fixtures themselves. There are a variety of bulbs and fixtures that satisfy a wide range of needs and tastes.

There are several criteria for determining the type of lighting you require. Keep in mind that the overall feeling of a room will be affected by the lighting. The level of illuminance is one consideration. The perception of color, objects and shapes in the room, and the sense of the space and dimensions of a room will all be affected by the lighting that is applied.

Ambience is a key consideration and depends on how a room will be used and the color of the room. Ambient lighting requirements are generally satisfied through recessed ceiling fixtures, track lighting, and some wall-mounted fixtures. Darker wall colors absorb light and require higher wattage levels than lighter colors.

The purpose of a room and the tasks that will occur there are also important. Task focused lighting to illuminate a workspace, counter top, or desk may be applied to augment the ambient lighting that already exists. This can be accomplished through applications such as fixtures under cupboards, over stoves, or the use of desk lamps.

Artistic or decorative considerations also come into play when considering light sources. Highlighting artworks or plants or using light itself as an accent through the application of up-lights, wall-washes, or other similar lighting can add significantly to the look and feel of a room.

The types of light bulbs available today include incandescent bulbs, halogen bulbs, and fluorescent varieties. As with most things, you get what you pay for. Within each category is a range of choices that vary by price, quality, and effectiveness. Your needs and pocketbook will determine your choices.

Your choices for fixtures vary greatly. Ask your retailer for catalogs of the designs you are interested in if you don’t see what you want on the showroom…

Hard Wood Flooring Care

in Home, Home Solutions / by kiww

April 25, 2012

Hardwood Flooring Care

Your kathy ireland Home by Shaw Hardwoods™ Floor will add warmth and beauty to your home for many years to come. In fact, kathy ireland Home by Shaw Hardwoods, with its DuraShield XL advanced finish provides superior wear; easy, no-wax care; plus superior resistance to staining from all common household products such as coffee, shoe polish, lipstick, acetone, mustard, and more. A few simple maintenance steps, however, will help protect your investment and keep your Hardwood flooring looking like new.

Use protective mats

Good quality entry and exit mats will help collect the dirt, sand, grit, and other substances such as oil, asphalt, or driveway sealer that can otherwise be tracked onto your flooring. Do not use rubber- or foam-backed plastic mats as they may discolor the flooring. To prevent slippage, use an approved vinyl rug underlayment.

Use floor protectors on furniture

Use floor protectors and wide-load bearing leg bases/rollers to minimize indentations and scratches from heavy objects. As a rule, the heavier the object, the wider the floor protector should be.

Avoid sharp objects

While your kathy ireland Home by Shaw Hardwoods floor is one of the most wear resistant floors on the market, sharp or pointed objects can nevertheless damage it.

Watch your feet

Don’t walk on your flooring with stiletto-style heels, spiked golf shoes or cleats. They may cause indentations in your flooring.

Watch your pet’s feet

Keep your pet’s nails trimmed to keep them from scratching your flooring.

Rearrange your rugs and furniture

Periodically rearranging your area rugs and furniture will allow the flooring to age evenly. UV sunlight will soften the tone of different species of hardwood to varying degrees.

Protect the floor when moving

Use a dolly when moving heavy furniture or appliances. But first, put down a sheet of quarter-inch plywood or Masonite to protect the floor. Never try to slide or roll heavy objects across the floor.

Flooring Solutions

in Home, Home Solutions / by kiww

April 25, 2012

Our rug collections inspired by kathy’s world travels…

By “…finding solutions for families, especially busy moms,”™ Kathy Ireland offers products that are family-friendly, exciting, and unique. Kathy’s designs are inspired by her world travels and embraced by millions of families.

Here’s a recap of the kathy ireland Home by Shaw Living collections:

International First Lady Kathy’s belief that every woman deserves to be the “first lady” in her own home is represented in this group of our finest rugs, offering timeless styling and exquisite detail for traditional, transitional, or contemporary settings. With an array of designs from traditional to casual modern, the collection honors historic grandeur as well as contemporary elegance—all in appealing, on-trend colors. Machine woven of Shaw’s EverTouch® recyclable nylon (see Shaw Green Edge note, below), International First Lady styles are luxuriously soft, exceptionally durable, and easy to clean.

Gallery Whether you’d like dramatic scrollwork with rich chocolate brown accents or a modern damask with contemporary black graphics, the Gallery collection offers designs in traditional, contemporary, and transitional styling. Machine woven of soft, durable olefin, Gallery styles resist soil and stains and are fade resistant. These fashionable yet classic area rugs create the perfect backdrop in today’s rooms.

Essentials A beautiful color palette and dynamic styling have made Essentials one of our top-selling collections. You’ll find traditional designs, organic patterns, damask scrolls, leaf and floral designs, and geometric wavy stripes—all of which express today’s trends toward earthy, natural shades with contrasting dark chocolates and blue grays. Luxurious yet easy to maintain, the rugs are machine woven and constructed of plush, durable, stain-resistant olefin. Ideal for today’s busy families.

Jardin du Jour Award-winning landscape designer Nicholas Walker celebrates outdoor living inside, with the Jardin du Jour collection. Adding to the collection’s uniqueness is the fact that it also incorporates Kathy Ireland’s personal design inspiration, including her own sketches. Styles range from transitional florals and vineyards to an eclectic blend of floral and foliage motifs unified by a central Safari theme.
Ohana Paradise This special collection of rugs celebrates the casual lifestyles of the coast, presenting glorious island-and-sea-inspired colors and designs. Colors include beige, soft golds and greens, oceanic blues, sandy taupes, and warm tones of coral reef and natural driftwood. Designs are inspired by nautical seascapes, beach stripes, tonal shells, sailing graphics, exotic palms, island flowers, and animal prints.

Young Attitudes (Printed Nylon) Trendy, hip, and so much fun, Young Attitudes dazzles with styles suitable for kids of all ages—baby, ‘tween, or teen. Beautiful yet budget-friendly, the collection offers bold and whimsical designs in saturated colors that capture the stylish youth market. Many styles also coordinate with bedding from kathy ireland Home^® by Thank You Baby. Printed on recyclable nylon in the U.S.A. (see Shaw Green Edge note below)

Shaw Green Edge™ Rugs in the kathy ireland Home^® collections International First Lady and Young Attitudes are made with Type 6 nylon (nylon 6), the only fiber capable of being recycled into new carpet and area rug fiber repeatedly. Shaw’s Evergreen Nylon Recycling facility uses patented technology that converts Type 6 nylon fiber from carpet and area rugs and recycles it back to its original material, caprolactam, which is the building block of Type 6 nylon fiber. This “cradle-to-cradle” process allows Shaw’s Type 6 nylon fibers to be recycled over and over again without the loss of any aesthetic or performance properties. This recycling program is limited and may not exist in your area. Please visit Shawfloors.com to locate recycling collection companies throughout the country, or call 1-800-434-9887 for more information.

How the royal wedding influenced the latest bridal trends

in Fashion, Wedding Gowns / by kiww

April 25, 2012

Although the latest Brides American Wedding Study shows the average cost of a wedding in 2010 was $26,501, a decrease of 5 percent from 2009, weddings continue to be big business. But many couples are opting to cut the guest list instead of big ticket items like wedding gowns. In fact, the average wedding gown cost $1,289 in 2010, a 20 percent increase over 2009, according to the study. This is no surprise to the millions who were glued to their television sets this past April during the most talked about wedding since the 1981 royal wedding of Lady Diana to Prince Charles. Many brides are now emulating the elegant lace gown worn by Catherine Middleton, now the Duchess of Cambridge. In addition to beautiful lace, the newest trends in wedding gowns include color, soft sleeves, short hemlines and eco-friendly materials. Whether it is Chantilly, Alencon, duchesse, guipure, or ribbon, lace has become one of the hottest trends this year. “Designers at all price points have debuted collections featuring full frothy skirts, wildflowers and lace used in both traditional and modern ways,” says Kate Campbell, department chair of Fashion & Retail Management at The Art Institute of Tampa, a branch of Miami International University of Art & Design. “This particular trend parallels the more feminine, elegant trends we see in fashion everywhere – including more fitted and ladylike styles reminiscent of Grace Kelly and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy.” While not for everyone, the use of color in wedding gowns has been growing in popularity. Rich and vibrant, or more subdued, color in bridal wear is everywhere. Some brides choose soft pastel colors, such as blush, rose or skin-tone. Others opt to wear vibrant hues of lavender, green and deep pink. Less bold brides are more likely to use hints of accent color on sashes, bows, embroidery, hems, necklines or beading. “The bride who chooses to add color to her dress is fashion forward and confident – it’s not for the faint of heart,” says Amber Chatelain, lead faculty for the Fashion & Retail Management program at The Art Institute of Tennessee – Nashville, a branch of The Art Institute of Atlanta.

Another interesting new trend in bridal wear is short gowns, especially for brides choosing destination and beach weddings. While they may be short in length, these dresses are not short on style. Some offer sophisticated laces, chic feathers or multilayered organza mini-skirts. Soft sleeves are enjoying a comeback. Designers have debuted soft, romantic sleeves, including traditional cap sleeves in florals and tulle, modern silhouettes using vintage elements, sequin fringe and flutter sleeves, and romantic off-the-shoulder versions. “The softness and elegance of the sleeves in bridal wear mirrors today’s general fashion trends, where designers are highlighting the elegance and beauty of the female form in very soft ways,” says Charlene Parsons, who heads the fashion programs at Miami International University of Art & Design. Eco-friendly options have also increased in popularity. “There are now numerous eco-friendly designers whose sole business is to create wedding dresses made with earth-friendly fabrics and materials, using techniques that are in harmony with the earth,” says Crystal Shamblee. Secondhand and vintage wedding dresses are another eco-friendly choice.

Kathy Ireland, who recently added bridal fashions to her product line empire, kathy ireland Worldwide®, which accounts for over $1.5 Billion in sales annually, designed a dress of almost identical elements as one of the first and most successful bridal costumes of this, her first year of her kathy ireland Weddings® by 2be presence in the bridal field. Like the gown which drew the oohs and ahhs of the Westminster Abbey nuptials and TV viewers around the world, the impact Kathy Ireland design is a lace modified A-line gown with tip-of-the-shoulder sheer scalloped neckline over a sweetheart bodice, sheer three-quarter length sleeves, ruched chiffon waistband pinched with hand-beaded motif, chapel length train. Kathy Ireland is partnered in her new venture with Steve Lang and his Mon Cheri Bridal fashion house.

More information can be found at www.kathyirelandweddings.com Royal Cambridge hi resolution images can be down loaded at http://www.kathyireland.com/royalcambridgedressimages.html More Bridal solutions can be found at http://www.kathyireland.com/weddingsolutions.html and at http://www.oasisworldestates.com/#!__bridal-solutions Whatever fashion trends a bride chooses, one that will never go out of style is a gown that fits well, is figure flattering and makes the bride feel like she’s the most beautiful woman in the world on her big day.