Cute, flirty, sexy and fiscally savvy: Affinitas...

Affinitas Intimates Sexy or sweet?  Take your pick with fun, flirty and affordable lingerie, sleep & lounge wear perfect for brides this Spring/Summer.

Producing high quality lingerie at refreshingly accessible prices, the Affinitas Intimates label is comprised of bras, panties, camisoles, babydolls, chemises, and bustiers, each item designed by the Affinitas team to be stylish, comfortable, well-made and most importantly well-fitting.  Currently retailing at specialty, boutique and online stores in the U.S. and Canada, bras retail for $23-$35, panties from $8 – $18, camisoles $25-$58, and babydolls, chemises and bustiers for $25-$45.  The collection utilizes high-quality, soft materials sourced from all over the world to provide maximum comfort, such as cotton, microfiber, satin, French embroidered laces and even technologically advanced seamless materials that are stitch free, seam free and label free. Affinitas offers consumers a wide range of basic, everyday styles as well as special occasion pieces, targeting young, fashionable women aged 20 – 35 years old with an annual income level of $25,000 and up who want stylish, comfortable, high-quality lingerie at prices that won’t break the bank. Affinitas Intimates’ bras and bustiers span a size range of 30-38 A-DD, with all other items sized XS-XL.

Pieces retail from $8 – $58 in numerous boutiques throughout the United States as well as online at HerRoom.com and LaurenSilva.com.  Please visit www.affinitasintimates.com for the full store locator.

Retro regency meets mod in the ultimate urban retreat

Whether your goal is business or romance travel, take a step off the beaten track and sink into the Chamberlain West Hollywood. A self-described metropolitan boutique hotel and residential pied-a-terre, designed by the hipster hotel interiors maven Kelly Wearstler (of Santa Monica’s Viceroy fame), the Chamberlain is about discreet luxuries and hidden pleasures. What’s its got: privacy and peace in the center of the bustling West Hollywood Sunset Strip district, (located a mere two blocks away), spectacular interiors rendered in icy blues, greens and teal, and eclectic mash up where regency meets mod. You can’t put your finger on why it all works, but it’s the hipster crib you wish you had with the coolest most covetable light fixtures. What its not: see and be seen, loud house music and a big agent/model/celeb scene replete with the 5’ heels and bikinis, poolside. By the way, there are probably celebrities here, but they are just hiding!

My favorite part: the quiet and blessedly scene-free rooftop pool, with enclosed cabanas for a tete-a- tete, a glass of wine under the stars, a view of the cityscape of Hollywood, or a chaise-bound afternoon with a stack of movie magazines and iced tea.

The rooms are the definition of comfort, again, I will stress the quietness of the place, with 400-thread count sheets, an entertaining lounge area, and muted tones that are easy on the eye. The price is right too, with a Chamberlain Fall Special designed especially for you: there is no reason not to enjoy luxe for less than at the Chamberlain!

35% off standard room rates – along with a complimentary bottle of Prosecco on arrival to toast the Fall with your sweetie by one of Chamberlain’s in-room fireplaces. Guests must enter the promo code “DESTIN” to receive this special deal.

Right off the lobby in a green house type setting that reminds me of an enclosed garden in New Orleans or Paris, where the noise of the City of Angels fades to a distant memory, and banana fronds wave gently in the early evening breeze, we begin our culinary adventure with Chef Mark Pierce and his charming Chamberlain’s American bar and bistro. His point of view is French-influenced and farm to fork, with a dash of Americana, taking classics and reinterpreting them with zesty new point of view. “It’s all about quality and flavor,” says Pierce on his use of sustainable cooking. “I love color and vibrant fresh herbs, fruits and vegetables make a dish modern and flavorful.”

To travel is to unearth rare gems, hidden treasures and true luxury (for less). For a honeymoon, an intimate “pop the question” or rehearsal dinner, or a hot date, if sublime is what you seek, all roads lead to the Chamberlain.

Chamberlain Fall Special

Book by 10/31

Valid 11/01 – 1/31

Black out date 12/31

Promo Code: DESTIN

Palace gives you possibilities towards paradise.

Take advantage of some seriously low priced airfare and accommodations for your destination wedding or honeymoon!

Right now, Palace Resorts is offering several incentives for you to book your destination wedding or honeymoon celebration early and plan ahead. Below are some of the offers in place:

•    An air credit promotion worth up to $400 per room for guests traveling to any Palace Resort from January 1, 2010 – April 10, 2010. You must book your stay by January 31, 2010 to qualify.
•    If you book from now through October 31, 2009, you get an additional booking bonus for planning ahead. $25 off per person per night!
•    If you and your guests stay three nights or more you can also take advantage of: Unlimited Golf (offers golfers the opportunity to experience all Palace Resorts golf courses as many times as they want including green fees, beverages, snacks and shared golf carts for golfers that book now through Dec. 23,2010 for travel from Dec. 24, 2009-Dec. 23, 2010.) The $300 Golf & Spa Credit (includes a $150 credit towards championship golf at Palace Resorts golf courses and a $150 credit at Palace Resorts dreamlike spas when booked now through Dec. 16, 2009 for travel between now through Dec 23, 2009.)
•    The Palace Passport is valued at up to $1000 per stay and in some cases can be combined with other offers. Take advantage of select off-site tours plus spa and golf discounts and buy one get one free ATV tours and Swim with the Dolphins for guests who book now through Dec. 23, 2009. Also included: Free Sport Fishing (only at Isla Mujeres Palace when booked now through Dec. 18, 2009 for travel now through Dec. 23, 2009) and Free Scuba Diving (only at Cozumel Palace when booked now through Dec. 11, 2009 for travel now through Dec. 14, 2009.)

Book early and enjoy all kinds of deals and promotions through Palace Resorts. Stay tuned for more specials each week and remember to follow us for “Travel Tuesdays” on twitter!

Each morning, my In Box is filled with travel offers of every variety, but there is only one guy I really trust, he’s not for sale, and is as incorruptible as the day is long: enter, The Cranky Flier.

To quote The Observer: “There’s nowhere for airlines to hide these days,” and aptly named The Cranky Flier to be one of the world’s “50 most powerful blogs.” The information is scrupulously researched and documented, and you can tell this man, Brett Snyder, aka “Cranky” is a true believer in the magic of flight (in a Ralph Nader sort of way), but also casts a cold eye on what he believes could be improved because he loves so much. Case in point: he asked his grandmother to take him to an airport hotel to watch the planes land for his 12th birthday. His resume is packed with a variety of airline jobs and which gives him the insider knowledge about what really happens when the cabin door closes. From spiraling baggage handling costs, lost luggage, insurance issues, planes that should retire, and who’s got the very best deals, Brett’s got your back.

He’s also a writer’s writer, penning short, pithy, missives with a droll, detached style, and dash of curmudgeon. He’s credible, he leads by example, and expects others to do the same. The Cranky Flyer is indeed, the tail wagging the dog in the airline industry and should be your co-pilot on every trip you take moving forward. Especially the trip that matters most: your honeymoon!

Learn More About Cranky

Excerpted from www.crankyflier.com:

My name is Brett, and I’m an airline dork. I’ve had the bug since I was young. As a kid, I never missed a chance to go to LAX and pick up airline timetables. My grandmother even took me to an airport hotel for my birthday one year so I could watch the planes land. By the age of 12, I had become a travel agent. Soon after I was volunteering at Traveler’s Aid. Since that time, I’ve worked in several places in the industry. In the interest of full disclosure, here is everything I’ve done in an official capacity:

USAir Sales Intern (1996-1997)
America West Sales Intern (1997-1999)
United Dulles Operations Intern (1999)
America West Pricing Analyst/Sr Analyst/Manager (1999-2002)
Eos Intern (2003)
United Marketing Planning Product Manager (2004-2005)
PriceGrabber.com Business Director of Travel (2005-2007)

Complimentary for the bride and groom when a wedding group of 10 rooms minimum are booked for three nights or 15 rooms for two nights, the package offers $4,500 in savings.

The “Take the Cake” package includes:

• an ocean-view casita with private pool on their wedding night
• two 50-minute Aromatic Massages
• a chilled bottle of champagne
• a romantic gift basket
• daily in-suite breakfast discreetly delivered via a private alcove
• a one year anniversary certificate for a complimentary three night stay
• tuxedo and wedding dress pressing
• bridal bouquet and groom’s boutonniere
• mani-pedi for the bride
• signature welcome drink”Take the Cake” package.

In addition, a professional wedding coordinator will arrange everything from the wedding location to the photography and minister. Special room rates starting at $295 are available for groups. For more information on the Marquis Los Cabos Resort, click here, or call 877.238.9399.