Tag: Lifestyle

Amazon /

It’s Time! Here’s A Sneak Peek at Amazon’s Cyber Monday Deals

Amazon today released a selection of deals that customers can take advantage of throughout Cyber Monday Deals Week. Starting tomorrow, November 24 through December 1, customers can find deep discounts across a wide selection of the season’s hottest products across every department, from Amazon Devices to toys, electronics, fashion, beauty and more. All of Amazon’s Cyber Monday deals can be found by visiting amazon.com/cybermonday as well as on the Amazon App. Customers can also shop Cyber Monday deals in Spanish by visiting the Cyber Monday Deals Store via amazon.com/espanol or on the Amazon App. Amazon offers the largest free shipping selection in the country with hundreds of millions of items shipping for free in time for the holidays.

CYBER MONDAY DEALS: GREAT DEALS AND TOP PRODUCTS

With new deals launching daily, customers can set Watch a Deal alerts using the Amazon App (to download, visit amazon.com/mobileapps from mobile browser), and never miss out on a deal. Simply click Watch this Deal on any item and the customer will then get a notification when that deal is about to go live. Plus, Prime members can enjoy 30-minute early access to Lightning Deals. The deals included below will be available on various dates and times between November 24 and December 1, while supplies last, at amazon.com/cybermonday or on the Amazon App.

Amazon Devices

 Electronics

  • Save on select monitors and modern laptops
  • Save on NETGEAR networking essentials
  • Save on Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series II) Wireless Headphones, Noise Cancelling, with Alexa Voice Control
  • Save on Bose SoundLink Micro Bluetooth speaker
  • Save on Sonos Beam and Sonos Sub
  • Save more than 40% on Prismacolor, Paper Mate, Sharpie and Mr. Sketch coloring supplies
  • Save on a Samsung unlocked phone
  • Save on Arlo Security Cameras
  • Polaroid 43-Inch 4K Smart TV, only $129.99
  • Polaroid 55-Inch 4K Smart TV, only $199.99
  • More than 15% off select Samsung QLED 2018 TVs
  • More than 15% off select Samsung NU8 Series 2018 TVs
  • Save up to 15% on LG Electronics 2018 Smart 4K TVs
  • Sony’s XBR55X900F Amazon’s Choice High Performance TV (2018 Model), only $1,098.00

Toys

  • Save up to 50% on select toys from NERF, Hasbro Gaming, Play-Doh and more
  • Save up to 30% on select LEGO
  • Save up to 30% on learning toys from Learning Resources
  • Save 10% on Melissa & Doug customized toys
  • Save on STEM and Learning toy favorites
  • Save on Monopoly, Transformers, and more toys from classic brands
  • Save on Trolls DreamWorks Poppy Large Hug ‘N Plush Doll and more stuffed animals
  • Save on Littlest Pet Shop Chic Charms and more
  • Save on Marvel Titan Hero Series Mega Collection Action Figures and more movie toys
  • Save up to 30% on select Tegu Magnetic Wooden Blocks

Fashion

  • Save up to 50% on kids and baby apparel from Amazon brands, including Amazon Essentials, Moon and Back, and more, now starting under $15
  • Save up to 50% on select Lands’ End Clothing
  • Live in the moment with up to 50% off select activewear from Champion, New Balance, Puma and more. Capture your experience with HD photos and videos from your perspective with Spectacles
  • Stay Warm this Winter with Columbia – Save up to 30% on select Columbia Outerwear & Accessories
  • Save up to 40% off select Jewelry
  • Save up to 40% off select Men’s Styles, including outerwear, sunglasses and footwear
  • Stay cozy all season with up to 40% off select sleepwear, slippers and robes
  • Save up to 50% off select Crocs Shoes
  • Save 30% on Vincero Men’s and Women’s Watches

Home Furnishings

  • Save up to 30% on furniture, lighting and décor from Amazon brands, including Rivet and Stone & Beam
  • Save up to 25% on AmazonBasics products, such as kitchenware and electronics
  • Save up to 20% on Nod by Tuft & Needle mattress
  • Save up to 40% on Keter’s Outdoor Living, Gardening & Outdoor Furniture selection
  • Save up to 40% on Bounty Hunter Metal Detector
  • Save up to 38% on BakerStone Pizza Box, Gas Stove Top Oven (Stainless Steel)
  • Save up to 35% on select mattresses, furniture and area rugs

Household Essentials

  • Save up to 30% on snacks, nuts and trail mix from Amazon brand Happy Belly
  • Save up to 30% on top selling Sports Nutrition
  • Save up to 25% on Grocery top sellers
  • Save up to 30% on select baby monitors
  • Save 30% or more on luxury beauty deals, including items by Clarisonic, FOREO, and Babyliss
  • Save 30% on Beauty & Personal Care Products
  • Save 50% on AncestryDNA Genetic Testing Kit. Only $49

Smart Home

  • Save up to 50% on the Hive Heating and Cooling Smart Thermostat Pack
  • Save up to 50% on Ecobee Sensors
  • Save up to 35% off select Sengled Smart Lighting

Gaming

  • Save $20 on a Oculus Go
  • Save $50 on a Oculus Rift
  • Save $200 on a HTC Vive Pro
  • Save $100 on a HTC Vive Headset
  • Save 50% on a Shadow of the Tomb Raider
  • Save 50% on Lego DC Supervillains
  • Save $30 on a Dragonball FighterZ

Audible, Music, & Books

  • Save $40 on an Echo (2nd Gen) when you sign up for a discounted Audible membership at $6.95 a month for the first 3 months (53% off)
  • Save 20% on the Audible Romance Package for the first 3 months
  • Save up to 80% during the biggest Kindle books deal of the year! Choose from over 400 Kindle best-selling books, including Girl, Wash Your Face, a #1 Amazon Charts and New York Times bestseller
  • Customers who purchase Amazon Echo, Fire TV devices, and CDs and Vinyl who haven’t yet tried Amazon Music Unlimited, can get 90 days free of the Individual Plan. Renews automatically, plans starting at $7.99/month after. Listeners in US can get unlimited access to more than 50 million songs, ad free, with hands-free listening with Alexa on their favorite devices.

Pets

  • Save up to 30% on Coolaroo The Original Elevated Pet Bed Large and more
  • Save on ABO Gear Aussie Naturals Happy Habitat Portable Cat Tent and more
  • Save on Pet ‘n Shape All Natural Dog Chewz Beef Bone Treat for Medium Sized Dogs, 4 Count and more

Sports & Outdoors

  • Save up to 30% on JanSport
  • Save 30% on Marmot
  • Save up to 20% on High Sierra
  • Save up to 25% on all Assault Fitness cardio equipment
  • Save up to 20% on the FITBENCH Flex
  • More than 22% off Life Fitness IC1 exercise bike
  • Save up to 30% on water bottles and hydration packs from CamelBak
  • Save 20% on Thule
  • Save 30% on outerwear from Columbia

Automotive

  • Save 30% on NOCO Car Battery Jump Starters
  • Save 30% on Trico Force Beam Wiper Blades

Small and Medium-sized Businesses on Amazon Handmade, Amazon Exclusives and Amazon Launchpad

  • Save 20% on Karolina Laura jewelry and accessories
  • Save up to 40% on Lorenzen Candle Co products
  • Save 20% on The Paper Medley Holiday Gift Tags
  • Save up to 30% on select Nixplay Digital Photo Frames
  • Save up to 30% on select Cocoon Cam baby monitors
  • Save up to 30% on Cubii Pro Under Desk Ellipticals
  • Save up to 38% on Rocketbook Erasable, Reusable Wirebound Notebook
  • Save up to 38% on Ninety7 SKY TOTE Portable Battery Base for Amazon Echo (2nd Generation)
  • Save up to 38% on LectroFan Micro Wireless Sleep Sound Machine and Bluetooth Speaker
  • Save up to 38% on GrowlerWerks uKeg 128 Ounce Pressurized Growler for Craft Beer
  • Save Up to 20% off windshield sunshades by Kinderfluff

IMDbPro Annual Membership Special Offer: Exclusively for Amazon Prime Members, beginning Nov. 26 for a limited time, save $50 on a new annual membership to IMDbPro, the essential resource for the entertainment industry. IMDbPro offers members comprehensive information and tools designed to help entertainment professionals achieve success throughout all stages of their career, including the IMDbPro app for iPhone and Android. Go to www.imdbpro.com to learn more.

Business to Business: Customers shopping for work can save big on items for their business right now. This holiday season, as an Amazon Business customer, business deals provide great end-of-year savings opportunities. From items for the office, including electronic devices, to new luggage for business travelers, Amazon Business offers deals for businesses across industries, of all sizes.

  • Save 15% on Rubbermaid Commercial Oven Thermometer
  • Save 30% on top-rated 3D printers from Dremel
  • Save up to 50% off select children’s books  (for educators)
  • Save 20% on ViewSonic M1 Portable Projector with Dual Harman Kardon Speakers and Built-in Battery
  • Save over 30% on DYMO labelers and labeling supplies
  • Save up to 35% on Pentel and BIC writing tools
  • Save up to 70% on Samsonite 2-Piece Luggage Sets
  • Save on SanDisk 200GB micro SD card

BUY GIFTS FOR EVERYONE ON YOUR LIST, INCLUDING YOURSELF

According to a recent survey commissioned by Amazon and conducted online by The Harris Poll, nearly 9 in 10 Americans (86%) experience stress during the holiday season, with one of the primary stressors among those individuals being what gifts to buy for people on their lists (58%). Amazon’s Cyber Monday Deals Week offers deals across curated Holiday Gift Guides making it easier than ever for customers to find the perfect items to give their friends, family, colleagues or themselves this holiday season. The recent Amazon/Harris Poll survey also found that Cyber Monday is a shopping holiday when many customers treat themselves, with 59% of Cyber Monday shoppers purchasing Cyber Monday deals for themselves.

MORE WAYS TO SHOP DEALS THIS HOLIDAY

Let Prime Wardrobe Get You Primed for the Holidays! A convenient, time-saving and fun way to shop stress-free for all of your holiday wearing occasions, Prime Wardrobe lets shoppers fill their Prime Wardrobe cart with eligible styles – from clothes to shoes to accessories – try them on at home and take up to seven days to decide what to keep. Customers will only be charged for the items they keep, and can easily return items that don’t work for free.

Twitch Stream: Amazon and hosts, Kinda Funny Games, will share all of the best holiday deals, tech toys, and offers for Gamers via the Games channel on Twitch live throughout Cyber Monday (Nov. 26) from 1pm – 4pm PT. In addition, customers can watch out for exclusive surprise announcements, trailers, and more. To tune in visit: twitch.tv/amazongames

Treasure Truck: Discover great gifts you never thought of on Treasure Truck. Opt-in at amazon.com/TreasureTruck to receive notifications for same-day offers – order the item and pick up at the truck the same day. Each time the truck rolls, you will find a can’t-miss gift or delicious seasonal food item. Today, gift givers who act fast will find the Kano Harry Potter Coding Kit, as featured on Amazon’s Top 100 Toys list, on the truck in select cities, while supplies last.

Shop in Store: With more than 100 Amazon store locations—including Amazon 4-star, Amazon Books, and Amazon Pop-Up—in 22 states nationwide, customers can shop Cyber Monday deals as well as highly-rated gifts, devices, and smart home accessories in-store this holiday season. Find the Amazon store nearest you.

AmazonSmile: Customers can support their favorite charity while they shop this holiday season. Customers who start their shopping at smile.amazon.com will find the same Amazon they know and love, with the bonus that AmazonSmile will donate a portion of the purchase price of eligible items to the charity they choose.

 Shipping and Delivery: All Amazon customers in the U.S. can shop hundreds of millions of items with free shipping, including products across the wide assortment of Cyber Monday deals, and for a limited time with no minimum purchase amount on orders delivered through the holiday season. Items ordered with free shipping typically ship within 5-8 business days. The majority of Prime members in the U.S. have access to one-day or faster shipping across millions of items, in addition to Free Two-Day Shipping on more than 100 million items, reserved exclusively to all Prime members. Prime members can also shop groceries from Whole Foods Market, through Prime Now in as little as an hour, in more than 60 cities, and grocery pickup in as little as thirty minutes in select cities. Additionally, Prime members can use Prime Now to get ultrafast delivery on tens of thousands of items across dozens of categories, including some of the best deals from Amazon.com, in 30 major cities.

 

Home Decor /

FIVE DECORATING TIPS FOR A CLEAN FRESH MODERN HOLIDAY SEASON

Laura Muller, the Principal Designer, and Owner of Los Angeles-based design firm, Four Point Design Build, has five easy and effective tips for decorating a perfect holiday home worthy of your in-law’s expectations. Check out these inspirational photos ALL from Laura’s personal home!

☆ Tip 1 ☆

That’s a Wrap!

For a fresh and cozy style, add a single pine cone or cedar stem to your gift wrapping. Tie packages with raw linen strips, cotton ribbon, or twine. To give a cohesive look to your whole décor, coordinate the gift wrapping details to your tablescape!

☆ Tip 2 ☆

Deck the Decor Make sure to keep your holiday color scheme clear and consistent throughout your décor. For a clean, fresh, modern look, we use white candles in clear glass. For visual interest (and for the collectors at heart), we suggest all clear glass, but mix it up in size and shape! Use assorted greens for dynamic contrast. Keep greens fresh and in the same proportion for a full and elegant display.

☆ Tip 3 ☆

Let There Be Light Place a table or desk next to a bright window and group three to five mini pine trees with gifts. Display with a collection of assorted white candles in clear glass, and stacks of holiday books for inspiration.

☆ Tip 4 ☆

Add an Easy But Noticeable Accent! Adding simple fresh stems of pine can give your kitchen countertops a cozy wintery feeling! Lace fresh stems in between canisters for a fresh touch of the holiday and fresh mini Christmas trees look perfect in white ceramic utensil crocks!

☆ Tip 5 ☆

Tabletop Trinkets When thinking about your everyday holiday table settings, start with some basic year-round pieces. A large natural grain rustic charger will ground your entire décor theme. For a clean fresh modern farmhouse style, layer with simple white pantry pieces. Once you have the basics, all you need to change from theme to theme is the napkin details!

FOUR POINT DESIGN BUILD INC. is an award-winning, full-service residential and commercial interior design and construction firm based in  Los  Angeles,  CA serving clients nationwide. Established in 2010, and led by the husband-wife team and Co-founders, Cliff and Laura Muller, Four Point Design Build was the result of a chance in-class meeting at UCLA, followed by nearly a decade of successful collaboration and noteworthy published design-build projects, and finally, a beautiful romance. It is Four Point’s commitment to cultivating, building, and leading a  strong project team of experts; working closely with all project team members during every phase of project development and execution. Laura has been voted into the Top 15 of Designhounds Top 100 Design Influencers for 2017 and 2018 and has the distinct honor of being one of four top interior designers selected to the prestigious DXV Design Panel (2018 – 2020).

Celebrity /

MICHELLE OBAMA GRACES ESSENCE MAGAZINE DECEMBER/JANUARY COVER

Michelle Obama: Having Her Say

When “Forever First Lady” Michelle Obama opened up to ESSENCE for its upcoming December/January cover story…she definitely went there! After keeping a relatively low profile since leaving the White House, the Becoming author is stepping back into the spotlight to share her extraordinary journey. Looking stunning in a natural hairstyle for the first time, she talks to ESSENCE about her days in the White House, how to find your own Barack—and what’s next for her. *Key quotes are below. ESSENCE’s upcoming December/January issue hits newsstands on 11/23. For more on “Having Her Say,” visit ESSENCE.com. (Photo, Miller Mobley)

QUOTES:

  • ON HOW TO FIND YOUR OWN BARACK: “I think a lot of people don’t have a clear idea of what they should look for in a mate—and for a long time, I didn’t either…What drew me to Barack was that when I met him, he was already a fully formed individual. From our very first conversations, he showed me that he wasn’t afraid to express his fears and doubts, or that he might not have all the answers. He could handle someone with her own passions and goals, someone who had ideas of her own. He relished it, in fact. I liked that…”

  • ON HER HAPPIEST DAYS IN THE WHITE HOUSE: “Any day that I got to spend time with children was a good day. Sometimes if I was need of a pick-me-up, my staff would schedule an event with young people to give me a boost. Kids give me energy. They get me out of my own head and remind me about the things that are most important…”

  • HER ADVICE TO WOMEN ON BALANCING IT ALL: “When I was raising young children, I learned to lean on a group of my friends in Chicago, women who, like me, had jobs and partners and children who kept them moving every minute. We’d help one another in very concrete ways, like picking up each other’s kids for dance lessons or a birthday party or anything else that came up…Of course, we leaned on our husbands as well…But for me, there was something special—something vital, even—about sharing this experience with other women who were going through the same kinds of stresses and challenges that I was…”

  • ON WHAT’S NEXT FOR HER: “Since we left the White House, I’ve spent most of my time focusing on finishing this book. The book tour will keep me busy for a while, and then I’ll take some time to evaluate what’s next. I’m in no hurry. What I know is that public service is in my DNA, so I’m planning to find ways to keep being useful…I see myself always staying involved in efforts like that…”
Birmingham /

100 THINGS TO DO IN BIRMINGHAM BEFORE YOU DIE GUIDEBOOK OFFERS A VARIETY OF ENTERTAINING FALL ACTIVITIES

Do you live in Birmingham and are looking for new ways to enjoy your town? Or perhaps you or someone you know is planning a trip to The Magic City? Look no further than 100 Things to Do in Birmingham Before You Die, a guidebook that locals and tourists alike find invaluable!

Below are some suggested fall activities straight from the book itself:

 

  • A rainy summer means a beautiful fall. Explore the colors of the season at Ruffner Mountain, Red Mountain, and the beautiful new Vulcan Kwanis Trail.
  • It’s time for Alabama’s most agreed on religion—football. With football comes barbeque! 100 Things to Do in Birmingham Before You Die reveals a local secret. From the Michelin Star to the Texaco Star, this cook came home after 21 years in the restaurant industry in Paris and London and he is smoking meat in the back of his gas station. Some of the best BBQ you’ll ever eat!
  • Do you know that Birmingham invented the Veteran’s Day Parade? It all started here. A group from Birmingham met with President Dwight Eisenhower in 1954 to make it a national holiday. Join in the oldest and one of the largest salutes to the men and women who have served our country.
Amazon /

Amazon Expands Free Shipping to Everyone for the Holiday Season

This holiday season Amazon is giving customers even more convenient and faster delivery options. Starting today, November 5, and for a limited time, all Amazon customers can enjoy free shipping with no minimum purchase amount on orders that will arrive in time for the Christmas holiday. This offer applies to hundreds of millions of items – the largest free shipping selection in the country. Plus, tens of millions of Prime members can shop with FREE Same-Day Delivery, now available on more than three million items – the largest same-day selection in the U.S. including the best gifts like toys and electronics, as well as home, fashion and everything you need to enjoy the holidays. Additionally, Prime members in more than 60 cities can receive delivery in as little as an hour from Whole Foods Market through Prime Now, making holiday feast planning even easier. This is, of course, on top of the unlimited FREE Two-Day Shipping that Prime members enjoy every day on more than 100 million items. Learn more or start a Prime free trial to get the best of shopping and entertainment from Amazon at amazon.com/prime.

“This holiday, customers can enjoy free shipping with no minimum purchase amount on orders that will arrive in time for Christmas, including items from Amazon’s expertly curated Gift Guides across electronics, fashion, home, and toys,” said Doug Herrington, Senior Vice President of North American Retail at Amazon. “With hundreds of millions of items available for free shipping to all Amazon customers and more than three million items available with Prime FREE Same-Day Delivery, customers can enjoy the largest selection of items that are fast and free.”

Doorstep delivery and convenient pick up:

  • Free Shipping This Holiday: All Amazon customers can shop hundreds of millions of items including every product category with free shipping, and now for a limited time, there is no minimum purchase amount on orders delivered through the holiday season.
  • Delivery as Fast as Today: Tens of millions of Prime members can shop with FREE Same-Day Delivery on more than three million items. Place an order in the morning and receive eligible same-day orders before bedtime that very same day, seven days a week – even Sunday.
  • Two-Day Shipping on 100 Million Items: Free Two-Day Shipping is available to all Prime members in the U.S. on more than 100 million items with no minimum purchase amount all year.
  • One Hour Grocery Delivery + Pickup: Prime members can shop groceries from Whole Foods Market through Prime Now in as little as an hour in 60 cities, and grocery pickup in as little as thirty minutes in select cities – making holiday feast planning or last-minute baking even easier. And even beyond groceries, Prime members can use Prime Now to get one- and two-hour delivery on tens of thousands of items across dozens of categories in 30 major cities, perfect for last-minute parties, gifts or travel.

Every Day Made Better with Prime

Prime was designed to make your life better every single day. Over 100 million paid members around the world enjoy the many benefits of Prime, including the best of shopping and entertainment from Amazon. In the U.S. that includes unlimited access to award-winning movies and TV episodes with Prime Video; unlimited access to Prime Music, Prime Reading, Amazon Photos, Twitch Prime; early access to select Lightning Deals, one free pre-released book a month with Amazon First Reads, and more. Prime members can also get deep discounts on select popular products at Whole Foods Market plus an additional 10 percent off hundreds of sale items. Prime was built on the foundation of unlimited fast, free shipping, and members receive Prime FREE One-Day Shipping and Prime FREE Same-Day Delivery in more than 8,000 cities and towns, two-hour delivery with Prime Now in more than 30 major cities and unlimited Free Two-Day Shipping on more than 100 million items. Start a free trial of Amazon Prime at amazon.com/prime.

About Amazon

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.

Birmingham /

The Matte Collection: New Cafe Brand-Customizable Kitchen

Last week I was invited to attend a media brunch and view The Matte Collection, fully customizable kitchen.

The brand has incorporated innovative technology and style into the design of kitchen staples. After speaking with the company representative, she stated that the new wall ovens can cook a whole chicken in 15 minutes!

 

The Cafe Distinct By Design kitchen offers an array of metal knobs and handles in brushed bronze, brushed stainless, brushed copper and brushed black.  Cafe is the first appliance brand that allows you to switch out the hardware on your kitchen appliances, bringing an unprecedented level of luxury and personalization to an affordable price.

The ability to change out hardware is fascinating!  What fashion-conscious women wouldn’t like the option to personalize her kitchen?  Another aspect about the collection is that the stainless steel finish is smudge-proof.  That particular feature makes an aesthetic difference, especially if you have little hands in your home.

To learn more about The Matte Collection, click here.

Accessories /

Amazon’s Holiday Kick-Off: New Ways Amazon is #DeliveringSmiles

Today, Amazon officially kicked off the holiday season with the opening of its Black Friday Deals Store (amazon.com/blackfriday), as well as announcing new, convenient ways for customers to shop as well as new, exclusive entertainment for the season.

Amazon’s curated shopping guides take the guesswork out of gifting and help customers delight their loved ones, plus treat themselves this holiday season. With low prices and best-ever deals, innovative ways to shop a vast selection, and convenient doorstep delivery with free shipping for ALL shoppers on more than 100 million items, Amazon has you covered this holiday season.

New this year for Amazon customers:

  • Take the guesswork out of gifting: Customers can shop four gift guides, including our most comprehensive Amazon Fashion Gift Guide ever, as well as the new “A Holiday of Play” lookbook available on Kindle or online, providing top Holiday Toy List picks for kids of all ages.
  • Enjoy a movie break with a holiday classic: Exclusive access to It’s a Wonderful Life on Prime Video – the first time in the film’s 72-year history that it is included in a subscription streaming service!
  • Delivery as fast as today: Tens of millions of Prime members in the U.S. can choose from more than three million items available to ship with Prime FREE Same-Day Delivery – the largest same-day selection in the U.S. Additionally, two-hour delivery from local Whole Foods Market stores is now available in more than 60 cities making holiday feast planning even easier.
  • Ask Alexa: Customers now have access to Butterball Turkey Talk-Linevia Alexa. Simply ask “Alexa, open Butterball” to tap into decades of experience on how to cook the perfect turkey from Butterball Turkey Talk-Line experts.
  • Deck the halls: Real Christmas tree delivery on trees ranging from the 10 to 14-inch Charlie Brown Christmas Tree (available now) to the six to seven-foot Fraser Firs, Balsam Firs, Black Hills Spruces. All trees over $25 come with Free Shipping.
  • Shop in store: Now open in the SoHo neighborhood of NYC and at Park Meadows in Lone Tree, Colo, Amazon 4-star features products rated 4 stars and above, are top sellers, or are new and trending on Amazon.com. Customers can also visit one of the more than 100 Amazon store locations in 22 states where you can shop for highly-rated gifts, devices, and smart home accessories. Find the Amazon store nearest you.
Celebrity /

ESSENCE ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF NEW INITIATIVE TO INSPIRE FUTURE BLACK WOMEN LEADERS: “ESSENCE GIRLS UNITED”

ESSENCE, the leading media, technology, and commerce company serving Black women, debuts ESSENCE Girls United. This impactful new initiative is designed to inspire young Black women through a year-long mentorship program, as well as an interactive digital/social content hub that will convey the core principles of leadership and self-love.

ESSENCE Girls United demonstrates the iconic brand’s mission to serve its multigenerational audience globally as a 100% Black-owned company across its platforms through content, culture, and community—especially the millennials who comprise of 26% of its core. With its focus on mentoring young girls, this multi-platform program will feature year-round video, digital and social content that will focus on core pillars, including: “Owning Your Power,” “Presenting with Confidence,” “Developing Brand You,” “Finding Your Voice,” “Making a Difference In Your Community,” “Life Skills 101,” and “Self-Love.” The initiative will also feature workshops and conversations with thought leaders, a social network directory for girls to interact with each other, a mentorship program, a leadership development “toolkit,” events such as the upcoming ESSENCE Girls United Summit and much more.

“ESSENCE Girls United will allow us to even further demonstrate the brand’s commitment to inspire Black women by engaging this vital audience,” said Moana Luu, ESSENCE Chief Content and Chief Creative Officer. “With year-round content across all of our digital and social platforms, ESSENCE will be a great resource for our girls in the areas of leadership, confidence, and self-love.”

As part of the initiative, ESSENCE and Ulta Beauty will join forces to co-produce ESSENCE Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities. This exciting six-part web series will use digital and social content to create a deeper connection with young Black women. The web series will include a search to discover six young women who will then embark on a journey to discover their personal potential and elevate their entrepreneurial spirit all within the beauty industry. Each young woman will have a chance to participate in an opportunity of a lifetime, including helping to create a limited-time collection for Ulta Beauty; mentorship by ESSENCE and Ulta Beauty brand leaders and more. ESSENCE Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities is open nationally to girls ages 16-19.

For more on ESSENCE, Girls United visit ESSENCE.com/GirlsUnited, pick up the November issue of ESSENCE or join the conversation on social @Essence #ESSENCEGirlsUnited.

Beauty /

2018 ESSENCE FESTIVAL® PRESENTED BY COCA-COLA ANNOUNCES RECORD-BREAKING $280 MILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT

Essence Communications, the leading media, technology, and commerce company serving Black women announced a record-breaking economic impact of $280 million for its 2018 ESSENCE Festival® presented by Coca-Cola.  Growth in Festival attendance, which reached more than 510,000, and a boost in tourism spending within the host City and State of New Orleans, Louisiana, garnered the highest fiscal input in the event’s 24-year history.  Nearing 130,000 attendees per day, the ESSENCE Festival is now also the nation’s largest entertainment and cultural event based on average daily attendance, leading events including Coachella, SXSW, New Orleans Jazz and Made in America festivals.

“As one of the world’s largest annual curated content experiences attracting an international audience of more than a half million people over the course of one weekend, the essence Festival packs a proven and powerful economic punch–and continues to reach new heights in collaboration with the State of Louisiana and City of New Orleans,” said Michelle Ebanks, CEO of Essence Communications. “Working together with our government and enterprise partners, we are pleased to report the highest-ever contribution to the growth and profitability of local businesses and services that help to create an unforgettable experience for our Festival community.”

With the 2018 summer Festival season wrapped, the 4-day Essence Festival has emerged as the leader in size and economic significance among the country’s largest live events and a top destination for tourism during Fourth of July weekend. Through attendee surveys and analysis based on event production, lodging, food & beverage, retail, gaming and transportation spend, the annual economic figure represents a substantial benefit to Louisiana and New Orleans seasonal tourism and shines a spotlight that furthers the legacy of one the nation’s most culturally rich and diverse destinations.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 06: (L-R) Angela Rye, Mary J. Blige, Maxine Waters, Alencia Johnson, Queen Latifah and Remy Ma pose onstage during the 2018 Essence Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 6, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Essence)

“This year’s Essence Festival was a great success in terms of attendance and national exposure for New Orleans and Louisiana.  I believe many of the Essence Festival attendees will be returning to our state for years to come,” said Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser.

“On behalf of the City of New Orleans, I am grateful for our continued partnership with the ESSENCE Festival and proud of the impact that’s been made,” said New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “This year’s Fest generated tremendous economic activity for the City — money that went to our large and small businesses and to the working men and women who make them run. We look forward to another historic year in 2019.”

In addition to the attendance and economic impact, the scale of talent, programming and digital engagement at the ESSENCE Festival is unmatched.  A 2018 Essence Festival by-the-numbers analysis reveals further record-breaking engagement including 100+ performing artists; 200+ influencers, leaders, creators and celebrities; 150+ Marketplace entrepreneurs; and 200+ hours of live content throughout the weekend that generated 5 billion+ media and PR impressions and reached trending status on social media, featuring 103+ million posts, shares and likes and resulting in 14+ billion social media impressions.

“On the eve of the ESSENCE Festival’s 25th anniversary, scheduled for July 4-7, 2019, this summer’s extraordinary gathering underscores the convening power of culture, as well as the continued interest and engagement of Black women globally around community and content that empowers and inspires,” said Ebanks. “We were thrilled this year to be able to introduce new entrepreneurial and business experiences such as our ESSENCE E-Suites and our ESSENCE Marche e-commerce platform. But there’s so much more. As an almost five-decade-old startup, we are excited to move forward not only as a reimagined media and content company but also as a technology and commerce company using 21st-century platforms to provide even more effective solutions to our community of women. We are continually evolving to shape our work to meet their needs with increasing depth and relevance, and this is just the beginning.”

The 2018 ESSENCE Festival was executive produced by Essence Festivals LLC, a division of Essence Communications Inc. (ECI), and produced by Solomon Group. GeChar was the executive producer of the 2018 ESSENCE Empowerment Experience.

Sponsors of the 2018 ESSENCE Festival included presenting sponsor Coca-Cola and major sponsors AT&T, Ford, McDonald’s, State Farm and Walmart.

About Essence Communications Inc.
Essence Communications is the number one media, technology and commerce company dedicated to Black women and inspires a global audience of more than 17 million through diverse storytelling and immersive original content.  With a multi-platform presence in publishing, experiential and online, ESSENCE encompasses its signature magazine; digital, video and social platforms; television specials; books; as well as live events, including Black Women in Music, Black Women in Hollywood, Street Style and the ESSENCE Festival.  Essence Communications is owned by Essence Ventures, an independent African-American owned company focused on merging content, community, and commerce to meet the evolving cultural and lifestyle needs of people of color.