The Martha Stewart Beauty Regimen: Fitness, Skin Care and Diet

For Martha Stewart, the secret is routine.

She is truly beautiful. 

Read the NYTimes article here.

I am the Editor of the 'Embassy of Ideas'. Please visit it here: http://www.pattifridayphotography.blogspot.com

Breaking Design News

Anna Spiro of Black and Spiro and my Blogging friend (Absolutely Beautiful Things) will be featured in the May 2010 issue of Canadian House and Home Magazine! I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. It will be so wonderful to read about someone we have all come to know and love over the last few years. (In other Design/Packaging news.....Wasaga Beach Coffee, the certified organic & fair-trade coffee that I branded is a hit here in The Beach!) Tastes delish too. LPxo

What's In That Hookah?

"If there is a more enchanting story than Alice in Wonderland, especially for the fashion community at large, we dare you to prove it. The Lewis Carroll-penned fantasy's wildly original world and iconic characters including a perpetually tardy, pocket watch-wearing White Rabbit, a hookah-smoking Caterpillar, and a shouty Queen of Hearts who's obsessed with the color red is so over-the-top outrageous, it's no wonder this trippy adventure resonates so deeply with designers. Simply put: the colorful epic epitomizes dramatic creativity at its very finest. And while Alice's influence is always present (who could forget Grace Coddington and Annie Leibovitz's breathtaking interpretation with Natalia Vodianova in the December 2003 issue of Vogue?), this season everyone is focusing on this fabulous tale anew, thanks to the impending release of Tim Burton's take on the iconic tale in Disney's Alice in Wonderland." - Who What Wear (they are currently channeling Alice in Wonderland )

My Small But Mighty 'O' Magazine Debut

Please don't laugh or snicker. I couldn't bare it. I really couldn't (wink), but gosh darn it, my photograph made it into the March 2010 issue of 'O' Magazine. Page 153!!! You're going to have to look real hard past that gorgeous blond and up over her left shoulder; this exercise may require a magnifying glass...but it's there (see the yellow asterisk in the top photo?), in all it's glory! (my Holiday Hunt card for Amanda Jaron, Jewelry Designer extraordinaire) When Amanda posted her video of the photo shoot for the magazine, I couldn't believe my eyes. How fun to see it (at 18 seconds - pause it) in the background. This was the highlight of my weekend - that and the Olympics and vanilla ice cream with a side of Earl Grey de la Creme steeped tea. (I remember being excited like this a few years ago. Remember?) Thank You Amanda for keeping that little postcard on your bulletin board and congratulations on your feature in the magazine! You look so incredible. (and your Hubby too!) And for the record...hot damn, I am going to frame it! LP xo

In Search Of Succulents

Southern Accents Magazine has a wonderful online section of 'flowers and plants'. Their articles are short, informative and gorgeous. Succulents have become the belle of the ball. Here are some succulent sources for you.

Hello Cheetah

You're lookin' mighty fine on that Vanity Fair cover. I guess I'll buy 2. One to swoon over and one to wrap up nicely for future investment. Annie photographs such as these, will certainly be worth a 'roar'. (Now Tiger....you've caused me a kerfuffle before...I'm not lion...so..I'm hoping this time, things will be different.)

144.6 Million Readers. What If You Had Them?

It's an amazing number to wrap your blogging head around isn't it? What if you actually had 144.6 million readers? (and they are not all sitting at home in front of a monitor - times are quickly changing - they are on the go, anywhere, reading you) Would you do anything differently on your blog? (Things might be moving this way for you...really...so think a minute and let me know your thoughts) Pretend we are sitting around a massive board room table (eating fresh French pastries and Peruvian coffee with rich cream) discussing this potential. (Joni is writing our 'think tank' ideas on the flip chart and she designed the board room....gorgeous isn't it...) How will you feed those 144.6 million readers...every day?

BREAKING NEWS: Full Colour Kindle for Magazines !!!

LOS ANGELES — Five of the nation's largest publishers of newspapers and magazines are teaming up to challenge Amazon.com Inc.'s Kindle electronic-book reader with their own technology that would display in color and work on a variety of devices.Time Inc., News Corp., Conde Nast, Hearst Corp., and Meredith Corp., whose magazines include Time, Cosmopolitan and Better Homes and Gardens, announced a joint venture on Tuesday to develop new ways of presenting publications digitally to rival Kindle's gray "electronic ink" technique.

The publishers' answer to the text-oriented Kindle promises to emphasize visuals, retaining the distinctive look of each publication. It also aims to incorporate videos, games and social networking along with a classic magazine layout that can be flipped through with the touch of a finger.

The new standards the publishers are jointly developing would let consumers read the digital publications on some tablet computers, portable electronic readers and smart phones that render color images.

"The genesis of this idea is to build a fully featured kind of immersive e-reading application that can render our content beautifully on those devices that come to market," said John Squires, the venture's interim managing director.

The Kindle has been available since 2007. Electronic books, newspapers and other publications that Amazon sells for the Kindle will only work with that device.

Companies in the joint venture are hoping to break that lock and sell content starting in 2010 using the new standards. Publishers outside the joint venture would be able to adopt them, too.

The new joint venture would allow partners to set prices for their content. It also has plans to develop new advertising formats that are interactive and target an audience that is more engaged than in print.

The media companies are all equal partners in the venture. The companies said their publications reach 144.6 million people altogether.

Suzanne Dimma's Cottage Wedding

PHOTO CREDIT: Andreas Avdoulos

This epitome of romance, besides Austria in November and Paris in December, is getting married at a Canadian cottage. I can assure you. Nothing trumps this location. Canadian House & Home Editor, Suzanne Dimma graciously shared her wedding day with all of us. Charming perfection.
The photographs were taken by a TOP Toronto wedding photographer named Andreas.
His site is online at http://www.andreasphoto.ca

BEHIND THE SCENES HERE
AND
HERE

How To Save A Magazine

We've all witnessed it this past year. We've all shed a tear or two and shrugged our shoulders in complete and utter disbelief. A 'Domino Effect' has hit our beloved shelter magazines like a media pandemic on a rampage. So how can the remaining publications stay afloat; printing our monthly fixes? They get smart. Real smart. They don't fight the paradigm shift. They go with it. Case in point. Canadian House and Home. (business brilliance by Lynda Reeves and Suzanne Dimma) Their strategies are right on trend; an online TV channel - with the pages of the magazine coming to life in HD - slick production values too - and albeit, new ad revenues to boost their bottom line. If I were you...and you know who you are out there...and I'm not you...but...I'm just sayin'.....this is 'How To Save A Magazine'. (You can subscribe to the digital edition of the magazine too!) Be sure to bookmark this new 2.0 shelter magazine TV Channel. It's online. It's FREE and it's as sweet as it comes. Hold on...you're gonna love this: Turn the Canadian House and Home TV channel on HERE. (and if you have a monitor or laptop near the tub, all the better..heavenly..Canadian.)

Glamour Magazine Plus Size Model Photograph

I do believe that this is very sexy. (enlarge photo - just click) I find them velvety-smooth-cozy-soft looking and alluring. Cuddle girls. Huggable. Lovely. Brave. Honest. Real. Tell me. What do you believe?

"Supermodels Who Aren’t Superthin: Meet the Women Who Proudly Bared it All"

Martha Stewart's Daily Routine

Last night I relaxed and went through a box of magazine tear sheets. (do you ever do that?) A few of the pages revealed to me once more the 'extreme self-care' that Martha Stewart practices. It's no wonder she has the vitality and energy. I mean, just look at the woman!!! If you click on the image to enlarge it, you will see that her hair and skin glow and she looks so 'hot'. She is 68 years young!!! I really like how she has lightened her hair with frosty highlights. Here is a recap of her daily routine. (from Martha Stewart Living)

1. Skin Care: Morning and Night, cleanse, exfoliate, treat, moisturize, protect. She has been very open with her favorites and Yonka is the product she continues to rave about. This online shop is really great for 'quality' skin care - DermStore is your one stop shop for all your skin care and cosmetic needs. - you can purchase Yonka there.

2. Home Gym: aerobics, weights, stretching

3. Walking: daily walks and in particular, she loves hiking. (so does Arianna Huffington..she hikes daily too!)

4. Calendar: daily calendar is kept handy and ready on a clipboard - every day!

5. Water: water infused with fruits, cucumber and bottled

6. Morning Juice: 8 ounces of homemade 'green' 'fruit' juice

7. Hair Care: daily wash, condition, weekly glossing treatment

8. Exercise: pilates, yoga, weights

9. Teeth/Body Skincare: 2-3 times daily electric toothbrush, flossing, salt water rinse and mouthwash, moisturize skin.

10. Relaxation: read books on her Kindle, watch movies Netflex, cappuccino

So tell me. What is your daily 'extreme self-care' routine?

Photo Credit: DayLife/GettyImages

My Writing Fees (Every Writer's Guidelines)

I throw a 'one-two punch' (well maybe a one-two-three punch):
I can also provide photographs and/or illustrations to compliment my written words.
I've written about this before....

Blogging
Weekly* Blog Writer (Mon-Fri) 1 Post/Day $125 ($25/day)
*Limit: I am available for max. 3 different blogs
and/or
$50 - $300 per post

Photography and Illustration (negotiate per job)

General Interest/Consumer Magazines
$1.00 to $2 per word
$500 to $10,000 per article
$400 to $1,500 per column

Trade/Special Interest Magazines
$0.30 to $2 per word
$500 to $4,000 per article
$300 to $1,000 per column

Large Daily Newspapers
$0.30 to $1.00 per word
$250 to $2,500 per article
$330 to $1,250 per column

Smaller Community Newspapers
$0.10 to $0.50 per word
$75 to $1,000 per article
$75 to $500 per column

Online/Web Site Writing
Varies widely; "business" sites pay higher
$1 to $3 per word
$60 to $100 per hour

Advertising Material
Copy/Scripts/News Releases
$350 to $500 per page
$750 to $1,000 per project for brochures
$75 to $150 per hour

Blogging Extras
Free gifts, products, barter
All expense paid trips for posts/blogs
Photography and Illustration
(negotiate per job)

If you would like me to write for you please contact me via email:
Patti Friday
libertypost (at) gmail (dot) com

The Lonny/Liberty Post Connection

Quite an honor and makes me smile. Just the fact that Michelle selected one of my photographs to showcase and include in her 'Lonny' business announcement post takes me to 'that' happy place. Thank you Michelle for being so complimentary of my work. I thought the first issue of Lonny was incredible. To view it on a large, over-sized monitor is magical. (you should find one and try it) Lonny would be fabulous on the Apple Tablet. I am hoping that Lonny features some creative Canadian content too! (I'll do some scouting) The ghost of Marilyn is obviously in my corner. Beautiful.

Magazine Slut

You heard it here first. And you have probably thought about it already some time this past recessionary year. The next big thing to collect will be 'magazines'. The old-fashioned kind that you'd tuck in your tote bag or fall asleep with in bed. Take heed. Become a 'Magazine Slut' and down the road your great grandchildren will bless you.

Shocking News x 2

That nobody seems to be commenting on. The biggy is the FTC decision to fine bloggers $11,000.00 if they accept money and/or gifts from people/companies they write about, without letting their readers know!!! The F.T.C. said that beginning on Dec. 1, bloggers who review products must disclose any connection with advertisers, including, in most cases, the receipt of free products and whether or not they were paid in any way by advertisers, as occurs frequently. The second one is Cookie Magazine is closing. Now if I was a young Mom, this would be the mag I'd subsribe to. It's delightful. Taylor Darling and Ms. Ange are going to miss it. Why don't all these magazines just hold off and publish exclusively on the Apple Tablet?

Conde Nast Axe Falls Again

Condé Nast plans to announce that it will close 4 magazines: Gourmet, Cooking, Modern Bride, and Elegant Bride. Where are all the stylists and food photographers and writers going to work? Pretty soon there will be nothing left. No jobs. No contracts. No offers. It will dry up. Ah, you're sitting there shaking your head muttering, 'No Way!', but years ago they said we'd all have bank cards and we all said 'No Way!' and look what happened. (who likes to go into a bank now?) It's a complete and utter paradigm shift. The only thing left to do will be to read blogs or publish a blog. Holy crap Grace Bonney "is" the Martha Stewart for the Millennials !!!

This Just In: Conde Nast Budget Cuts

25% !!! And that's a lot. It is up to the publishers and editors how to reduce their budgets. It is unlikely that prominent editors like Anna Wintour of Vogue or Graydon Carter of Vanity Fair will cancel their town-car service: their magazines sell luxury, and Ms. Wintour’s swiping her 30-day MetroCard and jostling with Times Square commuters would hardly enhance that position. Read more here...

Cultural Journalism

"A reporter writes when, where, why and how an event happened. Generally speaking we read what a reporter has to say in the daily newspaper. We are told the facts about fires, murders, car accidents, births and deaths. A cultural journalist, on the other hand, explores events within his culture. He or she examines the cultural, societal and community context in which a broad range of things happen. A cultural journalist explores currents within society, and draws conclusions. Cultural Journalism is an examination of ourselves. It is also about traditions: identifying them, writing about them and keeping them alive." - Deborah Hare

"Go out into the community, into the mountains, and find the folklore, the people, the special places and write about them....(and fondle children while you're at it)." - Eliot Wigginton

Sorry. That was snarky to add that 'fondle children' bit, but I was impressed - very impressed with Eliot; the man who coined the term 'Cultural Journalism'...until I found out he liked to molest little boys. Makes me want to become a butcher instead of a Cultural Journalist who has to deal with bad apples from time to time.

Happy Sunday.

ALL TIME 100 Novels

"Lists like this one have two purposes. One is to instruct. The other of course is to enrage. We're bracing ourselves for the e-mails that start out: "You moron! You pathetic bourgeoise insect! How could you have left off...(insert title here)." We say Mrs. Dalloway. You say Mrs. Bridge. We say Naked Lunch. You say Breakfast at Tiffanys. Let's call the whole thing off? Just the opposite—bring it on. Sometimes judgment is best formed under fire. But please, no e-mails about Ulysses. Rules are rules." - Lev Grossman & Richard Lacayo. Read their complete list here and discover readers' top-rated. I happen to love the book cover of The Death of a Heart; thinking it would be a great 'make this book a room project'. (in other book news, Dan Brown, poor guy...only sold 1 million copies of his new book yesterday. I can see all those readers ignoring their family, their workload and their personal hygiene just to finish it. Can't you?)