Newer Feel In Office Surroundings

Office space - and the trends of today are reaching well beyond the edge to bring to the people who habitat them - comfort and a sense of ease. Let's face it, as Americans we spend more time around the office and working than we do in our own homes (waking hours that is). . so taking away some mental stress is pretty important, well at least if the word productivity means anything. Sometimes it is as easy as a coat of paint and some minor repairs and fixes. In many area color and imagination can be the key ingredients. If you think you are stepping out into the new inspirational office setups take not of a few exceptional cases for pure creativity and food for the mind, with some examples from Apple, with very creative energy in the room and Google's office (row row row your boat). Sometimes simple lines and ease of movement matter even more, or the need to make sure your clients see how "out of the box" your company thinks - with natural elements in your work day. Enjoy and hopefully we have created a spark for someone to start something positive.

October 3rd - Mooncake Festival

Mooncakes - a delicate strong Asian tradition you might want to give some thought to... We found some stunning examples to help inspire you. This year, the Chinese people celebrate the Mid-Autumn festival with dances, feasting and moon gazing on October 3rd. Step into the wonders of these remarkable pastries at a local Chinese bakery.

These little cakes earned their popularity during the Yuan Dynasty (1200 A.D.- 1368 A.D.) It is said that mooncakes - which the Mongols did not eat - were the perfect vehicle for hiding and passing along plans for the rebellion. Families were instructed not to eat the mooncakes until the day of the moon festival, which is when the rebellion took place. (In another version plans were passed along in mooncakes over several years of Mid-Autumn festivals, but the basic idea is the same).

Roughly the size of a human palm, these mooncakes are quite filling, meant to be cut diagonally in quarters and passed around. More elaborate versions of mooncakes contain four egg yolks (representing the four phases of the moon). Besides lotus seed paste, other traditional fillings include red bean paste and black bean paste.
Today, mooncakes may be filled with everything from dates, nuts, and fruit to Chinese sausages. More exotic creations include green tea mooncakes, and ping pei or snowskin mooncakes, a Southeast Asian variation made with cooked glutinous rice flour. Haagen-Daz has even gotten into the act by introducing a line of ice cream mooncakes in Asian markets.

We are showing you some fabulous examples from various sources. Top left: Intercontinental - Singapore, Middle - right top: Bakerzin, Middle row: Carlton Hotel, Singapore, Large middle: Peony Jade, Singapore, Middle green apple cakes from Bossacafez, green cake: Goodwood Park Hotel, Singapore, Bottom left Royal Series from Tung Lok, Bottom center: Fairmont Singapore, bottom right: also the Fairmont - this one with hazelnut filling.

Relax and enjoy . . you know you need this..

This happens only twice a year - once in the Spring and once in the Fall. Contact the Spa of your choice for the treatments and times available for Spa Week. Book now - limited time only. For more information about Spaahh at Hotel 1000 visit banquetevent.com

Creative Thinking

Here is something different: Garage door prints that make it look like you own boats and jets! They are creations of Style-your-garage.com from across the pond. You can actually get these shipped here pretty reasonably. Now this is really thinking outside the box even though it's covering that box.

These utterly realistic images are printed on plastic sheets which are stuck on garage doors – the latest craze for home owners who want to not so much keep up with, as totally freak out, the Joneses.

The weather and fire-resistant prints are designed to disguise that boring, flaky, graying metalwork. Held in place by industrial strength Velcro, they are easy to change and virtually indestructible.

Stay For Awhile in Style . . .

We thought we would bring you some distinctive looks and ideas for how to really live well with your favorite pets. More and more - people are bringing their pets into all aspects of their day to day living, such as taking them to work, to the store, out to eat - they are all newer options in more and more cities. In Seattle our pets are living plush, so for all of you who want to spend more time with them, it just doesn't have to "look" like a pet store. DenHaus is a great site for finding some real furniture styling for your pet - at any size. Another source for some of the cat fanciers is The Refined Feline. One of the favorites for the ultimate high for cats is the Hollywood Tower . If you are the metropolitan life style you might want to take a look at Modern Cat Designs. The list is endless, so stop, consider and enjoy, we know your pets will.

Your Diva Day Your Way . . . . .

Picture yourself the way you really feel on turning 40. Why not a Warrior Diva themed party? That is exactly what the request was for BreeAnn Gale of Pink Blossom Events one Saturday recently. The birthday girl's only wishes were to combine the Claymore Japanese character along with a long dreamed wish to have British tea sandwiches and scones incorporated into the menu. Lucas Mobley Photography captured some photographs of the event details as the party began. Sorry no photos of the actual birthday girl herself, but we send along a heartfelt Happy Birthday!