A Heavenly Garden is heavenly

Today I was driving down Krome avenue in Miami when I made a great find. While many know about A Heavenly Garden it was unknown to me. I purchased a banana tree today and will definitely be back. They have great prices and a great selection. I will be writing a feature for Tropic Style Magazine. This wonderful plant nursery located at 21950 SW 177 ave in Miami has exotic bromeliads starting at just $1.50 and beautiful orchids starting at $5.

quick note to Public Relations companies etc

Hi guys. A big thank you to everybody who has been reading my fashion blog here, Tropic Style Magazine and the Miami Fashion Blogger. I hate to publically post any complaints but I am getting a lot of emails from PR firms telling me about ( insert famous name here) wearing their client's brand. Then they direct me to purchase images. What I do is a labor of love. If you want me to pulicize your clients then send images that are free and clear for me to use. I will not pay out of mu own pocket for these images AND provide free advertisment. Thanks everybody. To send inquiries to Tropic Style Magazine the address is Tropicstyle@ ymail dot com and toc contact me annamariericci@ ymail dot com.

Chanel At Art Basel Miami and fabulous finds

This week fashion editors like myself have a chance to relax after s hectic week at Miami’s Art Basel. Clearly, fashion loves art and vice versa. This year, we saw more fashion events during Art Basel week than any other year. In fact, there were more fashion events going on last week than art exhibitions. I along with other attendees from Tropic Style Magazine, dressed for these events like we would during Miami Fashion Week. There were so many events and parties going on that it was impossible to be at all of them. The most sought after ticket (and most difficult to attain) was the Chanel event at Soho beach House. The security there was unreal,with multiple guest checkpoints, but understandable given all the famous attendees. Chanel hosted a private Barbeque and charity auction with proceeds going to the Henry Street Settlement. Lenny Kravitz and Demi Moore were seen getting very cozy at the after-party. As always, Chanel did not disappoint. Of their newest designs, I have my favorites. Chanel's to-die-for brocade booties have the perfect sparkle for holiday parties. These are beyond fabulous. I'll take these in a size 6 1/2 please!

My next pick is the Boy Château purse. This purse perfectly compliments the brocade booties but both pieces are show stoppers if worn alone. I am literally at a loss for words, which does not happen to me very often with regard to fashion. The only words I can used to describe these pieces are regal and opulent.

The Rain Barrel Shops islamorada

I went exploring in the Florida keys today looking for some interesting places worth featuring on my blogs and Tropic Style Magazine. My journey took me to the Rain Barrel shops in Islamorada which looked promising. These are quaint little shops nestled in a village sort of like Cauley Square that Tatyana writes about. Unfortunately I left disapponted. Arriving at 5:20 I was told by the owner of a women's boutque that she was closing as in right now. She stressed that she was only giving me 3 minutes to look around but then encouraged me to make my purchases on her website. Sheesh. The hours this shopping village keeps can only cater to the tourists and not the locals. Regardless I was out the door by 5:24 and the shop keeper right behind me. I suspect that had I run in and announced that I am the editor of this publication then I would have been worth more than 3 minutes of this lady's time, but I should not have to do that. Every customer is just as
valuable as me.

Historic Redland Hotel Homestead Florida

Today we are at the historic Redland Hotel on Flagler Avenue in Homestead. We are having lunch at the Whistlestop and will be doing a review for Tropic Style. I of course am drawn to this building as an historian and as someone who has more than a passing interest in the paranormal

Sotheby's to auction The Casablanca Piano from La Belle Aurore

The Casablanca Piano from La Belle Aurore > Casablanca was released with great patriotic fanfare in November of 1942, coinciding with the Allied invasion of Morocco. It is a movie of its time replete with careful war propaganda and characteristic banter and yet timeless. Over the past seventy years it has become one of the most beloved movies ever made and the song so deeply entwined with it, As Times Goes By, has reached a similar immortality. On 14 December 2012, Sothebys will auction off this iconic Casablanca piano from La Belle Aurore. The piece will be on exhibition in New York Saturday 8 December through Thursday 13 December,

Fashion Flashback, Marilyn Mullet...er, Manson

Get ready fashionistas, have a look at this. Holy cow! Sorry, wrong team. Marilyn Manson has had a makeover or a make under. In this photograph, credited to Mr. Manson, the 40 something year old rocker exchanges his famous black eyeliner, white makeup and otherwise spookiness for this rather all American look, although I'm no fan of a mullet with Jeri-curls. Interview magazine published this photograph of Manson who reportedly is a huge fan of HBO's "Eastbound Down," a comedy about a baseball player whose glory days have passed him. It is the lead characer in the series that Manson is portaying in this photograph. Nonetheless, it offers us a rare glimpse of Manson without his trademark make-up but clearly still plenty of attitude!

Interestingly enough Eastbound & Down is co-directed by David Gordon Green who is producing Manson's new flick the "Splatter Sisters," which is due to be released next year and co-stars his on again off again girlfriend/fiance Evan Rachel Wood. Stay tuned.

Internet scammers posing as Allen and Violet Large sent me a scam letter allenandviolet@yahoo.co.jp

This is really low digs. Violet Large has died too and scammers are still conning people as a result of this couple's generous act. They did win the lottery and they did give money away to legitimate charities. Allen and Violet Large wrote: Dear Sir/Madam This is my seventh time of writing you this email. My wife and I won a >Lottery of $11.2 million in July and have voluntarily decided to donate the sum >of $1,000,000.00 USD to you as part of our own charity project to improve the >lot of 5 lucky individuals all over the world. If you have received this email then you are one of the lucky recipients and >all you have to do is get back with us so that we can send your details to the >payout bank. You can verify this by visiting the web pages below. > >http://www.care2.com/causes/lottery-winner-who-gave-away-her-entire-prize-dies-of-cancer.html Good-luck, Allen and Violet Large.

TROPIC STYLE MAGAZINE

I am involved with a great project called Tropic Style Magazine. Tropic Style MAgazine is a collaboration between a group of incredibly creative writers and photographers. Tropic Style is a lifestyle mag that covers the fashion scene in Florida and so much more. It's about the beautiful real estate, the islands, the Caribbean, food..all the colors, sights and smells of tropical living at it's finest and this is a project that I am so honored to be apart of. If you haven't already checked out the website you really should http://tropicstylemagazine.com. See you there!

Fashion Flashback: Madonna and daughter Lourdes launch Material Girl clothing line at Macy's in Miami

Macy's department store is well known for hosting blogger brunches and major fashion events at their Miami Store at Dadeland Mall. Macy's keeps raising the bar at these events. spoiling fashion bloggers and customers in attendance with delectable snacks, lunches, giveaways and entertainment. One of the best events to stand out in my recent memory was the launch if the Material Girl clothing line at Macy's Dadeland mall store. We were treated to an exciting preview of the new clothing line, along with a DJ who played retro Madonna tunes. Of course, there were also exciting giveways, beautiful fashion models. We couldn't ask for more than that. Macy's always hosts first class events and is one of our favorite company's to work with.