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A Cowboy's Dream, A New Nevada Retreat


A woman's memorial to her late husband is a new bed and breakfast in Alamo, Nevada. A Cowboy's Dream is a both a bed and breakfast as well as a corporate retreat destination. It was created by Phyllis Frias to honor her husband the late Charlie Frias. The resort has the simple motto: enter as strangers, leave as friends.

The hotel is located 90 miles north of Las Vegas in a small town that attracts visitors with an interest in wildlife because it is near the Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge. It is just the fourth hotel in town. The eight-suite B&B offers custom bedding, natural rain showerheads, custom-made bath products and private balconies. The great room serves as a central gathering area and the resort offers home-cooked meals and chartered excursions. The 18,997 square-foot house has vast views of surrounding mountains. Rooms are $499 a night.

Win A Four Seasons Gift Card--Day Six


Gift cards are popular this time of year and luxury hotel chain Four Seasons is taking an active role in selling their cards and doing some good at the same time. For every Four Seasons Gift Card sold between December 1 and December 10, 2009, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is committed to donating the cost of one "bedkit" to Canada-based charity Sleeping Children Around the World. The not-for-profit organization was founded on the belief that it is the basic right of every child to have a comfortable night's sleep. It delivers bedkits that included treated mosquito nets for those in areas prone to malaria, along with fundamental necessities such as a mat, sheets, blankets, clothing and more. In 2009, Sleeping Children Around the World delivered its one millionth bedkit.

Four Seasons Gift Cards are available online in any denomination ranging from US $100 to US $5,000 and can be used at any Four Seasons resort worldwide. You can contact Four Seasons hotels and resorts worldwide to order gift cards in any amount up to $100,000.

To raise interest in the campaign Four Seasons has given us ten gift cards to give away over ten days. Leave a comment on this post and at the end of the day one winner will be chosen to win a $100 Four Seasons gift card.

Some other important details:
* To enter, leave a confirmed comment below.
* The comment must be left and confirmed on December 6, 2009 at 5:00PM Eastern Time.
* You may only enter once.
* One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
* One winner will receive a Four Seasons gift card valued at $100.
* Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia.

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Reality In Style Offers Simple Clothing Designed To Flatter

Reality In Style Offers Simple Clothing Designed To FlatterYou may be wondering why we would promote "simple" clothing when, after all, Luxist is all about luxury and the high end of living. The answer is because sometimes you just want a t-shirt -- or a basic pair of pants, or a simple dress -- that fits, is flattering, and is made of quality material, and you're willing to pay a bit more to get something that will last longer than an item purchased at The Gap.

I recently stumbled upon Reality in Style, which, according to its website, "was created in 2009 by college best friends Denise Apicella and Rachel Blakeman. After several decades of working in various fields, Denise and Rachel were continuously frustrated by the lack of comfortable, stylish and high quality clothing." After some research -- polling real women -- and "after picking up one too many backless shirts, Denise and Rachel decided to create an affordable clothing line emphasizing comfortable fabrics and styles designed to flatter different body types."

I haven't purchased an item from the line, as it doesn't offer petite sizes, but I simply put it out there for those readers who wear what a (former) friend called "grown-up sizes." The dress shown, for example, is called Tony, and is sleeveless stretch-cotton with a pleated belt accent. $395, available in even sizes 0-14.

See the gallery for some other basics.


Megan Fox the New Face of Armani Underwear and Jeans

megan foxActress Megan Fox and her Marilyn Monroe tattoo will be in our sights even more now that she is replacing Victoria Beckham as the face of Emporio Armani underwear and Armani Jeans. Reputed to making $2 million in the deal, Fox will show off her great figure in print ads and on billboards. The ad campaign was shot in early fall in Los Angeles by fashion photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, and according to WWD, the campaign will roll out worldwide in January. Fox is best known for appearing in form-hugging outfits in the blockbuster Transformers movies and recently starred in Jennifer's Body as the lead. She also got the full-on New York Times treatment as the cover story in its November 15 Magazine.

The World's Most Expensive iPod

The World's Most Expensive iPod
Katherine Hughes, of Stuart Hughes, has designed what is likely the world's most expensive iPod. The iPod Touch SUPREME's body was re-formed using 149 grams of solid, 22-carat gold, with a rear Apple logo from 21 grams of gold that houses 53 VVS1, color F diamonds. The front outer section has been set with 300 VVS1 diamonds, also color F. The main navigation buttons has 12 diamonds of the same quality set in 16 grams of gold, all of which surround a single cut pink 2.10-carat diamond, color G-H. A true limited edition -- only three available. £139,995, or $231,776 USD at today's exchange rate.

Alexis Mabille for CoutureLab Black Tie Clutch, Handbag of the Day

Alexis Mabille for CoutureLab Black Tie ClutchThe Alexis Mabille for CoutureLab Black Tie Clutch is a seemingly simple work of elegant mastery.

Firstly, in case you skipped the title and only look at pictures, this is not a tie, but a handbag. This clutch consists of two separated pockets, perfectly forming a 15" x 6 2/3" (approximate) bow tie. It's a bit larger than your average bow tie, but it would certainly be more than appropriate for any black tie event. No pun ... attempted.

This bag is "handmade from luxurious Duchesse silk satin," and features hidden brass zippers so you don't accidentally lose the contents. A purse like this may not be eye-catching at first, but as soon as someone notices it, they're sure to be pointing it out to people all evening.

The Alexis Mabille for CoutureLab Black Tie Clutch is available from CoutureLab for approximately $706.00.

Wilderness Shot Glasses


These wilderness shot glasses would be a great gift someone who has everything. These detailed glasses are made of black glass with a metal head. They are shown in an upright position here but each head is designed to serve as a base for the glass as well. The choices include a rhino, a bull, a deer or a bear and sell for $30 each.

Sketchbook Pottery from Luna Garcia

When I was a child, my favorite plate was my Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit place from Royal Doulton. Today's young diners might fall in love with this bunny plate, part of the Sketchbook Pottery series from Luna Garcia. The Sketchbook series features intricate illustrations drawn in underglaze and then covered with a clear gloss glaze. This plate sells for $48 and can be personalized with a name and birthday under the bunny.

Gift Your Cats a Tree House Complete With a Real Tree

Gift Your Cats a Tree House Complete With a Real TreeLeave it to Hammacher Schlemmer to come up with something this high-end for your cat(s). The Feline Tree House is made from mature dragonwood trees harvested from sustainable forests in Florida and Georgia and is built during a 16-hour process that requires 1,000 individual cuts. The tree is left in its natural state -- gnarled branches, bark, lichen, and all -- and the platforms are custom-cut to fit each tree. It's very house-like indeed, with with cedar shutters, shaker shingles, and wall-to-wall frieze carpeting. Spacious too: 18" x 22" with carpeted 16" square and 16" x 24" perches, as well as a carpeted cradle tucked among the branches, all permanently attached to the trunk for stability. All carpeting (except the cradle's) is held in place with hook-and-loop fasteners, making cleaning easy. Realistic camilla silk foliage and two hanging cat toys complete the house. Minimal assembly; 72" H x 19" W x 28" D, 92 lbs. At $874.95, this is for cats who are on the "nice," not the "naughty," list this holiday. Though truth be told, if I had the room and could justify the cost, I'd get this for my cats anyway!

[Thanks, Raeann]

Kenjockety, Estate of the Day


Today's home is another look at a home we've been talking about since 2005 when it was listed at $16.25 million. Kenockety in Lloyd Harbor, New York was once owned by Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees. The Tudor home was built in 1926 and sits on 6.7 acres of land. It has seven bedrooms, a library, conservatory, a gym and a master suite that includes several marble fireplaces. The property includes a gunite pool, brick cottages, greenhouse and 500 feet of water frontage with deeded docking rights. It is now listed at $9.9 million which is, as Newsday's Real LI points out, a nearly 40 percent reduction off the original price.

Gallery: Kenjockety

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