The South Beach Food and Wine Festival has gone just as quickly as it came to Miami and to be honest our tastebuds are still in a daze. So what stood out to us?

 

Barilla interactive lunch:

Guests waited in the courtyard at The Biltmore’s country club while enjoying a glass of  Entwine’s chardonay.  After being ushered upstairs into the country club’s ballroom, guests were greeted by a sea of round tables with simple plate settings. The twist was that there was a small cooking station at every table and a chef standing next to each station.  As the guests took their seats, the term interactive lunch began to take on more of a literal meaning. Guests were given step-by-step instruction for two courses and were rewarded with a sweet and savory dessert.

For the first course Barilla Campanelle

Our EIC had the awesome opportunity to preppare the second course. However, it should be noted that the chefs took care of the prepparation for the guests.  Essentially ticket holders merely sauteed their delicous entrees.

 

New Product Alert:

One of the rewards of attending such a distinguished event is the privalege of walking away with an idea of the next culinary trend. While there were quite a few innovative recipies and spices that captured our attention, Barilla captured our attention and heart with their latest product Pronto Pasta. The new item is the perfect key ingredient for anyone who is on the go but still interested in having a healthy meal. Pronto Pasta can be preppared in the same pot as the intended ingredients for your pasta. For an editor on the go, this is a dream come true. No waiting for the water to boil and no draining required.

 

Macy’s today announced the official launch of the Thalia Sodi collection, inspired by the internationally recognized singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, author and philanthropist, Thalia. The exclusive, new collection includes apparel, shoes and jewelry and is available at 300 Macy’s stores nationwide and on macys.com.

“Macy’s new Thalia Sodi collection is our largest introduction yet, launching in multiple categories and offering our customers a coordinated look across apparel, shoes, and jewelry,” said Jeff Gennette, President of Macy’s. “We have been honored to partner with international superstar Thalia to create a collection inspired by her personal style that will appeal to women everywhere.”

The eponymous new line will feature feminine, figure-flattering dresses, tops and pants, as well as shoes and accessories. Bold prints, bright colors, sexy silhouettes and glitzy jewelry bring a touch of glam to the line and are staples throughout the collection.

A lot of people like to argue that you never know how single you are until Valentine’s Day. However, I believe most holidays have a way of reminding you. Christmas and mistletoe are synonmous. New Years is ushered in with a kiss and even Halloween has been commandeered by happy couples. Make no mistake, I am not jealous. I am just happily aware. I am single and I am making the most of it. I am not sure if it is the fact that I hail from a big family or what but I find myself unmistakingly aware that once you jump into that family lifestyle there is no turning back. So it is important that you make the most of those single years and once you find yourself in that family situation, do everything you can to carve out those moments for yourself.

Self-love is paramount in the sense that how you treat yourself is a direct reflection of the love that you are willing to allow yourself to receive. If you don’t know how to love you, how will anyone else know? We are own worst critiques and typically people are all too willing to join us in our critical critiques of ourselves. So be kind to yourself. Learn to forgive yourself. Learn to love yourself because ultimately, the way you learn treat yourself is the way others will treat you as well.

Our advice for the month of February: Love yourself without question with everything you have because you wouldn’t expect anything less from the person who tells you they love you. You are worthy of a selfless and kind-hearted love.

With Valentine’s Day just on the horizon, lovebirds and food lovers alike have one thing on their mind. What is on the menu? Here are a few Worthy Approved places to dine in South Florida.

Costa Grill

This exclusive culinary gem is a dining experience reserved for the hotel guests of Acqualina Resort and Spa. For Valentine’s Day the restaurant is pulling out all the stops with their Valenitne’s Day dining special, which includes three savory courses only to be complete with a delectible dessert for two.  The night is filled with mouth-watering dishes and Michelle Manzo’s sultry sounds. Ladies are greeted with a rose and a macaroons upon departure.

Details: Dinner menu $150 per person plus tax and gratuity (beverages are additional). Sunset seating is at 6 p.m. and moonlight seating is at 9 p.m.

For reservations please contact Dustin Lapekas 305-918-6872 or dustin.lapekas@acqualina.com

Beauty and the Feast

One of our worthy-approved favorites is offering up a vaentine’s day special that is undenianble. For the love of food is our definition of the perfect ladies night and couples night. This four-course meal under the starlight over-looking the ocean is just what the doctor ordered for couples and friends looking to have a wonderful night filled with beauty and love.

Details:  $59 per person. For $199 a sweedish massage can be added on

Red Steakhouse New drinks:

One of our go-to Miami locations had added on to their mouth-watering cocktail menu just in time for Valentine’s Day. Whether you are in search for a sensational meal or the perfect cocktail during Valentine’s Day, Red can meet your needs.

Our favorites: Strawberry Slasher and the new signature cocktail The 305. Feel free to thank us later.

 

Sometimes it can seem like the more you celebrate Valentine’s Day the more difficult it can become to create the perfect gift for that special someone, even if it is just for yourself. Acqualina, located at 17875 Collins Avenue, offers the perfect gift for valentine’s day, which is the gift of time. The  resort’s Valentine’s Day Time Journeys create the ultimate Valentine’s Day experience that is ideal for all couples and any best friend duo interested in celebrating the holiday in the lap of luxury and relaxation.

Upon entering the spa you are ushered into a sanctuary of tranquility equipped with a crystal steam room, arctic ice fountain, Finnish dry heat sauna, Experience Shower, jet pool, Roman waterfall jacuzzi and ESPA sun deck. Typically guests are encouraged to arrive an hour prior to their appointment time to make use of the spa’s plush amenities.

The spa’s Love Is In The Air package highlights one of the spa’s most unique features, which is the customized timed spa journeys. For this holiday, the package also includes a private spa suite complete with its own private steam shower for two. The experience also offers a glass of champagne for each guest. During a calming foot ritual, your therapist creates a customized spa journey designed to meet your needs at the time. Your therapist crafts a two-hour experience that will consist of multiple treatments (possibly two or more) to meet your needs for that day.

“We specialize in sensory oils,” Acqualina spa director, Cynthia Bell, said. “We offer six blends of oil samplings during your consultation because every day might be different. Everything is determined on a case-by-case basis.”

Guests of the spa can also enjoy Bento Boxes for their lunch while taking in the beautiful view of the spa’s private pool.

The Love Is In The Air package is a Worthy-Approved experience. From the customization to the pioneering products that are at the forefront of the spa’s unique treatments, it all comes together to create a one-of-a-kind experience.

All ESPA products are known for their purity, potency and therapeutic qualities having been formulated using only the highest quality organically grown plants. Essential oils such as Neroli, Bulgarian Rose Otto, Palmerosa, Frankincense, Wild Chamomile, Lavender, Eucalyptus, Peppermint and Myrrh are delicately combined to work together in harmony, making them more powerful as blends than they would be on their own. In addition, each product can be used effectively by itself.

Treatments conclude with your therapist providing their personal recommendations to assist you in maintaining a healthy skin care regimen.

“All of our products are alcohol-free,” Acqualina spa therapy manager, Kimberly Cooke, said. “ESPA is a skin care pioneer.”

The Lifestage product line is viewed as the original archetype for intelligent skin care.

“The line has a natural encapsulation that allows the products to last over an eight-hour period. The products have a time release in them.”

Lifestage facials will minimize wrinkles and immediately improve hydration levels to reduce the appearance of redness and pigmentation.

Guests are sure to leave the luxurious spa feeling relaxed, confident and more importantly, loved.

“That is something that I am very proud of with my staff. They are very attentive and sincere with our guests and it shows in the service,” Bell said. “Our guests can feel that we care.”

 

Schedule your valentine’s day                                    WWW.ACQUALINA.COM

 

 

Our fashion director, David Michael, answers your fashion inquiries with his honest opinion which is sprinkled with his extensive professional experience. Our first write-in explores plus-size fashion.

 

I am a 20 something woman making my way through life. Like most 20-something women, I love fashion! I like to look good- hair, nails, make-up and all that jazz! Unlike the average 20 something woman, I am a dress size of 18. So of course, this makes shopping difficult. I miss out on all the designer collaborations ( Alexander Wang and H&M, Lilly Pulitzer for Target, etc) and I’m starting to think that this isn’t fair. Designers have long had a history of not catering to us women with something extra. Do they think we don’t want to be chic and fashionable? What do we have to do to get more plus sized clothes in store?

Xoxo

Pretty Plus Sized Princess

PS. LOVE the Magazine!

Dear Pretty Plus Sized Princess,

Here’s the problem,

I’ve worked in retail my entire life (went to college was an art major decided to stay in retail). I’m constantly hearing about plus size things not being available in a traditional “bricks and mortar” store.

I have worked every end of the retail spectrum and one thing I have noticed is (I have physically seen the numbers because that’s part of my job) plus size clothes do not move numbers like other departments. You would think so but they just don’t. What’s even more interesting to me, stores like Lane Bryant and Ashley Stuart sell REALLY nice clothes. Yes they are on the pricier side because you have to pay a little more for the fabric (depending on the fabric/garment the standard is about 2 yards). Those stores sell amazing clothes and yet and still plus size women shop there but not how they should (daily sales/goals and comps should blow thru the roof).

Most people are running to stores like H&M or Forever21 and though Forever has a plus size section, its still doesn’t offer a wide variety in comparison to what it offers through out the rest of the store.

You also have to consider the floor space. Let’s say we bring in a full presentation of plus size clothes to the floor and when we do, the clothes aren’t selling. Then what? Particularly with these designer collaborations, they are a one-time thing and they do them to drive sales. So, now I have to send back my stuff that didn’t sell. It first costs money to make the garment that didn’t sell, it cost money to ship it, and now it’s going to cost money to send it back? That’s why most retailers carry their plus size clothes online. When you order it online, it comes straight from the warehouse and they only ship it once.

My advice is to shop at the places that love you (I’m 6ft tall 225 lbs with large thighs and a large butt. I cannot wear H&M pants). My favorite spots are The Gap, Banana Republic, Thrift shops and JackThreads. Online shopping is your friend, it maybe a little bit of an inconvenience but wouldn’t you much rather have it than not?

These companies care about the bottom line and that is money. We have to vote with your dollars. If you can drive business online, they will bring it. Ask and you shall receive.

-DM

We have a few new short docuseries joining our roster for 2015. Here is a sneak peek. We hope that you are excited.

Worthy Magazine 2015 from Worthy Magazine on Vimeo.

Many people ask why I named the magazine Worthy and what Worthy is all about. I felt like the beauty issue was the ideal platform for me to elaborate on the magazine’s origins. Our loyal readers know that the inspiration came to me as I was listening to one of my favorite gospel songs by Cece Winans, “Worthy.” And even more know that I felt like I found confirmation for the name on the final episode of the “Oprah Winfrey” show. It was the last paragraph of her words that spoke to the insecurities in me that seemed to define the person I was up until that moment.

 

“We often block our own blessings because we don’t feel inherently good enough or smart enough or pretty enough or worthy enough. You’re worthy because you are born and because you are here. Your being here, your being alive makes worthiness your birthright. You alone are enough,” Oprah Winfrey.

 

I instantly recalled all the moments that I sold myself short because of doubt. I thought of how many great opportunities I missed because I counted myself out and for a moment, I wondered where I would’ve been if I had been more kind to myself. What opportunities would the universe have given me? I say all this to say that I find that the most beautiful people are the ones who are happy with themselves. Their happiness and confidence has not been built upon tearing someone else down or pointing out their faults, which we all have. The most beautiful people, to me, are the ones who believe that they are good enough, smart enough and worthy.

 

It was in that final lesson on my favorite talk show that I knew what the goal for Worthy Magazine would be. Worthy Magazine would be a multicultural publication for people 21 and up designed to inspire, affirm and celebrate our readers with a focus on reshaping the socially  accepted standards of beauty. The reshaping would focus largely on internalizing the definition beauty instead of getting caught up on the physical.

 

It’s a powerful thing to consider that your mind can alter something so permanent as your physical appearance but it can. I know everyone has noticed or met a person who upon first glance is extremely attractive and then the worst thing happens, they begin to speak. Instantaneously that person becomes less and less attractive.

 

Essentially I am saying that I am learning from rather difficult personal experience that the love we give ourselves can be seen by others. So hopefully this issue will be a nice supplement to aid you in being kind to yourself. Let the stories of the featured actors, entrepreneurs and dreamers inspire you. Let the brief calls to action motivate you.

 

 

 

 

Beauty is heritage, beauty is self perception, beauty is kindness. We are all capable of great beauty.

 

The latest issue of Worthy magazine is here. Check it out!!! We have interviews with Dania Ramirez, Lane Garrison, RJ Mitte, the creator of Flat Out of Heels and so much more. Not to mention our last minute gift guide will change your life.

 

 

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