Our “Pawsitively Elegant” Collection Chosen for Academy Awards

On March 6th 2010, Secret Room Events hosted their annual Style Lounge in honor of the 82nd Academy Awards and benefiting City of Hope (www.cityofhope.org). Invited guests included Academy Award nominees, presenters, producers, directors and stylists as well as media and press. The Intercontinental Hotel Century City will be the chosen location for Secret Room Events Academy Awards Style Lounge, providing the luxury, ambiance and privacy needed for such an exclusive event.

Celebrities relaxed in style and enjoyed refreshments and specialty drinks from Two Parts Sugar, D’ Anbino Cellars, Clarine’s Florentines, Function Drinks, Zico Coconut Water and Honest Tea. A special spa lounge was on site to get nominees “red carpet ready, thanks to El Leon Spa, Mobile Spa LA and Treats For The Face. Massage, pedicures, manicures, eyelash extension and custom spray tans are just some of the services nominees choose from.

Lucky guests walked away with amazing gifts from the following sponsors: Frederique-Constant, Barbados Tourism Authority, Francesca Miranda, Castelnuovo d’Aiassa, Lexli International, Jennifer Keagle MD, Dr. Gram Inc, Sweet Prince Design, Alter Ego by Erika Walton, Hylunia, Swiss Cosmet, “Read Between The Lines” by Shawn Edgington, Lip Ink, Camacho Cigars, Fanie International, Iso Beauty, Eufora, Boho Magazine, Johnny Rockets, Silhouette, Monavie, Social Savvy and Errienne Designs. Gift bags will also be available to guests and will include gifts from: Rachel Tribble, New Beauty, Coolchange, Simply Slender, Defining Designs/CMS, Bungee Puppee, Cosmedical Technologies, Cosabella, Trapp Garden Candles, Calleen Cordero, Ferragamo, SKN Beverly Hills, Buddha Board, Parnu “The Gurdle”, Fruitology, Urban Fox, Calvet Cosmetics, BFTE Cosmetics, Cellcosmet Cellmen Switzerland, Revision Skincare, Spa Intercontinental, Fundora Dental, Kettle Foods, Pirate Brands, Fess Parkers Wine Country Inn and Spa, Azulik Eco Resort and Santa Ynez Inn.

As the non-profit of choice, City of Hope, one of the nation’s leading cancer research and treatment centers, was on hand at the Academy Awards Style Lounge to capture video of celebrity arrivals, greetings for patients in their hospitals and accept donations. Guests were encouraged to autograph a gift bag full of sponsors’ products, which will be auctioned off to benefit lifesaving research, treatment and education programs at City Of Hope.

Secret Room Events Press Release

Raised Dog Feeders Help Against Bloat

Using an elevated dog feeder reduces the air your dog ingests while eating and drinking.  This in turn helps avoid stomach bloat which is the second leading cause of death in dogs.

“In bloat (dilatation), due to a number of different and sometimes unknown reasons, the stomach fills up with air and puts pressure on the other organs and diaphragm. The pressure on the diaphragm makes it difficult for the dog to breathe. The air-filled stomach also compresses large veins in the abdomen, thus preventing blood from returning to the heart. Filled with air, the stomach can easily rotate on itself, thus pinching off its blood supply. Once this rotation (volvulus) occurs and the blood supply is cut off, the stomach begins to die and the entire blood supply is disrupted and the animal’s condition begins to deteriorate very rapidly. ” PetEducation.com

Secondly, it allows our dogs to eat at a more natural level which reduces the strain on the neck, back muscles, and joints.  The height from these feeders allows a dog to stand more naturally, eliminating the need for dogs to crouch down.  This is especially beneficial for larger dogs, seniors or dog with arthritis.

Lastly, a raised dog feeder will keep their eating area cleaner.  At Defining Designs you can purchase a custom made feeder in your choice of height, color, dog embellishments, number of bowls, etc.  They are not only beautiful and enhance your home, but they are also healthier for your dog.  Whether you have show dogs, are a celebrity that lavishes your pets, or someone who has a rescue dog … these raised dog feeders would be a great addition to your home.

Since our items are one-of-a-kind we always invite custom orders.  For your convenience we take Visa, Mastercard and Discover as well as PayPal.  The “Pawsitively Elegant” collection is a division of Defining Designs by cms where you can find more beautiful custom mosaics for the home, office, garden and pets.  Click here for other unique and handmade items for your home.

Foods Dangerous to Dogs

Most dogs love food, and they’re especially attracted to what they see us eating. While sharing the occasional tidbit with your dog is fine, it’s important to be aware that some foods can be very dangerous to dogs. Take caution to make sure your dog never gets access to the foods below. Even if you don’t give him table scraps, your dog might eat something that’s hazardous to his health if he raids kitchen counters, cupboards and trash cans. For advice on teaching your dog not to steal food, please see our article, Counter Surfing and Garbage Raiding.  To read more and to get the specific foods go to http://www.aspcabehavior.org/articles/71/Foods-That-Are-Hazardous-to-Dogs-.aspx.

ASPCA

Pet Boutique

Riley’s “Pawsitively Elegant” pet collection, a division of Defining Designs, was featured in the Pet Boutique Blog today.  Check out their web site at http://thepetboutiqueblog.blogspot.com/ to see wonderful pet items for your dog.

What Should I Look For in a Raised Dog Feeder?

If your dog is your best friend and companion, this is a very important question.  There are many types of dog feeders on the market (wood, metal, plain, colorful …) but which one best suits your family?

First you should determine the size based upon the height of your dog.  A raised dog feeder should go up to your dogs chest.  It should be something that not only feeds your dog, but that is part of your decor; one that defines who your dog is and the style of your home.  Do you prefer the look of metal?  wood?  or would you rather have one that is colorful with stained glass, dog embellishments and gems?  It’s all personal preference.

What are the benefits for my dog?  Using a raised dog feeder reduces the air your dog ingests while eating and drinking.  This in turn helps avoid stomach bloat which is the second leading cause of death in dogs.

“In bloat (dilatation), due to a number of different and sometimes unknown reasons, the stomach fills up with air and puts pressure on the other organs and diaphragm. The pressure on the diaphragm makes it difficult for the dog to breathe. The air-filled stomach also compresses large veins in the abdomen, thus preventing blood from returning to the heart. Filled with air, the stomach can easily rotate on itself, thus pinching off its blood supply. Once this rotation (volvulus) occurs and the blood supply is cut off, the stomach begins to die and the entire blood supply is disrupted and the animal’s condition begins to deteriorate very rapidly. ” PetEducation.com

Secondly, it allows our dogs to eat at a more natural level which reduces the strain on the neck, back muscles, and joints.  The height from these feeders allows a dog to stand more naturally, eliminating the need for dogs to crouch down.  This is especially beneficial for larger dogs, seniors or dog with arthritis.

When looking for a raised dog feeder you should also take into account the physical build of your dog.  If your dog has long flowing hair or ears such as an afghan you might consider a dog feeder with one bowl to allow their hair to flow over the edges.  If your dog has a short muzzle such as a boston terrior or pug you might consider a dog feeder that has a bowl that isn’t too deep, but instead wider to help them with eating.

Consider the personality of the dog.  If your dog likes to drag his/her bowls around the yard or chew on his bowl you might want to avoid ceramic or stained glass feeders.  A more durable steel feeder would be more practical.  Some pet owners would prefer to have an automatic dog feeder which will dispense food at intervals throughout the day.

Lastly, a raised dog feeder will keep their eating area cleaner.  At Defining Designs you can purchase a custom made feeder in your choice of height, color, dog embellishments, number of bowls, etc.  Each one is handmade with stained glass that has been ground on the sides to prevent sharp edges, gems, etc.  They are not only beautiful and enhance your home, but they are also healthier for your dog.  Whether you have show dogs, are a celebrity that lavishes your pets, or someone who has a rescue dog … these raised dog feeders would be a great addition to your home.

Defining Designs Featured on Mosaic Art 5 CD

Defining Designs is proud to have both pieces in our genocide collection included in this e-book on CD-ROM which features a collective portfolio of contemporary mosaic art created in 2009. 1357 full-size photographs of mosaic in all mosaic materials and styles – by 771 artists from around the world. It’s an inspiration, an education- and a celebration of the creativity of contemporary mosaic art!

Christmas Ideas For Your Pet

The Holiday Food and Gift Festival went great, especially for our “Pawsitively Elegant” pet collection which sold out!  We are currently creating new pet items for those avid pet lovers and look forward to having them on our web site shortly.   In case you are a new member of our blog family, let me share with you some of the many items we design for your pets.  If there is something we don’t currently offer, please let us know and we can try to accommodate your needs with a custom order.

Welcome to Riley’s “Pawsitively Elegant” mosaic pet collection.  Your pet deserves the very best!  What better way than to give them a one-of-a-kind personalized raised dog feeder, a dog leash holder to hold their favorite leash and attire, a dog frame to show off their beautiful portrait, a dog treat jar to hold their favorite treats or a dog bowl with personality.  We use stained glass that has been hand cut and ground on the sides to prevent sharp edges, gems, decorative tiles, dog embellishments, etc.  We put only the very best into your furry friends accessories.

Having a family pet doesn’t mean you can’t blend their accessories with your decor and do it with style.  Rather than having a hook on the wall, get a custom designed leash holder using the colors of your home and pet.

Not only are the raised pet feeders beautiful and colorful, research has found that raised pet feeders are more comfortable for your pet and will increase the cleanliness in your feeding area.  They promote better posture, better digestion, reduce stress on the forearm and wrist area, as well as the hip and shoulder areas.  Essential for dogs with neck or back problems, elevated feeders will make swallowing less difficult for your pet.  They also help to reduce gulping, excessive air intake, choking and gagging.

Since our items are one-of-a-kind we always invite custom orders.  For your convenience we take Visa, Mastercard and Discover as well as PayPal.  The “Pawsitively Elegant” collection is a division of Defining Designs by cms where you can find more beautiful custom mosaics for the home, office, garden and pets.  Click here for other unique and handmade items for your home.

Genocide Awareness Series

The Whole Foods Market at 870 S. Colorado Blvd had an Eco-Friendly Art Exhibition (Green #5) to Launch Earth Month 2009 for the months of April and May.  In addition, as part of Genocide Awareness month artist, Brenda Halverson, had two genocide awareness pieces displayed from her series called “Through a Lense”.  “The women and children who have been repeatedly raped, sometimes until unconscious, and those who have died or lost everything they own, deserve to have their voices heard.  I will be their voice and help educate and bring awareness to the world”.  Brenda Halverson

The Darfur region of Sudan is the site of an ongoing genocide and the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Since 2003, the government of Sudan and its Janjaweed militias have executed a systematic campaign of mass murder, rape, and starvation against the black African tribes of Darfur. President Clinton was in office when 800,000 Rwandans were murdered during his tenure. President George W. Bush was in office when 450,000 people from Darfur were killed on his watch and now President Obama can show his willingness to bring “Change” to our country and step forward to stop this inhumanity.

Many designate April as Genocide Awareness Month because April 24 is generally the designated Genocide Remembrance Day for Armenians, Holocaust Remembrance Day is April 15th, and Darfur & Rwanda are also commemorated in April.  Next month (April) is the 15th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda where 800,000 – 1,000,000 perished in 100 days.  The United States and the United Nations promised “never again” after Rwanda, yet we are not doing enough to come to the aid of those in Darfur.  The Khartoum government has obstructed access to Darfur and blocked international efforts to establish a relief program.  The crises in the Darfur Region of Sudan has claimed as many as 450,000 lives, displaced 2.5 million people and left up to 4 million dependent on outside aid. On March 4th 2009, the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for the arrest of President of Sudan Omer Al-Bashir. Within hours, Al-Bashir ordered 13 humanitarian aid groups out from Darfur and Sudan.  He is sentencing them to death by refusing to allow aid groups to help them.

Mosaic Artists Using Recycled items for Art

Sometimes we become spoiled by the simplicities in America and pay no mind to what happens when the trash gets picked up on trash day.  We go off to work knowing that when we return, the garbage can will be empty and the cycle will begin yet again for another week.

Behind the scenes our trash gets taken to a material recovery facility where 55% will go to a landfill, 13% will be burned and turned into energy, and the remaining 32% is used for compost or reused.  A portion of our garbage will be eaten by microbs.  Americans generate trash at a rate of 251 million tons per year.  This is twice as much trash per person as most other countries.  Landfills are not designed to break down trash, merely to bury it.  When a landfill closes because it’s full, the trash remains and the groundwater is monitored for up to 30 years.

What Can We Do?

Recycle products once thought of as junk and give them new purpose!  Artists love these objects and find creative uses turning junk into beautiful and one of a kind art.  Items can be given or acquired on places such as www.craigslist.com or www.freecycle.com.

Mosaics can be put on any surface whether it’s an old table, stepping stone, old windows, concrete blocks or a vase.  Items used are limitless whether broken china, mirrors, tiles, glass, stones, gems, empty wine bottles, bottle caps, wood or metal.  You are only limited by your imagination.

Because of the diversity in materials used, mosaic artists styles are as different as the items they use to create art.  To view our work you can visit www.definingdesignsbycms.com.  We would love to answer any questions you may have or you can request a special order which you can give your loved one just in time for Christmas.