They are having their summer sale – and some of their best sleepwear, casual wear and swimwear are on sale for 60 – 75 percent off.  That’s a lot of savings.

Our oldest ministaffer loves Barbara Graves Intimate Fashions.  She loves it because they carry some pretty hip casual wear – and she can fit into the smaller sizes.  In fact, we called upon Barbara to pick out a summer dress for our ministaffer when we were adding to our crew.  Barbara has impeccable taste and is one of the classiest women we know.  She knows what will look good on any woman’s body – including our 10 year old.

What she sent over was a modest, yet hip, terry cotton dress with blue and white designs.  It can be worn three different ways – and our ministaffer couldn’t have been more excited.  Plus, the dress looked really good on her.

So whether you need a gift, or you are shopping for yourself – the staff at Barbara Graves Intimate Fashions can help you find not only your perfect fit – but the perfect savings as well.  Check it out – before the deals are gone.

Barbara Graves Intimate Fashions
Breckenridge Village
(501) 227-5537
www.barbaragraves.com

This movie stars Steve Carrell – one of the funniest movie stars around.  His silliness is always a cure for the blues.  And along side him is Paul Rudd – another fine actor.

So what’s “Dinner with Schmucks” all about?  Well, quite simply, it’s just that – a dinner for so-called “schmucks.”  And you guessed it – Carrell is one of them!  Rudd plays an executive whose boss has monthly “dinners for idiots.”  The goal for each executive is to find the biggest idiot and bring them to the dinner – knowing that great rewards await if you’re the one with the biggest idiot.

Now, in reality, this doesn’t sound like the nicest thing to do.  But this is Hollywood, so we bet there’s a moral that comes along with the laughs.

Want to see it for free – and before it opens to the public on Friday?  Tomorrow night is your chance!  There’s a special preview – but only if you click the link below to get your pass.  There are a limited amount available – and once they are gone – they’re gone!  So get a babysitter.  Make it a date night.  Call your friends.  However you arrange it – tomorrow night should be for the movies!

“Dinner with Schmucks”
Special Preview
July 27, 2010
7:30 p.m.
Click here to get your pass and enter code HILRYZL9

Well, if you haven’t been to the Little Rock Zoo in a while, the time is now!  They’ve grown so much, and there are so many cool animals and exhibits for you to experience.

Plus, from now until August 1, if you dig up that old memory of your last visit to the Little Rock Zoo – it will mean a free entry for you or a guest!  Where is that old family photo album anyway?  We bet there are some great photos from long ago trips to the Little Rock Zoo stuck in there someplace.  But if you can’t find a photograph, don’t worry, just conjure up that old memory and write it down.

Were bell bottoms still in fashion?   Did you fall in with the monkeys?  Whatever the story and whatever the photograph – the Little Rock Zoo wants your old memories.

The oldest photograph will win a Zoo Membership for an entire year!  And there are also other categories for best story, best Polaroid, and many more.  So start dusting off those photographs … it’s time to go back to the Zoo!

You Haven’t Been to the Zoo in How Long?
Now through August 1, 2010
email photographs, testimonials, videos, etc to answers@zoowackyfacts.com.

Well, on Friday, join him at the Cox Creative Center for a brown bag lunch discussion about his new book and the reasons that shoes are really not good for us.

We know we have a shoe problem.  We love them too much.  Killer heels that are too tall sometimes for comfort will get the best of us – all in the name of fashion.  But Dr. Howell argues that we need to kick off our shoes more often.  Maybe we should even run barefoot!  (He does.)  And our overall foot health will improve considerably.  Interesting.

Our ministaffers would be all over this concept – as shoes are the last thing that’s important to them.  Maybe we should follow suit.  But first…let’s go hear him talk and read his book.  This sounds too good to be true!

The Barefoot Book: 50 Great Reasons to Kick Your Shoes Off
Book Talk & Signing
July 16, 2010
12:00 p.m.
Central Arkansas Library System’s
Cox Creative Center, 3rd Floor
120 River Market Avenue
Call (501) 918-3086 for more information.

But when the official holiday comes after the actual holiday – are all your parties over?  Are you wondering what to do with yourself?  Surely not.  Especially when there are a ton of sales going on all over town.

Yes, today should be a shopping day.  And whether that shopping is for you, your kids, or your significant other, you know there are things on that mental list of yours that you’ve been meaning to get out and acquire for some time.  Now’s that time.

Need a new swimsuit for that upcoming vacation?  You’ve waited long enough for Barbara Graves Intimate Fashions to put all of their swimsuits and coverups on sale.  You’ve got no excuses now.

Looking for something chic and hot (in the cool sense of the word) to wear to that next summer party?  Barbara/Jean is letting you spin the wheel for a chance at up to 75% off.

What about all those hostess gifts you’re going to need as the party season gets kicked off soon?  The summer sale at The Crown Shop is the time to stock up on great gifts for the entire year.

Yes, there are sales galore going on around town.  So take advantage of this holiday and get out and shop local!

Green Earth Pharmacy is a wonderful concept of providing not only traditional Western pharmaceuticals, but offering many homeopathic remedies right along side them.  The consumer can become educated on what works best for their body, and make their own choice.  Now there’s a concept!

Founder Linda Bortell is a doctor of pharmacy. ”We are so excited to bring a truly natural pharmacy to downtown Little Rock.  The support we have had in opening Green Earth Pharmacy has been tremendous.  There is truly no other pharmacy like it,” she told us recently.  And she’s right.

This is the only LEED Certified pharmacy in the state.  They provide a valuable service of allowing customers to bring back expired or unwanted prescriptions for environmentally responsible disposal.  Linda is also a lactation consultant, and the pharmacy provides lactation support for breastfeeding mothers, as well as an entire section of products just for new and expectant moms.

If that’s not enough, there’s massage therapy, yoga, and meditation offered, along with all of the normal things you’d find in any quality pharmacy.  So, we encourage you to stop by and see what makes Green Earth Pharmacy so unique in it’s concept and offerings.  We think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Green Earth Pharmacy
405 E. Third Street
(501) 246-3296
Monday – Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
www.greenearthpharmacy.com

Well, good thing we’ve all got a week to still get out there and plan a nice day for dad – or at least get our gifts bought and wrapped.  What are you getting those special men in your life?

Here are a few suggestions of gifts we’ve found around town that might just fit the bill:

Humor.  Yes – sometimes life deserves a little humor.  So instead of the standard tie this year, how about a holder for his golf balls that says, “It takes balls to golf…”  Oh, that’s bad, isn’t it?  But it’s pretty good, too!  And if Dad likes to golf and has a funny bone, this might be a great gift to start the day off with – paired with time off to play a round of golf at his favorite course.  Available at The Crown Shop, 1-430 & Rodney Parham.  (501) 227-8442.

Useful.  Sometimes we all need something useful.  But useful can also be fun. How about a racquet shaped contraption that kills mosquitoes and other biting bugs when you swing it about you?  Yes, every man we know would really get a kick out of that.  Useful and fun: the perfect combination.  Available at Eggshells Kitchen Company, 5705 Kavanaugh Blvd. (501) 664-6900.

Memorable.  What do you get the man who has everything?  Remember him through your favorite charity by sending a donation in his name.  He’ll get a nice card telling him about your act of kindness, and you’ll give a gift that gives twice.  Some of our favorites:  The Centers for Youth & Families, The Arkansas Rice Depot, and Heifer International.

But whatever you decide – always remember to let Dad know that you love him all year long!

We’ve been to lots of great spas around town, but last week the appointments were made at a new one: Ethereal Spa in the Heights.  We walked in, picked our colors, and went to the back of the spa to the chairs.

Oh my.  These were the most luscious chairs we’d every seen.  The leather was soft.  And they massaged every part of our aching backs, legs, and shoulders.  We really could have lost ourselves just in those chairs alone.

Then we were asked what kind of pedicure we wanted.  We learned that there are three kinds of pedicures available:  the regular pedicure; a deluxe pedicure with a leg scrub and paraffin wax soak for your feet; and then the ultimate: a hot rock pedicure – which included everything else plus a hot rock massage.

We, of course, opted for the hot rock pedicure, since we knew our feet needed lots of help to start the summer off right.  And it was certainly worth it.  Our nails were expertly trimmed and our calves and feet never felt so soft after the scrub and wax treatment.  But the hot rocks certainly made the whole experience truly luxurious.

As we left Ethereal, we knew we’d be back.  The staff was friendly and accommodating; our feet felt – and looked – the best they have in a long time; and the time we spent with our friend was priceless.

Ethereal Spa
5602 R Street
(501) 663-8882

And with Memorial Day just a week away – we know we’re going to be spending more and more time by the pool.  But that’s okay with us – we love summer and we love our pool.

But each year we struggle with what kind of glassware to use at the pool.  Not only when we entertain, but when it’s just us as well.  Styrofoam is cute, but it’s terrible for the environment.  Glass is fab – but when it breaks – that’s a nightmare for us all.  And we hadn’t found the right plasticware – until now.

A few weeks ago we were at Eggshells Kitchen Co. in the Heights and had a wonderful visit with proprietor Heather Smith.  Our ministaffers had found some very colorful drinking glasses in plastic, and we liked them, too.  Come to find out – the glasses are by Bentley Plastics – and they are an Arkansas product!  We were more intrigued now – because we’re always looking for great Arkansas products to try out and support.

These glasses come in so many fun colors, and they are BPA free – so you’re not hurting the environment, either.  Plus, they come with a break-free guarantee.  If one of these glasses cracks or breaks – bring it back for a replacement.  How’s that for a deal?

We are loving our new pool glasses.  They have added a new burst of color to our poolside refreshments – and knowing that ministaffers and adults alike can’t hurt them is always welcome at our house.  We’re thrilled we’ve discovered a new product made in Arkansas that’s so great – and just in time for our Memorial Day entertaining!

ColorWare Drinking Glasses
by Bentley Plastics
Available at Eggshells Kitchen Co.
5705 Kavanaugh Blvd.
(501) 664-6900
www.eggshellskitchenco.com