The 2011 Audrey’s Night Out tickets are selling out fast but we’ve got you covered!

Audrey Magazine is giving away ONE (1) pair of tickets to this fabulous event which will include:

Fierce fashion show with some of the hottest designers — Anh Volcek, Truth and Pride, Eryn Brinie, Blue Tassel, Saja, Onanong Swimwear, and Dalia MacPhee.

Catch special performances by dance crew KABA MODERN, international girl pop phenom BLUSH, and deejaying by Peter Rocks of MY NINJA!

Enjoy open bar courtesy of Ketel One and nosh on delectables from The Novel Cafe, Cafe Bleu, CJ Foods, and King of New York.

All you have to do to win is one of the following:

TWEET: “Come to @audreymagazine’s #audreynightout! http://nightout2011.audreymagazine.com/”

FACEBOOK: “Come to @audreymagazine’s #audreynightout! http://nightout2011.audreymagazine.com/”

COMMENT below!

Giveaway ends Saturday, September 10th @ 11:59PM PST.

Good luck and hope to see you there! (Don’t worry, even if you don’t win, you can purchase tickets here.)

Do you like to make a statement or do you like to keep it subtle? Either way, there’s something for you in this week’s TGIFree Friday giveaway, featuring stellar jewelry designer Jenny Dayco.

Giveaway 1: Light Blue Round Swarovski Crystal Earrings.

Continue Reading »

Happy Friday! And this is an especially good Friday because 1) it’s a long weekend (thanks goodness for presidents!), and 2) it’s Audrey‘s TGIFree Friday Giveaway! And we’ve got to admit — this is a good one!

Now, we’ve been featuring a lot of musicians within our pages and on our site lately — everyone from YouTube sensation Joseph Vincent to super hip The Go! Team (read about them in our upcoming Spring 2011 issue) to the pioneering, trailblazing Far East Movement (how many number ones so far?). So I’ve been doing a lot of listening to music of late. The problem is I’m listening to it on my pathetic computer speaker (and yet they still sound so good!). Nonetheless, if the Asian American breakthrough in mainstream music keeps up, I’m gonna have to get myself a decent set of speakers.

Oh, how nice it’d be to have the Speakal iCrystal iPod speakers. I mean, sooo cute! A unique illuminated globe that makes me feel like I’m a character in Gattaca or in the U.S.S. Enterprise (and yes, I mean the ’70s version) and yet it’s super modern too. A space-age teardrop glowing in ambient blue light, a remote control, and a 3.5mm aux input jack that connects to your TV, gaming console or other music sources. (Hey, it was awarded “Best of Show” docking station in CES 2010 by iLounge, so it’s got to be pretty badass.)

It retails for $80 at Speakal.com, but we have it for one lucky Audrey reader!

This giveaway is so good, it’s open to Audrey subscribers only (and why wouldn’t you be? You’re here, aren’t you? We know you’re not a freeloader!). All you have to do is comment on three of our archived stories from Audrey Magazine (click on the “Magazine” category above and it’ll take you to our archives from past issues, or for a list of archived stories, click on the “Archives” category), and then tell us which ones you commented on here. Best comments wins! You have till Wednesday February 23, 2011, 11:59 pm to comment, and you must have a U.S. mailing address to win. Good luck!

Hello Kitty's canine cousin lives her sparkly, dog days in New York City.

Air Bud, Wallace’s Gromit, Scooby-Doo, and Paris Hilton’s Tinkberbell are all bona fide cuddly celebrities who probably even have their own representatives in Hollywood. Not trailing far along is Rebecca Bonbon, an adopted Parisian bulldog who lives the sweet New Yorker life that entails dining on bonbons, traveling and shopping.

Born in 2005, Rebecca Bonbon owes her posh life to Yuko Shimizu, the same hands that created Sanrio character Hello Kitty 36 years ago.

Bonbon's creator, Yuko Shimizu, retired from Sanrio in 1976 and currently works as a freelance designer.

The rightful owner of Bonbon, Shimizu, worked at Sanrio Co., Ltd. from 1969 to 1976 after she graduated from Musashino Art University in Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan. She drew inspiration from the cats in Through the Looking Glass and decided to sketch the former Hello Kitty we now know and love. Soon Shimizu left the company  to start a family of her own. And now, as an independent designer, she introduces Hello Kitty’s canine cousin to Hollywood.

The Bonbon merch has been seen on It girls such as Ashley Tisdale, Kim Kardashian, and Olivia Munn, shown here.

Enamored yet? We’re giving away a giant goody bag filled with decadent wintry items just released for the pup’s holiday line. It includes a v-neck with rhinestones, scarf, wallet, hat, gloves, beanie, and earmuffs. It’s a giveaway anyone would surely want to have their hands (or paws on). For a taste and look into the luxurious life of Rebecca Bonbon, comment on three different posts on AudreyMagazine.com and tell us which posts you commented on. (You must have a U.S. mailing address to win!)

The faux snakeskin tote bag could be one of the many goodies you could win!

Rebecca Bonbon made its American launch in 2010, so to guarantee merch for yourself, you can visit your local Kmart, Sears, or the official Rebecca Bonbon website here: http://www.usarebeccabonbon.com/.

May 2011 be a year of love, happiness, prosperity and Audrey for you and your loved ones.

We’re helping you kick off your New Year right. The first 10 comments to this post will get a free subscription, either for you or for a friend. So share with us one New Year’s resolution that you will be (or should be making) to better yourself. (Mine is to reconnect with and nurture long-neglected friends … and also to take a Photoshop class!)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

After viewing the private screening of indie film Noy, I got to bring home a souvenir goody bag. But don’t worry — there were plenty of extras, so I decided to ask for additional bags for Audrey Magazine readers because ‘tis the season of giving!

The docu-drama from the Philippines is about a breadwinner journalist-via-fake-diploma who captures the presidential campaign of current President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.

For more information on the movie and the event I attended, check out my post here.

Noy is a contender for an Oscar nomination under the Foreign Language Category, but we won’t find out the official nominations for the 83rd Academy Awards until January 25. The actual ceremony will broadcast on February 27.

It may be a couple of months before we hear about the nominees, but you’ll be able to check out the film yourself — the DVD, among other things, is in the goody bag — if you are one of two lucky Audrey readers who win this week’s TGIFree Friday giveaway.

A Noy movie poster shirt, a notepad (so you can take down your own journalistic notes) and a DVD copy of the entire film can all be yours!

To win:

1) Look through AudreyMagazine.com and comment on three separate posts. (An @audreymagazine retweet will also count as a comment!)

2) On the comments section below THIS post, tell us which three posts you commented.

Giveaway submissions end Wednesday, December 8, 11:59 pm. As usual, a U.S. mailing address is required.

Good luck!

I know, I know. But we have to keep our readers on their toes! We get so many great offers from great vendors, we had to throw in an awesome giveaway mid-week. And this one’s just in time for the holidays.

The Spa at Equinox in Century City, Calif., is one posh spa. Sure, they’ve got your usual massages and facials. But what about their Equinox Solstice Aquatherapy, where your own Bath Butler creates a customized bath to address your wellness needs? Or the Advanced Total Body Resurfacing, a state-of-the-art head-to-toe treatment to get rid of wrinkles, brown spots and sagging skin? Or the heavenly sounding BodyMelt, using a patented blend of stimulation and specialized products to provide immediate inch less and muscle tone? The urban getaway provides a modern and innovative approach to wellness, addressing the specific needs of their clientele. And of course, all spa guests enjoy complimentary valet parking, use of the state of the art fitness facility, indoor Jacuzzis, steam room, and sauna on the day of their service. Get more info on the spa here.

A spa room at The Spa at Equinox. Photo by Audrey Cho.

And now the Spa is offering you, the readers of Audrey Magazine, 20 percent off any of their amazing spa services. All you have to do is mention this offer when you book.

Even better, one lucky winner will receive a complimentary 50-min Cranberry Sugar Body Polish. All you have to do is email your full name and email address to centurycityspa@equinoxfitness.com by Friday, November 19, 2010, 11:59 p.m., and then comment below.

P.S. All entrants and the winner must be 18 or older. The winner must get their body polish at the Spa at Equinox before December 31, 2010.

Good luck!

Last night was the press preview party for Small Gift L.A., a 10-day carnival full of Hello Kitty and Sanrio goodness in Santa Monica, Calif. Wow, was it a doozy! Hello Kitty goodness galore! From Kitty cars to Kitty art to a giant Kitty ferris wheel and miniature golf course. We gorged ourselves on free Pink’s hotdogs and Beard Papa’s cream puffs, played free Ms. Pac-man and Galaga, and got gussied up with Hello Kitty’s new makeup line launching at Sephora in January. I felt like I was 8 again (and in a very, very good way).

Don’t worry if you missed it. Not only is the carnival free until November 21, they’re having a special nerd party this Saturday the 13th.

You may not have been able to attend the fat press preview party, but we snagged three extra gift bags just for our readers! It includes Small Gift, Sanrio’s exclusive 50th Anniversary book, and a whole slew of the cutest, happiest, cutest (did I mention cutest?) happy-goodness I’ve seen in a long time.

To win:

1) Look through our previous posts and comment on three of them.

2) On the comments section below THIS post, tell us which three posts you commented on AND tell me who your favorite Sanrio character was growing up (mine were Keroppi, Little Twin Stars, and of course, My Melody — I’m old school that way)

We will select the best comments to win. An @audreymagazine tweet will also count as a comment! Giveaway submissions end Wednesday, November 17, 11:59 pm. As usual, a U.S. mailing address is required.

Good luck! (And more info on carnival here and on the nerd party below.)

The month of October is known for many things: Halloween, the middle of Fall, Columbus Day.

It also happens to be National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

In 2009, the American Cancer Society estimated that there were 192,370 new cases of breast cancer in the U.S. and 40,170 deaths.

Since 1980, cancer has been the leading killer among Asian American women. Though Asian American women are not as prone to breast cancer compared to most other ethnic groups in the United States, they do get it more frequently than their counterparts in Asian countries, who have the lowest overall breast cancer rates in the world.

By raising awareness to this cancer, women everywhere are empowering, encouraging and enlightening each other. We’re acknowledging that yes, cancer sucks but no, you don’t have to go through it alone.

There are many companies out there raising awareness for breast cancer through their products. Let’s check them out.

		Elemis Sparkling Beauty Collection $95.00 Get remarkable skin and help in the fight against breast cancer with this stunning new collection from Elemis housed in a reusable hot pink makeup case. Elemis Breast Cancer Collection contains: Elemis’ cult-favorite Pro-Collagen Marine Cream 30 ml, Pro-Collagen Lifting Treatment Neck and Bust 15 ml, Visible Brilliance 10ml, Cellular Recovery Capsules (14 caps), NEW Eau de Parfum 5ml From September 6, 2010 – December 2010 $10 from each kit will go directly to Living Beyond Breast Cancer, a non-profit organization offering specialized programs and services to all women affected by breast cancer.

		Emily Elizabeth studs $50 Bring awareness to breast cancer this October with Emily Elizabeth Jewelry! These gorgeous ribbon Awareness Studs are offered in pink gold. 40% of the proceeds benefit the Feel Your Boobies Foundation throughout this October.

		Necklace from J-Lynn Jewelry $65.00 A 16-18″ adjustable Sterling Silver chain holds a strong message of Love and Support for finding a cure for breast cancer. Honor a loved one who has either conquered the disease or sadly has passed with a sterling silver initial charm, silver ribbon and pink topaz drop. Or, wear your own initial as a sign of courage and strength. $10 from the sale of this necklace will be donated to the charity of your choice in honor of you, your friend or family member.

		Vonny Tote $78.00 This multi-use, over the shoulder tote is perfect for all the multitasking women out there. For any product that people purchase in the Pink Mardi Gras print in October, Vonny will give 20% back to the Susan G Komen foundation.

		CHI Helmet Head $14.99 Part of the CHI Thermal styling collection, Helmet Head Extra Firm Hair Spray locks in style and protects against wind, moisture and humidity. For the months of September and October, CHI Helmet Head, Farouk Systems’ best selling hairspray, will come in Breast Cancer pink packaging. A portion of each Limited Edition Pink CHI Helmet Head sold will be donated to support breast cancer research.

		China Glaze Nail Polish Collection$6.50/bottle This strong China Glaze collection is called “Fight Like a Woman” and the colors are Encouragement, Empowerment, and Endurance. Portions of sales of China Glaze donates to the International Agency on Cancer (IARC).
		Afterglow’s Organize Lip Love Lipstick in MUSE For the past four years, organic makeup company Afterglow Cosmetics, has been dedicated to supporting breast causes across the United States. This year, the breast cancer organization recipient will be Young Survival Coalition which will receive $2 for every purchase of Afterglow¹s Organic Lip Love Lipstick in MUSE.

Loving what you see? It could be yours! Our TGI Free Friday next week will consist of an AMAZING packet of goodies helping to raise Breast Cancer Awareness. We’ll also be doing random giveaways throughout the week so follow @audreymagazine on Twitter and Facebook and check back to win!

Everyone likes free stuff but don’t you like it even better when it’s going to a good cause?

The 11th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival is hitting Southern California next weekend (October 21-28) with an impressive lineup of Asian and Asian American films aiming to connect audiences to the human experience though the Pan Asian media arts. The weeklong festival is jam-packed with everything including captivating panels from Youtube pioneers and Asian American stars to mixers and cast after-parties. And, lest we forget, films, films and more films!

Since its inception in 2000, Audrey has been a long-time fan of the San Diego Asian Film Festival and we think you should enjoy it too.  That’s why we are giving away 5 pairs of tickets to Audrey readers!

To win, comment below your favorite Asian American cinematic experience. This can include shorts, documentaries, musicals and music videos.  You have until Monday, Oct. 18 11:59PM to win. GOOD LUCK!

The San Diego Asian Film Festival is an annual event of the San Diego Asian Film Foundation. Our mission is to connect audiences to the human experience through the Pan Asian media arts. We’ve been around since 2000, premiering films from around the world. Our emphasis is on Asian American cinema, but we also showcase international films, along with shorts, documentaries, and animation. Along with films, patrons will be able to meet and speak with filmmakers and actors, enjoy meaningful discussions, hear live music, and enjoy nightly parties. Most of all, we pride ourselves in being a well-organized, friendly festival made of people who are passionate about life, learning…and having FUN! For more info, check out the site here.