Anyone up for a little girl time at the spa? Oh, everyone?! Well, one of you (and your very grateful bestie!) will be the lucky winner of a little pampering. Invigo Day Spa – which was recently voted “Best Day Spa in Cobb County” – is giving away a Custom BFF Package to one LBD|LRW fan. The winner and her friend will each get to choose their desired one-hour treatment (can be the same or different) from the following list:

• Essential Cleansing, Gentleman’s, Acne or Teen Facial

• 60-Minute Swedish, Sports or Deep Tissue Massage

• 60-Minute Head, Hands and Feet Massage

• 60-Minute Energetic Stretch

• Hand & Foot Treatment

• Body Polish Treatment

• Water Lily Cooling Wrap

We are sure that with one visit you will fall into L.O.V.E. with Invigo, the luxurious haven of serenity in East Cobb. While the atmosphere is wonderful, the people and their level of service are even better! So enter today and tell ALL of your friends to do the same (and to take you with them if they win!!).

the giveaway:

Entering is easy!

1. Go to Invigo’s Facebook page.

2. “Like” their page and leave a comment.

3. Come back here and tell us you did it!

the guide:

location: 2550 Sandy Plains Road, Suite 125, Marietta, 30066

phone: 678.905.7377

website: invigodayspa.com

the winner:

Random.org picked Kristen Hasbrouck as the winner of an original shutter headboard by Linen Flower Studios. Kristen, ENJOY your one-of-a-kind creation!! (Jealous…just a tad.) And thank you, Linen Flower Studios, for a fabulous giveaway!

the goods:

Win this simply incredible handmade shutter piece {shown left} by Linen Flower Studios. Valued at $300, it can be used as a headboard for a full-sized bed, hung behind a sofa for some architectural drama, or used in a mudroom or kitchen to hang photos or reminders. We. Are. In. Love!!!

the giveaway:

To enter to win this beauty for your home, simply:

1. Visit Linen Flower Studio’s website: www.linenflowerstudios.com.

2. Comment below, telling us either your favorite Linen Flower piece - or- what piece of yours you’d love to have refinished by Linen Flower Studios. {We love the monogrammed firescreens–oh my!!}

But before you jet, you just have to meet the fabulous artist behind this piece. Her life is simply looooovely!

The lovely Martha Alberti

the artist:

We’d like to introduce you to Martha Alberti, the talented artiste behind Linen Flower Studios, whose gorgeous furnishings and home accessories can be found in local shops, including Ivy and Twine and The Magnolia Room in Marietta. Here’s a bit more about Martha– a truly inspiring lady with a romantic French past (and talented French husband to boot).

LBD|LRW: What inspired the name of your company, Linen Flower Studios?

Martha: Why would I name my furniture-painting business something better suited to an enterprise selling towels and sheets? The reason is a bit sentimental: I spent many happy years living in a cottage in the heart of Normandy surrounded by fields awash in the ephemeral blue flower that linen produces in late spring.

Linen fields in bloom.

The name also reflects my favorite palettes of Paris gray, taupe and French blue which go so well with antique linens and the natural interiors that are so much in fashion these days.

LBD|LRW: Tell us a bit more about your life in France. It sounds romantically perfect!

Martha: My husband Fabrice is French, and altogether amazing. We lived in France together for 15 years, raising our children in Normandy. There, we worked as artists, learning and mastering high-end decor techniques. Now, we live back in America, in Marietta, where we are still both pursuing artist careers: me through Linen Flower Studios, and my husband through a career as a set painter and artist for the TV and movie industry in Atlanta. He currently paints sets and commissioned portraits for The Vampire Diaries.

Linen Flower Studios' monogrammed firescreen

LBD|LRW: Do you miss France, or are you glad to be back in America?

Martha: Although I have precious memories of my past in France, I live by the motto: “Start where you are, use what you have, and do what you can.” Marietta is a community that believes in itself and supports its local businesses. This is where I am…and what a lovely place to use what I have and do what I can!

LBD|LRW: Your technique for repurposing furniture is dimensional and just, well, fabulous! There’s so much depth to your finishes, above and beyond typical paint-distress-done pieces. What’s your secret?

Martha: My paint finishes are designed to have depth and patina using a combination of technique, paint and hand tinted waxes. Slight or pronounced imperfections and distressing add to the charm of my artisan finishes.

LBD|LRW: And you apply these artisan finishes on everything from someone’s existing furniture to old shutters! What other creative goodies do you offer?

Linen Flower Studios' lovely antiqued finish

Martha: I make monogrammed headboards, which are an original design, handmade and painted right in Marietta, by myself. I can also repurpose used louvered doors or shutters by fashioning them into adorable headboards, room screens or decorative panels, and I design and create monogrammed firescreens, and wall sconces. Many more items are also in production!

I paint almost anything, really, from lamps and chandeliers to wall units for housing big screen TVs. {I just don’t do kitchens because I don’t work “off site.”}

I also do gilding and can repair antique frames. In some cases, paintings are in dire need of restoration. I refer those to my husband, Fabrice, who is a professional artist and highly experienced.

LBD|LRW: The crazy thing to us, really, is your pricing. We’d honestly expect to pay at least double what you charge for your work.

Linen Flower's refinished iron daybed

Martha: I cater toward the young housewife who wants lovely things but is on a budget. That’s who I want to own my pieces. All my prices can be found on my website, but repainting a 5-piece dining room table and chairs is around $200 to $250. Refinishing small occasional tables are as little as $45 depending on the details.

LBD|LRW: Martha, we are so happy to know you! Thank you for sharing your amazing talents with us!

the guide: 

Linen Flower Studios www.linenflowerstudios.com

Call Martha at 678-354-5028 (before 7:30 p.m. please

E-mail Martha a picture of your furniture for a quote to refinish: cmlart@aol.com

Jeff Morris (looks like you do get to be that super hero to your wife!!)

and

Misty Rench

ENJOY the SHOW! Do you think “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” applies to The Strand??? We do.

To buy tickets ($25 each) or for more info: earlsmithstrand.org or 770.293.0080

*original post*

the gig:

Anyone up for a little {free} raucous fun? We thought so…that’s why we love our readers! The Strand Theatre on the Marietta Square is bringing it to you – straight from Sin City.

Audience members will (pretend) board (the awesomely-named, imaginary) MARI-GA Airlines, where they will enjoy two fun-filled acts of sheer sensory overload and over-the-top glitz as they “fly” into Sin City. Featuring showgirls, singers, dancers, and musical tributes to greats like Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, the Temptations, as well as many other Vegas legends, and modern pop tributes to artists such as Justin Bieber and Madonna, The Vegas Show is a high-energy, non-stop variety show showcasing the talent of local performers.

The show runs March 15-17, so the giveaway won’t last long. Enter quickly and don’t miss out on the chance to enjoy the excitement of Vegas without going home broke!

the giveaway:

1. Comment below…that’s all.

the guide:

date: Thursday, March 15; Friday March 16; Saturday March 17

time: 8:00 p.m.

cost: $25

address: The Strand, 117 North Park Square, Marietta, 30060

to buy tickets or for more info: earlsmithstrand.org or 770.293.0080

the lucky duck

Random.org chose Julie Osterland as the lucky, lucky winner of The Mansion on Peachtree getaway + spa treatment at 29 Spa. Julie, you are going to be in HEAVEN!!!

the gig

Where can you go to get away from it all…right in the midst of it all? No, this isn’t a riddle. It’s simply an apropos description of The Mansion on Peachtree, Atlanta’s most sumptuous boutique hotel. This gorgeous (truly) 42-story hotel in the heart of Buckhead feels unpredictably tucked away and serene, although it’s a mere skip from Phipps, Lenox and some of Atlanta’s finest dining venues. Think: marble floors, deco chandeliers, velvet club chairs, an unmatched onsite spa, a swank jazz-imbibed lounge, and a thoughtful, attentive staff. Heaven in Atlanta.

So…who wants to win a weekend stay for two AND a spa treatment at The Mansion on Peachtree? 

the giveaway

To enter:

1. Like The Mansion on Peachtree on Facebook.

2. Post a fan comment on their page, telling them Little Black Dress/Little Red Wagon sent you.

3. Come back HERE and tell us you did it in the comments below. (Don’t forget this step, so we know you entered!)

Winner will be drawn March 10, 2012.

Stay and spa treatment must be booked and redeemed by December 23, 2012, in accordance with the hotel’s schedule and availability. 

the guide

The Mansion on Peachtree

www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/mansiononpeachtree

3376 peachtree rd., atlanta, georgia 30326

404.995.7500

peachtree@rosewoodhotels.com

reservations: 888.ROSEWOOD

The lucky winner of the custom cake from Flour Child Cakery in Hiram is Dawn Vecchio! Congrats, Dawn!!! Random.org shone on you…and now you get a cake (up to $75 value) of your choice anytime during 2012. Woohoo! You’ll have to post a picture on LBD’s Facebook wall so we can see your creation.

the goods:

Win a custom decorated cake from Flour Child Cakery, to use at any special event during 2012!!

What percentage of people in the world would you say are REALLY talented at making ornate, scrumptious, truly awe-inspiring cakes? Not like “I went to Michaels and got a cake pan in the shape of a ladybug and baked a cake in it and then decorated it with copious amounts of store bought icing to make it look somewhat like a ladybug…if you squint” type of cakes.

We’re talking true works of art made from melt-in-your-mouth secret recipes with decadent icing that seems to come straight from heaven. One-percent, maybe two? Yeah, that would be our guess. For the other 98.5% of us, there are places like Flour Child Cakery, which are owned by and staffed with the aforementioned tiny percentage of cake geniuses. You should see – and taste – these perfectly sculpted, impeccably decorated, morsels of goodness. Actually, one of you will be able to do both…for free!

Flour Child Cakery is giving one lucky LBD|LRW reader the opportunity to win one of these custom decorated masterpieces!

the giveaway:

1. Go to Flour Child Cakery’s Facebook page – facebook.com/FlourChildCakery

2. Like their page.

3. Leave a comment telling them that Little Black Dress|Little Red Wagon sent you!

4. IMPORTANT: We’ll draw a winner from comments below, so come back here and let us know you did it!

We’ll draw a winner around February 20, and that winner will receive a $75 credit toward any custom cake of their choosing at Flour Child Cakery. Piece of cake!

the guide:

address: 6129 Ridge Road, Hiram, 30141

phone: 404-936-9789

hours: Tuesday – Friday 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.; Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

find them: facebook.com/FlourChildCakery

And the winner is…Celina Condon!! Congrats, my dear– you will LOVE the collection from Michele McKinney’s Biltmore Inspirations Collection!

the goods:

Kicking off this new year with resolutions of cooking more, expanding your family’s menu, maybe revamping your serving or cookware? Well, we’ve got you covered, girl! Remember the fabulous goods we introduced you to from Michele McKinney’s Biltmore Inspirations Collection? They’re back for spring, more beautiful than ever. And Michelle is giving one lucky LBD follower a $50 gift certificate for the pieces you most covet.

the giveaway:

1. Go to Michele’s Biltmore Inspirations Facebook page – facebook.com/InspirationsbyMichele

2. Like the page.

3. Post a comment on her page.

4. Come back here and tell us you did it in the comments below!

Easy enough, huh?

the guide:

phone: 770.975.9145

email: michelemckinney1@comcast.net

website: biltmoreinspirations.com/mmckinney

winner:

Random.org says Susie is the winner for the be yoga 40-day challenge. Seriously envious. This is what she just won (which you can still sign up for, too, by the way):

Looking for a way to stay commited to your New Year’s resolutions? Join our 40 Day Resolution Challenge. The challenge kicks off on Sunday, Jan 8th with a workshop from 4-7pm led by Isabelle Casey. And the support doesn’t stop there! We’ll help you stay committed with weekly discussion groups and daily blogs. Go to our website for more details. YOU can do this, YOU are worth it! be resolved, be yoga.

the goods:

It’s that time of year again…resolution making time! And what is always our number one resolution? LOSE WEIGHT. So easy to make, so hard to keep. But, what if you had a little jump start to help you actually change your habits to achieve that goal? Be Yoga wants to be that help. Through the 40 Day Resolution Challenge Be Yoga is seeking to bring a change in mind and spirit that will, in turn, bring a lasting change to the body and lifestyle.

It begins with a 2 hour workshop (led by Isabelle Casey) that will focus on proper goal setting, the commitment to practice yoga for 40 days, discuss diet as it relates to “mindful” eating, meditation, and journaling. You’ll “check in” every week during small group meetings to track your progress and share your discoveries and challenges with other members. As the end of the 40 days you’ll CELEBRATE your accomplishment and discuss how your new habits can become lifetime commitments. Sound awesome? Yeah, we thought so. And, it will be free ($199 value) for one LBD resolutionista. Be fit…be yoga!

the giveaway:

1. Go to Be Yoga’s Facebook page – facebook.com/pages/Be-yoga.

2. Like their page.

3. Post a comment telling them why you’re so excited about the 40 Day Resolution Challenge.

4. Come back here and tell us you did it!

the guide:

address: 105 Church Street, Marietta, 30060

phone: 770.312.6491

for more info: info@beyogaatlanta.com or beyogaatlanta.com

Random.org picked comment #2: Elaine Lee as the winner of a custom Christmas cookies basket from Cookies by Design Marietta! We just love the ladies at Cookies by Design. If you’ve got a shower favor, party treat, hostess gift, teacher, coach or boss you’re shopping for, check ‘em out.

the goods:

We all have lists pouring from our ears this time of year, not the least of which is the long one of all of the people who will be on the receiving end of our giving. And we suspect that you, like us, have those few people on that list that create a major mental block when it comes to choosing a gift…your boss, your child’s teacher, your husband’s clients at work, the cousin you only see at Christmas. Well, what are we here for if not to help with just such quandaries? Cookies by Design is giving a Christmas Gift Basket to the winner of this wonderful (and helpful) giveaway!

These are not your grandma’s cookies (no offense meant to your grandma!). They are exquisitely designed morsels of holiday goodness, which were named Best All American at Taste of Marietta this year. The nine-cookie basket contains treats in the likeness of snowflakes, Christmas carolers, reindeer, and snowmen, just to name a few. Just the thing for friend, family or corporate giving, don’t you think? You will be in love with these once you give one away…or keep it for yourself – we won’t tell!

the giveaway:

Winning one of these babies is easy:

1. Like Cookies by Design’s Facebook page – facebook.com/pages/Cookies-By-Design-Marietta

2. Comment on their page and tell them how excited you are about their baskets.

3. Come back here and tell us you did it!

the guide:

address: 3101 Roswell Rd., Marietta, 30062

for more info or to place orders: cookiesbydesign.com or 770.578.0200

What an awesome giveaway! Thank you, Abbadabba’s, for sponsoring such an enviable, coveted prize. Wish you could have all won, but alas, we had to pick just one lucky duck. Random.org shone its selective face on comment #133 Amber Harris for this giveaway. Congrats, Amber! Go get a real pair of UGGS to replace those Fuggs!

Comment 133 Amber Harris:

would LOVE a pair of REAL uggs! my fake ones (what I call my Fuggs) are great but these would be better!

the gig:

It’s getting to be that time of year again. The time where Jack Frost starts nipping at your nose. Which is a real bummer, but, unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do to help you out with that one. What we CAN help with is when he starts nipping at your toes. What if you had a new (free) pair of UGG boots to keep your tootsies warm and cozy when Mr. Frost comes a nippin’? Well, LBD|LRW and Abbadabba’s can make that happen with a giveaway for a pair of Ugg boots! Actually, the giveaway is even better than that; it’s for a $200 credit toward ANY in-stock Ugg of your choice! Christmas (and warm tootsies) are comin’ early to one lucky lady!

the giveaway:

1. Go to Abbadabba’s Facebook page – facebook.com/coolshoesatlanta.

2. Like their page.

3. Leave a message on their page telling them why you’d love a pair of UGG boots.

4. Come back here and tell us you did it by commenting below. (Don’t skip this step…we’ll draw the winner from our comments!)

the guide:

Kennesaw location

address: Town Oaks Shopping Center, 2615 George Busbee Parkway #55, Kennesaw, 30144

phone: 770.423.0405

Roswell location

address: 1580 Holcomb Bridge Road, #18, Roswell, 30076

phone: 770.998.abba (2222)

Little Five Points location

address: 421-B Moreland Avenue N.E., Atlanta, 30307

phone: 404.588.9577

Buckhead location

address: 4389 Roswell Road, Atlanta, 30342

phone: 404.262.3356

Gwinnett location

address: 3360 Satellite Blvd #1A, Duluth, 30096

phone: 770.623.0033

for more info: coolshoes.com

We have a winner! Random.org picked #2, Keleigh Kapparos, as the lucky recipient of three personal training sessions with Scarlet Knight of Kaizen Fitness. Keleigh, you are in for a TREAT. Scarlet is fabulous– as personally motivating as she is physically challenging. You will love her!

the goods:

Kaizen: Continuous and incremental improvements leading to positive and steady change. “Thanks for the Japanese lesson, LBD,” you say, but stick with us. What if this is how you tackled the seemingly insurmountable obstacles of losing weight and gaining a healthy lifestyle? And you had help doing it?

Scarlet Knight of Kaizen Fitness helps her clients do just that everyday. As a mom of three and grandmother of two, Scarlet knows the challenges that stand in every real-world woman’s way when it comes to fitness and healthy eating. She’s not going to raid your pantry, screaming at you about all of the trans fats and high fructose corn syrup it contains. She’s not going to berate you when you come to a session and mumble a confession of not exercising since your last workout. She seeks to encourage and build up. To be your coach and cheerleader all at the same time.

And, now, she seeks to give to one lucky LBD|LRW reader three FREE personal training sessions in her private Kennesaw studio. This doesn’t only include lifting weights, but also education on sound nutrition, proper exercise techniques and (small, doable) steps to developing a fitness lifestyle. Scarlet is certified through the American Council on Exercise and International Sports Science Association. And if you’re preggers, or you’ve recently given birth, you can enter with confidence (and a note from your doctor). Scarlet is certified in prenatal and postpartum fitness, too!

the giveaway:

Makin' it fun!

To enter:

1. Like Kaizen’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/pages/Kaizen-Fitness.

2. Comment on the page telling Scarlet why you’d be pumped (pun intended) to win three free sessions!

3. Come back here and comment below to let us know that you did it.

It’s that easy!

Owner and personal trainer Scarlet Knight

the guide:

location: 3590 Cherokee Street, Suite 101C, Kennesaw, 30144

for more info: kaizenfitnessonline.com