Queen of Hearts Foundation Raises $30,000 For Ovarian Cancer Research

OVER $1 MILLION RAISED FOR OVARIAN CANCER RESEARCH

Queen of Hearts Nets $30,000 at “Set A Course To Save A Life” Event Putting Them Over the $1 Million Mark of Funds Raised Since They Started in 2000.

Dr. Krish Tewari and Grateful Patient - Elizabeth Courtney

Queen of Hearts Board Members

Guest having fun!

Entering the party under the baloon arch!

The Queen of Hearts Founders with Chair Sandi Hanscom

After walking under the balloon arch to enter the Queen of Hearts “Set A Course To Save A Life” event, 150 guests dined, danced and bid on auction items at Newport Harbor Yacht Club. The event netted $30,000 which raised enough funds for ovarian cancer research at UC Irvine - Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center to put Queen of Hearts over the $1 million dollar range for the total amount raised since the foundation started in 2000. The nautical-themed party was held on Saturday, May 16.

After Queen of Hearts Foundation Founder Kim Beaudette introduced Dr. Krish Tewari, a doctor at UCI Chao Comprehensive Cancer Center, who spoke about the women’s programs at the hospital, one of his patients, Elizabeth Courtney, took the microphone to deliver an amazing, heartfelt speech about her cancer struggle and recovery. There was not a dry eye in the house, including the men. Her speech also served as an inspiring message, confirming why Queen of Hearts efforts are important to all women.

Event Chair Sandi Hanscom says “When I learned that each year approximately 20,000 American women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and approximately 15,000 die from the disease, I was shocked. I’m thrilled to assist in planning a fun event which will help raise funds to save and extend the lives of the women we love.”

“Queen of Hearts Foundations is dedicated to helping raise funds for research projects working to find an early detection for this disease. With events like Set A Course to Save a Life we can work to not only raise money but help inform others about the severity of ovarian cancer and what little there is out there to prevent it,” says co-founder Lori Hunter.

All proceeds from the fundraiser will be donated to help develop the Queen of Hearts Ovarian Cancer Laboratory at Sprague Hall part of Chao Family Cancer Center at University of California, Irvine. The Queen of Hearts Ovarian Cancer Laboratory will support research on the “whispering killer”. Currently, there is no early detection test for ovarian cancer.

Donna Bunce of the Orange County Register and Coast Magazine, recently ran a story about the event. Click here to read it: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/philharmonic-cancer-kidsingers-2428948-through-one

Save the date - Orange Coast's OC LOOK Party on July 29th

Got style? See who does at Orange Coast's OC Look party on July 29th. Benefiting JDRF, the event will unveil this year's OC LOOK winners.

Halsea Lunch Totes Featured - Thank Kim Cook of the Associated Press!

Kim Cook of the Associated Press just wrote a story called "Lunch Totes For The Stylish Brownbagger". It included Halsea's beach-chic lunch tote perfect for the gal on the go.

Check out the story here at ABC News: http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=7677930


Thanks Kim!

Coastal Living Features Sally Bartz and Halsea

As a publicist of a boutique PR firm in Orange County, there are certain things in your career that make you beyond excited. June's issue of Coastal Living is one of them.

TO Media Co's first client, Sally Bartz of Halsea, was recently featured in the issue in an article titled "Making Her Case". Lindsey Ellis Beatty worked with us for the last year on this article, which survived one magazine closing down and Lindsey moving to Coastal Living. (Thanks Lindsey for working so hard on this - Coastal Living is the perfect place for Sally's beach-chic inspired travel bags!)

It features a full page article on Sally and her inspirations behind the line, her beach-y lifestyle and of course her amazing travel bags. The fabulous shots were taken by the VERY talented Shelly Strazis. I was so excited to not only see the article but to also see that an additional shot of Sally in the Halsea Shop made the Table of Contents page!

Thanks Lindsey!

Last Week to See The ASID Design Tour - Open until May 22

Sponsored by Orange Coast and benefitting the Orange County Performing Arts Center, the 2009 ASID Design Tour is full of amazing design and ideas from 37 of Orange County's hottest interior designers. Be sure to go there before the last day on May 22.

Go to www.asidocc.org for more information.

Sweet Dream ARE Made of These - The Register Reports on Bedroom Trends Seen At The ASID Design Tour

Lauren and I have been on the ASID Design Tour a million times and every time there is something new to see or a design idea pops out at you that you didn't notice before.

The Orange County Register picked up on a bedroom trend that I thought was great -- dreamy bedroom suites with symmetry. Cindy McNatt of the Register's Home Section featured the rooms of Eve Lowey (Chameleon Studio), Amanda Malson and Jolene Ballard (One2BOND), Kimberly Franzen (Franzen Interiors) and Barbara Coulter - Phllips (Bliss Linens)

The Tour ends May 22 so be sure to see it for more design ideas before it closes!

Taylor LeClaire and Joan Wilson's Terrace On The ASID 2009 Design Tour Inspires The Register

The Orange County Register's home section recently ran a story about succulents, which I loved since they are the one plant I can actually take care of! One of the photos featured was of Taylor LeClaire's terrace on the ASID 2009 Design Tour that she did in conjunction with Joan Wilson.

The Design Tour is open until May 22, benefits Orange County Performing Arts Center and is sponsored by Orange Coast magazine.

More about Taylor LeClaire Designs/Living Couture:

Taylor LeClaire recently received her B.A. Degree in Interior Design and is pursuing a career in the commercial design industry with an eye on hospitality. Currently a Faculty Advisor at her alma mater, Interior Designers Institute of Newport Beach. For the 2009 Design Tour, Taylor has partnered with Joan Wilson, Owner of Living Couture. Joan has vast experience in many aspects of the design industry and has been doing Interior plant-scape and outdoor landscape design in Orange County for more then 7 years in both High-end Residential and Commercial projects.

Thanks Cindy McNatt of the Register!

ORANGE COAST RECEIVES TOP HONORS AT 2009 MAGGIE AWARDS - Most Improved Publication/Consumer Award Winner

Newport Beach, CA -- Orange Coast magazine was awarded Most Improved Publication/Consumer by the Western Publishing Association’s 2009 Maggie Awards, the most prestigious publishing event in the West.

Emmis Communications bought Orange Coast in 2007 and the magazine’s new look and direction were unveiled in July 2008. “As one of the WPA's more prestigious awards, this means a lot to our staff and the company,” says Orange Coast Editor-in-Chief Martin J. Smith. “It not only speaks to our excellence in design but to the overall editorial content of the magazine.”

Orange Coast was up against the following publications for the coveted Most Improved Publication/Consumer category:
Desert Living
Natural Solutions
Private Clubs
Yellow Scene Magazine

About the Maggies
One of WPA’s primary objectives is to promote the pursuit of excellence among publishing professionals. The tools, training and information WPA provides are designed to improve skills, foster creativity and inspire our members to do their best work. WPA believes recognition is the best way to honor achievement. For more than fifty-eight years, WPA has bestowed awards of excellence to deserving individuals and companies whose work is deemed “The Best in the West” in a wide variety of publishing categories. The Annual Maggie awards ceremony and black-tie dinner, which this year was on Friday, April 24, is the most prestigious publishing event in the West. Over 600 publishing professionals gather to honor excellence in print and electronic publishing in over 100 editorial, design and promotional and event categories. A trademark of the Maggie ceremony is the high-tech, visually creative multimedia show featuring entries from the current year. www.wpa-online.org/

About Orange Coast
Orange Coast magazine has long had its finger on the pulse of Orange County, serving as the definitive guide to the area’s laidback luxury lifestyle. Having won numerous awards for its editorial, artwork and design, Orange Coast has been named one of the best city/metropolitan magazines in California by the Western Publications Association and has been recently nominated for several national awards.

The re-designed, Orange Coast magazine offers a refreshed, contemporary look and read for its 443,580 readers. The new design and editorial format speaks to a smart, sophisticated and influential readership. Orange Coast magazine is based in Newport Beach, CA, and is published by Emmis Communications. www.orangecoastmagazine.com

Capistrano Insider Writes about Being Named "Best Place to Live" by Orange Coast

In the May issue of Orange Coast magazine, Steven M. Thomas writes about Orange County's best places to live in an articled title 'The Simple Life". San Juan Capistrano is one of the cities mentioned.

See Capistrano Insider's take on the article here:
http://capistranoinsider.typepad.com/capistrano_insider/2009/05/orange-coast-magazine-takes-notice-of-capistrano.html

ASID 2009 Design Tour - Extended by Popular Demand Until May 22

The ASID 2009 Design Tour has just been extended. Due to popular demand to tour the 6 penthouses at Astoria, located in Central Park West, the Design Tour will now be open until May 22.

Sponsored by Orange Coast magazine, the event benefits the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

This year marks the first Tour of its kind for ASID. 37 designers created an urban, contemporary haven at Astoria. If you are looking for design ideas and want to be inspired, you MUST see this Tour.

LA Times.com Features ASID 2009 Design Tour!

Thanks to Lisa Boone and Craig Nakano at the always on trend - LA Times Home section. They recently posted a sneak peak slideshow of the ASID 2009 Design Tour - Urban Living at Astoria to their website. Check it out the article "The American Society of Interior Designers’ annual Orange County home tour" here:

http://www.latimes.com/features/home/la-hm-asid09-pg,0,5766043.photogallery

Below are the designer's spaces that were featured in the article.

Bunny Sutherland -- Kitchen

Sutherland Interior Design

Taylor LeClaire with Joan Wilson
Tak O Designs

Tamra Mundia - Master Bedroom

Concept Design, Inc.

Tamara Shermer - Terrace

OC Interiors

Sue Rexroth - Master Bedroom
Sue Rexroth Interiors

Samantha Gorrell and Megan Myers - Study

Myers Gorrell Interior Design

Robert Esterley - Study

Esterley Designs

Rick Thompson - Guest Bedroom

Keir: Interior Design

Frank Pitman - Kitchen

Frank Pitman Designs

Kimberly Franzen - Guest Bedroom

Kimberly Franzen Interiors

Joyce Elizabeth Byrd - Downstairs Bath

J. Elizabeth Interiors

Deirdre Eagles - Downstairs Bath

Deirdre Eagles Interior Design

Beverly Stadler - Dining Room

Design Focus

Barbara Coulter Phillips - Guest Bedroom

Bliss Design

Fumiko Faiman - Master Bedroom

International Custom Designs

Sponored by Orange Coast magazine, the Design Tour benefits the Orange County Performing Arts Center. The event will run through May 22.

ASID Design Tour Featured on KABC - T.G.I.F.

Thanks Jane Monreal for making this happen!

Pixie Dust Decor in Chicago Tribune and the Modesto Bee

Pixie Dust Decor's Orlando Sentinel story by Jean Pattenson got picked up in newspapers across the country! Here are two - One in the Chicago Tribune and one in the Modesto Bee.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/home/chi-0503-pixie-dust-wiremay03,0,7659977.story

http://www.modbee.com/life/story/687500.html

Urban Mushing in Orange County? Check out Orange Coast's May Issue

Ever heard of Urban Mushing? If you are looking for adventure but can't make it to Alaska there is a new sport for you.

Check out the full story in Orange Coast's May issue or click here: http://www.orangecoastmagazine.com/article2.aspx?id=14850

Or see Three Dog Bakery's post (in San Clemente):http://threedogsanclemente.blogspot.com/2009/04/born-to-run.html