Phoenix Blog

By Wynter Holden

Going to a wild block party? Catching a couple of local bands play your favorite hangout? Snuggling up on the couch with your sweetie, watching the Times Square ball drop?

Whatever your plans tonight, you'll likely need a couple of days to recuperate from the wild goings-on, and our favorite babes of bliss & beauty at AZSpaGirls.com have just the thing: bargain-priced "Detox on the Rocks" treatment specials at eight Valley spas.

These quick fixes are priced at sixty bucks or less, which means they won't break your recession-reduced budget. Besides, you can't put a price tag on increased physical and mental well-being anyway, right?

Book soon, as these deals are only good through this Saturday, January 3.

By Wynter Holden

Now that Christmas is nearly here and two of the Hanukkah candles have already been lit, it's time to get that lazy shopper's booty in gear and finish off the endless lists we know you have. Bratz for your little brats? Got 'em. Skull belt buckle for emo Cousin Sarah? Check. Cologne for stinky Uncle Phil? Bought and wrapped. Slippers for the wife? Uh...Uh....

It's Bliss Spa at the W Hotel Scottsdale to the rescue with winter FitFlops, the slip-on shoes that are supposed to stimulate your muscles more while walking. Sounds pretty crazy, but I have a girlfriend who swears the rubbery summer version built her calves up and tightened her butt (not that she needed it anyway, skinny thing!). The new cold weather "Billow" boots are also super adorable, with neutral-colored suede bodies and fuzzy trim. And unlike free weights, yoga mats or the Bowflex, your girlfriend or wife might actually use them.  

If you're a last-minute decorator too, Haus Modern Living at 4700 N. Central Ave. in Phoenix is open until 8 p.m. tonight and 11am - 5pm on Christmas Eve, with 75% off all holiday items! Plenty of time to score some decor for tomorrow night's "retro Xmas" party.

While you're there, pick up a few for me, will you?

By Wynter Holden

We're down to the wire now, kids. Yes, there's just 6 more shopping days left until Christmas, and if you're shopping for Hanukkah or Kwanzaa gifts, you're similarly screwed. Hopefully, you've already bought your niece or nephew the "It" toy they've been coveting and purchased your Target, Wal-Mart and Amazon goodies online, because holiday shipping deadlines are tighter than a pair of Spanx at this point. But there's always someone on the list who's irritatingly choosy (remember when you bought that cashmere sweater in lime instead of forest green? oh, the horror!) or insanely difficult to buy for, and chances are you've left their gifts for last.

We scoured the streets of Tempe for some holiday booty and found these gems for uber-picky relatives that just could save your last-minute shopper booty. Feel free to thank us later with showers of praise -- or maybe a little something from #3.
 
1. Bells, Books and Candles
  Divaz boutique on Mill Ave. has a Buy 1, Get 1 sale on Juicy charms and free holiday gift wrapping with any purchase! For more "cerebral" loved ones, our beloved Changing Hands Bookstore's got a half-dozen racks of discount books, most less than $7. Stuck on what to get your guy friend? A tobacco leaf Botanicus candle from Here on the Corner could be the answer to that puzzling sweat-sock smell in his batch pad.

It's no secret that we love local artist Jason Hill. His bold, graphic depictions of Phoenix landmarks have graced a few New Times covers, and this year he scored our Best of Phoenix award for Best Etsy Shop. His iconic images are everywhere, from coffee houses and vintage shops to light rail infomercials and galleries. We've even spotted his stuff splayed across Phoenicians' breasts -- well, on the graphic white tees covering them, that is. 

Curious where you can get one? We've compiled a handy-dandy list of places around the PHX where you can score a Jason Hill print, tee or poster in time for the holidays.

 

If you're like me, then you take your tree-decorating seriously.

When I saw the holiday themes out this year (if you haven't noticed, ornaments come and go in cycles) I was less than thrilled. Snowflakes? zzZZZZ. A lodge-style moose, lanterns and flannel ornaments? Seriously, does this look like the Midwest? Ballet shoes? Eek. So I did what any self-respecting craft geek would do: make my own damn tree. A Twilight tree.

Go ahead, laugh if you will, but it's the biggest movie phenomenon of the year -- except maybe Heath Ledger's Joker. If you're a closet Twilighter like me (crap, I just outed myself), making this little tree will give you hours and hours of chaste vampiric ecstacy. And if you're a Twilight-hater, you can always make one of these little suckers and burn it in effigy.

Instructions (on construction, not immolation) behind the cut...

This time of year, there's a lot of talk about thinking of others instead of yourself. Whether it's shopping for the perfect holiday present for your sweetie or picking an angel off the Salvation Army tree, there really is something to be said for the joy of giving. Aww, can't you just smell the...holiday spirit??

If you don't want to battle mall crowds to pick up a toy for the Angel tree or school supplies for your office's donation bin, no worries. Shop today at one of 11 downtown businesses and they'll donate 10% of the sale to HandsOn Greater Phoenix, a local charity that works to revitalize neighborhoods through mentoring, serving meals to the homeless and other good works. Bingo! Instant karma points, and all you have to do is buy stuff that's already on your holiday gift list. Now, that's a deal!