Some customers choose to commission rings and even provide their own wood — Simply Wood Rings has worked with the oldest of ancient woods (Kauri wood, dated at 50,000 years), Ailanthus wood (known as the “tree of heaven” and the tree in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn), the wood of the Ashwatha/Peepal tree (known as the “tree of life”), and many other woods that have significance for those looking to create a special ring.

Although the wood rings are made to be more durable than you might expect, they are still a little more delicate than say, titanium, or other metals known for their extreme durability. According to Simply Wood Rings, this makes their rings a popular choice for wedding bands, since the material encourages the wearer to be more present and aware of his or her movements than someone wearing a ring that can be put on once and forgotten about.

Rings can include multiple kinds of wood, bands of metal, turquoise or other stones, and even diamonds and other gems. A wood burning inscription can be included on any of the rings for further personalization.

The majority of rings are made to size, which means customers can expect six to eight weeks to pass before receiving their order. But then again, something so special is worth waiting for, right? Take a look at their website here.

-Marie

Last year 538 Free Arts volunteers served 5,936 children in 203 programs, including Weekly Mentor, Free Arts Days, Multicultural Arts Camp and Professional Artist Series, among others.

The organization says it helps children build self-esteem and social skills by unlocking their imaginations with the creative arts. Through this, the children discover ways they can identify their emotions and express them through a positive medium.

To learn more about Free Arts, visit freeartsaz.org.

-Marie

Scheduled for Saturday, June 16, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the class will include sauces, rubs, grilling techniques and other tips and secrets just in time for Father’s Day. In addition to demos of sauces, rubs and techniques by Executive Chef Mel Mecinas and Executive Sous Chef Jesse Hansen, participants will also enjoy locally brewed beer; specialty cigars rolled on-site; golf tips from the pros at Troon North Golf Club; barbecue fare (after the demonstration, of course), plus homemade ice cream and whiskey floats.

Additionally, each guest will take home a recipe book, sample sauces and rubs, and a cigar — perhaps to enjoy while grilling at home?

The cost for the class is $75 per person, and reservations are required. If you choose to stay overnight on June 16 or 17, you can mention the rate code “DADBBQ” at the time of booking to receive complimentary self-parking and an upgrade to the next room category. (Weekend summer rates start at $179 per night.) For more information, call 480.513.5085.  To request the DADBBQ room special, call reservations at 480.513.5039.

-Marie

Ten percent of the purchase price of each Limited Edition 100% Pure Argan Oil (the collection was released last month in time for Earth Day), is donated to the cause of the designing model’s choice: Women for Women Interational (Josie), Happy Hearts (Petra), and Healthy Child Healthy World (Angela).

Josie supports Women for Women International, which helps women survivors of war rebuild their lives; Petra’s own nonprofit, Happy Hearts Fund, supports the improvement of the lives of children who are victims of natural disaster; and Angela supports Healthy Child Healthy World for its efforts to create a safe, toxin-free environment for children.

You can buy the individual limited-edition oils from Sephora ($48 for 2 oz.). You can also buy them on the Josie Maran Cosmetics website, where they’re  offered with an additional item as a kit for $52. Josie’s comes with a lip treatment balm; Petra’s comes with a mini argan color stick in “rosey”; and Angela’s comes with a pack of Bear Naked Wipes.

Argan oil is a precious lightweight oil produced organically in Morocco. Rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids, and able to be quickly absorbed, it makes an excellent daily moisturizer or conditioner for cuticles or split ends.

-Marie

It’s pretty easy. Just go here and click on the dollar signs for summer discounts and savings tips. You can also click on any one of the images to reveal a particular discount, and if you’re looking for discounts in a certain category, the list is sortable.

Save the discounts and deals you want to your Savings List on the page and then print or email all your savings coupons to yourself (or maybe a deserving friend). Then it’s as simple as redeeming your discounts at those businesses in Scottsdale.

To summarize: Search. Print. Save. Repeat.

Let summer begin!

-Marie

The intimate Feast experience (attendance is limited to just 10 guests each month) will begin with casual conversation with Executive Sous Chef Jesse Hansen about the night’s menu. Then, drawing from Talavera’s extensive partnership with local farms and purveyors, Hansen will build a menu crafted from the freshest seasonal items.

When dinner is served, Hansen will rejoin the party for the rest of the evening, filling guests in on his inspiration and creative process in the kitchen. Culinary aficionados will not want to miss such a unique front-row seat opportunity at one of the Valley’s most esteemed restaurants.

The cost for each guest is $68 and includes a glass of Arizona wine, as well as coffee and bottled water. Advance reservations are required and can be secured by calling Talavera Restaurant Coordinator Whitney Stark at 480.513.5029.

-Marie

Want free tickets? If you spend more than $100 in the same day at Westgate City Center (including retailer and restaurant gift cards), you’ll receive two free general admission vouchers for the production, plus be automatically entered into a drawing to win a backstage experience package. Sounds like a perfect time to get some shopping done or buy some gift cards in preparation for Mother’s Day.

In KOOZA, The Innocent encounters such comic characters as the King, the Trickster, the Pickpocket, and the Obnoxious Tourist and his Bad Dog, exploring the themes of fear, identity, recognition and power. This is a production that promises to highlight the physical demands of human performance, presented in a colorful and visually stunning world where humor, thrills and other surprises await.

For more information, visit Westgate City Center and Cirque du Soleil online. Click here to watch a preview video of the show!

-Marie

Beets are magical, did you know that? They’re magical in that they produce a color that somehow looks good on every skin tone. Plus, depending on the beet(s) you use, you can create a stain that’s lighter or darker to suit your needs. See? Magic!

Check out my tutorial here.

-Marie

The Insider’s View dinners are intimate experiences featuring courses prepared tableside by Executive Chef Anthony DeMuro. Attendance is also limited to about a dozen guests to further enhance the evening’s unique mood, and guests are invited to converse with both the chef and the winemaker during the event.

The Trinchero Family Vineyards dinner will begin at 6:15 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres in the Terrace Room, followed by dinner at 7 p.m. in the main dining room. Different Pointe of View‘s dining room is well loved for its floor-to-ceiling glass windows and incredible elevated views 1,800 feet above the Valley.

The four-course, wine-paired dinner will feature culinary tips from chef DeMuro, and Trinchero Family Vineyards’ cellar master Chuck Parker will share his own his expertise.

Trinchero Family Vineyards has been a Napa Valley institution since 1948, credited with creating the first white zinfandel. Focused on bottling the finest quality wine, the 22-acre winery ensures quality control by producing just two-and-a-half tons of grapes per hour.

Dinner is $99 per person; reservations are required and limited to to 12 guests. To make a reservation, call 602.866.6350.

-Marie

And even if you’re a longtime iPhone user, I bet you’ll come across at least one neat app in this list that you didn’t already know about — I know I did.

You can check out my roundup right here.

-Marie