Treat Yourself Like the King (or Queen) You Are!

There are certain dates on the calendar that, even as an adult, you anticipate with great excitement!  For the PHAG team, today is one such day- June 18th is National Splurge Day!  Really, are we actually pretending we need an excuse to splurge around here?. . LOL

Invented by eventologist Adrienne Sioux in 1994, National Splurge Day is a day to treat yourself excessively to anything you want, and, to excess if you so desire.  In other words, behave like the Queen (yes we're talking to you) you know you were born to be!  Have an XL serving of your favorite dessert, indulge in a special bath or spa treatment, get extra happy today at happy hour (yes, we know you're the real Queen of cocktails), heck buy yourself a throne!  Whatever your splurge, today's the day, so put your reservations aside, throw caution to the wind, and just splurge. . . for tomorrow will certainly come!

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This C.O. is Our New Stud!

June is PRIDE month, and this time each year, we take note of the people, places, products, and practices that have instilled a sense of pride in the greater community! 

This year, we need look no further than Orange is the New Black #OITNB.  Yes, that’s right, the much talked about Netflix original series set in a women’s prison that walks a fine line between dark comedy and drama, is among our favorites.  Season two (13 episodes) of this explosive series is set to be released on Friday, June 6th (tomorrow), and we can’t wait!

So why is this show among our top picks this year?  Is it the edgy lesbian storyline between Piper and Alex (or Nicky and nearly every other inmate)?  Or, is it the raw and impassioned story of transgender inmate Sophia?  While both offer amazing reasons to watch, the real reason we tune in is to spend some time (if only a fleeting moment) with C.O. John Bennett (played by competitive bodybuilder turned actor, Matt McGorry).

So naturally, we did a little web stalking of our favorite Netflix crush, and here’s a bit of what we found:

A graduate of NYC’s famous LaGuardia performing arts high school, and Emerson College, this breakout star is a native New Yorker who, at last check, still didn’t know how to drive.  At the age of 10(ish), Matt was the youngest member of the New York International Brotherhood of Magicians, and he was a prize winner in his 8^th grade science fair!  Before his big break he was not only a competitive bodybuilder, but also a trainer to the stars.  McGorry is no stranger to the LGBT community, either.  He grew up on 22^nd Street in Chelsea and has proudly remarked that he was basically, “raised by a pack of gays.”  Since the first season was released, Officer Bennett (and McGorry, by default) has become a bona-fide heartthrob to boys and girls alike- he’s even got an ever growing Buzzfeed tribute to prove it!

At PHAG, we love this Litchfield C.O. so much we’re proud to introduce you to our NEW studded ottoman- “TheBennett.”  Of course it’s no accident that we have to nail this thing like mad to achieve this stunning, studly finished product.  Enjoy!

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Fetish for Fairy tales?

Known by many as the Mistress of all Evil, Maleficent is the main antagonist in Disney's 1959 animated classic film, Sleeping Beauty.  As of today, she's also the focus of the NEW Disney live action feature film starring Angelina Jolie, that chronicles the untold story of one of animation's most iconic villains (I guess we all know where you'll find the #PHAGService Team tonight)!

If you're not a fan of action role-playing, you may  not know that Maleficent is also famous for her elegant, Gothic design and dramatic, flamboyant animation as a primary character in the Kingdom Hearts series of action role-playing games by Square Enix.  With her seemingly unlimited arsenal of magic powers, she has quickly achieved status as one of the most popular and recognizable villains in gaming.  In the live-action movie, released today, her on-screen look was made, in part, by artisans specializing in fetish wear, so she's not your toddler's fairy tale villain anymore!

Now, we call on those who live in the shadows. . . go to the movies NOW! (we are)

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Gnomes & Fairies in Gardens- Oh my!

Like gnomes, fairies are among the magical wee folk that have long been fixtures in fables, myths, and ancient folklore.  Fairies bring luck, prosperity, and health to those whose gardens they inhabit, and, in fact, there are quite a few fluttering around the headquarters at PHAG on a daily basis.  So, when it comes to Fairy Gardening, we're the experts!

While you can literally convert any container into a fairy garden, the fairy gardening starter kit is a great place for the amateur fairy enthusiast to begin!  It includes everything you will need to create a garden for those playful, jovial creatures to frolic about when you're not looking.  More advanced fairy enthusiasts can shop for a range of miniature decor sets and accessories in PHAGs garden shop!

No interest in fairy gardening?  That never stopped a fairy from spreading a little dust!  Fairy dust is a sparkling, powdery substance that comes from magic crystals. According to the Elder Council of Fairies, close friends of PHAG, it is to be used by humans to add magical life to any space in a time of need (e.g. a hot night out at STIR lounge or an Atlantis cruise)!  Oh, and don't forget to make a special wish with each sparkling pinch!  Now, let your imagination run free, Fairy!

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A Real Garden for Foodies. . . For real!

Green Zebra tomatoes. . . Siam Queen Basil. . . If you're a real foodie, then having that "something special" that turns an ordinary meal into an experience is truly what your heart desires!

These Foodie Garden kits provide a sure way to get the freshest, most imaginative ingredients straight to your table.  Featuring hand-drawn illustrations by famed artist, Joel Holland, each of these clever Foodie Garden kits includes everything you need to get growing:  soil, seeds, even a portable tin planter. Choose from Basil-O-Holic with sweet, lemon, and Siam basils; XXX Pepper with Pepperoncini, Habanero, and cayenne chili peppers; or Tomato Takeover with Black Krim, Green Zebra, and Roma tomatoes.

Looking for other ways to turn an otherwise ordinary meal into an experience?  On Thursday, April 24, 2014, participate in Dining Out for Life!  It's the 24th Anniversary of the charitable dining tradition that began in Philadelphia, PA.  This year, more than 150 restaurants across the Delaware Valley will donate 33% of the night's proceeds to benefit men, women and children with HIV/AIDS.

So tell us, where will you Dine Out For Life, and what will your Foodie Garden grow?

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Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, How do Your Comics Grow?

April is National Lawn & Garden month, and we're here to do our part in spreading the word!  Yes, you read our post title correctly, it's a comic geek's dream- a comic book that grows (and multiplies)!

Research cited by the National Gardening Association confirms that nurturing plants is universally good.  In doing so, attitudes toward health and nutrition are improved, community spirit grows, and kids even perform better at school!  Products like this colorful comic jacket of "The Gardener," support just that.  This easy-to-use kit contains two sheets of hand-made, recycled, plantable seed paper filled with mixed herbs.  To plant, you simply lay a single sheet on the soil, lightly cover with a topcoat, and water.

When it's this easy, what's the excuse not to join the celebration?  Come on, plant a comic this month, and help raise the spirit in your community!

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It's Our Party We Can LOVE Where We Want To. . .

. . . and we choose to LOVE (in) Philly!

After 20 years in the City of Brotherly Love, I can say, with confidence, that there's no better place to celebrate America than in the birthplace of America itself- the home of the largest FREE concert in the country, and a city where even our mermen are red, white, and blue all over!

For those not fortunate enough to live in the nation's birthplace, you can thank VH1 who's bringing it back to the basics and back home to Philly in 2013, with VIDEOS all day (yes that's right video hits TV will actually broadcast videos) and music all night, broadcasting Philly's Fourth of July Jam and Fireworks LIVE from 8 - 11 pm!  Check out performances from Demi Lovato, John Mayer, hometown favorites The Roots, and many more.  The FINALE is, of course, an epic fireworks display that lights up the Ben Franklin Parkway and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

On behalf of our Philly team, have a safe and happy July 4th, wherever you're fortunate enough to celebrate!

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