Alright folks, today is the day. It’s Tuesday, November 6: Election Day. Chances are you have already made up your mind on who you’re voting for. We just wanted to remind you how important it is to actually go out there and vote. Voting is what makes the U.S. great. It lets you have your voice be heard. It is a staple of what this country was founded on. Don’t choose to stay home out of apathy. Choose democracy. We don’t care if you’re voting for Barack Obama or Mitt Romney. We just want you to get out there and show that you’re an American and care about where this country is going. Okay, sorry about that, the PSA is over.

He holds the title of Iron Chef America, he recently opened two restaurants in Scottsdale and now he is set to release his second cookbook.

Jose Garces has teamed up with Lake Isle Press for the October release of The Latin Road Home: Savoring the Foods of Ecuador, Spain, Cuba, Mexico, and Peru.

The cookbook has been described as “a travelogue and a memoir, offering a fascinating and personal look back at the food traditions that have shaped the life and cooking of Chef Garces, from his family’s ancestral home in Ecuador to his ongoing work as an award-winning chef and restaurateur across the US.”

The Latin Road Home chronologically tells the story of Garces’ food journey and each destination comes to life through more than 100 recipes, food and travel photos and his personal narration.

“This book is a deeply personal project for me: it allows me to trace the cultures and cuisines that have shaped me, both personally and professionally,” Garces said. “Throughout my career, I have built upon what I know and used it to explore new and different places, and this book traces that journey – and with it, my life to this point.”

Garces’ Scottsdale restaurants, Distrito and Old Town Whiskey, are located at The Saguaro Hotel. Pre-order The Latin Road Home here.

John McCain and Amy Poehler in a photo tweeted by @SenJohnMcCain Thursday.

It’s official: Sen. John McCain will put Arizona on the map, again. This time it will be in the form of a half hour comedy spot on prime-time television.

No, seriously, the senator has reportedly wrapped filming on the set of NBC’s “Parks and Recreation” for the upcoming season 5. Just in case we had any doubt about the former presidential candidate’s acting career, he confirmed via Twitter last week: “Had a great time shooting @ParksandRecNBC today w/ Amy Poehler – I think it’s an Emmy!”

McCain was joined by Sen. Barbara Boxer (California) and Sen. Olympia Snowe (Maine) as guest stars on the show.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the bipartisan episode – titled “Ms. Knope Goes to Washington” – is expected to debut on September 27, and will center around Amy Poehler’s Leslie Knope visiting D.C. to see her boyfriend Ben Wyatt, played by Adam Scott. More on season 5 here.

Photo courtesy of Sam Hjelle.

They don’t call them the dog days of summer for nothing, so before you hit the road for a chilly three-day weekend up north or you pack the cooler and head west for the ocean, check out BringFido.com and see what kind of dog-friendly itinerary these destinations can accommodate.

BringFido.com is worldwide database of dog-friendly hotels, beaches, trails, restaurants and more in almost any city. Not to mention veterinary services and discussion forums.

After your trip be sure to share your dog-friendly experience upon your return so other travelers and their canine companions can enjoy the same attractions and adventures in the future.

Local dog parks provide our four-legged friends with much-needed exercise, so if you are staying in town this summer be sure to visit a dog park in Chandler, Scottsdale, Phoenix or Cosmo Dog Park in Gilbert in the mornings or evenings to avoid peak temperatures. Happy tails trails.

You recognize her in Gatorade and Nike commercials, you remember her defense during the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup and you watched her strut her stuff on Dancing With The Stars. Now see Hope Solo in Phoenix before she heads to London with the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team for the 2012 Olympics.

The Phoenix Mercury will recognize Solo as the team’s 2012 Inspiring Woman during Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Sparks. According to the Phoenix Mercury, the evening will be dedicated to recognizing Solo’s accomplishments on the field as well as in the community and will also mark the Mercury’s celebration of the 40th anniversary of Title IX.

Submit a story here about how Title IX has benefitted you, a friend or family member and you will automatically receive a free ticket to the game and take part in an on-court recognition and group photo with Solo at halftime. To find out how your soccer team can meet Solo, call (602) 379-7521 or email [email protected].

Tipoff is at 6 p.m. at the U.S. Airways Center. Tickets start at $10.

via Refinery29

Don’t get us wrong – we’re super excited and thoroughly charmed by anything Justin Timberlake does, from saying Bye Bye Bye (you remember, we know) to making sure sexy is back to starring in hot rom-coms with hot starlets. But like Refinery 29 said, JT’s newest endeavor – having nothing to do with music, fashion or being devastatingly handsome – “is just confusing.” Joining the ranks of retail powerhouses the Mint family (StyleMint, JewelMint, ShoeMint, and BeautyMint), Timberlake is teaming with decorator Estee Stanley to bring not only his loyal obsessives, but also anyone else with a penchant for design the European-inspired HomeMint, a business geared towards – you guessed it – modern, artsy, discounted home accessories. As oddly as this announcement seems, we can’t help but feel a little smitten with the idea, as anything in which Timberlake has ever dabbled seems to turn into gold. Now, as long as he shows up on the doorstep with every package we order, we’re set for life.

Congrats to Huffington Post Correspondent, Christian Hartman, for not laughing during this newstory, “MegaMillions Winner Loses Her Ticket.” If you’re still sore about losing the mega jackpot, chuckle at this loser about how she lost the winning ticket.

From the wire, Ashton Kutcher is set to play Steve Jobs in an upcoming independent film of the late Apple mastermind. At first thought, we’re wondering if this is a massive media “punk” as news sprouted April Fools Day. However, Variety claims this of the  movie starring the Two and Half Men man: ”The film will chronicle Steve Jobs from wayward hippie to co-founder of Apple, where he became one of the most revered creative entrepreneurs of our time.“ Sony Pictures is also rumored to be working on a big-budget Steve Jobs script – may we suggest the title “Steve Jobs, The Untold Story, Version 2.0.“ What do you think about the casting? Will Kutcher fall far from the Apple tree?

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Image via LATimes.com

Today only, if you’re disturbed about the rampant use of “pink slime” like us, you are invited to swap ground beef bought from other retailers at Fresh & Easy’s “Pink Slime Swap Meat” Wednesday, March 28^th. Fresh & Easy never has, and never will, use the ammonia-treated filler known as “pink slime” in its ground beef. Hooray! Fresh & Easy grinds all of its own meat, using only fresh, never frozen beef – it’s that simple. All of Fresh & Easy’s products are made with the highest quality ingredients, and contain no artificial colors or flavors, high fructose corn syrup or added trans fats.

Bring fresh or frozen ground beef from another retailer to any Fresh & Easy and exchange it for a package of fresh&easy (80/20) ground beef* – no questions asked. In addition, Fresh & Easy is encouraging customers to take to Facebook and Twitter to share their experiences using the hashtag #SwapMeat.

As other retailers scramble to remove pink slime from their shelves – one USDA scientist claimed that 70% of all ground beef sold in stores contains pink slime – Fresh & Easy is reminding customers they can always get fresh quality products they can trust. For Fresh & Easy locations, click here.

Nose Job King of Miami Dr. Michael Salzhauer of Bal Harbour Plastic Surgery Associates wants to make over your schnozzle for free, but only after you’ve earned it. Recently, Dr. Schnoz commissioned Jewish punk rock band The Groggers to write a love ballad for nose jobs called “Jewcan Sam (A Nose Job Love Song).” In exchange, the band’s lead singer received a nose job. How does this apply to your sniffer, you ask? With the doc’s new contest, of course. Contestants interested in getting a nose job must make an original video about needing the procedure to The Groggers’ jingle and put it on YouTube for the world to see. Bravado is rewarded, so don’t be shy: the contestant who gets the most views will win a free Rhinoplasty from Dr. Salzhauer, free airfare to Miami and lodging.

“I wanted to create something no other plastic surgeon has done before. Rhinoplasty is my favorite and most desired procedure. I found a way to incorporate my work into a fun and creative way to attract more patients,” Dr. Salzhauer explains.

Contestants must be between the ages of 15-65; patients under 18 years of age require parental consent. All videos must be submitted by June 15, 2012. Winners are legally required to meet the medical, aesthetic and psychological criteria.

For more information, email [email protected] or click here.

This unfortunate TED speaker, Colin Robertson, sadly fell subject to a case of the “Monday’s” recently when his MAC attacked (and sadly, killed) his TED speech. Watch the video for a little chuckle. Happy Monday DLT.

We want one. At our home.But for now, the Beverly Hills location of Sprinkles Cupcakes is the only locale with the new 24 hour Sprinkles Cupcake ATM. Or rather, the ACM, the automatic cupcake machine. Dispensing love, one cake at a time, the machine is just outside the door, offering up their cakes from the machine and we assume, helping move along the daily mile-long line outside the Beverly Hills cupcakery. Click here to see the ACM in action.

Join Sutra Yoga on the SkyDeck at the Clarendon Hotel tomorrow, March 1 at 7:30 am during their complimentary Rooftop Yoga lesson and a special session of ‘Ask Oz’ with Dr. Oz.

Emmy Award-winning Yetta Gibson, Arizona Family’s 3TV correspondent, will be onsite enjoy the class and to facilitate a live session of ‘Ask Oz’ to answer any health related questions you may have. Don’t miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to ask Dr. Oz about yoga, massage, allergies, ailments, alternative medicine, diet & nutrition, etc, etc, – anything you want to know!

Click here to register for the free class.

Image via Esquire

Pop Traveler for USA Today posted “11 Reasons to Visit Phoenix” with a list of places by author Scott Hopkins. Here’s Scott’s list of places:

Pollack Theatres
Alice Cooperstown
Club Tattoo
Arizona Biltmore
Musical Instrument Museum
Alcor Life Extension Museum
Durant’s
Rock Star Gallery
Rhythm Room
Kazimierz World Wine Bar
Zia Records

What’s missing from the list? Do you agree with at least 5 of Scott’s top picks? Comment on what’s missing or what you agree with and we will “pic” one random commenter for a $25 iPic gift card. Comment by 12 midnight tonight!!!

Image via Pop Traveler

Gawker explaining today that a man suffered a heart attack while enjoying the 6,000 calorie Triple-Bypass Burger at the Heart Attack Grill in Las Vegas on Saturday wearing the hospital gown that fat-asses patrons are required to wear while eating. Gawker pokes, “Who saw this coming from a fast food franchise with a “Taste Worth Dying For!” slogan and an entrance sign that reads “If you come in this place, it’s going to kill you? Certainly no one.”

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Naked yoga may just sound like a sweatier version of regular yoga, but there’s much more to it than a lack of clothing. Proponents say it helps encourage total physical freedom, including freedom from inhibitions, the opinion of others, self-critical body image, and shame about the body. Down-dog sans yoga pants – sounds hot, right?

Yoga Undressed is a new project from trendsetting yoga/fitness/Pilates expert Jennifer Kriese. The series of four DVDs (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Duet) for women feature a flowing Tantric practice combining Kundalini and Hatha styles. Kriese wants Yoga Undressed to show how to honor the body in its most sacred, natural form and promote an enhanced awareness of and connection to the body. She says seeing and feeling the body as it stretches and moves from one pose to the next results in a more mindful, self-aware practice.

The DVDs will be released in early March and will be available here and on Amazon.

Fight heart disease, the leading killer of women, throughout the month of February by wearing red for Heart Month and shopping at Sole Sports Running Zone, who has partnered with heart disease survivor Nina Linder to raise money for the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women. Nina, who experienced a new beginning when her aortic valve was replaced, is highly involved with the community and children’s activities and wanted to promote heart disease research to help others survive. She has teamed with the athletic retailer, who was inspired by her story, as they sell Red Heart Shirts for the American Heart Association, with $10 donated for heart research. That’s not the only way customers can help, however. Head to the any of the store’s three Valley locations on Valentine’s Day, mention the American Heart Association and Sole Sports will donate 10% of each purchase to the foundation.

To read about Nina’s story, click here. For more information, click here.

Sole Sports Running Zone Locations:

Scottsdale| 6941 N. Hayden Rd., Scottsdale, AZ | 85250

Tempe| 1006 E. Warner Rd., Tempe AZ | 85284

Glendale | 18583 N. 59th Ave., Glendale, AZ | 85308

Still in shock from the sad news of Whitney Houston’s abrupt passing over the weekend, we are rockin’ to the amazing voice and legacy of the late singer/actress. Here are a few of the tribute mashups we found.

For more on tributes to Whitney, her final moments and the latest, click here to visit USA Today’s Whitney Houston Tribute Page.

Ian Beers of “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay” by Whitney Houston and “The Devil’s Den” by Skrillex & Wolfgang Gartner.

Image via USA Today

“It’s all about winning. And hair. And winning hair,” says the website Bradying.com dedicated to Tom Brady and his amazing hair. Of course, this week for Brady and Brady fans it’s all about pouting. And pictures. And posting Tom Brady-like pouty pictures on Bradying. Take your own and upload it to the site to join in on the virtual pity party here.

Of course we’re looking forward to the match up between…we lie. We love the Super Bowl for the wacky Super Bowl food, the beer, Madonna’s halftime show this year and of course, for the following Super Bowl Commercials:

Jerry Seinfeld is so excited about the new Acura NSX that he will stop at nothing to acquire the very first one. Check out the extended version of Acura’s big game commercial. See what else Jerry would do for the first new NSX at www.acura.com. NSX projected debut in next three years.

There is now more of a price to pay for not going to the gym than a growing waistline. GymPact, a new website and iPhone app, tracks your gym attendance, rewards you for hitting the treadmill and punishes you for, well, not. Upon signing up, you establish the number of days per week you want to exercise and the monetary stakes you’re willing to pay weekly if you don’t (say, $5). You prove your commitment by checking into your gym with GymPact’s app, which calculates your GPS coordinates to confirm your whereabouts. Those who don’t stick to their weekly goals have their credit cards charged for the agreed-upon amount. Those who do, however, are rewarded with real cash, which is credited to their account and funded by the people who didn’t work out. If all this sounds a tad inflexible, fear not: members can change their pact at any time or freeze their membership when they go on vacation. Regardless, even if the prospect of paying for laziness strikes you as perverse, you have to admit that getting paid to work out sounds pretty nice.

Image via AllPosters

For Titanic fanatics, there is now a better way to mark the 100^th anniversary of the ship’s sinking than with Titanic 3D. If wearing those thick glasses for three hours isn’t your style, we’re thinking a destination cruise – of sorts – will be. Sound like a strange vacation, especially after the Costa Concordia disaster? We agree, but someone had to do it: For up to $14k, UK-based Miles Morgan Travel is marking the occasion with three Titanic-dedicated cruises in April. From serving food that was also served on the ship to opportunities for period dressing, the cruises will also have daily lectures surrounding the life and history of the Titanic and themed entertainment from the era. Both the 100^th Memorial Cruise – which departs from Southampton April 8 and already has a waitlist – and the Anniversary Cruise, which departs from New York April 10, will follow the doomed ship’s itinerary and give a memorial service at the exact time and location of the ship’s sinking. If it all sounds a little over-the-top, the Titanic Mini Cruise, which departs on April 3, is a 5-night voyage that will stop in both Liverpool and Belfast to commemorate the ship’s “engine room heroes” without the slightly-eerie and subzero mid-ocean memorial service.

For more info, click here.

As chosen by you, here are the top stories of ALL TIME aka last week just in case you missed them.

Well this is pretty crappy!

Kohler Academy, Scottsdale’s premier cosmetology and skin therapy school with an awesome student salon and spa, was recently forced by the powerhouse of housing fixtures, Kohler, yes the glamourous makers of toilets and plumbing fixtures, to change their name citing “trademark infringement,” aka we are the only ones who think we can use the name “Kohler.” The past Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce Small Business winner, Kohler Academy, decided to flush the KA moniker and change their name to Penrose Academy this month, rather than take on the big business bully. Academy owners Jill and Burt Kohler, obviously no relation to the aforementioned toileteria company, said, “As small business owners we were unwilling to participate in a legal battle that we feel we would ultimately win, yet would take time, money and our focus away from our goal of preparing students for a successful career in the Professional Beauty industry.” Kudos to the Kohlers for taking the high road while doing their business.

Penrose Academy will still offer awesome student services in their student salon and student spa. Sign up for their newsletter monthly featured services here for even better deals like 30% off all Menu pricing through January. Kohler Penrose Academy is also a retailer of Dermalogica, bareMinerals, CND and Bumble and bumble products, and now offering the new LiLash Purified Eyelash Serum.

Penrose Academy | 13402 N. Scottsdale Road, Ste. B160 | Scottsdale, AZ 85254 | 480.222.9540

Turn your holiday gift snub into cash with Gawker’s Worst Gift Contest. One winner wins $100 Visa gift card for submitting the picture of the worst gift. Gawker says, “Is it an ugly tie? Is it an apron that your mother-in-law sewed for you? Is it feminine hygene products your crazy Aunt Ethel regifted? If you wanna win, click here for details for how to play.

Image via Gawker

Poor David Dopp, winner of the Maverik Joe Schmo to Lambo contest in Utah, won a brand new $380,000 Lamborghini and crashed his fancy new ride just 6 hours later. AP News Reports, “He said he was taking friends and family on joy rides that evening on the outskirts of town. He said he took a curve at 40 or 50 mph when the vehicle hit ice or loose gravel and started spinning.”  The damage to the car is repairable and Dopp, a Frito-Lay delivery driver, plans to have the car back in a couple of months. Read more about this Joe Schmo crashing his Lambo by clicking here.

Image via IBTimes