Kelley Blue Book’s 2012 Best Resale Value Awards

Every year, Kelly Blue Book announces the winners of their annual Best Resale Value Awards. There are 31 winners total including 2 best car brand winners, 19 category winners, and the overall top ten car winners. This year, Toyota and Lexus took home Best Resale Value Awards for Best Brand and Best Luxury Brand. Some of the winners in the top ten category include a few of my favorites like the 2012 Jeep Wrangler, 2012 Audi Q7, and the 2012 Lexus RX.

This year, Kelley Blue Book didn’t post a small news article about the winners, they launched an entire new section on their site. The section includes multiple tabs that provide information such as a description of each winner, the resale value of the car at 36 months and 60 months, as well as a link that goes to the vehicle page, in case you want to learn more. In addition to the usual social media “share” options, they incorporated a badge-ing system. The badge-ing system lets anyone, whether it be a dealer, a blogger, a car manufacturer, etc. post a badge on their site, showing the viewer that the vehicle is a Kelley Blue Book winner. The badges are offered in different sizes and also come in black or white, giving the webmaster multiple options. Below is an example of a badge for the top ten winners, in black.

Kelley Blue Book hosts an annual “reveal” dinner every year with an awards presentation for the winners. This event is usually held on the eve of the annual L.A. Auto Show. The winners’ awards are then displayed throughout the manufacturers’ sections for the duration of the show. Below is a photo of the awards Toyota won, in their section at this year’s show.

Kelley Blue Book's Best Resale Value Awards at the 2012 LA Auto Show

Congratulations to all of this year’s Kelley Blue Book Best Resale Value Awards winners!

Parc Central Restaurant at the Scottsdale Quarter

I am one of the many people that frequent the Scottsdale Quarter for everything it has to offer. A little shopping, some frozen yogurt, a quick lunch, a nice dinner, and even some nightlife fun, are all part of the attractiveness that make up the newest hot spot in Scottsdale, Arizona.

With all of the numerous restaurants that have recently opened, Parc Central is one my favorites. It is open seven days a week for both lunch and dinner. It has an amazing bar area which includes a DJ on the weekend, and serves food and drinks until close. The atmosphere and the ambiance are very inviting and appealing. Parc Central is definitely the place to be if you want to be surrounded by an amazing crowd of fun, good looking people.

Even though the restaurant has been open for less than a month and the staff is still getting to know the menu, my dinner experience was beyond what I expected. The wait staff was ever so pleasant and answered any and all questions I had about the menu. I was even allowed to taste a few different types of wine before I actually made up my mind. As for the food, well I am not going to bore you with a play by play of what I ordered and ate, but I have to just let you know about one dish… As an appetizer, the table ordered the Hot Panko Crusted Goat Cheese Balls which were to die for. There were very light, but so tasty and rich at the same time, just the perfect beginning to an incredible meal. Not only were we served promptly, but the general manager and one of the restaurant owners came by the table to say hello and make sure that everything was going well. Fantastic customer service exceeding all my expectations.

I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking for a change in their regular routine of ordering in and watching TV. Get out of the house and live a little. Have some good food, great drinks (try the Lola Martini) and a wonderful time at Parc Central, one of the best new Scottsdale Restaurants located in the Scottsdale Quarter.

Like Parc Central on Facebook, here.
Like Scottsdale Quarter on Facebook, here.
Follow Scottsdale Quarter on Twitter, here.
Review Parc Central on Yelp, here.

Taylor Swift’s Speak Now

On Monday October 25th, 2010 Taylor Swift’s new album ‘Speak Now’ was released. I raced over to Target to pick it up and haven’t stopped listening to it since. Even though Taylor is only 20 years old, I believe that her audience targets women of all ages. She is not only a great singer but she also plays the guitar and writes each and every one of her songs, which in my mind constitutes genuine talent and sets her apart from the rest.

Inside the CD cover is a little note that she wrote about the album. In one paragraph in particular she hints who a few of the songs are about (mainly boys). One song is about her first love (Nick Jonas), another is to Kanye West (regarding the 2009 VMA incident), one song is to John Mayer (about what a jerk he is), and another to Taylor Lautner.

The song to Taylor Launter, Back to December, is my favorite. In this song she sings about how she wants another chance and how sorry she is for treating him so bad. I would love to see them back together, but I am not sure if the song/chance still stands as the rumors are swirling about her dating Jake Gyllenhaal. Anyways, Taylor Squared are definitely the Britney and Justin of 2010… LOL! In the song she belts about how the first time he saw her cry was the night of the MTV VMA’s when Kanye ruined her moment up on stage. She also apologizes for not calling him on his birthday and letting the roses that he bought her, die. She had a really good guy who treated her right but realized it too late.

Taylor Swift & Taylor Lautner

When I listen to these songs I definitely know which numbers are to whom, especially since I’m known for keeping up with the Hollywood Gossip (Dear John is the easiest to figure out considering his first name is in the title). It sure seems that Taylor wears her heart on her sleeve in this album and any boy that she dates from now on should be cautious because in the end, there will be a song.

Obsessed with the Internet by Casey Boynton

What are the first five things you do when you get to work? Most people would say they look at their email, get some coffee, eat breakfast, check voice mail and possibly zone out for a few minutes before starting their day. The first thing I do… Sign into Gmail (immediately G-Chat), check Facebook, open Gilt, browse through Twitter and Living Social at the same time, surf the new trends on Revolve Clothing, and see when the next sale begins on Macy’s.com.
Oh wait… that’s six things. I probably have ten or so more ‘Go To’ sites that I (along with most people) instantaneously check at least once every day, but these can wait until after I’ve had my morning Starbucks. Some of these sites include Shopbop, Just Jared, People, the LA Times, US Weekly, etc. My speedy fingers attacking the keyboard reminds me of the way my parents used to sit down at the kitchen table and impulsively grab for their morning paper or weekly news magazines. Having to turn the pages the size of a billboard seems counterproductive to me as I am able to peruse all these sites simultaneously while checking my voicemail, carrying on a conversation with my boss about the day’s schedule, filling out paperwork and g-chatting with my best friend about last night! I am so totally obsessed!!!

SEO Showbiz Gal's Guest Blogger Casey Boynton

When my best friend across the country is telling me about a guy she has a crush on, she immediately sends me his Facebook link via G-Chat and within seconds I know exactly what her crush looks like, what his friends look and act like, where he is from, where he went to college, and where he stands on the douche meter. A good example of how the Internet works in my favor is when it comes to my day job. When I am out scouting locations for the hit Television show I work on, all I have to do is take the photos of the locations, upload them to our department’s website and almost instantaneously they are available for every EP, Director and Writer to view.
All in all Technology is mind blowing and it is only getting more advanced. This is Casey signing off and yes… I am completely addicted to the Internet.

Online Shopping 101 by Casey Boynton

You could say Goddess, Online Guru, Researcher Extraordinaire, DAMN Yankee (born and raised in the North East), Sexy Cheapskate, or just plain freakin smart with my spending money. Today I am giving a basic lesson on shopping online for anyone who is smart enough to take advantage of a recession all in the convenience of your very own home.

Thanks to the massive response of consumers on the web, we are able to track the lowest cost on any item being sold. Let’s get started with an example. When I decide I want to purchase something online (for this example let’s use Hanae Mori perfume) I first go to the a retail store to sample the fragrance and assure myself that I LOVE it. I then force myself to walk away, drive home, hop online and Google the words “Hanae Mori” (Google will help you out with their Google Suggest feature if you don’t remember how to spell it). After you hit enter, BOOM a whole bunch of results show up.

Hanae Mori Perfume

In order to compare prices and sizes I pull up the retail store’s website where I sampled the item to make sure I am looking at the exact product. Things such as type of perfume and size are variables that you want to make sure you’ve got right. I decided I am interested in the 3.4oz bottle (a much better deal in the long run) and I see it sells for $90.00 plus tax (9.75% in Cali!!!!) which makes the total price of the perfume $98.78.

Now that I know EXACTLY what I am looking for, I click over to the Google page that has a variety of different listings selling the exact item I want to buy. I see that the Amazon.com result has the perfume available, and since I trust this site and their authenticity, it is my first double-click to a bargain.

Here is what I see:
Retail Store List Price: $98.78
Amazon Price (including free shipping): $38.02
You Save: $60.76

WOW!!! So wait?!?! I can buy this item for $38.02 with FREE shipping AND no tax (Amazon.com only charges sales tax in a few states)… Yes Goddesses, you can. Try if for your DAMN self and Happy Shopping!

Choice Hotels International CEO Steve Joyce on Undercover Boss

Undercover Boss is a show that takes CEO’s of major corporations and puts them in their employees shoes. On Sunday September 26th, the Season 2 premiere of the series will feature my very own boss and CEO, Steve Joyce from Choice Hotels International. Viewers will gain first hand hotel industry experience as Steve works up a sweat by scrubbing a pool, cleaning rooms as he acts as a house keeper, and staffs the front desk while posing as an employee at three different hotels.

Choice's CEO Steve Joyce on Undercover Boss - Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS

Choice Hotels International is one of the largest hotel franchisee companies in the world. Choice franchises over 6,000 hotels in the United States and more than 35 other countries world-wide. Choice’s brands include Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality Inn, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban, Rodeway Inn, Econo Lodge and the newest Ascend Collection.

I work at the western regional corporate offices located in Phoenix, Arizona at the Scottsdale 101 complex on Mayo Blvd and Scottsdale Rd. All of us are extremely excited to sit back and watch as Steve takes on this first hand experience in what it takes to make our franchisees hotels run successfully. You can learn more, see images and watch a preview at the Official Choice Hotels Undercover Boss page. Don’t miss the Season 2 premiere of Undercover Boss on Sunday September 26th at 10/9c on CBS.

Enough With Being Lost, Here Comes The Event…

SEO Showbiz Gal is excited to have a very special guest blogger this week. This person was fortunate enough to share some inside scoop on a new show premiering on NBC this fall.

NBC announced “The Event” as their massive new Primetime show for this Fall. With a cushy time slot of 9pm on Monday nights, scripts as addicting as hot fudge sundaes, and a cast hand picked from the casting gods, this show has heat. The premise is still a mystery but the buzz has started. We might just have a hit on our hands ladies and gentlemen. The critics who said the infallible concoction as superb as “Lost” is impossible to repeat, might be in for a surprise this Fall.

The Cast of "The Event" photo by Joseph Viles/NBC

A crew member on the show says, “It’s amazing to work on something so huge that is on the brink of fame. I feel privileged to work on a show with such talented Producers, Writers and Directors. Every person on our staff is giving it their all. We work non-stop, moving every day, looking forward to the fans reaction on 9/20.”

The crew member said she was blown away at how sweet and amazing the cast is. Cast member Ian Anthony Dale strolled into her tiny, suffocating office space without any assistant in sight, and asked to take a picture of each person in her department. Ian individually went around to more than 100 crew members and took photos for a directory he is creating, so that everyone on the show will be able to recognize one another. “Never in my life have I witnessed such a thing in this industry. Especially from a lead principle. It got everyone excited, we all knew we were going to be part of something BIG.”

While the average 15 million “Lost” viewers might be a hard sell, sounds like this show will give them a run for their money. “The Event” premieres Monday September 20th at 9/8c on NBC.

The Bachelor Pad

The Bachelor Pad is a spin-off series of the televisions shows, The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. There are many similarities the new show has to The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, however there are a few new twists and turns which makes the show a crazy playground for all of the eligible men and women. The show takes place in the same famous bachelor mansion in Los Angeles California, is still hosted by Chris Harrison and there are still roses to give out along with eliminated cast members each week. However, this season instead of one eligible Bachelor or Bachelorette looking for love, this is the first time where there are both guys and girls in the same house. Melissa Rycroft-Strickland, a previous Bachelorette who is now married and pregnant has joined the cast as a co-host. And, the best part about the show is that all of the men and women sleep together in one room, where there is a lot of making out and inevitable hook-ups. The way the show works is that each week there is a challenge and either one man, one woman or both a girl and a guy are able to win and receive a rose. This rose means that they are safe that week from elimination. The rose also means that they get to pick three people to go on a date with them. On these dates there is another rose that they get to hand out at the end of the date, for the one person who they want to stay in the house. This person is either someone who they have a romantic interest in or someone who they want to make sure is safe in regards to a certain game play strategy they have promised. At the end of the episode, each guy votes for one girl that they want eliminated and each girl votes off the guy that they want sent home.

The Cast of ABC's The Bachelor Pad

The new concept certainly doesn’t disappoint. After only two episodes I am officially hooked. ABC has brought back some of the craziest most memorable Bachelors and Bachelorettes of all time, some who are single, some who are off the market and even some that are dating each other. Parts of the cast are super close and know each other very well, whereas the other half of the cast doesn’t really know anyone. This without question makes for some interesting game play. That along with the sexual tension in the house caused by all the good looking people around certainly makes for some very exciting television. I don’t know who I am routing for yet, but I’ll let you know who my favorites are as the season goes on. The Bachelor Pad airs Mondays on ABC at 8/7c. Don’t miss out on one of this summer’s guiltiest pleasures!

The Real Housewives of New York City on Bravo

I’ve just gotten into watching the Real Housewives of New York City. It happened a few weeks ago when there was a marathon on Bravo one lazy Sunday afternoon. I don’t know which season it was but I couldn’t stop watching it! And now, my DVR is set to record these ladies every Thursday night. The very first episode I watched was when Ramona had a party with everyone on a yacht. And now I’m completely up to date! My favorite ladies on the show are Ramona, Kelly, Alex and Bethenny. My least favorite are LuAnn and Jill (I despise Jill). She is such a B-I-T-C-H!

The Ladies of The Real Housewives of New York City

Of course as soon as I became a fan of the show I had to check and see if these gals had twitter accounts. To no surprise, all of them did. If you’re not following them already here is a list of their accounts.

Bethenny Frankel’s Twitter Page
Kelly Bensimon’s Twitter Page
LuAnn de Lesseps’s Twitter Page
Jill Zarin’s Twitter Page
Ramona Singer’s Twitter Page
Alex McCord’s Twitter Page

I personally only follow Kelly and Bethenny. Kellly’s tweets sometimes make it seem like she is full of herself. For example, she’ll twitpic a photo of herself almost everyday showcasing her whereabouts like a fabulous vacation destination, along with what designer she is wearing. I’m like I really don’t care that your coat is French Connection.

Kelly Bensimon from The Real Housewives of New York City

On the other hand, I really like Bethenny’s tweets. Bethenny’s are less frequent but more interesting. She will post healthy eating tips, respond and re-tweet great success stories from her fans, which to me seems like the proper way to use twitter. Way to go Bethenny!!!

Don’t forget to catch these crazy ladies (especially Ramona) every Thursday night on Bravo at 10/9c.

SEO Showbiz Gal Update

So much has happened since I last blogged. I don’t even know where to start, so here is a quick snap shot of everything that I can remember off of the top of my head that happened in showbiz land since my last blog. Ready, Set and GO!
Gisele Bundchen had a baby named Benjamin, Kourtney Kardashian had a baby named Mason, Katherine Heigl went brunette (yuck!), Britney Spears went brunette then back to blond (yay!), Britney also broke up and got back together with Jason Trawick (who I used to work with at William Morris). Speaking of William Morris Agency they merged with Endeavor and are now called William Morris Endeavor… so weird. What else, oh yeah Sandra Bullock won an Oscar, and less than a week later the story that Jesse James (her husband) cheated on her hit the web. Jake Pavelka found love on the Bachelor (he chose Vienna Girardi) and is now a contestant on Dancing with the Stars along with Pamela Anderson. Speaking of the Bachelor, I think every single ex-bachelor and bachelorette is on Twitter. I even #FollowFriday’d almost all of them today. Here is a link to my page if you’d like to view the post (SEO ShowBiz Gal’s Twitter Page). Oh and Bachelor reject Ali Fedotowsky was named the next Bachelorette. Rob Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are definitely a couple having been spotted kissing in London, along with her appearance at his Remember Me premiere in New York (which bombed, making only $8.1 million opening weekend). Shiloh Jolie-Pitt cut and died her hair brown, Kate Winslet and Sam Mendes announced their split, Heidi Klum had a baby girl named Lou, and the new show High Society starring Tinsley Mortimer began to air on the CW.

Tinsley Mortimer from High Society on the CW

Wow, that sure was a lot… and as for me, I turned 30 years old and celebrated in Las Vegas with all my besties from LA. I also went to my first search engine conference, SMX West in Silicon Valley, CA. It was a great experience and I learned so much. The highlights for me were seeing Steve Ballmer, Matt Cutts and Avinash Kaushik (aka genius) speak live. I am extremely happy to be in such a fast paced and innovative industry. Have a great weekend and see you next time! xo