PRODUCT OBSESSION – NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP

August 4, 2009

Wow, this line, NYX comprised of two sub brands: Black Label, the higher end premium line and NYX Girls, a fun trend line with brighter and lighter formulas is very hot…

Started in 1999 it has introduced makeup in every category and rarely discontinues shades – THANK YOU -as you know how much it sucks when you fall in love with something and next year it's gone.

Oh, and fall in love have I.

These are my top fave products this week:

LIP GLOSS WITH MEGA SHINE

DIAMOND SPARKLE LIP GLOSS

FELT TIP LINER

TRIO EYE SHADOW (In white/gray/black)

So many gorgeous shades, you will have to see for yourself.

The eyeliner is incredible!! And I am a suckaah for a diamondy-sparklee-gloss…

Fine a store here!!

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LA PRAIRIE SPA AT THE BEVERLY HILLS HOTEL – LUXURY VON LUXE

August 1, 2009

When you arrive to a facial and this (see divine photo below) is in the spa waiting for you, well, really…what more can you say?

The La Prairie Spa at the Beverly Hills Hotel is truly the creme de la creme. And not just because it's well, the Beverly Hills Hotel , but because the La Prairie product line is simply sublime, the best of the best, the finest of the fine. And the La Prairie trained technicians are so skilled and knowledgeable that you can rest assured you are in the hands of the skin gods.

And that is exactly what my skin looked like when I left. Angelic. (Not sure how that analogy works, but you get the point. I hope).

This is what I had:

Cellular Resurfacing Facial (60min) + Platinum Infusion “replenishing enhancement”.

Platinum Rare Infusion: the absolute apex of luxury within facials. Infused into the skin through active massage, this highly concentrated formula of Cellular Cream Platinum Rare, La Prairie’s newest and most powerful anti-aging cream, recharges the skin’s electrical balance with pure platinum, leaving skin radiant, youthful and glowing.

Cellular Resurfacing Facial (one hour)
Professional levels of alpha-hydroxy and beta-hydroxy acids will renew and retexturize. This intense exfoliation minimizes enlarged pores, evens skin tone, and promotes the most flawless look possible.

**FOR THE COMPLETE LIST, SEE THE EXTENSIVE DELICIOUS MENU BELOW.**

I seriously looked, what I think, was a good five years younger. My skin was glistening. When my hubby saw me, he did a double take – and this was without a stitch of make-up. He was like: Holy expletive! You look amazing! It looked like I had diamonds on my face or something. I was glistening, plumped up, vitamin infused in a way I cannot remember looking after a facial.

Never mind the heavenly treatment room…

You also will relish in the elegant accoutrement's, the steam, the awesome shower and those goodies that come when you set foot in the spa such as pitchers of cucumber water, fresh fruit, cozy robe and towels, the cloud of a table you lie on, the lovely talented facialist…

But these products – well, you will just want to eat them.

I left with some amazing goodies that I am savoring to the last little drop. A luxurious eye and night cream. It's all true – La Prairie formulations are the best stuff on earth. So save your pennies, toss out the other crap and put your money where your face is with this stuff. There is no way to wrong. Seriously.

And if you need a major spa getaway, it's worth it to go the extra distance and treat yourself to what you deserve. Knock yourself out and spend a few hours feeling like a trillion bucks at this spa. You deserve it!

The Beverly Hills Hotel Spa by La Prairie

The Beverly Hills Hotel Spa by La Prairie is located on the Promenade level of the hotel. La Prairie has been in the forefront of the anti-aging revolution for the past half century. La Prairie's unique cellular facials, therapeutic massages, and impeccable attention to elegance make The Beverly Hills Hotel Spa by La Prairie a luxurious, restorative oasis to help you de-stress, rejuvenate, and pamper yourself with age-defying science and skincare expertise.

The 1916-square-foot spa has six treatment rooms including two couples suites, private cabanas on the upper level above the pool, separate steam rooms and saunas for men and women, and other state-of-the-art innovations.

Open seven days a week from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm, the spa offers a treatment menu with more than 40 different remedies, including signature services that allow clients to experience La Prairie's one-of-a-kind body therapies. For off-the-chart pampering and tranquility, the spa provides both in-room and poolside services.

COMPLETE SPA MENU – OUTTA THIS WORLD!!

Here's a list of my fave treatments:

PLATINUM
RARE INfUSIon (add 15 minutes to your facial) 15 minutes $175

A
treasure beyond price to preserve, protect, and arrest the appearance of time.
Infused into the skin

through
active massage, this highly concentrated formula recharges skin’s electrical
balance with pure

platinum
and produces a remarkable radiant glow.

CAVIAR
INTENSIVE EYE LIfT TREATMENT (add 15 minutes to your facial) 15 minutes $100

Precious
skin caviar, the most intensely concentrated age fighters, and La Prairie’s
cellular complex

immediately
minimize the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, crow’s feet, dark circles, and
puffiness.

NECK
& DéCoLLETé fIRMING AND REfINING TREATMENT (add 15 minutes to your facial)
15 minutes $100

Restore
beauty and firmness to this delicate area. La Prairie’s 3-Minute Peel
retexturizes and evens

skin
tone, and Cellular Bust and Décolleté Complex firms and hydrates.

SCALP
TENSIoN RELIEVER (add 15 minutes to your facial or massage) 15 minutes $75

A
lavender compress relieves eye and temple strain, while a deeply relaxing and
therapeutic scalp

massage
restores balance and tranquility.

look and feel radiant, luscious and
vibrantly alive.

CAVIAR
fIRMING fACIAL 90 minutes $300

True
luxury with an unprecedented concentration of Caviar Extracts, AHA’s and unique
sea proteins

will
give you cause for celebration. This indulgent facial leaves your skin feeling
transformed, lifted

and
illuminated. Includes the Caviar Intensive Eye Lift Treatment.

AGING
INTERVENTIoN fACIAL 60 minutes
$200

La
Prairie has revolutionized the fight against aging starting at the core level
with advanced complexes

to
rebuild skin’s firmness and elasticity, and deliver superior hydration.

ADVANCED
MARINE BIOLOGY • YOUTH PROTECTION FACIAL 60 minutes $200

La
Prairie has captured the rarest ingredients found in the depths of the ocean
derived exclusively from

marine
plants grown by sustainable means.
Lightweight formulations repair, rehydrate, replenish, and

energize
your skin with powerful undersea anti-oxidants, sea algae, sea pearls, and
mineral rich sea water.

CELLULAR
RESURfACING fACIAL 60 minutes $200

Professional
levels of alpha-hydroxy and beta-hydroxy acids will renew and retexturize. This
intensive

resurfacing
treatment minimizes enlarged pores, evens skin tone, and promotes a flawless
look.

General
Information

Open
every day of the year, 7am – 10pm

To
avoid a full fee charge, we require 6 hours advance notice to cancel or
reschedule an individual service and 24 hours advance

notice
for multiple services. A valid credit card is required to hold your
reservation. La Prairie gift certificates are available and can be

applied towards the
purchase of products or services. To purchase, visit the spa or call (310)
887-2505

9641 Sunset Boulevard • Beverly Hills, CA 90210 • (310) 887-2505 • laprairie@beverlyhillshotel.com

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Health and Nutrition Counseling with Margaret Floyd

July 29, 2009

I finally realized that woman, uh okay, I, cannot exist on coffee, protein bars, Splenda and dark chocolate alone. No, I need subsistence. And veggies.

So I sought out much desperately needed help from a nutritionist everyone is buzzing about.

MARGARET FLOYD

www.margaretfloyd.com

Margaret is much more than a nutritionist. She overhauls one's food and nutrition to address what may be ailing your poor body/mind/spirit. She works holistically to get an overall picture, the entire story. This means that you not only record a full food diary before she can evaluate/addresses the issues as to why you may be feeling a particular way (tired in the afternoons, unable to sleep well, edgy in the mornings, etc.) but she also asks for an emotional report of how each food makes you feel. And I was feeling like crap when I dragged my lethargic tuchus to Margaret's office.

Margaret and I worked together on my food diary to break down and understand the obvious nutritional gaps. Then we made a game plan on how to deal with the problems in a that would work for me. First thing I had to get off sugar. Ten Splendas a day were wrecking havoc on my adrenal system, causing major energy dips, night sweats and more cravings for more sugar. It was pretty ugly. After she tested my entire body (a 'functional evaluation" it's called) she pinpointed several depleted areas like my gall bladder and some other places I can't pronounce. We devised a rather regimented sugar reduction diet for two weeks that I was more than psyched up for. There were several supplements to accompany these first two weeks and I happily obliged.

Margaret is all about real, whole foods and eating in the purest and most natural way. I was all about chemicals and faux-substitutes like Molly McButter and I Can't Believe It's not Butter. It was a real paradigm shift and one that months later I am still adhering to. She is also just a ridiculously lovely person who makes you feel so taken care of. She was always avail for a phone-in-chat and emailed me to check up on me throughout the entire process. Her work is ever evolving and she is always finding new and creative ways to expand her vision, including personal trainers to help define and reach one's goals.

If you are in need of a food/health/life shift, then Margaret is your go-to-girl. She is sensitive to your lifestyle needs, creates realistic, attainable goals and will reorganize your diet to reflect a simple, nutritional whole way of eating that for me, has now become a life plan, not just a quick fix.

She also does a follow up where you can check in twice a month and she will tweak and adjust your nutrition lifestyle as our lives are ever evolving and so too are our needs in these departments!

Here, in her own words is the knowledge and passion she has to offer:

I believe in Real Food: nutrient dense, whole foods, properly prepared.

What that means is that I believe in eating foods as close to their original and natural source as possible:

Fresh, local, organic vegetables and fruits;
Whole, unprocessed grains;
Healthy protein from animals raised in their natural environment (wild fish, and meat, eggs and dairy from pastured animals who’ve eaten what they’re biologically designed to eat out in the wild, not the industrial feedlot fare that fills most of the shelves at the grocery store); and
Healthy, real fats.

But fear not. If this sounds like a drastic change from what you're currently eating, know that my approach is to take things one step a time, with simple changes integrated at a pace that's comfortable to you.

This is not another crash diet. This is a way of life structured around healthy food habits that you can adopt both for yourself and those around you. Your whole family will benefit from these healthy habits, and by adopting them you just well might discover that it’s not only weight you shed… you just might find that your nagging chronic sinus infection goes away… that you’re not as susceptible to colds and flus… that you have more energy, even in the middle of the afternoon!… that you look and feel great all the time!

I work with several basic premises:

Eating should be a fun, pleasurable experience, and above all, what you eat should be tasty. Tasty doesn’t have to mean it’s bad for you; tasty can be healthy and nutritious. Let’s re-define tasty together.
Eating is about nourishment, not deprivation. Your food plan should be the same, even when you’re shedding pounds or addressing a health concern… in fact, especially in these instances.
We are what we eat, so let’s choose wisely, keeping it simple and going back to the basics.
Every one of us is unique, so no one diet works for everyone. We'll find what works for you specifically, and develop a food plan around your body's bioindividuality.

Identify and clarify your health goals and your life goals.
Identify the perceived barriers in achieving those goals, and create a plan to get you there.
Look at what you're eating, how you're eating, and what role food plays in your life.
Determine how well your body is digesting and absorbing the foods you do eat.
Formulate a plan to enhance your body's natural abilities to fuel your system.
Understand the role of cravings, their root cause, and what they're telling you.
Change your relationship with food!
Learn easy, quick and fun new ways of preparing food that are delicious, nutritious and fast.
1214 23rd St, 2nd floor
Santa Monica, CA 90404
margaret.floyd@gmail.com

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PRODUCT OBSESSION – MOROCCANOIL HAIR PRODUCT LINE

July 16, 2009

Ric Pipino, THANK YOU for introducing me to this phenomenal line of hair products.

MOROCCANOIL

When does a hair product actually DO what it says it will? Especially in the deep conditioning treatment department? Uh, from my experience, next to never.

But this stuff REALLY works! And most likely because of the quality, top grade ingredients (a proprietary blend of Argan Oil from the Argan tree nut) that absorb into hair instantly so their ultra rich vitamins can strengthen elasticity with powerful antioxidants, UV protectors and free radical neutralizers. You can almost SEE it going to work – calming, hydrating and soothing damaged hair as well as the scalp. The line is made in Israel, known for the highest manufacturing standards in the world, so you know you are getting a top grade product. It's just so jam packed with nutritious stuff, Omega 6, antioxidant vitamins A, C and E, that I want to eat it. Seriously. And when you smell the stuff, you might feel the same way.

I am seriously ga-ga over everything. I'm crazy about the basic Moroccanoil Treatment (which I rub it into my hands after – yum!) because it does the job of what all those other chemical packed glossers and shiners fail to do – it nourishes, conditions and repairs while it's giving me a natural silky finish and shine! Hooray.

The line also consists of Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream, Moroccanoil Intense Curl Cream, Moroccan Intense Hydrating Mask, Moroccanoil Restorative Hair Mask, Moroccanoil Glimmer Shine (crazy for this too).

Oh and on a superficial note, I'm a sucker for good design and the packaging here is gorgeous. I mad about the turquoise and brown and orange. Right up my alley. And looks so good in my cabinet!

Here's the line. If you see it, swipe it up. Everything. I'm telling you, you will see and feel a major difference ON THE SPOT!

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RIC PIPINO. BEST HAIRCUT EVER. EVER. EVER. (FIRST GROOMED NYC POST!)

June 24, 2009

Ok, now I get it. I get why people travel 3000
miles for a haircut. And it's good that I understand this, because I too will
be one of those freaks who pops on a plane and spends 6 hours to and from NYC
to get my HAIRCUT!!

RIC PIPINO is the REAL DEAL.

Obviously. There are few 30-year hair veterans of runway,
supermodels and starlets to garner as much press as he does unless there's some
serious talent to back it up. The man is a master. For reals.

First of all, let me discuss the design of the RIC PIPNIO SALON. Holy
apartment envy. And I say apt. because the place looks like my dream HOME. Gray
walls with white molding, a mauve tufted leather wall, the black Fendi faceted
lacquer salon chairs, a gorgeous turquoise wallpapered tea room with fuchsia
upholstered vintage chairs, black and white tiled bathroom, black and white
zig-zag floor…truly, it's my kind of supreme glamour and chic von chicness. I
wanted to sublet the joint and send for my suitcases. Coffee table books,
mini-bar, pastries, wine, tea-time yummies, it's all meant to feel like a salon
in your richest friend's uptown apartment. Glam vintage and super modern
jewelry and nic-nacs are for sale, like couture feathery headpieces and one of
a kind rings designed by Ric's friends.

The walls are lined with photos by Ben Watts, Vincent Skeltis
and Sante D’Orazio, and t two colorful limited-edition prints by the painter
Richard Phillips lie the wall. I love the topless, girl scout girl wearing
sunglasses. Totally hot and dirty and my kind of art. The tiny three
seater salon is so exclusive, it just all sort of makes sense why you GPS'ed
your way through Chinatown and Little Italy, avoiding Cannoli King, to find
this little tiny inch of a street called Centre Market Place. You walk in and
viola, you feel as though, you've arrived…

So yes, the celeb stylist, who has been cutting tresses in Miami
for years, and cuts the hair of Ali Larter,Bridget Moynahan and Jaime
Pressly, and we all know he was married to Hedi Klum, etc… but he's also one
of the most authoritative voices in hair care. NO MORE ELASTIC BANDS
EVER!!! Use pantyhose, cut little nylon circles and use those! (Revolutionary.
No wonder my hair ripped to shreds. I live in ponytail holders!) Pipino is dedicated
to building and refining the concept, artistry and technical competence of his
hair cuts. He also has a line coming out that I am dying for because
whatever pea sized cream he put in my hair while styling it made it shiner than
that Fendi chair I was sitting in… But alas, it's not ready yet. Arggh!!
It's called Revolution In Cut and I'll be blogging my brains
out about it when it arrives.

Ok, my hair. It was super long, like Manon of the Spring
long and I liked it that way. It needed some shaping but I was terrified
of losing length. And when he told me the drastic discrepancy in length
between the layers in the back was going to have to even out before I could get
body in the back, I cringed at the thought of him bringing up the the length to
meet those shorter layers. He promised he wouldn't and he didn't. Phew.
In fact, he worked so subtlety to keep my length that he got in there
like a surgeon and without cutting too much from anywhere, just sculpted the
crap out of it…taking fullness out of the sides, angling the front in a sexy
slope while I wait for that back shorter layer to grow out. He told me my
bangs are too short for my face. So now I have a plan! I love that! And of
course, I'm holding my breath until his product line comes out. Please
hurry, Ric.

Ric, I love you. I promise no one will cut my hair
until I come back in December for a another trim.

When: Tuesday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; Mondays by appointment.

Who else: The sought-after editorial hairstylist Ward will be taking appointments in the salon between magazine, commercial and celebrity jobs, as will the makeup artist Alexa Rudolfo, who performs maquillage magic on the young social set.

Watch for: Pipino’s new product line, which will be introduced in late fall.

How much: Cuts range from $110 to $300 (the latter for a cut by Pipino or Ward). Blow-dries are $60 to $150, while color starts at $90 for single process and $175 for highlights.

3 Centre Market Place New York NY, 10013

P:212.871.5533 F:212.247.1114

nycsalon@pipino.com

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