Get Stacked!

The trend of layering multiple bracelets isn’t going anywhere soon and the best part about it is you don’t have to start from scratch. Look through your jewelry box…chances are you’ve already got a lot to work with. Mix it up with different widths, textures, colors and styles.

  • Three to four pieces will give you the look, but feel free to add much, much more!
  • Add a bit of an edge with something spiky or leather.
  • Pile on those delicate, thin bracelets–they’re so much more interesting when they’re layered.
  • Try something sparkly to go the glam route.
  • For a polished look only combine one or two colors.
  • Got a watch? Add it into the mix.

 

Mother’s Little Helper

Product Review: Arbonne Energy Fizz Sticks, $32 for 20 sticks at arbonne.com.

A good night’s sleep, a healthy diet and some exercise is a great prescription for feeling good throughout the day. But, sometimes no matter what I do, a mid-afternoon fog descends on me and all I really want to do is take a nap. Since I don’t live in Spain where siestas are the norm and I’m not qualified for the senior rate at the movie theater those naps will have to wait.

I was discussing this conundrum with a friend when she opened her bag and handed over some Arbonne Energy Fizz Sticks for me to try. She told me to give them a shot and see what I think.

The next time that fog hit I emptied the pomegranate packet into a glass and filled it up with ice cold water.  It fizzed a bit and then I drank it down. It has a sweet taste with a slight aftertaste, though not unpleasant. I do like the flavor but what I liked even more was that within minutes I felt more alert and energized without feeling wired the way coffee or chocolate can sometimes make me feel. It definitely got me over the hump.

The company’s website states “high-energy fizz sticks help promote alertness and enhance cognitive performance and also help promote endurance and enhance motor performance. Contains antioxidants. Contains an adaptogenic blend combined with B vitamins and chromium to help boost energy.”

Works for me!

 

 

(photography courtesy of arbonne)

 

 

 

Doctor’s Orders: What you Should Be Doing Every Day

The Location:  Club Metropolitan, NYC.

The Topic:  Anti-aging.

The Mood:  Relaxed, cocktail party-ish vibe.

While sipping wine and enjoying apps and bite-size desserts I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Jeannette Graf, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. She was there to talk about anti-aging, specifically on how we can stop the aging process. She’s a big believer in diet and lifestyle but says “the right skin care plays a crucial role to stop aging now.”

Dr. Graf explained how our cells are hard-wired to function differently during the day when they’re in protective mode vs. the night when our bodies are at rest and our cells are renewing and repairing damage. Our pH levels,  sebum, antioxidant production and more support this. “We can help this process along with the right products,” says Graf. “The bare minimum you should be doing is applying sunscreen during the day and a retinol product at night.”

MORNING: According to Dr. Graf the number one daytime anti-aging product to use is broad spectrum sun protection. It’s the most important thing you can do for your skin.

  • Use it each and every day. Incorporate it into your morning routine, the way you brush your teeth.
  • Use an SPF50 or greater in late spring through early fall since the sun’s UVB rays are stronger then. In late fall through early spring you can stick with an SPF30.
  • Apply 30 minutes prior to sun exposure and reapply every 40 minutes.
  • Sunscreens with added antioxidants like Vitamin C and E will further enhance protection from environmental pollutants.
  • Apply it even if you’ll be in the shade or it’s cloudy out.

Try: Glytone Suncare Block Sunscreen Lotion, $37 at dermshop.com or Neutrogena Age Shield Sunblock, $9.99 at target.com.

EVENING: While you rest, your cells are in renewal mode. Dr. Graf believes “no matter what your age, complexion or skin type, retinol (Vitamin A) is the most important  skin care ingredient to help your skin renew itself.”  Retinol has been clinically proven to regulate skin repair on a molecular level. It will decrease fine lines and wrinkles, improve collagen production, enhance elasticity, improve tone and texture and target hyperpigmentation.  There are multiple forms of retinol available in prescription and over-the-counter strength. Look for retinol, retinaldehyde and retinyl palmitate.

  • Only apply your retinol product at night.
  • Don’t apply on damp skin. It will absorb unevenly, increasing your chance of sensitivity.
  • To avoid irritation, use every other day and start with the lowest percentage retinol cream and increase up from there as you find your skin tolerating it well.
  • When using a retinol product, always apply sunscreen during the day.
  • Continue using to maintain your results.

Try: Glytone Enhance Night Renewal Cream, $72 at dermstore.com, Eau Thermale Avene Retrinol+0.1 Cream, $69 at dermstore.com or SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5, $55 at skinceuticals.com.

 

All-American!!!

Nothing like a little red, white and blue to show your star-spangled-pride. Today, I’m loving Pure Ice’s appropriately named “Freedom” nail lacquer with red and blue sparkles plus silver stars twinkling up my toes. It looks great layered over red polish.

Catch a Wave!

Eavesdrop on any conversation between friends and if they’re of the female persuasion chances are good that they’ll start talking (or complaining!) about their hair. Girls with fine straight hair want it thicker with more body or curls and girls with lots of curl are looking for a little less so. Anyone with frizz wants it banished. Thanks to LASIO Waves to Curls we can all finally be satisfied with what we have.

I recently attended an event at Lasio Studios salon in NYC. While live demonstrations were going on, Nadine Ramos, the founder and CEO of Lasio, Inc. filled me in on the details. This is what I learned:

  • Waves to Curls temporarily gives you perfect waves or curls, lasting about 3 months.
  • It works on all hair types–from super straight girls to the curly haired–and can give you beachy waves, big glam ones or tighter ringlets. You call the shots!
  • It eliminates 100% of your frizz and makes hair super shiny.
  • It’s safe for all hair types including processed hair.
  • Prices start at $150 and go up from there depending on hair length and thickness.

Waves to Curls is available at  Lasio Studios located at 39 W. 38th in NYC as well as salons across the United States. Click here for more information.

(photo of miranda kerr courtesy of pinterest)

July’s Bucket List!

With the kids off at camp, my husband and I have the whole month to ourselves. Before leaving, eleven year old Emma and nine year old Sam told us they’d make a list of things we should choose from for the month that they’ll be gone. Since I’m still waiting for those first camp letters with those suggestions it looks like I’ll have to come up with some ideas of my own.

EAT: I plan on experimenting with lots of new recipes. Pinterest (click here to see mine) gives me tons of amazing ideas, very high on this list is Lobster Rolls! Since I’m not sure if a trip to Maine or Cape Cod is on the agenda this summer it’s high time I mastered the making of a great lobster roll myself and who better to teach me than Martha. Click here for her recipe. If they turn out great you just might get an invite!

PRIMP: Classic and understated elegance is one thing (okay…maybe two) but every now and then you need to push the beauty envelope. I’ve already told you about my low-key manicures, but at a Jamberry Nail event last week I was so taken with their nail wraps that I’ll be taking a different approach this season. They’re non-toxic, inexpensive, easy to do and come in over 250 designs–the hardest part is choosing! Click here to see styles.

LIVE: I plan on having lots of play dates. Yesterday Eric and I hopped on our bikes and indulged in a fun, meandering, wind-in-our-hair sort of ride. (I promise, next time I’ll wear a helmet!) No clock-watching, no schedule…just playing like we’re kids again. It’s too easy to get caught up in the day to day minutia of life…Make time for play!