Archive for June, 2009

Given up the search for the perfect strapless bra?  I know I had–I’ve tried and rejected many from all different types of brands, only to find that regardless of how great they fit in the dressing room, I would find myself having to discreetly do the dreaded pull-tug maneuver a few hours into wear.  That was, until I tried on the Simone Perele Velia Plunge Strapless bra.

I bought this bra on faith, without even trying it on, when I was standing online in the dressing room at Journelle, one of my favorite lingerie stories, and heard one woman proclaim to another that it was the world’s best strapless bra.  Sold on anonymous testimony online, I picked one up before venturing to the cash register and tested it out Friday night at birthday party with a strappy blue dress.

Four hours and one tequila shot later, I was happily surprised to find that bra was exactly where it was supposed to be, and I hadn’t had to do a tug-pull all night.  Extremely lightweight with a plunge in the middle for invisibility under low-cut tops, its staying power is attributed to two bands of pH-balanced latex running along the top and bottom of the band.  This means that irregardless of the condition of your skin: sweaty, dry, whatever–this bra is staying in place.

In addition to the nude color, the bra also comes in black.  The strapless bra also comes with bra straps in a little attached pouch, making it convertible into a regular bra.  The bra retails for $74 and if you order off the Journelle website, you can save during their 7 Summer Essentials programs, which is 20% off an order of $100 or more, 25% off $200 or more, or 30% off $200 or more.

My discovery of Momofuku Milk is about 6 months too late after moving into my new apartment.  This has had its benefits and disadvantages: its allowed me to have a fighting chance to even getting into summer body condition, but on the other hand, I’ve lived in oblivion not knowing that Momofuku Milk’s creamy soft serve, dense cakes, and unique cookies were only a block away.

Momofuku Milk is the bakery outpost to James Beard nominated chef, David Chang’s, famed restaurant, Momofuku Ssam.  After a delicious and filling meal involving every delicious usage of pork at Momofuku Ssam, venture next door to Milk for your sweet fix. (more…)

As a lip gloss fanatic, I know how difficult it is to find one that is the perfect balance of shine, coverage, and pigment. Cosmoholic Liquid Lipstick has the coverage and pigment of a lipstick, but it’s a lip gloss with tons of shine. Cosmoholic is a line of lip glosses founded by Judy Cohen, a makeup industry insider and former makeup artist. The product is free of parabens and is formulated to help nourish your lips.

I tried the Liquid Lipstick in Prudish Pink, a lighter pink that made my looks look pretty and delicate. This gloss is definitely really pigmented and shiny, but without any hint of glitter. All of the Liquid Lipsticks manage to be shiny without looking glittery, but if you do want a glimmer, try the Gold Digger shade. It’s sheer with a subtle sparkle. It’s available in 5 other shades, so you’re bound to find one that suits you. If you’re not sure, you can even send a photo of yourself to Cosmoholic, and they’ll recommend the right shade for you! Check cosmoholiconline.com to order or to find a retailer near you.

For the past 24 years, I have been dreaming of a Greek Isle vacation.  School, work, money, and life in general had always gotten in the way of traveling the highly sought-after destination, but my mom (and traditional travel companion) and I finally decided that May 2009 would be the perfect time for us to take our dream trip. After much research, message boarding, and TripAdvising, I decided on a two-week Greek holiday in Santorini, Naxos, and Athens!

The beginning our our trip was spent in Oia, Santorini, a picturesque seaside village located high above the Adriatic Sea. The typical pictures used to showcase “Greece” are typically ones of Oia’s caldera view.  Itis undoubtedly the most beautiful and sought-after area of Santorini to vacation.  Fira, the cruise ship port which also offers many accommodation, is unfortunately overrun with motorbike and ATV rental shops, not to mention the thousands of tourists who flood the sidewalks nearly every day during the high season. While Fira is still a beautiful destination, Oia is indeed quainter, quieter, and undoubtedly more picturesque. We unpacked at Alexander’s Boutique Hotel, located slightly outside the downtown, and were blown away by our (highly upgraded) accommodation and service from the general manager, Vicki. She was an integral help throughout our entire trip and provided us with THE best restaurant and excursion recommendations which we share below. (more…)

Something about summer just makes me crave sweet treats constantly. Perhaps it’s all the walking around town or the heat that makes my stomach grumble, or maybe it’s just the overabundance of desirable snacks at my fingertips. If you’re like me, then you’ll know that a sweet tooth is inescapable!  So why not stop fighting it and just embrace it?

With coffee shops, tea rooms, ice cream stands, and cafés on every street corner, grabbing a quick afternoon snack is a piece of cake. Here are my recommendations for the perfect summer snacks awaiting you in the city: (more…)

If you head to Las Vegas this summer, consider XS at Steve Wynn’s Encore Las Vegas your must-see nightlife destination. Since the water-themed club and main attraction of the $2.3-million casino/resort opened New Year’s Eve, it’s been called by locals the “hardest club to get into” and “the best club in the country.” Great expectations? I’d say so. Here’s my full report on what it’s like, plus my secret to getting in hassle-free: (more…)

Sunsilk has recently launched a line of hair care products just for you curly haired gals out there. It’s called Captivating Curls, and is a full line of styling products and a cleansing shampoo and conditioner — all at reasonable prices, of course. The Captivating Curls Collection was developed to tame frizzy flyaways and keep your curls full, defined, and bouncy with just the right styling. Used together, the shampoo, conditioner, and leave-in conditioner can pretty much eliminate the frizz! The full line includes:

• De-Frizz Shampoo
• De-Frizz Conditioner
• De-Frizz Leave-in Creme
• Gel & Cream Twist (to get well-defined, twisted curls)
• Scrunching Mousse (for more full-bodied, bouncy curls)

You can find the Sunsilk Captivating Curls products at your local drugstore or online at drugstore.com. If you decide to try it out, let me know how it goes! I passed some samples to my curly haired friends and their reviews have been great so far.

Picture this: It is a balmy Saturday night in the city. You have been invited to a chic rooftop party sure to be frequented by some high profile guests, so you need to look your absolute best. You pick out the perfect little black dress, pair it with some bold jewelry and gorgeous heels. You then spend the next few hours styling your locks and applying an elegant palette of makeup. You grab your clutch and head out the door, turning heads as you strut down the sidewalk. You head down the subway steps only to be greeted by a hot cloud of sticky air. You shake it off. You look too good tonight to let anything get in your way. As you await your train, you begin to sweat. Your perfect smoky eyes begin to drip down your cheeks. Your beautiful curls turn into a frizzy mess atop your perspiring scalp. The perfect look has somehow gone all wrong!

Sadly enough, this a scenario we gals can all empathize with. There is nothing worse than spending hours getting ready to have your look ruined in an instant by the muggy subway platform. This terrible phenomenon that is sure to plague us as temperatures rise seems unbeatable. Luckily, TDO is here to help. We have sampled a wide range of products as well as caught up with Rachel Gangemi, a talented make-up artist at Valery Joseph Salon in New York City, to bring you a list of subway must haves and tips to help you fight the dreaded summer subway. (more…)

Congratulations to Megansweeney83 who said that her favorite Sferra product is the Diamante.  We bet they would look really good with your new Sferra Grace sheet set!  Email me: carolyn [at] thedailyobsession [dot] net with your address and bed size by end of day Thursday June 18 to claim your prize.  Thanks everyone for entering!! Stay tuned for more goodies coming up from TDO!