Author Archive

We all want younger looking skin, but how many of us actually know the science behind aging and skin? Although I claim to care about my skin, I have to admit that I definitely don’t keep up with the latest research on skin. When I was sent a copy of the book Your Skin, Younger for review, I almost read the whole thing in one sitting. Written by Drs. Alan C. Logan, Mark G. Rubin, and Phillip M. Levy, experts in naturopathic medicine and dermatology, it’s an easy and interesting read all about what it takes to keep your skin looking young–naturally.

Sun exposure and genetics certainly play a part in the visible signs of aging skin, but so do stress, diet, intestinal function, and even cooking techniques! The book suggests steaming, boiling, stewing, simmering, and poaching your food as much as possible to avoid oxidative stress and collagen destruction. These things can ultimately cause wrinkles, so the authors include recipes that incorporate healthy cooking techniques, as well as healthy skin foods. Who knew that even the color of foods has been proven to affect the aging of your skin? Your meals should always have deeply colored fruits and vegetables.

The part of Your Skin, Younger that is most relevant to my life is about stress. Studies have shown that stress compromises the barrier function of your skin, causing water loss and creating more inflammatory chemicals. In short, stress affects your skin more than you think. The authors provide tons of tips on how to reduce the stress in your life, starting with getting a good night’s beauty rest, which I am certainly taking to heart.

If you want to learn more about natural ways to get younger looking skin, be sure check out Your Skin, Younger, available for $14.95 at Amazon.com.

A few weekends ago, one of my lovely girlfriends got married in San Francisco and had an amazingly beautiful wedding. (Congratulations, Emily!) She was the first of in our group of gals to get hitched, so we all planned for an unforgettable weekend in California. That included a side trip to Sonoma for wine tasting, which I was, of course, super excited for! We gathered recommendations from friends and did some research of our own to start planning our wine country tour. Although not all the ladies could make it, with our group size, it turned out to be only slightly more expensive to book a private limo than to do a shuttle bus tour. The flexibility to choose wineries and schedules was definitely worth it for us, and armed with a list of wineries we wanted to check out, we began our trip… (more…)

One of the best things about Chicago is its amazing restaurant scene. There are so many fantastic chefs here and not nearly enough time to explore! A La Card Chicago makes it a lot easier by making decks of $10 gift certificates to 52 different chef-driven, owner-operated restaurants. The participating restaurants are awesome and even include some of my personal favorites, like Floriole, Hot Chocolate, Salpicon, and Takashi, and a whole bunch that I can’t wait to try. The $520 worth of gift certificates are handily packaged like a deck of cards… and will only cost you $30! So the next time that you’re thinking of a new place to eat, take out your A La Card Chicago deck, draw a card, and save $10 every time. For the full list of restaurants or to purchase, visit alacardchicago.com.

Now that the season is changing for the warmer, I finally got a chance to try a new addition to the Acqua di Parma Blu Meditteraneo fragrance line: Bergamotto di Calabria. The Blu Meditteraneo line aims at capturing the sparkling beauty of the Italian Mediterranean, and Bergamotto really does so perfectly! It’s a citrus blend inspired by the bergamot fruit that grows in the lands around the Mediterranean.

Acqua di Parma sent me small samples to try a few weeks ago, but I held off as the weather here was way too wintry. I finally got a chance to wear the scent while I was out in sunny California and totally fell in love. Bergamotto di Calabria is really fresh and vivacious at first with the bergamot notes, and then softens a bit with floral aspects. The dry down is warm and rich. I don’t usually go for citrus scents, but this one is just so vibrant. Keep reading for the note breakdown and be sure to check it out for yourself! (more…)

I love my life in Chicago, but sometimes I really miss living in NYC. When I found out that the Saks Fifth Avenue in New York began stocking Hunter Dixon, one of my favorite clothing lines, I really regretted moving. The lovely ladies at Hunter Dixon shared these amazing photos of the collection so I could see just what I’m missing. Here are my favorite picks, starting with the sweet, flirty Regus Dress in Fairy Dust, above. You lucky New York gals should check out the collection at Saks and let us know what you think! Click to see the rest of my faves… (more…)

Wanna get all dressed up, enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvre, and party amongst Bentleys and Lambourghinis–all for a great cause? Well, you can do all this and more next Saturday, April 24th, at Minds Matter of Chicago’s 4th Annual Spring for the Students fundraising gala! The event is taking place at Bentley Gold Coast at 834 N. Rush St., starting at 8pm, and I hope to see you there! SFTS will feature a silent auction with amazing items up for grabs:

• Objets d’Envy Lavaliere necklace and one-of-a-kind earrings with green Swarovski crystals
• A Tory Burch tote and private shopping party at their boutique on Walton St.
• A jewelry design party hosted by erin gallagher jewelry complete with your own custom-designed piece
• Vacations in Florida with airfare and stays at the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island and Ritz-Carlton Naples
• A weekend in New Orleans at the historic Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter
• Special stays at the Park Hyatt Chicago and the dana hotel and spa
• Private VIP parties at Bull & Bear and Stone Lotus
• Cubs tickets, Bulls tickets, and White Sox memorabilia

…and much, much more! I’ve been volunteering with Minds Matter of Chicago for over two years now, and my fellow editor Carolyn has been volunteering with the NYC chapter for years now as well. Being a mentor at Minds Matter has been an incredibly wonderful and rewarding experience. The proceeds from this event will go directly toward our mission of making higher education a reality for bright, motivated students from inner-city areas. To buy tickets and find out more about Spring for the Students, click here. Ticket are $75 until tomorrow, and then they go up to $90, so get yours asap! If you’d like more information about Minds Matter of Chicago, visit our website at mindsmatter.org/chicago.

New obsession alert! I’ve written before about Julie Hewett, an amazing professional makeup artist who has been making Hollywood starlets look their very best for over 20 years. I was sent samples from her eponymous makeup line, Julie Hewett Los Angeles, and I’ve pretty much fallen in love with everything I’ve tried. It’s no surprise that my newest love is straight from her collection!

My latest obsession is the Omit Concealer, pictured above, which I tried in shade 2. It’s absolutely perfect for my medium, yellow-toned skin, and hides a number of imperfections. I think what I love most is the formula and consistency–it’s creamy and not liquid-y, yet is smooth and stays put. It evens out my skin tone and I can even use it under my eyes, which I can’t do with most concealers since I have dreaded undereye bags. I’ve been using as little or as much of Omit as necessary, as it always provides even coverage no matter what.

Check out the Omit Concealer on juliehewett.net, where it retails for $18, or find a location near you to try it out!

The annual Macy’s Flower Show is underway for 2010, and it’s a fun, free way to celebrate the season! Called “Spring is in the Air,” it’s taking place from now until April 11th at five Macy’s locations: Chicago, Minneapolis, NYC, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. I was lucky enough to get the inside scoop on Chicago’s Flower Show, taking place at the historic store on State St., and I can’t wait to check it out for myself!

The State St. store features over 20 displays with over 100 varieties of exotic trees and flowering plants. There are also beautiful tablescapes by the Martha Stewart and Lenox collections that will definitely inspire how you’ll set your table. You can even take a guided tour hosted by a University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener. Pictured above is an amazing 16-foot birdcage display in the Walnut Room on the 7th floor, featuring white spriea, orchids, tulips, daffodils, birds of paradise, blue hydrangea, and different ivy and grasses. And don’t miss this year’s centerpiece–a hot air balloon, reaching over 2 stories high, with a gondola filled with beautiful greenery and flowers. Be sure to check out Macy’s Flower Show at 111 N. State St. while you can, and click to see even more pictures! (more…)

If you’re looking for your next spring scent, you’ll want to try the latest from Sarah Jessica Parker–SJP NYC. While SJP’s previous launches have been all about expressing herself, this one is actually inspired by her most famous character, Carrie Bradshaw! SJP NYC is a vibrant, sweet mix of fruit and floral notes that I thought were really great for spring. It’s sweet without being overwhelming, and I think the fruit notes really add a touch of freshness.

The bottle itself is simple glass, and it’s housed in a small pink canister covered with the patterns and prints inspired by Carrie’s closet. The scent and packaging are definitely very Carrie Bradshaw. SJP says that this fragrance is meant to evoke a sense of fun and whimsy. “It’s about mixing things up and breaking rules, all of the things I like about fashion,” she says. SJP NYC is $25-$49, depending on size, and is much more affordable than, say, the amazing Oscar de la Renta dress she’s wearing above. Keep reading for the note breakdown! (more…)

Isn’t this heart charm bracelet the sweetest thing? Like wearing your heart literally on your sleeve! This is just one of the creations from AutumnKind, a jewelry line by LA-based designer Melissa Wessely. Melissa uses natural elements and stones for a fun, earthy feel to her pieces.

For all you Etsy fans, Melissa’s collection is sold there and there are so many cute, hand-crafted pieces to browse through. Some of my favorites include the pictured Classy bracelet, the Believe necklace, and the Absolute necklace. AutumnKind is offering free shipping for US customers until March 19th, so you’ve got plenty of time to find your own favorite!