What I did Labor Day Weekend
Went to the famous annual Barney Warehouse Sale and all I got was this lousy photo of a sign hanging on the wall, which I thought was fun

Had a facial and exfoliation for only $33.50 at the Christine Valmy school for beauty. Students get to practice on your skin and you get to feel pampered and clean for cheap. My face was glowing the rest of the day. I didn't fall asleep since I was practically interviewing the technician. I learned from her that you should only try to perform extractions (removing blackheads or popping pimples) after you opened your face with steam, otherwise you can bruise, scar and irritate your skin. Also, facial scrubs like Apricot Scrub can actually scratch your skin because the granules are too big. Thus, the thinner and gentler the scrub the better, I reccomend SkinMilk. I figured the harder the better, but my bad. Another tip learned was that Chamomile is good for relaxing tension. Because my shoulders were tense she suggested I try taking a hot bath with a cup of brewed chamomile tea, which is also good for your feet apparently.

Visited the MoMa to see the galleries of Warhol, Monet and Picasso along with a new exhibit called Out of Time. I took a up-close shot of Van Gogh's Starry Night (my favorite) with my camera phone and it's now my phone's wallpaper. Also snapped this photo:

Fainted before the weekend started.  

Randomly met three Aussie's at one of my favorite restaurant's, Nero, after I jokingly jumped into their photo. Went with them to One, G2 (where we did shots of Sicilian Kiss) and Lotus (where I was able to have us all go to the front of the line via a complimentary card that I had; I got in free but the guys had to pay, either way though we didn't have to wait outside in the rain.) Hung over the next day and cried a bit that night (drama queen). 

Found a new favorite red wine from the Valpolicella region, Solane.

Rode a NY Water Taxi for the first time and went to Long Island City to Water Taxi Beach, where I got schooled in volley ball but had a fun time playing. The views of the city from there were beautiful.

PS: Did I mention my baby is in town? Thus, all the fun.

Bag Trends Trunk Show

BagTrends.com is having a bag-a-licious trunk show @ Lotus lounge (409 W 14th Street) in the Meat Packing District (14th Street) on Wednesday Sept. 6th from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

You can purchase designer bags 20 to 50% off retail. FYI: Bag Trends is where I got my awesome Kooba Sienna purse. To view the official invite click here. Hope to see you there.

New Film Review: Invincible

How to be a Budget Fashionista

Recently I met author and blogger Kathryn Finney, while she was giving an energetic and inspiring speech about her evolution from blogger (thebudgetfashionista.com) to published author. She later sent me a copy of her book How To Be a Budget Fashionista in a bright pink envelope to review. I started reading it that day and already felt that I was on my way to being a budget fashionista. After all, I did receive the book for free ;)

I actually didn't know what to expect from her guide to looking fabulous for less and was surprised to see that the book's advice definitely ran the gauntlet, extending to areas of beauty and personality, not just fashion. Inside are tips on how to care for clothes like a stylist, home products that you can use for beauty care (honey is apparently good on zits), a list of best budget-friendly places to buy lingerie, the staples everyone should have in their wardrobe and how to figure out your personal style with a fun quiz (I'm a trendy romantic).  I especially liked that it wasn't a book that I had to make myself read, since I'm not usually a how-to fan. Its format though allows readers to skip around and read the parts that interest them the most and clearly highlights the most important information for even the busiest of readers.

My favorite lesson that I learned, which will now become my shopping mantra is: Love What You Buy. It seems simple enough but it's an idea that I don't always keep in mind, since I often buy stuff that's just OK because it's a good deal. It doesn't help that I'm also a big impulse buyer--internet sites and catalogs were made for customers like me. After reading this tip and trying to commit it to memory, I actually prevented myself from buying three extra outfits while on a shopping excursion at Lohemans discount store. I kept asking myself 'do you love it? will you wear it often,' etc. Since I was unsure I decided I that I probably didn't really need it and left the clothes in the fitting room rack and felt less guilty and more confident about the rest of my purchases as a result. For example, I bought a Ben Sherman blazer for work, originally $139 and I got it for $49.99, but even better it looks like it was tailored already for me.

Final Sale: I feel like I'm a more educated shopper after reading Finney's quick guide and can now retire my amateur shopping status and become a professional...on a budget that is.  Karen, I'm passing it on for you to read too. 

Friday's Fragments

Because none of these are developed enough to become a post on their own.

·         Shouldn’t my horoscope be the same in every paper? I mean think about it. But no, one has me being careful of a friend’s advice the other says I should entertain tonight. 

·          I’m liking the song that plays in the back-to-school JC Penny commercials. It goes “She was born in an electrical storm...come on, come on.” I start moving to it whenever it plays. I googled it and the song is called “Do What You Want,” by OK go from their album Oh No.  

·          So I didn’t take my own advice from my Downward Facing Thong post. Nope, I forgot to bring a change in undies to the gym yesterday, so this time I took the advice from my commenters and went commando. I have to tell you it was pretty thrilling. Although, I only giggled harder when the instructor but his hands on my thighs. I bet he thinks I have a crush on him or something 

·         After the gym, I headed to NYU J-School--my graduate alma mater (it was weird being in the building again, especially empty handed, I felt like I forgot my assignment or something)--for another Bloggers Who Brunch meeting. This time, instead of brunch, we had a round-table discussion about the care and feeding of advertisers & advertising when it comes to blogs. New bloggers that I met included: Just Jared and eye4style.

·         Lastly, Dennis Quaid is hot. That’s it. I briefly caught a glimpse of his smile this morning in the remake of The Parent Trap as I was getting ready for work and I practically melted on the spot.  

·       Check out biggerBaubles. Back in January I ordered a red heart bauble that read "onto the next." It's fun.

The new self-tanners

So I'm a tanner, not the over doing it type but I love lying out in the sun and soaking up those vitamin D rays. Yes, I know there are health risks to tanning. Don't worry though, I don't over do it and luckily because of my Italian skin I hardly ever burn (unlike my mother) and if I do it's usually on my face. Typically I only use an SPF 6 lotion, the idea of which has caused my friends to balk and say that I might as well put oil on and nothing at all. But 6 does the job for me, although I've recently moved up to an 8 to get my friends off my back a bit--it didn't help.

Anyway, I've never had to use those orange colored self tanners that my mom has tried over the years, but I've been loving the new glow lotions that are out on the market now. It seems that every brand has come out with their own version, which allow for a subtle tanning look just by moisturizing with natural botanicals and a skin darkening complex that provides a tan without the downside. After all, why not get a little extra oomph out of your everyday moisturizer? I've now tried them all thanks to having had received bottles over the last few months in gift bags at events and for product reviews. Otherwise I don't think I would have originally bought them and would have been missing out. Here's my take on each--using the ones made for medium skin tones:  

Dove Energy Glow ($7.99)- This one smells the best with its citrus grapefruit scent. I found this lotion less likely to streak compared to the others, but it doesn't work as quickly as Jergens or is as pronounced in its glow. On an aesthetic note: I like the look of the Dove bottle the best. In another opinion: My friend Karen who has lighter skin has been liking the sample we received in the gift bag at Sheckys.

Jergens Natural Glow ($5.00)- Provides a really nice natural glow that works quickly, but has a weird odor. Although it's not unpleasant it's just  something you wouldn't usually have on your skin or find in lotion fragrances. I feel this one works the fastest though and produces the quickest result, you just have to deal with the not so sweet scent. In another opinion: This one is my mother's favorite for all body use, but my friend Heather from Toronto said she found this one to be sticky and took awhile to dry.

Olay Touch Of Sun ($11.99)- Olay makes a similar sunless tanner just for the face but with another added benefit, it's a moisturizer like the others with just a hint of self-tanners AND also includes SPF. Thus, this brand provides a subtle tan, while also protecting your skin for when you want to sun bathe or are out and about. Since I'm bad about putting on SPF, especially on my face, this one is ideal. The self tanning aspect is subtle though, which I suppose is better for your face's coloring. Jergens also makes a similar face tanner but without the added SPF.

Application Tip: After applying remember to wash the underside of your hands to prevent a yellow stain there. Also, don't forget to apply to the tops of your feet and hands for an even look.