May 5, 2011

Shout out to LA—May 5, 2011

I used to plan my on-air wardrobes around what outfits made me look slimmer…..now I plan them around what works with my Nix and Stones necklace collection!!!! With good reason, not only do I love them, but I am constantly complemented on them. Clinton Kelly made his remark in my interview with him because he loved the necklace!  You can see two (and yes, I do have more and am looking forward to acquiring more!) of my stunning necklaces on my interview with Clinton Kelly and on my “Your Carolina’s” segment on Hollywood Moms.

If you happen to be in the area tomorrow, be sure to stop in, meet Amy and see her fabulous collection at the Maximillian Gallery inside the Sunset Marquis for the champagne launch of Nix & Stones on May 5 between 6 – 9 pm. The event benefits 1736 Family Crisis Center.

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May 3, 2011

Meet Julie, Amy & Nix&Stones

Get Styled! Visit stylist Julie Waldorf and jewelry designer Amy Nix (pictured) at the Maximillian Gallery inside the Sunset Marquis for the champagne launch of Nix & Stones on May 5 between 6 – 9 pm. The event benefits 1736 Family Crisis Center.

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April 29, 2011

Author Brenda Novak’s Auction for a Cure

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April 21, 2011

Tribeca Film Festival Opens in Style

 

Kudos to the 10th Annual Tribeca Film Festival for opening in style and remembering its purpose and roots! Rather than open at an exclusive gala event, the Tribeca Film Festival opened to the public with an outdoor screening. The screening was followed with a performance by a rock legend.  The film festival was founded in 2002 by Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro, and Craig Hatkoff in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center. The mission of the festival was to help celebrate New York City as a major filmmaking center and to contribute to the long term-recovery of lower Manhattan which was severely impacted after the attacks.

The founders wanted the festival to not only enable the international film community, but the general public as well. They wanted the public to experience the power of films and redefine the film festival experience. In addition to promoting New York City as a major filmmaking center, Rosenthal, De Niro, and Hatkoff help filmmakers reach the broadest possible audience. The Tribeca Film Festival is a diverse international film festival that supports both emerging as well as established directors. Since its inception, the film festival has screened over 1200 films from over 80 countries, has attracted an international audience of more than 3.25 million attendees and generated an estimated $660 million in economic activity for New York City.

This year, the festival opened with the world’s premiere of Cameron Crowe’s The Union, a documentary about the collaboration between Elton John and Leon Russell. In 2009, Sir Elton John teamed up with his longtime idol Leon Russell to make an album called The Union which was produced by the legendary T-Bone Burnett. Director Crowe, (Almost Famous) decided to film their collaborative process from the writing and recording of the songs.  I have been a big fan of both since the ‘70’s (I would have done late night babysitting for free just to see Leon on the Midnight Special!) and Elton’s love and admiration for Leon shines through the documentary.  

Sir Elton, not only walked the red carpet, but took to the stage after the screening and performed a smattering of his hits spanning the Union, Tiny Dancer, Rocket Man, You’re Never Too Old to Hold Somebody, I Guess That’s Why They Call it the Blues, and Your Song. What a way to open the film festival! The festival is a great way to support the film industry in New York City, and a fabulous opportunity to see films that you may not have ever gotten a chance to see.

The Tribeca Film Festival will run through May 1 and screen 93 films. For information on the festival itself, the movie, guide, screening time, and ordering tickets, see http://www.tribecafilm.com/festival/

 

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April 20, 2011

Beautiful, Sexy Skin at Any Age? Skin 2 Skin Makes it Possible!

No doubt about it, the skin care industry is a multi-billion dollar business. It is estimated to be worth 43 Billion (yes, that is with a B) a year US! It continues to grow steadily in the past years, and is expected to grow 6.8 % more this year. As a global industry, the biggest markets are Europe and the US. They alone account for over 50% of global skin care sales.

Blame it on Cleopatra! A woman renowned for her beauty, she did everything possible including taking milk baths to preserve it. For generations, it has become the quest of women to improve their skin and delay the effects of aging. It has taken the male population awhile to catch on to this fact, but in recent years there has been enormous growth in the male skin care market. They too have learned the importance of protecting and caring for their skin.

So….with all of the products that are available on the market, how do you know which ones to chose? How can you even begin to evaluate some of the new brands? Can they compete with some of the industry giants? One thing to know, that is prevalent in a lot of the industry, is that the major skin care lines are the same. They are made in the same vats, but they are packaged differently. Yep, that high priced cream was probably made by the same people making the drugstore brands….there might be a slight increase in vitamin dosage, but essentially they are pretty much the same.  

 Not that the industry wants the consumer to know that fact-they don’t. You are buying a brand. Now, I am not saying that you need to chuck your current regiment. If it works for you, that’s all that matter. However, the consumer should realize that companies that have been around for a long time certainly have advertizing budgets to help publicize their names. What about the little guys?? Are they just as good? In most cases they are better!

One thing to keep in mind is that throughout your life, your skin changes and there are many factors effecting the skin- aging, environment, stress, hormones, diet, overall health, medication, and many other things come into play. What works for you at one age, may not work at another. With your skin constantly changing, and its needs being different, how do you even begin to navigate through the maze of products out there to find something that works? Trial and error can be costly!

One of the purposes of my blog is to bring you in contact with some of these smaller and newer companies. I look for many things in a skin care…..first and foremost that it works! I tend to be green and natural. I like products that were developed either by doctors, by accident and necessity. These products aren’t made by someone chasing the dollar signs, but by individuals who genuinely believe in their products. Price is an issue as well. You shouldn’t have to obtain a small mortgage to buy skin care! Companies that are of the highest integrity- they care for the environment and give back to the community. Companies that have proven results are cost effective, environmentally conscious, and forward thinking.  Companies that are offering consumers the most effective skin care available.

Through my own journey, I have been lucky enough to find many small skin care companies and products that fit the bill. I have hopefully introduced you to some of my favorites in my blogs. I am happy to be adding another one that fits the bill.  Skin 2 Skin, just one try is all it will take to notice the difference!

 

Skin 2 Skin was developed out of necessity.  Ken Simpson, CEO, President and Founder, had been undergoing radiation treatments on his brain. He had three points of radiation entry on his skin, one being directly under one eye. The radiation did wonders on his tumor, not so much on his skin. Discolored, sore, raw, and overly sensitive,  and having being keenly aware of only putting natural ingredients on his skin, Ken started seeking products that would not only protect his skin, but restore it. After extensive research on products available in the market, he found that other products were either synthetic, a combination of synthetic with a small percentage of natural ingredients and low concentrations of 21st century peptide technologies or they were natural and organic with no advanced 21st century peptide technology.

Ken realized that there was a need for something remarkably different in skincare. There was a need for something better and more effective for the age-affected skin of mature men and women. There was a need to have a line that uses 100% plant life, replenish able ingredients, and medical grade ingredients. Welcome to the future of skin care technology!

Ken created a line of non-toxic, natural cleansers, creams, serums and masks made of potent antioxidant elements that quench free radicals and protect against environmental pollutants and toxins. They also use traditional elements like Vitamins A, C, E and certified organic extracts to repair and prevent what they call solar scars or UV damage from the sun. All of their formulations work together to repair existing skin conditions and prevent future skin damage.  They use medical grade ingredients-less is more!

The Skin 2 Skin (www.skin2skincare.com) line contains some of the highest concentrations of anti-aging elements known to science. The products are designed to repair, rehydrate and enhance skin elasticity, while noticeably reducing wrinkles and improving the skin’s appearance and balance. You will experience softer and healthier appearing skin within the first use of Skin 2 Skin.

In the two short years the company has been in existence, they have won 11 beauty awards they include “Natural Health Magazine” 2009 Best Beauty Product, “American Spa” 2009 Professional’s Choice Award Finalist, 2009 & 2010 “DaySpa” Editors Choice, 2010 “Shicky’s “Beauty At Its Best Award”, 2010 “Beauty Store Business” Beauty Star Award, 2010 & 2011 “Les Nouvelles Esthetiques & Spa” Readers Choice Best Product Award, and in 2010 we received out PETA certification as Cruelty Free and Vegan. The line is affordable, (especially when you use the required dosage which is a must because the ingredients are medical grade!) and unisex! 

Skin 2 Skin pushed the envelope to offer you the best of all worlds: natural, certified organic extracts with the highest possible concentration of 21st century anti-aging peptides and Dermatologist-recommended Alpha Lipoic Acid. I think you’ll enjoy the immediate results. I know I did!

 

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April 15, 2011

Illuminating the Bridge for Pets

Brooklyn Bridge Pup Crawl Update

 In New York City, seeing a lot of lights, and a lot of neon is nothing new. A perfect example is Times Square and seeing the neon signs lighting up the sky. We certainly believe in having just” a little” light to illuminate our beloved city, earning us the nickname of “City of Blinding Lights” by U2. I’ve lived here for decades and still look up in wonder of the lights of the city! It’s beautiful!

 This Saturday, another spectacular display of neon colors will be evident on the Brooklyn Bridge as an estimated 500 people and 400 dogs walk across the famed bridge. The dogs will all be wearing LED-lit leashes, in hard-to-miss neon shades of blue, green, orange and pink.  The Second Annual Pup Crawl, in all of glorious colors, will serve to illuminate the issue of homeless pets.

 The success of the Brooklyn Bridge Pup Crawl has spurned other communities to also get in the action of planning the after dark walks. This Saturday, there will be a bi-coastal walk. In addition to the New York City walk, there will be a walk in Upland California. The California dogs and their owners will stroll up and down Euclid Avenue, regarded as one of the most beautiful streets in California. Erie, Pa has a walk scheduled on May 21, where dogs also up for adoption will be on in on the walk.

 It is estimated that more than 6 million pets land in shelters every year. About 3 to 4 million (depending on the figures used) will be euthanized for lack adopters. In its debut year of 2009, the Brooklyn Pup Crawl (www.thepupcrawl.com) raised about $2,500 through registrations from the 300 participants. This year, the Brooklyn Pup Crawl has already raised $6,000 through corporate sponsorships and another $3500 from registrations, which will be split among the five animal groups. Donations are still coming in. Also new this year from New York was a way that shelters all over the country can benefit: Corporate Sponsorship. Alto, the Florida based manufacturer of the Lights-Up Leash, has jumped on board. For every $14.95 leash that gets sold, the shelter the customer designates will get $3. Shelters and rescues register as an “affiliate” and put a link to their website to be eligible for the donation. More than 147 shelters and rescues in 30 states and Puerto Rico are already signed up and are receiving funds.

Joseph Hassan, the creator of the Brooklyn Pup Crawl, should be proud. Shelters are getting much needed funding and people are reminded that the pet homelessness issue is still a big one. “We want to encourage people to act — to donate to their local rescues and shelters and adopt from them if they’re able to have a pet in their lives,” he says.

 And for us New Yorkers, acclaimed pet photographer Marshall Boprey is doing his part to honor all pet owners. He is doing a sweepstakes on facebook. Simply “Like” BOPREY Photography, and you will be eligible to win a free photo pet shoot and free prints of their pet. He’s giving away over $1,750 in prizes. Yea Marshall! To see more of Marshall’s work, see www.boprey.com.

 

“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring–it was peace.”

— Milan Kundera

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April 14, 2011

FDA issue Brazilian Blowout Warning

The Associated Press reported yesterday that Federal safety regulators found that the Brazilian Blowout releases unsafe levels of the chemical formaldehyde, which can risk the health of salon workers and their customers. In addition, the Federal Regulators also said that they have found the chemical in a variety of hair products that are labeled “formaldehyde free”. The federal safety advisory issued late Monday follows similar announcements from state health authorities in California, Connecticut, and Oregon.

The Federal Regulators began investigating after a stylist complained of nosebleeds, eye irritation and trouble breathing while using Brazilian Blowout. The Brazilian Blowout, originated in Brazil around 2005, and its popularity as a hair straightening procedure quickly spread to North America and Europe. People with curly, wave-y, kinky, and hard-to-tame hair were flocking to the Brazilian Blowout as a means of controlling their hair, especially when combined with high humidity.

What is interesting to note, is that as far back as 1987, the U.S. EPA classified it as a probable human carcinogen. The World Health Organization (WHO), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) also classified it as a probable human carcinogen in 1995. The IARC, based on further information and evaluation of all known data, reclassified formaldehyde as a known human carcinogen.  Formaldehyde can irritate the eyes, skin and lungs and cause breathing problems and skin rashes. It has been associated with nasal sinus cancer, and recent studies have also shown a positive correlation between exposure to formaldehyde and the development of leukemia, particularly myeloid leukemia.

What exactly is formaldehyde used for?  There are some good uses….it is a disinfectant. It kills most bacteria, fungi and is often used topically to treat warts. It is also used as a tissue fixative (remember all those specimen jars in biology class?) and as an embalming agent. I would like to share information on formaldehyde from Peter Lamas, the Founder and Chairman of Lamas Beauty International, one of the fastest growing and respected natural beauty products manufacturers in the US, found in his book, Dying to be Beautiful-The Real Facts about Potentially Harmful Cosmetic Ingredients.

“Formaldehyde is used in nail polish and hardeners, shampoos, soaps, and skin creams. This potentially irritating disinfectant, germicide, fungicide, and preservative can be absorbed into the skin and cause allergic reactions, inflammation, headaches, and even asthma. It is often referred to as formalin or DMDM hydantoin or MDM hydantoin. It is very toxic when inhaled and a suspected carcinogen that is linked to cancer. Its use in cosmetics is banned in Japan and Sweden.”

 Peter also notes that the government regulatory requirements regarding the sale of cosmetics are not as stringent as those that apply to other products that are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Neither cosmetic products, nor cosmetic ingredients are reviewed or approved by the FDA before they are sold to the public. This means that, with the exception of color additives and a few prohibited substances, manufacturers may use any ingredient or raw material. Any product containing levels that might trigger an adverse reaction ARE required to carry a caution, however, as seen in the “formaldehyde free” labeled products, this was not the case.

Everyday most of us use an array of skin, hair, body and beauty products without ever asking if they are safe or not. We incorrectly assume that the FDA has tight regulations on these products. They don’t! Unknowingly you may be applying several ingredients that contain potential systemic toxins that are easily absorbed and can remain in your body for a very long time. When you consider that some of these products get applied day after day for decades, the potential for problems is very real. Read labels CAREFULLY!!!

For more on Peter Lamas, see www.peterlamas.com and for more on formaldehyde, see wikipedia for starters…

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April 12, 2011

The Diaper Dilemma and Earth Day Focus

When choosing diapers for your child, the choice between cloth and disposable might seem simple. For those of us who can remember a time when there were no disposable diapers, memories of cloth diaper surrounded by rubber pants come time to mind. They were high maintenance to say the least. There was the time involved to clean them, and they weren’t ultra- absorbent.  Parents everywhere celebrated when disposable diapers came into the mainstream. Disposable diapers are quick and easy. Use once and toss. No need to wash them, just throw them away. It may be that easy, but it isn’t that simple. There are many cons to disposable diapers as well.

Disposable diapers are made from plastics. According to the Newparentsguide.com, (http://www.thenewparentsguide.com/diapers.htm) the chemicals in disposable diapers can harm children that wear them. In addition to having more rashes, other health concerns include allergies, damage to the central nervous system and toxic shock syndrome. Then there are the environmental issues with disposable diapers.

Environmental issues with disposable diapers are two-fold. Manufacturing disposable diapers for American babies alone takes around 80,000 pounds of plastic and over 200,000 trees a year. Then there is the problem with disposal-they are not biodegradable. Once they are dumped in a landfill, they remain there forever. Unlike cloth diapers where waste goes either into the sewer systems and is treated, the bacteria and viruses from human waste in disposable diapers can seep into the ground and even into the water supply.  Best estimates suggest that a baby goes through more than 5000 diapers before being toilet trained. Doing the math on the amount of diapers in landfill is staggering!   It is estimated that roughly 5 million tons of untreated waste and a total of 2 billion tons of urine, feces, plastic and paper are added to landfills annually.  It’s scary!

The cloth diapers of today aren’t what they used to be either. With the newer style of cloth diapers that are on the market, disposable diapers are not much more convenient that cloth diapers. Some cloth diapers now have double or triple layers and a multiply, fiber-filled strip, making them more absorbent than older styles. Cloth diapers now come with Velcro and durable snap closures, eliminating the need for those large safety pins, making them as easy to put on and take off as disposable diapers.  You can launder them at home or turn the job over to a diaper service. It is estimated that cloth diapers usually only add about 2 extra loads of laundry a week to your schedule.  Eco-friendly, they are also recyclable. They can be used on another baby and have many household uses after its diaper days are over.

AMP diapers, www.ampdiapers.com takes the guess work out of cloth diapers. Diapers that can take baby from newborn to toilet trained. They were created by Annie Marie Padorie, a mother of five herself, by trial and error. They are made from bamboo, cotton, and hemp. AMP diapers are made in a green office certified facility in Winnipeg, MB, Canada. AMP diapers offers easy to use, cost effective, environmentally friendly, re-usable cloth diapering systems and accessories. Cloth diapers are soft and comfortable for baby and better for the environment.

As a parent, deciding to use cloth or disposable diapers depends on your lifestyle, personal preference, finances and your concern for the environment. But with cloth diapers being better for baby and the environment, and as easy to use as disposable, they are certainly a topic to investigate. Start your baby off early to appreciate the Earth’s natural environment!

Add check out the following links:

 
 
 
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April 11, 2011

Get Your Gypsybilly On!

Meet the Vignatis

What do you get when blend English and French vocals with acoustic guitar, clarinet, accordion and violin? When you combine driving rock drum beats with a modern/vintage instrumentation of electric guitar? When you borrow from traditional Eastern European Traditional music, complete with its dark chromatics, use of microtones, glissandi and soulful, theatrical vocals with the Southern twang of honky tonk-esque piano and pedal steel?  You get the birth of Gypsybilly by the Vignatis!

Gypsybilly is the fusion of almost everything…..rock and roll, rockabilly, jazz, swing, country and western, rhythm and blues, honky tonk, boogie woogie, cabaret, hillbilly, bluegrass, ………… I have always found it hard when listening to any rockabilly fusion to NOT be happy! It is infectious….it brings a smile to my face, and it makes me want to dance. Fun, lively, and flirty- in some ways it transports me to decades past and countries of old!

Like its forefathers, the vocals range from intense to playful, gritty to legit, diatonic to chromatic, delivering lyrical messages on topics from life’s struggles, childhood insecurities, love, travels and world peace. The marriage of many forms of music blended into a successful worldwide journey gives way to the birth of Gypsybilly……….

Fabrice and Tracy Vignati bring us their unique blend in their CD The Vignatis-Birth of Gypsybilly.  This fabulous CD was featured in the Oscar Swag bags and given to Oscar Presenters and Nominees this past February. If you like Brian Setzer, Django Reinhardt, Paris Combo, Gretchen Wilson, Sanseverino………then check out www.thevignatis.com  and be prepared to get lost in the mix and magic of Gypsybilly!

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April 6, 2011

Joe Cross’s Journey to Better Health Inspires Others

Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead-One Man’s Odyssey to Regain His Health

I had the extreme pleasure of meeting Joe Cross when he was in New York last fall at an event that acclaimed fashion designer Norma Kamali put together. The event was titled- Conversations – A Dialogue on Wellness Solutions.  Forever changed by the events on 9/11, Norma felt she needed to establish a sense of well-being, something to ground her. The world she and many others had known was never going to be the same.  Knowing she was not alone in her struggle to feel grounded and restore a sense of well being, she has unselfishly shared all she has learned in her journey  to those of us who are ready to “reboot” our lives.

Norma used her “conversations” as a platform to share solutions and offer positive alternatives for fitness, health and beauty. The entire group of people that Norma had assembled to speak was absolutely inspiring. One of those speakers was Australian Joe Cross. Diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disorder where he could break out in hives with no warning, this sick, overweight, type A, workaholic realized that he would need to do something drastic to take control of his life and his health. He had reached his breaking point, and made a promise to himself that he would get healthy.

Personally I could identify with Joe. His business career began as a trader on the Sydney Futures Exchange. Having been a commodity broker/trader myself, I knew the life, the stress, and while I may have thrived on it when I was younger, it was certainly going to lower my life expectancy. I too could break out in hives with no warning. Stress mainly, and it was my body sending me warning signs that there was a problem, and as much as I tried to ignore it, it wasn’t going to let me!

Everyone has stressful lives! And at some point, our bodies send us enough signals to wake up and do something about it. In Joe’s case, he made a movie Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead to chronicle his journey toward health, his road to recovery. He took his health into his own hands and started a 60-day juice fast, consuming nothing but fruits and vegetables in liquid form for two months. Knowing he would be able to pack the highest amount of nutrients in juice form, he hoped to cleanse his system of four decades of eating junk and “reboot” it.

  Criss-crossing America with a juicer in the back of a SUV, he stopped along the way at malls, diners, truck stops and produce stops to talk to people about food. He heard over and over again, most people didn’t have the willpower or desire to change their diet, even if they knew it was killing them. He managed to visit 21 states all while keeping to his liquid diet. After 60 days of consuming massive amounts of spinach, kale, parsley, onions, cucumbers, celery, pears and apples, he’d lost 80 pounds and now only needed 2.5 mg of Prednisone, which was down from the 15 mg he had originally been prescribed. Energized, he did an additional 70 days of eating only fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds. He went back to Sydney 100 pounds lighter and completely off the Prednisone. ”I needed to give my body the energy it needed to perform the function of self-repair. I thought, ‘If I just get out of the way, it will heal itself,’ ” says Cross, 44.

He had rebooted his life, and done the movie to chronicle his journey. It was finished, and he was on to a healthier life, or so he thought.

When he was criss-crossing America and talking to people about food and diet, he had given out his number to people and told them to give him a call if they ever decided to change their diet to give him a call.  On his answering machine was a call from Phil Staples, who he’d met while filming in Winslow, Ariz. Staples was a truck driver who weighed a shocking 429 pounds — and, coincidentally, suffered from the same autoimmune disease Cross battled. “Joe, this is Phil. Is it too late to ask for help?” Staples says shyly on Cross’ voice mail. “I’m getting tired of looking at myself . . . I gotta figure something out.”

Soon, Cross was back in America with his film crew, trying to help Staples save his life through juice. 

“I’m not trying to invent anything new,” Cross says. “I’m not trying to be an extremist. I’m just saying we need to eat more fruits and vegetables. I feel like there are an awful lot of people out there in the same predicament as me. I thought by making this film, I could help them.” And he does….. 

You can see the trailer on YouTube, Facebook, and follow Joe on www.fatsickandnearlydead.com, and see the movie!

Get ready to “reboot “your life!!

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