January 2009

Sweetassgal here! Fewer things are sexier on a woman than a gorgeous pair of delicate, strappy heels. The way they accent your toes, arch your foot and extend your calves...its all perfection and I should know because I own about 30 pairs of strappy sandal heels in a rainbow of colors and embellishments. It's a sickness and I've wisely chosen NOT to to seek treatment. Sometimes a new pair of shoes is all the therapy I need and in my humble opinion keeps me as happy as a kid with chocolate cake. Through the years they've always stuck by me and never let me down. No matter what's going on in my life or how I feel above the ankles, if I can look down at my feet and see two shining hot pink metallic strappies with rhinestone encrusted buckles staring back at me...all is right with the world!

As with all things in life we must pay for the labors of our love and for any girl who has spent a night clubbing in four inch stilettos, they can attest that no one reaps the rewards of wearing such stunning footwear without paying for it with aching, swollen and tired feet. But hey...that's the way the Christian Louboutin crumbles right? Well ladies...I'm here to tell you not to ditch those toe pinching pumps yet because I've found the perfect antidote...Vickery and Clarke Foot and Leg Spray! This relatively new line exclusive to CVS pays homage to Alice Vickery and Isabella Clark, two pioneering English pharmacists in the 1800's who utilized fresh herbs and flower botanicals in their science and research. The Vickery & Clarke of today is a modern blend of old fashioned sensibilities paired with up to date ideals. Made of 94% natural ingredients and Paraben, Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate, Phthalate, and Petrolatum's free, each item in this collection of cleansers, masks, body washes and more is a true indulgence and a steal at under $15 or less. Though I'm sure I'll be trying many more items from the line my interest was peaked by the foot and leg spray and I gave it a try after a long day of standing on concrete at a company event. I have to say just a few sprays of the sumptuous smelling concoction and my feet were like new again. It immediately cools and refreshes tired feet and I will definitely keep this baby around for any time I spend more than just a few minutes in my oh so favorite but turkish torture chamber Via Spiga Mary Jane's. It's a shoe imperative!

Sharond here! Now that Christmas is only a memory, we need to get ready for all the big events coming up in the entertainment industry like the Oscars, Golden Globes, Music Awards and many more. I love to look at all the beautiful dresses and of course, the stars makeup. How do they make themselves look so radiant?

A number of years ago I was in Las Vegas over the Christmas season and my face was getting so dry I was in pain. I had my son with me and of course he didn't want to go with me to Sephora for help. He happened to be on a sushi kick during that time so we compromised that if I took him to Chinatown for sushi, he would come with me to Sephora. By this time, if I saw another piece of sushi I knew I would be sick. I wandered around the area of where he was eating. I walked in this little shop named The Amore which sold Amore Pacific's Laneige, Iope and Sulwhasoo lines of facial products. These products are produced in South Korea using indigenous botanical plants such as Red Ginseng and Green Tea. The lovely Jay, one of the owners, wouldn't even sell me the facial cream I so badly needed. Instead, she loaded me up with enough samples to last 7 days. We had a language barrier so I had a hard time telling her I had to leave before then and her telling me that she wanted me to try the products to assure they were best for my skin. She finally convinced me of her sales method and sent me packing with the samples. I started using them immediately and loved the way they quickly moisturized my parch skin. Before I went home I went back to buy a number of their products.

Gigi here! Pardon me-our computer crashed last week and I had a "brain freeze" (I'm prone to them). I sent this piece to poor Meg last week using my sister's computer. Now I am sitting here as the gracious guest of the owner of Post Net in Kennedy Township (a mini-version of FedEx/Kinko's necessary for survival) who is allowing me to use a computer.

Sweetassgal here! I will never cease to be amazed by how our minds can reach way back to memories decades ago, bringing back familiar sights, scents, tastes and even emotions that once comforted us in moments that may have seemed insignificant at the time...but manage to bring a smile to our face at the mere flicker of their memory. Walking through my local health food store recently I was struck by just such a memory. Browsing through the health and beauty section my eye caught the sight of a little round pot of Lip Lovers lip balm by Rachel Perry.

I immediately picked it up and was transported back to one of my favorite places when I was a child. My mother had a friend named Chris who to me was a cross between Farah Fawcett and a circa 1976 Stevie Nicks. She had beautiful feathered blonde haired, dressed uber hippie chic and almost always carried something that was either hand tooled leather or beaded and crocheted. I used to love going to her house. She was always burning incense (not the stinky kind), had cool beaded curtains, "vintage" furniture before it was cool and most importantly of all...she had one of those old fashioned french lady advertisements displayed on a giant round tin plate hanging in her living room. It was all so lovely and the memory was staring right up at me when I looked at the top of the Rachel Perry balm. Pictured on top is a darling profile picture of a very vintage looking lady wearing a smart hat with brightly tied pin and scarf. It looked just like one of the ladies on Chris' wall hanging. I was instantly transported and could all but smell the scent of musk oil in the air.