The Beauty of Life

Friday, March 19, 2010

Obsession of the Moment: Anything and Everything Tom Binns

Have you ever found a designer that just speaks to you? I mean, each and every single piece just makes your mouth water, your breath catch, your eyes sparkle? Such is the case for me with Tom Binns. Years ago, my mother and I were walking by Henri Bendel and stopped dead in our tracks to view the amazing display of his jewelry in the window -- and I've been hooked ever since. This visionary jewelry designer continues to think outside the box, creating collections like his recent Alice in Wonderland that thrill and delight me over and over. After the jump, some of the pieces that are currently making my heart race.

Tom Binns for Disney Couture Alice in Wonderland Charm Necklace ($175): Don't be late for this very important date! Hanging from multitudes of interwoven gold chains are charms depicting Alice's fall down the rabbit hole.

Pearls in Peril Earrings ($265): Delicate chain fringe, chandelier-shaped crystals and oversized pearl drops add up to one hot earring.

Classic Gold Safety Pin Earrings ($220): When I first got my ears pierced, I always wondered what it would be like to hang safety pins through the holes. (Hey, it was the 80's.) Now I know -- always and eternally rocker cool.

18-Karat-Gold Swarovski Hoop Earrings ($390): Slender swooping hoops adorned with gleaming Swarovski crystals ... swoon. These would totally be my go-to everyday earrings.

Tough Chic Swarovski Skull Bracelet ($140): If anyone could manage to make a skull not seem completely macabre, it would be Tom Binns. Somehow this bracelet comes across as elegant and sophisticated rather than dark and depressing.

Classic 18-Karat Gold-Plated Ring ($190): I've been looking for a statement-making ring, and I believe this is it. I love the gilded, curved exterior and the weighty yet unoppressive shape.

My Incredible Bloomingdale's Sample Sale Haul

This morning, I stood in line for the Bloomingdale's sample sale. I've gone before and haven't really found much, but OH ... MY ... GOD. This time they had FRYE BOOTS. Frye Boots, people. Not to mention tons of great tops, dresses, jewelry ... you name it, they had it. Check out what I scored:

Two pairs of Frye boots, Bass saddle oxfords, Cara Accessories jeweled bib necklace, multi-stranded gold necklace, pearl and chain bracelet, Rebecca Minkoff studded pink patent leather cuff
Close-up shot of the jewelry
Carting my humongous haul back to my desk!

And the best part? I scored all of this for only $160!! What a great start to the weekend!

Pictures by Kristin Booker.

First Look Fridays: Andrea Arterbery of The Glamazons

Chances are, if you're a big fan of beauty blogs, you read The Glamazons. I've had the pleasure of meeting fab gal about town Andrea Arterbery on more than one occasion and all I can say is this -- she is GLAMULOUS. (Yes, that's glamorous and fabulous mushed together.) Read on to discover how she came up with the name of her blog, the makeup remover she can't live without and so much more!

Can you tell me a bit about yourself?
I'm originally from a small town in Texas. (Marshall, Texas; and no, not of the movie We Are Marshall -- more like Friday Night Lights hahaha). I went to college and graduated with a BA in Journalism (minor in Public Relations) from the University of North Texas. While there, I worked at the college newspaper, completed several internships and just fell in love with magazines and newspapers (oh and seeing my byline as well haha). After college, I knew that I was destined for greatness and New York was where I would find it. So, I packed up and moved here to NY. (I've been here for 5 years now and LOVE every single second of it!)

How did you first become interested in beauty?
I've actually been a beauty girl my whole life. While I was still a tomboy (i.e. I loved to play in the dirt), I was still enamored with hair and makeup. My mother sold Avon, so I would play in her beauty products and I was always styling the hair of my friends (as well as my own).

Why did you decide to start your blog?
I started The Glamazons blog with my partner Coutura ,whom I met while working at a magazine. (She worked in fashion, I in beauty). We always had so much to say and share with everyone and would never get to say so in the magazine. So, we started the blog as an outlet to share all the great fashion and beauty news that we'd come across with the masses!

I love the name of your blog! How did you come up with it?
We both came up with the name for the blog one day while eating lunch at Chipotle after experiencing a particularly hellish work day. We wanted the blog to purvey all things glam and fab (because that's what we are!) and figured The Glamazons is the perfect way to describe us.

What have been some of the highlights of having your blog?
Every day is a highlight as far as I'm concerned! I love blogging and I love being able to share my thoughts and words with the masses.

What are your top 5 beauty essentials?
1) Aveda Air Control Hair Spray
2) Kerastase Oleo Relax Anti-Frizz Hair Serum
3) Clarins Multi-Active Day Early Wrinkle Correction Cream
4) Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover For Lids, Lashes and Lips
5) Dolce & Gabbana The One

What brands can you simply not live without?
Brands I simply can not live without include (but are not limited to):
M.A.C
CoverGirl
Urban Decay
Clarins
Clinique
Aveda
Kerastase
Nivea
Palmer's
La Mer
OPI
CHI
Olay

Are there any other beauty blogs you read regularly? What are some that you like and why?
I like Beauty Blogging Junkie (that Glambr is amazing!) for sure. Um, mine, The Glamazons (DUH lol), Makeup Bag, Daily Makeover. I'm obsessed with WWD, New York Times, New York Magazine (and The Cut blog). I read so much on a daily basis that it's hard to pinpoint just one (LOL) and OF COURSE I read yours! =)

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Beauty Question: What's Your Biggest Indulgence?

There's always that one thing that we continue to splurge on, again and again. Whether it's a product or a service ... and no matter how many times people may say we're crazy! ... we just can't help ourselves. For this beauty chick, it's massages. I've been known to get them two or three times in one week -- granted, it was to try and help my massive migraines, but still -- I just can't get enough. I like to try out various spas around the city, and my go-to treatment is always a massage. And yes, I've spent upwards of $200 or more for 90 minutes of sheer and utter bliss. It's definitely my biggest indulgence.

So my beauty question today is this: What's your biggest indulgence? Whether it's a Chanel lipgloss, a La Mer moisturizer or a weekly pedicure, there are no judgments here. Let me know your indulgences in the comments!

How Do You Feel About Acupuncture?

Before I started acupuncture, I totally thought it was a crock. I never imagined how much it could help me. Before you judge, here's my story.

I suffer from chronic migraines. I get one every single day -- oftentimes manageable, but sometimes so painful and terrible and filled with nausea that all I can do is lie underneath the covers in a dark room and pray for it to go away. In the past, I could control my migraines based on how much I slept, what I ate, what time of the month it was -- all the normal factors. But in the past few years, it's become such a problem that there's just nothing I can do. An MRI a couple years ago came back normal, no amount of sleep or protein helps, not even migraine medication does the trick. Once in awhile, Bayer Aspirin alleviates the pain slightly -- but only sometimes, and only if it's not completely severe.

Thus was the burden I bore when I decided to try acupuncture for the first time. About a year and a half ago, I just didn't know where else to turn -- and so I turned to Aimee Raupp, coming highly credentialed and even recommended by a fellow blogger. I won't lie, I was totally nervous before my first session -- but Aimee put me at ease by showing me just how flimsy the needles are and even sticking herself with one to point out what it would look like in me. After one session, I was completely hooked -- I could literally feel the pain whooshing out of my body as the needles in my head, arms and legs worked their magic. I went back for one or two sessions a week, always with fairly intense pain, and left each one with nothing. Not only that -- the pain would be alleviated for days on end. I could actually live a normal life!

But then reality took its toll, and I found the sessions were too expensive to continue. ($90 per session was a bit more than I could safely indulge.) Unfortunately I stopped going, and of course the pain returned worse than ever. After much research, I recently discovered that ACUPUNCTURE IS COVERED BY MY INSURANCE. Color me HAPPY! I immediately booked an appointment with a new acupuncturist.

My first session with Iris Netzer was yesterday. Found within InForm Fitness, her setup feels almost spa-like. After a 20-minute consultation, I laid on a bed in a darkened room with bright purple sheets and let the magic happen. I loved Iris's approach to acupuncture -- rather than placing needles into my head, she placed them in my neck, arms, legs and even my stomach. A quick 20-minute nap later (believe me, it's fairly impossible not to fall asleep on the acupuncture table), I flipped over and Iris placed about 6 needles at the nape of my neck for another 15 minutes.

When I left Iris's office, my pain wasn't completely gone -- but it was alleviated so much that I felt like a normal person again. Today, my migraine is definitely not gone, but I'd classify it as a 4 on a scale of 1-10 -- SO much better than I normally could ask for. I'm now totally hooked again, and the fact that it's taken by my insurance? Makes it totally worth it.