May 2017

Why Be A Ten When You Can Be An ELEVEN!

I love getting beauty kits as presents. You know why? Because I love new getting a new product that I haven’t tried and also because when I’m on a budget these gifted kits come in handy.

The Eleven Skin Anti-Aging System is definitely a gift that special someone in your life would want to receive under the tree this holiday season. I know; I was lucky enough to test it out. The bottles are a clean sleek white. There’s no fancy packaging or colors but, it makes up for it in the quality of the products. They all feel really great on your skin. My biggest issue in the winter is that my face gets very dry. I don’t have an issue with acne breakouts but my skin is sensitive so a lot of times the products I use don’t necessarily moisturize to the level that I need. I didn’t have this issue with Eleven Skin. The secret to ElevenSkin is nutrient-rich sea botanicals that grow abundantly in warm ocean waters, creating a skincare collection that is your best defense against skin damage, and your best resource for skin repair. PLEASE NOTE: Their products do contain seaweed in case you are allergic. The 30-day Anti Aging System includes Refresh Cleanser, Smooth Eye Creme, Protect Day Creme/SPF18 and Hydrate Night Serum, and samples of the Rescue Omega 3 Serum and Perfection Eye Creme + Concealer. You’re going to get all of that which is worth $130 for only $39.95 and you have the option to automatically re-order every month. I don’t know about you but that is a darn good price. You can purchase The Eleven Skin Anti-Aging System at elevenskin.com. Holiday Gift Guide – Main I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 

*REVIEW BEING UPDATED AND EDITED* will be uploaded shortly This review is a whopping three for one for Petunia skincare products. I received their anti-aging serum, eye cream and derma roller for review. I’ve mentioned before that I’m a fan of eye serums since I discovered them.  It makes such a huge difference when you use a separate serum around your eyes than what you use on the rest of your face. I haven’t tried any Petunia products before so, I was looking forward to testing their products, especially the derma roller which I’ve never tired before but looked like fun. Naturally, I’ll start with the derma roller. The purpose is to sort of massage the face to help prevent or avoid wrinkles. I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 

Many of us consider our pets to be part of the family so when the holidays roll around we always get them a gift or two like a toy or a new bed. In the meantime we sit down to a huge feast with the ..errr…humans in our families while our pets just watch and drool. This year, why not hook them up with some cooked holiday food of their own. We’ve got recipe books and pumpkin cake and even cookies for your doggie to enjoy. Your Pet Chef Presents the 12 Days of Christmas – yourpetchef.com — $8.00 Christmas is about family, gift giving and FOOD. Oh all the glorious Christmas dishes that will be made and eaten this year. Your Pet Chef has gathered some of these popular Christmas dishes and adapted them for your dog. They also gave them clever names to coincide with the song of the same name . The 12 Days of Christmas cookbook includes dishes like 5 Golden Rings Cookies, 2 Turtle Doves (made with chicken not turtles or doves) and a Partridge in a Pear Tree (also made with chicken not a member of the Partridge Family) The great thing about this recipe book is that they are all natural ingredients. I might just have to save time and make these for the humans too! I keed! Each of the 12 day brings a new recipe and a fun story. Most recipes contain 5 ingredients or less so there’s no excuse not to give them a try. Your dog is sure to love you even more. Also, $1 from the sale of each book is donated to a rescue that you can choose. Merry Christmas! We also have a special DISCOUNT CODE giving you $1 off your purchase. Enter code RAINat checkout when you purchase at YourPetChef.com Your Pet Chef Presents the 8 Days of Hanukkah – YourPetChef.com —$8.00 Is Hanukkah more your dogs speed? Well Your Pet Chef has that covered too with  the 8 Days of Hanukkah cookbook. Recipes for the 8 days include Muttzo Ball Soup, 3 French Chiens, and many more. This is a great way to have some fun during the holiday and include your pet in the mix. The holiday mix that is because, I don’t think they can actually help you mix up the ingredients. $1 from each of these books also goes to an animal rescue. Also, The $1 OFF DISCOUNT CODE works for the 8 Days of Hanukkah book too. Just be sure to enter RAIN when you check out at YourPetChef.com Puppy Cake  Holiday Cookies – PuppyCake.com — $6.99 Don’t want to make a recipe from scratch? The how about these Puppy Cake Holiday Cookies. These are available for a limited time only. Share the joy of homemade “sugar” cookies with your dog this holiday using Puppy Cake Holiday Cookie Mix. The all natural cake mix is made with healthy and dog safe ingredients. A bone shaped cookie cutter is included in the bag to make bone shaped “sugar” cookies. These cookies are wheat-free and gluten free. Just don’t get confused and leave these out for Santa by mistake though the reindeer might enjoy them. Puppy Cake Pumpkin Spice Cake & Frosting – Available @ Amazon.com– $6.99 With all the Pumpin Spice craze going on I’m sure you’re puppy is a bit jeaslous as he watches you indulge in muffins, cookies and every Pumpkin Spice baked good imaginable. Well, you can make it up to them with this Puppy Cake Wheat-Free Peanut Butter Cake Mix and Frosting Mix. It looks really delicious but, I can assure you it’s not for human consumption. You can go ahead and take a taste but, being that it’s made with a doggie palette in mind you might not find it easy to swallow. But your go will go gaga for it. Holiday Gift Guide – Main I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 

Pink Magolia launches the Nichim  spring-summer 2015 collection straight out of Mexico during New York Fashion Week.

If you know where to look, you can find some gems during Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week. Luckily I only had to look as far as my inbox for the invitation to the debut of the Pink Magnolia  “Nichim” collection. When I read that the collection was inspired by PINK, my very first question for Paola Wong, the creative director of Pink Magnolia, was “the color pink or the singer?”. Paola laughed and said, “no, the color” and went on to explane that the inspiration comes from the embroidery and fabric colors from two villages in Chipas, Mexico. She explained that pink is a very prominent color of inspiration in San Juan chenalho & Cancuc, the two villages. She also explained that it was most likely a spiritual connection with regards to the color pink. The show took place at Hotel Americano which was the perfect setting to walk around and take in the dresses and outfits that were displayed throughout the venue while sipping on Mezcal cocktails. There was even an after party downstairs with DJ David Katz setting off the celebration. The Pink Magnolia Spring/Summer 2015 collection called Nichim  is very colorful and bold and fun. I fell in love with the almost ballerina-esque designs of some of the dresses You can find it online beginning in February 2015 at www.pinkmagnolia.com.mx and they’re currently working to bring the designs here to US boutiques.

Russian Designer Alina German made her NYFW debut on Wednesday, September 3^rd at Inglot Studios in Chelsea Market. Her charity “With Love By Alina German” is endorsed by Nicole Kidman, Johnny Depp and Matt Damon. There’s nothing like seeing your fashion line make an amazing debut during New York Fashion Week. But, that’s not something you can ask Russian designer Alina German. Though Alina had a successful showing of her Collection at Inglot Studios in Chelsea Market on Wednesday, September 3^rd unfortunately, she did not get to see it. There was a bit of a snafu with her visa and it did not get approved until 24 hours AFTER her show so she was unable to fly in on time.  With the Alina Green Spring/Summer 2015 Collection already in New York and the location and models confirmed, the best thing to do was let the show go on with Alina conducting phone interviews from Moscow.  Alina’s collection has something for everyone. While I favored the Desire Top & Skirtand more sleek looks like the red Non Faded Scarlet Top & Pants, my daughter was drawn to the hipper looks of the Vine Biot Dress, Vine Horse Coat and the Monk Robe Sweatshirt paired with the Black Knapsack. For more information on the Alina German Collection visit the  website.

PS. A major thanks to my assistant (aka daughter) who took most of the photos and was rewarded with SWAG bags courtesy of Alina German, Chi and Inglot.

“It is a modern approach to glamour. It is also about achieving a very sophisticated, yet simplistic look.” ~ b michael Mercedes Benz New York Fashion week was here and gone in a pose and a flash. We were left to sift through all the amazing fashion that graced the runways to pick out our favorites. The b michael America Spring 2015 Couture Collection is one of those gems from glamorous rubble that I had to share with you. The gowns are stunning. The colors are amazing. The designs speak for themselves. In total there are 45 looks made their way down the runway on September 10th at Lincoln Center in NYC as b michael explains,“This collection…continues my vision to create a genre of taste that is inspired by The Art Of Advanced American Style, from the Shirt-Dress to the Red-Carpet; It’s Back To The Future.” b michael couture has been worn by many socialites and celebrities including Beyonce Knowles, Cicely Tyson for the Tony Awards, Nancy Wilson’s gown in the Smithsonian, Whitney Houston’s wardrobe for Sparkle,  Lena Horne as well as Angela Bassett.

He also has a ready-to-wear line called b michael America Red. You can find out more about the couture and ready-to-wear lines at bmichaelamerica.com

Photo Credit: b michael America