I love you Chicago again and again!

I traveled to Chicago recently but it wasn’t long enough! Although I travel ✈️ there often. I never get tired of exploring new places and visiting some of my fave places too.

Here are a few highlights from my trip.

I love staying at the W hotel on the lake and I also love to stay at the iconic Palmer House. But this time I stayed with my husband at the Residence Inn 700 in the Loop. What a beautiful stay! Such cozy Suites with fabulous beddings and a kitchen with a dishwasher, huge refrigerator and mini loft bing room space area.

I discovered a beautiful church around the in corner in a section they call the Loop. I fell 😍 love! I attended several masses and services. A gem 💎 in the heart of downtown. Run by Franciscan friars.

I love shopping the magnificent Michigan Avenue. AKA the Miracle Mile …

So many shops so little time! One of my fave fashion shops is called Akira. Also since I love 💕 all things fun I shop at Riley Rose!

Food glorious food is another thrill in Chicago! I never get tired of their hot dogs, donuts and dim sum in Chinatown! Oh and this time I discovered a real chocolate filled bao delight! Warm and fluffy and so delicious.

I so wanted to go for a spa day but after doing everything else no time left.

Have you been to Chicago? Lately? Do share.

Oh happy day…it’s National Nail Polish and DONUT day!

Don’t you just LOVE this edible art by Holly Fox who I discovered on Instagram and has a shop on Etsy! I must buy one of her awesome cookie creations. So many cookies to choose from so little time! Yum!!!

• What’s Trending in nail colors this summer … the Northeast Distributor for OPI Vinnie Le from of Victoria Nial Supply says “Blue hues are so in from Mint blue,Baby blues and Aqua Ocean blue.He also says nude,pink nude and rose gold metallics are hot.” I am over the moon for these new shades!
• How to make your nail polish last longer and strengthen them too? From Start to Finish by OPI is a 3 products in one new sensation. A base coat,a top coat and a nail strengthener too. So now you don’t have to apply a base coat,a top coat and a nail strengthener. ONE bottle and product for three steps. Genius! 
  
• Cuticle oil is a must. Apply it on your fingers and toes to keep the skin soft and looking good. Sandal season means less shoes and clothes. So,don’t forget to take care of your fingers d and toes.
• If your hands are showing age…or to prevent sun spots and wrinkles from forming so fast. Try using a sunscreen on them. I like a natural one that is the kind you roll/rub on from a deodorant like stick by Go Waxhead. It isn’t just about protecting your face from spots your hands and tops of feet need it too.
• Always keep your hands and body hydrated not only with cuticle oil but hand and body lotions and creams.
• Now all you need is to paint the town with your fave hues! Have a happy National Nail Polish Day!

And since it is also National DONUT day let me share my fave donut in Chicago…

Do-rite donuts! If you haven’t tasted them you don’t know what you are missing! And yes I am still in love with Krispy Kreme donuts BUT this company’s donuts  is really awesome too!

WORTH A TRIP to  Chicago! Was just there last month and can’t wait to go back and taste more!

TWO wonderful reasons to celebrate today!

Enjoy!

 

Hair and beauty everywhere!

Back from Chicago and trying to get caught up with my life and taking care of clients in my makeup & skin studio. I told you I would recap about the beauty show I guest spoke at in the Windy City last weekend at the International Esthetics,Cosmetics and Spa Conference however I also shopped until I dropped across the convention ctr. and toured another show…AMERICA’S Beauty Show.                           It was awesome!

BEAUTY Professionals from all over the globe came in full force to the show and enjoyed 70 and 80 degree weather too. The educators were amazing and the show floor was PACKED with fabulous hair and all kinds of beauty booths.

Skin care,makeup and wellness are all merging together. This is a trend that is here to stay! What we eat,drink and put on our face does matter. A healthy, happy and active lifestyle is so important.

HEALTHY looking SKIN is in!

Real tans are out! Faux tans are in!

Right now COLOR is everywhere…in hair with playful hair colors and extensions and temporary hair hues.

Makeup and nails are the same way too…COLOR,color everywhere!

There are NO RULES!

So go ahead and walk on the colorful side.

Pick a hue or two and play with them and enjoy the glam!

It’s beauty show time!

 

Chicago here I come again! I am guest speaking and exploring every inch of the beauty show floors! I’ll KISS & TELL when I return!

If you have any beauty requests or questions for me…just ask!

XOXO

Noreen

Jet setting for Beauty & Food

I am ready to share my recent finds in WONDERFUL Chicago. Guest speaking at the International Esthetics Cosmetics and Spa show is always an honor and my pleasure. But playing in a city I travel to is always a JOY. I love to discover new hot spots and to visit my fave places I continue to go back to.

Welcome to Donut Heaven! Stan’s Donuts is an awesome donut place I fell in love with. While I love Do-Rite donuts and will never stop. Stan’s Donuts and staff  was the best! For almost 50 years Stan has crafted some of the world’s best donuts and started in Los Angeles. So many choices so little time!!! And they are ginormous!Don’t let the name fool you they have bagels and so many other yummies too.Including a Dirty Chai Tea! I love the name. Don’t you?

Next I had to stop at Ming Hin in Chinatown for DIM SUM …I ordered an array of fabulous delights from dumplings, to shrimp to Chow Fun. I did not order the tough bird staring at me on the menu. Although it was tempting to TRY.

I

I always go back to Merz Apothecary for old time pharmacy and beauty finds and for a drink at the Palmer House.So tres chic.

I adore shopping the Magnificent Mile with all the amazing stores but  I love to go downtown on State Street that great street with mom and pop shops and eateries. I love a store called Agaci for fashionable finds.Nordstrom Racks there too.

The beauty show was filled with energy and mystical crystals. I got a Chakra reading by the master Linda Bertaut. She said I am SUPER-CHARGED with lots of energy!!! But warned me to watch out for burn out.I guess it is all about moderation isn’t it? Visit: http://www.chakralicious.com for more info.

Korean beauty is still trending and there is beauty from the sea with Repechage skin care.

I discovered some more fun beauty things. Stay tuned for my posts.

Oh and its almost time for MY Spring Beauty Giveaway! Come back and see how you might win and score.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There’s beauty in Chi Town…

Been so wildy busy…forgot to post this! But I’m still in Chicago and the weekend and show isn’t over.So here we go!

As a foodie who is in beauty…I can’t wait for this weekend to start.

Chicago is going to look a lot more beautiful with all the glowing skinned estheticians and makeup artists who are going to rock the city at the International Esthetics, Cosmetics and Spa conference.IF YOU are a spa owner or beauty professional I hope you’ll be there! I will be guest speaking both days.www.iecsc.com

Please come back to my blog after the show when I’m back and have a chance to post.Be in the know on what I see in Chicago this trip… from food,to spas,what’s trending in beauty, to shopping!!! I adore the city of Chicago!!!

I will not rest so I can bring it all back to you!

#chispashow #ilovechicago

Peace,Love and Blowouts!

Have you ever had an actual blowout? No, not your tire blowout but a hair blowout.Many women do not know what it is.

A couple of weeks ago  a new spot for hair opened in Jacksonville,Florida. This is epic for the city.The name of the business is DRYBAR.

No cuts,no color,just blowouts!!! That’s all they do.

I have had this service done at other salons across the country but never by this brand. I tried to get one a blowout while working in these cities… Las Vegas,NYC and Chicago bu all locations were booked.They have sixty locations to serve you and offer long convenient hours.They recently opened a shop in a section called Brooklyn.So, being homesick and craving my NYC. I HAD TO GO!

The reception at the front desk was awesome. They took a good guess on my name and calling me by it once I walked in.What caught my eye first is all the yellow and white decor and when you enter the overhead lamp is made with a yellow blow dryer.

Pretty cool!

Next they asked me if I wanted something to drink. The offerings were:water,coffee,tea and a Champagne mimosa. I of course chose the Mimosa.

Blowouts I could choose from the service menu were named after drinks.If you don’t drink alcohol this could be a problem.But the services are described beautifully in the menu alongside pictures of how that style will look.

The Straight Up

The Manhattan

The Cosmo

The Mai Tai

The Cosmo-tini

Southern Comfort

Dirty Martini

The Uptini

Shirley Temple for kids or pre-teens

Add a braid to your service

I chose the Manhattan and a dash of Southern Comfort.

What  I wasn’t ready for was it took a total of 45 minutes! The stylists wash and work at styling and blow dry every strand of hair and they follow a certain protocol. If you do not want your locks to be pampered… you may not like this service.

I enjoyed my experience and you will too. Give them a whirl!

The holidays are coming and you may just need that special look for all the holiday parties and New Years Eve too. #treatyoself!

$40.00 per service

You book your appt. via the APP or connect online.

http://www.thedrybar.com

 

 

 

Clean Your Dirty Face!

Just back from glorious Chicago. I LOVE this town.

Most of you who read my blog know I always make time for play when I TRAVEL for my work!

I have been longing to get a facial but it has been so hectic for me no time to get one in my town. While I do give them to myself and professionally do them. BUT it isn’t quite the same as someone giving  you a cleansing facial.

I found a fun looking business card at a hair salon in town that was filled with color,these words and an artistic shot. I simply had to explore!!!

This place is a modern cool place with a fun color filled vibe. The owner was  a charismatic delight. She said her name was Angel and to me she was.Her spirit was amazing.

No RELAXATION… Just a face steam,cleansing and mask rubbed in.Before I knew it the party was over.I never had a facial like this before! If you ever find yourself in downtown  Chicago and you have limited time for a facial you need to take a trip to MUD FACIAL BAR. My skin glowed.

Next, I met friends for lunch and then got in some more shopping. While I so appreciate the beauty,food and shopping fun that the uptown Magnificent Mile has to offer…I love playing downtown Chicago.If you are up that way.Book an appointment ad rejuvenate at George the Salon.They have a new Citrus Crushed Pearl massage.

Merz Apothecary is my go to for old world charm,luxurious soaps, candy pastilles,eco beauty and so much more.My husband loves to visit this place when he is in Chicago too.

Looking for a unique clothing and accessories shop on the cheap and chic? Agaci is for you!

Oh and the cherry on top …the day I was leaving for the airport and sipping tea at the W Hotel I was reading a magazine and found my musts have for next time.Celebrities LOVE her Nobody does nails like celebrity manicurist ASTROWIFEY. Catch her if you can.LADY GAGA,Kylie Jenner need I say more?

I love Chicago almost as much as I love my NEW YORK CITY. There is so much to do there.If you’ve never been,take a drive or a flight and enjoy the beauty of the city and the beautiful lakes too!

 

TOP 12 List to Visit in Chicago oh my!

Have I got a lot to share with you from my all things beauty and yummy stops! 

Looking for a beautiful blowout bar? Blowtique IS the go to place. They offer several styles The Chicago,The New York  The LA and more!

Thread Away is a salon for the ancient ritual. Threading is another form of hair removal for face or brows.

Mud Facial Bar is the new hot spot for cleaning your face.The specialty is MUD.

If you are looking for an elegant place where the whose who of Chicago goes to get their hair done and more. Book an appointment at George the Salon

Besides the Magnificent Mile of Michigan Avenue.

Glamour Closet offers designer and other brand bridal gowns at awesome prices.

AGACI (in downtown Chicago) is a great place to shop and enjoy THE LATEST and greatest in all things accessories and fashion.And the PRICE is right!

LOVE FOOD? Me too!

Check out the many YUMMY FOOD TOURS…Chocolate Tour,ChinaTown tour and more!

Eat, walk and be merry.

One of the companies is:

http://www.chicagofoodplanet.com

Pierogi Heaven in the LOOP area downtown Chicago. I AM POLISH so this place really rocks my lips and heart.

Off The Tracks Grill for quick breakfast and or lunch only. AWESOME Chicago style hot dogs!

EATALY is all the rage in NYC and has now arrived in Chicago.If you love all things Italian you will love this shopping and dining mecca. They even have a Nutella Bar.

Chinatown has some awesome bakeries,bubble tea spots and DIM SUM. My
absolute fave is Ming Hin Cuisine.

This is just a taste of what I love and explored. I love visiting this beautiful,friendly, chic city!

Chicago on The Cheap!

It has been a whirlwind…I can’t wait to share with you the great spots you will love in this city too. I came to visit for work and play and this isn’t my first time. Being from NYC I am a big city girl. I have grown to LOVE Chicago !!!

There are a few words that best describe Chicago...It is Chic,Clean,yummy and very friendly.

If you haven’t been put it on your Bucket list of places to visit.

I like to write about all things yummy,interesting and beauty hot spots I discover!

As soon as I have a moment to post them I will. But here’s one spot!

If you are looking for a delicious breakfast or lunch on the fly…you must TRY Off  The Tracks Grill the owner is a hard working charmer and the food is so fresh and DELICIOUS.

I ate there three times.I could have eaten there even more but controlled myself. The price is right. And IF you are pressed for time. They get it…you are in and out. Cozy dine in available and they are closed for dinner.

Please come back.I have so much more.See the train tracks going over the Chicago river? The sound of them alone makes you happy as they jet across the city to take you here and there and everywhere.

Next a hot hair SALON spot!