The last time… I saw New York City

The last time I saw New York City was a year ago this week. How about you when was the last time for you? Or have you never been to NYC.

I was filled with hope and excitement honored to guest speak and educate at the the one and only International Esthetics Cosmetics and Spa Conference as well as the International Beauty Show. Hair stylists, make-up artists, estheticians, massage therapists,salon owners and spa owners come from ALL over the world to attend these shows every year! I love ❤️ this show and look firearm to the excitement on the show floor too!

The city truly never sleeps and there is so much to explore.

The hustle and bustle of the NY airport ✈️ there has such an exciting vibe. I hailed a cab and got in ready to work and play.

Photo by Adrianna Calvo on Pexels.com

I eventually stayed out until DARK and never looked back.

Photo by Sanaan Mazhar on Pexels.com

It was a cold but glorious sunny 😎 day with a gorgeous view of the city on the horizon. And headed to the hotel. I am from the city and travel for work and play but it never feels like work nor do I ever get tired of NEW YORK CITY.

Once at the hotel I checked in and started to unpack in my room making plans for dinner and fun that night before my class the next morning. I got a text telling me to hang tight that the show will not be going on. I knew this was serious news.

The Javits Center the convention area where our shows are held were going to be turned into a triage for those sick with Covid-19. The virus was In the US and nipping at NY’s doors. It was all so surreal and hard to take in. I couldn’t believe what was really happening.

I did not know how THIS would change my NEW YORK as I knew it and enjoyed it for all these years.

I arrived and was armed with sanitizing wipes,alcohol and other disinfecting travel supplies. But there was no protocol for face covers or masks and none to be had even if we wanted to buy them. YET! We were very very careful from our airplane seat and tray table cleaning to washing our hands often wherever we went.

My husband and I decided to leave the hotel and grab a drink and a bite and gather our thoughts on how we were going to handle this all. How can we check out since we were booked their for days and how do we change our flights without a penalty last minute?

I did NOT want to frighten myself and go in panic mode so we did the next best thing. We went out and enjoyed the city! Who knows when we’d ever be flying to or enjoying NYC again? Right?

We ate at a Jewish Deli and restaurant we always wanted to go to called 2nd Ave Deli.

We bought some bread treats in Little Poland,

We ate all kinds of warm nuts from street vendors.

We visited the the new Hudson Yards and The Edge, we stopped and shopped at different stores and bars.

So many places to shop and explore. You never know what you will find. We just kept on walking and soaking it all in.

Every corner in NYC and its boroughs is filled with such wonder to explore.

The Vessel

My husband insisted on taking this photo… as the iconic phone booths are being removed in the city.

We SPED shopped some skin care/makeup stores, beautiful boutiques and Macy’s, Bloomies, Saks and more!

I even bought us fresh fruit from markets, decadent pastry & flowers to bring back to the hotel room.

I love to stock my hotel room with fresh fruits, breads and a sweet treat for my stay.

Photo by Julia Volk on Pexels.com

I stocked up on my favorite fashion and international beauty magazines from my fav’ news stand.

We enjoyed dining at a charming place named Veselka (a Ukranian/Polish) eatery in downtown Soho section where WE discovered fabulous food,great mom and pop kind of business and a place they use to shoot scenes for movies and also seen on SVU the TV show.

Yum!

Minutes from the city I had planned to see my family and surprise them with our visit but since I was in the midst of it all I did not want to spread anything to them.

I am so glad we made the decision to stay and enjoy all of New York that we could. In a strange way you might say…it was one of the best days of my life!

This trip,this time in my life would be making history. I did not really know how our lives and for people all over the world was about to change and NEVER ever be the same.

Where were you right before quarantine?

Day 21 of MY Beauty Secrets

Working in Manhattan on photo shoots and on special events taught me a lot! One of the beauty dilemmas I saw when we had an early call on set was… the models had puffy face and eyes And dark bags under the eyes especially when the sun 🌞 hadn’t even come up yet.

So besides using 🥒 cool cucumber slices, chamomile and anti-inflammatory eye gels on the lids and under the eyes and face there was another trick I discovered and have used on myself and on my VIP clients and the girl next door!

The answer was cold tepid 💦 water. Splashing the face with water at least 8 to 10 times works magic!

It’s especially good to do once you get out of the shower. It deflates and wakes up the face! It also appeared to make the pores appear smaller.

Also, they would not serve them coffee and donuts. They would serve them a cup of warm lemon water. It made them tinkle a lot !

There’s something wonderful about that water!

Better than a face primer! Water! 💦

And drinking it actually made the face and the body look skinnier and flatten the tummy too for photographs or on an event location appearance.

I never forgot that trick… so simple and so effective!

Next time you have someplace special to go to or get your photo taken and more. TRY this model and photographers trick!

Education is Essential!

Are you a hairstylist,beauty professional,spa or salon owner?

If you are listen up! If you’re not… know that your hairstylist may be attending these two iconic shows. March 13th -15th 2002 in NEW YORK CITY.

In a few weeks beauty professionals, hair stylists, estheticians, makeup artists,massage therapists, nail techs, salon and spa owners from all over the globe 🌎 will make the city even prettier!

The iconic International Beauty Show for the beauty experience. Alongside the iconic International Esthetics Cosmetics and Spa Conference.

For licensed hair, skin,makeup and nail professionals only.

If you haven’t been there in a long time or never attended the show. It is amazing! So much education, inspiration and fun!

And so is shopping and dining in some awesome places in the one and only NYC.

It is not too late to get your ticket, book a flight.make a plan and discover something new,be inspired and get educated even more too. YOUR career depends upon it!

Wait and see … it is a hair razing experience that will inspire the stylist,skincare expert,beauty business owner and beauty PRO in you! Tell a friend.

See it all in NYC!

Get your ticket for my class…

I’ll be teaching an advanced class on the Power of Makeup Consultations and Makeup Lessons.

 

I am looking forward to my makeup and skincare class in NYC!

Attention Beauty Pro’s

Are you in the beauty business and attending the International Esthetics Cosmetics and Spa show or International Beauty Shows? They happen once a year in the one and only glorious New York City. This year they happen in March.

If you’re not or haven’t been… You’re missing out on an awesome spa show and a hair show with some fabulous educators. That includes me and my colleague and friend James Vincent. You may have seen him educate from a hot show called The Makeup Show based in NYC.

We are offering two different classes! You might want to get your ticket for BOTH Makeup Classes.

My class is all about MAKEUP and makeup artist beauty secrets will be shared. Why your salon or spa should consider having makeup available. Why carry carry makeup? What lines to consider? How to demo it,promote it and so much more!

James class is all about TRENDS in 2019. You gotta keep up with what is happening now and in our industry. James not only lives in NYC he travels the globe and has the pulse on what is trending.

Both of our classes are fast paced and fun. But of course inspirational and will get you all fired up as a make-up artist or esthetcian (Skin Care Therapist) who does makeup or wants to do makeup.

The shows are so exciting and spectacular and only for beauty schools,the beauty professional or beauty business owner. I hope you consider attending this year.

For my blog followers or new to my blog guests who aren’t in the industry …Just an FYI I will be reporting from the show floor and will show you all that’s happening in the world of hair,skin and nails. I’ll also post on food,shopping and NYC fun.

March and spring are right around the corner. Stay tuned for my beauty report blog in March. I love what I do and I am taking you with me via my blog too!

 

Backstage Beauty

This morning I took the TV viewers on River City Live to a Backstage BEAUTY Pass… to Fashion week.

Makeup artists who work behind the scenes work tirelessly painting,primping,pampering and and above all hydrating the skin!

It is all about the skin. If the skin does not look it’s best the makeup won’t look the best.

TwinMedix: These essentials got some complexions on the right track with an advanced skin care collection!

Embryolisse: A French delight that models and makeup artist can’t get enough of for gorgeous skin.

Danessa Myricks Beauty: Her Beauty Oils and Dew Balm gives the skin the glowiest look!

Waleda Skin Food: Is another moisturizing lotion that some models request.

Sheet masks from Korea were yet another instant prettier skin fix!

Jade and  Rose Quartz gemstone eye and face rollers: were used to relax the face and make the makeup glide on like silk after a moisturizer or serum was applied.

I’ve even seen silver spoons used in an ice bath and applied to the face for puffy complexions at fashion shows! Or the makeup artists use spoons dry and at room temperature ones are used to curl the eyelashes.

photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Rosebud Salve: A pro FAVE’ was used for unruly tresses,chapped lips and to give the skin a glowy look. This is in my makeup kit too.

The NO MAKEUP Makeup Look made a big appearance BUT it takes makeup and lots of work to achieve the look.

Aquaphor is another lip and face product that is seen behind the scenes.

Makeup Brushes: There are plenty used and  in all shapes and sizes. There is a brush and sponge for every part of the face and body. Powder puffs rule too!

One of brands of nail polish used was Essie. Who doesn’t love it? One of the hot hues used was Licorice. A deep gray black shade of sexy.

Mr. Eyeliner a set of cosmetic pencils was used on the faces on the models by Jasmine Ortiz MUA on a fashion show featuring  Kilane Collection by celeb fashion designer Pamela Quinzi . Photographed by @rjensalada_21 on Instagram

 

#NYFW

I hope you enjoyed this sneak peek behind the scenes in the makeup kits at fashion shows and fashion week.

 

 

 

Look what I found…

Oh Allure magazine I can’t seem to throw you away!

My husband calls my magazines junk I call you ALLURE  my beauty bible,research,fun and more!

He really doesn’t have anything against the magazines might I add NEATLY stacked on my bedroom and makeup studio floors…he simply wants me to enjoy them via an iPad and not hard copy.

Call me old fashion girl !  I LOVE turning those pages and the smell of the paper pages. You can’t get that on an iPad.I even love to share and recycle them too. Knowledge is power …Right?

I just don’t understand why he wants to rain on my love for magazines parade.

Do you?

The other day I was cleaning and rearranging my walk in closet and discovered a stack of magazines I saved. Vogue and more. My fave find was the first few editions of ALLURE. Look closely it is from July 1991. The magazine started by Linda Wells as the first of it’s kind arrived on the newsstands and into my heart in March 1991.Allure is not even found in this size and print. It is much smaller and like the usual size of  magazines nowadays. He thinks I should throw them out. I have covered them in tissue paper,placed them in plastic and stored them in my closet where he won’t be able to bother them. Nor have to look at them.

As a girl,a professional makeup artist,skin therapist and beauty business owner I so LOVE my BEAUTY FILLED Allure magazine!

 Yes I so LOVE my Allure. What’s not to love and explore every month?

What are YOUR thoughts?

KATE! …Kate Spade

Yes, Depressed or Suicidal People Like Kate Spade Can Look Like They ‘Have It All’ — StyleCaster

There is no official way to look depressed or suicidal. It’s not as if you get your diagnosis from a psychiatrist and are immediately issued a pair of stained sweatpants and a worn-out bathrobe and instructed to skip showering and never stop crying. For a lot of people living with mental illness—myself included—it can look…

via Yes, Depressed or Suicidal People Like Kate Spade Can Look Like They ‘Have It All’ — StyleCaster

Since I live on the sunny side of life 99% of the time. I am sad by Kate Spade‘s sudden passing. I was going to post about how much I enjoyed her book. And even more so intrigued by my clients who owned her handbags.

One by one as the years go by I watch how they arrive for their beauty appointments with me or to shop in my makeup cottage…and they would make certain that their handbags with KATE SPADE’s name faced towards me. They truly wanted and above all NEEDED me to see they owned Kate Spade’s fashionable accessories. I’m not sure why but it made them so happy to do so.

Her brand was worth 200 million dollars according to the news. And still she was not happy? So sad in so many ways. 

This post says it all so much better than I could and more. I so hate to see a fellow woman business owner gone and in such a devastating way! I pray for her 13 year old daughter,husband and family.

 

Who wore it best?

Do we have the fashion gods to thank for tonight’s exceptional Met Gala red carpet? We’re not sure if it’s the religion theme or the fact that three style icons (Donatella Versace, Rihanna and Amal Clooney) are hosting this year’s festivities, but for once, we’re happy to see the majority of attendees actually honor the…

via Elaborate Headpieces Rule the 2018 Met Gala Red Carpet — StyleCaster

AS SEEN ON TV

Today I shared on RIVER CITY LIVE TV in sunny Jacksonville Florida some beautiful products that I discovered in NYC and some fashionable delights too. I love spring in NYC even though it isn’t acting like it nor showing signs of all it’s splendor. It is hard to believe there is yet another NorEaster TODAY! Mother Nature up north does not quite know what to do let the flowers bloom or just freeze.

Color Your World,GORGEOUS with color filled hues this Spring in beauty,fashion accessories and lifestyle trends.

Hot hues are really on trend in makeup,fashion and even food.

It is going to be quite an amazing and pretty SPRING.

NYC was filled with color from home decor,makeup and all things fashion. I so love window shopping and actual shopping on the streets of the city that never sleeps!

• Makeup takes an even more color rich twist.SO MANY COLORS so little time!!!Even the finger nails. The new trend is wearing a different shade of nail polish on each finger. So fun!
• Skin Care takes on a whimsical packaging and ingredients that offer instant skin glam.
• Jewelry is stunning and color rich. Think rose gold,gemstones and pearls. Handbags are conversation pieces. Tassels take center stage in earrings,bracelets and necklaces.
• Food is filled with color and I devoured the new and yummy ice cream hues and rainbow trend in bagels. My fav’ The Bagel Store. They ship yummy to your door!
• So go ahead,get out of a rut and treat yourself to something new.Step outside your comfort zone and explore some new HUES. You might just discover a new and other side of  YOU!  COLOR outside the lines!

I LOVE NEW YORK…let me share the ways!

I went to New York City last week on a quick business trip shortened by the recent Nor’Easter…but when I go back home I always want to see what’s NEW! So, since my time was short I grabbed a limo and enjoyed the city…quickly before my meetings and a beauty event that night.

The view out my hotel room window was stunning. I never get tired of looking at the Empire State Building. I love the Empire State Bar and Grill.

I had breakfast at Tiffanys with an awesome Danish and gourmet coffee uptown.Next was so ready to visit my Dim Sum Brunch spot in Chinatown NYC. This street is where many movies are shot and fashionable photo shoots for magazines too. Some of the cast from Saturday Night Live eat here. This is is a historic and unique place.

Nom Wah Tea Parlor.

Do you see the glitter and sparkles? Those are the celebration remains of the  Chinese New Year Parade.

I have a sweet tooth so I had to go to  the newest sensation Eggloo…a hot bubble waffle with your choice of exotic and familiar fav’ ice creams. Toppings to make your lips sing and in the above I got fresh strawberries and Asian cookie sticks. It will set you back $$$ so I’ve warned you. The entire experience was delicious fun and I loved watching them make the bubble waffles from scratch. I only wish I owned the waffle maker.

Next stop to a few new boutiques and then Macy’s in Herald Square. If you have never been this store is HUGE and a shopping mecca. Macy’s has had a makeover the past few years and keeps on getting better.

The only traces of it’s old school decor that is left are these iconic wooden escalator stairs. I hope they never change these. I remember when I worked in Macy’s where I started my NEW YORK beauty career…how MANY TIMES I went up and down these stairs to powder my nose and use the rest room or grab a bite at lunch. I was always afraid my high heels would get caught in those wooden slots…but they never did.

I shopped FAST and had to run on to my next beauty business event!

After cocktails,chocolates,cupcakes,gourmet Truffle Chips from Italia,photo opps, seeing my beauty executive friends again and making new ones. I then played in makeup,fragrance and skin care and more.

I craved one thing more before the night was over!!! A NYC style thin crust ooozing with cheese PIZZA. I soon discovered my fav’ place had changed names. I took a chance to see in the pouring rain (I might add) and see if the pizza recipe was the same. It was. This photo of my slice on a paper plate does not do it justice. It was AMAZZZZING! The place is called Bravo Pizza on Seventh Ave. minutes from Madison Square Garden and Penn Station.

I hoped you enjoyed the sneak peek into my day BEFORE the Nor’Easter snow and cold.

Unfortunately, it snowed like cotton balls were flying from the sky and got even colder. I hate March (Jan. and Feb too) in NYC the WEATHER is so unpredictable! Flew back to the palm trees of FLORIDA WISHING I could have done so much more.

#foodie #travel #workandplay  #noreenyoung  #MUA  #skinexpert #nyc #blogger #iloveny #speaker