Food & Fun finds from my trip to NYC!

34th Street Herald Square is the center if it all. Macy’s where I used to work early on in my beauty & fashion career is THE place to stop. It is their flagship store where it all began. You know it from the Macy’s Thanksgiving day parade.

The one and only Macy’s 34th Street

Macy’s has so much to offer from beauty, to fashion to fabulous food and drinks! There is something for everyone!

They evdd we n have their own Merch shop as well as I Love ❤️ NY gifts and fun finds.

Seventh Avenue and around the corners is Fashion Ave. You’ll see all kinds of businesses and racks of fresh made clothing and boxes of handbags and shoes zipping in and out of the street into the buildings. This is where a lot of the fast fashions are made! It also where up and coming designers get discovered.

If you are a creative spirit and like to make things and see… on these streets by Macy’s you’ll see the Garment districts novelty suppliers. They will even sell to you if you have the money. From sequins, glitter, to decorative ribbons and the most amazing and unique buttons and more! You just have to explore!

This district and shopping in the different neighborhood boutiques and stores in Soho, the Village and other shops in downtown NY. You’ll have a ball! Just give yourself time to explore!

Uptown is yet another Mecca of shopping and fashionable fun. There’s even a thrift store that is filled with designer clothing and accessories. NYC has the most amazing shopping.

This area of NY is where you might even bump into Sarah Jessica Parker as Sex and the City shoots there and she lives in the area.

A trip uptown cannot be complete without a stop at Bloomingdales Dept. store where I worked in the cosmetics department. You never know who you might see visiting the store. I’ll never forget seeing one of my first celebrities. Actor Sylvester Stallone of boxing 🥊 movie fame stopped to shop my cosmetic counter and had a few haircare questions. It was pretty exciting.

Chinatown is yet another section of NYC you need to visit. Send Chinatown some ❤️ LOVE. They need your business. It is “lit” right now with so many new eateries, bakeries, drink spots and delicious street vendors.

No one does dumplings 🥟 like Chinatown!

Chinatown gift shops, decor and more is yet another reason to shop there. So many unique things.

By the way, actors George Clooney and Brad Pitt have been there in Chinatown shooting a movie! I’m a fan!

The “Hells Kitchen” area is home to some awesome places to shop and eat. One of my favorites in the area is The legendary Little Pie Company bakery. Never disappoints.

As you can see I always fit in time to taste and enjoy all the city has to offer when I guest speak at spa bad wellness shows. The International Esthetics Cosmetics and Spa conference was even more wonderful this year!

Pack a travel journal,a pen and wear comfortable shoes and clothes to explore all that New York City has to offer.

It’s showtime! The IECSC spa show

It was so great to not only educate but also reconnect with my beauty community. The show is EXCLUSIVE to beauty professionals, estheticians, makeup artists, massage therapists,nail techs, spas, salons and beauty business owners.

The fashion & beauty forecast I saw was Color IS Going strong in fashion. And Makeup is either bold or minimal. SKIN continues to be IN. Healthy looking pretty skin!

New York New York

Arrived in the one and only NYC for the International Beauty Show and the International Esthetics Cosmetics and Spa shows.

Tomorrow is the first day of the shows! I’m so looking forward to not only guest speaking and educating but to touring the show floors.

So much to discover! So much to learn!

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I’m honored to be a part of this years show season!

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I can’t wait to share my beauty adventures with you! 🧳 As well as share food finds and shopping too!

It’s so good to be home again!

It’s the MOST craziest time of the year!

Wow! I never expected the last few weeks to be filled with so much adventure! NO comfort and joy for me. I know I’ve been MIA … it’s so unlike me!

But I wanted to fill you in on why I have not been blogging. I’ve been traveling for work. Puerto Rico, Santa Barbara, LA and beautiful Palm Beach. I love traveling and exploring wether it’s work or play. Airplanes are my happy 😊 place!

First there was a late in the season hurricane in 🌴 Florida.

Then while that was brewing I got sick with an upper respiratory infection. Thank goodness no flu or Covid.

Next I got attacked by three angry 🐝 wasps! Three different times!!! While minding my own business. It was bad.

All with Shop Small Saturday events at my studio and my Holiday Open House 🏡 weekend for my beauty cottage. Needless to say… I’m exhausted from all of this and the steroids I had to take too.

But I wanted you to know I have not forgotten about you and my blog too.

Stay tuned … I’ll be back.

I love a great hotel!

How about you?

Especially ones with luxe bedding and 4 pillows!

From The Ritz-Carlton, The Peninsula Hotel Trump Hotels to the W Hotel and beyond. I love a great hotel that pays attention to details. Every little detail for your stay. So let me tell you more about my stay.

Luxe linens, baby soft washcloths and 4 plush pillows not 2 flat and mediocre ones. Best part they have extra blankets! Not common in hotels anymore!

A full length mirror is a MUST!

The hotel that gets ME has makeup wipes! Especially if we forget our facial cleansers at home.

A bath tub is a fabulous plus for my COLOR therapy baths and herbal muscle bath 🛀 soaks!

I enjoy looking at pretty art and photographic decor! Don’t you?

My husband and I love a room with a ☕️ coffee maker…

Oh and they have the cutest paper cups in the room with a mustache or a set of pretty 👄 lips! It breaks my heart when I have to throw them out! So stinkin’ cute!

And he loves to use the used caffeine infused coffee pods cooled and used as an eye 👁 compress for tired looking or puffy eyes! I’ve trained him well!

Breakfast area is filled to the brim with healthy and a bit of sweet choices. This signage made me smile 😃 as soon as I saw it! I didn’t need a reminder as I always wake up happy! Really! But it did make me smile and I hoped others got happy to start a brand new day when they come down from their rooms for breakfast! 🍳 🥛 🧇 ☕️ 🍌

The Hampton Inn lounge and breakfast area has a pretty atmosphere with a huge TV. The lobby is like sitting in your living room not the boring template we have seen for years.

Meeting rooms are perfect! 👌 The manager for events and rooms is a pleasure to work with!

So if you are looking for a location for your next meeting or event. A hotel stay passing thru in Jacksonville Fl . Think Hampton Inn a Hilton Hotel. My recent business stay was wonderful!

OR a staycation for a quick getaway and enjoy a drink 🍹 poolside. 🏊‍♀️

1-95 at JTB in Jacksonville Fl awaits you. Or as you know the Hampton Inn is not just in Florida. A lovely place to stay!

My adventures to the Wild West! 🐎

Part 2

Meals were so delicious I fell in love with a fabulous brunch and had to order what they call “Pig Candy” So unique and delicious! See photo:

A signature snack or gift treat!

After a day of fun in Wyoming I came back to the room to this! Old fashioned “Turn Down service” in my hotel room in Hotel Jackson. Sweet bonus? Two boxes of decadent chocolate 🍫 duo and bottled water at each of our bedside stands. It truly is about the little things! Isn’t it?

Shopping 🛍 in Wyoming is lots of fun!

I love ❤️ love ❤️ love all things beauty and CANDY. That is why I named my beauty and lifestyle blog Beauty Candy.

So the two old time candy stores were a thrill to discover and browse in! And yummy too. Look what I found? PEZ. Not just any Pez candy for my personal Pez machine at home but in chocolate 🍫 flavor!? Yes, please!

One candy store was called Yippy I-O and another candy shop is Mursell’s a family owned store. So many oldies but goodies to choose from and enjoy! 🍭

Yum! 👄

Walking around the city streets and in Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons… you never know what you’ll find! 🦬

It truly is like a 🎥 movie set of an old western!

Look what I found?

No cowboy in sight just cowboy boots!

If you love ❤️ salads you’d love Cafe Genevieve! These delicious place is inside a log cabin. Dining available inside and on the patio outside. Dog 🐶 friendly.

Best salad ever! Really!

Dolce and Gabbana kitchenware anyone?

Shopping the Belle Cose kitchen store was the most amazing place I’ve ever been in. So gorgeous. So many gadgets, gourmet ware and a foodies/chefs play land to get lost in!

Yum!

Everything and anything huckleberry is the coveted yummy and fragrant product. From jam to bath abs body products to this from Jackson Drugs and old time drug store with counter. We loved our huckleberry milk shake with whipped cream and a 🍒 on top of course!

I found a clean beauty 💄 makeup & skincare shop!

The wallpaper on the shop walls matched their biz card with all kinds of beautiful faces! See the details?

Couldn’t leave Jackson Hole without a cold beer 🍻 with my husband at this iconic bar. The bar seats are horse 🐎 saddles!

Well that’s a wrap on my trip. It was so awesome and so was the views we saw. If you haven’t been to Wyoming or Montana maybe now is the time!

I highly recommend you add it to your 🇺🇸 US travel bucket list. You, your sweetie or family would really love it.

My only regret. I wish I made it on a wagon ride and enjoyed a meal fireside. Winter is coming so things were starting to close to prepare for the long cold winter.

PS

Bison 🦬 own the road. Be careful!

Travel MORE!

Let me tell you about Wyoming. Jackson Hole in particular. It is quite the charmer! The Grand Tetons follow you wherever you look and the views are spectacular. Although I have been there and nearby Montana to guest speak… I discovered it has gotten even more delicious and fun!

As you may know if you visit my blog I love ❤️ to travel and mix business trips with pleasure. The days of going home right away are over. I learned over time it’s the perfect thing to do. Even if I’ve been to that state or city before I reconnect with it even if it’s for a day.

Welcomed and greeted at the car door by the hotel the second I arrived. Just as it shows on the website. I couldn’t believe it.

R

Here are a few photos to highlight from my trip. Let’s start with the hotel. Hotel Jackson was absolutely the best place to stay.

I’ve stayed at other hotels but this is by far a 10 Star ⭐️ stay.

To my surprise I did not just see a couple of satin hangers but THIS! Lavender sachets on a hanger in the closet to keep things fresh!

Amenities galore!

Boxed in a beautiful western style white leather box. Filled with fragrant soap,shower cap, 2sets of ear plugs for sleep, refreshing wipe, cotton balls, Q-tips, nail file and did I mention the shampoo,conditioner and body lotions were by the luxe French brand L’Occitane?

I fell in love with the body oil! I had never tried it before. but I do love when I have a Gate departure at the Atlanta airport near the L’Occitane store. I know exactly what I’m going to do is buy more oil my next trip. It us heavenly! My skin felt so wonderful!

The fireplace 🔥 that you flicked with a switch was so relaxing, cozy and the right amount of warmth. Sleeping 😴 at night by it was simply the best!

Coffee & or tea? Both are for me! The hotel served all kinds of Numi organic tea. My favorites were… They also had a Nespresso coffee maker in the rooms. Gourmet frothy fabulous coffee at its best. I own an at home deluxe version of it so this was a welcome surprise and I felt so at home. They also had complimentary bottled water and sparkling water in the fridge.

Nespresso Decadent coffee! ☕️

The hotel also gave us a signature lip 👄balm and an eco friendly tote to enjoy and use to go out and about the city. They frown on plastic bags. I’m glad they do.

Our first night we enjoyed a pretty sweet vision fresh French macrons and a bottle of Panna still water 💦 served on a leather white tray.

Leaving the hotel and venturing the old west streets was so fun. The hotel staff and people all around greet you with the cutest greeting ever…. “HOWDY” I kinda got used to it. Especially when they greeted me with “Howdy Miss!” 😉

Stay tuned for Part 2 of my delicious adventures in the city and more.

Have you ever visited this neck of the woods for vacay, work or play?

Vacay or mini travel tips you need!

Who doesn’t love to travel?

I have always loved to travel. I got the “travel bug” when I lived in the tri-state area. I always heard the sound of airplanes. Manhattan has a lot of tourists arriving and landing and departing! JFK airport has many global flights too!

It is a beautiful sight and as I grew up I loved that sound of the airplanes more and more.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

So happy to be traveling again! It’s been a long time by one and a half years for me. How about you?

Here are a few of my personal tips I have cultivated through the years and now with the pandemic not over what to expect.

Choosing a window seat is lovely but can ruin your skin over time. SUN SHINE 🌞 at sunrise, afternoon or sunset is damaging to the skin over time. By the way, I love the window too. And if you pee a lot you need to make sure you choose an aisle seat to make it easy for you to get in and out!

Photo by Janiere Fernandez on Pexels.com

Don’t forget your sunscreen. Even under face masks the sun can get you! Apply sunscreen to your hands (especially the tops) and don’t forget your neck too!

Stay hydrated I can’t say it enough. BEFORE you leave your house, at airport and on your flight keep the water coming. Skip the caffeine especially if you’re anxious about flying it will only make you even more jittery.

Please note:

Airport and other places you go water 💧 fountains are covered and off limits due to Covid19 and refill water stations are closed off too. So if you’re used to bringing your own water or beverage container bottle with you. You will not be able to fill it with H2O.

Pack disinfecting wipes too! For each of you traveling. You will need to double check and clean your surroundings. The airplanes are very clean but you can ever be too careful or clean. On my Delta flights they hand you a disinfecting wipe packet when you get on board.

Photo by Charlotte May on Pexels.com

Mask 😷 up!

I like to sprinkle some essential oil on my disposable mask or cloth mask with lips 👄depending on my mood. Most times I use lavender oil and I love ❤️ the Aura Cacia brand. It’s great quality and simply the best!

You MUST wear your face mask and keep your nose 👃 covered at the airport and on the plane ride and while switching planes. They are very strict to keep everyone safe.

Photo by Polina Tankilevitch on Pexels.com

Pack a chamomile tea bag in your tote or your handbag.

Bigelow Tea Co makes an awesome one with stress relieving chamomile and calming lavender.sometimes when you order tea there isn’t any chamomile tea available. So order a cup of hot water and take the tea bag (for another time) they are serving and just use the water 💦 and make a cup of chamomile tea.

Photo by MART PRODUCTION on Pexels.com

Travel with your favorite snacks. YOUR comfort food. Mine are bananas, apples, tangerines and anything crunchy, M&M chocolate candies or Hershey’s chocolate 🍫 or and HARD candies or gum.

These will not only comfort you they hydrate your throat which can get dry while flying with a mask on especially.

Photo by Vanessa Loring on Pexels.com

Another calming treat is to pack a CBD tincture or CBD gummies to balance your mood if you’d like. They really come in handy. I love Martha Stewart’s collection of edibles.

I hope these tips bring comfort to you and help you on your next flight too.

Happy summer!

Hello,Sunshine!

TIME to get outdoors without our face masks where possible and enjoy some sun.

Photo by Min An on Pexels.com

This month is Skin Cancer Awareness Month so just don’t forget to apply a sunscreen when you’re ready to go out and start your day.

In Florida where I live the sun is already calling Floridians and tourists out the door. 🏖 Beaches, parks, the woods,playgrounds they can’t resist the 🌞 and shed some clothes.

Unfortunately what I also see are girls, guys and children with sunburned lobster hued skin. Ouch! It is pretty bad and painful to see.

Just remember wearing an SPF will not prevent you from getting some color you just will be more protected and not burn. As a skin cancer survivor I know what I’m talking about. I’ve been there!

So I hope you’ll enjoy spending more time outdoors to explore. But just protect that wonderful skin you’re in!

Peaceful and aromatic …Rituals!

Do you ever burn incense and be still and enjoy the quiet time and maybe meditate A bit when you do it too?

I do and IT FEELS so good. I have always been spiritual in many ways and since I was a teen I loved burning incense. I first had the pleasure of the scent in church.

I never knew why except that I loved the aroma. Especially the scent of sandalwood incense. The common but adored incense burned in Chinatown’s, temples and more.

When I visited China and South Korea this spring and can’t wait to go back. I fell in love with that scent again and the ritual of burning candles and lighting incense even more.

If you’ve never tried it. I invite you into the world of incense in your home. If you don’t like sandalwood there are many other scents to choose from. Go shop and explore!

If someone in your home or even you have allergies or sensitivities….

You can place an incense stick in a terra-cotta flower pot filled with sand. Burn it outside your door.

I burn incense to start and end my day. I burn incense at my lipstick 💄 red door 🚪 at my business. I want to start the day off with good vibes only. They say incense wards off evil spirits or juju around you.

Whatever you wish to believe … believe. But enjoy the beauty of this aromatic and exotic air elixir in your space. It may do the same for you. I especially like to burn it as it calms my mind down from racing especially after a long hectic day.

Stop and smell the incense. It may just surprise you. It’s all about the simple pleasures and the little things!

Photo by Hoàng Chương on Pexels.com

 

Hello & Kisses 💋💋💋from Hong Kong!

I am alive and kicking and haven’t forgotten YOU and my blog. But it has been difficult being on a twelve hour time zone difference from the US, to Korea and then on HK time. ✈️ The struggle is real!

I am having the time of my life… in my high heels and Skechers!

Learning new cultural rituals,shopping 🛍and eating 🥟 my way from country 🍚 to country!  I’ll be posting my travel notes soon.

I can’t wait to share my exotic travel, beauty 💄 and foodie 🥢🥡 adventures with you! Come back for more!

IPhoto by Jimmy Chan on Pexels.com