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!

Words of Asian Wisdom

I discovered a tall Tea cup on a shelf in a store in Asia. I purchased it in my travels to the Orient. ✈️ . What’s so interesting it has words across it not a design with an Asian theme. I love ❤️ sipping from this unique cup. Especially with my flower 🌺 tea.

As it’s Chinese 🧨 New🎉 Year 🧧 which is a fifteen day celebration I thought I’d share what it reads.

Ten Ways to Good Health

Less alcohol … More tea

Less meat … More vegetables

Less salt… More vinegar

Less sugar … More fruit

Less eating .., More chewing

Less words .. More action

Less greed … More Giving

Less worry … More sleep

Less driving … More walking

Less anger… More laughter

Aren’t these words awesome?

Simple words yet so true and how I try to live my life.

Do you like this as much as I fo?

Gotta get some rest I’m on TV 📺 in the morning on River City Live TV here in sunny but very cold Jacksonville Florida.

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.

On the go? Give your Lipsticks 💄 some …

Much needed attention. Your cosmetic bag is longing to be touched!

Stranded at the airport, waiting in the car 🚘 pool line or even at home. Use your time wisely and give your lipsticks some LOVE.

Grab those lipsticks & quickly disinfect them!

If you happen to get a Purell wipes, towelettes from a restaurant after your meal or have some rubbing alcohol disinfectant pads. get out your lipstick tubes and lipgloss wands and disinfect those tubes!

It’s kind of satisfying and fun to do!

1. Take the top off.

2. Roll up those tubes. Be gentle not all the way. Only up to where you’ve used the tube.

3. Swipe and wipe the lipstick itself all around.

4. Next wipe the tube packaging itself. You know lots of germs 🦠 are waiting for you there too.

5. Allow them to evaporate and dry and close the lids.

You’re all set, a quick disinfect and good to go! Safely! Protect those pretty lips!

* A great idea after you have a cold or a fever blister too!

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!

A hair-raising day!

I left Florida at 84 degrees this week only to play,work and freeze in the windy city…Chicago. After a couple of days or maybe a bit less my shiny long healthy hair is NOT happy with me.I got a fresh cut before I LEFT Flyaway and dry as can be. My complexion is tight & dry and far from dewy. So, since this is not my first trip to Chicagoland I packed a few things to get me through this winter in February.

Photo by Leon Macapagal on Pexels.com

Winter Hair Beauty Rescues

I always travel with Kbeauty hydrating hair capsules and or a treatment hair mask. INSTANT gratification a hair conditioner cannot do.

I also pack a baggie with dryer sheets to rub on my hair for those dry fly aways and static cling hair.

Use heat less. Let your hair dry naturally.

Use dry shampoo and wash your hair less. OR just wash at the roots.

Apply hair conditioner on your ends only.

I can’t get enough of the brand WETBRUSH called the Detangler brush. I have one at my house,in my luggage,at my desk in my office and in my car. I LOVE how it keeps my hair from tangling and helps keep it in the best condition it can be. I even have my husband and family hooked on this brush.

You don’t have to use these tips only in the winter. They can be used year round. But I do love these to rescue you and to make your hair look and feel amazing too.

Come back this weekend for my beauty rescues for dry weathered skin.

Photo by Gratisography on Pexels.com

Bathe yourself (mentally) in soothing light!

The magic of salt lamps!

I’m lining myself up for a better, calm and stress free new year. Adding to my decor. I’m not all about making new year resolutions anymore. How about you?

I have added more salt lamps to my spaces from a mini one by my computer 💻 to ones in other rooms of my home.

Salt lamps and Pink Himalayan salt lamps are so cool to look and calming to the spirit. Especially after a stressful or long day at work! You know what I mean.

Do you know many salt lamps are imported from ancient Polish salt mines? Poland was on my bucket list in spring 2020 until Covid arrived in our lives. Since my mom is of Polish descent I really wanted to travel ✈️and visit that part of our beautiful world.

Did you know there are salt spas in Poland that have wonderful powers for our health?

I have grown to love ❤️ the beauty of surrounding myself with salt lamps in my business and in my home. They illuminate your room or corner of the room with peachy, golden yellow and slightly red hues. The benefits are endless. Purifying and clearing the air in your space is just one of them. I love the ambient light they give a room. And so relaxing to gaze at in a room. Maybe it’s time you added a salt lamp or two to your home. They used to be pricey. But not anymore. You can find them now even at big box discount stores.

I have read about the healthy benefits of salt therapy and about the spas and salt mines in Poland. I so wanted to go! There are a few salt caves and spas that are in Poland and the one I hope to go to one day and visit is in a town …Wieliczka, Poland. They say spas and resorts offer therapeutic treatments like breathing salt infused air and incredible facials.

They say… Salt lamps also may help with people with allergies, aging skin, respiratory issues and so much more.

Let the light 💡 envelop you and take it all in with this calming therapy for your space, mind and spirit.

Blessed!

I’m so blessed and I want to be a blessing to others. That is why I opened up a beauty & wellness brand & company. It is also the reason why I started this blog….

I have to admit it isn’t easy being “up” when the world all around us is crashing “down.” But I must. It’s in my DNA.

I simply wanted to take this time to say THANK YOU for following my blog, for your likes on my posts, for your kind words and for being there on the other side of the screen.

I try and give you a glimpse into my life, beauty,skincare, recipes and travels. ✈️

I also want to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving 🍁 for those who celebrate. I am thankful for YOU!

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?