Subscribe to RSS

Archive for the ‘Life’ Category

This Was a WEEK. And I Discovered Instagram.

Friday, October 7th, 2011

Oh my. Feeling like I am finally catching my breath from a super crazy week. Unfortunately, aforementioned breath is raspy since I officially ran myself ragged and now seem to be on the verge of a major cold situation. So it goes…

Here are some highlights:

MONDAY: Started the week over at Today Show to share coats under $100- so much fun, and even though I honestly never get nervous for the segment itself, the preparation and anticipation definitely takes a toll. But love every second of it- from getting the spot booked and having the excuse to go scout the market to seeing the models in their final looks with big smiles on their faces.

TUESDAY: Left the house at 5am for a Satellite Media Tour- which is kind of like a beauty and fashion tip marathon. I stand in one place (luckily behind a table so flats could be worn) and share tips on a given topic (this time around it was products benefitting Breast Cancer Awareness) over and over and over again with tv and radio stations all over the country. The nice thing is that by 11:30 it is all over- which meant I could take Alexa to her class at Appleseeds and still get a nice 5 hour stretch in the afternoon to get other work done.

WEDNESDAY: Somehow I thought it was a good idea to host a cocktail/shopping party at my apartment- this is the third one I have done, and every time I say never again, yet of course, there is always an again. I can’t help myself. 100 girls popped over to peruse the Fall collection from my beloved Hunter Dixon, pick up Birchbox goodies, get touch ups from Jouer Cosmetics, check out Shop It To Me and catch up with friends in the beauty/fashion/publishing worlds. So fun- of course, I am already thinking how I will pull it off again next year. Oh- and it was fun for Alexa too- she got to have a sleepover at the Carlton Hotel. Quite fancy. (Note: Since Ana Schechter took such gorgeous photos, I am saving them for a full party post, coming soon…)

THURSDAY: I am working on a very exciting project with Shutterfly (details to be shared in a later blog post when it officially launches) so at 7am sharp I was perched in a makeup chair on-set getting ready for a full day of shooting. This is the kind of stuff I love- so even though I was running on fumes and a 6 hour shoot became a 10 hour shoot (always the case- always), it was a blast. Part of that has to do with the company- great team all around, especially getting to work with Ana Schechter, who shot the pics of my party the night before, Erica Whelan, one of my go-to makeup artists, and the adorable Alison Lang, otherwise known as the stylist who saved my sanity. Love it when a project allows me to bring together my favorite people- in this business, often that makes the difference.

FRIDAY: Ahh, a day of rest. Still haven’t changed out of my pajamas (it is almost 3pm), busily sending thank you emails and notes to all of the amazing ladies that helped me make it through this week in one piece. And, in case you didn’t notice from above images- I have become Instagram obsessed. And as a result, I keep getting side-tracked playing around with all the filters and getting caught up in these images that make my life look about a thousand times cooler than it actually is. The way I feel today is best captured in this picture I took of Norms (and subsequently Instagrammed obviously) stationed at my feet since 8am.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in: Life
Leave a Comment (1)

Gone Classic: Back to My Connecticut Roots. Kinda.

Tuesday, August 30th, 2011

I recently received a package from Eddie Bauer (a brand name that really had not been on my fashion radar since, well, at least high school), and for some reason, even though it couldn’t be farther from my usual style, I got all excited about this bag (pictured above).  The broken-in leather and shape remind of a camera bag/canteen hybrid, and while I typically shy away from cross-body styles because they accentuate the chest area a bit too blatantly, I decided what the heck- let’s give this a try. An excuse to experiment with creating a new take on classic Americana fashion, because there was no way I wasn’t wearing the bag immediately.

I demanded (okay, asked politely, but demanded sounds better) that my husband take me out for a lobster roll and I descended into my closet to build an outfit around the New England-y direction my day was about to take, all inspired by the bag. And the fact that I had a fresh spray tan, so I felt more confident I could pull it off (my usual summer weekend uniform is a dress of some sort and flip flops, or my DL1961 capri jeans and a slub tee.)

J.Crew Navy 5″ Chino shorts  and an Old Navy super soft denim-y button down took the outfit in a slightly ’70′s direction. If I wanted to keep it literal, I would have slipped on Top Siders or Minnetonkas or something, but alas, I am too vain to wear flats, so my giant K. Jacques wedges it was.

I guess, when I look back at the chain of events, I owe Eddie Bauer for the most delicious lobster roll (from Mary’s Fish Camp, obviously) that I have ever eaten.

Oh- FYI- the bag isn’t currently on the Eddie Bauer website, so I am guessing it comes out later in the Fall. In which case, I recommend you bookmark the site and check back often, because you probably should own it.

 

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in: Fashion, Life
Leave a Comment

I Tried It: FITiST

Monday, August 22nd, 2011

While I love to get experimental with beauty products and test run different fashion looks, when it comes to fitness, I am a creature of habit. For the past seven years I have worked with the same amazing trainer, Laura Foss (if you want someone to motivate you and kick your butt in the sweetest way possible, check out her site here) and as much as I would love to book sessions with her every day of the week, that just isn’t realistic. Well, at least until I win the lottery or something.

With the lofty goal of getting into “better-than-pre-baby” shape this summer, I figured it was time to broaden my  workout horizons. Almost as if she had a spy planted in my brain, the same day I made this proclamation to myself, a certain publicist invited be to try FITiST, a personalized approach to fitness. FITiST allows you to try the best classes at top studios all over Manhattan (and then some) while also offering customized programs, tips and add-ons that all pretty much make living healthy as easy as logging on to one site.

Spending hours scouring the site and reading up on all the classes became a hobby of sorts- deciding what I wanted to try, and being able to easily filter to find the times and locations that suited my schedule, it could not have been more convenient. While I am fiercely loyal to Core Fusion (which isn’t currently on the FITiST roster of classes, although they do have FlyBarre and many others), I had been dying to try FlyWheel- and FITiST encouraged me to give it a go.

Here is the thing- I am quickly learning that old habits die hard. While I loved the community, the convenience, and the fact that I was on a program curated by the top experts in the fitness industry (I chose the SLIM plan- a combo of cycle, core, performance and yoga), I barely made a dent in all the options FITiST had to offer. Shame on me, but I ended up only taking advantage of the FlyWheel classes (and subsuquently buying a pack of classes that I have already almost used up, I am completely obsessed.) I know, I know- I kick myself just typing this. What am I so scared of? (Well, if you really must know, it has something to do with not being able to figure out how to shut the lockers or work the water fountain in unfamiliar territory…)

But, even though this experiment proved my hypothesis that I am a big baby when it comes to trying new workouts, it did open my eyes up to all the things that are out there for me to enjoy should I be able to conquer my phobia (with a side order of laziness and stuck-in-my-ways stubbornness.)

If you are more adventurous than I, and the thought of repeating the same 60 minute class every day for the rest of your life bores you to tears, you gotta check out FITiST. If you have goals you want to achieve- be it a marathon, spiritual zen or wedding day wow factor- this is the perfect way to get there. Your progress is trackable, like someone is pushing you along in the least annoying and intrusive way possible. I have to give props to the founders because the idea truly is genius, and that is something I can always respect.

To learn more about FITiST, click here.

Tags: , ,
Posted in: I Tried It, Life
Leave a Comment (1)

First Time for Everything: Organic Avenue Cleanse

Friday, August 5th, 2011

I wish I was a health nut, but I’m not. I go through phases- like, as in having a salad for lunch, then when cupcakes land on my desk at 3pm, the phase has ended- but I have never been hard core committed to clean eating. Sure, I want to be healthy and, yeah, I’ll admit it- skinny- but not THAT badly. As in, not badly enough to not indulge in the foods I love every chance I get. Yes, I know eating “clean” is so good for you- but who wants to be the girl eating kale when you can be the one throwing back martinis and porterhouse, medium rare?

In a moment of self-realization a few months ago, it came to me that the reason I am not motivated to clean up my diet is because I honestly don’t take notice of how my body feels when I eat crappy foods. I just go on about my day at mach speed trying to get everything done, never taking a minute to think, hmm, maybe the reason I feel cranky/sluggish/anxious or my skin looks dull/dry/icky is because of what I am putting in my body.

So, in an effort to see how the healthy half lives, I decided to try a cleanse and actually take notice of how it made me feel. The hope being that after three days I would feel so good that I wouldn’t be able to help but be concerned about eating clean from here on out. I went online, signed up for the Organic Avenue LOVE Fast cleanse, cancelled all my social plans for the duration, and started psyching myself up for the experiment. Err, I mean, experience.

Now that I have completed my mission- here are my thoughts:

  • My skin looks significantly better.
  • My go-to shorts fit significantly looser- which is what I go on since I rarely weigh myself.
  • The LOVE Fast option had great variety, but for the most part, I couldn’t stomach the foods- so thinking if/when I do Organic Avenue again, will go juice only. It was nice to have something to chew around 5pm though.
  • Highlights: Orange Juice, Pear Juice, Green Embrace Smoothie, Chocolate LOVE Smoothie and Master Tonic and most of all, the Gazpacho Soup.
  • Lowlights: Anything that involved chewing. And the Cholorphyll shots, although they were so quick, they were relatively painless, despite the plant-y aftertaste.
  • Also of note, the emails that they send the night before are great- informative about not only the reason for each ingredient in each meal, but they also give you a good layout of how you should time each juice, so you really are eating throughout the day. By Day 3 I felt hungry, but at that point, it almost felt like a badge of honor for sticking with the program.
  • Did I feel better? Hard to say. I think I did. But I also don’t know if there was some sort of placebo effect involved with the fact that I am a VERY competitive person and was determined to ace this cleanse with some semblance of grace and enthusiasm.

Would I do this again? Absolutely. Even if just for the excuse to duck out of any social obligations for a few days and re-emerge with stellar (and I mean stellar) skin. And having a little extra breathing room in my jeans is nothing to shake a vegan stick at, either.

Have you ever done a cleanse? What kind? Please share, because  I am totally up for experimenting with something different next time- always up for a challenge.

 

 

Tags: ,
Posted in: Food and Drink, Life
Leave a Comment (2)

On A Mission: Braids, Take 1

Thursday, July 14th, 2011

My life has always, to some extent, revolved around my hair. As I mentioned before, I initially started doing TV so I could expense my blowouts- this motivated me to book a segment every Thursday so I could have good hair for the weekend. And having good hair and being in good shape have always been mutually exclusive- there was no chance I was risking smooth locks with a sweaty session at the gym.

With baby weight to lose, and a new freelance lifestyle to adjust to, I decided the time had come to be the master of my ‘do domain- and braids seemed like a good place to start. The goal here is to find simple styles that work well with post Core Fusion hair that may or may not have been washed in recent memory, and will stay out of my face and off my neck for minimal futzing and sweating. Additionally, the look has to not simply accept, but in some ways encourage, flyways- between frizz and split-ends, there is no way around them.

Note that when it comes to hair, I am generally incompetent. Makeup I can do- and I enjoy the process. Hair just stresses me out- I don’t have the dexterity, or the patience. So this self-imposed mastery of the mane is no easy feat.

This look is my first success- hopefully more to come. Here is how I did it (yes, it is so easy and not terribly precise):

(more…)

Tags: , , ,
Posted in: Beauty, Fashion, Life
Leave a Comment (2)

Wedding Season: All Dressed Up With Some Place To Go

Wednesday, July 6th, 2011

Once upon a time (a few years ago) I was on the wedding circuit. Friends getting married almost every weekend of the summer meant plenty of excuses to get all dressed up in black tie- fun at first, it got old fast.

These days, I kinda miss what I fondly refer to as the Prep Olympics- disciplined diet, dry cleaning, spray tan, manicure, pedicure, hair appointment and full-on makeup mayhem- in that order. So for my friend Lindsay’s wedding this past weekend, I went all out. Why not?

Here is the rundown:

Spray Tan: Suvara- Got it on Thursday, wedding was Sunday, and it still looked new and glowy. There really is nothing like a good fake tan to make you look about a million times better.

Manicure and Pedicure: Hair Party 24- There are so many things about this place that make me crazy- but the fact that it is under my building and open around the clock make it too damn convenient to avoid. These days, the day-of manicure is a moot point since I am a CND Shellac convert- and on the toes, did a nice pale pink.

Hair: Blow Styling Salon- This was the first time I ever got an “updo” at a salon, and I am not gonna lie- even making the appointment and saying the word updo made me cringe a little bit. Was I going to the prom? But Hailey, the stylist, totally got my long drawn out description of a bohemian braided messy but not too messy situation- major relief since I couldn’t find a photo no matter how hard I searched for some reason.

Makeup: The most fun part always, I had the best time going through my stash to create what I envisioned in my head as a bronzed ballerina look. I was in a minimalist mood- and created the entire look with a handful of products (even though I wanted to use everything on my counter, I had to restrain myself.)

  • Foundation: Stila Perfect & Correct in Tone- So lightweight but gives amazing coverage- even and matte but not dull.
  • Blush: La Prairie Radiance Cream Blush in Berry- Obsessed. I will probably write more about this in a later post- got my hands on it over breakfast with Jaime, who heads up the brand’s PR and also clued me in to Suvara so I clearly owe her a lot. The texture is super smooth, it blends seamlessly and just looking at it in the fancy compact makes me happy. And that has to count for something.
  • Eyeshadow: Stila Kitten- Yep. That’s it. I dipped brush in water to make it more opaque on the inner corners, and then blended it out over the lid and in the crease. If you don’t own this shadow, you are majorly missing out.
  • Eyeliner: Tarte smolderEYES Eye Defining Pencil in Black- Personally, getting liner into the waterline not only makes me queasy, but it has always been virtually impossible for me to master. But I know it makes all the difference in a defined eye- so I sucked it up, took a deep breath, and went for it. When this pencil is freshly sharpened, the point is just fine enough to get in there, it glides on effortlessly (key to mitigate the queasy factor) and then I used the nubbin end to blend it out a bit so the effect was just slightly smokey.
  • Mascara: Ultraflesh Panthera- Wrote about this last Thanksgiving, clearly it works wonders since almost a year of loyalty out of me to any product is impressive.
  • Lips: Dolce & Gabbana Classic Cream Lipstick in Mandorla- This arrived in a delivery from the brand earlier in the week previewing their Italian Summertime Collection. It is a pale rose pink- close to nude but not nude, which is a good thing since nude lipsticks make me look dead. Seriously.
  • Final Touch- something TOTALLY new for me- Powder: Jouer Glisten Brightening Powder- I have never been a powder girl. I like products that are as glowy and borderline greasy as possible. But this powder has the most subtle sparkle in it, and I had a feeling it would work really nicely with the flash of the camera, and since I knew I was going to force my husband to take the photos of me that are posted above, I went for it. And glad I did.

The dress is from a Marchesa sample sale years ago, the jewelry and bag are all gifts from my very sweet husband (who happens to have really good taste in all things sparkly, lucky me.) Oh- and the most priceless thing in this post- Norman Falik. Can you even handle how adorable that little man is? He kills me every time I look at him.

 

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in: Beauty, Life
Leave a Comment (6)

You Can Make Anything into Anything. Seriously.

Friday, June 3rd, 2011

I was planning on posting about this amazing maxi dress I got the other day at Forever 21. but as I sat down to write, the Today Show came on in the background and I caught a few minutes of Bethenny Frankel chatting it up with Kathie Lee and Hoda. And her whole “Place of Yes” thing reminded me that I wanted to share a little tidbit that I figured out along my way:

You can make anything into anything.

I truly believe this. No matter what job you have, there is a way to make it into the career you want. Especially with blog and YouTube platforms being so easily accessible- it just takes determination, time and a little creativity. Along the way, you take bits and pieces from jobs you have that will help you succeed in your ultimate goal- as random as they may be, you will figure out a way to make them matter.

I was a beauty publicist. I wanted to be an editor. So I used the tools available to me- including access to  inside scoop on the trends and to media- to morph what I had into what I wanted. Once you have an end goal in your head, it becomes simple to put what you are doing at the moment in perspective and look at it with a critical eye as an opportunity to get you where you want to be.

Not sure if this sounds all hippy dippy inspirational weirdo- I hope it doesn’t, because that is so not me. I am probably one of the most practical people on the planet. Well, except when it comes to shoe and clothing purchases. (Although note, this is something I am working on. I SO want to be that chic girl with the perfectly edited closet. Wish me luck…)

After this post, I got so many comments and emails from people who were itching to make career changes, as well as from people who had done it and never looked back. So inspiring and fun to read- and I am dying to hear more.

Are you daydreaming at your desk about doing something different  but not sure how to get there?

Or have you been there, done that and have some words of wisdom to share with the rest of us?

Would love love LOVE to hear from you! (And when I use an exclamation point, that means I am being really serious. I don’t use them lightly. So leave a comment and share your story! Look at that, two exclamation points in one paragraph. Whoa.)

Tags:
Posted in: Life
Leave a Comment (2)

Perfect Humid Day Hair for a Sweat-Prone Style Expert

Wednesday, June 1st, 2011

Sure I would love to sit here and paint a picture of myself as a dainty lady who barely breaks a sweat. But that would be a lie. A really big lie. And while I have figured out many a trick to keep my “heating disorder” from ruining my style (Garment Guards are a girl’s best friend) I have yet to figure out the perfect hair style for a super hot day to keep me from overheating and majorly frizzing.

Which was majorly stressing me out as I saw yesterday’s crazy humid temps on the morning news. I had an E! News shoot in the morning- on my roof, outdoors of course- and a super important meeting 6 hours later.  My friend, the super talented hair and makeup pro Erica Whelan, was coming over to get me camera ready- and I had every intention of making that look last as long as humanely possible.

Enter the ‘do. See, a basic ponytail can be risky- blond hair, humidity and high-def cameras don’t necessarily get along well. But Erica had a plan: Braids. Two of them, tied back into a bun that was supposed to be messy so even if I was rumpled come 4pm (which I clearly would be, this is me we are talking about), it would look purposeful. And intention is everything- just as Oprah.

Added bonus to the bohemian-chic braids for a sweat-prone style expert?

There are 2 actually.

1- Hair off the neck meant I could enjoy a quick cool down whenever a light breeze came my way.

2- Not having to stress out about looking like a frazzled ball o’ frizz did wonders for my tendency to overheat with appearance-induced panic.

Erica, I owe you one.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in: Beauty, Life
Leave a Comment (2)

Career, Chapter 3.

Tuesday, May 31st, 2011

Remember on “Seinfeld ” when George declared he was having the Summer of George? For three months, he was going to do whatever he wanted, on his terms. To be honest, I don’t remember what he ended up actually doing- it could have been (and probably was) a total disaster. If so, then ignorance is bliss because I am about to embark on what I like to (half) jokingly refer to as the Summer of Jenn. Note: Even writing my name in the third person kind of makes me want to throw up.

So- here is the story…

(more…)

Tags: ,
Posted in: Life
Leave a Comment (12)

Club Monaco, Fresh, Susan Miller & Me: December 1 in NYC

Tuesday, November 30th, 2010

When brands I love invite me to be a part of their events. I get really excited. I have a Sally Field moment-you know, from her 1984 Oscars speech that is still often quoted- “You like me! Right now, you like me!” So when Fresh and Club Monaco asked me to be the style expert at their Sugar & Cashmere holiday event on Wednesday, December 1st, it was an easy answer: I will be there with bells (and a cashmere beret and Fresh Sugar Plum lip treatment) on.

If you are in NYC on Wednesday, December 1st- come by! There will be cookies, there will be cocktails, there will be astrology (courtesy of renowned Susan Miller who I am quickly learning has QUITE the impassioned following!) and best of all for a shopping fanatic like myself, there will be gift ideas galore. Susan is handpicking presents you can give based on astrological sign, which is one way to focus your list for the season. And I will be there to help you shop for yourself and for others based on trends, personal style, or simply the items I am obsessing over at the moment that anyone would love to unwrap.

THE DETAILS:
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
6-8pm
Club Monaco at 21st and 5th Avenue

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in: Beauty, Fashion, Life
Leave a Comment

« Older Entries

Featured Video

Get the Flash Player to see the wordTube Media Player.

Jenn’s Highlight Reel
View more of Jenn’s media appearances.

©2011 Jenn Falik . Website by (TC)