On Hiatus

A little R&R with family, not to mention tending to the sickies that the flu has claimed in my house.....that has plagued my husband and daughter.  Awful.  I went yesterday with my mother, mother-in-law and son for flu shots and hopefully we are safe.  My body is a bit achy and very tired, but I am hoping that with the flu shot, all the blue green algae herbal supplements, echinacea and vitamin C, I will remain on the healthy side.  

So I apologize for being MIA.  I will be back to work and posting again soon!

Top 20 Hottest Publications To Watch

Pierce Mattie PR Names the Top 20 Hottest Publications To Watch In 2008

Written by Shannon Nelson for Pierce Mattie Public Relations 

Pierce Mattie Public Relations (www.piercemattie.com) has comprised a list of the hottest magazines ranging from industry leaders, quickly emerging stand outs, as well as publications that will be launching in 2008.

 1.     Vogue: Not having Vogue on the list would be a crime. Under Anna Wintour’s guidance, Vogue continues to remain a publication with an old fashioned sense of sophistication that is still able to capture women’s attention and create buzz among it’s demographic.

 2.     Esquire:  Not only can Esquire boast a circulation bordering on the 1 million mark, but their website is ranked #2 by MinOnline.com for achieving the highest page views (4,417,927) and unique visitor count gains for a magazine brand in 2007.

 3.     Domino:  With home magazines on the rise, Domino is emerging as a stand out publication. Under the helm of Editor in Chief Deborah Needleman, Domino has found success in relating to readers who are just as savvy about the style of their home as they are to the fashion that they wear.

 4.     Brides:  Bridal magazine titles have increased 96% since 2002 and Brides magazine still has remained a powerhouse with the highest circulation, leading the way among their competitors.

 5.     Cookie:  Parents who aren’t looking to compromise on style and aesthetics have found the perfect outlet in Cookie. Increasingly popular among fashionista’s who have graduated on to motherhood, Cookie’s focus on style, beauty and home décor has resonated with a sophisticated audience. 

6.     Real Simple: Time is a luxury and Real Simple has struck a chord with female readers looking to simplify their hectic lives. In this fast paced society, this easy to read publication continues to surge in popularity bordering on a circulation just shy of 2 million.

 7.     W: The fashion bible of the industry has been and will always be a must-read magazine. Those in the know are readers of W.

 8.     Genlux: Regional magazines are among the fastest growing in the publishing industry; in fact they were king in 2007 as the largest magazine category while Luxury magazines had the second highest launch rate in 2007. Genlux is the best of both worlds as a Los Angeles luxury-driven magazine; it’s the one magazine that has both editors and consumers raving.

 9.     Conde Nast Portfolio: This business publication for the influential executive trendsetters already has a circulation of 350,000 and it’s only been on newsstands less than 12 months. The business community is applauding Editor in Chief, Joanne Lipman, for this must-read that is sure to continue being hot in 2008.

 10.  Nylon:  Nylon is the thinking fashionista’s style magazine. Consumers respond to Nylon’s smart writing and substance-based editorial.

11.  Lucky: Despite an impending recession, women love to shop.  Lucky brings the best style to the consumer from all price points, who right now, are all about knowing their options.

 12.  O, The Oprah Magazine: This goes without saying, whatever Oprah touches turns to gold. With a circulation of roughly 2.5 million, O magazine remains hot with no signs of burning out.

 13.  Garden & Gun: Amazingly the Evening Post Publishing Co. found a way to mix sporting life and southern landscapes as if it were completely natural. Being southern never looked so good.

 14.  Martha Stewart Living: Covering a broad spectrum of topics, Martha Stewart Living defines the home décor category. To date, Omnimedia’s hit publication is unparalleled in circulation (just over 2 million) and website traffic.

 15.  ZooZoom:  As digital publications are becoming more prevalent, ZooZoom’s cinematic editorials are catching the eyes of those who view fashion as art. Visually appealing for the fashion intellectual, ZooZoom distinguishes itself from other digital magazines as the original online glossy.

 16.  Organic Spa: Co-Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Mary Bemis has created a quite fervor among spa lifestyle enthusiasts. Just launched in January of 2007, Organic Spa has found its way onto the shelves of Whole Foods reaching a circulation of over 40,000 of those looking for the true meaning of Spa.

 17.  New York Look: Just launched at the end of November by New York Magazine, consider New York Look your supplement to Fashion Week. The imagery is mesmerizing with an insider’s view backstage, front row and even atop the runway.

 18.  IQONS: Following the success of the fashion industry’s answer to social networking, IQONS.com is launching its namesake magazine internationally in February during New York Fashion Week. Iconic fashion designer, Diane Pernet, will be Editor-in-Chief and with contributions from the IQONS community, the magazine is sure to be a success.

19.  On Makeup Magazine: The February 2008 launch of On Makeup Magazine from The Powder Group is sure to catch the eye of makeup artists (both current and aspiring) as well as consumers with a love for the cosmetics industry.  Positioned as distinctively pro-driven and consumer-friendly, we’re sure this quarterly publication will have readers rioting for it to be published monthly.

 20.  Latina: Ethnic magazine titles rose by 52% in 2007 and Latina, since 2003, has become one of the top ten fastest growing magazines in America. Its growth continues to surge and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.

About Pierce Mattie Public Relations:  visit www.piercemattie.com

 

 (Product Body has been featured in GenLux #8 - yay!)

 

Cozy With Nap

Here I am  looking pretty relaxed and enjoying Christmas morning in my pajamas. My post All I Want For Christmas gave it all away and it clearly s-p-e-l-l-e-d it out for my husband.  I needed comfort for presents.... and I got it.  He gave me the Nap throw for my birthday (see pale blue right behind me?), and for Christmas, he got me the big pillow and eye mask which I think I was touching just about all day!  A slice of heaven just for me.  I do NOT consider myself materialistic, but material is different.  If it's not soft and comfortable, I can't wear it. Happy holidays, all.  I hope you are feeling as cozy as I am.

Baking Fun In His Red Velvet Dress

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday time with family or friends.  Merry merry!

Desmond In Velvet....the perfect fabric for flour and melted butter handling.  Oh yeah.

Having A Fabulous Face: DIY Masks

Having A Fabulous Face: Masks and Creams 

(guest blogger, Vicky Zhou)
 
One of the best ways to improve the condition of your face is to use a combination of masks and creams to rejuvenate the skin, restoring moisture that has been lost. 
 
When it comes to selecting masks and creams, you will really want to take into account the type of skin you have, so you can be sure that the mask and cream you choose matches your exact needs.
 
Often, the types of masks and creams you will run into include ones for dry skin, irritated skin, oily skin, regular skin, combination skin, or acne prone skin. 
 
By selecting one that matches your current skin condition, you will ensure that it provides the greatest improvement to you.
 
Here are some masks and creams that you can make to use when you are really in the mood to pamper yourself. 
 
Yogurt Face Mask For Sensitive Skin
 
This is a terrific and easy to make mask to use on sensitive skin when you want something that feels both cooling and refreshing. You can alter it to suite other skin types by adding a couple of drops of lemon or lime juice if you have oily skin, or a couple of drops of honey for those with dry skin. 
 
1 cup natural yogurt
½ cup oatmeal (preferably non-sweetened)
 
Simply combine the two ingredients together and then dab it on to the face. Let sit for about 10-15 minutes and then wash off with a warm washcloth. 
 
Oily Skin Oatmeal Face Mask
 
If you are prone to oily skin and want a simple to make mask that delivers great results, consider an egg white oatmeal face mask.
 
½ cup oatmeal 
1 egg white
1 drop of lemon juice. 
 
Mix the oatmeal and the egg white together first, then stir in a tiny amount of lemon juice. Spread this mixture (note that it will be thick) over your skin and let sit for about five minutes.
 
Once the time is up, simply rinse off by splashing the face with warm water and then laying a steamed washcloth on top of the skin for a few minutes. 
 
Banana Face Mask For Oily Skin
 
Another great way to treat oily skin is with a banana face mask.
 
1 ripe banana
1 tbsp honey
lemon or orange juice.
 
First mash up the banana. Once it's turned into a paste-like consistency, mix in the honey and blend until distributed. Finally, stir in the orange or lemon juice and then apply to your face for 15 minutes.  To remove this mask, use a cool washcloth or splash water over the skin. 
 
Clay Face Mask For Anyone
 
If you want a generic clay face mask that will improve the condition of your skin, this is it. This mixture will keep for up to an entire month so make a large batch at a time and then store it in the fridge until you are ready to use it. Try and apply at least once each week. 
 
1 ½ tsp green French clay
1 tsp kaolin clay
1 ½ tbsp aloe vera gel
1 tbsp rosewater
2 drops lavender oil
 
Begin by mixing the clays together first, then add in the remaining ingredients. Spread over your face and let sit for about 10 minutes or until dry and skin feels slightly tighter. 
 
Carrot Face Mask For Oily Skin
 
If you're looking for a good natural face mask, this one is the perfect fit.
 
2-3 large carrots
4 ½ tbsp honey
 
First, cook the carrots so that they are soft enough to mash.  Once you've drained the water, mash them up and then mix with honey.  Spread over your face and let sit for about 10 minutes. 
 
Rinse the face mask off with cool water and then follow it up with a thin layer of moisturizing cream.
 
So, next time you are looking to improve the condition of your skin, give a face mask some consideration.  They are very simple to make if you do not wish to purchase one and often use ingredients that you'll typically find in your home pantry or fridge. 

About Guest Blogger: Vicky is a freelance writer, editor, relationship expert, and soon to be author.

Christmas in Florida

Then.... in the middle of South Mountain Rd. in front of our farmhouse in NY

Now... (photo from sptimes.com)

In case you were wondering what life was like in the South during Christmas, here it is.  I thought it was really weird when I first move here in '03, but some of the decorations can be quite stunning with the palm frond decorations.  

There are a few nice points to remember when living down here.  I DO miss the snow and smell of wood burning fires and the smell of freezing ice, but there is always a flip side, like:

1.  I can go to the beach and smell the salt air whenever the mood strikes me.

2.  I can where a t-shirt anywhere, anytime (insert flip flops, shorts, bikini, tank top, skirt in place of t-shirt ).

3.  Watching outside soccer practice is not a numbing ordeal, although hot chocolate in 65 degree weather can't hurt, especially with mini marshmallows.

4.  Pineapple is in season here every day.

5.  I have fresh herbs and veggies growing in my yard all year round.

6.  There are leaves on the trees and beautiful plants and flowers in bloom.  This supports the diminishing honey bee population, so the more flowers I plant, the better off they are.

7.  Our Jeep always has the top off (and sometimes the doors) unless it's raining.

8.  Skateboarding and biking doesn't have to be weather dependent.  Snow can really put a damper on wheel attached fun toys...

10.  The hose remains an outside toy year round.

A Sweet Note

It makes my day every time I get a letter like this.  They NEVER cease to make me blush.  So if you feel one way or the other, I don't get tired of hearing the feedback, ever!  

I just got my shipment today and I am in love!  I got Pecan Praline, Sweet Mango Vanilla and Yuzu.  I love the Yuzu Crush on You.  My skin already felt like butter when I stepped out of the shower and the scent was so delicious that I hesitated to put on the Cream in Pecan Praline.  I am happy to say that I am just as enchanted with the Cream.  Hours later and my skin is so soft that I keep touching my arm and the scent is so warm and delicious that I am strangely craving some vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce.  I think I have found my Holy Grail body products.  I can't wait to try other scents in the future.  I told my husband about my great find and his response (besides the sigh and "oh great") was "is it expensive?"  And I said that "it's priceless".  He loved that answer.

 

Thank you so much for working so hard to make such a high quality, good-for-your skin product.  

Kelly G.
Cincinnati, Oh

Kelly, I am so glad you like our products.  We try very hard to make them wonderful.  Anyone who quotes The Holy Grail or attaches me at all to that movie gets published on this blog  ;)

dd's Cupcake Shoppe

I finally went to the new cupcake shop that opened in Jupiter and it was pure heaven. The owner, dd, was truly a sweet and friendly woman, who has opened the shop because of her passion for the mini cakes. Her boyfriend, Chad, travels all the way from Miami every day to bake with her and help her business get off the ground. What lovely people! This is the shop and dd and Chad (I admit, my 7 year old took the shot of the two of them...)

The Shoppe looked much prettier in person with the holiday lights a-glow on the dark busy street... my flash ruined the night scene. It is an adorable shop and everyone should eat the cupcakes every day and give them as presents and share them with loved ones.

I didn't note the name on these. I call them Chocolate Ball Delights

Hannah Montana Cupcakes

Princess cupcakes

My son chose the oreo cupcake (not shown), my daughter, the princess cupcake and I, of course, chose the red velvet with cream cheese frosting and coconut flurries on top. Oh oh oh.

Here are my red velvets, folks....mmmm:

Would you like to see the magic trick of the disappearing red velvet cupcake?

yum

dd's Cupcake Shoppe is located at 121 Center Street in Jupiter, Florida 33477 and their phone number is 561-401-5636. If you are local, go see dd and Chad and buy lots of goodies and tell them I sent you! :)

....A Gunk Dilemma

My mother's account of last Sunday....

On Sunday I invited a bunch of friends over for a barbeque.  This is my favorite way to entertain, bringing friends together and not spending too much unnecessary time with the cooking deal.  Anyway, before anyone arrived, I decided to tackle a fixit job that has been bothering me for at least two years.  I must say that the only reason I decided to tackle this job one half hour before everyone arrived is because I am very shallow and wanted to impress my oldest grade school friend's husband who had never been to my house before.  My regular buddies could care less about the dysfunctional wood floor trim in my living room, as it is far less annoying than some of the other dysfunctional fixit jobs that I've put off, but I'm kind of tired of the dog charging around the living room, dining room and kitchen at 65 mph using the trim as his personal skate board.  Between the dog, the grandkids and an overzealous cleaning crew, the wood trim was becoming a priority or a lawsuit.

 

So back to the barbeque.  I got on my hands and knees scraping glue from the floor and the underside of the trim.  The vacuuming scares  the dog who thinks it's the enemy launching an attack on him.  More running, barking and chaos.  When I was ready to put the "liquid glue" onto the trim,  I used my fingers and was very pleased at the beauty of my work.  The job was done, and not too shabbily,  but now I had about half an hour to clean myself up before my friends arrived.  I read the label on the tube and there were no instructions about cleaning up the gunk from the hands, so I went into the bathroom, grabbed some soap and began scrubbing.  Nothing took the stuff off.  I got a brush, scrubbed my hands and fingers. The skin on my fingers were scraping off and bleeding, but the stuff wasn't.  

Since my daughter who is the founder of her own beauty products  business (Product Body, I'm proud to announce), she has in her lovely and quiet way, filled my bathrooms with all of her wonderful products (4 bathrooms all told).  I looked on the vanity and saw Crush On You pumpkin cinnamon scrub. I am a gal from the 60's.  We used oils, creams, but never scrubs.  I don't think there were any scrubs.  So, although these lovely products surround me in the bathrooms, I have failed to grab the scrubs and use them (my husband likes them, he reports).  Now I was pretty desperate so I dipped into the scrub (ummmm, smells good enough to eat) and washed my hands with it.  Not only did it remove all the black gunk on my fingers and hands (these lovelies were clean), but they felt softer than they ever had.  What a kick.

 

Now I know my sweet daughter will believe me because I am too depressed over Dan Fogelberg's death to lie.  Thank you, Crush on You.   

Mom

The picture of Natalie Wood looks like my mom when she was 20.

Nice to know she finally tried the stuff after THREE YEARS!  :)  

Thanks, Mom....I love you!

......Dan Fogelberg??

Mama Bomb - KA POW!

Expecting?  A new mom?  A woman?  Check out Mama Bomb, our newest line of completely all natural bath and body goodies specifically geared towards the ever changing needs of a mother to be.

We are starting our launch with four simple body treats:

The Original Mama Bomb

Lemon Bomb

Tangerine Whipped Dream

Coconut Milk Bath Soak

Take a look at Mama Bomb.  Sold at Product Body Shop here.

Pink Puddin'

I made this for a special friend.  Pink Hyacinth Flower Cream.  Looks and feels like raspberry yogurt. And look at those peaks!  Mmmm.

Want To Cry?

This is a ten minute Japanese short film which I watched this 

morning. I wasn't going to be touched.  

And then I couldn't help it....

Thank you, Dooce for making me cry this morning!

Some May Say My Work Is Too Much Fun

And some days they'd be right!

I have been having fun playing with some toppings for the small jars of Crush On You we've been making here at Product Body.  

The first one I played around with was the Crush On You in our newest Pecan Praline scent, which to me, smells so much like frosting.  I used Wilton red sugar sprinkles on top and with the sugar cookie batter feel of the Crush, it just took everything I had not to eat it (I think I have mentioned that before).  Well, it's true.

The next one was the lavender Crush On You which got sprinkled with tiny dried lavender buds.  It made them look so so pretty and peaceful.

The last one, which I made today, was Gardenia Crush On You.  They were adorned with anise star pods centered into the mass of sugary washy delight.  This one is my favorite look of the three decorated Crush On You(s).  My mother actually asked me to make small gifts for her friends so I got creative with the stars.

I became inspired by the soaps I have been reviewing so this is the beginning of my topping experiments.   Work was too much fun today!

All I Want For Christmas

I don't know why I want the things I want, but it's becoming obvious that it's all about comfort for me this year.  I don't want sparkly jewelry, large coffee table books, fancy hair accessories, or a car.  I am feeling simple these days.

For my birthday, I was given a Nap cuddle blanket, which is what I asked for because I just can't stop touching it.  It is the softest thing ever and I am wrapped up in it at this very moment because I love it so much.  I watch TV with it, I drag it to the bed and spread it on top of the blankets when I sleep, I am starting to look like Linus with his security blanket.

So now, I want any of the other Nap things for holiday gifts... the pillow, the socks, the robe. The problem with comfort is that I don't want the heavenly-ness to end. This year we purchased a Tempur-pedic bed because our old bed had had it.  My husband has a bad back so we decided to get the one that was most therapeutic.  Well, now I am never wanting to get out of bed, I like to go to bed earlier rather than later and I am starting to nap on the weekends.

So I think I'll cozy up under my blanket and have some coffee before I get down to serious work today.... with my Ugg boots on.... in my pajamas.

:)

Meridian Skin Care (A Review)

I got my hands on the Meridian Acne Therapy System to treat my embarrassing lame acne I seem to have earned as a mother of two and owner of a business.  Yay. I thought it was stress at first, then I realized that I eat a bit of chocolate, in bar, cookie or ice cream form, oh.... every day.  But I eat far less fried food and much less junk in general than I did when I was in High School and in College.

So stress + chocolate = adult acne?  That is a bad joke to play on anyone.  When I am stressed, the LAST thing I need is a honking zit on my chin to make me feel extra special and pretty.

I had an opportunity to have this set and I grabbed it.  I have been using it once a day, as directed, for about 2 weeks.  My skin does look better, but I still am not pimple free. Better, but not all better.  Also, it takes like three weeks just for the redness 0f a historical zit to vanish to begin with.  

I have a couple of small complaints with the set:

1st step is the Gentle Skin Cleanser.  I never feel clean when I wash my face with a cream.  I need bubbles or grit to feel clean.  I never understood how anyone could use Noxema at night. It just made me feel dirtier! That was my issue.  The creaminess of it.

2nd step is the Herbal Clarifier with Tea Tree Oil (aka: toner)  I am not a big fan of the tea tree oil smell, but also, it didn't feel wet enough on my skin when I applied it.  

3rd step is the Rejuvenating Skin Moisturizer.  Not greasy, feels good.  No complaints.  

I will continue to do this treatment until the bottles of magic are empty and I will report again.  Hopefully, I will be zit-free and radiant and looking 21 years old.  ;)

"There Is A Man In My Shower" Soap Review On The Soap Bar

My husband's "guest" soap review has just been posted on my other blog: The Soap Bar.   It is a post all should read, being informational but mostly hugely comical.  I laughed so hard I pulled a muscle under my ribs.  

We Are Blushing...

Anne-Marie of Soap Queen Blog, was guest star at Rare Bird Finds and chose our Butter Scrub as her #1 pick on Fab 5 Friday.  

Thank you, Anne-Marie!  What a huge compliment coming from you.

Whipped Tub O' Shea

Yum.  Makes me want to eat frosting.  :)

Here are a couple of quick shots I took after making a small batch of shea for a customer.  The Large tub is for body treatments at one of the day spas I supply back bar for.  

For Someone Who Doesn't Like Tea...

Now, come on!  Do I have a tea buying habit?  I drink tea about 10 times a year, so what's with all the many different teas in my pantry?  I don't even think I laid them all out for you to see.  I started to get concerned.... I did the "how many jelly beans are in the jar contest" guess, and I think I have like over 130 tea bag. 

So if I drink 3 cafe lattes a day, how come I have one bag of Starbucks Espresso and over 100 tea bags?  

You do the math.

Softy Galore + Mini Me Gift Sets

Softy Galore Gift Set

The 007 Of Winter Skin Care

$45 (retails for $62)

Mini Me Gift Set

Worth One MILLION Dollars

$29 (retails for $42)

My husband wrote the copy on these gift sets after I came up with the names.  I absolutely love his sense of humor!  

These gifts at these prices are only available during this holiday season.  Does it get anymore shag-a-delic than this?

Beauty Banter Review: Product Body

Sarah Howard of Beauty Banter wrote an awesome review about Product Body.  I sent her our Crush On You, Whipped Shea Butter and Cream and it seems she loved it (blush).  She has a wonderful blog that is a daily read of mine.  Product reviews, beauty trends and makeup tips ... Sarah is an all around style maven.

Thank you, Sarah.  I Think I Love You (The Partridge Family reference)

You Have One Body.  Make It A Product Body.  

:) yeah, baby

Ski Bomb

We have tried to create an all natural potent body product that is focused on protecting the skin from the elements, especially the cold and blustery weather.  Contains zero water, is all natural and can be used just about anywhere on your body... to protect and moisturize.  

In addition to the long list of healing butters, beeswax and oil and vitamin E, Ski Bomb contains SAL butter which treats: chapped, dry and rough skin from cold weather, frostbite, sunburn and contains a low percentage of spf, naturally.   You can even use this if you so desire, as a hair butter.

It's super salve!

To see, check it out at Product Body Shop.

Coming...

Photos of our holiday gift boxes and special offers will be coming so keep your eyes peeled for them at Product Body Shop (my handmade body products shop). Great packaging, many gift choices and most of all, freshly made by hand products that smell divine!

So Pretty And Blue

I need this in my hand right now.  Where is the nearest cupcake shop?  Damn, I miss NYC!! There are no cupcake factories or bakeries within miles here! Although, I saw a sign the other day of a new cupcake shop coming soon about 2 miles from my house.  I will take my camera on opening day.  

Can't wait!!

I'm A Brunette Again

The red turned to pumpkin orange, so I went back. I like this picture of me.

BUST

I love BUST magazine! Not only did we get the most amazing product review from Jess Holland last year, but we have taken a small ad space in the back in this issue. If you go buy BUST, you''ll get the coupon from the ad...... ;-)

Let's Honor Them

We went to an Air Show in Stuart yesterday for the whole day which included an air show, rides, parked planes + copters, boys in the Navy and Air Force and their rockin' machines. We got to walk on planes and sit in the jump seats.

Me with an Air Force plane. This plane could transport SIX Black Hawks at once (minus their blades)

Old fighter plane from the 50's riding side by side with an F16. These fly-bys were honoring the old and the new veterans of war. ~~~~Chills~~~~

I got so carried away with the uniforms and planes and copters and the sounds of jets blowing past, I inquired about the Navy. Now, I knew I was getting old, but this was the real eye opener- get this... I'm too old to join, even if I wanted to. The cut-off date is 33. I am, sadly, 37 years old.

That didn't help my headache.

The planes were awesome. Honestly, when F16's go by my whole body tuns to gel. An, of course, when they did the Missing Man Formation overhead, I cried as I do EVERY time I see that live.

(See my eyes? You can tell I have a headache! Desmond was my protector :))