I was super psyched when I was asked to attend the Spring Shoes store opening in Manhattan Mall. A sister store to Aldo, it was definitely one of my most anticipated events of the summer. I mean, affordable shoes? How could I not be excited. C’mon.

$69.99

The city’s biggest fashionistas and bloggers were jam-packed into the space to check out the Fall’s hottest trends in shoes, boots, handbags, and accessories for the fall season. Music was provided by DJ Reach, and delightful hors d’oeuvres and drinks were ushered around the crowded space. (Merci beacoup for the food, Indianna Catered Food)

$49.99

For me one of the best parts of the event was that each attendee was given a $150 gift card. Umm, free shoes for a bunch of press people? You can only imagine the chaos that ensued.

Spring Shoes offers similar styles to their big sis, Aldo Shoes and their prices were definitely right on! Shoes ranged from about $20-$120. Plus, they had all the newest trends like oxfords and booties that perhaps you won’t want to break the bank on (I never splurge on pieces I know I’ll only wear one season). There were bags too, some of them were definitely cute and a decent alternative to leather.

My purchase: $49.99. Obsessed.

Check out their website or Facebook page for more info!

Who's been keeping me company in my shower lately? My BFF Burt. My latest shower obsession is Burt's Bee's Cranberry & Pomegranate Sugar Scrub. It's 100% natural and it exfoliates my skin with its natural sugar crystals.  There are also cranberry seeds and pomegranate seed oils, which are packed with beneficial antioxidants. 

The smell is intoxicating. Yummmmmmm. Plus, I know that all Burt's products are always free of petrochemicals and synthetic ingredients like Phthalates, Parabens and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate.

Pick up yourself a tub of this delightful scrub at your local drug, grocery store or at Burt's Bees online.

So, after years basically of hype over the Clarisonic and whether I could bear to part with $150 for it I finally got to try it.  Since the hefty pricetag didn’t exactly have me shouting from the rooftops I was tickled pink when the Clarisonic people agreed to send me a product for review free of charge.  Now as my loyal readers know, my skin can be at sometimes, shall we say, problematic.  In fact somedays I stomp around declaring that I have adult acne. But I digress.  I have very large pores and after several fruitless conversations with facialists and dermatologists alike I have finally accepted that there is no way I’m going to shrink them. My best bet is to keep them clean. Well, try as I might, facial after facial, I just could not rid my pores of icky build up from makeup and grime. Until now…

I am obsessed with the Clarisonic. So much so that I think I’m an abuser. I use it nightly even though I know you’re only supposed to exfoliate a couple times a week. I just can’t help myself. I mean, I think I’m being good by not using it twice a day. My skin just feels so soft after I use it and my breakouts have diminished seriously. Now I still do get blemishes but they have really decreased significantly. My pores are noticeably (to me who stares at them in a magnifying mirror) cleaner and seem to keep getting better each week. Plus, I find that I need far less makeup than I once did to cover up my dirty, filthy little potholes. Eww. Yes, that’s what I felt like they were before. Gross. I hope that as the months go on they’ll get even better, especially with the reduction in foundation I’ve been able to make.

I feel like I had really been overlooking the cleansing part of my skincare regiment. I would spend loads on lotions and treatments to reduce blemishes and blackheads but I was never getting to the source.  Clarisonic is said to remove six times more makeup than regular washing and I absolutely believe that after I’ve had a chance to use this.  Its micro-massage is an ideal way to slough off dead skin and impurities that settle in during the day. There is a reason that this product has a cult following. It’s a game changer. I only wish I had had this puppy in Junior high.

The Clarisonic Mia One Speed brush in pink is available right now in a limited-edition set which contains: the charger, sensitive brush head, Clarisonic Gentle Hydro Cleanser and the Go Clear Clarifying cleanser.  All this for $149, or in NYC the price of one decent facial. I give myself a facial now every night!

Available exclusively at Sephora.

The 2^nd annual Fashion’s Night Out is just around the corner!  From complimentary make-up applications, hair updo’s and blow outs to raffles and contests, here’s all the information you need to start the night off right and end it with a bang! 

Who: Warren-Tricomi Salon
Location: The Plaza Hotel (New York City)

Join the Warren-Tricomi Salon at The Plaza Hotel for complimentary hair styles and updo’s to start your Friday night off from 6-8pm. While you are at The Plaza, you can also join us in viewing the CFDA Incubator Project designs throughout the Shops. Musician, Corinne Bailey Rae, will be performing an intimate concert at The Plaza’s Palm Court. Following the concert, Joel Warren, Edward Tricomi, Douglas Hannant and Frederick Anderson, co-hosted with the CFDA and Shops at the Plaza, invite you to an after party in the Terrace Room from 9 – 11pm to celebrate this night of Fashion.

Who: The Plaza Beauty
Location: The Plaza Hotel (New York City)

The Plaza Beauty will offer complimentary mini-facials, hand treatments and makeup touch ups to get you ready for your Friday night out! Meet the creators of top beauty companies such as Alison Raffaele and Kimiko and receive insider tips on how to create the perfect look for fall! Enter to win a custom-made hair accessory from Lucia Tristao Hair Designs and look out for exclusive offers that night from Miriam Mirani and Diego Della Palma. Afterwards, show off your new look at a concert performed by Grammy nominated EMI artist Corinne Bailey Rae hosted in The Palm Court at the Plaza Hotel

Who: Pur Minerals
Location: Duane Reade The Look Boutique (Soho) (233 Lafayette St. New York, NY)

Join celebrity makeup artist to the stars, Jackie Gomez, for complimentary makeup touch ups from 6:00pm – 8:00pm with Pur Minerals. Gifts with purchase will also be available throughout the night from 6pm-11pm.

Who: Completely Bare
Location: Completely Bare (25 Bond Street, b/w Lafayette & Bowery New York, NY)

CONNECT THE Dots!!
This Fashion’s Night Out, participate in a scavenger hunt-themed styling contest in multiple Soho New York-based locations called “Dots SPOTS.”  
Follow the clues and choose your favorite Dots pieces to create your own personalized look!  

Meet back at Completely Bare and get a free Richie Rich vatoo, enjoy refreshments and have your photos taken on the pink carpet. Celebrity stylist Mia Morgan and fashion legend Richie Rich will co-host and judge your personalized looks!  
Winning looks will have a day of beauty and styling with Mia Morgan, a new Dots wardrobe and a trip for two to a tropical location!

Proceeds to benefit the Family Justice Center, which helps victims of domestic violence put their lives back together. Follow @Dotsfashions, @completelybare @kingcollective on FB & Twitter for more details.  Stay fashionable!

New York Fashion Week is just around the corner! Kick off the week at Fashion’s Night Out on September 10, 2010 at the C.O. Bigelow Apothecary store from 6-10 pm. The downtown landmark Apothecary store, located at 414 6th Avenue, is a neighborhood favorite to New Yorkers and celebrities alike and will have specials during the event from some of their top-selling brands.

Vinny Guadagnino of MTV’s hit show The Jersey Shore will be at the store from 7pm to 8pm to meet and greet with C.O. Bigelow consumers. He will also showcase his essential grooming products and favorite beauty products for the ladies in his life that are all sold at C.O. Bigelow. Bring your cameras!

Learn how to boost body confidence and feel great in your skin with the experts from Mama Mio Skincare. Mama Mio will be serving complimentary mocktails while sampling its Get Waisted Body Shaper to reduce fat cells, tighten and firm tummy flab. Come on girls! Let's Get Waisted!  

In addition to body treats and beverages, C.O. Bigelow will also have a makeup artist from Jane Iredale giving consultations and tips to stay fresh-faced all week long, a manicurist from Barielle for a quick polish changes and a skincare specialist with Rilastil sampling the latest eye cream. Additionally, Soap & Paper will be giving away a free shea butter soap with any purchase in the store!

I'm totally into the tousled look these days. In fact I straighten my hair before curling with my Amika styling irons. I loved Kyra Sedgwick's hair at the Emmy's this past Sunday. Check out what the creative stylist from Rusk has to say:

For Kyra’s tousled look:
“Start this look of with healthy, shiny hair. Apply a few drops of RUSK’s Deepshine Oil to soaking wet hair as a smoothing product. This will seal down your cuticle, providing shine, while simultaneously protecting your color.  Next, distribute an egg-sized amount of volumizing foam throughout damp hair. Tightly twist your hair into a high bun on the top of your head and secure with a holder. Allow your hair to air dry and then release the bun to reveal amazing texture and soft waves!” – Rusk Creative Stylist Sherri Jessee

Check out Refinery29's Top 3 Cleanest Nail Salons in NYC here.

Totally loving these band-aids!

Just remember: Cash only.

When/Where: Thursday, August 26 through Friday, August 27. Thurs noon—7pm, Fri noon—6pm. 611 Broadway at Houston, Suite 816. No phone

Address:
255 West 17th Street
Between 7th and 8th Avenues
New York, NY 10011
Weekends 10am to 7pm; Weekdays 10am to 9pm; Labor Day Sept 6 – 10am to 7pm; Phone 212-833-2900