ATTENTION: It’s summer time Ladies And you know what that means, it’s time to look bronze and beautiful! Unfortunately, not all of us are blessed with gorgeous, glowing skin naturally, but have no fear!

Addiction NV Cosmetics to the rescue! Addiction NV’s tinted moisturizer “Life’s a Beach” is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G and no I am not just saying that. Being the makeup addict that I am, I do not take beauty matters lightly at all! There is nothing worse than a full-on heavy face of foundation in the summer. It’s hot out there and sweat does not mix well with caked on foundation.

So what’s a girl to do? We want a clear, glowing, bronzed complexion, yet, do not, I repeat DO NOT, want to look as if we have put on a mask to hide our flaws. Addiction NV’s “Life’s a Beach” will give you the coverage you want, moisture you need and glow you crave! This naturally sheer, ultra-hydrating formula gives you that beautiful hint of tint, creating a dewy, sunny glow so signature of those California Girls! And it’s even SPF 20!

“Life’s a Beach” contains Addiction NV’s signature Natural High, a fusion of natural skin-loving extracts. Natural High blends Panax Ginseng Extract, an ancient Chinese herb that refreshes and tones tired skin; Olive Leaf Extract, an anti-oxidant rich moisturizer that combats acne and inflammation; and emollient, soothing Chamomile Extract. And it’s available in six fabulous shades to suit the fairest to the darkest skin tones!

This is a guaranteed summer 2011 must-have in my makeup bag!

I am so over people saying one thing and doing another.  Our actions are truly an indication of who we are and the integrity with which we conduct ourselves both personally and professionally.  I weekend on the east end of Long Island as I am fortunate to have a home there where I can balance City with Country living.  This past week I visited a newcomer to the Hampton’s restaurant scene.  Here’s what happened…

The Web site for Southfork Kitchen in Bridgehampton touts “sustainable sea food, local vegetables, fruits, cheeses, and wine,” but I guess its philosophy does not include local patrons.

Friday night at 6:30 p.m. after being coaxed to return via Southfork Kitchen’s own e-mail mailing, three of us “locals,” all successful business owners, decided to sample its new $55 price-fix dinner. As two of us arrived, only two tables in the vast space were filled. Informed by both the hostess and manager that walk-ins were not accepted (its posting on Open Table boasts otherwise), that the restaurant was fully booked, and that our only option was to eat at the bar (also empty, except for the restaurant’s owner, Bruce Buschel, and his wife).
We retreated to the bar to await our third party, ponder our dilemma, and have a cocktail. By 7 p.m., with only one new table of six in place and one other couple waiting for a table at the bar, the manager informed us she could seat us at 7:30 p.m. Gratefully, we accepted.
Although we were not seated in the still-empty main dining room but relegated to a side section with three tables near the kitchen, our spirits were not dampened, after all, it was Earth Day, and we were looking forward to a great locally harvested meal, as our previous visits had left us salivating for more.

Shortly, the evening began to go up in smoke — quite literally, as billows of thick smoke emerged from the kitchen and engulfed our table. Harried waitstaff descended on our lone corner table unfortunately situated in the direct line of the offending clouds.
As the distinct smell of charred toast choked our palates, a side door two feet from our corner table and surrounding windows were swept open as the thick smoke circled. Apparently a bread machine had caught fire, but discerning no need for alarm, we settled back in as locals do, trusting our evening, off to a precarious start, could not get any worse.

No one offered to move us into the now three-quarters-full main dining room, where other patrons had barely sustained a blip of the chaos we were swallowing. No management checked to see if we were all right (including Mr. Buschel, still comfortably seated at the bar, although well aware of the issue as we later learned).

As the smoke cleared, we requested the door and windows be shut as the 45-degree night and our spirits were quite chilled. Appetizers arrived — an amazing clam chowder, superb sardines, and delicious grilled squid — all impressive but all grossly oversalted.
We related the chef’s heavy-handedness to the waitstaff, requesting he taper off for our entrees. With tepid smiles we laughed off the mishaps, confident that “stuff’ indeed happens; after all, we are seasoned locals, not some entitled summer interlopers. The night was young, our hearts filled with joy. We should have asked for the check.

Call the Bridgehampton Fire Department! Three additional bread machine malfunctions followed during our dinner with repeated drills of smoke, fumes, opening and closing of windows and doors as our lungs filled with more and more smoke and our appetites were doused. Were we being punked?

Entrees followed, a tasty trout, an adequate duck, but nothing really to cheer about and once again — all oversalted. Was no one hearing us, seeing us, caring about us? Before our prix fixe desserts arrived (if they hadn’t been we would have certainly been out the door by now), Mr. Buschel headed our way for what we assumed would be a major mea culpa — after all, we had read plenty of his rants about taking care of customers on his New York Times blog. A complimentary round of after-dinner drinks? Our tab adjusted? Surely some sort of major rectification was heading our way.

Mr. Buschel was not heading toward us but to the aforementioned side door; it was we who had to garner his attention. We reiterated our concerns of repeated smoke outbreaks, only to have him not address our discomfort, but to tell us that he had just fired the waitress he deemed responsible. He spun a tale of her three-month training on the bread machine and his intolerance of three mistakes in one evening.
Now, even more uncomfortable learning someone had been fired, we began to pine for the exit door ourselves. We shared our observations that the restaurant seemed a little shortstaffed and “green” and that we had seen said now jobless waitress juggling as she assisted others, perhaps justifying her repeated misfire?

Mr. Buschel, after discerning that I was the owner of a public relations agency, responded, “Wasn’t it typical that a publicist would make up stories and position something in a more favorable light?” It was indeed time for the check! Injury? Insult? What would come next?

We again relayed our concerns to both the manager and the hostess, receiving nothing more than obligatory apologies as we exited.
I remember reading one of Mr. Buschel’s blog posts for The Times, “100 Things Restaurant Staffers Should Never Do.” In it he states: “Never blame the chef or the busboy or the hostess or the weather for anything that goes wrong — just make it right, show a good table your appreciation with a free glass of port, a plate of biscotti,” and, “your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.” Mr. Buschel, when you start to get hungry, eat your own words and walk your talk!

Sustainable? Not Southfork Kitchen.

Hold onto your seats- Hottie Jake Gyllenhaal is starring in the new action thriller – “Source Code”.  They held the premiere for the movie last night at the Crosby Street Hotel, which turned out to be a HUGE success. Top celebrities attended the event such as Lindsay Lohan, Dana Delaney, Howard Stern, Michelle Monaqhan, Shanola Hampton, Russell Simmons, Jeffrey Wright, that kinda cute Jake Gyllenhaal and YOURS TRULY.  The movie was a hit, but the after party was even better.  We indulged ourselves with to die for finger foods and lived like the rich and famous. We perused the crowd making small talks with a slew of gorgeous male models, Russell Simmons, Modern Family’s Jessie Tyler Ferguson and many others.  You might say we were a little star-struck, especially when we met Jake, who is just as adorable off screen as he is on!

The night only got better for us!  Who do you think we would run into later that night?  The amazing James Marsden! You might know him from 27 dresses, X-Men and many others!  Pictures will be posted on Monday!

If only we could go back in time!

Selena Gomez shines as an actress and singer, but she blew us away on center stage at the 2011 Disney Kids & Family Upfront wearing Sherri Hill Style #1403.  The teen superstar performed with the cast of Disney’s Shake It Up wearing the crystal corset stunner with a tulle skirt in New York City on Wednesday.

This spring is going to be filled with bright dramatic colors – 2011 Fashion Week really set the “pan-tone”!  Technicolor lips and brightly colored eyes are popping up and out in every city! Pink, blue, orange, green and red are setting this season’s rainbow of color.  Addiction NV Cosmentics is a definite go-to for the beauty essentials in some real show-stopping colors – guaranteed favorites to look out for are Bewitch, Captivate, Hook, Lure, Linger and Tempt for a rainbow-ed assortment of must-haves!  And make sure you get a little “cheeky” color with Addiction NV’s Smart Ass, Audacious or Fake IT Till you Make It!

Now make like an artist, look in the mirror and paint away!

We’re only 11 days away from the Spring Equinox and even though it’s still cold outside, cabin fever has set in. Crocuses have been spotted and we’ve been wearing our sunglasses a little more often lately, but we can’t quite bust out our new spring clothes just yet.

Magazines may suggest mixing spring floral dresses with heavy sweaters to transition, but this year we’re changing it up: home fragrance. After seemingly endless winter days of closed windows and dry central heating (hello, humidifiers!), it’s time for a breath of fresh air. I’m not talking about any old “Spring Flowers” room freshener–I’m talking about elegant-and-earthy reed diffusers from Amazing Stone’s Semi-Precious Home Collection. With a diffuser in…well, almost every room, the fresh-yet-romantic signature Amethyst scent is bringing me out of the winter doldrums and making spring cleaning a little bit more bearable. Each bottle is filled with authentic semi-precious Amethyst crystals, brightening up every room–a touch of nature and glamour!

for more information on the Semi-Precious Home Collection or Amazing Stone, see www.sphomecollection.com.

In the midst of international fashion weeks, we’re overwhelmed by all the hot new makeup trends showing up on the runways. Some are a bit too crazy (bleached eyebrows are not my look), but some can easily be adapted for everyday–or every night–use. And if you’re the type of woman who follows fashion and beauty trends down to the minute, you need the supplies to do it.

Enter…

3 of the most striking and talked-about looks on the runways are bright (even neon!) eyeshadow and liner. Addiction NV has trend-friendly and skin-friendly products to help you look straight off the catwalk.

BRIGHT EYES, meet HUNGRY EYES & LINE UP.

From left: Yigal Azrouël, Peter Som, L'Wren Scott

Shadows from hot red to acid green washed over eyelids at Yigal Azrouël and L’Wren Scott (and just about everywhere else) while Derek Lam and Peter Som equipped dramatic orange and yellow eyeliners to highlight their models’ eyes.

Addiction NV Line Up gel eyeliner

 

Now maybe you’re not quite ready to line your lashes with yellow–but if you want to rock the trend with a slightly-more-tame color, ADDICTION NV has the perfect solution: Line Up gel eyeliner. Try Hell on Heels for a bold electric blue, Trouble Maker for bright purple, or even Red Handed for girls bad enough to rock a Rihanna-red eye.

Addiction NV Hungry Eyes eyeshadow pans and palette

If you’re more of an eyeshadow girl, try Addiction NV‘s Hungry Eyes in Hook, Bewitch, or Captivate: bright orange, hot pink, and a sparkling turquoise.

To view the colors mentioned above and more hot products for your fashion week-inspired looks, check out the Addiction NV website.

To all my fashionista jetsetters, tis the season to travel!  From New York’s Fashion Week to Paris’ next week, it is essential to travel organized and, most importantly, in style. The most important item for a fashionista, second to her apparel, is her make up – because color coordination is a must.

We all know how hectic Fashion Week already is and there is no time to deal with unorganized messy make up. If you’re the person always losing your favorite lip gloss or can’t find your eye liner in your endless make up bag you’re in luck! I have to recommend Mini Kittour, the perfect kit to couture. Mini Kittour is the premier line of travel accessories; they offer smart, convenient and customizable features that make traveling a breeze. Savvy, stylish and completely vital, mini kittour was created to organize, simplify and beautify your life.

http://www.minikittour.com/

Co-host of the 83rd Annual Academy Awards Anne Hathaway turned center
stage into a fashion show with a wardrobe that included seven gowns and
a tuxedo.  Hathaway cycled through her Rolodex of fashion’s most
coveted designers: Valentino, Armani, Lanvin, Vivienne Westwood
Couture and more, to make her presence known as the Oscars’ youngest
host ever!

For me, she stopped the show in her strapless, exquisitely detailed Givenchy Haute Couture gown, pictured above. Luckily, Sherri Hill has a similar dress that won’t cause me to pull a “127 Hours” and cut off an arm with style #3733, retailing for $450.

Check out www.sherrihill.com for more of the latest looks from Sherri
Hill for the “fashion slave on a budget.”

Owning a business providing services to other businesses I know just who my “big” rivals are in the world of beauty and fashion pr.  Some are firms so huge they employ 50 to 100 people and offer layer upon layer of staff support and a hierarchy that a higher client fee is needed to support.  How do I not only compete successfully but win business over them?  Its all in the service…

Our whole approach is to partner strategically with our client to determine just how we can grow their business and what areas of public relations and marketing will most successfully and cost-effectively help them reach their goals.  We fine-tune not just the type of service offered, but the timing and intergration of diverse services to guarantee success.  Is it pure product/service publicity where we place their brand in free editorial in the media?  Or celebrity seeding and dressing – getting their products used by influence-rs, or maybe creating and managing their Social Media or the right combination of these and other marketing tools.   Our point of difference is sitting down together acting as an extension of our client’s own workforce and becoming part of their day-to-day corporate culture.

As a boutique agency our top people are involved in every project.  Our big competitor’s have a typical corporate “pyramid” structure – where their talent keeps moving up and away from the clients – leaving lower level support teams to manage the everyday workings of the account.  With C.I. Visions,we provide and our client’s get the top talent on every project.

During these economically challenging times budgets and timelines are often in flux and clients need and want more work done at the last minute and to meet evolving objectives.  As a smaller agency we have the ability to shift deadlines and stay flexible in the moment completing the task at hand competently, successfully and with stellar results.

Three great ways the allow us to beat our big competitors everytime!