iPhone vs. Blackberry ... the real truth ...

I have been a loyal Blackberry user for the last 5 years and like a lot of other people have been eyeing up the iPhone, especially when I am around my friends and family that have them - they always look so mod and cool and super high-tech, like it reads your mind or something lol.

So buying into the theory that the iPhone makes your life better and due to the face that I was due for a phone upgrade with AT&T, I finally gave in and got an iPhone last weekend.

Well - do I love it? Sort of...it is not exactly what I expected. There are some basic functions that it doesn't have or doesn't do especially when compared to a Blackberry.

The best way I can sum it up is that the iPhone is a "Media Person's Phone" while the Blackberry is a "Business Person's Phone" - what I mean by that is the iPhone 3G is fast on the Internet, you can download really cool, entertaining, functional, fun and/or interesting programs. You can watch You Tube videos, store a boatload of pictures with amazing viewing (graphics), listen to music, check your email, have cute bubble style text conversations and decide which voicemail messages you want to hear individually by looking at them (i.e. visual voicemail).

However, the iPhone doesn't do the following (in my opinion) basic things that a Blackberry does ... allow you to 'cut and paste' information, specifically contact information. EX. if you email me right now and ask me to send you Laura Basic's office phone #, there is NO WAY to copy and paste it on the iPhone, you can't even send the Outlook contact file - how annoying is that? You can not sync your iPhone with Outlook tasks and notes (you can only sync with contacts and calendar) so those features become obsolete for you while using your iPhone. The typing interface is slow and makes constant spelling mistakes - if you get an iPhone don't plan on sending emails longer than a sentence or 2 or you may go insane. The email system sucks...sucks...sucks - let me say it again - it SUCKS!

On a Blackberry, you can view up to 10 email accounts in one mailbox, you can search within those messages to find a message, mark 'all' messages as read with by clicking 2 or 3 buttons and the biggest thing is that the Blackberry forwards or "pushes" email to your Blackberry device as the email comes in so you are in real time when receiving your email - you do not have to do anything. The Blackberry is an email machine! (and you do NOT have to be on a Microsoft Exchange Server to do any of this!)

On an iPhone, all of your email gets separated into individual in boxes on the phone so you have to check each email account separately (time consuming and annoying), there is no way to mark messages as read except manually scrolling through the messages to view or delete them, no search function - need to find a specific email - keep scrolling - have fun! This is the best part -your iPhone (unless you are on a Microsoft Exchange server or using Mobile Me - read - cost more $$$ every month) does not download mail in real time - it 'pushes' mail when you manually tell it to check or every 15 minutes.

Lastly, the battery life is not that great on the iPhone - mostly because it really is a mini-computer and the more you do, the more programs you run, video's you watch, music you listen to - well the battery dies. Which would be OK if you could pop in a freshly charged battery but you can't because the battery is internal and you can not get to it so you better carry around a charger!

Overall, I was hoping / expecting that the iPhone would be more of a 'smartphone', I assumed (my fault) that it would be as good as the other phones out on the market but enhanced and even better but it is not there yet.

If you are an email-head, stick with a Blackberry for now - if all you care about is music, pictures, you tube, face book, GPS and browsing the Internet - rush out right now and buy the iPhone.

As for me, I am slowly making friends with my iPhone and anxiously anticipating the next generation Blackberry that is coming out soon - a combination of the the best from the iPhone and Blackberry ... stay tuned!

The home of the $16 blow-out!

My hair is super long, all the way down my back, very thick and slightly curly - more wavy at this point. Anyway, it is so long and thick that it takes me about 1 hour to blow it out straight and is a very serious arm work-out LOL so I only find myself doing that for special occasions. Also, I like to convince my friends to help me do it but now my hair is so long they are not really trying to blow it out anymore either!

Every local Salon I have gone to wants about $45 to $60 for a blow out - that is such a waste of money - my hair only stays straight for a couple of days and as soon as I wash it - $50 down the drain.

Well, I finally have the perfect solution - Jean Madeline Aveda Institute!!!! They have 3 locations in Center City and are an Aveda based teaching school. They offer a full menu of Salon and Spa services at discounted rates. Now, I am not comfortable getting a haircut or facial but a manicure for $10 - YES and the best of all - a blow out of my long-ass, thick hair - $16 - YES, YES, YES!! Yes, I said $16 - sixteen dollars - that is it! How insane is that?!

I found the PERFECT leather messenger 'everyday' bag...

I had been on the hunt for an everyday bag that I could wear like a messenger bag but was leather, stylish, would last for a while and be great for travel. I saw a bunch that I liked but they were all $200 and over and I just didn't want to spend that much.




I like to stop by Levinthal's (on Chestnut Street between 17th and 18th directly across from DiBruno Brother's) every couple months and check out what they have (always behind the counter - the stuff on the floor is cheap-O) -- they carry high-end brands like Tano and Hobo as well as others and discount everything.

Well, Levinthal's delivered (again)- I got this Tano bag (but I got it in a worn Black leather with dark brown leather trim) - it about $120 but totally worth it.

So many people have stopped me on the street asking me about it I decided to post and give up my secret!

i like to pretend i am a book snob...

but really do like to read some trashy stuff (sTori Telling, US Weekly, In Touch) - bring it on! When it comes to lounging by the pool or chilling on the beach, I want books that make me feel like I am watching a movie. A couple of years ago, we went to Costa Rica and stayed at a little place for part of our trip called Punta Islita (highly recommend it!)...anyway, I am a very fast reader and blew through all of my books - they had a lending library and one of the hosts encouraged me to read a Vince Flynn book - now being the intellectual snob I thought I was I said, "I don't read fiction." with that annoying, arrogant thing that people who say this do. My host kept encouraging me and told me if you want to be completely engrossed in a book and not be able to put it down, just take this to the beach with you.

Well, about 10 hours later, my fiance (boyfriend at the time) was begging me to get ready for dinner - he didn't get that Mitch Rapp (main character) had just saved the head of the CIA from being killed and was in route to the Middle East to capture some of the terrorists who attempted to slay the CIA head - um, hello, can't you see I'm busy??

Short of it - Vince Flynn rocks - anytime I am going on a long plane ride or vacation I know I can count on Vince for some serious 'checking out'.

The Marinator!!

Williams-Sonoma has the Reveo but they also have their own website, Reveo Marinator. My friend's boyfriends first hipped us to this about one month ago and we were intrigued, then we had a dinner party at their house and we were sold and drooling over when we could get one.

This is one of the BEST shower gifts I got at my wedding shower and was a complete surprise! My fiance and I really wanted one but were not registered at Williams-Sonoma, a couple of my friends surprised me with it!

We have already used it four times, we've done BBQ Chicken, Chimichurri Steak, Barrier Reef Salmon, Jalapeno, Cilantro, Lime & Garlic Shrimp & Scallops. We still plan on doing veggies with herbs and corn on the cob infused with honey, lime and cilantro this week.

The Marinator works like this...you put up to 5lbs of meat, chix, fish, whatever in the barrel and a dry rub or liquid marinade according to the instructions - the vacuum sucks out all of the air and you set the timer for tumbling. 5 minutes for 2lbs of shellfish is like it marinating for 24 hours and it really tastes like it!

Highly recommended for any at-home cooks, entertaining, BBQ'ing - this thing is AWESOME!

my opinion on Thank You Cards...

I am getting married in 2 months and 1 day!! I am so excited I can barely contain myself :) My best friends and our Moms threw me the nicest Bridal Shower 2 weeks ago - it was straight out of a page from Martha Stewart Weddings - they really thought of every little detail - it was beyond perfect and more than anything, it was because of the people there, you could feel all the love and support - no bride to be could ask for anymore!

So this leads me to my first "unsolicited advice" post - about Thank You cards. I feel strongly that you should never delay sending out thank you cards. When people go out of their way for you by traveling to be with you, buying you a gift, donating their time to plan an event for YOU, show some gratitude. Try to send out thank you cards within 2 weeks of any event (unless you are still traveling i.e. Honeymoon or there is a real emergency). A thank you card is the very least you can do to let the people who support and care about you know that they are appreciated and you are grateful for them and the relationship in your life.

I have heard a lot of brides say things like "I am just so busy right now." "It's so overwhelming to write them all out." "I am dreading writing my thank yous blah blah blah." "Etiquette says I have 6 months." (who cares what etiquette says - 6 months to write a thank you card is ridiculous - that really makes it obvious that you consider it a chore!)

This really irks me - it is not only completely self-centered, but to me, makes a clear statement on your priorities by saying that thanking someone for doing something for YOU is not a freaking priority - rude, rude, rude!

For me, I was looking forward to writing individual thank you cards to each person who took time to show me support, love, friendship and generosity - I sent them immediately upon receiving my shower gifts (if the gift came before the shower) and within a week of the shower. I hope that all of my friends and family know how special they are to me - actions always speak louder than words.

*and for all the lazy thank you writers out there - it only took me 1.5 hours to write out close to 40 individual thank you's*

The right Concealer can make all the difference...

A good friend of mine who is a very talented make-up artist and specializes in working on TV Shows, Video Shoots and Photography Sessions started a make up line a number of years ago. It is called Sh. Cosmetics.

While I am a make up snob and love to use only the best and newest products, I also love to try new stuff and can't stop buying and testing new things.

I have been using her Camouflage Concealer for years and every time I buy a new concealer (must be a Gemini thing - always need change), I keep coming back to Sh. Cosmetics Camo Concealer - there is just not anything else out there as good.

It is so light on your skin and stays on all day. I also love that it is affordable, high quality and supports a start-up woman owned company that has integrity, ethics and does business fairly!

Cupcakes are the new Black...

If you live in NY or LA, you are probably really into Magnolia or Sprinkles cupcakes - they are really good. Everywhere I turn, cupcakes are the new rage - there are bakeries devoted to only cupcakes - how 2008 is that? LOL

Well, here in Philly, there are a couple cupcake only bakeries but none that come close to Brown Betty Dessert Boutique. Brown Betty has more than just cupcakes but in my opinion you want to get the cupcakes, specifically the Red Velvet with Cream Cheese Icing or the Strawberry Pound with Chocolate Icing *sigh* why are they so good?

There are other cupcake delicacies like the Pineapple Pound, Coconut, Lemon, Almond, Chocolate, Vanilla and on and on...

Now, Brown Betty doesn't play around - if you want some of these cupcakes, you better have some free time during the day because they are only open from 12 to 7 Tues to Sat and 12 to 5 on Sunday - so that means you must plan your late night cupcake cravings in advance and no Monday's Ha-Ha.

Side Note: I am staring to notice a trend on my Blog ... workout post...food post...workout post...food post... maybe if i didn't eat so much i wouldn't need to workout so much? ;)

p90x - Extreme Fitness DVD's

We both have a gym membership to a really nice gym about 5 blocks from our house and get this - our gym has a FREE SHUTTLE that will take you door-to-door but neither of us really go there that often. We are just not gym people - I want to be, I wish I was a gym-rat - maybe if I lived above it and had to walk by every day...

However, we both LOVE to work out and still practice Power Yoga but need to diversify our work-outs. My fiance loves to run outdoors as well - I haven't gotten into that yet.

So, in comes p90x by Beach Body - this is a set of DVDs that are INSANE!!! I heart, heart, heart p90x -if you follow the program, you will see very noticeable physical changes in your body in less than 2 weeks I LOVE IT!

http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/p90x.do?code=P90XDOTCOM

It is really intense and you need to buy a couple of props (bands, weights, etc.) but it is worth every penny!

Can you tell I like it? :)

Chipotle is the answer...

... to what I am not sure but Chipotle is so good it has to be the answer to something. I had previously posted about a naked salad at Qdoba but I deleted that post from my Blog and memory because that was before I had ever stepped foot into a Chipotle.

Chipotle is a smart company - their mission statement "Food with Integrity" (here is an excerpt from their website)

"Food With Integrity" isn't a marketing slogan. It's not a product line of natural and organic foods. And it's not a corporate initiative that will ever be finished or set aside to make room for other priorities. It's a philosophy that we can always do better in terms of the food we buy. And when we say better, we mean better in every sense of the word- better tasting, coming from better sources, better for the environment, better for the animals, and better for the farmers who raise the animals and grow the produce.The hallmarks of Food With Integrity include things like unprocessed, seasonal, family-farmed, sustainable, nutritious, naturally raised, added hormone free, organic, and artisanal. And, since embracing this philosophy, it's had tremendous impact on how we run our restaurants and our business. It's led us to serve more naturally raised meat than any other restaurant in the country, to push for more sustainable practices in produce farming, and to work with dairy suppliers to eliminate the use of added hormones from their operations. It's even influenced the way we view other aspects of our business, from the materials and systems we use to design and build our restaurants, to our staffing and training programs."

This makes so much sense, my fiance and I try to eat and live in accordance with these principles and to have a healthy 'fast food' restaurant that is totally affordable and you can respect is an amazing accomplishment in my book.

I always get the same exact thing YUMMMMM...I think it is like $6.50

• Salad Bowl, extra lettuce
• Fajita Onions & Peppers
• Chicken
• 1/2 Spoonful of Black Beans
• 1 1/2 Scoop of Pico de Gallo
• Hot Sauce on the Side
• Guacamole on the Side

you don't need dressing with the bean sauce and pico - just mix it all up!

Bathing Suits by Bra Size - GENIUS!

I am blessed and cursed with big boobs - blessed because women pay thousands of dollars to implant what I have, they are sexy and men crash their cars staring at them LOL...cursed because I cannot go bra-less - EVER, when I get pregnant I am sure my breasts will take over the street I live on and because it is almost IMPOSSIBLE to buy a bathing suit that fits correctly, has enough support and doesn't look like it came from Land's End (no offense to anyone but they are a bit matronly for me).

A couple of years ago while traveling abroad I found a little Chezch department store in Prague, all of the bathing suits were sold by bra size - I couldn't believe it - in the states, I usually have to buy 2 of each swimsuit, smaller bottoms, bigger tops and throw away the other pieces (yes, that SUCKS!) - I bought a suit in Prague and wished so many times I would have bought 10 suits during that trip.

Fast forward to my new favorite website, Lion's Lair Speciality Swimwear, based in Florida - the owner, Kim, is so sweet and has solved my swimwear problems!

She sells a bunch of different brands but FREYA is my favorite - they are European (of course!) and sell separates based on true sizes - just call Kim and give her your measurements and you can order the perfect bottoms and tops without any hassle.

I just ordered the "Coco Loco", "Black Russian" and "Sea Breeze" for my Honeymoon - I am so excited!

Why can't all chocolate be Naked?

Yummmmm...maybe it is because my fiance and I are getting married in 4 months and not really trying to eat candy and chocolate but lately I find my self day-dreaming about Naked Chocolate Cafe. My favorites are the Dark Chocolate Vanilla Caramels...I like to get 3 or 4 of those and 1 or 2 Dark Chocolate covered pretzels - they are SO good. My fiance prefers Milk Chocolate so he usually gets a brick or bar of just plain chocolate and then a couple speciality pieces, usually whatever they are high-lighting. He is really sweet and got into this habit of bringing me home a little baggie of my favorites as a surprise 2 or 3 times per month. As much as I love the thoughtfulness, I have had to put a stop to it as we are in crunch time for our wedding and my metabolism isn't really chocolate friendly LOL.
Anyway, if you are in Philly, you HAVE to go to Naked Chocolate - they are open late and they have live music on certain nights, they also have great coffee drinks, desserts, and smoothies. If you are not in Philly and are serious about chocolate, definitely order a sampler in the mail - this stuff is no joke! I know we will be back there after the wedding ;)

A good waxer is hard to find...

I really don't want to do this post because I have the BEST waxer and I know that if I share her information, it will only make it more difficult for me to get an appointment BUT I promised to do this blog about my favorite things and my recommendations and there is no way this blog would be authentic if I didn't include Natasha. So, I live in Center City Philly but I drive 20 minutes to Marlton, NJ because in my opinion, there is no one that even comes close to Natasha for waxing. She is at 800 West Salon & Spa, which is on Route 70 a couple blocks before the Route 73 Circle.

Indian Curry is addictive...

Indian curry is so good - yellow curry, red curry, green curry, I don't play favorites - I love them all. Good Indian food like anything else, is hard to find. I used to live in NYC and when I first moved there I lived in Murray Hill, just blocks from "Little India". That was awesome and definitely a real treat but quantity doesn't always equal quality and I had to search there for the "best".

In Philly, I got lucky, I found 2 perfect options - a high-end Indian restaurant that serves gourmet Indian Food in a beautiful atmosphere reminiscent of a Stephen Starr restaurant (think Indian Buddakan), The Palace at the Ben. The Palace at the Ben is so good, everything is well thought out and carefully prepared. But remember, this is fine dining so jeans and sneakers and a $20 are not going to cut it. Go here for really, really good food, beautiful atmosphere and a relaxed meal.

Now, if you want quality and taste but yearn for convenience (either take-out or delivery) and want to save some $$, then Tiffin-Store is your spot.

tiffin – [tif-in]
British Informal- (noun)
Lunch, or any light meal- (verb, used without object)
to eat lunch.- (verb, used with object)
to provide lunch for; serve lunch to.
The word is widely used in India for any hot light meal or snack taken at any time during the day.

Tiffin-Store is not really for eating in - the location is not the best and they only have a couple tables but they have one of the most flexible delivery programs in all of Philly and if you order far enough in advance, they will deliver REALLY far. Also, if you can order for take out online and it will be ready very quickly for pick up. OK, now I am getting hungry...

Seriously, who doesn't love Taco's?

I have always loved Taco's...when I was a little kid, my mom used to make us old school Taco's (read: Ortega fried shells, ground beef with an Ortega seasoning packet, Kraft shredded cheddar, shredded iceberg lettuce, salsa and sour cream) at least once a week. Then in High School, I discovered Taco Bell and fell in love.

The more I traveled and was able to eat authentic foods and became a food snob, the less I liked old school Taco's and Taco Bell. I want real Mexican Taco's with fresh ingredients and handmade corn tortilla's. There are few things as good as buying a 3 pack of handmade, hot corn tortilla's (salsa or butter) for a $1 from a Mexican street vendor. That is of course, pretty much impossible to do on the East Coast, which makes finding authentic Mexican food and good Taco's really difficult, if not impossible.

When it comes to Taco's in Philly, I want authentic preparation, quality ingredients and healthy choices. I am not a fan of greasy, fatty Taco fillings.

Based on these criteria, there is only one Tacqueria that ranks high in my book - TACO RIENDO. 1301 N 5th St, Philadelphia 19122, at W. Thompson Street about 1.5 blocks North of Girard Avenue.

It's cheap, it's clean, the food is high quality, the owners are so nice, it's a BYOB and most importantly, they have delicious Taco's! My favorite are the Spicy Shrimp Tacos (add Guacamole).

Lip balm so good you want to eat it...

I already confessed to being a product junkie, that does not exclude lip balms, lip butters and lip glosses. I have one in every purse, pocket and drawer! They range from Chap Stick to $30 Handmade blah blah blah.

My newest obsession is really inexpensive but super hard to find...I found it at Walgreen's but have never seen it in any other store - I am almost out so I looked online and viola you can buy it direct from them. Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Dark Chocolate and Peppermint Lip Butter - yes, this is the same Palmer's that makes that awesome Cocoa Butter lotion. This stuff smells insane, tastes yummy and keeps your lips hydrated with just a touch of gloss ... I LOVE IT!

Here is some product info: "Soften and soothe your dry, chapped lips with this unique, dark chocolate and peppermint lip butter. A special formulation of Palmer's 100% pure Cocoa Butter, Vitamin E and Petrolatum provides ultra-moisturizing and a hint of gloss with the delicious scent of dark chocolate and peppermint. This one-of-a-kind lip butter gives you a slight tingle so you know it's working to combats even the driest lips. The addition of Peppermint Oil freshens breath naturally."

Good face lotion is so important!

I am a total product junkie! I LOVE all products, bath, body, face, hair, you name it. My fiance makes fun of me because we have at least 4 different body washes, 2 or 3 scrubs, 2 shampoos, 2 or 3 conditions and at least 2 types of soap in or shower at any one time - and that does not include the back up bin in our linen closet of brand new items ready to be used. This particularly gets on his nerves since he is the one who tends to clean the shower - he has to spend 10 minutes just pulling all the products out :p

I like to use natural products and tend to gravitate towards manufacturers who care about what they put in their product and where the ingrediants come from. It is also important to me that the packaging be sustainable and thoughtful.

Now that I am in my (very early LOL) 30's, I definitely see some changes in my skin. I have been on the hunt for a new face lotion and I think I have struck gold - Plantidote™ Mega-Mushroom Face Lotion.

This stuff is AMAZING! It is not crazy expensive ($60) and you only need 2 or 3 pumps. I started using it a couple of weeks ago and people were commenting on how firm and radiant my skin looked within a couple of days.

Here is some information from Origins website "This oil-free hydrating face lotion with Hypsizygus ulmarius and Chaga mushrooms immediately helps quiet and calm skin. By mirroring the amazing process that sends Narcissus Lily Bulbs into dormancy as a means of “self-protection”, it signals skin to conserve its energy to optimize its defenses against potential damage. Skin has the ability to maintain a stronger, healthier, more youthful appearance. This patented technology is further supported by Menyanthus and Heather Extracts to keep skin firm; Fucoidan from Okinawan seaweed to discourage moisture loss and Vitamins C and E to defend against destructive oxidation."

Our Doggie Nanny...

We are the proud dog parents of a beautiful female Rottweiler who we rescued from the streets in Kensington after a huge snow storm (thanks to our friend Kathleen!) a little over 3 years ago. Mabel has such a sweet spirit, she is just 'nice inside'. We love Mabel and know that it is our responsibility to give her the best possible care we can. So, when we have to leave her in someone else's care, we need to be sure we can trust them and she will be safe and taken care of exactly as we would take care of her.

Finding a reliable dog walker / cat sitter in Center City is tough, especially if you want to deal with a company that treats your pet like one of their own! The other thing that is one of my pet peeves (no pun intended) is when a pet care service hires transient students or part-timers and gives them the keys to your house, your life and access to your pet - who they barely know or understand - what the hell is that about?

So, I found Annette Cintron and "My Paws in the City". Annette came to our home and started building a relationship with Mabel - Mabel trusted her almost instantly - which is always a good sign - I think dogs have a 6th sense about people. Annette never replaces herself with a stranger, is trust-worthy, cares about Mabel as if she were her own and is a general great person. She comes 1x per week or more to walk and feed Mabel for us. We have gone on vacation and not had one worry - if you are looking for an amazing person to take care of your pets, call Annette!

Power Yoga = Spiritual Gym

I really like all types of Yoga but at the end of the day, I am not really one for endless chanting and OM's - I prefer a rigorous workout that pushes both mind and body. Bikram is great too but it is so repetitive, the same 26 Asanas, 2x each, every time - maybe it is my Gemini mind but that is too much repetition for me! LOL

My fiance loves Power Yoga Philly Power Yoga - he calls it Spiritual Gym, ya know what?...He is dead on. I used to go occasionally but have really missed having a regular practice. A couple of my friends and I have started a new routine, going together 2 times a week to 90 minute classes at Philly Power Yoga - it is so addictive! You feel sore in places you forgot about and you remember that you are stronger than you let yourself believe. It is so cleansing for your mind and gets rid of all the crazy thoughts that get in your way sometimes.

Ouidad & Chroma - Haircuts in 2 cities!

I have really long, wavy-curly hair and am kind of freak about where and who I let cut it. I like having shiny, healthy hair that looks like I spent a lot of time on it but really I just need a style that I can shower and just go with a little bit of product. The only time I blow-dry my hair is when I (I mean other people LOL) straighten it or if I go somewhere to get it styled - I am a lazy hair person but very picky and want perfection - go figure!

I go to Ouidad in Manhattan, they specialize in curly hair and Ouidad, the owner, has been featured in hundreds of magazines and works with a lot of celebrities. I go to "Vincent" - he is awesome! They have a special patented cutting technique (it is not texturizing) where they actually cut into the hair so your curly hair lies better. I have been going there for over 8 years and after my first 3 haircuts, my hair grew in in such a way that I could wear it all one length - a difficulty for anyone with curls (unless you are OK with a weird angle on the back and some serious pouffeness). It is not cheap and a hike if you don't live in NYC and they are always booked so you definitely need to make appointments in advance but worth it!!!

Since I don't live in NYC anymore and I am now a Philly Girl - the dilemma I have is - where to go in Philly? I just started putting color glosses on my hair and want to do that again before my wedding in September, I like to get my hair blown-out on occasion and I think I should have an "in-between" place for trims because it is hard to justify the huge NYC haircut trip and expense for just a trim. So, I found this place, Chroma, which is in Old City and super affordable. I made an appointment on a whim and went yesterday to get a trim and a blow-out and I was really impressed! The place is so cute, the staff is so nice and they even have a resident Chihuahua, who is a sweetheart. I went to Susan Gambone and she was awesome - she used to work at OGGI. I made an appointment to go back and get some color in May and August and plan to alternate hair styling cuts with Vincent in NYC and trims and everything else here in Philly with Susan. PS...If you go to Chroma, say I referred you!

Charles Plaza

Oh, the goodness that is Charles Plaza. I have been going to Charles Plaza for about 17 or 18 years - um, yeah that makes me feel really, really old but for what it is worth, I started going there when I was 14 or 15. Charles Chen is the owner and he treats everyone like family - he remembers little things about you, who you brought with you or what you usually order - but that is not the reason to go to Charles Plaza.

You go to Charles Plaza for the Steamed Chicken Dumplings, House Special Chicken Wonton, best Hot & Sour soup that exists, Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Singapore Style Rice Noodles, Basket of Seafood in Taro Root...almost anything is delicious. Besides catering to vegetarians and vegans, Charles does not use any junk or extra oil or salt - his food taste medicinal and delicious at the same time - this is pretty hard to do! Oh, and don't forget to get a side of homemade 'hot oil' and make sure to order brown rice instead of white. Seriously, this is the best Chinese food in the city of Philadelphia - if you have not been there, you are missing out - big time!

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Drinking Sunshine...

We decided to get a juicer, so of course, I wanted to get the best juicer possible! I researched and found that there are 2 types of juicers out there, centrifugal and masticating. Centrifugal juicers are more commonly seen in stores like Bed, Bath & Beyond, Macy's etc. - they are generally less expensive and do a really nice job at juicing fruit. They also perform the juicing by generating heat during the very fast spinning of the blades in a circular motion. Masticating juicers are less common, tend to be more expensive, better made and last a lot longer. They perform the juicing by 'chewing' the food and do not create heat, which kills the live enzymes and nutrients that you want from juicing in the first place. So, after comparing, I decided on the Omega 8005 - this juicer is so fantastic! It is pretty compact, super easy to clean and use and juices fruit, veggies, greens and wheat grass. You can make nut butters (we have not attempted this yet!).
Our favorite juicer trick is to peel ripe bananas, freeze them in a Ziploc bag and then take 1, let it sit on the counter for about 1 minute, break it in half and put it in the Omega...it comes out like Banana Ice Cream - YUMMY - you can put sliced almonds, chocolate, whatever toppings - it is so freaking good. I can't wait until the summer, I am going to be juicing all kinds of things, making Gazpacho, watermelon-mint coolers, peach juice, on and on and on....
Anyway - if you are in the market for a juicer, I highly recommend this one. Here is a link from the site I ordered it from http://juicers.livingright.com/item209.omega-juicer-8005.html if you call the 1800# on that page and ask for a discount code you will save another $20 to $25 off the listed price and they offer free shipping. I couldn't find it cheaper anywhere else!