FEATURED PRODUCT - JOSIE MARAN - QUEEN OF ARGAN OIL

Josie Maran brought argan oil to the masses!

Now everyone is touting it's praises and putting it in their products. It moisturizes your skin and hair.

I love what she has done with her oils.  I am a loyal customer.  She discovered argan oil when vacationing in Europe.  She asked a woman how old she was and the woman looked decades younger than her response.  Josie asked her how she kept her skin so youthful.  The woman replied that she used argan oil and a business was born.

There are so many wonderful products that I will tell you about a few that I purchased.  My first purchase was her shea butter lotion infused with argon oil scented with vanilla and fig. ( The one pictured is with apricot. ) Yum and scrumptious! I wasn't the only one who felt that way.  As each of her products sold out, more people clamored to ask her to bring it back.
She introduced a citrus scented version as well.  Fresh and energizing.

I have bought her sets which include multiple lotions and scents.  They had a miraculous body cleansing oil which kept me moisturized all day!

They also include a variety of scented argan oils.

There were also color sticks that are used as lip lip colors which moisturize as well as color your lips, which is especially great in the winter when you have chapped lips.  You can use the sticks on your cheeks for a more natural and healthier glow.

Below are pictures of the large size argan oil with a color stick.  The second picture is of the cleansing oil.

I also bought the huge, pure argan oil bottle.  It will last me for months to help combat dry places on my body and hair in conjunction with the wonderful lotions I purchased from her.


Josie, keep going girl!

A.O.C. Restaurant'sTagliatelle Carbonara

This picture is of my actual plate!

Address: 314 Bleecker Street, New York City

I love Carbonara sauce: cheese, eggs, cream, and pancetta or bacon. It's decadent and soothing. It's comforting. So, I am very particular where I get it. I have gone to different restaurants all over the city and only a few have gotten my attention. One of those places is A.O.C. in the West Village.

Located on the corner of Grove and Bleeker (you can take the 1 Train to Christopher Street) is nestled a cute little cafe called A.O.C. It is considered a French restaurant overall, but it has a wonderful taste of the Italian. The Carbonara sauce is mixed with a thick and filling tagliatelle noodle. It's wide and thick enough to stand-up to the Carbonara. They give you a lot, including the pancetta, which is usally scarce in many of the restaurants I have seen. The other restaurants usually give you a smattering of meat, but this restaurant piled it on. In fact, I had so much goodness on my plate that I had to take much of it home.

It was so rich and creamy, sensual, that I had to rest between bites. It's priced reasonably, but I would not say this restaurant is cheap. The average entree is between $16-20. There is also a garden in the back.

I used to frequent this place about once a week, but I had to resist because it was definitely too much of a good thing. But you should be the judge!

From what I was told, if you join them on Facebook, they have a little deal in which they will give you a free drink when you join them for dinner.

See Facebook for details.  Try it!

GUADALUPE'S SPANISH RESTAURANT

GUADALUPE'S restaurant is a mixture of Mexican and Dominican food.

Address: 597 West 207th Street

  The food is good, but the biggest star is the selection of cocktails.

There is a happy hour each weekday from 4 to 7 pm.  It has a selection of mojitos, sangrias, margaritas, and other mixed drinks and beers.  I always order the mango sangia.  I don't know any other place that serves it.

I really like the appetizers. My favorite is the Guadalupe Camerones.  It is fried shrimp and jicama wrapped in a soft tortilla.  I add Mexican rice that is served in pyramids.

I also enjoy the guacamole. Creamy avocado goodness!

I tried the tacos with strips of beef.  The meat was flavored well, but it was cooked unevenly.  Some parts were nice and moist and other parts were overcooked.

There are many entrees as well to choose from, as per the menu pictures below.

They have multiple steak, chicken, and shrimp dishes.  There are many vegetables and salads to choose from as well.

Overall, I enjoyed my visit.  It can get very crowded sometimes, especially on Thursday and Friday.  I was lucky because it was 2 days before Christmas, so many people were out shopping instead of drinking.  By 7pm, it became crowded again.  

Try this restaurant.  There's a lot to like.

FEATURED PRODUCT - GIAMBATTISTA VALLI FLORAL COAT - WOW!

This coat caught my imagination a few months ago.  I decided that I should share it if you haven't seen it or bought it yet.  If you can find it, it will set you back a few thousand.  It's worth it!

FEATURED PRODUCT - Jack French Handbags - Ooh La La!

This is my Jack French handbag!  I love it and want to share it with my viewers.  As I have stated before, I usually buy leather.  It's great when you can find genuine patent leather at reasonable prices.

Jack has an assortment of leathers and suede in his handbag collection.  I have a tote that is pebbled leather.  It's roomy, functional, and beautiful. They have wallets, too.

I love the look of this kiss - lock satchel!

He gives so many beautiful.choices that are so chic and have a range of prices.

So, give his handbags a try!

Hollywood Men I Love #2 - Liev Schreiber!

Stylish women love stylish men!  Mr. Schreiber is wearing his designer suits well on his new show.

I love Liev Schreiber!  I love his new show Ray Donovan on Showtime!  It's like a wackier, twisted version of the Sopranos!

I met Mr. Schreiber while he was enjoying a triumphant stint on Broadway a few years ago. He looks exactly as handsome and tall as you see on the screen.  He seemed like he would be a bit of a "Prickly Bear", but I introduced him to a project he might be interested in, and my charm won him over!

I know the first season has just wrapped, but I didn't have time before this past week to really sit down and watch it from beginning to end. There are 12 episodes and they were worth my time.

So the past few days have allowed me to have a Ray Donovan marathon.  I have really liked the acting talents of Mr. Schreiber ever since I saw him in "A Walk on the Moon" with Viggo Mortensen and Diane Lane.  He was this big guy who could show deep emotional vulnerability.

He brings this same depth to the Ray Donovan character.  You don't realize how much until you see the final first season episode.

Ray Donovan is a Hollywood "fixer" guy.  He cleans up the messes and moral transgressions of the rich and famous.  He's not above beating someone up, secretly putting drugs in someone's system, or murder.

However, his home life is a mess as well.  His father is an ex-con who got out early.  He's played by acting heavyweight Jon Voight who makes you cringe and also feel sympathetic for this crazy and dangerous coot. Havoc ensues as soon as he steps back into the picture.

 The Donovans are Irish, but Mr. Donovan, Sr.  also fathered a child with a former African American girlfriend about 20 years ago and this child, Darryl,  is later introduced to his other family.  This child was one of the few visitors that Ray's father had while doing time, so there is quite a bond between them.

 Ray's wife, Abby, knows her husband is shady, including in the fidelity department, but she is steadfastly loyal and is also constantly snooping into her husband's business.

 

Ray has two brothers:Bunchy and Terry .  Bunchy had a traumatic childhood experience which has turned him him into an infantile, mental wreck.    The other brother has to deal with a physical disability due to a boxing match when he was younger.

Ray's two children also prove to be challenges for their parents due to their teenage angst and an awareness of their father's  work related proclivities.

We are introduced to a vast array of characters who will have you laughing, scowling, or both.

This show continued to surprise me all the way to the end.  On a personal note, I didn't mind the new sexiness of Mr. Schreiber.  He's in the best shape I have ever seen him in and in Episode 8, we are given a generous view of some of his physical assets.  I may have had to rewind that part a few times! ;-)

In any case, if you have Showtime on Demand, take some time to watch this unique series.  Try it!

Animal and Coin Jewelry

Two big trends in jewelry are animal motifs and coin jewelry.  Many designers favor snakes and insects, especially beetles.

 It's a fun way to brighten up your wardrobe without breaking the bank.  A nice animal pin attached to a scarf always looks cool.  A frog ring is always a cute accessory. Coin jewelry with Asian or ancient coins are real showstoppers!

See my jewelry above: A snake bracelet paired with a coin from Nepal.  The coin talks about the history of the Emperor, according to my source from Nepal.  The coin ring is paired with a seahorse ring made in Bali.

Here's more coin jewelry:

Try it!