Every year, in our sleepy shore town in New Jersey, there is a race on July 4th called the American Mile. The race goes the whole length of the town - one mile. I have been “in” this race for the past five years. Last year, 2009, I ran an inglorious 12 minute mile. After the awards ceremony, my daughter, who was six at the time turned to me and said, “How come you never win anything?”
Talk about a wake up call. She was right. Admittedly, I had had 3 children in a span of 5 years and was not in the greatest shape. I had been walking and doing a little biking, but nothing strenuous. So I decided last summer that I was going to step it up. I started running on the treadmill at the gym last fall. First,1 mile. Then 2 miles. By the spring I had worked up to 3.5 miles 3 to 4 times a week.
This July 4, 2010, I ran a 7 minute mile, and won first place for my age group. (Yes, 40+. In fact, they said I would have won for the 30+ group.) The best part for me – the excitement of my daughters when I went up to collect my medal.
What’s even great are the side effects – I have more energy then ever, the skin on my face has tightened and looks healthier due to the blood flow from running, and I have dropped 5 pounds while looking more toned.
Slow, steady transformation is possible - sometimes we need a little inspiration from our children to kick start it!
Our Marlton team showed me a lip combo that I just can’t seem to stop wearing. Laura Mercier Lip Pencil in Chestnut with Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color in Baby. A warm, light-brown nude – this goes with every outfit from summer through winter. It’s just a hint of color so I don’t look dead, without being a color. At night, I can put any sort of mauve lipgloss over this to pop up the glamour. (Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Blush is perfect) With all of the nude lips showing on the runways for spring – this one is tailor-made and easy. (By the way – I keep this combo at home and a separate set in my purse – that’ s how much I love it!)
I am in love. Darphin sent me an early holiday gift – a peek at their new dynamic duo – Predermine Firming Wrinkle Repair Serum and the Predermine Densifying Anti-Wrinkle Fluid. I can’t decide which I love more. Forget the science, which is compelling. It’s the pure luxury of the texture, scent, and the glow I get which has hooked me. The serum is light, hydrating, and gorgeous under my foundation. I already have a special post-foundation trick also – I tap a couple of drops onto my fingertips, rub it around in my hands and press it to my already made up face to set my makeup with an extra dose of dewiness.
There is nothing like the energy around opening a new store. Take hundreds of boxes of beauty products, mix in a bunch of bluemercury veterans, and voila: new store. Today, we opened another bluemercury location! It is on 3rd at 75th in Manhattan - a perfect neighborhood store next to Citarella and near EJs diner. I adore this location. It was a fun store to set up - we had staffers that have been with bluemercury forever, our new team of beauty junkies - even my daughters (in the picture) helped clean some shelves. We are so excited to have a new store and new team members in the bluemercury family. Come check it out!
I often use the words NARS and perfection in the same sentence. Francois just knows how to do color, end of story, period. I spoke with Erin, our Marlton manager and product junkie extraordinaire on the phone and she told me I had to get the new NARS Multiple Tint in Cadaques. So I did. This is my new summer multiple from NARS. Although it looks like it is fluorescent magenta in the tube, it comes out as the perfect, sheer, happy, lively pink. This is my new go to for cocktail parties and dinners out. Love, love, love.
