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We've Moved hosts...

Hi all - for better functionality we've moved over to our own host. If you are one of my loyal readers, and previously subscribed to get either RSS or email notification of new postings - please go to www.romyraves.com and re-signup. I know - kinda a minor hassle, but I promise not to move again for a very very long time...

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I'm getting ready for my next RAVE - don't miss out...

Create your own Avatar--A fun, silly thing to do

Oh, the silly things that we do to waste time in computer land! That's my Avatar above, don't you recognize me?? I couldn't resist the crown and cape, and I totally would buy a dress like this in real life. I had such fun creating this pseudo-likeness of myself, so I thought I would pass it on to my loyal readers. Have fun creating your own cartoon-like self at A Woman's World and please post your beautiful creations on this blog. I can't wait to see how HOT you look!

Ever had a Spicy Lime Facial?

Well neither had I until today. Remember Marlene, the amazing esthetician who offers amazing economy busting facials at about $40 (see April 20, 2009 blog post)? Today, I went to see her for my regular monthly facial and she has come up with a wonderfully inspired all organic summer time facial called the Spicy AHA Fruit Pulp Treatment that knocked my socks off!

Being the beauty junkie that I am, I have certainly had my share of facials, but to my delight and surprise, Marlene came up with something really cool and different that even impressed this savvy connoisseur. Let me tell you about it: First, she applies a citrus scented oil to get the skin in the mood; then she applies a fruit pulp peel that gently exfoliates the skin which is shortly followed by my favorite 'wow' part of the facial--a stimulating spicy lime masque that totally wakes up the skin, feels very tingly (that's the cayenne pepper in the masque), and detoxifies and oxygenates skin; while the spicy lime is working its magic, Marlene gives you a relaxing hand and foot massage; next comes the yummy smelling part of this facial, a peach masque that she uses to calm the skin and remove the lime masque. She finishes this refreshing treatment with a calendula serum and a scrumptious apricot moisturizer. Divine!

After the treatment, my skin is slightly flushed and pink because of the stimulating lime, but in a totally healthy looking kinda way, like I just got back from vacation or just had mind blowing sex. And my skin feels really supple, hydrated and happy. Give Marlene a call so you can put on a happy face too, and of course tell her that Romy sent you.

Cherries! Cherries! Cherries!!!!

I don't know about you, but cherries are hands down my most favorite fruit of all time--I get giddy just thinking about them! Ever since I was I kid, I fondly remember LOVING these sweet, intensely pigmented, juicy beauties, probably because they were tell tale sign that summer had arrived. And what's not to love about these self-contained ruby-hued morsels of nature's candy? As an adult (and a serious foodie who embraces the freshest and best of each season), I am equally enthusiastic about the arrival of my beloved cherries, the epicurean possibilities are endless.

Several years ago, I was thrilled to discover that I could pick cherries locally in the Leona Valley and I have been hooked ever since. It is less than an hour's drive from LA and you feel like you are transported back in time. This is a small one-horse town and is a wonderful escape-for-the-day trip, and also an excellent adventure for families with small children. The Leona Valley has over a dozen cherry orchards where you and your family can pick and sample (for flavor only, not for eating : -) some of the most delicious and freshest cherries of the season. Cherry tree fruit hangs low to the ground and is very easy for the little munchkins to pick. Basically, you pick all the cherries you can fit in a bucket and pay about $3 a pound for what you pick (usually cash only)--it's fun, yummy, cheap and a delightful all around experience. And at the start of the season, the Leona Valley even has a kitschy Cherry Parade too!

The most important piece of advice I can give you about cherry picking (besides to wear old clothes because cherry juice stains) is that the season is SUPER short and if you blink you will miss it. But you are in luck, because you have me, your in-the-know gal who is kindly letting you know that the season is in full swing right now until the end of June. We went last weekend with our good friends and their kids (remember David the Karaoke King and Ingy Baby?) and we had an absolute blast--the kids loved tasting the super fresh sweet cherries, were so happy that they were easy to pick and they felt such pride when they filled their buckets to the rim with these tasty cherries.

So pack a picnic, grab a blanket, and some old clothes and head to the Leona Valley to partake in the season's bounty for a fun and inexpensive outing. Checkout Hobarts (the oldest orchard) and Windy Ridge (one of the more picturesque orchards) with their great picnic grounds, homemade cherry bread and a fun little tram/tractor ride up to the orchards.

And because you will pick way more cherries than you can possibly eat, I am sharing one of my favorite, super easy cherry dessert recipes that showcases the fruit--Enjoy and happy picking!

CHERRY CRISP
1 1/2 lb pitted sweet cherries
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup oats
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened

Heat oven to 375°. Grease square pan, 8x8x2 inches. Spread cherries in pan. Mix the remaining ingredients thoroughly. Sprinkle mixture over cherries. Bake 30 minutes or until the top is brown. Serve warm with ice cream.

Romy's Favorite Summer Salad

Being a foodie, I just love all the colors, tastes and smells of summer time. Going to my local farmers markets is truly heaven during this time of year because the season is brimming with a plethora of healthy, yummy, beautiful fruit and vegetable options. Nothing says summer to me more than fresh corn from my local farm stand--sweet, juicy, crunchy and delicious!

I am constantly in search of those easy, yummy, light and summery recipes that 'wow' my guests and include the best of the seasons bounty, and I think of have found it in the recipe below. It is a beautifully colorful salad, easy to make, made with a medley of my favorite mouth watering ingredients--fresh corn, cucumber, and pungent tasty feta cheese. For you oenophiles, I'd pair this salad with a nice crisp Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Gris. This is one of my all time favorite recipes that I have been making for years, and I have graciously decided that my loyal readers would appreciate this treat--so enjoy and let me know what you think.

Summer Corn and Orzo Salad with Cucumber Feta Dressing
Bon Appétit June 2001
Yield: Makes 8 servings

1 3/4 cups crumbled feta cheese (about 8 ounces)
3 large cucumbers (about 2 1/2 pounds), peeled, seeded, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 4 1/2 cups)
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon water
1 one pound box orzo (rice-shaped pasta; also called riso)
4 cups yellow corn kernels (cut from about 4 ears)
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

Place 1 cup feta cheese, half of cucumbers, oil and 1 tablespoon water in processor. Process until smooth. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper.

Cook orzo in large pot of boiling salted water until almost tender, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Add corn; cook until pasta is just tender but still firm to bite, about 2 minutes longer. Drain pasta and corn. Transfer to large bowl. Add 1/2 cup feta cheese, remaining half of cucumbers and 1/3 cup chives; toss to combine. Mix in dressing. Season salad to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup feta cheese and 2 tablespoons chives.

Primed and Pumped by Alison Raffaele

Several months ago at the LA Make-Up Show, I got turned on to a wonderful line of professional quality make-up products developed by Alison Raffaele (a celebrity make-up artist who worked and trained under Bobbi Brown.) What I love about her products are that they are environmentally friendly, paraben free, and most exciting to me is that they contain anti aging ingredients (its like getting two products in one!)

My favorite product in her line is the Age Response Primer with SPF 15 which contains Frutta di Vita, a proprietary blend of time released antioxidants that shelters the skin from damaging free radicals, promotes collagen production, increases skin elasticity, visibly reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles AND it also provides both UVA/UVB protection--pretty amazing for a primer, right? Well, I must say that while I am not a cosmetic chemist, whatever additional active ingredients she is putting in her primer seems to make all the difference in the world in terms of how my skin feels and how my make-up wears over time. And for all of you girls that are prone to being shiny, she also has an Acne Response version of this primer that has additional ingredients that controls oil and fights blemishes too.

What I love about this primer is how it feels silky smooth and moisturizing as soon as it touches my skin, my foundation applies beautifully over it and the staying power and look of my make-up throughout the day (or night) is truly amazing. I love the way it warms with my skin and makes my face look even better as time marches forward (could this be the 12+ hour time released antioxidants? Who knows, but I look damn good!).

In all honesty, I have never really been a big fan of primers, often feeling like they are a waste of time and money, but after being 'wowed' by Alison Raffaele's primer I think I am a new convert. What about you?

Why not give it a try because Romy's Raves readers get 20% off any purchase at http://www.alisonraffaele.com/ when you enter 'ARC20' at checkout in the coupon code area (the code is case sensitive and must be in all caps FYI). And let me know what you think and how your skin feels, and post your pics too!

A Freebie fit for a Diva

Hey all you Glamour Girls, want to look like a million bucks on your birthday? False eyelashes are one of my favorite beauty secrets! So I thought I would pass along this great freebie to you.

How about a FREE pair of eyelashes and lash application at MAC on your birthday?? Sounds good to me, how about you? All you have to do is visit the Hollywood and Highland center in Hollywood, California on your exact birthday (ID required), go to the Hollywood Visitor Information Center on level 1 and get your free elephant card, then take your Elephant VIP card to the MAC store, tell them its your Birthday and kindly ask those well trained MAC make-up artists for your fun and flirty lashes--and they will usually do complimentary eye make-up too, if you ask nicely :-)

This complimentary set of lashes and lash application is a $12 value--nice perk, right? Aren't you glad you are a follower of Romy Raves and found out about this awesome freebie?

Enjoy and Happy Birthday Girlfriend!

There's a new Mensch in town--Menchie's is Destination Yogurt

I know, I know you must be thinking yogurt shops are a dime a dozen these days--Pinkberry, Snowberry, Humphrey's, and Yogurtland--what's the difference? They are all the same. Well if you think all yogurt shops are treated equal, you haven't driven down Ventura Boulevard lately and seen the line out the door of Menchie's, the newest addition to the valley yogurt landscape. And like you, I wondered what's all this hype about yogurt? But after my first visit, I understood why people are drawn to this new kitchsy spot.

Menchie’s is the brainchild of Danna and Adam, whose passion and love for creating the perfect frozen yogurt quickly transformed into the ultimate fro-yo lover’s paradise. Other frozen yogurt stores offer a limited amount of choices and charge customers for every flavor or topping they order, but at Menchie’s customers serve themselves the perfect yogurt mix by choosing from a wide variety of delicious flavors and toppings that you pay for by the ounce.

I think the appeal of Menchie's is threefold: First and foremost it has a wide variety of great tasting yogurt and a plethora of yummy toppings; Second you can customize the mix of yogurt and toppings to your liking and you have the ability to dispense the exact amount of yogurt that you want to buy; and third it has tremendously catchy branding with the name (how cute is the word Menchie, which btw is a play on the Yiddish word 'Mensch' which means to be a good person), cute logo and colorfully inviting environment (its definitely a place that you want to hang out).

Maybe its the whole friendly do-it-yourself welcoming vibe, but I find Menchie's yogurt incredibly tasty! This yogurt seems more intensely flavored and full bodied than its competitor's and I personally LOVE Cake Batter (yummy, creamy and tastes very much like cake batter), and I also think Cookies and Cream and Tart Apple Yogurt (which tastes like a sour apple Jolly Rancher) are equally delicious.

I went to the Woodland Hills location this past Saturday night with some of my oldest and dearest friends, and they couldn't believe how packed this place was, but once they tried it they understood the appeal. My friends, hubby and I had such fun eating the tasty yogurt and hanging around outside, I felt like I was in high school again hanging out with my posse.

The Posse from left to right: My Matchmaker Kristine, Her Honey Love Scott, Debsala, My Hunky Hubby Doug and Me

As the summer heat quickly approaches, do yourself a favor and give Menchie's a try, I know you won't be disappointed :-)

Romy's Raves Readers Perk Alert: Visit the Sherman Oaks, California Menchie's location anytime in the month of June and mention Romy Raves when you checkout for a Buy One, Get the Second One Half Off Perk--Enjoy this yummy bonus!

Shecky's Girls Night Out LA: Bargains with a Retro Twist

I don't know about you, but these days my shopping excursions and girls night's out are happening less and less, much to my dismay. The economy has forced me and my gal pals (and many of you too!) to watch our frivolous spending and to become more selective about where we go out and how we spend our money. So I am always on the lookout for fun, girlie nights out that offer a great experience, value and lots of goodies: So let me introduce you to Shecky's!

Shecky's is an online and event destination for women to discover the latest and greatest in fashion, beauty, and entertainment. They put on amazing girls night out shopping events around the country where women get to shop emerging designers, learn about new beauty products, sample delicious cocktails and receive free giveaways (and goodie bags too!). These events offer women a place to escape, indulge, pamper themselves and have quality girl time—without the boys! And you gotta LOVE the Shecky’s Mission: To spoil girls with fashion, beauty, fun and the best girlfriend group experiences. All this is for free if become a Shecky's member or for a nominal fee if you want a goodie bag--What's not to love!

I have been going to Shecky's Girls Night Out events for the past several years, and I always have a blast because it's so girlie and I always find a couple of really cool and different items that I have never seen anywhere else--and that makes this trend maven really happy :-) This year I decided to bring some of my favorite gorgeous gal pals to enjoy the festivities (from left to right: Heather, Lani, Yours Truly and Ingy Baby):

And we all had such fun shopping, sipping and schmoozing! Everyone bought a couple of unique items that they were excited about and we all loved the tone, mood and style of the event.

This year I noticed that the bargains were even more plentiful and the vendors were offering even better deals in light of the economy. Like one of my favorite sexy girl companies Booty Parlor was offering some of their top selling sexy treats (like Kissable Body Shimmer and Melt Chocolate Body Fondue) at a Shecky's special price of ten bucks. Lots of other vendors had bargain bins with many items under $20 and many vendors were offering better pricing if you purchased multiple items from them.

The most noticeable trend that caught my eye at this Spring 2009 Shecky's event was a penchant for all things retro, a trend that this rubenesque woman is very fond of! I am a huge fan of the curvy body loving dresses from Nikki Poulos (I am wearing one of her fab dresses in the picture with my girlfriends above) and I feel absolutely gorgeous and feminine when I wear her beautifully crafted designs. Her Summer 2009 collection did not disappoint, and I fell in love with her 70's-esque Deep Vee Tunic that I am wearing to right along side the designer herself.

And of course no retro fashion diva is complete without a beautiful vintage necklace from Eda and Betty Heirloom Couture. Nikki Massarelli is the amazing designer behind these beauties and her company story only adds to her appeal: she named her company after her grandmothers, Eda & Betty, because as a child Nikki would go to her grandmother Eda’s house and play with her collection of gorgeous jewels and when her grandmother passed she inherited this amazing collection of vintage jewelry--Nikki added an edgy flair to these vintage pieces and everywhere she went people wanted to buy them right off of her body, and thus Eda and Betty was born. Her handcrafted necklaces are statement pieces and her newest designs are customizable and made with vintage Swarovski Chandelier crystals and unique charms. Here I am with the desinger and to the right is a sample of one of her beautiful necklaces.

And one last homage to this retro presence at Shecky's were a couple of vendors with vintage inspired lingerie. I really appreciated the full figured loving designs of Dirty Dolls Lingerie, a company that specializes in catering to the needs of voluptuous women. DD Lingerie feels that curvaceous women are underserved by today’s lingerie market, which fails to offer sexy and elegant intimates in larger sizes and they feel that these women deserve lingerie that fits perfectly and helps them feel alluring and powerful.

So that's a glimpse of my fun finds at Shecky's LA Spring 2009 show, and if you are interested in a fun girl's night out in the future you can find the current calendar Here. Happy Shopping and Bonding!

This Mud's For You

As many of you know, I am a huge beauty product junkie and finding great new products is my life's mission. These days environmentally friendly products are all the rage, and anybody who is anybody is making their brand's version of green or organic products. And while these products are supposedly better for you in the long run, I am still skeptical about their efficacy and tend to believe that chemically derived products offer better results. For this reason, I get really excited when I find new organic and green products that really work.

So let me introduce you to Alaska Glacial Mud Co. Glacial Facial Purifying Mineral Mud Masks, one of my new favorite good for you and also good for the environment products. This delightful new find of mine has so many wonderful things going for it, it is worth mentioning these goodies here: this mask is made of sustainable hand harvested Alaskan glacial mineral mud that is both wild and certified organic; it exfoliates, detoxifies, softens, moisturizes and nourishes the skin with 60+ trace elements that promote skin cell regeneration; it has anti-aging, anti-oxidant and immune protective properties; and it also has a slew of other good for you ingredients like kelp, cranberry and vitamin B5 to name a few. And in further support of its 'green-ness', the company donates 10% of its profits to wilderness preservation, habitat restoration, environmental education and sustainable community development--Wow that's impressive! So this product delivers ALL these benefits and I have not even begun to mention what it does for your skin!

After being taken with the inherent goodness of this product, I was even more surprised by the enjoyable usage experience and how fresh and radiant it made my skin look and feel. I was taken by the smell of this product (this is a big driver of why I am drawn to a particular product and I LOVED the lavender-peppermint and vanilla-lavender scents--Yummy!) which are refreshing fragrances and rather unexpected in a mud mask; I really like the cool, moist, nourishing and refreshing feeling of this mask, and it is definitely not at all drying like mud masks typically are; and best of all was the hydrated and vibrant look of my skin after washing it off. And then suddenly I snap out of this euphoric spa like experience, and I remember its good for you too--I am delighted and hooked!

I think this would be the perfect mask to use during those hot summer months when your skin is sluggish, congested and needs a refreshing 'pick me up' or when its 'that time of the month' and you are cranky and so is your skin (I think the lavender peppermint would work wonders!) Why don't you give this wonderful product a try and get your skin summer ready! Please let me know what you think and how it makes your skin look and feel--and of course as always there is a special added bonus for Romy's Raves readers: You get a FREE terrycloth headband with every order, just enter promo code FREETERRYHEADBAND-09

Romy

Woman with a Radiant Glow

Finger Lickin' Good: Great BBQ Recipes Inspired by Fruit

I don't know about you, but as the weather gets warmer and the BBQ season draws near, my mouth starts to salivate at the thought of all the yummy, tasty and often healthy BBQ food options (not to mention the myriad of cocktail options!) I always enjoy Memorial Day because its the kick off of the season and a perfect time to try some delicious and inpsired new BBQ recipes. Some of my fav summertime delights use fruit in their recipes to add a burst of flavor or an unexpected twist. Just because I love you, my loyal follower and biggest fan, I have included the links to some of these yummy recipes below, Bon Appetite!

BTW I am also on the hunt for the best homemade macaroni and potato salad recipes, you know the old fashioned kind like Grandma used to make? If you happen to have one of these tasty recipes, please post and share with us all. Happy Memorial, relax and enjoy!

Grilled Spareribs with Cherry Cola Glaze












Mara-a-Lago Turkey Burgers with Mara-a-Lago Pear Chutney











Apple Slaw









Barefoot Contessa's Curried Couscous







And of course as an added bonus I had to include a recipe for one of my all time favorite summertime libations, Sangria! Here's my favorite super easy go to sangria recipe from Hipcooks cooking classes here in LA--Dee-Lish!

Hipcooks Sangria
Serves 8

2 bottles of red wine like Two Buck Chuck from TJ's (I like Shiraz)
3 oranges, thinly sliced
3 limes, thinly sliced
½ a bottle of Mango Passionfruit juice (Trader Joes sells it or other tropical juice)
A dash of Citronge (from TJs), or Grand Marnier or Cointreau

Combine all ingredients and muddle. You can make it up to 8 hours in advance. Serve in chilled glasses with ice on a hot day. Also, you can consider adding any of the following when in season: sliced apple, peach, green grapes and even Rainier cherries. Remember to add these softer types of fruit after muddling. Also, why not try the same as above but with white wine, for a very delicious Sangria – called Clerico in Argentina.

American Idol the Final Face Off: Which guy do you relate to?

This season I found myself more intensely drawn to American Idol than any other, and being the overly analytical woman that I am, it has gotten me thinking on a deeper level about what this attraction is all about and what it all means in terms of my perspective on life. On the surface, this season was filled with some of the best talent I have seen in years, which I found in the likes of Adam Lambert, Danny Gokey and Allison Iraheta, each of them gifted, unique, talented and memorable on different levels, and most importantly tremendously enjoyable to watch.

However, it has been Adam Lambert who has deeply touched me this season. He appeals to me on so many levels because he is insanely talented, hugely theatrical, larger than life, has an astounding range of styles and octaves, and in my opinion has the appeal of an iconic Superstar like David Bowie or Michael Jackosn. Every one of his performances took me on a journey and touched my soul because they were all unique, different and kept me on the edge of my seat wondering, "what will Adam do next?" Adam is such a gifted performer and has such an innate sense of what works both musically and performance wise that when he takes the stage magic happens. His performances gave me chills and replayed in my head throughout the week making me marvel at, in my humble opinion, what is by far the best talent ever to grace the American Idol stage.

On the other hand, Kris Allen, the likeable boy next door who mastered the guitar and gentle ballads was barely a blip on my radar. He did not stand out to me, I can barely remember most his performances and while he is a good singer he just did not capture my attention--and I must be in the minority because he captured the hearts of America and won the AI title.

Upon deeper examination, I ask myself what does this all mean? More importantly I wonder, why was I so drawn to Adam and not all to Kris? And suddenly it hits me, Adam reasonates with me--an outgoing, bold, curvaceous, charismatic, statement kind of a girl, who likes to reinvent herself and try new things, is unpredictable, and definitely likes to be the center of attention. And Kris on the other hand is safe, sweet, soft, familiar, predictable, and not a standout in the crowd kind of guy--and not at all relatable to me.

So which American Idol finalist is most relatable to you? Who reasonates with you? Which one captured your attention? Are you more of an Adam Glam Rock bold-take-chances kind of a person? Or are you more of a traditional, sweet, subdued, conservative play-it-safe kind person?

Let's get a dialogue going on this blog and discuss who you relate to and why, and whether you agree or disagree with my analysis and perspective--I think we could have some interesting discussions about this one.

Romy
Diva of the Blogosphere

FREE Business Cards--Such a Deal!

I recently came across another great freebie that I wanted to pass on to Romy's Raves readers: 250 FREE Business Cards from Vista Print! I was recently at a networking mixer and got a couple of really snazzy looking business cards, and to my pleasant surprise when I looked on the back of the cards I learned that they were from Vista Print, a great online printing service where you can design your own cards (from over forty options) and the best part is that you get 250 cards for FREE! This sounded too good to be true, so I went to the site to check it out for myself and low and behold they are in fact offering 250 cards for FREE (you only have to pay for shipping starting at around five bucks), not a bad deal :-)

Surprisingly, Vista Print has a lot of fun, modern designs and I really enjoyed the site interface experience. Basically this is how it goes down: first, you pick your design, then type in your text (you have to use the pre-selected layout and font) and you instantly see the layout and look of text as you type it on the card (I LOVED this feature because you immediately get to see exactly how your card will look); and then you complete and approve your text and layout, choose your preferred shipping option (slow boat is the cheapest) and process your order. This great freebie is ideal during these challenging economic times, especially when so many people are looking for work or trying to re-invent themselves. Creating my Vista Print cards was super fun, fast and easy with a price that's hard to beat-- and the best part is that I created a card I absolutely LOVE! Check out my new business cards below and then have some fun creating your own masterpiece, who knows maybe this will be the start of something exciting and new--Glad I could help!

The Secret to My Flawless Face

I have been obsessed with taking care of my skin since I was a young teenager, always asking for samples and getting facials even back then, all in an effort to perserve my youthful glow and diminish the signs of aging. And while my skin looks amazing for a forty-something year old (thankfully people usually guess thirty-something), I still need a little help getting that flawless finish. I have tried many types of foundations and mineral make-up over the years that I like, but recently I had the opportunity to try a new product that I LOVE: Gerda Spillman Bio-Fond Foundation. This is an amazing product used by many pro make-up artists because it is beautifully made with pharmaceutical grade ingredients, it has a moist, creamy light weight texture and it gives your skin a smooth velvetly finish.

The reason that I am raving about this foundation is because I just love the way it feels and looks on my skin, and the creamy powdery texture and medium coverage are perfect for me. I also really like that it comes in a compact form, it is super easy to apply with a sponge or your fingers, it offers the perfect amount of sheer coverage (or heavier if you need it), it has an appealing European skincare fragrance (which conveys high quality to me), it is waterproof, offers UVA/UVB protection, allows your skin to breathe and it lasts all day. This foundation is easy to use, offers instant pro-quality results, it feels great on the skin, offers great coverage and staying power, what more could a girl ask for in a foundation? I am in love!

Now, the true test of the appeal of this product came a couple of weeks ago when I had a dermatological procedure. My skin was very red and irritated, but I still needed to go out that evening and look decent, and to my pleasant surprise Bio-Fond surpassed my expectations. It was very gentle, it soothed my skin and it truly did a nice job of covering my flaws. I looked much better than I expected and was really happy with the results, and after this real-life test I was even more impressed with this product.

So what are you waiting for? Are you ready to try it yet? Well, now here's the best part, Romy's Raves readers get to try a deluxe sample of Bio Fond for FREE!! The delightful Samantha who heads up operations at Gerda Spillmann has generously offerred to send my readers a free deluxe mirrored compact sample (and it's a generous sample too!) of this awesome foundation to try and see for yourself how wonderful it is. There is no obligation, no sales and no purchase necessary--it's just a chance to try a great new product (that I love) and see for yourself if it is right for you.

To take advantage of this free offer, all you need to do it is call 1-800-282-3223 (FACE), tell them that Romy Raves told you to call for a free sample of Bio Fond Foundation and then the customer service agent will help you pick out the best color (there are 16 shades) that will work with your skin tone. They will send out a lovely sample for you to try, and as an added bonus they will also include a sample of their make-up primer called Hydro-Pearls as well as a sample of their cream blush in crimson (a universally flattering shade)--all for FREE!

I hope you enjoy this first of many free perks for being a follower of Romy Rave's. Stay tuned for more freebies in the future. And please let me know what you think of the Bio Fond, I'd love to hear from you.

Romy

The Porcelain Goddess

Ginger Kick My Ass--My New Favorite Summer Cocktail

Last night I had a spontaneous girls night out with one of my fav gal pal's Mel, and since it seems harder and harder to get out these days (let alone going out less in an effort to save $$), we decided to hit a new hot spot. So we made our way to Street in Hollywood, Susan Feniger's (one of the 'hot tamales' and co-owner of Border Grill) new foodie restaurant. This inspired new restaurant showcases the food of street vendors throughout the world, who create some of the most inspired food that excites the palate with unexpected flavors and exotic ingredients. And the food did not disappoint and completely delivered on this diverse and high flavored promise.

Given that it has been a while since I had a GNO, Mel and I decided to be radical and dine at the bar and we were instantly drawn into this urban, minimalist dining/bar experience. While the food impressed (and I will talk more about the delightful food experienece in a later post), it was one of her signature drinks that knocked my socks off--the Canton Ginger Kick-- because it was an explosion of flavors in my mouth--ginger, sugar, lemon, vodka--YUM! Being a wine and champagne girl, I rarely go for the cocktails, but when I sat down at the bar and saw the candied ginger beautifully displayed on a bamboo stick, I was in. This is such a refreshing, tasty, Asian inspired cocktail and I loved every drop of it. Every sip teased my palate with a zingy ginger kick, its one of those drinks that tastes so good you can barely taste the alcohol (and then suddenly you are feeling mighty fine :-). It is made with Canton Ginger Liqueur, vodka, lemon, ginger simple syrup and candied ginger as an accent and I have graciously provided the recipe below.

So feel free to make it yourself (there are alot of steps, but it is SO worth it--however I might just buy the candied ginger from Trader Joes to make it easier) or you can go to Street for the full monty experience--shimmy up to the bar, eat the unusual but tasty curried rice krispie treat balls they give you at the bar (its their version of bread btw) pay sixteen bucks for a pro to make it, sip and enjoy with the other trendy foodies. Either way its one of those things you gotta try at least once, its THAT good and I will be drinking it all summer--DEE-LISH! Have any other great summertime cocktails? Please post and share!

Romy

Ginger Goddess

Canton Ginger Kick Cocktail
Servings: 2 cocktails

Ginger syrup and candied ginger
1/2 pound peeled ginger, sliced crosswise, very thinly

2 cups water

2 cups sugar

1. Heat the oven to 200 degrees. Place the ginger, water and sugar in a medium, heavy-bottom saucepan and stir gently to moisten the sugar. Place the pan over medium-low heat and cook for 30 minutes to allow the ginger to steep as the sugar dissolves; watch that the sugar does not color or burn. Remove from the heat and drain, reserving the candied ginger pieces.

2. Allow the syrup to cool, then cover and refrigerate until needed. This recipe makes about 2 1/2 cups of ginger syrup.

3. To dry the candied ginger, spread the pieces out in a single layer on a parchment- or silpat-lined baking sheet. (To use the candied ginger as a garnish, thread a few pieces each on bamboo skewers or toothpicks and place the skewers on the sheet.) Place the sheet in the oven and bake for 1 hour. Turn the oven off but leave the sheet inside and allow the ginger to dry out overnight.

4. Powder the dried candied ginger by placing the slices in a spice or coffee grinder and grinding them to a fine powder. Store in a sealable plastic bag until needed.

Cocktail and assembly

Ginger powder
1 lemon wedge plus 1 ounce lemon juice (about 1/2 lemon), divided

1 inch fresh ginger, peeled and sliced into thin rounds

3 ounces ginger liqueur, such as Canton

2 ounces vodka, such as Charbay

1 teaspoon ginger-infused syrup

Splash of soda or sparkling water

2 quarters fresh lemon (or lemon twist for those who like less citrus) for garnish

Candied ginger on bamboo skewers or toothpicks for garnish

1. Place the ginger powder onto a shallow dish or small plate. Wipe the rim of two double-rocks glasses with the lemon wedge, then turn each glass over onto the ginger powder to evenly coat the rim.

2. Divide the lemon juice and fresh ginger slices evenly between the two glasses. Muddle or gently crush the ginger well in each glass. Add ice to each glass and pour over the ginger liqueur and vodka. Top each glass with a splash of soda and stir once.

3. Garnish the rim of each glass with a lemon quarter or twist and candied ginger skewer. Serve immediately.

Note: Canton Ginger Liqueur and Charbay Vodka can be found at good liqueur stores. The candied ginger recipe yields more powdered candied ginger than is required for the recipe. Store the powder in a sealable plastic bag in a cool, dry place; it should keep for several weeks. The recipe also yields more candied ginger than is needed for the recipe; the syrup will keep, covered and refrigerated, for up to 2 weeks.

Time: Do you have Too Much of it or Not Enough?

Do you constantly feel like you are chasing down the clock? Do you feel that even with 10-12 hours in a day, you never have the time to get it all done? Do you often feel unproductive and like you don't spend your time wisely? If you answered yes to any of these questions, welcome to my world! One of the big challenges with being a consultant and working from home is staying motivated and allocating your time effectively, and I constantly struggle with this. I grapple with what to put first, what to prioritize and how not to get distracted from them important 'to do's', which coincidentally are often the hardest tasks and the ones I tend to avoid. Sound familiar??


Take working out/going to the gym for example (something I truly enjoy and feel so much better after doing), I so want to do it in my head but when I wake up in the morning the last thing I want to do is go to the gym, so I push it back until the end of the day, and of course frequently don't make it. Then I feel like crap and am not motivated to do the other things on my list and then the day gets away from me.


And then there are other days where I can conquer the world, when I wake up early, workout, run errands, catch up on my to do's, work/write an article and still have time to spare. So I wonder to myself, what is happening on those days where I get it all done and feel like time is on my side?? What is the secret sauce to having more days like this I wonder to myself? And then it hits me, on those productive days, I don't fight with time and don't put out that energy to the universe that I don't have enough time, I just do it. I do what I have to do with no resistance or overthinking, I just 'go with the flow' and miraculously I HAVE PLENTY OF TIME! It is a simple and easy shift, yet so challenging to execute. As much as I cling to and am overwhelmed by my 'To Do' lists, its time for me to let go and let it flow.


Let's start a dialogue going about our relationships with time, how you manage it and share tips and challenges with others, but do it now because the clock is ticking.


Romy
Queen of Timelessness

How Does She Get That Special Sparkle in her Eyes?

Are you a night owl like me? Do you get your second wind around 11pm and then feel like you can conquer the world? Do you then pay the price for it the next morning by looking tired, swollen, racoon-eyed? I do!! Last night for example, I was deep into my spring cleaning project (see my earlier post on this topic), and then after being wound up from that, I just HAD to watch Adam Lambert blow it out of the box with his version of Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love, he is the best AI talent ever and he gives me the chills! Anyway, after that it was well past 1am before my head hit the pillow. The next thing I know it is 7am and my adorable 5 year old, in all his perky glory has decided it is time for me to get up and I SO don't want to! Needless to say, I was NOT looking perky, fresh or well rested--can anyone say bags, puffiness and dark circles???

So what's a girl to do? This is where my beauty product obsession comes in handy, and after constantly trying so many products over the years, I currently have a nice little morning ritual of products for my eyes that really saves me, helps me look bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, and most importantly like I have had about eight hours of sleep.

So here is my current wake-up-the-eyes regimen:

1. My absolute first step out of bed these days is Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Puff Eye Roller. This wonderous drugstore product instantly hydrates, depuffs and diminishes the dark circles around my eyes. The combination of the cold roller ball and caffiene do the trick and I am really happy with the results.
2. Next, another long time staple in my beauty tool arsenal is Shu Uemura's cult Eyelash Curler, and I have used this magical tool religiously everyday since I can remember. In my opinion, it is the best on the market because it holds up over time and gives your lashes the best curl. And when my lashes are curled, I look instantly more awake and refreshed. If you have never curled your lashes get started now girlfriend, better late than never!
3. Now for covering those nasty dark circles, I have tried many concealers over the years with limited satisfaction, but lately I have been loving Benefit's Erase Paste (Number 2/Medium) because it offers very good coverage/concealing and brightening both at the same time. You get two products for the price of one and I like saving money these days. After being de-puffed, curled, concealed and brightened, I am starting to finally look awake in under five minutes.
4. My last two steps just seal the deal with additional lightening, brightening and that special sparkle in my eye. I absolutley love the creative and inspired products by celebrity make-up artist Mally Roncal. My hands down fav product in this eye brightening recipe is Mally Beauty's Light Wand Eye Brightener, it is literally like a magic wand for the eyes and instantly makes your eyes look bright and alive. It is actually a two sided pencil product with one side being a white-gold-champagne colored eye pencil that you draw on the inner corners of your eyes and then you soften and finish it with the other product which is the same color powder dispensed through the cap and applied over the line like a smudger. After using this magic wand, your eyes glisten and you look like you have that special sparkle in your eyes--Brilliant!
5. The final step if needed (and I usually do) is a smidge of Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat (Number 2), which is also a cult favorite eye brightener for make-up junkies like me. You just put a small amount of this magical product over your concealer as the very last step after your traditional make-up is done. I usually just use a dot on the inner part of my circles just to add the icing on the cake.

It's sounds like a lot of steps, but it really takes so little time and has a very big impact on how I look and feel. Give it a whirl and let me know what you think.

Here's to our little secret,

Romy

That Girl with the Special Sparkle in her Eyes

More Great Freebies

Aren't you glad you came back for more of Romy's Raves? I am!! As I promised yesterday, there are so many great freebies that I keep coming across these days and I am more than happy to share the wealth with my readers, Enjoy!

• Get Into Glen Ivy Hot Springs Free on your birthday
• You must go on the exact day of your birthday to ge the free entrance. It is such a fun and relaxing way to spend the day with girlfriends and they have great outdoor mud pools and mineral spas to soak in (spa treatments are extra of course)--This ends up being a $40-$50 value depending when you go.

• Kids Eat Free on Wednesday Nights at Marmalade Cafe
• Every Wednesday beginning at 4pm is Kids' Night at participating Marmalade Cafe locations. Kids age 10 and under receive one free Kid's Meal with a purchase of an adult entree of $10 or more.

Have you noticed anything positive about this down economy?

Recently, my amazing life coach asked me a version of the question I have used as my title for this blog, "What are the positive outcomes that you have noticed as a result of our strained economy?" I loved this question because it threw me for a loop--when I think to myself, "Hmmm. . . has anything good or positive happened as a result of our current economy?" This sounds a bit ridiculous at first, but as I begin to think about it further, what I start to realize is that in this challenged time, if we all keep jumping on this bandwagon of 'times are tough' and 'my business is significantly down' and 'I have too many bills and not enough income' and 'no one is spending money these days' etc., with all this negative talk we just keep feeding this negative collective unconscious and continue to attract more lack and less abundance. And if you believe in the Laws of Attraction at all, this negative mindset of having constant money strain and stress continues to perpetuate this problem rather than eradicate it. After taking the time to really digest her question, it finally starts to hit me--the only way to shift this current predicament is to shift my thinking.

So after I am able to jump off the negative money train, I am delighted to realize that I definitely have noticed some wonderfully positive shifts as a result of this economic strain. The most significant positive shift that I have noticed is that people have become more honest and genuine about their financial situation by telling it straight, and not acting like they have more than they really do. This diminishing superficiality has led to more connectedness than ever before. To me, this genuine sharing feels more reminiscent of a bygone era, where hanging out with people, talking and sharing meals was more important than anything else and more of the norm. Among my friends, I have begun to notice this trend taking shape, where people are more interested in hanging out, having potluck family dinners in their homes, enjoying good food, wine, and companionship. This is becoming more appealing than mindlessly going out to a spendy, trendy restaurant that often disappoints in both quality and value. Friends seem to be enjoying hanging out more than ever, seem to enjoy opening up their homes, even sharing babysitters--all in an effort to bond and conserve money, and I see this as such a wonderfully positive shift.

I have also noticed that many fast food and family based restaurants are offering more freebies and deals than ever before. For example, in the last month both Baskin Robins and Ben and Jerry's have given away free ice cream cones and both KFC and El Pollo Loco have given away free chicken, all in and effort to build brand loyalty and let customer's know that these companies are there for their consumers in these difficult times. These businesses want to ease the stress with these free perks and this gratis only contributes to a positive greater good. And these freebies continue every week, like on Mother's Day TCBY is giving mom's free yougurt and on Thursday, May 7 from 4-8pm, the Coffee Bean is giving away free 12oz. Iced Coffees--and the list goes on and on every week. These are positive changes I can get used to, can you?

I would love for you to share any positive shifts that you have noticed as a result of the economy, and please post them on this blog and share any freebies you hear about too! And I promise to continually 'rave' about great freebies or deals that I hear about on this blog too.

Romy,
Gratis and Gratitude Goddess
"I move from poverty thinking to prosperity thinking, and my finances reflect this change"
Louise Hay

Strawberries--Bursting with JUICY Possibilities

I just LOVE strawberry season--how can you not love the luscious, sweet, juicy bright red fruit that is bursting with flavor and possibilities. I especially love berries that are freshly picked or that you pick yourself, even better. So in homage to this red beauty, and being the foodie that I am, I thought I would offer some fun facts, interesting tips and tricks, and some recipe suggestions too.

Did you know there are lots of different types of strawberries?
There are hundreds of different varieties of strawberries available, but because I am a Californina girl and because California is the nation's leading producer of strawberries, harvesting almost two billion pounds of strawberries annually and making up almost ninety percent of the country's total fresh and frozen strawberry production, I will briefly highlight the differences between the most common CA varieties:

Albion has a darker fruit color, both internally and externally, and a consistently sweeter flavor than most strawberries. These are my absolute favorite berry because it has an intense, sugary, real strawberry flavor. You can usually find them at farmer's markets this time of year--and I recommend doing a comparison taste test of Albions and other types of berries so that you can judge for yourself.

Camarosa is a large, bright, firm and flavorful fruit with a good sheen. This is one of the most common varieties of strawberries and represents almost half of California's current acreage.

Aroma is a large, firm fruit with great flavor, a good red color, and a bright sheen.

Camino Real is a firm, dark red fruit with a good shelf life and very good flavor.

Diamante is a large, flavorful, firm fruit with a bright red sheen and a long shelf life.

Ventana is a bright red fruit, slightly lighter in color than Camarosa, with good flavor, shape and fruit size, and similar firmness and shelf-life to the Camarosa.

How can I tell if a strawberry is fresh?
Fresh strawberries should always be bright red in color and have a natural sheen to them with fresh looking green caps. Those not-so-fresh berries look dull or dry, and sometimes bruised or have brown on the green stems. Avoid strawberries with green or white tips. When buying strawberries at the supermarket, pay particular attention to any dampness or staining on the carton, especially at the bottom of the container. This may be evidence of significantly overripe, even decaying fruit.

What is the best way to store strawberries and maximize their lifespan?
You should always store strawberries in the refrigerator, as a single layer on a paper towel in a moisture proof container--but you can have two layers of berries if you separate them with paper towels to absorb excess moisture (I have had much success with this storage method and have been able to keep strawberries fresh in the fridge for up to a week.) And lastly, do not, I repeat Do Not EVER wash strawberries until you are ready to eat them, or they will become mushy and moldy--moisture is the enemy of fresh strawberries.

Quick and inspired serving suggestions
Always allow strawberries to come to room temperature before serving becasue it brings out their best flavor.

Try drizzling a yummy balsamic vinegar or a berry flavored balsamic vinegar over fresh strawberries, it intensifies their flavor and is a treat for the palate.

And one last suggestion that is always a 'WOW' is chocolate covered strawberries, which can be time consuming and labor intensive--but not with my recent top secret discovery, Dolci Frutta, a microwaveable chocolate that you can find at most supermarkets or Costco. It's a high quality, very good tasting chocolate that you simply microwave for about minute or so in the container it comes in, stir, dip the berries one at a time, place the berries on wax paper and then refrigerate and viola! an inspired dessert.

An inspired and very Californian strawberry recipe
Cooking Light, May 2009

Strawberry-Avocado Salsa
Serve this sweet and savory salsa with roast chicken, sautéed fish, or grilled pork tenderloin. You can also enjoy it as a snack with baked tortilla chips.
1 cup finely chopped strawberries
1/4 cup finely chopped and peeled avocado
2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 teaspoon grated lime rind
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 teaspoons finely chopped seeded jalapeño pepper
1/4 teaspoon sugar
Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl; toss gently. Serve immediately. Makes 4 servings

Hope you enjoyed this sweet little strawberry journey. Stay tuned for more foodie adventures in the future!
Romy
Berrylicious Babe

Karaoke-The New Therapy???

OK, OK, I know what you must be thinking, Karaoke therapeutic, isn't that an oxymoron? Isn't karaoke the thing you do at cheesy bars while drunk? Well, I have to tell you that is what I thought too, until my dear friend David suggested we have a karaoke date night. Now, I admittedly love the stage and being the center of attention, so I was up for a karaoke night even though singing is not my strong suit. However, it is defintely not my hubby's thing and he said that he would go along for the ride but "No Way am I getting up there and singing!"

The good news is, we are always up for trying new and different things but had no idea what was in store for us at Max Karaoke Studio. We arrived at this Asian mini mall off Sawtelle Boulevard in West Los Angeles at this karaoke place that you rent by the minute (not to worry, it only ends up costing about $10/hour per person), but what was surprisingly odd about this place is that it is not what you typically think of and get turned off about when you think of Karaoke--usually a smoke-filled bar where someone sings cheesey songs in front of a group of drunks who boo them off the stage--in contrast, while certainly not glamorous, Max offers these private mini sound proof rooms that almost look like petite recording studios and seat a small group up to 20 people. They have about ten of these mini studios (which you have to call and reserve at 1pm the same day) that you and your friends get all to yourselves to karaoke the night away--and supposedly these karaoke joints are all the rage in Japan!

So the way it works, is that you basically get a bare bones private karaoke room with leather booths, a table and all the karaoke accoutrements you will need to for the night. Thankfully, you can bring in booze, to get you in the mood, as you pour through the vast selection of song options to find your inner Madonna. So here we are, the four of us, (we were supposed to have a group of ten people, but somehow everyone flaked at the last minute. . .hmmm I wonder why??) all alone with some vodka, curry (you can also bring in food--we ordered from the curry place upstairs) and a karaoke machine, now what? So David, being the seasoned pro because he has done it several times in Japan and raved about it (and mind you David is a serious lawyer type in his day job) jumps right up and starts singing Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond, and thus, this wacky, odd, wonderful night begins.

The song choices are endless, so I mostly go with showtunes which are a personal favorite, but it takes me a while to find my singing groove (let alone getting my pitch/key right--I now have tremendous respect for singers--Adam Lambert you are truly a GOD) for an audience of three. Finally, with some mishaps, I started to have it going on and I did a very fun and relatively stellar rendition of The Cell Block Tango from Chicago and I LOVED it! And then David followed with an impressive rendition of Mr. Cellophane from Chicago--who knew he had such passion and Broadway caliber talent hidden behind his more composed exterior :-) And of course there's David's babe and my best gal pal, Ingy, with her movie star good looks and a singing voice that rivals today's pop artists. Her modern rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow was so beautiful that it brought tears to my eyes.

Throughout the night, I felt inspired, free, and even giddy! Suddenly, I realized that all my stress and tension had left my mind and I was just in the moment, in groove, enjoying an unexpectedly awesome evening with our good friends and letting out my inner Diva! I truly felt a wonderful sense of release and freedom from singing my heart out for almost 4 hours, and what a blast it was walking down memory lane with many songs from my youth. And even my reluctant hubby was persuaded to sing New York, New York, and although it wasn't his thing, he really enjoyed himself too.

It was such a fun night, I would highly recommend checking it out as a fun and different option for a night out with friends, couples or the girls. And you'll be smiling (and singing all the way home), not mention it is a heck of alot cheaper than the going hourly rate for therapy these days!
Romy
Karaoke Queen

Great Minds Think Alike !

Look what I just read in Oprah's newsletter -- Great minds think alike!

Clear Out the Mental Clutter in Your Life Now! In his latest book, Enough Already! Clearing Mental Clutter to Become the Best You, organizational expert Peter Walsh reveals the link between having an unorganized home and the untidy elements in our personal lives. This is exactly what I was talking about in my previous post--clean home = clear mind. You can read the article at: http://www.oprah.com/article/omagazine/200903_omag_walsh_clutter

Romy, Goddess in the Know

Spring Cleaning--Out with the Old in with the New

It's that time of year again, the time when I get insanely crazed about cleaning out the closets, drawers etc. and getting rid of the clutter that I have accumulated during the year--The build up of this stuff makes me crazy! And then along comes Spring, beckoning me to purge, clean, declutter and free myself of the burdens of the last year, and as much as I resist it, I equally love the freedom I feel when the purge is done, the crap is gone. I feel free, lighter, open, ready for the new possibilities that come my way. It's like a new door is open and anything can enter, and I welcome it.


If you have never tired this, I highly recommend it. But don't get overwhelmed by trying to do it all at once; do it in small manageable steps, one drawer at a time. Get rid of those things you haven't touched in a year and that are just taking up space. Then after you complete the entire process over a few weeks, donate your excess it to charity, sell it on Ebay or have a garage sale (I personally love these sales--I find the people that come to them fascinating and of course getting a little extra cash always helps). After you have completed this process, notice how it feels to be organized and unburdened, pay attention to the openess and the clarity.



I am in the process of doing this right now and as I slowly peel away the layers of the onion, I truly notice a difference, like I am clearing out a space for change, growth, new possibilities. Yet, becasue it is a slow process, I get frustrated that it takes so long but realize that this is part of the process. I wish I could blink and 'poof ' the clutter would disappear, but that's just not the case. I need to take the time to digest it all, once phase at a time and slowly evolve into a new place. And I am looking forward to getting there--won't you join me??


Romy
Springing into Clean

Face Looking Sluggish? Got Facial?

Anyone who knows me, knows I am obessesed with all things beauty, especially getting regular facials. Since I was about 16 years old, I have been diligently getting regular facials and I think it has made a huge difference in my skin. The reason I am committed to regular facials is because I feel like it is a necessary treatment that cleans out the congestion and sludge that clogs my skin, which makes it look old, tired and weathered. And at forty-ish, I want to look youthful, fresh and perky as often as I can!

Now I know what you must be thinking, in this economy the last thing I want to do is spend my hard earned cash on is a facial, right? You're probably thinking, I can take a nice steamy shower, put on a drugstore mask (BTW Queene Helene Mint Julep Masque costs around three bucks at your local drugstore and it rocks--I was in my green faced glory last night and loved it!), rub on a good moisturizer and you are done. I beg to differ, because my face and pores get really congested living in LA and I need the skilled extractions of a pro to make a difference--homegrown facials just don't cut it for me.

Enter Marlene Weber's $40 introductary facials ($45-50 thereafter) http://www.skincarebymarlene.vpweb.com/ Marlene is an LA based seasoned pro, who uses beautiful skin changing natural/organic products, does masterful extractions (for me this is the primary benefit of regular facials), amazing peels and is an esthetician at one of the chichi spas around town where the going rate is almost triple. When I leave her home-based office after an hour or so, I am smiling, fresh faced and glowing. For forty bucks, how can you afford not too? And tell her Romy sent you.

And if you are not in the LA area, I am confidant that there are many places to get affordable, high quality facials around the country, just do your homework.

TTFN,
Romy, The One Who Raves