text: Sarah McGiven 2015-10-06T18:52:32-04:00 Sarah McGiven http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/author/index.php?author=sarah-mcgiven Copyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Sarah McGiven Good old fashioned elbow grease. Pay and Display: Beauty Packaging That Packs a Punch tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2015:/theblog//3.8107264 2015-09-09T19:00:00-04:00 2015-09-09T12:59:01-04:00 Sarah McGiven http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-mcgiven/ I generally intend to repurpose things - make miniature Jack Daniels' bottles into spice pots, turn that oversized marmite tub that was full of cashews into a plant pot, refill that beautiful lip balm tin with a DIY version which I will make following instructions involving Kool Aid sachets on Pinterest - but never quite get round to it. Other things, especially beauty products, I just plain hoard. I have an 'art case' (tool box) that's three tiers of ancient, past their use-by date, gorgeously packaged pieces from the mid 90s onwards, that I just can't bring myself to chuck. I have compromised on my collection of Marc Jacobs perfumes by just keeping the fun bottle tops. However, the Alexander McQueen-era Givenchy lipstick in darkest blood red with a silver metallic bug-like casing that had a built-in mirror has to be my fav keeper. I'll post a pic on instagram so you can marvel at it too. Anyway, here's a selection of gorgeous beauty products which are killing the packaging game right now and which I know I would never be able to throw out without an intervention. Miu Miu Eau de Parfum, exclusively available from Harrods, from £66 The quirky Italian fashion house brings the heat with its first perfume. Whilst the fragrance balances floral and earthy tones, tinged with jasmine, rose absolute and Akigalawood, the packaging is the perfect mix of modern and retro with a formica colour way just kills me. Io amo. Christian Louboutin Beaute Lipsticks, available from Net-A-Porter.com, £60 each There are various finishes from velvet to sheer available in this first lip line from Louboutin but let's face it, who really cares what's actually in these tremendous tubes? Much like his perilously pointy nail lacquers, for many this is a luxury purchase that's purely about the packaging. I would absolutely be so gauche as to consider finding a way to attach one of these beauties to a chain and wearing it to protect it from handbag dust bunnies. And so I could just look at it. Dior Addict Fluid Stick, exclusive to Selfridges, £26.50 Just say 'oui'. I have this lip stain in Versatile (pink) and it is glorious. It's a gloss but with the coverage of a really hydrating lipstick. It comes in four shades and the super modern casing has an almost surrealist-style appeal. Ceci n'est pas un rouge à lèvres, indeed. Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Facial Wash with Limited Edition Packaging by Danielle Romeril, from Boots, £4.69 Just to prove that great packaging doesn't have to cost the earth, Neutrogena have teamed up with fashion designer Danielle Romeril to produce this fab ice cream-toned camo-style covering for their popular Pink Grapefruit face wash. Affordable and cute, this pretty packaging makes for a cheery addition to any bathroom. According to some study I read about ages ago so obviously can't remember any useful details about now, the smell of pink grapefruit makes people think you're younger too. Just saying.]]> Doll Parts: Designer Barbie Style for Grown-Ups tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2015:/theblog//3.8051148 2015-08-30T19:00:00-04:00 2015-08-30T15:59:01-04:00 Sarah McGiven http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-mcgiven/ Admittedly you won't catch me playing with my (amazing) Crystal Barbie any more, but I'm definitely still partial to a Barbie tee or accessory. They make me smile and are a reminder not to take life so seriously. Plus, Barbie is always getting a super cool makeover courtesy of some chic brand or other, so there's that too. For anyone wanting to get dolled up, these designer Barbie looks are just the ticket. Shoes: Barbie by Sophia Webster Seriously. How good are these? Even if you're not a Barbie fan, the beauty in these reimagined Sophia Webster classics cannot fail to pass you by. The range - which also features children's versions of these adult styles - celebrates Barbie finally being able to wear flats thanks to a redesign that involves her perma-arches being dropped. Edgy, fun and so, so pretty, these encapsulate the Barbie spirit in a super wearable way. Exclusive to Selfridges: Available in store and from www.selfridges.com Accessories: Barbie phone covers by Moschino Designer Jeremy Scott always adds a touch of childlike magic to his work, whether it's his teddy bear trainers for adidas Originals, Rainbow Brite-inspired creations for his eponymous label, or by making Barbie high fashion through his role as Creative Director at Moschino. True they're not the most conveniently shaped phone covers but whatever. They're fab, fun and happy - and who doesn't want a bit of that? Available from Selfridges for iPhones 5 and 6, £45-£55 each. Clothes: Adam Selman Both the other collections featured here are official collaborations, whereas these latest drops from American designer (and Rihanna's costume designer) Adam Selman just struck me as something Barbie would wear today. His Autumn/Winter 2015 looks draw on the playful and rebellious teenage spirit of the 1960s and, despite Barbie being born in 1959, tie in perfectly with her aesthetic. Available now from Browns www.brownsfashion.com]]> Nicopanda: More Fashion Forward Than the Average Bear tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2015:/theblog//3.7918838 2015-08-02T19:00:00-04:00 2015-08-02T18:59:01-04:00 Sarah McGiven http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-mcgiven/ Nicopanda has just dropped its Autumn/Winter collection and its signature fun is matched with street-savvy sophistication. Designed by Nicola Formichetti, the former artistic director of Mugler and Diesel is perhaps more widely known for creating some of Lady Gaga's most memorable looks and videos, including Bad Romance, as well as directing the stunning Gaga's Workshop Barney's windows for her New York charity project in 2011. Born in Tokyo, the Italian-Japanese designer often appears to draw heavily on some of the fun aspects associated with Japanese culture for his Nicopanda line - from manga style (his favourite character is Chibi Maruko) to Harajuku street style, colour and cuteness. But, perhaps drawing on the understated Italian side of his heritage, there is also an arch sophistication to this incredibly unique and wearable line. The latest drop - some of which is pictured here - features architechtural elements, beautiful construction and continues with the ruffles theme seen in previous collections, for both sexes. I hadn't planned to write solely about this collection but it just really speaks to me as someone who lives in and for comfy sportswear, and can often feel constricted and awkward when 'dressing up', despite loving a more 'grown up' evening image. This Nicopanda collection presents a fashion-forward, easy-to-wear look that represents a duality that absolutely appeals to both sporty and more groomed aesthetics without compromising on comfort or personality. And LOOK - they're all styled with (gorgeousgorgeousgorgeous) trainers, too! HELLO. It's hard to pick a standout from such a strong collection but I am completely obsessed with the red coat pictured above (also seen in white, here). The rounded exaggerated collars are a clever nod to the season's key 1970s trend and top a fun, sassy style that plays convincingly with volume and proportions in the most perfect shade of lipstick red. The lace print pieces, pictured top, are also divine, especially the unisex sweatshirt and matching sweatpants/trousers which use a chic colour palette and well-placed ruffle details to take a basic sports luxe design to the next level. Shop the Nicopanda collection internationally, either online at thecorner.com (coming soon) or from a number of retailers around the world including Machine-A , 127 and Selfridges in London, Hervia in Manchester, and Opening Ceremony in both New York and Los Angeles. You can also view the full Nicopanda AW15 range now at nicopanda.com - tweet me your favourite pieces @FightForYrWrite]]> A Few Fancy Father's Day Gift Ideas tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2015:/theblog//3.7590360 2015-06-17T19:00:00-04:00 2015-06-17T12:59:02-04:00 Sarah McGiven http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-mcgiven/ My brothers and I are going in for my dad's gifts and this year I've decided not add on any freestyle element after a number of recent, let's just say 'Pinterest fails' in the DIY gift-giving department. Those sumptuous pictures of chocolate-coated strawberry towers may look beautifully simple but a) they're not, and b) try getting them to survive a cross-county cab journey... Anyway, here are a few ideas for fancypants presents you can treat your old man to, to say thanks for all those free taxi rides, pearls of wisdom and interest-free loans. PS. I hope you've all discovered the joys of Click + Collect - order from a number of retailers before 4pm, collect the next day from your choice of collection point - there are loads all across the UK. You can return stuff that way too - I just sent back some pieces I'd (over)ordered and it literally took 2 minutes in my local Budgens one evening. It's AWESOME. 1 Mr Porter x Public School wool-blend sweatshirt, £315 from www.mrporter.com 2 Byredo Cologne Discovery Set, £42 from www.byredo.com 3 Alexander McQueen skull socks, £50 from www.harrods.com 4 Montblanc iPhone holder, £145 from Selfridges 5 EKOCYCLE x H Brothers tie, £49.95, 6 EKOCYCLE x Globe-trotter denim card wallet, £75 and 7 EKOCYCLE x The Office of Mr Scott oxfords, £380, all from the recycling EKOCYCLE initiative exclusively from Harrods 8 Byredo Bibliotheque candle - the smell of leather and dusty floors - LOVE, £50 from Harrods or www.byredo.com 9 Dior Homme shower gel, £27.50 from various Dior retailers including Harrods 10 Penhaligons Bayolea aftershave balm, £29, from Selfridges 11 Dior Eau Sauvage cologne, a modern, sophisticated and highly sensual remix of the classic men's fragrance that made it's original debut the year that England last won a World Cup, £49.50 (50ml)/£67.50 (100ml) from various retailers including Selfridges and Harrods. 12 Tom Ford Neroli Portofino conditioning beard oil - how luxurious - £40 from Selfridges 13 Mrs White's Absolute Gentleman Moisturising lotion, £20 from www.roullierwhite.com 1 Byredo Mister Marvelous cologne soap bar, £17 from Liberty or www.byredo.com 2 Swatch Sistem 51 Green, £108 from swatch.com 3 Jaeger elasticated woven belt, £50 from www.jaeger.co.uk 4 Cover-Up WoodBack phone covers in a range of woods and for various mobile handsets, from £16.95 from www.cover-up.com 5 Jeans Shop at Club Monaco selvedge denim shirt, available in store, www.clubmonaco.com 6 Nike Flyknit 3.0 running shoes, £125 from Harrods 7 Le Creuset G10 lever corkscrew bottle opener in a very chic black nickel, £159 from Selfridges 8 Molinard Rasoline almond oil shaving cream, £15 from www.roullierwhite.com 9 The Camden Watch Company Men's No29 watch, £110 from WatchShop.com 10 Shinola, Runwell Contrast Chrono watch, £710 from www.shinola.com 11 Happy Socks, £8 a pair from their new Seven Dials flagship store plus www.asos.com 12 Aquascutum card wallet with blue leather back, £100 from acquascutum.com 1 Marc by Marc Jacobs MBM5545, £239 from Selfridges 2 Whoop Ass BBQ Sauce set, £17.99 and 3 EShave double edge razor, £60, both from Selfridges 4 Crown Royal premium Canadian whisky, £26.95 from www.31dover.com 5 Veuve Clicquot champagne mailbox, £54.95, 6 Tom Ford beard comb, £28, 7 Nutribullet red edition, £99.95, 8 Hay anthracite salt and pepper grinder, £27, 9 Casamigos blanco tequilla, £62.99, 10 Taylor of Old Bond Street sandalwood shaving soap with wooden bowl, £24.50, 11 NONE smokefree BBQ, £140 and 12 Lipault washbag, £32 (exclusive) all available from Selfridges]]> Weekend Shopping: Covent Garden's Discounted Delights tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2015:/theblog//3.7237444 2015-05-07T20:44:46-04:00 2015-05-08T05:59:02-04:00 Sarah McGiven http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-mcgiven/ So, for some bargain fun, I heartily recommend heading down to Covent Garden this Saturday for the Seven Dials and St Martin's Courtyard Spring Shopping event where 120 shops, bars and restaurants will be giving (free) ticket holders a 20% discount between 12 noon and 5pm. These kinds of events crop up every so often but are usually evenings and after a long day at work the last thing I really feel like doing is standing at the end of a long line to get a few quid off a mascara - I did this once on my way to a birthday party and was holding a giant helium balloon which was 'an experience' (single people, if you find it hard meeting people, may I suggest loitering with a balloon. Most of the strangers who stopped to talk to me were nutters but you never know I guess...). Seven Dials is holding their Spring Shopping Event on a far more sensible Saturday late afternoon. Not only that but it's one of my absolute favourite areas to shop. Not gonna lie, its proximity to the fabulous cocktails at Freud's, where I held my 20th birthday party back when it was a britpop hotspot, and the Gwynneth Paltrow-approved Covent Garden Hotel's Brasserie Max, both of which are taking part in the event, also has a great deal to do with it. The range of stores in this super cute area is crazy - everything from the poshest naughty knickers at Coco de Mer, to fun accessories at my beloved Tatty Devine, and a whole world of arty potential that I could spend literally days exploring at the London Graphics Centre. Of course there are a ton of fashion stores at a variety of price points too - Urban Outfitters, Adolfo Dominguez, etc - and some super hot shoe shops - Poste Mistress is a firm fav. Haven't snapped up some adidas Superstars for the summer? Get them while the discount's good over at Size? or Offspring. Need to Spring clean your makeup look? Head on over to Benefit, Shu Uemura, or any of the other amazing beauty shops taking part in the event to stock up - this is literally one of my favourite things to do - that 20% off suddenly means adding that extra lippy or maybe trying that contouring kit is totally justified because you've done so well saving on the essentials... I've just run out my supply of Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Serum, that blue dropper bottle of skin saving, mosturising, overnight wonder, so was excited to hear they're taking part too. Joining them is Magma, the awesome arty book store, which has recently opened its new flagship store in Shorts Gardens, which - as with Cath Kidston and Scribbler - provides a top window to pre-buy gifts for birthdays, weddings or, for the more forward-thinking amongst you, Christmas. For the men there are some brilliant must-visits, including Fred Perry's super fancy Laurel Wreath Collection shop actually on Seven Dials by the roundabout (be warned, their sizes tend to come up a little snug when I've bought guys gifts from there so consider going one bigger), and the Carhartt Work in Progress store, as well as The Watch Shop and Happy Socks for the more accessory-focused. Lastly - top tip - if, like me, you've been reading in the press recently about all the gross reasons why you need to replace your pillows and make sure your bed has a mattress protector, you might want to make a quick pit stop at Covent Garden's White Company store for discounted bed essentials. I bought our current crop of pillows from there and they're like proper hotel pillows. What more could you want? You can find the full list of participants, which includes bars, restaurants, and even a dental spa, here. Don't forget to visit the website to register for your free ticket first, which also entitles you to various freebies and gets you access to a host of other special events in the area. You can thank me later. Happy Drinking/Eating/Shopping! The Seven Dials and St Martin's Courtyard 20% discount Spring Shopping Event in association with Elle and Esquire takes place on Saturday 9th May from 12 noon until 5pm. For more information and to register for your free ticket in order to claim discounts at the selected outlets taking part, visit sevendials.co.uk or stmartinscourtyard.co.uk]]> We Love You Cambridge Satchels - Nuts for New Peanuts Bags tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2015:/theblog//3.6732004 2015-02-22T19:13:38-05:00 2015-04-24T05:59:01-04:00 Sarah McGiven http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-mcgiven/ The Cambridge Satchel Co Peanuts Collection. Although Snoopy and co. first debuted as a comic strip in the 1950's, the 60's and 70's were the cartoon's heyday. In fact, Woodstock may have first popped up in the 1960s but he didn't actually get a name until 1970. I recently went to an intimate launch at the brand's flagship Covent Garden store, to get up close with these fun pieces and meet the wonderful team behind it. Despite kindly receiving a slew of daily invitations to launches and events, as blogging isn't my full time job, I rarely attend any events but made sure I was free for this, given I'm a huge Peanuts fan - I'm talking Charlie Brown-themed front room, Snoopy T-shirts 'at my age' etc - who's also obsessed with her neon pink, embossed Cambridge Satchel Company satchel which I bought as soon as they came out and, despite being hugely fickle with my accessories, still use and love (and am frequently asked about by strangers who are similarly drawn to it's quirky Britishness). The Cambridge Satchel Company have cleverly taken Peanuts' most recognisable motif, the signature Charlie Brown zig-zag, and worked it into an all-over print. This has been applied to a range of bag silhouettes from their classic satchels to the utterly adorable mini-satchels and, for the first time, pouches. The range of vintage colours evoke a perfectly retro feel, whilst still being modern and I was generously gifted a red satchel which is still making me smile when I use it. There are a lot of other colours available too, including a glossy, rich teal and an adorable cornflower blue that are so chic, and the black on black is just perfection. There isn't a dud among the colour ways to be honest, and as a someone who never wears anything in any shade of brown, even the archetypal schoolbag-brown shade looked fantastic. There are two particularly noteworthy details that are also worth a mention as, for me, they epitomise the love that this family business puts into everything they do. One is the addition of Woodstock riding the company's bike logo on each piece - have a look at the website for a close up to see it properly - and the other is a cute little addition inside each bag. But I'll leave it for you to discover that on your own as it's such a lovely surprise. These snaps from the night and of the products as they appear on the website should give you an idea of what to expect but one thing that isn 't pictured here but which you can find on their website (although they are not available just yet) are dog collars! And, cat lovers do not fear, we haven't been forgotten - I asked and they will fit even the smallest dog which means you should be able to get one to fit your cat too. I'll be buying one for my little tiger so you can check out how it works out on my instagram as soon as they're available. Cambridge Satchel Company x Peanuts Collection available now only from Cambridge Satchel Company stores and from their online shop at www.cambridgesatchel.com. Prices start from £70.]]> Weekend Shopping: American Eagle Outfitters Lands in London tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2014:/theblog//3.6149078 2014-11-14T19:00:00-05:00 2015-01-14T05:59:01-05:00 Sarah McGiven http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-mcgiven/ American Eagle Outfitters, heralded as 'America's favourite jeans brand' is opening its first UK outlets this month, starting this weekend with the launch of its flagship store at Westfield White City with brand ambassador and model, Daisy Lowe. With affordable, all-American designs along the lines of early Abercrombie & Fitch-meets-GAP, I love the simplicity and often vintage feel to their easy to wear clothing. It's comfortably cool. Whilst best known for their denim (of which there is LOADS), American Eagle has long been my go-to for college-style sweats (buy from the women's collection for a more fitted silhouette, or from the men's range for sloppier, boyfriend-style fits). Also, its underwear label, Aerie, makes the best everyday knickers - sorry, 'Boybriefs' - I've found since Bonds, and they come in size range XXS-XXL. I adore both these particular lines as they are always made from a really great quality cotton that's comfy, soft and wears well - the sweatshirts look better the more you wear them. Random fact: they do great socks and underwear for guys too, which make fab stocking fillers. I'm sure this relaxed, Stateside addition to the city's usual shopping mega-mall brand line-ups will be well received, and can't wait to see how the UK stores compare to the US locations. My fingers are crossed for the knickers above all being in stock - they do bulk buy discounts :) American Eagle Outfitters opens its flagship store at Westfield White City on Friday 14th November, followed by stores at Westfield Stratford City on Monday 17th, and Bluewater in Kent on Wednesday 19th November.]]> Cool for Kids tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2014:/theblog//3.6136224 2014-11-11T19:00:00-05:00 2015-01-11T05:59:01-05:00 Sarah McGiven http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-mcgiven/ These three adult brands - Black Score, Jack Spade and Kate Spade New York (the latter two thanks to a new collaboration with GAP KIDS) - do brilliant clothing for children that means those of you who like to mini me with your kids can do so without looking weird. Well. Less weird, anyway. Black Score In the same was as there are some kids who can tell you everything about every footballer who plays for their favourite team or sing along word-perfect to every song by Taylor Swift, there are also fashion kids with blogs, instagrams and vlogs who know their Pixar from their Prada. There are also just kids who couldn't care less about clothes but like cute animals. Enter Black Score whose handmade, hand-illustrated basics reference fashion and pop culture in a fun way that kids and their parents can both appreciate. Oh how I wish they did that top left 'Chanail' sweatshirt in adult sizes... (NB. they do do the other one as a T-shirt). Available in ages 2-12 years although babygros are also available. Prices from around £25-£38. Black Score children's designs are available exclusively from Selfridges whilst their adult designs are available direct from www.blackscore.co.uk GAP KIDS x Kate Spade New York Taking Kate Spade New York's signature quirky uptown girl style and translating it into little girls clothing has worked really well. Cutesy bow and polka dot prints are adorably pretty and the girly styles are very much like that of their womenswear. I take slight exception to the amount of pink involved but I guess that's what a lot of little girls are into so hey ho. My absolute favourite thing about this collection is the accessories and I am beyond gutted that these christmas bow ballerina shoes don't come in adult sizes. I'm totally getting that striped bear-ears phone case and the gift bow headband though (which also comes in other colours) - headaches be damned. Do check out the candy striped tights too, also sadly only in kids sizes. Prices from £12.95 - £74.95. GAP KIDS x Kate Spade New York collaboration collection is available from selected GAP KIDS stores and from www.gap.co.uk GAP KIDS x Jack Spade For me, the boy's collection is definitely stronger than the girls collection and any mothers looking for non-pink options for their little girls should definitely take a look at this. The camo designs in particular seem totally unisex and very, very cool. I love that there are matching pencil cases and backpacks - luggage is something the Jack Spade menswear brand is, quite rightly, well known for - and the goggly eyes shirts and hi-tops are too cute. The tech accessories are another standout, particularly the burger iPad cover pictured above. Prices from £12.95 - £89.95 GAP KIDS x Jack Spade collaboration collection is available from selected GAP KIDS stores and from www.gap.co.uk]]> Colourful Autumn Collections for Men and Women tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2014:/theblog//3.6090250 2014-11-03T19:00:00-05:00 2015-01-03T05:59:01-05:00 Sarah McGiven http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-mcgiven/ The following collections - some for women, some for men, some for both - are extreme examples of how you can introduce a bit of colour into your outfits this season. If you absolutely will not be parted from your darker styles, why not try wearing them with a pair of amazing, colourful kicks like these Mary Katrantzou x adidas Originals designs? Or add a pop of pink or teal with pieces from Finchittida Finch's latest jewellery collection? For the guys, grab a bit of Jonathan Saunders' fabulously fun collection for British menswear institution, Lyle & Scott. Or if that's just too much, you can't go wrong with some Happy Socks - or even some happy pants now they've released their debut underwear line. You can also find more examples of cheery colourful finds on my instagram @sarahmcgiven Adidas Originals by Mary Katrantzou This is a little preview as the hotly anticipated capsule collection doesn't actually drop until November 15th. Fash pack fav and Queen of Print, Mary Katrantzou has produced a range of innovative apparel and footwear for adidas Originals that fuses her iconic use of hyper-color and kaleidoscopic patterns with athletic sneaker-style inspirations. Unlike previous designer and celebrity adidas Originals collaborations, which have served mostly to reinterpret existing adidas Originals designs with new prints or embellishments, Mary Katrantzou has produced a particularly fashion forward collection. Whilst the inspirations and technical fabrics may scream sportswear, the clothing silhouettes and cuts are entirely more high end. This is a collection that people with absolutely no interest in sport and every interest in fashion will love just as much as adidas aficionados. The vivid colours and artful print combinations are an utter joy throughout and I can't think of a better outfit to make you look forward to Monday morning more than the incredible 'go faster' A-line mini dress with the lacing print, pictured above (bottom row, far right). Colourful and cute without being childish or costumey. LOVE. adidas Originals by Mary Katrantzou drops 15 November at www.adidas.com and various other retailers. Lyle & Scott x Jonathan Saunders Top of the colour pops this Autumn is Jonathan Saunders' premium capsule collection for menswear mainstays Lyle & Scott. The heritage Scottish brand, which is celebrating its 140 year anniversary, got top Glaswegian designer Jonathan Saunders on board to provide these fun styles for Fall. Known for his impeccable use of colour, Saunders turned his signature style into cheerful, bold, graphic designs that are gloriously fresh and upbeat. Taking the brand's golfing past and translating it into present day pops of pattern and colour, the collection features one-colour, colour-blocked and cheekily pattern-clashing styles across knitwear, footwear and shirting. These would make the coolest Christmas jumpers around so snap them up now, and look forward to more to come from this perfect partnership. Prices from £70-£265. Lyle & Scott x Jonathan Saunders is available from www.lyleandscott.com Finchittida Finch: 'The Empress' Collection For the first time, London-based design duo Finchittida Finch have introduced colour into their third collection, The Empress. Featuring stunning statement pieces like crowns and ornate body harnesses, as well as wearable every day styles, including chokers, bracelets and earrings in a range of sizes, their sophisticated jewellery is made more fun through their use of perspex. The collection, which has already been spotted on tastemaker FKA twigs and Eliza Doolittle, is also helping to raise money for charity, in line with the brand's core values, or as they put it: "We believe in having a positive impact with our brand - helping social inequalities, environmental issues and spreading peace & love. Because kindness is sexy as hell." Tida and Lisa Finch, the twin sisters behind the brand, have partnered with the humanitarian charity MAG (Mines Advisory Group) for this collection, so that 10% of every purchase helps to clear bombs from conflicted areas around the world. MAG carries out extensive work in Laos, where the Finch sisters' mother is from, due to it being the most bombed country in history, making the charity particularly poignant to them. Prices from around £35 to £525. The Empress collection by Finchittida Finch is available now from finchittidafinch.com Happy Socks (and Underwear, and Accessories...) Happy Socks, the go-to brand for those cheery, eye-boggling designs that peek from beneath the trousers of hipsters and city types alike, was founded in 2008 and has since sold over 12 million pairs of socks. They launched their first underwear collections for men and women, featuring similarly jazzy, colourful patterns, in August to coincide with National Underwear Day, and also do a number of accessories from handkerchiefs to notebooks. For those who are less comfortable with grand displays of colour, Happy Socks - whether socks and a matching pocket square, or hidden bright boxers - are a great first step. They also do really cute gift boxes so make great presents for people who could do with a burst of brightness in their lives. Prices from around £8 although they also have an outlet on their site. Happy Socks designs are available from Selfridges, Urban Outfitters and www.happysocks.com]]> Weekend Shopping Essentials: Rubber Rain Boots tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2014:/theblog//3.6090616 2014-11-02T17:21:21-05:00 2015-01-02T05:59:01-05:00 Sarah McGiven http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-mcgiven/ One thing I decided was an absolute essential in my life was a pair of short rubber boots. Something lightweight that would repel rain and provide enough grip to stop me from slipping even on the soggiest of London streets. In the space of three days I saw three separate people fall over in the rain and this properly gave me the fear. I went online on the bus home and starting scouting rain boots. I wasn't entirely sure what I was after at first other than something stylish that wasn't quite wellies as they're too cumbersome, but something just as effective in the rain. Given they are synonymous with wet weather attire these days, I started off on the Hunter website and found some absolutely amazing heeled ankle boots with good, grippy soles. The high heel styles were astounding and made me wish for less-flat feet. Fallen arches in mind, I browsed on and found the fabulous short Hunter Original Short Chelsea boots with neon soles pictured here and in the round-up below, which I subsequently purchased. I wore them home from work the day they arrived and then wore them four out of the next five days. With jeans, trousers, tights - whatever, these cute little booties are just the best. They're super comfy, I've had no blisters or discomfort of any kind, and - more importantly - I haven't fallen over once despite sheet rain and a total lack of balance on my part. I've just found that there's a whole bunch of matching accessories too with hats, gloves and an awesome scuba backpack *excited face* Next on my list are the new Converse rubber Chuck Taylors which were released the day after my Hunters arrived. The iconic baseball boots are now available in rubber and a range of colours - so even welly-phobes can keep their feet dry without compromising on personal style. If you're looking for sensible footwear that's also stylish, have a look at my little round-up below. Hunter Boot short rain boots Short in height but strong on style, these bright boots had me at 'neon sole'. They come in a whole range of colours - the yellow short rubber Chelsea Boots, top left, are the ones I got (£80). Available from www.hunterboots.com the new Hunter flagship store on London's Regent Street, and various other retailers Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Rubber Baseball Boots Such a great idea. Avoid wet feet without losing that inimitable Converse style with these rubber Chucks. These rain-resistant baseball boots come in a range of colours which all have a fleecy lining for extra comfort and warmth. Available from Office stores and at www.office.co.uk, priced £59.99 1 Dav moto tall PVC rain boots, £44 from £89 at www.theoutnet.com 2 Hunter 'Millbank' rubber sneaker-style boots, £38 from £70, from www.theoutnet.com 3 Hunter 'Earlham' shearling-trimmed Wellington boots, £87 from £145 at www.theoutnet.com 4 Salvatore Ferragamo 'Niper' rain boots, £243 from www.farfetch.com 5 Valentino stud wellies, £255 from www.Selfridges.com 6 Dav 'Seattle' rubber rain boots, £39 from £65 at www.theoutnet.com 7 Givenchy 'Eva' rain boots, £234 from FarFetch 8 Burberry London 'Equestrian Buckle' Chelsea rain boots, £234 from www.FarFetch.com 9 Steve Madden 'Dreench' buckle-detail wellies, £48 from Selfridges 10Burberry London buckled rain boots, £275 from FarFetch]]> Hyaluronic Skincare Heroes tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2014:/theblog//3.5935446 2014-10-06T19:00:00-04:00 2014-12-06T05:59:01-05:00 Sarah McGiven http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-mcgiven/ This is one skincare ingredient I've been a huge fan of for years now, with two products being true standouts. These are my two absolute favourites and the reasons why... AM/PM Hyaluronic Infusion by pH Advantage I first started using products based around hyaluronic acid in 2003 when I discovered plastic surgeon, Dr. Barry Cohen's pH Advantage line in the States. I had turned up in NYC with a completely empty suitcase and my first stop after JFK was to midtown to meet my friend whose apartment I was staying at. Her office was by Herald Square so, after checking in with her, I cheekily dropped my suitcase off in Macy's handy Left Luggage, then did a three-stop emergency dash to pick up all the essentials (Old Navy - Duane Reade - Sephora). One of the super helpful shop assistants in Sephora saw my parched post-flight skin and suggested I try some products from the pH Advantage line. They gave me a bunch of testers to take home along with my other purchases and I loved them so much I went back a couple of days later and bought some. My skin started to look like I'd been drinking lots of water and getting lots of sleep, despite not doing either of those things. When I got back from that trip - which, to give you some context, involved a music festival in a monsoon at the Giants Stadium, being filmed (totally randomly) by MTV whilst partying in Jamaica, Queens, and being driven home from a club by a taxi driver who had one foot on the dashboard the whole way... - I still remember how funny it was that everyone commented on how refreshed and healthy I looked. I put it squarely down to my new skincare routine. For years after I couldn't find it anywhere but have mercifully recently discovered that pH Advantage is stocked both online and at Beyond MediSpa which is based in Harvey Nichols' London and Edinburgh locations. In particular, I swear by their AM/PM Hyaluronic Infusion which is for dry, dehydrated or mature skin and contains medical grade ingredients, including the maximum amount of hyaluronic acid you're allowed without a prescription (45%). I use 1-2 pumps morning and night. The solution is watery so goes on easily and absorbs quickly into the skin - and one bottle tends to last me around 4-6 months. AM/PM Hyaluronic Infusion, £80 from www.phadvantage.co.uk and Beyond MediSpa inside Harvey Nichols London and Edinburgh. Hyaluronic Eye Cream by Mario Badescu I hate using eye cream. I always get it in my actual eye instead of just around the eye area which HURTS. And I've also had a lot of eye cream dramas - one product actually gave me burns - so I've incredibly picky as to what I use in this sensitive area. If I can't find something I like, I just won't use one but I decided recently that I'm probably too old to get away with that now so I hunted down my all time favourite - Mario Badescu's Hyaluronic Eye Cream. The main reason I love this cream is because I know it works. One evening some friends and I inexplicably ended up at a plastic surgery expo. As they sought out the bar, I stumbled across a stand offering something called a 'skin scan'. An established skin clinic was offering free facial scans that would tell you about the true state of your skin, particularly in relation to sun damage. I figured it would be worth a go so stuck my head in the machine, which then filled with blue light (UV, I'm guessing). As I opened my eyes, there was my reflection staring back at me. But it was different. Instead of my skin having its standard northern pallor - the shade kindly known as 'porcelain' in makeup terminology - it was varying shades of blue, with two big white rings around my eyes like an inverse panda. The clinician carrying out the scan told me that the dark blue areas that were around my forehead, nose and also formed a beard shape were badly sun damaged, and that the lighter blue areas were less severely damaged areas, whilst the white areas - purely around my eyes - were healthy skin. Puzzled, the clinician said it was incredibly odd to find such badly damaged areas next to such healthy areas and asked about my skincare routine. I explained the products I used on my face, including the Mario Badescu Hyaluronic Eye Cream and she immediately said "Aaah, that explains it - hyaluronic acid is known to help repair the skin and reverse the signs of sun damage". No word of a lie, I went home that night and smothered that eye cream all over my face. Absolutely piled it on. I've never had another skin scan since, or a second opinion on the first one, so I don't know if that's true, or if my continued use of the eye cream and the additional boost of the pH Advantage serum detailed above, has made any difference to the existing damage. What I do know is that I don't have any wrinkles under my eyes yet despite a lifetime of screwing my face up, wrinkling my nose at things and squinting at screens, so I'm happy. Hyaluronic Eye Cream by Mario Badescu, £17.95 is available from www.beautybay.com (free shipping) and from www.mariobadescu.com]]> Getcha Street On tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2014:/theblog//3.5604302 2014-07-28T19:00:00-04:00 2014-09-27T05:59:06-04:00 Sarah McGiven http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-mcgiven/ London is well known as one of the street style capitals of the world - a place where what the cool kids in 'creative' (basically, poorer) areas from Hackney to Peckham are wearing influences international designers. Their raw looks get interpreted into catwalk designs, then make their way through the fashion chain, eventually filtering back down all the way to the high street. But many other cities all over the world influence the process too, notably New York, Tokyo and Copenhagen. These three collections take street influences, from classic 90s hip hop style, Kawaii and the gritty London realness that is the Tube, and turn them into super cool, easy to wear, edgy fashion for men and women, that references London, New York and Tokyo style. Roundel I HATE the stinking tube, especially in Summer, but I adore its history and iconography, and it's these visual associations with the London Underground that Roundel draws on for its brilliant unisex designs. The latest collection runs from sweats to shirts, jackets and tees, and now some incredible accessories, including a rucksack I really, really recommend you check out for yourselves, I saw it at their press day and was totally bowled over by the gorgeous colours and quality, it's genuinely fantastic (in case you can't get to the store, take a peek at this snap I took). Everything has that easy, edgy London feel and interprets everyday London imagery in a way that's understated, cool and never touristy. Available in store from Dover Street Market at 17-18 Dover Street, London W1S 4LT and online at www.oki-ni.com New Era Heritage Series: Spike Lee 1996 Collection This is so cool - whilst, according to himself, it was Jay Z who made the cap 'more famous than a Yankee can', I had no idea that the iconic New York Yankees baseball cap only started to come in colours other than the team's signature dark navy blue thanks to film director and Yankees fanatic, Spike Lee. Apparently Lee called up Chris Koch, the CEO of New Era - the heritage sports and lifestyle brand, and absolute kings of authentic baseball style - and asked for a scarlet red Yankees cap. Koch obtained special permission and produced a number of the caps in other colours, including green, yellow, and orange. New Era have teamed up with Spike Lee to bring out this latest 1996 Collection as part of their on-going Heritage Series, and it includes some super cool leather versions of the ultimate NY accessory. You can see Spike Lee talk about the cultural significance of baseball in this video that accompanies the release. Available soon from www.neweracap.co.uk and select New Era stockists McQ Manga Collaboration with Yoshiyasu Tamura For its AW14 menswear and womenswear collections, McQ collaborated with Japanese artist, Yoshiyasu Tamura on artwork taken from a fictional manga comic book series. Inspired by Japanese youth culture, the prints reimagine SS14's Angry Bunny as a samurai doing battle on the streets of Tokyo. The energetic sketches appear both as patchwork (a luxe, infinitely more tasteful take on the early 90s cartoon jeans that I've been spotting hipster kids wearing again recently) as well as an all-over print. Meant to convey both 'the DIY feel and the spirit of youthful rebellion' found elsewhere in the collections, I love the fun Manga stylings that are slightly too sinister to tap into the Kawaii trend but definitely work for a wider audience. Also, Angry Bunny aside, this conjures up memories of the legendary a-Ha video for 'Take on Me', which is never a bad thing. Released this August and available from McQ stores and www.alexandermcqueen.com/gb/mcq]]> Try the Tassel Trend tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2014:/theblog//3.5604300 2014-07-22T19:00:00-04:00 2014-09-21T05:59:06-04:00 Sarah McGiven http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-mcgiven/ It's a bold High Summer look that's currently populating high street stores and designer boutiques alike, particularly in the form of holiday kimonos, but choose your weapons wisely and the pieces you pick up now will see you through next season too. Fringed kiltie shoes and sandals are where it's at right now with tassel loafers everywhere for winter. Designers including Stella McCartney and Michael Kors showed fashion forward variations on this decorative trim trend in both their clothing and accessories lines for AW14. Interestingly each designer aligned their interpretations of fringed fashion with their heritage. So, whilst Kors went for a luxurious, laid-back western feel, using soft suedes and knits for a tactile chic that was gloriously American, McCartney's signature slick-yet-slouchy, super cool London look gave us what I'm pretty sure will be one of the most knocked-off items of next season - the oversized tassel knit sweater - along with sexily draped fringed dresses that make you want to shimmy and you just know will be AMAZING for dancing in. There are some particularly special luxe-looking bohemian bags coming through that will instantly update a look, as well as great bag charms and jewellery for a more subtle acknowledgement. M&S have some fantastic tassel necklaces and clothing due out in October for a reasonable, high street rendering of this trend which can work for any age, although I've noticed plenty of amazing fringed bargains in the sales right now so see what you can pick up for a song now, safe in the knowledge you'll be wearing it all winter too. 1 Ashiana, Beaded tassel necklace, £80, 2 Saint Laurent, Classic small Monogramme tassel shoulder bag, £1,200, 3 Jacques + Sienna, Tassel bracelet, £29, 4 Anya Hindmarch, Courtney tassel bag charm, £195, and 5 Astley Clarke, Knot tassel 18ct gold vermeil charm, £125, all from Selfridges; 6 Fringed kimono, £20, from www.shelikes.com; 7 Eugène Riconneaus, Red Coral Suede Annasea Wedges, reduced from £595 to £178 at www.avenue32.com; 8 Agraria, Bitter orange TasselAire scented tassels for your doorknobs - how cute?!, £42.95 from Harrods.com; 9 Blue fringe mini handbag £360, from the Karl Lagerfeld store, 145-147 Regent Street, London W1B 4JB (Tel 020 7439 8454); 10 Boticca, Coral multi-tassel earrings by Jenny Jenny, £48 from www.boticca.com 1 Tara floral-embroidered kimono, £1,457, and 2 Shyla Tara-print kaftan dress, £284 (exclusive), both by Talitha, one of my new favourite luxury brands that makes effortlessly stylish, immensely wearable, worldly pieces for bohemian jet setters, and which work for almost every occasion and body shape, both from www.matchesfashion.com; 3 Freedom at Topshop, Green tassel beaded earrings, £10, from Topshop; 4 Chloe, tassel loafers, £396 from FarFetch.com; 5 Miss Selfridge, Tassel backpack, £35 from Miss Selfridge; 6 Tim Ryan, Silver Lurex Fringed Jacket, £1,430 from www.avenue32.com; 7 Talitha, Khema tribal top, reduced to £192 from £385 at www.matchesfashion.com; 8 Tim Ryan, Multi Chevron Fringe Dress, £895, exclusive to www.avenue32.com 1 Primark, Printed beach fringe kimono (so Jessa from Girls...), £15 from Primark stores; 2 Phase Eight, Plaza fringe dress, £295 from Phase Eight; 3 Boticca, Rainbow tassel hoops by Jenny Jenny, £45 from www.boticca.com; 4 Accessorize, Peri tassel bumbag, £25 from Accessorize; 5 Jacques + Sienna, Tassel necklace, £39 from Selfridges.com; 6 Miss Selfridge, Kimono, coming soon; 7 Freedom at Topshop, Mini coin hoop earrings, £6.50 from Topshop; 8 Pink and orange fringe drawstring £335, from the Karl Lagerfeld store, 145-147 Regent Street, London W1B 4JB (Tel 020 7439 8454) 1 Allusions at BHS, Pearl and bead tassel necklace, £10 from BHS; 2 Just Cavalli, Cowl neck fringe dress, £340, 3 Raquel Allegra, Fringe tea dress, £385, and 4 MICHAEL Michael Kors, Fringed poncho, £125, all from Harrods.com;5 Samuji, Ecru White Rooibos Cropped Top, £215 from www.avenue32.com; 6 Primark, Beaded tassel necklace, £6 from Primark stores; 7 Stephen Webster, Superstone tassel earrings, £620, from Harrods; 8 Armani Jeans, Small tassel logo shopper, £170, from Harrods.com; 9 Topshop, Beaded fringed dress; 10 Wallis Jewellery, White enamel ball necklace, £10 from Wallis; 11 Stella McCartney, Fallabella small fringed bag, £1,050 from Selfridges; 12 Primark, Cream tassel kimono (also available in black), £14 from Primark stores]]> Weekend Shopping: Accessories From Sporty to Sleepy tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2014:/theblog//3.5596872 2014-07-18T19:00:00-04:00 2014-09-17T05:59:06-04:00 Sarah McGiven http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-mcgiven/ Whilst the closest I come to sport right now is sample sale shopping, it doesn't mean I can't appreciate a cool accessory - especially one that helps you sleep (more on that later). So whether you're out to rest or play, here's a bunch of fun stuff to make your sports more stylish and your sleep easier. Frescobol Carioca This wonderful Brazilian brand brings a little bit of South American flavour to Britain with chic, retro sports equipment and beautiful beach wear from Rio. They do teeny tiny bikinis, linen shirts, panama hats - everything the well dressed holiday maker would need - but I particularly love the eye-popping prints of their menswear, and especially the gorgeous hand finished wooden surf accessories and artisan beach bats sets which make fantastic gifts. 1 Trancoso Beach Bats, 100% wood with neoprene handle, £140, for two bats and balls in a waterproof bag, 2 Orange patterned tailored shorts, £145, 3 Hand surf, 100% wood, £160, 4 Red patterned tailored shorts, £145 All available from Frescobol Carioca stockists, www.frescobolcarioca.com Suunto Sports GPS & Dive Computer Watches Not going to lie, I rarely wear a watch, can only swim on my back, and have a complete fish phobia so dive computers are not exactly my area of expertise. That said, since my other half took up diving, it's opened up a whole other world of accessories that does pique my interest, especially when they're as swish as this. I came across Suunto whilst looking for a birthday present (ssshhh, don't tell him) and was really impressed with how cool their dive computer watches were. I've only seen the ones my boyfriend wore at his dive school which were a lot more clunky (and ugly) and definitely couldn't be worn just as an everyday watch, which you definitely could with this sleek Suunto DX Titanium style. I love how, as a watch, it has an understated, cool 80s throwback look, thoroughly disguising all the clever stuff this wrist computer, protected by a sapphire crystal glass screen, can do. Described as 'the ultimate tool for open circuit and rebreather divers', it allows you to plan dive profiles, gases and back up plans, and features Suunto Fused™ RGBM, a 3D compass with optional wireless air integration. Pretty impressive for such a simple exterior, right? I discovered Suunto also do land-sport watches with all manner of James Bond style capabilities hidden beneath their bright, streamlined quartz casings. The latest model is the Suunto Ambit3 Sport GPS watch (pictured, above left) with a crazy number of features for loads of different sports, including running, swimming, cycling and multi-sport training. It's the brand's first Bluetooth Smart compatible watch and can be linked to a free smartphone app so you can track your progress, upload exercises and monitor your heart rate as well as navigating your route via the GPS and 3D compass. There really is too much to this to go into now, so have a look here to get the full run down. Left: Suunto Ambit3 Sport GPS watch (have a look at the ladylike Sapphire colourway for a super pretty, girlier version), £275 or £325 with Heart Rate Monitor, Right: Suunto DX Titanium watch style dive computer, around £1,075. For more details and to find your nearest stockist, visit www.suunto.com The Train Trip to Sleep - Hypnotherapy App If you've worn yourself out from being sporty, it's unlikely you'd need this but for anyone who has trouble sleeping, this is definitely worth a go. I've had sleep problems from an early age and am still a fairly chronic insomniac - at least I no longer sleep standing up with my eyes open though (I was a freaky kid) - so I was keen to give this new app, The Train Trip: to Sleep by wellbeing guru and trained clinical hypnotherapist, Terrence the Teacher, a go. The app comprises 7 sessions to be repeated 3 times as part of a 3 week journey. Four of these sessions focus on relaxation with 'deep trance', which can naturally progress to deep sleep; Two sessions on exercises that will help to silence a busy mind, and a final session teaching self-hypnosis to empower the user for long term sleep success. Additionally, the app also includes 'Toot's Top Tips' - 21 practical deep sleep tips. I've never tried hypnotherapy before so had no idea what it would be like. Designed to help you 'reconnect with your natural ability to sleep' by using positive suggestion and neuro-linguistic techniques, I just hoped it wasn't going to involve waking up next to a half eaten onion. Terrence advises that, on average, habits, such as 'not' sleeping, take 21 days to form so his 3 week guide to combating deep rooted issues with sleep patterns should help you resolve your insomnia in a relatively short space of time. Whilst I only managed to follow it for four nights due to poor scheduling on my part (which isn't a very good trial, I know), it was definitely a worthwhile experience. My usual sleep routine involves going to bed at a reasonable hour, watching some mind numbing Real Housewives style TV or cartoons (Family Guy, American Dad, all that kind of thing) so that I wind down before trying to sleep at around 1-2am. I usually finally get to sleep around 3am on a good night, 5am on a bad one - and this is why I am not a morning person. Anyway... Night 1: Around 1am I put my headphones on so as not to disturb my sleeping boyf, and listened to the first part, as instructed. I found the guy's voice, combined with the eerie train noises and grey screen graphics, so creepy I was honestly scared to go to sleep because I thought I'd have nightmares but - and I swear this is exactly what happened - just as I was giggling about how that was too absurd to be right and listening intently for something a bit less disturbing, I must have fallen asleep because I don't remember a thing after that point. Literally, nothing. I fell into a deep sleep and woke around six hours later still wearing my headphones. Despite the incredible result of Night 1 and unusual amount of unbroken sleep I got, I just assumed I must have been super tired and wasn't really convinced it had anything to do with the app. Then, Night 2 - same thing. Creeped out... bit more creeped out... sound asleep. I did wake up about an hour later because my headphones were uncomfortable but I snoozily removed them and went straight back to sleep, no bother, no nightmares and felt well rested the next day. By now, after two concurrent nights of good quality sleep, you'd think I'd be all over this app, but Night 3 was where my extreme insomnia brain kicked in and my willpower didn't. Night 3 I realised I could have the app running in the background as I did other things on my phone so Night 3 I listened, as usual, but instead of concentrating fully, I was checking my email at the same time. Then on Night 4 I was 'listening' (I wasn't really) but was also playing Candy Crush Saga. On Nights 3 and 4 I didn't get to sleep until after 3am and was back to my previous ways. Judging by the reviews left at the App Store, people who can stick with this app are delighted with the results. I plan to give The Train Trip: to Sleep, part of a series of apps dealing with various topics including weight loss, another go and give it my full attention this time as I can clearly recall how amazingly I slept that first night I tried it. If you're having trouble sleeping and are willing to put in the few minutes of undivided attention it requires (this must sound so pathetic to non-insomniacs who have slightly better control over their racing brains), I say DO IT. And sweet dreams. I'd love to hear how you get on - if you try it, do leave a comment below or tweet me @FightForYrWrite with your results. The Train Trip: to Sleep is available to download from The App Store and costs £5.49.]]> Haircare Heroes tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2014:/theblog//3.5562209 2014-07-08T19:00:00-04:00 2014-09-07T05:59:06-04:00 Sarah McGiven http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-mcgiven/ after trying to use one of these dreadful little bars to treat a scalp condition I suffer from. What it left me with was hair that smelled like a stable and was so broken, dry and brittle that it tangled itself up, as if it was trying to get away from me, into a giant candyfloss-style dread. It took a WEEK of gentle Tangle-Teezing, washing and dousing in argan oil, coconut oil etc, to get it to the point where I could cut the unsalvageable pieces out without having to go full on 'Britney in 2007'. So, after that utter disaster and the semi-miraculous recovery via a scalp treatment at the Belgravia Centre (this is usually reserved for people undergoing hair loss treatment courses but I was treated to one as part of a training programme), all things hair-related - including what to cover it or push it back with when you just can't deal - have been on my mind this week. I've tried loads of new hair products in the past few months and these are the cream for your crop. PS. Two of my absolute fav headwear designers, Eugenia Kim and Piers Atkinson, both have pieces in the Net-A-Porter.com sale right now. Race you...! Julien Farel Anti-Aging Haircare Julien Farel, the mane master of Madison Avenue is upscaling to a new role as hair Prince of Park Avenue with a new salon and spa in the Loews Regency Hotel. And whilst New York may be a little far to go for a cut and colour from the man who's trimmed and tended everyone from impeccably groomed Manhattanites like Ivanka Trump, to Kate Moss, Olivia Palermo, Adrien Brody and Wimbledon winner, Novak Djokovic, the goodness that is his anti-aging Restore haircare range is now available from Selfridges. Marketed as 'anti-aging haircare', I thought this stuff might be pretty good given its pedigree, but wasn't really expecting much more than a decent shampoo and conditioner. I was given a three step programme to follow for dry/damaged hair (my hair was both dry and damaged from the aforementioned incident and constant colouring) - this comprised a Vitamin Restore shampoo which should be used every time, then a Vitamin Restore conditioner and a Vitamin Restore treatment which should be alternated. First up, it all smells INCREDIBLE. It's beautifully zesty and has the scent of an actual orange - not chemical orange but actual orange. Delicately zingy - it practically had me from there. I used the shampoo and it lathered really well, didn't need loads to clean my bust-length hair and didn't leave my hair dry or 'sticky' (fellow bleach blondes will know what I mean by that...). A very decent and wonderfully scented shampoo, but, on its own, nothing revolutionary. It's when you use it in conjunction with the other parts of the haircare programme, particularly the scalp treatment which is super easy to apply, quick to work and is basically like a nourishing moisturiser for your head, that the magic happens. As Farel says, "Grass does not grow in sand. Likewise, hair cannot grow in a dry or damaged scalp. The only products that actually work are those that reach the follicle, scalp and hair shaft." After using it my hair feels the same as my skin does after using my Clarisonic - thoroughly clean, fresh and somehow healthier. Stock up while you can at Selfridges - I went to bolster my supplies at selfridges.com the other day and noticed the previously fully stocked website was down to just two Julien Farel products so I'd imagine word is spreading fast. Julien Farel Anti-Aging Haircare, from £16.95 exclusively available from Selfridges and Selfridges.com in the UK Catwalk by TIGI Oatmeal & Honey Haircare Range This was what all my friends' hair smelled of in the 90s (apart from Carly who was going through her dreadlocks phase). As we all experimented with dodgy DIY colours - and then bleached them back out again - we would buy the massive hairdresser sized bottles of the TIGI Catwalk Oatmeal & Honey products, as they were the most affordable products we could find that actually worked in rescuing such carelessly damaged locks. And, OH the smell. As you may have gathered, I'm a sucker for products that smell good. This fragrance is so delicious and wholesome it's like a hug for your hair. The pure, milk and honey scent is as calming for the senses as the conditioning treatment is for your hair. It may have swanky new packaging but the product is an absolute classic and, as far as I can tell, hasn't changed a bit. One thing that is different right now is that there's the coolest freebie EVER available with purchases of two or more TIGI Catwalk products from any TIGI salon. It's the pom pom hair accessory pictured above that was designed especially by Mara Hoffman. Isn't it adorable?! Find your nearest stockist at www.catwalkbytigi.com CATWALK BY TIGI Oatmeal & Honey Nourishing Shampoo, 300ml £11.25, Conditioner, 250ml £12.50, and Deep Nourishing Mask, 200g £14.95, Mara Hoffman pom pom hair accessory free with purchase (details above) Some of my favourite haircare and temporary colour products: 1 & 4 Kevin Murphy Colour Bug hair chalks - wipe on, wash out temporary hair colour (there are loads to choose from) or try the rose gold one for a beautiful shimmer, £14 each from Beauty Mart at thisisbeautymart.com; 2 Bleach London Reincarnation Mask, £6, 3 Washing Out Liquid to speed up fading if your DIY colour doesn't quite work out, £6, from Bleach London or Boots; 5 The essential, ever-reliable Batiste dry shampoo is not just for those days when you don't have time for a wash and blow dry, it's great for adding volume to newly washed hair too - if it's good enough for Karl Lagerfeld etc etc (he uses the Klorane one but personally I find it smells funny...); 6 & 7 Bleach London hair crayons - semi-permanent colour in pen form for easy application streaks and touch ups, £4 each, from Bleach London or Boots.com. Hot Hair Accessories: 1 Valentino, embellished satin headband, £122 from £245, at www.theoutnet.com; 2 Fleet Ilya, bow head band, £172 from £215 from www.farfetch.com; 3 Acne Studios, Capote Chalk cotton-blend and rubber baseball cap, £35 from £100 at www.theoutnet.com; 4 Popband, £6 from Beauty Mart at thisisbeautymart.com; 5 Gigi Burris Millinery, Barbed headband, £144 from £240, from www.farfetch.com; 6 Finchittida Finch, Hmong hair comb, £30 from finchittidafinch.com; 7 Missoni Mare, crochet headband, £74.95, from Harrods.com; 8 Karl Lagerfeld cap from the St Tropez capsule collection, £45 from the Karl Lagerfeld London store, 145-147 Regent Street, London W1B 4JB; 9 Scrunchie, £ from Diva at Miss Selfridge; 10 Gigi Burris Millinery, Lola headband, £139 from £232 from www.farfetch.com; 11 Freedom at Topshop have got the festival essential flower crowns covered: floral headband, and 12 butterfly headband, both from a selection at www.topshop.com; 13 Cap, £15 from River Island; 14 Marc by Marc Jacobs, block print barette, £65 from www.stylebop.com]]>


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Deer Valley Resort President and General Manager Bob Wheaton, gives a preview of the 2014 – 2015 ski season and invites you to come #SkiTheDifference.
Tag Archives: vacation
My Top Five "Only in Park City" Experiences
Nearly every day, I find some reason to appreciate the moments and experiences that make life in Park City, Utah unique. Believe it or not, these moments don't revolve entirely around sports experiences—though I engage in as many seasonally-relevant sports as possible every week. But sometimes, seemingly out of the blue, you get those, "Only in Park City" moments that fill you with wonder at the dumb luck of living in such a terrific place. Here are some of my favorites:
1. Everyone gives back
The ways in which we give back are so numerous, I can't even begin to list them all here. Schools get kids involved early with opportunities to give—often having classrooms compete with pennies to raise funds for a charity, and once the students enter middle school, their curriculum includes community service hours. Deer Valley connects hundreds of students each year with our state's heritage at the annual Navajo Rug Show. Parents and non-parents volunteer time in the classrooms of our schools. Also, I have been asked annually to be a guest speaker on the topic of professional writing and blogging for the ninth graders in Honors English, as they embark on writing their own blogs. I'm very proud to be able to give back to my community in this way. And I'm hardly alone: When Lance attended a summer camp called Innovation in Action Institute (which focused on entrepreneurial skills), one local entrepreneur-parent gave a video-conference presentation to the students, while he was on a business trip. Countless friends of mine contribute their time to the Center for Advanced Professional Studies, run by the school district.
And on November 7, the annual Live PC, Give PC Day of Giving will overtake the town, with volunteers wearing T-shirts, holding signs, calling in to KPCW and generally getting the word out that people can donate to one or more non-profits to help support the programming that keeps the town running (with ED, or otherwise.) It's a great way for locals and guests to show their support for all the work our town's non-profits do to benefit the entire community. It's this kind of collaborative approach that makes our town unique—because we all feel that we're contributing to the success of the town, beyond just spending money on ski passes and shopping in the stores.
Parkites love nothing more than sharing an experience—witness the countless outdoor concerts, where there's a "huge crowd, whether it's free or paid. But we seem to excel at the experience of giving.
2. We WIN Lost and Found
Our local radio station, KPCW does an excellent job sharing Lost and Found announcements. Dogs, wallets and cell phones figure heavily in these announcements. But once in a while, I'll have an experience that wouldn't happen in most of the cities I've lived in previously. To wit: One week, I enjoyed Standup Paddleboarding outings with friends, not once, not twice, but three times. My son, Lance, left a tote bag with dry clothes somewhere on the grass beach near the pond.
We discovered this after we arrived home, so we schlepped back to the Deer Valley Grocery~Café to look for it. Oddly, we couldn't find it—but we did spot a towel and wet suit belonging to his friend Ben, who'd been with us that day. So the trip wasn't for naught and I began to wonder if we'd actually brought the bag with us in the first place. Imagine my delight when, the following Wednesday after we'd finished paddling with our friends Tracy, Michael and their kids, I spotted the bag sitting between the building's AC units.
When I showed it to Michael, he was astounded—"That's been here since Saturday?" he asked with the disbelief of a longtime city-dweller. So stunning was this discovery, that Michael took a photo of the bag in its waiting spot.
3. We Chase Balloons
No matter how frequently it happens, my family and I never tire of noticing hot-air balloons dancing over the early-morning horizon. On a recent morning, there were three coming up over the ridge that we could see from our breakfast table. It looked improbably pretty, like a painting. One morning, when Seth and I had some time between dropping off his brother at camp and the beginning of his own camp, we saw a balloon that was about to land near a parking lot off of US 40. We drove over to watch the landing, so he could see how graceful it looks.
4. We get customer service
Deer Valley Resort is only one example of the way Park City does its best to be hospitable to locals and visitors alike, and to make sure the experience is stellar. Park City MARC runs terrific programming all year for our town's youth, exposing them to skateboarding, soccer, fencing and basketball, to name just a few. One standout? The excellent tennis programs, including their camps, which my kids attended this summer.
Of course everyone has an "off"day, and happened one day when my younger son was attending the tennis camp. I couldn't get a straight answer on something that was happening at camp—the details of the situation are unimportant here, but the fact is when I expressed my concern, the front-desk staffers, Sadie and Marianne, heard it. Sadie escorted me to the operations office where I met Recreation Supervisor Tate Shaw. "I get that mistakes and oversights happen," I told him. "But the mark of a good organization is how well the situation gets handled after the mistake." Tate took my concerns seriously, addressed them with the staff and called the following day to let me know that it had indeed been resolved to my satisfaction. I know this seems like a small thing to some people—but if you've ever been stuck in an endless ladder of customer service auto-prompts with a big company, the fact of having an actual human being listen to you is not to be undervalued. The other thing that this experience reinforced is Park City's small town charm and the "it takes a village" mentality, that comes to bear almost every day in little ways. When I expressed a concern about an issue in a program my child was in, it was taken as seriously as though it were a staff members child.
5. We Dress for Success
On most of the days that I took Lance to Standup Paddleboarding camp at the Deer Valley Grocery~Cafè Pond, I arrived ready to paddle.
Except one day, I arrived dressed for the meeting I'd left briefly, to run Lance up to camp. As Trent came paddling ashore to greet Lance, he said with some surprise, "Oh, it's YOU! I thought you sent someone else to drop off Lance!" The fact is most days I put on exercise clothes first—and may not find myself in street clothes until the following day. After all, when you're fitting in exercise and sports around the other necessary activities of daily life and you have the kind of job that only occasionally requires a professional wardrobe, dressing for work has a different meaning. For someone who worked in fashion magazines for a very long time and once received a "once-over" from the editor of Vogue, it's frankly a relief. There's a definite vibe of "come as you are," in Park City. Biking to a meeting is a good thing, riding a chairlift to one is even better. So if you see me looking like I've been loafing around in yoga pants or ski clothes all day, chances are you're half-right—but in this town, that's dressing for success.
Girls' Weekend Spa Day – Five Tips To Make It Fabulous
Girls talk.
We're wired that way.
No seriously, we really are. In fact, recent research has shown that women's brains are wired differently than men's. This research has confirmed what many of us suspected. In females, wiring in the brain goes between the left and right hemispheres, suggesting that they facilitate communication between the analytical and intuition. (Think great memory, multi-tasking and group solutions.)
In men's brains, the wiring is front to back suggesting their brains are structured to facilitate connectivity between perception and coordinated action. (Think singular focus.) (Read more here.)
What this means to us, ladies, is we are meant to be communicators.
We talk. We listen.
So when I was setting up my girls' weekend spa day, I knew I had to plan for lots of communication time.
Since my girlfriends carved out precious time away from their families to get together and unwind, I needed to make sure we made the most of our time together. I asked Katie at Zanté Spa, located at the Deer Valley Plaza Building, to help me plan a morning of relaxation and rejuvenation with the girls. As a pro at creating special pampering experiences, she gave me a few tips.
Here are five of them:
1. Take over the place. Since you and your girlfriends don't get together as often as you like, you want every moment to count. Zanté Spa was able to book our appointments so that we had the place to ourselves the whole morning. We'd welcome any other spa visitors, of course, but having "just us girls" made it feel so welcome and cozy. We were able to employ "no filter" conversations which is what girls' weekend is all about.
2. Build in transition time. Katie scheduled our treatments with plenty of time for lounging in-between. Instead of feeling rushed and checking our watches, we were able to relax as some of us were getting done with our treatments and others were getting started. As a Type A personality who lives her life by the clock, I appreciated the no-stress attitude. This is one tip many of us can apply to all areas of our lives – I certainly will.
3. Customize your experience. We brought in some special fruit plates, juices and appetizers to complement the selection of goodies the spa provided. Don't laugh but we also brought some "lighter" reading – fashion magazines! The spa supplied some wonderful reading material, but be sure to bring in whatever makes you feel comfortable whether it's a special book or a fashion magazine.
4. Linger. When your spa day comes to a close, don't rush out. After a few hours of Zen space and total relaxation, we didn't want to just bolt out the door. We needed some transition time to step back into the world. The ladies at Zanté Spa, suggested we linger. They also had menus on hand for us to review some choices for our next stop – lunch at Deer Valley Grocery~Café.
5. Treat yourself to something special – you deserve it. Try something new to enhance your experience. My girlfriends who had massages tried a Japanese energy technique called Reiki integrated into their massages and felt fabulous afterwards. I tried the restructuring and soothing facial called Vital-Elastin which included a facial massage with the exfoliation and dry brushing. This was a new experience for me and my skin appreciated it!
So remember when planning your event, girls talk.
Just go with it.
Do you or a family member need a retreat or special getaway or do you have questions about our girls' weekend? Connect with me on Twitter @nancy_moneydiva and @Deer_Valley. Click the links for more information on; lodging at Trail's End Lodge, spa services at Zanté Spa and menu options at Deer Valley Grocery~Café.
Jam-packed Summer
Dear Reader,
I owe you an apology. I was too busy living the Park City lifestyle to write about it this summer. I didn't have the heart to part with my kids for many full-day camps. As I write, the boys are in their first full week of school after a two-day opening "week," and I am missing all the adventures we shared over the summer. I jokingly referred to the school-free months as "Our Summer of Academic Rigor," because I was convinced that if I didn't stimulate their minds in nearly equal measure to their bodies, all the things they'd learned in school would, quite simply, fall out of their heads. So, there were academic camps, sports camps, even a sleep-away camp for Lance one week. But I wanted to squeeze in as much time with these dudes as possible, so after every morning camp, we'd hit the pool together, or a trail, or, yes, the movie theater.
We enjoyed lazy mornings too and we thrilled at the fact that when the day ended, there was no homework. We took our RV on a few trips and got rained out of a few others. Yes, the RV means rain isn't a tragedy, but being cooped up in the RV because of the weather isn't exactly anyone's idea of fun. One of our trips took us to Bear Lake. It's close enough for a day trip, so if you're visiting Park City in autumn, a drive north to this turquoise-blue lake on the Utah/Idaho border is something to consider.
Bear Lake is known for its raspberries and its raspberry shakes. Garden City, Utah features a seemingly endless strip of "shake shacks," whose shakes my family is more than happy to sample. There are ATV trails and tons of rentals available, a marina, beaches suitable for sunbathing or launching kayaks and paddleboards, yet you're surround by lush trees and rugged mountains. Garden City boasts a multi-use path for biking and walking, that makes it a very biker/pedestrian-friendly location. Oh, yes, and there are also go-karts. My family loved racing around the track and then getting a shake to celebrate our "victory."
Like any vacation house, our RV is stocked with games. Our favorite, and one which I recommend to all travelers, is Story Cubes. Because it's pocket-sized, you can take it with you on the plane, in a car or wherever. You simply roll the dice, which bear symbols instead of numbers, and players have to tell stories using the symbols they have rolled. This was the winner of the picnic table game night.
That's just one highlight. I'll be reminiscing about many more as the gorgeous fall descends into mud season and we have nothing but the memories of a sweet summer and the anticipation of a snowy winter (please!!) to get us through.
How was your summer? Did you jam-pack it as well? Tell me in the comments below or on Twitter @BariNanCohen or @Deer_Valley.
Spring Break at Deer Valley Resort
Spring weather and bluebird days in the mountains bring exceptional values at Deer Valley Resort. During the coming months, guests can experience Deer Valley's award-winning accommodations at a fraction of its winter rates. Spring break holidays provide families an ideal time to experience a getaway tailor-made for all ages, from Deer Valley's lodging specials and packages that offer great savings to the new Steeps & Stashes specialty clinic for adults.
New this year, is "Steeps and Stashes," an adult co-ed specialty clinic for strong intermediate, advanced and expert skiers. The two-day clinic takes skiers to Deer Valley's lesser known off-trail terrain, where guests will push their limits and test their stamina. Deer Valley's professional ski instructors help guests improve their skills, while creating lasting, memorable experiences. Included in the program is an opportunity to try a variety of skis from the resort's Rental Shop (a Rossignol Experience Center) and a closing reception.
Kids ski FREE and save 20% on lodging, lift tickets and kids' ski rentals. With family-friendly amenities, including an outdoor pool and hot tub, free hot breakfast buffet, onsite Deer Valley Rental Shop and complimentary in-town shuttle all within close proximity to Snow Park Lodge and ski school, Lodges at Deer Valley and Silver Baron Lodge are the perfect choice for families vacationing at Deer Valley Resort. Package is valid March 30-April 6, 2014. Receive up to two complimentary child lift tickets per day and two Deer Valley ski rental discount vouchers for children 12 and under. The purchase of four adult lift tickets is required.
Experience Deer Valley Resort during the late winter season period and receive 25% savings on lodging and lift tickets at a wide range of accommodations managed by Deer Valley. Package is valid March 30-April 6, 2014. A minimum of four lift tickets total must be purchased with this package. Minimum night stay is required and varies by property.
Save 15% on lodging and lift tickets when you book your Deer Valley Resort spring ski vacation. Package is validFebruary 23-March 8, and March 23-29, 2014. A minimum of four lift tickets total must be purchased with this package. Minimum night stay is required and varies by property. This package is not offered at Black Diamond Lodge.
Receive free nights lodging the longer you stay at Deer Valley Resort. Purchase six nights and receive one additional night free, purchase eight through 10 nights and receive two additional nights free, purchase 11 through 13 nights and receive three additional nights free, stay 14 nights or more and receive four additional nights free. The 'stay six nights and receive one night free' option is not valid March 7-22, 2014.
The following apply to all packages: At time of booking, offers are based on availability at select properties, on new reservations only and packages cannot be combined; tax and service fees not included. Purchase of daily adult lift tickets is, at times, required to obtain lodging discounts; end dates are checkout dates.
Please speak with a Vacation Planner to clarify all package details. Visit deervalley.com for additional packages or promotions.Guests can visit deervalley.com or inquire with one of the resort's Vacation Planners at 800-558-3337 or 435-645-6528 for further package details. For a complete list of Deer Valley Resort's 2014 spring packages, rates and restrictions, please view Deer Valley Resort Lodging & Reservations on our website.
Lessons from a Local Tourist
One of my favorite things about living in Park City is that we sometimes have the opportunity to "check out" of our regular routine and check in to a hotel and play the part of tourists.
We got to do this on the second weekend of ski season, when Jeffrey and I were invited to dine and stay at Goldener Hirsch Inn, at Deer Valley's Silver Lake Village. We made arrangements for the kids to spend the night with our good friend (and theirs) Mel. But we also had the chance to bring them up to the property to see what it was like.
It turned into a brief glimpse of what it means to take a ski vacation with the kids. I've always tipped my hats to families who pack up all their gear and brave the wilds of air travel to then decamp to Deer Valley for a ski vacation. It seems daunting, but of course, it's not without rewards. And, I realized, there are lots of ways in which being a tourist is way more fun than being a local. (I didn't have to do a single household chore while I was at the Hirsch.)
As we proceeded through the weekend, I picked up a few insider tips and tricks that might make your vacation here a little easier to manage.
Tip #1: Call about early check-in
Granted, if you are traveling here during the busiest weeks, your room is unlikely to be available before the property's official check-in time. But most lodge/hotel/inn style properties will have secure baggage storage, so that you can stash your belongings and get on with your day, as quickly as possible after arriving. We were visiting the Goldener Hirsch on a "pre-holiday" weekend, meaning they were not busy, and were happy to welcome us early, so we could take advantage of the ski-in, ski-out location. It was a massive luxury to be able to layer up and boot up in the room—which had a lovely sitting area with plenty of room to organize our stuff. Even if you are not staying in a slopes-side property (as I don't, nearly every night), it pays to get geared up as head-to-toe as possible, at your lodging location. Fewer items get dropped or left-behind if you are wearing them. By the same token, if you're looking for a more leisurely approach, don't hesitate to take advantage of the lockers and basket-check at both Snow Park and Silver Lake Lodges.
Tip #2: Invest time in getting your ducks in a row
Note that in the tip, above, I did not say "get on the slopes as quickly as possible after arriving." Honestly, when you're traveling with kids, it is well worth the investment of time to allow a few business hours after your arrival (whether it's the afternoon/evening you arrive, or the next morning) to sort out all the gear and arrangements. For instance, getting fitted for your rental gear the night before your first ski day is a great time-and-sanity saver (the Deer Valley Ski Rental Shop at Snow Park Lodge is open until TK time). If you or your kids are taking ski lessons, visit the Children's Center or the Ski School well before the lesson's start time to make sure all the waivers are signed, and that any allergies or special requests are noted in the file. I did exactly that. We pulled up to Snow Park Lodge, and Jeff dropped me off at the curb before he pulled into a designated "waiting" spot. I'm telling you this detail for two reasons: First, this really is a quick errand. Second, if you are going to be at the lodge for more than 10 minutes, find a spot in the regular parking lots.
It took just minutes for me to visit the Children's Center and make sure everything was in order for the boys' lessons the next morning, as well as for the Children's Sunday Ski Experience programs that begin next month. The super-helpful staff even printed the tickets for the private lesson Jeff and I had scheduled with Letitia Lussier, and my ticket for the Women on Wednesdays program, which begins next month. I learned that one of the members of the team, there, has the initials J.Z. so I couldn't resist taking a photo of "J.Z. and His Ladies."
"We wish more people did what you are doing," the staffers in the Children's Center explained. "It makes it less stressful for everyone." I thought back to many seasons' worth of chaotic first-days of the CSSE, and realized how right they are. Granted, the staff there are over-the-top helpful, but walking into the morning rush, with overheating geared-up kids, can be an unnerving experience. If you can't get to the Ski School ahead of time, take a moment, a day or two before you depart for your vacation and call the Children's Center to make sure everything's arranged as you planned.
Tip #3: Manage Expectations—the kids' and your own
Jeff and I agreed that we'd count on getting no more than two runs in with the kids, Saturday afternoon. Any additional snow time would be considered a "bonus." (Granted, this would be an expensive proposition if we didn't hold season passes, but we do, so we figured a couple of runs would be a good idea. But it can also work if you plan to do a half-day ski day, which will likely involve more than two runs, but not leave you all to exhausted to enjoy the rest of your vacation.) So, we let the kids know that we wanted to just "test" our ski legs, and have a nice lunch at Silver Lake Lodge restaurant. This dovetailed nicely with one of my oldie-but-goodie tips:
Tip #4: Leave them wanting more
This one never gets old. (For the Seinfeld fans, I call this the Costanza Rule.) If you want your kids to love skiing, call it a day while they are still enjoying it. The pros at the ski school say that frequent breaks can be the key to a successful day. We did exactly two runs on Ontario and then it was time to break for a late lunch. Yes, the lifts were still running when we finished, and the kids were BEGGING for more runs. "You will have all day tomorrow to ski," I reminded them. Then, I engaged my supermom powers with a deft "look at the birdie" distraction move: I asked if they wanted to go back to the Goldener Hirsch and check out the live music in the lounge. People, there was yodeling. And it was a big hit. Also, there was a little nook on our guest room's floor, where several varieties of freshly baked cookies, some hot beverages and fresh fruit were laid out for guests to enjoy. So, my chocoholic big boy availed himself of a chocolate chip cookie, while his (shockingly) sweet-tooth-impaired younger brother delighted in choosing and eating an apple. This was just one of the great details we appreciated at the Inn.
Tip #5 Stay Hydrated
While Jeff and I were in our private lesson with Letitia, on Sunday, she told us about a seminar she'd attended, through the Professional Ski Instructors Association, that focused on hydration. Among the highlights: Flying is dehydrating, as is staying at a higher altitude, as is eating spicy food and drinking alcohol. So if you do any or all of these before you make your first turns, you're already at a hydration deficit. Then, when you're skiing, you lose water through your breath, in the cold, dry air. Boom. Then, your muscles aren't working at their capacity—and, to boot, once you start to dehydrate, your ability to feel thirsty shuts off. So, drink lots of water—and take plenty of breaks for water throughout your ski day. (I reviewed the previous evening's delicious tasting meal at the Goldener Hirsch restaurant, including the bottle of Pinot Noir that Jeff and I shared, and realized, that I could benefit from an extra glass of water or two throughout the day.)
Tip #6 Know thyself
If you are tired, take a break. If you know you didn't get enough sleep, or had a sore back the day before, take it easy. Skiing within your limits is way more fun that pushing yourself to the point of injury. Take an early lunch if your energy is starting to flag by 11 a.m. This is a great strategy, also, because the restaurants aren't crowded, and then, when the rest of the skiing population is at lunch at noon, you're back out on empty slopes. This is especially helpful if you are skiing with your kids—you get the benefit of keeping them fed and hydrated, and enjoying quieter trails with them. Plus, you can be the hero and call for a hot cocoa break at 2 p.m.
Tip #7 Invest in a caribiner
Among its many handy uses you can attach your basket check tag, or ski-check tag to the handy metal clip—sliding those around your wrist or shoving them into a pocket can create an opportunity to lose those items. (Also, take a photo of the tag with your smartphone, so you can show it to the ski check staff in the event you do lose the tag, somehow.) Collecting your whole family's tags at the end of the day, in one place, is a great way to keep track of them. I use some sort of memory device to recall whose is whose. For instance, my current ski-check tag says "1619" and since I often think of myself as younger than I am, I told myself, "For the purposes of this exercise, I am in my teens." Then, when my kids got their tags, I noticed that the older child had a tag with a higher number than his brother's tag. There's always some funky way to recall which tag correlates to which family member, so I find them where I can.
Game on!
After the excitement of Celebrity SkiFest was concluded, my family decided to extend the fun, and celebrate Opening Week.
One of the great benefits of getting out on the second weekend is that it's quieter than it will be for weeks to come. Honestly, If you can come here on an "off" weekend (i.e., non-holiday) do it.
On Sunday, we felt like we had the mountain to ourselves—the four of us were in ski school for the full day. Jeffrey and I had a private lesson with Letitia Lussier, the amazing instructor I met on my first Women's Weekend, several years ago
Meanwhile, Seth spent the day in Reindeer Club, and Lance spent the day in Adventure Club. It was a treat to see Lance shredding Lost Boulder from our perch on Northside Express Chairlift—and the run was loosely –populated enough that we had the chance to spot him.
We bumped into friends, here and there, there was a Mahre Training Camp under way, so we said hello to Phil and Steve a couple of times on lift-lines. (I won't name names, but one of those brothers may or may not have called me out for being too "matchy," in my appearance—purple boots, purple-ish skis, white pants, jacket with a pattern that contained purple. I may or may not have retorted that I was owning it, so it was allowed.), and the overall atmosphere was both relaxed and festive, as staff and guests alike got our ski season on.
One of the best benefits was something that had not occurred to me when I booked the boys into their group lessons: it wasn't at all busy in ski school. Hence, Seth was the only child in his group. As his instructor noted, "This week is the 'value week,' in ski school," because you have a higher likelihood of one on one coaching. Lance had only two other children in his group (both of whom were picked up 90 minutes early), leaving him with, essentially, a ninety-minute private lesson at the end of the day.
Finally, the restaurants were not crowded in the least.
So, don't tell your kids' principal I told you to do this, but if you can sneak them out of school for a day or two and grab a long weekend at Deer Valley when everyone else is not on vacation, I highly recommend it.
Ski Season Number Three
I measure time differently since moving to Park City and skiing at Deer Valley. Like many parents, I used to measure time in terms of the ages of my children and events in their lives. Reflecting back, my frame of reference usually went something like this, "when Brian was eight" or "when we drove Saxon to college." Since moving to Park City and my children – now referred to as "adult children" – having graduated from college, established their careers and family lives, I have adopted a new way to measure time. I measure it by ski seasons.
When people ask me how long I've lived in Park City, I answer simply, "This is my third season." Everyone knows what I am talking about – the beautiful winters here. In my case, I also think about my progress in learning to ski. Season #1 – the Hockey Stop was a big turning point for me. Learning to stop on a dime gave me more confidence and allowed me to go on stepper runs. Season #2 – the high point for me was the Women's Weekend. Three days in a row with the same instructor and group of women was a great way to improve my skiing. That weekend of fun and instruction landed me solidly as an intermediate skier – blue runs, baby!
Starting season #3 at Deer Valley, I noted that I am already skiing runs that I struggled with in the middle of last season. On the mental game of skiing, I caught myself thinking, "You are doing pretty good, Nancy" and immediately gave myself a gut check. I have found the moment I think I am doing well, something happens. Maybe it's because I stop paying attention and suddenly falter. I was reminded over and over again that pride cometh before the fall during Season #2.
Fortunately, as a blogger, I can read about past seasons allowing me to savor my experiences and re-live the events right here. But not everyone is a writer or keeps a journal. It's not hard to mark your seasons here in Park City or experiences on vacation at Deer Valley.
Here are four easy ways:
1. Pinterest Boards. You can make a Pinterest Board and name it based on your current season. I'll call mine Season #3 Park City, Utah. Use your own photos or search Deer Valley Resort, Ski Utah and Park City, Utah for lots of material.
2. Facebook Albums and Timelines. On Facebook, you can make a special photo album or simply post on your timeline and then come back and review. My photo album on my personal Facebook Page, just says "Park City" so I need to split it up into seasons.
3. Scrapbook or Photo Album. Scrapbookers can make an album of their winter season and keep it on the coffee table to enjoy. Or make an electronic version for your family to enjoy wherever they live!
4. Instagram. Creating an Instagram is fast and easy. Create a profile for yourself and use hashtags to categorize your pictures. You can see in the picture below that Deer Valley Resort uses #SkiTheDifference. This is a great way to connect with other ski enthusiasts and see pictures from around the world.
Now with a plethora of social media, journaling, and photo sites, reflecting on your past seasons shouldn't be challenging. You just need to do it!
What was your favorite ski season and how are you going to remember this one?
School Bus Synergy
True story: I'm "Facebook friends" with over 1,800 people. At least a dozen of those are people with whom I rode the school bus to Rutland Town Elementary School with from 1978-1986 in Rutland, Vermont. As the small world turns, I run into one of these pals, Julie, on a weekly basis at our favorite exercise class at the Silver Mountain Sports Club. Another friend, Tori, lives in Atlanta, and I'm used to following her adventures from afar—she and her family (including two young boys, not that far in age from my guys) travel a lot, and get to go to a lot of fun events, in far-flung locales. So, imagine my delight when I found a Facebook message from Tori, letting me know she'd be skiing at Deer Valley on the first Sunday of Sundance Film Festival.
"Smart move", I told her. "The hotels are full, but the slopes are empty!" I promised to meet her by the ticket window after I dropped off the boys at Ski School, so that we could say hello in person—which we had not done in over 25 years.
I was so excited to see Tori and meet her husband and kids that I forgot to take a picture of us together. But I did score this great photo of her family enjoying their day at Deer Valley Resort. I'd say they fit right in, wouldn't you?
Come back sometime soon, Tori and family… so we can ski DV together!
A Dirty Little Secret
I recently came across a pamphlet titled "Do you have a gambling problem?" Certainly not I thought. However, a closer inspection of the symptoms made me realize I was not being very honest with myself. I don't mind some low stakes poker and betting on who catches the first trout, or what year Picabo Street won Olympic Silver in the Downhill, but I will never take out a second mortgage to cover a loss.
So what's my problem? Check out my symptoms and you tell me.
* Being preoccupied with skiing
* Increasing your skiing risks
* Trying to cut back on skiing without success
* Reducing the time you spend at work/with family because of skiing
* Reviewing past skiing experiences in your mind
* Constant daydreaming of that one big score
Based on the fact that my mother still waits for first chair by skating back and forth to warm her legs up, I would say that my problem is genetic so there may be no help for me.
Of course the Deer Valley Blog may not be the best place to get help. I doubt anyone reading this could find one thing wrong with that list. 11 days 12 hours 8 minutes and 50 seconds until we ski folks! I can't wait to see you out there, and by the way – do you know what year the aforementioned silver medal was won? No cheating, Google to find out or guess in the comment section.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Huge wine. Dark ruby-colored. Intense aromas of ripe fruit and game. Full-bodied and compacted, with masses of tannins and fruit, yet still closed and not giving much on the palate. Give this brute time. Best Cantemerle ever?--1989 Bordeaux horizontal.Drink Dates: 2004+
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I believe the 1989 Cantemerle is this estate's finest wine since their monumental 1953. This ruby/purple wine has an explosive bouquet of crushed blackberry fruit and violets, an opulent, lush texture bolstered by good alcohol levels and soft tannins.Drink Dates: 1994-2010
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13 bottles owned by 7 collectors.
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