When Food is Cooked with Love…

sweetlilyspa — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:11:43 +0000

Have you ever had a sandwich that looks good but tastes terrible? Or a cookie that sounds delicious but doesn’t quite satisfy your cravings? What is that missing ingredient!? Simple, it’s L.O.V.E. Our wonderful neighbors across the street, at what is now cutely named Cafe Clementine (formerly Columbine), seem to procure all their delicacies with much care and affection. It’s the special attention that the sole-owner Barbara and her staff give when selecting their breads, anti-biotic free chicken and rich chocolates that keeps us coming back for more. This is very apparent as we watch devotees line up along West Broadway on damp, rainy days just to get some of their home-cooked soup. If you haven’t tried Cafe Clementine’s food, it’s a TriBeCa must! And the next time you’re out and about, take the time to seek out small, privately owned cafes and specialty shops…Trust me, you’ll taste the difference!

Don’t Be Fooled By Sterilization Pouches

sweetlilyspa — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:55:32 +0000

Last week my family and I vacationed at Disney World and stayed at the beautiful Waldorf Astoria in Orlando. After days of running after my 4 year old, my nails were trashed! So I decided to stop into the hotels Spa by Guerlain to get a quick mani before we headed to South Florida to visit the hubbys family. Beforehand I checked out the nail area to see if their tools were properly disinfected and they explained that they employ a liquid, medical grade sterilization process. Great! After I sat down, the technician opened her sterilization pouch and proceeded to give me a very nice manicure…except for one thing…she used two types of buffers on my nails that were not included in the pouch. I could see that they had been used before on god knows how many people! This is a common flaw with many salons procedures. Don’t assume that because your file, nippers and pushers are sterile that you can’t catch a fungus from an old buffer. If you see the tech pull out something that’s been used before, ask them to skip that step or request a new tool. It may not turn out to be the perfect mani or pedi, but at least you’ll go home fungus-free!

My Personal Way to De-stress for the Holidays!

sweetlilyspa — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:17:50 +0000

It never fails…No matter how much I try to relax during the month of December, work, parties, shopping…it all seems to stress me out! The one little trick I’ve found helpful is to decompress each night at bedtime with a dab of organic Lavender Oil on my temples and my ever faithful neck cozy from Do Not Disturb. I just pop it in the microwave for a minute, place it around my neck and let the warmth melt away the stress and tension of the day. The neck cozy is filled with rice and calming lavender buds and its effects relax me to the point that it takes about 15 seconds and I’m fast asleep…seriously! I love it so much, it was a must for the Boutique!

My Favorite Color for Winter 2011

sweetlilyspa — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:25:46 +0000

Now that fall is quickly passing, all thoughts turn to the dip in the mercury, the arrival of snow and a festive holiday season. In past years, traditional holiday polishes have focused on deep, wine colored reds, dark, tinted purples and even near blacks. But this season, Zoya has introduced a refreshing alternative… Winter Pastels…. soft, beautiful blues and grays that have the comfort of winter and the coolness of snow. My personal favorite is Megan. I’ve been wearing it every day on both fingers and toes and been getting compliments ever since