Celebrity salons are a dime a dozen in Manhattan…or are they? It’s true that you can find one quite easily in this city. Flip through the pages of your most recent Vogue, Elle or Allure magazines and you’ll see a slew of them gushed about as hot spots for celebs, names of whom are dropping all over the pages like rain. So the question becomes: how does one celebrity salon set itself apart from the next? What makes such a salon worth the $500+ you’ll most likely spend there on a cut and color? What makes it worth the hype and celebs want to spend their disposable income at one vs. another? The answer is experience and talent. While some hot spot celeb salons have huge name clientele to boast, if their staff isn’t worth the same raves, the salon’s clout is little.

This is why Marie Robinson’s new salon is distinct: not only can she boast a hotbed of big name clients from Anne Hathaway to Natalie Portman to Liv Tyler, her talented staff have stayed by her and look up to her as they would any mentor or beloved parent. Together, the staff at Marie Robinson is like a family – an assortment of talented stylists and colorists who all share Marie’s passion for color and hair innovation as well as her welcoming attitude, thus creating an atmosphere that is both upscale and homey.

And that’s exactly how I would describe Marie. When I met her, she was dressed in the most effortlessly put-together punk-rock-chic style that exuded a sense of luxury as well as comfort and hominess. Let me be more specific: tie-dye tunic, army green cotton harem pants, bejeweled accessories, messily-pulled back platinum blonde hair. She donned this cacophony of objects that otherwise might have seemed mismatched but on her were the pinnacle of style.

After you become pregnant, your loyalties tend to shift to everything green, healthy, earthy, non-toxic, natural and organic. Is that really necessary, you wonder, as you’re tempted by the new skin technology wonders you read about in glossy magazines? You bet! According to the Environmental Working Group, 455 chemicals are found in the body on a daily basis that should not be there. Just in their personal care, people are exposed to 126 chemicals a day and one in every 24 women is exposed every day to personal care ingredients that are known reproductive and developmental toxins. The skin is like a sponge that absorbs everything you put on it and it all ends up in the blood stream. Your baby is not spared from contamination as in your own womb it is already ingesting toxins stemming from what you eat and put on your skin. If you enjoy pampering yourself but don’t want all the synthetic chemicals of commercial products, try these botanically based natural brands for a sounder,“au naturel” fix. Plants were used for thousand of years to treat skin problems effectively and have properties well worth revisiting in our time of environmental disasters and synthetic addictions.

We all suffer from free radical damage and need a good skin lotion as a result. Aubrey Organics, one of the pioneers of the natural and herbal skin care movement, has a Sea Buckthorn Moisturizing Lotion with topical ester, ingredients essential to protect from free radical damage. It also contains organic aloe and evening primrose oil to soothe dry, itchy skin. For stretched marks after pregnancy and for skin that needs to improve texture, The Unscented Ultimate Moisturizing Lotion has organic sunflower, macadamia nut oils and white camelia oil to nourish and condition tired skin. For a face’s surface that feels taut, dry and uneven during or after pregnancy, The Rosa Mosqueta Rose Hip Moisturizing Cream is rich in LINOLENIC and LINOLEIC acids essential for hydrated healthy skin and horsetail and coltsfoot to improve elasticity. It works well to relax the face, fight little lines and keep it moisturized and soothed. For an oilier complexion, The Oil Balancing Moisturizer will condition and heal the skin with a coconut fatty acid cream base, calendula oil for cell renewal and a blend of herbs such as yarrow horsetail, mistletoe and nettle. For a new mom, nothing may be more relaxing than a bit of pampering during Baby’s nap. Aubrey Organics Green Tea and Green Clay Rejuvenating Mask cleans pores, cleanses and smoothes the skin with natural fruity acids. Green tea is twenty times more powerful than vitamin E to minimize the effect of sun and pollution on the skin’s aging process. Enjoy your rest and make it a routine to relieve the stress of your new mama life. Available in all health stores nationwide and at http://www.Aubreyorganics.com.

Meadowlake Farms Beehive Skin Therapies consistently aim for the purest non-toxic products with organic honey and botanicals harvested on their own farm. For the little lines around your eyes from sleepless nights (not carousing around town so much anymore as keeping up with Baby) try the About Eyes eye cream that gently moisturizes the fragile eye area with emolients extracted from pure raw honey, essential oils of grapefruit, sweet almond and carrot seed extract. Raw honey has extremely beneficial effects on the skin and is used in hospitals to heal skin burns. None of Meadowlake Farms products contain any petroleum derivatives, cosmeceuticals, bioceuticals, synthetic isolates and have no suspected human potential risks. Check this highly ethical company at http://www.beehiveskintherapies.com

Are you of the kind that cannot deal with a three step routine and demands a product that cleanses, tones, exfoliates and moisturizes, healing and balancing skin at the same time? Made of chlorey nahre (an organic micro-algae) and heilmoor clay, The Wonderbar does just that. It purges the skin of toxins and brings it to a new balance it never knew before. You may experience temporary dryness and even breakouts as your skin adjusts to the new regimen but once your skin has adjusted to its optimal 5.65 you will be surprised by the results. Dry skin gets less dry, oily skin gets less oily. The longer you use Wonderbar, the more balanced, healthy and glowing your skin will get. A true wonder of nature! For more information visit http://www.wonderbarusa.com

While diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, let’s not easily dismiss the other gems and semi precious stones making waves season after season. The jewelry market is booming with a surge of creative designers coming to the fore. With the expressive use of stones with innovative and intricate metal work, today’s pieces are displays of true craftsmanship.

Jewelry designers have amped up the quality, intricacy, and innovation of their pieces, giving customers an array of choices. From the reasonably priced to the wallet denting, finding the right piece and most optimum for your budget is no longer a problem.

Stephen Estelle Jewelry is vibrant and fresh and draws inspiration from the goldsmiths of Nepal. His pieces are hand made from start to finish. The Waimea Smokey Quartez Ring in 22k vermeil is the perfect accent cocktail ring to jazz up any outfit. This can be paired with the Smokey Quartez three stone drop earrings, which are subtle yet leave a bold statement. The current Livia Line, inspired by the famous Roman Empress, offers a variety of necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings in gold and sterling silver. The layering chains, bangles, and dangling necklaces and bracelets offer the ability to mix and match and truly emphasize the look of a Roman empress.

Available: http://www.stephenestelle.com

If your daughter is restless at home this summer, here are some new items to keep her engaged and a plethora of new books for her to discover. Use all of these lazy summer days to experiment and expand her mind.

Make Your Own Gummies Kit With Seaweed by Food For Thought is a fun activity, and all you need is a stove or microwave. The ingredients come in little packets that you simply mix following easy instructions. The ingredients include sour mix, colored and flavored sugar, seaweed, molding starch. They taste really yummy and the girls will be proud of their creation. Gummies Kit is part of an inventive series that uses the raw materials of different parts of the world to teach children about other cultures. Check out the whole line of Glee Kits like Chewing Gum Kit and Chocolate Kit at http://www.Gleegum.com.

Kimochis are small pillows with a feeling such as happy, hurt, sorry, uncomfortable written on it. In Japanese, Kimochis mean “feelings”. Each character in The Kimochi Doll Collection comes with a pocket where kids can store their “kimochis” or feelings. Using the characters and their “Kimochis”, your child will find it easier to express her emotions through play and puppetry without shame or embarrassment. The collection of Kimochis also includes a make-your-own feeling face with a washable pen. There are also bandages to soothe the wounds of the Kimoshi Doll when it gets bossy and needs to calm its hurt feelings. Apart from being an adorable collection, the Kimochi dolls are an ingenious way to teach children not to hide how they feel from their parents and to boost confidence through healthy communication. When kids can communicate their feelings they develop better character. The Kimochis is the first step to teach children the real integrity of being able to express feelings peacefully and honestly, and avoid the denial and pretense that may make children, and later on adults, so unhappy. Check them all at http://www.Kimochis.com.

Little girls love to make up their faces, but you probably don’t want them rummaging through your purse to use your expensive lipsticks and glosses. Why not get them a collection of All Natural Make Up Sticks by Whoops Bunny that can be used just like real glosses. Made out of beeswax, castor oil, coconut oil, grape juice and red raspberry extract, the make up sticks are produced by using the energy of wind power, a fact your planet hugging daughter will love.

Check it out at http://www.whoopsbunny.com.

To accompany her pretty face, why not add a delightful Tween Bling, made for girls and designed by girls. Tween Bling Jewelry was designed by Alice and Julia, two creative tween girls who only use materials that are safe for children to put in their mouth or chew on. The silicone of the pendant is chemical free, devoid of latex, lead, BPAs, PVCs or phthalates. Check the whole line for an assortment of colors and designs. Let your girl be inspired by Alice and Julia and start her own line of creations too. Go girl! http://www.smartmomjewelry.com

There’s a new toy in town, and it’s big, round, plush and irresistibly huggable: the Squishable. Part pillow, part stuffed animal, and part comfort blanket, these adorable plush animals are something your child will tote around as if it’s attached to his or her chest.

Parents will appreciate the Squishable dual function as both decorative pillow and toy, and they’re great for all ages, spanning from children who can barely walk to ten year olds. Choose from an array of plump animals in various colors at Squishable.com, though you’ll undoubtedly want them all.

For me, summertime in New York means street festivals, green leafy parks, free film screenings and concerts and the opportunity to hang out on a blanket with good friends, food and wine. (For a complete listing of free film screenings and concerts in all boroughs, take a look at NYC Pulse).

It all starts with the blanket: A nice, spacious blanket is the difference between leaving cranky, with grass-stained, damp capris or having a perfectly lovely time. The Waffle Weave Throw by Gilden Tree is a 100% natural cotton blanket that comes in a variety of colors (the darker the color, the less noticeable the potential grass stains). Soft, yet sturdy, it works as an excellent beach or picnic blanket.

“Reduce Your Forkprint” – is the slogan of To-Go Ware’s Bamboo Utensil set. Made from bamboo (which neither stains nor retains smells), To-Go Ware’s fork, knife, spoon and chopstick set works well for either picnics or brown bag lunches. Each family member can have his or her own set in different colored holders which are made from recycled plastic water bottles.

Pass the hors d’oeuvres and preserve the earth – with products made from Preserve Plastics. Their square food containers are perfect for carrying humus or spinach dip to that film screening in Bryant Park. What makes Preserve unique is their “Gimme 5” program, where they approach companies and individuals for their used #5 plastic products (not usually taken by recycling centers) and remake them into everything from food containers and cutting boards to toothbrushes and razors.