I’ve always been a sucker for anything natural. Whole Foods Market opens in Union Square, first one in the door. Tossed the Colgate a long time ago in favor of Tom4s of Maine, even tried one of those crystal deodorants once (didn4t work, felt like I was in Woodstock, circa 1969), so you can image how fast I signed up to have a holistic facial from Ettia‘s, a little gem of a spa on the Upper West Side, well worth the trip, even for us downtowners who think the journey north of 23rd Street is a trek.

I arrived in the sanctuary with skin sufficiently polluted from cab fumes, dehydrated from a bit too much Pinot Noir c/o a friends dinner party the night before and stressed from the daily grind of life in the city, aka: I was in dire need of a facial. I was curious about Ettia4s philosophy towards achieving perfect skin, which incorporated the five elements of fire, water, earth, metal and wood to form a perfect remedy that appealed to my specific skin type. After changing into the requisite terry-cloth robe and headband uniform that we all come to love and expect from our spa visits, I was already quickly decompressing…So Ettia herself, the Big Kahuna of natural skincare tended to my poor, distressed face, immediately analyzing where the problems lie and mixing up a special blend of herbs and essential oils, with as much expertise as a professional chemist. The result, she claimed, would restore my luminosity to that of Mountain Girl Heidi, fresh-faced, rosey-cheeked with a dewey-glow to boot.

I immediately sank into a near-hypnotic state, as Ettia started applying the special concoction, firmly massaging the fragrant potion deep into my epidermis and chanting some sort of spiritual mantra that I was supposed to be meditating to. Normally, I tend to scoff at the new-age sermons yoga instructors like to preach in the beginning of class, of which this was uncannily similar, but for a change, I embraced it and needless to say, I was soon swimming in a sea of tranquility, dozing in and out, dreaming of my chakras aligning and of ying and yang and peace, love and happiness in the world.

The facial ran for about 90 minutes of bliss, where they steam-cleaned my pores better than the laundromat does my favorite pair of black pants and applied a soothing mask to draw out the rest of the nasty little buggers clogging up my complexion…It was over before I knew it and despite the fact that I wanted to beg Ettia to keep going, I was pretty sure they were never going to give me a 2 hour treatment, no matter how low I was willing to sink in the bribery department (did she need a free weekend in the Hamptons? Good thing I didn’t go there, my friend with the house would have been none-too-pleased).

So, I mustered what little energy I had left to heave myself off the table and into my street clothes, signifying an official return to reality. Sigh. But the best was still to come, as I had yet to look in the mirror to see the results of her labor. How do I properly phrase it to convey my exact reaction? Jaw-dropping, wide-eyed amazement? Yes, that oughta do. I couldn’t believe it! My skin truly looked radiant, rejuvenated, balanced, harmonized and all that jazz.

Send in the white doves, offer up the olive branch, thanks to Ettia’s powerful forces intervening, the war is over and my skin and I are finally at peace. Now, if only Ettia could pave the way for the rest of the world…

Ettia Holistic Day Spa
239 West 72nd Street
800.795.7109
http://www.ettia.com

If you’re a bona fide “‘Girl About Town”, as is yours truly, then you treat the divine Henri Bendel, as a temple, a mecca at which you regularly pay homage to the Gods of Fine Shopping. I stopped going to places of conventional worship long ago, but my true religion is my allegiance to all things beautiful and if the clothes, jewels, makeup and accessories of Bendel’s doesn’t make me exclaim “Sweet Jesus!“ or “Lord Have Mercy!“ then nothing will! I thanked the heavens once again when I found out that Bendel’s is now hosting a weekly Girls Night (every Wednesday starting with a 6pm happy hour) called “Lessons in Love, Lipstick and Lingerie,“ where a team of experts (everyone from best-selling authors/experts on relationships to celebrity makeup artists ready to give you a whole new look) are on hand, doling out great advice, freebies and answering all the questions you’ve been burning to ask, but never had the expert to answer. Each week is a new topic, each session, a new theme, so you can attend every single event until you become as much an expert on all topics-’femme’ as the professionals! Lotus? Bungalow 8? I don’t think so! Change your Wednesday night plans, this is the NEW place to see and be seen, girls!

Henri Bendel
712 Fifth Avenue at 56th

Every Wednesday Night:
6:00 Cocktails
6:30 Presentations
Followed by shopping and makeovers until 8
‘Bendel’s La Lingerie’ On 3

Upcoming Workshops:
THIS WEEK’S FEATURED EVENT
March 30:
A ‘Nite’ Especially For Brides-To-Be
Freeze 24/7 Skincare Expert Laura Brewster Kevyn Aucoin Cosmetics President & Co-Founder Eric Sakas Darcy Miller, Martha Stewart Weddings editorial director and creator of Our Wedding Scrapbook

RSVP 1.800.HBENDEL
Call Now To Reserve Your Place
Space Is Limited To 45 Guests
$25 Reservation Fee Redeemable In Products From The Evening’s Featured Beauty Collection

April 6:
Celebrity Makeup Artist Paula Dorf with National Artist Eric Jimenez. Jane Buckingham, Style Network TV host and author of The Modern Girl’s Guide To Life.

April 7:
A ‘Nite’ Especially For Brides-To-Be
Laura Mercier Bridal Beauty Specialist Marissa Garofolo and Lingerie Experts from Princesse Tam Tam

April 13:
C.O. Bigelow president and skin & body care collection product creator Ian Ginsberg Richard Kirshenbaum & Daniel Rosenberg, authors of Closing the Deal: Two Married Guys Take You From Single Miss To Wedded Bliss.

April 20:
Leading Makeup Artist Trish McEvoy Samantha Daniels, founder of Samantha’s Table and author of Matchbook: The Diary of a Modern-Day Matchmaker.

April 27:
Laura Mercier Cosmetics National Makeup Artist Benjamin Ruiz Style expert Kendall Farr, author of The Pocket Stylist, will share her professional stylist secrets for selecting the perfect lingerie to flatter your individual body type. Learn how to look and feel your sexy best very day (and night) with a lingerie wardrobe that works magic, with or without clothes!

Swap ‘n’ Shop is no swingers party, nor is it to be confused with a grocery store; it’s the perfect venue to pick up some new merchandise and take it home to see how well it suits your needs…heads up label-loving ladies! The Thorn Tree Project invites you to their fourth annual Bring!Swap!Buy! Sale to benefit the Samburu Tribe in Northern Kenya. While you’re doing some very-necessary Spring Closet Cleaning, items such as that magenta velvet motorcycle jacket by Prada you almost couldn’t pay your rent in order to own (but only managed to wear twice) can be sold to an eccentric playwright, who plans on wearing it daily as it’s got as much zip as her personality! The Gucci leopard print bag you had to have, the one that was so cutting edge in 2001, and now looks like a relic from mothball infested Grandma Helen’s closet circa 1968 needs a new proud owner…You can even bring your old prints salvaged from your parents second home before they tore down the 80′s decor and updated to a look presentable for modern day living.

The old saying “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” is the tag line at this massive high-end garage sale. Spend a rewarding evening weeding through gently-used clothing, accessories, home furnishings and other objects d’art and take home a newly prized possession! Because sharing is so much fun, guests are also encouraged to bring a snack, ala potluck, so that all attendees benefit from the collective bounty of food and drink and folks leave happy and satiated. The Thorn Tree Project was founded to endorse and support the Sereolipi Nomadic Education Trust, which builds educational facilities for children of the Samburu tribe of Kenya.

Now, buying an outrageous pair of Dior turquoise metallic wedge sandals can benefit your upcoming summer wardrobe and also the nomadic school children in need of dormitories in which to live while simultaneously getting a good education. Because the night is about 1) shopping, 2) having fun and 3) helping out those in need, bring plenty of cash (or your checkbook) and a minimum of two canned goods that will be donated to the
hungry. A shining example of how all good things come in three’s…

March 31st from 6:00 to 9:00pm
The fourth Clodagh Bring!Swap!Buy! sale
Clodagh Design at 670 Broadway – 4th Floor

Napoleon Perdis Cosmetics to Launch at Saks Fifth Avenue
Australia’s leading makeup artist prepares to conquer the U.S.

WHO: Napoleon Perdis, Australia’s leading Makeup Artist and creator of Napoleon Perdis Cosmetics, invites you to discover his award winning product line and your inner beauty as he divulges his best-kept beauty secrets that will “Bring out the celebrity in you.”

WHAT: Explore and immerse yourself in a divine world of “Euro-Glamour with a Natural Australian Freshness” at the NEW Napoleon Perdis counter. Schedule an appointment for a makeup application with Napoleon’s Atelier Makeup Team to experience the line and Spring’s hottest looks.

WHERE: Saks Fifth Avenue, 611 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10022

WHEN: Beginning March 29, 2005

Please call 212-753-4000 to schedule your appointment.

WHY: Experience makeup artistry magic with a complimentary makeover at the Napoleon Perdis counter.

While hopping around the west village last Friday night, in search of the perfect bar and restaurant at which to blow our time and cash, my friend and I instead stumbled upon on the perfect store – a little gem with such an inconspicuous presence, had we not practically fallen into the place, while trying to pinpoint our location on Bleecker St (which runs sideways around there – CONFUSING!), we never would have noticed NY Artificial.

Like a pirate stumbling onto a buried treasure, we were immediately entranced by the various offerings such as the bracelets and rings artisan Ayazakura created out of recycled metal, re crafted and adorned with gemstones and fresh water pearls, the kind of jewelry made for urban mermaids! The Susana Pesce collection also tickled our fancy, with her ornate deco designs and insiders report that Sigorney Weaver was recently seen snatching up a pair of fabulous earrings by this illustrious up-and-comer! Sario Hats are dreamed up at night, literally, her ideas come to her as she lay sleeping and when the sun rises, Sario gets to work crafting her nocturnal visions into tangible form.

Blanka Amezkua currently has her line of brightly-colored embroidered wall hangings on display around the store: street scenes from Mexican cartoons, rated R due to their saucy adult content. A group of battered women in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil called Donnaterra have a line of bags which are woven from old electrical wires and soda cans, who knew my old Pepsi would look so amazing brought back to life in the form of the ultimate weekend purse? A percentage of sales go back to their organization to keep these women out of harms way, and supporting good causes and charities is important to co-owners, Aaron Bond and Alex Gozman, who intentionally seek out designers set on giving back to society. A far cry from your typical 5th Avenue department store emporium, NY Artificial is an anomaly, managing to vacuum the dough right out of your wallet, but at the same time, alleviating any buyers remorse due to the notion that you’ve paid your altruistic dues for the week. With shopping habits like these, maybe you’ll be eligible for a tax break!

Artificial Intelligence
223 West 10th Street @ Bleecker
http://www.nyartificial.com

On one of the most popular lunch-time destination blocks in the city, sits a gastronomically tempting venue boasting the motto “ours is 9 and 1/2 inches long.” No, this isn’t one of those elusive Turkish bathhouses or Chinese massage parlours, you’ve questioned the legitimacy of, but Mandler’s, a veritable sausage restaurant offering the real deal in wieners, heralding authentic Bavarian brats (the standard pork/beef variety and a lower fat chicken version as well) to spicy Spanish chorizo (a plethora of calories and worth every single one), all original recipes that are quite delicious and ever-more satisfying than that Hebrew National sliced into macaroni and cheese your mom used as a quick dinner fix when when you were a kid. With tempting side-dishes such as zucchini fries, corn fritters and potato-pancakes, plus dozens of dipping sauces (jalapeno being my personal favorite) and six varieties of mustards available, my recommendation is to go wearing elastic-waisted pants, because you’re going to experience a sensation much like post-Thanksgiving dinner, where you knew you shouldn’t eaten so much, but you couldn’t help it!

The restaurant was a dream seven years in the making according to Ronnie Mandler, the friendly owner, whose experience in the food industry was nil until the serendipitous consumer reaction to his dogs. A garmento by profession, Ronnie traveled to Europe and saw the sausage phenomenon first-hand on the streets in Germany and Spain and decided to bring the revolution to America, where his dream has turned into a lucrative reality. With plans to open two more locations in midtown for the hungry corporate lunch crowd, Mandler’s is soon to join the ranks of lunchtime maninstays Subway and Cosi.

“Sandwiched” between salad-extravaganza Chopped and Middle-Eastern sensation, Rainbow Falafel, and ordering Havana (a little taste of Cuba) and sushi delight Ennju, Mandler’s Original Sausage Company adds a little bit of spice to a neighborhood already brimming with international flair…

Mandler’s Original Sausage Company
26 East 17th Street
Off Union Square West

I had passed by the studio many-a-time, always wondering what type of new-age exercise was being practiced behind the glass doors. With yoga and pilates becoming increasingly popular, surely this could be the next big exercise trend, and as a self-proclaimed fitness trailblazer (and proud owner of many exercise tapes that promised to change my life and ironically still sitting unopened in my media cabinet), I decided that I must give it a try.

Gyrotonics, for those of you neophytes like myself, is a system that incorporates techniques from yoga, ballet, swimming, tai-chi and gymnastics to increase range of motion and balance and help with muscular rejuvenation. “Oh perfect,” I thought – Should the worlds most uncoordinated person, who can’t even hack Aerobics 101 at New York Sports Clubs, attempt to be a guinea pig for what sounded like an extremely complicated and tricky way to get a good stretch? But, in keeping with my New Years resolution to be more adventurous, I decided I had little to lose, except my embarrassment, so, challenge accepted!

First of all, the folks at Sal Anthony’s Movement Salon, upon learning that an intrepid reporter was setting out to do a review, brought out the big gun: Mr. Sal Anthony himself, who also has a thriving business as a restaurateur (I cracked myself up with the obvious joke of eating a hearty plate of spaghetti bolognese and then working it off at his studio, to which he pleasantly smiled as I’m sure he’s heard it a thousand times before).

Sal Anthony was to be my private instructor for the session and since he seemed to be pretty re known locally, and also in great shape himself, I was a bit intimidated at first. He also looked uncannily like The Godfather himself, or at least a Soprano family member. But there was no talk of waste management at all, in fact, we got right down to business, “wasting” no time getting me strapped into a harness attached to a machine of levers and pulleys similar to that of a medieval torture device. Lucky for me, there was little torture involved, in fact, with his watchful eye and another assistant on-hand to spot me from behind, I was soon enough gyrating all over the place (or, in circular movements as instructed), that felt strange at first, but fun and satisfying after I got into the groove. It’s all about using your core muscles to orchestrate the movements, similar to pilates, but to quote from the expert himself, Sal Anthony explained that if pilates is “an internal combustion engine,” then Gyrotonics is “the rocket ship.” Well, I was sold. Never before had I spent much time on my abs, so this was a refreshing jump-start to what I suspect might be a great way to go from beer-gut to six-pack in a fraction of the time you would relying solely on the “Abmaster” from the gym.

After almost and hour and a half, I was slightly dizzy and felt like a pro at gyrating left, right, up down, sideways, etc. In fact, as I stumbled out of the place, looking suspiciously intoxicated to passerby thanks to the unfamiliar movements, a hot shower and green tea made at home afterwards me feel like a million bucks and I’d go back to the Movement Salon and move what my mama gave me anytime!

Thanks Mr. Anthony and now let’s reward ourselves and Mangia!!

Sal Anthony’s Movement Salons (Studio 17)
119 East 17th St (near Union Sq)
212-228-4478
http://www.movementsalon.com

Ever dreamed of what it would be like to have been born a Trump or a Hilton and have the very best of everything at your fingertips? Whenever I grimace at the thought of the upcoming swim suit season or get exasperated over a pimple that just won’t quit, I often wish I had an expert on-hand to help me deal with my current beauty/body crisis.

It’s a matter of “IF’s:” IF only I could have a celebrity trainer get my butt in shape, I would look like Giselle on the beach in Rio (okay, I’d have to work on the tan a little bit too). IF I could get an appointment with a good dermatologist, I’d have that peaches n’ cream complexion over which I would receive “glowing” complements from strangers on the street. IF I could just meet Mr. Right already, then maybe Mom would stop nagging. Well, city girls in the same fix: fret not, Acqua Beauty Bar beckons with a tempting night of tips from well-known aficionados in worlds of beauty, grooming, fitness and dating! In this crash course on how to maximize everything from your time spent at the gym to makeup artist “insider” secrets, you’ll leave with a whole new set of rules with which to live and play by.

Come for the tips! Come for the cocktails! Come for the free goody bag (filled with loads of cool products and tools to send you on your way)! Paris: there’s about to be a new “it” girl in town…

It’s All For You at Acqua Beauty Bar

Meet Manhattan’s Best of Fitness, Health, Skin, Smile, Spa and Make up Experts who will offer their tips on how to look and feel your best.

Learn expert secrets from:

Acqua Beauty Bar’s Grooming and Skin Specialists

Oz Garcia, Nutrition Expert

Neil Sadick, Manhattan’s Top Cosmetic Dermatologist

Allen Spindel, Personal Trainer

Laura Geller, Renowned Make Up Artist

Dr Elisa Mello & Dr. Ramin Tabib, New York Cosmetic Dentists

Janis Spindel, International Matchmaker

March 16, 2005
6:30pm to 9:30pm
Acqua Beauty Bar
7 East 14th St (between 5th Ave and Union Square West)
Tickets ($50.) can be purchased by calling Acqua Beauty Bar 212.620.4329

Enjoy cocktails, a signed copy of Janis’s Book
“Get Serious About Getting Married” and an expert gift bag

New Year’s Eve happens twice. In NYC, it first occurs on December 31st, and the second time it happens is right about now. It’s time for me to emerge from hibernation, see my resolutions finally take effect, and look towards the approaching change in season as the perfect time to stage a comeback. I’m not alone. We here at Beauty News NYC have made March our month to re-launch our publication a fabulous new design! And you, too, can reveal that ‘new you’ chomping at the bit since the first snowfall. But how? What is a sure-fire way to reveal this fantastic new version of you in time to throw a springtime frisbee in Central Park? Try listening to the advice of Visual Therapists, Jesse Garza and Joe Lupo.

Visual Therapy, founded in 1995, provides luxury style and wardrobe services for individual clients, corporations and public figures. They are your personal creative directors, public relations reps, and image consultants. It would be wrong to call what they do a simple makeover. VT’s luxury lifestyle consultants work with women, men and corporations to “create a confident self and public image by creating a new awareness of Image and Identity to provide Clarity (a consistent image and identity).”

In the case of a corporation, a consultation with Joe and Jesse will determine the target audience for events, merchandise and product designs in correlation with brand identity. With individuals, these style gurus will assess a client’s lifestyle and unique qualities. This consultation is followed by the most tangible way in which Jesse and Joe help stage that personal comeback. They clean out the closet!

It sounds simple enough, but as Oprah Winfrey and many other VT clients can attest, cleaning your closet is like sandblasting through your personal armor. By analyzing and understanding the visual, superficial image you project to the outside world, you essentially begin to look below the surface and understand your essence. As you sort through the impulse buys, the unrealistic clothing sizes, and the outdated trends you swear will come back in style but never do, you will feel cleansed and rejuvenated – about 10 pounds lighter! Sorting through your closet helps you strip away the layers blocking the “vessel that is you,” as Jesse likes to put it.

What’s the best way to do this? Well, fortunately, Jesse and Joe’s techniques and philosophies are on their informative website www.visual-therapy.com and in their soon-to-be-published book. But in the meantime, you can ask yourself the following questions about each item in your closet.

1) Do I love it?
2) Is it flattering?
3) Is this the image I want to project?

If the answer isn’t a resounding yes to all of them, then throw it out! – (or put it into an ‘archive’ of items with sentimental value). The point is to go through the “junk drawer that is your life,” as Joe says – to finally get rid of all that’s accumulated over the years preventing you from moving forward in a healthy, intelligent, efficient way.

This process will allow you to shop through your closet like it’s your own personal boutique of clothes that fit you physically and fit your style. You will be able to go out and shop more effectively and fill in the gaps of your wardrobe without making costly mistakes. By taking inventory of your closet, you will have subsequently taken inventory of your life, and this will trickle down into all aspects of your life, be it in dating, dieting, mothering, working or just ‘being’. This is more than just going to Lowe’s or California Closet. It’s about changing your approach to life and the way you move through it. You can walk out of your closet and into a room and have everyone look you straight in the eye and not up and down – for you’ll know who you are and exude that confidence.

Once you learn what your personal image is and understand what makes your style unique, not to mention what clothes make you truly happy and feel alive, you can begin to project the real you to the rest of the world. Are you whimsical, sophisticated, intelligent, sexy, powerful, or approachable, or are you some combination of these? Joe and Jesse can help you figure that out. Are you making a transition from whimsical to chic, from trendy to timeless or from young to mature? They can help you make the right choices and purchases to coincide with these changes. They would continue your therapy session by taking you on a sensible shopping spree and setting you up with the perfect hair and make-up specialists. More importantly, they’ll help you when you ‘fall off the wagon’ and start walking the dog in your sweatpants from 1985. After all, that can’t possibly be the image you want to show off, right?

Obviously, you have to be ready and willing to go through such a transformation. Oprah herself wasn’t able to part with her clothes and accessories until she decided to auction things off in an effort to raise money for her Angel Network charity. But once she did, she reaped the benefits of VT’s version of feng shui for the closet. Another tip is to create an ‘Inspiration Board’.

This is a personal style file that you can refer to whenever you lose sight of your personal goals.

You can include pictures of places, people, clothes and accessories – anything that speaks to you and helps you reconnect with the ideal image of what you want your life to look like.

Through visualization, you can live your life the way you want and have people look at you the way you want. Re-invention can seem challenging in a city where fashionistas on every street corner are giving you infinite options on how to look fabulous. And in a city where yoga can be like a competitive sport, it’s sometimes hard to determine when you’re following a trend and when you’re following your heart. But with a little bit of focus and a healthy approach like the one set by Jesse Garza and Joe Lupo, your personal comeback is just a visualization away!

NEW YORK
24 West 57th Street, Suite 502
New York, NY 10019
Telephone: 212.315.2233
Facsimile: 212.315.2266
Email: info@visual-therapy.com

LOS ANGELES
Telephone: 323-651-0350
Email: michael@visual-therapy.com

Hi Mamas – how are you? Christmas has past us by once again; we just turned the corner on Valentine’s Day and are on our way to spring. We mama bears love the holidays, the change of seasons and traditions. We save locks of our babies hair, spend every November 25th cooking or eating, and save our wedding dresses at a local dry cleaners in case our daughters want to wear it. So, I thought I might start a new tradition for my fellow New York City mamas. One that honors you as you honor everyone so preciously in your lives. Let’s take one month a year to celebrate one of our New York City sister-mamas who embody everything beautiful – radiance inside and out, style, pizzazz, elegance and that something that turns heads. This year the choice was obvious to me every time I brought Jax to his Preschool of America on West End Avenue (ph:212-362-0135) and greeted the director, Kate Smith.

When I was searching for a place to send my precious Jax a couple days a week, I went through the torturous process that many Big Apple Mamas talk about. I interviewed, I toured, and I wrote essays. It ranked directly behind the agony I experienced when buying our apartment in New York and going in front of the co-op board. Arduous. Ironic. But I stayed strong. I insisted that I was the buyer, not the seller. I almost gave up. Then I met Kate Smith. Unlike many school directors in New York City, she had heart. Tons of it. She was so assured of the product she represented, her son was in attendance there. Actually, Kate’s son Liam is in the same class with my Jax.

Yes, the school and curriculum impressed me. Everything was new and beautiful and sat on a park by the river. But what cinched it for me was Kate and Preschool of America’s philosophy for their personnel. Kate mentioned when sharing the school year calendar that there would be two paid weeks off a year for the staff. She explained that the philosophy at Preschool and for her was that if the employees felt loved, they would love the children. Amen, amen, amen. You cannot give what you ain’t got. It is my own mother philosophy in a nutshell. That was it for me. Where do I sign? That statement has been the truth of the smile on my son’s face every time we head out the door on the way to school. He sings his teachers names, “Miss Margo, Miss Kelly, la la la.” It is music to a mother’s ears.

Kate is a hard-working mama and professional that’s own smile is as wide as the Hudson River her school overlooks. Kate has a background in education and was a teacher herself before an administrator. She is a native New Yorker, from Queens. Kate is still with her high school sweetie. Her passion is, of course, staff development and training. Kate’s enthusiasm is infectious. She is both a teacher and a student. Kate assures all the nervous parents with both her knowledge and her own surprise at all the possibilities of children.

Kate makes beautiful look easy. I asked her if she had a secret to share with my mama readers. She said she shared the same secret as the one Maya Angelou spoke in a poem about the confidence of how you carry yourself. Bam! Yes, I thought. That’s it. Regardless of the chaos of dozens of families giving the minutia of details about how to care for their children, the phones ringing, doorbells ringing, the emergencies involving injury, the paperwork, the paperwork, the paperwork – Kate carries herself like a woman walking the red carpet of a movie premiere.

As far as products go, Kate is mostly a L’Oreal gal. She uses many of their products including their mascaras and tanning gel, “Sublime.” Other than that, she’s a cheap date, dousing herself in Oil of Olay products (some of the best skincare on the market, by the way), night and day. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Kate describes herself as “moisturizer freak.” Well, if you are going to have a neurosis, that’s a pretty sound one.

Confidence, a flair for color and a pair of three-inch heels are all hidden inside Kate’s “yummy mama” beauty recipe. Her wonderful confidence Kate credits to her biggest fan and husband, Matt. Matt and Kate have been together a long time (I won’t say exactly how long and give away Kate’s age!) and are still in love. Love and happiness are the most important ingredients of beautiful. Kate has all that and more! Brava, brava Kate and in the brilliant words of my Jax, “la la la!”

Love, Mama

Who doesn’t love a trio? I mean we have the Three Musketeers, the Three Tenors…even the Holy Trinity. We use triumvirates in our every day life already: “Stop, Look, & Listen,” “Snap, Crackle, & Pop,” and don’t forget the 3 Rs. The best things seem to come in trios so naturally, I went in search of some of the best triunes for the Manhattan girl on the go, and came up with (of course) three must-haves.

First stop, my absolute favorite salon: Warren Tricomi.

Joel Warren and Edward Tricomi have been in the lab working on the ideal hair care system. Their new trio of products, launching this month, is called Pure Strength. The “3-C System” promises to be the best friend your hair has ever had. The three-step system comes in three formulations (no points for guessing)…Normal, Fine and Dry.

First step – Cleanse. Warren-Tricomi warns, “Do not underestimate the value of a good cleanser for your hair.” Bergamot is an essential component of each of the cleansers, with Yucca for extremely dry hair and Wheat Proteins for Fine hair. Each of the cleansers includes ingredients to soothe the scalp and cleanse the hair without stripping it of moisture.

Second step – Close. This is the integral step in the process, as it is the healing stage for the hair cuticle. This patented formulation instantly causes the hair cuticle to close and return to its strongest, healthiest form, while locking in the moisture. It leaves the hair shaft amazingly strong and protects it from damage due to coloring, from styling tools and products, or the elements. The process definitely rejuvenates the hair, and no matter which of the three formulas you use, you’re treated to the refreshing scent of Wild Fig and Cassis.

Third step – Condition. Each formula has a built-in SPF that protects hair from sun damage while coating it with such luxurious ingredients as Avocado Oil and Wheat or Milk Proteins. This step insures fuller, silkier hair without weighing down our fabulous tresses.

This trio is a must have for every girl who desires a truly fabulous ‘just left the salon’ head of hair, every day. Available at all three Warren Tricomi Salons or at www.WarrenTricomi.com

The next on our program is the triplicate from Rodan & Fields.

The same two clinical dermatologists who brought us the Proactive System of infomercial fame, have now developed a line of skin care that is being sold at high-end retail outlets, such as Henri Bendel’s in Manhattan.

Their three-step CALM system is ideal for anyone who has a slight tendency to break out, or who experiences redness in their skin. The promise of cleaner, clearer skin and reduced pores is one that this dynamic duo of dermatology has managed to keep.

Calm 1 is their facial cleanser. It’s gentle yet effective in treating and preventing breakouts while soothing inflamed skin with Green Tea and Arnica.

Calm 2 is their specially formulated alcohol-free toner that helps unclog pores. With natural antioxidants, vitamins and botanicals, it not only reduces redness, but also helps restore a healthy pH balance.

Calm 3 is a lightweight lotion that is infused with Benzoyl Peroxide, which is an active ingredient in healing and preventing blemishes and redness.

You can be assured of clearer, healthier skin in about a week. Long term use can improve symptoms of Rosacea. For those on the go or anyone who wants to test-drive, the trio even comes in a convenient travel pack, which lasts about two weeks. Available online at www.RodanandFields.com.

To round out this must have trilogy for the Manhattan girl-on-the-go we have our last trio. Well, it isn’t really a trio…its a Treo.

The Treo 650 is the new smartphone by palmOne. This incredibly small device that fits in your pocket has it all…a mobile phone, dual band radio, Palm OS organizer, souped up keyboard and high res. screen, wireless email and messaging, web browsing, and a digital camera as well as video capability. They even improved the battery, now removable, which has a much better life span. As if that isnt enough the 650 has Bluetooth, so you can use a wireless earpiece/headset and just leave your phone in your handbag or pocket; even allowing you to make calls via voice dialing.

Now you can use just one device to “get it all done.” With everything integrated so nice and neatly into this sleek 312 MHz package, you can dial calls and address messages from your contact list, take a picture to share with a friend…all without jumping from one application to another. What’s more, the Treo 600 is a digital dual-band phone that supports high-speed connectivity for wireless communication. It will become as indispensable to you as those new Gucci sandals or your favorite tube of DuWop’s Lip Venom Gloss.

For more information on the Treo, log on to www.PalmOne.com/US.

That wraps up our triathlon. Maybe Goldilocks was freaked out by the trio she encountered, but we promise that you will find our threesome juuuuust right!