Tag Archives: advice

BEST TRAVEL TIPS

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Over the years, I have perfected the art of traveling.

I get on a plane often, so I really know what I’m doing when it comes to packing, getting through security, and not killing yourself on the plane.

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TIP 1: BAGGIES FOR SECURITY

The night before I travel, I prepackage all of my make up into plastic baggies. Then I put them in an easy access spot in my black plane bag. I have a lot of products, so I HAVE to plan ahead. We all know that TSA wants you to put your stuff in ziplocs, and sometimes you can get through without this step, but this is a definite “better safe than sorry” in my book. You can pre-baggie everything at home and zip through, or you can chance it and possibly spend 25 minutes with TSA agent Joseph going through your purse!

TIP 2: ROLLING DUFFEL BAG

If you’re checking your bag, make it a rolling duffel in a water resistant fabric. If they leave it on the tarmac, you’re f*cked- trust me, I know from personal experience! This is an easy bag to fill and drag through an airport, and isn’t unwieldy.

TIP 3: TISSUE PAPER

I pack everything in tissue paper. This is my little secret. I wrap suits, dresses, and everything else in tissue paper that I save during the year. This prevents stuff from wrinkling, to some degree, and is a good form of protection from the stress of traveling.

TIP 4: STEAM YOUR STUFF

Use the hot shower in your hotel room to get any wrinkles out of your clothes IMMEDIATELY upon arriving. Really, the sooner the better. Then hang them up in your closet. Hang the clothes over the shower rod, on the outside, with the shower head pointing straight down so there’s no splashing.

TIP 5: LIFT TEST OR CHECK

This is probably my biggest trick. If you can’t lift your bag over your head, check it!! You would be amazed at how many people, especially women, don’t check this before they leave the house. Then they get on the plane and someone else has to help them lift it into the overhead bin and take it back out. This is such a time killer! At home, just keep taking stuff out until you CAN lift it, if you don’t want to check it.

What are your best travel tips?

I would love to know!

Happy travels.

-Rose

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Spiritual Friday: The Sidewalks of New York

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I am in New York City today — one of my favorite places in the world.  I lived here when I was in my twenties during the city’s “Desperately Seeking Susan” years.  My old neighborhood, the lower east side, was full of Ukranian food, Indian food, Italian food and some of the best dive bars I’ve ever had the pleasure of patronizing.  The years fall away for me.

As I walk these streets, visiting the familiar Christmas highlights – entire stores decorated in bows, the tree at Rockefeller Center, the enormous red Christmas ornaments floating in the fountain on 6th Avenue – I am still enchanted.

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And I feel the poignancy as I walk — heading north to THE park.

I can’t walk these streets without recalling the young woman I was…

Not quite as sure of things, not quite as peaceful.  I am overcome with memories of friends- some lost to cancer, others to the vagaries of time and the demands of adulthood.

The seas of humanity swirl as we navigate these streets- somehow together, somehow alone.  I see families holding hands to stay together as they steer through the crowds.  I see older people bent over but still carrying home their grocery bags.  I see the busy business people – determined, focused.

And I am humbled to be one among.  To be able to share in the energy and life and craziness that is this city.

What places stir the poignant memories for you?  What places bring you joy?

Share Please!

Have a joyful weekend,
Rose

Spiritual Friday: Saying Yes

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I’ve learned this year the importance of saying YES.  I’m not talking the no boundaries, people pleasing, yes, yes, yes of my past.  I am talking about the rich experiences, the things that might make you uncomfortable, the pushing your boundaries, the making the extra effort YES.

Italy, Writer’s Workshop, Selling Course, Toastmasters, Dinner Dates, a New Job, this Blog 

Each YES has opened a door for me.  Some unexpected; some looked “bad” at first and yet took me somewhere I would not otherwise have gone.

Saying YES requires trust.  And for me regaining trust in the world and in myself was a challenge.  I had been through a pretty bad patch.  My world had gotten small.  And I realized that I wanted an expansive world.

So I came out punching (a bit).  I accepted the invitations.  I spent the money and booked the flights and found I earned the money back right away. I took the courses.  I did the work.

I accepted the help. And have people in my life now I could not imagine not having in my life.

I found friendship in the most unlikely places.

Say YES to this rich life we have been given.  I promise you it will be alright.

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What are your YES Stories?  How did you regain your trust?

Share Please!

Have a great weekend.

-Rose

Make Up Monday: Bobbi Brown Favorites!

Posted in Make Up Mondays by

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Ah, Bobbi Brown.

I am a huge Bobbi Brown fan, as you have probably figured out if you’ve spent any time on This Day Right Now!

I wanted to share my top five favorite Bobbi Brown items with you.

1. Concealer with Powder

This is still the best product out there for dark circles. This famous correcting concealer can cover anything, and what else can you ask for from a concealer?! It doesn’t crease, and it is gentle on my skin.

2. Long Wear Cream Shadow

Oh, a cream shadow! Love this stuff. It is a great base for other shadows, or to wear by itself.

3. Pot Rouge for Lips & Cheeks

I love the texture of this product. It’s creamy and stays on for hours. It’s my perfect PURSE PRODUCT, since it perks me up and is amazing for the on-the-run life. It’s a little splash of color and a definite recommendation if you’re new to Bobbi Brown.

4. Shimmer Brick

Great summer or spring colors, really. This blush is very forgiving when applied with a brush, and is a nice pick me up. It’s easy to use and it always makes me happy to open this up, since it’s so beautiful.

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5. Face & Body Bronzing Duo

I use this every  day. The bronzer is light for a bronzer, and the blush is warm, so it’s great for all over your face.

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I am a devotee to Bobbi Brown brushes, and lipsticks, but these five are my make up bag essentials.

What products are you most loyal to?

Please share!

-Rose

Weekly Favorite: Moroccan Oil Hairspray

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Moroccan Argan Oil… Coconut Oil… Macadamia Nut Oil… Everywhere you look, there’s another new oil to put on your skin or hair, and another article about why this oil is the best.

Well, sucker that I usually am for marketing, I have not been totally taken by the oil trend.

However, I LOVE the smell of my new Moroccan Oil Hairspray.

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This is a new staple in my routine.

Here’s why:

-It’s not drying, which is so important for my aging hair.

-It has a medium hold, which is good for me. Despite the fact that I was born in New Jersey, I don’t like the aqua net shellac look!

-It smells amazing, like I said, and the bottle is pretty.

-There is a travel size available, which is great for plane trips.

-It holds my hair’s body when I take the time to curl the ends with a flat iron

Do you use hairspray? What hairspray have you heard good things about? Let me know!

-Rose

Make Up Monday: Perfume Collection & Advice

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I have a carefully curated perfume collection that I just love. Scents can boost your mood, and choosing a fragrance for the day can have a hand in your confidence, your style, and the way you feel. I am not married to any one scent, and cycle through a few favorites. I feel that certain scents are better for certain people, and it’s important to know how your body chemistry reacts to perfumes.

I have three favorites that I reach for the most, for good reason.

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Creed Spring Flower:

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First, look at how beautiful this bottle is! Creed is a classic brand, albeit an expensive way to go with perfume, that makes me feel sophisticated and feminine. Spring Flowers is a rich, elegant scent. It isn’t a girly perfume, despite the hot pink bottle, and I would recommend this to women aged 35 and older.

J’Adore Dior:

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This is a best seller for a reason! This is a great gift if you don’t know what to get your sister or best friend for the holidays, because the bottle is a real stunner in person. J’Adore is a beautiful scent, and it looks great on your dresser. It’s feminine and ageless, and it doesn’t go flowery on me like many scents tend to with my body chemistry. I feel so pretty when I put J’Adore on- maybe it goes back to those commercials with Charlize Theron dripping in jewels!

Jo Malone Blue Agave & Cacao Cologne:

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I am such a sucker for good marketing, and I love everything Jo Malone does. The bottles are beautiful, and this is a great brand to support. The scents are rich and long lasting, made with great ingredients. You can also blend and combine different Jo Malone scents for a personal fragrance that works on you. My friend is blending the Grapefruit and Lime Basil one lately, as scents go sweet on her, and these colognes react differently with everyone. This is a definite recommendation from me- pick whatever Jo Malone appeals to you, and find your own signature!

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As you can see, a lot of my bottles are pretty empty! Time to find some all new favorites. When I head out to sample all of the bottles on display at Nordstrom’s this month, I will always keep in mind that classic scents work on me, perfumes with heavy floral notes are too much for me, and a few cheaper bottles are better for my frequent travel lifestyle.

What is your go-to scent? Share with me! Any recommendations?

Have a great day,

Rose

Working Out: The Power of Walking

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I tend to be an all or nothing girl.

If I’m going to work out, I would rather run stairs than take a leisurely yoga class. You’ll find me going hard with my trainer for an hour instead of taking an extra hour to watch TV. A lot of the time, this is a great thing.

Yet recently, my life has been settling down. Things are calmer, and a more relaxed view of working out only makes sense. So I have started walking.

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Luckily I have my girl Mandy to motivate me to get out there and walk everyday, and I’ve really learned to love it.

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Getting out and walking everyday is so good for me. It’s good cardio (albeit less rigorous than sprinting steps), good for the heart, and good for my soul. It gives me a chance to catch my breath and meditate.

And it’s good for Mandy, too!

What do you do to relax? Do you enjoy a nice walk?

-Rose

DAILY LIFE: Jewelry Storage

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Storing jewelry is a tricky thing. I used to keep everything in a wooden jewelry box, and hello tangle city! I also couldn’t see everything I have. As someone who travels a lot, it is incredibly helpful to be able to see my collection.

I found this awesome hanging jewelry storage at the Container Store a couple of months ago. I hang it over the back of my door, and I can see all of my current favorite necklaces.

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Great, right? I recommend it to anyone. I keep my rings in little dishes on my dresser, and my watches in a jewelry box.

How do you ladies store your necklaces? I’d love to know!

-Rose

Spiritual Friday: Puppy Love

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For this week’s Spiritual Friday, I thought I would share something that has turned out to be one of the best parts of my life. I guess that is how it goes, isn’t it? The craziest things are usually great things.

I am referring to my shelter dog Mandy, of course!

Mandy has the sweetness of a hound and the speed of a sheep dog, although I can’t be sure of her exact breed.

I do know that she is a little crazy girl. Here is Mandy around my house.

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Whether she’s relaxing in bed or watching the kids walk home from school, Mandy does things all the way. She keeps my life exciting and full of joy. What keeps your life joyous?

Have a wonderful weekend.

-Rose

Spiritual Friday: “Holding It Lightly”

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One of my dearest friends used to urge me to “hold it lightly.”  I would often hang up from our talks wondering exactly what she meant – what holding it lightly looked and felt like.  

I think I understand now.

It’s simple really.  Holding on tightly crushes, chokes the air out, stifles.  It is desperate.

And desperate is not good.

Holding lightly acknowledges our want, yet frees us from our want.  It allows for room, for air, for other choices.  It is peaceful

And peaceful is good.

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This week I have tried to hold it all lightly – the petty bothers; the silly disappointments; the promising news; the IRS notification – all of it.

When I am lighter, I am easier and life is easier.

Just a thought on this Friday. Have a relaxing weekend,

-Rose