Target sees RED for your Valentines' Day

 Valentine's day is right around the corner, and of course, the color of the month is: RED!  TARGET has you covered with some exclusives:

LIPS are definitely the body part you're going to want to focus on, because lips are for kissing, and red lips are not just festive, they're glamorous.  L'Oreal Paris Infallible Never Fail Lipcolour is "Target Red" is not just available exclusively at Target stores, it's in a red metallic case with the iconic Target "bullseye" logo right on the front. The color of this lipstick is bright red, but it's clear and neutral in tone, so everyone can wear it.   I love the has a mirror-like compact (created by designer John Lonezak).  Infalible features a longwear lip color base coat (in a wanded tube) and a clear, vanilla-scented conditioning top coat (in a swivel-up tube) to seal and color. This dynamic duo gives your lips full, dramatic, opaque color and lots of shine. You'll get Vitamin E the basecoat, and Marine Collagen in the top coat.  Red lipstick can end up looking "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane"-ghoulish if it smears or runs, but Infallible Never Fail Lipcolour really does stay put.  This is a great product to pop into your purse for day or evening. It's perfect for brides and anyone who needs to be close-up ready, at a moment's notice.  Take it with you, but you might not even need to touch up because it is so long lasting. For just $9.99!

Match your nails to your lips with another Target exclusive: L'Oreal Paris PRO Manicure in Target Red. What can $5.99 get you?  Perfectly polished, shiny, red nails!  L'Oreal's square bottles with silvery tops are elegant as-is, and this particular color has a Target logo on the cap. I'm in love with this deep, creamy red that is also in a neutral tone to flatter just about every skin tone. Although I didn't wear the polish for 7 days, supposedly it will last that long (wearing rubber gloves when you wash dishes, and taking care of your hands, will help). If you tend to avoid dark colors because you just don't have the time to deal with fading and chipping, this polish, with Pro-Keratin for stronger nails, might just change your mind.

Smooth skin is a turn-on, so why not try a red-themed exfoliating body wash that smells like tart and sweet tropical fruits   Target's Up & Up body products has one in an elegantly curved, plastic bottle with red cap. Pomegranate seeds help exfoliate all those dry, dead skin cells that make your skin look dull, while a melange of oils and tropical palm milk, help to moisturize. the big, 18 oz. bottle will get you through the last few weeks of really cold weather. It's available only at Target Stores, not online, but well worth the trip not just for this product, but for a host of Target items.

Visit your favorite Target store or the Target Web Site


 Copyright ©Alison Blackman Dunham. All rights reserved. The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. No content may be used or copied without written permission. If you want to use my work, please obtain it legally. For more information, Email Me.  You can show your interest and support by subscribing, leaving comments on my posts,  and by following me on Facebook and Twitter  (@advicesisters).  You can also read and subscribe to my National Luxury Lifestyles Column  and NY Cosmetics column on the Examiner.com.  

*I use provided samples for most of my reviews. Learn more in the "A Note About Compensation" section of the Advice Sisters What Works Beauty, Cosmetics and Fashion Review column

Leonor Greyl's Lait Luminescence Hair Detangler and Protector -- a Small Miracle?

 Leonor Greyl may not be a name you recognize as a Parisian purveyor of hair care products, but once you try their new Lait Luminescene Bi-Phase Detangling Milk, you'll want to know more.  The product, boldly claims that it is a "small miracle." 

The product doesn't look like a crystal ball, a magic wand, or a puff of smoke.  This little hair pampering product is not fantasy.  It is real, and  looks simple enough, in a slim, pump bottle, but it is a leave-in hair detangler and conditioner that is full of all sorts of natural ingredients, good for all and especially welcome if your hair is coarse, thick, and difficult to manage.


Like most luxury hair products, this one has some really interesting and unique ingredients that offer stellar results. Hair nourishment comes from a wealth of Alaria Esculenta, a seaweed extract that is culled from the Breton coast, with smoothing and protecting properties. The press literature on Lait Luminescence says that it also guards against the destructive influences of UVB rays,  and dryness caused by brushing your hair (I didn't know that brushing causes dryness, but I stand corrected). Other key ingredients include cassia angustifolia,  from a plant in Southern India, which smooths and conditions even seriously dry hair.  There is also Manketti Oil (also called Mongongo oil) which protects against heat damage. Apparently, when this particular oil is exposed to the sun or to heat, it polmerises on the hair and creates a protective film.


Winter has a particular, drying effect that makes hair look straw like, and even harder to manage due to static buildup.  My personal experience with this product was positive. First off, it's easy to use.  Just spritz it on the length and ends of your hair when it is damp (preferably after cleansing) and then brush through. The detangling properties are awesome. But since it is full of natural vegetable oils and plant extracts, not thick, sticky silicone, your hair will feel soft and smooth,  not "coated."  The acid test? My hair really felt silky, but it stayed that way and I didn't have to re-shampoo more often than I wished. Now that gets four stars!


I love Lait Luminescence for now to keep my hair hydrated and soft,  but in the summer, it'll be in my beach bag to help deal with sun exposure and to protect from salt and chlorine, as well.


If you want to get this for yourself, visit the Leonor Greyl web site http://www.leonorgreyl-usa.com/ . The product is available for approximately 34 euros or $44.00 for 5.25 oz.  You can also get this product and other great LG products at  the Leonor Greyl Institute, and at Sephora and select department stores.




Copyright ©Alison Blackman Dunham. All rights reserved. The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. No content may be used or copied with written permission. If you want to use my work, please obtain it legally. For more information, Email Me.  You can show your interest and support by subscribing to this blog. Several options are available on the right hand side of this blog. Also, you can follow me on Facebook and Twitter  (@advicesisters).  You can also read and subscribe to my National Luxury Lifestyles Column  on the Examiner.com.  

*I use provided samples for most of my reviews. Learn more in the "A Note About Compensation" section of the Advice Sisters What Works Beauty, Cosmetics and Fashion Review column

Romantic Nail Colors that are- DURI-ble and SENSE-able

Maybe he'll "put a ring on it" and maybe not, but there's no reason that your hands shouldn't look their best on Valentine"s Day and every day.  Two nail polish companies have two very different approaches to nail color, but that are both great choices for Valentine's Day, or any day.

DURI has four nail colors in their collection that are very romantic. They also feature a-DURI-ble names (sorry I just couldn't resist) that might just make you feel like falling in love...at least with these nifty nail polishes.  If you're looking for an affordable, and long-lasting polish, DURI does it well (my three coats lasted for days). Note that they're DBP and Toluene free, too!  In most cases, you'll need more than one coat to get an even coat, but the polish is fast-drying, so you can get your nails done, and go on your way.

Cupid Rules #414

This is not exactly the color of Cupid Rules. The actual is more of a clear, bright pink (this one looks peachy). It is the perfect color for a bride, or just for a ladylike manicure. 

This clear, shiny, bright, fire-engine red is a no-holds-barred, sexy way to gloss up your nails for Valentine's Day. Every woman looks alluring with red nails!

Hot Date #396

If you really DO have a "hot date" on Valentines' Day, this bright fuchsia shade will get his attention. If it's a blind date or a first date, the bright color will perk up your spirits, even if it turns out you haven't found "the one." Alone? at least your nails will look seriously "hot."



Contessa #469

Shimmery burgundy is trendy, but this one is a semi-sheer, so you can go subtle with one coat, or intense, with several. The color is more purple/berried than in this photo, and reminds me of rich, frosted grapes!

DURI Nail Polish is just $5.00 per 0.5 fl. oz. bottle.  You can purchase DURI Nail Polish online at www.duri.com or call: 1-800-724-2216

NailSense trio

Not too long ago I reviewed a remarkably long wearing lip color system called LipSense by SenGence.  They also have a number of other long lasting products, including the shades of ten polish and a top and bottom coat. The polish dries very quickly, even when you use the clear, bottom coat first, and there is a shiny lustre with the color,  but you get a truly high-gloss shine by using the top coat.  The trio of top coat, color and bottom coat work together to keep even deep colors, chip-free for much longer than usual.  I type all day long and am really hard on my nails, but the NailSense by SenGence really stood up to punishing conditions.

One color that is perfect for Valentine's Day and those who love a bright, clear red, is "Claret." It isn't too cool, isn't too dark, isn't too Goth and isn't wimpy. It's the color of a shiny, candle apple. In a word: gorgeous! Normally, I'd shy away from red because it is too high maintenance for my nails, but NailSense slid on and coated perfectly, in one coat (two is even better) and I didn't have to re-do, for days. The polish also has UV protection in it, so it won't fade.  All of this could justify the $35.00 price tag  ($15.00 for color, $10.00 for top and for base coat) you'll need. It may seem to be a luxury, but it's a necessity if you're a busy woman who doesn't have time for manicures and touch-ups.

You can only get NailSense by SenGence products through one of their distributors. Visit the SenGence web site to learn more.

Copyright ©Alison Blackman Dunham. All rights reserved. The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. No content may be used or copied without written permission. If you want to use my work, please obtain it legally. For more information, Email Me.  You can show your interest and support by subscribing, leaving comments on my posts,  and by following me on Facebook and Twitter  (@advicesisters).  You can also read and subscribe to my National Luxury Lifestyles Column  and NY Cosmetics column on the Examiner.com.  

*I use provided samples for most of my reviews. Learn more in the "A Note About Compensation" section of the Advice Sisters What Works Beauty, Cosmetics and Fashion Review column

Information About GrandeLash-MD Eyelash Enhancer

Not too long ago, I wrote a feature for this blog suggesting all sorts of products to help enhance your lashes.  I had requested GrandeLash-MD to include in that review, but didn't receive it in time. http://advicesistersblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/how-to-enhance-your-eyelashes-for.html  So I'm adding my thoughts on this product.  I did not, and cannot, review anything long enough to really claim fantastic results. But there is no reason why GrandeLash-MD couldn't work well. 


Lashes are like any other part of your body. Environmental and other stresses, plus overuse of eyelash curlers and mascaras, can thin them out or damage them. But, like hair, lashes can benefit from nourishment.  High quality eyelash conditioners provide essential that help lashes grow back stronger and sometimes, longer. Key ingredients hydrate and moisturize, so your lashes look healthy and shiny.  Some lash enhancers provide ingredients that stimulate hair follicle growth. GrandeLash-MD was developed by a physician, but it's not a prescription medicine. It's a natural formula with ingredients such as Vitamin E to hydrate, Sodium Hyaluronate to help lashes retain moisture, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans to support hair follicle health, Panthenol to moisturize, Chamomile extract to soothe, Ginseng to boost circulation, Palmitoyl-Hexapeptide 11 to improve shine, Palmitoyl-Pentapeptide 4 to strengthen, Bearberry Extract to calm, Grape Seed extract to prevent damage, Methylamido Dihydro to encourage growth, Noralfoprostal to reduce inflammation, and Vitamin C and A to help repair. That is a good cocktail of benefits, and the product is also paraben free. Since you don't apply the product directly into your eye, you shouldn't get color changes (as with Latisse) but you still have to be careful not to get it too close to your eye. And, if you are pregnant, breast feeding, or undergoing medical treatments, you shouldn't use anything that can be absorbed through the skin. You can get a full listing of all the ingredients on the GrandeLash-MD web site.

These types of product do work, but a key thing to remember about any eye product is that if you put something close to your eye, especially along the line line (where all eyelash enhancers seem to be applied), you risk getting the product into your eyes. If your eyes are sensitive, you may find these products burning or irritating. And you need to be patient. For some, results will begin to show in about 3-4 weeks, but for others, the results may take 3-4 months. And monthly supplies of these special enhancers are not inexpensive. Although GrandeLASH-MD has an elegant, brushed gold tube, it costs $59.95 for a 4.5ml tube, which the website says will last you 5 months (used once a day -- twice a day theoretically gives you better results).  Most of these lash enhacers only give you enough for a few weeks at a time anyway, and since GrandeLash MD also comes with an impressive, 90-day money back guarantee (purchase on the web site), it seems like a good choice if you want to try a lash enhancer.

If  you want your own, natural lashes to look lovely without having to resort to false lashes, fiber fillers, and tons of mascara, it's worth a try. Visit the GrandeLash-MD web site to learn more and to purchase.




Copyright ©Alison Blackman Dunham. All rights reserved. The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. No content may be used or copied with written permission. If you want to use my work, please obtain it legally. For more information, Email Me.  You can show your interest and support by subscribing to this blog. Several options are available on the right hand side of this blog. Also, you can follow me on Facebook and Twitter  (@advicesisters).  You can also read and subscribe to my National Luxury Lifestyles Column  on the Examiner.com.  

*I use provided samples for most of my reviews. Learn more in the "A Note About Compensation" section of the Advice Sisters What Works Beauty, Cosmetics and Fashion Review column

MARK Has You Covered for Valentines Day and Beyond

If you're looking for romantic makeup for Valentine's Day or perhaps, some perk-up-your-look items for mid-Winter, you don't have to spend a fortune to get them!  MARK Cosmetics have some of the nicest makeup and accessories,  for some of the tiniest prices! 

For Valentine's Day kissable lips, and eyes that are the proverbial "windows to the soul" are your focus:

For $6.00 you can get a small vial of shiny and luscious, glowy lip gloss with a sponge-tipped wand, in ten different colors called Glow Baby Glow Lip Gloss.  These sweet little vials of color have screw-off caps and you can carry them in the smallest evening bag, but they're meant to be inserted into a dual-ended tube that MARK calls a "Hook Up."  You can even get a free Hook Up connector with the purchase of any two hook up products.  Choosing just two would be difficult.  There are a wide variety of colors and options!  "Sweet Talk Charmer," is a sheer, shimmery pink that adds mostly pouty shine, while "Hot Shimmer" ads semi-sheer shimmery berry to lips, and "Blow Kisses" is a perfect, clear red lip shine that isn't too intense but adds just enough color to give lips a rosy glow.  You might pair the other side of the Hook Up Tube with the MARK Pro Gloss Plumping Lip Shine Lip Gloss. This one comes in five sheer colors, smells like honey, adds tons of shine with it's brush-tipped wand, and is just $6.00. It also features a special, "3D complex" that helps hydrate --try "Swank" in a barely-there pink that adds just a touch of color for a :just bitten" look.

You can use MARK's double-ended hook up for eye products, too.  This is the easiest way to carry mascara and liner, or lip gloss and an eye product, easily.  Pop one color in, take another out. The choices are varied, and you'll always have the colors and products you want literally, at hand.  I like Scanda-Lash, which somehow manages to squeeze a full-sized mascara wand into that thumb-sized hook up tube! It also is just $6.00 and comes in brown, black, blue or purple.  There is a waterproof Scanda Lash Hook Up, too. Line eyes with another Hook Up:  Mark On the Edge Eyeliner $6.00 comes in three colors: Black, brown and a mauve-ish purple.

Traditionalists might prefer the little, round, black compact with a duo of gel eye colors called:  "Keep It Going Longwear Eyeliner & Shadow."  $10.00 gets you a really lovely, multi-tasking set of waterproof, gel-based shades that are build able for extra intensity. They are great for intense, dramatic, eye looks, and easy to apply eyeliners. The duo in the photo is called "Surreal," but for glamour, I like "Entourage," a jet black paired with shimmery silver. The silver makes a startlingly pretty eye liner as well as a lid color.

And if you prefer pressed powder, MARK has that covered, with compacts that are magnetic, so you can also pick and choose your color palette, and change it up when you feel the urge. If I counted correctly, there are 23 colors of I-Mark eye shadow ($5.00 each)  in various formulas from matte to shimmer. For Valentine's Day, create a traditional, smoky eye with a deep grey called "Corset."  Go glamorous with a light, silver  with tons of silver shimmer called "Glitterati" or make a romantic statement with a true deep pink called 'Luvstruck."

While you're thinking of ways to perk up your look, why not get yourself a glitzy piece of statement jewelry to help add a bit of a glow to the rest of you! MARK's fabulous but frugal "Linked to My Heart" Chain Bracelet is just $30.00 and it's a gorgeous , expensive-looking mix of large, nugget-y gold links, and smooth, shiny ones. It is 6" with a 2 1/2" extender.  A huge, spring ring clasp makes it easy to close. There is also a shiny, round dangle charm with a modern looking heart on one side, and the m.powerment by mark. emblem on the other. But that's not the only reason to buy this great looking bracelet.  100% of the net  proceeds from the sale of this bracelet ($21.63) are donated directly to m.powerment by mark.*, a philanthropic initiative dedicated to breaking the cycle of dating abuse and partner violence by awarding grants to organizations which share this mission.  Did you know that a shocking, 1 in  5 teens report being physically abused by a partner while in a serious relationship? Get this bracelet and you can feel good about helping to deal with this serious issue, too.

You can purchase all of these MARK products online at www.meetmark.com or better yet, find a local representative and help a young woman who is a MARK representative, to finance her dreams!



Copyright ©Alison Blackman Dunham. All rights reserved. The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. No content may be used or copied without written permission. If you want to use my work, please obtain it legally. For more information, Email Me.  You can show your interest and support by subscribing, leaving comments on my posts,  and by following me on Facebook and Twitter  (@advicesisters).  You can also read and subscribe to my National Luxury Lifestyles Column  and NY Cosmetics column on the Examiner.com.  

*I use provided samples for most of my reviews. Learn more in the "A Note About Compensation" section of the Advice Sisters What Works Beauty, Cosmetics and Fashion Review column

From Head to Toe, Votre Vu Pampers You

Winter skin can be dry, chapped, and even painfully cracked. Whether it's your lips, exposed all the time to the elements, or your feet, at the bottom of your body, you need to keep them in tip-top condition.  Votre Vu has two products to pamper your skin, head to toe.

Votre Vu's Champagne Kisses Enhancing Lip Balm $29.00 .12 oz. doesn't look or smell like the champagne bubbly, but it is as pricey as the real thing, and might make your lips, sexier when you're sipping it.  The clear, non-greasy, moistly-matte lip balm arrives in a simple, brushed silver tube with clear cap over the clear balm.  The balm has soothing, nourishing and healing ingredients like sweet almond oil, coconut oil and shea butter. Even on dry, cracked, chapped, lips, this balm felt pampering.   The product information says that the balm also has a "delicious natural flavor," and I admit to having a stuffy nose the day I reviewed this, but I didn't smell or taste flavor.  That's not a bad thing, anyway, as it's not always in your best interests to smell and taste fruits or nuts or spices or whatever.  In any case, the balm is very moisturizing and pleasant to use.  The product information also said that the balm would help keep lipstick from feathering in those annoying, tiny lines.  That, it did, at least to some degree.  The "volumizing" as suggested by the product info, was also minimal compared to other volumizers, but the product didn't sting or burn, either. What I really like most about this lip balm (and I'd pay the premium for it) was the "balm" part--soothing, healing, luxurious. Another thing I like about Votre Vu is that they have a list of all the ingredients if you wish to see what you're putting on (or in) your body.

On the other end of our body, we tend to pay more attention to our hard-working feet in the Summertime, when we're baring them in sandals and strappy shoes, or maybe even going barefoot, but your feet can get dry, cracked and even painfully ignored in the Winter, too. Votre Vu Tres Magni-Feet Magnificent Energizing Crème for the Feet $29.00 1.69 fl. oz. does an amazingly good (and instant) job of smoothing, soothing, and dealing with dry, flaky, cracked skin on your "les pieds" ( that's "feet" ).  The box says: "don't skip this step!" and they aren't kidding: a "crème bouquet of bright green verbena leaves, arnica and chamomile" makes feet smell good, and the silky cream is blended with nourishing, hydrating and healing shea butter and pure menthol (that gives it just a bit of a tingle)  for its mild analgesic benefits, this daily crème massage treatment will restore and invigorate your feet. When you pull off the heavy socks and boots at night, or before you put on stockings or socks in the morning, smooth on some Tres Magni Feet and you will soon find that your socks and stockings don't "stick" on those icky, tiny bits of dried skin (you know you have them) and your feet feel smoother, softer, and all-around nicer! Even better, the cream absorbs quickly so you won't slip or deal with grease spots.  You may find cheaper products that smooth your feet, but you probably won't find many that are nicer than this one.

I have liked the Votre Vu products I've tried today, and in the past.  They are innovative and for the most part, worth a little bit extra.  Votre Vu is sold online at the Votre Vu web site and also through "Brand Ambassadors."  If you are good at marketing (yourself, and products) you might also consider reading  how you can become a "Brand Ambassador" and potentially make money selling Votre Vu, too.


 Copyright ©Alison Blackman Dunham. All rights reserved. The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. No content may be used or copied without written permission. If you want to use my work, please obtain it legally. For more information, Email Me.  You can show your interest and support by subscribing, leaving comments on my posts,  and by following me on Facebook and Twitter  (@advicesisters).  You can also read and subscribe to my National Luxury Lifestyles Column  and NY Cosmetics column on the Examiner.com.  

*I use provided samples for most of my reviews. Learn more in the "A Note About Compensation" section of the Advice Sisters What Works Beauty, Cosmetics and Fashion Review column

Five Authors Over 40 With Very Different Love Stories

They say: "write about what you know.," As I writer, I am very aware that is takes courage to write about very intimate subjects. Valentine's Day is nearly here, so today, I'm focusing on reviews of five very different books from five very different writers, with five very different lives and five very different view of love, and relationships.  One is world famous, the other four are self-published. What these authors have in common, however are that they're all over 40 and they are all sharing an intimate view of love and relationships.

The first  "love story" is by Elizabeth Gilbert the best selling author of Eat, Pray, Love. That book was on the New York Time Best Seller list for an astounding, 199 weeks, and was also made into a film starting Julia Roberts. Ms,. Gilbert's new book: Committed A Love Story by Elizabeth Gilbert (Penguin 2011) is the apparent sequel (although the author claims it really isn't). It launches this month.

After you've had an unexpected but incredibly lucky break with a best-selling book like Eat, Pray, Love, what do you do for an encore? Write about what you know, of course!

Committed is the second phase in her relationship with Felipe Nunes, the Brazilian businessman she fell in love with in Bali, during her journey of Eat, Pray, Love. Felipe, an Australian citizen, was banned from entering and living in the United States after flying back and forth to visit Elizabeth in Philadelphia too often,  on a visa-to-visa basis. During one visit, Homeland Security denied him re-entry and sent him back to Australia. Although neither Felipe or Elizabeth wanted to re-marry thanks to bad divorces that scarred them, marriage is the only way around the problem. So they begin the process of securing a fiance visa for Felipe so he can come back to the United States and be re-united with his true love.

The focus of Committed is less about the love story between Elizabeth and Felipe, and more concerned with the author's examination of marriage.  The author does her "research" by talking to interesting people she meets around the world. Since the process of securing a fiance visa for Felipe, was fraught with delays, red tape,and complications, Elizabeth wrote the book in the gap between the time Felipe was deported from the US, and the time he finally was allowed back into the United States to marry her. They had to meet in exotic locales around the world, so she used the time to investigate the meaning, value and significance of marriage in the different cultures and countries they visited.

I may be one of the only women in America who didn't read: Eat, Pray, Love. But I also didn't have preconceived notions about this book, either. I wanted to like it, and I did, in spots. But I don't think I'd be alone in saying that the book had too many pages that were stiff and rambling --a long diatribe about marriage -- what does it all mean? Is it worth it?.... and so forth. The author is a skilled writer and she makes her subjects interesting, but she's no Margaret Meade. The book is clumsy with amateur "anthropologist" observations.

Committed, reminds me that you can be a good writer, even a great one and once you are rewarded with a huge hit, it still doesn't mean that your next book will be as great. I'm sure the author will write more books, and some will be excellent,  but I got so bored that I cheated and moved around the chapters after I'd slugged it out for the first half of the book.  I just wanted to know how things were moving forward (or not) with Felipe because that story is compelling and real.  The pondering about marriage, however, put me to sleep.

. 

My L'il Paradise Built to Last by D.A. Koelbransen, was self-published through Authorhouse in 2010.  Debbi, a 51 year old with two children, was devastated after being jilted by her lover.  But her life took a startling turn when she decided to check out online dating. Apparently, she hit the cyber-jackpot, connecting with another 50-something named Kevin. My Li"l Paradise is the story of how they met and dated online and in person. Then they did something exceptional: they fell in love till "death did them part" in just seven short weeks until Kevin really did pass away! The story is supposedly 100% non-fiction.

I read the book from cover to cover, often squirming at the embarrassingly intimate details of their dates, conversations, love-notes, and even descriptions of their love-making.   Since they met online, there were plenty of emails, which the author apparently saved. At times, I felt like a voyeur, even though the author has invited you in through the pages of this self-published book. 

My L'il Paradise really isn't a beautifully crafted book. In fact, the author doesn't appear to be very sophisticated.  Perhaps that is part of the reason she could be bowled over by a man who seemed "nice" enough on the internet and rushed into meeting him., Not long afterwards, he revealed that he had multiple medical problems including HIV (which he had managed for 21 years) and Hepatitis C.  That would send many other women fleeing into the hills before the relationship got serious,  and physical,. But not Debbi!  And, the two seem very happy and well matched, as she chronicles of events from the beginning of her relationship with Kevin during the first few weeks. By the last few weeks, Kevin is in the hospital, gravely ill, and she is rushing back and forth to be with him until his untimely demise from the ravages of liver disease (another avenue that HIV can take on). Incredibly, all of this in just seven weeks from the time they first met!

I kept thinking: "she's just got to be crazy."  Love can make you do silly things, but the time frame of this love affair is so compressed, it must have felt somewhat surreal, even to the author. After all, if her story is true, she went from a first date,  to being a fiance, and then caregiver and accepted as "part of the family" in seven weeks. Reading the gushy, ooey-gooey emails and cards Kevin and Debbi sent each other will make you feel like you're peering into a teenagers diary, not that of two 50+ year old adults. 

My own parents locked eyes across a dance floor  when they were teenagers, immediately fell in love, and lived happily ever after.  You can fall in love blindingly fast, although it doesn't happen often. Even though this couple didn't get a happy ending, it does sound like an amazing experience. Imagine this book as a movie! The message really is that love can happen in various forms, and when you least expect it. The author of this book isn't bitter or cheated because the love of her life died so quickly, she had a chance to experience something truly magical. How many of us can claim that? All they had was passion, and it might have changed over time, but their relationship never got to the point of bickering over bills. All that is certain is that for this author, an experience of a seven week love affair changed her life
forever.

Susan Jay is the author of The House Of Yes, This book, as far as I can tell, was published by the author on her own dime. The book actually looks well printed and you can buy it at Amazon.  Susan Jay is not the author's real name, and I'm hoping she cleverly disguised the men she features in the book to protect their reputations, and the  feelings of their families and friends.  But for the purpose of this book which is supposedly non-fiction, "Susan" is a 40-something divorcee and mother and is a stand-up member of her community. But she lives in a small town that doesn't know she has another, self-imposed title: Mistress.  Many mistresses are subsidized by the men who want them, and those men are often married. But Susan doesn't sleep with married men and she doesn't take money for her sexual favors. However, she doesn't  consider herself  to be a girlfriend (those are "wives in training," she says) and has no desire to be a wife. 

The author says that she has been the victim of sex, lies and cover-ups all her life. She was repeatedly raped at the age of four. When she reported it to her grandmother, her grandmother told her not to talk about it, and didn't even report it to Susan's parents. Her mother committed suicide.  She was banished  to reform school, where more violence and sexual abuse followed.  Back at home, she realized that men use sex to get power, and she can do it too...so she does. Highly sexually charged from childhood. she fins a husband but can't make the marriage work. The only connection they have is a fleeting one in bed. But Susan has an inheritance that allows her to have the type of freedom a lot of women don't have. Men "pay" her with information and sexual pleasure from them, and she believes that she keeps the upper hand in sexual encounters.

I find it a bit strange that the author of this book highly prizes her privacy, but she wrote this very personal and erotic book. What compelled her to self-publish it if she doesn't want people to know what she is up to? My guess is that writing down her exploits is writing as therapy to explore her deepest feelings that need to be acknowledged.  Additionally, the author says she wrote this book for men, but I don't think a man would want to read this book.  And if they did, they'd be terribly scared.  The author uses men without any real love, respect or affection. She gets what she wants, then throws them away when she's bored.

But back to the book: each chapter describes a different man with whom she has had a sexual relationship. She rarely describes "loving" someone other than to say someone is amusing, and good in bed. By the end of this "tell all" I was exausted by her lust, and the author's matter of fact description of her sexual exploits, down to descriptions of the anatomy of her male partners. It's a window into someone's soul that took me to a place I didn't want to go.

Julie Spira claims that she was the first of her crowd to put up a personals profile on love@aol (FYI: staff at love@aol coined the phrase "The Advice Sisters" when we were dating experts on their site). Julie appears to have everything going for her: looks, brains, connections, money, a hot body, and a designer wardrobe. What she hasn't been able to find,  is a lasting love.  The self-published, The Perils of Cyber-Dating: Confessions of a Hopeful Romantic Looking for Love Online (Morgan James, 2009) contains what must be the best-of-the-best, personal  "horror" stories from more than a decade's worth of cyber-dating by the author. 

Julie has a personable writing style and the stories are amusing.  If you've ever had a bad date, you'll feel better reading about hers. But what I saw behind the basic information about the pitfalls of cyber-dating. are more important messages. 

The Perils of Cyber-Dating is mostly about men who have behaved badly, but ladies, take heed:  Dating is a process of elimination more than selection (until you find the one you want who wants you back as much). And, online dating isn't just for busy, successful people. It also attracts a wide variety of shy and socially awkward people who don't have to be initially, harshly judged in person. While Julie focuses on the men she has met, and what they could have done better to woo her, she doesn't focus much on what role she might have played in these social interactions.  For example, was/is Julie realistic about her goals? She says she wants a wealthy, powerful husband, but most men of this type find their wives through social and business connections, not JDate and Match.com.  And, while I loathe age-ism, it does exist. A lot of men over 50 won't date women their own age. If they do decide to ditch children their daughter's age for a real woman, they have many great choices.  Women of any age must  know what they bring to a relationship, as much as what the men they pursue, can give them.  I don't know the author personally, so this is pure conjecture on my part, but after so much online dating, a lot of disappointments and broken hearts, and two failed marriages, maybe Julie doesn't present the most attractive emotional package to her would-be suitors (and that could be the reason she's still looking for her real-life "Mr. Big.")

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Perils of Cyberdating, but if you really want to find a lasting love, you don't want to date hundreds of men as Julie did. That is "bulk dating" and it's about as appealing as looking for love in a warehouse store!  Better by far to be thoughtfully creating a workable plan  to diversify your search. Stay open minded and if you can't, take a break.  Adjust your plan if it isn't working. Dating books can give you some tips, but in the end, a search for love is still a lot of "work" with as many ups and downs as looking for a job!

The last book I am including here is not by an over 40 woman, but by a man over age 60!  Bob Kamm is a business consultant and apparently, a poet, who published a very personal book of love poems called Love Over 60: Later the Hour,  Sweeter the Moment....(self-published by Bob Kamm, Author House, 2010). The most interesting part of the book for me, was the beginning, where Bob describes how a former client tries to set him up with a woman she knows that she thinks would be perfect for him. Finally, She persists, and 7 1/2 years later the couple meet by email, then phone, then in person. The have huge phone bills ("Love over sixty...just like love at 16...only we get to pay the bills!" says Bob).


When they very quickly meet in person they immediately are smitten, the chemistry, undeniable and powerful.  Wow!  If you're over 60 you have a sense that there isn't much time to waste. Very soon they are traveling together and making vows with rings in Peru. A few months more and they're living together and looking for a house. Within two years they are happily married.

I wanted to entire book to be about this love story, but it was encapsulated in just 11 pages.  The rest of the book is poetry -- the  40+ love poems Bob writes to Andrea.  They are long, personal, passionate.  My mother loved poetry, but it never spoke to me as strongly as other forms of writing (although I am a fan of poet Agron Sela). If I was the recipient of these poems, I'd be flattered, but reading them as an outsider didn't bring the intensity of emotion I'm sure the author felt when he wrote them, into my consciousness.  I give Mr. Kamm high marks for putting his feelings "out there" in any form. If you love poetry, you may be inspired by the book of love, written by someone who lived long enough to know what real love feels like.



Copyright ©Alison Blackman Dunham. All rights reserved. The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. No content may be used or copied without written permission. If you want to use my work, please obtain it legally. For more information, Email Me.  You can show your interest and support by subscribing, leaving comments on my posts,  and by following me on Facebook and Twitter  (@advicesisters).  You can also read and subscribe to my National Luxury Lifestyles Column  and NY Cosmetics column on the Examiner.com.  

*I use provided samples for most of my reviews. Learn more in the "A Note About Compensation" section of the Advice Sisters What Works Beauty, Cosmetics and Fashion Review column

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Sponsor News

Although it is the designers, clothes, and models, that people come to see at Fashion week, it is the sponsors that help make Fashion Week, a reality.  Here are some of the highlights from the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week SPONSORS that you'll find if you are attending a show, or shows at the Lincoln Center Tents (and even if you aren't coming to Fashion Week, many of these sponsors will give you access via the net):

Mercedes-Benz

• Hervé Léger by Max Azria receives the distinguished title of “Mercedes-Benz Presents” designer for the Fall 2011 season. As part of the Presents program, Mercedes-Benz is integrating designs by Hervé Léger by Max Azria into a display themed “Bound by Seduction,” which will feature the newly redesigned 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG, as a way to accentuate the vehicle’s shape and alluring characteristics. The installation can be viewed by all attendees entering the lobby tent of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

• The Mercedes-Benz Fashion Force is going on patrol in the new 2012 CLS 63 AMG to spot “stylesetters” with fresh, creative design looks and alluring appeal. Celebrity stylist Brad Goreski and a team of Fashion Enforcers are on duty for five days during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week carrying out its mission. Each "stylesetter" chosen is awarded a ride to their next destination and a lucky few will receive an invitation to the culmination event in the Mercedes-Benz Star Lounge.

• This season’s Mercedes-Benz Star Lounge is getting its new look from the design team behind the newly launched DVF Home Collection. The Star Lounge, which caters to designers, celebrities, and Mercedes-Benz owners, is featuring a mix of DVF home furnishing and accessories to create a luxurious and chic experience during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center.

• Lights, camera, action. The 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK is making its U.S. debut during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. The roadster is positioned within an interactive photobooth installation in the lobby tent. Those bold enough to show off their style can be part of ongoing photo shoots each day with a chance to be featured in "THE FIX" section of The Daily throughout the week.

DHL

• The Perfect Fit for Fashion, DHL is returning to the runways in New York for the ninth straight season as the official logistics sponsor of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

• DHL’s capabilities targeting the fashion sector, including fashion week events worldwide, offers full customized, integrated logistics solutions, supply chain management services and door-to-door deliveries.

• DHL’s global expertise, service excellence and international focus, which spans more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, helps customers in the fashion and apparel industry operate more efficiently and effectively.

• This season, be sure to stop by the DHL lounge in the lobby of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week for the opportunity to win a trip to Miami to attend Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim in July 2011.

American Express®

• American Express is proud to return for an eighth season to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, connecting Cardmembers with the fashion industry through unparalleled access and memorable experiences. Once again providing an unprecedented vantage point of the runways at Lincoln Center, the exclusive American Express Skybox serves as a sleek, chic hideaway to elevated fashion experiences. Between shows, stylish Cardmembers will mingle with a who’s who in the industry, while gaining expert tips and insights from some of fashion’s leading voices.

• For the first time ever, The American Express Skybox Report will connect fashion lovers everywhere with access to all of this season’s best Skybox moments through an innovative and engaging multimedia experience. Debuting on February 10 at http://www.amexskyboxreport.com/ , the Skybox Report will include features such as video clips of designers, stylists and other notables; interviews with fashionable celebrities; slideshows of some of the best Skybox looks; a glimpse behind the scenes at some of the hottest boutiques across the country and much more. Plus, the report will feature daily Twitter contests to receive unprecedented access to the Skybox to experience a variety of the week’s best offerings- join the conversation now by following @americanexpress on Twitter and using hashtag #amexfashion.

• This season, American Express is proud to present The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Cardmembers Show on February 10 at 8 PM in the Theatre. Bringing together the winning and finalist designers of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund over the past seven years, the show will feature over 60 looks from designers including Alexander Wang, Marchesa, Prabal Gurung, Joseph Altuzarra, Derek Lam, Peter Som and Libertine that will be current in store looks. Proceeds from the event will go on top of American Express’s annual $250,000 donation to the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund (CVFF), a program of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).

• To create a more seamless atmosphere for guests of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, this season’s Guest Services Desk with Concierge provided by American Express will provide up-to-the-minute fashion information and a variety of concierge-type offerings. In addition, guests will be able to stay cozy and chic this season with the introduction of a Coat Check destination within the Lobby that will add ease to the coming-and-going from Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Maybelline New York

• As the number one makeup brand worldwide available in 129 countries, Maybelline New York continues to be the proud official makeup sponsor of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City.

• Maybelline New York, the undisputed color authority, will bring their vast beauty expertise and inspired creativity to the world’s most respected fashion platform.

• Maybelline New York’s Global Makeup Artist, Charlotte Willer, will lead the makeup teams of their sponsored designers’ shows, creating exciting looks translatable from the catwalk to the sidewalk.

• Maybelline New York will partner with a selection of well established as well as up-and-coming designers including BCBGMAXAZRIA, Betsey Johnson, DKNY, Cynthia Rowley, Catherine Malandrino, Vivienne Tam, Custo Barcelona, Carlos Miele, Max Azria and L.A.M.B.

• During two exclusive special appearances at the Maybelline front of house Lounge at the Lincoln Center Tents, come meet and greet with:

o Maybelline spokesmodel and music artist Kemp Muhl on Sunday, February 13th from 6pm to 6:30pm.

o Maybelline spokesmodel and trendsetter Erin Wasson on Monday, February 14th from 1pm to 1:30pm.

• For Erin and Kemp’s special appearances, the first five visitors will receive signed copies of Maybelline’s exclusive 2011 limited edition calendar printed in only 1,250 numbered copies. All the other visitors can get limited edition postcards signed.

• To discover Maybelline New York’s makeup looks for fashion week and find out about the latest and greatest spots in NYC, log on to www.maybellinelovesfashion.com starting February 10th.

• To get the insider’s scoop on everything Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, follow the Maybelline insider on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MNYInsider


TRESemmé

• TRESemmé, the #1 styling brand in the U.S., is the official hair care sponsor of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

• The latest launch for TRESemmé, the new Climate Control Collection, is the stylists' backstage secret to help keep hair looking salon-beautiful regardless of the weather.

• TRESemmé will be giving fans worldwide a sneak peek at all the action at Lincoln Center, including behind-the-scenes photos and videos, celebrity sightings and hair how-tos, via the brand's Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages.

• Check out TRESemme.com, Facebook.com/TRESemme, YouTube.com/TRESemme and @TRESemme on Twitter, for exclusive access to the trends straight from the runways of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Starbucks Frappuccino® Coffee Drink

• Starbucks® Frappuccino® coffee drink is proud to return as a the official coffee sponsor of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, ensuring that all attendees enjoy their coffee fashionably.

• This February in our Starbucks Frappuccino® Coffee Drink Café, we’re celebrating how high quality ingredients blend together to create delicious results by featuring the essential ingredients in our Mocha Starbucks Frappuccino® Coffee Drink - the finest arabica coffee beans, lowfat milk and mocha. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week attendees are invited to stop by for a creamy, delicious break during the day and hand-crafted cocktails in the evening.

• Attendees can also chat with the Starbucks Frappuccino® Style Correspondent, Amanda Garrigus, to express their love for the best looks of the season, share how they create the look that’s just right for their style, and be featured on http://www.frappuccino.com/ after February 10th. You've seen our Frappuccino® Style Correspondent, Amanda Garrigus, as a regular Fashion Correspondent for the E! Network, appearing on various programs, including “E! News” and “Countdown to the Red Carpet.” She has also appeared on a myriad of national talk shows with past editorial and stylist work for the likes of Flare Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, as well as Vogue, Glamour and Allure Magazines.

• Starbucks Frappuccino® will extend the fashion experience beyond the runways to fashion fans across the country. At frappuccino.com, visitors will get a behind-the-scenes peek at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week with photos, videos, exclusive events and start conversations with like-minded fashion fanatics. Plus, express their style and create and share their unique look with Polyvore.

W Hotels Worldwide

• W Hotels Worldwide is back for another season of its innovative, industry first initiative called Fashion Next, a program that fosters and supports emerging designers during and beyond.

• This season, W Hotels has chosen five designers to be a part of Fashion Next – Frank Tell, MANDY COON, Mara Hoffman, Michael Angel and Tess Giberson.

• W Hotels will take over the The Box venue during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center to host the official presentations of these exciting young designers, each of which was handpicked by W Hotels’ Global Fashion Director, Amanda Ross.

• In addition to partnering with W Hotels during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Fashion Next designers will have opportunities to travel to W Hotels globally for exclusive trunk shows, design limited-edition pieces for the next W Hotels Global Glam fashion and accessories collection, and collaborate with W on other fashion projects throughout the season.

• W Hotels remains the first and only hotel brand to showcase its own collection at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. On February 10, W Hotels will formally present its Fall 2011 Global Glam collection at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center.

• Curated by Amanda Ross, this season’s collection is inspired by the unique design personalities of W Taipei, W London – Leicester Square and W Mexico City. The designers include Fashion Next designer Mara Hoffman, Clare Vivier, Eugenia Kim, Twinkle by Wenlan, Deepa Gurnani, Paola Hernandez, Noir, I-Luck, Sibilia, Yarnz, Shaesby, Contego Eyewear, Myne, Catherine Nicole, and Posse.

• W Hotels’ Global Music Director, Michaelangelo L’Acqua, will create a soundtrack inspired by the collection, while Charlotte Voisey, the celebrated mixologist of W New York - Downtown, will create signature cocktails inspired by each destination.

• Following the presentation, W Hotels will hold a VIP after party with a special live performance.

• W Hotels is an innovative, contemporary, design-led lifestyle brand and the hotel category buster with 38 hotels and retreats in the most vibrant cities and exotic destinations around the world.

AOL Inc.


• As part of its sponsorship of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, AOL will return as host of the AOL Media Lounge. A full-service working media space in the center of the action, the AOL Media Lounge will provide a unique environment for press attendees covering Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Once again, phone chargers, printers, and hard Internet lines will be available to members of the media, as well as an enclosed interview booth.

• AOL’s StyleList.com editors will be covering Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in a number of exciting ways, including:

o Runway Reviews of the hottest fashion shows

o Backstage beauty reports of the next beauty trends as they come off the runway

o Video interviews with celebrities at AOL's Media Lounge

o Coverage of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week by modern-day beauty icon Essie Weingarten, founder of Essie nail polish

o A mobile makeover bus, which will give New Yorkers and New York City visitors runway-inspired beauty, translated for every-day wear

Diet Pepsi

• Diet Pepsi is debuting a sleek new look as an official sponsor of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

• In partnership with acclaimed fashion designers Charlotte Ronson and Betsey Johnson, Diet Pepsi is front and center in the fashion space with the introduction of the new skinny can to celebrate the sexy, confident icon of women.

• Diet Pepsi invites Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week goers to refresh at the Diet Pepsi Booth in the Grand Lobby February 12-February 15.

• Beyond the tents, Diet Pepsi Skinny Can and Simon Doonan, fashion commentator, will unveil the Diet Pepsi Style Studio, a creative pop-up window and public art installation, during the week's activities Located at 362 West Broadway-check the Diet Pepsi Facebook Page, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Diet-Pepsi/110128929013753, for timing details.

• Looking taller and sassier than ever before, the new Diet Pepsi Skinny Can offers the same great taste, with zero sugar, calories and carbs.

Kim Crawford Wines

• Kim Crawford returns as the official wine sponsor of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week hosting a striking wine bar in the main lobby celebrating the individual in all of us.

• A brand built by forging its own path, Kim Crawford has gained critical acclaim around the globe for its expressive style. Guests of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week are invited to taste Kim Crawford’s award-winning Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir wines from Marlborough, New Zealand.

• New this season, the Kim Crawford Wine Bar will host a series of exclusive events throughout the week with special designer appearances and previews.

• Raise a glass with us and toast to a week of style with Kim Crawford Wine at Mercedes–Benz Fashion week. To learn more about Kim Crawford, follow @kimcrawfordwine on Twitter, become a fan of Kim Crawford on Facebook and visit http://www.experiencekimcrawford.com/



ideeli

• ideeli (www.ideeli.com), the fastest-growing members-only online shopping site in the U.S, is the first and only flash sale website to be brought on as an official sponsor of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

• ideeli will bring the excitement of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week to its nearly 4 million members by providing incredible "front row" access to the shows at Lincoln Center through:

o A week long Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week online “shop in shop” featuring curated daily sales from designers including Nicole Miller, Betsey Johnson, Adam, Adrienne Vittadini and more.

o Editorial coverage straight from Lincoln Center and the runways, along with the return of “My First Fashion Week," ideeli's editorial series that will again spotlight one first-time Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week guest correspondent.

o Live runway updates on Twitter and special Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week features on Facebook, including giveaways and polls.

o To join ideeli, visit www.ideeli.com/mbfw


The Heart Truth® Campaign

• On Wednesday, February 9, The Heart Truth’s Red Dress Collection Fashion Show will return to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week to unveil its newest collection of red dresses designed to celebrate the Red Dress as the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness. More than 20 of today’s hottest celebrities will walk the runway in dresses created by America’s top designers to inspire women to take action to protect their heart health. For more information about The Heart Truth, visit www.hearttruth.gov.

• Throughout the month of February, a selection of designer dresses worn by celebrities in The Heart Truth’s Red Dress Collection Fashion Shows will be auctioned off through a partnership with Clothes Off Our Back. Proceeds will benefit the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health on behalf of The Heart Truth in support of women's heart health education and research. To learn more or bid on a dress, visit http://www.clothesoffourback.org/.

FIJI Water

• FIJI Water is proud to be the official bottled water of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. As some of the most revered designers send their creations down the runway this season, FIJI Water has teamed up with Christian Siriano for the ultimate front row experience. On Thursday, February 10th at 7:00 p.m., the beauty and drama of Siriano’s fall collection will be streaming live on http://www.fijiwater.com/. Immediately following the show, Siriano and FIJI Water will be giving away an exclusive look from the collection to one lucky winner.

• As the week gets into full swing, FIJI Water will be hosting a special appearance by famed performance artists, “The Bumbys” on Friday, February 11th from 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. Stop by their table in the lobby to receive a “Fair and Honest Appraisal of Your Appearance.” A little bit snarky and a lot sweet, Jill and Gil Bumby will be the real fashion critics this season in the tents at Lincoln Center.

• FIJI Water loves keeping fashion’s finest hydrated, please make sure to drop empty bottles in the bright blue recycle bins strategically placed throughout Lincoln Center. After all, Recycling is the new black.

The New York Times


• The New York Times will display a 42” inch touch-screen kiosk in the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week lobby that will be a photo-driven history of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week as seen through the lens of The New York Times. This co-branded experience celebrates Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York by looking back at some of the most stunning runway, behind-the-scenes and never-before-published images captured by Times photographers throughout the last few years. This artfully curated retrospective will be a vibrant look at the fascinating world of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week—from the frenzy of preparing for the shows to the striking collections of great Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week designers. The installation will be onsite throughout the duration of the show.

• The New York Times is celebrating New York Fashion Week with a wide array of editorial and digital offerings designed to bring readers into all elements of the shows. The Fashion section online (http://www.nytimes.com/fashion) serves as a launching point for readers to find all that The Times is offering.

• In addition to The Times’s in-depth written and visual coverage of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week from The Times’s Fashion & Style section and T Magazine, readers can enjoy countless multimedia features online from photo slideshows and videos to interactive and social media components.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is an IMG event. The Fall 2011 Collections will be held February 10-17, 2011.

Copyright ©Alison Blackman Dunham. All rights reserved. The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. No content may be used or copied without written permission. If you want to use my work, please obtain it legally. For more information, Email Me.  You can show your interest and support by subscribing, leaving comments on my posts,  and by following me on Facebook and Twitter  (@advicesisters).  You can also read and subscribe to my National Luxury Lifestyles Column  and NY Cosmetics column on the Examiner.com.  

*I use provided samples for most of my reviews. Learn more in the "A Note About Compensation" section of the Advice Sisters What Works Beauty, Cosmetics and Fashion Review column

Sweetable Eatables Let You Have Your Flowers and Eat Them, Too!

 Imagine a bouquet of roses that you can actually eat.  Yes, that's right, you can have your flowers, and eat them, too!

Recently I was contacted  by Ms. Bridget Graham, of Sweetable Eatables whose unique company makes hand made chocolate and candy flower or plant arrangements that mimic real live flowers or plants. They are incredibly detailed -- you will think they're the real thing until you position your nostrils for a whiff of the floral scents, and realize with delight, that they smell like rich, delicious, chocolate!

Bridget, who majored in psychology, has been the owner and creator of Sweetable Eatables for several years. Apparently, she was looking for a gift for her hard-to-buy-for mother who was allergic to flowers, so she decided to create her own, patent the idea, and make it a business.
...and what a business it is!  The flowers are incredible detailed and sophisticated. They're edible works of art that you will find difficult to want to bite into because they are astoundingly beautiful.  Her candy flowers are available in a wide range of different flavors, such as cherry, grape, watermelon, peach, mango, and tons of others. The chocolate flowers (the ones I personally tried) are made of high quality chocolate.  For example, the white Calla Lilly I received was created in white chocolate, but Bridget also uses white chocolate tinted with coloring and flavoring to make different colored flowers. For vegan customers, she uses dark chocolate and she also offers items in milk chocolate, butterscotch chocolate, sugar free chocolate, candies, and more.

I received a chocolate rose in full bloom so realistic, I really did think it was the real thing until I picked it up and smelled it. My one rose came packaged in a clear, cello bag tied with a pink metallic ribbon and festooned with a collar of rich brocade ribbon on it's black velvet-covered wooden stem. Bridget also does flowers with edible stems if that's what a customer wants.  I don't want to eat it  (although it smells wonderful) because I don't want to ruin it's beauty. 

However,  I shared the mini bouquets of red flowers shown in this photo. The chocolate was rich and sweet and creamy. I really did feel like I was eating the proverbial daisies!!!

Clearly, Valentines Day lends itself to a purchase of these precious petaled creations, but imagine how awesome they'd be on a wedding cake, or for wedding favors, for a birthday, or for someone special "just because,"

,,,and the price?  More affordable than you might suspect: A rough price for the single rose is $9.99. The cost also depends upon the type of ribbon used.  Boxes start from $10 and up. The box I received with the white calla lily and the four red floral nosegays would be about $19.99 and I have some cheaper single roses but it all depends on the ribbon and height. Some of the ribbons




347-865-2146 or visit http://www.sweetableeatables.com/  You can even pay by Paypal!


Copyright ©Alison Blackman Dunham. All rights reserved. The Advice Sisters is a registered United States trademark. No content may be used or copied without written permission. If you want to use my work, please obtain it legally. For more information, Email Me.  You can show your interest and support by subscribing, leaving comments on my posts,  and by following me on Facebook and Twitter  (@advicesisters).  You can also read and subscribe to my National Luxury Lifestyles Column  and NY Cosmetics column on the Examiner.com.  

*I use provided samples for most of my reviews. Learn more in the "A Note About Compensation" section of the Advice Sisters What Works Beauty, Cosmetics and Fashion Review column