P2 Fashion: Launch of X by Trollbeads w Jenn Falik and Wayne Scott Lukas

Yesterday morning, despite leaving the house late, getting stuck in traffic and having a fight with the meter machine, I, eventually, had the pleasure of previewing the newest creation from Danish jewelers Trollbeads, X by Trollbeads. Right away, the “X” makes this new collection sound rougher, edgier and younger than its parent. But, the name actually refers to the innovative x links that connect with a simple twist. The result is bespoke bracelets and necklaces that you can customize with high quality silver, bronze, gold and black rubber links.

P2 Fashion - X by Trollbeads Debut Collection, Fall 2013 

I like the stripped down color pallet, allowing for the craftsmanship of each piece to shine through. From musical notes to Zodiac signs, flowers and Greek G-ds, there’s a chance to really get personal and let your jewelry reflect your likes, loves and life. I plan to make three bracelets: one that represents my husband, one that represents my daughter and one that represents me. On each bracelet, I’ll include one link that represents all three of us, thus showing we are all unique, but forever connected as one happy, well-accessorized family.

P2 Fashion - Having fun with Jenn Falik and Wayne Scott Lukas at
X by Trollbeads launch

The event was hosted by my friend, fellow mommy and Style Expert Jenn Falik, as well as Celebrity Stylist Wayne Scott Lucas. Wayne, you’re lucky my hair was up because our locks would have fallen in link love. Hmm, do you think that could inspire a future X by Trollbeads collection? If so, we can split royalties and celebrate while we're getting our hair done!

X by Trollbeads is available in store in more than thirty-five markets globally and online.

P2 Fashion - gifts courtesy of X by Trollbeads.

P2 Lifestyle: WTF I Need Folders ASAP, BTW I'm Organizationally Challenged TMI

Right before the baby was born, my husband and I gave up our city pad and permanently relocation to our home in the burbs. With that, I lost my city office and tons of space that was all about me and my business. It’s been seven months and my home office is still, well, a work in progress. 

To fully explain the situation, let’s just say my desk overflows onto my sister’s desk (she’s my Event Director) and onto the floor. I have a "Tweet This" table that looks more like a fashion war zone. Personal files, bills, baby paperwork, magazine, business cards, look books …. Arggggggggggggggg. So, you can image why I placed multiple orders for these folders, and other Knock-Knock items. Is it wishful thinking to believe they’ll help?

Reluctantly, and with great shame, I’m posting images of my office, because aside from these folders, I believe the first step is admitting I have a problem … I NEED TO ORGANIZE THIS SPACE ... ideally before my five-month-old daughter goes to college.

P2 Lifestyle - my office needs help

Wait, first I think I need to go on ShopBop.com and see if they got in any new headbands … Wait, I also want to go check on the baby and give her a big kiss before her evening walk … Hold up, the phone just rang. It’s my publicist calling to discuss post-Emmys TV opportunities. I gotta take that one. And so it goes ...

Are you organizationally challenged, but willing to change? Let's try to get help together. I'll keep you updated on my progress, no matter how slow it is :). I'm committed to getting my pretty office out of my head and into reality. 

P2 Lifestyle _ Honest Acronym Folders, Knock-Knock

P2 Fashion: The Boots Make The Look, Tabitha Simmons

In tribute to London Fashion Week and the cold winds that swept into New York, this morning, I pulled out my new Tabitha Simmons boots – an acquisition from my recent romantic getaway to London. The boots are the perfect shade of grey that matches black, white, metallic, blue, red, etc. I love the lace-up details, with the convenience of a zip, side opening. The heels are thick enough to provide excellent balance and comfort, without being too bulky. Lastly, like any great boots, they have leather inner and leather upper lining. If I’m spending over $500, heck over $200, on boots, the inside better be leather, as well.

P2 Style - It's all about the boots and mix material 

The whole outfit was planned around the boots. What can I say, accessories are my passion. How do you plan your outfits? Do start with one key accessory or clothing item? Are you a night before layout the look gal or a morning dressing in a rush gal?

Jacket – Ramy Brook; Jeans – True Religion; Shirt – H&M; Headband – Marie Hayden; Necklace – bebe; Ring – Kelly Wearstler; Bag - Chanel; Boots - Tabitha Simmons

P2 Style - Accessorizing 

P2 Home: Tea Time Equals Magical Moments

Whether you celebrated Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement/ culmination of Jewish New Year) this weekend or not, allow me to wish you a happy rebirth. Fall is the perfect time to reprogram, recharge and re-position your life.  Take this seasonal opportunity to realign, commit to always being your best you and seek to create beauty in every aspect of your life.

On the latter, I’m a pro. For instance, I make tea drinking a divine experience, in my home, because it brings me so much joy. I collect beautiful tea pots, each of which is used for a specific tea, at a specific time of day/week, and even with specific guests. Last night, I enjoyed a light white tea with lavender in a simple white pot, accompanied by rose biscuits from Fortum and Mason.  Tasting the tea while looking at the elegant tea pot is a small token of love I give myself.

My mother has a friend who says that you need to color in your life. I agree! How do you color your life and  make magical moments of beauty?

P2 Lifestyle - my beautiful tea pots create beautiful moments

(Top left going clockwise - Richard Ginori Missoni Margherita Teapot; White Elephant-Looking Teapot, HomeGoods; Butterfly Meadow Teapot, Lenox; Bohemian Paisiy Teapot, Caskata

P2 Wellness: Energy Boosting Fig Pomegranate Salad

I’ve been feeling really tired the past few days; the kind of dragged-through-the-mud-by-a-truck-after-running-a-10k-marathon tried I felt when I was still pumping milk. Granted, I only closed the Milk Factory about two weeks ago, so my body is still adjusting. After days of falling asleep right before dinner, not being able to walk my daughter, Ms. Ilana Rose, in the morning, and moped around this house in a robe without any makeup, I decide to take action and jump back on the ultra-healthy bandwagon I jumped on when Ilana was born. I also needed to jump back on the Always Be Your Best You bandwagon!

On Tuesday morning, after a motivating chat with my mother I got out of bed, washed my face with my beloved Naturopathica Aloe Cleaning Gel, and put on It Cosmetics' Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer in Light, Hello Lashes Mascara in black, and their new Lip/Cheek stain which is still not for sale** .  Mentally, I felt a pinch better, and, I STRONGLY believe mental health feeds into physical health! Next step: have lunch.

I wanted to make something with the fresh figs our neighbors gave us on Sunday, because they are an excellent source of fiber (aka energy boost). Figs are also fat, sodium and cholesterol free.  

I hope you try my yummy salad in your kitchen and commit to living your best life. Remember, we can all fall off the wagon. Only the ones that really love themselves and want to live with a Never Surrender mojo, jump back on wearing coral lipstick and killer riding boots!

Figetaboutit Pom Salad

P2 Wellness: Figetaboutit Pom Salad 

4 fresh figs  

1 cup spinach leaves (or as much as you can grab with both hands)

2 tablespoons of crumbled goat cheese

½ avocado

½ pomegranate

¼ cup of crushed walnuts (or pistachio nuts)

1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon of pomegranate juice

Pinch of salt

Pinch of pepper

1.      Dice up the figs and avocado.

2.      Cut the pomegranate and take out the juicy pits. Careful to not stain your outfit!

3.      Crush the walnuts in your hand. Smaller pieces taste better in the salad.

4.      Mix the spinach, figs, avocado, pomegranate seeds, 1 tablespoon crumbled goat cheese and crushed walnuts in a bowl.

5.      Pour extra virgin olive oil and pomegranate juice into the bowl. Add salt and pepper. Mix.

6.      Place the salad on a pretty plate. How you eat is as important as what you eat, so I’m all about elevating ambiance to enhance the culinary experience. It also puts on smile on your face!

7.      Finish off my sprinkling the remaining 1 tablespoon of crumbled goat cheese on top of your salad. 

P2 Wellness: Figetaboutit Pom Salad, ingredients

**As soon at IT Cosmetics lip/cheek stain is available, i'll be sure to share the scoop.  

P2 Pam's Pick: Family Time, Be Still on September 11th

We all have a story from that day, the day when many of us experienced a loss of innocence never to be regained -- September 11, 2001.

It was my second day of college; I had just parted ways with my mother, on the Q train, as she had a training class in Brooklyn and I had a few more stops until my arrival at NYU. Mine was the last train to go over the bridge. The first tower was already hit and, like most passengers, I assumed a little helicopter had an accident. By the time I got to 14^th Street in Manhattan, subway service was halted. I ended up walking down to 4^th street and getting in line for the payphone. I was alone, with very few familiar faces, no way of getting home and no way for my parents to come and claim me. Before noon, I still had the option of walking over the bridge back to Brooklyn, but I was petrified that a bomb would hit me. I stayed underground at NYU’s gym facility until I decided to run to 14^th street with a few other girls and spend the night at a friend of an acquaintance’s dorm. It was an odd day. I remember being outside watching the towers fall. I remember thinking I was in a movie. I remember falling asleep and dreaming of being home the following day. As you can imagine, this is an abridged version of what happened that day. There were many faces, many frantic phone calls, many rumors, and plenty of heroic moments of kids going to help at Ground Zero or give blood.

As I sit hear listening to the 9/11 Memorial services, I find it difficult to share a Pam’s Pick. Can I really tell you about my favorite lip/cheek stain, today? Do you want to know about the coolest play gym I found for my baby or the coolest, new hotel in NYC?

Life goes on and upkeeping our style and beauty routine can only help us get through difficult times. But, can’t we just stand still? Can we allocate this day as a national day or remembrance? Can’t we have a moment to properly reflect?

So, today’s Pam’s Pick is family. I’m devoting most of my day to my beloved daughter Ilana Rose. We already had a pleasant walk, this morning, and we’ll do play time in the afternoon. In the evening I’m planning a nice dinner for the hubby. Today, obsess over your family a little bit more than usual. Call your grandma one extra time. Give your children one extra kiss. Give you hubby one extra piece of chocolate! And, if you’re blessed to have both your parents, plan to have them over this weekend or do an extended Skype call. And, of course, do it all in mascara; just make sure it's make sure it's waterproof.

Pam's Pick 9.11.13 - Family Time, Stillness, Love, Making Memories

P2 Fashion: Harper Ave. Clear Backpacks for the Overexposed Twitter Generation

Backpacks are not only a functional transportation device for school books and supplies. They are an extension of personal style and a way for your children to express their fashionable point of view. For the non-stop texting, what-I’m-eating tweeting, where-I’m-going foursquaring teens today, HarperAve. has the perfect backpack – The Kazuyo. With a stripped down silhouette and clear sides, this bag not only reveals style, but gives a substantial glimpse inside the wearer’s life. Is she taking AP classes, because I see one of those advances text books? Oh, she likes Hello Kitty, because I spy kitty pencils. Is she dating Steven, because I think that’s his picture on the cover of her Memo notepad?  

Whether sleek, see-through, fluorescent or fuzzy, allow your children, even the little ones, to pick out their own backpacks, so that they learn to value individual style. Since they see that you are takingcare of yourself, they too, want to spend the time in the morning grooming their hair, organizing their fabulous backpack and finding the perfect outfit to wear. Always Be Your Best You should be a family motto.

Harper Ave.'s Kazuyo Backpack

With all this talk of school, does anyone else wish they could go back? Let me grab my Cyclades bag (non see through sided; I’m old school) and I’ll meet you in the halls by the 360 lockers.