My essentials for Gemma’s 15th birthday (and her cancer treatment)

July 29, 2025
(more…)
Read More
My essentials for Gemma’s 15th birthday (and her cancer treatment)

4 (super easy!) things you can do to help the planet

March 12, 2025
Because we all need to help save our planet, and these are four easy (and also fun) ways to do
Read More
4 (super easy!) things you can do to help the planet

Two Lip Products That You Need in Your Life

March 1, 2025
You guys know I’m picky about lip gloss, but I recently tried two new (to me) products and had to
Read More
Two Lip Products That You Need in Your Life

5 Souvenirs Actually Worth Bringing Back From Ireland

January 27, 2025
Because I know you want to shop (but not for touristy junk)... (more…)
Read More
5 Souvenirs Actually Worth Bringing Back From Ireland

12.21.2009
Gift Idea: Borba products (for your eco-chic mom or aunt)

So laundry detergent seems like an odd gift, I know, but when paired with Borba Age Defying Aqua-Less Crystalline and Borba Skin Balance Gummi Bear Boosters, it’s really the whole package for any eco-friendly mom or Aunt.  You may remember my rave about the Gummi Bear Boosters from a past post and I really can’t say enough about the Fabric Fusion 2-in-1 Eco Laundry Wash – a 99% natural detergent that washes clothing with a botanical-based surfactant system, which includes elastin fiber to refine and soften your clothes and skin.  I’m wrapping up these three items for my crazy aunt that is obsessed with being all eco-friendly yet is still impecably chic.

12.18.2009
Gift Idea: Conair Infiniti Cord-Keeper Styler (for your neat-freak friend)

So since I started living by myself, I’ve suddenly become very aware of how much space I have…and I LOVE every inch of it.  When I found out about this fabulous blow dryer from Conair, I knew it would make the perfect gift for your neat-freak friend.  The cord in this super cute blow dryer retracts into the handle with just the touch of a button for convenient and tidy storage.  And, of course, it still has allthe great benefits of a great blow dryer- 1875 watts of power and a high torque DC motor (god, I sound like I’m talking about a car) for maximum drying power and speedier styling.  And yes, of course it also has Ionic technology to help smooth the cuticle layer of your hair.  Get the Infiniti Cord-Keeper Styler for anyone on your holiday list who loves her hair and tidyness.




12.17.2009
My take on MTV’s “Jersey Shore”

So as an Italian East Coast native, I feel as though it is my duty to comment on the crazy insanity that is MTV’s Jersey Shore.  Ah, where to even begin…first off, if you haven’t already seen the show, please go to MTV.com immediately and watch the past 3 episodes.  Second of all, if you HAVE seen the show, you should immediately go to THIS link and watch Snooki’s YouTube channel before she was “famous.”  I think my personal favorite is “Snook took the night” where she fake raps along to some ghetto club song that involves the lyrics “hey, hey, hey, hey, hey I don’t care what bitches say.”  Right.

Anywho, in my opinion, makes this show so popular is the fact that most of the country hasn’t ever seen, let along spoken to, an actual real, live guido.  I, on the other hand, grew up around them and am one with them in their natural habitat (New Jersey, Staten Island, parts of Westchester County, Long Island, tanning salons, Seaside, etc.).  I have fond memories from the one and only time I visited Seaside, NJ (aka SLEAZside)…it can really only be described in one word- entertaining.  Guidos live in their own little guido world where the threat of skin cancer doesn’t exist and trucker hats are still cool.  Thinking about making a visit?  Run through my checklist and you’ll be ready to “vibe” with all the juiced up meat heads and orange-skinned broads.  Good luck to you.

Step 1: Get your guido name and write it down…because once you’re a guido, you’re going to forget it

Step 2: Brush up on your Jersey Shore lingo

Step 3: Stock up on gigantic claw clips and start practicing your pouf (btw- is anyone else predicting that Snooki launches her own claw clip line?)

Xo,

Jamie aka “the Opportunity”

P.S- to all the Italians that are “offended” and leaving MTV death threats, I will say to you what my Neopolitan grandmother would say to you- “heeey, relax.”  And to Domino’s “pizza,” seriously?

12.17.2009
John Frieda makeovers at TOPSHOP in New York City!

So one major benefit about living in New York City?  Easy access to TOPSHOP.  Now, thanks to the amazing people at John Frieda, you can get a mid-day makeover in Topshop’s dressing room!  TOPSHOP teamed up with Serge Normant at John Frieda Salon, Joeur cosmetics and nail specialists M2M to create the ultimate army of fashion and beauty experts – and they are readily available NOW until December 21st! (Daily 1-7PM).  All treatments are FREE but guests are encouraged to make a $5 donation to the Lower East Side Girls Club.

GIVEAWAY! Don’t live in NYC?  Yeah, I miss it too.  Don’t worry- I’m giving away FOUR sets of product from John Frieda’s Luxurious Volume collection – including Shampoo, Conditioner, Root Booster, Mouse and Hairspray!  Leave a comment below to win!  I’ll select four winners at random by next Monday, December 21st.




 

12.16.2009
Gift Idea: LATHER Planting Seeds gift set (for your mom)

So if there’s one thing that my sister and I gave my mother while growing up, it was a headache.  When I came across this adorably perfect Planting Seeds gift set from LATHER, I knew my mom simply had to have it.  The lavender-themed gift set celebrates the power of aromatherapy and LATHER’s founder’s discovery that lavender essential oil helped ease the pain of her migraine headaches.  It was actually with this discovery that she gained a passion for natural healing and decided to create LATHER out of a desire to help others and, as an added bonus, LATHER will donate $5 from the sale of each gift set to benefit the National Headache Foundation for headache awareness, education and outreach.  It really is the perfect gift…for $20 you get the Oatmeal Lavender Soap, Lavender Aromatherapy Candle and a little packet of Lavender seeds for your mom to plant come spring.

12.15.2009
Be the next HSN star for PurpleLabNYC!

So if you’re a beauty fanatic, listen up.  PurpleLabNYC is looking for new talent to take on the Home Shopping Network!  The lucky winner will go to Florida with the “Creatrix”, Karen, and show off Purple Lab’s new products that are also currently available for pre-order.  I’ve personally never tried Huge Lips Skinny Hips but my fellow bloggers rave about it so I’m sure that the new products will be just as fabulous.  There’s nothing I love more than a product that’s smart and multi-tasking so I’m definitely excited to check out Lashionista Modelista (mascara and liquid liner duo), Silk Sheets (luxe foundation), Luvah (double plumping lip stain with glossy topper and aphrodisiacs), Luxury Squared (concealer and highlighter in one) and Cheek Implants (cream blush with collagen).

If you’re interested in auditioning to be Purple Lab’s next HSN star, check out this link HERE and good luck!  The winner will be announced LIVE on air on February 18th during the 8PM show!

OLDER POSTS
        •        NEWER POSTS
Back to the top