almost not that embarrassing to walk to work in comfy shoes

As I have noted in an earlier post, my vanity tends to wain as the colder months take over.  No, it is not a Seasonal Affective Disorder symptom but perhaps a root cause as of course part of being happy is feeling pretty.

Anyway a common battle in the city is trying to find comfy and somewhat stylish walking to work shoes.  Because only the very few and brave actully walk to work in the shoes they wear all day as oopposed to storing them in their office drawer.

This year the battle extended not only to comfy but warm which I guess is also part of comfy.  My fur lined duck boots are really just too much for days without snow or ice on the ground so I found myseld searching for what my co-worker called "slippers you can wear outside" which of course I thought sounded ridiculous at first but then genious after some thought.

So I stumbled upon something that even has an added benefit.  Yes, I admit this was on my favorite blue box website blissworld.com but nonetheless it was completely unexpected as how most nifty ideas present themselves.  So in the Bliss sale section I found these Fitflops that are more like ankle high Uggs.  Now I had my doubts about the whole getting your butt in shape by wearing ugly shoes theory but add the warmth factor in 21 degree (feels like 2) weather and I am up for anything.  Plus they were on sale.  I would never have paid anything in the $200 range for these but sale, worth the risk.  I will not lie to you as did the people posting comments on the sight.  They aren't "attractive" or even marginally so.  They are more like "not that bad" and "worth it for the warmth" as no one has any periferal vision in their hats and scarves let alone are they checking out your shoes in this weather.  So here they are.  Their "not so bad" selves and incredibly comfy might I add.  I will update you on the butt benefits if any later.

Spa on the Cheap - ish

With the cold weather here it is more difficult to get around both literally and emotionally.  Unless the spa is actually on your way home, it is kind of a pain to bear horrible weather in an attempt to relax.  It seems a bit backwards.  So here is a list of ways to bring the spa home...or almost home:

1. Pedicure:  An at home foot spa machine costs about the same as a spa pedicure and the bonus is that you can let your feet soak as long as you want and you don't have to worry about putting your shoes back on after the polish has dried.  Also, you don't have to worry about who is talking about you and what they are saying. 
Here is the one I have by Dr. Scholl's and it works great.

2.  Glowy post facial skin:  You can always give yourself a facial with a little shower steam and a mask.  I love the Bliss Steep Clean mask and use it post steamy shower.  Sometimes for more of a spa effect, I bring it to the gym with me.  Nothing beats hanging out in the steam room post a great workout with a face mask on.  I always feel that the heat from working out plus from the steam room cleans every ounce of dirt from my skin.  Plus I get the added benefit of a warm rosy glow!

3. Baby soft skin:  With summer's humidity I rarely have to worry about moisturizing my body but with the dry winter air, I can't get enough.  What works for me is a sugar scrub pre-shower and following my shower with a think body cream like Bliss's body butter.  For my face I love Kiehl's because it feels so light yet does the job.
What also aids the skin is a humidifier.  I just ordered a new one from target.  It is an elephant and I think it will add some much needed cheerfulness to my dry apartment.

4.  The dreaded bikini wax:  Although I love to have it done professionally so it is quick and I can forget about it/block the pain out that I jsut bared for awhile, I found myself not wanting to head out into the cold just so someone could wrip some hair and a bit of epidermis off of me.  This time around I decided to go back to my buddy the bikini trimmer.  It is another love by Bliss & Phillips - what can I say I love the blue packaging of Bliss.  Nothing brightens up a work day than an easily spottable baby blue box in the mail room just for me!

The Sport of Drinking

Everyone always has their hangover cures and preventative tricks and for how many times I've heard someone say, "I'm never drinking again," we all know it isn't true.  Despite the most honest of intentions, we all make mistakes and it is not only what makes us human, it is what makes us fun.  So for those of you who have the miraculous ability to stop before it's too late 100% of the time, good for you.  But for the rest of you and the honest of you, here are a few tricks I've picked up along the way.  Feel free to comment and add your own tips.

Step one -   Hydrate - duh.  But if you are not at a bar where you can double fist your water and wine glasses while holding your clutch and drunk texting, hydrate after.  Gatorade really is the best sports drink, especially for that sport we call drinking, aka beer pong, wine "tasting", or flip cup.  Of course it's optimal to keep it stocked in your fridge for that evening, but as with all things, better late than never the next day.  And not the G2 either - you need the sugar.

Step two -For when you passed out before completing step one.  First, revert to step one.  Second, try and make a quick stop to the drug store before losing yourself to the bathroom.  I know this sounds hard, but everyone in NYC lives close to a pharmacy - admit it.  Things to pick up:  Gatorade if you haven't already gotten it, Emetrol nausea medicine (or the generic brand), and Sea-Band ginger gum.

Step three - Consume!  First take some Emetrol so you don't lose the gatorade when you try to drink it.  Drink some gatorade.  Chew some gum.  Keep doing each until you lose the nausea and can safely rehydrate without null results.  Also, if you don't mind the taste, coconut water is nature's Gatorade if you feel like you want something more natural.

Step four - caffeine.  I always find that topping it all off with a cup of coffee with sugar is the final key to feeling yourself.

Step five - go for brunch and start over!

Bundle Bee

Yesterday in New York we had our first real snowfall of the season and it was huge!  Of course along with the snow comes the heavy bundling.  Although we've been dealing with the cold for a couple of months now and slowly remembering the drill.  Below are some tips on keeping warm this season and still staying cute (at least until January when we really stop caring).  Unlike trends where it's best to try just one trend at a time, this is much more fun because you can try them all at once!  Happy bundling!

1.  I must admit I am not one to promote the leggings as pants trend.  However, I am all about doing it in the comfort of you own home, or better yet, under real clothes.  Uniqlo's Heattech line is amazing for layering.   The fabric is so soft and light so you don't feel like you are piling on the clothes while wearing it.  When you get home from being out, the leggings and tee's are super comfy to just lounge around in after peeling off your outer layers.  Better yet - it is all on sale and with free shipping until December 24th!  And if you aren't layering, put some pants on Girl!
 http://www.uniqlo.com/us/

2.  One of the most convenient trends this year is the trapper hat.  It is the warmest thing to put on your head and I am fully taking advantage of this trend while it lasts.  You can pretty much get them everywhere this year and at every price.  Here's me trying on the one I got in a great hat boutique by me before fully committing.  Definitely glad I took the next step!  http://www.barbarafeinmanmillinery.com/

3.  Sometimes you don't notice the quirks of functional clothing until it goes through rigorous wear testing.  For instance, do those wellies really resist all water and will that hat be warm on the coldest day.  Well with the test of blizzard conditions this weekend, the wind gusts made my jacket flap open at the bottom.  As with most jackets that don't have a zipper, the bottom button isn't at the bottom corner.  I remedied this mishap quickly and cheaply with some velcro.  Even better - sticky velcro (backed by glue so you don't have to sew!  just cut and stick)  And it is much more inconspicuous in real life than this picture may lead you to believe.

4.  And finally and oldie but a goodie.  The warmest thing since sliced wood in the fireplace?  Cashmere!  The perfect layering fabric to complete your cute Bundle Bee self :)

One Glove is Not Enough

Well the winter has come and so has the bundling and jumbling of apparel that comes along with it. And how about the hat and scarf and gloves that you must assemble and dismantle several times a day as you run in out of stores and cafes to drop off your laundry, stop for coffee, take a train, or take a cab. And you can't tell me you've never dropped a glove along the way as you take them on and off. So many times I've seen the lonesome glove in the middle of the sidewalk that someone has lost. And how grateful are you to the kind fellow pedestrian who alerts you when you've dropped yours that you otherwise would have missed. Well, as I was loving my gloves that I bought for myself this year and wondering just how long they'd last - well both of them together that is, I thought of trying to find a children's store that sold clips to attach them to my jacket. Luckily, I found something even niftier. Club Monaco sells darling cardigan clips that look vintage and cute and hold my gloves on my coat so when I have to take one off and reach in my wallet, I can be sure it's still there when I've paid my bill and hopped out of the cab.