We hope you can join Things to Cherish at this trunk show, featuring local designers and benefiting Girls on the Run. Another great reason to come? Wine will be served! Don’t forget to RSVP!
To get a behind the scenes look at Pyar & Co., check out our past interview with Paula Queen!
You’d love to have time to sip your coffee while reading the morning paper or cook your kids a homemade breakfast, but alas, time is not in your favor. Unless you want to look like you just rolled out of bed at work, the fun morning rituals have to go. Not true! Here are eight great ways to cut your morning routine dramatically, so you can fake that Mad Men-era high maintenance and spend more time doing what you really want or need to do.
1. Dry Shampoo – I usually only wash my hair every two to three days. In between, I use a dry shampoo that prolongs my blowout or other styling, keeps hair smelling fresh, prevents oil and adds volume. Tips: Buy a travel size to keep in your purse for after work touch ups. Also, spray under the hair at the roots instead of on top to avoid visible powder splotches, or if it’s in a powder form, spray into your hand first and then work it through your hair. Two brands I use: Pssssst (best budget buy) and Klorane (non aerosol)
2. Microfiber Hair Towels – On the days you do wash your hair, this hair towel will dramatically reduce your blow drying time. Tip: Do not wash it with fabric softener because it will reduce its moisture wicking capabilities.
3. BB or CC Cream – A tinted moisturizer, skin protectant and serum all in one. I use Dr. Jart Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45. It provides more coverage than many of the other brands, gives my skin a dewy glow and has a high spf. While it isn’t cheap, I figure I am still saving money by not buying two other products to complete my skin care routine.
4. Spray on Body Moisturizer – Quicker than applying regular moisturizer, just hold your breath! I haven’t tried this one yet, but it sounds good and they claim it’s absorbed within 10 seconds.
5. Skip Eye Cream – Despite the claims, most eye creams rarely do more than your regular moisturizer. Plus, the area under your eyes needs spf protection too and not all eye creams offer it. Warning – don’t go too close to your actual eye that the product gets in your eye, even if it’s eye cream.
6. Lip & Cheek Stain – Multi-tasking stains save time and money. Stains also last longer (less time spent reapplying), give you a more natural, flushed look and are perfect for travel (one less product to squeeze into your zip lock bag). I use Benefit’s Benetint.
7. Mascara – When applying mascara, position the wand at the base of the lashes and gently wiggle it back and forth. This deposits a coat of color that mimics eyeliner, so you can cut eyeliner out of your routine. I love this mascara and think it performs better than most department store brands.
8. Perfume – If you have to skip a shower, don’t forget perfume. Stash a roll-on in your purse to apply on the go without disturbing your neighbors. Here’s an application tip: apply your perfume in the crease of your arm or behind your knee. These areas help emit the fragrance like your neck or wrist would, but don’t expose your jewelry to the perfume compounds and oils that often cause chemical reactions, resulting in jewelry tarnishing.
For other great beauty buys and tips, check out our past posts:
- How to do no chip manicures at home
- Great beauty travel gadgets
- The best drugstore beauty buys
Photo source, with my words.
If you live in New York you are in luck. You are just a phone call or bakery stop away from one of Meghan Daly’s amazingly delicious pies. Meghan founded Daly Pie in 2011 and she has been satisfying cravings, saving Thanksgiving dinners and making people happy (it’s no coincidence that pie and Prozac both start with P) ever since. She uses the classic hand-crafting method and cherry picks the best local ingredients for her ever-changing and expanding menu of seasonal pies. Just like mom used to make; well, actually better, but we won’t tell her if you won’t. Read on to get a behind the scenes look at Daly Pie, complete with baking tips, links to the best markets in NYC and, of course, how to get your hands on one of these I-can’t-just-have-one-piece pies. You’re welcome!
What inspired you to start Daly Pie?
I had been working in Marketing Operations at a major corporations and was feeling very unfulfilled. I didn’t know what to do…I thought to myself, “if money didn’t matter, what would I do, what makes me happy?” The first thing that I though of was making Pie. I had always done it growing up, but had found myself turning to baking as an adult for stress release – when I baked the whole world melted away. Pies are what I like making the most. Looks like it wasn’t a bad move!
What is a typical day like for you?
Every day is truly different. Since all my pies are made to order, some days I am not baking at all. Other days I am making 30+ pies for an event. Usually I get up early, deliver orders in the morning, restock ingredients at the green market, catch up on business stuff (accounting, marketing, etc), bake in the afternoon to usually midnight, clean up and start all over again.
What are your best baking tips?
To make a super flaky pie crust use COLD ingredients. Cold butter, cold water etc. and mix until just combined. I make all my crust by hand using a pastry blender and I find a little inconsistency in the size of the butter makes the difference. For fillings remember to balance the flavors (a little salt goes in almost everything) and a little citrus bring out the flavor in fruit, especially berries.
What is your favorite pie right now?
My favorite “winter pie” is Toasted Pecan, Date and Pear Hand Pies. But honestly Spring / Summer pies are my favorite. I can hardly wait for spring fruit, I am currently trying to track down some early Rhubarb to make my favorite spring pie – Nana’s Strawberry Rhubarb!
Where can we buy your delicious pies?
Pies are available for order/delivery in NYC via www.dalypie.com and at Tree Haus (51st @3rd ave). Expect to see Daly Pie in many more locations throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn soon. Follow me on Facebook or Twitter for the latest locations and events.
What do you love most about your job?
I love that I create something that brings people happiness. Someone told me the other day that they had a dream about my Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie and that made my day. It’s a good sign when people are dreaming about your products!
What are your favorite go-to blogs (other than Things To Cherish :))?
Since my job has taken me off the computer, I don’t get a chance to read many blogs anymore. My go-to is twitter. I always catch a great story, recipe, or idea. When I do get a chance to read a blog it’s thehairpin.com for amazing wit (especially the Scandals of Classic Hollywood series – so good!), gothamist.com for NYC happenings, and apartmenttherapy.com for design inspiration.
What are your favorite business resources for entrepreneurs?
Other business entrepreneurs! I’ve met a lot of people at markets and events throughout the city and generally everyone is very helpful and supportive. Everyone has at least one great tip to share or knows someone who knows someone! Before I started my business officially I took some workshops through SCORE and learned about rules, regulations, and taxes that really helped a lot.
How do you stay organized and get everything done?
Tenacity and Evernote! I use Evernote to make ingredient lists for the market, I keep all my recipes in the app and I write notes for new recipes in it when inspiration comes. Getting everything done is something that I have to work on. I am really bad at responding to emails in a timely manner. I read them, and think that I will respond later when I have minute, but never do! I am working on just responding when I read them – it’s a goal for 2013!
What are your favorite Brooklyn/NYC haunts?
NYC is such a great place, but when I have down time I tend to stay in my general neighborhood (Gowanus – Park Slope – Carroll Gardens). My favorite Neighborhood bars are Lucy Lounge which makes amazing seasonal cocktails with crazy ingredients and Commonwealth with friendly bartenders and a great outdoor area. I also love prospect park for a stroll and have a major soft spot for Coney Island both the beach and the boardwalk.
What are the best flea Markets/fests to attend in Brooklyn/NYC?
There are a ton places to go, but I think Artists and Fleas is the best market – it’s a well curated mix of vintage clothes, art and jewelry with really friendly people. There are always great pop up markets too, I was at the Brooklyn Night Bazaar in December and it was super fun. Live bands, DJs, Food and great shopping. I hope they will be doing another pop up this summer!
What do you love to do in your free time?
Walking around the city, everything is in constant motion here so there is always something new to see. I also have a brunch club with a bunch of friends and we go to a new brunch place almost every Sunday.
What are you looking forward to in 2013?
Creating my 100th pie recipe (currently at 96) and spreading the pie love to more people.
Light fixtures are an easy way to elevate the design of any room. We are planning to keep most of our finishes rather simple and then we’ll add pops of drama with chandeliers, sconces and antique mirrors. I think that these antique elements can actually blend quite well with a modern setting. They allow you to achieve a good balance of the “old” and “new” and make your home feel like a custom collection of treasures, rather than a list of things recently purchase from a big box store. If you prefer a more modern light fixture, you can add that touch of “something old” with a french-style velvet chair or a worn Turkish rug. I have been scouring OneKingsLane.com, eBay and smaller antique stores and thrift stores for deals on these items, but many of the larger chain stores have options that are made to look like they are from another century as well. Keep your eyes open and don’t discriminate. You never know where you will find that perfect piece.
Photo sources: You can find links to the original source here.
One of the road blocks to being an efficient shopper is cutting through all the noise. There are so many brands and products out there that sometimes I just wish I had a personal shopper sending me a few cool, well made, newly discovered items each day. Enter Uncovet, a shopping site that does just that. No more scrolling through thousands of products on other sites trying to find what’s new and right for you. Just check your email once a day and find a few key fashion and home picks. Uncovet does the leg work, finding the established and up and coming designers that we didn’t even know we were missing. To shop the items above (including Ali’s Collection!) visit Uncovet and sign up for exclusive access. I couldn’t help but snag this vintage, refurbished bench for our entrance way on their site this morning. I can’t seem to get enough of black and gold these days.
