(I) Aly and (my good friend) Allie (also!) are at it again! We have teamed up with our gracious host, Cocoa Bar, to present you with another ELK-RAGEOUS event!

Your $25 contribution will provide you with a delightful evening in Cocoa Bar’s beautiful candle-lit patio. You will enjoy great company, and a special Elks Team menu that will include luscious libations (your choice from two kinds of wine or three kinds of homemade hot chocolate) and your choice of a scrumptious slice of cake. (We have had the tireless task of tasting for your benefit, and we promise you will not leave disappointed!)

Following in our great tradition, there will be giveaways and raffle prizes!

This event will benefit our Elks Relay For Life Team. Your enjoyment of dessert will actually help the American Cancer Society’s fourfold mission of education, advocacy, research, and patient services! Come have fun for a great cause.

PS: If you can’t make it, you can still donate! Click here:
http://www.acsevents.org/faf/r.asp?t=12&i=213801&g=1796936
(PS: don’t try to buy your event tickets through this page, you only can through us via email or at the door.)
Cocoa Bar
228 7th Ave. (between 3rd and 4th St.), Brooklyn, NY

Thursday, May 10, 6:00pm

Please come!

The time has indeed come for a confession: My name is Aly, and I am addicted to shoes.

(I would bow my head in shame, but that would be a lie. I’m not really sorry.) I’ve been obsessed with shoes since I was a little girl, trying on heels and falling out of them. Now that I’m a big girl who wears same heels and falls out of them, it has become a sort of life hazard.

The latest shoes to enter my wardrobe: (I may need another shoe bin soon…)

By BCBG Girls, these leather platforms touch on both the peep-toe and wedge trend at the same time. (Thus making me look ‘on trend’ in two ways!) Plus, they are red, which we all know is a aphrodisiac color! (Available on smartbargains.com)

Also from SmartBagains.com (I confess, my favorite web site for bedside shopping), I got these Andre Assous Jewel Low Suede Espadrilles - this is another one of those really cool styles this season, and I’m excited - for once, being trendy will not results in welts on my feet. (If only they had a bohemian-style prom this year…) This padded footbed is coming with me later as I trek across the city.

AND… more flip flops!

OKA B sent me both their Savannah and Dogwood thong styles to try out. Yes, this brings me up to about 10 pairs of flip-flops before the season is even officially underway, but check this out - you can wear them year-round! I’d wear those bronze Savannahs with a dress on a night out, and the blue Dogwoods are perfect for casual shorts - or as pedicure shoes. So, I am happy. But need more space. I will deal though, what drew me to these shoes is that its foot bed features reflexology based design with massage beads to enhance your comfort with each step. (ie: Not only do they not hurt, but they literally make other pains go away.)

Never has my addictive personality been so much fun.

  
What were you thinking???

 Funky Oysters is a hot line of jewels made out of classic freshwater pearls - but “classic” has no resemblance to traditional or boring in this case. These pieces let wearers create their own style with pieces that mix chunky sizes with the petite, classic colors with multi-colored longer lengths.

Grandma may have owned pretty pink pearls, but now you can have hot, hip ones…especially if you use the coupon below.

***

For a limited time only, Funky Oysters is offering a 20% coupon exclusively for readers of my column! Visit the site and use Coupon Code: JUST4MOM07

Expiration: 5/31/07

Website:  http://www.funkyoysters.com

Prom night contained all the perfect elements crucial to success, with one small complaint:

My feet were killing me.

As the canvas and rubber nestling my fore-hooves will attest, I am a flip-flops sort of girl. Still, one can not accent taffeta and rhinestones with plastic.

Under duress, I wore heels this past weekend, and nearly died. (Until I drank a few cocktails and the pain mysteriously disappeared.)

How I wish I had discovered my new Rockport Kendra sandals before.

I love the flirty polka-dot of these shoes (sadly, so does my puppy), but what is tres awesome is the patented DMX foot bed wrapped in jute. I get to be cute, and not fall flat on my face.

Please note: On account of recent developments, I hope to  be wearing a brown polka-dotted bubble-skirt dress to the prom next year.  Be on the look out.

As of 7 pm this evening, I became a BlackBerry person.

As you can see from my prom photos below, I have a bit of a new look.

It is all thanks to my new friend and stylist, Harley DiNardo (you may remember him from the band White Light Motorcade!) and the salon he owns, Shampoo Avenue B. (Check out their video here.)

Shampoo Avenue B is known as being an edgy, rock ‘n’ roll hair salon, and I confess, I was a little nervous before going there. Did I really want to risk leaving my comfort zone less than 24 hours before the prom?

When I learned though that Harley is an Aveda-trained hair stylist, and his salon had rave reviews across cyber space, the hair ho …I mean…curious critic… in me was intrigued.

Shampoo Avenue B is a haven for those of us who may love the ritsy salons of the world, but are more comfortable among people like ourselves. This salon is as casual as you can get - rock music blaring, the staff and clients having fun, and everyone leaving looking hot. Of course, this was my goal as well.

Harley and I agreed my hair needed more dimension for summer, and we did low lights in both a very cool vintage-blond (sunset gold!) and a wheatier-ash, which created a nice natural contrast to my own natural platinum color. While subtle, it makes my own hues brighten and shine through.

While I did want to punk myself up a little, I was somewhat afraid. We gave me edge without going too wild by cutting down a little of the heaviness on top and razoring the ends. It is, I believe, my best hair cut ever. And I’m going back in a few days to experience their Brazilian Keratin Hair Straightening procedure…meaning I may never again have to blog about curly hair woe.

Cross your fingers!

42 Avenue B (Between 3rd and 4th)
New York City
212-777-2031

Had I known prom was so much fun, I may have gone to my own last decade.

Thanks to:
Jackie (for the dress!)
Harley @ Shampoo Avenue B (for the hair - check it out, sunset gold low lights!)
Shirley of Hollywood (for the sexy stockings)
Take 5/Bare Escentuals/Tarte (for the most excellent cosmetics)

The theme: Retro-80s mock prom.
The location: The Whale in Dunellen, NJ.
The attire: You’ll have to see it for yourself.

Flaxen-haired as I am, I am lost without mascara. A few swipes of the brush separates smoldering me from the pale, drawn alternative.

In the interest of saving time, saving mascara (and in effect, helping preserve the environment), and, well, being hot (prom minus two days!), I have found a solution.

Skintology, a full-service spa based in Chelsea, has been doing eyelash extensions since before they became a nationwide trend.

For the vain, extensions are very much in vogue. In an effort to better understand the phenomenon (selflessly, I assure you) my visit tonight to Skintology brought me to a serene basement treatment room, surrounded by soft music. My lash specialist, Olga, explained the process and even showed me before/after pictures of previous clients. (I asked for photos of my own, but sadly, there was no camera. Score 1 for my journalistic prowess.)

After Olga explained the procedure to me, she got started while I got comfy. After nestling onto a cozy bed and getting under the covers, she wrapped my head in warm towels. She then began the painstaking process of using medical-grade oil-based glue to attach 100% human hair to my top lashes…one lash at a time.

I nestled into light nap as she went about her work. There is, surprisingly, no pain or tugging. Interesting, being I’ve nearly blinded myself in the past with a mascara wand.

Depending on your individual lashes, and the look/volume/length you are going for, this means applying up to something like 80 lashes, by hand over a session about three hours. But it’s worth it. Because I won’t have to wear mascara now for weeks. (Up to 4 months if I maintain properly, which is mainly just avoiding using oil-based cleansers or creams near them. They are even pool friendly!)

I’d hate to sound vain, but I do have pretty darn hot lashes now…

Dress has arrived, and it is fabulous. However, an unexpected curve ball has been thrown: the original dress, having been declared missing, has been found.

I find myself with problems committing to either at present.

As much as I enjoy ritualistically shaving my tender bits, I’m ready for a more permanent solution. Waxing/sugaring is better…but I don’t have the commitment to allow regrowth. There is, alas, one solution. Laser hair removal.
But can I have what everyone else around me is getting? Apparently not.

The universe has decided that I must either:

1 - Attack myself with blades

2 - Have gleaming-eyed women place hot wax on my loins

forevermore.

I consulted the experts. Below is my discussions with:

* Dr. Joel Schlessinger, a board-certified Dermatologist and General Cosmetic Surgeon< and President of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery as well as President of LovelySkin.com.

* Beth K. Miller MA, NMT, Registered Esth.
1 - Who should *not* do laser hair removal?

JS: Laser hair removal doesn’t work on red, white or blonde hair, despite what certain operators may say. Additionally, it doesn’t work on dark or tanned skin as well as on lighter skin, but there are some lasers that do help in those types of individuals. The problem, however, is that the potential for burns and other problems go up significantly.

BM: Laser hair removal is done with a broad spectrum beam of heat and light that is safe for all hair types. The contraindications for this treatment are the same contraindications for all laser and chemical peel treatments. They would be pregnancy, nursing, open lesions, infection, diabetes, high blood pressure, epilepsy.

2 - I know that certain lasers work only for certain hair
types/colors, and that many do not work for blond/light-haired people
(like me!). What are our options?

JS: Sadly, the options are rather limited. For example, there is electrolysis, which is painful and can lead to scarring or waxing (ouch!). Also, depilatories can be used and a topical product, Vaniqa, has also been used. Vaniqa is a cream that has to be used twice daily over these areas forever and it simply slows down growth but doesn’t stop it. You need to use some other method with it like plucking, waxing, etc.

BM: Laser hair removal works for all hair types. What changes is the beam flow. The laser produces a broad spectrum of light in a range of wavelengths. The concept behind the use of light to treat skin tissue is that the light, when absorbed by tissue, generates heat. This treatment provides a flexible and safe system, which adapts specific colors of light wavelengths to treat different skin types and hair colors.

3 - Are there any dangers to laser hair removal?

JS: Absolutely. There are many operators now who have very little training (some with less than an hour of training are out there playing laser doc and the kicker is that they were probably trained by someone who also had less than an hour of training). We see many cases of burns from medispas that are run by non-dermatologists and non-cosmetic surgeons where the price may be right, but the results certainly aren’t. This happens about once a week now in my practice. My best advice is to do your homework when looking for a place and insist that there is a dermatologist or plastic surgeon who not only is there onsite but actually lays eyes on you and preferably determines the settings on the laser. Most medispas go on the assumption that lasers area point and click device with no thought necessary and that couldn’t be further from the truth!

BM: There are no “dangers” however people who are sunburned will possibly become hypopigmented. I have seen this several times since Florida is a sun State.

4 - Who are the best candidates?

JS: The best candidates are light skinned people with dark hair – lots of it. Laser hair removal doesn’t work on peach fuzz and wispy dark hair has less of an effect from it as well. Don’t do it if you are tanning. That means tanning within one to two months of the procedure and don’t do it before a big trip in the sun either. Many of my patients don’t realize that tanning (even ‘just once a week’) is a potential disaster with laser hair removal. It can lead to horrible, lifelong, burns and isn’t something that is worth risking.
BM: There are no “best” candidates. Light hair is the most difficult to treat since the laser has to adhere to the hair pigmentation. Light hair types generally require more sessions however that should not prevent a client from seeking treatment.
5 - Any recommendations on how to find/choose the right place to go?
And what questions to ask?

JS: Whatever you do, don’t be all about price. The places that have the lowest prices are typically manned by ‘technicians’, who may have little or no training and are typically on commission. They may not even be a nurse! So price is a huge draw, but may be low just because they have little or no standards. Don’t believe everything they say, either. I see ads all the time saying that laser hair removal is permanent. It isn’t permanent in the way that most people think. If you think you are going to do laser hair removal and never have to shave again, you may be in for a surprise. While you will shave less frequently and may have stubble rather than longer hairs, it takes many sessions to see the results most people would equate with the word permanent. Unfortunately, many medispas have unethical advertising and personnel who will say anything to make the sale.
Lastly, watch out for the person who wants you to pay for a year or more of sessions at once. Medispas go out of business frequently and this means your money may be lost forever. It has happened to many of my patients who thought they were getting a great deal. Most reputable places charge by the session rather than monthly or yearly rates.

BM: Always get a good word of mouth recommendation if possible. If not, make sure the practitioners are certified (ask to see their license) and find out who the medical director is (if applicable). Not all States need one. Many States need only specific certification and that’s perfectly alright. There are several types of lasers on the market today and the one generally used is the Gentle Lase. That doesn’t mean it’s the best. It’s just the one most widely used. Some of the newer ones have a great cooling mechanism on the hand piece.

Thanks so much to these experts for their help…but I am more confused than ever! Read on for more expert round-ups in the great debate over my bikini line.