Back to life, back to reality from my latest trip in NYC and I feel super inspired as well as refreshed. While there I went over to Blow for the ultimate blow out. I wanted to share my tips on what to look for in a great blow out, which by the way Blow has down pat.

1. I believe you should focus on one craft and be the best at it.  Blow in NYC has the ‘blow out’ down to a science (They were rated #1 by Vogue).

2. The price has to be right ~for only $40, you almost never want to dry your own hair again.

3. I like a real scalp-scrubbing shampoo.  2 washes are a must!

4. A head massage, not necessary, but always a nice perk.  My gal, just about had me floating out the door.

5. I like a beauty pro who consults with me first about what kind of volume I like.  Since, I wash my hair only once a week, I prefer a lot of volume with very little products so the blow out lasts longer.

6. Conditioner on the ends only.

7. A cool rinse.  Everyone knows this helps to close the hair cuticle.

8. The brush–Personally, I like a boar bristle brush the best.  My hair looks more shiny and I have less broken, fly away hairs.

9. A technician who sections of my hair.  This is a big determining factor for me.  Drying smaller sections at a time makes a big difference in the overall look.

10. A beauty pro who asks about the type of finishing products I like before slicking my hair with a pomade.  I want to maximize the longetivity of my expense, no finishing products please!

There you have it mon cheri’s! next time you are in NYC treat yourself to a blow out at Blow and now you know what to look for in your local area salons. xoxo, Jennie.

Do you remember the days where you had sleep overs with your girl friends and came up with a beauty concoction like an avocado face mask or lemon hair dye to go lighter? Don’t worry I remember those days too. Today we are much more educated on at home beauty remedies and self-made beauty treatments. You can use self made beauty goods in combination with professional beauty skin and hair care to achieve your perfect beauty regiment. Trending now is keeping a record of all your organic and self-made beauty recipes in a adorable book like this Recipe book from Anthropologie. Make sure to consult with a professional like moi first to make sure your at home recipe is the right one for you. Schedule a beauty party and I would love to show you some fun and wonderful organic recipes that can also be done at home by you. xoxox, Jennie.

Happy President’s Day! For those of you lucky beauties that have today off, we hope you are enjoying a long relaxing weekend. For the rest of us, fret not, start your day with another must have beauty secret. Meet Bumble and Bumble’s shiny hair booster. This spray contains light silicones to keep frizz away. This little bottle easily fits in your purse, beach bag, picnic basket, so you can have it with you at all times. Gloss up and touch up throughout the day by misting on your dry hair and give it back that rejuvenating luster as well as give your color a lift. You can purchase at Sephora for just $26. Shine on beauties, have a lovely day!

Sample food, cake, and drinks (please bring ID) while gathering inspiration for your special day from local vendors. Brides will leave with DIY project ideas and suggestions for unique touches to add to any wedding. Grooms can relax in our Groom Cave to learn about grilling, power tools, and home hardware.

Complete Inspiration Cards by visiting all the vendor stations and enter for a chance to win a Cuisinart Mixer! Be sure to do the gift registry to! Any couple who schedules an appointment to come back and register will receive a $25 gift card to the Guilford Food Center.  If you register by march 31st you will receive an additional gift card for $100 to Page Hardware.

RSVP by February 24th and be automatically entered into a drawing for a pair of tickets to a Clarke Showroom chef series cooking class in Norwalk, (a $170 value) for you and your honey. Please email the names of those attending to ame@pagehardware.com by February 24th to qualify for the prize drawing. Walk-in attendees are also welcome on the day of the event.

 Participating vendors:
April Rose – wedding & bridesmaid dresses, custom jewelry
Bill Miller’s & La Luna – event venue & catering
Frank’s Package Store – wine, beer, & spirits
Guilford Greenery – floral arrangements & bouquets
Hana Floral Design – floral trends
JA2M – acoustic music
Jennie Fresa Makeup & Skincare Boutiquerie – makeup
Kiernan Photography - alternative wedding photography
Lulu’s – lingerie
Ritual Spa – full-service spa
Royal Printing – custom invitations
Sparkle & Hay – DIY inspiration
Stargazer Travel – travel agency
Take The Cake - wedding cakes
True Event – Event planning

It’s the week of love. Well, actually it’s the week of- the one day out of the year where everyone places emphasis on their LOVE (whether it be, lifelong, lusting or lacking ). I think it’s great. Single, Coupled, Destined, Married, Divorced- there is something so sweet in the collective focus on those charming pink & red hearts that are indeed EVERYwhere. And yes there are those who make it a point to boast about how much they don’t like this time of year.

But what is really wrong with recalibrating our focus onto our heart? It is after all center of your entire being.

I’ve noticed plenty of articles lately that encourage us to acknowledge love in the moment. And as I read them I smile & think YES!

Refocus & find the little things to love within your day to day. How awesome your morning shower is, coffee?, the feeling during/after yoga class, a good conversation, a walk, your freshly washed sheets, a sunset, your pet, your style, your home, your family, your best friends, etc…find romantic love in your friendships, love up your friends & family. Fall in love with the minor things in your everyday & watch more love follow suit. More profound love follow suit. Allow yourself to be overcome by all of this love (that’s already right here).

Need more direction for this newfound quest for love?  Marianne Williamson’s Return to Love (a book we studied in yoga teacher training) and the more recent Spirit Junkie by Gabrielle Bernstein are phenominal places to start (both based on the teachings of A Course in Miracles).  Love is defined in A Course in Miracles as “the right-minded emotion of peace and joy” Gabrielle Bernstein writes in Spirit Junkie “This kind of love is not the kind that we offer to some people and deny others- this is one love that embodies everything and everyone. When we’re in the state of love we see everyone as equal and we feel at ease all the time”(22).

Safe to say we should stretch this Valentines Day theme well into next year….

tracee dolan is available for group and individual yoga & mediation instruction. She is the author of a Parent Child Yoga Instruction & coloring book & the founder of the yoga school bus project. Please feel free to contact her with any questions or appointment concerns: traceeteachesyoga@gmail.com.

I hope you had a wonderful Valentines Day! Whether you had a girls night out or a date night with your love, we hope you got dolled up. There is something so wonderful about glamming up for special nights out. Right now I have noticed a lot of DIY hair styles and I just love these three different styles via pinterest.  Next time it is a special occasion try these looks and do share. Feel free to come and visit at the boutique to show us your DIY hair style and we can add some lovely lips gloss, pink lips or to learn some new beauty tricks. xoxo Jennie.

The creatives of in WHITE wish you and your valentine the happiest of days…
XO
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We are in the long stretch beauties! Winter is almost coming to an end. As we look forward to sunnier days and warmer weather it is not to early to start preparing for a health glow and taking care of your beautiful skin. Especially for those of you lucky one’s getting ready to  jet set away for Spring break to a lovely tropical climate. The number one rule to wonderful skin is, protection with great SPF. In fact SPF should be your beauty mantra all year long, I will save that post for another time. Today for your must have Monday the focus is on the super awesome Adaptasun Body Milk. Created by a french brand, Institut Esthederm’s and can be found right on Amazon.com.  Adaptasun Body Milk contains a combination of filters and screens to protect the skin by filtering out the suns harmful UVA and UVB rays. A proactive tanning patent helps develop a more natural and deeper tan in all sunlight conditions. Glycerin leaves skin feeling soft, supple and comfortable. What is even more special about this product is you don’t select it by SPF rating but actually by your skin type and the type of sun exposure. Whether you are a sun worshiper or someone who never goes in the sun at all, Adaptasun is a must have. xoxo Jennie.

Image By Michelle Wade Photography

Fiori D Arancio
regularly $90
This Valentines day smell good enough to eat with this sweet and sexy scent.
A delicious citrus perfume with notes of lemongrass, bergamot and sugared vanilla. It smells good enough to eat…

100% USDA Certified organic

Food grade ingredients

Completely Botanical

XO~ Enjoy 30% OFF until February 28th

Dr. Alkaitis Berry Whip & Honey Organic Facial
regulary $110
Delicious and decendent! This facial treament is pure heaven and you deserve to treat yourself this Valentine’s Day! Three masks are used to exfoliate, repair and nourish skin. Rich in anti-oxidents and healing enzymes, your skin will look refreshed and glowing.

XO~Enjoy 50% OFF until February 28th

Boudoir Makeup Application with False Lashes
& 30 minute Photo Session with Michelle Wade Photography
February 12th 12-5pm
includes 1 5×7 print & FREE lipstick.

P.s. need something sexy to wear? Visit our friends next door at Beneath the Gown for the finest selection in lingerie.

XO~ Special Offer $199

For appointments, please ring us at 860-664-3923

Happy Valentine’s Day, Beauties!
XO