Erno Laszlo Sea Mud Soap - oily skin's best friend

March 10th, 2010 in beauty & fashion, reviews by Sherri Houtz

There is just something about the sea—its healing powers are mythological; its calming effect on the psyche is profound. The sea refreshes, rejuvenates and transforms. Happiness assaults the senses with the first breath of clean, salty ocean air. A swim in its waters can refresh the body and the mind. The sound of its waves lapping the shore can lull a full-grown man to sleep like a lullaby to a baby. Yes, the sea is a perfect place.

And, of all the seas, the Dead Sea is known as the most transformative and perfect of all. The unique chemical composition and greater concentration of minerals has been known for it’s curative abilities since ancient times. It’s not a stretch, then, to think that skincare products of the sea, particularly the Dead Sea, should have this same perfection, this same ability to refresh, rejuvenate and transform. Many Dead Sea products try to capture this perfection, and one does it exceptionally well. Erno Laszlo’s Sea-Mud Soap really harnesses Poseidon’s potential.

Erno Laszlo himself was a dermatological visionary with a colorful history. Way back in 1927 in his native Hungary, Laszlo caused a commotion by introducing a skincare ritual involving splashing with soap and water instead of the here-to-then accepted use of cold cream to cleanse the skin. It was practically scandalous, but he healed the skin of Belgium’s Princess Stephanie and opened his first Institute of Scientific Cosmetology. Later, a move to the U.S. had Dr. Laszlo an early Hollywood hero with clients from Greta Garbo to—years later—Marilyn Monroe. He soon opened a U.S. Institute on Fifth Avenue in New York City with an elite, referral-only clientele including Jackie Kennedy. It wasn’t until 1962 that the famous Dr. Laszlo had a retail line.

Erno Laszlo created a “ritual” which begins with a water wash technique where splashing the face with “comfortably-hot” water is meant to deep cleanse, exfoliate, flush out toxins, strengthen and soften the skin, stimulate production of collagen, and allow for the better absorption of a moisturizer. It is with this ritual that I first used my Sea Mud Soap.

After opening my simple, almost masculine, marble looking soap dish, I found my Sea Mud Soap to be black in color (Dead Sea mud has a high concentration of Bitumen, a naturally-occurring tar) and immediately was reminded of the Lava soap my dad would keep in his workroom to scrub impossible stains from his hands. But this is definitely not Dad’s harsh, abrasive work-soap.

Sea Mud Soap is amazingly mild. Meant for oily or combination skin, the Sea Mud Soap strips oil from my face like a toner, but leaves my skin extraordinarily soft to the touch. This is the very paradoxical performance that I have always sought in my skincare routine. Some cleansers have come close, but I feel confident in saying that Erno Laszlo’s is the best I have tried. For my face to be oil-free yet not tight or dry is practically miraculous.

My pores also appeared smaller from the first wash. It seems almost like the soap knows how much oil is enough oil to strip. I know from my lifelong bout with oily skin that overstripping the oils from your skin makes your skin produce even more oil, kind of like your body in starvation mode. Sea Mud Soap doesn’t starve your skin of its essential oils; it just seems to remove the extraneous stuff.

A visit to Erno Laszlo’s site will show you how to “get a ritual.” A quick questionnaire and you are just a click away from a recommended routine. Use of the “Laszlo-Matic” tells you your skin type, confirms your individual concerns, and recommends products for day, for night, and for aging.

I can’t wait to find out if there are lots of (formally) shiny, happy people out there waiting to lavish praise on Sea Mud Soap and the Laszlo ritual. Don’t forget to check the comments for the we heart this review team’s thoughts on the Sea Mud Soap.

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Start your own ritual:
Sea Mud Soap at Erno Laszlo
Sea-Mud Soap at Nordstrom

Disclosure: This review includes products that were provided by the manufacturer/PR firm for our consideration. It also contains an affiliate link, a link that gives us a small commission if you purchase the item. For more info, or any questions, please see our disclosure policy.

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Partida Tequila - review

January 25th, 2010 in eat, drink, be merry, reviews by Sherri Houtz

Oh, Tequila! The very thought of this liquor is enough to conjure many memories of hangovers past for all of us. In the college years, a shot of tequila was meant to prove that you were one of the guys, that you could stand to have a little hair on your chest. Some wiseacre would belly up to the bar and order well tequila, returning with a tray full of turpentine, salt licks and limes. Some have never recovered; others have since limited their tequila consumption to sugary, fruity margaritas. A few brave, hairy-chested souls have persevered.

For me, the segue to Tequila appreciation was bumpy, but my employment in the food and beverage business demanded it. Years ago, a restaurant where I was employed sponsored a tequila seminar and I earned a Master of Tequila certification (oh la la ~wht). This was a bogus certification dreamed up by the folks at a famous tequila company, but I did learn a thing or two. And I did start tasting tequila—this time as a sipper, not a shooter.

Fast forward to today. A little liquor in my goody box makes me happy. A little Partida, makes me swoon. You see, Partida is the highest rated tequila based on the scores of a recent taste test conducted by The Academy of Tequila, the official Tequila tasting board of Mexico. The high standards of the Partida Estate produce a magnificent 100% blue agave Tequila. This is a sipper’s Tequila.

All true Tequila is made in Mexico’s Tequila region and is produced from the blue agave plant. This is not to say that all Tequila is the same. Many Tequila producers distill the Tequila to 100 proof, then cut it with water to reduce the harshness. It doesn’t work well, and this is why we have crappy turpentine that has to be shot like medicine. Partida double distills their Tequilas to get it to a smooth 80 proof naturally, without cutting with water.

Now, Tequilas come in several varieties, and their classification is the same across the board for all brands: Blanco/Silver (un-aged), Reposado (aged 2 months to one year in oak casks), Anjeo (aged one to three years in oak casks), Extra Anjeo (aged a minimum of three years in oak), Oro/Gold (mixture of Silver and Anjeo or Reposado). Partida has tequila choices in all of these (except Oro/Gold), including the Partida Elegante Extra Anejo, aged for 36-40 months, which carries an $350 extra elegante price tag. We got to try the regular Anejo, aged for 18 months.

First, the color is a beautiful deep gold. A little swirl in my snifter shows this has some nice legs—not watery at all. Next, I take a whiff. The nose is woody and alcoholic without any astringency. Then, the taste: on the palette this is as expected—extremely smooth. There is no pucker, no fire. This sips like an XO Cognac and is just as regal. The tasting notes I’m given mention honeyed fruit tones with flavors of spices and dried fruits like sweet pear with almond. I’m not one to disagree. I taste the honey of the fruit along with a masculine smokiness. Really nice.

Review Team, what did you think? Has Partida changed you from shooter to sipper too?

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Sherri is co-author of What Would You Do With This Room? My 10 Foolproof Commandments to Great Interior Design, and part of the team behind the iPhone app, Mark On Call.

Disclosure: This review includes products that were provided by the manufacturer/PR firm for our consideration. For more info, or any questions, please see our disclosure policy.

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L’Artisan Parfumeur — Home Fragrance review

December 8th, 2009 in home & living, reviews by Sherri Houtz

Mmmm…L’Artisan Parfumeur. Doesn’t that just dance on the tip of your tongue like a 1945 Chateau Lafite? Yes, it sounds every bit of the complex mélange that it is. And, like wine, the French take their fragrance-making quite seriously.

One expects the iconic parfumeur to create unique and amazing scents from classic elements for the body, but what about the home? This is a treat I did not expect to find in my goody box, and I have to admit that I made a small judgment error when first I opened my mysterious matte black box.

You see, I saw the elegant gold scrollwork declaring “L’Artisan Parfumeur, Paris” at the bottom of said box; I saw the gold Chinese character emblazoned above it on a carmine seal. “L’Ambre”, it told me this selected fragrance was. Not usually one for the heavy scents of the Orient, but as all signs pointed to this being an exceptionally elegant, probably regal scent. I dove right in.

Oh the bottle! (that’s Tyna’s pick shown here. This is a home spray you proudly display, not hide with your cleaning supplies!) I would buy this for the bottle alone. Like the box, the L’Ambre bottle is black matte with the small orange-red stamp displaying the Asian character declaring its name. It looks like it belongs on Edith Piaf’s dressing table. Or maybe Mata Hari’s. Maybe Gypsy Rose Lee’s. Immediately I spritzed some on my wrists, dabbing a bit in my décolleté.

A bit strong, but…oh wait…home fragrance spray I could now see spelled out in tiny letters at the bottom of the box. Whoops. Well, the scent is too strong to wear on your person—do not make this mistake. But for your home…tres parfait!

L’Ambre is a boudoir scent, for sure. You may have to search a bit to find it, as it only seems to be available outside of the US at the moment, perhaps to concentrate on their decadent and gorgeous Amber Balls. But it’s well worth the hunt (and LuckyScent does have it in a candle). A couple pumps in the air linger softly; one on the pillow and/or sheets stays longer. I felt like I didn’t have quite enough black lacquer, red velvet and tapestries to do it justice, but…oh the romance it inspired. Smelling this rich, layered scent (there’s hints of an animal muskiness that I don’t usually like, but here seemed oh-so-right for some reason) my bedroom became a boudoir—I’ll spare you all the details. This scent and a little Agent Provocateur are all a girl (and boy) need for a special rendezvous.

Another home fragrance received at we heart this is Tileuls au Vent, “under the linden trees”. This is said to be a lighter, fresher floral scent—right up the alley I usually ride. I’m not sure if this one is as romantic as the L’Ambre, but I can’t wait to find out.

If you’re not the spritzing kind, L’Artisan also makes home fragrances in candle form. Some lucky testers got to try Oranger en Fleurs (the honeyed and fresh fragrance of orange trees in bloom), Rose des Indes (rose with accents of peach and apricot) and Jacinthe et Feu de Bois (smoky woods with the green boldness of white hyacinth in full bloom) Don’t they sound delicious?

What say you all? Are these the most romantic scents ever?

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Disclosure: This review includes products that were provided by the manufacturer/PR firm for our consideration. For more info, or any questions, please see our disclosure policy.

wht contributor Sherri is co-author of What Would You Do With This Room? My 10 Foolproof Commandments to Great Interior Design and part of the team behind the iPhone app, Mark On Call.

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Benefit Holiday collections!

November 17th, 2009 in beauty & fashion, reviews by Sherri Houtz

Benefit Cosmetics always seem to have something that I want. It’s probably something to do with the retro-glam feel of their packaging. Benefit makes a girl time-travel back to 1962 when Sandra Dee sat at her makeup table in layers of white crinoline, powdering and primping for Bobby Darin.

All of Benefit’s products have some cheekiness about them. They also pay homage to a bygone era of feminine perfection either in their packaging or in the product itself. I love the concept.

For a company dedicated to whimsy, it’s a natural to do something special for the holidays. All-in-one kits make a big splash at gift-giving time. Who isn’t seduced by lots of makeup miniatures, especially with that cute packaging? I’m no exception and was thrilled to try Celebutante the “Personal Stylist Makeup Kit.”

Now, Celebutante doesn’t quite bow to Sandra Dee so much as it tips its hat to Paris Hilton. The sturdy hinged cardboard box with magnetic closure (that holds the goodies) is printed to resemble a quilted, gold chain-strung clutch (a la Chanel). Ms. Hilton notwithstanding, who doesn’t like Chanel?

We will dive into all the details of the all-in-one Celebutante in a moment. First, I want to mention a few other Benefit Holiday Sets that the we heart this received for review. You can check the comments for our thoughts on the following:

First off, there’s Bright Lights Big City!, a limited edition brightening kit sold exclusively through Sephora. Now, brightening is something that Benefit does best so I can’t wait to see how the That Gal face Primer, BADgal Blue Mascara (hey, why didn’t Celebutante get a mascara…it was the only thing missing from that package!), and Eye Bright pencil measured up.

Then there’s Sexy Starlet, which contains Some Kind-of gorgeous, an oil-free foundation faker, CORALista coral-pink blush (oh, what a blush! ~wht) and BADgal mascara, all enclosed in a funky box/clutch.

And finally, there is Glam Idol, a package of Benefit faves that some lucky girl out there is going to win in the latest wht giveaway! This package also includes That Gal, Posietint, a pinker version of the fabulotastic Benetint, and California kissin’, a smile-brightening lipshine to gloss up those posie-tinted lips, packaged in a cute designer-inspired clutch box.

Now, let’s get into the all the details of Celebutante…

Upon opening the case you find what every Celebutante-wannabe needs: a REALLY big mirror to admire yourself. The mirror is as big as the box (3”X6”) and makes applying on-the-go easy. The size of the kit makes it awesome in its portability and the content is nearly all-inclusive.

What’s inside Celebutante is definitely Paris (Hilton again, not the city). Lips are the star attraction in this kit with two mini-lipsticks and a gloss. The silky-smooth lipstick colors are Lady’s Choice, a nude and No Competition, a brownish pink-red. As with all kits, there are things you’ll use, and things…not so much. My personal throwaway here is Lady’s Choice because the color makes my lips blend right into my skin—not my shade. No Competition is, however, perfect. The color is a slightly deeper version of my own lip color, and I would wear this day or night.

Also included for lips is the mini-gloss in I’m With The Band, a pure gold gloss with pink undertones. A word of advice: if you haven’t had your teeth whitened (like, yesterday) this may not work for you. I found a good use for this one, though: a single dot in the center of a No Competition lip brings some sparkle and dimension to your lip for evening glam.

Two of the best beauty products ever made come from Benefit, and both are included (again, in miniature) in this kit. One is Benetint, the cheek and lip stain that has garnered fans for years. Benetint works well with any skin tone or color. A dot on the apples of your cheeks makes you look like you just came in from building a snowman. A swipe on your lips makes them look as ripe as a Red Delicious. Add clear gloss or not, it’s a great product to take ten years off your face and give you a youthful flush…and after the flush, how about some glow?

The second, Highbeam, is a white-pink shimmer gloss-highlighter with a sponge applicator. Apply this any place light hits your face (cheekbones, top of your forehead) or swipe some under your eyes (especially the corners near your tear ducts) for a quick wide-awake-and-happy-to-be-alive look. Benetint and Highbeam are priceless (but check out Moonbeam if you have darker skin or yellow/olive skin tones).

Rounding out the Celebutante Lesson are an eyeshadow duo in Leggy and Dandy Brandy, and a matte bronze cheek color in Dallas. The eyeshadows are requisite neutrals in shimmery champagne and slightly shimmery brown. The two-sided shadow brush included is probably the best applicator included in a kit that I’ve ever come across. At one end of the brush is a soft fluff shadow brush that holds and deposits color on the lid amazingly well. The opposite side of the brush is the talent brush: a smaller, stiffer (though still silky and comfortable) brush for lining. The Dallas cheek color is more of an all-over bronzer. Use it along with the Benetint (on your apples) to keep from looking too muddy (‘cause only Donatella Versace can use bronzer to excess and have us believe it’s high fashion). The brush included for Dallas is underwhelming in it’s small-ness; be careful or you’ll be streaky. On the plus side of the blush brush, it’s as good as a small brush gets in that it’s skinny but rather wide, and the bristles are super-soft and splay well.

Final summary for Celebutante: it’s as good as the all-in-one kits get with some true essentials that no woman should be without. All colors would probably look great on fair-skinned blondes, but most are neutral enough for all (I’m a fairly fair brunette).

So what say you all? Are all the chicks on your list going to Benefit from these gift packages this season?

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wht contributor Sherri is co-author of What Would You Do With This Room? My 10 Foolproof Commandments to Great Interior Design and part of the team behind the iPhone app, Mark On Call.

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Mark On Call Virtual Interior Design App for Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch

November 11th, 2009 in home & living by Sherri Houtz

From small things, big things one day come. It’s a sentiment that, in my case, happens to be true.

You see, a couple of years ago an acquaintance approached me about writing a book: a how-to about something-or-other. He hadn’t ironed out the details but he was as serious as he was ambitious. How could I say no to that?

Soon, the book had a subject: Interior Design. And with the subject came our expert: Mark Lewison, an interior design professional who had longed to write a book but never got around to it.

We were green when it came to the publishing arena, and it showed. After some ups and downs and a lot of hard work, What Would You Do With This Room? was born.

Our baby made us proud, yet, a little disappointed, too. It’s hard to compete in the publishing world when you haven’t got the name Rachel Ray or the solid backing of an Oprah empire. But, our baby is our baby and we love it and believe in it and nurture it. Any other babies we would have would be loved no more, no less.

Or so we thought.

Thinking of creating a design empire (or at least a niche of our own through some creative branding), John Haigh, our founding partner and crackerjack idea man, stumbled onto brilliance: the emerging app market for Apple’s then-brand –spanking- new iPhone.

In the book fashioned and formed by John, authored by Mark and written by me, What Would You Do With This Room?, there is an entire chapter dedicated to space planning and programming. Mark strongly advocates using graph paper, foam board with fabric swatches and paint chip samples and/or computer programs to lay out your rooms so that you can see how your space will look, what will fit, what you’ve got, what you need to get. This is a chore that must be done first when designing your space.

Which got John wondering: What if you could do all that and more on your cell phone?

Granted, the iPhone is a bit more than just a cell phone, but to put interior design in the palm of your hand? Now that’s a fantastic idea, we thought.

Enter our new partner, Karl Hartzal—computer genius extraordinaire and developer of Mark On Call—and a new babe was born. I don’t want to say we love this baby more, but it is more successful and slightly better looking. My mom used to say that about my sister, too.

With Mark Lewison at the helm guiding us all as to the usefulness and necessity of various features of the app as it pertains to interior design professionals as well as design novices, we created an invaluable tool.

Mark On Call allows you to create accurately measured rooms in multitudes of customizable shapes. From there you can lay down flooring, add furniture, appliances, architectural features, rugs and accessories, all sized to your specifications and rendered with color and texture of your choosing. Best of all, if you’re unhappy with the look, just start over! Changing the entire look of a room can be done with a few clicks of the iPhone!

Color and texture is added by utilizing the color wheel and pre-set palette, or custom-created by using photos from your photo library (your own or pulled from the web), or by taking photos on the spot using your iPhone’s camera feature.

In our newest version (2.0) you can now share your rooms with other users. The rooms you create can be uploaded and stored on the web where you can peruse a gallery of your and other users’ rooms for ideas (or just for fun). Like someone else’s space? Download it to your phone and customize it for you!

With Mark On Call you can also share your design by emailing static screenshots of your room to your friends, family, or interior designer (if you’re using one). You can also create and share detailed shopping lists of the items you need to purchase.

There’s also a nifty feature that allows you to store photos and notes for all items in your room.

Is it any wonder it’s our favorite child?

See Mark On Call in action! John Makes A Room with Mark On Call

Mark On Call version 2.0 is in the iTunes App Store now for $2.99

Thanks to we heart this contributor, Sherri, for sharing the back-story of the genius iPhone app, Mark on Call, as well as her first published work, What Would You Do With This Room? My 10 Foolproof Commandments to Great Interior Design. Sherri lives with her fiancée in Los Angeles, where she works in the Food and Beverage Department at one of the finest hotels in the world.

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Mutineer Magazine - Interview with Alan Kropf

October 7th, 2009 in eat, drink, be merry, read, watch, listen by Sherri Houtz

Everyone likes a good beverage. Coffee or tea? Beer or wine? Coke or Pepsi? Bottled or tap? Alcoholic, teetotaler or somewhere in between, we all drink. The world of beverage is highly subjective, and like politics, can spur some healthy debate.

Luckily for all of us, a couple of friends decided to enter the contentious world of beverage consumption, review, trends and, yes, debate by creating a magazine aimed at just that. Mutineer Magazine was born of the idea that beverage of all sorts needed an advocate: a friend for all things drinkable; a friend who was truthful, wise and fun; a friend who tells you what they think; a friend who doesn’t rate you on some impossible scale. Mutineer is that fun friend that you can take clubbing or camping, take home to mom or out with the girls.

Alan Kropf, JJ Bagely, and Jeff Dorenbush were just some guys who liked to drink, dared to dream, and needed a friend. Throw in a little pop culture, and by gracious, they have an idea for a magazine. Throw in some investors, supporters, long hours and hard work, add a little knowledge of technology and 21st century networking, and they have a business.

Mutineer Magazine gives the reader the 411 on current trends, new products, and the drinking habits of its crew. For anyone ever intimidated by a wine list or overwhelmed by a wall of taps in a beer room, this mag is for you. Mutineer parses information so that you can make choices that you will enjoy (much better than abstract ratings systems that may or may not be relevant to you). Information is confidence; confidence is beauty. Mutineer will make you beautiful (at least in the dimly lit dining room of your favorite restaurant).

But Mutineer is not just a beer and wine magazine. Mutineer covers all things wet and wild. Liquors, cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages all get some play time. So do (beverage) book and (beverage) movie reviews, (beverage) design and architecture, and (beverage) charities. If it’s related to beverage, it’s not off limits.

Best about Mutineer is the no-holds-barred commando editorializing. Sure there is serious reporting and some great interviews, but the columns are a bawdy hoot. I liken Mutineer to Playboy in this respect: buy it for the ribald, but keep it for the education.

Having known Alan and JJ, I can attest to their fine beverage knowledge as well as their twisted humor. Having attended the Los Angeles Mutineer Launch Party, I can attest to their ability to give everyone (the alcoholic, the teetotaler, and the in-between) a good time. Having a subscription to Mutineer, I can attest that you’ll enjoy the read.

Much to our pleasure, Alan Kropf, the manically busy editor-in-chief of Mutineer, took time to answer some questions in this wht interview.

wht: Who are the geniuses behind Mutineer?
Alan: What an egomaniacal question to ask! At the core of the mutiny is beer wizard JJ Bagley, techninja/energyologist Jeff Dorenbush, and myself, pseudo-beverage revolutionary. Our team is growing quickly though…

How do you know each other? What are your backgrounds?
I met JJ in Los Angeles, and Jeff went to high school with my little brother. The Mutineer project brought us together, with my background in wine, JJ’s in beer, and Jeff’s in tech. We’ve been working like maniacs together for nearly two years now, those guys are family.

Why did you decide to start the magazine?
Because I was disillusioned by the other mags out there. I like Imbibe, and some of the beer mags are cool, but wine magazines are so uninspired and in their own world. Ridiculously cool stuff is happening in beverage culture right now, and most beverage magazines don’t have a clue. We’re here to support the culture, and we’re getting to be very good at what we do.

What has been most rewarding in running a magazine?
Seeing the vision come to life. Adding something relevant to the dialogue. Helping other people bring their visions to life. Supporting non-profit organizations, particularly water relief and A Child’s Right. Learning and growing as people. Adventures…the list goes on and on.

What are the biggest challenges?
Keeping up with the grueling pace. Pushing forward into the unknown. There are a ton of challenges, but that’s business, and we’re ready for whatever is thrown at us.

Advertisers seem to market better wines and pretty much all beers towards men, do you agree?
I don’t know? It’s crazy you ask this question, because “The Final Word” column is focused on this very idea. I think a lot of beverage advertising sucks. Companies overcomplicate it. Tell people why they should buy this product by telling them about it. For example, winemakers exist with the singular purpose of blowing your mind if you try their wine. If that winemaker thinks he is successful, I want to know why.

Stereotypes exist for a reason, and demographics don’t lie, but as beverage experts how would you market, say, a stout beer towards women? A fine wine?
I’ve heard of women having more sensitive palates than men, but I haven’t heard anything regarding preferences tied to race. Make it about telling the story. Why should people buy this stout? Or fine wine? Keep it simple.

Some friends who are not big into wine or beer tend to order the lighter and the sweeter. Is there a way to expand one’s horizons from white zin and Bud Light?
There is nothing wrong with Bud Light and white zin. I’ve enjoyed both myself. I do think there is something wrong with never trying anything but Bud Light and white zin though. It’s not like you eat a hamburger for every meal of your life? That would be boring, right? You owe it to yourself to try every style and category of beverage out there, and after you’ve tried a couple of everything, and you still think Bud Light is your favorite beverage on the planet, then that’s that! Want a buddy in your fine beverage exploration adventures? Subscribe to Mutineer! Or email your questions to me at alan@mutineermagazine.com.

What are your 3-5 favorite beers and where do they come from and what are their characteristics?
I like whatever our beer writers are drinking. JJ made me a fiend for Belgian sours. I’ve really gotten into stouts. The Sam Adams Utopias is pretty killer. I had an Allagash white ale the other night that rocked my world. I rarely meet a beer I don’t like.

Right now, what are your 3 favorite wines under 20 bucks?
Vinho Verde, Chinon, Beaujolais. Those are regions and not specific wines, but that makes it even easier, right?

What should the wine novice look when purchasing wine? Is it totally wrong to choose by pretty label?
I suggest buying your wine at a local shop with a knowledgeable sales person. A wine label is like a record sleeve or book cover. Do what you want.

If I trust the sommelier or waiter to choose a nice bottle of wine in my price range after explaining what I like in a wine, is it ok to send it back if it totally misses the mark?
It depends on how it misses the mark. Is it flawed? Absolutely. Send it back! If it isn’t the right style, that can be awkward, because you’re getting into subjective territory. Case by case. Final answer.

Where do the best, affordable wines hail from?
The more obscure or commercially irrelevant a region is, the better the value. Portugal, Spain, Greece, Germany, South Africa, Chile, Argentina are full of killer values.

Where can you find the best and most affordable selection of beers? Of wine?
At your local shop. Depends on what state you’re in. Lots of online options. If you can buy direct from the winery, you’ll typically get better prices.

And no wht interview is complete without a reach in our potluck question vault…
Me in a nutshell: A vagabond magazine editor with a propensity for bedding divorcee cougars.

I’m a do-gooder because I…am into good karma.

What book do you think everyone should read? Atlas Shrugged, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Charlotte’s Web

You can have front row concert tickets to see anyone, who do you choose? Fine Beverage Power Hour, featuring Lee Hazelwood performing Summer Wine, Syd Barrett performing Wined and Dined, Paul McCartney performing Drink to Me (Picasso’s Last Words), Donovan performing “Mellow Yellow” and Eric Burdon & the Animals performing “Spill the Wine”.

My favorite room in my house and why: I live and operate out of a 80’s luxury RV. It is awesome.

Five people alive or dead I’d invite to a party: Hunter S. Thompson, Michael Keaton, Bono, Quentin Rampage Jackson, Steve Heimoff

If I were an 80’s movie/tv/music star, I’d be: In my forties now.

What are 3 things you can’t live without? Beverage, art, and my friends/family.

Sherri previously worked with these entrepreneurial editors in the Food and Beverage Department at one of the finest hotels in the world. She’s also the co-author of What Would You Do With This Room? My 10 Foolproof Commandments to Great Interior Design and of course, a wht writer!

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Bare Escentuals Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Stick and Insider Eyeliner - review

September 22nd, 2009 in beauty & fashion, reviews by Sherri Houtz

Could there possibly be a bigger fan of Bare Escentuals than I? I think not; and I think that is why I was asked to write this post. You see, ever since I first saw the swirl, tap, buff infomercial, I was hooked. When I tried it for myself, I was enraptured. My skin has always been difficult: prone to breakouts and blemishes, oil slicks that would make Exxon-Valdez jealous, and a sensitivity to rival Alan Alda’s.

Bare Escentuals was the first makeup that even remotely did what it would promise: my skin didn’t break out, my oil was kept to a dull shine, and my face looked natural. Love, love, love. Naysayers beware: I heart Bare Escentuals more than my Prius, more than my best fitting pair of jeans, more than my Minnetonka Moccasins, more than my bronze Michael Kors strappy platform sandals…more than any inanimate thing I own.

Originally, all I cared about was my foundation fix: I needed the foundation, mineral veil and warmth, that’s all. But then I began to notice their other products. It started with their eye colors: loose and heavily pigmented, they too worked better on me and had greater staying power than most any other. Nude Beach, we’ll never be far apart.

I started to segue to lips when I noticed the Buxom Lips color/gloss named for my mom, Stella. I had to get it. It smells like mocha, colors like a lipstick, shines like a gloss. Stella was ok, but it was a little too much like mom: brassy and loud. I really wanted to try the plumy Dolly but felt I had to give mom a bow. Next time, Dolly.

Now, thanks to we heart this, I was able to give the Sephora exclusive Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Stick a try. This is a fantastic treat: it’s smooth like your smoothest lipstick, but with a precision tip that makes lining easy. I got Brooklyn which is earthy, and nowhere near brass. (Oddly enough, a quick swipe of Stella looks superfab on top if I’m going out on the town for a night). This product claims to plump lips, too. My lips are a little on the plump side already, so I don’t know if I noticed this claim to be true, but I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt.

I’ve never tried the Bare Escentuals Buxom Insider Eyeliner (another Sephora exclusive), but seriously, I must. I’m counting on the Review Team to give me the lowdown on this one.

I’m also anxious to hear about a bonus item received, the Bare Escentuals Crash Course, a four-piece beauty shortcut. Included in this emergency beauty kit is an eye color in Gossip, the Flawless Definition Mascara in Black (miniature size), the 100% Natural Lipgloss in Wild Honey (also mini…and with a name like that, who doesn’t want to try it?), and a supercool metallic zippered pouch in which to keep all of this fabulosity.

Oh Bare Escentuals, what have you done to me? I am a slave to your charms…sing to me like the siren you are.

Let’s hear it ladies! Testers, tell us your thoughts on the Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Stick, Insider Eyeliner and the Crash Course. Any other BE fans out there to rival Sherri’s devotion? ~wht

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Sherri is a true renaissance woman, co-authoring What Would You Do With This Room? My 10 Foolproof Commandments to Great Interior Design and co-developing the Mark On Call iphone Interior Design application. How lucky are we to have her here?

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Foot Petals Killer Kushionz review

September 11th, 2009 in beauty & fashion, reviews by Sherri Houtz

Not too long ago, we heart this gave me my first pair of Foot Petals Killer Kushionz insoles and asked me for my two cents. It was love at first step and the romance continues.

You see, the problem with heels and me is probably the same all over—it’s just that some of us have a greater tolerance for pain and greater dedication to fashion than others of us.

So, what’s the problem? Like you don’t already know…

The foot, in its elevated state, squooshes down the incline and jams all the toes into the teeny-tiny, pointy end-of-the-shoe. That’s painful. If you’re wearing an open-toe heel, the toes dangle off the edge. That’s ugly.

Foot Petals founder Tina Aldatz has solved this wide spread problem with her line of functional yet fun shoe solutions (check out Tina and the Foot Petals story in her wht interview). What Foot Petals Killer Kushionz do is provide a no-show cushion with some super-sticky adhesive that stays put. And your foot stays put, too. I promise you that my foot never slides, and my insole never moves. Any shoe with a heel is instantly and immediately made much more comfortable, with your toes positioned and aligned attractively. What a good bra does for your boobies, foot petals do for your tootsies.

I own two pair of Killer Kushionz with the goal of lining every single one of my twenty-plus pair of high-heeled shoes, boots and sandals with this fantastic insole. In my opinion, these are definitely a luxury that heel wearers must afford.

Any fellow Foot Petal converts out there? Review team, do you love the Killer Kushionz as much as I do?

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Sherri is a true renaissance woman, co-authoring What Would You Do With This Room? My 10 Foolproof Commandments to Great Interior Design and co-developing the Mark On Call iphone Interior Design application. How lucky are we to have her here?

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