#19 TV Shows (not afraid to show my age)

If you take a few dance lessons and don't mind being a product, you can get your own show on Nickelodeon or Disney http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117973393.
TV isn't the same. Today kids watch cartoons that have the same voices and the same storylines repeated over and over. Animated characters are drawn in strange, alien proportions with huge heads, enormous eyes, and little, stem-like necks. Live action kids shows are rarely taped in front of a studio audience. Actors can have virtually no ability to act as long as they have the right look and can follow directions. Now that filming is digital, there isn't the concern of thousands of dollars of celluloid getting cut and tossed onto the editing room floor. It's just take after take until it's all put together to be packaged and sold. OK, I'm done ranting. Here are some of the shows I enjoyed as a kid:

1966 Batman. I was born in 1972 so I got to enjoy reruns of this on a daily basis from kindergarten to 6th grade, I think. http://youtu.be/9d8srLbNih0

1974-1977 Land of the Lost
Dinosaurs! http://youtu.be/nCpScBIm0lk

1977-1983 ChiPs Cops on Motorcycles. I've had a thing for motorcycles and  men in uniform ever since. http://youtu.be/VYKdayl7BHM
1975-1979: The New Adventures of Wonder Woman
I loved this show so much I had Wonder Woman Underoos and a Wonder Woman bathing suit! http://youtu.be/1ROi9Isk_5I

1974-1984 Happy Days.  Took place in the 50's which seemed so cool at the time. http://youtu.be/gMxkMy9JvXI

1979-1985 Dukes of Hazzard. Rednecks, fast cars and Daisy Dukes.
http://youtu.be/hxD0PqVlt5Q

1979-1990 You Can't Do That on Television! Sketch TV by young amateur actors in true classic Nick-style. But whatever you do, never admit that you don't know or ask for water. http://youtu.be/tZpsYciXddk

1973 - ? Superfriends. 'Nuff said. http://youtu.be/vqRxWAqnQ_g

1976 The Muppet Show! Kermit the Frog and his friends struggle to put on a weekly variety show.
IMDb http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074028/     youtube: http://youtu.be/8N_tupPBtWQ

I know there were probably many more shows but these were some of my favorites.  A lot of them have been revisited as films in more recent years, but they lost the campiness that 70's shows were known for. Not sure if that's a good thing or not. I've pretty much lost interest in TV since those days. I think I enjoy no more than 5 regularly broadcast shows on a regular basis. I don't have a tv in my room and I have no desire for one. Give me a good movie or a good book and I'm content.

#18 Wenches, Pirates, and Faeries, OH MY!

As you may have seen in my previous post about youtube, I am a fan of the Creepy Bard http://www.youtube.com/user/TheCreepyBard . Recently he invited me and as many guests as I can invite (that means YOU!) to watch him perform as the Queen's Minstrel Christopher Hatton at the NY Renaissance Festival in Tuxedo Park, NY http://www.renfair.com/NY/ . I have never gone to a Renaissance Faire before and I'm very much looking forward to it. My mother lives nearby, so this is the perfect opportunity to bring the grandkids to visit her and spend the next day at the Faire with cousins and friends.
 I even have a costume! I purchased the basic chemise and overskirt (called the Tavern Wench Ensemble) at www.pyramidcollections.com and then added a bodice that I found on ebay for only $15! Now, back in the 15th and 16th centuries, no one left the house without some sort of head covering. I went searching for the perfect hat. First I went to Abracadabra http://abracadabrasuperstore.com/ a fun halloween, magic and costume store very close to where I work. They did not have the hat I was looking for, but they did have some very fun things I will keep in mind for future costuming needs!
 On Sunday I visited http://www.newyorkcostumes.com/ with my friend Marisol and my 2 younger boys. They went crazy with all the creepy props, haunted house gear, costumes, larger-than-life size mannequins that are motion activated (Freddy Kreuger scared my 7 year old twice when he walked by it!). Unfortunately, they did not have my historically accurate hat either. However, there was a lovely lass working in the downstairs area of the store. I wish I written down her name. She is a historical re-enactment buff and said it was likely I would see her at the Faire, though I may not recognize her in full battle gear. My boys were impressed, I must say. She gave me a link to a website that catalogs ALL the links to costume supplies www.thecostumersmanifesto.com. How cool is that? I think her customer service skills are to be commended. I ended up ordering my hat on www.Amazon.com and I think I will purchase skirt hikers at the Faire, as there are many vendors there.
I certainly hope that if you are within driving distance to Tuxedo Park, NY you will consider joining us for a fun day. You will see me in my Tavern Wench costume accompanied by two small pirates and possibly an assortment of other folks. I will try to take pictures to share with you. It looks like there is so much to see!
And if you can't make it, here are some videos:

Every day of the Faire ends in a Pub sing:
http://youtu.be/_R7pTc_vYN0

commercials for 2012 NYRF
http://youtu.be/Nc9O_1TJruU
http://youtu.be/7mce1gI5VPI

Enjoy and I truly hope to meet some of you there. Huzzah!

#17 On the Beauty Industry

Happy Friday! Another week of summer gone. Back to school stuff is in every store. The leaves are starting to change. But wait! We have the dog days of August ahead, and judging by the summer so far, it's going to be very humid and hot until mid-September.
I am so happy to have regular readers now. Did you know that my co-workers here at Armada-USA also have blogs? Check them out:

Iaisha writes http://armadastyle-i.blogspot.com/

Mayu writes http://mayu-e-cure.blogspot.com/

Mayu's most recent post mentioned that because she works in the beauty industry, she is always looking for news on ways to stay youthful. She's right - those of us who work with hair, make-up, and fashion are constantly searching for the latest and greatest trends. A lot of fads have come and gone and come back as a recycled fashion statement. Thankfully the Mullet has not made a return yet.
Some products become classic: Noxema cold cream is an example of a product, created in 1914 that has not changed its formula in years and it still does the job. http://www.noxzema.com/

Our products are considered new to the US Market but the science behind them is as old as the study of science itself. Not a passing trend, not some newly approved chemical - its as simple as the idea that opposites attract.

Of course, writing this blog and other articles does require some research. I use a variety of resources to keep up with what's going on in the industry. http://cosmetics.einnews.com/country/unitedstates Primarily, I love Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ecuretreatment and Twitter https://twitter.com/eCURETreatment  because I can see instant updates from my customers salons, fashion show trends http://www.hair.becomegorgeous.com/newest_trends/fallwinter_20112012_hairstyle_trends-5202.html , movers and shakers (we do have some well-known celebrity clients) and even things like new medicines being approved and stock market trends. If a pharmaceutical company manufactures a new high blood pressure medicine that has a side effect of increasing hair growth, I want to know about it! I'm not exaggerating either: this is how Rogaine was developed. http://minoxidil.us/history.htm

If a commonly used ingredient in hair care products is found to be harmful, I need to know about that too. http://www.ewg.org/book/export/html/26953 Fortunately everything in the e-Cure Treatment is all natural so we will never need to worry about that here.

I urge all of my readers to do your research and inform yourself of what you are putting onto and into your body. Stay healthy and enjoy the weekend!

#16 Books I Want to Write

I consider myself blessed to be surrounded by friends and family who are gifted with so many talents. Writers, singers, musicians, actors, photographers, dancers, teachers, attorneys, religious leaders, business leaders, social leaders and some awesome kids are in my circles and always ready to teach and share. As you can tell from my blog, I enjoy writing (and singing too!).
Recently one of my talented writer friends decided to start a novel. She wrote and wrote and went back and edited and finally she asked if she could read what she had started to get my opinion. I truly was interested in the story and I can't wait to hear more of it. But it got me thinking: I can write. If I wrote a book, what would it be about?

 Autobiography: If I told you, you'd never believe me. I've had terrible things happen that turned into amazing events, characters that seem to come out of fairy tales, and kids who say the wisest things.
http://www.wikihow.com/Write-an-Autobiography

Science Fiction/Fantasy: I love zombies, vampires (not the glittery kind), steampunk,ancient legends and folklore. If I threw all of it into a blender with my imagination I could write a book with it. Definitely.

http://www.amazon.com/How-Write-Science-Fiction-Fantasy/dp/158297103X 

Poetry: I have some journals from childhood through college full of bits and pieces. Going back through it with an adult perspective could be an interesting attempt.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2045044_write-poetry.html

Mystery/Horror: I'll leave you guessing. Isn't that the point? http://www.amazon.com/Write-Damn-Mystery-Step-Step/dp/0312304463 



Perhaps I will just stick with the blog for now...What books would YOU write?

#15 on M.C. Escher & the Art of Mathematics

I first noticed M.C. Escher's (1898-1972) art in the mall when I was very young. The black and white patterns were fascinating, and I remember staring at them until my parents pulled me away. As an adult, I occasionally saw them, or references to them (Labyrinth comes to mind) here and there, but I never paid much attention. The first time I went to visit my friends David and Sarah, about 12 years ago this fall, I was astonished at the collection of prints they had on the wall in their rec room. A whole bunch of M.C. Escher's work to study up close. Fish that magically transform into birds. Staircases that never end. Can water flow uphill? Here are some of the more fascinating ones:

For more information on M.C. Escher, visit http://mcescher.com/ . You can order prints and see a gallery of his works too. Enjoy!

#14 Top Ten Films?

I love movies! I love the escapism of film. I experience a good film as if I was actually living in it. After the film is over, I sometimes feel a little disoriented as I'm leaving the theater. I read that this is a sign that I actually was hypnotized by the movie and my brain is disoriented by the sudden harsh encroachment of reality.
The latest movie to be very popular is the newest version of Batman. Personally, I love the Batman comics and I've enjoyed many of the tv and film versions. Forgive me, but I'm kinda Batmanned out. In the meantime, I found a list of the top ten films of all time. I am curious: do these films make YOUR top ten?
http://www.the-top-tens.com/lists/top-movies-of-all-time.asp

1) Forrest Gump - Loved it. Yes, it's an artificially inflated life story, but it's a fun way to think of how one person can experience and influence life. Interestingly, the character in the book was a foul-mouthed, unlikeable man, where the Tom Hanks portrayal is so loyal and loving that he can be forgiven for his childlike mannerisms without hesitation. The special effects that make it look like historical events and people are actually in the film are amazing. And the lesson that sometimes we all need to throw shoes (and sometimes there arent enough shoes) is universal. I loved the casting, the soundtrack, and LT. Dan. Top ten? Yes, I can say it's one of my favorites too.

2) The Godfather. Wow - what a film. I read the book and the movie actually did it justice. Unfortunately it also embraced stereotypes and created new ones. Perfect casting, gorgeous soundtrack. I love how the story travels through time, showing how relationships ebb and flow, how time can sometimes heal, how one seemingly small comment can change an entire world. The first of three, and definitely the best of the three. Absolutely one of my top ten.

3) Titanic. Ok, for those of you who are fans of this film, please skip this paragraph. I HATED this movie. I hated the artistic license they took with the story, I hated the historical inaccuracies, I hated the stupid love scene in the car, I hated the soundtrack. And I knew what was going to happen at the end which wasn't even justified by the silly story. Top ten WORST on my list.

4) The Shawshank Redemption. LOVED the book. If you've read this far, you will notice that yes, I always read the book before I see the film. This movie really reflected the sentiments of the book: that sometimes bad things happen to good people, and sometimes good people do bad things, and sometimes faith and patience are the only things that can make things right. I still prefer the book to the film, but I will allow this on my top ten.

5) Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. Well, I can't specifically separate this film from the other two LOTR films, as they were filmed all at once and just split in three. So much of the original story was edited out that it was like LOTR lite. The scenery, the music and a lot of the acting was really well done. Still, I'm not sure they would make my top ten. Top twenty, yes, but top ten? Not sure.

6) Requiem for a Dream. Can't comment cause I haven't seen it. Sorry.

7) The Dark Knight. Another batman retelling. See my opening comments. I can't put this on my top ten.

8) Gladiator. Really? Wow...nope. Not even top twenty. See Titanic comments.

9) Fight Club. fun movie to watch, but top ten? NO WAY.

10) The Matrix. I loved this film when I first saw it. The special effects were amazing at the time, and the whole mindbending idea of alternate realities is definitely something I enjoy. Keanu Reeves is always going to be the goofy kid in "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure." That seemed like a much more natural fit for him. I enjoyed all the  Alice in Wonderland references. Yes, I get the joke. The subsequent two films in this series really disappointed, relying heavily on special effects instead of fleshing out characters and story arcs. So be it. Top twenty: ok, for the story, but not top ten.

So out of this person's list I agree with three films being on my top ten list. sigh....
What films would I add instead?

Rabbit-Proof Fence 
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0252444/

A serious look at the policies of Australia that viewed "half-caste" children (those of mixed Aboriginal and White parentage) as being useful for domestic help. It was the opinion of the Australian government that the Aborigine could be "bred out" within three generations and the descendents could then integrate into "normal" society. This is the true story of how three girls were stolen from their mother and how they survived and managed to get home. Amazing acting, and a story that makes you feel every emotion. Fantastic film. Most likely candidate for my #1 favorite film of all time.

GoodFellas
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099685/
Another true story of what the REAL mob was like, both the supposed glamour and the gritty, harsh reality that the arm of the law is long, and loyalty only goes as far as greed will allow it to.

The Usual Suspects
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114814/ One of those films that if I watched TV and it was on, I would drop whatever i was doing to watch it again.
To quote IMDB:
Following a truck hijack in New York, five conmen are arrested and brought together for questioning. As none of them is guilty, they plan a revenge operation against the police. The operation goes well, but then the influence of a legendary mastermind criminal called Keyser Söze is felt. It becomes clear that each one of them has wronged Söze at some point and must pay back now. The payback job leaves 27 men dead in a boat explosion, but the real question arises now: Who actually is Keyser Söze?Written by Soumitra  

Schindler's List
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108052/
From Imdb: Oskar Schindler is a vainglorious and greedy German businessman who becomes unlikely humanitarian amid the barbaric Nazi reign when he feels compelled to turn his factory into a refuge for Jews. Based on the true story of Oskar Schindler who managed to save about 1100 Jews from being gassed at the Auschwitz concentration camp. A testament for the good in all of us.Written by Harald Mayr <marvin@bike.augusta.de> 
Couldn't have said it better myself.

The Departed
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407887/ I love this version of the story, but I enjoyed the Chinese original as well, plus it's sequel. Here is the Imdb write up:

In South Boston, the state police force is waging war on Irish-American organized crime. Young undercover cop Billy Costigan is assigned to infiltrate the mob syndicate run by gangland chief Frank Costello. While Billy quickly gains Costello's confidence, Colin Sullivan, a hardened young criminal who has infiltrated the state police as an informer for the syndicate, is rising to a position of power in the Special Investigation Unit. Each man becomes deeply consumed by his double life, gathering information about the plans and counter-plans of the operations he has penetrated. But when it becomes clear to both the mob and the police that there's a mole in their midst, Billy and Colin are suddenly in danger of being caught and exposed to the enemy-and each must race to uncover the identity of the other man in time to save himself. But is either willing to turn on the friends and comrades they've made during their long stints undercover?Written by Anonymous 

Alien
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078748/ Scares the crap out of me, but I LOVE this film.
Imdb: The crew of the deep space mining ship Nostromo are awaken from hypersleep to investigate a strange signal from a nearby planet. While investigating the signal, they discover it was intended as a warning, and not an SOS.Written by Colin Tinto <cst@imdb.com> 

The Princess Bride
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093779/ I'm a sucker for a fairy tale. Especially one that is so dryly making fun of all other fairy tales. You may think this film doesn't belong on my top ten list considering the genre, but I absolutely adore this movie. It has heart and humor without being preachy. And I still answer some people's demands with, "As you wish."
Imdb: A kindly grandfather sits down with his ill grandson and reads him a story. The story is one that has been passed down from father to son for generations. As the grandfather reads the story, the action comes alive. The story is a classic tale of love and adventure as the beautiful Buttercup, engaged to the odious Prince Humperdinck, is kidnapped and held against her will in order to start a war, It is up to Westley (her childhood beau, now returned as the Dread Pirate Roberts) to save her. On the way he meets a thief and his hired helpers, an accomplished swordsman and a huge, super strong giant, both of whom become Westley's companions in his quest.Written by Afterburner <aburner@erols.com> 

#13 Mondays, Moon Day

Every Monday I hear complaints about how tough it is to end the weekend. I love my job, so Mondays are not an issue for me (ok, perhaps I'm one of those annoyingly positive people. sorry). This Blog is for those of you who have never considered what a blessing Mondays can be. Did you know that Monday was a common name for British girls born on Mondays? Going further back, it is the day dedicated to the Moon.

Interestingly, this Moon referance occurs across many cultures throughout history. According to cybersamurai:

Monday

- Latin = Dies Lunis ("Moon's Day", Luna was the name of their moon-goddess)
- Italien = Lunedi ("Moon's Day", latin origin)
- French = Lundi ("Moon's Day", latin origin)
- Spanish = Lunes ("Moon's Day", latin origin)- Portuguese = Segunda-Feira ("Second Day")

- Greek = Hemera Selenes ("Selene's Day", Selene was the greek goddess of the moon)

- Skandinavian = the origin of the skandinavian "Manudagur" is Mano, the god of the moon)
- Icelandic = Manudagur ("Mano's Day", Mano or Mani was the skandinavian moon-god)
- Swedish = Måndag
- Danish = Mandag
- Norwegian = Mandag
- Dutch = Maandag ("Moon's Day", skandinavian origin)
- German = Montag ("Moon's Day", from the Anglo-Saxon moon-god Mano or the skandinavian god Mani)
- English = Monday ("Moon's Day", from the Anglo-Saxon moon-god Mano or the skandinavian god Mani)

- Japanese = Getsu Yo Bi ("Moon Day")

Apparently, somewhere in the world's collective history, there was something significant about the second day of the week (uh, when they started counting I guess) that must have been moon related. A full moon perhaps?

Interestingly, in the book of Genesis, the moon doesn't get created until the third day.  Anyhow, the moon is pretty important, so I don't mind acknowledging that as a mental note once a week.

Thhe moon is moving, slowly, away from the Earth towards the sun. Over time, this will affect our tidal shifts and possibly our plate tectonics. The moon also has frozen water particles and some useful mineral deposits, which means we won't have to ship them via rocket from Earth if we decide to settle there.

In our present time, the moon's gravitational pull affects our tides, and also many other things, like the world's largest atom smasher!

http://www.space.com/16202-moon-tides-lhc-atom-smasher.html

And of course, many people have a firm belief that the mood affects both human and animal behavior. Being a former EMT, I share this belief, though this article says it's doubtful:

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/moon.html

In conclusion, next time you wake up on a Monday morning, dreading the day ahead, think about what day it is, and more importantly, WHY it is. Our world would not exist in it's present state if it wasn't for the moon. Some may worship it, some may be frightened of it, some may just use it as a time tracking device. As long as werewolves aren't real, I'm enamoured of it. Happy Monday!

#12 On Tea

In August, we are discontinuing the S-series shampoo in Orange and replacing it with S-4 Black Tea. Some samples arrived for us to experience this new, amazing fragrance. It made me wonder about Tea in general. What I perceive as a simple daily routine actually has a history that stretches back millenia, across world cultures and religions.
According to http://www.stashtea.com/info/history, one of the first recorded uses of tea is in China during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), in which it was taken medicinally. The earliest record of tea as an everyday beverage comes from the Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE). I wonder how it was discovered: perhaps someone had some tea leaves accidentally fall into boiling water and the resulting beverage was found to be delicous, satisfying, and invigorating.
There are four types of tea to enjoy, with countless subvarieties based on where the tea was grown, what season it was picked, how it was processed after picking, and what additives are added to it before brewing.

White Tea: http://whiteteaguide.com/ is the least processed form of tea. Because of this it has both reduced caffiene and more nutrients compared to other teas.

Green Tea: According to the University of Maryland website http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/green-tea-000255.htm , green tea has many health benefits.

Oolong Tea: these tea leaves are allowed to wither in the sun and oxidize before curling and twisting the leaves. http://www.teavana.com/tea-info/oolong-tea

Black Tea: Black tea is fully fermented, giving it it's dark color. http://www.blackteas.com/history-of-black-tea.php

Tea, in any of these forms, offers many health benefits. For me, a good cup of tea with a little sugar or honey provides relaxation, comfort, and great place to dip cookies. I definitely prefer traditional black or green tea. I have discovered I do not like flavored teas. Even with the caffiene content, I enjoy a hot cup of tea before bed. Amazingly, science and medicine are still finding new uses for tea.

And now, our newest S-Series shampoo has a Black Tea fragrance. I can't wait to try it!





#11 Subway Station Art in NYC

NYC cannot function without it's subway system. The system started back in the 1800's. Basically there were two private, independent companies that competed with each other for subway fares. And then...well, to put it simply, the city goverment got involved. The fares were fixed and so neither company could compete effectively. Eventually, the city bought both systems, leading to today's "modern" subway system in NYC. I am hesitant to call it modern because the train stations have not been upgraded (or cleaned?) since the 1930's. Most stations no longer have public bathrooms, the once beautiful artwork in the stations has long since been covered with grime. It makes me sad as I look up at the ceiling of the 168 St Station and I can see where beautiful chandeliers used to hang. Quite a few of the stations have lovely mosaics reflecting the area of the city that they serve. For example, the 42nd St station, which resides underneath Times Square, has a mosaic that runs the length of the corridor. It features people celebrating New Year's, blowing horns and celebrating in their winter coats.
I have attached some photos of some pieces. I feel as if these stations are a part of NYC history, and it's a shame that they are slowly decaying away. I certainly hope that if the city does decide to upgrade the subway system (and I'm sure eventually they will) that they will preserve the mosaics and even some of the classic architecture.

#10: Gifting the client

Every month we publish the e-newsletter for our customers to enjoy. I write an article or two, usually from a cosmetologist's point of view, about a particular topic. I just finished a piece for the next issue on retailing e-Cure Treatment products for salon clientele. As I submitted the article, I realized there were no photos of the retail items we offer to salons. So today our marketing guru Michael and I made some gift baskets for clients who are getting married, celebrating an anniversary, having a baby, moving, starting a new job, etc. Whatever the occasion clients become loyal to stylists who give them a personal experience, as opposed to just a shampoo/cut/style. It is well worth it to invest some time into making special thank-you gifts to your clients. Or just wrap up the retail items like gifts for clients to purchase for themselves or as gifts to otheres.
My article is going to look fantastic. Hopefully will inspire others. I would love to see what you come up with. Please post your pics of your ideas on our facebook page. There are so many occasions a client will need a gift for and so many occasions you can "gift" your client:

• Anniversary: Milestone Wedding Annversary- 1st, 5th, 10th, 25th, 40th, 50th; Dating Anniversary: 6th month, annual; Company Anniversary: 1st year, 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th...

• Birthday: 1st, 13th, 16th, 18th, 21st, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th, 75th, 100th

• Graduation: Pre-School, Kindergarten, Grammar/Elementary School, Middle School, High School, College, Graduate School, Technical School

• Religious: First Communion, Baptism, Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah

Baby Shower	Good Luck
Congratulations!	Encouragement
I miss you	Remember when...?
Housewarming	New Baby (Pamper Mom)
Retirement	Bridal Shower
Condolence	Sympathy
Get Well/Feel Better	Bon Voyage
Welcome Home	Hello again
Best Friend	Thank You
What would I do without you?	Love you!
I'm sorry	World's Best Mom, Dad, Brother, etc
Can't live without you.	Thinking about you

Shoe Maven

Good Morning! If you have ever had an interest in fashion or design, you have probably heard of the Fashion Institute of Technology here in NYC.  http://www.fitnyc.edu/ Its a college devoted to fashion and they even have a free museum open to the public. I haven't toured the museum yet but I will write it up as soon as I do. That being said, I am surrounded by people on the forefront of the fashion industry. I love walking down the street in my ordinary American mom clothes (we have a casual office where jeans are ok) and I end up walking next to a tall, thin model in haute couture with sky-high heels. At least it seems that way since I'm only 5' tall.
 I have noticed a trend amongst many on the train and in the neighborhood. Tom's Shoes seem to be very popular right now. Please understand, I LOVE shoes. My brother-in-law owned a shoe store and I can't tell you how it felt when he retired and sold the store. So yes, I look at everyone's shoes. Forgive me.
 I complimented a lady on the train on her black, bubbly, comfy looking shoes and she gave me a bright smile and said, cheerily, "They're Tom's!"
So I visited the Tom's website http://www.toms.com/ and it turns out that for every pair of shoes you purchase, they donate a pair. They come in a wide variety of styles and colors for women and men. They also sell eyewear. I was told by the lady on the train that they are extremely comfortable and I guess it's true since I'm seeing them everywhere. She also said they stretch so they need to be a half size smaller than usual.
The closest Tom's retailer to my work is Whole Foods, which sells the shoes in their pharmacy section. Not sure if that makes any sense, but I think I will visit and try on a pair to see what the deal is.
And now back to work. Happy Monday!

#8 Happy Friday! Favorite youtube videos

I love to learn new things, but history and science are two of the topics I am most fascinated by. I keep myself entertained and informed in a variety of ways, including Youtube videos.
Youtube links I enjoy include the Vlogbrothers and The Creepy Bard. Actually, I have met the Bard and seen him perform in Central Park. He was kind enough to autograph his cd for me and we've been friends ever since.

John and Hank Green are the Vlogbrothers. They each have separate channels as well as one together.

http://www.youtube.com/user/vlogbrothers Raising Nerdy to the power of awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBDA2E52FB1EF80C9 Crash Course World History. John Green teaches you the history of the world in 40 Crash Course episodes.

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3EED4C1D684D3ADF Crash Course Biology. Hank Green teaches you biology.

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheCreepyBard/videos

Gather round to hear as David Anthony, The Creepy Bard regales you with songs of drinking, roving, fighting, and things to keep secret from your mother. You will laugh, cry, blush and wonder where you left the whiskey.

Throughout his travels, David Anthony, The Creepy Bard, has learned many great songs and ballads, from songs of gallantry meant to stir men to great deeds, to songs rife with metaphor and innuendo meant to make the ladies blush. Whether at a royal court or at a common pub, The Creepy Bard will entertain men, delight children, and charm the lassies right out of their corsets.
 David also frequents the Shire of Sterling in Tuxedo, New York, in the guise of Christopher Hatton, minstrel to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth.

And of course, the videos from Armada-USA, the company I work for:

http://youtu.be/tIqgECdTHPM How to do the e-Cure Treatment

http://youtu.be/eQYeJU5wXic the e-Cure Treatment at the International Beauty Show in NYC


I hope you find these videos as entertaining and informative as I have. Enjoy the weekend!

#7: Celebrities I wish I could do an e-Cure Treatment on

There are a lot of famous people who I've seen on TV, in film, or in photographs that I look at and say, "WHO is that person's stylist and WHY are they walking around with their hair like that?!" Feel free to submit your own in comments:

1.) Donald Trump

Yes, he's a brilliant businessman, and I'd love to have lunch with him just to pick his brain a bit. But mostly I want to give him a shorter, tighter haircut with a darker, richer color.

2.) Don King

Another colorful character...but I want to shave it off and start over. Some P-4.1 and a good haircut would be very helpful here.

3.) Lady Gaga

When you bleach your hair enough to do this and then you bleach it out again to do this

                                                                     among other services like extensions, repeated bleachings, colorings, re-bleaching and the mechanical wear and tear of being on a dancer's head...well...what you end up with is this:

Which is probably the only solution. Hopefully, the new growth (assuming the hair follicles are not damaged and new growth occurs) will be treated more kindly. Gaga, call me so that this never happens again, k?

#6: So what happens here at Armada-USA?

As I've said before (and I'm so grateful), I LOVE my job. A lot of customers picture us to be a huge corporate office, full of cubicles and a warehouse full of products being shipped everywhere. Some customers have asked about our salon and when they could come visit. The fact is, we are a small, privately owned company in an office in NYC. There is no salon on site. We are a team of individuals who conference on what our customers needs are, what we can offer, and we strive to process requests as accurately and efficiently as possible. There have been days where I have sat and done data entry for hours at a time. Other days I have worked in the shipping department and assembled boxes until they are stacked in towers taller than me. On a typical day, I sit at my desk typing my blog, updating our Facebook and Twitter feeds, reviewing some marketing materials, and drinking the wonderful green tea from Japan that we have here in the office. I truly enjoy answering the phone and talking to salon professionals from all parts of the United States. I have learned so much from their questions!
And my hair? It is now long enough to wear a ponytail! I'm so excited about it. The e-Cure Treatment has stopped the brittle breakage that made it seem like my hair wouldn't ever grow. I can honestly say the products work and I'm a loyal customer.
 Well...it's a busy day here with lots of orders coming in and going out. Phones are ringing, UPS men are wheeling in carts, everyone is typing and it looks like lunch is at my desk today. Onwards and upwards!

#5 The Cloisters, NYC

Many people are very excited about visiting NYC. They want to experience all the scenes from TV and film: Times Square, Broadway, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, etc. Those places are great to visit and certainly memorable. But this past Friday I was fortunate enough to visit The Cloisters Museum and Gardens. It's not a museum you hear a lot about but it definitely is worth visiting. If you love anything to do with History, especially the Renaissance or the history of Christianity....if you love Art...if you love gardening...if you love castles, Harry Potter, or even Gregorian chants than this is the place for you. I have attached pictures and a link below.
http://www.metmuseum.org/visit/visit-the-cloisters/

#4 Heat, humidity, Hair & When negative is positive!

In elementary school,we all had to learn the basics of how magnets and electricity work. Negative and positive particles are attracted to each other. As we are electrical beings, this concept affects us in many ways that we aren't aware of. Negative ions are very positive to people. They affect the pH balance in our blood, making it (and the entire body) less acidic and therefore less prone to oxidation, disease, and environmental damage.
Many people feel calmed by a rainstorm or by visiting the sea. Water releases negative ions into the air and when we breathe them in we feel better.
Our e-Cure products are made with sea water that contains negative ions. Heat and humidity may cause hair to frizz but the negative ions in the e-Cure Treatment help balance the pH, adding moisture into the hair shaft and calming the cuticle of the hair so that it lays down smooth, reflecting light.
If you are living in an area where negative ions are not prevalant, you can add them with a Negative Ion producer (sold all over - try Amazon.com).
The e-Cure products use this same science to create healthy hair. Of course I have included links below on more scientific research on how negative ions are good for you. .

http://detoxion.com/Negative%20Ions.htm


http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/negative-ions-create-positive-vibes

#3 Japanese BBQ with my co-workers

One of the central conversations in our office is about food. We are a very diverse blend of people here but we all love to try new and interesting foods. Our office is located close to midtown Manhattan, so we are surrounded by restaurants serving food from all over the world. Prior to joining the Armada team, I had the pleasure of enjoying Japanese Sushi & Hibachi. Now I'm thrilled to have tried Japanese Barbeque at Gyu Kaku ( http://www.gyu-kaku.com/ny/midtown.htm) on a recent night out with my co-workers. I am amazed that this is actually a franchise (which I associate with fast food) as opposed to the top notch dining experience we enjoyed! Similar to Hibachi, in the sense that there is a grill in the center of the table, but there are no crazy chefs flipping shrimp tails into their pockets here. The staff will bring you your menu selections prepared, seasoned, and raw. They will carefully explain the proper timing for cooking each item and leave you to your own devices. As Mayu is from Japan, she was able to explain in detail the delightful dishes we shared. Appetizers included a Japanese cucumber salad (heavenly!), edamame, and salmon that was cured and served with seaweed. The main course stretched over the hours to include various types of beef, pork, chicken, and shellfish. Even the drinks and dessert were amazing. I am so blessed to work with amazing people whose company I enjoy, and I definitely am looking forward to our next night out!

#2 on a Sunny Monday in NYC

It's amazing that the calendar has rolled into July with it's hot, steamy days. I spent the weekend at a public pool with my younger two sons. Today I woke up with a wicked sunburn on my back. Not cool, especially considering I am meticulous about wearing sunscreen. When I was 15, I had a mole on my neck, just behind my earlobe, that had started to itch. If I touched it, even gently, it would bleed. My mother took me to a dermatologist who removed it, sent it to a lab, and told me it was "atypical" and "precancerous." Needless to say, I have been very, very careful ever since. I choose makeup and skincare products that contain an SPF of at least 15. I was wearing SPF 50 at the pool. I couldn't reach my back though, and I asked my 7-year-old son to apply it for me. Lesson learned, for both me and my son! Poor guy felt terribly responsible. Meanwhile, I will inform my dermatologist of the burn. Since I am considered high risk for skin cancer, I get a complete exam every other year from a dermatologist. They literally draw a map of every mole and freckle on my entire body. Each one is measured and the color and texture noted. Any changes indicate immediate removal and analysis. I don't really mind this as its fairly painless, but I worry that as I get older there will be sun damage to my scalp and I will lose a patch of hair to a lab test. Perhaps I need to start wearing hats. Meanwhile, I urge all of my readers to use common sense and educate yourself about the serious damage regular tanning and sunburns can cause. I have attached a link for your benefit.
Stay cool (with a spritz of M-3.2!) and enjoy these beautiful summer days!
Preventing Skin Cancer