Cynthia Gouw
Lights camera action….road trip!
What would get 15 New York City high-fashion stylists, makeup artists, producers and photographers to get up at 5am and load into 2 vans for a rush hour drive all the way to West Chester, Pennsylvania? Well, Salon Moxi, of course.
Salon Moxi is a sleek, as close-to-a-New York City-hairstyling experience in West Chester as you can get. They’re located in the Painter’s Crossing Mall where 202 and Route 1 meet, across from the TGIFridays. The location sounds positively suburban, but the décor is surprisingly city-slicker chic; from the custom colored concrete floor to the soaring industrial ceilings, this is not-just-your-usual strip mall hair care experience.
L’oreal booked me as one of two models for their new professional hair color line called Socolor. They wanted to put the spotlight on professional salons around the country, including Salon Moxi. The salon has been open for almost a year and owner Sam Lavella has 25 years worth of experience working with ‘da tresses.
My goh-rgeous make-up artist, Orlando Santiago is half Puerto Rican and Jamaican. He was pre-med before he got decided to get into the world of straight-guy make-up artists. This a rare breed, indeed. He used a high tech spray machine to disperse foundation evenly all over my face. My skin looked really flawless. Plus the machine was very "directional" so the spray didn’t get in my hair or on my clothing.
While Orlando is straight, top stylist David de La Cruz claims he is gay. He better be, since he helps women get dressed and undressed. But when I told him he had the prettiest green eyes, he blushed and gave me a very “straight guy” look. Uh oh. He just saw me in my knickers! When I asked him whom his most memorable client was, he replied "Diana Ross" (yep, he is gay). He called her “very interesting” and said he “felt like a bit player in a surreal movie when she was around.”
Postscript: At the end of the day, the entire crew had to trudge back to NYC. Ha! I just hopped down the turnpike and was home in a jiffy. Before the shoot, my agent had promised that they wouldn’t be coloring my hair. But of course, they did. Now, I’ve got to pay someone to get back my so-called "natural-looking” highlights! Life as a model, huh! LOL!
Dear Viewers, name your favorite salon and why. Help a gal out, beautiful girlfriend!
Cynthia Gouw
My Mom was right. I’m now eating the proverbial humble pie.
When I was young, my mother was strict; no cookies, chips, soda pop and sweet cereals. Candy was only to be consumed on Saturdays. Meals were never fried; but steamed, seasonal, locally-grown fare accompanied by brown bread or brown rice. This menu sounds pretty normal for 2009, but this was what my mother was serving up nearly 40 years ago in the 1970’s.
The 1970’s! Wonder bread, luncheon mystery meats made from pork who-knows-what, Koolaid, Ho-Hos, hydrogenated oils, transfats and deeply fried food were the accepted norm. Back then, my brother and I would complain bitterly that we weren’t allowed to eat any it. My mother would curtly reply, “That food is junk. A healthy diet should be important to us.”
But in my 1970’s world, I longed for exactly the opposite: I wanted “unhealthy”. If I could have had a bucketful of Cheese Whiz, I knew I’d be in heaven. How I longed to eat what I considered the “good-tasting” stuff. Now, if I could just get my hands on some.
My best friend’s house had some of the items I craved. I use to load upon cookies and sugary cereal. Uh, of course I loved her “for her”. Conveniently, she also happened to be “loaded”. Now as I look back, I’m surprised that my friends’ mother didn’t call child protective services based on my voracious appetite.
Fast forward to the present day. And not surprisingly, my diet today closely mirrors that of my mother’s fresh selections 40 years ago. She knew it was important to impart her children with healthy choices and lifestyle. I actually relish a good, flavorful salad or a piece of fish. I eat a big healthy breakfast and keep myself fueled with fresh fruit and whole grains as snacks during the day. Oh yes, I definitely enjoy a cookie or ice cream or two. But the lessons of my early years remain with me and I am grateful for it. My mother gave me an enduring gift and with her wisdom, I can now pass that gift on to my children. They’ll fight me on it, but in the end, I know I’ll be giving them something that will last a lifetime.
Dear viewers, what lasting gift did your mother give you? Leave a comment here. Or better yet! Send us a photo of the both of you and tell us about your mom’s wisdom. Email us at: feedback@snapglow.tv and we might feature your story.
Cynthia Gouw
Okay, I’m sick of wearing turtlenecks and the cold! It wasn’t my imagination. The National Weather Service said this January was significantly more shiver-me-timbers than last January. Great. Our pocketbooks took a pounding from the economy and Old Man Winter.
With spring’s arrival, it’s time to kick off the woolens and dive into something fresh and inspiring. However, to get the most out of your clothing dollar, here are a few guidelines that may make getting dressed in the morning easier and less expensive.
One formula that that works: forgo florals! Yep. We know that not having those pansy patterned pants can be painful. Floral prints are so tempting this time of year. You want to smell the flowers and look like one. But the freshness of florals can wear off quickly; and you won’t be able to dig out that faded rose of an outfit year after year.
If you want to update your wardrobe this spring, go ahead and be tempted by solid-colored blouses and tops in a lovely bright hue; like pink, yellow, aqua blue, purple and orange. These colors make the transition easily to any season, and all it requires is a neutral palette to lay these bright colors upon! So, in spring, pair these brights against a palette of neutral cream colored skirts or pants with nude colored heels. In summer, bright tops look sensational with white shirts, capris, short or mid-length skirts and a nude colored or bright colored shoe. In the fall, pair your brights with grey trousers, skirts, tights and shoes. In winter, black is so very slimming and with that jolt of color, it will make you feel positively sunny.
Umm, I’m feeling a bulge in my wallet….
Dear viewer, what are your strategies to save money on your wardrobe?
