Thursday 25 September 2014

11 Enlightening Facts You Never New About Bedding

 
One of the foundations to a great night's sleep is your sheets, something Ariel Kaye knows first-hand. After an incredible hotel-bed experience, while on vacation at the Amalfi Coast, she tried in vain to recreate the feeling back home. Not finding exactly what she wanted, Ariel quit her job and started her company Parachute Bedding. Kaye's line of premium shams, covers, and sheets abandons the bedding industry's confusing marketing jargon so that her customers can get their own premium experience, without any of the heavy-lifting (all the research has been done for you). I'd love to visit Ariel's amazing Venice Beach studio where she has made it her life's work to make sure that we "don’t lose sleep trying to get the best sleep." Here's, 11 enlightening facts about bedding she's gathered over the years.
 
 
2. Avoid sheets labeled “wrinkle free,” “easy care”, and “permanent press.” This means the fabric has been treated with formaldehyde resin, a toxic chemical that will not wash out. 
 
3. Replacing pillowcases is the easiest (and most cost effective way) tofreshen up your bedding. I recommend replacing them every 6 months to a year. 
 
4. 40% of Americans don’t sleep with a top sheet, just the fitted sheet and duvet cover (and this is the norm in Europe!) 
 
5. To avoid wrinkles, take your bedding out of the dyer while they are warm and the slightest bit damp and put them directly on the bed. You’ll get the same effect as ironing. 
 
 
7. When it comes to finding the right bedding, consider the sensation you most enjoy in bed – the four most common types of weaves each have their own texture and will feel completely different against your skin. 
- Percale is cool and crisp and ideal for warmer sleepers or summer months.
- Sateen is soft and smooth with a slight sheen and slightly warmer than percale.
- Jersey is soft and stretchy knit, that’s often compared to a t-shirt.
- Flannel is slightly fuzzy – this is the warmest and thickest fabric, perfect for cold climates during winter months.
 
8. Washing your sheets is obvious, but it’s important to wash your pillows and duvets too. I recommend washing at the beginning of each season – most down and synthetic materials are safe for the washer. Throw a clean tennis ball or two into the dry cycle to enhance the fluff!
 
 
10. Half load your dryer. Ever notice that your sheets come out of the dryer twisted? It’s probably because the dryer has been overstuffed and there is not enough space for the fabric to fluff up
 
11. Make your bed every morning – it will keep dust mites to a minimum. Plus it’s an easy way to accomplish a task moments after you’ve woken up!

She For She


For those of you who haven't seen Emma Watson's UN speech about gender equality, it's profoundly moving and worth watching. She maintains that in order to move toward equality, there needs to be solidarity between men and women - that everyone needs to be involved. And I couldn't agree more. But it also got me thinking about where to start and I believe it has to begin with women.
As a whole, I don't think women support each other enough. Instead of feeling inspired by others that are doing good, far too often our instinct is to knock them down. We're quick to find fault and make generalizations that are based on assumptions, not truth. A lot of that stems from insecurity and jealousy, but I think it's also a reflection of our society. Fueled by an inactive consumption of media through our TVs, computers and phones, there's a disconnect. From behind a screen, there's an added layer that creates a distance and allows us to be judgmental instead of accepting, skeptical instead of impressed.
I was so moved by Emma Watson's speech that it made me want to do more. More to encourage other women to support and praise each other, to rise up together in hopes of achieving the equality amongst men that we so deserve.
*image via stocksy 

Links I Love

1. The most beautiful beet and goat cheese appetizer. (chalkboardmag.com)

2. Loving Amber's chic use of small space. (amberinteriordesign.com)
3. This makes me want to start a reading club. (wsj.com)
4. A hilarious and creative instagram account of a man and his dog. (buzzfeed.com)
5. How to take your food photography to the next level. (6bittersweets.com)
6. Cheat sheet to being a great negotiator. (thoughtcatalog.com) 
7. An adorable (and simple!) hot chocolate idea for Halloween. (familyfreshmeals.com)
8. A salt cellar DIY that would make a great gift. (designsponge.com)
9. Knife skills and techniques. (theeverygirl.com)

Wednesday 24 September 2014

The Best Homemade Bread

We don't usually keep bread in the house since I end up incorporating it into every single meal or snack I consume. We'll sometimes buy a small loaf on the weekends though, for something specific, so I won't be as inclined to carbo load and ruin a potential meal.  Alton Brown's "very basic bread,"  that begged to be topped with ricotta, tomatoes and basil for an easy dinner. Which is a flavorful, rustic-white loaf

Pro Tips: How To Get A great Table


The best table in a restaurant is often based on personal preference: some people love a quiet corner booth while others scramble for a front-row seat to the busy open kitchen. No matter what your preference, getting your favorite spot in the restaurant is a surefire way to wow your dinner guests and can make a meal that much better. I researched Daniel Flores, General Manager of Bestia, one of Los Angeles’ most raved-about restaurants (where tables are booked out for months at a time), for his advice on how to snag the best seat in the house. 
1. Regulars get VIP treatment. You don’t have to be a rockstar or celebrity to get the seat you want, but if you come into the restaurant regularly and interact with the staff, that goes a long way. Acknowledging the people who make it their job to give you a great experience immediately makes you part of our community.
2. Trust the staff. Some people are convinced that they want a booth, but if we’re a packed house and it just can’t happen, we might be able to replicate the experience for you in another part of the space. 
3. We’re in the hospitality business. We try our best to make the customer happy and managers are in the know if someone doesn’t get the table they want. Managers will check in with you and that’s a great time to build rapport. That way, the next time you come in you’ll be a friend of the restaurant (see first tip). 
4. Plan ahead. When making a reservation, be polite and patient. Some places, Bestia included, don’t take reservations [on specific tables] so if you want a great table, coming in on a weekend during peak hours may not be the best time to get it. But, a Wednesday dinner at 6 pm? You’ll have a better chance at getting the seat you want. 

Toast: Four Ways

I see my share of food trends, early and often. The ubiquity of gluten-free/vegan/juiced/non-GMO food is so common, it's no longer a trend but part of the regular menu at many restaurants. However, when a friend of mine told me about the newest trend in San Francisco, 'artisanal toast', I thought it was something I could really support. It's such a simple concept and when done right, turns a basic breakfast into something special. I made my four favorite versions, using a hearty loaf from Harvest Bakery and ingredients that I typically have in stock.


Lox + Chive Cream Cheese
Ingredients: Cream Cheese, Chives, Lox, Dill, Capers, Lemon


Mediterranean Veggie
Ingredients: Tomato+Garlic Hummus, Sprouts, Cucumber, Tomato, Feta, Olive Oil 


Peanut Butter + Banana + Sea Salt
Ingredients: Peanut Butter (unsalted), Banana, Honey, Maldon Sea Salt, Ground Cinnamon


Avocado with a Kick
Ingredients: Avocado, Radish, Shallot, Lemon Zest, Maldon Sea Salt, Olive Oil, Red Chili Flakes



5 Common Skincare Mistakes And How To Fix Them

 
You are a stomach or side sleeper.
My oldest client is in her mid-80s and doesn't have a wrinkle on her chest. Her mother taught her that sleeping on her back was going to keep her looking young and she has taught her daughters the same.  Sleeping on your side or stomach can cause wrinkles on the nasal labial area, eyes, forehead (think Brian Cranston and the vertical wrinkles along the side of his forehead, nose and eyes), chest, etc. Think about it, sleep is the only thing we really do consistently for HOURS a day. Smashing your face into a pillow for years is going to show.  
My suggestion:  It's tough to do, but I suggest at least starting your night on your back before inevitably ending up on your side or stomach. I also love the Save My Face Pillow.  It’s funny looking, but effective. 
 
Exfoliating will ruin your tan.
During the summer, I’ll get countless requests from clients not to exfoliate their neck, chest or any part of their body where they don't want to scour off their tan. However, the melanocytes that make melanin (the pigment that gives color to the skin) live deep under the epidermal layer of the skin. That means your tan is impossible to rub or scrub off.  Though the human body sheds thousands upon thousands of skin cells daily, it may take 2-3 weeks for a teen to naturally shed their color. As we get older it takes longer…upwards of 12 weeks!  Exfoliating actually increases circulation, supports lymph drainage AND keeps the outer, more superficial layer of skin smooth, silky and glow-y. Exfoliating your body regularly also allows your moisturizers to be readily absorbed and increases their efficacy.  Of course, if you're a spray tanner, exfoliate well between tans.
My suggestion:  Exfoliate daily at home. In the shower, use any scrub with a clean wash cloth or my personal favorite: a Korean spa mitt.  
 
You need to use a stimulating cleanser in the morning to wake your skin up.
So many of my clients have this misconception. Your skin doesn't know what time it is, but it does know when you're at rest and when you're not. When you sleep, blood flow in the skin is higher so your skin is repairing and renewing itself so ingredient absorption and penetration is increased.  For an AM cleanse, I suggest a gentle cleanser with nothing too stimulating or drying.  It may be a creamy cleanser, coconut oil, lactic or salicylic cleanser depending on your skin type.  Be gentle, but with purpose. Follow with your usual day beauty routine.
My suggestion:  Before bed, wash thoroughly with your facial cleanser twice (not to be mistaken for aggressive washing).  Follow with a toner, serums, anti aging or acne fighting product and moisturizer.  While sleeping your skin recovers and has more sebum and dead skin cells to be removed by morning. Wash those dead skin cells off gently.
 
The more products you use, the better.
There are many products out there. If they're effective, great, but there is no need to layer products that are essentially doing the same thing. 
My suggestion: Layering skin care products thinnest to thickest is one way to go.  Another would be to apply what is most important first and closest to the skin. Meaning, if you’re incorporating a resurfacing product, you would cleanse normally, use a toner or hydrating mist, eye cream, and finish off with your peel.  There’s no need to use expensive serums while using the peel because the resurfacing product is the "star" here.  Save your serum for a night you're not using the peel. 
 
Layering SPF means extra protection.
This is a doozy and I hear about this a lot. Layering SPF products do not equal total SPF. If your moisturizer has an SPF 20 and your makeup has an SPF 16, your total coverage doesn't equal 36. In actuality, it's the average of the two, which in this case, would be SPF 18.
My suggestion:  If you are layering, let the first SPF fully absorb into your skin prior to adding the second one on. As long as you are applying sunscreen daily, moisturizing daily, and avoiding long periods in the sun, you're ahead of the game.  Honor your skin, the largest organ in your body, and you’ll prevent premature aging.