A few weeks ago, I got my first byline on the West Coast for Bella LA Magazine. And now my piece about The Renwick and Bedford & Co. is live for the east coast regional magazine Resident (p.104).
If you are following me – you know that I stayed at The Renwick back in December and a few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of staying at The Gregory (the sister hotel). Be sure to check them out when you are in the city!
ELENA:)
I love my sleep and I rarely have an issue sleeping. Working nights in a hospital has definitely enabled me to sleep in those most unnatural conditions (plastic bench in scrubs with rough blankets). Regardless of where you have to rest your head, what better way to enhance the quality of your sleep then with a Perpetual Shade Luxury Eye Mask. (Note: Normally, I wouldn’t want anything touching my face at night but the silkiness of the fabric gives a nice soothing head hug.)
This is 5 Minutes 5 Questions with the fashionable and lovely Sasha Hlavinka, owner of Perpetual Shade:
1) How long have you lived in NY?
10 years
2) Why did you start Perpetual Shade?
I experienced difficulty sleeping and could not find a sleep mask that was both comfortable and fashionable.
3) What is your advice on how to sleep on a plane?
I always travel with my sleep mask, a cashmere oversized scarf and headphones. I play music on low, wrap my scarf around my neck to create a pillow and place my sleep mask on. I’m usually out as a light in about five minutes!
4) What is your favourite Perpetual Shade and why?
My most favorite Perpetual Shade sleep mask is the Black Lace sleep mask. It is simple, elegant and black (my favorite color)!
5) What are the top three characteristics on your Love List (characteristics or qualities you are looking for in a potential mate or current mate)?
1. Confidence
2. Adventurous
3. Ambitious
Don’t forget to ‘Like’ Perpetual Shade on Facebook and “Follow” on Twitter and Instagram. Thanks again to Sasha for being one of the product sponsors for The Love List Lounge early this February. I appreciate your support.
ELENA:)
For those who could not attend #TheLoveList Lounge at Marie-Lou &D salon- here is a brief product sponsor roundup. All these companies – both small and large helped make my event for 15 lovely attendants AMAZING.
I hear my swag bags were even better than the Milk Studio NYFW swag bags (gasp!). The fabulous Lexicon of Style had this to say, “This swag bag is NO JOKE! I opened it and diedddddd at everything.”
This made me super happy because I carefully curated the event to only contain products I would use and have no problem endorsing. Stay tuned for some interviews with some of the companies listed below. I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to share these great brands at #TheLoveList Lounge:
ELENA:)
I always find that Jan/Feb is always a great time to go away. Besides the fact that it’s usually cheaper, the end of the month marks the lovely day when I was born (Jan 29 to be exact).
This year, I spent it at the lovely million star resort in Loreto, Baja California Sur called Villa del Palmar at the islands of Loreto.
Two hours away from Los Angeles, the secluded beachfront getaway lies on the Sea of Cortez. While waters are rough on the Pacific Coast, the calm waters of the UNESCO protected sea lend itself well to water sports (kayaking, snorkeling, whale/dolphin watching).
At first walk around, the massive property seems vacant. But in fact, it’s just the nature of the resort. Peaceful. No people harassing you to buy a time share. No vendors on the beach wanting to sell you overpriced goods. Not only is the resort peaceful, it’s flexible depending upon if you want an all inclusive get away or something less structured.
Bear in mind, I do not frequent resorts often. I prefer the navigation of a crowded city, where some of the best eats are found on the side of the road. Yet, I found myself enjoying quiet serenity of the resort and waking up to hearing the birds chirping delightfully.
On arrival, I walked into the palatial one bedroom suite with full sized jucuzzi, full kitchen, 2 bathrooms and a washer and dryer. A whole family could comfortably stay for their entire length of their vacation.
The first day we were treated to a lunch where we first got a sampling of the wonderful fish tacos and yummy guacamole. I was hooked. Later for dinner we feasted on BBQ and watched a fun variety show.
The next day, I turned 35! At breakfast, I was greeted by staff who sang happy birthday en espanol and English. Very sweet.
After a quick tour of the resort we headed out on the water. The plan was to go whale watching – except we ended up playing with a pod of over 100 dolphins instead. We also saw sea lions and two lucky people saw the back of a humpback whale. Being on the boat built up an appetite for some, and more chips and guacamole did just the trick.
When we arrived back at the hotel, I devoured my cake from the morning which was thankfully, saved in my fridge. Little did I know there would be another piece of cake and another round of Happy Birthday’s sung to me at dinner!
Needing to work off the rich meal, we headed for a club in the hills to dance it off. And just when I thought the celebration was over – the turn down service had delightfully decorated my room.
PS: Want to stay at the Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto at a discounted rate and check it out for yourself? You can book now and travel until April 30, 2016.
Deluxe Studio suite: $146 USD per night, plus taxes and gratuities
One Bedroom Suite: $228 USD per night, plus taxes and gratuities
Two Bedroom Suite: $370 USD per night, plus taxes and gratuities
Reference the code FAMJAN16 when you book a reservation through [email protected]
Terms and conditions apply, blackout dates apply.
ELENA:)
After finishing the book last night, I thought it was due time to get rolling with my late review. (I have a new respect for Kindles’ though – the book was heavy to cart around on transit). All the stories and the photographs included in the book made for an interesting read. Lili had lived and Leslie Zemeckis did a fantastic job capturing her roller coaster of a life.
Before the book, I had never heard of Lili St. Cyr and the differences between us are obvious. But after reading Lili’s bio I couldn’t help but to pull some similarities:
At the high point in her career, Lili was pulling a 6-figure salary (maybe the equivalent of almost a million now?) but sadly spending through all her earnings at a rapid rate. Like a bad business case, if she only invested a small portion of her millions she wouldn’t have to sell her beloved house. A collaboration with a company like Agent Provocateur or Dom Pérignon would have been a lucrative deal (this is easy to propose as an outsider!). She did have her own lingerie line at one point. It’s a shame her club in NYC, Boudoir never made it. I’m sure the décor and design was amazing. Many opportunities sadly lost.
I enjoyed reading this well written biography full of details and packed with research. And although her demise was tragic and unpleasant, the story of the stripteuse can live on in The Goddess of Love Incarnate, as glamorous, passionate and full of joie de vivre as Lili St. Cyr herself.
ELENA:) ps: I had a short 5 minute 5 question interview with author, Leslie Zemeckis posted on my News & Events page.
