Two Years in NYC Flew By Quickly!

Over the past two years, I have neglected this blog but pursued an array of other activities. From journalism to marketing to attending an array of social events, it has been an absolute whirlwind!

Many of these pursuits require a certain voice and protocol. I just realized the beauty of having my own blog and using my own voice, without editing or curtailing.

I have met an array of models, business moguls, actors, writers and more. During my work, I've interviewed some and simply enjoyed the company of others.

From NYC to the Hamptons, a whole new world has opened up to me. My blog will chronicle these journeys, past and present.

My most recent experience was attending New York Fashion Week. What a rush!

What have you been up to for the past two years?

I'll be back! Really, I will.

Retro Big G Giveaway with a Free Target Gift Card

I am so pleased to be back to blogging at Venusity again! After some time off, it feels good to devote a few minutes to my own blog. I figured I would come back with a bang and a giveaway from General Mills cereals and MyBlogSpark. I received a fantastic gift package from them and want to give you a chance to win one, too, to thank my loyal supporters. It includes a $10 Target gift card and a board game to play with your family!

Did you notice the packaging for General Mills cereals  changed? It went retro with special edition class packaging from the 1950's, 1960's and 1980's. Target® stores feature these retro Big G cerieals down the cereal aisle. It's a real blast from the past! To celebrate the event, Big G has teamed up with Hasbro®, offering a $5 coupon on Clue® Vintage, Scrabble® Vintage, Parcheesi® Vintage or Risk® Vintage board games at Target!

Now for the best part. You have a chance to win a cool prize package that includes:

2 boxes of participating Big G Retro cereal

$10 Target gift card

1 Hasbro Parcheesi® Deluxe Vintage board game

All you need to do is leave a comment on this post that includes your email address. A winner will be selected on May 7, 2013 and announced on this blog. You will also receive an email requesting the mailing address where you want the prize sent. The package is perfect for family game night!

Disclosure: The prize pack, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

Remember to go online & print a coupon for $1 off 2 General Mills cereals before you head to Target!

Collect all 5 different throw-back packages that each include a $5 coupon for these vintage Hasbro® board games; available exclusively at Target® from March 15, 2013 to April 30, 2013 while supplies last. Coupon valid at Target stores from March 15, 2013 to December 31, 2013.

The yummy participating Big G cereals include: Cinnamon Toast Crunch® (16.2 oz.), Lucky Charms® (16 oz.), Honey Nut Cheerios® (17 oz.), Cheerios® (18 oz.) and Cocoa Puffs® (16.5 oz.)

Participating Hasbro vintage board games: Clue® Vintage, Scrabble® Vintage, Parcheesi® Vintage or Risk® Vintage. We got Parcheesi in our package and it's so much fun!

 

 

Bebe Coupons With Just Five Hours To Score Fashion Trends

Since 1976, Bebe has been offering the hottest fashion trends for women. They feature an array of sizes including petites. Their denim, dresses, shirts and accessories stand out from the crowd.  I discovered Bebe in the 1980s when one of my cousins was a model. She would only wear Bebe apparel on her own time and I soon discovered why.  They have fabulous designs like nobody else. Also, did you know Bebe means "lady" in Persian?  I just found this out!

Anyway, you only have five short hours to score the ultimate deal on the most coveted items for the fall season including denim, shoes and accessories.  Just click the link above to get to their website and score your fantastic fashion finds. From 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. PST on June 24, 2012, use the code BLINKJLY to get 20% off all regular-priced items.  This offer is only valid for a few hours so don't waste any time!  If you wait, you'll miss the chance to save big on your fave fall items. 
Get the newest, latest, hottest. Shop bebe.com.

Virginia Beach is the Perfect Place For Love

Virginia Beach - Love the Moment

Years ago, there was a popular commercial that stated, “Virginia Is For Lovers.” My husband and I were in our honeymoon phase of dating. We had discussed living together and decided a vacation to Virginia Beach would be a good way to kickoff our lives together.

We drove to Virginia Beach from New York and the scenery was amazing. I enjoyed traveling from Long Island, New York through NYC and down into the southern states. We stopped in Maryland for the heartiest brunch I ever had then continued on toward Virginia Beach. There were farms and estates with beautiful homes and vast acreage on our way to the shore.

It was an idyllic paradise when we arrived. The street was lined with resorts and shops. We had decided on the familiar comfort of a Holiday Inn. Upon arrival, we were informed there was a cancellation on a room with a Jacuzzi tub and balcony overlooking the ocean. It didn't take much to convince us to take it.

A cozy little bar and restaurant on the main level served us beer, wine and burgers to refuel after our long journey. We took a sunset walk on the boardwalk and saw a juggler entertaining the crowd. After dipping our feet in the water, we stopped at Dairy Queen for ice cream cones. When we returned, we settled into the Jacuzzi to totally unwind.

In the morning, we woke up to see dolphins diving in the ocean. It was an amazing sight from our balcony. I could not believe these amazing creatures were close enough to watch as the soared up over the water. I was eager to swim the next day and it was as amazing as I imagined it would be.

We planned to enjoy shopping, dining and antique browsing over the next couple of days. Our first stop was a local shop that sold sterling silver jewelry, turquoise and souvenirs. I could not resist the sterling silver dolphin ring and another sterling ring with red and blue turquoise. The turquoise ring is on my pinky as I write this blog, a meaningful memory of one of my favorite vacations.

At the local store, the shopkeepers were husband and wife. They smiled at us and said they saw marriage in our future. While we were not yet engaged, they were certainly right with their prediction. Virginia definitely is for lovers! The azure seas, silky sands and sensational places to go are ideal for couples and families. They also have the most mouthwatering crab cakes on the map!

I never wanted to leave but I had to return to work after our long and romantic weekend. As we drove away from Virginia Beach, we found a fantastic antique shop. My husband bought a lovely glass vase. It now holds all the flowers he buys for me and our daughter. In fact, right now it is holding three carnations from the bouquet we bought for her spring concert yesterday.

My best friend from high school now lives in Virginia. She reminded me how much I loved Virginia Beach and invited the whole family to come visit. I long to show my children Beach Street USA with its shows, shops, resorts and beauty. I know the kids would love to spend hours at the Virginia Aquarium.  I want them to taste a Dairy Queen cone and see the dolphins dive at a close distance.

We are planning a getaway right now with the help of my friend and the Virginia Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau website. We can't resist sharing the love!  Why not Visit Virginia Beach yourself?!

I wrote ths blog while participating in the SocialMoms and Virginia Beach blogging program. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

More About Me

As a BzzAgent, I get to try some of the most exciting goods and services on the market. I have posted about them before and can't resist sharing this one.

What is About Me? For you seasoned online participants like me, it brings all the places you hangout on one simple page. It is like an online business card - and you even get free business cards from Moo with the promo!

To check out some really awesome About Me pages, visit:

QVC Host - Sharon Faetsch
Actor - Lisa Foiles
Actor / Producer - Lindsey Campbell
Owner, VDL Interiors - Adele Young
Corporate Marketing at Twitter - James Buckhouse

Ristorante Pizza by Dr. Oetker is a Beautiful Way to Stay Healthy

When Bzz Agent told me about my latest campaign, I was so excited to hear it involved one of my favorite foods - pizza! Since I am on a diet, I was also a bit anxious until I discovered it was Ristorante Pizza by Dr. Oetker.

Dr. Oetker specializes in healthy, low calories foods that are flavorful. The Ristorante Pizza is no exception. I was delighted about the thin crust with just the right amount of crispiness. The tomato sauce was authentic tasting with an Italian flair.  The cheeses were fresh and delicious.



I tried the spinach version and really enjoyed it. This is the perfect way to get some of your daily veggies into your diet.  The spinach Ristorante Pizza tasted just like one I get at a local pizzaria (which costs a lot more than the Dr. Oetker version and has more calories!)

My friend tried it and loved it. She also said there were enough calories left in her diet to have a glass of chardonnay with her pizza.

Since I am intimately familiar with New York pizza, Dr. Oetker had to go a long way to impress me with Ristorante Pizza - and he did!

Five Mom-Inspired Driving Tips

Mothers say it everyday. Watch where you're going, be careful and don't rush around. It's almost like a mantra as kids scurry here and there in a haphazard fashion. This sage advice also benefits moms on the road.

Watch the road, not the clock. Mama said there would be days like these. One kid has soccer practice at the same time another has to get to dance rehearsal. Dad is working late and mom is in a bind. Forget the clock and watch the road. Hurrying and clock-watching causes accidents. Dare to be five minutes late and get there safely. Nobody will really mind.

Signs, signs, everywhere signs. Avoid the urge to slide through stop signs, coast through yield signs and rush toward yellow lights. Safety is more important than time. The demands of rushing home from work and taxiing kids to activities get overwhelming. Take a deep breath, look for signs and you'll still get everything done in the long run. Accidents happen when people fail to observe signs and traffic signals.

Take a back seat. Each state has different laws about children riding in the front seat. Mothers know the familiar refrain, “I've got the front seat!” Unless the child is age appropriate, they need to take a back seat. This protects children in case of an accident as little ones can be crushed by air bags. It may also prevent mom from breaking the law and getting a ticket.

Sit on it and clamp it. States also have various laws about putting children in car seats. Know the law before you hit the road with children in tow. If you're driving kids that belong to someone else, make sure you have the right car seat. Babies one year and under are typically placed in a rear-facing car seat. Older children need front-facing car seats and booster seats. Check for recalls, read reviews and verify local laws. Know how to properly buckle the child into the care seat. Be aware of car seat laws when you travel, too.

Check yourself before you wreck yourself. Mothering is a 24-hour job and sometimes other tasks fall through the cracks. Make sure none of them are related to driving legally. Always know the expiration dates on your drivers license, automobile registration, car insurance and inspection. Check yourself before you wreck yourself and wind up without proper coverage.

Bottom line: Slow down, you move too fast. Stop, look and listen – just like you tell the kids. Know the laws, take your time and always put safety first. Your kids are precious cargo and so are you.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Esurance blogging program for 8,000 My SocialMoms Rewards Points. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Holiday Makeup Tips 2011

Feeling and looking good comes from the inside out.  If you don't look your best and want to cover it up with makeup, consider:

-Did I get enough sleep last night?  Anything less than 6 or 7 uninterrupted hours will show on your face and body.  Weight gain, stress, fatigue and darkened eyes are the result of ongoing sleepless nights.

-What did I eat or drink?  Salty foods make you bloated.  Sugary snacks put on the pounds.  These treats are everywhere during the holidays, so try to resist as much as possible.  The rule of one helps - just take one (but don't take one of everything!) so you don't feel deprived.

-Did I get any exercise lately?  Marathon shopping for the holidays does not count as exercise.  If you feel tired from holiday running, try yoga or a simple walk around the block.  It energizes you and boosts your appearance.

Now that we realize Venusity comes from inside, we want to dress up the outer package a bit.  Here are a few ways to perk up your look for the holidays:

-Red lipstick is a great way to brighten your face.  Try pale reds with shimmer or deep burgundy if you don't like the traditional clarity of red.  Another alternative are golden beige tones, especially for darker skin tones.

-Use a good concealer to hide those imperfections under your eyes and breakouts from holiday snacking.  Lancome and Dermablend are good choices.  On a budget, try the classic Maybelline cover stick.



-Add sparkle to your holiday face.  Bronzing powder with metallic nuances and mineral eye shadow with shimmer light up your face without being obvious.

-Dare to add a bold touch to your eye makeup.  Apply two coats of mascara - Maybelline Great Lash is always an excellent choice.  Try dark colored eye liner such as navy blue or hunter green.  Neutral eyes have pizzazz when you apply a bit of color to the outer eyelid.


- Primer makes your makeup last through all the holiday partying.  Too-Faced Shadow Insurance is my favorite to keep shadow from creasing and wearing off.  For the face, try Maybelline Primer Skin Transformer.  Your foundation glides on smoothly and stays all day.  Add a dusting of mineral powder to complete the look.

Happy holidays from Venusity!  When you look fabulous, you feel fantastic!

Holiday 2011 Fashion Trends with Venusity

Hot holiday fashion trends for 2011 are already being considered at businesses plan corporate parties and people plan their annual holiday bash. Wearing the right dress makes you stand out from the crowd. Of course, an unattractive dress can do the same thing for all the wrong reasons.

Now is the ideal time to shop for your fabulous holiday evening wear. As Black Friday approaches, the stores become more crowded. Shopping online is another way to beat the crowds and find the perfect holiday dress.

The little black dress is livened up with white for a delightful contrast. Rachel Zoe recommends "black and white and chic all over." Alternatively, bold jewel hues are a top choice for holiday 2011 cocktail dresses. Choose eye-catching colors such as ruby red, emerald green, turquoise blue and fuchsia.

No holiday season is complete without a bit of sparkle. Choose an evening dress with embellishments, embroidery and sequins. Helen Terzyan of Elegant Mart said, "Old Hollywood glamor is making a mod comeback for the 2011 holiday season."

Always remember to accessorize. Choker necklaces, cuff bracelets and dangle earrings add an extra touch of glitz to your holiday look. Add a pair of high-heeled pumps or low boots to finish off the look.

Makeup trends include smokey eyes in blues, silver and gold with drop-dead long eyelashes. Several coats of mascara is the choice over fake eyelashes this season. Lips are pouty with metallic gloss or shades of red and burgundy. Hair this season is big, smooth and shiny to finish off your holiday 2011 look perfectly.

Bring Venusity to any party and show your ability to shine!

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Elegant Fall 2011 Evening Wear Fashion | Bizcovering

Can you believe that summer is over and fall is upon us already? I wasn't quite ready for it but I do love the cooler autumn season.

It also means time to revamp your formal wear closet. Check out this article to find out how:

Elegant Fall 2011 Evening Wear Fashion | Bizcovering

Yes, attending fall parties will definitely help me get over the end of summer. Anyone ready for a Halloween costume ball yet? Alright, off to shop for my cocktail dresses and evening wear!

Michaele Salahi On Rock Star Journey as Tareq Salahi Worries

Michaele Salahi is the wife of Tareq Salahi, the famed couple who crashed a White House state dinner.  Amazingly, the couple emerged from the incident unscathed and Michaele Salahi became one of "The Real Housewives of D.C."  Many believe their actions are ongoing publicity stunts.  The most recent situation involves Tareq Salahi believing his wife was missing.

I will digress for a moment about the "Real Housewives" series.  As "Desperate Housewives" reaches its final season, we will be left with these allegedly "Real Housewives" such as Michaele Salahi.  As a real housewife myself, get real!  Frankly, there was more reality in the comedic "Desperate Housewives" skits than the some of the reality shows I've seen.  But let's get back to the Michaele Salahi situation.

It seems this "real housewife" really isn't missing.  Tareq Salahi is reportedly devastated she left but relieved she is alright.  Nobody knows if a divorce is in the future for this gate-crashing couple.  Who could possibly be a partner to Michaele Salahi after that daring stunt?

According to the Washington Post, Michaele Salahi ran off with a member of the band Journey, a group who played at Salahi-run polo matches in the past.  Apparently Salahi is at a concert tour stop in Memphis with 57-year-old Neil Schon, the guitarist for Journey.

A deputy spoke to Michaele Salahi after her hubby reported her missing on Tuesday.  The deputy was told by the housewife that she left home with a good friend and was where she wanted to be.  The FBI is trying to make additional contact with her to ensure her well-being. Tareq Salahi was convinced his wife was kidnapped but that doesn't seem to be the case.  Reality must be crashing down around his ears right about now (unless this is a stunt to get attention).

Do you think the FBI would look for an everyday housewife running around with an aging rock star while hubby worried about her?  I somehow doubt it.  It's more likely the housewife would return home to changed locks and glares from her fellow PTA members.  Sort of like Desperate Housewives...I am really going to miss them and can't wait for the season premiere on September 25 on ABC at 9 Central.

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Go Bounce Your Question off Millions at Facebook

I thought it was so cool to have an opportunity to Bounce my question off millions on Facebook. Life means making big (or incredibly small) decisions. Either way, sometimes you need a helping hand.

Right now Bounce fans are trying to figure out whether they prefer the Bounce Dryer Bar or Bounce dryer sheets. I think I like the sheets better because it's hard to teach me new tricks! Anyway, I had other decision to make and turned to Facebook.com/Bounce to get help figuring them out.

Check out the “Bounce it Off Millions” app to submit a question you need help making a decision on. Should you wear shorts or jeans? Is the sky blue or gray? Should you live in a house or apartment? Will you serve green beans or corn? Earth-shattering decisions such as these may require a helping hand.

Let over 150 million Facebook users help you decide between two options. All you need to do is like Bounce (which you already do, so why not go public?) then submit your question. You can also enter a sweepstakes to win two Bounce Dryer Bars – one is for you, the other is for a friend. Get in it to win it with 5,000 winners chosen.

The Bounce it Off Millions contest started August 22 and ends on September 17, so what are you waiting for?  I found out about it through One2One Network and I'm so glad I did!

Glee, Martin, Rihanna!

Summer is here and it's time to make plans! Concerts are one of the best ways to enjoy the summer. Hot stars such as Ricky Martin, Rihanna and the Glee Live cast will be performing across the country this summer.

Do you remember Ricky Martin in Menudo or am I showing my age? My parents remember singing in the "Glee" club, but when I went to school we called it "Chorus." Rihanna is long past the dark days with Chris Brown and moving into a stellar future.

Ticketamerica.com has tickets for Glee Live and Ricky Martin concert tickets and Rihanna concert tickets.

Don't miss out on all the summer fun! Dance and sing along with your favorite performers including Ricky Martin, Rihanna and the performers from "Glee."

glee tickets
ricky martin concert tickets
rihanna concert tickets
Let's wrap up this sponsored post with Rihanna performing "Rude Boy," one of my favorites:

Summer Fun the Safe Way

Summer is here and the living is easy - or is it? We get relaxed during warm, sunny summer days and often expose ourselves to dangers. Dehydration, sunburn and insect bites are casualties of the season. Here is a brief checklist for good times without the summer side effects:

- Wear absorbent cotton clothing. Avoid polyester and other materials that might trap in heat. Light colors and fabrics breathe so you can, too.

- Use a facial moisturizer with an SPF of at least 15. Always wear sunscreen when you are outdoors for 15 minutes or more. Sunburn happens quickly and can put you out of commission for awhile. Nobody wants to be stuck indoors with a burn while everyone else is having fun outside! My favorite facial moisturizer is L'oreal Revitalift. It contains SPF and gives your skin a fabulous boost!

- Get a stainless steel water bottle and fill it with icy cold water all day. Bring it with you around the house, backyard and on day trips. Always have water available to combat thirst and dehydration. Drinking plenty of water also helps you maintain your weight and have beautiful skin.

- There are natural and over-the-counter methods to repel insects. There are several types of Off geared for everyday use, family use and camping. Natural insect repellents include citronella, lemon and garlic.

Enjoy the summer and be safe! That's celebrating the sun with Venusity! After all, I just wanna soak up the sun...

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Two Faced Shadow Insurance

I love this eyeshadow primer. It goes on smooth and really makes your eyeshadow last all day. No creasing or wearing and the color of your shadow is beautifully enriched.

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Things you shouldn't do while taking a poop...should I get this list laminated?