• New York

    The Perfect Hat @GENTSco

    The holiday season is in full force and Gents has great options for last minute shoppers including apparel and a new cap color. Ranging from $38-$48, the Gents shirts serve as great wardrobe essentials with crew neck, v-neck and raglan styles. Made of ultra soft jersey cotton and a slim cut that is still relaxed, guys will love this stocking stuffer gift.
     
    Cap enthusiasts now can select maroon as a color to create their own custom hat. Caps start at $48.50 and run up to $58.50 for monogramming.
    But why call it Gents? Per Reed, “I was starting off with a baseball cap, a very sporty item. I was trying to find a word that juxtaposed something so sporty. So I was thinking what’s the most sophisticated, masculine word and it was gentleman.” The evolution of the brand will continue with new products, like an upcoming beanie, as well as expanded cap offerings (tweed anyone?), plus a lineup of sturdy made in the U.S.A. tees as good as the pricier options out there for a lot less. Each new addition will hold true to Reed’s philosophy of making goods “for the type of guy that wants to make a statement and be fashionable but he’s not going to want to stand out.
    All items are now available at www.gentsco.com.
  • New York

    Holiday Hair with @leestaffordhair

     

     

    The Wavy Baby

    “For the past 10 years, the hair vibe has been all about a sleek, straight look,” says Lee.  “Girls are done with that now because it’s too much work.  Wavy, tussled hair is so versatile because with just a touch of heat and a little bit of product, you can pull off a textured hair style with either curly or straight hair.”

    1.      To achieve this look, section off hair, spraying each section with Lee’s Flat Iron Protection Spray before you wrap each section around a hair wand or curling iron one by one.

    2.      Wrap the ends of the sectioned hair around the roller taking care not to buckle the hair. Then wind the roller down firmly towards the scalp. Keep winding until the roller sits on the roots of the hair.

    3.      Continue around the whole head always taking the same width of hair. Leave the finished set to dry naturally (roughly 20-30minutes) or dry with a diffuser attachment on your hairdryer to speed up the process. Remove each roller and brush through the hair following the direction of the set.

    4.      Now that you’ve done all that work, don’t let it go to waste. Finish with Lee’s Beach Babe Sea Salt Spray for a more lived in look or if you want a stronger hold on your style, polish off with his Hold Tight Firm Hold Hair Spray.

     

    The Big Bang

    If you don’t already have thick straight hair, this look is a little harder to recreate, but not impossible.  Another good alternative are side swept bangs which work on almost every face shape and with every haircut. “Bangs have been seen on nearly every celebrity this year and are still on trend for 2013. Lee’s Hold Tight Firm Hold Hairspray is the perfect product for either look because unlike other hairsprays on the market that leave hair with a crunchy, crispy look and feel, Lee’s hairspray is specifically designed to leave hair feeling as good as it looks, while giving hold to all styles without the stiffness hairspray is known for.

     

    • ·         For the Big Bang:

    1.      Begin with wet hair and apply a walnut size amount of the Lee Stafford Double Blow Mousse ($7.99).

    2.      Aim a hairdryer with a diffuser (to combat frizz) down the hair shaft. While blowing out bangs, try not to move the hair too much, as this will create body.

    3.      If you want a slight side flick, use a round brush and roll into the hair going backwards. Put the heat of the dryer on it then let the round brush cool down a little before you take it out.

    • ·         For a Side Swept Bang:

    1.      Follow step one in the Big Bang.

    2.      Use a round brush to roll the hair up, and blow dry hair on the side where you want the bangs to sit.

    3.      As you blow dry your hair, be sure to point your hair dryer down at your bangs, holding the dryer directly above the brush. When the hair is dried, lightly spray with some hairspray to hold it in place or secure in place with a cute clip.

     

    ** Lee’s Stylist Secrets:

    • ·         “I always say ‘leave it up to a professional to cut your fringe!’ It’s not as simple as just chopping off your hair with a pair of scissors. You want bangs to suit both your hair texture and face shape as well, but if you’re really desperate to trim your bangs, it’s important to know that you must cut slowly and UPWARDS into your bangs. Simply cutting across your forehead will give you a fringe line that’s too blunt and difficult to correct professionally later on!
    • ·         The right bangs can soften and balance your features. Lee’s general rule for fringe is strong, square bangs better suits a narrow face because it opens up the face and narrows down the forehead. With big eyes, you can pull off a great “coy” look, peeking out from beneath. Asymmetric or side sweeping bangs are the most flatting for a rounder shaped face; however, be careful if you have a low hairline or a small, round face – as it can become disproportionate and drown your features.

     

    (Please note: all of the products listed above are available at ULTA stores nationwide or online at ULTA.com.)

     

  • My Dog Jacob

    Pets and the Holidays with @AVMAvets

    Just in time for the excitement of the holiday season, the wonderful Dr. Doug Aspros, from the Bond Animal Hospital, has offered us some valuable advice when caring for our precious pets.

    If we have a holiday party, should we let our pet be with the guests or not?

    Mixing guests and pets often doesn’t work out very well advises Dr. Aspros, instead he suggests that closing off your pets in a bedroom or, another protected area, might be the better solution. Owners know their own pets, so the solution will have to suit the needs of your particular pet. However, it is important to keep in mind that just because you are happy to see your friends, doesn’t mean your pets might not feel the same way. Changes from routine such as new people and loud noises can cause great anxiety for your pets. For some pets, the stress from these routine deviations can cause soiling, chewing, scratching, or even the potential to harm guests. Dr. Aspros also stresses that it is important to remember that pets are allergic to a lot of the foods we serve during the holidays. Often your guest will be unaware of these hidden dangers and could potentially feed your pet something poisonous to them. The best bet is to keep them stashed away
    somewhere safe!

    What should we do if our pet eats something they shouldn’t?

    Dr. Aspros suggests that the first thing to do, if you have a concern about your pet eating something they should not have, is to serve them a healthy meal. Even if they are not showing any symptoms of illness, a big meal will likely help anything inappropriate pass.

    If an object is accidentally swallowed, compelling your pet to vomit can help remove the item. Serving them a few tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide or placing a bit of salt in the back of their throat will induce vomiting.

    Dr. Aspros always recommends that you call your own vet and see what they suggest given the particular circumstances. If your vet is closed over the holidays, call a 24 hour vet clinic or emergency clinic if the situation is serious.

    What are your thoughts on travelling with pets over the holidays?

    Although dogs generally like car travel, cats are usually not big fans. Dr. Aspros recommends leaving your cat at home whenever possible, as a car ride can prove to be incredibly stressful. If you are required to travel with kitty, then be sure that they are in a proper carrier and secured to the floor.

    Dogs are a bit different story; Dr. Aspros proposes that if your dog enjoys car rides then there is no harm in bringing them along! Be sure to properly secure your dog in the car by anchoring them to a seatbelt instead of letting them move around. There are plenty of products on the market today that allow you to attach you dog to a passenger seatbelt or to the floor of an SUV or hatchback. If not properly secured, in the unfortunate case of an accident, a pet can become a dangerous projectile.

    Can I give a pet as a gift?

    This is a big no, no. Although it seems like a wonderful gift, Dr. Aspros suggests that
    holidays are not really the right time to be giving a pet. There are too many other
    distractions during this time, so the new companion will be competing with lots of other
    things.

    Dr. Aspros stresses that a pet is a long-term commitment. One that is emotional,
    psychological and physical. It is important that the owner themselves plays a part in this
    choice, and gifting makes that a challenge.

    Where can we find more information?

    Dr. Aspros suggests the following sites for additional information about keeping your pet
    happy and safe, no matter the season.

    https://www.avma.org

    http://pets.webmd.com/

    Happy holidays everyone!

    *Guest post written by Roslyn Small

  • My Dog Jacob,  New York

    Easy Walk with @CoLeash


    It is probably accurate to say that 90% of dog products are invented by dog owners who thought:

    Wouldn’t it be nice to have ____________.

    The Co-Leash was founded in 1999 and has achieved many awards over the years. One were most proud of is The Co-leash being used on the military dogs overseas with our troops protecting our freedoms on the front lines.  It is essentially a collar and leash in one so it makes walking your dog or training your dog easier!  Since Jacob really enjoys walking off leash, this is a great tool to have.

    The leash easily extends by a velcro attachment that is perfect for crossing the street.

    It is glow in the dark and also 3M reflective. The cute star patterns make it fun.

    The Coleash Kryptaglow Dog Collar comes in a variety of colors and we will be using ours a lot! The Coleash features a short control leash which neatly wraps around the collar and attaches with strong velcro. Its made with super strong nylon, a Big Dog Buckle for added strength, and wielded D-rings that can be used in conjunction with a regular leash as well.

    It retails for $23.99 and can be found on http://coleash.com