Miss Know It All » Good Tips

A blissful bikini wax

Melina — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 16:41:31 +0000

I just had the best, most painless bikini wax of my life. And because this phenomenon is so rare I felt I had to pass on the information despite the fact that unlike everything else MKIA, waxing is not something you can buy or try online. I am not new to waxing and have tried numerous salons, spas, technicians and types of waxes over the years. When I lived in New York, I went to a wonderful woman on the Upper East Side who only used hard wax and, until now, even though I found someone in Chicago I liked, I thought that my UES lady was the best.

Tonight I am staying at the W Hotel in Downtown Chicago because, drumroll please, we are moving to Dallas tomorrow morning and the movers packed up our entire house today. We sought refuge for the night at The W, which is also the home of the Bliss Spa here in Chicago. After weeks of packing I was in desperate need of some overall grooming. So at 5pm, after a long day, I checked into the W and went right to Bliss for a wax, mani and pedi.

I was dreading the wax but as soon as I got to my room I read the spa menu and noticed that Bliss uses something called “poetic strip-less wax”. I immediately started to relax because hard wax is the only kind that can be used without a strip of cotton and requires more skill to apply but is usually gentler. When I met my waxing technician, Aretha, she told me that the “poetic wax” is a special Bliss formula and guaranteed me that this was going to be the most painless waxing experience of my life. I braced myself for the first shredding and, to my relief, it was a fraction of the sting I was expecting. And so the rest of the wax went – practically painless and, dare I say, even somewhat pleasant.

While I must credit Aretha for her skill and knowledge of the product, I am confident that the “poetic wax” and the secret Bliss formula are the reason I had such a smooth, pun intended, experience. I left Bliss relieved to know that they have a location in Dallas (and 20 others throughout the world) and that from now on “poetic wax” will be the only kind I let touch my skin!

Go to blissworld.com for locations.

Your best tool for a healthy New Year.

Melina — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 03:24:46 +0000

I’ve never been one to make New Year’s resolutions because I believe that you can make changes in your life at any time. I do, however, think that this new year is a good opportunity to reflect on your health, the health of your family and the health of the planet. The choices we make daily, from the food we eat to the products we use, not only have an immediate impact on our own health but farther reaching consequences for the global environment. Staying educated on what is safe and environmentally conscious is not easy, but if we don’t we risk getting sick and further harming our precious planet.

The Environmental Working Group is the best resource for this information – from what foods you should buy organically to the best non-toxic cleaning and beauty products. The Group’s stated mission is to “use the power of public information to protect public health and the environment.” Most recently, they published a report showing the presence of hexavalent chromium in the drinking water of 31 US cities. A proven carcinogen, this is the same toxin from the movie Erin Brockovich and, if you can believe it, is not tested by water utilities. The EPA responded in less than 72 hours, announcing new actions to detect chromium-6 contamination in the nation’s drinking water. This story was covered extensively in the media over the Christmas holiday and is just an example of the good this organization is doing to protect all of us from potential cancer causing agents in our environment.

They have other great resources such as The 2010 Sunscreen Safety Guide, Shoppers Guide to Pesticides in Produce, and Guide to Infant Formula and Baby Bottles. There is a wealth of knowledge available on this site that will help you make more informed choices to protect your family and limit your impact on the planet. Start by subscribing to their update emails…you will rarely receive any soliciting donations, but given all the good information you receive, I wouldn’t complain if you did. Got to ewr.org to get started on your path to healthy, conscious living.

Save your cell…with rice.

Melina — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 02:41:46 +0000

Sinks, puddles, and yes, even toilets, are no friend of the girl whose phone goes everywhere with her. Multitasking can turn into mayhem once you lose your grip and your connection to the world is submerged in water. Don’t panic. This month’s Real Simple magazine has got a tip that’s worth repeating and may just save your cell from sudden death.

They claim that a bowl of rice will do the trick. According to the mag: ”Dry any visible droplets, pop out the battery, and stick both the phone and the battery in a bowl of rice overnight. The rice will soak up most of the remaining moisture.” Wow! Amazing info for every type of MKIA, wether you’re an over ambitious multitasker or just plain clumsy, this kind of tip can keep your day from drowning! Click here for a link to Real Simple’s explanation.