Archive for the 'For Men' Category
4th of July in NYC
The temperature in New York City has climbed to 94 degrees – Summer can be very insistent. I’m looking forward to visiting a friend’s apartment this evening to enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the most glorious fireworks show in the world – at least in the States. It never fails to thrill.
The city is incredibly quiet this weekend. It seems that most people have scurried out of its limits to enjoy a countryside celebration. I recall one year I was out on Long Island in a sweet little town called Northport where they staged a good old-fashioned 4th of July parade. All the kids decorated their bicycles, wheelbarrows, grocery carts, trailers, Dad’s truck and anything that had wheels. Even the dogs got into costume. That was the year of the 101 Dalmatian movie remake so they gathered up as many of the spotted hounds as possible. They didn’t quite make 101 but they were adorable, nonetheless.
This is a day for barbecues, beaches, backyards and front stoops. Hopefully, the sun is out in your neighborhood and your celebration is underway or at least in the makings. Have a fabulous day but please take a moment to say a silent prayer of thanks for our freedom and another one to keep our brave soldiers safe.
Indoor Tanning
I just read an article about the addition to a federal tax that will increase the price of indoor tanning by 10%. In New York, there are city and state bills that are being considered to keep teens off the tanning beds entirely. According to Doctors, indoor tanning increases skin cancer risk by 75% and skin cancer is the most common of all cancers for people between the ages of 25-29. Appalling.
I’ve said it many times in this space – we must take care of our outer wrapping. It’s the only thing keeping the innards inside. Seriously though, we have to wise up about how we treat our skin. It’s become very common to replace knees and hips but you can’t replace your skin. I know very well what goes through our minds when we see someone sporting a tan…all those stereotypical concepts of wealth, leisure, status, glamor – it happens to me too but it’s poppycock!! It’s just idiotic to bake you skin under any conditions.
Really, you don’t need me to tell you these things. All you need to do is look at your skin after you’ve baked it – dry, peeling, leathery and eventually, spotty. Your skin doesn’t like it and it’s telling you so. Be smart – use sun screen and moisturizers. Make sure you have plenty of those things on hand and get into the habit of giving bath gifts and spa gift baskets so that you become known among your friends as one who actively promotes skin wellness.
Lime Blossom in a Magazine Rack
Men…one of my favorite topics, but did I blog about Father’s Day? Nope. It’s true thay my Pop hasn’t been with us for 16 years now but that doesn’t mean it isn’t an important day.
Actually, my favorite part of Father’s Day is hearing all the Day-after stories around the water cooler — the dinner out that bored the kids witless, the trip to the park that turned into a trip to the hospital, the gift made in kindergarten that was unrecognizable, or the barbecue that burned the neighbor’s garage…hahaha…oh well, I shouldn’t laugh.
It’s always a little tough to find the right gift for men but getting him something he wouldn’t necessarily buy for himself is always a good idea. Something like a spa gift set works well because men can be so stingy when it comes to pampering themselves. The truth is that secretly, they love bath gifts. Men. They seem complicated but heaven help ‘em, they’re easy.
I just ran across the most interesting spa treatment – this is truly a new one on me. It’s a spa treatment scrub made of malt and barley which exfoliates and nourishes the skin and is designed to improve circulation. The spa that offers this innovative treatment encourages couples to partake of a relaxing soak in an Ofuro tub while drinking a cold glass of Hockley Gold Premium Draft (apparently brewed locally).
Can you believe this? Men finally have the perfect opportunity to convince their wife/sweetheart of the “medicinal benefits” of beer. What could be more perfect?
Green Apple Bath Collection
I was just cruising around the Internet and stumbled across an article written by James Whittall, President of MenEssentials. According to his research, men account for half of all spa customers. This article was written in 2003 so can you imagine what is happening by now….2010? He included a list of Recommended Spas that cater to men http://www.menessentials.com/oxid.php/sid/oxs4ba4e4d002fce/cl/links. The list is amazingly long!!
I’m so impressed by this and happily take my hat off to men who realize how important it is to treat your body like the temple it is. We all have men friends who are dedicated to a gym regime but often that’s as far as they take it. Facials, massages, and even a periodic mani/pedi makes all the difference in your appearance. It can also have a significant and positive impact on your level of confidence.
Women often talk about how difficult it is to find a great gift for men. Well, it appears to me that this phenomenon has opened up a fantastic spa gift arena that we girls can really relate to. Hooray for male enlightenment!!
Lime Blossom
In many families, dads are responsible for teaching their sons to be men. That might entail a lesson in auto mechanics, several hundred games of catch and numerous trips to the hunting camp. One of the things we don’t often think about is passing on the importance of appreciating the good things in life.
Given all that our fathers do for us, it doesn’t seem fair that we send them the same old gifts for Christmas each year. How many striped ties and golf towels does one really need, anyway? While gift baskets aren’t traditionally associated with masculinity, gift baskets for men are the exception to the rule.