What Julia Has Been Up to this Month: Edition 2

Here’s the second edition of this monthly installment of what I’ve been up to for the past month; enjoy!

Relaxing: I had a month-long courtesy membership at Sheva Thai Spa, and weekly Nam Foot Treatment Massages were a nice part of my routine that I could certainly get used to year ’round (just a birthday hint; it is my bday month, after all!). In just thirty minutes I got an express service of a petal-adorned foot soak and massage, which made dealing with the rest of the day, and week, tolerable. I also bought some sessions at the Breathe Salt Room a dry salt therapy center that boasts walls and floors of packed and loose Himlayan salt to help with what ails you, from skin issues to asthma and cold and flu symptoms. Since I’ve been fighting allergies and now a full-on cold, I’ve been going as much as I can for thirty minute or hour-long sessions.

Writing:  Sadly, I haven’t had much time for freelance work this month, but just in case you missed them, a few of my favorite pieces for FPD this month are this, this, and this. I’ve begun teaching the Fashion Merchandising & Retail Management Capstone in the Graduate Studies Program at LIM College for the summer semester, and am prepping for the Summer Fashion Lab on Fashion Blogging that I also do at LIM College (open to high school and college students; come take my class! You can find out more about it here!).

Reading: This week, I saw a fascinating presentation at FFANY‘s New York Shoe Expo by Paco Underhill, founder of Envirosell, the NYC-based behavioral research and consultancy firm that works largely in retail with numerous prestigious fashion clients, with Paco himself being someone I’ve read about and looked up to for a large portion of my career. He handed out signed copies of his latest book, “What Women Want: the Science of Female Shopping,“, and I can’t wait to crack it open this weekend. I’m also almost done with Ernest Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast, a posthumously published memoir of his life in Paris in the 1920s. It is a relief to hear that an author as gifted as Hemingway expressed doubts about his talent and also agonized over his work, and the act of writing itself.

Drinking: My dear friend Megan recently hosted a brunch party to try the latest wine from Columbia Crest Winery, via a Raspberry Thyme Sangria, made with its Crowdsourced Cabernet. Oh boy was it delish (see here for the recipe)!  I also sipped on a Pinot Noir from The Dreaming Tree, a yummy blend from vineyards in California, which is also super affordable ($15/bottle) from a socially conscious brand (co-founded by Sean McKenzie and Dave Matthews – yep, that Dave Matthews). The Dreaming Tree uses lightweight bottles manufactured with clean-burning natural gas, 100% recycled paper labels, and black ink printing to avoid the effects of bleaching. Right now its offering a great gift idea for dad — the Entertaining Pack, which  includes 3 bottles of wine and a $50 gift card to TicketMaster for just $69!

Planning: Colorado, here we come! Since Fashion Pulse Hubby and my birthdays are relatively close together, we will be celebrating them via our first trip to Colorado in August. We’ll be staying at the Four Seasons Hotel Denver and visiting the Denver, Colorado Springs, and Boulder areas, so please send any suggestions my way!

Loving: My new asymmetrical Earthwork Earrings made by my friends at Studebaker Metals, the Kosmatology Botanical Bliss Lotion Bar in Lavender Eucalyptus (you just roll it on – great for lotioning legs and arms!),  Sephora’s Orchid Eye Mask and Sleeping Mask (such great packaging, so cute!), Garnier SkinActive Clearly Brighter SPF30 Anti-Sun Damage Daily Moisturizer, and the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge.

Shopping: Um, I’m buying, EVERYTHING, because…it’s my birthday month, and you know, #TreatYourself!

Thankful: Since Father’s Day is this month, I’ve been thinking about my dad a lot, and I know that you may feel that I’m biased, but my dad is really the best dad there is!  I’m so lucky to have him, and there’s no card or gift on the planet that could express how much he means to me. He always helps me out with whatever I need, even if it entails him trying his best as an amateur foot model for some test shots.

Full Disclosure: Some items mentioned in this post were gifted to Fashion Pulse Daily.