Mother’s Day

Chic Mother’s Day Hairstyles!

April 27, 2016

With Mother’s Day right around the corner we’re reminded how busy Mom is always putting others first. Chasing around the kids and working shouldn’t mean sacrificing her looks. Here are FIVE quick and effortless dos for mom to try. Butterfly Studio Salon experts know how to work these hottest looks of the moment into any busy schedule. See below for step by step guides and images and let me know if you have any questions or would like to speak to a Butterfly stylist. Also let me know if you need additional images!

1.) TOPSY TAIL PONY

Step 1 – Tie the hair in a low pony at the nape of your neck. This is easy for the days you want to impress by not making a big fuss at all.

Step 2 – Loosen the pony near the neck and make a gap in-between the two. Flip the pony in-between the two sides.

Step 3 – Do this twice giving beautiful twists and keeping the hair off the face.

Step 4 – This is how you do the Topsy Tail. Finish off this look with spraying the front with Loreal enette hair spray.

2.) SIDE FRENCH BRAID

Step 1 – Part the hair from the side of the head and divide it into 3 pieces.

Step 2 – Working your way around the head every time, add a section from the inside to the braid. First time is hard and then easy to achieve.

Step 3 – When you get to the neck end, continue with a normal braid. With the other side section of the hair you can make a braid.

Step 4 – To finish off this look, twist the two and pin it up at the back.

3.) TOP KNOT

Step 1 – All you need is elastic and a hair pin to create the perfect top knot.

Step 2 – Tie your hair back on top of your head.

Step 3 – Twist the hair in a bun on top of the head.

Step 4 – I like it when it looks slightly softer and not like a perfect ballet bun.

4.) TWISTED HALO

Step 1 – Twist back a small section of hair from one side of your head, and secure it with a pin in the middle of your head.

Step 2 – Twist back a small section of hair from the other side of your head, tuck it behind the first twisted section, and pin it in the middle of your head.

5.) KNOTTED LOW BUN

Step 1 – Pull hair into a low ponytail, then loosely braid the length of hair and secure with a clear elastic.

Step 2 – Wrap the braid around the base of the ponytail like you would a bun, tucking in the loose ends of hair with bobby pins.

Tulip Nail Art from Jin Soon Choi

May 9, 2014

Mother’s Day is this weekend so why not treat yourself to a beautiful manicure?! This tulip inspired Nail Art from Jin Soon Choi is the perfect way to celebrate the special day while spoiling yourself with a pretty manicure. The combination or JINsoon Dolly Pink and JINsoon Cherry Berry nail polish shades perfectly compliment one another and are reminiscent of spring flowers. This manicure is a simple DIY pattern that you can easily try at home. Here are the steps:

How-To:

File and shape your nails to a natural square shape.
Apply a base coat like JINsoon Power Coat.
Apply JINsoon Dolly Pink on the entire nail bed.
With a thin brush, create the tulip petals with JINsoon Cherry Berry. Starting at the cuticle area, draw a straight line down towards the tip of the nail, curving left ¾ of the way down to create an arch and then fill in the shape. Repeat on the right side of the same nail to create a mirroring shape.
Apply top coat like JINsoon Top Gloss for a lasting glossy finish.

What is your Mother’s Day beauty routine?

A Mother’s Day Mom-tini Cocktail + recipe included!

May 9, 2012

Whenever a big (or small) holiday rolls around there are sales and gift guides galore. There are just so many products being pushed that it can all make your head spin. Well as you know Mother’s Day is fast approaching and if you haven’t gotten your mom anything yet – don’t. Yes, you read it right, don’t buy your mom anything, make her something. Make her a card, a nice dinner, paint her a picture – just don’t buy her anything.

I get it…everyone loves to receive gifts, it’s nice to be thought of and surprised with something special. But what’s more special than receiving something that someone took their time to make for you? I’m heading into my 11th year as a mom and after receiving over a decade of gifts all I want is some quality time with my family and maybe a macaroni jewelry box spray painted gold, I always wanted to keep the one that I made for my mom! Well this Mother’s Day is different, I’m going to treat my mom to some Reiki,; I’m a Reiki practitioner, a nice homemade brunch and a refreshing cocktail.

I was sent a recipe for a delicious Nuvo Mom-tini martini that is pink, fruity and delicious so this fits the bill for my Mother’s Day brunch. I’m sure my mom would love to sit back and relax with one of these.

Mom-tini Cocktail Recipe

2 oz POM Wonderful Pomegranate Juice

2 oz Vodka

Splash of fresh lime juice

Top with 1oz of chilled NUVO Sparkling Liqueur

Garnish with an orange peel and serve in a martini glass

Now that I shared my Mother’s Day plans, what are you doing special for your mom on Mother’s Day?

Gift Guide: Is Your Mom a Beauty Junkie, Too?

May 5, 2011

Nearly every Mothers’ Day, I find myself reaching for a beauty-related gift for my mom even though it usually feels like she has everything. Perhaps it’s more a reflection on me and my predilections that I always select for her something beauty related- a service, a bottle of her favorite perfume or something that has a GWP. Cosmetics, fragrance and spa gifts seem like an easy choice, until you realize you’ve selected similar for every previous incarnation of the holiday, as well as birthdays and Christmas.

If you’re stuck this year, don’t panic. New and limited-edition options are introduced often, so there’s always something you can find that will probably delight the pickiest of moms. Here are five ideas for Mothers’ Day gifts for the beauty-junkie mommy:

1.) Eve Lom Travel Set: While women of all skin types are known to favor Eve Lom products, the rich and luxurious feel of the products resonate particularly well with women of a certain age. Eve Lom Cleanser is one of my desert island all time favorites, and this little kit includes a 15ml version with a muslin cloth, 15ml of Rescue Mask, 15ml of Moisturizer SPF 15, 15ml of TLC Cream and 15ml of Hand Cream- with a cute little white leather travel bag, too.

2.) A Spa Service: Location, preference and your mom’s skin type (for instance, you don’t want to gift your uber-sensitive skin having mom with a full-body salt scrub) will influence what spa service fits her best. Mani-pedis generally always work, unless your mom is really ticklish. An established and classic but still innovative spa like the Mandarin Oriental in NYC is an excellent choice for mom and daughter spa days.

3.) A Treatment Product: A spa day can be glorious, but a treatment product is pampering every day- a particularly nice gift if your momma lives far away and you want her to think about you. Philosophy’s Miracle Worker A.M. Duo has antioxidant infused pads and a serum to clear away dull, dead cells and renew skin. A gift like this is nice because it’s luxurious but also has a nice cumulative effect.

4.) Custom Fragrance/Sets: I shall acknowledge the caveat that most moms already have a signature fragrance, and it’s probably one you know well and associate with your mom. However, some women are adventurous with their favorite perfumes and some never settle down with one particular scent. For those moms, a custom blended Jo Malone fragrance set might be a thoughtful and one-of-a-kind gift that fits very well- or she could use the scents individually.

5.) A pretty, feminine makeup kit: Makeup as a gift is a bit tricky unless you know the recipient is really in love with a particular product, and then in that case, it kind of takes out a tiny bit of the fun because they aren’t being delighted by something new. A kit composed of popular products kind of has the best of both worlds, because it contains old favorites and often a new twist- like this adorable pink makeup kit from Yves Saint Laurent. Eye makeup remover, cult-favorite Touche Éclat and Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils come with a logo-ed little bag, and all items are usable whether your mom’s style is natural or a bit more vampy.

Have you selected a Mothers’ Day gift yet? Do you have a stock standard you know pleases your mom?

Give your mom something sweet for Mother's Day

May 1, 2010

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, here a few fabulous scents for the the amazing woman in your life.

If you mom is fashion forward, chic and elegant she may enjoy Balenciaga Paris. After 12 years, Nicholas Ghesquiere of Balenciaga felt that it was time to introduce the world to this fragrance that embodies French elegance. This scent is the first in what is anticipated to be a long collection of fragrances to come.

This scent is a beautiful light violet note with pepper and mossy wood undertones. The beautiful bottle is made from blown class and free of adornments. Balenciaga Paris is available at fine retails stores nationwide including Bergdorf Goodman

Balenciaga Paris Eau De Parfum 1.7 oz retails for $95

Balenciaga Paris Eau De Parfum 2.5 oz retails for $130

If you mom is more on the garden loving side why not give her a floral scent that won’t wilt, Chloe Eau De Fleurs features a beautiful trio of lavender, nasturtium and neroli. Housed in luxurious glass bottles with minimal lines and a metal cube stopper, this iconic bottle expresses the Chloé values: simplicity and sophistication, authentic luxury and timeless elegance.

Chloe eau de fleurs
Chloé Eau de Fleurs Collection:
Chloé eau de fleurs Néroli 100 ml – $135.00
Chloé eau de fleurs Lavande 100 ml – $135.00
Chloé eau de fleurs Capucine 100 ml – $135.00

Chloé Eau de Fleurs fragrances are available exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue and Chloé boutiques.

If you mom is the Gourmet type she may enjoy a scent from the Marc Jacobs Patisserie Splash Collection. These limited edition scents are available in Apple, Pomegranate, and Biscotto.
Apple: Aromatic and energizing, this intriguing fresh scent evokes the tartness of an Apple, Lemon and Grapefruit, with the unexpected surprise of Rosemary, Jasmin and Magnolia. Developed by Yann Vasnier of Givaudan in a crisp, green tint.

Pomegranate: Capturing the sparkling radiance of this exotic fruit, this vibrant fragrance also exudes Mandarin Flowers, Bergamot, Rhubarb and Sugared Musk. Created by perfumer Patty Hidalgo of Fragrance Resources in an inviting warm tint.

Biscotto: The perfect pick-me-up, this savory scent tempts the senses with Freesia, Bergamot, Orange Flower, Pistachio, and Vanilla. Developed by Richard Herpin of Firmenich in a warm, gold tint.

Each scent from the Splash Collection retails for $68 and are available at Saks, Sephora, Bloomingdales, Nordstrom and March Jacobs Boutiques.

Disclosure: The product(s) featured in this review were provided for editorial consideration. Receipt of a product does not guarantee review and all opinions are my own. For further information, please see my disclosure policy.