Almost Out of Time: Holiday Ideas for When the Internet Isn't Fast Enough.

Unless you are my friend Capella, who purposely shops on December 24th for everyone and sets up her tree that night, you are officially behind the 8-ball of Christmas shopping. And I am right there with you. I am having a personally super-goofy, Lifetime Television, drama-filled life and can't seem to figure out what to get anyone. And Mom, I know I still need to tell you what calendar I want. (Something with pretty dog photography, maybe?) Here are some ideas for when internet delivery won't make it in time.



925 Silver, a shop I have loved for a long time, located in the heart of Fells Point sells beautiful and funky silver jewelry in price ranges for everyone. You can throw a rock in that store and I promise you I can't live without whatever it hits. The upside is you are guaranteed to find something, the downside is you have to get up and go there in person. They are still working on a website.

You can't go wrong with a salon gift certificate. I can promise you that while your loved one is getting a relaxing massage, facial or whatever, they are thinking about how awesome you are. If I were picking, I would opt for a facial from JoElle at Ted Gibson/Hela Spa in DC, a haircut from Bethany at Balance The Salon in Baltimore, a mani/pedi from Red Door or anything from Burke Williams. Ooh! I just heard from the Red Door Spa and they are offering a cool gift card promotion. If you purchase a $200 gift card or gift certificate you receive a free $30 gift card to use for yourself. Sweet!

For the makeup maven or skin care obsessed lady in your life, do them a favor and give them a subscription to Beautypedia. Beautypedia is a website run by the Cosmetic's Cop, Paula Begoun, who tells you which products can chemically do what they claim from a scientific standpoint. It's pretty much the holy grail for cosmetic fans, even if Paula and I disagree on a few choice brands. (I'm sure she's right, but I like what I like sometimes.) If the internet subscription won't work, mosey over to your bookstore and snag a copy of either of her equally amazing books, Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me or The Original Beauty Bible. Here is a pic of the two of us at a recent speaking engagement. Look at that skin - she clearly knows what she is talking about!


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Get Glowing Skin - Hela Spa

Facials are, by far, my favorite salon treat. (Assuming haircuts are a necessity and not a treat.) I love how they make your skin glow, remove impurities, help turn over new cells and make you feel better about your appearance. I think the after effects of a good facial are, for me, the equivalent of having a really good "skinny day."



I was recently was able to get an appointment with an amazing esthetician, JoElle Lyons, who works at the Hela Spa, in Chevy Chase, MD. Hela is a beautiful medi-spa where you can relax and get a bevy of amazing treatments, from massages (even for infants!) to facials to medically supervised treatments like injectables. JoElle Lyons happens to be one of the newer additions to the Hela staff and I am so glad she is here! She also shares my passion for volunteerism - what's not to love about that?

Here is what I dig about JoElle. She is serious about skin care. She knows her way around IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), peels, exfoliators and good old cleansers. She knows about much more than just the lines she sells, which is really refreshing. She wants you to be happy with your skin. She wants to get the results you are looking for, safely, and with the minimum amount of down time. She will be honest with you if what you are looking for can't be achieved by the miracle product you are using and won't lead you astray if you ask for her honest opinion about how to get results. In other words, she isn't about selling you an expensive line of products (but she has great recommendations!), she is about making your skin look the best it possibly can.



While facials are my favorite spa treatment, I always dread the meet and greet, where you change into a robe and tell your esthetician what products you currently use. I don't think I have ever gotten a warm response when I answer Oil of Olay or Neutrogena. They always scowl and make some underhanded comment like, "Well, we'll fix you up and get rid of that pallor."

I hate that more than anything. And I am thrilled to report that when JoElle asked me the dreaded question, she didn't respond with some double-edged comment to make me feel small. Instead she said something like, "I have heard good things about them. What do you think?"

That's never happened to me before. In fact, I was practically speechless.

JoElle proceeded to check out my dry skin, noting that I needed to boost hydration and that I did have some melasma (sun damage spots). She then went on to thoroughly clean my skin, massage my face and hands. I left glowing. Many times after a facial, you leave looking red, splotchy or tight. Not me. In fact, I even got compliments on my bare skin when I went out to dinner afterwards. Amazing!

JoElle and Hela's dedication to helping you put your best face forward is unparalleled. From the time I got there until I left, I knew I was in wonderful hands. So you have no reason to wait, JoElle has been kind enough to offer a 50% discount to Gouldylox Readers on all facials, peels and microdermabrasion, including a complimentary brow, lip or under arm wax. Leave a comment below and I will send you the special coupon needed to redeem this service. Hurry, this offer ends October 31, 2009.

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Wish You Could Be On What Not To Wear?

I use to wish for this all of the time. Although when I really think about it, I am not so interested in seeing all of my clothes going into that trash can. While I doubt all of their clothes really get the axe, what I really want is for Ted Gibson or Carmindy to get their hands on me and help me go from a before to an after!



My hair is really short. And while I had the cut first, I am happy to share my look with Gennifer Goodwin, who recently started sporting the same 'do. I usually wear mine a little funkier, with more texture and not as sleek.


I can do sleek and stylish, lots of texture or all out glam by gelling my hair back, ala Robert Palmer videos. But after that, I am at a bit of a loss. (And I don't really have the guts to wear it slicked back.)



I recently had the chance to spend some time with Nicholas Molina, a master stylist at the Ted Gibson salon in Washington, DC. Nicholas just returned to the Ted Gibson Salon in DC after working with Ted, creating runway looks for New York Fashion Week. I told him how I normally wear my hair and asked for his input on a new way to show off my short hair.

He didn't cut my hair, but in ten minutes, he gave me a totally different style that still captured my funky spirit, but was something I never would have thought of on my own. While I am not sure I can wear this daily, it is a fun option when I have a little more time to spend on my hair.

He started by blow drying my hair, without giving me a part. Then, he used a Phyto Wax to add a little texture to the crown. Next, he took a large brush and blew the front bangs out smooth and slightly under and added a bend with a curling iron. A few quick flicks of his hands later and I had a much different style that slimmed my face and made me look a little thinner and taller. What do you think?



While you may not be able to go on a reality tv show and find out how celeb stylist Ted Gibson sees you, you can do the next best thing and visit Nicholas or any of the amazing stylists at one of the Ted Gibson salons (DC, NYC, Florida) and make an appointment to have your hair styled. You might be surprised with how they see You. (Plus you'll get to keep your your wardrobe!)

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