It’s safe to go to the Jersey shore again (just don’t anger the Guidos, please):

N.J. scraps plans to ban genital waxing

State was set to consider outlawing ‘Brazilian’ waxing after injury reports

The Associated Press

updated 5:22 p.m. ET, Fri., March. 20, 2009

TRENTON, N.J. – New Jersey is smoothing out differences over a plan to ban bare-it-all bikini waxing.

The state on Friday decided to reverse course on the proposal after angry salon owners complained about losing business ahead of swimsuit season.

“It was an unnecessary issue,” said spa owner Linda Orsuto. “In New Jersey especially, where the government has been picking our pockets for so long, it was like, ‘Just stay out of our pants, will you?’”

The state Cosmetology and Hairstyling Board proposed banning so-called “Brazilian” bikini waxing after two women were hospitalized for infections following the procedure.

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Introducing the Real Housewives of New Jersey.

I’d copy and paste the bios, but I think this snippet speaks for itself.  This looks like it may actually be better than the Orange County show.

Looking to pick up something new for lunch?  Try out the crab club sandwich at The Lobster Place.

The Lobster Place has two locations, one on Bleecker and one in the Chelsea Market.  Although it’s primarily a fishmonger, the Chelsea Market location is set up for takeout for the lunch crowd, with a sushi counter at the front, a row of cauldrons of seafood soups, and a sandwich counter at the back doing made to order sandwiches to supplement the ready-made wraps and salads in the cases.  I’ve sampled a couple of the wraps and on occasion picked up some of their very solid lobster salad for an elegant dinner, but my favorite by far is the crab club.  The crab club consists of great crab salad (lightly lemony, entirely delicious), lettuce, tomato, bacon, and avocado, panini pressed on white or wheat bread for $9.95.  Yeah, there are cheaper sandwiches to be had in the city, but the crab club is a treat. They have a variety of other sandwiches available on order too, but frankly, I can’t tell you about any of them because I am far too taken by the crab club to give it up for something else just yet.

So next time you’re passing by the Chelsea Market, step in and grab one.  While you’re waiting for your sandwich to be made, check out the gorgeous displays of fish filets, oysters, and other treats from below the waves.  (Personally, I never say no to a nice briny Malpeque.)  You may find yourself picking up something for dinner too while you’re at it.

As Kai previously noted, small indulgences can make a big difference. As I walked home the other day grumpy, tired, cold and frustrated from seeing five unsuitable, shoebox apartments in a row, I knew I needed something to lift my spirits.

That’s when I saw it: a big, seredipitious sign on the sidewalk of 7th Street between 1st and Avenue A reading, “Happyness [sic] is a warm cupcake…” SOLD!

Frankly, I walked in to Butter Lane not know what to expect, but boy am I glad I did.  What a find!

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Since it was gorgeous out last Saturday (read: above 45, sun visible), Betsy and friends took an excursion to Brooklyn.   1 brunch, 2 bridges, 2 flea markets, 6 macaroons, and about 387 painfully hip young families later …  we report back.

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Bargain Eats at the Mermaid Inn

Taking pity on recession-squeeze wallets, as so many restaurants are, The Mermaid Inn has revived the 1920′s tradition of the Blue Plate Special and is now offering a lobster sandwich, old bay fries, and a Blue Point beer for $20 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm at both locations.  (Normally this would run you $32; not a bad discount!)  This was originally intended to be a rotating monthly special, but they’ve held the lobster sandwich over from February into March “in defiance of the lingering cold.”  Hm.  If that’s the theory, you’d better get right on that special!   The lobster sandwich is a solid choice — the roll is light and buttery, and the lobster salad itself is delicious.  Grab it while March lasts!

It’s amazing how much trouble two adventurous city girls can get in a mere half hour.  After our exciting adventures with five-figure jewelry, we headed straight over to the Chelsea Market’s rear entrance on 10th Avenue.

Coincidentally,Morimoto just happens to be right outside the Chelsea Market’s back door.  (I warn you, if you click the link, Morimoto’s website has possibly the most irritating animation design I’ve ever seen.)  Well, we’re both trying to eat healthier, but isn’t it one of the great things about New York that you can drop in to a famous restaurant for a drink when you want to?

White Lilies for our Lily

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I know, the recession has us all a little down.  Even people in relatively secure positions are hunkering down financially, and the rest of us are trying not to run scared.  So, let me share with you one of my favorite low-budget treats.

While this is particularly topical now, I am at all times a big fan of little treats.  I’m admittedly not the biggest budget shopper on the planet, but I’m a huge advocate of taking fullest advantage of the small pleasures in life.  Yeah, vacations to the other side of the world are great, but how often can anyone other than Emma really do that?  It’s the little joys that make your day-to-day life really worthwhile.   And, particularly in a town like New York, there are a million little indulgences that can brighten up your day without costing a ton. A cup of slightly sparkling grape juice from the Union Square Greenmarket on a crisp fall day, a pint of fresh farm strawberries in the spring, a weird new herbal iced tea in the summer.  My favorite winter indulgence?  A trip to the Chelsea Market for a terrific cappuccino from 9th Street Espresso and a Fat Witch brownie, just a few doors down.  Folks, this is the perfect combination.  It’s practically zen how good these things are together.

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I’ll be spending the day with Lifetime movies, a gigantic blanket, my kitties and – well, not peppermint schnapps-spiked hot chocolate (damn you, diet!), but I’ll certainly be making eyes at the box of Godiva cocoa mix.

Enjoy!

If  there is one thing I know in life, it’s lip gloss.  Call it a passion, an addiction, an obsession, a problem, but through the years, I’ve slicked my pucker in MAC, Nars, Lancome and beyond. I’m embarrassed to admit this is but a small preview of my collection:

Umm, Kai? Lily? Looking at this picture, I think I may need a color palette intervention soon…

Anyway, while these days I find myself more and more reluctant to drop $20 bucks + on another Sephora-carried label impulse purchase to fuel my gloss complusion, I have always made an exception for lip plumpers.  I have yet to find an affordable brand that can stand up to the bank-breaking gold standard: Lip Fusion.

Well, keep you fingers crossed, gals.  Hopefully that’s about to change!

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