Miami sunshine & skinkissed - farewell to 2011!

I'm in Miami Bitch..... opps, I meant Beach!!!


You may well have guessed from some tweets that earlier this month I took a vacation to Miami to end my year in a calm and tranquil way. 2011 has been hectic, crazy, mayhem all rolled into one. It was pretty sedate (apart from the hell raising in a few bars with a certain few folk I happen to cherish) and I even managed to get to the beach for a grand total of 8 hours.

Piccie of South Beach from a very posh condo... oh I live the high life and own a place that has this view....!

Miami is pretty much a second home to me having lived and worked their for a few years. South Beach, the place to go (if you're young, gorgeous, thin and glamarous!) is a fascinating place with variety of bars, clubs, eating and drinking holes not forgetting the shops every which way but loose. You can't be bored in Miami.

So, if you thinking of going to Miami, here's a quick run down of things that I think are absolute must haves and must do's....

1.  SUNSCREEN. Even if your not a beach goer, take Cocoa Butter 15spf moisturiser (they have an olive oil spf 15 version too if you dont like the cocoa butter smell). It's perfect to use every day, your skin doesn't dry out and you are protected even on the cloudest of days.

2.   MOSQUITO repellent. Even this time of the year... need I say anymore?

3.   Hair STRAIGHTENING tools! Humidity is an absolute bitch in this place, even in winter your hair takes a battering...

4.   Go down Lincoln Avenue on a SUNDAY morning for shopping, breakfast etc.. its like market day but on a really good day!

5.   Try the alligator ADVENTURE. Go on a hike on bikes to see the gators (and wear the god damn repellent.. you WILL need it)

6.   If you want a TATTOO, Miami Ink are right on south beach.... if your lucky you will see Ami, Chris, Chris and Darren working but you might have to wait a few HOURS to be seen.... dont get your hopes up!

7.  COOL PLACES... Delano is the sister of the Sanderson, great place and great crowd. Sky Bar is another cool place, pretty swanky. Leave the lobster look for another day if you want to fit in.

8.   US food portions are massive, order one and share between 2!!! My personal fav is PF Chang's - asian fusion. LOVE LOVE LOVE. Ask for your nearest if you wanna try it.  There's a great diner on the corner of washington road which is all american food, you may want to head their for breakfast!

9.   If you want to STROLL something slightly more old style Miami, try Coconut Grove.... its cute and there's some random places to check out. Its been hit by recession but I rather like it anyway, its different.

10. SHOPPING! I need to divide this into sections....
If you want a mall based shopping centre, get to Aventura Mall, just off Ives Dairy Junction on I95 about 20  mins north of downtown Miami.  If you prefer the discount stores... a stones throw away from Aventura Mall south on US1 is Nordstrom Rack a brand discount store... if you love Juicy Couture (lots of other brands!)... its the place to go!  Loehmann's is a brand discounted store mall a few streets south from Nordstrom. Brand names for less!  If you want a very good outlet mall, try Sawgrass Mills which is located north Miami, Sunrise/Flamingo Bouvelard. Everyone knows Sawgrass! 

Last but not least, you absolutely need to go for a walk on Miami Beach, take a coffee along the front and celeb watch, there are usually a few to be seen!  Thanks for reading my Miami guide, I hope its helpful and you have a super dupa time.

Z xxx

p.s tipping is pretty hot here, add on 20% as a guide!

p.p.s if you dont do any of the above, make sure you do this... Toot toot!

Sale or not to Sale?

Each year, we are told that old chestnut that its the 'biggest sale ever'. Yeah right. Settle back on the sofa, all you need is the internet and off we go.

I have walked the lengths of Oxford Street, Kensington High Street, Regent Street, Covent Garden AND Carnaby Street over the past few days. WHAT WAS I THINKING????

IF you do venture out, there are some nice bargains to be had. Im told that LIBERTY'S sale is quite good although I can't vouch for this personally as I haven't been. I'm not a huge Libertys fan myself but the beauty hall has some proper bargains, OPI stuff going cheap as chips (a chum of mine got a pair of Gucci boots £200 off! Crikey!)

HOUSE of FRASER... great bargains to be had, up to 50% off and still a lot of selection, sizes generally available. Pretty good. Mobbed beauty hall... prepare for a bit of shooving and sighing.Got a cracking pair of Dune wedges for next to nothing!

SELFRIDGES. Total mayhem, horrific and not actually sure why I even bothered going in, couldn't get to many rails as it was rammed BUT I did manage to check out a few bargains in the Shoe Store... louboutin and Gucci very generious on discounts (in fairness they do need to be!).

Absolute bargains to be had in JOHN LEWIS - very busy but pretty good selection to be had including homeware and accessories.

NEXT - my goodness, what isn't on sale in that store? If your a Next fan, there's still a lot of choice and size.

PRIMARK - if your not knocked out by plastic fumes then go for your life. Even Primark have a blooming sale and its practically free to shop their. Throw away fashion has never been more popular. Be warned, its a zoo in their.

ILLAMASQUA has a brilliant sale on makeup.. up to 70% off across some lines. www.illamasqua.com an absolute MUST for anyone who loves makeup... not just makeup artists, ANYONE who loves makeup.  If you are hell bent on pounding the pavements, you can find the store Beak Street just off Carnaby Street. Go play!

ALL SAINTS have AMAZING stock left with good size selection. I was floored that it wasn't as busy in the Regent Street/Ox St store. Good bargains in all areas.... I wished I saved that purchase I made a week ago, Id have gotten it half price! If your stuck for a party dress, get their tomorrow, you will find one!

TED BAKER  Brilliant selection, very busy mind you but well worth it. Goodies please!

DIESEL - lots of stock to be had, always love a bargain - but I am biased as a Diesel diva so you can always count on me for a Diesel shop. Get yourself to Bond Street store or Covent Garden - male and female bargains to be had (oh and big discounts on shoes!)

PHEW... my shopping for this year is DONE. Hope my speed date shop gives you a head start if your going out tomorrow... Happy shopping and a very happy new year!

Z xxx

HD Brows... Browlicious or Bullshit?

Ok, so I've given in to my 'intrigue' of the HD Brow. I've researched, enquired, googled and genuinally been quite taken with the "7 step technique" that's apparently revolutionised eye brow groomage. Being a natural blonde, I haven't got dark eyebrows, I've never quite found the answer to eyebrow definition in all the years of dying ones hair. I digress. I found a little local salon that offers the HD Brows so perfect for me to trot to and see Gemma the HD Brow consultant who gives me a run down of what's to come.

First up its the HD Brow tint, its specially designed to have longevity of tint, which supersedes the usual tinting formula most salons and therapists use. So far so good, a few minutes later and we're onto the next stage.


Second step - to wax the brow shape into place. Few applications of wax later, shape defined! Waxing isn't my fav I'll be honest although I can't escape it... its an essential part of the brow definition.


Third step - to thread the hair on the forehead and eye area - OUCH! Waxing is a pussy cat compared to this!!! But I have to say, very effective. Despite my whinging and squirming, I'm liking the fuzz free forehead effect.


Fourth step is the tweezing stage.... Fifth step is trimming (if you need it) sixth step is filling in its HD brow makeup/powder. I have absolutely no idea what the seventh step is...???

Picture taken straight after HD brows procedure. Looks a bit scary but good definition.

When I first had it done they were really dark, as you might expect. Day 5 and I still have dark eyebrows although have become bit patchy so you defo have to fill in them in... it kinda defeats the purpose of forking out £30 to get them done. I have to give some credit that there's a space in the market for new eye brow tints. In all honesty, I absolutely cannot justify spending £1k to learn how to achieve a look on myself and my clients that I already can.

Picture taken on day 5

IF you have money to spend on marketing and PR I wish you well. For all those talented therapists you don't need to fork out money to learn things you already know and to all those corporate beauty brand monsters, all you have to do is bring to the market a fabulous tint that has lasting power - there's a gap and someone could fill it quite easily!