Amicale Cashmere Sample Sale | 12/4 - 12/6/19

AMICALE CASHMERE SAMPLE SALE

UP TO 80% OFF RETAIL

Drop all your plans and make sure you make it to the Amicale cashmere sample sale! Year after year I find all my cashmere/fur/faux fur accessories and holiday gifts! 

This time I was super excited for the racks of samples including capes, scarves and sweaters for $35 each! Another great deal are faux fur trapper hats for $15 and faux fur scarves and wraps for 2 for $30! Other favorites are the faux fur blankets for $50, knit wool/cashmere blend throws for $95 and cashmere woven throws for $135. For guys, be sure to check out the rack full of red tag samples for $50!

Check out the full price lists and images below to get an idea of the selection / brands available.

FOR WOMEN: CASHMERE SWEATERS, SHAWLS, THROWS, WRAPS, CAPES, GLOVES, SCARVES, BEANIES $25-$150. FOR MEN: CASHMERE SWEATERS, GLOVES, SCARVES, BEANIES, AND MORE $25-$150.

CASH AND ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED. ALL SALES FINAL.

WEDNESDAY, DEC 4 (9AM-7PM)

THURSDAY, DEC 5  (9AM-7PM)

FRIDAY, DEC 6 (9AM-3PM)

148 MADISON AVENUE

(AT 32ND STREET)

5TH FLOOR

- Kim Weling

Amundsen Sports NYC Pop Up Shop

Norwegian performance brand Amundsen Sports, known for there heritage-inspired apparel and footwear is hosting a pop up in NYC through the end of this year at the Westerlind store, located at 29 Spring Street. 

At the pop up opening, I met with industrial designer Jorgen Amundsen, who co-founded Amundsen Sports in 2009 with Norwegian explorer and skier Erik Friis. Jorgen is a relative of Roald Amundsen, who set out to explore the South Pole in 1911, and lived with the Inuits to study their knowledge of cold weather survival and also explored cutting edge technology. 

Amundsen Sports is best known for the technical knickerbocker, combining traditional ski wear with modern materials and functionality. Amundsen Sports is focused on building a sustainable, contemporary wardrobe, using natural materials such as wool, corduroy and cotton.

- Kim Weling

Ani Ramen Soul of Sake 1 Year Anniversary

Ani Ramen regularly has ticketed events, including their Soul of Sake 1 year anniversary party, which I attended on September 17th at District Kitchen Harborside, 210 Hudson Street in Jersey City. Over 200+ people turned up for dinner, drinks and dancing. Guests enjoyed bowls of ramen and shrimp and pork buns all night, along with sake, beer, whisky tastings. My favorite drink of the night was the Rose Petals cocktail at the Fun Luge ice station, made with Tchiko, rose water, lavender syrup and fresh lemon juice. 

Ani Ramen is one of my favorite Ramen houses ever, and the best I know of in New Jersey. Aside from this event, I've only dined at the Ani Ramen in Montclair, but they also have additional locations in Jersey City, Summit and Maplewood. My favorites dishes at Ani Ramen include the Chicken Wings Two Ways appetizer, Pork Buns and Miso Ramen with classic chicken broth, miso tare with chashu pork, kakuni, bean sprouts, spinach & scallions.

- Kim Weling

The Big Chocolate Show Highlights 2019

The Big Chocolate Show 2019 took place on September 20 & 21 at the Resorts World Casino in Queens. This was quite a departure from previous shows as it has always taken place in Manhattan, and Queens was quite a trek but I do really love chocolate. I do hope The Big Chocolate Show returns to Manhattan next year though. This show seemed to have a smaller amount of exhibitors and less attendees. In previous years, vendors usually sampled whole pieces of chocolate. I felt like this time around the focus was more on selling chocolate, yet limited sampling was provided by some exhibitors. Please check out my highlights from this year's show below and my recap of the Decadent Evening of Chocolate and Cocktails.

If you're curious about how The Big Chocolate Show has been in previous years, check out these links:
2018
2017
2016

 

VillaKuyaya is Ecuadorian premium organic dark chocolate. Some of my favorite flavors include Earl Grey Lavender, Himalaya Pink Salt, Cherry Vanilla and Coffee.

2 Chicks with Chocolate (Metuchen, NJ): artisan chocolate hand-crafted with fresh cream. The flavors are amazing, with lots of alcohol-inspired ones including Makers Mark, Jameson, and my favorite, Champagne. I was also eyeing Salted Turtle, Cold Brew Coffee Caramel, and Nutella. 

ChocoEve

Chocolat Stella

Origen Cacao

Bang Cookies (Jersey City, NJ): makes giant sized, soft baked, organic & natural cookies in an assortment of flavors.

Emy Desserts: loved their mini fudge cups, especially the Chocolate Sun Butter Fudge Cups!

Twizzles Tasty Treats (Valley Stream, NY)

Hand crafted truffles with custom flavors. Blueberry Port, Salted Caramel, Dark Raspberry and Mexican Coffee all caught my eye. 

- Kim Weling

Decadent Evening of Chocolate and Cocktails

On September 20, on the eve of The Big Chocolate Show, I attended the Decadent Evening of Chocolate and Cocktails presented by the Cocktail Guru at the Resorts World Casino NYC in Jamaica, NY. The tasting included chocolate friendly cocktails paired with sweet and savory desserts, all featuring Guittard Chocolate. My favorite pairings, which were both phenomenal were the Three Chocolate Budino + Bonette Brands and the Dark Chocolate and Pisco Shrimp Ceviche paired with Caravedo Pisco. I am hooked on budino but the only place I know where to get it is at Scarpetta in Las Vegas. If someone can direct me to where I can find budino in NYC please let me know! 

The Salty Heifer Three Chocolate Budino with Salted Caramel paired with Bonnette Brands (Coquerel Calvados, Boudier Creme de Cassis, Bache Gabrielsen Cognac)

Sandeman Port paired with Roni-Sue's Chocolates Portly Fig Truffle

CSW Catering Dark Chocolate and Pisco Shrimp Ceviche paired with Caravedo Pisco

Sowella Chocolates Green Chartreuse Mint Chocolates, Dark Chocolate Strawberry Truffles and Macadamia Matcha Cream Squares paired with Chartreuse

Jomart Chocolates Marshmallow Cookie "Mallomar" paired with Zyr Vodka

Twizzles Tasty Treats Organic Apple Raisin Chocolate Truffle dusted in Apple dust and Nutmeg paired with Amarula

- Kim Weling

Nordstrom Fall Beauty Trend Event 2019

Every New York Fashion Week, Nordstrom goes backstage to assess the biggest beauty trends and then brings this intel direct to their customers. For the Fall 2019 season, they've identified trends such as:

Berry Luxe: Universally flattering shades in velvet and matte finishes

Gold Rush: Strategically placed shimmer from bold gold to deep bronze

At the upcoming Nordstrom Beauty Trend Event, guests can learn how to achieve the freshest runway-inspired looks of the season and get free samples and exclusive gifts with your purchases (while supplies last). Receive one-on-one time with Nordstrom beauty experts, tips tricks to nail the newest trends and receive beauty buzz intel from industry insiders — and it's free to attend!

To read more about the trends, click here: https://shop.nordstrom.com/content/beauty-trends-store-services and to see when your local Nordstrom Beauty Trend Event is, click here and purchase tickets here.

Sothys Energizing Intensive Treatment Facial at Elite Hair Studio & Spa

One of the more indulgent facials I had this summer was the Sothys Energizing Intensive Treatment at Elite Salon & Spa in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ. I've always been familiar with Sothys, but this was the first time I was able to experience an entire Sothys skincare regimen. 

Marzenna had started my facial by cleansing my skin with Sothys Vitality Cleansing Milk and then looked at my skin more closely. She noticed dehydration, clogged pores and some sun damage. After assessing my skin, Marzenna explained that she was going to be using Sothys Intensive Treatment with Siberian Ginseng for my facial. This five-phase treatment started with the Enzymatic exfoliating scrub, followed by the Revealing Serum with Siberian Ginseng massaged into the face. What I love about this face massage is that Marzenna also focused on the neck and décolleté area as well as the arms. Next my face mask consisted of a foaming/algae mask that was left on for 10 minutes, as I enjoyed an amazing scalp massage. The last step of my treatment was applying the Enlightening Fluid for smoothing lines and illuminating the skin.

It was one of the most luxurious, relaxing facials I ever had, with my skin feeling radiant, energized and luminous! This facial was an amazing hour and a half! Most facials I have had are 50-60 minutes, and feel over so quickly. With the extractions, massage techniques applied, I really felt like every skincare phase was emphasized and that the products were hitting a deeper layer of my face and not just the surface. 

The Sothys Enegerizing Facial is priced at $125, plus an additional $25 for extractions, and additional $25 for a glycolic peel. 

After my facial, I took a tour of the complete space. The hair studio included the wash stations, cut & style, and hair color areas. I was really impressed how much open space the hair studio has. There is also a nail bar, brow bar, and spray tan services. This salon also has a full Elite Academy program on-site for professional education workshops, seminars and courses. Having a full program on-site like that shows how dedicated the studio team is to their craft and treatments. I will definitely go back to Elite Hair Studio & Spa to experience some of their other services and treatments. Check out their hair promotions and other specials! Elite Hair Studio & Spa is located in Heights Town Center at 65 Route 17 South.  

Thank you to Marzenna, master esthetician, for an incredible facial, Monika, Academy Manager for meeting with me and Martha Mehlman, owner of Elite Hair Studio & Spa for having me!

Unedited selfie, post-facial glow

 

- Kim Weling