Review: My Little Steamer

 

 

Retail: $29.99

 

I own an iron, but truthfully, I rarely use it.  It's a lot of work to drag out that ironing board, get the iron ready, flip those pant legs back and forth, and omg where does it end??  So what does one do?  Head out the door with extra bomb looking makeup and forget about those wrinkles, right?  Wrong.   Invest in all wrinkle free clothing?  That's probably wrong too.

I feel like the JOY 900-Watt Supreme Steamer was made for me.  It is available in both Deluxe and Mini, sizes.  PR kindly sent me the deluxe size steamer to try, and I LoOoOve it.  

 

The steamer was totally user friendly, and super easy to operate.  I filled the device with the maximum allotment of tap water (1 1/2 cups), plugged it in, and flipped the "on" switch.  I let the device heat up while I prepared my clothes, and about 2 minutes later, the water was bubbling and steam was flowing out of the nozzle.  Just like that, we were ready to go!

I hung my clothes from my shower rod, and started running over them.   I steamed two business casual style shirts, and a pair of slacks in about 10 minutes.  Even though it was the deluxe size, it was still pretty lightweight and easy to maneuver.  I was able to get the trickier places like under the shirt collar and arms without difficulty.  From start to finish it took maybe 15 minutes, and the results were great.  In fact, better then when I attempt to use my iron. 

 

 

The clean up process was quick too.  The steamer has an attached, retractable cord which was very convenient.  Once finished, I just unplugged it and hit the gray button to recoil the cord.  This made it easier (and safer) when I had to unscrew the nozzle and dump out the excess water.  It also comes with a cute little bag to store it in so it doesn't get banged up.  Overall, I'd definitely recommended it and believe it is worth every penny.  I'd say it doesn't get any better, but it does!  The device comes in almost every color under the sun- and you know I snagged a pink one ;)

My Little Steamer is available at the below retailers:

HSN, Bed Bath and Beyond, Macy’s and Amazon

   

Museum of Arts and Design Hosts Annual LOOT Opening Benefit 2018

L-R: Karen Rotenberg, Bryna Pomp, Michael Rotenberg

Last week the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) held their annual LOOT Opening Benefit.  The Museum honored four avid studio jewelry and arts philanthropists: Loreen Arbus was presented with her award by LOOT’s Chair Marsy Mittlemann; Carolee Lee was presented by MAD’s Board Member Ann Kaplan, Michael and Karen Rotenberg was presented by LOOT’s Curator Bryna Pomp. All four honorees took to the podium and expressed their love for the Museum and the field of jewelry. During Loreen Arbus’s acceptance speech, she announced that MAD was her favorite museum in the world. The Museum’s Chair and Board of Trustees Michele Cohen made the opening remarks at the benefit dinner. Chairman Emerita Barbara Tober and husband Donald Tober were present, as well.  

LOOT: MAD About Jewelry, annual five-day exhibition and sale of contemporary art jewelry, with all proceeds benefiting the Museum’s programs and exhibitions. Now in its 18th edition, LOOT remains the only event in North America to provide the public with the opportunity to meet and directly acquire contemporary pieces from the most skilled, innovative, and creative jewelry artists working globally today. 

“The 2018 artists we invited stood out for their inspiring craftsmanship and inventiveness,” said LOOT Curator Bryna Pomp. “The jewelry featured incorporates a wide range of remarkable non- traditional materials, from crocheted textiles, ecologically tie-dyed silk, felt, leather, and resin to 3D-printed nylon, titanium, safety pins, bicycle tires, X-ray film, papier-mâché, and wood.”

LOOT 2018 welcomes thirty-five artists from fifteen countries, most of whom have never been shown in New York. In addition, LOOT will feature an artist from Thailand for the first time in the event’s history.

LOOT: MAD About Jewelry reflects the Museum of Arts and Design’s commitment to the exploration of materials and process, as well as its long-standing presentation of jewelry as an art form. MAD is the only American museum with a gallery dedicated to the display of both temporary jewelry exhibits and its own collection of contemporary and modern studio and art jewelry.

One of the evening highlights was Shannon R. Stratton’s, Chief Curator of the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD), announcement that artists Isabelle Molénat and Sarran Youkongdee have been awarded the third annual LOOT Acquisition Prize, on the occasion of the eighteenth edition of LOOT: MAD About Jewelry. LOOT presents a cross section of the most exciting cutting-edge art jewelry designs, while offering the public a rare opportunity to purchase pieces from and to meet some of the most skilled creators in the field. This year’s prize will result in the acquisition of two jewelry works, Isabelle Molénat’s Collection Knots Necklace (2018) made of silk and polypropylene and Sarran Youkongdee’s Siam Rattikarn (2017) made of Felt, brass, pearl, for the Museum’s collection. Awarded by a jury, the LOOT Acquisition Prize seeks to recognize a LOOT jewelry artist whose work reflects a maturity in artistry and concept; exhibits both a superior and experimental understanding of materials and form; and demonstrates expertise in technique and execution. 

See the full list of LOOT 2018 artists here

Photos courtesy of PR

Free Beauty Events April Giveaway

FreeBeautyEvents.com is back this month with another amazing giveaway.  For anyone not familiar with FBE, the site is a great tool for all beauty addicts.  It helps you stay up to date on the latest beauty happenings in your area and serves as an awesome way to snag killer free samples. Each month the site gives away a bundle chalk full of the industry's best must haves, and this month's bundle totals a whopping $125 value!  Let's check them out..

This month's basket includes industry favorites from Lumene, Nivea, Coppertone, NYX, Milani, Olay, La Roche Posay, Sally Hansen and more!  The contest runs from now through 4/30/18, winners will be chosen on 5/10/18 and notified by 5/15/18.  Entering is simple!  Visit FreeBeautyEvents on Facebook (don't forget to like them!) or enter directly on their website.

Besides the monthly giveaways, the site also offers great beauty advice and product reviews on their blog.  Like any of the products you read about?  Keep your eyes open for your chance to stock up!  Easy as 1-2-3, just enter your zip code into the site's search bar to find out which locations in your area might be handing out samples.  It's a helpful way to keep up to date with the beauty events happening in your town.    

Get more FBE info here

Have you attended a past event listed on the site? 

LongHouse Reserve Celebrates Axel Vervoordt at New York Benefit

L-R: Martha Stewart, Axel Vervoordt, Adelaide de Menil, Jack Lenor Larsen

"Axel Vervoordt is a non-conformist, which is dear to my heart. He’s a modernist who embraces every period. He does not use his rooms for modern furniture, but for the best furnishings in the world, and, notably, the best art.” Thus declared Jack Lenor Larsen on Wednesday night when LongHouseReserve honored Axel at the Hearst Tower. 

Matko Tomicic, executive director of LongHouse, welcomed guests and introduced Dianne Benson, president of the Board who said, “We are here tonight honoring a man who defies being defined by a single word. So we are right in presenting his award by a woman who also challenges conventions and titles, conceptual artist Kimsooja,” who in turn said, “It is a great honor and pleasure for me to celebrate Axel Vervoordt and his legacy tonight, on the occasion of the prestigious LongHouse Award." The artist continued, "The honor also goes to LongHouse and its mission to reflect world culture and inspire creative talent." 

In accepting his award, designed by Marc Leuthold, Axel gallantly offered, “Thank you all for coming. I don’t know if I deserve it, but I always do my best,” then delivered a fascinating presentation on design and his theories of art, light, and space. A smaller group of just 50 retired afterwards to Adelaide de Menil's remarkable Central Park South duplex for dinner, where each guest was presented with a signed copy of Axel’s newest book, Stories and Reflections, which is not yet available in the US.

Among the guests were Sandy and Steve Perlbinder, Adelaide de Menil, Martha Stewart, Sherri Shultz, Sherri Donghia, Julie Jensen, Kay Hall, Newell Turner, Mark and Elizabeth Levine, Nina Gillman, Suzy Slesin and Michael Steinberg, Chris Mead and Zoe Hoare, Harvey and Audrey Feuerstein, Catherine and Nathan Bruckner, Judi Roaman, Nick and Christina Martin, Lindsay and Fitzhugh Caleo, Kang Chang, Dianne Benson, Jack Lenor Larsen. 

Photos by Patrick McMullen