The Badoo Project

My Badoo Project profile pic

While on my way to work on Thursday morning I picked up AM New York to read on the subway. I came across a blurb on "The Badoo Project" It said they would be taking the ultimate profile pics by some of America's leading photographers all for free!  All I had to do was sign up. I was lucky enough to score a spot at 4pm on the last day of shooting which was Saturday March 24.

The first thing I had to do when I arrived for my appointment was to sign up for Badoo.com. The guy who was helping me sign up said Badoo was like Facebook but for meeting new friends (not existing).  He also told me my new professional photos would be up on the site before I was gone from 74 Mercer St.  The photo shoot process was fun - I'm sure it would have been more fun had I gone with a friend but I didn't know what to expect and the friends I mentioned The Badoo Project to had no interest.

After checking in I was invited to the lounge area where snacks and beverages were provided. They also had a ping pong table, a wall to graffiti, and some fun seating (like beanbag chairs). People looked relaxed and like they were enjoying themselves or sat nervously waiting like I did.

I want instant gratification wall at Badoo Project

After waiting for a few minutes a lady with an iPad called my name and informed me I was next for hair, makeup, and styling services. Hair, makeup and styling!?! I had no idea! At this point I became very excited! It also made the experience feel like a seriously professional photo shoot (which it was, only it was an express photo shoot).

My hair stylist complimented my hair and just added some product to make it look fuller. My makeup artist commented that I had "a lot of good things going on" and gave me a bright red lip. I was really impressed with the styling area as it was huge and filled with all kinds of hats, sunglasses, accessories, and even clothing. My stylist said she liked my scarf and just gave me some bangles to add to my wrist. The whole process took about five minutes - I guess I arrived camera ready :)

My photographer was Kenneth Cappello. He wasn't very talkative but his assistants were all very nice and made me feel comfortable. Kenneth informed me the photo shoot would be about one minute long and that I should change stance and expression after clicks. During the shoot I just smiled and moved around a bit and Kenneth was good enough to give me some direction and voila! before I knew it the shoot was over.

I then walked over to the editing stations were an editor helped me narrow down my photos to 8 (max number of photos allowed). I was given a printed photo to take home as a souvenir along with a couple of cute t-shirts.

T-shirts from Badoo Project

All in all the Badoo Project experience was awesome! And now I have some fantastic photos to use as a profile pictures.

Also, please vote for me! I want to be on billboards all over NYC Click here.

Wine Tasting in the North Fork

Recently GiltCity.com had a deal on Hampton Luxury Liner Long Island Music and Wine Tour. It was 59% off the regular price of $175 per person and so my friend and I could not pass it up. The tour includes visits to three well known Long Island Wine Country Vineyards; Pindar Vineyard, Duck Walk Vineyard, and Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard.

My friend and I went on the tour this past Sunday (last day of the GiltCity deal). Lucky for us we got great mild weather for mid March. I'm sure as it gets further into spring and summer the tour will be nicer as the vineyards will be in full blossom and more picturesque.

The bus picked us up on Lexington Avenue between 46th and 47th Streets at 9:30am. The tour included "breakfast on the coach" which translates into egg and cheese sandwiches, apples, juice/water/soft drinks, and a variety of chips. The bus is very comfortable, clean, and equipped with WiFi. Rush Hour the movie shown on the bus; I opted out of watching. A variety of magazines and newspapers are also provided on the bus.

We arrived at Pindar Vineyards at around 11am which included tastings of 5 wines out of about 15 varieties of wine and a complimentary wine glass. The wines are all fairly priced. The staff is not very helpful or informative. The tour is at Pindar for about an hour.

Wine Selection at Pindar Vineyards, LI

Pindar Vineyards - more than 500 acres

Next stop on the tour was Duck Walk Vineyard. Upon arrival I was bit concerned there was only one server for about 50 people on the tour but Connor was awesome and was able to entertain, inform, and pour us 5 tastings while keeping us in smiles. He made the visit to Duck Walk memorable. Also memorable was the Blueberry Port. We were at Duck Walk for about an hour.

 

Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard was last on our tour and we were there for three hours. We were given three drink tickets for tastings and a stamp which granted us 20% off the wine and gift shop. We were glad this vineyard had food available as we were very hungry by the time we arrived at around 2pm. I was disappointed the food selection was sparse. I opted for the Merlot Meatballs and a Cheese Plate (just okay and slightly over priced. I really wish I had packed my own lunch (as two ladies from our tour had) I'm sure I would have been a lot more satisfied. Baiting Hollow is also a horse and pony rescue and the proceeds from some of the wines support it. At this vineyard is where the "music" part of the tour comes into the picture. I can't say I was impressed/entertained by the music but it was decent background music.

Horses at Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard

 We were back where we started in NYC by 7pm. All in all we had a very nice day, it was great to get out of the city even if just for a short while. This tour is very good if you have never been to Long Island Wine Country and if you can find a deal on the price it is a must! 

For more information on Long Island Wine Country click here.

Salon Effects at home

This is my second time trying Sally Hansen Salon Effects because I really wanted to have my nails polished but I didn't want to go to the salon and I didn't want to wait for my nail polish to dry.  While at Duane Reade I picked up the Aflorable strips mostly because I had just seen so many beautiful flowers at the Botanical Gardens Orchid Show.

Applying the strips only takes 5 simple steps and best of all is the no drying time. I usually do a pretty good job polishing my nails but I usually ruin it because I do not give them enough time to dry.

In the Salon Effects box you will find a cuticle stick, mini file & buffer, 16 nail strips and detailed instructions with pictures.

1. Select the best fitting strip for each nail.
2. Peel the clear protective plastic from the backing paper.
3. Break silver tab from strip and choose a side which best fits the shape of your nail.
4. Apply the strip against the cuticle line; holding at the center for control. Press the strip to nail. Gently stretch strip for a perfect fit (careful not to overstretch). Firmly smooth strip over nail. Run flat side of cuticle stick along edge of strip to firmly bond strip to nail.
5. Shape the excess nail edge by forming a crease around the edge of the nail and filing away the excess with the light pink side of file.

For best results start with clean, dry nails. Push back cuticles with wooden stick (I like to trim my cuticles).  The stripes last about 5 - 10 days depending on your lifestyle.  To remove the stripes use nail polish remover as you would to remove regular nail polish.

Sally Hansen Salon Effects are available at most drug stores and cost about $11.

The Orchid Show: Vertical Gardens

This is the tenth year of the New York Botanical Garden's Orchid Show. Artist and botanist Patrick Blanc  created the Vertical Gardens this year which feature green walls covered in ferns, exotic plants, and thousands of orchids. If you are a lover of flowers or just beauty in general seeing this is a great way to spend the day or evening.  The show is on now until April 22nd 2012.  Orchid Evenings are Saturdays throughout the Orchid Show plus Friday April 20th 6:30 - 9:30pm.

Tickets to the show are $20
Orchid Evenings are $30 and include a cocktail.
For 20% off use code 9029 at checkout valid only online.

To share your photos on Instagram, Twitter, Foursquare, and Pintrest use hashtag #orchidshow.