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Willy Wonka chap sticks ... not! ... but they could be.  I buy a lot of lip balm.  Whether at work, home or on the road, one is always within reach.  I keep chap sticks just about everywhere ... in my purse, at my desk and inside my nightstand.  There is usually one in the pocket of my jackets and coats too.  Now you can get them in many delicious flavors, including your favorite candy, soda pop and even breakfast cereal. As sets, I think they make fun, inexpensive gifts, not to mention, perfect Christmas stocking stuffers for kids and adults alike. You'll want to eat your lips, but won't expand your waist, nor sugarcoat your child's teeth.  And as we move into the fall and winter, we will need the extra protection to keep our lips soft, smooth and shiny.  Some varieties have sun screen also! Look for candy and soda flavored chap stick at Walgreens, Walmart and Target. Online retailers carrying sets of popular flavors for cheap include: Amazon - ...

I don't remember a world without Sidney Poitier.  Lilies of the Field, In the Heat of the Night, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, To Sir With Love,  A Patch of Blue .  I remember his movies vividly even though I watched them at a tender age before I should have understood what they were about.  And yet, the way S.P. played a character, I did understand what his films were about.  I especially remember his presence.  He brought a strength and grace to every role he played. Mr. Poitier's memoir came out in 2000.  Like his acting, The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography  is  expansive, timeless and worth revisiting. The book shares memories of his Caribbean childhood, celebrated life and acting career.  He says his parents and boyhood in the Cat Islands gave him his self-worth and unwavering sense of right and wrong. Poitier was born prematurely in Florida on a trip his parents took to sell tomatoes grown on their farm.  He was...

This week I was invited to a Casa Barilla event held in Central Park, where celebrated chefs shared their joy of Italian cooking.  I watched demonstrations and tasted succulent, mouthwatering Italian food.  It's a tough job, but someone has to do it. Each of the chefs used simple, but quality ingredients like fresh tomatoes, garlic, parsley and extra virgin olive oil.  Quick and easy, all of the dishes were prepared on a stovetop using skillets and a big pot for boiling pasta. There are 4 cardinal rules for boiling pasta: 1) Never break the noodles; cook them long; 2) Never put oil in the boiling water.  It doesn't keep pasta from sticking, and you are wasting good olive oil; 3) Cook the noodles al dente [firm].  Soft pasta is overcooked and unhealthy; 4) Never rinse the pasta; you don't want to remove the starch.  As a guide: Cook one pound of pasta in one gallon of water   with one tablespoon salt. At the Barilla event, professional Italian chefs w...

Zac Posen exhibited his Spring 2012 collection in New York during Fashion Week after a two year absence.  Like several other high profile designers, he showed in Paris in recent years, but not here.  Thank goodness he's back at Lincoln Center this year.  Even if you don't buy high fashion, browsing is fun, inspiring and sometimes gorgeous.   Zac Posen is a favorite designer of mine, and I'm not alone.  The reason?  He truly knows how to dress a woman.  Weather it's his sultry party dresses, or a two-piece, night-out-on-the-town ensemble, you can entrust your curves into his capable hands and creative mind for a romantic, sweet and ultra modern look.  With satin and tulle fabrics that are perfectly cut,  Zac Posen always makes a woman look feminine, elegant and very pretty.  Styled to flatter a woman's figure, he gives you a little drama.  It's edgy without being ridiculous.   Thank you, Zac!  You're a dressmaker, who rea...

This year there are over 1,000 stores participating in New York City and many more in major cities around the world. Stores are open late and hosting free food, spirits and plenty of exciting entertainment.  Don't miss out on the ultimate party scene as only the fashion industry can throw it.  Go to these in-the-know sites to get a complete list of all the fashion, fun events and giveaways: FNO  {All cities} and Metro  {New York}.  Get ready to enjoy the celebrities, music, and champagne!  You may also enjoy: Fashion's Night Out 10 Wardrobe Pieces Every Woman Should Own 10 Wardrobe Pieces Every Man Should Own Kate Middleton Has Something I Want ... Sleeves

I feel for men who are going bald. Today baldness is considered hip, but thinning hair has to be traumatic. Hair is such a big part of our identity, a symbol of youth and not everyone looks good with a bald head. According to several medical sources , male pattern badness affects about 40 million men in the US alone.  Men have a 4 in 7 chance of inheriting the baldness gene.  Studies indicate that early baldness is passed on through the X chromosome, but the Y chromosome plays a part too.  Castrated men don't go bald.  Interesting fact, but yikes!  Don't try it at home. Male pattern baldness begins with a receding hairline (from the lateral sides of the forehead).  Usually, a woman's hair doesn't start to thin until she is in her 80s.   In spite of websites that claim to treat baldness, there's not much you can do to slow it down, or regrow your hair.  Two FDA approved treatments, finasteride [Propecia] and minoxidel [Rogaine] have limited succes...