Restaurant Review:

I’ve decided to add restaurant critiques to my blog, since I feel my experienced food pallet could provide some interesting opinions.  Recently, I have made it my mission to dine at as many new restaurants as possible, when I do in fact choose to eat out.  This past month, I have been to:

Pump Room:  The Pump Room is a Chicago classic located in the neighborhood of my childhood.  The original restaurant actually hosted my father and stepmothers’ wedding reception 25 years ago!  I had spent time in the Library, which I really enjoyed for cocktails and apps, but had yet to eat there, until recently when I went with my mom for my birthday.

I felt the ambiance was nice and I enjoyed the décor of the room, but felt it could have been a tad brighter so it wouldn’t have so much of a gloomy feel to it. I found the wine pour to be stingy for the cost, but the server made up for it, by having the bartender adjust it accordingly.  I loved the cheese bread sticks and the tuna tartar appetizer. Not only is the tuna super fresh, but it has a bite to it making you crave more.  My entrée, the fried organic chicken with Sweet Corn and Chili Glaze, was a little dry.  I felt the entire experience was overpriced, but would give it another try. 

Elate:   Located in River North, Elate features seasonal, American cuisine.  I encourage all restaurants to follow this recent trend of cooking seasonally and organically.  The food tastes fresh and I just feel like I’m eating “greener”.  We started with a flatbread that was full of flavor and spice (sausage, giardiniera, and mozzarella cheese). The muscles were garnished with pancetta, which gave them a smoky-like flavor, which I loved.  Lastly, we enjoyed the short-rib, which for me is almost always great when cooked to perfection, which it was.  I hear they have a great brunch, which I look forward to trying. In all honesty, my favorite thing about my dining experience at Elate was my hot date!

Tavernita:  The crowd is primarily 25-40, young professionals seeking the next “hot” spot in River North.  Loved the Hamachi and highly recommend the corn pudding, which I hear is becoming a staple dish already!  We coerced our server into getting information about a fellow diner my single girlfriend found attractive!  He was fun and totally engaging (my friend ended up going home with a phone # post dinner).  Although I enjoyed the food and would like to try other dishes, I’m not in any rush to go back.  There are too many other places I have yet to explore.

Publican: This meat packing restaurant, which has been around for about 3 years (this was my first time), follows the ever-so-popular trend of “share plates.”  I was surprised to see how busy it was for a Tuesday in January, which gave me hope that the economy could be improving???  Or maybe it’s just a reflection of the unseasonal warm weather!  The seating, however, is communal, which I am not always a fan of, with table options for larger parties.  If you’re adventurous with food and if you like pork, which I do, then you will enjoy the pig options.  I would definitely go back, but if I’m gonna get my pig-on, I prefer The Purple Pig (unfortunately they don’t take reservations).

It’s on Fridays such as today, when the snow is falling and there’s a chill in the air, that we often find ourselves in a rut and unsure about what to do with your weekend.  You want to spend time with friends, but you don’t want to be outside, you don’t want to spend money since you’re wiped out from the holidays, and you’re sick of smelling like a stale bar.

So, what can ya do?  I am lucky to say that I have experienced one of my first-of-the-winter, in fact, the-first-ever, real “game night” at a friend’s house a couple of weeks ago.  At first awkward and not knowing what to expect, we pondered which games to play over tacos, chips and salsa, deliciously made by the host.

After dinner we gathered around listening to Pandora debating between poker, Catch Phrase and Taboo.  When choosing games, I suggest choosing something interactive and fun so that everyone can get involved and ultimately, have a good laugh.  We played Taboo and Catch Phrase and honestly laughed the entire time.  And yes, one of my teammate’s winning points was because she knew our host’s middle name is “diamond” when translated in English!

We may have spent more time trying to figure out how to play the game (until we read directions!), and making our own rules up as we went, but once we figured it all out we didn’t want to stop playing.  If you’re one to be competitive or get nervous, no need to be.  I was paralyzed by fear of messing up on my first round, and I did exactly that, mess up!!!  It was actually really funny, especially when everyone was at a loss for acceptable words (see directions).  Overall, a great time, and agreed by all who attended it was more fun than hanging out at a bar!

SO, if you’re unsure of what to do on a snowy, January Friday, I highly recommend organizing a game night.  Be ready to laugh and have a good time.  Obvs, great company is a must!  Happy playing….

The term, “ombré”, a French word meaning shaded or graduated in tone, is used in the hair world to describe a technique that achieves a dark-to-light color that starts darker at the root, then blends into lighter highlights mid-shaft and gradually gets lighter to the ends.

A continuing trend from last year, this is a fashion-forward way to color your hair with little maintenance.  For most of us, bi-weekly blow-dries and long salon visits are a fantasy of the past (miss those days).  Not only can it be costly, but also time consuming, an area of concern to a many of us working women, mothers, students, etc who try to fit too many things in a day.  At least I fault myself for this more often that I wish to admit!

In an era of convenience and coupons, clients are looking for ways to stay fashionable and trendy in quick and cost-efficient ways.  The “ombre” technique fulfills these requirements.  It’s low maintenance because the roots are meant to look grown out allowing you to go longer between color appointments.  Instead of monthly highlight appointments, you might wait 2-3 months.  If you have a tendency to have dry, dull hair, you can always get a glaze (very quick appointment) between highlight appointments to maintain shine and cover grays!

Ask your Colorist at Charles Ifergan (or the salon of choice, which should be Charles Ifergan if it’s  not already!) to explain further!

Here’s a list of celebrities who are also fans of the popular ombré color technique:

Drew Barrymore (Actress/Producer)

Rachel Bilson (Actress)

Sarah Jessica Parker (Actress)

Lily Aldridge (Victoria’s Secret Model)                                      Shenae Grimes (Actress)

Whitney Port (Reality TV Star)- Recently had her styled at Charles Ifergan!

You would think that having grown up with a father as a hair stylist and practically living at a hair salon, that I would have mastered the art of using a curling iron. This, my friends, is not the case! As you can see from this picture, I burned my neck by barely brushing my neck with the iron that was set to 450 degrees! And yes, it’s a burn mark, not a hickey, although it can easily be mistaken for one, thus adding to my pain. SO, I researched the internet to figure out what to do when you burn yourself using a curling iron:

1. Gently wash the burn with cold water using an antibacterial soap or a gentle facial cleanser.
2. Ice the area for about 15 min (ice should be wrapped in paper towel or clean wash cloth).
3. According to research done by the New York Times, Honey has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that help speed healing. Spread a thin layer of honey over the burn, which will also help soothe it.
4. An Alternate to using honey is to apply vitamin E or Neosporin.
5. Apply a sterile, non-stick bandage over the burn to protect it from infecting. Gauze works well if you have it.
6. Take ibuprofen to help the swelling go down and relieve pain.
7. If your burn blisters, DO NOT pop it. It needs to pop on its own since its nature’s way of healing the skin.
8. Although tempting, avoid putting makeover over the burn to hide it; it can make it worse by spreading bacteria and oils into the fresh wound/burn.

For those of you who do not believe that it’s not a hickey, I’ve also included how to treat one!!!

1. First and foremost, do not allow someone to give you one; unless of course it’s on a place not visible to anyone else!
2. On the first day, twice daily, apply an icepack to the hickey for 15 minutes to help keep the bruise from spreading.
3. Massage the hickey for a couple of days to break down the blood clots so they are reabsorbed into your bloodstream.
4. Apply arnica (found at most health food stores and can be used on all bruises) twice daily to the hickey. It should help reduce swelling and minimize the appearance of the hickey.
5. Other tips I found are:
a. Apply a layer of toothpaste to the hickey for several minutes then remove with a warm wash cloth. Wait 24 hours and repeat the process.
b. Chill a spoon under cold water; a warm spoon is useless. Put a lot of pressure with the spoon on the hickey. You should see results after a few minutes of doing this.

Whether worn on a headband, a dress, a corsage, or even used as a pen, feathers have long been seen as a glamorous accessory with a sort of vintage sophistication.

First introduced to fashion in the Middle Ages (1066-1482), feathers were used to display a high social standing, especially when the wealthy wore them on their headdresses. Feathers later became increasingly popular with cabaret dancers in Paris, causing feathers to become a symbol of seduction.

As always, people have been flirtatious with the use of feathers, and now the biggest fashion trend for summer is feather hair extensions!  They are beautiful and edgy, but don’t damage the hair.  They’re a fun way to add excitement and decoration to your hair.

Charles Ifergan Salons offers Feather Hair Extensions for $15/ Feather.  Please call the location of your choice to schedule your appointment.

Blush provides color and life to your drab-like winter skin tones.  Having olive-toned skin, I tend to become an ugly shade of grayish-green, so I have become addicted to blush, bronzers and now makeup highlighters/illuminators, labeling me as the “blush queen”.   I have to admit that I have been caught in many public bathrooms “blushing-up” my friends and occasional stranger to whom I am desperate to make-over!

In the winter, I like to use a tinted moisturizer.  When choosing a tinted moisturizer, make sure to pick a product with a thinner consistency.  Personally, I don’t like foundation, so for me, I stay away from the tinted moisturizers that have a thicker consistency.  I use Soleil De Rose by Terry (available at Barney’s New York)

I follow by using a bronzing powder.  Refinery29.com suggests you “go about two shades deeper than your natural coloring, and don’t dust bronzer all over the face, which can make you look dirty,” says Carmindy. “Instead, strategically brush it on in a C formation. Start at the temples and sweep along the sides of the face and under cheeks for a more natural glow. You can add a slight sweep across forehead, nose, and chin at the end, but very lightly.”

My favorite bronzers are Arbonne (arbonne.com) And Bobbi Brown (most department stores, Bloomies)

I then follow with blush, along the cheeks bones, then lightly across my forehead and nose to create a tanned look.  If you like a lot of blush, like I do, then I suggest picking one that a lot of pigment.   I use NARS Taos:

I just started getting into highlighters/ illuminizers, which help to create that Jennifer Lopez type all over glow.  The highlighters help to add contour by putting emphasis on the bones of your face.  I highlight the cheekbones by placing a small amount along the bone and follow up to the temple.  I take whatever is left over on my finger and lightly brush the bridge of my nose.  Next I apply the highlight underneath the brow bone, or the arch of the eyebrow. Start from about the middle of your eyebrow and sweep the brush underneath the natural curve of your brow. Be sure to blend well, this will keep a hard line of highlight from forming under your brow, and keep you natural.

My favorites are the Mineral Silk Radiance Powder in color Seychelles (available at Charles Ifergan Salons) or the Foundation Stick in color Luminizer (also available at Charles Ifergan).

Another highlighter I use is Nars, Copacabana (available at Barney’s New York).  You need a very small amount of this product.  Another way to use it is to use it along the bone of your shins, on your legs.  This will make legs look more muscular and add a little sparkle!  Great to use on tanned/ summer legs!

]]> http://www.charlesIfergan.com/i-love-makeup/feed/ 0 http://www.charlesIfergan.com/no-chip-manis-pedis/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=no-chip-manis-pedis http://www.charlesIfergan.com/no-chip-manis-pedis/#comments Thu, 05 May 2011 21:02:40 +0000 admin http://www.charlesIfergan.com/?p=695 Continue reading →]]>

How often have you smudged your freshly manicured nails or toes? Too often than not, right?  Do  you feel like you spend more time at the nail salon waiting for your nails to dry before you can feel like a normal functioning person again?  How many times in the winter have you waited over half an hour to allow your toes to dry, only to discover later that you’ve once again smudged your toe polish?!?!  The disappointment I feel at the sight of my poor smudged nails is so saddening and at times frustrating, thinking I just spent all this time, I don’t already have, waiting for my polish to dry.  In a world where time management is key and everything is being created to make life more convenient, I knew I had to find an alternate solution to smudged toe and finger nails. 

At the suggestion of a friend, I tried a no-chip manicure.  I must say, I’m hooked.  Although the actual process of the manicure takes longer than a regular manicure (1 hour vs. ½ hour), your nails are completely dry at the end!  NO waiting time at all for nails to dry, so essentially the timing is the same!  You can use your hands immediately!  Dig into your purse to pay or search for car keys, text on your cell phone, return to work without worrying about smudging your nails.  The cost is generally around $35, but the up-keep is approximately every 2-3 weeks, depending on how quickly your nails grow.

Not only is it amazing for your hands, but I also tried the no-chip on my feet.  LOVED it for winter, because again your immediately dry allowing you to put your socks and shoes on without fear of smudging.  It can be a bit costly, $50 +, but worth it in the winter!!

Some people ask, does it really not chip?  How is it dry upon completion?  Choosing from an array of colors, each layer of gel is brushed onto the nail then placed briefly under an ultraviolet lamp, allowing the gel to harden, rendering it invulnerable to environment aggressors or your busy work and social life! 

Have any further questions?  Just “Ask Chloe” on the Charles Ifergan Facebook fan page. 

http://www.facebook.com/ CharlesIferganSalon

What the Charles Ifergan Salon and Day Spa has In Store For You

Charles Ifergan Salons Chicago is highly in demand especially to the rich and famous celebrities and public figures.  This hair salon and day spa offers a very wide range of beauteous and unique hairstyles for men, women and children alike.  An ultimate unisex hair salon in Chicago.  Anybody can get hand and foot treatments done by their trained technicians.  Other beauty services that anybody can enjoy at Charles Ifergan Salon are refreshing Facials, Waxing, Make up and spectacular satisfying massage.  Bikini, Brazilian Bikini, Eyebrow waxing, Bridal photo makeup and fabulous hair straightening & make up application and lessons compliment the salon services that will make the Salons Chicago escapade a most unforgettable experience.  The lessons learned from Charles Ifergan Salon and Day Spa will be a big help  to ladies in everyday activities and functions.  It sure feels good to make things handy and useful every bit of the way.

The exceptional dedication of Charles Ifergan Salon to create master pieces out of willing customers who entrust their new look to their hairstylists sums up to effective innovations and techniques.  New and loyal clients are always looking forward to their next visit to the ultimate Charles Ifergan Salons Chicago, the hair and beauty salon that offers the latest, hottest and chic look to the highest level from the simplest to the most eccentric look ever discovered.

Why Must You Try Charles Ifergan Salon and Day Spa?

The incomparable hair and beauty services offered at Charles Ifergan Salon Chicago compliments the cool and comfortable salon interior designs especially to soothe the classy, chic and very relaxing atmosphere of new and loyal clientele.  The professionalism of the salon’s hair and beauty experts completes the total package that Charles Ifergan Salon has to offer.

Spending some time at Charles Ifergan Salon and Day Spa can bring a change in anybody’s understanding of what beauty is all about?  With all the personalized consultation and services, there is nothing else to expect but the best.  Will just have to sit back and relax, and leave everything to the hands of the experts!!!

With Charles Ifergan’s eye for beauty and perfection, Salons Chicago will definitely serve its followers exquisitely.  The salon’s mission to offer the newest and hottest trends ever innovated has put them to the most sought after salon and day spa list all over Chicago.

Only Experts Will Take Care Of Your Needs

The Charles Ifergan Chicago Salon & Day Spa is the hair salon in Chicago that is considered to have the highest level of professionalism with the most relaxing atmosphere that anybody can enjoy in the midst of Chicago.  Everybody working at the hair salon and spa have been completely trained with all the methodologies and techniques that have brought the salon and day spa to its peak of success.  The various techniques in Chicago hairstyles and day spa practices done by the experts make Charles Ifergan Chicago Salon & Day Spa one of the top Chicago hair salon and spa.  Aside from the continuous beauty service education of the staff, the latest hairstyles and coloring techniques are offered to salon patrons.  Charles Ifergan’s dedicated and friendly staff makes loyal customers go back and crave for more hair and body pampering by their favorite attendants, hairstylists and technicians who are difficult to find in any other Chicago salon.

Before and After Charles Ifergan Hair Salon and Day Spa

We all have our own beauty, inside and out, but after a day’s worth at Charles Ifergan Salon, we will be more beautiful, through enhancement and maintenance of health and beauty practices!!!  We owe it to ourselves to take some time off from the busy hectic world, and pamper our bodies more often.  Sometimes, it feels so good to discover new hairstyles that will fit our face shapes.  Only the best hairstylists in Chicago can give the best hairstyle for a specific face. All you have to do is sit back and trust the specialist that will attend to you or even your choice of their staff and you’ll look even better than before.  The warm attitude and skillful moves of Charles Ifergan Salon and Day Spa staff is enough reason to keep on going back to their Salon and avail of the numerous special services they offer.

Consider your visit to the Charles Ifergan Hair Salon Chicago a luxurious and satisfying treat you will give to yourself…the self giving gift you will truly enjoy.  It’s like a total vacation you’ve been longing for.  The mere fact that they serve celebrities is enough reason to fully put your trust to their hair specialists and able technicians with all their offered services from manicures, pedicures, facials and hair straightening.  Plus of course the never ending and relaxing body waxing and massage and more.  You will truly enjoy the word “pampering” once you get into one of the Charles Ifergan Hair Salons Chicago.  You will be surprised by their promotions and special treats to their followers.  Their one way of showing their gratitude to all who are loyal to them, including the first timers to make them come back and enjoy more of their hair salon offers.  The one place you wouldn’t miss in a lifetime.  The Charles Ifergan Chicago Salon and Day Spa.

So what are you waiting for…join the talk of the town salon and be beautiful inside and out!!!

Charles Ifergan Chicago Salon & Day Spa can give you the changes that you want.  Charles Ifergan has been featured in leading magazines like Cosmopolitan, Glamour, GQ, Bazaar. Allure and many more.    This salon and day spa can enhance the natural beauty of anybody and will provide a sought after beauteous radiance if complemented with the sweetest smiles!!!  The one on one beauty pampering with Charles Ifergan hair stylists and beauty service technicians will give full satisfaction results.

Hair stylists and technicians fully trained the Charles Ifergan Way can be watched in Good Morning America, the Oprah and several news programs.  People who want a total make over and feel like a celebrity will definitely want to try this one in a lifetime beauty experience and body pampering at Charles Ifergan Chicago Salon and Day Spa, one of the leading salons in Chicago.

Customer Incentives

Followers of the Charles Ifergan Chicago Salon & Day Spa can avail of their promotions up to a 50% discount on beauty services offered.  Check their website and get your incentive.  Pay only half of the regular rates for your hair care services, hair care treatment and their holistic spa that will leave you craving for more visits with them.  Once you become an “Ifergan Insider”, expect your instant Charles Ifergan price off in your mailbox.  Aside from the big price slash is finding beauty tips and easy tricks that you can do on your own just by clicking Facebook or Twitter.  You will be amazed looking at the Chicago hottest lifestyle directly brought to you by Charles Ifergan.  Wouldn’t it be great to get the hottest and expert hair tips straight from the top brass hairstylists in Chicago?  You can check http://www.charlesifergan.com and get acquainted with the services, products, specialists and the wonder of getting hands on beauty treatment from experienced hairstylists and technicians.

Look Good and Feel Good

You may be beautiful even before going to Charles Ifergan Hair Salon and Day Spa, but wouldn’t it be great to see yourself look even more beautiful after a day’s glamorous escapade with the expert hairstylists and fully trained technicians in this salon?  Give yourselves a break and take a breather…making a new and unique look you have been dreaming of.  It always pays to pamper your body once in a while in a top Chicago salon and spa, after a long and stressful day.

Pamper Your Hair

The Charles Ifergan Chicago Salon and Day Spa trains their staff to provide customer satisfaction and quality performance.  It is their passion for excellence that directs their working force to get involved in continuous beauty service formal education and create innovative hairstyles that fits a certain individual.  It is the nature of full service hair salons to provide and focus on the latest trends in order to reach the peak of customer service.  New hairstyles and techniques of expert hairstylists with the best hair colorists in Chicago is what Charles Ifergan Salon & Day Spa is all about.