Howdy! It’s Pamela Edwards here, Beauty Editor of ESSENCE magazine. Welcome to my second edition of Countdown to ‘I Do’ on ESSENCE.com.
So, my younger sis Jenny-poo-poo (pictured with me on the right) is my maid of honor. And she has carried some weight with this wedding production. She set up a wedding Web site for Nigel and me on weddingwindow.com. Jennifer says it’s an easy, efficient web tool and she updates it regularly. Too bad we still haven’t locked down her dress. Ahhhhhh, we’ll get there…
If you missed my inaugural post last week,
I have a tendency to procrastinate. And for this reason many of my friends and family have taken it upon themselves to step in and help me make this wedding happen. Just last week my buddy Nazenet appeared in my office, demanding my guest list. She’s putting everything into an Excel spreadsheet so I can keep up with RSVPs, thank-you notes an so forth. Thank God for Naz!
This is my junior bridesmaid, Gabby, Nigel’s sweet and only niece. Like Jennifer, she too is without a proper garment for the wedding (all my fault). I’m determined to get this straight by next week. Tick tock.
Jennifer and Gabby aren’t the only ladies in this shin dig without a done-deal dress for the big day. I’m also in the midst of putting a dress together. Johnny Lewter is a NYC designer/tailor who works miracles…
I knew something was right about Johnny after he whipped up this gown for me. I wore it during my close encounter with designer Diane von Furstenberg. She was at this gala, The Root Ball, during Inauguration Weekend in D.C. We made eye contact, then she gave me an approving head-to-toe once-over and smiled. Approved by DVF? Johnny is my guy! And by the way, Johnny sewed this gown for me in two days.
I bought it month’s ago—a stupendous deal at a consignment shop in New Orleans. My mom made me get it because the fabric and silhouette were simply perfect. I still didn’t really think it would be the real thing… That was three months ago. This has to be it!
As of right now, my wedding gown does not fit. Johnny is now working his magic to ensure a perfect fit on April 11, 2009, the big day.
Say a prayer for us, really.
All these dress-fit issues have sent me straight to the gym. I discovered a real time-saving and effective workout via Station Fitness on Hudson Street in NYC (stationfitness.com). Their workouts revolve around Power Plates or rather vibrating machines that intensify your workouts. Half an hour of calisthenics on these babies is equivalent to an hour and a half workout. All the ladies in class swear I’ll see real definition on my abs in two weeks…good thing, cause that’s about all I’ve got.
My good friend Holly (left) says my morning strength training at Power Station is great, but I’ve got to get the cardio in… So she dragged me to a brutal but necessary boxing class at AeroSpace Gym (aerospacenyc.com). Thanks to the owner (center), and our instructor, Michael Olajide, Jr., the burn is now on.
Cardio is essential, and so is solidifying my core. Nothing does that better than Pilates. Here I am on the reformer trying my best to exercise self-control. I’m counting on Erika Bloom Pilates Plus (erikabloompilatesplus.com) and my instructor Celine Burn to transform my stocky middle into a longer, leaner machine. So that’s my workout plan: Power Plates every morning, two, three nights of hardcore cardio and two nights of Pilates.
The exercise has left my hair a hot mess. Forget the blow-outs for now—they’re a waste of time with all of this sweating. My curl genius friend and celebrity stylist Anthony Dickey has helped me with his curl line, Hair Rules, hairrules.com.
Dickey washed my hair with his suds-free shampoo (it won’t dry curly hair) before applying his Quench Conditioner. He rinsed that out and then applied a big glob of Curly Whip throughout my tresses. Now I’ve got more of a defined texture that I can work with, whether my hair is up or down. Bye-bye, birds’ nest…
The two products that have saved my life: Hair Rules Quench and Curly Whip, hairrules.com.
This is Wendy Scott. She’s in charge of the Bridal Registry at Bergdorf Goodman in New York City, not to mention an absolute pleasure to work with. Many think I’m a little nutty for registering at a New York-only, pricey spot. Here’s why they’re wrong: Bergdorf’s 7th floor is full of exquisite, one-of-a kind items that can make every corner of a home smile. I’m a Cancer so home is everything to me. And the best part is that 90% of my registry items are under $150! I also registered at Crate & Barrel and Williams-Sonoma, both full of great-looking necessities. But Bergdorf has those special touches that will make my home sing.
I’m in love with my china pattern. Mom thinks I’m crazy for choosing orange, but it is my favorite color.
My big accomplishment last week? Professional teeth whitening! Most every dental practice has this type of light therapy brightening. It takes about an hour for the light to brighten the teeth through and through. I left with trays for two weeks of at-home intensification. Cosmetic dentist Dr. Gregg Lituchy of Lowenberg & Lituchy brightened my pearly whites perfectly. If you choose to skip in-office brightening, two really good at-home options include Crest Whitestrips Premium (whitestrips.com) and for sensitive types, Luster Weekend Tooth Whitening System (lusteroralcare.com).
See you next Wednesday!
I knew something was right about Johnny after he whipped up this gown for me. I wore it during my close encounter with designer Diane von Furstenberg. She was at this ball, The Root Ball during Inuguration Weekend in D.C. We made eye contact, then she gave me an approving head-to-toe once-over and smiled. Approved by DVF? Johnny is my guy! And by the way, Johnny sewed this gown for me in two days.
(I discovered Johnny’s genius after he made me a gown for Inauguration weekend––in two days!) CUT!
