Friday Fabü: The Saturday Edition

It’s a Walter White Christmas at eco-fab day spa Great Face & Body (123 Broadway SE, 505-404-6670, greatfaceandbody.com). Like the infamous chemical kingpin from “Breaking Bad”, co-owners Keith and André West-Harrison have also cleverly cashed-in on Albuquerque’s sky-blue meth, although their chemistry isn’t breaking any laws. Their new Bathing Bad Bath Salts are the same color and sold in contraband-esque 8oz. baggies, just like you might find on the street. Since releasing the new bath salts, they’ve already moved over 60 pounds of their new product in 30 different states and four countries.

“Since we just bought an old 9,000 square foot building, we decided we needed to ‘break bad’ so we could afford the renovations,” said Keith in a recent interview. “We thought selling bath salts was better than meth, since I’m not a chemist… and we’d prefer no jail time.”

These aren’t the naked cannibal type of bath salts. Quite the contrary, the worst thing they’ll do is lull you into a deep, glorious sleep après bath. Made with all organic ingredients (including the blue dye, which is derived from red cabbage), an 8 oz. bag usually retails for $15.99, but the product is on sale until Christmas for only $9.99. Sales from the Bathing Bad line support local charity Enlace Comunitario (enlacenm.org).

Monday Fabü

(Because I forgot on Friday.)

Am I one of those new moms who signs up for parent and child yoga classes? Totally. I consumed my own placentas, for crying out loud—postnatal yoga is the next logical step. But it must be fabulous. Thus, Mr. Brown and I packed up our brood and headed to Blooming Sprout Yoga (505.433.1171, bloomingsproutyoga.com).

Founded by two native New Mexican yogis, Cassey Elliott (who holds a master’s degree in early childhood education) and Kelsey Lenzmeier (whose communication master’s degree studies focused on family and child communication), Blooming Sprout classes are held at various locations throughout Albuquerque. Currently, they offer classes at Blissful Spirits Hot Yoga, Orange Yoga (where we attended) and Ms. Kelli’s House Early Learning Center.

 “As parents ourselves, we know the importance of physical activity in children’s daily lives,” said Lenzmeier. “Our classes are designed to provide parents, kids and families with a fun and healthy way to bond, relax and re-energize, with the ultimate goal of improving overall quality of life.

We attended the Tiny Sprout Postnatal class. It was both cute and effective. First, the babies did some stretching, and then it was grown-up time. The babies cleared enjoyed hanging out on their padded mats and watching mom and dad stretch above them. Next, the babies were incorporated into the poses. It was the perfect level of stretching for my postnatal needs—not too much, but enough to make me work. Finally, Shavasana, the relaxing closure to the practice. We curled around the babies, and through the use of a lovely and deeply moving story reading (won’t tell you which one; you have to attend to find out) in hushed tones, Elliott and Lenzmeier helped us take parent/child bonding to a new level. I seriously cried. It was incredible. 

To read the rest of the column, click here. 

Friday Fabü: The Very Late Edition

Haven't posted a Friday Fabü in ages. Forgive me for dropping the ball, dahling. Busy times, needless to say. Here ya' go!

In honor of Pride and Fabü’s pop culture obsession, I’d like to pay tribute to some of my fave LGBT pop culture icons. Naturally, I must first give props to LGBT rights pioneers such as Frank Kameny, Barbara Gittings, Harvey Milk, Quentin Crisp, Margarethe Cammermeyer, Craig Rodwell and so many others who paved the way to make this list possible. Without them, there would be no gay pop culture. No drag bingo, no Queer Eye, no Harper and Gideon Burtka-Harris, no Pet Shop Boys, no Planet Unicorn … no fun.

Without further ado, I give you the Fabü Pride 2012 LGBT Pop Culture Icon Hall of Fame, in random order … except for number one, because that’s how hard Joan Jett kicks ass.

1. Joan Jett I love Joan Jett, so put another dime in the jukebox, baby. Short, choppy, jet-black hair … skin-tight leather pants and vest … defiant sneer … deep, husky voice … Gibson Melody Maker guitar … and, of course, the signature kohl eyeliner. These things and more make Joan number one on the list. Fab fact: “I Love Rock N’ Roll” is considered by Billboard to be the No. 28 Song of all Time.

2. Karl Lagerfeld After emigrating to Paris at age 14, he went on to create designs for Balmain, Chloe, Valentino, Fendi and more. This master of reinvention is best known as the creative force behind the modern revival of the house of Chanel. In 1997, Vogue crowned him “unparalleled interpreter of the mood of the moment.” Fab fact: Lagerfeld speaks fluent German, English, French and Italian.

3. Divine Born Harris Glen Milstead in 1945, this gender-bending cult figure became the international icon of bad taste cinema as the always-shocking drag performer, Divine. After meeting director John Waters at a Baltimore high school, he went on to star in 10 of Waters’ films, usually in the lead role. Fab fact: In Disney’s The Little Mermaid, the character of Ursula (voiced by Pat Carroll) was based on Divine.

4. Meshell Ndegeocello Credited for having sparked the neo-soul movement and being the best female bass player ever, this singer-songwriter, rapper and multi-instrumentalist has had 10 Grammy nominations. She’s collaborated with artists such as Zap Mama, The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Chaka Khan and more. An avid activist, Ndegeocello has helped AIDS charities, the empowerment of Congo women and the It Gets Better project. Fab fact: She decided she wanted to be a musician after listening to Prince.

5. David Sedaris Possibly the funniest American writer alive, Sedaris has developed an astute knack for making people laugh ‘til they nearly wet their pants, all simply by telling his own life stories, including tales of jobs, relationships and dysfunctional families. Fab quote: “After a few months in my parents’ basement, I took an apartment near the state university, where I discovered both crystal methamphetamine and conceptual art. Either one of these things are dangerous, but in combination they have the potential to destroy entire civilizations.”

6. Gaahl I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t shocked when I learned that Gaahl (né Kristian Espedal), front-man for Norwegian black metal band Gorgoroth, was in a close relationship with modeling agent/fur connoisseur Dan DeVero. Go, Gaahl! Kudos for being honest and happily living your truth, sir. Now, Gaahl still rocks among the hardest, yet is also launching a women’s clothing line with DeVero. How perfect is that? Fab facts: 1) Besides Gorgoroth, Gaahl has been involved in the bands Gaahlskagg, Trelldom and Sigfader. 2) Gaahl hates sweatpants.

Click here to read the rest of the column. 

Friday Fabü

There’s a very important issue that we need to discuss: the rampant, brutal butchering of designer and brand names. It’s reaching crisis levels. Something must be done before the streets are teeming with ignorant trendinistas, blathering away like Nomi “Ver-sayce” Malone (Elizabeth Berkley) from “Showgirls.”  Positively cringeworthy.

Look, I’m not saying that any of us are so enlightened that we innately know the correct pronunciation of every name. We’ve all had our fair share of read-it-but-never-said-it moments. Sadly, some of us have even suffered unfortunate Nomi moments. It ends now. Here are some commonly mispronounced names and the proper ways to say them.  

Balenciaga: Bah-lin-cee-ah-gah

Bebe: Bee-bee

Bvlgari: BUHL-guh-ree

Cartier: Kar-tee-aye

Christian Lacroix: La-Kwa

Décolletage: day-cole-ay-taj

Empire (as in empire waist): em-pire OR ohm-peer (both are correct)

Ermenegildo Zegna: Er-men-a-geel-do Zen-ya

Frédéric Fekkai: fred-er-riq fehk-eye

Givenchy: zhee-von-she

Guerlain: gair-lahn

Hermés: air-mez

Hervé Léger: Air-vay Lay-jay

Issey Miyake: EE-say me-AH-kay

Kérastase: care-a-stoss

Lanvin: lahn-vahn

L'occitane: lox-ee-tan

Louboutin: loo-boo-tan

Moschino: Mo-ski-no

Proenza Schouler: pro-en-za skool-er

Ralph Lauren: ralf LOR-uhn

Ruching: roosh-ing

6267: Six-two-six-seven (not Sixty-two-sixty-seven)

Shiseido: she-say-doe

Shu Uemura: shoe-eew-ay-murah

Thierry Mugler: Tee-air-ree Moog-lay

Yves Saint Laurent: eve sanh la-rahn

Lesson adjourned. Need more help? Check out Speak Chic, the $1.99 mobile app with an A-Z list of recorded pronunciations of designer and brand names, industry lingo and such. 

Friday Fabü

I officially believe that glamorous pregnancy is a myth perpetuated by Victoria Beckham, Beyonce and those with armies of 24/7 groomers, stylists and PR sharks.

As we all know, many pregnant women report that they feel super-sexy and more beautiful than ever during these magical nine months. I want to slap their glowing faces.

When you're pregnant, your body produces fifty percent more blood, which can brighten the face. There’s also increased hormone production, creating more oils and leaving the face shinier. Combine them, and you have a lovely, luminescent glow… or brutal acne. I got the latter. It’s awesome.

Some preggos also report feeling healthier and more vibrant than ever. I feel like my ribs are going to burst through my skin at any given moment. Again, way awesome.

Don’t get me wrong, this pregnancy gig’s cool, but it’s definitely challenging. It has increased my sympathy for the hormonally challenged and chronically pained. Rather than allow this negative stuff to deface this special time, I did what any of us would do: hit the spa.

Thanks to pregnancy, I discovered some fab new treatments that I would’ve otherwise overlooked. These treatments aren’t just for preggos, mind you—they’re specialty treatments for those who have other-than-average needs. If that sounds like you, read on.

First, I went to Mark Pardo (10420 B Coors Bypass, 505.298.2983, markpardo.com) for an Aveda Hydrotherm Massage ($100) with Art Fuentes.

The treatment has the benefits of traditional massage without the normal challenges: no turning over, no face cradles and no cold rooms. Clients lay face up on big pillows filled with warm water, then are slathered with oil and massaged into a state of pure bliss. All your aches, pains and stressors literally float away in this slippery, warm cocoon of security.

“It’s like the womb,” said Fuentes, who has massaged Pardo devotees for eight years. “It’s so peaceful that you leave here feeling like a whole different person.”

He is so right. The whole spa could’ve crumbled around me, and I wouldn’t have done much more than sigh. Such deep relaxation and peace. Just thinking about it again makes me feel sleepy. This is a great treatment for those who are pregnant, dislike lying on their stomach, can’t lie on their back for too long without pain, or simply desire a new massage/relaxation experience. It’s truly a unique spa treatment. Well done, Pardo.

Next: the glow. Enter Devon Van Hecke, esthetician and owner of Broadway Skin & Body Retreat (408 Broadway SE, 505.246.2400, broadwayretreat.com). Nestled inside a cozy, adorable Edo Victorian house, Van Hecke and her team offer an impressive menu of top-of-the-line treatments in an inviting, intimate atmosphere.

“People feel at home here,” said Van Hecke.

For my needs (hormonal breakouts), she selected the Purifying Seaweed Facial ($70), a nutrient-rich treatment that purifies and nourishes. Using the all-natural, organic, vegan skincare line, 100% Pure, she went to work. Cleansers, toners, creams, steam, hot towels—you know the drill. The seaweed is the real deal, so you need to be able to handle a briny, straight-outta-the-ocean smell. I thought it was cool; not a common smell around here.

“Now, it’s time for the facial massage,” she announced.

I need you to know something: Devon Von Hecke gives the best “facial massage” that I have ever experienced. It is a treatment in itself, and is far from a facial massage. Indeed, she massages your face, but with a twist: She uses traditional strokes combined with a light-touch method I’ve never experienced before. With one finger, she barely touches a point on your skin and rubs clockwise and counter-clockwise, and the relaxation it invokes is deeply powerful. Done? Not even close. Next, she rubs your neck, ears and scalp within an inch of your life. The scalp massage isn’t wimpy, either, so make sure this is your last appointment of the day, because your ‘do will unquestionably get worked. Beyond bliss! I need more Devon.

Ultimately, I was left with a deeply-cleansed complexion and the ability to actually sleep through my first night in about a week. Yeah, that’s another pregnancy perk: insomnia. Bonus!

Broadway Skin & Body Retreat offers numerous customized facials (including a three-mask Ayurvedic facial with Vinies Ayurveda’s Soul products), peels, lifts, glows/scrubs and massage. Not to be outdone, they also do lashes, brows and makeup treatments.

Must run: I have to go shopping for dresses… and slacks. Just found out there’s a boy and a girl in there! Double-trouble on the wardrobe front. It’s gonna get really cute around here. 

Via Local iQ 

Friday Fabü

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: An unknowingly-pregnant blonde decides to get a colonic…

Sounds like the beginning of yet another Fabü adventure, yes? Away we go!

Just a few days before my colon hydrotherapy session at Kukana Colonics (8920 Matthew NE, 505.298.1983, albuquerquecolonics.com), I discovered I was pregnant. I called the doctor to see if I could still get the colonic. Veto! Now what? I was really looking forward to writing about the treatment in this very column. How could I tell Kukana that, no, I wouldn’t be featuring her, after all?

Enter my knight on a white horse: my husband, DJ Brown. “Fine, fine… I’ll do it,” he said after several eyelash bats from yours truly. The things we do for love.

Soon, we were face-to-face with Kukana herself: A vibrant, sprite-like woman reminiscent of a 62-year-old Björk. She seriously looks amazing, and credits it all to colon cleansing.

“Your immune system improves. Your allergies go away. Everything works better,” she proudly stated. “You feel like you’re in your twenties again.”

A colon hydrotherapist for 25 years, Kukana knows colons like nobody’s business. First, she took DJ’s detailed stool history (“How long? What size?”). Never did I expect to learn so much about my husband’s stools. He unabashedly answered every question as I furiously scribbled in my notepad. I owe this man, big-time. 

Click here to read the rest of the column. 

Friday Fabü

In loving memory of Ms. Whitney Elizabeth Houston, let’s pay tribute to some of music’s most fabulous divas. Sometimes, their antics are so inappropriate that we want to hunt them down, use the Force to bypass security, grab the diva and give her a good ol’ fashioned spanking, because somebody should’ve done it a long time ago. Instead, we simply shake our heads and blame it on divadom.

Without further ado, Fabü presents the Whitney Houston Memorial Diva Roster. Divas are listed in random order, but I’m sure that won’t stop Madonna from sending her flying monkeys after me for giving her the fourth position. Bring it, Madge! Oops, typo. Correction: Sing it, Madge!

Mariah Carey: She has five Grammys and more number one U.S. pop hits than anyone but the Beatles. Her hotel demands include two bottles of Cristal champagne, one box of bendy straws and male-only attendants. She once had a $10,000 antique table flown in for an autograph signing. She doesn’t do stairs.

Cher: She’s come a long way since her Sonny days. This accomplished and much-adored singer/actress has a mantle filled with diverse awards, including a Grammy, Oscar and Emmy award. The top reason why Cher is among my fave divas: she requires a wig room at her shows. That’s it. I’m done. Cher rules.

Aretha Franklin: All hail the Queen of Soul! An incredibly-gifted vocalist, songwriter and pianist, ReeRee has 20 Grammy awards. Helloooo? In 1987, she became the first female artist to enter the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She charges $25,000 cash up-front upon arrival at every show. The Motown diva also insists that any hotel room she stays in must not be above the fifth floor.

Madonna: The material girl’s feats in the Guinness World Records include The Most Successful Female Artist of All Time and The Most Costume Changes in a film (more than 300 for Evita). A Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Madge demands a brand new toilet seat at every concert, and then it’s destroyed after she leaves. She also demands 20 cases of Kabbalah water, white drapes and white roses.

Click here to read the rest of the column. 

Friday Fabü

Ah, the wedding issue — always a favorite. You might recall that I got married nearly four months ago. Does that still make me a newlywed? I vote yes, mostly because I’m lazy and don’t want to wipe the shoe polish off my car windows or untether the cans from the bumper. Did I say lazy? I meant really busy. Leave me alone.

This year’s Fabü wedding edition topic is extra-fabulous: custom attire. Last spring, my friend, Sabra Minkus, contacted me about helping find a dress she could wear to her daughter Bonnie’s summer wedding to Jayme Holmes. However, this wasn’t just any dress for the mother-of-the-bride — it was a Chanel gown that Sabra saw in W magazine’s New York Fashion Week coverage.

After several calls within various levels of the Chanel hierarchy, I finally got my answer. “Zat was for ze runway only,” declared the oh-so-French couture specialist, who I imagined was dripping in pearls and clutching a quilted leather phone. “It eez not available for purchez.” Sigh. Mission failed. Dream shattered. Or was it?

I contacted Teresa Romero, designer and owner ofThe Designer’s Lounge (7101 Menaul NE, 505.508.1750, designandlounge.com), a fashion design and sewing studio. A nearly 20-year fashion industry veteran, Romero came highly recommended for her custom dresses, particularly for brides and bridal party members.

“The women I am commissioned by have shopped around and can’t seem to find their dream dress,” said Romero.

Together, Romero and Minkus mapped out a plan for a custom, Chanel-inspired gown. 

Click here to read the rest of the column in Local iQ magazine's special wedding issue! 

Friday Fabü

I’ve gotta admit, when I received an offer for an Evox treatment from Janice Bequette, owner of Albuquerque Massage ~ Mind, Body, Soul, Bliss (1111 Carlisle SE, 505.306.6952, AlbuquerqueMassage.org), I was skeptical.

“Evox is a combination light and sound therapy that seeks to reset neural pathways in the brain to increase relaxation, release anxieties and worries, eliminate destructive behavioral patterns, and lead to new insights and a healthier mental paradigm,” Bequette explained in an email.

Um… OK… sure. I continued reading.

“The treatment works by recording short voiceprints, analyzing the sound patterns, and converting the patterns into frequencies that are then played back to the client in order to reset negative neural pathways.”

I decided to stop trying to understand it and simply accept the offer. Why not? Bring on the new. I showed up with an open mind and sassy new ‘do. Let’s do this.

First off, Bequette was surprisingly non-freaky-deaky. She’s cool. We could be friends. She invited me into her cozy treatment room and we began our work.

I reclined on a comfy table and donned funky glasses with an attached headphone/microphone combo. My inner drag queen wanted to leap off the table and burst into my best Fergie impression, because the space-age headgear made me appear a bit Black Eyed Pea-ish, yet I refrained. My gear was hooked up to a nearby laptop, and I doubt Bequette would have appreciated any cord yanking.

Next, I babbled a few words about my stressors and life concerns into the microphone. A few seconds later, Bequette instructed me to close my eyes. The headphones played soothing music combined with dolphin-like sounds (my voice pattern frequencies), all paired with light patterning in the glasses. This continued for a few minutes, and then we repeated the pattern several times. This, my friends, is Evox (50 min, $55). 

Click here to read the rest of the column. 

Friday Fabü

Another year has come and gone, dahling. Sayonara, 2011! You were a good year for most of us. Dear 2012, thanks in advance for being even more fabulous than your predecessor.

I’d like to dedicate the last column of the year to the gentlemen. Have you established your New Year’s resolution yet, guys? Naturally, I have a suggestion: Resolve to look as fabulous as possible. Of course, this means you’ll likely have to do some shopping. Fortunately, we have two new specialty men’s clothing stores: Izzy Martin and Dressed to Kill Clothier.

Click here to read the rest of the column 

Friday Fabü

For our four-legged friends, I suggest drugs … for the cats, at least. Catnip cigars ($6.95) at the Old Town Cat House (400 San Felipe NW, 505.924.1166) make kitty oh-so-happy and give us hours of cheap entertainment. Watching a cat looped-out on crazy-plant is a gift in itself. Am I right, or am I right? For the pooches, hit Albuquerque Dogtown (3845 Rio Grande NW, 505.341.4484) for new and gently used dog clothing and accessories. Be sure to check out the beds; they have the most over-the-top luxurious pet beds that I’ve ever seen around these parts.

Every kid needs his/her own copy of The Green Album, a 2011 release featuring covers of classic Muppets (muppetsmusic.com) songs by modern artists, including Weezer, OK Go, My Morning Jacket and Andrew Bird. Fabü fave: Rachael Yamagata’s “I’m Going to Go Back There Someday.”

Finally, who doesn’t need a Diane von Furstenberg (dvf.com) iPhone case? It’s only $20. You’re totally online right now ordering it, aren’t you? Could you at least finish reading the column first, please? Manners!

Click here to read the rest of the column. 

Friday Fabü

(I know you already know most of this, darling blog reader, but this is from Fabü in the current issue of Local iQ)

That’s right: I’m a married woman. If you recall, my beau proposed on Aug. 30, my 40th birthday. The following weekend, whilst lounging poolside at a Scottsdale resort during a Labor Day getaway, we discussed wedding ideas. The bigger they got, the less we liked them. Ultimately, we decided to quietly elope on Oct. 1.

Basically, I had three weeks to plan a wedding. Was I stressed? Yes, but not an iota as much as I would have been if it was a big, fat, frilly affair. My propensity for anxiety is high even when I’m stretched out on the couch, reading a novel; thus, tackling a big wedding is likely more than my oft-delicate nerves can endure without multiple meltdowns that would put every last horrorshow on that Bridezilla program to shame. I used to plan huge events for a living. I’ve had my fill, thankyouverymuch.

Agenda item number one: location. We wanted to marry outdoors in a rustic, picturesque locale. We chose the old bridge in Red River. Rustic: check. The leaves were turning, which made for a spectacular backdrop. Picturesque: check. The autumn chill was definitely present, but not enough to prohibit wearing a wedding gown sans parka. No parkas on your wedding day: jumbo check … wedding parkas aren’t my thing; it’s strapless or nothing for this bride, and nobody likes a nude bride, well, except for nudists … and pervs ... but let’s move on.

Click here to read the rest of the column.

Friday Fabü

Often, I have to be coaxed out of Nob Hill and Downtown. When I received a tip about a great new West Side clinic, I knew what I had to do. I packed some beef jerky, my fab hiking boots (that I swore I’d use regularly but have only worn once) and a compass, and headed west. My destination: Beauty in Wellness (8631-D Golf Course NW, 505.792.1101, trumedicine.com).

About 17 minutes later (in lunchtime traffic, mind you), I was face-to-face with clinic founder Dr. J. Marcus Trujillo. Seriously, it was less than 20 minutes; sometimes it takes me that long just to get from Nob Hill Bar & Grill to Launchpad on a Friday night. This drive was totally painless: I-25 to Paseo to Golf Course … bam-bam-bam … donezo. I thereby solemnly swore to embrace West Side drives from that moment on. Piece of cake.

Eastern health principles meet Western aesthetics at Beauty in Wellness. It’s a full-scope acupuncture and herbal clinic specializing in cosmetic treatments, including facial rejuvenation, breast reduction/enlargement and body sculpting. Using needles, massage, moxa (heat), electrical stimulation and more, Trujillo’s treatments aren’t what many of us are accustomed to experiencing. Here’s the really cool thing about it, though: While you’re getting that breast enhancement treatment, for example, you’re also helping to detox your liver. How? I’ll let Dr. Trujillo — a very gifted and informative conversationalist, who I genuinely enjoyed chatting with — do the talking. He explains it much better than I ever could.

Click here to read the rest of the column.

Friday Fabü

What would this column be without its annual Halloween suggestions? Snoresville, that’s what. This year, I have some extra-fab ones for you. Pour something potent and revel in the ghoulishness of it all. Let’s do this.

My absolute top pick for this year: Princess Beatrice at the royal wedding. That fallopian nightmare of a Philip Treacy fascinator demands absolute ridicule this Halloween.

Cover a base with blush-colored fabric. Get a roll of wide, wired ribbon from the craft store. Buy an oval Styrofoam hoop and some blush-toned spray paint while you’re there. Paint the base, hoop and ribbon separately. Let all pieces dry completely before assembling. Grab a reference photo, a glue gun and some pins and—presto!—you’re a royal tragedy. Don’t forget to go heavy on the eye makeup.

Click here to read the rest of the column.

Friday Fabü

This issue, I’m writing about something that might shock you: fitness. Take a moment to steady yourself. Sip some water. Take slow, deep, breaths. You OK? Good. Let’s continue.

I reiterate: I, fabulicious, have been workin’ on my fitness. No joke. They’re ice skating in Hades, dahling.

Considering the fact that 40 was rapidly approaching, I decided it was time to ditch my precious ciggies, lighten up on the vodka (and champagne … and tequila … oh, how the list goes on), finally make friends with vegetables and — gasp! — develop a fitness regime.

My plan lingered in the development stage for a few months. This was due to three reasons: 1) Sloth and I are dear, old friends, 2) I heart sugar-laden treats, and, 3) I’m not a fan of most gyms and gym people. There, I said it: Gym culture freaks me out. I don’t want to buy the gear and show up to the group sessions and chat with all the gymmies about gymness. I’m not saying it’s wrong; I’m just saying it’s not my thing.

Enter personal trainer Jonathan Rockwell, founder of The Machine Training Systems (505.573.5753). I’d heard about him from a trusted friend who shares the same slacker values and gym phobia as I. Even so, I still worried. I’d tried several gyms and several personal trainers over the years. No bueno. However, 40 was breathing down my neck, so I took the plunge one more time.

“Expect to achieve your goals,” he declared at our first meeting. “Let’s begin.”

Click here to read the rest of the column. 

40th Birthday "Tune-Up" at Bair Medical Spa

As promised in the new Fabü, here are the action shots from my 40th birthday visit with Dr. Dean Bair at Bair Medical Spa.

Dr. Bair used injectables (such as Botox) and fillers (like Juvederm) with a very subtle hand, which granted a refreshed, more youthful appearance. Results last anywhere from three months to over a year, depending on the product used. Prices vary, but are widely affordable.

I highly recommend fillers and injectables for anyone who wants to soften wrinkles, creases and fine lines, augment the lips, enhance shallow contours or improve the appearance of recessed scars. 

Bottom line: If you want to get rid of your wrinkles and/or freshen your look, but aren't ready for surgery, this is the treatment for you. It's nearly pain-free (and if I say it is, it IS --- I'm a huge wimp) and has zero down time. Stop hesitating and just DO IT. You'll be so glad you did.

Thanks to Dr. Dean Bair and the friendly, helpful staff at Bair Medical Spa. Thanks to you, forty is, indeed, fabulous!

Treatment photos by Kim Barela

Friday Fabü

I’d like to begin this column by showing Albuquerque some love. This city just keeps getting better and better. I realize it has its drawbacks, as well. I, too, would love a pro basketball team and a La Perla boutique, but we must give it time and appreciation. It’s happening. 

With each new fabulous business that appears around here, my love for Albuquerque grows. I’m excited to announce that we have a very fine new addition: Plume (203-B Wellesley SE, 505.490.9407, plumeskincare.com), a skin care boutique specializing in Dr. Hauschka Skin Care products and services.

Are you rolling around on the floor in a gleeful frenzy? You’re in good company. I seriously did a little jig when I heard about Plume. It’s the only Dr. Hauschka treatment center in Albuquerque and one of two in the entire state. In other words, it’s a big deal.

“Years ago, I read an article about Dr. Hauschka Skin Care,” said Plume owner and esthetician Kathryn Peacock, following a recent treatment. “I was so swept away by the philosophy that I knew I wanted to study with them. I had never seen an esthetician in my life, didn’t even know what one was or did. But I knew I wanted to work with this skin care line.”

Click here to read the rest of the column.

Friday Fabü

Rejoice! It’s rant sesh time again! Get cozy (not too cozy, however … see #3), make— or pour — a nice little snack and absorb the tragedy and wonder of Fabü Fashion Blunders.

Look, we all commit fashion crimes now and then. Just yesterday, I realized I’d spent the whole day walking around with my dress label sticking out. It was a decent label, but doesn’t that actually make it worse? As if I was attempting to silently scream to everyone, “Look at me! I’m wearing Betsey Johnson! I’m posh, OK?!?” Oh, the humanity.

Minor wrinkles (pun intended) aside, we often have total control over our style snafus. There are some errors; however, that seem to be reaching epidemic proportions.

1. Let’s tackle the worst offender first: The dreaded muffin-top. For those who have been away on an extended Mars vaycay, this raging fashion faux pas is when someone wears a pair of too-tight jeans that makes their flab spill out over the waistband, producing a look not unlike a muffin sitting over the edge of the paper case.

Naturally, the resurrection of low-rise jeans and midriff tops are prime contributors to this muffin-top madness. I implore you: Do not wear these togs if your bod isn’t bangin’. Dress for your body type. Focus on the positive. Pick your best assets and design your outfits around them. Capice?

2. You might call them clam diggers, culottes, shpants or pedal pushers; I call them “hell no.” These pants are not your friend; trust me. They make short people appear shorter, and tall people look like growth-spurt rejects from The Little Rascals.

If you’re so committed to this look that it’s become a near-daily staple, however, please, a). hire a fashion consultant; you need more wardrobe variety, or, b). switch to well-tailored capri pants, which are more tapered in the calf and compliment all figures. See? You look gorgeous already.

3. Do not wear pajama bottoms in public. Do not wear pajama bottoms in public. Do. Not. Wear. Pajama. Bottoms. In. Public.

4. Now, we’ll address the full-scale horror of shrimp ‘n’ biscuits. This is the calamitous result of wearing open toe and/or heel shoes that are too small, resulting in the toes and/or heels hanging over the shoe boundary. Thus, the toes resemble cocktail shrimp and the heels look like calloused, oven-fresh biscuits. Mmmm! Doesn’t that conjure the loveliest visual?

As the saying goes, “If the shoe fits, wear it. If the shoe doesn’t fit, think of shrimp ‘n’ biscuits.” That should help you stick with the proper size.

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Friday Fabü

(Posting Thursday due to all-day travel tomorrow. Labor Day adventures await!)

If there’s one word I would not use to describe the jewelry at Sukhmani Nob Hill (105 Amherst SE, 505.255.2883, sukhmaninobhill.com), it’s baubles. These are far from trinkets, dahling. Think chunky, inspirational, high-quality statement pieces.

Just a few minutes west of the fairgrounds, this tranquil boutique is a welcome reprieve from the lukewarm-to-sterile vibe of many common jewelry stores. Owners Sat Bachan Anthony and Sat Gurumukh Khalsa and their incredibly genial staff ensure that each visitor feels welcome, comfortable and important.

I can confidently attest that Sukhmani jewelry is like nothing you’ve ever seen. Among their copious treasures, you’ll find stately turquoise, electric-colored coral and the most prodigious, certified amber pendants you’ve ever laid eyes on. Many of their pieces are featured in Smithsonian Institution collections. How’s that for fabulous?

As if the decadent jewelry isn’t enough, the Sukhmani family of products also includes natural and organic body care, exotic home decor, gorgeous paintings, Japanese raw wax candles and authentic silk and wool textiles. Just browsing in this lovely environment makes you feel better than you did when you walked in the door.

“Our products are meant to make people feel good,” said Anthony, “To give them a little respite and pleasure in a busy world.”

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Friday Fabü

Born in India, Vinie’s family was traditional, but far from ordinary. Her parents, Yogi Bhajan Ph.D., and Bibiji Inderjit Kaur, Ph.D., introduced Kundalini Yoga to the west in 1969 and spearheaded the creation of the first Ayurvedic-based businesses (Yogi Tea, Golden Temple and Peace Cereal) in the United States. At age 10, she came to the U.S. and was raised in Espanola, N.M.

“I call New Mexico my home,” she said in a recent interview. “Even in our New Mexico households, we did and still incorporate ancient Ayurvedic principles into almost every aspect of daily life.”

After recovering from a debilitating illness and witnessing her own recovery via Ayurvedic remedies, she embarked on a new path and dove into learning all about ancient healing. This laid the foundation for her all-natural skincare line, Vinies Ayurveda’s Soul.

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