Rivertowns Enterprise Today's Woman

Today’s Woman A S p e c i a l S e c t i o n o f T h e R i v e r t o w n s e n t e r p r i s e i M ar c h 2 2 , 2 0 1 3

Beauty Basics

Putting the best you forward

Natural Beauty

By LAURIE SULLIVAN

H

ave you ever been tempted (lured?) by a “makeup artist” in a department store to do a makeover, only to be disappointed in the results — then pressured to buy the products they’ve used?

Believe me, I’ve been there. You look in the mirror and wonder who’s staring back at you! Fortunately there are many avenues to take to naturally enhance your looks.

Indulge: look and feel better At first blush, facials and massages may seem a bit indulgent, but according to Lise (pronounced Lisa) Barbanti, owner of Massage Envy Spa in Scarsdale, the benefits of both can actually improve your appearance and be therapeutic as well. The spa has 25 certified massage therapists and aestheticians. “We are always growing, always hiring because of our member base,” Barbanti said.

In a joint interview with Barbanti and head aesthetician, Francesca Greco, who previously owned her own spa and has 13 years’ experience, explained the benefits of the spa’s various services. They interview clients when they first come in to find out what their goals are and then come up with a customized treatment plan for them, be it massage or a facial. Thirty percent of their clients being men.

Greco: “Men are coming to take better care of their skin. We ask questions about the skin, what they would like to improve. That’s why they come in and see us.”

Barbanti: “This is something I didn’t know before I got into this business, that facials can actually reverse the visible signs of aging.”

Greco: “The first thing people see is your face. It’s important to keep your skin clean. You have to exfoliate your skin; it reduces fine lines. As you get older the skin loses elasticity. It will never stop the aging process, but you can slow it down and have this [facials] done regularly. I’m not in favor of fillers and injections. I Continued on page 12A

Inside The ‘ inescapable’ mother-daughter bond... 3A

TW Profiles Korngold ... 4A Heffernan... 6A Fisch...14A

TRENDS: Spring accessory report...8A

Women’s Health: Menopause in the 21st Century... 10A

Fresh Trends FOR SPRING

Sporty flair and floral prints stripe down the leg. Sheaths borrow the look of tennis dresses with appropriately fitted bodices and traditionally constructed skirts. Zippered warm-up jackets are no longer just for warming up, and ice skating-like skirts look just as beautiful off the rink as on the rink. Rounding out these looks are tank tops in athletic fabrics, mesh tops for layering and gym shorts in traditional daywear fabrics.

By TRACI DUTTON LUDWIG

G

et in shape for spring! After winter’s long months of cozy knits, warm boots and layers, it’s time for a change. Spring fashions embody the pleasures of fresh air, sunshine and renewed strength. Influences drawn from athletics, geometric design and menswear add a decidedly sporty flair. Dresses with dramatic floral prints satisfy traditionalists.

Want more? Here’s a walk-through of a dozen easy looks that will put you totally on trend with spring’s new styles.

Sportswear Athletic inspiration is the most defining idea of the season. From pants to skirts to dresses, silhouettes and styling reference the gym, the tennis court or the track. Encompassing a wide variety of textiles, daytime pants resemble track pants with the addition of a vertical

Shosh is a New York-based designer, and all clothing is made in New York City by American manufacturers. This collection, available at Churchills of Mount Kisco, uses mixes of fabrics for spring, leather, silk, linen, chiffon, cotton to create eclectic looks.

Black and white Nothing is as basic as the clean look of black or white. For simple elegance, choose solid separates in these ultra-neutrals.

White jeans are the “it” pants of Continued on page 8A Luisa Cerano at En Vogue in Scarsdale is “For self-confident, fashionable, independent women all over the world.”

Page 2A/The Rivertowns Enterprise

Today’s Woman March 22, 2013

spincredible

indoor cycling

A BRAND NEW FITNESS STUDIO DEDICATED SOLELY TO INDOOR CYCLING Classes for all ages & all levels of fitness.

Our certified indoor cycling instructors inspire, motivate and improve wellness through a healthy dose of fun and exercise.

You’ll be hooked after your first ride!

Amy Westerby

Dave Norfleet

Elana Ezderman

Jason Cairo

Leslie Kahan

High School/College Student and Senior Special ~ Pay one price for monthly unlimited rides

Great Packages Available (Single rides or up to 50 packs)

New Power Ride Class Tue & Wed mornings and Thursday evenings

Intro/ Beginner Class Sunday Mornings

Ask one of our riders…

“Spincredible is by far one of my favorite places to go. The staff and instructors are genuinely kind, very experienced and you will be comfortable riding regardless of your expertise. The ambiance is delightful – “boutique style” with a dish of quarters at the front desk for the meters! It is an experience that will lift your spirits and keep you in shape! Don’t miss out.”

– Esteretta

No more lines. Convenient online registration

www.spincredibleny.com 692 SAW MILL RIVER ROAD, ARDSLEY, NY 10502 • info@spincredibleny.com

March 22, 2013

Today’s Woman

The Rivertowns Enterprise/Page 3A

Exploring the ‘inescapable’ mother-daughter bond

By MARY LEGRAND

A

uthor Pearl Buck supposedly said the following, a quote that, looked at retrospectively, may or may not sum up the complicated relationship between moms and their daughters: “Some are kissing mothers and some are scolding mothers, but it is love just the same; and most mothers kiss and scold together.”

Some grown women have nothing but glowing comments about their mothers; others offer nothing but negativity. For the vast majority of us, the truth on both sides lies somewhere in between.

So how to build a good mother/daughter relationship from the start, or repair one if it’s broken?

In her work as a licensed clinical social worker in Scarsdale, Dale Karp counsels women whose dealings with their mothers are less than perfect. “There are some relationships that seem to work well without strife, without stress,” Karp said. “But many don’t, almost as if they’re carrying baggage from long ago and it hasn’t been resolved. I see a lot of adult daughters who seem to want to be distant from their mothers; mothers longing for the relationship but feeling that daughters only call them when they need help, a babysitter or have a crisis.

They don’t want to sustain an adult, intimate relationship.”

Karp said some of what causes grown daughters to distance themselves from their mothers is a “seduction that pulls the daughters back to their childhoods, when they’re fighting to be just as grown up as their mothers are. They’re saying, ‘It’s my turn now and I’m not the kid anymore. I’m a mom; I have a home; I have a career.’ There’s some individualization that hasn’t really taken place, an ongoing struggle to separate.”

Westchester authors Vicki Addesso, Susan Hodara, Joan Potter and Lori Toppel have explored the mother/ daughter relationship in their newly published book “Thinking of You: A Second Chance with Our Mothers”.

To improve the broken relationship it is often helpful for mother and/or daughter to look at the other woman’s life. “What I see is that neither side has really appreciated or understood what the other person is experiencing,” Karp said. “She’s only looking through her own lens, and when she has the chance to experience other sensibilities, it lightens up the tension quite a bit.”

Some aspects of mother/daughter tension are related to “residual old Oedipal stuff, where mothers and daughters were competitors for

Bauer Optical Eye Care

Ladies YOU take

Dad,” Karp said. “They haven’t resolved this and it expresses itself in adult stress. Honestly, I haven’t seen that with patients, but do see it with friends.”

Mother/daughter relationships continue long after the death of the parent. “The longing remains for some, the feeling that ‘things would be better for me now if my mother was here. I’m looking for some comfort and my mother would give it to me,’” Karp said. “That wish is to have the mother of you as a baby, the mother who comforts you as a little child,

when in fact as an adult she might not have been so comforting.”

If the relationship gets particularly bad, counseling, either as an individual or with one’s mother or daughter, can be of great help.

“Listening without judgment, without comment” is another suggestion Karp offers to set a relationship on the road to improvement.

She suggests those in conflict ask each other, “What is it like to be you? How do you feel about that?”

“Just listening without offering your two cents of advice, unless it’s asked for, that’s already 10 years of therapy right there,” Karp said. “If a daughter asks her mom, ‘What’s it like to be you? What’s it like to approach old age or be in old age? What does the future look like to you?’ I think it would be an enormously satisfying conversation, in either direction.

That’s the connection that’s missing in most relationships that are stressed.”

The same advice, of course, holds true in that a mother can ask her daughter the same types of questions and find they may open up fruitful discussion helpful in the long term.

Westchester authors Vicki Addesso, Susan Hodara, Joan Potter and Lori Toppel have explored the mother/daughter relationship in their newly published book “Thinking of You: A Second Chance with Our Mothers,” which was released March 1.

The four women first met through writing workshops run by Potter, a longtime Mount Kisco resident. “Still Thinking of You” is a compilation of the authors’ memoirs about their mothers.

The full extent of Potter’s mother’s life was unknown to the daughter until after her mother’s death. After a while, Potter found the courage to listen to a tape the older woman made about her heartbreaking childhood.

Continued on page 5A

Enhance Your Beauty Look Much Younger in just seconds!

Medical Services:

the best care of

• Laser cellulite treatments • Laser facial skin rejuvenation • Photo facial skin rejuvenation • Injectable face lifts/BOTOX & fillers • Medical grade chemical peels • Internal medicine

YOU!

So why not spoil yourself with a new pair of glasses?

2013 models are in with more on the way.

PLUS…

Get a FREE pair of Single Vision lenses with any purchase of a New Frame.

Cannot be combined with any other offer. Cannot be combined with any insurance plans.

Valid on 1st division plastic lenses. Limit one pair per customer. Expires, April 15, 2013.

We really mean it when we say...

“Our focus is on YOU” Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9:30 – 5:30; Thursday: 10:00 – 7:00; Saturday: 10:00 – 3:00 (or by special appointment)

FREE Consultation

$50 value

(new patients only) expires 4/15/13

Juvederm® Special

$50 OFF

$100 OFF

1st vial

$25 OFF

every additional vial (service must be performed on same visit) one client – one visit expires 4/15/13

Cellulite Treatment Package

(new patients only) expires 4/15/13

Cannot be combined with any other offer. One coupon per client.

Modern Medical Practice Advanced Medical Beauty Enhancements

Oxana Popescu, M.D.

45 Main Street, Hastings-on-Hudson

Board certified internal medicine and medical aesthetics

By Appointment Only

914-478-0550

579 Warburton Avenue, Hastings–On–Hudson, NY

Ed Klotz, Optician

Check us out on the web: www.baueropticaleyecare.com

231-7039 ~ www.oxanapopescu.com

Page 4A/The Rivertowns Enterprise

Today’s Woman March 22, 2013

Carole and K.T. Korngold

Two generations on a Montessori mission

By JACKIE LUPO

H

ifty years ago, when Carole Wolfe Korngold was pregnant with her first child, she was invited to a lecture by Nancy McCormick Rambusch, who was a pioneer in bringing educational methods developed by Dr. Maria Montessori to America. It was a lecture that ended up changing her life.

“I was so inspired when I heard Nancy Rambusch speak,” said Carole, an Edgemont resident who is founder and executive director of the Center for Montessori Teacher Education/New York in White Plains. “I decided I not only wanted it for my daughter, I wanted it for myself.”

Carole and her husband were living in Albany at the time; she had been a buyer for Bloomingdales when they lived in New York, and it hadn’t occurred to her that she would soon be launched in a completely different career direction. But when her first daughter, K.T., was born, she started looking for a Montessori school in the Albany area and discovered there were none.

“I decided there had to be more to life than telling women to buy black patent purses for spring,” Carole said.

Together with a group of parents, Carole started the Montessori School of Albany, with herself as administrator. Some time later, her two daughters, K.T. and Jamie, were in the first Montessori “demonstration” class Carole established at SUNY Albany (Jamie Korngold, two years younger than K.T., is a Reform rabbi in Boulder, Colo., who is known as the “Adventure Rabbi” because of her programs that integrate spirituality with the outdoors. She is the author of the book “God in the Wilderness.”)

Fast-forward five decades: Carole, after years of study and teaching of both Montessori education and Montessori teacher education, is as enthusiastic an evangelist for Montessori as she was as a new parent. But within the world of Montessori education in America, Carole Wolfe Korngold is now a legend. She has been designated as a “Living Legacy” by the American Montessori Society in recognition of her contributions to Montessori education, thanks to the many teacher-training programs she has established throughout the United States, culminating in her founding the Center for Montessori Teacher Education in White Plains in 1979. Since then, thousands of Montessori teachers have been trained at CME/NY, which is headquartered on the grounds of the Burke Rehabilitation Center and also trains teachers in Montessori at the College of New Rochelle.

The Montessori Children’s Center, operated

by CME/NY in an adjacent building on the

In-House Printing CUSTOM INVITATIONS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

JIM MACLEAN PHOTO

Mom Carole Korngold, front, and daughter K.T. Korngold, top right, are joined by a Montessori student in White Plains.

Burke campus, offers Montessori child care and education for children from 3 months through 5 years.

Carole, 77, is a petite, vivacious woman.

(She sometimes jokes that she chose to teach young children because they were the only ones who were shorter than she was.) She speaks with a deep, abiding conviction that the methods of Montessori are the right way to teach children because they are based on the way children really learn; she also believes that Montessori is “a more peaceful way to raise a child.”

Today, Carole can be sure her legacy will continue, because her daughter K.T. is now the CEO of CME/NY. K.T., a Stamford resident and mother of two who is a trained infant and toddler Montessori specialist, has a master’s degree in writing from Columbia and has published numerous articles on Montessori methods and creating a Montessori environment at home. Even while she was growing up, and during the many years she worked in the marketing area of publishing, she was also involved in helping her mother.

“As a family, we were always working on it — stuffing flyers, being photographed for the early brochures,” said K.T. “As I got older, I worked at the training center in the summer.

In the ’90s, after some time in publishing, I came to work as the marketing director. After I was married, I took my infant/toddler train-

24-Hour Turnaround PERSONALIZED STATIONERY GREAT SELECTION OF GIFTS

We Make It Easy ...

One Stop Shopping Best Gift Shop and Best Event Planner!

Stop in and see our great selections.

63 Main Street, Dobbs Ferry • 591-6277 Hours: Mon - Sat, 10am - 6pm; Or by Appointment

ing. I knew if I was going to have a baby, I needed to know at least a little of what my mom knew, and I wanted to ‘own’ that information.”

For many years, K.T. created the promotional materials for CME/NY. About a year and a half ago, she returned to CME/NY full time to help manage the company.

“I wanted to make sure my mother was not the only holder of the keys of knowledge,” K.T. said. “My mother is an amazing people person. She is beloved by thousands of people.

She has touched the heart of so many parents, teachers, children and school leaders. It is really humbling to be next in line.”

When the two Korngolds are together in a room, they are in sync in a way that few colleagues — or mothers and daughters — ever achieve, finishing each other’s sentences and rushing to compliment the other when one of them is reticent about talking about herself. Although K.T. reached this place in her career through a roundabout route, it’s clear that Montessori has had a profound effect on her life.

“I went to Montessori in the morning and traditional kindergarten in the afternoon,” K.T. recalled.

Mornings in Montessori were full of encouragement and self-discovery. But in her kindergarten class, “When we were ‘bad,’ we had to put our heads down on the desk.” She

still has lots of sensory memories from the time she spent in the Montessori classroom, “Memories of my hands manipulating the wood objects, the sound of them on the table, the environment of the room.”

Montessori classrooms look distinctly different from typical primary schoolrooms.

Montessori is well known for its unique manipulative materials designed to foster academic exploration. But as the Korngolds stress again and again, Montessori isn’t all about the materials: it’s the entire classroom experience.

Classes are grouped not by single-age grades but by three-year spans, so all children have the opportunity to be the oldest, the middle, and the youngest in the class, and to collaborate with each other.

“It also, very importantly, creates a community of interconnected learners, without competition,” K.T. said.

The high-stress, standardized test-oriented environment of traditional primary schools is not what you find in a Montessori environment. “We’re trying to get away from testing,” Carole said. “That’s not how children learn to think, to problem-solve. It’s how they learn to memorize.”

In a Montessori classroom, children have more freedom, within limits, than in a traditional classroom to select activities they’re interested in and pursue an activity without interruption. The classroom is child-directed rather than teacher-centric, with a lot of observation of the children by the teachers, while the children concentrate on their work. A typical Montessori classroom is a peaceful, wellordered environment without the brightly colored, sometimes overstimulating decorations of traditional primary schoolrooms.

Part of the Korngolds’ mission is to educate people about what authentic Montessori education is, and what it is not.

“There are many programs that call themselves Montessori, but they don’t follow all the curriculum of Montessori or the practices or principles of Montessori. They pick and choose,” Carole said. “Sometimes you might walk into a ‘Montessori’ classroom and even though there is a pink tower [one of the classic Montessori educational materials, consisting of a tower of pink wooden blocks in descending sizes] in the corner, what you really see is all the children doing the same thing at the same time, following the instructions of the teacher. There are posters on all the walls, teaching this and that.”

Montessori, according to Living Legend Carole, “is not taught from the wall, and it is not something that you just take down from the shelf. It is the way an entire classroom and school community is run.”

Little Black Dress PERSONAL TRAINING

It’s time to start taking care of yourself. Become a healthier and happier you!

• In-home individual and small group sessions • Personalized attention • Customized workouts • Constant support and motivation

Best of all... the gym comes to YOU! Call TODAY for a free consultation.

Anne Marie Costanzo Personal trainer and owner

www.saycheeseandthankyou.com (914) 841-1121 • www.LittleBlackDressPT.com

March 22, 2013

Today’s Woman

The Rivertowns Enterprise/Page 5A

MOther-Daughter Continued from page 3A

While writing the memoir about her mother, Potter said she “just thought about her so much, looked back at her history, read about where she had lived and really thought carefully about experiences with her as a child. It made and still makes me miss her so much.

She was very proud of my writing, and in that sense it’s sad for me that she’s not around to read it. But it made me feel so much closer to her and made me wonder, as I wrote in the epilogue, if I hadn’t spent all these years doing that would she be as vivid to me or would she have just faded away.”

Pound Ridge’s Toppel said she never intended to explore her relationship with her mother.

Rather, joining Potter’s writing group meant an added opportunity to work on her craft.

“My mother had died in 2005, and I was not thinking about writing about her,” Toppel said. “I was working on a novel, had a few short stories to revise, so when the group found its rhythm and was meeting regularly, I was bringing in fiction, while Joan and Vicki started writing about their mothers.”

Still grieving the loss of her mother, Toppel said she was “trying to dissect everything because she had been very difficult in her last years. I guess she was making her way into my fiction, as will happen, and this came up during our writing group discussions.”

Toppel said she hoped, through writing, that she “might be able to turn back to a time when things were different” between her and her mother, “when she had been a different woman, a very good mother. I wrote my first memory, which took place at nursery school in Puerto Rico, and from then on, early memories came rushing into my head, specific images.”

Working through her memoir, Toppel came to understand her mother. “She had moments where she came off as extremely abusive verbally and at times mad, almost crazy,” Toppel said. “She was very depressed, but through all

GIORDANO B E AU T Y

Bringing Glamour Back to the Beauty Shopping Experience™

Color Cosmetics, Skin Care, Bath & Body and Fragrance Created by Renowned Beauty Expert

Susan Giordano

Pe r f e c t M a k e up i n 5 M i n u t e s ? of that I know that she loved me. She didn’t know how to conduct a relationship with me anymore. Having written this with these women, I found a place where I was able to balance out all the different parts of her.”

Toppel’s suggestion to individuals whose relationship with a mother or daughter is tarnished is to continue exploring it, whether face-to-face or through a memoir such as the one she wrote.

“After writing it I felt I understood my mother’s anger, understood more about her despair and why she isolated herself,” she said. “I don’t care if you knew your mother, didn’t know your mother or if your mother died when you were young, at some point it must be attended to if you want to have that presence in your mind. You carry your mother around with you and she comes out when you least expect it. I’ll be in the kitchen and will say something, put something some way and say, ‘There she is.’ It’s inescapable.”

Make a Change...

Get Results!

For a limited time, Susan will be conducting private makeup lessons to get you Flawless in Five. Think you have no time for glamour?

Think again! Call for details about this exciting offer.

Makeup Application • Brow Shaping • Eyelashes • Makeup Lessons

3 Spring Street, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY (914) 693-2187

www.giordanobeauty.com

PAIN RELIEF priced right.

2

FREE PERSONAL TRAINING SESSIONS

$

WITH ANY NEW MEMBERSHIP

1-hour massage session*

Schedule with this offer today.

Equalize Fitness GUARANTEED

59

INTRODUCTORY

Results Program

,

(, Small Group Personal Training)

MassageEnvy.com · Convenient Hours · Franchises Available Open 7 Days: M-F 9am-9pm, Sat 9am-8pm, Sun 10am-6pm

CENTRAL PARK AVENUE

365 Central Park Avenue, Scarsdale NY Near California Pizza Kitchen (914) 610-4709 *See clinic for details. Each clinic is a member of the Massage Envy network of independently owned and operated franchises. ©2012 Massage Envy Franchising, LLC.

914-751-6655 | EqualizeFitness.com | One Odell Plaza, Yonkers, NY 10701 (Hastings/Yonkers Border)

Page 6A/The Rivertowns Enterprise

Today’s Woman March 22, 2013

News Notes

Lisa Endlich Heffernan

Books to blogs, writer grows and flows

G

By EVE MARX

ood parenting gone bad. The college admission process. What makes a great parent. Parenting lessons from Downton Abbey.

After the last child. These are just a few of the topics tackled by Lisa Endlich Heffernan on her smart and incisive blog, “Grown and Flown,” which tackles the pithy issues parents, in particular the mother parent, face when children leave or are about to leave the nest.

A business writer and former vice president at Goldman Sachs, Heffernan lives with her husband and their third and youngest son on a 64-acre property in Bedford that the family bought in 2003. The property, once part of a larger parcel once belonging to Thomas Mercer Waller, husband to Wilhelmina Kirby Waller, was for years a dairy farm. “Where we live is where the cows were milked,” Heffernan said.

While a portion of the Heffernan property is now leased as a working horse farm, another large portion of the parcel is devoted to soccer. Mark Heffernan, her husband, is the president of the New York Soccer Club. He is also the owner of Inside Soccer, the world’s leading soccer coaching website. (Mark is also a former star of Goldman Sachs and hedge fund manager.) At various times of the year a person driving past can’t help but notice the vast tracts of cleared land, overrun with soccer players.

Mary Dell Harrington is Heffernan’s partner at “Grown and Flown.” Harrington lives in lower Westchester. The two met while volunteering at their children’s school, and a friendship, and later an idea for a business developed. Heffernan is no stranger to business.

Professionally, she is best known under her maiden name, Lisa Endlich, author of three business titles, “Goldman Sachs: The Culture of Success,” “Optical Illusions: Lucent and the Crash of Telecom” and “Be the Change.” She has an M.B.A. from the MIT Sloan School of Management and was a trader and former VP at Goldman Sachs. Now she is a blogger.

“I got the idea for the blog after reading Lisa Belkin on the Huffington Post,” Heffernan said over chamomile tea on a chilly afternoon at Table Local Market in Bedford Hills. “Now I have actually met Lisa Belkin. We met at a meeting for BlogHer. We’re the same age and we have kids the same age and she writes about parenting. It occurred to me that while there are many blogs about parenting children under age 12, there’s very little for parents whose kids are older. I began thinking about how as the kids grow our roles as parents change. The main thing that happens is that as a parent, you

Bedford’s Lisa Endlich Heffernan writes the popular parenting blog “Grown and Flown”.

go from being a talker into being a listener.”

Heffernan noted about the need for more information and discussion for parents of older kids largely due to the great changes in technology: “We’re more attached to our older teens and young adult children than ever before because of the advances in technology.

We text with them. We Skype. We have more interaction with our children than our parents did with us at that age. This is uncharted territory for us as parents. There are no guideposts.

We can’t look to our own parents for advice because it’s a different world. The communication between parents and children now is totally different than anything our parents experienced.”

After scouring the world of blogs for parents-of-older-children information, Heffernan saw there was a gap. “Not a lot of people are writing about this,” she said.

“Grown and Flown: Parenting from the Empty Nest” is published three times a week and can now be read on The Huffington Post, More.com, Next Avenue, 12 Most, Better After 50 and Lifetime Moms, as well as by logging on to www.grownandflown.com.

While the blog is informative and at times even ruminative, it doesn’t seek to be authoritative or even really give advice.

“We’re not psychologists or professional educators,” Heffernan said. “We don’t profess to have all the answers. Nobody has all the answers. What we want is for Grown and Flown to be a forum, a place where issues can

time for a change! cut

be discussed and raised.”

Heffernan recommended a book she really liked, “Slouching Toward Adulthood” by Sally Koslow, which are the author’s observations from her not-so-empty nest. To generate ideas for the blog, Heffernan likes to engage in conversations with other moms of older kids, and admits that she is constantly scanning the Motherlode, another blog, for material and ideas.

As the mother of three sons, ages 21, 20 and 16, Heffernan has plenty of fodder. “But that brings into play a whole other question, which is whether or not it is okay to write about one’s children,” she said. She thinks it is not. “Do you really have the right to create a digital identity for your child? I’ve spent a lot of time wrestling with these ethical issues.”

Heffernan isn’t simply writing a blog. She and her partner also do all the drudgework of maintaining and designing the site itself. “We are the ones deciding how it looks, how it runs,” she said. “We’re also constantly attending conferences and taking classes.”

Heffernan recently completed a class in social media at Columbia University. “It’s not just about writing anymore,” she said. “It’s equally about mastering the technology and social media.”

Heffernan’s main goal for Grown and Flown right now is developing the audience.

“We’re experiencing huge interaction,” she said. “We love it when people comment. We want to be creating an interactive place where parents can jump in and discuss the issues.”

She said there is a filter on the site to weed out people who aren’t adding anything to the discussion.

How does it feel going from being a book author to a blogger? Heffernan shrugs. “It’s an evolution in my writing,” she said. “When I first started writing books, I thought that was the greatest thing. But a book can take a year or years to come together. It’s a very long process even before it’s published.”

She said she learned over time that she enjoys writing material that is more focused and much briefer. And then there is the exhilaration that comes from writing something, editing it and seeing it immediately appear on the web, published. Not to mention, she does not at all miss commuting to an office.

“My kitchen is my work place,” Heffernan wrote on one of her blogs. “I like sitting at my desk in the kitchen, typing away.”

One day it may turn into a real job, Heffernan said, adding “But for now, we’re interested in growing the readership.”

Sugar foot scrub therapy for tired feet Whether it’s one’s job, the daily grind or an intense workout that causes one’s feet to feel worn out, the best way to find relief is to give those feet some serious tender love and care. The launch of the new sugar foot scrub therapy at Massage Envy Spa on Central Park Avenue in Scarsdale provides the highest quality foot care. Ideal for reducing the pain and discomfort of achy feet, a sugar foot scrub treatment can be added to any massage session for only $10 as part of Massage Envy Spa’s Enhanced Therapies menu.

Massage Envy partner Bon Vital helped formulate the sugar foot scrub exclusively for Massage Envy customers. The scrub combines fortified sugar with jojoba, olive and safflower oils, and lavender essential oil. Massage Envy’s specially designed formula contains extra fine sugar granules and less oil than a typical sugar foot scrub, allowing for easier absorption into the skin. The scrub cleans, hydrates and soothes the surface of the skin while stimulating lymph flow and increasing circulation.

Following the sugar scrub, a whipped Bon Vital Body Butter, which is blended with cocoa butter, Shea butter, beeswax and lavender oil, is also applied to add a hydrating protective layer.

With a membership at Massage Envy Spa, customers can choose from a variety of monthly therapeutic massages, including Swedish, trigger Point, deep tissue, sports, prenatal and geriatric. As part of the revamped Enhanced Therapies menu that includes aroma therapy, deep muscle therapy and hot stone envy, the new sugar foot scrub will allow members and guests to further customize and boost their wellness experience. The proven benefits of routine massage include improved circulation, joint flexibility and posture, relief from pain and swelling caused by arthritis, reduced blood pressure, fatigue, migraine pain and stress, as well as improved sleep, concentration and overall sense of well-being.

Massage Envy, based in Scottsdale, Ariz., is the leading provider of therapeutic massage in the United States. The national franchise is dedicated to providing professional and affordable therapeutic massage and spa services to members and guests with busy lifestyles at convenient times and locations. Founded in 2002, Massage Envy has over 800 locations in 45 states.

Massage Envy Spa Central Park Avenue is located at 365 Central Park Ave. near California Pizza Kitchen and Mrs. Green’s Natural Market. For more information on massage and facials in Scarsdale call 422-ENVY (3689). Also visit www.massageenvy.com.

LUNA BELLE AESTHETICS CUSTOMIZED SKIN CARE

color

Get rid of that winter dullness!

consultations available

Now offering Microdermabrasion, Chemical Peels and Relfexology Foot Treatments

Receive $10 OFF with mention of this ad (expires 4/22/13)

10 Main Street, Hastings-On-Hudson Open Wednesday - Sunday • 478-HAIR (4247)

Located In Chou Chou Salon - 10 Main Street, Hastings-On-Hudson

For more information, please call Jennifer at 914-588-1931 or check us out at www.facebook.com/lunabelleny

March 22, 2013

Today’s Woman

The Rivertowns Enterprise/Page 7A

News Notes Aging beautifully:

practical advice for ‘today’s woman’

Gifts & Home Accessories

Comfort and Luxury combined for you and your home.

TH E IN G

plest and most effective things that you can do for your skin.

• Have massages done whenever you can... they are so important for your health.

• Practice yoga.

• Walk... a lot.

• Eliminate toxic people from your life...immediately, they serve you no good.

• Keep up with your doctors/dentist appointments... and floss.

• Drink water.

• Be kind to yourself.

“It is damn good advice and it will help you to age beautifully,” Adamiak said.

For more grounded advice, visit Adamiak at Balance Day Spa at 280 Mamaroneck Ave., Suite 310, White Plains. The spa offers a wide range of services, including facials, waxing, make-up application, bronzing, tinting, aromatherapy and ear candling. Expect beautiful results.

Call 358-9898 or visit online at www.balancedayspa.com.

Body Lotion ~ Scarfs Decorative Pillows, Candles, Handcrafted Pottery, Hostess Gifts, Trays and much more!

103 Main Street Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522

231 - 7820

Hours: Monday – Saturday, 10am–6pm

COME BE OUR GUEST AND TRY OUR WOMEN ONLY CLASS ON TUESDAY MORNINGS WITH SHIHAN JIM CHILLEMI 22 Years and Still Going Strong!

RE TU FU

NO R

Balance Day Spa owner/esthetician Allison Adamiak.

E TH

HO

Jewelry ~ Soap

G IN AC BR EM

PA ST

Today’s woman is strong, successful, intelligent and comfortable in her own skin. As we age, we tend to gain greater confidence in ourselves.

We often look back at photos of our younger selves and say, “Why didn’t I realize how good I looked back then?” It is the age old dilemma… we never appreciate what we have until it’s gone.

We’ve all worked hard to get to where we are in life. What if we could do something to look as good on the outside as we feel on the inside?

We can!

Allison Adamiak, owner and esthetician at Balance Day Spa in White Plains, offers some advice: “Somewhere along the line, women were sold a bill of goods that says that we have to look like we are 20 years old forever. Unfortunately, this is neither sustainable nor does it promote a healthy self- image. Aging gracefully is not about injecting yourself with toxins or contemplating invasive surgery. It is about embracing where you are in life and making necessary adjustments to your lifestyle, including to your skin care regime. Graceful aging is about looking the best side of your own age.”

Having spent 10 years as an esthetician, Adamiak recommends the following advice to women of all ages: • Find an excellent esthetician and an excellent colorist...then NEVER leave them.

• Invest in a few really high-quality skincare products (nothing from a department store... professional products)... use them diligently!

• Have facials done when you can... they will make you look good, but they will not replace good home care... they are meant to complement home care!

• Wear your sunscreen. This is one of the sim-

FOR FITNESS...FOR FUN...FOR LIFE!

NYGKA BLACK BELT ACADEMY

“Karate has given me confidence and inner strength.”

— Jacki Samolsky

“Karate training prepares me for life.”

—Jill Naughton

“Karate gives me an unparalleled opportunity to learn to stay relaxed in moments of conflict that have nothing to do with defending yourself from kicks or punches.”

—Dr. Amy Fairchild

NYGKA BLACK BELT ACADEMY - VFW Bldg. - 558 Warburton Avenue, Hastings-on-Hudson

478-0508 • www.nygka.com

Page 8A/The Rivertowns Enterprise

Today’s Woman March 22, 2013

Fresh Trends Continued from page 1A

the season, so consider splurging on a fabulous pair. Beyond solids, black and white combinations are dominating this year’s printed fabrics, and they are attracting attention with a bang. To amplify the excitement, go for a modern print.

The sharp contrast between black and white reverberates with energy. Look for bold geometric patterns such as stripes, checkerboards, zigzags, chevrons and spirals. Or go for an equally dramatic, but subtler, manifestation of the look — such as a white jacket with black trim and cuffs or an ebony A-line skirt punctuated by one oversized white circle. By playing with off-balance proportions and off-center compositions, black and white combinations look fresh and modern.

Leather Opposites attract, and the effect is stellar.

This season pairs leather with some of the most ladylike silhouettes for unexpected glamour and complex beauty. Fashion’s love of the biker jacket — so ubiquitous in fall wardrobes — has undergone a transformation and emerged anew. Supple, sumptuous treatments of natural and dyed leathers are showing up in sheath dresses, swirly paneled skirts, tailored trousers and sharp vests.

Gorgeous stitching and construction artistry are in the forefront, whereas metal hardware and motorcycle zippers are out. Play up femininity with beautiful saturated colors, including raspberry pink and turquoise blue. Or you can combine leather with richly contrasting textures like floaty skirts, shaggy vests and silk scarves.

Distressed jeans It’s time to revive your favorite ragged jeans from the back of the closet. You can even wear them again! Distressed denim is this year’s take on the perennial favorite. For the novice, distressed denim means worn out fibers, frayed hems, rips at the knees and holes in the thigh. If you don’t already have your own well-loved pair, designers are offering choices that simulate years of wear and tear. Look for boxy boyfriend cuts with straight legs and low waists. Style these jeans with rolled-up cuffs and a practical leather belt.

A square-shouldered blazer and ankle booties with stacked heels (or this season’s metallic wedge Continued on page 15A

Catherine H in Katonah is intent on “keeping in mind the diverse needs of every woman,” with a wide selection of mix and match natural fiber separates in muted colors.

Above, the season’s beautiful, bold new florals are abundant at Lester’s in Rye, paired here with Henry & Belle Skinny Jeans.

At Tiger Lily Boutique in Mount Kisco, black and white belted tunic by Nueva is great with anything from a little black skirt to white capris.”

Above, stripe cotton slim pant and printed cotton voile shirts from Benson. Left, openwork lined pointelle dress in ecru/gold and black/gunmetal by Cecilia Prado. Available at Outerluxe in Larchmont.

Spring accessories report

T

he right accessories can take an outfit from good to great. They also offer an easy way to update your wardrobe without investing a lot of time and money.

Third, they are a fun way to personalize a look and make it your own. Now let’s go shopping.

Sunglasses Big, bold and better than ever before — sunglasses are a favorite fashionable accouterment. Look for oversized frames in subtle colors and dark mottled designs. Metal aviator styles and molded plastic frames are equally popular. Both make round styles and modified cat eye lenses pop. Tinted shades (like blue, pink or silver) transform a pair of sunglasses into a real fashion statement.

Wedge sneakers Wedges plus sneakers equal the hottest new shoe style to dominate the runway and the streets — the wedge sneaker. Artful and embellished with metallic leather trim, the wedge sneaker is the perfect accompaniment to spring’s exposed ankles and sporty vibe. In black or brown with gold trim, the

Make a bold statement with layered necklaces available at Catherine H in Katonah.

shoe embodies urban cool. In white leather or exotic prints, it shows other modern and Boho sides.

Patent leather loafers The current obsession with leather garments translates into glossy patent leather shoes for the feet. To keep these toe tappers from looking like little girls’ holiday Mary Janes, look for serious grown-up varieties, such as loafers and ballet flats. Adornment at the toe — in the form of a cap or bow — is typical. Don’t be afraid to go all out and gild the lily.

Statement jewelry Big, bold, sculptural jewelry is the ideal companion for spring’s simple sporty sil-

thick frames with stripes and embellishment are the eyewear trend for 2013, by Tory Burch.

houettes and classic basics like the ubiquitous black suit. Look for interesting materials and unique designs. Chokers adorned with toothy triangles are popular and easy to wear. The same is true for wrap bracelets, woven neckbands, amulets with milky stones and bib necklaces made from ribbon and cord. Not dainty or demure, today’s jewelry is crafty, edgy and little bit Boho.

Artisan marketplaces are a good source for finding your perfect piece.

Skinny belts The sharp linearity of a skinny belt elegantly defines a slim waist or functions like a crisp athletic stripe. In any case, a skinny belt is always feminine and always dresses up an outfit. To add visual punctuation,

Put on the fnishing touches with a skinny leather belt, and long pendant necklace, available at Catherine H in Katonah.

add interest with a creative buckle. Look for large pieces of hammered metal, intaglio designs, beaded closures, woven leathers and studs.

Visors No longer just an emblem of a long day on the tennis court, the sun visor has penetrated the world of mainstream fashion.

Springboarding off their original athletic forefathers, spring’s fashionable visors are an interesting mix of colors, textures and materials. They are meant to be worn everyday and can even facilitate a variety of hairstyles. Think of them as an evolution of the headband.

— Traci Dutton Ludwig

March 22, 2013

Today’s Woman

The Rivertowns Enterprise/Page 9A

Beginnings is Trending!!!

Come visit our Scarsdale location for the latest Spring Collections, and our newly expanded Men’s

and Women’s Armonk location.

We hope to see you soon!

BEGINNINGS BOUTIQUE Golden Horseshoe Shopping Center 1088 Wilmot Road • Scarsdale 914-472-4722

BEGINNINGS BLEUS @ ARMONK Town Center 575 Main Street • Armonk 914-765-0004

For special events, promos and up-to-date shipment notifications follow Beginnings Bleus on

and

Page 10A/The Rivertowns Enterprise

Today’s Woman March 22, 2013

Women’s Health: Menopause in the 21st century

T

By MARY LEGRAND

aken strictly by definition, menopause means the end of menstruation — and, therefore, a woman’s fertility — an event marked by the absence of periods over the course of a full 12 months.

While women have experienced menopause throughout the ages, of course, the 21st century is a time when more information than ever is available to those in this phase of life. Treatment options have become more diverse in the past decade as well.

Dr. Elizabeth Legatt, a gynecologist in practice at WestMed Medical Group’s Rye office, said the trend regarding menopause treatment, particularly the use of estrogen to ward off menopausal symptoms, is “not to offer it uniformly to everybody, but to just limit the treatment to women who are struggling with sleep problems, hot flashes, anxiety.”

Legatt said that physicians realize the onesize-fits-all approach no longer works, and that, in addition to treating physical symptoms “we have more options for treating the emotional responses to menopause,” such as anxiety and depression.

“The other big change in the past decade is recognizing that many women’s symptoms can be improved with very low doses of estrogen that are safer in terms of risk of breast cancer,” Legatt said. “The other wonderful thing is that there are more options of safe low-dose patches and creams, some of which are commercially available, some of which are custom-compounded and biodentical to what the ovaries make when we’re younger.”

There are also more options than ever for women who can’t or won’t take estrogen, Legatt said, but she cautions that patients should check with their doctors before taking over-the-coun-

ter supplements such as black cohosh, many of which might contain estrogen even if they’re not labeled as such.

Prescription medications typically used for depression and anxiety have been found to help with hot flashes, as has the anti-spasm medication belladonna, Legatt said.

Legatt said the most common complaint among menopausal women is vaginal pain, reduced libido and difficulty in sexual relations,

FF

all of which are entirely typical in this age group.

“I encourage patients not to walk away from the sexual parts of their lives because of discomfort or decrease in interest, which is everybody two or three years after menopause,” she said, citing many over-the-counter and prescription methods to increase comfort, in addition to selfstimulation and, if needed, consultation with a sex therapist.

She encourages women to have honest, frank

discussions with their doctor at all points in their lives. “The average age of menopause is 52,” Legatt said, “so I bring the subject up while patients are in their 40s. This is the time women start complaining about libido issues and menstrual irregularities. Another big problem, unfortunately, in a fair number of women is weight gain, a decrease in metabolism rates and increasing hunger as estrogen levels drop.”

Healthier eating, regular exercise and keeping track of one’s periods and changes in sexuality are aspects of life women should pay attention to during this time, Legatt said.

Knowing that everyone who ages goes through many of the same basic changes is important, too. “No, you’re not going to feel like you’re 21, or even 31,” she said. “Your eyes aren’t the same, maybe you can’t run as fast as you used to. Don’t forget, your partner’s getting older, too.”

Women in their perimenopausal or menopausal years still require regular gynecological checkups, with yearly mammograms and “definitely a baseline bone density exam for osteoporosis within a couple of years of menopause,” Legatt said. “Consider taking extra calcium and vitamin D, but you have to be judicious about how much you’re taking. We’re encouraging measurement of blood levels of vitamin D. If you’re in a monogamous relationship, all previous pap smears were normal and you’re a nonsmoker, it’s reasonable for a pap smear every two or three years. Also, keep a calendar of periods and pay attention to cholesterol.”

Asked why some women breeze through menopause and others struggle, Legatt laughed and said, “I’d win the Nobel Prize if I could figure that out. Some women who are thinner tend to struggle more, and some prone to anxiety or depression tend to struggle more. My patients who are already on anti-depressants or anti-anxContinued on the next page

Rivertowns Dental

Dressing Customers From Casual to Oscar’s for Over 9 Years.

Simply Eloquent!

Come see our selections from: PapillonBlanc (imported from Canada) dresses, tunics, skirts, lightweight cardigans TempleParis – gorgeous pants in all colors Bali (imported from Canada) – tops and pants Tricot Jean Marc (imported from Paris) – knit tops analili – upscale tops and dresses Leather handbags (Beverly Hills collection) and Jewelry

Dr. Samar Tannous A Beautiful Smile Beauty Beyond Measure Services Include: General Dentistry ~ Root Canal Therapy Cosmetic Dentistry Including: Bonding, Veneers, Crowns and Bridges Invisalign ~ Teeth Whitening Hours by appointment

50 Cedar Street

21 Cedar Street

478.3898

693.1064

Dobbs Ferry | NY | 10522 Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 11am – 7pm Closed Monday

34 High Street, Hastings-On-Hudson, N.Y. 10706 (corner of High and Rose)

(914) 214-8228 Dr. Tannous has practiced dentistry for over 15 years. She earned her DDS and a diploma in Pediatric and Community Dentistry in 1994. Known for her high quality and good caring, Dr. Tannous shares her extensive experience and continues her dental education to solve most of today’s dental problems and concerns. She is a member of the American Dental Association and the American Academy Of Facial Cosmetics.

March 22, 2013 Continued from previous page

iety medication generally have easier transition into menopause. I would not give women any of these medications just to say, ‘Here, take this, this will help you get through menopause,’ but we’ll use those medications if someone is struggling.”

Dr. Regina Giuffrida, a Mount Kisco Medical Group gynecologist affiliated with Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, said that for gynecologists with an interest in menopause “the last decade has been like a roller coaster ride. The ups and downs have been steep and the curves sharp. Many of the things we thought we knew when boarding the coaster have not survived the ride; others have been turned upside down and inside out and now create the basis of what we again think we know.”

“To oversimplify,” Giuffrida said, “menopause was barely acknowledged in medical journals as recently as the 1960s.” In the ensuing decades, hormone therapy became more widely available for treatment of menopausal symptoms in addition to prevention of bone fractures and possibly heart disease.

“HT was prescribed more liberally, regardless of presence or absence of menopausal symptoms,” Giuffrida said. “In the process, questions began to arise as to whether or not HT increased the risk of breast cancer.”

Recounting the pros and cons of hormone replacement therapy is too detailed and complex for this story, but suffice it to say there have been differences of opinion based on a variety of research, including the large, randomized controlled study funded by the National Institutes of Health and called the Women’s Health Initiative. “The results of WHI are complex to interpret ... but to generalize there was not found to be prevention of [cardiovascular disease] and there was found to be an increase in breast cancer in the women who used both estrogen and progestogen compared to women who used placebo and estrogen alone,” Giuffrida said.

At this point — a decade after the Women’s Health Initiative results were announced — the options for women remain numerous. Vaginal estrogen is helpful in reversing vaginal dryness and thinning and in relieving painful intercourse, Giuffrida said, “With minimal systemic absorption. Vaginal tablets, creams and rings are available and all work well. Almost all women are candidates for vaginal estrogen, although all must discuss with their doctors.”

For women with moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms, “hot flashes, night sweats, sleep interruption, fatigue, palpitations, possibly mood swings or poor consideration, consideration should be given to the women’s quality of life priorities, risk factors such as age, number of years since onset of menopause and personal risks of blood clots, heart disease, stroke and breast cancer,” Giuffrida said. “Hormone therapy is the most effective treatment of menopausal symptoms and the only FDA approved treatment,” with additional alternatives for women who’ve had a hysterectomy or whose uterus is intact.

Nonhormonal medical treatments, phytoestrogens and herbs are also options for women with menopausal symptoms, and all should be discussed with one’s physician. “Again, individualization, patience and knowledge for both the patient and the doctor are key in management of menopausal symptoms,” Giuffrida said. “It is important to note that premature menopause defined as age less than 40, chemotherapy-induced menopause and surgical menopause have different risk associations and should be treated differently than natural menopause.”

Giuffrida said lifestyle changes as well as diet often help alleviate menopausal symptoms, including, for hot flashes, “triggers such as spicy foods, alcohol, caffeine and hot beverages. Dress in layers; being able to remove and replace layers will help with temperature control.”

Help prevent night sweats by wearing light pajamas and trying sheets of wicked material or layered bedding than can be easily peeled away if moist. “Use an electric fan,” Giuffrida advised. “Keep a frozen cold pack under your pillow and turn the pillow over so your head is always resting on a cool surface. Try a cold pack at your feet.”

Giuffrida had additional suggestions to help relieve sleep interruption, sexual issues, and

Today’s Woman mood changes, irritability, anxiety and fatigue.

“You can make menopause a positive experience,” she said. “Studies show that negative beliefs/feelings regarding menopause before becoming menopausal can carry over to a more difficult transition. Those who anticipate a hot flash as a horror will more likely experience it as that when the time comes. Being fearful that sex might be painful will inhibit your ability to relax your mind and muscles.”

Studies show that the absence of positive thoughts “may have a greater negative impact than the presence of negative ones,” Giuffrida emphasized. “Laugh and stay connected with those who make you laugh. Some use an ‘appreciation journal’ — list three things every night that you are grateful for; hold these images in your mind for several minutes and see if it changes your outlook. And don’t forget to make time for YOU — it’s about time, right?”

The Rivertowns Enterprise/Page 11A

Wardrobe Essentials

Winter Sale 20-40% Off

Come see our selection of:

Spanx (Bras, Shapewear, Hosiery) Nursing Bras Post-Surgery Undergarments Panty Hose & Stockings For the best in Women’s Elita and Cotn wear for Yoga Undergarments & Lingerie PJ’ s • Nightgowns • Bed Jackets Expert Undergarment Silks • Robes Fitting x-small to 4x Gift Wrapping and Gift Certificates Available

542 Warburton Avenue, Hastings • 478-7446 Hours: Tuesday - Friday, 11:30 – 6:00 and Saturday, 10:30 – 6:00

Page 12A/The Rivertowns Enterprise

Today’s Woman March 22, 2013

Natural Beauty Continued from page 1A

tell people they have to have a home care regimen between visits to the spa. They need eye creams, skin creams. They have to feed the skin. It’s very important.”

Barbanti: “Some aesthetician graduates are now using machines. We believe in natural procedures; we use the natural, healing process. We have a wellness program, with very reasonable prices. People can come in monthly for either massage or facials.”

Greco: “Some people ask if they should get fillers and I say, ‘Try this first.’ I tell them the pros and cons of each. This is a no-risk way, a natural way to look better. Facial massage [also] improves collagen production. I’ve had people who had high blood pressure who started coming in on a regular basis, who had a drop in pressure. Facials used to be a luxury, but it’s not anymore; people need to de-stress themselves.”

Barbanti: “I used to think it’s just a facial improvement, but it’s not. It improves the entire body.”

Greco: “There is a saying that beautiful skin begins with clean skin. That is the fundamental thing. First thing is cleanse and tone your skin; second thing is exfoliate your skin. If you do this one time, it’s not going to help; you need to do it on a regular basis. I tell people what to do to treat their skin. Skin is constantly breathing. It’s an organ just like your heart, your liver, so it’s important to keep it clean.

People should have a facial once a month. It will help them feel better physically; it helps them feel better about themselves. They should start having them in their 20s because that’s when the aging process starts.”

Barbanti: “We only offer things that have a beneficial effect on the body, that have natural ingredients.”

Greco: “We offer four [different kinds of ] facials: Age Reform, Sensitive Skin, Acne

Clarifying and Vitamin C Infusion that were created only for Massage Envy Spa.” Barbanti: “The aestheticians were encouraging me to use the products. I started using them and saw an improvement in two weeks — and I’m in my 50s!”

When asked how massage helps women look their natural best, Barbanti said that when people come in who are in pain it’s hard to look your best; without pain they naturally look and feel better.

The spa offers clients either a monthly, money-saving wellness program for either facials or massage or services can be purchased on an a la carte basis. Waxing is also available.

The spa uses the professional line of Dr. Murad skin care products for their facials and sells a similar formulation to its clients. Massage Envy Spa, which is one of 800 privately owned franchises all over the country, is open seven days a week.

One Store. One Family.

101 Years of Service.

Come Celebrate With Us.

Passion for beauty and fashion Susan Giordano of Susan Giordano Beauty in Hastings was always wild about fashion and beauty. At 14 she was buying Vogue magazine with her allowance. She put that reading to good use, doing makeovers, giving classes and doing makeup application in high school. At 14 she had her first paid makeup job, making $35. Big money for a 14-year-old back then!

Giordano made “beauty concoctions” at home as a teen, going through the family fridge, making yogurt masks, etc. She went to the library to learn how to make her own cosmetics. She was also fascinated about ancient cosmetics. The makeup maven has always wanted to work for magazines and has worked freelance for many over the years, which suits her just fine. Giordano does makeup for photo shoots and has worked on some of the most “famous faces for over two decades,” including work on the famed Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.

The self-taught beauty expert, who opened her store about nine months ago, said the emphasis in the store is on products. “There’s something there for everyone,” she said. “We will have one perfect color that will look perfect on you.”

Giordano also does brow grooming.

“Brows are the one thing on your face that can dramatically alter your appearance,” she said. She also has assistants who work in the store with her.

The store, which is open Tuesday through Saturday, attracts a lot of local people and sells a complete line of beauty, skincare products and makeup that are all as “natural as they can be.”

“We don’t just have cosmetics,” Giordano said. “We have bath and body products in addition to makeup. I make some of the skincare products, hand creams.”

Giordano also works in collaboration with chemists. The shop sells Satin Skin, a liquid moisturizer that she developed nine years ago.

She said the product is rejuvenating and gives

JEWELERS SINCE 1912

One stOre. One family. 101 years Of service.

5 HarwOOd cOurt, scarsdale new yOrk 914-472-4554 www.holstenjewelers.com

Beauty: more than skin deep Bellava MedAsthetics & Spa in Bedford Hills offers women a variety of beauty treatments to look their best. Owner Erica Breining said, “It’s about having good skin, absoContinued on the next page

We buy partial or entire estates and pay highest cash!

Antiques

Clocks

Collectibles

Coins

Furniture Paintings

Objects of Art

Bronzes

Sculpture

Silver

Artwork

Musical Instruments

Old Toys

Jewelry

HOLSTEN

a “healthy glow.”

“I used to bring my things with me [on photo shoots] and the models loved my products,” Giordano said. “When products are unique, people recognize it, especially in the fashion industry — they’re tough.”

And what makes her makeup/skincare line different, better?

“I have the final say on what goes into the shop,” Giordano said. “I don’t have 60 lipglosses. I’m not interested in jumping on every trend. It doesn’t always translate well to reality.”

She added that besides doing makeup, she’s been called upon by magazines, quoted by them and has been a contributor to Allure Magazine.

And what advice does she offer women to look their best naturally?

“I think you always to have to look like yourself, just a better version of yourself,” Giordano said. “I like to demystify the process of beauty and glamour. I think a lot of women have a fear of it. It’s really not complicated at all.”

Giordano does private makeup lessons, which she described as “pricey.” She offers lots of free advice on buying makeup and shows her customers how to use it. “You’ll be able to duplicate what we’ve done in the store,” she said.

Giordano further explained that makeup application takes about an hour and has a fee. She does at-home makeup application, which costs $500, “for high-powered women” in broadcasting and other fields. In-store applications are $250. She will do a “makeup bag makeover,” going through your makeup bag and seeing what can be repurposed, for a charge of $50. Giordano also does consulting for “major cosmetics companies.”

Couture

China

Gucci

Cameras

Prada

Records

Chanel

Books

Hermes

All Military Items: Guns, Swords, Helmets

M. Goodman, Scarsdale Resident

(914) 671-2295

(914) 713-8658

March 22, 2013

Today’s Woman

Continued from previous page

lutely having nice, glowing skin. Achieving that is having good skin.”

Breining recommends having facials, including a PhotoFacial, which are intense pulsed light treatments that eliminate pigmentation, including rosacea, clean brown spots, and help achieve a clean, clear, healthy look that gives women the confidence to go out without makeup.

Breining said this type of facial, which is offered at the spa, helps brown spots slough off in about a week — first darkening, then scabbing up, until they fall off, leaving them much lighter.

“We offer all services you would find at a dermatologist’s office,” Breining said, with all work done under the supervision of Dr. James Lyons, a board certified plastic surgeon, with 30 years’ experience. They also offer mini tummy tucks, facelifts, liposuction and other cosmetic surgical procedures.

According to Breining, Lyons tells patients to do everything else first before having procedures done and then see how they feel about it. “It kinda starts with good skin,” she said.

The spa offers Micodermabrasion and peels that help with tone, texture, pigmentation and fine lines. They also offer Radiesse®, Restylane® and Juvederm®, which are fillers; and chemical peels and spa treatments that include body wraps, massage, facials, makeup application, eyebrow waxing and tinting and sunless tanning. According to their website, Bellava MedAsthetics & Spa is also one of the few providers in Westchester to offer the HydraFacial, the latest in nonlaser skin resurfacing that combines cleansing, exfoliating, extraction, hydration and anti-oxidant protection simultaneously that results in “cleaner, more beautiful skin with no discomfort or downtime.”

Breining said the Hydra-Facial is the most popular treatment that women come in for, takes about 40 minutes and costs $165. There are packages available for special pricing The

The Rivertowns Enterprise/Page 13A

Hydra-Facial reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, congested enlarged pores, oily or acne-prone skin, hyper pigmentation and brown spots.

“We get some clients who come in that know exactly what they want,” Breining said.

“The majority want a consultation. We do skin analysis for them based on what they want their desired outcome to be. We give them at-home regimens to follow, offer suggestions for treatment plans.”

The spa does injectibles, Botox and other procedures performed by their two licensed aestheticians, done under the direct supervision of the doctor. Bellava also offers nine different types of massage, including reflexology.

Breining said that without doing medical procedures, “To look your best you need to have great skin, good diet, drink plenty of water and get plenty of sleep.”

The core of beauty Another path to looking your best is being fit and trim. According to Cathy Decker, manager of Apogee Fitness and Wellness Center in Bedford Hills, the center offers group and private Pilates classes and spa services.

Apogee also has a fitness center in White Plains, where Decker previously worked, which she described as being more of a studio environment, with “a little bit more classes … a large, beautiful facility.” The White Plains facility has 8,500 square feet and offers healthy living based on the total wellness concept pioneered by Joseph H. Pilates.

The White Plains Pilates studio provides mat and equipment classes developed by world-renowned educators; private training programs in state-of-the-art Pilates studios.

They also offer massage, life coaching and more. The center’s on-site café offers nutritious food and beverages and a shop for fitness apparel and natural skin care products developed by Apogee. The Bedford location

Upscale ~ Bohemian ~ Chic 2101 Boston Post Road Larchmont 630-2002 94 Main Street Irvington 231-5959 •

•

Continued on page 14A

Today’s Woman is Strong. Today’s Woman is Confident.

Today’s Woman is Beautiful.

10

Skincare Products

by YonKa Paris!

Aromatherapy Products

by Eve Taylor!

10 Years Professional Experience!

Best Brazilian Bikini Waxing in Westchester!

Owner/Esthetician Allison Adamiak!

Facials • Waxing • Make-Up Application • Bronzing • Tinting • Aromatherapy • Ear Candling Join the MORE THAN 850 Fans Who Already “LIKE” Us on 280 Mamaroneck Ave., Suite 310, White Plains

(914) 358-9898

www.balance-dayspa.com

Page 14A/The Rivertowns Enterprise

Today’s Woman March 22, 2013

Viktoria Fisch

Natural Beauty Continued from page 13A

Expanding the entrepreneur spirit

O

By EVE MARX

n a Monday afternoon in March when most of Katonah’s retail stores are closed, Viktoria Fisch, sole proprietor of Ebba, an eclectic perfumery and gift shop, is hanging a clothing rod. Power tools in hand, she is creating new display space for the C.P. Shades oversized shirts she is selling, her shipment having just arrived from Sausalito, Calif., where the garments are made.

“Do you know C.P. Shades?” she said enthusiastically over the buzz of her electric screwdriver.

“One hundred percent natural and sustainable fabric, uncomplicated, soulful and garment dyed.

Do you know the history of the company and the man who founded it? I feel so lucky to bring these shirts here.”

Fisch is one of those super high-energy, smiling, enthusiastic, warm women Northern Westchester seems to breed. Born in New York City — the first girl after three boys — to a Swedish mother who came over to America when she was 21 and a Jewish dad, the family moved to Chappaqua in 1971.

Talk about roots: Fisch’s parents still reside in the same house.

“I was very drawn to Katonah when I was a teen,” Fisch said, sipping tea at Tazza coffee bar. “I especially loved coming to a shop called Katonah Scentral, which was owned by a woman named Deborah Marsten. She had beautiful soaps and things for the bath, and nonanimal tested beauty products and essential oils. The oils made a big impression.”

Fast forward years later when Fisch moved to Los Angeles to pursue a few dreams. One of those dreams manifested itself in the form of her own shop, Ebba, a niche perfume house. Fisch named the store after her mother, whose name is Ebba.

The 14-year-old shop garnered great press from the start, featured numerous times in Lucky, InStyle, Elle, Us and Allure magazines. Fisch developed a following for her signature aromatic scents and roll-on oils made, as Marsten’s were years before, using only pure, natural and organic essences. The Miss Marisa line of perfumes, Fleur, Marine, Nuit, Zest and Tropical, along with By Sand, By Sea and Basil Green Tea for men and women, are bestsellers on the Internet.

Family matters that began evolving two years ago summoned Fisch back east, her 2-year-old son in tow. Regretfully she closed her Los Angeles shop, not yet sure what she was going to do. Then an opportunity in her favorite retail town, Katonah, magically opened up. June and Myron Goldfinger decided to cut The Katonah General Store space in half again and rent one half out. Fisch didn’t hesitate to snap the space up. Ebba Katonah opened one week before Christmas 2011. The place was a hit from the start.

“You can have a beautifully curated store and still have things that are inexpensive,” Fisch said of her shop.

JIM MACLEAN PHOTO

Katonah’s Viktoria Fisch, sole proprietor of Ebba, an eclectic perfumery and gift shop.

One of her retail mantras is to buy things in small batches and keep it moving. The selection of merchandise is constantly changing, as are the display spaces, although what she sells does fall into a few carefully curated categories. There are scarves. There is vintage furniture. There is jewelry.

There is body crème and handmade soap. There are newborn baby items and books and paper goods. Handbags, many of them vegan made, have become top selling items, along with the beautiful lamps and lampshades. Increasingly there are clothes, such as the line from C.P. Shades. And of course there is Miss Marisa and Fisch’s own line of custom scents and perfumes.

Six months ago another retail opportunity arose when the Goldfingers decided to let go of their other shop. Fisch decided to expand. Not sure yet how she would utilize the space, she immediately created a pop up store within Ebba. Meghan Bazaar, a Katonah mom, sublet the space to open G. Willikers, a toy shop. It was the first pop up store in Katonah.

“Pop up stores and restaurants were already well known in L.A.,” Fisch said. “I thought it would be fun to do, but I didn’t really need to expand. Ebba was flourishing. I just loved the idea of creating a new vibe and expanding the entrepreneur spirit. G. Willikers was innovative and it launched a business for Meghan and gave her a leg up.”

With G. Willikers now leasing its very own retail space up the street, Fisch was on to the next challenge.

“It’s amazing how much business I do selling candles and jewelry,” Fisch said. “But I want to keep doing things that are a bit different.”

To that end, this spring Ebba begins a new evolution in the form of a mini multitude of pop up shops that will collectively be known as Ebba Market.

“Market really came out of the abundance of

Linked Linked In In

people coming into the shop hoping I’d sell their wares,” Fisch said.

To that end, she has created within her shop an area that encompasses several temporary stalls.

“Laurie Berg, who already sells her jewelry to me, will now have her own stall,” Fisch said. “I want to support these other small retailers. I’m not the authority on what people love to buy. The stalls will each be selling things in small batches to keep things fresh, but that is also the way I stock my own store. I am thinking of these small businesses within the business of Ebba as incubators. For example, one of the women taking a stall has a shop on Etsy. This is the next step for her.”

Fisch also praised the concept of having a group of small businesses physically close together: “You get to be a fly on the wall. You get to hear what people are saying as they circulate around the shops.”

Every shop within her shop will still have what she calls the “Ebba vibe.” In addition, she is taking two of the stalls herself to test-drive a new retail concept of her own called Ebba Bungalow.

“It will mostly be furniture,” she said. “Antique Chinese and Asian. All authentic.”

Fisch said she views Katonah as a perfect retail environment.

“I have the best customers,” she bragged.

“They’re very educated, sophisticated; they enjoy shopping. They appreciate what I’m doing and know that any time they come in, there will be something new for them to look at. They’re very complimentary.”

Meanwhile, the family complications are still formidable, formidable enough they might fell or at least slow down a lesser woman. There has been death. There has been illness. And now there is a new love as well as Fisch’s young son.

“I have to force myself sometimes to realize that I can’t do it all,” Fisch said. “It’s been a huge Zen lesson. I’m still learning.”

has a fitness floor with exercise equipment including a Trax machine, which Decker said is a new modality that some people call a vertical Pilates machine. Apogee also has a Pilates studio in Manhattan.

All of Apogee’s teachers are power Pilates certified. “There are many different kinds of Pilates,” Decker said. “This is classical Pilates developed by Joseph Pilates.” It includes using a machine called The Reformer and mats, a Cadillac machine and The Tower, which is a small machine. Classes are made up of six people. “We often use Reformers but usually for private or semi-private classes in a room by itself,” Decker said. “We encourage using both. It helps with coordination — it’s core based. Everything comes from the core. As you have a strong core it helps strengthen the muscles around it.”

According to Decker, the center also offers restorative yoga that helps with strength and helps you unwind and “make time for yourself and gives you time to de-stress.”

Decker said of Apogee’s clients, “Since you’re active you eat better, you’re more body conscience, you’re more thirsty — hydration is really important.” She is looking into offering a workshop with a nutritionist at the center for clients. “The healthy attitude of the clients shows,” she noted. “Women tend to come in groups. It’s a nice community.”

The Bedford Apogee has its own café on premises, where clients gather. It offers “grab and go” snacks and Allegro natural coffee from Whole Foods and natural teas. In summer smoothies are on the menu, using berries for antioxidents.

Why do women take Pilates? “I think they get results,” Decker said. “Women don’t want to bulk up. Pilates works on small muscle groups. It helps you lengthen. A lot of dancers incorporate Pilates into their workout.”

Decker said Pilates strengthens the core and helps with alignment. “It starts from the core and helps with flexibility,” Decker said.

“It’s definitely an age thing,” adding that Apogee’s clients tend to be on the older side.

Decker suggests coming in at least three times a week for maximum results, saying it would be best to have private sessions that often “if that were possible. Mix up the different classes; you get something from each one.”

And can Pilates help with weight loss?

“Definitely because you’re burning calories — it’s hard,” she said. “You have to have the stamina. There’s a lot of repetition which definitely burns calories.”

Exercise can be the gateway to looking your best, naturally? “I really think just having a healthy lifestyle helps you look younger,” Decker said. “Because you’re stronger you have a glow about you. Coming in regularly you’re more aware of what you’re eating.”

So get out there and get moving — your mirror will be smiling back at you!

make the jewelry you want to wear™ at

Arm twister

Expert Repairs Done on Premises Expert Done on Expert Repairs Repairs Done on Premises Premises Appraisals and Ear Piercing Available Appraisals Appraisals and and Ear Ear Piercing Piercing Available Available

Beads of Westchester

Hours: Tuesday thru Saturday 9:30-5:30

R oRMick Robin obin Mc c c oRMick OBIN M Cc C ORMICK obin c oRMick JEWELRY & DESIGN STUDIO JEWELRY JEWELRY & & DESIGN DESIGN STUDIO STUDIO Gold Gold Gold

✦ ✦ ✦

Platinum Platinum Platinum

✦ ✦ ✦

Rare Gems Rare Rare Gems Gems

✦ ✦ ✦

www.BeadsWest.com Expert Repairs Done on Premises Appraisals & Ear Piercing Available

Pearls Pearls Pearls

26 Valley Road, Katonah, NY 10536 ✦ 914-232-1288 26 Katonah, 26 Valley Valley Road, Road, Katonah, NY NY 10536 10536 ✦ ✦ 914-232-1288 914-232-1288 www.robinmccormickjewelry.com www.robinmccormickjewelry.com www.robinmccormickjewelry.com Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 10-6 Hours: Hours: Tuesday Tuesday through through Saturday Saturday 10-6 10-6

CHAN LUU INSPIRED BRACELET: Everyone seems to be wearing one of these chic bracelets these days. We've modified the design to make it easy enough for a beginner to master. You'll love making it!

96 Westchester Ave, White Plains, (914) 437-7666

March 22, 2013

Fresh Trends Continued from page 8A

sneakers) complete the look from head to toe.

Tees and sweats Bet you thought you’d never pay more than $100 for a sweatshirt. This year you just might do it. For every jean there is a perfect top. And this season, sweatshirts and T-shirts are popular contenders. Marrying well with the boyish charm of distressed jeans are the cheeky attitudes of cropped sweatshirts and printed tees. Casual comfort defines this look, which can also be worn with leggings or stretchy yoga pants. However, to keep the combination from looking sloppy, go for quality textiles and flattering proportions. Make sure your clothes fit, and you maintain the line of a slim waist, toned arms or a defined collarbone. Screen prints and graphic design imagery, sometimes embedded with a pop culture message or rock ‘n’ roll symbolism, make the new tees into confident statements for the wearer.

Cropped sweatshirts can be tricky. Your best bet is to choose one that is the antithesis of any sweatshirt cliché. That means no heather gray, no sports logo and no boxy fit. Instead, look for vivid colors, tailored construction details, overall movement and appealing textures.

Black pantsuit What is perfection? Elegant and understated. Confident and strong. Graceful but edgy.

The black suit accomplishes it all. Since a good black pantsuit is an investment piece, look for excellent fabric, impeccable tailoring and classic lines. Buy the best quality you can afford, and the suit will last a lifetime. Think of a black suit as a blank canvas. Jewelry, shoes and scarves dress it up or play it down. Your creativity makes it your own. And it’s the perfect transition between day and evening.

Stripes Straight-edged stripes in every combination are the mark of spring this year. Vertical or horizontal; thick or thin; quiet or loud — stripes are the chameleon of the season. In a navy and white boat-neck top, they reference classical nautical styles. In a pink and lime green dress, they look cute and preppy. In a black and gray paint suit, stripes epitomize cutting-edge modern.

Even simple basics come alive with stripy energy.

Whatever your taste, find just the right flavor of stripes to suit your passion.

Today’s Woman signers are offering matching pairs of shorts and jackets. In luxe fabrics and fabulous high heels, these ensembles offer a fresh alternative to your little black dress.

Vests Fall’s obsession with menswear endures into this season with a new crop of vests. Worn open over T-shirts or paired with slouchy jeans, vests embody an attitude of laidback cool. Nontraditional textiles such as nubby cotton, denim, thick jersey and mesh add a distinctive sporty air.

Alternatively, buttoned-up versions of vests turn up the volume on pantsuits and tailored skirts.

Blouses are optional with these sleeveless numbers. Look for interesting details such as peplums, oversized lapels, zippers, toggles, ties, buttons and metallic snaps.

Flower garden prints April showers bring May flowers, so it’s not

The Rivertowns Enterprise/Page 15A

surprising that blossoms are a perennial favorite of spring wardrobes. This year’s interpretation shows bright, bold floral prints with botanically accurate details. Demure rows of tiny stylized blossoms are sweet, but old fashioned. The best contemporary dresses and skirts explode with the lush colors and extravagant textures of a flowerbed in full bloom. Added extravagance comes from beading and textural embellishments. Compared to the casualness, sportiness and restraint of other spring fashions, florals are the most feminine look of the season.

Cutout dresses Dresses have been inspired by the strict geometry dominating the spring aesthetic. As a result, designers have taken simple silhouettes and invigorated them with angular cutouts. Maxi dresses offer the most room to play with high slits, bare midriffs and peek-a-boo sides, shoulders and backs. Wide, angular straps achieve the same

look, while adding an assertive graphic quality.

These dresses are strong and sexy, with a tantalizing play between long, covered-up silhouettes and glimpses of skin. Some designers incorporate mesh inserts and illusion necklines; however, the majority let bare skin radiate. Maybe it’s not a bad idea to allow designers to play with scissors.

Anoraks and ankles This season’s jacket of choice is the anorak.

The pant of choice is the ankle-length trouser.

Both impart a carefree mood and evoke outdoor fun and picnics. Anoraks are practical by design, but they don’t have to be dull. Look for creative styling through contrasting trim, mixed materials and gorgeous hardware. Ankle length pants are fun additions to the spring wardrobe when worn in a lighthearted way. Look for bright colors and vivid patterns. And with your ankles on display, don’t forget a fun pair of new shoes.

Bermuda shorts Gone are the days of skin-tight shorty shorts.

Instead, this season’s longer-length Bermuda shorts offer a much more wearable option. Modest and practical, Bermuda shorts are a flattering length for all ages and body types. With a nice belt and blouse, Bermudas transcend the stereotypical limitations of shorts, and they function as a skirt substitute. Bermudas also cross the lines of business clothing and eveningwear. Nodding to the current love affair with pantsuits, many de-

Today’s Woman A special section of

The Rivertowns Enterprise 95 Main Street, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522

(914) 478-2787 • www.rivertownsenterprise.net PUBLISHER.....................................Deborah G. White SECTION EDITOR........................................Todd Sliss ART DIRECTOR................................ Ann Marie Rezen AD DESIGN................................................ Kathy Patti AD SALES............. Marilyn Petrosa,Thomas O’Halloran, Barbara Yeaker, and Francesca Lynch ©2013 W.H. White Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden without the Publisher’s written permission.

GREAT STUFF 27 Spencer Place, Scarsdale, NY 914.723.0504

1 South Greeley Ave. Chappaqua, NY 914.238.0057

54 Purchase Street, Rye, NY 914.967.1377

68 Main St. Westport, CT 203.226.1271

321 Greenwich Ave. Greenwich, CT 203.861.6872

Page 16A/The Rivertowns Enterprise

Today’s Woman March 22, 2013

We are more than just fitness...

T h e P i l a t e s & M o r e Fa m i l y i s m a d e u p o f h i g h l y t r a i n e d p r o fe s s i o n a l s .

We are trained and certified in: Pilates Instruction Yoga Instruction Massage Therapy Pre/Post Natal Body Conditioning Physical Therapy

Pilates is for every body...

Let us transform

YOURS!

Our programs help with: Back pain Postural alignment Repetitive Stress Injuries Surgical rehabilitation Joint replacements

Come visit us and let us show you what we do!

129 Main Street, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522

914-478-3560 www.pilatesandmorestudio.com • pilatesandmore@gmail.com Now accepting Visa, MasterCard and Discover!

Look for us on FaceBook!