October 20, 2009 by jmanos
Yes, it’s only Tuesday evening, but I am counting down the days until Saturday. This Saturday will be spent in warm weather, surrounded by mineral pools and cucumber water. You guessed it – some friends and I are having a “girl’s spa day” in one of my favorite NorCal locations, lovely Calistoga.
Since we had so much fun at the last girl’s weekend in Calistoga, we decided to do the same thing – early morning massage at Indian Springs, a day of relaxing at the Buddah Pond and the Mineral Pool and then a nice dinner out before heading back to the miserable weather that makes San Francisco home.
Hopefully I will come back a more relaxed (and sweeter) wife for poor Will. That must be why he quickly agrees whenever the subject of a girl’s trip comes up. 
Images courtesy of IndianSprings.com
Posted in travel | Tagged Calistoga, Indian Springs | 4 Comments »
October 19, 2009 by jmanos
This evening we bought tickets for Life and Limb, a 5-course dinner with beer pairings. Sam Calagione, owner of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery back East and Ken Grossman of Sierra Nevada will be hosting the event and the launch of their ales, Life & Limb and Limb & Life – both are a mix of Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and Dogfish Head Craft Brewery.
Will and I met Sam earlier this year at SF Strong Beer Week. Sam co-hosted an event with Shaun O’Sullivan of 21st Amendment. Both are charismatic and hysterical – we were laughing uncontrollably for the entire length of the dinner. Also, we’ve both read Sam’s book, Brewing Up a Business. Will’s sort of obsessed with craft beer and brewing, but we both enjoyed the story behind Sam and his wife building the brewery.
The most important part? The menu sounds absolutely incredible. Seriously, I am drooling.
Menu
Passed Hors D’oeuvres: Seared Rare Beef with Tamarind Crispy Lobster Ravioli with Mango-Coconut Sauce
Appetizer/Salad: Seared Rare Ahi Tuna with Hearts of Palm, Jicama Salsa, Orange Vinaigrette
Main 1: (1/2 portion) Five-Spiced Crispy Skin Poussin, Sugar Snap Peas, White Corn Pilaf, Sweet & Sour Sauce
Main 2: (1/2 portion) Wokked Tournedos of Beef Filet Mignon, Peppercress, Red Sweet Onions
Desserts (Choice): Valrhona Dark Chocolate Semifreddo Flourless Coconut Rum Cake
If you’re interested in purchasing tickets (there are only 75 available) go here for additional information.
Image courtesy of Craft Beer Festivals
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged beer, dinner, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Life & Limb, Limb & Life, Sam Calagione, Sierra Nevada | 2 Comments »
October 19, 2009 by jmanos
If so then I’m in big, big trouble. Today, Leonora Epstein at the Frisky posted about the health hazards associated with wearing high heels. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, high heels cause infertility and schizophrenia. Not the best side effects, no?
Leonora’s post explained:
“Style-conscious women
are worse than smokers,” declares the Sydney Morning Herald. Why? We sacrifice our comfort and health for high heels and continue to buy them like addicts. (Way to stereotype.) The Herald claims that what’s worse is that we don’t even know the half of it: Not only are sexy pumps wreaking havoc on your feet, but they’re also potential culprits for infertility and schizophrenia. That’s right people—your Jimmy Choos (well, in our case, Nine West!) are silent baby killers and mind effers! Explains one expert, the wearing of high heels distorts your pelvic alignment and supposedly messes with your menstrual cycle, in turn having a negative effect on fertility. As for mental side effects, some researchers in Sweden have explained that the alignment of the feet in high heels could possibly manipulate the transmission of dopamine (the chemical that makes you happy): “After heeled shoes are introduced into a population, the first cases of schizophrenia appear and then the increase in prevalence of schizophrenia follows the increase in use of heeled shoes.”
Make you want to run away? Just don’t do it in your five-inch stilettos. [Sydney Morning Herald]
I know that heels aren’t the safest shoes in the world but I highly doubt the side effects are that extreme. You know that I will NOT be giving up my heels. You know me better than that…
Image courtesy of splendicity.com
Posted in shoes | Tagged fashion, Healthy, shoes | 2 Comments »
October 15, 2009 by jmanos
This Fall I’ve been fiending for a great pair of classic flat boots. I know, what is the world coming to – Jen wearing flats?
I’ve been searching high and low, off and online, for the perfect pair but as you might imagine, my sized 10.5 feet are really making things difficult. It’s shocking how limited the choices are when narrowing the selection down from size 10 to size 10.5. I’m not sure why designers and manufacturers haven’t realized there are a lot of tall, big-footed ladies out there. Plus, I was trying to stay under 200.00…no easy feat.
Here are some of my options – what do you guys think? Is there a standout?
Bandolino, $148.95
Corso Como ‘Rachel II’ Tall Boot, $198.95
Images courtesy of Zappos and Nordstrom
Posted in shoes | Tagged Bandolino, Corso Como, Fall, shoes, Shopaholic, Shopping, Style File | 10 Comments »
October 15, 2009 by jmanos
The other night while I was watching either The Hills or The City (I know, I know, don’t say it!) I heard a song that I really liked. It was sort of 80’s with a mix of electro-pop and I had to hear more. The song turned out to be called Bulletproof by La Roux.
Since then I’ve downloaded the entire album and I really like most of the songs.
What do you guys think? Love/Hate? Let me know.
Posted in Music | Tagged Bulletproof, Faves, La Roux, Music, The City, The Hills | 10 Comments »
October 14, 2009 by jmanos
Most of you know I ‘m a contributor for WIT & Whimsy. We announced a fabulous Sleep Pretty In Pink giveaway earlier today, but I wanted to share with my loyal Jennifer Beautiful Me Show readers.
Details can be found below. Good luck!
Giveaway: Sleep Pretty In Pink
As we shared, we’re loving Sleep Pretty In Pink. The super soft earplugs are a lifesaver and the sleep mask is ridiculously comfortable.
Since we’re clearly enamored, we know our readers will be too. So, the folks at sleepinpink.com gave us two adorable Sleep Pretty in Pink sets for our readers.
To win, email jen.witwhimsy@gmail.com with “Sleep Pretty in Pink” in the subject line by Friday, October 16 by Midnight PT. Please be sure to include your mailing address.
We’ll announce the luck winners on Saturday, October 17.
Good Luck!
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged giveaway | Leave a Comment »
October 13, 2009 by jmanos
Most of you know that I’ve been contemplating changing things up hair-wise for a while. In fact, I’ve been seriously considering cutting bangs for the past few years. Perhaps you remember my posts earlier this year debating getting bangs. Of course, I chickened out and played it safe…I went with side bangs.
I lasted for almost two months with my side bangs but then I grew restless. I was bored, plain and simple. I knew I wanted to mix things up but I was scared I would be brought back to my highschool years with puffy, frizzy bangs that rested atop my forehead.
Finally after debating and polling every friend, acquaintance (and some strangers) I did it. I bit the bullet and I booked the appointment. Last weekend I got bangs. The result? I like them – it’s a welcome update to an otherwise unchanged ten-year hairstyle. Yikes!
The best part? Now I don’t have to wonder about this damn hairstyle anymore. Onto bigger and better things, I guess.
Here’s the end result. Thoughts?
Posted in Hair | Tagged Hair, Jennifer Beautiful Me, weekend | 2 Comments »
October 6, 2009 by jmanos
I’m not sure how I missed this, but apparently
Yankee Candle now sells lip balm. Last week, Spoiled Pretty wrote about her trip to Yankee Candle and her exciting discovery:
Packaged like mini versions of their signature jar candles, these balms are made with beeswax, organic extra virgin olive oil, organic hemp seed oil, vitamin E and rosemary – and feature SPF 15.
Yankee Candles are my absolute favorite – the scents are always so perfect and they last forever. I am also a devotee to lip balm. I typically carry 3-4 different brands/flavors with me at all times. So combining two of my favorite things (and for under $5, nonetheless) means that I will be all over these.
The lip balm is offered in five flavors: Black Cherry, Buttercream, Sweet Strawberry, Vanilla Cupcake and Vanilla Lime. Honestly, they all sound fabulous and I am sure I’ll try all of them at one point.
Has anyone seen or tried these? Let me know!
(Image courtesy of YankeeCandle.com)
Posted in beauty | Tagged Jennifer Beautiful Me | 6 Comments »
October 4, 2009 by jmanos
Last weekend Will and I went to Santa Cruz for the weekend with my family. On Saturday evening, we left Aldo’s Fish Market and I had a sudden hankering for Baskin Robbins ice cream. Once I persuaded my dad to take the family there for a treat (believe me, it wasn’t difficult – he has a bigger sweet tooth than I do) I immediately knew what I was going to order…a marshmallow/cookies and cream milkshake.
This item isn’t on the menu but Will created it two years ago during a family trip in Bridgeport. We were at a random ice cream stand and I was ordering an ice cream sundae. I insisted that Will order dessert if I was (yes, I am one of those people) and he didn’t want to. So to be an ass, he looked quickly at the menu and ordered the first two selections: a marshmallow and cookies and cream milkshake . The woman behind the counter smiled and whipped it up.
IT WAS AMAZING!
So a month or so later, we went to Baskin Robbins and asked if they could whip this up. They did – and it was even better than the first time. It literally tastes like the inside of an Oreo cookie. It has quickly become one of our favorite treats and I still adore the milkshake every single time I try it.
(Image courtesy of MSNBC.com)
Posted in Dessert | Tagged Faves, Jennifer Beautiful Me | 4 Comments »
September 30, 2009 by jmanos
I know, I know. No post on Jennifer Beautiful Me Show for more than two weeks?
What can I say? Life got in the way. When I say life I mean work, being out of town for the past 10 – count them, 10 – weekends in a row and pure, simple lack of motivation.
But have no fear – I’m back in the saddle. There will be more posts in the coming days, but for now I leave you with this:
Today I *finally* received my new favorite accessory. Yes, I’ve posted about my unfortunate (depending on how you look at it) obsession with Gilt.com in the past. And as Ms. Spears sang many years ago – Oops, I’ve done it again!
The Furla Yolande Satchel is gorgeous – the image doesn’t do it justice. It’s the perfect size too – it fits a book, water bottle, two pairs of eyeglasses and my wallet.
I am so excited to wear this all season long – it’s timeless, classic and the color will work perfectly with anything in my closet. What can I say? It was love at first sight!
(Image courtesy of Gilt.com)
Posted in Style File | Tagged handbags, Shopaholic, Shopping, Style File | 4 Comments »
(Image courtesy of 
