I know it’s been awhile since our last post. Recently we created our very own Pinterest account. We are still deciding on content for our style, places, party ideas, etc. What are your favorite places, or party themes/ accessories?

In other news, May 13th 2012 is Mothers Day!
Here are our top 6 Gift ideas:

1.Take her out to lunch: whether it be her favorite restaurant or a new cuisine that you think she might enjoy, parents always love spending time with their children. Regardless of where you go reservations are a must and flowers or chocolates are always a plus.

2.Treat her to a Spa Day: Your mother has spent your entire life pampering you, why not for just one day pamper her. We recommend a nice massage, and as always pedicures and manicures are a must.

Courtesy of Mytwentiesblog.com

Courtesy of Theflorister.com

3.Tickets to an Opera: While not every parent will enjoy Opera, this is a great chance to show your mother how much you’ve matured. This doesn’t mean you have to enjoy it as well, you simply have to smile.
4.Flowers: This gift seems simple enough, but there is a lot more to it than simply picking up flowers from the supermarket. To add that extra flare to Mother’s Day, try to find out her favorite types of flowers and make your own bouquet. Don’t forget the vase!

5.Plant flowers with her: This gift is the perfect opportunity to bond with your mother while also fixing up the house. As with gift number 5 make sure to find out your Mother’s favorite flowers, but don’t forget to check which season they should be planted in!

Never forget to give your Mother a hug of appreciation!

See's Dark Chocolate Rabbit

Our Favorite Snack:

This See’s Dark Chocolate Rabbit is the perfect Easter snack. By now most people have started their summer diets, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the sugary goodness of Easter! Dark Chocolate is full of antioxidants which are actually good for your skin. It might be too late to stop by See’s and pick up a chocolate bunny though. Our solution to this: just make sure that if you eat chocolate on Easter it is dark chocolate.

Fresh Fruit Salad with Honey Vanilla Yogurt by Ina Garten

Our Favorite Brunch Dish:

This Fresh Fruit Salad with Honey Vanilla Yogurt by Ina Garten is the perfect dish for Easter Brunch. It  takes about 10 minutes to make; the balance of fresh fruit and yogurt provides the abundance of energy needed to handle your hectic Easter day. Here at FashionVortex we love mangoes so we suggest adding 1 diced mango to the recipe! This fabulous breakfast is easy to prep, serve, and clean up. Bring it to a potluck style brunch and impress all of your loved ones.

White Avorio satchel

Avorio Scrunchy Shoulder Bag

Trend #1: Bright Colors

Bright colors embody the giddy Easter spirit. This spring Block colors are also in style. Check out Outfit #1 and Outfit #2 for a combination of the 2 trends.

Outfit #1. For a casual brunch with friends try pairing this white Avorio Satchel with this flowy Blue Forever 21 Jumper. The white satchel contrasts the dark blue jumper making it the perfect addition to your Easter outfit.

Outfit #2. Block colors are all the rage. This Easter show off your inner fashionista by pairing this bold Scrunchy Avorio bag with Banana Republic’s Chartreuse jacquard dress. The contrast in colors is sure to draw attention. Don’t forget yellow is a signature color of the Easter holiday.

Trend #2: Pastels, Pastels, Pastels

This trend is evident in everything from chocolate candy eggs to the rather large Easter Sunday hats. For a modern spin on this trend check out Outfit#3.

Outfit #3. Whether your attending a family function or walking your dog, this Ferramoda “Euphoria” shoulder bag paired with The Limited’s Slim Leg Pink Pant will exude confidence while showing off your Easter spirit.

Ferramoda Euphoria

Achille Pinto

Trend #3: White

On most holidays white is the perfect color. It makes the perfect statement. Check out Outfit #4 for a classic Easter look.

Outfit #4. Flaunt your high end fashion sense by combining this beautifulAchille Pinto Scarf with the classic Ann Taylor Icing Dress. This dress is perfect for going to Church or simply attending an Easter egg hunt. This scarf doubles as a shawl or a purse bow.

You can never go wrong with a little black dress. To give you wardrobe a little kick try out Giudi pebble print leather clutch. This versatile clutch can also be worn as a shoulder bag.

Giudi Black Pebble Print Clutch

“From March 18 to 23 and March 25 to 30, 2012 Boston’s best restaurants will be offering tasty prix fixe menus for lunch and/or dinner for an incredible bargain:  2-course lunch for $15.12, 3-course lunch for $20.12, and 3-course dinner for $33.12.”- Restaurant Week Boston

Oceanaire Seafood Room in Downtown Boston

The Oceanaire Baby Green and Vermont Goat Cheese Salad

1^st Course:  Baby green and Vermont Goat Cheese Salad

Goat cheese salad is the perfect starter, this restaurant is said to give portions that are more than enough so warning save room for your entrée! With their classy upscale environment the Oceanaire seafood room is the perfect place to enjoy an amazing meal and quality seafood.

Bistro du Midi in Back Bay

Bistro du Midi Lamb Neck RavioliEntrée Course: Pan-seared hake Or Lamb neck ravioli

Whether youre in the mood for seafood or lamb, Bistro du Midi is a great place to dine. Their lamb tartare is rumored to be “mouth-watering” so we can only imagine how great the lamb ravioli will be. Hake is typically a fish only consumed on rare well deserved occasions. If you’re a seafood lover like me you know the value of a well seared Hake. Try out either and let us know what you think!

The Blue Room in Cambridge

Dessert Course: Olive Oil Caramel Torta Caprese

While the Blue Room is famous for its’ brunch, this dessert seems too good to pass up. The romantic setting is perfect to share a slice of carmel torta caprese. This dessert is sure to impress your date by showcasing your excellent date.

Taranta Fusilli Pomodoro

Taranta in the North End

Entrée Course: Fusilli Pomodoro
Come with an empty stomach! Taranta is rumored to give very large portions that leave you satisfied. This full portion of pasta features sauce directly from Sarno Italy and homegrown basil. The intimate atmosphere is perfect for a truly special night out.

The Melting Pot in the Theater District

Entrée Course: Teriyaki Marinated-Sirloin, White Tiger Shrimp and Chicken and Vegetable Potstickers

Everyone who has heard of fondue knows of the Melting Pot. Their quality of service and food is nearly unbeatable. Restaurant week is a great chance to enjoy fondue for a steal! Fondue is the perfect for a night out with friends, family or that special someone. The Teriyaki Marinated-Sirloin is to die for. What’s your favorite fondue dish?

When I first met Dimonika Bray at Samuel Vartan’s fashion studio event almost a year ago, I saw a woman with a cheerful smile taking photos of the fashionable crowd and having lots of fun doing it. I have seen her regularly at other fashion and entertainment events in Boston and worked with her on a photo shoot for Fashion Vortex. She is always there with her camera doing what she loves most – photographing people in all walks of life. Little did I know how much more there is to Dimonika’s story. Only recently did I get a glimpse of who that smiling lady with the camera really is.

My most surprising discovery was that Dimonika used to be a fashion model and Miss Zaire (now Republic of the Congo) in 1981. Now I can really understand her passion for capturing fashion shows, models and designers with her camera. Prior to coming to the Unites States in 2000, Dimonika worked as a Hotel Administrator and Event Planner in her homeland, Republic of the Congo.  She continued to work as the event planner for weddings, anniversaries and graduation parties in Boston. This experience taught her to be very sensitive to how people appear in public. She uses it in her current work as a photographer and strives to show people only in the best light. She attributes her success to always learning from her mistakes and the desire to capture the inner and outer beauty of her camera subjects.  Her work speaks for itself.

Dimonika at Fab 2011 Awards with Tiffany Probasco, a FAB Executive and Tee' S. Whitlow, Sposkeswoman and Actress

Ana Milevskaja of Fashion Vortex, Lizzy Amas, Model with Dimonika Bray at Fab Awards 2011

Dimonika in the suit she designed and made

Dimonika in one of her creations

Dimonika modeling the dress she made

Dimonika attending a function in the dress she made

Most recently, Dimonika was recognized for her work and received Fab 2011 Award in photography. Every year the Fab Empire celebrates those in our cities who are movers, shakers, entrepreneurs and taste makers. Dimonika’s success is remarkable especially since she is a self-trained photographer. When I went to the awards party at Felt in Downtown Boston, I didn’t recognize her at first. She was wearing a dress!  The Dimonika I always see wears slacks and a simple top and her most important accessory is her camera.

She told me that she used to design and make clothes back in Congo. She stopped doing it once she arrived to the US, since the amount of mass produced clothes and the competition from local designers made it difficult for her to be a designer in Boston. Dimonika still can’t resist the desire to buy a beautiful fabric thinking that she will make a beautiful dress out of it at some point in her life.  She has quite a collection of unique fabrics. At heart, she is still a model, a designer, an event planner and, most recently, a photographer.

The Thinking Cup in Boston Common

Avorio leather hobo

Yesterday was inadmissibly cold. I had an appointment in downtown Boston at 7 and of course I was 30 minutes early.As I was trying to escape the cold I spotted The Thinking Cup. After getting past the wind stopping curtain I spotted the amazing café. From cupcakes to wraps, this place truly had it all. After studying the menu I decided to have a cup of tomato bisque and it was amazing.
While waiting for my soup I spotted a woman wearing a black peacoat holding a camel colored bag. Very similar to this Avorio hobo. This woman exuded confidence and style all while typing away on her computer. Our Avorio hobo is perfect for the active woman, suitable for all activities from work to a weekend away.
While today was gorgeous the cold should be settling in again this weekend. So grab your hobos head to a café to show off your savory style while socializing.

Bruno Rossi Leather tote

With the coming of spring many ladies are wondering: What new editions can I make to my spring wardrobe? Here are your long awaited answers: 

Check out this light pink Bruno Rossi tote:
Try styling this fashionable bag with a white cardigan and tan colored bottoms. Or try a tan cardigan a light top and jeans. Dressing for a special occasion? Put on your little black dress, a short blazer, a pair of pumps to match and your ready for your special night. 

GIUDI Italian leather wristlet

Are you having trouble looking for the perfect gift for your special someone? Look no further! Our one of a kind jewelry sets exude love and passion. Our UPS Next Day air service gives you just enough time to decide on the perfect gift for your special someone and wrap it.

Don’t want to take a chance on jewelry? Try out one of our timeless Italian Leather Wristlets! Perfect for the woman on the go, and the smell of Italian leather radiates quality. Easy way to pick up brownie points and make lasting impressions.

Ladies. looking to treat yourselves? Get empowered! Buy yourself a beautiful premium leather briefcases and make a statement. With classic reds and burgundies our Medici briefcases are quick sellers and loved by all!

Regardless of the weather, it’s been a great start of the year for Fashion Vortex highlighted by orders of Bruno Rossi bags from Australia. These customers have previously owned Bruno Rossi bags, but were not able to buy them in their home country. The deerskin leather that is a signature of Bruno Rossi bags captures hearts and wallets of sophisticated women all around the globe. Here is what one of them said:

“I have a Bruno Rossi bag. I bought it to travel with not realizing how fabulous it would make me feel every time I use it. It is an absolutely joy to own- classy, fabulous quality, understated elegance, chic. Sometimes I get it out just to touch it…”

After these orders we couldn’t help but enable international ordering capability on the Fashion Vortex website.

We are excited to receive all the positive feedback on the Fashion Vortex newsletter and hope that this one will be just as informative as others. Here you will find tips for looking and feeling well, inside and out. Let’s be in charge of our health and style in 2012 and experience life in a new way.

Is Generosity the Secret to Successful Relationship? Read on.

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, we wanted to share with our Readers an interesting article that gives insight into secrets of successful marriage and a fulfilling relationship in general. We hope you find it informative and enjoyable:

“From tribesmen to billionaire philanthropists, the social value of generosity is already well known. But new research suggests it also matters much more intimately than we imagined, even down to our most personal relationships.
Researchers from the University of Virginia’s National Marriage Project recently studied the role of generosity in the marriages of 2,870 men and women. Generosity was defined as “the virtue of giving good things to one’s spouse freely and abundantly” — like simply making them coffee in the morning — and researchers quizzed men and women on how often they behaved generously toward their partners. How often did they express affection? How willing were they to forgive?”

Read full article by Tara Parker-Pope of New York Times here.

STYLE UP!

New Year, new resolutions? We love the no-nonsense style resolutions that stylist Doreen Dove offers in her blog. We found them very useful and wanted to share with our Readers.

Top 4 Style Resolutions

Resolution #1: Edit your closet

If it’s been years (let’s be honest here) since you overhauled your closet, now is the time. The more organized your wardrobe is, the easier it will be to put together outfits, not to mention how much more room you’ll have once you get rid of all of the items you no longer wear.

Resolution #2: Embrace quality over quantity

While it may be tempting to buy that $10.00 top (or three of them), what’s the point if it will just fall apart after a few washes? This year, resist the urge to impulse buy or spend on things you know won’t last just because the price tag looks good. Instead, spend money on quality items that are timeless and will last  for years, look great and become the backbone of your wardrobe.

Resolution #3: Accentuate the positive!

Stop thinking something is wrong with your body and start recognizing something is wrong with your clothes. Keep trying things on until you hit on an item that complements your shape. If you have doubts, step away from the register!

Resolution #4: Embrace color!

A closet full of black, gray, navy and beige is fine, but a bit boring. Resolve to brighten things up with some key pieces in bold shades. Winter is a great time for this – add a red or purple scarf to your cold weather accessory arsenal. Color is a great way to inject some new life into your wardrobe and spice up your day-to-day outfits.

For a full blog post on style resolutuons, please visit Doreen’s blog - The Organized Wardrobe

HEALTH & BEAUTY TIPS

Let’s talk about posture

In this issue of the newsletter we would like to share an insight into something we rarely pay attention to – our posture. According to Natasha Dashkovskaya, an Egoscue method certified Posture Alignment Specialist, posture is one of the most effective but neglected methods of diagnosing one’s musculoskeletal health. For many years Natasha worked in the computer field and suffered all sorts of musculoskeletal issues including back, hip, and knee pain. When she was introduced to the Egoscue method of postural fitness several years ago, the relief she experienced was so impressive that she decided to change her profession and help people to achieve similar results.

A good posture allows us to stand, walk, sit and lie in positions where the least strain is placed on supporting muscles and ligaments during movement or weight-bearing activities. That is, unless we live a motion deprived life. Then our body shuts down the unused muscles as a survival adaptation mechanism – use it or lose it. But once in a while even the most sedentary people need to get up from that office chair and perform tasks involving the unused muscles – pick up a heavy object, move furniture, or climb the stairs. Since the assigned muscle is shut down and not capable of performing this task, the body borrows another muscle to do the job. With repetitive misuse, the compensating muscle moves bones from their proper positions and posture becomes compromised. When skeletal structures are misaligned, muscles are forced to continually compensate for the postural deviations changing their length and tension and pulling bones out of alignment even more. It becomes a vicious cycle.

The good news is our postures can be fixed and with proper posture fitness program muscles can be re-trained and lost functions restored at any age. A person trained in theEgoscue method can evaluate posture deviations and back problems of each individual and solve these problems through a series of simple but very effective individually selected strengthening, stretching, or positioning exercises.

For more information please take a look at the Upright Posture Fitness website andblog, where Natasha describes Egoscue method and how simple exercises can restore alignment and functions of the whole musculoskeletal system and rid you of hip, knee, back problems, and chronic pains.

Stay active. Live pain free.