The Paris Exhibit by Hélène McGuire at Choc O Pain Bakery

CHOC∙O∙PAIN French Bakery & Café will host an art opening reception on Thursday, June 6, 2019 from 6-8pm. To kick off a three-month exhibition from June through August, Choc O Pain's Hudson Tea Building in Hoboken will feature the artwork of artist Hélène McGuire, a former Hoboken resident. 

 The popular artist will be presenting a collection of her fine art photography works entitled The Paris Exhibit, a series that came naturally after 15 years living away from her native city of Paris. Returning to France, slowly but surely, became a pilgrimage, a way to rediscover the city through a blend of memories and fresh eyes, French blood in an expat shell. This anthem is intended to keep growing with the years.

CHOC∙O∙PAIN will offer light refreshments and bubbly/wine.

CHOC∙O∙PAIN / Hudson Tea Building

1500 Hudson Street, Hoboken, NJ

(entrance through 1500 Washington Street, off the roundabout)

201-683-3300/ www.chocopainbakery.com /@chocopainbakery

Sephora Studio Hoboken Concept Store

Back in May, I had made my first trip to the new Sephora Studio experiential retail concept store in Hoboken. This new location opened on April 27th with an intimate format at 3,580 square feet and only the second of its kind (the first one launched last year in Boston, MA).

At the Sephora Studio, you can expect a carefully-curated assortment, expert store beauty advisors with the highest level of Sephora training and certification, and a variety of high-tech digital tools to enhance the shopping experience.

My first visit to Sephora Studio was during one of the opening events, focused on the monthly $10 beauty subscription box, PLAY! by Sephora. Since I was running late for the event, I was personally walked through the subscription box, and all the items featured for the month. 

Now given that the studio is quite smaller than your local Sephora store, you might not find the entire product line from your favorite brand there. Definitely let the studio know what you would like to see there. They can always help you find a similar product that's available or help you place an order. 

More Sephora Studios are expected to open across neighborhoods in the US this year, including Brooklyn, Los Angeles and Washington DC. 

Here are some of the offerings you can expect to find at the Sephora Studio:

• NEW PERK Hydrating Facial at the Skincare Studio. A premium 2-in-1 facial service that utilizes PERK technology to exfoliate, hydrate and nourish skin for instant, glowing results. With the help of a Beauty Advisor, clients will experience a skincare consultation, receive a personalized skincare service and leave with customized product recommendations for healthier and more hydrated skin. This 30-minute facial is complimentary with a $75 minimum skincare product purchase. Clients can schedule an appointment in advance or just walk in.

• Apps on the iPhone 7 Plus Cast Device offer easy and convenient access to information:         

          o Digital Makeover Guide – Sephora’s first interactive face chart that is a record of the specific service received, combined and customized product and application tips – connecting experience in-store to personal beauty journey at home

          o Digital Skincare Guide – sends a personalized skincare regimen after a skincare consultation or mini facial

          o Beauty Studio Check-In – an online reservation tool to check in for services + classes

          o Sephora Client App – Beauty Advisors can reference the app to quickly service clients, check Beauty Insider status and Sephora.com ratings and reviews on any product throughout the store

          o Mobile Point of Sale—provides easy and convenient check-out in-store, in addition to a cash wrap

• Digital components throughout the store that make beauty personal:

          o Digital screens located at the entrance that offer easy navigation and self-help 

          o Moisture Meter to measure the hydration level of the skin for personalized skincare consultations

          o Color IQ for scientifically-precise foundation, lip and concealer shade matching

          o Sephora Virtual Artist augmented technology that allows users to virtually try-on thousands of lipstick, cheek, concealer and false lash options using 3D imaging on the clients’ own face

          o Online reservation iPads for check-in and appointment scheduling for services/classes

• Elevated service offerings at the Beauty Studio with eight seats and four sinks, including:

          o Makeovers

• 15 Minute Mini Makeovers + Facials
• 45 Minute Custom Makeovers
• 75 Minute Custom Makeover Plus

          o Beauty Classes – take a group class with all your friends and learn the latest tips, tricks and techniques

          o Studio Concierge – matches the client with the appropriate consultant based on beauty need

• Sephora’s innovative retail concept designed to Teach, Inspire, Play will extend to the Studio by encouraging clients to freely test and try products from a curated selection of brands across prestige cosmetics, skincare, hair care and fragrance

- Kim Weling

Handbags of Hope Exchange Beauty & Wellness Showcase

Handbags of Hope founder, Erika Hernandez

In celebration of "Women in Business Month" I attended the Handbags of Hope Exchange Beauty & Wellness Showcase at Roe 7 Studios on Sunday, March 6th, in Hoboken for a day of learning, sharing and giving back. Attendees had a chance to meet with beauty/wellness professionals, win prizes, and listen to success stories, tips and personal stories of empowerment from inspirational women. 

The event supported Harvest of Hope Ministries and Dress for Success Hudson County. 100% of all the event's gains are being donated to Dress for Success. Each guest brought a gently used handbag filled with new toiletry items as a donation to Dress for Success in an effort to continue restoring hope and confidence to women in need. At the event, a total of 175 gently used handbags were collected for Dress for Success.

During the event, Fashion stylist, Tiffany Pinero provided us with some styling tips, followed by a beauty panel with vlogger, beauty influencer and brand ambassador Isabel Bedoya, founder of Khuraira Cosmetics, Khuraira Musa, and owner of Hair & Makeup Lounge, Jennifer Pina. 

Styling tips from Tiffany Pinero:

- Tailoring is everything. Look proportional and make it fit right

- Get inspired - make a Pinterest board or vision board.

- Plan or strategize before you buy, so you don't end up buying things you don't need.

Takeaways from the beauty panel:

- If you don't have a beauty routine, take on what you can handle. Less is more. Start out small and 

     work your way up ~ Jennifer Pina 

- Look at features you want to emphasize - brows - eyes - lips ~ Khuraira Musa

When asked 'What does being an empowered women means to you?':

- Doesn't matter your age or where you come from you can do anything - Isabel Bedoya

- You have to believe in yourself, have passion and value yourself. Listen to your inner voice

     ~ Khuraira Musa

- Take the help to be guided in the right direction. Don't be too proud to accept help ~ Jennifer Pina 

When asked 'What if you are struggling to find your inner voice?'

- Don't give up on what you are doing ~ Isabel Bedoya

- Find your passion. Find your niche and value it. Be good at it not mediocre. Always learn.                      Challenge yourself. Find something impossible and go for it. Don't be afraid ~ Khuraira Musa

- Figure out what you're doing that isn't making you happy. Re-evaluate. Change what you don't like.      Plan for the future what makes you happy and work towards that goal ~ Jennifer Pina 

When asked 'What do you when you have bad days?'

- Cover it up with a smile. Think of how blessed you are. Think first and act later ~ Jennifer Pina 

- Count your blessings. There is more positive than negative. Put makeup on and feel fabulous ~ Isabel Bedoya

- Right down positives and negatives for the year. Positives are always bigger than negatives. Always have God by your side ~ Khuraira Musa

After the beauty panel, Handbags of Hope founder, Erika Hernandez reminded us to figure out what you are good at, think about how it makes you feel, and figure out how to use your talent to make money. 

In exchange for bringing a gently used handbag filled with toiletries and snacks for a woman in need, the first 50 women who arrived at the event received a brand new handbag filled with products from sponsors and all other guests received a gift bag.

With Tiffany Pinero

With Isabel Bedoya

 With the Big Hair Girls

 - Kim Weling