New iPhone App for Upscale Parties in Paris France

I just launched the iPhone version of my Google Map-based website: http://www.parisguestlist.com, which helps Parisians find upscale parties, art openings, fashion events, nightclub soirées, etc. in the French capital.

Information about the app can be found here: http://www.parisguestlist.com/iphone/

Or download it direct from iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/fr/app/paris-guestlist/id377177864?mt=8

I'm looking for new partners in Paris: party organizers, socialites, fashion and art event organizers, agencies, and marketing professionals, to help the app reach its potential.

Please contact me with your ideas,

Stefanie Payne

stefanie@cityroom.com

Senior Editor / CityRoom Inc.

Invitation to Member's Only HauteLook and GILT Group

Join HauteLook and GILT Group for High Fashion at Low Prices. That's where i'll be, see you there!

DailyLitQuote - New CityRoom App for iPod, iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch

For years, over 200,000 people have been getting their daily gift of literary wisdom through the website www.dailyliteraryquote.com. Now there is an enhanced version of the DLQ service for iPhone, iPod, and iPad devices. See why this app is so popular. Install it now to bring great insights of world literature to your mobile device.

Get the app for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch

Every 24 hours, a new carefully-selected quote by a famous author from literary history or today is presented. Quotes vary from recognizable figures like Dostoevsky and Shakespeare, to lesser-known talent, showcased to help you find literature you may never run across elsewhere. This app is an excellent way to improve your knowledge of literature, discover new authors and books, and to gain wisdom through quotes that are often humorous, often serious and profound, and always interesting.

Themes range from writing and the art of literature, to the exploration of the creative process, to general thoughts on living, to offering wisdom and improving one’s outlook on life.
Each day’s quote includes a picture of the author. Sources are cited when possible. App also features links to sites where related information and more great quotes are offered for free.
Get the Daily Literary Quote app now and watch your knowledge of literature grow day by day, and have fun at the same time, with sayings you can carry around with you and share with your friends and family.

Note: this app is suitable for young adults, but may occasionally contain words, concepts, or other content that may shock or not be appropriate for very young audiences. Use this app at your own discretion. More iPhone and mobile device apps available at www.cityroomapps.com.

Grasse, France - The World's Capital of Scent

French perfume: synonymous with romance, history, found it's deep roots in today's Daily Travel Destination: Grasse, France. A little north (15 km) of Cannes and just east of Nice, lies the birthplace of French perfume. This provincial town on the French Riviera is also noted as the world's perfume capital, producing more than 2/3 of the country's natural aromas and harvesting upwards of 27 tons of Jasmine annually. Jasmine is not only one of perfumes most common blending scents but is also one of the world's most expensive natural aromas. Situated 350 meters above sea level and blessed by warmth from the Riviera, this region's climate makes for an ideal growing region. The world's most prolific "noses" - from perfumers to gastronomes - consult this historic town for inspiration, study and the abundance of natural ingredients. Tour historic and working 'parfumeries' (Molinard, Fragonard, Galimard), savor the flavors at the olive oil mills and explore many museums of the "Ville d'Art et d'Histoire" (Village of Art and History.) Charpin painted here, Edith Piaf died here, Princess Pauline Bonaparte recuperated here... exceptionally French, Grasse is an ideal representative of the best this extraordinarily country has to offer.

Photo credit: theoneill | www.sxc.hu

Weekday Recharge

We spend less time as we get older taking advantage of some of the most precious alone time available to us: the daily shower (or bath, whatever suits you.) As we get older, our responsibilities thicken, we try to cram more efficiency into every day… fact of the matter is that not only have we become completely accustomed to minimizing the amount of time it takes to complete a task, we are still trying to better ourselves – increase activity + sleep less = winner!

While pondering this idea of shortcuts, it occurred to me that I am this person. If I am struggling to find time enough to run errands, then I am almost certainly not creating enough time for myself. Done are the days of my early twenties in Los Angeles when I managed a spa, spent countless hours perusing the latest beauty trends and even more hours trying them out… yes, I have become like many others past the age of 25, scrambling to get out the door, cutting beauty corners, you know the deal.

So in an effort to relax after a busy couple of years, I decided today that my shower would become a spa-like experience after several months on hiatus from taking the time to pamper smyself. Here's how it went down:

• I applied a fruit-infused sea kelp mask, (which I rinsed ten minutes later in the shower.)
• I exfoliated my body with sugar scrub, massaging in circular motions like Self Magazine tells you too… rinsed, didn’t repeat.
• I consulted my most lavish, exotic, paraben free body wash, mixing in a variety of bath oils that would penetrate my recently exfoliated skin.
• Added organic neem oil* to my body lotion – the trick with neem oil is to mask the scent (not so enchanting) by mixing it with a bold, lovely one.
• I toned my face, applied serum, face cream, and eye gel (because the eyes are a tad puffy today after a long Superbowl/blizzard-filled weekend.)

I am looking at this list of steps thinking that it is almost silly to consult so many products in pursuit of a mere recharge… yet here I sit, steps from my home-spa feeling completely cleansed, more delicate and 100% more relaxed than I had felt just an hour before. Instead of ruing a lapse in my life of fine-tuned organization, I acknowledge that my “I need a spa day” meltdown did purge one hour from my day, but it noticeably increased my productivity.

*More on neem oil coming soon.

Life at the Dead Sea

The fabled beauty that lies within the Dead Sea basin is not a secret - but the grand effectiveness of its healing powers are. Spanning from Jordan to the West Bank in Israel, the enchanting tea-colored seas and its deep, salty waters stand as a symbol of purity, health and vitality. The splendor of natural elements on the Jordanian side of the lake caused it to be dubbed long ago as “the most fertile spot in Judea." Thousands of years ago, the fruitful banks attracted the likes of King David and Herod the Great as a home for relaxation and reflection… after all the Byzantine Empire certainly caused a fair amount of stress – even for kings. The concentrated mud and salts were used by the Ancient Egyptians for mummification or preservation, (and as recent as fifteen minutes ago by me to exfoliate and restore my dull winter skin.) Today, this just may be the ideal place on earth for the upkeep of your health. From the low-allergen content of the air and the low atmospheric pressure, to the reduced glare of ultraviolet radiation and high mineral content in the water and earth (mud), the Dead Sea is widely studied among scientists, health nuts, spa-goers and travelers worldwide for the vitality that the waters provide. Why is a sea that rich with such powerful healers called “dead”? The high saline and mineral content make it impossible for aquatic sea life and plants to survive – allowing some of the purest water on earth to remain. The salt content ranges from 30%-35% (about 9%,) while the earth’s oceans average about 3%. Curative Benefits – Mud and salt extracted from the sea is one of the beauty industry’s most touted weapons to tighten and firm aging and damaged skin, removing impurities and toxins from tissues and cells while increasing circulation. After just one use, cellular regeneration and restoration begins, resulting in more radiant, healthy skin. Skin Softener – a natural exfoliant, Dead Sea Salts are soft and gentle and easily absorbed into the skin while washing away dead skin cells. Use circular movements (always - this increases circulation) and expect a light tingle. Eczema and Psoriasis – Reduced UV rays and substantial levels of sodium are powerful cures for these irritating skin conditions. While the term “pouring salt on a wound” carries a different and often negative connotation, this is opposite with sufferers of such skin disorders. As a long-time sufferer of eczema as a child, I can attest that salt from marine waters does cure the condition. In my case it happened in Hawaii – ending my 17-year bout with eczema (and inspiring my vegan bodycare brand, Hawaiian Skin.) The combination of salt water and Thalassotherapy for an extended period of time resulted in clear, happy skin – which I have had with ever since. Disinfectant – The waters provide natural cleansing properties, deeply penetrating dermal cells and eradicating hardened sebum. Sebum (a product of the Sebaceous gland,) is a naturally occurring fatty acid that secretes wax and oil, resulting in such skin conditions as acne, sebaceous cysts, hyperplasia, sebaceous adenoma & sebaceous gland carcinoma. Oh, you can also count on the minerals removing dirt, makeup residue and free radicals. Related therapies - There are many healing and wellness therapies that take advantage of unique environmental conditions, including: Climatotherapy: Use of environmental healing factors to benefit health including: humidity, barometric pressure, sunshine, climate, temperature, and atmospheric properties. Thalassotherapy: From the Greek word Thalassa meaning “ocean,” true Thalassotherapy includes incorporating all of the healthy marine elements by way of water exercise, ingestion of salty air, absorbing minerals through the pores, and eating healthily. True Thalassotherapy involves the medical use of seawater from all sensory facets - it is an experience of true and whole wellness. The Dead Sea (also called the "Salt Sea,") is facing considerable water level loss every year due to environmental factors in the region and global warming. So, keep it on your wander-radar, and enjoy the brilliant healing waters while you can.

Happy Whatever Religious Holiday You Celebrate in December

Courtesy of Bald Guy Greetings.

Health in Wandering

There are some of us that consider our passport not as a legal document, but as a prize possession – a passport to bliss. We are the world’s wanderlusters. In need of recharging after exhausting, endless days gazing blindly into a computer screen, some travel to lands afar seeking wellness at the hands of ancient healing masters. The artists carefully clean their camera lenses, artfully sharpen their charcoal pencils, grasp the Moleskine by its binding, and wander abroad to gather and re-inspire our imagination. Captivated by the mystery of culture shock, we file in with others in a place that shakes the core of our comfort zone. We prepare, we plan, we dream of each adventure.

There is a certain health that comes with the inherent desire to wander through the world’s mysterious lands. Travelers are secretly controlled by the hand of adventure, to us, it predicates normality. Travel is food, and food is fuel. We become mindful, our hearts gauge warmth, and we are reacquainted with our true selves.

Most of us can attest that wandering foreign streets heals our physical bodies as well. Eating foods we cannot pronounce, with ingredients we have never heard of, invigorated from the flavors of the world. We meander for days through countryside’s and city streets, sleeping a little less, eating a little less, exercising a bit more – it is childlike. And after a hearty dose of travel, the summit draws near and we find ourselves standing before the world equipped with a pure sense of joy. It is the freest moment that we know, where we find our deepest health. And with a healthy mind, the rest tends to follow. For some of us, wandering is the very root of our livelihood – the equivalent of putting on our oxygen mask before helping others on a falling plane. This is when we feel alive, useful... purposeful. This is when we are following bliss.

Internal Beauty... and Ugly: Post Secret

Every week I log into PostSecret and take on emotional waves
that can be swapped for other like feelings on any other week....

I Empathize.

I Smile.

I Blink Them Back...

I Think.

...And then I spare a moment to consider the depth and fire within
that allows us to share our hidden goods with a world of cyber-strangers -
and how only some of use use it.

MediaSlingshot! A Free "Share with a Friend" Tool for Everybody

There is no shortage of share features on the web. The Tweetmeme code has become about the most important share tool on the web, giving users an opportunity to "retweet" pages to their Twitter network. Unfortunately, it is quickly becoming apparent that Twitter is like a forum where the default setting for each user is to ignore all other users. Moving On.

There are other sites where you can get a one click share code to share a site on say, BobrDobr, but really, I don't speak Greek. Again moving on.

The Free Internet "Share with a Friend" Tool for Everyone.

Between the countless websites that I work on and the endless hours I spend scouring the web and sharing info with my many networks, I recently found a share feature (still in beta) that I am actually excited about... because it addresses my needs as a blogger, as a webmaster and as an internet user. MediaSlingshot - the free internet "share with a friend" tool for everyone. Not only do I have twenty, free attractive icons to choose from that will suit a variety of different site designs, but the feature allows me to share by FaceBook and by email to up to five recipients. As a webmaster, I can have it personalized to suit my brands' message for only $8.95 per month. And one thing that all business owners can agree upon is that having users share your site, brand or message is the very lifeline of a successful company.

Like fashion, every fad comes full circle. It is yet to be seen if Twitter and other popular web-places are mere fads. With FaceBook growing to 350 Million users in three years - I would suspect that unless they decide to pummel users with ads and band invites like the now fledgling Myspace does - we can expect them to be a part of our web sharing for some time. So, for me, MediaSlingshot covers the two sharing forums I have complete faith in... email and FaceBook.

You can also join MediaSlingshot on FaceBook and follow them on Twitter!

Lastly, look in the top right corner of this page (>>>) and sling this site!