Alexis Stein and Gigi

Artist, Equestrian, and Self-Proclaimed African Explorer, Age 23

Alexis is one of those old friends who you can only keep up with by serious Facebook stalking and a lucky encounter if momentarily in the same city. Between her career as a singer and equestrian, she splits her time between New York, Florida, Europe and volunteering/safaris in Africa- Oh, and an occasional trip to Disney in-between (her Disney obsession is represented with matching Mini and Mickey Mouse tattoos behind her ears). The epitome of effortless, Alexis possesses the same ‘cool’ found almost indescribably in idols such a Mick Jagger and Steven Tyler- Rocker-chic, perhaps? As we sat down, she kicked off her black flip flops into the dry Florida grass and her pomeranian, Gigi, joined us as she shared with me her ’5 Things Your Mother Should Have Told You’.

1. Lavender Oil - “I love essential oils, and lavender is my go to.  I use it for so many things.  It clears up scars in weeks.  It is also so relaxing.  I always carry it on airplanes with me, and when I travel overnight, I put a few drops on my pillow to help me sleep.”

2. Johnson & Johnson Baby Lotion - ”Baby lotion is my everything! I became a huge fan a few years ago when I asked a waitress at a restaurant I frequented what she used on her skin.  I had never seen such beautiful, porcelain skin, and when I found out how old she was, I was in shock.  After two children, she looked about 27, with not a wrinkle in sight, but was actually nearing 40.  She said all she used on her skin was Johnson & Johnson Baby Lotion, AM and PM.  While I use other products as well, it is always a great “in case of emergencies” light moisturizer for the face and body.  Plus, I absolutely rely on it to take off my eye makeup at night.  What’s even better, drugstores carry teeny tiny versions of it in the same miniature pink bottles, which not only are adorable, but great to throw in your purse, car, everywhere!”

3. Scarves - ”I adore scarves…expensive, cheap, silk, linen, anything! My absolute favorite scarf is the one I purchased in Zimbabwe two years ago for $5, and it is without a doubt the one I get the most compliments on.  I love the versatility scarves give, they can dress up, or down any outfit, and have a million and one practical uses besides keeping you warm on a chilly night.  I love using them at the beach and when I’m volunteering in Africa.  They’re great to tie around your face to protect you from the sun and the dry, dusty African weather!   Tie them up like a little chic turban, use them as a sarong, or after a morning of cleaning out the lion enclosures, I’ll throw my scarf down and take a nice nap with the cubs! Keeping items versatile is key for me.”

4. In the kitch -  “Recently, I’ve become obsessed with cooking.  While most of my meals come out of the oven loaded with carbs, cheese, and cholesterol… Just ask any of my friends, my favorite restaurant is McDonald’s! But, I do have moments where having 8 cheeseburgers can become a little obsessive.  That being said, I think it is super important to keep a list of “healthy snacks.”  That way, whenever you feel like it is time to grab something good for you, you know exactly where to head.  In the past, I used to say to myself, “I want to eat healthy today, but there’s nothing to eat, oh well! On to the Lunchables!”, but over time, I realized what snacks I like that are healthy, and now I never find myself caving.  I love making a little plate of some sliced turkey or chicken breast (super easy to purchase from the market already roasted), slicing up a few red peppers, and some tomatoes.  Even keeping some frozen veggies in your freezer is so easy! You can steam them in the bag, throw on a little garlic powder, and voila! Make a list of snacks that you know you can always count on when you need a little pick me up.  Oh, and if you’re boiling anything on the stove, did you know that if you lay a wooden spoon on top of your pot, it won’t over boil? How cool is that?”

5. Habits to change, and habits to keep -  ”Without a doubt, there are certain beauty regimes that should stay consistent, and some that should change.  For example, I think it is super important to change your skin routine about once a year.  I used to have very troublesome skin, but I’ve found a few good brands that really help keep my skin in check, and I like to rotate them whenever I feel like it is “time.”  I love Dermalogica, Naturopathica, and products from my dermatologist, Dr. Orentreich.  Things I would never change? My sunscreen (once you find a brand that doesn’t clog your pores, stick to it!-I use a mineral based suncreen by MD Solar Sciences), my chapstick (Rosebud Salve or Carmex), and my perfume (I’ve been wearing the same one for years–whenever I see a friend I haven’t seen in a while, that is their favorite thing, they love that it is so familiar to them).”

Georgina Bloomberg

ASPCA Equine Welfare Ambassador, Humane Society Friends of Finn Committee Member & Pig Mother, Age 30

I pulled into Georgina’s home 10 minutes late (my standard fashionable arrival still clearly intact) and was greeted not only by Georgina, but a small herd of animals too. This heard, to my delight, consists of five dogs and one… wait for it… Pot belly pig. In short, her household is my dream come true. Wilber, the pig, and I fell in love over some baby carrot treats and a quick Instagram worthy photo-shoot in the backyard. And after Georgina finished sharing her ’5 Things’, Wilber and I finished with a piggy-kiss goodbye.

1. Get Tailored - “I always feel like nothing is ever a perfect fit, and a tailor can always make things better. I have a great tailor in Connecticut by our farm in North Salem, NY. It is really important to find a good tailor who can make things fit better! I have a wide rib cage, so I always get dresses tailored the most, I buy a size too big, then have them taken in.”
2. Take Care of Your Skin and Don’t Forget Your Hands – “My mother is in her 60′s and looks like she’s in her 20′s. She wears a lot of sunblock and stays out of the sun. She spends money on good products for her skin, but I use a mix of different things. I am always trying new things, but during the day I just use sunblock. She is always reminding me to take care of my hands by putting sunblock on to prevent age spots and to make sure your nails look presentable because hands are an important part when meeting someone for the first time.”
3. Invest in Classic Accessories and Not On Trendy Clothing - “Every New Year’s Eve she gives my sisters and I a vintage Chanel necklace and that is something I will keep forever and it will never go out of style. She places importance on classic pieces that will never go out, and not on trendy fast fashion pieces. Don’t spend big money on something that won’t be classic and always stylish.”
4. Exercise - “She always fought my sister and I to stay active. It took me until my 20′s to realize that your state of mind and the way that you look is directly related to the way you treat your body and how well you take care of it. I work out every morning at 6 am with a trainer 5 days a week, pilates in the evenings twice a week, and in the summer and fall up in NY I do laps in a pool as well.”
5. Animal Lovers - “My mom told me you can always judge someone by the way they treat animals because she always said, ‘You can’t trust anybody who doesn’t like dogs.’ I have found in life that this has held true, and the people I find I don’t like, don’t usually like dogs.”