Single Women in Search of Happiness

A Wonder for Your Face - Take 2

2010-02-22T16:10:00.000-08:00

My great Wonderbar experiment was pre-empted because I ran out of my samples. Oops. At the end of a month, I was not able to see any noticeable differences in my skin to make me think this is the answer to my skin woes. I spoke the people at Wonderbar who said that some women see changes sooner than others and I should try it for another month. Luckily, a friend had attended a beauty event and got a large sample in her goody bag and gave it to me so here we go with round 2!

I decided since I had a larger bar I am going to test my face, neck, back of my legs and scalp and see what happens. I used the product for a week and I started to see the "healing crisis" that the site talks about on my face. My skin was dry and really itchy and I got red in the corners of my eyes, nose and mouth. They are right to call it a crisis because there is nothing good about it and all I have to say is thank goodness for cover up. The itching went away after that first week. I will disclose that I got a facial and peel yesterday so the dryness is almost all cleared up.

Now my neck is a different story. I have an ugly red rash across my neck - my friend commented that it looked like someone tried to strangle me with a rope! Good thing I have a large supply of turtlenecks to keep me covered. I called Wonderbar and they said this is quite normal and all part of the healing that the skin needs to go through. I'm told the skin will turn brown and eventually the dead skin will peel off, and I will have much softer skin once it does. Sounds almost like what happens with a bad sunburn. Time will tell what happens on my neck.

Stay tuned!

A Wonder For Your Face

2010-01-06T21:08:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had an amazing holiday season. As part of my New Year's Resolutions I am going to revive this blog and write more often.

I have had problem skin as long as I can rememeber. I always yearned for beautiful, clear skin. After battling acne during my teens and beyond I went to the dermatologist and was put on all kinds of lotions, creams and pills -- I even tried Accutane. While my breakouts are now less frequent I do have red marks and some fine lines and large pores that I am forever trying to mask with make up or improve with the latest potion.

While reading a beauty blog, I came across a post about the Wonderbar, a miraculous skin care product that claims to help clear up acne, eczema, tighten skin, minimize pores and make your skin more radiant. According to their website the bar is packed with 700 herbs and plants, along with Heilmoor Clay and four different organic algae. The bar is different from other products as it heals from within and it will eventually bring your skin back to its natural PH level. Wow. Will it do my laundry too? There is a slight downside as your skin will go through a "healing crisis" and get dry or itchy while the toxins are coming out, but after you will be left with radiant, beautiful skin. Sign me up!

This product sounded so amazing I had to try it. The great thing is that you can order a sample to test the product. They suggest that you buy two samples which should last for about 2-3 weeks. The bars are TINY (they are about 1/4 of the size of a hotel soap), but I have been reading that they last for longer than you think.

I am on day 3. I haven't noticed any differences in my skin yet. I will continue to blog on my progress with the Wonderbar. Let me know if you have tried this product and what you thought of it.

Single & The Holidays

2008-11-30T11:19:00.000-08:00

Now that Thanksgiving 2008 is over the official start to Holiday Season 2008 has begun! Now I know that some single ladies out there get depressed this time of year because they have no one special in their life. I used to feel like one of the misfit toys from from Rudolph, "I just don't fit in." The holidays seem to be all about family and your special man. It certainly doesn't help seeing all those Zales commercials that seem to be on an endless loop on my TV -- "Diamonds? For me? You are the most perfect man ever!"

While the holidays are a hectic time between shopping for gifts, work, holiday baking and general life, it's also a great time to be single. Between now and New Year's Eve there are parties, parties, parties giving us single ladies ample opportunities to meet someone new. Every group I belong to throws some sort of holiday gathering and someone's friend is always hosting a party in their apartment. I love it because it gets me out of my comfort zone and social circle -- and you just never know who you could meet by the cheese platter! And people tend to be in a more festive mood this time of year making conversation easier. Instead of the standard, "so what do you do?" line, you can ask about holiday plans or their favorite Christmas show (mine is the Grinch & Rudolph).

This holiday season accept all invites and see what happens! Now I am not saying that you will meet "the one" but you never know what can happen when you add in a little holiday cheer.

JDate After Dark

2008-11-03T20:17:00.000-08:00

So it was a typical Sunday late night and I logged on to my Jdate account. I saw a guy online with whom I had engaged in some flirtatious IM-ing with from time to time. I wished him a belated Happy New Year and we started to chat and catch up. It was all fun and games and then he asked me the "boxers or briefs" question. Then, he proceeded to turn on his web camera and stood up. All he was wearing from the waist down was a pair of black briefs which he proceeded to model. Um, ok this is getting a little weird (Is he ... he's not... is he touching himself??!!). He then proceeded to tell me in graphic detail things he would do to me and what I needed. Yikes. Thank God that none of those details were shown via his web cam. This is what I get for logging on to Jdate after 11pm! Oy. I now get why this guy is still single, and why we won't be going out on a date. Maybe it's time to check out Match.com.

To Buy or Not to Buy

2008-08-17T20:06:00.000-07:00

Recently, I was talking to a single friend who was discussing buying her first home. She found the perfect little home for herself. She was excited, but there were complications and she ended up not buying the house. She told me later she was happy the deal fell through as she didn't want to purchase a house by herself, she would rather buy a house with her husband. I couldn't help thinking about what she said and how society made her feel like this is another thing that single women shouldn't do on their own.

Back in the day men held the purchasing power and women were the homemakers caring for the house. Homes were bought when a married couple started their lives together. With men and women getting married in their 30s and 40s these days it only makes sense that more women will be home owners before they get married. How exciting! Most single women I know in NYC (myself included) consider buying their first apartment with a sense of pride and independence. And it looks like they are not alone. According to the National Association of Realtors, single women make up 22% of new home buyers compared to just 9% of single men. More than one in five home buyers is a single woman. Hmmm, seems like it's the men that wait until marriage before buying a home.

What do you think about home ownership as a single woman? Isn't it time for society (and my friend) to catch up to the reality that it's the single women who are the ones in the real estate market buying homes. Now if I could just figure out how to get that 20% downpayment.

Sex & the City Happy Hour

2008-05-27T14:02:00.001-07:00

Come get "Carried" away with Swish and friends as we celebrate being single and fabulous and toast the upcoming "Sex & the City" movie. It's just a great excuse to get together!

The event will be at Madame X, 94 West Houston Street, NYC starting at 6:30pm. I bet you didn't know that Madame X was featured in the Season 1 episode about Twentysomething men.

In addition to Cosmos, what would a Sex in the City party be without some shopping? Swish shirts will be for sale along with the fabulous Smart Heel, information on the Singelringen, and more.

Feel free to invite friends -- the more the merrier! Men are, of course, always welcome!

Sex & the City Movie

2008-05-05T21:49:00.000-07:00

I am very excited about the Sex & the City Movie coming out in 11 days. As if you couldn't tell by the Sex & the City Movie countdown timer on the right. Not only was I a huge fan of the show, their central theme of being single & happy was the inspiration behind Swish.

It's been 4 years and countless reruns on TBS later. I wonder what is going on with our Fab Four? Details have been hard to come by. The trailer reveals that Carrie is engaged to Big, Miranda is still in Brooklyn, Samantha moved to LA and Charlotte is pregnant. It also revealed Mr. Big's waxed eyebrows. Was anyone else freaked out by that? I am hoping that the show's humor, wit, fun and friendships translate from the small screen to the big screen. We won't have to wait much longer to see the outcome.

A Ring for Singles

2008-04-29T20:27:00.000-07:00

I went to a party for a great company, Singelringen. The company designs a ring for single men and women. The company's website states: by wearing your Singelringen, you declare that it is OK to be single. You may wish to find "the one", or you are quite satisfied with life as it is. Regardless, you will show to everyone that you accept and stand for what you are, an attractive single. It is like giving an engagement ring to yourself, with this singelringen, I thee wed. How fun! Being a proud, attractive single person. Now that is something that Swish can stand behind!

The other cool thing about Singelringen is that once you purchase your ring, you become a member of the Global Singelringen Community, a social networking site for those who have bought a ring. You buy some jewelry and then you are connected with singles. What a great concept.

I have been looking for something special to buy myself for my birthday and I think that I may buy a Singelringen and declare my singleness to all of New York!

2008-02-22T15:15:00.001-08:00

Swish Party Photos

2007-11-06T20:08:00.000-08:00

I am happy to say that the first Swish event was a success! It was exciting to meet lots of great single women including author Leslie Talbot. Everyone had a great time, myself included. I can't wait to organize the next one. Stay tuned.

We're Having a Party!!

2007-08-20T21:06:00.000-07:00

I am happy to announce Swish is having a cocktail party and you are all invited! Come spend time with us on Thursday, Sept. 20th, 7ish at Madame X in NYC as we celebrate National Singles Week in style. Bring your checkbooks as we will have Swish tees for sale, along with great handbags from the Magnus Sisters Collection. In addition, I am really excited that author Leslie Talbot will be reading from her book Singular Existence. Not to mention you will meet lots of great single women. It is sure to be a fun time. The invite is below in case you wish to forward on to your friends.

There are a lot of Single Women in NYC (at least according to Time Out NY, February 8 - 14, 2007) and each one of them has their own definition of Happiness. Each one pursues their search in their own way. However, always remember: just because you are SINGLE doesn't mean you are ALONE!

SWISH designer Heidi Schmidt, along with Trickydame, is celebrating National Singles Week by throwing a party at Madame X on Sept. 20th - swing by around 7ish.

Our first SWISH PARTY is all about celebrating National Singles Week in style.

SWISH created a line of t-shirts that allow single women to proudly display their single status & their personal search for Happiness.

HANDBAGS! What woman doesn't love a great handbag? We are proud to show off The Magnes Sisters Collection. The Magnes Sisters combine their talents and love to produce beautiful handbags. http://magnessisters.com/

Also celebrating National Singles Week with us is Leslie Talbot, who will read from her new book, Singular Existence. http://www.singularexistence.com/
(available on amazon.com)

"One part memoir, one part self-help, with a dash of shrewd social commentary and a liberal dose of snark, Singular Existence is the surefire cure all for your single girl blues."

Bring your checkbooks - opportunities to buy books, t-shirts and handbags, plus there will be a raffle - sometimes Retail Therepy works ~ especially when supporting SINGLE WOMEN!

For more information contact:
trickydame@gmail.com, Joanne Morton
swishdesigns@gmail.com, Heidi Schmidt

Single in the Summer

2007-07-30T20:27:00.000-07:00

Summer is my favorite season. There is something about summer that is different from all other seasons that makes it special -- the beach house. Perhaps it was the heat & humidity going to my head, perhaps it was all those summer romance novels I read at the beach or perhaps it was hope springing (er, summering?) eternal. As a single woman I looked forward to breaking out of my routine, leaving behind the city and heading to the shore for the weekends. Not only was it relaxing and fun to get away, let's face the real reason for getting a share in a beach house: it was an opportunity to meet new men. While NYC is a ghost town on the weekends in the summer, shares in shore houses meant expanding my social circle. You just never know who you could meet on one of your weekends, especially after downing many happy hour cocktails. The anticipation of finding a man for the summer was always exciting. Summer = hookup season and 14 weeks of partying. Plain & Simple. Start your engines! Do you feel that way about summer? I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.

I used to get a beach house with a mixture of couples and singles. The one thing I never understood about summer beach houses and couples: why when a couple is dating they eagerly buy a share for the summer, enjoying all the group BBQs, happy hours, beach outings, etc. bringing shmoopiness with them wherever they go. However, the moment they say "I do" they are no longer able to particpate in a beach share. It's as if the marrieds can no longer mingle with the singles. It used to drive me crazy. Suddenly when share time rolls around, instead of this couple being all in you get the excuses. WE may go on some trips this year. WE are really busy this summer. WE will think up another lame excuse and get back to you when it sounds believable. What do they think we are going to do to them? Corrupt them with our carefree ways? And why does a piece of paper change the way a couple thinks about a beach house? Is it that they start to think that beach houses should be segregated -- stable marrieds in one house, wild singles in the other?

What do you think? Has this happened to you? Do you think that couples change once they are newly married and can no longer enjoy the summer shares unless it is with other couples? Is it like Sex & the City used to say that single women become threats to married women? What do you think causes the change? Please write in and let me know your thoughts.

Happily Single?

2007-03-15T19:46:00.000-07:00

I was at a family function this weekend and I was talking to one of the guests. The topic of dating came up and I told her how challenging dating can be in New York City. This woman mentioned a friend's daughter and said, "She's married. Thank God." Her comment stayed with me after our conversation. What would be so terrible if this woman wasn't married? Is her life automatically better off because she has a husband? Why does our culture automatically assume married = happiness? I don't know about you, but I know quite a few married couples who are not always happy.

Maybe it's a generational thing. Our mothers married for financial security, to have children and run a household. Options for careers were limited back then. If you weren't married by the time you were in your early 20s they called you an Old Maid. These days women have thriving careers, are responsible for their own financial security and many women I've spoken to are not sure that they want children. They want relationships; they are just not sure if they want marriage. And yet, society still makes single women feel terrible about themselves if they are not part of a couple.

One of my favorite authors, Karen Salmansohn, in her book, Even God is Single, noted: "It's interesting how our culture has the expression "happily married," but no expression "happily single."

Society equates being single with a host of bad things - unhappiness, lonliness, pickiness, selfishness and a 'what is wrong with you?' mentality. I think this is ridiculous! There are plenty of happy, thriving single people out there. I am one (most days) and am proud to know many other happy single women. In fact, US Census data shows single women now outnumber married women. We are the majority ladies! If you live in a city like New York, you are well aware of all of us single people out there - we're the ones out at the bars having all that fun, flirting shamlessly and spending our money foolishly instead of investing in a stable mutual fund :)

Have you experienced pressure from relatives and friends to "couple up?" Do you feel that you can be single and happy? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Single Woman of the Week

2007-02-28T19:51:00.000-08:00

When my business partner and I started Swish (Single Women in Search of Happiness) , an apparel company devoted to single women, we didn't envision that our offerings would expand beyond apparel and accessories; however, we've come to realize that Swish can be more than just apparel and accessories. Being single is a lifestyle, one that has received a lot of press lately. Single women are viewed and treated differently in our society than our married counterparts. I created this blog to be a forum to discuss issues/news/rants/raves about being single women. I hope you will visit from time to time and let me know how you feel about being a single woman.

SWISH WOMAN OF THE WEEK: Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon gets my vote as a SWOTW. Reese is smart, beautiful, talented, ambitious and nice (so rare in Hollywood these days). She was married for 7 years, balanced motherhood and a career that was on the rise. She is one of the hightest paid actresses working today. In 2006 she won the Oscar for playing June Carter in Walk the Line. Things were good in Reese land. And then...rumors of a cheating husband followed by divorce! OUCH.

Reese took this in stride and didn't air the dirty laundry in public. She took a break and has emerged as a fabulous single woman and I have to say the change has been great. Did you check out how gorgeous she looked at the Oscars? The hair - love it! She has never looked better. We here at Swish support the newly single Reese Witherspoon as she re-enters single life and award her our first SWOTW. As our slogan says, Single is Fabulous!

Let me know who you think should be the next Woman of the Week and why.

Valentine's Day

2007-02-14T21:48:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my blog! I thought that it would be appropriate to start this blog for single women on Valentine's Day, a holiday that celebrates couples in love and makes anyone who is alone feel like a loser or invisible or both. It's enough to make you want to bomb the offices at Hallmark. Why is it that we only feel self-worth when someone is in love with us?

I used to be on the Anti-Valentine's bandwagon, calling the holiday Black Wednesday, dressing in black, listening to The Smiths and boycotting all things Valentine's. Then I realized that I can treat myself to something special today because I DESERVE it. I don't need to wait for a man to do it for me. I say make the holiday your own and do something nice for yourself today. Buy flowers, chocolate, a new perfume, a sexy thong, a sushi dinner, watch When Harry Met Sally -- whatever it is that you enjoy and makes you smile. Don't wait for a man to do it (chances are he'd get it wrong anyway).

Today I brought in roses to work and went around the office giving all the women a flower. I was amazed at how happy it made everyone and how excited some women were because this was the only flower they were going to get today. I was in such a good mood for the rest of the day. Sometimes giving really is better than receiving!