Sign Up Now

30 Day Body Challenge

• 4- 1 day a week boot-camp class (don’t worry if you miss a week, we will send one to you via email to complete at home.
• Weekly workout schedules adapted to your daily routine and your personal workouts according to your schedule.
• 4 weeks of online food journaling using Lose It© program.
• Weekly check ins by your personal trainer for the month, ME!
• Goal setting for the month, so you can reach your goal by program’s completion.
• Optional weekly weigh-ins for those looking for weight loss.
• Optional weekly video rental of workouts from me (5.00 deposit, 1 dvd a week for rental) so you can complete workouts at home.

To sign up go to www.bfitservices.com/services/b-fit-body-challenge

Sign up now, only 12 slots available and 5 definite slots need to be filled to run the program. Challenge starts June 3rd.

For questions, please email Brandi at Brandi@biftservic

Tamara Walker

NEW DESIGNER "STORMS" THUNDERLILY COMPETITION

New York’s Lourdes Torres Wins Major Design Prize; Debuts New Collection for Our Lady of Lourdes

NEW YORK CITY-- May 31, 2012 --Thunderlily (www. thunderlily.com), the online “fashion workshop” announced Friday, that the winner of its recent design competition was Westchester-based fashion ingénue, Lourdes Torres. As the winner, Ms. Torres will have her autumn capsule collection entitled Universal Military for her brand Our Lady of Lourdes produced and sold by the emerging fashion technology company.
"Winning this competition has given my line its wings to soar,” says Torres. “I am anxious to see who may be stepping out in my fall looks this year."
An up-and-coming designer, entrepreneur and activist, the New York bred single mom beat out a formidable group to win the covet prize. The 25-year-old first burst onto the New York fashion scene in 2004 where she worked behind the scenes of various runway shows as well as for many of the city’s merchandising showrooms. Lourdes has produced or assisted in the production of a multitude of shows and even designed costumes for the theatre…all this while raise her 4 year old autistic son and working a full time job in the education arena. Despite her busy schedule, Torres finds ways to work with charities such as Autism Speaks, Keep a Child Alive and St. Judes.
As part of the submission process, Lourdes and other entrants were asked to submit 5 design sketches they felt embodied the theme of autumn 2012 in March of this year. Along with the sketches, each competitor had to send along their inspiration for their proposed capsule collection. Over the next few weeks a panel of judges reviewed the many submissions and chose Torres’ Universal Military as the overall winner, with the announcement ironically being made the start of the Memorial Day weekend on Friday.
When asked why Lourdes Torres was chosen, Thunder lily responded, “Lou’s styles have attitude, she knows who her customer is and her sketches reflect this knowledge and understanding. Her designs are subtle and sophisticated. She has shown a real vision for a line of clothing that can work for day or evening, business or casual. The designs look structured but comfortable and we imagine that almost any woman would feel sophisticated, powerful and approachable wearing these clothes.”
The Our Lady of Lourdes capsule collection will debut in late August/ early September with a stylized lookbook on Thunder lily where fashionistas will be able shop the pieces of the collection which will be made to order in custom sizing from sizes 4 to 14.
For more information about Our Lady of Lourdes and Lourdes Torres, visit: http://www.ourladyint.com/.

ABOUT LOURDES TORRES
An up-and-coming designer, entrepreneur and activist, Lourdes Torres, a 25-year-old New York native, first burst onto the fashion scene in 2004. A mainstay behind the scenes of various runway shows as well as for many of the city’s merchandising showrooms, Lourdes has also produced or assisted in the production of a multitude of shows and even designed costumes for the theatre…all this while raise her 4 year old autistic son and working a full time job in the education arena. Despite her busy schedule, Torres finds ways to work with charities such as Autism Speaks, Keep a Child Alive and St. Judes.  For more information about Lourdes and her line visit http://www.ourladyint.com/.


ABOUT THUNDERLILY

Interior lounge at The Empire Hotel

On June 22, 2012, Jypsea Leathergoods in collaboration with Born Again Vintage will show its latest collection in a private viewing on the rooftop of the incredibly posh Empire Hotel.

Rooftop lounge at The Empire Hotel

The attendees of this viewing will strictly be the well-heeled patrons of the richly appointed hotel and fashion industry professionals from tri-state boutiques and related press/media.

Past work from Born Again Vintage

I am giving away these super exclusive invitations to  
10 Jypsea-nistas! Spend the evening lounging in paradise, overlooking the best city in the universe enjoying the fiercest looks from fashion's best new talent, handbag/accessory designer/author Meca McKinney (me!) and designer/author/boutique owner Bridgette Artise.

• a recent Jypsea purchase (www.jypsea.etsy.com)
• being a fan of the Facebook page (www.facebook.com/jypsealeathergoods)
• being a follower of this blog (www.lota-n-c.blogspot.com)

I will choose 4 Jypsea customers, 3 fb fans, and 3 blog followers to send you and a plus-one to my ultra-luxe event in NYC.
Tip: Increase your odds of winning an invitation by doing ALL 3! Make a purchase, "LIKE" the fan page, AND follow this blog to greatly increase your chances of chilling on the ultra-luxe rooftop of The Empire Hotel at my fashion show.

Past work from Jypsea Leathergoods

Sip something sexy, sway to the mellow music, and grow your network all while feasting your eyes on the haute new looks from these 2 emerging fashion industry mavens.  

The winners will be announced on June 15th.
Best wishes!
Live luxe.
 ~Meca

{fine print: Accommodations and travel expenses to/from NYC are not provided. The Empire Hotel reserves the right to turn away anyone who is not ultra-fabulous whether they are on the guest list or not, so come correct.}

Rooftop pool at The Empire Hotel

About The Empire Hotel:
Nestled on West 63rd Street between two legendary New York City landmarks - Lincoln Center and Central Park - this boutique NYC hotel provides luxury accommodations overlooking the Broadway / Columbus Avenue gateway to the Upper West Side.

...earth tones from the park enhance an interior motif inspired by the stately modernism of Lincoln Center.
The Empire Hotel
44 West 63rd Street
New York, NY 10023

Rooftop deck at The Empire Hotel

This past weekend I had the pleasure of taking Pole Dance Class at Wellness On The Green in Morristown, NJ with a group of girlfriends to celebrate the birthday of two of them.
6 fabulous and fit 30-somethings prancing, sliding, twirling and, in some cases, hanging UPSIDE DOWN MID-AIR. 2 of the women were my best friends and the 3 of us have never done anything like this together before so it was very exciting for us. I have taken a similar class 3-4 years ago for another friend's birthday party in Mt. Holly, NJ. But this place in Morristown was so warm, inviting, and fun thanks to the wonderful, highly skilled and experienced instructor, Kim.
Forget about the "stripper" association when you think of pole dancing. It really is acrobatic and to be respected. Many non-strippers compete in competitions around the world. But if pole dancing is just not your thing, Wellness On The Green
also offers yoga, bellydancing, aerial silks, martial arts and so much more such as massage therapy and private parties.
Try something new.

For more info: www.wellnessonthegreen.com or call (862) 485.1233

Christian Louboutin

Alexander McQueen

Jypsea Leathergoods

Christian Louboutin     Knock 'em dead! ;)