So I started this new class that is a mixture of burlesque dancing and a serious cardio/strength training work-out. In May I had one student – and now I have around 2000. It has been a really creative project – and I have been working on it with my darling friend Teresa Kliokis (but you may call her by her burlesque name which is “Pink Champagne”). We have spent hours in the studio creating the work-out – which includes aerobics, plyometrics, core training, ballet and yoga inspired moves. We have also made up many fun burlesque dances that are fun for everyone to learn – choosing lots of fun music. Most importantly we are trying to create our own language – very “showgirl fabulous” and empowering to women of every shape and size. It has been a HUGE undertaking. If you want to check out my new website it is www.burlesquebikinibootcamp.com – if you want to take class and you are a Brazil Bronze class – just email me and you can try your first class for $10 (normally it is $25).

Brazil Bronze has gone crazy with our Boudoir photography sessions. Real women are loving taking pin up girl photos for themselves, for their husbands and boyfriends. It is crazy empowering to see gorgeous photos of yourself. I love how people come all shy and retiring to the shoot – and after 10 minutes they could shoot all day. I love when people get to feel beautiful – to really own that side of themself. We are really having a great time with this. Our photographer is Roberto Ferrando – husband of Annamarie who you may know from the salon. He is so good at getting everyone comfortable – and a true artist. We LOVE Robert.

In my down time I have been dancing a lot for myself. I am a student of ballroom dancing and I have been loving attending the competitions as a student – trying to make myself better – little by little. This summer I went to competitions in Boston, Virginia, Brooklyn and Sarasota. The only bad thing is that the people who run these competitions are exactly like in the movie “Strictly Ballroom.” The students are the people who bring the money to the competitions and many of the organizers are not really respectful of the balance in the business equation. To me it is bad business sense to think your customers are dumb. But – I love to dance – so I put the assinine parts of it in a mental file cabinet and just focus on loving the dancing and trying to learn. I love the idea that a grown up can learn something new. If I am depressed I take out a doodle pad and design fantasy dancing dresses…try that for a stress buster

Other than that I am trying to do fun stuff with my little girls. We are looking forward to going camping in the Adirondaks soon – and this week they want to go to the Museum of Natural History I am really looking forward to having no phone or computer for a week…my brain needs it.

On Wednesday I am getting interviewed for the BBC world service – because I am going to be in this new book called “An Englishman in New York”…I will keep you posted because you will be able to hear the interview pretty much everywhere on the radio. I am a little nervous – but I am sure it will be a cool experience.

Hope to see you getting a spray tan, in burlesque class, or having your photo taken…. ps – if you see me in Burlesque Class – just call me “Lady Chardonnay”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwOXptyQCvs

I hope you will take a second to look at it. Sadly I don’t think the Oprah producers liked it. In my first submission I mentioned that ‘Life can sometimes bite you in the arse” and perhaps that is not wholesome or family minded? Or perhaps it was the sight of me doing Burlesque Bikini Bootcamp in my metallic pink spandex shorts? Anyway – I hope that all my lovely spray tan customers and friends will take a glance and get a kick out of it. One of these days I will either be discovered or institutionalized….it’s anyone’s bet which could happen first

I have a crazy busy summer planned – I am planning to spend Memorial day with my friends and family at the beach….but then the silliness really begins. Summer – people need to look tan, and many people are not able to get a tan – or have brain enough not to bake. However much magazines try and tell us it is cool to be pale and interesting, when summer comes around the majority of us would like a little glow. I mean I can appreciate the super pale esthetic – but, as a pale English person, I don’t really feel like it is cool to enforce the rest of NYC to bear witness to my luminous white thighs – god forbid I am in the mood to wear shorts…..but to each his own. White is lovely – but sometimes – in the interest of being able to wear the clothes you want, or parade around naked with a false sense of security – it is fun to turn to a spray tan. So – as a result – my days free to lounge around poolside are limmited.

I am also up to my ears in Burlesque Bikini Bootcamp (check out www.kittycavalier.com). Me and my girlfriend came up with a class that is part serious work out and part sexy, flirty burlesque. We are having a lot of fun with it and our classes at Chelsea Studios have been completely sold out. I have been having the best fun ever listening to songs and then thinking of dance routines. Right now I am obsessed with James Bond songs – I am totally living out all my James Bond Fantasies.

I am very focused on my own dancing – and am hoping to go to some fun competitions this summer – all in different cities. It is a great way for my kids to see the country – and have fun being naughty in hotels across the USA. I love going to competitions and living out all my “Strictly Ballroom” fantasies. If anyone is in town July 4th weekend – there is a great competition in Brooklyn – that you can find by googling Manhattan Dancesport…..I think the big night is Saturday July 3rd – so you will be free to see the fireworks on JUly 4th.  Last year the competition was held at a hotel in downtown Brooklyn – I think a Marriott – and the other event taking place there was the International Little People’s convention – it was pretty unique as events go…..

I almost forgot to mention our leap into Boudoir photography. This has been really important and enjoyable for me. I am all about helping all women to feel a sense of their own sacredness and beauty – in a culture that tries to shove a limmited standard of beauty down our throats. The boudoir photography is a way to further this – a chance for everyone to take a picture of themselves that reflects their inner radiance. We are having so much fun getting ready for this and all my friends have loved modeling for the pictures on my website. I hope you will enjoy looking at them…better still I hope if you are interested you might come and have the pleasurable experience of being the subject of a piece of art yourself. Many people say it makes a great gift for a lover – but I think it is a gift for yourself.

Wishing you summer fun…..with love

One thing that surprised me – which is pretty stupid of me to be surprised by anything – is that men want to be vajazelled too. I mean – not exactly vajazzelled – but bedazelled – or should I say “P” dazzled. Last week a gentleman called and somehow or other I got put on the phone with him. He wanted his family crest of arms that included a rearing dragon and something else as a custom decoration. People are so creative.

So summer is gearing up to be super busy and super sprakley at Brazil Bronze.

I have been keeping myself very busy with lots of fun pursuits. As you know I love to dance and keep in shape – so I came up with a really fun idea for a new workout class. It is called Burlesque Bikini Bootcamp and I have started teaching it three times a week at Chelsea Studio. I have a great friend who is a burlesque perform who goes by the name of Kitty Cavalier – and of course I have to have a name too – so I am Chardonnay (there is a British tv show called “footballer’s wives” and one of the wives was called Chardonnay and I loved the name so much I wanted to christen my daughter with it – however my family put a damper on that – so it all worked out because the name was left over and free for me to use!) The workout is totally juicy. It is a little showgirl and retro in its style and music – but it combines regular aerobics, strength training, ballet, yoga, plyometrics – and then there is a 25 minute section where we learn a little burlesque dance routine together. We encourage the participants to try to dress a little sexy for class – or at least slap on some lipstick. If you want to try the class go to www.kittycavalier.com to register.

This past weekend I was at a ballroom dancing competition in Philadelphia. It was a lot of fun. However – the people at Amtrak are a bunch of crooks. They tried to charge me $597 to travel from NYC to Philly one way.  A couple of weeks ago we went to a competition in Costa Rica and spent less money than going for one day to Philly….but hell it was fun. When I showed my friends the dvd of the comp they were totally impressed because I was making really good faces – which I never did before. I may not be a good dancer – but at least I have started to make really good faces…..!!

Our dance group has grown in its size and scope – and one of the things that kind of evolved from it was that before and after the performances we would stage lavish photo shoots. I learned that my friends loved to be given permission to present themselves as a little bit sexy – but in a sweet classy way. At first people pretend to be a little bit shy – but at the end of the day everyone loves having gorgeous pictures of themselves – and it really helps when someone else takes control and gives permission and sets safe parameters – for example telling you what to wear, or not wear – suggesting poses that really make you look your best – and then the main ingredient – working with a photographer who loves women and sees what is beautiful. As luck would have it we have two amazing photographers in our group.

My non-dancing friends started to see the post performance photos and started asking me how they could get such lovingly taken pictures of themselves. So – I gave it some thought and decided that I would start to organize these photography sessions for my friends.

So this is my opinion of what a boudoir photo is:  a beautiful picture where the photographer SEES the sensual, beautiful side of a woman. This is not a centerfold. The picture is usually sexy, maybe lingerie – maybe props such as a feather boa, fans, stockings, heels, gloves, pearls – the idea is more to suggest something than to show it. The girl can be very covered, or not, depending on her vision – but she needs to be relaxed and feel good and be able to flirt and play a little with the camera.

So – we have been having a lot of fun with this. A really gorgeous picture can give you a whole new sense of self confidence. Lots of people who I know to be pretty hard on themselves have seen their shots and started to see the beginning of their own possibilities. It’s like someone else sees something pretty in you – and you have no choice but to put down your resistance and understand at your very core that you are not completely a lost cause. A boudoir shot is a great gift to give a lover – but a magnificent gift to give yourself. Pretty soon I will post some of the adorable picks on  the website. Don’t be shy – maybe this is the summer to step into your power but being brave enough to acknowledge your own beauty ….Sally

The thing I love at Brazil Bronze is that we always have an atmosphere of playing with whatever is the newest or most fun in beauty. Nothing could have prepared me for this years’ huge trend for Vajazzling. Ironically when we first started spraying from the very beginning we did Swarovski decals – to me it was just a pretty, sexy thing that went well with the spray tan. Then this year Jennifer Love-Hewitt sent the trend out of the ball park. Many new clients are coming to us specifically for this service. Basically you come in and get a bikini wax – then you pick out a gorgeous crystal design and it is applied in the bikini area and lasts around a week. We also have crystals for other areas of the body such as the lower back or ankles.

What is the demographic for vajazzling? Everyone. It never ceases to surprise me who shows up for what. It seems to me the kind of person who comes for vajazzling is someone playful, with a sense of humour – generally someone planning a cute surprise for a boyfriend or husband – there is generally an atmosphere of excited conspiracy and anticipation. It is not a bunch of porn stars showing up – just regular girls and ladies.

The other huge thing for summer is lashes. We do lots of different kinds – semi permanents that last one or two weeks – and full on glamour length mink lashes that last till your lash grows out its cycle. You can pay $80 for lashes or $400 for lashes – and they all look so pretty and natural. To me lashes are the quickest pick me up.

Waxing is huge this year – and we have gone over board experimenting with pain free sugars and waxes – and amazing technicians whose highest priority is giving the client a comfortable and pleasant experience with great results.

So next time you come to BBGB – don’t be shy – ask about our new stuff and go home extra pretty!

Lucky for me I found a couple of adorable girls with tons of experience – and while I was at it I found a crazy amazing lash girl. Her specialty – hold on to your horses – is real mink eyelash extensions. Of course I was in a lather when I heard about this – I am totally obsessed with lashes – every night I bathe my lashes in Li Lash which I bought on the internet and will probably make my eyeballs implode – but I do have gorgeous lashes – and whenever I have a special party or vacation my favourite treatment in the whole world is lash extension – because they make you look really pretty even if you wear no make-up – I mean, at night you could get up and go and pee and honestly shock yourself with your own loveliness. Hell – who is used to looking good in the middle of the night?

So – I rigorously interviewed the girl about the mink lashes – they are very soft and glossy compared to the crapola you might buy in Duane Reade. They come in every length and are bonded with surgical glue onto your own lashes. I did not waste a second to have the lovely lady come in for a demo – and I was not disappointed. These lashes are totally luscious – completely natural – but like nothing found in nature – incredible, gorgeous, delectable. So – pretty soon – probably starting next week, Mink lashes are going to be on the menu. In fact we are building a whole new room in Brazil Bronze that will be a temple devoted to mink lashes and vajazelling.

Costa rica was super fun. I went to a ballroom dancing competition. It was kind of crazy as there were huge electrical storms and the lights and electricity kept going out – it was like dancing in some Scooby-Do haunted house. I was just about the only person in the competition – so I won a lot of prizes. But I did get to take a side trip to visit a volcano with all these amazing natural hot springs – and see a little bit of the jungle – it was totally gorgeous and I am definitely going to go back and see the country properly.

Our new trend is not that new – it’s actually something that we have been doing since we opened our doors in 2002 – but suddenly this year it has gone through the roof. What is it, what is it….. you ask? Well, we used to think that we were just embellishing a tan by delicately decorating somewhere around the bikini line with a sprinkling of sawarovski crystals. Last week one of my clients called me and said ” you know Sally, in LA that is called getting Vajazzeled.”  Who knew?

As soon as I heard that the first thought that ran through my head was that the word vajazzle is technically wrong on so many level. I mean you are not actually bedazzling the vagina. As my good friend Mama Gena will tell you the vagina, technically is up inside you – you would need a really arts and crafts minded gynacologist wearing a miners lamp if you wanted to get any crystals up there – and there are so many reasons why that would not be practical, comfortable or sanitary. The area that is actually being adorned is actually the area in the vicinity of the bikini.

Why are women interested in vajazzeling ( or as I prefer to say ‘Vijazzeling” – bedazzling in the vicinity)? Well, of course there are those who will just try anything new – but for most people they do it because it looks sexy and cute.

What is the protocol for coming in and getting vajazzeled? Well go get a bikini wax or have a whip around with the lady shave first. Then you come on in and pick out a crystal design – we apply it and then spray your desired tan over it. Adorable, summery and the perfect way to celebrate the divine feminine that abides within you. Don’t be shy – it’s not that scarey.

When I first saw “organic” spray tans being advertised I understood that it would appeal to many clients who are always looking for the most safe and natural products to use on their skin. I totally respect that so I really did my homework, trying to find what organic products were on the market – and all the pros and cons about organic spray tan. I truly hoped I would be able to find a great product and be able to offer it to my clients.

Another big question I had was that I saw companies offering spray tans that were “70% organic”…..now pardon me but that seemed a little questionable.

This is what I discovered. It is not difficult to find DHA (the active ingredient in self tanner) that is organic grade. DHA generally comes from sugar beets. However, the thing that makes a beauty product not organic is the preservatives that are added to it in order for it to have any shelf life. Pretty much every beauty product you use from your shampoos and conditioners to your face cream and mascara has preservatives in it – otherwise bacteria and mold could grow in the products making them unsafe for you to use.

I also discovered that liquid self tanning solution is a product that really needs preservatives in order to be user friendly. Because DHA comes from sugar beets it is highly susceptible to mold or fungus if it does not have the proper preservatives to keep it stable and fresh.

I for one do not want to be spraying my beloved clients with a potentially harmful mold infested solution.

None the less I kept on researching. I sent for many samples of organic spray tan. The products were very smelly with a strong musty smell. Brazil Bronze DHA is famous for not smelling since we go through it so quickly, it has preservatives in it, and it is constantly made fresh. I knew my clients would not be able to stomach these unpleasant smelling products.

I also discovered that when someone touts a 70% organic label – it is bull**it. Basically they are saying the DHA is organic (but all DHA is pretty much organic) and it has preservatives in it. To me that is like saying Koolaid is organic – because it has a picture of a lemon or a strawberry on the container….please people – let’s get real. Have a little respect for your customers. I think this kind of marketing is misleading and deceptive. 

So what is the full scoop behind our Brazil Bronze spray tan……8 years old this year – and without question the best spray tan in the world! Our spray tan is made of organic DHA (which we don’t make a big hooplah about) however it also contains preservatives, which have been carefully chosen and considered to be comparatively safe and widely used. When I was pregnant I had to give the ingredient list of my DHA to the pathology department at Mount Sinai hospital – it is standard procedure to check for any possible hazzards in the work place – and I was told that it was fine for me to work around. So – the truth is – our product is not organic, but it is safe – and beware of abusive marketing strategies that are trying to trick you into thinking one product is more safe or better than another. Ask if the product is really “organic” and if it is – run for your life unless you want a mold infestation. Just sayin’…..

As usual we have the obvious ringers in the competition….the Pussycat Doll…who debuted a nearly perfect viennese waltz….”oh….I’ve gyrated in 9 million music videos but I am such a virgin to the world of ballroom dance….” Oh please – this girl is gorgeous and will most likely win, but she is obviously a professional dancer. How can you compare her to poor Buzz in his depends undergarments? And also what about the Ice Skating Boyfriend….come on now – skaters are baically professional dancers also – they just prance around to music on skates – it’s not really a big stretch for him either.

Shannon Doherty was interesting to watch. She cried very convincingly when they were giving out the scores…. She has that unpredictable quality…..something interesting might happen.

Pam Anderson had either taken something or wanted us to believe she had taken something before the show. I thought her dancing was cute though.

So….I guess we have to tune in next week to find out the full 411.