INSIDE: THE NYBG ORCHID DINNER 2016

As one of the most anticipated evenings of the New York winter social calendar, the rain outside didn't hinder us, or anyone else with the floral ticket, from flocking from all parts of Manhattan to the oasis created inside by The New York Botanical Garden’s annual Orchid Dinner. 

When we say oasis we mean if the Garden of Eden and Mt. Olympus had a baby, then this is what their venue would like like. 

And, when we tell you it was dismal outside on Tuesday night, we mean...our umbrella broke somewhere between 42nd and 47th and we had to throw it out before making our grand entrance at the Plaza, where our shoe fell off, and we couldn't even feel it, because our toes were so cold. 

It was a miracle that hair remained straight and full-bodied. 

Anyway, we were so excited because the Orchid Dinner promises breath-taking and ornate tablescapes, dinner, dancing, and an atmosphere filled with excitement. Believe it or not the fact that we were shoulder to shoulder with Martha Stewart on the elevator ride down to the ballroom was not the reason why we arrived early, but rather most guests did to mingle, sip wine and designer cocktails, while also getting a close up view of all the orchid magic.  

Each tablescape, designed specifically for the event to showcase the beautiful varieties of orchids, was like its own private island. Coming across each table was like being transported to another world. Guests were absolutely giddy when they finally got to see which table they were sitting at. 

We even caught Martha taking a selfie with one of the arrangements, because she is clearly all about that plant life. 

Underwriters for the event included, Hearst Corporation, VERANDA, and BNY Mellon which fund-raised for the Garden’s esteemed orchid research collection. 

After dinner and dessert is when the real party began, guests of all ages danced the night away under the gilded and vaulted ceilings of the Grand Ballroom at the Plaza Hotel. We were surrounded and shrouded by the now candlelit tables and draped colorful florals. 

The entire impression? Ethereal, a secret garden in the middle of February. 

In addition, The New York Botanical Garden presents The Orchid Show: Orchidelirium from February 27 through April 17, 2016, the nation’s largest exhibition of its kind. Visitors to this year’s Orchid Show, inspired by the 19th-century craze sparked by a single orchid bloom, will be transported on an epic journey that engages all of the senses and underscores the allure and intrigue of these exquisite beauties. Filling the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory—a New York landmark—will be thousands of orchids in a stunning array of colors, sizes, shapes, and textures, highlighting the far-flung adventures of daring explorers who risked life and limb to secure these captivating and exotic flowers from danger-laden jungles around the world for determined collectors.   

For further information and to purchase tickets, please call 718.817.8774 or 

e-mail cbalkonis@nybg.org

Stay Lovely,

D.R

Editor and Curator 

Dusk & Rubies Blog 

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OUR ANTI V-DAY PLAYLIST: FOR THE SAVAGELY SINGLE

I am not single, but I really can't stand Valentine's Day. I find it to be a completely arbitrary holiday that draws a line in the sand for both men and women alike. The line says,

single on one side 

and everyone else on the other. 

Then the line has the audacity to tell us how we should all act.  

Couples:
- flowers
-dinner
-romance

Singles: 
-drink with your boys
-drink with your girlfriends
-binge watch sappy movies and cry into a pint of ice cream
-feel bad about being alone

I mean come on! Does it always have to be SO cliche? To me, cliche means boring. Plus, looking at that list of options for couples is so lame. 

#1 I'm not a flowers girl. I've gotten better, but poor B.

#2 It's February and I'm probably still full from Super Bowl a few nights ago. Please, let's skip this 5 course meal, so I can be in bikini shape by...three summers from now. 

And #3 is just redundant because if you're in a relationship with someone long enough, then we all know the romance is dead and buried by now...

just kidding!

What I meant to say is, we all know we have romantic moments that aren't forced because it's some holiday, but rather because you were feeling romantic in that moment, and doesn't that sound so much better? 

So whether you're coupled and think V-Day is overrated, like me, single, just broken up, or needed a break this playlist is for you: 

1. Justin Bieber "Love Yourself" To give the brush-off...on the sly.

2. "Afraid" by The Neighborhood For the really angry and bitter... On the flipside there's always "Sweater Weather" for when you've calmed down...

3. "Me Myself and I" Beyonce No list would be complete without Queen B, pre-hot sauce recipes.  

4. "Same Old Love" Selena Gomez When you're wanting a bit more than what you have...and you're obsessed with Fetty at the moment.

5. "On My Mind" Ellie Goulding When it all went so right, then fell apart and you're having a hard time letting go... but then you had this beat to step to, and everything was golden. 

6. "Love Myself" Hailee Steinfeld When you know your self worth isn't tied to anyone or anything aka you've had your Samantha moment from SATC. 

7. "Love Myself" Top10Channel When you and your girls need a mashup to sing to and pop champagne to, because you're fabulous with or without a man. 

8. "We All Fall Down" A-Trak Reminds us not to idolize anyone or put anyone above us...because, well, because we all fall down. It also allows us to shake a little somethin' somethin'. 

9. "I'm Every Woman" Whitney Houston When you just need to go full on old school for a hot sec- Whitney has you covered. Plus you can full out karaoke to this jam. 

10. "Just Fine" Mary J. Blige It's safe to say that 99.9% of the time when a woman says 'she's fine', she ain't, but in Mary J's case she is 100% F.I.N.E and we love it! 

There you have it: 10 songs to get you through this ridiculous holiday that throws up hearts and pink gook everywhere. I promise we'll get through it together.

Stay Lovely,

D.R

Editor and Curator of

Dusk & Rubies Blog 

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I WENT MAKEUP FREE FOR 30 DAYS: THE 10 LESSONS I LEARNED

We are going to get up close and personal. 

I went make-up free in the month of September, and while that was a few months ago I've continued to build make-up free days into my week. The experience was eye-opening, despite the fact that my eyes, by most beauty standards are considered on the smaller side. In fact, if we are being real, then my eyebrows are considered too thin, my cheeks too plump, and I'm sure there are a host of other things that could be said about the face I present to the world. But, hey it's my face, 100% natural. 

Below are the 10 lessons I learned about my face, myself, and the world...too much? It's funny how such a topic 'going makeup free' seems like a surface issue, but the lessons I learned go a bit deeper, puns are intended and do ensue. 

1. WHEN YOU SAY YOU'RE TIRED, PEOPLE BELIEVE YOU. 

Well, duh. There is no place for those dark circles to hide! Most people, including myself, don't look as tired as they feel, when they have concealer, foundation, and a plethora of other make-up products on their face. 

And, if you tend to look tired anyway like me, that means you're really really tired. 

2. YOU GET TO A CERTAIN AGE WHERE THAT MYTH THAT MAKE-UP MAKES YOU LOOK OLDER ISN'T TRUE ANYMORE :(

Before going make-up free, I was constantly mistaken as a younger person. Let me rephrase, younger than I am--person. This happened basically all the time. But, I think I was mistaken less for a younger person when I didn't wear make-up. Quel Dommage! 

3. YOU COME TO TERMS WITH THE FACT THAT PUSH-UP BRAS AND MAKE-UP CAN FALL INTO THE SAME CATEGORY. 

Okay, so at times make-up and push-up bras can accentuate your features, but then you see the flip side and how it's also false advertising. Make-up can completely alter your face until it really doesn't even look like your face anymore. I'm not taking a stand here and saying that that's a good thing or a bad, it's just false and not reality. 

4. YOU BECOME FRUSTRATED WITH THE IDEA OF A MAN'S MORNING ROUTINE. 

Granted, I am only going by what I've heard from my guy friends, and watching my boyfriend get ready, but you become frustrated. I questioned why do men get to just get up out of bed and go to work? Why can't I do that? Why is part of my "uniform" for work to wear make-up. Which brought me to the understanding that I felt like to be presentable, marketable even, I had to do my make-up everyday. 

5. YOU WONDER IF MAKE-UP IS A REQUIREMENT FOR SUCCESS. 

Thoughts of, I'm being unprofessional showing up looking so tired, and without make-up were constantly on my mind. You know that saying, 'never let them see you sweat'? I think I had developed my own inner mantra for work that was 'never let them know you can't handle it all'. Make-up was a part of hiding that fact. If I looked refreshed, dewy skinned, and awake, then who would question me, or my always can-do attitude, professionalism. Also, I think I always had the mentality that make-up was a part of always looking put together. 

6. YOU FEEL STRANGE AT CERTAIN EVENTS, MEETINGS, LIFE-MOMENTS SANS MAKE-UP.

Without even realizing it, society requires women to wear make-up. Proms, weddings, life-events, NYFW, I honestly felt weird going to certain events, meetings, sans make-up.  I was nervous people would think I just rolled out of bed, or wasn't prepared for my day which is kind of ridiculous.

7. VASELINE IS LIFE. 

Vaseline was my number one go to. Accentuate your eyebrows, eyelashes, dewy skin- use vaseline. It doesn't clog your skin either, which surprised me! I would put it on my face after the shower let it soak in and wipe off any excess, and in the morning my skin looked more plump, like I had collagen plumped in.  I also let myself wear chapstick but, when I used vaseline on my lips before bed at night, it made even chapstick unnecessary. 

8. YOU MISS PLAYING WITH IT.

Sometimes you're just feeling artistic, and instead of  wanting to paint a picture, or draw something you just want to paint your face! 

9. WHEN SOMEONE TELLS YOU 'YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL', YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO BELIEVE THEM, OR BE UTTERLY SHOCKED.

'Thanks', and 'you're so right' is not your first instinct. At least not for me. My response would normally be some type of brush-off.  But having someone tell you you're beautiful, when not wearing make-up was shocking to me. I'm not talking family or close friends, but random people telling you this.  My face, with nothing else going on, I tended to believe the compliment, or at least it meant more to me. 

10. YOU'RE SKIN WILL THANK YOU. 

My skin has thanked me for this experience, not that I was a heavy make-up wearer to begin with, but I was more aware of grooming, since my skin and only my skin, was what I was putting forward day in and day out. I drank more water, and was more adamant about my skin care routine. 

I think this experience on a whole was enlightening for me. It brought about thoughts, issues I had never considered. It was really interesting for me to figure out that I tied make-up with my professional career more than anything else. It wasn't like I was worried about date night--which I think just shows how career oriented I am. 

I think it also changed the way I look at make-up and the types of products I'll buy now. I don't want anything heavy, or that is going to change my face, because ultimately I want my face to be seen by the world not some uber glam, contoured, highlighted, masked version of myself. But, that doesn't mean I won't want to play with it every once in a while. Overall, I think women have to learn to be comfortable in their own skin and it's hard when you have so many voices telling you so many different opinions on what is beautiful.

Food for thought. 

Stay Lovely, 

D.R.

Editor and Curator of

Dusk & Rubies Blog 

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