Create Your Own Heaven On Earth AT HOME WITH MICHEL DESIGN WORKS CANDLES AND HOME GOODS

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TEXT, VIVIAN KELLY

I’m a Cancer, and as such, by nature, love to “chill-ax” at home. I’m always looking for items that make my little pink and green office/fortress even cushier.
While on a mindless jaunt through Wilton, CT’s TJ Maxx, I discovered
MICHEL Design Works Candles and Home Goods.
Admittedly, when I strolled in, I didn’t have anything as noble as reducing my carbon footprint on my mind – sorry! True - the candles [no ‘Palm Beach’ here] are all natural, of 100% soy wax, which is non-toxic and biodegradable, and clean-burning – all a plus.

What REALLY grabbed me was the presentation: an aqua, pink and green cardboard container, the incredible scent, and the name: ‘Palm Beach’.I
I snapped-up the liquid hand soap and passed on the 6-pack of hand-milled guest soaps. What I was really after was the mega-sized candle. Although I liked ‘Hamptons’, I was bent on getting ‘Palm Beach’. Maybe in 2011, we’ll be able to spring for long weekend at THE BREAKERS, OR I’ll be the winner of the Breakers’ GiveAwaycontest Lilly Pulitzer periodically runs on their website, www.lillypulitzer.com.
24 hours later, score – I hit the jackpot at TJ’s Brookfield location and walked-off with the mega-size ‘Palm Beach’ candle.
The bad news is that ‘Palm Beach’ is no longer available on the official website, www.micheldesignworks.com, but the good news is better. Creator, Deborah Michel, now has many new scents to entice us, drawn from the good things in life: …” Collected shells picked up during a shore vacation, a scrap of fabric from a Sunday flea market—objects filled with a sense of history, belonging, and possibility.”
These delicious memories translate into candles with names such as: ‘Beach’, ‘Botanica’, and ‘Comfort and Joy’, to name just a few.
*Botanica will be available July 15th.

Summer Beauty- CVS + Lilly Pulitzer Body Lotions for Beach Days Ahead

TEXT, VIVIAN G. KELLY
After a run of 75 degree plus days, I've got summer vacation on my mind and am completely preoccupied with all things having to do with the beach.
MONTHS AGO, in September, essence BEAUTY was testing-out a batch of body lotions and mists at Robert Verdi's THE FUTURE OF FASHION Lounge. Our instructions: to choose the scent we thought was the best of the bunch. I vaguely remember choosing Sandalwood, but I've always been partial to that scent family.

A week ago, the UPS guy dropped a box from Kaplow PR in our driveway. Inside - was a letter announcing THE WINNER: Juniper & Citrus essence of Beauty Body Lotion and a matching Body Mist. The lotion is surprisingly thick and long-lasting, given the price [$5.99 for 8.0 oz.]. The mist came in handy after I came in sweaty from a 6 mile jog and is a nice treat for tired legs. Although it's something I wouldn't usually have on my shopping list, it's a nice extra, and for another $5.99, why not have the whole set?

To buy, pop into CVS or shop www.cvs.com

If you want to splurge a little bit and pretend you're sunning yourself in Palm Beach on holiday at the Breakers, pick up some LILLY PULITZER Body Lotion in "Beachy", the eau de parfum, and the candle.
How to best describe the scent of Palm Beach: "notes of sliced watermelon, sunny citrus, and marine air accord. The heart enchants with jasmine blossom, tiare flower, and lush franipani." The whole kit and caboodle comes to $101.50.
Lilly beauty is available at www.lillypulitzer.com and www.sephora.com
To reserve a room at the Breakers, visit www.thebreakers.com