NYC Hotel Review: Thompson LES

Travel lovers may have heard of the Thompson Hotel group, the owner of boutique hotels in New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Chicago, and Toronto. One of the more popular locations is Soho's 60 Thompson (home of the delicious Kittichai restaurant), a gorgeously extravagant hotel in one of New York's most beloved neighborhoods. Typically on the more expensive side, 60 Thompson tends to attract those who can afford to splurge a bit. A kind of hidden gem in the Lower East Side allows visitors (or natives looking for an away-from-home stay) to enjoy the modern design and luxury of 60 Thompson for much less of the price: enter Thompson LES. Located on Allen St. off East Houston, the hotel opened late summer of 2008. I stumbled upon it since I work in Soho and am always looking for good rates for colleagues and others company-related travel. I'd heard great things from people who stayed there, and had the opportunity to attend an event there to see it all firsthand. I love hotels, and lean more towards the clean, edgy, not-trying-too hard aesthetic. Last weekend, I headed over for a tour, dinner and drinks with a small group. The location is a good one: it is busy and fairly noisy, but very accessible and is right off the F/V Second Ave train stop. Soho is a 10 minute walk away, and you can quickly access public transportation to pretty much wherever you're going. The decor: overall, I like it. A few parts feel a bit overdone, like this second floor lounge outside of the restaurant. I'm a fan of the leather couches, but the tubes feel a tad excessive for me. But, if you're into that kind of thing, it's pretty well done. When I went, the area was buzzing with guests having drinks and chatting it up - the area is a perfect little hangout. Since we're in the neighborhood, let's talk about the restaurant. The food is ridiculously delicious Asian fusion. The head chef Susur Lee, a star in Toronto who is gaining popularity in the United States, clearly knows what he's doing. The sushi is some of the best I've ever had, and the entrees and salads are rich with fresh ingredients, flavor, and palette-pleasing combinations. One of my favorite entrees were the blackened cod and salmon. There's also a signature wasabi mashed potato - once you get past the fact that you're mashed potatoes are green, it's a light and flavorful side with a kick. The rooms are a pretty decent size, particularly for New York City. If you've ever been to the Hudson Hotel in Columbus Circle, you know what I'm talking about. You practically collide with the bed upon entering the room. The Queen Superior room, the smallest available, is pictured left - it's very comfortable and modern chic. Lee Friedlander art is on the headboard in each room. In terms of design, Thompson LES holds nothing back - the interior designers collaborated with world-renowned artists to stay true to the feel of the Lower East side, which is historically the artsy fartsy hipster neighborhood in NYC. I love the modern and classic feel of the rooms, and each is equipped with LCD televisions and state of the art features. The entertainment at Thompson LES is nothing to sneeze at, either. I've heard great things about Above Allen, the 7th floor party lounge with outdoor terrace - amazing nighttime views of the city. It feels, for lack of a better term, "so New York" and makes you appreciate the concrete jungle where dreams are made of (someone should really tell Alicia Keys how un-grammatically correct that statement is). By day, Above Allen is still a great space, but something special is evoked at night - the views, the DJ, the exclusivity to get in - it's magical. Fun fact: though his name escapes me, the same graffiti artist who designed the Above Allen couches was used for the Louis Vuitton graffiti handbags a couple years ago.(Those bags were dreadful, but a fun fact nonetheless). To sum it all up, I love Thompson LES and can't wait to hang out in there. It's so anti-pop: chic, sexy and not-as-talked about...yet. Be sure to check out the site for rates - they're still fairly new, so you can often find some really good deals and promotions. Oh, and let's not forget the pool with Andy Warhol's face on it's floor. I mean, is there anything else to say?

APB's Anti-Debt Update: Positive Progress

Hi friends, I'm back with another update, which is a blessing in itself. My progress on the goal to kill my credit card debt has been so motivating. Big hugs to all the support - the tips, inspiration, and great points you guys have made is helping me not only eliminate debt, but rethink my view on money to prevent it once I'm in the clear. You guys rock! As I mentioned in my last update, I had just two more cards to pay off, which I planned on using my tax return for. My original goal was to tackle the largest balance first, but in matters of finances, life happens and you make choices. My choice, in this case, was to jump on an amazing Travelzoo deal (please sign up for their Top 20 emails if you haven't already!). I spent $1000 of debt-designated loot on a trip to Aruba, someplace I've always wanted to visit. I decided that traveling to Aruba was worth it, but I was still able to pay off my smallest credit card balance - so, I've climbed out of another $1050 in debt. Whoo hoo!! There is something so liberating about zeroing a balance - it makes me feel free from "the man" haha. I have just one more left: balance $1600. I put myself on a realistic payment plan of $400 a month, which will have me debt-free by July or sooner (any extra earnings will go to paying off this debt). Hooray! I'm feeling so great about this, guys. I've finally gotten over my "looking backwards" mentality, too - it was admittedly really hard to use a portion of my hard-earned bonus to pay off debt, but at the end of the day, it's what I had to do now. And, it forces me to look forward and make sure I'm not in the same boat next year. Some quick takeaways:
1) Yes Me Can! The snowball effect, which one reader suggested, is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Focusing on one debt at a time and totally obliterating it is by far one of the most motivating feelings. It makes the process feel more managable and possible. I've been feeling very "yes me can" since I started, so big thanks to Carlin.
2) S-A-V-E: Not as scary as it looks/sounds. I loved reader Lady Cherry's comment on my last post about making personal saving (non-retirement funds) a priority and "paying yourself." So true! Because I've been focused on getting debt-free, I've told myself that I "can't save." Silly, right? I associate saving with big round numbers - throwing $50 or more into an account. But, every little bit grows. So, I've been inspired to make a real effort to save something - even $40 at a time. I want to grow my personal pot of money too, especially to have cash on hand and avoid future card usage. And, I can later assign the cash I would once use for debt to savings. So, just a few seconds ago, I threw $40 in my ING account. Though the interest rates have gone down drastically because of the economic climate, the dope thing about ING is that if you ever decide to take money out, you have to wait at least 48 hours for it to get into your checking account. It allows you to ask yourself if moving that money is really worth it. Long live offshore accounting!
To sum things up, I'm pretty excited and proud of myself. I feel like this process is really allowing me to rethink my habits - anyone can pay off debt, but if their mindset hasn't changed, they'll be back where they started in no time. And I don't feel like a penny pincher at all - I feel rich, abundant, and responsible. I'm enjoying life and making the right financial choices, a healthy combo. I've got just $1600 left to go - keep ya posted. And please, continue to send your encouragement and great advice.

Product Review: InStyler Rotating Iron

As frequent APB readers know, my hair is "natural" - 100% chemical-free with no relaxer, texturizer, etc. I posted some tips and my personal tricks in July (here). I'd mastered all things curly in terms of hairstyling - big curly afro, natural wavy wet look, and various up do's. One area I was always defeated in was wearing my hair straight, forcing me to rely on my miracle-working hair stylist, Rubia. The problem is, a trip to Rubia left me $50 in the hole each time, so it wasn't exactly a cost-effective option. The beauty of natural hair is having the option to go curly or straight, so I yearned to figure out how to do it myself. I finally did after my friend Peta-Gay introduced me to the InStyler Rotating Iron. You've probably seen the InStyler infomercial at some point, and I was always curious to test how effective the iron is. After receiving the iron as a gift, Peta gave it to me since she knew I do my hair myself. The results have been amazing! Overall, this is a new go-to part of my weekly hair routine (when I choose to go straight). Here's some footage of my process and results.
This is me after a fresh wash (right). Eeek! I then roller set my hair in big rollers - the bigger the better if you plan on wearing your hair straight with a slight bump at the ends. Be sure to continue to spray your hair to make sure it stays wet. It makes for a better roller set. Natural hair air dries very quickly, so be mindful. Here's my roller set with big purple and grey rollers. After that's done, I sit under a hood dryer for 40-60 minutes. When straightening your hair, heat is key, so if you can, sit under a dryer. I only air-dry for my curly styles. Here's an after roller shot (below). Now, it's time for the hard work, and this is where the InStyler comes in. One big point worth noting - in addition to the InStyler, I use a skinny flat iron to apply heat and straighten my roots. Because the InStyler is a little bulky, it doesn't get to the roots the way I'd like it to, so I use the flat iron at the very root of each section of hair before applying the InStyler on the entire section. Other than that, it really is perfect for getting my curls and kinks straightened out. I love the brush/iron collabo, and I don't have to go over the same spot too much to ensure that it's to my liking. Here are quick before and after looks at a strand of my hair:

It's like magic, a magic that only Rubia and her blow dryer were capable of creating for me before. Now, I can do it for myself in the comfort of my own bathroom! Amazeballs. Another point worth noting - I haven't yet mastered how to curl the ends of my hair with the InStyler, so I usually use a curling iron at the end of the process for a quick curl. That said, my fab straightening job is really a collaborative effort of the InStyler, my flat iron, and my curling iron, but the InStyler is key: it gets my hair straight in a way my small flat iron can't, and it doesn't give my hair that course and burnt texture like other irons have in the past. My hair still looks bouncy and healthy after using it for the last month or so. If I'm not going out immediately after, I typically wrap my hair and take it out when I'm ready to go. This is the post-wrap look:

I love how full it looks. I promise you, I have never been able to achieve such a winning straightening job on my own, and I have tried many a time. And, I experimented with doing loose curls. After wearing it as pictured for a few days, I roller set my hair with flexirods, those bendy long rollers. The finished product:

iLove! In short, the InStyler has made my life. I love having so many new options for my hair now, and I no longer have to run to the salon when I want a long flowy look, saving me time and a boatload of money. Of course, I'll keep Rubia on deck for those moments when I need a professional touch. If you're a DIY kinda gal, I highly recommend the InStyler for your hair beautification needs. I have been truly excited since we've met! iSubscribe 100%.

Spring/Summer Dreamin': I Want A Boyfriend

Ya'll know I gotta man. The above-referenced "boyfriend" is in reference to the wonderfully chic trend that is boyfriend clothes for women. I went shopping yesterday and browsed through various stores; it became pretty clear that I must own some boyfriend shorts and capris for this spring and summer season. The boyfriend blazer made a popular comeback recently, and now BF bottoms are following suit.

Exhibit A: 7 for All Mankind Rickie Jean (Bloomingdale's, $225) I envision these with a tank and chunky heel or super cute flats. Possibly a boyfriend cardigan in the spring?

Exhibit B: Charlotte Russe Destroyed Boyfriend Denim Shorts (Charlotte Russe, $26) and Exhibit C: J Crew Denim Cut-Off Shorts (J Crew, 79.50)
I'll be looking to cop one of these staple pieces for the upcoming seasons. What are your spring and summer must-haves? Florals, sequins, mini-skirts? Share your fabness in the comments.
PS - :)

Blog Spotlight: Dope Ave

Love music, particularly hip-hop and R&B? If you've answered yes, or even maybe, you'll thank me later for introducing you to Dope Ave, a blog that features the latest new music (released and unreleased) and videos along with pop culture commentary. I typically check the site once a week to get a listen for the newly updated tracks I may have missed, and always stumble upon a gem or two. I don't listen to the radio at all, so I'm generally pretty clueless about what you young folks are gyrating to. Alas, Dope Ave always has me covered. Them, and the unruly children in my building who sometimes like to belt out the latest hits -_- Earlier this week, I sampled the sexiness that is Marsha Ambrosius's Yours Sincerely Mixtape, discovered Kanye West's new website, and scoffed at Ne-Yo's Drinks Up track. If you love getting your hands on new music and the goings-ons in the hip-hop and R&B world, log on immediately. You're welcome.

APB's Anti-Debt Update

APB reader and fellow blogger Felice (of Cherry-Picked Style) asked me if I planned on updating you guys on my anti-debt plan, and a lot has happened in the last 24 hours so now is the perfect time! (see my original anti-debt post here) I did my last update on January 30th (that post here) after paying off one of the balances on my four active credit cards. I originally planned on not using my cards at all, but that plan got slightly delayed when I decided to plan a lofty vacation (I'm going to London and Paris next month!!). I used one card to pay for those larger up-front costs, like airline tickets (which are ridiculously expensive). But, the great news is that I was able to pay that balance all off yesterday! So, I've dug myself about $2600 out of the hole, and have 2 more cards left to tackle. My plan is to use my income tax refund to get rid of one, and then I'll be left with just one more. After assessing where I'm at right now, I sadly won't be able to make my April 1st deadline. But, after creating a rigorous plan, I should be 100% debt-free by the summer. Yay! Some takeaways from this process for me have been:
1) Prioritizing - the way you spend can typically be seen as a clear indicator of what you value. My previous spending habits reflected a focus on the instant gratification of retail therapy. When you take a step back and ween yourself off those spending habits, you sometimes realize that what you thought was something of value no longer is for you. For example, I haven't bought clothes in months (literally) and I'm not feeling like I need to, partly because I have a ton of clothes, and because I just don't feel an urgent need to get more. Shopping hasn't been as valuable for me, and paying off debt is by far more important. (Other part is because it's NYC and I have no more closet space. Where is Mr. Big?)
2) Experience vs. Possession - another lesson I've learned about me and my view on money is that I'm currently at a place where spending on an experience is far greater than spending on a possession. What does that mean? For me, I can justify spending a ton on a trip or a few hundred on a weekend getaway, vs. spending that same amount on a purse. If you knew me 2 years ago, I'd take that purse any day! Or, going out to dinner with a friend makes me much happier than a shirt at the same cost from Urban Outfitters, or some other over-priced retailer. This doesn't mean that I hate all things material, but I think after awhile you realize that getting one or two more "things" isn't going to make or break life for you.
3) Realistic Goal Expectations - I am such a perfectionist and was pretty bummed (and maybe a tad bit embarrassed) that I wouldn't hit my goal. But, my goal really isn't realistic, particularly because I'm going on vacation the same month I wanted to be done by. Could I have used that vacation money to obliterate my debt? Yes. Would I rather be cruising on the Seine River in Paris and drooling over Big Ben in London? Absofrikkinlutely. That said, setting that unrealistic goal was pivotal in lighting a fire under my behind to take action.
OK, getting off my soapbox now :) After balancing out my newly incurred debt with some of my old charges, I've got about $2800 more to go. My tax refund will take care of one big card, so I'll check in once that's all settled. Any progress I make is 100% encouraging, and moves the needle in getting me away from these crazy credit card interest rates. Any questions, tips, comments? Spill 'em in the comments.

Free 99: Elliott Lucca's Book in a Bag Sweepstakes

Yay! Another Elliott Lucca book and bag giveaway. Enter for your chance to win an Elliott Lucca Ambra Shopper and the latest fiction from Harper Collins. Click here for deets. Good luck!