Best Shady Chinese Massage Place in NYC

 Living in New York, I walk past Asian body work places all the time.  I find that they provide the perfect fix for a serious get-the-kinks-out massage after a stressful week and are a good in-between to the $150 hour-long massage at the luxurious spa of your choice and the 10 minute chair massage after your mani-pedi.  Granted, some places look totally shady, and in my opinion, are possibly more in the business of money laundering, human trafficking, or happy endings than reflexology and massage so you need to trust your gut.  I'll also put it out there that you shouldn't expect scented candles, plush robes, or ginger tea après massage either.  This is a service for when your back feels like a pretzel, and the only remedy is going to be a tiny Asian woman digging her elbow into your shoulder blade.

So after a healthy search on Yelp! for a highly rated body work place I came across Taiji Body Work in Greenwich Village.  Why not give it a whirl?  I was completely impressed with this place.  It was very clean and the staff was so incredibly friendly.  My treatment room (which had a movable curtain for couples massage) had nice little touches like hooks and hangers for me to put my clothes and a nice little side-table with lamp for some homey ambiance.  There was even spa music playing, though I could slightly hear some clubby music from next door, but whatevs.  So, for 30 minutes I was completely worked out by my gal.  This is definitely on the 'deep tissue' side of the spectrum as opposed to Swedish, and I am usually a little sore the next day but in my book that means we made some progress.  So, in a nutshell, I think this place is pretty legit, and I will definitely be going back!

Taiji Bodywork

Location: 45 West 8th Street between 6th Ave. and MacDougal

Hours: 10:30 - 12am

Special: $48 for 1-hour massage

PS - I chose the above image only because these places always seem to do the karate chops at the end of massages!  So funny! 

Get Naked with Victoria's Secret's The Nakeds

I am a very particular person, and when it comes to my underwear I am the most particular...especially in regards to bras.  

I require:

- NO Capri-Sun like liquid inserts that are supposed to instantly add two cup sizes

- NO glitter, crazy prints, wild colors, or any combination of the three

- NO converting to 5 different styles--just get a good strapless

Finally, I have found exactly what I am looking for at exactly the right price.  Shockingly enough, it was at the bastion of middle America, homemaker-meets-stripper fantasy: Victoria's Secret.  Now, I can only spend about 5 minutes in the store before my head explodes from all the body splash, lip gloss, thongs with feather accents, and neon pink zebra print, BUT their "The Nakeds" line of bras is the perfectly, exactly, everything I want.  I have the demi and full-coverage bras in basic black, light buff, and nude, (so adventurous, I know) and not only are the incredibly comfortable, but they are entirely seamsless under clothing.  I also love how they are lightly lined so you don't poke anyone's eye out if you catch a draft.  So, for around $40 I found the perfect bra; One that makes me look like me....not like the Pam Anderson Vegas showgirl version of me, and I love it.

Check out Victoria's Secret The Nakeds

Lush Lashes via Rapid Lash--It Works!

We have all been inundated with Brook Shields and her lovely lashes courtesy of Latisse, but guess what: Latisse is well over $100 for a 30-day supply and you need a prescription.  There must be a better (i.e. - easier and cheaper) way, and there is.  Last June my mother saw Kathie Lee Gifford on the Today Show raving about a product called Rapid Lash.  My mom, having sparse eyebrows and barely there lashes, was immediately intrigued.  She ordered two tubes online that week and has been using it nightly ever since.  Rapid Lash has same principle as Latisse: The product comes in a tube that reminds you of liquid eyeliner, and you draw a line of the gel directly on your lash line once a day and wait for the magic to happen.  It can also be applied to your brows to thicken them up.  When I went home for the Holidays my mom's eyelashes were soooo long.  My mom has never had long eyelashes!  Of course, I had to try this out for myself, and now I am totally hooked.  I have even noticed the lashes on my right eye are a bit longer than the left most likely because I apply to the right eye first and there must be more product on the wand.  Crazy right?  Anyway, Rapid Lash has received the official Shitty Chic seal of approval.  It normally sells for $50 on the Rapid Lash website, but there are plenty of listings on Amazon for $30.  Just think of all the hassle you will save yourself on fake venus fly trap lashes or its even creepier cousin....lash extensions!

 Lashes have no mascara on!

Rapid Lash official website

Purchase on Amazon.com