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Aura Salon: The Best Kept Secret on Upper King Street

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The first thing you notice outside the entrance to the Aura Salon on upper King Street is the beautiful flowers in the artfully arranged window boxes.

Once you step inside on the lower floor you’ll be welcomed by four vanities bathed in natural sunlight where make-up artists use the latest Aveda products to enhance your natural beauty. In the mood for beachy waves or a blowout? Check, the stylists can do that too using the high-end Dyson Supersonic blow dryers which have a built-in sensor to protect your luscious locks from any heat damage.

If you need a fabulous cut or color or mani/pedi without all those harsh chemicals, simply walk upstairs and let the magic begin at the salon.

The salon and beauty bar is owned by Leticia Villagran and Chappaqua mom Jenn Filardi. Jenn was actually a client of Leticia’s for many years when Aura Salon focused on hair and nails. Realizing that there was an unmet need for expertly applied make-up and blowouts that won’t break the bank, Leticia teamed up with Jenn to open the Style Bar in February on the first floor of the salon. Having worked in the city at fashion shows and with celebrity stylists, Jenn brings a wealth of knowledge about the latest beauty trends and loves creating updos, braids and signature blowouts, all at an affordable price point.

Both Leticia and Jenn have relatives in the beauty business. Originally from Guatemala, Leticia’s father and grandfather cut hair. She went to cosmetology school there where students learn everything from facials to applying highlights.

Once she came to the U.S., she obtained her license and still takes classes to stay abreast of the latest beauty treatments and trends. She has more than 20 years of experience in the beauty business. Jenn’s grandfather was a barber and says working at the Style Bar is “in her genes. It’s so much fun. It doesn’t feel like work.” She also enjoys educating her clients about the best products to maintain the health of their hair.

With the upcoming prom and wedding season, the salon is ready to pamper clients for special occasions. “We do communions and wedding parties from the bride to the youngest flower girls,” said Villagran. Parties of four or more get a 10% discount and if the client requests it, they can provide at-home services. But Filardi is quick to point out that Aura is also a great destination if you need express services like speedy make-up applications for a night out or a quick blowout on a more regular basis.Villagran and Filardi and their staff have trained with leading beauty experts at Bumble and Bumble, Vidal Sassoon Academy, Wella, the Aveda Institute and Organic Salon Systems. They are passionate about having staff take industry workshops and continuing education so that clients have access to the latest products and styles.

A member of the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce, the salon’s stylists have volunteered at several events at local schools including a new moms event at World Cup Nursery school and creating a Nordic braid bar at Seven Bridges International Day. They also are proud to have a Greeley senior Clara Perlmutter help them with social media through a LIFE School internship program. Many of the local businesses have helped them get off the ground by promoting their services. “The whole community has been very encouraging and helpful–a real communal effort! “ added Filardi.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF WILLIAM LULOW

Top 10 Financial Tidbits

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BY SCOTT M. KAHAN CFP®

  1. Join your company’s retirement plan and try to contribute as much as you can. Make sure you are contributing enough funds to get the maximum matching contribution from your employer.
  2. One of the greatest gifts you can give is to help pay the education costs for your grandchildren. Any gifts, regardless of how large, made to anyone for the purpose of funding education, do not incur gift taxes as long as the payment is made directly to the educational institution.
  3. Update your estate planning documents. Protect your health and your wealth with a health care proxy and durable power of attorney. Make sure your will and trusts leave money to the correct people.
  4. Maximize your tax deductions. Donate items you don’t need to charity. If you expect a large income tax refund, change your withholding tax so you get more per month in your paycheck and less of a refund.
  5. Buying low and selling high is a lot easier said than done. Have a solid rebalancing strategy in place that helps take the emotions out of investing.
  6. A shorter mortgage isn’t always better. Consider taking a long-term mortgage, and then make additional payments when you can. If things become financially “tight,” you can stop making additional payments.
  7. Protect tangible assets with the right amount of homeowners, automobile and liability insurance for liability and disasters.
  8. Withdrawing retirement plan assets before age 59½ may lead to a 10% penalty; not withdrawing enough after age 70½ may lead to a 50% penalty. Moral of the story? Know when to make withdrawals.
  9. Pay yourself first. As you set your budget each month, set aside money for savings and fixed expenses first. What’s left over can be used for other purposes.
  10. Like regular checkups with your physician, regular reviews with a Certified Financial Planner professional are important to your financial “health.”

Scott M. Kahan, is a Certified Financial Planner® professional and President of Financial Asset Management Corporation, a fee-only wealth management firm located at 26 South Greeley Avenue in Chappaqua. Call Scott Kahan at 914-238-8900.

Corelab Armonk Brings the Megaformer to Your Backyard

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This summer, let Corelab Armonk be your workout of choice. Opened in late fall, Corelab Armonk has steadily been gaining a following with its Megaformer workout.  The studio offers a boutique-like setting with just seven of the Megaformer M3S machines to ensure that you get the most out of your workout.

Since its inception, the Megaformer has been creating ripples in the fitness world, developing a cult-like following not just locally, but internationally, with celebrities regularly turning up for their fix. In just 50 minutes, the Megaformer gives you a full body, high intensity yet low impact workout, that will leave you sweating and shaking while minimizing wear and tear on your joints.

The Megaformer was created by fitness guru Sebastien Lagree back in 2005, to combine the benefits of Pilates with the strength elements of bodybuilding.  According to Lagree, “Physical fitness is more than being able to run a long distance or lift heavy weights at the gym; or how long you worked out or at what intensity. While these are important measures of fitness, they only address single areas. Physical fitness is made up of five basic elements: cardio, strength, endurance, body composition, and flexibility.”

How does the Megaformer get all these elements into just 50 minutes?  The workout combines the spring-loaded resistance of the Megaformer with slow and controlled movements allowing precision in form as well as minimizing impact on joints, while quickly and effectively bringing your muscles to fatigue and boosting your heartrate. The use of slow and controlled movements is key as it taps into your slow twitch muscles fibers, increasing endurance and setting you up for a post-exercise fat burn, while creating a lean and toned physique.

 

It is these elements that drew Kimberly Holzmann-Krolick, founder of Corelab Armonk, to the workout back in 2008 while living in London. After returning to the States and training with Lagree in Los Angeles, Holzmann-Krolick opened her first studio, Corelab, in Katonah in 2013. Seeing firsthand the results of this workout on her own physique and then with her clients, she wanted to continue to grow the Corelab community in Northern Westchester.  According to Holzmann-Krolick, “Though the Megaformer is the hot workout these days, it has been around for well over a decade, and has only improved with time. What appeals to me most about this workout, is the long-term implications for your health and the inherent intelligence of the workout in building strength and endurance alongside balance and flexibility, but not compromising safety and limiting the chance of injury. It has absolutely amazing cross-training benefits for whatever sport you do, with our skiers and running clients swearing by it and is as good for men as it is women. It is the smartest full body workout I have encountered and one that I intend to do in some iteration well into my eighties.”

 

Corelab Armonk has morning, evening and weekend classes as well as offering private sessions.  The studio offers a first class free to all new clients. This summer, Corelab Armonk will offer discounts to students and will be running various events throughout the summer.  To sign up for a class, or get additional information checkout the website at www.corelabny.com. 

 

Corelab Armonk, 475 Main Street, Armonk, NY. Telephone: 914-401-4235. Website: www.corelabny.com Email: info@corelabny.com

‘Plant a Succulent Party’ Offers Chance to Create Unique Plant Gifts at The King’s Scribe on June 2 & 3

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Get ready to roll up your sleeves for a fun, creative activity and the ‘perfect’ end-of-year gift solution. ‘Give with Love.’

While she might be the driving force behind an event inviting visitors to create ‘succulent plants’ as gifts, Alissa Sampogna, the spunky owner of The King’s Scribe in Chappaqua, would like to reassure visitors in advance that you don’t need a green thumb to successfully create a ‘succulent.’ 

“I’m not much of a gardener,” notes Sampogna, “I manage to kill a plant just by looking at it the wrong way!” But succulents, Sampogna explains, “are super low maintenance so they’re a perfect house plant for someone like me! Not to mention that they look really cool in their funky, spiky shapes!”

With the end of the school year coming up soon, a ‘succulent’ may just be the perfect gift idea for a favorite teacher, or even for your graduating senior, for dad, or truly for anyone who will appreciate that you have created a living gift that grows with time.

And, not to mention, it’s a chance for the whole family to have some fun and get creative, too!

Visitors will gather together at The King’s Scribe where Alissa and her staff will provide everything you need to create a potted work of art—“potting soil, decorative gravel and moss at our outdoor potting bench,” elaborated Sampogna, “Then choose your mini succulent and plant it inside from a variety of cool ceramic vessels that can be re-purposed if your plant outgrows them.”

Kids will love participating in hand crafting a special gift for their dad on Father’s Day or for their favorite teacher at end of school. Because they’re so easy to care, a succulent plant is also smart and easy dorm room decor for the new college-bound grad, too. 

The event will take place over two days at The Kings Scribe, 1 King Street, Chappaqua, on  Friday, June 2, from 1-4 p.m., and Saturday, June 3, 10-2 p.m.   — Grace Bennett

 

OASIS day spa’s Offer for Mother’s Day!

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A one-day sale is on Thursday, May 4th.

A 15% discount for a massage or treatment at Oasis is a welcome thought any time, but as an idea for a Mother’s Day treat, well, it really inspires one long, ahhh, from this mom. So act fast tomorrow to secure your discounted service. 

Per Oasis owner, Bruce Schoenberg:  “With the April showers now behind us, and the May flowers blooming thoughts turn towards sunshine and the beauty of New York in springtime. Mother’s Day is May 14th, and Derek Jeter Day is no match for the power of mom. Our best gift certificate sale for the holiday is tomorrow. Thursday, May 4th.”  Visit www.oasisdayspanyc.com  or call either of two locations:  One Park Avenue, NYC, 212-254-7722, ext. 2380;  at the Dobbs Ferry location, 914 409-1900, ext. 2381. –– Grace Bennett