Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Can beauty make us happy?



Cari amici,
 Last Sunday night was Golden Globes night in Los Angeles. 




With Gia & Mia Mantegna
With Joe Mantegna
I always love to watch those Awards, to see what stars are wearing and how do they look like. Yesterday it was so nice to spot among them my friend, wonderful actor Joe Mantegna and on stage to see his beautiful daughter, actress Gia Mantegna. Gia, who I met in Washington two years ago, served as Miss Golden Globe during the award ceremony, which means she was on hand to help out with the awards on stage. She’s a beautiful young woman, very sweet and kind, and also a great actress that for sure will go far!!
Gia Mantegna at the Golden Globes
All the stars, as we all know, all looked incredibly beautiful. They always do. Perfect makeup and spectacular hairdo, the sparkling jewels, those impressive high beautiful shoes and of course those gowns to die for. Just picture perfect.
I’ve been in the business now long enough to know that all that beauty that we see,  is partly from Mother Nature and great genes, and partly results of hard work in the gym, strict diets and good dermatologist to take care of their skin!
Brad & Angelina: some of my favorite
Michael & Catherina: always a class act

There is a great part of commitment to look that great, and in show business somehow you have to.
It is also true that if you see yourself over and over on TV or in the magazines, you start to see things about yourself that you would never have noticed!! And you want of course to improve those details. Nobody likes to see his or her self-looking bad! Right?
Anne looked so elegant in Armani Prive'
Mom to be Natalie was radiantly beautiful in Viktor & Rolf

It is a universal reaction that feeling good gives to human beings confidence. We all need it, artists or not!! 
Can beauty make us happy? For sure it can improve our overall evaluation or appraisal of our own worth and help us to face the world with more  confidence.
Having been treated for 6 month by one of the greatest dermatologist in NYC, Dr. Neal Schultz at his beautiful Park Avenue Skin Care office, I can tell that it takes really less that we think to get a better glow on our skin and to feel happier and confident.
Dr.Schultz office on Park Avenue
I’ve learned while being a patient of Dr. Schultz that the daily routine it’s an important thing. To use a mild and just good for our skin type cleansing every morning and night, to use a good tonic that doesn’t dry the skin, a moisturizing cream in the morning and at night and exfoliating our skin at night, are simple things that keeps the skin healthy and bright.

Lea was perfect in pink Oscar De La Renta
Olivia sparked the Carpet in Marchesa
 Of course there are also some simple treatments in the dermatologist office that can really improve the overall skin condition. A simple treatment like a glycolic acid every two weeks can really make our skin glow. I was actually stupefied of the results after a simple glycolic acid. Only a few minutes and such a wonderful difference in my skin.
Funny Sofia ruled in Vera Wang fitted dress
Mila was beautiful in Vera Wang
Scarlett was royally elegant in Elie Saab  

Dr. Schultz he’s a real doctor 's doctor, very serious and passionate about his work. Thanks to him I’ve leaned that sometimes we concentrate our attention to lines and spots, on in my case on little acne scars. And that’s what we want to eliminate. But most of the time is the overall skin that needs to be taken care. It’s about the health of the skin not lines and staff. And he was right: after my skin started to glow with the glycolic acid I was so happy and very satisfied with my face.
Mandy in blue Monique Lhuillier

Of course there are also some many different treatments we can do to improve our look. Dr. Schultz did to my face two laser treatments called Frexel. The results were incredible. Basically this laser, who’s done in his office and it takes about 20 min, produces an intense beam of focused light that can gently vaporize and instantly remove skin problems, like wrinkles, scars, sun spots. This kind of laser smoothed the appearance of my skin, taking away after a few days, small lines, brown spots and part of my acne scars. Totally pain free and only one or two days down time. That was such an incredible treat!!

Jennifer was beautiful in a white Zuhair Murad  

Well those beautiful actresses are all in the hands of some great dermatologists like Dr. Schultz. And I think there is nothing wrong in admitting that we want to take care of ourselfs.
Emma got an "Easy A" from me in this Calvin Klein 
In my experience I can say that I would rather pay for a visit to Dr, Schultz office than a new dress of a pair of shoes…a glowing face is a powerful business card that can really makes you feel like a million dollars! And you get to wear it day and night!!
Dr. Schultz has also of course taken care of one little moll on my chin that was removed send to a laboratory to be analyzed.
I know the focus is always on beauty, but a visit to a dermatologist for our skin is really a “must” for all of us! You’ll never know!!
Mine thanks God turned out to be nothing. But I’m very grateful that I took care of it.

So if you are in NYC I will really say: go and visit Dr, Schultz. You will love him. Not every day you meet a doctor with so much knowledge and passion about his profession. we all deserve a Star treatment here and then.
Dr.Schultz on Derm TV
If you are not in NYC, visit a dermatologist anyway in your city and watch Dr. Schultz every day on his very usefull program DermTV to learn simple tips about skin health!! http://www.dermtv.com/ . And you can also send  him your questions about your concerns and he will answer to you on the program. How cool is that!!

Also you can buy on line his incredible skin’s products Stallex. They are great!! Another star treatment that you will love too. I’m addicted to it!!
Dr. Schultz and his team are incredibly great and I felt so blessed to be able to be his patient. Now I can go on stage feeling confident: let the light hit my skin, the HD camera get closer….I’m not scared of that anymore!!

I wish you all to find a dermatologist as good as Dr. Schultz that will keep your skin clear, young and beautiful, and if you are in NYC go for a consultation: you’ll be thanking me for that!!

Hally was a winner for me wearing a wonderful skin and rocking a perfect body at 44!!









Of course a healthy diet is also important and crucial to look and feel great!! And so is to exercise regularly. You know me, everything done with moderation that’s the key. So I can still enjoy some chocolate here and there and great tasting food. As long as I contain my portions and I keep moving and being active…I need energy to keep serenade you!!
Happy and healthy skin to you all, buon appetito with small delicious portions of your favorite food and keep moving to the grove of this beautiful life!!

Stay tuned for my next week blog about …..surpise!!

Love always,

Giada



Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Here is to a wonderful Old Year and to Wonderful New One!!



Cari amici,

Buon Anno a tutti.
Happy New Year to you all.
2010 was a great year. Got to work on my dream, my music. I got to travel with my show and got to meet and see a lot of you and it looks like 2011 will bring even more travel and more music with it.
I’m so looking forward to share with you everything that the New Year will bring.
I want to thank all of the friends that helped me with my Music Pledge. That was such an important thing for me and I was deeply moved by your support and help. All of you who helped me with it will be in my heart forever. You are part of my dream now and I can’t wait to come and to perform near you, wherever you are in the world real soon!
Thank you for being my friends, fans and family: without you being a singer won’t be possible!
I will get busier and busier but I will try to write my Blog every week this year to share with you my life adventures, but also recipes, info about Italy or any other place I will get to visit. And if you have something you would like me tell you, just write me a suggestion here on the Blog and I will answer to you here!!
I want to make my BLOG the special place where you and I will connect and find each other every time we want to.

As I always say I wish you love, since it’s the only thing money can’t buy and the only thing that really fulfilled our life completely.
And here are some memories and highlights of last year!!

I was honored to be “Woman of the Year “by the Commission for  Social Justice for being a good Italian role model.


I had the honor to sing the Italian National Anthem during the NOIA Event at the Waldorf  Astoria in NYC that honored Celebrity Chef  Lidia Bastianich and her family.




With Lidia Basianich  after I sang in her honor at he NOIA in NYC
I did my first Concert in Pittsburgh : it was wonderful to meet my Pittsburgh fans and friends!!

I went to Pittsburgh for a Concert and this was my welcome cake for my dear Pittsburgh's friends Karen, Mary and Irene.



I was invited to attend a very exclusive event at the Embassy of Monaco in NYC . I can't wait to go to Monaco for a Concert.
Last May I was invited to  the Embassy of Monaco in NYC to meet Prince Albert II of Monaco 

I did also my first Concert in Canada and I was special guest of Lenny Lombardi of the Italian Walk of Fame and the Italian Walk of Fame Gala. More than 2000 people attended my Concert . Incredible!!
The Italian Walk Of Fame was such a wonderful and positive event. 



Arriving in Canada for a Tv interview at Chin Radio fir the Italian Walk of Fame
With actor Armand Assante recipient of a Star on the Italian Walk of Fame


While in Canada I also did radio and a television interviews for Chin Radio. Met so many wonderful new fans in Canada!! Looking forward to go back this year!!


Interviewed by  Chin Radio during the celebration of the Italian Walk of Fame


With the Founder of the Italian Walk of Fame Jimi Bertucci and Marisa Beaco-Lang

With Ricky Martin, Dean Martin's son after accepting the Star on the Italian Walk of Fame fro his father.

With Frank Mancuso, CEO &Chairman of Paramount & MGM Studios
With actor, Star recipient Enrico Colantoni and Lenny Lombardi owner of Chin Radio

I had the honor to perform once again  at the magnificent “Sergio Franchi Memorial Concert. I love this event and I can't wait to go back this September!!
After my performance at the Sergio Franchi Memorial Concert with Eva Franchi
A picture of my audience that day
Getting my applause at the  Sergio Memorial Concert

Singing La Vie En Rose at the Sergio Franchi Memorial Concert
I was the headlines at the Mercer County Italian Festival in Nj and I went there with my whole band!!  A lot of fun on and off stage!!
Here I''m @ tbe Mercer County Festival in NJ and here I'm on the stage with my band.
I had the honor to sing the Italian National Anthem at Waldofof Astoria in NYC at the Columbus Citizen Foundation Gala. Always such a great honor to represent my own Country!!



Singing the Italian National Anthem.

Got to work with wonderful makeup artist Susana Hallili and photographer Steve Azzara on a shooting for "Supermodels Unlimited". I can't wait to share those beautiful pictures with all of you!!And yes as you can see I went back to my own dark brown hair!



With makeup artist Suzana Hallili and photographer Steve Azarra shooting pictures for Supermodel Unlimited
I did a little tour: Rochester, Cleveland and I went back to Pittsburgh.
In Cleveland with Etienne and Bill before the show


With my wonderful makeup artist Piera Canu backstage in Pittsburgh.

Showtime in Pittsburgh
While is Pittsburgh I was invited to be guest with an interview and a performance at their popular CBS morning’s  show “Pittsburgh Today”.
With Cristine of Pittsburgh Today on CBS
I was honored to meet Dana  and to be part of the event that her wonderful parents are organizing every year to collect money for reserch for the desease the Dana's having, NPC, a genetic disorder that prohibits the metabolism of cholesterol and other lipids.

With Dana and her parents at Dana's Angel Concert

With Smokey Robinson at Dana's Angels Concert
Also this year I had the honor to sing live for NBC4 for the Columbus Day Parade. Always a day of joy and pride!! This year I was also interviewed by the Italian Television Rai International!!
With great friend and wonderful actor  Frank Ingrasciotta after my performance

With Franco Schifani after my interview with Rai International

I also did a series of successful Concert in NYC at an Off-Broadway venue called Etcetera Etcetera. A great opportunity to work on new material and to create my new 2011 show!! So many wonderful new love songs.

Showtime

Showtime

Showtime

With my musicians, Etienne and Saadi

Showtime
My team had an incredible new addition of which I'm very grateful an incredible man, a man that has promoted and made famous in the USA artists like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Nat King Cole: Peter Bennett. With Peter in the team we have so many new opportunities and great projects that we are working on. Can't wait to share each and everyone of them with you soon!
With super promoter Peter Bennett


I ended the year with 3 sold out Christmas Concerts: such a joyful time of the year!


On a personal side I had a very nice and reworded year. Got to spend time with dear friends for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Eve. It was a wonderful year and I'm ready to enjoy everything that the New Year will bring alone.
Thanksgiving with the Peppe's Family in CT
Thanksgiving with the Peppe's Family in CT

Christmas with the Izzo's family in LI

Christmas with the Izzo's family in LI

New's Year Eve with Sonny Grosso and dear friends in Long Island City

Richard Vetere and Lissa
And got some new angels in my life: great dermatologist Neal Schultz taking care of my skin, Federico Salon taking care of my hair, Cento Food, Moletto Wine, Frank Valanzola, InterMediaPost and Famous Famiglia Pizza for supporting my tour, Ferragamo providing me with wonderful shoes for my Concerts, diamonds to wear at my Concert provided by Daniel K, Alex Kroke and Claudia Upton for their beautiful pictures,  and beautiful dresses designed for me by super talented designer Sherita Jennings of VisceraNY.
Thank you to all my friends and fans that came to see my shows last year: your support is priceless!! Looking forward to see you all again soon!!

Till then see you here next week with a new Blog about
Giada

www.giadavalenti.com
www.facebook.com/giada.valenti
www.myspace.com/giadavalenti
www.youtube.com/giadavalenti
www.youtube.com/anitalianintheusa