There may not be a more American travel destination that Tybee Island, Georgia. The lesser known island is a classic all-American destination for travelers seeking the beaches of the Gulf Coast. The island is located right near Savannah and is well loved by Georgians. Georgia has a special place in my heart as it’s one of the handful of states in America that has a rich Austrian history, with Austrian culture still present. This island has a subtle charm to it, it does not have the glamour of Palm Beach, Florida, but it rivals its beauty.

Tybee has an interesting history. It was initially referred to as “Savannah Beach,” due to its close location to the city of Savannah but has since been referred back to its original name which references its Native American history – the Euchee tribe inhabited the island in years past and “Tybee” is the Euchee word for “salt.” The lighthouse on Tybee Island has been there since 1736! This is definitely one of America’s most historic lighthouses. During the late 19th century, residents of polluted cities would flock to the island as it has been considered a place to cure certain ailments such as asthma and certain allergies since there are clear saltwater breeze.

Sandra Bullock has a home on Tybee Island… you may just have an unexpected celebrity sighting or two. I think tourism in America is fascinating, there are so many places to see in such a large country that there are hidden gems such as the lovely Tybee Island to go find and enjoy!

“Why does the time have to change? Why do we have to change so drastically, too?  Time goes by to everybody.”

Anita Ekberg, most famous for her acting in the 1960 Italian film La Dolce Vita by Frederico Fellini is arguably one of the most underrated pinups of her time, living in the shadows of Marilyn Monroe’s fame, as did Jayne Mansfield. Anita and Jayne were actually friends. Anita described Marilyn Monroe as intelligent because “you need to be intelligent to know how to play dumb.” Anita was originally from Sweden, gaining attention and opportunity through winning the Miss Sweden competition, which brought her the opportunity to visit the United States to compete in the Miss Universe competition in 1951. Though she did not win Miss Universe, Anita won a film contract with Universal Studios Hollywood.

Universal Studios unfortunately dropped her after six months as she preferred to spend time horseback riding rather than pursuing large film roles. Her time in Hollywood was not without its challenges, though. She experienced harsh physical critique that was unfair as she was stunningly beautiful.

Anita famously described how Howard Huges suggested that she get plastic surgery to change her nose and also suggested that she change her name to be more like the ladies in Hollywood at the time and Anita refused, believing that either she will be famous for being herself or she will not be famous. During a time where pinups altered their natural looks (Jayne Mansfield dying her brunette locks to Marilyn style bottle blonde) and Rita Hayworth having significant changes done, from her name being changed (Margarita Cansino to Rita Hayworth) to dying her raven hair to red and having her hair line altered in a painful procedure.

In a time where beauty standards defined much of Hollywood’s starlets success, it was remarkable that Anita stayed so headstrong in being as natural as she could be. Both of Anita’s marriages were to actors and neither of those marriages lasted. She did not have a child and made a contradictory statements in interviews regarding if she would have wanted a child. Anita’s last years in Italy were unfortunate, in 2011, her home in Rome was robbed and badly burned in a fire while she was in the hospital for hip surgery. She ultimately applied for financial help from the Fellini Foundation and that foundation was not doing financially well, either. Anita was not well in her last years. Anita passed away on January 11, 2015 at the age of 83 from complications of prolonged illness. She is buried in Sweden.

The age in which Anita became a star was dominated by chauvinism and womanizing behaviors. Anita Ekberg manuevered Hollywood in her own way and became a legend in her own way.

“I have loved, cried, been mad with happiness. I have won and I have lost.”

I think the drugstore is a great place to find some of your essential beauty finds. There are so many drugstore beauty essentials that I rely on – for example, I almost never buy designer mascara (occasionally I will splurge on Clinique’s High Impact Extreme Volume mascara). I am almost always inclined to buy L’Oreal’s Voluminous lash or any Covergirl mascara. Mascara isn’t the only deal in the beauty department… Read on for what I save by going to the drugstore for! You can create quite a comprehensive beauty toolkit when you know what products work best from the drugstore.

The ocean is extremely powerful. It’s so powerful and has such incredible potential for food sustainability and yet it’s talked about so little in global discourse unless when brought into the conversation related to climate change (rightfully so). Yet, there are ways in which we can work to advocate for the ocean and this can be done more specifically at the policy level (Oceana is headquartered in Washington D.C. for a reason).

I think during times when we must fight for our rights on a deeply existential level, it almost goes without saying that working to protect nature, and with nature, the ocean, is fundamentally important in ensuring that we are able to live the most sustainable future possible.

Our oceans face major problems today and there is no one entity that truly oversees the mitigation of the harm that’s being done to it. The most important step in working towards ensuring there are policies made in favor of the longevity of the ocean’s health is education about the ocean and the problems it’s facing. These problems include pollution, offshore drilling, ocean acidification, and over fishing. While some of these issues have points of no return in the outcomes that are caused by these issues, there are opportunities for policies to be created to ensure that further erosion of the ocean’s health does not happen at the bare minimum.

In theory, if the ocean is restored, it could feed up to 1 billion people a healthy seafood meal per day. That does a lot for sustainability in the food supply chain to say the least. Working towards food sustainability may start with our oceans. That’s just one of the many, many reasons that we need to continue to fight for our oceans. We have been taking its health for granted and that’s not acceptable anymore. Our oceans deserve to be treated better and we will certainly see more detrimental consequences if we don’t act quickly.

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Today is the one year anniversary of Rosy BVM and I am so thankful for all who have helped to make this blog everything that it is today. I am especially grateful for the people who have supported and cheered me on to keep writing here and sharing out all that I think is rosy in the world, since rosiness is something we need to continue cultivating in challenging times.

For those who have allowed me the privilege of interviewing them, thank you, I have learned so much from each one of you and think all of you embody the “rosy life,” as you bring so much passion and goodness to all of the amazing work that you do. I am passionate about learning from the many different people who boldly choose to pursue their life’s dreams and work to make their dreams a reality.

You can find all of my Interviews under the Interviews tab or right here at rosybvm.com/interviews.

I began this website as an opportunity to share things that are on my mind and it quickly evolved into a place that could also serve to inspire those around me as well. To those who read Rosy BVM and follow this blog, thank you for reading all of these blog posts (over 100 posts now) and sharing your thoughts and feedback. It means so much to me.

To those who are joining me in living the rosy life, I am thrilled to have you join me. It’s solidarity that works towards making the world a better place and we need solidarity, collaboration, and rosiness more than ever. Join me into this second year of Rosy BVM.

xx Bianca

Confectionary goods across of Austria are incredible. Demel in Vienna is the signature confectionary bakery that illustrates Austria’s world class abilities in baking. As you can see above, the aesthetic is also very unique: large pieces of fruit adorn the cakes and the frosting is intentionally imperfect, as there is no need to make frosting on a cake perfect as I think the imperfections of the frosting make the cake appear more edible and enticing that way. Demel is a coffee house and bakery that has been in business for more than 200 years, having served the Imperial family of Austria in years past. Demel represents all of the delicious culture that Austria has to offer.

Demel is certainly a traditional cafe, and yet with all of its history, its continued presence and popularity stems from how the culture of the coffee house for socialization purposes, as well as their unparalleled baking which will always resonate with natives as well as tourists from all over the world. When you are in Vienna, you must try the infamous Sachertorte and during your trip to Demel, otherwise your trip would not be complete. Perhaps, you can try the Sachertote from Sacher Hotels and compare while you are at it. Comparisons never tasted so sweet.

Princess Aurora, better known as Sleeping Beauty, was Walt Disney’s last foray into the Princess genre. He first began with Snow White (1937), which he poured his life savings into, then releasing Cinderella in 1950, and then Sleeping Beauty, released in 1959. The Walt Disney Company would not explore the genre again until the release of The Little Mermaid in 1989, which surely ushered in a new era of Disney Princess with Princess Ariel. (A fun fact: the first appearance of mermaids in Disney animation was in Peter Pan!) The opening of Disneyland coincided with the release and marketing of the film Sleeping Beauty, which was an opportune moment to create a castle in honor of her, though Walt initially wanted the castle to be in honor of Snow White, his first Princess (who also happens to be in a deep sleep).

Princess Aurora, on the other hand, was widely criticized for being portrayed as one dimensional; she is sleeping for much of the film… but she does speak very little when she is not asleep, which prompted criticism. To this end, Disney was harshly criticized for making Aurora seem “flat” and too similar to Snow White, such as having close relationships with the woodland creatures, as did Snow White.

To me, criticizing Aurora is like criticizing women in a way and it’s not nice. Her character is raised in a matriarchal household, which is unlike almost every Disney film and it is worth noting since three single female fairies lovingly raise her in exile in the woods. The music in Sleeping Beauty is also noteworthy as it is adapted from Tchaikovsky’s ballet. Opera singer Mary Costa was allowed to voice Aurora as she was able to sustain a British accent for the duration of the film.

While Aurora is arguably the most harshly critiqued Disney Princess, she is likely the heart of the entire Disney brand. There is something more magical about Disneyland having its heart centered around a “sleeping beauty,” than if it were in honor of Snow White, whose tale is on the spookier side. I interpret Sleeping Beauty as a quiet and subtle reminder of our own mortality. She is also the most classical image of a Princess as there could be: Aurora resides in the countryside of Medieval England, where she wears pink, and has regal image about her.

It is no surprise to me that Besame Cosmetics recently released a limited edition Sleeping Beauty collection that is in collaboration with Disney. Gabriela Hernandez was given access to the Walt Disney Archives and color matched her cosmetics line to the exact colors used in the film. Princess Aurora is Walt’s last Princess that we can all appreciate in all of her classic beauty…

How do I keep my hair long and healthy? It is a formula that is both simple and takes some attention to detail. First and foremost, I avoid shampoos with sulfates as a general rule. I look for shampoos that cleanse my hair and leave my scalp feeling balanced. My rule of thumb is that I always shampoo and condition and then use a small amount of product (mostly in the ends) before I blow dry or let my hair air dry.

The next most important key is finding a hairdresser that you can trust and will have your hair health in mind and can communicate well with you. Having a fun haircut that is out of your routine can seem liberating (go for it if that is what you really want!), but to maintain my hair’s length and thickness, I need to be sure my hairdresser keeps my hair health in mind; this includes never adding too many layers and not thinning out my hair. These concepts are anchored in the interests of how I love to keep my hair and it’s always worked out for me when keeping that golden rule in mind. I have found that my neighborhood hairdresser across the street understands my hair and respects exactly how I want her to cut it, and she charges me barely more than the price of a latte… (You read right, it’s true!).

My hair can get pretty dirty due to my lengthy commute on BART, so I do tend to wash my hair every night. By removing dust and pollen from my hair every night, I reduce allergies as well. If my hair is feeling on the cleaner side on a particular evening, I won’t wash it, but that is less often than not. On the weekends, I will do a leave in conditioner, which is either an oil that I leave in for about an hour or use a hair mask after washing my hair and then washing that out (serving as my conditioner). This process always leaves my hair soft, smooth, and gives added bounce to my curls.

For my styling routine, I like to blow out the front portion of my hair, but sometimes I take a break from the heat and will let my hair air dry in the evening and then style small parts of it while getting ready in the morning to get rid of any lingering frizz.

I have tried many different hair products and while I won’t list out a bunch of different product suggestions here, I will give this piece of advice that has always kept my hair in great shape: try to find products with primarily pure and natural ingredients. That does not mean that you need to buy-in to a luxury brand that states all of their products are all-natural; you can find affordable products with the key ingredients to keep hair healthy.

Finding products that are all-natural and pure can be a somewhat tall order when there are countless products in the drugstore and at beauty stores that are not even close to all-natural or pure. This is worth investing your time in though. I think keeping my haircare products on the pure and natural side is so important in maintaining my healthy hair and ultimately leads me to never be frustrated and cut my hair shorter than necessary.

Zucchero Fornaciari was born in a small village near Reggio Emilia in Italy in 1955. Both his mother and father came from rural families. He sang choir in the local church as a boy and at the age of 12 he discovered the American genre of soul and blues music through his African American friend. This would go on to be an influential force in Zucchero’s musical style. Today, he is known worldwide as the father of the “Italian blues” where he has merged together American blues music and Italian music, creating a symbiosis of musical styles.

Most importantly, through Zucchero’s music (Zucchero meaning “Sugar” in Italian), he shares messages of love and stories of love, which is also signature to his musical style. He has had historic musical collaborations with the likes of Andrea Bocelli, Luciano Pavarotti, and U2. He has a friendship with Bono, who has written a song for him in the past, “Streets of Surrender.” Zucchero may not be as widely known in the US, but his impact on Italian culture is immense and he brings such a depth of understanding to music in general that the world is blessed to have his gifts.

I had the great privilege of interviewing Giampaolo Ienna and learned about his new role in New York City’s second oldest bar and now revamped White Horse Tavern. He generously spent time discussing what led him to this role as VIP Director for the tavern, his work with the famous Hunt & Fish Club, and how the Hospitality industry is his life’s passion. Giampaolo has mastered the art of building and maintaining relationships, which is core to his role at both venues. Please go and follow his Instagram: @giampaoloienna

Bianca: Congratulations on the re-opening of the historic White Horse Tavern!  What are you most excited about regarding its next chapter? 

Giampaolo: Thank you so much. Being part of the White Horse Tavern is amazing. 

First off, it is the 2nd oldest bar in NY allowing me to be part of something greater in its community. However, the most exciting part of it all, and perhaps the greatest honor, is knowing all my hard work at Hunt & Fish Club, and Real Estate was not in vein. Knowing that Eytan Sugarman personally selected me as his “right hand” made everything up to this moment worth it. Now, I can take all my expertise and apply it here.

Many are unaware what VIP hospitality truly represents. It requires you to know your neighborhood, everyone in it, and marry them together to have all guest experiences feel like home. Everyone is a VIP as the community becomes your friend. When they come to my venues, they may like it for what it offers, but they stay because of the company kept.

Bianca: You have been referred to as New York’s “celebrity whisperer.”  Is the key component to keeping high profile clientele happy ensuring that you are trustworthy and going to deliver on their more tailored requests? I can imagine that trust in your relationships is key.

Giampaolo: I don’t think it’s much of a “celebrity whisperer” but more of just listening and being a genuine friend.

 All everyone wants is a place that is comfortable for them that allows to visit with great company. It’s not about “Giampaolo Ienna works there” but more of “Let’s visit Giampaolo.” That is truly what sets me apart from other VIP Hosts. 

As for trust, I don’t think any genuine relationship could ever exist without it. 

Bianca: You previously worked for the Hunt & Fish Club (which is the same ownership), will you be working in a similar capacity? 

Giampaolo: Actually, I still work for Hunt & Fish Club. FYI Hunt & Fish Club and White Horse Tavern are not under the same ownership. Hunt & Fish Club @huntandfish is owned by Eytan Sugarman in partnership with Nelson Braff while White Horse Tavern @whitehorsetavern1880 was a venture that Eytan decided to do independently.

 Eytan loves all things NY, as it is even found in his Instagram handle @boyfromnewyorkcity therefore when this opportunity became available it was just perfect for him.

As for my work, it’s the same. I may have more responsibilities in the back end, but my sole focus is to bring that VIP hospitality experience here.

Bianca: What brought you to New York from Italy and how long have you been here?

Giampaolo: Wow, I came to NYC 10 years ago with a hunger for music as you may have found through previous press mentions, but was introduced to Hospitality simultaneously. During the process of both I chose hospitality as I fell in love with the concept and felt challenged to find my own way to elevate what it represented. Now, I find it is no longer a “job” but instead just a part of who I am. What’s great about this too is I am able to apply this same approach to my other ventures such as Real Estate. You just have to remember, you are dealing with people and you need to pay attention to what they need and want. 

Bianca: With the new future of the venue you are in charge of shaping the experiences of the revamped White Horse Tavern. What may be different for VIP guests than their experiences at the Hunt & Fish Club? 

Giampaolo: White Horse Tavern and Hunt & Fish Club are different environments. However, my goal is to ensure that the Hospitality remains the same. Sure, the neighborhood, it’s ambiance, and cuisine will change, but the attention to detail, and overall visit will be the same. 

Bianca: How do you plan to expand the White Horse Tavern to a more international crowd?  Will you be marketing this through the Hunt & Fish Club? 

Giampaolo: White Horse Tavern is a name in itself, with much history behind it. But our goal is to make it a household name recognized for credits beyond being just a pub. Take myself, I don’t drink, therefore, White Horse Tavern was never a place I would have considered to visit in the past. This is why Eytan felt I was the perfect fit. We are adding new value to the venue beyond the bar, expanding into cuisine, and VIP Hospitality. 

As for marketing it through Hunt & Fish Club, absolutely NOT! 

White Horse Tavern stands on its own, they are both two separate entities. 

Bianca: What can guests expect of the revamped White Horse Tavern in general?  What experiences will these be? 

Giampaolo: In addition to what has been previously mentioned, our goal is to introduce a new approach to your local pub. It is no longer about someone taking your order and walking away, but instead, we are here to build relationships.