Elizabeth Taylor's Birthday Party at DISNEYLAND (1992)

This past week with losing a beloved Academy award winning actress Elizabeth Taylor at age 79, it has made me reflect on 1992. I had the honor of working her 60th Birthday party at Disneyland, and also was able to assist with planning of her special party including helping load the "Goodie Bag" that was handed out to all of the special Guests.  The goodie bag contained the following gifts: Liz Taylor Coffee Mug with her picture on it, an oversized white Tee shirt with Liz's picture portrayed 4 times, and bottle of her famous signature fragrance.

Looking back, it was kind of a crazy evening - Everybody who was anyone associated with the show business industry had been invited to this special one of a kind birthday party!  I was lucky enough to be working red carpet at the entrance to Disneyland and welcoming our Guests for the evening. 

Transform your face, eyes, brows, nose and lips with a safe natural technique

From Publishers Weekly

Designed for the woman who is unhappy with an aspect of her face or body but who "either cannot afford plastic surgery or does not want to risk its very real potential side effects," Pearl's guide to makeup techniques is a friendly, affordable alternative to the doctor's office. As a makeup artist to celebrities such as Barbara Walters, Brooke Shields, Mira Sorvino and Kelly Ripa, Pearl has blue ribbon credentials among the rich and famous. This book, however, leaves starry glamour aside and focuses on the common problems of ordinary women everywhere: dark circles under the eyes, blotchy complexion, unwanted freckles and double chins. Pearl uses normal-looking people, including her own family members and herself, as the models for her before and after demonstrations, which makes her results seem both more doable and more believable. (Several of the models are African-American.) For example, in the section titled "Bye-Bye Crow's-Feet and Laugh Lines" she shows how concealer and foundation can be used in a "two-step process of spackling and painting" that fills in and covers signs of aging. Other sections cover techniques like contouring and setting. Some readers may wish that more time had been spent explaining basic techniques like blending foundation. But for readers who already have some experience using makeup, and are satisfied with a transformation that can be washed off at the end of the evening, Pearl's how-to book should be just the trick.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

'Eve is not only a make-up artist, she is a magician who reveals the tricks of the trade' - Kelly Ripa

Plastic Surgery Without the Surgery: The Miracle of Makeup Techniques

See all Editorial Reviews

Quote of the day - Happy February 1st, 2011

"we can learn to use makeup to emphasize our eyes or downplay a feature.  But, self-assurance involves learning to live with (and treasure) those fundamental things we cannot change: the very features that make each of us beautiful and unlike anyone else." 
- Bobbi Brown

9 pieces of advice to get through a terrible day

9 Pieces of advice to Get you through a Terrible Day

1. do something for somebody else - it will help you feel a bit better.
2. Rent a movie - perhaps a romance comedy
3. find yourself a friend, shrink or a stranger to talk to.
4. forget about what you cannot do
5. meet an old friend for lunch and listen to her woes
6. step away from the ice cream, lasagna etc - don't lose the ability to tuck in your shirt.
7. Do something for - yourself- anything, I promise it will make you feel better.
8. go to church, mass, temple or wherever you worship
9. buy a new tube of lipstick or gloss - may I suggest Sephora it will always make you feel better.

Dress for the body you are today - not what you want to be or what you were in High School.

Dress for the body you are today

Not what you want to be

Or what you were in High School

How to Work with your Curves

• A dress with a belt will cinch you in, focusing attention on your small waist
• Keep necklines open
• A deep V neck or scoop neck lengthens your neck
• Don't cover big curves
• Big clothes on big bodies only make you look bigger
• Dress from inside out - a well fitting Bra and Shapewear will camouflage all lumps and bumps.
• Clothes should skim your body, not cling to it like a sausage casing.  Think high waist, wide trousers and A-line or flared skirts.
• Shorter, fitted jackets will also flatter your legs - and waist.
• Skirts should end just before or under kneecap.  Your legs will look longer.

10 Basic Women's wardrobe pieces - must haves for 2011

With the right basics - you can look fresh and fabulous

1. a basic dress -- wrap dresses or knit dresses are great
2. a great coat - invest in a piece that you love....
3. a great white blouse - it goes with everything
4. turtlenecks - not too dressy and not too casual -wear them with suits and jeans
5. black pants - need I say anything more?
6. accessories -- don't forget thrift stores and consignment stores for great deals
7. cardigans - don't forget the neutral colors
8. tee shirts -- great for layering
9. denim -- so important for everyone....all ages
10. the navy blue blazer - for business or casual as a key piece for the season.

SPANX -- my favorite way to whittle the middle and have great Legs!

Spanx has got to be the greatest invention known to mankind.

• Makes our legs look glamorous
• Invisible to most 
• Wear as underwear to avoid VPL (visible Panty Lines)
• Mega compression zones minimize love handles
• Comfortable waistband stays in place all day long, thank you.
• High waisted shaping sheers with super tummy control
• Helps us get into our skinny jeans - thank you Sara Blakely for helping us look Beautiful.

Also Spanx is now featuring:

• Camisoles
• Bras
• biking shorts

for 2011 - this is my new favorite product !! 

How to greet the Queen of England

Yes, she is royalty, but unless you're a citizen of Great Britain, don't curtsy or bow to the queen.

Over the weekend.....my husband and I saw a great movie and got me thinking about royalty. We saw the King's Speech and what a delightful true story, we both loved it. Listed below are a few bullet

points for all of you, just in case you are in a situation where you're able to meet a royal.

• Address all correspondence to the " The Private Secretary of Her Majesty the Queen," not the queen herself.  Request the correspondence be communicated to her royal person.

• Contact the queen at the following address:     Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA, England

• Greet the queen as "your majesty" initially. Use Madame thereafter
• Accept the queen's offer of a handshake, and of course, a bit of conversation if she's willing.
• Don't show the queen your back, if you're following tradition, and leave the room only after the queen does.  Keep in mind that times have changed and formalities have eased.
• If you have gloves on, remove them.

Self Confidence and Self Esteem - Life's not a dress rehearsal

Self Confidence and Self Esteem

"life is not a dress rehearsal"

How many times do we tell ourselves there is no reason to dress up or put makeup when we are home alone?  With the New Year upon us we closely examine the quality of our real lives.  It does take extra effort to put out the good china, and it does take more effort to fix our hair and put on some makeup.  But, we all feel better when we do take those extra minutes to blow out our hair or put lipstick on.  We definitely act different when we are put together.  Just like every good actress knows the magic power of props and costumes to create special moods both onstage and off.

So here is to the New Year ! Let's tap into the excitement of real life and be the leading ladies in our own lives.

The Sephora-to-Go App: Take a tour

Handbags, pocketbooks, purses, bags, clutch part two

Magic, mystery, and money are all wrapped up in the myth of a classic handbag.

We have our traditional business shoulder bag for work, all business all the time. 

We then have our "go-to" Coach Hobo bag -- classic, stylish and our everyday purse.  Looks good all of the time, no questions asked.

Then we want a celebrity inspired purse.....just because.

Here is a fun purse designed by Jessica Simpson below.

.......the little black evening bag......

a must!

Innocence and Experience

the glamour of lipstick and a black small bag for

cocktail parties......Felix Rey is the best!

Friend or Faux....
here is a delicious fake animal print for fun.....
Talbots 2008

A bag that's chic such as the Coach purses you can wear everywhere day or night.  It gives you a sense of style immediately.

Sometimes we purchase a purse for remarkable interiors and openings.

Handbag style is a matter of personal taste..

Coach "Alexandra" 2010 bag

love the lining and all of the fabulous pockets inside...

Decisions --- The Giving Tree

The Giving Tree

by Shel Silverstein

"Once there was a tree....and she loved a little boy."  So begins a story of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein.

This is a tender story, touched with sadness, aglow with consolation.  This book is for all ages offers readers an interpretation of the gift of giving and a serene acceptance of another's capacity to love in return.

I have bought this book many times as a gift and also for my own children....the message in this book is incredible and touching. 

Happy Holidays --

F A M I L Y = the early days

Grandma's Front Yard - Los Angeles, Ca 1963

this is one of my most favorite picture taken of myself with my brother and cousins and Grandma Gertie.  I am standing in the front row between my two cousins, Howard and Paul Zager.

Behind me is my Grandma and older brother Gary Zager and now famous cousin Lynnanne Zager

This photo is taken in Grandma 's backyard - 1981

For different reasons this is one of my favorite photographs of myself with my cousin Howard Zager, my brother and cousin Lynnanne. I am on the left side wearing a cowlneck blue sweater dress and I think it's Thanksgiving Day 1981.

Everyday answers to everyday questions....

Sweaters
Men - you may think you're doing your  sweaters a favor when you leave them on hangers, in dry cleaning bags, until you wear them next.  This is not the case.  Its important to remove them from the hanger and the bag as soon as you get them home.  Sweaters need to be exposed to the air, and folded, not hung. so they don't lose their shape.

Style tip:
Don't be afraid to let your favorite sweater add interest to an outfit in an unexpected way.  You can always layer a fine-gauge hoodie under a blazer or wear a cashmere pullover as a stylish alternative to a sweatshirt.

Handbags, purses, retro, beaded an Accessory with a delicate balance than can make or break an Oufit !!

A bag that's chic is a bag that you can wear everywhere, day or night,  office or date night.

I first fell in love with handbags at age 16....I had always admired my Mother's bags.  Her purses sometimes reminded me of Doris Day or Mary Tyler Moore.

when I was able to afford my own purses, my standard favorite was Dooney & Bourke, or back then the everyday purse was called the Duck purse, since it repelled water.

when my children were little - I carried a Dooney & Bourke saddle stitched, riveted and all leather bag.  It was sturdy and appealed to Soccer Moms that drove Volvo wagons -- which was myself in the 1980's.

Gucci bags were the rage in the mid 1970's with the traditional stripe down the middle of forest green and red.  I was a graduating senior in 1975 and my parents bought me a Gucci purse bucket bag with a metal clasp in the middle, and I still have it to this day.

Later on in the mid 1990's we all grew up and wanted our own Louis Vuitton with the famous logo.

We love our Fendi bags also -- 

Class Acts: ...Elegant Icons

Purses equal power, remember former parliamentary power Margaret Thatcher she never went anywhere without her chunky purse. which she called her trusty companion, more that just political power - a great purse can define a lady.  Grace Kelly is the most famous and fabulous example of this.  Grace  carried a Hermes bag in 1956 to shield her pregnant belly from photographers.

today regardless if you wear a novelty handbag or carry an American classic - we all are obsessed with grand handbags.  It gives us the illusion that a commoner can become a princess with the right BAG!!

Here's hoping you get your favorite bag this Holiday season from your special sweetheart.

Here is a picture of a Birthday CAKE, made to look like a Louis Vuitton,  even the zipper and the handles on the cake look like the real deal.

Updated version of the Dooney & Burke circa: 2010, brought to you my the Mouse. Colorful and practical with Mickey Mouse whimsical and fun.

My every day go to bag -- COACH.....looks classic and holds much of what I need.