Everyday eyes --

You want your makeup to be simple - but your eyes can still stand out.  A shadow, pencil, mascara and dab of blush (yes, its okay) are all it takes to look alert and polished.

The attach link is a you tube video on everyday eyes:
http://youtu.be/RoVTnN4Oga4

Once a upon a time in 1976, I went to England on a Rotary Youth Exchange

When I was 18 years old and a freshman in junior college, I left home and study abroad for a year in England on a Rotary Youth Exchange.  The experience was my first real opportunity to study outside of the United States.  My father was a member of the local Rotary Club and he was insistent that all of his children spend time outside of the U.S., I went to England in 1976 and my brother Drew also spent a summer in Northern England.  My dad's advice as it turned out was extraordinarily 100% correct.  After several weeks in Blackpool/St. Anne in Lancashire - I was realizing a dream. Sometimes we don't always see the the important quest for education and how our parents want us to live better than they had lived. My Mom & Dad were very proud of my trip to England and I was proud of myself to venture outside of my comfort level and learn to live with a new family and study abroad.

Each day a new beginning - 30 words you'll never misspell again

Handy guide to hang near your desk

1. a lot
2. allege
3. amateur
4. apparent
5. believe
6. caffeine
7. committed
8. conscious
9. conscience
10. definitely
11. embarrass
12. exceed
13. gauge
14. grateful
15. hierarchy
16. humorous
17. liaison
18. maneuver
19. mischievous
20. privilege
21. queue
22. receive
23. recommend
24. rhythm
25. separate
26. sergeant
27. supersede
28. transferred
29. vacuum
30. weird

The Story of the Coco Palms Hotel

Once in a lifetime experience.....

As a child and also a teenager, my parents took our family to Hawaii many times.  We vacationed on Kauai and stayed at the world famous COCO PALMS HOTEL at the Wailua river.  The Hotel was famous and had been in many Hollywood movies such as South Pacific, Blue Hawaii and many more. the Coco Palms Resort Hotel was within walking distance to the beautiful Pacific Ocean and the Wailua Beach.  Each evening the Lagoon Dining room would fill with families and it was like going back in time to a simpler time.  During the holidays in 1973 my Dad took us for Thanksgiving and our family was able to see the famous tree planting ceremony for those of us who were lucky enough to be there at that time period.  That ceremony left an impression on me and established a love for the hotel and lodging industry.  The pride of the Hawaiians, and the pride of the hard work was especially gratifying for me to see.

Fast forward to 2003, my husband and I were married on the beautiful island of Kauai.  The Coco Palms Hotel has been closed since 1992 when the Hurricane Iniki damaged the resort with winds and rain. Through a long time friend, Joe Kauo my husband and I had the good fortune to meet the original Hotel Manager of the Coco Palms, his name is "Big John Kauo" in 2009.  Big John started out as a waiter and worked his way up to Hotel Manager.  He tells the story of doing almost every job at the Hotel from dishwasher to panty manager to managing the bellman. 

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...