Spring Make-Up Exclusive!

Sping 2010

Guest Blog by Cheri Haller

Spring has sprung and color is blooming all over, especially on faces! I believe makeup should be worn as an expression of confidence in appreciating your own beauty. Your face is the first thing people see and you should always put your best face forward. We’ll start with skin…

Gotta love a natural finish. Spring is for fresh flowers and fresh skin. Tinted moisturizers are always a great way to give an ultra smooth and hydrated look to the skin. They tend to be a little sheer, so use a concealer that matches your skin tone to add a little coverage and a dust of loose powder will do the trick. Stila’s Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer is fabulous with undertones in pink, beige, and bronze. Plus it offers SPF as well. Great concealer to check out, Kevin Aucoin’s full cover concealer; use a synthetic bristled brush to get the ultimate coverage as well as the most natural blend. A little bit goes a long way so it’s quite the investment. For amazing powder that’ll still give you a natural finish try the Bare Essentials Bare Minerals powder foundations, using a fan brush or a loose blush brush, rather than the standard “kabuki” brush to give you more of a dusting. When it comes to brushes, the longer the bristles the more of a dusting application you’ll receive, the shorter and more condensed the bristles the fuller of an application you’ll get. If you prefer a cream or a liquid, a great drugstore find is the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser has super concentrated goji berry + collagen and SPF. Also, the applicator is like a fuzzy pencil eraser, it has a bit of a slip to it but smoothes texture and tone of the skin nicely.

The skin is even and smooth, now on to Blushes and Bronzers and Highlighters oh my! The cheekbone is the new hot accessory and a well placed highlighter can be magical. In picking a highlighter, let your undertone to be your guide, if you have a creamy pinkish undertone go with something like Benefit’s Highbeam, the “supermodel in a bottle.” Or if you have a gorgeous golden undertone use LORAC’s Perfectly Lit Oil-free Luminizing Powder in Radiant. Love it.
A simple highlighter will add a nice touch but to really turn on the lift, sweep a natural bronzer under the cheekbone. A large 3 on the face will hit all the right contours for a sunswept look. The contrast of light next to dark makes the light pop even more, sculpting the cheek bone. Plus it’ll pull you out of the dead of winter washout we all experience. If you don’t want to do the highlighter and bronzer two-step, a quick fix to liven up your face is a peachy coral blush, swept onto the apples of the cheek and up towards the ear. Peach is a visual highlighter and works beautifully on every skin tone. Orgasm by Nars is a must-see, you know it’s good with a name like that!

Eyes are the window to the soul, and it's time to experiment with some new curtains! Prime that lid baby, no one likes an oily crease. Benefit’s new Stay Don’t Stray eyeshadow AND concealer primer is your new best friend and keeps not only eye shadow on but your concealer too, plus it’s got vitamins and it’s really worth checking out. Once you’re prepped and are ready to shadow go back though your basics, the pastels and natural shades; peaches, pinks, and golds. Start at the lashline and sweep from the inside corner to the outside corner, lashline to the crease. To add a little drama, hit the outside corner of the upper and lower lashline with either a deep dark kohl black, a rich aubergine, or even a bright turquoise, and using the pad of the finger to soften the line, creating a smoldery and sophisticated look when paired with the light colors. Makeup Forever’s Aqua Eyes are great eyeliners, they come in a huge range of color and they wear like a dream.

If you opt not to line the eyes, colored mascaras are a superfun way to throw a pop of color. Plum will enhance the color of the eyes, it is softer than a black, but more exciting than a brown. Blue and green mascaras makes the whites of your eyes look brighter, Urban Decay’s colored Mascaras are funky and fabulous. Or the ever famous Maybelline (pink and green mascara) in blue, an oldie & a goodie. A fabulous ultra-pigmented-triple-threat black mascara worth investigating at Sephora is Makeup Forever’s Smoky Lash. I tried it the other day and it excited my inner drag queen. A lot.

Pair your natural eye with big lashes and a lip that catches attention like a bright poppy pink or fuchsia. Work it! Too much? Tone it down a little and coordinate your coral blush with a coral pink lip, fyi Nars makes Orgasm for the lips too... Just like the skin, a hydrated sexy pout is always in style. When rocking the smoky eye, nude that lip out, try blending a little neutral cream highlighter on the lips and sliding a light nude gloss on top, like MAC’s ‘Nymphette’ or Benefit’s ‘Life On the A List.’

Comb a little brow gel through your eye brows, or fill softly with a brow pencil, Anastasia’s Brow Pencils are powdery and soft, and come with a spooly (technical name for mascara wand) at the end to comb into a really natural look. Brows should be slightly darker that your hair. Slightly.
Most importantly for Spring 2010 wear your makeup with confidence. You are fabulous. If you really feel like you suck at applying go to your Sephora or Ulta, or Department Store Cosmetic Counter. Ask them to teach you a technique, let the artist walk you through the look step by step (you have to apply in public, but you’ll be under supervision!) and then go home and practice! That’s what makeup remover was made for.

Paint your face for the fun of it! And enjoy the warm(er) weather!

A Frugalista Gal in NYC: Part Deux

After recovering from the day which I call "Leg/Foot Confusion" as I have not seen that much walking since I lived in New York City over three years ago, I was ready for my second day in the Big Apple. My Fiance and I started in the West Village where he got his hair cut by the infamous Dominick while I did some window shopping at some local boutiques. I didn't really find much to shout about but did learn that Urban Outfitters is going to start designing a line of wedding wear- how boho and tres exciting!

After a fab haircut and some more strolling about, we met friends at a local watering hole called Cowgirl on Bleeker in the Village. Good times, good food, and REALLY good pitchers of margaritas is what I call a good time!

Onward and upward! After strolling around the Village, getting a Magnolia Cupcake (a MUST if you are ever in NYC- no excuses!!!), and drooling over the latest Cynthia Rowley shop, my Fiance and I headed to the Upper West side for some investigatory research into the new Spring colors for make-up and the newest trend in skin-care.

After speaking with some not-so-helpful (and not so frugal) shop assistants, I phoned my friend Cheri, a budding (and very talented) Make-Up Artist, and asked for her opinion. She graciously and excitedly offered to write a Guest Blog about the newest trends and colors for the up-coming season so stay tuned for that!

Off to the Dead Poet! A local dive bar with the words of famous poets strewn across the walls and to meet a good friend, Jamie, who is actually performing our wedding ceremony. I guess getting ordained online can be beneficial, especially if you want to one day marry two of your friends! We talked shop for a bit (he works for Conde Nast....ahhhhhhhhhh....mecca!) and then to what's going on in our lives. After a few hours, we headed to Columbus Circle to Jazz at Lincoln Center where my boss graciously hooked my Fiance and I up with tickets to see THE Chita Rivera perform her best-known works.

Let me tell you- for a woman over 75, DAMN can she still bring it! She was absolutely amazing and it was a trill to see her live and performing songs from "Kiss of the Spider Woman" and "Chicago". If you haven't been to Jazz at Lincoln Center- the view ALONE is worth the price of admission, trust me.

All in all- a frugal day! Only breakfast (at a very quaint French bistro on Jane Street), lunch at Cowgirl and a few drinks at Dead Poet, we decided to treat ourselves to a late-night visit to a new up-and-coming lounge in Columbus Circle called Robert. Again, the view alone is worth the $9 it costs for a glass of house Red, however, my Fiance's friend did work there so we had to stop by and say hello- it's the only polite thing to do! ;) If you get the chance, do go to Robert at 2 Columbus Circle. The sleek lounge feel and the posh view of the park is worth any cocktail you desire to order (from what I hear, they make a KILLER Manhattan! Do try!).

Once leaving Robert, we high-tailed it back to Queens for our 10:30am departure back to suburbia, thus, bidding New York City adieu... but not for long!

A Frugalista Gal in New York City: Part Une

One might expect a trip to NYC to be exciting and filled with new places to go and new streets to explore; for me, it’s more of a homecoming, a place where places and streets hold memories. After living in New York City for over five years, I moved back to Hartford, Connecticut for a dream job in the arts. I miss New York so much that when the opportunity came up to swap apartments with my future brother-in-law for the weekend, my Fiancé and I jumped at the chance to “go home”.

I arranged for Friday off from work so we could give NYC the proper amount of time and try to squeeze everything in as we possibly could. After leaving late Thursday night, we arrived in NYC and went strait to bed as we has an early start the next day.

Friday morning in NYC; Bodega Coffee, the New York Post and a bagel is all I need! We started the day off heading into Manhattan (did I mention my brother-in-law lives in Queens???) and strait to Bloomingdales where I accosted the Channel counter with millions of questions about the spring line. Jaq, behind the counter, was very friendly and showed me some of the most covered pieces for this upcoming Season (Pictures to follow, I promise). He assured me that nothing would be more “in” the Spring/Summer than neutrals and pastels. He showed me bags that I absolutely drooled after and was so kind as to compliment me on my bag (clearly, not Channel as I work in CT for a non-profit!).

Next it was onto Louis Vuitton as I strolled through the racks and bags, I noticed they were not as eager to talk to me about what it coming up for the Season (I clearly wasn’t at the fashion show so how dare I presume to have the faintest idea what LV stands for!). I took a few shots of some outfits that are easily assembled for less. (Again, pics to come shortly!) After strolling around Bloomies for a little while longer, I noticed my Fiancé getting fidgety so we high-tailed it out of there and on to the upper East Side to see my friends at their day jobs.

After having a few drinks at a local bar where two of my friends worked, we went over to another bar to see two of my guy friends and made plans to meet up at the famous Beer Garden in Queens later that night. After a visit to some art galleries, shopping on the street (I picked up a GORGEOUS berry colored wrap for only $5!), we went to The Museum of Natural History (a favorite of my Fiancé’s) and over to my old neighborhood for dinner at Bravest, a local dive with the best Turkey Burger that side of the East River!
After a quick power nap and a shower, my Fiancé and I headed down the block to the Beer Garden with every possible beer you can imagine and enjoyed some light jazz and the company of my friends and a few rounds as we ended our first day in New York City.

The Socialite Look: How to Dress Like You Have a Trust Fund Even If You Don't

By Bridie Clark,

Author of The Overnight Socialite
You know the type: It's raining, or 3 am, or the middle of yoga class and this woman looks crisp, pulled together, ready for her close-up. Her hair is freshly blown-out, her jewelry is tasteful Cartier. Linen wouldn't dream of wrinkling when she wears it. Seeing her, you envision a walk-in closet full of neatly folded Italian cashmere. She must be rich, you think. Her look would be impossible to achieve -- or maintain -- without a trust fund and a lot of free time.Actually, the "socialite look" -- we're talking Aerin Lauder, not Paris Hilton -- is just a matter of mastering a few basic rules.

1. Figure out what works and stick with it. Anchor your wardrobe with clean lines, good fabrics, classic tailoring. Develop a signature look . . . even a uniform. Avoid trends. The look you're striving for is fresh but timeless, and most trends have an expiration date.

2. Before you make a purchase, try to calculate Cost-Per-Wear. A Burberry trench that you'll wear every spring for the rest of your life could be worth a splurge. Likewise you'll always want to wear a great watch, "everyday" jewelry with just the right amount of bling, a simple clutch for evening, a T. Anthony tote that's comfortable but chic. A little black dress is part of every socialite's arsenal -- make sure yours fits perfectly, and you'll wear it all the time.

3. Buy at the right time. Stores need to turn over their inventory to make room for new arrivals, so keep your eye out for sales. There's definitely a right time (usually January) and a wrong time (November) to buy that shearling coat.

4. Buy more than one. Say you find the perfect pair of jeans. The right length, the right wash, the right silhouette from every angle. This is a good moment to splurge by doubling down on an extra pair (and if they're really that fabulous, two). Same goes for all your basics -- white tailored shirts, black ballet flats, socks. This way you'll have a fresh set to rotate in when the original starts to show wear and tear.

5. Never compromise on fit. Who cares if it's cashmere -- if the sweater doesn't fit properly, donate it. Keep your wardrobe as streamlined as possible.

6. Take care of what you have. Even if you're short on "staff," it's worth it to pay close attention to the laundry. Skip bleach -- it will hurt the fibers of your clothing after many washes. Instead, soak whites in hot water using detergent and a bleach alternative, like white vinegar. Be vigilant about separating colors. Your jeans and delicates should never see the inside of a dryer. Lastly, spot-clean items instead of always dry-cleaning -- it'll save you money, and save your clothes the chemical treatment.

7. Never pay retail. Why blow your budget at the mall when there are so many places to buy designer clothing at deep discounts? Gilt.com (become a member by signing up at gilt.com/theovernightsocialite), eBay, and consignment shops are just a few of the spots you'll find marked-down treasures that look like you bought them on Fifth Avenue. Somebody did.

8. Master a speedy daytime beauty routine. We all need to get out the door quickly sometimes. After your shower, massage a small amount of mousse into the roots of your hair, flip your head and use a flat brush to blow-dry hair into straight, shiny panels. Smear on some tinted moisturizer with SPF, some mascara, and some lipgloss, and you're good to go.

9. To paraphrase Coco Chanel, remove one accessory before you walk out the door. Less is more. If you want to look effortlessly elegant, put quality ahead of quantity and keep your look simple.10. Exercise clothing should be worn solely to exercise. Ok, and back and forth to the gym. Socialites don't allow themselves to lapse into that comfy, sloppy look that can be so tempting on a Sunday morning.

Splurge vs. Save

Splurge on:
Classic pieces -- the little black dress, the Chanel ballet flats, the perfect clutch -- that you'll wear for years to come.
If you plan on making it as a socialite -- in the Jackie O, not Casey J mode -- you'll be dashing off countless thank you notes. Invest in personalized stationery. Sites like tinyprints.com offer an affordable alternative to monogrammed letterpress.
Charitable giving. Nothing's worse than a socialite who struts the red carpet but can't write a check for an important cause. No matter what your budget, find some way to give -- or give your time -- to the organizations that resonate with you.

Save on:
Staying Bergdorf blonde can be an expensive habit. Fortunately, most of the top salons hold "training nights" for stylists' and colorists' assistants to hone their skills under the watchful eye of the experts. Sign up, and you'll get top-end color for significantly less than the salon's usual rates.
Furniture. Estate sales, auctions, and online sites like 1stdibs.com and eBay have heirloom-quality pieces to lend sophisticated polish to your home. If a piece isn't quite heirloom-quality -- but the price is right and the bones are solid -- give it a coat of high-gloss paint, in a quirky turquoise or a punchy coral.
Hostess gifts. Hand-wrapping small items -- soaps, candles, a few chocolate truffles -- adds a personal touch which will impress the recipient.
High-end exercise classes and personal trainers. You can check out what's keeping Gwyneth so fit at tracyandersonmethod.com, or purchase a DVD. Core Fusion, a class that's popular with the Posh Upper East Side set, is also available on DVD. Or you can downward dog along to a Jivamukti yoga CD, the choice of fit and fabulous yogis in downtown Manhattan.
Retail. Paying full-boat is for the masses. Instead, explore sites like Gilt.com (you can become a member by visiting gilt.com/theovernightsocialite), designer outlets, or your local thrift and consignment shops. Make enough of a name for yourself, and it won't be long before designers are sending you their wares.

© 2010 Bridie Clark, author of The Overnight Socialite

Author BioBridie Clark author of The Overnight Socialite, graduated from Harvard University, and has written for The New York Times, Vanity Fair, New York, and Quest. Her debut novel, Because She Can, was published in nineteen countries. She lives in New York City.For more information, please visit www.bridieclark.com.

We all know Bluefly.com- we know it, we love it, and we all agree that it's fabulous! So, when the opportunity came to speak with Tanesha Smith, official Stylist and Fashion Guru for Bluefly.com, I jumped at it right away.

Tanesha Smith jump started her career interning for magazine such as Nylon and Vibe Vixon and eventually went on to work with other publications such as ElleGirl. For the past two years, however, she has been the Official Stylist and Fashion Guru for both men and women at Bluefly.com. Her chill and fun demeanor made this interview a breeze and a lot of fun.

First, I explained what FrugalistaLife was all about- living fabulously for less and she immediately jumped at the idea of Do It Yourself Tie-Dye, a trend that you should start to see popping up this Spring. She suggested to not only tie-dye a tee-shirt, but to be more creative and try a pair of jeans or a jacket to spice up your wardrobe. (Now, why didn't we think of that?!?!?)

Also, distressed jeans are back in a big way which can also be another DIY project. Whether it's an old pair or new (which, by the way, Old Navy is selling adult jeans for $19- hop on that if you can!), the distressed look can easily be accomplished with a pair of scissors and some creativity.

Other looks we should plan on seeing this season? Military styles, Camp details, waist-clinching looks, ruffles, leather and the basic White Shirt.

Leather was a lengthy topic during our 20 minute phone interview. She discussed how it is now being used for more than just jackets and pants. Skirts, tops, cuffs, sportswear and most surprisingly, leggings, were on the list of do's for this season.

When asked her thoughts on couture designers such as Jean Paul Gaultier designing for mass market stores such as Target, she exclaimed: "It's fantastic!". She went on to demonstrate that it just goes to show that America has more style sense than we give them credit for. Just because we don't have the D&G dress, doesn't mean that we don't love it and appreciate it's beauty, we just can't plunk down the thousands of dollars to be able to wear it. When designers produce for mass market stores, it gives everyone a chance to experiment with new high fashion at affordable prices.

So, dear Frugalistas, the moral of the story is this: prepare for leather leggings and if you want a kick ass job, become a stylist for Bluefly.com. If you want to live the fabulous life for less, become a FrugalistaLife Gal. There's nothing saying you can't do both ;)

Skinny Bitch Book Review

Skinny Bitch? Vegan Bitch more like! I picked up this book at a friend's house (there we go again, not spending money on books but borrowing them from friends and family) hoping it would be a happy-go-lucky book about what foods will whittle your waist and slim your hips in hopes of becoming a "Skinny Bitch".... I was wrong.

This book is a searing look at "You are what what eat". The main focus of this book is to eat all organically with no "chemicals" such as sugar (they even went on a rant about Splenda! Splenda of all things!), simple carbs, soda, coffee (eeek) and animal products of any kind. The main goal of this book is to eliminate all the "chemicals" we put into our bodies by eliminating all of this things (including eggs, cheese, meats, and various drinks).

Alcohol is a big no-no on this list except for organic red wine, which I find hilarious since there is a drink called the Skinny Bitch which consists of vodka and diet soda.

This book is rather hilarious with it's raunchy language and chapter titles such as "Sugar is the Devil" and "Pooping", but it's nothing you haven't learned from high school health class. It's mainly a do's and mostly don'ts about what to eat. There are recipes in the back along with a supporting book list, however, I can't see myself craving to eat Tofu scrambled with zucchini and kale more than an egg-white spinach omelet.

Another aspect of this book which annoyed me was how they kept non-chalantly kept telling you to be loosen with your wallet when food shopping and only to get the best of the best. Now, I like my $7 Bom Dia Acai Berry Juice as much as anyone, but I'm lucky if I get out of the grocery store for less than $110 buying reasonably healthy food. I have no idea how I would be able to afford buying strictly Vegan/Organic... and talk about your Girl's Nights Out flying out the window! Where would you be able to eat unless you live in a major city where Vegan Restaurants run rampant.

All in all, if you're looking for a book that's like Jillian Michaels word-slapping you, then give it a whirl. In all honesty, I would rather be fat than a Skinny Bitch according to this book.

Money Monday

You’re more than likely picking up this magazine, sipping on your $5.00 latte and worrying about this recession and how little is in your bank account… am I correct? Well, I am here to put your worries to rest and introduce you to a new way of living called the Frugalista (or Frugalisto, for you gentlemen out there) Life. It’s a life of living fabulously, for less.

Why be so frugal, you ask? In this economy, would you rather spend $5.00 a day for your non-fat, no-whipped, half-café latte or would you like to put that $35.00 in your savings or 401K? I’m guessing you’ve picked the latter. But why give up your wonderful life to do so? I’m going to give you some tips on how to be frugal, yet live the life you want without feeling like your sacrificing.

First of all, let’s talk food. We all know eating out is wonderful. You don’t have to work at it- just show up and pay and you’ve had your gourmet dinner. Well, dining out costs 65% more than cooking for yourself. Scared of the idea of whipping up your own dinner? Go slow and try a recipe with less than 10 ingredients and takes less than 30 minutes to prepare. Rachel Ray makes many cookbooks around this subject.

With regard to shopping, try your local grocery store before going to a chain. They’re much more likely to have better sales and fresher stock than a Shaw’s or Big Y. Farmer’s Markets are also a good way to pick up your fruits, veggies and herbs for a fraction of the cost.

Now, let’s go back to that coffee conundrum. Say you drink one Starbuck’s coffee a day. That equals to about $15 a week which is roughly $800 a year! I say buy yourself a Keriug, a travel mug and some K-Cups and call it a day! This way, you will save about $700 a year which can be put towards your saving, credit card payment or a splurge on a cart full of new outfits from Target!

That’s all for Money Monday- check back tomorrow when we’ll be talking about weight and how to loose it according to the “Skinny Bitch”!