Debbie King

Beauty biz – testing, testing

A new APP

Mirror, mirror on the phones...who’s the fairest of us clones?

‘Makeup Genius’ is L’Oreal’s new (and the first ever) interactive makeover APP – the answer to our makeup testing prayers. Virtually it’s a …..well just that – a virtual mirror, giving a larger purpose to our front-facing phone cameras.

No more will you have to wait until you get home to test a product and realize the color isn’t quite right for your complexion.

Make-up testing is moving into the future with the popular global beauty brand making history with the introduction of Makeup Genius. The new app uses facial mapping technology to turn the front-facing iPhone and iPad camera into a virtual mirror that allows women to try on products in real-time. ‘Makeup Genius’ scans L’Oreal Paris products or advertisements, matches the color and allows users to try the shade out on themselves. Created in Clark, New Jersey at L’Oreal’s Research & Innovation labs, the makeup testing app also enables users to try complete makeup looks put together by L’Oreal makeup artists and share their looks on Facebook.

Based on technology previously only used in Hollywood and the gaming industry, Makeup Genius allows consumers to scan a L’Oreal Paris product or advertisement to detect a color match, virtually try on individual products or test out curated looks from expert makeup artists, and share with friends and family on Facebook.

‘Makeup Genius’ is already available for free at the iTunes App Store for iPhone and iPad and is expected to launch for Android users in 2015.

L’Oreal Paris is no newcomer to beauty apps. They already have ‘Color Genius,’ an app that matches your makeup to your outfit and ‘Hair Genius,’ that allows users to create a customized hair regimen and get expert tips and tricks.

My only question: as amazing as this is, can we have an APP that lets us test every other brand of makeup products on the market? Because we’re worth it!

Source: Layla A. Jones, Philly.com & theslanted.com

FUN

style – beat the heat with SUMMER chic!

I would love to step off a plane (preferably private) in a dress like this.

These are just a few of my summer fashion favorites. I prefer a free flowing and simple but still stylish look for the next few months.

Ali MacGraw in Goodbye Columbus – the look still fresh in 2014. She’s still beautiful too.

stripes…forever chic!

cool summer dresses with straw hats.

The maxi (in stripes no less).

a nice way to wear a crop top – with floral wide-legged pants.

comfy, casual chicness

kiss – keep it simply stylish!

full skirt with sleeveless blouse

Stylish MEN don’t need very much. Especially if they’re Italian!

Oh…I definitely see a pattern here. The pattern being stripes, florals & jeans. How about you?

the fun jean jacket

FUN

Grill Talk: FISH in the PAN

It’s officially summer!

getting started

You want to keep things easy, breezy but still want to impress your guests? With this non-recipe recipe you can feel like you’re dining in a little village somewhere in France or Italy. I’m talking a delicious “one-pan” dinner using any meaty white fleshed fish. Here’s what you do:

Place the *fish (already sprinkled with salt, pepper and any other spices you want) atop cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced onion, artichoke hearts, pitted Kalamata olives, caper berries, and lemon slices in a pan.

Pour in some white wine and olive oil. Put the pan on grill, cover the grill, and cook just until the juices bubble and the fish is cooked through (roughly ten minutes or so).

Serve it from the pan – with lots of crusty bread to sop up the sauce.

*For the fish I prefer halibut but you can use monkfish or cod. I used sole fillets once & it worked out fine.

Thank me later!

STYLE

Magritte: when ART and FASHION collide

MAGRITTE MOMENT

Two young designers pay homage to the surrealist with a new collaboration at “Opening Ceremony”. Opening Ceremony is one of the fashion world’s holy grails – a cult destination shop on a par with 10 Corso Como in Milan, Colette in Paris and Dover Street Market in London, with branches in LA and Tokyo.

Humberto Leon and Carol Lim had their heads in the clouds for their new collaboration with the Magritte Foundation. The duo’s favorite paintings by the surrealist adorn clothing of their own design, as well as shoes by Vans, Birkenstock, and Manolo Blanik.

“Opening Ceremony is featuring all things Belgium this year, so it was the perfect moment to celebrate the world of René Magritte,” say the designers. “We’re lifelong fans.”

prices below

Opening Ceremony was founded in 2002 by two friends from UC Berkeley, Carol Lim and Humberto Leon, as a place to share their passions for travel, art, and fashion. Inspired by a trip to Hong Kong, the two decided to leave their jobs in corporate fashion to realize their unique dream. What began as a single store on a quiet street in downtown New York is now a global community with outposts in New York, London, and Los Angeles, a department store in Tokyo, a wholesale showroom, an in-house clothing line, a blog, an e-commerce site, a TV channel, and an annual magazine.

Opening Ceremony & Magritte dress, $545; Opening Ceremony & Magritte shirt $375; Opening Ceremony & Magritte & Vans sneakers, $135, openingceremony.us. Source: Harpar’s Bazaar.

Please visit link to previous post – MoMa’s “Magritte: The Mystery of the Ordinary”:

https://intrigueimports.wordpress.com/2013/09/22/seen-surreal-the-mystery-of-the-ordinary/

FUN

Words….shelf life

Ideas have a short shelf life. You must act on them before the expiration date.

You can’t buy happiness but you can buy candy which will make you happy.

FUN

Health MATTERS: Shelf Life – keep or toss?

Do you ever throw food away prematurely? The packaging tells you it’s time to chuck it, but it still seems okay.

Confusion over food dating has led 91 percent of us to throw food away too soon according to a 2013 report from Harvard Law School and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Some foods can stay fresh well past their “expiration” dates. Here, SIX ITEMS YOU SHOULD NOT BE SO QUICK TO TOSS.

Eggs: Pay no attention to the SELL BY date on your carton – it’s meant to help retailers manage turnover and is not a measure of freshness. Eggs should keep for three to five weeks in the refrigerator.

Cereal/Granola: Boxes typically come printed with a BEST BEFORE date, but it’s a conservative estimate set by manufacturers for peak quality. Those Cheerios can stay fresh for up to three months if you refold the inner bag tightly. I make my own granola and it keeps (if I don’t eat it beforehand) placed in a glass container in the fridge for a few months without compromising the quality or taste.

Apples: Store your favorite reds in the fridge (place them in a plastic bag; poke a few holes to allow air to circulate), and they’ll still be good to eat three weeks later.

Deli Meat: you can keep unopened packages of sandwich meat in your fridge for two weeks – even if the SELL BY date has come and gone.

Bread: ignore the BEST by or SELL BY date. Placing your loaf in the fridge can extend freshness by two weeks. I end up freezing mine and taking out what I need which can extend the life for a few months.

Milk/Cream – if you buy it in a glass bottle instead of a carton the life can be extended for at least one more week.

Also, a good way not to waste food is to not buy too much at once….but we already know that.

FUN

Personally….this was an enjoyable day

Car Free Day on Main Street in Vancouver

Double click on photos to enlarge them.

He’s not the only one!

my hairdresser Sophea outside of “Ambiance” salon.

FUN

Beauty biz – Simple. Natural. Effective.

Marilou Bio is a French manufacturer of certified organic and natural cosmetics.

I was given some with Argan oil to try. Sometimes your skin is extra sensitive or needs a break in between using other products. I had these sitting on my shelf for weeks before giving them a try. They have a lovely smell, the packaging is cute and the prices affordable. They soak into the skin very nicely, are neither too rich nor too light so I would recommend them even though they are not easily available here in Canada.

Product Features :

For anyone who thought argan oil was strictly for moisturizing, think again. Its antioxidants help to restore skin that’s seen better days, improving elasticity, firmness and complexion through intense hydration. Known by the Moroccan Berber community as the “Tree of Life“, the Argan tree has supported the people of these arid regions and their livestock for centuries.

Ingredients: Argan oil (rich in fatty acids, vitamin E, squalene, sterols and polyphenols), Shea butter, and Beech extract.

Organic Argan Oil: Contains anti-aging properties; firming and regenerating effects thanks to the moisturizing powers. This product will help provide a more youthful look and more intensely radiant looking skin.

In Canada you can find it at Neolistic Trade: http://www.neolistictrade.com

Based in Magog, Quebec – Neolistic Trade is an ecological and organic certified products importer – distributor & exporting agency with a great reputation for providing premium quality products and exceptional customer service.

Neolistic is devoted to holistic, non-toxic, and natural alternatives to human health.

by now you should be familiar with this product — by now you should be familiar with these luxury hair care products by **Moroccanoil**

FUN

Style – on the Street

Real People (okay a model here & there but can you spot them?) – Real STYLE

FUN

simply satisfying: the FOOD truck

Restaurant on Wheels

Food trucks are becoming increasingly trendy on the streets of Vancouver. This was evident last Sunday (for Father’s Day) when 20 blocks were closed to traffic on Main street for Car Free Day.

Store “FRONT” window

I couldn’t believe the amount of trucks with their ethnic diversity on every block considering how many varieties of restaurants there already are on Main.

What would a street festival be like without Cotton Candy? Soooo cute!

And, like many other cities right now we’re not talking hotdog & philly cheesesteak Okay, maybe a grilled cheese but most of these provide culinary quality and some of their prices match that of going to an actual restaurant. Here are some of my photos of the ROW’s.