FUN – Page 52 – Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION.

Beauty with Benefits – lash serum product review

RapidLash® Enhancing Serum

Last week I sampled the latest mascaras from too-faced. Ones that help to temporarily lengthen and thicken your lashes, but what’s all this hype about lash renewal serums? – the ones that promote your very own lashes to grow gradually over time? Some people claim to see longer lashes in about four weeks, with full growth at 16 weeks. I had to check it out.

By now everyone has heard of that other famous lash product called Latisse. I was curious to try it but decided against it. The reasons are such: 1) my own lashes are adequate enough. 2) Latisse is a prescription drug. 3) The effects of Latisse are not permanent and the drug can cause eye or eyelid discoloration (although it’s very rare) 4) Average Price: $125.00. I have heard that it definitely works.

We do not know exactly how LATISSE^® works; however, we believe it does so by increasing the growth cycle (anagen) phase of your eyelash hair cycle. Anagen is the growth phase of all hair. We believe that it increases the length of the anagen phase and the number of hairs in this growth phase. It’s easy, the treatment you apply yourself each evening to the base of the upper eyelashes.

Then I went to Costco in the U.S. and saw Rapidlash, a very similar product but you don’t need a prescription and the cost was significantly less at $49.95. Definitely worth the splurge – adequate is never enough right? So here’s what I found:

Friday, September the 13^th was exactly 8 weeks since I first started to apply it – at night only. I took before and after photos and it appears that my lashes increased by about 25%. By the end of the first week of November it will be 16 weeks and more than enough time to give a full product review since this product claims that you can see results in as little as four weeks.

This is what the company has to say (not sure about the part that you may never need to wear mascara or eyebrow pencil ever again):

RapidLash® Eyelash & Eyebrow Enhancing Serum

Enhance the appearance of lashes and brows with RapidLash® Eyelash Enhancing Serum. Infused with proteins, vitamins and powerful polypeptides, RapidLash conditions and moisturizes like no other product on the market. Contains Hexatein™ 1 Complex, an exclusive formula unique to RapidLash®. This effective product provides protection against breakage and naturally supports the appearance of healthier and more voluminous looking lashes and brows. You may never need mascara or an eyebrow pencil again! Innovative high-performance formula helps improve the appearance of your lashes and brows. The appearance of seductive looking brows and lashes in 4-6 weeks. Powerful polypeptides provide effective protection against breakage and naturally supports more voluminous looking lashes. Vital proteins and vitamins promote shine and suppleness Hexatein™ 1 Complex: A unique blend of lash enhancing ingredients exclusive to RapidLash® with six benefits specifically designed to target eyelashes from every angle: Polypeptides, comprised of beneficial amino acids, help protect against breakage and support more voluminous-looking lashes, Biotin (Pro-vitamin B7 / Vitamin H / Coenzyme R), an essential factor in maintaining healthier-looking, youthful lashes, Panthenol (Vitamin B5) helps coat the lashes and seal in moisture and nourishment for improved overall appearance, Amino Acids help replenish the building blocks of lashes by boosting the protein structure and resulting in healthier-looking appearance of lashes, Soybean Oil, rich in vitamins, helps impart sheen and luster to lashes making them appear lush and beautiful, Pumpkin Seed Extract, high in zinc, EFAs, amino acids, vitamins and phytosterols, helps balance and enhance more voluminous-looking appearance of lashes.

Average Customer Rating:

4.5 out of 5 (out of 164 reviews)

FUN

Timeless Trends – it’s a PLAID, PLAID World!

Alexander Mcqueen bias cut fit/flare plaid dress. Elle.com — Alexander McQueen bias cut fit/flare plaid dress – elle.com

Call it schoolgirl chic if you want to, but Real Women do wear Plaid.

How can we ever tire of throwing on a plaid shirt over a pair of leggings or jeans as soon as the weather starts to cool. It’s such a cozy staple.

Photo – Garance Doré

An obvious call for weekend wear or casual engagements, although cute skirts, and a bit of pattern on shoes or bags can offer a new chicness that’s hard to ignore.

Stella McCartney Bag

Gryphon pant – elle.com

But is plaid too prim? Hardly. Not with the modern take on tartan cropped jackets and separates. There might be something irresistibly naughty about a tartan

Reem Acra Dress – elle.com

baby-doll dress that skims the body in a quietly seductive way.

There’s nothing old-school about that!

Even the scotty dogs are looking

pretty good now!

Current-Elliott Jeans. Elle.com

boucle jacket – elle.com

Phillip Lim Sweater – elle.com

marc by Marc Jacobs – elle.com

FUN

simply satisfying – slow cooked curried chicken

Love curry? This is a great simplified version that you can prepare a night in advance or the morning of…in a slow cooker. Leftovers are delicious the next day when the spices have more of a chance to settle in.

If you don’t have a slow cooker than put it in the oven at a low temperature (325 F) for several hours.

Ingredients:

2 lbs. boneless (or bone-in), skinless chicken thighs (about 10)

1/3 Cup tomato paste

4 cloves garlic, chopped

1 Tbsp. freshly grated ginger

2 Tbsp. masala curry powder

1 tsp. ground cumin

1 medium onion, chopped

1 1/2 cups long-grain basmati rice

optional: 1/2 cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt

2 scallions, thinly sliced

Chopped fresh cilantro for garnish.

Prepare the chicken: make a dry rub. Mine is a combo of equal parts – everyday seasoning, tumeric, powdered ginger, curry powder, black pepper, himalayan salt & chopped dehydrated onion. Pat chicken on both sides with rub.

In a 4-6 quart slow cooker, whisk together the tomato paste, garlic, curry powder, ginger, cumin and 3/4 cup water or stock (I prefer chicken stock). Add the onion and stir to combine. Place the chicken on top.

Cover and cook until the chicken is tender, on low for 7 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours. Oven at 325F for at least 2 hours in.

Twenty minutes before serving, cook the rice according to package directions.

Just before serving, add the yogurt and stir to combine. Serve with the rice and sprinkle with the scallions and/or cilantro.

Serve with mango chutney, lime pickle, tomato chutney, or ALL. Naan break for dipping is excellent and you can buy it almost anywhere now. Cover in tinfoil & warm in oven beforehand.

I hope you enjoy this

FUN

On the Storefront – Lace Embrace Atelier

One should never rush when putting on a corset Dita von Teese, the queen of burlesque, adores her exclusive creations…. Cathie Jung, the Guinness World Record holder for the smallest waist, flies in to be fitted by her… Little wonder that the Tyra Banks Show recently invited Canadian Melanie Talkington to talk about her meteoric rise as one of fashion’s leading corsetières. I’ve met Melanie on a handful of occasions. From tango, to a corset fashion show put on by a friend and a photography exhibit showcasing local fashion talent. I was mesmerized by her designs and the way the models looked & behaved wearing them.

You only need to wear a Lace Embrace corset once to appreciate the true experience they offer.

Exquisite Corsetry, Superlative Quality, Sophisticated Workmanship

At Lace Embrace, they strive to ensure their corsets are an experience that will thrill you and embody your fantasies with a fit that is uniquely your own.

Each Lace Embrace corset begins with an inspiration from an antique corset. All patterns are verified with a sample product to ensure the correct historical shape is achieved. Upon attaining an authentic shape, a graded pattern is created to your measurements. Extra care is taken to ensure the corset moulds to your figure. All construction and placement of boning corresponds with the original corset. This precise method provides you with a corset made to support and shape your body in the same manner as the original.

Lace Embrace corsets combine the highest skill known to the art of corset making, actively working with historical and modern designs. With over 12 years of training and experience, they thrive on challenging designs of historical beauty and distinction.

BIO: Canadian-based Melanie Talkington’s unique, awe-inspiring corsets are wooing the world.

Vancouver, B.C. – With burlesque successfully crossing from fetish to mainstream and corsets becoming de rigueur, the world has gravitated to Ms. Talkington’s business, Lace Embrace Atelier. Her reputation as a corsetière developed through focusing her education on the art of corset making and reviving the lost art of foundation garments. Ten years later myriad people covet Talkington’s designs – often direct inspirations drawn from her antique corset collection, one of the largest in North America.

“I create reproductions of corsets that can withstand wear and allow people to have fun and feel beautiful,” she explains. “I intend to preserve my antique corset collection to one day open my own museum.” The Vancouver Museum has already featured her corsets for the 2003, unmentionables exhibition, as well as the Delta Museum in 2002.

Melanie is bringing back a lost art – and as women we should embrace that.

http://www.laceembrace.com/

FUN

AWay with Words

on being happy and moving forward

FUN

B well – with natural mood boosters

Little healthful tidbits that go a long way…

Fight of the Superfoods: The Good Seeds

We know we can’t go wrong with eating cancer fighting foods like broccoli, blueberries and flaxseeds. These all-around great-for-you staples will get the thumbs-up from any nutritionist. But when it comes to targeting specific health concerns, like boosing bone health or improving your mood, some superfoods might be a little more super than others. Here are the champs:

Best Mood Booster: Pumpkin Seeds

With Sunflower seeds being a close second. They may have similar calories per ounce – 158 for pumpkin and 164 for sunflower – but pumpkin seeds pack 68 percent more tryptophan, an amino acid that aids in the production of serotonin, a mood-regulating neurotransmitter. Pumpkin seeds also offer more than five times as much magnesium per cup; a recent study found that postgrad students whose diets regularly met or exceeded their RDA for magnesium (320 milligrams for women, or roughly half a cup of pumpkin seeds) were less likely to be depressed than students whose diets contained the least.

Try using them in salads & cereal. I put toasted pepitas (same thing) in my granola.

Best Bone Builder: Chia Seeds

With Flax seeds a close second. There’s no debate that both seeds should be celebrated for their high concentration of heart-healthy omega-3s, but chia seeds happen to be a better source of calcium, with two tablespoons providing up to 16 percent of your RDA – four and a half times the amount in the same quantity of ground flax. And with nearly 150 percent more phosphorus and more than 100 percent more manganese (two minerals that play key roles in bone formulation), chia seeds get the gold medal for helping to build and maintain strong bones.

Not only are they gluten/grain free naturally, but one tablespoon of chia seeds has more calcium than a glass of milk, more Omega-3s than Salmon, and more antioxidants than blueberries. Perfect? Almost… they will get stuck in your teeth if you chew them plain.

They also give you tons of energy but also won’t keep you awake at night. They’re supposed to be great for weight loss because they can absorb many times their size/weight in liquid, they are great for preventing dehydration during exercise or exposure to heat.

Supposedly, the Aztecs, Mayans, and Incans used chia as a staple of their diet and as an energy food. Chia means “strength” in the Mayan language, and they were known as the “Indian Running Food” because runners and warriors would use them for sustenance while running long distances or during battle.

Try a handful in shakes + salads. Mixed with some almond flour and garlic powder, Chia Seeds make an excellent “breading” for fish or chicken.

You can even make your own homemade Chia Pet – but you can find that in someone else’s blog.

Also, **Don’t miss listening to “Transforming Health” with host Brad King for the most evocative and informative up-to-the-minute interviews with leading health professionals – Live every Wednesday @ 12PM-PST/3PM-EST on VoiceAmerica.com – #1 internet radio station in North America.

Here’s the link: http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/1686/transforming-health

FUN

What’s better than SEX? – mascara magic product review

In the beauty cabinet. We’re talking about mascara.

Wow; if the names alone don’t get you then the new crop of lengthening, thickening and now false lash extending mascara will. I’m comparing a product called ‘Better than False Lashes’ to a product called ‘Better than Sex’ – both from “Too Faced” which is a great line. I was curious & wanted to try both so I went into Sephora mascaraless, tried one on my left eyelashes & the other on my right eyelashes. It was the only way to really compare.

One thing I did not do was curl the lashes first which is always better. Also the little brushes they give you for sampling aren’t up to par – but still you get the idea.

First, Better than Sex Mascara is really not Better than real Sex…..

& hopefully you don’t really believe that although it is a very nice thickening mascara. Let me say that L’Oréal Voluminous for about $25 less is almost as nice. But we do tend to get caught up with names (orgasm blush anyone?) It does work though. The sales person (who will go nameless to protect the guilty) was wearing Voluminous while directing me to ‘Better Than’ which should give you a hint.

The winner – Better Than: I’ve never worn false eyelashes or have ever had lash extensions but know many women who have. They look fantastic but I can’t be bothered applying fake lashes that I’ll most likely rub off. The ‘better than false eyelashes’ (but how would I really know) seemed like a good alternative.

The three step program comes in a kit which includes a black mascara that acts as your base and top coat and a small tube full of tiny white nylon (teddy bear like) fibers that stick to your own lashes. First, you apply the base coat which goes on easy like any everyday black mascara. Next, the magic happens. You apply 1-2 coats of the nylon fibers which are also applied like a mascara & they adhere to your lashes making them feel thicker and longer (although they’re white until you apply the top coat). Last, you apply another coat… or two of the black mascara and then you really see longer, thicker lashes. Best part – no glue required!

INSTANT (well, almost) GLAMOUR!

**See next week’s review of rapidlash – eyelash renewal serum.

FUN

style & substance – hold me close, hold me tight

bra by 'blush lingerie' available at http://www.intrigueimports.com — ‘**Sweet Promise**‘ by **blush** lingerie Fall/Winter 2013 available in all sizes (large & small) at http://www.intrigueimports.com

“A good bra is like a good man: he’s gotta be good looking, supportive and he’ll never let you down.”

These are the kind of truths that Rebecca, the owner of La Petite Coquette (located in the heart of Greenwich Village, New York City) can throw at you in an everyday conversation. Re-blogged from Garance Doré.

And the thing is after talking, and mostly, trying bras with her, I kind of realized that in spite of all my efforts, my bra knowledge was very limited. It was time to take a lesson in bra fitting, and to ask her a few of the essential questions…

How do you figure out your size? I don’t believe in tape measures because they are not tried and true, it’s basically a gimmick. The most important thing is to go to your local lingerie store and try on bras. You need to give yourself 20-30 minutes to try on a few different styles. There is no standardization in bra sizing. Each manufacturer makes a different size. A C-cup in an American size is very different from a C-cup in a European size. You have to know how the bras fit.

jesus fernandez – ‘Camille’

What to wear when bra shopping? Wear a simple a t-shirt or tank top. If you’re looking for a t-shirt bra, it should look like you’re not wearing anything at all, it should be smooth, round and high. You don’t need to bring multiple tops. You know when it fits, when it’s comfortable.

How do you know the bra fits? The middle part of the bra should go flat against your sternum and the band should be in the middle of the back. You shouldn’t have spillage coming out. Always have your bra on the first hook, it should fit snug on your back so you’ll have places to go when it stretches out. The straps should not dig into your shoulder and they should fit snug.

How often should you be buying new bras? Bras always wear out but it’s the way you take care of them. If you hand wash and air dry them, they will always last much longer. Most women, I find, wear the same bra every single day. You have to rotate your bras. Don’t wear the same bra twice in a row– you sweat and the sides, back and straps stretch out.

What should you have in your bra wardrobe? Four to five bras for during the week, when you wear your work clothing, when you want your clothes to be smooth and fitting you well. You should have 3 or 4 sexy ones for when you want to go out at night or you are entertaining your man for seduction. Two strapless bras, one black and one nude (when you buy a strapless bra it should fit very, very snug, you can even go one size down sometimes).

jesus fernandez – ‘chica’ mujeres collection.

*Shopping online for a bra or bra/panty set can sometimes be a challenge but plenty of women do. There’s even a ‘panties by post’ website. The trick is that you either know your standard size & place the order or spend a few extra minutes checking out your size from the sizing chart for each manufacturer on the website you’re placing the order from (as each company is different). The difference in shopping for a bra online is that many times you’ll come across something extra special (artisan or vintage details) that you won’t be able to find in a department store or a lingerie boutique because they’re not your standard design.

Best brands for…
Small or Average size Chests: Timpa, Eberjey, Chantelle, jesus fernandez, Simone Perele, blush.
Large Chests: Freya, Chantelle, Simone Perele, Prima Donna, blush.
Petite: Wacoal, Lula Lu Petites, jesus fernandez

jesus fernandez – (made by passionate artisans in Buenos Aires is very special). Available in North America online at – http://www.IntrigueImports.com

Have a peek at the lingerie boards for blush & jesus fernandez on Intrigue Imports at: http://pinterest.com/intrigueimports/

FUN

simply satisfying – seared Ahi Tuna with sliced Avocado Salad

Love Sushi? Love Salad? The combination of both makes for a very tasty dish – even for a light main course for four, or a starter for six. Make sure to get fresh sushi grade Ahi Tuna.Ahi Tuna – 1 lb.

Two Haas Avocados

A mix of baby lettuces (I used arugula, swiss chard, kale & spinach)

Campari tomatoes (if you can find sweet brown tomatoes, use them)

Green Onion, chopped

Toasted sesame seeds

Sliced ginger in the jar (like they serve at all Japanese restaurants but you can buy at many supermarkets now)

Sweet sesame seaweed topping – optional

Wasabi Mayonnaise (buy it or better still, make it yourself by mixing equal amounts of wasabi + mayo)

Mix some wasabi (to taste) in a small bowl with a bit of lemon juice, reduced sodium soy sauce, sesame chilli oil & a bit of fresh grated ginger (I also put a bit of sake but this is optional). Pat on both sides of tuna. Set aside.

Slice Avocados. Mix up the salad ingredients & make a dressing (your choice as long as it’s light). Mine was canola oil, tahini (made from sesame seeds), apple cider vinegar, light soy sauce, lemon juice, garlic, sea salt, chilli flakes.

You can choose to grill tuna on a barbeque, do it over a very hot stovetop or use a George Foreman grill (spray oil on both sides so it doesn’t stick). For stovetop, make sure to oil your pan with a bit of sesame oil & then sear the tuna on all sides (turning over once). It should be rare in the middle. Then cut it into ¼ in slices.

Arrange each plate with salad in the middle & surround the plate with a slice of avocado, then tuna & a piece of ginger. Sprinkle top of salad with the crunchy seaweed topping.

Drizzle wasabi mayo over tuna slices & serve.

As a side: try smoky sea salted corn on the cob. You can buy the smoked sea salt (very good on buttered corn or steak) at any specialty store.

FUN

Seen in the city – busting out a SEXY new opera!

Just another reason why I LOVE NEW YORK! Can you Guess another?

Anna Nicole Smith secured a contract to replace supermodel Claudia Schiffer in 1993 as the face of Guess. I loved those ads & Guess jeans were super popular. Everyone wanted a pair.

In her brief life, Playboy Playmate Anna Nicole Smith was better known for her physical (double D) and financial (billionaire by marriage) assets than for her acting accomplishments (Naked Gun 33 ½ ). Although the struggles with her weight and substance abuse overshadowed the last years of her life, this image from Smith’s Guess campaign ( I remember them well) will remind you of how beautiful she was. But in 2011, four years after Smith’s death at 39, the composer Mark-Anthony Turnage and the librettist Richard Thomas (Jerry Springer, The Opera) gave the prima donna a stage. ~~I can’t believe I missed that SOAP opera!~~

Their new opera, Anna Nicole, arrives at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) on September 17 (through September 28), following a sold-out run at London’s Royal Opera House. “There was never a train crash between the institution and the subject,” says director Richard Jones, of the production’s Opera House origin. For BAM, Jones swapped the British cast for an American one, starring Sarah Joy Miller as the titular lead. Characteristics as varied as the oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall II (Smith’s late husband, 63 years her senior) and a troupe of sad flat-chested women sprinkle the saucy two-hour work.

Smith’s opening line: “I WANT TO BLOW YOU ALL, BLOW YOU ALL……a kiss!”

Although the outsize mix of boobs and bel canto is said to be wildly funny, when a menacing chorus of cameras closes in on our troubled heroine, the hilarity ends.

But the story might not be over just yet – according to some reports, Smith’s estate is considering legal action against the producers, calling the show ‘sleazy’ and complaining that the family were not consulted. Photo Reuters.

Sadly; I guess you can say that Anna Nicole did end up blowing it!

Taken from W Magazine –
Marnie Hanel