SUPER SIZE ME! Starbucks Trenta Coffee-Good Idea?

 

It's about that time for something to discuss in the girl forum and today it's not about a beauty product or fashion item but more of a health issue. Starbucks Trenta is here! 31 ounces of pure java bliss! Now as a coffee addict this news actually made me giddy but not everyone agrees with the Starbucks brand for the excessive serving amount being sold as a heath risk. The criticism is that the size is larger than the capacity of the human stomach. Understandably this makes sense as reason for concern but personally they don't know the capacity of caffeine my body can handle. All jokes aside, I think I can run on caffeine, sugar and air alone some days...not really healthy. I know... Whether you are a coffee drinker or not it's always good to be cautious of what you ingest. And I'm not so much opposed to this as other fast food munchies and believe it or not fast food isn't even on my radar. I can't even remember the last time I bought actual junky food as a meal, thank goodness for my culinary skills as I prefer to prepare my own food fresh & from scratch. Now if I could only stop with the caffeine... Full article on consumer and media criticism can be found here. Written for Yahoo news by Vanessa Evans. Any thoughts or feelings on this or other excessively portioned unhealthy food products sold? Feel free to read the article then discuss your opinions on this subject just remember no foul language is allowed. Stay beautiful! Stay healthy! XOXO

Full Article From Yahoo News Here

Foundation Application:To Brush Or Not To Brush?

It's about that time for another girl talk forum post and today's' topic, liquid foundation application. There really is no right or wrong way but merely a question of personal preference because some of the top make up artists in the industry all have their own unique take on how foundation is applied. I'm going to add some comment on what various artists had to say on how they prefer to apply foundation to models and clients. I'll  first start with the top guru make up artist extraordinaire which is non other than Pat McGrath. Pat McGrath has worked with top fashion and beauty houses and was behind Dolce & Gabbana's line, Giorgio Armani's high end cosmetics, adviser for CoverGirl cosmetics and so forth. If your a beauty and fashion addict then you already know who she is. I was actually surprised to  read how she likes to apply foundation when reading an article years ago. I figured all the top runway artists love their brush. Not... McGrath uses her fingers resulting in the most flawless face application. She feels the natural oils in your fingers help smooth and distribute the foundation more easily while blending with more precision. She's not against using a brush either though sometimes in conjunction such as using the brush for a base product application and then fingers for the foundation itself. I'm with her on this one. I find foundation brushes whether their expensive or not are better suited to more perfect skin without any imperfections. I guess it just takes more practice with a brush and I find my fingers work faster. First I apply little dots of liquid foundation all around my face then blend it all in and finish off the spots with a make up sponge for those little spots by patting the sponge lightly over the area. After that I like to set with powder brushes. I haven't given up hope on getting a professional looking application with my foundation brush though. On the other hand, make up artist Ken Boylen would be lost without his brushes swearing he could never achieve a flawless look with his fingers. Celebrity make up artist Ashunta Sheriff believes a foundation brush helps the product go on more smoothly and covers up imperfections without looking caked. She feels using your fingers can cause irritations and that your brush should also be made of synthetic fibers such as nylon for a better finish. For liquid foundation Sheriff suggests using a brush such as Dermablend Foundation Brush #7 for powder foundation she suggests using M.A.C. #134. Make up artist Scott Barnes has a useful tip on how to properly use a foundation brush when applying a liquid make up below:

How To Apply Liquid Foundation With A Brush

Pour a quarter size amount of foundation onto the back of your hand or into a small clean bowl. Then dip the brush into the product just enough to cover the bristles because you don't want to drown them. Then smooth it onto your skin with smooth even strokes. Begin on one side of your face underneath your jawline and work your way up to your cheekbones. Then continue to just below your brows and across your forehead. Repeat on the other side of your face and be sure to blend, blend, blend! Look in the mirror after the first layer is applied and decide if you need to add some more coverage.

So what I'm curious to know is what you preference in liquid application is. How do you apply your foundation and why? Is it because your not handy with a brush or find a sponge or your fingers cover up spots better? Would you be willing to give up your usual technique to try out a different method? I will be looking forward to reading everyone's opinions. As for me I will definitely be trying Scott Barnes trick above to see if I can get a flawless look done right. Stay beautiful! XOXO

Jeggings For All?

click to view video

 

Jeggings (leggings with a jean look) are supposedly hot right now but in my opinion they are wastebasket worthy. I liken these to the two color sided denims from back in the eighties and that look didn't span the test of time either. Don't get me wrong I  l o v e  my leggings and live for a nice pair of jeans but if you want to wear jeans then wear jeans,  if you want leggings wear leggings, these just look thrifty. Even with a $15 price point which is economical they probably wont survive several washings that is why it makes more sense to invest in better quality leggings in a deep denim shade instead.Designer brands like Paige Premium sells a pair of jeggings for $130 which is pictured above in the Verdugo style, it's a ridiculous price for stretch denim material when you can purchase a trendy good quality brand pair of jeans instead.Rosanna Scotto made a great point when she stated they should have an age limit on them. However if your older, with slim tall legs, why not... She made another great point when she asked if everybody type can wear these and she got a yes response. Oh really? Then why were the models wearing jeggings on the show not mixed body types and age groups because all I saw were young thin girls. And I'm not even going to comment on the styling of these outfits...  How some people become fashion advisers and stylists is beyond me... Rosanna would so totally prove her wrong in her jegging off challenge. So can anyone really wear this look? Let's put it this way, if your young & beautiful you can get away with wearing a garbage bag tossed over you running through the streets barefoot like a crazy and still look good. The average woman not so much. Everyone has the right to wear what ever makes them happy regardless of body type or age but in all honesty don't you think those women will get more heads turning for the wrong reason while attracting the wrong kind of attention? I'm posing these questions not to insult anyone but to get a general sense of what you think about jeggings in that regard. Your opinions are greatly appreciated just remember not to post anything hateful and I look forward to reading your comments. Discuss away... Stay beautiful! XOXO 

Edited for an update: Rinz awarded my second blog award. Thanks! When I get a chance Im going to add a little section for awards in the blogs sidebar.In the meantime visit Rinz's awesome blog Live Life Laugh. 

Venus Loves Virgo 2nd Blog Award 

Click here to view video at My Fox Five

Color Tights & Shoe ComboTrend-Hit or Miss?

So I just got my November issue of Lucky magazine and they had a fun little trend alert on colorful tights and shoes combination ripped straight off the runway with ideas on how to get the look for less and thought it would make for a great post in this blogs girl talk forum as Ive neglected adding topics in that section lately.  I've never been big on really bright tights paired with different color shoes because sheer black or nude hosiery with matching shoes are my go to essentials. The combination that hurts my eyes the most is that mod look of white tights and black shoes or black shoes and white tights. It's a peeve on my visual sensibilities. Now I have lots of fun tights in plaids and prints but I prefer to wear them with high boots or under shorts. While this look is beautifully inspiring on model legs stomping the cat walk it really doesn't work for everyone. I see women on the streets who are short wearing hot pink tights and green shoes or something like that with over sized skirts and I'm sorry fashionable or not it doesn't look right. In some cases I find this combination really nice such as tights and shoes which aren't the same shade but rather tonal. Perhaps cream shoes and white tights or something to that effect. Although I have to say I'm loving the red tights with red shoes in the photos above as well as the mustard tights and Chloe black wooden platform shoes. The pink tights and the green shoes-ummm not so much. Now if your in your teens or have six feet legs you probably could pull any look off regardless but for those who are not do you guys find this combo do-able? Or am I the only one who finds this look iffy? I seriously would like to know everyone's opinions on this as I have always seen this look on the streets for years coming and going on the trend board periodically and wondering why? So Yay or Nay on this trend and why?  Discuss ladies...  XOXO

Style Resolution:Fall-Winter 2010

Open toe booties-fur vest-animal print-new hair-red lips and focus on skin top my list

Ah! the last day of August.With September & cool weather right around the corner it's the perfect time to start thinking about all your fall/winter fashions & accessories.Squeeeeeee! Can you tell I'm happy that summer weather is going buh bye! There's nothing like the month of September when you feel a twinge of change approaching in the air.September signals that perfect transition from warm sunny days into cool gray sky's alerting you to prepare to snuggle into the most fabulous woolly sweater you can find.Those quiet lazy summer days are pushed aside by the mad buzzing rush of women stampeding  the malls & outlet centers looking for that perfect outfit to show off on that first new day back to the office.That gleeful back to school feeling isn't just for the kiddies & although we may not have glue sticks and notebooks topping our to buy list we still need to prepare for the dark winter months ahead by having a stylish game plan layed out.I don't know about anyone else but this time of the year has gotten me excited thinking about boots! All kinds of boots-my black platform boots,my white furry Sasquatch Eskimo boots,my multi-colored moon boots,my snow boots,my knee high boots,my riding boots,my seventies boots,my motorcycle boots,et cetera  et cetera et cetera... I LOVE BOOTS! I know it's a disease but I can't afford  to pay for much needed therapy. There's just something about throwing on a pair of boots & a hot looking jacket while walking outside on the coldest North Eastern windy day-it's invigorating & just makes me feel alive even if I do catch the occasional sniffles.Ever since I could remember all the little kiddies were always bundled up like abominable snow beasts in the schoolyard while I was always unzipped without a scarf or a muffler.I must have either been a picture of total cool rebellion or that weird looking girl who's parents can't afford to bundle her up to everyone who caught sight of me.I prefer to think the former not the latter of that statement because although my mother dressed me in her seventies reject clothing {which I totally find cool now} she did buy me coats-scarves and gloves.But she failed in her feeble attempt to get me to wear them muh ha ha! I just had no use for those fugly over stifling entrapment's.Being bundled gives me a feeling of claustrophobia and suffocation. So there... And if your wondering-yes this unusual trait has carried into my adult years and dare I say that I think people who bundle up afraid of the elements look ------- fill in  the blanks. So double there... Now that I shared that absolutely totally useless personal fact that I must have been reincarnated from a past life as an Eskimo I'll get to the point of this post.This is that time of year when we think about our new resolutions for the upcoming year-it's like the precursor to our New Year's Resolution and I was in the midst of thinking what new style changes do I want to make? So why not make this post as an open discussion and share my resolutions with everyone asking you lovely bloggers & non bloggers alike to share your own style changes your thinking of making in terms of fashion or beauty. As for me-I'm going to try to make a few  purchases of items which I'm not really too fond of only because it's about trying new things.Sometimes when we get fixed with what we think we like we corner ourselves into a box and so this year I want out of that "I don't like this" box. One of those items for me has been booties-open toe booties to be exact.Since I saw them last year on every one's feet from magazines,to movies to the streets-they really have unnerved me.Some of those styles were down right hideous looking even if they were concocted out of the minds of the most brilliant of fashion designers.Plus doesn't it  defy the point of wearing boots if your toes are going to pop out. Hello? Anyhow,I'm going to put my open toe foot issues aside and just go for it.Of course I'm going to have to find a decent fabulous pair of booties that doesn't look stolen from a 1940's closet. Another item that I want to try is a fur vest which is trending like crazy and I have to admit they look really hot in the fashion editorials but the last time I purchased a fur vest was during that Clueless movie phenomenon when every girl was wearing pink satin and fur which is exactly the type of vest I had & I'm embarrassed to say it came with a matching pink satin skirt.Hey I think I may still have that set somewhere. Don't judge me... Another problem with the vest for me is that well-I dislike vests.I know I know-there oooh sooo fashionable and magazine editors always include the vest on some list as an item to have but regardless they come across as somewhat unfeminine.But since they have really cool updated fur vests out in stores I might get one.And no not in pink-probably in a nice dark mixed gray or multicolor brown & most definitely not real fur because that's so not cool.As far as beauty resolutions go I'm going to try to purchase less cosmetics {yeah good luck to me with that} and focus more on skin products.I want to get my skin as close to flawlessly perfect as possible.It's not that my skin is bad now but I would like to totally erase slight discolorations and make my pores shrink into non-existence like those perky little models on covers of magazines-even if their skin is only as flawless as the airbrushing that's performed on them.It's also time for me to do something new with my hair.Last year I went completely drastic and chopped off my buttock length hair because I wanted a Katie Holmes bob cut but it didn't work out so great for me because my hair wouldn't curl for some reason at that short length making me feel weird with straight hair as my hair is naturally curly.I also had no idea it would grow so fast because it's  half way down my back again. It worked better on Katie Holmes.Although I should be happy it grew back so fast though because now I just need to figure out what to do with it-perhaps a new color? I'm always at a loss when it comes to my hair.A couple of more changes I would like to make is purchase something new in animal prints.I have a few animal print items in my closet but I stopped wearing animal prints a long time ago & since I'm seeing it everywhere I figure it would be a great time to try something fresh with that look.And lastly-drum roll-red lipstick.My obsession with nude lips have taken over my life and I can't remember the last time I purchased or wore red lipstick.So that's all I can think of  resolving to change or updating for Fall/Winter 2010. I'm including a little collage I made of what I would like to change or add to my style for Fall/Winter 2010. Now then-what's everyone else thinking of in respect to new changes? Please feel free to post your thoughts to your new fall fashion-beauty finds. BTW...I'm adding a shot I snapped with my digi of my new Harper's Bazaar August issue with C. Diaz on the cover I just got because it's awesome.I also took a snap from the inside pages showing the fall must buy fur vest craze which is part of my style resolution,even though my fake will be faux and a whole lot thriftier than any of the vests featured in the mag.You can also see some animal print items thrown in there as well. Stay beautiful. XOXO

Cameron in a $6300 Gold-tastic Versace Gown-iiiiiiight!

furs & felines for fall 2010

Bad Romance Or Just Bad Eyes

She's got Bette Davis eyes

So I had this idea to like maybe start a discussion page where instead of doing just reviews people could post their own opinions about topics of interest related to the fashion and beauty world as well as whatever interesting topic I might share on this blog. I only ask that you not use any foul language or any religious remarks.We'll see how this idea takes hold and grows but in the meantime here is my first post in what I now call my Girl Talk Forum which involves Lady Gaga with dangerous contact lens as a beauty trend.In the future I will be adding new discussions and tagging them as single posts but I have added a display image in my side bar so you can just click on the "talk" image to find each new discussion more easily.I can't wait to read everyone's opinions on different matters so let's get started.I'm sure you guys have all heard about this since it's all over the web but if you haven't then let me tell you what madness loopy Lady Gaga is stirring up this time. Apparently her video for "Bad Romance" features Lady Gaga wearing cartoonish Bambi-esque contact lens that are all the rage in Japan in the world of anime but the controversy is the health risk it may impose on your eyesight. Doctors warn there is a danger to serious eye damage as well as possible blindness not to mention it is very illegal to purchase or sell cosmetic contact lens without a valid prescription. While I'm the first person to be open for daring looks I actually am going the opposite way with this trend because well I'm touchy to an extreme about my eyes and um! let's see I enjoy the sight God had graced me with. What do you guys think? Should Lady Gaga think about things like this before she promotes it as part of her image because no matter what you feel about her she is extremely influential right now. Women started naming their babies after her which for me is tacky but okay whatever floats your Gaga boat.Celebrity obsession has gotten way out of hand people.Celeb adoration is natural but do you guys think we cross a line when we follow the strange and the eccentric artists down the rabbit hole while handing over control of our emotions when it will never ever be reciprocated in like? No one really benefits from celebrity adulation but the celebrity,right? I mean I was a super duper Madonna fan since I fell off of my bed that first moment her "Borderline" video popped up on Video Beat Box 33 in New York but I wouldn't want to harm myself over her or wouldn't want any daughter of mine to do the same over a celeb trend.Or maybe you guys are thinking just shuuut up Maria, they are just contact lens! Well either way I'm sure glad I have my own natural googly eyes... Opinions anyone?