Sunday, January 31, 2010
Beyoncé Heat: Catch the Fever
If you're in NYC's Union Square on Tuesday night, and start to think you're in a scene out of True Blood, don't be alarmed. The fiery red lights and creeping fog are to promote Beyoncé's perfume, Heat. The illumination is billed as "a steamy, sexy aura that embodies Beyoncé’s unique appeal."
Catch the lady herself at Macy's Herald Square at 5 pm on Wednesday, February 3. Be one of the first to purchase her 3-piece fragrance scent and you'll get to take a photo with Beyoncé!
Beyoncé Heat is a combo of red vanilla orchid, magnolia, neroli and blush peach, honeysuckle nectar, almond macaroon and creme de musk with base notes of giant sequoia milkwood, tonka bean and amber. Can't wait to catch a sniff!
Ski Vacation Day 7: Whistler
Anyone have plans on going to the Games? We'd love to hear about your experience!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Fela! Review
I went in to Fela! with high expectations. When I mentioned on my Facebook status update and on twitter that I was headed to the show, numerous people responded enthusiastically that they loved it, had told friends about it, that it was AMAZING. I've also heard Fela! is popular with celebs--Jay-Z and Jada Pinkett and Will Smith are all producers. One Facebook friend said she saw Gayle King, Alan Rickman and Spike Lee in the audience. We spotted Denzel Washington one row behind us.
Fela! is more of a interactive, multimedia experience than a traditional Broadway musical. The entire theater is set to look like a club with lights strewn all about and patrons are encouraged to take cocktails to their seats. The actors dance through the aisles and part of the stage extends into the seats (We were lucky enough to be seated right next to this catwalk.). There's a portrait that moves (think Harry Potter) and film clips and subtitles are shown throughout the show; at times it was hard to know where to focus my attention with so much going on.
The dancing and athleticism is BEYOND. It's truly a delight to watch Fela's "queens" who represent his 27(!) wives shake their booties and shimmy their hips. Each woman has her own body type (athletic and short, tall and skinny) and it's a pleasure to watch them move. The guys are just as sexy, with six packs to spare and one gent shows off impressive lung power by singing while hanging upside down from a ladder. My hubby and I both felt inspired to get our butts to the gym--guess that's why Crunch gym created the Fela! class.
The music, the majority of which is Fela's own, is impossible to sit still to. In fact, Fela gives a dance lesson to the audience and you're also invited to sing a long at parts. While I enjoyed this, I couldn't help but wonder how this went over on the older members of the audience.
My big gripe with Fela is that the story barely scrapes the surface. Fela Kuti was a Nigerian musical revolutionary. (I don't want to even get into telling his story because I'm sure I won't do it justice. Read the New York Time's recap of his life.) For example, when Fela asks a group of several women to marry him, they initially scoff, then form a huddle, then say yes after taking less time than Drew Brees to call a play. The time line was hard to follow with flashbacks and dream sequences. I know I wasn't the only one to feel this way; a woman behind me asked after the end of Act I why there was no curtain call. The play has two acts.
In the end, I guess the spirit of Fela is more important than the details and this show has personality, energy and passion in spades.
Ski Vacation Day 6: Jackson Hole, Wyoming
The Amangani resort (above) may be the finest. The secluded resort offers gorgeous furnishings, views, a restaurant, a heated pool and hot tubs, and a spa. The Amangani will transport you to Teton Village and their Amangani ski lounge, which is your launch pad for a great day of skiing at Jackson Hole.
This guest room has floor to ceiling windows and amazing views of the Tetons:
Our other pick is the Four Seasons Jackson Hole (below). Not only do you get the quality you expect at a Four Seasons, you get possibly the best location in Jackson Hole with ski-in/ski-out access.
Here's a spacious guest room, including a sitting room and a gas-burning fireplace:
There are some great deals on airfare to Jackson Hole. Right now, buy three tickets and get the fourth flight free. Wait until March and the deal is even better: buy two plane tickets and get two free!
feminine zodiac | Tattoo Girls
Don’t be a freebie seeker.
Chuan showed me the error of my ways so to speak, and made me realize that “free” and “unique” do not go hand in hand. Spending a tad amount of cash can really go a long way in helping you secure a design that will be a part of your body for the rest of your life. You wouldn’t want to fork out your hard-earned bucks for a laser surgery or cover-ups, right? Of course not! You’re better off spending the extra dough on a large pizza (sorry, can’t resist the pun) with all the trimmings to celebrate the end of your search for unique Libra tattoos.
tatoto removal | tattoo johnny
Medical technology has definitely advanced in recent years, because before, people who got a tattoos only had the option of tattooing over it or covering it if they did not like it. Now, there are two main methods of tattoo removal, the first using a chemical solution known as TCA, and the second involving lasers.
TCA is a solution that is clear, and it actually resembles water. The solution itself is gently, with a q tip, applied to the tattooed area by the person wishing to get rid of their tattoo. What this solution does is permeate the upper layers of the skin, and slowly break apart the skin molecules that have bonded to the ink. This process needs to be done once every six weeks or so in order to prevent scarring.
Another option is to choose a form of tattoo removal that involves lasers. This is, perhaps, the more prevalent removal method, generally because it is considered to be the safest method of removal. In such a procedure, which is done in an outpatient setting by a dermatologist, the heat of the laser destroys the molecules that have bonded to the ink. At the same time, the laser light stimulates more blood flow in the area, which in turn helps to build more new, clear skin tissue.
It is important to note that the laser method will also need to be spaced out over a period of several weeks to several months in order to prevent scarring. Perhaps the more commonly asked question by those people who are looking to get rid of their body art is in reference to how long it will actually take. This answer varies in accordance with the kind of tattoo that was gotten, as well as the age of the tattoo.
sexy lower back tattoo | Tattoo Girls
Friday, January 29, 2010
A Dash of Emo Pink
You can mix pink up with blue to create blue, pink and purple tones on platinum blonde hair.
Combine soft pink with black hair for a gorgeous emo hairstyle
Place pink coontails on bleached hair.
Add bright pink hair color to your emo hairstyle.
Web Snob Links - January 29, 2010
Allie is Wired has pics from The Runaways premiere at Sundance.
Bag Bliss: Sandra Bullock teams up with Coach for Charity!
Coquette loves the new Coach Poppy jewelry line by Gossip Girl's Michelle Trachtenberg.
Tot Snob has the Fort Making Kit that is sure to be a hit in your house!
Fashion Pulse Daily checks out the fabulous fashion that was seen in NYC when Lady Gaga mania took over the city last week
Trend Alert! Laced Up Boots. I'm Not Obsessed gives you a few options to shop for.
Did Anne get a boob job last week? Find out on The Jet Set Girls.
Second City Style knows the first question asked of a celebrity at an awards show is "Who are you wearing?" in The Red Carpet: Being Your Own Sartorialist.
SheFinds rounded up the chicest all-weather winter boots--and we tracked down the pair Fergie wore to Sundance.
Shopping and Info wants the Stuart Weitzman black boots Kim Kardashian wore recently in New York City.
StyleBakery found some sweet Valentine's Day Gifts under $25
Stylehive is saying "Meow!" in response to Alexander Wang's cat eye sunglasses!
Couture Snob's belt obsession adds another one to your wardrobe.
The Beauty Stop falls for the Korres Golden Goddess Collection.
Confused about Couture? The Fashion Bomb offers a review of the season's top shows plus tips on what fashion and beauty trends you can take away.
The Shoe Goddess is in love with Valentino's whimsical interpretation of the lace trend!
eye4style knows Victoria's Secret, but she's not keeping it. Check out her hands-on review of the Miraculous Bra.
FabSugar's Grammy Iconic Style slideshow!
Beauty Snob has the answer to disappearing/melting eye shadow!
Wood jewelry - an organic and and beautiful element to add to your collection at Jewel Snob
Tarina Tarantino's Jet Set Playlist
Come On Lets Go--Broadcast
Green Light--Cicada
Jet Society--Cordera Orchestra
Miracle (Bogdan Irkuk Remix)--Sally Shapiro
Pollution of the mind--Miss Kitten
Universal Traveler--Air
Run--Air
Silently--Blonde Redhead
The Operation--Charlotte Gainsbourg
Zap Zap--Cut Copy
Veridis Quo--Daft Punk
Walking Away--The Egg
AF607105--Charlotte Gainsbourg
The Sicilian Clan--Ennio Morricone
Pilots--Goldfrapp
Peppermint Dream--J.D King
Le Mepris "Camille"-- Georges Delerue
Sleep--The Dandy Warhols
After all this Time- -John Foxx & Harold Budd
Star tatoos | TATTOO GIRLS
Most who decide to look into the psychology of those with tattoos seem to associate them as criminals and study them like they are common rats in the cage. Contrary to this opinion that many experts have, those who have tattoos aren’t in any type of cage. Instead, they are out there expressing their freedom. Whether they are going by what they believe, showing that they belong to a certain group or clan, or paying homage to the dearly departed – there are always meanings behind tattoos.
The psychologist who studies those with tattoos will normally try to get into their frame of mind, which is hard to do. For hundreds of years tattoos have always been a question from a psychological standpoint, with most people associating tattoos in the past with criminals. Even though criminals may have tattoos, there are just as many if not more people out there who are some of the friendliest people in the world who have them as well.
To look at tattoos from a psychological standpoint can sometimes be hypocritical. Although those who don’t have tattoos will try and figure out why someone would want them, it can still be considered a psychological point of view. Those who have tattoos had a reason for getting them, or they wouldn’t have got them in the first place.
No matter where you look these days it’s a common thing to see someone with at least one tattoo. This doesn’t mean that society is dwindling in any way, nor does it mean that mankind is becoming a bunch of clones following after one leader. Tattoos have built there own reputation over the years, gaining in popularity. Over the years more and more people have decided to get them – which only goes to show the phenomenon that is tattoos.
When you decide to look at the psychology of tattoos, you must first understand some of the meanings. A tattoo can tell you a lot about the individual and his past. Although some tattoos may be a bit frightening, that individual may have got the tattoos in his past and turn out to be nothing like that now. Like others out there – the tattoos that were obtained in the past may be left as a reminder for the future.
Star tatoos | TATTOO GIRLS
TATTOO GIRLS | tattoo sterne on forearm
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Review: Clinique High Lengths Mascara
A mascara is more than its wand, of course. We're happy to report the High Lengths Mascara lived up to its name. The tines of the comb really allow you to coat each individual lash. It was slightly more challenging to use the wand on our left eye (we're right handed), but we think we'll get the hang of it pretty quickly. That's Annie wearing it below.
Available at Clinique.
This review was based on a free sample.
Top Beauty Trends At The SAG Awards
TATTOO EXPO | Polynesian tattoo expo
If you go through the foto tatuaggi Maori you will learn many things about the wearer as to the tribe of which he is a member, the religion he or she follows and the position and standing he or she enjoys within their tribe. If you are interested in going for a tatuaggi tribali make sure that you choose one which does not have the distinctiveness of the Maori tribe and which has a meaning to the Maoris.
The prevailing tatuaggi tribali communicates individualism, grace and sophistication and are found to be pretty well-liked by all tattoo fans. A quick look at the foto tatuaggi Maori will tell you that they denote high regard, bravery and surrender as in the olden days getting a tattoo or tatuaggi was a very long and agonizing procedure. The tatuaggi Maori are very beautiful and imaginative and come shaped like a whirl or curve. Some of them are combined with Celtic tattoos to arrive at even better new patterns.
The tatuaggi Maori lines are known to be the major foundation of tribal arts all over the world as they have their own distinctiveness in the Polynesian arts. Rather than on the face, the tatuaggi tribali look very attractive on the shoulder. If you take a look at the tatuaggi Maori you will see that most of the tattoos are large or medium sized and are available in different shapes and colors or simply black and white depending on the taste of each lover of body art. Once you get your tattoos done, it is very expensive to reverse the process and also extremely painful, so make sure that you select the right tatuaggi tribali so you can be happy with it for life.
Before you visit a tattoos parlor, make sure you have seen enough foto tatuaggi Maori to help you make the perfect decision. This will avoid you having to make up your mind at the very last minute and save you from making some rash and hasty decisions. The internet too has quite a few websites where you can browse through the immagini tatuaggi tribali and select the perfect one for you.
TATTOO EXPO | Tattoo Girls
Bird tattoos are also very popular due to their connection with religion as well as the mystical. Birds can be found in every era of history; stick figurines of birds have been discovered in the ancient Egyptian tombs in the pyramids, bedecking Arapaho Ghost Dance costumes, at African traditional rituals and weddings across all religions. Christian portrayals of cherubs and angels show them having wings, which are synonymous with birds. In almost all instances, birds are symbols of all the positive things in life, which is why many people tend to go for bird tattoo designs, especially for their first tattoos.
A bird tattoo design will consist of a pair of birds, depicted together. They tend to be opposites in characteristics; fair to dark, black to white, big to small. This merely shows the dual nature of the universe; where sadness exists, so does happiness. Where night exists, so does day. In other cases, good and evil are also portrayed by birds, for example, when we have a bird tattoo design of a bird fighting a serpent.
TATTOO EXPO | Tattoo Girls
TATTOO EXPO | Tattoo Girls
Decidedly, there are some implications to birds that are not completely normal. In China, the bird is called the niao, which also means penis, thereby bringing in sexual overtones into bird tattoos. Also, the double meaning of a cock as either a rooster or a penis dates back to eras past in the Rome of old. Some portrayals of birds are quite negative in impact. In Germany, to be insane can be put politely as to 'have a bird'! 'Bird-brain' is also one of the most famous insults in the Western World, although most people do not associate these negative impressions with bird tattoos designs.
TATTOO EXPO | Tattoo Girls
You can get plenty of bird tattoo designs on the internet. In the animal kingdom, bird tattoo designs are only a small part of the entire spectrum. To see other types of animal tattoos, do visit our pages on animal tattoos, insect and reptile tattoos, and sea world tattoos!
TATTOO EXPO | Tattoo Girls
Ski Vacation Day 4: Lake Tahoe
When we lived in San Francisco, we drove up to Tahoe often. We were fortunate to have family that graciously let us use their townhouse at Northstar when it wasn't rented. While we skied at all the resorts around Lake Tahoe over the years, we spent the bulk of our time at Northstar and it's the place we return to when we have the chance.
We love Tahoe mostly because of the warm weather. They get tons of snow; but the sun shines almost everyday regardless. It's not unheard of to see guys skiing shirtless or girls in shorts. Of course the downside of skiing in warm weather is the mash potatoes which will slow you down at the base or make traversing a catwalk painful.
When we go back, we'll stay at the Ritz-Carlton Highlands (pictured above) which opened this season at Northstar. It has ski in/ski out access, a 17,000 sq. ft. spa, a gourmet restaurant, and (our favorite) the club level with five food services daily.
We'll fly into Oakland where you can usually get the best flights, and spend a day or so in San Francisco and Sonoma before heading up to ski. Want to join us?
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
TATTOO GIRLS | safety tattoos from HIV
TATTOO GIRLS | safety tattoos from HIV
Just like other activities, tattooing can be very dangerous. Although tattooing is indeed dangerous, there are ways that you can minimize or eliminate the potential dangers. Each and everyday, tattoo artists have to adhere to a strict code of safety to ensure that the risk of contracting HIV or any other diseases is little to none.
Professional tattoo artists will sterilize their equipment after each use. They use steam pressure autoclave when disinfecting their tattoo guns and needles. Bleach and alcohol don’t sterilize the equipment; they are instead used to prep the equipment. Once the bleach and alcohol have been used on the instruments, they will then be autoclaved, which will sterilize them.
When the tattoo artist does the tattoo, he should always wear rubber gloves that can easily be disposed of. The ointment spreaders and any type of rags that are used should also be disposable. When you walk into the tattoo studio, the floors should be spotless. In the rooms where the tattoos are done, the working area should always be clean and sanitary.
Before the tattooist starts the tattoo, he should always give each customer a brand new set of fresh needles. Then, he should always dip the needle in a small cap of pigment that he just took out of a large squeezable bottle. If the artist dips the needle into the big bottle, you may very well be sharing fluids with those who have had tattoos from that same big bottle.
Whenever you decide to get a tattoo you should always put safety first. Safety is very important with tattoos, as you could otherwise get a disease or a serious infection. Before you decide on a tattoo studio, you should always make sure that they are clean and sanitary. If you get a tattoo from a studio that is dirty or unsanitary, you could wind up on a never ending spiral of infections and viruses.
SAG Awards Party
On Saturday night, we had a SAG Awards viewing party sponsored by Degree Ultra Clear Red Satin. We had manicures, prizes, cosmos and plenty of wine. That's our friend Jamie, above, with Hope, who's showing off her manicure.
Degree partnered with Christina Hendricks, actor from Mad Men, for ClothesOffOurBack.com which supports women's empowerment. Christina (pictured below) looked beautiful. We love that she doesn't fit the Hollywood mold and is proud to show off her curves. She also pulls off wearing a red dress and being a red-head, which doesn't always work. You can bid on her Carolina Herrera dress (a size 8), proceeds benefit Clothes Off Our Back. The auction ends on February 8th.
As for the SAG awards, the red-carpet was less exciting to watch than the Golden Globes; but we did see some improvement with the dresses. Lea Michelle shook off the too-old-for-her gown for a (too-sexy-for-Lea) low cut green Catherine Malandrino gown; our favorite from Glee, Jane Lynch, had a better colored dress than the one she wore to the Globes; and Tina Fey went a little more mainstream in a purple Ferragamo dress-even though we know that's not her style. On the bright side, Penelope Cruz scored high points with us again (in a black L'Wren Scott gown with long flowy hair) as did Christina Applegate and Nicole Kidman who both wore subdued colors and soft up-do's.
Back home, we realize it's been so long that we've had a big group of our girlfriends over. Here's Shelly getting a manicure from Jeannie from Five Star Hair and Day Spa. Five Star sent two manicurists to the party, they were talented, fun and blended right in to the party. It may have been the first time we had that kind of service at home; but we're hoping it's not the last.
Review: Victoria's Secret Miraculous Bra--a Boob Job in a Bra
The bra is said to "instantly add up to 2 full cup sizes for maximum cleavage". As you can tell from the photos, no argument there! I found the shorter I made the straps, the closer to each other and higher my boobs got. The effect was sexier, while less comfortable. I do think the results are pretty realistic looking under my T-shirt and I do appreciate that the extra padding makes my waist look smaller. I joked on twitter that I now knew what I would look like if I ever did get a breast enlargement.
No surprise, my hubby appreciated the new me and even said he liked the way the padding felt.
Feel free to disagree with me, but I do think larger boobs are sexier. I can wear a dress cut to my navel, but when there's nothing to see, I think I look thin or, at best, athletic.
In all honesty, I'm a little scared to leave the house wearing the Miraculous bra! I get enough attention as it is on the streets of NYC (as does any female New Yorker who makes an effort about her appearance), I can only imagine the catcalls when I have a size D rack. I suddenly know what my more endowed friends have to deal with.
One of the reasons I've wanted bigger breasts is so that my clothes fit better. I do often wear padded bras to fill out my tops. But with the Miraculous bra, it was hard to find tops that would button over it. So I guess there has to be a happy medium somewhere.
For now, I like having the option of being little old "B" me or a sex kitten with a "D" cup.
The Miraculous Bra is available at Victoria's Secret.
Read our pal Dina's take on the bra.
This review was based on a free sample.
TATTOO GIRLS | BEST TATTOO GIRLS
Tribal tattoos are among the most popular designs. They have been around for hundreds and hundreds of years and they are always evolving and becoming more and more complex with their designs and styles. Tribal tattoos can either be the traditional black style that cover the arms and the legs or the more colorful styles that can cover every area of the body. The colorful, more modern look is becoming more and more popular when compared to other styles. The “old school” styles of tattoos are also popular. Anchors and things like that are making a great comeback these days and not just with sailors. These styles were very common and very popular back in the 60s. They are rapidly gaining their popularity back, as females and males are getting anchors and swallow designs tattooed on them more and more.
Lower back tattoos are the most common for women. The lower back tattoos is one of the most sexual and sensual areas on a women, making the ideal spot for a tattoo. Tribal designs are the most popular, although flowers, dragons, and other symbols make great tattoos as well. The lower back offers plenty of natural curves as well, which can make for an innovative tattoo. Often times, women tend to include tribal that spreads, covering the base of their hips as well.
Dragon designs are another popular type style of tattoos. They were popular in the past, and are now starting to get their popularity back. There are a lot of different dragons to choose from, including the mythical dragon and ancient Chinese dragon. Dragons are great on the chest for males and the back for females. Dragon tattoos can be virtually any size, although most males tend to have them cover one side of their chest or the upper region of their arms.
Celtic tattoos are also popular as well. They are mostly seen with those who have a Celtic heritage, although some with no Celtic heritage have them as well. They offer a variety of symbols and designs, providing universal meanings for everyone. Often times they are mixed with tribal tattoos to create a more innovative tattoo.
There are several other types of tattoos out there, although the above are the most common. Tattoos can be very creative and innovative; it all depends on what you want. If you’re looking to stand out and be truly creative – you can always have a professional tattoo artist design one for you.