One of my favorite readers has sent in a beauty question. Her name is Mida Lane, one talented singer and a fantastic jeweler as well. Go check out her shop on Etsy. 381MidaLane.etsy.com, her jewelry is simply stunning.

I'm always happy to answer beauty inquiries. Sometimes I just butt in at CVS if I see someone is stumped. Especially if they happen to be male and are giving off a very hetero vibe. I figure their wife/girlfriend must have put them up to a task that was far too daunting to do alone. Ladies, don't do this to your guy. Let him do the heavy lifting, not pick up your maxi pads and nailpolish for you!! So if you see me in CVS and need my assistance, flag me down!!

Here is Mida's question:

"So, natural disaster and every last beauty supply you ever had is gone. What are the first 10 things Miss Mazeppa restocks and why?"

This is a tough one. First off, I would be inconsolable for about ten minutes before regaining my composure and running off to loot the nearest post-apocalyptic drugstore. Forget food, water and shelter, I need my mascara!!! Here are the products I would whord (that doesn't look right??? too close to whore, is it hord, yikes, spell check)

Any natural disaster could not be weathered without these 10 products:

1. Very Black Mascara (my current fav is Cover Girl LashBlast)
2. Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler
3. L'oreal Kohl Liner
4. Stila concealer
5. Satin-lined Eye Mask
6. Dr. Pepper LipSmackers
7. Sonia Kashuk Eyeshadow in 'Burnished'
8. Any Red Lipliner
9. 1 1/2" Hot Tools Curling Iron
10. Q-tips

This could cover me for a few days. FEMA would supply soap, tbrush, toothpaste, right??? With these products I could manage a smokey eye for those TV spots of me crying over my disheveled home lying in ruins, from fire, flood, whatever. And FEMA better bring a generator to power my curling iron. I look like a crazed homeless woman without a little time with my Hot Tools in the morning. Oh wait, I would be homeless. Duh. So this look would be appropriate.

What else.....oh the red lipliner is for any romantic entanglements that may occur. If I'm gonna be stuck in a room full of strangers sleeping on the floor, the least I could do is find someone who looks like Jude Law and reenact the scene from 'Enemy at the Gates'.

If I lost you on that one, add it to your Netflix cue and you'll see what I mean.


Hope that answers your burning question Mida. Bye for now!!

TOPSHOP'S LATEST LOOKBOOK

I love summer. Don't get me wrong. But there is something so sexy about fall. And especially the fall collections. Fur and layers and chunky knits. Hats. I hopped over to one of my favorite websites, Coutorture.com, and found the new Topshop Lookbook. Here are a couple of my picks. Anyone else pining for colder weather??

Images courtesy Coutorture.com

CHRISTIAN DIOR HAUTE COUTURE FALL 2010

Riff on a floral theme, this is one collection you MUST see. Images courtesy Coutorture.com

CHANEL HAUTE COUTURE FALL 2010

This is too beautiful for words. Image courtesy Coutorture.com

Aveda Damage Ready Intensive Restructuring Treatment

I received a sample of this product in the mail and I was excited to give it a try. I have the kind of hair that has a mind of it's own. The front lies flat as a pole, and as you get round to the back, it get's kinky curly. I have to use some sort of 'intensive' repair solution once a week or I am Frizzo the Walking Pyramid, all volume, just at the base of my bob haircut. The dreaded 'triangle'.

Anyways, this product felt different going on. Usually a repair treatment feels ultra moisturizing and slick. Once I put this on however, it felt as if my hair instantly absorbed it. Leaving very little product to rinse out. You remember those old school advertisements of a broken hair shaft with little holes in it being repaired? Yeah, it kinda felt like that. And my hair was much more manageable once it was dry. So BIG thumbs up for doing exactly what it claims!!

If you have hair like mine, (impossible), Aveda has a gem of a product to try.

Blend people...

Normally I thinking blending in is for those with a generous nature. They are polite, know when to listen, humble to a fault, occasionally seem a little wallflowerish. You know, the nice girls. I wish I was one of them. HA!! We all know those who love to be the center of attention.........I won't name names.

But I'm talking about EYESHADOW blending, something completely different. Today my sister asked me about my eye makeup technique. I explained, (in too much detail for her taste, I think, her eyes started to glaze over...she is a horse lover, not a makeup junkie like moi!) and it occured to me this tip is legit for my blog.......so.......

If you are timid about color but want to test the waters, here's one way to do it:

Bold color on the eye. Just think in twos!! If you don't want to look garish -

(this is not the look we are going for)

Pair a bold eyeliner and a neutral eyeliner together.

Apply bold color to the waterline, (yes inside the eyelash line, below the pupil, not above), and then follow up with gray eyeliner under the lashes. Use your favorite utensil (q-tip, ring finger, or smudger brush) to blend it out and suddenly you have just a hint of color, that seems to smoke out to a subtle gray. Not garish, but just enough color to get noticed. Quite lovely, and it even works in the daytime....

My top picks for this look? Milani LIQUIF EYE metallic eyeliner pencil in 'Aqua',


and underneath, Rimmel Special Eyes Precision Eye Liner Pencil in 'Hurricane Grey' (best gray eyeliner EVER, doesn't go blue like so many do.......)Try it out and let me know what you think. Also, all you lurkers out there, become a follower!! Come on, everybody's doing it.....peer pressure, peer pressure........

Old Navy: Cheap Boho Chic Accessories

Most of us already know that Old Navy has fantastic prices on many staple pieces, especially t-shirts and knitwear. I love the metallic flip-flops that make it through more than one season. Just recently I was there and found loads of jewelry, ranging from bright and beaded to woodsy and earthy... All very reasonably priced. Here are my top picks...Wooden Ring

Beaded and Knotted Necklace

Hammered Gold Drop Earrings

Assymetrical Wooden Bangle

Go check it out!!

http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/category.do?cid=9194

Frugal Fix: LIQUIF'EYE Metallic Eye Liner Pencil

I have these in three colors: Gold, Silver and Aqua. Aqua is a big standout and I would compare them to a very popular eyeliner by MUFE (Make Up Forever). Do not pass this one up. Great for highlighting and aren't we excited about Milani giving us such great color payoff on their eye products?!?!?!

I also love their eyeshadows, and can't wait to try the INFINITE Liquid Liner, which I've seen great reviews of on YouTube.

Do you have any Milani favorites?! Please comment below. I've heard great things about the blush in 'Luminous' being a good dupe for NARS 'Orgasm' blush. If you've tried it, what do you think??

Frugal Fix: Dove Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar

After smelling a bunch of synthetic over-priced body washes at CVS the other night, I finally just grabbed a 6-pack of Dove Sensitive Skin Beauty Bars. Cheap and effective. Great for face and body. My Grandma has used it most of her 80 years and still has the softest skin of anyone I know. Enough said. Just don't let it sit in water, or it will melt away.............

Frugal Fix

I'm trying out a new line that just popped up in my local Ulta this past week. Essence is priced pretty competitively and I've noticed a lot of the nail bloggers commenting on how inexpensive the nail stamper is. I swatched the matte navy blue eyeshadow ('Freestyle' is the name), and it was well pigmented for $1.99?!! I was impressed, so it had to come home with me. We'll see how it holds up all day. It's my frugal fix, because I'm trying to save money. So no Nars blushes for me for awhile....

Fav new website - Models.com

Maybe I'm a little slow in discovering these things, but Models.com has super huge images of the shows, it almosts makes me feel like I have a front row seat in Milan or Paris! Definitely worth a gander. Here is the latest Joseph Altuzarra F/W 2010 collection...

http://models.com/mdx/?p=2129

I'll add this to favorite links on the right...

Image borrowed from models.com website
Model featured - Jac Jagaciak

Prada Infusion d'Iris

Smelled this last night at Macy's and I am in love. I know where my birthday money is going to be spent now. I already have the original Prada perfume, but it is a bit rich for me for spring. Prada Infusion d'Iris is very light and perfect for the warmer weather that seems to be here to stay.

What new perfumes have you tried? Anything you're loving for spring also? Comment below. I'd love to hear all about it!

LUSH Celestial Moisturizer

Test driving Celestial Moisturizer by LUSH. Special thanks to Linda at the Old Town Pasadena LUSH store for the generous samples.

I'm pleased so far. No breakouts and it doesn't sit on top of my skin. I like it for a night moisturizer more than day. I had the tiniest bit of the 'greasies' yesterday towards the end of the day, but I'm guessing I just needed a good shower,
( all you Moms out there can probably relate...)

Here's the link...

http://www.lushusa.com/shop/products/face/moisturisers/

Spring, spring, spring...

Just some eye candy to inspire you for spring...


Donna Karan Spring 2010
Dolce and Gabbana Spring 2010
Isabel Marant Spring 2010 - Heist in Venice Beach is stocking Isabel Marant right now...here's the link...
http://www.shopheist.com/
One of my absolute favorite makeup looks, created by Romero Jennings for Mac for Carmen Marc Valvo Spring 2010 Show. Strong smoky exaggerated, but structured, eyes and nude glossy lips.

Details on this look can be found at stylelist.com.........Here's the link...........

http://www.stylelist.com/2009/09/14/fashion-week-backstage-beauty-at-carmen-marc-valvo/

Have a fantastic spring day!

Runway images courtesy Coutorture.com and makeup image Stylelist.com

Community Thrift Store

Awesome place my sister and I found on our way back from Riverside. It was mobbed with people, because it was Saturday, but lots of great finds. Converse shoes for the summer, a Cookie Monster video for the little kibbers and some Jordana lipstick, untouched and in some awesome brights!

If you're near Covina, in SoCal, check it out. Cash only, so hit the ATM before you go...

Community Thrift Store
19720 East Arrow Highway
Covina, CA 91724-1022

Image courtesy yelp.com