2010 Martha Stewart Holiday Craft Sale on December 4, 2010

Martha Stewart's annual Holiday craft sale is back this December in New York City. Last year I attended this fair in hopes to check out many vendors and their DIY goodies! (See my recap here.) I had a great time and it's such a great place to pick up any holiday gifts and support the local businesses! If you want to get the details...

Join the fun on December 4, 2010 at the Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia building at 601 W. 26th Street, between 11 & 12 avenue in NYC. Admission is free and it starts 12 Noon to 6 PM.


See the list of vendors at www.marthastewart.com/craft-sale


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How-to: Update your Beauty Routine to get Your Promotion!

Need a Promotion? These Beauty Tips Can Help

Stepping up your hair, skin and makeup game may help get you that promotion you've been itching for

This is a TotalBeauty.com Beauty tips article Turns out that revamping your beauty look might be as important as brushing up on your presentation skills. Find out why. Get beauty tips

Drugstore find! Borghese scintillare holiday nailpolish

Drugstore find! Borghese scintillare holiday nailpolish


Holiday nail polish colors are my favorite! They're always festive, fun and glittery, so I was excited to see the Borghese Scintillare collection in a drugstore near me. The holiday red, gold, violet and even blue are very pretty colors and truly look like those colorful fireworks in the background of the advertisement. Last year's were a bit darker as well as glittery. I'll have to find them again and wear it this year too since I think I like them a bit better than this year's collection.

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Holiday Series #7: Accessorize with Scarves by Lindsay Phillips

This holiday season, accessorize your outfits with scarves! I love to wear scarves because they can really brighten and differentiate your outfits, especially if you like to wear a lot of blacks or neutral colors.

For the holidays, if you're wearing a colorful dress, you can wear a more neutral scarf such as this one on the left. This beautifully made Cape Coral scarf in grey by Lindsay Phillips ($25, USD) feels very light and soft on your skin. The pattern is quite interesting too- it looks a bit leopard with glittery threads sewn in. It's definitely eye catching and great to pair your outfits in! If you're going to stick with dark colored dresses, I would pair it with brighter colored scarf, such as this gorgeous turquoise here.

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving from Beauty & All That !!!!!!

Hope you all have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving holiday this year. I'm thankful for so many things, including time to blog! :) Family & friends are always a given!!

I'm also thankful for being a part of the TotalBeauty.com network for giving me great opportunities into the industry/events to learn even more about beauty!

I also want to thank NYC PrettyCity.com for their VIPretty program!! Their events are always fun and love that it's local ! Check them out for local spa tips/reviews.

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How-to: Transforming your Skin!

Tricks to Transforming Your Skin

Get beautiful skin -- once and for all -- with expert tips and effective products

This is a TotalBeauty.com Skin care article This skin care guide holds the key to the flawless face and body you've always wanted. Get tips

Review: Awapuhi Wild Ginger Shampoo from Paul Mitchell

What is Awapuhi? It's a ginger plant that Paul Mitchell uses to incorporate in his Awapuhi hair care line. I was excited to test their Moisturizing Lather Shampoo made with Keratin protein to strengthen and restore hair. My hair type is oily because of my oily scalp which ends up weighing my hair down. Yet, although it gets oily, the winter dry air is making my hair "dry" & coarse and my scalp can get itchy. It's strange which is why I'm constantly looking for hair products that will suit my hair's mood swings. :) Read more reviews here >

This shampoo is made for dry, brittle hair and what I love about this is that it doesn't make my hair feel heavy. After washing, it feels effortlessly clean and really moisturized. Plus, no tangles so no need to brush and I don't even use conditioner. The Awapuhi shampoo looks like a thick shaving cream when it came out of the bottle, not liquid-y like other shampoos. I use about a quarter sized amount to make sure I get a really good lather (sulfate-free!) and believe me- it does! It helps to massage the shampoo into your scalp and it has a nice pleasant scent.

Be sure to check out your nearest professional salon to see if they carry the Awapuhi products!

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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Tide to Go Mini - Sneak Peek of Wedding Salon goodie bag!

Hidden at the very bottom of my Wedding Salon goodie bag was the Tide to Go Mini. This miniature version of their Tide to Go stain remover stick is perfect for stowing away in a bride/bridesmaid's purse or clutch for the big day. It's a bridal must- just in case an appetizer lands on your gorgeous white dress. This 3-inch stick is a miracle worker for the clumsy! I tested it on a few oops stains that I could think of- spaghetti sauce, jelly, and even a splash of white wine. After removing excess residue, and leaving the bare stain on the fabric (an old t-shirt, might I add) I gently pressed the tip for the magic to happen. In the case of the spaghetti sauce, I pressed the tip for the solution to come out a bit longer since the stain was a bit more drastic than the other times. Overall, it worked really well and I'm glad I now have this in my purse!

Stay tuned for more Wedding Salon goodie bag product reviews! Subscribe :)

Learn more about Tide to Go Instant Stain Remover at www.tide.com !


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Slimware your way this Thanksgiving!

Can you believe Thanksgiving is just a few days away? I have been waiting for this since the summer because I love spending time with family & a turkey! The holidays usually mean feasts galore and so to prevent myself from going overboard this year, I will be using Slimware. Slimware are beautifully decorated plates that remind you to portion-control your serving! It's a hidden reminder to let you know about "portion consciousness...disguised in the design."

The Urban Safari pattern, with a leopard print with orange hibiscus' is such a loud pattern that you can't help but notice it on your dinner table. The three hibiscus vary in sizes to showcase how much of your meal should be in what serving size. The largest is the vegetables on the left. The top right is a medium size flower for the carbs, and the smallest size is the protein.

A set of 4 plates normally cost ~$36.50 but for a limited time, you can save 50% of these sets (up to 6 sets) for holiday gifts! Use code: SAFARI2010VIP at www.slimware.com

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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Introducing you to Beauty & All That's Bridal Series #1 !

Beauty and All That's Bridal Series has officially begun! I'll preface this with saying that I'm not a bride but I have been to many weddings this year and previous years so although I'm not an expert, anything glamorous, romantic and white - I like! To start off and dip into bridal industry, I attended The Wedding Salon - one of the bridal tradeshows that all brides must attend! Thank you so much to WeddingSalon.com for letting me attend! There were tons of exhibitors for photography, bridal destinations, florists, services, catering, and so much more to help the bridal plan their big day.

There were tons of NYC brides in attendance and they were eager to soak in as much information as possible. Although it was very crowded, it wasn't so bad. Once we were done, we were ushered to exit and for those who held a goody bag ticket, to pick up their famous goody bag. (Stay tuned for the inside dish of what the goody bag contains!)

Everything was extravagant and incredible gorgeous.. just take a look at these sample dinner tables and CAKES!!! Exquisite, huh? :)


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Review: Physicians Formula Eye Makeup remover pads

On a recent trip to Target in Chicago, I saw these Physician Formula Eye Makeup Remover pads in this easy to travel packaging. They used to offer these in a hard-case jar but they must have figured it's much more eco-friendly and convenient to just reduce the packaging and use these instead. Overall, I thought they were okay. It removed my mascara and eyeshadows but it did not remove my eyeliner! I was wearing an organic eyeliner too, so I was surprised it didn't take this off. I scrubbed for a bit, as gently as I could, with these pads but it didn't budge. Oh well.. I probably won't repurchase but it's good for travel.

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Getaway Kit from Sephora

Right now Sephora is offering this Getaway Kit with online purchases of $25 or more! It comes with a TSA friendly clear zipper-pouch with 10 samples. I was interested in getting something at Sephora so this was a great bonus. Plus I was interested in trying the samples and hoped I would get everything in there.. Alas I got mostly everything. Can you see the difference between mine and theirs?



What I bought at Sephora...


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Holiday Series #6: Carol's Daughter Feeling Nice Hair Kit

For the holidays, will you be on Santa's naughty or nice list? Me? I plan to be on the "Nice" list this year. For the holidays, my hair will also play nice with Carol’s Daughter Feeling Nice Hair Set. This kit includes a shampoo, leave-in conditioner, an all-over body sheen mist, and a nice headband. :)

The set ($40, USD) includes the following:
• Tui Shampoo: Infused with lavender, nettles and marigolds, the formula softens and rejuvenates stressed hair. Calendula flower heals the scalp, while Red Clover infuses hair with valuable nutrients. The shampoo smelled incredibly therapeutic and left my hair moisturized and thick! I have oily, fine hair and sometimes when I use shampoo made for dry hair, it can leave it feeling heavy. It actually made my hair feel healthy and light.. the natural ingredients in Carol's Daughter makes a huge difference.
• Tui Leave-In Conditioner: This flower-infused formula weightlessly conditions and hydrates hair and scalp, while repairing damaged, brittle locks. I use this in the morning to give my hair that extra oomph. I also use it for styling but a few sprays is all I need.
• Sugar-Dipped Vanilla All Over Sheen: Treat your body to a sweet and subtle sheen with this glimmering hydrator. This is my favorite! It smells delicious and like a sweet vanilla cupcake while giving your skin just the right amount of glisten.. don't worry you will not look like a vampire in the sunlight. (Twilight, anyone? ;))
• Playful Headband: Highlight your hydrated hair with this sweet holiday accessory. Perfect for the holiday outing but also great to wear just everyday. It's cute and makes you feel like a kid again!

WHERE TO BUY: Carol’s Daughter stores, carolsdaughter.com, and select Macy’s and Dillard’s nationwide
(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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Your Beauty CliffsNotes

Your Beauty CliffsNotes

These easy, trusty tips will have you covered day and night all through fall

This is a TotalBeauty.com beauty tips article Here are some autumn skin care suggestions as well as seasonal day and night makeup looks. Read cheat sheet

Spotlight on Skincare- Beauty blogger's anti-aging tips!!

Looking for more anti-aging tips? Check out TotalBeauty.com's Spotlight on Skincare - with articles and tips to get youthful skin!

If you remember my recent article, Secret of Youth, two of my tips were featured in their article, Beauty Bloggers Reveal Their Best Anti-Aging Tips !! :)

Be sure to subscribe for more beauty tips from Beauty & All That


Speaking of skincare, in a month and a half, L'Oreal's Youth Code products are going to be in stores! Can't wait to get try this... Learn more about their Youth Regenerating Skincare line here at: www.LorealParisUSA.com/Youthcode


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Holiday Series #5: Pacifica Wanderlust Kit in Tuscan Blood Orange scent

I've been a huge fan of Pacifica since I was introduced to their scent, Tuscan Blood Orange last year (Remember my Pacifica Travel Set from last year?) This year, they have a new kit for the Holidays- Wanderlust Collection ($28, USD)- that contains their full size Body butter, Body wash and rollerball perfume. It's a dream come true!

Their body butters used to be in a tub jar which made it easy for germs to collect; can you imagine your hands digging in the cream every time? The past year, they've repackaged the body butters into a tube so it'll be cleaner and easier to squeeze out of. I slather this on after I shower with their Body Wash. It smells deliriously good and the sweeet scent makes me not want to get out of the shower!

Their rollerball perfumes is a convenient way to get touch ups of the scent during the day. It's easy to use and extremely fragrant. The scent of blood orange, raspberry and strawberry notes is delicious and so sweet, I could just eat it!! But I won't... ;) (Have you tried the California Star Jasmine scent before?)


Currently available at Sephora.com and Pacifica.com, so get your Wanderlust kit for the holidays! Enjoy :)
P.S. Kits are the way to go this year; can you tell I'm obsessed with holiday kits this year?

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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TRC - Holiday Bonanza December 17

TRC's Holiday Bonanza is coming on December 17 in NYC. Their last one was focused around the Fashion Week in NYC back in September (see here.) Again, this event will have lots of shopping, drink sand fun! It's totally FREE but with VIP Admission you get a goodie bag full of fun products from their sponsors including: *Burt’s Bees *Beautorium.Com *We’re Worth it *Eat Whatever *Bare Body Collection *Curlz Hair *Tilvee + more!

Details:
Where: Space on White, 81 White Street ,New York,NY,10013
When: December 17th 2010
Time: 6pm – 10pm / Travel: ACE NR 6 JMZ to Canal Street
Admission: Free / VIP online $15.00 / VIP door $20.00 (ltd availability)
Get tix at: www.trcholiday2010.eventbrite.com

The best part of these events is getting to learn about new products and designers! Learn more at TRCFASHIONNEWS.blogspot.com

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NYC Shecky's Holiday Night Out - Winter 2010

Shecky's NYC Holiday Night Out is happening again this December 15 - 17 at the Altman Building. Tickets range from $25 - $50, with all ticket admission giving you a goodie bag. The $50 liimted ticket will give you a Nest tote bag. Nest is a nonprofit organization that empowers female artists and artisans around the world and it's pretty neat that Shecky's is working with them.

Check out my recap of last year's Holiday Night Out 2009.

Get more details at www.sheckys.com

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NYC Pretty City TriBeCa MedSpa event November 10, 2010

As a Beauty Ambassador of PrettyCity.com, I was invited to attend the TriBeCa MedSpa event last night in New York City. Ladies of New York City lined up to get makeovers, complimentary waxing, sip on IZZE drinks, and get consultations on their skin, BOTOX and so much more! We were able to meet with the staff of TriBeCa MedSpa and learn about the different services they offered. The venue was very spa-like, serene, and chic. As always, we were gifted a goody bag with beauty product samples!

Check out the event and see you at next week's Beauty Sample Sale!!

	Outside TriBeCa MedSpa :) The neighborhood is so cute- lots of great restaurants and shops nearby! Absolutely love the brick walls and shelves in here.. can my apartment look like this please?
	Cupcakes and sweet treats for us to nibble on! nom nom.. the cupcakes were soo good and they had little baggies for us to take the rock candy and gummies in ! Sweeet idea!

CHECK OUT MORE PICTURES OF THE CONSULTATIONS....

	Snapped this picture of the skincare consultation room before we stepped in. This machine was supposed to take the picture but for some reason it didn't work when it was our turn.
	There was a mini spa lounge and this TV screen was in there.
	Inside one of the consultation rooms- look how nice & neat this place looks!

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Holiday Series #4: Smashbox Eye Wish palette

"Star light, star bright, The first star I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might, have this wish I wish tonight!" The Smashbox Eye Wish Palette will be the perfect holiday gift for yourself or your BFF! For every Smashbox Eye Wish Palette purchased, a $1 will be donated to the CHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORK. Palette available at Smashbox.com or Sephora.com ($45, USD).

If you wished for the perfect eyeshadow palette, then your wish may have just came true! Smashbox's Eye Wish Palette is a fabulous palette with 12 gorgeous eye colors, shimmery and matte with 4 gel eyeliners, a primer and a mascara. The colors (vertically in each row) are complementary and create gorgeous looks for the holiday party and neutral everyday looks as well! Overall, the shadows were pigmented (colors in the first row def. need the primer to be show up on my skin) and they lasted for a long time. The primer def. helped make the shadows last longer and the mascara/gel liner made my lashes pretty and eyes defined.

My favee part of this palette is their LOOKBOOK. They have easy instructions for several different looks so if you're a beginner, you can learn what colors in the palette go well together.

Get Swatches here of the eyeshadows here!


(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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Sally Hansen La Cross Sets

Kits, kits, kits! Here's a secret for you- I'm obsessed with them, especially during the holidays. They make great gifts since they're already packaged and bundled together and also love getting them for myself! You get to try more products, which are all conveniently located in one package.

Sally Hansen La Cross Manicure and Eye sets are perfect for your pals who are on the go! Each kit contains 4-5 tools that are necessary to get your perfect DIY manicure, or perfectly groomed eyes (nailpolish and eye makeup, sold separately!) and a sleek black zippered case to carry these tools. There's always room for your other essentials too! :)

	The manicure kit contains: - nail buff/shiner - nail file - nail clipper - nail cuticle clippers - nail cuticle pusher - black case My fave? The buff/shiner! When I don't have time to polish nails, I still like to keep my nails neat and shiny, so this kit is perfect!
	The eye kit contains: - double-sided eye brow comb - double-sided eye lash separator, and brow brush - eyelash curler - tweezers - black case My fave? The tweezers! These are super slanted and strong- even grips those teeny, stubborn hairs close to your skin!

(Available at your local drugstores.)

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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Holiday Series #3: NEST Holiday 6- Votive Candle Set - Limited Edition

The best things about the Holidays is staying at home and spending time with your family. And of course, it's even better when your home just smells like the Holidays. I'm a huge fan of NEST candles- recently spotted them at the C.O. Bigelow store- and this season, they have a limited edition Holiday 6 votive candle gift set ($32, USD). If you prefer yours in a large candle form (such as the Pumpkin Chai, see here) they also have that too.

Packaged in a gorgeous red box, this 6 mini candle set is perfect for scattering around the living room, around your coffee table, window sills, etc. These are incredibly fragrant with rich aromas from pomegranate, mandarin orange, and hints of clove and cinnamon. The combination of all these makes it a perfect holiday scent. (Note: You must take these candles out of the box- since it's cardboard inside.) A great bonus? You can keep this box as a keepsake to put your holiday cards, small ornaments, or any other keepsakes from this holiday.

Available at Bergdorf Goodman, CandlesOffMain.com, and other luxury candle retailers.

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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Thymes Agave Nectar Collection Review

Thymes has a stunning collection of bath and body products in unique scents that are inspired by nature. Their newest one- Agave Nectar- is a delicious super sweet citrus scent (grapefruit based)! If you're looking for something to energize and awaken your senses, then wash and moisturize your hands with the new collection from Thymes! ($12-$14, USD)

Although it may seem more fitting to have a citrus-y scent during the summer time, when it's dark outside and you have to get up- this scent will really wake you up in the mornings! It's super citrus-y comes from the fruity flavors of ruby red grapefruit, tangy guava, and lemon blossom! Not only do you get the moisturizing effects of the hand lotion from jojoba and sunflower oils, these products are formulated without mineral oils and parabens. It's a win-win!

The Thymes Agave Nectar collection carries this scent in other products such as candles, body washes and mists. These will also make a great gift for a house party.

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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Sephora- Free Clutch with $25+ purchase

To get your free clutch with 12 samples, use code: ONTHEGO (available online only.)

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How-to: Most Flattering Fringe for Your Face Shape

The Most Flattering Fringe for Your Face Shape

Celebrity hairstylist shares the geometry of bangs with us

This is a TotalBeauty.com celebrity hairstyles article Eli Thomas, pro hairstylist, tells us which bangs work best with a heart, round, square and oval shaped face and how to style them. See bangs

Holiday Series #2: One Bath and Body - Lip Butter Balms

Holiday Series #2- Looking for stocking stuffers?
Gift all your friends on your list this year this affordable and scent-worthy lip balm from One Bath and Body. Their collection includes 6 different flavors including the Cherry Pie & Honey Cream balms that I tried. They're moisturizing with shea butters and they smells great. Its moisturizing formula contains cocoa and shea butter and various oils. These are widely available at your local Target store and oh, did I mention that these are only $3? Its a great deal and cones in a cute tin. Again like the shampoo and conditioner bars this also uses recycled packaging.

The Cherry Pie lip butter balm is my favorite- it smells like a delicious pie is baking and ready in your oven!

Made with recycled packaging, I thought I would open it up to see what was holding the lip tin in place. Inside- was a cardboard cutout with images of M&M frosted cupcakes. I thought it was a bit strange but it looks like they really recycle their goods! Give this eco-friendly gift to your pals this holiday!

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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NYC Pretty City invites you to the TriBeCa MedSpa event

As a VIPretty Beauty Ambassador, I cordially invite you to attend the November 10, PrettyCity.com's TriBeCa MedSpa event. Like all other PrettyCity parties, this will give you a chance to try a sampling of the spa's services for a fraction of the cost- including complimentary mini makeovers, Botox injections, and waxing and consultations with their staff. In New York City, there are so many spas that it's so hard to choose from without knowing which one is great. This is practically the best way to see for yourself!

As always, you never leave empty-handed! A goodie bag packed with full-sized beauty products and a $100 Gift certificate to use at the TriBeCa MedSpa will be handed at the event.

Place: TriBeca MedSpa 114 Hudson St. New York, NY 10013
Admission: $30
When: Wednesday, November 10 2010 from 6pm-8pm

RSVP now!

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