new uses for old things: mascara wands

one thing i love about Real Simple magazine is its regular feature, new uses for old things. it always features such creative ways to use things we already have, making them into something new, or giving them a new function; this has always been fabulous to me. learning new things is never a bad thing {or, to put it as Martha Stewart would say, "it's a good thing"}, not to mention it's helpful to make the most of what you have. it also proves that with a bit of creativity, you can make life so much more...well…simple.

i've been reading Real Simple since its first issue {that was in 2000, and as a young wife, and soon-to-be new mom, it was the perfect new resource}. through the years i've learned so much from it. i have pages and pages saved in folders and clipped into notebooks. i confess i haven't subscribed in years, but their website is fabulous. in recent months, though, i've found myself drawn to the physical publication and have fallen in love all over again…

alright, enough of my rambling, LOL!

all of this is to say that on my most recent visit to their website, i realized that i should be sharing these tips with you. that's what i love to do here on BGM, after all ~ share the tips and tricks, products and fun stuff i love…

so, without further ado, here are 3 new uses for mascara wands {also known as a spooly} you should know…

1. remove errant makeup  ~ unlike a finger, the mascara wand won’t smudge the color all over the place making your problem worse. simply flick off any misplaced makeup with the mascara-wand bristles.

2. flatten out little fly aways around the hairline. simply spritz the tool with a bit of hairspray, and brush where needed, recommends hairstylist Mark Townsend.

3. use the spooly dipped in polish remover to remove nail polish that ends up around your nail rather than on it. unlike a cotton ball, it won’t leave behind those little fuzzies that inevitably end up ruining your paint job.

what creative ways do you use spoolys? let me know in the comments!

tips featured came from this article on RealSimple.com; all other thoughts are my own. :) 

on newstands now: Vogue Best Dressed

fashion loving beauties, have you picked up your copy of the limited-edition Vogue: Best Dressed? for the first time, the editors of Vogue have put together a one-of-a-kind salute to the year's most iconic women.

Blake Lively, Lady Gaga, Carey Mulligan and Kate Moss are featured, among others.

Vogue style director, Alexandra Kotur explains, "inevitably, we're overflowing with ideas, photos, and candidates-- and there just isn't room for all of it. so, this year, we decided to create a special issue devoted just to the best dressed."

don't miss out on this special-edition mag, which was months in the making and will only be available for a limited time.

visit Vogue.com to see who made the top ten and be sure to vote for your favorite!

xo

Allure "Free Stuff" Month Starts Tomorrow!

mark your calendars! if you subscribe to Allure, then you know that the mag is holding an amazing month of giveaways (over $560,000 worth!). all month long they will be giving away tons of beauty and fashion products. typically, women read magazines to learn about new products but have to buy them to see for themselves-- Allure is eliminating a lot of costly trial and error with Free Stuff!

if you think about it, women still look for the latest beauty products to help them feel their best no matter what the economy is doing, and everyone loves getting free stuff. savvy beauty lovers can save extra money by entering to win free beauty treats such as Chanel Ultra Correction Day Cream ($150), Bobbi Brown Eye Palette ($60), and cult favorite L’Oréal Elnett Hairspray ($15). there's even fabulous fashion and style loot—including Derek Lam sandals ($790) and Earnest Sewn jeans ($198).

to enter, every weekday in August, check the calendar in the magazine, then go to allure.com/freestuff for details. you can even have a daily reminder sent to your cell phone: just text "FREESTUFF" to ALLURE (255873).

other great free stuff to be won include:

**thursday august 6th- Citre Shine Shine Miracle Anti-Frizz Serum

**monday August 10th- OPI Nail Lacquer in Here Today..Aragon Tomorrow

**tuesday August 11th- Burt’s Bees Very Volumizing Shampoo Pomegranate & Soy

**wednesday August 26th- Patricia Wexler M.D. Dermatology Universal Anti-Aging Cleanser


good luck!

xo

Scarlett Johansson Covers Harper's Bazaar Feb. '09

Scarlett Johansson is the gorgeous cover girl for the february issue of Harper's Bazaar. as you can see on the left, the newsstand cover and the one on the right, the subscriber cover (i finally got a new printer/scanner/copier/fax, so i could scan my issue for you!).

i think both covers look great, and the issue itself isn't so bad itself. in it you'll find an article/interview about ScarJo in which she boasts her overwhelming happiness for our new president ("i'm absolutely over the moon"), transitioning into married life with new hubby, Ryan Reynolds ("i feel like everything is really normal, it's calm and natural, like the way it should be"), and the fact that she would like to get more involved in behind-the-camera work ("i can't keep this face forever").

also in the issue are some great editorials (check out Hits of the Season and Back to Basics), my favorite regular sections, Hottest, Newest, Latest and Fabulous at Every Age feature some great inspiration for updating your look, and there's a great piece on Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy as style leaders.

xo

2008 Magazine Covers: Allure

any makeup fanatic looks forward to each and every issue of Allure magazine-- at least i know i do! while the covers this past year got to be a bit questionable (why, for example were they so enamored with the smokey eye/nude lip/side-swept hair?), it seems they got back on track and had beautiful covers in the end.

take a look:


january: Rihanna



february: Sarah Jessica Parker



march: Kate Beckinsale



april: Mariah Carey



may: Hilary Duff



june: Jessica Alba



july: Ali Larter



august: Victoria Beckham



september: Carrie Underwood



october: Ellen Pompeo



november: Eva Longoria-Parker



december: Scarlett Johansson

so, what cover is your favorite?

xo

2008 Magazine Covers: InStyle

InStyle is one of the best mags on newstands today, at least according to me! i always love the ideas suggested about how to wear a certain piece, the fashion coverage and of course, new products!

the covers this were were fun and vibrant and consistently beautiful! take a look:



january: Katie Holmes



february: Halle Berry



march: Eva Longoria




april: Renee Zellweger



may: Carrie Underwood


june: Cameron Diaz


july: Anne Hathaway


august: Rihanna


september: Uma Thurman



october: Meg Ryan



november: Beyonce


december: Heidi Klum


any favorites? let me know!

xo

Hemloq Citrus Scrub

Hemloq Citrus Scrub, featured in the december issue of Today's Black Woman, is described as a more creamy formula than traditional facial scrubs because it provides a more gentle-feeling exfoliation. the unique blend features jojoba beads, green tea extracts and chamomile to give the skin a soothing polish.

according to the website, it's recommended for drier skin types, but can also be used by those that prefer a softer exfoliation to leave the skin smooth and supple.

paraben, sulfate and cruelty free, Hemloq Citrus Scrub sounds like an amazing treat for the skin in these skin-drying winter months! if i get a chance to try it, i will be sure to bring back all the details!

visit hemloq.com for more information!

xo

Cyber Monday: $5 Magazine Subscriptions!

this came in an email last night, and it's way too good to not pass along! Hearst Magazines is offering $5 subscriptions! and you can choose to get them for yourself or as a gift! check it out:

take advantage of these incredible savings now and stock up on all your favorite magazines. save big on holiday gifts too. we have something for everyone on your list — family, friends and co-workers. at just $5 these are terrific as main gifts or stocking stuffers. click here to start shopping now!

isn't this fabulous? i mean, come on, a year of Harper's Bazaar and Marie Claire for $10 sounds good to me! take advantage now, this won't last forever!

happy saving!

xo

'Game On' for The Hills

check out this adorable cover of TV Guide for the week of september 1:



if you've been watching The Hills for awhile, you know about all of the drama that has unfolded. this season won't be any different, and clearly we are all still as fascinated as ever...


xo

Tyra Banks on the cover of Harper's Bazaar

Tyra Banks covers the september issue of Harper's Bazaar, and wow, does she look amazing!

without getting into her spread in the mag, i just have to say i am happy to see her on the much anticipated september cover!





















the subscriber cover





xo

Jessica Simpson on the September cover of Elle Magazine

all of the big, fat fashion-laden magazines will soon be in our hands, and you may know the covers are a big deal. Elle decided to play it safe by putting Jessica Simpson on it's cover (more on that in a second).

backing up a bit, i have to say, i always look forward to the september issues of magazines (hubby always asks, "what's in there, a novel?"). they get me all pumped and excited for the seasons to change...

wait, i live in southern california, what seasons?

actually, i mean, i get excited for the weather to cool down a bit .

ok, enough rambling, the september issue of Elle has Jessica Simpson on it's cover, and unfortunately i have to say, yawn....

not that i don't think she was a good choice. when she was on the mag's march 2007 cover, it was a huge seller. when she appeared on the cover of the september 2004 issue, it became the biggest seller of the last seven years. she's an excellent choice.

so why the yawn?

well, her outfit is boring. for a september cover, i expect more fall fashion, less look-at-me-i'm-now-a-country-singer-so-i-wear-a-big-belt-buckle-on-my-jeans look, you know? don't get me wrong, her hair and makeup look fabulous, but maybe a shirtdress or even something she wears in the issue (like the Chloe dress in the pic, left) would have would have been a better choice. that's just my opinion.

i also have another issues with the cover, but it's a little obvious, and anyone with eyes can see the problem, so i won't even mention it...(smile)

anyway, Elle feels confident, and really i only care to see and read what's in the issue!

what do you think of the Elle cover featuring Jessica Simpson?


xo

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photo source

a world tour for juicy tubes

Lancome's Juicy Tubes are one of my favorite lipgloss lines out there. the colors are amazing, the shine is unbelievable, and they smell so yummy. for a limited time, you can purchase the Juicy tubes World Tour.


this collection of colors dress up your lips with a world of ultra shine and flavor!

Juicy Tubes World Tour is a collection of iconic Juicy Tubes that are dressed to thrill. inspired by 4 hot fashion cities, each must-have, limited-edition tube has been decorated with a chic dress by London’s darling fashion designer, Christopher Kane. each city has its own designer dress.

from Red Hot New York and Paris Bubbly to Tokyo Plum Blossom and Rio Mango, enjoy a worldly splash of 9 new shades and flavors.

xo

sjp...

i love sarah jessica parker--from her days on square pegs-- that i watched in reruns as a child, to l.a story (i love this kooky steve martin flick), and of course sex and the city. who doesn't love carrie bradshaw?

well, sjp is on the current issue of allure magazine looking amazing as always. she is such a personable celeb like reese witherspoon and julia roberts--i could easily see myself being friends with her. and if you didn't know, she has a great line called bitten that is affordable (nothing over $20) and chic. i have pieces that i wear all the time and can't believe that i didn't have to spend a fortune.

well, check out the interview in the mag as she discusses her new movie, her fashion line and the rise to being the superstar she is today. and in true allure fashion, a timeline through pictures of her career. it's amazing to see her metamorphosis!

xo

what to buy and when...

i was surfing one of my favorite magazine's (harper's bazaar) website and i found a great resource that is actually an excerpt from the book great style:the best ways to update your look by jenny levin. i plan to purchase this book because i have heard many great reviews about it. it covers many topics including, basics, fashions for every age, dressing your body type, and building a lingerie wardrobe. also, i love fashion and beauty books that remain relevant and stay current years from being published. this looks to be a fabulous read that every girl should add to her book collection.

this particular excerpt, of course, always refers to it's own magazine, but that is to be expected. of course you can substitute, or you can add to this source in these suggestions:

January
Scour Harper's Bazaar for a preview of the best looks from designers' spring lines.
Secure your spot on the waitlists for the most covetable pieces.
Couture collections are shown in Paris. Look for trends that you can work into your own wardrobe.

February
Scour Harper's Bazaar for a preview of the best looks from designers' spring lines.
Secure your spot on the waitlists for the most covetable pieces.


Couture collections are shown in Paris. Look for trends that you can work into your own wardrobe.


Spring clothes land in stores. Look out for the season's key pieces.


check out the rest of the shopping suggestions here.

taking time for yourself...

it is very well known that when you take care of yourself you feel better overall. i like to take time to do something everyday. for 30 minutes or an hour, it's me time. reading my glamour or harper's bazaar, doing some yoga, making myself a cup of tea and listening to music, all these things bring me a sense of peace and enjoyment. it gives me a chance to "re-boot", a chance to refresh and appreciate myself. i mean how often do you thank yourself? how often do you buy a new product "just because"?

if you cannot take time everyday, schedule an hour for yourself each week. make it something you've been wanting to do but keep putting off. get a pedicure, read a couple of chapters of that book you started, whatever, just do it, enjoy it and most of all don't feel guilty about it! you will be more beautiful for it. :)

xo