Okay…so I’m sure your looking at that title thinking “what the heck is that?”  Let me tell ya…its the next best thing!!  Shu Uemura is actually a Japanese guy, make artist and founder of the cosmetic line.  I recently needed some eyelashes and found the mac lashes to be over dramatic, I couldn’t handle it!! Some of us ARE NOT eyebrow-nista’s like Ms.Syl; therefore we cannot handle applyling indiviual lashes. So I proceeded to ask the make-up chicks “Natural lashes..I need natural looking lashes?”  That’s when I meet Nicole, my new eyelash artist.  Nicole had a wide array of lashes, some super dramatic others lavishing.  I was impressed.  What most impressed me was the simplicity of applying lashes. She showed me how to snip a corner of the front and then use a q-tip to apply the lashes.  After the lashes are applied, use mascara to blend and Wah-la!

Next time your looking for lashes, I personally recommend Shu Uemura.

I’m wondering – there are a bunch of “Fashion for the Cure” Breast Cancer awareness products on the clearance tables and online, at TJMAxx and Marshall’s, but do any funds on marked down products actually go to the charity?? Anyone?

Since its inception in 1998, “Tow to Go” has safely removed more than 8,600 drunk drivers from the roads and is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. Click here for your location.

* FREE and open to both AAA members and non-members (100% confidential)
* Call 1-800-AAA-HELP — the call will be directed to a ERS Call Center
* The AAA tow truck takes the vehicle and the driver safely home

2008 Tow to Go Holiday Schedule
Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day Weekend

Dud, I JUST did a video review about my new fave MAC Mineralize in Inter-View, and this morning, I get the newsflash that it’s being discontinued!! WTH? I can’t STAND when that happens. It happened with my favorite Christian Dior Perfume Dolce Vita, and now this.

Other MAC good-byes that I have in my favorites collection include:
GO! Shadow
Smoke & Ash Shadow Suite
Raven (Gotta stock up on this fabulous liner!)
Dangerously Hot Lipsheen
Cocomotion Pigment
Mineralize Duo compacts.
check out the full list here. Too bad they aren’t on sale

I come from a different generation, perhaps. And maybe the recession will lead to some retro-active form of freebee stuff again, because it just doesn’t FEEL right for me to actually PAY for a cosmetic case. I mean WOW. I ‘acquired’ my last make-up bag from MAC at an event, Lancome GWP, and an Estee Lauder promotion.

I suppose that I did, indirectly actually PAY for a cosmetic bag, but I don’t know if I could really shell out money, or sign my name on a piece of paper to agree to pay money for a cosmetic bag. I just can’t do it.

But here is the funny/interesting thing. I kind of NEED a new cosmetic bag. Sigh…should I wait for a freebe, or should I shell out the dough? Decisions!

Just an fyi for you yogurt headz out there – Target is having a sale on the Yoplait Light version of the yogurt – you know the one, with lots of acidophilious and less than 100 calories and 5 grams of protein and less than 14 grams of sugar? Well they are on sale for under 60 cents each or 10 for $5.50 at your local Target. YEA!

The only bummer? My Target only had the basic non-desert flavors, like Cherry, Peach, Strawberry Banana (my least favorite) and Vanilla. I LOVE the desert flavor ones – especially the apple harvest one. YUM. But for around 60 cents, who’s complaining? Not Me!

So I’m about a week into my use of Elgydium (how do you even pronounce that I wonder?) Teeth whitening paste, which I’m really liking alot, and I’ll tell you why. It has natural peppermint oils instead of some crazy mouth burning stuff that some other brands have (namely, Crest). I’ll do a full video review of my week in review though. For more information on the product that I’m using & likeing. visit Sante Active USA.com another plus is that they take paypal!

Well, I was super jealous of the nursing staff at the Valley View Cosmetic Center sporting cute baby tee’s with rhinestone studded BOTOX spelled out across the front, but after reading this article, I guess all that and the free pens, notepads and maybe even the generous free samples of certain meds are going the way of the buffalo. Poof and you’re gone.

It’s funny how each year, society’s trends reflect the economy…remember when we were wondering if the 24K Gold facial was effective? Now it’s all about honey or mayonaise, and which one is on sale at the local grocery store. LOL!!!

Ok so we are only a couple of days away from the infamous NYE, and I haven’t really solidified what my resolutions will be. I’ve had lots of luck with resolutions of the past, most of which are for the most part still incorporated into my life, slowly, and through progressive change. I will list out the ones that I can recall right off the bat:

1. Stop eating cream cheese. With the exception of going on the Adkin’s diet back in 2001, I pretty much leave the cream cheese alone, which is a huge lifestyle change for me, as it also forces me to leave bagels alone. But I didn’t have to say “No More Bagels” because I honestly didn’t feel like I was strong enough to live that one out…but low and behold, here we are 8 years later, and Bagels and Cream Cheese are a thing of the past.

2. Stop eating processed food. Included in this is ALL junk food, ALL pre-packaged junky food from the middle aisles of the grocery store. All foods that are created with bleached flour and processed sugar. It’s been a good one, and on this Monday at the end of 2008, I can honestly say, that I really loathe fast food, and do not miss it at all.

3. Eliminate sugar. WHOA. This one was hard. HARD HARD HARD. And sometimes it still is hard, and being that it is only about 3 years old, I still have a hard time leaving the sugar alone. I am now, however, starting to feel the difference in my mood, body and efficacy when I eat too much sugar, and when I REALLY overdo it. Another side effect of not eating sugar? I crave much more natural sweet stuff, like fruits. But not dried fruits, or fruit juices. And I love Stevia. But not Splenda. It’s still a process, it’s still pretty brand new, but it’s starting to segue into a whole lifestyle change.

4. Get rid of all my big TV’s in the house and replace with flatscreens in a quest for a more non-cluttered living environment. Completed 2 years ago. Easy on the mind, a bit harder on the pocketbook.

5. Read more self help books and less tabloid mags. Did it.

6. Get a dog. Rescued a dog!

And so I continue to think about my list. This year, I am definintely going to incorporate art, no more diet coke, and maybe some photography.

If you really are what you eat, does that make me a tamale?

My workout clothes feel a bit tight today, after a mexican style feeding frenzy of chicken tamales…just some food for thought. But hey, at least I’m back to spin class!!

May all of your holidays be filled with fantastic everything!! xoxo SylviaG

Um, thanks Aunt Dortha for that Shalimar body splash, perfumed dusting kit and matching perfumed body glitter…I will think of you every time I dust and glitter….NOT!

Thanks to Carol’s Daughter, you can now swap your holiday beauty gifts that just don’t suit you for a Carol’s Daughter Holiday Swap Gift at any of the Carol’s Daughter stand alone retail store (read: NOT Sephora). For more details on what is and isn’t eligible and all the rules jargon, visit the official Carol’s Daughter website.

Have you heard of “Dust It“? Sure, hair powders are all the rage of 2007, but today I experienced a whole new realm of hair powders! I had an early appointment with Georgie B. to get my hair extensions tightened up for the upcoming holiday, as well as do some color correction and go a medium shade of auburn. I didn’t do my hair of course, and it was a bit oily and ragged.

Once I was actually IN the cold and the rain, I changed my mind about getting the color done, because the last thing I wanted to do was sit around with wet hair. Instead of letting me walk around with brand new tightened extensions and oily hair, Georgie used some Osis “Dust It’ throughout my hair. Dud, it felt so soothing, light and refreshing. Almost like foot powder, without it being foot powder!

I did a quick google search and found it running around $17 from various beauty supply stores. I am going to have to get a bottle for those days when I just don’t feel like washing, for a quick mattifying option.

I just started using Pedi-Relax a 3 part foot care kit. So far, I absolutely love it! I am going to be posting a more thorough review once I’ve given it a week’s worth of usage, so be sure to stay tuned.

Gotta keep your feet looking good, regardless of what else is going on! Even if summer is a long way off, now is the time to keep your toes extra moisturized & recovered if they are dry due to cold or just lack of attention during the winter months. Plus you don’t want to get caught trying on shoes at all the after X-mas shoe sale with crusty looking feet!!!!