Temple of Glam

I get it. Christmas is three weeks away. And when it comes to Christmas shopping, I flip flop between an awakened Buddhist state and full-on Western denial. Speaking of denial, I still can't believe I ventured out on Black Friday this year. Yup, I was one of THEM.

Assuming you aren't walking around singing "8 Days of Christmas", maybe Philosophy The Gingerbread House ($20) will take you to a don-a-sexy-Santa-costume and sing in the street kinda' place. The shower gel set includes The Gingerbread Man (relaxing & moisturizing, a Philosophy classic) and The Gingerbread Girl (shimmering & sparkling, a gel with golden flecks). If you want more of a light ginger scent, go for the girl. A more hardcore ginger root situation? Go for the guy.

#1 A special someone suggested I create stories about my kitchen kitchiness because, hell, I really am a hot (warm and cold) mess when I attempt to cook. He also came up with the clever name, Shakin' and Bakin'.

I call him "Sir Shake-A-Lot" because he's always mixing up different kinds of smoothies and shakes. When I found myself adding soy protein to a strawberry milkshake, I figured it was time to start documenting the moment. I mean, can hardcore cooking be that far behind? Probably, but who knows?

#2 I'm one of the few people of a Southern background that doesn't get down with sweet potato pie. And since guilting grandma into making apple-peach cobbler for Thanksgiving no longer works, I took my sweet tooth into my own hands (coincidentally, that's probably where it'll be in a few years if I don't calm down the sweets).

True, I plan to try out (and make my own) shakes and baking recipes, but I figured for my inaugural run (where family members will actually be ingesting what I made), "why test fate? Dunkin Hines Golden Butter cake mix and Chocolate frosting, it is!".

2009 Women of Worth Honorees

Every year L'Oreal honors ten women whose work benefits women, youth, survivors of sexual violence, education and more at the Women of Worth Awards. L'Oreal Paris donates $5,000 to each of the honorees' charitable organizations AND a matching donation of $5000 in their name to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.

One of the ten women will receive $25,000 for her charity organization. The winner will be announced at the awards event on December 9th. Why not vote and send some sisterly love to one of the ten honorees? I just did.

Voting ends tomorrow, November 24th!

Image Courtesy of makingmakers.posterous.com

Rumors of a Gaga fragrance have been around since earlier this year.  Finally, Coty has announced they have signed a partnership with Lady Gaga to create a perfume that will "pave the way for an extraordinary fragrance experience for consumers".

Umm, ok.  I'm definitely intrigued.

According to Coty, Haus of Gaga will be very involved in the development and marketing of the fragrance. I can only imagine the potential list of ingredients - essence of disco stick anyone?

It will probably be a study in contradictions, much like Gaga herself:

- dirty, but fresh

- pure, but slutty

- sweet, but commanding

- modern, but retro

The launch is scheduled for sometime in 2012. This is a celebrity fragrance I am actually anticipating.

-Posted by: Shanna S.

Image courtesy of fanpop.com

Are you there Hair Diary?  It's Me, Cat.

Tonight, while riding an elevator, there was a stop on the fourth floor.  Who should get in?  A girl sporting a Louise Brooks haircut that rocketed me right back to ANTM Cycle #9 and fond memories of Saleisha Stowers.  Saleisha was my very favorite contestant because, let's face it, who can rock an LB haircut and still look like a supermodel and, as Tyra would put it, commercial?  No.  One.

As the elevator climbed the remaining two floors to my final destination, I stared in complete awe at only the second person on this planet (or at least the second person I've ever seen) work a bowl cut from the roots of her hair to the very tips of her strands.  She was fabulous and I wanted to hug her for inspiring me so.

Of course, that would be downright creepy.  So instead, I wrote this diary entry.  Please, in my next life, make me the kind of girl who can pop a bowl on her noggin' and snip away.  Sigh....

-Posted by: Cathy S.

Ron from Beauty Stat emailed me to attend the Philips Crystalize event. Ron is huge in the beauty world...kinda' like "The Godfather". He made me an offer I couldn't refuse: skin imaging with an in-depth consultation.

Honestly, I thought to myself, "C'mon, now. My skin is just about perfect...bring it.".

I parked my bumper into a seat as the Philips Crystalize consultant took pictures of my skin. As I prepared for a litany of compliments, she told me instead that out of a perfect 8 (perfectly balanced, well-hydrated skin) my joint was a 3.6. And then she pointed out my fine lines in the photo. Fine lines? Me...Babyface Brathwaite?

The system also tested my skin's redness (um...), texture, and pigmentation.

To assuage my dismay, she  gave me the products that would help my skin look its very best. So tonight you better believe I'll be trying out my new Vichy products. Here's the dealio: the skin imaging and consultation are free. I got mine done at Duane Reade; go here to see where you can get yours!

Last night I went to the grand opening of the new Sabon store in Soho. There were complimentary hand massages and body scrub demonstrations. In fact, because I used the Patchouli Lavender Vanilla Body Scrub ($30) in the store, I bought it AND got suckered into buying the larger jar ("It's only $6 more!").

I mean, I've written beauty training scripts. Once you get the customer to try the product, she will most likely buy the damned thing. Bah! Humbug. But I must say my skin feels gooood.

Oh and the foodie in me wants you to know that the prosecco with apple and cinnamon syrup cocktail, mini potatoes topped with caviar, and crostini with basil, fresh mozzarella, and tomato (I hate tomatoes, mind you) were dee-li-cious.

Image courtesy of austin360.com

A teenager, a dad, and a blogger walk into a bar.

OK fine, there were two teenagers. And... it wasn't a bar. It was a car. I've just always wanted to tell the "A priest, an imam, and a rabbi walk into a bar" kinda' joke. So sue me.

Anyways, I sat in the car listening to two super cute and super smart teenage girls being, well, teenage girls. There was a whole lot of giggling and talking and it was fantastic. The dad jokingly petitioned his daughter to pipe down, but she was totally unaltered (or *ahem* incorrigible). I think many of us older girls can take a note from that play book, verdad?!

All right I'm off my soap box (that reference will be funny in 2.3 seconds): Cor Silver Soap ($15 - $120) didn't impress me when I first saw it. In fact, I was like, "What the hell? Who still uses bar soap on her face?"

But once I read about the glycerin-nano silver soap, I realized I needed to try the minor miracle maker. Work up a lather, apply it, let it sit for a few minutes, and rinse away makeup (even 3 coats of mascara), oil, and whatever else has been on your face all day! After that, I promise your skin will be clean and glowing. I will say that it does clean pretty deeply, so if you have dry skin, you will definitely need intense hydration post-suds.

Are you there Hair Diary?  It's me, Cat.

Today is my birthday.  It was great, thanks for asking.  I was even thrown an impromptu party at work.  When I blew out the candles I wished for one thing and although it is bad luck to tell you for what I wished, l tell you everything, so here goes.

First, I wished for the chicness of the French bed head above...

Then for the cuteness of this pixie:

And, of course, the playfulness of the free-spirited hippie hair:

Of course, I wished for health.  Well, for healthy hair, preferably like this:

And finally, for a good colorist who understands the importance and subtlety of an inch of roots:

Here's to another year!

-Posted by: Cathy S.

Hey Hair Diary,

This week I went to my salon to get my relaxer touched up, and the most horrifying thing happened.  My regular hairdresser was not there!  Not to be deterred, I decided to try another hairdresser there and while touching up my relaxer she did a BIG NO-NO.  She applied relaxer to my already relaxed ends!!! I was horrified.

You and I know that you should not reapply relaxer to already-relaxed portions of the hair because it thins it, leading to breakage.  You know how fine my hair is already, so of course I asked her rinse it off, and when I left, I promptly sought a remedy.

Luckily I found L'Oreal Hair Fixer.  It's a bit like a science experiment (which being the nerd that I am, I love).  You drop a tablet in the mixer bottle supplied, add the solution, and shake.  Apply it to your hair and the effects accumulate over time, strengthening your hair.

I bought three boxes; one can never be too safe...

-Posted by: Shanna S.

Last night I went to the Levi's Spring 2011 Press Preview. There I spotted the trends for the season including high-waisted styles and pastel-hued denim.

Among the amazing models donning the collection, I saw the models from the Curve ID party. As Misha, one of my blogger besties took a pic with a male model, I was bff-ing it up with my favorite model girl. Favorite because she was gracious enough to hold her pose as my ancient Canon "warmed up" at the Curve ID party. Why would a digital camera EVER need to warm up? No flippin' idea.

Anyways, as I knocked my tooth into the straw (this time it wasn't yet another display of my clumsiness; the straw was metal!), I watched The Duke Spirit perform. The lead singer, Liela Moss had the most incredible feather necklace...I'll see if I can get my hands on a pic for ya.

Editor's Note:
I got a pic of Liela Moss' necklace!! Dope, ain't it?

Image courtesy of www.cupcakesandcashmere.com

Are you there Hair Diary?  It's me Cat.

Because you're omnipotent, you already know I am having a bad hair day.  My curls are out of control.  I'll be straight (pun intended) with you.  I went out last night, had a few margaritas and before you know it...BAM!  It was 8:45 am and I had time to shower but not style my hair.  Problem is, I need my hair to look good.  Pronto.

That's when I remembered one of my favorite bloggers, Emily from Cupcakes & Cashmere, had long-ago posted a tutorial about a girl, her curling iron, and some shine spray. It's, hands-down, the quickest way I know to turn dull, unmanageable hair into something much more presentable.  In fact, her hair looks downright adorable!

Check it out and bookmark it!  This tutorial is like MacGyver, but for your hair.

(Hair) crisis averted.

-Posted by: Cathy S.

Guess that unseasonably warm weather is over, huh! That means it's time to layer on more than just hoodies and long johns. Just wondering, anyone wear long johns anymore (like the old school, off-white, waffle-textured ones)? Think about it and get back to me.

As I patiently await your response, I present you with NIVEA for Men Replenishing Lip Balm (approx. $2.50). It's great for guys because it's lightweight as well as fragrance, color, and "gloss" free. And you can't beat that with a bat.

Image courtesy of Erika Morillo

I know everyone says, "I swear, he was singing to me!" But I'm serious, "Just the Way You Are" was being belted out directly at me. No lie. And that is why I feel completely comfortable calling the John Legend & The Roots, Billboard.com concert featuring Bruno Mars, a date. You can't shame me.

So I guess you are expecting some kind of beauty/style segue. Well I got one.

I was infatuated with John Legend's background vocal girls. This red-lipped song bird helped perpetuate my red lipstick quest, which has since stalled. The color reminds me of the NARS Dragon Girl Lip Pencil Felicia from This That Beauty recommended.

The photo doesn't really do her justice. I would upload the video I took during John Legend's "Save Room" performance, but er, I was singing at the top of my lungs and won't put you through that trauma.