Fashion Makeup Mandy Makes Lush Lashes!

July 12, 2010 - 3:55 pm

Long eyelash

I don’t know one woman who doesn’t want big sexy lashes! “Last year, while many [makeup] categories remained flat – neither gaining nor losing sales – sales of false lashes grew 6.2%. And sales for eyelash growth stimulators are growing by the double digits, expected to create a $1 billion industry soon.” (www.kissandmakeup.tv) The minimal barrier of entry is of course mascara. My girlfriends and I are constantly commenting on or trying new mascara products. Suckers! All of us. We want so badly to believe what they advertise to us that we will try anything once. I can’t even count how many tubes of mascara I have purchased, only to discard after one or two uses because they failed to deliver on their promises. And don’t get me started on mascara commercials…you do realize that all of those women are wearing fake eyelashes? Sure maybe there’s some mascara on those fake eyelashes but they don’t look that way from mascara alone.

At some point maybe you’ve tried fake eyelashes. Application of them is tough to do alone. You have to practice and get used to doing and then re-doing your shadow because you effed it up, and good, in the process. Ah, the cost of beauty! I’ve played with lashes a fair amount but they are a one trick pony generally speaking. You struggle to get em looking good and they only last one evening.

Makeup Mandy

This weekend I discovered lash extensions. There is a little boutique in Los Angeles called Makeup Mandy’s on Melrose Ave. I have driven past it daily for something like 4 years and always wondered exactly what a “lash bar” meant. After I spent 2 hours in the afternoon watching Nicole Kidman’s endless lashes flutter in Moulin Rouge on TV,  I finally decided I needed to get off the couch and investigate this extension idea for myself.

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Comic Books Wonder Woman: Don’t Eff With an Icon

July 2, 2010 - 7:01 pm

Wonder-Woman-New-By-Don-Kramer

I don’t have to tell you that this week DC Comics released the new look for Wonder Woman, by Don Kramer.  It’s not only the comic universe that is in an uproar, but pretty much everyone that ever had a fond memory or attachment to the heroine. After all she was one of the only superheros who didn’t have a male counterpart come first. I mean, really…there wasn’t much of a need for a Wonder Man.

Just recently I started watching the original 1974 TV series with the gorgeous Linda Carter filling WW’s red leather boots. With the risk of dating myself, I remember catching episodes as a little girl and being absolutely titillated by her glossy brown hair and overt sexuality. My Mother thought she was a bit scandalous, which made me all the more interested in paying very close attention. I think for a lot of girls, Wonder Woman was the first female we had access to as a role model.

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Music Eminem Recovers and then Destroys

July 1, 2010 - 12:13 pm

Eminem

Eminem just released his new album, Recovery, last week to absolute rave reviews. Personally I can’t stop listening to “Not Afraid” as well as “Love the Way You Lie” feat. Rihanna. Both have insanely infectious grooves and strong messages, no surprises there.  After years of silence, threats of retirement, substance abuse, divorce, re-marriage, and god only knows what else, he’s finally stepped back in the spot light and we’re happy to see him shine.

On June 22nd, Eminem also took the stage to not only show the world he’s still relevant, but to pay homage to his roots, the MC battle. Red Bull EmSee is a new competition focused on the truest form of rap competition while highlighting the modern freestyle spirit. The event was hosted by Angie Yee. Judges Alchemist, Just Blaze and Craig G will gave their thumbs up or down to a stellar line-up of the freshest MC talent.

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Music Mike Posner IS Cooler Than Me

June 7, 2010 - 2:46 pm

Mike Posner in the studio

Mike Posner is one cool dude. He’s young, he’s talented, and he’s touring around the country playing clubs and festivals. Cooler Than Me should definitely be on your summer play list. Although he’s been lucky catching the right ears at the best possible time of his career, he remains humble and dedicated. I like that in a prodigy. Keep making straight hits young man…carry on!

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Video Do This, Not That: When Bad Can Be Good

June 2, 2010 - 4:14 pm

Leslie Hall

If you are on the internet all day “working”, you have already seen both of these videos. The first is by the always flamboyant, Leslie Hall. The former art student, turned bling sweater curator, turned rapping sensation. Leslie knows that tight pants aren’t her friend. She’s what you might call “self ironic”.  Like all great train wrecks you start to watch because you want to see the carnage. However, with Leslie you continue to watch because she’s not really half bad. The fact that she’s embracing her quirks and owning them outright….well its almost inspiring. You want in on the joke. You might even buy the t-shirt.

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Music Not Myself: Christina Aguilera vs. Lady Gaga

May 28, 2010 - 1:26 pm

Lady Gaga and Christina Aguilera

Oh I see you ladies. You can’t fool the fools. I know that when Madonna wasn’t shaving her armpits you both where in the ether, but seriously, the argument “who did it first”, well that’s just drool.

Madonna

Madonna did it all. She wore the pointed metal bra, she dyed her hair a thousand shades, she did the sex thing, did the lace thing, did the dance thing, the jesus thing, the baby thing, the ambitious thing, the girl on girl thing, COME ON…I can keep going all day here! She did it all and she re-invented herself over and over. She was one of the first mainstream performers who got our attention by continuing to change, shock, push the envelope. She’s not dead you know? And neither are all the people who exist in the world who were bored with it the first time.

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Art/Design Muti Randolph Just Might Blow Your Mind

May 19, 2010 - 11:08 am

Muti Randolph Installation

Muti Randolph isn’t an artist, a designer, or an architect. He’s a technology junkie and a creative genius. His creativity is only limited by his imagination. Although that sounds like a cliche’ its actually true. He dreams up some of the coolest environments whether they are for a temporary installation, a nightclub, or a fashion show. He has absolutely no fear or limitations when its comes to what’s possible. I find that damn inspirational.

Randolph is currently featured as a part of Intel and Vice Magazines The Creators Project. Which is described as:

The Creators Project is a new network dedicated to the celebration of creativity and culture across media, and around the world. At a time in the history of the arts where digital technologies have revolutionized distribution, democratized access, and completely re-imagined the scope and scale with which an artist can create a vision and reach an audience, The Creators Project is a completely new kind of arts and culture channel for a completely new kind of world.

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Featured Music 20 Years of Bullying the Jukebox: Bouncing Souls Bryan Kienlen

April 26, 2010 - 11:43 am

Bryan Kienlen

If you ever dipped your toe into the punk rock stew, you inevitably got a little Bouncing Souls on you. This band has been around the scene for 20 years now and they are holding steady as one of the most hard working, rocking, always relevant bands out there. It was my pleasure to interview bass player, Bryan Kienlen to hear how the years have been treating him as an icon of the scene.

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Art/Design Featured Gallery The Tattooed Portraits of Shawn Barber

April 6, 2010 - 3:04 pm

Shawn Barber is a quiet man. When you get the opportunity to spend some time with him you realize that he is intensely reflective and thoughtful about the work that he does. In 1995 he faced a turning point in his life and his career. He decided to take matters into his own hands and get serious about the art that he created. His blended technique of realism and expression capture life and emotion in a way that is incredibly refreshing.

Shawn, being tattooed himself as well as being a tattoo artist helps to inform the stories he tells through paint. He latest collection consists of tattooed portraits of tattoo artists that he admires from all over the United States, as well as some tattoo studio environments and still-lives.  The above portrait being my personal favorite, of two brothers who are not only tattoo artists on opposite coasts, but twins. This work in progress still needs the brothers actual tattoos painted in but the gestures and expressions between them read firmly of familial taunting….each brother egging on the other, as brothers often do.

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