Beauty Tip Tuesday: For Beautiful Eyes....

" For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others, for beautiful  lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone."

Audrey Hepburn

XO

Must Have Monday: Paul & Joe Blotting Papers

I always have blotting papers tucked away in my makeup kit.  These thin sheets are excellent for soaking up excess oils on your skin, without disturbing your makeup.  Often times, women with oily skin will use their powder for touch-ups, which can cause a build up of makeup on your skin.  blotting papers are more effective in removing a shiny t-zone and keeping your makeup fresh looking.  To use, simply press the paper on your face.  You can use them as often as needed.

Paul and Joe products are so pretty.  I just love the variety of fun patterns that come on these packets!

Available at dermstore.com ( or I saw them recently at Urban Outfitters!)

XO

Feature Friday by Lindsay Milan - "Puttin' my face on!"

Happy Friday, JF Beauties!


This week, I've decided to try something a little different with you all... (drumroll, please!)  In this post, you'll see the "before" (yikes!), and the "after" of your friendly, neighborhood makeup artist's routine of "puttin' my face on," with all the little tricks and tips in between. 


Side note: To give credit where credit's due, that one came from my Aunt Martha - I heard that one when I was out visiting family last week, and I just laughed and laughed, but I think, it's actually a truthful little saying for most of us, unless you gals wake up looking fabulous.  As for me?  I need a little prep time to achieve such "natural beauty." 


Let's get started!

Good morning, world!  

Okay, so whew, I got it over with - the "no makeup" prep picture.  You'll have to forgive the flourescent lighting in my bathroom (Tip #1: the best lighting to use when applying makeup is natural light, or, the type of lighting that you'll be walking around in all day.  Make sure to check blending and coloring in other lights as well, just to make sure that bronzer you love applying in front of your vanity lighting, doesn't look like a scary orange color while you're walking around in broad daylight.  I've seen it happen many a time, ladies!)


Moving on!  After applying a few dots of concealer under my eyes, patting (not rubbing!) gently to blend with my ring finger.  I prefer a light dusting of powder foundation to even things out, and then either blush, bronzer or a happy combo of the two.  That being said, here's tip #2:  Don't be afraid of color!  Some hues may look like a whole compact of crazy, but I've found that if you just give it a shot, a lot of times, you'll be happily surprised.

Blush by Kevyn Aucoin

Now, in person, this blush is alarmingly neon, but it's fabulously sheer and flattering on, which I never would have known if I hadn't given it a shot!  

Tip #3: If anyone needs an expert guidance, come into the Beauty Library, for Fall Makeup Wardrobing!  Jennie's offering a deal for our lovely, loyal blog readers!  Who doesn't love a girly afternoon spent playing in makeup?

Tip #4: For the most natural looking flush, apply blush to the apples of your cheeks, which you can find easiest when smiling, like so:

Think of that part of your cheek your granny likes to pinch!  That's the "apple"!

Next, it's time for eyeshadow, and since I have green eyes, I like to use plums, purples, warm pinks, golds, browns, and even navy to make them pop. Tip #5: Eye primer is your eyeshadow's best friend for staying power! Concealer works great, too!

The following pictures are to give you an "eye"-dea (ha!) of blending techniques.  The brushes I'm using are from Smashbox, and they're super soft and work fantastically.  Here I've used the tapered shadow brush #7, the definer brush #15, and the crease brush #10.

The definer brush allows for detail work and contouring.
Great for highlighting my browbone with gold shimmer!

The crease brush is mainly for blending.  

Use a "windshield wiper" motion. 

After all that shading and blending here are the end results: 

Tip #6:  Always keep in mind that if you choose to go heavier on the eyeshadow, go lighter on the lips, and vice versa! 

For this reason, I added a smudge of Smith's Rosebud Salve to my pucker.  Smith's is a makeup industry staple, and it can be used for everything from lip gloss, to a moisturizer for dry hands in the winter!  A final, all-over dusting of translucent powder, and there you have it!

Let me know your thoughts on the how-to's, JF beauties!  I've had a request for a "French Braiding" tutorial, so stay tuned for a video blog post if you're looking to learn, too!

Until next time!

xo, Lindsay

Thursday Guest Blogger: Tracee Dolan with Parent Child Yoga Book Release!

 Greetings Everyone!
I am super excited to announce on the JFBL that my Parent Child Yoga Book is hitting the presses. I've been teaching Parent Child yoga classes for a few years now and it is one of my faves. Kids from ages 3 to 13+ really benefit from this awesome partner class and so do Mom's & Dad's ( a few grandparents too)!

    The book is the entire class mapped out with stick figure drawings that can be colored it. There is room to write in notes & anything else you would like to record or draw about your Parent Child Yoga experience.  I decided to write the book for the parents who would request a written down transcript of the yoga flow we practiced in class. It can also be pretty cool to think of it as a recorded keepsake of your yoga experience.

   If you haven't tried Parent child yoga or even partner yoga- give it a shot! It's a playful, heart warming and sentimental connection that leaves you feeling great! One Dad, (whom I will never forget- was kind enough to share with me after class) said, that he felt so much love for his 11 year -old son during svasanah (resting pose) that his eyes would well-up with tears of joy.

The class is tailored for all levels.

Parent Child Yoga, a yoga instruction & coloring book by Tracee Dolan: is self published so feel free to contact traceeteachesyoga@gmail.com if you would like to arrange a book event, party, class, or simply order a single copy :))

What's Happening Wednesday: Jennie Fresa Beauty on MARTHA STEWART WEDDINGS!!

Check out the wedding story of Allie and Jacob featured on Martha Stewart Weddings!!!  Talk about a LOVE story!!

Lucky for us, we worked with some amazing wedding professionals for this wedding!  A big shout out to our friends:

Photography: Orchard Cove Photography
Events: Jubilee Events
Floral: Blush Floral
Paper: Cheree Berry
Cake: Ana's Custom Cakes
Video: Vantage Point Films
Dress: Vera Wang
Veil and Bolero: The White Dress by the Shore
Reception and Ceremony: Old State House/ Hartford Club


Please stay tuned!  As soon as I get my hands on more of the professional shots, I will share them for an upcoming Feature Friday!

XO

Beauty Trend Tuesday: Shades of Fall

image from www.stylist.com

It's THAT time of year!  The leaves start changing, the smell in the air reminds us that it's back to school, the coffee shops reintroduce pumpkin flavored lattes, and the September issues of my favorite magazines hit the news stands!  This year, fall fashion is realistic, it's versatile and it's fun!  I can't wait to plan my trip into the city and start shopping!!
Makeup and skin care, like your wardrobe, should change with each season.  Makeup wardrobing is a technique that I learned from my old boss, Trish McEvoy.  It's helpful and it's effective in your acheiving your overall style.  Think about it, you pack up your linens and take out your heavier, wool fabrics when the seasons change, right?  Well, our skin changes too, and that means that the lotions, cleaners, foundations and colors that worked in the summer may not work in the cooler months....

I want to share a few trends in makeup for fall 2010.  You don't need to follow all, or any, of them for that matter, but it's fun to see what's popular and then determine what may or may not work for you!

Tangerine and deep-plum stained lips

Moss green and lavender eye shadows

Metallics

Smooth Matte Skin and Sparkled-Pink Cheeks

Liquid or cream liner winged out

Teal nails or chocolate brown nails

I am offering a discounted "makeup waredrobing" session here at the Beauty Library exclusively for our readers!  To book an appointment, send me a message at jennie@jenniefresa.com and put "Fall Makeover" in the subject box.  The session includes:

Evaluation of skin
Hydrating Facial
Makeup Bag Clean up
Color Evaluation
Makeup Lesson
Brow Shaping
Detailed Face Chart with new look
10 % discount on makeup products
Sweet Treats and Champagne


$200


XO

Must Have Monday: PureDKNY

PureDKNY perfume is the perfect balance of floral and spice, making this new scent an excellent choice for Fall.  It is simple, calming and truly authentic.

The scent bursts with lotus flower, rose, jasmine, freesia, and just a drop of vanilla, sandlewood, and white amber.

PureDKNY supports CARE , an international development organization, in a specific microfiance project that will reach 900 Ugandan vanilla farmers, most of whom are women farmers.

Available at Sephora


XO

Feature Friday: By Jennie Fresa & Lindsay Milan: Kind words!

"Dear Jennie and Lindsay,

Thank you again for the magical job you did on Saturday! The girls and my mom couldn't stop raving about you: how professional, fun and calm you were. Everyone looked gorgeous, and we had a wonderful time, with no need to fuss with our hair or makeup all night long!  I will, of course, send you the professional photos when Heather finishes them, but in the meantime I thought I would send you just a few amateur shots of your beautiful work".

All the very best,

Gwyneth

For my Feature Friday this week, I thought I would share the kind words of our beautiful and ever so graceful bride from last weekend!  Gwyneth and Scott were married at the Faculty House at Columbia University, NYC!  Lindsay and I packed our kits and headed to the city to work with Gwyneth and her bridal party!  It was a complete pleasure for us to be a part of the "getting ready" festivities, we has so much fun getting to know everyone!  Thank you Gwyneth for having us be a part of your special day and for sending us such a sweet note about your experience with us!  You look absolutely stunning!  We can't wait to see more photo's!!

XO

I want my creamy salad dressing!

Hi everybody!

For optimal health, we want to avoid all of the fatty oils in our diet, including olive oil, corn oil, safflower oil, vegetable oil, MOTOR OIL!, etc. Oils clog our arteries and are highly caloric with little nutritional value. But sometimes I find myself wondering what to put on my salads. I don’t know about you, but I love creamy dressings and it makes me feel much more motivated to go through the work of chopping and washing knowing that I will be rewarded with yumminess. I would usually do an olive oil vinagrette, but today I’d like to show you how to use nuts as a healthy fat substitute. Added bonus? Nuts and seeds, not oil, have shown dramatic protection against heart disease. This recipe is from the amazing Nutrition Prescription program from Eat Right America (EatRightAmerica.com).

Happy blending!

INGREDIENTS - CREAMY SESAME DRESSING

1 cup unsweetened soy milk or hemp milk

2/3 cup unhulled sesame seeds, lightly toasted*

2 tablespoons (Riesling) Raisin Vinegar or seasoned rice vinegar

1 tablespoon raw cashew buttera

1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

7 pitted dates, or to taste, soaked in water 30 minutes (reserve soaking water)

1/2 clove garlic

2 tablespoons unhulled sesame seeds, lightly toasted*

DIRECTIONS

1. In a high powered blender, blend all dressing ingredients, except for the 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, until smooth and creamy. Stir in remaining sesame seeds. Use soaking water from dates to thin if needed. 

What's Happening Wednesday: Going GREEN!!!

As most of you already know, I have been hunting, scouring and researching different organic skin care lines for just about a year now!  The verdict is in!  Farmaesthetics  wins the prize!

Beginning on September 1st, we will be carrying this full line of 100% natural, premium "GREEN" skin care products here at the Beauty Library! !

All of the products are made with organically grown herbs and flowers and DO NOT contain any artificial preservatives, petroleum, dyes, parabens or talc.....just the freshest ingredients from American family farms.

Here's what you should also know:

Farmaesthetics founder, Brenda Brock is a founding member of the NPA's board of advisors, launching the first-ever US Natural Standard for natural products in 2008.

The products are compliant with guidelines set for truth labeling with N.O.S.B. ( National Organic Standards Board).  The products are ALL synthetic -free and have a certified shelf life of two years.

Products are dermatological tested & certified hypo-allergenic and non-irritating.

No animal testing

The company uses recyclable, minimal and recycled packaging.

Donations are made regularly in support of Imus Ranch for Kids with Cancer and Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots Conservation Program

Please stay tuned for featured products, special facial treatments and great discounts here at the Beauty Library!!


XO

Beauty Tip Tuesday: Zap a Zit

Whatever you do, don't spray it with windex!!  Pleeeeeezzz!  ;-)

Take a hot wash cloth and hold it on the pimple for about 3-5 minutes.

Make a compress: a drop of tea tree oil and witch hazel on a piece of tissue or cotton pad.  Place it on the blemish for about 5-10 minutes.

Remove the compress and add a drop on Visine to the pimple--this helps to get rid of the redness.

Add a just a pinch of oil free moisturizer or a lotion with salicylic acid directly to infected area.

Finally, cover with a liquid concealer using a precision brush.  Set with a sheer mineral powder, using a sponge for better coverage.

Must Have Monday: Spin Pins

All of the girls on my team have been raving about SPIN PINS , the latest hair accessory made by Goodie, Simple Styles Collection!  I had never heard of them before so, I was excited to see what all the hype was about!  I headed over to Target  yesterday to snatch up a set and tried them out myself! I was pleasantly surprised with how easy they are to use!  They come in two shades (blonde and brunette) and, you can find them at most drugstores for only $5.99


A spin pin is cork-screw shaped pin that you can use to easily style your hair into a bun.  Goody says they are as efficient as using 20 bobby pins and have even better hold.  To use, you just tie your hair in a low pony tail, twist the hair into a bun and stick one spin pin at the top of the bun and one at the bottom.  It's that easy!!


XO

Feature Friday by Nedelyn Perry

Kara is getting married on October 16th, 2010.  Jennie and I met with Kara here at the Beauty Library for a hair and makeup trial earlier this summer!  We had a wonderful time getting to know Kara and learning all about her fall wedding!
For beauty, Alicia wanted to keep her look romantic and natural looking.  She arrived to her trial prepared with many magazine photos of looks that she liked.  For hair, we decided that this "Taylor Swift" style would work best for Kara's hair texture and face shape.  Keeping her natural side part, I created very soft waves to her entire head using a large barrel curling iron.  Next, we pulled her hair back into a low, side chignon.  Keeping a few flowing pieces framing her face completed the look.  I hope you'll enjoy the images ( taken from my camera, sorry for the  quality) that show off the back, front and side views.
We are so excited to be a part of Alicia's BIG day and we can't wait to collaborate with this amazing line up of CT wedding vendors: True Event, Hana Floral Design , The White Dress by the Shore and Justin and Mary Marantz!
Let the count down begin!!

Guest Blogger Thursday: Tracee Dolan of Tracee Teaches Yoga with: the art of letting go...

  We all hold on to something. There is something very beautiful and freeing in truly letting go. The learned practice of holding- creates tension. Tension causes unnecessary stress to your body, heart & mind.  Stress is the number 1 cause of illness. We hold our jaws tightly, clench our hands and affix our gaze in intense ways . We hold on to ideas, a storyline, a way we think we should be. 

   

 Try to practice softness and truly 'let go' once a day (or more). It takes practice. But it's a fun practice. What are you holding on to? Is it a struggle? A posture? A facial expression? 

   

Start with your jaw. Randomly take time in the middle of your day to check in with your jaw. Is it clenched? Is the bottom row of your teeth closely hinged to the top? Separate them, soften the muscles in your jaw & even your tongue. Part your lips slightly. Imagine that the next breath you take in is softening and nourishing every part of you. Exhale EVERYthing out that you are holding on to,thought patterns, tightness, even if it's just air. Let it all go. In that minute moment between your exhale & inhale you may find a little peace, a lot of softness & a sweet (and much needed) introduction to the art of letting go.

photo credit solutions00.wordpress.com

Tracee is available for group or private instruction. Please feel free to contact traceeteachesyoga@gmail.com with any questions for scheduling information.

What's Happening Wednesday: Another Clue......

Hello Everyone!

It's been a while since I dropped a clue about our new idea...... coming soon at the Beauty Library!

I love this image!!

Any guesses on what we might be up to?!

XO

Beauty Tip Tuesday: Gorgeous Arches!

Brows frame your face and define your eyes!  Make them count!  A few tips for filling in your brows!

Here's how to choose the right color for you:

Brunettes: Choose a color one shade lighter than your natural hair color.

Blondes: Try to match the low lights, or the darkest strand of color.

Red Heads: Experiment with sable colors or soft browns, never match an exact red.

Black Hair: Never use a black pencil or shadow, it's way too harsh.  Try a dark brown instead.

Gray/Silver Hair: Taupe shades are best, they soften your features.

Ps.  Over plucked brows will make you look older, so find the right brow shade for your hair color and start filling those puppies in!  Need help?  Visit with a professional for a shaping, most experts can help you with the shape and help you find an appropriate shade for filling in.  It may take some time to grow in over tweezed brows, be patient!  It's worth it!

To schedule a brow shaping at the Beauty Library, give us a ring!  860-469-5325!

XO

Must Have Monday: Living Nature Deep Cleansing Mask

I had one of the BEST facials of my life last week while vacationing on Block Island!

Koru Eco Spa uses a 100% natural and organic skin care line, called Living Nature during their treatments.  I had the LEAN MEAN and CLEAN facial, which is designed ( in case you can't tell from the name) to purify and detoxify your skin.  We all know that you can't shrink your pores, but you can certainly minimize the appearance of them!!  The Deep Cleansing Mask , used during my 80 minutes of pure bliss, worked like a gem!  The halloysite clay dissolved any impurities while the powerful Munka essential oil ( derived from the Munka plant found in New Zealand), left my skin perfectly balanced and wonderfully soft!

This is a must have product, especially after the summer months when oils and debris have built up on your skin!

XO

Feature Friday by Kelly Sharkey

Kathleen (Pollock) Kaminsky - Part 2

As promised, here are some of the professional shots from Kathleen's wedding.  I just couldn't resist sharing these hair and makeup shots with you.  Kathleen was such a pleasure to work with and an absolutely gorgeous bride.  She made my job very easy.

The photos are courtesy of Kimberly Lynn Photography.  Thanks Kim and Kathleen for sharing these photos with me!  And congratulations again!!

xoxo, Kelly

The Wonderful World of Tofu

Hi Friends!

I’d like to tell you about the wonders of tofu, and how easy it is to make it a part of your diet. Tofu, also known as soybean curd, is a soft, cheese-like food made by curdling fresh, hot soymilk with a coagulant. Tofu is a bland product that easily absorbs the flavors of other ingredients with which it is cooked, and is rich in high-quality protein. Firm tofu is dense and solid and can be cubed and served in soups, stir-fried or grilled. It is higher in protein, fat and calcium than other forms of tofu. Soft tofu is good for recipes that call for blended tofu. Silken tofu is a creamy product and can be used as a replacement for sour cream in many dip recipes.

My general rule, based on the work of such amazing doctors such as T. Colin Campbell, John McDougall, Caldwell Esselstyn, and Neal D. Barnard, is 90/10. If 90% of the time, you are on track with your dietary choices, and the other 10% of the time, you live your life and allow yourself to splurge one in awhile, you will drastically reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes, and obesity, and increase your longevity and vitality. For me, this means cutting back on animal products including meat, fish, and dairy to a maximum of 2-3x/week. SO tofu is a wonderful protein substitute and there are plenty of great recipes out there to experiment with. Here is one of my favorites:

Summer Tofu Salad

Summer Tofu Salad

Sliced firm tofu (patted dry with paper towel to get moisture out), Arugala, fresh tomatoes, avocado, raw garlic, onions, steamed broccoli rabe, cucumbers, smoked paprika, sea salt, pepper.

Arrange on a platter and enjoy!

See you in two weeks—next time we’ll talk about what those good choices are, 90% of the time!

Peace & Veggies,

Jane

Jane Ashley, MA, CNC, AADP, is a Nutritional Counselor and Health Educator. She is also the Director of Consumer Communications for Eat Right America™. Her passion is to help women create balance in body, mind and spirit. She helps women who struggle with stress, lack of energy and excess weight take action to reach optimal health through good nutrition. She loves to cook, run, teach cooking classes and runs monthly women’s groups called “Feed Your Soul—for Women on the GO.” She also runs corporate wellness workshops and participates in public speaking events. Jane offers a personalized coaching program or group classes. Special rates apply for fans of Jennie Fresa :) Check out WellnessWithJane.com for more info!

What's Happening Wednesday: Island Living!!

I've been going to Block Island ever since I was a little girl.  My aunt used to take me on day trips until I was a teen and now, I continue the tradition with my husband and friends for one week every summer!

This year, we are staying at The Sheffield House located not too far from Old Harbor and town!!  Our room is no frills, but who cares?!  It's everything else that the Island has to offer, that make this place one of the BEST places on earth, in my opinion of course!!

I wanted to share some of my favorite past times while vacationing here on the island:

*Reading books, magazines, catching waves, and playing Bag-O at either Scotch Beach or Mansion Beach.

*Dancing to disco at Captain Nicks

*Banana mudslides for happy hour at Trader Vics

*Shopping at the Glass Onion and Mad Hatter

*Grabbing an ice cream cone at the Old Ice Cream Place

*Dinner at Eli's

*Catching a movie at The Empire Theatre

*Ending an evening with a flaming coffee at Hotel Manisses

*Enjoying the view and a key lime martini at The Spring House

*Peel and east Shrimp at The Oar

*Sunsets on the west side of the Island

The list goes on and on!  And, so does the countdown until next years trip......

Ahhhhh, Island Living!!

For more information on Block Island or to book a trip, click here!

XO

Beauty Tip Tuesday: Quick Fixes!

Ooops!  You applied too much blush and might just resemble a clown?

Just dip your brush into a translucent powder and swirl it over your cheeks to soften the color!! Remember to blend up and out!

Uh, oh!!  You're running late and don't have time to wash and blow dry your hair?

Keep a spray bottle filled with water in your medicine cabinet.  Spritz your hair with the H2o and re-style.  The water with reactive your products from yesterday and help to smooth out your bed head.

XO

Must Have Monday: Tools of the Trade!

The concept is so simple, I can't believe someone didn't think of sooner.  The "YOU CURL" clamp-free iron by Conair is simply genius!  Say good-bye to prom like spirals!  So often our clients, especially brides, want loose, beach-waves.  The YOU CURL iron is the answer, my friends!  It's so easy to use and delivers more, free-flowing waves.  The real beauty is how much control you have when styling your hair. You can create loose or more defined of curls. This version is made with tourmaline ceramic which protects your hair from heat and helps to prevent static.  Available at Drugstore.com

Another great tool that I recently stumbled upon and had to share with our readers, is the Trish McEvoy Mistake-proof Sheer Application Brush.  As a former Trish McEvoy makeup artist, I can tell you honestly that her iconic collection of brushes really do deliver.  This brush is made with a mix of natural and synthetic brushes, giving you a flawless finish.  Or, as Trish says, "The perfect kiss of color" every time.  It's multifunctional, however, I like it best for applying blush or bronzer.  Find it at Nordstrom

XO