About Rae Cosmetics
by: Kathy Hodge

It has been a brutal summer in the Northeast. It will probably be our second warmest July of record. We have had about 20+ plus days of 90 degree temperature. Add to that the humidity. And of course in New York City, while the subway is certainly the most convenient way to travel, the temperatures are about 15+ degrees hotter under the ground. While I may look well-groomed and coiffed when I leave my apartment, I most certainly don’t look it by the time I arrive at my destination! My make-up is melted off and my eyes are irritated from the now liquid pools that have formed on my skin! I use a minimum amount of make-up normally, and I certainly don’t like applying heavy coverage nor do I have the time to constantly be primping and re-applying! Well, the make-up goddesses must have heard my plight and taken pity on me! (Either that or I really did look that bad!) As luck would have it, I was fortunately to meet Rochelle Rae, of Rae cosmetics when she was in New York.

Rochelle, who attended the prestigious Makeup Designory in Hollywood has a well deserved reputation as a premier makeup artist and beauty entrepreneur, became frustrated with the heavy makeup prevalent in today’s market, as well as the seemingly endless trips to the mirror to reapply. She wanted, as did her clientele, a makeup that would work in real life: and would be natural and long lasting to support real women and their active lifestyles.

After two years of research, design and careful attention to every detail Rochelle introduced Rae cosmetics; a fresh and versatile mineral make up line designed for active women and athletes looking for performance as well as beauty from their cosmetics. Pharmaceutical grade minerals and powders are oil-free, fragrance-free, won’t clog pores and are approved for use after treatments, such as microdermabrasion, peels and cosmetic surgery. Rae cosmetics were designed to work with all skin tones and types, including the most sensitive.

The line consists of face, eyes, lips, blush and bronzers as well as brushes and tools. Based out of Austin, Texas (and they really know hot down there!!), her line is readily available throughout the great Lone State. For those of us outside, she is rapidly expanding. You can also see her line and shop at www.raecosmetics.com

July 29, 2010
by: Kathy Hodge

Wish me luck! After blogging about Norma Kamali and how wonderful her wellness center was, and how I was planning to attempt her diet regimen, I am now about to start the plunge! While I am certainly familiar with the raw and vegan diet, I am a carnivore and while we are at it, I am addicted to chai lattes and a glass now and then of wine certainly works! But…I have wanted to try the cleansing fasts. I guess in some ways symbolic of cleansing the body as well as the soul. One that would hopefully help jump starts me to healthier habits. But I wanted a cleanse that would be healthy, and Organic Avenues’ cleanses (www.organicavenue.com) are definitely healthy and nutrious. It says that they are designed to nourish body and spirit, give your skin a remarkable glow and provide an unmatched healing experience.

For some background on Organic Avenue, it was founded by Denise Mari in 2000. Denise, who is working on her master’s degree in human nutition and is a certified phlebotomist, colon hydro-therapist and living foods lifestyle coach. An associate of Dr. Robert O. Young, author of the ph Miracle, Denise has been conducting advanced research in the “New Biology” using live and dried blood microscopy.

Organic Avenue has a few different cleansing programs. The “Love Easy” is for people relatively new to raw organic foods. It provides a truly balanced combination of juices and solid foods. It is a great way to start acclimating your body to the nutrient-dense, plant –based eating diet. The medium cleanse the one that I am starting, is the “Love Fast”. It is for those seeking the ultimate balance. It is their most popular cleansing because it features elixirs, juices and smoothies. It reduces the solid food intake and speeds up the detoxing process without going all the way to a juice only experience. Their third and most powerful cleansing experience is the “Love Deep”. It is Elixirs and juices: the ultimate juice only experience. It is a 5 day fast from solid food that should provide you with an unmatched surge of energy and incredible clarity that comes from drenching your body with vital nutrients.

An example daily diet from my “Love Fast” cleanse is; Chlorophyll Elixir, Fresh Squeezed Grapefruit Juice, Young Love Green Juice, Goji Berry Smoothie, Cauliflower Soup, Fennel Salad, and Green Mylk. Sounds pretty healthy!

I will do my prep-work for my cleanse tomorrow…….they believe that there are a few important things to know prior to fasting that will create a more beneficial outcome, make the process easier and improve my results. They are:

The day before you begin your LOVE cleanse:

1. Abstain from drinking coffee, or at least cut down considerably.

2. Avoid all refined (white and brown) sugar, salt and processed foods.

3. If you are not a vegetarian or vegan, abstain from or limit greatly your intake of meat, fish, eggs and dairy.

4. Make sure to continue your normal workout regimen.

5. Continue drinking plenty of (filtered) water.

6. Consume a cleansing diet consisting of fresh, organic (if possible) fruits and vegetables. Include green juices, wheatgrass and blended vegetable soups. This will greatly facilitate the cleansing process and set the stage for the days ahead.

The night before: DINNER:

1. Make sure to have a large green leafy salad with a wide variety of raw vegetables (no beans or grains) or lightly steamed vegetables. Fresh lemon or lime juice, high quality first cold pressed olive or avocado oil, and Himalayan/ sea salt can be added, in reasonable amounts. This will sweep the intestine because of the fiber content and prepare the body for fasting.

2. Write a list of intentions of what you would like to release from your life. When we fast or cleanse, we not only detoxify our organs but also cleanse emotions from the system (which are held in those organs) and have the potential to really shift unwanted ideas, people, circumstances and patterns, and move into a lighter more vibrant way of being.

My real goal by under taking this cleanse is to try to incorporating more fresh and organic raw food, juices, smoothies, soups and nut mylks into my normal diet. I think that it is a wonderful and necessary habit which we can all adopt. And I believe that in eating healthier, in addition to being better for my health, I believe that it jumpstarts all good habits, .i.e. working out more, getting more sleep, and doing all those things that I know I should be doing but just don’t do very often!
I will keep you up to date on my progress…let’s see, tomorrow begins no caffeine, sugar and alcohol…nope not going to be easy!

The Vein & Cosmetic Center of Tampa Bay welcomes Dr. Stan Castor of Artisan Aesthetics to the practice. Dr. Castor replaces Dr. Schaffer who is relocating to Alabama with his family. Dr. Castor will now be taking care of the Center’s aesthetic surgery needs. Currently Dr. Castor is offering two breast augmentation specials. Silicone breast implants are offered for only $4,995 & saline implants are available for $3,995. Pricing includes all associated surgery fees and is subject to consultation and evaluation by Dr. Castor. Call 1-888-424-9192 to schedule a consultation.

In honor of Thursday’s season premiere of hit reality television series “The Jersey Shore,” health & beauty brand, KYMARO has created the ultimate Jersey Shore experience with their “G.T.L.” bag. Housing items that give you the true Jersey Shore look, the exclusive laundry bag (that doubles as a gym bag) features products associated with the Gym, Tanning and Laundry.

All week, KYMARO representatives will be passing out these “G.T.L” inspired sacks including a “G.T.L.” branded t-shirt, a KYMARO sunless tanning kit, a discount card to Bally’s Total Fitness, and a Tide-To-Go packet, at “Jersey Shore” transportation locations like New York Penn Station.

These gift bags have Jersey commuters going wild – some are even willing to bare their “Situation” abs to snag a bag! Wish I was in Jersey right now!

These bags will be available for retail sale in August at www.ubuyez.com for $45.99.

This summer, whether you’re seeing red like Kristen, lightening up like Miley, or going bold like Rihanna, the combination of the heat and sun leads to faster fading color. NY based celebrity stylist Riccardo Maggiore (who has coiffed the locks of Brooke Shields, Helena Christensen and Sarah Jessica Parker) has a few tips and tricks to help your color last through the season into the fall.

· Avoid daily shampooing in the summer which not only dries out your hair (especially if you’re out in the sun a lot), but really makes your color fade faster. Instead of washing every day, try a dry shampoo in between washes to get rid of any oiliness (Psssst is a great affordable brand and a favorite among top celeb stylists). Simply spray at the roots, massage into the scalp, and brush the product through hair.

· Heat tools will also cause color to fade faster, so try to work with your hair’s natural texture, but if you find yourself in a moment where you HAVE to use your blow dryer or flat iron, definitely use a heat protective spray prior to styling which creates a barrier around the hair shaft to provide protection from extreme temperatures.

· Redheads already have trouble keeping their hair color vibrant, but especially so in the summer. If you’ve gone red for the summer, consider weekly or bi-weekly gloss treatments (some even help deposit color back into the hair) at your salon to help with the maintenance.

The highly anticipated Fall 2010 UES Footwear collection comes after Manhattan-based designer Seth Campbell’s year-long creative hiatus. This collection re-defines casual footwear. It makes a bold statement pairing sneakers with luxury. WES footwear’s Fall 2010 collection was born from a collaboration between Campbell and footwear King Steve Madden. Snakeskin and velvet are just two of the materials that are used in the designs. Chain-link laces and authentic stud-work reaffirm the line’s “shoewelry” status. This collection successfully breathes new life into the brand.

An initial offering of fabulous designs including the black leather Nise sneaker, $235 (pictured) are being pre sold today at Saks.com. More will be available for purchase on August 2nd.

I just finished reading a Twist-n-Roll facial hair threading tweezer review. Check it out: http://theonefantastical.com/twist-n-roll-tweezers-review/

Sheer, Sexy, Hot Pink, Silver-White Opalescent Shimmer! You’ll get it all in Three Custom Color Specialists “White Heat” Lip Gloss. The color experts at Three Custom Color Specialists created this gloss in honor of the launch of NY Times Best Selling Author Brenda Novak’s new romantic thriller “White Heat”. “Lip gloss is the one beauty essential I can’t live without,” says Novak. And believe me…I can’t live without this one! It comes in a swing-out lip gloss pot! www.threecustom.com www.brendanovak.com

(Taken from the home page at It’s a Glam Thing)

I don’t know where to start or when to end! Brenda Novak is a NY Times Best Selling Author. She is a married mother of five and a true philanthropist. She is a beautiful woman and so much more. Brenda’s Online Auction for Diabetes Research benefitting the work of the Miami-based Diabetes Research Institute has raised over $1 million dollars! To add to this, Brenda has three novels coming out this summer, WHITE HEAT, BODY HEAT & KILLER HEAT. WHITE HEAT goes on sale July 27. BODY HEAT hits the bookshelves on August 31. Look for KILLER HEAT on September 28. You go Brenda! You are my inspiration. www.brendanovak.com

(Taken from the home page at It’s a Glam Thing)

Made with Jasmine & Neroli flower oils, ko denmark products are fab! All ko denmark products are free from paraben, sulfate and artificial fragrance. I have the lotion which I thought I would try first. Their Jasmine & Neroli organic Roll-on Perfume is next on my list. There are absolutely no artificial additives in the fragrance formula. ko denmark’s Body Wash contains not only Jasmine & Neroli oils but aloe juice, organic lavender distillate, pro-vitamin b5 & other great stuff. www.kodenmark.com

(Taken from the home page at It’s a Glam Thing)