July 13, 2011

Meet your new best friend ~ Shadow Shields!

If you wear eye makeup or are a makeup artist… get ready to meet your new “Best Friend”!

When I received a package of Shadow Shields to write about, I relived a number of scenarios of eye shadow “Fall out” issues that I had experienced during my early makeup artist days, and thought to myself how ingenious these Shadow Shields are, and how I wish I would have had them back then!!

Shadow Shields are simply amazing. There is nothing worse than applying your eye makeup perfectly and then noticing a “fall out” of eyeshadow has migrated to the lower eye area right on top of your concealer. You then gently try to remove it with a q-tip or sponge, but it smears instead and you look like you have a black eye. What’s worse is if you are a makeup artist and that happens to your client!

Well Shadow Shields have come to the rescue! These easy to use shields let you to apply your eye makeup hands free. You’ll no longer have to hold a tissue under the eye while trying to apply you or your client’s eye shadow!

Here are the 4 steps that I received with the Shadow Shields (and I quote):
1. Remove top corners of backing and apply shield below the eye.
2. Apply eye makeup.
3. When Finished, gently remove shields and dispose.
4. Say bye-bye to messy “raccoon eyes!”

Find out more information about Shadow Shields at: http://tinyurl.com/62xs4s5

I give these “Must Have” Shadow Shields a 5-Star Rating !

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July 11, 2011

Register to win this age defying Bio-Blends Galvanic Wand from Gerda Spillmann!

Everyone knows the importance of taking care of their skin! Well this little Bio-Blends Galvanic Wand will provide you with the ability, in a non-invasive way, to get your skin care products deeper into your skin encouraging the stimulation of Collagen and Elastin, helping with the reduction of fine lines, wrinkles, and puffiness while increasing your skin’s firmness and, as a result, a more youthful appearance!

Can you believe that the galvanic current has been a part of facial treatments by aestheticians for over 70 years!

Now you can have your own very portable Galvanic Wand to use in the privacy of you own home, and be able to take it with you when traveling.

It’s so easy to use as It fits right in the palm of your hand. There are very easy directions on the box of the Bio-Blends Galvanic Wand.

You simply hold it in your hand and press the button on the front of the wand till the light goes on. You then have your choice of 5 settings of frequency that can be changed easily by pressing the same button that turns on the wand. Make sure your pointer finger is also touching the metal on the back of the Galvanic Wand which will complete the circuit and allow the current to travel as you use it on your face.

Now you are all set to go! Press the tip of the Wand on your skin and you’ll hear a soft beep. You then move the wand about 1/4 of an inch to the next area of your skin and keep repeating the process. I use it all over my face, concentrating on special areas of concern like my forehead, crows feet, areas from my nose to my mouth, and around my jawline.

What’s nice about this is that you are in control ! I always recommend, as with anything new, to start on a low frequency as you become accustomed to using the Galvanic Wand. The instructions recommend that you avoid using it directly on the your eye lids!

There really is no sensation, but a slight tingling that is actually very revitalizing for me! Remember you can always use a lower setting if you are sensitive.

To shut off the Galvanic Wand just hold the button down for about 3-5 seconds!

I love the way my skin looks after I use the Bio-Blends Galvanic wand. I’ve been using it a couple of months now, and really notice a more well rested, and healthy color and glow to my skin.

Now here is the good news. Gerda Spillmann is giving one lucky person a Bio-Blends Galvanic Wand. All you have to do is go to our feature page at: www.itsaglamthing.com Scroll down the feature page and look for this coupon:

But, as long as you’re here, why don’t you just go to : https://itsaglamthing.com/winit-9.php and register right now……

The Bio-Blends Galvanic Wand from Gerda Spillmann gets a 5-Star rating from me! I know you will really enjoy it as well!

Take a moment to visit : www.gerdaspillmann.com and see all of the wonderful products that are available for your face and body. Also, read about Madame Spillmann who is one of the top innovative cosmetic mavens with over 60 years in the beauty business and internationally acclaimed!

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July 9, 2011

Tribute to Betty Ford-A True Trail Blazer!

Tribute to Betty Ford

It was sad news to hear of the passing of Betty Ford earlier today. Elizabeth Ann Bloomer Warren Ford (April 8, 1918 – July 8, 2011) better known as Betty Ford was the wife of former United States President Gerald R. Ford. She served as First Lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977. As a First Lady, she was a force to be reckoned with, and actively involved in social policies of the day. She helped restore dignity to the office and perhaps not since Eleanor Roosevelt has a First Lady ever had more of an impact in history in culture.

To say that the 1960’s and 1970’s were turbulent times in United States history is probably an understatement. I was old enough to be aware of things and events, but way too young to fully grasp the meaning of a lot of it. Between the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, The Equal Rights Movement, Watergate, etc…..the times they were-a-changing. Thankfully people like Betty Ford were in a position to bring about change, and were brave enough to do so as well!  It couldn’t have been that easy! Her strength and courage to buck-the- trend and be candid and outspoken I am sure helped positively alter the lives of many, whether it be in woman’s rights, cancer awareness, drug dependency.

Her 1974 mastectomy weeks after becoming First Lady, helped raise awareness for the breast cancer.  Her openness and willingness to talk about her disease raised visibility to a disease that America had been reluctant to talk about. As First Lady, she knew that the experience she was going through would be news. Rather than shy away, she brought her plight public, knowing that by amplifying public awareness, she could help educate and save women from the disease. Breast cancer had now gone from being hush-hushed to a problem that needed to not only be talked about but solved. Women needed to become more aware, cures and preventions needed to be found. And women with the disease needed to have help understanding, dealing with, and support in fighting it. A breast cancer survivor, she became a pioneer in bringing the disease to the forefront.

As First Lady, she was outspoken, candid and was a passionate supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), lobbying state legislatures to ratify the amendment and openly battled against those who were opponents.  Even after her time as First Lady, she worked tirelessly for ERA ratification. She led marches, parades, rallies and helped rejuvenate the ERA movement by inspiring women throughout the country and was appointed the co-chair of the ERA Countdown Campaign in 1981 (Alan Alda was the other chair! )

In addition to being a leader in the Woman’s Movement of the 1970’s,  she was Pro-Choice on abortion, and fought for equal pay for women.  This mother of four, had a voice and was willing to use it on issues from feminism, sex, drugs, abortion, gun control, premarital sex, and even the benefit of  psychiatric treatment…..she was well ahead of her time.  She helped clear the way for future First Ladies and women everywhere.

If this wasn’t enough, she also raised awareness of addiction when she announced her long running battle with alcoholism and pills in the 1970’s. After her release from the Long Beach Naval Hospital, she and Leonard Firestone created the Betty Ford Center, which offers inpatient, outpatient, and day treatment for alcohol and other drug addictions. Betty Ford’s goal of creating a treatment center that not only emphasized treatment, but offered prevention and education programs for family and children was realized.  She again realized that knowledge and awareness was power, and co-authored two books…one in 1987, chronicling her treatment  Betty: A Glad Awakening,  and another in 2003, Healing and Hope: Six Women from the Betty Ford Center Share Their Powerful Journeys of Addiction and Recovery.

My thoughts go out to her children, not only for having lost their mother, but to thank them for sharing her with the rest of the world. Betty Ford, by allowing us to see her strengths as well as her flaws, made sure we all learned from them. She helped create a better world. May her legacy live on as proudly as the woman who created it!

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July 9, 2011

Melinda Lombardi Works the Life Preservers Project

Hi there avid readers of Kathy Hodge,

This is Melinda Lombardi, a make-up artist here in New York reporting on a fabulous project that uses the power of fashion to help raise funds and awareness for sex slave trafficking that unbelievably exists here in New York City.

So I got a call from a friend asking whether or not I would offer my make-up services for a charity fashion show.  Immediately I asked. What is it for?

‘“The Life Preservers Project is a response to local charities such as GEMS and RestoreNY. They desperately need funds to help service the young women they are helping escape from underground sex trafficking in New York. As our project developed, we quickly discovered human trafficking is a much greater local problem than we first realized. Many think human and sexual trafficking is an issue affecting “others” in Developing Nations, when in fact it’s happening on a larger scale in the largest cities here in the USA. Through my contacts as a legal recruiter at PeterSan Legal Staffing, we were able to begin reaching out to local businesses, Sex trafficking law firms, the New York Fashion Business Improvement District to raise funds and awareness.” (Shana Pederson, Founder and President) (http://lifepreserversproject.org/index.html)

I am a woman that believes in equality and empowerment for all.  This is a charity I could not refuse to help. I love the idea behind the project. “Preserving one life.. One artist at a time!” This is exactly what happened at Nikki nightclub on the east side, June 28 2011.

The Life Preservers Project teamed up with fashion designers Jensen Martin, make-up artists, photographers, videographers, some glamorous ladies and men for a night of fun and fashion. JensenMartin™ recently launched the revolutionary new JensenMartin™ Collection of exclusive, exquisitely crafted Men’s and Women’s Outerwear, Sportswear and Accessories.   These innovative, flattering and versatile creations are destined to become the new “must haves” for educated fashionistas everywhere.

(www.jensenmartin.com)

 Hair, Make-up, Camera’s, Catwalk, Action! 

The night was a huge success.  People from all over the city came, Nikki’s nightclub was buzzing with excitement and anticipation. Money and awareness were raised. The models looked fabulous and the fashion was classy and timeless.  Most importantly a message was told and heard! “Freedom and choice for all!”

 For more on Melinda, check out her website www.makemeupmelinda.com and see my blog of December 28, 2010.

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July 7, 2011

One lucky person will win an autographed copy of Brenda Novak’s new book INSIDE, and a limited edition silk designer scarf by Hayden-Harnett with a romantic passage from INSIDE !

I had the opportunity to not only meet, but interview New York Times Best Selling Author, Brenda Novak and her editor, Paula Eykelhof, just before the launch of Brenda’s newest book INSIDE. We are featuring that interview on www.itsaglamthing.com right now, and I’m also going to include it in this article for you to enjoy.

We are very excited to offer one lucky winner not only an autographed copy of INSIDE, but a lovely, limited edition silk designer scarf by Hayden-Harnett with a romantic passage from INSIDE. The scarf has a retail value of $120.00, and that is truly exceptional, but along with an autographed book from Brenda Novak… Now that is priceless!!

You may enter to win at either www.itsaglamthing.com or right here at: https://itsaglamthing.com/winit-6.php

I’d also like to invite you to go to www.brendanovak.com and find out more about INSIDE. In fact, you will even be able to read the first chapter of the book online.

I promise that once you read that chapter you won’t be able to wait to get your copy of INSIDE.

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July 6, 2011

Happy Birthday to His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader turns 76 today. The Nobel Peace Prize Winner (1989) is certainly one of the most spiritually influential people in the world today. He has spent his lifetime not only advocating the plight of the Tibetan community (he has been exiled since 1959), but promoting inter-religious harmony, pleading for world peace, and promoting human rights.

Regardless of any political or religious views that I may have, I have always respected and admired the Dalai Lama. Look at any picture of the man and what do you see…..Yes, he is a charismatic man, but there always seems to be a sense of inner peace, acceptance, gentleness, happiness, playfullness and tranquility that I admire the most. While I strive to bring these qualities to my daily life, I must admit, it is a struggle! Hopefully I can learn by his example!

In honor of his birthday I would like to share some of his quotes on happiness:

  • The purpose of existence is to seek happiness.
  • Happiness is determined more by one’s state of mind than external events.
  • Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.
  • If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
  • If you maintain a feeling of compassion, loving kindness than something automatically opens your inner door. Through that, you can communicate much more easily with other people. And that feeling of warmth creates a kind of openness.
  • Our feelings of contentment are strongly influenced by our tendency to compare.
  • We don’t need more money, we don’t need greater success or fame, we don’t need the perfect body or even the perfect mate-right now at this moment, we have a mind, which is all the basic equipment we need to achieve complete happiness.
  • Inner peace is the ultimate source of happiness.
  • The turning-toward happiness as a valid goal and the conscious decision to seek happiness in a systematic manner can profoundly change the rest of our lives.

  May His Holiness and you have a happy, peaceful and inspirational day!

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July 1, 2011

How Does Kiehl’s Celebrate their 160 th Birthday?

By Opening a Spa and Giving Away $160,000 to Charities…….

                                                                                             Kiehl’s Spa

Kiehl’s………a beauty junkie’s dream store if ever there was! Whenever I find myself in the neighborhood of 13th and 3rd, a visit to the flagship store is a must. Founded 160 years ago, it is a NYC institution! What began as an old-world apothecary store has turned into a beauty mega-brand. The flagship store pays homage to its humble beginnings. The chandeliers set the tone and transport you back in time. You can see Kiehl’s (www.kiehls.com) incredible journey with a time line that shares the Kiehl’s story, complete with original bottles, pictures, historical events, and new product launches.

Their products are formulated with the most unique natural ingredients in the world. Their line encompasses skin care, hair, body, make-up, scent, baby and a men’s line. The white-coated staff are all extremely knowledgeable. They perfectly exemplify Kiehl’s belief of combining customer service, with education about their products and finding the right fit. I tend to vacation at extreme temperatures, and a trip to Kiehl’s before a trip is a must to stock up on products have been proven to work at -40 to over 100 degrees (there’s a reason you see pictures of the Mt. Everest climbers with their Kiehl’s products!)  A visit to Kiehl’s allows me to drool at the motorcycles, (some of the best vintage bikes ever!), grab a snack at the bar, get refills on my favorite products (Crème de Corps has been all over the globe!), and leave armed with some samples of things to try. 

Kiehl’s was bought in 2000 by L’Oreal, mainly because there were so many orders they needed to expand to keep up with demand! Prior to L’Oreal, Kiehl’s advertising was mainly word of mouth. L’Oreal has remained true to Kiehl’s and respected their decision to remain a company with old-fashioned values.  Why fix something that isn’t broken!

This July, Kiehl’s will be opening it’s first-ever spa. Spa 1851 will be located at 157 East 64 Street and can be reached by calling (888) SPA-1851. The spa which is set to open mid-July, will have a separate entrance, a men’s grooming lounge, and have three treatment rooms. It will feature Kiehl’s products, and there will be treatments for skin, hair and body. Keeping with Kiehl’s commitment for the environment, it is eco-friendly.  For those of us who love Kiehl’s products, it surely will become a mainstay!

Kiehl’s also has a long standing commitment to philanthropy. Make sure you check out www.kiehlsgives.com and help them distribute $160,000 among 24 charities around for the world. View the short videos from Kiehl’s Global Ambassadors, (Julianne Moore for Children, Pharrell Williams for the Environment, Scissor Sisters for Aids Research) and vote for the cause that means the most to you. Keep going back and vote until August 31, 2011. It’s a wonderful way to help them celebrate their 160th birthday!

Excellent products, outstanding customer service, commitment to philanthropy-there is a reason Kiehl’s is 160 years young!

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June 28, 2011

Fashioned for Hope Event & Help Gilda’s Club

Fashioned for Hope

Cancer…..unfortunately I can’t think of anyone in my vast circle of friends whose life has not in some way, shape or form been transformed by that word. In NYC alone, nearly 35,000 people are diagnosed with cancer. Each diagnosis affects not only the person diagnosed, but an entire circle of family and friends. Thankfully there are organizations that offer support, social and emotional, to all people with all types of cancer, as well as their families and friends, so that no one has to face cancer alone.

Having a mother who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Gilda’s Club has always been near and dear to me. Gilda’s Club is named for Gilda Radner, the brilliant comedian and one of the original cast members of Saturday Night Live who died of ovarian cancer in 1989. Gilda’s cancer psychotherapist Joanna Bull had encouraged Gilda to seek support from The Wellness Community, founded by Dr. Harold Benjamin in Santa Monica, California in 1982. Gilda shares extensively about her experiences at The Wellness Community in her book, “It’s Always Something”. It was her dream that anyone touched by cancer would be able to receive the kind of emotional and social support that she had found. After her death, her husband Gene Wilder, his friends Joel Siegel and Mandy Patinkin set out to fulfill Gilda’s wish that “no one should face cancer alone.” In 1991, they reached out to Joanna Bull and created the Gilda’s Club program and opened the first Clubhouse in New York City in 1995.

 Since opening, Gilda’s Club NYC has offered a place where men, women and children living with cancer – and their families and friends – can join together to build social and emotional support as a supplement to medical care. The success of their flagship prompted the formation, in 2000, of Gilda’s Club Worldwide, an organization dedicated to developing a national network of clubhouses. Gilda’s Club NYC serves all five boroughs of NYC and strives to meet the growing needs of the cancer community by offering support and networking groups, workshops, lectures, social events, and children’s and teen programs all free of charge.

On Wednesday, June 29th, join ModaCYCLE.com, Lion’esque Media, and host Alex McCord in a designer clothing auction to raise money for Gilda’s Club. Designers contributing include Nanette Lepore, Tracey Reese, Chado Ralph Rucci, A. Detacher, Araks, Loris Diran and more of New York fashion’s most exciting names. It will be held at Millesime at the Carlton Hotel, 88 Madison Avenue. Admission is complementary. Come out, support and continue to help Gilda’s legacy grow!

 RSVP to: http://fashionedforhope.charityhappenings.org/

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June 27, 2011

21 drops pre-blended therapeutic grade essential oils offer a natural solution to help you feel better naturally

Essential Oils have been used throughout the ages for the purpose of healing and helping us feel better via body, mind, and spirit. 21 drops has taken this knowledge, and developed combinations of various 100% natural, organic or wild crafted oils from the “healing properties” of plants that focus on 21 problems that most of us, at one time or another, have issues with.

When given the opportunity to try 21 drops, I was extremely enthusiastic to check them out. I had decided that stress was something that seems to be ever-present with the type of work that I do, and was absolutely ecstatic when my roll-on bottle of “#11 De-stress” (pictured) arrived.

I followed the easy instructions (and I quote from my #11 De-stress information sheet) to apply early, and often to temples, wrists, collarbone and front of the neck. Dab under nose and breathe in frequently throughout the day.

For me, I start my day with #11 De-stress! It can be used “anytime and anywhere”. My bottle of #11 De-stress is always with me, and it imparts a calming, more balanced, and not as “anxious about things” demeanor that I usually tend to deal with.

Here are the ingredients in #11 De-Stress (Quoted from 21 drops information Sheet) :
•Frankincense resin oil
•Lavender flower oil
•Ylang ylang flower oil
•German chamomile flower oil
•jojoba seed oil (carrier)

Take a moment to peruse their very informational website: www.21Drops.com

There you can find out more about aromatherapy, information about ingredients used in their blends of essential oils, and all about their company and dedication to creating these wonderful blends! You will also be able to see all the 21 blends you can choose from and purchase right on their website!

It gets even better! You can even find out how to have a special blend created just for you….if you wish.

And….they have new 21 Drop Trios! ( and I quote from their website) Our new Trios combine our remarkable aromatherapy blends into sets that make sense in the context of daily life.

Once again, I encourage you to enjoy all the aromatherapy information and 21 drops products that are available at :www.21Drops.com

I give 21 drops a 5- Star review!

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June 25, 2011

Topical Treatment with Botox Results?? Sign Me Up!!

Anatomy of a Wrinkle Alleviated With Skin 2 Skin

 

With age comes wisdom—and wrinkles! Of course most of us would forgo the wisdom when we spy those wrinkles on the brow, forehead, around the eyes and lips that seemingly weren’t there, or weren’t as noticeable the night before! At first, we think we are imagining it, but we’re not. Years of being exposed to sunlight, environmental free radicals, and even our facial expressions weaken our skin, leaving us gradually with wrinkles.  Like it or not, as we age, our skin thins, the connective tissue weakens, we produce less collagen and elastin, leaving us with those fine lines that become deeper and more pronounced with age.

Chances are, it is when we first start to see these wrinkles that we begin the never ending quest to find anything that works to slow down the process and make them (please!!!) go away! Most doctors will tell you that is possible to take preventive measures against wrinkle damage.  Their simple solutions would include the following:

1)      Protect yourself from sun and environmental factors as much as possible.

2)      Boost collagen and keep skin hydrated.

3)      Be smart about skin care. Pick products that work.

4)      Soften muscle contractions.

 What is it about the softening of muscle contraction that makes it important? To understand the anatomy of a wrinkle, it is important to understand how our skin works.  Our skin consists of three layers.  The first layer is epidermis, the thin protective layer. This layer has rows of cells resembling a brick wall, with the new cells at the base. The dermis or the middle layer contains connective tissue, blood vessels, nerves, sweat and oil glands as well as the cells that produce collagen. Collagen, along with elastin weaves through the outer layer, giving our skin flexibility and firmness. The base layer or the subcutaneous layer is composed of connective and fat tissues.

Remember being told when you were making a face as a child to be careful because your face would freeze that way? They weren’t kidding! Anytime you make a facial expression temporary folds in the skin form where our muscles move. The collagen in our skin develops a memory of each crease. Collagen production decreases with age and the skin thins. What are those lines deepening in the forehead? You are looking at those muscles remembering movement and staying contracted. Not pretty is it?

What can you do to lessen and alleviate these lines? Keep the muscles relaxed!  One reason Botox is so popular is because Botox lessens the contractions of the muscle causing them to relax. It acts as a muscle relaxant by blocking the neurotransmitters that cause muscle contraction. Botox cosmetic injections are popular because they are a simple, minimally non-invasive procedure that is easy to perform and consistently achieves good results. As of 2007, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons estimated that 4.6 million procedures were done in the US alone.

The effects of Botox are temporary. The results wear off in about three to four months, and the muscles will then contract again. The contractions appear gradually. The goal of Botox is a subtle softening of the lines.  The average cost of a Botox treatment anywhere from $300 to $500. Multiply that by 3 or 4 times a year. OUCH!!! It can become a pricey addition to your budget. Vanity aside, I personally I can think of better ways to enjoy the money.

If you are just starting to see those lines, or if they aren’t that deep, there is no need to run right out and book that Botox appointment. Get yourself a bottle of Skin 2 Skin’s Un-Wrinkle Forehead & Crow’s Feet Cream. STAT!!! This intensive cream is formulated with three powerful peptides (Argireline 20%, Snap 8 10%and Dermaxyl) that calm the muscle contractions that lead to the deep wrinkles on the forehead, between the brows and crow’s feet.  Dermaxyl hydrates the skin and helps mature skin to function like younger skin. By using these powerful smart anti-aging peptides together you will see a 60% wrinkle reduction within 28 days and continued smoothing of the skin over time.

If you are using Botox, then this cream can also be used to get longer wear out of your treatment. Like all of Skin 2 Skin products, (www.skin2skincare.com) the Un-Wrinkle Forehead & Crow’s Feet Cream is a natural, USA made, Medical Grade, Certified Organic, double duty cream that works to repair existing skin conditions and prevent future skin damage. It contains some of the highest concentrations of anti-aging elements known to science, designed to repair, rehydrate and enhance skin elasticity, while noticeably reducing wrinkles and improving the skin’s appearance and balance.

A less invasive treatment and certainly a much cheaper alternative to Botox would be to use Skin 2 Skin Un-Wrinkle Forehead &Crow’s Feet Cream. As much as I have earned every one of those laugh lines, frowns, scowls, etc., I’d rather not wear them on my face! With age does come wisdom—–the wisdom to use smarter products!

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