Stephanie Nolasco

Isabella Blow: A Life in Fashion

brittany — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 08:00:00 +0000

Before Lady Gaga adorned her poker face with a diamond-encrusted lobster, there was the original eccentric fashionista Isabella Blow, the flamboyant muse to couture designers who, despite being the toast of London’s glitterati, would die at age forty-eight by her own hand. As a fashion director, she survived as one of Anna Wintour’s assistants to later become champion of the avant garde. From hot pink cobwebs to towering peacock feathers, there was nothing that Blow wouldn’t dare crown herself with. While she discovered both fame milliner Philip Treacy and designer Alexander McQueen, none of her accomplishments could prevent her suicide by swallowing poison in May 2007.

Even in death, Blow continues to make headlines and is now the leading lady of two books based on her extravagant life. One was written by her husband Detmar Hamilton Blow and the other by journalist Lauren Goldstein Crowe. Although she never knew Blow personally, Crowe was compelled to investigate the addict of lavish hats. Isabella Blow: A Life in Fashion is more than just a biography. Rather, it’s a love letter that faithfully depicts who the icon really was. From a tumultuous family history to the final moments of an even more tragic life, Crowe expertly crafts a tale that’s more awe-inspiring and heartbreaking than anything ever written about Blow.

While Blow’s husband claims that Crowe’s biography is riding on the “Issie bandwagon,” she took on an even greater challenge than rehashing old diary entries. Crowe proves to be a masterful reporter in her investigation of Blow’s 600-year-old legacy and gives readers clues why the successful editor chose death over further redefining a world in which she ruled supreme. The dark cloud that shadowed Blow wasn’t unknown to her family. According to Crowe, her grandfather Jock Delves Broughton “injected himself fourteen times with Medinal, a barbiturate.” Then there’s her brother John Delves Broughton who, at age two, choked to death. It comes as no surprise that, after interviewing countless friends and relatives, Crowe would find out that Blow once told a nurse:

So many people kill themselves, it’s not unusual. It’s just unusual to have someone who wants to die so much to have been left here... I had eight suicides in my family. It comes like that to us. It’s like bacon and eggs. It’s like cheese and toast. I just have to make sure it happens the next time.

Crowe successfully questions what others haven’t dared asked: why is it that the elite were surprised that the patron of the obscure wouldn’t want to live? And more importantly, why didn’t her closest friends, including the husband that continues to mourn her, further attempt to give her the treatment she so desperately needed? Crowe exposes what many of us refuse to accept: that when someone is suffering from a serious depression, they will show anyone who’ll listen that they need help, whether they ultimately want it or not.

It’s difficult to overlook the glitz and glam shielding Blow’s mysterious life, yet Crowe never stops at digging for the truth behind the editor’s fears. From having an Italian lover named Casanova, to spending the last of her money on a luxurious picnic basket to share with her non-existent beau, the author implies that, despite how she felt about her looks, Blow could have been anxiously searching for the one person who could make her feel as beautiful as she so greatly desired. Instead of romances, she sought salvation with crowns of monarch wings, veils of delicate petals, and glorious sun bonnets, ensuring that not even statuesque sirens of the runways could attempt to steal the spotlight from the “ugly’ star. Sadly, her light would quickly dim before audiences throughout the world could fully appreciate a style she created.

Would Crowe have written Isabella Blow: A Life in Fashion if it’s main character wasn’t famous and fatally flawed? Probably not, but does it matter? The point of Crowe’s book is to introduce readers to a real-life woman, one who didn’t shy away from exposing the wounds she attempted to shield. And while Blow didn’t live long enough to obtain the aid that could have encouraged her to live, we can now be assured that her legacy in fashion will continue to shock and inspire artists forever.

Written by: Stephanie Nolasco, February 11th 2011

Fragments: Poems, Intimate Notes, Letters

farhana — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 08:00:00 +0000

By Marilyn Monroe

Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Everyone knows about the tragic life of bombshell Marilyn Monroe, whose nickname “Miss Golden Dreams” would indicate nothing of how brief her existence would be. At thirty-six, the “orphan” with a mentally damaged mother and no father to call her own was found naked and dead in her Los Angeles home, apparently from suicide. With three divorces, several miscarriages, and plenty of roles depicting her as a dumb blonde, not even Monroe’s celebrated curves, sapphire blue eyes, or perfectly heart-shaped face were enough to keep her smiling. No fame or money could save the starlet with the little girl voice from the many demons that haunted her.

Since her passing in August 1962, hundreds of books have attempted to capture the patron saint of tragic screen sirens. Now, forty-six years later, Monroe speaks for herself in Fragments: Poems, Intimate Notes, Letters, the sleek hardcover edited by Stanley Buchthal and Bernard Comment. Fragments gives us a glimpse of a woman who was used and misused many times over. Finally, we have the truth of who really was one of the twentieth century’s greatest icons.

This book is a collection of Monroe’s poems, letters, notes, diary entries, and even recipes that were kept hidden-until now. However, the first few pages confirms what many have long suspected—that she suffered from a dark depression, which wasn't widely talked about during her lifetime.

Despite seeking guidance from several doctors, Monroe wasn’t afraid to further examine how she felt, even noticing how her sadness was affecting her physical beauty, including “eyes dulled, cheeks flushed with capillaries that look like rivers on maps” and “hair lying like snakes.” Using a poetic language, undoubtedly inspired by her passion for literature, Monroe expertly depicted herself as “a dancer who cannot dance,” a turbulent storm who couldn’t be embraced by the men she sought.

Monroe’s marriage to Yankees baseball star Joe DiMaggio may have been a match made in tabloid heaven, but it was her relationship with playwright Arthur Miller that proved more telling, and perhaps more damning, than any of her other romances. From her rainbow collection of books, as seen in Fragments, to her determination to attend the Actor’s Studio in New York City, it was of no surprise that Monroe would be drawn to someone who can satisfy her desire to learn. Yet, when Monroe found her husband’s diary in 1956 and discovered how shameful he felt when she was around his intellectual peers, we’re able to feel how heartbroken she must have been over this shocking surprise.

“I guess I have always been deeply terrified to really be someone’s wife since I know from life one cannot love another, ever, really,” Monroe reveals in Fragments, later stating, “I think to love bravely is the best and accept-as much as one can bear.”

Despite that Monroe was desired by thousands of men as the dress flying “girl” or diamond-obsessed Lorelei Lee, the real life pinup suffered from the same sorrows that all women face when they’ve been betrayed.

While Monroe was one of the first actresses to launch a production company in spite of the star factories of Hollywood studios, Fragments shows that her accomplishments weren’t enough to fulfill what she always wanted: love.

It’s certain that loyal Monroe fans will instantly fall head over heels for Fragments. Even curious listeners can also learn a thing or two about the actress who continues to captivate audiences a century later.

There are still many unanswered questions, yet Fragments ultimately reveals how Monroe was a curious, hopeful and passionate woman willing to overcome the many obstacles that came her way by trying to control of her fate. Fragments exposes not the love goddess we’ve come to worship, but the misunderstood mortal who wouldn’t live long enough to find what she so desperately searched for.

Written by: Stephanie Nolasco, January 29th 2011

Shamanic Egyptian Astrology: Your Planetary Relationship to the Gods

admin — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 08:00:00 +0000

By Linda Star Wolf, Ruby Falconer

Bear & Company

If you’re looking for an astrology book that tells you if this is your month to fall in love or what day to play the lotto, then you should skip this review and skim to the back pages of Cosmo. However, if you’re looking for a comprehensive guide on seeking aid from Egyptian gods, all while understanding how the elements of your sign can be used to make you a more spiritual being, then Shamanic Egyptian Astrology is a must-have for your personal library. As a Leo, are you like the jackal-headed god Anubis who’s greatly misunderstood by others, or does the Scorpio in you channel the cat goddess Bast, all thanks to your fiery temper? Rather than exploring the too common traits about the signs, the authors pair them with their Egyptian counterpart, showing us how our matched characteristics can be used to clarify our purpose in life.

While some horoscope books expect readers to browse countless pages about how they’re destined to be something they’re not, Shamanic Egyptian Astrology provides examples on how the formation of planets, coinciding with Egyptian mythology, points at one’s strengths and weaknesses. Wolf and Falconer studied President Barack Obama’s birth chart, revealing why he has the makings of a leader. “Anubis the Shaman King and Ptah both emanate strongly in Barack Obama’s birth chart,” they reveal. “Together, these two principles describe the road Barack walks in his lifetime, that of embracing his true divinity and stepping into his role as visionary co-creator with others who also embrace their divinity. Partnership with like-minded individuals who share his vision is necessary for the embodiment of his Soul Purpose.”

In other words, Obama can only flourish if he surrounds himself with others who’re also ready to express their ideas and take command when necessary. In the case of Ms. Magazine founder Gloria Steinem, Bast is found in her chart, which explains how this inspirational writer can be both the Playboy bunny and powerful advocate for women’s rights. Fortunately, the focus of Shamanic Egyptian Astrology isn’t on celebrities, but rather how we can rediscover ourselves.

The major perks of Shamanic Egyptian Astrology are the personalized rituals and quick invocations that Wolf and Falconer provide for each sign to channel with the appropriate gods and goddesses that can better guide us in our spiritual journey. “Saying the invocation or practicing the ritual, or both, for that neteru will activate something within you that needs to come forth,” they explain. No extravagant altars are necessary to meet Ma’at, The Spinx, or Ptah. The writers discuss how merely embracing the warmth of the sun, taking deep breaths, or lighting candles can help you communicate with the ancients.

The daily horoscope provided by Madame X in our newspaper has us thinking twice before we wear red on a Friday or call an angry beau to apologize on the first week of June, but they aren’t enough to show us a better understanding of our role in this universe. Shamanic Egyptian Astrology provides us the tools we need to befriend the gods and goddesses, ask for their aid, and discover how our traits can be used to better ourselves. Both a guide for the advanced student and beginner, Wolf and Falconer’s teachings are grossly underrated and deserve a standing ovation just for its intensive research alone. We can walk like an Egyptian rather than feeling very superstitious.

Written by: Stephanie Nolasco, July 17th 2010

Hello Kitty Must Die

admin — Mon, 31 May 2010 23:59:00 +0000

By Angela S. Choi

Tyrus Books

To many, Hello Kitty is a mouthless cat in blue overalls who’s never spotted without her signature red bow, but to twenty-eight-year-old Chinese-American Fiona Yu, the feline is an embodiment of everything she hates and willing to kill for. Author Angela S. Choi makes her publishing debut with the crime novel Hello Kitty Must Die, and while it attacks nearly every stereotype that Asian American women face daily, it leaves a bad aftertaste that not even the saccharine sweet pop culture icon can cure.

Yu is that character readers will love to hate, but it’s not because of her cringing pessimistic personality or how she seems to despise everything that comes her way. Rather, Choi’s book is an unconvincing collection of bland one-liners and exasperating contradictions that fail to depict a tale of family values gone bad.

“My virginity will always be mine,” declares Yu in the first few pages of Hello Kitty Must Die as she decides to eliminate her hymen with a Lidocaine-coated dildo. Yet after making this bold choice that would have empowered some not wanting to wait for Mr. Right, she realizes that there’s no cherry to pop. As a result, Yu decides to have her hymen replaced solely to tear apart her “family honor.” It’s difficult to continue moving forward in the story as this is a poor attempt in showing readers that Yu wants complete control of her body, including the right to take her own virginity.

While it’s acceptable for any female to feel that she shouldn’t have a man just to “make her a woman," it isn’t believable that Yu would go through all this trouble simply to get rid of human tissue. Why would a woman purposely tear her hymen and then spend thousands of dollars to have it replaced just to prove she has full control of her womanhood? Choi doesn’t attempt to convince readers the purpose of making a sudden and very expensive decision, which leaves us wondering if embarking on Yu’s confusing journey is worth it.

Yu complains of her family’s desires to wed her off, yet she, a Yale graduate and corporate lawyer, chooses to live with them. Is this Choi’s way of showing her audience that Yu is just an American girl who won’t leave the bird’s nest and isn’t as independent as she implies? These issues are troubling, yet they’re tossed aside, like the family-picked suitors Yu secretly gets rid of because they’re too fat, hideous, or unable to pay for dinner. There’s one leading man who’s more serial killer than prince charming that does get Vuitton-loving Yu’s heart racing, but even he can’t close this Pandora’s box of problems.

Childhood friend Sean Killroy may relish the hunt for unsuspecting victims, but it’s Yu, not the psychopath she secretly admires, that hits reader’s nerves. It’s difficult to believe that she feels no remorse for the poor “Hello Kitties” in her life, all because they merely represent a fate she refuses to accept. For example, when readers discover that her skin bleaching obsessed cousin Katie was found dead from a broken neck, all Yu could think of was how she saved herself from an unwanted marriage because the morgue isn’t “a good place. They don’t serve fifteen-dollar bellinis there.” She later wonders if “morticians gave their clients pedicures. After all, no one would ever know.”

Yu despises getting set up on blind dates just to walk down the aisle faster and comments how Katie “fainted all the time” because she was 90 pounds, but didn’t mind “the modern version of Chinese foot binding” with Prada, Dior, and Blahnik. We couldn’t help but wonder why she’s willing to stay single, yet goes on tangents over every designer label she owns just to flaunt her looks, which are meant to show her poor excuses for suitors why she’s the catch they’ll never have? This is one major flaw that’s never solved in Hello Kitty Must Die, only displaying Choi’s inability to produce a heart-stopping murder mystery for those seeking a bad ass Bridget Jones or Carrie Bradshaw. We’ll stick with cutesy cartoons any day.

Written by: Stephanie Nolasco, May 31st 2010

The Witch’s Coin: Prosperity and Money Magick

admin — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 01:00:00 +0000

By Christopher Penzcak

Llewellyn Worldwide

What if you were given the opportunity to not only overcome your financial burdens, but still have enough money to spare? After ending a year filled with recession woes, 2010 is a time of hope for many of us. According to award-winning author Christopher Penczak, anyone can now earn a little green with the help of Mother Nature. In his latest book, The Witch's Coin, readers can transform poverty into prosperity through spells and lessons in Finance 101. While this book will appeal to pagans who are familiar with using herbs, candles, and oils to help better their lives, those who need guidance will greatly benefit from the many lessons Penczak provides. The Witch's Coin is a must-have for a new year of possibilities.

Penczak is no stranger to readers following the pagan religious tradition. As an eclectic Wiccan, he’s published several books that teach the basics of witchcraft, including The Inner Temple of Witchcraft and City Magick. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that Penczak would finally release a book on managing one’s finances through spell work, a misunderstood subject that can be as complex as improving one’s love life. Sadly, when someone is suffering from a credit crunch, carefully wording a “prayer” to the universe can be the last thing on our minds. Fortunately, Penczak breaks down the rules of how one can learn to open up opportunities for themselves.

“Just because society sets a standard and you desire it, there is nothing evil or wrong with that desire, as long as you are clear and unattached with that desire,” he states. “New cars, big homes, vacations, and big investments are not good or bad by themselves.” Most importantly, we must learn to have balance in our lives for any spell to work. After all, what would be the purpose of having money if we can’t better ourselves with it? Finally paying off those credit card debts is a major step, but also putting some cash aside to pursue a lifelong passion that can open new doors is also another way to use magic for positive results. Best of all, Penzcak reveals numerous ways on how we can create our paths to financial victory.

One of the many wonderful things Penzcak provides in The Witch's Coin are easy-to-follow spells that not only help attract positive energy, but also assist readers in better understanding their goals. He recommends simply writing out our desires, which is a way for us to visually see what we need to make happen. “Ask for what you want, not necessarily the exact circumstance of how to get it,” he explains. “In the preceding spell, I asked for a job that is acceptable to me, fulfilling my personal criteria, and advancing my career. I didn’t ask for a specific position in a specific company. I could have, but that would close the doors to many opportunities that my magick could have manifested.”

In addition, Penzcak includes recipes for “money attraction incense” and even a “milk and honey bath,” all encompassing herbs have been used for hundreds of years. Who wouldn’t want to relax with fresh ginger and orange peel to calm our bodies and clear our minds? According to Penzcak, the scent of rich cinnamon and clove alone can “expand your consciousness, rather than contract fear and tension” when balancing the checkbook. Even if you’re creating a charm to obtain a new job, he notes, “Focus on what you want, not on what you don’t want.” Whether you’re a pagan practitioner or not, anyone can benefit from advice on realizing what we want for ourselves and how dreams can become a reality.

Real magic comes from within and goals can only come alive with work and determination. This seems obvious, but too few believe in it. Whether you’re looking to pay off pesky bills or going job hunting, The Witch's Coin is a timely hit on covering the one topic everyone should master.

Written by: Stephanie Nolasco, February 5th 2010

Ladies Certified Organic White T-Shirt

admin — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:32:00 +0000

By Truth

Green is the new black, and no, we’re not talking about that vintage Chanel dinner party dress. From cosmetics to clothing, the determination to be more earth friendly is not just a celebrity fad, but a way of honoring Mother Nature. Many may not understand or care about what going green means, but if we research what really went in our daily couture, perhaps we would think twice before spending our green.

A recent _Seattle Times_ report claims that common fabrics, such as cotton, nylon, and polyester are either grown with a strong dose of pesticides, chemical fertilizers, or are even petroleum-based. Consequently, how can our Sunday sweats, a fall sundress, or silky lingerie made with insect poison make us look or feel good? Going green does seem like a pain, or is it? What if there’s an all-natural thread made from the fastest growing plant in the world that can sooth problematic skin, is breathable in even the hottest temperatures, and can please nearly any budget-conscious shopper? Pandas thrive on it and one Canadian designer believes it’s the key to discovering the Truth.

“When I started this company, I was not a vegetarian and was not even thinking of pursuing anything along those lines in terms of a market,” explains Reina Pruchnicki, owner of clothing company, Truth. “But the path that I took opened my eyes to many things and over the years my diet slowly became mostly vegetarian. I have become more aware of making healthy and sensible choices when it comes to food and I love how much better I feel!"

Truth, which began in 2001 in Toronto, first started as a line of leather-looking belts, which became popular among the Canadian vegan community. However, it’s her t-shirts that are gaining attention for being made with bamboo. According to the Truth website, this biodegradable fibre has “natural antibacterial properties and prevents allergies and skin irritation.” In addition, these t-shirts can reportedly absorb and evaporate up to four times quicker than other alternatives without losing its silky smooth feel. Unfortunately, these claims aren’t enough to make Truth t-shirts a must-have.

While Truth t-shirts are famous for being made with bamboo, it isn’t fully accurate. They’re actually produced with “Bamtex,” making them 66% bamboo, 28% cotton, and 6% spandex. Yes, Truth t-shirts are so velvety that you just want to wrap yourself in them, but it seems that only pencil thin girls can truly appreciate this irresistible benefit. More voluptuous women must suffer the wrath of spandex, creating a tight, snug feel that accentuates every undesirable curve, making even the most confident female self-conscious about being exposed. While Truth t-shirts seem perfect for hitting the gym or bearing sizzling hot temperatures, sweat can actually cause them to ride up. The thickness of a Truth t-shirt feels as if it’s retaining more heat even though it’s not. The top’s too-tight collar can easily smudge makeup and anyone who can’t leave the house without applying foundation for a flawless face understands how annoying this can be.

Most importantly, why is it that Pruchnicki’s latest line isn’t 100% bamboo when a few clicks of a mouse can lead shoppers to a vast world of designers providing this feature for a similar or more affordable price? If clothes make the man, then what of women? Should they suffer in the name of beauty and their environment? With so many independent online vegan shops to choose from, the troubles one must face with Truth t-shirts are unnecessary and may even discourage others in thinking that bamboo clothing is uncomfortable when it’s supreme compared to standard cotton.

Pruchnicki’s Truth t-shirts may leave eco-friendly fashionistas disappointed, but her new invention shouldn’t be tossed aside like dirty socks. Her willingness to provide healthy choices for women are admirable and hopefully she’ll offer shoppers a more improved version of her line in the upcoming future. For now, it’s certain that the truth indeed hurts.

Written by: Stephanie Nolasco, December 1st 2009

Janis Joplin: The Woodstock Experience

admin — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 23:34:00 +0000

By Janis Joplin

Legacy

What is there left to say about Janis Lynn Joplin that hasn’t been said before? It’s been thirty-eight years since she died from a heroin overdose and yet, we continue to call out for an outcast from Texas who was no great beauty. However, this wild haired flower child is the reason why we have female musicians taking over arenas and baring their souls to millions.

In her brief time on this earth, Joplin managed to do what few men accomplish in their lifetime, which was rock out without giving a damn. By the time she joined the twenty-seven club, she had become one of the most influential singers that has ever lived. Joplin opened doors for women everywhere, seduced fans with her bewitching cackle, but most importantly, she left us with music that will always send shivers up and down our spines. Now, Legacy is commemorating the fortieth anniversary of Joplin’s most important performance at the Woodstock Music and Arts Fair with the album Janis Joplin: The Woodstock Experience. Finally, longtime fans and curious listeners can enjoy the electrifying show that truly showcases her as a star whose light will never die out.

It must be noted that a complete set of Joplin at Woodstock has never been available, making it crucial to hear The Woodstock Experience in its entirety. She, along with her new backup group, the Kozmic Blues Band, weren’t always in sync, but Joplin still reveals her private pain to her audience with no remorse. It’s no wonder that one can instantly hear the crowd cheering, and then suddenly silencing themselves to savor every single beat she creates.

In “Raise Your Hand,” Joplin jump starts the party with her signature psychedelic sound. Her excited shrieks and raspy moans are reminiscent of a possessed preacher. It’s this seemingly simple move that broke barriers in the music industry, making it acceptable for anyone to be touched by “black music.” For a true religious experience, her hit “Summertime” cannot be missed. Despite its overpowering horn arrangements, nothing can take over her chilling vocals, which oozes despair. Joplin’s aching wails, explosive cries, and mournful coos in one of her most famous singles leaves her vulnerable on stage, making us want to love her. “Try (Just A Little Bit Harder)” showcases her husky, whiskey burned voice, a daring, masculine take that few female singers have successfully accomplished before and after Joplin. This only gives proof that perhaps they’ll never be another artist quite like her, and truthfully, you won’t mind letting the queen of rock ‘n’ roll keep her crown.

A rare treat that The Woodstock Experience offers, aside from the chance to revisit 1969, is the second album of the two-part collection, I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama! Her first solo album is a beautifully remastered version, demonstrating Joplin’s ability to dominate different genres other than the usual blues most fans already associate with her. “Maybe” a classic, doo wop tune originally sung by The Chantels, is given a velvety, smooth rendition by Joplin, whose distressed, heartbreaking pleads to have her lover back conjures up every single doomed relationship we’ve once had.

For a few minutes, we can actually feel the same loneliness that once plagued her many years ago. “One Good Man” is like lovemaking, the lingering electric guitars leaves you panting and Joplin’s slow chants only makes you want more. “Kozmic Blues” takes Joplin’s hysteria down a notch, without losing all of her beloved fiery spirit. Her unusual cover of The Bee Gees’ “To Love Somebody” is laced with urgency, breathing life to a too-mellow band overshadowed by horns that are out of tune. Only Joplin can pull off a poor album and to this day, she continues to do so.

Rather than attempting to analyze a woman who has been overly studied since her sudden demise, the simple answer to the question of whether The Woodstock Experience is worth having in one’s collection is a definite yes. As Joplin said at that memorable concert: “I don’t mean to be preachy, but we ought to remember, and that means promoters, too, that music is for grooving, man, not for putting yourself through bad changes. You don’t have to take anyone’s shit, man, just to like music, you know what I mean? So if you’re getting more shit than you deserve, you know what to do about it, man? It’s just music, man. Music’s supposed to be different than that.” It’s no wonder that Joplin will always be immortal and bring forth legions of female artists for decades to come.

Written by: Stephanie Nolasco, August 23rd 2009

Picture Perfect Face Primer

admin — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 10:37:00 +0000

By Zana Cosmetics

Oily skin is often revered as one’s personal fountain of youth with an ability to slow down aging, but for those who were born with this physical trait, it’s a nightmare that stares at you right in the face. Instead of glowing and glistening, oil oozes from pores, causing pimples to make frequent visits, while rosy cheeks appear slippery and dirty. Not even the finest powders can combat the greasy mess, and at the end of the day, your many hours of carefully applying makeup for a fresh face results in a gloppy gunk. No matter how many times you scrub, wash, or tone, genetics can’t be defeated. Fortunately, you can now find an easier way to let your personality, not your face, shine through. Zana’s Picture Perfect Face Primer is the number one tool you need to look flawless and naturally gorgeous, all thanks to a little help from Mother Nature.

Zana Cosmetics is a new collection that provides promising results to women who want to enhance their features without looking overdone, a must for those who also have to battle oil just to feel fabulous. While they offer a basic line of lipsticks and eye shadows that create “sultry, sexy” looks, they aren’t your typical tubes of Revlon or Maybelline. All Zana products are mineral based and non-comedogenic, which means they don’t clog pores.

In addition, their formulas are created with vitamins and antioxidants, ensuring to be gentle on even the most sensitive skin types. Sure, it sounds like another product riding the eco-trend train, but if women must wear makeup to both look and feel amazing, at least they should use products that will heal their skin, not drown it in toxins. The Picture Perfect Face Primer is made with natural ingredients, such as avocado, rosemary, and hibiscus, which all hydrate and soothe. There’s no fragrance or color, just a transparent gel that comes out with a gentle squeeze from an easy to carry bottle. However, does The Picture Perfect Face Primer make you ready for your close-up, or like Mother Nature, is it unpredictable and even disastrous?

The Picture Perfect Face Primer is a brilliant product that will have you saying cheese in seconds. Unlike other primers made with thick silicone, this lightweight gel is silky smooth and immediately absorbed by skin without leaving a sticky residue. It’s so feathery soft that it feels like you’re wearing nothing, but all you need is a little drop to gently rub on your face before applying makeup. From morning until night, foundation stays in place, appearing as if it was just applied. Not only will you hear compliments for having radiant skin, but on lazy days, you could go all natural without concealer, blush, or mascara. You’ll feel like an earth mother with lustrous skin that requires little primping. Isn’t that the top beauty secret that both fashionistas and everyday women want to discover?

As with all the latest beauty fads, The Picture Perfect Face Primer does have a flaw. Like Avon, Zana cannot be purchased from a store, but instead from a Zana Cosmetics representative. However, since Zana is new, expect a hard time trying to find someone close to home that has even heard of the collection. You could become a rep and “be invited to VIP parties to showcase new product launches, makeup trends, and application demos,” but who really wants to go through all that for a face gel? Zana Cosmetics does provide an income to its reps, as well as scholarships, but those who prefer shopping online or in beauty boutiques may be turned off altogether. However, the look of perfect skin is priceless to many oily skinned girls, so the hunt may indeed be worth it.

For skin that‘s rarely slick, add The Picture Perfect Face Primer to your beauty regimen, and you’ll finally be able to enjoy standing out in a crowd.

Written by: Stephanie Nolasco, April 28th 2009

It's Not About Food: End Your Obsession with Food and Weight

admin — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 11:11:00 +0000

By Carol Emery Normandi, Laurelee Roark

Perigee

The new year is upon us, and it’s not just because George W. Bush has finally left the White House. Whenever we decide to turn on our televisions, the Resolutions Monster is there. It appears as a perky model that lost fifty pounds after some fad diet. We look at our own bodies in disgust, poking at the extra pounds of flesh formed after gorging extra slices of pumpkin pie. Summer suddenly creeps up on us like our monthly cycles and those dreams of wearing a bikini are shattered.

There aren’t many options in combating the Resolutions Monster. We could either eat all the greasy Chinese we desire, or shove fingers down our throats in hopes that the salad from lunch hasn’t turned into fat. Fortunately, two women have discovered a new solution, one that will hopefully put an end to the vicious cycle of vanity.

Carol Emery Normandi and Laurelee Roark spent years of struggling with eating disorders because, like millions of others, they yearned to look and feel 'beautiful' every year. Despite fasting, vomiting, and dieting, they've never won the bulge battle—at least not until they formed the nonprofit organization Beyond Hunger, which targets the negative viewpoints of weight created by women. In their latest revised version of It's Not about Food, Normandi and Roark expose the appalling relationship women have with their bodies and how they can overcome them.

Along with personal tales of how they punished themselves with laxative pills, these women reveal advice on taming hunger and how releasing years of shame is the key to respecting and loving every inch of us. The mission seems impossible, but their insightful chapters are nothing short of inspiring and worth the read until the very end.

One of the surprising exercises that Normandi and Roark suggest to readers is eating exactly what you want. Whether it’s freshly baked chocolate chip cookies or potato chips, eat away! It may sound like a terrible trick, but it’s the first stepping stone to being at peace with food. "It is very helpful to have with you at all times snacks that you like and can eat whenever you feel hungry," they explain. "This cuts down on the cycle of binging. You won’t get too hungry and slam down any old thing if you have your favorite foods with you." While this may be true, should we just give up fruits and vegetables for fried chicken and cheesecake?

Before the book is thrown out for seemingly lacking the knowledge readers need to physically improve themselves, Normadi and Roark provide step-by-step meditation rituals on savoring each bite we eat, when to know the signals of being full, and how to stop relying on food for emotional support. They state, "Go into your body and get into your sensual feelings about your body—excited, passionate, turned on, or climactic. Let yourself become childlike—be absolutely delighted with your body."

In other words, discovering all those curves and erogenous zones that make us feel like goddesses is good for our hearts, along with keeping a journal, complimenting yourself in front of a mirror naked, and creating plans to nurture your shape. Does bubble baths and personal massages ring a bell?

It may be a new year, but that doesn't mean we should force ourselves to hate who we are just because we don't look like Beyonce. We must learn to overcome a society that believes Jessica Simpson's new voluptuous shape is newsworthy. It's Not about Food provides women of all ages the tools needed to not only become content with so-called flaws, but also the determination to build much-needed confidence for happier lives. It is then that we can focus on ways to become healthier without dieting to death.

Written by: Stephanie Nolasco, February 24th 2009

Tom and Sally’s Body Paint

admin — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:00:00 +0000

By Babeland

When it comes to sex, everyone wants a little something to spice up the night and make the bed sizzle. Whether its garter belts, handcuffs, or studded leather whips, there’s no such thing as a fantasy that can’t be fulfilled with some helpful accessories. The old saying, “a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach,” may have been proven centuries ago by a naughty mistress who realized that if a lover can be satisfied with a hearty meal, imagine all the possibilities food can awaken on a quivering body. Today, there are countless ways to apply yummy desserts – such as oozing chocolate syrup, fluffy whip cream, or melting caramel – in the bedroom that are guaranteed to awaken taste buds and make anything taste more delicious.

Tom and Sally, who left their corporate jobs in Manhattan over eighteen years ago to make chocolates in Vermont, know the art of indulging appetites. The couple has been producing chocolate pasties, thongs, even French cocoa that can be lightly dusted on whatever tickles your fancy with a feather. Although their most famous product is chocolate body paint that’s heated and then applied with a thick brush, Tom and Sally also chose to go on a sweeter route with fruit flavored body paints that are mouthwatering and a surefire way to make any occasion satisfying.

Although the fruity body paints have minor flaws, they can easily be forgotten with all the delicious wonders they provide. The pack comes with strawberry, blueberry, lemon, and watermelon paints that all taste like freshly made, sugary, tropical snow cones on a hot summer day. Unlike the chocolate body paint, which may damage skin if heated too much, the fruit body paints only need some water to loosen its texture, as it is made with ingredients like high fructose syrup, real fruit juice, and milk powder. At first, it may seem as if you’re applying a messy watercolor that churns stomachs and stains sheets, but the luscious, candied flavor makes you lick with full force and cause your lover to pant from pleasure. Like a ripe fruit ready to be plucked, your partner will beg you to kiss, stroke, and suck all over, starting up your appetite and compelling you to eat.

While some may be turned off by the too-bright neon colors and watery mess, there’s no denying that Tom and Sally have another winner for hungry, sexy couples everywhere. Whether you’re ready to ignite some passion or want to channel your inner artist, Tom and Sally’s fruit body paints will transform consumers into erotic Picassos with an imagination that runs wild and can last for hours.

Written by: Stephanie Nolasco, October 23rd 2008

Pornocracy

admin — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:04:00 +0000

By Catherine Breillat

Semiotext(e)

A beautiful woman enters a gay discotheque where she encounters a curious man who will follow her and spend three evenings exploring sexual brutality. Sounds like the plot of an erotic thriller guaranteed to tease and please, but was instead the story behind French filmmaker Catherine Breillat’s novel, Pornocracy. Adapted from her controversial 2004 film Anatomy of Hell, it was one of her first novels to be published in English. Despite the steamy tale and intentions of exploring female sexuality, Pornocracy barely simmers, and rather than empowering, only leaves readers confused and bitterly wanting more.

Breillat is no stranger to revealing human sexuality in a different light. Accused of being a “porno auteuriste” in her native Paris, she’s written and directed films that explore the power of sex and how it can forever impact a woman. Some of her most popular films include 2001’s Fat Girl, where a 13-year-old witnesses her older sister having painful anal sex with an older Italian student. Six years later, The Last Mistress wowed audiences when an engaged suitor makes a final visit to his Spanish lover. Consequently, their ten years of lovemaking stirs gossip in Paris, only proving that old habits die hard. In Anatomy of Hell, a woman attempts suicide at a gay nightclub where she’s discovered by a male patron. She then asks the man to watch her for four days, during which she shares her views on sexuality. The novel’s version seems more enticing, but is sadly nothing more than a bore that only delights at the end. Although it’s shocking that such an accomplished and inspiring filmmaker could greatly disappoint, the first few pages easily explain why.

As a director, Breillat’s role is to show her audience a message through the usage of characters that all serve a distinct purpose. Pornocracy does the one thing that few writers accomplish: show too much without telling enough. Her language is strikingly poetic, almost wanting her readers to ignore this major flaw. In describing the sensual night, she states, “The teeth through those lips, those lips slightly moistened, glistening with saliva that, like the spider’s thread, can stretch as clear filament, filled with bubbles.” Breillat brilliantly takes a bodily fluid often ignored, or viewed as revolting, and makes an intimate characteristic of sexuality that can be seen in either gender.

The lack of dialogue makes the story less entertaining and more of a psychological analysis of a woman attempting to seduce a gay man. Many of her points are valid, but prove too overbearing and tiresome for a novel. She later writes, “…whatever their love or their hate, as their penises cannot fill the woman’s sex, which is made to expand for giving birth. No member can hope to reach the size of the son it begets. Thus their claim to fury is vain…” Breillat’s theory on how men tirelessly attempt to overpower women with their penises, but never achieve their highest expectations is intriguing. However, does this analysis fit in a sexuality textbook rather than a novel? If so, should a work of fiction solely entertain or stir an unexpected emotion from the reader, rather than attempt to educate? Either way, Pornocracy reads like a never-ending poem that looses its meaning after a few pages.

Breillat may be an excellent director who can tell stories of females’ roles when it comes to sex, but her novel didn’t serve its purpose in telling why a woman would pursue a gay man just to have a brutal affair. The scenery could only be guessed, dialogue was lacking, the characters seem more like a stream of consciousness than real people, and the story wasn’t believable. If given the opportunity, readers may want to vote on Breillat trying again with another novel that doesn’t read like a screenplay.

Written by: Stephanie Nolasco, October 16th 2008

Your Life Your Way: The Essential Guide for Women

admin — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:17:00 +0000

By Lynn Hull, Julie Molner

Marsh Hall International Publishing Corporation

Think life ends when turning fifty? Writers Lynn Hull and Julie Molner believe it’s only the beginning when dreams become reality. In Your Life Your Way: The Essential Guide for Women, these professional co-active coaches want every woman to push aside their insecurities and stand up for a more satisfying life. Unlike most self-help books where authors merely give advice, Hull and Molner create exercises that not only evaluate the living situations of females, but also provide a hands-on approach in completing any goal, no matter how big.

Not even the Atlantic Ocean could have separated two mature women from discovering the secrets behind living it up at fifty and beyond. Molner, a Michigan resident, and Hull, who’s British and living in the Hautes Pyrenees region of France, have more in common than just age. Both are wives and mothers who, after meeting in a co-active leadership program, united to share their personal struggles with aging. In the chapter “The Perfect Time—How Can That Be?” they explain when’s the best time to live: “You’ve learned a great deal about what works for you, what doesn’t; what satisfies you, what disappoints. Sometimes, however, we don’t notice what makes us feel good; we dismiss something because it doesn’t fit our concept of how things should be.”

Through revealing personal experiences, such as Hull’s determination to get a Masters at forty-eight and the death of Molner’s grandson, they encourage readers to peak into their many joys and struggles, while discovering practical tips in tackling anything from breast cancer to becoming a shaman. Can your shrink do that for less than $20?

The heart of Your Life Your Way is in the well-organized exercises that don’t just list easy answers to life’s unpredictable scenarios, but demand you take action for happiness. The book starts from the simple “List ten or more things you’ve wanted to do,” to the thought-triggering “In what ways am I honoring my values on a daily basis?” However, don’t expect to expose your emotions in journal entries alone. The authors want women to say out loud what disappoints them, plan out ways to celebrate their current successes, and meditate, no fancy yoga class required. Some exercises may be uncomfortable to face, such as “What’s your reason for buying cosmetics?” as well as the realities of friendships. “These perspectives on friendship certainly help us see that not all people are sent our way for life…and that makes it OK to let go when the time is right,” they explain.

Forget being “the new thirty,” and do exactly what Eleanor Roosevelt, Dame Judi Dench, and helicopter flying grandma Jennifer Murray have done: Be fifty and damn proud of it. With Hull and Molner’s no-nonsense, but highly encouraging guidance, along with a collective of real-life anecdotes and inspirational, stimulating exercises, you’ll be ready to tackle life at any stage. Trips to the self-help aisle in your local bookstore don’t have to be embarrassing, and with Your Life Your Way, getting older means getting ready to live.

Written by: Stephanie Nolasco, April 16th 2008

How Sassy Changed My Life: A Love Letter to the Greatest Teen Magazine of All Time

admin — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 17:49:00 +0000

By Kara Jesella, Marisa Meltzer

Faber and Faber Inc.

Before female adolescents in America had Oakland/Portland’s Bitch or Chicago’s VenusZine for feminism 101, there was New York City’s Sassy. In How Sassy Changed My Life, readers are given a magazine-size book that reads like a nostalgic love letter chronicling one of women’s crucial marks in journalism's history. Known as the 80s lovechild of founder Sandra Yates of Australia’s Dolly and then 24-year-old Jane Pratt, the youngest editor-in-chief of a magazine, Sassy shunned the “come get me boys” themes of teen publications with blonde, blue-eyed, bulimic models. For the first time, two female writers carefully analyze Sassy’s impact on insecure, teenage girls seeking refuge from YM and Seventeen through interviews with former staff members and the many readers that created an online cult following.

How Sassy Changed My Life starts off by answering the frequently-asked question: why would anyone write a book about a teen magazine? While Jesella and Meltzer give a brief, but convincing explanation for exploring Sassy’s rich, cultural history in American media, the chapters remain faithful in giving an in-depth look behind the magazine’s main competitor. With Seventeen’s “Where to Spy Guys” and “Learn How to Be a Secretary” ads, Walter Anneberg, the publication’s owner (who had a gold-plated toilet seat in his private plane), surely wasn’t risking his sales with features on homosexuality, AIDS and premarital sex. Yet, when Sassy arrived at 1 Times Square in 1988, they covered “The Dirty Scummy Truth on Spring Break (or, Where The Jerks Are),” included ads for Doc Martens and featured pixie-haired models with bandanas. Jesella and Meltzer manage to successfully show with crisp, tight language, the staff’s many personalities that collectively provided a voice for those wanting to learn about their inner girl power with “13 Reasons Not to Diet.” Former reader Sarah Kowalski commented, “The magazine was so personal it felt like a community, like people that you hung out with-that was very important. I was kind of an outsider type. I didn’t have a lot of friends in school. You wanted to find your people.”

One of the major concerns in How Sassy Changed My Life was Pratt’s portrayal in the magazine’s birth and downfall. Pratt, initially viewed as “the extremely charismatic leader,” who made her writers “go through as many as 15 story drafts,” was detested by Sassy_ites for the betrayal known as _Jane magazine. Jesella and Meltzer spoke with Jane’s arch-nemesis, Lisa Jervis from Bitch, who retaliated against Pratt’s vision for a more girl-friendly periodical that even included a column by Pamela Anderson. In responding to Bitch’s “10 Things I Hate About Jane,” Jervis explained, “Those of us salivating in front of the newsstand were hoping for something that took Sassy’s early vision of self-confident girl power and critical thinking a step forward.” Ultimately, How Sassy Changed My Life concluded with Pratt being a pretentious publisher whose feud with Bitch magazine seems more appealing than her celebrity-fueled glossy. While the conclusion leaves readers torn, Jesella and Meltzer lets their audience decide whether Pratt should be celebrated for her role in leading Sassy or hated for her false promise in keeping the dream alive.

Whether you grew up reading Sassy or are just discovering its famous April 1992 cover of grunge's Sid and Nancy, How Sassy Changed My Life is a cultural tour de force that embodies the best of modern feminist writing. Readers will finish Jesella’s and Meltzer’s testimonial feeling confident about their femininity and hopeful for womankind’s future, just as Sassy did for six years.

Written by: Stephanie Nolasco, July 1st 2007

Making Sex Work: A Failed Experiment with Legalised Prostitution

admin — Thu, 10 May 2007 11:37:00 +0000

By Mary Lucille Sullivan

Spinifex Press

Mary Lucille Sullivan attempts to tackle the world's oldest profession, but provides more questions than answers. When the State of Victoria in Australia became one of the first governments in the world to legalize prostitution in 1984, both residents and the rest of the world wondered how this radical law would affect women's role in this underground, but very active workforce. Making Sex Work: A Failed Experiment with Legalised Prostitution investigates whether the ladies of the night in Victoria are expanding or diminishing the sex industry. With politics and morals to divide and conquer, Sullivan leaves her readers more confused than enlightened.

Sullivan, who holds a PhD in political science from the University of Melbourne, has previously explored this forbidden topic in What Happens When Prostitution Becomes Work: an update on legalised prostitution and contributed to Not for Sale: Feminist Resisting Prostitution and Pornography. Sullivan's clear, direct and well-polished language offers no flowery, hidden messages for her audience to interpret. Like a true professional, she lays down the facts as she sees them, in most cases anyway.

The main downfall of Sullivan's lengthy text is the lack of supporting data, which is a must for any researcher. In "Setting the Framework," she begins to explain her purpose for studying prostitution in Victoria. She states, "'Sexual services ranks highest of all personal service industries in terms of revenue (reaching as high as 80 per cent) and drives the overall growth of this economic sector in general." There was no explanation of where this information came from, whether it only affects Victoria, how recent is the research or what kind of "sexual services" was she referring to. Did I also mention that this is all in the first chapter? Yes, she does raises questions about legalized prostitution, but also leaves readers wondering in places where they shouldn't be.

A more shocking example that begged for facts was her perspective on "sadomasochism as torture." Sullivan studies Susan Hawthorne's own research in S&M/B&D for lesbians. She explains, "Throughout her work, Hawthorne has documented the horrific treatment of lesbians who are tortured in families, in prisons and in mental asylums, explaining how in many countries being lesbian still carries an immediate jail sentence." Where was the evidence that either the author or Hawthorne backs up to prove that bondage play is indeed a danger to lesbians? Which women claimed to be tortured? How does S&M affects Victoria and most importantly, what does sadomasochism have to do with legalized prostitution? The list of questions keep growing, but there are no answers.

Sullivan's determination to explore prostitution laws in Australia should be applauded. However, her lack of necessary data makes her come off as a prude, amateur researcher publishing a first draft that others will mistake as a scholarly text. If she would have just backed up her theories like anyone else in her field, Sullivan's book wouldn't have fallen short from its true potential.

Written by: Stephanie Nolasco, May 10th 2007