Get the makeup look: Jennifer Lawrence at Dior Autumn Winter 2019/2020 'Ready-to-Wear' Show

Jennifer Lawrence at the
Dior Autumn-Winter
2019/2020
'Ready to Wear' show.
(Photo by Stephanie Cardindale-Corbis/
Corbis via Getty Images)

Jennifer Lawrence is not only iconic for being an incredible actress. She is also fashionably stylish and proves that talent and beauty go hand in hand. In Paris, France today Dior held their annual Autumn Winter 2019 'Ready-to-Wear' show. The beautiful starlet shined on the red carpet earlier today completely in Dior. She wore a Dior dress, a belt, shoes and sunglasses by the world-renowned fashion brand. She also wore Dior beauty products including makeup and nails. In fact, Lawrence was glammed by celebrity makeup artist Christophe Danchaud who created a luminous yet fresh makeup look for the actress.

"Today, for the Dior show in Paris, I wanted Jennifer very fresh and sexy, so we went with a cool, luminous makeup look," Danchaud shared.

So, is it possible to create this makeup look at home? Absolutely.

First and foremost, the world-renowned makeup artist prepped the stunning starlet's skin using the Dior Capture Totale Dreamskin Advanced. Then, he primed Lawrence's face with the Dior Forever Skin Glow in the shade 1CR. He continued by applying the Dior Rouge Blush in the shade 459 Charnelle directly to the apples of her cheeks.

As Danchaud continued, he applied the Dior Diorshow On Stage Liner in 091 Matte Black. Lawrence requested eyeliner, so the Danchaud decided to deliver this by applying it accordingly to her top lash line. Next, he started adding some brown contour to her lid using the Dior Backstage Eye Palette in 002 Cool Neutrals. To finish the eyes, the makeup artist and choreographer applied several coats of the Dior Diorshow Mascara in the shade 090 Pro Black to Lawrence's lashes.

To complete the entire makeup look, the global MUA applied the Dior Addict Stellar Shine in the shade 535 CD-Dream directly to Lawrence's lips to create a fresh yet shiny look.

Lawrence's nails were courtesy of internationally known manicurist Anatole Rainey who used the Dior Vernis in 155 Tra-La-La followed by the Dior Top Coat in Apricot.

Congratulations! You have just re-created Jennifer Lawrence's makeup look at the 2019/2020 Autumn-Winter 'Ready to Wear' show.

Get the makeup look: Olivia Culpo at the Dior Addict Stellar Shine dinner

Oliva Culpo yesterday at the
Dior Addict Stellar Shine
dinner.

Olivia Culpo looked amazing at the Dior Addict Stellar Shine dinner on Monday. Glammed from head-to-toe wearing Dior, the former Miss Universe dress, bag and shoes are all Dior along with her makeup. Courtesy of Dior makeup artist Daniel Martin, Culpo was treated to an incredible makeup look.

So, is it possible to re-create this makeup look at-home? Absolutely.

First and foremost, the Dior makeup artist prepped the former Miss Universe's face using the Dior Capture Youth New Skin Effect Enzyme Solution Age-Delay Resurfacing Water followed by the Dior Capture Youth Intense Rescue Age-Delay Revitalizing Oil Serum.

Then, he applied the Dior Forever Skin Glow Foundation in the shade 2.5N followed by the Dior Diorskin Forever Undercover Concealer in the shade 031 Sand. He applied the concealer to all of the areas that needed a little extra coverage. As Martin continued, he started contouring the pageant beauty's face using the Dior Backstage Contour Palette in the shade 001 Universal. Next, he highlighted Culpo's features using the Dior Backstage Glow Face Palette in the shade 001 Universal.

For the eyes, Martin filled in the former Miss Universe's eyebrows using the Dior Diorshow Universal Brow Styler in the shade 002 Universal Dark Brown. As he continued, he applied the Dior Fusion Mono Eye shadow in the shade 661 Meteore. Next, he lined Culpo's eyes using the Dior Diorshow On Stage Liner in the shade 091 Matte Black. Finishing up the eyes, the Dior makeup artist applied several coats of the Dior Diorshow Mascara in 090 Pro Black.

Finally, the Dior MUA completed the look by applying the new Dior Stellar Lip Shine in the shade 260 Mirage directly to Olivia's lips.

Congratulations! You have just re-created Olivia Culpo's makeup look at the Dior Addict Stellar Shine dinner.

Johnny Cash died 15 years ago

Johnny Cash was one of the greatest songwriters that ever lived. He was also a guitarist, a singer, a performer, an actor and even an author. In 1932 on this day, Johnny Cash was born in the heart of Kingsland, Arkansas. In between 1957 and 2014, Johnny Cash has created and has been featured in a total of 70 studio albums. He has sold over 100 million of them total.

And as one of the best-selling artists of all time, I want to honor him by singing a song he actually covered. The song is called Ain't No Grave (Can Hold My Body Down). Written by Ely Claude, this song is featured on Cash's American VI: Ain't No Gave album which was released in February of 2010. The song is about strength and really embraces the empowerment concept.

I have recorded this song three times on Smule. One solo back in late 2017 and the other in a duet with Smule User: StevenM716. You can listen to these renditions by clicking here and here.
 

 

To hear my most recent rendition of the song, simply watch the video above. If you cannot hear it, simply click here right now. Listen with headphones.

Gone, but never forgotten. Rest in Peace, Johnny Cash. 1932-2003

Cara Delevingne is the new face of Dior Addict Stellar Shine

The beautiful Cara Delevingne with
the creative and image director of Dior
Makeup, Peter Phillips.

It is official, internationally known supermodel Cara Delevingne is the new face of Dior Addict Stellar Shine. Yesterday, Dior held a dinner at the Roxie restaurant located in the heart of Paris making the big announcement. As you may or may not be aware, this iconic lip product was created by Dior Makeup's very own creative and image director Peter Philips. The concept of this incredible Dior essential celebrates the changing colors of life and embraces femininity based on those colors.

A party flashing with colors and a lot of excitement, including a performance by the talented Mabel, it was great to hear of the wonderful news. And it is no surprise that Delevingne is the new face behind this product, as she possesses an unique beauty that I find incredibly appealing. She is also a wonderful person too.

For more information, visit Dior today. Check out the new Dior Addict Stellar Shine here.

Get the hair: Lucy Boynton at 91st Academy Awards

Lucy Boynton at the 91st
annual Academy Awards.
(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Lucy Boynton looked absolutely stunning on the red carpet earlier this evening. Wearing a pretty purple gown courtesy of Rodarte, the Bohemian Rhapsody beauty shined at the 2019 Oscars tonight. And although her makeup looked great, her hair looked even more amazing. Courtesy of Jenny Cho, Boynton was treated to a style inspired by the late and great Grace Kelly.

"For tonight's look, I wanted Lucy’s hair to have a modern nod to the classic style of Grace Kelly," Cho shared.

So, is it possible to re-create this hair look at-home? Absolutely.

First and foremost, the celebrity stylist shampooed and conditioned the stunning starlet's hair using Suave Professionals Coconut + Vanilla Repairing Shampoo and the Suave Professionals Coconut + Vanilla Repairing Conditioner.

As she continued, she towel dried Boynton's hair. Then, she applied the Unite Boosta Voluminizing Spray followed by the Suave Professionals Sleek Anti-Frizz Smooth and Shine Cream. She used just a layer of this product. Next, she took a small round brush and a set of 1-inch Velcro rollers before blow drying the Bohemian Rhapsody star's hair using the Gamma+ Italia Aria Hair Dryer.

"The Gamma+ Italia Aria Hair Dryer is a favorite of mine. It is very light, super quiet and dries the hair at fast lightening speed," Cho added.

The celebrity stylist set each individual section of Boynton's hair with the 1-inch Velcro rollers. As soon as Jenny got to the top of Lucy's head, she created a deep, side part. Then, she followed the rollers directly parallel to the part, all of the way down toward the ears.

Taking the Living Proof Flex Hair Spray, the celebrity stylist began to mist the Boynton's hair all over, as she let her hair set for 15 minutes. Then, she took the rollers out one-by-one. As she continued, Cho sculpted Boynton's hairline with a "S" shape, flat curl to frame the actress's face. She tucked the right side behind the ear.

To finish the hair look, Jenny Cho sprayed the Suave Professionals Firm Control Finishing Hairspray on Lucy Boynton's hair.

Congratulations! You have just re-created Lucy Boynton's hair look for the 91st annual Academy Awards.

Get the makeup look: Priyanka Chopra at 91st Academy Awards

The beautiful Priyanka Chopra.

The 91st annual Academy Awards were held a few hours ago a the Dolby Theatre in the heart of Los Angeles. As the show did not have a host this year, it kicked off with an epic performance by Adam Lambert + Queen. Many actors and actresses shined the red carpet, including the beautiful Priyanka Chopra wearing a beautiful black halter gown courtesy of Elie Saab. And as glamorous as she looked, the Indian beauty's makeup really complemented the style and brought it to life. Compliments of celebrity makeup artist Pati Dubroff, who took inspiration from Chopra's dress, the Bollywood actress shined on the record carpet this year during both the Oscars and Vanity Fair After Party.

"Tonight Priyanka is wearing a dramatic black gown by Elie Saab with beadwork which I decided to mimic on the eyes. The makeup is all about a dramatic eye, blackened corners and lids with shine and texture. I kept the rest of the face in neutral tones, blush very natural to Priyanka’s skin tone and lips that are similar to her natural lip tone," the celebrity makeup artist shared with me.

Priyanka Chopra's
makeup look for February
24, 2019.

"Typically we work with Priyanka’s natural lid shape, round, but this time we wanted an elongated eye for a more dramatic look," Dubroff continued with me about the inspiration behind the look.

So, is it possible to re-create this makeup at-home? Absolutely.

First and foremost, the celebrity makeup artist prepped Chopra's skin. Taking the True Botanicals Nutrient Mist, she applied the product directly to a beautyblender and foundation brush to moisten them. As she continued, she used the Decorte Soft Crème Foundation in the shade 304.

Next, Dubroff filled in the starlet's eyebrows using the Jill Stuart Beauty Airy Stay Brow Liner in 03. She continued with the look by applying the Jill Stuart Beauty Iconic Look Eyeshadow in C204. Then, taking the Jill Stuart Beauty Twinkle Glow Multi Stick, the celebrity makeup artist applied it generously to Chopra's lid to give her more of a "wet" look.

"This was an essential part to her eyes as this creamy, bronzy copper color, allowed the shade of the dark eye to harmonize with her skin tone. Black can sometimes make those with darker skin tones look a bit grey and this helped the lid have a nice base wash to build on," Dubroff shared.

Priyanka Chopra at the
91st annual Academy Awards.
(Photo by Daniele Venturelli/WireImage)

Then, she taking a black thick eye pencil, Dubroff created a corner shape to the starlet's eyes. As the world-renowned MUA continued, she used the Jill Stuart Beauty Kittenish Look Liner where she added more depth to the lash corners. To finish the eyes, the Pati Dubroff applied several coats of Jill Stuart Beauty Lasting Curl Blossom Waterproof Mascara to Chopra's lashes. 

For the lips, the celebrity makeup artist used a combination of the Jill Stuart Beauty Dressed Rouge in 04, which she applied as a base on Chopra's lips and on top. Then, to finish the look she applied the Jill Stuart Beauty Lip Blossom in 46.
 
Congratulations! You have just recreated Priyanka Chopra's Oscar makeup for this year. #Oscars

Skincare Prep: Glenn Close at 91st Academy Awards

Glenn Close at the 2019 Oscars.
(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

This Academy Awards have officially started and there is no denying how excited many are, for perhaps the most anticipated awards event of the year which recognizes and honors only the best in film. There is no denying that Glenn Close is one of the best actresses there is. As much as I loved her in Fatal Attraction, she did an excellent job playing Cruella de Vil. She's just one of the most accessible actresses to exist, which is why I am not surprised she's nominated for her role in the movie "The Wife" as Joan Castleman.

As the beautiful starlet shined on the red carpet in a gorgeous gold gown covered in four million hand-sewn Swarovski crystals and weighing over 40 pounds alone, courtesy of Carolina Herrera, Close's face glowed just as much courtesy of the Kai Pritchard. 

For this particular look, the celebrity makeup artist prepped the Academy Award nominee's face with the Retrouvé Dynamic Nourishing Face Cream.

"Her skin is dry and it was like a moisture surge to her skin. It also has a little grab to it that helps the makeup adhere to the skin—perfect for tonight," Pritchard shared.

Then, he applied the Retrouvé Nutrient Face Serum all over the eye and t-zone area, which works to smooth any textural issues and create a flawless finish.

"For hair and makeup, Close let her hair and makeup team have free reign today. Glenn was totally relaxed. We listened to classical music. It was a peaceful, lovely experience for everyone. She looked great and felt great when she left to walk the red carpet," Pritchard added.

Get the makeup look: Charlize Theron at 91st Academy Awards

Charlize Theron at the 91st
annual Academy Awards.
(Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)

Charlize Theron is a woman of talent, beauty and surprises. When she debuted brown hair on the red carpet at the 91st Academy Awards earlier this evening, I think everyone was completely stunned as this is one of her biggest transformations yet. Wearing a beautiful pastel blue dress courtesy of Dior, the Academy Award winning actress really shined with her new hair courtesy of the talented Adir Abergel and Tracey Cunningham. And although her hair was unique, it was her subtle glam look that caught my attention and stole the entire look.

So, is it possible to re-create this makeup look at home? Absolutely.

First and foremost, you will want to prep the skin. As Theron is an ambassador for Dior and Dior Beauty, it is recommended by Dior to use the Dior Capture Youth New Skin Effect Enzyme Solution Age-Delay Resurfacing Water followed by the Dior Capture Youth Intense Rescue Age-Delay Revitalizing Oil-Serum. Next, you will want to apply the Dior Capture Youth Age-Delay Advanced Eye Treatment directly to your eyes.

As you continue, Dior recommends applying the Dior Capture Totale Dreamskin Advanced followed by the Dior Forever Skin Glow. If you are the same complexion as Charlize Theron, it is recommended to use the shade "2N" which is her shade. For this particular look, contouring is essential and to create it, Dior recommends utilizing the Dior Backstage Contour Palette in the shade #001 Universal.  

The beautiful Charlize Theron.
(Photo by Kate Lee)

The eyes are natural yet kept classic to complement the dramatic bold lip. Dior recommends using the Dior Backstage Eye Palette in #001 Warm Neutrals. Definition is always key in any makeup look, especially this one. Dior also recommends apply several coats of the Dior Diorshow Maximizer 3D primer to the lashes followed by several coats of the Dior Diorshow Mascara in #090 Pro Black.

And for the moment you are waiting for, how to get Charlize Theron's classic lip from the 2019 Oscars? Dior recommends using the Dior Addict Stellar Shine in the shade #639 Rivera Star.

Congratulations! You have just re-created Charlize Theron's 2019 Oscars look. #Oscars

MAC Cosmetics introduces the Boom, Boom, Bloom collection

The Boom, Boom, Bloom collection
by MAC Cosmetics.

As we walked into Winter with some of the greatest holiday collections of 2018 into 2019, we sweep into Spring with the new Boom, Boom, Bloom collection from MAC Cosmetics. With everything from rosy hues to pearlescent accents, this collection truly embodies a petal powered collection of real makeup goodness.

The collection will offer an array of new items that are "cherry blossom" themed. Including the legendary MAC Prep + Prime Fix+ in a cherry blossom scent. This will retail for $28. I have tried virtually every single makeup setting spray around and have yet to find one that is as good as this one.

Boom, Boom, Bloom will also offer the famous MAC Strobe Cream in 'PinkLite', which is a stunning iridescent, pink pearl highlighter cream that can be applied to the face and to the body. This will retail for $34. I love to apply this after I apply my primer for a very dewy look. I also love to apply this on my décolletage for some highlight. 

Fleur Real.

MAC Cosmetics will introduce two new stunning highlighters with this collection. The first one is 'Fleur Real' which is a lavish light pink highlight. This is subtle yet pigmented and works with virtually every skin tone. The other new addition to the Boom, Boom, Bloom collection is 'Spring Bling' which is a ravishing reddish brown highlighter that literally looks like the sun came down from the sky and kissed your face. These highlighters will retail for $30 each.

So, is this all that is going to be added into the Boom, Boom, Bloom collection? Absolutely not. Like practically every other collection with this world-renowned makeup brand, they are going all out. Retailing for $18.50 each, these pigmented glosses will come in four new shades to complement the collection. They include: For The Frill Of It (a pearly light pink), Pink-A-Boo (a bright blue pink), Cherry Mochi (a warm raspberry pink) and Heartmelter (a midtone rosy pink).

Boom, Boom, Bloom will also being offering not one, but 5 new lipstick shades. Amazing right? Retailing for $19.50, these highly pigmented yet moisturizing lip products also feature a vanilla scent and/or flavor which makes wearing them fun. The colors MAC will be introducing with this collection include: Hey, Kiss Me! (a pastel pink with a cremesheen finish), Wagasa Twirl (a dirty blue pink pearl with a matte finish), Hi-Fructease (a pink coral with a matte finish), Tsk Tsk! (a bright warm pink with a matte finish) and Framboise Moi (a raspberry pink with a matte finish). 

Eyeshadow X9: Kabuki Doll.

In addition to adding an array of lip products to this collection, MAC Cosmetics will be adding an actual eye shadow palette. The Eyeshadow X9:Kabuki Doll palette will feature nine unique shades. The palette will retail for $33 which is a great value considering the eye shadows are extremely pigmented and are versatile in color. The shades in the palette include: Dust Off (a soft beige shimmer with a frost finish), Fortune Kookie (a frosty rusted pink with a frost finish), Making Mauvey Moves (a mauve pink with a matte finish), Don't Be Koi! (a rosy gold with a frost finish), Spicy Dynasty (a yellow brown with a matte finish), Bamboo-Zled (a pinky brown with a veluxe pearl finish), Kyoto Kitty (a red bronze with a frost finish), Kabuki Doll (a plum red with a matte finish) and Tokyo Drifter (a shimmery mid-tone taupe with a veluxe pearl finish). The palette is perfect for every skin tone under the sun and really complements this collection.

The Boom, Boom, Bloom collection will be available online Monday, March 4, 2019 and in select MAC stores on Thursday, March 7, 2019. #BoomBoomBloom

Stalked In Alabama: What To Do

The Capitol Building
of Alabama.
(Photo by Altairisfar/Wikimedia Commons)

Alabama, the 30th largest state of the United States of America. Also known as the Yellowhammer state in the Heart of Dixie, this southeastern state is the 24th most populated state among 50. Home to Redstone Arsenal, University of Alabama and Maxwell Air Force, it is estimated that over 25 million people visit the state every year.

Stalking is defined as the unwanted and repeated contact towards a person, people and/or group. As a form of intimidation and harassment, stalking is simply contact that is not wanted. And when that unwanted contact becomes to be a nuance, that is when it becomes stalking. As a victim of stalking, I have found it very difficult to find information regarding this topic. As I often contemplate why it is hard to find a resource regarding this, my only guess is because a lot of people do not take this seriously. And I personally believe most have never experienced this hence why they refuse to help those they cannot relate with. I'm noticing many cases of true crime within the last decade of very obvious murders being painted as suicides (Morgan Ingram, for instance) and limited care from law enforcement. I can only ask - why?

Alabama is a state with a lot of history and starts the countdown of the 50 nifty United States from the 13 original colonies. And guess what? The great news is, there is help in Alabama for those of you who are victims of stalking. According to several law enforced in 2012, under various codes stalking is very much punishable by law in the state of Alabama.

Under code of Alabama § 13A-6-90. Stalking in the first degree. (2012) This code states that a crime of stalking in the first degree is classified as a class C felony. This means that a person who intentionally harasses and follows with the intent to harm you is guilty. This includes threats, whether expressed or implied. If you feel you are in fear for your life and fear death of the suspected stalker, this is where this code applies.

Under code of Alabama § 13A-6-90.1. Stalking in the second degree. (2012) This code states that a crime of stalking in the second degree is considered a class B misdemeanor. This means that a person who intentionally and/or repeatedly harasses you in efforts to initiate unwanted contact whether via telephone, email, etc. is guilty. This also includes any third-party source who makes contact for the said person. Enforced again in the Summer of 2017 under H.B. 498, after the perpetrator has been informed to cease contact, the end result is guilty in the second degree.

Under code of Alabama § 13A-6-91. Aggravated stalking in the first degree. (2012) This code states that a crime of aggravated stalking in the first degree is classified as a class B felony. Any person who violates the provisions of § 13A-6-90(a) including court orders and restraining orders, will be tried under Alabama law for aggravated stalking.

Under code of Alabama § 13A-6-91.1. Aggravated stalking in the second degree (2012) This code states that a crime of aggravated stalking in the second degree is classified as a class C felony. Any person who violates the provisions of § 13A-6-90 including court orders and restraining orders, will be tried under Alabama law for aggravated stalking.

With action comes evidence. In order to both effectively and efficiently report stalking, it is very crucial to keep a timeline or a log of the events. This is what is often referred to as a course of conduct. Everything shared before the threat, leading up to the threat and to present as the stalking is persisting. And speaking of threats, a credible threat is very vital when reporting stalking. This can be a threat that is expressed and/or even implied. If you feel that the person stalking you is scaring you or making you fear for your life, you have the right to report this. You are constitutionally protected by law to report any crime. If you feel your life is danger, it is very crucial to report it.

Keep in mind that I am referring to only criminal law. At this time, Alabama does not have any laws to protect stalking victims civilly; however, with the right push and shove, we can hopefully change these laws for the victims in the Alabama area. Alabama is also a state that does not offer address protection from stalkers. And because of this unfortunately, Alabama currently does not offer any stalking protection orders; however, stalking is still punishable under criminal stalking laws and federal laws.

Speaking of federal laws, there are quite a few that really play a role in helping stalking victims. According to federal law code 18 USCS § 2261A. Stalking. (2013) any person who plays any reasonable fear of death in another person is considered a stalker and therefore can and will be punished as the law sees fit. With the intent to harass, injure and even intimidate, any person who does this can be punished. And under title 2261(b), this is all punishable by law. You can read more about the stalking federal law here.

Need Assistance?

If you are a victim of stalking, please check out the Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence (or ACADV). Located in the heart of Alabama, you can reach them directly by phone at (334) 832-4842. You can also email them at info@acadv.org.

Other organizations you can contact include:

Alabama Coalition Against Rape (or ACAR). Located in the heart of Montgomery, this organization is always here to help. You can reach them via phone at (334) 264-0123.

2nd Chance, Inc. Located in Anniston, this is a crisis organization that serves six counties in the Alabama area including Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, Etowah, Randolph and Talladega. You can reach them directly at (256) 236-7381.

Crisis Center Inc. (Rape Response + SANE). Located in Birmingham, this is a crisis center serving six counties including Blount, Chilton, Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair and Walker. You can reach them at (205) 323-7782.

Crisis Center of Russell County. Live in Russell County? If so, you can reach this Alabama organization via phone at (334) 297-4435 today.

Crisis Center of North Alabama. Located in the heart of Huntsville, this organization is serving three counties including Jackson, Limestone and Madison. If you live in these areas, please call them directly at (256) 716-4052.

Family Services of North Alabama. Serving both Delkab and Marshall counties, this Albertville organization is here to serve you. Especially if you are a victim of stalking. You can reach them at (256) 878-9159.

Lifelines Family Counseling Center Inc. of Mobile. If you live in Mobile, Washington or Clarke county, you are going to want to contact this organization immediately. You can reach them directly at (251) 431-5100.

Lighthouse Counseling Center (or STAR). Serving six counties including Montgomery, Elmore, Butler, Lowndes, Crenshaw and Autauga. You can reach their office and crisis line at (334) 286-5980.

Mental Health Association in Morgan County. Serving both Morgan and Lawrence counties, this organization is here for stalking victims 24/7. You can reach them at (256) 353-1160.

Rape Counselors of East Alabama. Serving four counties including Chambers, Tallapoosa, Lee and Macon, this is a great organization that helps victims of sexual assault; however, they will never turn their backs on stalking victims. You can reach them at (334) 741-0707 today.

Safehouse of Shelby County Inc. Serving Shelby, Coosa and Clay county, this organization can be reached directly at (205) 669-1877. You can also reach their crisis line at (205) 669-5339.

Shoals Crisis Center. Located in the heart of Florence, this organization will never turn their backs on a victim of stalking. Serving four counties including Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale and Marion, you can reach their office at (256)765-0025. You can also reach their crisis line at (256) 767-1100.

The House of Ruth, Inc. Serving eight counties total including Barbour, Bullock, Coffee, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston and Pike, you can reach them directly at (337) 793-5214. You can also reach their crisis line at (334) 793-2232.

The Lighthouse of Baldwin County. Serving both Baldwin and Escambia, you can reach their office (251) 947-6196 and crisis line at (251) 947-4393 today.

Turning Point. Serving nine counties total, this is an organization that will never ignore a stalking victim. Serving Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter and Tuscaloosa counties. You can reach them directly at their office (205) 758-0808 or call their crisis line at (205) 758-0808.

Victim Services of Cullman, Inc. Serving both Culman and Winston counties, you can reach their office at (256) 775-2600 or their crisis line at (256) 734-6100.

Over millions of women are stalked around the world. The time is now to recognize that stalking is a crime and should not be ignored. I will do my best to update this article periodically. If you have any additional information you would like to share, please do so in the comments.

Stay tuned as I explore the largest state in the United States, Alaska. With not even a million residence totally, the Last Frontier is a state worth exploring. Purchased in 1867 from Russia for a little over $7 million (that is about 2-3 cents per acre), Alaska is "North to the Future" but how are their stalking laws?

RIP Karl Lagerfeld

Karl Lagerfeld
(Photo by Wikimedia Commons/
Christopher Adach)

Today the world of fashion, including fashion enthusiasts around the globe have suffered an immense loss as we all say goodbye to one of the greatest designers, Karl Lagerfeld. As the creative director for world-renowned fashion house Chanel, Lagerfeld spent over 35 years with the brand.

Lagerfeld has been sick for quite sometime; however, he managed to check himself into the American Hospital of Paris yesterday. He died today. As the cause of death is unknown, the world remembers one of the greatest fashion visionaries for his contributions to fashion.

The internationally known designer spent several years with Balmain before joining Chloe. As some of his work was ridiculed in the press during the 50s and 60s era, Lagerfeld didn't give up. He jumped immediately into a collaboration with fashion house Fendi shortly after spending several years with both Balmain and Chloe. He continued to work, designing clothing for some of the greatest starlets in cinema including Elizabeth Taylor and even designed theatrical costumes on Broadway. He also created work overseas for an array of brands before finding a home at Chanel, where he remained the creative director from 1983 until his death today.

In addition to working as the creative director for Chanel, Lagerfeld has worked with an array of brands including Diesel, Orrefors, H&M and even Shu Uemura. In fact, I worked with Karl back in 2015 when he collaborated with Shu Uemura. I was a content producer for Examiner at the time. It was a joy working with him, as he was optimistic and always looked forward to doing something new. His beautiful cat Coupette was the main part of the collection he did with Shu Uemura. I still have the amazing eye shadow palette as well as the lip glosses he sent me.

"I am a fashion person and fashion is not about clothes - it's about all kinds of change." Karl Lagerfeld

Rest in Peace.

The case of Robin Vadakkancheril, the priest who raped a minor

Robin Vadakkancheril escorted by police.
(Photo via Google News)

I am sure most of you who are reading this have no idea what I am talking about. I recently discovered this case when looking at the crime in India. I was shocked and baffled at what I discovered. This was one of the biggest stories I have discovered, making it breaking news all over India.

 A priest by the name of Robin Vadakkancheril from Kerala, India was sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping and impregnating a minor, a crime he committed several years ago. As a vicar of the St. Sebastian Church, what brought this case to light was the fact that in 2017 his victim delivered a child. An anonymous caller reported this directly to Childline, a foundation which protects the rights children living in India. An investigation immediately took place shortly after Childline heard of the allegations from the anonymous caller.

What makes this case even more sinister is the fact that his legal team tried to shift blame onto the victim's father, who was unaware of the priest's actions originally. Once the father found out about what the priest did to his daughter, he tried take the blame as he didn't want Vadakkancheril to be punished nor his daughter. In addition, his daughter (the victim of the crime) originally told the court that she wanted to eventually marry Vadakkancheril.

In addition, several employees of the St. Sebastian Church were charged with conspiracy and destruction of evidence. These employees include one priest and six nuns. They also ordered a probe on the victim's parents for trying to hide the crime. The family comes from a lower caste (or class) and found the case created a lot of pressure on them. The parents even went so far to tell their own daughter that the labor pain she was feeling was just a very bad stomach ache. Crazy right?

Originally ten people total were charged; however, two doctors and administrator of the hospital both appealed the charge via Supreme Court. As a result, their cases were dismissed. One of the doctor's in this case eventually offered very vital testimony which helped the priest get in trouble for what he did.

The court verdict was determined by the gynecologist's report from the hospital where Vadakkancheril's victim originally delivered the child. A paternity test determined the father of the child was, in fact, Robin Vadakkancheril. And it was the statements provided by one of the doctors which charged the priest for this crime.

Valentine's Day 2019 Makeup Look

Me today. Celebrating the day of love.
Happy Valentine's Day!

Love is in the air, as I can admit that I am very much in love with my amazing boyfriend and happy it is Valentine's Day. I woke up in a wonderful mood and decided to create a dramatic yet fun makeup look to complement my mood today.

Utilizing pink and fuchsia, I wanted to create a look that would complement my fuchsia ruched-style dress, which I got from Hot Miami Styles a few years ago and am wearing for the first time today. Yes, I bought the dress back in 2016 and left the tags on until 2019.

So, is it possible to re-create my makeup look? Absolutely. I will share now.

First and foremost, I prepped my skin. I like to have a very smooth finish especially this time of year because my skin tends to be the driest during the Winter time. I decided to apply the Giorgio Armani Beauty Armani Prima Glow-On Moisturizing Balm as it is one of the greatest products that has ever touched my face. This is the perfect product if your skin is dehydrated or looking for that much needed yet perfect pick me up. After applying this product, I applied the erborian High Definition Radiance CC Crème. It is currently my favorite beauty balm product and works great to protect, prevent and even repair my skin. I love to apply this before I apply any makeup because it produces a beautiful finish and prepares my skin in a fantastic way.

As I continued with this look, I applied the Japonesque Radiance Primer, as it is one of my favorites, if not my favorite primer at the moment. I love applying primer with my beautyblender because it doesn't waste product and still applies everything flawlessly. My hand also works, but today I just want to use my favorite makeup sponge. Also to prep the skin, I love using the MAC Prep+Prime Fix+ as it is my favorite makeup setting spray and works amazing when you spray it before and after you apply color cosmetics.

For the face, I went with the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in the shade Honey followed by the Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation in the shade 4.5. My skin tone is a light medium, unless I decide to go tanning or I am vacationing in the Maldives and find myself achieving a darker glow. To set the foundation, I went with the Mehron Pro-HD Mineral Finishing Powder in the shade Medium. Contouring is something I love to do. I did light contouring here using the KIKO Milano Sculpting Touch Contour Stick. As I have quite a few favorite contouring mediums, this is definitely a favorite right now. To highlight, I used the Mehron Highlight Pro 3 Color Palette in Cool. I didn't use any blush for this look.

As I continued, I decided to do my eyebrows. I used the Benefit Cosmetics Goof Proof Eyebrow Pencil in the shade 04 - medium. It is literally the best eyebrow product I have used in years. I am a big fan of their brow products, as they give Anastasia of Beverly Hills a run for their money. To prime the lid, I went with the Smashbox 24 Hour Shadow Primer. As much as I enjoy others, this is one of the best I have used.

Using a standard eye shadow brush, I decided to use several shades to create this look. The first shade I used was the deep pink fuchsia shade in the Ciate London Fearless Palette. Then, I applied the Urban Decay shade "shade" from the Urban Decay Backtalk Palette. I went with the shade Hot Pink from the Mehron intense Pro Palette in Fire mixed with Kylie Cosmetics Eye shadow in the shade Bible which created a very unique fuchsia shade on my lid. As a highlight I used the Ellis Faas Lights in E301 Antique Silver and the Stila Glitter & Glow Liquid Highlighter in Monarch. I lightly lined the bottom part of my eye with "Shade" from Urban Decay and "Bible" from Kylie Cosmetics.

For my lashes I just applied some lash primer courtesy of Lancôme. The Lancôme Cils Booster XL to be exact. It is almost gone, so I am going to have to either get more or buy another one from a different brand. If you have any suggestions, please do let me know in the comments section. After applying this, I decided to use several coats of the Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Lash Mascara in the color black. I didn't use any eyeliner for this look, but went very bold with color and mascara.  
To finish the look, I decided to go with the Ellis Faas Creamy Lips in L104 Deep Fuchsia mixed with Giorgio Armani Beauty Lip Maestro in the shade 512 Drama Nude. I topped the lips with the Stila Glitter & Glow Liquid Highlighter in Monarch.

Congratulations! You have just re-created by 2019 Valentine's Day makeup look. Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day 2019

Valentine's Day, the only holiday in the world that celebrates romantic love. As the only holiday to honor romance, today is a day that is loved by some, hated by many, but wanted by everyone. Yes, those of you who hate Valentine's Day, you know you are hoping and praying to celebrate it with the man or woman you love. Without question, it is a fact that everyone in life wants love, as everyone wants to celebrate this day with their significant others.

Truth be told, I use to hate Valentine's Day. I felt like it was a glorified "Hallmark holiday" to rub into the face of the unfortunate who didn't have a significant other to celebrate it with. I also felt like the influence of the holiday came from disrupted imperialism to cash in on overpriced flowers and chocolate and make money for those who sell them. Needless to say, I was wrong. The holiday exists for a reason, a purpose and when you realize what it means, you will understand why it is vital in the 365 days we live in a year.

Today, I think it is a great day and I have learned to not only love it, but appreciate it much more so. Is it my favorite holiday? No, but I am happy to have someone to celebrate it with. In fact, when I first met my current boyfriend it was last year, several months after Valentine's Day in April. Before I met Sumit, I was single since late 2016, so I didn't celebrate this day at all in 2017 or 2018. I am very happy to celebrate it this year in 2019 with my incredible boyfriend. He is truly a force of happiness in my life, as he is the love and the light in my life.

And speaking of love, I believe everyone deserves love in their life, no matter who they are. Yes, I do. And even those of you who hate me, you deserve love also.

And Sumit, if you are reading this - I love you. Thank you for everything. I am truly blessed and grateful you came into my life.

Happy Valentine's Day!

204 point word on Words with Friends

That moment you get a 204 point word on Words with Friends. When playing the challenge today, I played the word "develop" for 204 points, utilizing both the triple word options on the very top row.

 

In case you have never played this particular app, the "TW" stands for triple word and will triple your score. Using this is probably the best way to win the game if you cannot use all of your letters. I have been playing this game for years and I think the highest word I ever played was 120 points.

 

Today, I made history by playing this word. I was able to cover both of the triple word options on the top row, while connecting the "O" with the already played word "ne" to create "one" and "P" for the already played word "en" to create "pen".

 

I can only imagine if I had letters like "Z" or "J" or one that is 10 points alone. Maybe next time, as one can only hope.

Get the makeup look: Rodarte at LA FW19

The pink look at the Rodarte LA Fashion
Show for Spring 2019.
(Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images
for JNSQ Wines)

Rodarte's latest collection for Spring 2019 was all glitz and glam. Taking you through a trendy 1930s burlesque meets glitter glam swing, the brand really brought so much to this collection. And although I am not sure I would think this were a Spring collection if I examined the pieces for the first time, I definitely believe it has serious potential for those fashion enthusiasts who are de rigueur and want to wear something that looks like it was produced with inspiration through five decades.

And as much as I liked the pieces for this collection from Rodarte, what really stood out to me was the makeup. Compliments of NARS Cosmetics, James Kaliardos is the man behind the makeup at today's show.

"The makeup for this show was inspired by the vibrant glitter from classic Hollywood musicals," makeup artist James Kaliardos shared.

So, is it possible to recreate this look at home? Absolutely.

First and foremost, Kaliardos prepped the models' skin. He went with the NARS NARSskin Multi-Action Hydrating Toner followed by the NARS NARSskin Aqua Gel Luminous Oil-Free Moisturizer. He continued prepping the face using the NARS NARSskin Luminous Moisture Cream and the NARS NARSskin Total Replenishing Eye Cream.

Continuing with the face portion of the look, the makeup artist went with the NARS Sheer Glow Foundation followed by the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer. He finished the face off with the NARS Soft Velvet Loose Powder.

The makeup artist went with four looks for the show. The clean look, the red look, the berry look and the pink look which all utilized different products.

For the clean look, Kaliardos went with the NARS Fireclay Mosaic Blush for the eyes, the NARS Orgasm Afterglow Lip Balm for the lips and the NARS Fireclay Mosaic Blush for the cheeks. He also used the NARS Brow Perfector on the eyebrows.

For the red look, the makeup artist used the NARS Don't Stop PowerMatte Lip Pigment followed by glitter on the eyes. He, then, used the NARS Jungle Red Lip Liner Pencil on the lips followed by the NARS Don't Stop PowerMatte Lip Pigment. He finished the lips with glitter. To complete the look he used the NARS Fireclay Mosaic Blush on the cheeks and the NARS Brow Perfector on the eyebrows.

For the berry look, James Kaliardos went with the NARS Audacious Lipstick in Janet for the eyes followed by the NARS Audacious Lipstick in Fanny. Then, he went with the NARS Eyeshadow in Domination followed by glitter. For the lips he repeated the same process he used on the eyes. To finish the look, he used NARS Fireclay Mosaic Blush on the cheeks and NARS Brow Perfector on the eyebrows.

For the pink look, the internationally known makeup artist went with the NARS Audacious Lipstick in Claudia for the eyes followed by glitter. He continued with the lips using the same products, the NARS Audacious Lipstick in Claudia before finishing it off with glitter. To finish the pink look, Kaliardos used the NARS Fireclay Mosaic Blush on the cheeks and the NARS Brow Perfector on the eyebrows.

Congratulations! You have just recreated the makeup look for the Rodarte LA Fashion Week 2019 Spring show.

Whitney Houston died 7 years ago today

It is so hard to believe Whitney Houston died 7 years ago today on this date. When I first heard about her passing, I was sad. It was as if her death was not even real. I wasn't sad just because she died, but how she died. She basically drowned to death in a bathtub in a hotel room in Beverly Hills, CA. Houston had a long history of substance abuse; however, I always believed in her and always felt she would get through it. 

Sadly, she lost her battle.

When people criticized her voice, I remembered the voice she once had. That is the voice I will always remember when I think about Whitney Houston and the gift she brought to this world. She has always been amazing and quite possibly the best female pop singer to ever exist on earth.

To honor Whitney Houston today and her life, I want to share my recording of "I Will Always Love You" from Smule.

If you cannot see the video, simply click here right now to listen to rendition of this beautiful my song. 

Rest in Peace Whitney Houston. You will be forever missed. (August 9, 1963-February 11, 2012)

Get the Hair: Kate Spade NYFW Fall 2019

Backstage at the 2019 Kate Spade
show at NYFW
for Fall 2019.
(Photo by Getty Images)

As New York City was a rather gloomy day today, what really spiced up the big apple was Kate Spade's newest fall collection. Everything from the unique styles as well as use of prints, it is everything that is expected from a Kate Spade collection. Fun and fabulous was definitely brought into creation of this collection. And earlier this evening, Kate Spade proved why she was truly an iconic woman of fashion as she was clearly a woman with a vision, a vision that will last a lifetime in the world of fashion. 

Although the styles were fantastic, the makeup looked great. However, it was the hair which really complemented the models, the style and in short - brought the designs to life. Compliments of Odile Gilbert, the TRESemmé NYFW Stylist, the hair was the real winner of the show. And for several years now, TRESemmé has been the official hair sponsor of the biggest fashion event in NYC.

So, is it possible to re-create this hair look at home? Absolutely.


First and foremost, the TRESemmé NYFW Stylist started by washing the models' hair with the TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shampoo and TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Conditioner. She wanted to create a very sleek yet smooth foundation, hence why she chose these two terrific TRESemmé additions.

Next, Gilbert parted the models' hair. She applied the TRESemmé Thermal Creations Blow Dry Accelerator Spray shortly before taking a round brush and fully blowing out the hair. She continued by pulling the hair directly down, as her goal for this hair look was to create individual sections, giving the models for the Kate Spade show a very sleep and smooth appearance.

As she continued, she applied the TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Heat Protect Spray to simply protect the hair and prevent damage. Taking a large curling iron courtesy of ghd, the celebrity stylist gently wrapped the ends of the hair inward just before letting go, creating a soft curl. This added extra bounce and body to the models' hair.

To finish the look, Odile Gilbert sprayed the TRESemmé Compressed Micro-Mist Hold Level 4 Hairspray to the models hair.

“To get this polished and sophisticated look, blow dry the hair straight and then use a curling iron to tuck the ends of the hair inwards, creating a smooth and chic finish. Lock the look in with the TRESemmé Compressed Micro-Mist Hold Level 4 Hairspray,” Gilbert shared.

As she lightly misted their hair, the celebrity stylist mentioned that she did this because she wanted to add a glossy finish to the hair and to keep the hair in place without the stiffness that most hair sprays tend to create.

Kate Spade was a world-renowned designer who created a $2.5 billion fashion empire directly from her NYC apartment. And although she is gone, she will never be forgotten as her legacy will remain forever. RIP Kate (1962-2018) #NYFW

2019: National Frozen Yogurt Day

So today is National Frozen Yogurt day. Introduced in 1970, this healthy spin on the cult-classic staple we call "ice cream" has been taking over the food industry for decades. Of course, I wanted to celebrate by going to Kiwi Loco in Ontario, Oregon. 

The 40 minute drive from Meridian to Ontario is well worth it, as this is one of the best frozen yogurt shops I have ever been to. 

With so many toppings to choose from, Kiwi Loco also offers some of the best frozen yogurt I have ever tried. And the staff here is some of the nicest group of girls, as they are always so courteous and welcoming. 

If you haven't tried frozen yogurt, you need to. And if you don't like it, you haven't tried the right one. Once you try the healthy ice cream from Kiwi Loco, I don't think you will want to eat ice cream again. Unless of course it is really good and hard to put down. 

Happy National Frozen Yogurt Day everyone!