Archive for March, 2011

OPI Launches Touring America
Collection for Fall/Winter 2011

OPI hits the open road with a new take on classic style in the Touring America Collection for Fall/Winter 2011. Inspired by Americana and cities with rich cultural heritage, the collection’s twelve shades offer comfortable glamour and wearable elegance for nails and toes.

“My recent road trip across the country sparked the creation of the Touring America Collection,” says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director.  “Autumn is a time for reinvention, and these shades revive classic, iconic colors for fall, from cool heather, khaki and chocolate to warm rose, peach and red.”

The season’s go-to shades of taupe and pearl grey appear in variations from dark to light – A-taupe the Space Needle, Get in the Expresso Lane, French Quarter for Your Thoughts, and Suzi Takes the Wheel.  Lush urban neutrals in deep sapphire (Road House Blues), rich raisin (Honk If You Love OPI), chic olive (Uh-oh Roll Down the Window), and coffee brown (I Brake for Manicures) merge with iconic red (Color to Diner For), vivid rose (My Address is “Hollywood”), and luminous coral and orange (I Eat Mainely Lobster, Are We There Yet?) for an expansive color landscape.

“This collection will take women around the world on the ultimate tour across the USA, with stops in Baltimore, Clarksdale, Hollywood, Jackson Hole, Memphis, Milwaukee, New Orleans, New York City, Philadelphia, Seattle, St. Louis, and Tucson,” explains Suzi. “Together, the locales that inspired Touring America make up a rich palette of color complementing trends from the runway, where we saw a mix of feminine details and dramatic menswear touches.”

Touring America includes the following shades:

Are We There Yet?
Don’t make me reach back there and take that perfect melon shade!

I Eat Mainely Lobster
We “clawed” through crowds to catch this coral for you.

My Address is “Hollywood”
We put this pretty rose-pink on the map.

Color to Diner For
I’ll take the rosy-red with a side of “awesome.”

Honk if You Love OPI
Don’t let this gorgeous dark grape pass you by.

Road House Blues
In this case…R&B stands for “Really Blue.”

Suzi Takes the Wheel
Buckle up—she’s not stopping until she gets to gray!

French Quarter for Your Thoughts
Want beads? Then show us your sexy gray nails!

Uh-oh Roll Down the Window
You’re gonna wanna pull over for this “unexpected” olive green.

A-taupe the Space Needle
You’ll climb to new heights with this creamy-rich taupe.

Get in the Expresso Lane
An amped-up dark brown that’ll never letcha down!

I Brake for Manicures
This gorgeous eggplant-plum has our full attention.

Touring America Nail Lacquer shades contain no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde, and each includes OPI’s exclusive ProWide^™ Brush for the ultimate in application.

Touring America by OPI will be available August 3, 2011, at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA, for $8.50 ($10.95 CAN) suggested retail for each Nail Lacquer.

For more information, please call 800-341-9999 or visit www.opi.com. Follow OPI on Twitter @OPI_PRODUCTS and become a Facebook fan!

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There was a time not too long ago that I was a perfume freak!  Or at least I thought I was.  I owned well over 30 perfumes, and it seemed like 28 too many LOL!  So, I sent some to my mom, some to a friend in Israel, and I swapped some out.  My aunt always said a woman needed a “signature scent.”  I searched high and low for one that smelled like an OLD Avon perfume called Vibrant Orchid.  Sadly, I couldn’t find anything similar… Wait, Noa Fleur by Cacharel was close, but it didn’t move me the same way.

In the end I fell in love with Burberry Tender Touch… And then I found out it was discontinued!  A new search began, and for a while I thought Philosophy Falling in Love would be my new scent.  Not so much!  I moved on to Philosophy Amazing Grace, then Pure Grace, and finally I ended up with some random perfume.  I don’t even know which one it was.

Finally, this past fall I fell head over heels for pureDKNY.  That was more like a fling in the end because I quickly moved on to Versace Crystal Noir.  And as much as I still love Crystal Noir, it’s now spring and it’s too heavy.  You can guess what happened, right?  It was once again time to find a perfume!

Suffice it to say, I didn’t find one… I found a few LOL!  I currently own GAP Heaven, GAP Dream, B&BW Hawaii Coconut, Aquolina Pink Sugar, and Jessica Simpson Fancy.  Top those off with Victoria’s Secret Body by Victoria and Sexy Little Things Vixen that I just received as my anniversary gift, and we’re good!  I’d have to say my faves are Aquolina Pink Sugar and GAP Heaven.  Now, wouldn’t you think I have enough?  A normal person would, but nope!  Not me!  I also still need to get my hands on Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy LOL!

I’d like to think I’m not along in that I find what seems to be a HG item, but still find myself purchasing more.  I know I said I was loving MAC Pro Longwear, and I still am… But I’m also loving Shiseido The Makeup Dual Balancing Foundation and Clinique’s new Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturizer! 

I loved Revlon PhotoReady from the minute I first used it, but it’s too pink… I bought another shade this past weekend, and I definitely didn’t look as pink, so I’m going to give it another go. 

But seriously, am I alone?  Maybe I have some days where I feel like I prefer one foundation over the other… Although, as a woman I’m allowed to change my mind a lot, right?  (If not, don’t tell my husband because I’ve been using that excuse for years now!)

While I realize times are hard for everyone, things seem to be especially hard right now for those in Japan.  I have a really good friend who lives in Japan, and while she isn’t enduring as much of a hardship as so many are, the recent earthquakes and tsunami have affected her in other ways.

I can’t imagine the pain and suffering so many are enduring, and there are still so many obstacles to overcome before this crisis can fully be underway towards recovery.  And while I know we might not all have extra money to give towards aiding in the relief efforts for Japan, we can do something as simple as donating $10 through our wireless carrier, which will show up on our cell phone bill. 

Regardless as to how you’re able to support Japan’s relief efforts, below is a list of organizations who are working on relief and recovery in Japan: 

AMERICAN RED CROSS: Emergency Operation Centers are opened in the affected areas and staffed by the chapters. This disaster is on a scale larger than the Japanese Red Cross can typically manage. Donations to the American Red Cross can be allocated for the International Disaster Relief Fund, which then deploys to the region to help. Donate here.

GLOBALGIVING: Established a fund to disburse donations to organizations providing relief and emergency services to victims of the earthquake and tsunami. Donate here.

SAVE THE CHILDREN: Mobilizing to provide immediate humanitarian relief in the shape of emergency health care and provision of non-food items and shelter. Donate here.

SALVATION ARMY: The Salvation Army has been in Japan since 1895 and is currently providing emergency assistance to those in need. Donate here.

AMERICARES: Emergency team is on full alert, mobilizing resources and dispatching an emergency response manager to the region. Donate here.

CONVOY OF HOPE: Disaster Response team established connection with in-country partners who have been impacted by the damage and are identifying the needs and areas where Convoy of Hope may be of the greatest assistance. Donate here.

INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPS: Putting together relief teams, as well as supplies, and are in contact with partners in Japan and other affected countries to assess needs and coordinate our activities. Donate here.

SHELTER BOX: The first team is mobilizing to head to Japan and begin the response effort. Donate here.

Resources given by Yahoo News!  Additional resources, including those with text messaging options, are available via The Huffington Post here.

You ever have days where you just feel especially good about your looks?  Be it your skin looks fantastic, or your makeup just look flawless?  I’m having one of those days, and I think it’s because of my new hair cut… Well, I think my makeup looks pretty good today too LOL! 

Funny enough, I never thought I’d like the dewy/glowy look, and I’m finding that I do like it!  I think my tastes in general are changing though.  I was always one for a more tonal palette, or at least I used a lot of corals.  Lately, I’m using a lot of pinks.  Interesting how our own tastes change, isn’t it?

So, what about you? What makes you feel especially good about your looks?  Finally getting winged eyeliner nailed down, perfectly applied blush?  Come on, I know it has to be something!

Well, kind of!  I found what I believe is my “HG” foundation for now, but it’s not MAC.  However, MAC Pro Longwear is a VERY close second!  I’ve decided Shiseido The Makeup Dual Balancing Foundation is my new fave!

I have samples of this in O60 Deep Ochre, and it’s the perfect shade!  It’s not overly yellow and has a perfect amount of a golden tone to it.  I’m not sure how this will wear in the summer though.  I might get Shiseido Sun Protection Liquid Foundation SPF42 PA++ for my summer foundation as it has rave reviews and is apparently water resistant!  Hello!

I think for now it’s finally safe to say my foundation search has ended!  Yay!  I’m probably the most indecisive person ever, huh?  I’ll write a review shortly on the foundation for you also.  I’ll keep using my samples while I wait on a full-size bottle, and then I’ll do the review

Recently I was contacted by Apothica and offered a sponsorship. What this means is Apothica will send me products and/or gift cards for their website to try out as well as sponsor giveaways for all you readers!

This the first giveaway sponsored by Apothica for a $25 Gift Card for use with Apothica!  The giveaway will run for 14 days starting today, March 8 and ending March 22!

Just to give you a bit of information about Apothica – Apothica features so many luxury beauty brands such as Napoleon Perdis, Stila, and much more and carries an assortment of makeup, skin care, hair care, etc.

How To Enter:

(Participants do not have to complete all entry possibilities but this could be one case where more is better!)

1. One Entry for becoming a fan on Apothica’s Facebook

2. One Entry for following Apothica on Twitter

3. One Entry for Tweeting about Apothica on your own Twitter Account

4. Two Entries to leave a comment about Apothica in the comment section below.

TWO Bonus Entries: “Like” button for From Mascara to Meatloaf on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.

Please comment with all the links that will qualify you for as many entries as you choose from the options indicated. Good luck!

This dish is absolutely marvelous!  My husband couldn’t stop talking about how good it was… I was honestly waiting for him to just start licking the plate LOL!

Prep Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 50 mins
Servings: 8

Ingredients
8 chicken cutlets
kosher salt
fresh ground black pepper
16 slices black forest ham, thin
16 slices baby swiss cheese, thin
2 TSP fresh thyme leaves (or 1 TSP dried)
1/4 cup flour
2 cups panko crumbs
1 teaspoon olive oil
3 eggs
2 teaspoons water

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Lay 2 slices of cheese on each cutlet, followed by 2 slices of ham; leaving a 1/2-inch margin on all sides to help seal the roll.

Tuck in the sides of the breast and roll up tight like a jellyroll.Squeeze the log gently to seal.Season the flour with salt and pepper; spread out on waxed paper or in a flat dish.

Mix the breadcrumbs with thyme, kosher salt, pepper, and oil.

The oil will help the crust brown.

Beat together the eggs and water, the mixture should be fluid.Lightly dust the chicken with flour, then dip in the egg mixture.

Gently coat in the bread crumbs.

Carefully transfer the roulades to a baking pan and bake for 20 minutes until browned and cooked through.

Cut into pinwheels before serving.

***Side Notes***
I recommend sealing the rolls with either toothpicks or regular, unflavored and unwaxed dental floss.

I would also recommend maybe spritzing the rolls with olive oil before placing them in the oven, as well as spraying the baking sheet, just to help them brown a little bit more.

Picture and adjusted original recipe can be found on Food.com Recipe #50876