Thursday
Mar122009
TCHO Drinking Chocolate
March 12, 2009 At last, TCHO has introduced their version of drinking chocolate. Fans of this hip chocolate line will enjoy the strong blend of three of TCHO's chocolates: “Chocolatey” from Ghana, “Citrus” from Madagascar, and “Nutty” from Peru. There are no added ingredients so it's pure liquid chocolate.
Used for hot and cold drinks, you can make a TCHOspresso (add to hot water in a demitasse), an IcedTCHO, or a TCHOlatte.
Or...if you're very impatient like me (and in dire need of a choco fix right this instant), you can also eat it straight from the tin with a spoon. It's that yummy.
I need a TCHOspresso now.
tcho.com
This is a very pretty line and it's available in eight shades. I loved Energy a lot (shimmery bright cherry red). Those who want a more dramatic lip will love Black Hole (deep wine). I only needed a couple teensy dabs as it was so pigmented. If you are into lighter shades, Time is a nice shimmery golden nude. Creation (rose) and Cosmos (ruby) look so darn pretty. And, if your color bleeds no matter what you do, I recommend the Invisible Liner. The self sharpening mechanical pencil is so convenient.
I also liked the Oxymoron Matte Gloss in Honest Politician. As a 2-in-1, it goes on nicely as a creme blush and lip gloss. The brown-pink matte tone was very neutral looking on my lips, and I needed only a tiny dab for my cheeks. Very high mileage in this product. The recessionista in me approves.
The stylish Ms. Poppy was darling enough to share her revered lipstick advice in a recent interview. Read on for her expert tips on choosing the best lip color for your skin tone, how to prevent bleeding, and more:
What's the easiest way to prevent lipstick bleeding? Dark colors, especially red, can be tricky to maintain throughout the day for busy career gals.
Poppy King: Wear a lip liner that matches the lip color exactly so that the line is seamless.....or, if you don't like lip liner you can use concealer around the line of the lip to stop bleeding. Lipstick Queen Invisible Liner stops lipstick bleeding without being seen.
What red shades do you recommend for women of color? With so many brands out there, it can be overwhelming.
PK: The bluer based/pinkish reds tend to look best on deep skins such as Latin and African American....the more orange reds look tend to look best on Asian women.
On top of the new Illusion Gloss, what else is coming up for the brand that we can look forward to?
PK: I am having a glossy year with new and unusual forms, textures and concepts in gloss. Expect the unexpected....even a gloss you can sharpen!
Any tips on how to maintain soft lips (to maximize lipstick application)? Does exfoliation help?
PK: Exfoliation and Chapstick are the best to maintain lips without getting greasy. I use a spare toothbrush to exfoliate lips.
Red is your signature color. Do you have other favorite colors you wear on 'off days' or at home lounging around?
PK: Red is my boring look in that I wear it all the time.....I feel radical when I wear other shades. I love wearing Coral and Rose from my line in both the Saint and Sinner formulas. I love romantic shades for my time off red.
Who was your biggest influence on your personal style? Why?
PK: My godmother, who owns an amazing fashion boutique in Melbourne (where I am from). She introduced me to leopard print and I have pretty much worn it since I can remember. I love glamour.
Do you ever recommend the nude lip on certain women? Or just red all the way?
PK: I recommend colors I truly think would suit someone's style and personality. I believe the two are intrinsic to each other and I read someone's whole "aura" when I recommend lips shades. A long way of saying yes.....I recommend nude all the time when I think it suits someone's being.
The retail line is available in the following flavors: Mango, Prickly Pear, Raspberry, Strawberry, and White Peach (Concentrates: Blood Orange, Passion Fruit, Pomegranate). I LOVED the Mango puree. It's a great blend of varieties from Columbia, Ecuador, Mexico, Philippines, Peru, and India. I made a mango panna cotta last weekend and everyone inhaled the dessert in minutes. Yep, it was that good. Get the 
Named after Christian Louboutin, I liked the shade Red Sole a lot. For a lip gloss this had strong color payoff and didn't dry my lips. I'm happy to find that this lip plumper works and it doesn't sting (has soothing Lemon Peel oil). I even wiped the gloss off to see what would happen and my lips stayed plump for a while. Neat-o! This will be a staple for my cosmetics bag whenever I need that sultry look.
As for the appetite suppressant part, I'd need to check the scale in a couple weeks to see if my derriere shrunk a bit in my tight jeans...
Givenchy Spring 2009 makeup collection featured for auction
Highlights include:
Cut & color with celebrity stylist David Evangelista
Tickets to the Diane von Furstenberg Spring 2010 Runway show in September 2009
Over $1000 in Givenchy Le Makeup, Skincare, and Fragrance
The new Dior L'Or de Vie Skincare Collection
Autographed Anya Hindmarch handbag
...and much more beauty from brands including Fresh, Guerlain. Dior, Sephora, and Frederic Fekkai!
Dior's new L'Or de Vie skincare collection, one of the many auction items featured
Somaly Mam, a survivor of human trafficking, was sold into a life of sexual slavery at a very young age. She finally escaped this dangerous world and became a spokeswoman for women and children tortured in the brothels of Cambodia. In 2006, Somaly was honored as Glamour Magazine's Woman of the Year for her courageous work in fighting sexual slavery, and she has been profiled as a CNN Hero in recognition of her brave fight to save so many young, innocent victims from this horrible and silent crime.
All proceeds will go to The Somaly Mam Foundation in Cambodia (
Palawan in gold
Made in Brazil, these flip flops come in three styles. The Palawan is adorned with a gorgeous leather flower (in black, gold, and pewter). You can adjust the flexible petals (with wire backing) to your liking. Each flip flop also contains a real lab-grown sapphire! This is taking eco-glam to the next level.
Sula in purple
I also love the Sula style. Bring out your inner Roman goddess with the long straps, or transform yourself into a ballerina. The memory foam insole will add more comfort as you spend all day playing outside.
Joaquin Phoenix and Vinessa Shaw in "Two Lovers." (Magnolia Pictures)
You'll also enjoy Isabella Rossellini's turn at playing the protective Jewish mom. She completes the picture of the suffocating life that Leonard (Phoenix) is desperate to escape.
I adored the strong storytelling. Each shot is filmed with purpose and nothing is gratuitous. Even the spare use of music is brilliant, drawing emotional resonance from the audience. This is how movies should be made.
Gwyneth Paltrow in "Two Lovers." (Magnolia Pictures)
I had thought this would be one of those sappy downer films, but there are a lot of sweet moments that find parallels from real life, drawing you further into this messy drama. This is how life is, mixed with lots of good, bad, and the sorta-OK stuff in between.
One of the great things is that they're so easy to bake. Just pop a few onto a baking sheet for 15 minutes (no need to defrost), drizzle on the terrific thawed icing and you can have friends over for tea and gossip in no time flat. It's super moist and tender! My faves are Peach Passion Fruit (wowed me lots, hands down the top fave), Mandarin Orange Cranberry, and Lemon Drop (lovely citrus flavor). They also have a great 
Unlike most supermarket brands, these have no trans fat and are free of preservatives, which is always a good thing. I sure appreciate any health factor that will ease my guilt as I gobble these up. Yum...I can inhale a couple of these at a time.
Buy them online at: 
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Gorgeous dress on Taraji. I think she was truly one of the best dressed with an edgy design that flattered her body and made her truly a star on the red carpet. The color was perfect with her skintone!
