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Anastasia of Beverly Hills - Brow Kit Review

In a previous entry, I introduced my readers to Anastasia of Beverly Hills. Since then I've had the opportunity to review the Beauty Express Brow Kit.
Anastasia Beverly Hills has created a new and innovative way to keep brows looking groomed and gorgeous on the go. The Brow Express Palette is your one-stop essential kit to complete a flawless look anytime, anywhere. It contains four perfect Brow Stencils created by Anastasia to suit various brow shapes and styles, two Brow Powders to custom blend the most natural brow color, Angled Brush for clean and precise application, Cream Highlighter for application along the brow bone to lift and accentuate the eyes, and Wax Cream to hold a perfect shape from day to night.
These are the instructions for how to use this kit:


1. SELECT THE STENCIL that fits the most of your natural brow hair through the cutout. Align stencil with points “A” and “B”, making sure the top burgundy line rests parallel on the forehead. A is the point through the center of the nostril directly up to where it intersects the end point of the stencil cutout. B is the point through the edge of the nose diagonally to the opposite end of the stencil cutout.
2. APPLY THE BROW WAX CREAM using the Brow Brush to help Brow Powder adhere. Clean brush of any excess wax. Wax can also be used to set brows and keep them in place all day.
3. ALIGN THE STENCIL TO BROW and APPLY BROW POWDER TO THE OPEN AREA using the Brow Brush.
4. REMOVE THE STENCIL and tweeze hair outside the powdered area. (Tweezers not included.)
5. APPLY SHADOW to enhance brow bone, lids and inner corners of eyes.



MY EXPERIENCE: At first I was immensely excited at the idea of a brow kit--something that would help me create shape and style to my unruly eye brows. When I started to explore the kit, I was incredibly overwhelmed. The directions--for me--were simply too vague. Now, please note, that I am not the most cosmetologically inclined NOR am I a beauty imbecile, however, I read the directions and examined the tools over and over and over. I must have put those stencils up to my eyes 100 times trying to figure out which one would be right for me. It was very frustrating and disappointing. After about 45 minutes of examining and scrutinizing I gave up on the stencils. Maybe my eyebrows were just simply not the right type to work for these stencils? I don't know, but nonetheless, I gave up.
Once I decided to forgo the stencils, the rest of the kit was pretty fun. One thing that I can say is that wax is AWESOME! Made primarily of beeswax, it is soft and strong to keep your brows in place. Not only that, it keeps any color that you add to your brows from smearing. I loved it! I would pay big money for some of that if it was sold separately.
The colors included in the kit were great. I loved that you could apply either darker or lighter (or, if you're talented, blend for a perfect shade) powder to shape and style your brows and that you had a choice between matte or shimmery color to accent your brows. In addition, I could tell that all of the products in this kit were of high quality. Despite not being able to use all of the tools, I'm confident in Anastasia product and will continue to use them in the future.

And now what you've all been waiting for! The before and after pictures.

BEFORE

AFTER

Cheers! You can buy your own Anastasia of Beverly Hills products directly from their website as well as at upscale retailers such as Sephora and Ulta.

I received this item for review purposes only. The opinions expressed in this review are mine and mine only.

Rebecca St. James "What is He Thinking?" (Book Review)

In What is He Thinking??, Australian born, Grammy Award winning musician and renowned writer Rebecca St. James interviews different men, from high-profile types to the guys next door. Although the interviews focus on single guys ages 20-35, Rebecca also includes words of wisdom from older mentors she respects who have been successfully married for years, people like her dad, life coach, and pastor. The men share their thoughts on topics like how women can respect themselves and the men in their lives, modesty, purity, taking it slow, friendship, letting guys lead, and more. This book gives them the floor to say what they would really like women to know.

The men respond candidly to questions such as:

• What is the most attractive quality to you in a woman?
• Is modesty truly attractive?
• Is neediness a turn-off?
• What do you find beautiful?
• How can we be dependent on God for our identity, not on you?
• How can we help you with boundaries physically?

Rebecca also discusses her own dating life, speaking openly about the single life, her struggle with loneliness, and her hope for the future. She challenges women to see the men in their lives as brothers in Christ and to trust God with their dating lives. I think we should listen to this lady, not only because of her sincerity, but because she recently was married and, therefore, knows what she's talking about! There must be a great deal of truth woven in this book as Ms. St. James is the proof.

Rebecca St. James is a Grammy Award winner and a multiple Dove Award recipient, with international success that has driven her record sales into the millions. In January 2008, she was named Favorite Female Artist in Contemporary Christian Music by readers of CCM Magazine for the seventh consecutive year. Rebecca also won Best Female Artist of 2007 from Christianitytoday.com-her fifth consecutive year to be given this honor. She's been involved in several film productions and voiced the character of Hope the Angel in VeggieTales' bestselling DVD production The Easter Carol.

Read the beginning of this book here to see for yourself. Learn more about Rebecca here. Connect with either her and/or the book on Facebook.

I know I'm thankful for literature that discusses dating as a Christian and the particular struggles we are challenged with.

Background Checks?

Top Dating Sites writes why YOU should run a background check on your date!

"Check" it out!

Profile Picture Instructional

A couple of words for those folks that are trying to improve your online dating experience. This has to do with the pictures you add to your profile. I've been seriously turned off, and confused, by the pictures that folks think are a good idea to post. The following is a list of pictures that are not a good idea:
(1) A picture of you mouthing a Mountain Dew bottle
(2) A picture of you and your ex-girlfriend...and another picture of you and a different girlfriend...and yet one more picture of you and another ex-girlfriend
(3) A picture of you and a smelly, deceased fish (I'm sorry honey, I know you're very proud, and so is your mommy, but we aren't impressed. All we can think about are those fish guts getting all over our beautiful porcelain sink.)
(4) Unless it's the summer after you've graduated from high school (and, if that's the case, get off the computer and find a date, you can do it, you're still young) you should not have your senior pictures up
(5) A picture of you doing anything explicit with an intimate object (even suggesting or imitating it is enough to make us frown)
(6) A single shot of any part of your body without a head. As nice as it may be, we're not trying to create a meat market here. Leave the pictures of the loins and the fun bags for other occasions, PLEASE!
(7) A picture of your wife.
(8) A picture of you with your eyes closed. No more pictures. At least do the camera-phone-in-the-bathroom-mirror-thang. What are you hiding from? Is that REALLY the only or best picture you have?
(9) A picture of you in a unitard.
(10) A picture of you with a gun. Besides that it's scarier than hell, pretty sure it's probably illegal.
(11) Any photo edited on a child's Nintendo DS
(12) A picture of you and a blow up doll (don't laugh, I've seen it)
(13) Sole pictures of your pets or other random animals. Cute as they may be, I don't get it. You and a pet? Sure. Just Sparky? I don't understand what you're suggesting...
(14) A picture that you obviously copied from a magazine (page numbers or add corners give it away homey)
(15) A picture of a plate of food. Or any other unrelated picture. Do you think someone is going to see that bowl of macaroni and cheese and think, "Yeah, I'm totally contacting this guy, I wasn't sure before but that bowl of noodles convinced me."

WARNING: This is just my opinion! If noodles, or guns, or blow up dolls are your thing, have at it! And GOOD LUCK!

Anastasia of Beverly Hills

I have an exciting opportunity upcoming for my fabulous readers!

(from the website)
"Anastasia Soare is widely referred to as the Beauty Innovator and The Definitive Brow and Eye Expert, and that is for good reason. Over the years she has achieved iconic status in the beauty industry for her unique way of shaping the eyebrows and enhancing the eye area. Anastasia's Beverly Hills and Brentwood, CA salons have built on a steady flow of celebrity clientele which includes the likes of Oprah, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Naomi Campbell, Jada Pinkett Smith, Lara Flynn Boyle, Penelope Cruz, Sharon Stone, and others. Anastasia has been featured in the pages of top publications such as Vogue, W, Town & Country, Elle, InStyle, Allure, Entertainment Weekly, Newsweek, People, Flaunt, and Los Angeles Magazine."

Other than an amazing line of products to perfect your brows (and who can't attest that the best make up in the world can't make up for a bad set of eyebrows) Anastasia also has facial make up, lip products, facial care, and all the tools you would ever need for a flawless face.

One thing that I'm very concerned about, given I'm a human services professional, is the price of things. Now, don't get me wrong, I am not one who immediately resorts to the cheapest product, but if I spend the money, I need to know it is going to work. Research via Amazon, Sephora, and Ulta (my favorite) showed that these products aren't priced higher than any other high end beauty line. In fact, her line erasing serum is actually priced LESS than the one I currently use. Now I'm excited!

In the coming posts, I will be reviewing some products and be giving away some of your very own. Stay tuned!

I Asked Her Out, She Said Yes-Now What? Review and Giveaway

I Asked Her Out, She Said Yes--Now What?

A Crash Court in Dates that Lead to Relationships by Jarett Waite

I was pleasantly surprised by the contents of this short, but pointed informational manual on dating. The wisdom that Waite imparts is timeless and refreshing. As a woman, I can only hope that men in the dating world will read this and really take it to heart. Here are some wonderful tips from Waite that I would like to stress to my readers:

-"...treat your date like a queen. This may sound a little dramatic, but it's her night, and one of your main goals should be to make her feel special. If nothing else comes out of a date, a girl should at least go home happy and feeling good about herself."
***SIGH*** Girls, isn't that what we want? And who can say no after a date that goes in that manner? Even if we aren't wildly physically attracted to the man, if we are treated not only in a respectable but treasured way, we are definitely going to be interested.

-"...stay away from physical affection (apart from a hug after a date)..."
I can only speak for myself, as I do in this blog, but I have so much more RESPECT and INTRIGUE towards a man if he isn't reaching down my throat on the first date. Dating is a magical time, don't rush it and don't take it for granted.

-"What does it take to be a nice guy?...Open doors to cars, buildings, etc., be kind and gentle, hand good manners, be attentive to her needs, give genuine compliments, plan dates with her comfort in mind, avoid putting others down around her"
Women, is there really anything else we look for in a man?
Men, do you wonder if this is what women really want? What about the bad guy that so many women are looking for? It's a farce. A woman really wants someone that is assertive, not aggressive, and who will stand up for what's right. If a woman is really after an outright jerk, the desire either won't last or there may be some insecurities and instabilities within her that she needs to sort out.

-"Girls really do pay attention to...how you treat your friends, waiters in restaurants, and even the maintenance guy who comes to fix your apartment toilet."
It's true, men, we do. We analyze your relationships with your friends (both male and female), your parents, siblings, exes, and how you treat others. It says something about who your date is when they put their guard down. How you treat others in your life is eventually how you will treat us after we fall into the comfort zone. If you are someone that doesn't treat people around you very nicely, maybe it's time to look at yourself and see how you can't be more polite and kind.

-"It all starts with listening. You should pay close attention to everything a girl tells you and takes mental notes."
This is one of the first things I look for in a date. If I spend 2 hours listening to a man talk nonstop about himself, his family, and his career, I feel like I'm working. It's my belief that if you truly care about someone, you will want to know about him/her and that includes all the little details.

There are so many other great tips in this book. If you are leaning towards getting the book--please PLEASE please go ahead and spend the money. I strongly believe if you adhere to the principles in this book that you will ultimately come out on top.

Would you love to read this book? Do you know someone who SHOULD read this book? I've giving away a copy to one lucky reader. To enter:
(This is the only mandatory entry--all others are just extra--please leave an individual comment per entry)
(1) Please leave a comment with why you'd like to win.
Ensure there is a way for me to contact you otherwise I will be forced to pick another winner.
(2) What tip would you give to a man who is struggling with dates and relationships?
(3) Do you agree or disagree with any of Waite's tips as quoted above? Why?
(4) Be a google friend of Em is Dating!
(5) Follow me on Twitter.
(6) Follow me through Networked Blogs.
(7) Friend me on Facebook.
(8) Follow my sister blog The Things We Hope For.

Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm CST on Thursday, August 25th. Entrants 13+ please from US and Canada only.