Celebrity Make Up For Less: Alexis Bledel & Jessica Beil

Do you ever see your favorite celebrity at an event or the red carpet and their makeup is done so well and you wonder, how do I achieve that look? And more importantly, how do you achieve the look without spending hundreds of dollars? I love the look on Alexis Bidel and Jessica Beil: Classic eye with full lashes, fun pink lip and peachy golden cheeks.

Face:

Mix your favorite bronzing powder (will only need a small amount) with face moisturizer - rub in hands together and smooth all over your face.

Victoria Secret Brilliant Shimmer - $14

Eyes: 

For more drama, add falsies, otherwise use your favorite thickening mascara. 
L'Oreal's Extra-Volume Collagen Mascara - $8
Line lids with both a black eye shadow and liquid liner - that's the secret for lasting lid lines. First use a an angle brush to line lids with the black shadow, then go over the line with the liquid liner. I use MAC Black Tied - $14.50 and Rimmel London Liquid Liner in Ebony Black - $5.00

Lip:
MAC Quite the Thing! - $14.50 - For those with medium to brown skin tones.
MAC Insanely It! - $14.50 - For those with fair to light skin tones.
This lipstick actually has sheen to it, so it provides color and glossy finish.

Cheeks: Use a peach colored blush - this color will vary between skin tones.
Rimmel Lasting Finish Blush Autumn Catwalk - $5
Rimmel Lasting Finish Pink Sorbet - $5

Dresses & Bows: How it's Done

On Friday, I plan on wearing a Milly black silk bow dress to a gala, which is pictured below. The gala is black tie optional, so as usual I scurried around my closet like a mad woman, until I found the perfect dress via Rent The Runway. Dresses and bows have had long been associated with 'frilly' and 'frump' and the right style can be hard to find. Luckily I found a few that are both classic and chic! 

My Gala Dress:

Milly 'Dominique' Gaza Dress

- Rent the Runway  $50
- Neiman Marcus $145

- Nordstrom $375

Alice + Olivia Gretchen Dress - Shopbop $145

Kate Unger Strapless Bow Dress - Saks Fifth Avenue $330

Lotusgrace Moire Faille Double Bow Dress - Saks Fifth Avenue $428

Kate Spade New York "Shelley" Dress - Bloomingdale's $248

SAG Awards Fashions: A walk down the red carpet

The Screen Actors Guild Awards red carpet fashions - as seen through objective eyes.

The Hits

Love the color and the sweet heart neckline! Julianna Margulies looks fabulous!

Julia Stiles! Where have you been? The ombre effect on this dress is so unique - it was nice to see a different color palate.

Everyone has been talking about Lea Michele's dress, I think it's perfectly glam and the 

décolletage is stunning.

Yay! Modern Family representing on the red carpet and the salmon colored dress and slight knot cinch at the waist is age appropriate for Sarah Hyland.

The Misses

Pale on pale never works, also a larger size helps. Amy Adams please try again.

Nice try Angie, I am not feeling it. Too many frills, could almost be a wedding dress.

Christina I adore you, I really do. Please allow me to style you, just once.

Another Modern Family appearance, but sadly Julia Bowen misses with this jump suit apparatus.

I love this color, but the black belt ruins the look. With the wrong accessory, an entire outfit can go down.

The Decent

January Jones looks more classy this time around (see any picture from People's Choice Awards), but I can't help but think curtain. The silhouette is lovely though.

I love the color purple, but the bedazzled bust, strap and waist cut out are too much. Kim nice try though.

Again love the color and Mariska, but the material looks and is probably stiff taffeta. 

Another request for styling assistance, please choose me Natalie. The hair is very formal and satin is a wrinkles best friend.

If you can't tell, I am obsessed with Modern Family. Sofía Vergara looks great in purple, would have preferred a loose side bun and less cleavage. The design at the waist is unique, but the entire look isn't working.

The flowers, too much. Had the print been solid, I would have placed Tina Fey in the fabulous category.

Winona Ryder! You are still relevant! No to the dress, which is a actually for a wedding. No to the black purse, which is actually for little old ladies.

Love this dress..for the beach and without the belt. Not SAG carpet worthy. Mila Kunis you can do better.

Update Classic Fashion: Yo Vintage!

Vintage clothing can be risky, at times you aren't sure whether or not clothing that your mother/father used to wear will look good on you, but Yo Vintage! takes the confusion out by offering fabulous, one of kind clothing at affordable prices. Flaunt the sequins or stripes and go wild! This site offers you the vintage state of mind...

Art Scene: Girls Rock! DC

Art is near and dear to my heart - I paint and enjoy artist of all types. On Saturday, December 11th from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. you will have a chance to not only purchase fabulous art on the cheap but half of the proceeds will benefit the non profit Girls Rock! DC!

'Participating artists include Leslie Andrus, Lely Constantinople, Mike Ferguson, Sha Grogan-Brown, Floyd Knight, Tom LeGro, Gina Matchitt, Les Talusan, Lisa Marie Thalhammer, Frank Turner and others.  Artwork sold will include paintings, screen printed goods, lots of photography and more.'

Black Friday Deals: Old Town, Alexandria

STORES OPEN AT 6 A.M.; SAVE YOUR RECEIPTS FOR ADDITIONAL DISCOUNTS AT OTHER LOCAL SHOPS

ALEXANDRIA, VA – Skip the craziness of crowded malls and frenzied national discount stores and get “Door Buster” Black Friday discounts from local merchants in Old Town Alexandria this year.

Shop Local Alexandria, an initiative of the Old Town Boutique District, is organizing merchants across Old Town to open early. So far 24 locally-owned stores have signed on and more are joining up every day.

Studies have shown that when shoppers buy from local independent merchants, more money stays in the local community. That means more jobs, more tax revenues for local services and more support for local charities. It also means finding products and gifts that are more unique and diverse than what shoppers find at national chains. And in today’s big box, self-service world, local merchants offer genuine one-on-one customer service.

“We may not be able to offer the most outrageous discounts,” said Amy Rutherford, owner of Red Barn Mercantile and one of the many Old Town stores opening early on Black Friday, “but we have major retailers beat when it comes to quality, service and the overall retail experience. National retailers operate from national quotas, cookie cutter merchandise and get-it-yourself models. Local merchants know their customers. They buy what their customers want and are ready to go the extra mile to build real relationships. I live in Alexandria, my store is here. My customers are my friends and neighbors.”  

In addition to special Black Friday hours, and individual in-store discounts, a collection of Old Town retailers are teaming up to provide extra savings. If you buy from one of the participating stores on Black Friday, your receipt becomes an instant 10 percent off coupon redeemable at any of the other participating stores. See the table below for participating stores. 

Some of the retailers may set a few restrictions, but there's no limit on the number of stores shoppers can visit, or the amount of savings they can rack up. For example, if you buy something from Bloomers, you'll get 10 percent off at fibre space™. But why stop there. Your full-purchase receipt can get you 10 percent off purchases at La Cuisine, Mystique Jewelers, The Christmas Attic and other Old Town stores too.
The offer is good only on Black Friday, Nov. 26. 

Shop Local Alexandria (www.ShopLocalAlexandria.com) is an initiative of the Old Town Boutique District, a grassroots organization of local independent retailers dedicated to promoting historic Old Town Alexandria. For more information about the Old Town Boutique District or other events, visit 

OldTownBoutiqueDistrict.com.

Click link for a list of stores participating in the Black Friday Sale 
(* offer special 10 percent off with receipt discount)

Free Giveaway - CSN Stores

Yes you read correctly - FREE giveaway! One of my fellow bloggers, is hosting a free giveaway from the company CSN Stores. There are a couple of fun things to do to be entered into the giveaway. Please go to her blog to read the rules and regulations! The prize a $35 promo code to use at any one of their 200+ stores. You can't go wrong with free, so try your luck out!