Dakota Johnson Doesn't Need $3,000 Worth of Beauty Products to Play Anastasia Steele

donderdag 26 september 2013

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
by Maressa Brown 1 hour ago

Dakota Johnson appears to already be gearing up for getting in front of the cameras to film Fifty Shades of Grey. The actress confirmed to portray Anastasia Steele was just spotted at Bergdorf Goodman in NYC with mom Melanie Griffith and, according to E!, reportedly spent "a considerable time in the cosmetics department and ended up splurging big time at the Orlane Paris counter -- $3,000, to be exact!" Oof!

The gossiphounds go on to dish that the mother-daughter duo walked away with products like the posh line's hydrating serum, super moisturizing light cream, and Vivifying cleanser. Huh. While I can understand wanting to drop some dough on a few high-quality, key skin care products that you feel make a major difference ... and I realize we're talkin' Hollywood royalty here who can afford to lay down serious cash for whatever beauty products they desire, I'm having trouble wrapping my head on the idea of thousands on skincare in one fell swoop!?

Especially for 23-year-old Dakota. We can't be sure if they were shopping for Dakota alone or Melanie or both of 'em, but if there's any chance the lion's share of the products were meant for her, that's kinda sad. I hope it isn't indicative of her getting super-self-conscious about how she looks in the wake of all this newfound attention? She's beautiful just the way she is!

Plus, as much of a product junkie as I can be at times, I really can't get behind spending that kind of money on any sort of serum, moisturizer, or cleanser. After all, what could a $75 cream possibly deliver that can't be accomplished with a clean diet, lots of water, and simple, natural skin care solutions like aloe or witch hazel? Products over a certain price really start to seem more and more like snake oil.

Oh well! At least it sounds like Dakota got a chance to share some quality time with her mama before cameras start rolling. I'd venture to guess that eating healthy and a lot of rest will go a lot further than any $50 cleanser to helping her look and feel her best when Sam Taylor-Johnson eventually yells "action!"

How do you feel about laying out a lot of cash on skincare products?

Image via Nancy Rivera/Splash News

Click the "Like" button below if you're a fan of Fifty Shades of Grey! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Maressa Brown

has enjoyed reporting and writing for a variety of entertainment and women's magazines and websites. More often than not, you'll find her blogging, hitting the gym, reading, researching something on her iPhone, laughing, chatting at an above-"normal" volume, or getting her caffeine fix.

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New iPhone 5S Is TOTALLY Worth the Wait if These 3 Rumors Are True

maandag 9 september 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Nicole Fabian-Weber 3 hours ago

The iPhone 5S is supposedly making its genuine human interaction-killing way into stores some time in the very near future. "Very near," as in September 10, as that's when the official Apple event is scheduled to be held. Idiots people are already lining up in front of Apple stores to be the first (read: coolest) one out of their friends who can say they have the new iPhone. And while that's something I would never in a million years do, the new iPhone is rumored to have some cool new features. 

Many are claiming that the new iPhone is going to have a fingerprint scanner as an increased security measure. The China Times was the first to report this information, and backing this theory up is PayPal's chief information security officer, Michael Barrett, who said, "There is going to be a fingerprint enabled phone on the market later this year. Not just one, multiple," in a recent keynote speech. Pretty cool, as iPhones are seriously hot commodity for thieves.

Another rumor swirling around is that there's going to be a gold model added to the current black and white iPhones. No word on whether the gold iPhone, if available, is going to be the same cost as its black and white counterparts, or if it's going to be a more expensive version. Let's hope the same, because paying a higher price for a color is ridiculous.

And, finally, the most exciting iPhone rumor of all is the possibility of there being a new, "cheaper" iPhone available. (This, also, is the most widely-reported rumor, so it would be a fairly big shock if this weren't true.) Reportedly called the "iPhone 5C", the cheaper phone may be a bit smaller and come in a variety of pastely-looking colors. No word on how cheap this iPhone 5C will be, but I mean, come on, how cheap can it possibly be? This is Apple we're talking about here.

And now we wait.

Are you excited for the new iPhone?

Image via Sean MacEntee/Flickr

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5 Gorgeous 'Teen Mom' Makeup Looks Worth Copying (PHOTOS)

donderdag 22 augustus 2013

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
by Emily Abbate 4 hours ago

The perfect look with makeup means different things for different people. For some, it's a natural look with earth tones and a solid coat of mascara. For others, it's a dark smokey eye that just screams drama. The stars of MTV's Teen Mom, they're all about the bold look. I'm constantly amazed at the bazillion different looks Chelsea Houska pulls off on a weekly basis (and seemingly effortlessly, I might add).

Check out 5 of our favorite Teen Mom dramatic makeup looks, here:

Are you a fan of a lot of makeup? Or do you like to keep things simple?

Image via ChelseaHouska/Instagram

var UGC_HOST = "http://ugc-01.cafemomstatic.com";var current_slide_num = 1;var slideshow_url = "http://thestir.cafemom.com/beauty_style/160098/5_gorgeous_teen_mom_makeup";var short_url = "/beauty_style/160098/5_gorgeous_teen_mom_makeup";var slide_id = "";var from_social = "";var current_slide_id = '109525'; I'm a huge fan of the brown and neutral colors Farrah is using here for her... VIEW MORE

Image via farrahabrahamofficial/Instagram

I'm a huge fan of the brown and neutral colors Farrah is using here for her smokey eye. She did the right thing by keeping her lips simple, too, letting the focus remain on her bold eye makeup.

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Dating After Divorce Terrified Me but I Did It Anyway - and It Was Worth It

maandag 19 augustus 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Aunt Becky 13 hours ago

When I threw on that puffy white dress and marched myself down the aisle to say my "I do's" to my husband, I meant every word. Including the "'til death do us part" bit. I'd gloat a little every time someone we knew was having marital problems, because we were destined to MAKE IT.

I just knew it.

Until I didn't.

"Irreconcilable differences," the court called it. I called it "we just didn't work any more." Too many things had happened, too many things had made a tiny crack into a gaping chasm and we couldn't even claim to be in the same book, let alone on the same page anymore.

I moved out in October of last year, a dismal end to an otherwise okay union. We both agreed it was best, although I know we both struggled. And oh how we struggled to start over again. Separately.

I'd hit the point, post-divorce, where everyone from the mailman to the guy at Starbucks was asking when I'd be ready to date again. I never knew the answer to that question. I'd not considered dating in more than 10 years, so the prospect of being intimate and vulnerable with someone I didn't yet know seemed daunting, to say the least.

And then I met him. A random event strung into another random event, and something clicked. I was intrigued. Terrified, but intrigued. I'd just begun learning to live on my own, to begin my life again, and here was this guy -- this great guy -- and, well, I went into a tizzy of self-doubt and fear for about a month.

He knew I had kids. He knew I was in the process of divorcing. He was even my age -- someone I could respect.

And then one night, long after a movie had ended and we'd sat together on the couch simply chatting, he said the words, "I know we're both in the middle of our own stuff right now, and I know that dating is probably the last thing on your mind, but I'll be right here. Waiting for you."

I blinked back tears before wrapping him in a bear hug.

"Thank you," I whispered into his ear. "Thank you," he said back. And I took a leap of faith.

Today, we're not just dating. We're in a relationship. And we're about to move in together. I'm glad I faced my fears and took the chance. Because he's worth it. And so am I.

What advice would you give to someone who has to start all over? Have you ever been in that position?

Image via heyadrienne/Flickr

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Are College Honor Societies Worth the Fees?

zaterdag 10 augustus 2013

Are College Honor Societies Worth the Fees?

It is nearly back-to-school time for college students, and many of them will soon be bombarded with invitation letters to join various honor societies. Local chapters usually cost between $30–100 or more to join. It can be difficult to know if it is really worth the cost, or if the tradition is arcane and unnecessary for future success. There are a number of factors to consider when deciding if joining an honor society is right for you or your child. Here’s what you need to know:

Some honor societies include members from all academic areas, while others are specific to certain majors and career fields, such as business or pharmacy. The more specialized honor societies allow students to network with fellow students who have the same career focus, as well as alumni already working in the field. Meeting the right people can lead to internship opportunities and even job offers—in fact, studies show that between 60–80 percent of all jobs are obtained through networking. But remember, being a member is not enough. You have to plan on going to meetings and events to make helpful contacts, and so the fees may not be worth it if you don’t plan to fully participate.

It is worth mentioning that there are ways to be involved and make connections beyond attending events and meetings. Even the oldest honor societies have kept up with the digital age and are active on sites like Twitter and Facebook. Just remember that being a passive consumer of online media is no better than being a wallflower at a meeting. To get your name out there you have to be invested and involved.

Honor societies are sometimes criticized as just being résumé fillers. It is difficult to know if a prospective employer will be impressed by membership in an honor society or if it won’t really matter. The key to knowing if a particular society is valuable for your résumé is to ask yourself if it is professionally relevant or prestigious. For example, Phi Beta Kappa was founded in 1776 and is one of the most respected, selective and well-recognized honor societies. While I would not go so far as to say that being a member fundamentally changed the course of my career, I have been told more than once that it was the reason I was granted that all-important first interview.

Many honor societies offer substantial scholarship opportunities for members. Paying for college is difficult, so the more opportunities a student has to bring the cost down, the better. Scholarships can range from a couple hundred to thousands of dollars, and can be designated for a variety of expenses such as books, tuition and even travel-enrichment opportunities. Before you join an honor society, it is worth asking about what scholarship opportunities are available from both the local chapter and the national organization.

Membership in college honor societies can come with perks long after your college days are over. Membership can get you special discounts on everything from cell phone plans and insurance to hotels and résumé services. Many societies also offer professional development opportunities like conferences that can help you get ahead after you are hired, so even after you land your dream job, it can pay to stay involved. Staying involved also lets you keep an eye out for new talent when you are in a position to do the hiring.

Unfortunately, not all honor societies are legitimate. Since almost all societies charge a joining fee and it can be hard for students to know the difference between a real society and a fake one, it is easy for students and their parents to be scammed out of their hard-earned money. Additionally, there are some societies that have let their admissions standards fall so low that they can no longer really be considered valid. A quick way to check on the status of an honor society is to see if they are a member of the Association of College Honor Societies. However, just because a society is not a member doesn’t necessarily mean they’re not authentic, so you may want to check with your college advisor for advice.

This is a guest post by April from Grand Blanc, MI
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6 Ways to Rock the ‘Coated Jeans' Trend but Is It Worth the Crazy Price?

dinsdag 6 augustus 2013

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AppId is over the quota

Coated denim jeans (also known as "waxed denim") are super stylish and just the right amount of edgy to still be wearable for the average person. They have the sexy look of leather jeans, without actually BEING leather jeans, which are just a little too much (and too impracticle) for me -- at least on about 354 days of the year. The drawback? Coated jeans are fairly pricey: You can find bargains, but a quality pair that actually looks they way they're supposed to look (and not just cheap and shiny) is probably going to set you back close to $100. And if you get into the designer arena, think double, triple or quadruple that!

So, is a good pair of coated denim jeans really worth it?

I say, if you can swing it, yes! For one thing, this trend has already been around for a little while, and it's not going anywhere soon, so it's not like you're spending money on something that will look totally outdated by Christmas. For another, they're really flattering and hot looking, without being over the top. And last but not least, they're JUST as versatile as regular denim, if not MORE, so you'll get a lot of use out of them.

Here are some tips on totally rocking your investment:

1. Make sure they fit you really well. The wax coating makes these jeans not as stretchy as most denim is these days, so you won't have as much forgiveness if you size down. The benefit though, is they'll keep their shape really well. Try them on, and don't settle for a pair that you don't love!

Madewell skinny ankle coated moto jeans ($135 at Madewell.com)

2. Get over your need for jeans to be ultra-comfy. Yes, sorry to say, but these just won't be as soft and snugly as your favorite, go-to pair of jeans. But that's OK because they look great!

 

Elie Tahari Azella waxed denim jean in "midnight dream" ($228 at elietahari.com)

3.  Dress them down. You can pretty much wear your coated denim jeans in place of a regular pair of jeans, but your whole outfit will be just a little hotter. (And by hot I mean HAWT.) A casual tank top and sandals; a long-sleeved tee with ballet flats; a printed blouse with ankle boots ... all of these would look great with your slick denim for a slightly revved up but still casual look.

Victoria Beckham "stovepipe" jean with a "slight wax finish" (Marked down to $194.40 from $317.34! Um, yay?)

4. Dress them up! Take the same pair of coated denim, add a pair of sparkly high heels or sexy sling-backs and a slinky top, and you're ready for va-va-va voom date night.

BARGAIN! These G by GUESS Women's Suzette Coated Black Jeans are on sale for $34 at Amazon. They could be our steal!

5. Wear them to the office. Unless you have a really, super strict corporate dress code, you can wear coated denim jeans to more than just casual Friday. A sharp pair of coated denim black jeans  will look sleek and put-together with a blouse, blazer, and low heels.

6. Go for (muted) color. These NYDJ "Sheri Skinny" coated denim jeans in oxblood are on my fall wish list. SO on trend and chic. ($130 at NYDJ.com)

What do you think about the coated jean trend? Can you see yourself in a pair?

Image via NYDJ

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