The Pre-Wedding Diet and Exercise Plan That Works

The Pre-Wedding Diet and Exercise Plan That Works

Is your wedding coming up and you need to lose weight fast? Try this regimen that really works

This is a TotalBeauty.com health and beauty article Many women kick their weight loss program into high gear pre-wedding. If you don't want to go the Jenny Craig route, how can you drop a dress size (or just tone up) on your own? We spoke to the experts to find out ... Read on

Red Hot Lips for Your Wedding Day

Red Hot Lips for Your Wedding Day

Yes, you can wear this bold trend on your big day

This is a TotalBeauty.com wedding makeup article Could there be a hotter lipstick shade than red right now? Um ... not really. That's why we think you should consider pairing it with your gown. Get tips on how to wear it

Best Hair for Your Big Day

Best Hair for Your Big Day

Browse these bridal hairstyles to find one that's a match made in heaven for your dress

This is a TotalBeauty.com wedding hairstyles article Celeb hairstylist from the Frederic Fekkai salon in Los Angeles gives us the scoop on which classic, boho, modern and romantic 'dos work best with certain gowns. See hairstyles

Bridal Hair Pictures and How-Tos

Bridal Hair Pictures and How-Tos

Recreate these wedding-day appropriate celebrity updos and hairstyles with our easy step-by-step instructions

If you're planning a wedding (or just going to one) in this economy, you're probably looking for ways to cut costs. One way: do your own hair or have a friend do it. You can still look gorgeous on your big day with one of these celebrity hairstyles. See hairstyles

Doesn't Seem Like Seven Years

Today is our seventh wedding anniversary. Doesn't seem like seven years. Pardon this personal post, but I just want to greet my husband a beautiful and happy seventh wedding anniversary. Seven years but I haven't felt the itch yet. LOL

I've been organizing my pictures and stumbled across our wedding photos. Pardon the grainy images; these were merely scanned, but the original photos are clear, crisp and poignantly beautiful.





Wish I'd known about acrylic tips during those days!




Trivia: my lipstick was the vintage shade of Revlon in Toast of New York! =D











We've had our ups and downs, but we have been blessed with fortitude, strength and resiliency despite the tough journey. Looking back, I really am grateful to God for the seven blessed years. And to my husband, I've always said that this song by Rascal Flatts (with Carrie Underwood) encompasses all I'd wanted to tell him.

Every long lost dream
Led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart
They were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way
Into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you.

Here's to another seven times seventy years, hun!

Picture-Perfect Bridal Hair

Picture-Perfect Bridal Hair

Look no further, a gorgeous style for your big day is right here

You've got the dress, auditioned the band and confirmed the catering. Now it's time to decide on the important things -- like your hair. To help you, we had stylists at the Nelson J Salon in Beverly Hills, Calif., pull together their favorite new looks for wedding hair. Not getting married? You can still sport one of these stunning dos -- just be prepared to steal the spotlight from the bride. See styles

My Bridal Makeup Attempt: A Step-by-Step Illustration

When I was in New Jersey, I roadtested a bridal look for my cousin Jewelyn who is getting married next month. I used MAC eyeshadows that were bought specifically for her wedding (as recommended by a MAC makeup artist), as well as some products from my own personal collection. I was a little intimidated by the fact that (a) I am not a professional makeup artist; (b) this is probably just the third or fourth time I've ever done full makeup application on somebody other than myself, (c) I did the whole thing at night without the benefit of natural light, and (d) every step was being documented by her groom using his camera. That said, I did the best I could and if there were some mistakes, I do admit to them; but given the limited lighting, I tried my best to work under not-so-ideal conditions. Nonetheless, she and her mom liked the result. Some products would be tweaked as the big day nears, but this is more or less going to be her look. It was also a good thing that she has beautiful skin; I didn't waste much time in concealing blemishes.


Start with clean, moisturized face. I also primed her face using Camellia Rose skin-smoothing primer v.2.


Using Jewelyn's own Everyday Minerals kabuki brush, I used DreamWorld mineral foundation in Tethys (Sands formula), using the swirl, tap, spritz (using MAC Fix+ moisture spray) and buff technique. I did two layers of foundation.


I applied Mary Kay Signature concealer in Ivory using my fingers to hide undereye circles.


Using a concealer brush, I applied Bare Minerals Well Rested undereye concealer over Mary Kay. I carefully blended until it looked seamless.


This is my key product for this bridal look. Instead of the usual finishing powder like mineral veil, I used Cargo's new and innovative Blu Ray high definition pressed powder made specifically for high definition film and photography. This is how it is described at Sephora.com:

What it does:
Created to provide flawless results while looking completely natural during high-definition filming, blu_ray™ Pressed Powder contains specialized photochromatic pigments that adjust with the light so that your base makeup always looks perfect regardless of lighting or setting.

What else you need to know:
Photochromatic pigments adjust with the lighting so that you have natural looking makeup no matter what the setting, while ultra-fine micronized minerals fill the look of fine lines and reduce the appearance of imperfections. An irregular particle size creates light dispersion, an effect that softens the look of the skintone. This oil-free powder is perfect whether you are getting married, going to your prom, having portraits taken, or simply want to look fabulous anytime and comes in a sleek black compact for convenient touch-up on the go.

I normally opt for mineral-based setting powders, but I chose Blu Ray because of my special bridal task. I figured if this product was made specifically for high definition photography, it would help in achieving the flawless look I needed. You be the judge if it actually achieved what it claimed it could do.

If you noticed, I also used my new EcoTools powder brush to apply Blu Ray.


Using a concealer brush, I applied MAC Painterly paint pot as base for her shadows. I blended with my finger to create an even canvas.


Using the MAC 217 brush, I applied MAC Retrospeck eyeshadow on her lid.


Using the 222 brush (not shown), I applied MAC Mulch eyeshadow on her crease. I also blended a little MAC Bronze eyeshadow on the crease after applying it on the outer lid using a shader brush.


I used a shader brush bought at Target to apply MAC Remotely Grey eyeshadow from the N collection on her outer lid.


I blended the crease colors using Sonia Kashuk's blending brush, similar to the MAC 224.


Using my Essence of Beauty fluffy brush, I applied MAC Ricepaper eyeshadow on her browbone.


I filled her brows using my EcoTools angled eyeliner brush and Ardell brow powder.


I applied MAC Stubborn Brown Powerpoint eyeliner (pretty, understated brown) on her upper lashline. I adjusted her shadows, added more color and blended as I deemed fit; cleaned residue using Q-tip and eye makeup remover, re-applied Well Rested.


Curled her lashes, used a mascara base (white primer from Maybelline XXL mascara) and added Avon mascara to plump up her lashes.


How it looks so far.


Using the MAC 169 brush, I contoured her cheeks with MAC Emote blush.




For the life of me, I forget the mineral blush I used on her. I think it's either My Minerals Bath and Body or Silk Naturals blush.


I used Lumiere's angled duo-fibre brush to apply the blush on the apples of her cheeks going slightly upwards.


The ever-gorgeous and my holy grail lipstick - MAC Viva Glam V!


I applied MAC Fafi lipglass in Cult Fave over VGV lipstick


Her wedding look


I leave it up to a real hairdresser to do her hair!

Thanks for looking!