CEW Women in Beauty Series Event- Beauty-Women-Excellence!

Last night I attended an event held by CEW (Cosmetic Executive Women) -- the Women in Beauty Series, offers those in the industry (and those who might like to be, I'd assume) lots of insights into beauty industry issues and inspiration for professional growth. The panel was particularly exciting to me, because the participants were: Laura DeLuisa of DuWop; Lisa Price, of Carol's Daughter (wearing a stunning, iridescent blue silk coat) and Wende Zomnir of two of my favorites brands: Urban Decay & Hard Candy Cosmetics. The panel was moderated beautifully by Jenny B. Fine, the Editor of WWD Beauty Biz and formerly, Editor of Luckymag.com

I review beauty products and am involved with assessing them nearly every single day, but for me, meeting the actual people behind the jars, scents, powders, gels, creams and compacts was an eye-opening experience. When you walk into a department store or makeup specialty store such as Sephora, you can't imagine the work behind producing and maintaining a beauty brand. To most people, it's the most glamorous job in the world. What you see isn't always the reality. The beauty business (even writing about the beauty business and I do), is first and foremost, a business. There are deadlines to meet and if you are a creator of a new line, you're going to have to know (and perhaps, perform) all the functions of a business. Lisa Price, for example, said quite frankly that she hated doing the shipping. When she was able, she hired someone to do that for Carol's Daughter, but in the beginning, she not only shipped the product, she cooked up the recipes for it in her kitchen! Laura DeLuisa, who worked in the film industry, tried her products out on actresses. The women talked about financial risks, balancing life and career, and the challenge of keeping the brand fresh and products new each season.

It was easy for me to see that passion and perseverance are the things that drive successful entrepreneurs, whether it is in the beauty business, or elsewhere. No matter how glitzy the package, or visible the person, it's hard work that makes it all happen. Thanks to CEW, I got a chance to be inspired by three fabulous women in the beauty biz, and I hope that this post will inspire you, too!

uselss posts, spamming, and more thoughts on white noise on the net

Anyone who reads the Advice Sisters Great Relationships Web Site regularly knows that I created a forums/bulletin board area so that readers can, if they wish, sign up and communicate on a more personal level with me, and with other readers around the world. It always saddens me when I check the board, and find lots of posts that are blatant spam (mostly porn and drug sites) and nothing of substance from readers. The spammers know I'm going to remove the posts within hours--why bother doing it in the first place? And, am I the only one who thinks that if the rules of a site strongly state no spam, no drug ads, please stick to the topic of the forum (definitely NOT spam, drugs or porn).....and the site is clearly about life and career with absolutely no "adult" material, that the audience the spammer wants to find probably isn't there anyway? I mean, it's like posting nude farmgirl ads on a site for new mothers--just why waste the time?

Another situation regarding bulletin boards: I created a post on another bulletin board for writers, announcing the Spring Contest we're running on the Advice Sisters Web Site. If you are reading this, you can participate too,-- there are four prizes worth hundreds of dollars. Four people I do not know are going to win, so why not you? I provide contests for the enjoyment and benefits of readers, and it's my site. It's on me.

But I digress:

Since we're getting towards the end of the contest (deadline is July 4th, 2006) I posted another item on this same forum mentioning that there were only a few weeks left to sign up and participate. To my amusement, the only comment was this one: It's the end of the world!!!!!!Is it just me now, and the empty postings from a lost world? Oh the humanity"

It was from someone nicknamed "Zippy." For obvious reasons, Ms. or Ms. "Zippy" isn't using a real name, posts no email, and has no profile other than "Zippy." Zippy's self-appointed mission is to malign other people's posts, without ever, in a lifetime, posting something original of his or her own.

To Zippy, I really wanted to reply: "Is is just me now and the empty responses from a lost world? Oh, the useless white noise"

But that would just add fuel to the fire, and add one more useless post after Zippy' which innocent readers would have to get through...so I didn't. How many people out there have so little to do and so much time that they feel compelled to post scarcastic, snotty and sometimes, really stupid and unkind comments on forums and bulletin boards, without ever posting anything of substance or use or finding a job, or helping the elderly, the infirm, promoting world peace, or just doing something that actually requires thought? You've seen posts like these on forums you participate in, too, I'm assuming. So why do they do it? Is it just me, or are there more people who feel that these types of comments are about as much of a waste of time as the nude farmgirls ads on web sites for new mommies?

Which brings me to the last situation I'm submitting for your consideration today (and I'd really like your comments on this one) about my situation with a forum for writers. It's not my site, but I've used it in the past for writing sources and found it quite helpful. Once, long ago, I created a single post for a contest I was doing that involved writing. The prize was large, and I thought lots of my writer-colleagues would enjoy participating. I posted news of this contest somewhere on this web site's forums area--I don't even remember which forum anymore. I genuinely thought I was doing a nice thing and certainly never believed that it would be considered inappropriate.

I was wrong. The post was pulled and apparently, the moderators decided that a post about a contest was reason enough to ban me permanently from the forum area. It was laughable! But it was also humiliating. I contacted the moderator, apologized, explained my situation, and assumed that I'd be re-instated quickly under the cicumstances, and that would be that.

It wasn't. The moderator wrote back and said "you spammed" you're OUT!

As someone who moderates forums and has been responsible for at least a dozen of them during the 14 years I've been online, I can certainly understand a "get tough" stance on "abuse" of forum rules, but this was obvious an honest mistake. And, if the moderator wasn't sure, it would have been easy to see that while I was never a very active poster, everything else I'd posted (which wasn't much) was perfectly professional. Anyone can made a mistake. Considering the situation, however, permanent banning without any chance of reprieve seems overly harsh. Shouldn't most people deserve the benefit of the doubt and a second chance?

Repeated attempts to apologize, ask for re-instatement, and prove that I would certainly be extremely careful in the future not to offend anyone or upset the moderator(s), have met with refusal, then, silence. At this point I don't really care about being active on the forum so much, but it bothers me that this one person can be judge, jury and hangman on a forum that is meant for the public to exchange information, and that the "sentence" of "banning" has been dealt without any compassion, flexibility, or understanding. A public forum, a blog, the entire internet, actually, is only a valid way to communicate when there is at least, a certain amount of free speech. Pornographic spam, perhaps, where it is clearly stated that it is unwanted, is one thing...but when you tie the hands of decent netizens with overly rigid rules, the entire internet structure, suffers, IMHO.

What do you think about this? Please comment, but don't post farmgirl spam (smile).

A friend of mine, who peppers my in-box with links to articles that she thinks I'll like, sent me one last night from the The Christian Science Monitor, Headline: What is the price of plagiarism? Byline: Karoun Demirjian Contributor to The Christian Science Monitor
Date: 05/11/2006. The article talks about the issues surrounding plaguirism.

Plagiarism means to copy or alter a piece of intellectual property. Sometimes, authors, musicians, and artists THINK they are creating something entirely new, but perhaps, subconsciously, it is really something that they're already seen, heard or experienced, created earlier by someone else. If the originator can track that person down and has the resources to sue, the consequences can be grave. In the case of writing, an author with a registered copyright (I have one on every single page of my web site and this blog is also copyrighted), copiers can
be liable for legal fees and damages, which range from $750 to $30,000
per work copied. Those fines can rise to $150,000 if the copying is
particularly agressive and pre-mediated. "

After 14 years online, I realize that in fact, most people really do not know, understand, or care about copyright infringement. Most have no idea that they are stealing online (after all, if you can right-click a mouse and "save" it's for free, right? WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!!!) and younger people are lifting photos, music and pieces of web sites verbatim (or changing one or two words, making it seem like THEY wrote the piece, and not even making a nodding attribution to the author). This happens all the time, all over the net.

On the flip side, I remember vividly, writing a book report in High School. I worked really hard on it and I knew it was good. I was ready to see an "A+" on my page, but instead, I got a note, circled in red, that said "see me."

After class I went up to the teacher, who sat me down and directly accused me of plaguirsm because as she said (I can still hear the words stinging in my ears) the paper was "too good for a high schooler to have written." WHAT?!!!! I wrote every single word! I never read or heard a review of that book before, and even if I was the sort who would consider buying a school paper, I wouldn't have any idea where to get one, or if book reviews were common on the dark side of the market! I was stunned, upset, shocked.

Where is this all leading? I am extremely worried about the lack of concern, culpability, and resources to keep my own work safe, but I also realize that sometimes, the accuser can be wrong. It's best to be vigilant against plagurizers and outright intellectual property theft, but alas, the only way to do that fairly is to consider each case, as it comes, on an individual basis.

DO you agree? Disagree? Let's start a dialogue (just don't plagurize my post)!

A friend of mine, who peppers my in-box with links to articles that she thinks I'll like, sent me one last night from the The Christian Science Monitor, Headline: What is the price of plagiarism? Byline: Karoun Demirjian Contributor to The Christian Science Monitor
Date: 05/11/2006. The article talks about the issues surrounding plaguirism.

Plagiarism means to copy or alter a piece of intellectual property. Sometimes, authors, musicians, and artists THINK they are creating something entirely new, but perhaps, subconsciously, it is really something that they're already seen, heard or experienced, created earlier by someone else. If the originator can track that person down and has the resources to sue, the consequences can be grave. In the case of writing, an author with a registered copyright (I have one on every single page of my web site and this blog is also copyrighted), copiers can
be liable for legal fees and damages, which range from $750 to $30,000
per work copied. Those fines can rise to $150,000 if the copying is
particularly agressive and pre-mediated. "

After 14 years online, I realize that in fact, most people really do not know, understand, or care about copyright infringement. Most have no idea that they are stealing online (after all, if you can right-click a mouse and "save" it's for free, right? WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!!!) and younger people are lifting photos, music and pieces of web sites verbatim (or changing one or two words, making it seem like THEY wrote the piece, and not even making a nodding attribution to the author). This happens all the time, all over the net.

On the flip side, I remember vividly, writing a book report in High School. I worked really hard on it and I knew it was good. I was ready to see an "A+" on my page, but instead, I got a note, circled in red, that said "see me."

After class I went up to the teacher, who sat me down and directly accused me of plaguirsm because as she said (I can still hear the words stinging in my ears) the paper was "too good for a high schooler to have written." WHAT?!!!! I wrote every single word! I never read or heard a review of that book before, and even if I was the sort who would consider buying a school paper, I wouldn't have any idea where to get one, or if book reviews were common on the dark side of the market! I was stunned, upset, shocked.

Where is this all leading? I am extremely worried about the lack of concern, culpability, and resources to keep my own work safe, but I also realize that sometimes, the accuser can be wrong. It's best to be vigilant against plagurizers and outright intellectual property theft, but alas, the only way to do that fairly is to consider each case, as it comes, on an individual basis. The best way to deal with these issues, IMHO, is to educate people about them, and to make the consequences, count.

DO you agree? Disagree? Let's start a dialogue (just don't plagurize my post)!

Your Daughter Won't Play With The Blocks

Many years ago, in what certainly qualifies for practically another lifetime, a woman got a phone call from a kindergarten teacher. The teacher was very concerned about a young girl, one of her students. "I'm calling you because your daughter won't play with the blocks we have in our classroom" stated the teacher. "All the other little girls play with them, so I think your daughter may have a learning disability."

After getting over her momentary shock and regaining her composure, the mother answered: "My daughter has a huge and beautiful set of blocks at home and she plays with them constantly. I can hardly tear her away. But my daughter's blocks are much nicer than the ones in your classroom. She prefers your play kitchen because she doesn't have one of those at home. So, you see, I'm not worried about my daughter in the least!"

That little girl was me, of course. And now, I didn't have any sort of learning disability. I have a way above average IQ! I remember the blocks at school, they were lightweight and beaten up, painted and re-painted in primary colors. I liked the colors, but I loved my block set at home. I still remember it. The blocks were delivered one day, in two big cardboard boxes--a gift from my father who just wanted to surprise my sister and I. The blocks were large, almost the size of a brick, almost too large for a small child to hold in just one hand. They were natural, blonde wood. They were smooth and cool to the touch. I used to love to look at the wood grain, sometimes tracking it with my finger. I never really built anything special, but I just loved to pile them up in unusual patterns, some triangles, some squares, some rectangles. They hardly made a sound when you placed one on top of the other unless you slapped them down. If I had those blocks today, I think they would really fuel my creativity! I have never forgotten them.

Today I got a phone call from a health care professional at my father's assisted living facility. "Your father is shuffling. He says he is unsteady. I think he has Parkinson's disease."

I suppose I should have been more supportive of the diagnois, but how could this person know, just from looking at my father for a few minutes, what is wrong with him?

I thought of the story with the teacher, my mother, and the blocks.

"Maybe he does has Parkinsons,"I said, "But Dad also has a terrible head cold, his ears are stuffed, and they've been pumping him full of products with antihistimines and other things that could affect his balance. Furthermore, he fell recently and is afraid to take confident steps without a walker." Could THAT be the problem, or at least part of it?

My point is: it is easy to judge someone for whom you have little knowledge and/or interest and/or respect...but you will be incorrect in your judgement.

Draw the conclusion yourself. Please share similar stories..I hate to think I"m writing this to the wind. Thanks

alison

clothes, boys, and makeup

When I was a teenage girl, my mother (in exasperation because I wasn't that interested in studying) sniffed in irritation: "all you are interested in are clothes, boys, and makeup!!!"

I remember (back then) being rather hurt by her comment, and I did manage to study, go on to college, and graduate school, make a living, find a husband, and have a decent life (see Mom? I made good!)On the other hand, if I took a cold, hard look at what I do now, I write about relationships, about makeup, and of course, fashion.

So if you REALLY break it down, although I have spent the better part of my adult life helping to make my local community and the world, a better place to live, and even helped to start NYC's recycling programs, I really DO spend most of my time with...clothes, boys, and makeup!

Which brings me to the shows I've been attending lately. For starters, I attended some shows at the Javits Center in Manhattan including the Fame, Moda Manhattan, and the Accessories Show. Most of the booths were taking wholesale orders for items that will be in your stores, probably in late July or August. I saw a dizzing display of everything from amazing, rhinestone studded handbags so loaded with bling that they were nearly blinding under the artifical lights, to clever products that would make cute gifts as well as affordable fashion accessories, such as the photo charm accessories of MemoryMakers, They have bracelets, keychains, even a bracelet watch with silvery metal "frames" into which you can place your own, mini-sized photos (I put photos of my cats in mine....but left one for my wedding photo with my husband, just so people wouldn't think I was really nutzy!). I will be reviewing MemoryMakers in my July/August What Works Beauty, Cosmetics & Fashion Review column at http://www.advicesisters.net/whatworkscol3.html so watch for it! I didn't see a lot of themes in the fashions and accessories...any more so than what I saw on the runway during Olympus Fall fashion week a few months ago. The colors were fairly somber, neutrals and black, white and grey, with a bit of khaki or deep brown, thrown in. But I did like the embellishments that seem a bit hippy/artsy-craftsy and lots of tunics with beads and semi-precious stones. They're not inexpensive, but a long-ish tunic festooned with stones and beads can take you from a dinner, to a special event with a change of pants or skirts and shoes (you won't need accessories with something this ornate) and so they're a good investment. Ditto the handbags that are seriously embellished--great for evening, dates, and special events. One I particularly liked was a "kidney-shaped" black leather bag literally studded all along the wide spine with large rhinestones, just large enough to hold a wallet, sunglasses, and a small makeup bag, small enough to be elegant and festive. I hope to visit the showroom and maybe will be able to review these in an upcoming What Works column.

Moving right along from clothes (boys don't figure in here, this time) I attended the Makeup Show at the Metropolitan Pavillion today, courtesy of Michael DeVellis of The Powder Group and another makeup artist/cosmetics executive--Yana Chupenko, who used to be part of the creative force of Tony & Tina Cosmetics, and is now developing her own line (go Yana!). This is the first year for the show, and from what I saw, it was not only very well attended (by makeup artists and other industry noteables) but well received. My friend, Nancy Konipol (she is the talented photographer who did the black and white head shot on my web site) and I went from booth to booth, checking out the makeup items. I found some new lines I haven't reviewed in "What Works" and also said "hi" to some of the reps of lines I do know and review, including Alcone, Makeup Forever, and M.A.C. Cosmetics. We also listened to a speech and demonstration by Eve Pearl, a four-time Emmy Award winning makeup artist who is the key makeup artist for The View, talk about how to do makeup for television. Although I am a certified image and color consultant and have been trained to do makeup, I'm not a makeup artist, so it was really interesting to see this pro at work, learn a few tips (eg. put on a client's eye makeup first, so if any drops on her face, you can corect it more easily than if her foundation was already applied) and see how she handles a client. We also liked Eve's Makeup Line which will be launching soon, and her books and DVD (plastic surgery with the surgery) which I HOPE I will be able to review for you in my What Works column in the not-too-distant future. Downstairs back at the exhibits, Nancy was so impressed that she purchased Eve's concealer trio containing a salmon-colored wedge which helps reduce dark circles without producing a "raccoon" look under your eyes. We also visited the Alcone booth (you've read some reviews about Alcone in past What Works columns) and investigated a new concealer palette there as well (and I'll be reviewing that in an upcoming column). Another nifty product is by Nurturing Force, they have these nifty, plastic containers that look a bit like mini wax paper dispensers. Inside, 29 feet of blotting paper helps de-shine the oily glow off your face--great all the time but especially when the weather gets hot. And these are scented: aloe vera, rose, and lavender (plus an unscented) versin. We'll be reviewing these in an upcoming What Works Column. Finally, we visited the SeneGence makeup booth. We loved the lipsticks that stain two layers of your lips, so that they DO NOT rub off easily or quickly. They're waterproof, too. The colors come in a wide range, but manage to translate differently (and beautifully) on everyone we could see wearing them. They are not budget-priced, but if you consider how many times you have to re-apply a traditional lipstick, they're actually reasonable. I really hope to review some of the products from this company in an upcoming column if I can get them to send samples.

There were so many makeup demonstrations and products to consider, I could have stayed all day (and, in fact, the Makeup Show started yesterday) but I had to tear myself away and do other things. All in all, a GREAT show and I know that this one has got to be a smash hit--there are bound more of these in the future!

Clothes and makeup...the "boys" part comes later this week, when I update my Advice Sisters Web Site http://www.advicesisters.net with wedding and relationship advice!

ALISON

*PS If you are reading this and like my posts, would you kindly take a moment and post a COMMENT? I'd love to know you are out there (smile)

we have a winner and you can be one, too

We have a winner! Chris Lee of NYC has won the Advice Sisters® "My Favorite Holiday" Contest." Chris's favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. She will receive a Diane von Furstenberg tote and products from the Pevonia Botanica Power Repair Line worth over $750.00. We hope to have a photo of Chris with her new set of Pevonia Botanica prizes and will post her winning entry, soon.

YOU CAN BE A WINNER, TOO -- OUR NEW CONTEST! The Advice Sisters® are running a new contest beginning this month through July 4th, 2006! This time, we're giving away 5 fantastic prizes from Redken, The Body Pefect, Bruno Jamais Restaurant in fabulous NYC, and Indigo Wild! For details and the entry form Click Here

THEY were big winners--the CEW Beauty Insiders Choice Awards for 2006

I was invited to the CEW (that's Cosmetic Executive Women) Beauty Insiders Choice Awards this past Friday at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. The awards recognize the most innovative beauty products of the year...and I was almost as honored to be invited to witness the event as I am sure the winners were to receive this high honor (and a beautiful, Lalique crystal statuette).

It was a beautiful day, but warm. What to wear? Obviously, if you are going to the Waldorf Astoria and you're going to be meeting hundreds, maybe thousands of women and men in the beauty biz, you've got to look nice.

But...I'm a primarily a writer, and the mainstay of my wardrobe is just stay-at-home clothes. Worse, I have a pinched nerve in one of my feet, which means even if I could afford Manolos, thay'd have to stay pristine in their boxes...I can only wear sneakers (uggh!) or low-heeled shoes, or I can walk without pain for weeks, afterwards.

I went for writer/artistic instead of trying to compete with buttery blonde/slim/prada/etc. I worse an authentic, short kimono jacket from Japan over black pants and a red camisole..plus several strands of cherry amber. I think I looked ok, as long as you didn't check my feet (upon which I compromised and wore beautiful but masuline looking low-heeled lace up Celine shoes).
Since I write about makeup, I think I did ok in that department.

Armed with confidence and curiousity, I headed out to the Waldorf.

Once there, I spent the next 15 minutes trying to find the right ballroom and the right elevator to tak me to it (the Waldorf is large, with specific wings for the ballrooms). Upstairs, I was directed to a cocktail hour where I was one of the first people. I never drink before Noon, let alone at a function where I don't know anyone and I don't want to be remembered as drunk. So I got a Perrier, and tried to talk to a few people.

Before I knew it, the cocktail hour room was so crowded that you couldn't even see the bar, let alone get a drink at it. I talked to a few people who didn't seem all that excited to meet me, but I DID meet RAMY (the hunk behind RAMY cosmetics) who was gracious enough to take a few minutes to chat. (his Ramy Bath-a-rama Portable Bubble Bath was up for an award--alas, it didn't win).

...note: I just had a computer crash and I lost about another third of this post, but I'll try to recreate it as fast as I can since I have to go to a trade show (FAME/Beauty Accessories, etc).

Ok, where was I?

I hate crowds, so I wandered into the ballroom looking for my table, which, predictably, was so far to the side you couldn't even see the stage unless you looked at the big screens around the room and were at the front part of the table. So I sat down and looked idly through the goodie bag, which was filled to the brim with cosmetics (just what a beauty writer/editor needs--more cosmetics). Anyway, the table filled, and to my happy surprise, I had other folks at the table that I "knew" from the internet and that 'knew" me, but not in person. One was Lesley Scott from Fashiontribes.com She's made me a monthly podcast regular guest, so it was great for us to be able to eyeball each other. We had a chance to shake hands, chat, and get to know one another --just delightful! I met another woman who works for fashiontribes and beautynewsLA...also a charming and intelligent woman.

Mario Cantone, "Charlotte's" flamboyant friend on Sex & the City was the MC, and he did a great job, considering that it's pretty difficult to make jokes about makeup. THe speeches were short, the food, edible (chicken over couscous and a lemon tart), and here are the winners (not in any order):

Dr. Dennis Gross (for MD Skincare)
Olay Total Effects Anti-Aging Blemish Moisturizer
Kiehl's Line-Reducing Concentrate
Sonia Kashuk Beauty for Target Repair Vitamin-Enriched Serum
Demalogica Daily Resurfacer
Dove Cool Moisture Cleanser
Shiseido Benefiance Retinol Treatment Eye Mask
RoC Retinol Correxcion Eye Cream
FusionBeauty Inc. LipFusion
Burt's Bees Honey Lip Balm
Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Plantidote Face Cream
Eucerin Redness RElief Lotion SPF 15
Lancome Resurface-C Microdermabrasion
Olay Regenerist Thermal Skin Polisher
Shiseido Cosmetics Hydro-Powder Eye Shadow
Maybelline New York Intense XX: Volume + Length Mascara
Shiseido Cosmetics Accentuating Color Stick
M.A.C. Cosmetics Select Moisurecover
Chanel Ultra Wear Lip Color
L'Oreal Paris Endlesss Kissable Shinewear & Sephora Lip Gloss Pencil & Sonia Kashuk Beauty for Target Lip Glossing/No Feather Pencil
The Art of Shaving Ingrown Hair Night Cream
Kiehl's "Ultimate Man" Body Scrub Sponge
Frederick Fekkai Overnight Hair Repair
Clairol N 'n Easy Root Touch-up
Avon Anew Clinical Lift & Tuck
Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer
L'Occitane en Provence Vanilla SHimmer Bath
Dove Cool Moisture Body Wash
Barielle Ultra Spped Dry Manicure Extender
Neutrogena Instant Nail Enhancer
Clarins UV Plus Protective Day screen SPF 40
Neutrogena MicroMist Tanning SUnless Spray
Ralph Lauren Fragrances Polo Black Ralph Lauren
Lancaster Group UV Lovely Sarah Jessica Parker

There you have it! Congrats to all the winners. Thanks to CEW for allowing me to attend, and report on the Insider Choice Beauty Awards for 2006!

ALISON

E-vite & Enews: Win great prizes & celebrate spring

*please feel free to publish this anywhere you want now through July 4, 2006!


Warmer weather and sunny days naturally bring people together. From May first through July 4th, The Advice Sisters® Great Relationships Web Site http://www.advicesisters.net is offering participants a chance to win one of five great prizes to help them enjoy the Spring season, with a new contest: Celebrate Spring! An entry form and contest details can be found at: http://www.advicesisters.net/springcontest1.html There is no fee to enter.

Five winners worth over $750.00. 1st Prize: a selection of products from THE BODY PERFECT (approx. value $300); 2nd Prize: A tote bag from designer Betsy Johnson, filled with Redken haircare products from their UV rescue line (value $200.00+); 3rd Prize: a $200.00 gift certificate of dinner for two at Bruno Jamais Restaurant Club, an ultra-elegant, traditional supper club in the elegant, Upper East Side of New York City; and two 4th Prizes: two winners will each get a chocolate themed Coco Zum Gift Pak by Indigo Wild (value $22.00/set).

"This is the second contest we are offering this year. The first, a contest asking readers to share their favorite holiday, was sponsored by Pevonia Botanica, and it was a great success," says Alison Blackman Dunham (aka. "Advice Sister Alison"), a life & career expert, author, and creator of the Advice Sisters Great Relationships Web Site. In this contest, we are asking participants to share how they like to celebrate the Spring season and honor family and friends.
Christmas and Thanksgiving are favorites: "Our winner, Chris Lee of New York City, cited Thanksgiving as her favorite holiday," reports Alison, but not surprisingly, the most popular holidays were Christmas and Thanksgiving, followed by Valentines Day and Halloween. Mine (Ground Hog Day) wasn’t mentioned!" she adds.

New Advice Sisters Features in 2006: The contest is just one of several new innovations to the 14-year online presence of the Advice Sisters. Their popular "What Works" Beauty, Cosmetics and Fashion Review column, featuring literally hundreds of impartial, individual reviews of cosmetics, beauty, health, and fashion-related item went from quarterly to monthly in January, 2006, with a dedicated forum on the site for readers to give and get information about products they like. A blog, on which Alison Blackman Dunham shares her personal thoughts about life, love and career, now includes occasional podcasts as well. A free, bi-monthly Ezine, The Advice Sisters Enews, is sent to several thousand subscribers informing them of new items on the web site and blog, and offering lifetips, book and restaurant reviews, and ideas to help make life and career easier, more successful, and more fun.

For more information on the Advice Sisters contest, web site, or to interview Ms. Blackman Dunham, simply email advicesisters at advicesisters (dot net)

Nifty Over Fifty:


It has been several weeks since I've posted anything on my blog, but that's because I've been away in Japan. What a fascinating place! I hope to get my thoughts together and put together a post on my trip, but when you have been away for a while, all the things you neglected during your absence seem to have that sneaky way of collaborating to put you behind in your responsibilities....and that's the case with me.

So although I don't have the time to write about the trip, or the other things that are shaping my life right now, I'm going to just say "don't forget about me" and ask your patience....new posts WILL be arriving--soon, I hope!

Meanwhile, a friend sent me these nifty for those over 50 (ok, 40) "remember when" items (and I added a few of my own) I assume they are in the public domain as I've received them at least a dozen times. I felt nostalgic this morning. Oh, and if you don't see your favorite "remember when" items on this list, please add yours. I would love to hear your comments!

alison

How many of these do you remember?

Candy cigarettes
Wax Coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar water (Nickle nips)
Soda pop machines that dispensed glass bottles
punks
Chock Full O'Nuts sugared whole wheat doughnuts'
Home milk delivery in glass bottles with cardboard stoppers
Gradmother who called the fridge the "icebox"
Betty Boop, Felix the Cat and Top Cat
Astroboy
Telephone numbers with a word prefix....(Beachview 4-5789)
Howdy Doody
Wonderama
45 RPM records
Green Stamps
Hi-Fi's
Metal ice cubes trays with levers
Ebingers Bakery (if you are a New Yorker)
Refrigerators you had to defrost with pots of hot water
Mimeograph machines
skate keys
The Fuller Brush Man
Reel-To-Reel tape recorders
Tinkertoys and Lincoln Logs
Barbie, when there was only one type (with a ponytail)

Do you remember a time when...

Decisions were made by going "eeny-meeny-miney-moe"?
Mistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming, "Do Over!"?
Good Humor men rode on bicycles with a refrigerated cooler on the front?
Horses still pulled carts on city streets (not all the time, but now and then)
"Race issue" meant arguing about who ran the fastest?
Catching fireflies or playing 20 questions could happily occupy an entire evening?
The worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex was "cooties"?
A foot of snow was a dream come true?
Holidays meant no responsibilities--just lots of great food and gifts?
Running around in a pack of girls meant you were playing "horses?"

What do YOU remember that has changed since "way back then?" Please comment