This new MAC collection reminds me of the navy and white collections that Banana Republic comes out with every year right after Holiday as a pre-Spring collection. Striped tops, navy and white peacoats, sailor pants - the whole nine! It’s virtually the same, but I love it every year.

And for the same reasons I love Banana Republic’s pre-season collections (I know, I’m a preppy girl), I just know I’m going to love MAC’s new Naughty Nauticals collection. I can’t resist red, white, and blue!

Naughty Nauticals is a beautiful color collection with ultra chic pinks, corals, reds (my fave!) and navy - just in time for us to get primed and primped for those Hampton getaways this summer (I wish!)

MAC Naughty Nauticals are online now and counters May 1st - don’t miss it!

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For complete Naughty Nauticals collection information,   (more…)

I can’t believe how many compliments I’ve gotten on my complexion after I started using Clinique’s Almost Powder Makeup with SPF 15 lately.

And I have to admit, it’s kind of a fluke how I discovered it. I went to the mall a couple of weeks ago to pick up a replacement compact since my regular Lancome Dual Finish compact that I had been using for YEARS was running low. But when I got to the Lancome counters at Macy’s and Nordstorm, neither store was having a gift with purchase - and I ALWAYS have to get the GWP. So I hesitated and started snooping around the other counters to see what I could find to test for the blog. (more…)

Thanks so much to all of you who submitted questions to celebrity nutritionist, Dr. Jana Klauer!

Here are some of her answers to your great questions:

Is soy really an adequate source of protein? What are the benefits of eating soy?
- Susan

Dr. Klauer: Problem with soy protein is it is not a complete protein, meaning it doesn’t contain all the amino acids found it nature. Animal proteins are complete proteins. Soy protein doesn’t have the important amino acids that help and repair muscles in the high amounts naturally found in dairy protein: milk, cheese or yogurt. Also, dairy products from free range cows have CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) which protects has shown cancer prevention properties and seems to help with weight loss. CLA is absent from the milk of cows that are not raised naturally.

I’m thinking of doing one of those pre-packaged meals diets (not the fancy fresh ones prepared by chefs). However, I am hesitant because of the preservatives and sodium levels.  Would these pre-packaged meals be a good way to kick off a diet?   - JC    (more…)

By now you may have heard that “Oh-my-goodness-that-Miley-Cyrus-posed-half-naked- for-Vanity-Fair-now-I-shouldn’t-let-my-daughter-watch-her-on-Disney-anymore!”

In Vanity Fair’s current issue on stands now, Miley Cyrus has received some backlash for photos where she’s posing in just a blanket and looking a bit too sexy for a 15-year-old. But from what I’ve seen, I wouldn’t have thought that the photos contained any sort of sexual connotation at all. So she’s backless in a blanket - she’s probably worn a backless gown or two down the red carpet since she blew up as the famed Hannah Montana.

If anything, I think she looks soft and innocent, and mature - which is the concept I think they were going for. I mean really, it’s Annie Leibovitz and both Cyrus’ parents were standing by during the actual shoot.

Looking at this photo, I can hardly compare this to Britney’s obvious “I’m not a girl, not yet a woman” Rolling Stone cover when the pop princess (??) was 17 or Brooke Shields’ sexually charged “Nothing comes between me and my Calvin’s” commercial as she’s posing with her legs parted at the age of 15.

What do you think? Was this photo inappropriate for a 15-year-old young pop star and should she have apologized for this photo shoot?

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{Image: VanityFair.com}

These past two days made for one of the hottest weekends I could remember in a long time - especially for this time of year in Orange County. No matter what I wore (sun dress, short sleeves, and more short sleeves), I couldn’t get away from the heat!

Saturday was the hottest day of the weekend for my cousin’s baby shower. And poor girl, she’s very pregnant and the heat couldn’t have been comfortable for her. But there was plenty of food, baby shower games and friends and family there to keep her mind off of the heat. By the way, I’m pretty good at guessing how many M&Ms are in a full-sized baby bottle - ha! :)   (more…)

Perfumes are always a fool-proof gift to get Mom no matter what the occasion is. Check out some of my favorite fragrance gifts to show her just how special she is.

Wow Mom with the gorgeous Swarovski Stars Bon Bons box collection from Bond No. 9 ($700 US). This exclusive limited edition set includes four 6ml purse-spray sizes of Bryant Park, Bleeker Street, Nuits de Noho, and Eau de New York studded in colored Swarovski crystals making this the ultimate luxe gift for Mom!

If your mom isn’t into the bling, get her the soft and romantic scent of Blushing Cherry Blossom ($19 US) from Bath and Body Works. With notes of Mandarin, Lush Berries, White Jasmin, Violet, and Creamy Sandalwood, it’s a light and fresh scent perfect for her during the spring season - it’s actually one of my favorites right now that I think my mom would really like. Plus, it won’t break the bank

I don’t have the budget to take my mom on a sandy beach vacation so that we can both unwind, but I can give her “the thought that counts” gift with Island by Michael Kors perfume ($60 US) so that she can imagine she’s on the beach sipping on drinks that come with a colorful umbrella. Make that two, please - one for me! And if you shop right now on Nordstrom.com or in stores, you’ll receive a Michael Kors Glimmer Cream tube and a sueded camel train case with your two-item Michael Kors fragrance purchase.

Need more Mother’s Day fun gift ideas? Subscribe to The Daily Cookie RSS feed and email to get more ways to tell Mom you love her in our special Mother’s Day series!

And because you deserve it! Head on over to Total Beauty now!

Happy Friday, y’all!

It’s that time again where we round up the best of The Beauty Blog Network reads to jump start your weekend!  Enjoy!

A Touch of Blusher loves the Golden Dior pendant.

StyleBell uncovers the Top 5 Flat Irons that work best with curly hair.

Beauty Anonymous invites you to the springtime nail colors of OPI 2008 Beyond Chic Collection .

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic check out Kiehl’s Vital Sun Sunscreen and decides it has great broad UV spectrum coverage!

Beauty and Fashion Tech creates a great look using items from the new Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Cosmetic Line.

Product Girl asks What’s in Your Bag? Check back daily for a new beauty blogger’s bag each day!

The Muse gives her first impressions of the coveted MAC DressCamp Collection!

Beauty411 shares her review of Klean Bath + Body’s Blue Hawaii Sugar Body Polish, which smells like a tropical island and exfoliates your skin, too!

Forget virgin daiquiris, The Beauty of Life is all about the gorgeous polishes from the new Extra Virgin Collection from Dashing Diva!

Need some luxury in your life? Beauty Junkie in SF finds her current high-end beauty favorites.

Want to take your hair from Flat To Fabulous? Then check out what The Makeup Divas recommends.

Win a gift set packed with Ferro Cosmetics mineral makeup goodies at Bionic Beauty!

Karen from Makeup and Beauty Blog discovers Chanel’s Leopard lipstick, a coral color that makes her go rrrrrraooow!

SugarShock Beauty has found a ticket to paradise with the tropically dreamy Lavanila Laboratories’ Vanilla Coconut Fragrance.

Beauty Banter discovers a healthy, inexpensive, sun and streak-free way to get your bronzed glow!

Toya of The Life of A Ladybug asks “What’s your ‘thing’ right now?”

Beauty Blogging Junkie recommends these product picks for the most relaxing bath ever.

Makeup Junkie finds a new best friend in Chi’s Pink Flat Iron!

Glossypink shares her Holy Grail lipgloss!

Kitiya of Mischo Beauty has a reader who shares her favorite organic conditioner!

Beauty and Personal Grooming shares a few homemade antiwrinkle creams.

Makeup Moxie reviews Oscar Blandi Dry Shampoo Spray.

Spoiled Pretty is giving away five bottles of Guess by Marciano Eau de Parfum. Contest ends Sunday, April 27th. Go get you some!

Okay, I know the funny girl of the moment is Tina Fey - but have you noticed Amy Poehler lately? She’s beyond funny portraying Hilary Clinton this season on Saturday Night Live and is just shining on the show every time I’ve watched her.

I’ve also read a few interviews about her lately - most recently on my American Airlines flight on American Way Magazine. She’s a funny girl and seems so down to earth. Have you seen the trailer for their new movie, Baby Mama?? At first I was skeptical by the name of the movie - I thought it was going to be a ghetto fab film, but after watching the clip, it’s nothing what I expected and looks really funny!

And if that’s not amusing enough for you, check out a snippet of Poehler’s interview of her co-star Tina Fey - this month’s cover girl for Marie Claire. It’s pretty freakin’ hilarious. Baby Mama is in theaters this Friday, April 25th, and I can’t wait to see it. Hopefully I can convince the Boyfriend to take me!

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Hola, my bargain-loving chicas!

If you are going to be in the L.A. area this weekend you MUST check out the Stila Warehouse Sale. I’m dead serious - can you say 50% - 80% off? I can. Only I won’t be able to make it because I’ll be down in Orange County at my cousin’s baby shower - which will be just as fun

This Stila Warehouse Sale event is one day only, April 26th, and at one location only:

1161 Vine Street (between Lexington and Santa Monica)
Hollywood, CA 90038

So clear your calendars, ladies, and take this awesome opportunity to stock up on Stila must-haves like the Lip Glaze (which the Beauty Chick tells me is great!) and the much raved about Cherry Crush stain. If I were able to go, you KNOW these would be in my shopping bag, without a doubt!

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