Sporting Essie‘s 423 Allure – also combined with  Bourjois No. 28 Rose Lounge – you too can get her naturally royal look…

The valley keeps getting cooler and cooler. As the South Surrey area develops out due to the influx of young families and young professionals, Morgan Crossing is slowly becoming the Yaletown of the Fraser Valley. Just as Hamilton Street in Vancouver has become the beauty hot spot street, Morgan Crossing makes way for Blo Blow Dry Bar.

At around $30 for about 30minutes you can come out with a blow out that’s red carpet ready. Whether its a night out with the girls in Vancity or a quiet dinner date on the White Rock strip, Morgan Crossing’s Blo is so convenient for those in the Fraser Valley for a quickie on the way.

Be sure to come by and say hi to the owners Jenny and Karen over at Morgan Crossing Blo.

Building E
Unit 118 – 15745 Croydon Drive
V3S 0C5
Surrey BC

To call to book an appointment, or just chat: 778.294.3334

Book online now by clicking here!

Following sold out events for the last 2 years, the Red Cross will once again be partnering with Blue Water Cafe for the third annual Red Cross Red Carpet Soiree benefiting the Lower Mainland Red Cross Disaster Management Program. Blue Water Cafe will provide a full selection of their highly acclaimed cuisine from two of Vancouver’s leading chefs: Vancouver Gold Medal Plates champion, Executive Chef Frank Pabst and internationally-recognized Raw Bar Chef Yoshihiro Tabo. The cuisine will be complemented by award-winning wines from Vincor, signature cocktails and silent auction items generously donated by some of the province’s trendiest hotels and retailers. This is a great opportunity to mingle with influential people in the Vancouver community and support a great cause.

Tickets can be purchased at www.rcsoiree.com or by phone at 604-709-6679.

There I met an amazing make-up artist, who set me up with this great product. Out of Venice California, Hourglass Cosmetics is a natural, mineral line of the professional grade. Although I also endulged in their Veil Fluid Makeup and their Hidden Concealer, I fell in love with this Veil Mineral Primer. I’ve never used a primer before, but I am totally sold on the concept of primer and this product. With a clean, satin-finish, the Primer is formulated with SPF 15 and restores moisture to dehydrated skin. I have naturally oily skin, and this product minimizes shine to the max, giving me a porcelain look.

Been settling into their new South Granville location (right next to Pure Nail Bar) on South Granville, Noir Lash Lounge is officially ready to show off their stuff! Having personally walked passed the location several times now, the space’s atmosphere resembles that of their flagship in Yaletown and is fully equipped to lash you up.

Join Vancouver’s Noircissists on April 7 from 5-9pm. With eats from the Hired Knife, and treats from SugarLime, Mavi, Blo, and Bombay Brow Bar for the first 100 people to RSVP, this will be one event that will bring the beauty braves together.

See you there!

No one can resist the brightly colors and ethnic appeal of Bombay Brow Bar’s decor. The instant you step inside, you feel like you’ve stepped into a Bollywood movie and you walk out feeling as gorgeous as Frida Pinto. Whether you have an appointment or are a walk-in client, you are welcomed with warm chai tea as the ladies prep for your service.

This being only my second time getting my eye brows rocked Indian style (i.e. threaded), I have to admit I was a little bit nervous. I remembered it stinging a bit the first time I had it done…But once I told my brow stylist that this is only my second time, she carefully talked me through ever step and with swift motions, I was already done!

My eye brows have never looked better! Being Asian, my eye brow hairs tend to stick up, especially at the base points of my brows, resulting in the usually mohawk style of my brows. But with some trimming, threading, and tweezing my brows knocked out the early-90′s punk trend and are now classy, clean and fabulous.

At $23 for a brow makeover, it is so worth it! The experience, the location and the time spent on the quality of your treatment goes a long way. Congratulations and great job! Can’t wait to rock my brows with you next time.

1056 Mainland Street (View Map)
Vancouver, BC
Phone: 604-683-BROW (2769)

You can feel it everywhere – the Vancouver 2010 Olympic hype is in full swing with only 4 more days till the Opening Ceremonies. I sadly didn’t snatch up event tickets while I could (I was in denial or something), but with all the pavillions and free events happening, I don’t think I’ll need to attend an event to make these next 2 weeks memorable. With good friends, a bus pass and my Team Canada paraphanelia, the city – and beyond – has got a lot to offer.

From some fellow Vancouver bloggers:

For ways to get around, check out Vancity Buzz‘s report on transportation.

For some FREE events happening, check out City Caucus and also the Examiner for their top 10 list.

Oh it pains me to even say this, but I found my skin getting red blotches lately. It’s so odd to me as I’ve been blessed with great skin (I have my mama to thank for that).  I suspect it’s due to stress, lack of sleep, lack of water, etc. is the culprit. So, what’s the solution?

Throughout the day, avoid hot beverages – like my beloved coffee – alcohol and anything spicy. These apparently release a chemical called histamine that can turn the skin red.

To treat the red spots directly, be sure to wash your face with a mild, soap-free cleanser in the morning and pat to dry the skin (to avoid irritating it further). Treat the area by soothing 1% OTC hydrocortisone cream or a calming cream such as aloe vera.

And if you’re on your way out, apply a washcloth that has been soaked in cold water to you face for 10 minutes about an hour before your event. This should cool, compress and construct blood vessels. Then follow it with a lotion that has a greenish tint. Not too green though. We don’t want you looking like Oscar the Grouch during your event

A family affair: It was my older sister’s birthday this weekend, and as the best cake baker in my family, I was elected to supply the cake. Out of the book one of my brothers gave me for Christmas – Hello, Cupcake! – my sister picked out these cute owls to be her decor of choice. Made from Oreos, Junior Mints, chocolate frosting and a banana Runt these hooting owls were the cutest and most yummiest things ever! My mom recommended that I use a hit Devil’s Food Cake recipe I found online years ago which calls for grated beets and sour cream.

Try out the recipe yourself and let me know how it goes

Devil’s Food Cake:

Ingredients:

4 cups all purpose flour

1 ½ cups unsweetened coca powder

3 ½ cups sugar

1 tablespoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 ½ teaspoons salt

3 cups buttermilk

6 large eggs

1 cup sour cream

3 sticks (3/4 pound) unsalted butter, melted and cooled

3 medium beets, peeled and grated (about 1 ¼ pounds)

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare cupcake tins (yields about 48 cupcakes or four 9″ cake pans). In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and eggs. Beat the buttermilk mixture into the dry ingredients until combined. Beat in the sour cream. Add the butter and grated beets and mix until fully incorporated.

Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for about 18 minutes, or until a tester inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean. Transfer the cakes to racks and let cool completely in their pans.

DECORATIONS:

Frost your cooled cupcakes with Chocolate frosting (I used Betty Croker Frosting in the interest of time). Warm up Oreo cookies in the microwave for about 10 seconds. This will help loosen up the filling and make it easier to separate. Separate the Oreo and use the side with the filling on it as the owl’s eyes. Save the other half of the cookie and cut in half with a serrated knife. These will become his eye brows. Place 2 Oreos will the fillings intact as its eyes and place the half cookie as its eye brows. Then frost the back of the Junior Mints and place within the white filling of the Oreos. Dot the Junior Mints with white frosting (I used frosting scribblers found at Walmart). Then embed the banana Runt to create the owls’ beak.