After spending four hours mixing custom blend foundations for 18 models for the upcoming A Fashionable Taste Fashion Show in Houston next month, it occured to me that this show, where all proceeds benefit the American Heart Association, wasn’t scheduled in February on accident. I recently became aware that February is Heart Awareness month, and National Wear Red day is Feb. 3. I encourage everyone to show support by wearing red this Friday, and to continue supporting the cause throughout the month of February. You can visit the Go Red For Women or the American Heart Association websites for ways to give to support the cause, some ideas include:

1. Join or host a Go Red Luncheon in your area
2. Have a Go Red Get Together (materials available on the Go Red for Women website)
3. Make a donation in honor of a loved one, or better yet, a complete stranger
4. Volunteer for or attend an event in your community (click HERE for events in your area)

If you’re in the Houston area on February 18, get tickets to the Fashionable Taste Fashion Show, presented by Second Wind for Life, and enjoy an evening of fashion and entertainment for a good cause. Motives will be the sponsoring makeup line and featured on the models, so stop by and see me at the Motives booth!

With all of the press Motives has been getting lately, especially with the upcoming launch of the Motives for La La line, I’ve had everyone from makeup artists, to salon owners, even women looking for a career change ask me how they can become a part of the Motives team, and the perks that come with it. The best way to begin is to go to the Motives website and contact a Motives Consultant. As part of the Motives team, you will have your own professional website that customers can purchase from, have access to training available on a regular basis all over the country, and work one on one with your customers helping them feel beautiful inside and out. And then, of course, there’s the income potential! Watch the video below for some amazing testimonials from other consultants.

The metallics trend continues this season, as we saw on the red carpet last week, and there are ways to bring a little gold into your look without having to commit to a top, a shoe, or even a handbag (though I would highly recommend it!) Sweep a shimmery gold shadow on your lids in Motives Pink Gold, Antique Gold, or Bronze Beauty, or, if you can pull it off, try a lipstick with a hint of gold like Motives Gold Dust. My favorite way to glam up with gold is to put it on my nails, Glam Girl and Golden Goddess are beautiful by themselves or try them together in a reverse french or two-toned mani! What’s your favorite way to accessorize with gold?

Hollywood glammed it up last night for the 69th Golden Globes awards, and the fashion is, as always, almost as important as the awards themselves. There were a lot of hits last night (Claire Danes in her black and white backless number, for one) and only a few misses (really, Sarah Jessica Parker? Really??) Blushes and nudes, messy updos and headbands, soft feathers and striking metallics were the big trends for the evening. Hard to pick just one, but a few of my many faves were Jessica Alba in Gucci, Charlize Theron in Dior, Angelina Jolie in Atelier Versace, and Salma Hayek in Gucci. Emma Stone’s eye makeup was gorgeous and I loved Zooey Deschanel’s tuxedo nails! The men all looked dapper in their tuxes and (predominately) bow ties, although I did notice a lot of facial hair. Not sure if this was a trend, a necessity for current film roles, or just laziness. I have to admit, I was digging Thomas Jane in his grey three piece and fedora, a departure from traditional, but I thought he pulled it off. What was your favorite of the evening? Do you watch just the red carpet or the awards too?

If the post-holiday cleaning bug bit you like it did me, you’ve probably gone through even the least visited nooks and crannies to purge your home of clutter and junk. But what about your makeup drawer? (Or drawers, cases, cabinets, etc.) Do you still have things way past their expiration? How about products that you don’t wear because they turned out to be the wrong color on you when you got home? For starters, throw away anything you haven’t worn in years, or better yet, sit down with a cosmetic consultant or makeup artist and have them help you clear out anything that doesn’t work on you. Here are some guidelines on when to toss some of the commonly used stuff:

Foundation – one year
Blush/powder/shadow – two years
Lipstick – one year
Mascara – 3-4 months

And remember to throw out eye makeup immediately if you have an eye infection. Happy cleaning!

There’s something special about Saturday mornings. Even as a self employed work from home mom, where everyday is essentially Saturday, but with less crowds, the weekend has a certain hang-out-in-pjs-sipping-coffee-until-the-pot’s-empty feel. I’m more likely to make pancakes (or in this morning’s case, pumpkin french toast) and bacon on a Saturday morning. I usually take Saturday mornings off from working out, but when I do go for a run, it seems more enjoyable than usual on a Saturday morning. I will admit, grocery shopping and errand running is nothing short of awesome on weekday mornings, but as far as leisure is concerned, Saturday’s make it extra special. It gives us a chance to turn off the alarm clock and slow down after a week of appointments, chores, and work. A chance to greet our neighbors in our bathrobes with major bedhead as we get the morning paper. A chance to indulge in Saturday morning cartoons with our kids without guilt. So, here’s to you, Saturday morning, may you be the beginning of a fantastic weekend!

Motives Celebrate Beauty compact is a new release with 4 fab eyeshadows and 6 lipsticks that allow you to go from natural and casual to fun and flirty in no time. The best part? It’s on sale from its original price of $39.95 for only $21.95! Take advantage while it lasts! The neutral shades are my go to colors on low key days, but I can’t wait to give the blue and purple a try!

La La Anthony talks about her new makeup line, Motives for La La, and how she keeps up with her good friend Kim Kardashian in this E! News exclusive interview. Motives for La La is set to release February 2!

Sorry Notherners dealing with snow and sleet, but it’s a beautiful day today here in the South. I’m not going to lie though, yesterday was chilly, and tomorrow will bring another cool front (which is probably like summer to those of you in Idaho, but downright cold in my opinion). Regardless of where you’re spending your winter, there’s probably enough cool or frigid days to wreak havoc on your skin and maintenance and protection against future damage is important this time of year. Cellular Labs has an amazing Revitalizing Kit that includes a cleanser, toner, masque, day creme with SPF, and a rebirth serum. For anyone who prefers the botanical route, Skintelligence is perfect for sensitive skin with a gentle cleanser, a moisturizer that’s not heavy or greasy feeling, and a toner with a scent so calming it will relieve a headache. (I’m not even exaggerating, the lavender,chamomile, lemongrass ingredients will take the edge off any migraine). Exfoliating will allow the healthy skin to glow, just make sure you don’t overdo it and use an exfoliant with a gentle grit. Fixx Microdermabrasion is the softest I’ve tried and your skin feels amazing afterwards. What are your go to winter rescue skin care products?

La La with Motives Brand Specialist Kim Yow at Market America HQ in Greensboro, NC.

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