Met Ball, Mother's Day, and Mis Manos

Hi ladies,
Thank you so much for participating in week ten of SYB's "Free at Last" Giveaway Extravaganza! This week's winner is Raleigh! Miss Raleigh, shoot me an email at beauty@tiawilliams.net with your address so I can send you your prize: My favorite skincare products from Neutrogena, including the Deep Clean Facial Cleanser, Deep Clean Gentle Scrub, and Night Calming Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes ($20.50 value). Congrats, sugar! Now, onto the beauty. I have a lot on my mind, so I'm slipping into bullets...


* On Monday night, the Costume Institute held its spring gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art! This year, it was in honor of the exhibition, "Models as Muse." Ladies, this event is like fashion porn. Scores of celebs and glitterati in one glorious room, all dressed to the nines...heaven. Sadly, this year I was not impressed by the ensembles (look up Leighton Meester's situation for a hearty laugh). I did think this trio of brown goddesses looked amazing, however: Check out model Lakshmi Melon, designer Rachel Roy, and Joy Bryant, all swathed in Rachel Roy frocks with Manolo Blahnik for Rachel Roy shoes. Gorge! In honor of the glamorous fete, here's a product that'll sprinkle a bit of fancy-dust over your everyday beauty regimen. Cover Girl Exact Eyelights Eye Brightening Mascara in Black Pearl ($7.49) is not only a fantastic, lash-plumping mascara, it's infused with a bit of subtle black sparkle! Not enough so that people will mistake you for Lady Miss Kier...just a barely-there wash of shimmer, enough to make you feel secretly special. Plus, it somehow makes your eyes look brighter, and more awake. Hot stuff!


* Okay, so this swine flu thing is killing me. I've become PSYCHOTIC about washing my hands. And La Lina's tiny hands. I mean, I live in a city where our we depend on the SUBWAY to get around...filthy! So, I've taken to slathering on hand sanitizer every ten seconds. I don't love putting Purell and the other chemical-based ones on my baby's hands, so I've become a huuuge fan of Frais Pocket Hand Sanitizer ($3.50). This eco-friendly stuff is blended with 66% sugarcane alcohol, which obliterates germs without leaving any harsh residue. Plus, it's mixed with tons of yummy essential oils, including Ginger, Tangerine, Orange, Basil, Grapefruit and Cardamom. Gentle AND effective.


* On Sunday, I'll be celebrating my very first Mother's Day!! I'm so excited. I hope whoever's in charge of Lina's gift to me considers Stila's "My Mother My Hero" Gift Set ($38, $110 value!). Forget the darling gold clutch, this gift includes a sheer plum lipstick, a thickening mascara, a shimmering bronze eyeshadow trio, and an illuminating finishing powder. But enough about me. Happy Mother's Day to my wonderful, supportive, gorgeous, and endlessly generous mommy (it's her very first as a grandma!)...and also to my mother-in-law, who is the best a girl could ask for. Love you all!

xoxo,
Tia