Ben Nye Makeup in the News

One of the most popular brands of stage makeup that we carry is Ben Nye brand makeup. The company is named for the founder of the company and is currently run by Ben's son Dana Nye. They recently had a spread in Makeup Artist Magazine about their new manufacturing facility. Check out Ben Nye's colorful new building and read about The Ben Nye Company



StageandTheaterMakeup.com carries the full line of makeup from Ben Nye, which is always hypoallergenic and high quality products used by professional makeup artists since 1979.



Ben Nye's Pearl Sheen Eye Shadow was recently featured in the March 2008 issue of Glamour Magazine as a favorite product of makeup artists. Pearl Sheen shadows are available in 14 vibrant, shimmering colors. Although many products from Ben Nye are for stage and theater, many products, can be used for everyday makeup. Many of the sheens, and Lumiere eye shadows are very popular for every day use. Lip glosses, foundations and powders are also great makeup items for every day wear.

Chapter 75.7: Blogs From the Past

Last night I dreamed I had a blog that I'd forgotten. (Actually, I do have one I no longer show and another that I can't find any more. These things are like ex-girlfriends.) [Author's note: After I posted this item and the image, there was a very disturbing story about some depraved stalker of Uma Thurman. It sounds like that man needs help, and I hope people leave poor Uma alone.]

In the dream, I pondered what I might write about in this newly re-discovered blog, why had I abandoned it, what long neglected story threads might I string back together...

Last night on the train, I did what I said I'd do: I worked on my book. It felt good, though I realized somewhere between Maplewood and Millburn that I need to pay closer attention to where I am or I might not have time to get off the train with my laptop intact.

I believe the dream was a sign to me to continue writing, to reawaken my thoughts. I'm sinking into myself again, I suspect. I apologize for all the self-centered blog posts that may follow.

Chapter 75.6: Making Progress

Inspired by a conversation with my brother this weekend and encouraged by miserable Sunday weather, I returned to the revisions of my novel -- untouched for nearly two months but very much in my mind. While it may be difficult for me to meet my self-imposed April 30th deadline for making my changes, I feel fairly certain that I'll be able to meet my other deadline of reaching out to agents before the end of May.

If you're on a New Jersey Transit train at the end of the work day and see a guy tapping away on his computer, it may be me.

New DVD release: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Close Encounters of the Third Kind: 30th Anniversary Ultimate Edition (3-Disc Series) is now available on DVD. Here's the summary from Amazon:



It's promised as the final word on the subject, and it certainly seems definitive. Steven Spielberg's wonderful Close Encounters of the Third Kind is here collected in three different cuts, each with its own specific history.



There's the original theatrical release, never before issued to home video, which Spielberg said was rushed and not completed to his satisfaction. There's the 1980 Special Edition, which allowed Spielberg a re-edit, some new effects and scenes, and a controversial new ending that went inside the alien craft. Spielberg later said that ending was dictated by Columbia Pictures as a marketing ploy, and that he regretted showing the interior of the spacecraft. Amends were made with the 1998 Director's Cut, yet another re-edit that restored elements from the first version and eliminated the shots inside the Mother Ship. (For all the fuss, there are still fans who prefer the original version.)



A thorough, previously-available 100-minute documentary on the film is included in the package, as well as a 5-minute featurette from 1977. New this time is a 20-minute interview with Spielberg, looking back from the perspective of 30 years. A 30th anniversary collector's booklet offers some pretty pictures but a rather desultory collection of mini-biographies and quotes (some credited to the "International Movie Database," by which they presumably mean the "Internet Movie Database"). Most helpful is a glossy fold-out timeline charting the differences between the three films, a useful tool for sticklers. --Robert Horton



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Check out fun alien costumes and more, for adults and kids, at anniescostumes.com.

Eyes Beauty Tip

Lush Lash Trick

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Thick long lashes are seriously sexy. This three-step technique will make your mascara work like a magic wand!

Step 1: WIGGLE.
Wipe excess mascara off the brush head, then place it under the very base of your lashes so it's gently touching your eyelid. Now wiggle the bristles back and forth a few times. The wiggle motion thoroughly coats and separates your lash roots, making them look as thick as possible.

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Step 2: SWOOP.
Slowly stroke the mascara from roots to ends. Let dry for a few seconds, then apply a second coat.

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Step 3: TOP OFF.
Lightly swipe the very tips of your lashes a third time to maximize their length.

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Free scary makeup videos

Whether it’s for Halloween or just a fun costume party any time of year, realistic horror makeup can make or break a costume. Here’s a great website called Expert Village (The self-proclaimed “World’s Largest How-to Video Site”) with a whole variety of video tips on how to do scary makeup. And the best part is they’re all free. Videos include supplies, fake stitches, fake bullet wounds, fake bruises, missing eyes, rotting flesh—all the classics! Check out the scary makeup videos here.

Chapter 75.5: Call for a New Spokesgecko!

I can't help but laugh at this picture. I love it so much, I've been sharing it with friends who have absolutely no interest or in the fauna of Madagascar.

If I were in advertising, I'd campaign for this guy, the giant leaf-tailed gecko, to become a spokesgecko to join the annoying but oddly amusing spokesgecko with the cockney accent in the Geico commercials. Think about it. This gecko screams if disturbed. And judging by the mouth that guy has, he can do a pretty fair characterization of Edvard Munch's painting.

Star Trek Movie Update

I have seen some more updates on the web this week regarding the new Star Trek movie, which is only a little over 1 year away! For Trekkie & Sci Fi fans like myself, that is a long wait, but according to Leonard Nimoy, "it will be worth the wait"!!

Earlier this week, Screen Rant posted a great article featuring 10 facts about the new Star Trek film:

1. The budget on the film is far below $200MM.

2. The film will be rated PG-13.

3. The release date was pushed back to summer '09 because Paramount really wants it to be a summer blockbuster.

4. The intent was to re-invent the Star Trek franchise, and that is why they went all the way back to start at the beginning.

5. The script was written with Leonard Nimoy in mind. Nimoy read the script and liked it. It seems he's so pivotal to the story that they would have had a big problem if he hadn't liked it.

For the rest of the details and more on what Leonard Nimoy says about the film: http://screenrant.com/archives/hungry-for-more-star-trek-deta-1566.html

For more info & some more behind the scenes Star Trek info see Cinema Blend and http://trekmovie.com/

As for a Star Trek costume update, unfortunately there are not any new Star Trek costumes being made this year, but hopefully we will hear something for next year, and hopefully some new Star Trek uniforms will be available in time for the new movies release next May. In the mean time, you can check out the Star Trek Uniforms and masks that we do have available.

Earth Day Special

Manic Panic's super bright hair dye has been awarded the PETA Libby Award and named the "Best Cruelty Free Hair Product of 2007"

Manic Panic's awesome, vibrant hair colors and vibrant makeup can be found on our Goth Costume web site: www.ExtremeCostumes.com at: Manic Panic Hair Color & Makeup.

So with Earth Day just a week away, we thought it might be fun to run this promotion. You can do something fun for yourself by giving yourself a funky new look and be good to the Earth and her animals at the same time!

Use coupon code: EARTH to get FREE Ground Shipping off of your order of $25.00 or more! The coupon expires May 1, 2008.



If you are not familiar with Manic Panic hair colors, it is what is used to achieve the brightest, vibrant, almost fluorescent hair color. We also carry shampoos that help you maintain the bright color and Manic Panic's special hair bleaching product that will help you achieve the brightest possible color, especially if you have dark hair.



Check out which celebrities wear Manic Panic!

Although this is labeled as a temporary hair color, it will tend to stain hair permanently, especially if you have light hair, so by temporary, they mean several weeks temporary, not a couple days.



Have fun and be funky! For more funky costumes, clothing, shoes, boots, jewelry, and more, visit ExtremeCostumes.com and have fun!

Annie's Costumes Features Renaissance Clothing and Costumes as well as Spring Party Supplies

Dress up with medieval costumes in April and celebrate in May with Cinco de Mayo costumes and accessories.

I am often asked what we do the rest of the year, when it's not Halloween? And the answer is: We promote how costumes can be used all year long for all different holidays and events! Here is our latest press release information on what's happening this Spring with costumes:

What do a sombrero and maracas have in common with medieval and Renaissance clothing and costumes? They're all part of the clothing and accessories needed to celebrate spring events. From Renaissance Fair clothing and costumes to fun Cinco de Mayo costumes, Annie's Costumes is the one-stop shop for event costumes and accessories.

As the weather warms in April, adults and children head outdoors and the Spring and Summer festival circuit often kicks off with local Renaissance Fairs. Renaissance fairs are set during the late Elizabethan period and typically include music and theater events as well as period food and crafts. Jugglers, magicians, musicians and other entertainers perform throughout the festivals all wearing Renaissance clothing and medieval costumes.

Fairgoers also dress up in the themed outfits, and costumes often include Maid Marian Costumes, Princess Bride Costumes, Tavern Wench and Peasant Lady Costumes, Merlin, Sir Lancelot, Medieval Knight Costumes and more. For a complete list, visit Annies' Costumes' Renaissance Clothing and Costume Shop at http://anniescostumes.com/renaissa.htm.

Renaissance Fairs aren't the only spring events that require special clothing and costumes. May 5, Cinco de Mayo, is a day to celebrate Mexican heritage and pride with themed parties and celebrations. Typical costumes include sombreros and ponchos, but fun Cinco de May costumes such as fruit hats and Mariachi costumes are always party pleasers. For a complete list of Cinco de Mayo costumes and accessories, visit http://anniescostumes.com/cinco_de_mayo_costumes.htm.

Looking for an excuse to throw a costume party? You can always visit AnniesCostumes.com for costume ideas!

Chapter 75.4: Admiral Nelson

Tonight's game was a pleasant change, and perhaps is the start of a poignant baseball story. Brooklyn-born Nelson Figueroa won his first start with the Mets -- his "hometown" team, which drafted him in 1995. Beyond the joy of the Mets' three game winning streak, I'm pleased by their ability to beat some good teams.

The Phillies messed up opening day (which I was lucky enough to attend!), but the Mets took the next two -- due in large part to poor play by the Phillies on Wednesday and a call that could have gone either way on Thursday. Tonight they took their first meeting with the Milwaukee Brewers, who should compete for the NL Central Division crown. So things seem to be looking good for now.

But what really pleased me tonight was reading the story that appeared in the New York Times after the game. During the game, Figueroa's dad, a Brooklyn electrician, was interviewed. He told the guy from the Mets network, SNY, "This is fantastic. I died and went to Heaven." And later his mother said, "You don't know how proud he made us tonight. That's his dream. His dream was to play on this team." It's simply nice to hear things like that. These are real people. It's hard to root against a guy like that. Keep it up, Nelson!

Throw Your Own Luau!

How to host a Hawaiian party, wherever you are

No matter where you live in the world, it's possible to stage your own authentic lu‘au for an afternoon or evening party, or to celebrate important milestones just as we do in Hawai'i: graduations, birthdays and weddings.


Follow our guide to hosting a lu'au to make your event a success!


Begin with the food

The best part of a lu'au is, frankly, the food and drink. For drink, serve whatever you like, but your lu'au menu is another matter. Depending on your palate you can serve your guests traditional lu‘au fare — such as kalua pork, chicken long rice and haupia — or offer more mainstream choices.

Explore these menu ideas:

• Traditional buffet

If you're truly adventurous, you can cook the traditional Hawaiian way by building your own imu oven and whipping up a delectable batch of kalua pork right in your backyard. If that doesn't work up an appetite, some traditional Hawaiian games certainly will.



Details, details, details
Lu‘au are best held outdoors, weather permitting. Decorate with tiki torches (they're inexpensive, drive away mosquitoes, and are available at most garden and hardware stores), flowers, more flowers, and as many green plants as possible. Borrow or rent foliage if you don't have it on hand.


Lu‘au dress is casual! Recommend to your guests the following attire: For men and boys, aloha shirts and khaki shorts or pants. For women and girls, aloha-print sundress or long wrap-around skirt with tank top or light, short-sleeved blouse. Feet should be bare or wearing what we in Hawai‘i call "slippers" (often called "flip flops" or "thongs" elsewhere in the world). No socks, nylons, dress shirts or ties allowed.

Greet each guest with a lei, hug, and a kiss on the cheek.


Lu‘au food is served buffet-style. All dishes go on the buffet table at the same time, guests line up and "grind," as we say in the Islands — sometimes for hours!

Like many other things in Hawai'i, lu‘au are casual. Kick off your shoes, serve the food on paper plates, and enjoy the company of good friends.

Find all your costumes, decorations and more for your luau at http://www.luaucostumes.com/

Shockingly…

…generic. That was my first thought looking at Sonia, the new femme fatale in Ninja Gaiden II. Is it some kind of parody of Dante from Devil May Cry? Seems that way since she’s packing guns.

Whatever the motivation was behind her creation, there’s really no excuse to throw out such a forgettable looking character like this. Maybe she’ll win me over as her story unfolds in the game. That is, if she’s actually playable in it.

Get an American Idol Makeup Makeover!

I noticed this week on American Idol that all the girls had on very shimmery, glittery, vibrant eye shadows. Their makeup really popped and it caught my attention, maybe it caught yours too!



Although you may not have a fabulous makeup artist to make you up every day, never fear! You can easily achieve this look on your own with special eye shadows available online at www.StageAndTheaterMakeup.com and www.ExtremeCostumes.com.



I watch American Idol religiously, as I am a big fan; however the makeup connection never dawned on me until just this week when all of the girls were looking really beautiful with their shimmering eye shadows and shiny lip gloss. It is easy for anyone to achieve this gorgeous look.



Not all of our makeup is only for use on stage. Most of it can be used as everyday wear depending on how you apply it. So if you like the sparkling eye shadow look, either for every day makeup wear or a makeup for special evening occasions, here is what you can use to achieve it!



Manic Panic is famous for their vibrant colors. Their most popular product is their semi permanent hair color in vibrant & fluorescent colors. They also have a great products called Lust Dust™ and Coffin Dust™. Both "Dusts" are a mineral powder that can be used with a large brush to lightly dust sparkles over a large area, or combined with LiquiSet liquid, can be used as a vibrant eye shadow that will stay in place through all the lights, sweat and tears. Lust Dust comes in vibrant, bright colors; maybe something like what Kristy Lee Cook or Brooke White would be wearing; and Coffin Dust comes in darker, smoky colors, closer to what Carly Smithson and Ramiele Mulabay were wearing. Use a little for some shimmer and use more for a dramatic effect. You can keep it pretty simple with just some extra sparkle or really turn on the color all the way up to a club kid or punk look and anything in between. It's completely up to you! Have fun and play around with it until you find a look you are happy with.

Here's a close up of what each product looks like: Hot Hot Pink Lust Dust™ Eye Shadow and Silver Stardust™ Coffin Dust:

All the Manic Panic products featured in this article are available on our Goth & Club website: www.ExtremeCostumes.com. Browse the site for other funky things to complete your look, like jewelry, wigs, chunky shoes and funky boots and, of course, some wild costumes too.

Another product that will help you achieve a bright, vibrant sheen and sparkle to your eye shadow color is the Lumière Luxe Sparkle Powder from Ben Nye. Available in 8 bright colors that can be used as a powder shadow or mixed with LiquiSet Sealer to create a luminescent paint with a durable finish. Here is a picture of the product and an example from Ben Nye of just one of the endless possible looks that can be achieved with this eye shadow.


Also available from Ben Nye and available on StageAndTheaterMakeup.com is Lumiere Luxe Powder. Which is an iridescent powder that offers stunning radiance. For beauty highlights, apply dry powder on bare skin or over makeup. This Luxe Powder can be applied to the face, neck and chest, even your arms too; basically anywhere you would like a light dusting of sparkle. Available in 19 different colors, some neutral and some bright. All shades may be mixed with water or LiquiSet Sealer for seamless, shimmering coverage for a more dramatic, even masquerade type look. Here is what the Iced Gold (right) and Bronze Luxe Powders look like:


To finish off the "American Idol Look", notice that the girls have elaborate eye shadow, but very minimal color everywhere else. Use a light blush applied to the apples of the cheeks and a neutral or soft but shiny lip gloss to complete your new American Idol make over!

www.StageandTheaterMakeup.com also has everything else that you need to complete your makeup routine: concealers, foundations, eye liners and powder. Everything we carry is hypo-allergenic and high quality. If you are not familiar with our professional quality makeup products, they are highly pigmented and a little bit goes a long way, colors are vibrant.

And for my last makeup tip, want to be able to stay shine free throughout the day and night? Blotting paper is the answer! This is how stage performers look calm, cool and collected without messing up the makeup under those hot stage lights and high stress.


Need help choosing a hot color for yourself or want to know what colors are most popular? Feel free to contact the makeup department specialists at Extreme Halloween: 1-877-413-8747. Mention this American Idol Makeup post or use coupon code IDOL during online checkout to receive FREE Ground Shipping on your next makeup order of $80 or more. You have until June 1, 2008 before this coupon expires.

And for the record, my favorite idols are: David Cook, Michael Johns, Brooke White and Jason Castro. : )

Chapter 75.3: Blog Till You Drop?

Ok, as any regular reader of my blogs (Cammy, this means you) has probably noticed by now, I'm not on any sort of regular schedule of posting. This is my first post of April, and we're closing in on the sixth day of the month (Happy Tartan Day, all you Scottish-Americans out there!) I'm sorry if anyone has missed me, but I do have a life offline, as the photo above is meant to imply.

So, I'm a little dismayed at reading this in the New York Times. The story is about a few bloggers who have died because of the stress of posting regularly for paid blogging jobs. Of course, I'm not getting paid to blog, but I do get paid to write and edit. That is, after all, what I was placed on this earth to do, as far I've been able to tell. (Though the cats beg to differ.) But blogging is not worth dying over, no matter what someone gets paid.

Now, I must admit, it never occurred to me that my occasional posts might be worth a minimum of $10 each. I mean, come on! Who in the hell cares what I have to say? I don't care what presidents and members of Congress have to say, most of the time. (Funny aside -- at least I think it's funny -- I was driving home just a little bit ago and heard John Lennon's Give Me Some Truth and I thought, if I ever run for any office, that'll be my theme song.) So, I can't imagine making $10 for the fifteen minutes I might spend writing a drafty piece of crap like this. And surely, if I were getting paid per post, I'd write a whole lot more and would soon demand more than $10 per.

The economy sucks right now. I think it's a fairly nonpartisan thing to say and altogether accurate for most people. I live in an affluent nook of America, and I see people struggling. It's not necessarily that they can't pay their bills but they're feeling their bills in ways that they weren't before. I was talking to a friend a couple weeks ago and she put it perfectly. She said, "I was in the super market, and I overheard a mother tell her kids, 'no, we're not going to dye Easter eggs this year.' The reason, my friend continued, is because the price of a dozen eggs has skyrocketed. In my area, each egg costs twenty cents. That's right. Per egg. Remember when your kids could toss them to each other during summer camp because they only cost about a nickle? Fun and laughs were cheap then. It wasn't so long ago.

Now, if the bloggers in the Times story had their heart attacks because they had slathered on layers of cholesterol from eating twenty-cent eggs and buttered toast, perhaps I'd have a little more sympathy for them. But no, these poor guys died because they were working their buns off to have a chance to pay for the frigging eggs and butter. I have sympathy for them; I think they should be regarded as casualties of war.

The price of eggs is up in part because the price of gasoline is up. The price of gasoline is up because some moron decided to stick other people into a hornet's nest in the Middle East and now we're quagmired there for at least another decade. Neither Hillary nor Barry (Barack) nor McCain is going to solve that little Rubik's Cube any time soon, no matter what they say (and in this regard, I think only McCain has been close to honest). So get used to expensive eggs, expensive milk, expensive gas, and cheapened lives.

I've got better reasons to die. And as the photo above suggests, better reasons to live. I may just have to start blogging daily in order to pay for the basic necessities.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Costume

One month away until FIESTA TIME!



Plan ahead for Cinco de Mayo with costumes, hats and party supplies from AnniesCostumes.com. Some hats, sombreros and festive party decorations will make for a good time for this Mexican holiday. But remember: you don't have to be Mexican to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, it can be just a great reason to throw a party and celebrate freedom and good times!

Just arrived in stock: Fun Fiesta Party Invitations. If these maraca invites don't make you want to throw a party and invite your friends over, I don't know what will!


Also new and in stock! For ideas of what to do during the party (besides maybe drink some Tequila & Cerveza) check out the Cactus Limbo game and the Cactus Ring Toss game, which comes complete with a drink cooler!


Lots of decorations are also available. Maybe you want to have a costume party with a Cinco de Mayo Mexican theme?!


Well, AnniesCostumes.com has got you covered in ponchos and sombreros, or if you really want to get into it, check out our matching couples costumes:


If you choose to have a family party for Cinco de Mayo, get the kids involved too:


Party hats, headpieces, festive skirts and Cinco de Mayo Party leis are also newly arrived, in stock and ready to ship. Have fun, Cinco de Mayo is coming soon, don't miss out on having a fun party!

Visit www.AnniesCostumes.com/Cinco_de_Mayo_Costumes.htm to see our entire collection of costumes, accessories and party goods for Cinco de Mayo!