Brow Beaten...

Brow Shaping 101

I've had a couple friends and family members ask me about brow shaping, how to do it, where to go, what method to recommend. So I thought I'd do an entry dedicated to those fuzzy face framers and all important glam radiators, eyebrows. The first question I'll address is method. I'm a tweezer girl. I like the control, I like how non abrasive it is to the skin, I like that you don't have to wait for hairs to grow to a certain length before you can be able to remove them. It also puts the power of your brows in your own hands which is nice. 

I can't speak to threading. It's something I have little experience with. It seems as though the general consensus is that it's gentle and extremely thorough so awesome on both counts. It does mean you must rely on someone else. A makeup client of mine recently was bemoaning the relocation of her threading parlor and how it meant she had to find somewhere else, or travel quite a long way while in the mean time she felt her brows were getting unruly. Slight setback but 4.5 out of 5 stars really. 

The two methods I cannot professionally or personally recommend are waxing or sugaring. And I say this as someone who was a salon brow waxer. It's rough on that oh so thin and delicate skin, and it's aggressive to the hair follicle. There's also far less control. I was taught by an excellent waxer, a really safe technique, and I still felt at the end I needed switch over to the tweezers because it was impossible to attend to certain sections of the brow with wax and not remove WAY too much hair. Waxing is a good method on areas where you want total hair removal of a larger space. The unibrow area is the most lenient I'm gonna get on this one. Otherwise, please avoid it. It can cause skin irritation, burns, ingrowns, follicle damage, and my personal pet peeve, skinny brows. Over waxed brows are...unflattering. I'll leave it at that.
--I thought perhaps this was my own personal "issue" to deal with, but about a year ago I was fortunate enough to hear the great Joey Mills (the creator of the strong brow) speak about brow shaping, and he was ADAMANT that tweezing was the method best for brow care, and that waxing was akin to brow evil... 

Where to go. Well that's a toughie because salons really like the wax now don't they...So I say if you find a threader you love, stick with that, but they're so many, it's a bit of a crapshoot. Makeup artists can really be your saviors here because you can either have them shape for you, or give you a tutorial on shaping (like I'm doing right now! TADA!)

So let's move on to how to do the shaping. What you'll need. 

1. A nice pair of tweezers. My all time fav shape for brows is the revlon "splinter" shape (grocery stores, drug stores, Target.) I have a pair of the "pro" shape in my mani-pedi tool kit but I have to say I still like the splinter shape best. I think they grip and pick up easier. The inside ridges or "treads" can wear out with time. Then they stop gripping and you'll need to get a new pair, but seriously I think my pair lasted like a good ten years before that happened so they'll last a long time. 

2. A pair of small scissors. Nail scissors should do it if you want a pair dedicated to brows instead. 

3. A disposable mascara wand. (Ricky's/Sally Beauty.) 

4. If you're in any way unsure about what shape you want - white pencil eyeliner. Doesn't need to be MAC quality. Can be Cover Girl or Wet & Wild (I'll explain in a bit.)

5. Brow pencil or powder. If you have one you already like, use it. I always tell clients to stick to blond. Weird huh? Unless you want to have a Groucho Marks thing going on, blond pencil or powder is the way to go. It fills in without washing you out. I have VERY dark hair naturally, almost black, perhaps the last stop in Brown City before Blacktropolis. And I always use blond or else it looks scary and weird. I like the Bobbi Brown Brow Kit, but it is expensive, so I'll also say try the Milani in Taupe. 

6. Clear mascara. Maybelline makes a great one.

Ok so now that you've assembled the necessary implements let's go ahead and wash your hands & face so that they're nice and clean. Next, take the mascara wand and brush your brows up. Yup, all the way up so that you look like James Coburn in his later years. Now one brow at a time take the wand and brushing through the brow hold the brush in the brow so that edge of the brush is in line with the top edge of the brow and with your scissors snip in a straight line any hairs that grow past the top edge of the wand. Continue for entire brow. Now, brush your brows downward. Yup, all the way down, and one brow at a time line the bottom edge of the wand with the bottom edge of the brow and with your scissors, snip in a straight line any hairs that grow past the bottom edge of the wand. 

 ** A word about hormonal thinning. If you've got sparse brows due to natural changes in your body, or thyroid medication, or other hormonal fluctuations feel free to modify this step to meet your needs. Due to my hormone issues and genetics I have quite sparse brows and, were I to follow the above procedure I would have very little left. I can say that no man or woman I've attended to ever had this problem and I trimmed them all normally, and it looked great. But if you know you need the "longies" to help fill in areas, just brush your brows upwards and outwards and trim any unruly guys that refuse to lie nicely in line.**

Next step. Refer to a pic like this.

Go ahead and use your mascara wand as a ruler or grab a nail file, makeup brush, anything nice and straight. Line the wand up with the inside corner of your eye and holding it straight take the white eyeliner and make a vertical line in your brow. This is where your brow should start. Do the same for the other brow. Everything in between can go my friend. You can go ahead and pluck those. If you want a very full brow, think young brooke shields, you can move the wand over by one width of the wand and start from there but no more. Unibrows = defeating the purpose of your efforts here today.

Outside: Use the corner of the nose and create a line with the wand that goes to the outside corner of the eye. Continue to follow that same line to the brow. Make a line with the white eyeliner. This is the end of the brow. Anything that extends past this line can be plucked. Conversely if your brow doesn't make it to that line fill to that point when we reach the filling section of this lesson. Do the same for the other brow.

Take the wand and hold it vertically at the outside of the iris. (the part with color.) Holding the wand straight make a line in your brow with the white eyeliner. Repeat on other side.

Now take the wand and create a line from the tip of your nose through the center of the pupil. (the black part.) Continue that line til it meets the brow. Make a line with the white eyeliner. Repeat on other side.

You should be noticing that those two marks are nearly on top of each other yes? Good. You have just located your natural arch!

Hold the wand horizontally straight across from the bottom of the inside corner of the brow to the outside corner and make a horizonatal line with the eyliner. Pluck anything growing below the line. (see line B.)

Things should already be looking much tidier. The next step is, well kinda more up to you and your brows. For very natural brows, merely remove anything straggly or hanging out on it's own, don't forget above the brow and outer temple region, stragglers live there too.

For a more manicured look, use the arch guide line you've just made and the horizontal line. measure a little under a centimeter from the horizontal line upwards. Make a dot with the eyeliner. This is about where the bottom of your arch should be, though it might be slightly more or less depending on your specific brows. This is why the liner comes in handy. If something looks not quite right, use a little makeup remover and try again.

Use the wand and create another vertical line at the outside of the iris (the part with color) on the INSIDE half of the eye. ( closer to your nose.) Make another eyeliner line. This is about where you should start to taper the brow. You should be able to "connect the dots" so to speak from the bottom of  this new line to the previous bottom of the arch dot. If you do in fact create a line, remove everything below it.

Use the bottom of the outside corner line and the arch dot, along with the horizontal line to show you where to remove hair from the corner to end of the brow.

Phew ok give it a once over in case you missed anyone and then use a mild makeup remover like witch hazel to remove all that white liner!

From here, Take your powder or brow pencil and fill in any sparse patches. use small light hair like strokes with a pencil or light coverage with the powder, the aim is to have it blend in with the brow rather than stand out.

Finally take the clear mascara and with the wand --or another disposable (keeps the mascara cleaner) brush the brows gently upward and outward and voila! You should have proportional flattering brows. As you become more comfortable with this, you can personalize the shape a little more but be warned. Every few hairs take a step back and look. Make sure you take your whole face into consideration. Brows are meant to frame that pretty picture so don't make them disappear into Pamela Anderson land!!!!

Some great browsperation.....

BKBTY

Recipe: Saag Kukuramuttā

Creamed Spinach and Mushrooms!

Probably because I'm the lamest person you could ever meet, a few years ago I gave myself the moniker of "Popeye" due to my tendency to become extremely ill tempered if I can't have spinach every day. (I really, really like spinach.) So some of my favorite dishes to order/make/CONSUME contain this green vitamin packed ambrosia. Saag Paneer is a DELICIOUS Indian dish that could be compared to creamed spinach in western cuisine. I found a great recipe for it from Aarti Sequeria, but in my usual sensitive tummy fashion, was a bit uncertain about eating that much cheese.... So I decided to try mushrooms given their similarly springy mouth feel and somewhat creamy flavor. (also who doesn't love spinach & mushrooms. One of my all time favorite combos ever.) I used plain old white button and, don't get me wrong, they are great for this, but I also think King Oyster aka French Trumpets would be REALLY good, the market was just out of them today (next time.) You'll also notice my usual slight alterations as regards oil and salt proportions... If you want to, def try with the paneer, I think if I were making this for a party or potluck, I would use cheese, especially one as easy to make as paneer, but for a dish that I'll eat with my lunch all week, mushrooms were the better option = happier me in the long run. Conversely if you're vegan, stick with the mushrooms and try a plain coconut yogurt added at the end and this dish becomes totally vegan. Easy peasy.

Ingredients:

1 tsp ground turmeric

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp salt (+ a bit to taste)

2 tbsp plus 1 tbsp organic unrefined coconut oil

10-12 oz mushrooms quartered and then halved (the closest to a cube shape you can get) 

1 (16-ounce package) organic frozen chopped spinach

1 medium white onion, minced

1 1/2" ginger, peeled and minced

4 cloves garlic, minced

1  serrano chile, seeded, minced

1/2 tsp garam masala*

2 tsp ground coriander

1 tsp ground cumin

1/2 cup plain organic yogurt, whisked smooth

1/2 cup water (have more handy during cooking if needed)

Directions:

Note: This recipe gets worlds easier and faster if you have a food processor. As the consistency is mushy, not having to mince by hand is a gigantic time saver. Also if your mushrooms have been in the fridge bring them to room temp first, otherwise they'll harden the oil and won't marinate properly.

1. Chop mushrooms, set aside. In a large bowl mix turmeric, cayenne, and 2 tbsp melted oil. Then stir in the mushrooms evenly coating them, and set all aside to marinate. 

2. Prep work time. Get out your food processor and two large bowls. Into one bowl put frozen spinach and microwave until thawed. About 3-5 min depending on how strong your microwave is. Then empty into food processor and mince.  Pour back into bowl and set aside.

3. Rough chop onion into processor friendly chunks, mince in processor. Empty into second bowl. Set aside.

4. Peel garlic and ginger, seed chile. Food process. Put in same bowl as onion. (If you have a nice big food processor go ahead and combine 3 & 4.)

5. In a tiny bowl or cup mix cumin, garam masala, and coriander. Set aside.

6. Get out a large sauté pan and over medium heat pour your mushrooms. Spread them evenly so that they're only a single layer deep and cook 2 min. Toss and continue to cook 2 min on other side. Remove from pan and set on plate. 

7. Melt 1 tbsp coconut oil in the hot pan and then add onion, garlic, and chile mixture. Slow sauté over medium heat for about 15 min. Stir occasionally so that it cooks evenly but doesn't scorch. Look for a buttery toffee color to form but not brown. Add a bit of water if needs be to keep from scorching. Should smell like cooked onions and garlic rather than raw when they're finished.

8. Add premixed spices and a little water if you haven't yet. Cook for 3-5 min just until the spices have opened and unified in flavor. 

9. Add Spinach, half cup water, and a bit more salt to taste. Mix thoroughly with spice/onion base. Cook for another 3-5 min.

10. Remove from heat. Slowly mix in yogurt. Then, with a slotted spoon, add mushrooms into spinach mixture. --The key here is not to get a ton of the mushroom broth that these delicious fungi have been releasing while you've been cooking. It makes our finished dish a bit too runny. You may feel free to hold onto it however. It is extremely yummy. I'm gonna use mine like a sauce for my steamed veggies tonight. ;) 

11. Return to medium heat and cover. Cook for another 5 min. 

ENJOY!

*Garam Masala

1 tbsp ground cloves

1 tbsp ground cinnamon

2 tsp ground cardamom

1 tsp fine ground black pepper

good pinch ground cumin

BKBTY

Primer Time

Beat the Shine....

No not the sunshine! Love me some vitamin D! But if you're like me, summer can also amp up the shine on that T-Zone in the middle of yo face! Now on a day to day this may not be too big a deal but it can get irritating if you've got a wedding to attend, or neighborhood festival, or charity function and the paparazzi won't stop snapping your glamourous visage. No one likes being the shiny face in the group shot. It's right up there with being the red-eyed person... :( boo. Fortunately there's a fix for this, and it tends to come in small tube at makeup stores! It's called primer, and it does more than just get your face ready for more makeup. A good primer can really be worn without putting foundation on top. It can be used just to control oil slicks and help keep you looking fresh as the day wears on. Or if you know you have problems with makeup staying put throughout the day this could be your salvation. Start with clean, toned, moisturized skin and then apply a pea sized amount of primer to your T-Zone, or if you have problems with eye makeup or lipstick staying put, do just the eyes or lips. You can just rub it in with your fingers (or a sponge or brush) like you did with

your lotion and that's it! The only down side of primer is that the very nature of the beast is to "stop them pores up" (said the tiny sea captain who helps steer you in life...) Sadly even the nice pricy "noncodmegenic" claiming ones are clogging. So I wouldn't necessarily every day with these guys, if you're prone to breaking out (which if you're super oily like me, you might be.) They come in a wide variety of price and performance levels.  For the purpose of this blog I'll address four of them.

 The first is the least expensive and can in fact be found in the drug store/ supermarket world.  It's the L'Oreal, Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base Primer. It's thick, I mean really thick. The least skin care friendly of all the ones I'm writing about today but it does have it's place. If you're a professional like me, this is the best to have in your kit for low paying jobs ($9.99 per half oz.) My moto, -never spend more on a job than you're getting paid! -strikes again, but it's true. For those free lunch/a great experience gigs, this is the primer to use. Helps keep down shine and keep that makeup in place. For personal use, I say love yourself more than this and spend a

little more than this.
The second conversely is the nicest and priciest: Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer. You can find this baby at Sephora. This is the long time favorite of pros everywhere and has formulations for fine line correction, SPF, yellow undertone corrector, the list goes on. It's $38.00 - $42.00 per oz of this stuff so on the pricier side but so smooth and fine, a little goes a long way. If I made a smidge more $$ this would be my pick.
Which brings us to our next product, Too Faced Primed & Poreless Skin Smoothing Face Primer. The primer I use on myself, (I actually need to buy more of this stuff soon and want to try the "pure formulation" for oily/sensitive skin...) Comes out looking flesh toned but disappears on the skin, aka won't look like you're wearing foundation. This one's a bit less pricy. $30 per oz and they also have an eye one that's $20 if you just need eye primer. It's also a touch thicker than the Smashbox but still very velvety and has Retinol and Vitamins A&C. Also a Sephora find. See if you can nab the free gift size tube at checkout, great way to try it :)
The last one is DHC's Velvet Skin Coat. The other two ladies in my family really adore this product so I'll include it ;) It's slightly less expensive- $22.50 (per half oz) but only available through

DHC, so add S&H onto that. It has an olive oil base to keep skin hydrated and silky but one drawback is that you're not supposed to use it on your lips, so not the choice if you're looking to keep lip color in place. But a great option for oil control.
 Next time you need to go publicing all day in the heat, try a primer and see if it's been the missing link!

BKBTY

I'm Hooked and I can't Stop Starin'

Suspiria Pink!

Ok so I may have bought more than one nail laquer at OCC when I went in for "Black Dahlia" for my wedding self pedi. The second hue I bought for bright summer wear is called "Suspiria" and is another shade from their latest "Psychological Thriller" collection. Named after the 1977 Italian flick about witches teaching at a ballet academy (um, AWESOME.) It's described as an opaque bright UV

magenta but that doesn't quite seem to do it justice. I put it on my toesies a couple days ago and nearly tripped walking outside they looked so bright and pretty!!! It's the shade of pinky purple often traditionally captured in Saree or lipsticks during the late 80's, except it's not frosted. So pretty. Highly recommending this one before the new line comes out and this one disappears....

BKBTY

Rants and Reviews: Mary's Gone Crackers

Mary's Made me go Snackers....

Or at least that's what they should be called because put some in front of me and I can't seem to stop eating them... They're organic, gluten free, vegan, and made with ancient grains like quinoa, millet, brown rice, flax, chia, and sesame. I first tried them a couple years ago at the NYC Green Festival but 

had sadly had forgotten about them until my sister recently brought some to the 4th of July BBQ and pool fest I attended and I was reminded of their deliciousness! Unlike impostor health foods they don't cram these crackery snacks full of sugar and hydrogenated oils in place of flavor. They do have some salt but not crazy bad, pretty moderate really as far as sodium intake goes. (differs for each specific product.) I've had the pretzel rods in chipotle tomato (though I'd LOVE to try the curry, YOM.) And I've tried both the original and black pepper crackers-- also delicious. I haven't tried the cookies yet though I'd be willing to try a couple. 9 grams of sugar per 2 cookies is a little higher than I like to do, but again not bad at all. Definitely a better option than Chips Ahoy if

you know you need a cookie fix now and again.  (Though I do really love the Trader Joe's organic animal crackers) They definitely carry these puppies at Whole Foods and Wegman's and are spreading to a number of smaller stores. (Try the prospect park area for BK-ers.) Happy snacking!

BKBTY

Tastes of the Season!

Fun with Markets and Indoor Gardening :)

 Some fun pics of more trips to my delightful little farmers market and my attempts at indoor food growing. Sadly many of my plants have been having trouble dealing with the intense heat of NYC summers and my apt is just the worst when it comes to that too. But some of my weenie tomato plants are still kickin' it so I've re-potted them into a larger container (stoop find!) and am hopeful they'll continue to grow. It's so warm and sunny in here maybe I'll just get fruit in October (just let me think that, ok?) I also re-potted some of my beets and a couple of the leaves broke off, so I of course topped my steamed veggies with them for dinner. OH MY WORD. Some of the sweetest, most delightful greens to enter my mouth. I now feel spoiled for anything other than fresh picked from a window box. As my old English teacher would say Deeeeeeeeeee-lightful! Looking forward to my excursion tomorrow to see what new produce has come in!

BKBTY

Snippin' Tips....

How to Help Yourself Get a Haircut You Like

Before my most recent donation.

It's hair cuttin' season and it puts me in mind of a post that I've wanted to include on this blog from it's inception. Let's face it, we've all had bad haircuts, and negligent stylists are partly to blame for sure, but there are steps that you the client can take to ensure walking out feeling beautimus and not searching for another stylist to "fix" the first cut. 

1. Be both a good talker AND listener. A good stylist is trained to be a reflective listener. To hear your description and repeat it back to you, to discuss what you've just said and make sure they've understood what it is you want. Listen to what they throw back to you. Never assume that they "just get it" because they work in a salon. They may have mistaken one of your directions to mean something else. If they say something that sounds not quite right, go through it again with them. 

If you run into a situation where you're not getting any feedback try to prompt your stylist by saying something like- "what do you think?" or "Does that sound doable/ make sense?" And if they're really taciturn "How do you think we can do that?" or joke with them "what does that translate into in hairdresser-ease?" If they still aren't responding, I say use the old "OMG I'm so sorry, I just realized I'm supposed to be...picking my aunt up at the airport/ having a phone conference/ going to my friends show" The possibilities are endless but get out of that chair and out of that salon ASAP. That stylist may be a nice person but never just assume you know what a client wants. It can only end in tears. For every success there are numerous failures when it comes to "just winging" hair. 

2. Have a real idea of what you want. This is so important in so many ways. Unless you are truly one of those people who looks good with any cut and you honestly 100% don't care what a stylist does NEVER go in and just say "oh do anything. I don't care." Because you do care. Don't lie to yourself or the stylist. At my Redken training they told us if a client says this, offer them an inverse mohawk, buzzed right down the center and then watch their face. If you can't think exactly of what you want start thinking about generalities you DON'T want. Start with the loose stuff, long, short, layers, one length, bangs, no bangs. You'll start to build up an idea of what you want and you'll also be giving your stylist some parameters to work within. 

2. a. The inverse of the above situation. If you know you are VERY picky, that's ok, but have a concrete visual of what you want. If you feel strongly about things you want/don't want but can't completely visualize or describe what those things are, chances are, your stylist won't be able to either. They're really only going off of what you're saying after all. Bring a pic, or a couple pics if you like different aspects of different cuts. If you can't find anything at all that remotely fits what you want and you can't visualize it to describe it properly, if it's stuck in your imagination as a theoretical style rather than a practical one... well, it may stay there, because your hair is practical. It must obey the law of gravity, and live in this crude physical plane of existence we call reality... :( I know.  So limiting.

3. Pictures are great! In the world of haircuts a picture really is worth 1000 words. Here are some tips when selecting. Observe the hair texture of the individual. Is it similar to yours? If it's vastly different, it's a safe bet that even with the exact same cut by the exact same stylist it's not going to look the same. How about face shape? If the person in the picture has a very long rectangular face but you have a very short circular face, the cut may not flatter you as much. Is it real? Seems like a strange question but if you know for sure the person in the picture has extensions or is wearing a wig, or is a animated character (yes that situation has sat in my chair...) know that your hair will not behave the same way. 

4. Be willing to look like you went to a new stylist. It's so common to hear, but sadly insulting to say "well the person I used to go to did it like ....  and I really liked it. Do it that way." Every stylist is in the service industry and it is their job to attempt to serve you as best they can, but they are also artists and their cuts and styles are as unique as a signature. They are of course capable of recreating a previous cut, however it may not look IDENTICAL to what you had before. But just as two painters can both elegantly capture the same image on canvas with vastly different styles, so can two different stylists create the same cut that is unique to their hands and creativity. Keep in mind you chose to go somewhere else for a change, so be open to it. 

5. Try to use words during your description or when they're cutting, that only have one interpretation. Don't use words like "more" or "less" instead say "shorter" or "longer."  Avoid being ambiguous by saying things like "mid-length" or "over there" or "that part". Show them with your hands exactly where and what you mean.  And most importantly if you don't like what they're doing, communicate that, but be able to take a moment and verbalize what you don't like. Your stylist will most likely try to figure out what it is as well by discussing with you, so work with them. A problem is rarely solved by merely stating that it exists.

6. A handy lexicon. One of the most irritating facets of salon culture is that in it's continuing mission to seem ever more like a science, they have created a number of terms that stylists are instructed to use at all times but customers have no clue what the hay-hay they're referring to. Talk about creating problems. So here a few you may hear and what they mean.

Cosmetologist = Hair Stylist

Fringe = Bangs

Texturizing = Using the Thinning Scissors

Shears = Scissors

Graduation = Layers

Inversion = Longer in front than in the back

Asymmetrical = Longer on one side than the other

Point cutting = Using Scissors to cut into the hair with a very slight diagonal angle. Deep point cutting thins out the hair and helps it to be flatter/smoother.  Point cutting a whole cut can be done in place of a razor to create a softer/shaggier cut. The cuts are much smaller than with the deep point cutting. 

Bulk = Unruly volume.

Lay/ Lie = how a stylist wants the finished hair to behave.  

After my most recent donation.

For example here's the same description of deep point cutting in cosmetology-eese:  A cutting technique applied to horizontally graduated subsections. It allows the hair to lay better by reducing bulk and adding texture.  

(Here are a few for hair coloring too:

Decolorant/Lightener = Bleach

Retouch = Applying color to the hair closest to the scalp or "regrowth"

Refresh = Applying semi/demi permanent color to the mid-shaft and ends of hair that have already been colored once, but may have since faded.

No stylist will ever refer to color as dye. Dye is for Easter eggs, color is for hair. There's also a very good chance your stylist will NOT have a working knowledge of the "best" supermarket brands of color. Salon color is vastly different-- far superior-- from box color and every color line is a little like it's own language. A Wella artist may not speak Matrix and vise versa.)

Next time you visit a new stylist or want to try a new cut think about this list. I feel confident it will create a more positive experience for both you and your stylist :)

BKBTY

Recipe Channa Masala

Stewed Chickpeas (YOM)

My mother loves this dish and frequently buys it at the grocery store prepared foods bar. I was...underwhelmed...by the MASSIVE amounts of oil that it seemed to be swimming in and also interested by how quickly (mere minutes) they whipped some up for her on a day it wasn't a featured dish. (cough, from a packet, cough cough) So of course like a lady on a mission, I was determined to make this for my mama fresh, from scratch, and NOT swimming in oil (aka digestable for us sensitive tummies.) I found a really great recipe at slate.com that I altered only slightly. It tasted slightly over spiced fresh out of the pot, but I have to say over the next 24 hours the chickpeas really absorbed a lot of flavor, so this, like cake, is best made the day before serving. I agree with the article that one really needs both the Channa masala spice mixture and then the amchoor. The Indian spice vendor at our farmer's market cautiously asked me if I had used both and then happily reaffirmed that they are both needed for the correct flavors to set up. (on a separate note she suggested Gobi Paratha as a alternative to Aloo, and I just might have to try that!) Also start with dried beans. or you will end up with Channa Mushala = no good.

Ingredients:

 1 lb dried chickpeas

1/4 cup organic virgin coconut oil

1 tbsp cumin seeds

2  med. onions

1 1/2 tsp turmeric

2 serano chiles

8 cloves garlic

3" ginger

8 Roma tomatoes

2 tbsp  channa masala spice

1 tbsp garam masala*

1 tbsp ground cumin

1 tsp raw honey

1 lemon

3/4 tsp amchoor powder

cilantro for garnish

salt to taste

Directions:

1. Allow chickpeas to soak over night in a water bath. Water should not only cover chickpeas but go a few inches above. They absorb A LOT of H2O...

2. The next day strain the garbanzos and in a large pot or dutch oven add more water and bring to a boil. Cook on med-high for about 1.5 hours. Salt to taste.

3. While this is cooking get your choppin' knife and get working on your onions, tomatoes, and chiles. No particular size needed, the tomatoes stew and fall apart, onions meh, about chickpea size-ish. Chiles, mince, P.A.T.Y. And get out that food processor for your garlic and ginger. You can do those by hand as well finely chopped but if you have the option...do the processor. Also this is a good time to measure out your spices, and juice that lemon to have those at hand.

4. In another large pot or if you're lucky something like this melt your oil. Add cumin seeds and wait 30 sec. Add your onions and a pinch of salt. Cook for a couple minutes until they are soft but not brown.

5. Add turmeric and chiles and cook for another 3-5 min.

6. Add the ginger and garlic then cook another 3-5 min.

7. Add tomatoes, channa masala spice, garam masala, cumin, and honey. Cover and cook for about 30 min.

Note: Keep a good wooden spoon handy for stirring throughout this process. If you have one dedicated to spiced foods, use it. It will get stained by the spices. Never however, use metal on metal, and be careful about anything plastic or rubber + heat. It may keep out smells or stains better, but read thoroughly when buying to prevent leached hormones and chemicals (shudder.) If you have expensive wooden spoons you don't want turmeric-ed up I suggest ikea or target for some simple bamboo spoons. I love mine and my bamboo cutting board. <3

8. When both the sauce and chickpeas have finished their cooking time pour 1 cup of the cooking water from the chickpeas into the sauce. If you prefer a smooth sauce (like the tomato yogurt masala) you can immersion blend your sauce at this point. otherwise it will be more like a chunky stew. Both delicious, your call. Strain the rest and add cooked chickpeas to the sauce. Simmer between 5-10 min. Add lemon juice and amchoor. Taste for salt, garnish with cilantro. (I love cilantro and usually add a good handful rough chopped!)

ENJOY! or refrigerate for 24 and then ENJOY!

one could use 3/4 of the amount of spices if one wanted to immediately enjoy but I think the chickpeas benefit flavor wise from resting in the sauce as well.

* garam masala

1 tbsp ground cloves

1 tbsp ground cinnamon

2 tsp cardamon

1 tsp fine ground black pepper

a healthy pinch cumin

BKBTY

I'm Back....

Wedding Pics

Well that feels like it was a very long time -- which was fantastic for me (tee hee) but a long time to go without posting. (Sworry) As promised here are some photos of the bride and her bridal party. My main products used were Temptu airbrush foundation, blush, and bronzer. I used the Sephora Smokey Studio II, I reviewed for eye shadow and lip gloss. Kryolan's Lip Rouge mini-palette in classic matte for lipstick and everyone's makeup was set with Ben Nye translucent face powder. Hair was styled on a budget (mostly bobby pins and a prayer there) but some Aquanet did come in quite handy :) ****All Photos Copyright "Matchstick Photography" July 2013*****

 Again for large images click on any of the thumbnails and you can view all the images like an album :)

 BKBTY

Drugstore Pics.

Mascara for the Masses!!!

Most of the beauty products I review and recommend do tend to be pricier and a little more pro line based. Today however, it's makeup to the people!!! I want to pay due reverence to a real work horse of my makeup kit. Maybelline Great Lash Mascara. A grocery store/drugstore superstar, I always have at least two unopened in my kit at all times. It is regularly voted a top pic by Allure, Glamour, Cosmo.... Depending on the store you purchase it from, it usually costs between $4-5, and it's a really great product. I won't say it's superior to Dior or Givenchy but if 1. you don't find that you use mascara all

that often, there is NO reason to spend more than $10 on it. And 2. if you, like myself, need to apply product to multiple people, it's super to have on hand. In general, someone forgets to bring some, or what they have is a million years old/almost gone/clumpy- you get the idea. And as one NEVER shares mascara it's easy and cheap to provide an actor/bride/model with their own tube for the duration of the shoot/event. It will neither break your bank account nor your client's or production's budget. The water proof is true to it's name and while the non-waterproof runs a bit, you must be warm/oily to really get any raccoon eyes. If you do, a tissue wipes it away easily.

One of my absolute favorite aspects about this product line, which inspired me to write this post, is their clear formulation. Yes, they make clear mascara. A couple of ladies yesterday were unaware they did, and seemed interested in acquiring some of their own. I buy a baggie of disposable mascara wands and use a tube for all my clients. You can use it as a very sheer coverage lash mascara, for the most casual of events, if you have very full lashes that just need a little direction,

or if you have very fair lashes and find that browns and blacks are too startling or dramatic to wear everyday. What I like to use it for best however is eyebrow gel. Once brows are trimmed and filled in, a good gel helps unruly hairs to stay in place and helps to set the brow filling makeup.

As to wand preference, I personally stick with the fuzzy brush, typical of disposable wands, 90's brands, and store applicators. I have a lot of problems with combs and balls clumping and smudging.

Something to check out next time you need new mascara (every three to five months if you use daily, folks.)

BKBTY

Somebody's Getting Married!!!!!!

Mission Accomplished <3

Yup I'm startin' this post with a video. Perhaps in a way to apologize for my two day absence, but mostly because I'm just so darn jazzed about the nuptials I attended yesterday. As those of you who follow my blog know, this weekend I was a bridesmaid and hair & makeup artist for my college best friend and roomie. It was a beautiful day, and I was able to pull off my morning marathon of six updos and makeup apps in as many hours. (with 15 min to spare. WHAAAAAAT?!?!!?!! yeah I'm jazzed about that too...) Sometimes it pays to be anal retentive and an over planner.....  The ladies were, and looked, awesome, with pics coming soon to share. It was a beautimus day with fantastic people and I couldn't more pleased with how everything went (aside from the 30 seconds when my air compressor wasn't starting in the morning = me almost having a heart attack.) I'll not veer too off topic into my personal life on this blog, but needless to say I am back, feeling refreshed (!), and happy for one of the best people I know, and her new Mr. 

BKBTY

Bye Bye Google Reader

Blog Lovin'

Well folks, with the demise of Google Reader, if you need one place to read all your fav blogs without jumping around try Blog Lovin'. I just added BKBTY and hope that makes it easier for you to read my newest posts with your other blog check ups ;)

Product Updates!

Delicious New Flavors!!!!

Just a brief update about a couple of my fav products I've mentioned on this page. Kevita has two new lemon cayenne "cleanse" and a lime mint coconut "mojita." I haven't tried the cleanse, mostly because I prefer the flavors that also contain coconut water. I HAVE tried the mojita and it's awesome. Perfect for summer, and a great addition at a party if you abstain from alcohol, or if you like dehydrating while rehydrating you could add a little rum right in there and have yourself a lazy man's mojito ;)

flavors, a

The second are new ice cream bars in the no sugar added So Delicious line. Mini no sugar added fudge bars and mini no sugar added vanilla bars. I just tried the

vanilla bars, -- little vanilla coconut ice cream bars enrobed in no sugar added chocolate. Oh man. Heaven. So good. They come 4 to a pack and are little, so they're such a perfect size for that afternoon sweet tooth and great for sharing. They also help me with my biggest problem, eating an entire pint of coconut ice cream in one sitting because oh man its gets so melty and puffy and I can't stop. These are nicely pre-parceled out into the correct proportion and the rest won't be getting melty and irresistible. Yet.

Two perfect additions for summer time fun, try some out this weekend while you wander around the Bastille Day celebrations and intense Boules competitions!!!!!

BKBTY

A Pedi- Cure.

Beware A Dirty Tub....

As I prepare for this upcoming wedding, I'm giving myself a pedicure tonight, and I thought I would share some of my insider knowledge about NYS regulations for pedicure sanitation. I hope it helps to protect you from infection and disease, because (sadly) they're horrifyingly more rampant that you think.

When picking a salon, know that price may be directly proportional to quality of painting, but not always to sanitation. Some extremely high end salons are the culprits behind transmitting pernicious fungal or bacterial infections, and irritatingly just because you are going to an expensive salon doesn't mean you're going to a responsible salon. So what the fish, right? Well NYS law requires that all implements either be 1. fully sanitized, that is washed with soap and water, then 2. Immersed in barbisol or other full spectrum disinfectant for at least ten minutes, then 3. Rinsed before use on another person. OR 1. Completely disposable and 2. A new fresh implement be used for each client. It also requires that all pedicure tubs be thoroughly disinfected between uses. That means wiping down with spray disinfectant, refilling the tub with water, and more disinfectant, then running the jets for a few minutes between each guest. It may sound like a lot of work but can actually be accomplished whilst the polishing portion of the pedicure is taking place. If you are able to observe the pedi area before committing (while getting your hair cut, or something simple like a paraffin dip) to a nail appointment, see if they do this. If they just use a rag, or rinse out the tub, DON'T go there. Salons are also required to run each tub through with hospital grade disinfectant or bleach at the end of the day for 10 to 20 min. This is so the jets can cycle through with cleaner, as they're the hardest to get at, AND (this is a biggy) every salon must give their nail artists the right to deny service to individuals with nails that look, well, suspicious. Sorry if that seems harsh, but it's ethics 101. Deny 1 person service so that many others can have safe feet. So it's a good sign if your nail tech wants to look at your feet before service commences, or you're allowed to put your feet in the tub. Don't be offended, be relieved, it means they're paying attention and being alert. 

So why don't more places follow these regulations? Easy, one word, turnover. The word that, in my personal opinion, is responsible for every poor salon experience ever. Get 'em in get 'em out, get more customers in a day, get more $$$. This is why I say pricier salons are not always cleaner. They want money, clearly, and they can rush things in order to get it. They see the cleaning process as time and money wasted, and cut down the allotted window a technician is given to complete a pedicure. This rushes the nail tech and good cleaning becomes impossible. 

Where can you go to ensure proper nail etiquette? Remember than inversely proportional thing I was talking about? Sometimes the least expensive places are the cleanest, --and no I'm not referring to that place down the street that smells like acetone and formaldehyde. I mean going to a school, or doing it yourself, can be the safest option. Schools are training students to be able to pass NYS licensing exams, and there's both written and practical elements involved. A huge part of that practical examination is sanitation. 

I say this as someone with her cos license, if your technique is the best they've ever seen, but you are dirty, you will fail. Conversely if your technique isn't great yet, but you are very clean, you will pass. Point being, schools are teaching to this, so if you want to get that tub experience, sometimes a school is the best bet. Students have to fully complete sanitation for each guest, or their GPA goes down the shampoo bowl and they can't graduate and take their exams. Yes they get graded, it's more serious than people think, especially if it's a school one can book an appt at. The other choice, do it at home. Get a nice hot bath or foot tub and soak away. Exfoliate, scrub, buff, and trim til your heart's content, or trade off with a loved one for the leg massage. Still need it to look like a pro painted your nails? Keep in mind many salons offer something call a polish change. This is like a pedicure without the pedicure. They just take off the old laquer and put on some new. This means if you want to take care of the part that would be in the tub, they can apply the color for you and it will look all even and pretty. 

So remember look to see if your tech is examining your feet before the procedure, and scope out if they run the tub a second time with cleaning solution during your polishing portion. If it seems like this isn't happening, don't risk it. It's WAY more of a hassle to pay to see a podiatrist, and be put on strong meds, and lose your nails, and then have to wait for them to grow back, than it is to give yourself a home pedi. 

BKBTY

Crazy Times

An Apology in Advance

Have you ever been a starting out blogger faced with the reality of little to no internet connection for twelve days??? Yeah that's kinda where I stand now. I'm upstate for a wedding and will be spending much of my time in a small country house kinda in the middle of no where in terms of internet, phone, cable.....I will try MY BEST to continue to cater to you guys. I'll DEFINITELY be doing a lot of cooking and will have access to a better camera, so expect a good amount of food blogging and hopefully some wedding makeup insights. But I whole heartedly apologize if 48 hrs pass and there aren't any new posts. It's not for lack of wanting, but merely lack of internet....It is only temporary however, so no fear about that. This might be a perfect segue though to thank everyone who has been reading and liking and sharing on Facebook, Twitter, Blogger. It's been very encouraging to see my readership go from 20 views a day to over 100 in only a couple weeks! Thank you all so much!!!!

BKBTY

A Taste of Heaven.

Recipe: Tomato Masala Sauce

This one is seriously a fav of anyone I make it for. If you’ve ever tried to imagine food fit for the gods, seriously fresh homemade masala sauce must be one them. I’ve swapped out the heavy cream and tomato paste, and like all my adapted Indian recipes, this is one you don’t have to feel like you need to dietarily splurge on or save up for. This can be a daily topper to veggies, rice, or if you choose, chicken, as that’s its traditional usage.

Ingredients:

8 Roma Tomatoes

1 cup water

2 tbsp organic coconut oil (unrefined)

1 tbsp chopped bell pepper (color doesn’t super matter. I like green.)

1 tbsp unfiltered apple cider vinegar

1 cup organic (or raw) yogurt* 

1 jalapeno or serrano chile

7 cloves garlic 

2 1/2 inches fresh ginger

1 tsp garam masala

pinch cayenne

1 tsp salt

2 tsp smoky paprika

1 tsp fenugreek seeds

fresh cilantro to garnish

Directions:

1. Chop all the tomatoes and mince the chile put them into a large pot with water, 1/2 cup of the yogurt, coconut oil, salt, paprika, cayenne, and garam masala.
2. Food process bell pepper, garlic, ginger, and vinegar. Add to pot.
3. Over medium high heat start cooking mixture bring to boil then reduce heat to medium low.
4. Cook for 15 to min until tomatoes are stewed and about half of the water has evaporated.
5. Add fenugreek and cook for another 5 min.
6. With an immersion blender or in a food processor blend hot mixture until the tomatoes and skins have become a smooth sauce. Like a very thick tomato soup.
7. Place back in pan and add second 1/2 cup yogurt.
8. Garnish with fresh cilantro. (I usually add a rough chopped handful as well.

ENJOY!!!!!

*You can use a reduced fat yogurt if you wish but fat free just does not work with this recipe, so full fat, or reduced only. Otherwise, without the fat molecules there is nothing to bind the yogurt and you end up with small curds and whey.
** Garam Masala
1 tbsp cinnamon
1 tbsp cloves
3/4 tbsp cardamom
1/4 tbsp finely ground black pepper
1 pinch ground cumin

BKBTY

Ramadan Mubarak!

Ok I'm a Couple Days Behind...

Sorry, I do try to be timely with greetings, I've honestly had quite a lot on my plate - but more of that later... For all those observing, Happy Ramadan, or Ramadan Mubarak :) I send all my best your way as I know this is a tough time of year to fast, given the long hours of daylight and the very high temps. Random fact, the last time Ramadan was in July was 1980 apparently! I hope that this time of introspection and reflection is fruitful and peaceful for you and your loved ones. Assalamu Alaikom.

BKBTY