Tuesday, January 12, 2010

How do I edit this thing?

Oh yes. These were the humbling words that I had to utter to Allyson Stagg this very afternoon. Why? Because it's been a second since I blogged. I know that you have noticed my absence and I sincerely apologize. For those of you who have forgotten me I am the other half of The Las Vegas Style Sirens. My name is Lauren Gardiner. My title is Chief Operating Officer. I have blonde hair and blue eyes and I like long walks on the Vegas strip....Just joking!! Who likes to walk the strip? Barfasaurus Rex. I wish that handing out pornography on greasy little pamphlets was not protected under the first ammendment, but our Founding Fathers in their wisdom have made it protected speech just like our delightful little blog. Thank you very much sirs that I can upset as many people as I like with this medium!!

On to more important things. I'd like to discuss the difference between "demanding excellence" and being a "picky biznatch". Allyson and I are known for our quest for perfection. It's what we strive for in every aspect of our lives. We know that it is impossible to achieve, but that does not negate the fun and adventure of the persute. However we also are very careful not to think that we know everything and persede to step on others toes and tell them how to do their jobs. I am here to draw a clear line in the sand on this issue. If you find yourself on the picky bitch side then please apologize immediately and we will forgive you.

For example as a makeup artist I consider it the absolute end of days when a woman (or man) tells me how to blend eyeshadow or apply lipliner or how to draw eyebrows. Do you mean to tell me that you are paying me a large sum of money to do a job that you so clearly could so much better than I? No. You are in my chair because you don't know the first thing about blending or appyling or drawing! And if you are one of those who thinks that they do let me just be the first one to tell you that in fact you do not. Your eyebrows are atrocious. Your lipliner is straight out of 1992 (chestnut and bubbles fans) and black and white eyeshadow don't blend together. They turn a hideous shade of grey. This is picky. And rude.

Demanding excellence is when I go to my hair dresser and require that there be not a spot of yellow in my perfectly white hair, that they use the toner that I request (because I spent the past ten years searching for the perfect one dang it!), and that my very mod bob is cut straight.

There's the line folks. Pick a side. Do not every presume to tell a professional how to do their job. If you do that says only 2 things about you. You did not do your research and therefore are not comfortable with the level of excellence that your vendor can provide you (which makes you dense since their is a wealth of information out there) and that you are a jerk face. We didn't start our own businesses providing services for our health! It's hard work and if you think you can do it better go get your own damn license.

Love,
Lauren Gardiner
COO
The Las Vegas Style Sirens
www.LVStyleSirens.com
LVStyleSirens@yahoo.com

Monday, January 11, 2010

Skin Care

I can not even begin to tell you how important skin care is.

I have had so many women come up to me and say "Oh this foundation breaks me out. Oh that foundation breaks me out."

Sorry Ladies, but I am here to call your bluff. I personally do not believe that. If you have an allergy to a certain product, then that is a different story, but a foundation isn't going to cause you to break out. Not cleansing your face properly at night is what causes you to break out.

I am pretty certain that you are probably saying "Oh, but Ally, I wash my face with soap and water at night." I am here to tell you that that is not enough.

Many foundations contain products such as syllicone that are amazing for product wear time, however, it takes much more than a little soap and water to break down your foundation enough to wash off properly.

When you are washing your face at night, you should always start by breaking down your foundation with an oil cleanser. Let me make it very clear that by oil cleanser I DO NOT mean slopping vegetable oil all over your face. I am obsessed with L'Occitane Almond Apple Cleansing Oil. It smells like a green apple... what more can you ask for? I start by squirting a pump or two in my hand and just massaging it into my face to break down all of the makeup. I follow up with with Arbonne's NutriMinC Enzyme peel which I use as my moisturizer at night. You leave it on and wash it off in the morning and in the morning your skin feels like a dream!! It has pineapple extract in it so it smells great and feels like a dream on your skin. It removes all of the dead skin cells and basically gives you a new skin. Do you die? I do.

In the morning I wash my face to remove the enzyme peel. I then apply Arbonne's RE9 eye cream and facial moisturizer. (You will die for the eye cream. It feels like silk and you will probably want to bathe in it. I wouldn't reccomend this, simply because it would be very expensive.)

Obviously my routine isn't right for everyone. I just wanted to give you guys a little example of a few of the appropriate steps you should be taking. Everyone is different so you really have to find what works for you. You need to try different products until you figure out what works for your skin type. Just be sure to not change your products too often, or that could irritate your skin as well.

Also keep in mind that your skin changes with the weather. In the Summer, you will most likely use different skin care products than you use in the Winter. When my skin gets a little dry I swear by Fresh's Sugar Face Scrub and L'Occitane's Face Scrub Mud. Both of these products exfoliate, but they are gentle enough to use on any type of skin even if you are SUPER sensitive like me.

Oh, and please never forget sunscreen. Most products such as foundations and moisturizers actually include them in their formulas now, but always check just to be sure!

And never skip out on water. Hydration is the key to having amazing skin!

xoxox,
Allyson Stagg
CEO of The Las vegas Style Sirens
www.LVStyleSirens.com
LVStyleSirens@yahoo.com

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Good things to come!

Sorry I have been slacking on the blogging.

Things have been so busy lately, and to be quite honest, it doesn't look like they will be slowing down anytime soon! (That is a good thing!) However, lauren and I have made a promise to make blogging a priority. I have promised to blog at least 3 times a week and Lauren will be blogging a whopping 2 times a month. (That is the most I could squeeze out of her, sorry guys.)Maybe if you harrass her enough, she will put her smart ass imput here more often. She doesn't listen to a word I say , but she may listen to you guys.

Last night we were able to attend the Las Vegas Wedding Network meeting at Sienna and it was WONDERFUL! Millie at Sienna did an amazing job. She is so sweet. Andy Ebon (he is most famous for his marketing blog www.TheWeddingMarketingBlog.com) and Debbie Hansen (Producer of the Bridal Spectacular) were the guest speakers and it is always nice to listen to people with so much knowledge! (*SIDE NOTE* Yes Gina and Michael, I seriously only have 6 contacts. No, not 6,000. 6.) Lauren and I had a great time. It is always fun to meet new people. Let me tell you how much I love it when the first thing out of their mouth is "I don't know you, but you're my friend on Facebook..." I love you Facebook. <3

This month we will be busy preparing for the Bridal Spectacular at Cashman Center January 29th and 30th. On the 29th it will be from 6pm to 10pm (Grooms get in free! I know they are STOKED about that) and the 30th will be from 10am to 5pm. There will be 3 fashion shows! Friday it will be at 8pm and Saturday they will be at 12:30pm and 3:00pm. Be sure to check those out. Debbie has been kind enough to put her trust in yours truely and the rest of my Style Sirens to primp the beautiful models for all 3 fashion shows. We are SOOOOO excited beyond words and we have already started planning our looks and we can't wait to show everyone what we are all about.

Oh, and don't forget to stop by our booth and say hi. I will be giving out free hugs that day.

We will also be part of our beloved Memory Lane Videos new promo shoot that will priemiered and showcased at the Bridal Spectacular. That is all I can tell you about that. It is top secret, but I can tell you it is going to be AMAZING. I love those boys. They make my life complete. Their work is breathtaking.

Towards the end of this month and the beggining of next month, we will be collaborating with about 15 other wedding proffesionals to create a style board for the website StyleMePretty.com. This is one of the BEST wedding websites out there and I can't wait to work with everyone including Chelsea Nicole Photography, Randi from Naakiti Floral, Tracy Moore (who has been an angel putting all of this together, Kristen and the beauties of Gimmie Some Sugar Cakes, and Dawn from Coutour Bride, just to name a few of these wonderful vendors that we get to work with. Sorry guys, but this is pretty top secret as well soooo my lips are sealed. ;)

We will also be doing a few shoots with that little beauty Catherine from Weeds Floral and Adam from Artistic Imaging (PS I FINALLY met him and his wife last night and they are a delightful couple. Just a total pleasure to be around.) Can't wait for these. CAN'T WAIT!!

And to top it off I will be taking my first official business trip to San Francisco with Catherine at the end of February. BAM!

So as you all can see, we have a TON of amazing things going on the next few months.

Love you all! Goodnight!

xoxox
Allyson Stagg
CEO of The Las Vegas Style Sirens
www.LVStyleSirens.com
LVStyleSirens@yahoo.com