I have been thinking a lot lately about starting to purchase cookbooks for my Kindle, but the ones I really want are not available.  Boo.  I have been reading a lot about the mibook (pronounced ‘my book’) – which seems to maybe take the “cookbook on Kindle” idea a step (or 5) further.  With the slim 7 inch mibook, you can watch video demos of your recipes, with the ability to work along, step by step.  Hmm…

I am not sure of a few things with the mibook that are holding me off from running right out to buy one:

1.  I am not sure if it would be annoying.  “First, chop this celery into 92,000,000 pieces” – it shows you how to do it, then the video stops and waits for you.

2.  I am not sure of the content itself.  I am not a picky eater, but how many recipes are going to really be good, or food that my family would enjoy?  The Food Network is one of their partners, and Lord knows I do fix a lot of recipes from them, so this is probably good. 

3.  Is the content “dumbed down” too much for the general public?  Will I actually get something from this?  I know how to chop celery, I don’t need a video demo to show me how.

So, the mibook currently has 25 cooking titles (think cookbooks), and will soon have 100.  Along with cooking, they also cover home and garden, parenting and travel, all subjects which I could envision video being awfully nice to have.  Maybe the travel destination guidebooks most of all.  So anyway, I am definitely intrigued.

The mibook is available at a number of retailers (Bed, Bath & Beyond, Bon Ton, Borders to name a few), and the MSRP is $129.99, with the individual titles (SD cards) costing $19.95 each. 

This hasn’t become a need for me yet, but I can see it becoming one.  I am in hopes they have a demo at Bed, Bath & Beyond that I can check out….  Have you seen one?

I am a big girl too – probably about the same size as Ms. Meyer, and I know, without the help of a stylist, to never, EVER wear horizontal stripes.  I won’t even buy them in pajamas.

And while I am griping here, I have issues with the movie stars too.  Kristen Stewart I think is a GORGEOUS girl.  I have seen her at other events recently where she looked absolutely amazing.  I have looked and looked for a picture that she looks good in from this premiere, but there are none. She looks dreadful, from the hair, to the jewelry to the dress to her legs and shoes. Sorry.

And even my beloved Robert Pattinson. 

Where is that amazing hair?? He looks better than the rest (ok, I *might* be biased a little), but just not fantastic at all. What on earth is wrong with these people?  Did they fire their stylists just before the biggest night of their lives???

In the box is:

• Definicils Pro Mascara (full size) – LOVE this mascara
• Cils Booster XL Mascara Base
• Maquicomplete Concealer
• Twi Le Rouge Absolu LipColours (full size)
• Color Design Lipcolor (full size)
• Color Fever Shine Lip Shine (full size)
• Juicy Tubes Jelly Lip Gloss
• Juicy Tubes Smoothie Lip Gloss (these are not full size, but are still a good quantity of product)
• Color Design 7 Eye Shadow Compact (great current colors)
• Blush Subtil Powder Blush Duo
• Bi-Facil Eye Makeup Remover (full size) – LOVE this
• Renergie Microlift R.A.R.E. Cream
• 3 piece Brush Set
• Lancome (cute!) Signature Train Case

To get this beauty box, have $36 or more in your shopping cart, and enter promo code BEAUTYBOX at checkout.  Remember this is a PURCHASE WITH PURCHASE, and this will cost $49.50, but you are getting $339 worth of product.  This would be a fab Christmas gift – IF you can bear to give it away. 

Yup, I know its Tuesday.  You wouldn’t believe the real life madness going on at my place – just one of those times you wish you could crawl in a hole and go to sleep til its all over.  But, this too shall pass.  :)  I hope life is calm and cool where you are!  Here is the week in review from the amazing network of beauty blogs that is The

The Makeup Divas reviews a unique facial product and a truly blissful body treat from The Body Deli.

A Touch of Blusher takes you through highlights from the last 12 months.

Beauty Anonymous is interested in checking out the MAC Hello Kitty Collection.

Beautiful Makeup Search is giving away over $400 in beauty products in her Beautyfix Giveaway. Have you entered yet?

Aging Beautiful has a review of the must-have neck cream from Dr. Perricone, called PerriconeMD Firming Neck Therapy.

Beauty Junkie in SF is loving Bioelements Equalizer used on the set of her favorites TV shows. It makes her feel fresh and glamorous at the same time.

Lilan from The Daily Cookie loves Bobbi Brown’s new Copper Diamond Collection and recreates the look with Bobbi’s Velvet Plum Eye Palette.

Raging Rouge is loving Cremesheen lipstick by MAC.

Girl Gloss found a new favorite lip gloss in the Cargo Blu_ray High Definition Lip Gloss Quad.

Beauty411 takes a look at MAC’s Passions of Red Holiday Collection!

Elke shares her reviews of Beautyfix.com latest product offerings.

The Beauty Blog Network welcomes it’s newest member!

ThisThatBeauty, and Sephora help you spend $25 or less on holiday gift giving.

Toya of The Life of A Ladybug invites you to join the Old Favorites Challenge!

All Lacquered Up discovers Barielle’s newest nail polish collection, Fall Affair, including a gorgeous GREEN shimmer.

The girls over at Beauty in Real Life have 5 copies of celebrity makeup artist, Carmindy’s latest book to giveaway. Click here to get all the info!

Glossypink reveals an eyeliner that’s especially pretty for brown eyes!

Christina Loves… learning about technology in her beauty products!

Makeup Moxie feels a new obsession coming on — Blush: The Search for the Next Great Makeup Artist.

Photo of MAC Pro Store 7 West 22nd Street, NYC © Christina Jones 2008

MAC Cosmetics has been at the top of my list of loves almost since their inception.  My best girlfriend introduced me to them *oh so* long ago.  You wouldn’t believe the stash she had then – and I bet mine rivals hers now.  I of course adore their eyeshadows, and my favorite new products from MAC are the Dazzleglass lipglosses (amazing!) and their Mineralize Mineral Foundation.  Delish!

About MAC Cosmetics:

MAC was born in Toronto in 1985 by makeup artist/photographer Frank Toskan and hairdresser/entrepreneur Frank Angelo.  Similarly to other professional brands (which always seem to be my favorites, for what that’s worth), MAC was born out of a need to have better looking makeup for professional photography.  Their original company motto was “All ages, all races, all sexes,” demonstrating their desire to make each unique and diverse person on the planet the ability to look better.

MAC came into popularity strictly by word of mouth, preferring that marketing method over expensive advertising.  Their packaging has always remained simple and professional, not flashy and complicated.  They are known for their dizzying array of colors and their fashion forward seasonal selections.

While MAC caters to the professional artists, as they have gained much recognizance via fashion designers and celebrity makeup artists and their work, they also have succeeded in attracting a huge fan base of regular people who make the effort to seek out their department store counters as well as their many stand alone stores.

Growth of the MAC Brand and Acquisition by Estee Lauder Companies

MAC’s first foray into the United States was through the Henri Bendel department store, where they were in tremendous demand.  The sales associates were trained makeup artists, clad in dramatic black, and the customers couldn’t get enough of them.  They opened their first standalone store in Greenwich Village in 1991, at which point demand for the product overwhelmed Angelo and Toskan, and a huge black market for MAC products overseas ensued.  With their desire to expand their company, as well as keep up with/create the trends, they soon found themselves with not enough time on their hands.

William Lauder, of Estee Lauder Companies, discovered MAC and saw its tremendous potential as a leader of a new category of cosmetic brands.  In 1994, Estee Lauder bought 51% of MAC Cosmetics for $38 million, with the intent to purchase the other 49% eventually.  With the death of Frank Angelo in 1997 of a sudden heart attack, Frank Toskan sold the remainder of the company to Estee Lauder in 1998, for approximately $60 million, and subsequently resigned from the company.

Estee Lauder has done a fantastic job keeping Toskan and Angelo’s unique vision at the forefront, and MAC remains one of the top rated, loved and successful cosmetics brands in the world today.

MAC AIDS Fund

MAC has been at the forefront of charity work towards recognizance and education about AIDS since 1994 with its widely known program Viva Glam program (which donates 100% of sales to its own MAC AIDS Fund).  This has been one of the most widely known and successful charities – it is promoted in a much more aggressive manner than their regular cosmetics line, and is represented by some of the most bold celebrities each year.  MAC also operates Kids Helping Kids - greeting cards created by children with HIV/AIDS and sold each holiday season.  To date the MAC AIDS Fund has raised more than $100 million for AIDS education, awareness and support of AIDS patients, and is one of the reasons that many people, both employees and customers hold MAC so closely in their heart.

• 55 Secret Street is impressed with the Rachel Roy-designed beauty case for Beauty.com that comes loaded with deluxe and full-sized beauty products!
• A Few Goody GumDrops is drooling over the all diamond necklace from Mauboussin!
• Just in time for the holidays, Stiletto Jungle found Spanx on sale for 40% off.
• All About the Pretty winter skin routine has a new Solution.
• Allie is Wired features the 10 most powerful celebrity babies.
• Bag Snob exclusive: The Soleil from Valentino Shopping Couture Bags!
• Beauty Snob interviews make up guru Bobbi Brown!
• Coquette loves the new trend of gray nails.
• Fashion Pulse lives to tell the tale of the Comme des Garcons debut at H&M — was or was it NOT worth getting pushed and shoved by aggressive fashionistas?
• Fashion, evolved interviews Sara Suemae, the founder and designer of the eco-fabulous line SPUN.
• The Fashionable Housewife is loving the Norma Kamali Line At Wal Mart
• KRISTOPHER is wanting, using, and hating Ralph Lauren bags on sale.
• Ladybrille declares Yaye Marie Ba its Ladybrille Woman of the Month!
• Second City Style takes you ringside for another bout of Celebrity Style Smackdown!
• Shopping and Info loves the style of Kate Moss.
• Find out what to wear in any situation with StyleBakery’s secrets of effortless chic
• Don’t think fleece can be chic? Think again! Stylehive has found the 10 most fashionable fleece pieces to warm up your style this winter.
• The Beauty Stop asks, "can you wash away wrinkles?"
• The Shoe Goddess is obsessed with Giuseppe Zanotti’s Christmas 2008 limited-edition sandal!

Do tell me you know about the heavenly chocolate that is Meiji Meltykiss.  If you do, then I am happy to announce this winter’s selections:  Creamy Chocolate, Fruity Strawberry and Dark Rum.  Yum.

If you don’t know about the magical Melty kiss – its time to learn.  My friend Hsien turned me on to them a couple years back when I was writing about chocolate.  They. Are. A-mazing.  Small cubes of the most delicious melt in your mouth flavored chocolates you ever tasted.  Each year they produce three flavors, and three flavors only and the hot one (there is always a super hot one) sells out FAST.  Ill bet you this years hottie is going to be Dark Rum.  I can almost taste it.  Last years was green tea, and while it was actually my least favorite of the flavors (Raspberry always wins hands down), it was still amazing.  

I shudder to even think how many boxes we went through last year – my girlfriend brought me – oh - about 15 packages.  You see, I can’t get Meltykiss around here – not at any of the Asian supermarkets that I can find anyway.  I order from Amazon, or rely on my nearest and dearest to take care of me. 

They are not showing up on Amazon yet, but Ill update when they do.  After I place my order.  Mwahaha!

This Beauty Micrometer measures your face for flaws and inconsistencies, so that you know where to apply corrective makeup to make your nose look straighter, your jaw look more oval, and God knows what else.  

Image: ebaumsworld

File this under “While We Are Talking About Frankenbeauty:”

You may have seen news reports popping up here again in the last week about nanotechnology used in cosmetics.  Why is it in the news?  Well, because apparently there are a number of companies that don’t want to reveal that they use it.  I wanted to explore this a little more, so here are my findings. 

What is Nanotechnology?

Nanotechnology, in a most basic easy to understand definition, is the ability that we now have to take materials down to, and build them up from their atomic form.  This means that we are working with the tiniest of particles and have the ability to really create new substances with them.  These particles are measured in nanometers, hence the term, nanotechnology.

What does that have to do with beauty?

Well, the idea is that with the advent of nanotechnology, we will be able to build better, more effective cosmetic preparations. Nanotechnology is used in a huge array of different things, but we are focusing on beauty preparations here, both because it is our *thing* and because the latest news revolves around skin care and cosmetics.  This technology is used to make longer lasting fragrances, anti-aging potions that actually work and sunscreens that are even more effective. 

So… Whats the Problem with Nanotechnology?

The problem, and the reason that nanotechnology keeps showing up in sensational news items, is that these new preparations that are formed on the molecular level have not been around long enough to properly test their safety.  What makes you look great right now could negatively affect your cells on a molecular level (your DNA?) later on down the road.

It is interesting to note as you think about nanotechnology - using materials at this miniscule size can change the expected properties of the materials  For example:

• Collections of gold particles can appear orange, purple, red, or greenish, depending upon the specific size of the particles making up the sample.
• Carbon atoms in the form of a nanotube exhibit tensile strengths 100 times that of steel and can be either metallic or semiconducting depending on their configuration.
• Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, common ingredients in sun screen, both appear white when made of macro particles. But when the particles are ground to the nanoscale, they appear translucent. [source]

The main concern is that private cosmetics companies are not required by law to publish their safety research, meaning that we don’t have a clue how much testing has been done, OR what the results of such testing are.  Nor are companies required to label their goods to let us know that nanotechnology is being used.  We have to trust that the companies that we love are taking good care of us. 

My Take Away

My take away from this reminds me that I am a proponent of a free enterprise system.  I do business with people I trust, and I don’t do business with those that I don’t.  And I trust in the “mart of competitive commerce” (do I quote Oh Brother Where Art Thou too much?) that will cause untrustworthy businesses to fail.  I could go into why bailing out companies is a bad idea, but I will spare you that economic drivel today.  (I hear you saying *whew*)

So does it bug me that, when asked, only 17 of 67 companies responded at all regarding the use of nanotechnology in their products?  Yep, a little.  After all, I also believe that where there is smoke, there is fire.  And if this was amazing and wonderful technology, why not shout off the rooftops that you are using it, and rub it into your competitors faces?  Food for thought.  That is how free enterprise is supposed to work.  But, I too am looking for the fountain of youth, and am fully in support of new technology that will get us there.  I mean, we can work with materials of this size – why can’t I get rid of that big ass wrinkle on my forehead???

Here are some resources for you to start to read and understand yourself:

• Wikipedia
• US Congress Report on Nanotechnology (2006 - PDF)
• Which? (the company who published the report who started all of this most recent chatter about nanotechnology
• The Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies
• Nanocafes.org (This is a huge list of links to all sorts of beauty/nanotech articles dating back for the last 2 years.  I’ll not even try to compete with this.  If you are really into this topic, definitely spend a few hours poking around here)

Have you thought about this at all?  I’d sure love to know your thoughts.  If you knew that a product was created using nanotechnology, would that make you buy it, or not buy it?  Hmm.  Lets do a poll.

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