Why Do Blogs Roll off "Blogs You Might Enjoy with Me"?

Today, I removed a blog - one that I felt was great - from my favorite blogs list, which some call a blog roll.  Why? Because the blog had gone stale. What do I call stale? A blog that hasn't been updated in six months.

I often wonder, "How can someone who was so good just stop writing, without any explanation?" Do they think they went away and no one noticed? I want all those bloggers who have quit to know that I noticed, and I miss you. I'm sorry I had to remove you from my list.

Sometimes, bloggers don't understand their impact. Maybe they don't get many comments. It's possible they just burned out. I felt a need to write to one today, just to say that I left your blog on the list as long as I could. I had hoped you would return. I'm sorry you didn't. I hope you are well.

Photo courtesy of www.chicagonow.com

Meet Our Beauty Blogger Roundup Team - Anne

Anne Houseman is one of the nicest bloggers you'll ever meet. Shortly after she hooked me up with a beauty company, we went together to a makeover event the company was hosting. What a blast! We got beautified by a fabulous makeup artist - always fun. Beyond that, though, we found that we had many common interests. We both love fashion (including shoes!) and great food, among many other things. I felt like I had known her forever. I'm looking forward to our next outing. Now, you get a chance to know her too. Here's Anne from BeautyXposé, in her own words.

When did you start blogging and why?
My blogging partner in crime, Kristin Bassett, and I began BeautyXposé two years ago. At the time, we loved reading individual makeup blogs and beauty/style magazines, so we wanted to create a hybrid of the two, featuring both personal product reviews and editorial-style features. We also wanted to be a little zany. For example, we dedicated one post to creating haiku's to our lost loved ones (discontinued beauty items). Along the way, we've brought on some amazingly talented contributors, and we are pleased to offer our readers a variety of topics!

Every blog seems to have a special voice - what's the message on your blog?
Since we have several contributors, each of us have our own voice. But, I'd have to say that overall we can be quite sassy if the timing's right. Just take a look at any of our "WTF of the Week" columns! I personally have an unhealthy obsession with puns and wordplay, so you'll see a lot of that in my articles.

Have you always been a beauty fanatic or did it come later in life for you? What made it blossom?
I sprang forth from the womb wearing red stilettos and clutching a Glamour magazine. At least that's what they tell me.

Tell us a little about yourself.
I'm kind of Sybil-esque - meaning I have a lot of different sides to my personality that are all really "me." One day my style will be retro pin-up diva, and the next rocker chick. My husband likes the variety, so I guess that's good! Overall though, I think I have a "classic" cosmopolitan feel to my style and beauty preferences.

What's your daily beauty routine?
Given that I'm constantly testing beauty products, it can vary. But if I'm left to my own devices, I start with cleansing using my Clarisonic, toning with Dr. Hauschka Facial Toner, and moisturizing with Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream (in the winter, anyway). If I'm leaving my house (I work from home), I'll apply my makeup, which is really different depending on my mood. What does stay the same - my Estee Lauder Resilience Lift Extreme foundation, Shiseido Bronzer, and Maybelline Colossal Xtreme mascara. Everything else is a crap shoot depending on the day.

How many lipsticks/glosses can be found in your handbag at any given time?
Two, though I try to keep it to one if I can - I switch my glosses as I switch up my purses.

What's the best beauty advice you've ever received?
It's going to sound like a cliché, but it's true - beauty comes from the inside out. I look for the beauty in everyone and everything. It's amazing what you see when you're really looking!

What's the most surprising thing you have learned since starting your blog?
I'm constantly surprised and inspired every time someone comments. It's like "Someone's actually reading this, and I'm not just writing to myself?" I love interacting with readers and hope they keep coming back!

If you haven't visited, BeautyXposé, what are you waiting for? Anne and team always have something interesting to share.

Meet Our Beauty Blogger Roundup Team - Kelly

Every week, I post a Weekend Roundup with exciting features written by our beauty blogging friends. We thought it would be a great idea if you got to know each of us a little better to find out what drives the beauty passion we share. This week, we meet Kelly from Gouldylox Reviews. Kelly is a fellow animal lover, almost a neighbor (she lives in Baltimore), and has great swatch photos. Just last week, I found swatches of a Tarte product that had interested me; I wish I had seen Kelly's review before I placed my order with QVC! I would have purchased it.

Here's Kelly in her own words.

When did you start blogging and why?
I started blogging in 2009 as a way to share my favorite things with my friends. I was always being asked to go to cosmetic counters and stores like Sephora with my friends, so I thought it would be fun to start writing about makeup, hair, and skin care.

Every blog seems to have a special voice - what's the message on your blog?
I love to write about color, but I also love to research ingredients to find out what works and what doesn't. Instead of sounding like a professor, I try to relate to other beauty lovers like their friend. I assume they understand my quirks and goofiness and don't hold it against me. Every now and then my sarcasm, silliness, or oddball comments anger some people. If you're one of them, I'm sorry. My blog probably isn't for you.

I always try to approach makeup like someone who is a serious fan, not someone who is all about fashion and the role that makeup plays in that world. I love drugstore finds, as well as higher-end goods. Don't get me wrong, I love to embrace (or mock) trends, but I don't live or die by the latest words of WWD. I'm more of a real woman, who struggles with things like growing my hair, finding a mascara that actually lengthens my lashes, and the perfect peach blush. It's all an adventure I enjoy writing about and sharing.

Have you always been a beauty fanatic or did it come later in life for you? What made it blossom?
I have loved makeup for as long as I can remember. I was even a makeup artist for a short amount of time at a local spa and did some TV and print work. Nothing makes me more giddy than a good "before and after." Makeup can have a powerful effect on your mood and how you see yourself. It's like having the power to be a chameleon. I am inspired by people and things everywhere. It's fun to have an outlet to build on that inspiration.

Tell us a little about yourself.
I am married with five pets. I watch way too much television, and I produce television ads at my day job. I also founded a non-profit called Karma Dogs, where we help rescue dogs become therapy dogs. They help kids do lots of things, like learn to read, work on goals set by a therapist, and teach kids how to take care of a pet. My ultimate goal would be for the kids who participate in our programs to grow up to be good pet owners.

What's your daily beauty routine?
My beauty routine takes too long, but I truly enjoy the "me" time I spend every morning! I start by washing my face and sometimes using my Clarisonic. I then use two eye creams, a serum, moisturizer, and an SPF. I then usually use between 10-25 different makeup products each morning. The whole shebang (not including the hair) takes about 25 minutes. But it's one of the few times I get to spend time focusing on me, so I love it. It's a very Zen time for me, when I'm not rushing around.

If we were to invade your beauty closet what surprises would we find?
I have more makeup than any one person could ever use. I still have the M·A·C brushes that I bought more than 10 years ago, and I use some them every day. I also have a huge collection of faux hair that I used to wear daily. Wigs, falls, ponys, and hair extensions - it's a lot of hair. I also have a mild obsession with peach makeup. I have almost every peach blush and lip gloss known to man. As my blogger pal Anne from BeautyXposé can tell you, I take my peach collection very, very seriously.

How many lipsticks/glosses can be found in your handbag at any given time?
It's embarrassing. I have no fewer than 20 lip products in my purse at any time. Most of them are peach.

What's the best beauty advice you've ever received?
A long time ago, a makeup artist I really respected told me I could wear any color. It makes me bonkers when people tell me they are only a warm or cool tone (or even worse, a season). It's all about how you use a color, and done right, you can wear anything. More importantly, wearing a daily SPF is the one true, proven thing you can do to keep aging at bay. No magical cream can undo all the damage a good sunscreen can prevent. I'll never forget meeting Leslie Blodgett and having her be really surprised at my age. I can't say it often enough or loud enough - wear a sunscreen every day the sun rises!

What is the most surprising thing you've learned since blogging?
When I started blogging, I thought paying more than $40 on a foundation was nuts. My idea of what is expensive and what is reasonably priced has now totally shifted. I am also genuinely surprised each time I get a comment from readers that I am not related to. When I started this, my only readers were my close friends and a cousin. I can't believe so many people take the time to check in with me and see what's new. I am so happy to have made so many new friends through my blog, and I love it when they comment on something I've written.

How often do you actually go to stores or events to research new product or releases?
I probably make a point to go hunting for new goodies specifically three or four times a week. I usually go to Sephora the day (or the day before) the new products hit the shelves each week. I can't go into a department store without checking out what's new in the makeup department. I'm on a first name basis with everyone who sells makeup within a 10 mile radius, which is great, and sometimes a little embarrassing. I have two younger sisters-in-law who are always suggesting and requesting reviews, not to mention all the texts from friends across the country asking me for on the spot advice when they are at the makeup counter. I have to stay on my toes! I'm a little obsessed. But in a good way!

You can learn a lot by reading Kelly's Gouldylox Reviews. Head over now to see what's featured today!

Meet Our Beauty Blogger Roundup Team - Debbi

Every week, I post a Weekend Roundup with exciting features written by our beauty blogging friends. We thought it would be a great idea if you got to know each of us a little better to find out what drives the beauty passion we share. This week, we meet Debbi from DivaDebbi. I'm not sure how I found Debbi's blog, but I immediately found it entertaining reading - and that's what it's all about, right? Having fun!

When did you start blogging and why?
I have always loved to write, but never had much of an outlet for it (though I have penned quite a few "Dear John" letters for friends over the years). I saw a front-page article in the Sunday New York Times almost three years ago about people who were easily starting blogs to express their political views. It was my beauty light bulb moment. I am a girl's girl, and I have always shared advice with my friends. I created my beauty and fashion blog DivaDebbi that afternoon.

Every blog seems to have a special voice - what's the message on your blog?
I purchased my first wrinkle cream when I was 12, so I would say I focus quite a bit on anti-aging products. I love high-end products as much as the next girl, but I also spend a small fortune at CVS. I love a good cheat. Professionally, I am a personal shopper and enjoy writing seasonal trends reports. People who know me say they "hear" my voice when they read DivaDebbi and often laugh out loud. I love that!

Have you always been a beauty fanatic or did it come later in life for you? What made it blossom?
There is not a blip of tomboy in my DNA, so my beauty obsession started very early. My mother is more of a natural beauty, so her face was on in five minutes flat. I remember staring with amazement at her lipstick blotted tissues and inhaling her Arpege. I couldn't wait to be able to do these things myself...which was usually as soon as she left the bathroom.

Tell us a little about yourself.
As I mentioned, I am a personal shopper, and I adore my job! I love my clients, co-workers, and the fact that fashion is in a constant state of renewal, so I am never bored. I have wept many times over gorgeous new receipts. Our son will be going off to college next year. That was another inspiration for creating my blog. I am planning on being extraordinarily busy to help soothe those empty nest aches. I will be heading to NYC for many more blogger events than I attend now. The city always energizes me and I am looking forward to that.

What's your daily beauty routine?
Oh goodness! Day or night? Let's narrow it down to night. I remove my eye makeup with warm water soaked cotton balls and Lierac eye makeup remover. I cleanse with Dr. Jeffrey Cream Cleanser and rinse ten times with cool water. I follow that up with whatever 10% glycolic pad I am in the middle of trying, and I love Cane & Austin's version. Every night I use Lierac's Age-Defense Firming Night Cream. Two or three times a week I use a pea-sized amount of Retin-A all over my face and on the alternating nights, St. Tropez Self-Tanning Mousse. The last thing I do before bed is apply hand cream and Smith's Rosebud Salve to my lips and cuticles.

How many lipsticks/glosses can be found in your handbag at any given time?
At least two lipsticks and two glosses per bag, not including the additional three or four in my makeup bag. I also stash them in my desk drawer and glove compartment.

What's the best beauty advice you've ever received?
My grandmother and mother never left the house "without their face on." It was a matter of pride more than vanity. There is something gracious about making the effort to present yourself to the world looking your best. It was unspoken, but never lost on me.

What's the most surprising thing you have learned since staring your blog?
That we have readers from all over the world! I have loyal readers from Australia, Iceland, England, India, and Russia. Insane! What a world! I am so grateful to my readers and fellow bloggers. This experience has enriched me.

Check out DivaDebbi to read her musings on beauty and fashion, then and now, for women of substance, style, laughter, light, and love.

Meet Our Beauty Blogger Roundup Team - Kari

Every week, I post a Weekend Roundup with exciting features written by our beauty blogging friends. We thought it would be a great idea if you got to know each of us a little better to find out what drives the beauty passion we share. This week, we meet Kari from Fab over Forty. Fab over Forty is one of the first beauty blogs I started reading regularly, and I continue to enjoy it every day. Over time, Kari has also become one of my best beauty blogger friends; it's hard to believe we've never met face to face. We e-mail a lot and sometimes chat on the phone. I feel like she lives right up the street, not thousands of miles away! Here's how Kari describes her own beauty passion.

When did you start blogging and why?
I started blogging in February 2008. Sometime in 2006, I started reading beauty blogs when my boys were teenagers, and I would stay up reading blogs while I waited for them to get home at curfew time. But back then, most blogs were written by young women who were in their 20's, and so many of the makeup looks and types didn't resonate with me (being in my 40's), but I liked the idea of a blog. So finally about 12-18 months later, I decided it was time to speak my passion.

Every blog seems to have a special voice - what's the message on your blog?
My main focus is the woman over 40. You won't see the latest "Barbie" collection or that type of thing shown on my site; it's not what my readers relate to. I discuss what makeup works for women in this age group, what they should avoid and why. Skin care is another big thing I discuss. I am constantly testing new skin care products and trying to make it more clear as to what women over 40 and beyond need for their skin. I'm really an advocate for prevention and taking care of your skin, not for surgery to try to change your face; in other words, enjoy the skin you're in, just take care of it!

Have you always been a beauty fanatic or did it come later in life for you? What made it blossom?
I have been a beauty fanatic for as long as I can recall. I remember when I was deemed old enough by my parents to be able to buy Seventeen magazine. I'd always head to the beauty and makeup pages first. I'd love seeing the color and textures and longed to try some of the products in person. My grandmother let me play with her makeup, so I loved going to her house as a child, and I could be engrossed for hours playing with her blushes, shadows, lipsticks, and perfume. She never got upset with me when I played in her things. She let my passion for beauty blossom.

Tell us a little about yourself.
I've been married for nearly 28 years, and I have two boys in college who are both about to graduate. Being an empty nester has afforded me the time to do my blog. I never could have found the time many years ago, so I praise these women who have a full-time job, are raising their kids, and writing a blog! It's amazing to me. I also work for an interior design firm as the business manager. Fabrics and makeup really have a lot in common, so sometimes when I describe makeup it comes naturally for me to compare it to a certain type of fabric. I enjoy traveling, yoga, reading - always learning something new. And without a doubt, beauty shopping!

What's your daily beauty routine?
Well, in the morning I cleanse my face with a gentle cleanser while in the shower. I apply vitamin C to my face and, while that is absorbing (best to leave that soak in for two minutes minimum), I slather my skin from neck to toe in a moisturizing lotion or body oil. I then apply an under-eye cream, serum, moisturizer, and last SPF. SPF is a must for me because twice pre-melanoma moles were found on my body. My skin that day determines which foundation I'll use, but I always apply a concealer and a primer for my eyelids as well. Then the shades of eye shadow I use typically depend on what I'm wearing that day or what look I want to create - natural or more smoky, etc. My blush shade depends on what eye look I go for. Then, after I have breakfast or even when I arrive at work, I put on my lipstick/gloss. In the evening, my routine is much the same - eye cream, instead of a vitamin C I use a retinoid after my nightly serum and before a moisturizer, and no SPF at night. My dermatologist told me the best way to remember the order to use products is to go from the thinnest to the thickest - so serums come before moisturizers. Twice a week I exfoliate, and once a week I use a moisturizing mask. Oh, and I use my Clarisonic 4-5 times a week at night when cleansing my face. I've found that it really changed my skin for the better.

If we were to invade your beauty closet what surprises would we find?
Pretty much what every woman would have in her beauty bag - just a lot more choices!

How many lipsticks/glosses can be found in your handbag at any given time?
Embarrassingly more than I'd ever use! I am such a lipstick and gloss fiend! One time I added them all up that I had in my current handbag and decided it was ridiculous - I had over 25, and I needed to organize them better. I would use one or two and toss them in my bag - by the end of the week I'd have so many in there. Now I have my lipstick and glosses separated by brand in their own makeup bag, and I know what textures and colors I have from each brand, so in the morning I can just grab a makeup bag and toss it in my handbag knowing that in that bag is that certain gloss or lipstick from XYZ brand that would complete my look.

What's the best beauty advice you've ever received?
Never go to bed without washing your face. I don't think I ever have since I was a young teen. There's also a quote that Giorgio Armani said that I put into a makeup context, "Elegance does not mean being noticed, it means being remembered."

Kari is certainly more organized than I am! I'm going to have to give her lipstick/lip gloss bag trick a try. Make sure to head over to Fab over Forty often for great beauty product reviews and tips. You'll love Kari's blog!

Meet Our Beauty Blogger Roundup Team - Amy

Photo/Feature Removed

This post was removed on June 6, 2011 at Amy's request. She has suspended her Café Makeup blog, which saddens me because it was, in my opinion, one of the best beauty blogs on earth. I hope she decides to come back some day - we will miss her!

Meet Our Beauty Blogger Roundup Team - Jane

Every week, I post a Weekend Roundup with exciting features written by our beauty blogging friends. They post the roundup too. Some of them have joined us recently, while others have been with us since the roundup's get-go. We thought it would be a great idea if you got to know each of us a little better to find out what drives the beauty passion we share. This week, we meet Jane from Daly Beauty.

Jane lives in Canada and works in real estate. I found Jane through The Non-Blonde. Love reading her blog! You will too, and you can keep up with her on Twitter.

When did you start blogging and why?
I have always been a beauty junkie, but I didn't know what that was until I started reading beauty blogs. I started blogging as an experiment (I know nothing about html or that programming stuff!), and as a personal outlet. My friends would ask for advice regularly, and I was known to offer unsolicited beauty tips as well. So I guess I wanted to share what I know and what I love.

Every blog seems to have a special voice - what's the message on your blog?
My message is that beauty is everywhere if you look for it and that all of us are beautiful. It's all about finding the confidence to experiment and have fun while finding the beauty that is inside us all.

Have you always been a beauty fanatic or did it come later in life for you?
What made it blossom? I don't ever recall a time that I wasn't a beauty fanatic. My earliest memories are perfume related - standing on my tip-toes at my mother's vanity and smelling her Shalimar, playing with her cake mascara (along with our dog - that's another whole story...). My aunt was a full-blown beauty and perfume junkie, and I always felt at home in her room - her round bed with velvet tufted headboard and a dresser FULL of perfumes. Her room always smelled like the ground floor of a major department store, and to this day that is my favorite smell in the world (after the smell of my children's heads...).

Tell us a little about yourself.
I love to read and love beach vacations - my dream is a good long book and a warm beach with crashing waves and sunshine. Heaven. I love to spend time with my daughters - they are 14 and 22, and we have a blast together, always. We love to shop, naturally, and beauty shopping is something we could do every day. No one makes me laugh as hard as they do. One of our favorite activities is to get a delish coffee and get our hair done. Our stylist is a genius and can fit us all in, rotating between the three of us. For us, it's ALL about the hair. Modern and mid-century modern design and architecture are a passion as well, and I like to think I incorporate that clean simple and modern aesthetic into my beauty routines.

What's your daily beauty routine?
Simple - moisturize, tinted moisturizer or primer (lately a good primer on its own has been my go-to) a little concealer, blush/bronzer, neutral eye shadow, and a touch of mascara. A nice plumping clear lip gloss and, of course, perfume, and I'm good to go.

If we were to invade your beauty closet what surprises would we find?
That I have some makeup brushes over 15 years old...I care for them like babies, and it amazes me how a good-quality brush will last for ages. I do need to get some new ones, though.

How many lipsticks/glosses can be found in your handbag at any given time?
Oh geez. At least five.

What's the best beauty advice you've ever received?
Wash your face before going to bed. No matter how tired I am, I always do this.

That's great advice - and it's amazing how many women don't follow it! Head over to Daly Beauty, where you will find a photo of Jane's darling daughters, Brigit and Emilie.

Meet Our Beauty Blogger Roundup Team - Gaia

Every week, I post a Weekend Roundup with exciting features written by our beauty blogging friends. They post the roundup too. Some of them have joined us recently, while others have been with us since the roundup's get-go. We thought it would be a great idea if you got to know each of us a little better to find out what drives the beauty passion we share. This week, we meet Gaia from The Non-Blonde.

When did you start blogging and why?
April 2006. I'd been reading beauty and perfume blogs for about six months at that time, but kept feeling that none of them completely addressed my needs and tastes. I also realized I had quite a bit to say, and finally decided to give this blogging thing a shot, though I wasn't even sure anyone other than my mom would ever read it.

Every blog seems to carry a special voice. What's your special message for your blog?
I write the blog I want to read. I'm interested in luxury products, perfume, the beauty and fashion business in general, and I'm a bit too sarcastic for my own good. But the main thing is that I want to show that talking about beauty (and all that's related to it) is not necessarily the domain of the "mean girls" from high school. Smart and nerdy girls love lipstick, too.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I'm 40, married, and child-free. I have 10 cats (not a typo), love reading, antiquing, old movies, and NYC. I'm also a vegetarian and a sci-fi geek.

What's your daily beauty routine?
I'm a skincare fanatic. Gentle cleansers that prepare the skin for more - serums, creams, hydrating mists. All the things that give makeup a boost from beneath. Then I start with color - usually there's at least one new thing I'm testing at any given time. It's never boring.

How many lipsticks/glosses can be found in your handbag at any given time?
Four or five. The problem is the number of handbags I have in rotation. It makes for interesting times when I'm trying to locate a specific gloss that is an absolute must to complete the look I've envisioned.

What's the best beauty advice you've ever received?
"Never skimp on skincare."-- My mother

How often do you actually go to stores or events to research new products or releases?
Let's just say that Bergdorf Goodman is "where everybody knows my name" (and skin tone and lipstick preferences)...

We should have asked her, "How did you name your blog?" Gaia told me that when she started blogging, all the popular blogs were written by blonds. She needn't have worried that she would be confused with others. Her voice is unique and compelling.

I'm sure you've met Gaia on her blog, The Non-Blonde, but if you haven't, you need to put it on your must-read list. It's on mine!

Photo provided by The Non-Blonde

Meet Our Beauty Blogger Roundup Team - Sabrina

Every week, I post a Weekend Roundup with exciting features written by our beauty blogging friends. They post the roundup too. Some of them have joined us recently, while others have been with us since the roundup's get-go. We thought it would be a great idea if you got to know each of us a little better to find out what drives the beauty passion we share. This week, we meet Sabrina from The Beauty Look Book.

When did you start blogging and why?
It started with a hard-to-find brand called Le Métier de Beauté. I'm curious by nature, and when I noticed something new at neimanmarcus.com, I Googled the brand, but could find no reviews or real photos anywhere (except for their mascara). I took a risk and ordered some glosses sight unseen over the phone. I was very nervous, spending $30+ for a tube of something I never had seen before, but I fell in love! Karen at Makeup and Beauty Blog was asking for guest writers at the time, and she published my first blog review! She was so supportive, and I had so much fun, I was inspired to start my own blog. I hoped that by writing about my discoveries and featuring comparisons, other women would be able to get a better idea of what a certain product looked like, rather than relying on over-the-phone descriptions or sketchy online retail swatches.

Every blog seems to carry a special voice. What's your special message on your blog?
The main focus is on the things I like; high-end luxury brands, some hard-to-find brands, a few outfit features here and there. I try to feature things in a new and creative way, such as my color-focus features or monthly highlights.

Have you always been a beauty fanatic or did it come later in life, and what made it blossom?
At the age of two - I was a beauty disaster (aka every mother's nightmare). I would pour shampoo down the toilet, twist up my mother's lipsticks and smash them, and draw all over the wall with beauty products. I once cut my mother's hair while she was napping! At age four, I cut my two-year-old sister's hair when my dad was "babysitting" us. Of course I don't remember any of this, but apparently I had a thing for scissors. In my teens, I only wore makeup for ballet recitals, and I'd never wear makeup or anything pink off-stage. Then I hit the age of 17, when I discovered Stila and M∙A∙C, and my obsession with beauty products took off. I'm not exactly sure why the drastic change, but I went from being anti-girly to girly overnight.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I'm 29, married, and just finished my master's degree. I currently work full-time as a finance and marketing analyst. No kids, but we have our pets (two dogs and a cat). I enjoy baking and cooking when I have the time, and like watching TV. My must-see weekly shows are 30 Rock, The Office, Fringe, Bones, and The Closer.

What's your daily beauty routine?
It usually takes me about 45 minutes to get ready in the mornings. I'm not a morning person, so I have to admit, sometimes I'm running out the door with only powder/foundation, and I finish the rest in my car at stop lights. When I do have my act together, the routine is straighten hair, wash face, prep skin with something (different every day), foundation/powder, Edward Bess highlighter or bronzer. Next comes eye makeup. I usually do my lips the last thing after breakfast or morning coffee.

How many lipsticks/glosses can be found in your handbag at any given time?
Probably four to six. There are times when I clean out my purse and find 10 different lip products. I usually throw in a couple per weekday; sometimes I forget to take the previous day's lip items out, and it gets out of hand.

What's the best beauty advice you've ever received?
"It's just makeup, have fun, if you mess up you can always start over," from one of my favorite Chanel makeup artists.

What's the most surprising thing you have learned since starting your blog?
There are good angles and bad angles for taking pictures, not just for your own face, but for products as well.

I'm sure you've met Sabrina on her blog, The Beauty Look Book, but if you haven't, you need to put it on your must-read list! Thanks, Sabrina!

The Grand Twitter Experience

I joined Twitter in December. I had decided Twitter was an ideal way to share snippets of information - beauty, shopping, and fashion bits - with you. It has been that - and more. After three months, here are my initial impressions.

It's a good thing I don't depend on Twitter for my self-esteem! Sometimes, chatting in Twitter is like shouting into dead air. Recently, I asked a question twice and got absolutely no replies. A friend was looking for a new lavender fragrance, and I asked for recommendations. You would have thought that was easy, right? No responses. I realize that my followers are few (259 today), but still...someone must have read it, right?

Speaking of followers, I love them. I do have a few unusual followers. Mister Shuffles, the baby elephant in Australia, may deserve the "most unique" award. Mister Shuffles followed me after I tweeted about him. I now follow him for my daily dose of darling! I follow a cat too. His name is Sockington. He's a hoot! My personal Twitter world includes creatures great and small. I can't figure out why some people follow my tweets. Some cute guys, though. :)

Twitter has been a fun way to keep up with some of the beauty bloggers, makeup artists, and PR gurus I have "met" along the way. I have enjoyed that. I have also read more beauty posts than I used to - simply because I follow the links back to blogger and magazine posts. Twitter has been a great way to follow the buzz. Yesterday I learned from InStyle that supermodel Gisele Bundchen launched Sejaa, a skincare line that upholds her commitment to preserving the environment. When I got home from work today, I was able to follow the link Bobbi Brown's team posted to her appearance on The Today Show this morning. No need to miss fun stuff because of work!

The contest phenomenon on Twitter is amazing. There is a giveaway contest for just about every beauty product on earth (really every product on earth). Seriously, if you like giveaways, you really need to join Twitter. Some gals spend hours a day sharing contest information. I don't know how they do it, but I think it's a great service!

I like to follow the brands I cover here on the blog (a few examples are @AskBobbiBrown, @LieracSkinCare, @NickChavezBH, @LHBeauty). I learn about new introductions and events. I actually think Twitter is far more effective in getting the word out than Facebook. Although it can be time-consuming, Twitter is still faster than checking out all the Facebook posts. You learn to scan on Twitter - fast!

I have made some new cyber-friends too - people I really like. What a great way to connect with people who share your interests!

That is why I recommend that all of you set up a Twitter account. It only takes a few seconds; you don't need a photo; and you don't even need to tweet (except to enter some contests). You can learn some cool stuff! Just don't expect to tweet and hear another chirp out there. Oh, and will you follow me, please, @BTiBeauty? Love you!

Please let me know in the comments if you have a favorite lavender fragrance. I want to know what you think!

Photo courtesy of jivesoftware.com

One Young Woman's Account of Melanoma

On Caged Bird Sings, a noteworthy blog post featured on the DCBlogs live feed, Kassy wrote a moving account of her discovery of a "few new freckles," melanoma diagnosis, her supportive friends, and her warning to all women to stay out of the sun. It's recommended reading!

Photo from Caged Bird Sings