US Beauty Videocast

I spoke about the recession's impact on the US beauty market on this videocast: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBYG1C3U50c

More Photos from Estee Lauder's Your Beauty Your Style Your Profile

This woman had also received a makeover at the Estee Lauder counter and was kind enough to let me take a photo of her in front of the photo booth. Doesn't she look great?

Photos from Estee Lauder's Your Beauty Your Style Your Profile

Here are the before (taken with the iPhone by an Estee Lauder employees), the after (taken with the iPhone by the professional photographer), and the retouched professional photos. I love my final photo.

Estee Lauder's Your Beauty. Your Style. Your Profile Makeover & Photo

I got a makeover at the Estee Lauder counter at Macy's Water Tower Friday afternoon as part of their online photo event called "Your Beauty. Your Style. Your Profile". The makeup line has been traveling to different department stores across the country to offer professional photos and makeovers. The pitch: get a free makeover, a digital photo for your Facebook page or other social networking website, and a 10-day supply of Estee Lauder foundation.

I received a skin care consultation and a makeup application from the Estee Lauder makeup artist. Afterwards, I was asked if I want to purchase anything (no minimum purchase required but as with any makeovers, they expect you to buy at least 2 items). Then, I was walked to the photo booth area by an Estee Lauder saleswoman who used hairspray to try tame my hair. The professional photographer had me sit down in a chair in front of the Estee Lauder backdrop. He took about 6-8 photos. I waited about 15 minutes for him/another guy at the booth to retouch the photos. Then, about an hour later, I received my one (I should have asked him to email me all of them) digital photo via email. The photographer said that they will help upload the photo to Facebook.

Shecky's Girls Night Out Bag

This is what was included in the Shecky's Girls Night Out Chicago gift bag.

Nordstrom Fragrance Festival Samples

Nordstrom Fragrance Festival Gift Bag

All attendees of the Nordstrom Fragrance Festival received a mini candle from Antica Farmacista - mine was orange blossom, lilac & jasmine - in a turquoise glass candle holder. Breakfast, free engraving, and samples were offered during the event. Attendees paid $10 to attend the Sunday morning event at Nordstrom Oakbrook.

Real Simple Gift Bag

Here's the goody bag from the Real Simple 10th anniversary event at Chicago's Union Station.

Nordstrom Goody Bag

Gift bag from Nordstrom's spring cosmetics trend show that took place at their Oakbrook store.

Real Simple 10th Anniversary Celebration

Attended Real Simple Magazine's 10th anniversary celebration at Chicago's Union Station on Friday. I was able to speak to two beauty experts - mineral makeup guru Jane Iredale and Mario Tricoci, founder of Mario Tricoci Salons - at the event. Jane and one of her makeup artists gave two women makeovers while managing editor Kristin van Ogtrop took questions from the audience. She said women need to blend, blend, blend. I asked what women's top concerns were, and Jane said undereye circles and uneven skin tone (including brown spots). Mario styled two women's hair. He gave tips on how to go from day to night by changing hair - from ponytail to a braid. Mario said, "you should not depend on your hairdresser to look good" and to invest in a good, natural hairbrush.

Maybelline Color Studio at Shecky's Chicago

Shecky's Girls Night Out was held at Chicago's Union Station on Wednesday and Thursday. I went Wednesday and got a makeover from celebrity makeup artist Gabriel Almodovar at the Maybelline Color Studio booth. Maybelline was at the popular event to promote its new line of Eye Studio Color Plush Silk Eyeshadows, Eye Studio Color Pearls Marbleized Eyeshadow (a liquid eyeshadow that's been baked in a terracotta pot), and XXL Pro Mascaras in 4 varieties (24 HR Blod, Curls, Extensions, Volume). Here's a photo of me (post-makeover) with Gabriel.

More about Gabriel giving mini-makeovers courtesy of Maybelline Color Studio at: http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=resources&id=7364339

Two Friends Having Fun at Shecky's

I had fun talking to Marian and Nina - two friends who had come all the way from the northern suburbs on a colleague's recommendation to check out Shecky's. They were enjoying the Midori cocktails and goody bags. Marian also got a makeover from the Maybelline Color Studio.

Elie Krieger and Ingrid Hoffman at the T-fal Booth

Got to talk to Food Network host & dietician Elie Krieger about current health & wellness trends at the T-fal booth at the Housewares Show. Also at the T-fal booth was Food Network's "Simply Delicioso"s Ingrid Hoffman. Ingrid made Latin burgers and showed off her new Simply Delicioso by Ingrid Hoffman enamel cookware line including the Caldero. She said that the Caldero (to me it looks like a cross between a dutch oven and a deep skillet) never leaves her stovetop because it's so necessary to Latin cooking. Did you see her on HSN Cooks! 24-Hour Spring Event last month along with Emeril Lagasse?

It's back to basics at the Housewares Show according to http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2010/03/14/Its-back-to-basics-for-housewares/UPI-87871268573400/

Met Iron Chef Morimoto at Housewares Show

I attended the Housewares Show at McCormick Place last month. Got a chance to have my photo taken with Iron Chef Marimoto - how cool is that? Morimoto was at the show to promote the new line of Miyabi knives at the Zwilling J.A. Henckels booth. Chef Morimoto was very gracious and patient when I struggled to take photos of him with another fan with my iPhone. Chef Morimoto, arigatou gozaimasu

Videos of the Housewares Show including Iron Chef Morimoto at: http://www.youtube.com/user/housewaresShow

Met Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson

Last month I got a chance to meet master sommelier & chef Andrea Robinson at a culinary demonstration at Macy's State Street on Wednesday as part of their celebration of the Housewares Show. She's one of only 16 women worldwide to hold the title of Master Sommelier. Andrea paired edamame pesto (non-dairy) w/ Murphy Goode fume blanc - yum!

She explained how Robert Mondavi popularized fume blanc in the US. My husband Bob and I had the chance to visit the Robert Mondavi winery in Napa Valley a few years back and the Opus One winery as well - both are definitely worth a visit if you're in the area and enjoy learning about wine.

We had also visited COPIA: The American Center for Wine, Food and the Arts in Napa Valley - a wonderful place to learn about and enjoy wine. Robert and his wife Margrit had championed the building of this cultural museum and education center dedicated to the discovery, understanding, and celebration of American wine and food. Unfortunately, COPIA closed its doors in November 2008.

Andrea was also there to promote her new line of "The ONE" wineglasses - all guests received one free red wine glass - am looking forward to trying it out. Bought her book, Great Wine Made Simple: Straight Talk from a Master Sommelier.

Met Oprah's Makeup Artist Ross Burton

In March, I met Oprah's makeup artist Ross Burton and 3LAB co-founder Erica Chung at the Nordstrom Oakbrook Cosmetics Trend Show. About 1,200 women (and a few men) had paid $15 and gotten up early on a Saturday morning to learn about the latest in beauty. It was fun. Ross (formerly National Artistic Director at Lancome Paris) did a seminar where he shared his beauty favorites and tips while making over a Nordstrom customer. Some of his faves: MAC cleansing wipes, Shu Uemura eyelash curler, Guerlain Le 2 de Guerlain Mascara and Hypnôse Drama Mascara, and limited-edition Bobbi Brown palettes featuring 5 eyeshadows and 3 pot rouges (for cheeks & lips).

America’s Beauty Show and Face & Body Midwest

Last month, I attended America’s Beauty Show and Skin Inc magazine’s Face & Body Midwest Conference at McCormick Place West. Saw celebrity hairstylists Kim Vo and Tabatha Coffey speak to an enthusiastic audience at the student conference. Here's a photo from the Sexy Hair booth

FamilyFarmed Expo

Also in March I went to the FamilyFarmed Expo Trade Show(http://www.familyfarmed.org/) at the UIC Forum. I heard some inspiring stories of Chicago Public Schools embracing locally grown and/or organic foods and educating children about good nutrition.

Also went to a very interesting discussion about food deserts (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_desert). Mari Gallagher (http://marigallagher.com/projects/) who's done a lot of research in this area was one of the speakers.

Chicago celebrity chefs Rick Bayless and Gale Gand were scheduled to do cooking demonstrations at the FamilyFarmed Expo on the next day. Friday was the trade show portion with more lectures, and Saturday was the public day with more vendors selling their locally produced foods and beverages.

Kellogg Marketing Conference

In January I attended the annual Marketing Conference at the Kellogg School of Management. The two-day event attracted lots of marketing professionals in addition to Kellogg students and alumni. One of the most popular panel discussions was the one on private label. This discussion featured speakers from Clorox, Daymon Associates, General Mills, Sara Lee, Target, and Wal-Mart. Private label products have shown strong growth during the recession. This has been aided by the popularity of Trader Joe's where they carry mostly private label products, with few national brands. Most session attendees said that they love shopping at Trader Joe's.

The official recap of the conference at: http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/News_Articles/2010/marketing_conference.aspx

A recap of the private label panel discussion at: http://www.morningnewsbeat.com/News/News_Article_Detail_S.las?A=32882&Date=2010-01-29

Met Kristin van Ogtrop

On Thursday went to a book luncheon at the Union League Club of
Chicago to hear Kristin van Ogtrop, managing editor of Real Simple
Magazine, speak about her new book "Just Let Me Lie Down: Necessary
Terms for the Half-Insane Working Mom".