Better to be busy than bored, right? How about those times when you get SO busy you don't take time to do anything BUT be focused and work and notice that your jeans fall when you finally stand up from the computer? Woman CAN live on Sugarfree Redbull and love alone. While a steady diet of this might not have the best long-term implications, Goddess Granny is happy to sustain herself on next to nothing for a good cause or reason! Honestly, it's too hot to eat here in the South (and in the North too from what I hear?) I've about exhausted the supply of mint growing in the yard trying to fake myself into a cooler state of mind chopping it into everything and tossing in the tub. As my energy level is again, assisted by my the silver can of incentive, I'm trying to keep what's left of my mind. I'm being required to present as prettily as possible for events and projects I'm currently involved in so what IS a glam-girl to do? How to look chic with very few products and without melting?

"Tini Beauty Lounge":how do I love thee, let me count the ways and combinations!!! BRILLIANT brand,long a favorite here at Megsmakeup.com for their ever so fabulous and unique site that allows our inner-Picasso to come out and play while we create the lip and nail color-combination of our dreams! The Lip Stains are legendary, both Meg and I can't live with one in our bag and the nail colors are offered in a seemingly endless arrangement of shades, finishes and styles. I swoon every time I start to play on the site! The concept is connected to that of a high-end cocktail lounge but TBL has expanded to include other amazing products as well!

They are NOW "serving" a mind-boggling new collection of "Garden Party" nail colors created by Jane Bryant (and I am prostrate on the floor, low bowing as I write this...) the Emmy® Award winning designer who creates the costumes for a little show called "Mad Men" which is probably THE most influential force in fashion-trending today!

Seriously...I cannot think of another beauty-related site that literally forces me to become a color-infused Zombie who clicks aimlessly for hours visibly drooling over how I'd look in every product they produce! It's bold and fun and the quality of every product I've sampled from TBL is exceptional! It's intended to BE fun and the cocktail-connected product names will make you giddy with delight and not subject to a fall in your stilettos so go ahead and indulge!

In spite of the HEAT, my lips are soooooo cool right now because I am wearing "Ginger Ale" an absolutely STUNNING shade from the "Lip Plumping Lipstick" Liptini line! The case is fancy and so gorgeous, combing matte and reflective gleaming silver and the "gilded champagne" color takes years off my face as well as creating THOSE lips we all crave without stinging or burning, simply by light-reflecting and pouf-ing your pout to celebrity status with a swipe! One of my all time favorite "neutral" shades, it it most certainly NOT boring but a  glamourous and forever kind of color...

I apply straight from the tube with no liner because it's bleed-resistant and honestly, I don't even use a gloss on top of this lippy because it simply doesn't NEED to be enhanced: it does all the work for me and has great staying power as well!

It's harvest time here at the ranch in Goddess Granny-ville: my husband has a "hobby that has become a business" vineyard and believe it or not, the drought has resulted in a bumper crop of grapes for him this year! Mayhem, hard work, laughter, men and music create an exciting atmosphere indeed! The star of the show are the grapes themselves: I get up early just to walk through the rows inhaling in THE most incredible, sensual, earthy and delicious scent one can imagine! When the sun begins to warm the fruit, it's an aroma I'd pay BIG money for in a perfume! I have seen "grape" offered as an ingredient in some of the handcrafted perfumes available and many exclusive products now include grape juice, pulp, seeds...I have to avoid walking though THAT mess. That's what's left behind when the grapes are processed. I want to see my husband for the next couple of weeks so maybe I should step into the squishy-stuff and give my feet a treat?

MOR products, originating in Australia somehow manage to create equally LUSCIOUS scents in their fine soy-based candles. They combine an elegant marriage of traditional technique and modern apothecary. Their scents literally blossom and scent an entire room in a short time and with minimal fuss due to the cotton wicks and slow burn time! I adore scented candles, can't manage my life without them. I love to have a different scent in each area of the house according to the mood of the room. Mind you, I live in a 100 yr. old farmhouse that's pretty darn male-oriented on the surface but I've managed to carve out my own semblance of girly-girl glam in small corners here and there. The way an area smells really does set the tone and brand the room as YOU!

I prefer unusual scents, light on floral but heady and impossibly feminine...MOR offers a menu that literally makes me want to burn them all at once and die from happiness!

I buy MOR products for the packaging alone: gorgeous embossed tins, beautifully wrapped soaps, presentations and collections that rival the most exclusive brands but somehow manage to be affordable for most! For ten years the company has seamlessly blended romance inspired by travel and beautiful places into products that sing a siren song to all of us! Many A-List beauty events and goody bags include MOR products because they manage to add a touch of class everywhere they go! I am currently burning and LOVING the MOR "Essential Candle" from the affordable line in "Neroli Clementine" and it rivals sun-drenched grapes in it's sensuality and delicious scent of sparkling clementine, sultry neroli and a touch of candied orange. I'd eat it if I could!

I hate dieting. I hate feeling deprived. I hate that I "have to" reduce my calories and food variety to a rather dull assortment of "good for you/taste just okay" choices in order to look the way I want to! Goddess Granny is sure I'm not alone in these sentiments and it truly isn't fair that some of us are simply not blessed in the genetics department because after many years of reassuring myself that I SHOULD "be a twig" for the way I workout and eat that it's simply not in my stars...sighing here.

That is why I truly enjoy it when just a little bit of something sweet can get me through the day without feeling like I'm the redheaded stepchild of metabolism!

This time time it's NOT a salted caramel yummy to the rescue but one of my/our VERY favorite brands, the always amazing and consistently luscious "Urban Decay!" You are probably weary of my "oh I LOVE this stuff!" rants in regards to every damn product that I review from this company BUT I believe that if's it's good,it deserves the top spot and I have yet another INCREDIBLE new product from my UD loves to babble on about!

Lipgloss was for many of us, our first exposure to the world of pretty! I think even many 4 yr olds now tote a tube of sticky pink with them to daycare? There is something about gliding on a slightly gooey, sweetly scented (and flavored if we're lucky!) confection of a gloss that simply connects with the GIRL in us all! Urban Decay has somehow ( and I don't know HOW they keep coming up with the best of formulas!) created a new lipgloss that is justifiably  named "Lip Love" that not only comes in YUMMY shades and our favorite type of  wide-angle applicator tube but ALSO is infused with nourishing and smoothing HONEY and other replenishing oils that gives you THE prettiest pout and makes your lips so smoochy that you just might well spend an afternoon lip-locked with someone so you can share the treat!

I am wearing "Taunt", a perfect nude everyday all day and even to bed...the scent and taste IS honey,not a fake or plasticky sweetness but like the stuff drizzled on straight from the little plastic bear container. My lips are so pretty right now and the shine seems to last for hours...well,let's just say I keep applying it, every hour,! Can't get enough of this dessert for my lips and it also somehow makes me feel just a bit less deprived because I CAN enjoy every application of delight without the guilt or calorie counting! The scent is fresh and sweet and really does makes you want to kiss someone so they too can appreciate how fabulous you taste! Not just a sassy gloss,this IS a treatment for your lips as well and the price is so right for such quality!

Goddess Granny wishing you a fabulous 4th! Hope you get to take the extra  time and do something nice for yourself or someone else. Lots of barbecues, outdoor activities and sales here. I even heard of a race taking place that I would LOVE to attend, the "Cupcake Run": you run 1/2 mile, eat a cupcake, then run backwards the other 1/2 mile....hello? That's my idea of a true competition for sure! Next year I'm so in!

I truly do believe that your physical "outsides" are a direct reflection of diet and exercise and of what goes on inside. When you cannot (or will not-I see you slinking down in the chair...) get yourself moving and eating cleanly for the sake of your heart and your soul, you'll probably need to rely more heavily on professional advice. You'll need products and procedures because not one among us can or should try to stay gorgeous alone! No judgments, I totally believe in the the whatever gets ya' by theoryWe all want to look and feel amazing!

I have an wonderful Derma Doc that has taken care of my skin for 20 years...Yes,i t's needed help for that long as well! I LOVE that current technology allows not only cutting edge procedures to be more available and affordable but that we as consumers can and should do our homework before allowing anyone to "practice" on our precious faces. Of course, NYC has an amazing concentration of "the best of the best" in terms of dermatologists and every other type of physician but Dr. Barney Kenet stands out. He not only stands out for his  impressive collection of degrees from THE best medical schools but also for his caring, gentle and holistic approach. The approach to the art and science of diseases of the skin, skincare and beauty! Listed as one of "The Best Doctor's in NYC" for 15 consecutive years and the author of several books relating to the care of the skin, I truly believe from all reviews that if I lived in this fair city, he'd sure be MY go to guy for fabulous skin!

Not only do his patients love him but celebrities on both coasts swear by his positively fabulous line of skin care products and I'm going to be among those who believe in what he creates! I can honestly say that his belief in an "artistic approach" to medicine is special and says to me that he GETS what WE as consumers and if your lucky, patients require for after the office visit regular results!

We all know I LOVE my "products" and that generally includes makeup in every imaginable form. I have said before that anything you put on your skin to guild the lily MUST be preceded by the most cared for and flawless skin "canvas" you can create! You simply must give your skin,no matter what type, what it needs to be nourished and protected, day and night. I believe in investing in products with proven results and find that "clinical" vs. "cosmetic" grade products ALWAYS deliver the best results. They contain much more in the way of actual active ingredients as oppose to fillers and other components. You usually get what you pay for when it comes to wanting the best possible edge in caring for your skin!

When I opened the plush gold velvet pouch and held the (generous) glass bottle of "KenetMD 24K Gold Serum" in my hand, I had a "moment": I already knew that what was contained inside would be precious, vital and valuable for the care of my skin! This serum is like no other in that it contains flecks of actual 24K gold not for sparkle or for a gimmick, but because through the ages, this precious metal has been known for it's skin healing and anti-aging properties! This serum reduces inflammation, softens age spots and reduces fine lines and wrinkles VERY quickly and noticeably!

I used this daily for about a week before I realized I HAD to share my experiences asap: my skin has been re-textured and I'm not sure that in spite of my considerable and consistent efforts, it's ever looked better! I have a smooth radiance and more visibly even skin tone and if you apply the serum under makeup, it's absolutely the BEST and most effective primer I have used! Full of rich and luxurious oils and essentials it's like applying a drop of pure magic to your face! You need only a tiny amount, it glides on perfectly and easily and within seconds, you look more rested and vibrant! I am usually a girl who prefers silver BUT absolutely believe we have struck GOLD with Dr. Kenet's serum! Here's the best thing: it's rare I don't have some sort of "spot" someplace whether due to testing too many products, a foundation that is less than, or from hours of sweating because I do workout but I haven't had ONE SINGLE blemish,spot,or bump since I began using this KenetMD's serum! That is itself is worth the price to me! Perfect for all skin types and at initial application, there is a slight and wonderful scent, maybe a light citrus but it just melts away with seconds!

I love to read: not just a magazine here and there but long, heavy to carry volumes of historical biographies, epic romances and tales of terror! Goddess Granny's other "addiction" besides anything that comes in a plastic tube, compact or jar is BOOKS! I have become even more of a bookworm since the arrival of my iPad a year ago and can spend hours browsing for books with the immediate gratification that downloads bring! I know many of my friends ONLY read in the Summer while relaxing and one of the most fabulous series to indulge in is the "Sookie Stackhouse" saga of books written by an incredibly talented Southern lady named "Charlaine Harris. Where DO these sweet Southern girls get the ideas for such HOT stories?

Basically they revolve around the life and loves of "Sookie" who is a not so normal waitress living in a fictional town in Louisiana...She seems to attract "supes" ie, otherworldly people such as vampires, werewolves, fairies, witches and all manner of ghouls and goblins. She always rises above, stays true to herself and tries to find real love! What's not to like, it's pure fiction and believe me, these are NOT the insipid characters of a tween novel. The stories have depth, the characters are rich and real, the sex is hot and the wit and humor palatable!

A brilliant direct named Alan Ball ("American Beauty") took on the tough task of bringing Sookie and her minions to TV three years ago in a little HBO show named,"True Blood" and the rest is Sunday night history! It now has a following LARGER than the "Sopranos" ever had and millions of fans and followers! THE most gorgeous people on TV, men, women, gays and fantasy figures all come to life in some pretty wild story lines! The one liners are hysterical and biting (no pun intended ) The soundtracks are the stuff of musical dreams, many indy and no so indy artists but the music always coincides with the episode of the night! It is my VERY favorite TV show EVER and a guilty pleasure I shall indulge in relentlessly!

The Season 3 "True Blood" premiere is on Sunday June 26th and I have my, "Nothin' good could come from sumpthin' so pretty..." shirt (quote Layfayette, one of my fav characters) t-shirt all ready to wear, my popcorn dish waiting to be filled AND I will NOW probably have my makeup looking SO fine that perhaps vampire "Eric" (if there is a God, please let him look like THIS man?) will visit my dreams?

I adore "Tarte" for SO many reasons: if you know the history of the brand, the mission statement they adhere to and the way their products just keep on getting better all the time, you will agree! It is and will always be in my top 5 brands! We at Megsmakeup.com can't get enough of their fabulous products! They have catapulted to the top of my list recently because Tarte has the foresight to realize how extraordinary "True Blood" actually is! It has become a major cultural sensation and influence. Even in the biz of beauty because the actors are SO flipping' beautiful, dead or alive!) Tarte has released a limited edition and INCREDIBLE products for "True Blood!" Be still my heart...

I wish I could be one of those "Girls of Summer"...I really do but Goddess Granny is more like an "Autumn Evening" sort of girl. I like the sun but it hates my fair,sensitive skin.I want to do "outdoor sports" but I am better suited to a crowded dance class or dingy studio with a pole. I WANT bronzed skin and gilded hair but alas, unless I spray it on and pay a lot for a few golden strands, I simply have to fight to attain such iconic all American beauty. Not really worth it for me most of the year and I absolutely believe that all should keep their faces out of the sun (and that includes chests and hands!) to avoid premature aging, brown spots and worse but I too want to be a carefree shade of light caramel for at least a couple of months?

Again,I resort to a few tried and true beauty-BFF's to get me by: Sally Hansen's "Airbrushed Legs"in a sleek and affordable canister in a pinch and the amazing "Arcona" self-tanning bronzer that gives a hint of REAL looking healthy color naturally while you get a fake bake in a few hours.You also can't beat brush on/blend on bronzers by LORAC or Benefit BUT as always,the results are only as good as the blank canvas/skin you apply your sun-kissed coloring on top of...

I love bath and body products and have a decent stash: not much makes me feel better than a good soak, shampoo, or cleanse (LOVE Zakia's Moroccan Black Soap for the ultimate in skin purifying goodness!) and yes, I am a sucker for anything that scrubs and smoothes and scents me in the process? I have tested and bought more than my share of fine products but when "LaLicious" Sugar Souffle scrub landed in my lap, I knew I was holding something special! Jessica Kernochan used the "opportunity" of losing her job in 2002 to create what I believe to be one of THE best, highest quality,and luxurious lines of handcrafted bath and body products available! Natural and paraben-free ingredients are only the beginning of what makes her "LaLicious" line of products highly sought after and used in many top salon and spas...and did I mention that girls like Halle Berry, Jessica Alba and Kate Hudson ALSO can't get enough "LaLicious" goodness?

Hoping everyone is enjoying a bit of well-deserved time off from the daily routine! Goddess Granny likes a good long weekend even better than an actual vacation because you try to cram a LOT of things into a short period of time and I really do believe in the "I'll sleep when I'm dead!" philosophy! SO much to do and learn, and see and try...I am getting SUCH a kick out of watching my totally non-tech man learn to navigate the new ipad I gave him for his recent birthday:he's like a child with a new box of 64 crayons and there are actually sound effects like,"Gee, WOW, Damn...will you look at THAT!" involved) I think we sometimes become jaded to the wonders of today and it's refreshing when someone discovers a brilliant new product for the first time. It also inspires me to try something new so on the subject of brilliant new products, I have one in my sparkly coral Shellac-tipped fingers that is VERY new and VERY exciting!

What IS it in me that is drawn to anything with a sheen, sparkle or shine? My hometown of Auburn, NY is famous for attracting millions of roosting crows every Autumn. Maybe I was one of these scavengers of glittery-items in a former life? Not sure but I know for a fact that no matter how somber, matte, sophisticated or "mature." I try to be, there is always something that has a bit of the bling on my body! It makes me happy and I can honestly say that even a thin (UD makes THE best ones!) of colored glitter liner on my lids or a megawatt sparkling topcoat on my toes never fails to makes people notice, smile and compliment me so I'm stickin' with it!

There are of course, "degrees" of luminosity: you can apply adhesive to your eyelids and press on SERIOUSLY sequined particles (Two Faced or Hard Candy make great products for this effect) or just allow a gentle dusting of finely-milled powder to rest like a butterfly kiss on your cheekbones! (MAC "Silver Dusk" powder you are mine for life!) The brilliant and incredibly chic creators of Red Carpet worthy products at LORAC guided by the makeup artist divine, Carol Shaw (and yes,we DO absolutely adore this brand at Megsmakeup!) I have yet again come up with an irresistible and totally NEW product that may just have me gently shoving everything else on my vanity into a pile of sparkling sludge! A little glass bottle that is downright sexy contains their new LORAC "3D Liquid Lustre" Tinkerbelle has had her nose pressed up against my window for a week just dying for a drop of THIS little potion! (Actually a red cardinal has been beating itself against the window but let me have my fantasy!)

Well...here it is May 21, 2011 and in spite of the rumored "end of the world" today, Goddess Granny is planning on getting dolled up to go out and celebrate my fabulous man's 60th birthday tonight so it damn well better not start raining unicorn's or some such nonsense!

It's bad enough to have to listen to all the gloomer's and doomer's on a daily basis and to be subjected to 45 minutes of commentary on the theory behind what "motivates men to cheat" (Thanks Arnold for shattering yet another female fantasy!) without literally second-guessing myself as to "if" the world will still be rotating after 6pm...)

I LOVE to get dolled up as do most of us and i usually start the pre-event work ahead of time. Unless I'm cooking, then I have to rely on the steam from the pasta pan to give me a glow. This party tonight is in honor someone who puts up with me, indulges me, listens to me, laughs at me and loves me so I feel a responsibility to pull out all the stops for him! Found a CUTE retro red/white polka dotted dress on the "Pinup Girl" site, have darling high wedges to go with and intend to go with a glam-girl 1950's look for the evening (which he loves!) and as we know, that takes some effort to pull off well.

Got my creamy foundation, blackest eyeliner for a cat's eye, fluttery faux lashes, a bit of silver shadow and my reddest red lipstick all laid out. Of course, the prep and prime work done before the warpaint makes a HUGE difference. I have been layering on THE most amazing and "plumping" lip balm I've ever found since last night! You've probably heard of the coveted and quite pricey "Kinerase" line of skin care because SO many celebs and beauties swear by it. I tell you I about got kicked out of the drugstore (for screeching and doing booty pops :) when I recognized THE "Kinerase" name connected to an absolutely stellar and reasonably priced line available where you buy toothpaste? The "Dr Lewinn by Kinerase" line is the first released to the mass market that combines the extensive experience of Dr Lewinn a renowned Australian plastic surgeon with ingredients that the breakthrough anti-aging  ingredient "kinetin!"

Giselle, Jennifer Aniston, Debra Messing...these GORGEOUS girls and countless others have discovered this totally effective formula and now we can as well without having to pawn our designer purses to buy!

It just cost Goddess Granny over $85.00 to put 3/4 of a tank of gas in my vehicle! Granted, I drive a "country girl" pickup truck out of necessity but I also don't have to drive daily and pretty much can afford to fuel up whenever I reach the halfway point...not so for the five or six other vehicles an the outside of the station-lot who apparently either ran out of gas and were filling from cans or arrived on fumes and didn't quite make it to the pump. I don't want to sound like a "gloomer" but this damn gas crunch is starting to affect ALL of us in some way! I find that I am buying less, choosing carefully. Now I believe that a truly cute straw-tote from Target will get me through the Summer with great style. I'll save my "purse fund" for something "name" come Fall when hopefully, things have settled a bit!

I am not frugal by nature but I like to think I'm a smart shopper so when I find a REALLY great product that is inexpensive and fabulous, I need to share with y'all asap!

I love lip stains and pencils: I workout a lot and once I leave the house for the day it's a "drive" for me to get back home so whatever I apply in the am and toss in my purse has to go the distance with me! I find that these formulas cling longer than slick glosses and creamy sticks (which I also love) so I have quite a few shades in rotation. Last week, I FORGOT to put my new, rather pricey, but oh so fabulous and chic "Dolce Vita" velvet lip pencil (Nars) in my purse. I was running late and of course, had a business-related lunch that day. Not much between here in Lonesome Dove-land and "civilization" aka an upscale mall with lots of restaurants except a Walmart. I know...we all know...I was desperate! Figured at the very least,I could find a tube of "Cherries in the Snow" (Revlon, a classic red) that hadn't been mangled by a four year old and I'd be on my way with a backup tube for after lunch :)

Ran in to discover that the Revlon aisle has been ravaged by wolves who ate lipstick and was about to leave,figuring I'd bite the hell out of my lips for color when I spotted the GORGEOUS "Hard Candy" display on the end cap! I was in awe! TONS of products, adorable packaging, amazing colors, many in my fav "not so natural" shades! Lotions, potions, glitters and more glosses and lipsticks than was fair to a makeup-maven! I wanted to load the display into my truck and sort it all out later!

Happy Spring! I know the weather has been very unkind to some and it's just plain been a strange month...Goddess Granny is sensing that the "universe is out of whack" but we still need to put on our glam game faces! We must dust off those patent shoes. Let that Spring fever lighten us up even if it's just a state of mind and  we need some pretty new colors to brighten us up! Note: I will NOT be embracing the newest egg-colored YELLOW nail polishes being touted in the world of nail-color couture...Bright yellow is for Peeps, not for nails, HA!

I am usually more than adequate, okay I'm damn good at applying makeup and if it's on someone else? I am a pro because it's easier: you can see what you're doing, blending makes more sense and if they hold still, it generally results in perfection! I am eyeshadow-challenged when it comes to my own applications. I LOVE my UD pencils for swipe and go looks and can do a helluva black ubiquitous smokey-eye. Let's face it, you are simply smearing black around your eyes! When it comes to those coveted couture looks with the array of blended colors and perfect enhancements I see in the glossy ads and on some, I sigh.

I've just never been adept at using three or more shadows at once on my eyes and ending up with a look that I could show in public.

No more.

If I look at the mess (recently organized but...) on my vanity, SO many of my favorite products are by "Tarte" with good reason: they are brilliant, natural, have beautiful "green" packaging. The the colors always tend to flatter everyone! I don't know how but they continue to create stunning products without any of the gunk we try to avoid but still manage to be on trend with gorgeous shades and ingredients that nourish and brighten! Recently Sephora had a 15% off "VIB" sale (get signed up if you aren't, awesome perks!) and I felt compelled to buy a few "staples" with my discount. I physically went into the store, started browsing the shelves, a dangerous game indeed! I was sort of looking for THE new eyeshadow palette that would allow me to look like I knew what I was doing. After dismissing the bolds, the shimmery and the gaudy I found my shadow-nirvana in Tarte's new "Femme Naturale" shadow palette and my search is over!

Ten PERFECT shades of mineral "based" shadow (I cannot begin to manage the fallout from tiny plastic pots of traditional mineral shadow) that do more to light up my eyes and face than I ever dreamed possible! Also comes with a generous sample of their famous shadow primer, a double sided long wearing pencil and two-ended brush that actually is pro-quality and works beautifully for application! The case itself is a glossy purple accented with a sassy rosette and very dressy and the shadows are housed in magnetic pans so you CAN and WILL be able to buy individual pans of shadow to refill....genius and VERY luxurious, looks like an evening clutch!