Words to live by

"We live only to discover beauty. All else is a form of waiting."

-Kahlil Gibran, Lebanese-American author and essayist

Enjoy looking and feeling blissfully beautiful.

-MaryAnn

This is no Minnie Mouse makeup

It's been announced that Disney is teaming up with always fashion-forward beauty company MAC for a cosmetics line to launch in September. The Venomous Villains line will include lip gloss, lipstick, powder and blush. Everything will retail between$12 and $29.50. No word yet on the packaging, but I'm sure it'll combine the best of both companies and be cute and chic. It's an interesting collaboration, and I can't wait to see the products!

Enjoy looking and feeling blissfully beautiful.

-MaryAnn

My Dream Red Lip

Image from Little Plastic Horses

Now THESE are statement lips. I love the color, the sparkle, the precision. Notice how she's not wearing any other makeup. Smart choice--the lips definitely speak for themselves. I want to master this look for my birthday in June. I might have to go down to MAC (or a craft store?!) and buy some loose glitter for this look. It's definitely worth it. This is just simply breathtaking!

Enjoy looking and feeling blissfully beautiful.

-MaryAnn

Frizz Fighter

Image from Ouidad

As someone with naturally curly hair, I am always looking for the new "it" fix for frizz, summer's biggest beauty bummer. This year, I'm looking for help from Ouidad's Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel, $22, Sephora stores and sephora.com. The unique formula takes moisture from the air and uses it to hydrate your strands and keep hair frizz-free. Talk about taking something bad like humidity and turning it in a good thing.

For even coverage, take a small amount of the product and rub it between your palms. Run your hands from the front of your hair to the back as if you're making a ponytail. Step back and admire your frizz-free curls.

Enjoy looking and feeling blissfully beautiful.

-MaryAnn

Words to live by

"Confidence comes not from always being right, but from not fearing to be wrong."

-Peter T. McIntyre, painter and author from New Zealand

Enjoy looking and feeling blissfully beautiful.

-MaryAnn

How-to: Do a fishtail braid

I am a huge runway hair and beauty fan, even though I know the trends aren't always very practical (Black matte lipstick? Shaved eyebrows? No, thanks). Finally, the latest hair trend is something I can do myself--with a little assistance. Braids were huge for Fall 2010. There were long, side-swept ones at Alexander Wang and Heidi-esque ones at Oscar de la Renta. However, my favorite kind were the fishtail braids at Doo.Ri and Missoni. I've always admired them, but couldn't do them myself...until now.

Here's the very helpful style guide I use from (where else?) style.com. Good luck!

Enjoy looking and feeling blissfully beautiful.

-MaryAnn

Ambitious Beauty Cuties: Mia

Mia is part-photographer, part-fashionista and all style. For her blog Marionette, s

he always finds the most fashion-forward people who aren't afraid to take risks (and I always love that).

This 21-year-old Norwegian takes to the streets for her blog to find serious chicness in models, fashion royalty and everyday glamazons.

1. What inspires you?

It's hard to say one thing that inspires me because I get inspired all the time, every day. It can be a person or something I see. It's all about the feeling I get when I spot an item or a person--a feeling that gets my mind running!

2. What is beautiful to you?

I take photos of what I find beautiful. People expressing happiness, shyness or passion is beautiful. Old people and wisdom is beautiful. Life itself is beautiful. The personality people have given themselves in what they have created is beautiful. The power and massiveness of nature is beautiful. I could continue forever. We are surrounded with so much beauty, which is one of the reasons why I love photography.

3. Why did you want to start a blog?

I started a blog when I lived in Paris for a year and a half. In the beginning, I wasn't that into it until I came home to Norway the next summer, and I wasn't surrounded by the beauty of Paris anymore. People aren't as fashionable in Norway as in Paris, so I started writing on my blog again when I was spending my summer experimenting with styling and photography, as well as getting lost in style.com!

4. How do you choose the people you photograph?

If they've got something I find different and unique. If they stand out in the crowd!

5. Do you have a personal motto?

I don't have one in particular, although a good quote can turn around my day in a heartbeat (check out the label wise words on her blog).

6. What are some of your favorite things?

Some of my favorite things: my Dior bags I got from my mom (my mother used them when she was my age), an ancient silver bracelet I bought in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, my vintage YSL glasses I bought in Hong Kong and, maybe most important, my camera :)

Enjoy looking and feeling blissfully beautiful.

-MaryAnn