Big Red Kiss Goodbye!

 Awe, don't cry! It won't be for long, just a couple of weeks hiatus. Thought I should leave with some age old advice regarding red lipstick, as every women should give it a go at least once in their life...it seems to give your lips a life of their own. As mine did making lip prints all over the shop...little terrors!

In a previous incarnation I was once a make-up artist for Shiseido. Our uniform included No. 8 Red lippy, which I still wear today. It is THE perfect red lipstick, there must be others out there but I love this one as it doesn't report to be anything fancy e.g. long lasting, plumper, moisture rich...blah blah blah. It just is red and gorgeous. 

Now ladies, there are tricks of the trade to keep a red perfect pout. I shall reveal them, but remember use the lips for evil, not good ;)


Step one: Apply natural colour lip liner to dry lips (not chapped, just without balm or moisturiser)
Step two: Get a fine lip brush and coat liberally in red lipstick, then apply starting from corners of mouth around the edges of the lips, nice and carefully - red lippy should never be rushed, it's a calm ritual. Then apply to rest of lips.
Step three: Get tissue and dab lips (You know the cover teeth bite down thing), repeat step two, then apply last coat and then leave your lips alone!
Step four: Leave your lips alone! Cannot stress this enough, no rolling or smacking them together to 'distribute colour', it just distributes it into your mouth and onto your teeth...not pretty. Pretend that they are precious, and they probably are considering the mischief they are going to get you into.
Step five: Eat using your teeth...I know this sounds simple and probably a bit stupid, practice in front of mirror if you need to because there's a fine art to not looking like an idiot. Take small bites, opening your mouth slightly wider, then scrap food off the fork/spoon, kind of pushing your lips out into a pout...ok now I really sound like a knob. Think 'How would Marilyn Monroe eat'. When sipping from a glass, only bubbles because glass is smaller or through a straw for mixed drinks, pay close attention to only letting the glass or straw touch the inside of your bottom lip.

So this does sound like a crap load of work and effort, it's just practice though, I don't even think about it anymore....and hopefully I don't look like an idiot either. I usually only have to re-apply once during an evening, and even then I usually only take a bit of lippy on a retractable lip brush...perfect for little purses.

So go out there ladies and pout your gorgeous red lips, feel free to give me feedback from my advice - it can also be used for other colours of course, although I dare you to try the red and send me pics!
Big red kisses! XXX

Stop! In the name of Red!

Yeah, I'm a big nerd but I work hard at creating such catchy titles....So, was thinking today about the nature of red, how it makes me feel and how it is seen as a symbol. Stop sign or warning sign is one of them. Heard from a parent the other day that their child's school has stopped using red pen to mark school work because it 'has negative connotations', seriously? You need a little fear at school anyway, bring it back I say!...maybe that's why I got fixated on it....No, probably more because it invokes passion, lust and devilish behaviour, and trust me there were absolutely no high school teacher crushes involved in that decision! Filthy minds you have. 

Chinese see red as a symbol of luck, good fortune, happiness and prosperity. It is used as a traditional wedding gown and to wrap New Years gifts in, very apt for this time of year. Plus my birthday this week....red gifts are most welcome. To see what can be wrapped up in a silky red ribbon check out my Wishlist - Link on the sidebar.

They call me the wild rose....

Not really, but good song! Kylie and Nick Cave, the unnatural

combination that came up with that cracker of a song. I once saw Nick Cave getting impatient for his coffee standing in a queue at the coffee hut in Brighton station (UK), hilarious! But I digress....

Today I trimmed my red roses lining our front yard. When we moved in 3 months ago, they were a sorry lot, loads of dead wood, hardly any flowers. But I had to wait until Christmas to get some gardening equipment, so I fretted; wondering if they would just crack it and die. So as soon as I had the chance I hacked into the little buggers with vigor! They have now been refreshed and renewed, each with about 10 or more gorgeous blood red roses. Husband was lovely enough to take some very arty shots of them for me, one is here but for more visit his photo blog: http://jasshoots.tumblr.com/post/3160819555/nice-lady. 

Taking orders for valentines day...actually maybe not, I just love my not-so-wild roses too much!

Red or Alive

People close to me know my other obsession apart from red, is Etsy, so I have created a treasury on this wonderfully addictive site for some deliciously sexy things. Click on Red or Alive to view some naughty things I found....and just things I like. If anyone has any suggestions of red themed treasuries I can create, like red home decor, party dresses, hair pieces, you name it and I'll curate it. Beware when you click on this treasury though, may make you red in the face....oh how I love a good pun!