We all know there are some really great videos on youtube, especially funny ones that help to break up the workday. Some videos are inspirational, too, but those are usually too sappy for me. I don’t like sappy. Most of the videos I see are passed around in emails so if I’ve seen one, you probably have as well. It’s the whole viral thing you know.

One series of youtube videos, though, are worth mentioning. Lauren Luke aka panacea81 is a makeup genius. She applies makeup with step-by-step instructions. Whether she’s creating a Sweet & Innocent Wedding look or Amy Winehouse eyeliner, you’ll be treated to a transformation that is amazing and yet very easy to follow at home.

Keep in mind that Ms. Luke is very lovely with great eyes. Her eyebrows are perfection. Since I’m afraid of being waxed (yes, I’m a wimp) I’ve been inspired to invest in Rubis tweezers so I can mimic panacea81’s brows. My biggest dilemma is deciding which video to watch and what look to copy. There are just so many videos to watch that I could spend days on end watching, trying, washing and then starting over.

If you’re a girly geek or just a girly girl and you’re looking for a site that’s fun and feeds your “inner pretty” then head on over to Lauren Luke’s YouTube site and try on a new You. If you have a blog, post your pics and then come back here and let me know about it. I’d love to see what you do with these great video tutorials.

I know most people would rather just walk into a store and buy a cosmetic or toiletry that works for them. And many people simply enjoy the whole buying experience when it comes to beauty products.

And then there are those of us who would rather formulate their own beauty products.

I initially became interested in formulating because everything I used seem to make my face break out. I discovered some really wonderful mineral makeup that helped my skin tremendously. At the same time, I began to experiment with skin care that utilized Essential Oils and a few other simple ingredients. One of my favorite resources for Essential Oil information is the Index of Essential Oils

If you’re looking for information on hair care, sore muscles, acne treatment or even how to mix up a “sensual” blend for romantic evenings, you’ll find just what you want here. The site offers many of these oils for sale but provides information even for those oils they don’t sell.

Please be sure to read all the precautions as well as the benefits of each oil. Yes, they are considered “natural” but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be careful with them. Some are quite potent.

If you’re wondering, my very favorite Essential Oil is Helichrysum. Feel free to send some my way.

Everything old is new again. That’s true, especially in fashion. If you wait long enough, the outdated clothes you wore in high school will reappear on the racks at every department store, at about triple the price you paid when you were 16. I know because I never thought I’d see bell bottom jeans or hip huggers come back but they did, with a new name. Now they’re called “low-rise” and “flare” but they’re still hip hugger bell bottoms. Trust me.

Anyway, I love vintage clothes. Some of the nicest dresses I own are from the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. The quality of the workmanship is just one advantage of buying vintage. The real appeal, at least for me, is that the chance of seeing the dress or shoes I’m wearing coming toward me on the street or at the office is pretty slim if my outfit is vintage. I love having a one-of-a-kind and with vintage items that’s often the case.

While I have a closet full of vintage dresses, I have one that I want so badly to wear but I need to fine the proper undergarments, preferably a strapless corset, to wear under it. I’m on the hunt for the right one. I can’t wait till I can fit into those great old dresses again!

True Confession: I came very close to failing biology in high school. My teacher passed me with a D, under the condition that I had no intention of pursuing a career in medicine or even opting to take chemistry the following year. No problem. I hated science.

Ah, but if only I’d known then what I know now! I had no clue that chemistry was part of beauty. Specifically, I didn’t realize that learning chemistry would allow me to create beauty products like creams, lotions, shampoo and hair conditioner. Had someone explained that to me, I would have pored over my science book like it was a Harold Robbins novel. Chemistry would have fit right into my girly girl world like my 4-inch platform shoes, silk bustiers and hip hugger bell bottom jeans.

It’s never too late, though, and to that end I present Better Hair Through Chemistry. After you check out the fun learning activities (the hair hygrometer is really cool!) click through the pages and read about how chemistry can keep your hair healthy.

Interesting tidbits to note: detergent sounds harsh but is actually more gentle on your hair than soap! That’s because soap is alkaline and your hair is acidic. We soapmakers know this and also know that after using soap to wash your hair, a vinegar rinse in absolutely necessary.

Whether you perm, chemically straighten or color your hair, pay special attention to how that all works. This article is like a hair styling mini course. The writing is geared toward the average person so that even I understood it!

Go ahead and read through this. If you’re not so interested in hair, pass it along to your wife, sister or mother. We women are all about this stuff, even if we don’t admit it.

Do you love makeup, toiletries, fragrance and all things generally related to beauty and pampering? Me, too! In fact, I like that stuff so much that I often get carried away and buy more than I need. Sometimes I buy things that I never even use. You, too?

Several years ago I found a site that became tremendously helpful in cleaning up my beauty product overflow. Makeup Alley is the ultimate beauty site. It’s so packed with features that I’m not quite sure where to begin.

Let’s start with the community. The Boards, or forum is a great place to talk to other women about the products they use and love or hate. There are boards for makeup, hair, skincare or just chitchatting. Whether you’re searching for opinions on the newest Dior mascara or you need ideas for your upcoming wedding, you’ll find great advice and some really nice ladies here, willing to lead you in the right direction.

If you’re not feeling the whole community thing, head on over to the product reviews. Whether you’re searching for products from one brand or a specific type of product in several brands, you can filter and filter to get just what you want. The ladies who review the products here aren’t spokeswomen, either. They’re real women who have tried products are want to share their opinions with you. Some of the reviews simply state good or bad but quite a few of the women will go into much detail, even describing what they expected or what their problem areas are. The review section at makeup alley is probably one of the best places online to research products before buying.

The section of makeup alley that attracted me in the first place is the Swap. This has to be the very best way to try products that are very pricey but so tempting. Some women swap only drug store items but quite a few women swap high end brands like Dior, Stila, MAC, Nars. In fact, I’ve swapped away some of these very brands. I’ve swapped products that were never even opened! I’ve also got great products in return - and not all are makeup, either. You’ll find all kinds of fashion items up for swap, from purses and shoes to corsets and t-shirts.

To protect members, there’s also a rating system so that you can see a member’s previous swaps and what the recipient thought of the condition of the product and the outcome of the swap. The system allows for comments and replies that are very easy to filter.

Makeup Alley has been one of my favorite sites for a number of years. I’ve discovered some great products and brands from the women at Makeup Alley and I’ve also avoided some bad purchases thanks to those who share their opinions. If you love makeup, beauty items and all things girly, sign up for a free account and look around. There’s so much more than what I mentioned and it’s all good.

Maggie is graduating from 8th grade this year. She attends a Catholic school which always makes a big deal of the 8th grade graduation. It makes the kids feel really special.

I’m trying to choose a special gift for her but I’m a little stumped. I’ve looked at various sites that have nice selections of catholic gifts for these special events but nothing is jumping out at me just yet.

Any ideas? A necklace? A nice book? Or something else? I’m open to suggestions.

My daughter has inherited my love of travel. She has been trying for two years to get me to take her on a one day shopping trip to New York. I’d love to go to New York but one day? Is that enough time?

I told her that a weekend trip might be better. Since it will be a mother/daughter thing, I thought a New York Bed and Breakfast would be really nice. I think Maggie would enjoy that experience.

I think I’ll make a list of places that Maggie and I can visit. After New York, I think we ought to go south. What do you think of Tennessee?

I’ve been searching everywhere for a certain hairstyle. I’m really tired of my hair. I’ve tried to grow it long but I think it’s just quit growing. It happens.

I know how I want it to look but I can’t find a picture. If anyone out there knows of a site with loads of hairstyle pictures, pass it on to me. I’m hoping to make an appointment for next week after the snow thaws. I like the hair stylist at the little shop next to the store where you can buy christian gifts. There’s a girl there who’s good with curly hair but I really need a picture to help explain what I want.

Anyone?

I don’t straighten my hair anymore. I let my daughter straighten it once in a while but I do prefer it curly. And I guess I’m not the only one. An entire website is devoted to curly heads just like me.

At NauturallyCurly.com you’ll find the best products for your curls, great ideas for styling, pictures of curly heads and a friendly, helpful community of fellow curlies.

So just say no to the flat iron and join the naturally curly, naturally proud.

I love cosmetics. I always have. I love making myself look different. It isn’t so much about not liking who am I as it is loving to use my face as canvas to create something different. It’s about having fun.

And yet there are many young girls who use makeup, plastic surgery, extreme dieting, etc. to try to conform to some mythical “ideal” as proclaimed by our media driven society. Our daughters are not simply trying to be better; they’re trying to achieve something that doesn’t even exist.

The beauty that fills the pages of the fashion magazines is not real. It’s computer generated. Don’t believe me? Well check out this post from my friend Cass. Now go show that to a young girl needing to learn the truth about the beauty industry.

For a more interactive experience, take a look at Greg Apodaca’s photography website. Pay special attention to the beautiful, exotic, bikini-clad woman and the young, perky, blonde girl. Look closely at the picture, then hold your cursor over the picture to see it as it was originally taken. There are additional photos on the right side giving close ups of the photos.

Now isn’t that amazing? And wouldn’t that be great if all young girls could see the truth about beauty in the media? For that matter, wouldn’t it be just as good for our sons to see it, too. They need to know that most of what they see as desirable is a fantasy. Maybe if we can show our kids this truth they’ll finally start liking themselves enough to respect and care for their bodies. Maybe a healthy self-esteem in adolescence wouldn’t be so rare.