Bootie Babe

Please enjoy the following press release from Bootie Babe!

Bootie Babe® is a new beauty and fashion brand developed by SuperBooty LLC.

The company incorporated in August of 2010 and quickly set out to design its first collection, a line of nail polish featuring cute and collectible bootie shaped bottles.

SuperBooty President and CEO Mark O’Hara wanted to create a humorous, bold and truely unique beauty product that would literally “stand out” from the competition.

O'Hara's creative and business interests go beyond nail polish.  He states "My goal is to develop the Bootie Babe brand and manufacture a variety of products including cosmetics, apparel, accessories and jewelry.

After close to a year of research and development, SuperBooty LLC is proud to announce the release of this collection, available in twelve shades of color including Hella Baloo™, Purp Slurp™, Mean Tangerine™, Lilac Lunatic™ and Slinky Pinky™.

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THE BOOTIE BABE STORY

SuperBooty LLC President and CEO Mark O’Hara is the creator of the Bootie Babe beauty and fashion brand.  He is also an entertainer, musician, composer and animator.

After graduating in 1990 from California State University, Chico with degrees in Broadcast Journalism and Music, he was hired by Macromedia, a leading multimedia software firm in San Francisco and managed their Authorized Developer program.

While working at Macromedia he became very interested in Macintosh computers and graphics and animation software.

In 1993 O’Hara opened up his own digital design house and over the next few years created a variety of interactive projects for clients such as Sony, CNET and Macromedia.

In 1995 he formed a 15-piece funk dance band called SuperBooty, a popular group that performed over 350 concerts all over California, including gigs with artists such as Kool and the Gang, The Isley Brothers Chaka Khan and P-Funk.

O’Hara was responsible for every aspect of the band operation – management, bookings, finances, music and art direction, web development, promotion and publicity.

It was during this time that he developed the concept for bootie-themed cosmetics and fashion products, starting with a line of tee-shirts and stickers to promote the band at concerts.

He also began working on early 3D prototypes for a bootie-shaped cosmetics line that would later become Bootie Babe.

In the Summer of 2010, O’Hara decided to move forward with his cosmetics concept, starting with a line of nail polish.

He noticed that many of the brands were using the same standardized bottle shapes and realized that there was a market for something  more “custom” and “collectible”.

He also thought it would be unique to connect the brand name to the actual shape of the containers for a more integrated presentation.

Over the next year O’Hara developed the entire Bootie Babe concept.  He designed the website and product logo, applied for trademarks and patents and, most importantly, oversaw product development for the world’s first bootie shaped nail polish bottle!

On June 1st 2011 the first collection of Bootie Babe Nail Polish went on sale featuring twelve shades of color including “Hella Baloo”, “Lilac Lunatic” and “Brink of Pink”.

The second product offering, Bootie Babe Perfume went on sale on July 1st, 2011. The six new fragrances include "StrawBootie", "BootieBerry", and "Mighty Mango."

It is Mark O’Hara’s goal to grow the Bootie Babe brand beyond cosmetics.  He states,  “The cosmetics line is just an entry point into a whole world of cute and collectible bootie-themed products.  We plan on introducing new Bootie Babe products every few months.”

Emmy Look: Nancy O'Dell's Wrapped Ponytail

Please enjoy the following press release from RUSK!

Entertainment Tonight Host & Rusk Official Spokesperson Nancy O’Dell arrived early on the red carpet to interview the stars as they arrived at the 63rd Annual Emmy Awards.  Dressed in a red mermaid gown - one of the trend setting colors of the night - Nancy completed her look with an elegant up-do courtesy of her celebrity hairstylist Bobby H. Grayson.

"Nancy's gown was such a statement piece, we thought that she needed an on trend up-do to finish the look" said Grayson. Drawing inspiration from many of the ponytails he saw last week during Fashion Week, Grayson created a wrapped ponytail that would keep Nancy's hair looking elegant and sleek throughout the long night. 

Step 1: Bobby began working on Nancy’s towel dried hair, carefully blowing out each section with a round boar bristle brush.  Once her hair was completely dried, he sectioned off an area around the crown of the head and worked hot rollers into that section of the hair.

Step 2: The rest of Nancy’s hair was pulled back into a sleek, low ponytail.  Once the pony was fastened with a hair tie, Grayson took numerous strands that were hanging and began wrapping them around the hair tie to create the wrapped look.  Since Nancy has such long hair, it was easier to create the wrapping.  For shorter hair, Grayson suggests fastening 2 hair ties around the hair.  One at the base of the ponytail and another a inch or so further down.  This way, the hair is secure and easier to wrap.

Step 3: Once Nancy’s hair was fully wrapped around the ponytail, Grayson carefully snuck bobby pins underneath the hair to secure the look and finished this section with a nice spray of Rusk’s W8less Hairspray.

Step 4: To ensure the bottom of the ponytail looked shiny and smooth, Grayson finished the ends with a flat iron.  He then used a touch of Rusk’s Deepshine Oil on the loose hair to give it that extra shine.

Step 5: Finally, Grayson removed the hot rollers from the crown of Nancy’s hair.  These rollers gave the top section some body which Grayson used to create a slight pompadour look, teasing this front section and fingering the strands into place.  Once Nancy’s hair fell perfectly, Grayson completed the look with another misting of Rusk’s W8less hairspray and she was ready for the red carpet.

Urban Decay Holiday 2011

I've already snagged Book of Shadows IV... but haven't used it yet!  Go figure.


Please enjoy the following press releases from Urban Decay!

SPARKLING LICKABLE BODY POWDER

Radiate so much beauty he’ll taste it with Sparkling Lickable Body Powder by Urban Decay! Redesigned with your vanity in mind, our new, petite boxes swank up any countertop or boudoir. Like kryptonite to Superman, our Marshmallow and Honey Body Powders render men powerless. So sparkle yourself deliciously irresistible.


PRODUCT INFO
• Take your ensemble and your evening from sexy to scintillating with Sparkling Lickable Body Powder. A mere dust of this decadent beauty treat makes you the main course!
• Our micro-fine, multi-dimensional glitter has a metallic base that adds a delectably subtle glow to all skin tones without that glitter-teen sparkle.
• Dress up your vanity without taking up valuable space! Our new, petite, Sparkling Lickable Body Powders feature sleek, more sophisticated, tassel-topped boxes, each with their own signature pattern, complete with a deluxe purple puff.
• Each stunning little box of Sparkling Lickable Body Powder is fitted with a sifter, to control how much powder winds up on your glamorous purple puff. The puff is fitted with a luxe ribbon strap to slide your finger through as you dust on delicious glow.
• Marshmallow – marshmallow flavored, soft white pearl shimmer in a chic, purple foil zebra print box.
• Honey – honey flavored, golden pearl shimmer in a seductive, bronze foil leopard print box


INSIDER INFO
• Taste as good as you look: Dust Sparkling Lickable Body Powder across your shoulders, your face, your décolletage, or all of the above for guaranteed kissable shimmer.
• Save dessert for last: Whisk your favorite flavor powder across your pillows and sheets for a yummy evening.
• Honey beautifully enhances a tan while Marshmallow adds an ethereal glow to a fair complexion.


Sparkling Lickable Body Powder (SRP $20) is available at Sephora, ULTA, and select Macy’s. Or online at sephora.com, ulta.com, macys.com, beauty.com, and urbandecay.com.

BOOK OF SHADOWS Vol. IV

This holiday season we can’t wait to turn up the volume with the highly-anticipated Book of Shadows Vol. IV: a collection of 16 mind-blowing eyeshadows, a 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner, Supercurl Curling Mascara and Eyeshadow Primer Potion. Complete with our smart-phone-ready ‘Get the Look’ tutorials and a pocket-sized speaker, get your beauty on to your favorite beats!

PRODUCT INFO
• We continue the 3-D palette trend we started, but on a whole new level. We adorned this palette with a mesmerizing, feminine laser light show and filled it with translucent, multi-colored, pop-up butterflies.
• Book of Shadows Vol. IV features more than ever before: a pull-out drawer showcasing 16 phenomenal shadows (10 of which are brand-new, exclusive to this collection), a full-sized version of our new 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Perversion (blackest black), travel-sized Supercurl Curling Mascara, travel-sized Eyeshadow Primer Potion (in its new tube packaging), and a mirror.
• But it’s more than makeup…this Book of Shadows brings you into the virtual dimension of beauty with a
portable speaker, a USB cord, audio cable, and ‘Get the Look’ QR card.
• A veritable Willy Wonka experience for makeup enthusiasts, our much-awaited Book of Shadows Vol. IV not only serves up the makeup goods and then some, but actually provides you with five strut-worthy looks via video tutorial to boot! With smart phone in hand, simply scan our QR (aka “quick response”) codes and
instantly download our five ‘Get the Look’ videos featuring Wende herself guiding you through each look. She teaches you how to use every shadow in the kit!
• Choose your own beauty adventure from our five newest looks: Monochrome, Smoke Out, Crystallized,
Purple Cat, and Naked. Scan the corresponding QR code. Plug your smart phone into the mini, ‘UD’
emblazoned, go-anywhere speaker with the cord provided, and drop your phone into the built-in, two-way
cradle (allowing you to watch either vertically or horizontally) located next to the mirror. Open the drawer of
shadows and recreate your look with Wende by your side each step of the way!
• Rock-out to your favorite iTunes playlist while getting your pretty on with our mini keychain speaker.


INSIDER INFO
• Sure, the purple speaker is possibly one of the cutest things you’ve ever seen, but it actually delivers big
sound! And sold alone, it retails for $32 . At half the price of the entire Vol. IV collection, this sleek little
device travels outside the kit with a keychain clip and makes the impromptu dance party a reality for all!
• No need to worry about losing power in the middle of your favorite jam, our mini speaker recharges each time you plug it into your phone or computer.


HOW TO
• Don’t let the cords or QR codes fool you, entering a virtual dimension has never been so easy! First, if
you don’t already have one installed on your smart phone, download a QR app from your smart phone’s
marketplace (remember, in order for it to work, your phone must have a camera on it). There are many free
QR apps to choose from.
• Using your QR code-reading app, capture the QR code that corresponds to the look you’d like to see, and
within seconds the video tutorial pops up! (Ease and consistency of capturing QR Codes may vary due to the
quality of your camera phone, and/or quality of the QR app.)


Book of Shadows Vol. IV (SRP $64) is available at Sephora, ULTA, and select Macy’s. Or online at Sephora.com, ulta.com, macys.com, beauty.com, and urbandecay.com.

* Shades previously exclusive to limited-edition items
** Brand-new shades exclusive to Book of Shadows Vol. IV

HOLIDAY NAIL KIT

Don’t deck the halls before you deck your nails! No matter how fab your hair looks, you’re not ‘did’ unless your nails are done. Celebrate the season one polish at a time with the Holiday Nail Kit by Urban Decay, a collection of six, supercharged nail enamels in holiday hues! By the time they figure out what shade you were donning at the holiday party, you’ll be setting the next color trend!

PRODUCT INFO
• The Holiday nail kit includes six of our seasonally-sized nail polishes in the ‘IT’ shades of holiday 2011.
• Featuring shades of the moment, customized for the season, the Holiday Nail Kit takes the guess work out of being a fashionista. Shimmer, sparkle, and deep, luxurious wine and grey tones anchor this rock-star-worthy collection highlighted by gold glitz and pops of emerald and fuchsia. And our seasonally-sized bottles mean when the season’s over, you can move on!
• Bedecked in hypnotic laser beams and colorful butterflies, the Holiday Nail Kit makes gift-giving a piece of
cake! The box is so mesmerizing you won’t want to wrap it! Gift yourself, a friend, or break it up into stocking stuffers (keeping at least one for yourself).


INSIDER INFO
• Don’t be fooled by the mini bottles, each brush has 220 strands just like a luxury nail polish brush, allowing for flawless and streak-free, yet detailed application of our cutting-edge colors.
• Our high-pigmented polishes are formulated free of toluene, formaldehyde, and DBP, so breathe easy and
look polished!
• Keep the inside tray and use it as a secure stand for your polish bottle whenever you paint your own.


THE HOLIDAY NAIL KIT SPECTRUM
Barlust – whiskey brown w/brown shimmer
Ziggy – gold and multi-colored glitter
Mars – emerald green w/ green and silver micro-glitter
Gunmetal – shimmery dark grey
Hot Mess – bright fuchsia w/ fuchsia micro-glitter
Wrecked – deep red wine


Holiday Nail Kit (SRP $28) is available at select Macy’s. Or online at urbandecay.com.

24/7 SHADOW PENCIL STASH

Introducing the 24/7 Shadow Pencil Stash by Urban Decay. A collection of amazing travel-size shadow pencils with some pretty fierce bragging rights: the highest color payout, longest wear time, smoothest application, no creasing, easiest to blend before dry down, and the hottest color selection!

PRODUCT INFO
• Play with bold color or create softly smudged effects with our ridiculously giftable 24/7 Shadow Pencil Stash featuring five shades that run the gamut from light and shimmery to deep and bright.
• Part of the 24/7 collection, our 24/7 Shadow Pencil stash boasts the same qualities that made our eye pencils such a sought-after product. Long-lasting, smudge-proof, and waterproof, our 24/7 formula glides on smoothly and feels lightweight.
• Free of parabens, mineral oil, and paraffin, this stash is at the top of everyone’s wish list!
• Twice as fat as our 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil, the pencils in the 24/7 Shadow Pencil stash fit perfectly into the larger barrel of your Grindhouse Double Barrel Sharpener and sharpen to a fine point for precision lines, or to a rounded tip for thick smudgeable lines.
• For the sake of ease (especially in your bottomless purse), each color barrel actually reflects the color of the
shadow in each pencil.


INSIDER INFO
• Making its limited debut via this Stash is Juju, a brand-new taupe shade exclusive to this set.
• Try using multiple shades layered together for a super-fast ‘No, I did not just do this in the car’ look. For a
sexy neutral eye, use Sin, Juju, and Rehab working from darkest to lightest up to the brow bone. Blend colors
to gradient perfection using our 24/7 Shadow Pencil Blending Brush and you’re good to go (anywhere…these babies won’t budge)!
• Gift yourself with this crayon box for grown-ups, or break it up into stocking stuffers (keeping one for you of course)!
• The 24/7 Shadow Pencil “lead” is huge! It’s as big as we could make it for maximum application versatility
and intensity.


THE 24/7 SHADOW PENCIL STASH SPECTRUM
Delinquent – dark purple w/purple sparkle
Sin – champagne shimmer
Rehab – dark brown shimmer
Clash – electric blue w/ silver sparkle
*Juju – medium taupe/brown shimmer (*Brand new and exclusive to this set)


The 24/7 Shadow Pencil Stash (SRP $34) is available at Sephora, ULTA, and select Macy’s. Or online at Sephora.com, ulta.com, macys.com, beauty.com, and urbandecay.com.

EYESHADOW PRIMER POTION

PROFESSIONAL SIZE

Originally created for our many makeup artist friends who requested a whole lotta Eyeshadow Primer Potion in a squeezable package, our Eyeshadow Primer Potion Professional Size delivers! Service others (sometimes several in an hour) like a pro, or merely feed your own Eyeshadow Primer Potion addiction with the ultimate hygienic, time-saving solution for those who also appreciate getting the best bang for their buck.

PRODUCT INFO

• Unmatched by any other eyeshadow primer in the beauty industry, Urban Decay’s Eyeshadow Primer Potion Professional Size grants the ultimate three wishes: eyeshadow that lasts, more vibrant color, and absolutely NO creasing for at least 24 hours!
• Our Professional Size Eyeshadow Primer Potion is fitted with a needle-nose tip and housed in a squeezable
tube for fast and hygienic application, giving make-up artists a reason to rejoice, and make-up junkies a
faster way to get their fix!
• Our Pro Size gives you a whopping 44% more Eyeshadow Primer Potion priced only $11 higher than our
regular size!


INSIDER INFO
• We knew our Eyeshadow Primer Potion was good, but we wanted to know exactly how good. So we hired a pricey, high-tech lab to find out for us. Here’s what our clinical trials revealed :
1. 24+ hours of vibrant , crease-free shadow (Eyeshadow Primer Potion was still going strong at 24
hours, but our test subjects wanted to go home!)
2. 4x more shadow retention than without Primer (at the 24 hour mark!)
3. After 8 hours, 90% less creasing than without Primer Potion
4. At the time of application, Eyeshadow Primer Potion gives you 25% smoother eyeshadow application than without
• Available only once a year, this power tool is guaranteed to satisfy and leave you begging for more, so, stock up while you have the chance!


Eyeshadow Primer Potion Professional Size (SRP $30) is available at Sephora, ULTA, and select Macy’s. Or, online at Sephora.com, ulta.com, macys.com, beauty.com, and urbandecay.com.

24/7 TRAVEL-SIZE SET OF FIVE

Our soft, creamy, waterproof 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils are back in the much-requested travel size, and they’re available in two different wardrobes of five pencils each. Whether it’s the Naked or Electric set, these sumptuous hues, deep metallic tones, and unusually rich neutrals are so smooth they glide on better than any other pencil.  24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils guarantee high-performance, lasting until you take them off.

PRODUCT INFO
• Because one 24/7 pencil is never enough, we created two beautiful shade collections with five of our 24/7
Travel-Size Pencils.
• The Naked Collection includes sultry, neutral tones perfect for going from a day at the office to a smokey-eyed night on the town.
• For those who like to stand-out in a crowd, day or night, The Electric Collection includes super-saturated,
jewel-toned hues.
• 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils deliver unmatched color payout in a smooth, sophisticated waterproof formula, so you get long-lasting color, and a velvety feel that actually conditions your eyes while you sit pretty!


INSIDER INFO
• Our Naked 24/7 Travel-Size Set of Five includes Demolition, a brand new shade exclusive to this set, and Stray Dog, a shade previously only available in our 15-Year Anniversary Set!
• Our Electric 24/7 Travel-Size Set of Five includes Woodstock, Radium, and Junkie, three brand-new shades exclusive to this set, and Perversion, a blacker-than-black shade previously available only in our 15-Year Anniversary Set.
• At the top of all wish lists every holiday, our 24/7 sets are the perfect gift for anyone of any age. From Urban Decay newbies to Urban Decay junkies, 24/7 Travel-Size Set of Five makes a ‘to-die-for’ gift. So gift yourself, gift your friends, or even break then up into stocking stuffers, and spread the color!


THE 24/7 TRAVEL-SIZE SET OF FIVE SPECTRUMS
NAKED
Zero – black (the best-selling black pencil out there!)
*Demolition – matte darkest chocolate brown
Bourbon – brown w/gold shimmer
Underground – shimmery taupe/brown
**Stray Dog – shimmery grey/brown


ELECTRIC
**Perversion – matte darkest black (our most requested shade!)
Ransom – deep shimmery purple w/blue shift
*Woodstock – shimmery hot pink
*Radium – shimmery bright blue
*Junkie – bright green w/gold sparkle


24/7 Travel Set of Five (SRP $32) is available at Sephora, ULTA, and select Macy’s. Or online at sephora.com, ulta.com, macys.com, beauty.com, and urbandecay.com.


*Brand new shade exclusive to this set
**Shade previously exclusive to limited-edition items

STARDUST SPARKLING LIPGLOSS

Transport yourself from earthly constraints with Stardust Sparkling Lipgloss by Urban Decay! Like a slice of outer space in a tube (but better), our three twinkling, multi-faceted shimmer glosses put the cosmos to shame.

PRODUCT INFO
• Available in three prismatic shades, this lipgloss (the newest edition to our Stardust collection) takes sparkle to the next dimension. With the use of microscopic, ultra-reflective sparkle, Stardust Sparkling Lipgloss reflects light in a non-glittery way, creating a luminous effect on your lips without the glitter grit. A mere daub could cause interstellar intoxication.
• Infused with Vitamin E and Jojoba Oil to provide luxe hydration and lip conditioning, Stardust Sparkling
Lipgloss features a buttery, non-sticky feel and a transparent but scintillating texture. Our sumptuous, cushiony formula makes lips appear fuller, sans the bee-sting feeling.
• Stardust Sparkling Lipgloss glitters through a clear rectangular tube topped off by a soft-touch black cap. Be prepared to captivate a room when pulling it out of your bag for touch-ups.


INSIDER INFO
• Due to the fanfare that ensued after the launch of our Stardust Eyeshadows, we decided it was time to quell
the masses with the launch of a lipgloss worthy of the Stardust name. Made for those who aren’t afraid to
shine, this cushiony, ultra-sparkly gloss transports you to another galaxy each time you glide it on!

THE STARDUST SPARKLING LIPGLOSS SPECTRUM

Andromeda – sheer peachy pink w/multi-dimensional sparkle
Glitter Rock – sheer fuchsia w/multi-dimensional sparkle
Space Cowboy – sheer nude w/multi-dimensional sparkle


Stardust Sparkling Lipgloss (SRP $19) is available at ULTA, and select Macy’s. Or online at ulta.com, macys.com, beauty.com, and urbandecay.com.

CND Daily Nail 9.15.11 Hematite Nails at Naeem Khan

Please enjoy the following press release from CND!

The CND Daily Nail 9.15.11

Hematite Nails at Naeem Khan

September 15, 2011 - CND celebrated the last day of Spring 2012 New York Fashion Week with a final show that spotlighted dark, urbane nails. This season, manicures were in a heightened state of bliss - in lucite, gold foiling, high shine gray, and glam styles:


At Naeem Khan, Wanda Ruiz crafted "Hematite Nails" for manicures and pedicures using saturated concrete gray CND Colour in Asphalt finished with Super Shiney Top Coat for a lustrous look. This sophisticated almond shape accentuated elaborately twisted buns and gorgeous red carpet-ready gowns on the runway. To get this look at home, try the brand new CND Shellac in Asphalt, which guarantees mirror shine for two whole weeks!

NAILS Magazine: Editor Feature

Photo from NAILS Magazine Facebook Page

In the October 2011 edition of NAILS Magazine, there is an editor's letter from Hannah Lee titled "Move Over, Bloggers!".  You can read it here.  


Now NAILS Magazine states on its spine that it's "dedicated to the success of nail professionals."  I am not a nail professional.  I am merely someone who loves nail polish.  I have not taken any courses or classes on nails or cosmetology in general.  While I have a bachelor's degree in Communications: Speech - Radio/TV with a minor in Journalism, I don't consider myself to be a professional in it since my actual daytime job has nothing to do with radio, tv, or writing.  The reason I have a subscription to NAILS Magazine is because at Christmas last year, my dear friends E and B decided to gift me a 2 year subscription.  They used my blog name (which I registered as a company in my county) as the "salon name", from my understanding.


When I get my NAILS Magazine each month, I read it from cover to cover.  I was even mentioned in their April 2011 issue in the Facebook Fans section (page 30) about how I can't stop reading.  That's true, I love to read this magazine.  Unfortunately, a lot of the information is either (a) outdated for me or (b) not applicable to me.  Since I receive press releases electronically from the company or public relations company directly, I see the information weeks and sometimes months before it will be printed in a magazine.  Secondly, I do not own a salon but I do like reading about what salons are doing or trying.  There are some great interviews in the magazine, like the cover feature on Katie Cazorla in the June 2011 issue, or "My Day As a Beauty Industry Lobbyist" (September 2011).


When Ms. Lee's article came out, there was a huge uproar in the blogging community.  Here are some of the blogger responses that I read:

• Body And Soul: Bloggers & Nails Magazine: There's Room Enough For All Of Us
• Addicted to All Things Pretty: Editior of Nails Magazine, Hannah Lee, talks about being tired of consumer bloggers
• BeautyJudy: Forgive me for I have … blogged.
• Candy Coated Tips: Nails Magazine
• Glitta Gloves: Nubar Peacock Feathers and assorted thoughts

As well as a huge uproar on both NAILS Magazine Facebook Page, several beauty related Facebook pages, Twitter and I know at least one person text messaged me about it.  It was so much in so little time that Ms. Lee decided to write this follow up.

I decided to wait until I got my issue of NAILS Magazine to read to see if I could maybe see something (anything) that would have led Ms. Lee to write the things she did... and I think I found it.

As you know, I was one of the over 100 bloggers that was given the ability to attend Cosmoprof North America 2011.  I'm sure you've read my Cosmoprof coverage and how I focused on brands that I already know (China Glaze, OPI, Zoya) and included some I had never heard of before (Prolana, No-Miss Ltd, Cyclic).  It was a great honor and privilege to attend, as bloggers are still paving their way into the beauty community as a whole.  I loved coming home and being able to share new colors, finishes, collections, and even techniques.  I spent my last pedicure telling my nail tech how CND Shellac works (she had no idea), and how magnetic polish is going to be the next big thing.  That's information I can share and want to share with others.  I don't know anything about hybrid gels or how to clean dried acrylic off a nail brush - it's just not important to me.

So when I was reading Ms. Lee's words "I see as many bloggers taking meetings with manufacturers and hanging out in the press room at trade shows as I do actual journalists", I was taken back.  Am I not an "actual" journalist when I am posting something online for tens of thousands to read?  (For larger bloggers, this number is MUCH larger.)  Then I started thinking more... I did not recall see Ms. Lee at Cosmoprof this year, but there is plenty of coverage starting on page 62 of the October 2011 issue.  I also didn't attend (or get invited to) the "Happy Hour" held by NAILS Magazine on August 1st.  So maybe Ms. Lee did see me when I was meeting with OPI, Zoya, Prolana, Essie or any of the other companies I had meetings with... I really don't know.  Maybe I'm one of the bloggers she was talking about because I sure did enjoy my catered breakfasts and lunches in the press room, and met with Deborah Lippmann and Cala Nails, while scribbling notes on my iPad and carrying around stacks of paper press packets.

At the end of the convention, I was talking with the President of Y! Public Relations, Yvette Masterson, who is in charge of Cosmoprof North America (and who allowed me to attend), and she only had one criticism for me in case I attend again.  She simply said "Dress more professionally."  Honestly, I had to agree.  Now I am only speaking for myself - no other blogger... but I was wearing shorts and a tank top for the majority of the show (along with my knee-high walking boot and a tennis shoe).  Now here in my home in South Texas, no big deal... but in a professional trade show - not the most appropriate.  She gave me a few tips, including how she loved the shirts that BeautyJudy wore with her website's name printed on them.  It's been years since I worked at a TV station where appearance was everything, especially during interviews.  I just happened to drop the ball, and it's possible that my inexperience in the convention world, showed through.  Maybe Ms. Lee was irritated in seeing me get as much attention as her as a journalist, when I looked like I belonged at home on the couch?

Another thing that was written in the article that I want to address was the line about "polish junkies who are looking for free handouts of the latest collections from manufacturers."  Yes, I'm a polish junkie.  Yes, I get press samples of the latest collections from manufacturers which I then review each color in a separate post on my blog.  I do not profit off my "freebies" because I do not sell them or charge my friends to use them.  That is why I feel nail techs and bloggers should work together... a person will read about a color's appearance, finish and formula on my blog, then go to their nail tech and request that color.  Why would a company send the latest collections to a nail tech who will then profit off that collection every time she paints a client's nails?  Also, I am grateful for bloggers' reviews, instead of a magazine pouring one color on a piece of paper, taking a photograph and then writing "Purchase this polish online for $8.50."  But is that shimmer apparent on the nail?  Is that glitter super gritty?

Overall,  I totally agree with Ms. Lee that nail techs need to step it up and communicate better in their knowledge of nail collections, trends, and styles.  However, I do not appreciate or agree with how she chose to say it.  Instead of "moving over" how about "let's share the journey"?  Or "let's work together"?  It's not an US versus YOU... we all love the same thing and there's room for us all.

Just as a final note, I did get the chance to say hi to Stephanie Mills, senior editor of NAILPRO Magazine while at Cosmoprof North America and she was super nice... same with their associate editor Stephanie Corbin-Mills who helped me with my NAILPRO subscription (which I paid for) and got me hooked on Pintrest!  In case you're wanting another paper publication on nails, here's another one!