May 2015

Rule 1. Let your skin shine through. Prep your skin, which means exfoliate! You’ll create a radiant canvas and glow for BB Creams or foundations. For an everyday look, don’t overdo make-up with tinted moisturizers. Use lightweight products to even out skin tone. A foundation that has added pigment is a perfect way to get that no make-up look. It has medium coverage without the sticky feeling of a cream. If you are dry use a moisturizer with peptides so foundation glides on skin and looks smooth. If you have dark spots and blotchiness use a concealer stick then apply a BB Cream skin corrector to smooth out the complexion. Cheeks should look baby fresh. Try an illuminating soft pink blush shade that looks like a baby’s cheek color to give the complexion that fresh, natural sheen.

Rule 2. Apply a powder that is made of “mica.” Mineral powders tend to give the skin a matte, dried-out look, accentuating wrinkles. Mica powders are formulated to make the skin look silky and is three times more refined, giving the skin a more refreshed, smooth and satiny glow.

Rule 3. Choose a neutral Shadow. Apply a shade that’s similar to your skin tone or just a hint darker all over your lid. If you have redness on the lid, balance it out with a yellow-beige shadow to brighten. Stick to mattes. Non-sparkly eye textures disappear into skin leaving no chance of creasing, and it looks smooth and oh-so-natural.

Rule 4. Add soft definition using waterproof eyeliners. Apply the eyeliner along the base of the lash, then smudge it with a Q-tip, softening the edges to make it look smoldery and smudgy. There is a rule of color types in eyeliners. Use dark browns, blacks, and dark prune colors. These colors will make the eyes look alive and vibrant, and in focus. Do not use light colored eyeliners for the top liner as eyes will then look sleepy and featureless. Never use red-brown eyeliners as this makes eyes look too weary, tired and red.

Rule 5. Boost your pout with a new budge-proof lip liner stain outlining the lip a little further than your own natural line. Lips look full and natural, plus these wear seven times longer than normal lip liners. Add a new comfort technology lip plumper for volume and smoother lips. Lip colors this season are all about nudes and mouth-watering pinks, so try some scrumptious new color to stay on-trend.

The Rouge Cosmetics new location on East Prospect Avenue offers girls of all ages a chance to see custom foundations blended for their individual complexion and perfectly formulated for their skin tone color. They also offer a full line of cosmetics and advanced skin care for all of your beauty needs. You may want to check out their new Spring Line by Fleur Visage Cosmetics and catch a Nude Attitude.

Dear SSHS,
My girlfriend has put on a little weight since we started dating, and I find her less attractive now. Should I let her know my feelings or just pretend I don’t notice?                   — DD, Orinda

She Said: Well you can let her know, but don’t be surprised if she then finds you less attractive. I know I wouldn’t want to stay with someone so superficial. Take a look at yourself. Are you worried that her gaining a few pounds is some sort of reflection on you? Does the way she looks affect the way you see yourself? If it’s a matter of a few extra pounds, I say keep it to yourself and try and figure out what’s going on with you. If her weight gain becomes more than normal fluctuation and she’s no longer able to do the things you used to do together, then let her know you miss doing those things and ask how you can help her to restore a healthier lifestyle.

He Said: If it’s just a few pounds then what’s the worry? But if it’s more than that and you’re genuinely less attracted to her now, then you owe it to yourself and to her to bring it up. However, be subtle in your approach because trust me, she has noticed the weight gain long before you ever did. Be polite and sensitive and ask if she wants to lose the “extra” weight and if she does then put together a healthy eating and exercise plan and participate with her. If she doesn’t want to lose the weight and it’s more of an issue for you, then I agree 100% with Robin and think there’s a bigger issue here than just a bigger-than-before girlfriend. Because when you really love someone, a few extra pounds shouldn’t make you love them any less.

Dear HSSS,
My husband and I love to host pool parties at our house in the summer. Every year we fight about the same thing, and with our girls getting older, we need to settle this one, once and for all. Is it appropriate for a grown man to wear a Speedo?                                — Blushing Sister-in-Law

She Said: Oh, I get it…Uncle John loves to make a splash and thinks he hasn’t changed a bit since his days on the high school swim team, right? Unless it’s the workout pool, I believe a Speedo on a man over the age of 18, is not only inappropriate but generally unattractive. My French friends may disagree, but a family pool party is no place for such revealing swimwear, and frankly, unless you have the perfect 6-pack, it looks ridiculous.

He Said: Let me keep this as simple as possible….A Speedo is a No-No. A child, teen, man, or old-timer should NEVER EVER be caught wearing a Speedo unless, of course, he is the next great Olympic swim champ. A man should never bear that much leg to the public, ever! And let me take this one step further, if a man has other anatomy that resembles that of a woman’s upper body, then that should really be covered too. Please spare yourself and us the embarrassment.

Robin Fahr is a public relations specialist and co-host with Shawn Shizzo on Conversations and He Said/She Said seen daily on Tri-Valley TV, Channel 30 and online at trivalleytv.org. You can also catch He Said/She Said on TheTalkPod.com. and The Talk Pod iPhone and iPad Apps. Send your questions to AskHeSaidSheSaid.com.

Louie Zamperini. Louis died last year at 97 years old having inspired countless millions. Never heard of him? Have I got a movie for you! Maybe two!

Unbroken is a story way overdue to be told. Academy Award winner Angelina Jolie directs and produces Unbroken, an epic drama that follows the incredible life of Olympian and war hero Louis “Louie” Zamperini (Jack O’Connell) who, along with two other crewmen, survived in a raft for 47 days in shark infested waters after a near-fatal plane crash in WWII, only to be caught by the Japanese Navy and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp.

Director Jolie, began by shooting some of the dramatic and challenging scenes on location far out at sea in Moreton Bay, Australia, with Zamperini (O’Connell) and his fellow airmen, Phil (Domhnall Gleeson) and Mac (Finn Wittrock) having impossibly survived being adrift in the open Pacific for several weeks. Working with cameras on a floating rig in choppy waters and braving the elements, with actors dieting for months to appear as depleted as the characters, Jolie started with the treacherous, rigorous and uniquely challenging scenes and then moved on.

Adapted from Laura Hillenbrand’s (Seabiscuit: An American Legend) enormously popular book, Unbroken brings to the big screen Zamperini’s unbelievable and inspiring true story about the resilient power of the human spirit.

While held as a POW in Japan, Louie met a brutal camp guard, played by Miyavi known only to the men as “The Bird.” “The Bird” found out about Louie being an Olympian and brutalized him physically, mentally and emotionally during his imprisonment, getting pleasure out of trying the break him. This cruel man would torment Louie’s mind for many years after his return home.

Leading the accomplished, behind-the-scenes crew, is ten-time Oscar nominated cinematographer, Roger Deakins who deserves much of the accolades for this film deserves. The photography is absolutely stunning.

In the beginning of this article I mentioned a second movie. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the second half of Louie’s story not chronicled in Unbroken. Louis Zamperini: Captured By Grace tells of the horrors in his life after his return. He suffered with alcoholism, night terrors and a failing marriage. After all he had endured, Louis was down for the count. His wife gave him one last chance by asking if he would attend a Billy Graham Crusade in 1949 in Los Angeles with her. He refused. He fought it. He even walked out of the first meeting. The second meeting changed his life forever and he became lifelong friends with Billy Graham. His last 65 years were full and joyous.

I highly recommend both movies. It’s not often that we get to follow such an illustrious man all the way to his death after a life well lived. After Louie had died, his son said to Angelina Jolie that he wished his father had been able to see the completed film. She quickly and proudly told him that after the film was finished, she had taken her laptop to his hospital room and together they watched his story!

As always, I welcome your comments at chastings@rockcliff.com.

This is another “almost shame on me” testimonial. I have made no qualms about the fact that I am a constant work in progress. My wife will attest that one of the reasons she keeps me around is the constant challenge I provide. This keeps the mind and relationships fresh, don’t’cha know?

I will pre-qualify that no opinions in the following manner were sculpted in any way by Yelp, by which I am NOT a fan. My years in the restaurant industry have given me a very transparent view of the goings on with Yelp and the heavy public hand they swing to extort small business into unnecessary marketing funds being spent on “good reviews”…but I digress. However, some how, some way, I was subjected to a review somewhere that stated that the once coveted La Boulange in Danville still had great food, but the service had slipped, possibly past the point of return. (I have no resources to cite). My fault lies with allowing this tiny crumb of opinion to influence my own beliefs. A very typical “contempt prior to investigation,” and I found myself driving by this once regular stop of mine and shaking my head in sadness. “Tsk tsk La Boulange, what a shame.”

In front of all of you now, I openly declare…I WAS A FOOL, and I am here to emphatically dispel any negativity that may have been dispensed.

My wife has remained loyal to the establishment, regardless of any press to the tune that La Boulange and their menu items are her sanctuary. This is where she goes when she is able to pry the children from her limbs. There happened to be an opportunity for me to tag along on a weekday recently, with the kids in tow, and I figured I owed it to these once hallowed grounds to give it a shot.

My wife ordered her sandwich and it came without avocado…..”Here we go,” I thought, and rolled up my sleeves for the good fight. Upon explaining this to Micheline, she was clearly taken aback and jumped at the opportunity to make it right. She quickly returned with the plate of avocado and apologized but not before we saw it was our mistake, and the sandwich didn’t come with avocado (unless specified). I realized then that this was why she was taken aback…she knew this fact, but didn’t split hairs—she just fixed what they didn’t break. I explained our mistake and praised her for her professional acumen.

This is when Marcus stepped in to deliver my wife’s Latte. Asked how everything was today and thanked us for coming in. Where was this bad service somebody had, because it certainly wasn’t here!

Enter Eric, stage left, with piece of bread pudding to enjoy after our lunch with his compliments, and again the “thank you for coming in today.” At this point the egg on my face is cooking. I have not received the level of customer service that I was receiving now in a long time, fine dining establishments included.

Here is my simple recommendation. Go there and get the best food imaginable, but please introduce yourself to the people helping you out. These are a group of professional individuals that clearly believe in the place they work and the people they work with. Unfortunately this is rare. To find the level of “ownership” at La Boulange in Danville taught me a lesson about how I pass judgment based on others peoples’ opinions. I have prided myself on a regular basis staying away from the yelp-esque culture and for a moment, I got sucked in.

The truth is that General Manager Bharat Mansukhani should be proud of the people that represent this fine eatery, and you should be proud to commune here.

Iron Horse Plaza, 405 Railroad Ave, Danville, CA 94526
(925) 838-1200

The 35th annual Kings X Trivia Contest was held at WPLJ in Walnut Creek on April 12. Because my team won last year, I had to be the moderator. It is a lot of work, but the research is fun and I try to challenge the players, without trying to stump them. The winning team was Snot Rockets Anonymous (so much for good taste) led by a solid veteran, RJ Tincknell. They won by 2 points over the Magnificent Few, led by another stalwart, Jim Buchanan. Since I wrote the questions, there is no problem using them on you folks.

1. What music event occurred on August 29, 1966 and where?

2. Who was the last Major League pitcher to win 27 games in a season?

3. What do the following have in common? Tony Perkins, Charles Laughton, Robert Newton, John Malkovich, Geoffrey Rush and Russell Crowe.

4. From Peanuts, who was Charlie Brown’s favorite baseball player?

5. Who or what is Mom Chung and Big Alana?

6. The first time we see Rick in “Casablanca,” what is he doing?