SF: Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs

The de Young Museum in San Francisco currently has an exhibition showing various items from King Tut’s tomb. It features artifacts from King Tut’s tomb as well as his ancestors (Note: there seem to be more of his ancestors items then of his on display). The museum advises that the self guided tour takes about 90 minutes. My mom and I finished in 45. There is an audio tour for $7 that you can follow, although we did just fine reading the signage for free.

General admission on weekdays for adults is $27.50 and $32.50 on weekends. For what it was, I felt the tickets were a little steep but you also get to view the rest of the museum. One of the most impressive pieces Tjuya’s gilded coffin (thought to be Tut’s grandmother). It was huge! And gold! There was also a fairly large head from a broken statue of Akhenaton (Tut’s father). The rest of the items were smaller, everyday objects like jars for ungents and oils (I was excited to see these after studying about the role of fragrance in ancient Egypt for my Fragrance Foundation certification). I was blown away by the amount of gold used, but then again, you wouldn’t expect anything less for a king and royal family.

I wouldn’t recommend going to the city just  for the exhibit. Plan a day around the city to make the most of your time. By purchasing a ticket, you will receive a Pharaoh’s Gold Card, which offers discounts and perks for various businesses around the city. There are quite a few restaurants that offer 10% off or a complimentary dessert with purchase of entree. There’s also tons to do in SF, and if you don’t want to venture too far from the museum, there are several things to do and see within the park: Conservatory of Flowers, Japanese Tea Garden, Arboretum, and California Academy of Sciences, to name a few. Sutro Heights, the beach, and the zoo are also close to the park.

Read on below for information about handicap access at the museum and the exhibit.

Chica Girl Magazine

I did makeup for a photo shoot a while back for this awesome online magazine, chicagirlmagazine.com. You should definitely check it out if you get the chance. The issue won’t be out for a little while, although you can register for the site and read back issues. It features real women and girls with real stories to share.

Also, check out the newscast as well (I’m mentioned in the very end!) http://gooddaysacramento.com/features?articleID=55996

NYLON Magazine: Going Digital

Quite honestly, I think NYLON Magazine is one of the biggest publication eyesores when it comes to layout and design. Yes, I know that’s probably their intent as a ploy to be different then other publications, and at the same time it looks completely unappealing.

I do hold a subscription, but only because it was a gift. I also promptly give said subscriptions away, never bothering to even flip through the mag. It gives me a headache. Note to future gifters: I totally appreciate your generosity and please don’t subscribe me to NYLON.

I received an email today letting subscribers know that our current and future issues will be in digital form, sent via email as attachments, unless we request otherwise. Oh. Hell. No. Somebody overpaid for my subscription and it better come in paper form.

I completely understand wanting to go “green” by reducing paper (and of course the publication wanting to cut costs on printing an actual book). At the same time, magazines are little luxuries that many people like to tote around and read at their leisure. When I read magazines, I like to devour them in one or two sittings, then look at the advertisements. There is no way I would carry around a lap top just to read a magazine and it’s impractical to tote them to the beach or doctor’s office.

I know the digital age has been among us for some time now and the future of the written word is and will continue to rapidly change formats from paper to electronic. I’m aware that someday perhaps all of my favorite publications will only be accessible via Internet and it makes me sad. For now, I expect to be able to tote them around in my handbag and be able to access them without being logged on.

Yes, I do indeed read a lot of articles online. It can be convenient and I totally appreciate it but there’s just something about feeling a glossy page between my fingers and hearing pages flip that makes me happy.

Want to read the email that was sent out? Click below.

Valentines Day Gift Ideas

For her, from top: Fresh Rose mask, $55 for 3.4 oz , Fresh boutiques or Sephora; Lush SEX bomb bath bomb, $5.95 each, Lush; Large bird tray, $17, Target; Heart rings, $5 each, cherryredboutique.com; Stone Buddha candle holder, $14.99, World Market; Viktor and Rolf Flower Bomb Eau De Parfum, 1.7 oz $95, Nordstrom; Hello Kitty Sterling Silver Pendant with Diamonds and Pink Sapphires, $795.00, Zales(or find faux versions at mall kiosks); Juicy Couture layered necklace, $88, Juicy Couture. Or forgo gifts for dinner and drinks at home followed by a Blockbuster night.

For him, from top: Jack Black Jet Set travel skincare kit, $32, Sephora; D & G aviator sunglasses, $135, eLuxury.com; YSL L’Homme Eau de Toilette, $55 for 2 oz, Sephora; iHome Dual Alarm Clock Radio for iPod, $100, Target; Radiohead In Rainbows CD (or perhaps a CD he’s been lemming), music and electronic stores; Milk flask, $18, Urban Outfitters; VOLCOM Mens Sweater, $24.97, Tilly’s stores; Scott Kay UnKaged Skull cuff links, $465, Saksfifthavenue stores. Or take him out for a mini-adventure like a day trip.

<3 Dishwalla <3

Last week, as I was sorting through old CD’s, I discovered Dishwalla’s Pet Your Friends tape and And You Think You Know What Life’s About  CD. Love, love, love. And, yes, I said tape. Pet Your Friends came out in 95 and I didn’t get a CD player until 96. I don’t mean to oogle, but it also doesn’t hurt that frontman J.R. Richards is a hottie. I didn’t think so back in the day when he was sporting longer hair. Perhaps, like Dishwalla’s music, he just gets better with time?

James Iha

One of my most favorite bands in the 90’s was The Smashing Pumpkins. Sure, Billy Corgan is awesome, but I always liked D’Arcy and James Iha the best. When Iha came out with a solo album (Let It Come Down) in the late 90’s, I was super excited. I thought it was really good. Looking back, it was okay. I lost that CD years ago but came across a few tracks on an old mix tape recently. You know, that thing that’s not a CD but also not vinyl. Not sure what a mix tape is? Oh, you kids these days…google it, k?

I have to say, I still love the song Lover, Lover. It’s calm. It’s melodic. I used to fall asleep to it. Okay, maybe not, but I did really like it. I know B.C. is loved by all, but sometimes I felt like he got all the credit for a band that wouldn’t have been the same without the other founding members.

NEW: Too Faced So Smurfy collection

For those of you who are old enough to remember waiting for the Smurfs to air on TV every weekend (and for those who watch it in reruns), Too Faced has a treat for you. Soon to be launching at a Sephora near you comes a collection of Smurf inspired limited edition goodies. I was so excited when I saw this super cute collection reminiscent of my childhood! It features an eye shadow quad, illuminating powder with the silhouette of Smurfette, two glitter eye liners (“Smurf You” – a lovely shade of royal blue, and “Feelin’ Smurfy” – a pretty and ethereal shade of white that picks up the color of anything underneath), and a lipgloss that is mood activated.

If the lip gloss sounds familiar, that’s because there is a similar version in the regular line. The limited edition Smurf packaging features Smurfette and it comes out of the tube in a shimmery shade of light blue. The gloss reacts with your body chemistry to turn your own personalized shade of pink. If you’re at all familiar with Smashbox O-Glow, the concept is similar.

MAC is soon to be releasing their Hello Kitty collection, but really, who needs Hello Kitty when it’s been done a million different times? I’ve seen the HK MAC stuff and I’m really unimpressed, plus the prices are just ridiculous. Smurf imaging is rarely done so this collection is a special treat that everyone should be snapping up ASAP before supplies are gone.

Holiday CD photos

A few weeks ago I took photos for my cousin Meghan’s holiday CD. Here is my favorite of the bunch:

While the setting looks like a cemetery, it’s actually not. It was in a little alleyway in an old part of town that we happened to stumble upon.

That’s TheBalm Hot Mamma blush on her cheeks and Sephora Sweet Candy Gloss in Guava Passion on her lips.

Laugh at me all you want but….

I think Brody Jenner is kind of the hotness. Yes indeed. I suppose I just have a thing for boys with dark hair and brown eyes. And wavy hair and slightly unshaven. Indeed.

I caught the very end of Lettermen last night and he was chatting with Lauren Conrad of The Hills. I almost died laughing when Lettermen said, “Let me tell you something about Brody, if there was no television, this guy would be living in a tree!” Haha. Ohhhh DL…why don’t I watch your show more? It’s very true that Brody would not be “famous” without reality TV.