Allurez Promotion: Beautiful Jewelry! Happy V-day :)

Hey everyone!

Allurez is having a Valentine's day Sale of up to 55% off select items at the store.



Allurez is an online jewelry store, which sells high quality jewelry, engagement rings, diamond jewelry, and other beautiful accessories. It's definitely worth checking out. :)

This is a great time to buy gifts for your loved ones and ensure they arrive just in time for Valentine's day.

Click here for the Holiday Sale at Allurez.com! Enjoy up to 55% OFF on all Loose Diamonds & Fine Jewelry!

Take a look at some of my favorite pieces from the store (click on the images to see more information about each product):







Happy Upcoming Valentine's day; it's only 2 weeks away!

Aviva :)

Stila Lip Glaze Set: Review

The following is a review of Stila Lip Glazes submitted by model Augustine York
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Most of the things I want for gifts are sexy lingerie and other really inappropriate items, so when my someday-mother-in-law asked me what I wanted for Christmas I had to scramble together a small list of things from Sephora. On Christmas day I found underneath my tree the Stila Lip Glaze Set.

The set contains eight lip glaze shades (Kitten, Guava, Grapefruit, Apricot, Seashell, Blush, Majesty, and Merry Merry) in "travel size" .05oz containers and is priced at $25—a steal considering that a buying one individual lip glaze will cost you $22 (though to be fair, the individual tubes are full size at .08oz). So this set is more of a sample, see-what-you-like-best thing, which is perfect for me as a model because I don't wear them every day—just on shoots—so I like having a range of shades to use.

The lip glazes each come in a tube with a brush attached, and they have a click/turn method of getting the product out which I'm not a huge fan of. It took a really long time turning the base of the applicator before any glaze came out, and when it finally did, it spurted out too much at once and I ended up with a little extra. Not ideal since there isn't a lot of product to begin with, but a little goes a long way with this lip glaze, so it's not a deal breaker for me given the low price of the set.

The smell and taste of the gloss is amazing—very fruity but not sickly sweet like some drugstore glosses. I think the term mouthwatering is appropriate. They look good too: I tried out a vibrant red "Merry Merry"—which is an exclusive holiday color—and was surprised at how much pigment was in it. It is certainly a step above drugstore lip gloss that claims to have color but is just lightly tinted. Application was easy: it slides right onto your lips in all its shiny, delicious goodness.

Overall, this set is a good value, but it's important to note that while Sephora is still selling this particular kit for $25, you can also buy a seven piece kit directly from Stila for $19.99 - you'll save $5 and still get a good range of shades. While I do like the set, I can't bring myself to pay full price for one individual glaze; so if you're looking for an introduction to Stila's products or just want a little diversity in your make-up kit, get this set and go to town with it!
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You can also check out Augustine's blog by clicking HERE.
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I would like to thank Augustine for the review and I wish her all the best!!
We hope that you found this review helpful and that you will come back for more!

Aviva :)

8 Tips To Keeping Your Body Healthy

This is a guest post by Toni Falcone of Lean Fit Body.


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For most people, starting a daily fitness routine is somewhat hard to do. For some people, it can never be the top priority because something will always come up that needs your immediate attention like your work. For others, work always comes first, setting aside the health activities, which should not be the case.


Yes, most people do plan to engage in fitness activities, but they never get to the point of making their plans a reality.
Goals must be set and acted upon in order for you to achieve your plans. Your goals must be realistic enough to minimize pressure and ensure achievement. It will guide you through the achievement of your desire to have a healthy body.

These tips will help you stay on the right track of keeping your body healthy:

1. Follow a healthy nutrition and a well balanced diet:According to health experts, healthy foods and nutrients fuel up your body to function properly.You need a healthy balanced diet to keep up with your daily nutritional requirements.


2. Get enough rest:Get enough uninterrupted sleep with an average of 6-8 hours. Your body needs rest to fuel up and restore your energy. Sleep will also help boost your immune system and give your nervous system enough time to heal.


3. Be present:Thinking about several things at the same time compromises your mental health. Worrying about other things will just keep you distracted and give you stress. You must concentrate on and enjoy what you are doing now.


4. Exercise:It is vital to exercise at least 30 minutes per day. It improves your body's circulation, helps relieve stress, and keeps you fit by burning excess fat and expending excessive calories. Aside from physical exercises, you can also do mental exercises, like meditation, to help keep your mind relaxed and at ease.


5. Keep yourself surrounded with good support system:Your family and friends are important to motivate, inspire and support you in your endeavor. With their support, encouragement and appreciation, you will be motivated to pursue your fitness goals.


6. Laugh:As the common saying goes, “laughter is the best medicine.” Laughing helps keep you young and healthy. Laugh at your problems and do not think too much about them.


7. Think positively:Do not listen to discouragements because it will just pull your hopes down. It is normal for some people to try to pull you down. Always think about the good things and never forget your goals.


8. Learn to handle your emotions:It is normal for people to have problems. Your best defense against worry and other negative emotions is an effective coping mechanism. If you healthily cope with your stresses, you will have a stable mental health.


Now you are all set to formulate your own health and fitness plan. Determine your goals and follow these tips for a healthier and longer life. It does not only help you in keeping your body healthy but your mind as well.

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This wraps up Toni's 8 Tips to Keeping Your Body Healthy. We hope that these tips will help you reach your fitness goals. For more information, please visit Toni's website, http://www.leanfitbody.com/


We hope you enjoyed this article, and come back for more!

Aviva

Harrison Ford: Imperfect Hero...Reflection and review

A couple of days ago, I finished reading the biography of one of the most successful film actors in Hollywood, Harrison Ford. The book was written by Garry Jenkins, an entertainment journalist, who worked very hard to research everything about the actor. Garry Jenkins conducted hundreds of interviews with Harrison's colleagues, friends, and family. He went above and beyond in describing Harrison's tough road to success.

I believe that this is a must-read for anyone who would like to pursue acting because this book describes Harrison's reality as an actor before he was famous. He went from being rejected by his peers at school, to broke actor who couldn't get representation to one of Hollywood's biggest A-Lister's who ever lived.

His movies have sold more tickets and made more money than any other actor in movie history.

Harrison's road to success was the farthest thing from easy, and people would be foolish to believe that acting is an easy road to fame and money.

A few lessons that I would like to take away from reading this book that can benefit aspiring actors are:
~It takes years to prove to someone that you are worthy of being renowned for your acting. It takes VERY hard work and dedication to succeed in the movie/show business, including facing one rejection after another and still having the courage to continue to audition while perfecting your craft.

~You must want to act because you LOVE acting, and not because you want fame and money. VERY few actors, unless they are very lucky, ever get A-list status, or even make enough to live on. When Harrison first started pursuing acting, he was broke, rejected and struggled to find enough money to pay mortgage and feed his family.

~Sometimes you have to be picky with what projects you choose to take part in. For example, when Harrison was starting out, although broke and out of work, he did not take part in projects that could undermine his reputation as someone who is serious. He did not take part in commercial acting, although it paid good money, because he believed that doing so would prevent the serious movie people from taking him seriously.

~The completed project that you think will fail might end up being a hit with the public.

~Those who are worthy of fame are usually the ones who do not want the fame/media attention. In the book, he said that "being normal is kind of a victory". The only time he wanted to be covered by the press was when he had a movie to sell, but not any other time.

~You should only contribute to charities because you genuinely care and want to help. Although Harrison Ford donated millions of dollars to worthy causes, he did NOT use his philanthropy as a publicity stunt. In fact, he kept quiet about it.

If you would like your own copy of Harrison Ford: Imperfect Hero, you can purchase it HERE

Some quotes from the book that I liked:
"My job is not to show you that the character and I have something in common. My job is to show you that you and the character-even one who may seem a little crazy-have something in common"-Harrison Ford to American critic Gene Siskel (pg. 250).

"He is very strong; he has a lot of determination and doesn't quit"-Steinfeld said [about Harrison Ford] (pg. 264).

"The only reasonable place to be a movie star is on the set where you can use it to control your own destiny, and that's its only use"-Harrison Ford(pg. 316)

Of course, there are many, many more, but I won't completely ruin the book for you.


Happy Reading!
~Aviva

L'Oreal Paris Natural Match Hair Colour Review

If you are considering colouring your hair, I hope that this review will be useful for you.

A few days ago, I went dark (photos of the new hair coming soon) because a recent catalogue shoot called for a darker colour. My hair was blonde before.

Since I have never coloured my own hair (I went to salons) before, I was not sure how my dye job was going to turn out. I was a little worried that I was going to miss strands of blonde hair and that the colour will somehow be off. A bad dye job does not look good, and women should not have to deal with it. If you've had a bad dye job, you know exactly what that's like, and it's not fun.

So, I went to Shopper's Drug Mart, and the lady at the counter recommended me L'Oreal Natural Match, Medium Brown, 5N Natural. Let's just say, it was a wise choice for me to ask her for a recommendation because that colour WORKS. Not only did it cover every strand of blonde hair that I had, but also it was very easy to apply (even for a newbie, like myself). I would highly recommend it to anyone who is considering colouring their hair.

The instruction that came in the box were super easy to follow. After this experience with L'Oreal Natural Match, I will certainly try their other colours when asked to colour my hair a different colour. You can buy theL'Oreal Natural Match on Amazon for about 1/3 of what I paid for it (which is still about 1/10th of what you'd pay at a salon).



Image found on the Internet, but it's the same box that I have.

What colour would you like to dye your hair (name your favorite products)?
~Aviva

Interview with Los Angeles Casting Director Danielle Eskinazi

Danielle Eskinazi has been in the film industry for over 20 years. Throughout her career, she has worked with Hank Azaria and Milla Jovovich, David Bowie, Woody Harrelson, Buck Henry and Rosanna Arquette, among many others.

She is an award-winning casting director who is able to spot talent from afar.
Danielle was nominated for the Talent Managers Association prestigious Seymour Heller Award for Best Commercial Casting Director of 2009, and was a runner up twice for Favorite Commerical Casting Director in BackStageWest

AVIVA: You have been in the film industry since 1988, what do you feel has been your favorite part of your career?
DANIELLE ESKINAZI: My favorite part of my career? Has been the industry in itself, it's ever changing business and nothing remains the same-that's what makes it so exciting... New products pop up all the time. About 7 years ago it was all about .coms and now it's a lot of Internet and webisodes which can be very creative if done right. I just cast a car webisode/commercial with Justin Timberlake that was so creative for me.

AVIVA: What inspired and motivated you to become involved with films?
DE: I have always wanted to cast films and commercials ever since I could remember. I love the quick turnaround of casting. We get a project on a Monday, by Friday we are in callbacks and the week after it's shot and out on TV. It's quick and the results are right there in front of you. I love instant gratification.

AVIVA:If you weren't a casting director, what else do you see yourself doing? (other passions, interests)
DE:I would love to direct/I tried my hand in directing a video for a Band called Kid Moxie a French Video called "Ma Romance D'hiver" (my winter Romance) we did it on a $500 budget and it was an awesome experience for me. The song was featured on the "L word". I also directed a short called "Atmosphere", a comedy about glorified extras. So directing is something I may pursue when the time is right.

AVIVA: What do you believe has been your greatest accomplishment in your career?
DE:The greatest accomplishment is an on going thing for me. I mean I can look back now and see how I created this life for myself but to look in the future and see what more I can do is more exciting for me.
I mean I put Milla Jovovich in her first film when she was 12 in a film called "A night Train to Kathmandu" and also found Hank Azaria and cast him in a film called "Deep Blue" with Woody Harrelson. I could say that was pretty cool but my best accomplishment is yet to come.

AVIVA: What is one piece of advice that you would give to an aspiring actor/actress?
DE: Stay focused, don't let yourself esteem get lost in a sea of rejections, get into workshops, never stop learning, be passionate, and it will happen. Acting is a 9 to 5 job, 8 days a week. Don't leave it all up to your agents. Do your homework and network.

AVIVA:Could you tell me more about your new website, ACTVICE?
DE: www.actvice.com came to me when I was on Twitter. I would do Q&A's 2 or 3 times a week to help actors have a more accessible reach to a casting director, but I realized I could only give them 140 characters back when they would ask me a question which required a much longer answer. So I came up with actvice-it's a site for an actor to go to if they have an audition for a scene for an agent, manager, or a film where they can upload their scene and I would give back critiques. I also included if an actor has a reel and needs a cd's eye to help them edit it down to the most important scene to show off themselves. We just added a link for 8x10's as well.
Actors seem to love it and it has been very successful.

AVIVA:Do you have any funny/crazy/exciting casting story that you would like to share?
DE: Well, I was casting a film once and I was reading. An actor came to my office, the scene was about a thug and his victim, well the actor pulled out a gun and pointed it right at my head I was speechless..I freaked. After the scene, he said it was a fake gun and I politely asked him to leave my office and told him to NEVER do that again. Not a good move for an actor in this day in age. I called his agent and I'm sure they gave him a tongue lashing because he came back to my office with flowers.

AVIVA: What are some of your upcoming projects that we should be on the lookout for?
DE: I just did a Reliant commercial, Nokia commercial, playstation and, skittles and Capri Sun amongst others.

AVIVA:Do you have any additional comments?
DE: I would just tell actors to stay true to themselves keep motivated and don't lose yourself in the process.
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I would like to thank Danielle for this interview. I wish her all the best in every project that she takes on.

You can check out Danielle's website, twitter, as well as Actvice.

Cheers,
Aviva

Plum Clothing, Victoria BC-Review and Farewell

A few days ago, I read in the Times Colonist that Plum Clothing on Broad and Yates in Victoria is closing. The store has been in the city for 15 years, and unfortunately their lease has ended and they are not renewing it.

From my experience of going shopping there, I was always greeted by friendly, service-oriented associates who did a great job. They know fashion and they know quality.

Although the prices were a bit on the higher end, the clothing was definitely worth it. The majority of Plum clothing is manufactured in Vancouver, and to me it makes perfect sense to support local businesses, even if that means paying a little bit more for clothing that lasts.

When we buy clothes, we invest in ourselves, because clothing looks better when it is well-made.

I would like to wish the owners of Plum all the best in the future, and I hope that one day the store will be back in Victoria.

Take a look at their website and see the kind of stylish outfits they sell.

~Aviva

Featuring the Multi-Talented Model/Photographer Natalie Minh

Natalie Minh is a Los Angeles-based fitness model and photographer. Her dedication to fitness and extensive knowledge of the industry, exotic looks, "can do" attitude, in addition to intelligence all have contributed to her success as an ambitious female entrepreneur who serves as a role model to many young women.




Natalie is definitely someone to admire, because in addition to graduating from school with honours, earning two masters' degrees in 2.5 years, and excelling in athletics, she was able to win the WNSO FAME European Fitness Model Championship as well as get featured in countless print media both as a model and photographer.

She is a beautiful, intelligent, and driven entrepreneur and it was a huge honour for me to be able to interview her.

AVIVA: How long have you been involved in the modeling/fitness industry?
NATALIE MINH: I’ve been involved in the fitness industry since November 2007, when I started seriously training and I signed up to my first physique competition - the FAME European Championships. To my surprise, I won 1st place in Fitness Model, 2nd place in Bikini Model and earned my Pro status. Quickly following the European win, I also competed in FAME World Championships in Toronto where I placed 3rd in Swimsuit Model - Open. The following year in 2009 I continued to compete and in the MuscleMania European Championships, I won 1st Place Ms. Bikini, 1st Place Model and 3rd Place Figure.
During this time, I landed a modeling contract with W Fitness Models, the premier fitness modeling agency in London and appeared in numerous magazines and TV features as a model and fitness personality in Europe and America.

AVIVA: What excites you about fitness? What is your biggest motivation?
NM:The drive comes from within because I am making myself the person I always wanted to be – a worldly, successful woman who also happens to have a rockin' body. This is my goal for improving myself and it's so satisfying to achieve this step-by-step.

Image by Natalie Minh.
AVIVA:How did you get started in modeling?
NM:I started modeling a few years ago when an amazing NYC fashion photographer, Davide, discovered me. I became his muse that year and he taught me so much. Since that first year working together, I started to specialize in fitness/swimsuit/lingerie modeling in the Europe and North American markets.

AVIVA: What is your favorite workout?
NM: My favorite exercise is tricep kickbacks, straight legged deadlifts and kettlebell front swing squats.

AVIVA:You are also a photographer, can you briefly describe your accomplishments in photography and how you got started?
NM:I started working in the industry as a model and learned the craft of photography over the years. I trained under renowned fashion, glamour, commercial photographers in Paris, Milan and Belgium. Over time, this turned into a career and my images are being used by well-known modeling agencies throughout Europe, advertising campaigns in Australia and United States, published in a number of international magazines and publications such as Muscular Development , Marathon Muscle Magazine, Ultra-Fit Magazine, etc.

Above Image: Hollywood and Champagne with French Actor Anthony DuprayAVIVA:Do you have a few words of advice for aspiring models?
NM: Perseverance and treat it like a business.

AVIVA: If you weren't doing modeling/fitness/photography, what else would you be doing?
NM: Prior to modeling/photography, I was a corporate girl working primarily for automotive companies. I held roles within the Treasury offices doing risk management, structured finance. Prior to this I was, for 7 years, a UNIX System Admin specializing in CAD/CAE Environments.

Image by Natalie Minh; Model Anthony Dupray
AVIVA: What are some of your favorite things to do in spare time?
NM: I read magazines/books, socialize, go to the gym, and surf the net.

AVIVA: Do you have any funny/weird/crazy photoshoot story that you would like to share (if any stands out to you)?
NM: On my move back to the States from Europe, I stopped in Paris to spend time with good friend and fashion photographer, Joel Dart. It was during the Holiday time and decided to meet up with French actor, Anthony Dupray, and film/shoot a short film based on a story of him being paid to kill his sister. We were running around in the cool Parisian air, through the Champs Élysées, Georges V, Eiffel Tower, etc doing impromptu story lines. Since then, we both moved to LA and continued to collaborate together on projects in Hollywood.
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I would like to thank Natalie for this interview and I wish her continued success in the future. To see more of Natalie's work, check out her WEBSITE, Lifestyle Magazine, Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.

Amazing Interview, Natalie!

Aviva

Just Go For It :D

Why not attempt some weird pose and see what comes out of it?

There was one thing that I heard over and over again: "You never know until you try".

Photo by IMS FotoGrafix

Retouching: Me (I'm learning)

Model/Hair/make-Up: Me :)

Wardrobe provided by Savilla Swimwear

Yup, just go for it! :)



Aviva

Aviva's List of Top 15 Fashion Blogs

Do you have favorite fashion blogs that you like to read?

I certainly do. Over time, I've been following some of my favorites for a number of reasons: they have great images, the content is awesome, and as a result, they have received a top search engine ranking and recognition by the online community. In fact, some of the blogs are so good, that the authors have been featured in mainstream media.

Post your favorite fashion blogs in the comments below and let me know why you like them. I want to check them out :)

These were some of my favorites in 2010:

1. The Blonde Salad by Chiara Ferragni
Chiara Ferragni has had her blog going since October 2009, and in just over a year, she has managed to get thousands of fans and followers, extensive press coverage from some of the top fashion publications, as well as sponsorships from some of the top companies. Good job, Chiara!

2. The Sartorialist
The gentleman who started The Sartorialist used to own a designer showroom. After closing his showroom, he took and interest in photography because he was fascinated by the fashions on the streets. The blog has become a tremendous success in over a year as well. Currently, The Sartorialist is one of "Time Magazine's Top 100 Design Influences" and receives hundreds of thousands of visits to the blog.


3. SASSYBELLA.COM by Helen Lee
Helen Lee started her blog in 2002, which has since then grown into an online phenomenon. The blog is based in Australia, and has been featured in the Australian versions of Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, as well as Glamour.com and various other print and online media. Congratulations, Helen, and keep up the great work!

4. Gala Darling Gala is a speaker and writer whose unique personal style and ability to express herself online and offline has gotten her featured in the New York Times’ T magazine, WWD, New York Post, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Time Out New York, Sydney Morning Herald, The Daily Telegraph, Next, Cleo, Girlfriend, The Age, Sunday Herald Sun, The Dominion Post, Inked magazine, Glasgow Guardian & on ABC News. She has written for ChinaShop, Cosmopolitan, Cleo, Filament, Bust & Good, and much more. Gala's blog is filled with inspiration!

5. FashionToast by Rumi Neely
It is a style/fashion blog that has received thousands of loyal readers, press coverage, and much more. She started her blog in 2007 and it has clearly grown to be a tremendous success. Excellent work, Rumi! :)

6. Karla's Closet
Karla has been on blogger since 2008, and over the last 2 years her blog has caought the interest of thousands of readers. She has been featured on TeenVogue.com as a "blogger of the moment" as well as several other websites and media.

7. Fashionista
This is a pretty awesome blog founded by Elizabeth Spiers. This blog is filled with trends, fashion tips, coverage of fashion events and news related to fashion.

8. Frugal Fashionista
This blog is about taking celebrity styles, and recreating the look for a lot cheaper. Who says one has to spend thousands of dollars on clothes to be stylish and fashionable?

9.Go Fug Yourself This blog is about celebrities and fashion. Who doesn't like that? Go Fug Yourself was started by 2 ladies named Jessica and Heather. Kudos, girls, keep it up!! :)

10.Fab Sugar Fashion, Style, Shopping and Celebrities. Occasionally there is a contest or a giveaway posted. Definitely worth checking out further.

11. What I Wore This blog was started in 2008 by Jessica Quirk. It is her personal style blog where her husband takes her photo every day. This blog is awesome! Additionally, Jessica shares her tips on how to get started with a blog, so it's definitely worth a read, as she is doing it full-time right now.

12. The Cherry Blossom Girl is a personal style and fashion blog, which was started by a girl from France named Alix. She started the blog in February of 2007 and it has received a lot of print media attention as well as online buzz.

13. ...love Maegan The author of the blog is a graphic and web designer, as well as works for an art dealer in L.A. Her necessity to express herself has lead her to start a personal style blog filled with awesome DIY's, Hair How To's and much more. Her blog now has a readership of thousands, and for a very good reason.

14. Alix Rose
This blog is great because the pictures are very interesting, featuring cool styles, fashion editorials, trends, interviews as well as other style tidbits. The blog has been featured on several websites, which relate to top fashion bloggers.

15.Knight Cat
A very cool style/fashion blog that is worth looking at. The photos are beautiful!

Link Love,
Aviva

Happy New Year 2011

Wanting to wish you, my readers, a Happy New Year.
May the New Year bring you prosperity, happiness, love and friendships.Dream big, take charge, and create your own opportunities.
May all your dreams come true. ~Aviva

Image: Found on the Internet and assumed to be public domain.