When I got the call yesterday morning at 9:30am from my cousin’s cell phone, I knew immediately what I was about to hear - that she was going to have her baby! And from what she said, our new little god daughter was really anxious to get out and start making her imprint on the world.

Three hours later, I got another call and was delighted to hear that Katanah had arrived at a whoppin’ 8 pounds 1 ounce and 20 3/4 inches! Both mommy and baby are healthy and doing well! I’m just sad to be up in San Francisco and not in Orange County to spend time with my cousin and new god daughter. Hopefully I will very soon!!

{Photos: Cold Lemonade}

I have never disliked any cheftestant as much as I really hate Lisa from this season of Top Chef in Chicago. The girl is absolutely abrasive, not a team player, always has a foul look on her face, AND has been on the very bottom for the last five, yes that’s right, FIVE challenges in a row.

Fine, Dale is probably not a favorite either, but I’d much rather watch him cook than Lisa. And while I understand why Dale had to leave after this week’s Restaurant Wars episode - they always send the executive chef of the losing team home, just once, I wanted the judges to justify Lisa being the worst of the bunch this week. She screwed up Laksa, which she’s claimed to make before and Sticky Rice with Mango, a classic in Thai cuisine. Even my mom can make that well and she barely cooks.

As you can see, I’m extremely upset with Top Chef, not because I don’t love the show, it’s clear that I do; I just hate seeing Lisa come back week after week. But, I do find comfort in the fact that she will not make it all the way and that next week will surely be her week to pack her knives and go - I’m keeping my fingers, legs, and eyes crossed!

Have you been following Top Chef? What do you think of the cheftestants who are left? I have my favorites but I’m not telling who my vote is for just yet!

Want to know what other TV shows I’m addicted to? Subscribe to The Daily Cookie RSS feed or email to keep up with what I’m watching tonight!

Brand spankin’ new for summer, MAC just released their Neo Sci-Fi collection that’s totally reminiscent of those old Star Trek episodes, yes? Now, I’m not a Trekkie, but who could forget those awesome frocks straight from outer space?

When I saw the promo photos and initial images, I thought that I could probably pass on this set all together. Most of the summer collections I’ve seen this season were a little uninspiring with too many golds and bronzes. And yes, that’s sort of the point for the summer season but it’s always nice when we get a little oomph with those run of the mill, make-me-look-sunkissed shades as well. Continue reading…

My girl Susan and I thought it would be fun to spend a gorgeous Sunday afternoon playing with makeup at the shu uemura store on Fillmore in San Francisco. The goal? Give Susan Madonna’s Hard Candy look from her latest album cover.

Now, I know what you’re thinking - Madonna’s way too sassy, who can really pull this off? Luckily for us, freelance makeup artist Nicky Posley and shu uemura extraodinaire gave us valuable tips and tricks to help us get the Hard Candy look. And trust us, it’s pretty easy! Continue reading…

I’ve known about the Carol’s Daughter for a while now. I’m a huge fan of R&B superstar Mary J. Blige and know she has been using the line for sometime as well. However, I’ve always been too intimidated try the products because the line seemed to be targeted to African-Americans.

Then last week I was invited to meet celebrity hair stylist Ursula Stephen and learn more about the products. It was awesome to meet the woman responsible for the daring Reverse Mullet Rihanna is currently rocking. Ursula has also been called on for her hair expertise by some of my favorite magazines: InStyle, US Weekly, and People Magazine.

On a brisk Saturday afternoon, I headed up to the Carol’s Daughter flagship store in NYC up on West 125th in Harlem. Although it was quite a trek (the weekend subway schedule is a mess), walking into the deliciously smelling store made it all worth it. The store was more spacious and better laid out than the tiny pop-up store I was familiar with in Brooklyn’s Atlantic Terminal. The products were arranged by product type (body, color, hair) and then cross-referenced by scents. They have 7 scents to choose from: Ecstasy, Jamaican Punch, Groove, Ocean, Mango Mélange, Unscented and Almond Cookie. Continue reading…

I’m here at the Total Beauty Blog Community Summit in Los Angeles and it’s been super fun meeting some of my favorite beauty bloggers! I’ve got a lot to blog about in the next few days but you’re just going to have to wait until I have a few minutes to spare. So until then, here are some great reads from around the Total Beauty world!

Makeup2Beauty reviews Stila Kitten Eye Shadow Wash and gives some tips on how to use it.

Jeanne from Periodic Style tells you how to get full salon service at little to no cost — be a hair model!

Marta from Talking Makeup introduces the Global Chic Collection by IMAN.

Beauty Anonymous shares with you her first impressions of Chanel Summer 2008 Makeup Collection!

Want a review of one of the newest self-tan products out there? Look no further, Canadian Beauty delivers!

The Muse shares a review on Shimmer Shine Liquid Eye Shadow from Bourjois Paris!

A Mom in Red High Heels discusses a busy woman’s concern with her morning routine. Find out the time saving, confidence- boosting tips!

Monique at Beauty Girl Musings finds a real organic line worth trying!

The girls at Beauty in Real Life, score their first ever interview with celeb makeup artist and Passport to Beauty author, Shalini Vadhera.

Nars takes Joy from Makeup Junkie to South Beach thanks to The Multiple in South Beach!

does her Mother’s Day FOTD with products from the Sally Hansen Natural Beauty line (inspired by Carmindy)!

Meredith at Daily Dose of Coffee continues her self-tanning addiction by reviewing Neutrogena’s MicroMist Tanning Spray.

Happy Friday!

It’s been so hot in San Francisco these past couple of days. And I’m talkin’ abnormally hot! So warm all I wanted to do was drink ice cold raspberry lemonade last night instead of play with beauty products for a new post (eek!). But I didn’t want to leave you guys hanging so I thought I’d help you kick off the weekend with a fun poll.

- Any NKOTB fans out there? If you are, did you catch the original boy band on The Today Show this morning? I’m definitely not at all so I jetted off to work early - we’ll let the real fans partake in all the Hangin’ Tough fun

- What song is stuck in your head today? Ironically for me, it’s Hangin’ Tough, yikes!

- Where do you wish were at this moment in time? I’m at the office right now, but I wish I were back on the islands of Turks and Caicos. Last night it was so hot, I imagined I was there and slept in my bathing suit.

- What makeup would you bring if you were on vacation? I’d pack my sassy Urban Decay Ammo Eye Palette, waterproof mascara, Chanel Glossimer in Gazelle, and maybe a couple of tubes of MAC Strobe tinted lip conditioners - gotta get your SPF on!

I hope your Friday is a bright and sunny one! Mine certainly is and I can’t wait to get the weekend started, we’re almost there!

Enjoy this post? Subscribe to The Daily Cookie RSS feed and email for more Fun Polls to help you jump-start the weekend!

A few weeks ago I was gifted this Urban Decay eye shadow palette. It sat on my desk at work for weeks and weeks until I finally took it home last week. I haven’t put it down since.

The Urban Ammo Eye Palette ($34 US) comes with 8 colors for your mixing and matching pleasure - from neutral every day looks to brighter colors that match your violet blouse, this little palette can create it all. What I love about these Urban Decay shadows is that they are well-pigmented with an awesome color payoff and blend really well. Continue reading…

I have exciting news to share with you today - allow me to introduce you to Jeannie, a friend of mine, and now Guest Blogger for The Daily Cookie!

Jeannie will be occasionally covering her beauty faves (along with not-so-faves) and events from a New Yorker’s point of view, hopefully giving you some inside scoop to some of the latest and greatest that I just can’t get my hands on here in good ol’ California. Here’s a little more on Jeannie in her own words -

A Los Angeles native living in NYC. My two obsessions are travel and make-up. The two do not go well together because I always have to check my toiletry-dense bags. My current beauty favorites are Shu Uemura eye shadows, liquid foundation and blushes, Lancôme Hypnose mascara in black waterproof, the entire Patricia Wexler, MD Dermatology skincare line and Creed Virgin Island Water perfume.

Please share with me in giving Jeannie a warm welcome to The Daily Cookie and be sure to keep an eye out for her first post as well. If you have anything coming up in the New York area you’d like to see her cover here on the site or hear more stories on her recent travels, please drop us an email at thedailycookie at yahoo dot com.

Happy Tuesday, y’all!

I’ve always wanted to get my brows professionally done. And no, I don’t mean by going to my nearby salon with waxing services. I mean really go see a brow expert to get them waxed, shaped and tweezed to perfection.

For me, living in San Francisco meant that I would never get to famed brow specialist like Anastasia in LA, who I’m always hearing about on television - that’s right, I love watching E! and VH1 and can’t get enough. But in case you didn’t know, the Nordstrom at the Downtown San Francisco Centre has it’s very own Anastasia Brow Studio (albeit a mini one) where you can get your brow fix on.

And if that’s not exciting for you Bay Area readers, Anastasia Brow Studios are also located at select Nordstrom’s nationwide and have an event coming up that you don’t want to miss. Head on over to Allure Access and schedule your appointment online to have your eye brows professionally arched, reshaped, and sculpted by the experts on May 20th - May 22nd.

You’ll also receive a free makeup bag and highlight pencil as a GWP with your brow shaping service. So what are you waiting for? Check out Allure Access to find a location near you!

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