A walk in the nature

Since Antique times human being has wondered about the sense of life and how to achieve lasting happiness. With evolution, societies became more complex, still, are simple things that bring the greatest pleasure. Contemplating the view without expectations can be a nice way of disconnecting from the stressing common life.

We are bombed with million of advertisements that not approached with common sense can make our life miserable. If we are to believe them, we are the worst of the worst without all those products. Then, why most of those models don’t use them or are retouched in a devilish way (losing wrinkles and kilos, enlargening their legs, and improving their teeth and scalps, for mention a few)? Present day that religion has lost most of their inductive and making feel guilty power, we have promotion, and sinners are those who decide to live smartly, without the compulsive brandholism of characters like those portrayed in the books of Brett Easton-Ellis.

Is that only rich and beautiful can be happy? And if so, are they always happy? Yellow press tends to shows they can suffer as everyone else. And at once, people that seem to have lost it all, show overjoyed. What’s the secret for happiness? Making the most of ourselves, being indulgent, and appreciating small things.

Every person it’s unique and, at once, needs to belong to a group, and sometimes the group pushes so hard as to make the individuals quit their real being to fit and this resignation causes grief and frustration. If there were not rebels –those who would reclaim their right to be themselves-, society would be made of toneless mass produced members, as those suggested in 1984 and A Brave New World.

“Be free or die”, said Camille Desmoulins. In times of French Revolution, intellectuals differed about human kind being evil by nature or corrupted by society, and those who preferred to be free (Rousseau) than rich. That was the time when many rich families had properties in the countryside to play the return to nature, the symbol of perfect happiness. But that was an idealized attempt.

Life, in its complexities, it’s beautiful, because they lead to love the simple. As it was suggested in the film American Beauty, the beauty it’s in a bag rocked by the wind. Happiness lays in contemplating the dusk. Happiness lies in contemplating ducks swimming in the river and feeding their breeding. Happiness lays in smelling fig trees and apple trees, in collecting blackberries. Happiness lies in walking barefoot in the sand. Happiness lays in hearing the tweet of the birds. Happiness lies in return to the essence of life.

Pictures: By Wildgirlsins

• Picture 1: Statue in the Port of Barcelona (Spain).
• Picture 2: Fishes in the pond of the Retiro Park (Madrid).

Cinematheraphy: Twenty films for laughing like Julia Roberts

In a week ruled by the timetable, controlled by alarm, by ticking, and by sirens, weekend offers the oasis for enjoying spare time without agendas and expiry dates. Films always offer a productive way to relax, overall if it’s comedy. Experts say we should laugh more frequently to prevent depression.

• Meet The Parents (2000)
  Meeting the parents of your girlfriend can be a terrifying experience, mostly if your father-in-law it’s obsessively protective (Robert De Niro).


• Analyze This (1999)
  A depressive gangster who can’t do his job properly anymore (Robert De Niro) and a psychologist that has to cure him or … die (Billy Crystal).


• Wilt (1989)
  Henry Wilt it’s a teacher who is dissatisfied with his life. Walking the dog fantasises with assassinating his wife Eva. When they meet an extravagant American couple and his wife disappears, he finds it hard to prove to police he hadn’t killed her.
  As in the book, that’s an acid critic of the stereotype o the educated British class. Moreover it’s starred by the humorists Griff Rhys Jones (Henry Wilt) and Mel Smith (Inspector Flint), famous from Alas Smith and Jones (broadcasted from 1982 to 1998 on the BBC).


• Groundhog Day (1993)
  What would happen if you were impelled to live the same day forever? And would happen if you were a character played by Bill Murray?


• Something About Mary (1998)
  Mary (Cameron Diaz) is the dream girl of everyone, beautiful and charming. He (Ben Stiller) was to go to the ball with her but something embarrassing came in the middle. Years later, he hires a private eye (Matt Dillon) to find her, and when he finally does, everybody start a race for winning Mary’s heart, which ends in all kind of twisted situations.



• A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
  After a robbery, the jewel it’s hidden in a fish called Wanda. None of the burglars trust each other, and then no trick it’s too good to fool each other and get the prize.
  Deadly funny, it’s played by Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, and John Cleese.


• Bowfinger (1999)
  When a producer (Steve Martin) fails to get for his low budget film the star he wants (Eddie Murphy), he shots the film including him without telling.
  One of the most hilarious films of Steve Martin.


• The Banger Sisters (2002)
  When the best friend of youth (Goldie Hawn) comes back, everything can happen, mostly when she keeps the same and the other (Susan Sarandon) is a respected rich housewife who wouldn’t like her husband know about her past.

• Coming To America (1988)
  An African king (Eddie Murphy) comes to North America searching for the perfect wife, but as she has to love him for himself, he dresses up and starts working in a fast food chain.

• Bad Boys I (1995)
  Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are two policemen in Miami Vice stylesque that are as good in their job as paranoid about each other.


• The Visitors (1993)
  A knight of the 11 th century (Jean Reno) and his loyal servant (Christian Clavier) travel in time to Paris in the present day and face situations they can’t handle.
  
• The Sweetest Thing (2002)
  Three man eaters (Cameron Diaz, Christina Applegate, and Selma Blair) hang out for comforting Jane (Selma Blair) that has broken down with her boyfriend. But that night Christina (Cameron Diaz) knows the man of her life, but she doesn’t want to look anxious, until she knows his brother it’s getting married.
  Unforgettable the scene starring the song of Aerosmith and the one based on the song of Right Said Fred was banned for the US release (but available on Europe).
  
  
• See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989).
  They are friends but he (Richard Pryor) it’s blind and he (Gene Wilder) it’s deaf so when a crime happens and police don’t believe they witness it, they have to collaborate for coming across.


• Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)
  A spy so skilled at his job as with women, a celebrity in 60s (Mike Myers), frozen himself as his enemy, Dr Evil, does, to fight him. When Dr Evil comes back in 1997, Ministry of Defence decides to defrost Austin Powers.
  A freaky über James Bond looking like a geek and classless.



• Bedazzled (2001)
  Elliott Richards (Brendan Fraser) is secretly in love with Allison (Frances O’Connor), but he would never have a chance. His co-workers can’t stand him and he’s the closest to a freak. But the devil (Elizabeth Hurley) hears his prays and offers him her love in the exchange of his soul. Though the devil doesn’t advise it wouldn’t be easy.


• As Good As It Gets (1997)
  A fussy writer (Jack Nicholson), misogynist, homophobic, outspoken, and unbearable meets a waitress in trouble (Helen Hunt) who turns him into a better person, not without its ups and downs.


• Mars Attacks (1996)
  When extraterrestrials attack Earth, the weaknesses of human kind are revealed, and there’s only left to survive, anyway possible.


• In&Out (1997)
  A teacher of a town where never happens something out of common (Kevin Klein) and ready to marry his fiancée (Joan Cusack), awaits moved for the moment when one of his pupils (Matt Dillon) is nominated to an Oscar for playing a gay soldier. But his life changes when the pupil dedicates the Oscar to this teacher, saying that is also gay and the teacher has to prove hardly he’s not.

• Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
  The classic history of the Holy Grail reinterpreted by Monty Python: acid, irreverent, and absurd humour.


• The Whole Nine Yards (2000)
  Oz (Matthew Perry) is a dentist who lives with a wife that wants him dead (Rosanna Arquette) and sees his life change when a gangster (Bruce Willis) becomes his neighbour.
  
  

Shopping points

• Amazon www.amazon.com

Iman Cosmetics, for every woman

Model, actress, fashion designer, writer, business-woman, and involved in several charities, Iman has been a role model since the 70s, when she left Africa to start in fashion business. In 1994 she gave a step further with the creation of Iman Cosmetics, addressed to every race, and with the release of her book The Beauty Of Color (2005).

Iman, last from left to right.

When a black model appearing in a make up campaign seemed an utopia, Iman reigned over the catwalk with her feline style. It took several years to find different races in brands as Estée Lauder, Maybelline, Bobbie Brown, L’Oreal, Mac, and Revlon, and that’s what impulsed Iman to create her own brand.

Iman Cosmetics design face treatment line according the skin type (combination, oily skin, dry, hyperpigmented), has 12 foundation shades, and a design basic and refined as the ones of Nars and Mac.

Her web, among others, helps to recreate some looks of her shoots (New York and Company or Hello Canada), shows the trend for this Autumn (Femme Fatale), and cosmetic makeover videos.

Products

• Under Cover Agent Oil Control Primer: Minimizes the appearance of pores, eliminate shine, and creates a uniform skin to help the foundation to last more.
• Time Control All Day Moisture Complex SPF 15: For dry, overexposed to sun, or mature skin moisturizer.


• Luxury Moisturizing Lipstick: Creamy, long-lasting, and in 12 shades. Try daring ones as Opal, Blackbrandy, or Scorpion.

Shopping points

• Find stores at
  http://imancosmetics.com/findastore_landing/

Get The Look Of Denise Richards

Expert on playing the bitch in films such as Wild Things (1998) with Matt Dillon and Valentine (2001) with David Boreaneaz, she has earned the fame of bad girl, and appearing in The World It’s Not Enough (1999) as a Bond girl, confirmed her as a sex-symbol. Recreate her style with Cargo.

• Concealer: One Base Concealer and Foundation In One.
• Foundation: Blu Ray High Definition Matifier, Big Bronzer.
• Pressed powder: Blu Ray Highlighter.
• Powder blush: Beach Blush Coral Beach.
• Eye shadow: Eye Shadow Palette Ibiza.
• Eye liner: Eye Pencil Black, Eye Lighter.
• Mascara: Better Than Waterproof Mascara.
• Lipstick: PlantLove Botanical Lipstick Lola, Purse Gloss Paris.

Pet Shop Girls

After starring calendars and notebooks, puppies go for cosmetics for all ages, becoming the it for trend setters and gifters. Hello Kitty won’t feel lonely anymore.

In 1976 born Hello Kitty, one of the modern icons of children and of parents, and no one would had suspected the successful it would become, generating 250 million of euros a year with its wide range of merchandising, from videos to cosmetics.

Focused on cosmetics, Miko Cat and Cute or What? are the brands of Boots for animals lovers and money savers (you can find sets under 20 pounds). Dazzle dust, bath fizzers, and even toothbrush can be found for the fans of Miko Cat, which alternates his black colour with pink. On the other hand, Cute Or What? includes any animal, even sheeps, in a range that includes photo frames and umbrellas.

The complement chain Claire’s goes even further, with a collection of make up and toiletries based on cats and dogs, but also dolls imitating perfectly poodles in carrier bags.

Welcome to the pet shop!

Products

• Hello Kitty travelling bag I Love Apples: All the small bottles and bag for a weekend.

• Cut or What Paws for Manicure: cosmetic case with naïf dog shape, 2 mini nail files, tweezers, scissors, nail clippers, and cuticle stick.


• Claire’s Cherry Lip Balm: lip balm with the picture of a white fox terrier.



• Miko Cat Tin: mini mascara, lip gloss, 2 nail polishes, 3 eye shadows, and 3 make up brushes.

Shopping points

• Miko Cat, Cute or What? http://www.boots.co.uk/
• Claire´s http://www.claires.com/
  

Got to have it: Perfect Light Portable Loose Powder by No7

Flawless skin on the go with this set of loose powder and brush. Keep it always in your bag and forget about indiscreet shines.

British department stores Boots give the key to paradise with their brand No7, which offers face and body products of high quality without leaving in red numbers. Must after must, now it’s the turn for what everybody has always dreamed of, the ideal retouching tool: small, effective, and easy to use.

Just take the top off, shake the container until the powder comes out of the brush, and apply over your face. It lasts forever.

Chanel Make Up Autumn-Winter 2009/2010: Venise

A revolutionary in her time, the spirit of Coco Chanel it’s kept alive with the new trend created by Peter Philiphs, Venise, which resurrects the casual chic style of Ines de la Fressange –first to combine a t-shirt with a tuxedo-.

It points at the classic 80’s, with shades navy blue-pastels (Les 4 Ombres 16 Murano) and grey (70 Acqua Alta), full lips in sensual tones (Rouge Allure 73 Clandestine, 74 Comedia, 75 Amusing, 76 Captive, 77 Intuitive, 78 Instinctive), and remarked cheeks (Joues Contraste 58 Fresque). Nails outstand in aubergine (Le Vernis 499 Gondola) or show naive with white (Le Vernis 501 Intermezzo), depending on the look.

The most impressing products are Les Tissages, a blush duo effect tweed, the defining material of the brand, splashed with golden or silver, (50 Tweed Sienna), and Eye Gloss, a palette of four shades with lacquer effect, combined in wine, black, and beige.