Romy Raves

I am going to let you in on a little secret, I have a thing for witches, especially green faced witches like the Wicked Witch of the West from my all time favorite movie the Wizard of Oz, and more recently, Elphaba the misunderstood witch from the Broadway Musical Wicked. Why you ask? Well, they stand out in a crowd, make a statement, have a little edge and controversy, and they are often unexpected–just like me  

So this year for Halloween, I decided to enlist the help of a fabulous professional make-up artist, Sara (@Superkitty),  who was happy to oblige. She did an utterly fantastic job turning me into Elphaba, complete with green ears and hands to match (thanks to MAC Pro Make-Up, which was very comfortable and super long wearing). I looked so authentic that children were scared, adults were intrigued and everyone was stopping to take photos with me like I was a character at Disneyland–I looked that good! I had such a blast embracing this playful witchy persona, and must admit I felt pretty comfortable and beautiful in my green skin. It made me think a bit more deeply about how we define beauty–What is beautiful to you? How do you define beauty? Here is a glimpse of my green witch alter ego, Hee Hee Hee!

On My Way To Becoming Green

Wicked & Loving It 

Wicked At School 

I May Cast A Spell On You

Gorgeously Green

Rockin’  The Green

I Feel Pretty Being Green

Greetings loyal followers, I have been busy, busy keeping up with all that is going on in the beauty world, hence the lapse in posts. Below, you will find a sampling of some fun things that are popping up in the beauty world, as well as some of the trend scouting missions and events that have been keeping me busy. Enjoy!

MAC Venomous Villains  The blogosphere is all abuzz about the Fall release of MAC’s latest inspired collection called the Venomous Villains. I am particularly excited about this special collection because not only am I a beauty maven, but I am an avid collector of all things Disney female villians (which I call the Evil Queens.) Can you say Malificent, Cruella, and Ursula?

Here’s the official scoop: MAC Cosmetics is teaming up with Disney to create a limited edition color collection, intended to launch globally in late September in all MAC locations. The products will feature four Disney characters, on which the brand is keeping mum at the moment — although with a collection name of Venomous Villains, it is assumed that we’re not talking Donald Duck and Minnie Mouse here. Lipstick, powder, lip gloss and blush shades will be sold, ranging in price from $12 to $29.50. I will be all over this fabu collection!! Click on this link for a fun teaser of this new collection: Sneak Peak of MAC Venomous Villians

CEW Award Winners Cosmetic Executive Women, Inc. (CEW) is one of the leading trade organizations in the beauty industry, comprised of members who are some of the most influential people in the beauty business (including yours truly ) The CEW Beauty Awards are one of the industry’s highest honors because they recognize some of the most innovative beauty products of the year, as voted by CEW members and industry experts. Winners of this award gain tremendous exposure in the beauty category. The 2010 CEW Beauty Award Winners were just announced, click HERE for the list.

NYX Cosmetics Decade +1 Unveiled Event Last week, I was invited to a super fun swanky poolside party at the[caption id="attachment_2698" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Katherine McPhee & Me at NYX Event"][/caption]Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in celebration of NYX Cosmetics 11th Anniversary. This brand is probably best known for making high quality, professional make-up at affordable prices. In honor of this milestone, the brand hosted this great event to celebrate its established presence in the cosmetics industry. I brought along another fabulous blogger TravelsWithTwo, and we enjoyed hanging poolside, checking out celebs (like Carmen Electra & Katherine McPhee) listening to great tunes, sipping the signature NYX-tini (a yummy grapefruit pink girly concoction), eating yummy morsels (loved the petite burgers and the Guinness Beer milkshakes), and playing with samples of NYX Cosmetics. We left with lots of NYX make-up goodies and I am especially enjoying their yummy berry flavored and slightly tingly Mega Shine Lip Gloss.

In honor of my birthday this year, I’ve decided that it would be awfully nice of me to do something special for my loyal readers like you. So I have put together some special treats for you to enjoy, may I have a drum roll pluh-eeze. . . . . . It’s Romy’s Birthday Freebies!

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I have compiled a list of various freebies that I have deemed Romy Raves worthy for you to sign-up for on the web (some are clubs and some are offers), print out and score some recessionista worthy loot. Please let me know how you make out and thank you for making my Birthday a Happy One!Â

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Free Ice Cream

Ben & Jerry’s–One Free Single Scoop for joining Chunkmail
www.benjerry.com/chunk

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Baskin Robbin’s–One Free 2.5 oz. Scoop
www.baskinrobbins.com/bdayclub/registerinfo1.aspx

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Cold Stone Creamery–Free Ice Cream Creation
www.coldstonecreamery.com/birthday/birthday_club.aspx

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Free Food

Red Robin–Free Burger

http://apps.fishbowl.com/a/redrobin/join/agegate.asp

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Rubio’s–Free Taco & A Free Meal on Your B-day
www.rubios.com/beachclub/

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Benihana–Free Dinner (up to $30)
http://www.benihana.com/email

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El Torito–Free Guacamole & A Free Entree on your Birthday

http://www.freeshiet.com/Share/Nationwide-Free-El-Torito-Meal-on-Your-Birthday-63.aspxÂ

Fuddruckers–Free Burger

http://www.fuddsclub.com/

http://www.fishbowl.com/clt/tnyrms/lp/join/join.asp

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Free Lifestyle & Entertainment

Sephora Beauty Insider–Free Trio of Lip Glosses on your Birthday and Deluxe Samples: : BTW I am proud card carrying member of this great club, lots of treats for us beauty junkies

http://www.sephora.com/beautyinsider/

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Disneyland–Free Park Entrance on your Exact Birthday
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/disneyparks/en_US/WhatWillYouCelebrate/disneyland/index?name=CelebrationsDLRFreeOnYourBirthdayPage

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Hollywood & Highland Center Elephant Card Birthday Perks

http://www.hollywoodandhighland.com/information_elephantcard.php#birthday

This hip entertainment center in the heart of Hollywood is offering a whole bunch of perks just for signing up for their free elephant card. Once you sign-up, all you need to do is show your current ID and Elephant Card within a week before or a week after your birthday and to get the following free perks:

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Spa Luce at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa
Complimentary day pass with a $50 credit towards a treatment ($75 value)
Kodak Theatre
Complimentary Kodak Theatre Guided Tour ticket
MAC Cosmetics
Complimentary set of lashes and lash application ($12 value)–I’ve RAVED about this awesome perk before
Twist at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa
Complimentary dessert
Mann Chinese 6 Theatres
Free small popcorn with beverage purchase. One per person
Kelly’s Coffee & Fudge
Free cookie
Beard Papa Sweets Café
Complimentary cream puff

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Hey all you Glamour Girls, want to look like a million bucks on your birthday? False eyelashes are one of my favorite beauty secrets! So I thought I would pass along this great freebie to you.

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How about a FREE pair of eyelashes and lash application at MAC on your birthday?? Sounds good to me, how about you? All you have to do is visit the Hollywood and Highland center in Hollywood, California on your exact birthday (ID required), go to the Hollywood Visitor Information Center on level 1 and get your free elephant card, then take your Elephant VIP card to the MAC store, tell them its your Birthday and kindly ask those well trained MAC make-up artists for your fun and flirty lashes–and they will usually do complimentary eye make-up too, if you ask nicely

This complimentary set of lashes and lash application is a $12 value–nice perk, right? Aren’t you glad you are a follower of Romy Raves and found out about this awesome freebie?

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