Beauty Tips for Ministers

Cheap Undereye Cover-Up?

This just in, lovely ones:

Hi PB!
A query -I’m trying to replace my Clinique make-up products (expensive, and I usually can’t resist shopping at Macy’s afterwards, so more expensive). I’m loving my Cover Girl mascara and eye liner, Almay eyebrow pencil (with a tiny point that you twist out in Continue reading Cheap Undereye Cover-Up?…

Guide To Best Drugstore Buys

Hey gang!

Real Simple magazine has a very handy-dandy guide to the best drugstore (read: affordable products) buys here.
It’s arranged by category of product and looks to have excellent suggestions.

This is Real Simple’s helpful guide to how to buy wardrobe essentials.

Actually, as a former subscriber to Real Simple magazine, I must say that I’m very impressed with their web site. I’ll be reading more articles when I get a chance.

Thanks to SisterBang for the referral!

Lip Ink?

Hi dears,
Someone just wrote to me about Lip Ink.

I’ve never heard of it, and I’m fascinated. She’s going to send me more info, but have any of you tried it? Comments?

I did some research and came up with this UK company:

www.lipink.com

It looks like it’s organic, and it looks like the starter kit is quite expensive (but that after that, re-fills are quite economical). The blonde model in the video is a little bit overwhelmed by her big red lips, but the other models are wearing more subtle colors that look lovely.

Do you have to scrub it off with another special product at the end of the day?

I wonder if I could get the company to send me a free starter kit for reviewing purposes…!

The First Commandment Of Sandals

Originally uploaded by Peacebang.

Edie Falco is a really terrific actress, but oy vey, this schmatta has got to go.

Doesn’t this sort of look like something you or I might wear to a funeral? I think it might be okay at a funeral, but not at the opening of a film festival. Not that any of us are going to openings of film festivals, I’m just sayin’. That little kick of flamenco dancer frill at the hem just doesn’t redeem it.

Let’s discuss the other fashion problems here. First, if we’re going to wear an entirely sombre black dress, let’s not throw some itsy-bitsy little necklace on and call that accessorizing. ESPECIALLY if we’re going to be speaking in public. With something this austere, you want a bolder statement, methinks.

The hem is a universally unflattering length, but she could have made it less so by not breaking up her leg with those thick sandal straps. And she needs pantyhose or something to help with the pasty leg situation. Do you see how your eye moves down from the smooth line of black and then it’s like three big chunks of white? Worst of all, it distracts from her face. She’s also not wearing enough make-up to compete with the black, and she looks extremely washed out. So much to learn here! We love you, Edie! But you need some rouge!

All of that aside, THE SHOES DON’T FIT.

Now usually, the sin with sandals is when we get into the Toe-Overhang or the Heel Overhang — both mortal sins that I’m SURE earns one time in Fashion Hell. PeaceBang has extremely short toes and often has to contend with her pinky toe slipping through the strap on sandals she’s trying on and LOVES, but has to put sadly away until the day that plastic surgeons develop toe-elongation cosmetic enhancement. Her stubby toes are a serious impediment to fitting sandals well, so she feels the pain of those who suffer the same malady.
However, we must be strong. No matter how much we LOVE the sandal, we should not BUY and WEAR the sandal if it doesn’t FIT.

Too small is just awful. Too big isn’t much better, as you can see here.

I saw a photo of Beyonce Knowles the other day dancing her pants off in a pair of 4″ heels, and those heels were a full two sizes too big. I could only imagine that the lovely Ms. Knowles shot that photo and fell forthwith on her keister.

The point, as always, is about not unintentionally upstaging ourselves so that when we’re being present in ministry or wherever, people aren’t sneaking surreptitious glances at our feet and thinking, “God god awmighty, look at those toes hanging out all over the floor. I hope she doesn’t break one.”

“Thy sandals shall fit thy feets,” saith the LORD.

PeaceBang On Busted Halo NOW!

If you’re up and you have Sirius Radio, I’ll be on Channel 159 talking with Father Dave Dwyer of “The Busted Halo Show” in about 15 minutes.

Love, PB

Interview Freak-Out

Interview Freak-Out
Originally uploaded by Peacebang.

My goodness, what an anxious letter THIS is! Let’s see what this Job Seeking Reader has to say:

Dear PeaceBang,
I’m going for a job interview this weekend and I’m freaking out mildly and I dont know what it says about my life that I keep wailing to myself ‘PEACEBANG is the ONLY one who can HELLLLP’ but that’s the truth of the matter.

So, what do you suggest? I need an outfit that can:
1. ride in the car for three hours
2. go to lunch at a nice-ish restaurant
3. go for a walking tour of the neighborhood and then one of the church (this second part is scheduled to last an hour! How is that possible? I’m thinking that we must be hitting the attic and the boiler room which for sure means dust…)
4. interview for 1.5 hours
5. go to dinner at someone’s house

Do I wear the same thing all day? Or do I change out of travel clothes for the interview part? And then change again for the dinner after the interview? I feel like I’m going to the Oscars.

FYI: [The weather where I am going] will either be 40 degrees and raining or 70 degrees and sunny, but most likely both of these, and all the degrees in between, too.

Also, at the meals, what do I eat? Do I pull a Scarlett and have a big meal before so they don’t see what a chow hound I am, and also so that I can TALK without my mouth being full?

Any wisdom you can throw my way -confidentially if it’s ok as I”m job hunting on the sly more or less - would be so much appreciated.”

Well, my dear, that is indeed a doozie, and PeaceBang and her readers are *here for you.* We have ALL been there. We feel you.

First of all, if you can possibly steal a few moments to freshen up and change after your journey of three hours, do. At least spritz your face with some rose water, take a few moments alone to stretch and breathe, brush your teeth, blow your nose and apply fresh lipstick.
You’ll feel ready for anything. You’ll BE ready for anything!

I think a good outfit choice would be a patterned skirt (maybe an Indian print, nothing too florally-cutesy) , a classic cotton tank with some spandex in it to give it shape and dressiness factor, and a cardigan. You can leave the cardigan off on the trip so it will be fresh when you arrive. Wear a nice necklace, and keep the colors up top deep and neutral, which projects more authority and leadership than light colors (and certainly pastels!).

A nice pair of trousers with a lovely, colorful blouse and lightweight blazer would also work, just make sure your fabrics have some poly or spandex in them for wrinkle-management. Belts can also make blouses look very sharp, and a belted shirt or blouse under an open blazer is a nice look.

You might wear comfortable but nice sandals if it’s not raining too hard– not Clarkes, but something more dressy that you can still walk around comfortably in. I noticed a slew of choices at Macy’s this past weekend. A really nice, substantial flat should also be fine.

Don’t plan to change clothes only because your interviewing team may not have scheduled time for you to do so, and you want to feel that whatever outfit you choose can take you confidently through the entire ordeal… um, I mean, EXPERIENCE!

If you do get some time alone before dinner, by all means shower, change, do whatever helps you to re-energize, but you may just get ten minutes. And wouldn’t it be kinder to yourself to spend that ten minutes breathing and praying and discerning rather than scrambling into a new set of duds and worrying if things match?

If you want to change shoes for dinner, that would be nice. Sometimes I’ll wear comfortable walking-around shoes at a day event and then just change my earrings and shoes for a dinner appearance.

As for eating before you eat, it’s only true that you will be doing more talking and energetically reacting than actually dining. If you’re hungry, there’s nothing wrong with having soup or snacks beforehand on your own. Your digestion will be better for it, and so will your presence at dinner. And if you’re seen picking at your food, you can always say you’re too nervous to eat. Which is true! You’re too nervous to eat… in front of a group of people who are interviewing you for a ministerial position! Riiight?
But honey, don’t snarf down a bucket o’ chicken or a big bag of Taco Bell before dinner: you’ll just look puffy and you might get a grease spot on your blouse.

Seriously, though, you can always write to me (my e-mail address is always on the margins of the page, kittycats) and send photos.
This is a big occasion and we want you to feel 100% the shining star you are.

Blessings, and let us know how it goes!!
Kiss of Peace,
PB

(P.S. Readers, the photo is random. It is not a photo of our anonymous and reverend letter writer!)