3 Beauty Must-Haves for Your Engagement Party

There’s usually no shortage of freebies around the office, but lately we’ve been getting tons of great stuff from Benefit, (which is a huge plus in our books since we’re already fans of their awesome beauty lines anyway). So while digging through our usual dogpile of stuff, we fished out three awesome products that everyone should own (or at least give to their girlfriends as gifts). Below are three of our favorite beauty arsenals that will give you that extra omph! to help you look your best at any engagement or bridal party:

Crescent Row fragrances
How adorable are these fragrances? The Crescent Row line is a trio of fragrances modeled after fictional characters that live side-by-side on the make-believe street of Crescent Row. There’s young and playful LeeLee, middle-aged Sophie (I can’t think of a better way to describe her) and Gina, the seductress. The packaging is made to look like little houses, and the fragrance bottle is a mini cocktail shaker. Didn’t I say it was adorable? And since most will want to collect all three, the affordable price is a huge plus.
Benefit, $36

Eye Bright
Splash some life into those dull eyes with this eye brightener. The touch of pink brightens eyes instantly regardless of how many hours of sleep you got the night before.
Benefit, $20

Dr. Feelgood
Use this invisible refining balm as a finishing touch to your look. Lightly buff it over make-up to reduce the appearance of fine lines and pores. It gives you a finished, matte look, which might be perfect for those with oily skin. It also has a lemon-y smell.
Benefit, $28

How important is cultural background in a relationship?

Today I found a fax on my desk from Match-Asian.com. This was actually the second time I got stuck with one of their fliers, but this time I decided not to personally escort it to the nearest trash can. I actually started thinking about ethnic dating sites in general and wondering why they’re so successful on the internet. I think it’s obvious that cultural background plays a significant role in relationships (and if not cultural, at least socioeconomical), but I also feel most of it stems from people feeling a lot more comfortable being politically incorrect on the internet. In real life, people might feel a little apprehensive to admit there’s a group of people they’ll only exclusively date. For example, on Bravo’s Millionaire Matchmaker show, whenever matchmaker Patti ask clients, “You’re Jewish, so do you want a Jewish girl?” the client would always dance around the answer with a, “Well, I mean, it would be nice.. .”

People might be too afraid to admit it in fear they might appear close-minded or biased, but cultural backgrounds do play an important factor in relationships depending on the person (and you can probably throw religion in there, too). People who are extremely family oriented will obviously date a person who they think will be loved and accepted by their family. And besides family pressure, it’s sociological for humans to seek the company of like-minded people. This can go outside of race to include other socioeconomic standards that match to our liking. In the end, it’s all about finding someone who fits the easiest into our current lifestyle. So depending on where you stand amongst your life experiences, cultural background can play a huge role.

For example, on Ugly Betty main character Betty Suarez, who comes from a middle class Mexican-American family, is romantically linked to Matt, a handsome, rich socialite who has the most powerful parents in New York City. Although Betty is charming and witty (and a little neurotic), it’s highly unlikely that a romance like this could take place outside of TV land. Although there might be mutual attraction, the different backgrounds of both families will most likely force the relationship to crumble unless Betty and Matt find a way to isolate their relationship. And then there’s another relationship between neck swirling beauty shop owner Hilda, Betty’s sister, and a powerful politician. Although it makes for great television, I just don’t buy it. What do they talk about?

Does anyone have experience with different cultural backgrounds clashing (or succeeding) in a relationship?

Celebrity Brides-to-Be: Nicole Richie, Jennifer Hudson, Calista Flockhart

As we all know, it’s wedding season and celebrities are getting in on the action, too. Several famous couplings are preparing to march down the aisle. Jennifer Hudson moved her wedding date up two months to fiance David Otunga, according to In Touch. Rumors say it’s because she’s pregnant, but Hudson’s rep denies the rumors.

Meanwhile, Calista Flockhart and Harrison Ford are ready to say “I do” in Hawaii this summer. The couple dated for seven years before they got engaged.

And another couple tying the knot is Nicole Richie and Good Charlotte’s Joel Madden. The two, who have one daughter and another baby along the way, are planning to finally marry this year. According to In Touch, Madden gave Richie a vintage ring that was expensive but not over-the-top excessive. Unfortunately, according to Us Weekly, Madden said there’s no plans for a wedding anytime soon, which basically just cancels out everything reported in In Touch. Le sigh.

Rockers Getting Married: Trent Reznor and Meg White

Today it was announced that both Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) and Meg White (White Stripes) are both getting engaged (But not to each other!). The NIN front man is tying the knot with girlfriend Mariqueen Maandig. The news was announced by one of Maandig’s band members who posted the news on a bulletin on their official website, according to a blog post at The Insider.

Meg White, who was previously married to White Stripes band member Jack White, is now set to wed Jackson Smith, son of rock icons Patti Smith and Fred Smith, according to the Detroit Free Press. The couple are planning to tie the knot on May 22 in Nashville, Tenn.

Coincidentally, both Reznor and White are several years senior to their partners.

Casting call! New reality show looking for soon-to-be engaged couples

Thinking about getting engaged? Desperately want to be on television? Well here’s a treat for you. Today I came across this posting from a California production company looking for couples who are thinking of getting engaged. But here’s the kicker: They’re looking for couples who are apprehensive about their steps toward marriage and are willing to take a lie detector test to see if they are truly compatible. Ouch! Wouldn’t it be quicker to just break up?

Did we all forget about this mishap with another lie detector show? Lauren Cleri ruined her marriage on national television for $100,000 and still walked away with nothing.

Read the rest of the casting call.

5 Worst Movie Weddings

Like everyone else, I’ve been seeing tons of trailers for the upcoming romantic comedy Ghosts of Girlfriends Past on television. In one part of the trailer there’s a scene where Matthew McConaughey’s character accidentally knocks over a wedding cake (much to the dismay of the bride who falls to her knees in a dramatic, “Noooo!”), and another scene where he takes a dive at the bride and groom, trying to keep them from marrying.

And so I started thinking: What is with movies and their sadistic urge to ruin weddings? Nothing goes right, someone is always crashing the ceremony, and someone is always diving through a wedding cake. If there’s a wedding in a movie, it’s guaranteed to always go sour. Below is a quick list of a few movie wedding disasters:

Kill Bill

It’s common to see movies where a former lover crashes a wedding because they’re still in love with the bride or groom. But it’s rare to see the former lover show up and massacre the whole wedding ceremony, including shooting the pregnant bride in the head and leaving her in a coma. She’s totally going to take him back now!

The Graduate

The wedding scene in this classic film is legendary. Ben, played by Dustin Hoffman, crashes through a window into the wedding ceremony of his former girlfriend Elaine. She decides to leave the groom at the altar to join Ben who then threatens the wedding guests with a cross before locking them in the chapel and taking off with the bride.

The Little Mermaid

When prince Eric is about to wed the evil sea witch Eursula (in her human form), the wedding being crashed by a talking lobster was probably a good thing. But unfortunately that meant the whole wedding party also had to be attacked by fish, xand I’m sure they weren’t too pleased with that.

Problem Child 2

In this forgotten kid’s film from the early ’90s, a “problem” child plots to stop his father from marrying a cartoonish villain. Somehow the kid learns to drive a bulldozer and pushes a large rock into the outdoor wedding ceremony, rolling the ball down the aisle. As all the guests run for their lives, the bride is crushed under the ball’s heavy weight. Oh, and some people get splattered with cake.

The Fifth Movie

I can’t think of one! My brain is fried. Any suggestions? And don’t tell me something obvious like The Wedding Crashers or Runaway Bride. I need something original.

Edit: Jeff from My Wedding Workbook gave me a few fifth movie suggestions! He wrote: “How about the wedding at the end of The Princess Bride, when Buttercup forgets to say “I do” which invalidates the wedding. And there’s also the “technical” disaster wedding in Diner (okay, so I’m showing my age now) where Steve Gutenberg makes his fiancee decorate the wedding in (then) Baltimore Colts colors of royal blue and white. I think that one definitely qualifies as a fashion disaster even if they did get married. Thanks, Jeff!

Random Internet Find of the Day: A Dramatic Love Story

As April comes to a close, the office has been very busy. So instead of waxing poetically about whatever topic that pops into my head, I decided to scrounge around the Net for something quirky and random (which still took longer than I thought). My search led me to this cute video. Watch a dramatic love story unfold between two lizards. Oh, and it has a shocking ending.

Need a Wedding Makeover? Get One at Your Computer

Like most people, I’m a visual learner. I need to imagine the scenario first before I’m fully convinced that it’s something that will work out. Daily Makeover, a beauty site devoted to virtual makeovers, launched a new wedding community this week. The new bridal/wedding community will give soon-to-be brides (or those just wishing to be) a chance to “try on” customizable wedding looks including 150 celebrity inspired looks and hundreds of wedding accessories. I decided to take it out for a test drive (even though I had to use my blurry Facebook photo):

Before

After

“OK, guys! I’m ready to get married! Wait, why is everyone running away from me??”

Of course, I was just fooling around with mine. Once you pay and get a full account you can access thousands of makeover accessories. It’s quite fun, too. Check it out.

When Relationships Only Thrive Outside of Marriage: Why Pink Won’t Remarry

It’s not rare for couples to discover soon after tying the knot that things are just not working out. Everything was fine before but for some reason, once legally bound, the dynamics shifted and the marriage fell apart. Is it possible for a relationship to only be strong outside of marriage?

Pop star Pink recently told the Associated Press that she still dates her ex-husband but laughed at the idea of re-marriage saying, “I don’t know where the remarriage thing came from.”

“Our role models are Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon and Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn — people who just choose to be together every day because they want to be there,” the singer said. “And labels have never been our thing, so, we’re just diving into that empty swimming pool, headfirst.”

Coincidentally, this interview follows Salma Hayek and Francois-Henri Pinault‘s highly publicized remarriage last weekend. I could just apathetically shrug this off as different strokes for different folks, but what is it about the role of marriage that makes some couples wither and die?

Perhaps the problem is that people are trying too hard to live up to their idea of what a marriage is. Instead of just taking things slow and allowing things to happen like in a long-term relationship, couples suddenly feel a shift in roles and feel it is their duty to live up to whatever it is they think a married person should do.

Or perhaps the problem are those couples who abandon ship too early in a marriage and then realize later that the relationship could have been quickly mended with time and patience.

What do you think?

Would You Attend an Ex’s Wedding?

This weekend I came across dozens of articles about Salma Hayek’s “second time’s a charm” wedding in Venice. There were tons of noticeable celebs at the event, but one guest that stood out was actor Edward Norton, Salma’s ex. Mr. Norton also came with his current girlfriend and looked to be enjoying the event. The whole display was kind of amazing actually. It really showed how mature and adult everyone was and that not everyone has to leave a relationship with murderous tendencies for the other.

I have noticed even with couples who say they’re friendly and on good terms, there’s still an aura of quiet resentment just under reach. Everyone’s all smiles on the outside, but maybe there’s a tiny voice on the inside whispering, “What could have been…?” But I didn’t get that kind of vibe from Hayek and Norton. They seem to have genuinely moved on, and in such a sophisticated manner, too. If only all couples could be like this, but I know that’s asking a lot. Even if someone is on good terms with an ex, attending his or her wedding could reopen some serious wounds. So, what should you do if you receive the dreaded wedding invitation from an ex? eHow to the rescue! Their advice is mostly common sense, but I liked this tip:

Don’t go to your ex’s wedding if you feel you may create a scene. It is their special day and it’s not right to attend if you don’t have their best interest at heart.

Yes, if you feel like you’re going to punch out the bride, don’t go!

Here’s some more gold advice:

Find someone to escort you. If you show up dateless it may appear to others in attendance that you are still in love with your ex.

I don’t know why anyone would show up dateless to a wedding anyway, but yes, that would be especially pathetic…and awkward.

Oh, and also? Don’t be like this guy:

My ex is getting married. I still love her and want to look really good. I am 6’0″ and weigh about 140. I want to look a little beefier. I have been sick and look too thin but I don’t have time to work out right now.

Sorry, but there are some things not even a snazzy suit can fix.

Would any of you attend an ex’s wedding?