Nick Verreos visits The White House!

Oprah Isn't The Only One Visiting The White House...First Designers: David Paul and Nick Verreos of NIKOLAKI, stand in front of The White House

Two weeks ago, as you may remember, I flew to Washington DC to do my Corcoran Lecture. Thank Goodness I was there right before this current Winter Snow Storm which has shut down the Nation's Capital. It was a gorgeous (yet chilly) 50 degrees, and I didn't even have to get the gloves out or wear my Marc Jacobs "Frozen Tundra" fur-lined parka coat. I was only there for three days (one to arrive, one for the event and the other to fly back home), but my hosts had a special surprise the morning of my Corcoran Appearance: A Private Tour of The White House!!! Well, David and I just about couldn't control ourselves the morning of. We were giddy with excitement and the anticipation. Thank God we passed those background checks (wink wink!).White House Crashers: Nick Verreos and David Paul pose with their hosts and White House Tour Mates

Both David and I got a bit dressed up and I'm glad we did because when we arrived at the Gates, everyone else was well dressed too. I don't know if it is required but it seemed as if the Invite would say "Dress in 'Interview' attire, Please." Our hosts who joined us were the lovely Norine Fuller and Jacqueline Perrottet from the FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising DC office plus the man who procured the private tour, Matt Shepard (he went to school with a White House "insider"). Also joining us were Jim Johnson, Jenny Hart and their friend, the very fun and vibrant Sarah Fraser, an anchor from HOT 99.5 as well as a correspondent for the Washington DC NBC station.Nick Verreos as Michaele Salahi at the White House--and the Salahi's in the same room

Our tour began on the first floor as we entered a long hallway and made ourselves to the VERY ROOM where the infamous "White House Party Crashers", the Salahi's, were photographed. Of course, I screamed at David to find a camera and take a photo of me, as if I was waiving to the Party Paparazzi.
JFK Portrait, The White House

As we made it in past this room, we entered an area with portraits of the First Ladies near the East Room. we spotted current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's portrait (love the pantsuit!). This one's for you, Dad: Nick Verreos poses in front of Ronald Reagan Portrait

We then walked past the US President's Portraits, including the famous pensive one from John F. Kennedy, as well as Ronald Reagan (my father's favorite!). Of course, I had to pose in front of that one to make my dad smile.The Blue Room Christmas Tree

Continuing our tour, we walked into the fabulous Blue Room, home to the White House Christmas Tree. The tree was IMMENSE and featured lots of large round ornaments done in Decoupage style. Each ornament was created by Americans from across the country. It was such a treat to view The White House during the Holiday Season.Adjacent to the Blue Room, was the Red Room (see above) which has been used, especially by former First Ladies, as a meeting room and a parlor room. I loved the rich vivid Cabernet red shades in this room as well as the elegant portraits on its walls.Next we entered the State Dining Room (see above) of the White House, where President Abraham Lincoln's portrait resides. Traditionally, our most gracious (and patient) tour guide, Jenny Botero told us, this is used for buffets and dinners (therefore the "State Dining Room" title naturally). Yummy White House: The Bill Yosses-designed white chocolate and marzipan confection

Another highlight of this room was the great marzipan and white chocolate White House confection designed by pastry chef Bill Yosses. Part of the White House "cake" is cut out to show an inner view of the State Dinner Room where this creation sits! Notice the Presidential dog, Bo, in the front. Speaking of food, our guide then took us to the "basement" where we somehow ended up by the Presidential Kitchen. I'm HER biggest fan: Nick Verreos and White House Executive Chef, Cristeta Comerford

As we passed by, we spotted Executive White House Chef, Cristeta "Cris" Comerford. She was appointed by First Lady Laura Bush as the first female White House Chef back in 2005 and the Obama's kept her (very smart!). As we walked into the kitchen and I began to introduce myself, she exclaimed "I know you! You're Nick from Project Runway...I'm a big fan!". Needless to say, I could have ended the tour right then and there. I LOVE HER!! I can't believe she was verklempt over me! I couldn't even talk (a rarity) with the respect and admiration I had for her!
Flower Power: Nick Verreos inside The White House Floral Design Room Refrigerator

After the kitchen, we stopped by the flower design room and I actually went into the floral refrigerating room and took a peek at the most beautiful roses and floral arrangements that will eventually decorate the various rooms of The White House. I also dished with the floral designers about my hardships making a dress out of flowers and plants on my season of Project Runway. At this point, we ended the tour by stopping by the secret "White House Store" and actually purchasing some can-only-be-bought-here items such as cuff links, golf balls and tee shirts. David and I felt so privileged to have received this tour and an "inside peek" into one of the most famous houses in the world.

YSL

It felt like Christmas had come early when these goodies dropped through my letterbox this week! The people at YSL have been very kind and sent me some more products to try (please note that I do not get paid to review any products from any brand). They sent Teint Resist Foundation in no.4, Matt & Radiant Pressed Powder in no.3, Rouge Pur Lipstick in 144 and Gloss Pur in no.2 & no.4.
Just look at the detail on the powder pan below...I LOVE that kind of pretty attention to detail, the only thing is it's so lovely, I didn't want to disturb it! The powder promises a soft matte finish that adds radiance to the skin. I found that this powder works in the same way as MAC MSF Natural in that it adds a natural glow to the skin and is fantastic for setting foundation. It's buttery soft, light as a feather and non-powdery, basically a very high quality powder which you would expect from YSL. It has a very, very slight pale pink tone to it so it really brightens the complexion. The only gripe I have with it is that you get alot more product for your money with MAC MSF Natural.
The foundation has a very light formula and I would say that it offers a medium coverage which is fine for every day use. It blends into the skin seamlessly and lasts all day, whilst being transfer resistant. I like the fact that it has a pump applicator as that keeps messiness to a minimum and you don't end up wasting any product. The finish of the foundation is very natural and there's no sign of cakiness, it's virtually undetectable on the skin. I liked the foundation but, at this time of year, I like a little bit more coverage as the cold weather makes my cheeks and nose go bright red (not a good look!) and this foundation doesn't quite cut it in those conditions. I think I will stick to my MUFE or Revlon Colourstay for now.
The Rouge Pur Lipstick in 144 is a gorgeous peach and I would say it's definitely a true peach, but it's still soft enough to be flattering. I really like the smooth and silky formulation of the Rouge Pur Lipsticks, they glide on and feel so moisturising on the lips. They don't last quite as long as you would like and I think I get through them alot quicker than any other lipsticks (apart from Rouge Voluptes which are the worst offenders but oh so pretty). I always find the packaging for the Rouge Pur Lipsticks to be alot more flimsy and plasticky than the Rouge Voluptes and I wish they would make the Rouge Pur cases a bit more 'heavy' and 'luxe'.
If I'm being totally honest, I prefer the Golden Glosses to the creamy look of the Gloss Pur's. I think that's just because I like a bit of shimmer though...what can I say...I'm a magpie! Saying that, these glosses are lovely to apply, they have a great brush applicator and they are non-sticky and long lasting. I was a little scared by the fuschia colour although it actually applies a bit more sheer on the lips and is surprisingly wearable. My favourite is the Light Peach shade which is so flattering and gorgeous, it's amazing over pink or nude lipsticks! SO my kind of colour.

Zuneta: The real personal touch...

You guys will have seen a few of these posts already but as with the other posts, I felt I just had to show my appreciation for Zuneta's ultimate personal touch...a Christmas present! As you know, they sent a selection of beauty blogger's a small gift and I received the same one as Bubblegarm and Zoe, the Hourglass Prism eyeshadw duo. It was beautifully packaged with a ribbon as you can see and it came with a card.
In my opinion, it's very rare to come across a website/company who go to this amount of effort to thank their customers for their support over the year. I really like the website because it stocks some brands that are hard to find on the highstreet and of course, one of my favourite brands, Rouge Bunny Rouge.
The Hourglass eyeshadow duo is packaged in a lovely little bronze case with a swivel mirror. The eyeshadow duo is perfect for my colouring and I'm so pleased as it's a high quality product and I can't wait to create a nice smokey look with it.

I won't harp on about it too much as you will have read the various other posts but after being so pleasantly surprised with this package this morning, I wanted to say a big thank you to Zuneta for reminding us bloggers that there ARE companies out there who know how to make their customers feel special.

P.S. - It just started snowing here in Aberdeen! I love snow at Christmas!I'm just watching SATC film (the scene where Miranda and Steve meet on the bridge, gets me every time!)

How to Make Your Perfume Last All Day

How to make perfume scents last longer when applied has got to do with when, where and how you apply it. Body mist, body sprays or anything that are light bottled scents don't tend to last long. If you really want your perfume to have longer lasting power then you have to choose those perfumes that are rich in sensual notes such as oriental’s /ambers with vanilla ( Samsara, Angel, Spellbound, Coco, Shalimar) or chypres’ with oakmoss and bergamot (Femme , Miss Dior, Mitsouko,).



Here are some 10 proven ways on how to make perfume scents last longer when applied.

1. Layering the fragrance will make the scent last longer. Layering begins during the shower. Use soap, shower gel, shampoo or conditioner of your desired scent. After toweling yourself dry, slather lotion or fragrant moisturizer to establish the scent on your whole body. Some scents also come in talc form, so dust all over your body before getting dressed.

2. Pulse points play a major role upon where we should apply our perfume. These are the areas that produce heat to which in turn releases the scent of your perfume. The pulse points are located at the temples, the base of the throat, between the breasts, the wrists, the bend of the elbow. Pulse points that you have to pay more attention are at the back of the knees and the ankles. Since scent travels upward, these scent locations are very important. And most people skip these pulse points when applying perfume. Don’t apply behind your ears – instead, go for the jaw line, close to the ear. There are certain glands behind the ears that will interact with the smell of your perfume.

3. One reason why scents evaporate quickly is because of dry skin. Since perfume contains alcohol it also evaporates quickly. Another way to make perfume scents last longer is to apply lotion before applying your perfume. A lotion having the same scent is an excellent way to make your perfume last longer. But if you don't have a matching lotion, apply an unscented lotion. If you decide to use a lotion with a different scent, make sure that it doesn't clash with your perfume. If you have oily skin, a light dusting of fragrance bath powder will help to reinforce the fragrance without adding oils you don't need.

4. When you spray perfume on your wrist, never rub it together because it would "compress" the scent and won't allow the scent to develop naturally with your body chemistry.

5. To make the scent long lasting, you have to spray right after you are out of the shower, because your pores are still open.

6. Spray perfume before putting on any clothes or before wearing jewelries. Some perfumes leave indelible stains on clothing and accessories, especially synthetic fibers and pearls.

7. Spray your hairbrush with a favorite scent and run it through your hair.

8. Put a bit of vaseline (olive oil or shea butter would work well too) on the points you plan to spray on. The scent will adhere better.

9. Spray yourself from a distance of 12 inches then step into the fragrant cloud you create. This helps to distribute the scent over your entire body.

10. For Ladies, you can wear a small cotton ball infused with your favorite woman’s perfume inside your bra for a long lasting scented impression. That way you can avoid applying perfume right into the folds of the skin in that area, where sweat can cause irritation.

I hope you find this post useful on how to make your perfume scent last longer. Remember, the trick to perfume application is not quantity, but quality. The longer your perfume lasts when you wear it, the less you have to use it as you’ll find there may not be a need to reapply.

Korres Shimmering Eyeshadows

You guys all know that I love Korres Shimmering Eyeshadows and I have been lucky enough to be sent these three babies recently. There's Sky Blue, Base (beige) and Silver....

All three are lovely but I would have to say that Sky Blue is my favourite as it's the most unique colour. It's got a touch of purple to it and I love the metallic sheen it has. The Beige shade is a little bit blah and could be recreated in other brands very easily. It's just meant to be used as a base colour on the lid. The Silver shade is gorgeous but once again, every brand does this shade in some form or other and I have similar eyeshadows like this one already.

As always, these eyeshadows are really high quality, buttery smooth/silky and have great pigmentation. They are long lasting and with a good base, they won't crease. I'm thinking about buying a few of these and giving them to my friends as part of their Christmas presents, especially the unique shades!