Living a Vintage Lifestyle in Columbus

So you live in Columbus and you're interested in the vintage lifestyle? Do you want to know the best place to shop, eat, and be seen, all in keeping with a retro theme? Well, I'll tell you, but first you must start at the beginning. 

When you want to live a vintage lifestyle, you must first research your favorite decade so that you're sure that you're doing it right! My favorite era is the late 1930's to mid 1960's because the pinup and rockabilly lifestyles are centered in these decades. One of the first things that every pinup girl has to know is how to do her own vintage hair and makeup. There are plenty of online tutorials that will teach you how to do a proper roller or pin curl set and then how to style the hair once it's done. The best hairstyle to learn first is the Victory Roll. You can also find tutorials on how to create the perfect pinup makeup look. Don't forget the winged eyeliner and red lips!

There are also plenty of online stores, such as Pinup Girl Clothing, Daddy O's, Lindy Bop for all of your retro-reproduction clothing. But I find that the best place to find vintage clothing styles are in the thrift store. There are so many really wonderful thrift stores in Columbus! I usually go to Volunteers of America or Ohio Thrift to find my goodies. My favorite thing to do is take a picture of an Old-Hollywood actress or vintage photograph to the thrift store and try to replicate the outfit. The secret to finding vintage at these stores is you have to shop them frequently. Look at all the dresses on the rack because you never know what treasures are hidden there! Start with the basics: cardigan sweaters, full-skirt dresses, and peep toe heels. You can also find cute clutches or smaller purses that would work well paired with your vintage or vintage-inspired outfit. 

Additionally, there are many antique stores that sell clothing, shoes, and accessories. The prices on these items may be a bit higher, but you're almost guaranteed to leave one of those stores with a new prize. A great store for finding vintage of many different decades is Rag-O-Rama. If you're truly looking for a vintage piece, just be careful of buying a "newer" fashion item masquerading as vintage since this store carries it all.

Every pinup girl, or at least anyone who wants to feel beautiful should do a pinup photo shoot! These shoots are an incredible amount of fun, you get the chance to get dolled up in full hair and makeup, and you can wear your new vintage-inspired outfits that you scored at the thrift store! My go-to photographer in Columbus is Taryn Lindsey Photography. She is the premiere pinup photographer in the city and most of my published work has been with her. She is simply amazing.

Once you've mastered the Victory Roll and cat eye from the online tutorial, found the perfect vintage dress, cardigan, and shoes to match at the thrift store, and spent the day posing for the camera, it's time to hit the town! There are plenty of retro-inspired fun to be found in and around Columbus. You could start off with the classic dinner and a movie by first visiting either a diner or retro-themed restaurant such as Grass Skirt Tiki Room or Surly Girl. (Btw, I'm so bummed that Betty's has closed because it would be at the top of the list!) After dinner, hit up a drive-in movie at South Drive-In, or in the summer time, see one of the classic films in the CAPA Summer Movie Series at the Ohio Theatre. 

After the film, finish off your night with another retro-inspired activity, such as seeing a rockabilly band or a burlesque show! The Ooh-La-Las burlesque troupe, (which is the troupe I perform with) have two monthly shows, Circus on 2nd Fridays of the month and The Shrunken Head on 4th Saturdays of the month. The rockabilly/pinup/burlesque lifestyle goes hand in hand, not to mention that burlesque star Dita Von Teese is one of the most famous pinups in the world! Myself, along with local performers, Honey Merlot and Betty LeRoux are published pinup models. 

What about the guy in your life? Take him to a vintage car show! Locally, you can attend The Hot Rod Hula Hop or Goodguys car shows, but in the summertime, there are no shortage of car shows everywhere in Ohio.  It may even be a fun day trip to pack a picnic lunch and drive to one that may be out of the city. And if you're game, enter the pinup contest that takes place at most car shows. It's a great way to meet other pinup girls who share the same interests as you and form lasting friendships. 

And while we're talking about your guy, The Mug and Brush is an ADORABLE barbershop in Clintonville, just north of Campus. Your guy can get a haircut and straight razor shave in this retro-styled shop. 

But what about your home? You can certainly find many vintage items for your home at the thrift store while you're shopping for your clothing items. But don't hesitate to visit one of the area's truly wonderful antique stores. My favorites are DPS Antiques in Delaware, as well as Eclectiques Antique Mall and the Boomerang Room in Clintonville. The Boomerang Room sells some amazing quality vintage furniture that I've been drooling over for years. As soon as I move out of my condo and into a bigger house, I will be FILLING it with treasures from this store. 

Now you're all set! Go forth and spread the vintage/retro lifestyle love!

Love Always, 

Cherie

52 Years Later

                                                              Marilyn Monroe in Niagara

52 years later.... 52 years after her death, Marilyn Monroe is a bigger icon today than during her lifetime. And she was an icon during her lifetime, a burden that she wasn't strong enough to carry. People often ask me why or how I became interested in this long gone Hollywood actress. Sometimes that question is meant to be hateful such as, "How can you admire some who was a (slut, drug addict, bad actress) or committed suicide?" "What made you think she would be a good role model?"

Whenever I hear this I just want to scream, but instead I just sigh and tell people that they don't know the first thing about her. So much of Marilyn's legend is steeped in lies, rumor, and innuendo. Some of the lies were told by Marilyn herself, possibly in an attempt to elicit sympathy from others, or maybe just to hide the true story of her past. But most stories that have become part of what the public has come to know about Marilyn Monroe are nothing but made up falsehoods from people who barely knew a woman is now dead and cannot defend herself. Even most quotes attributed to Marilyn are outright fakes.

So why did I become fascinated with Marilyn Monroe? Why does she still hold a special magic, that for me and many others, has left us entranced for the past half a century? My story and reasons are very similar to pretty much every MM fan that I've ever met.

I fell in love with Marilyn when I was 15 years old. I was planning to do research on a role that I wanted to audition for in my high school's musical. I went down to the local video store to rent the musical on VHS (I'm showing my age a bit) but it wasn't available. So instead I decided to rent another video from the classic films section. They had a few Marilyn movies on hand and I decided to rent Gentlemen Prefer Blondes because I thought, "Let's see what all the fuss was about this woman.". Well needless to say, I figured it out and I watch the film several times over the next week. Not too long later The Diamond Collection, containing 5 of her films plus the Last Days documentary, was released and I bought it. I watched all of the films numerous times and then set out to read up on my new obsession.

The first book about Marilyn Monroe that I ever read was entitled, Marilyn: Her Life in Her Own Words, by George Barris. The book contained many of the final photographs ever taken of her. But it was her words that struck me. In it, she talks about her childhood and I started to see some interesting parallels with my own. I was kind of a sad girl at this time, having gone through a lot up to then. In Marilyn I found a kindred spirit, someone who went through many of the things that I had gone through.

I didn't have a lot of confidence during this time. My hair was too thick and frizzy, I had braces, I didn't feel thin enough, yadda yadda. Marilyn, to me, was the ideal woman. I had always wanted to be a platinum blonde, and in fact the only other women that I had an obsession with in my life were Barbie and Baby Spice. When I was about 20 years old, I was in a really lonely place and once again I turned to Marilyn. I had by this time collected a few books in which I read about her eating and exercise habits, her beauty routine, etc. They were like my own personal beauty books. I studied her clothes and become obsessed with the vintage style. I tried to replicate her makeup and facial features with my magical makeup wand and I practiced the Marilyn smile and half closed eye look in the mirror. I hadn't yet took the plunge into blondeness, but I was on my way. Some of you may think that this was unhealthy, that I was carrying around an unhealthy obsession, but to this day I just see that time as becoming the person that I was meant to be.

Less than a year later, I went blonde for the first time. This was done in two steps, but I remember the first time I looked in the mirror after becoming my current shade of blonde. Never could I have known that changing my hair color to what I had been coveting my entire life would change me so much. This was right after I had moved to California and was beginning my "transformation" of mind, body, and soul. At this time, my loneliness was starting to be replaced with happiness due to the wonderful people who came into my life at this time. I also started working at a theatre, playing lead roles in many shows, which boosted my confidence immensely, and provided me with the most amazing friends a girl could ask for. I don't want to say that being blonde like Marilyn changed me as a person, but it started me on that path.

Now that I was an actress (dahhhling), I turned to Marilyn as a acting teacher. Now for those of you who believe she wasn't a good actress, please ACTUALLY watch her films, especially Bus Stop, The Prince and The Showgirl, and The Misfits. But there are so many more (Niagara, Don't Bother to Knock, Some Like It Hot). Marilyn was a better actress than most give her credit for because they actually BELIEVE that she was a dumb blonde! Ha! She was an incredibly well-read, poetry writing, classically trained actress, who studied with Michael Chekhov and Lee Strasberg. Her acting was praised by some of the most highly regarded actors and directors in history, such as Sir Laurence Oliver, Marlon Brando, Billy Wilder, and Elia Kazan. She was a two time Golden Globe winner, as well as numerous European acting awards on par with the Academy Awards in America. (Don't get me started on the politics of the Oscars.) But I digress.

Marilyn was a very meticulous performer. She studied, and studied, and studied her craft. She took dance lessons, singing lessons, modeling classes, as well as studying acting with incredible acting coaches. She never gave up on becoming an actress for she knew that her talent was there and she was certainly worth it. She dreamed hard and look where it got her. So yes, she is an incredible inspiration.

Two of my greatest and most cherished friends came into my life because of our shared love of Marilyn. My dear friend David, I met through the message board on the official Marilyn Monroe website (which is shit and a poor excuse for an "official" site). David is a person who changed my life because he came into it at a time when I needed him the most. He touched my soul in a special way and through our shared love of Marilyn Monroe, we formed a great friendship. Sadly, he passed away from lung cancer in 2008 and I miss him everyday.

The second person is my friend Charlie, who is a loud Aussie who I also met on the message boards and has become like a sister to me. We initially also bonded over our shared adulation, but soon we found other things in common, such as the fact that we both have Filipino mothers (mine is my stepmother for those of you wondering why I don't look half Asian). Trust me, having a Filipino mother is an adventure all it's own. I wouldn't have these friends without Marilyn Monroe.

So on this 52nd anniversary of her death, this is how I pay tribute to my idol. Why do I love Marilyn? Because she simply gives me pure joy. She inspires me to be a better performer, cherish my true friends, and never, ever give up.

I think Lee Strasberg described Marilyn in the simplest and most beautiful way when he presented his eulogy at her funeral service:


                Marilyn Monroe’s Eulogy presented by Lee Strasberg

Marilyn Monroe was a legend. In her own lifetime she created a myth of what a poor girl from a deprived background could attain. For the entire world she became a symbol of the eternal feminine.

But I have no words to describe the myth and the legend. I did not know this Marilyn Monroe. We gathered here today, knew only Marilyn – a warm human being, impulsive and shy, sensitive and in fear of rejection, yet ever avid for life and reaching out for fulfillment.

I will not insult the privacy of your memory of her – a privacy she sought and treasured – by trying to describe her whom you knew to you who knew her. In our memories of her, she remains alive and not only a shadow on the screen or a glamorous personality.

Despite the heights and brilliance she attained on the screen, she was planning for the future; she was looking forward to participating in the many exciting things which she planned. In her eyes and in mine her career was just beginning. The dream of her talent, which she had nurtured as a child, was not a mirage.For us Marilyn was a devoted and loyal friend, a colleague constantly reaching for perfection. We shared her pain and difficulties and some of her joys. She was a member of our family. It is difficult to accept the fact that her zest for life has been ended by this dreadful accident.

When she first came to me I was amazed at the startling sensitivity which she possessed and which had remained fresh and undimmed, struggling to express itself despite the life to which she had been subjected. Others were as physically beautiful as she was, but there was obviously something more in her, something that people saw and recognized in her performances and with which they identified.

She had a luminous quality – a combination of wistfulness, radiance, yearning – to set her apart and yet make everyone wish to be a part of it, to share in the childish naivete which was so shy and yet so vibrant.

This quality was even more evident when she was in the stage. I am truly sorry that the public who loved her did not have the opportunity to see her as we did, in many of the roles that foreshadowed what she would have become. Without a doubt she would have been one of the really great actresses of the stage. Now it is at an end. I hope her death will stir sympathy and understanding for a sensitive artist and a woman who brought joy and pleasure to the world.

I cannot say goodbye. Marilyn never liked goodbyes, but in the peculiar way she had of turning things around so that they faced reality – I will say au revoire. For the country to which she has gone, we must all someday visit.

                                                      June 1st, 1926- August 5th, 1962  

Love Always, 

Cherie

A Tea for Mother's Day

Hello Everyone!

I know that Mother's Day was a couple of weeks ago but I wanted to share my special Mother's Day Tea and Luncheon menu with you. I love hosting tea parties because it's a chance to get together with my female friends and family members, dress fancy, and have some really juicy girl talk. I especially love when I can do themed tea parties, but more on those later.

I have the most beautiful tea set and it was purchased by my grandfather for my grandmother while he was a sailor stationed in Europe in the 1960s. The tea set stayed with my grandfather when my grandparents were divorced and when he passed away a few years ago, it was given to me. I had always admired this beautiful set with it's gold trim and floral pattern and it's one of my favorite possessions. It's simply gorgeous.

My guest list included my stepmother Marlene, mother-in-law Peg, and my Aunt Theresa. The only person missing was my mother, who lives in Maryland. My aunt enjoyed using the antique tea set and eating on the family china, which my grandfather (her father) also purchased for my grandmother (her mother) overseas (but my grandmother did keep that in the divorce). This was also given to me in the last few years.

For this Mother's Day tea, I chose a menu that is featured in my vintage Betty Crocker cookbook (which I LOVE and was also passed down to me by my step-grandmother). The book was published in 1961 and is seriously old-school. I cannot tell you how much I've learned from cooking out of this book. I've even thought of doing my own "Julie & Julia" project!. The book gives wonderful little tidbits for meal prep and other chores, which I will make an entire blog post about. And most of the photos are hand drawn! It's seriously so cute. But on to the menu!

There is a section of the book entitled: Meal Planning/Table Service. There are menu suggestions for several occasions such as holidays and even Election Night. Here is the suggested menu and the one that I laid out for my guests:

Chicken Salad in Miniature Cream Puffs

Sweetheart Cake

Red and White Mint Wafers

Salted Nuts

Coffee

Tea

(The book also suggests a corsage bouquet for each mother.)

The Chicken Salad, Miniature Cream Puffs, and Sweetheart Cake were recipes in the book, which required me to BAKE from scratch both the puffs and cake. I love baking though so this was a fun menu for me to prepare. I did not serve coffee though, because I figured that tea was enough. I set the table with three potted flowers, which I then gave to each of the mothers as a gift instead of the corsage bouquets. And here is the finished product:

As a bonus I've included the super easy recipe for Chicken Salad from my vintage Betty Crocker cookbook. Enjoy!

Chicken Salad

2 cups cubed cold cooked chicken (large chunks)                     

1 cup diced celery (1/4" pieces)                                               

1 tbsp. lemon juice      

salt and pepper to taste

1/2 cup mayonnaise

2 or 3 hard-cooked eggs, cut up

Toss together chicken, celery, lemon juice and seasonings. Mix in mayonnaise. Carefully fold in eggs. Chill thoroughly. Arrange a mound of each in lettuce cups* and garnish with olives or little sweet pickles and parsley. 6 servings. 

*I served my chicken salad in cream puffs (without the cream filling of course!).                 

The Pinup Life: Competing in Pageants

Miss Piston Powered- Cleveland Autorama 2013

After taking a year off from this blog (I find it hard to stay focused on these sorts of things), I've decided that I have a few things that I want to say. And today, I'd like to give some tips on competing in pin up contests.

I have competed in a total of four pin up contests since January of last year, Miss Cavalcade of Customs- Cincinnati 2013, Miss Piston Powered- Cleveland Autorama 2013, Miss Voodoo Traditions 2013, and Miss Cavalcade of Customs- Cincinnati 2014. I have won 2 and placed 3rd in another. I guess you can say my track record with these things is pretty good, and I'll be the first to tell you, it would have been enjoyable regardless of any win or loss. The first contest I entered, Miss Cavalcade of Customs 2013, I didn't even make it past the second round, but that contest was a huge learning experience for me. Let me share some of what I've learned with you and hopefully be able to offer some advice.

Dress to Impress: When I participated in that first contest, one of the biggest impressions that I had was how beautiful the other pin up girls were. You had traditional pin ups, alt, and somewhere in between. You could tell who really lived the pin up lifestyle and who did it just to play dress up. One woman in particular walked in and nearly took my breathe away because of just how beautiful she was. Petite, with beautiful red hair, done up in the perfect vintage updo. Her dress was a classic pin up design and her makeup- flawless. She, I thought would be the biggest competition. And I was right because this beauty, Ginger Watson, ended up winning the contest. Now, I wasn't a judge so I can't really speak for what they were looking for, but I suspect that Ginger's look, from head to toe, was just so perfectly put together that they couldn't ignore it.

There is some controversy that modern pin up, or alt pinup, is just not "pin up enough" or not the "right type of pin up" because it doesn't follow the traditional vintage style. I personally prefer the traditional vintage style, but if a girl walks in with tattoos, bright pink hair, and a halter dress that is a few inches too short for a traditional hemline, I'll still appreciate it as long as all the other elements are right (hairstyle, makeup, etc.)

Your look should be as accurate as possible and aim to set yourself apart from everyone else. Ladies, please don't show up in shorts, a shirt tied up under your bust and a simple bandana tied around your head. This is a cute look, especially at a car show (where most of these competitions take place), but this is a contest. Stand out! At Voodoo Traditions I decided to wear a vintage pink, wide-brimmed hat and gloves with my wiggle dress because I wanted to look luxe and very 1940s, a look that I feel I definitely achieved. With that being said, don't feel that you have to wear an expensive retro-reproduction dress. You'd be surprised how great you could look in a vintage-inspired outfit or dress that you find at the thrift store. Yes, you can find vintage at the thrift store! And in fact, most of my pin up and vintage attire is real vintage and was a thrift
store find.

Miss Cavalcade of Customs- Cincinnati 2014

Have the Right Finish: When competing in a pin up contest, you MUST have flawless makeup and hair. There is always going to be another girl there who is a master at pin up hair and makeup and she will be scored very high for it. There are literally hundreds of pin up hair and makeup tutorials on Youtube (some good and some not so good) so you really have no excuse not to learn before you compete. Ginger Watson, who I mentioned above, has many wonderful hair tutorials and I highly recommend checking out her channel. I also highly recommend Pinup Doll Ashley Marie, who is super fabulous and her hair and makeup are always on point. She'll also show you incredible clothing looks and let you know where to buy them. You can find just about any pin up hairstyle tutorial online, so start searching!

At some contests I've seen that they've had a MUAH sponsor that will do your hair and makeup, sometimes for free, sometimes for a nominal fee. This is a great opportunity if you just cannot figure out how to do a curling iron pin curl set and the cat eye is just not happening. Indeed, at my first contest I had my hair and makeup done by the sponsor because I wanted the entire experience. My hair and makeup were fabulous but I know my hair and face better than anyone else and from then on I decided to do my own styling.

And another thing that I have to get off my chest: Ladies, please try a different hairstyle other than the plain, old Victory Rolls. You can do a variation of the traditional Victory Roll style (two rolls on top of the head, and hair hanging loosely down the back), but please try other styles! My favorite vintage hair inspiration is Lana Turner. Seriously, Google some of her images and be amazed at the beautiful styles created for her amazing hair. Next time you're competing or even doing a photo shoot, choose a Lana Turner inspired hairdo and work it! They make take a bit of skills, but you can do it. Even if it doesn't turn out exactly like you want, you may be pleasantly surprised with the look you do achieve. Other inspirations- Betty Grable and Rita Hayworth. And on that note, please learn how to do a proper curling set and brush out. It is absolutely essential to creating authentic vintage hairstyles. You can also find tutorials for these techniques on Youtube. My favorite book in recent years for learning how to do a proper set, brush out, and style is Vintage Hairstyling, Retro Styles with Modern Techniques by Lauren Rennells.

Miss Voodoo Traditions 2013

And if you really want to be daring, wear a vintage hat! A hat can really set off your hairstyle and pin up look. But make sure that whatever hairstyle your going to do works with your hat. In fact, you should plan your hairstyle according to your hat instead of trying to fit your hat into your hair. Again, look up vintage photos where the model is wearing a hat and try building your coiffure in a similar fashion. Hair flowers are almost always a must if going for that cute, girlie pin up style. You can also try hair bows and nylon scarfs. Play with your hair and make it just as much of a priority as your dress.

As far as makeup, keep it simple and clean- no bright colors and no dark colors. Your makeup should be period accurate, and always, always go for winged eye liner, false lashes, rosy pink cheeks, and red lips! And while I'm giving you tips, don't ignore YOUR tips! Make sure your nails look beautiful, not only for the contest but in your photo shoots as well. Paint your toe nails if you're planning to wear open toe shoes.

Be a Lady: Le sigh... I cannot stress this enough: ALWAYS be a lady. This means that you conduct yourself well before, during, and after the contest. If the pin up pageant is doing a Facebook Favorite -or LIKES contest- DO NOT write passive aggressive posts about other contestants or down right insulting things about size, color, etc. And don't presume to be THE authority on whether someone is pin up "enough" or not. Keep those opinions to yourself, at least online. The thing I love about competing is the other women that I meet, are each one beautiful, smart, funny human beings. I've made some amazing friends through these contests and I did it by not being catty, and genuinely being supportive and excited for all the contestants, winners and losers. And if you think the judges won't know about your behavior before the contest, then you've got another thing coming. So please don't put that kind of negative energy out there. This is a lesson for life; people may not always remember what you said, but they'll always remember how you made them feel.

The same goes for after the contest. If you didn't win, there's really no point in being angry about it because that isn't going to change the result. It's only going to upset you further, for longer, and will do nothing for your confidence. Learn from the experience and move on. Pin up contests should not be your validation, they should be fun. No one ever got famous from winning a contest at a car show, and neither will you. Nor are you going to become rich so have fun, take it all in stride and make some new friends instead of enemies. Gain confidence, not a bad reputation.

Additionally, being a lady also means that swearing should be kept to a whisper, among friends, and NEVER onstage!

Miss Cavalcade of Customs- Cincinnati 2014

Pageant Q&A: Most pin up competitions aren't about just how well you can look like the perfect pin up, they want to know more about you! For pretty much every contest that I competed in, I received a list of possible questions ahead of time so I would know what the emcee would be asking each contestant. Take this portion of the contest seriously! I know of many girls who either didn't bother reading the questions or didn't care to think up an answer ahead of time. Don't do this! Take time to really think through your answer. Practice in front of your mirror while you're setting your hair and doing your makeup. Try to show just how clever and articulate you are. Some questions don't require a grand answer (Where are you from?) but try to use even those questions to show your personality. You'll almost always be asked why you love pin up or what inspires you and these questions should be answered thoughtfully, but not in a phony way. Be honest. We all love pin up because it feeds our soul in some way and you should let the audience, and most importantly the judges, know it. Nerves may get in the way a bit, but try to keep calm and don't rush. Take a breathe, smile, and just be your sweet, wholesome self.

At every contest you will inevitably be asked what your favorite vintage car is. This is probably the most important question because you're at a car show! If you don't know much about vintage cars, do a Google image search and find one that really takes your breathe away. Memorize the model, make, and year, and when reciting it don't mess it up! There will be lots of "car people" there and they will notice. Don't forget to let them know why you like the car ("Because I love her curves."), but don't go into a long explanation.

Miss Cavalcade of Customs- Cincinnati 2014

One more thing, when answering your questions, please do not use swear words (see Be A Lady above). If the competition is taking place at a car show, chances are good that there will be children there and you do not want to get the death stare from about 20 different mothers while onstage. Nor do you want to elicit any "pearl clutching" because you said something equally as vulgar. If you cannot remember your prepared answer to a questions, don't start off with "Oh, s---..." Like I said, take a deep breathe and smile. Remember, a pin up is the girl-next-door, and while that girl may love sailors, she doesn't swear like one.

Posing: In some contests, if you make it to the final round, you will be asked to pose with a vintage car. If you're planning to compete, you're planning to win, and you should expect to get to this round. Search images of pin ups and cars. Study these poses so that you'll have plenty to pull from when the time comes. Keep in mind, when posing with a car it is important to make the CAR look good, just as much as yourself. Some poses work much better with a car than others so take note of that when doing your research. And NEVER, EVER put your shoes on the car, or try sitting on it unless you have been given express permission to do so. You'll never want to be the girl who put a scratch in the paint or dent in the hood of a beautifully restored vintage car. You don't. Want. To do it. 

                   Miss Cavalcade of Customs- Cincinnati 2014                                       Miss Cavalcade of Customs- Cincinnati 2013

And posing isn't limited to just the 3rd round. You should always be striking a pose, even when standing on stage. Showgirl Pose is the perfect way to stand when onstage. To do so, you stand with your left leg slightly behind your right, with left toes angled slightly to the left. The heel of your right foot should be close to your left foot, with your toes pointing forward. You can choose to only have the ball of your right foot touching the floor. Rest your left hand on your hip and voila! This pose gives your legs a lean look and helps to exaggerate your curves or create them where they don't exist. Always remember to smile, and smile BIG. Don't forget that posing is a part of a pin up's job so really take this moment to shine.

****

And that's it! None of these tips will guarantee you a win and I don't profess to know exactly what each judge in every contest I competed in was looking for. All I know is this is what I have learned from each and every contest, judge, and pin up that I've experienced. I hope I have given you some valuable information and I hope it helps you prepare for your moment in the spotlight. Good luck Darlings!

Love Always,
Cherie

Beauty and Charm Course

Week 1, Day 3- Tuesday

(I'm a little behind on this, my apologies.)

Facial Cleansing

This day was spent learning how to cream-clean my face.  Anita says that soap and water cleansing is not enough for your face year-round, so you'll also need to use a cream cleanser as an oil massage to gently clear off dead surface cells.

When cream-cleansing, first you tie your hair back in order to keep it out of "the cream zone". Next, if you have eye makeup or lipstick on, remove them with a bit of cream so that you don't push them back into your pores. Use a generous amount of cream, especially around the nose,  mouth, and back of the neck. Apply cream using gentle upward-outward strokes.

1. Start at the base of the throat and stroke/massage cream up towards jawbone.
2. Next rub cream from chin/upper lip outward along jawbone/cheek area towards ear.
3. Rub cream from nose, under eye area and up towards temples.
3. Stroke up between eyes and out across forhead.

Repeat these steps until face is thorougly cleansed then finish by very gently circling cream under eyes and onto eye lids. Gently pat cream onto eyelids and outer corner of eyes.  Whatever is left on your fingers, rub into your nails.

When you remove the cream from you face you can use:

1. Tissue- wipe with same upward-outward strokes as you used for cleansing
2. Astringent (for oily skin) or skin freshener (dry skin)- Pour a small amount onto a cotton ball, using the same 1-2-3-4 motions as before.
3. Soap and water- using warm water and gently massaging motions. Rinse thorougly.

Now there is a little more to just cream cleansing then just cream. Depending on if you're oily, dry, or normal, you may have to use an astringent or skin freshener, mask, steam bath, or lubricating cream.  I tend to have more normal skin, so all I have to do is use cream once daily and soap and water twice a day. Easy-peasy.

Deep Breathing

The next thing to learn today are some exercises on deep breathing.

First, lay on your back with a book on your abdomen.  Breathe in deeply filling lungs, then exhale, emptying lungs completely. Get a good rhythm going, then stand up (keep good posture) and repeat.  Raise arms out to sides, then grab self in a hug as you inhale deeply. Bend down and breathe all air out in 3 big puffs.  She says that is preferential outside, but since it is below 30 degrees right now, I have been doing this from inside.

Diet

Day 2 of the diet went well. It was New Year's Day so my daily schedule was a little behind because of sleeping in. Nevertheless, I ate everything I was supposed to. Well... minus the suggested red radishes at lunch (yuck!) and roasted veal at dinner. Instead I made roasted chicken breasts. Here was my menu:

Breakfast

Grapefruit

Poached egg

Melba toast

Cottage cheese

Skim milk

Coffee or tea (no sugar)

 

Lunch

Salad plate:

Lettuce cups with lemon juice

Celery

Cucumber slices

Crabmeat

Whole wheat bread

Blueberries

Whole milk

Tea

 

Dinner

Tomato juice

Roast chicken breast

Steamed cabbage

Jacket-cooked potato

Plums

Skim milk

Tea

 

 

Week 1, Day 4- Wednesday

 

 

I'm behind on my blog posts so I'm going to make multiple reports on one entry.

 

 

Facial Troubles

 

On this day, she focused on typical facial troubles and how to take care of them: too oily or dry skin, enlarged pores, blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, wrinkles, ruddy face, face fuzz.  Lucky for me, I don't have too many problems with these things normally.  But on this day I was starting to notice that my face was feeling dry, probably because of the soap washing twice a day. I hoped that it was just temporary though and moved on like normal.  I just didn't rub my face as hard or as long when washing.

 

The Hollywood Slant

 

Anita retells several stories from (old) Hollywood actresses who would either stand on their head or lay with their foot up on the headboad of their bed and pillows under their bottom as a means of getting blood to run to the head. They told her that this was the secret to keeping that flushed looked and refresh their body and mind.  Anita recommends doing this every night after your cream cleansing. Luckily for me, my husband bought an inversion table some months ago and it is for just this sort of thing- to hang upside down.  The first night I got on the inversion table for 10 minutes.  Anita suggests to start at 10 minutes then work your way up to 30 minutes.

 

Diet

 

On this day, as expected, I started having bad sugar cravings.  It really took all of me to keep from eating every sugar thing in sight.  But I did stop myself from doing it and was able to stick to the diet.

 

Breakfast

Orange and grapefruit juice

Conflakes

Whole-wheat toast

Cottage cheese

Skim milk

Tea

 

Lunch

Bouillon

Lunchmeat (substitution for boiled tongue)

Stewed tomatoes

Fresh pear

Skim milk

Tea

 

Dinner

Green salad bowl with lemon juice

Broiled salmon

Steamed brown rice

Steamed carrots

Apple

Skim milk

Tea

 





 

 

Beauty and Charm Course

Week 1, Day 2- Monday

Today is the day that I started the 14-day reducing diet in the book.  Let me repeat again, I HATE DIETING... but this one doesn't seem too bad.  You see, my biggest problem is sweets. Namely soda- cherry Coke or Pepsi.  This diet, as with most diets, doesn't allow sugar except that which is naturally found in fruits.  They say that day 3 or 4 on a diet is usually the hardest.  The first day you're pumped and inspired, the second day you're still pumped, but becoming drained, and by day 3 or 4, the sugar cravings kick in.  You get these sugar cravings because your body is used to having out of whack insulin levels and once you eliminate sugar (mostly) from you diet, your insulin levels are trying to get back to normal.  Usually the first week is the hardest, and I figure if I can get through day 3 and 4, then I'll be okay.

First things first- Anita has some very specific rules:

1. Fruit and fruit juices should be without sugar.
2. Beverages should be without cream and sugar, but you can use saccharine if you have to. (Eew. I'll pass.)
3. Vegetables are to be steamed without using fats or sauces.
4. All meats, fish, and poultry are to be lean and fat-free, boiled, broiled, or roasted.
5. Eat salads or clear soups to start meals.

Additionally, you are to follow these steps:

Every day- Drink 4 to 6 glasses of water, BETWEEN  meals and not during.

In the morning (before breakfast)- Drink a mixture of juice of 1/2 lemon in a half glass of hot water (with a straw).

During the day- Take 1 tsp of cod liver oil, or the equivalent in capsule form.

Before going to bed- Drink 1 cup of warm skim milk with 1/2 tbsp of wheat germ.

She instructs that you cannot skip any of the foods in the menu, buuuut, I'm not about to eat boiled tongue, so I did substitute a few things.

So this day, my first few meals consisted of:

Breakfast

Dried apricots

Poached egg

Whole wheat toast

Cottage cheese

Skim milk

Tea

 

Lunch

Tomato soup

Low-fat lunch meat (a substitution for broiled lamb chop)

Steamed chopped spinach

Banana

Skim milk

Tea

 

Dinner

Bouillon

Baked potato

Crisp lettuce w/ lemon juice dressing

Fresh pear

Skim milk

Tea

(I did skip eating boiled ham because I had eaten so much ham the week before for Christmas, that I just couldn't bear the thought.)

 

 

The whole day's food should have equaled to LESS than 1000 calories. Not too shabby, huh?

 

Now, here comes the part where I admit that I didn't follow my diet/exercise plan to a "T" this day.  The reason: New Year's Eve.  I did have a few high calorie drinks and I did have some "nosh" food, but it was a special occasion and I new that it would not dampen my zeal to stick to my diet the rest of the 2 weeks.  See, that's the thing about dieters- when we cheat once, we feel that we've ruined it all and we might as well give up.  But if you have the attitude that you'll just get right back on the horse and pick up where you left off, then more of us would have greater willpower.  So hate me if you must, but I'm not ashamed.

 

I also didn't do my stretching and exercises before bed because, well, I was a little tipsy.  BUT! I did manage to wash my face and makup off! And I remembered to drink my warm milk and wheat germ before bed.  So at the end of the day, I still did well.

 

As for my beauty course, the second day was focusing on caring for your body, namely how to bathe it properly.  She instructs you to use a nail brush to clean you fingers and toe nails everyday and a bath brush to get to those hard to reach places such as your shoulders and back.  Before getting in the shower/bath, you should apply body oil to any areas that are dry such as elbows, knees, or heels. Then scrub using the body brush with a pure soap or a pumice stone if the skin is very dry.  Rub body oil into your hands, really clean around and between your toes and apply foot powder in the summer. Scrub, scrub, scrub!

 

She also talks about ways to get the most out of a bath and really make it a theuraputic experience. Now, I know how to get the most out of a bath.  There was a time when I would fill the tub with either beautifully scented bubble bath or a mixture of oil and bath salts.  I would lay in there forever it seemed, refilling the hot water, and just drifting away.  After having my son, I forgot all of that, so it's great to get back into doing it again.

 

After bathing, she instructs to towel off briskly in the winter and pat dry in the summer so as to not overheat yourself. Then you can apply cologne, powder, oils, or whatever you like.  I've always sprayed a body mist on myself just after toweling off, while my skin is still damp.  The skin really soaks up the scent and you're smelling beautiful all day long.  On days when I'm getting ready for a show or special occassion, I'll also apply a scented poweder to my arms, shoulders, neck, and breasts to add another touch of sweetness.

 

Last thing that she goes into in this section is another lecture on posture.  I did not do the exercise that she suggests on this day because of the whole stumbling into bed thing, but I did do it the next day, Tuesday.  Basically, you lie on you back with knees bent and "tip" your pelvis forward. Then contract your abdominal muscles to pull stomach down and flatten lower back on floor. She suggests doing this 16 times, eventually working your way to doing it with legs outstretched and then finally, with back against a wall. Soon, your body should be able to unconsciously remember good posture.

 

That was my second day! 

 

xoxo

Cherie





Beauty and Charm Course

Week 1, Day 1- Sunday

Yesterday I began the first day of Anita Colby's beauty and charm course as laid out in her Beauty Book.  First step on my way to a more beautiful me- wash that damn face, gurrrrl. 

Cleansing Your Face

Anita lays out the different types of skin- normal, combination, oily, dry- and the best ways to wash and clean them.  I have normal skin, not dry, not oily, just kinda... normal.  She advices not to wash your face with any special expensive soaps or cleansers. She says that the best way to beautiful skin is to eat what she calls "beauty-clean" foods, so that you feed your skin from the inside out, and to wash with soap and water.  Here, she says, is all you need:

1. Clean hands.  Only touch your face with "fanatically" clean hands.
2. A pure, bland soap with no special perfumes, chemicals, or dyes.
3. Soft water.
4. A set of clean, soft washcloths and towels that only you will be using. Wash you washcloths in very hot water before using and to use your fingertips to massage the soap into your face, behind your ears, on the back of your neck, and under your chin. Oh, and dry your face very well.

Now, for my skin (normal), she says to wash morning and night with the mild bland soap and lukewarm water.  I use Neutrogena Naturals facial soap, if you were wondering.  After massaging the soap into my skin in a circular motion, upward and outward, I will rinse at least 3 times, the last time with cold water.  Now, it does take a few more rinses to get all the soap off, and that is okay.  But I must admit that I like to splash cold water on my face A LOT. When I was younger and thoroughly obsessed with every little tidbit I get find out about Marilyn Monroe, I read where her first husband said that she would rinse her face 16 times with cold water.  So being the fan that I was, I rinsed my face the same way. But I digress. I must say though, I really love the feeling of icy cold water on my face. Plus, it wakes you up like no other thing can.

So yesterday, I got up and dragged my half awake behind to the bathroom sink to start my new daily beauty ritual. Not too bad.  Then I did it last night before bed, which actually made my skin feel incredibly soft when I woke up this morning. Now remember... I don't wash my face except when I'm in the shower and use a bit of cleanser. But even that is only once or twice a WEEK.  So time will tell if there is a more noticeable change.

Your Posture

The other first step in my beauty and charm course is establishing good posture.  For this she had a little exercise: Hang a weight string down the middle of a full length mirror and stand down the middle of the string.  Starting with your feet parallel and toes point forward, lean your weight forward onto the balls of your feet. This is your "Foundation Block".

Next you tuck your tailbone down to the floor, at the same time contracting your abdominal muscles just below your navel. When you stand with your pelvis pointed down, then "it spills out your innards, gives you a bulging stomach and sway back".  Eeww. Not a good visual.  But after standing up straight like she instructs, you can definitely SEE a difference in the way your shape looks and how flat your tummy is.  Hell, it looked like I was a few inches smaller in my waist!  When you've aligned your pelvic region, this establishes your "Trunk Block", which then sets up your "Shoulder Block".

Last thing in establishing your good posture is to keep pulling upward so that the straight line going up your spine continues to the crown of your head. She says that if you don't hold good posture here, then the vertebrae holding up your head will drop and give you a double chin.  And this is your "Head Block".

So now that I have PERFECT posture... it's on to exercise!

Exercise

She recommends a few warm-up stretches in the morning when you wake up and then again at night before doing your nightly exercises.  These warm-ups include:

The Elastic Band- lying in bed or one the ground and stretching the right side from toes to finger tips, repeat on left, 4x.

Then stand in a doorway and stretch from your toes, through your hip and rib cage, and up through your fingertips, touching the top of the doorframe.  Repeat.

The Cat Stretch- Basically the same arched-back exercise as cat pose in yoga, but adding in stretching out each leg behind you one at a time like a cat when they stretch. All 3 stetches done 6x each.

The Knee-Chest Position- While down on hands and knees, fold hans down in front of you and lay head on hands.  Bring hips up until they are almost a straight line down from floor and push your chest towards the floor.  Push down towards the floor 5x.

Now when it comes to the exercises, Anita recommends worrying mostly about the areas of your body that either need building up or slimming down.  She puts forth at least 3 different exercises for each part of the body- the "bosom", the waist, the hips, legs, calfs, and ankles, thighs, knees, and inner thighs.  I thought it would be fun to try doing a couple workouts for each part of the body.  Most of these are just stretching exercises, with no real hardcore sweating involved.  I don't think I burned any calories doing them, but just like yoga or pilates, I'm sure they helped more than I realize. 

These exercises didn't take me more than 5 minutes for the warm-ups and 20 minutes for the special exercises.  I felt great when I finally laid down in bed (after washing my face, of course.) and I didn't wake up with any strained muscles, which is good.  But I think mama is going to get herself an eliptical for future exercising once this experiment is over.

What do you think of my first day?

xoxo
Cherie