Thank you all for sharing your worst makeup blunders with me! The response was incredible, which shows just how much a book like this is necessary! After careful consideration, the winner has been chosen, and here is her story:

Dear Dabbler,

I can’t find the picture but I guess it’s better that there’s no evidence of this makeup crime. In the winter, I would lose my summer tan, so instead of wearing blush like normal people would to brighten their skin up, I would use self-tanner. But not any self-tanner. I would use one that was for the legs/body and use it on my face. The result: Well, I looked like a carrot. Since it takes a few hours to set, you can’t really see, so I would put more and more and even more on. The next morning I would smell and be orange, so I would try to tone it down by washing my face…didn’t really work.

I had to try and let it fade naturally, which left me looking splotchy and orangy and pale all at once! My friends would ask if I was feeling ok because I looked orange, my mother-in-law asked if I had a stomach virus and why my skin was orange, and did she want me to take a look at it (because she’s a dermatologist). On top of that, I wore chalky bright eye shadow (mostly blues) because I didn’t see the point of fall/winter makeup. I felt neutral shades washed me out and wanted to inject colour to my face. I knew my orange-ness was from the sunless tanner but I wouldn’t stop because I didn’t want to be pale. Then I would wear chalky-unblended shadow with horrible blending skills and weird matt lipstick. I would also overpluck my eyebrows so they would be very thin and start past my tear duct.

I need lots of help with blending, choosing the right foundation, applying blush without looking like a clown, picking the right bronzer and applying it, and achieving a great polished look.

Well, I enjoy your site, keep up the good work!

Truly embarrassed,

Kristina

Congratulations Kristina! I will be contacting you shortly to get all your information and you’ll soon find Carmindy’s The 5-Minute Facein your mailbox!

Stay tuned for many more giveaways to come! Click here to see what else is up for grabs!

As with all of Beau Nelson‘s Essential Makeup Tips, we are going to end the series with another very simple makeup application. We would all like a little contouring to give our face a little more shape. If you do it properly, you might even look like you lost a few pounds! This method is particularly useful for people like me who lack a well defined bone structure. For those that don’t have this problem, you can further enhance your looks (lucky you!).

For details on what tools to use, read on…

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DABBLER GIVEAWAY DETAILS AT THE END OF THIS ARTICLE!

We’ve all had to endure someone else’s snoring at one point or another. If you’re lucky, this is a rare occurrence, but there are many out there who have partners that keep them awake at all hours of the night. Until now, there have been expensive and impractical methods of treatment, but a Vancouver man has come up with a simple solution to your or your partner’s snoring problems. If you find it impossible to have a good night’s sleep due to persistent snoring, and can’t afford the usual treatments, click on the video to learn more about this condition from Dr. Najib Ayas, followed by Sean Kerklaan’s personal story and how he developed the Anti-Snore Shirt.

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Want the chance to win a copy of Ted Reader’s “The Art of Plank Grilling” + A Cedar Plank? Send me an email with the answer to this question: From the video clip, what did Ted say was one thing that he hasn’t planked yet? The deadline for submissions is Thursday July 26th so send me your emails now! Click here to enter. The winner will be announced on Friday July 27th.

Or if you can’t wait just buy the book here.

As we advance from one lesson to the next in our Essential Self-Defense Tips series, we’ll naturally progress to more difficult moves and situations. This week, Sensei Anthony Britton introduces a weapon into an attack. It is important to note that today’s tip specifically applies during what Sensei Britton calls a “Bargaining Position.” Please watch the video to learn what he means by this. Once you’ve mastered this move, you’ll be ready to learn a self-defense move for a different bargaining position (Part II).

IMPORTANT: Please use extreme caution when practicing these moves. Remember that with the right amount of force, you can severely hurt somebody. These techniques are to be used for self-defense purposes only. All self-defense moves and tips are to be used at the risk of the user.

Tune in next Monday for Part II of Basic Weapon Disarming as we learn how to get out of Bargaining Position B. You won’t want to miss that!

Reena’s Tip of the Week:

Got slugs? Here are some suggestions on how to get rid of them:

* Sprinkle cornmeal or coffee grounds around plants

* Wrap a length of copper around the bottom of plant pots and stems. The copper reacts with slug slime and causes a flow of electricity

* Loosely wrap aluminum foil around plant stems. Slugs can’t climb it

* According to Ida of Manitoba, you can keep slugs away by spreading ashes around your plants. Most cottages have an outdoor fire-pit for a plentiful supply

* Slugs love cheap beer. Pour some in a jar, dig a hole in the ground and place it there. Slugs will be drawn to it and drown. Only problem? You’ll have to clean the mess

All solutions are to be used at the risk of the user.

Reena Nerbas is the author of the two National Best Sellers, “Household Solutions 1 with Substitutions & Household Solutions 2 with Kitchen Secrets,” available in stores across Canada. Reena is a columnist and Home Economist in a lab coat (and she’s not afraid to use it). She can be heard on CBC radio programs across Canada.

To learn more about Reena, click here.

On Tuesday, Senator Larry Campbell stirred the pot once more by proposing a reduction in the penalty for possession of marijuana. This because under current laws, the over 5 million Canadians who smoke marijuana are considered criminals, and if you are caught with the illicit substance, you get a criminal record, which prevents you from entering the United States. In his view, simple possession should be punished by a fine alone. Campbell also said that the government should take over the production and sale of marijuana: “Legalize it, tax the hell out of it and put the money into health care” was his bold suggestion. And with that, my respect for this otherwise wise man took a big blow. I’ll tell you why.

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Are you ready for this year’s round of weddings? Do you know what you’re going to be wearing? If I guessed your answer correctly, then you’ll want to check out this video. Sarah Murray, Director of The Honey Mustard Fashion and Media Services, has done all the work for you and presents some great suggestions on what to wear to four different kinds of weddings: The Hippie Wedding, The Garden Wedding, The Church Wedding, and The Black-Tie Wedding.

For full details on all the featured pieces, please read on!

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You still have a chance to win a copy of Carmindy’s “The 5-Minute Face.” The deadline isn’t until next week so you still have a chance! Send me your makeup horror story OR a picture of your worst makeup blunder and prove to me that you need a book like this. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday July 18th so send me your emails now! Click here to enter.

Or you can just buy The 5-Minute Face: The Quick & Easy Makeup Guide for Every Woman

To find out more about the book, read the article here.

Movie Review by Perry Pannu:

I have to admit, when I heard about Rescue Dawn, I wasn’t too keen about seeing it. I’m not really into ‘war’ movies, but when I found out that Christian Bale was in it, suddenly it sounded a little better. I haven’t seen him pick a bad movie script but to be fair, I haven’t seen every single movie he’s in.

So now I was excited about seeing Rescue Dawn. And I wasn’t disappointed. It’s not a war movie. I mean yes, it does take place in Vietnam and yes, there are guns and bombs and fighter jets, but that’s not what the movie is about. It’s like an experiment in psychology. You get a feel of what it must have been like to be a POW; of what your mind thinks of when you are there. The dialogue is amazing, as is how one’s sense of humour can help others bear extreme conditions.

But it’s not all fun and games. This movie does have its slow moments, the beginning being one of them. There are scenes that feel like they’re just ‘extra things that happened’ so they can make a point of how horrible it really was. I felt like saying “I know, I get it, enough! Just get on with the story!”

I know it’s too early in the year, but I think this movie has a few Oscars in its future. Christian Bale is excellent, and Steve Zahn’s performance is phenomenal. But Jeremy Davies trumps them both. He looks the part, and it feels like he really is “Gene. That’s short for Eugene, from Eugene, Oregon. Eugene from Eugene, Oregon” (quote from the movie). The audience experiences every single moment with the actors. It’s like you are there with them in the middle of everything.

In conclusion, I would say, if you are a fan of ‘Crash! Bang! and Boom!’ wait for this movie to come out on DVD. If you are looking for what I think might be a possible Oscar movie, go see it in theatres on a cheap ticket night, and sneak in your own snacks (just make sure you finish your food before the scene when Christian Bale’s character eats live mealworms).