​I met Mona Rai through my best friend, Julie Remo, twenty years my junior, and my go-to for all that is hip.  She sets me straight every time, and if you love your friend, “honesty is the best policy.”  It’s a hard pill to swallow, but from Julie, I know it’s from the heart.   The take home here?  When Julie gives you a recommendation, it’s good, and one of the best was the makeup wizard who did Julie’s wedding day look.
 
My daughter, Brynn uses Mona whenever she needs to put on her face for a special occasion, and when she comes home, every time, I wish I were twenty again.   (I wish I were twenty anyway, lol)  Mona also did my over forty visage for my first blog photo shoot, and she can glam up just about anybody and make them look like the cover of Cosmo.
 
Since not every mom can take the time I do, because I am totally out of my mind with make up,  we can focus here on a more natural, quick look that will get you from drop off to pick up, including a cup of coffee.  Check out Mona’s blush tutorial here, set to music for that feel good blushing feeling. Lol
 
This Jersey girl will not disappoint, and her signature full lip has me begging for Restalayne …but all she needs is a pencil and lip color.
 
Check out Mona at www.monasmakerie.com.   You won’t regret looking this good.
 
 

I was addicted to Gianna Fiorenze’s Instagram when I first started on Insta. She inspired me to go bigger, bolder, and learn real technique.
 
This beauty from Long Island has been loving make up her whole life (which isn’t really that long, lol), and through social media, has become one of the hottest little make-up artists around.   One of the best days of my life was when Gianna came to my house and gave me a make-over. I usually HATE having someone else do my make up, but she made me feel like a VS Angel waiting for the runway, latte in hand, curlers in my hair.
 
She is a glam artist, and loves to play and sculpt with color, and dimension for a real “wow” factor. I learned my contour and “baking” technique from this glam queen, and thanks to a recent video, became more adept at sculpting my nose.  LOL
 
The Va-Va-voom look may not be yours, but because it’s mine, I wanted to kick off my site with one of my fave chicks …
 
Even if you are just a lipstick and mascara type of girlie girl, give Gianna a whirl ….
 
Twitter:  @giannafiorenze
Instagram: giannafiorenze