Once a girl hits a certain age, it might be 8, 11, 13 or whatever age her Mom thinks is the right time — when beauty comes into the equation. For purposes of this post, I am going to say “Mom” but I am really speaking about any loving female figure who helped/is helping you along the road to discovering your beauty. Maybe you are the “Mom” in this equation.

For me, I remember the first time my Mom- Virginia Jane Tatlonghari gave me a manicure. I was probably about 10 years old and we sat at the kitchen table while she soaked my fingernails, pushed back my cuticles and applied a simple clear coat. It was her attempt to stop my bad habit of biting my nails too, but it was also just a quiet moment for the two of us, surrounded by Seventeen, Glamour and Mademoiselle beauty magazines. That moment officially started the pampering and beauty conversation that would remain a bond between us for years to come.  Sure she combed my hair and things like that as a little girl – but that time was different.

In 2003, my Mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. Her prognosis was bleak – only a few months. When I moved in to help take care of her, our family tried to keep some of her favorite rituals alive. We listened to Barbara Streisand.  We tuned into the soaps – All My Children was her favorite (I was almost named Erica in homage to the timeless Susan Lucci). And I gave my Mom manicures. I soaked her nails, pushed back her cuticles just as she had done for me so many years ago.

Call it what you will – vanity, pampering, beauty – it’s a way we women relate to one another and show our love for each other. My Mom would be so proud and excited to see how Vanity Girl Hollywood has grown. What celebrities I’ve been able to chat with, who owns them – the videos that are made. I know she would have giggled with me if I had called her after a Red Carpet to ask me who was wearing what.

And I am not the only one with a story to share in honor of Mother’s Day. Here is my dear friend, Red Carpet Makeup artist Kenetia Lee’s video with a bit of her story. Her Mom lit the makeup artistry fire in her as a Mary Kay consultant.  Today, Kenetia is as committed to transforming everyday women as she is to working the Grammy’s, Oscars, etc through her Fearless Beauty Project. She is often my go-to artist when I have the time (and she isn’t on assignment) for my special events.

I also dedicate this post to my BFF Julie Rose of LiveLoveTarot. Julie and I created many looks together as best friends when we were 15. At this time, her beautiful Mom Lucia Rose is battling cancer. Tita Lucy has always been fierce — and she still is. Julie and her sisters continue the cycle, shopping etc and Julie has been giving little mini makeovers to the pre-teen nieces in her life, Janelle, Jordan and Jisella. The beauty cycle continues.

What about you?  What lessons did you learn from your Mom?  What lessons are you teaching your daughters, nieces, etc?  What looks are you trying out with your friends?  We’d love to hear from you in honor of this Mother’s Day.

xoxo

Elle Woods - proof that Brains and Girly Beauty can co-exist!

So yesterday, my BFF Julie and I were at the West Hollywood Women’s emPower Breakfast at the House of Blues on Sunset, and we were listening to two female political power houses address the issues that we are facing today.  Including politics, AIDS, women’s rights, the fact that our right to vote came bizarrely late in the game compared to the rest of the world, etc.

And this is what I love about women, they then talked about their shoes and about sleeveless dresses.  YES!   When we are all together, we know that we can hit the serious issues and also then talk makeup, beauty and fashion.

Once upon a time I thought they were mutually exclusive of one another.  Like if you were going to be a serious (insert word here, in my case it was Cancer Fundraiser), you had to tone down the other (girly) side.

Well guess what. Elle Woods is alive and kicking and you can do both.  Like Bombshell with a Brain. And yes, you can talk about what’s going on in the House of Representatives, or the AIDS epidemic in LA County, and then switch gears and ask what color nailpolish you are wearing (I think it’s Encore by Essie, thanks for asking!)

And on April 9, I’m partnering with another female entrepreneur, Alaia Williams, who helped give me my baby wings toward becoming a social media butterfly and look at me now!  But if it hadn’t been for her, holding my hand through what a blog was and how to Tweet – I wouldn’t now have this chance to interact with most of you.

So if you are in and around West Hollywood and have dreams of freelancing or already have your own small biz — then come out and meet other female entrepreneurs and leaders at the West Hollywood Women’s Leadership Conference.  Sign up here and please take our session.  Yes, some of it will be very serious – and the other sessions (like ours!) will have a clear girly twist.

We are totally going to talk about business, branding and marketing stuff. And then I may ask you about your shoes

In the meantime, here is the first video for Vanity Girl TV. It’s kind of a sneak peek because the channel isn’t totally ready yet but I thought you might want to hear from Amanda Jacobelis, a fellow female entrepreneur (and serious Vanity Girl) as she dishes about her Celebrity Makeup Artist career path and how she founded the Lash Bar to the Stars.

As you will see, we totally talked about stuff.
And please subscribe to the channel so when it launches officially, it will look like we already have some love lol!

xoxo