Check fashion photographer Valerio Mezzanotti’s work in his new magazine: http://www.nowfashion.com/

Christian Dior, Image courtesy of Valerio Mezzanotti for NY Times

Jean Paul Gaultier, image courtesy of Valerio Mezzanotti for NY Times

This product, introduced to me by my dear, clear-skinned and organically beautiful friend, Ngozi–

This stuff is a mineral powder (that smells slightly of cinnamon and clay). The brush ‘n powder power duo is amazing for travelling to hot, sunny places

Eminence's Sun Defense Powder, in Calendula Spice. For dark tan to caramel tones.

Eminence is European y’all! And uses natural fruits, vegetables, and minerals! This mineral power is comprised of Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide, which gives you that even coverage and sun protection. Vitamins A and E are sweet healers too! And to add a bit of dewy luster, use a tonique, named straight outta Eden–Sweet Red Rose or Wild Plum–

You can buy it here.

J’adore!

Now, Miss Bruno and I are kindred spirits connected, cyber-spirituelle and whatnot. For serious–creativity, spark, story, color, lineage & design–I’m taken by this collection.

The Sia Sia dress, v. 1–I love this sexy off-the-shoulder sheath dress. Made from hand-spun, handwoven cotton from Burkina Faso.

Corner Store Lily

dinky pair of black $5 gloves off the street when it’s become unbearable, as well as those faux-ushankas and poly-blend scarves.

Be done wit’ all that!

Miss Bruno New York’s My So Called Scarf Collection offers mujeres y hombres warm and fabulous neck gear.

The Artivist Scarf, model, Popular Thug, aka Sugar Aphrodite

Madame et Monsieur Bruno

The Highlife

Ok, ok, ok. I get accused of lookin’ all too intense and serious in photos, you know, ahem… not emanating the joy within and whatnot. What can I say, I can be a moody ______.

Seriously though, check out this contest, lauding the expressions o’ self:

So, I think I’m going to enter. These here photos are just revvin’ the auto-imagery machine!

This competition is about your story, your images and the power they hold. From Salvador Dali to Cindy Sherman the self has been the subject of most all the art world’s greats. The self-portrait transcends medium, style and period, existing in the vast space between the personal and prophetic. We all have a self-portrait. Show us yours!

Our panel of judges including actor Steve Buscemi, director/producer Chris Weitz, Guggenheim Curator Helen Hsu and Flavorpill Founder Sascha Lewis will select one portfolio of self-portraits for The Grand Prize.

The Grand Prize:

• Six months of FREE living in New York City or $7007 cash
• An art-star reception in New York City
• International publicity
• A feature in 3rd Ward Magazine

The public will also cast their vote and the highest rated portfolio will receive
Gawker Artists People’s Choice Award:

• $1,000 in cash
• An art-star reception in New York City
• International publicity

This is your moment to be discovered, send us your best work:
www.artistswanted.org.

OK, I’ve been switched to Splenda & when they’ve got it, agave nectar, but I thought this would be a fun costume idea, when eating biscuits & gravy at The Lodge. I was sort of surprised that they still have the pink packets there. But then I got to thinkin’ about a costume, a joint costume with my friend (he will be “Coffee”) some bubble-gum pink slutty number treble clef painted on ma’ body, all the way down, sweet & low…

As a former acolyte of Clinton Hill/Fort Greene, I still haven’t gotten that creative for brunch spots, though I do like La Superior (Mexi-philes) & Simple Café (Francophiliacs)

I found a onesie at my fave thrift store, in the ‘Burg, Doggy’s Clothing/10ft. Single by Stella Dallas, near the corner of N. 6th and Meeker, off the L/G train, Lorimer/Metropolitan & Grand:

Now, I can’t say enough fabulous things about this store–silk scarves, hats, shoes, vintage & consignment galore, but on the onesie, there were, um, questionable stains in the crotch area. Yikes!

Can I get a discount? Rather than ask, I’m gonna head over to the northside tomorrow and check the goods out.

More inspiration from my new ‘hood:

These molds range from fascinating to regular–when my friend The Chronolect questioned, “Who would want a mold of a rooster?”

Or a cat?

Playing on the words “rooster” & “cat” is pretty raunchayyyyy. Okay, I’m corny. We figured it was some irony on the part of the owners of this collection, in S. Williamsburg, or perhaps it’s our own diabolical minds in action.

Either way–copper = healing  or if you throw a penny in a flame =

When copper gets heated up, the flame turns turquoise green. Cool!

Copper electrons jump out of their normal orbitals, then drop back into their normal orbitals.

So, they emit light with frequencies in the blue and green range.

Not to get all 11th grade teacher on y’all, but here’s a cool periodic table that shows you the emission spectrum of all the elements. So, when their electrons do a lil’ two-step, the color that is emitted is indicated by this chart.

Inneresting fact: (this is Wikitalk here, but I was informed of this by The Chronolect): “Most molluscs and some arthropods such as the horseshoe crab use the copper-containing pigment hemocyanin rather than iron-containing hemoglobin for oxygen transport, so their blood is blue when oxygenated rather than red.”

Some say copper has healing properties–back in the days in India folks used it for boils and venereal disease; the Egyptians laced drinking water with it. My grandma uses it for arthritis and aches.

Malleability is fly…

Lord knows we learn this the hard way.