Make Up: Care and Maintenance of Tools

Your makeup is only as good as the tools you use to apply it. Therefore, your tools must always be in their best working condition. That means clean brushes, puffs, and sponges; sharpened tweezers; makeup containers that are in perfect shape; and makeup that'snot too old to use safely.

Brush Care
A good set of brushes will last several years if it is well cared for. This involves storing the brushes properly (either in a neat brush roll that has individual slots for each brush or upright in a pencil cup) and keeping them clean. To clean brushes, take a drop of brush cleaner or very gentle soap (I use shampoo actually) in your palm, wet the brush, and swirl the bristles around on your palm until they are covered in soap. Rinse thoroughly until all soap residue is gone. Do not immerse the brush head in water, because the hair is glued to the base, and even the most expensive brushes will come apart! Squeeze out excess moisture with a clean towel, reshape the brush head, and let it dry with the bristles hanging off the edge of the counter so the bristles dry into the perfect shape. Brushes can become mildewed if they rest on a towel while drying.

Clean all your brushes every month of two. For a quick cleaning in between washings, use a spray brush cleaner. Spritz it onto the bristles, and swipe them back and forth on a tissue until all product residues are removed from the brush.


Sponge Care
High-quality sponges can be washed many times before they need to be discarded. Alternatively, you can buy disposable synthetic sponge wedges at the drugstore that work well and are inexpensive. You can wash and reuse them only a few times before you throw them out.


Powder Puff Care
While drugstores sell disposable powder puffs, it's worth investing in a better-quality one. Hand wash the puff using the same liquid soap you use for your brushes, or toss it into your next load of laundry or on the top rack of the dishwater.


Tweezer Care
When tweezers get dull - which happens with repeated use - they are no longer as effective at grabbing on to and removing small hairs. You can take them to a knife shop for sharpening. Some of the better brands, such as Tweezerman, come with a lifetime guarantee that includes free sharpening whenever necessary.


Eyelash Curler Care 
The rubber pads that line the inside of an eyelash curler are there to protect the lashes, so when the pads start to wear out or break apart, they must be replaced. Many eyelash curlers come with a set of replacement pads. Keep a set on hand.

Take care of your tools and face!
Love,
ALPHA

Top 10 Best Comedy Movies

Airplane!  *ALPHA  Favorite*
A 1980 film about an airplane crew that gets ill and has to depend on an ex-pilot (who is afraid of flying) to fly and land the plane.

Rotton Tomatoes Rating: 7.8
IMDb Rating: 98%


Zoolander *ALPHA  Favorite*
A 2001 film about a clueless model who is brainwashed by the prime minister or Malaysia.

Rotton Tomatoes Rating: 64%

IMDb Rating: 6.4/10

Talladega Nights
A 2006 film about a NASCAR driver whose fame gets overrun by a french formula 1 driver.

Rotton Tomatoes Rating: 72%

IMDb Rating: 6.4/10

Pineapple Express
A 2008 film about a man and his drug dealer running from hitmen and a police officer after seeing his drug dealer's boss's murder.

Rotton Tomatoes Rating: 68%

IMDb Rating: 7.1/10

Anchorman *ALPHA  Favorite*
A 2004 film about a newsman who gets replaced by a female.

Rotton Tomatoes Rating: 66%

IMDb Rating: 7.0/10

Easy A  *ALPHA  Favorite*
A 2010 film about a high school student who gets stuck in the school's rumor mill.

Rotton Tomatoes Rating: 85%

IMDb Rating: 7.1/10

The Hangover
A 2009 film about a bachelor party that turns into a disaster when the groom goes missing.

Rotton Tomatoes Rating: 78%

IMDb Rating: 7.9/10

Knocked Up
A 2007 film about a girl who gets unexpectedly pregnant. 

Rotton Tomatoes Rating: 90%

IMDb Rating: 7.4/10

Forgetting Sarah Marshall *ALPHA  Favorite*
A 2008 film about a man who is broken hearted about his girlfriend leaving him, so he takes a vacation to Hawaii. He soon finds out his ex is their with her new boyfriend.

Rotton Tomatoes Rating: 85%

IMDb Rating: 7.4/10

Dumb and Dumber
A 1994 film about two good hearted, bur extremely stupid friends, and their adventures.

Rotton Tomatoes Rating: 63%

IMDb Rating: 7.2/10

For the top 10 best romance movies, visit this post.
   
Love,
ALPHA

Things To Try On Your Guy

Every girl wants to achieve that sex-vixen status; however, this requires you to have a perfectly clear idea of what men want in the body-touching department. So, Cosmo went straight to 2,603 horny guys and asked which tips would really pleasure a guy! So, let's figure out what guys want you to do and what they think is amazingly hot!

Seduction:

1. Calling him when you're masturbating, giving him a preview of the moans you're going to make later that night.

((Alpha view - a bit dirty don't you think? but I mean some guys do like it....))

2. Drawing a bubble bath and offering to wash his body before you have sex.

3. Taking his hand and pressing it agaisnt your underwear so he can feel how horny you are. 

Kissing:

1. Lightly licking along his jawline, ending at the super sensitive spot in front of his ears.

((Alpha view - If you really get to the sweet spot in the ear, it will drive your guy crazy!))

2. Biting down on his earlobe. 

3. Taking his tongue into your mouth and lightly sucking on it like you would his penis. 

4. Biting his lower and upper lips - hard. 

Foreplay:

1. Drawing circles around his nipples with your tongue so they get hard - then gently biting them

((Alpha view - I honestly think this is a little weird))

2. Putting your palm over the tip of his penis and massaging just that area like its a doorknob

3. Giving him a hand job and barely using any pressure, so you have a light grip on his penis. 

Oral:

1. Grabbing his butt cheeks and digging in with your nails as you're going down on him.

2. Gently biting his penis (((Be super careful and know if you guy wants it or not)))

3. Putting the tip of your tongue against the roof of your mouth, so his penis hits the underside of your tongue - making it feel like you're taking him all the way in.

4. Sucking on the patch of skin between the base of his penis and his balls. 

5. Tugging down on his balls while you have his penis in your mouth.

6. Asking him to finish on your breasts. 

((Alpha view - ew, that's gross. No way))

7. Keeping his penis in your mouth after he climaxes, and continuing to suck on it lightly

((Alpha view - yeah, no thanks!))

SEX:

1. Getting on top and telling him not to move a single muscle - you control the pacing while he sits back and watches. 

2. Reaching between your legs and massaging his balls during doggie-style.

3. Massaging your clitoris as he's thrusting, bringing yourself to the brink of orgasm. 

4. Flexing your Kegel muscles while he's inside you, squeezing each time he reenters you. 

5. Digging your nails into his shoulders and raking them down his back when he's on top, leaving red marks.

((Alpha view - I would be scared to hurt him though!))

6. Leaning over the arm of the couch and asking him to enter you from behind. 

Naughty Bonus Moves: 

1. Handcuffing him to the bed without saying a word.

2. Bringing a vibrator to bed and asking him to use it on your clit, then running it agaisnt the underside of his balls and shaft. 

3. Asking him to spank your butt.

((Alpha view - hookay...))

4. Masturbating in front of him, then asking him to masturbate in front of you. 

((Alpha view - I suppose this is sexy in some twisted way))

5. Suggesting a threesome with you and another girl

((Alpha view - I've never thought that was such a good idea though...))

6. Pressing your fingers agaisnt the area of skin that's between his balls and anus. 

*****

So, these are just some things that the majority of horny guys want, but if you really want to please your guy ask him what he wants!! Happy Humping :)

From the August 2011 Issue of Cosmopolitan (Page 110 - 111). 

Love, 

ALPHA

Proper Etiquette - Tiffany's Table Manners

Need to impress others at dinner? At a fancy dinner? Well, you'll definitely need the proper table manners. When I was younger, PAPA ALPHA bought the Tiffany's Table Manners For Teenagers by Walter Hoving for me and my sisters. Even though it says it's for teenagers, I think it's actually a good guide for any ages. (I mean some adults definitely need it!). It's a fast and easy read, and very straight forward. Here are the basic tips and skills that I learned! Purchase the book to read all the manners, it's very handy to have.

The book starts from the very beginning of a meal, so I will to.

Manner 1 : Always been on time (It helps to think that being early is on time, and on time is being late!). Lateness is very rude, and you are the guest. It is very impolite to the host or hostess.

Manner 2 : It is always nice to bring your host some sort of 'Thank You For Inviting Me' Gift (That's why you see a lot of adults bringing wine to other houses). Wine, chocolate, cake, cookies - those are the basic, good gifts.

Manner 3: Being a lady, a real gentleman will open the door for you and seat you down. Your part is to say 'Thank You' and smile.

Manner 4 : There is a reason why you were invited to dinner, to the host you are interesting. Therefore you are basically the entertainment. Translation - pay attention to the host, no texting or speaking on the cell phone. If you must, excuse yourself or do it in the bathroom. It is so rude to ignore a person, especially a host.

Manner 5 : (This isn't in the book but my personal manner) If were invited to dinner and are sure that the host is paying, it is polite to buy a meal that is equal cost or lower than what your host is getting. And make sure that you (or somebody) leaves the appropriate amount of a tip. It's very rude and unfair to the server. Even if it's annoying 15% tip and you wont seem like a bitch.

Manner 6 : It is considered good manners to wait until you have finished chewing and have swallowed your food before taking a sip. And don't forget to put your utensils down as well.

Manner 7 :  After a formal meal, the correct way to place your utensils is on the right side of the plate. The utensils should be on the plate, forming the word "OWL" (spoon, fork, knife), at the four o'clock position.

Manner 8 :  If you are not done with your meal, but you need to set your utensils down, place the fork and knife parallel to each other (in the four and ten o'clock position). Top waiters should understand what that means.

Manner 9 :  When eating meat, you should cut one piece with the knife, then set your knife down and eat that piece. It's always one at a time - pace yourself.

Manner 10 : A lot of utensils on the table and confused? You always start from the out to in.

Manner 11 : The proper way to finish your soup if by tilting the bowl away from you. Not toward you and never pour the remains from the bowl to the spoon.

*****

For more rules and tips really consider buying the actual book! 

Love, 

ALPHA

Cute, Creative, Personal Gifts

It's been said that finding a gift for a stranger is easier than finding one for a close friend. Let's face it, it's totally true! However, this last year Alpha has gotten pretty clever with the gift giving. Here's what we did:

For Alpha's Birthday:
This Alpha's birthday is at the beginning of the year, so the most common thing you see in stores at that time - calendars! This gift might take a long to time to make (if you decide to fill in every day!), give yourself a lot of time to prepare this gift. So basically, you buy a basic calendar - any type of calendar is okay. The next step is too fill in the boxes with personal things - pictures and quotes - or funny things! We put in drunk texts from mydrunktexts.com, funny "My Life is Average" posts, fun facts about random things, even sex positions of the day! Anything you can think of you can put in! It's really clever and its something that your friend will have everyday to remind them how special your friendship is!


For Alpha's Birthday:

The Flag of Macau

Obviously, this Alpha's favorite color is green. This is better as a joint present, meaning with a group of people (I would say between 3 to 4 people). What we did is we bought a bunch of little presents that this Alpha loved - green OPI nail polish, chocolate with alcohol in them, bath salts and soaps - but the key to this present was not the main little presents, but the ones surrounding it! Like I said this Alpha's favorite color is green. So, the rest of the Alpha's went to the 100 yen store (basically a dollar store) and picked up anything that was green! This included a green bath bucket, green tinsel, and, why yes, a green flag of Macau. It's sincere and quite hilarious if you ask us; the flag part is very hard to forget about!

For Alpha's Birthday:

The Actual Gift!

We did a similar thing for this Alpha's birthday - it doesn't involve a green bath bucket, but a purple trash can. Our main concern for this present was that we wanted this Alpha to able to use it in college so she could remember us. So, again, we each got her things that would help in college - a lot of easy to use make-up, alcohol to help her party, and hair ties (she needed them!). Well, it's weird that it all went into this plain simple purple trash can. So, instead, the trash can was decorated everywhere! No space was left!! Funny memories, song lyrics, weird quotes, everything and anything that this Alpha loved!! She didn't even know it was a trash can - it sure doesn't look like it anymore. But we know for a fact that she's taking it to college with her along with all her other little presents.

For Alpha's Sayonara Gift:
This gift is more to emphasize the good memories that were made and not to forget each other. A scrap book or a story are always unique and heart warming. Each page has a different theme and it gives a lot of opportunity to be creative and imaginative. It's also very simple because you basically just print pictures, sayings, quotes, just anything! Cut it all out and then stick it into the book. It's nice to have a place where your fondest memories are. And it's also easy to take it to different places so you know your friends will always be in your heart.

Some Past Gifts This Alpha Got:

The Actual Gift

The two most clever gifts that I received were given to be by honorary Alphas. For my sweet sixteen, honorary Alpha number 1 decorated a bottle of wine! (With the wine still in there!) Of course I couldn't open the bottle - it would ruin the gift! Basically what this alpha did was cover the entire bottle with pictures of us, magazine clippings of words that described me and our friendship, and other random things she knew I loved! (Hello Ben Barnes!) I loved this gift because it really showed me how much she cared and how much she knew about me! What's also great about using a wine bottle is that we have a date on my 21st birthday to drink that bottle of wine - bam, promise of a long, healthy friendship.

The other gift from Honorary Alpha number 2 (and well Honorary Alpha 1, and two other close friends of mine) was for my 17th birthday.  They all assigned each other a certain number of gifts with a total of 17 gifts! Don't worry you don't have to spurge - they were all either hand made or were from joke shops. I remember getting home and finding a box at my door step - gift number 1. And then they came over and kept giving me more. I received a puzzle, a home made picture frame (with picture), fake snow, a little dinosaur kit, basically a lot of random ass crap - but it was amazing and precious. It made me laugh and it made me feel so special that I got 17 gifts!

*****

A great gift, that is an Alpha Tradition, is to make each other a birthday cake. Simple but it's sweet and shows that you care and love each other. Alpha always likes to bring a cake, set it in the middle of the table and just dig in with five forks. 

Cake! Cake! Cake! Cake! Cake!

Hope these help with your gifts to your friends! Personal is always the best present to give. 

Love,

ALPHA

iRip

I am really dependent on my iPod and iTunes - like dependent. If I lost all my music and videos I would seriously cry my eyes out for months! Maybe years!! I have about 7,600 songs and like 40 Movies and TV Episodes - so it's a big deal for me. So, I not only have to back up my music a hard drive but I always keep my iPod pretty updates just incase my iTunes crashes.

My iTunes has crashed before and it was really horrible. I really was devastated. But thankfully I still had my iPod with all my music and everything. But I really didn't know what to do and my sister's boyfriend told me about iDump - which really did save my music life! It transferred all my music, podcasts, videos back to my library! I was so happy and it kept everything - the play count, the playlists and the albume art too! The best part though - it was all free.

Okay, like 5 years later I'm facing a similar problem. My original iTunes didn't crash, my I'm switching new computers and I want to load all my music again. Of course, I could've just used my harddrive to transfer my music - which I kind of did, and it turned out really messy for some reason - so I turned to iDump again. Apparently, it's not free anymore and it's no longer the most effective or the simplest program out there. So, I had to do my research and I stumbled upon iRip. 

iRip is actually really for Macs, but I sure somewhere you can find a similar program or edition for PCs. So,  first you can actually try it for free. You can download the program and transfer 100 songs from your iPod or iPhone to your itunes. It's super simple! Really. You just select which iPod or iPhone you want to use and then select what you want to transfer - amazing. Okay, after you try the free download, you can either chose to buy it online or look for another. I actually bought it and I thought $20 was a great price. It's unlimited and you can use anybody's iPod or iPhone. 

My music life has been saved. Thank you iRip. Here's the Link! 

Love, 

ALPHA

Music: The Beatles

Everyone knows who The Beatles are - regardless your age. They are one of the most famous bands in the history of music. The band originated from Liverpool, England and has basically taken over the world. I adore them and many people that you meet will probably love them too (I bet you anything). 

Need to listen to them? 

Go to their Website, click Here.  

These are my favorite Songs. 

Got To Get You Into My Life

Revolver

You Never Give Me Your Money

Abbey Road

The Fool On The Hill

Magical Mystery Tour

Golden Slumbers
Abbey Road


Do You Want To Know a Secret
Please Please Me


I'm Looking Through You
                                                        Rubber Soul

Yesterday
1962 - 1966


I Me Mine
Let It Be


When I'm Sixty Four
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band


Carry That Weight + The End
Abbey Road


Honey Pie
The White Album

Twist and Shout
Please Please Me


Here, There And Everywhere
Revolver


Dig A Pony
Let It Be


Penny Lane
Magical Mystery Tour


Lady Madonna
Love


Something
Abbey Road


Blackbird
The White Album

And Your Bird Can Sing
Revolver


Happiness is a Warm Gun
The White Album


Boys
Please Please Me


Till There Was You


With The Beatles

Any song of the Beatles is amazing. Just get them all. You wont regret it.
Love,

ALPHA

Rainbow Cakes

Want to make a cute fun cake but don't want to learn all those cake decorating techniques? Stop thinking about the outside and think inside the cake! Try to make a Rainbow Cake! Or simply, a colored cake. It's very easy to do you just need cake batter, food coloring and extra bowls.

Step 1: Just Follow the Recipe!
So you begin by making a normal cake - easy as that! Follow the recipe in the book or the back of the box like I do and then stop when your about to pour the cake batter into the pan.

Step 2: A Pinch of Color.
Decide how many colors you want your cake to be - select as many as you like from one color to 4 or 5 even (just make sure you have enough batter!). Separate the batter into bowls - the same amount as the how many colors you wish to use. When their in the bowls start putting in the food coloring! It's really up to you how strong of a color you wish to have.

Step 3: Bring it Together.
Now is the time top put the batter into the pan. Now if you used one color than pour the whole thing in. If you used two or three colors select which order you want the colors. So if you want to do an actual rainbow you know the drill - red, yellow, green, blue, purple (or vise versa). To do more complicated patterns, shapes, or marble you might have to experiment and play around. I would visit the Wilton website - it's a miracle worker! And the directions are really clear and simple to follow!

Step 4: Bake and Design
Once you're done with all the pouring, place it in the oven for the required time. When it's done leave it to cool down - if you're in a hurry stick it in the freezer or outside if it's cold enough. After cooling, gently take it out of the pan and place it on the plate. From here you can leave it be or apply frosting. You can stick to the basic of just lathering it with frosting or you can decorate it using simple techniques. Either way - you have yourself a pretty awesome cake! Colors are always fun and cheerful.

Happy Baking!
Love,
ALPHA

Mommy Beyonce

Probably the whole world knows by now but guess who is going to be a mommy! The beautiful, talented Beyonce!! She stole the show last night after performing she opened her jacket and just touched her baby tummy. It was probably the cutest thing ever  - and she was extremely happy looking; that smile! Oh, you could just feel her joy!! 

I think my favorite part was watching her hubby's reaction. Jay Z went crazy in the audience and he was just as happy as Beyonce as he cheered and celebrated with his close friend Kanye West. 

Think about who this child s going to be! Beyonce + Jay Z = Must have a talented Baby!! Alpha and I were just talking about how we kind of wish that it will be a boy. I mean either that or a really gorgeous girl (who will probably be a diva like her mommy!) Alpha is just so happy for Beyonce and Jay-Z: it's about time!!

Love, 

ALPHA

The Glowing Beyonce! 

Back To School Apps

Awesome Note

For Organization:

1. Awesome Note
2. iHomework
3. Evernote *free*
4. iStudiez Pro
5. Snoozerr Recordings
6. Mental Case Flashcards HD
7. inClass

Pen and Paper

For Writing:

1. Pen and Paper

2. Pages

3. Day One (Journal/Diary)

4. Meernotes

5. WordWit

6. Momento

7. GrammerPrep

Goodreads

For Reading:

1. Goodreads *free*

2. Sounds: The Pronunciation App

3. Shakespeare In Bits

4. Read It Later Pro

5. iBooks *free*

6. neu.Annotate PDF

7. Dictionary.com Flashcards

Algebra Touch

For Math:

1. Algebra Touch

2. Graphing Calculator

3. Wolfram Algebra Course Assistant

4. Wolfram Calculus Course Assistant

5. Statistics 1

6. Calcabot

7. Symbolic Calculator

For Science:

FINR Brain Atlas

1. FINR Brain Atlas
2. iMuscle
3. Converbot
4. SimplePhysics
5. Molecules
6. The Elements for iPhone 4
7. Powers of Minus Ten - Cells and Genetics

The Economist World in Figures 2011

For Social Studies:

1. The Economist World in Figures 2011 Edition

2. One This Day...

3. 2011 World Factbook

4. Google Earth *free*

5. Historypin

6. GeoBee Challenge by National Geographic

7. Smithsonian Channel *free*

For Art:

iMovie

1. iMovie
2. Art Authority
3. Animation Desk for iPhone
4. Doodle Buddy *free*
5. NLof MIDI Synth
6. Scales and Modes
7. PhotoFroge2

WolframAlpha

For Reference:

1. WolframAlpha

2. AP Stylebook 2011

3. Merriam-Webster Dictionary *free*

4. Wikipanion *free*

5. Wisdom Quotes

6. HowStuffWorks *free*

7. Math Formulas - Reference Guide

Love,
ALPHA

Yes! Right There!

The G-Spot

Sex Position : The G-Spot Jiggy 

The G-Spot, or the urethal sponge, is actually apart of the clitoral system. It is the erectile tissue surrounding the urethra (the tube through which we urinate). It's often called the female prostate, and is filled with blood vessels and glands; it produces fluid similar to that produced by the male prostate.The G-Spot can be often felt by pressing on the interior front wall of the vagina, and it may produce pleasurable sensations when stimulated. 

For some women, continuous stimulation of the G-Spot may lead to ejaculation: the release of fluid from the urthera. Some people are doubtful that female ejaculation exists, but from ancient Greek writings to the Hindu Kama Sutra to 16th Century Japanese artwork, female ejaculation has be described and honored. 

*****

Can you spot your G? Okay, this might be weird but if you want to explore you G-spot, set aside a time when you can allow yourself to masturbate. Use your fingers to explore two to three inches inside the vagina, agaisnt the front wall. Feel for a rough texture or ridges. It can be helpful to curve your finger into a "come here" position and explore by massaging and pressing on the area. You may want to experiment with different positions, such as lying on your stomach, squatting, until you find one that works for you. 

Vibrators help to find the G-Spot!

When you first touch this area, it might feel as if you have to pee! But you're doing the correct thing and the sensation may subside after a few seconds of massage. The feeling of needing to pee is actually similar to urge to ejaculate. G-Spot stimulation may contribute to having orgasms. It is important to remember, however, that the G-Spot is not a "magic button" that automatically produces ecstasy when pushed. Exploring this region can enhance our sexual pleasure. If you don't feel comfortable with you touching yourself - tell your partner what you want or what to look for - hell make him read this! 

Information from Our Bodies, Ourselves from Chapter 12 "Sexuality". 

Happy Humping!

Love,

ALPHA