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C’Ville Entremom, the brainchild of local photographer Angie Brement, features working moms with business sense. |
Blog fresh, blog local
It’s definitely tempting to surf the web way, way out beyond what’s local, but don’t forget there’s a crew of local women blogging Charlottesville’s best.
With a keen eye on the doings of Charlottesville Renaissance women like themselves, Angie Brement and Susie Matheson are a great source of “by locals, for locals”-reporting. Highlighting area businesses, from artisan hula hoops to professional meeting spaces, Angie’s C’Ville Entremom (cvilleentremom.com) and Susie’s Scout Charlottesville (scoutcharlottesville.com/scout-charlottesville/) are dedicated to getting you in the local know.
Look out for an insider’s scoop on the latest Mudhouse incarnation (courtesy of Angie’s long-time friendship with the coffeeshop’s proprietors), camera tips, tea party planning, and more. Sharing a passion for locating the latest and greatest of what’s around, these ladies are just part of a wave of bloggers hitting the web to bring Charlottesville to your desktop.—Lucy Zhou
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Worth a thousand words: After painting a portrait, Eliza Evans snaps a picture of the artwork and its subject. |
Pretty as a picture
It’s very hard to sit still. Portrait artist Eliza Evans—whom you can often find set up with her paints and canvases on the Downtown Mall—knows this firsthand, which is why, when you sit down to have her paint your portrait, you can expect speed and efficiency. (Not to mention a charming painting at the end of the process.)
You might also expect to see yourself in an edition of her handmade calendar. Created with her best friend, calligrapher Virginia Reiley, the calendars boast one holiday a day, invented entirely by Evans and Reiley. For instance, on the day this article was written, we celebrated Elegance Day.
The calendar also includes original artwork from both women. “The 2009 edition has a portrait for every day, so when we made it, it was basically a catalog of the portraits I’d done so far,” Evans says. If every day is a holiday, then perhaps the perfect gift is a self-portrait, no? Find your copy wherever you find Evans on the Downtown Mall, or e-mail elizanevans@gmail.com.—Caite White
Get a perfect pucker
Choosing a lip color can be tricky as you face literally thousands of shades lining makeup aisles in any drugstore or department store. With names like “Cinnamon Spice” and “Intrepid Rose,” how do you know which color best complements your complexion? We called on Emily Swinson, a color specialist at Charlottesville’s Sephora, to tell us how to choose wisely.
For daytime, she suggests choosing bright hues. “Glosses are great for daytime as well,” she says. Subtle pinks or sheer beiges complement any lip during the day—try a shade or two darker than your natural lip color. Going out on the town at night? Swinson recommends “darker and bolder” colors after dark. Look for names of lipsticks that sound like something delicious to eat: Dark berry colors, plums or cherry red work for most skin tones at night.
If you’re still at a loss standing in a drugstore aisle, try visiting a makeup counter where you can try on different colors. Swinson says, “Lip colors tend to be the most
personal makeup choice for anyone.” She strongly suggests trying on the colors before you buy them. Finally, regardless of what color you decide suits your look the best, give your color some pizzazz: “To add depth and shine to any lip look, you can apply a clear gloss only to the center of the lips,” Swinson says.—Locke Hughes
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Kate Barton says her “Grown Your Own Roots” t-shirts are “about self-awareness.” |
Green thumbs, green tees
If you’ve made Charlottesville your home turf, it’s time to advertise your pride for what our town has to offer—and we’re not just talking veggies. The “Grow Your Own Roots” tee, brain-baby of local artist Kate Barton of Skylight Studios, is a stylish salute to our favorite sprouting ground for everything leafy, local and living.
While the shirt’s message is up to interpretation, Kate says it had to do with finding out for herself how to live by what inspires her. “In the end it’s about self-awareness,” she says. While for Kate this meant setting up shop in Skylight’s collaborative studio space, she finds Charlottesville to be a ripe place for all forms of inspiration to thrive.
We can’t help but agree that there’s something inspirational about the shirt’s garden-scape. Sure, they’re deliciously soft (dig that Alternative Apparel) and art nouveau-chic, but there’s another reason to feel good about slipping into one of these tees: Part of each shirt purchase goes to help feed local families, with plans for expansion. Look out for the shirts at Feast!, Bittersweet, and June and Ruby, or stop by Skylight Studios at 108 Second St., next to Nicola’s Veggies. For more info or to see more of Kate’s work, check out kathryndalebarton.com.—L.Z.
Skin care, made easy
We know, “less is more.” But wouldn’t it be nice—with all the scrubs, cleansers, toners and moisturizers available—if that cliché applied to skin care, too?
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In her new book, Simple Skin Care: Less Is More, dermatologist Dalia Kalai says women can get excellent results from “affordable and effective products.” She even highlights the benefits of drugstore brands over expensive prescriptions. “More expensive,” she says, “does not necessarily mean better.” Among Kalai’s favorites? Dove and Cetaphil rank high on her list of best drugstore finds, and she recommends affordable moisturizers such as Aveeno, Olay, Eucerin and Neutrogena.
Local UVA dermatologist Julie Padgett agrees that when it comes to skin care, simple is better. “Mild products like Dove and Cetaphil are just fine for most people,” she says. “If someone likes a more expensive brand and it suits their skin type, I don’t discourage it, though, and tell them to use what they like.”—L.H.
