weddings and special events and private estates: Make Up - Our Event Professional Pick of the Week, Plus Tips for Having a Fab Fourth of the July Party!

I love summer! Hard to believe that July is already here.

If you are planning a get together with friends and family on or around the Fourth of July,
here are some fun ideas to get you ready for the celebration -

Heat the pool a few days ahead if needed.

Turn off the sprinklers if you will be entertaining on the lawn.

Stock up the pool with rafts, inner tubes and beach balls. If you want to play pool games, how about a volleyball net and a scoreboard.

If you don't feel like cooking or barbecuing, check out the popular food trucks in your area.

Talk with your neighbors and see if they will be having a party on the same day. Make sure you are prepared with parking options for your guests or consider hiring a valet service.

Lighting - do a lighting test at night to make sure you have sufficient lighting. If you want to add color to your up lights, try and keep blue and green off of your guests - not the best colors for people.

Stock up the bathrooms with hand towels and supplies.

If you are having a swim party, place towels out for your guests.

If there will be dancing, hire a DJ. If you only want ambiance, then your favorite tunes will do the job. Note: If you hire a DJ, please have a small generator to avoid power black outs.

Check out firework ordinances in your area and take safety precautions.

Setting up the bars - stock up on bar items (ice, alcohol, sodas, mixers and wines) and check out this fun web site for your friends who don't drink alcohol - Mocktails

Raspberry Lemonade

Event Professional of the Week:
When it comes to makeup and skin care, I only work with the very best in the industry.

We are highlighting Jennifer Charm of Carabella Cosmetics and Skin Care in this week's blog.

Carabella is a semi-private eco-friendly skin salon, providing state of the art and preservative free skin care, organic bath and body products, mineral cosmetics, clinical facial treatments, body treatments (aromatherapy polishes, infra-red cellulite wraps, back facials). We are the #1 award-winning Brazilian bikini and body waxing salon in Los Angeles! Carabella offers customized makeup lessons, lash services and even teeth whitening! Carabella clientele range from local men, women & students to Hollywood celebrities, who all share one thing in common: they all expect professional, customized treatments in a friendly, comfortable atmosphere and to feel nurtured, pampered and see real results from their visits.

Jennifer Charm is a makeup artist, who has worked on Hollywood's most famous faces in film, TV awards shows and weddings.

Salon clients include -
JLo, Lauren Holly, Marisol Nichols, Jenna Elfman, Erika Christiansen

Makeup clients include-
Kirstie Alley, Kelly Preston, Anne Archer, Danny & Chris Masterson, Judy Norton, Alex Breckinridge

Jennifer was not content with simply having another facial and waxing business, therefore, after receiving her California Esthetician license in 1991, she furthered her education by studying chemistry and ingredient courses under Rebecca James Gadbury at UCLA and ethnic skincare with Betty Odem, the country’s leading Black educator in Aesthetics.

Jennifer was educated in the relationships between pharmaceuticals, illness and skin care treatments with Rachel Furman, noted skin specialist and Pharmacist. She became certified in advanced chemical peels 1994. She trained on the first microdermabrasion machine approved by the FDA before it was sold to the industry. Carabella is an industry leader in advanced microdermabrasion treatments, pulsed LED light and chemical peels.

Aware of the dangerous side-effects of drugs and toxins stored in the body, she did a detoxification program called The Purification Rundown. Amazed at her results, Jennifer decided to carry the high quality holistic & organic product lines which create positive effects on the skin. Many lines call themselves “natural” because they contain an essential oil or two, but are made up of bases loaded with chemicals (containing petroleum distillates), harsh preservatives, perfumes and dyes. She carries a great selection of holistic products, as well as her custom line of organic bath and body products. She advises her clients to clear any toxic products from their homes and instead she offers a line of body cleanse products.

She understands the essentials to living a healthier and longer life.

Jennifer actively works in her community as a volunteer training at-risk teens and their parents on improving their skin and appearance, and working in hospitals helping patients take care of their skin.

At Carabella, the skin care products reflect and harmonize with the body’s own chemical make up. Jennifer gives facial treatments that combine the newest proven technologies with good old fashioned pampering in a luxurious spa setting. Jennifer, a highly trained Aesthetician is trained in make up and she can create a complete line of cosmetics that are custom blended from pure mineral powders tinted with natural iron oxides. Carabella carries the Valley's most extensive collection of pure mineral cosmetics. This is also the only salon where clients are numbed for delicate waxing services. Carabella does complete bikini hair removal and designs. Jennifer’s eyebrow styling enhances some of Hollywood’s most famous faces.

Many clients who come to Carabella work in the film industry and many are referred by area dermatologists and health related fields who have benefited from the salon’s programs.

The goals of Carabella -

Help elevate self esteem and empower women by teaching them how to take care of themselves aesthetically, with correct skin care regimens and customized makeup lessons.

Create beautiful brides and bridal parties, using natural and long lasting cosmetics.

Enhance the quality of photographic experiences by creating fabulous makeup looks in a professional and safe environment.

Create an environment where all people can get help with problems in life, both physical and spiritual, without evaluation, invalidation and drugs, and be guided towards healthy solutions that work.

Here are few samples of Jennifer's makeup work-