A dream come true

Barbie's Malibu dream house comes alive - and it only took 50 years!

On the eve of her 50th birthday, interior decorator Jonathan Adler has decked out a real-life 3,500-square-foot pad overlooking the Pacific Ocean to look like the blond doll's outrageous home.

Adler, who was commissioned by toy maker Mattel Inc. to decorate the house for Monday's party, said outfitting the sleek mansion (a property that's frequently rented for film and photography shoots) took six months of planning and a few weeks to install.

Adler lined Barbie's bedroom with wall-to-wall pink carpeting emblazoned with her initial.

The closet is filled with 50 pairs of pink peep-toe heels while her kitchen is stocked with cupcake-making ingredients.

An in-house museum features 25 vintage Barbie dolls on display.

In the garage? A pink Volkswagen New Beetle with a motorized pop-up vanity in the trunk.

Following the celebrity studded festivities, most of Barbie's custom decor will be shipped to the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas to furnish a special pink-tinted Barbie Suite that will be available for bachelorette parties, birthdays or anyone who wants to live like Barbie.

Other items will be available from the "Jonathan Adler Loves Barbie" collection launching in September – I can’t wait to see this!

New frontier – pop culture cosmetics

I have been noticing a pop culture trend here….cosmetic companies seem to be going with iconic limited edition collections. There are 3 in and making their way to market right now, Barbie, Hello Kitty and Smurfette. Each of these collections is brought to you by top cosmetic companies….and from the blog buzz they are grabbing people’s attention.

The first is celebrating Barbie’s 50th anniversary.

Stila Cosmetics is introducing the limited edition Barbie Loves Stila spring collection. You can get the signature Barbie looks you love with four Stila paint can sets and the Barbie Loves Stila Talking Palette! The collection includes 4 beauty cans and a talking palette.

Four "Decades of Beauty" paint cans are filled with everything you need to recreate your favorite iconic Barbie looks. The sets also include a "Barbie Look Book" that includes a history of each top-selling Barbie doll over the last 50 years!

Here they are:

1959 PONYTAIL DOLL STRIKING & GLAMOROUS
The original Barbie® doll wore the famous black and white striped bathing suit. Striking red lips and black-rimmed cat eyes made this doll the epitome of 1950s glamour!

This set includes:
3 Pan Palette with a deep blue eye shadow with white shimmer, a matte black eye shadow, and a luminous coral cheek color
Lip Color in Ponytail (matte cherry red)
Liquid Eye Liner in Black

1971 MALIBU DOLL FRESH & SUN-KISSED Malibu Barbie® doll debuted in an aqua bathing suit, groovy sunglasses, and an L.A. tan! A sunny beach look featuring aqua shadow and pink lips made this doll the epitome of 1970s fresh, natural beauty!

This set includes:
3 Pan Palette with a soft shimmering pale pink eye shadow, a sky blue eye shadow with white shimmer, and a golden bronze bronzer
Lip Glaze in Malibu (pale pinky peach)
Lash Visor Waterproof Mascara in Black

1980 FOXY DOLL BOLD & STUNNING
Foxy Barbie® doll made the scene in a hot red outfit with golden accents and big earrings. A warm, sultry look featuring red lipstick and earth-toned shadow made this doll the epitome of bold 1980s glamour!

This set includes:
3 Pan Palette with soft wheat eye shadow with white shimmer, mid-tone brown. with gold shimmer, and matte soft berry cheek color
Lip Glaze in Foxy (sheer tangerine color)
Lash Visor Waterproof Mascara in Black

2000 JEWEL DOLL PRETTY & SASSY
Trendy and glamorous, Jewel Girl™ began the year 2000 with fresh style. A hip, sparkly look featuring blue shadow, shimmery pink lips, and faux gems made this doll the epitome of pretty in the new millennium!

This set includes:
3 Pan Palette with a tan eye shadow with pink shimmer, a brown eye shadow with gold and brown shimmer, and a shimmering pink cheek color
Lip Glaze in Jewel (shimmering vivid pink)
Multi-effect Mascara in Black

The Barbie Loves Stila Talking Palette
Barbie Loves Stila Talking Palette features four pretty in pink (and purple) wet/dry eye shadows that create the classic Barbie eye look, and literally talks you through every step of easy application.It also includes an insert card with instructions on step-by-step makeup application, and information on Barbie through the decades.Palette includes shadows in cool pink shimmer (base), bright lilac with gold sparkle (lid), deep pink (crease), and dark purple with blue sparkle (liner).Hello Kitty – arriving this February!

The limited edition collection will be available at MAC’s website on February 10, 2009 and in MAC US stores on February 12, 2009 (just in time for Valentine’s Day too!) and overseas stores in March 2009- mark your calendars ladies this collection is going to fly off the counters!

Not only did they create a range of cosmetics, there’s also a line of accessories: a Petite Makeup Bag ($22), a medium Makeup Bag ($35), a plush doll ($42), purse mirror ($22), three-brush collection ($49.50), a mirrored key clip ($16), beaded bracelet ($34), a tote ($45) and soft vanity kit ($55).The Hello Kitty collection consists of two collections: the Hello Kitty Colour Collection and the more high-end Hello Kitty Kouture. The Hello Kitty Colour Collection includes “six shades of lipstick with names like Fashion Mews and Strayin’, each $14; six Lip gloss shades, each $14; and two tinted lip conditioners, $14.50 each; two eye shadow palettes, which each contain four shades and retail for $38; two shades of pigment are $19.50 each, and two Reflects Glitter stock keeping units — one blue, one pink — are $17.50 each. Four Glitter Eye Liners, each $16.50, two shades of Beauty Powder, each $22; three shades of nail polish, each $11; a black mascara, $12, and false lashes, $12, round out the color offerings. Shades range from pinks and turquoises to lavenders and greens.”

The Hello Kitty Kouture collection is more of a high-end line and great for collectors as well. The range consists of “two shades of Dazzle gloss, each $28, each feature a reusable silver chain pendant with Hello Kitty outlined in white Swarovski crystals on black with a pink crystal bow. Sheer Mystery Powder, $90 and available in three shades, is packaged in a silver powder compact with Hello Kitty outlined in white Swarovski crystals with a pink crystal bow on a black background.”

A now for a little blue….

Trendy cosmetics brand, is releasing its newest product – The Smurfette Collection. Inspired by the popular cartoon character Smurfette, who was seen on the '80s TV series "The Smurfs – who by the way my 5 year old daughter loves! The limited-edition Smurfette Collection is a five-piece set featuring Smurfette images, lip gloss, face powder, eye shadow collection and liquid liner.

Smurfette Mood Swing Lip Gloss, $18.50: A mood activated lip gloss that starts off Smurfy blue and then magically blossoms into countless shades of Smurf-berry pink depending on the wearer's emotional state!

So Smurfy Illuminating Face Powder, $26.00: Created in the image of Smurfette, this multi-shade palette brightens and tones with a combination of soft, color-correcting shades that blend together for wear on any skin tone.

So Smurfy Eye Shadow Collection, $32.50: A chic palette that includes four complimentary eye shadow shades -- two of which are debossed with the classic Smurf daisy and Smurfette's silhouette.

Smurfy Eyed Liquid Liner, $17.50: Two long-lasting, fast-drying liquid eyeliners, in Smurf-inspired blue and white shades formulated with sparkling, micro-glitter for added impact and edge!

The collection is “designed to appeal to the young at heart, hipsters looking for a dose of trendy nostalgia and any glamour girl that lives to play with makeup,” the company said in a release.

PS: I did break down and buy the lip gloss (which goes on blue and changes color depending on your lip color and heat), it’s ok – not the best gloss I’ve tried – but if you love the novelty of it, it’s worth the spend!