First look at Hiawatha

Much thanks to Kevian who scored these shots of Legacy's costumes from last night's launch and shared them with me. You can read her review of the launch on her blog, The Carnival Diet. From the first look I have to say that Legacy has also fallen victim to the arbiturary body painting that just distracts from the costumes. I could understand if they did some "warrior" paint on the model's faces, but the airbrushed stars make no sense in my opinion.

Anyway, I am liking the orange costume so far though I was expecting more native Indian elements portrayed in the costumes. Apart from the headpieces the rest of the costume looks like the same bikini and belt as any other band.And I hate to say it but my first impression is the costumes just look like different versions and colours of what TRIBE has done in 2004, 2005 and for 2007. They even have a red, white and black Indian costume! The designers need to take a look at Harts who have managed to do diverse versions of Indian Mas, none replicating what TRIBE has done to date.

(click on the photos to make them larger)

Royal Court de Versailles

I so wish I could make these photos bigger so everyone who does not have the real newspaper can see them properly! This is the section called "Royal Court" from the band Trini Revellers which is featured in today's Womanwise Magazine of the Trinidad Guardian, and these photos have made me excited to go to the band launching tonight. So far, I am liking everything I have seen from Trini Reveller's, and this section not only represents the theme but it looks like couture fashion! In my humble opinion, it just goes to show how much talent we have in Trinidad and as the article says, we can provide much more than just "bikini mas" and still have a beautiful costume. Here is the article from Womanwise:

By Essiba Small














The perennial complaint of plus-sized and mature women has long been the fact that mas designers do not cater to their size or taste. But at least two designers are paying attention to these complaints.

Keisha and Kyle Matas are the brother-and-sister team of mas designers hoping to provide an alternative to the bikini mas with their presentation Royal Court de Versailles — a section out of Trini Revellers’ French Revolution.

The San Fernando-born siblings, Keisha, 25 and Kyle, 20, grew up in mas. Keisha would play while Kyle would focus on design.

“Since I was three years old, I was playing mas,” Keisha said. “And not kiddies mas, you know. Adult mas. My mother used to make the costume and I would play with her in Lionel Jaggessar’s Indian mas band.”

Kyle, Keisha said, started in mas design helping friends who would bring out sections in bands.

“He used to go and help build stuff for the King and Queen mas for bands when it came down to competition time.”

Tired of the bikini mas, Keisha and Kyle decided it was time to bring out their own section.

“I have played in several bands and after a while, you realise that all the money you spend to play mas is really for the all-inclusive package you enjoy — not the costume,” Keisha said. “From a person who is working behind the scenes on the mas, I can tell you it doesn’t cost much to put a bikini costume together. It is so cheap it is ridiculous,” she said with a laugh.

Inspiration for Royal Court came, Keisha said, when Kyle and their father travelled to Germany earlier this year for the World Cup.

“It was as if God was seeing the future because my dad and Kyle went to several countries after Germany, including France, and Kyle took lots of photos of the monuments there.”

When the couple approached Trini Revellers and heard that the band was presenting The French Revolution for 2007, they did their research and came up with Royal Court.

Ostrich feathers, crystal-beaded corsets, generous layers of cloth and elaborately constructed headpieces, are a few of the features of the Royal Court section.

And while Keisha admits that the materials used for the costumes are expensive, she was quick to note that financially, the revellers won’t feel it.

“If we had to charge people by what it cost us to put the costumes together, it would be too much.”

Royal Court will feature what Keisha calls, a front line and a back line, to give would-be revellers several price options.

“The front line will have masqueraders in costumes. The back line will be a slightly toned-down version of the front line. But when they all come together, you won’t know who paid more or less, because they will all look the same — more or less. It’s just that the front line costumes will have more detail,” said Keisha adding that, “We also want to give women of all body types a costume option.”

Royal Court de Versailles will cater to 150 to 300 masqueraders. It is scheduled to launch this evening at Pier 1.

©2003-2004 Trinidad Publishing Company Limited

Band Launching Fever this weekend!

The two bands that rival each year for the title of "Band of the Year" are launching this weekend. Tonight is Legacy's launch of Hiawatha at The Anchorage and tomorrow is Trini Reveller's launch of The French Revolution at Pier 1. Today's Trinidad Guardian has this write up on Legacy's launch:

LEGACY will kick off the Carnival 2007 season this evening with the launch of its Carnival 2007 presentation—Hiawatha—at The Anchorage, Chaguaramas.

According to legacy bandleader/designer “Big Mike” Antoine: “Hiawatha is the title of an epic poem written in 1855 which tells the life-story of a fictitious Native American Indian of the same name, and which provides an insight into their legends, traditions, tribe and characters.

“The Native American Indian is also one of our most popular traditional mas forms. Although we have not yet launched, there has already been an overwhelming response to the theme and the mas camp is already abuzz with activity.”

Mike said that tonight, The Anchorage would be transformed into a powwow fit for the unveiling of Legacy’s 2007 designs with a live display of their complete range of costumes with names such as Minniehaha—Laughing Water, Apache Fire and Sioux Tribal Dancers.

Legacy’s road band, Traffik, featuring vocalists Shurwayne Winchester and Candy Hoyte, head the list of top drawer music to be enjoyed. Also on the playbill are Iwer George, Siparia Rhythm Section and some of Trinidad’s top DJs.

Antoine said that come Carnival 2007, Legacy will present a total of 23 sections, two Kings and two Queens, including current Queen of Carnival, Pamela Gordon.

Legacy’s mas camp will open for registration from 5 pm on Monday, and thereafter from noon to 8 pm daily.

Apparently the author of that article is unaware that the Carnival 2007 season "kicked off" with Harts Launch in August, followed by Tribe, Island People, Pulse 8, Genesis and Dream Team! Among the big bands Legacy and Trini Revellers are the last to launch, well apart from Brian Mc Farlane who always launches late.

To be honest I have to pick only one of these launches to attend since my schedule does not permit me to attend both. So far the nudge is to Trini Revellers tomorrow, apart from the fact that I am pleased at what I have seen so far of the sections that have launched, their theme is more interesting. I am thinking there is only so much you can do with Indian Mas, unless Legacy proves me wrong and presents costumes that are out of the proverbial box!

Anyways, I am off to my hairdresser to get all dolled up, I have a new outfit picked out but I am still waiting for the zeal to kick in! I am so not feeling for a soca fete this weekend. Hopefully listening to some Sherwin will put in the mood as he is expected to perform at both band launchings.

A little Gossip with your morning coffee

Ah yes, I checked out Loose Lips this week and she is all about soca artistes and the N.C.C. I have figured out who is the female soca artiste she is speaking about in the last paragraph, but I am lost as to who is the "macho" male soca star since I did not go to Soca Monarch finals this year.Anyways, here is the gossip, hot off the press!

This one will send you searching. There is an ultra macho soca artiste who is these days seriously wondering whether or not he should come out of the closet. Known for his dexterous acrobatic stunts on stage, the artiste has been living in the dark with his preference for a long time now and simply can't take the lies anymore. All Laura can say at this time is that while hundreds of women will be left in tears, there will be many happy boys looking forward to being among the first to have a chance to meet this artiste once he breaks the seal on his now capped sexual desires. Oh and by the way, there are a couple of cute female soca stars that are also swinging on the same sex vine and they just happen to be part of that guy's lime as well. Figure it out. Hint. Soca Monarch finals this year.

Now you did not hear it from me, but there seems to be a bit of trouble brewing within the headless chicken that is the National Carnival Commission. Even before the exit of former Chairman; Kenny De Silva, things were not running smoothly, but now that there is no clear leader the ship seems about to capsize. And these troubles come with the official launch of Carnival 2007 only weeks away. Where the money dey; seems to be the big question. Now Laura must make it clear that De Silva in no way whatsoever has anything to do with the money and one of the reasons he got fed up in the first place was because he could not get straight answers about expenditure. Laura hears that the proverbial condom is about to burst and boy will there be hell to pay.

A saucy female soca star is facing legal action from a very angry promoter that producers events in Los Angeles and New York. It seems that this wide angled singer that is known for her exaggerated pelvic thrusts was contracted to perform at a charity event in the United States this weekend and after having been paid called at the last minute to say without giving any reasons why that she was not going to make it. The singer is known for doing this and most times uses her children as the excuse. She has up to now gotten away with it, but this promoter is not letting it slip by and has indicated that she is seeking to have the singer arrested for fraud the next time she touches down in the States. Keep on checking Laura out for more on this one.

Loose Lips is a weekly gossip column on Islandevents.com.

Imp Frontline

Well TRIBE has finally posted a photo of Imp Frontline, much to the surpise (and regret) of masqueraders who have already registered for the backline without seeing what the frontline looked like. I always liked the wings for the Frontline and this photo looks really great! So I guess another option for those still mulling over wheter to be a Frontline H.O.

Don't Bring Sand to the Beach

People often comment on the fact that my husband and I are playing mas together, as if it is something strange. A married friend of mine says he has no problem with his wife playing mas, just not in the same BAND as him! Well, my husband and I are playing in the same band, albeit different sections, but that only came about because we both liked different costumes. To me it's not strange, my husband is my liming partner so our lime is just being extended to something we both love; Carnival.

The thing is though that many relationships and friendships do not weather Carnival, because the thinking is why bring sand to the beach?! With a plethora of beautiful men and women invading our shores for Carnival, some people are greedy, wanting to eat their cake and have it too. What do I mean you say? Well, let me explain it this way, many couples break up for Carnival only to reconcile on Ash Wednesday and long standing friendships sometimes come to an end after Carnival for the following reasons:

• Either male or female wants to party without their significant other, which leads to accusations of ulterior motives for not wanting significant other at said party. This can also extend itself to J'ouvert and even playing mas. Big arguments occur over someone wanting to go on a boys lime or girls lime for Carnival. Worse yet you telling your boyfriend or girlfriend or husband or wife you DO NOT want them to play mas with you, that is serious thing!
  

• Hostility and pressure from friends who don't want the significant other in tow for any Carnival related activity. See, when one person out of the crew brings along their boyfriend or girlfriend that cramps the style of the rest of the crew. They don't want that significant other to see them in their slackness i.e. wining on anyone willing and able or liming with the "outside friend" because significant other will report on their behaviour to THEIR significant others. Get the picture. So sometimes the choice comes down to friends or significant other. If you choose friends, well you in the dog house for sure! And if you choose significant other friends does be just as vex! Before I got married hubby jumped up on the road with me on Carnival Tuesday and my girl friend was quite annoyed, asking me if he was staying with us "all day". The next year she made sure she had her cousin play mas with us, so that when me and hubby chipping down the road she would not feel like the third wheel.
  

• You are forbidden to play mas. Yes, it happens, imagine in this day and age when you are paying for your costume yourself, your partner is telling you they don't like the idea of you playing mas! Well, I don't have to tell you how many relationships are ended on that level of jealousy and insecurity. Some of them even want an input on exactly what costume you can and cannot wear and even how much it should cost! And you know these raging lunatics sometimes go so far as to hunt you down on Carnival Tuesday, if you decide to go ahead and play against their wishes, looking to embarrass you by dragging you out of the band! I have never witnessed this personally, but my mother told me stories of this happening back in the day.
  

• Caught on camera! This happened to a friend of mine, her boyfriend was happy to "send her off" to play mas, while he sat at home and watched the parade on T.V. Well, Ms. Lady pick up a fella in the band and forget that there are cameras ON STAGE and there is her boyfriend sitting at home and seeing her crossing stage with a man putting waist on her from behind! Enough sparks flew in that house when she got home later that night, which is the worse time to try and defend yourself being drunk and tired. That was the end of THAT relationship. With all those party photographers like IslandEvents, Triniscene and Carnivalscene you have to be careful not to be caught doing something you should not be doing with someone you are not supposed to be with! If you horning, stay far from the cameras.

• The outside man/woman gets jealous. One of the hardships of being the "other man or woman" is that you don't get to be with the person you love when you want to, seeing as they are already involved with someone else! So chances are you end up spending Christmas and New Year's Eve alone, and in Trinidad that can also mean you are alone for Carnival too. You know some couples only go out together for Carnival. They hit the tents, all-inclusive parties, even play mas together, leaving the outside woman/man on the outside! If you all think Saucy don't know what she talking about, think again!Me and hubby gone Blue Range all-inclusive where we bounce up a friend and his wife. Now, I don't ever see that friend with his wife and was quite surprised to see them together for that party knowing full well he was always with his outside woman. Anyways, we gone to get a bake and shark only to bounce up that same friend's outside woman looking blue in the face and asking us if we saw the individual with his wife! Imagine the girl vex, SO vex that she decided to make the guy jealous by liming with another fella all night. Well that drama went on for the rest of the night with me and hubby staying out of every body's way.
  

• You forget Valentines day! Be prepared, in 2007 Valentines Day is on Bacchanal Wednesday. To me Valentine's is nothing special, I would be quite happy if the hubby just gets me tickets to beach house (hint hint) but other people want the whole nine yards; chocolate, dinner, roses and the undivided attention of their significant other. I know for a fact many women are left fuming when Valentine's Day rolls around close to Carnival and they cannot see or hear from their man. One year Valentines was on Carnival Monday, and all I remember was sleeping off the effects of jouvert and dirty mas in Arima by my girl friend's house when her boyfriend came late in the night with a cheap plastic rose. The cussing woke me up, because he got such a tongue lashing he retreated just as quickly as he came! Imagine he was missing in action all day only to turn up late at night with no excuse and a cheap gift. I don't know how all those couples in love will be navigating Valentines day for 2007, I wish allyuh luck!

• Your partner does not understand our culture. It's one thing to want to bring your non-Trinidadian significant other to Carnival, but before you do please explain to them what they should expect. People who are not used to "our ting" do not expect people to be so overly friendly come Carnival, and next thing you know you are being accused of flirting! Worse yet if you "tief" a wine at a party or on the road for Carnival, are too friendly smearing paint on other bodies during jouvert or you want to lime with friends you have not seen in a while on the road; significant other might feel oh so left out. Think carefully before inviting them home to Carnival with you, especially if it is a jealous, possessive type!
  

I hope all the relationships out there are strong enough to survive Carnival, do not say you have not been warned on the possibilities that can occur. Trust, understanding and respecting your partner will see you through every temptation that Carnival throws at you. When Carnival is over, you still want to be with that person, so don't do anything that you will regret. For those who are coming from overseas and leaving a significant other behind, make sure you have a very understanding partner and don't do anything when you get to Trinidad that you would be ashamed of them finding out.

And for all those couples playing mas together, wheter in the same section or band, remember Carnival is a time of freedom, don't shadow him/her all day. Give them some space and don't get vex if they take a lil small wine here and there (make sure you impress upon them the limits of that "small" wine though!) and know that at the end of the day they are going home with YOU.

No need for break ups and heart aches during this festive time, if your man/woman leaves you because they "not taking sand to the beach" don't sit at home and mope. Find yourself to the nearest mas camp, buy a costume, hit all the fetes leading up to the big day with your friends and forget that worries, after all it's Carnival!

In the name of Troy!

Genesis' website is up and running folks! Now, it would be expected that I would comment on the backgrounds in some of the photos that not only look desert like, but they appear to have NOT benefited from the services of a fulbright photographer or an expert in adobe photoshop, but I will not comment on that at all. Neither will I comment on some of the male costumes, however I will say one thing, I do like Andromache!



I have counted 13 sections with prices ranging from $2095.00 to $2800.00 and downpayment is still $600.00 for regular costumes and $1000.00 for frontlines. The section Thetis has not been changed, much to my surprise, it still looks like my grand mother's house dress.



The theme Troy left the door wide open for some beautiful, creative costumes but I have to say the costumes do not impress me much at all. This one, Citizens of Troy, looks like the model is wearing a blouse with a belt, consequently it is the cheapest female costume:



To Genesis' credit they are offering online registration, using Senvia if you please (no moneygram for THIS band!) though the sizing is odd in that they list S, M, L, XL and no sizing guide. At least they provide a section for you to type in your measurements the old fashioned way. It appears that the band is all-inclusive since they list an option for meat or vegetarian on the registration page, but there is really no information on the website saying what the all-inclusive package entails.

Hopefully more information will be forthcoming as they tweak the webiste over the next few weeks. For now I will enjoy the photos, if for nothing more than the entertainment value.

Saphyre 2007 Carnival Band Launch

There seems to be a new band launching for Carival 2007 every week with some flying under the radar! Triniscoa.com has an article on the latest launch, the band is called Saphyre and their 2007 presentation is "Once Upon a Melody"

TriniSoca.com Article
Posted: October 09, 2006

Saphyre Band Launching in Pictures

Saphyre Band Launching

The band 'Saphyre' launched its 2007 Carnival band presentation on Friday 07th October, 2006 on board the Treasure Queen. The choice of the launch was quite interesting although it was questionable whether it was the right venue for the launch. For one thing, the lighting on the vessel was not suitable enough to highlight the contours and definitions of the costumes. Another point was that the boat itself was not a particularly elegant setting for the affair. It can be assumed that there may have been other factors that the organizers saw in hosting the event at that particular venue that helped to manifest their creative ideas.

People began to trickle into the boat about forty-five minutes to an hour before take off and the vessel finally left the docks of Pier II at about quarter after eight post meridiem.

The Treasure Queen was filled with supporters of the band who were treated to music by DJ Darryl whose selection of tunes had visitors on their feet. Many on board the Treasure Queen ate, drank and socialized with each other and hardly a soul could be found bored or on their seats. Guests were also mesmerized by the natural light of the moon as well as by the lights emanating from the city of Port of Spain.

On the return journey, those on board were entertained by beautiful pan music played by the B.W.I.A Invaders. The music of the sweet pan seemed to hypnotize many who immediately rocked and swayed to the orchestrated melodies.

After the entertainment it was time to get down to the business of the night. People immediately rushed to where the costumed girls were to root for their favourites and to capture them on camera. The theme of the Saphyre band for 2007, "Once Upon a Melody", seemed very intriguing and guests could not wait to steal a view of the artwork. The costumes depicted some of the musical history of Trinidad and Tobago as well as the rest of the Caribbean. The variety of colours and textures used displayed the myriad of musical expressions of the Caribbean.

The twelve sections of the band were: Calypso Rhythms, Samba, Salsa, Caribbean Jazz, Zouk, Roots Rock Reggae, Rag Time, Rock and Roll, African Rhythms, Chutney Soca, Classical Music, Tassa Rhythms.

The individual sections within the band all have musical and historical context. Possibly, the Saphyre band would stand out over all others on Carnival Monday and Tuesday, 2007.

Contacts:

The Saphyre Mas Camp is located at 118 Oxford Street POS Trinidad. The costumes prices range from $1100TT to $1500TT.

For more information call:
Abby 707-0185; Larry 784-1293; Aleema 732-7825; Colin 779-7075; Celeste 722-8461; Cobby 799-5221; Carlene 678-7349; Kandice 782-8861

For more photos from the band launch visit Trinisoca.com

I have to admit this is the first I have ever heard of this band Saphyre, that means a visit to their mas camp is on the agenda. Most of the costumes look quite good from those photos, and honestly, some of them are comparable to other presentations I have seen so far from the bigger bands ,with Chutney Soca being my favourite. There are two costumes that have a "hmmm, what were the thinking?" reaction, but on the whole I think the presentation is creative.


Chutney Soca

If anyone has more information on this band Saphyre, please send me an email:
trinicarnivaldiary @yahoo.com

For the men...skin tips

Not to be outdone, here are some skin tips for the men taken from the Womanwise magazine of the Trinidad Express. It is written by the resident beauty/make up artist Kirk Thomas who can be contacted at beautymakeupart@hotmail.com or 868-743-4211

Shaving

Men, does your skin nick easily, burn and/or get red and bumpy after you shave? Many men, myself included, find that shaving goes more smoothly when using a glycerine or aloe-based shaving cream or gel. Not only do these products soothe your skin, they allow your razor to gently glide across your face.

For best results, massage the cream or gel into your beard. And, of course, always shave with your grain first, then if necessary, you can shave against it. Finish with a soothing after shave balm or a moisturiser.

For those of you who go to your barber shop for a shave, my advice is that you stay away from alcohol based after shaves or spray.

Those products actually irritate, rather than cool the skin.

Last week, I went to a new barber who gave me the rubbing alcohol treatment. I was too embarrassed to scream when the pain set in.

For the record rubbing alcohol is not recommended for after shave use. In my view, it is just a cheap way of making sure one’s face is cooled or sanitised and I believe that you should tell that to your barber on the next visit.

Do you know your skin?

Get a facial. No fellas, that’s not for women only.

A metrosexual man (a man who is well groomed) is very appealing to the women. Just watch how much ogling metrosexual poster boy football star David Beckham gets.

Go to a reputable spa and ask the aesthetician (the girl who is giving you your facial) to analyse the type of skin you have as well as the condition it is in. More than likely, the aesthetician will make recommendations specifically suited for you.

Blackheads anyone?

Again, get a facial. Or you could try a cleansing mask. The more effective products are typically made of clay. Be sure to follow the instructions for best results. You don’t have to use the mask on the entire face, you can target the problem areas.

Do you have oily, acne prone skin?

If you use regular body soap to cleanse your face then stop.

Soap strips the skin of its natural oils, and your sebaceous glands react by producing even more oil. Instead, try a gentle foaming or milk cleanser if this problem is mild.

If you need something stronger you could always try a cleanser or spot treatment with salicyclic acid and beta hydroxyl. You may also want to use an oil-free moisturiser.

Alcohol and your skin

We all like to kick back at our favourite watering holes every now and then. But do you know that alcoholic beverages take the moisture right out of your skin.

That’s why you look or feel dehydrated the morning after.

One way to avoid this is to keep up on your daily skin care regime of cleansing, toning and moisturising.

It will help keep your skin soft and replenished. And use a stimulating eye gels every now and then to keep those bags at bay.

At least once a week use a facial scrub or exfoliating bar or wash to slough away dead skin cells and help your skin look radiant.

Finally, are your lips kissable?

No woman wants to kiss lips that are rough like sandpaper.

Keep those kissers moisturised by using light gentle lip balms that are non greasy. This will help to keep away that dry white look from appearing on the lips.

Make up Tips!

The Trinidad Express Woman's Magazine has a very good archive of makeup tips by their resident beauty expert Crysande Hochst and her contact info is:
Email: Crysande@gmx.de or Phone:646-0666 or 689-1527

Here are some of her tips on :

Foundation

Foundation Foundation is the first step to creating the perfect canvas for the rest of your make-up. An attractive make-up application must begin with a foundation that blends perfectly. Take the time to choose the correct foundation for your skin type.

Oil-free and matte liquid foundations

These foundations dry to a matte finish, with no shine or dewy appearance.

Pros: These are the best choice for women who want balanced coverage with no shine and who like a smooth, matte look.

Cons: The ones that contain talc or absorbent ingredients may make the skin look or feel dry and flaky. They are not suitable for persons with dry skin.

Water-based foundations

Water-based does not mean oil-free. It means that the first ingredient is water and the second or third ingredient is some kind of oil or slip agent. They are perfect for women with normal to dry skin.

Pros: The oil or emollient part of these foundations gives them good movement, which allows blushes and eye shadows to blend on effortlessly and evenly. Mistakes are easily buffed away with a sponge.

Cons: The oil ingredient may give some shine. If concerned with the amount of shine, try adding a light dusting of loose translucent powder to set your make-up.

Oil-based foundations

These have oil as their first ingredient and water usually as their second or third ingredient. They feel greasy and thick, yet can blend out quite sheer.

Pros: These can be very good for women with extremely dry or wrinkled skin. The emollient (oil) ingredients help the skin look very dewy and moist, which can

minimise the appearance

of wrinkles.

Cons: They tend to be greasy and thick and can look that way on the skin unless you blend very well. Furthermore, if you wear face powder over this type of foundation, the oil grabs the powder and the face can appear coated and heavily made up.

Cream-to-powder foundations

These provide better coverage than the pressed powder-based foundations. These are an interesting cross between a pressed powder and a creamy

liquid foundation.

Pros: These blend quickly and easily and provide a semi-matte medium coverage. They work well for someone with normal to slightly dry or slightly combination skin. It does not need powdering after you apply it, but you may do so sparingly.

Cons: These foundations can blend on slightly thick, giving you a made-up look. They do not work well for someone with oily skin because the cream components can make skin look more oily.

Make Up that Lasts

In the Caribbean, we have warm, sunny weather all year round that our North American and European counterparts envy. We live where other people go for vacation!

This tropical paradise has its down side, though. The humidity makes our glamorous a.m. looks start to melt as soon as we walk out the door. Humidity causes your make-up to fade and your face to shine annoyingly.

Here are some tips to help your make-up last throughout the day and to fight against the shine that comes from our tropical clime.

1. Use an oil-absorbing moisturiser

First moisturise your face with a product that has oil-absorbing properties. This is even more important if you have oily or combination skin.

Good moisturisers to look out for are ones that have micro-sponges to absorb shine.

2. Try a make-up primer

There are fantastic make-up primers on the market that minimise your pores, helping to give your make-up staying power and making your skin look naturally flawless.

Primers are designed to allow for a smooth, long-lasting application of foundation. A primer is applied after your moisturiser and before your foundation.

You will need to allow the primer to set for a minute, and then apply your foundation.

Primers also act to smooth the skin's surface by evening out your skin tone. If your skin tends to get flaky when you apply your foundation, a primer might be the solution for you.

A make-up tip for men: A primer can be used as an aftershave product to help reduce redness, without the look and feel of wearing a foundation.

3. The secret weapon: translucent powder

Translucent powder is your best friend in the fight against humidity. It provides a natural and virtually undetectable finish once you have the right shade. Translucent powders are designed to "set" your make-up. The powder absorbs the oil or moisture in your make-up and on your skin to create a matte finish.

Application tip: Apply your powder using a powder brush--the right tools make all the difference. If you have oily or combination skin, first press powder in with a puff and then dust off the excess with your powder brush for a natural glow.

4. Shine no more!

Use oil-absorbing facial paper to blot away excess oil and shine. These sheets soak up oil without smudging your make-up. Take them with you wherever you go, day or night.

Touch-up tips: Use these sheets to first remove the oil from your face during the day and then re-apply the translucent powder. Do not focus on packing powder on your face all day. This will only give you the dreaded "caked-on" make-up look. Use your oil-absorbing sheets during the day to keep your look fresh and radiant.

Eyes

Eyes are the windows of the soul. They reveal your confidence and lend individuality to your face. The right shade and application is critical to your make-up routine. Women with small eyes have their own unique challenges. They may find that eye-liner looks wrong when they put it on and that eye-shadow just makes their eyes look smaller.

Radika Seemungal, an airline industry employee shared her beauty dilemmas with us. She says:

"I have tried lining my eyes every way imaginable but it always seems wrong. I find that my total outlook does not reflect the vibrant image that my company likes to project. Every day my hair is often pulled back into a ponytail or bun. My hair is straight but has little volume or style. I need help to make my eyes stand out and to achieve a natural, inexpensive, low maintenance look."

We helped Radika bring her eyes out and achieve a more professional look for work.

Open Up Those Eyes!

Step 1: To open the eyes up use light to medium shades of eye-shadow. Avoid very dark eye-shadows which will only confine the eyes and make them appear even smaller.

Step 2: Brush your light to medium colour on lids and below brows to intensify the eyes and give them more depth.

Step 3: Create the illusion of a higher crease by sweeping a dark shadow like dark brown, gray, navy or purple above the natural crease of the eye.

Step 4: Apply a thin line of black or dark brown powder shadow just in between your upper lashes using a flat brush. It is very important to have a thin line on the upper eyelid. A thick line will only make eyesappear smaller.

Step 5: You can also define the outer corners of your eyes by extending the line a little upward at the end of the eye. This will add lift to the outer corners.

Lips

What is the lip brush for?

Your lip brush is a must for accurate shaping of the mouth. The brush guarantees a controlled application of the lip colour. It is easy for you to apply your lipstick evenly and it is also a great tool for blending your lip colour and lip liner to achieve a nice, natural look. An additional plus is that it takes even the last bit of colour out of your lipstick. Just make sure you clean your brush once per week with a two-in-one conditioning shampoo and a teaspoon of rubbing alcohol.

Do I need a lip liner and what for?

Yes, you do. The lip liner stops the lip colour from bleeding into the creases of the mouth. Make sure your lip pencil is sharpened and of a fairly firm texture in order to clearly define and draw across the small lines around the mouth, You can also use it to do small corrections to your lip-for instance, if you want your lips to look larger or smaller. If you have an irregular lip shape, you can use your lip liner to draw a perfect Cupid's bow and then fill in with your favourite lip colour.

How long does lipstick last?
On average, a lipstick has a lifespan of three years. If there are changes in the colour or it starts to smell rancid or gets little cracks, then it's time to throw it away.

Beauty tricks for the

most common lip problems

If you have a drooping mouth:

Use concealer to minimise the corners of your mouth and emphasise the dip in the centre. Use lip liner first to draw a shape which lifts the mouth. Put a touch of dark lipstick at the corners of your upper lip. Fill in lips with a medium shade and then use a gloss in the centre.

If your lips are too thin:

Outline the mouth well and fully, going a fraction outside the outer lips. Use bright, glossy shades. Be aware that dark, matte colours will make your lips appear smaller. The extra glossy, high pigments in Black Opal's Patent Lips Liquid Lipstick are ideal for adding volume to thin lips.

If your lips are too full:

Too minimise the fullness of your lips steer clear of bright colours or shiny lip gloss. This will only make your lips appear fuller. Use instead matte shades such Black Opal's Barely Wine, Wine Not, Black Currant or Brownie Points. In the case of full lips, it is very important to use lip liner one or two shades darker than your lip colour, and define the lips starting from a little way inside the lips.

Care for your lips

Lip massage

Using your favourite face cream, you could use the middle finger of both hands and start massaging from the chin in small circles upwards and then around the mouth.

Cracked lips

Raw lips don't look nice and they are not healthy. The main reason why your lips get dry is that the lips do not have sebaceous glands, which produce oil. You can do a lot for beautiful lips from the inside by getting enough water.

Water helps circulation throughout your whole body, but specifically the lips. When your body contains enough water, your lips look wrinkle-free, nice and full. Remember that lipstick only looks good on healthy lips.

Protect against sun

People often forget to safeguard the lips, which are so sensitive, so never forget sunscreen on your lips when you go to the beach. Use at least an SPF 20 on your lips.

Natural lip care

Use a mask of honey on your lips. Apply a thick coating on the lips and leave for ten minutes, but resist the temptation to eat the honey! DOs and DON'Ts for perfect lips

DOs

1. Make sure you have harmony between lipstick and lip liner. This makes the lips look more natural and you do not see corrections so easily.

2. First start by creating contour with the lip liner and use the lipstick after.

3. Choose whether you want to bring out the eyes or the mouth--never do both at the same time.

DON'Ts

1. Don't overdo it with the corrections. Keep it subtle with thin lines. A thick lip liner line can never look natural.

2. Don't combine very dark lip liner with a light lipstick. This combination can age you.

3. Don't wet your lips with your tongue all the time. This will only make them become drier. When you lick your lips, the saliva has to evaporate and when it evaporates, it takes the moisture out of the skin so it gets even drier. When it's drier, you lick more and it becomes a vicious cycle. For women, using a moisturising lip colour helps prevent any more moisture from escaping and protects the lips when the urge to lick strikes. Men could use a lip balm or petroleum jelly thorough out the day.

4. Never bite your lips. This creates little wounds which affect your lip shape.

Need a lift?

In one of my earlier posts I gave a tip to women with fuller breasts on how to make sure the girls stay put inside your bra while jumping up during Carnival;use tape to keep your breasts firmly in place.

One of my girlfriends, however, told me that I should also share her tip for women with smaller breasts who want 1. a lift for breasts that are no longer perky or 2. More cleavage in their costume. I have to say I discovered my girl friend's "secret" one day when I was over at her home. She is notoriously untidy, so together with another friend we decided to help her get her bedroom in order. Imagine our surprise when we found her "boobs in a box" while cleaning!!

Apparently my girlfriend had discovered silicone gel inserts one year for Carnival being envious of both me and our mutual friend's cleavage the poor girl felt she needed a boost in her chest area! Well they certainly do look and feel real and she filled out her costume bra top pretty well!

The bra inserts my friend uses are separate silicone "pads" (complete with nipple) that look just like these:







You will also see strapless/backless silicone bras for sale that are joined to the front by a hook, that's not the one you want if you are looking only to plump up your cleavage. Those are recommended for women who are flat chested according to the Nubra website.

Apart from a breast lift, another alternative for women with smaller, saggy breasts who need support more than cleavage, is the stick on bras like this:



There are many versions of that bra, and you can try them until you get the desired effect, which is to have your breasts go from pancakes to oranges with their help.

From my experience mas bras do not offer much support; they are either made from cheap spandex which is too flimsy or cannot stretch to fit properly because they are decorated with braid and sequins; wonderbras they are not! And I know many women with smaller breasts, like my girlfriend, who depend on their wonderbras, push up bras and waterbras to give them that extra lift in the chest who are probably frustrated by the fit of the mas bras. Hopefully, if you fall in that category, these tips will be useful.

I do have to add that TRIBE has changed from the flimsy bra they gave the past few years to using actual bras in their costumes for 2007. Most of the sections offer padded bras with real, adjustable bra straps and Dragon even carries a bra with detachable bra straps for even more push up effect (bet you guys did not notice that!) and you can wear it as a strapless as well.

Event Calender

For a preliminary , comprehensive list of events for Carnival 2007 check out this website.
Thanks for the link Ichawait!

Contact Numbers

Because they are requested over and over:

Island People Mas - 625 -1386 (625-1FUN)

TRIBE - 625-6800

Pulse 8 - 627-8330

Dressing for Feteing

I can only imagine how stressful it must be to pack for Trinidad Carnival, especially for the women, when you are limited by the weight of your suitcase and a multitude of events to attend. There are so many fetes to go to, plus you need to walk with Carnival accessories, gifts for friends and family that you probably wonder how you can pack everything and what items you can getaway with leaving behind.

Well, here is a simple guide to what type and items of clothing you will need for certain events, and then you can pack accordingly:

All-inclusive fetes:
Plan on dressing up more than you would to go to any other parties in Trinidad as these fetes are usually a “fashion show” with some people dressed to thrill. With premium drinks and a variety of dishes included in the ticket price, all-inclusive are where you go to mingle with the local celebrities, politicians and the who’s who of Trinidad social circles.

Daytime all-inclusive fetes like Beach House and Salybia require stylish yet simple attire and a cute pair of shades. Bermuda shorts, skirts, tunic tops or even a “summer dress” are all quite acceptable wear. Footwear should be comfortable; wedges, flats or nice sandals are perfect, please leave the sneakers at home!

All-inclusive fetes held at night usually bring out the sexy and the stilettos. Expect to see women in daring sexy tops showing off cleavage or back, short skirts emphasizing the legs in high heels, hipster fitted pants showing off the curves and stomach in addition to being adorned with lots of trendy accessories. Rule of thumb is the more expensive the fete, the more dressed up the women are. Furthermore, you see all the latest trends, so if you are not wearing something new you will not be in style. If you need to shop for one new outfit before heading to Trinidad, plan on something you can wear to an all-inclusive fete like Brian Lara’s or Moka.

Soca Jams:
These are large affairs with thousands of people, several live brass bands usually held in some large open space such as a car park for Customs or sports ground like the Brass Festival. Two things are most important when dressing for these fetes, comfort and comfort. This is the time to wear your shorts, jeans and sneakers, with that many people you want to safe guard your toes as well as be able to jump and wave all night to the soca bands.

The only accessories you need are a flag, rag or bandana to wave on instruction and someplace safe to stash your money. Unlike the exclusive all-inclusive, these fetes tend to attract a cross section of society, with many exuberant young boys who might get into fights or try to pick your pocket.

Theme Fetes:
Any party where you are instructed to wear white, black or a crazy hat is considered a “theme party”. Knowing which one you plan on going to in advance helps with the wardrobe. Eyes Wide shut is where you wear all black and a mask. Glo you don all white and Mad Hatters requires you wear some type of headgear. Now, you don’t have to follow the “rules” and can wear anything you desire but the majority of people do follow the dress code, even in part, so unless you want to stand out prepare your outfit accordingly in advance.

Breakfast Parties:
Starting at mid-night and going until the sun comes up, these parties like Insomnia and Dawn test your endurance and fashion sense. What might look good in the night does not look as cute when daylight hits! Here is a tip, walk with sun glasses for when the sun rises; some faces show the stress of the night before more than others, the sun glasses hides the “morning face”. Make sure and “day approve” your outfit, anything worn or faded might look great at night but show all the sins in the light of day.

Another bit of advice for ladies is to take along some blotting sheets, lipstick, eye liner, wet wipes and body spray in your handbag. As the sun rises you can discreetly go to the wash room and “freshen” up. Lots of these breakfast parties also supply you with toothpaste packs, use them!

Clubs:
Zen and 51 degrees have a dress code; if you are going to either one know that men are not allowed in with sneakers and they tend to dress on the metro side, expect to see guys in man blouses and women dressing like Paris Hilton. From my experience people tend to dress very trendy to go to these clubs, lots of “what’s wearing now”. To get an idea of how people dress, just browse the galleries at triniscene.com

Out Door Fetes:
Any party held at Anchorage, Mobs 2, Pier 1, and other open air venues such as Bacchanal Wednesday, Girl Power or Trini Posse are defined as such. These parties are somewhat like the Soca Jam in that they attract a lot of people, might have more than one live band, but they do not attract the same element. Soca Jams tend to attract a more “rough crowd”, for want of a better word, whereas these out door clubs attract a wider cross section; middle to upper middle class, foreigners a sprinkling of local celebrities as well as the popular party crowd. The dress code is usually stylish jeans, pants or shorts coupled with a sexy top and comfortable yet stylish shoes (sandals, wedges, trendy sneakers). You do want to be comfortable to wine and jam, jump up and get on bad, but you don’t want to look like a hot, sweaty mess doing so either.

Panorama Semis
If you are lucky enough to be in Trinidad for Panorama Semis know that most people in the North Stand will be decked out in a "crew" T-Shirt/Vest/Baby Tee. Club Coconuts, Island People, Red Ants,Insmoniacs, Jamboree among many other promoters offer Panorama Packages for around $150.00TT which include one of the aforementioned garments to wear, food and drinks ALL day and a fun lime with rhythim section and alot of other drunk people (cost of your panorama ticket is not included however). This year one of my friends got other accesories in her panorama package including a cup, whistle and "female urinal" (I kid you not!).

It is not necessary to join a crew to enjoy panorama, we usually do our own lime walking with our drinks, food etc. BUT we do wear a uniformed T-Shirt. I come up with the design each year, and iron on the pattern on the T-Shirts/Vests/Baby Tees which is cheap yet effective. The other standard panorama wear is shorts, t-shirt/vest, sun glasses and sneakers! You do not want to be in heels navigating the North Stand stairs!

After Carnival Cool Down:
Whether you are heading to Tobago, Maracas or Manazanilla most likely you will end up on a beach so swimwear is the clothing of choice. I advise on wearing a cover-up when you are not taking a swim since candid camera men are notorious for stalking women in bikinis and next thing you know you are unwittingly starring in some post carnival video.Shorts, Capris, sheer draw string pants or even a wrap is an ideal accessory on the beach.

I plan on listing all the fetes for the Carnival season when the schedule becomes available, but for now here are some of the more popular ones:

All-inclusives:
Amnesia
Bliss
Soca in Moka
UWI All inclusive
O'Farell's
Bishops All-inclusive
Q.R.C. All-inclusive
Fete to the Max, CAREC Grounds, St Clair
Misty Ridge
Michael Headley all-inclusive, Salybia
The Beach House Carnival all-inclusive fete
V.I.P. Friday
The Atlantis Fete
Poolside all-inclusive, Hilton Trinidad
In de Sanctuary all-inclusive, Valsayn
Moka all-inclusive, Maraval
Brian Lara all-inclusive,

Soca Jam:
Caribbean Brass Festival
Customs Boys’ annual Pan-o-Brass-Pan
Soca Monarch Final
Cooler Fete, Pier 1, Chaguaramas
Caribbean Wet Fete
Army Fete
Fire Fete
Flour Mills Fete
W.A.S.A. Fete


Out Door Clubs:
Bazodee Fridays
Karma Sutura
Skin to Skin
Jamboree Park
Bacchanal Wednesday
UWI Splash Aqua Trinidad
Island People’s Girl Power
Trini Posse
Mania Country Club


Theme Fete:
Wicked in White
Island Style’s Glo
Island Style’s Mad Hatters
Eyes Wide Shut Carnivale
Country Club Carnival Friday Costume Party.

Breakfast Parties:
Dawn
Insomina
Sunny Side Up
Diamond Vale Breakfast Party

Time for the Kiddies!

Oh the memories I have of Kiddies Carnival, I was five when I played mas for the first time and my mother made me play a Clown when I wanted to be Wonder Woman. I was so sad that I burst into tears when I saw the other girls in that costume. The diva was in me for that tender age because I was always fascinated by plumes and beads, my ultimate dream as a child was to play an individual, and I was one of those precocious kids who would ask the ladies nicely for their headpiece at the Savannah on Carnival Tuesday. That was another one of our traditions, every Carnival Tuesday I would go to the Savannah with my mother's friends, picnic basket in tow, waiting to see my mother cross the stage.

The first of the Kiddies bands, Spoilt Rotten Kids launched on Saturday as reported by the Newsday:

Top junior mas band plays Vegas

ANGELA PIDDUCK Sunday, October 8 2006

SEVEN YEARS ago, four young mothers, got together as Spoilt Rotten Kids to try their hands at producing a junior Carnival Band in the Mini Band category.

They loved Carnival, had been involved in playing mas from childhood, and had produced sections in adult bands. Since the band in which their children played was going out of business, they took up the challenge.

Fluctuating between the small and mini category, the Kids have been in winners’ row from inception. Why the fluctuation? Says leader Christine Nunes: “We do not put any pressure on our parents. It’s Carnival and they go to their fetes on weekends so if they can’t bring the children to a competition, that’s no problem and we just move to the category suited to our numbers at that particular competition.”

From the first year the Kids have maintained a core group of parents and children who fit in with their concept of a children’s band — costumes are designed so that the children are free to enjoy their mas, minus too many rules and restrictions. Their parents must also enjoy themselves.

“If some part of a costume breaks or is lost, we do not make a fuss,” said the bandleader, “and either will have a replacement or go without it. The idea is to have a good time with help from our annual sponsors: Kentucky, Solo, Staffhire Caribbean, CW Interiors and Guardian Life of the Caribbean.”

The band which will in 2007 portray “Viva Las Vegas” was launched last Saturday afternoon with an event that also celebrated their 2006 success with “Jewels Of The Reef”. That band copped several titles, including Mini Band of the Year (Downtown); Small Bands (NCC Downtown Competition); first place Small Bands at the St James competition, special award at the Red Cross Children’s Carnival; and third place at both Flying Fish and St Anthony’s.

The band is never without Individuals and a king and queen, and last Carnival’s individuals also did well at all major competitions. The queen, Megan Nunes, portraying Fan-Ta-Sea was a finalist in the NCC Junior Queen of Carnival competition.

At last Saturday’s launch, designs for the six sections were on show and the excited young masqueraders could be seen choosing from Alladin, Stardust, Tropicana, Cirque de Soleil, Flamingo and Sahara.

The website for Spoilt Rotten Kids is already up and running complete with costume drawings.

Another popular Kiddies band is Rosalind Gabriel, however she has yet to launch her 2007 presentation. But check out the website, the theme for 2006 was "Mas !Mas! Ah Know Yuh Name - Name Is " and it is all about our Ole Time Characters, very much like a kiddie version of TRIBE's "Ole Time Something Come Back Again". What I love about Roslaind Gabriel is that she provides everything for the kids, down to matching shoes. And I see this year she even provided an adult costume of Fancy Sailors for parents who want to accompany their kids on the road. Very nice idea.

Finally, Gerad Kelly also has a website for his Kiddies band. It is not updated for 2007 as yet, but like Rosaling Gabriel you can take a look at his costumes for 2006 mas and bookmark the site for the future.

Trevor Wallace

Trevor Wallace's website is up and you can now access more photos of the costumes as well as prices. The cheapest costume is Serpent Sting at $1975.00 and the most expensive is the all female Purple Passion at $2475.00. All the male costumes are priced at $1995.00.

One thing that is missing from the website is more details on what the all-inclusive package entails.

J'ouvert

J'ouvert has been part of my Carnival tradition since I was a child, I remember getting up in the wee hours of the morning and going down to Harris Promenade ( original South chick here) and taking in the ole time mas with my mother and cousins. When we moved to the East as a teenager, my mother, cousins and I all played j'ouvert with Victor Rique. Now, Victor Rique was a big name in those times with an even bigger j'ouvert band and following. The first time I played in black oil was in Victor Rique's band, I cannot tell you how liberating it was to be covered from head to toe in this black, googey mixture but getting it off was a bitch!

As I got older j'ouvert changed for me, too many stormers flooded the band and it was no longer fun so I stopped playing j'ourvert for many years. When I started back playing j'ouvert I played all-inclusive with Desert Rats,I loved the mud and the fact that the band roamed the streets of St. James. After Victor Rique I had had enough of Port of Spain. Then came the year the tourist was killed in that band and I stopped playing yet again. The last time I played j'ouvert was a couple years ago, I believe in 2004, and that was with Red Ants. Red Ants was a nice mix;after Country Club on Carnival Sunday we joined the band, jumped up covered in paint through St. Clair and the all-inclusive was cool too. Plus, the price was quite affordable, much less than an all-inclusive party for a t-shirt, cup, drinks, accessories, breakfast and all the paint you could handle!

The main reason I have not played j'ouvert the last few years is that even though I have a really great time I am wiped out for Monday mas! Probably a sign of old age, but my Mondays are now reserved solely for jumping up in my "pretty mas".

Apart from Red Ants, there are several other popular j'ouvert bands offering an all-inclusive package the most popular being Mudders International which has been a staple with a co-worker of mine for years! Other popular j'ouvert bands are Playtime, Silver Mudders, Cocoa Devils, Yellow Devils and Section 8.

For 2007 Mas Jumbies will be making their debut in the j'ouvert arena. Keep tuned to their website for more information.

Yet to hit the gym!

My "diet" has been going well, I try my best to east healthy and watch my portions even though I have indulged in chocolate (my weakness) outside of my reward day, which is today. Since I am trying to change my eating habits on the whole, and not just for Carnival, that's the reason why I have started my "diet" early. The one thing that has been eluding me is the gym! I have made promise after promise that I am going to start today, but I have yet to step foot in the gym to date.

I was feeling somewhat anxious that I have not kept my promise to myself, and then I saw this article in today's Womanwise magazine of the Trinidad Guardian and I feel a bit better for my procrastination as I am not alone! Time is the biggest factor why I have not started the gym, I leave work and after battling the traffic I get home late. After I make dinner and clean up the house a bit, I am too tired to find the energy to get back in the car and go to the gym.

The pointers given in the article are very useful. I have a big enough yard that I can get in some walking in the morning or evening and I live very close to several parks where I can also take a jog. Maybe it is time to break out the pilates DVD and start doing a little work out in my living room, the object is to start and I need to just do it!

Workout eluding you?

By Abby De Four

You paid the membership fees for the gym, bought a trendy pair of sneakers and the outfits to match, yet the most elusive element missing of your workout regime, is time.

With stiff competition from your eight-hour employment, the pursuit of higher education, wifely duties, motherhood and all the unexpected emergencies that arise from your attempts to balance the many facets of your hectic life, finding time to burn those calories can difficult.

WomanWise sought some advice on the matter from Fiona Branker, gym instructor with Shape. Although Branker had some ready words of wisdom to dispense, she made it clear from the beginning of the interview that any attempt to incorporate exercise into the modern woman’s busy schedule would mean sacrifice.

“There are no two ways about it, if you are going to lead a healthy life, you must exercise and if you are going to exercise, you must make some sacrifices,” she said.

She feels, though, that the notion that a sizeable amount of time must be dedicated to exercise is a misconception which deters people from making a commitment.

“An intensive 30-minute workout at the gym is all you need, people waste time looking at who has on what and other nonsense and become distracted,” said Branker who added that gym sessions have become social events and an opportunity for people to make fashion statements instead of a focused activity.

She insisted that the problem was not a matter of time, but rather using time wisely; exercising is not necessarily about the length of time one allocates, but about quality.

Here are some of the tips that she gave WomanWise:

Get information

If you are unable to join a gym, buy an exercise magazine or DVD that will show you how to correctly execute a variety of exercises.

No need for equipment

If you do not have access to equipment, you can still achieve an effective workout.

Begin by warming-up. A brisk walk for about three to five minutes will do.

Lower-body exercise. Squats, are a good way to work and tone the lower body. Try to do at least ten every workout.

Upper-body exercise. Push-ups, are a good way to work the upper body. Using the female version — on the knees — of this exercise, repeat three to four times.

Crunches, lunges and dips. The movements add to the involvement of all the body’s major muscles.

Cardio. Round off the session with a ten-minute jog and you have completed successful exercise session in 30 minutes or less.

Utilise your natural surroundings

If you live near to a park or savannah, make use of the open space through a combination of walking and running. Walk for two minutes jog for 30 seconds, stop and do a set of squats, lunges or push-ups and repeat this pattern three to four times.

A hill is God’s way of making us exercise so if you live near one, use it. Run up hill, walk down hill for an invigorating work-out.

Child-friendly exercise

If you have a young child who is still using a stroller, walk briskly while pushing the stroller. The resistance provided by the added weight you are pushing will increase the effectiveness of the exercise.

If you have older children, join them in a game of football, hopscotch, hide and seek or just a good-natured race. This will get your heart pumping while you spend some quality time with your children. Remember active parents equal active children.

Exercise is accumulative

If all you have is 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the evening, it is the same as a 30 minutes uninterrupted exercise so use the time whenever you find it. For example skipping rope in the morning and a blend of squats and sit-ups in the evening.

Use every opportunity

Climb the stairs instead of taking the elevator, choose a car park that is far away and walk to and from the office.
©2003-2004 Trinidad Publishing Company Limited

Carnival Faux Pas

Comments on the Trinidad Express letter to the editor concerning the size issue coupled with a request I received via email has led me to illustrate a few Carnival Faux Pas that women should be careful of.

Now, this is a very sensitive topic since I don't want it to seem as if I am some expert from Glamour magazine who says what is a fashion "don't" or not it's just that some people need gentle suggestions on what suits their body type and what does not! I hope my critique can be taken objectively and constructively.

And to let you guys know, I am not "Ms. Perfect Body " either nor am I one of those slim chicks who can wear any costume they like. Because of the fact that I am well endowed in the chest area I have to choose costumes that suit my body, just as I choose clothing that compliments my assets in everyday life. So I know how difficult it is wanting to wear a certain costume when you don't fit the "mold". Again, I am not doing this post in a negative way,I just hope my suggestions will be taken as they are meant to be, as advice.

With that said, here are a few faux pas seen on the streets of Carnival's past:

Wholepiece or tankini please:
A bikini is the ultimate in sexiness for Carnival, it is the thing to wear so you can show off your flat stomach, toned arms and gorgeous legs. Sometimes though a wholepiece or even a taniki might be a better choice!A situation where a tankini might be a better option is if your stomach looks as though it is straining against the confines of your waistband, which does not appear to be comfortable, or if it shows the effects of a few pregnancies with lots of loose skin. Now I have seen women with stretch marks (not a faux pas by the way) on their stomach looking very nice in their bikini costume, it's the loose skin that is unforgiving:





Case in point , a young lady with stretch marks on her belly, you don't even notice it because her stomach is flat:(this is for anonymous who is worried about playing mas after having a baby).


And a tankini/wholepiece can look cute!






Ouch,that looks like it hurts!
When you have extra large breasts not all bras are suitable. Stay away from halters that offer NO support, look for bras with underwire as well as whole pieces on the sides. I don't know about anyone else, but halters must be very hard on the neck with large breasts since the "support" is basically two straps tied around the neck. See my pic above for a bra that is comfortable for larger breasts, the only caveat is that I used my own bra for that costume because the original bra was not cutting it!



Whiter Shade of Pale:
I see this all the time, beautifully costumed woman wearing the wrong shade of mas stockings! Trust me, even I have fallen prey to this luckily I usually buy two pairs of stockings, one for Monday and one for Tuesday, and was able to wear the one that matched on both days. My mother's remedy for this is to "dye" the stockings with green tea to make them darker. However, the best thing would be to match the shade as close as possible when your purchase the stockings.



All nude is the way to go:
Not all stockings are created equal! Look for the ones sheer to the waist, these stockings could have been great except that they are spoiled by the "bingo bag" effect.



Don't alter the costume....please!!!
And when I say alterations I don't mean adding a little sequin here and there to make your costume special, I mean when you change the costumes from this:


To THIS:


The second "version" of the costume does not look sexy, it looks wrong! If you know that the costume is too skimpy for you please don't try to change the designers vision to fit your body, again, choose a costume that fits your shape and size!

Inspiration:
For all those who say larger ladies must leave the frontlines alone, I think once you know what suits your body you can pull of the frontlines with sass and style like these two ladies:

D Krewe...

I made a visit to the mas camp of D Krewe to view their section "Royalty" in person. D Krewe is an all-inclusive section in Trini Revellers which had a private launch last Saturday. The mas camp is somewhat difficult to find if you don't know what you are looking for. Coming from the west and heading east, drive up Mucurapo Road until you meet Fatima College, after Fatima College there is a bridge/large drain and after that bridge is a house. The mas camp is located in the yard of that first house after the bridge. It is a small, red building and you will see the sign "D Krewe".

Though the space is small and they are still setting up camp, two costumes are up on display. In person the costumes look well decorated and just as appealing as the photographs. I have to add that the yellow costume will not be an option for Carnival 2007, for reasons not given they have decided not to produce that costume anymore.

Available are the two red costumes as well as the blue.

The prices for the following costumes are $1995.00 backline, $2995.00 Frontline




The blue costs $2200.00 backline and $2700.00 frontline:


Of the three options I like this version of the red. Now the other costume is lovely, with a nice headpiece and huge back pack for the frontline, but somehow this one fits the theme “Royalty” better. Also, I like the design of the bra, all the accessories and that the belt piece is more than just a waist band with beads.



Attached to the bra is a sheer, beaded fabric that drapes on the shoulder and covers the bra. If you look carefully in the photo you can see it. Additionally you can be as covered or as skimpy as you like. The cape is optional, as well as you have an option for long or short fabric panels attached to the belt OR none at all like in the photo. The headpieces differ slightly, with a larger one for the frontline which also comes with a shoulder back pack that looks like the one used for both Tribe’s Tassel Weeds and Rico Soldato’s section in Poison.

Down payment is $500.00 (when last did you hear that figure!) for backline and $1000.00 for frontline costumes. The website should be up by next week where you will be able to view all the costumes. The url is www.dkrewecarnival.com

In my humble opinion I think this section will do very well, while I was at the mas camp several other potential masqueraders came to view the costumes and their responses were positive. It is quite refreshing to see alternatives to the more popular bands with reasonably priced, attractive costumes and offering all-inclusive for those who still want that option. See, there are MORE choices than just the two big bands TRIBE and Island People.