Beauty is in the Mind of the Beholder....

Feeling Festive

Oh what a feeling! Just 2 days to Christmas! and soon, New Year's! and before you know it, it will be the Chinese New Year!

A time for revelry and reflection indeed; more of the former for some of us ofcourse hehe.  In this post, I take this opportunity at this memory and emotion filled time, to share on what I have learnt about my own feelings and emotions.  How these feelings and emotions are easily influenced by what I focus on at the time.  And you know what, its as easy as taking my focus off what is not important and putting it on what is... poof! like magic I feel different!


One of the most powerful tools i have used (and believe me I have tried many, being the self help junkie that I was) is the Innertalk CDs.  I have asked the Innertalk guys to contribute a write up here for my dear readers... here it is....

Looking Good is

NOT ONLY

about Outfits and Make-Up,

It BEGINS with Your MIND!

The main reason people fail in their body image goals is because their subconscious mind is not in line with their conscious goals.  The subconscious mind is the inner voice that always prevents us from moving forward (especially when it is negative).

This happens to everybody to some extent; it is part of conditioning, part formation of our habits, and part defence mechanism.  For example, if you are overweight, most probably you have been in this situation for some time.  you have created a certain way of thinking baout your self-value, food and exercise, mostly negative beliefs that have formed into habit. 

Changing these negative thoughts and behavior can be difficult.  Your subconscious mind is comfortable, safe, and secure with your existing thoughts and behaviour.  It resists these changes as it goes against what it knows, and it doeshtis to protect you. 

In order to change current negative thoughts and behaviour, you first have to change the information stored in the subconscious part of the brain.  It sounds easy, but you can't just tell your subconscious to think differently. 

The powerful patented and scientifically proven Mind Training program InnerTalk^Ò empowers you towards positive change in many aspects of life, from self image to relationship, health, learning, successful career, sports, spirituality etc.

InnerTalk^Ò goes right to the source (the subconscious mind), thus providing long term results.

Innertalk programs come in the form of audio CDs featuring pleasant easy-listening music or nature sounds. Carefully blended in the background are dynamic affirmations like "I feel good", "I am successful", etc.  While the conscious mind enjoys the pleasant music or nature sounds, the subconscious mind recognizes and receives the powerful, life changing affirmations.

The Innertalk programs are a patented and scientifically proven technology developed by Dr. Eldon Taylor in 1984. 



Dr Eldon Taylor

Independent double-blind tests were conducted by leading unversities such as Stanford, USC, University of Colorado, University of New Mexico and Bremen University.

And GUESS WHAT?!!!  we have FIVE CDs of Soaring Self Esteem to give away Friday 23rd December!   Its a Christmas gift from the Innertalk Guys to the listeners of Looking Good with Dianne

Recording for Looking Good with Dianne

Just TUNE IN on Friday 23 December 2011 at 12.30 pm at

Redfm!!!!  Then answer the quiz question on Looking Good with Dianne

See you soon on our page and YES!!!! Haaaapppy Holidays!!  Big hug!

A Picturebook tells a Thousand Stories

oh hasn't it been a long time since we spoke?  I can't believe my last post was in September!  Where have the weeks gone? 

Well here it is... wonderful good news to share with everybody!  the Looking Good with Dianne radio series has a picture book to 'gift' away!



Pixajoy has so kindly sponsored a wonderful photobook absolutely free for our listeners this Friday. So tune in to Redfm Friday 9 December 2011 for a special 15 minutes for men and answer the quiz question on our facebook page Looking Good with Dianne

I first came across pixajoy at a fair where they were giving out free CDs of their software.  I tried them out in June this year and the results were beautiful!  Even for tech challenged me.  There is a template for you to add all your pics and it even allows you to play around with positioning and scrapbook digital 'stickers'. 


Ok.. straight to the point : this is the prize :

Window Die-Cut Hardcover Photo Book (new launching product)

Size: 8.5" x 11" Landscape/Portrait 

40 pages.

Content Paper: Art Paper 150gsm with Gloss/Matte lamination 

Covering Material: Buckram/Metallic Shimmer

What are photo books actually? Its like having your photo album printed out like a coffee table book! you can have it in soft or hard cover too  Not only are photo book the latest trend, they are also elegant and durable.

 

Pixajoy is great for the following reasons: -

·         360°Customer Care - Good and friendly Customer Support to answer all you enquiries.  This is done online via chat.

·         The use of high quality materials to produce the books.

·         DIY – So we have full freedom to design our books the way we want.

·         They provide a free photo book software, Pixajoy Editor, to design our books. It comes complete with Background, Frames, etc. designs. All drag & drop only, so it's super easy.

·         But if you need help they provide Pre-Designed Theme Templates, all ready designed. You can breeze through in 1 hour even.

·         Free delivery to anywhere in Malaysia

Their prices start from as low as RM60! Check out the pixajoy website for more info.

Best of all, they're running a special promotion now.

See you all on our facebook page Looking Good with Dianne!!

and Tune in Friday 9 December 2011 to Redfm for a special something something for the guys!! and YES ..the answer to the quiz question!

Oh and happy celebrating all the festivities of December everyone..... muuuuuah!!!!

Fast & Furious : our Fire Engine Makeover



Fire........

 Rosy took me with her for a Mac Makeover, and boy was it sizzling!  you remember my first blog about how makeovers don't work unless you already believe that's who you are?  YES me the Fire Engine!

I LOVE the makeover and i fully believe i am the fire engine that i am....

Rosy as usual looks sophisticated and elegant in her demure classy winter colours.  I however agreed to the brightest red imaginable.... Ah my new colour analysis by Karen Brunger of AICI says i am a Clear Winter so it should work...and I believe it did!

Us and the Paraphernalia.....

Big Thanks to Rosy for holding me down on the stool by the scruff of my neck.  And ofcourse a screaming thanks also to Ik Kee the makeup artist for tolerating my efforts to escape....

Oh and here is what we learnt :

1) There is such a thing as eyeshadow base.  This is NOT eyeshadow.... it helps the colour stay on longer.  I will confirm that this WORKS.
2) Ditto foundation base
3)if you line the area under your upper lashes, you get a deeper set look for your eyes.  Nice!

Hope everyone enjoys the pictures and wishing you all a fire engine red for good luck week ahead!!

Haute Haute Haute

The Secrets of the Professional Quickie.....

We do love our colouring toys........

I love....

A very short post today, a very quick quickie....

My question for my friend Joey, whom I met at AICI (Association of Image Consultants) was this : What is the difference between "Professional" makeup and errr... my makeup?


Joey is using Revecen Professional cosmetics from Korea. She made a special visit and we had a whale of time trying out her 'barang barang' at the club bar. 


As promised, this is a quickie so here are some fast tips on professional makeup :



Yum Yum colours....

1) the difference in makeup that is meant for professional use is this :

• It stays on longer
• The foundation is usually matte and great for photographs
• The colours are usually more intense and a little goes a long way
• when you have professional makeup on, you're always photo ready!
• It usually is a little thicker than conventional makeup but there is a way around this. sssshhh Joey shared her tip with me.

2) Revecen has a makeup base that can double as foundation when you're not requiring much coverage.  It is very natural and still great for snazzy pics!


And I have wonderful news!  The Radio Show Looking Good with Dianne, that I am working on with Redfm's Rosalind Tan, will be giving away Revecen makeup as contest prizes.  Some items are eyebrow pencils, lip pencils and bb cream.


To be in the loop for contest details, I would lurrrve all of you who LIKE the page


Looking Good with Dianne


we'll be hosting the contest here and you'll get first dibs on what's happening!  Please do post questions too if you have any.  We appreciate your support very much and we have so many kind sponsors of little goodies too!


Thanks for coming by and do keep in touch.  Wishing all our Muslim readers a wonderful Hari Raya next week and happy holidays to everybody in this region!

Brand Voodoo

 

Dr Ian and I celebrating the completion of an NLP Practitioner's course in KL



 As promised, I accosted my NLP guru Dr. Ian Halsall and forced a few voodoo secrets out of him, on how NLP is used in branding today.  NLP means Neuro Linguistic Programming.  Quite a mouthful but very simple really. It means programming the mind with the words and sentences we use. It is a box of tools on how the mind works and how to pursuade it to work the way you want it to.  This also translates to other people's minds.  Hence the accusation that NLP is voodoo-like by some people!!



Dr Ian celebrating........Life...





It is no secret that mind tricks are used in advertising and branding today, although much frowned upon by a no longer unsuspecting public.  So.... better to know than not to know... 

Here it is, 2 loaded questions Dr. Ian answered at gunpoint:

1) What are the NLP tools used in advertising today?

Ian (trembling but reluctant) :

The funny thing is, there is lots of NLP in advertising already, but most people aren't aware that they are doing it!

Main ones are: pattern interrupts, anchors, state change, rapport, unconscious mind

A good example of anchoring is the use of attractive people. If a cute girl is in an advert with a product. The guy watching likes the girl, and that liking is then anchored to the product.

2) How can NLP be used in branding?

Ian (warming up a little):

Anchoring: a good brand elicits the state you want. Also, anchors need to be specific, easy to identify, and unique. A good example is the word "Big-Mac"

how many restaurants have that?

Rapport: a person needs to relate to the brand. Brand expert talk about "brand personality" as if the brand is a person. This applies quite well, but it's only any use if the person relates, or has rapport, with that brand personality.

And then he hit me on the head with his shoe and ran away....

..so now the BIG question is this : Is there a way we can learn the tools of NLP that will help us become more aware of these tricks..or better yet (shhhhh) how to use them for our own benefit?

Dr. Ian Halsall runs NLP practitioner's certification courses regularly.  For the first time one will be held in Kuching (our own Land of the Hornbill) from October 17 to October 23 2011. 

  

This course gives a working knowledge of the tools of NLP and also how to use them; and while not for everyone, it certainly gives whomever attends an unfair advantage in the world of business, branding and yes, relationships!  oh but shhhhhhh it is meant to be a secret!!! I will have to kill everybody now. 

I guess since the word is out ... do hurry if you want to sign up as seats are seriously limited.  Dr. Ian held us at gunpoint and made us promise that!

To sign up and find out more, write to : Shan k. Wong <shankwong@3sixtydeliberation.com>

Discover the Secrets of obtaining an unfair advantage at the NLP Practitioner's Course by Dr. Ian L. Halsall







 



Image Voodoo : a post about being sexy

why are wristlets sexy?  I mean, these tiny almost useless excuses for purses, actually exude a cheeky sensuality.... Can you put more than a lipstick in one? no.  You could perhaps squeeze in a tightly folded dollar note but even that would be a stretch.

I have this little theory to share... now I know not everybody will agree with me but I'd like to share it just in case some of my dear readers find this useful.

This is going to be a very short and sweet post, golden nugget style.

and here it is :

*drumroll*..... There is something strange and mystical about pulse points....

Ladies, anytime we call attention to a pulse point by adorning it, we create *breathy whisper* magic.

So what is image voodoo with pulse points?  And how do we adorn our pulse points?  Surprise surprise we already do!  Imagine if we were to do it consciously and strategically.....

Wiki tells me there are 5 major pulse points on the human body :

1. Carotid - side of neck : aren't chokers and glittery necklaces just so flirty?  pick one for that special evening if you have a lovely long neck.
2. Radial - the wrist: Enter the wristlet! or the dainty little wrist watch or bracelet.  Chunky pieces give a little more oomph but make sure they're not too big for your frame.
3. Femoral - near the groin: Not much elaboration needed here... think string bikinis..need i say more.
4. Pedal - on the foot: There was a time when toe rings were the rage and very cute.  Now that they are not as popular, pretty beaded slippers and killer shoes that fall off and dangle just so.... when you're sitting with your legs crossed..... sexxxy.....
5. Brachial - inside of elbow or under the shoulder. : it is well known that shoulders are sexy... baring one shoulder is nice nice nice....

And there it is..my little piece on creating image Voodoo with pulse points.  Hope you enjoy this and have a great week ahead!!  Just a word of caution, it doesn't work quite the same way on men.

Keeping my fingers crossed ... its a secret but I am hoping to get hold of Dr. Ian Halsall my NLP guru for some Branding with NLP tips.  Stay tuned!  Here are some pics of us practising pulse points Voodoo!!



Dr.Ian baring a little wrist... .not one of his better moments....



A better behaved Dr. Ian.... and me, baring a little shoulder hehe...

Shy......not.....

His name is Shy.  Well, not birth certificate type of name of course.  We gave him that name.  We were so sure it was him.... shy, that he was... or so we thought - until it was his turn to get on stage.  I didn't recognize him, but yet I did.  It was Shy sure enough, but a larger Shy, a more entrancing Shy...yes, still Shy.  I could not tear my eyes away and I told myself then and there...I've got to find out how he does it.  You see, Shy is a speaker, trainer and actor all rolled into one cute individual.  I want to learn how you build a brand like that.  You don't have to be extra colourful, super loud or even move around much on stage to be remembered and to have the audience entranced.  What a brand!  I tracked Shy down and here it is :

Branding yourself Amazing as speakers and presenters with Acting Techniques

I asked him a few questions I received from facebook friends eager to learn :

Me :  How does a speaker/presenter/trainer brand themselves using acting skills?

Shy : One of the acting skills that I have learnt is about the need to have self-belief. An actor needs to believe in himself so that he can bring out the character he his playing. And by knowing the character's clothing/ wardrobe and personality, the character can be identified on stage as a unique character.

 Similarly, a speaker/presenter/trainer, needs to believe in himself/herself and in his own ability, skills and talent. Together with his personality style and personal appearance, the speaker/presenter/trainer can then bring out his own brand. Once the brand has been established, the next step is to get people to see the name and the benefit or knowledge that the speaker/presenter/trainer is offering.

happy days.....

Me : Is it possible to make an audience feel emotional and cry through acting?  How ?

Shy : Yes. It is possible. However, before we are able to make anyone cry or feel emotional, the actor has to have that emotional "feeling" first. The actor must "be" that character and not just act it out.

In acting training we have something called the "hot seat". The actor would share with his team members some real-life "dialogues" that the actor has experienced, that made him feel sad or cry.

When an actor takes the hot-seat the others move around him, saying the words that have been shared. These words are repeated over and over again, accompanied by background music.  Usually the actor in the hot seat breaks down.

Once the actor knows this technique, he can use it to make his character emotional. Once the character is emotional, it becomes "infectious" and can thus make the audience feel the same way.

with friends and fellow trainers....

Me : Some people feel that if we act during a presentation, it may come across as less authentic… what can we do about this?

Shy :  Have you watched a show/ drama, that portrayed a character that was so evil, that you wanted to strangle him yourself? Or a character that was so pitiful that you cry and bleed for it?

Why is this so? More often than not, the actors portraying the characters are not those characters in real-life. They manage to play the characters convincingly because they believe in the character and are honest and genuine in making the character stand out.

Similarly, to me, presenting is like putting on a show.  The presenter must immerse himself in his character during the presentation.  To make the character stand out, this must be done honestly, authentically. 

Remember, it is not about acting, but about using proper acting techniques. 

Well said!  Very useful tips that I am going to try out, although I'll shoot for making people laugh rather than cry hehe.  Shy is conducting a talk Ignite The Stage at SIM Singapore, on August 20 2011.  Interested guys and gals can register with patricialee@sim.edu.sg or hanisah@sim.edu.sg

In my sessions many people ask about eye wear.  Next week I'll be talking to an optometrist who owns an eyewear shop for some insight into what is available and trendy right now.

Cheers to a great weekend ahead!!

 

Easy on the Eye..... and Cheek.....

I stalked someone yesterday, in the early hours of the morning... oh yes I did. (Shock, Horror).... but but, I stalked him for you my dear readers.  Honest.  Because, apart from being easy on the eye (admittedly), Leslie Hong is also a makeup expert and the MD of his own 30 year old Advanced Aesthetics Academy, Stella-In International. 

I couldn't believe my luck when I was asked to work with Leslie on our roles as representatives of the AICI (Association of Image Consultants International) in our respective locations, he Penang and myself, East Malaysia.

Okay, enough of the PRing, and cutting to the chase here.  I took the opportunity (stalked him) to ask him two burning questions many clients have asked me during consultations and training sessions. 

I already have high cheekbones and when I use blusher I end up with hollow and sunken cheeks.

Leslie : There are 2 ways to handle this :

1) Brush a soft cheek colour over the cheeks to recede the cheeks and at the same time add a highlight colour (a very pale colour) below the cheeks to bring them out thus creating the oval shape. 

The oval shaped face is widely (although no longer universally) accepted as the 'ideal' shape.

2) If brown is your colour (meaning if you're an Autumn or Spring colouring), you can also avoid sunken cheeks by gently brushing a brown tone over the upper part of your cheeks, generally about 2 fingers below the eye area.  Make sure it is in a circular movement outwards.

How do I make my eyes look big and beautiful with single eyelids?  I don't like the eyelid tapes.

Leslie : (not batting an eyelid).  Apply white shimmering eyeshadow as the trendy fashionable colour.  If you dare, on the whole eye socket is best.  Open your eyes and check if the colour is visible.  If it isn't, go a little wild and add more.  A life half lived is no life at all.... And there you have it.  For a glamourous 3D touch, add false eyelashes! 

You may need a little practice with the false eyelashes (I did), but once you get it right, there is no looking back!

I hope these tips are helpful and except for the men, that you'll all try them out.  Personally, I have my lashes permed as I'm too lazybones to do anything to them daily.

If you have anymore questions, do write in here. 

Leslie's website is www.stella-in.com.my

Incidentally, I hear he and his people are organizing an educational tour to Melbourne that includes spa and special effects makeup training.  This will happen next month, so if you're keen to know more do ask asap ok.

Thank you for dropping in and next week, we'll be covering Personal Branding through acting skills for Speakers and Presenters!  Terima Kasih to my actor friend Shy for agreeing to contribute a few tips!

The Winner's Image : maintaining the TADA!!!

A BIG CHALLENGE

For a first post, I asked myself "what is the most important thing about what I do?".  In my 10 years in the Image and Branding business, I have come to realize that the work we are very often best known for, DOES NOT work!!!  So what is this thing we do, that we keep doing, as Image and Brand consultants; even though it doesn't work?

MAKEOVERS!!!  Befores, and afters...... they just don't work. 

I cannot count the number of times my team and I have spent hours and hours making over a client from top to toe; hair, makeup and dressing - only to see the same person back to their original 'self' two weeks later.  With great puzzlement I checked with fellow consultants and it seems to be quite a common occurence.  We do it because the client desires it.  The seemingly miraculous effects of makeovers are something we all enjoy.  We love the TADA! factor. 

But why oh why doesn't the TADA! last?

And so I continue my search for truth - I asked the clients themselves.  Did they not feel beautiful?  Did they not look handsome?  Did we not do the right thing? Didn't we do enough for them?

Oh no, they say, they felt so wonderful, gorgeous and glamourous. It was a day to remember forever. But then why? we cried.  You see, we were sorely disappointed as we projected our desires onto them too. We want all our clients to be nothing short of ecstatic.

And the answer said it all "It was a day to remember, oh what fun.  But it wasn't me.  I can't dress like that everyday!". 

The light came on suddenly. "It wasn't me".  That is the crux of the matter.

"A strong Personal Brand begins with the belief that inside, you are already the person you want to become."

The sense of identity is the first thing we must establish.  If my client comes to me now saying they want to look sexy my first question must be "do you believe you're sexy"? and if you don't.... well, lets see about helping you feel sexy!!  Mind is the Master Power .... James Allen.

I AM SO EXCITED

Have you ever suddenly received something wonderful unexpectedly?  It is an indescribable feeling and I'm not even sure I deserve the support of such great people.  About a month ago, I received a phone call from Adelena Lestari Chong.  She said I was referred by my my mentor Bob Proctor, from whom she obtained my phone number; and that she would like to explore working together. 

WOW!  Adelena is one of only two of Bob Proctor's certified consultants in Malaysia.  She was trained and coached personally by Bob Proctor in Florida, to conduct his coaching programs here.

We met in KL and fell instantly in rapport with each other.  She is one focused and beautiful lady!  And the most fantastic thing is that Bob has a programme called Winner's Image that addresses image from the perspective of the mind.  This is EXACTLY the program to work with to  make those MAKEOVERS WORK!!

We are currently working on just a program; Image from the Inside Out.  This program will merge Bob Proctor's phenomenal time tested Winner's Image Program with cutting edge computerized body profiling and advanced colour analysis. 

I am so excited about this that I just have to make this the first blog post hehe!!  If you're reading this, and would like to know more, do drop us a line here or search for us on facebook. 

In the meantime, do stay tuned for more updates on brand+image.  We are working on freebies for everybody!

Thanks for visiting!