No need to wear makeup when you'll be wearing a mask for Carnevale!

No need to wear makeup when you'll be wearing a mask for Carnevale!

Ciao bella,

Marilyn and Mary

Here is a bit of history of Carnevale in which many participated in this past week! In the year 1162 in Venice the Carnevale of Venice was born. Originating from a victory of the "Repubblica della Aquileia" which was Venice's original home. So, in defeating the Patriarch of Aquileia that year the victory was honored with a festival of dancing and reunions celebrated in San Mark's Square!

This annual Carnevale Festival held in Venice, Italy starts 58 days before Easter and ends on Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday or Martedi Grasso), the day before Ash Wednesday.

Masks being a tradition of celebration of many sizes and names depending on coverage of the face are worn at Carnevale. The mask would hide the wearer's identity and social status permitting the wearer to mingle among high society and his peers with no recognition. These encounters could be used as personal, criminal or romantic intentions. Romantic intentions such as the masked ball in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet!

This past weekend ITALIA UNITA of East Boston showed us a taste of Carnevale! Full screening of actual festival parade in Venice during Carnevale was shown! Dancing and traditional music was enjoyed by all. Real and colorful paper mâché items were on display! The giant cannoli was my fav! Coffee and drinks were served with Pignolata (a Sicilian specialty) and Chiacchiere literally translated into "chatter," "chit chat" or "gossip" however is a strip of sweet pastry dough fried and coated with sugar! It was sheer delight as we chatted with all our friends as we enter the solemn Lenten season!

Thanks Lisa for all your work!

Buona giornata and God bless the United States of America!

--Mary N. DiZazzo-Trumbull

Read prior weeks' "All That Zazz" columns at www.allthatzazz.com. Mary is a third-generation cosmetologist and a Massachusetts distributor of Kosmea brand rose hip oil products. She may be contacted at (978) 470-8183 or mary@mary4nails.com.

Happy Valentine's Day

"The Miss Boston 2012 Pageant" is coming!

"The Miss Boston 2012 Pageant" is coming!

Ciao bella,

Last year was a remarkable experience just attending the Miss Boston Pageant! I can just imagine how exciting an opportunity like this can be for some of our locally planted girls. Just the idea that your personal opinion and appearance as a contestant makes history around our treasured Commonwealth is reason to go for the title Miss Boston 2012. There will also be over $5000 in scholarships and prizes. You will see girls from Harvard to local work places striving to be the best they can be so they can represent our Commonwealth in fashion! Home to the Miss Boston 2012 Pageant is The Omni Parker House. The event starts at 5:00 PM on Sunday, February 19th. You may purchase tix online at www.MissBoston.org/. There will be 5 stages of competition, talent, showcase, interview, physical fitness, eveningwear and onstage interview. The girls are all wonderful to watch!

The history of the MB Pageant has provided a stage for young women to achieve their personal, professional and educational goals. Girls from 17-24 years old will compete for the MB title. The Miss Boston pageant is the official preliminary for the Miss America Pageant and Miss Massachusetts program. The Miss America organization is one of the nation's lead achievement programs and world's largest provider of scholarship assistance providing over $45 million for young women! Sara Carlisle the 2011 Miss Boston winner will share her fabulous experience and hand over the crown! Thank you Sara for representing the Hub with such grace, talent and style!

Valentine quote for the week: "Love is like a beautiful song, echoes on in the heart when the last note is silent." Happy Valentine's Day everyone -- XX.

Buona giornata and God bless the United States of America!

--Mary N. DiZazzo-Trumbull

Read prior weeks' "All That Zazz" columns at www.allthatzazz.com. Mary is a third-generation cosmetologist and a Massachusetts distributor of Kosmea brand rose hip oil products. She may be contacted at (978) 470-8183 or mary@mary4nails.com.

The Vanity of It All

The Vanity of It All

Ciao bella,

How many of you gals get your face on in the bathroom? I could never understand it. However I'm sure it's the majority of ladies who hit the bathroom to use the mirror standing with ill lighting and steamy from showering! Makeup tubes and caps flying all over the floor! Well it is never too late to find a nice place in the bedroom for a vanity with mirror! Why as far back as I can remember I owned a lighted makeup mirror and would sit down in front of it and primp. We even bought a mini vanity for Dad's house when we would stay over on the weekend.

When I set up housekeeping in my first apartment I recall spying a walnut vintage vanity at Harold's Broadway Second Hand Store in Lawrence. Its chocolate elegance held a magnificent mirror which was built in and adjusted in a swing motion to your better side. There were two drawers on each side and one in the middle. Plenty of space for makeup of all kinds, hair accessories and brushes and combs, even jewelry and just about everything a "Glamazon" like me would need to play "makeup"!

I remember purchasing this Cadillac of cabinetry before I bought the bed! When Mom would visit she would always remark that she thought I was getting ready for my close-up in the cinema!

I have a beautifully framed photo of Nana with her silver cup when she won a cosmetology competition on the vanity and just behind it I keep my Hollywood lights makeup mirror with different settings including daytime, work, and nighttime. Dad bought me this one. As soon as he knew my last mirror bit the dust. He knew how important it was to replace it. The shopping hunt was on -- Sears, Filene's, Jordan Marsh and even Woolworth's! He wouldn't stop 'til he found it! That was Dad! I dread mentioning where we finally found it! No, not eBay!

When I sit on my vanity chair which is laced with Nana's fur fox tails I am in heaven! Surrounded by my fav perfumes and colors that enhance my eyes and face, moisturizers and creams applied at leisure, it's my time to relax and enjoy the transformation. Oh and it is a transformation! Lipsticks that are from Jungle Red to Orange Crush! Greens and purple and blue glitter eyeliners are my favs from Tony & Tina's line. No longer being manufactured for yet another divorce!

My Vanity, my friend, has weathered every move and now as I figure out how long this relationship has lasted I can understand why the makeup I wore at 19 years old has had to change its face during our thirty-eight years together!

For the Vanity of it all!

Buona giornata and God bless the United States of America!

--Mary N. DiZazzo-Trumbull

Read prior weeks' "All That Zazz" columns at www.allthatzazz.com. Mary is a third-generation cosmetologist and a Massachusetts distributor of Kosmea brand rose hip oil products. She may be contacted at (978) 470-8183 or mary@mary4nails.com.

Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend

Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend

Ciao bella,

Who would think that another one of Mother Nature's miracles is used esthetically, however not just to be counted in carots? It's Diamond Dust my dear ladies! Tiny particles left behind from the cutting of diamonds. The hardness of these tiny particles (similar as dust) make it a popular material used for a variety of products. Just about half of all natural Diamonds are found in mines throughout central and southern Africa. Originally found and mined in India diamond dust proved valuable in cosmetics. Even Madonna during one of her many tours combined white eyeshadow and diamond dust and applied it on her eyelids!

Diamonds as we all know look like transparent crystal and made of carbon, as its atoms are arranged in a diamond lattice. Diamond dust may be found in different colors and can be coarse or fine. Valuable for their hardness and heat conductivity industrial diamonds can be found in the use of surfacing products. Gem-grade diamonds are also valuable for their color and clarity. (The diamond coated pan in my kitchen has been a treasure in my culinary adventures!)

As a natural mineral diamonds are the hardest. Productively useful as an abrasive in cutting, drilling, grinding and polishing. You'll find nail files coated with diamond dust making the file stay sharp and lasting. Many nail products contain diamond dust to prevent chipping and also strengthen nails including a pretty shimmer effect. Check your labels for diamond dust which can also be found in creams, perfumes, shower gels and makeup. In my experience diamonds are a girls best friend!

Buona giornata and God bless the United States of America!

--Mary N. DiZazzo-Trumbull

Read prior weeks' "All That Zazz" columns at www.allthatzazz.com. Mary is a third-generation cosmetologist and a Massachusetts distributor of Kosmea brand rose hip oil products. She may be contacted at (978) 470-8183 or mary@mary4nails.com.

A New Year, A New Attitude for 2012

A New Year, A New Attitude for 2012

Ciao bella,

As the old year closes on a beautiful Christmas holiday, we can reflect on what we gals can do to make ourselves keep the beauty going. Remember to work hard is also to play hard! Life is short, so treat yourselves well! Don't think twice about any beauty treatment in the New Year. There is Spa Week here in Boston and in many suburbs. It's promoted a few times a year. The best salons and spas offer 2 for 1 deals along with half price offers from specialty massages to youth altering facials to aromatherapy mani/pedicures. These services are our own "thank you" to ourselves. We gals deserve it!

Did the boss forget that pat on the back? Kids were running out the door for the next thing and forgot the usual kiss goodbye and thanks Mom? And the hubby in our lives? Anything is possible there for error! So take it all in stride and go for that hot stone massage or exfoliating skin treatment! The treatments out there are boundless!

What you need they have it. Sign up at www.spaweek.com for the dates and offers for acupuncture, electrology (permanent hair removal), skin and body treatments from A toZ. I will keep an eye out in 2012 for the promotions of the year! I'll keep you all updated on the dates. In fact on the last day of 2011 my husband David and I are treating ourselves to pedicures in Newton at Beautifica Day Spa! Cynthia Ruggere the owner of this unique spa not only offers specialty services, but uses the best products to perform all services. This spa is located at 415 Lexington St., 617-431-1200. For more info on Cynthia's promotions and services go to www.beautifica.com.

David and I are so excited to pick out a toe color that will bring in the New Year with a sparkle or two!

Wishing all my treasured readers and all my blessed colleagues at the fabulous Post-Gazette a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year.

Buon Anno and God bless the United States of America!

--Mary N. DiZazzo-Trumbull

Read prior weeks' "All That Zazz" columns at www.allthatzazz.com. Mary is a third-generation cosmetologist and a Massachusetts distributor of Kosmea brand rose hip oil products. She may be contacted at (978) 470-8183 or mary@mary4nails.com.

Merry Christmas to All!

Ciao Bella,

Christmas shopping not all done gals? Well the "buy one for you and
buy one for me" urge is irresistible at LUSH! Check out their fabulous
Holiday Collection! Sure to please all five senses!
www.lush.com -find a store near you!

Here is my annual Christmas spoof for all to enjoy! Buon Natale!

‘Twas The Week Before Christmas when all through the salon
The scissors were clicking; the mad rush was on.
The hairdressers were busy primping the coifs;
Perm odor, tinting, hair spray—what cough?
The nail-techs stayed sitting; painting their art,
And the patrons were in and out like a dart.
The receptionist was praying for the end of the day,
While just out the window she noticed a sleigh.
And in walked a lady all covered in flour;
She said she’d been baking for hours and hours.
“I’ve seen to the children, but what of myself?
“My husband’s been busy and couldn’t spare an elf.
“My nails are all broken; my hair feels like glue;
“I hope there is someone who can make me feel new.”
With that gleam in her eye it was hard to say “no”—
Mary volunteered for the job—ho, ho, ho!
Shampoo, shampoo, how do you do?
Rollers and gel—need the dryer too.
With a trick of her brush she was coiffed in a flash;
Manicured, painted, and dried in a dash.
Her nails were all shiny—painted “jungle-red.”
The smile on her face left nothing unsaid.
As she waved us good-bye, Merry Christmas to all,
Everyone stopped to see the great haul.
While out the window we all began to peer
At a giant sleigh and eight strong reindeer!
Our lady hopped right in and with a nod to go
Off went her chariot above all the snow.
Jingle, jingle, jingle you can hear the bells ring.
It was a sight to behold there were songs to sing.

Read prior weeks' "All That Zazz" columns at www.allthatzazz.com. Mary is a third-generation cosmetologist and a Massachusetts distributor of Kosmea brand rose hip oil products. She may be contacted at (978) 470-8183 or mary@mary4nails.com.