A great way to GIVE, RECEIVE, and END the weekend!

Hey everyone, Liana here, your chief stylist at B.Youneek!

I just wanted to share with all of you a super fun event I went to two weekends ago that B.Youneek was a part of that supported helping children who battle cancer, called the Francesco Loccisano Foundation for pediatric cancer chinese auction.  The event was hosted by Natalie Licini, founder of Chaata.com (an online community for moms), and PR by Lisa Ajiello founder of Eyeprmedia.com.  The event was at the Excelsior Grand in Staten Island NY and doors opened to a flood of people, excited to be involved with raffles, a 50/50, great food, amazing music, and great company, all brought together for a good cause!  Music was provided by DJ Graphic George of Graphicgeorge.com and photography provided by Wai Ng by weddingflair.com.  I must say I  had a really fun time at this event!  There were some really cool prizes that people won; Massages, gift baskets, spiritual healing sessions, a B.YOUneek styling package, professional photography pictures, celebrity chef dinner, actor chairs from the movie American Gangster (pretty cool) and even a one week paid vacation to Florida and much more!  There were so many amazing prizes, everyone went home with something, including me!  I definitely recommend everyone to get involved with charity events like this, ultimately your money goes toward a good cause, and you get to have fun and meet cool people along the way!  Seriously, what  a better way to end my weekend!  I can't wait for the next charity event!  For those of you who want to be a part of something like this, check out Chaata.com for more info and the francesco loccisano foundation to make a donation http://www.frankiesmission.org  Check out the pics from the event, hope you like!  

The beautiful Excelsior Grand 

People bidding

OMG Denzel Washington and Cuba Gooding Jr actually sat in these chairs!  Luck winner!

All the helpers of the event minus a few...and me! I'm in the middle with my blue dress!

Fall Fashion Trends 2010

Fall 2010 is almost here, and you may be wondering what to wear for the new season!  Have no fear because B.YOUneek is here!  With 10 sure fire ways to spruce up your wardrobe and be up to date with the latest trends!

1. 1) Camel colored trenches- This season, a camel colored trench is the way to go!

1.    2)  Conservative is the NEW sexy!

So 
3) Socks with heels- Yes, you can mix beauty with comfort!
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4) Leather- Wear it often!

5 ) Crimsons- Get your red on!
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6)  Slouchy pants-

7) Booties-

8) Chunky necklines-

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9) Thigh High Boots


10) Shorts

Fall Beauty Trends 2010

*Pictured from left to right is the bun trend (side- swept, evening chic hair), an all- American classic makeup look combining red lip trend, strong brows and all- over shadow, and half- moon nails.

Top 6 Fall beauty trends for 2010:

1. Red lips
2. Strong, defined brows
3. Lady Gaga-esque eye shadow looks inspired by the 80's
4. Buns- in your hair that is :)
5. One color, all- over eye shadow (on the entire lid)
6. Oval half- moon nails.  Think 1940's!

Get the All- American Look:

Define eyebrows with an eyebrow brush and powder rather than pencil for a natural look (I suggest Brow Express by Anastasia).  Apply peach puff eye shadow all over lids to brow bone.  Next line your upper and lower lids with the brown liner and smudge with an eyeliner brush for a soft look.  Apply 2 coats of blackest black mascara on upper lashes, and one gentle coat on lower lashes.  Apply bronzer to achieve a natural glow all over face and then a sweep of blush just to apples of cheeks.  Lastly, finish with red lipstick applied with a brush to achieve a flawless application.  If it smudges, remove stains with eye makeup remover and a dab of foundation around the lips for definition.

Products: Red lipstick by Mac in Viva Glam

Eyeliner by Stila in Tigers Eye

Anastasia Brow Express eyebrow kit in Brunette

Mascara by Tarte- Lights, Camera Lashes! in black

Eyeshadow in Peach Puff by Bare Minerals

Bronzer by Too Faced in Sun Bunny

Dallas Blush by Benefit 

Foundation by Origins in Beach

Expert Blonding: Do Not Try This at Home!

It was that time again... the time to raise the color bar a few shades lighter. There was only one man for the job, one man I trusted: John O of Antonio Prieto Salon in New York City. Born a natural brunette, I've always experimented with my hair color. In 8th grade I sprayed the infamous Sun-In to lighten my locks to a penny- copper color I was never really satisfied with.   In high school, I played with different brands of do- it- yourself highlighting kits which gave me countless shades of auburn and strawberry brown. It wasn't until Junior year of high school that I went to a professional to lighten my locks to a achieve those golden hues I had longed for.  Expert blonding is hard to come by.  Really hard.  I mean, even pros don't always get it right.  But, I have to say I'm a lucky gal to have found John O at the Antonio Prieto Salon in New York City who has taken my hair color to a whole new level.  Poor John spent practically the entire day on my mass of hair, but the end result is spectacular!  I have incredible dimension, color and light framing my face... and it all looks super- natural!  I went in and was like "yeah so I want lighter hair like this Victoria Secret model I saw, but I don't have her picture, but I'll try to describe it..." and POOF... the perfect shade of blonde for me!  You won't get results like this from a bottle people.  When it comes to dramatically changing your hair color, it's best to seek out the pros, especially with blonding!  Not everyone knows hot to get a perfect hue of blonde for your unique coloring.  The same goes with the perfect cut, but I'll save that story for another post ;)  If you're in New York, go to John O at the Antonio Prieto Salon, and tell him I sent you.

Super Saver Manicure

I actually hate getting manicures.  It's pretty time consuming and quite boring at the same time.. that combination for me alone, is enough to keep me away from my local nail salon.  But then there's the price to consider while also taking into consideration that your manicure will probably chip in a day or two....PLUS bacteria laden tools- YUCK (unless you bring your own)!  I prefer to give myself a 15 minute manicure at home and save a few bucks while I'm at it!  After you get into the hang of it, upkeep is about 10 minutes flat!

Tools:

• Orange Stick
• Nail clipper
• 3-Way Nail File (the kind that has 3 different textures to shape the nail)
• Base Coat
• Quick Drying Top Coat (my absolute fave is Poshe)
• Nail polish
• OR get quick drying nail polish with a built- in topcoat like I used here. *pictured below

Remove any old polish with nail polish remover, clip and file nails to desired length and shape.  Square is the easiest to do and maintain.  The roughest texture of the filer is best to trim down the size of the nail, while the finer textures are good to shape edges.  Next, apply your favorite hand cream to hands and use an orange stick to push back cuticles gently.  With a cotton pad, remove cream residue from nails with nail polish remover.  Apply one coat of base coat, one coat quick dry nail polish (or 2 coats of regular), and one coat of top coat if you applied regular polish.  That's it!  

*Sally Hansen Insta- Dri Fast Dry Nail Color in Mint Sprint #28  

This product is great deal because you get polish and topcoat in one, and you only need 1 coat.  Plus, the  brush is a flat rectangle, mimicking the shape of the nail bed, making application super- easy.

Have beauty questions?  Email me.

Gia: The 20/20 Interview (original)

Gia Carangi Interview with 20/20 during her prime years. This gives you a tiny insight on how ferocious the Fashion and beauty industries can really be.

Mom Makeover with B.Youneek

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New mom Roxanne from Staten Island, NY gets a makeover with the Baratta sisters of B.Youneek.

To Tan or Not to Tan

To tan or not to tan!  That IS the question!

Hey ladies, I just wanted to bring up a question that’s been in my mind these past few weeks with this beautiful weather that we’ve been having here on the east coast!  Do I tan in the sun?  Do I fake and bake at a tanning salon?  Do I use smelly self tanner?  What do I do?

If you want that sun kissed glow this summer but are not sure what to do, here’s what I suggest!

With all the sun bathing articles, and skin cancer articles that I have read, I have come up with a solution that will make everyone happy, and keep your skin safe and beautiful!

1.     Sit in the sun for no more than 15 minutes a day!

A little sun IS good for your skin because it provides the best source of vitamin D for your body, which help boost your immune system, and help you fight off free radicals.  However, too much sun can cause, sun damage, ugly sun spots on the skin, make you age quicker, and God forbid, cause skin cancer!  So, what I suggest is balance!

15 minutes of sun everyday IS good for your skin, but after that I would lather on a sun block of SPF 30 to give your skin a good amount of protection!  I also recommend applying a lotion of aloe vera and vitamin C, which will soothe your skin, and again, fight free radicals which damage skin!

2. Apply Aloe vera, vitamin c lotion and Spf 30 everyday after tanning for 15 minutes if you plan to be outdoors at all (that includes walking to the grocery store!).

*If you want an extra glow, I suggest adding a routine of Organic self-tanner!  Look for one that is free of parabens and has sun block protection that way you get two for one, kill two birds with one stone! But we like birds here at B.Youneek, so we don’t suggest killing anything.  We’re just saying.

Anyway, once you get in your 15 minutes of sun, and your organic self tanner, you’ll be glowing!  You can also add a good mineral bronzer to help you along the way until you achieve the look you want!

3.     A mineral bronzer is a great add- on to apply color exactly where you need it, until you achieve the color you want!

4.  Drink plenty of water, the more hydrated your skin is, the easier for it to heal itself, and the better it looks!

That’s it! Four easy steps!  Remember, it’s not worth spending hours in the sun, because in the long run, you may look like a leather handbag, and you don’t want that! Put in the extra work, protect your skin, love it, feed it, and feel beautiful!  Until next time kiddies!

Your fashion expert,

Liana of B.Youneek

Dress like Sex and the City's Carrie Bradshaw for under $350

Liana Baratta, B.Youneek's fashion expert styled Graziella as Carrie Bradshaw for under $350.
Here's the style breakdown:

• Olive jumpsuit from Bebe- $109.00
• Aviator Sunglasses from Bebe- $51.88 (on sale- orig. $98.00)
• Hilary Stilettos- $159
• Gold necklace is vintage piece (courtesy of the Baratta mom!)- $0
• Brown Flinstones bracelet- $6.99 Charlotte Russe
• Gold bracelet from Graziella's jewelry box- $0
• White leather handbag from Liana's closet- $0

$326.87 was the original total, but we had some great coupons from Bebe and only spent $295.32 for the whole look!

You can totally recreate Carrie's or any other Sex and the City character's style by shopping intelligently and mixing some signature pieces with already owned or borrowed items for the perfect look!

Need a style makeover?  Let B.Youneek help you reinvent yourself!  

Mom Makeover & Spring Fashion 2010

Check out this super- chic mommy boutique, our mom makeover contest, and Spring Fashion Trends for 2010!

Warm Winter Makeup

Original Post by The Baratta Sisters at 1/11/2010 11:32 PM

The Bikini Bootcamp

Posted by The Baratta Sisters at 8/22/2009 1:37 AM
Categories: fitness,wellness,health,beauty

The Bikini Bootcamp is almost here!  The workout was created by me (Graziella) to target typical problem areas for women while getting an intense full- body workout that will get you into bikini shape fast! Check out the promo, and stay tuned for its release shortly.

 Get special offers & stay up to date with B.Youneek & Graziella news here:

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Spring Summer 2009 fashion trends inspired by CHANGE!

Posted by The Baratta Sisters at 4/4/2009 2:56 PM

This season is inspired by what we think is CHANGE!  We have a new president, new season, new hope, new goals therefore we need new fashion! 

We feel that Jaja Gabour would be proud this season's fashion colors because a lot of the "IT" colors are tropical!  The more color the better, there is no rule against it, you can literally go wild and we’ll show you why! We'll also show you that this season is all about change because what we are used to calling our staple pieces aka basics, are not basic at ALL!

1.   1. Get ready for change number one! Mix and match patterns!  Don’t be afraid to experiment, just make sure the colors match or are complementary to each other! Most importantly when applying this trend, do what feels comfortable for you! If it's not you, don't do it! 

22  2. Neutral colors like black, grey, brown, and white are not your basics at all this season!  You will find them either metallic, sheer, shiny, or embellished!  Do pair them with matte colors, or matte jewelry for a cool look.  Playing around with different textures and fabrics can be fun!  

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      3.  Chunky jewelry!  The bigger the better, heck even supersize it! From necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings, statement jewelry is hot hot hot this season!  Last season, we took our jewelry to dress up an outfit, this season we're CHANGING the idea and adding to outfits that don't really need dressing up!  Colorful outfit? Add a huge necklace, or earrings!  Experiment, and do what feels right!

      4. Oversized Prints! Again supersize it!  When doing the casual tee, or casual dress, an oversize print is the way to go!  It's a good tweak for those of us who love the mod look!  Here are our faves!

      5. For all you girly girls out there it's time to stop and smell the roses, because the flowers are OUT!  Um, by OUT, we mean IN! Ehem, heehee!  Whether its spring or summer, the floral prints will be popping up everywhere! Don't be shy to wear a colorful floral print dress, skirt, shirt, or even pants!  We personally recommend keeping the florals in your wardrobe and your jewelry, keep the handbags solid! This season again, its safe to mix up your floral prints, and if you're a  little more conservative, pair it up with some solid pieces! 

      6. Spring is a perfect season to show off your feminine side!  When we think feminine, we think delicate, gentle, beautiful.  What kind of outfit depicts feminine you ask? An outfit made with FLOWY FABRICS of course!  Gone with the wind? Why not, let your outfits feel like your in a meadow, or that you're running on a beach into the arms of your love! OH how romantic!  Flowy fabrics are key for evening wear this season, so if you're going on a hot romantic date, or off to a wedding or a sexy cruise, go for the moveable, easy breezy, and comfortable fabrics! You'll look sexy, feminine, and be comfortable! We love that! 

      7.  Thanks to the Advocates of CHANGE, President Obama and his beautiful wife Michelle have started the political movement of hope, and bringing back some good 'ol patriotism that this country needs! Speaking of bringing some good things back, Michelle inspired us all to bring back the ONE SHOULDER look when she wore her sexy little number to the inaugural ball!  Thanks to our first lady, we can take out our one shouldered tops and dresses that we have tucked away, and enjoy them again, and maybe buy a few new ones along the way! We picked these 3 looks to show you that even though the concept sounds black and white, there are some very different pieces out there to choose from! 

      8.  Relaxed fit pant!  Finally, we can relax and say goodbye to the skinny pant!  Well, maybe not, some of us are a little attached to our skinny pants, they'll be around a little longer before we completely say goodbye!  For now, we have a new crew of pants rolling in.  With this crew are the new HAREM pants!  Whether, they're cropped, high waisted, or long, this pant adds some more CHANGE to your wardrobe.  Be careful with the harems if you're hippy, this might not be the style for you. If you are that girl, go for a relaxed straighter pant. Here are a few favorite looks...

      9.  A girl can never have enough shoes!  Some questions to ask yourself when shopping for shoes this season are: Is it a detailed shoe? Is it drama? Is it made with fabric? Is it colorful? Is it jeweled and intricate?  If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, then you've got yourself a spring/summer 2009 shoe!  That's right! Shoes are all about the intricate detail!  No more basic pump, no more one colored boot, no more practical and cute! It's crazy time, because our shoes will be dancing, and our feet might be hurting, but these shoes are HOT HOT HOT! Pick up a pair of these sizzling shoes, and your set! Seriously!

       10. Last but not least, we would like to leave you with the season's "IT" color which is lemon!  If lemon is not for you, don't fret, there's an abundant of "IT" colors to choose from!  Remember Jaja Gabour and the chikita banana girl, to pick you juicy colors like peach, raspberry, grapefruit, and lime! Enjoy!