Review by Margaux Joy DeNador – May 2012
After hearing the audio recording of Michelle Phillips’ talk at the Tampa, Florida, “I Can Do It!” conference, I was curious to read her book. The title, "The Beauty Blueprint – 8 Steps to Building the Life and Look of Your Dreams” intrigued me. But when I saw her book's cover with its beautiful colors and artistic use of photography and fonts, I knew I just had to read it!
In the book, Michelle combines what she has learned as a makeup artist and beauty and life coach to help people create a "Beauty Blueprint" that expresses who they are inside. Michelle helps her clients, and the people who read her book, remember what matters most to them. She helps her readers understand the essence of their values in order to express themselves with the colors, clothes, hairstyles, hair color, makeup, and the accessories they choose.
One of my favorite chapters in the book is titled "Dream a Beautiful Future." It starts with a quote by Carl Jung that says, "The dream is the small hidden door in the deepest and most intimate sanctum of the soul." In this chapter, Michelle explains that she has found that many people have a hard time letting themselves dream freely. Perhaps this is because so many of us have been told what limitations we have or how hard it would be to do what we dreamed of doing, being, having, giving, and living. Some of these beliefs we pick up while we are young but as an adult there are plenty of people who are willing to tell us why we can't do something or that something can't be done.
Michelle has a wonderful exercise in this chapter called "Wave Your Magic Wand." This exercise involves using your imagination and waving a magic wand allowing you to imagine your options as unlimited. Michelle teaches us that if it's totally possible, it's not really a dream. It's just something practical for you to do or achieve. As Michelle says, "It gives your heart permission to come out and play and whispers to us what is hidden deep inside." I loved how this exercise made me feel. It inspired me to dream with no boundaries or limits. It was fun and enlightening.
Michelle gives an example of the "Beautiful Future" she wrote about in her journal. Her honesty about where she was when she began to allow herself to dream – and how her written dreams began to come true – inspired me.
Looking at someone like Michelle Phillips, it's easy to think her life has always been perfect, that she always had known what she most wanted, who she was inside, and that she had always just been "lucky." But her honesty about her mistakes and challenges along with stories she shares about how she became who she is today are inspiring and encourage those reading her book to let themselves remember what matters most to them, and how they most want to live their lives.
I am including, here, an audio recording of my April 10, 2012, interview with Michelle Phillips so you can hear her passion. To listen, just click on the gray bar. If you need to pause it, just click the blue bar and click again when you want to re-start it. The interview was inspiring and fun. It's around 12 minutes in length, so listen when you have time.
Michelle Phillips Interview Recording - Margaux Joy DeNador 041012
You can visit Michelle Phillips' website at: www.michellephillips.com
Another favorite chapter of mine is titled, "Look in the Mirror." It begins with a quote that says, "The best mirror is an old friend." Because Michelle is a makeup artist, it would seem the chapter is about looking in a mirror at yourself. But "Look in the Mirror" is actually about the "mirror" of the people in your life.
Michelle says, "Through my work, I've learned that the people around you act as mirrors, reflecting your inner beliefs and emotions. Who have you placed around you, and what are they revealing about your state of mind?"
The people we choose to spend time with have a huge effect on how we feel. The exercise in this chapter, "Check Your Mirrors", is a great reminder to pay attention to who is in your “Circle of Influence”. I totally agree that it is important to surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you.
Years ago I studied fashion color analysis because I love color. But the way they taught us to choose colors for people was ALL based on what they looked like on the outside. Because I am a blonde, I was told that I was never to wear black and that I "should" wear navy blue, light blues, and pinks. But I hate wearing those colors! The colors they chose for me made me feel sick and as if I was wearing someone else's clothes. I wasted money on those clothes and since then have always chosen colors by how I feel when I wear them.
Michelle's book "The Beauty Blueprint" is about aligning your appearance with who you are inside. As Michelle says, clothing and makeup colors must express who we are inside. They must feel right to us for us to feel beautiful and to enjoy wearing them.
Just before the end of the book, Michelle has included the following: "How to Buy Designer Clothes for Much Less," How to Apply Your Makeup Like a Pro," and also answers "Frequently Asked Fashion Questions."
Reading this book reminded me of things I've learned over the years about what it takes to look and feel my best. It also got me to have fun dreaming during the "wave your magic wand" exercise.
Michelle writes in an authentic, likable, sometimes funny, and unique voice – her voice. You'll be able to hear the passion and enthusiasm in her voice if you listen to the recording I've included above.
Am I glad I read this book? YES!! If you would like to build the life and look of your dreams, you'll want to buy this book.
To purchase "The Beauty Blueprint" by Michelle Phillips, click on one of the following links:
Thanks for the post I really appreciate it it was very useful
Posted by: Nikki | March 06, 2013 at 12:39 AM
Hi Duane,
You are so right – what matters most is how we feel inside – that is what people remember is how they feel when they are with us and when they think of us.
YES!!! Get a black suit. You can wear any color shirt with it and also fun colors for ties as well. Maybe one of these days I will finish the book I was starting to write before I began to write "The Art of Living a Life You Love." The working title was "COLOR, IMAGE & CHOICES: The Art of Looking and Feeling Your Personal Best." Some of what I was writing for that book – actually lots of it – made it into my book because as you said – and as Michelle says – it is how we feel fully alive which helps us look and feel our personal best.
I appreciate your comments especially because you are a man. Seeing your comments reminds me of how much Michelle's book can help both women and men to feel good and look their best.
Love, Margaux
Posted by: Margaux Joy DeNador | May 03, 2012 at 09:43 AM
Margaux, what an interesting interview with Michelle and an informative book review... I can totally relate to the part about getting ones colors done and having to wear specific that you don't care for.. Next suit I purchase will be black instead of gray because I was a Summer... It is great to hear Michelle talk about it matters more what you have going on in your inside than what you look like on the outside... The outside might get you noticed but what is on your inside keeps people interesting in you and wanting to be around you... Thanks for sharing with all of us...
Posted by: Duane Brovan | May 02, 2012 at 04:07 PM