The following is a paid review:

Yasiv Marin is a makeup artist located in Vancouver, BC. What young girl doesn’t fall in love with the idea of using makeup? Yasiv did – at a very young age, “I was just a little 8 year old girl when I began paying close attention to when my beautiful aunt was dolling herself up with makeup. My aunt owned so much makeup than I had ever seen and so I thought “Someday I’ll have just as much make-up as her so I can be just as beautiful”. Little did I know, I would end up owning a lot more makeup than most girls.”

Yasiv says “Make-up is magical. It transforms every woman into feeling and looking their absolute best. It really is amazing what it does to you! The trick is knowing what colors look best on you, where and how to apply color, and that’s what I’m here for.”

I can certainly attest to the wonders of makeup – - I won’t leave home without it! At my wedding, I had a makeup artist do mine, and my bridesmaids – - that was just so cool! On that special day, the last thing you want to worry about is applying your makeup perfectly. Heck – my hands were to shaky on that day to be weilding a mascara wand! Having a professional on the spot there to do my makeup for me was actually a big relief!

Yasiv has some client testimonials on her website that show her own clients feel the same way — they’ve all had some pretty excellent experiences with her services.

A quick read through her blog at Yasiv Marin – Vancouver Makeup Artist will give you a glimpse into the person behind the brushes – and you may just pick up a few great tips along the way!

Yasiv has a beautiful portfolio of work – although, I would have loved to have seen some before and after shots – - particularly of brides on their special day. I have a few before and afters of myself and the transformation is phenomenal!

Yasiv’s rates are very reasonable – and her services cover Hair and Makeup for everything from Brides and Bridesmaids, Proms, Makeup Parties (does that NOT sound like fun?), and headshots.

Don’t let her Vancouver, BC location fool you – she is available for travel, both locally and internationally. (additional travel charges do apply).

Disclaimer: I have been paid to provide a review of Yasiv Marin – Vancouver Makeup Artist by the company owner. They do not require that I provide a positive review or make any other requirements for my review. This review does not go through an editorial process – I review ‘em as I see ‘em!

Wedding Cakes You Can Make: Designing, Baking, and Decorating the Perfect Wedding CakeMake the cake?
Yes, you can.

If you love to bake and are willing to plan ahead, you can make a spectacular wedding cake—and you don’t have to be a pastry chef to do it! Let prominent wedding cake expert Dede Wilson guide you through every layer of the process—from choosing among flavors and styles to baking, assembling, and decorating your way to a beautiful and delicious cake. This accessible cookbook not only gets you ready for the big event, it helps you lend a truly personal touch to the celebration.

“If you want to make your own wedding cake, Dede Wilson is the perfect guide. She helps you bake with confidence every step of the way to a delicious personalized result.”
—Donna Ferrari, BRIDE’S magazine

Let them eat cake—in fact, let them eat your cake. Whether you’re the bride, the groom, or a loving friend or family member who wants to make that special day unforgettable, public television cooking show host Dede Wilson knows that you—yes, you—can bake, frost, assemble, and decorate a spectacular, delicious, and totally unique wedding cake that won’t put your budget over the edge—even if you’ve never mastered anything more complicated than a birthday cake or two. In Wedding Cakes You Can Make, this top-tier expert reveals that all it takes to make that big-day cake is a love of baking and a willingness to plan properly and work patiently.

Whether you’re feeding 20 or 150 people, preparation begins long before you preheat the oven. In this easy-to-follow, hands-on guide, Wilson takes you through the entire process, from the drawing board to the presentation table, sharing time-tested techniques that help you turn that cake of your dreams into a delectable reality.

She helps you get started by having you write a wish list that can be honed into a framework for the ideal cake. Then it’s time to make the cake happen by working through all the practical elements that come into play, such as setting your budget (and sticking to it); choosing the essential flavors (if chocolate is the bride’s passion, don’t leave it out!); considering the wedding date (if it’s October, think about fall colors); accommodating the number of guests (small guest list equals modest-sized cake); keeping in tune with the wedding’s style or mood (beach-casual vs. black tie-formal); and getting organized (time to borrow that decorating turntable).

When it comes to execution, Wilson encourages you to use the highest-quality ingredients and equipment specific to the task, and to gain a foundation by making a six-inch sample cake—an integral step that, much like dating, allows you to try the cake on for size before making the final commitment. She shares her own favorite flavor combinations as well as those most frequently requested by bridal couples. For each of the 16 cakes, Wilson provides essential details—a timeline, thorough recipe directions, and tips. Recipes range from the lighthearted Raspberries and Cream Cake to the contemporary Nutella Cake and the sophisticated Gilded Mocha Cake. Color photographs of all the finished cakes and dozens of how-to photos give you the inspiration and know-how to bake your own special wedding cake.

As Wilson says, wedding cake flavor and design choices are infinite. In Wedding Cakes You Can Make, she helps you create your own special slice of what is possible.