Hello my lovelies! I hope you are all having a wonderful holiday season and are getting ready for the big 2010!!

I would like to wish you a very happy new year and may all your wishes come true.  Thank you SO much for making my 2009 beautiful and I’m looking forward to another great year together:) There is a lot more to come here at Talking Makeup: beauty and makeup reviews, celebrity beauty and celebrity interviews, amazing giveaways and fashion & style. And remember, when it comes to beauty do what works for you and don’t be afraid to be yourself! Everyone of you is already a star all you have to do is just shine. I love you all!   xoxo Marta Walsh

Marta Walsh your Super Blogger:)

Beyonce and Jay-Z were seen together in Berlin for the MTV European Music Awards 2009. I must say, Beyonce’s red lips are a wow factor!!

To get Beyonce’s glamorous red lips I LOVE Rouge d’Armani Lipstick #401 by Giorgio Armani Beauty. I’m addicted to it! It instantly brightens my face. Ultimate elegance in a tube!

Rouge d’Armani 401: The Perfect Holiday Lipstick

Rihanna was spotted without makeup recently. No makeup guys!! What do you think? Does Rihanna look pretty all natural or not so much?

Blake Lively was spotted in New York at the film premiere of  “Where The Wild Things Are” looking so beautiful. Blake is Marta’s absolute favorite new Hollywood starlet. I admire her effortless beauty.

What do you think about Blake Lively’s long nude colored nails? Is this the latest in nail trends?

Blake Lively at the Emmy Awards 2009

Stars of ‘Nine’ Nicole Kidman, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, and  Kate Hudson grace the Vogue Magazine cover November 2009. This Vogue cover was photographed by Annie Leibovitz. The movie “Nine” directed by Rob Marshall is about a famous film director Guido Contini who struggles to find harmony in his professional and personal lives, as he engages in dramatic relationships with his wife, his mistress, his muse, his agent, and his mother. Release Date:25 December 2009 (USA).

Which “Nine” star on the cover of Vogue Magazine November 2009 is your favorite or is the perfect 10?:)

The Women of Nine [From Left]: Judi Dench, Marion Cotillard, Kate Hudson, Fergie, Nicole Kidman, Penélope Cruz, and Sophia Loren, at London’s Shepperton Studios.

Last year, thanks to Neutrogena, I was given a chance to interview actress Malin Akerman for Talking Makeup’s Celebrity Beauty section Beauty Interviews.

Malin Akerman starred in the 2007 Farrelly Brothers movie The Heartbreak Kid and in the 2008 film 27 Dresses opposite Katherine Heigl. Malin also played Laurie Juspeczyk in the film adaptation of Watchmen, and The Proposal. And recently, Malin Akerman plays opposite Vince Vaughn in a the film Couples Retreat which was released ctober 9th, 2009. Other actors in the film include: Kristen Bell, Kristin Davis, and Kali Hawk.

In this interview Malin Akerman talks about her partnership last year with Neutrogena in an effort to educate people about skin cancer prevention. Reveals her top 3 beauty secrets. What aspects in acting she loves the most. Her reaction to Marta Walsh’s conviction of her becoming Hollywood’s next it starlet, and her films in 2009: The Watchmen and The Proposal.

Marta Walsh: What compelled you to partner with Neutrogena in the effort to educate people about skin cancer prevention?
Malin Akerman: This video and message is something I have a passion for because I understand the importance of checking your skin for suspicious moles. I recently had a suspicious mole removed on my face; I noticed it was changing shape and asked my dermatologist to examine it. I was one of the luckier ones.

MW: If you had to pick one Neutrogena skincare product to incorporate into your skin cancer prevention routine, what would it be?
MA: I would have to say Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 85 as it is really the “gold-standard” in sun protection. It contains Helioplex, which offers the highest level UVA sun protection available in the U.S., while shielding skin against sunburn and premature aging.

MW: What are your top 3 beauty secrets?
MA: Wear a moisturizing face cream with 30 or higher SPF every day. Use a gentle face wash to clean your skin every day (my favorite is Neutrogena foaming face wash) and remember to smile… it automatically makes you 10 times more beautiful!

MW: What was the best part of collaborating with Neutrogena?
MA: Since Neutrogena is the leader in sun protection technology, I am happy that I was able to partner with such a well-known brand to raise awareness about self-examination and skin cancer prevention. By working with Neutrogena, I am able to encourage as many individuals as possible to check themselves every month, especially since early detection is the key in the prevention of skin cancer.

MW: Can you tell us about your first Neutrogena experience?
MA: I have been working with Neutrogena for about a year now, and it has been great. I was given the opportunity to appear in some viral advertisements for their sunless tanner and was then approached with the chance to participate in this informative viral video and empower people to do self-examinations on themselves and their loved ones.

MW: What aspects of acting do you love the most?
MA: I love the challenges you face on a daily basis. Trying to make your character real and believable. Trying to make people laugh or cry. Trying to top your best performance. There just isn’t one day that is the same as the next and I love that diversity in my job.

MW: What are one or two things some people may not know about you?
MA: Well, if I told you then it wouldn’t be a secret anymore… but I’ll give you one; I have webbed toes on my right foot!

MW: Who would you invite to your ultimate dinner party?
MA: Bob Dylan, Paolo Coelho, The Rolling Stones, Lasse Hallstrom, Ellen DeGeneres, Simon Cowell, Madonna, and all of my closest friends and family.

MW: After watching you act in ‘27 Dresses’ and in ‘The Heartbreak Kid’ with Ben Stiller, I’m convinced you are Hollywood’s next superstar. Are you excited what the future holds for you?
MA: Thank you. I am flattered by your conviction! I am very excited that opportunities are now opening up for me and that the possibility of getting paid for what I love to do most for the next couple of years is becoming a reality. As we all know however, as fast as you can become a hot commodity in Hollywood, is as fast as you can be forgotten, so I just hope for a few great years!

MW: What other movies or projects are you currently working on?
MA: I have nothing concrete to brag about yet, but am looking through a bunch of scripts to see if something might catch my eye for the near future. Coming out in 2009 I have two films that I just finished; The Watchmen and The Proposal.

It was a pleasure to interview the beautiful Malin you can find out more about the full Neutrogena line at www.neutrogena.com

I’m not huge on watching sports on TV, but I must admit that one sport I do love to watch is Figure Skating. I enjoy watching the costumes, the makeup, and listening to the music. This is why I’m thrilled to share with you my interview with figure skating champion Rachael Flatt.  Rachel is 2008 World Junior Champion and the 2008 & 2009 U.S. silver medalist.

In this interview Rachel Flatt talks to Marta Walsh about her beginnings as a figure skater. The biggest moments of her figure skating career so far. Reveals some of her beauty secrets and future plans.

Photo Credit: USOC / NBC Sports

Marta Walsh: What attracted you to figure skating and what are some of your biggest moments in your career so far?
Rachael Flatt: I started figure skating when I was about 3 1/2- 4 yrs old. I was at the local mall in San Diego with my parents when I was 2 1/2 yrs old and the local skating club was hosting their annual summer ice show. I told my parents that I wanted to try it…I liked the idea that the skaters seemed to float effortlessly across the ice, loved the idea of spinning and jumping and they seemed to be having a lot of fun. About 4 months later, I started “Learn to Skate” lessons and have not turned back. Love it just as much over 10 yrs later as the day I started! Truly a life long passion!

Photo Credit: Getty Images and www.dailymakeover.com

Biggest moments so far in my career: Well, I would have to say that there have been several and for very different reasons. My first National Championship title: I won the Novice Ladies event when I was 12 yrs old at the 2005 US National Championships in Portland, Oregon. I loved the competition because the fans were so supportive, I had the chance to skate in a large arena for the very first time, and got to perform in the Champions Exhibition on Sunday with all the other champions from each level and discipline and it was very inspiring. Winning the World Junior Championship in 2008 in Sophia, Bulgaria: A World champion! Pretty cool! My first US Figure Skating Championship as a Senior Lady: I was 14 yrs old and had two pretty good performances and finished 5th overall! The move up from Novice to Junior to Senior doesn’t sound like much, but competing with so many of the skaters you have watched and admired for several years, the presence of the media is an adjustment, but again, it was an absolute blast! And, most recently, the 2009 World Championships that were held in Los Angeles in March. It was a sort of homecoming for me because I grew up 100 miles south of LA in Del Mar, CA. So, my first coach, alot of my friends from Del Mar as well as my first rink in San Diego came to watch the competition. It truly was a homecoming as the crowd was incredibly supportive and to receive a standing ovation from a southern California home town crowd at the end of my long program is something I will never forget. And, I am sure there are more to come!

MW: How do you manage to balance your figure skating career with school and being a teenager?
RF: Time management skills are key. I think alot of skaters have similar skill sets because you learn early on in your training, that you only have so much time on the ice each day and you have certain goals or tasks that you need to complete each day and perhaps on each training session. You know that your ice time is limited, so you need to be effective with your time to achieve those daily goals. And, a day planner and my AT&T Blackberry! Can’t live without them!

MW: What are some of the lessons and disciplines figure skating has thought you as a person? What does it take to succeed as a figure skater? What advice can you give to anyone interested in this career?
RF: As I mentioned above, time management skills go hand in hand with this particular sport. And… Patience. If you want to have longevity in a sport like this, you have to be patient. Work at your skills daily, don’t procrastinate. Eventually, you will learn the new skill, rotate a clean jump, spin faster, express your choreography better, skate clean programs. It’s all about breaking down a big project to manageable goals…daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly. And, having the patience to know that some days are going be better than others. To quote Aristotle: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” I truly believe that!

MW: What is next for Rachael Flatt?
RF: It’s a busy season for me right now. I am training hard in preparation for my Senior Grand Prix assignments: Cup of China (Beijing) at the end of October, and then Skate America in Lake Placid, NY in mid-November. I’m very excited for both events and my goal is to medal at both events, improving my programs at each event and qualifying for the Senior Grand Prix Final in December in Japan. The US National Championships are in January in Spokane, Washington and the results of US Nationals will be heavily considered in determining TEAM USA at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games. I am a senior in high school, and diligently working on college applications and essays and graduation is at the end of May! So, lots of excitement this year!!

Rachel Flatt On Beauty Secrets:

MW: What is your signature fragrance?
RF: BVLGARI: Eau Parfumee Au The Blanc

MW: Which beauty products we’ll always find in my makeup bag?
RF: MAC eyeshadows, lipglosses and Cherry Chapstick (a necessity for being in Colorado where the air is so dry and in an ice rink 3-4 hrs each day!)

MW: Which products are in your shower?
RF: Pantene Pro-V shampoo

MW: What is your philosophy about beauty?
RF: A look that radiates confidence!

MW: What are your favorite beauty treatment destinations?
RF: Locally here in Colorado Springs: Aveda Salon for skin care and J Gregory Hair Salon. But, I have to say, I did very much enjoy my day with Dorothy Hamill and Ludmilla Suvorova at Oscar Blandi Salon in NYC!

MW: Who are the Celebrities that inspire you with their talent and beauty?
RF: Reese Witherspoon: simply elegant! She always looks fabulous! Kate Hudson’s confidence!

MW: Which city do you love the most?
RF: Florence, Italy!

MW: What one or two things some people may not know about Rachael Flatt?
RF: I LOVE roller coasters…the higher and faster the better, and one of my favorite sayings is “Work Hard, Play Harder!”

I would like to thank Rachel Flatt for her time and for brilliant interview!!

For more information about Rachael Flatt and the rest of the US team, go to nbcolympics.com