Hello Gorgeous Guide- online companion to "HELLO, GORGEOUS!: BEAUTY PRODUCTS IN AMERICA, '40s-'60s" By Rachel Weingarten

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HelloGorgeousGuide.com is the online companion to

"Hello Gorgeous! Beauty Products in America '40s-'60s " by Rachel C. Weingarten

Pull up a lounge chair babycakes, and get comfy as you sip a groovy cocktail

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Hello Gorgeous! will be part of the curriculum and required reading at several high schools and colleges focusing on marketing, cultural and women's studies. Big thanks to the Life Coaches at Daily Life Coaching and Consulting for developing the Hello Gorgeous! reading guide and activities...(hint, that would be Rachel's sister Kiki and her brilliant team at www.dailylifeconsulting.com)

Hello Gorgeous! makes a great choice for book groups and encourages dialogue about the perception of beauty throughout the ages, feminism, beauty culture and more. Contact Rachel if you'd like her to join you (by phone) at your next book group! Rachel [at] hellogorgeousguide [dot] com

	Hello Gorgeous Reading and Book Group Guide

	Before you begin the actual activity try answering these questions. They are for your eyes only (if you want them to be) and will help you when you participate in the reading group discussions by giving you a stronger sense of yourself and your personal beliefs about beauty. It will also make you think about how you came to feel and think that way.

	Write the answers in a journal or somewhere you feel comfortable and go!

	1) Stand in front of the mirror looking at as much of yourself as you feel like/want to/can. Answer these questions:
	What's your best feature? (Now - if that feels like it's way too hard to answer - try this) What's your worst feature? What do you like least about yourself? Why? What's your best feature? What do you like most about yourself? Why? How much of what you answered above is based on your deepest thoughts and feelings about yourself? How much of what you answered is based on messages you've heard from "the outside"? Who is your "outside"? Friends? Family? Celebrities? Magazines? TV? Internet? Is there anything about yourself that you'd like to change? Why would you change that about yourself? (Pay attention to the voices that are answering this question - is it "you" or is it your "outside"?) Does the change require internal or external changes? Does it require cosmetics? Plastic surgery? Exercise? Intellectual activity? How much/would it cost money? How would it change your life? What would you be able to do differently? How would it make you feel and why? Would the change enable you to "get" other things? How? Would you be perceived differently by others? How? By whom?
	MORE


	Ok - Now we've done the background work. You've given some thought to what you think and feel about yourself. On to the next part.
	2. Collect a stack of your favorite magazines - (ones that you've read already - you'll be cutting them up.
	Look through them and look at the ads you like then answer these questions: What do you like about them? Do they depict an image you feel you look like - or that you'd like to be Do they have celebrities/models you like? Which ads don't you like? Why? How did you hear about the magazine? Do your friends read it? Do you talk about the ads with your friends? How many of the items in the ads do you own? How many do you plan to buy? Why? How will the product make you feel? How do you anticipate it will change your life or how you feel about yourself?
	3) Go through the magazines again. You'll be making two collages. Cut out the ads that show how you want to feel/look and products that will enable you to feel that way - in the future. Include words and phrases. Make a collage out of it. (You can use posterboard, glue or tape - whichever you prefer) Cut out pictures that show how you feel RIGHT NOW - include words and phrases. Make a collage out of that as well. Compare the two.
	4) Now. Go back to the original questions and answer them again. In your book group discuss them.
	5) Compare collages - do your friends see the same �you� that you see? How are you the same to them? How are you different?
	6) Repeat the exercise whenever you feel you want to get some clarity on how you're feeling and how "outside" is making you feel.
	Think about ways to strengthen and improve your sense of self so that you can see yourself clearly no matter what you see and hear from "outside".
	7) Watch/Tape/Tivo an hour of your favorite show. What kinds of products are most of the commercials for? Do you own some/many/most of the products? Do you want to get the ones you don't have? Why or why not? Why do you think the advertisers are paying lots of money to show their ads during this show? Why would they want you to see it? How do you think you can influence the kinds of commercials you see? Can you? (Hint - think of email and online campaigns which don't have to be costly on your budget)

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