I've decided that I need to loosen up. Let my hair down (though, once I get the pixie cut, that'll be tricky) and throw caution to the wind.

And how will I do this? By expanding my makeup horizons, of course. Don't know about you, but I've been using the same products and applying them the same way pretty much since the first Bush was in office.

I have a couple of buh-bye summer parties on the calendar in the coming weeks and I figure they'll be the perfect occasions to road test a few new looks.

To that end, I'm gonna mix it up. This is where my star gazing tendencies come in handy. (Celebrities, not celestial formations.) And, while this can get tricky because I don't really think women of a certain age should attempt, say, to pull off dramatic blue eyeliner a la Rihanna, I may try the smoky green eyeshadow Jessica Alba's been partial to of late or endeavor to replicate Kim Kardashian's awe-inspiring smoky eye and mile-long lashes.

It's the lipstick department that I really need help in though. I've never been able to stand having color on my lips. Maybe it's because my teeth are naturally really white and I've been loathe to be one of those clueless types who walks around with color smudges on their teeth (no offense if this happens to you, I know it's not easy to avoid).

Whatever the reason, I've made it a personal mission for me to wear bright red lips to one of these shindigs. I know to keep the rest of my makeup sedate and not to dress in fuchsia (not that I ever would anyway), but I'm wondering which celeb to take my cue from. Cameron Diaz always pulls off a red pout with aplomb, as do Christina Aguilera and Gwen Stefani -- not that I want to replicate much else about those last two. But, I think I'm going to try channeling Sienna Miller's look -- if only I could morph into her for an afternoon or two -- that would be a blast. Including the "snogging" Jude Law part.

Wait, lost focus. Where was I again? Oh, my lips. Yeah, so I think the "Fun New Makeup for My Last Hurrah of Summer" docket will boast: a smokey Kardashian/Alba eye and Sienna Miller's red pout.

I'll let you know how it turns out. Who knows, maybe I'll even glom on to one of these looks and wear it until the next Bush comes into office. Shudder.