Written by • Melissa Martin • Special to the News Journal

Shannon Reeves gets a pre-party makeup session with makeup artist John Dye at the Atlas Oyster House. / Ben Twingley/btwingley@pnj.com

Every other Wednesday night is ladies’ night for me and my girlfriends. We shoo the boys off to the sports pubs so that we can catch up with each other’s lives and current events. Most ladies’ nights we stay in and indulge in great food and wine — unless, of course, it’s Mexican night (I’m a sucker for a theme!). Then Jose is invited over to mix up some top-shelf margaritas.

But last Wednesday, we wanted to get out of the house and light up the town, so I decided to host a pre-game makeup party with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

Last year, I was fortunate enough to become friends with a local makeup artist named John Dye during a project we worked on for ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” Several months later, while driving to Volume One Salon to get dolled up for the Hip Huggers Ball with friends, I walked in and was pleasantly surprised to find that the girls had hired him to do our makeup for the event. I was so excited because I had seen how amazing he was on the set with cast members from “Extreme Makeover.” I found out later that he has also done makeup for artists such as Taylor Swift and has been featured on MTV and in music videos, commercials and the globally distributed Star Magazine. John’s philosophy is that “makeup is color, and color is color! So it’s not the product you use, or how much you spent on it … its how you apply it.”

To host a successful makeup party, you need three key ingredients: Cosmo cocktails, flirty treats and John Dye. We were all taught by the older women in our families to apply the basics in order to walk out of the house and not look like a hot mess; however, the nighttime scene is ever-changing and is full of different makeup styles that grandma knows nothing about.

Hosting a makeup event will unlock the secrets to the smoky eye and teach you how to pull off a pouty red lip. Of course, smoky eyes aren’t for the office, but when it comes to hitting the dance floor, nothing will make you feel more like a diva. Hiring Dye to host your makeup party depends upon availability, and pricing depends upon the number of girls at the party. For more information, check him out on Facebook at John Dye Makeup Artist.

Before Dye and the girls arrived, I set up a presentable display of savory, homemade mini quiches and salmon crisps along with various cheeses and fruits. I wanted to keep the menu light and bite-sized so not to smear our fresh, pouty lipstick. As far as cocktails are concerned, instead of serving a traditional Cosmo, I decided to make White Cosmopolitans. White Cosmos are simple and delicious. Made with white cranberry juice instead of red, this cocktail is sure to delight your taste buds and keep your whites bright and your smile showstopping.

Once the girls arrived, Dye did a short tutorial on different makeup techniques and then got started on the individual makeovers. On top of being a great makeup artist, Dye is a comedian with a blush brush. You will never laugh so hard in your life, but don’t crack a smile when it’s eyeliner time unless you’re looking for that Catwoman effect.

Plan your party to allow enough time to ensure that all the girls get their makeup done. The average amount of time per girl is 15 minutes, so starting around 6 p.m. will put you on the dance floor by 9 p.m. if you have no more than 10 girls.

Once our hair was fluffed and our makeup was flawless, we felt more than confident, so we hit up downtown scene.

Whether you’re a full-time career woman or full-time mom — and especially if you’re both — it is always important to find some time for yourself and the girls to recharge the diva batteries. A week of laundry and deadlines can weigh you down, but it is nothing a little blush and a Cosmo can’t fix.

Melissa Martin is an event planner for The Great Southern Restaurant Group, call her to plan a party for you – 433-9450, or visit www.goodgrits.com.

To learn more about John Dye check him out on Facebook by clicking here!