Friday, December 26, 2014

Hello, there, stranger!  How is your holiday season?  It seems like we start the winter season in November... we get ready for Thanksgiving, celebrate Thanksgiving, and then we're getting ready for the winter break and time off.  We try to make family time and friends time and alone time and fun time... All in all, the fun requires quite a bit of balance!  Did I forget to mention that students are dealing with exams through all this and us adults are managing this on top of work?  Oi vey!

One thing that is inevitable in the winter season is dry skin.  Till winter blows in, I am unaware (each year, by the way) of the multitude of places that can turn dry overnight!  There's lips, and face, and ears, and toes, and then the rest of your skin!

So today I wanted to share some of the products that are on our side, fighting the deep crevices that form on our skin from the dry air and healing the rashes that remain as scars after a windy adventure outside.

 First of all is the Elizabeth Arden Hydrating Mask.  This mask is fabulous for your face when you have dry patches so tattered it looks like you are peeling from a sunburn (ew!).  It has a light neutral scent, and stays on for only 15 minutes.  I've tried this on my hands, as well, and it is great for keeping the top of your hands soft.
 Next is face moisturizers.  It seems like I have tried many moisturizers and serums, but these are the three that I love most.  The Garnier Moisture Rescue Gel-Cream for Dry Skin: oh, my gosh, this smells fantastic!  Like fresh roses and flowers in a light, non-allergy way!  The gel formula is soft and absorbs quickly.  Despite the fact that it is for Dry Skin, I think it is better as a daily moisturizer, not as a heavy duty night cream, as it is not strong enough to fix stubborn dry patches.  The Neutrogena Naturals night cream is a bit stronger, although the scent is a bit stronger, as well.  It smells like oats and the consistency is not as flattery as the Garnier gel (but, hey, night creams aren't meant to be pretty, right?).  I like that the Neutrogena cream is pretty neutral and is great at dry patches.  I've tried other creams and serum and was allergic to the perfume! And when all else fails, slap on some thick Nivea Creme just on your dry patches, and try not to rub on anything!
Two great balms are the Bobbi Brown lip balm and the Nivea Lip Butter in Raspberry Rose Kiss.  Both are absolutely soft.  My only quip about the Nivea one is that it leaves your lips a little milky in color; however, the heavenly smell more than makes up for it, and I use this one at night.  The Bobbi Brown one is sooooo thick that it lasts a crazy long time on the lips.  It's one of those products that will smooth out rocky lips in one or two applications (even handy for men as it is clear and not shiny).  A great mask is the Bite Agave Mask - Bite has recently come out with tinted ones, which is fun!  Though it is a bit price for a lip treatment, the intense treatment it provides is worth it!  It tastes (er... I mean, smells!  I won't actually eat it!) like sweet honey and is as moisturizing as it.  The last product is by It Cosmetics - and it is their Vitality Lipstick.  I thought it would be a cool lip color as it adjusts color based on your lips, but as an added bonus, it is super moisturizing!  I've been using it as a deep treatment when I go out and want some natural color!

How are you doing in surviving the winter?  I hope you get to enjoy time with family and some down time, as well!

Toodles!

Monday, November 3, 2014

Nail polish that glows in the dark?

It's a childhood dream come true!

When I was a kiddo, I loved everything sparkly, but more than that, I was so intrigued with anything glow in the dark!  Now, here's a product that would have trumped my 13-year-old self's sparkly blue retainer...

Nail polish that glows in the dark!  Seriously, it's nail polish! That glooows in the dark.  I can't get across how excited I am about this!  Is this a 90's thing?

I remember when I was a kid and I thought it was awesome that there was glow in the dark paint!  That was even cooler than the glow in the dark plastic shapes you could stick on the wall.  And yes, I mean shapes, not just the stars that are out now.  Yes, I totally had glow in the dark dogs and cats plastered on my walls!  Now, there was a time after this when someone brilliant came out with color changing nail polish (affected by UV!).  But this glow in the dark stuff?  It trumps all those things!  It changes color AND glows in the dark.

The teen girl in me is off to listen to some Backstreet boys and paint her nails!  I'll let you know how it turns out!

Monday, October 27, 2014

Science + Makeup = Yes, please!

Happy Monday!  Day of opportunities, day of begrudging the end of the weekend, day of the start of plans, and day of change!

Have y'all heard of makeup that adjust to your skin's pH?  Most of these products claim to transform into a color that is the most optimal for your skin.  But.... based on how pH works, it just changes to your pH level and could look anywhere from blah to glamorous.

I have tried 3 products that are in this group and absolutely love all of them!

Tarte Skintuitive Lip Tint in Energy 
This lip gloss is minty and absolutely gorgeous! (Or is that just my pH that's gorgeous? :) ) The transparent pink transforms into pink berry color on lips that stains like you've just eaten red fruits.  It is reminiscent of the original Revlon Just Bitten sticks, but the color is so unique that I haven't found it in any other tube!
Tarte Skintuitive Cheek Stain in Energy
This cheeky product (see what I did there? ;) ) is similar to the lip tint.  I actually tried the lip tint on my cheeks and got the same result as this little blush!  It's nice that the packaging is bigger so you can just swipe it on your cheeks and blend in!  It is so easy to blend in with your fingers!  It is extremely pigmented, however, and can easily make you look like you are actually blushing from something embarrassing happening - so you may want to try it out on your hand the first time!  I can see this working superbly well with a stippling brush, but honestly, it is so easy to blend that I usually just use my fingers!
Physician's Formula PH Matchmaker
First of all... this packaging!  Yes, and there's a mirror with a built in light that you can turn on!  Talk about glamour!  But most importantly, this blush is just fabulously gorgeous!  Now I love cool toned, berry shades, so keep that in mind.  This blush will not give you a coral color if that's what you're looking for.  I love that this blush is pigmented and buildable.  Plus, as natural as it looks, it does look like a smooth pop of color - not like you are actually blushing.

Toodle pip!




Thursday, October 23, 2014

You are your own Hercules

Hey y'all!  I love the words of this song ... the words and the music!  Happy Thursday!

"There's a hero
If you look inside your heart
You don't have to be afraid
Of what you are
There's an answer
If you reach into your soul
And the sorrow that you know
Will melt away

And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you"


Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Score or Bore?

Hey y'all!  Now I must preface this with the fact that I absolutely adore Physician's Formula as a whole.  I have tried so many of their products and there has only been one that I didn't completely fall in love with!

Nevertheles... the following product was such a dud!

It looks so promising in the package:

It entices with a splendid mixture of varied tones of pink.  It should be a beautiful natural blush with the balance that a Laura Geller balance-n-brighten foundation offers.  As a bonus, the package is deliriously feminine and gorgeous!

On my super pale skin, this blush barely shows up!  Don't be fooled by the glitter writing on it - it is an overspray that quickly erases.  The colors underneath look like a pale, pale, barely pigmented pink.  It is reminiscent of a color-correcting powder (you know, the ones that contain blue, green, yellow, and pink to counteract any discoloration?), but instead of color correcting, it just looks white with a hint of pink.  The pink doesn't even come through on my skin.  On many applications, it looks slightly pink, but more white than anything else.  Bummer!  I worry what this looks like on medium or dark tones.  Certainly such a pale blush is too light for medium tones, but it should be perfect for pale girls.

The Ruling? It's a bore :(



Tuesday, October 21, 2014

"It's the perfect time of day...

...to throw all your cares away"

I wanted to share with you some gems I sewed up today!  They just make me smile!
First is a headband with lace that looks like a crown - for days when you want to look like a queen in a demure way!  But obviously still stating that you are royalty and fully self-important.  Hmm, lace and pink satin... makes me so happy! 

And then of course I had to make one for more quiet days when you must hide your royalty - when all you want to do is walk through the street market and fall in love with a boy...

These are so easy to make: the second is just a tube sewed up together and flipped inside out!  The lace is from a canopy my husband and I sewed for our wedding :) Now that's reminiscent of falling in love with a boy....




Monday, October 20, 2014

Eyeshadows!

Hi. y'all!  So.... as a near 30 year old, I only started using eyeshadow this year.  I wasn't against it, I just wasn't into it, ya know?  And what I find now is that eyeshadow is so fun to play with!

If, for some reason, you too have been hiding under a rock the last few years or are just ready to play with some cool eyeshadow colors, read on, my friend!

I wanted to share with you a few looks that are ridiculously easy.  I mean, when I started learning about eyeshadows, I kept wondering where this "crease" thing was.  So, here's a look to try with one shade!  I used a deep sparkly purple.

Take your shadow and "pat" it on with a brush (a dense, non-puffy one is best as it can pack on pigment without splattering it everywhere!) on your eyelid from your lashes to the "crease."  The crease is where your eyes fold in the socket - if you push with your fingers, it's between the top of your eyeball and your brow bone.  Next, use a small, precise brush to line the outer part of your bottom line.  Yep, go ahead and smooth it out on the bottom!  Try some mascara on both your top and bottom lashes!  This look works great with deep colors like browns, taupes, and dark purples.  But try it with a light color and see how it makes your eyes pop!

Hint: try smoothing a little eye primer on your lid before you start.  If you don't have any eye primer, try some concealer or face primer.

On a 2-D person, it looks like this:


On a 3-D person, it looks like this: 

Me, personally I like the 3-D person.... but ya know, I'm a little bit biased towards her!

Have fun with your colors!  Makeup, if nothing else, is about fun!

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Yesterday was National Grump Day

... but I missed it because I was busy being grumpy.

Have you seen the movie, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days?

Here are some of my how to's:

How to.... be super productive
1. Write a list of everything that needs to be done.  Prioritize 5 things that need to be done today.
2. Keep a notepad next to you.  As you think of some other little thing to do, or need space for doodles, write them down and get back to work.
3. Track your hours: knock out 1 big thing and 2-3 little things.  Then take a 5 minute break to stretch, walk around, and get some water.
4. If you're working on the computer, look away after 20 minutes of working; meanwhile, stretch your neck to the side and back.
5. Have a relaxing prize in mind.  Whether it's a clean desk, a bath, a cup of tea, an item you wanted to buy, or an outing with a friend - make sure you have something to look forward to.  Here's the cinch: you get it no matter how today goes.  So, if you have a busy day only to have your boss change their mind and make tomorrow another stressful day, you still get that bath ;)

How to.... be grumpy
1. Enjoy cute grumpy and frumpy cartoon such as Maxine.  Decorate your desk with with these calendars.
2. Post pictures of un-smiling animals whilst everyone is posting pictures of cute and smiling pets.  Share a grumpy cat photo, a frowning alligator,  an apathetic dog.  If you are not feeling particularly creative, visit http://www.grumpycats.com/ for inspiration.
3. Wear loose clothing - think yoga pants, scarves, and hoodies, and refuse to do anything reasonable, proclaiming that today is a grumpy day.
4. Try not to smile or laugh.  It's a quick way to end the grumpy day.  Be wary of those who try to cheer you up, particularly those close to you - they know how to get to you.
5. Make lists of things that make you grumpy.  Leaf blowers, bugs, sad people, the cold....

How to.... survive a period (for women)
1. Drink lots of water.  Yep!  Despite the bloating, drink lots of water to keep your body clean on the inside.  Anytime you feel a swell of emotion of pain, drink some more.
2. Accept that you may be a little off... whatever "little" means to you.  Take care of your emotional self at this point.
3. Try deep breathing.  I don't mean sit and focus on the pain for hours... I mean, take a few deep breaths in between what you are doing.
4. Stretch!  Don't feel compelled to do heavy aerobics, but do make sure to stretch your back, torso, legs, and feet.
5. Calorie count.  Wait what??? Yep... that's what I said.  Make sure you try to eat healthy during this time as you'll need those nutrients.  If you do eat unhealthily (hey it happens) make sure your calorie count isn't soaring through the roof.  Those calories will stay with you after this time is gone.

How to.... survive a period (for married men)
1. Offer to bring your wife things.  Chocolate, advil, heating pads...
2. Bring your wife things without asking... don't know what? Chocolate, tea, something pretty are always safe bets.
3. Escape the insanity!  Make sure you leave and hang out with friends or family, cause hey, you need to take care of your mental health too.
4. Make sure you don't get too sympathetic: don't develop a sympathetic period.  Remind yourself that your body is not hormonal and craving extra calories and tears.
5. Watch movies and cozy up together.

How to.... have a snow day
1. Pick out favorite movies and make popcorn.
2. Grab the warmest blankets and make a fort of them on a bed or couch.  Bonus points if you are near a fireplace.
3. Go play outside (even if you're an adult... maybe particularly if you're an adult) until you are exhausted.   Come inside, change into your most wintry themed pjs, and have some hot chocolate while cozy-ing in your blanket fort.
4. Take a nap!
5. Go to bed early or stay up really late - have a sleepover and talk late into the night or watch movie after movie.

How to.... make quick and affecting changes in your life
1. Get your hair styled or cut or colored
2. Put up a picture near your desk or some place that you spend a lot of time
3. If you're a girl: get a makeover or a manicure that's different that usual
4. Buy yourself a new work bag.  Make sure it's something that makes you giddy happy as well as being practical.  (Are you a sucker for pockets?  Does that thing have 23? Score!
5. Change when you go to bed.  Yep!  Go to bed earlier.... try super early and see how that goes.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Change

I've been thinking recently about change and how we purposefully affect our daily routines.  Sometimes it's a matter of changing a habit, sometimes you see the goal ahead of you.  Flossing more.... and you see yourself with healthy gums at your next dentist appointment.

Sometimes you don't see the goal.  You just know you're moving in a good direction.

Whether it's working out, eating healthy, quitting a habit, being fearless in trying new things...
the key is to take one small step at a time.  Yes, I know, we've all heard this before.  We can't turn into marathoners over night if we've never stepped into a pair of sneakers.  But here's my secret:

Reward yourself & celebrate small steps!

You can call them "small" all you want, but in reality (IRL as they say), they are big huge steps!  When a child learns to crawl, that is a big step!  It only seems little when compared to the idea of the child walking.  Some motivational ideas revolve around the fact that if you work hard enough, you can become the person you want to be...you can be the marathoner.  Along with this, though, I think it's important to remember that it not only matters where you're going but how far you've gone.  A day of ten minutes of walking is still a success if you've never worked out in your life.  

The amazing thing is that we can have many goals, and once one goal is finished - once you start running marathons! - "you get to go find a new dream."


Too corny for you?

I think of Kate Winslet in The Holiday:

"I like corny.  I'm looking for corny in my life."

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

How to Defy Winter

If there was the equivalent of a rain dance to stop winter in its tracks, I would be up to try it. Magic? Voodoo? Let's just stop the cold from coming!

If you, like me, are a warm-weathered gal that brings out the heavy socks when it drops below 70, let's unite to stop winter!





Here's my plan:
1. Wear bright nail colors and bright lip colors.  Don't care what burgundy hues are in, my fingers need a little bright coming their way so they remember that they will eventually defrost.
2. Keep wearing summer dresses.  Ok, ok, with boots, tights, and sweaters.... but still, they are summer dresses!
3. Bring out brightly colored blankets!  Because, hey, if the heavy duty blankets must be pulled out, let's make sure they are not drab and wintery-sad-looking.
4. Eat those fruits and veggies!  And pretend they're smoothies and summer fruits even though they may look like chili and heavy duty soups.
5. Exercise!  Maybe inside, so you don't have to rehash the whole "face burning when I barely open the door" scenario because it's so cold outside.  Let's limit outing to work and errands.  Plus, working out make your body feel good and you can pretend that you're getting into bikini shape.
6. Speaking of bikini shapes, there's no reason to stop wearing coconut scents and sparkles on your face!  Am I right or am I right?  Note: if you see and elderly woman walking around with sparkly earrings, nails, lips, and cheeks in 50 years, come say hi! You're never too old to sparkle.
7. Bring out the rugs!  They serve a dual purpose: 1. prevent cold feet and 2. add color to a drab and dreary winter world.
8. Share the hugs!  Like we need another reason to cuddle and hug the people we love!  Winter is a great time to cozy up and watch movies!


Are you with me?

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Where has all the summer gone?

Confession: I am already dreading winter, and it is still over 80 degrees outside.  Over the last few days, temperatures have been hinting at dropping and the mosquitos of the south are nowhere to be seen.  I am like a toddler sitting on the floor: "I won't!  I won't head into winter!  I refuse the end of summer!"  There are only a few things I love about cold weather, and cozy scarves and jackets are two of them.  So today I patched together some fall-friendly pieces.

First, I took an old black jean jacket and cut off the sleeves, the hem, and the collar.  This thing was embarassingly old - but it was so comfy that I kept wearing it!  Let's just say that the arms were tight - and it's not like we people gain a lot of weight each year in our arms.  Yeah, let's skip that math.  I adore half jean jacket, half sweatshirt combos.  For this piece, though, I joined the jean jacket with a striped sweater.  I just adore the collar!  :)  

From that same sweater, I sewed up this neck scarf.  I call it the "easy, under coat scarf" cause you can just slide it on and put your coat over it.  It is sewed together at the bottom.  The lining is a comfy sweatshirt :)  You know - the inside part that is so comfy and soft!

For now, I'm putting these pieces in the corner and heading outside to enjoy the rest of the warm weather!


Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Old souls

Calling all old souls, those who prefer tea and cakes over beer and chips, a book and a fire over a night on the town, and spritzes of perfume from a poof rather than a glittery bottle!


I found some handkerchiefs at the local pharmacy - yes, handkerchiefs!  I couldn't believe it.  I picked up a couple of packs and sewed them together this afternoon into tiny little accent pillows.  Hmm, they look so dainty and cosy on the love seat, I can't even stand it! 

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Well, hello, there!  Today, I thought I'd share with you some things I love and some that I rather don't!
I absolutely love reading lists like these about other people - little quirks that make each person a little unique!  A little silly list is sometimes perfect to start a day of laughter!
Here we go!

1. Cucumbers with salt! Note: these are not pickles, but cucumbers with salt sprinkled over.
2. Peeling garlic... it's therapeutic, somehow!
3. Cleaning dirty dishes, particularly by hand.
4. PJ dresses - as cute as a dress, but as comfy as a blanket? Yes, please!
5. Candles! Particularly: in our reading room! Yes, we have a reading, and I am awfully proud!
6. Giving surprise present to special people!
7. Chocolate glazed donuts!
8. Rain, and anything that can be done when it's raining: whether it's reading, cooking, napping, cuddling, watching a movie...
9. Dancing like a fool. :)
10. Stationery of all shapes, textures, colors, and decorations; also: pens! Not even pretty pens, just having lots of them.
11. Doing something different in a small way, like having breakfast for dinner!
12. Flowers!  Flowers on clothes, in hair, as decorations, on jewelry... anything, really!
13. Letters - writing them, receiving them, decorating them!
14. TV shows and how we get attached to characters and stories :) It's like having a weekly gathering of friends (er... I promise, I have real friends, too ;) )
15. Directness.  I can read between the lines, but like a little kid, I'd much prefer the truth straight out. No surprises, just tell me everything that's on your mind: the good, the bad, the ugly.
16. I totally think tea can fix nearly everything. And chocolate can help make any situation better.
17. Jim Croce's music! I love a lot of music, but his lyrics and melodies are beautifully moving and full of stories. "I've got a song. And I carry it with me and I sing it loud. If it gets me nowhere I'll go there proud." "Every time the time was right, the words just came out wrong."
18. The smell of coffee, especially the smell of french vanilla coffee.
19. Sunshine - sunshine on faces in photographs, sunshine peeking through clouds, sunshine on an overwhelmingly warm day, sunshine that is so bright sunglasses aren't enough, sunshine that is bouncing off the snow....
20. Great tall water glasses, with or without a straw! I can't just drink a little bit of water, and having a big glass of water makes me cool off and feel good!
21. Petting other people's dogs!
22. Hot chocolate - even when it's not cold outside!
23. Scarves!  Infinity scarves, long drapy ones, or warm knits
24. Baking for friends or neighbors or coworkers  - because the day ends up with a warm, yummy-smelling kitchen, a cup of tea and some extra treats to dip into it!
25. Popcorn 3 ways: *with chocolate chips * with parmesan cheese * with cinnamon and melted white chocolate *


1. Construction noises! Ugh! Of any kind, they just drive me nuts!
2. Unloading the dishwasher!
3. The kind of summer weather when the sun is blinding one moment and hidden the next.
4. The way foundation is so nearly impossible to match!
5. How every woman I talk to hates shopping for jeans. It is like a game of memory out there! Can you match the jean structure to your body type?
6. Overly perfumed women in enclosed spaces. Er... just how many spritzes can a theater hold?
7. Boats. Nearly all of them make me nervous!
8. Growing up - who started this idea swirling that being an adult is challenging?  Being a kid is challenging, too!  There are great and tough aspects to any age.
9. The fact that us girls have visible symptoms to "that time of the month" - it's almost adding insult to injury when those zits come up!
10. The fact that I love hats but generally don't look good in them!

Monday, August 11, 2014

Makeup Questionnaire

Hi y'all!  How's your day?  Mine has been spectacularly calm - ya know what I mean?  We just got back from a big, annual family trip with one side of my husband's family.  After a week of enormous non-stop family fun, filled to the brim with sunshine, sunscreen, bikes, dresses, wet swimsuits, stories from the day, games upon board games, and seafood dinners out..... today has been a calm day full of fresh food, simply ordinary activities, peaceful chores, dancing, and enjoyment of our home.

One of my favorite bloggers does a weekly questionnaire which looked really interesting this week!  This is all the idea of Karen from the Makeup and Beauty Blog!

Here we go!

1. What’s the weirdest thing in your refrigerator right now?
Diet Cokes!  It's only weird because my husband doesn't drink soda and I'm allergic to artificial sweeteners.  Why then, you ask, do we have cans of Diet Coke in our fridge? Our friends and family loves them, so we're ready for any visits! :)
2. Some of the best moments are [FILL IN THE BLANK].
Spontaneous! For example, a spur of the moment trip to the movie theater late at night or a day trip just because.  One of the best moments for me was when we went on a rescue mission when our friends got stuck two hours away during a cross-country move.
3. [FILL IN THE BLANK] brings me major makeup joy.
Eye liners! or a bright lip! Sometimes when I'm wearing no other makeup, one of those will make me feel fierce!
4. [FILL IN THE BLANK] is overrated.

Cheerfulness! Don't get me wrong.... I don't mean that it's not important to be happy.  I mean that it's more important to feel what you feel.  Happy today? Awesome! Angry at the moment? It's still part of a beautiful life! It's alright to feel what you feel, a concept us grown ups often forget about.
5. Shimmer or matte?


Shimmer!  Cause unlike a student who once said she doesn't want to be a sparkly purply unicorn, I totally would love to be!  Sparkly nails and lips, sparkly skirts and sparkly jewels... some might say tacky, but I think it is beautiful!

In other news... with 6 of us at the beach for a week, we ran through 3 bottles of sunscreen, only one of which ended up in a river. ;)

Friday, August 1, 2014

What is it with palettes?

They just draw me in!

"I could be the multi-tasker you have been searching for...," they say. "I am small and feign low maintenance with my sleek packaging, but you and I both know you just need a lot of choices. I can be your perfect make up companion."

Girls, I found a face palette that is absolutely perfect for natural, girly, soft looks!  It's this tiny Sephora palette:

And I mean tiny!  It's about the size of a cell phone!


The bronzer is a light colored matte brown, perfect for pale girls to contour with!  It adds a nice color without looking overwhelming.  There are also two powder blushes.  The lightest is a bubble gum pink that adds a sunny flush to the cheeks.  The darkest is a deep mix between coral and berry, and looks fabulous when you need a little extra umph!  I am so excited to take this palette on a trip and see how it holds up!  The packaging is seriously sturdy, something to be grateful for, as any girl that's dropped a powder will know.

Happy Summer, Y'all!

Thursday, July 17, 2014

My new foundation routine, or: how a brush changed my life

Well, hello there!

If you love light makeup, are oily or sweaty, and are looking for a flawless looking and a "quick to apply" makeup, girl, let's sit down and talk!

First off, I put on concealer under my eyes (Pixi's Correction Concentrate in Brightening Peach is ah-mazing if you naturally look like the zombie of death) and liquid highlighter on the tops of my cheeks and down my nose.

Next, apply a light layer of a primer - I love the Laura Geller line and the Almay CC!

Then, (and here's the amazing part!), take your e.l.f. powder brush (it looks like a giant stippling brush) and pack on the Physician's Formula Air-Brushing Pressed Powder (from the Mineral Wear line).  This is my winning combination!  First off, the powder has SPF 30 in it!  And second, the amazing brush is SO ridiculously easy to use and makes the powder look amazing now and for a good bit of the day!  It's the kind of thing where I look in the mirror and at the same time notice how smooth my skin looks and wonder where the makeup is (cause I cannot see it!)

You can also use the amazing brush for applying blush and bronzer - oh, please do!  It looks flawless!  You can't tell where the blush and bronzer start and end on your face, it just looks beautiful.

So there you go, ladies, my secret formula for summer.  Turns out it is super easy!  And I have to say, my husband does not mind one bit that I can get ready in 5 minutes (as opposed to 15, 20, 30...) with this winning combo. ;)  Not that, you know, I get ready in 5 minutes most days.  Makeup is about fun, right?

Stay happy!

Sparkly Twirls

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Would You Rather? Beauty Tag

Well, hey there!

I love this idea of tags - a set of questions people answer by youtube or blog and then "tag" others to do the same.  It reminds me of friendship books my friends and I carried when we were students.  Full of questions, the books would be passed around to different friends to learn about each other.

So, here's a page from the electronic friendship book!  I'm not sure who started this tag, but I've seen it up and about swimming on youtube.  Grab a cuppa and sit a while!

1. Would you rather go out with messy hair and nice makeup or nice hair and no make-up?
Hmm, probably nice hair and no make-up simply because my hair tends to be naturally unpredictable.  However (and this is a big however) makeup and hair really depends on what I feel like, so some days I want no makeup and crazy hair.

2. Would you rather shave your eyebrows or have your eyelashes fall out?
Oh my gosh! Both sound awful!  If I had to pick, I would rather have to shave my eyebrows, for two reasons.  1. eyelashes are biologically more necessary as they keep muck out of the eyes, so I would feel more susceptible without them and 2. if people are filling in their eyebrows, surely we can also draw them on?  Or try a new bang haircut :)

3.  Would you rather be forced to shop at only MAC or Sephora for the rest of your life?
I'm not a big MAC girl (<-ha! See what I did there? Big Mac?), but I adore Sephora and Ulta.  So Sephora - twist my arm, twist my arm!

4. Would you rather wear the ligloss/lipliner look or 80's perm?
80's perm, please? Anyone else but me think all kinds of curls are awesome?  Also, straight lines and me don't get along!

5. Would you rather leave the house with an obvious foundation line or overdone blush?
Well, I think every girl has done both in her lifetime!  It gives us something to laugh at!  Probably... leave with an overdone blush because, hey, maybe you just saw the guy you liked and are all flushed!

6. Would you rather wear MC Hammer pants or biker shorts in public?
Hm, I know these genie pants are sometimes considered fashionable, but I would still choose biker shorts.  THe MC Hammer pants seem to me to be in an identity crisis: am I a bubble skirt?  am I pants? am I for boys or girls? if I am so stretchy, do I have to a split or other forms of gymnastics?

7. Would you rather have a bad orange-y spray tan or really weird tan lines that can't be covered?
Alright, I'm torn on this one!  Being orange would be worse for me in terms of appearance, but tan lines mean that I got too much sun and may run an increased risk of skin cancer.  Maybe I can cover up the orange with something else?  Else wear light and breezy skirts and scarves all summer.

8. Would you rather have a bad haircut or bad hair color?
Hair cut, for sure!  Hair will grow out and you can dress it up.  But a bad hair color?  There's nothing to do about it but wear a headwrap or hat.  Plus, if it clashes with your skin tone, what clothes and makeup will you wear??

9. Would you rather have youtube or twitter taken away forever?
Easy!  Twitter cause I don't tweet - I'm a cat not a bird.

10. Would you rather give up using makeup brushes or mascara?
Likely makeup brushes because I loooove mascara and you can always use cream products without brushes.

Anyone else fancy doing this tag?  I tag you!


Thursday, June 12, 2014

Moving Day!

We are moving!  And packing up everything but carry-able necessities, I started to think: what makeup items are "essential"?

Some girls adore mascara, some lipsticks, some eyeliners....

Perhaps I am boring, but as much as I love color (ah! sparkles and purple...girl, that is a beautiful combination!), my favorite essential is SUNSCREEN!

Now I wouldn't say I'm super pale, but let's just say that more than once it has happened that I have bought the lightest shade in foundation and concealer and found that it looked more like a bronzer!

And there are many things I will do for beauty, but messing up my skin for the future is not one of them.  Getting spots of any sort removed from your face is no fun matter and the scars are difficult to get rid of.  So my philosophy is to wear sunscreen now so that I don't have to wear foundation to cover up damage in the future.

Now, if I had to pick more than one item (like a genie?  You get three makeup items?), I would add concealer and a lip stain.

I love the idea of wearing just a bright lip or strong eye makeup with little other makeup on.  The reason I love it is that it's a fun illusion!  Cause all you're really wearing is a lot of confidence, and that looks fantastic!  The lipstick or eyeshadow is just a little sign that you decided to be extra confident today!



Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Girl, where have I been?

Two words for you: BEACH SPRAY

Also known as: "shake that sassy hair like a goddess" spray

Cause, wow, this spray makes you feel like one!

I tried a couple of hair recipes today: one for a detangler (http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Spray-Detangler) and one for a beach spray.  The detangler looked awesome!  But when I made it, it ended up so thick that I couldn't get it out of the spray bottle!

But, wow, did the beach spray do wonders!  And, best of all, it's just a concoction of products that already work on my hair!  I used my favorite products to mix it up in a little spray bottle.  Check it out!


Here are the products that I used!  
My favorite wax, hair spray, oil, and leave-in conditioner.



Want to make your own?  Follow these proportions using your favorite hair products!



Thursday, May 22, 2014

Sparkly quotes for women

I wanted to share with y'all a few quotes specifically for women - and specifically for days when chocolate seems to be the answer to an unknown question.









All from Pinterest!
Stay beautiful!



Flowers + Buns = How did it become so chic?

Now I love flowers and I love all sorts of hairstyles, but traditionally, buns are associated with older ladies and granny chic flowers are, as well.  But combining them, we get a boho, festival-style, summer bun wrap.  How crazy is that?!  It looks so fresh and young!

I've seen these around - but ya know, my first thought when I'm looking at accessories is, how do I make that?  (If you're in the store and you see a woman looking at the stitching on an accessory or the way wire jewelry is put together, come say hello!  That is likely me!)

So, here's my take on the classy and snazzy bun wrap:  Some fold over elastic and some flowers!  It looks cute with a tuck (the first photo) or with a traditional bun (the second photo).


Are you ready for summer?

Thursday, May 15, 2014

A project long in the making and a few spur of the moment projects

Howdy!

Is it obscenely hot outside where you are?  A heat "wave" seems absurdly appropriate - it seems like it washed over us Southerners in a blast of a night.  We fell asleep in fleece and woke up to a burning sun.

I've been thinking of one project for months now - not that it was particularly complicated; I just did not ever feel like working on it.  And today, I was excited to get it done!  Here's the story: three years ago, we bought two office chairs (we thought they were the same!).  One of them still looks like it is new while the other (more comfy) chair appears to have started molting.   Yes, molting.  The chair flakes off pieces of the black covering anytime someone sits in it.  The result?  We are all walking around like spotted cheetahs with these little specks attached to our legs!  But the thing is, this chair is so much more comfortable than the other one... despite the fact that they looked alike.  So, I have made a cute little cover for it!  You know, since we can't give it lotion for its rough skin.... we can at least dress it up some so it doesn't feel bad.


It's a super simple quilt-like pattern on one side, and a soft fleece on the other.  I made straps that attach two per parallel side - you just tie them on the diagonal under the chair!  (erm - you'll can probably tell, but I'm a math person) :)  Math lovers unite!

So, then, I thought: ooh, I have a sewing machine and some pretty fabric, so I'll whip up some headbands and an infinity scarf!


I have to tell you the secret to all of these infinity scarves!  I have a lot of old skirts that are in gorgeous patterns but don't fit anymore.  Do you?  Cut out the waist of those bad boys and turns the rest into an infinity scarf!  Perfect for spring!  I think I may have more scarves than anything else at this point, but they really are like lip glosses.... you can never have too many!  I love making them and I am thrilled to wear them!


Happy Friday, everyone!

I'll leave you with a quote:

"The only disability in life is a bad attitude"
-Scott Hamilton



Friday, May 9, 2014

Crafts that made me giggle

Hello, my friends!

Today I want to share with you a couple of crafts I've been working on throughout the week!  I refashioned jeans - a project that took me several days, and I made a bag - a project that took less than two hours.

First up, a pair of boring old bell bottoms with gigantic back pockets that act as magnifiers!

1. Turn them into skinny jeans - a great tutorial here! http://itsgreattobehome.net/2012/01/31/how-to-turn-your-jeans-into-skinny-jeans-works-for-maternity-jeans-too/

2. Take off the back pockets

3. Use a bleach pen to add polka dots all over!  Am I seeing spots yet?

4. Wash the bleach out and rock your new jeans!*

*As you rock your new jeans, try to remember that you are not the first to come up with the red stripes and blue stars combo!  Costume contest, anyone?

The other project I worked on still make me giggle nearly uncontrollably as I think about it!  It all started when my friend and I (we met in 7th grade, y'all!) were talking and somehow Harry Potter and book releases came up!  Ah, those were the days!  So I was reminiscing and thought, I wonder if I can make a cute (ahem: read: not TOO dorky) craft to do with HP.  And so I looked on Pinterest for ways to make Hermione's expandable bag.  Did y'all know the drawstring bag is actually a jewelry pouch?!  As in: it's a real life pattern that people have been using for years?!?  Ok, I suppose it isn't entirely unfathomable that the world does not revolve around Harry Potter, but still... I was a little bit blown away by the existence of this pattern.  I added some handles (cute bangle bracelets, actually), and a gigantic silk flower I had made earlier.  Voila!  The granny Hermione bag!

Great tutorial here: http://www.thimble.ca/?p=1435

Even as I'm writing this now, it's cracking me up!  It's just too cute in a ridiculous way!  :)  Sometimes (ie. ALWAYS) you need those things that make you happy for no reason :)  Like hot chocolate, and sunny days, and a pretty lipgloss, and a great puzzle, and a long dinner with good friends, and a funny little Hermione bag...

Hope your weekend is off to a marvelous start!  Make it mahvelous, dahling, just mahvelous!

Thursday, May 1, 2014

What do you mean chocolate isn't an appropriate breakfast?

i.e. Crafty day and chocolate eating day! :) Do y'all like how Crafty Tuesday turned into Crafty Wednesday and then into Crafty Day?  Hey, girls, sometimes you just gotta go with the way creativity strikes (ahem - when, rather) and what your week happens to entail.

So, yesterday I was making hair clips and today I had so much fun sewing!

Let me show you my little craft haul!

So the first project I just have to share is this adorable mason jar!  Can't say who it's for, but it is filled with goodies.  Have you guys seen this idea?  You fill a mason jar with themed gifts, like a gift basket.  And then you decorate it so it is too stinking cute to look at!  It's like a gift basket but in miniature, so it works well for yummy treats, spa items, or tools, etc.  Not so well if you are looking to put together a movie basket, though!  ;)  It'd be a tough call to fit a DVD in one of those things, but then again, they've put model ships in teeny tiny bottles, so nothing is lost ;)


Fabric and glue - who would have thought? 
 I kind of love that they turned out a little crazy...(the hair clips, not the photos!)

A tote bag I made! Ah, the pattern!  I can't even stand how cute it is!
The front has a polka dotted slanted pocket in the front -
I used a thin, dark blue fold over elastic to edge the top of the pocket.
I got the idea from this guy: http://handmademommy.blogspot.com/2012/04/busy-bag-tutorial.html
And the pattern from here: http://www.diaryofaquilter.com/2012/07/easy-fat-quarter-bag-tutorial.html

I'm always wearing headbands to work out, but I have a hard time finding ones that absorb, look cute, and stay put!  I have totally seen thick ones made of sports fabric at the store, but... 8 dollars is just too much to pay for one headband!  So here is what I came up with!  The dark blue is super absorbent sports fabric, the turquoise is pretty thick fold over elastic (that stuff is amazing!).  And when I finished it up and it filled all its practical purposes, it just really needed a flower.  :)  You know how it is.

Hope you are having a good rest of Thursday - it is so nearly Friday!!!
As we used to say, TGIF!