Let's Create One Beautiful Story...

New Years Day Outfit

2012-01-01T17:48:00.000-08:00

I hope that all of you are enjoying the first day of the new years! I spend mine with my husband. First we went to lunch at Panera Bread, then we went and had my car washed. Oh my Lord was my car in serious need of a wash.

I am ending the night at my parents house where I am uploading videos and keeping up with my new years resolution by posting on my blog. I also colored my mom's hair tonight.

Here is my outfit of the day if you are interested :)

Christmas Cheer for New Years, hehe!

2011-12-30T13:50:00.000-08:00

I hope all of you amazing followers had a fabulous holiday! I have noticed that I have quite a few new followers and I am so excited that you guys have joined me here! I am so busy that it is hard for me to devout time to making youtube videos. And I have said time and time again that I want to blog more. My new years resolution is definitely going to be to post more often.

I took some really cute photos of my house decorated for christmas and I though it would be fun to share them with all of you. So enjoy. And let me know how your holidays were!

Would you guys like to see some of the presents I got for Christmas? I could post some pics. Let me know!

Blogging and Youtube

2011-11-13T18:25:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! Sorry for not having a more creative greeting but I just couldn't think of a good way to start this blog. I have been having the hardest time keeping up with my youtube channel and posting the amount of videos that I would like to. I notice that when I get home from work I am usually too drained to really prep myself for a video. I don't have the most wonderful lighting in my house so unless I film during the day, the quality of my videos will be lacking. I love youtube and communicating with my subscribers but sometimes it is just so much easier for me to sit down, in my pajamas with no makeup on, and type away on my blog. I figured that blogging is better than not doing anything, and I hope that some of you will enjoy reading in between me filming videos.

So I thought I would share some of the clothing that inspired my thrift store shopping adventure today. I went with one of my good friends and we had a great time sifting through all of the dusty racks of clothes.

To make this blog a bit more fun, I promise to start taking more pictures of my excursions to post on here. But for now, this was just my inspiration for shopping today...

I love the seventies inspired looks that Wildfox Couture puts together. They are one of my favorite brands. All of these pictures are of their various collections throughout the years. Their style is definitely what inspired me to look for vintage clothing that had that lived-in, laid back feel.

My Wedding!

2011-08-07T21:36:00.000-07:00

Man and Wife!

Our cupcake cake!

I love this shot!

My dad walking me down the isle

Amazing shot of the backyard!

My Mommy! Without her this never could have happened!

10 Summer Products I Suggest You Try

2011-06-01T20:21:00.000-07:00

Bridal Shower Weekend

2011-05-19T15:51:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, so this weekend I am going to be out of town for my first of two bridal showers being thrown for me! I am so excited. Since I have gotten so many questions from you guys wondering about what my wedding theme is like, I thought I would show you some pictures that follow my same scheme.

We are going with the pale pink and orange colors. We are also having cupcakes instead of a traditional cake. The above picture is of my maid of honor in the bridesmaid dress. The wedding will be in the backyard of my parent's house.

Good Manicure Vs. BAD Manicure

2011-05-16T19:29:00.000-07:00

It's all the the base/top coat....
This is something I have recently learned the hard way after weeks and weeks of fighting god-awful chipping nails. If, you are OCD like me, the very thought of chipped polish makes you crinkle your nose. It is probably one of my biggest fashion pet-peeves. I adore nail polish and really prefer my nails to be polished over bare, because I just find that if you have any sort of length to your nails, they just look so much better with polish on them.
Anyways, that being said, I also HATE having to re-polish my nails day after day because of chipping. This led me to writing this post because I thought it would be nice of me to save you all the trouble of learning this small little lesson on your own.

Now, the tried and true top coat of my choice with have to be the Seche Vite, fast dry top coat. This is by far the best I have ever tried in terms of how long it makes your polish last and how fast it makes your manicure dry! If you are extremely impatient like me you probably always find yourself smudging freshly painted nails but with this top-coat I never find myself doing that because it completely dries by the time I am up and doing something else.

This top coat from Sally Hansen on the other hand was unfortunately the biggest waste of my money ever! Thank god it was only 4 dollars. This top coat ruined my manicure faster than if I just skipped a top coat all together. I did like how hard and glossy it made my nails look and feel due to the acylic in it, but after about 12 hours of wear you would progressively notice cracks happening throughout the nail and eventually the polish would start chipping off in big chunks. Ugh! Hate!

Let me start off by saying, this is the magic weapon that makes your professional manicure last so much longer then the one you do on yourself. Most nail salons choose this base coat for all their clients. It is a rubberized formula that really bonds the polish to your nail while also protecting you natural nail from becoming dehydrated from the polish. I've skipped base coats for so long now I forgot how amazing this stuff is. I just bought and used it again today and it made my polish go on so much more smoothly.

Let me know your guys' manicure tips and tricks. <3

Let Them Eat Cake!

2011-04-15T16:02:00.000-07:00

I have been so sick lately I haven't really felt up to making videos or talking about makeup since I haven't really been wearing any the last four or five days. What I love about blogs is the fact that you can write and express yourself and contribute to the online community no matter what you look like or how good you feel because you can just relax and type away from the comfort of your bed if you want to.

I have been finding much comfort in the online world of blogs and vlogs lately since I pretty much have been sitting at home on the computer since I'm too sick to work. This is how I discovered this amazing clothing brand called Wildfox Couture. These pictures are from their spring 2011 line and the theme is very obviously french.

I need to post some pics on my blog of my room, but if you view my youtube videos you can catch a glimpse in the background. My bedroom is Marie Antoinette themed so I was ecstatic when I saw these pictures. I want everything from the collection!

These models are beyond gorgeous by the way. I love the hair and makeup!

I hope you all are doing well. Don't get sick!

Hair Inspiration

2011-03-26T18:02:00.000-07:00

These are just some pictures of celebrity's' hair colors that I LOVE! I am currently resisting coloring my hair because I am trying to get the color to fade just a little bit. The color is just so dark compared to my natural color that the maintenance is driving me crazy because of my light roots. I'm hoping the color will fade enough that I will be able to go into the salon and get my hair to ideally match the picture of Natalie Portman above. That would be my ideal hair color for my wedding.

Skincare Haul!

2011-03-22T17:40:00.000-07:00

This eye cream is a newer addition to the Origins line and is geared toward the anti-aging branch of skincare. This eye cream is effective in providing moisture to the delicate eye area while also smoothing out any fine lines that are visible.

A perfect World serum is designed with Silver Tip White Tea to provide extraordinary antioxidants to protect the skin against harmful free-radicals that we are exposed to each day. This product is meant to work as your skin's own personal little shield, guarding it from everything negative that it will encounter in our environment. This product provides an immediate smoothing effect that is very similar to that of a primer.

This amazing little bottle is full of something I find to be one of the coolest hybrids between skincare and makeup ever invented! This is indeed a skincare product with all the usual benefits of a good moisturizer but with the technology to provide your skin with a bit of coverage. It is not as simple as calling this a tinted moisturizer, however, because it doesn't sit on your skin like one. There are these little micro-particles in the formula that change to match your skin's exact tone. I am very excited to use this product in light of my no-makeup challenge.

Maybelline One by One Volume Express Mascara Review

2011-03-21T18:26:00.000-07:00

Review = 4/5 <3's

I really am adoring this mascara right now! I have been using it for a little over a week and I have been really impressed by the effect it gives my lashes and its lasting power!

The pics taken above were taken at the end of my day so you can see how my lashes stayed curled and how the mascara lasted throughout the day. As you can see there is very little smudging and flaking going on which I LOVE.

The mascara completely volumizes my lashes but does so WITHOUT CLUMPING! YAY! I hate hate hate clumping in my mascara and it is so hard to find a volumizing mascara that doesn't clump!

The mascara is also very black and defines my eyes beautifully!

The one point I took off was simply for the fact that the ingredients in this mascara do nothing good for your lashes since there are no nourishing or hydrating ingredients included in the mascara.

No Makeup Challenge (Day 2)

2011-03-18T19:06:00.000-07:00

I made a video talking about my experience with wearing no face makeup today! Enjoy :)

No Makeup Challenge (Day 1)

2011-03-17T21:23:00.000-07:00

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Ever heard of this one ladies?

You might have. I have noticed a lot of talk lately on women going fresh-faced. It's been popping up in magazines lately, celebrities going makeup-less and untouched for photographs, showing their "real" selves. I find them beautiful in all of these photos and I actually find myself more inspired by their natural appearances. I don't think I'm the only one, since this topic has been getting more and more popularity lately.

Just google "no makeup beauty" or "how to rock no makeup" and you will find several forums about girls dedicating themselves to the No Makeup Challenge. This challenge is not at all about bashing makeup or those who wear it. I LOVE makeup! I OBSESS over it! And that is actually why I want to challenge my self to love and obsess about, well, ME. The pure, natural me. I do things like this in my life when I want to change something I don't like about myself. For example: in high school I was DEATHLY afraid of public speaking, I mean throw up, shaky, sweaty afraid! So what did I do? I joined drama class and starred in two school plays. I took the plunge and scared myself right out of my fear. That's what I am doing with makeup.

I noticed myself lately becoming quite ritualistic and obsessed with my daily makeup application. I think I have really been this way for a while but I never really thought much about it until now. I just did NOT feel pretty without evening out my skin tone with some foundation, applying blush, then eyeliner, and mascara. It wasn't until yesterday, when I was with one of my best friends who NEVER wears ANY makeup that I realized I felt...fake. I watched my friend interacting with everyone I was, with just as much confidence if not more, and I realized I desperately wanted to have that ability to be confident with nothing more than my own skin.

And so I went home, washed off my "face," and went to sleep with the determination to make a change starting today. I am very proud to share with you all how my first day on the No Makeup Challenge went.

I woke up and applied my Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer with SPF, which does wonders for evening out the complexion and preventing oiliness throughout the day, and that was it for my face! I did apply some eyeliner and mascara but those things aren't what were really bothering me about makeup. I am most concerned with weaning off the foundation/blush/primer/bronzer/etc. When I get comfortable enough without having those things on then maybe we will take off the eye makeup. Hehe.

So Day 1 went great. My fiance had to guess at least 5 times when I asked him what was different about my makeup before he realized I wasn't wearing any! And when I asked my brother he couldn't even tell! These things made me feel so much better about how I looked. And it felt so great to let my skin "breathe." I never knew what people meant when they said that but I truly did feel a difference in my skin after just one day of going makeup-less.

When I washed my face tonight I felt like my cleanser really got a chance to do its job because it didn't have a layer of foundation to get through first! It may just be in my head but I feel like my skin looks smoother already.

I am excited about this challenge and I hope some of the rest of you will feel inspired to give it a try.

Here are some pics of celebs looking gorgeous without makeup. Just a little inspiration for you all.

Mystic Tan

2011-03-13T19:25:00.000-07:00

Want to be bronzed and beautiful without speeding up the effects of aging? Check out Mystic Tan! I have become obsessed! Below is a video review of my experience with it.

Native Islander

2011-02-26T20:10:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share this beautiful picture taken by photographer Carlos Nunez. When I saw this pic I fell in love! I just had to share it with you all! I just adore the Indian headdress mixed with the California girl beach attire. It's just so cute and I felt like it would be a good representation of my "personal style" series that I have somewhat started to do.

Finding my Personal Style

2011-02-17T21:20:00.000-08:00

Recently I made a pact with myself to ban all purchasing of makeup in exchange for clothing and accessories. When I was in high school I feel like I had quite the personal style, at least when I was out of my school uniform. I wasn't in the least bit concerned with makeup but was all about fashion! I was pretty much obsessed and had the privilege of having a mom, who was just as obsessed, and generous enough to buy me whatever I needed.

Fast forward about two years and I discovered how extraordinary makeup was and began building my collection of cosmetics. Then I went to beauty school and was condemned to a year of wearing solid black and I think that's where my personal style was lost.

Now out of school I am rediscovering my love for fashion and am becoming more and more excited to develop my own personal style. I don't want to just roam helplessly in the fashion world, wearing whatever happens to already be in my closet. I want to develop my style into an expression.

Thankfully, Christmas provided me with some new basics that fit my style (thank you Antrhopology,) so now I am concentrating on the accessories and SHOES! OMG, I am in such dire need of shoes. I feel like these things can really provoke what you are wanting to say with an outfit.

So here are some little pieces that inspire me and fit what I see as my personal style.

Apple Talk

2011-02-16T18:20:00.000-08:00

Hey my dears, I hope all of you are doing well! I am getting particularly anxious this week to get my new iphone 4, which will be available for me to purchase on the 28th of February. I cannot tell you how much I anticipate this dang phone to change my blogging and vlogging lifestyle! When given proper lighting the iphone 4 can take beautiful HD photographs which my blog is in desperate need of. I also am looking forward to utilizing the video camera feature of the phone to film some "follow me around" style vlogs.

So to ease my impatience I have been shopping for Iphone 4 cases to protect my new baby. Here are a few of my favorites. I've decided to stick with the speck brand because of their reliability.

Recent Purchases

2011-02-08T23:31:00.000-08:00

My most exciting purchase is my new foundation. I bought mine in NW20 :) A full review will be soon to follow, I just want to give myself more time of using this. In conjunction with my MAC Pro Longwear foundation I am using MAC Strobe Cream. I mix the strobe cream with the foundation to make my own tinted moisturizer. The finish is gorgeous, but like I said, I will do a full review later.

My next purchase was the MAC blush in Dame. This is my very first MAC blush and I am so impressed by it!

Before I purchased my MAC Pro Longwear I had dabbled in the MAC Studio Fix Powder foundation. I will do a full review on this as well. It is a fantastic powder foundation but can be a little too chalky on my dry skin.

At Ulta I purchased this Macadamia Nut oil hair mask. I have heard great things on this treatment and wanted to give it a try.

Lilacism

Haute as Hello

Finally I bought my first couple Essie polishes and I love them both. Beware that these dry matte so you need a nice top coat to give it a shiny finish.

Hair Trends For 2011

2011-01-05T17:28:00.000-08:00

Hello again lovely readers! I hope the start of your new year is going great. Remember, this is the time to start off fresh and accept change. If you are feeling a little bit "blah" with your look maybe its time for a little 2011 to get tangled up in your hair.

Middle Parting

Victoria's Secret has long been a fan of the middle parting. Allesandro Ambrosio is one of the Angels rocking this sexy look. A middle parting shows confidence. With no hair hiding your face you will look approachable and flirty. To pull off the middle parting I recommend growing bangs out to graze the cheekbones which will help to frame the face.

Natural Length

This year I am predicting more and more celebrities will trade in their ridiculously long extensions in favor of their natural locks. In my opinion, the waste-length wavy hair of 2010 (think Kim Kardashian or Miley Cyrus), will be long gone in this new year and thank God for that. I have been seeing celebrities rocking their natural length hair recently and I find it so much classier. If you favor long hair over this year's short hair trends, then grow your hair out au naturale. The perfect thickness down to the ends of the hair that extensions give you will completely blow your cover. Enjoy the process of growing your real hair and you will achieve beautiful natural length like Mila Kunis pictured above.

Pixie Cut

The next trend of the new year has already begun thanks to Emma Watson's incredible new look. Emma claims that the big chop was done to symbolize the end to her role as Hermione Granger. A large part of Hermione's identity was the mass of curly hair she possessed, so by Emma loping it all off she definitely made a point. If you are looking to make a statement this year about closing a chapter of your life and starting anew, what better way to do it? This cut is best worn by those with oval and heart-shaped faces.

Chin to Shoulder Length Bob

Running with the theme of natural hair, the bob is back but sexier than ever. This year's bob isn't the one your mom warned you about. It's an edgier take on the classic, with shaggier ends and a lot of texturizing. Celebrities like Scarlett Johanson are rocking their natural wavy texture with the bob which I think gives the cut a lot more sex appeal. Remember, neat hair is never sexy, but perfectly imperfect hair, now that is sexy.

Sleek and Straight

In the new year I am predicting that we will be seeing more of the sleeker, straighter styles mixed in with the messy waves still hanging on from last year. I think this look works best with a choppy fringe to avoid looking like you have freaky bad runway model hair.

St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse Review!

2010-12-31T17:34:00.000-08:00

Hey lovelies!!! I have an amazing product to share with you all today! I treated myself to this indulgence after receiving a Sephora gift card for Christmas.

I was feeling particularly drab and ghost-like during these rainy, wintery months and was shocked into action when I saw just how pasty and horrible I looked while trying on bridesmaid dresses for my best friend's wedding.

After some online research I found that St. Tropez is pretty much the Holy Grail of all self tanning products. Though pricey, most people raved that it was well worth the price. So here's my opinion for you all.

I LOVE IT! Haha, I guess you could tell from the picture of me kissing the bottle. On first application I knew this product was epic! I bought the mousse formulation after trying it in the store and determining it was the smoothest and easiest application.

The application of this product is extremely simple, easy enough for even the most novice self-tanners (i.e. myself). I will tell you that it is absolutely essential to apply this product with some sort of gloves on your hands. I simply used disposable latex gloves. This product dries EXTREMELY fast, so even though it only take a few minutes to apply this all over your body, by the time you finish, your palms will already be stained. I also suggest finding yourself a helper to apply the product to your back, since it can be very hard to reach in between your shoulder blades.

The product contains an instant bronzer that works as a guide color, meaning, you can see exactly where you have already applied the product. This is a very helpful added bonus to this tanning mousse.

The smell of this product is also quite pleasant. Wait. Did I really just say a self-tanner smelled PLEASANT?! Yes, I did. St. Tropez claims to have an odor-guard to their formula which helps neutralize the smell of the DHA's reaction with your skin, and it totally works! I usually cannot stand to sleep with self-tanner on my skin because the smell is so strong and distracting I can't even sleep but this product's smell didn't even phase me it was so subtle.

The color this product creates is what earns St. Tropez the gold medal in self-tanners. The color is 100% natural looking. There is not a stitch of fake tan orange! St. Tropez recommends using this product up to three days consecutively to build the desired intensity for your base tan, then apply once or twice a week to maintain that color.

I am so in love with this product! Finally I no longer look like a tube of Elmer's glue! Let me know what your guys' favorite self-tanners are!

Here is a swatch of my natural skin tone against my newly bronzed skin after 3 appications!

Photoshoot

2010-12-29T19:21:00.000-08:00

This young woman was simply one of the most fun people I have ever worked with. Her personality was AMAZING! She was so bubbly and full of life. Her pictures turned out amazing and I wish her the best of luck in her career!

Rimmel Lash Accelerator Review

2010-12-19T18:21:00.000-08:00

Before

After

So, a few weeks ago I let you guys in on my drugstore mascara wish list and the Rimmel Lash Accelerator was at the very top of the list. This mascara promises to lengthen lashes upon application up to 80% and, with continued use, promises to increase the natural lash length up to 117%.

You can see from the pictures that this mascara does a fantastic job at separating the lashes. The lashes are left looking natural but longer and darker and therefore, more defined. This mascara definitely won't give you uber drama lashes, though. My lashes are pliable and soft with this mascara which I love. I hate the crunchy lash feeling.

I have been using this mascara everyday for 3 weeks and I can't say that I honestly look in the mirror and see this extraordinary growth in my lashes but I will say that I have noticed less lashes falling out when I remove my makeup. I also noticed that my lashes aren't breaking in half, which they often do every few months in certain spots. I think these results are due to the conditioning ingredients found in this product.

Overall, this is a good mascara. Very long-lasting. It doesn't flake or run and give you raccoon eyes. I have been reaching for this mascara over all my other ones the last 3 weeks and have to say it has become a favorite.

Update on Life

2010-12-18T21:47:00.000-08:00

Wow, I have missed all of my subscribers and blog followers so much! Seriously, it has been way to long that I took the time to upload a video or make a blog post. I admit to letting the stress in my life get away with keeping me from engaging in anything fun that demands my time.

Today, after uploading a couple videos and reading your guys' comments, I just felt so uplifted. Truly I feel so purposeful when I get videos out there and I get to communicate with you all. I have several ideas for upcoming videos including more hair care tips, tutorials, and hauls.

I hope all of you are enjoying this holiday season and I wish you all a Merry Christmas! This time of year is a time for happiness and celebration and thankfulness for what you have. I am trying to remember this to keep myself from worrying about the future too much. Anyways, keep a look out for some upcoming posts. I will be getting them up soon.

And for those who don't know, I now have a twitter http://twitter.com/#!/beeyourself7 so follow me for daily updates and to ask me any questions.

Drugstore Mascaras I'm Dying to Try

2010-11-25T21:15:00.000-08:00

My number 1 most wanted drugstore mascara at the moment is the Rimmel Lash Accelerator. I have seen some great reviews on this product and I am itching to buy this one as soon as I can. It claims to make lashes instantly look 80% longer and, with continued use, improve the natural lash length 117%.

My second most wanted is the Maybelline Full N' Soft which claims to make your lashes look naturally full and voluptuous while still maintaining their soft, natural feel. No crunchy lashes here. I have seen this on many peoples' top drugstore mascara lists so its a must try for me.

The L'oreal Telescopic is another one that I have heard a lot of hype about. I adore L'oreal Voluminous Original and L'oreal Voluminous Million Lash so I have high hopes for this guy.

I don't know what it is about this mascara but everytime I see it in stores it's like I am a moth drawn to the light. The packaging just catches my attention and I always want to pick it up and give it a try. A name like "Falsies" kinda appeals to me as well.

Ear Stretching

2010-11-22T17:33:00.000-08:00

Hey loves! I hope all of you are doing fantastic. I am really eager to get writing on this topic because I feel like I have a lot to say about it. If you aren't familiar with the term "ear stretching" you may be more familiar with "ear gauging." The proper way to say it is stretching but I know where I come from it is more often referred to as "gauging."

The reason I am writing about this topic is because, for me, this body modification has a lot more meaning and symbolism behind it then I think other people realize and I feel the need to rant about it. Those of you reading this who know me personally, know that I am a pretty "girly" girl. I am very conservative, polite, modest, etc. I am also very outspoken and strong-willed. And you also know that I have had a share of piercings before, my latest retired piercing being my Monroe Piercing.

I personally am not into sporting multiple piercings at once. I think it is overwhelming and it doesn't convey the message I am trying to put out there. So when I got my Monroe, I took out my nose ring, and when I took out my Monroe, I got my tragus pierced (that's an ear piercing). I adore having at least one "unique" piercing that stands out on my otherwise conservative body. I feel like it is a symbol of that little bit of rebellion and strength that only those who know me well know I possess.

I love anything unconventional because to me it is a message of acceptance. When I have a unique piercing I feel like I am making a statement that you don't have to be a "bad kid" to have piercings and tattoos. Hard-asses aren't the only ones who can rock stretched ears and inked bodies. A lot of times those people who look the most put together and clean cut can be way more shady then that tatted up guy with the septum ring at Hot Topic. It is nobodies place to judge someone by the way they look.

And to those who think Body Modifications such as tattoos and piercings are disrespectful to our bodies, I have a rebuttal for that too. My tattoo was done out of the utmost respect and celebration for my body. I made the decision to get a beautiful hibiscus flower on my body as a symbol of all things I deem beautiful in my life. Tattoos and piercings are an enhancement to your body that you have complete control of. Nobody but you can make the decision to get your body pierced or tattooed. To me this is a sign of empowerment because it gives you a sense of control over your body.

So why do some people feel the need to look negatively at body modification art? For some reason in our culture it has become taboo because of the times when tattoos and piercings were more limited to gang members and crime. Thankfully I do feel like my generation and the generations after me are becoming much more accepting of these forms of expression. We need to remember that these body modifications have been around long before gang members were wearing them, so why do they need to be looked at negatively? Saying all people with tattoos and piercings are "troubled" or gang members is like saying all Italians are a part of the mob.

I just wanted to share with you all my reasons for loving body modification and hopefully I gave you a different perspective on the art and symbolism behind it. Right now I am expressing myself through my tragus piercing and the process of stretching out my ears. And those who haven't learned their lesson yet, don't jump to conclusions. I am not seeking a dime-sized hole in my ear. I am after a 6g which is a very small gauge size that still allows you to escape the traditional earring style. The plugs for stretched ears can be more beautiful, feminine, and ornate than those dangly earrings everyone else wears and that I find EXTREMELY uncomfortable.

These are some of the most beautiful plugs I have found and ones I will definitely be purchasing when I reach my goal size. Yes, my goal size is that super tiny one lying down that you can barely make out. See? Don't freak out!

I also love these ones. They are so gorgeous they look like water!

I'm a big fan of the organic materials like these wooden plugs. Very hippy chic.

These plugs are all from bodyartforms.com which is an AMAZING site for any body jewelry you want!

My tragus and 14g ear piercing. :)

It's Been Too Long + Update on my Assisting Job

2010-11-07T15:52:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, I am so sorry to those who follow me and enjoy reading my blog. I know that I haven't been posting as frequently. First of all, I have been a little overwhelmed by my new job. I was just starting to get into the swing of things there and I was starting to feel confident enough in what I was doing that I wasn't getting nervous "butterflies" every time I left for work but the last couple weeks I feel like I have gone backwards.

The people at my work are all extremely nice people and the last thing I ever want to do is let them down. It truly eats me up inside when I let anybody down. Unfortunately it has been made clear to me that I am struggling to keep up at the salon. Apparently, I am not quite quick enough in applying the color nor am I thorough enough. Now, anyone who knows me and how I work knows that I am quite a perfectionist, and I never submit to doing sloppy work, so the fact that I am not being "thorough" enough came as a shock even to me. I hate to be "that" assistant that nobody wants to work with because she sets the schedule behind. Now nobody has told me that I am "that" assistant but I sure do feel like it.

It truly has been hard on my self-esteem to go from being one of the more recognized students at my cosmetology school to being the slowest assistant. I get down on myself sometimes but I do realize that I can only do what I can. I try my hardest and if I can't keep up then it wasn't meant to work out. I know that I am not a slacker when it comes to work so I just have to take comfort in the fact that I am doing all I can. I am going out later to grab a color applicator bottle like the ones used at work and I am going to practice applying conditioner to a mannequin head to get my time better.

Anyways, that is just a little update and why I have been blog M.I.A. Please lend me any encouraging stories you may have had with jobs in the past where you felt similar to what I am dealing with. It helps me to keep positive that I will overcome this little bump in the road. Thank you guys and take care! <3

Revlon Age Defying Concealer Update

2010-11-01T18:58:00.000-07:00

HATE IT!

Umm, yeah, after using this product off and on for a few weeks now I finally confirmed today how much I dislike this product. I came to the conclusion when, after wearing the concealer for less than 5 hours, I looked in the mirror and noticed clumped up chunks of product all over my under-eye area. The product wears terribly and slides around to form little clumped lines of product.

I wasn't impressed by this product at first application either. I don't know if it is just my skin tones' reaction with the color I chose or what, but I noticed right away how yellow this concealer is. And for me, my bluish under eye circles + yellow concealer = green under-eyes which means I look like a zombie.

The product also claims to be as hydrating as an eye cream which it most definitely is not! It is very thick, sticky, and hard to blend. I will say it is a very opaque concealer though.

I definitely do not recommend this product and give it a .5/5 stars. Yeah, it's that bad. At least on my skin. Everyone is different which is why there are so many products to choose from. Let me know if any of you have tried this and what you think of it!

L'oreal Voluminous Million Lash and Revlon Age Defying Concealer Review

2010-10-18T18:59:00.000-07:00

Before Million Lash Mascara and Revlon Concealer

After

As you guys can undoubtedly tell from the pictures that speak much louder than words, these two products are pretty damn good! I was blown away as soon as I began applying the Million Lash Mascara! It was instant love, I am telling you! This product did exactly what it claimed. It defined my lashes, truly making it look like I had a million of them, while volumizing them to the max. It was a smooth, easy application and one coat was all I needed to make my lashes look fabulous. One thing I loved was that my lashes felt soft and pliable to the touch, not hard and crunchy. I also feel the need to mention the scent of the product. I noticed in a lot of other reviews, girls complained about the scent like it was the most horrific thing in the world. Those girls need to calm themselves down because the scent is nothing obscene whatsoever. It smells better then straight up chemicals which normal mascaras smell like. And you can't even smell it unless you stick your nose to the bottle and who does that? Overall I love, love, love this product. It is definitely my HG (Holy Grail) drugstore mascara!

Now for the Revlon Age Defying Concealer. Again, a wonderful drugstore product that performs and feels like a high end product. As you can see from the pictures, this product worked wonders on my dark circles. With this product you need the tiniest amount and the product is super opaque. The product was also very moisturizing on my eye area which I loved. I will definitely recommend this to you guys if you are looking for a good under-eye concealer.

Hauling!

2010-10-17T21:57:00.000-07:00

Hey loves! I have been being bad and spending my money lately! I bought a couple new makeup products last weekend and it is kind of like once I start, I can't stop. I am so addicted to trying and reviewing new products!

Okay, so product number one is the newly launched L'oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara. You better believe I will be reviewing this in a later blog post! I have been on a mascara frenzy lately, I bought myself the new Diorshow last weekend and I am liking it so far but not fully sold on it. I have the hardest time finding a mascara that volumizes without clumping! Am I asking for the moon here? Well, the Million Lash promises no clumping so it enticed me into trying it out. I will be letting you all know what I think of it.

Next product is the Age Defying Concealer by Revlon. Concealers are always a must for me because I have dark under eye circles that need to be covered up everyday to keep me looking fresh and alive. What drew me in about this concealer was that is promises to be moisturizing like an eye cream while providing coverage.

The final product is one that I actually can say I sort of "needed." I haven't been using bronzer for months and months now but because the weather is getting more and more grey, I was feeling like I needed something to give my skin a healthy glow throughout the cloudy fall/winter months. Nars is a company that I already hold in high regards. Their Orgasm blush is a product I wear every single day and I have had it for nearly a year and have not yet hit pan. These products may be expensive, but they last! I had the associate at Sephora try the Laguna bronzer on me because I wanted to make sure it wasn't going to be too dark and it wasn't. The color was GORGEOUS on my fair skin and gave me the warmest, healthiest looking sun-kissed glow!

Tomorrow I will post reviews and pictures of these products on me so keep a look out for that. Love y'all!

Rachel Bilson Think Pink Makeup

2010-10-08T20:17:00.000-07:00

As soon as I saw this picture of Rachel Bilson I had to copy it! The look was originally done my makeup artist and blogger Troy Jensen. I love his blog and his work by the way! I know my camera quality sucks so I'm sorry you can't see the makeup as well. I am working on getting a better camera option but for now this is all I have.

Products Used:

Coastal Scents original 88 palet

Nars Orgasm Blush

Fresh Supernova Mascara

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer

MAC Mineralized Skin finish in Medium

MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW20

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Review

2010-10-03T22:40:00.000-07:00

If you haven't heard of this product already, then you are missing out on the holy grail of all tinted moisturizers and it is about time you read a review on it. After receiving a sample of this TM from my local Laura Mercier counter and using it for a couple weeks, I was hooked and head over heels in love!

It took me some convincing to purchase this product, at 42$ it is not something to pick up on a whim, but as soon as I tried the sample I knew I would be back to buy the full size. My shade is in Nude and there is quite a selection of shades to choose from so I am sure everybody could be matched to their perfect color.

The texture of this product was a bit different then other TMs I have tried, and at first touch I was skeptical of how easily this product would be applied. The product, being water based instead of oil based, is quite a bit thicker and stickier feeling than I expected. When it is in your fingers you just can't imagine it going onto your skin so smoothly. I prefer to apply TMs with my fingers because its quicker and, especially for this particular TM, the heat from your fingertips really helps to melt the product right into your skin.

Despite the fact that the product feels thick in your fingers, it applies fairly well. The application isn't as smooth and simple as smearing a moisturizer onto your face. It does require a bit more massaging with your fingers to spread the product around but the product itself blends into your skin so seamlessly it's amazing! You get a truly, flawless natural look.

The moisturizing capability of this product was also a huge deal for me. I was concerned the oil free would not provide enough moisture for my combination/dry skin and like I have said before, I enjoy TMs specifically because they are supposed to be a 2 in 1 product. I do not want to have to apply moisturizer under a TM. The consistency of the product in my fingers, again, concerned me. I urge you to try the product on your face before judging it because this product was surprisingly very moisturizing. After applying this product on my freshly rinsed face, my skin had no tightness to it and it felt refreshed and hydrated.

The other factor to this TM that amazed me was the level of coverage it gave. The coverage is what I would call light/medium. It is super light by nature but this TM is very buildable. Wherever I have some problem areas i.e. redness or dark circles, I apply a bit more product and the coverage definitely amps up. This TM has the most coverage of any other tinted moisturizer I have found without it feeling heavy like a foundation.

The staying power of this TM is also outstanding. I have no need to apply a primer or a setting powder with this tinted moisturizer and I swear it lasts all day on my skin. I love this because it definitely saves me time in the mornings not having to take those extra steps.

This product is definitely a holy grail item and I give it a 10 out of 10!

M.A.C.'s Haute & Naughty Lash Mascara

2010-09-30T17:07:00.000-07:00

So yesterday I posted that I bought MAC's Haute and Naughty Lash mascara and I tried it out this morning. If you don't already know the mascara claims to be two mascaras in one: a daytime, natural mascara, and a dramatic, voluminous mascara. If you unscrew the pink wand, that is the "natural looking" mascara and if you unscrew the purple wand, that is the "dramatic" mascara. I thought I would post some pictures of my lases with the pink wand and then pictures of my lashes with the purple wand so you can see how valid this claim is.


		Pink Wand

Pink Wand

Purple Wand

The verdict? An awesome mascara that definitely does what it claims! I definitely recommend this product! Both applications were beautiful!

EEP! I Spent all my Tip Money at M.A.C

2010-09-29T21:28:00.000-07:00

So I was totally bad today and spent the money I made in tips yesterday on some new M.A.C products. I don't know what it is about M.A.C but I feel like it is so fun to purchase products from their line. I feel like their makeup line is really geared toward collecting which I think is so fun since I am such a fan of makeup. Anyways, I don't own a lot of M.A.C products but I have been needing a new concealer for quite some time and after reading many reviews I decided to go with the Studio Finish SPF 35 concealer (pictured left).

Thankfully I seem to have mostly outgrown my acne so I rarely need concealer for blemishes but I do need it for the unfortunate dark circles I was born with under my eyes. I chose my concealer in NW20 because A) I'm super pale and B) the pinkish tinge to the concealer will help cancel out the blueish circles. The SPF 35 is an added bonus (gotta prevent those wrinkles).

I went into M.A.C not expecting to purchase anything other than concealer but then on a whim I went ahead and got the Haute & Naughty Lash mascara. I have heard nothing but rave reviews about this mascara and I just felt this urge to buy it and try it out. Mascara is probably my favorite makeup product. I am IN LOVE with my Fresh Supernova mascara so I am hoping that I will not regret buying this M.A.C mascara.

I will definitely be letting you all know how the products work for me so keep reading. <3<3<3

Fall 2010 Oxford Shoe Trend

2010-09-26T20:45:00.000-07:00

So the new two "it" shoes of the season consist of the uber clunky, Frankestein-esque boot, which you can tell I am not so fond of, and the vintage chic with a little edge, Oxford shoe, that I have pictured above. Of the two I am sure you can tell which trend I will be following.

I totally fell in love with the Oxford style shoe. I love anything vintage looking and while the oxford is a typically masculine shoe I found that there is still a sort of delicateness that is flattering to my feet, which the Frankenstein boot didn't give me. :P

So this is the pair of Oxfords that I chose to order from Bass Shoes. I cannot wait to receive them in the mail and I will be sure to post pics when I get them!

New Fall Scent Obsession (Dark Kiss)

2010-09-18T21:58:00.000-07:00

Hello, honeys! I just wanted to share with you all a product that I bought today and have instantly fallen in love with. It is the new signature set collection that Bath and Body Works released and oh-my-god it is DELICIOUS smelling! I cannot tell you guys, I walked into the store and they had the candle burning and I seriously thought I died and went to olfactory heaven!

The scent is much more mature and sexy then the scents I usually wear which are often fruity, youthful, and girly. I think this scent is the epitome of fall because it is so rich! I'm really terrible at describing scents which is why I included the banner from the Bath and Body Works site which explains the notes found in the scent (click on banner for larger picture).

So I ended up purchasing the body mist and the triple moisture cream lotion. The body mist has already been sprayed on myself like 3 different times since I bought it, including as soon as I got out of the shower. I am definitely making this my new signature scent!

Redken Haircare -- The Experiment Begins

2010-09-14T21:11:00.000-07:00

Oh no, the beauty junkie has struck again. This addict will never hit rock bottom!

Ladies, today I attended a class held by Redken at the salon where I was recently hired. The class was about client consultation and choosing the right haircare products for your client's specific needs so that they can maintain the health of their hair at home.

I used to use Redken way back in the day (3 years ago :P) before I became deathly afraid of sulfates and decided to become a hair hippy and go all natural. For those of you uneducated about sulfates, they are a base detergent ingredient used in most shampoos that allow the product to create a lather to clean your hair. Now, recent studies have shown that this ingredient can be particularly damaging to hair because it strips the hair of its natural oils. This information has been spreading like wildfire in any beauty magazine, article, and blog for the last year. As soon as I started catching wind of the fear I bolted from sulfates and opted for organic alternatives and I haven't ever been back... until now.

In my class this morning we were highly encouraged to use the Redken line of products, which is honestly only logical, since they are what we use at the salon and what we are selling to our clients. My immediate fear was of the sulfates found in the shampoo so I asked the representative about it. She assured me that this issue had been discussed with Redken's lead chemist since the fear of sulfates had been so hyped up recently. Supposedly the chemist chose not to remove sulfates from the shampoo line because he strongly disagreed that the sulfates found in Redken's shampoo were concentrated enough to strip the hair of any of it's natural oils. From my understanding, many cheaper brands of shampoo will try and save costs by filling their shampoo with a higher concentrate of the cheap detergent ingredient and less concentrate of beneficial ingredients such as oils that cost more. This heavy concentrate of sulfates is what causes the stripping of the hair of its natural oils. Perhaps these cheaper brands are what led to sulfates' bad name?

The Redken representative assured me that the sulfates found in their shampoo was heavily outweighed by the beneficial ingredients backed up by years of science. Looking around the salon at all the women who work there and have been using the Redken products for years, I noticed that not a single one of them had hair that looked damaged, dry, brittle, or unhealthy, and many of them had long hair as well. I decided to take a leap of faith, brace myself against the sulfates, and try out the product that I am now representing at my new job.

Now to talk about the products I chose for my hair type and why. My hair is very chemically damaged. I do not use heat on my hair and I am very gentle with it but unfortunately I have fallen prey to the female desire to change,change,change and I have dyed my hair a multitude of shades. In order to repair chemical damage you must fortify your hair with protein to help restore the protein you hair lost during chemical procedures. The Extreme shampoo and conditioner that I have pictured is Redken's most highly rated protein reconstructing products. It claims to rebuild and strengthen hair up to 4xs!

With any protein regimen you have to balance it out with moisture so in congruence with my shampoo and conditioner I am using the Smooth Down Butter Treatment which is filled with nourishing Macadamia Nut oil. I will be using this product once a week, which for me will be every other time I wash my hair. This product promises to give long lasting hydration to the hair.

Overall, I am very excited to find out what the results will be from using these products. I love coming to conclusions about products and comparing them to others. If this turns out to benefit my hair it will be amazing to me because it will rebuttal everything I have ever read about the damaging effects of sulfates. For the first time in a long time I guess I am going to trust in the scientific aspect of haircare and we will see where this takes me. I will be updating you guys often on how the condition of my hair is since using these products. Until then...

XOXO

Festive Fall

2010-09-12T16:54:00.000-07:00

Hey guys I hope you are all doing well. I put together this fall look using summer's golden bronze colors but transitioning them into the pumpkin season with a matte black crease color!

Products Used:
MAC'S Woodwinked all over the lid
MAC's Tempting in the crease and onto the brow-bone
MAC'S Carbon Black in the crease only! Applied with a fluffly 224 brush to keep it light
Loreal Hip Cream Liner
Fresh Supernova Mascara
Laura Mercier Oil-free Tinted Moisturizer

Bare Minerals (One Enormous Review!)

2010-09-07T19:19:00.000-07:00

Hey lovelies! I hope all of you had a fantastic labor day weekend. I am here today to review a product brand that I'm sure all of you have heard of before, and that is the product line by Bare Minerals. Before I begin the review I would like you all to know that I have used this product for a good five years consistently up until this recent year when I began to branch out with other types of foundation. Being a consumer of this product for this amount of time I really consider myself quite a bare minerals expert :P and I have a lot to say about this product line. That being said, let's begin the review!

The Bare Minerals Prime Time is their foundation primer and I stand by this product 100%. To this day, this is my favorite foundation primer; so much so that I pretty much have no desire to try anything else out there, which truly means something when you are a self-described product junkie! They make an oil-control version as well which I have never tried, having combination/dry skin myself, but my good friend who has oily/acne prone skin loves the oil-control version. With this product, a little goes a long way, one pump is all you need. I focus the product on my t-zone then bring the remaining product over my cheeks and my foundation lasts all day! The texture is extremely smooth and light. It prevents excess oil but does not irritate or dry out my skin and unlike other primers I have tried, this has never caused breakouts.

The Prime Time Eyeshadow Primer is as equally magnificent as the foundation primer. I swear by this primer and again, feel no urge to try anything else. I even prefer this over the makeup world's occult fave, Urban Decay Primer Potion. *Gasp* This product is super creamy, soft, blend-able, and easy to apply. This primer will prevent creasing even under the most extreme conditions! The light tint of the primer itself works wonders at creating a flawless canvas to work on, covering all imperfections visible on the eyelid, (i.e redness, veins, etc.). As someone with an extremely sensitive eye area I can also tell you this product is very gentle on the eye area and while it keeps your shadows in place all day, it doesn't create a war zone on your eye area when trying to remove your makeup at night. My final note on this product would be to apply this with your fingertips instead of the applicator since the warmth of your fingers will making smoothing out the product easier and more gentle on your eye area.

The gem of the Bare Minerals line is their mineral foundation. This is what made the company a mega-star. I prefer the original formula. This foundation will give you light to medium coverage without looking cakey and powdery. I prefer to apply this product using a fluffy kabuki brush for the maximum amount of coverage. I truly feel like the original formula gives more coverage than the matte formula and I find that when I attempt to achieve more coverage with the matte formula it can look quite cakey and dry on my skin. One thing I did like about the matte version over the original was the fact that it didn't contain the ingredient that gives your skin a "glowing" effect, which the original formula does contain. This ingredient has been known to make some people feel itchy and I did experience this whenever I got hot or my face started getting a little sweaty. However, I really dislike the feeling and look of the matte version on my skin. My combination skin looked dry and flakey which is definitely not attractive! I think the matte version is a fantastic choice for girls with oily skin, however, since my oily/acne prone skinned friend loves it. For me, I will stick with the original formula when I decide to go back to using Bare Minerals, but for now I'm enjoying my affair with tinted moisturizers :P

The final Bare Minerals product that I would like to mention in my review is the Mineral Veil, the most epic of all finishing powders! This product is a must-have in my makeup bag as well as my kit. This powder mattifys the face without making the skin look cakey or making it feel heavily covered by makeup. This product is light and settles right into the skin giving it a beautiful, natural finish. I use this product over any liquid foundation, including tinted moisturizers if they need some extra staying power. They also make a hydrating mineral veil that is superb for mature/dry skin.

One final thing I would like to mention about all the brand's mineral products is that the powders do NOT settle into fine lines which makes Bare Minerals ideal for all ages. Overall I adore this brand and give their entire product line a 4.5 out of 5. That half a point taken away purely for my personal dislike of the matte formula and that slight itching I get in the heat with the original formula.

Benefit You Rebel Tinted Moisturizer Review

2010-09-04T18:43:00.000-07:00

Benefit's You Rebel Tinted Moisturizer!
A Review

Hey ladies, and guys, I wanted to do a product review for you all on a product that I have been using throughout the summer, and that product is, of course, the You Rebel tinted moisturizer. If you are interested in anything cosmetic, I am sure you have heard about tinted moisturizers since they seem to be all the rage in the beauty world right now, especially during the hot summer weather.There are so many brands with their versions of tinted moisturizers that it can be hard deciding which one to buy, and trust me, every company has a unique formula and they all work quite differently from one another. So here is my review on this particular tinted moisturizer by Benefit Cosmetics.

I believe the main reason we purchase a tinted moisturizer over a regular foundation is to simplify our morning routine. Doubling up your morning moisturizer with some foundation is the perfect way to get yourself out the door faster. But the product better do the job right or you will spend the rest of the day fussing over your makeup and ultimately spending more time on your face throughout the day. What I loved about this product was that it is truly moisturizing! I have a hard time finding tinted moisturizers that actually moisturize and don't leave me needing to apply a separate moisturizer prior to application.

I found that after rinsing my face with cool water in the morning I could apply this TM all over my Combination/Dry skin and I would feel perfectly hydrated throughout the day. It also did a decent job of smoothing out my complexion. I am fortunate to no longer suffer from acne, just the occasional spots that pop up during that certain time of the month, so I don't have many things to cover on my skin. I mostly just have some slight discoloration, and those dang blackheads on my nose. This TM did smooth out my complexion but did not completely eliminate the appearance of my blackheads. I did need to use concealer as well to cover up my under-eye circles. If you are someone with more redness, discoloration, or acne spots I wouldn't recommend this product if you are looking to completely cover those things up.

You ladies and guys with oily skin, also beware. This product is very moisturizing and will most definitely leave you feeling greasy.I have dry skin but tend to get oily in my T-zone. With this product, the only way I found to control oil was to first apply a foundation primer, I use Prime Time by Bare Minerals, and I would also set the TM with translucent powder (also from Bare Minerals).

The fact that I had to apply the primer and powder was an unfortunate part of this product since the whole point of a TM, for me at least, was to be less maintenance and to have less makeup on my face. However, even with applying setting powder over the TM my makeup looked 100% natural. I always got compliments on how wonderful my skin looked while I was using this product because no one could tell I had makeup on, just that my skin looked clear, healthy, and dewy.

Overall, I give this product a 3.5 out of 5 stars. It is moisturizing enough to not have to double it up with your regular moisturizer and it applies so smooth and easy, like butter. I simply used my fingers to smooth it all over my face. The coverage is definitely light coverage, no where near medium coverage. This is not a product I would recommend to someone with oily skin but it works well for combination to dry skin types.

My only other complaint is the packaging. The packaging is adorable and the tube itself is metal and it works perfectly fine; my only problem with it was the cap. It could never be screwed down tightly enough and I found that if I threw the product into my makeup bag upside down, the next time I used it, the product would ooze out all over the place and I would end up wasting a lot of product. As long as you are conscious of storing the product right side up, however, you will be fine.

Outfit of the Day

2010-09-03T17:08:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! I hope all of you are having a fantastic Friday!Hopefully the memorial day traffic isn't keeping anyone from getting where they need to be! I am lucky to be home for the day already so thankfully I won't be stuck out there on the roads! I just wanted to share a quick outfit of the day (OOTD) with you all.

Today was casual. Ty and I had to wake up early, Tylr had a dentist appt. The rest of the day I spent with Ty as well as my cousin. We went out to eat and had a great time.

I wanted to share my outfit with you all because I think some OOTD's will be beneficial to all of you who are stuck in a back to school fashion funk. Sometimes our creative fashion juices just aren't flowing and it helps to see what other girls are wearing so we can grab some inspiration from them!

I like my style to be very "beachy" and relaxed. I find that is the look I am always reaching for. Jeggings are a great piece for the fall and I just picked up a couple pairs from American Eagle yesterday. Today I am wearing a more distressed pair of jeggings and they are so comfortable! Rolled up and paired with a cute pair of flip-flops you can still enjoy warm weather while transitioning into the fall fashion trends which I know we are all eager to start wearing!

What I'm Wearing:

Jeggings from American Eagle
Plain White tank top
Sweater-shirt from Hollister
O'neill flip-flops

My makeup today was simple but fresh and pretty so I thought I would show you guys!

Products Used:

Benefit tinted moisturizer
Nars blush in Orgasm
Mac's Satin Toupe all over the lid and in the crease
L'oreal HIP cream liner
Fresh Supernova Mascara

Fierce Feline!

2010-08-25T19:21:00.001-07:00

Hey lovelies! So today I felt like getting dramatic and creating what I call an "extreme cateye." I was inspired to do this look after discovering similar creations in several fashion ads in Style magazine and Teen Vogue. The look is heavy on the liner and big on drama!

PRODUCTS USED:

EYES

L'oreal HIP Cream Liner
MAC eyeshadow in Carbon
Sigma Eyeshadow in Indian Girl
MAC eyeshadow in Blanc Type

FACE

Benefit You Rebel tinted moisturizer
Physicians Formula Healthywear Powder
Peach blush and Bronzer by Tarte Cosmetics

LIPS

MAC's Creme de Nude

Latest Shoot

2010-08-24T20:49:00.000-07:00

Isn't she adorable?

Photoshoot WOOOOOT!

2010-08-20T20:46:00.000-07:00

These are some photos from the last three photoshoots I styled the makeup and hair for. I featured a few more shots of the oldest model because I find I don't have as many adult photos in my portfolio. I personally find it to be so much more fun to work on teenagers and adults because it allows for much more creativity on the part of the makeup artist.

Sorry there hasn't been a post up in a few days; I have been EXTREMELY busy! On wednesday I took my state board cosmetology test and passed! Yay! I a now a licensed cosmetologist! The test was extremely intense but I was well prepared for it. I am so thankful to be done with it and to finally have my license!

Mine and Tylr's 5 Year Aniversary

2010-08-11T22:53:00.000-07:00

So it's been a crazy past three days. Tylr and I have basically been out and about non-stop, celebrating both his birthday, and our anniversary (the celebrations kind of melt into one). On Monday we went to an amazing outdoor shopping mall and had lunch to pre-celebrate our anniversary.

Tylr's burger was HUGE!

We finished off Monday night having dinner with my side of the family for Tylr's birthday at the Macaroni Grill. Then Tuesday it was off to the zoo and the Tylr's parents house for his real birthday dinner :)

She's not dead I promise. Lol. She was sleeping.

And then today was finally our actual anniversary! It's been five years and I cannot believe it. I am so lucky to have found the love of my life so early in life. I thank God everyday that I have Tylr. We spent the day going to breakfast then shopping. Tylr spoiled me with a new phone case and the Rayban aviator glasses I have been lusting after for months!

Fall Makeup and Outfit

2010-08-11T18:52:00.001-07:00

Just a look inspired by fall. On eyes I used:

Coastal Scents 88 Palet
Mac Eyeshadow in Sable
Mac Eyeshadow in Blanc Type
Linear Intense Liquid Eyeliner by Loreal
Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner in rockstar

My outfit is:

Dress from Love Couture
Sweater from Target
Boots from Cathy Jeans
Knee-high socks from Target

Electric Blue and Pink

2010-08-06T20:34:00.000-07:00

This is just a very funky, avant-garde look I decided to do today. It's not what you would call "wearable;" I mostly did this look just for the creativity of it. I love doing crazy looks with insanely bright colors, it's a fun way for me to get my artistic juices flowing :P So I was trying to think of an event that you could actually wear this to and I thought of a rave. I think you could totally rock this look at a rave! I personally have never been to one but my brother loves the music and loves going and I've seen the outfits people wear to raves and this would totally fit. So here it is, my electric blue and pink rave look, haha!

Another Photoshoot!

2010-08-04T22:32:00.000-07:00

This was just another photoshoot I did the hair and makeup for. I love my job!

Hair Trend I'm Loving -- Dark Roots

2010-08-02T20:11:00.001-07:00

So I have been totally in love with this new trend running rampantly through Hollywood. Some are referring to it as the "Dark Root Trend" and it can be achieved by adding some subtle highlights midway down the hair strand instead of directly on the roots. I think this look is so carefree its chic, and I am in love! The idea of this trend is to mimic the natural lightness that your hair gets on its ends due to the sun.

These types of highlights are great for girls who want low-maintenance colored hair. Start the highlights about two inches away from the scalp which will allow the highlights to grow out naturally while still getting the instant "dark root" look. The trick to make this look work is to weave highlights in. If you slice the hair to make more chunky highlights, the regrowth will be too defined of a line and will make the look unnatural.

Of course, the other option is to just spread out the time between visits to the salon, which will be such a money saver! I am excited to try this trend out myself by letting my hair color fade at the ends naturally and then just letting my hair grow out naturally. So this trend is saving my hair from further damage and keeping some money in my pocket. Like I said, I'm in love. Are you yet?

My Cosmetology School Experience

2010-07-29T20:13:00.000-07:00

As some of you know, and many of you do not know, I am coming to the end of my time as a cosmetology school student. I am graduating this coming Tuesday, August 3rd, and I have to say the thought is so, so sweet, I cannot wait to be done. My beauty school experience has been surprisingly influential and dare-I-say-it, life-changing. Those of you who know me personally would probably never have guessed in a million years I would end up in beauty school and not some university. I surprised even myself when I made the life-altering decision to go to beauty school.

It was funny seeing everyone's reaction when I told them I was dropping out of college, with my 4.0, and heading off to Marinello's. The majority of my family reacted the same; hesitating smiles that looked more like sneers and the same phrase, "but you're going to stay in school right?" It was slightly discouraging, seeing their less-than-pleased reactions. I mean, I was scared too! This was a complete one-eighty from my life-long plan to head off to some university and major in English Literature. Until this point I had always relied on my education, my photographic memory, and my GPA to get me through life. Deciding to veer away from the practicality of college and jump into the unknown, perhaps idealistic world, of creativity and art in the form of makeup and hair was quite the leap. But I am so proud of myself for making that venture!

What fun is practicality anyway? College degrees lead you to desk jobs at newspaper and magazine companies. That could be fun I guess, but my love for literature was the creation of it. I wanted to create stories; beautiful stories about dynamic individuals with dreams and ambitions and backgrounds. I realized the inspiration needed for my stories didn't lie on a desk, it resided in the people around me. I took up cosmetology because doing makeup and hair is something I love. It's fun for me. It's like playtime. And while I enhance the natural beauty of a client in my chair I am also encouraging the internal beauty within that unique person by giving them confidence in the way they look. And you can't imagine the stories you hear from those people in that chair. You hear the scandal, of course, but also the drive, the history, the fears, and the longings of these people. Everything that makes us the beautiful characters we are in this one huge story we all interact in.

As soon as I began school a year ago I knew I was in a place with more inspiration than I would ever need. Let me tell you something, the "beauty school" stereotype is kinda true; you meet some very interesting people in beauty school. I am not going to lie, I judged a lot of these girls when I walked through the doors of my school. I thought here I am, oh so smart, miss 4.0, and I am surrounded with all these girls who are, let's just say, much, much more wild then I have ever been.I was thrown into a place full of people I had never really been around and where I was immediately labeled the "good virgin girl." Just to brief you, we had: girls from jail, girls who loved sex more than any man (and talked openly about it), girls with babies, girls without a high school diploma (**gasp**); but you know what I learned? These girls who I used to think were scandalous and taboo turned out to be the most interesting, smart, and driven girls I have ever met. These girls have taught me more about life than anyone in my AP classes ever did.

Never did I go into beauty school either and think I would leave with a best friend who is pretty much the polar opposite of me. I like to think of us as ying and yang, black and white, good and evil. She was everything I was never looking for in a friend and yet I ended up finding everything I was ever looking for in a friend. Does that make sense? Her honesty is something I just can't get over. Its kind of like sour candy, you don't really know why you like it because it's kind of shocking and it hurts a little, but after a while you realize how good it is. If you judge this girl too quickly you will truly miss out on meeting one of the most loyal and caring girls you could ever find. And that, I think is the most worthy thing I have ever learned.

Not only did I learn the art of hairstyling and the reward it brings when you make somebody feel good about themselves, but I learned what it means to have a story. We each have our own individual, unique, beautiful stories and if you can just take a moment to hear one another you can truly find the inspiration to do whatever it may be with your own life. For me it will be to capture stories and to help anyone who sits in my styling chair to feel confident to continue writing their own stories.

I Need to Personalize This Blog

2010-07-27T21:04:00.000-07:00

Help!

Hehe. Hey guys! First of all I would really like to thank everybody who has been reading and following my blog. Seeing that little view counter go up everyday makes me so excited! I love seeing that people are reading my writing, even if it's nothing more serious than talking about makeup or products to make your hair grow, lol.

I especially want to thank my youtube channel subscribers who have followed me over to my little blog to take a look, it means so much to me :)

Now, all that being said, I need your guys help, well, at least someone's help. The generic template of my blog has got.to.go! I am taking my blogging very seriously and I want a personalized blog design that shows it! Now, I have done some research on how to personalize your blog but it is getting me nowhere. The fact that I cannot find the photoshop program that I used to use for graphics editing anywhere doesn't hep me either.

If anyone knows any pointers to help me customize my blog design I would so appreciate the advice or recommendations, or whatever!

Thanks everyone and be looking out for some newer and more interesting blog posts coming tomorrow! Hearts!

Coconut Oil -- The Key to Growing Long, Healthy Hair

2010-07-21T19:13:00.000-07:00

I get asked a lot what tips I can give to girls to help them grow their hair longer. Most girls have a very difficult time keeping their hair healthy enough to prevent breakage and allow their hair to become longer. There is no secret product that will suddenly make your hair growth spurt 4 inches but you will notice and feel like your hair growth is increasing by keeping your hair healthy and preventing the length of your hair from breaking off.

Most of the products we use in our hair are scientifically manufactured so that the molecules in that product are small enough to fit into our hair's cuticle and hydrate the hair shaft from the inside out. The problem with these products is that they contain many chemical ingredients that are counter-productive to our hair's health. This is why many women choose to go organic with their hair-care, as I do.

This being said, not all organic or "food" based hair products are beneficial to your hair in terms of repair. Olive oil for example is a wonderful treatment for the hair if you are looking for increased softness and shine but olive oil will not do much as far as repairing the hair. This is because the molecules in olive oil are too large to fit into the hair's cuticle which means that the benefits of olive oil simply coat the hair's surface, giving it smoothness and luminosity but it does not restore or condition the hair.

Coconut oil on the other hand is the only organic oil whose molecules are small enough to fit into the tiny holes in the hairs cuticle. This allows the moisturizing nutrients from the coconut oil to penetrate the hair and restore the hair from the inside out. In this sense, coconut oil actually works to repair your hair and actually make it healthier. Coconut oil will not make split ends magically disappear, you have to cut those off, but it will help to restore dry, brittle hair.

I have found that coconut oil is indeed the magic ingredient to healthy hair. :)

Kim Kardashian Inspired Makeup Look

2010-07-14T20:04:00.001-07:00

Hey guys this is a look that I played around with a little while ago. I was inspired by the smokey eye that Kim Kardashian is always rocking. This is a very popular eye for client's who are wanting their makeup done for a nice occasion so I wanted to feature this particular look on my blog.

I am just wanting to showcase some of the work that I have done makeup and hairstyling wise. I hope some of you are enjoying seeing the pictures. There will be quite a lot of these types of posts on this blog but keep a look out for some reviews on some beauty products that I will be getting up in the next few days.

Photoshoots Two Weeks Ago

2010-07-13T15:59:00.000-07:00

Our model already had a natural athletic look from being a real surfer but his hours spent in the sun and in the salt water caused his skin to be quite red and dry. My goal for his head-shots was to even out his skin-tone by color correcting the redness. I also used concealer to hide any blemishes he had.

I loved this model's natural hair texture so instead of fighting it, I enhanced the curls with some gel and pulled her hair off her face to highlight her beautiful bone structure. I contoured her cheekbones with some bronzer and blush then added mascara, eyeliner, and some brown eyeshadow to enhance her eyes.

This beauty had a small amount of redness, like her brother, from hours spent in the sun so I canceled out any redness then added a pink blush and lip color with some brown eyeliner and black mascara to compliment her blue eyes.

Photoshoot from Last Summer

2010-07-13T15:49:00.000-07:00

This is some of the hair and makeup I did last summer when I first began cosmetology school so I could become licensed to do the work I love. I loved working with this cutey-pie. She was a doll and so much fun to work with! She had the beautiful baby perfect skin of a four year old so the trick for her was to simply emphasize her coloring so it would show up nicely in photographs. Just a little blush, some plummy pink lip color, and mascara made her features stand out beautifully.

Brighten Your Day

2010-07-12T20:07:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone! So today I decided to upload a few pictures from a look I did actually a couple months ago. I am going to be uploading pictures from older looks just because I want to get them up onto my blog. I will be posting more recent works soon though.

This particular look was inspired by the bright pink and yellow daisies that are always pictured everywhere around spring time or the beginning of summer. I know a lot of girls are afraid to wear this much color in their routine makeup look but I really do encourage you guys to try and pull off a little bit of color during these warm seasons.

I know that pink can be a particularly difficult bright color to pull off around the eye area, oftentimes in can come off looking more like you have pinkeye than a trendy, cute eyeshadow look. The trick is to stick with very vibrant, bright, "hot" shades of pink. The darker shade of pink you go, the more red pigment there is to the color. You want pinks with more yellow pigments in them then red. Red is what makes you look like you have pinkeye. I also always suggest keeping pink colors strictly on the upper-lid area. Never line your lower lash-line with a pink shade.

For this look I blended a dark shimmery orange into my crease with a fluffy 224 brush from Mac Cosmetics to blend out the line between the pink and my skin color. The final touch to this look was to add that bright, canary yellow into the inner corners of the eyes. This yellow is what keeps the look fresh and bright. The yellow in the corners brings out the yellow underlying pigments in the bright pinks I chose, which will further help to cancel out any red pigments that can cause your eye area to look infected.

Keep your cheeks a nice, bright pink. I used Orgasm by Nars Cosmetics. And voila! You will have a beautiful bright eye look for the summer! Ask me any questions you may have and let me know if you try any bright eyeshadow looks out this summer!

Pretty Little Liars -- Am I the Only One So Obsessed?

2010-07-11T19:30:00.000-07:00

I don't care if you think this is riCOCKulous but I have become obsessed with this series. It started out when a friend of mine from cosmetology school told me I HAD to see this new TV series on ABC Family. I had seen the adds for it all over the place: the mall, the street, the bus stops, and I have to admit that the poster looked very intriguing.

I started watching after the show had already aired 4 episodes so as soon as I watched the first one I ended up watching the next three as well. It was SO ADDICTING! In fact, I was so hooked I went and bought the first book for my Ipad. I started reading about a week ago and I am already halfway through the second book.

The books are just as entertaining as the show and I recommend that anybody who is a reader should give them a try. They are definitely a "fun" read, I mean, there isn't a ton of literary substance but you know what, I appreciate the way the author, Sara Shepard, tells the story. She is definitely a good story-teller. She can capture her audience very well. I wouldn't say she is a Stephenie Meyer but she is capable enough that I don't feel like I am losing brain cells by reading the books like I did when I attempted to read the Gossip Girl series.

I'm not going to go into a huge explanation of what the series so far is about, go watch and see!, but I will say that it has a good level of mystery and suspense to it. I really enjoy it, but I really think I enjoy any show with some murder mystery in it.

By far my favorite character in the books and the TV show is Aria. When I read books I always enjoy finding the character I can relate to and I really feel like I relate to her the most. First of all, she is an English major and secondly she is just a little bit off from the rest of the girls. She is a bit darker and more brooding. She tends to over-analyze situations but I think that isn't such a terrible quality all the time, especially if your best friend goes missing and is found dead in her own backyard 3 years later. What I also love about this character is her STYLE!

The books try to capture her eccentric style and I think the show's stylist did a fantastic job at recreating the looks! She piles on a lot of layers, wears a lot of lace leggings, and the lace-up boots she is always wearing are to die for! I am definitely inspired by her wardrobe and I think I may have found a new fashion idol by way of Aria. :P I will try putting some looks together that are inspired by her fashion and uploading them on here. Enough about my girl crush. Ill talk to you guys later.

New and Confused

2010-07-10T22:27:00.001-07:00

I am very proud of myself for finally taking the initiative to start a blog. Perhaps this will be the outlet I can use for my creative writing. Hmmm... Anyways, I really don't know what I am doing on here seeing as this is my very first blog post ever, but I am hoping that in a bit of time I can get things sorted out. I definitely want to make my blog look a bit cuter. Maybe I can work on getting some of my old website designing skills back from the days of my youth when all I did was play on horseland.com. Hahaha. That is kind of embarrassing to admit but oh well.
So, my plans for this blog are to incorporate my love of writing with my love and knowledge in all things having to do with beauty. I want to showcase the work I have done on set with makeup and hair as well as just talk with my readers about great products and beauty tricks. These are my plans but I want this blog to really be free to be taken anywhere it pleases. I am going to be embarrassingly honest and myself in my posts. I am going to write about issues I want to write about and I won't be afraid to unleash my opinion on you all.
Well, that is enough of an introduction for now. I want to go ahead and post this so I can get a feel for how everything works. If anyone actually reads this...HAHA...cool!