FRIDAY FAVE

So I thought today would be a good time to start my "Friday Faves" blog. Every Friday I will post something makeup or hair related, that is my favorite at that time.

Today I thought I would share my favorite mascara at the moment. I must add the 'at the moment' line in there because if you know me, you well know I like to switch up my mascaras quite a bit. I get bored looking at the same tube for too long. (honestly) I love change way too much.

So this one is from Maybelline. And don't ask me how I started using this one....I think maybe a client told me about it..Its the Maybelline FALSIES by Volum' Express.

Now I love love love false eyelashes. If I had the patience and time I would wear them everyday! I think false lashes complete a total look, and in pictures make your eyes look so amazing. When I tried this mascara I believe, for me, it stood up to its name. I always go for the "blackest black" colors because I like my lashes dark. This mascara lasts all day, does not flake, and washes off fairly easy. The large, curved brush helps the mascara coat your lashes from base to end in one fair sweep.

I believe it retails for about $7.00 at most drugstores (or right around there).

Go try it out! I hope you like it as much as I do!
What's your favorite?

XoX

Best kept secret

So when I started this blog I was planning on sharing all my greatest beauty/hair secrets that I have. But then I got to thinking...it won't be a secret anymore if I put it out there for the world to know. But then I sat and thought longer, and that is incredibly selfish of me! How could I even think that way?  Geez!

Then this morning, like I do every mornings, as I was putting my makeup on, I was thinking about how wonderful this eyeshadow is. How, if my wonderful tanning, hairdresser, bubbly friend had not told me about this product, I would be, at this very moment, a completely different person. For reals.

So I am going to be unselfish and tell you all about it! First, just take a look at it:

How delectably beautiful do those look?! I cannot help but be in love with makeup. I started doing makeup for clients fairly recently, and have done makeup for a couple of shows. In doing this, people are constantly asking me what kind of eyeshadow do I use. Now when people see the finished product, I get guesses like 'Mac' or 'Urban Decay'. I am here to tell you this product is better then either of those! 

This is from a company : Coastal Scents. I know, it sounds like a candle shop, but it is not..and these eyeshadows are not your average shadow colors either! These are most likened to "Mac" colors because of the strength of the pigments. You will realize, upon using these, that you do not need a lot of shadow..a little goes a long way. 

I have 2 of their pallets, the 88 Ultra shimmer palate and the 78 piece makeup pallet which also has blush with the shadows. The 88 shimmer palate is..get this..$19.95!!! Great price. They also have other palates and other makeup options, however these are the only 2 I have tried. 

Definitely worth a try! They also make great gifts for friends (graduation). 

Try it out and let me know what you think! (Not responsible for any addictions caused from using this product..it will happen)

XoX

Wonderful soft hair days

A friend showered  at my house recently and getting out of the shower she promptly asked me if I had a leave in conditioner. She asked ME if I had conditioner!!! Please!! Always!! Thats like asking a chef if they know how to cook. DUH!

This friend of mine has finer hair and easily tangles. She has recently decided to grow it out, and is the longest I have seen it, in the time I have known her. This has been a back and forth battle for her. Let me give you some history of this ladies' hair...

She has a strawberry blondish base. I recently added some lighter blonde hi-lites and medium brown lo-lites.  She has side bangs and long layers with textured layered ends. Like I said her hair gets very tangly (real word) after a shower, no matter what conditioners she uses.

So when she got out of the shower and asked me the question mentioned above, I handed her the best thing I know for her. This product is amazing, and worked wonders for her fine hair. Its the Paul Mitchell color protect locking spray. 

Now not only is this product a great leave in conditioner for fine, tangly hair, but this wonderful spray also is great for colored locks. It contains sunflower extract which provides sun protection and keeps color from fading. The UVA and UVB protection shields help with that.  It makes hair look conditioned and shiny, without adding unnecessary weight. I use this almost everyday and recommend it to everyone who has colored hair. (Who doesn't these days?) 

So if you have hair like my friend, (or not) then this is something that is worth trying! 

XoX

Husbands favorite.

I always like to think of myself as a creative person, a creative mind if you will. And especially in the kitchen , when it comes to cooking (duh! get your mind out of the gutter). With my husbands new diagnosis of food allergies, I believe I mentioned a few posts earlier, I have had to become especially creative.

One of his favorite foods is breaded zucchini, homemade. Well that involves eggs, one of the foods he is in fact allergic too! grrr. Well I came up with the genius idea to use milk instead of the eggs! (which he can have by the way) I was quite proud of myself, considering the fact that I was in the middle of preparing this exciting meal for him, already having mentioned it to him, and lightbulb on the head, realized he cannot have stinkn eggs! (double grrr) 

So I used gluten free flour seasoned with salt and pepper, milk (lactose free) soy would probably work well too, and gluten free breadcrumbs also seasoned with salt and pepper. My layout looked something like this:

I then fried them in olive oil and let me tell you they were delic! 

Now only if I can find a way to make homemade ranch dressing without using the packaged dressing mix......

XoX

Photo shoot!

So I am back, once again! And so much to catch you all up on.

This past weekend we had an exciting event at the salon I work at. We decided to put together a photo shoot. We threw around some creative ideas and decided to do a 'Lady Gaga look-a-like' contest. Since everyone and their mothers know who Lady Gaga is, and she has so many looks to her, we thought it would be fun...and fun it was!

So that picture I posted a bit ago has to do with this. Now we each had a model and we could not use hair extensions or hair pieces of any kind. Other then that we had free creative reign to design whatever we wanted. Now to most people that seems pretty easy. But to me, that created a problem. You see, I have so many wacky ideas in my head, that it was extremely hard for me to pick one consistent theme/idea and stick with it. I had to keep telling myself that less is more, although Lady Gaga is a "more is more" kind of person.

I spent hours and hours googling and researching fun ideas and creative designs, and finally came up with something like this...a hair tutu skirt with a glitter tulle train. A feather bra top. Lace makeup. Now with all of that in my head I had to make this work with my model, and make the audience fall in love with it, because after all it was a competition.

So after all the hard work, the standing for hours curling the hair, applying the makeup and 'trimming the hair skirt' this is what the final outcome looked like:

 

Ta-Da!! Here is my lovely finished project. 

Once the photographer has the pictures done I will be sure to post those. She has some amazing ideas. You have to take a look at her site HERE. She is one talented person. 

So after all the makeup was done, and all the hair, and the outfit was put together and "Kady Kinetic" finished her photos we sent the girls on over to the restaurant next door. There over 100 people voted on the girls in these categories:

Best outfit

Best makeup

Best hair

Best overall

My model was voted as "best makeup" which, surprisingly, was the easiest and fastest part of the whole process! 

Anyways..there is my busy crazy weekend. I hope you all enjoy the photos and once the photographer finishes up hers, Ill post those as well! 

XoX

(another couple bonus photos)

Technical difficulties

So of course I get all gung-ho about this blogging situation and of course that's when my machine thing, or what we all call a computer decides to poop out on me. And you do not realize how much you depend on your stupid box screen computer until you do not have it!! urgh!
So check back in a couple days and I promise once I have my computer back up and running I will have some interesting posts....including a explanation for my previous google pic of the day post. :) Its exciting!!
Blog on bloggers!
XoX

Beautiful breakfast

If you are like me you wake up fairly early every day, and if you are like me it is quite hard to eat breakfast that early in the morning. And if you are like me then by the time you are ready to eat, half the morning is gone and you might as well wait because lunch is right around the corner.

Or maybe you are really not like me at all, but that is ok because that is why I like you.

Every once in a while though I will stumble across something at the store that catches my fancy and I will think to myself "you know, I really need to eat breakfast again, I think I will try this." And off we go, me and my little ambitious spirit, and I will think, "this time I am going to stick with it and eat breakfast every morning forever!" And that little ambitious spirit will last maybe a week, and fizzle out. (I did call it a little spirit)

Well on my last conquest to the grocery store, while I was searching and searching the isles for yummy-ness  for my poor gluten free husband, I decided to be a little selfish and take a gander at the cereal isle. Behold! I found my new cereal that I promised myself I was going to stick to this time! I always go for the cereals with the little surprises of fruit in them! They make me smile as I eat them..crunching away on the cereal and "oh!" there's a little bite of sweet happiness! Reminds me of Boba tea! Yummm. Those little tapioca balls just make you smile.

(I have a great place we like to go, if you're interested)

Anyways back to my cereal...so I found this one from Kashi. So wonderful! But this time, I told myself, once I get bored with it, I will add bananas or another fruit to my bowl so I don't burn out. (because I easily do) So tomorrow will mark day 2 of my cereal eating routine. Lets see how far I go with this one! 

XoX

Google pic of the day...

Stay tuned for explanation!

Pot holes, cereal and wheat allergies

In my ongoing quest to make my "not so healthy" junk food, circle K hot dog eating husband on the right track to eating healthy, we hit a minor, what some would call, a speed bump. I look at it as a blessing and a curse knocking on my door simultaneously.  He was recently diagnosed (yesterday, really) as having a gluten allergy (among other things) Yes he is now "one of those."
Now I say a blessing because really, he is forced into eating "healthy" foods. A downhill if you will.  No more gas station hot dogs! (Honestly I didn't know people actually ate those things. They just look so shrively and gross turning constantly under those crusty heat lamps) No more late night Taco Bell stops, 5 Pepsi's a day, and Whataburger for breakfast.
But here is the curse part of this situation: I am going to be the one to make the lunches, buy the 'healthy' food, prepare that food and make sure he sticks to what he is supposed to be doing. Doesn't seem too bad, but have you ever been to a 'normal' grocery store and looked at the 'gluten free' section..if they even have one? Not much of a selection. Now, go into a Trader Joes, Whole Foods, or a Sunflower. Yay! Talk about a better selection. But...throw this pot hole in there...No cane sugar,  and no eggs (yolk or whites) Now there's a more complicated problem, construction zone you might say.
Needless to say internet research is what my nights have consisted of. My grocery store runs have now turned into hours of search and find and label reading. Did you know there are about 20 words used on labels that indicate gluten is present!?! Not to mention the many foods you would never, (in a million years) think gluten is present in. (ie:baking powder, dry roasted nuts, ground spices, and some vitamins! Source)
So here is where my lovely blog readers come into play. If any of you out there have any ideas or recipes that I could use that would be lovely! If any of you know me well I love to cook, and especially try new recipes. Mondays are my designated 'new recipe' night. I will try anything at least once. I don't want to  be discouraged with these new 'diet restrictions' (healthy food eating plan) that is put in front of us. I will continue to search the endless blogs and recipe pages and share those ones that I find helpful, if there are any others like us that are out there. And for all of you without any kind of food allergy, don't ever (ever ever) take that for granted. You have NO idea!
XoX

Sweet smiles and sticky hands

About one year six months and seven days ago (all approximate) I was forced into Auntie status. Don't get me wrong, I love being an aunt, and the wordage of the last sentence perhaps wasn't the best choice, but after the past few weeks, it fits. In my opinion, girls are quicker at picking things up, which makes raising them as polite, sweet princesses a lot harder! For instance "shut up". Seriously? What year-and-a half year old should be heard saying such inconsiderate phrases?!? But at the same time, and here comes the hard part of discipline, who cannot help but giggle when the sweetest little face with a high pitched voice says that in the most perfect of contexts? I mean look at this face!

So after the 'bad words' come out, you have to have a plan of action ready in your head. You have to be on your toes at all times with these little ones... there's too many surprises daily, so to minimize breakdowns (on your part) you must have some sort of formality to how things work. Heres a tip: have your 'bad girl' corner all picked out! And stick to that corner..it helps. 

And how about the biting! I mean, really? Who taught her that? I guess it doesn't help that she is familiar with the cute little english boy on YouTube who gets bit by his little brother "Charlie"  on the finger and thinks its soo hilarious. I mean she knows this video so well that "oww Charlie" comes out quite frequently. But let me tell you, when those tiny little teeth find the inside of your thigh while playing "all fall down" and make contact well enough to produce a nice purple bruise, that Charlie video is not so funny. "Bad girl" corner! 

Above all the 'bad words' and biting, and frustrations, there's a sweet little princess who loves being a girlie girl. Who loves sunglasses and "polish", "prince charming" and kitty kittys. Who copies all the good words you say as well, and calls for you when she's at Grandmas house. 

Those are what you think about when you agree to mother them for the day (or 2) and cannot wait for those special moments to be formed with them. So I have settled nicely in the auntie status and am ok with this, as I can hand her back and walk away satisfied that I have done my part in her growing up to be a well behaved, non biting little princess who loves having her nails painted, and trying on shoes (already, I know). 

Im sure hilarious stories will grace these pages of her growing up into the little lady she once will be. Until then I will leave you with one more sweet photo. I am a proud aunt :) 

XoX

Worth a look

Who doesn't love jewelry? Even better, who doesn't love affordable jewelry? Alas bargain shopper friends! I have just the website for you! And whats better, I know the person who makes the jewelry! She makes it all by hand, and is super creative. Look at this!

This is just one of the many pieces she has, and always is adding new items. She now has a 'clearance' section. So enough blabbering about it. Go check it out!


Island Shimmer Designs

XoX

One of my obsessions..

Obsession is one of those things, that I think, if admitted are ok. Especially if those obsessions are with makeup, or hair products, or shoes, or clothes (ok anything beauty for that matter) When I say I am obsessed with something, that means that usually I have come across this, tried it, loved it, and now cannot for the life of me get it off of my mind. So that is why I have come to this wonderful listening ear called a blog and have typed it down on this wonderful machine here called a computer!

So I have become ABSOLUTELY (capitals for emphasis)  obsessed with a certain little blue tube of wonderfulness! This is a eyeshadow primer from Too Faced. It prevents fading, creasing, blurring, fading and melting.

This is the best primer that I have found (recently) You can take any type, store grade (cheap) eyeshadow and make it into a bright, gleaming party on your face! This stuff is amazing! It lasts all day, all night, and even through 110 degree weather, sunshine and all!! It is great! So go to your local Ulta, pick yourself up some, and try it! 

Oh, and its pretty reasonable too! (like $18) 

XoX

Why blog?

I told a girlfriend of mine that very soon, my brain is going to explode from a plethora of information. From my "paying job" (at another time I will let you in as to why the quotations) I come in contact with many interesting people, stories, opinions, suggestions, and personalities. That being the reason for the plethora of information begging to be leaked out.
So, from the aforementioned,  along with my own thoughts whispering kindly in my brain..we all have those, dont we?; I will do my best to entertain you in a way I feel necessary.
So please bear with me as I may ramble, rant and rave, and feel free to give me your input at any time. For I am a lovely listener as well (at least I like to think so)