Hot drama

The change over to warm weather always means new perspectives. Of course, with me, this floods over into fashion in a big way. Here's some stuff I'm digging lately:

So sophisticated. Courtesy of Blushing and Sweet

Love the hair

 Off-the-shoulder Sexy

This might have to be my hair after my wedding in November.

* All photos found in random Yahoo.com images searches, unless otherwise noted.*

I'm sensing some real glamour in the mix this season. In fact, I was just watching Funny Girl and envying all of Barbara Streisand's dramatic 1920s attire. I would wear any of that stuff today, honestly. I'm having a little bit of a Lindsay Lohan fetish lately, too, and I have no idea why. Could be worse.

Pink eye (the good kind!)

I have an on-and-off love affair with pink eye shadow. Right now, it's back on. It can look punk or really pretty and fresh depending on how you use it. I actually use a rosey cream blush that I've had since my days of using stage make up, so don't even ask me to try and figure out what exactly it is and where you can buy it. ;) Just use whatever works for you. For this, I think a product with creamy texture looks fresher than powder eye shadow and blends really nicely. Just make sure you powder it after applying to set it.

A recent look:

I liked the pop of pink with the black and white dress. Don't be afraid to be a little messy with the pink. It shouldn't look too calculated. You can even put it all around the eye, but I didn't do that this time.
I traced the outside of the pink with a shimmer golden powder shadow and extended it outwards (up to my eyebrows and around the bottom outer corner of my eye). I wish my crappy little camera did it more justice. It's not that easy to pick up in these photos. But, along with the pink, it created a shimmery pastel look all around the eyes. Almost "fairy"-like, but understated.
I finished with black mascara. It's not often that I don't wear some sort of eye liner, but I didn't feel like I needed anything taking away the focus of the pink and gold or making it too harsh of a look. I kept the lips light and neutral as well.

Blush always goes below my cheek bones, rather than the apple of the cheek as many people suggest. It really helps accentuate the cheek bones that way. I put a little shimmery powdered bronzer on the cheek bone to help highlight them even more.

Thoughts? Ideas? Suggestions? Share 'em!

Lounging looks

Style-wise, I like those times where things just come together completely by accident and make you feel happy and glamorous all at once. I had one of those mornings. You know, where you're just convinced there should be a magazine photographer following you around? Haha. Ok, maybe not...regardless, here's the recipe:
- Men's dress shirt (honestly, even if you're a single gal right now, I wouldn't judge you for buying one for yourself as a sleep shirt. It's important to feel sexy even when no one else is around!)
- Messy-ass hair pile, on top of your head, secured with a clip
- Freshly brewed cup 'o joe

 Sorry for the rough, impromptu photos. And a rare glimpse of me without make up. 
See, this is why I need a personal magazine photographer.

(Can I be totally gag-worthy and say that my engagement ring shining-ly caught my eye today while I was holding my coffee mug and it also made me feel totally amazing?)

It's Friday, so you have time to incorporate this stuff into your weekend lounging look! Wishing you some effortless fabulous-ness! (Say that three times fast!)

xxx

NYE

Ok, here's a little flashback to some New Years Eve style! I LOVE getting dressed up like this!

 My sister and I before going out to a local bar with a group of friends. We played around with silver liquid liner to enhance our eye makeup. I liked the wintery/futuristic feel!

I love Emily's hot pink heels!

How did you dress for New Years Eve? Happy 2012!

Yes, you knew it was coming: Pinterest

 I'm not sure what I'm turning into, but something takes over once you become engaged...

I have turned into quite the wedding planning monster. Actually, my brain is not even really here, it's off planning somewhere.

Real quick, I just thought I would share with you my wedding inspiration board (so far) at Pintrest! Click here
I am going to do my best to create a Colonial-influenced atmosphere on a very small budget!

Let me know what you think! If you could have any type of wedding, what would it be? Is there anything you've been dreaming about since you were little?

A toast

Happy New Year!

Champagne & shimmer

 A little New Years Eve inspiration:

In the Navy

I've spent the day making my apartment extra cozy and festive for a little get-together I'm having tomorrow night. I thought it'd be nice to have just a couple close friends over before we all go our separate ways for the holidays.

I'm still deciding on the perfect outfit for tomorrow (something casual, and comfortable for hanging around the house, but also fun and festive!), but I have recently found the perfect manicure for the season. I'm bored of the regular old red or burgundy nails I normally do this time of year, and while I became a big fan of black around Halloween, I wanted something that really represented that Christmas-feeling. Lately, I had been settling on a creamy pale pink color with sparkles (see here), because at least it represented snow (or even champagne...oooh), but I had grown bored of that too. Don't get me wrong though, I WILL be saving that idea for New Years Eve!

The other day, the exact color I needed hit me - Navy! I ran to Target specifically to buy some, and just my luck, Revlon's "Midnight Affair" was on a half price clearance sale! I guess no one else was into that color, but to me, it was perfect! I've been wearing it for a couple weeks now, and loving it, but for the little party tomorrow, I decided to add my sparkles.

I used ICE brand "Spit Fire" for the sparkles. Use your own creativity for how you want to do them. I like to paint just the tips, with sort of a jagged shape at the top. If you like perfectly thin, straight tips, or the whole nail painted, go for it! A lot of times, I like to just add sparkles to one random nail on each hand.

What are some of your favorite holiday-style ideas?

The Christmas Effect

 For some reason, the holidays and retro-style just seem to go hand and hand. They're both nostalgic, I guess. 

I've been a little Bridget Bardot inspired lately.

The holiday season tends to be a busy time of year for all of us, as you can tell from my recent blog-post-slacking, but I kind of love the hustle and bustle. However, my schedule has felt completely out of wack lately, which is one reason I didn't post last Friday. Steve has had the last two Fridays off (it's nice when you have so much vacation time left at the end of the year, that your company is literally forcing you to take days off. Yay for three day weekends in December!). I kept thinking that Friday was Saturday, so I literally forgot to post!

But maybe it's a good thing for me to ease up on myself a bit. I've had a ton going on, and I never want blogging to get to a point where it feels forced or I don't enjoy it.

Remember to enjoy it...which might mean being a total dork. Like me.

During all the insanity lately, I've made an effort to try and maintain a lifestyle that will allow me to
a.) not look like a bloated pig over Christmas
b.) feel healthy
c.) stay energized

It's important to center yourself and have sort of a neutral place to come back to whenever you stray...and trust me, I DO stray. Between Christmas parties with junk food and cocktails, crazy schedules, shopping traffic, traveling, etc. etc. etc., it's almost impossible not to end up feeling like a big 'ol mess at some point, whether it's from stress or bad eating habits. Or both.

So here are some of my tips to counteract the "Christmas Effect", as I will call it.

1. Do some physical activity every day, for at least 15-20 minutes.
On good days I'll do 30-45 minutes. Usually it'll just be a power walk/run on the treadmill, and on really good days I'll do crunches, push ups, and lunges afterward. I've actually been trying to get in 50 crunches each morning before I do anything else. A great routine to get into! None of this has to take a lot of time, and I can't tell you how much better I feel on the days when I've worked out for even 15 minutes.
p.s. Shopping trips CAN count (as they say), but try to add it to your day as a bonus to your treadmill time. You'll feel even better and more accomplished.

 Rarin' to go...and feeling good afterwards.

2. Eat healthy when not around tempting situations.
I know there are going to be so many times this month where I will be surrounded by delicious foods, and I am just NOT going to be that girl who turns down a Christmas cookie (or 2, or 3...) or a cup of eggnog (with rum...) when it's offered to me. But I feel less guilty (and in the long run: less full, less bloated, and less lethargic!) about letting myself have those foods when I know I've been eating really well during the majority of the week.

My everyday "yes" foods:
- Blackberries (sometimes I'll sprinkle a little feta cheese on top)
- Grape tomatoes
- Baby carrots
- Hummus (Usually as dip for the baby carrots or grape tomatoes)
- Hot tea (with honey and a little vanilla soy milk)
- Coffee (usually with just a splash of soy milk. Coffee's great if you don't load it up with calories!)
- V8 juice
- Chicken breasts
- Eggs
- Canned tuna (in water)
- Whole wheat bread (in moderation)
- Water. Stay hydrated.

3. Winterize your beauty routine.
Take time to put on your favorite body lotion after a shower to protect against dry skin, try using a deep condition (my hair is SUPER dry, so this is a must for me), and/or invest in a teeth whitening treatment (no dentists - just strips or a good toothpaste). You'll feel great "maintaining" yourself a bit in the dead of winter. Maybe opt for a slight change to your hair. I just recently re-did my roots, and I'm considering cutting some bangs to spruce up my hair even more. Give yourself a home manicure/pedicure one night in front of the TV. Slather lots of lotion on those dry feet and put on your comfiest, fuzzy socks. I also highly suggest investing in some warm pajamas. Something comfortable, but a pair that still makes you feel cute.

My PJs of choice: Target, $20

 If you have any tips or feedback, please share!

Nooo

Just found out that one of my very favorite blogs is going away (or...totally changing format really, I guess). Sad day. Go check out the amazing photos at Cognac and Coffee. I'm sure I'll still be visiting the old posts for some inspiration from time to time!

Off day = day off

Sometimes it's important to give yourself a day off.
There was no pressing work I really had to do yesterday, so I allowed myself to have a "me" day (this is where working at home really comes in handy). It felt good, considering all the stress I've been under and how busy things have been.

I dyed my hair to get rid of my pretty horrific roots. Although, once again I decided to try a new brand of hair dye, Garnier Nutrisse. Bad idea. I ALWAYS regret trying a new brand. I just need to stick to Feria (ever since Herbal Essences discontinued their hair dye line, at least). I must say, I think I've been disappointed by just about every Garnier product I've ever used (their awful 3-minute deep conditioner comes to mind, especially). Their "ultra bleach blonde" dye left a lot of red tones in my hair. Plus, Feria (and Herbal Essences) comes with a mini bottle of great conditioner that lasts me for at least a couple weeks. Garnier's hair dye comes with pretty much a one-use packet. Oh well. Wont be doing that again.
Anyway, not complaining....just want to share some useful product info with you guys. All in all, it feels great to have my crazy roots gone and I'm thrilled every time I catch myself in the mirror!

I've really been wanting a classic pajama set with a men's style top and bottoms, and I found a great pair at Target yesterday on sale for $20. They are white with a small, grey leopard print pattern. So comfy!! I don't want to take them off this morning!

For now, I'm gonna get started with a cup of coffee and see where the day takes me. I should definitely get a workout in and run a few errands. I hope you have a lovely day.

p.s Any thoughts on Garnier?

Enchanted

The weather has turned colder, the high temperature dropping about 20 degrees from yesterday. I'm pretty neurotic about watching the weather, so I expected it. A perfect change right before Halloween weekend, I'd say. It's completely cloudy today as well, but it actually feels great outside (it's not bitterly cold, just comfortably cool), so maybe I will try to get out for a bit. I'm also looking forward to the coziness of my apartment and some of the left over sweet potato soup I made last night. Isn't it funny how the cold makes just staying inside, and avoiding the weather altogether, feel different...better, even?

I usually know when the Summer is really starting to become Fall, before there is really a noticeable change in temperatures, because my skin tells me. After my shower, I'll throw on my clothes like usual, and suddenly my back or my legs will get stingy and itchy with dryness. Not enjoyable, but as soon as I slather on some lotion, it goes away. It's become that time of year to start doing that as soon as I step out of the shower.
I like to change up some of my beauty products this time of year anyway, to go along with the season. I'm kind of in love with the two new body lotions I got this week (I couldn't decide between them, so I bought both) and a new fragrance (I tend to prefer body sprays to heavier perfumes. Plus, they are way cheaper, and you don't feel so bad if you get tired of it and decide to go for something new).

1. St Ives Oatmeal and Shea Butter (This has a really nice, calming scent; you really get a hint of the oatmeal. But it wont overpower if you're wearing a compatible fragrance along with it.)
 
2. bodycology body spray in Enchanted Forest (perfect for Halloween, eh? Hints of jasmine and nutmeg. Very interesting musky scent for the colder months, with a hint of sweet. Fell in love with it immediately.)

3. Vaseline Cocoa Butter* (This has petroleum jelly in it too. It's a heavier lotion, great for elbows, legs, etc. I'll probably be using this one primarily for my after-shower body lotion, where the St. Ives is perfect for daily hand lotion - which I apply about 15 times a day.)  
*Vaseline also makes this in a gel/body oil form. I tested it out at the store and it was absolutely amazing. It made my skin feel super silky and full of moisture. It'd be a tad heavy for a hand lotion most of the time, but it'd be amazing for areas like your legs because it'd also make them look shiny. In the end, I settled for the lotion because the gel was twice as expensive. Maybe next time. The bottle looked really cool, too, because of the gold-colored, bubbly gel inside.

I've gotten to where I primarily buy my beauty products at Walgreens or H.E.B. (here in Texas), because they just seem to have a wider selection than my usual  ol' Walmart. I used to go there just because it was a bit cheaper, but the other places have broadened my horizons a bit.

Model Behavior

Doing my best to channel my inner Kate Moss this morning (you know, minus the cocaine and all. I know. I'm no fun). I'm off in a bit to try and snag a spot in a September fashion show for the Art Institute. Yeeeah.......wish me luck.

Here, There, and Everywhere

Well, I had every intention of coming back and posting a "real" entry yesterday, but between my photo shoot and dealing with fixing a spazzed out cable box and remote control, I had enough to keep me running around.
By the way, the shoot was a blast, and I am so impatient to see how the photos turned out!

I've spent today getting stat reports done for my web site job (always "enjoyable"...um, yeah...), so yay me for getting them done first thing. I definitely needed coffee to get me going this morning. My sleep schedule has been kind of messed up lately, after a few late nights out (or just awake) until about 3:30am last week.
Work's done for the day, so I'm having myself a whole wheat bagel thin (Nature's Own brand...good stuff) with some fat free strawberry cream cheese. It's kinda like dessert for breakfast! I'm keeping the coffee flowing, too. Ok, I realize it's already the 1:00 hour, but let's face it, I am not a morning person, so I guess I'm usually a little behind someone's typical day. Don't judge me! ;)

Anyway, this has definitely become a rambling post. Here's some other random stuff I've been up to lately:

 Creating odd ball-rocker looks. I wonder if I'd actually have the nerve to wear this out with the skimpy hot pants (perhaps not), but around the house, it totally works. Maybe in the Fall, with my thigh high suede boots.

Kickboxing! The gym at my apartment has a bag now, so Steve is training me. I've only done it once so far (a couple days ago), but that's because my muscles need to recover! It's definitely a work out. It's super fun though, and actually reminds me of taking dance classes. I'm totally loving it.

 Experimenting with make up for my headshots. This was what I settled on. Not the clearest photo in the world, but here's what I did:
- Liquid concealer/foundation where I need it (not all over the face like a mask!).
- Maybelline "Tranquil Sands" eye shadow (it has just a slight shimmer and makes your eyes look bright), black pencil liner on the inner rims of lashes (top and bottom), Bare Minerals "1980s" (a light gray) eye shadow to outline the lashlines on the top and bottom lids, black liquid liner on the top, extended very slightly into a subtle "cat eye". Black mascara.
- Colored in eye brows very lightly (I wanted to accentuate my brows, but not go overly dramatic the way I would on a night out) with a brown eyebrow pencil. Then, accentuate the shape a little further by adding in a little black pencil, too. Think of it as just a highlight to the brown, so you create a natural, yet defined look.
- I cover any blemishes or skin redness even further and brush on some mineral powder concealer (I buy this online from Premium Minerals - great prices!!), only where it's needed, and add a little more liquid concealer under my eyes to further cover circles, and cover any eye make up that has fallen there.
- I like to blend lipsticks to create the perfect color. Here, I used Rimmel London's "Kasbah" (sort of a dark coral), blotted with a tissue, and topped with Maybelline's "Shimmer Champage" lipstick, mostly in the center of the bottom lip to create the illusion of a fuller lip.
-  A little bit of light peach powder blush just under the cheek bones. Do a "kissy" face and you'll see where to put it. This will make you look like you have higher cheek bones.

 Yay!

Anyway, my work for the day is done, so I'll probably turn my sights to cleaning up the apartment a bit before my friend Kady comes over. How's your week going?? I actually can't believe it's already Thursday!

Therapy and Glitter

Loving. this. manicure.

I got the idea of using glitter on just one nail from Emily at Cupcakes and Cashmere. You can check out that specific post here. I varied her instructions by buying actual glittery nail polish (rather than a jar of glitter) and by painting the glitter on my thumb on one hand, and ring finger on the other. Mix it up in your own way and experiment with different colors! I am totally in love with this idea, and I'm thrilled with the nail polish I purchased for just this purpose. It was perfect. Here's what I used:

Fingers: One or two coats of Rimmel London 60 Seconds in "Stop Traffic", with Pure ICE in "Spit Fire" on the tips of two nails.

Toes: One coat of Pure ICE in "Feeling Hot", and when dry, one coat of Rimmel London French Manicure Pro in "French Lingerie".

I like topping one color with another for a totally custom shade. Just make sure your bottom coat is fully dry before adding anything on top.
A mani-pedi is awesome therapy for a stressful day, and you know me, I'm a DIY gal! This fun little manicure really perked up my spirits, and sometimes forgetting it's there, I get just a little smile on my face whenever I catch a glimpse of glitter.

Let me know if you try this, how you like it, and if you came up with any variations!