As warmer weather approaches, I am looking forward to more bold and colorful makeup looks to go with all my spring outfits.  Today, I tried a little green for this sunny day.  

It totally helps to have a good place to put your makeup on.  Mine is a converted desk with space to hold my books and hide my nail polish collection above.  I keep everything in a handy dandy travel case, mostly because it looks nice and because I can organize it by section and it makes me feel professional!  Last Christmas, my hubby got me the most amazing makeup kit from Sephora with practically every color needed, which makes experimenting super easy.  So today, it was green:

I started with the usual prep: foundation, concealer, powder, brows.  I always prime my eyelids, usually with Cover Girl's Shadow Blast.  I just got one in green, so I was so ready to use it.  I went a little above my lid line, then brushed a slightly darker shade of powder over my lid and into the crease, then a slightly lighter shade in the inside corners.  I then used liquid liner for a slight cat eye.  While letting that dry, I applied blush to the apples of my cheeks then finished with a brush of mascara.  And never forget your lips!  I hope you can use this look, and you can always make it more dramatic for an evening out.  Enjoy! 

Blouse/Earrings: Avenue

In My Makeup Bag

A lot of friends have asked me about my beauty routine and what products I use.  These are a sampling of my favorite and most-used items in my bag.  First, and most important, is prepping your face using light and moisturizing lotion before adding foundation:

Next, I go to the eyes, which for me are the most fun because you can always add your own flair depending on how you feel, or what you are wearing.  For me, a good flick at the end of the eyeliner for a cat eye always makes for a good look.  If there is any special outing, I always add fake eyelashes for extra drama, and just a little gold liner at the inside corner.  For day, a little shimmer goes a long way with a little darker shadow in the crease, using a primer so that it doesn't smudge:

 Finally, never forget the lips! (as my mother would always say) I live by this double-ended lip gloss because it literally lasts all day and I perpetually forget to re-apply normal lipstick.  For those dry days when your lips feel like the Sahara, this little minty globe of heaven might just help...and it looks cool:

 Hope these ideas help you!  xo

Credits- Almay /Boscia /Cover Girl /eos /Maybelline /Oil of Olay /Rimmel  /Sephora /Sonia Kashuk

The Super Bun

So I don't know about you, but all this hot weather makes me sometimes wish I had hair like my husband (he's bald-ha).  But seriously, the less of it to get in my way the better!  My latest hairdo is SUPER fun, and if you are like me and enjoy a little height in your hair, try it.  It takes a little finesse, but with practice, it may become your go-to hairstyle!  People just might stop you to admire the sheer volume you created, so have fun with it.   Add sparkle with a hairpin, or tie a ribbon around the base to make it more playful.  Bring your hairspray ladies, because this one needs it :) 

Here's what you'll need:

 A teasing comb, two hair elastics, and bobby pins

plus...a good can of hairspray

Start with a high ponytail and secure with an elastic.
Hairspray any fly-aways.

Distribute your hair evenly around the ponytail and 

tease starting at the base. Hairspray for strength.

 

Gather the hair around the first ponytail and secure another 

ponytail holder around the first one.

It will appear as a small bun below the original ponytail.  

Working from the back, take half of the hair and bring it over the top of the small bun, covering it and securing in the front with bobby pins (hiding the ends at the base of the bun).  Then, take the remaining hair from the front, and bring it up and over toward the back and secure ends again with bobby pins.  You can position the hair to cover any holes and give it a good shellac.  Take it out on the town!

A Summertime Favorite

For those of us who enjoy big hair, this one is for you!  It's perfect with a little summer dress and some strappy sandals for cruising the beach...or the city.  I don't really like hair on my neck, but sometimes ponytails look ridiculous on me, so this was my solution- a half up, half braided mixture, with (of course) a hair accessory to top it off!  Try it out:

It's actually pretty simple and will only take about 5 minutes

Here's what you will need:

(A teasing comb, a couple bobby pins, a hair tie, and a delicate accessory)

Okay, so it looks a little like I rolled out of bed, but that's kind of what happens when you tease it-ha.  Divide the top half of your hair into three sections ( top, left, right) and take the teasing comb to each section, teasing the underside of the hair.  Spray a little hair spray to hold the tease in place.

To make the pouf, take side sections of the hair you teased, and bring them around to the back.  Hold tightly, and push the hair up toward the crown.  This should make the bump, including the top of the hair and secure with the bobby pins.  Bring the remainder of your hair to one side and make a braid.  Finish off with a hair tie and add the accessory to cover the bobby pins...or wherever you want!  Voila!

Now put on that summer dress and hit the town! 

Here's today's inspiration picture:

(Jasper didn't help today, the awesome clouds did)

Thanks to Jasper...

I woke up this morning and thought..."oh no! bad hair day!".  I must have slept on it funny because it was sticking up in all kinds of directions in the front and had a big bump right above my bangs.  I attribute this to getting used to having a bed hog of a cat that demands attention while I'm trying to sleep (We just retrieved him from my mom's house on Sunday).  Oh Jasper! - or as he is more affectionately known: Mr. (Tippy) Pants.  Well, to fix the hair dilemma I enlisted the help of the very handy scarf to downplay the pouf; and here is the result:

It's a little bit turban, a little bit 40's  pin-up.

Here's what you will need:

(A fancy patterned or solid scarf; around a medium length, bobby pins,

and one or more of those nifty Goody Spin Pins, depending on hair length)

Brush your hair into a low side bun, twist, and secure with the Spin Pin and however many bobby pins are necessary to keep it in place

I found that this helps keep the scarf on your head if things tend to slide off your hair easily, like they do on mine (i.e. those elastic headbands)

Take the scarf and grasp it lengthwise, placing it at the nape of your neck, under the bun, with the ends even.  Bring both ends a little over your ears and toward the crown of your head.  Make a twist by crossing the right hand in front of the left and then re-grasp the scarf and bring the loose ends back toward where you started and make a secure knot.  Tuck the remaining ends into the sides of the scarf and adjust pieces 'till you like the result! 

I like this look because it hides the big pouf that graced my head this morning, and didn't take much time to do and it makes me feel just a little more sassy.  I guess I have Jasper to thank for inspiring my hairdo today.      

Besides, who could resist this adorable bed hog?