Cutie-patotie Madison gives a Halloween makeup tutorial. STOP IT. She's got to be, what? 5? Adorable. My fav line? "I really love this you gotta try it" Homegirl will be backstage at NYFW one day..
Thursday, September 15, 2011
I really can't deal with the cuteness
I usually save my links til Tuesday, but good LORD this girl was too cute to not share. I saw it on the Hairpin AND Boing-boing (link from Boing-boing).
Cutie-patotie Madison gives a Halloween makeup tutorial. STOP IT. She's got to be, what? 5? Adorable. My fav line? "I really love this you gotta try it" Homegirl will be backstage at NYFW one day..
Cutie-patotie Madison gives a Halloween makeup tutorial. STOP IT. She's got to be, what? 5? Adorable. My fav line? "I really love this you gotta try it" Homegirl will be backstage at NYFW one day..
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Leather and beads
So before I start, let me give you a caveat and explain something about myself. Caveat: this post is not really beauty related, but I figure it's close enough. And then about me, or one of my quirks, if you want to call it that. When I learn how to do something, usually a crafty-type thing like making jewelry or painting or whatnot, I kinda become OCD about that certain thing for about a week or so, and then I trail off. My last obsession was watercolored cards--like for birthdays and such. I made a bunch in a short period, and then moved on to the next thing. And once again, I have been trapped by the craft bug and spent the last week all mired off in my obsession.
Which is...Leather and bead wrapped bracelets. I love (excuse me, LURVE) Chan Luu bracelets (above), but my budget these days is just not allowing me to have one. So while I knew I couldn't make one quite as pretty I thought I'd at least figure out how to make the style. Thanks to the internet, I did. I typed "Leather and bead wrap bracelet" into Google and viola! Bracelet time. I used this YouTube tutorial from Beyond Bracelets and this written tutorial from How-to-make-jewelry.com. Without these, I would have never figured it out. They also had some great tips, like holding the top of the bracelet down on a foamboard using a binder clip, that basically I can't believe I had to have someone tell me cause they are so obvious yet smart. So off I went to Michael's (and later Hobby Lobby for round 2) to get supplies. I spent about $30 at Michael's and $25 at Hobby Lobby, but still have a bunch of material left over. That's the thing about jewelry making I am coming to find out: you buy 50 yards of beading thread for $5, but it lasts for AGES. So I'm not sure how to break out exactly how much each bracelet costs, but it's definitely less than the $225 Chan Luu. The beads are typically the most expensive thing depending on how nice they are, etc. (I have also been making earrings lately, so I am starting to catch onto the whole supplies cost thing. I think Etsy supplies is going to turn out to be a better bet than Michaels, but we'll see...and I'm digressing...)
SO. The bracelets. I made two double wrapped and two triple wrapped bracelets. The hardest thing to find was a bead that could work as the closure, like the ones above. Also, leather choices were slim to none. Out of the bracelets I made, I liked working with the 2 mm round leather cord the best and 2 mm or smaller beads (as the tutorials point out, your leather and beads should be of similar size/weight). So I think in the future I will use those sizes the most. The Chan Luu ones above seem even smaller, I couldn't find the supplies for that, but plan to check Etsy at a later date. So here are the finished products:
The pictures aren't the highest quality, I apologize. It's hard to take pics when they are on your arm!! Oh, the little single bracelets are just beads on this strand called "Stretch magic". It's translucent and slightly elastic. You just put the beads on, double over-hand knot the ends, and then I placed a crimp bead (the little silver ones if you can see them) over the knot to hide it. Super easy, and they should be fun to layer with the wrap bracelets.
Anyway, I just wanted to share because it was easy like WHOA to make these. I'd say it takes about an hour per bracelet, and once I got the hang of how to weave it I could make it while watching TV. A few tips: Make the threading lace a LOT longer than you think it needs to be (and it will be annoying to deal with, but just deal with it). Also, the suede seems like it would be pretty (bottom pic, farthest right bracelet), but it's kinda hard to deal with and doesn't lay quite as well as the round leather cording. Make sure you choose beading thread or cord NOT wire, and don't buy the translucent plastic kind, it kinda sucks. I bought black Beadalon Wildfire beading thread, and it worked out great.
Ok! So there ya go, a nice little craft project. Not really sure when I'll get to WEAR all these bracelets, but hey, I have 'em if I want to!
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| Photo courtesy of Google Images |
SO. The bracelets. I made two double wrapped and two triple wrapped bracelets. The hardest thing to find was a bead that could work as the closure, like the ones above. Also, leather choices were slim to none. Out of the bracelets I made, I liked working with the 2 mm round leather cord the best and 2 mm or smaller beads (as the tutorials point out, your leather and beads should be of similar size/weight). So I think in the future I will use those sizes the most. The Chan Luu ones above seem even smaller, I couldn't find the supplies for that, but plan to check Etsy at a later date. So here are the finished products:
Anyway, I just wanted to share because it was easy like WHOA to make these. I'd say it takes about an hour per bracelet, and once I got the hang of how to weave it I could make it while watching TV. A few tips: Make the threading lace a LOT longer than you think it needs to be (and it will be annoying to deal with, but just deal with it). Also, the suede seems like it would be pretty (bottom pic, farthest right bracelet), but it's kinda hard to deal with and doesn't lay quite as well as the round leather cording. Make sure you choose beading thread or cord NOT wire, and don't buy the translucent plastic kind, it kinda sucks. I bought black Beadalon Wildfire beading thread, and it worked out great.
Ok! So there ya go, a nice little craft project. Not really sure when I'll get to WEAR all these bracelets, but hey, I have 'em if I want to!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
The first Tuesday links of fall!
Up until Tropical Storm Lee hit this weekend it was still 100 F in Louisiana. But thanks to that, it's now in the 70s. Glorious...It's Sept. Football has started. So. FALL.
Some fun new drugstore beauty products! (Bella Sugar)
You Beauty shares how to transition bronzer use into fall
Every Cher outfit in Clueless in one minute. (The Hairpin) And FYI, Clueless is 16 years old. As if...
Zoe Saldana looking super cute for Jimmy Kimmel. (Frugal Fashionista) I am developing this obsession with coral right here as summer is ending, what is up with that?!
This has nothing to do with beauty, but it's hilarious and true. Why Yoga can be so Irritating (Although you should go anyway) from The Awl. I have been trying to get myself to go to yoga regularly, and I can relate to a lot of her points!
Another from the Awl/The Hairpin: The Olsen's new $39,000 bag. That's right. Three Nine Zero Zero Zero.
A Fall Trend Guide slideshow from Who What Wear. Now, this is a long slideshow. But ya know, maybe you're bored like I was!
How fabric softeners may cause you to break out. WTF?! T (the husband) has been breakin out for WEEKS...I wonder if this is it? (From Beauty Blogging Junkie)
Seems like with the Missoni line at Target coming soon, it's everything Missoni! Even Missoni-style nails (Bella Sugar)
How to get what you want at a salon from Real Simple. Listen. I am the most non-confrontational person ever. But if I am about to drop hundreds (and I do) at the salon, they are going to listen to me. NEVER feel like you can't say something at the salon if you don't like what is happening. Good tips on how to deal with these issues though.
Not beauty related, but I know a lot of you have read this book, so in case you didn't see it here's the first teaser trailer for the Hunger Games. (MTV) It's definitely a teaser. Some woods. Katniss (who, btw, looks better than I thought when they first announced J. Lawrence in this role). Looking forward to seeing more!
---And speaking of Jennifer Lawrence. God bless her... just check out this vid on her 8 HOUR makeup call to just get in the Mystique costume for X-Men (from Bella Sugar. Note that there is some ever so slight nakedness, cause girl had to be painted from head to toe. So save for watching at home!)
Some fun new drugstore beauty products! (Bella Sugar)
You Beauty shares how to transition bronzer use into fall
Every Cher outfit in Clueless in one minute. (The Hairpin) And FYI, Clueless is 16 years old. As if...
Zoe Saldana looking super cute for Jimmy Kimmel. (Frugal Fashionista) I am developing this obsession with coral right here as summer is ending, what is up with that?!
This has nothing to do with beauty, but it's hilarious and true. Why Yoga can be so Irritating (Although you should go anyway) from The Awl. I have been trying to get myself to go to yoga regularly, and I can relate to a lot of her points!
Another from the Awl/The Hairpin: The Olsen's new $39,000 bag. That's right. Three Nine Zero Zero Zero.
A Fall Trend Guide slideshow from Who What Wear. Now, this is a long slideshow. But ya know, maybe you're bored like I was!
How fabric softeners may cause you to break out. WTF?! T (the husband) has been breakin out for WEEKS...I wonder if this is it? (From Beauty Blogging Junkie)
Seems like with the Missoni line at Target coming soon, it's everything Missoni! Even Missoni-style nails (Bella Sugar)
How to get what you want at a salon from Real Simple. Listen. I am the most non-confrontational person ever. But if I am about to drop hundreds (and I do) at the salon, they are going to listen to me. NEVER feel like you can't say something at the salon if you don't like what is happening. Good tips on how to deal with these issues though.
Not beauty related, but I know a lot of you have read this book, so in case you didn't see it here's the first teaser trailer for the Hunger Games. (MTV) It's definitely a teaser. Some woods. Katniss (who, btw, looks better than I thought when they first announced J. Lawrence in this role). Looking forward to seeing more!
---And speaking of Jennifer Lawrence. God bless her... just check out this vid on her 8 HOUR makeup call to just get in the Mystique costume for X-Men (from Bella Sugar. Note that there is some ever so slight nakedness, cause girl had to be painted from head to toe. So save for watching at home!)
Monday, August 29, 2011
Want a manicure that lasts almost a month? Sure you do...
Ladies. I finally broke down and got a shellac manicure last month. "Last month?" you're thinking..."Why is she just now talking about it?" Uh, because that's almost how long this stuff lasts. I'm not even kidding. It. Is. AWESOME. I totally forgot to take a picture the day I got it done, but let's just go ahead and review my THREE WEEK pics below:
Other than the new nail growth, which results in some peeling at the bottom, it still looked good as new. Was I careful with my nails during that time? Nope. Cleaned, cooked, worked (I work on a computer all day so there is a lot of typing going down), did everything I normally do. Nails still looked great! Regular manicures usually chip on me within, oh, two days.
So how is this better than acrylic or other fake stuff? Well, it is cheaper and easier to maintain for one. You don't like it you can have it removed the next day. Most importantly, it did not damage my nails at all. In fact, it made my nails feel thicker and stronger the whole time I had the polish on. I did go back to the salon to get it removed; you can't really get it off with normal polish remover. The lady there had me soak my fingertips for about a minute in this SUPER strong-smelling polish remover (she put a towel over the bowl so the smell wouldn't knock us out), then she gently scrapped it off and buffed my nails back to normal. This is where the shellac can sometimes go wrong. I had a friend get nail damage because the manicurist scraped too hard and into the nail bed. If you are having it removed and you feel like they are scraping too hard, just tell them to back off some.
I would also recommend you stick with lighter tones. The growth won't be as noticeable as it would be with say, dark red or plum. I only suggest this because it is more expensive than a normal manicure. This was $35, but I found out another, smaller salon near me does them for $25, so I would do some shopping around. When this first came out I think some of the salons had issues with taking this stuff off, leading to nail damage. It seems like now they are all up to speed though on the new technique, so you should be good to go. If you are nervous, try asking around. Find a salon where someone else has had it removed and make sure they didn't have issues.
I am a total nail color junkie, especially in the fall, so I can't commit to the price and single color all the time. I will definitely do this again soon though, most likely before a string of work meetings, volunteer events, and big conference I have in October, allowing me to have perfect nails all the way through each event.
If you'd like some more info, visit the CND website. This is the brand that most salons seem to carry right now. Have any of you tried it? Do you love it? Any recommendations to add? Put it in the comments!!
So how is this better than acrylic or other fake stuff? Well, it is cheaper and easier to maintain for one. You don't like it you can have it removed the next day. Most importantly, it did not damage my nails at all. In fact, it made my nails feel thicker and stronger the whole time I had the polish on. I did go back to the salon to get it removed; you can't really get it off with normal polish remover. The lady there had me soak my fingertips for about a minute in this SUPER strong-smelling polish remover (she put a towel over the bowl so the smell wouldn't knock us out), then she gently scrapped it off and buffed my nails back to normal. This is where the shellac can sometimes go wrong. I had a friend get nail damage because the manicurist scraped too hard and into the nail bed. If you are having it removed and you feel like they are scraping too hard, just tell them to back off some.
I would also recommend you stick with lighter tones. The growth won't be as noticeable as it would be with say, dark red or plum. I only suggest this because it is more expensive than a normal manicure. This was $35, but I found out another, smaller salon near me does them for $25, so I would do some shopping around. When this first came out I think some of the salons had issues with taking this stuff off, leading to nail damage. It seems like now they are all up to speed though on the new technique, so you should be good to go. If you are nervous, try asking around. Find a salon where someone else has had it removed and make sure they didn't have issues.
I am a total nail color junkie, especially in the fall, so I can't commit to the price and single color all the time. I will definitely do this again soon though, most likely before a string of work meetings, volunteer events, and big conference I have in October, allowing me to have perfect nails all the way through each event.
 |
| www.cnd.com |
If you'd like some more info, visit the CND website. This is the brand that most salons seem to carry right now. Have any of you tried it? Do you love it? Any recommendations to add? Put it in the comments!!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Link time
I think the two week span works better than the one week...it allows me to collect more fun tidbits from the internet!
So I love this post from Jane Marie at the Hairpin (who produces This American Life on NPR, which makes me geek out a bit) on Beauty Q&A. I love that she's honest, and I love the info on blackhead removal! I need to get one of those little tools...
Fun makeover apps and websites from the Hairpin (which, btw is my new fave blog)
A guest post from a personal trainer on Already Pretty about women, fitness, and how to break through workout barriers
I never can decide if I like Katie Holmes or not, but I do enjoy these red skinny jeans she's rocking (Frugal Fashionista)
And finally, Bella Sugar had some fun links these past two weeks:
Easy hair tips for the last dog days of summer
LG--this reminds me of the tie-dyed nail look you wanted! Galaxy nail art
Emma Stone (who I love) talks to People online via PopSugar about confidence and beauty
5 quick hair, makeup, body pick-me-ups!
So I love this post from Jane Marie at the Hairpin (who produces This American Life on NPR, which makes me geek out a bit) on Beauty Q&A. I love that she's honest, and I love the info on blackhead removal! I need to get one of those little tools...
Fun makeover apps and websites from the Hairpin (which, btw is my new fave blog)
A guest post from a personal trainer on Already Pretty about women, fitness, and how to break through workout barriers
I never can decide if I like Katie Holmes or not, but I do enjoy these red skinny jeans she's rocking (Frugal Fashionista)
And finally, Bella Sugar had some fun links these past two weeks:
Easy hair tips for the last dog days of summer
LG--this reminds me of the tie-dyed nail look you wanted! Galaxy nail art
Emma Stone (who I love) talks to People online via PopSugar about confidence and beauty
5 quick hair, makeup, body pick-me-ups!
Friday, August 19, 2011
Today I am 30...
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| Image from Google |
1. Floss every day. I know. I KNOW. So crazy and gross that I don't. That's why it's #1
2. Sunscreen on my face. All the time. Not just when I'm at the beach or at the pool. Every beauty mag and blog and dermatologist says this is one of the biggest things you can do to slow the signs of aging. So I'm doing it.
3. Never sleep in my makeup.
4. Drink more water. I've pretty much cut out all soda except for the occasional Coke Zero, but I still need to work on drinking more water and staying hydrated.
5. Chill out with the impulse buying. This includes beauty products, clothes, shoes, and accessories. I donated three HUGE garbage bags of stuff to Goodwill from my closet a week ago. Some stuff I had only worn once. That's got to stop.
6. Eat primarily fruits, veggies, and lean proteins. Chill out on the refined carbs and sugars...unhealthy eating shows on your face, on your body, and everywhere. So I'm going to continue to try and eat nutritious meals every day (with a few cheat days on occasion!).
7. Start using a facial moisturizer with antioxidants and retinol at night. I read about this recently in Allure I believe...30s are the time to start using wrinkle reducing products!
8. Speaking of moisturizer, I also plan to start being better about moisturizing all of my skin. I tend to let it get dry in the winter when it's all covered up. Going to take better care of my skin in general!
9. Do something for myself once a month that falls in the "pampering" category. This doesn't mean I have to spend money--an at-home pedicure counts! Just take 30 min every once in a while to just relax.
10. More yoga. Self-explanatory.
That's my 10 for 30. :) Please share any tips or tricks you've started in the comments!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
The best primer/pore minimizer I've ever tried
Not enough links to fill Tuesday links, so you all get a review.
This summer, I purchased the Allure beauty box, and the Benefit Porefessional was one of the products for me to try. I have tried various primers and pore minimizer creams in my day to help with my sometimes oily/shiny T-zone, but nothing ever lasted all day. Until I tried this...this stuff is HANDS DOWN the best one I have ever tried. It comes out of the tube neutral, but goes on translucent. I can put this stuff on over my normal moisturizer or sunscreen and sometimes skip foundation all together. It keeps the shiny face away and doesn't clog my pores. A friend of mine recently mentioned to me that she had this new minimizer I should try from Benefit, and simultaneously we said "It's amazing".
It's $29, which may seem a bit steep for such a small bottle, but a little dab goes a long way. And it is SO WORTH IT. It gets 4-5 star reviews on Sephora and Benefit websites, which means I'm not the only one in love with this stuff. I think it's a great product year-round, not just for summer. Try it out and let me know what you think!! Any other primers out there you guys are dying over?
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| www.sephora.com |
It's $29, which may seem a bit steep for such a small bottle, but a little dab goes a long way. And it is SO WORTH IT. It gets 4-5 star reviews on Sephora and Benefit websites, which means I'm not the only one in love with this stuff. I think it's a great product year-round, not just for summer. Try it out and let me know what you think!! Any other primers out there you guys are dying over?
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