New Hair Cut!

I have always wanted to have super-long, almost rapunzel long hair.  I therefore always have a hard time getting it cut.  I like to just get trims, but sometimes it doesn't get all of the damaged ends off.  I finally broke down this week and actually got it cut. Not trimmed but cut.  We're talking about 5-6 inches here.

Before:

My inspiration:

The lovely Nina Dobrev.

The Cut!

My printer was out of ink, so instead of taking a picture in with me, I had to try to explain what I thought the cut consisted of.  I think I did pretty good, for being a girl who never went to cosmetology school.

Gorgeous Glowing Cheeks (just $9)

Want to look healthy?  Happy?  Glowing and Gorgeous?  Who doesn't?

The best way to make yourself look healthy, happy, glowing and gorgeous is with beautiful blush and bronzer and a happy smile :)

I am really, really loving the products I have been using on my cheeks lately.  They are also super cheap!

The products:

1.  e.l.f. Complexion Brush, $3

2.  e.l.f. Baked Bronzer in St. Lucia, $3

3.  e.l.f. Baked Blush in Rich Rose, $3

First I apply foundation or tinted moisturizer and a translucent powder to set my foundation.  I then take my brush and my bronzer and swipe it around it a few times and apply just below my cheek bones.  I like to look where the shadows from my cheekbones form or where they would form and then just fill in those shadows with some bronzer.  

I start about here and then continue to here.  (see picture below :) )

(Bronzer from 1 to 2)

I like this shade of bronzer because it is fairly safe and not orangey.  Put on just enough bronzer to accentuate those shadows under your cheek bones and then stop.  Now swipe your brush a few times on a clean towel or something to get rid of the rest of the bronzer.

Swipe your brush a few times around on your blush.  Start applying the blush directly below your pupil on your cheekbone.  Tip!  It is super easy to apply the blush to your cheek bones if you suck your cheeks in to make like a fish/kissy face.  You then have very exposed cheekbones to follow.  See the example on the right?  I like the face example but not where she's applying the blush.

Start here and blend lightly all the way up into your temple and hairline.  (see picture below :) )

(Blush from 1 to 2)

I do each of my cheeks evenly by applying a few layers to each.  I then take what is left on my brush and swipe it along the top of my brows and down my nose.  This extends the glow to your whole face :)

Finish with eye makeup and then your lips.  Another Tip!  If you plan to do a bold lip, always do it before your blush.  That way you can keep the blush subtle enough to not clash with your bold lip.  I did a more natural but darkish lip color with this cheek look.

All done!

V.S. Fashion Show 2012

That's right!  Victoria's Secret has now announced the date and time of their annual fashion show.  I know that not everyone likes the fashion show.  A lot of people see it as scandalous and believe it makes women feel that they need to be a certain size and shape.  I used to judge the show that way too.  I was curious though and really thought the costumes and designs were amazing, so I started watching it a few years ago and now I love it!

Last year I realized that watching the show can give you a sneak peak of beauty and hair trends long before they are mainstream.  Awesome!  Last year for example, the models all had gorgeous natural ombre hair.  This was long before the trend was seen on pinterest or magazines.

Here's five reasons why I am so excited to watch this year! (all just spur of the moment, off the top of my head)


1.  New beauty and hair trends.

2.  Amazingly artistic costumes and wings.

3.  It's like a series of awesome mini concerts.

4.  Awesome and fun runway show.

5.  Great inspiration to keep working out at the gym.

Beauty Blogger Get to Know Me Tag

1. Is your hair naturally curly or straight?

Very, very straight.

2. What is your natural hair color?

Medium to dark brown.

3. Do you dye it yourself or go to a salon?

I don't color it very often, but I have done both.

4. How often do you wash your hair?

Every day, otherwise it gets greasy :(

5. Do you wear the same style every day or change it?

I pretty much wear it in a bun everyday.

6. Do you do your own mani/pedi or go to a salon?

I've never had a mani/pedi done by a salon.  I always do it myself, my sister has done gel "glitter toes" for me once.

7. How often do you change your nail polish?

When I paint my nails I usually have to repaint them every 3 days because they chip so much from work.

8. Do you polish your toes in the winter or just in the summer?

I try to always have them polished.

9.  How long does it take you to put on your makeup?

I think about 20 minutes.

10. What do you do first, face or eyes?

I always do my face first.

11. Do you "collect" makeup or just buy what you  need when you need it?

I only buy what I need or what I think I need.

12. How often do you wear false eyelashes?

I've only worn them for my engagement pictures and for my wedding.

13. Do you do a full face of makeup everyday?

Nope.

14. Do you wear makeup when you are home alone, or with family?

Yeah, some of the time.

 15. Will you leave the house without makeup?

Yep.

16. How many high end products do you have?

None right now :)

17. How often do you wash your makeup brushes?

Not very often.

18. Do you plan your OOTD every night or decide when you are getting dressed?

It depends on how early I have to get up in the morning.  I'm not a morning person, so if I know I need to get up and get going I will lay it out the night before.

19. How often do you change your handbag?

Not very often.  Usually only when I get a new one. So I guess seasonally.

20. What time do you get up and go to sleep?

It depends on the day.  I try to go to bed around 10:30 and I get up at 6:30 when I work and sleep in until about  8:30 when I don't.

21. How often or when do you work out?

Lately about 3x's a week.

22. Left-handed or right-handed?

Right-handed.

23. How tall are you?

I'm 5'9"

24. Do you speak a foreign language?

Not really.  I can understand Spanish, but when I try to speak it I sound like an idiot.

25. How many pets do you have?

None right now. 

 26. How often are you on blogger?

I look at other people's blogs through pinterest daily and am on youtube daily.  I really only use blogger to make my own posts.

27. Do you read the comments posted on blogs?

It depends on the post.

28. Do you keep a list of products to try as you see other posts?

More of a mental list.

29.  How did you come up with your blog name?

I knew I wanted it to be a beauty blog and knew that it should have something to do with my passion for bargains and D.I.Y. stuff.

30. What kind of camera do you use for photographs?

Just our family camera, it's a Nikon point and shoot.

31. How often do you clean your house?

I clean parts of it everyday that I am off.  My husband and I work together with our schedules to clean it when it needs it.

32. What is your favourite colour?

Lime green.

33. Do you swear?

Not usually.

35. What are you doing with the rest of your day?

Homework, dinner, gym, and hopefully some more blogging :)

The 5 Fabulous Lip Trends of Fall

InStyle's September issue they showed 5 lip color trends for fall.  They are amazing!  The trick is finding the right shade for your skin color.  Here's some great examples modeled by some celebs:

The Nude Lip, a continuing trend.

Here's a great example from Angelina.  Like I already said, this is a continuing trend that has already been trending for the past few years.  It is still going strong, though, and is especially great if you do a smokey eye and want to keep your look less overwhelming.












Check out this article from InStyle magazine on how to find your perfect nude shade:      http://www.instyle.com/instyle/package/general/photos/0,,20337040_20416247_20835071,00.html


The Bright Pink Lip!

This trend is more new and more edgy than the nude lip.  I love this picture of Emma Stone rocking a bright pink lip.  She always looks gorgeous.  I've noticed that she almost always does something amazing with her lip color too.


This look can be more playful or more formal depending on how you do the rest of your make-up and also your hair style. This look is obviously more formal with the eyeliner and eye make-up, jewelry, and up-do.


Here's the link to an awesome post by College Fashion on how to achieve a great look with a hot pink lip:
http://www.collegefashion.net/beauty-and-hair/how-to-wear-hot-pink-lipstick/


Another continuing trend is the coral lip.

This amazingly gorgeous pic is of Kate Bosworth wearing a coral lip and more natural make-up.  This trend started in the spring and is still going strong heading into fall.
















A newer trend is the Red Lip.

Celebs have been wearing red lipstick a lot lately.  It is stunning!  Here is Miranda Kerr looking amazing with cherry red lips.

This trend is not brand new for fall, but is still red hot.




Check out this article from InStyle to see which shade works best for your skin tone and hair color:        http://www.instyle.com/instyle/package/general/photos/0,,20337040_20319008_20703115,00.html



Last we have my personal favorite...the Burgundy Lip!

This look I feel is the newest and most appropriate for fall.  Also it looks amazing on any skin tone with the right shade.  Here we have Mischa Barton wearing a gorgeous burgundy shade.  I feel like this picture just says fall, from the hat to the healthy smooth hair, to the healthy skin, less eye make-up, and finally to the burgundy lip.






Here's an article from allure on finding the right shade of burgundy:      http://www.allure.com/makeup-looks/2011/how-to-choose-and-wear-the-right-lipstick#slide=5