Thursday, January 31, 2013

2013 Color of the Year!


Thanks to the amazing Pantone, we have a b-e-a-utiful color of the year for 2013!
 I adore Emerald green and am feeling SO inspired by this color!

"Pantone LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of X-Rite, Incorporated, is the world-renowned authority on color and provider of color systems and leading technology for the selection and accurate communication of color across a variety of industries. The PANTONE® name is known worldwide as the standard language for color communication from designer to manufacturer to retailer to customer." -www.Pantone.com

Connect with Pantone via:
- website
- facebook
- twitter
- pinterest

I have some eye makeup looks in mind that I hope to be able to bring to you all, but in the mean time I created a nice Polyvore collage to help inspire you to embrace this color and pick out some things in emerald green!


Emerald Envy



If you're liking this color, be sure to check out the Spring 2013 Fashion Color Report from Pantone as well. 


Also make sure you check out our "What She Wore" from January 8th, 2013 that features the Color of the Year where we break down this look:


We hope this post helps you find some inspiration for the upcoming spring! 

Drop us a comment and say hello!

Follow the links to the right for our:
&& instagram

:)



Thursday, January 24, 2013

Looks We Love: The Bubble Necklace

We love a lot of little trends in fashion, but there are always a few that really stick out or that we see a lot of. Recently, the bubble necklace has been everywhere, and it's no wonder! This cute necklace design comes in so many different colors, sizes and shapes we can hardly think of an outfit that one wouldn't go with!

I bought this bubble necklace at a local store that was going out of business for a STEAL! I paid $14 dollars for this necklace, original price? Anyone care to guess? $70!!

I of course almost ran to the cashier with this in my hand, (it was the last one in sight)!

It resembles the quality, size and color of one I had seen in Jcrew recently, but was not about to pay $100+ for!

Anyways, want an up close picture of this beauty?! If course you do...

       


Just where can you can a cute bubble necklace for yourself, you ask?
Read on!

There are LOTS of options, no matter the budget!

J.Crew has their bubble necklace for $150.00 online.
It comes in (3) colors: black, morning sky and turquoise


Windsor has a cute peach bubble necklace for $14.90
It looks like it only comes in the peach color...

Etsy has a wide variety from $7.00 - $20
The color possibilities appear to be endless!
THIS ONE from "BubbleWorld" for $9.99 really caught my eye!


Hope you enjoyed this post and we are glad to be able to share it with you! We hope you can stop by one of the fine retailers above and purchase your first, or 10th, bubble necklace!

Also, let us know what you think about the bubble necklace trend, do you have one? What would be your favorite color? Was this post helpful in finding an affordable solution for you? Would you like to see more posts like this one?

Thanks for reading!

-Jessica

PS- Don't forget about our 50 like giveaway, so head on over to our Facebook page or just look over in the right hand column and give us a 'like'! Be sure to say hello, we'd love to meet you!






Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Announcement + Trend Alert!



We officially have a Polyvore account! Check it out!

Also, sneak a peak at this GREAT new trend alert spotted on Polyvore! 

Apparently, ruffles and banana yellow are going to be some key trends to watch out for this upcoming spring season! I love yellow, but you have to make sure you're choosing the right shade for your skintone! Yellows look best on warmer and neutral skin tones, but someone with a cooler undertone could certainly pull off the right shade of this sunny color! 

Check out the slideshow below and let us know what you think of this trend combo! Do you like the combo together or is a ruffled LBD and yellow nail more your style? 


All Ruffled Up by polyvore-editorial on polyvore.com


Check out our very first creation! We wanted to take the bright yellow element (because who isn't ready to get those spring colors on!) and were inspired by this DKNY ad! We are still in LOVE with color blocking, and hope you like our interpretation of this style!


DKNY Inspiration Ad





So tell us, what are some of your go-to colors for springtime? Are you a fan of the yellow that is starting to trend? Let us know if you liked this post, and want to see more just like it! 

Thanks for reading!

DKNY Inspiration Ad

DKNY Inspiration Ad


Proenza schouler
$165 - shopmrsh.com


Cotton jacket
chicnova.com


Pleated maxi skirt
chicnova.com



Rebecca Minkoff leather boots
rebeccaminkoff.com



Meredith wendell
meredithwendell.com

Monday, January 21, 2013

Back to Basics: Skincare (Dry/Sensitive)



Welcome to the first edition of our Back to Basics series. Throughout this series we will be covering the basics of things like foundation applications, concealing, blush application and more! The basic things you should know, at any age or skill level!

For our first B2B, we want to cover skincare, since that is really the best foundation for any routine. We have lumped the skincare segment into (2) parts; dry/sensitive and oily/combo. This post will cover the dry/sensitive types (like myself!)

Through this post we will go over some basic do's and don'ts, then we will move into some recommended products for a dry/sensitive skin routine. I will also let you in on which products I use currently and how they do (or do not) really work for me!

Let's get started!

(Do's and Don'ts)

Do: Drink plenty of H2O! It is important to keep your body hydrated from the inside out! Slathering on moisturizers won't do any good if you aren't fighting the hydration battle on both fronts! Don't really like plain ol' water? Have some hot tea, cold tea or some water flavors to help you get the recommended daily intake. Just watch out for too much sugar, as it will just cancel out your efforts!

Don't: As much as it pains me to say this, as I am a culprit, don't take hot showers! Especially in the winter when air is normally dryer. It may feel amazing, steaming up the mirrors while dancing to your favorite Glee song and making shampoo mohawks (I'm not the only one, am I?!) but all of that hot water will seriously dry your skin out, making all of your moisturizing efforts before and after, for naught.

Do: Use hypo-allergenic makeup. There are some great drug-store options for dry and sensitive skin that won't irritate or clog pores. (Neutrogena or Physicians Formula have some great options) Wear a primer too! This is a step that everyone can benefit from. It creates a nice barrier between your skin, and also allows the product to lay smoother and for an extended period of time!

Don't: Rub your face (with your hands or that towel!) When you are stepping out of your now lukewarm shower, or just finished your nighttime cleansing routine, you should always pat your face dry. This is less traumatic for your skin, tugs less and lets your skin naturally absorb some of the leftover water. Also, try and be mindful through the day that you're not rubbing your hands all over your face. We come in contact with so much grime and bacteria, that it can easily find it's way onto your face and create some serious complexion problems! So, keep your hands clean and off your beautiful face!

(My Routine & Recommended Products)

I have been dealing with dry skin since I can remember, and am pretty close to a routine of products that works for me. Hopefully this will give you some ideas on where to start, or what to try for your own dry/sensitive face routine.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. Pre-Cleanse

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2. Exfoliate

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3. Cleanse

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

4. Toner

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

5. Moisturizer

   5a - daytime


   5b - nighttime


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Thanks for making it down this far! I hope you enjoyed this first part of our Back to Basics Series! When we move into makeup applications, there will be video tutorials, which will give you another viewing option! 

Please let us know what you thought! Was this helpful? Did you get some new product ideas to try? Do you have any questions, comments, requests or constructive criticism? Sound off in the comments!

As always, don't forget to check out our Facebook Page, give us a like and a share! Once we hit 50 likes there will be an AWESOME giveaway! 

We look forward to hearing from you!
-Jessica

note: all views and opinions expressed in the above post are that of the author only. no intentional copyright, or infringement intended. we are not professionals, please read all product labels for possible warnings and ingredient lists before purchase and use. thank you!









Sunday, January 20, 2013

Fit Bit: "Before We Start"

Ladies, and I mean ladies because men's magazines give better fitness advice, do not fool yourself into believing that a low fat diet and light weights are going to give you a tight and cellulite free body!


This is a lie perpetuated by magazines that want you to keep buying.


If you want true, long lasting results, lower your processed simple carbs and start eating micro nutrient rich foods. Vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, are all ESSENTIAL! Once you have your eating under control, shimmy over to your local store and grab a copy of either Oxygen Magazine, Muscle and Fitness Hers, or Fitness RX for women and learn about lifting. Small weights will not help you get stronger. EVER. You will stop seeing results if you don't challenge your body and that will derail your fitness attempts.


You can do it. You can be one of those women who have tight bodies, even after you have kids.

Ladies I follow for inspiration:
Amanda Latona
Jaime Eason
Brooke Halyn


These ladies give you a ton of motivation an you will see what heavy lifting will do. I understand the fear of getting too big, but the amount of work it would actually take to build the amount of muscle necessary to look 'bulky'. It will take yours and nutrient manipulation. It won't just happen from eating right and lifting heavy.


You can do it. You can have that strong, cellulite free body - but you need to eat and work out hard to get it.


Monday, January 14, 2013

What She Wore: 01/14/2013

It's been several days since our last post, sorry about that! Been busy on both our fronts, and also getting the last few things in order for the first video blog! SO excited!

Well, without further delay...




The makeup:
FACE
-Revlon Photo Ready Concealer in 001
-Rimmel Staymatte in Transparent
-E.L.F. Bronzer
-Revlon hi-lighter in "pink rose" cheek pallet. applied to corners of eyes, cheekbones, top lip, & under browbone.
-Revlon matte blush in "Perfectly Peach"
BROWS
-144 E.L.F. Pallet in med. brown shade
EYES
-"naked" from the Urban Decay Naked Pallet
-NYX Pin-up Tease Black mascara
LIPS
-Mauve by Revlon




The Outfit:

TOP & BOTTOM
-Lace w/animal print and studs top (Buckle)
-Light salmon tank top (Target)
-Brown maxi skirt (XXI)

ACCESSORIES
-Necklace from Buckle
-Belt from XXI
-Rose ring from XXI
-Fring bag from Target
-Watch from Buckle











I tend to love this outfit for the weekends. It has a very comfortable bohemian feeling, especially when paired with the fringe bag. The maxi skirt is very versatile, you could pair it with some heels, a fitted tee and a nice blazer with a chunky necklace for a casual but stylish night out with the girls!

Dont forget about our giveaway at 50 likes on our FB PAGE! So like us and share!

Thanks for reading!
-Jessica



Friday, January 11, 2013

Tutorial: Hey Hey, Ombre!

Tutorial: Ombre Hair


I had been contemplating a drastic hair change for months, but just couldn't muster up the courage. After looking through Pinterest for what felt like hours admiring the beautiful cascades of ombre curls I took the plunge.

My friends, I colored my hair and chocolate to caramel ombre is what I got. I love it!

This was thankfully easy to do, and will be VERY easy to maintain as the color is at my ends and not my roots.

If going from dark roots to lighter ends is what you are itching for you'll need:

- A box of the lightest blonde available in your favorite color brand*

- Large hair clips

- Rat-tail comb

- Old shirt you don't mind ruining

- 8 to 10 medium sized pieces of foil **


Style your hair as you normally would when wearing it down, this way the color will hit where you want it. Seperate your hair where the part is with the point of the rat-tail comb, then seperate those two sections into two more section using a horizontal line going from the front to the back of your head. 
Use your clip to tie up the upper section. If you have bangs and they need to be pinned back because of length and you wish to color them, make sure to pin them on their own. Please make sure that no hair is falling over from the top, we are getting ready to color.  Now that your hair is ready, mix your color. Go ahead, I'll wait.



8 minutes later....
Now that you are ready and want to just throw the color on make sure you have your gloves on and your foil is close by. Look at your hair and decide how much length you want to color. Remember, the way to measure is from the ends, not the roots. (I did roughly 4 inches.) Grab your hair and apply the color to the desired area, making sure to FULLY saturate the hair. Once satisfied with amount, wrap in foil. Go ahead and do that to the rest of your sections. MAKE SURE to only do one section at a time starting from the bottom of your head.

15 minutes later....

Hooray! I'm proud of you for making it this far. Now set your timer and check your progress ever 10 to 15 minutes. I had to wait 40 minutes before I was happy with the color. I kept checking the first section I did, considering that it was saturated the longest, just in case the color was turning Orange.

Once happy, rinse, shampoo and condition! If you are like me and have black brown hair. You won't see much of a difference when wet, just wait until you dry and style! 



Your make up will look different and you may even be inspired to try new make-up trends. I would recommend Ox-blood lips, its still winter.



Let me know how it turns out. If you tried a different approach make sure to share.

* (I am not specifying a brand because all store bought brands are great and its more of a preference than an actual performance issue. I used Garnier because of the added oil, no other reason)

** About twice the size of your hands.