To Cuff or Not to Cuff

Booties are the hipster girls best friend. BUT, booties are often a gateway shoe into many fashion crimes. The number one offense associated with booties; CUFFing. May not sound that bad, but have you ever seen a woman walking around with saggy ankles and adorable booties? Not a good combo. To pull off a bootie, you must pair the shoe with an appropriate bottom. (ie: not bootleg pants & no saggy ankles, and definitely no 3/4 length pants) You must cuff cuff cuff. You can change up the cuff depending on the style of your jeans. In this case I am wearing high waisted skinny jeans. Since I have ankles the size of a 5 year old, I MUST cuff. I can't even wear those adorable tapered jeans that are already cropped for your convenience. (Insert pouty face) Moving on... I suggest you put on your shoes before you cuff your jeans. This will give you a good visual when you are measuring how high your cuff will go. Just experiment with different lengths. I typically won't fold over my jeans more than twice, does that make sense? If you fold them up more than 3 times your ankle starts to look like you are "just big boned", or like you quickly preparing for a flash flood.
 
I digress. Anywho,  it's not that hard. Just make sure your cuff is wrinkle free and your seams are straight. THAT'S IT! Viola! You are done! You are free to go out and look fab. <3 And to answer the question...... CUFF, always cuff.        

Love,
A

Favorite Flawless Face Brushes

Everyone always asks what brushes I use for my foundation routine. Well...here are my, not so secret, secrets. All these brushes work together in perfect makeup harmony to give you a flawless face. Even when you aren't feeling so flawless. 

Foundation: 

Sigma F80 flat kabuki brush or Sigma F82 round kabuki brush ($24-28)

Setting/powder: 

Dior powder brush ($55-60)

Highlight: 

Sigma F35 Tapered highlight brush ($24) 

Contour: 

Sigma F40 Large angle contour brush ($22)

Blush/bronzer: 

MAC duo fiber #187 ($42) 

I love these brushes for many reasons. First; quality over quantity. That is not to say that I don't own some very cheap and effective brushes, BUT you can definitely feel the difference. Quality brushes tend to be made better, therefore lasting a long long long time. Quality brushes are much softer in my experience, and more gentle on the skin. Yes, quality brushes are an investment. But if you are deciding on high end eye brushes v. face brushes, I say go for the face. Anyway... I am getting of on a tangent now.

Reason number two; I love kabuki brushes for buffing in foundation. This is a must for a flawless face. How many times have we seen women who's foundation looks like it is just sitting on top of their face? OR, even worse, you see exactly where their foundation ends on their jaw or hairline. Gross right?  With sigma kabuki brushes (or dupes for sigma) you can stipple on your foundation then buff it into your skin. That way your skin still looks like skin.

Three; Powder brushes can be found anywhere BUT I fell in love with this Dior powder brush when I was freelancing for Dior. I think it has something to do with the weight of the brush. It has a beautiful weight to it. That sounds so lame, but wait until you feel this brush. Not only is it pretty, but its functionality is amazing. It is hard to over do the powder with this brush and it blends and buffs so easily. Moving on to highlighting, this Sigma tapered brush is the perfect shape to set your under eye concealer or highlight your cheekbones. The shape and the softness is perfect. I am sure there are plenty of dupes for this brush, but my husband spoiled me last Christmas. And for that I am thankful.

Four; Having a light hand is useful when applying your contour/blush/bronzer. If you are anything like me... you need all the help you can get. Too much blush can make you look old or like you have had one too many drinks while getting ready. And no one wants that. The MAC duo fiber brush is perfect for ANY powder. You can use it for highlighting, blush, bronzer, the list goes on and on. But I love this brush for bronzer or blush. It blends like a dream and you can build color rather than have to worry about dabbing off what you didn't mean to put on. And the Sigma contour brush speaks for itself. It was made for contouring and it is the perfect shape to hollow out those cheeks and make your cheekbones jet out like Kim K.

Anywho... I will stop blabbing. Let me know if you have any questions. I will be happy to answer.

All sigma brushes: www.sigmabeauty.com

MAC/Dior: Nordstrom.com 

Love,

A

Anastasia Tamanna Review

   ANASTASIA Tamanna Palette  

On Black Friday, I decided to visit my girlfriend at Nordstrom & of course I couldn't leave without some goodies. I love my Lavish Palette by Anastasia, so I thought I would give the Tamanna palette a go. AND... So far I love it. I don't think the eyeshadows are as pigmented as they could be. Overall, for 10 shadows and only $29, I would consider this a steal. I am in love with sangria, Bengal, blush, china rose & gilded. So, pretty much I love them all. Obviously you can tell from the swatches, the color "fresh" is the color of my skin. Which is actually pretty awesome, because sometimes I skip my eye primer and just use my foundation AND "fresh" would be the perfect setting powder so my lids don't get creasy.  No one likes creasy lids, yuck. 

These colors will look good on anyone and compliment any eye color. Bengal is the perfect transition color for your crease. And all the other colors wear beautifully. The staying power is outstanding, I got about 10 hours of solid "wear-ablilty" before it started to wear off. 

Obviously I am pro Anastasia Tamanna Palette... it is inexpensive, 10 gorgeous shades, and good pigmentation. Go swoop one up ASAP, because it won't be long until the Queen of brows pops out another palette.

      

Give Thanks

Today is the day we give thanks for a year of good fortune & good health. We get so wrapped up in our daily routine and when you add holiday errands into the mix... the holiday season is over before you know it. Let us all take the time to relax and reflect on how blessed we are. We have a tendency to day dream & busy ourselves with the hopes of bigger paychecks, more time, a healthier lifestyle, etc. Whatever your personal situation may be, we are blessed. Today, let us give thanks for the amazing people and the amazing life we have.

   I am thankful for:      

My husband & my son

My parents & everything they do for us 

My new family, the Stewarts & their amazing love.  

My friends, even though we don't see each other very often, I appreciate the little time we do 

Our good health

My Arbonne Biz

Our New Zealand & Australia trip in December

Our beautiful home (still a work in progress) but I love every minute of it

This new blogging adventure

I hope everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving. And don't forget to say your prayers before dinner & let the big guy upstairs know what you are thankful for. 

Love, 

A    

Black Friday tips n' tricks

Do you like to get up with all the crazed deal snatchers at 4am on black friday? It doesn't matter if you love it (like me) or loath it. Regardless of your feelings towards black friday, everyone loves a deal. If you follow my simple rules for a safe, sane and simple black Friday your day can be a smashing success. 

RULE 1: 

...BUT first Coffee...... & some more coffee. 

RULE 2:

Make your list & stick to it.

RULE 3: 

Go "pre-shopping" 2/3 days before. I like to go and pick out exactly what I need or want. If it is a small business, they will probably let you hold your items until black Friday, because they will need the business. JUST ASK. If you are headed to a big box store, just shop around and see where everything is located and try things on BEFORE all hell breaks loose. 

RULE 4:  

Bring a friend who loves to shop. Don't bring a Debbie downer. Bring your bestie and make an event out of it. Trust me, whether you are getting up at the butt crack of dawn or going out mid day you are sure to see some unforgettable shenanigans.  

RULE 5: 

Be kind & pass it on.  Over the years, I have noticed that everyone seems to be angry. WHY? We are saving our hard earned cash! You would think that would turn even the Grinch's frown upside down. So why not be that ray of sunshine that everyone seems to be missing? People forget how to be people on black Friday. All manners and common courtesy seem to be thrown out of the window.  Some women turn into barbarians over a 1/2 price silk blouse, if you ask me, they wouldn't look good in silk. So watch for those elbows and dirty looks. All jokes aside, when I smile, use please and thank you and say excuse me... heads turn and people play follow the leader. Start a happy train and see how many people smile back at you.    

Are Leggings pants???

   The question of the century:   

   Are leggings pants?   

This is probably the most asked fashion related question of the decade. We have the pro legging clan v the anti legging league. We have all had a questionable legging outfit at some point or another & the question probably had something to do with the toe of a camel or the lack of opacity. If you have to question your legging choice you are most likely picking the wrong pair. Some "leggings" are meant to be just that, a tight you wear under an outfit/dress/long tunic. Leggings, as pants, should be opaque (even in a seated position), thick & preferably matte. Matte fabrics are the most flattering anyhow. Use these tips to make sure you aren't the  'butt" of someones joke the next time you step out in your favorite pair of leggings. 

Fit Tips: 

1) Thick opaque leggings

2) Good fit; tight around the ankle and just enough give in the waist so you don't look like a busted can of biscuits. Tip** you should be able to slip 2 fingers underneath the hem 

3) Quality, don't cheap out on a pair of leggings. Look for quality fabrics that wont fade, pill or stretch.

4) As the Kardashian's say CTC. "Cover that camel". Make sure if you have any hint of a Middle Eastern desert animal creepin down below, that you cover him. That is never flattering. 

           

***All of these pics were taken from pinterest. None of these are photos I have taken. ***

  NASTY GAL COMES TO LA  

OMG... Does anyone else love Nastygal.com like I do? Well our dream has finally come true! Their 1st store opens on November 21st. It will be at 8115 Melrose Dr. in LA! If you take a selfie in front of the store use #nastygalmelrose and you could win a gift card! When the shop opens I have already planned a date with my girls for a fun LA shopping trip. If you have never shopped with them, go check it out. And NO... its not sexy lingerie, it is an ultra hip clothing shop similar (but different) from Urban Outfitters. They have unique quality pieces that are sure to turn some heads.

  Nastygal.com  

Wavy Hiar Tutorial

  Big Wavy Hair that Lasts All Day 

I know, from personal experience, that getting your hair to have that perfect balance of effortless and glam can be tricky. After a ton of trial and error I have cracked the code. No more Curly Sue curls that look like the 'do that our moms gave us for picture day in the 80's. No more soft waves that fall out by the time you hit the doorman at the club. No more crispy, crunchy waves from our over use of extra strong hairspray in desperation to keep our waves from falling out. 

These easy steps paired with a good quality HOT curling wand or curling iron ALWAYS does the trick... Keep in mind that you should curl away from your face and only spray a little "flexible hold" hairspray. Or a "finishing spray" after all your curls are in place. After a brush with a paddle brush, those curls turn to flawless wavy hair. 

 

1) Brush out any tangles

2) Section hair

3) Take 1-2" sections of hair 

4) Curl sections away from face... for my length I wrap hair around a 1" curling wand 3 times. 

5) Repeat

6) Straighten bangs and top of hair to smooth out the overall look

7) Finish curling

8) Spay with a "flexible hold" hairspray 

9) When hair is completely cool, take a paddle brush and softly brush out any big curls. 

10) Go out and party. 

Naturally whiten teeth at home

 How to Naturally Whiten your Teeth at Home 

So many people ask me how I keep my smile so white. Years ago I used the crest white strips but my teeth became oober sensitive. When living in LA, my best friend who is also a dental assistant shared with me that hydrogen peroxide is one of the main ingredients in teeth whiteners. She said if I rinsed with it, I should get some pretty stellar results without the sensitivity. So I tried..... and IT WORKED!

Years later that is what I am STILL doing. Every night before bed I...
1) Floss
2) Brush my teeth with "Tom's of Maine toothpaste" with my electrical toothbrush
3) Rinse my mouth for about 30sec-1min (depending on how much it foams up) with "Tom's of Maine mouthwash" AND hydrogen Peroxide! I mix the mouthwash and the hydrogen peroxide, about 1/2 and 1/2. Hydrogen peroxide taste pretty foul on its own that's why I mix it.

THAT'S IT!  I do this every night before bed, and the health of my teeth and gums have never been better AND my teeth have never been this white for this long with any teeth whitening kit.

   

 Pumpkin Patch Time! 

Even if you aren't going to carve a pumpkin you can still go to the pumpkin patch. Instead of the traditional carving, I think we will be "decorating" our pumpkins instead. We found this local pumpkin patch that was beyond legit. It had 11 blow up bouncies and just enough pumpkins to make you feel like you are at a real patch of pumpkins. Levi ran around until he was out of breathe and then he played in the hey on the ground. 

There is something so magical when you are a kid and you are surrounded by thousands of pumpkins. And the same for us, the magic happens for us when we see our kids running around with giant smiles. There is no better feeling in the world than when your child is happy. <3   

 

  Fresh Faced Makeup  

All moms are used to this kind of day off; laundry, nap time for baby, Target, Trader Joe's, Starbucks drive thru while singing and clapping like a circus monkey all to make your little one giggle in the back, clean the house, make dinner and get everyone washed and ready for bed, pack lunches, then try to get 15 min to relax before laying in bed planning all the stuff you will cram into your next day off. Wheeew! If that run on sentence didn't make you run out of breathe, trying doing all of the above with a 30lb 1.5 year old who hates his stroller. 

We have all seen those moms at Target who look completely defeated. Trust me, as a new mom, I have been there plenty of times. BUT I can't help but notice the eye rolling and smirks those particular moms give to those moms who look like they have it all together... ie; cute outfit, makeup on, composed beautiful children and a smile. Do you think the mom who seem to have it all together is happier because she has found that extra 15 min to put on a spot of makeup and throw on a casual but cute outfit?! Is the sad, grumpy mom just jealous? Well being on both sides of that spectrum this last year, I would say, YES. 

With that being said, we can all find that extra few minutes to make ourselves happier and more put together. I bet your husband won't mind either. My simple and quick makeup tips make you look fresh faced and awake, even when you aren't. 

1) Mix Arbonne liquid perfecting foundation with the Arbonne primer 

2) Use a flat kabuki brush to buff onto your skin

3) Apply a concealer 1-2 shades lighter that your skin underneath your eyes and on the top of your cheek bones. Then blend out with fingers.

4) Apply a peachy or light pink blush to the apples of your cheeks and brush backwards toward your ears. This will make you look fresh and awake.

5) *optional* apply a matte bronzer on the border of hairline and along jaw

6) Quick coat of black mascara will open up your eyes

7) *optional* fill in brows to your liking.

8) Apply a tinted lip balm or lip gloss to polish it off.  

    

Music I Am Obsessing Over

I am obsessed with music, mostly of the electric, robot, flying unicorn on a rocket sort. These three songs have been on repeat for a week now. Hope you enjoy! Happy dancing!  

 Broods "Bridges" 

 Tritonal & Cristina Soto "Stil with Me" (Seven Lions Remix) 

 Michael Brun & Zashanell "Halfway" 

 A quest: Finding the perfect NUDE lipstick 

A friend called me up today asking "super weird question, how do I find the right nude lipstick? I always get one that is too dark or too light!" I laughed because we have all been there and it wasn't a dumb question at all. "Nude" is a broad name for an array of colors. If you think about it, theres hundreds of skin types and tones. So "nude" isn't one exact color, think of it as a color range. If you are fair with pink undertones you will wear a different nude than a girl who has medium olive skin tone. So the quest begins, finding the right nude for YOU! 

So I would suggest you go try them on before you buy. The darker your skin, the darker your nude lipstick will be. And vise versa, If you are like casper, then... you know you need a very light neutral tone nude. Pick nudes that will compliment you skin tone.

...SKIN...

Warm; think yellow, green undertones

Neutral; think peach undertones (not yellow or red)

Cool; think blue and red undertones

...LIPSTICKS...

Warm; light caramel to beige 

Neutral; light baby pink to apricot

Cool; think blush to mauve

 TOO FACED Melted lipstick in NUDE $21 

  MAC Viva Galm II lipstick $16 

 Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in 

 Liar, Native, Naked or  Naked2 $22 

   

Today... only 79 degrees AND it almost felt like fall! As temperatures and eagerness to diet fade, it's time to update our wardrobe. Swap out those itsy bitsy bikinis & bum baring high waisted shorts for a pair of leggings, flannel and fedora. Whilst sipping on my iced pumpkin spice latte I started to jot down (mentally of course) my Fall essentials this year. Fashion trends change more than Kylie Jenner's hair color. So I am going to take full advantage of it this year because I LOVE THE 90'S. The juxtaposition of glam and grunge make for an uber easy hip wardrobe.

 1. SIMPLE BLACK LEGGINGS 

 2. PLAID LIGHTWEIGHT BUTTON UP 

  3. CHUNKY BLACK BOOTIES 

 4. WIDE BRIM FEDORA  

 5. OVERSIZED STRIPED T-SHIRT  

 6. BLACK LEATHER MOTO JACKET 

These 6 Fall essentials can be as inexpensive or as expensive as you want. I always opt for quality staple pieces like leggings and boots and save on pieces that may or may not be in style next season. I know what you are thinking... why all black?!? These pieces build a wardrobe so you can add color. Fall wardrobes are at their best when they include, burgundy, mustard, olive, grey, white and camel. Each color can be warn together in conjunction with your black pieces. Add a few dainty stacked gold necklaces and I guarantee you will look put together and start turning heads.

Happy Shopping!
A  

My favorite booties:

Sam & Libby "Deanna Heel bootie" (Black) $44.99

www.target.com

Jeffrey Campbell "Ardmore platform ankle boot" $129.99

www.Urbanoutfitters.com

My favorite leggings:

Lorna Jane "Amy full length tight" $99.99

www.lornajane.com

Ahhhhh, Pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkins, cool weather, legging and BOOTS... it must be Fall! My favorite time of year and most exciting when it comes to fashion, in my opinion. Booties are a fun way to dress up any fall outfit.  Ditch your worn out chucks for this season and opt for a cute boot. It adds that extra "umph" to your outfit that will make you stand out when going out for drinks after work.

Learning when to splurge or save .... the struggle is real.  But Target, oh Target.... they got our backs. When deciding when to splurge or save, take a look at these doops for Jeffrey Campbell's, and other high end brands.

 All of these fabulous booties are from Target and most are under $50!!!!! I have a pair from last season and they are so comfy and they still look new. I am beyond impressed with Targets boots this year. So go grab your Pumpkin spice latte and go shop!

Love,
A

 1990 Kylie Jenner Lip 

So Kylie Jenner's not so new lip color, circa 1990, is back! .... but who cares, right? She looks awesome and everyone is getting back on that 90's bandwagon. This brownish, mauve-ish MATTE nude is on every girls makeup wish list now. Here are some of my favorites to achieve that sexy Kylie lip.

1) MAC "whirl" lipliner; use alone to pencil in entire lip, or use underneath a lipstick.

2) MAC cream stick lip liner in "Buerre" 

3) MAC "Viva Glam II" lipstick; use alone or on top of lipliner.

4) Arbonne, "Mocha" lipliner  

5) Too Faced melted liquid lipstick in nude (with slightly darker lipliner underneath)  

6) Too Faced Perfect Lips Lipliner  in "Perfect Spice"

Application tip: Slightly overdraw your lips. It helps if you use your own lip shape BUT over draw near the bottom of your bottom lip AND if you overdraw and round out your cupids bow. 

Have fun,

A

Pop Art Halloween

Halloween, my favorite holiday, is quickly approaching. The hardest decision of the season is WHAT TO BE FOR HALLOWEEN?!? Well if you run out of time this pop art makeup is pretty easy and you only need a few products and the finish product is striking... people will be asking to get a pic with you all night!

What you need:

White cream makeup

black NYX jumbo pencil

everyday makeup

                                       

                                     

Happy Halloweenie,

A