Get Ready With Me: Natural Look for the Summer Heat

Here's a new look where you just want a minimal amount of makeup to last throughout a hot, sweaty summer day.  Today is perfect to post a new video because as the sun is beaming through my bedroom window, it reminds me that today is Father's Day.

As I did for Mother's Day, I'm going to write a small blurb about the fathers in my life...

Everyone in my life knows that I'm Daddy's little girl (even though I have a younger sister).  Everyone who knows me knows that I'm my father's "mini-me" and my daughter is my father's "mini-him".  I've inherited a lot of my Dad's personality and mannerisms.  He raised me to always put family first and to deal with life issues once "we cross that bridge".  He has been so supportive in every decision that has changed my life.  My Dad has that special touch when he does anything whether it's the movement of his finger or a word out of his mouth.  Let me explain- on the day of my wedding, I was getting anxious and nervous before the ceremony began.  I was up in the bridal suite with my mom and future mother-in-law pacing back and forth from the room into the hallway and back again.  I haven't shed a tear yet, but I just wanted things to start already.  Suddenly, I heard someone play a song on the piano that brought me back to my childhood.  It was my Dad playing a tune that he would play every morning to wake us up.  I didn't have to lean over the balcony to know that it was him- rather, I started to break down in tears sobbing like a little girl.  Geez, as I'm typing this, I'm already starting to tear up.  Anyway, throughout the wedding, I didn't see my Dad shed a tear or try to keep it together.  He just had that great smile and great host personality with all the guests who were enjoying the wedding.  It wasn't until our "father-daughter" dance that I felt like I was still his little girl.  The world froze around us as we danced to "Butterfly Kisses".  Even though I married the love of my life, my Dad knew that he would always (and forever be) the first man in my life.

Sleeping beauties circa 1987 (?)

Wedding day circa September 2011

So to all the fathers out there, you are the only man in your little girl's life.  You will never be replaced. Rather, you crafted your little girl to be tough and independent so that when she meets "her" man, she expects them to be as great as you.

Here's the video that you've been patiently waiting for.  The items I used are below:

- Peter Thomas Roth CC Cream (Light/medium)
- Maybelline Erase Dark Circles (Medium)
- Make Up For Ever Pro Finish (163)
- Ck One Brow + Gel Duo (400 Crafty Raven)
- Wet 'n' Wild Color Icon Trio (Walking On Eggshells)
- Urban Decay Naked Basics
- Tarte Multipleye Liquid Eyeliner
- Rimmel London Lash Accelerator Endless
- NARS blush (Rotonde)
- Mary Kay True Dimensions lipstick (Color Me Coral)

Get Ready With Me: Coral & Brown for the Day

I've been in a coral crush lately and my makeup can stand up for that.  Every time I see a coral makeup product, I get this sudden urge to purchase it.  Coral has become such a spring/summer fashion and beauty statement.  There's a great range as to how deep or soft you want coral to be.  Well, I've been mixing the colors coral and peach and have created a soft, daytime look that's very easy.

I have a video posted on my YouTube channel for steps to re-create this look.  Items I used are listed below.

- Peter Thomas Roth CC Cream (light/medium)
- MAC Oil Control Lotion
- NARS Sheer Glow Foundation (Stromboli)
- Maybelline Erase Dark Circles (medium)
- Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion
- CK One Brow + Gel Duo (400 Crafty Raven)
- UD Naked Palette (Naked, Buck)
- UD 24/7 Glide-On Shadow Pencil (Sin)
- UD Single Eyeshadows (Freelove, Secret Service)
- Tarte Multipleye Liquid Eyeliner
- Maybelline One by One mascara
- Rimmel Lash Accelerator mascara
- Benefit Hoola bronzer
- MAC blush (Peaches)
- Mary Kay True Dimension Lipstick (Color Me Coral)
- Bobbi Brown lipgloss (pink lemonade)

Enjoy the video and this beautiful weather we've been having!

Date Night Makeup

I rarely do date night with friends or with my husband.  When you're a parent, date night consists of any valuable time where there's no noise resonating in the house.  The minutes after your child falls asleep is positively the best part of the night until you or your husband starts cleaning the house, falling asleep on the couch while watching tv, or your husband starts drifting into his computer gaming world.  So, when I saw a date night makeup tutorial on YouTube, I wanted to give it a shot and recreate the look with what I have.

Makeup Series | "Free Mini Kits" | Tarte

Here's another addition to this series I created for the month of October called "Free Mini Kits".  I'll be featuring makeup samples and kits that tend to not be used on a daily (or if ever) basis.  Personally, I love collecting samples because they're free most of the time.  But, that also means that these items will most likely be never used.  Same goes for makeup kits where the interest of only trying 1 item means the others will be forgotten.

This item is a makeup kit from Tarte that I purchased on QVC.com back in 2010.  I believe this was my first kit I ever purchased.  This kit came with a trio-eyeshadow palette, shadow/liner, brow mousse, mascara, cheek stain and lip gloss.  Of all the 6 items, the quality and lasting ability is great.  The colors are great for a natural look and gives your face a nice, fresh look.  Even though this didn't come with a foundation, I can only imagine that Tarte offers great foundation options.  After finally digging up these items, I'm happy to say that I started using them especially the eyeshadow and shadow/liner.  You can pick up these items individually wherever Tarte items are sold.

Tune in throughout the month and see what other items I'll be featuring!

HAUL: Makeup & Other Beauty Products

It's been a while since I've blogged.  My (lame) excuse is that I've just been completely lazy & have been uninspired with some of my cooking last week.  But, I've accumulated a lot of items in the past few weeks that I wanted to share with all of my viewers.  I tried doing a YouTube video last Friday while my husband was out of town and my daughter was in school.  I did roughly 5 takes & realized I'm not meant to be in front of the camera.  Just doing a small introduction to the video was painful to watch.  I'll try a different approach some time soon where I'll just do a voice over.

Anyway, the following products that I'll share below are from Ulta(1), HauteLook.com(2) and Sephora.com(3).

If you are a happy consumer of any of these products, please share your experience with it.

(1) From L to R: John Frieda Root Awakening Nourishing Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner for Dry Hair, Benefit Cosmetics B. Right It's Potent Eye Cream, 2 Benefit Cosmetics freebies, OPI nail polish in DS Glow & Melon of Troy, Tarte Maracuja Divine Shine Lipgloss in Tipsy.

*I purchased the eye cream just so I can get the sample of the Cha Cha Tint which I'm pretty psyched to try.  With the Tarte lipgloss, I was suppose to get a Deluxe Sample of Maracuja Oil which I assume the store ran out of.  Instead they gave me another Benefit sample which is the skincare So Radiant.  I heard great things about the maracuja oil so I guess I'll have to purchase it next time I step into Ulta.

(2) From L to R: NYX Eye Glamifying Set, NYX Blush Set in Pretty Natural, NYX Haute Jersey- Leopard Couture Set

*I purchased these items on Hautelook.com because it was one of their special deals.  If you itemize these products, you definitely are saving 40% or more when purchasing them on this website.  With the eye set, it came with the Provocateur Boudoir Mascara, Collection Noir Liquid Black Liner, Collection Noir Skinny Black Liner & Slide On, Glide On, Stay On & Definitely A Turn On Water Proof, Extreme Shine Eye Liner in Black Sparkle.  Annoying that the name of this product is long but that's what's on the pencil.  With the blush set, the 3 blushes are Mocha, Angel & Mauve.  My last item of the bunch is this leopard makeup palette that screams Jersey girl (which I am- well I'm from Jersey but definitely not a "Jersey Shore" Jersey girl if you get my drift.)

When you open the book, there are 24 eyeshadows on your left with 4 eye applicators & a mirror on your right. 

When you flip the mirror, you get another mirror but on the left side.  On the opposite side are 2 lip glosses, 4 bronzers & 2 blushes.  This palette will come to use whenever I want to head down to Bar A or DJais.

(3) From L to R: The New Black Runway- Color Barometer 8-Piece Nail Polish Set, Sephora Collection Marbling & Dotting Nail Tool, Josie Maran Made with Love Kit, Korres Goddess Lip Collection

*The nail tool was on sale online and lately I've been purchasing nail polishes as if I was a kid in a candy store.  A new tool deserves new polishes to go with.  I had a sample of Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil & wanted to try other products of her line.  Korres is a Johnson & Johnson product which my sister works for.  She has a couple Korres makeup products & is happy with them.  I hope I can be happy with these.