Anonymous Friend Makeup Application

I have a penchant for faces.  If I have known you long enough, sooner or later, I'll be begging you to let me paint your face!  Decorate, embellish it!  Once in a while my friends will allow me to!  ...they always enjoy the results  :)

For this post, I will focus on Anonymous Friend's eyes and brows.  (Her face is also beautiful, but I couldn't get permission for that :)

• Andrea ModLash #21 ~ trim almost in half, use outer ends

 

• Duo Water Proof Eyelash Adhesive, Dark Tone

 

• Tweezers ~ use to apply to lash line (not on eyelid)  I had a much better tool to apply false eyelashes, but have lost it!  I found it online about six years ago and can't locate another one!  I have been looking at some other interesting replacements:  There is a Sephora Eyelash Applicator or this one on eBay:

 

•   Tarte eye shadow in "Root Beer Float"

 

• Fixer and Sealer.  Mix tiny amount with eye shadow using small angled shadow brush.  Apply along upper lash line, extending beyond lash, as desired.  Don't get into eyes.

 

• Use Paula Dorf "Smokie Lid" brush to create shadow beneath bottom lash line with Tarte eye shadow.  Build this shadow as desired.

 

• Create soft strokes along brow arch using ~Anastasia Brow Pen ~Universal Shade.

Zumba!

My last post was about a new workout dvd series, "Beach Body, Brazil Butt Lift", that I purchased at the beginning of the summer.  I have actually done some of the workouts.  The main tip I would give is basically- you need a BIG ROOM~  large bedroom? No.  A big, cleared out playroom or garage or studio!  The dance steps require quite a bit of turning, spinning, kicking!  If you are just learning the moves, well, even more space is needed!  No lamps, end of bed posts, or dressers should be in the way!  :)

This brings me to my latest discovery~ ZUMBA!  This class is now being offered at my local gym, bodyFIT!  I have taken it twice.  The first time was so much fun!  The music, the dancing!  Wow, you can ask my friends and they will tell you, it put me in a really good mood!
The second time was fun, but I was kinda in a bad mood when I got there and I just couldn't get into the music!  But, I'm going to keep at it!  Our instructor, Tamela, is awesome, awesome!  Wow, she can dance! 
Zumba is great fun if you are looking for something different to burn calories.  The music is completely varied and multicultural.  The room is kept dark ~ yay!  I have often debated whether or not to put some vodka in my water bottle... hmmmm?  I mean, the tagline IS "Ditch The Workout, Join The Party!"

BeachBody ~ Brazil Butt Lift

At the beginning of the summer, I envisioned my life as one constant workout – stopping only for the necessities of life: working, family, etc.  Well- the necessities have grown very large, as of late! 

Yes, I have kept up with working out, but barely! 

My plan was to keep my regular times in the gym and to embellish my fitness plan with the Brazil Butt Lift System… because “YES, I wanted to lift my butt!”  (read the website- see if you can resist!)

Here it is today:

New Goal: get this open and try a few of the workouts next week.  Stay Tuned!  :)

Brigitte Bardot Hair ~ Sans The Bump-It

  Have you ever tried the Bumpit?  Did it work for you?  Were you brave enough to leave the house with it still in your hair?  :)
I have tried two great products that beat using the huge plastic Bumpit device, but with the same effect, just more natural… and without the constant terror that your hair might fall out and give someone a black eye!
“Osis Dust It” & “Big Sexy Hair Powder Play”!

Both of these products are in powder-ish form.  I say powder-ish, because the substance is hard to define!  As a kid, I remember the science trick of mixing cornstarch with water.  The cornstarch would never be “wet”, but would flow like water…  These hair powders are similar!  Loose white powder in the container, but totally different stuff in your hair!

While both are alike in many ways (and it’s obvious by the packaging, this is not a mistake), there are some differences I have noticed:
“Powder Play”contains a few oils and other glycerin-type substances.  It is a lighter version of “OSIS”.    I don’t think that it provides quite the same “thickening power” as OSIS.  It quickly dissolves after you begin to work it into the hair.  Because of the oils in “Powder Play”, the hair remains somewhat more pliable and soft…

OSIS, on the other hand, means business!  This is a take-no-prisoners hair mattifying, thickening, and holding powder.  A little bit goes a long way!  Don’t expect to be able to actually comb/brush your hair after putting it in, either.  But, oh the hair you will have!!  …suddenly the limp, fine, stick-to-your-skull strands take on a different life. 

I use these powder hair products by separating my top hair in sections and pinning up.  I take sections that are just under the top sections and apply the stuff to the roots.  You can use your fingers or a comb to blend it in.  Then, tease… a little or a lot.  Next, undo the top sections and smooth over the teased areas!  Keep playing with your hair until …well, just be careful!  Go for a big look or just a little volume.
Enjoy!

BTW, my hair stylist, Janelle, introduced me to OSIS.  She has it in stock at Studio Fringe~ Columbia, South Carolina!

Give Your Favorite Designer Jeans Some Boho Chic! (not to mention- a little breathing room for the...waistline)

Perk up a pair of jeans with some bohemian vintage-look fabric!  Get creative.  It just takes a little bit of a colorful pattern to create a unique look!

I took a pair of Notify jeans and used a few fabric pieces to embellish the waistband!  Check it out.  *Note - when sewing denim, take it slowly and be ready for several broken needles!  :(

Turn That Messy Loose Powder Into A Cool, Clean Compact

Last summer, I purchased a loose powder bronzer from Victoria's Secret.  The powder comes in a self-contained package with the brush attached at the end.  The brush is large and the powder pours out at lightening speed!  It's tricky to add just the right amount, especially to dust the cheekbone area.  I learned a new trick that you can use to turn any loose cosmetic powder into a handy and more portable pressed powder compact!

You need:

• loose powder ~ eyeshadow, blush, bronzer, finishing (either already in loose form or crushed into a fine powder) 
• empty compact ~ new or used, cleaned and sterile
• rubbing alcohol ~ no special type needed, you can even use mint-scented
• cup and stirring device
• knit fabric and a smooth object that is the same size as the compact opening~ such as a coin or the end of a lipstick top~ to press the powder down and give it a finished look

•  Pour powder into a mixing cup and break up any clumps with a stirring motion.

• Add enough rubbing alcohol to create a thick liquid.  Stir thoroughly to make sure all powder is wet.

•  Pour mixture into empty and cleaned compact.  Leave for about 15 minutes.
•  Tap compact firmly onto counter to remove bubbles.

• Allow compact to dry for several hours.  
• When most of the alcohol has evaporated, take an object with a smooth blunt end that is a bit smaller than the compact opening and the same shape.  (I used a lipstick cap.)   
• Cover the object with a knit t-shirt or fabric. 
• Using this fabric-covered object, press firmly down onto powder.  Repeat a few times to absorb all of the remaining rubbing alcohol and to provide a nice finished texture.

 

Lady Gaga ~ Caught In A Makeup Tutorial

This how-to makeup video by Michelle Phan is just mesmerizing to me~

"How To Never Look Fat Again" Book Review

"...I've become an expert at hiding the fat.  Not by dieting and exercise- though I'm a fervent believer in both- but by wearing the right clothes in flattering fabrics, colors, and shapes and styling them with distracting accessories; by having the best supportive bra that lifts me up and gives me a couple of extra inches of torso; by wearing the highest heels I can comfortably stand in; and by holding my head high, my shoulders back, and being aware of my posture."

This is one of the opening paragraphs of a book I have been contemplating called "How To Never Look Fat Again:  Over 1,000 Ways to Dress Thinner--Without Dieting!" by Carla Krupp.  This book first caught my eye in People magazine!  Of course, I would love a guide on how to never, ever look fat again! Who wouldn't? I really like her "can do" attitude!

Krupp is a former fashion editor for Glamour, InStyle and People magazines. This is her second publication along these same lines.  Her first book was "How Not To Look Old".

Certain types of clothes/fabrics, according to Krupp, are classified as "high fat, low-fat, or no-fat".  She provides a quiz for the reader to use to see how the current clothes in her closet fit into this rating system.  Also provided are "swap outs" in each chapter, suggesting that instead of one thing you should wear another similar, but slimming, piece instead.   For instance, trade a boat neck sweater for a scoop neck to elongate your neck.

High Fat Items:

• textured fabrics
• terry-cloth
• toile
• fur
• shiny metallics
• neon, white, bright, pastel, or primary colors  
• super-sized and bulky
• full of gathers and ruffles
• pieces that are too small to cover your frame, leaving too much exposed

Low-Fat Items:

• provide simple coverage
• plain/neutral items
• basic classics 
• comfortable fabric such as cotton or denim.

No-Fat Pieces:

• are the hardest workers
• enhance and streamline your figure
• hide fat and pull you up in the right places
• "they make you look better than you would look naked"  
• control camisoles
• pencil skirts
• trim v-neck sweaters
• flat-front trousers

Other interesting tidbits:

• Say no to sleeves that cut off at the widest part of your arm and colors that contrast starkly from your skin color.
• Say no to crew necks.
• Muffin top? Say no to tight, light-colored tops and low-rise jeans and yes to darker and looser.
• Say yes to high-waist-ed shape-wear and shapely pencil-skirt fashions.
• Say no to horizontal stripes, no matter how cute the item!  (This is one of my cardinal rules, too!)
• Say yes to ruching along the midsection to hide what Krupp terms as "Buddha Belly"!  LOL

"Yes" Fashion Trends:

• Safari (wear small animal prints)
• Military

"No" Fashion Trends: 

• Transparent Lingerie Look
• Little Girl/Babydoll Dresses

Handy eBay Selling Tips - Part 1

To Get Started You Need The Following Basic Items:

These are the very basic things you need to get started.  There are more things you can do to enhance your listings.  I'll write about these in another post.

1. Items to Sell - I sell clothing.  It started when my daughter was in kindergarten.  I had saved everything from her babyhood- just in case I had another baby!  Well, I did have another baby...but not until much later.  I decided that in the meantime, the clothes she had outgrown as a toddler would be moth-eaten and crumbly by the time her sibling would have a chance to use them... Besides, I wanted to turn her outgrown clothing into $$ in order to purchase the latest Kelly's Kids and Ragsland fashions to put on her! I needed to feed my habit of having a well-dressed child!  :)  This well-dressed child is on her way to college this fall!  (wiping away tears here.)
2. An eBay account - Free of charge for an account. A nominal fee is charged to list an item and a percentage of the final selling price is taken by eBay.  These fees vary.  Many times, eBay will run a "special" for sellers to list their items for free.  Easy.  (My tip:  Use an email address that is not your main one.  It needs to be one that you check often, but not one that you use to communicate important family and business matters.  If you don't have an extra email, get one!  Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail... all free.)
3. A PayPal Account -  Free of charge to open an account.  This is to keep, save and spend your millions!  There is a charge for sending & receiving money, usually a nominal percentage of the amount.
4. Digital Camera - Of course, you could list items on eBay without photos...but I don't think items like clothing, decor, etc. would sell.  Perhaps, if you are selling books or software, actual photos would not be necessary.  Most folks have a digital camera now.  When I first started on eBay, not many people did.  I currently use a Canon Powershot for my listings.  I like this camera because the quality of the images is very good, but the camera is small and can easily fit into my purse for everyday use!
5. Photo/Auction Hosting Site - This is a site that you use to upload and host your pictures.  It stores the photos online and makes them accessible online to appear on your eBay listings.  EBay has it's own photo-hosting server, which is free.  I have never used it.  It's kinda like the old saying, "You get what you pay for..." or, in this case, what you don't pay for.  I use and recommend a site called Seller Sourcebook.  This site hosts your photos, provides templates for your listings, saves your eBay seller information and automates a lot of stuff.  There is a monthly fee of $8.00, but I find it to be well worth this cost.

Sell Your Duds on eBay

I'm sure you have noticed that I sell a few items on eBay.  Basically, I try to always keep at least a handful of things up for sale... Do I make a fortune?  Hardly.  But, I must say that I keep a small (as in very) balance in my PayPal account that comes in quite handy when:

• I need to pay someone back a small amount of cash.  Simply use their email address and viola, it's "even, Steven!"  You can now call that friend up for another dinner out!  :)  Or pay your sister-in-law back for your part of the groceries during your recent vacation!

• Make a small purchase on eBay.  Hey, return the favor and keep the internet marketplace humming along.
• Make a quick purchase of a beautiful lipstick on Amazon.com without having to dig through your purse for your credit card information, thus giving you enough time to change your mind~

Besides the monetary benefit, selling on eBay can be kinda fun....and it is an excellent way for you to keep your closet cleaned-out, allowing room to organize the clothes that you wear frequently.  Every so often, when I'm hanging up a shirt or looking for something to wear, I will see an item that I simply DO NOT wear!  There is nothing specifically wrong with the item... in fact, I may have only worn it once, or not at all!  But, for some reason, the garment is just there, taking up space that could be used for other things!  When I see these clothes, I take them out and hang them in a special area reserved for "eBay items That I'm Going To Sell."

For the next couple of posts, I'm going to cover my eBay selling Tips!  I'm sure most of you are quite familiar with the How-To's of eBay.  But for kicks and giggles, I'm going to write My Handy How-To Guide.

A Site for Sore Winter Eyes

This time of year is pretty boring as far as my wardrobe...  the dull, cloud-filled days stretch out before me as I gaze into my closet, feeling very uninspired.  The weather, as of late, has me reaching for sweatshirts and jeans over and over again.  And the colors!  Bleh...black, gray, brown, tan and did I mention black?

Now is the time of year when fashion editors and retailers start pulling out the words cruise and resort-wear in order to bump sales just a little before spring.  ...and that's great....if you're going to a resort, that is!  This year, the prospects of a visit to a sun-cloaked, salty-aired island aren't looking so great for me!  :)

Inspired by my Christmas visit to the Tollwood Market in Germany (and a few purchases- see the lovely woolen scarf), I began to look online for the same type of fairytale, intricate designs...

Enter etsy.com and her European cousin en.dawanda.com!  These sites have only handmade and/or vintage items.  The stuff is usually one-of-a-kind or very limited in quantity/production!  UNIQUE is the operative word here!  Unique, colorful, unusual!  These designs are a welcome relief for bored, tired winter eyes to see!

I recently ordered a wonderful little coat from etsy!  The designer is based in Paris.

I threw it over my workout attire last week to get my son from my parents' house!  My mother immediately expressed her delight~  I knew she would.  Now that the Christmas tree is down and all of the holiday lights and glitter are packed away, we need a little glitz to brighten these days!

I must add a small disclaimer here:  I have my own etsy shop, but my designs at this time are only for babies and toddlers.  I'm a big fan of the concept of small, cottage-based businesses.  While, it's always convenient and nice to shop at a Gap to grab 5 knit turtlenecks, each in a different color for 14.99, I like the independence that is afforded when you sell and buy from other designers and crafters!

An interesting related link: 

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/571787/etsy_vs_dawanda_two_websites_to_sell.html?cat=15