70's groove

My favorite thing I have seen on the cat walk this season is how relaxed and pretty the hair is! I first talked about the Top Knot ( look up in the past blogs if you haven't read it) and now for those who wear it down, the 70's groove.

The middle part is making a come back! Hair is relaxed with a natural wave. Worn with a smokey eye and its the sultry 70's! For those of us with greasy hair, this style is best done on hair that has not been freshly washed, so use a dry shampoo. Dry shampoo will give your hair a fresh look, without the shower, and also will give fine hair texture: Try Tresemme FreshStart Dry Shampoo (about 5$) found at any Walmart, or store that sells Tresemme products. ( I use this myself and it is a life saver!)

To get the natural waves use a thick barrel curling iron and remember to have the heat on full and hold for a bit for the curl to fully set.
(Dont forget to spray your hair with a heat protector before using any heated tools)

Test it out yourself , and let me know what you think and what worked for you!

winters gone and spring is coming! ... ish...

Here in BC the spring magazines are out and the cute spring dresses are on display... and its...raining and 6 degrees out. Whats a Canadian girl to do? If your wanting to embrace the warmth of spring but need enough layers to keep you warm here are some great Ideas!

The boyfriend pants

Now I would not necessarily wear your boyfriends jeans, stores like the Gap and AE actually sell this fit. Now since its to cold outside to put on those jean shorts, and capris can be... well... not as flattering, try rolling up the cuff a little on your favorite slouchy jeans. This gives you a casual look but you can make it feminine with accessories. Taking off layers as the sun comes out makes this a Do for spring.

The white blazer

Not warm enough for just a T shirt but not cold enough for a big jacket, a white jacket is a good alternative! White is hot on the runway for spring and summer, and brightens up any wardrobe, just be careful not to get it dirty!

The skirt n boot

It may sound like a country line dance but "the skirt n boot" is a good way to ease your legs back into the fresh air. Now there are definitely some rules to wearing this look. 1) Do not wear a mini skirt! its still cold! Skirts should be no shorter than a fingers width above the knee. 2) Don't wear in the rain... it just sucks. 3) Pair it with some other form of Jacket.

The trench

Trenches are light weight and oh so chic! if they are long enough, opt for a dress underneath, to dress it up a bit. They are perfect for the Fashionista when accessories, or clean and sleek for the minimalist. Khaki as I have stated is a classic choice and big this spring, but solid deep colors can be cute and unique!

Brose 2011

Check out the new Fashion Video from Brose for Spring 2011. The line expresses everything thats girly and fun< so for all you frilly fashionistas... Enjoy!

Moms the word

This is a start of a new segment called Moms the word! -- I am going to be posting tips from mothers I look up too every once and awhile! We may not want to always listen to our Moms but they sometimes know a thing or two about beauty!

Who better to kick it off then my own Mom, I took a second to chat with my mom about her top beauty secrets and decided to use her number one tip!

Now if you have super dry skin and you have to heavily moisturize your face when you get out of the shower, it can leave a thick residue on your eyelashes. This makes them oily and cause mascara to bleed. Mom says to use some baby powder (or any powder, ex. Translucent powder) and rub it on your eyelashes. Use your index finger and dab a bit of powder on your lashes spreading it out. It absorbs up oils and allows your mascara not only to stick but creates a fuller lash. You should do this before using an eyelash curler, and Mom says "Every woman should use an eyelash curler!"  Thanks Mom xoxo

Quick Tip

In high school I would get up each morning and listen to the same radio show while I got ready for school, one morning on their health tip section of the show they shared this tip that has stuck with me and works!

When washing your face, go from warm to cold, warm to cold, etc. By doing this you are (in a way) exercising your pores, by going warm it allows your pores to really open up and wash the dirt out, then the cold shrinks your pores to tighten your skin and not let as much dirt in. Through the back and fourth you will flush out your pores of impurities for healthy looking skin. 

Side note: always end on cold water so your pores and shrunk and wont allow dirt in :)

DO's & DONT's : Jeggings

A friend of mine asked me to write on how to wear jeggings properly cause she was disturbed on an outing to the mall, this ones for you Domingo :)

Now Jeggings are Leggings that look like jeans ( if you weren't aware of it already ). They are an amazingly comfy alternative to jeans or plain black leggings, but if worn in the wrong way it can be a disaster!

Here are some pictures and tips on how to wear this trend the RIGHT way:


Heels - The awesome thing about Jeggings is you can dress it up or down! when wearing jeggings with heels you want to keep them generally low. Kate Bosworth is wearing a small/kitten heeled pump, for casual dress she paired her jeggings with a loose T-shirt, fresh face and chic hair ( and belt!) which makes this a DO.
On Rachel Bilson paired a long sweater and blazer which is a DO! You need to even out your proportions, DONT pair tight with tight!

Flats -  The same rules apply here DONT wear a tight top with tight pants! Jessica Alba I think wears Jeggings the very best with her Boyfriend T-shirt and cute Cardigan she looks casual and chic great for Moms busy and about! Now Whitney Port dressed hers up with a cute gold sequin blazer, letting her top be the statement, not her tights!

Boots - Now I think Jeggings were made to wear with boots and if you want to wear this look with no fail, slip on some boots and you are good to go (but keep those loose shirts handy!) Now you want to layer with this look, like Gwyneth Paltrow, and if you buy Jeggings without belt loops you must must must! wear a longer shirt your you will be sent back straight to the 90's (and I don't mean grunge chic vintage 90's, I mean the crop top with high-waisted leggings that make your hips look like they need a wide load sign -- 90's). A definite DONT.

Now here are two pictures that are just plain out DONT's:  Charlize Theron is wearing too tight grey pants with a tight grey shirt which makes her look like she is wearing a pant suit and makes her look bigger then she is; just unflattering. She may have been able to save herself if she had warn a longer jacket like a cute slouchy cargo, and don't even get me started on the shoes. This other picture speaks for itself, everything I said not to do.

                                         

                                          

Well there you go ladies, I hope you feel adventurous to take on this trend, take my advice and you'll be sleek and chic ;)

                                           

Fresh Face

Now everyone is always looking for ways to have a flawless face, while reading in the Winter 2011 Canadian FASHION magazine, I came upon an article by Lesa Hannah on how to get exactly that! Lesa sat down to talk with top makeup artist Laura Mercier ( who just happens to be Sarah Jessica Parker's go to girl!) and author of  The New Beauty Secrets: Your Ultimate Guide to a Flawless Face. 

Now to begin you must be sure to exfoliate weekly, and to make sure to apply moisturizer immediately after you shower (after dabbing your face with a clean towel) while the skin is still moist and work in the lotion into your face and you will see the difference.

One quote from Mercier and her most important tip is:  It's not which products you use, such as  foundation, but how you apply them that can be the difference between looking like you're wearing layers of base and being able to say, "Who me? Why yes, I come by this glowing flush naturally...."

Here are the steps!

1. USE A PRIMER!
 This is used to smooth over your whole face, to make it even textured. This allows makeup to go on to an even surface. Apply primer after your lotion and before foundation.

I recommend Revlon Beyond Natural Smoothing Primer.

2. Concealer and Camouflage 
These two are from the same family but should be used for two different things. Concealers (you should use a shade lighter then your skin and foundation) are creamy and serve well when being used on the under eye , where the skin is delicate and dry, although concealers are prone to melting so a Camouflage is better suited for blemishes. Camouflages are usually thicker and should be dabbed on to places only where it is needed. Use translucent powder to set the look, this especially helps prevent the concealer from melting.

 Here are my recommendations: Maybelline NY Mineral Power Concealer, Rimmel London Hide the blemish concealer, Revlon PhotoReady translucent powder.

3. Foundation
You should use foundation very sparingly, this is where you can go from looking flawless to the awful pasty face. Use a sponge with very little foundation on it and work it into your skin until it is like a second skin. Work it into your neck so that it blends well enough and there are no lines. when choosing a foundation color you should always try to match the color of your neck for it to be the correct color for blending.

My choice of Foundation is by Almay, Smart Shade Makeup.

4. Highlighter

This is a magic tool to allow the light to catch the contours of your face, giving it dimension. Whether you prefer a liquid or a powder, rub it on your cheeks to give the illusion of higher set cheek bones, or the bridge of your nose.

I recommend Revlon Highlighter.

Well those are the steps, feel free to test it out yourself and leave a comment!

top knot

One of my favorite hairstyles and very in this spring is the ballerina top knot. Inspired by dance it is chic and elegant but when paired with a casual outfit can be fresh and fun!

Here is an easy how to:

- pull all your hair back to the height that you would prefer

- wrap ponytail elastic around your hand held ponytail

-wrap the elastic around once

-twist the ponytail and then and then begin to wrap it around the

 stem of your ponytail (being held by the elastic)

-when finished you should have your bun, wrap the elastic around the

 bun until it cannot be wrapped anymore

- use bobby pins if necessary or there are wild strands

spring awakening

In the fashion world it seems everyone is a step ahead, always looking forward to the next season. Christmas and New Years has barely come a gone and thoughts of spring already hang heavy in the air. With fashion weeks proceeding and Red Carpet season just jumping into gear, now is the time to start mentally preparing for the warmer weather... or if you live in BC... more rain!

Spring 2011 (following in fall 2010's footsteps) seems to be all about being yourself! The overall theme I tend to see is Cruise, pairing light weight whites with khaki capris, and bold colored sun-dresses you will be ready to set sail! With a variety of patterns and colors to work with, you can mix and match to be uniquely you, but in style! Here are a few popular runway looks to inspire your very own spring awakening:

SORBET

Here we have the Marc Jacobs Spring/Summer 2011 Collection. Marc used this years most popular color wheel with lots of deep pinks and oranges. Blood Orange and Hot pink are a good way to spice up a casual outfit to make it more bright and happy for spring.

                                            

Here is my favorite take on the Marc Jacobs look, H&M Spring 2011 collection.

BLUE HUE 

 At Diane Von Furstenbergs spring 2011 show, structured pieces and structured prints were an evident theme on the runway. Diane chose a range of Greens, Yellows, Blues, and Turquoise, and of course the favored Blood Orange. She took the bold colors and powered them with khaki and tan to complete the put together look.

I really enjoy Forever 21"s take on the style, they stick to prints and color but for those of you in high school they take away the khaki look for a fresh younger looking outfit, paired with a bold lip there is no way you won't be noticed!

FLOWER GIRL

The new collection from the infamous Stella Mccartney evoked all that spring is to a woman: Flowers and Femininity. With flowy dresses and white crisp blazers like these you can't help but have spring fever!

My Suggested take on this look is Banana Republic, they indulge in the feminine flower prints and mix it up with a cool khaki jacket.

COOL CASUAL

Now the biggest trend we see going from spring and even into summer is the crisp white and tan. If your a minimalist this look will definitely be your pick of the season! Here is two dresses from the CHLOE spring 2011 Collection.

My pick to copy this look is by the infamous Joe Fresh! Their clothes are always cute and the fact that you can buy it from Superstore will make any Mom happy!

 

So thats whats up for SPRING 2011, if you have any tips, suggestions or comments I'd love to hear them! Happy Styling!

whats the blush? ... and mascara?

Life is so fast paced now a days with school, work, and family.  What's the rush? Or in this case... What's the blush?
This blog is for every women; those being educated, stay-at-home moms, and the bread-winners. All of us have something in our lives, who has time to care about how you look? Now I honestly do not believe how we look on the outside should be our main focus in life but as women it gives us confidence knowing we are putting our best foot forward! One of my favorite quotes by an anonymous writer is:

"Beauty is what you notice first; but its personality that makes you fall in love."

In this blog I will share beauty secrets I have accustomed over the years, from makeup tips to dressing for your shape. I will post new findings, blog about discovered products, and how to wear the trends for coming up seasons!
No matter your skin tone, eyes, hair, or shape there is something for everyone! I hope you find this not only interesting but helpful too!In a world that's in a rush, and believes that beauty is only skin deep, this is a place to regenerate not only your look but to be encouraged and lifted up! Thanks for visiting!