First Week of Spring Face

Hello Lovlies!

I've been MIA, I know, but guess what? Last Friday I turned in the first draft of my master's thesis. Yes! I was working' like a mad woman on that thing; therefore, I had to make some sacrifices. Although I wanted to check in and post a lil sum sum, I couldn't. I had to stay diligent. Anywhoo, it's smooth sailing from here with just minor edits to my paper, then I graduate in May :)

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So, Spring is here, and although we barely had a a winter (at least we didn't in NC), I am so happy to see it finally arrive:) Spring is my favoritest–yup you heard it right– season of all. Fresh flowers, feeling the sun slightly bronze my skin, and even the pollen. Yes, I get excited at the first sight of pollen, luckily I don't have major allergies. Sorry for those who do.

I have a first week of spring look here that I've worn different variations of in the past few days. Apparently it's trending big this season, but I don't really follow trends just because they're trends. Think about it. The trends are set by whatever a fashion designer premiered in their seasonal show. So we set all of our fashion know how by some people, mostly men, who design clothes. Why do I have to listen to them? I'm not gonna lie though, some of the so called trends are hot, but many times they are recycled styles from years past.

For instance, the bright lips that I'm rockin' in these pics are trending, but guess what? They were also trending in the 80s and 90s!

 So my lil nugget of wisdom is that nothing's new, do what makes you feel beautiful, and don't do it because someone says it's the new thing to do.

Ok...done. Here's the look...

Orange lids, Pop of pink on the lips

White liner on waterline of bottom lids to open the eyes.
Use this trick to make your eyes appear bigger.

Matte Lips

Makeup Used for This Look

Face

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation, 520 Natural Caramel

Makeup Forever HD Setting Powder

Cheeks

Contour (right under the cheekbone): BH Cosmetics 26 Color Neutral Eyeshadow/Blush Palette Cheek color: Coastal Scents 10 Blush Palette, the peachy glimmer color

Eyes

On lids only:

NYX Eyeshadow Base with Pearl

Maybelline Color Tattoo, Fierce & Tangy

On crease:

BH Cosmetics 120 Eyeshadow Palette, 3rd Edition, a brown with a hint of orange shade

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil, Milk

Maybelline The Falsies Mascara, Flared (the purple tube)

Lips

NYX Lipliner Pencil, Dolly Pink

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream, San Paulo

Don't feel like you have to go out an purchase all the items I used. Use what you have...unless you have money to spend. Look, I can't tell you how to spend your money. :)

I just got the NYX soft matte lip cream and NYX eyeshadow base, and I already love them. Would you like to see a review on these items to know all the specs of these products? If you do, let me know in the comments below.

With fresh flowers and pollen all over your car, 

À Bientôt...

Peacock Chic for Mardi Gras

With Mardi Gras being tomorrow, I thought I'd put up a look that nobody would really wear, unless they will be in New Orleans in the quarter...and then again, maybe not, lol. But it's still fun to create a fun look like this:)

 I created this look about two months ago. I wanted to do an intricate design and asked my husband to give me an idea to be inspired by, and he said, "Peacock." I looked up some photos for inspiration and voila! (Today my husband named this look Peacock Chic, lol)

It wasn't until about a month ago that I realized this makeup could also work for Mardi Gras.
Enjoy the photos and eat some King cake for me and you!

Doesn't this remind you of a jester's hat?

And one cheesy photo in front of this trumpet

Trumpet..Jazz...New Orleans...Mardi Gras...Get it?

I'll be celebrating Mardi Gras at a staff meeting tomorrow, gumbo and all. My boss is from New Orleans, so you know it's going to be live tomorrow! lol

Do you have any plans to celebrate Mardi Gras?

Also, if you want me to do a tutorial on this extravagant look, say so in the comments below!

À Bientôt!

Red Tails Inspired Makeup

Before I went to go see Red Tails on Friday (as a b-day gift from my honey) I was so excited and had a little extra time to create a look inspired by the movie. So here it is....

The red wings represent the red tails from the Tuskegee Airman's fighter planes.

You can see the bronze best in this pic. I chose brown and bronze to represent their uniforms.

Look at those lashes! I have on MAC falsies here.

This is a glammed out version of the Tuskegee Airmen uniform:)

The variety of uniforms they wore in the film:

Men in uniform are sexy. Anyone agree?

If only I had a brown leather jacket, that would have set my look off!

Atteeen-tion! I salute all those who went out or plan to go out and see Red Tails.

It's a great story line and crazy special effects.

However, I do understand if you haven't seen it yet, movie tickets are expensive these days!

Makeup featured:

Eyes

BH Cosmetics: 120 Color Palette 3rd Edition

NYX Eyeliner: 901 Black

MAC Lashes: 7 Lashes..I think. I got them a years ago and they're not labeled

Face

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation (just on my blemishes): 520 Natural Caramel

Coastal Scents: 10 Blush Palette

Lips

Palladio Herbal Lip Liner: Red Rose

Wet'nWild Lipstick: 529B

MAC Lipgelée: I believe this is discontinued, but any clear gloss should look nice over the red lisptick

BH Cosmetics is having an excellent sale right now:)

Let me know if you got anything in the comments below....

À Bientôt....

A Birthday "Suit" for Work

Hello world! Today's my birthday, and I've had such a beautiful day! I got a crazy opportunity to pursue a dream of mine. And it all started with me asking this woman (who was selling Girl Scout Cookies for her daughter) if there was a 100th anniversary cookie:) If it follows through, I'll let you guys know about this opportunity later.

ALSO, when I returned home from work (yes, I did go to work on my birthday), I found this as I walked up to my bedroom

Then........

Ta Daa!!!!

My hubby and step-son created a whole birthday display for me :)

 

Now, on to the look...

I usually don't wear black mascara to work because I think it's too dramatic.
 I have on clear mascara  and white liner on here

Birthday present I received from my in-laws:)
I foresee an obsession with this necklace in the future.

Birthday nails!
Not the best shot to showcase the design, sorry

I chose a look that would be birthday cute AND appropriate for work. I don't like to be too overdone when I head into the office. 

....26 feels different. Not like 25. That may be because I was anticipating a change when I turned 25, and maybe the hype I got myself into is the reason why I didn't feel any different. :/ All I know is I'm excited to have lived 26 years and I pray to live many more. 

Hope you guys had as great a day as I did, and if not, I hope you have one soon;)

And thanks to my hubby for taking these beautiful shots,

A Bientot!

New Year Look

Happy New Year Gang!

I hope you all had a safe New Years:) I took part in a surprise birthday party, which was fun. My husband's friend wanted to surprise his wife with a party because she never gets one-- Her birthday is Christmas Eve:( So, I took her to Starbuck's, letting her know it was a belated bday gift, which it was, but it also doubled as a scheme to get her out of the house so her husband could decorate the place before she got back. She was so surprised, she loved it!

Here's my look from New Years, enjoy:)

I took these pictures at the end of the night. My makeup held up pretty well, huh?

I wore a nude gloss, although it had come off by the time I took these pics.

Oh wait! Here's a shot I snapped right after the clock hit 12.

I have nude gloss on in this one:)

It's a rare occasion when I can get Z to look directly in the camera...

I hope your year is filled with joy, great relationships, and sprituality.

A Bientot!

What look did you wear on New Year's?

Tip in A Snap

Hey Gang!

I saw this--got excited--and knew I had to share.

Have you ever used clips to hold your hair down, and then when you take them out you get that terrible indention from the clip? It just completely wrecks the style!

I wear my hair mostly in its natural state and usually covered, so I don't have to worry about this, but when I had relaxed hair/straightened hair I hated when this happened!

No need to worry though if you've had this problem! I saw this pic on Beyonce's website, and I thought "Now THAT is a good idea"! 

This is a card trick, but maybe not the one you were thinking:)

{Source}

Now, I just added this pic because the make-up is just S.I.C.K. and you can see the card pinned to her hair in the upper right corner.

{Source}

So, when you're trying to have a smooth style and you don't want to get those annoying indentions in your hair, put a playing card between the clip and your hair! Best card trick I know:)

À Bientôt!

Labor Day Look

Hey gang!  We had some friends come over for Labor Day, and Hubby Z cooked a delicious feast as usual! Anywho, I got a make-up tut for ya. I wore this look today. Hope you enjoy!

The look

I was inspired by this look I cut out of a magazine:

The make-up

Circular starting from left :

Coastal Scents 88 Palette

Mac Eye Color Palettes (I created the first one at the store)

Mary Kay Liquid Lip Color : Cherry Coffee

Victoria's Secret's Lip Rush: Lotta Colada

Mary Kay Foundation (I use this as a concealer): Bronze

Mac Blush: Coppertone

Mac Pressed Powder: NW35

First, I used the Mary kay Foundation in Bronze as a concealer on a few blemishes, and then I brushed some pressed powder over the concealer

I covered my eyelid with the NYX HD Primer {the verdict is still out on this one, I'll use until I find something better}

 Primer {NYX HD Primer} + the bronze shade all over the eyelid

I lined the bottom lid with Club

Then I used Plum Dressing line the outer part of the bottom lid and blended a little

Next I added Amber Lights to the inner corner to about half-way of the upper lid

Then lined the outer part of the upper lid with Club and then Plum Dressing on top of that

{not pictured}

I put on some eye-liner and that was it! For the eyes at least...

Because my eyes were pretty vibrant, I wanted to have a simple lip. I used EOS lip balm {the BEST balm} for a smooth gloss application.

Then I put on literally one dab of Mary Kay liquid lip color : Cherry Coffee to give my lips a little color

Then layered lips with Beauty Rush: Lotta Colada

I pulled the purple from the skirt as an accent color for the make-up

A Bientot!