style therapy

no heat curls.

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 08:00:56 -0700

i’ve tried to figure out the easiest way to wake up with hassle-free hair. i don’t have a lot of free time nowadays (did i mention that i’m a mom?) so if i find something quick and easy, it’s a winner! i stumbled across this tutorial and decided to give it a shot.

here are my results (all i did was take out the headband - i didn’t add any product or use styling tools). i’ll continue trying to perfect it (hers looks way better), but for my first time, i’m fairly happy with the outcome.

(there was a horrible glare on my glasses so…this is what you get).

eyeliner comparison.

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 17:35:50 -0800

i love a good eyeliner (as opposed to a bad one). below is a swatch comparison between four eyeliners that i own and love for different reasons.

- revlon colorstay in black (far left): the cheapest of the four. as you can see, it’s not as pigmented as the other three, but i usually put a liquid eyeliner over the pencil eyeliner anyway. bang for your buck!

- nyx slide on in jet black (second from left): THE BEST “drugstore” brand eyeliner, ever. i put drugstore in quotes because while it’s considered a drugstore brand, you can’t really find them at a drugstore. weird. it’s more pigmented than revlon’s brand and it slides on like butta.

- too faced perfect eyes in perfect black (third) and urban decay in perversion (last): i lump these two together because i can’t tell the difference between them. i love them equally…both are super dark and buttery at one swipe (time saver, yo!). the too faced pencil comes with a blender built on the eyeliner brush (which is nice) but i still use my go-to smudge brush from target…i’ve had it for YEARS and haven’t found a better one.

now somebody tell me how to get these stripes off my hand.

p.s. that was a joke. i know how to get them off. acid.

p.p.s. that was a joke, too. i know you have to use a small flame to melt them off.

p.p.p.s. that wasn’t a joke. somebody please send help or i’ll end up like this.

mascara routine.

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 17:55:00 -0800

i’ve tried false eyelashes twice. and failed…twice. they’re irritating to the point where my eyes are itchy, red, and watery. not a good combination. so i’ve had to improvise and come up with a way to fake longer lashes than i actually have.

here’s the routine:

i start by curling my lashes with shiseido’s eyelash curler. then i put on a couple coats of diorshow maximizer plumping serum, followed by a couple coats of urban decay’s cannonball mascara. to finish it off, i put one coat of buxom lash mascara on my top and bottom lashes.

it may seem like a lot of steps (and mascara!), but i’m pleased with the clump-free results it gives without the itchy, watery eyes, and the pain that comes with false eyelashes. and really….false eyelashes? ain’t nobody got time fo’ dat!

before.

after.

new girl eyeshadow.

Sat, 16 Feb 2013 18:19:00 -0800

while i’m not obsessed with the show, i do like the quirky comedy ‘new girl’ (i mean, come on…who saw the kiss between jess and nick?! they’re no jim & pam, but still…i fist pumped when they finally locked lips).

i’ve been trying to find out what makeup zooey wears (namely, her eyeshadow). i finally found the product she uses on her website, hello giggles. it came at no surprise that she uses rimmel eyeshadow “glam eye” in heart of gold, the brand she endorses. i was pumped that it was a cheap, drugstore brand that i could try out (and i got it on sale for $3.50!).

i had originally thought her eyeshadow was a reddish/brown color, but this is gold and sparkly - something i would normally stay FAR away from. it looks flashy in the container, but surprisingly blends into my everyday, natural makeup quite well. i used the gold shadow on the base of my eyelid and contoured with urban decay’s brown shadow ‘buck’ in the crease.

two thumbs up for an affordable look!

current favorites.

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 18:47:45 -0800

tools.

revlon curl magic styling wand - obsessed with this. takes no time at all to create voluminous waves that last all day. my hair NEVER holds curl, but when I use this in the morning, I still have the same amount of curl at night!

scunci hair bow clip - holds MUCH better than a bobby pin - and looks way cuter, too.

clothing.

long & lean maternity tanks - you don’t have to say it. i know i’m not pregnant anymore. BUT - these tanks are PERFECT for layering. super slimming, too. i’ll will wear these forever, pregnant or not.

lightweight boat-neck tees - here’s a little trick. order these puppies from the TALL section. then they’ll be nice and long…another perfect layer.

terry crew sweatshirt - long (see a pattern here?), comfortable, classy. i only wish they’d come in more colors!

makeup.

two faced perfect eyes waterproof eyeliner + stila waterproof liquid eyeliner - i love lining my eyes with two faced first, then using a liquid eyeliner over it for a more precise line (because i’m horrible at using ONLY the liquid eyeliner…smudge city).

shiseido eyelash curler - actually curls my lashes. i never had luck with the drugstore brand.

urban decay cannonball mascara - i jump around from mascara to mascara, but i really do love this one. it separates while maintaining my curl.

my current, future, & forever favorite:

favorite baby items.

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 09:05:28 -0700

Exciting news - I have a perfect 7 week old baby boy! His Daddy and I love him so much. Now that I’ve been a Mommy for a couple months, I wanted to write a post on my favorite baby items (inspired by Sylvia Osorno).

Aden and Anais Azure Bamboo Muslin Collection - I’ve never found a softer blanket (make sure it’s from the Bamboo Collection - the other ones are soft, but not THIS soft).

Aden and Anais Burby Bibs - So soft, and I love how big they are (my son doesn’t like to limit himself on how far his spit up travels). Thanks to Erin Maguire for suggesting these gems!

Avent Pacifiers - Some people hate pacifiers, some love them. I’m a lover, not a hater. Really, though…it’s been a lifesaver. If he would have started out taking these and ended up hating the breast, I wouldn’t use them, but he does fine with both.

Baby Bjorn - He loves snuggling close to Mommy or Daddy while we get things done around the house!

Bulb Syringe - Perfect for those snotty noses! They usually give you one in the hospital to take home.

SwaddleMe - He loves being snuggled for bedtime!

BabyWise - I love this book - it really helped me figure out a routine for Samuel. He’s now been sleeping so well during his naps and bedtime. This is also an amazing website to help BabyWise followers understand it even better (thanks, Karen Courliss)!

Kate Spade Diaper Bag - I am obsessed with this diaper bag (thanks to Juliana Doxey). No, I did not spend $400 on a diaper bag (do you think I’m stupid?) - you can find AMAZING deals on Ebay! I got this beauty for $100 (which, to me, is totally worth it…and is what a diaper bag can usually cost). It’s functional AND fashionable. I love it.

That’s it for now - next post featuring what I carry in my diaper bag! :)

neutrogena healthy skin liquid makeup.

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 13:14:00 -0700

I’m a foundation snob and generally think that if it isn’t expensive, it doesn’t work (my poor husband’s wallet) - UNTIL I found out about Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup. I read multiple reviews of bloggers who also used expensive foundation and discovered this gem. My face is a little darker in the summer, and I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on a new foundation (baby on the way!), so I knew I had to try it out. I love it. Seriously. Not cakey or thick, but still has a nice buildable coverage. If you’re looking for a new, inexpensive foundation, give this a try!

Maybelline's Eye Studio Color Tattoo Eyeshadow

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:21:34 -0700

I am LOVING Maybelline’s Eye Studio Color Tattoo Eyeshadow. Super easy application (I use my fingers) and it lives up to its name - it lasts all day. I use “Tough as Taupe” as a base color and “Pomegranate Pink” in the crease. At $6.99, they’re a little too easy to buy (I usually sneak one of these bad boys into my grocery cart when my husband isn’t looking).

(Yes - the weird face was necessary)

(10 delicious colors)

dutch braided updo

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:51:00 -0800

a variation of the tutorial seen here. i wasn’t a fan of the side bun, so i wrapped the end of the braid into a circle and pinned it. voila!

birthing hairdo.

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:31:00 -0800

yes - i AM trying out hairdos for when i give birth to my sweet baby. pretty sure i found the winner.

this style keeps the bangs out of my face, and the side braid (tutorial courtesy of thebeautydepartment.com seen here) won’t annoy the back of my head if i’m laying down.

love it.

braided headbands & bb cream.

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:23:00 -0800

I love pinterest (what girl doesn’t?!) and ESPECIALLY the hair tutorial section. The braided headband tutorial originally posted here.

I also got my hands on Skin79 Super BB Cream…PERFECT for the lazy day (or in my case, weekdays). No primer needed and it evens out your skin tone. At $22, it’s also cheaper then most foundations. Picture below (no editing, but I’m sure my camera settings were a bit off, since my hair isn’t normally this red).

twisted rope hairdo.

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:07:00 -0800

this is one of my favorite work-week hairstyles. you twist your hair rather than braiding (i haven’t quite mastered that, yet).

original tutorial found here: http://goo.gl/KAZ9G

mine is a bit different than hers - i like to have bigger twists to add some height since i have a five head (not a forehead - get it?!)

i start at the hairline by my right ear and work my way over…it looks better to have a side ponytail rather than a messy bun. i curl the ends of my hair and voila! done!

revlon lip butters.

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 17:18:56 -0800

I never wear lipstick. Ever. I eat ALL throughout the day, so I never see the point in reapplying.

That being said, I read/watched so many positive reviews of the Revlon Lip Butters that I HAD to try one out, and I loved it so much I went back and bought 5 more! CVS is having a buy one, get one 50% off, so if you want to try one, now is the time. It has such a silky smooth feeling to them and not at all cakey. At $7.99 a stick, it’s also very affordable.

Pictures of the lip butters:

(left to right: Sugar Frosting, Strawberry Shortcake, Cotton Candy, Pink Truffle, Tutti Frutti, and Candy Apple)

(left to right: Candy Apple, Tutti Frutti, Pink Truffle, Cotton Candy, Strawberry Shortcake and Sugar Frosting)

Pictures of me wearing the lip butters (my lips were kind of chapped…it IS winter):

Candy Apple (had to do a kissy face for this sassy red). Perfect for New Years Eve!

Cotton Candy - fun and girly!

Pink Truffle - might be my favorite.

Strawberry Shortcake - too bubble gum pink for my taste.

Sugar Frosting - a nice, muted lip (even though it doesn’t look like it in the tube).

Tutti Frutti - orange lipstick is fun to play around with!

october 13, 2011.

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 09:52:15 -0700

I miss all the colors of fall that the Midwest has to offer (but I’ll gladly trade that for a snow-less winter). I saw a DIY tutorial on how to turn maple leaves into roses for a beautiful fall decoration. Super easy…and free! They matched perfectly with the white roses my husband surprised me with later that night :)

Original tutorial posted here.

LOVING the new arrivals at threadsence!

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 23:24:06 -0700

LOVING the new arrivals at threadsence!

august 23, 2011.

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 08:06:00 -0700

Courtesy of my mama (you’ll begin to see a pattern here…my mom is the best cook and I’ve gotten most of my stuff from her). I’ve made this a number of times and it’s always a hit.

Peanut Butter Pie

1/2 package cream cheese
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar (I shake a little out at a time)
1/2 cup JIFFY peanut butter (I put a big spoonful)
1 (8 ounce) package frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 Oreo crust

Directions

Beat cream cheese. Add confectioners sugar and beat. Beat in peanut butter and a big spoonful of whipped cream (about 1/4 - 1/2 cup). Taste and change to your liking.

Spoon into pie shell. Put rest of whipped cream on top. Grate milk chocolate on top.

august 22, 2011.

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 10:01:00 -0700

New favorite mascara - it works MUCH better than Diorshow. The wand is great at separating and elongating my lashes. I keep getting this as a sample when I buy other products from Sephora (use code “Fauxcils”)…win!

august 19, 2011.

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 08:00:00 -0700

In honor of their WONDERFUL job pitching to investors…this post goes to the Zerply team! I had to show off the creative t-shirts that Luke Beard made. Plus, who doesn’t love a well-fitted t-shirt and jeans? I will be getting TONS of use out of this shirt. I traveled far and wide to find the perfect setting for these pictures.

Thanks, Zerply!

Don’t have an account? Click here.

Wonder why you should use Zerply? Click here.

august 18, 2011.

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 08:01:00 -0700

Seriously? It’s been over a year, and I still thank God for my job. Literally. Almost every day. I really, really love what I do. I love my boss, co-workers, and sitting in front of a computer all day making pretty maps. I’m so proud to be able to say that I work for Stanford University. I can’t imagine a better job!

august 17, 2011.

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 08:16:00 -0700

I’ve been wanting this piece of art for months now, but am never willing to part with my own money (which is why I asked for it for Christmas). I think this would be a perfect keepsake to always remind Adam and me of our first home together! I don’t know if you can tell from the picture, but it’s a pencil drawing of San Francisco, using only small lines. Check out the artists other cool stuff here.