check out my shades!

No, you won't find me modeling any kind of eye protection here. BUT...

lucky for you I am about to list some of my recent, & past time favorite nail polishes!! {squeal!!}

I LOVE this color. I'd like to call it Sexy Plum-fest.

However the official name is:

OPI William tell me about OPI

I should just make a blanket statement and tell you how I love ALL of these colors. I sincerely have strong feelings for this shade as well.

OPI Tickle My France-y

Here we have a perfect Valentines hue. It makes me feel 1/2 shade tanner too...which is nice.

OPI Shorts Story

This shade was introduced to me awhile back by my friends Emily of Glitz and Glam. LOVE.

China Glaze Recycle

Any of you long time readers remember this shade? C gifted it to me for my b-day last year and I haven't stopped loving it.

China Glaze Peachy Keen

Ok. This color requires a little explanation. Remember last week on the Bachelor {you are watching, right?} Michelle was getting ready for her date and was painting her nails with a MAC shade? Well I have been in an honest pursuit to find it since. It was the perfect reddy-orange mixture. I've done my research and this is the closest I've found.

Mac Shirelle

Last, but not least. This is a new shade from the Anchors Away collection from China Glaze which needs to be in my polish repertoire stat!

China Glaze Sea Spray

WW: new 'do

Bleach is a four-letter-word. In essence. Not in actuality.

I spent my high school years highlighting my hair, praying to the hair gods and hoping against hope that the blonde streaks looked natural. No such luck. I discovered the hard way that I simply look better with dark hair.

Cut to (several) years later: I have been coloring my hair the same shade of dark brown for forever. All that bleach has made its way out of my mane and I am once again bleach-free. Then, the inevitable happens. Light ends and dark roots have made a name for themselves under the pretentious title of "ombre hair." I want to participate in this trend. H and I have tried (unsuccessfully) to lift my hair without bleach. H had also exhausted all her powers of persuasion to convince me that a little bleach wouldn't hurt me ("just jump off a cliff, everyone else is doing it!") She spend years (okay, months) extolling the wonders that bleach would do for my dreams of ombre hair.

Finally, I caved and decided that the day had finally come to succumb to bleach and its dirty tricks.

I gotta tell you, the result has made me feel like a new woman! Be advised, I realize that the change is so super subtle that me making a big deal out of it is almost comical. But just humor me. Because for me and my anti bleach beliefs, it is practically a new head of hair.

The inspiration:

The result:

so....?? thoughts?

Fashion Tip Friday: OBSESSED

There are few things in life that make a person genuinely happy. A good braid does it for me.

This trend is SO hot {Mugatu-style} right now.

Check out Minka Kelly's super messy fishtail braid.

Whoever said fishtails only belonged on 4 years olds was seriously disturbed.

Here we have sweet Emma Roberts sporting a braid.

This would be SO SO easy for all of you to copy. Even you gals with short hair.

OK. Let's all take a moment before we swoon over Emily Blunt's charming braid. I just can't even tell you how much joy these pictures bring me. Which is why I titled this post: OBSESSED.

This also can be {somewhat} easily replicated at home. Take note that it is an "inside out" braid. And they are pulled into one side-bun. Also note: I love the flyaway situation.

In the words of Rachel Zoe: DIE

Another infamous braid from our girl LC.

Dear LC,

When will your show be on? I don't know if I can wait much longer.

Then there's Kim K's braids. This is what we want to avoid people. Granted she's in a milk-maid's costume but I had to show you what not to wear.

How do YOU feel about the braid trend?

Will you be sporting some?

Do you feel the need for a tutorial?

Do they remind you of your not so flattering adolescence?

Mascara

hi courtney & hillary,
"I really need a new mascara - what are your favorites? i'm looking for an everyday, go-to kind of thing that's not too "wet look" but also not totally dry and flaky. it'd be great if we could keep it on a Target budget, but i understand if this is a situation where you get what you pay for. thanks!"

Here's the mascara scoop, y'all: Everybody knows their lashes best. You know what works for you and what doesn't. If you want (or need?) to spend $30 on mascara, then more power to you (ahem...H). I, on the other hand, think you can get a great mascara for a great price. Yes, this means shopping at Target for your mascara is a-okay with me! I am an equal opportunity mascara lover.

Here's the high($$$) and low($) and the best of the best.

MAC Haute & Naughty Lash $18: MAC's most dramatic mascara ever, it has a dual brush system that lets you first focus on length, and then really pump up the volume with the plush brush.

Dior Show $25: H's favorite mascara, has a cult following with those who want ultra drama and fat lashes.

Cover Girl Lash Blast $9: A great one-coat mascara that lengthens, thickens in one smooth stroke.

Cover Girl Volume Exact $7: My personal favorite mascara. It's really buildable, which I love. It builds fluffy thickness and length without getting clumpy.

L'oreal Voluminous $7. A great thickening mascara that is easy to build plush lashes with.

Maybelline XXL $8: Sports two sides, the first being a white primer that conditions and primes the lashes for the traditional black mascara.

What is your favorite mascara?!

Sponsors

Need we remind you of our glorious sponsors?

Amy Clark Photgraphy

Annie Randall Photography

Glitz glitter toes and gel (shellac) nails

Pursenickety Bags and accessories

...and (drumroll please) our new amazing sponsor,

Robison Orthodontics!

Click here to see what they've been up to!

Vlog: Red Lips

Post Script: I was trying to be lazy and not say anything about this video, but I know there are questions, so I will answer them now!

First, I would say that everyone does look good in red lipstick, you just have to find your perfect shade (and your confidence to wear it!) The trick is that it cannot look like you just slapped it on in the car, without even using the rearview. The girls that do this give red lipstick a bad name! You HAVE to use liner. You HAVE to look in a mirror when doing it (I hate that I even have to say that...) I would say to experiment with different undertones until you find something that suits you personally.

The next question is how to do your eyes when doing a red lip. Unless you are Kim Kardashian, please don't pair a smokey eye with a red lip! A couple of options for eyes can be just doing a cateye with your liner, or sweeping a light bronzey shade over your lids. Just remember to include lots of mascara so your eyes won't look naked compared to your lips.

Thanks for the questions! And if you try a red lip, send us a pic! We'd love to see your fabulousity.

FTF: just peachy

I love the color peach. If I could go back, I would TOTALLY include peach as one of my wedding colors. Alas, that is an unfulfilled dream. So I try to incorporate the color into everyday life. Mostly with makeup.

One time, this girl was vehemently defending the "Season Color Theory" for makeup. {Have we all heard of this spring/summer/autumn/winter color situation where you can only wear certain colors that correspond to the season?} People live and die by this. LIVE and DIE. I don't believe in it. I feel it puts you into an uncompromising box with your fashion and beauty choices.

Anyway, she was going on and on about it saying, "Some people just can't wear certain colors." I disagreed, of course, because there can be undertones of shades that work for everyone. Then, she told me {get ready for this} "For example, you wouldn't look good in peach." EXCUSE ME?! My reply was, "I look AMAZING in peach." Now, whether or not this is true is debatable but I really wanted to beat her at her own game. Something I do believe, however, is that peach is a universally flattering shade,especially for makeup.

Whenever someone comes to me begging to "look more youthful" and to "wake up their skin" I turn to my trusty peaches to do the trick. Works every time.

MAC See Sheer Lipstick

MAC Fleur Power blush (also try Dainty and good ol' Peachykeen)

MAC Fulfilled Plushglass (simply the best nude peach)

MAC Soft Brown eyeshadow. This is the greatest mid-tone brown with peachy undertones. It works on all skin colors and blends your eyeshadow like it's nobody's business!

To illustrate my point more fully, take a look at these lovelies and it will make a believer out of you!

Yup, peach is the new pink (or something.)

But seriously, at least try a peach blush and gloss. It will change your life!!

Makeover City!!

Are you ready for the results of our coveted makeover winner??

Well you had better brace yourself. She's quite the beauty!

Meet Melanie.

Such a beautiful girl, it really isn't fair.

Hair:

Sweet Melanie gave me full reigns to do whatever I wanted with her hair. Hint: When your stylist knows "what's up" this is always a good option! Melanie was soooo much fun to style! For example. I handed her a People mag titled "How I lost {100 lbs}" and she looked at me and said, "Why'd ya pick this one to give me?"

That's right, witty and beautiful!

I wanted to enhance her dark tresses with a chocolatey rich brown. Then we did some subtle ombre highlights on the ends to give her hair dimension and accentuate the layers.

Mel was growing her hair so we just gave her a good trimmy-trim, added some hair pieces, gave her some sexy waves and wa-la!!

There you have it. Perfection.

Makeup:

Melanie wanted to learn a new "everyday" makeup routine. She already has beautiful features and I just wanted to accentuate what her mama gave her!

Here's the product list (all MAC) for what I used:

Skin: Studio Moisture Tint

Concealer: Prolongwear Concealer

Bronzer/Blush: Medium Dark Mineral Powder/Dainty

Eyes: Bare Study Paint Pot, Vapour, Orb, Kid, and Folie eyeshadows with Blacktrack and Teddy eyeliners, and Lingering eyebrow pencil

Her face is literally glowing, good job C!

Photography:

The amaze photography was taken by the ever-talented Larry Reeves.

Check out his site which further showcases his talents. We're so lucky to work with such a skilled photographer- just look at these pics!

Another succesful makeover on an already gorg girl!

Let Melanie know what you think about her new look!