Kandice's Summer Faves

shout out to my girl Kandice for putting together a summer faves list.  not only that, she was willing to share.  (love ya girl)

Summer Favorites 2010

This summer I have been working on protecting my skin rather than tanning it.

Hoping to help my skin be healthy for the long-run.

After looking for months I found a new website, hapari, to purchase swimwear.

The tankini is long and covers all you need it to!

I LOVE this headband from Athleta!

It's perfect for all summer activities from the pool to the gym.

This bronzer is the perfect mix of color and shimmer.

This chapstick is my favorite!

Added bonus with the SPF 20.

There are the BEST for my girls!

I actually think these crocs are cute.

Super easy to clean after all the summer fun in the dirt.

(I have even put them in the washing machine).

Seriously So Excited!

a friend of mine is getting ready to interview the author of Seriously So Blessed and so i have taken to reading her posts again.  after reading her blog the other night i logged onto mine and was cracking up because i am SERIOUSLY just like her. HAHA.  her blog is a satire on the phenomenon of housewife blogging and just how dorky it can be.  yes, i realize i fall in that category.

so in honor of her blog i wanted to let you all know that i am seriously so excited for tomorrow's photo shoot.  almost like Christmas.  i may not sleep tonight.  seriously.

Makeup Tips for Photos

yesterday Kellie and i did a senior portrait photo shoot and afterwards we wanted to do some quick head shots for a promo we are working on.  before we took the photos, Kellie snapped a few of me so that i could get a glimpse of what my makeup looked like.

i was shocked.

that beautiful dSLR of hers captured EVERY imperfection, line, wrinkle, and smear on my face.  i quickly went back into the bathroom to touch up a little bit more.  now, this was done 8 hours after i had originally applied my makeup and i would have had better results had my makeup been fresh (that's the benefit of having a makeup "artist" on set ) (yes a little shameless self promotion).  though i touched up my makeup, there were still imperfections i missed and thanks to Kellie's editing skills, you can hardly tell.

so let this be a quick lesson.  if taking pictures of yourself, snap a few to see what you actually look like through the lens.  your perception of yourself in the mirror and through a lens are very different.  second, it pays to have an experienced photographer.  they know how to capture your beauty, even if there are a few blemishes.

xo
kristie

Blue Belles

according to elle.com, blue eye shadow was once considered a bigger faux pas than a muffin top.  maybe we od'd on it during the 60's and 80's...but as with every trend the color is coming back. blue eye shadow is flattering on nearly everyone, including every skin tone, eye color, hair shade. blue on the eyes has a rather magical ability to brighten bloodshot eyes, perk up sallow-looking skin, and neutralize undereye circles.  it's like having your own plastic surgeon in a tube.

if you are beginning to experiment with eye color, an easy place to start is with eyeliner. swipe a bright blue on your lid and watch as it works wonder.  if you are feeling even braver, try my blue eye shadow tutorial:

check it out here!

to get some inspiration i found a few ladies who do blue just right.

Kate Bosworth likes the swipe.

Christian Dior 2010 Fashion Show

Derek Lam 2010 Fashion Show

just remember that makeup is here for fun, to express yourself and your style.  just enjoy it, and remember you are beautiful. be confident in that knowledge and you can pull off anything.

xo
kristie

Falsies (Eyelashes that is)

I'll Be Back!

hello bloggers! i apologize for being m.i.a. the last week but my time was well spent, laughing, mourning, and more laughing.  as sad as it is to say goodbye to Gma Sauer, it was so great to gather with aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, and parents to celebrate her life.  i am currently en route to come home and will be back to my regular posting antics soon.  Kellie and i also have some great jobs so you will be seeing more tutorials, more photo shoots and more kristie! (aren't you excited??)

i thought to pass the time i could ask for any requests?? i love posting the stuff people actually want to see so please let me know if there is anything.  (if you have already requested and haven't seen it, it might just be in the works so stay tuned)

xo
kristie

Photo Shoot

first i just want to say thanks to everyone for your kind words regarding my grandmother.  she did live a full happy life and as bittersweet as this is, we are so thankful to know she has returned home.

here are a couple shots from our photo shoot this weekend.  once again, Kellie is amazing and so great to work with.

what a cutie.

xo
kristie

Sad News

i just received the news that my grandmother has passed away.  i'll be returning home for her services. here's to an amazing, beautiful, strong, spiritual, loving woman.

this is true beauty, unconditional love.

miss you millie.
xo

Nordstrom Anniversary MAC Brush Set Review

just a quick explanation of what the brushes are and how to use them :)

Anniversary Sale

for all of you Nordstom fans out there you know what time of year it is.  while our budget isn't quite broad enough to do any major damage, i do look forward to this time for two reasons: new jeans for my little cutie (i'm talking about Coman, not Tman) and the sweet deals on cosmetics.  the anniversary sale and christmas season both provide amazing opportunities to stock up at great prices.  luckily for me, i have a birthday 2 weeks before the sale and typically have a few gift cards to burn.

this year i decided to burn them on an amazing brush set Nordstom is promoting:

you can get all five of these brushes for what two individual brushes would cost you. not to mention a sweet little tote to carry them in.  each of these brushes is a staple in my kit.  i'm just sayin'...if you're in the market, this is your best deal.

since i already found some great deals on jeans earlier in the year i actually made it out unscathed. happy shopping!

Share the Love

hey guys.  trever and i were talking tonight for the millionth time about how much i have loved blogging, how much i love hearing from all of you, and especially how much it means to me when you refer me to friends.  i just can't explain the validation it provides : ). 

so...thank you all so much for the positive feedback.  i feel like if i don't say this at least once a week you might forget just how much i really do love you.

please keep those shout outs/comments/links/buttons/views coming because it makes my blushing basics day.

xo

kristie

Upcoming Shoots

Kellie the Great and i will be teaming together again this Saturday for a photo shoot.  we are going to be photographing a child to help build his portfolio.  i'm looking forward to helping with the hair and makeup because a child (who is a boy) is not going to require much makeup, but that is the tricky part. assisting their looks, without looking like anything was done.  stay tuned.

xo
kristie

Quick Fixes

who hasn't gotten ready for a night out/work/church and suddenly found a snag in their panty hose? if you have problems like these the following solutions might help.

DEODORANT SMUDGES: you know those white smears that show up on your black clothes.  use a dryer sheet and wipe that smudge right off.

ROUGH SKIN: you don't need to buy expensive exfoliating products to smooth your skin. just make sure you take a wash cloth in the shower with you and gently rub/exfoliate the areas you want to smooth.  does the same thing for $0.

DINGY NAILS: removed your nail polish only to have stained nails? soak your fingertips in lemon juice and it will act as a natural whitener.

and the easiest quick fix? SMILE. nothing smooths over a mishap like a good sense of humor.

xo
kristie

Summer Foundation

products i used:

bronzer: St. Tropez
foundation: CoverGirl #2
                  Rimmel Lasting Finish "sand"
powder: L'Oreal Natural Finish
highlight: Bare Escentuals "radiance"

MAC Tip

opened up my mailbox this afternoon and found a postcard from MAC.  i have officially joined their mailing list and now receive sweet nothings in the form of postcards.

here's the latest tip:

If you're trying a bright 'pop' of colour on your eyes for the first time, try first basing your eyelid with a neutral colour.  Work a deeper neutral colour through the crease and then lay in your pop of colour on the lid.  This way you'll be wearing the shadow - it won't be wearing you.

good advice, eh? why don't you give it a shot and enjoy the brights of summer?

xo
kristie

And The Winner Is...

RANDOM.ORG - Integer Widget

True Random Number Generator Min: Max: Result: 6
 
Congrats Joni! I'll get your goodies to you soon.
 
xo
Kristie

Errrr..... Pictures of Me?

a little embarrassed to be posting this right now but the photos were so fun to shoot that i must.  if you want to see more or check out the amazing photographer see her blog HERE.  ally, the feeling is mutual. love you girl.

aaagggghhhh.... dying of embarrassment right about NOW.

xo

kristie

Heat + Humidity = Sweaty Pictures

cute girl Ally and i went downtown today to take some photographs.  as always it was so much fun.  part of me just loved being able to hang with my homegirl, and the other part was basking in the glory of being the only one photographed.  as a mother, i can't remember the last time that has happened.

shout out to ALLY.

stay tuned for the results of that shoot and make sure you enter to win some makeup!

xo
kristie

Makeup Giveaway

who doesn't like freebies?? i thought it would be fun to have a little giveaway action to say THANK YOU to everyone who has been viewing, commenting, subscribing, posting, and linking to my website.  i am loving you all right now so i thought i would show a little love by offering a makeup giveaway.

i have some great products to share so if you would like to enter, just leave a comment.  if you would like more than one entry you can subscribe.  if you would like more than two entries you can link to me.  just be sure to leave a comment for each.

winner will receive:

one bareMinerals eyeshadow and one travel size MAC mascara. 

good luck.  contest ends Friday, July 9th. no late entries. i don't care if your dog ate your homework.

xo
kristie

Friends

"There comes that mysterious meeting in life when someone acknowledges who we are and what we can be, igniting the circuits of our highest potential." ~ Rusty Berkus


here's to my friends.  i love you all.  it's funny because when i was 16 years old i had A best friend and we did EVERYTHING together and in my mind, i didn't need anyone else.  fast forward 13 years and suddenly i feel like my friendship circle is sometimes my buoy, the bigger the better. 

it's not like i have a million friends or several best friends, it just seems like i have a friend for every need.  someone who sees potential in me and helps to ignite me to become a better person. while i think about this post i keep hearing Elmo, singing in a squeaky off pitch voice, "Elmo's Best Friend" warbling over and over.  as annoying as that song is, i can relate to Elmo and his attachment to his blankie. my friends constitute the blankie of my adulthood.

so to all my girlfriends, muah!

xo
kristie

More Shoots

this week i will be teaming up with the awesome Ally to do some photographs.  Ally originally photographed my family a year ago and she has been continually growing as a photographer.  she is so great at visualizing and being creative with her shoots.  she knows how to take pictures outside of the typical poses and is so fun to work with.

she has some fun ideas to experiment with so i will be following up soon with the results.

xo
kristie

Hot Enough?

after spending an afternoon absorbing the 60% humidity and 85 degree temperatures i thought i would do a post about how nasty humidity can be to our skin and our makeup. it is now 10pm and my makeup has all but melted off my face like the wicked witch and i can feel the breakouts forming underneath my skin.  something MUST be done!

i have made some changes to my skincare routine.  previously i only washed my face once a day (i know this is a no-no but i am a little lazy when it comes to skin care) and now it is washed twice a day.  i have to make sure i wash off my makeup as well as the oils that are produced from all the heat and humidity. the second change is my face wash, i have changed it to an oil-free foaming facial cleanser.  this gently removes oil, dirt and makeup without over-drying (careful because over-drying can actually make matters WORSE). 


i have also changed my makeup routine a bit.  i am using a non oily concealer and foundation.  this will help combat the moisture and heat, my arch nemesis. to refresh my skin if it begins to look oily i use Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil.  similar to the no rinse shampoo it basically acts like a no rinse face wash. it absorbs the oils on the surface of the skin and refreshes your makeup. 
 
in about 3 weeks when my skin should have calmed itself i will check back in and let you know if any of this is really working!
 
xo
kristie

Happy 4th of July!

this weekend has flown by! it was definitely cram packed with things to do but we had so much fun doing it.  i just couldn't help but post a few pics of me and my fam enjoying the 4th.

we were parade going, BBQing, soccer watching and firework enjoying ALL WEEKEND! since the holiday fell on a sunday this year we still have monday to enjoy. 

happy fourth to all y'all.

xo

kristie

Silver Blue Makeup Tutorial

products i used:

eyes: L'Oreal HIP blue/navy blue duo
        Revlon quad grey series
        Rimmel black pencil
        Bare Escentuals "queen phyllis"
        Arts & Crafts blue glitter and blue diamonds

Red White and BOOM!

hi everyone.  i hope you all have fun plans for the upcoming holiday weekend.  i decided to do a makeup tutorial for the 4th of July so hopefully it is helpful.  my camera pooped out on me right at the end so my video finishes kind of weird.  sorry.

the blushing basics fam is headed to watch some fireworks this weekend and i have SO much fun watching.  something about it makes me feel 5 years old again. 

last i just want to say thank you again for everyone who is passing this blog on.  i really appreciate everyone's support and i would love to expand my readership, so if you know anyone who likes makeup, please forward!  i also love when you comment, subscribe, view the videos, etc.  i know they are a little geeky but i am enjoying this :)

xo
kristie

Eclipse Fallout

8:00 pm last night i was sitting on my bed with my laptop perched ready to begin posting.  next thing i know it is 3:00 am and i am fully dressed laying on my bed with my laptop kindly placed on the floor by my DH.  what happened in between those hours? don't ask me because i was dead to the world. 

i blame this on my friends who came up with the idea to go to the midnight showing of Eclipse.  and while we sat too close to even watch comfortably, the faces being distorted and peripheral vision just not broad enough to view the entire screen from that close, i did get some GREAT ideas for makeup.  i also had a lot of fun with the girls.  don't we all need some girl time now and then?

stay tuned for a little vampire inspired tutorials.  did anyone notice Dakota Fanning's eyes? wow

xo
kristie