A Little Something for Your Sweet Spot

"Do you wash your hair with toothpaste? Brush your teeth with shampoo? Moisturize your face with mouthwash? But you use WHAT? On your WHERE? Of course not. FINALLY! - SweetSpot Labs On-the-Go Wipettes has arrived!" SweetSpot Lab is a brand inspired by women's...*blushing* sweet spot down there! Every other part of our bodies has a specific category of products dedicated for them except for the sweet spot! This brand is dedicated to intimate grooming for all women, making us feel fresh and beautiful! The on-the-go wipettes are designed to be a quick fresher-upper after a workout at the gym, morning after refresher, or my favorite, an alternative for toilet paper! This great product comes with an even better price tag, $2.50 for a pack of 3 wipettes! The deluxe pack of 30 wipettes is priced at $12! Awesome! This product is an official staple in my purse! SweetSpot Labs - Beautify. Glorify. Refresh.

My Favorite Beauty Tips!

Of my many favorite ways to get beautiful, here are 10!

1. Apply a clear coat of polish before using a heavy color such as red to reduce staining.
2. ALWAYS wash your makeup off before bed.
3. Try using a henna hair dye, they are the safest and natural way to color your hair.
4. Wash your pillow cases once a week to get rid of all the dirt and oils that could pile onto your skin and cause pimples.
5. Add a little baking soda to your toothbrush to get a whiter brighter smile.
6. Don't burst your pimples! Wash them and use a spot treatment, then cover them with makeup until they go away. Popping them will only make it worse!
7. Deep condition your hair once a week for a healthier and shinier mane!
8. Wash your hair brushes once a week to get rid of the dirt and bacteria that forms on them.
9. Wash your makeup brushes twice a month.
10. To get soft and smooth lips, gently rub lips for a minute with a damp cloth before applying lipstick.
    

Words of Inspiration From Behind the Chair!

Last week at my internship I was looking through an old hair magazine called BehindtheChair.com on Paper, which started out as a website but launched a mag last year. In the very front of the magazine was a message from the founder, editorial and creative director, Mary Rector-Gable and it really inspired me! For anyone who has ever been told that you can't do it, whatever 'IT' is, this message is for you!

I've been called a rebel more than a few times in my life. I've been called a dreamer and a meddler. I've been told to be a good girl, to sit still and wait my turn. I've been told to stop rocking the boat and go with the flow.

But I don't listen. I am a dreamer and this is my dream.

Believe in yourself. Have the courage to open the door that nobody said could be opened. Your dream is behind it.

Mary

How powerful! I LOVE it!

HOME DÉCOR

Lamps, framed prints, and accessories all come together to add variety and interest to your home furnishings. At My Favorite Things, we have a diverse collection of items to choose from - from traditional, to French Country, to eclectic. Whatever your personal style dictates, we'll help you select the home décor items that add a special touch to your home.

pictures of home

Every house should be a warm haven, a place where we throw off the cares of the world and relax with family and friends. From the kitchen where we launch our busy days to the bedrooms where we close our eyes at night and dream, we want each space to reflect our personal tastes and sensibilities. But we desire that our rooms be comfortable and practical. Pulling all the components together is a tall order, and yet it's also wonderfully rewarding. Use the home decorating tips we've provided here as inspiration, and create the kinds of rooms your loved ones will want to hurry home to enjoy.

Relax Your Aching Muscles with Body Aches Bath Salts!

Being a hard working full time student and part time worker, my little ole body gets worn out sometimes! My feet, back, and legs kill me sometimes. There's no possible way for me to slow down my schedule, so I decided to get a product that would soothe away my aches. One of my favorite body care brands, Carol's Daughter, offers the perfect product for tired muscles. The Body Aches Bath Salts is a mix of 'sea salts infused with the aromatherapy benefits of Peppermint, Lavender, and Tea Tree essential oils.' Sprinkle the salts into a warm bath or on the bathtub floor while taking a hot shower for a relaxing steam!

I Die for This Dress!

Actress turned model, Amber Valleta, dawned this boxy, bright orange RM by Roland Mouret dress at the Spy Next Door movie premiere earlier this week! I LOVE it! If only I could pull something like this off...*sigh*!

The Beauty Blender: Modernize the Way You Make Up!

The Beauty Blender is a fabulous product that has been around for a few years but is getting big buzz right now. It provides a unique way of applying your makeup evenly. It took me a while to blog about this simply because I was clueless about how to use it! I found a tutorial video on the Beauty Blender website that is a bit long winded but very helpful! Since watching the video, the Beauty Blender has become one of my favorite products! It really works! It blends my makeup so well with no lines or creases. The secret with the sponge is that you use it damp and not dry so that it won't absorb your makeup like a dry sponge would. Some celebs who already love this product are Jennifer Garner, Carmen Electra, Rosalyn Sanchez and Kim Kardashian to name a few. Here is the tutorial video below and be sure to check out the website to find out where you can pick up your Beauty Blender, you'll love it!

Before and After!

So here are the before and after pictures from when I dyed my hair black! I know the picture with the brown ends and the side of my blog is cute because it has curls...but I don't wear my hair in curls everyday so it wasn't always flattering! The black #10 hair color by Revlon allows me to wear my hair any way and not worry about my ends looking unkept! What do you think?

Before

After

MAC's All Ages, All Races, All Sexes Collection!

I absolutely love MAC's new All Ages, All Races, All Sexes Collection that officially launched yesterday! This collection focuses on a universal appeal, offering shades for every skin tone that could be found around the world! Earthy toned lipsticks, lip glosses, eye shadows, powder blush, and more fill this collection to make it their most diverse line yet. I think this has to be on of my favorite lines that MAC has ever come out with...besides the Hello Kitty line of course! =)

Shop products from the line here:

Crest Classic White Strips!

I think it's pretty safe to say that I have a beautiful smile! :-) I've decided that i want to brighten my million dollar smile by using the Crest Classic White Strips. I've looked into getting my teeth professionally whitened, but quite frankly it is just way too expensive for me! I have heard many great things about the Crest White Strips from blogs and reviews so I thought they would be worth a try! The 14 day teeth whitening system cost me about $25, but if they work as people say they do then $25 is well worth it! Today is my first day using them and I will most definitely update you all after the 14 days is over! I'm so excited! =)
Here I am with my strips on! You can't see them...but I can feel them!

Revlon Colorsilk Hair Color!

When I was in the 9th grade I went crazy with hair color. I once dyed my hair 3 TIMES IN ONE DAY! I didn't get the results that I wanted and I wouldn't dare go to school looking a mess, so I kept dying it! Horrible I know, and for almost a year I was regretting it. My hair was falling out and I cried every time I looked in the mirror to do my hair! Every since then I have almost been anti hair dying! My hair still had some of the color in it from a few years ago and when I get my hair relaxed it kept getting lighter and lighter. I hated my two toned hair so...I decided to dye it, but being smart about it this time! I knew for sure that I would have to deep condition it for a long time so that my hair wouldn't break. I went with a drugstore brand of hair color, Revlon because I have heard good things about their hair color. Revlon's Colorsilk Collection of permanent hair colors are ammonia free and it worked great on my hair! I was so pleased with the results! My hair is finally all one tone, I haven't seen my hair all one tone in almost two years. I'm so happy for it to be all black again! Black 10 to be exact! The Revlon Colorsilk collection comes in 41 shades, so there is a beautiful hue for everyone!

Dazzled!

Remember when I told you guys how much I loved Kim Kardashian's ShoeDazzle shoes? Well this is the pair that I got in the mail today! Are they bad or what? They are called The Boulevard and they color is Bone! Each month I'll upload what pair I get, I get so excited at the end of the month because I know the email with my shoe choices is on it's way!!
You can read the entire post I did on ShoeDazzle here!

Beauty Trends for 2010!

I have a love hate relationship with trends! I love the fact of knowing what's 'in' and who's wearing what, but I also don't like to be confined to those trends. Once the season is up I'm not allowed to wear this skirt, or that nail polish, or that hairstyle?! Beauty editor of People Style Watch, Holly Carter recently gave her trend forecasts for 2010...I like them all!

Bright, Bold, Lips:


Pastel Shadow:


Gray Nail Polish:


Braids:

For a full analysis of these trends, check out what Holly Carter has to say here!

Homemade Skincare Pt 6: Exfoliating Foot Mask!

Of all of the homemade skincare recipe's, the exfoliating foot mask is by far my favorite! I love having my feet pampered, who doesn't?! You can get the same results from this at home treatment that you would get from going to the salon or spa! Just follow this recipe and you will be on your way to smooth, happy feet!

Exfoliating Foot Mask

1/2 cup of ground oatmeal
1/2 cup of cornmeal
1/2 cup of coarse salt
1/2 cup of scented or unscented body lotion
4 tablespoons of aloe vera gel

After all ingredients are mixed well together, apply the scrub to your feet and ankles and gently massage. Do that for a few minutes and then wash off. Your feet will feel so relieved and smooth! This scrub really works and it's gentle enough that it won't tickle your toesies!
*All ingredients can be purchased at your local drug or grocery stores!

Homemade Skincare Pt 5: Honey Cleanser!

Cleansing is the most important step in the skin care process. Breaking down all the dirt and makeup from your face is very important in helping prevent any breakouts and keeping a nice, well balanced complexion. The honey cleanser, which is a mixture of castile soap and 1 teaspoon of honey, does just that! When mixed, the honey and castile soap create a thick solution that lathers up great. It's gentle enough to rub over your (closed) eyes and tough enough to remove dirt and makeup from your face.
*There is a not so good smell to this recipe due to the castile soap and your skin does feel a little dry, so a deep moisturizer is highly recommended!

Homemade Skincare Pt 4: Epsom Salt Bath!

How many of you have trouble sleeping at night? I do and it annoys me so much!! I have to listen to at least an hour of my iPod before I can dose off! Who knew something as simple as taking an Epsom salt bath before bed could be the cure! Like many people, I don't take many baths, no I'm not a stinky little kid like Linus from Charlie Brown, but I prefer showers! With baths, I feel like I'll end up sitting in dirty water, but if it means I'll sleep like a baby I'm all for it! Draw a nice warm bath, add 1 or 2 cups of Epsom salts, and you can even add a few drops of an essential oil of your choice. Light up some candles! Soak for up to 30 minutes and by this time you should feel extremely relaxed, calm and ready for some shut eye! I was truly amazed by not only how fast I fell asleep but how great I felt the next morning! Priceless!

Homemade Skincare Pt. 3: Lemon Refresher Astringent!

This homemade astringent is great for balancing oily skin and it's also very calming to the skin so there's no irritation. Mix the juice from half of a lemon and a 1/4 cup of witch hazel for this simple, yet awakening formula! A good friend of mine used this recipe and HE loved it! It's great for guys too! He said that it helped with the size of his pores, making them less visible!

*witch hazel can be purchased at your local drug store for around $5-$9!

Homemade Skincare Pt. 2: Basic Clay Mask!

The second homemade skincare recipe was a mask. I'll admit I was NOT too thrilled about this one! I typically don't like the tight feeling mask has once it starts to dry!

Basic Clay Mask:

3 tablespoons green clay

water

I applied the mask on while I was in the shower so there was less of a mess and it actually felt good on my skin. I left it on long enough for it to dry, and I could really feel my skin getting tighter and firmer. I made the mistake and smiled while the mask was almost dry and it started to crack!! It had been ages since I've used a clay mask, but I have no memories of them being easy to wash off! This simple mask was so easy for me to wash off of my face. My skin was bright and smooth, added a little moisturizer (Clinique Moisture Surge) and I was feeling beautiful and ready for bed!

An 8oz jar of green clay will run you around $5-$9 at your local drug store.

Homemade Skincare Pt. 1: Oatmeal Facial Scrub!

At FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising), the students majoring in beauty have the pleasure of having some pretty amazing professors! One of my favorite teachers, Mrs. Habermeyer, assigned a six part homemade skincare recipe group project for us all to do. They were really fun to experiment with and very inexpensive! My two group members and I had a great time with this 'homework' assignment!

The first one that I did was a Gentle Facial Exfoliator Scrub:

1/2 cup ground oatmeal

1/4 cup powdered milk

1 teaspoon cornmeal

water

I normally like my facial scrubs to really scratch my face so that I can tell my face is really getting clean. Well, the truth of the matter is, scrubs that have too harsh of scrubbing beads or particles actually hurt your skin. They strip and can cause damage to your skin. The oatmeal scrub is so gentle and soothing to the skin! It left my skin feeling so smooth and soft! When enough water is added, the substance glides on like a paste and not as if it's regular oatmeal!

All ingredients for this recipe can be bought at your local grocery store!

*this recipe can be a bit messy, I would suggest applying while getting in the shower that way it will be less mess!

YouTube Tutorials!

I love watching those makeup tutorial videos on YouTube! They are so fun and you can learn a lot from the girls (or guys) who make them. I recently stumbled across a new member that I had never seen before and I fell in love! Her YouTube username is MakeupGeekTv and she's absolutely fabulous! While she was giving tips, I was grooving right along with her!! She gave me some new tricks! YES!
These are two of my favorite videos:

2010's 'IT' Color: Turquoise!

Color authority Pantone has proclaimed that Turquoise will be the 'IT' color for 2010! Fabulous, because I just bought Makeup Forever's Turquoise Matte 72 eyeshadow! I guess I'm right on track for 2010! Celebs such as Zoe Saldana, Blake Lively, Megan Fox, Eva Mendes and more have been gracing the red carpets in stunning shades of this soothing, aquatic color!

Happy New Year!! 2010 Is Here!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! Can you believe it's twothousandandten?? Where does the time go?! How did you guys ring in the new year? I had every intention on staying in the house, mainly because I'm not a clubbing person. A friend of mine, at the last minute, was like "let's go out!" So I did...and I drank...and I'm not a drinker. To make a long story short, I did NOT ring in the new year on the good foot. I had a GREAT time until those drinks set in, oh man! May be no big deal to everyone else, but when I let myself down I feel like I let people around me down too. But at least I have 364 more days to get 2010 to make up for my first mishap of the year! *As you can see in the picture, I was 'feeling it'...*

What are some of your new year resolutions? I want to hear them! Here are a few of mine!

1. To become even closer with God!
2. To become even closer with MYSELF, and putting 100% more efforts into my making my dreams come true!!
3. Be more giving, doing more charity and volunteer work!
4. Overall being a better person!

Yes I have four resolutions, but I think they are fairly easy to keep if I truly focus on them!! May 2010 bring nothing but things for you all!

I'll leave you guys with my motto for 2010. A friend of mine posted this quote to her facebook and I immediately fell in love with it!

"In 2009 I was walking INTO my purpose, in 2010 I will be walking IN my purpose according to HIS will!"

Find your purpose and and run with it! :)