Hope- Prom

This is the 2nd time I got the pleasure of styling Hope. She came to Kelley and I for her senior pictures & I got to style her then too! Now, she's ending her high school career! So much to look forward to in the next couple of weeks! One of those things was checked off the list this weekend though - PROM! 

We decided to go with some serious glitter corners paired with a smokey black and charcoal eye! Hair she wanted half up, half down and BIG! She didn't want the same as everyone else though & I love that! So we threw in a trendy braid, curls and some major volume! 

Hope - You seriously looked amazing! Your style went right along with that beautiful dress!! Looking forward to the next time :) Enjoy your senior year! 

She Gorg!

A while back Kelley and I did a day of Bare Sessions; it was much fun! I totally think every woman should do one. Even if it's not for that special person their life. Forget them! Do it for yourself! Before you say anything , like: where's yours Em? I'm working on it. I have a floating date set with Kelley for this spring/summer - I'm excited!! Anyway, so the day we did this past fall was great, all the ladies were perfect. I have been waiting to share this style because she was giving it as a gift, so no spoilers! Hayley is one of those people you love to hate. She is so sweet so you love her but so pretty you hate her. haha! Much Love Hals. She looks awesome in everything, too! Just look at these choices for her bare session so much zest! She Gorg! 

Hayley - I am SOOO bummed I can't style your wedding (I'm already booked for her date, in 2018!). However, I am so glad I was able to do this shoot for you and I'm sure there will be many more makeup and hair doing's in our future! I love styling you! I love that you're always down for whatever, you let me just go for it! This cooper eye we did in the bare session was perfection. It worked for every outfit, the color made the blue in your eyes pop too! Of course, your hair always has the best bounce in your curls! Overall girl you just kill sessions! See you soon!! xox!

Photos by the stunning Kelley Photo & Design

Does This Ring Make Me look Engaged?!

Wedding season is just around the corner and I'm READY! I am booked solid for 2017 and have already started booking for 2018 - which just seems unreal to me! I am so blessed to get to work with such fun brides! 

I used to shop at the buckle all the time, like, it was a legit problem.  That's how I met the gorgeous Alexa. Although my buckle addition has come to a halt and she no longer works there, social media has kept us in touch! and guess what?! She's one of my 2017 December Brides! She just took her engagement pics with Ashley Mizell Photography over the weekend and I got to do her hair and make-up for them! It was an early morning style; which is totally fine! I had my coffee. Doesn't she look STUNNING!? I mean those curls! Gah, they're to die for! Not to mention her glowing face and that lip color that was perfect for that rusty shirt she has on.

Alexa- You are going to make for an absolute knock out bride! I'm so excited to get to be part of your big day! It's going to be wonderful!  I cannot wait to style you again; showers & bach parties will be here before we know it! 

Anastasia - Beverly Hills Not Steele.

Did you read the 50 shades books or see the movies?? Anytime I talk about Anastasia products I think of Miss Anastasia Steele; I can't help it! haha! If you haven't seen it or read it - I do recommend! Anyway, so Anastasia Beverly Hills (ABH) is a brand I have mad love for. All the products are clean, crisp, gorgeous color & highly pigmented; all worth the money! Like, anyone I do have a couple products that I favorite from this line. 

One of them being the Modern Renaissance Palette. SWOON - these colors are beautiful & unique. You're not going to get these colors in any other palette; 3 metallic colors & the remaining 11 are all mattes. The berry shades are HOT colors this spring/summer and they're harder to find, you get those colors with this palette! You can easily go from a work look to a night out look too, which is a selling point for me with palettes! I find anytime I am doing a boho type style, this is my GO TO for eyes. Rumor has it Claudia Soare is putting out the "twin" to this palette.... I cannot wait to see what it looks like! I am sure it will be a must have too!

BROWS! I was so against the brow trend when it first started coming around. Mostly because my brows SUCK. I never really learned what I was doing when I was younger so mine are thin little brows due to poor plucking and no shaping. Immediately I knew I had to do something about it especially being in the make-up/styling world! I hit up my local Sephora after doing some research & found that the ABH Brow Powder Duo in Blonde would be my holy grail. I LOVE THIS STUFF! The brow powder is movable, so it's super easy to shape with. I've also found that it's pretty smudge proof. I use it DAILY and my brows still look great at the end of the night. This product also Has a good life expectancy; I go through one of these about every 5-6 months. I also recommend you snag the ABH Brow Brush #7B; double ended for all your brow shaping needs! 

Y'all know I'm all about my lip colors. My target favs are the NYX's but every so often I spoil myself and pick up a few beauties from my fav lines like too faced, Urban Decay, or in this case ABH! I got these 2 matte Liquid Lipstick beauties a couple weeks ago. Both in shades of berry/pink. I've worn them several times and got TONS of compliments! Perfect spring shades! 

Have a wonderful Tuesday! -- Emily

March FAVS!

It's MARCH! It's birthday month for Little and for Big. One turning 5 & one turning 23 - scary dynamic but it works for us! ;) March madness is upon us too - always a fun time of year! plus st. patty's day; that was always more fun when I was younger haha. I've bought a handful of new products lately so here's a run down of my current FAVS!

Tarte Shape Tape: So I'm not going to lie, the first time I tried this, I honestly thought "what is all the buzz about?!" then I thought maybe it's me, not the product. So I reached out to a local beauty group I'm part of and it turns out, it was me - ha! I think I used just a little too much in my first application. So I tried it again a couple more times and i'm lovin' it! 3 dots strung along under your eyes is literally all you need; less is more in this case!! It' gives a super smooth contour, the color I got (Fair for pink undertones) is perfect! I love that it comes in so many options! A beauty staple for sure! 

Urban Decay Self Adjusting Primer: dude, this stuff is legit! First of all, my make-up application went on SO smooth! So right off the bat I noticed it was doing one of my "musts" for primers- evening out the playing field. Before I even applied my makeup though, I noticed it was evening out my skin tone. Winter is rough for me (skin and weight wise lol), my skin gets really uneven, so the fact that it was self adapting and covering my red/splotchy spots was awesome! By the end of the day, the areas I tend to get oily in - weren't! Oil & shine control- check! Next time you're in Ulta or Sephora - pick one up! It's a must! ((I'll snap a before and after application of this stuff this week so watch for it on IG))

Lash extensions: With summer coming quicker than I'm ready for (i'm more of a fall/winter/spring gal) I am SO excited to be able to go bare faced to work! A little summer glow and lashes on point - ah that's what dreams are made of! My girl alex; ilashKC/Lashed by alex is amazing! if you've thought about it, contact her; ask her your questions, she'll be happy to answer anything you've got for her. I've had mine on for 5 months, I go ever 2 weeks for a fill, there's less dramatic options if what i have isn't your style (i want full and long all the time), I don't see any damage, I don't even realize they're there!. Plus every 2 weeks, I am guaranteed 45 min of "me" time!  

Lorac California Dreamin' palette: SO i picked this little beauty up at Kohl's a while back and i am really liking it! For one, the colors are gorg! for two, they're unique colors, i like having special palettes like this on hand! For three, it was only $30! perfect price point for an impromptu buy but would also make a great gift! I used the "seaside" green to give my st,patty's day eyes a little extra POP! 

Happy March Ladies! :) 

3-2-1... Hair

I don't have super thick hair; sometimes I'm thankful and sometimes I realllllyyy wish it was thicker and longer and blonder. We always want what we don't have; am I right!? My hair may not be super thick but it does take for-ev-er to blow dry. I stopped wearing my hair straight/curled because it was taking too long to do; I'd get hot and sweaty in my bathroom from blow drying and the shower steam and end up sweaty, it was just a MESS of a situation. My husband couldn't understand why I'd get so pissy-pants after spending literal hours on my hair, I have a child & a life . I can't spend HOURS getting ready, even though sometimes I want to ;).  Here's some of the products I use to make my blow drying process easier!

It all starts with prep! Right?? Cooking, crafting, painting; all masterpiece potential and all take prep! I use this Blow Dry It Quick spray from L'Oreal Paris DAILY! Anytime I set out to blow dry my hair completely (not wearing natural curls), I spray this stuff all over my hairs. I start at the top and work my way down then brush it through. It acts as both a blow drying primer and a heat protector!  Best of all this product will not break the bank ($3.99!) & you can snag it on your next Target trip! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Wet Brush - the brush to end all brushes. The perfect brush, I can't rave about this enough. This gets me through my mornings not only with my hair but also with my 4 year old's hair! Tangles are easily avoided because of the bristle type, making brushing less damaging and just an easier all over task. {Obviously mine has been used, a lot, you can barely see the label! haha}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Hot Tools Tourmaline Ion Professional Dryer was a Christmas present from the hubs - he did good right? He's a pretty awesome gift giver. I was kind of shocked by this one though, I barely mentioned I wanted a new dryer. Funny story, we had been together for like 8 months, moved in together and my hair dryer literally caught on fire while in use. I about pee'd my pants! The thought of my hair singeing off, my favorite dryer burning up, oh and being 4 months pregnant; not the best reaction. Bless his heart, he came home with a new one from Target that night, I used to for years, just for that reason. I bought one at beauty brands and after 6 months, I decided I didn't love it & mentioned I wanted another (I sound so high maintenance with hair dryers don't I?!) Any-who, he bought one of the best ones out there! It's super light weight, but still delivers a heavy/quick air flow! It also has numerous settings, never us the combo of super hot and high, even with the best products, that's a damaging set up. The best thing it, it works with your hair to save it's moisture!

Happy Hairs, Happy Gals! Have a great Tuesday Loves! Emily

Feelin' Springy

So I was feeling Springy over the weekend, even though they were the coldest days out of the past like 12. Kansas weather, you just really never know! 

I created this eye with the Peach Palette by Too Faced I have been raving about! If you haven't bought it you, you muuuuustt treat yo self & pick it up! I only used 4 colors & it didn't take long at all! 'Peach Pit' on the outer edge, blending in 'cobbler' on top and inner edge. I dabbed a little 'Belini' there in the middle to give a gold/peachy pink ray in the center and then used 'peaches & cream' for my brow highlight and inner edge color. I brought a little but of Peach pit down to line my bottom lashes and used 'Belini' to finish off my inner-lower eye..... Perfect look for a pop of color! Plus, purples/plums/golds really bring out my green eyes so I'll wear purple pretty often! But don't worry green eyed girls for styling, purple isn't always my go to! ;) 

Picture is pre-contouring & face make-up application. I always do my eyes first ;) 

Picture is pre-contouring & face make-up application. I always do my eyes first ;) 

I RARELY wear eye liner anymore. You just don't need it with extensions plus it can be really rough on your lashes when removing it. I'm due for a fill this week - love fresh lashes!

I RARELY wear eye liner anymore. You just don't need it with extensions plus it can be really rough on your lashes when removing it. I'm due for a fill this week - love fresh lashes!

Oh & of course my lashes are always on point thanks to my girl Alex with lashed by Alex! She's in KC, ladies - she is SO worth the investment! 

Happy Monday!! Emily

 

February - A Few of My Favorite Things

It's February! When did that happen?! Crazy town. So I realize I'm a month late into the year, but seriously January went by so quick!! I want to do a monthly favorite piece, featuring a few of my favorite current things. There may be 2, there may be 7. Guess we'll just have to see! ;)

SO my February Faves:

Bath Table + Bath Bombs + Wine.

I mean don't you want to quit everything you're doing right now and go get in the bath tub!? I do. The table is hand crafted & designed to each individual specifications. You have your choice of dark or light wood too. Best of all, there's a wine slot for the stem of your wine glass to chill in! You'll be able to order them on Etsy from the Wheat State Studio, but until then you can message owner Kimmy here

My Fav bath bombs are from LUSH. Once you try one, you can't go back. They're addicting. A bath without one hardly seems worth it! ha! There's such an array of options. You can get bombs with all kinds of different smells and benefits. Most of them turn your bath water colors so thats fun & some release lotions & sparkles into it. There's even bubble bombs and shower bombs (online only). Each bomb leaves your skin silky smooth & leaves you feeling super relaxed!

 

 

 

 

 

Wine; I am no connoisseur, I have a couple friends that drink all these fancy wines; reds and whites and are well versed {My sista Sarah is pictured and falls into this category}. I'm over here like what's sweet & bubbly?! I get severe heartburn with anything that's too dry so I stay away from those. However ask me about Moscato and I am your girl! My go to wine is the Cupcake DiAsti; sweet, bubbly & goes down smooth. One of my current favorite wineries to hit up is Cooper Hawk It's located at the country club plaza. Great atmosphere, yummy food& best of all $7.00 tastings! Great for girls afternoons & birthday celebrations {both of which are pictured} You're sure to find something you love! My favorite Coopers Hawk wine is the Sweet Red Sparkling wine. So good!

Those are just a few of my favorite things...... Happy February!

 

A Fine Collaboration

You know those conversations that you have about things you want to do; things that get put on the "someday" list but usually just end up being conversation pieces for years to come. Very rarely do you put action to those things, you wish you could or did or would - I know I have several things on my list this year! These ladies did it. They talked, they planned and they took action. They've created a super trendy studio space {A Fine Fete} in the heart of KC; the perfect location with plenty of adorable accents and open space. I got the pleasure of hanging with these ladies Saturday and styling them for their head shots! These women are fierce go getters & were an absolute pleasure to work with! I can't wait to see what's in store for them. They're open house is coming up; the First Fridays weekend in April. I'll be there & you should be there too!

Aren't they glowing!? Their styles all paried so nicely together!

Aren't they glowing!? Their styles all paried so nicely together!

As far as styling goes, these ladies were prepared. They had their pinterest boards ready and a cute little inspo wall full of what they had in mind......

Meet Lilly. Lilly owns Love Letter Studios. She is a calligraphy wizard; all her stuff is gorgeous! Be sure to check her out on IG!

Meet Reagan. Reagan has an event planning business. She wants to make all your wedding/event dreams come true! She's unique and original in her planning; just check out her IG feed!

Meet Leigh. Leigh is a local photographer & a friend of mine. She is amazing at what she does! Leigh travels too! You can see all the prettiness on her IG too! Be sure to follow her!

Thank you for pairing with me ladies!! I loved spending Saturday morning with you & can't wait to see what's in store for the future!! Much Love!

Happy Love Day!

I hope you all had a FAB valentines day!! I hope you either spoiled yourself or are being spoiled. In honor of this "love" week, I'm sharing 3 things that I absolutely LOVE! 

My Kendra Scott pretties. I'm pretty spoiled, my husband is an excellent gift giver. He's always surprising me & taking notes when I say I "want" something... I had mentioned this Elisa Necklace in passing, just saying how pretty it was & how I don't have any just "go with everything" necklaces so guess what I got for Christmas?! Then he must've decided I needed some earrings too because Valentines morning I woke up to these gorgeous studs! ahh - I LOVE!

This Too Faced Peach Palette. First off, it really does smells like peaches. Like, each morning I use it I want a Frozen Peach bellini! These color are seriously gorgeous. I have been using 'charmed I'm sure' on the outter edges of my eyes and into my crease, 'bellini' for the inner and 'Nectar' mixed with 'peaches and cream' for a brow high lighter/blender. This is absolutely a MUST have palette, especially for spring! 

Purple Shampoo. I may get slightly addicted to this at times. I LOVE the fact that I can go 4/5 days without washing my hair and those brassy tones never set in after using this stuff! I use it every other wash. Lather up your hair, shave your legs etc., rinse. It's like getting your hair colored each time you use it! I don't use anything fancy, you can find this set at your local Sallys beauty supply. It doesn't smell the best but it does do the best job (so far that I've found). Shimmer Lights; you won't spend a fortune but you'll feel like a million bucks! It's a must have for blondes! 

Have a great HUMP day ladies!! Much love! 

 

 

Masks, Scrubs, Peels - Oh my!

You know what I love about an empty house?! Well, just about everything; it's such a rarity for me! However, my most favorite thing is slipping into sweats, taking off my bra (hallelujah!) and make-up, turning on Gilmore Girls and getting my pamper on! Do I have to be alone to do these things? no. Do I prefer to be alone? Yes. Sharing my most favorite products for my most favorite SSB (if you're a sex in the city fan, you get it). 

LIP Scrub

I do this once a week (home alone or not) and I make my own. It's nothing particularly fancy but it's cheap, it works and it's easy. All you need is a table spoon of brown sugar, a couple drops of raw honey & a tooth brush with soft/medium bristles. Grab a little bowl, pour in the brown sugar. Drizzle the honey on top, mix it together. Dip your tooth brush in and gently scrub your lips in circular motions for about 45-60 sec. This will help keep your lips nice and smooth; making wearing matte lips much easier & it'll help you avoid that dreaded winter dry lip! So many perks ;)

FACE Peels

I love a good face mask; I usually have a couple different ones on hand for different issues (dryness, splotchy skin, deep cleaning etc). I came across this little number in Target (of course) and immediately was like - YES I must try this. If you know me at all, you know I'm a picker (I think Dr. Pimple Popper is my spirit animal HA!). This  is a deep pore peeling mask; a pickers dream! Slather a layer of this charcoal based mask all over your face, avoid your eyebrows & if your cheeks are sensitive I'd stick with your T-zone. Be sure it's a decent layer, not too thin or it won't come off all together. Wait about 20 minutes and then use the tool it comes with or your finger nail to lift an area of the mask and pull in an upright motion. You'll be able to see it drawing the junk out of your pores as you peel! 

HAIR Masks

So, I had a little bit of hair drama about a year ago now. I was left in the chair with color on my hair for an excessive amount of time, causing the whole top layer to be chemically damaged/fried off. I cried for days and have been babying my hair for a year now. I've found a new hair home with Studio L & she has done a great job helping me with growth and giving great advice. She sent me home with this malibu rinse out mask and it leaves my hair feeling so strong & visibly reduces frizz & dryness. Dampen your hair some, apply mask with fingers, running product from base to ends. I put on a shower cap to avoid mess. If you can't make it to a salon, my favorite Target Hair mask are these little $1.99 Argan Oil masks. I apply the same way and wear a shower cap around. Both masks should be on your head for at least 20-25 minutes, I tend to give mine a good hour or so. SO get caught up in a good book, watch a TV show or soak in the tub before your shower while your face, hair and lips get revitalized! 

Hope you have a relaxing night to yourself soon ladies! xoxo

 

Open House

When opportunity knocks, I try to answer the door with welcoming arms! With that being said, I get to be a part of this amazing Open House coming up On February 8th at the Venue at Willow Creek. They are hosting some of the best Wedding Vendors in KC!! Perfect opportunity Brides; come check us out!! Did I mention this venue is beautiful?? You can RSVP by emailing: venue@willowcreekkc.com

The following Vendors will be joining in on the fun! I simply can not wait! 

The Venue At Willow Creek

Stunning outdoor weddings are within your reach at Willow Creek. From regal and elegant to intimate and personal, our beautiful spaces are ideal for your stylish and unforgettable wedding. Willow Creek is nestled in 10 private acres, a tree-lined ridge rising above the creek - our spacious venue is the perfect backdrop for your indoor or outdoor ceremony

I do make- up, hair styling & outfit styling for any occasion and when I say any, I mean it! Any reason is an excellent reason to spoil yourself & feel good! 
I truly believe that the prettiest girls are the happiest girls! A flawless make-up application & some bouncy curls can turn any girl from being down on herself, to feeling amazing about herself! 

All kinds of yummy treats; cakes, cookies, donuts & more! Call (785) 207-2103  - We are located in the heart of downtown Eudora - right off of K-10 Highway in between Lawrence and Kansas City.

Olive Events is a full service catering company in Kansas City, offering festive cuisine for any occasion. We provide food, staff, rentals and draw upon a network of the finest vendors to meet each event's specific needs. Call us at 913.721.3399.

Anthony Moran "DJ TONE" provides DJ Entertainment for a wide variety of occasions and strives to help people make their events both fun and memorable.

At Andrea K. Grist Floral designs our attention to detail and personalized service sets us apart. Whether formal, romantic, exotic, or playful, we will help you create an event that reflects your personal style and vision. Let your flowers make a statement. Our designers will work closely with you to custom design your wedding, party, or special event. Beginning with the first consultation, you will receive the personal attention that you expect from the best. We would love to be part of your special day!

Linens on the Go! provides quality rental chair covers, sashes, table clothes, table overlays, runners, table skirts, in a variety of colors. Chair covers start at $1.75.
Our chair covers come in a rainbow of colors and an assortment of fabrics, including polyester, satin, spandex, and universal.We can deliver/pick up your chair covers in the Topeka area for $50, anywhere outside the area please add a $1 per mile. Linens on the Go! will set up the chairs and sashes for a $100 set up fee. Please add $1 per mile outside of Topeka.

Oh Snap! Photography (1101 1/2 Massachusetts Street) is a wedding and portrait photograph company based in Lawrence, KS. Ailecia Ruscin is the primary photographer and does the shooting and editing for the brand. Ailecia's style is hip, fun, edgy, vintage inspired, and authentic -- she loves to work with quirky and offbeat clients as much as she loves to work with people of all stripes. From country rustic weddings to DIY chic urban loft affairs, Ailecia loves to represent diversity in human life. Ailecia got her start in film photography at Pittsburgh Filmmakers in the mid-90's, these days she spends almost every day shooting for clients or friends. In her rare off times she photographs the sunset and takes country drives to find new photo locations. On weekends after late weddings she can be found at her favorite watering hole catching a friend's band or DJ night. Crazy organized and professional, Ailecia is also chill, fun, and easy to work with. 

Ultrapom Event Rentals specializes in unique wedding and event rental items. Inventory ranges from table runners to milk glass vases, chuppahs to vintage metal coolers, and everything in between!
Our easy-to-use website has our full inventory and prices, as well as a rental cart for you to put your order together.
Please contact us to make an appointment to meet. info@ultrapom.com

Magpie Designed

Hello! Magpie Designed is a small, hip graphic design studio specializing in Wedding Stationery + Business Design + Website Design. I love working with couples to design the wedding stationery of their dreams and with small business owners to help make their dreams come true! Visit magpiedesigned.com for more information.

Bye Bye Comfort Zone

Say good bye to your comfort zone! It feels SOO good!! Valentines is right around the corner and what's a better gift than feeling GOOD about yourself?? I can't think of anything better! Schedule a BARE shoot (we're not scared of that word any more, right?) with Kelley Photo & I - let us show you a whole other side of yourself you've never seen. Trust me, you're worth it!

Will you go to Prom with me?

Asking girls to prom is like, a really big deal. these days. Pretty sure I got asked to my junior prom on a piece of paper that was as big as a tic-tac & had been passed to me through 4 different channels including lunch break - haha!! I love seeing all the super cute Prom-posals now' days.

I get asked to prom all the time - through styling and the answer is YES! I'd love to go with you! ;) Hair & Make-up for prom is already starting to book up (crazy right?!). So don't forget to ask me! Here's a couple of pretty girls that I did style's on for last years prom! 

New Year, New You.

New years brings so many good feelings. It's a time to look back on the past year and learn to love from it. 2016 brought so many wonderful things to my life, along with a few heart aches. For me, it will always be the year that my business blossomed into something I never could have imagined. My styling took off and I couldn't be more proud of the year I had. I've set new goals for 2017, of course, who didn't right!? One of my 2017 goals is to be as confident in myself as I am in my clients. I build people up & I surround myself with folks that do the same for me but come on, we are our own worst critic. So this year I vow to be more confident; something I strive to bring out in my clients. 

Jordan stepped out of her comfort zone for this Bare shoot (there's that scary word again). She has struggled with seeing herself as the beautiful lady she is. She did this shoot for herself. Something we all should do more of; doing something for ourselves, to make ourselves feel good (hmm, time to add to that goal list)! Everything about this style was amazing, including the killer head dress she brought! I fell in looovvee with it! We put some clip in extentions in, which you'd never know looking at her (always the goal with extensions), and I used my straightener to add some bounce. I went for a smokey eye, using my Lorac Pro palette. A bold lip for a little something extra - she looked fierce!! 

Jordan, I am so proud of you for doing something just for you. For doing something that brought out the confident side of you and for doing something I hope you cherish forever. We'll see you again I am sure! 

That's Such a Scary Word...

What came to mind with that title? What word scares you? For a lot of women the word BARE scares them; does it scare you? Does it make you nervous? Do you immediately start putting down anything and everything that could fit into that description?  Why do we do that?! I do it too and I catch myself trying not to but it's SO hard! I get it. But ladies, it's time. It's to embrace that word!! BARE it all, feel great about yourself, feel strong, feel sexy. All while being as BARE as you'd like to be.... Bare sessions are some of my favorite to style; you see confidence come alive in people. It's pretty amazing. 

Jessica, was a WINNER of a free Bare session Kelley & I did together and she rocked it. I love the subtle curls we did on her hair and I even threw it up in a messy bun for an outfit. The stocking caps were a must! They fit our "theme" for the shoot perfectly!  Her blue eyes just popped with a combo of golds and charcoals on her eyes! 

Jessica, I loved this shoot & style. You are an inspiration; keep on doing what you do gorgeous! 

You'll Make a Stunning Bride

Are you a Bride in 2017?? Are you dreaming of the perfect day? Do you have every little detail planned? Have you booked your hair and make-up stylist? That's one detail that you don't want to miss! My calendar for 2017 is filling up quickly! Can I just take a second to say, I am SO blessed for that to be an issue?! Like really. I am so lucky to meet and work with some awesome brides! I can't wait! 

I thought I'd share a couple of my beautiful Brides from 2016 and talk a little bit about their styles! 

Nicole - isn't she just stunning? I loved everything about working with Nicole from her lack of wanting to wear lip color (it's a must brides!) to her happy tears that even brought me to tears a couple times! The style we chose for her up-do just fit perfectly with her style of dress. A smoky gold eye & a light pink highlight paired perfectly with her bridal color palette. Just beautiful!  Photo by the fabulous Kelley Photo and Design.

Kayla - I have known Kayla for years, like since we were in elementary school! We graduated together and I had followed her love story on the book over the past couple of years so when she asked me to do her hair & make-up for the big day I was honored!! Kayla has shoulder length hair but it pulled together flawlessly for her elegant up do. Her veil sat right on top for the ceremony but easily converted to being tucked under her do for the reception. Make-up for both the bride & the mother of the bride was very clean & classic. They both looked gorgeous! Photo by the beautiful Nicole Renee Photography 

Tiffany - I got to be part of her wedding events from the beginning (engagement pictures) all the way to the end (the wedding). I also got to meet some wonderful ladies that were in her bridal party! Doesn't everyone look so pretty?! I love mix matched styles for bridesmaids; I think they appreciate having a say in their styles too! Nudes set the tone for this wedding party, as I think they did for 2016! Happy Pretty girls! Photo by the uber talented Kelley photo & design

Jessica - can we just ooh & ahh over her contour and copper eye for a minute?! I mean really, she looks perfect! We went with a low detailed hair style complete with a few twists, but no braids! She didn't want to see a bunch of braids; had me cracking up. Perfectly styled, for the perfect wedding day! 

Tayler - My beautiful country bride! I got the pleasure of doing the bride & most of the wedding parties make-up. Every detail of this wedding was so pretty! I loved that the bridesmaids were okay with embracing some darker color lips (so fun!). She had the best day of fall weather to pair with the best day of her life!  Photo by Staats Photography 

Lexie - When you see Lexie, you can't help but smile! Look at that big ole' smile - she's happy! I had the pleasure of doing make-up for both the wedding & her engagement pics! These bright pink colors were great for her June wedding. Her bridesmaids again were down for some poppin' lip colors & they just look stunning! We stuck with a more blushing nude color for the bride & some killer lashes! Photo by Kelley Photo & Design

Alli - Alli is a friend of the family, as is her new hubs! Doesn't she just glow?? That's what I LOVE about a good contour and high light - you just can't go wrong! We curled her long hair and pulled a couple pieces to the side, along with a detailed small braid on one side too. There was nothing boring about this bridal style. She looks simply amazing! 

There are MANY more gorgeous brides from 2016... Watch my FB as I share a few more on there as we wrap up 2016 and look forward to 2017!! 

 

Baby It's Cold Outside

YAY!! It's finally getting cold! I was SO ready for it to be chilly out. I was more than OVER the 70 degree days. The only thing about the cold is that my skin cries, is yours too? That wind and the cold, can be super harsh on our skin. What can you do?? What do you use? Where can you buy it? Keep your skin looking and feeling "warm" this Winter! 

Moisturize, it's a MUST! For my face these are my ride or dies; Clinique Moisture Surge & Clinique Dramatically Different. These are oil- free, aloe based, hypoallergenic options! Stay away from any moisturizer that are petroleum based; in some cases these can further dry out your skin. The Moisture Surge is pink and you don't have to use hardly ANY. Like the travel size lasts me a good 30-60 days. The  Dramatically different is yellow, I swear my mom and my aunt have never used anything else on their face. I still remember the bottle from when I was like 9 begging my mom to use some. I catch myself saying the same things to my little "this is mommys good stuff".... funny how some things are just timeless! You can find both of these items at your local macy's or dillards. Best part is if you wait till they have their bonus gift going on, you'll get a bunch of other freebies with your lotion purchase! Order online at Clinique.com and get 15% off your first purchase!

Keep you face clean. Every time I hear someone say "oh I never wash my face", "I sleep in my makeup all the time". Are you kidding?! ((Sorry if you are one of those)). Keeping your face clean can keep it from getting dried out & free of blemishes. Make-up is a warden to moisture, keeps the good out and the bad in. The other trick in winter is to change up your cleanser. Some cleansers have glycolic or salicylic acids in them While these do clean your face really well, rotate them out with a more hydrating cleanser like CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, found at Target (yay!). I've been using this everyday and only using my charcoal based cleansers (extremely drying when used frequently) once a week. 

Drink Water! H20 is a game changer in not only your skin, in every aspect. Trying to lose weight drink water, trying to detox drink water, trying to keep your skin radiant (year round), drink water. I keep a yeti at my desk because if I don't have a straw and it's not cold, I know I won't drink it.So know yourself; know what you need to keep up your daily intake of water! 

And lastly, wear super cute winter attire! haha! Just to a name a few of my favorite winter accessories. This Fur ear warmer is at the top of the list currently. Everything fur is the hot ticket item this winter but I just love this! The color is generic, it's furry & guess where I found it?! You got it - Target. For a completely affordable price of $14.99! I'm also really digging these gloves. Are the cutest things you've ever seen? eh, probs not. Are they most practical and warm? YES. They have the smart touch/E-Tip finger, so you can wear your gloves & use your phone at the same time. And my final warmth purchase, this scarf. The cable knit is so cozy! I don't go to Old Navy for much, but this time of year you can find me grabbing 2-3 new colors of this pretty little number!  

Embrace the chill, wear cute things & take care of your skin! Happy Winter!

OMG: I love your curly hair

Omg, I love your curly hair.... Really?? You can have it! haha! My auto response when someone tells me they love my natural curls. If you have them you hate them and if you don't got em', you want them - right?? In the last 2 years I have really started to embrace my natural curls - I mean might as well! 

I started using Mane N' Tail shampoo/conditioner... game changer! My hair was wild, frizzy; my curls were un-tamable and laid limp on the ends most of the time. So like everyone else that ever needs anything I took to Face book for a poll post and pinterest for hair tips. I stumbled upon Mane N' tail, giggled at the idea & then bought it immediately. Price point isn't bank breaking & it comes in bigger bottles. I love it! It's my current shampoo - go to! I also started using their leave in conditioner to strengthen my hair & in just a couple days I could see the difference in my pick... less hair! 

The other thing with my natural curls is, I rarely truly brush my hair I use a pick (old school!) 99% of the time. When I do brush, like if I know I'm going to straighten or something I use a wet brush. Girl moms- you need this for your littles too!! 

Mousse choice is nothing fancy, but I really like it. Herbal Essences body envy; it doesn't make my curls crunchy or make my hair still look wet 5 hours later. It smells amazing too! I just use about a walnut sized amount, rub my hands together, flip my hair over, start at the bottom of my hair and work my hands up. using running and crunching my hands through my hair.

Lastly, for just a little extra somethin- somethin, right after I apply my mouse (hair still flipped over). I'll put my hair dryer (with diffuser ON and on cool/med heat) & blow just a little air at the roots of my hair. 

Hair color by Sarah Moiser at Studio L 

 

That time of year again....

We do family pictures every year. One of my favorite ladies; who carries many titles in my life (Best neighbor ever, most fabulous photog, my naked friend - just to name a few). In short, I simply love her. She braved the bitter cold wind, rain and mud this past Sunday to capture my little fambam (maybe she loves me too?? haha!) As I'm rattling off all the different combos of pictures I wanted, I had to take a second and just give praise to the outfit god's that in the light of day everyone's outfits co-ordinated wonderfully! It looked exactly like I wanted. Isn't that the most stressful thing in the entire world? (that might be little dramatic, but for real) Outfit planning for not only yourself but 4 others too!

When planning this years outfits I knew I wanted to wear Olive Green; normally I chose my colors last to just work around whatever thing I've fallen in love with for one of the kids. Not this year, this year we went around me! Happy Dance! I dig pieces like my green cardi; it was flowy, long sleeve and super versatile! My sparkly tank paired perfectly & I love that you can wear it year round! My two older boys have had mega melt downs about their outfit options in the past (ie: last year I put one of them in a sweater, I'm a monster I know and the year before one had to wear a stripped Henley shirt). So I decided this year, pearl snap plaids were a safe bet I wouldn't hear a word about! My hubs shirt is an Ariat; always happy with how these look on him (the brand does run a little big). I wanted him in solids like me, since the rest of the clan were in patterns. Lastly, my little love. She'll whatever I get excited about and when I asked her about the skirt she said "as long as twirls". Plenty of twirling was done. I adore hats, as you probably can tell, so when I found this one in her size it was a must! Her hat came after my green piece find and there were the two main colors of our pictures; maroon & olive green - two hot colors for the year! Tucking in the plaid just fancied up her outfit some & the boots managed to stay "newish" looking till picture day! Wa-lah! 2016 family picture outfits done! Happy Holiday's y'all!