Makeup: Inspirational looks

I personally love make up.  I love everything about it!  I am constantly looking at magazines, people on the street, television, etc. to get inspiration for looks that I would like to recreate for myself and for clients.  Some of these looks are very exaggerated but they can be wearable if you soften them up.  Hope you like!!!

Hair: Love those curls

Source: (pic 1 & 6), (Pic 2 & 7), (Pic 3 & 6), (Pic 4), (Pic 5)

Health: Plus Size Supermodel Regiment

"I firmly believe that what makes you sexy and beautiful is not the size of your body or the color lipstick you have on.  What really makes you sexy is what you projects, your confidence, and your self awareness, having a great sense of humor and being really smart" Kate Dillon

I have to start by saying that I came across these pictures and I thought they were beautiful.  These women are classified as ‘Plus Size’…and they are gorgeous.  I would love to be ‘plus size’ like them, which leads me to my purpose for this post.

So…. I have been unhappy with my health for quite some time now as well as my appearance.  I would like to be able to run more and walk more…be a lot more toned!  I have always been overweight, but I am getting older and my health is getting worse.  I am not one to rely on pills or crash diets because I just don’t believe in them, so I have decided to get on a Plus Size Supermodel regiment!  Hopefully a life long regiment.

I am going to monitor my food intake and will be working out with a personal trainer from Raw Element.  He is customizing a program for me, which will consist of 4 days a week of working out for 90 minutes for the first 2 weeks, and increasing to 5 days a week on the 3^rd and 4^th week.  I am going to try it for about a month where I hope to see some significant changes.

I am a full time worker, a mom and a wife, and so I have to make sure that I don’t spread myself too thin or else I will crash. I will share tips on food and talk about my week in hopes to inspire anyone who has had to struggle with weight.

Good luck to me! :O)

Sources: magxone, gossone

Hair: Hot Honey and Oil Treatment

Source natural becomes her

I have seen this recipe a couple of times and decided to give it a try last night.  I did a treatment of hot honey and oil.  Surprisingly as a result, my hair was much softer and shinier. 

I use honey for facials and body scrubs because it acts as a moisturizer/humectant…the same thing goes for hair.  It hydrates and binds hair making it stronger and allowing less breakage.

Source kisforkinky

This treatment is great as a deep conditioner or a pre-poo. 

Using the double broiler method, mix honey and oil (I used coconut oil) until the consistency is loose enough to run through your hair.  A Make sure your hair is wet before applying.  Once the mixture is warm apply to hair and cover your hair with leaving it in for about 25-35 minutes.  You can use any type of oil that you like.

You may think that it would be impossible to remove the mixture from your hair because honey can be really sticky, but it comes off rather quickly and nicely.  Give it a try and let me know what you think

Charity: Women for Women

Hello Family!


I have been a part of Women for Women for over a year.  Because I have a family and a couple of jobs to attend to, my soul relishes with contentment knowing that I am making a difference somehow.  I have seen videos and listened to stories that have broken my heart.  Please visit their site for more information and help the cause.

womenforwomen.org

From their website since they put it so well:

Women for Women International could not provide direct financial and emotional support to women living on the margins of hope without the backing of a global community of dedicated staff, volunteers, generous donors, supporters and friends.

Since its creation, Women for Women International has given hope to more than 299,000 women survivors of war and conflict and helped them move toward economic self-sufficiency with our year-long program of direct aid, rights education, job skills training, and small business development. We have distributed $95 million in direct aid, microcredit loans, and other program services. Since 1993, Women for Women International has mobilized more than 250,000 women and men in 130 countries worldwide to reach out and support women survivors of war – one woman at a time.

Our supporters contribute resources, time, and energy to help to make the future brighter for thousands of women survivors of war. With your ongoing support, Women for Women International will continue to address women’s immediate and long-term needs, work to improve their status and opportunities and see what can be done to create a more just and peaceful world.

There Vision

Women for Women International envisions a world where no one is abused, poor, illiterate or marginalized; where members of communities have full and equal participation in the processes that ensure their health, well-being and economic independence; and where everyone has the freedom to define the scope of their life, their future and strive to achieve their full potential.

Charity: Invisible Children

I think that bringing awareness to different issues will be a HUGE part of this blog.  I can't imagine myself not talking about ways to help people in need.  As a culture living in a free country we take for granted all of the luxuries that we have...and with that we still find ways to complain and not be happy about our status in this society.  Whether you do help people in the United States or outside, it is important to HELP.  It is important to understand the atrocities that are happening every day in this world and to take the time to figure out what you can do to support.  You will be amazed to know how much you can do by just sharing information with people.

Right now I want to talk to you about Invisible Children.  Joseph Kony, head of a guerrilla group called the Lord's Resistance Army, engages in violent campaigns against children in Uganda.  He has abducted over 66,000 children and displaced over 2 million since the rebellion began in 1986.  Children would flee there homes in packs at night to try escape this VILE, EVIL, DISGUSTING, WORTHLESS man and group.  They would move every night to assure safety and sleep on top of each other every night.

Joseph Kony is no longer in Uganda but has been making his mark in other parts of Africa.  Invisible Children is a charity and a scholarship program geared to help these beautiful children.  They have raised millions of dollars donating 100% to their cause.

You can shop or donate to help end Joseph Kony's power...and I have to say, its been dying thanks to the thousands of people that have been a part of Invisible Children.

I am purchasing from them a canary purse from MEND, which is made by seamstresses at MEND from Ugandan cotton canvas. Each purse will have the name of the woman who made your bag.  You can follow her story and support her goals for her life since her escape from the LRA.

Please visit their site and learn more about the cause and what you can do.

Love: A gift for him

What lies behind us, and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.  
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Hello family!

I am going to share with you some ideas on what to present to your special love without breaking the bank.  Men love thoughtful gifts as well...so don't forget that.

Ever since I met my husband I have been writing poetry.  In the beginning of our relationship everything that I wrote was about him.  For Valentines day I presented him with a handmade book that held inside the most meaningful poems that I ever wrote for him.  To this day he still reads that book.  I think that relationships get really hard and difficult sometimes...I surely am not perfect, but I do think that this poetry book helps him understand my love for him in those trying times.

I have also been writing in a journal for about a year and a half expressing my gratitude for the every day things that he does for his family as well as those things that make me admire him every day that I am with him.  I haven't presented it to him because I want to complete the journal, but I am sure he will be grateful to know that some of the things he thought were over looked, really weren't.

These gifts are inspiring and will keep the love, respect and admiration circulating in your relationship.

Peace & Love!

Hair: New beginnings

Hi everyone!

I have been relaxing my since I was 6 years old.  One day back in 2006 I relaxed my hair at a salon around my area.  The lady kept washing my hair and washing my hair...and after 20 minutes (b/c I know my hair aint that dirty) I looked up and asked her if everything was okay as I touched my hair.  My hair was falling out.  I was SHOCKED.

Anyway, that forced me to cut my hair, to shave my head to be exact. Soon after I discovered what my natural hair looked like.  I felt so liberated, so natural, so brave and so appealing.  I kept it short for a while and then I let it grow down to my bra, thats when I cut it again.  I thought it was funky, fun and quick since I was now a mother of three.  I never really kept it fully natural.  Once it was long enough I would soften my curls with a relaxer.  I would use my hands and run the cream through my hair, leave it in for under 10 minutes and my curls were a little softer.

Going natural helps your hair grows pretty fast and I went from 1 inch of hair to 15 inches of hair that in 3 years...longer than I have ever been able to grow it.

Now I am doing it again but I am going to enjoy the process of truly going natural.  No relaxers, no hair dyes.  Because my hair is so short I am limited to the products that I can use because there is not much styling that I can do.  I will try to use as many natural products as possible and keep you posted.  I will also share information on those products that are not completely natural but seem to work well with my hair.

At the moment I don't use any gels and my curls are pretty tight so I use Cantu Shea Butter Leave In.  I LOVE IT!  Not completely natural but it keeps my hair soft and moisturized.  It maintains the definition of my hair for a couple of days. Try it and let me know how you like it!

Peace & Love!

Makeup: Natural

As a makeup artist I love bold colors and looks.  They ignite my creativity and keep me sane for lack of better word.  But usually you will find me with no makeup or just a natural look.  Below I have listed some products that have worked well with different types of people.

Concealer- I love Makeup for ever lift concealer.  Its a creamy consistency but it dries mat and flawlessly

Blush- Nars Desire.  You will be intimidated by the color, but it is gorgeous if you apply it correctly.  It's bright enough for dark skin and soft enough for fair skin. 

Foundation- Chanel Mat Lumiere.  This is a mat foundation great for oily and combination skin.  Flawless!

Bronzer- Benefit Hoola.  I love this because it doesn't add shimmer it only defines and adds a subtle color.  Not so great for Dark complexions since it will give you an ashy look.  For dark complexions I use the Sephora brand # D65 or Mac Bronzing powder in Refined beyond bronze...this one has a lot more shimmer than the sephora brand, however, I always go with the Sephora brand only because...it works well.

Lips- Stila passion fruit lip glaze.  I LOVE this product.  Its the perfect shade of pink for any skin color.  Its a sticky consistency, if you want something lighter you can get the Stila Pearl shimmer gloss or Sunlight.

Mascara- Revlon Fabulash

Of course I have many others in my makeup kit, but these are the ones that I come back to often.  Try them and let me know what you think!

Makeup: Red Lips

For purrfect red lips, when applying your foundation rub/brush your lips at the end of your application.  This will make the outline of your lips look clean and will give it a little more definition and pop.  This is Ruby Woo from Mac.  Another GREAT product for red lips is Masochist Weightless lip Cream by Beaute .  OMG it is beautiful!!!!  You can order Beaute products online, although they are very expensive the results that you will get will leave you breathless.  

Makeup: Bright Colors

I love to add vibrant colors to some traditional looks like the smokey eye.  I really like golds, purples, blues and greens for the inner corner or even center of the eye to add a little "fun" to the look.  Hope you enjoy!

Healthy new beginnings!

What is your goal?  Is it to be physically fit, or perhaps taking better care of your skin…a better job, happier relationships, doing something that you love, whatever it is what are you going to do to make that happen?

I have a few goals myself, but personally I am focusing on a couple right now.  One is losing weight and the other is my hobby.  I will document my progress and share it with you in hopes that you can find inspiration. 

There are a few things that you should have in place in order to be successful in your approach

1.     Which goal are you willing to take on at the moment

2.     Schedule.  Knowing when you have time is crucial in order to be consistent and progress

3.     Find affordable resources to help you

4.      Finally, support from friends and family.  Identify whom you can go to for help when the time comes, whether it is babysitting, money, or for encouragement.

I have always wanted to learn how to dance salsa.  I find this dance very passionate and sexy…and who doesn’t want to feel like that every now and then ;) I decided to finally put some time into it.  I found a place close to me that was reasonably priced.  The schedule was perfect, one day a week (for now) since I have so much going on.  My husband agreed to pick up the kids and take care of them on that day, and in order to keep me motivated I have 4 friends that have joined me as well.

I thought that this would be fun for me and healthy, both mentally and physically.  I hate going to the gym, so this is a great way to exercise.

I had my first lesson last Monday and I have to say I had so much fun and was able to sweat some calories.  I will post some videos and information in the future and let you know my progress.

My second goal was to dedicate time to my blog and work on my artistry as a makeup artist.  Right now I have my business cards and am advertising.  Most importantly, I love this hobby and I have so much fun doing it, even if it’s just for me. 

I am a full time worker, a wife, and a mom of three with a limited amount of time to do everything that I need and want to do.  I was a TV junkie and now I have scheduled time to watch TV on Sundays.  I needed to prioritize and television was a comfort that was taking up too much of my time. 

It’s a good thing to take some time out for yourself.  It is even better if you support your partner as well to maintain a balance in the relationship and keep the positive energy moving in your environment.  

DIY Gorgeously: Home Ideas

I believe that beautiful and useful things can be made out of recycled materials.  We often tend to discard of things that can be useful for something else.  Here are some great affordable ideas to inspire you…I was inspired by the jewelry branch.  I will post pictures of mine when its completed.  

Sources:

inspirationforhome.blogspot.com

apartmenttherapy.com

handmadedetroit.com

kellylove.wordpress.com

ineedprettythings.com

Vegetarian/Vegan Sandwich

I recently had a REALLY good sandwich...and was very surprised to like it without the normal sometimes unhealthy ingredients.

Wholewheat bread toasted
Bean sprouts
Avocado
Cucumber (half and cut the long way)
Tomato
Feta cheese (optional)
Italian dressing

You cut everything into thin slices.  I build up my sandwich starting with two slices of cucumber, add tomato slices, add the bean sprouts.  Then I sprinkle a few small drops of italian dressing.  I top with avocado and some crumbled feta cheese.  Try it and let me know how you like it :O)