4 Brilliant Lipstick Tricks

So I've got something up my sleeve, something good. I stumbled upon some pretty genius lipstick hacks and I wanted to share them with you. It makes me incredibly happy when I find things like this and it gives me that Duh! moment. Below are four tricks for those juicy smackers you call lips.

Let me just start this and say that finding the perfect pink is quite difficult for me. I'll be at the store thinking "This is the most amazing color!" and then I get home and it's (for the most part) WAY too light. I don't know if because my lips are darker than the color that it contradicts or something, but this trick makes things easier. Beauty experts say all you have to do to find the perfect shade of pink lipstick is to smile. That shade is about the same color as your gums. Who knew?!

I don't know about you but I get a little jealous (okay, a lot) of women who have luscious lip peaks. And don't get me wrong, if you don't have those peaks, your lips are just as lovely. It's just always fun to play with the shape of them. And if you do want to play up those peaks, here's something you can do AND without using lip liner. All you gotta do is dab some concealer in the middle and around the top of those peaks and blend, blend, blend. Then apply your lipstick like normal. Orrr raise those peaks!

This trick is not something I have always done, BUT when I have, it's worked like a charm. To make your lipstick last, fill all areas of both lips with a neutral lip liner. Worried you'll be left with harsh drawn-on lines? Simply hold the tip of the liner in the middle of your hand and the warmth will soften that pencil. You can also draw teeny circles in your palm and that will soften it as well.

This little hidden trick is my favorite of the list. With my frustration from above, I might have found a way to love the colors I buy from the store without trying them on my lips. Beauty experts agree that when you prime your lips with foundation (or even concealer), it acts like a blank canvas. And when you have a blank canvas, you can paint on any of the truest colors from the tube.


And these are my hidden gems!! What other tricks have you been surprised with lately?

home items for your hair

If you can think of one thing that salesmen try to convince you of in the beauty world, it's that they always have the next best thing to make you look younger and more fresh. Probably the second most advertised beauty product to make yourself better in some sort of way has to do with hair. And that's what I wanted to talk about today. Products that make your hair grow, make it shiny, healthy, and strong. But instead of spending a fortune on stuff that could or could not work, I wanted to find a way to use things that were already in my home. Plus, I'd rather be putting all-natural ingredients on my scalp than any other hair formulas.

1 eggs

The high protein content found in eggs helps with hair's brilliance and overall bounce. Who doesn't want that?! Combined with a couple of other oils, this is probably my favorite in the list.

Whisk together 1 egg, 2 Tbps of coconut oil, and 2 Tbps of sesame oil. My hair is thick so I doubled this. Apply to dry hair and wrap a hot & damp towel around your head. All you gotta do is chillax for about ten minutes. After time is up, work in some shampoo without wetting your hair, and then finally rinse that out and condition!

2 beer

This one is going to be the most fun to try! Oddly enough, your cuticles need some plumping up and the hops/yeast helps with that by swelling the hair follicles. In result -->VOLUUUME. Bada bing, bada boom. 

After you have shampooed but not rinsed your hair in the shower, pour an entire bottle of dark beer over your head. Then you can rinse it out and follow up with your conditioner. The higher the yeast content of the beer, the better this volumizing trick works.

3 olive oil

The beauty of olive oil is that it's the most favorite item for moisturizing over styled and frail hair. It's the favorite because it's so rich in Vitamin E and other fatty acids. No other item can compare. And without the Europeans, we might not have even known about his trick.

Before you hop in the shower, grab a bottle of any light olive oil and comb through your hair from roots to ends. You don't want your hair to be swimming in it, so be sparse. Cover hair with a shower cap or if you don't have one lying around, you can tie a grocery store plastic bag around it as well. Go about your normal showering routine, keeping your hair tied up for at least seven minutes, and then you can wash and rinse as usual. The end result is super shiny, moisturized, and soft hair.

4 mayo

Mayonnaise works similar to that of the olive oil. It can leave your hair feeling luxuriously healthy all the while making it moisturized and shiny. An added bonus is that it zaps some of your frizz. So if you don't have olive oil in the house, you most likely have mayo sitting in your pantry or fridge.

Dampen your hair with warm water. Scoop our some mayo and apply like you would a conditioner and lather on as much as you feel comfortable with. Wrap it up with a shower cap or plastic bag and let it sit for at least twenty to thirty minutes allowing it to penetrate each and every strand on your head. You can leave it on longer depending on how damaged your hair might be. When you go to rinse out the mayo, you might have to wash it several times due to the thickness of it. Once completely rinsed out, you will have all the vitality brought back to your gorgeous strands. AND you didn't have to go to the salon for it!

You can also add olive oil, eggs, or avocados to this recipe.

Which one do you want to try first?!

5 minute makeup

You've overslept and the clock is ticking for you to get out the door in five minutes. Five minutes?! Are you frickin' kidding me?? Well, what do you do?

Personally, even when I do oversleep, I don't skimp time with my makeup. If I were at a different job, then maybe I'd have to reevaluate my priorities. But for now, let's play along.

There are really only five essential products that you need from your makeup bag to "Make it work!" as Tim Gunn would say. You might not be able to experiment with any new eye shadows but these products can get you out the door looking fresh, cute, and still put together.

1. SMOOTH on some creamy yet light foundation so that it covers your entire face. BB, CC, or DD cream would be perfect for this! Also make sure to find something with spf in it to protect your skin.

2. BRIGHTEN your newly covered complexion with a peachy-colored blush. Peach is a universally flattering color. Apply it to the apples of your cheeks and blend away towards your temples.

3. CURL your eyelashes with a product like E.L.F. lash curlers. Some makeup artists swear by their curler brand but I haven't found any differences. You can't beat this one for $1.

4. LENGTHEN your eyelashes with black mascara. One of my favorites is Maybelline Mega Plush mascara. Even when you're not wearing eyeshadow, a dramatic set of lashes can make you look polished.

5. TINT your lips with some colored chapstick. Let's face it, we probably have at least one tube of tinted chapstick floating around in the bottom of our purses. Or if you're a lipgloss kind of gal, wear something sheer and pink so that there is still color but it's not overbearing with the rest of your face. 

Now hit the road, Jack!!

If you're like me and take more than five minutes (or thirty) on perfecting your makeup look for the day, are you up for a challenge? I challenge dare all of you to find five products in your makeup bag that would complete your look for a day. If you need more, then cool! But see if you can apply it all in under five minutes.

123go!!

5 DIY Natural Beauty Tips

Just think about this. Your pantry is now your new makeup case. Say what?! You've got it. I've got a handy dandy list of all natural ingredients found in your kitchen that can also be used in a different way. With this list, you can re-imagine and learn what products will work in your beauty regimen. If you don't know how things will react to your skin, Google it. You'd be amazed at how many professionals live for this kind of stuff.

Introducing, 10 DIY Natural Beauty Tips: From the kitchen to YOU.

1 Mix corn starch, baking soda and coconut oil together to create all natural deodorant. I'm always up for finding a deodorant that doesn't contain aluminum and still does what it says it will do. Directions on how to make it and why can be found here.

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2 Banish dandruff with an egg and olive oil. I'm okay with admitting that I don't wash my hair everyday. I wash it once or twice a week because that's all it needs. The downside is that there are times when dandruff likes to say hello. I've actually try the oil and egg trick and it works pretty well! Directions can be found here.

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3 Mix lavender oil, corn starch, rice flower and arrowroot powder to create homemade dry shampoo. This one is, hands down, my favorite because they get rid of oils AND gives me volume at the same time. Dry shampoos are very popular right now and I know you don't want to spend more than you have to for this stuff. Now there's a DIY version! The blog with these directions has been removed so I won't have a link. If you know if where to find it, let me know and I'll be glad to tag it!

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4 Make a strawberry mask to help a face full of acne. These ingredients are most always in your kitchen so it will be super easy to make. If you didn't already know, strawberries are naturally full of salicylic acid and is what's in all acne cleansers on the store shelves. Here is how you make the mask.

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5 Turn dried beets into blush. This is another favorite on the list. For those of us that keep beets in their house, this DIY recipe turns into a beautiful powder blush. Strawberries can also be substituted. Yay!! Do any of us really keep beets in the house anymore? Didn't think so. The link also shows you how to make lipgloss from beets if you don't want to make blush. 

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What I love about the five things on this list is that someone was smart enough to find alternatives. We shouldn't be confined to only products that are on the store shelves. If there is a more natural solution, more points if it's DIY, then why not experiment?! Go on and have fun with it!!

Do you have any DIY recipes for similar beauty tips that are more interesting? Have you tried them? I'd love to hear your suggestions!

Summer trends for every body type

As much as I would like to admit that I don't have any body issues, I can't because, well, I do. I think we all do. In the fashion world, I would be considered plus-sized. But in over-weight-America, I'm average. I'm 5'10" and I'm not telling you my weight, but...a size 12ish, depending on the label. I often get frustrated because a lot of the trendy summer clothes don't look "right" on me. But does that mean I have to sacrifice my look just because of my size? Not at all.

No matter what body type you have, big/small or apple/pear, I think we all should celebrate that size and dress according to what makes us all look fabulous! And if you don't know what body shape you have, here are a couple of pictures that you can compare with yourself.

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These are the most common body types but there are also a few other descriptions.

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There are a few summer trends this year that I would like to address according to your shape. And if there are any that you have been scared to try, I would suggest stepping outside of your comfort zone and trying at least one of them. You might be pleasantly surprised!

MAXI DRESSES
These are the quintessential dresses for Summer. Every female should own one several.

APPLE This might sound strange, but I would suggest finding a maxi with and eye-catching print. I know you might think that it will only draw attention to your heavy upper half, but it does just the opposite. A busy print confuses the eye making your tummy seem non-existent.

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PEAR Wearing a maxi that shows a lot of shoulder or a plunging neckline along with an empire waist will draw attention up and away from your bootylicious bottom.

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RECTANGLE Finding a maxi with a drawstring that sits at your natural waist line will create the illusion of curves. Or if there's no drawstring, a belt would be super cute too.

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HOURGLASS Hourglass figures are typically a little fuller all around. They have bootylicious bottoms and bigger breasts making them the envy of all women. A cinched waist looks great on your figure too! But be careful with the flare of the skirt. You might need to find something that flares out.

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LEATHER
Leather might sound contradictory but it really can give you that luxe feel and look that you might be going for. As long as you're not wearing it from head to toe--hello heat stroke--anyone can pull off this look. It stormed the runways and it can storm your closets!

APPLE
Apple body types are always trying to hide their tummy and this simple accessory will do the trick. I'm sure you have seen these. A peter pan collar on a flowy top would fit to your body type and still make you look flawless.

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PEAR
A simple idea for leather with pear shapes is to find a top with leather sleeves. It draws the eye up while still giving you that luxe look even if it is just a little.

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RECTANGLE
This leather peplum top will give you curves for miles. If you're searching for something to amp up your straight body type, this is something to hunt for at the stores.

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HOURGLASS
We don't want our voluptuous girls to feel even bigger trying to pull off this trend. So I recommend adding a leather accessory to your outfit. This belt below is perfect because it still accentuates your curvy figure. Embrace those curves!

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OVERALLS MIXING PRINTS
Did you really think I was going to talk about overalls? It's, no doubt, one of Summer's hottest trends right now but I'm not even going there. Just. No. Mixing prints is more of a daring move that we can all pull off with our wardrobes. You might not think you can but here are a few ways to do so.

APPLE
This dress is a win-win. It's an empire waist, drawing attention away from your tummy, and it has a plunging neckline.

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PEAR
Floral and stripes and the most common mixed prints. If you are pear shaped, wearing a skirt like the one below that flares, can diminish the "pear" and accentuate other features.

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RECTANGLE
Finding mixed prints that can break up the boxy body type is something to look for. Wearing something like Solange does below meets that perfectly. Play with this trend.

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HOURGLASS
Not to sound like a broken record, but find some sort of mixed print to accentuate your itty bitty waist. This outfit below is the perfect example.

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See? No matter what body shape you have, there are more Summer trends that you can pull off than you think. Go ahead! I'd like to see which of these you tried!!

SAVE or SPLURGE??

I've always wondered whether it was worth my money to buy cosmetics at department or drug stores. I don't think we need to go broke just to look beautiful so I've consulted with a few of my makeup-savvy friends and they've told me which products they think we should buy cheap and which ones we should give a little more and splurge. We all know we're worth it.

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makeup brushes
Our vote SAVE
You'll probably see almost all professional makeup artists with a bag full of expensive brushes and they might argue that it's the only way to go. It's something about the synthetic hairs versus animal hairs that gives you the best quality. But I can tell you from personal experience that you don't need top of the line makeup brushes. My friends agree that as long as you regular clean them (once a month if you wear makeup every day; I don't, so I only clean mine once every two months), you'll have them for a long time.
My favorites Essentials Tools Studio Brush Set 11 piece, $10; Sonia Kashuk Deluxe Travel Brush Set 8 piece, $20.

primer
Our vote SAVE
If you're wondering about primers, they fill in any lines making your foundation as smooth as a baby's bottom. They also do wonders with setting your makeup. And in this hot weather, we all need something to help out makeup stay put all day long. There are high-end brands that claim they work magic but they cheaper brands have the same ingredients and do the same exact thing. We recommend hunting for a less expensive primer or even purchasing a foundation with silicone in it. THAT is the key ingredient, among a few others.
My favorite L'Oreal Paris Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base, $8 to $13.

foundation
Our vote SAVE/SPLURGE
In my opinion, this is really only a splurge when you are buying foundation for the first time. Makeup consultants at the department store can match your color and suggest products for your particular skin type. With that being said, those of us who have been wearing makeup for years, we already know our foundation colors so it is easier to buy from the drugstore. My friends and I agree that this product could be a Save or Splurge decision.
My cheap favorites Covergirl Trublend Foundation, $7 to $10; Revlon Colorstay Foundation, $10 to $12
My pricey favorite Make Up Forever HD Invisible Coverage, $39 to $42.

concealer
Our vote SPLURGE
Concealer purchases are similar to foundation purchases where as they are best to buy at the department store. It is the one product that can cover discoloration and make you look more awake at the same time. We recommend splurging on this item due to a few reasons: You can get the color matched perfectly, you can find the right texture of concealer (creamy vs powder) for your skin type, and you can even get a few tips on where and how to apply it.
My favorites Clinique Even Better Concealer, $20 to $30; Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer, $30.

blush
Our vote SPLURGE
I'm a powder blush kind of girl and I'm happy because it has a pretty long shelf life. Score! You probably spend every day with your blush and my friends recommend paying a little more for a highly pigmented powder that can blend like nobody's business. You can easily tell the difference between high pigments and a dull product especially when applying them.
My favorites Nars blush, $29; MAC powder blush, $16 to $20.

eye shadow
Our vote SAVE
A couple of years ago drugstore eye shadows were a joke. I only bought shadows from MAC or at least anything else from Sephora. But now, brands like L'Oreal and Maybelline have really upped their game. And I know I recently purchased the Urban Decay Naked palette but there are still comparable eye shadows at Wal-Mart or Target. My friends and I suggest purchasing at your nearest drugstore. And if you're wanting to experiment with different colors, this is definitely the way to go!
My favorites L'Oreal HiP Studio Secrets Professional Metallic Eye Shadow Powder Duo, $9; Covergirl Eye Enhancers 4-kit Eye Shadow, $5; Hard Candy Kaleyedescope Eye Shadow, $6.

mascara
Our vote SAVE
You've probably heard this rule: Replace mascara every six to eight weeks for eye safety reasons. Shh, don't tell anyone, but I don't always follow this rule. I haven't had any bad experiences for keeping it longer but I did have a friend in high school that had a huge infection. Maybe it's the human part of me but a lot of us don't change until something happens to us. If we did actually follow this mascara rule, it would be quite pricey if we bought brands like Lancome or Benefit. My makeup experts recommend a drugstore buy, 100%, and like eye shadow they have more higher quality mascaras in the last few years.
My favorites Maybelline Mega Plush Volume Express Mascara, $6; Rimmel Glam Eyes Mascara, $8.


If you are looking to save on any of these items, it is best to look online for coupons or stock up when any sales are going on in the stores.

7 Household Uses for Vodka

SHOTS, SHOTS, SHOTS SHOTS SHOTS. SHOTS, SHOTS, SHOTS SHOTS SHOTS.

No, Lil Jon, I'm not writing about different shots today. I just know that alcohol has many uses so I wanted to make a list of different household uses for VODKA. Thank you very much. 

First of all, we always have vodka in our house. Is that a bad thing? Maybe, maybe not. The point of this is that when we're not drinking it, which isn't necessarily all that often, it's just sitting and collecting dust on our shelf. So why not make sure that it's using its' full potential?

We don't always buy the best of the best when it comes to liquor. It's not like we're drinking a full glass of scotch or something. We're usually taking shots or making fruity concoctions so it doesn't really matter that it's the crappy stuff.

I'd definitely recommend the crappy stuff for these purposes.

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1. Perk up your flowers.

You've probably heard that by mixing a little bit of sugar to your water will keep your flowers looking bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for longer. But have you heard that by adding vodka to that mix will make it last even longer? It's true. Just add 1-2 tsp of vodka with a tablespoon of sugar and it will give your flowers the envy that everyone craves.

2. Treat poison ivy.

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This one you've definitely heard before. Rubbing alcohol helps with the itch of poison ivy. And vodka is like rubbing alcohol's brother. Just immediately pour it over the effected area and it will wash away the culprit...urushiol oil. If you don't have rubbing alcohol in your cabinet but have vodka in the kitchen, save some money and use what ya got.

3. Shine all of your fixtures.

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Vodka, like vinegar, is used for many cleaning purposes. It gets rid of bacteria without leaving any funky smells behind. And it also works the same with fixtures. You can polish until your heart is content. Just pour a little on a damp rag and rub, rub, rub until the fixture is as shiny as you would like it to be.

4. Make your hair shiny.

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No, I'm not talking shiny as in greasy looking. I'm talking about a head full of shiny and healthy hair. How, you might ask? Because of it's low pH, vodka can help de-frizz your strands. Add one shot to a 12-oz. bottle of conditioner a few times a month and just watch the magic happen. So rather than vodka making you think people look prettier, vodka ACTUALLY makes people look prettier.

5. My pie has a secret weapon.

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If your pie crust is more crumbley and cakey than moist and flakey, then this tip will serve you well. Adding vodka dampens the dough making it easier to handle. Vodka blocks the dough from forming too much gluten and once it bakes, the flavor and smell will be gone.  Add 1 Tbsp of vodka for every 3 Tbsp of water. Easy peazy.

6. Clear skin.

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This tip was one I found online and was, honestly, the most surprised from it. I tried it and it definitely works so that is why I wanted to share it with you! I'm 27 and have weird skin issues at the moment. Screw you, face! I often use astringent in my face cleaning regimen and it always seems to run out in the most inopportune times. According to Dr. Jeannette Graf, "Brew an 8-oz. mug of green tea, let it cool, then add 1/4 tsp. of vodka." Then you would just clean as normal with a cotton ball. The vodka tightens your skin while the green tea soothes it, clearing up your entire face over time.

7. Ease a toothache.

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Dentists can be booked quite often. And that sucks. So what do you do when you have a toothache but can't get in the office for another two months? Simply swish a shot of vodka in your mouth. It will disinfect the inflamed area and and will numb the pain around your gums. Just know that your breath will probably smell like it afterwards.

Do you have any cool household uses for vodka? Or maybe you have uses for other alcohols on your shelf. Share them! It's always interesting to learn what products have double duties.

The battle of the lipsticks

Iiiiii(dragging this word out because I'm a little hesitant to admit this)iiiiii'm kind of a lipstick whore. Is that even a thing? Yes, it's true. If there is one thing in my makeup bag that I have tons of, it's lipstick. And I'll use them with every single outfit in my closet. With my foundations, bronzers and blushes, I like to stick with what I know goes well with my skin tone. But with lipstick, as long as they're blue-based, it's game on for every color!

One of my friends asked if I could pick just one color that was my favorite....and I don't think I can do it, but I'm going to try. I wanted to give somewhat of a review of the lipsticks in my makeup bag. I'll tell you the pros and cons, prices, and if it's worth your money to try them.

The first one I'm going to talk about is one that I've had the longest. This dates back to 2010 when I was visiting a friend of a friend in LA. We went to The Grove for some shopping and wound up at the MAC counter inside Nordstrom. It's such a dangerous place for people like me. Next to the MAC counters were the counters for Bobbi Brown. I've never used her makeup products but this friend told me that I HAD to buy the lipstick no.52 called "Uber Beige". This friend looks like a hotter and younger version of Bridgitte Nielsen and because of that I couldn't say no. You learn to take makeup suggestions from the pretty people. #iwishiwerejoking. Bobbi's original formula has a soft-matte finish, which I didn't realize until this very moment. I have been on the hunt for some matte lipstick (I'll list that next) and this Bobbi Brown splurge is the best of both worlds. It is rich and moisturizing but still has some matte to it. Because of the price, I would say to look for an alternative. But if you don't care about the price and want a very good quality-made lipstick, this is the one for you.

Price --> ($24.00)Nay... Quality --> YAY!

This next lipstick is one that I bought just a few nights ago at Tar-zshay. If you've seen any of the celebrities out and about this summer or in magazines, several of them have been wearing orange on their lips. I'm not a huge fan of the color but I figured if I found the right shade, it would be something different and not your average red or pink. I found Rimmel London Lasting Finish by Kate Moss Matte Lipstick in no.109. This orange is the perfect in-between of red and orange and I promise it's more flattering than you think. It's blue-based and would pair really well with navys, blacks and even chambrays. Your skin tone might pair better with yellow-based oranges. Play with some and see what works best. Since I am a little skiddish of the color, the matte-ness of it helps calm me down, but on the other side it doesn't quite moisturize like other brands. None the less, I feel more confident wearing it. Rimmel London's makeup products are more affordable and because of that, I say go out and try some new colors. Whether it be orange or plum, you can rock it!!

Price --> ($5.19)YAY! Quality --> Meh...

This lipstick I actually found at the Flea Market in downtown Nashville. They have buildings full of different things and one is designated for makeup, hygiene and basics like socks and t-shirts. The makeup always has some sort of crazy deal like 6 for $5.00 or 3 for $2.00. It's like I'm in Heaven! They don't have much variety but they always are chock full of lipstick. I found my perfect red. Maybelline's Color Sensational lipstick in Red Revolution, no.630 is THE LIPSTICK to beat in my book. It makes my teeth look whiter, it moisturizes my lips to the fullest, and doesn't smudge unless I mean for it to. I love this particular lipstick brand so much that I have five other colors!

Price --> ($5.14)YAY! Quality --> YAY!

This last one I'm going to mention is Covergirl's Outlast All-Day Lipcolor in "Berry Stain" no.815. I bought this back in 2010 for my wedding. Jerry was worried about having color left on his lips after we kissed so I was looking for more of a long-wear product, or even a stain. I saw this stuff on the shelf and was very curious about how it would hold up throughout the day. It does what it says it will do. You apply it like a lip gloss, but it is recommended to keep your lips open for the next 20 seconds until it dries. This sets the color, without smudges, until you take it off yourself. This color is gorgeous! Buuut, I don't like that I have to use makeup remover to get it completely off my lips. Here are a couple of pictures from the wedding.

Price --> ($7.49)Meh... Quality --> Meh...

Of these four that I reviewed for my favorite people out there, considering price AND quality, I would suggest you trying the Color Sensational lip products by Maybelline. They offer sixty-freaking-eight color options. If you're in the mood for pink, you can choose one of those. And if you're in the mood for neutrals, they have those to choose from as well. So many different colors. Have fun with your lips!!

Twofers

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Step right up, come and get 'em! I've got two for one specials today. Twofers are one of my favorite things in the world aside from cotton candy and Ellen Degeneres, of course. As an emerging makeup artist, I have been trying to find some ways to show friends how to save money with the products they already have in their makeup bags. Some of these you might have already heard about, but I wanted to give you a list of my favorite makeup twofers.

1. Lipstick --> Blush. Let's say you spent the night at a friend's house last night and you also have brunch planned with a blind date the next day. You didn't think through your packing situation and it did not even cross your mind to bring your makeup. What can you do?? Blush is the little bit of color needed to brighten up your face. We already established you don't have blush so now what? Reach in your purse and pull out any lipstick. Tinted chapstick would work well too! Gently dab it on the apples of your cheeks and use your ring finger to dab, blending up and away like you normally would apply it. It will give you that dewy yet fresh look that your blind date will instantly notice.

2. Mascara --> Eyeliner. I don't always carry either of these in my purse but if I had to guess what makeup you did carry with you, I can bet mascara is one of them. I read about this trick in a magazine and I never would have thought of it on my own. Smudge mascara from its' wand on your hand. Grab a small angled eyeliner brush and rub that smudged area with the brush applying it to your lash line. It will create a smooth line as if you were using a pencil the whole time. I tried this for the first time a few weeks ago and I couldn't quite get the hang of smudging the mascara from the wand to my hand but it's possible with practice!

3. Moisturizer + Foundation --> Your very own BB Cream. If you remember from one of my last posts, I talked about applying less foundation in the summer. This is another alternative. Squirt the normal amount of moisturizer in your hand and add a tiny drop of your liquid foundation in that same hand. Rub together to get them properly mixed and all you have to do is apply it to your face. It will even your skin tone, moisturize your face, and still allow your face to breathe. Easy peazy!!

4. Lipstick --> Matte. I have been scared to try the matte lipstick look. I don't really know why either. Shiny lips are horrible for my huge pout so you would think I'd be all over the opposite effect. If you have already tried this look and love it, here is something that would save you money. Rather than buying matte lipstick, there is something you can do to make it matte on your own. Apply your lip liner and lipstick like normal. Blot the excess color and then gently dab translucent powder or even blush to your lips until they are the desired matte effect. Who knew?!

5. Brown sugar + Honey --> Exfoliator. This is one of the tricks that I am sure you've read before. There are probably some really good exfoliating products out on the market but they can tend to be on the pricey side. Rather than wasting spending your money on something you don't need, try mixing brown sugar and honey together, mix it until it becomes pasty, and apply to your face. It will buff away all of the dead skin leaving it smooth and radiant.

6. Cinnamon --> Lip plumper. This has to be the easiest AND coolest trick! Cinnamon oil is one of the most common ingredients with lip plumping products. Although the spice in your kitchen doesn't quite do the trick, finding it in your all-natural grocery stores will hardly put a dent in your wallet. And if you're lacking in the big lip department, I'd say this might be the one you try on this list!

There are a ton of more tricks out there especially some non-makeup related ones. I'd love to hear about your favorites! Do you have any similar to mine?

Sweat-proof your Makeup this Summer

As anyone in the South knows, summer months can be a scorcher. It's one thing to be 95 degrees, but to be that temperature AND humid makes it feel like it's 120 degrees. I'd rather be living anywhere else in the county at this time of the year--my exception is when we're on vacation at the beach--or Iceland. We're supposed to be hot down at the beach. I really don't want to look like this.

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Since I've recently switched my powder foundation to liquid, I wanted to share some of my secrets for keeping it mess-free and melt-free.

Go lighter. My first suggestion would be to lighten up, not choosing a lighter color foundation but choosing to apply less in the summer. We'll all get somewhat of a tan and that glow brings color to your face without having to try. You might could try switching to a powder foundation like Bare Escentuals mineral powder foundation during these three hot months. Or you could even use a tinted moisturizer like the one ELF sells.

But if you still want fuller coverage, here are a few other things that would help tremendously.

Prime it. Applying a makeup primer helps set your face. This article shows the top priming products in the industry right now. As you can see from this list of twelve, primers can be quite pricey. My favorite on the list, for price reasons only, would be the Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Luminizing Face Primer. It acts as a barrier not letting any of the harsh environmental elements get to your face and it also helps keep the oil from shining through. Primers would be applied after your moisturizer but before your foundation. If you don't want to add just another product to your makeup bag, another suggestion would be to find a liquid foundation with silicone in it. I know that sounds unnatural to have on your face but silicone is the ingredient that sets your makeup, keeping it mess-free all day.

Choose a liquid liner. Are you crazy?! I am NOT good at applying liquid liner! I know what you all must be thinking but I promise this is definitely the way to go in the summer. The waxes and oils in traditional pencil liners, whether retractable or not, smudge more as the temperature rises. Liquid really assures that it will stay put all day long. You won't even have to touch it up if you have plans to go out that night. My favorites are Almay Intense i-color liquid liner in black pearl or ELF Essential liquid eyeliner in black. The Almay liner is a little easier to apply because the brush is stiffer. It helps if you have an unsteady hand and is almost as easy as applying a regular pencil.

Blot it. This is another beauty trick that I wasn't always apt to do. One reason is that I hated having another thing in my purse that always ended up at the bottom of the pit never to be touched again. Another reason is that I honestly thought they were a waste of money. They aren't expensive, I just thought they weren't needed. But blotting can save your face! If you're like me and have switched to liquid foundation for more coverage, you probably know that oil shows more by the end of the day. And rather than adding more makeup (because we want our faces to look like cake, right?), all you have to do is take out one of the blotting sheets and blot in the necessary spots. One of the blotting products that I've actually used in the past is Clean and Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets. But if you still aren't convinced to buy them, you can use one of these two every day items. Parchment paper from your kitchen works wonders! Also, and this might seem a little weird or gross but when you're heading to the restroom to make sure your face still looks beautiful and you notice oil shining through, go into one of the stalls and tear and piece of the toilet seat liner from the corner and it works just like a blotting sheet! Now you learned something new!!

Change your lipstick. I'm always a go-to lipstick girl. But wearing it in the summer can sometimes weigh down the look of your makeup. I don't always choose the opposite item and go for glosses either. I've found this product by Maybelline called Color Whisper. It is the perfect medium between glosses and lipstick and is in a gel without any waxes or oils. My favorite colors are Pink Possibilities and Lust for Blush but they have twenty different colors so you're bound to find the perfect color for you!

And there ya have it! My top 5 ways to sweat-proof your makeup this summer.

101 Things to do with Ramon Noodles

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Before you write me off for my love affair with Ramen Noodles, hear me out. Raise your hand if you would rather spend your time doing something other than cooking. Raises hand. And raise your hand if in those moments you do need to cook, a big meal would leave you with no time left in the night. Raises hand again. Jerry rides the train to and from Nashville and we don't get home until 6:15ish. We have to get him at the station in the mornings by 7:07 so we can't use a crockpot meals and it's hard to cook a well-balanced meal after 6:15 when we really should be finished with dinner by 6:30 or 7 pm.

I started this affair in college. And in college, lazy became my primary trait. I'm such a winner. I'm sure that 95% of our American population has eaten Ramen Noodles at least once in their lives. They're salty, have lots and lots of noodles, and are the perfect food when you're high. I promise I've never been high. 

One of my stocking gifts for Christmas a few years ago was this book above, "101 Things to do with Ramen Noodles", and it has some pretty creative ideas to mix up what you're used to knowing about them. So whether you're high, hungry, lazy or whatever, find this book and try the recipes.

Toni Patrick breaks up the book in several sections. Here is a list of some of my favorites.

1. RAMEN BURGERS
     1 pkg. beef ramen noodles, with seasoning packet
     1 lb. ground beef
     1 egg
     Hamburger buns
     Condiments
Cook noodles 1 1/2 minutes and drain. Add beef, egg, and 1/2 of the seasoning packet. Mix well and form into four patties. Grill or cook 5 minutes per side, or until done. Serve with the usual hamburger fixings. Makes 4 hamburgers.

2. RAMEN FAJITAS
     2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in strips
     1 1/2 cups sliced onion
     1 cup sliced red or green bell peppers
     2 cups salsa
     2 pkgs. ramen noodles, any flavor
     1/2 cup sour cream
In a frying pan, brown chicken until done. Add onion, peppers, and salsa and cook over medium heat until vegetables are tender. Cook noodles in water according to package directions and drain. Serve chicken mixture over warm noodles and top with sour cream. Makes 2 servings.

3. TWICE-BAKED TUNA CASSEROLE
     2 pkgs. ramen noodles, any flavor, with seasoning packets
     2 cans tuna, drained
     1 cup cheese
     1/2 cup chopped onion
     1 cup crushed potato chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook noodles in water according to package directions and drain. Season with 1 seasoning packet. Mix tuna, cheese, onion, and noodles together in a small casserole dish and bake 15-20 minutes. Sprinkle chips over top and bake 15 more minutes. Makes 2-4 servings.

4. MEATY SPAGHETTI
     2 pkgs. ramen noodles, any flavor
     1 to 2 cups spaghetti sauce
     1 lb. ground beef or sausage, browned and drained
     Grated Parmesan cheese
Cook noodles in water according to package directions and drain. In a saucepan, heat sauce and cooked beef over medium heat 3-5 minutes, or until heated through. Spoon sauce over warm noodles and then sprinkle with cheese. Makes 2-4 servings.

Like the title mentions, there are 101 things to do with ramen noodles. These were just some that we loved. Are there any maybe-not-so-good foods that you want to try with other ingredients? Or has this post sparked some ideas in your head? Share those with me and we can share the recipes together!!