Dirty Girls~ Keep It Clean: Cleaning Your Makeup Brushes

Recently, I've been seeing the tools that people use to apply their makeup.

It's not a pleasant experience....
I've seen sponges that have been used for far too long (and look like there are things growing out of it) and brushes that have never been washed (and have almost a hard texture because there's so much product and oil caked on). 

It scares me...

Ladies, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take care of your tools!
I always emphasize that you should invest in good makeup brushes and tools. It really does make a difference in your makeup application.
Even if you don't want to invest in brushes, AT LEAST take care of the ones you use.

Well. Africa. Fundraiser. 11/17/10 @ Galway Hooker

"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little"

-Edmund Burke

I was fortunate enough to go to Kenya in 2009 and 2010.
My life has been changed from the experience.
Of course not everyone can go to Africa, but everyone can make a difference.

Here is a video of some our experiences.

I.C.E. (iRene, Crystal, Esther) is throwing a benefit to raise money and awareness to help build a well for the orphans at By Grace Orphange in Kenya.  

•For those of you that are my friends, you better have a good excuse not to be there!
•For my subscribers living in the tri-state area that have yet to meet me, come on out! (I'm always curious as to who my readers are).
•For someone who's thought about trying to help others and make a difference, here's an opportunity.
•For someone who just wants to get drunk fast and cheap, there's no better place!


Come on out to get some good, cheap, drinks, meet some great people, win some prizes, and help save the world one contribution (and perhaps a t-shirt) at a time!

Barielle- Nail Thickener and Nail Rebuilder

I used to be a chronic nail biter growing up.
It used to drive my mother crazy, but it was a habit that I couldn't seem to break.
I've always been a bit of a Nervous Nelly and biting all my fingernails off seemed to calm me down for a few minutes and was strangely soothing...

I tried those nail treatments that make your nails taste bad, but it never tasted bad enough for me to stop.

I WAS able to overcome my nail biting habit in high school.
I had an older friend who had bitten her nails for soooo long that her skin started to grow over her nail (So that basically her nail bed was half the size of a normal person's).
That scared the bejeezus out of me~ Enough for me to stop biting my nails!

Happy Halloween '10

I love dressing up, so of course Halloween is a fun night for me.
This year, I wasn't really feeling up to doing anything so I didn't plan on going out.
But a few days before Halloween weekend, I thought about it and really wanted to see other people in costume.
I don't like buying costumes so I thought about what I could easily come up with from home.

I had a robe, a fan, and flip flops.
Here is my costume for Halloween 2010.

It was freezing cold walking around in a dress and robe, but it was fun seeing all the crazy costumes.

Favorites costumes this year:
A couple dressed up as corpses in body bags
A guy who had a children's toy block around his waist---> Cock Block

Hope u all had a safe and fun Halloween!

*~ Have a Beautiful Day! ~*

Karma Organic Nail Polish Remover Review and Giveaway

As I've been looking for more natural beauty products to use, I am happy to have discovered an awesome new product to add to my beauty arsenal.
One item that I always hated using was nail polish remover:  The smell and the chemicals just seem so strong and toxic that it can't be good for you.

A few weeks ago, I discovered Karma Organic Organic Nail Polish Remover.
This organic nail polish remover has been featured in Allure, Health, O, Body and Soul, Shape, Family Circle, and Women's Health magazines.

Loreal Elnett Satin Hairspray

I've heard about Loreal Elnett's Satin Hairspray for years, but I'd never used it til a few days ago.

I was lucky to get my first can of the hairspray from Loreal's Hairstylist Johnny Lavoy.  He's awesome.

The Elnett Satin Hairspray is a standard among hairstylists.

It's been around for over 50 years, and it's a cult classic.

Elnett Satin is the legendary hairspray of choice for red carpet events and cover photo shoots. It's micro-diffuser spray offers a clean, soft shiny finish. So fine, it disappears at the stroke of a brush. So strong it's hold lasts all day.

Say Whaaat?!? Lessons in Listening

"I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, 

but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant"

-Robert McCloskey

I'm more of a talker than a listener.
After many years of my mother's nagging me ("Practice Piano! Do your homework!  Get off the phone!"),  and teachers talking about things I was not interested in, I became an expert at learning how to tune things out.
However, I do think that I've become a pretty good listener when it comes to listening to what other people have to say~ (I may not be able to keep my own secrets but I'm very good at keeping others!)

It's never good to talk to someone that isn't actually listening to what you're saying or is only interested in telling you their opinions.
If you're not a good listener, here are some tips from Michael P. Nichols, a professor of Psychology at the College of William and Mary and author of the The Lost Art of Listening.

The Power of Pilates

Last summer, I lived in bikinis.
This summer, I've been hiding under the largest shirts and jackets I can find.
After months of struggling with what to wear to hide my muffin top (and not the typical mini muffin... I'm talking the ginormous "Otis Spunkenmeyer" muffin tops!),
I was on a mission to get in shape.

Plaztik Mag Issue #18 Pics

Here are some pics from the photo shoot with Plaztik Mag

Loves It.

 

*~ Have a Beautiful Day! ~*



Plaztik Mag Issue #18: Room 125

I was able to do a photo shoot with Plaztik Mag, an online magazine that's fresh, funky, and fun.

I love the way the video came out ~ so check it out and see for yourself!

Click HERE to see hair and makeup by moi~*

Plaztik Mag Video Issue #18: ROOM 125

Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps

I love multi-use products: The more use I can get out of one thing, the more I like it. 
The bigger the bang for the buck~ The better!

One amazing product that has so many different uses is Dr. Bronner's 18-in-1 Pure-Castille Soap.

Unlike any you’ve ever used. A combination of organic extra virgin coconut, olive, jojoba and hemp oils, together with pure essential oils, creates a unique soap that cleans effectively without being aggressive and produces a velvety-lather that leaves the skin silky-smooth and refreshed.

Eat Your Way To Healthier Hair

(This is from an article in Metro New York)

Healthy Hair SOS

Forget the miracle shampoos that claim to fix any problems you have with your hair- a better diet is the cheapest and most efficient way to tame your tresses

The quality of the hair on your head depends on the circulation to hair roots and the amount of nutrients present in your body to feed your hair.  Nutritionist Michelle Kingston tells us the top five hair problems- and how to treat them.

What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted

Love is like a puzzle. 

When you're in love, all the pieces fit

But when your heart gets broken, it takes a while to get everything back together

I've been through my share of break-ups, rejection, and "getting over it".
It doesn't seem to get any easier no matter how much "experience" I gain.
A broken heart (whether it be a small tiny rip or a full-on gut-wrenching "My life is over" feeling) SUCKS.

Here are my attempts to heal a broken heart.

Subscribe for a Bribe! 1 year Anniversary Gift =D

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that

 the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them"

-John F. Kennedy

So it's been almost a year since I've started blogging!
How the time has flown... how much has happened... how much life I've lived in only a year amazes me.
I never expected to find so much pleasure in blogging~ 
I love sharing tips, beauty products, things I love and find beautiful, and especially sharing my experiences with you.

Nina Garcia: The Style Strategy and The One Hundred

I love fashion:  It's a quick and easy way to express your creativity, your mood, your style, and personality.
How you look should not be the most important part of who you are, but it does make a difference and you should make some effort.

Your appearance can affect how you behave, how you are perceived by others, and even how you feel about yourself.

When I wear clothes that don't fit me well/ aren't very flattering, I can feel a little insecure and end up constantly thinking about my clothes.
When I dress up/wear clothes that are flattering, I feel prettier, more confident, and the day seems more special. 

I also tend to get a lot more compliments~ which is always nice   =D