Mardi Gras 2012

Mardi Gras...the mere mention of these two words convey thoughts of: raucous celebrations, beads flying through the air, ear-to-ear grins plastered on the faces of millions of revelers, and of course floats parading through the streets of New Orleans! And while you are mostly right the first thing I think of is all the bright and crazy masks, costumes and makeup you see during the parade! So naturally this year I had to get down on the fun and do my own look. Nothing to crazy or out there but definitely something fun and vibrant! Here's what I came up with!

.:Products Used:.
Maybelline's Color Tattoos
    - Bold Gold
    - Tenacious Teal
    - Painted Purple
L'Oreal's HIP Duo Eyeshadows
    - Flamboyant
    - Showy
L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow
    - Perpetual Purple
Maybelline's Line Stiletto liquid eyeliner
Maybelline's The Classic mascara

How To :: Press Pigments or Fix Broken Eyeshadows

You ever take your makeup bag out of your purse just to find your favorite eyeshadow has shattered?

I have and learned quickly how to fix this problem. I'm going to teach you how to repair this would be disasters problem.

What you'll need:

Crafting board

Rubbing Alcohol

Shattered Eyeshadow

Empty container

Something to mix the shadow

Cotton balls & Q Tips

Paper Towel

Coin

Blow Dryer (optional)

1. Sanitizing the container you want to hold your pressed eyeshadow. You can doing this buy soaking a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol. You can use the q tips to get the corners. Allow to dry.
2. Step 2 - Place your shattered eyeshadow into your container
3.  Slowly (and I do mean SLOWLY) start to pour rubbing alcohol into the container.
4. Start mixing it. At first it will be clumpy. That is okay. Your best bet is to get all the powder wet so you don't get a powder cloud.
5. Once you get the powder to a clumpy goo substance start to add more rubbing alcohol. (Don't worry about over adding R.A. it will dry up anyway. However it does add to the set time)
6. After you've gotten the eyeshadow mixed completely into a liquid form give it a light tap just so you have a smooth top surface.
7. Now you have to options there. You can either A: use your blow dryer to speed up the drying process or B: let air dry. (I don't have that kind of patience.) Turning your blow dryer on its low setting (if you put it on high...well you'll defiantly be wearing your eyeshadow just not the way you really want to....take my word for it...) Note: This speeds up the process but won't completely dry the shadow.
8. Allow to dry over night. (Awful I know! Why can't it just dry... like...NOW?!)
9. Now take your dry eyeshadow and place your paper towel (or you can use a textured fabric scrap if you'd like a prettier texture) inside the container and use the coin to press the eyeshadow. This compacts the shadow so its strong Note: THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO DO!!
10. Enjoy your newly formed eyeshadow! YAY!

Images Below of the steps.

Friday Favorites

Well another week has come and gone! Chicago just got another layer of snow... I was so hopeful spring was near but waking up to everything covered in snow kind of popped that bubble. I'm enjoying a four day weekend as I had to take Gregory to get his wisdom teeth pulled yesterday. This weekend should be rather uneventful. We do have the home inspection on this house though so that is really exciting. But enough boring you with every day life things. Haha! Lets get on to the fun stuff! What are my favorites for this week! (Luckily for Gregory the favorite shoe category doesn't end up in my closet... But a girl can dream right?!)


Favorite Quote: Love this!

Source: piccsy.com via Ann Marie on Pinterest

Favorite Treat: These are one of my favorite candies ever! I seriously can eat a whole bag in one sitting

Source: sophistimom.com via Ann Marie on Pinterest

Favorite Indulgence: Dreaming of summer...

Source: wanelo.com via Ann Marie on Pinterest

Favorite Shoe: Adore these!

Source: static.tumblr.com via Ann Marie on Pinterest

Favorite Laugh: I need no words HAHA!

Source: Uploaded by user via Ann Marie on Pinterest

Milk Beauty Recipes

Milk is an amazing topical skin care ingredient found in many lotions, bath mixes, and cleansing milks. An ancient beauty secret that spans back to Egypt and Greece, Cleopatra was known for bathing in the stuff, and ancient Greeks used yogurt (a milk by-product) like Americans use Vaseline—on just about everything! Milk contains high levels of vitamins A, D, E, which is why dairy products are fantastic anti-inflammatories and great for soothing burns. Milk also contains lactic acid, which is a natural skin exfoliant. Since the extraordinary liquid is already sitting in your fridge for your morning breakfast, give these time-honored milk beauty recipes a try!

ROMANTIC CHOCOLATE MILK BATH

• 3 cups whole milk (if you prefer powdered milk, use 2 cups)
• 5 Tbsp fresh mint leaves, chopped
• 3 Tbsp raw cacao powder Available at health-food stores
• ½ cup epsom salts
• 1 cup cornstarch

Nothing says romance like the sensual scent of chocolate, and this saccharine milk bath will leave your skin feeling touchable and soft for any encounter! Fill up your bathtub with hot water until it’s 75% full. In a separate large bowl, mix all of your ingredients together. Then, pour the liquid mixture into your bathtub and enjoy your soak for at least 20 minutes!

NOURISHING MILK & HONEY FACIAL SCRUB

• 3 Tbsp milk (choose whole milk for drier skin)
• 3 Tbsp honey
• 1 Tsp raw oatmeal, crumbled

Mix all your ingredients together in a bowl until they form a thick paste. Apply the mixture onto clean skin and massage for a few minutes with your fingers. Rinse the scrub with lukewarm water and a washcloth and pat dry.

SOOTHING HONEY CUCUMBER CLEANSING MILK

• 1 chamomile tea bag
• 2 Tbsp clear honey
• 1 small cucumber, peeled and seeded
• 1 Tbsp whole milk

Boil a cup of tea and leave the chamomile bag in the cup to steep and cool. Peel, seed, and mash your cucumber, then strain out the pulp with a fork to retain the juice. Stir the honey into the cucumber juice, and add the milk. Apply this mixture onto your skin with a cotton pad or washcloth, and use your cooled chamomile tea or water to gently wipe off the milk.


Source: Beautylish

Crock Pot Lasagna

Source: justcookalready.com via Ann Marie on Pinterest

Ingredients:

3-4 cans (14.5 oz crushed tomatoes)
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 tablespoons dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 containers (15 oz. each) fresh ricotta
2 cups grated mozzarella
1/4 cup grated parmesan
12 lasagna noodles
6 cups baby spinach


Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, combine the tomatoes, garlic, salt, oregano, black pepper, and red pepper. In a separate bowl, mix the ricotta, 1 cup of mozzarella, and parmesan.
2. In the bottom of a 5-to-6 quart slow cooker, spread a thin layer of the tomato sauce. Top with three of the noodles (breaking to fit if necessary). Spread about 1 cup of the sauce over the noodles and layer with two cups of spinach and 1 1/2 cups of the cheese mixture. Repeat twice more with the noodles, sauce, spinach, and cheese mixture. Top the the remaining three noodles, sauce, and 1 cup mozzarella.
3. Cook on low, covered, until the noodles are tender-especially in the center of the lasagna-about 3 to 3 1/2 hours.

Friday Favorites

This week has come and gone so quickly I swear it's been a whirl wind! Valentine's Day has come and gone. Mr. Gregory bought me a cute HUGE bat & had a dozen of roses sent to my work. It was adorable!

We also put an offer in on a house and are just waiting to hear from the bank and it's OURS! I'm so excited and have been crazily looking through Pinterest, Lowe's, Home Depot and Menards for all the fun stuff we can do to make the house our home!

It is such an exciting feeling so this friday is a super amazing one! Hope all you ladies & gents are having as wonderful of a week as I am!


Favorite Quote: This is truth!

Source: etsy.com via Ann Marie on Pinterest

Favorite Treat: I'm a HUGE fan of Lasagna but now I can make it in the crock pot! AMAZING!

Source: justcookalready.com via Ann Marie on Pinterest

Favorite Indulgence: Looking at different ideas for our new homes.

Source: houzz.com via Ann Marie on Pinterest

Favorite Shoe: THESE ARE GORGEOUS! Wish they were in my closet!

Source: tumblr.com via Ann Marie on Pinterest

Favorite Laugh: This little guy is so adorable!

Source: Uploaded by user via Ann Marie on Pinterest

Golden Smoke & Giveaway Winner Announced

Source: weheartit.com via Ann Marie on Pinterest

Here's is the look we are going for today, it was requested by Jamie Lynn via Pinterest. I loved the look so much I could resist to recreate it. Hope you like it and this helps!

.:Makeup Used:.
elf primer
Urban Decay Naked Palette
   - Half Baked
   - Dark Horse
   - Sin
   - Virgin
   - Hustle
Maybelline Colossal Volum' Express Mascara
Maybelline Line Stiletto Ultimate Precision Liquid Eyeliner
Victoria Secret liner - White
L'Oreal Hip Duo - Platinum (black shadow)
Black kohl pencil
elf brow kit - medium
Sonia Kasuk - brow mascara

Friday Favorites

Well Friday has finally arrived I feel like it's taken forever to get here, don't you? Lot of exciting this to come today and this weekend for me! Picking up Breaking Dawn (Yes, I'm a twilight dork) at midnight. (If I'm awake that is) Saturday we are going to take a second look at a house and possibly put in an offer so that is very exciting! And lets be honest it's the weekend what's not to be excited about your alarm not going off at 7:00am?!?! But enough about that lets get on with the weekly favorites!




Favorite Quote:

Source: myrakaru.tumblr.com via Ann Marie on Pinterest

Favorite Indulgence: Chalking hair, a temporary way to color you hair! HOW COOL IS THIS?!

Source: thebeautydepartment.com via Ann Marie on Pinterest

Favorite Treat: Do these not look DELICIOUS?!

Source: the-girl-who-ate-everything.com via Ann Marie on Pinterest

Favorite Shoe: Absolutely love this shoes! Love that Alice also has a sleeve!

Source: etsy.com via Ann Marie on Pinterest

Favorite Laugh: This is something my mother would do to me LOL.

Source: a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net via Ann Marie on Pinterest

January Favorites

Well January has come and gone already and a lot of people have already given up on their New Year's Resolutions. I've stuck with some of mine but blow a few to. Oh well, there is always next year right? (We hope) This month I got to try a lot of new products and enjoy a lot of them so lets get right into what was I digging for the month of January?

TRESemme Dry Shampoo & Refreshing Mist

True Blue Spa - Purifying Peel Off Face Mask - [Link] - $12.00 large or $6.00 for the mini

True Blue Spa - Supremely Smoothing Face Scrub - [Link] - $6.00 for the mini

Revlon Top Speed - Lily - [Link] - $4.54

Secret Clinical Strength Deodorant - Fresh Water Orchid - [Link] - $6.59

Maybelline's Color Tattoo - [Link] - $6.99

Baking Soda :: The amazing magical powder!

Baking soda was one of the few products many years ago on the market for cleaning your teeth or settling an upset stomach. While we have many more choices today, baking soda still does the trick for these and dozens of other health and beauty tasks. Try it for shaving and shampooing, for minor burns and cuts, or for relaxation in the bath. In this article, you will see that baking soda can be a key ingredient in your health and beauty routine. Let's start at the top with your hair...

Squeaky clean hair:

• Add a teaspoon of baking soda to your usual shampoo bottle to help remove buildup from conditioners, mousses, and sprays, and to improve manageability.
• In emergencies, use baking soda as a dry shampoo on oily hair. Sprinkle on your hair and comb through, then fluff with a blow dryer.

Chlorine remover:

• Rinse hair with 1/2 teaspoon baking soda in 1 pint water to remove the dullness or discoloration caused by chlorinated pools.

Combs and brushes:

• Hair spray and oil buildup on combs and brushes can be removed by soaking them in a sink of warm water and adding 3 tablespoons baking soda and 3 tablespoons bleach.

Hands:

• Remove fish, onion, or garlic odor from hands with a solution of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water or liquid soap. Rub mixture in your hands, and rinse off.

Elbows:

• Rub a baking-soda paste onto your elbows to smooth away rough skin.

Feet:

• Soak tired feet in a basin of warm water with 3 tablespoons baking soda.
• Add 4 tablespoons baking soda to 1 quart warm water, and soak feet for 10 minutes to relieve foot itch.
• Smooth rough and hardened calluses and heels by massaging them with a paste of 3 parts baking soda per 1 part water.

Soothe minor mishaps:

• For sunburn pain, saturate a washcloth with a solution of 4 tablespoons baking soda in 1 quart water. Apply to affected area.
• Ease windburn or poison ivy irritation with a paste of 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water. Do not use on broken skin.

Relaxing baths:

• Baking soda added to the bathwater has a softening effect on the skin. Add 1/2 cup to a full bath.
• Make bubbling bath salts with 21/2 cups baking soda, 2 cups cream of tartar, and 1/2 cup cornstarch. Mix them together, and store in a covered container. Use 1/4 cup per bath.
• Relieve itchy wintery skin in a bath with 1 cup baking soda and 11/4 cups baby oil in the water.

Sponge bath:

• Freshen up with a washcloth dipped in a solution of 4 tablespoons baking soda to 1 quart water.

Deodorant:

• Apply cornstarch to your underarms with a powder puff first, then apply the baking soda.

Nail care:

• Clean fingernails and toenails by scrubbing them with a nailbrush dipped in baking soda. This also softens cuticles.

Baking Soda for Mouth and Face Care

Toothpaste: 

• Mix 3 parts baking soda with 1 part salt. Add 3 teaspoons of glycerin. Add 10 to 20 drops of flavoring (peppermint, wintergreen, anise, or cinnamon) and enough water to make a paste. Spoon into a small, refillable squeeze bottle.
• Sprinkle baking soda into your palm, dip a damp toothbrush into it, and brush your teeth.

Refreshing mouthwash: 

• To freshen breath, use 1 teaspoon baking soda in 1/2 glass of water, swish the solution through your teeth, and rinse.

Dentures and other dental appliances: 

• Soak dentures in a solution of 2 teaspoons baking soda dissolved in warm water.
• Use baking soda to soak athletic mouthguards, retainers, or other oral appliances.
• Scrub dentures, mouthguards, and retainers with a toothbrush dipped in baking soda.
• Soak toothbrushes in a baking-soda solution overnight.

Facial Care - Baking soda can also do wonders for your face.
Exfoliating:

• Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water, and use as a gentle, exfoliating facial scrub after washing with soap and water. Rinse your face clean.
• Mix baking soda with oatmeal in your blender; it makes a great facial scrub.

Shaving:

• Men with sensitive skin may find that a solution of 1 tablespoon baking soda in 1 cup water makes a great preshave treatment or a soothing aftershave rinse.
• For instant relief of razor burn, dab on a baking-soda solution.

As you've seen, baking soda is a valuable asset in your health and beauty routine. Keep some in your medicine cabinet.

Lauren Conrad's DIY Microdermabrasion

We all want that perfect baby soft skin but who has hundreds or even thousands of dollars to spend at a beauty spa? Not this girl and I'm sure there are a lot of you with me on that thought! So it's my job to share all the random finds I come across that can help a girl out! And tonight post is no different, this simple little mixture is used by Lauren Conrad herself! 

It's so simple and is made with everyday ingredients found in your home. Yes, water and baking soda. That's it! These two simple ingredients give your a magical microdermabrasion facial for under the price of $3.00! 

Simply take 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water mix till you get a paste consistency apply in a circular motion and rinse. THEN BAM! Beautiful smooth and polished skin! Love how simple and cost effective this wonderful little mixture is!

Rosemary Beauty Mixes!

ROSEMARY - Primarily beneficial for those with oily, acne-prone skin, rosemary oil and extract both have powerful astringent, anti-fungal, and disinfecting properties. The plant is also rich in biologically active compounds and antioxidants such as calcium, vitamin B6, iron, cineole, and verbenon that effectively tone and tighten loose, sagging skin. That's why these DIY mixes are perfect for this strange winter weather we're having. Not to mention they smell wonderful!

ROSEMARY HAIR RINSE
1/2 cup dried rosemary
1/2 cup olive oil
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat until the oil is warm. Turn off the stove and let the rosemary marinate in the oil for an additional 20 minutes. Strain the dried leaves from the mixture and pour the rosemary oil into a bottle or bowl. Proceed to coat your scalp and strands with the follicle-strengthening elixir, then wrap your hair in a shower cap. Leave the rinse on for 20 minutes as you go about your business, or blow-dry the cap on low heat for deeper penetration. When you're finished, shampoo your hair to remove the excess oil.

ROSEMARY WINTER MINT FOOT SCRUB
via goodlifeeats.com
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1/4 cup epsom salt
1 cup carrier oil such as olive, jojoba, or sunflower
5 to 10 drops rosemary essential oil
5 to 10 drops peppermint essential oil
Mix the sugar, salt, and carrier oil in a medium-sized bowl, and stir until well-blended. Alternate adding one drop of peppermint and one drop of rosemary oil to make sure the scent is evenly distributed throughout your mixture. Store the mix in an air-tight jar in the bathroom, and scrub your tootsies clean every time you shower!

ACNE-FIGHTING ROSEMARY TONER
3/4 cup water
1 fresh rosemary sprig
1 Tbsp black peppercorns
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
Apply this toner to oily or combination skin to reduce blemishes and calm inflammations. Boil 3/4 cup of water in a saucer, then drop in the rosemary and black pepper. When half of the water has evaporated from the pot, turn off the heat and let it cool. After the liquid has cooled down, pour it into an empty bottle and add the apple cider vinegar. Dab the mixture onto your skin with a cotton pad every evening after cleansing. This quantity should last you one or two weeks.

Friday Favorites

Yes, it is finally friday! The weekend is in sight and its super bowl weekend for those who enjoy it. Me personally I plan to relax this weekend and spend time with Mr. Gregory Pants lol. Nothing to much to post about with the week I did get a feather extension put in by my favorite stylist Jacquelyn Marie you can check out her page on facebook here: Hair By Jacquelyn Marie Hastings

I absolutely love it! It's so adorable with my hair up or down! I may be a little late on the feather wagon but that whole tinsel tread just makes me cringe... I can NOT stand tinsel on my christmas tree let alone in my hair! But enough about that lets get to this weeks favorites!

Favorite Quote: Let your courage take you fair, believe in yourself. You'll be amazed how far you really can go!

Source: blog.jelanieshop.com via Ann Marie on Pinterest

Favorite Treat: Can't wait to make these this weekend! I love pancakes but colored pancakes are AWESOME!

Source: iammommy.typepad.com via Ann Marie on Pinterest

Favorite Indulgence: Talk about nail polish heaven?! Yes please!

Source: lillypulitzer.tumblr.com via Ann Marie on Pinterest

Favorite Shoe: Classic black wedges! Love these shoes, still need to get myself a pair!

Source: Uploaded by user via Ann Marie on Pinterest

Favorite Laugh: Truth LOL

Source: tumblr.com via Ann Marie on Pinterest