Hey hey hey babe!! If you would have asked me to wear a crop anything last year I would have laughed in your face and grabbed a different shirt. This year I promised myself and you that I would make it EPIC. I stand by that statement in everything that I do. To become great I honestly believe you have to step out your comfort zone and embrace every insecurity. I was very insecure about my midsection because my whole life I have been shown that a small waist is beautiful. I am confident in myself and in my body more than I have before because I chose to not let my fear of ANYTHING hold me back.
Fall is around the corner so instead of buying a new crop top I wore a basic denim button down and tied it to make it a crop top. I am in love with these wide leg pants, they make you feel like you are walking on the runway. Oh did I mention they have pockets!! If you are following me on instagram (you should) you know I have worn this hat almost every weekend during the summer. I am a big fan of fedora hats so when I saw a summer edition I had to have it. What have you been loving all summer? The saddle bag is another favorite this summer that I will be transitioning into fall.
Before I head out I just want to remind you that the giveaway for a bottle of my favorite brush cleaner -Cinema Secret- is still going until Saturday. Make sure to enter HERE.
Hey hey hey!!! I am so excited to talk about this topic because it is knowledge you can use for a life time and share with your little muffins!
As an makeup artist I use many brushes on a daily basis on myself and on my clients. They are used to apply creams, liquids, powders, glitter and so much more.
How often do you clean your makeup brushes? Daily, weekly, bi weekly, monthly, yearly? (Praying you didn't answer yearly.)
Recently, this topic came up when I was chatting with my sister and she asked "Why her face was itching when she applied her makeup." I knew it wasn't because her makeup products where out dated because we just did a full audit of her makeup bag a week ago.(If you want to learn about auditing your makeup bag let me know below.)
The reason her face was itching was because she hadn't washed her makeup brushes since she bought them....2 months ago! She thought she didn't have to wash them - sound familiar?
When she said that of course I thought of you. OMG, what if my babes are applying makeup with a dirty brush. I had a mini panic attack thinking about it...
Just by properly cleaning and caring for your makeup brush you can save hundreds of dollars. And if your like me you like to save $$$.
Spot Clean- If you wear a full face of makeup daily a spot clean should be done daily for best brush maintenance. A spot clean usually consist of using a spray cleaner and paper towel. It is great for cleaning eye shadow brushes and preventing the wrong colors applying to the skin. For example, if you are creating a smoky eye, you should not use the same brush to apply lighter shades. Keep an additional brush close by to prevent a muddy look.
Deep Clean- A deep clean should be done weekly or bi-weekly depending on often you wear makeup. A deep clean will consist of using water, brush shampoo, and massaging the bristles to get the product that has sunk to the bottom.
Now that you know the signs of when to clean your brushes and two different ways to do so, it is time to learn about the AMAZING top 3 makeup brush cleaners.
I have also listed my back brush cleaners below. They are great but require more product to clean brushes.
Are you ready for the freebie??? One lucky winner will win a bottle of Cinema Secret Brush Cleaner ($25 value)! Just click HERE to enter. Good Luck! *The more you share the better chances of winning.*
Welcome back Lux Babe!! A sexy summer date is one of my faves and nothing is sexier than a smokey eye. However, when trying to get ready and beat the traffic in the city I love to go for a quick, effortless look that makes my skin and eyes look amazing. Especially, since he will be looking at those two things from across the table.
This 5 minute makeup look can be taken into any season and worn with many different lip combinations. This weekend my calendar is clear and we are going on a nice date to a romantic lounge. I plan to wear this look along with a fitted striped dress and gold cuffs as my accessories.
E.L.F. Mineral Mascara- I cannot believe how well this mascara performed. It curls the eyelashes and separates them to perfection. This mascara is on its way to being a favorite.
Morphe M432 flat brush- OMG...I use this brush for almost everything, eyeliner, cleaning up the brow, tight lining, and so much more! I literally bought 5 of these brushes because I love them soo much. We will be using this brush to apply and smudge the liner to give the smoke effect.
Lips: NYX Cosmetics- Perfect Red. The name of the lipstick tells it all..it is perfect for a date night. Get those lips ready to pucker! XoXo
Using the flat brush swipe left and right and very sligtly create a wing. The flat brush will smudge the gel liner. Smudge immediately after applying gel liner to prevent it from drying in place.
I love that the bracelet represents confidence, success and the leaves represent growth. Each bracelet is hand crafted and created specifically for you! If you are looking for a custom piece of jewelry I totally recommend TrueVine.
Heeyyy Chica! Have you ever tried on an item, didn't buy it, but later thought about it all the time? That is exactly what happened when I tried on this super cute lace pink romper. It was everything I loved but I wasn't comfortable showing off that much leg. I went home and couldn't stop thinking about it.
When I got home I starred at the beautiful custom made bracelet that said "BE YOU"! It instantly felt like a sign from God...Ok maybe it was my conscience. Anyway, I needed to be me and not worry about showing some leg. I love my legs why not flaunt them a little. I went online and guess what the romper was on sale!! -Yes, I did a happy dance.-
When the romper arrived I knew exactly what and how I wanted to wear it. The bracelet color matched the romper, it was meant to be! :)
The lace and soft blush color makes this romper perfect for date night. I love how it accentuates the waist to give definition to the body. Pair it with your favorite pair of pumps and your look is complete.
Hey hey!! I must admit helping women build their personal style and wardrobe is the best feeling in the world. What I am teaching will help them build confidence, save money in the future, and live a better life overall. However, without help building personal style and a wardrobe can be very frustrating. I see women buying more and more clothes, spending more and more money only to end up feeling the same way about themselves.
Let me tell you...when I started to take my wardrobe serious I figured out I had wasted so much money trying to buy things to fill my closet and not to show my unique style. After auditing my wardrobe I ended up with 7 trash bags full of clothes...SEVEN!
Some where items in my closet and some where in totes that had been sealed for the last 2 years. It was time to say goodbye and hello to new items!
Since I know how building a wardrobe can be time consuming and a headache especially if you starting from scratch, I have broken down the 7 steps to building the perfect wardrobe. You are now on your way to saving coins and feeling confident in your style chica!
Before you waste your money on clothes you MUST get to know your personal style. This is the key to building a wardrobe full of garments you'll absolutely love and will wear year after year. Creating a personal color palette can help you determine and define your personal style. Once you can determine your personal style everything else will fall into place.
Once you have determined your personal style now it is time to create a shopping list of items you want to add to your wardrobe. This also includes doing your research so they are in your price range. Nothing is worse than wanting an item and unable to find it in your price range. If the item is expensive categorize it as an essential or a lux item.
Similar to dieting detoxing you must also do this to your closet. Detoxing your closet creates space for the new items and helps you understand what work and what didn't work in your personal style. Since the new year is beginning in a couple of days try this personal style tip: Go into your closet and turn all of your hangers around. When you get to the end of 2016 pull out all the clothes that never got worn and donate or throw away. This counts for that dress you keep saying you will wear but never end up wearing it.
You know I am always preaching how important it is to have the essentials in your wardrobe. To build your perfect wardrobe add items that are made out of great quality rather than buying large quantities of clothes. Just because you own a lot of clothes does not mean you have style. When building your wardrobe add fabrics that are able to sustain multiple washes. Some garments may need to be dry cleaned depending on the quality of the material.
There is a scene in the movie Confessions of a Shopaholic when she goes crazy over a sample sale. She buys tons of clothes at very high prices only to notice AFTER purchasing the advertised cashmere sweater is made out of rayon, cotton and 10% cashmere.
When building your personal style being true to your authentic look will show how you are unique. Don't try to reinvent style that just makes the personal style building process harder. Instead add your own personal touch to outfits that inspire you. Throw typologies out of your mind when creating your authentic look.
After you have completed the steps above it is time to start picking items to build your perfect wardrobe. When shopping make sure you go by the shopping list you created above. When you shop smart you save money and time. Being prepared keeps you calm and prevents rushed purchases.
Ask if there is a promotion or store coupon. Some stores will have coupons in a drawer beside the register.
Don't eat prior, go when rushing, go with very opinionated people, or when you just got paid. We tend to spend a little more when our pockets are fresh.
If you want to perfect your style and wardrobe you have to practice. Remember practice makes perfect!
Need additional help perfecting your style and building your wardrobe? It's your lucky day because I have 5 coaching consultations available! 2 hours dedicated to helping you discover your personal style and a wardrobe for every occasion in life from grocery shopping to holiday events.
Heyyyy Heeyyy Chica! The summer time is coming to an end and OMG I don't know about you but I am ready for some cool weather. Growing up I always looked forward to the summer time. Ah, those where the days. However, as an adult I loooove the colder months. It's something about layering and cozening up by the fire place while sipping on a glass of wine that makes the day so much better.
With the new season approaching it is time to start preparing your wardrobe. I know it is tempting to shop all the summer sales BUT remember you may not wear that item until next year. So much can change in a year so don't waste your money. Save that money for new additions to your fall wardrobe.
1. Get to the Basics- Building a wardrobe without the basics is like building a home without the property. The basics in your wardrobe are items that can help you create multiple outfits with ease. Depending on your personal style your basics may be different.
2. Audit your Wardrobe- Have you ever purchased the same thing twice? Okay, it's just me and my shopping problem..moving on. Building a wardrobe is so frustrating because you don't know what you have in your closet. Knowing what you have helps you prepare for what you need. I recently audited my wardrobe and found a summer maxi dress I loved last year. I put it on and instantly fell back in love. A few other things I just didn't love so much so they are being donated. This audit will open space for new items and show me how much my style has changed. A proper audit should be done to your wardrobe every season or at least twice a year.
3. Get Inspired- Over the next few weeks start looking at your favorite blogs, magazines, Pinterest boards and even Instagram to start the thinking process. Also, look at old designs and styles you loved to keep your style authentic. If you find yourself wearing red over and over add that as your signature your authentic style.
4. Focus and plan- DO NOT go out and buy all the cute clothes on sale. I know it is hard! Stay focused and create a plan before you leave the house. If you get very tempted and spend frivolously I recommend doing a little online prepping.
A. Check to see if the items you need in your wardrobe are on sale. Be very specific: color, size, pattern, fabric and etc.
B. Ask yourself “Does the price match the quality?”, “Does this item cater to my personal style and flatter my body?”, “Can I transition this item into different seasons and wear with other items?”
C. Add items to your checklist with the price and if possible the item number. Yes, knowing the item number is important. When currently shopping for a client the item she needed was on sale but the store did not have the item. By knowing the item number I was able to call the two other stores and locate the item. A simple phone call can save you gas and money.
5. Get creative- After auditing your wardrobe get creative with the items that remain. How can you wear them differently? If you bought a blouse for a specific outfit consider how you can wear it with other items.
In the month of August I am giving 8 FREE 30 minute consultations to women who are ready to take their wardrobe/personal style to the next level. No more stressing about what to wear to work, business meetings, speaking engagements, special events and in daily life. Schedule your FREE consultation today!