Playing Dress Up Part 1...

Yesterday I had the privileged of playing stylist and photographer.  These two amazing young women let me style and shoot them and it was so much fun!  I love doing things like this.  This is what being a girl is about.  Playing dress up and experimenting with different styles.  I could do this kind of thing all day long…. If only I got paid for it! I styled two different looks and took a lot of pictures, so I am doing this post in two parts. Thanks again Andrea and Nicole, it was a lot of fun!!

"Hey, I'm a girl, and we like to play dress-up." 

                                                   -Charlize Theron

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NICOLE IS WEARING:

Dress:  Forever 21

Shoes:  Qupid (similar here)

Belt:  Wet Seal (different colors here)

Clutch:  Nine West (old)

Necklace:  Gift from the Philippines

Bracelets:  Mix between Juicy Couture (old) and Wet Seal (similar here)

Sunglasses:  Charlotte Russe

Lipstick:  Maybelline Color Sensational Color Whisper Lipcolor in Coral Ambition

 

 

ANDREA IS WEARING:

Dress:  Forever 21

Shoes:  Madden Girl (old different color here)

Clutch:  Charlotte Russe

Necklace:  Amuse (local store)

Earrings:  Forever 21 (similar here)

Bracelets:  Forever 21

Lipstick:  Tarte LipSurgence Lip Tint in Spirited

 

My Fave Five...

OK, so this isn't my fave five of all time (although there are a few contenders), but currently these are five beauty items that I am totally loving right now!

 

Too Faced Lip Insurance Lip Primer:  As I have mentioned I have recently started wearing lipstick.  Unfortunately I have had trouble with feathering and piling.  This is the first primer I have tried, but it has done the trick.  It's a matte light weight formula and has minimized my issues massively.

 

Tarte The Bright Side Double-Ended Eye Brightener:  Before I became obsessed with lipstick, I was all about the eyes.  I still love bringing attention to my eyes and highlighting is a great way to do it.  I especially love this highlighter because of the day and night sides.

 

Benefit They're Real! Mascara: I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE mascara.  This is by far the best one I have ever tried.

 

Dior Diorshow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum:  As I said... I LOVE mascara and I'm not always the nicest to my lashes.  This primer creates a great base to build upon and nourishes them at the same time.

 

Lime Crime Makeup Velvetines in Red Velvet:  I know I have talked about this amazing lip gloss that turns into matte lipstick, but I love it so much it has to be said again!  With my love of all things pin up and my recent journey into the world of lip color the perfect red lip is a must and this doesn't disappoint.

A Little Neon Never Hurt...



I am so excited, I finally found someone to take my picture for an outfit of the day post!! :) I'm a nerd I know....
Photo Credit: Z.Depina

 

 

Dress: Forever 21 Shoes: Wet Seal Belt: Wet Seal Bracelet: Rock & Republic (old)

Ring: Target (old) Sunglasses: 80's Purple  Necklace:  Forever 21 (older similar here)

Hair Bow: Old (similar here) Lipstick: COVERGIRL LipPer fection Lipcolor in Embrace

 

 

I've always loved neon as an "add on" piece.  A little bit here and there makes all the difference in the world.  So when I wanted to wear my new black maxi I knew exactly how to make it pop!

I am absolutely in love with this dress.  I really didn't like it much when I saw it on the website, but when I went into the store and decided to try it on for kicks I fell in love.  I wanted just a simple maxi dress for whatever, but the lace paneling that initially had me thinking "ugggghhhh" was a nice detail to give it a little something special.  I bought this necklace a while back to go with another outfit that I didn't end up using it for.  I didn't want to overshadow my pops of neon yellow, so I dug it out of my jewelry. To my surprise when I was linking the dress to my blog, my necklace is also what they paired with it.  Great minds think alike!!  Purple is one of my favorite colors, so one of my first ventures into lipstick was this Covergril lipstick.  I think it's a great color stays on really well.  My only "dislike" is that everyone thinks it's red.  It's purple people, it's purple!!!

My July Wish List

1. Melt Cosmetics Lipstick in Summer!:  Of course there is lipstick on my wish list, I've been so obsessed with it lately.  Most of my choices have been really bold.  Now there is nothing wrong with bold (go big or go home, right?), but sometimes you need something subdued.  That is why I am dying to try this lipstick.  It is fresh and light, but still has a little je ne sais quoi.

2. GoMax Ashland 21 Taupe and Neon Yellow Cap-Toe Slingback Heels:  Who doesn't love a slingback?  Add some neon yellow to the mix and they are swoon worthy.  I can see many outfits wearing these in my future.

3. Budding Starlet Dress in Emerald:  I have a wedding to go to in a few months and I really want to wear this to the wedding.  No one is going to be thinking "aww, that poor girl all alone at this wedding" if I come wearing this beauty.

4. Sourpuss Classy Dame Oversized Purse in Black:  It's big, classy, and lined in leopard print.  Oh and there is a built in mirror when you need to do a quick check!

5.  GabiFresh for s4a Hot Pink B/H Convertible Bikini:  This recent heat  wave has been drawing me towards the water (went swimming at my cousins Saturday and went to the beach yesterday), but I don't have a decent swim suit for someone who loves to be by the water.  A bikini scares the crap out of me, but one pieces and tankinis are just not very supportive of those with an ample bosom.  I would like to see if I can add an underwire to make this awesome suit even better, but before I even consider that off to the gym I go!

The Smell Of The Ocean Never Gets Old...

"The cure for anything is salt water- sweat, tears, or the sea."

                                                                               -Isak Dinesen 

 

 

After four long nights of covering night audit shifts, I was looking forward to two days of unwinding (one of which with my cousin Kiyumi that I haven't had a chance to see let alone talk to in forever) and doing nothing.  Then my friend Nikki suggested a beach day and I jumped at the chance for all of us to go and just let go.  So today I packed up my car with my cousin and some of my girls (they guilt tripped me into taking them) and headed to one of my favorite places.

Salmon Creek Beach --- Bodega Bay, CA

I have been going to Bodega Bay all my life, but I have never been to Salmon Creek.  It's always so busy and it makes parking a nightmare. I usually travel up the coast a little ways to beaches less traveled, or places with hidden gems.  I like having the beach to myself or rather ourselves since I have never been there alone.  I was pleasantly surprised by it today though.  It still had a lot  people around, but I think I needed today so much I just didn't care.

 

This little cutie was sitting right next to us having the time of her life

 

 

The weather was perfect today... not too hot, sun shinning, no overcast or fog, and very light wind.  I needed to escape the ridiculous heat wave Napa has been having, and Bodega Bay delivered. It was exactly what I needed. 

 

 

 

The smell of the ocean never gets old.  I love the smell, the sea breeze in my hair (not so much the humidity), the sun rays against my skin, and the sand between my toes.  I have never been so content doing nothing.  I am such a California girl.  I could never live too far from the ocean.  When I go I feel so complete and when I am not there, I always feel apart of me is missing.

 

 

 

 

 

I can't wait until my next beach trip...

 

 

Dress: Target  Hat: Wet Seal  Sunglasses: 80's Purple  Swimsuit: Swimsuits For All (old, similar here)

 

 

 

I Got My Hair Did!

As a girl I am in firm belief that we should experiment with different looks... it's our duty as females.  I would experiment with different looks all time (I really want purple ombré hair), but I do not have the best hair to experiment with and I have this thing called a JOB that gets in the way.

Instead I stick with the same old thing.  I do an asymmetrical a line haircut that is kind of edgy and usually dye my hair blue/black (as rebellious as I can get!) and call it a day.  In order to get this look, I need extensions put in.  My hair is stubborn and won't grow pass a certain point.  I always dreamed of having long hair blowing in the wind, but my hair hates that dream.

The first time I did this, I had tracks glued in.  It was fine, but it was a pain to do anything else with my hair (no lazy up do days).  Then I made myself extension clips which I used for years, but I got tired of putting them in everyday.  Then my amazing friend and hairdresser Stacey told me to try the fusion bead extensions. 

 

 

These are fabulous!  I don't have to put them in everyday and I still have versatility.  They last about a month or a little longer without touch ups needed.  I've been using these for a few months and I can't imagine going back to doing it the other ways I have tried.

 

Before, During, & After

(Hard to believe these pictures where taken all in the same day, I look so different in all three)

 

 

The best thing about these is they are so easy to do. I bought all the tools needed to do it and I do the touch ups.

Thanks again to Stacey for redoing them for me today!  Check out her website, she is also an amazing makeup artist!  http://www.hmuartist.com/

Luscious Lips...

I absolutely LOVE makeup!  I have recently begun an obsession with lipstick, giving me the nickname Luscious Lips.  I never used to wear it (it scared me), but now I can't live without it.  Red is my signature color (I'm also obsessed with anything pin up so that shouldn't be a shock), but I will venture out and try different things.  Lime Crime Makeup has amazing lipsticks.  All of their products are super pigmented.  I haven't had a chance to try out all of their products, but it was love at first application with their Velvetine Lip glosses.



There are only two colors available in this line as of right now (Red Velvet pictured on top and Suedeberry pictured below), but they are well worth it!  They start off as lip gloss then become matte long wear lipstick.  I get so many compliments when I wear them.  I can not wait to try more of their products (especially the Poisonberry opaque lipstick and the fantasy eyeshadow palette in Alchemy) and share them with you!

http://www.limecrimemakeup.com/

also follow them on instagram!