A quick note. . .

Gilded holiday fotd and photo tutorial

Hi Nesters,

Here is my first look using Meow's holiday collection "Holiday Wishes." In this look, I also used a blush from their holiday collection "Sugarplums," as well as a glow powder from yet another holiday collection "Ghost Stories." Click here to check out all of Meow's beautiful limited edition holiday collections (there are quite a few).

1. Prior to beginning my eyeshadow application, I apply my moisturizing sunscreen and let it soak in. Then I apply my mineral foundation. After that, I start off all of my eyeshadow looks with a very light application of Aromaleigh's shadow base in medium. A little of this base goes a very long way so (like with most shadow primers). All you have to do is lightly pat-pat-pat your ring finger into the container a few times and then lightly pat-pat-pat again all over your eyelid from lashes to brows. This step is a must for applying loose mineral powder shadows so they will stick to your skin well and last all day.

2. Apply Love to inner to inner corner of lid overlapping into the center 1/3 of the lid. I used Target's large shadow brush for this step.

3. Apply Wonder to center of lid in a patting motion slightly overlapping into the outer 1/3 of the lid. I used Target's large shadow brush for this step.

4. Apply Holiday Spirit to outer corner using a patting motion (I used Target's small shadow brush). Then sweep it into the crease using a back and forth motion making the shape of a filled in "v." If you hear people talking about the "outer v," this is what they are referring to. I used a pointed silk fiber brush for this step.

5. Apply Serenity just slightly above crease color to blend and soften.

6. Apply Oyster underneath brows and in the inner corner area to soften all of the edges. I used a crease/shader brush from ecoTools for this step.

7. Apply Chocolate Mousse gel liner to top and bottom lash lines. I used Target's smudger brush so my line would be soft. You can use a thin liner brush if you want a more defined look.

8. Here I applied a soft black pencil to my waterline, mascara and brow powder to complete the look.

I used Meow's Sugarplum blush on my cheeks and Present glow powder on my cheekbones.


My outfit of the day: heathered brown wrap sweater, boot cut jeans and a scarf.

*Samples of Meow's holiday collections were gifted to me for objective review purposes.

Aromaleigh Astronomical Look III and my first step-by-step photo tutorial

Hi Nesters!

For my third look using Aromaleigh's limited edition collection "Astronomical," I decided to do a quintessential gradated neutral eye. And to show you how I accomplished this look, I took a photo after every step of my application process. For those of you who are new to makeup or those who are looking for an application technique that might be different from what you usually do, I hope you find this photo tutorial helpful. In the future, I might attempt a video tutorial but I'm not making any promises. ;)

Color Descriptions:

Neutrino (Astronomical) - borealis twinkles in a base of warm milk-chocolatey brown plush
Ephemeris (Astronomical) - semi-metallic cool taupe exhibits pinky-gold highlight and aurora borealis twinkles
Milky Way (Astronomical) - cream-coloured velvet adorned w/soft golden highlight and subtle blue glimmer
Oyster (Carolina Summer Matte) - matte pale cream/yellow
Umber (Pure Eyes Matte) - matte deepest brown

What I used on the rest of my face. . .

Foundation - Meow Flawless Feline in Frisky Manx (this is a little light for me but I wanted to use up some samples I had)
Finishing Powder - Aromaleigh Ultra Resolution Finishing Powder in Clear
Cheeks - Aromaleigh Perle Powders in Incandesce on cheekbones and Whisper on apples
Lips - Aromaleigh Shortcake
Lashes - Covergirl Professional WP mascara in Very Black


1. Prior to beginning my eyeshadow application, I apply my moisturizing sunscreen and let it soak in. Then I apply my mineral foundation. After that, I start off all of my eyeshadow looks with a very light application of Aromaleigh's shadow base in medium. A little of this base goes a very long way so (like with most shadow primers). All you have to do is lightly pat-pat-pat your ring finger into the container a few times and then lightly pat-pat-pat again all over your eyelid from lashes to brows. This step is a must for applying loose mineral powder shadows so they will stick to your skin well and last all day.



2. Apply Neutrino to outer corner and slightly into the crease using a back and forth motion making the shape of a filled in "v." If you hear people talking about the "outer v," this is what they are referring to. I used a pointed silk fiber brush for this step.



3. Apply Ephemeris to lid in a patting motion slightly overlapping the crease color. I used Target's large shadow brush for this step.



4. Apply Milky Way to inner corner of lid overlapping slightly into the lid color. I used a crease/shader brush from ecoTools for this step.



5. Apply Oyster all over the area between crease and brows. I used the same brush from step #3.



6. For this step, I used a thin liner brush dipped in water and then into Umber and lined the entire upper lash line winging out slightly at the outer corner. I used my ring finger to slightly smudge the edge of the liner closest to the inner corner to soften.


7. In this photo, I added a brown gel liner 3/4 of the way underneath my lower lashes using the same thin liner brush that I used in step #6 and I softened it using a natural hair smudger brush. I curled my lashes and added some brow powder and mascara. I cleaned up any loose mineral eyeshadow that happened to fall underneath my eyes or in my cheek area using a flocked sponge dipped in my mineral foundation. After that, I applied my blush and lipstick.






Photos are unretouched.




Click here to view a post about my favorite brushes.

* Aromaleigh Astronomical eyeshadow descriptions courtesy of Tanya at Easily Distracted blog.

Aromaleigh Astronomical Look II

Hi Nesters! Here's the look I did yesterday using Aromaleigh's limited edition collection "Astronomical." The descriptions are from the lovely Tanya of the blog Easily Distracted (btw, she's hosting a blog giveaway in which the prizes are Aromaleigh eyeshadow). My intent with this look was to use Ephemeris on my lid and Extra-Galactic in my crease. However, when I reached for the eyeshadow my brain must have said "grab the Extra-Galactic" because when I applied it to my lid I let out a little gasp of surprise when I realized my error. Instead of wiping it off and starting over, I figured it was a happy accident and went with it. I simply reversed the placement I had intended and I think the results are pretty. Color descriptions and where I applied them. . . Extra-Galactic: semi-metallic deep mauve reflects pale pink interference and flashes o fuchsia - lid Ephemeris: semi-metallic cool taupe exhibits pinky-gold highlight and aurora borealis twinkles - crease and outer corner Perihelion: semi-metallic ultra-pale sage green gleams w/prominent gold highlight and flashes of pale violet - brow bone highlight Escape Velocity: sheer “deep space” indigo satin enhanced by smoky lowlight, pale blue highlight, and sparks of both deep and pale blue - mixed with water and lined on upper lash line Mega Parsec: sheer burgundy pearl w/a subtle pink highlight and flares of gold glitter - underneath lower lashes Retrograde: fuchsia pearl displays coppery lowlight and a hefty payload of copper sparkle - cheeks

Getting our nest ready for Christmas

This year, the kids had a large role in getting the tree decorated. Sierra, who was assigned the top half of the tree, is quite a perfectionist (hmm, I wonder where she gets that from?) and takes great care in finding just the right spot for each ornament. Cameron, who got the bottom half, is now old enough NOT to hang them all in the same spot. In fact, he showed quite a flair for strategic placement. Aside from a few arguments between them. . .Mom, Sierra just grabbed an ornament out of my hand!. . .they did a beautiful job.

Listening to "sounds of the seasons" on cable while decorating

One of six vintage inspired glass car ornaments.

I received this one at my cookie exchange this year. Isn't he cute?

A friend gave me this one about 5 years ago. It's still one of my favorites.

Cameron's favorite.

I bought only one ornament this year. . .a lovely sparkly key.

Of course, I must have birds on my tree.

Lots of beautiful angels.

Voila!

Our mantel with stockings made by Nana (my paternal grandmother) and a "Teddy Bear" garland I made.