Mani Monday: Pinstripes in Silver & Black 1-13-14

Who doesn't love a pin stripe? This mani has a twist. Razzle Dazzle, a black polish from OPI, is the base for our accent nail. And then any plain silver will do for the base on the rest of the nails. I used a silver from one of my Birchboxes. It was called Martini by Nail Club. Now for that twist? Silver metallic pinstripes (I used Kiss Nails silver metallic striper) on every nail. I wish the pictures did this justice. In real life the effect of the silver metallic stipes on the silver base was incredible. Such a cool look and so worth a try. 

Mani Monday: Red & Gold 1-06-14

Happy New Year you fabulous people! I can't believe it's 2014. Seriously, I'm in denial. So let's bring in the New Year right with a rocking mani. This one was so easy and such a statement on your nails ...you have to try it! As the nail base I used a beautiful red from Revlon called 'Cherry Crush'. If you don't have it you could substitute Revlon's 'Cherries in the Snow' or any other cool-toned bright red. Let it dry and use some scotch tape and the throw a metallic gold from OPI called 'The Next CEO' on the tips. I realize I use this gold on almost every mani. But it's too beautiful to let sit on the shelf! That's it...the whole look. Gorgeous! (And sorry for the dry hands in the pic - this winter is sucking the moisture right out of me.)

Happy New Year!

As the clock strikes 12 midnight wherever you are, may you ring in the new year ahead with joy, love, health and prosperity. Wishing all of my amazing friends, fans, and family from around the globe a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Tip Tuesday: Complimentary Colors to Make Your Eyes Pop

Remember that opposite colors on the color wheel tend to cancel each other out. But ...if you place them side by side, they do something extraordinary. They make each other stand out. 

It's a simple concept, but a crucial one when you're choosing the most flattering eyeshadow colors for your look. 

Some inspiration:

For blue eyes: Since orange is the opposite color of blue, anything with orange in it will make blue eyes stand out more. It doesn't have to be a bright pumpkin color — it just has to have orange-hued undertones like gold, apricot, or peach.

For green eyes: Red is the opposite color of green. I wouldn't recommend you slap on any cherry red-colored eyeshadow to your lids. But your green eyes pop if you use colors that have red undertones, like deep plums and wine.

For brown eyes: Brown is a neutral color, so any color will work well. The most standout colors are blue and purple.

I hope you learned something useful. Thank you for your time, and stay beYOUtiful!

- Becky xoxox

Mani Monday: Black & Gold 12-30-13

I did two variations of this nail, you'll see them in the pictures below. The base is a beautiful sparkly black by OPI called "Razzle Dazzler" and the golden spots were done with OPI's "The Next CEO", a beautiful sparkly gold. The look is classy and understated, and the sparkles are great for this time of year. The variations in the looks are with the double dots on the pointer through pinky fingers. In the first picture I did two dots a little larger and more centered on the nail. The last shots are of two smaller dots that are closer to the cuticle. It's just a matter of which look you prefer for yourself. Both thumbs have three small dots close to the cuticles. And, of course, the golden accent nail wraps up the look nicely. I tried using a dotting tool for this look but found it more difficult than just using the brush that came with the polish. Take your time and make beautiful things happen! :)

Five Things Friday 12-27-13

Merry Christmas everyone! I'm so sorry this post is going up late. We're far from home and the holidays are crazy with three kiddos, so I'm a little slow. Having said that, I've got my five favorite things about Christmas and also my five favorite beauty things from this week. Let's begin...

Five Favorite Things About Christmas:
1. Family Time

It is a rare occasion in our family where we all still get together. Funerals, weddings, and ...Christmas. Not only do we get to see old faces and catch up on what's new, those of us with kids finally get a temporary reprieve from constant kid-watching because of the extra sets of eyes around. It tickles me heart knowing we're laying down new memories for the kiddos and starting new traditions in the process.

2. Christmas Cookies

I have a wicked sweet tooth. Baked sweet goods are especially delicious. Christmas is the perfect excuse to bake every cookie recipe known to man, and the best part? Then we get to eat them.

3. Amazing Food

The same idea as the cookies... Christmas gives us the best excuse to buy and serve the best cuts of meat and to prepare the family recipes passed down for generations that our new culturally-dictated low-carb, low-sugar, low-fat, blah blah blah ad nauseum diets dictate we avoid.

4. White Christmas

Some people associate Christmas with football games, old war movies or Lawrence Welk. Me? Christmas isn't finished until I've watched Irving Berlin's "White Christmas". Bing Crosby has got to have the best voice in the history of men.

5. Ugly Christmas Sweaters

One person's ugly sweater is another's festive cheer. I love those knitted vests and sweaters ariot with color and depicting Christmas scenes. Try wearing one any other day than Christmas and they'd have me committed. But Christmas? Break out the poppers and cliche wardrobe.

Five Favorite Beauty Things:
1. Boots No7 Hot Cloth Cleanser

This isn't like Eve Lom or Liz Earle. There's no essential oil scent and the cleanser is more foamy than the others. But there is something deliciously creamy and soothing about this hot cloth cleanser. It's advertised as a facial every night. And they aren't wrong. I feel my pores being cleansed. And even though the cleanser is foamy, it doesn't dry out my skin. I can only describe the experience as luxurious. The muslin cloth that comes with the cleanser is larger than the others that I've used and does a good job. I call it a muslin cloth, but it's more like cheese cloth. I'm not sure how else to describe it. 

2. Boots No7 Hydrating Mask

Tis the season for dry skin and flaky lips. Ugh. I've been looking for a hydrating mask, something other than a DIY honey mask. My local Target has started carrying the No7 product line and this mask looked amazing. Merry Christmas, me! I put it on and left it on for the full 10 minutes, although they say only 3 will do. The first day of our trip, my skin was feeling crispy. A slathering of this stuff and it's been hydrated heaven ever since.

3. Nyx Mega Shine Lip Gloss - Sugar Pie

EmilyNoel on Youtube mentioned these mega shine lip glosses in her 'Favorite Products from NYX' recently. I've loved (alright, obsessed over!) my lip butters this winter. So why not try the mega shine? I'll admit, at first I was hesitant. This stuff looks like a frost-fest. And I'm too old, and too over the 90s to want to sport frosty lips these days. I was pleased to see that on the lips this mega shine gloss isn't frosty, but instead gives my lips a healthy, nourished look. I love the Sugar Pie color in particular, it's a gorgeous shiny nude color.

4. Banjees Wrist Wallet

What is it? It's a spandex wristband you wear on your wrist. It's big enough to hold a cell phone, money, my mega shine lip gloss and even my Canon Elph 330 camera. Why do I love it so much? It's spandex, so it breathes and doesn't make my arm sweaty. I'm wearing a lot of leggings and doing a lot of walking lately = no pockets. I can wear this on my wrist and carry with me a house key, an ipod, a phone and always a lip gloss. It's my newest favorite thing.

5. Maybelline's Rocket Mascara

Melissa Raymond on Youtube has declared this her favorite mascara repeatedly. I was in the market for a new mascara and thought I'd give it a try. This stuff lengthens, it volumizes, it's opaque and pigmented and I truly love it. Thanks Melissa!

That's it for this week. I hope you've been blessed with peace, joy and many smiles this Christmas.

Thank you for your time, and stay beYOUtiful!

- Becky xoxox

Birchbox: December 2013

This month's Birchbox was disappointing at best. If you're considering subscribing to this service, take a look at the contents of my box and decide for yourself if it's worth the $10 or not. So much for the sparkle, the shine, and the season of giving. In my book - a hair tie and two travel-sized wipes (I've already been given in another Birchbox) is strike one. Two more boxes like this and I'm out of here.

No new favorite things for me this month. Read on for my thoughts on the products I received in December's box.

Beauty Protector: Protect & Detangle

My favorite thing about this detangler is the smell. It's clean and familiar, I really like it. As for performance, this product works just fine. But so do other less expensive detanglers. It leaves a coating on the hair that makes my hair look stringy by day two. Not something I'd repurchase.

The Honest Company Winter Wellness Exclusive Kit: Healing Balm

The ingredients list for this healing balm is awesome. It's chock full of essential oils that I know have amazing healing properties. The consistency, however, is exactly like lanolin. That stuff they get from sheeps' wool and women put on their nipples after breastfeeding to prevent cracking? I had to put it on my cuticles and rub it in for half an hour and then put on lotion and rub some more to get it to soak in. Who's got that kind of time? Not practical, not something I would repurchase.

LA FRESH: Travel Lite Makeup Remover Wipes

This is the second time I've received these wipes as a sample in my Birchbox. I wasn't impressed then, I'm not impressed now. They take off makeup. So do a dozen other makeup removing wipes, at a fraction of the cost. Don't insult me with this fluff, Birchbox.

twistband: Hairband

And to top it off they throw in a hair tie and call it a day. Seriously? You can buy these things for $2 from Sephora. They don't even stay in well. I can't wear them when I hike, workout or run. You wasted an entire sample slot on one hair tie?

LAQA & CO Fat Lip Pencil: Ring of Fire

I just didn't like this product. It wasn't opaque, the formula was greasy and bled, and the color was a bright red. Which doesn't look good coming from a lip balm-esque product in stick form. Not something I would repurchase.