Everyday.

Today I'm going to detail how I do my makeup prettyy much every day.
Nothing too complicated, it just takes a little time. Nothing is overly made-up, I just like to look a little bit defined.

1. Start with a no-makeup face. And ridiculous hair, if you're into that sort of thing.

2. Use a damp Beauty Blender sponge. Mine is not dirty, it's just stained from use. Promise.

I use Revlon ColorStay makeup in 320 - True Beige.

3. Stick with the ridiculous hair. This is my face with foundation.

4. I use this miracle product for my under-eye area. It's the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser. I use the shade Fair.
I take this and draw a triangle shape from the inner eye, down to the nose, and up toward the outer corner of my eye. You WILL look crazy. Exhibit A:

Hence the crazy-eyes I have on.
Now, blend this out. It will still have the effect of lightening the under eye area.

5. Next, apply an eyeshadow primer. My favorite is the Too Faced Shadow Insurance.

 6. Use a brown eyeliner, such as this one from Urban Decay. Line the upper lash line. Be messy, don't worry about being perfect with it.

 7. Take a dark brown eyeshadow and a small brush and blend, blend, blend.

 8. Take a lighter brown, like this MAC shadow called Satin Taupe, and blend this just above where you put the dark brown shadow. This will help the color fade from dark brown, to light brown, to nothing.

 9. Use a light shadow, such as Urban Decay's Sin, and use this as a highlight under the eyebrow and in the inner corner of the eye.

 10. I use Revlon Brow Fantasy to fill in patchy spots in my eyebrows.

 11. Use a bronzer or a darker powder to contour under cheekbones, around temples, and under chin. I use NARS Laguna Bronzer and a MAC 109 Brush (below).

 12. I use this Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed on the cheekbones NOT on the apples of my cheeks.

 13. Applied desired amount of mascara. This is my FAVORITE.

 14. Use a neutral lipstick, such as this L'Oreal lipstick in Fairly Nude.

 15. Finish with a light coat of lipgloss, like MAC lipglass in Underage.

FINISHED PRODUCT

No more crazy hair!

I vary this routine up every day but I follow the same pattern. Just experiment and have fun!

Juicing

No I'm not on steroids.
But I am juicing. For the past few weeks, I have been juicing once a day and I can tell you honestly I feel great.

Here's how I do it.

I take my juicer. Then I put stuff in it. Then I drink it. The end!

No but seriously, here's my recipe for the most amazing and energizing juice ever.

Kelly's Magic Juice

 2 APPLES

 2 CARROTS

 2 STALKS OF CELERY

 1/2 CUCUMBER

 2 LEAVES KALE

 1/2 LEMON

 1 HANDFUL SPINACH

2 LARGE STRAWBERRIES

I put everything in my juicer and voila - out comes delicious and healthy juice that I drink for breakfast each day. You don't even have to peel anything!

I honestly feel energized and more cleansed. Hopefully I will be able to convince more people to join me!

Resolutions.

Let me just say, I am one of the masses of people who always sets resolutions for myself but then about March I am back to my old ways. What can I say? Old habits die hard.

But not this year. My number 1 resolution is to keep my resolutions. Posting them on this blog can hold me accountable.

1. Blog Once a Week. I know that I don't always blog as much as I want to, and even though I don't know if anyone actually reads my blog, I know that I love writing and that I love talking to the great abyss that is the webisphere. If I can update once a week, even if I have little to talk about, it may help me feel more creative and connected to my thoughts.

2. Read 1 book a month. 1 book doesn't sound like a lot, but for me it feels like a lot. With a never-ending stream of Kardashian spin-off shows and trashy TV, I spend a lot of time in front of the tube. But this year I'm going to put my Kindle to good use and read 1 book a month. At least.

3. Work out 3 days a week. Now that we have a pseudo-gym in our basement, I am going to start lifting weights and working out 3 days a week. I want to be able to do a lot of exercises at home that I'm too embarassed to do at the gym, out of fear that I'll do them wrong.

I have lots of things that I want to do this year in addition, but I'll keep my list short.
I have to realize that even if I get off track with a resolution, I shouldn't just "give up". Part of what's admirable about setting goals is the ability to persevere and hop right back on when you fall out of step with your visions.

This year, that's what I'll try to do.

Thankful.

It's not November.
It's not even close to Turkey Time.
In fact, the thought of eating stuffing during the sweltering heat makes me want to retch.

BUT, I am feeling especially thankful.

I feel like I spend so much of my time worrying about all of the things that I DON'T have.
I don't have a brand-new car.
I don't own my own house.
I can't afford to buy designer shoes and bags.

But how much time do I spend thinking about all of the things that I DO have?
Probably not enough.

As someone who dedicates their entire blog to trivial material objects like makeup and fashion, I might not be the obvious authority on the topic of thankfulness.But I am making a concerted effort to examine my life for what it actually is, rather than the things I buy to try to mask it.

Today, I spent some time at the local soup kitchen, serving food to those who don't have the means to serve themselves.
They ate the food that was given to them with no qualms about how posh the food was, or the fact that it was served on plastic trays.
They didn't hesitate to take seconds, and they all told me "Thank you."
As I watched an old couple with tears in my eyes, who ate there together, I felt so sad for them that they had to resort to taking their meals from strangers for free.
But then I thought about it. They have each other, they have food, and they don't seem to feel sorry for themselves.

Obviously, I surround myself with mostly people who have cars, houses, and plenty of material objects, which may alter my views about what is "normal" for people to have. But in reality, many people are struggling to have clothes, shoes, and food.

I have clothes, shoes, food, a car, someone who I love deeply, and a great family and friends.

So next time I look in the cabinet for some food, and all I see is a can of soup, I'm going to feel pretty damn fortunate.

Presh.

All I can say is that this makes my ovaries ache.

Welcome to the world, Baby Guthrie....

Motivation.

Some days, I just don't feel motivated. I don't feel like my career is going in the direction I want it to, and some days I would rather be at home reading a book than working.

But on those days, I try and remind myself aobut the things in life that I really am working toward.

There are things that I can't afford now, but in my lifetime I'd like to be able to own them.

Today I'll share with you some of the things that give me motivation and inspiration to work.


1. The Rolex Datejust

The Rolex Datejust has long been a status symbol. But for me, I am really interested in buying pieces that I will be able to have for years, and know that their quality will not diminish. I love this watch, and it definitely "motivates" me to work a littl harder each day. Especially since they run about $6000. Yikes!

2. Christian Louboutins



neimanmarcus.com

 I would pretty much give my left leg for a pair of Christian Louboutins. Would that cut the price in half since I would only need to buy one shoe? Hmmm....
These shoes are incredibly designed and crafted and are just about the sexiest thing since sliced bread.
You know what I mean.
Coming in at a steep $895, these shoes might force me to work a little overtime.

3. Yukon Hybrid

This is my dream car. I love that it's big enough to lug around kids, skis, etc. but it still has hybrid technology. Plus, they're a dream to drive.

It may seem silly or materialistic to use objects to motivate me to get things done. But I think that it's important to have aspirations and goals, no matter how trivial they might be. If it helps me excel at my job or in my personal life, I think that is just fine.

Rolexes and Range Rovers,

Kelly

Addictions

One of my trusty, faithful followers has asked me to update my blog. And so it shall be.
(There are only like 4 of you out there, so hopefully you know who you are.)

It is (almost) officially summer and I am SO ready for some pool time.
Too bad I have this minor limitation called "Rent" that forces me to spend time in an air-conditioned prison from 9 to 5 every day.

Anywho- let's get to it!

1. Summer Bags:
I usually buy myself a nice new bag about once a year. Last year I bought myself a silver and white tote from Coach that I'm still using and am still in love with.
This year, I might follow the same path and grab something like this:

coach.com



I love the gold detailing and the gorgeous brown trim....

Which leads me to my next addiction...

2. Gold Jewelry
Lately I've been wearing lots and lots of gold jewelry....
My everyday staple has been the Lotus Necklace from Dogeared....

shopstyle.com

I love that it's so delicate, yet the gold tone really works well with tanned skin (which I don't have. YET.)
I usually pair it with another gold necklace or two and pop in some gold and diamond stud earrings or earrings similar to these:



shopstyle.com

I'm aiming to get a great gold watch to go with my gold jewelry- any suggestions?

3. Nude Nails
Now, for me this is generally a trend that I follow every summer. My fingernails are usually a variation on a nude shade during the warm months, mostly because I think that they go with everything and they really help bring out a tan.

I've tried all kinds of "nudes" and I have some favorites:

OPI- Matched Luggage

To me, this is the perfect nude nail polish. It's not too "pinky" and it's truly a great color that makes your tan really pop.



Essie- Allure

I find this color very similar to OPI's Bubble Bath, which is a well-known cult favorite worn daily by Giada De Laurentiis. It's got pink undertones and is a really soft and feminine color.

4. Messy Side Braids

Although side braids aren't for everyone, and they're a little difficult to pull off if you have heavily layed hair (like I do) or short hair, they can be a fabulous and beachy summer hairstyle.

To me, when I think of this look, it's epitomized by these two styles:

The look seems effortless, and if a few pieces fall out, the look only improves. I think I'll be working on perfecting this style this summer. If you're like me and you hair isn't quite long enough to pull this off, try putting a few clip-in extensions in to add a little bit of length to your hair.

5. Last but not least, the booze.
For those of you who know me, you know I love the booze. No really.
Summer is one of my favorite seasons, simply because the drink options seem limitless.

One of my favorite summery drinks is the Michelada

ricardosolar.com

 This drink, made with beer, tomato juice, hot sauce, worcestershire, soy sauce, lime, and salt, is one of the best things about sitting outside on a summer evening. Yum.

Mojitos

Mojitos are a bright and refreshing way to get your daily dose of Vitamin C. Mint contains vitamin c right? No? Oh well.
They're a bright and refreshing way to get your daily dose of booze.

Made with mint leaves, cane sugar, white rum, club soda, and lime, they are one of my favorite things to make at home. They're a little bit labor intensive, but totally worth it.


All this talk about cocktails and Coach has made me ready for Happy Hour!!
Until next time!!