Happy Halloween

I have an excited witch and vampire at my house today :)

We are trick or treating on base here in Germany.  There are going to be lots of little kids running around.

We are watching Halloween movies and having pizza tonight.  Then we will go out and collect some candy.

What are you or your kids being for Halloween this year?

Do you have any fun Halloween traditions?

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!

Retro Hair

I am really excited for some upcoming work I will be doing.

I contacted a few photographers to offer free services to some of their clients if I could get some of the images in return.  I want to build a professional portfolio and this is the best way to do it without spending a lot of money.

So a few of the photographers said they would like more services for their fashion photo shoots or boudoir shoots.  Very exciting and glamorous so I am sure the shots will turn out great.  I kind of freaked out for a minute because although I have been doing hair for over 6 years I haven't done a lot of retro/vintage hairstyles...but that look is really making a comeback and is absolutely beautiful.

So for the next few weeks I have asked a few of my friends to be my models and I am practicing different styles.  Finger waves, victory rolls, pressed waves, etc.

I did my first one last night and I had so much fun with it and once I figured it out it was fairly easy to create.

Let me know what you think.

Comment and let me know what your favorite vintage hair styles are!!!!!

Red Lips

 I personally think red lips look fabulous....on other people!!!!  I feel like it's so hard to find that right shade that works with your skin tone and hair color....I look at these pictures and I love it....but when I go to put it on myself I feel like a clown.  Although there is a reddish brown color from Aveda that I have worn for years I still would love to find the perfect red lipstick.  As you can see in the pictures, red lips look great on blondes, brunettes and redheads.

Some basic pointers are to know your skin tone and your lips...do you have fair skin, olive skin tone?  full or thin lips?  All that can play into finding the right shade.

Let us know what your favorite red lipstick is and why it works best for you :)

Aveda lipstick: Butternut is what works best for me but I am still really searching for a better more vibrant red.

Fall

It's my favorite time of year.  The trees changing, the cool crisp air, hot apple cider :) What's not to love?!?!?!  I also love all things pumpkin so I thought I would post a few recipes on here that I love to make in the fall.  One is for a sweet little treat and the other is a warm delicious homemade soup.  Hope you enjoy.  If you try the recipes let me know what you think.  

Pumpkin cupcakes with spiced cream cheese frosting
(everyone loves these)

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Spiced Cream Cheese Frosting

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature

1 cup canned pumpkin purée (8 ounces), not pie filling

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 (8oz) pkg cream cheese

1 lb powdered sugar (more or less)

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1/4 c butter, softened

1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin tin with 12 cupcake liners. Into a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. In a larger bowl, whisk together the eggs, pumpkin purée, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vegetable oil. Add the flour mixture and stir until combined. Divide the batter among the prepared tins and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Set aside to cool completely. For the frosting, combined softened cream cheese, with softened butter, whip together until smooth. Add powdered sugar gradually, while beating. Add vanilla, and pumpkin pie spice. Adjust the sweetness of frosting you your taste, add more powdered sugar if needed. Spread frosting on cupcakes, be generous.




Homemade chicken noodle soup


http://afridgefulloffood.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/11/home-made-noodl.html

Karen's Home-made Noodles

3 cups all purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

Fresh herbs (optional)

4 egg yolks

Milk to form dough

The dough can be made by hand but since my big mixer is usually sitting on the cabinet, I usually just throw everything in there and blend it all quickly with the paddle.

Sift flour, baking powder and salt together into mixer bowl.  Add egg yolks and begin to mix on low.  Add milk until dough forms, wet enough to stick together but firm enough to require minimum flour on the cabinet.  Do not overmix.

Roll dough out on the cabinet to an eigth to a quarter inch depending on how thick you want the pasta, and then mark off noodles with either a pizza cutter or a fondant cutter.  The fondat cutter will make nice waves or jagged edges with even imprints if you want to go to that trouble.  Personally, I was Gather up the extra flour on the sides of the dough and toss it over the noodles.  This extra flour will help thicken the broth of whatever soup you're using.  Allow the noodles to dry on the counter for at least 2 hours, longer if possible.

To cook, bring broth up to a rolling boil and drop noodles, along with excess flour from cabinet into the pot in batches. Allow each batch to cook a little and stir to separate before adding next batch or they'll possibly clump together in a ball.  That would not be pretty.  Cook for approximately 20-30 minutes depending on thickness of noodles.  To test for doneness, cut into a noodle. The inside should be dry, not doughy.feeling lazy yesterday so the pizza cutter was as far as my laziness would reach.

So do the noodles and get them done so they are drying... I get some broth going....I have done this on the stove and also in my crockpot...with store bought chicken broth or I have just used boullion cubes too.  I chop up 1 onion (very small because my family is picky) and a few cloves of garlic. I add that to the broth on low.   I chop up a pkg of carrots and a pkg of celery and cook up a few chicken breasts.  I add it all to the broth and keep it on low.  After the noodles are done drying I add them little by little and turn the heat up so they can boil.  

It's delicious.  My husband loves it!  Hope you enjoy.  

A few more.......

Wanted to add a few more....

Tarte Cosmetics https://tartecosmetics.com/log-in.php?page=%2Fsubmit-resume.php 40%

Frends Beauty Supply  https://02af236.netsolstores.com/register.aspx up to 40%

Royalty Red (brushes)  http://www.royalbrush.com/beauty/pro/royalty_red.php

I am still waiting to hear back from shishiedo and benefit cosmetics.  Each program has their own process and since right now I am only a licensed cosmetologist some of the benefits don't apply to me.  Seriously though those are some major discounts on some pretty awesome makeup lines.

Industry Discounts....Deals....Misc

So I know not everyone following is a licensed cosmetologist or Makeup Artist but I have been doing a lot of research and looking into all the discounts on professional makeup lines for licensed professionals.  There is a very long list and I still have so much to learn in the makeup world but so far this is what I have.


http://www.anastasia.net/abh-pro.html  Anastasia Beverly Hills

http://www.nyxcosmetics.com/t-professionaldiscount.aspx NYX cosmetics

http://www.naimies.com/studio-pro-invitation.php Naimies (they carry a little bit of everything)

http://www.smashbox.com/smashbox-pro  Smashbox

http://www.stilacosmetics.com/proartists/ Stila

http://www.nakedcosmetics.net/ProArtist.html Naked Cosmetics

http://www.occmakeup.com/pro.php Obsessive Compulsive cosmetics

http://temptupro.com/ Temptu

http://www.narscosmetics.eu/mua-programs Nars cosmetics

http://www.urbandecay.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-UrbanDecay-Site/default/UDPro-Show

For urban decay it said for makeup artist only.  Well they want you to submit your cosmetology license and business card or other from of proof listed on the site.  Well I just submitted those and was approved within a few hours :) I love urban decay so I was pretty excited!!!

There are so many more I am still learning about.....there are some that just didn't appeal to me so I didn't apply but I have applied to all of these except the last two and just as a licensed cosmetologist I have been approved..they are all free memberships.  The discount varies from 20-40% off.  I will add more to the list as I find more out.  I emailed too faced cosmetics and they are in the process of getting a pro artist program together and Benefit cosmetics still doesn't have one. ....If you know of anymore please comment or email me :)






I also wanted to share this deal with you for any military family who is following or I guess anyone who might want some photo dog tags ;) The deal is through Artscow and I ordered 2 from them before and was a little skeptical because of the extremely low price but they looked great and my kids loved them.

http://www.artscow.com/Images/Cache/edm/edm_17_10_2012_web.html

2 photo dog tags for 3.99 with FREE SHIPPING.   When I ordered them my husband was still in AIT so for my kids I picked a picture of them with their Dad from BCT graduation and put it on the dog tag.  They wore them for a long time.  So enjoy, Its a great deal!!!


Last, I just wanted to share some stuff I thought was cute/funny that I found on pinterest.  I am a quote lover :):):) I can't help it they just inspire me....but today its more funny stuff and the one about the mother just melts my heart but its so true.

Happy Friday everyone...enjoy the weekend!!!!

Dress up your Ponytail

So if you are like most of us out there....There is at least once a week where you are just NOT in the mood to mess with your hair.  Even with my love for doing hair and all things beauty I have days where I just want to throw it up in a ponytail.

I still want to look somewhat put together though....Even if I am running to the store or picking the kids up to school I needs to present myself with a little bit of trendiness...especially working in this industry.  I have had so many clients start coming to me simply because they liked my hair or makeup and asked me about it and then I let them know that I was a cosmetologist.

So I wanted to share some quick tips and ideas on how to dress up your ponytail for those days you wake up late, you are just unmotivated to do your hair or just love ponytails :)



Teasing is necessary (at least in my opinion)

Use a section of hair and wrap it around the elastic and use a bobby pin to pin it in place

Let a few pieces fall around your face.

Curl the ends of the ponytail (or I like to do this on day 2 hair after it has already been curled)

Accessories (flowers, headbands)

What is your favorite?  I personally love to tease my hair and then put in to a ponytail and leave my part and bangs out.  It takes maybe 5 minutes and you can always add in a cute headband or flower to dress it up even more.  

Bangs

Are you wanting something different with your hair?

I am one of those people that never do anything different.  I get  highlights in my naturally strawberry blonde hair or I might get a lowlight slightly darker than my natural but I have never done anything drastic.

Personally I think Fall is a  great time to try out bangs if you have been wanting them.  They are so many different ways of doing it and I am sure you can find a style that works for you.  Some people look better without bangs but when I am getting a little bored with my hair I trim up my bangs.  I don't really like them in the summer because its so hot and my hair has natural wave and they just get crazy but Fall and winter I love to shorten them up.  It just give you that little bit of change and can make such a difference.

I will post some pictures of different styles below :) post some pictures of before and after if you have them so we can see the new look!!!!


The nice thing is they grow back quickly.  my personal favorite is when they are cut to wear them all across but slightly to the side.....so you can wear them straight down on some days or slightly side swept on others.

Let me know if you have any questions!!!!!

Getting what you want

Okay so today I thought I would write a little about getting what you want.  I have heard so many times about people not being happy with their hair.  Mainly because they didn't get what they wanted when they got their hair cut or colored.  Okay first of all....I personally love pictures.  Obviously you don't need them but when a guest brings in a picture it really helps.  I always ask what they like most about the picture....so "What is your favorite part of the cut or color"  just to see what is really standing out to them.  If your stylist doesn't ask you this TELL THEM.  Just be open about it....I know sometimes its awkward but it is your hair and you want what you want.  

Also show them how much you want taken off...if they think you need more off to make your hair healthier or achieve the look you want they should discuss that with you.  Seriously communication is everything.  Most salons should be asking these questions but sometimes they don't and its okay to ask questions and make sure you are on the same page for what you want.  

Last night I trimmed Hailey's hair and we talked about everything first and even after I asked her how it felt and if she wanted to see anything different.  She wanted a few changes and we worked on that until we got it the way she wanted it.  I also always make sure to tell them to let me know if they have any problems with it.  I want them happy and sometimes after they go home and style it themselves they realize they don't like something about it....well as long as it is within a certain time frame I am happy to fix it.  So don't hesitate.  If you aren't happy tell your stylist.  I am sure they want you to love your hair, and they will do what it takes to get it there.

I love helping people feel better and see the true beauty in themselves.  There is no greater feeling then seeing a big smile and hearing "I love it"  :)  

Hair for an Army Ball

Fun

Playing around today and I have 2 wonderful friends here in Schweinfurt that let me practice.

I created these curls by wrapping the hair around the outside of the 3/4 barrel hot tools curling iron.  This is my favorite way to curl my own hair.  I like that the curls aren't perfect.









I curled all of the hair first and then did a small amount into a fishtail braid....I secured it at the nape of the neck and then pinned the curls around the bottom.  I love this simple and easy, casual but sophisticated.

MYCAA

Okay so today I am going to talk about MYCAA.  It is a great opportunity for military spouses to get some education.  I just finished up everything for my Bridal Makeup Stylist class I am taking online in December.  The whole process can seem a little confusing at first but if you want to start taking come classes create an account.  Here is the link to MYCAA

https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa/Default.aspx

You then will click REGISTER......put in your information and create your account.  You can search schools right from the tab schools/programs.  I knew I wanted to do something with makeup so I looked at their list and really researched each of the schools and narrowed it down to schools that offered online (since I am living in Germany) and then looked at cost, etc.

It is really important to research your options and decide the best fit for you and what your educational goals are.  Once you have picked a school/program you have to submit an education plan.  I was confused on this part but under the resources tab it has a document to help walk you through the whole process or you might get lucky like I did and the school will create one for you.  I emailed the school with questions I needed answered for my education plan and she offered to put one together for me.  I then submitted it under the appropriate tab and you wait to hear if it was approved or not. 

Next step if everything was approved you then apply for FA (financial assistance)  the max is 4,000 and it explains all of that a little more in your account.  You click on apply for FA and put in the required information.  I just did this today.  Here is the thing you must apply at least 15 days before your class start date but not more than 60 days before.  I am one of those people who likes to get everything dones as soon as possible and make sure it is all good to go so today is 60 days from my class start date.  Obviously the sooner you apply the better and that way you know everything will be set the day the class starts.  So I am just waiting to hear back from MYCAA about the financial assistance and then I will just be waiting for my class to start. 

My entire class cost is 4,000.00 including kits/tools and deposit fee

MYCAA will cover 3,900.00 but will not cover the 100.00 deposit fee. 

I will keep you posted on how long it takes to get my kit over here and all the other information through this exciting process.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Products

Okay so we all love products right :)

I am just going to list a few of my favorites.  Obviously everyone has different needs for their hair but I feel like a few basic products can be used on most hair types.

My favorite brand of hairspray is Big Sexy Hair...I like spray and play harder.  Its a firm hold but they make a variety of different holds for whichever you prefer.  For me its just always worked best and lasted all day.  I love it for my and also to use on my clients.

I also love their root pump....it is great for when I just want to leave my hair wavy or to use on damp hair before doing a blow out.  A little goes a long way...this product lasts me forever.  I put a small amount in my hand and then rub it together and apply at the roots and then run any extra through the ends.

 

 

 

As far as shampoos and conditioners, I have tried just about everything.  Working at Douglas J it was an Aveda salon and I absolutely love Aveda products but I also love TIGI Bed Head Epic Volume.  That is my favorite for my own hair and for anyone with thin, fine hair.  They also have one for repair and for curly hair etc. Redken is another one I like but I personally feel like I don't get as much volume and after using it for a long time I feel like it weighs down my hair.  I know other people that love it and I like to use it on others but for my own hair it just doesn't work well.

 

 

 

 

Okay and last for basic products to use on just about anyone is some kind of gloss/shine serum.  I love to use it as a detangler (but carefully, you don't want to use much)  and also after hair is dry to give it a little shine.  I have also used many different kinds and Tigi Rock a holic shine blaster is on my favorites list.  Also Paul Mitchell makes one. Super Skinny Serum.  That also works well.  I usually kind of towel dry my hair and then use a very small amount work it together in my hands and then run it through my hair.  After I finish blow drying I will sometimes use a little more or after I curl my hair I will work it together in my hands and then run it through my curls.

        




Let me know if you have any questions :)

Thanks for visiting my blog, I am excited to share all things hair and makeup with you and check out the other pages for more information on the products and tools and other information. 

I have read so many blogs that have offered advice and ideas and I am excited to share my knowledge of hair and my experience with online makeup classes. I will be posting all the pictures of the work I do during my class and of the hair I do as well. If you have questions about anything please leave me a comment or email me.