Personal Style: Photo Booth Fun and Beauty Tutorials

Did you notice the lip props in my Valentine decorating post? Last week, our salon participated in a fun event with a Candyland theme. I spent hours working on the props, and these lips were a fun part of the photo booth section. They work perfect for Valentine's Day too!

I did a slight smoky eye and a slight victory roll bang (more exaggerated tutorial here) or a suicide roll tutorial here), with a rather messy and lopsided, loose topknot. I do mine differently with no teasing and much faster than most tutorials, but this is a simple and short one. It took about 45 seconds to do my hair, but my husband gave me lots of compliments :)

She just turned 9 months and loves make-up and dressing up already!

 
 

smoky cat eye make tutorial via best makeup review

 

Another fun style to try is this pretty and easy and pretty Sweetheart Braid tutorial by Hairdresser on Fire. The braid is perfect for Valentine's Day! Add a jeweled hair comb or fresh flower for a little bit of romance. Let me know if you try any of these styles!

 

Personal Style: Strawberry Skirt

Woah, I haven't done one of these outfit posts since my belly shot round-up! So, this is my 4 months after having my baby girl! I like this skirt/belt combo b/c it does a fairly decent job of camouflaging baby gut.

So, the Goodwill back in Watauga/ Fort Worth that I totally miss has this 'retro' section, where they put all the good, collectable stuff. I got this skirt in that section, it's a reversible, wrap skirt and it's awesome. I taught a lesson to the teens at church this Sunday about healthy living, so strawberries seemed like a good choice. One of the girls told me I looked like a strawberry :) And since cold times are approaching, this summery skirt won't be 'in season' for long.

I made this necklace, and have the last one for sale in my shop. A huge, vintage glass jewel on vintage 1960's brass chain. I love it and got tons of compliments on it!

 I love this belt, a fun, vintage thrift store find that closes with velcro. Awesome.

Seriously, I am a hairstylist. Why did I allow my hair to get this bad?! Maybe childbirth, a month of pneumonia, severe eye infections, painful foot stuff, school starting, moving and all that had somethin' to do with it. HuhIdontknow. I used a mix of 7/7, 7/03 and 6/0 in ColorTouch and 1.9 developer to make this semi-permanent heathery brunette. I only left it on the ends for a few minutes for a light coverage there, so it left a bit of an ombre effect on the highlights. Just what I was going for, perfect for fall and not too different from my natural color. And yes, I do put it on my eyebrows. Gotta match, you know!

 *la camera caught me in a rare mom moment of finger shaking and gentle scolding*
outfit post details on smashion

Personal Style: Obligatory Belly Shots

 October-November ish? Just beginning to show. Face still a little slim. Details here.

My personal style posts definitely ended around my pregnancy beginning, since I was a weirdo and didn't mention my 'condition' to anyone until I was about 5 months along! So I will just do a quick rundown here. I've never been a big fan of belly posting, or over sharing of pregnancy related stuff in general... but you know, this is for posterity and all that.

 1st week of March... Baby Shower Day!

 Beginning of April. Walking induced swelling up on the Riverwalk in San Antonio

 End of April. Got all 'inspired' and cut me some bangs, and doing something crazy with my eyeballs. Outfit details here.

May 3rd, outfit details here

 May 5th doing the hospital walk through... due May 7th! 

It will  be interesting to see what happens to ma belly from here, given this is my 3rd and all :)

Personal Style: Layering Bling

Just a quick little fashion tip. If you look in my closet, you will probably see about 3/4 of the shirts I wear are similar to this, in varying shades of brown or gray. My clothing manifesto mentioned that I was tiring of experimenting with all the trends and bright colors and such. So, to not be totally boring, I layered two statement necklaces. The winged lion is one I made using an amazing vintage pendant. I do have more available if you want one! The pink acrylic waterfall necklace is forever 21. I think they go kind of perfect together, and I love the cool, jingle feeling as well. Pair the boring 'ole top with some skinny jeans, faux leather leggings and sassy shoes and you're good to go.

 But the best accessory is a cutie hunk of a man...

 ... and two adorable offspring on their best behavior.

Personal Style: Blue vs Gray Manifesto

madewell

Say Yes to Hoboken did a say no to jeans campaign earlier this year. I don't think it's that hard right now with the soaring heat to be wary of jeans, but being a fall kind of gal, that's attracted to simple, comfortable lines and colors (namely, gray and camel) I am still in love with the following outfits she chose as inspiration.

shirt: abercrombie   dress: kohls  necklace: handmade by me

I wore a blue maxi dress the other day that got lots of compliments, but when I took pics for my outfit post, it just didn't feel right. Getting out of the car in the long lengths of soft drapey fabric, didn't feel right. Having a lacey empire waist... didn't feel right. I've been feeling that way for a while now. I'm just not cut out of bright colorful cloth or long flowy things, or cute rolled capris, or partial tucked blouses that are the fashion rage. I may love it on you, but not on me. Maybe it's my coloring, or my petite, apple shape and chicken legs that just doesn't work well. 6 years ago with a 20 inch waist, I could do some of it... not now. So, instead of trying to dress differently or more fashion forward, I'm going to retreat into my soothing grey vnecks for a while. Maybe even pair one with my faux leather leggings for a fashion kick, (or those awesome madewll pants above) but being more true to my style none the less.

 

madewell

I love this... reminds me of Elaine's awkwardly adorable long skorts.

 via pintrest

Do you have some sort of dressing manifesto to be the real you? I'm not talking about giving up altogether and wearing pjs and sweatpants or horrible 80's tapered jeans and tweety bird t-shirts~ but what are some styles you decided to say 'no' or 'yes' to, while still feeling beautiful and comfortable?

Personal Style: Lovin Some Gray

This dress's bottom ruffle is coming off in about 8 places. Nothing a few safety pins couldn't handle. I'm handsewing a dress refashion and it's taking me forever, and I really wanted to wear this dress so the safety pins had to do. It's thrifted, it's maternity, (no I'm not pregnant), but it fits like a normal empire waist dress. Plus, gray is my favorite color, so I spiced it up with well, more gray.

Earrings can be purchased here.

dress: motherhood maternity, thrifted
sweater: jc pennys (?)
belt: off a NY& co skirt
bag: thrifted
shoes: steve madden
watch: fossil
earrings: metal roses (the larger version), made by me, jeweled ambrosia

Linked to Clothed Much's Rule Breaking Monday

Personal style: Gaudy Stripes on Stripes

This is officially my ugly "necklace". But, I kind of love it. It's so big and bold and ugly, that it kind of makes an outfit out of these non matching, baggy and ill fitting pieces. I found it at a thrift store along with two other huge brass vintage necklaces, and sometimes I wear them so much I have to tell myself not to touch them for a while.

While stripes on stripes are typically a no-no, I found the subtle pinstripes to be a nice contrast with the bold yellow and white horizontal movement. I think it would be even cuter had the top been a chevron pattern.

I'm doing a troll face here. I love these loose, pinstripe, seersucker-like pants, but they are crazy baggy, and don't really look pair well with anything I own. I'm thinking of cutting them off and making long shorts with with a lightly rolled hem. What do you think?

These shoes I got on clearance at Express the other day also don't really 'match'... but the denim color kind of goes with the pinstripes. But I adore them and they are so cute. Unfortunately, I continually stab myself and those around me with those ginormous rhinestones.

 *the overdone shoe shot. I don't think I have ever participated*

top: forever 21, thrifted

pants: american eagle

necklace: vintage, thrifted

shoes: express