Dani The Beauty Geek

It's been a long time, but. here is some FUN NAIL POLISH IDEAS!

2011-07-27T15:54:00.000-07:00

WOW, it's been almost 3 months since I last did a post! I've been doing a lot this summer and sort of put my beauty routine on the sideline. My first priority this summer has been my husband and children. Spending the summer enjoying the time we have together has been amazing. My second priority has been trying to lose the 30lbs, yes I said 30lbs, I gained since my December 2010 wedding which has been a huge struggle and I have just now only begun to lose some of the weight (I will do some updates on that subject later). Thirdly, I have been helping out my family accomplish some projects that need to be finished around our house. Re-siding the house, keeping up the lawn, keeping up the inside, etc. all adds up to a lot of time, but most of my time is spent watching my kids. I still teach two days a week at my parents' music studio so that has been a priority. And a big priority that I have had this summer is trying to become a happier, healthier person mentally, not just physically. I have been in a rut when it comes being depressed. With my weight issues, self-esteem issues, and the pressure of motherhood and providing for my family as much as I can on my back, it has all started to weigh me down till I have trouble getting up. But I am slowly getting better with the help of my husband and family. My husband is entering his last year as a History major at IUPUI and hopes to begin pursuing a career in Washington DC starting this winter so that gives me something to look forward to. But now on to beauty stuff.

One of the best things about summer is all the bright colors that come out to play. Bright pinks, oranges, yellows, purples, and blues are fabulous colors to use during the summer time. I am a black and white person, I try to stick with black and white clothing, but one way I add that splash of summer fun is through NAIL POLISH! I am in love with nail polish! Everything from neon pink to neon green, two-toned nails to mix-matched fingernails and toenails. Here are some of my favorite colors and styles that have been out this summer:

From Index to Pinky: China Glaze in Peachy Keen, Color Club in Coral Cascade, OPI in Back to the Beach Peach, Lippmann in Daytripper

Good Choice would be "Lindsey" by Zoya

Pink by Sinful Colors (available at Meijer)

Turquoise and Caicos by Essie

First apply a bright pink nail polish with no sparkle in it to your entire nail, let completely dry, take a heavy glitter polish in gold ( ) and wipe off excess, start at the nail bed and swipe the nail lightly all the way to the tip making it lighter at the tip

Apply a pink nail polish to the entire nail, let completely dry, use a piece of tape or french manicure strips to make line and fill tip in with white, take a tiny brush (as tiny as possible, get it at art store) and make white dots on the pink area and pink dots on the white area

Looks difficult but it's not! Get a set of French Tip Fake Nails. DON'T APPLY YET! Pick one of the nails to be decorated. Take a tiny paint brush and using black nail polish make the eyes and whiskers, then a yellow polish for the nose, then make a bow with a light pink polish. After it's completely dry, apply fake nails to nails. (If you are lucky to have long enough nails to not need fake ones, try doing it on just one finger on one hand)

Apply a bright yellow polish to the entire nail, let completely dry, using tape or french manicure strips make a line and fill in tip with a bright pink polish

A great idea is to not match your toenails to your fingernails but use, for instance, bright yellow on your toes and an equally as bright pink on your fingers. So there you have it! My favorite nail colors and ideas. I may be a stay-at-home mom who happens to be a hermit, but I do love making my nails pretty even if I am the only one who gets to see them! Colorful fingernails and toenails are always a great pick me up.

Get the "Summer Glow" without the Skin Damage and Wrinkles

2011-05-15T15:20:00.000-07:00

I am a big advocate for saving your skin from the damage of UVA/UVB rays. In high school, I would fake-bake all the time, and yeah the tan looked great but I was giving myself pre-mature wrinkles, dark freckles, and sun spots, and putting myself at risk for skin cancer. Nowadays, I never go to a tanning booth, and I always were moisturizer with SPF15 on my face. So how do I get that sun-kissed glow without the damage, Self-tanner!!! Self-tanner has improved greatly over the past few years. In the past, the active ingredient in self-tanners, DHA (dihydroxyacetone), reacts adversely with the skin causing your skin to appear orange. This was due to using poor quality DHA. Today, most self-tanners use higher quality DHA, and have different varieties of shades for different skin types. Some of the best self-tanners can also be expensive, but here are a list of great expensive and inexpensive self-tanners:

1. St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse:
"This super-lightweight, easy-to-apply, velvety mousse delivers the ultra-even all-over tan you’ve always wanted. Infused with conditioning aloe vera and long-lasting color, you’ll have a perfectly natural looking, streak-free tan that dries in an instant. Our innovative Aromaguard™ fragrance technology eliminates the tell-tale self tan aroma by a minimum of 70% and instead gives a beautiful subtle, yet refreshing fragrance."

http://www.sttropeztan.com/self-tan-bronzing-mousse

This stuff works miracles! If applied correctly it gives you an amazing bronze color, without the orange hue. It's a little costly though, $30 for 4 fl oz. and $40 for 8fl oz., But It is well worth the money! Make sure you exfoliate with an exfoliating wash and a washcloth, loofahs tend to exfoliate unevenly, and put a light coat of water-based moisturizer on your ankles, knees, elbows, hands, and feet to keep them from absorbing too much color.

2. L'Oreal Sunless Sublime Glow Daily Moisturizer, Medium Skin Tones

This is an inexpensive self-tanner and is a great choice if you apply sunless tanner only to your legs. If you are very fair-skinned, one application a week may be all the color you need.It contains mica, a natural mineral that provides a slight shimmer. The shine looks great on legs, not so great on the face. Available at drugstore and drugstore.com for $10.99; up to $13.00 retail.

3. Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel
This lightweight and non-oily gel creates a natural, golden tan for both your face and body. It absorbs instantly so you don't have to wait 10 minutes before you can put your clothes on, but the gels texture allows you to feel exactly where you placed it so you know if you missed a spot. Available at Sephora and www.sephora.com, 4.4oz for $33.

4. Neutrogena Sun Fresh Sunless Tanner

The ultra-lightweight formula glides on evenly, dries quickly, and gives a radiant glow. With the hint of grapefruit and nectarine, it gives you a fresh sensation. Available at Walmart and drugstores, 4 fl.oz. for $9.99

5. Geurlain Terracotta Sunless Tinted Self-Tanning Gel

This gel provides a warm glow to your skin without streaking. It dries instantly leaving a hint of color. The formula is enriched with 100% Moroccan Argan Oil which helps hydrate, protect, and regenerate the skin for a smooth, flawless finish. Available at Sephora. 5.4 fl.oz. for $52.

6. Aveeno Continuous Radiance Moisturizing Lotion

This product provides moisturizer, a tan with no streaks, and the ability to control how much color you want. It has a dial on the top so you can regulate the amount of tanner comes out with the lotion. Available at Walmart and drugstores for $11.99.

7. St. Tropez Everyday Gradual Self-Tanning Mousse

This formula allows you to build your tan overtime. Apply it daily for the effect natural tanning. St.Tropez's formulas are infused wi+
th an innovated AromaguardTM technology that reduces the self-tanning aroma by 70%. Available at Sephora. 4 fl.oz for $30.

8. Jergens Natural Glow Revitalizing Daily Moisturizer

Much like the more expensive St.Tropez formula, this daily moisturizer allows to build a tan gradually. It comes in three shades for fair skin, medium, and medium/tan. Available at drugstores. 7.5 fl.oz. for $7.89.

9. Clarins Liquid Bronze Self-Tanner for the Face

This product is great for people with oily skin. It leaves the face with a bronzed glow without the greasiness. Available at Sephora. 4.2 fl.oz. for $33.

10. Victoria Secret Beach Sexy Tan Enhancing Shimmer Lotion with Tint

This isn't a self-tanner, but a lotion that boosts your tan and adds a little tint. Provides the benefit of a lotion along with skin perfecting shimmer, the bronze tint helps hide any imperfections caused by your self-tanner. Available at Victoria Secret, 7.6 oz for $12.

Remember that a self-tanner does NOT provide skin protection. Moisturize everyday and apply sunscreen often in order to prevent sun damage!

Having trouble lighting my makeup station for pictures and videos!

2011-05-14T17:49:00.000-07:00

So I am trying to start making Makeup Tutorials for youtube and I am having a real difficult time with lighting. I try to take pictures of my eyes after I have done a new look and my eyelids come off all wrinkly and the colors are not popping out like they seem to do in the mirror. It is becoming very frustrating. Greg bought me this amazing HDCamcorder a month ago and we have a new Canon Powershot camera that we just got a few months ago, but I just can't get the lighting right! So aggravating. Anyone out there with some advice?

The Best Spring and Summer Perfumes

2011-05-10T03:03:00.000-07:00

Ok, I'm up this early in the morning because I broke my toe last night and it's really painful so I thought what a better time to do a new post on the best perfumes for this spring and summer!!!!

I was at Sephora the other day and I love perfumes & the gorgeous bottles they come. I was sampling all of them on the little paper sticks they have. So here is my picks for the best perfumes for spring and summer.

"Couture Couture by Juicy Couture": I fell in love with this! First you get the smell of a mixture of succulent pink grape with a mixture of orange flower and mandarin. Then blushed plum, honeysuckle, and bold star jasmine come into play. Finally, it's base consists of creamy sandalwood with moist amber and rick vanilla. The combination of all these smells just scream spring fun and party time. It isn't too heavy but when you put it on all you want to do is go out for a night on the town! $67 for 1.7oz

"Hello Kitty Hello Kitty Fragrance": This is a very sweet perfume that combines Cassis Sorbet, Italian Mandarin, Apple, Magnolia Blossom, Freesia, Orange Flower, Tonka Bean, Vanilla, and Musk. It is a very makes any girl feel sweet and pretty. $55 for 1.7oz

"Very Hollywood Sparkling Eau de Toilette by Michael Kors": This is definitely a perfume for a girl who loves the sense of Hollywood Drama. If you want to be the "it girl" this is a perfume for you. You get the combination of black currant, neroli, and mandarin. It is a very bold fragrance definitely for a night out clubbing with the girls! $40 for 1oz

"Armani Code Pour Femme by Giorgio Armani": I fell in love with the perfume when I smelled a sample in Glamour magazine. First of all it caught my eye because the incredibly gorgeous Megan Fox is modeling the perfume, and second of all it made me feel sexy like something I would wear to seduce my man. It is rich in Blood Orange, Ginger, Pear Sorbet, Sambac Jasmine, Orange Blossom, Seringa Flower, Lavender Honey, Precious Woods Complex, and Vanilla. The smell is so fresh and feminine. I can't wait to purchase this one!!!! $65 for 1.7oz

" Harajuku Lovers Wicked Style Baby": For a lighter perfume that is more day time appropriate I love this one. Inspired by the Harajuku shoping district in Tokyo this scent is features white peach, pink plumeria, and glowing amber. Baby is part of the limited-edition Wicked Style fragrance collection that features deliciously fun scents in bottles that take cues from the obsessive Japanese fashion that Gwen Stefani introduced to America. It is a perfume that makes you feel cute with it's vanilla and floral scent. $45 for 1oz

These are definitely my top picks for perfumes right now. Some of them have been out on the market for a while, but I love them and better yet, my husband loves them.

After I went to Sephora I went over to TJ Maxx and they have a whole aisle dedicated to perfumes. I found Juicy Couture perfumes, Vera Wang perfumes, Calvin Klein perfumes, and many others for prices as low as $15!!! I'm going back for the Juicy Couture one later today! Hopefully it's still there cause there was only 2 bottles when I left.

Much love and sweet smells! ~Dani

Review of the Olay ProX Advanced Cleansing System

2011-05-08T14:39:00.000-07:00

So I have been dying to get this little dohickey called the Derm New Facial Rejuvenation System forever! But it's $80, and I could never seem to part with that kind of money for it. This is what the website says...

Description

Polishes and refines with perfectly sized naturally mined Corundum Crystals and added antioxidants.

• Gentle, thorough skin resurfacer for sensitive to normal skin types
• Polishes and refines
• Diminishes wrinkles, fine lines and pores size
• Decreases visible signs of aging and sun damage
• Reveals healthy new skin with a radiant glow

Recommended Use

• Attach the Teardorp Foam Applicator to the Dual Action Resurfacing Tool. Apply Sensitive Formula Microdermabrasion Creme onto the Foam Applicator.
• Dot onto clean, dry skin. Using upward circular motions and gentle pressure, massage the creme into the skin for approximately 1-2 minutes (2-3 times per week)
• Rinse off the remaining Crystal residue with warm water.

I have been putting off getting it for over 5 months now! But as I was just about to give in due to a mad case of breakouts lately, Olay came out with the new Olay ProX Advanced Cleansing System. It is professionally and clinically designed to cleanse 6x better than using a face wash. It has proven to be just as effective as the $200 cleansing systems. And guess what!

IT'S ONLY $30!!!!!! (I happened to get mine at Target while they were doing a promotion of buy the system + one other Olay ProX product, which I got replacement scrubbers for $9.99, and get a $10 Target Gift Card. So basically I got replacement scrubbers for free!) It comes with a small tube of the face wash you use with it, which isn't very big but you need only about a dime size of the stuff.

IT IS AMAZING!!!!! I had several areas on my face that had some breakouts, and just after one use they looked a million times better! All you do is apply a dime size amount of the face wash all over your damp face (avoiding the eyes), turn on the wand which has 2 speeds, and for about 60-90 seconds move the wand all over your face! And oh my can we say relaxing! It felt amazing, not harsh. I had already washed the makeup off my face with makeup remover before I did it, but the amount of gunk it pulled out of my skin after I had already cleaned it was disgusting. I thought the remover had gotten everything, but the ProX brush was still showing signs of makeup. Now, after a week of using everyday before bed, my face looks AWESOME! It's so much smoother, and I have this awful dark splotch on my chin near the left side of my lip and it's already lightening up! My makeup glides on so smoothly now with how clean my face it (I hate using foundation primers to get smooth skin before makeup application cause I always seem to breakout from them clogging up my pores so the ProX helped eliminate that reason for using a makeup primer). It is also supposed to help fight aging which really hope it lives up to that because I am deathly scared of aging! The thought of my face sagging and full of wrinkles makes me shutter. The only downside I can see is if you use a self-tanner on your face. The scrubbing action will scrub the tanner right off. So use a self-tanner (love St. Tropez) on your body and then apply a daily bronzer on your face along with your makeup.

So there is my review of the Olay ProX Advanced Cleansing System! I give it an A+, 5 STARS!!!!!!!

It is definitely a MUST in my book!!!!!

~Love~ Dani

April Musts!

2011-04-25T18:41:00.000-07:00

I love Spring! Things are starting to get more colorful outside, a little warmer too, but unfortunately I live in Indiana where it likes to rain and be random with the temperature, so my kids and I sit inside and watch "SpongeBob Squarepants" all day and playing with cars and dollies. But when I do get a free moment to myself I have been getting some things that have been bringing some "life" back into this rainy April weather.

First off I got this amazing ring! I normally don't wear giant rings but I saw this one and I loved it and it was the last one so I snatched it up!

I also get these gorgeous earrings! Which look small but are actually huge on my ears.

Then I am in love with nail polish right now so I have been scooping it up left and right. My collection is outgrowing my little bin I have it all in so I am going to have to get a wall rack to organize it all. Anyway I got these plus several others but these are my favorites. I love these Insta-Dry by Sally Hanson. They dry so quickly and last forever. They are great with my 2 yr-old daughter because she loves nail polish but won't wait for it to dry. She loves the bubble gum pink one called "Fuchsia Flare". I love this silver color called "Silver Sweep", and the baby pink color is called "Beige Blast". It is really pigmented and it lasted for more than 5 days when I used a basecoat under it.

This gold color by Nicole by OPI is the perfect shade of Antique Gold. I got it at Walmart and it's called "The Next CEO".Then I was at ULTA and they had this buy two get two free deal. So I went crazy. I bought a whole bunch of colors, but what I really love are the X-Dry, Clear/Topcoat, and Basecoat. They really help the polish last a long time and doesn't cost a fortune.

Next I got this Nail Enamel Dryer by DeMert which they carry at ULTA but I got it at Meijers for around $2.50. A lot of nail salons have it at their dry stations for people who need a quick dry session. Just let your polish sit for a 1-2 minutes, spray on your nails and your good to go. It works even better with the Insta-Dry Polish!

Now I haven't tried this yet, but because I am a larger girl I use more product than most so I can't afford the more expensive self-tanners like St. Tropez all the time. So when I was at ULTA I asked if they had any recommendations and they said they had a lot of girls buying this product. Now of course they are going to promote their own brand but I trusted the girl because it was only $10 versus $40. So we shall see.

This has been out for quite a while with MAC but I just got it and it is the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle. It is GORGEOUS! It leaves this beautiful glow to your skin. It's definitely my favorite product by far from MAC so far.

Next I got this pigment by MAC called Violet cause I love working with purples. So I thought I would give the pigments a try and start with colors I am most familiar with working with.

I also got these eyeshadows while at MAC. Top Row is Retrospeck, Goldmine, All That Glitters, and bottom row is Twinks, Mulch, and Silver Ring. Silver Ring looks amazing along with Knight Divine.

I have been working on making my own makeup brush cleaning solution because for 2 fl. oz. bottle it costs almost $10 and if you clean them off everyday like you should that will last you maybe 2 weeks. So I made my own which I will do another post on later how to do it for really cheap, it produces a lot of solution, and works extremely well.

I saw the movie and thought it was incredible so I'm starting the book "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen. And my kids were being naughty and going through my sister's room and brought me one of her candles (Sorry Courtney!). I smelled it and it was heaven! I didn't use it so don't worry Court, but I am definitely going to go get me one from Bath and Body Works and it's called "Sparkling Mojito".

My lovely husband bought me this awesome HD Camcorder so we can start recording memories of our kids and I can start making youtube videos. I'm still working on figuring out how to use it but I hope to start getting videos up next month.

Finally, I have started a workout regimen. So on those rainy days the best thing is my treadmill and my Brooks running shoes.

So there you have it. My April Musts! I can't wait to see what May brings. My husband gets out of school and starts summer semester. We will have a little more time as a family, YAY! But until then we just keep on going.
~LOVE~ Dani

You Don't Need a Ton of Makeup to be a Makeup Guru!

2011-04-04T18:22:00.000-07:00

So I started this post at 4am Monday morning and because I couldn't sleep so what better time to write a post. I have been watching a lot of youtube makeup "Gurus" lately to get some ideas on what I should start making tutorials on and the one thing I have noticed is each one eventually does a "makeup collection/organization" video. You wouldn't believe the amount of makeup some of these girls have. Yes, some of them are makeup artists for a living, but they still have an awful lot of "personal" makeup. I'm going to tell you girls I don't have a ton of makeup. As of right now I have this container that I keep the makeup that I use most often from Target, its 14" L x 10" W x 6" H and that is it. I'm slowly growing my collection, but makeup has a lifespan. Some of these girls have so much makeup there is no way they could possibly use it all by it's expiration (the expiration date starts after you open it, so if it is still sealed, if should be fine).

Makeup Lifespan:
Mascara: 3 months
Foundation: 1 year
Concealer: 12-18 months
Powder: 18 months
Blush/Bronzer: 18 months
Cream Blush: 12-18 months
Eyeshadow: 18 months
Eyeliner: 18 months
Liquid Eyeliner: 6 months
Lip stick/lip gloss: 12-18 months
Lip liner: 1 year
Nail Polish: 1 year
Makeup Sponges: Wash after every use/discard after 1 month
Makeup Brushes: Wash after every use/discard when frayed

If you don't follow this time-line you run the risk of developing eye infections, and face blemishes. Here are some links to some girls' makeup collections that are out of this world but impossible to keep up with.. this is Ramnari7:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6NXrN4aSAc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uxa1lbYQsqA&playnext=1&list=PL52CCF3E3287A3E8F
This girl has WAY TOO MUCH MAKEUP even for someone who is trying to become a makeup artist. The key to being a good makeup artist is being able to take what you have to work with and turning it into something beautiful, you don't need an entire room full of makeup to do so.

AllThatGlitters21:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crJD-NYTPGA&feature=related
Even though I am not a fan of her attitude, this girl has a little more manageable collection.

JuicyStar07:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MrZ8OtSis4&feature=fvwrel
Again this is a smaller more manageable collection, great for doing youtube tutorials, but a lot of money invested.

But this girl is one of my favorite. She is very classy. Has good ideas, and variety of makeup but isn't ridiculous! It's MakeupByTiffanyD and here is two of her makeup collection/storage videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exl4oEM_lMs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/user/MakeupByTiffanyD#p/u/47/D2Sw7x0x2FA

So here is what I have to offer...not much, but I can do A LOT with what I got!!!!

Crown Brush Set (made right here, in Crown Point, Indiana!), a Bare Essentials Bare Minerals Face Brush, and a Sonia Kashuk Stippling Brush

My Blue/Green MAC Palette

Top Row:Freshwater, Aquadisiac, Bitter

Middle Row: Atlantic Blue, Deep Truth, Tilt, Swimming

Bottom Row: Contrast, and Humid

My Neutral/Purple MAC Palette

Top Row: Quarry, Blanc Type, Naked Lunch, Hush (I LOVE THIS ONE!), Beautiful Iris

Middle Row: Scene, Goldmine, Parfait Amour

Bottom Row: Carbon, Knight Divine, Shadowy Lady, Nocturnelle

My Blush MAC Palette

Blunt (great non-shimmer bronzer), Fleur Power, Dollymix

So there you have it. I have some other "junk" in a box upstairs in my room. I keep this downstairs in my kids playroom so they can play while I do my makeup at the desk. I'm trying to build my collection, but good quality makeup is expensive so it will happen as it happens
~LOVE~ Dani

Yummy Chicken and Mexican Cheese Quesadilla and Salsa

2011-03-31T12:40:00.000-07:00

This is a recipe for a delicious and very simple Chicken and Cheese Quesadilla. It takes maybe 5 minutes to make and it's fairly healthy considering it uses whole wheat tortillas!

What you'll need:
1 Medium Whole Wheat Tortilla (by Mission)
1 to 1.3 oz of Grilled Chicken (Hormel Pre-grilled)
1/4cup to 1/3 cup of Mexican Cheese
Salsa

Step 1: Take your Whole Wheat Tortilla and cut it in half

Step 2: Take 1/4 cup Mexican Cheese and evenly distribute on one side of the tortilla.

Step 3: Measure out about 1 to 1.3 oz of pre-grilled chicken. If you don't have a scale it's about enough to rest in the palm of your hand.

Step 4: Dice up the chicken very finely.

Step 5: Evenly Distribute the chicken on top of the cheese. (it may look like a lot of chicken but don't worry...)

Step 6: Sprinkle a little more Mexican Cheese over the top of the chicken.

Step 7: Place the other half of the tortilla on top and place in the microwave. Microwave on High for 1min30sec. (DON'T OVER COOK!)

Step 8: The Mexican Cheese when melted leaves a some grease, so I soak it up with a paper towel.

Step 9: Using a Pizza Cutter (or whatever you may have) cut the tortilla into four slices.

Step 10: Pour your self a little salsa on the side and there you have it! A delicious and nutritious Chicken and Mexican Cheese Quesadilla! And if you are worried that the whole wheat tortillas are going to taste funny, don't, they taste just like a regular tortilla, just healthier for you cause it is using healthier carbs. So eat up and enjoy!!!!!!!

Nutrition Facts:
Mission Whole Wheat Tortilla: 1 Tortilla= 120 Calories 19 Carbs
1.3oz Hormel Grilled Chicken Breast: 50 Calories 0 Carbs
Target brand Mexican Cheese: 1/4 cup= 110 Calories+20 Calories in Sprinkled Cheese 1 Carbs
2 Tbsp Salsa: 10 Calories 2 Carbs
Total: 310 Calories 22 Carbs

HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!

2011-03-30T13:15:00.000-07:00

FINALLY!!!!!! Internet problem resolved. Stuff to come. I'm getting a Camcorder and I hope to post some makeup tutorials and diy projects. I have a super yummy, extremely easy, and fairly healthy Chicken and Mexican Cheese Quesadilla Recipe I will be sharing. I have been creating a lot of handmade jewelry lately and plan on selling some on etsy.com soon so I will keep you posted on that. And I am ready for it to warm up cause I finally have the motivation to go walking!!!!!!! YAY!!!! Soon as I get pictures going there will be posts!!!!
~LOVE~ Dani

2011-03-27T04:19:00.000-07:00

Computer update... Still having computer Internet issues. It's strange, it works fantastically with Comcast but it doesn't work at all with AT&T Uverse, so Greg and I are ordering a comcast plan this Monday so hopefully (cross your fingers) I will be up and runny very soon. I have been posting whenever I go to work or on my cell phone...boo! I am looking into getting a camcorder so I can start taping some makeup tutorials as well as craft projects to organize your accessories and such. I swill bring you fashion, shoe, and accessories goodies for less! I'm so excited to get this up and running, so check back in soon. Much love, -Dani

New Beginning!!

2011-03-20T18:04:00.001-07:00

Time for New Beginnings. All my life I have been over weight. I have always been the one teased about who heavy I was. I had a real hard time dealing with my weight issues when I was little. I hated going to school because I didn't like being teased, so I would fake being sick to stay home. In high school, I had a hard time with boys. They took advantage of me cause they new I wanted a boyfriend but no boy wanted to be with my cause most boys of that age are looking for a girl with good looks not everything else too. It wasn't until I started to slim down my senior year of high school when I finally got my first real boyfriend, and that didn't last very long. Then it was off to college where the weight goes up and down and up and down and up and up and down and up for what seems like an eternity. Then I met my husband and we got pregnant...with TWINS!!! And I was told I had to gain at least 45-50 lbs for the babies sake. So that was hard to take cause my whole life I hated being fat and to be told that I had to be fatter made me really depressed. I had some complications with the pregnancy causing water to accumulate in my left leg making it swell to 3x it size causing me to gain in total 70lbs with the pregnancy. I weighed 236 lbs. Immediately after the babies were born I dropped down to 190lbs just like that, even before I left the hospital 5 days later. But then being the mother of twins with no help catches up to you cause you cant take care of yourself correctly and all you eat is what is available to you and you end up gaining 20 lbs so now I am up to 210lbs. That was back in August of 2009 since then I lost 40 lbs for my wedding this past December 11, 2010, but I have had some stress come about causing me to gain 17 lbs and now I am back up to 190 lbs. My goal is to lose at least 25 lbs. through a diet and exercise and then....if I get approved...I plan on getting a body lift and breast lift this June. A body lift is a lot like a tummy tuck except the incision goes the entire way around the body, removing fat pockets from your hips, and lifting and tightening your buttocks, and tightening your tummy. At the same time they do a form of liposuction on your legs to smooth everything out. With all the extra skin from having the babies I just don't feel "sexy" anymore and I want to feel SEXY!!!!!! Then I'm also getting a breast lift and augmentation because they have fallen bellow my belly button and they are heavy and they hurt. I know I won't come out of this surgery a supermodel or anything. I am just looking on gaining some confidence to wear something other than jeans and a sweatshirt. I'm young and beautiful on the inside but I'm ready to look like the girl I feel like I should be. I hope you will all support me in my weight loss journey....

I will be posting new stuff soon!

2011-03-16T16:22:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! I know it's been a while since I have posted anything new but I have gone through some massive computer/internet drama over the past 3 weeks. It started out with my old computer dying so I ordered a new Dell (computer #1) from Best Buy online. When I got it and tried to use the internet nothing would happen, nothing would pull up, it would just be a blank page. So I took it in to Best Buy and they figured out that it had a bad internet card in it. So I got computer #2 a Toshiba, I got it home and tried the internet and it was really slow and sometimes it wouldnt load the page at all. So I called up Geek Squad and they said it had to be my interney provider. So I called my internet provider, AT&T Uverse, and they said my internet was working fine which I believed because all the other computers in the house are working just fine, so I took computer #2 back to Best Buy. The Geek Squad there "tested it" by using their internet and going to 3 websites and said it was fine, but I said it did not work right at home, so they exchanged it for computer #3, back to the Dell. I get the Dell home and the same thing happens, internet is running slow and wont open certain pages. So I called up Geek Squad again where they insisted it was my internet provider, so I called AT&T and they came out and replaced our equipment even though the internet worked fine on the other 3 computers in the house. But guess what...it didnt fix it, the internet still didnt work on the computer. So I called Geek Squad back up where I finally got a guy who sounded like he knew what he was doing. We were on the phone for almost 2 hours working on the computer when nothing worked he said that I was going to have to delete everything on the computer and reupload the computer from the backup disc. I said "no, I havent loaded anything on it because I am only using it for internet right now and internet web page building and I cant load any of that without the internet. So that is pointless" So I took the computer back to Best Buy where after arguing with the little 10 year-old manager for 20 minutes with my kids screaming in my ear, he finally agreed to exchange the computer so now we are computer #4, the internet is still running extremely slow, Im having trouble uploading pictures, and I am about ready to pay the ridiculous amount ($150) to have Geek Squad come to my house and see for themselves that the internet isnt working on this computer!!!!! So I promise I havent gone anywhere. I have tons of stuff to post I just need the internet to do so. So keep checking in and I hope to be up and running by the end of the week!!!!!!
~LOVE~
Dani

Inexpensive Foundation Reviews

2011-03-02T12:23:00.000-08:00

So in my quest for the best foundations on the planet, I have discovered some of the higher rating inexpensive foundations. Here is a short list of what I have found to be the best...

Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Powder Foundation Compact
-light to medium coverage
-matte finish
-long lasting
-best applied with a brush and not the sponge it comes with
Overall rating 8.5 out of 10

Covergirl Aquasmooth Compact Foundation
-smooth, even coverage
-solid makeup transforms into liquid foundation that dries into a powder like finish
-feels weightless
Overall rating 8.3 out of 10

Revlon Colorstay Makeup with Softflex
-durable foundation
-high coverage
-matte finish
Overall rating 8.9 out of 10

Covergirl Advanced Radiance Makeup
-even, medium coverage
-blends well
-contains Olay moisturizer in it
Overall rating 8.5 out of 10

Covergirl True Blend Whipped Foundation
-blends well
-feels light but has great coverage
-doesn't melt off in hot weather
Overall rating 8.1 out of 10

for more foundation reviews visit www.totalbeauty.com

Vitamins that are Good for Your Skin!

2011-02-28T17:15:00.000-08:00

If you are like me, then you never in your life liked taking vitamins. I remember my mom forcing chalky flintstone vitamins down my throat, and the nasty after taste...yuck. So as an adult I never took vitamins, until I got pregnant with my twins and even then I had trouble taking them because they made me nauseous. But lately I have noticed how dull and lifeless my skin is, as well as how sluggish I feel, and when doing some research I learned a lot about how certain vitamins can improve the look and health of your skin. So about 2 months ago I started what I consider an intense vitamin routine, you can be the judge on how intense it is but considering I went from nothing to something I feel that its pretty intense so here is my daily vitamin regimen and how each one can effect you your health.

1. 1000mg Biotin: Helps maintain Skin and Hair Health
The most important B vitamin is biotin, a nutrient that forms the basis of skin, nail, and hair cells. Without adequate amounts, you may end up with dermatitis (an itchy, scaly skin reaction) or sometimes even hair loss. Even a mild deficiency causes symptoms. Topical preparations containing B vitamins are coming to the market. These creams can help give skin an almost instant healthy glow while hydrating cells and increasing overall tone. Niacin, a specific B vitamin, helps skin retain moisture, so creams containing this nutrient can help your complexion look plumper and younger in as little as six days. Niacin also has anti-inflammatory properties to soothe dry, irritated skin. In higher concentrations it can also work as a lightening agent to even out blotchy skin tone.

2. 1000mg Vitamin C + one 8oz. Glass of Simple Orange Orange Juice with Lots of Pulp: Along with Vitamin E, this helps to reduce the damage caused by free-radicals (harmful products of sun, pollutants, smoke, etc)
You can also try a topical vitamin C cream to encourage collagen production, just as your body does naturally when you are young. The trick here is to use a formulation containing the L-ascorbic acid form of vitamin C, the only one that can penetrate skin layers and do the job.

3. 400 IU Vitamin E: can help reduce photodamage, wrinkles, and improve skin texture. Long-term study shows that people who continue to take Vitamin E and C reduce DNA damage within the skin cells.
*NOTE: Too much vitamin E can be harmful

4. 2500mg B-12: Energy and Metabolism Boost

5. Centrum Multi-Vitamin

6. Vitamin A: necessary for the maintenance and repair of the skin, even having just a just not quite enough can cause dry, flaky, dull skin
Topical vitamin A is the form that makes a real difference in your skin. Medical studies show a reduction in lines and wrinkles, good acne control, and some psoriasis relief, all from using creams containing this nutrient. topically applied retinol plus vitamin C demonstrated a "reversal of skin alterations

7. Calcium: cause I dont tolerate milk very well

8. Soothing Vitamin E Oil Topical Agent For Skin 12,000 IU
*DO NOT INGEST

So Im going on month 3 now with the vitamin regimen and I already notice a huge difference in my skin's appearance. My skin is not as dull as it was, it now has a nice glow to it, my breakouts are occurring less often, and above all I feel like I am taking better care of myself, and everyone needs to take better care of themselves these days and we have so many options available to us, but if you start with something as easy as vitamins, you may be really surprised by the results!

~LOVE~ Dani

Computer Drama!!!!

2011-02-24T13:44:00.000-08:00

WOW! Major computer drama over the last few days. I ordered a new computer online through Best Buy after my other computer went kaput and when I got it, it worked for maybe 2 hours then it stopped running the internet. Turns out it had a bad internet card (or whatever it is called) in it, so I went in to Best Buy and traded it in for an even better laptop! My husband is jealous that he didn't get the one I have instead of the one I originally got. HA! So now I can finally begin to update the blog!!!!!

I finally have my new computer!

2011-02-21T22:17:00.000-08:00

YAY! After my old laptop succumbed to a painful death, my new Dell laptop finally came!!!!! Now I can do all types of stuff. I have been doing all sorts of researching over the past few days. I have made an awesome Earring Holder made out of a picture frame, aluminum screening, and a staple gun, which I will show you how to do! I have started reading The Makeup Manual by Bobbi Brown and it's filling my mind full of useful information! I got some new makeup toys this past week. I am re-designing/organizing my vanity area and my bedroom so I will be posting updates on that project. I have found some very unique, easy at-home hair extensions using.. FEATHERS!!!! They are so amazing looking. Be looking for that post. And lots, lots more to come!!!! If you are reading the blog, tell others to come and check it out too! The more the merrier!

~LOVE~ Dani

Too Cute!

2011-02-13T21:49:00.000-08:00

This is too cute!!!!!!!!!! www.hotguysandbabyanimals.com It was started as a joke, but people caught on and now it's a big hit! I am ordering one of their calenders!!!!!!! I can't get enough them!!!! Don't tell my husband...just kidding he's sitting right here watching me type, looking at the hot guys with baby animals too!!!!!

Fabulous Accessories!!!

2011-02-13T00:05:00.000-08:00

I love snow!!! I want to live up in the Colorado Mountains in the pretty trees and bright white snow in a beautiful log cabin. But snow in Indiana stinks. Well, actually sleet mixed with snow stinks. After being stuck in the house for nearly two and a half weeks from a sleet and snow storm we all finally got out of the house and went out to Bucca du Beppos with our best friends. Then we went over to the mall were we found an awesome "Jason Mraz" style hat for Lukas some amazing earrings and bracelets!!!! Here's what I found....

I love this Black Crystal Ring. The only problem was the band was too tight around my stubby finger.

This is an awesome red studded cuff!

I bought these CRAZY Spikey Silver Earrings!

I REALLY WANTED THIS GOLD SPIKEY RING!!!!!

I got these Gold Sparkly Hoops on sale for $2.98!

I also bought these Intricately Woven Rose Gold Hoops on sale as well for $2.98!

I BOUGHT THESE BRIGHT PURPLE AND BROWN FEATHER EARRINGS FOR $3.50! Feathers are very "in" right now! There is this amazing earring designer named Cardi on etsy.com called her store is SalvageLA and she makes gorgeous one-of-a-kind feather earrings, some reaching 12 inches or longer in length! Here's her blog with info how to buy her earrings! They are a little more pricey than $3.50 (the one I tried to get but didn't get to in time was $65)

www.cardi-love.blogspot.com

I learned about her through my makeup mentor (unbeknownst to her...) Kandee Johnson kandeethemakeupartist.blogspot.com

Gabby was asleep in the stroller cause she ate so much pasta!!!!! Now I am saving up for my big makeup shopping trip at the end of the month!!!!!! YAY!!! It's 3am and I am talking to my only 2 followers so I am going to go to bed now, and I will update more later on... nightie night...

My Beauty Must Haves!

2011-02-12T22:21:00.000-08:00

My Favorite Beauty Must Haves!!!!!!
1. iPhone
2. Idea Journal
3. Glamour Magazine
4. Laptop
5. Garnier Oil-Free Facial Cleansing Cloths
6. Garnier Surf's Up Hair Putty
7. Aveeno Positively Radiant Face Lotion SPF 15
8. Olay Regenerist Eye Serum
9. Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion
10. Herbal Essence Set Me Up Hairspray
11. Essie Nail Polish
12. Bottle of H2O
13. Clairol Perfect 10 Haircolor
14. Vitamin E
15. Vitamin C
16. Biotin
17. Vitamin B-12
18. BUDHA
19. My AMAZING $350 ANNE KLEIN PURSE that I got for $50!
20. Diet Mt. Dew
21. POLAR POP W/ CUBED ICE
22. My L.A.M.B. by Gwen Steffani Wallet (orig. $98 got it for $30!)
23. Dark Brown Short Ugg Boots
24. My Glasses
25. My Wedding Rings
26. My Papa's Ring
27. My Budha Ring
28. My Grandpa's Bracelet
29. Earrings
30. Dark Brown Ugg Slippers
31. Strawberry Special K Bar
32. Large Navel Orange

AND.....

(I don't have a picture cause it's everywhere) MAKEUP!!!!!
I'll post a picture of all the fun makeup I get at the end of the month!!!!!

Everyone's Life isnt Perfect......

2011-02-09T15:23:00.000-08:00

So Everyone's Life isn't so perfect. I never watch the "Real Housewive of ..." shows because they only make me angry that these women sit on tv and flaunt their wealth to American then complain about their troubles. Well, I realize that everyone's life isn't perfect. Their lives are full of backstabbing, money grubbling, cheating, lying, deceitfulness, who will never know true happiness unless it involves ruining or gossiping about one of their "friends." I'm venting right know because I'm kind of distraught. I thought I finally found something that I really wanted to do with my life. I really want to go to the Aveda Beauty School here in Indianapolis and then go on to further my education at a professional makeup artistry school. But right now I'm trying to support 2 children, a husband who's still in college, and save up so we can eventually get out of my parents house, and when I looked into the tuition for beauty school it's $18,000 up front and they don't offer payment plans and I already have too many loans taken out with Sallie Mae for them to help me. I'm 26! By the time we will have that kind of money saved up I will be in my mid-30's. It's really distressing that everything I want to do gets shot down because of money. I mean I really want to do this full on. And there is no financial way that I can. I know I would be amazing at it. I need something to make me feel good about myself, I'm losing myself and I don't like it. But I guess for now this blog and my one follower will just have to suffice. :(

My Granny Taught Me...

2011-02-07T14:58:00.000-08:00

Ok, I have shed a few tears, actually A LOT of tears, over ugly and hurtful breakups and downfalls in my high-school and college days. But what I didn't know is that not only were those tears that I would shed over and over for the loved lost from same loser guy wasn't healthy for my mind, but the tears and how I was wiping them off my face was doing damage to the skin around my eyes and now I am paying for it.

When a lot of women cry they tend to wipe the tears away from the face by pulling at the skin and rubbing the eyes. I used to take the sleeve of the sweatshirt I would be wearing and press really hard and wipe away the tears. And now at the age of 26 I have crow's feet and puffy eyes like a 40 year old (no offense ladies).

I recently got married to the man of my dreams who shouldn't make me cry that hard ever again, so I want to try and regain some of the "youth" back to the skin around my eyes.
1. I am going to start applying an Anti-age/wrinkle cream at Night that wont clog my pores. I have tried this once in the past and the product I used cause me to breakout.

2. I am in the works of purchasing the new Dermanew Facial Rejuvenation System ($70 www.dermanew.com) Dermanew is this new facial tool that gently resurfaces the skin. It helps diminish wrinkles, fine lines, and pore size. It decreases the signs of sun-damage and aging. It polishes, refines and decongests the skins surface. It dimishes post breakout discoloration, prevents future breakouts. And it reveals HEALTHY SKIN.

3. I have begun to apply Eye Lifting Cream every morning. Right now I am trying Olay Regenerist Eye Lifting Serum
... we will see how it works
4. Also when I cry from now on I am going to try to blot my eyes dry instead of wiping them with a heavy hand, and then apply a soothing eye cream to help prevent puffiness the next day.

So be kind to the skin around your eyes, cry a little less or just don't rub them as hard the next time you do! A little advice thanks to my Granny!!!!

LUST AND MUST

2011-02-06T13:36:00.000-08:00

I never watch "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" but I was reading the January 2011 Glamour magazine and I saw a little article on the big clear makeup cubes they all have in their bathrooms and where do they. The are so cool!!!!
They are called "The Clear Cube" and they are either a 5 or 4 (with 1 double-sized drawer) drawer 12" W x 12" D x 15" H Cube that holds all your makeup needs! You can even order dividers to help further organize your makeup and nail polish. www.theclearcube.com
The down side to this amazing makeup cube...it costs $290!!! Not including the dividers!!!!! So I did some research and found a few that could do the same job for a lot less money!!!

I found this Acrylic Clear Cube on http://theacryliccube.com/

.Four (4) Drawers .
.Top Lid compartment.
.X Insert on top lid
.First Drawer divided on 3
.No Dividers on remaining drawers
Dimensions: 12"w x 12"d x 15"h OD
Drawers and lid compartment dimensions: 11 1/4"w x 11 1/4"d x 2 3/4"h ID
1/4" clear acrylic/Lucite material sides.
3/16" clear acrylic/Lucite base and top.
1/2" SQ rod clear acrylic handle
$159.99 + $19.99 shipping/handling

Also on http://theacryliccube.com/

.Thee (3) Drawers
.No Dividers on any Drawer
Dimensions: 12"w x 12"d x 9"h OD
Drawers dimensions: 11 1/4"w x 11 1/4"d x 2 3/4"h ID
1/4" clear acrylic/Lucite material sides.
3/16" clear acrylic/Lucite base and top.
1/2" SQ rod clear acrylic handle

On Amazon.com I found a
Chest Deluxe 7 Drawer (clear) 11 7/8" H x 12 5/8" W x 6 1/2 " D Makeup Cube
$99

also on Amazon.com I found
Acryllic Drawer Tower Organizer (clear)
17 5/8" H x 5 3/8" W x 4 7/8" D
10 Drawers
$27.99

Well I don't know about you but yes I LUST for the clear cube, but you can't beat the other four's prices!!!!

February's "To Get" List

2011-02-06T13:03:00.000-08:00

Sephora
-St. Tropez Tanning Essentials Self Tan Bronzing Mousse
-Ole Henriksen Ultimate Lift Eye Cream
-Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage (Concealer)
-Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation
-Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Chopper, Sin, and Gunmetal

MAC
-Eyeshadow in Shroom,Carbon
-Kohl Power Eye Pencil in Feline
-Liquid Eyeliner in Boot Black
-Blush Cream Colour Base in Shell and Tickle Me Pink
-Pro Palette Powder Blush in Blunt, Blush Bab, Dollymix, Fleur Power, Dame, Pink Swoon
-Blush Pro Palette
-Eyeshadow Pro Palette

Makeup Brushes either Crown Brushes or MAC Pro Brushes

...I'll have to win the lottery to afford all this! We will see what I can do!

DON'T BAKE, FAKE!

2011-02-05T19:13:00.000-08:00

How to get an AMAZING GLOW with out tanning bed!
Believe me, I love looking gorgeously sun-kissed too. Nothing feels better than to look in the mirror and have instant glow to your skin. But nothing can be worse for your skin than getting that glow by a tanning bed. I used to be a "tan-aholic," I had to have that bronze skin look all the time, even in the winter, and I have naturally fair skin. But what I didn't realize is that every time I stepped into that tanning bed I was damaging my skin and the future of my skin. I know you all have heard how tanning can give you cancer, so I wont go into that but I will tell you how to get a great sun-kissed glow without the tanning bed.

There are many "at home" tanning products out there. My favorite is St. Tropez Essentials Self Tan Bronzing Mousse ($30 @ Sephora) for my face and St. Tropez Tanning Essentials Everyday Gradual Tan for Body ($30 @ Sephora). There are several steps to get a great even tan, using whatever product you choose (see bottom list for other good brands).
1. EXFOLIATE! It's a must! If you don't get all of the dead skin cells off of your skin, the color will cling to it making you look patchy or streaky. Use an exfoliating glove for your body. It looks like a winter glove just dab some body wash on it and scrub your body, especially your knees and elbows. You can get an exfoliating glove at Target in the makeup section.
2. Always apply tanner to clean, dry skin. Make sure there is no oil-containing lotion on your skin cause that will cause the color to not "sink in"
3. Use gloves or a tanning applicator (tanning mitt from St. Tropez) to keep you from getting discolored hands, and it helps give a more even tan.
4. Go lightly over your elbows, knees, around the ankles, wrists, but make sure you do apply a tiny bit to the top of your hands and blend it really well into your arm in-order to look like your tan is real, not like it just suddenly stops at your wrist. Avoid going in between the fingers!
5. Even if you used gloves/applicator WASH YOUR HANDS IMMEDIATELY! Use a good soap and scrub between your fingers but be careful to not splash the water up your arms cause it will create a runny mark down your arm.
6. LET THE TANNER DRY LONGER THAN IT SAYS TO!! I have found with all the tanning products I have tried that they take longer than they say to dry. You do not want to put clothes on over wet self-tanners. If will stain your clothes and cause streaking in your tan.
7. When you feel 110% completely dry, apply a good moisturizer to hold the tan in. If you moisturize using a good moisturizer your tan will last longer cause your skin cells wont flake off as fast, plus it makes your tan look that much more sun-kissed when its moisturized.

*If you are using a daily bronzer, you will want to do this every day to keep it going on even everyday.
*If you are using a self-tanner, do the exfoliating process right before you apply the self-tanner but continue to deeply moisturize the tan until it's time to apply more self-tanner. If your tan starts to become flaky, do the exfoliating process for several days before applying more self tanner!!!

Other great self tanning products: Banana Boat Summer Color Sunless Lotion, L'Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze Tinted Self-Tanning Lotion, Almay Sunless Tanning Gel for Body, L'Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze One Day, and my favorite St. Tropez

First Blog!

2011-02-05T18:22:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my Blog! I'm Dani, a stay-at-home mid-20's mommy of 2 yr old twins. One of my favorite things to do is research new beauty products, and makeup ideas and tips. I've loved makeup since I was a little 3 year old girl getting all dolled for my dance recitals, and it has been a hobby of mine ever since. I love to play around with different looks and styles. I am also a big advocate of healthy skin, so I love to look into the new and affordable skincare treatments/products. I love finding unique jewelry at amazing prices! So in this blog I will bring to you makeup reviews and how-to's, skincare product reviews, accessory finds, and so much more!