Getting my (many) face(s) on

Today I am joining Beth at the Stories of A to Z for her Get your Face on party!

Go see the other brave girls who posted pictures of themselves, too!

I committed to do this, thinking it would be kind of fun. I love makeup, and sharing my products sounded like a blast!
It was great - until I sat down and looked at the pictures.
When I was going through these pictures on my computer, picking out the succession, etc, my 3 year old asked to sit on my lap to see, too.
When I picked him up he asked "why are you making faces in those pictures?"
I said "I don't know...I don't...I don't know why I was doing that."
He said "Maybe it's because you don't like yourself?"

I don't think that's it...but it might be because I don't like the camera!  lol
At any rate - you should know that I made 3 faces each time I took my picture. One without a smile, one with a half smile, one with a full smile.
I wasn't sure which would look best.
Also, I'm a freak.

Okay.  I could ramble on for another 5 pages (believe me!) but it's probably best to just get started. So, here we go!

I'm a stay at home mom, lucky me! I almost always shower in the late afternoon. That's when I wash my face.
On days I go out in the morning I just splash water on my face - I don't use cleanser. I figure my face is pretty clean after having washed the evening before, and at this point in my life I'm far more concerned about retaining moisture than being squeaky clean.

I use this every day.

I use this once every couple of weeks.

I use this once every couple of months.

I use this to remove my eye makeup, if I need to.

Clean face, no makeup.

My many faces

Close up!

My normal makeup routine takes me 3 minutes.  I timed myself on a day I didn't have time to do the pictures, but wasn't in a hurry, either. I knew I was quick, but that was faster than I expected.
However, for the pictures I did my all-out makeup routine. Not quite the one I did when we were playing in the casino in Las Vegas last weekend, but the one I use for going out at night with my husband.
Anyway, even this one takes only about 5 minutes.
On this day I was also straightening my hair. When I do that I straighten a layer, then put on some makeup, then straighten a layer, etc. So you'll get to see my hair progression, too.  I know it's supposed to be about makeup, but I'm a multi-tasker by nature.

Step 1. Moisturizer
I use Olay Regenerist. LOVE it.  Sometimes I use this skin rev-er upper, too.  It's a Bare Minerals product to go under your makeup. When I first started using Bare Minerals I thought the Rev-er Upper made a big difference, but it doesn't seem to, anymore. Probably because I've gotten better at putting the makeup itself on.
On my lips I use vaseline. I love vaseline. It's shiny and smooth and moisturizing and cheap. And, unlike shiny lip glosses, it's never sticky.

 

After the moisturizers:

Step 2. Foundation
I started using Bare Minerals about a year and a half ago.  I really like it. It's light and easy to use and I love the coverage it gives me. I use the medium beige color, which is darker than you'd think for a natural redhead, but it works for me.
I tap about this much into the lid and use the swirl, tap, buff method.  It takes about 3 applications to do my whole face - once on my chin, once on my nose and forehead, once on my cheeks.
After I do all that I use this brush to scoop up the extra powder in the lid and use it as an eye shadow foundation.

 

After the foundation:

Step 3. Eye Makeup
On a regular day I use 2 eyeshadows, eye liner and mascara. I almost always curl my lashes.
When I'm going out at night I use 3 or 4 shadows and extra liner and mascara.
The two containers at the top left of the picture are my optional, going out shadows.

I start with shadows.

1 is called grace, 2 is called camp, 3 is a covergirl trio called shimmering sands. I buy it just for the shimmery pale one at the end. I can't find another color that works the same. 4 is called celestine.
On regular days I use number 1 (grace) across my whole lid and then highlight under my brow and in my inner eye/tear duct area with the covergirl shadow.
When I'm going out I use grace all over my lid, then camp below the crease, then celestine under my brow and the covergirl one to highlight my inner eye.

After the eyeshadow:

After the shadows I put my eyeliner on.  Then I curl my lashes and apply 2 coats of mascara.

Eyes are done:

4. Finishing touches
If I'm going out (or if I look very pale) I use a bit of bronzer. I just sweep it over my cheekbones, and occasionally along my jaw line or forehead.

I use this sad looking toothbrush to groom my brows. They usually have foundation in them, this sweeps it out.

I put vaseline on my lips, then rub the residue from my fingers (and sometimes a bit extra) into the base of my brows. Then I comb the toothbrush through them again. It just defines them and darkens them up a bit.
When I use lipstick I like this one. I'm not even sure if they make it anymore, I've had it for so long. I put it on on top of my vaseline. That way I get the color but only feel the vaseline.

Here's my after!

Way better, right?
I know.

Beware...

I meant to post about this last week, but never got around to it!
Forgive me.  I went to Vegas for the long weekend to celebrate my husbands 30th Birthday.
Jealous?
You should be, it was awesome.

ANYWAY...
Tomorrow, Beth, from The Stories of A to Z, is throwing a party!

Did you see her Decorating my Face post a few weeks ago?
I loved it.
I suggested a party, so that I could decorate my face, too.
And she obliged.

The party is tomorrow, and I'll be participating.
So, beware...if you come by tomorrow, you'll see me without makeup on.  This is normally a state I try to PREVENT people from seeing me in, but I just can't resist showing the world how much different a little eye makeup makes in my life :)

I hope you'll join in, too!

Kitchen Accessories

A part of my current project - the kitchen extravaganza - I'm attacking everything.
Even the dish soap dispenser.

Everything must be pretty!
Practicality and beauty are fighting a war, and beauty is winning on every front.
I don't know how logical it is, or how long it will last, but for now, everything must be pretty.
Especially the more mundane kitchen items.  It's time they got some love!

Spray paint is such a powerful weapon...

I started with my knife block.

So boring! Wood with a big, black recessed WP right in the center.
Sorry, Wolfgang Puck, but your knife block design doesn't really "go".

I filled the carving with putty, sanded it flat and spray painted the whole thing (I alternated spays of white and heirloom white - didn't want white, but I didn't want it cream, either)
Then I selectively distressed.

In case you're wondering about the paint getting inside where the knives slide in, I sprayed across that part.  I probably got a bit in, but I think it's fine.

and my very most favorite 10 minute transformation thus far...
My soap dispenser.
This is the dish soap I use.

I buy the refill, so I always use the same dispenser.
I love the soap, but not the look - remember, everything must be pretty.
So I removed the labels (had to resort to some chemicals for that part!
And gave the base a light sanding.

Then I spray painted the bottom part copper, and the top part oil rubbed bronze.

Totally better, right?!

Happy Superbowl!

I've always loved football.
Although for a time, I guess it was more football players that I really loved.
Or maybe the football uniform. mmmm

Anyway, I've always loved football in some form.
My husband is from Denver and is a faithful Bronco's fan.  For the first few years of our marriage I was a tag-along Bronco's fan. But as I watched more and more games and learned something about the game, I actually began to form my own opinions about the players and the teams.
In 2006 The Saints hired Sean Payton as their head coach.
They also took Reggie Bush in the draft.  Oh...how I love Reggie.
Not only is he adorable, but he's a really great guy, too.  Check out his Wiki page and read about his charity.  Or don't - I guess he's my celebrity crush, not yours.
Anyway, The Saints also picked up Drew Brees from the Chargers in 2006.
By 2007 I was a Saints fan.

This year, they made it to the Superbowl.
(it's taking a lot of effort here for me to refrain from telling you why they are the best team in the NFL.)

I decided to make a sign for my front porch to show my support.

I kept my eyes peeled at the thrift store this week, looking for something that I could use as the base for my sign. I didn't want to spend the $8 that I usually pay at the wood store for a pretty board with routed egdes.
I found this.

I took the towel bar part off and puttied the holes.

Then I sanded it down and painted it with flat black spray paint.

When it was dry I used a fleur de lis stencil on one side.  Then I hand wrote "Go Saints!" with pencil, then went over it with gold paint. At the end I added another fleur with a foam stamp.
I lightly distressed the edges, drilled holes in the top two corners, and strung some wire through.

Then I hung it on the porch.

Now I'm almost ready for the Superbowl...
I just need to cook up some bacon-wrapped-cream-cheese-stuffed-jalepenos.
mmmmmm.

Go Saints!

Fighting the Blues with Greens

I don't know about where you live, but where I am there's still 3 feet of snow on the ground.
I live on top of a mountain. When we drive down to the valley the majority of the snow is gone. This, however, is what my backyard looks like.

 

Plus, the air quality here is disgusting this time of year.  We have some of the worst air in the country, and just breathing feels hazardous to my health.
I'm tired of winter. So very tired.

This is the time of year that I start feeling like it will never be Summer again.  And I miss Summer so much.  Long daylight hours, the ability to slide on some flip-flops and walk out the door (instead of bundling up in several layers of warm clothing.), being able to let my kids play outside and expend some of their endless energy...
I long for summer.

So to fight off the winter-time-blues I've decided to bring some house plants into my life.
I've had the same two houseplants for YEARS. There have been others - some have died, some have been transplanted outdoors, but my supply has dwindled down to two.

The Home Depot has a huge supply of houseplants right now. I started by buying one for my kitchen, then went back a few days later to buy more.  They really brighten the place up, and I think having something green and alive in my house is having a positive effect on my mood.
Or maybe it's all in my head. No matter - they make me feel better about the season :)

Here's the kitchen plant - so lush and green I almost believe it's July

This one's by the front door - in a room that's rarely used, it brings some much-needed life in!

 

These two are in the family room.

 

When I was buying up plants my daughter begged to have one for her room. This little tropical one is what she picked out.  It sits on her desk and makes me feel warmer.

 

And last, this one in my bathroom, which makes it just a tiny bit more spa-like.

 

Adding these was so affordable! Less than $5 for the one in the kitchen, less than $3 each for the ones in the family room, daughters room and by the front door. The others I already had.

Consider adding plants to your home to update your decor...and fight seasonal depression!