Make up: Dhana de Belen

Hair: Boombee Bartolome 

Make up: Dhana de Belen

Hair: Boombee Bartolome 

Make up: Dhana de Belen

Hair: Boombee Bartolome 

Make up: Dhana de Belen

Hair: Boombee Bartolome 

Make up: Dhana de Belen

Hair: Boombee Bartolome 

My eighth entry (and for some reason the most famous case of this) is Jordan Clarke who played Billy Lewis, one of the two original Lewis Boys. Clarke‘s career was unfortunately punctuated by his drug addiction interrupting both his run on GL and his appearances in general. Still he regularly appeared as a guest star on other television shows over the years and was a fairly early supporter by appearing in online soaps.

Read more about Clarke‘s roles here:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0164830/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Clarke first appeared as Dr. Tim Ryan an intern befriended by Ed Bauer despite his issues and was a love interest of Evie Stapleton, Rita Stapleton Bauer’s younger sister. I’ve been looking for a Dr. Ryan clip, but I failed to find one so far. I did however find a photo of Clarke as Ryan on the set and decided it was good enough to use in this post, but I’ll keep looking for a clip to add later.

Tim Ryan

I hope to be able to add some more Vanilly posts, but for right now here is a great clip that shows what Billy and Vanessa were like together.

And in later years:

And here is Clarke winning his Daytime Emmy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSIA-7T8s6c

Congratulations Bonita Jackson! She lost 14 inches within a week using 1 body wrap on her tummy!! WAY TO GO BONITA!!!!! She has 3 more wraps to go before she’s completed her treatment

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Renaissancedayspaofmemphis.net

At SanOlvi Beauty we believe that a business does not strive without its community, and I always told myself the day I owned my own business I will give back however possible.

This month we start our Monthly Makeovers at SanOlvi Beauty – This is an idea we have had for over a year now, but have finally had the time to put into action.

We understand that physical beauty is only a small detail in life, but we also understand the empowerment one feels when they feel beautiful. Beauty empowers the spirit and the self esteem of a person. We are here to help someone out who may need that boost in that particular part of life.

Read the flyer for all the details. Pass it along to your friends. Tell us who should get a makeover and why. We will be picking a winner each month. So keep the emails coming, we want to hear from you. Thank you and have a blessed day.

Dome of Santo Domingo church in San Cristobal de Las Casas from 1997 (top) and 2013 (bottom).

wynndy replied to your post:

Dome of Santo Domingo church in San Cristobal de Las Casas from 1997 (top) and 2013 (bottom).

Really like your border Jack, Oh, the image as well,…sorry.

jackmex replies:

Thanks Wynndy. The top photo is an old slide and the border is the slide mount. I scan them as large as I can on my scanner and so some border shows. I wish I could scan sprocket holes and all, but i can’t with this scanner. The bottom photo is a digital photo, so there’s no border.

Fastword months after hard work physically, mentally and nutritionally. They have changed their appearance and physeec so drastically you sometimes cannot recognize the new person. But what is even more striking when you want to compare the before and after shoots is are they the same distance from the camera, did they go tanning and how are they holding their bodies now? Most after shots the person appears to be closer in the frame. I would like pictures with the person in the same distance from the camera and with the same lighting. I think being closer to the camer may make the person appear larger and more muscular.

Their posture in the after shoots are up right, shoulders back and all flexed to expose every ounce on muscle striation. How about just a relaxed shoot as you were in the original picture. I do not mean you have to be all slouched over and all but how about appearing relaxed like in a family photo with your shirt on.I think the before shot should show at least a good stance. Even a skinny person can look dumpy and stick out there stomach to make it appears they have absolutely no abdominal support to hold in those intestines.

Lastly is the tan. Come on, how about hold off, get some pasty white transformed photos to compare with the originals and then tan that chiseled body and get some after shots of that. 

It is only fare and accurate to compare apples to apples. I think is only adds to the authenticity of the transformation. Maybe we all like to be deceived though because seeing is believing, Right?

If you would like to try a body wrap today ($25) call Tisha at Renaissance Day Spa 901-452-1544 or Walk-in today 5/18/13 ONLY between 12-3pm.

Now For The Famous Question……..

How do the Body Wraps work?

A. They promote Lipolysis. This literally means “fat-breaking”. The plant extracts and botanicals get into the fat cell and chop up the large fat molecules into little ones which are now allowed to leave the cell. They then get burned up as energy somewhere else in the body (one reason why we want them to be well hydrated, to help circulate the little fat molecules that we’ve released).

B. They also release toxins from the fat cell. A major function of fat cells is to store toxins, so if we can release toxins, then we again get a shrinking of the fat cell.

C. They improve the microcirculation of the area applicated. This is what creates some of that tightening, firming and toning mentioned earlier. Fat tissue requires a great deal of blood vessels and such; if we can improve the microcirculation then we can improve the overall health of the area.

D. They have an anti-inflammatory effect. Fat tissue is terribly inflamed because of all the toxins and such. Again, we get tightening, firming and toning because we’ve increased the overall health of the area applicated.
Basically, the ingredients in The Ultimate Applicator promote Lipolysis, they detoxify the cell, they improve microcirculation, and they reduce inflammation!

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My goal for the patio was basically to clean it up and add some colour to make it a space that we’ll actually want to use this summer. I’m really going to do my best to stay on top of the weeds and make sure the flowers get watered so that they stay alive. I didn’t spend a lot of money out there, so it isn’t anything earth shattering, but now it’s a colourful and comfortable space where we can relax and entertain friends and family.

First up, some before pictures…because the afters just aren’t as much fun without seeing where it all started! (Warning: picture overload ahead!)

There were the old pots and pillows from last year hanging around…

The little side garden that I covered with rocks last year had a lot of weeds poking up…

There were bags of yard waste from last year that I hadn’t gotten around to getting rid of. A word of advice: don’t bother using those compostable plastic yard bags. They weren’t very strong and started ripping when they weren’t very full, which was the main reason I didn’t end up getting rid of them haha

One more picture of the sad, sad state of the patio.

So, I pulled up as many of the weeds as I could and tried to add lots of colourful touches. I just wanted it to feel happy and summery. Here are the afters of how the patio is looking now!

I got a plain wooden shoe rack and stained it to use as a stand for the flower pots. It’s not the sturdiest thing, but it’s doing the trick so I’m ok with it. It’s up against the fence so it’s not in the way so I’m not really worried about it being knocked over or anything.

I added some interest to my pots from last year using spray paint. I love the purple on the two smaller pots, and the larger pots were sort of a fail that I tried to save lol my plan was to sort of colour block them using white spray paint, but it didn’t go on very well. So, I got out some sandpaper and roughed them up a bit to try and make it look like they were aged and that it was intentional :)

This little side garden gets no sun, so I knew that I wanted to put hostas in there. I’ve planted them before and they’re such an easy plant to maintain, you really don’t have to do anything with them! They’re a perennial, so they’ll keep coming back and get fuller each year. I decided to put two different kinds in to make it a bit more interesting looking and I love how tropical the larger one in the middle looks. In the back corner I spray painted a $5 metal waste bin and turned it upside down to put a planter on. I’m not in love with it, but it was certainly financially friendly :)

I love the mix of the red stems with the green leaves.

The lantern holders are from last year and I remember that they came from the dollar store. I like the blue colour on them and because they already look worn, I won’t worry about them getting roughed up. The lantern tea light holders I’ve had forever, like probably 10 years or something, and they’ve just been something I’ve held onto. I don’t remember where they came from, but I’m glad that they’ve stayed in my hoard this whole time.

These pretty little candle holders were another dollar store find and I absolutely love them. The colours are really vibrant and I love the design on them. The table is kind of awkward to decorate since the umbrella comes right up the middle, so I thought that grouping the candle holders around the umbrella pole was a good way of adding some colour to the table.

The outdoor rug came from JYSK and I love the pop of colour that it adds. I had planned on making a rug out of dropcloth and paint, but when I found this I decided it would work better. It’s made of a plastic kind of material, so it rinses clean really easily. It was super cheap, only $30, so I’m not expecting it to last past next summer but it seemed like a low cost way to add some colour to the boring cement pavers.

These chairs are on loan from my sister and her fiance since they don’t have a balcony at their current apartment. I like that they provide some extra seating out here, and I jazzed them up with those beautiful pillows that came from Walmart for $10 each. The little table is what I had the corner planter sitting on last year, but I decided that it would work better as a little side table for drinks. The pretty little pink lantern is from the dollar store (what CAN’T you get there??). I still want to figure out a way to make the gas meter less of an eye sore. Last year someone suggested that I plant a climbing vine at the base of it and that would eventually disguise it somewhat. I think that would be an ok option because it wouldn’t be permanent and I could keep an eye on it and make sure that it was still readable for the gas company people.

I LOVE how vibrant and fun these pillows are!! I did absolutely no retouching on this photo, that’s really how they look out there :)

This guy was a gift I got in a gift exchange last summer when Ryan’s mom did a Christmas in July party. I really love it and I’m glad that it’s something that can be taken down and come to live with us in a future home. It definitely adds a little something to an otherwise very plain stretch of fence.

And one last picture that I want to share is absolutely terrible because it had to be dark for me to take it, but I think it’s really fun so horrible picture be darned! I’m including it :)

It’s kind of hard to tell what it is lol but I found some clip on, battery operated string lights at (can you guess??) the dollar store! and put them in the spokes of the umbrella. They’re really pretty at night with all of the candles out there lit too :)

So there’s my patio makeover! I really love how it looks and I’ve been spending time out there when I can. It’s very bright and cheerful and I think that’s exactly how an outdoor space should feel. Next on my list of outdoor projects is to tackle our front garden beds. They’re in need of some serious help, and since it’s what people see when they first come to our house I really do want to get them cleaned up. I’m hoping to get to that on Sunday since I’m off work all day and it’s supposed to be beautiful here. Wish me luck on taming the weeds! If you follow me on Instagram I will for sure be sharing the progress there as I go along :)

Drink lots of water, properly proportionate your food intake, work your butt off on regular cardio workouts, have steel-like determination, and for God’s sake, don’t you dare give up. Do these things and you get an awesome bonus combo : You’ll lose fat on other areas too. I’d post a before & after picture of my ass as proof, but it’s still under construction. But let me tell you something, I’m sure as hell getting there!

My take:

It’s no denying that she’s really beautiful without the need of going under the knife. In other words, she’s really blessed with God-given beauty in her (AA, define God-given beauty nga!? Witch nose!? Orange halves!? LMAO).

I can’t stare! She’s (Pammy) too pretty talaga, which Kris Aquino will never have (although cute rin si Krizzy when she was with Rene Requiestas as her pakner!).

Well, there are some other pics of her beauty. Super sayang nga eh! She’s an epitome of a Canadian beauty that no other US American would ever possess.

antesydespues.com.ar

healthandbeauty.net.au

shame-full.com

Well, I find her better-looking than Angelina Jolie, face value-wise. Also, she already has a nice pair of tits that do not need augmentation. Overall, she does not need plastic surgery to become more beautiful.

There are other pics there in Google.

She’s better off with brunette locks and fairer skin.

When I entered into the retail market many, many years ago as a means to support myself as an actress, I sought out cosmetic stores so I could get paid to do makeovers and make people look their best. I loved it…well, the makeover part at least. The selling, restocking, cleaning, etc…I could have done without.

I also ventured into wedding makeup, turning my husband’s future step-mother, in addition to a good friend of ours, into blushing brides with flawless makeup.

But mostly, I just like to make myself over. I love to play with makeup, different colors, different looks. I don’t have as much time to do that these days, but it’s always fun when I do. And when I go to get my hair cut, I always take before and after photos, sometimes stopping off at Sephora to make the transformation even more dramatic…

See? The uglier the before, the better, right??

But the biggest transformations I’ve undergone in my life have always been in the field of weight loss. I’ve yo-yo’d since I was a young girl, the fat girl in me always fighting the healthy, fit girl in me. Then I got pregnant and gained 35lbs, lost the 35, gained 15 back, and now I’ve lost 12 of that. So I’m *almost* back to where I started. Though I still have another 10-15 I’d like to lose, I’m really happy where I am, but most of all, I’m happy with the major overhaul my diet has undergone. No more processed foods in this house! We eat gluten free most of the time, mostly organic and local (when we can), and we strive to fill our bodies with good, wholesome foods. That’s probably been the biggest challenge this time around. In the past, I’ve lost weight by switching to diet soda, splenda, eating 100 Calorie Snack Packs, and other “diet” foods. But learning to eat REAL foods has been eye opening! Not to mention, I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been in my life! No headaches, no blood sugar crashes, no anxiety or depression (yes, diet plays a HUGE role in those things!)

And I have to give a big shout out to the makers of MyFitnessPal, without which, I wouldn’t know how much of the real foods I could eat! Ha! So, without further ado, here I am…in my swimsuits…before (February) and after (April)…

And yes, I’ve had to cut out those giant, fruity island drinks to achieve the look on the right. But I still enjoy wine and beer here and there (clearly, I didn’t cut out ALL booze! lol), and I almost always leave room for something sweet, like dark chocolate or a few bites of cheesecake.

How about you? Do you love makeovers like I do? Have you undergone any major transformations in your own life? I’d love to hear about it!

I think it’s time to fess up and let the skeletons out, I’m ready to share with you just how bad it was before fitness goals came into the picture. Please do refrain from poking fun, I’m baring my soul here in hopes that it might in any smallest way, motivate you to consider in taking that first plunge towards a healthier you.

I was a binge eater. I overeat regularly and it was to a point that I could not control it. No this is not just about taking that extra helping during Raya, or having a slice of cake post-meal when you’re full. I don’t know if I was eating as a coping mechanism but stuffing my face silly sure was soothing. However, after each episode, I would feel guilty and be disgusted with myself for the lack of self control. It can get so bad that I’d be depressed for awhile until the next time I find myself unable to resist food again and then spiral back into an intense feeling of self hatred. It was a vicious VICIOUS cycle I was powerless to end.

I even came to a point where I’d secretly eat over the kitchen sink, late at night when the world was sleeping. Moreover, I was still full from dinner yet unable to not make myself tip-toe to the kitchen to scoop out large piles of rice onto my plate.

Of course, during this time, I would never have pegged myself as a compulsive eater, just because the episodes didn’t happen everyday. But it happened enough times to make me cry over my rapidly ballooning weight. I knew why I was getting bigger, but controlling my urge to eat, I felt was close to impossible.

Ah, all this, it’s daaamn difficult to admit. Even my fiancé does not know how bad it was. Or maybe he had an idea but didn’t realize the gravity of the situation because I hid it pretty darn well. I mean I’m sure he saw the clues when I was inhaling my mountain-like food faster than he, always asking for munchies and treats every time we’re at a convenience store, always asking him to stop by random en-route McDonald’s drive through just to get Oreo McFlurry or sundae with extra extra chocolate syrup.

Well, it wasn’t so bad that I was having a bingeing episode every day. I didn’t eat over the kitchen sink every night. And I didn’t smuggle in cookies and chocolates everyday. But it was frequent enough to make me feel upset post-episode and wonder why I couldn’t muster any authority over my body and mind when it comes to food?

So looking back, how can I not give a big huge credit to myself for making this change. I remember being overwhelmed with guilt and mentally beating myself up for not having an ounce of willpower. I remember promising myself to not touch that mini Magnum in the freezer but ended up gobbling up three before the day was even over. A picture of a healthier future looked so bleak! So tell me, how can I not be amazed at how different I am now if compared to how I was before?

Let’s get back to earth. The fat girl inside me still lives. I let her out once in a loooong while to play and enjoy life. Try as I might, I don’t hate her nor do I wish that I had never been such a person. She’s the reason I’m here today and I have no words to describe just how thankful I am to have had her as a strong part of me. I will always have her close (though crazy guarded) to serve as a constant reminder that though it may have seemed ridiculously impossible to make that change, but with determination and not believing that quitting is an option, one can go to ‘impossible’ heights.

Of course the recipe to success also calls for some fairly basic knowledge on how to do it right. But we’ll come to that on another day. Though don’t fret, 70% of what I’ve learned came from Google. You just got to ask the right questions to be led onto the right path. None of that ‘get skinny quick tips!’or ‘lose 10kilos in a week!’ nonsense, please.

Granted, I am not super fit myself, at least not yet. But at 29 years old, I am at the most healthiest and fittest form of my life and I never dreamt that I could go this far. And the best part is, the journey is not even close to over and I’m still excited over what further improvements it could bring. I eat 5-6 times a day and my unhealthy cravings are not just curbed, they’re almost completely gone! And to think, I did it all on my own, no fancy tricks and no succumbing to any cheap ‘within 30 days!’ diet traps.

All I’m saying is, I’m human, just like you. Yes we make regular mistakes but don’t forget, we are also meant for greatness. Don’t tell yourself you can’t when you never even truly tried. But I beg you, to avoid quitting half way, educate yourself on how to do it right. Your drive and determination, together with some basic knowledge is enough to turn your unbalanced and unhealthy life around. I think I’ll write the step by step sometime soon, but wouldn’t hurt for you to try start a little bit of research on how to start a healthy lifestyle.

Come on folks, if a closet slob like me could do it, so can you! Good luck troopers! xxx

On the bookshelves we have not only books but also magazines and some papers and we feel annoyed because they are in the middle of the house. And even though we manage to put them in paper holders, they don’t look good to the eyes.

When we have no choice we can still choose to tackle the issue in the best way possible. Here is a simple and useful tip to deal with it.

First: define what you will store in each of the magazine holders. This will help you with the sorting… and while you peek on the papers you can do some purging!

Second: come up with a name for each group (category?), as a reminder of what’s inside the holders.

Third:  label the holders with that word!

Fourth: group the papers and/or magazines and put them in the magazine holder, then turn them back and attach the label to it.

And that’s it! These are helpful tips with little effort. Just look at these two pictures. The containers “contain” exactly the same stuff; however the big difference is the way we face them and the fact that we know what’s inside

And why not do the same at work?

Amazing!

Q1:  Are you carb-free or low-carb?

A1:  I’m low carb. I always have less than 50g of carbs per day, usually I’m under 30g.

Q2:  When did you make your decision to eliminate/cut carbs and why?

A2:   About a year ago, Charlie (her husband) decided he wanted to try low-carb based off of some conversations with a friend that he met while working at a sandwich shop. We had both lost some weight by cutting calories and running a few years back before our wedding, but we both gained weight back so we decided to try it. I struggled with it for a while and I had cheat days sometimes, but as of now, I haven’t had over 50g of carbs in a day since Easter.

Q3:  Were you a runner prior to eliminating/cutting carbs?

A3:    I started running before I started dieting. Running was something that I never, ever wanted to do or even thought about.  But living in Pittsburgh made me realize how awesome it is for both physical and mental health. I started running when I weighed 210 pounds. I decided that i needed to make drastic changes in my life, and couldn’t think of anything more drastic than that!

Q4:  How have your running/training/fitness experiences been affected since you changed your diet?  (For example, do you notice that you have more or less energy?  Do you notice that it’s easier for you to lose weight?)

A4:   At first, I was really concerned with running while eating low-carb. I was still in the mindset of needing to “carb load” before long runs. I eventually just stopped wanting to eat carbs for the most part.  Before I run, I really don’t eat carbs.  Instead, I’ll have eggs, cheese and bacon.  Carbs are important for recovering, though, so on days that I run I eat a little more. The carbs that I do eat are usually from beans and vegetables (Wendy’s chili and Baja Salads, for example).  As far as energy -I have way more of it!  I sleep better, I wake up more easily, I feel like I recover from long runs and hard workouts better than I ever have, and losing weight is definitely easier.

Q5:  Have you dealt with any fitness-related challenges since making such a big change in your diet?

A5:   The only challenge I have at this point, is finding time for runs. I work a lot of hours in varying shifts, so it’s hard to schedule my runs. Physically, though, I haven’t had problems since I’ve changed my diet.

Q6:  What foods do you depend on to fuel and recover from your workouts now? 

A6:   After a run, I make sure to only drink water until my thirst is quenched. Over hydrating is just as bad as being dehydrated, so I’m very careful with that. I normally try to run right before it’s time to eat a meal, so when I’m done I just eat whatever I would normally: meat, cheese and vegetables and/or beans depending on the intensity of my workout or run.

Q7:  Does your nutritional plan change when you aren’t training for a race?

A7:   I really try not to change my nutritional plan. At this point, I’m not on a diet.  I’ve just changed my eating lifestyle. When I am training for a race, I will eat closer to 50g of carbs on longer run days, but otherwise, I stay around 30g.  I have recently been seeing a fertility specialist and during her testing, we found out that I’m pre- diabetic. I have a condition called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and it’s closely related to Type 2 Diabetes.  I started eating low-carb because I wanted to lose weight, but now I enjoy eating low-carb.  It helps me keep my sugar low by not ingesting unnecessary sugar via carbs.

Q8:  What upcoming fitness goals are you excited to share with us?

A8:   I decided that while I really enjoy seeing lower numbers on the scale, I no longer have a specific weight loss goal.  I decided to make a goal of being able to wear a bikini. I know that sounds kind of weird and super girly, but I never felt like that was something that I could do.  I feel like anything is possible now! Also, I am going to be running some races coming up. I’ll be doing the Montour Trail Half Marathon in September in Robinson Twp. (right outside of Pittsburgh), and I’m giving a full marathon another shot in October at the Wineglass Marathon in New York. Today is actually exactly 2 years since I ran in the Pittsburgh Marathon, but didn’t finish. That moment really made me fall out of love with running for a while, but I’m really back in love again and look forward to earning the title of marathoner!

Thanks for sharing your story Mallory – and good luck at the Montour Half, girl!

He has a great deck back there, but it was being eaten alive by whatever vegetation this is…

It was everywhere, but did seem to make a nice home for some caterpillars.  So Googs and I got to work cutting back. In the end, we had some room for the new chairs I snagged on sale at Lowe’s for only $16 each.

Sorry for the blurry after shots.  I forgot to take them yesterday, so this is what I had to settle for this morning.  The chairs won’t last but a couple of seasons, but will do for now until we know where we are landing after the wedding bells ring.  This weekend I’ll be spending more time party-fying the space, including picking up a new grill.  Woot!

]]> http://healthyjournals.wordpress.com/2013/05/17/update/ Fri, 17 May 2013 07:57:51 +0000 ellsbelle http://healthyjournals.wordpress.com/2013/05/17/update/ So i realised that i have been posting meal plans etc from a book i bought and if i were to do it every day i’d probably be violating some kind of copyright but hopefully you get a good idea of the way the 14-day plan works.  It strays very little from the green veg and lots of meat plan.

I know i said that i wasn’t going to weigh myself until i was done but as a daily weigher up until this point i couldn’t resist anymore and this morning i had a cheeky weigh.  I’m down 7lbs!!!! Already!!! that’s crazy but awesome.

My caffeine grump has now subsided and, apart from being tired, i feel so much better! i now feel full after meals and am really getting into the whole thing.  The only thing that i find hard is the water and green tea drinking side. i’m a squash lover and having none is definitely hard. 

I just need to make sure i maintain once my 14 days are up.  tips and tricks welcome

After:

That is all.

Close up:

Have you ever found that elusive high heel, a pair in which you are comfortable for hours? Yes I know this may seem like an urban wives tale but I found those exact qualities approximately 4 years ago in an inexpensive Payless pair. Stylish with a crocodile imprint, practical with a 3” heel, and versatile with a neutral colour they were my favourite pair. I wore them to interviews, dates, and even out dancing all night long. But those heydays passed and with them; scuffs and scraps became very visible on my once beloved shoes.

Not willing to give up on the hope that these well worn shoes might once be worn again, I began to wonder what could I do to save them???

I thought about gluing the toes with wall paper, using a sharpie to cover the scuffs, or even taking them to a shoe repair place with a puppy dog look and the plea “please can you save these shoes sir?” But it turns out the solution was in my makeup bag! Nail polish! More specifically, Sally Hansen Crackle nail polish in 06 Antiqued Gold. I was fortunate that the gold that I had on hand was very light and perfectly complimented and blended with the neutral tone of the original shoes.

After:

You’ll notice I didn’t paint the entire shoe. I could have but I like the original colour and print as well so I tried my best to lightly blend the sides into the rest of the shoe. I did this by applying a very thin layer of polish, which is very delicate work.

Also here’s a picture of what crackle looks like on nails (for those who may be behind the times):

This project truly does require patience and a steady hand but if you follow my recommendations I think you can “nail” it too:

1)     You will need a smooth glide and steady hand. I started painting from the middle of the toe and used a smooth back and forth motion as I went. I found the up and down movement did not cover as much ground and did not look as smooth.

2)      Close at hand you will need toilet paper/paper towel and Q-Tips! Most ladies know that if the nail polish bottle is left open long enough it starts to clump and that happened throughout this whole process. I used the Q-Tips to remove and start over any major lumps or bumps I created on the surface of the shoe and to remove the build-up of clumps at the opening of the polish bottle.

3) If you are going to cover scuffs on a shoe with a flat surface (ones that do not have forgiving creases like mine) it will be essential to use a smooth stroke.The overlap of nail polish can tend to look bumpy and clumpy if not painted carefully. I would even recommend using a bigger brush to get the job done and have it look good.

I hope you are inspired by my little DIY! I am so EXCITED to again be able to wear the only pair of COMFORTABLE all-day-wear, heels that I own!

I was looking at my iPhone photos today and saw the first picture of us in front of our house. I’m so glad that my favorite parents-in-law took it (only three days before we closed on the house!). I decided to post it for Throwback Thursday (#tbt).

So here we are in October 2009. I hardly remember owning a white door!

And here is the front door in February 2012 after Brian screened in the porch and we had already started transplanting plants to the backyard in preparation for construction (but the tree is still there!).

And here is the same spot this evening. May 2013. After we turned the front window into a door, turned the front door into a window, built a portico and dormers, made the front stoop/screened in porch a side porch, and built a screened in porch and addition behind that.

And if your eyes are really good then you can see a large orange Gatorade cooler in the kitchen. My main squeeze is making his second beer in as many weeks. Now I’m going to go squeeze him because he finished another grad school class so he’s all mine for the next two weeks!

Having never used this line before, I had no idea how the colors would match with skin. I have found some come out lighter when airbrushed and some darker, and usually it is a combination of a few colors to get “The Prefect Match.” My first try with Savannah was a little to “tan,” so I took it off and played with the colors until I found the perfect match for her. Her skin was smooth as silk and glowing.

About Kett Cosmetics: By developing their products in a lab and using a hi-def camera as a microscope, Kett created a line of highly effective foundations, liquid pigments and setting powders that provide long-lasting, flawless coverage with the flexibility to create endless looks. It is also Vegan and has vitamins!!! Yay! It’s a Win-Win for all

Here is the beautiful Savannah before and after. Either way, the girl is drop-dead Gorgeous! (I am SO going to do a Victoria’s Secret Model look on her next… can’t wait.)

For her eyes, I did a daytime “smokey” look that can easily be transitioned into evening!!!

]]> http://hitheredarling.wordpress.com/2013/05/16/eyelashextensions/ Thu, 16 May 2013 22:31:35 +0000 Katlyn O. http://hitheredarling.wordpress.com/2013/05/16/eyelashextensions/ Hi y’all! I told myself I would blog more often so I’m really going to try to at least every other day! Anyways, today I want to talk about eyelash extensions! For those that don’t know, they are literally just faux extensions that are glued individually onto your eyelashes that make you look like you have much fuller, longer lashes. You have to get them refilled because they fall out, so upkeep is pretty important with getting lashes.

I have been getting them for almost a year now and am obsessed! They are honestly one of the best things that ever has happened to me and I’m not being dramatic. I used to spend SO MUCH time and money on making my eyelashes as thick as possible with mascara, but ever since then my getting ready time is cut in half and I save so much money since I don’t buy mascara nearly as often. BUT they are not all great. I want to talk about the process and possible drawbacks. All of this is from my personal experience and knowledge and a lot of aspects vary from person to person!

Before and After Eyelash Extensions

The Process:

The first time you get them done it takes around 2 hours. You are laying on a table, similar to getting your eyebrows done, with the esthetician behind you. Your eyes are closed the entire time so its kind of hard to tell what is happening and I have definitely fallen alseep a few times while getting them done.

1. Your esthetician puts a little pad between your eyelids that will separate your bottom lashes from your top lashes so that the extensions don’t get glued to the bottom OR your eyes get glued shut.

2. She cleans your lashes and brushes through them to start clean.

3. She begins to manually glue the faux lashes to each individual lash… which is why it takes 2 hours. You should already discussed with her the length that you want. I know places have choices of curled or noncurled lashes and of different colors, but my lady just has one kind that she uses.

4. Once she’s done, she usually lets it dry for a little. She then goes through and brushes the lash and to make sure they are not stuck together. This whole time your eyes are still closed with the pads underneath.

5. She removes the pads slowly and you open your eyes with caution to insure no glue gets into them. Glue gets into my eyes every single time and stings so bad, but only lasts a few seconds.

You’re good to go! My lady says not to get them wet (shower, exercise, pool) for 24 hours. She also advises me not to put mascara on it, but I do when I go out anyway. It really makes them a lot more drastic and full, so you may or may not choose to use mascara depending on the look you are trying to achieve.

Before and After Eyelash Extensions

Drawbacks:

1. The biggest drawback for me is the allergic reaction I have to the glue.

Note: I did not have a bad reaction to the glue until a few months into it. I have an allergic reaction where I sneeze, cough and wheeze a lot for a few days after I get it done (probably when the glue has not fully dried). Sometimes my eyes are super itchy and swell up- which is definitely not attractive. One thing I want to point out is that for a few months I didn’t realize it was the eyelash glue that was making me sick… I thought it was just allergies in the spring, so don’t think I just kept doing this to myself on purpose. Once I realize it WAS the glue, I contact the lady who does mine and she changed to a different glue that is not as potent. Of  course, this glue doesn’t hold as well, but I’d rather that then have the allergic reaction I was getting. I don’t know what chemical I’m exactly allergic to and this is the only thing I have ever been allergic to in my life, and of course it’s my favorite thing!

2. A question I ALWAYS get is if it ruins your natural lash. To be completely honest, I don’t actually know. Since I’ve been getting them filled for almost a year, I haven’t actually had just my real lashes in so long that I haven’t be able to tell if there is damage.

When you have eyelash extensions they DO fall out. My eyelash lady tells me that eyelashes fall out naturally anyways and we just notice the extensions falling out more since they are so much longer and thicker. I don’t personally think that they fall out that much more.. but maybe.

The most important note I want to make about eyelash extensions is that it really comes down to how well you take care of them. You need to be VERY gentle when washing your face or washing your make up off of your eyes. Don’t LOAD them up with mascara everyday because that will just wear at them and cause you to wash them more which will end up in more falling out. I have had friends who have to go every week to get a refill because they treat them so bad. I go monthly to get one because I take really good care of them. It’s really up to you.

Botched Eyelash Extensions

Lastly I want to leave you with this: BE CAREFUL WHO YOU GO TO TO GET EYELASH EXTENSIONS! It’s a very delicate process and going to the wrong person can REALLY screw up your eyelashes. Make sure you see their work and ask a lot of questions. Since it is such a huge fad right now, many salons are rushing to get their employees certified and it really is an art so please be careful! My lady tells me stories every time I go in about people who get them done from other places and end up having to come to her to get them removed or redone since they are so bad. Note: most Groupon deals are the ones you want to avoid. Yes they are great prices, but most of the time are not the high quality ones.

Ok I’m cutting myself off because this is getting long but I have a lot more to say so if you have any questions feel free to comment or email me!! XXXX

*PHOTOS ARE FROM NOVA LASH AND LASHEM-N-LEAVEM.COM

I found an old breakfast in bed tray at a thrift store a while back. Well, more like 2 years ago. I had big dreams for this tray and each attempt was a complete fail. My first thought was to use patterned wrapping paper, but then I realized that the paper was too thin and it bubbled up once I glued it down. Fail. Next, I thought colorful paint samples squares would be cool, plus they are free (pictured above). It was a cool idea just poorly executed. I failed again.

As I was browsing Target’s dollar section I found some cute chevron patterned duct tape. Perfect! Not too thin and I wouldn’t need to glue it down. Win, win. So I brought a roll home and got started. Oh, I forgot to mention that I used an old can of spray paint and changed the base from black to teal.

The process was so easy and quick, but I underestimated the amount of tape I would need by two strips!

Here she is! There will be no more changes made to this cutie..at least while she is mine.