My Little Sunshine's Weather Experience!

As you know, we had the opportunity to take my little Weather Girl to the Channel 11 News Studio to meet the Chief Meteorologist David Paul, as well as other news personalities etc.

When we arrived, David Paul met us, and brought us into the fold! From there, we went into Weather Central (which has a lot of the weather computers, and is where they do live casts during extreme weather).
He then sat down and answered her questions and talked to her about what it takes to be a Meteorologist etc.
Then, he gave us a quick tour of all the studios (News Room, Great Day Houston Studio, The On Air Studio and Weather Studio). During this tour, G got to meet the 2 evening news anchors Len Cannon and Greg Hurst, who were quick to invite her behind the News Desk for a photo! Apparently they both have daughters, so of course had a sweet spot for her!

He then took us back to the Central studio because the news was going live and the first stories are often the most brutal and we didn't want her to be seeing those. He also did a teaser, then came back to retrieve us and bring us into the on air studio.

We then watched the News Anchors do their thing before David Paul took over and did the weather! I got tons of video/photos, and he signed her book. And she even got to try her own hand at the weather (using the green screen etc) but that's when her nerves kicked in!

All in all, the entire experience was absolutely amazing and wonderful! Seeing the sheer joy on my daughter's face was of course a proud mama moment! She was fully engaged in the conversation with him, and he spoke to her on her level after getting a feel for what she already knew (he has a son her age so it's easy for him to relate too). He said that he feels she is definitely tending more towards the performance side of weather and would make a great TV personality!

Without further ado - here are the photos and one of the videos.  It's rather long, but there are some kind of funny things she says (one being about us running out without shoes in our PJ's during a particularly frightening funnel cloud). There is a ton more video that will be posted to YouTube as I get the time!

G in front of the Channel 11 Station

G with David Paul in the Weather Central Studio!

G with Len Cannon and Greg Hurst.

Hanging out until David Paul was done with his teaser.

All enthralled looking at Sports!

These images are slightly lower quality as I snipped from video (haven't figured out the function for taking stills from HD video on my camera yet). This is the LIVE weather report.

She froze up a bit and refused to gesture. LOL

She looks great on camera though!

G after, she's so cute!

And in case you are all, "What the hell does this have to do with Makeup?" Turns out that all these folks on air, wear tons! The amount of lighting going on in there can make you look completely ill! It's very interesting to see how this is done. Google it!
And here is the video!

Wasn't he just great!? So grateful! She talked the entire way home about what she learned and wanted to learn and such. Then promptly began researching Jet Streams etc. <3

UPDATE: This was posted by Channel 11! So sweet!!

She saw the above post and being the stinker that she is, responded back with, "Don't worry, he can still come hang out with me when I get his job!" 

Channel 11

My daughter is a HUGE weather geek! She has struggled with reading (or rather, enjoying reading) and didn't really learn to love books until she began reading about weather! She wants to be a meteorologist and her favorite channel is The Weather Channel.
So in support of her ambitions, I contacted Chief Meteorologist David Paul with Channel 11 and set up a meeting!
We go there tonight to watch him do the weather LIVE, and then he is going to leave the weather wall up for her to give it a go herself! She is so excited to not only meet him, but ask some questions, have him sign her Ultimate Guide to Weather, and just learn more about something she is passionate about! And of course, being the proud mama, Im excited for her too!
We were very blessed that they are allowing us in the studio! Thanks David Paul!

Here we are, ready to go!

I SUCK!

Sorry ladies! I keep getting carried away with SUMMER! At this point, since I NEVER remember to update - Ill say Im taking a break until August - there will be posts here and there but no more promises I can't/won't keep! LOL!

Hello Summer!!!

Love Instagram! Ill be keeping up my exercise routine of Zumba with a bit of swimming thrown in! Im good and flat but could definitely use some toning!

Im Back!

It's been a long long time - and Im very sorry for not keeping things up around here! My husband has still yet to leave for Korea and we are trying to enjoy our time with him while we can! Also - I've been wrapped up in this Jodi Arias trial (crazy broad stabs ex 29 times, slits throat nearly decapitating, and shoots in the head).
But I've decided to try a goal of at least once a week for awhile until he does head out!

My first review will be the Maybelline Dream Smooth Foundation (Im in porcelain). This post itself is NOT the review, but here I am wearing the stuff (and it's my new fave!) oh and my new BLONDE hair (trying to head back to my natural color which is blonde but more ashy).

Eye Primers: Why you need them and Comparisons

I compared some low-end and high end primers and demo swatching to show you the difference between them!:)

I'M BACK!!!

Sorry about the unexplained hiatus! My husband works offshore and is gone a month at a time and then home 3 wks and I was really enjoying him and kinda  slacked off! Ill do better next time. Ill upload a LOT this weekend to make up for it! So keep checking in and seeing what's going on! Also - you can subscribe to my Channel on YouTube for Videos before the blog!

Planning to talk about Primers, SmashBox Ultimate Palette and Drew Barrymore's new line, Flower!

PopSugar Unboxing January 2013

First PopSugar box for me so I was pleased! I hope the next one doesn't come with so many food items though! I wont say I hate the idea of these Think Thin bars however!
I will update and share this post again once I've had a chance to try out the items for a week or two!

Here is video with more info about the Remix Timebomb Watch - pretty neat!

Hooded Eye Surprise!

Learning to embrace the Hooded Eye - and hoping to inspire others with the same anatomy to enjoy theirs! 

I used Urban Decay Primer Potion - and then colors from my E.L.F. 100 color palette. It's pink on inner corner, orange in middle, and yellow at the outer v. Then a nice neutral brown in the crease - so that when my eyes are open that is all you see, but if I look down or blink - suddenly you see rainbows!:)

It's not perfect mainly because I am going no where today and have no intentions of being seen but you get the idea!

Small Bathroom - Makeup Organization

This is a quick video showing how I store my cosmetics/brushes/palettes in a rather small bathroom. Hopefully it will help those of you with limited space with ideas on how to store your own. I know some may wonder why my brushes are in a drawer but that is because in a bathroom, when the toilet is flushed, particles are aresolated into the room up to 5 feet from the toilet - the last place I want them landing on, is my eye brushes! LOL

Another Blue Look - And Hooded Eyes

So before I post my photos- I'd like to rant/talk about Hooded Eyes. 

Hooded Eyes, like I have - are actually common and if you look at a few Celebrities such as

Blake Lively

Taylor Swift

And quite a few more- you will notice that very little if any of their actual lid shows when their eyes are fully open. 

This can make a lot of eye looks "disappear" when you have your eyes open and is kind of frustrating. 

When this is caused by aging - it can be fixed with expensive and painful cosmetic surgery - but when it's hereditary like mine- there isn't really anything that can be done- but to embrace the difference!

So I am going to embrace my own. I am figuring out a few tricks on how to bring more of my lid color up onto the hood of my eye and then smoking out above it - and it's working - but Im taking baby steps out of fear that if I bring it up TOO MUCH, Ill look like Im wearing drag makeup! 

After today's look - yet again, disappearing, I think tomorrow Im going to try something new and fun/exciting. I think Im going to throw some crazy color on my lid, so that I can be talking to someone and then when I blink they will be like, "HOLY CRAP WAS THAT YELLOW!?!?!" Haha!

Anyway- wearing blue again today so here is the eye look/make up.

EYES: Mac Dazzelight

   Revlon Aqua Blast Duo

E.L.F. Long Lasting Lustrous Shadow in Toast

NYX Black Liquid Liner

Covergirl Clump Buster Mascara in Blackest Black

Brows: E.L.F. Brow Kit in Medium

FACE: Covergirl True Fit

Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Candy Coral

L'Oreal Luminess Concealer

LIPS: NYX Lip Liner in Pale Pink

Revlon Just Bitten Balm Stain in Honey

JEWELRY: Glass Beads made by My Momma!

Naked 2 Look

Today's look:

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette - Tease in crease, and Half-Baked on lid, and Booty Call on brow bone. Tease and Half-Baked on lower lashline as well.

Salon Perfect Lashes #109

Revlon Lash Adhesive (even better than Duo  - review to come!)

Maybelline Define A Line on bottom lash

LA Looks Liquid Liner in Black on upper.

Covergirl Clump Buster Mascara in Blackest Black.

Fixed after when I saw that tiny skip in liner after lashes end. :)

Urban Decay Deluxe Shadow Box -Look

Im really not a makeup tutorial type of gal - and that's mainly because there are plenty of those around on youtube with better lighting that you can find! 

I did however take a photo after using some of the colors from the Urban Decay palette I just reviewed yesterday so here it is!:)

Wearing:

EYES: Urban Decay's Peace and Scratch and shadow potion, Ulta Baked Shadow Duo in Olive Green, and Maybelline 24hr Color Tattoo in Too Cool

BROWS: Benefit Brow Zings

CHEEKS: Revlon PhotoReady Cream Blush

LIPS: MAC Angel

FACE: No foundation - I actually dont wear foundation very often - my skin isn't loving it, and when I do wear it - I use the Dinair Airbrush.

Tarte Lip Exfoliator

This is at Ulta for $16, and it's definitely got Peppermint Oil in it which feels awesome but if you have a sensitivity - be sure to test at the store first!

Urban Decay Deluxe Shadow Box - Review/Swatch

MUCH MUCH MUCH better than the Sustainable Shadow Box! 

Urban Decay Sustainable Shadow Box - Review/Swatch

***UPDATE - I actually had this palette for only 1 hour. After swatching and thinking the colors were kind of powdery and maybe just needed primer - I tried them with primer and realized that this is probably the first time I've ever returned an Urban Decay item. The only way I can see these colors being usable is with a mixing medium and there is something that grates me about having to use a medium in order to use a high end product. I returned the palette and purchased the Delux. Doing a review/swatch of it now.

Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush

These are kinda interesting! They are similar to a type of cream blush, but they turn satin powder like....not a great description I know! Anyway the texture is also somewhat indescribable so here is a video to show you.

Also there are 10 colors, not 6! Sorry about the confusion!

Nail Caviar Dupe

If you follow the trends, then you are probably well aware of the new Nail Caviar by Ciate`. It's a $25 kit at Sephora where you get a color, and some microbeads and top coat.

How about doing this same thing for PENNIES?

I was able to locate all kinds of colors of Microbeads at Michaels in the Scrapbooking section. I was only able to find the metals kit (6 colors), so that's the one I got, but hoping to find more colors in a kit form soon so I can get a true "Sprinkle" effect.

I also used a cheap $1 bottle of LA Looks topcoat. Really though, any clear coat will generally work.

Here is a very quick review/demo on how this is done! Have fun and if you do this yourself, send me a photo and Ill post it on here! 

Maybelline 24hr Color Tattoo - Review/Swatches

First, let me say I LOVE these! They do everything they promise and more. Im 1 hour away from 24 hours on these swatches (having had a shower etc) and they still have not smudged. Im impressed! 

Ill update after I get back from the gym tonight (8:30) and let you know what they do when you sweat! That will be 28.5 hours after swatching! 

Lip Scrub - DIY Fast and Easy!

Winter is a time of chapped lips for a lot of us, and chapped lips do NOT make for flawless lipstick! Here is a quick video tip from my youtube channel to help you make a lip scrub for pennies, with items you probably already have in your kitchen!:)

DIY - BB Cream For Sensitive Skin

This is a great way to make a BB Cream at home for a LOT less $$$! 

First, lets be honest - about 90% of the BB creams in American market are not actually BB Creams at all. They are tinted moisturizers. True BB Cream would actually not only give you a sheer coverage, but would also even out skin tone even after makeup is removed. Those BB Creams that actually function in this way - are generally much more expensive than any drugstore brands! It's in my opinion, very misleading for them to even sell something called BB Cream in most of those brands, but oh well.

So if you want to be technical - this would be another Tinted Moisturizer.

You can use your own favorite moisturizer and foundation if you like - but I do suggest you at least give this CeraVe a try! You can print a $2 off coupon on their website and buy at Walgreens - then if you aren't in love, take it back. I can almost guarantee you wont return it! Almost all of my friends have used some of mine and LOVE it! It absorbs quickly and is great for sensitive skin (mine literally reacts to WATER).

Obsessive Compulsive Lip Tar Review/Swatch

I just recieved (as in  TODAY) my first Obsessive Compulsive Lip Tar in the color, Ophelia. I have been reading about and researching this product for a week or two and decided I needed to try it out. I ordered this from Amazon.com after heading to Sephora (who sells the item on their site) and finding out that only a select few stores ever sold them in-store but that they never thought they would carry again because they sold out so fast it was hard to keep stocked. 

I paid $16.00 for this lip tar, which came with an OCC Lip Brush as well.

Stay power is pretty good if you avoid oily foods, and it's got some kind of menthol or minty thing going on with it to but it's faint!:)

WINNER!!!!!

The WINNER of the Wet n Wild Glassy Gloss is WHITNEY S.! Congratulations girl! Please send me your mailing address so I can get this in the mail for you!

Stay tuned for more giveaways! I still have full size BENEFIT products that will be coming up once we hit 100 subscribers here, Facebook, or Youtube! 

DrugStore Lip Stain Reviews/Swatches

I have 4 Lip Stains from HEB, Walgreens and Kroger to review/swatch for you today. I did a video as well with a little more information and I'm posting that here for you to view, but I'd like to also list out pro's and cons in case you are viewing this somewhere where the video isn't appropriate to play (like a Doctors Office waiting room, a Funeral, etc *grin*)

Pro:

Long-ish wear time

Light feeling on lips

Decent array of colors (though most are notably cool in tone)

Can be sheer OR built up

Cons:

Can be quite drying on the lips

Dry to a matte finish so you will need to use a NON OILY balm over them

Can be quite streaky (suggest you blend before it dries)

Because it's a marker - you may need to hold upside down to get more product

Felt tips means it feels like you are drawing with marker on lips (**heeby jeebies**)

Benefit Fine One One

Benefit Fine One One touts that it is a Highlighter, Cheek Color and Contour in one that "lifts" the cheek.

The product comes in a plastic container and is fairly light weight. 

It comes in one color and it's a coral color - so perhaps may be a good idea to try in the store first to make sure this is a good color for YOUR skin tone.

Retails for around $30.

Color Correcting Before Foundation/Concealer

I'm doing this post after a friend asked about this on Facebook and I realized I may know some information that would be helpful to many folks dabbling in makeup!

COMMON MISTAKE: You have a zit or mark or even under eye circles and you apply normal concealer to it, see that it's not infact covered, so you apply more concealer, finally it's covered and you apply your foundation only to realize that the covered area now looks cakey.

SOLUTION: Color Correctors will neutralize the color you are covering, so that one thin application of concealer will cover the spot. Leaving you concealed but not cakey. 

Now before you just go slapping color correctors all over your face - let me explain how they work.

This is a wheel of primary colors. To find complementary colors (colors that will cancel out the other), you simply find the color you are trying to cover, and then find the color directly opposite of that. 

Used next to each other in make up application, these colors will pop! But since you are trying to conceal, you will actually TOP the color with the other. 

Example:

1.  I have red splotches on my face due to my skin being sensitive to air (half serious). To cover my red splotches, I would use a green corrector and just pat a nice thin layer over the area. You are NOT looking for full conceal in this step, only to neutralize the color. After this you will have some green splotches but don't panic! You can now conceal over this and you will find that it's easier to conceal with much less product - therefore avoiding the cakeyness. And the green goes away too!

2. If you have blue bags under your eyes, you would use orange (though usually it's sold in more of a Salmon color), if you have purple, you would use more of a yellow. Apply them the SAME way you just did the green.

3. If you find that your face in general, is redder than most - you can purchase green primers to use under makeup (Smashbox makes one). 

Hope this helps at least a little!!

***Found this image on a site and thought I saved the link but didn't. If this is your image, please let me know so I can give proper credit!