Hey Chicas!


Well, I now assume that all the presents have been unwrapped, and the dinner is being prepared. I hope that you take this time to enjoy the season, and all the love and joy that you are experiencing.

From my family to yours, I want to wish you a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Joyous New Year!!



Caitlin xoxo

Winter Makeup Tips - Pearly Whites

Hey Chicas!

The holiday season generally comes with pictures....lots of pictures and events.  You want to look your best, and that involves getting your teeth to look the whitest they can.  Now you can do the whole whitening thing, which depends on the brand and your teeth and the type of stains that you, yourself have.  But why go to all that trouble and expense, if the lip product you are applying is coloring your teeth?

Yup, I speak from experience and then a little research.  If you are applying gold, either pure gold, or gold undertone, or gold sparkles, lipgloss of lipstick you are doing just that, making your teeth appear yellow.  Just think about it, gold sparkles, what is the color of light that they reflect?  Yellow.  Where do you think it will reflect on?  Yup, your white teeth. 

So you want to try and avoid gold in your lip products.  I know it is hard, but you just have to look more closely at the color in the tube you are buying, once your aware of it, you will notice them.

You want to go towards the silver end of the spectrum.  Because, if you think about it, and look at the pictures what does silver sparkles, reflect?  White.  Where do you think it will reflect on?  Yup, your white teeth.  Making them appear, likely not more white, but the silver will not color your teeth yellow.

You can also avoid all this looking at the color of sparkles by using just a plain gloss, with no sparkles.  You do have options.  But if you are concerned about your teeth, or don't want to have to worry about pictures...go for the silver.

I have filmed a short video on this, with some examples of gold and silver sparkles, to help you.  Below are the swatches...

 







So, the colors go from left to right, and silver to gold, the video below will tell you what the colors are.



Hope your white teeth have a time to shine!

Caitlin xoxo

Holiday Brown Smokey Eye

Hey Chicas!

I have been a little MIA lately...totally my bad.  But I'm back with a new makeup look.....and its perfect for a party night.  So I hope that you forgive me? (please say yes, it is christmas and all)

Brown eyeshadow is great for green, brown, and hazel eyes, but anyone can wear it, it just brings out the green in your eyes.

Its a look that can be toned up or down, depending on the event that you are attending, throw on some falsies and away you go!

Products Used:
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
Eyeshadow Annabelle Single:
Vanilla Chilla
Helium
So Foxy
Bronzed Idol
Gold Digger
L'Oreal Liner Intense Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner in Earthen Rock Brown
L'Oreal Double Extend Mascara in Black
 Sally Hansen Blush in Dusk
Lip liner (unknown brand) Delice
Bonne Bell Liplites in Cappuccino

So I hope that this video will give you some new ideas on what to wear during this Holiday season, because really the black smokey eye its getting rather old, boring, and expected if I dare say. It's always better to surprise them, you never want to become predictable.





Caitlin xoxo

Christmas DIY Gift

Hey Chicas!

Thought that I'd show you my awesome idea! (humble...nope..haha)  All in all it costs under $5, I have made those for myself and they work wonderfully for makeup brushes.

You only need 4 different items:

1. Square Class Container ($1.25 dollarama)
2. Colorfill (used for floral arrangements, found at Michael's one bag will fill 2 brush holder DIY, if you use a 50% off coupon comes to $6)
3. Satin Ribbon (2 complementary color ribbons or a reversible one, like I had, found at Michael's, can use coupons, mine was on clearance for $4)
4. Craft Glue Gun (can be found at dollarama for a few dollars) 

Just a little tip, for my BF's don't make one yourself, you may be getting one from me!!!! 

(click on the pictures to have them enlarged)

  Steps for making your own brush holder 

• gather supplies (duh)
• measure the width of the container, leaving 1/2 inch of overlapping fabric
• hot glue the ribbon on to the container
• keep in mind what the glue will look like from the inside, its glass so you will see it

• measure the width of the container, and double the ribbon length
• fold the ribbon over and secure with hot glue 
• the first ribbon bow you want to be the opposite color from the ribbon on the container, simply so it pops out more and can see the detail of the bow, mine is double sided
• ensure that the bottom ribbon bow is shorter than the width of the container as you want to be able to see the ribbon around the container

•  follow the same procedure for the smaller ribbon bow, using the same side of ribbon as whats around the container
• ensure that the length of the second ribbon bow is smaller then the first so you can see the black behind the leopard print bow
• place a small dot of hot glue in the middle of both ribbon bows to make the middle stick together and the outside flare out
• basically to make it look like a bow

•  glue the two ribbon together in the middle to secure them as one
• cut a length of ribbon that is able to wrap around the ribbon bow
• ensure that this is the opposite color as the ribbon wrapped around the container, it should be the same color as the bottom ribbon bow
• fold the ribbon, width wise in half, to make it narrower
• glue only the middle of the folded ribbon together
• you don't want to have to fold dried hot glue around the ribbon bow, it will just make it easier

• wrap the folded glued ribbon around the bow (to make the center of the bow) and secure with hot glue on the back side of the ribbon bow
• simply put a square blob on the back of the finished ribbon bow and attach to the ribbon on the container
• fill with the colorfill up to the bottom of the ribbon
• fill up with your fav brushes!

And that is it my friends.  Hope this gives you some quick diy ideas for gifts!

Caitlin xoxo

Christmas Decor

Hey Chicas!

So we are decorating for Christmas this weekend....as we should be, gosh its only 2 weeks away!

We have been working on the mantle in the family room. 

We had purchased these cone like things. They can be found everywhere, they look like trees and have silver sparkle over a black wirelike thing.  They are semi see through, with a wire wrapped around in a cone shape but not fully encased it does have spaces and gaps in it.



 I thought they would look a little more festive if they had some glow coming from them.  So I decided to place the Sylvania Dot-it lights just on the inside of the cones.  It was super easy and simple to do, all we did was add it, and its easy to turn on and off.


The end result is a gorgeous glow that really reflects off the little crystals on the tree.  The gaps in the wires show a really intricate design of light and shadow on the wall and ceiling.  I love adding a quick little fix to things to jazz it up.

The rest of the mantle looks something like this....hopefully it inspires those of you, who have yet to decorate!

Caitlin xoxo

Victoria Secret 2010 Inspired Golden Bronze

Hey Chicas!

I actually didn't watch the show the other week, totally had forgotten about it being on.  I was not impressed, I love watching them, I'm not sure why, seeing as I judge myself compared to them, even though some have like 10 layers of makeup on their bums.....its just a girl thing I guess.

Anyway I really liked the bronzed look they were wearing, it was surprising light compared to the usually black smokey eye.  I guess you can take it as a change in trends for the coming seasons.  I personally may be over the black dark smokey eye...but I'm not sure.

I thought that it was a fairly easy look to recreate on your own at home.  Especially since the majority of color is from your bronzer, which we all have at home.  And it was a great way to keep your bronzer going into the winter and not look like you belong in the summer.  I have toned it down to be a wearable look, that looks natural as the boyfriend called it.  So if you're looking to impress the boys, maybe you should rethink the smokey look and go for a more natural look.  But believe me, you wouldn't feel any less glamorous with this look on.

Products Used:

Too Faced Shadow Insurance

Annabelle - Buff Naked

Hard Candy - Blind Date

ELF - Warm Bronzer (any light multi-colored bronzer will work!)

NYC Eyeliner - White

L'Oreal Intense Liquid Eyeliner - Earthen Rock Brown

L'Oreal Double Extend Mascara - Black

Milani Lipstick - Hollywood City

Buxom Lips - Amber

Its a perfect option for holiday makeup, something completely different, that you can easily increase the dramaticness of the look.

Caitlin xoxo

Christmas Style

Hey Chicas!

I have found the perfect pair of holiday earrings!  Yup, and guess what they are not expensive.  But they look it!

So I was walking by Nortons Jewelers the other day, and guess what my little eye spotted in the display case.  This Swarovski Crystal Ball Earrings, for a grand total of about $70.  But aren't they super pretty gorgeous.  They just sparkle and sparkle, and are a great size too, not too big that your ear looks dwarfed, and not too small that you don't notice the individual crystals.  I love them!!


So, those obviously are expensive, but I found an exact dupe at Zellers.  Yup good old Zellers, they were even on sale for 25% off.  They are a Tiffany & Co. knock off brand called Co & Co, and they even come in the blue boxes!  But who cares, they were only $12, with the additional 25% off, they say its a sale, but it's been on for like 2 months now.   The earrings have little crystals just like the expensive ones, and they are like the same size, I know its hard to compare in pictures, but my camera just doesn't go that close, you'll have to take my word for it (or click on the picture to enlarge it).

I think this is the perfect earring to bring in the new seasons, and to dress up any black on black ensemble this year.

So for a saving of $58 dollars, you can rock the look, and no one will know the difference, I promise!

Caitlin xoxo

Smokey Eye: Inspired by Taylor Swift Fashion Winter 2011 Cover

Updated with pictures!!

Hey Chicas,

I was asked by one of my bf's to do a smokey eye, I kinda did what she wanted but with a purple edge to it.  Now I'm going to a real hardcore smokey eye.  For this I have used  only whites, greys, silvers and black.  I went with this look because you can tone it down or increase the black intensity depending on where you are going.

My inspiration obviously came from Fashion's Winter 2011 cover shoot with Taylor Swift. I really liked it, because she didn't have that huge ass cat eyeliner, like she's young let her experiment with eye makeup!  gesh....Anyway this is my take on the look.

Products Used:
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
Annabelle - Buff Naked
ELF Brightening Eye Kit - Drama (any smokey eye kit would work)
Annabelle Smoothliner - Black
L'Oreal Double Extend Mosaic - Black
Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmidy Blush - Fawn
Hard Candy Blush Crushed Baked Blush - Honeymoon
Stila - any soft pale natural pink gloss will work (the name came off it)

Hope that the video is helpful to you guys out there wanting to rock the smokey eye trend this holiday season!

Caitlin xoxo

Winter Makeup Tips - Blush

Hey Chicas!

I thought that since this month of December is very busy with lots of parties and gatherings, I would share some makeup tips to help you look your best.

Today is about blush!  Now, the winter months can really drain the color out of your face, especially mine...

See the difference, crazy right?! So this winter I'm am not using self tanner, none!  I do have a really really good one, that has never ever streaked on me, but I'm going to go au-natural this season! (fingers crossed that I can actually do it!).  Its hard to maintain that health glow that we all had in the summer, but you don't really need to have self tanner or even bronzer to get it back! 

All you need to use is blush!  Yup, I suggest using two shades, one deeper/darker, and the other one a lighter/softer shade of the same color family.  Now you can use one shade of blush, but it won't be soo effective in giving you that natural flush. 

The video gives you the best description of how to use the application techniques, so I"m not really going to attempt to describe it in writing.  But in the video I do use a light bronzer, that is only if you want extra contouring to your face, on a daily basis I just skip the bronzer and use the blush.

Products used:
ELF Bronzer - Warm

NYC Mosaic Color Wheel - Pink Cheek Glow

MAC Hello Kitty - Pretty Baby

         Dupe (well not really but its a nice effect): Joe Fresh Blush - Pink

Tip- An angled blush brush will allow you to apply the blush in the most controlled manner for this application.  A flat topped brush is best for blending out hard edges, or just softening them up.

Hope this helps your holiday makeup routine!

Caitlin xoxo

Christmas Candles

Hey Chicas!

So less then one, ONE month before Christmas.  Can't you tell that I'm getting excited for it!! Well this past weekend, we started to decorate!!!  It was pretty awesome, because as we were finishing for the night, it started to snow, and everything looked soo much more pretty!

Now, no we don't have everything up, but just the few little touches that we did get up, do make such a difference.  If you aren't feeling the spirit, my suggestion is to put up some decorations, it will help alot!

We were putting up the Christmas Candles in the windows.  I absolutely love the look of them from the outside of the home, its soo glowing and warm and inviting!  On the inside they give the rooms such a nice glow, like they were lit from within.  Cheesy....yeah, but I still love it all the same!! :)

The issue with most of this plastic candles, is that they are ugly.  I mean butt ugly!  Especially, if you have them for years, (like those red ones with the greenery, yeah ditch the greenery all together, yo

u know it doesn't look good anymore!), they tend to turn yellow and icky!

But I have a solution, spray paint.  Get gold, silver, green, or red, spray paint for plastic surfaces.  Non-plastic ones  will work, but after a while the paint will scratch off, causing you to reapply the paint.  So buy the right kind, I speak from experience.

We actually used a copper color and it turned out quite nice.  The spray paint just makes the candles looks more expensive, and then you can customize them to your own homes decor.

Another option if you want them to look more fancy, is to buy fancy bulbs!  I know easy solution, but how many of you have thought of it.  They are hard to find but man, do they give off a different light then the normal ones.  Its a softer more dimensional light, and they look pretty!

An issue that we had, was that we have pets, one dog and two cats, and at some Christmas two nephews.  These candles are very light, and the slightest of touch they can be knocked over, breaking the bulb, hence we are no out of the fancy, pretty bulbs :(.  My Dad thought of a great solution to make the base heavier.
Option 1. You could spray paint a wooden base the same color (or an opposing one) as the candle, then hot glue the candle to the base.  This not only gives you more height but also a more sturdy base.
Option 2. The bases of these are hollow, soo they can be filled.  We filled them with some cement, now its not hard at all to do, you get the small bag and just add water.  You want the consistency of pancake batter, or a thick milkshake.  You will have to set up some sort of drying system to the cement can set properly.  And just ensure that the bottom is smooth to you don't have cement bits scraping your window sills.


I hope that this have given you some ideas on how to spruce up some older Christmas decorations!


So for under $10 you can have good as new, and expensive looking candles to place in your windows for the Holiday Season.

Caitlin xoxo