Makeup Trends of 2011

Let's take a look back at some of this year's biggest makeup trends.

Eva Mendes is actually wearing 2 of this years hottest trends, the cat eye and metallic shadow. The cat eye has been seen on a ton of celebrities (most notably, Adele). It's a quick and easy yet sexy makeup trend which I LOVE because it looks great under glasses! Shiny, metallic eye shadows have been hot this year. I have always loved any color eye shadow as long as it is super sparkly and shiny so I have been loving that this is actually in style!

source: taaz 

Bold lips were huge this year. Even some unusual shades have been seen like orange and neon pink. This is my personal favorite makeup trend, I have been rocking bright lipstick since high school!

Bright eye shadow has also been a huge hit this year. I have been loving seeing all the pretty color combinations and creative use of color on the eye. The photo below is of Keiko Lynn, she has an amazing blog with lots of great makeup tutorials!

Keiko Lynn

Before I leave you for this year lets see who this years biggest style icon was. Without a doubt the moment this year that made me say WOW, was when I saw Kate Middleton at her royal wedding. She was the most beautiful bride I have ever seen, and reportedly did her makeup by herself! EVERYTHING was perfect, the hair, the dress, the jewelry and the makeup. She has impeccable style and I can't wait to see what she wears in 2012. 

What were your favorite beauty trends of this year? Can't wait to see what this next year brings!

Happy New Years Everyone!

Best of 2011

So obviously this month I have not been so great at writing, the craziness of this month really slowed me down. We went out of town for Christmas this year to visit my in-law's and it was STRESSFUL trying to get everything figured out and packed before Christmas. But I'm back and have some exciting plans for 2012. Tutorials and giveaway's, hurray!

Before we begin 2012 let's take a look back at all the lovely hair trends that we've seen this year. 

The biggest hair color trend of this year was definitely ombre color. It seem's that the super drastic ombre trend is fading out, but I think ombre in general is here to stay. In 2012 I think we will see a lot more of this trend but in a soft natural way, seen below on Jessica Biel. Her hair is definitely on my hair do list for next year!

If you have curled your hair this year, it's most likely been in beach waves. These gorgeous loose curls have been seen on everyone throughout the year, including me! I think this trend is here to stay for 2012.

Retro glam waves! Star's have been wearing this at every awards show of this year. Selena Gomez looks AMAZING with her vintage inspired dress and glam waves. I even wore this look to my husbands Christmas party and it was one of my personal favorite hair style's of the year!

Braids have been HUGE this year. I have seen braided hairstyles galore and I love ALL of them! Fishtail braids, french braids, maiden braids, braided bangs, and so many more. This is another trend that I don't think will fizzle out any time soon, and I couldn't be more happy! I love beauty trends that are super easy and work on most length's of hair.

source: Free People

 source: A Beautiful Mess

Come back tomorrow so that we can look back on some of the biggest beauty trends of this year!

One Length Bob

I have been growing my hair for what seems like FOREVER! I cut it pretty short right before I got married 6 years ago and it is finally gotten to my collar bone. My hair grows SUPER, ridiculously slow. I have been working so hard, for so long to grow my hair out but every once in a while I see a hair cut that make me think about chopping it off again. I love this haircut! It's a newer, more modern take on the super layered, Victoria Beckham bob that has been so popular. It's all one length (or very long choppy layers, about to the shoulders or shorter, and slightly shorter in the back. I have been oh so close to forgetting my dream of long locks and doing this cut!

Jennifer Aniston made this cut popular. Is there a cut that she's had that hasn't been a major hit?! Love the one length, slightly graduated bob. To get the texture she has try a sea salt spray or some hair wax. 

Dianna Agron from Glee looks gorgeous with this short haircut. She has a few more layers in hers and it's a little shorter. To get her volume use a volumizing mouse or spray at your root's before blow drying.

Katy Perry also recently chopped her hair into this short one length bob. This length looks so good on her and frames her face so well. And can I tell you how much I love the pink root's, they are so fun! I think this is her best look yet.

So what do you think of the one length bob? I'm hoping that I can influence some of you to get this cut so I can live vicariously through you and keep my length! :) If my hair grew faster than a few inches in 6 years, I'd be all over this!

Holiday Inspiration

It's that time of year and the Christmas season doesn't feel like it's started until I watch some of my favorite  holiday movies. My absolute favorite? Little Women. I watch it every single year and it totally gets me in the holiday spirit. Besides being a wonderful movie, there is some beautiful hair! I just love this hair era. The gorgeous long, unruly hair and lavish updo's, not to mention the beautiful clothing. The funny thing is, if you look at a lot of the updo's in the movie they are totally in style right now!  Center part, hair twisted back into twists and braids. So beautiful and classic. Here are a few pictures from the film for inspiration:

Ever since seeing this movie I have wanted to grow my hair this long. It has been an epic fail so far.

 My favorite look in this movie is when Jo and Laurie walk in the woods. 

Amy's hair is always perfection. I especially love her updo's when she's older.

all photos from :the fan carpet

So, are there any movies that you HAVE to watch during the holidays? My other favorites are White Christmas (of course), It's A Wonderful Life, and Holiday Inn. It doesn't feel like like Christmas time until I watch them!!

To Shampoo Or Not To Shampoo

Beth asked a seriously great question! 

I've heard that shampooing your hair every day will damage it and when I take the time to blow dry and straighten my hair, I try to make it last 2 days anyway. What about the days that I put product in my hair to make it curl? Can I still skip a shampooing? Do I only condition that day or nothing at all?

I get this question a ton and my advice is that washing your hair hair everyday is a bad idea. Your hair goes through a lot of trauma and is at it's most fragile when it's been washed and is sopping wet. Then add brushing, blow drying and styling to that everyday and you are putting your hair through a lot of trauma. Also, when you wash your hair you are washing out the natural oils in your hair therefore drying it out. 

My weekly routine:

Sunday-wash hair and style for church

Monday- wear same style as Sunday

Tuesday- wear a cute up style (usually one of these)

Wednesday- wear in a cute up style

Thursday- wash and style for the weekend

Friday- wear same style as Thursday

Saturday- wear in a cute up style

I only wash my hair about twice a week. By washing your hair as few times as possible throughout the week you are not only saving your hair from breakage but you are allowing the natural oils to help keep you hair from becoming dry and brittle. If I feel like I still have to much product in my hair from the day before, I'll do an up style instead of washing. I do know that not washing your hair everyday is not an option for a lot of people. If you need to wash everyday I recommend carefully towel drying your hair, combing with a wide tooth comb and air drying, and putting in a leave in conditioner or shine serum to replace your natural oil. 

We already looked at up styles for long hair here, so let's look at a few cute do's that you can do with shorter hair!

Jennifer Aniston's hair isn't short but her braided fringe would look so cute with short hair. 

source: Redbook 

This upside down french twist would be so cute on short hair!

Any hairstyle with braids is cute and easy!

tutorials found here and here. Plus her blog has a TON of cute tutorials for short to mid length hair!