2 Quick Ways to Transition Your Makeup for Fall

Here in Alabama, it's still really warm, and I wistfully walk by the cozy sweaters and buttery leather boots that have been in stores for weeks now.  I long for the crisp autumn mornings in Utah and California.  It's hard to get in a seasonal mood when it's hot and sticky by 9 AM!

But, that will not stop me from enjoying September, and the beginning of this season.  I'm OVER my summer staples.  I've been wearing hot corals and neon pinks on my toes all summer.  I'm longing for the richer hues of berry and bordeaux and I decided I don't have to wait!  I'm sporting a dark wine mani and shiny cherry toes right now!

Bra Guide: How they should and shouldn't fit

Welcome to the first post in this series I'm calling "Bra Guide"!  Where I'm going to go over every aspect of bras to fitting, sizing, breast shapes, bra types, nursing and maternity bras, bra recommendations, and the best places to find bras.

A Back To School Playlist

If you haven't already started school or sent your littles off, I'm sure that you're gearing up for the big plunge into the back to school phenomenon.

This school year will be my last of my undergraduate...I'm nervous and excited, but mostly nervous.
As said before, music is not only my major, but also my number one hobby slash creative outlet.  What better way to deal with the stress than to make a back to school playlist?
Whether you're too cool for school or a rock solid scholar, here are some tunes I put together to make going back just a little bit better.

What type of artists have you been tuning into lately?  Are there any new or upcoming people I should know about?  

2 Ingredient Ice Cream: No Ice Cream Maker Required!

Summer is almost over and as a last ditch effort to enjoy it, I want to eat all the peaches and ice cream I can in August!  Nom nom nom.

Some amazing ice cream connoisseur friends passed on this recipe to me, and I couldn't wait to try it!  (Thank you Alex & Elisa!) I've always wanted an ice cream maker, but haven't felt like I would use it enough to warrant the price tag.  Then in comes this delicious and ridiculously easy ice cream recipe.

I'm warning you--this is the most simple recipe ever!!

I actually made 2 different varieties.  A full fat one, and an experimental lower fat one.

Angel Food Cake with Strawberry Whipped Cream Frosting Recipe

This weekend, we celebrated a milestone in our lives.  Amelia had her first birthday and we had both sides of the families come over to our house to celebrate this special day with us.  We were surrounded by those we love, good food, and it was the perfect weather for a party.  It was a reminiscent day for me.  I remember a year ago how scared, excited, anxious, and ready I felt to do the whole labor thing.  I've been dreaming of this moment my entire life to meet, hold, and love this little baby.  A year has gone by so fast.

It's a tradition on my dad's side of family to make this a particular cake for birthdays.  I remember seeing pictures of my 92 year old grandma and my dad eating this cake for their birthday as children.  I grew up eating this cake too.  I wanted to keep the tradition alive for Amelia's birthday.  

This cake is a perfect dessert for a birthday or any kind celebration because it's light and not heavy, it's easy to make, and is absolutely delicious. If a cake recipe has been passed down for multiple generations, you know it's that good. 

An Updo For The Ladies: Easy as 1,2,3

Hello There!

A few weeks ago I went and got a curly cut, and decided to get a bit of an a-line.  I love the new do, but I have been struggling with pulling my hair back to get it out of my face.  Now that I have these long curls in front, and these short ridiculous ones in back, I had to get a little inventive to come up with something to get my hairs up, since I wear my hair up about 90% of the day.  If your hair is short this is a pretty little updo  in three steps that you yourself can achieve, and good news, it works with you ladies with medium to long hair too!

Step 1: begin by pulling hair half up
Step 2: secure with bobby pins in a "X"
Step 3: Finish by pulling the remainder of your hair rolling it upwards (tucking the ends inward), and securing again with bobby pins.

And there you go; a sweet little updo!

Eyeliner Snob? Drug Store Product Review

I could call eyeliner a hobby.  Sad, but true. I am always on the look out for the best eyeliners: what's new, what's longer wearing, what's easiest to apply in a rush, etc.  I have tested out many and I wanted to share with you what I have learned!

DIY Painted Frame Mat

One obsession I have is art. I don't know why I have this desire, but I think it would be so awesome to own pieces of original art in my home.  Of course, I don't have the budget to do so, so to make due, I use what I have and try to update them to make them look awesome.

Zucchini & Kale Savory Cakes

Hello, it's Caitlin here!
Last week I went to my local Saturday Farmer's Market, and I scored a bunch of kale, and a HUGE zucchini for just $2.00.  Talk about a deal!  I know that kale has been all the rage at the moment due to its high fiber, and nutrient content, so I was excited until I realized I wasn't sure how to prepare it...  Rookie mistake. Luckily my room mate, April, had shared her zucchini pancake recipe with me, and I thought, why not combine them both?

Mississippi Mud Cake

Hey, it's Melanie and guess what?!  Today is my birthday!  To celebrate this greand day I decided to make my own cake.  Is it tacky to bake your own birthday cake?  Well, either way, I'm glad I did!

I have been craving this delicious southern treat--Mississippi mud cake, and now I have a reason to make it.

Living Room Decorating Ideas Phase 1: A Commitment and Plan

I love interior design. I secretly wish I would have become an interior designer.  Let's just throw it out there.  Yes, I have expensive taste.  I always tend to draw towards the stuff that's the most expensive.  Can any of you can relate?  Like many of you reading this, I love high end design but don't have a high end budget.

A How-To Guide To Tipping Your Waiter

Today I'm going to play some Miss Manners.  As many of you know, I work as a waitress at a famous little restaurant in my college town.  We often get much traffic from locals, tourists going to and from Yellowstone and Bear Lake, and senior citizens.  From speaking with coworkers and from my own experience, I have found that about 40% of tables have no knowledge of how to appropriately tip.  This is probably due to honest ignorance.   And honestly, I had no idea how to tip before I started working as a waitress, so I thought I would offer a point of view on the subject and provide some education.

Southern Weddings

Since I have lived in Alabama, I have had the opportunity to do a lot of freelance makeup artistry for weddings.  And let me tell you, weddings here in the South are unique!  They are charming! They are very traditional, and generally a lot larger than weddings where I am from. 

 I've been doing a little bit of work with a wedding planning studio here called Mariee Ami.  They do stunning events and their blog is a must follow for any bride-to-be or wedding junkie.  I learn about all sorts of southern wedding traditions and quaint ideas from their posts.  Like "The Cake Pull" where sterling silver charms are set into the cake with the ribbon out.  Each bridesmaid pulls a ribbon out, and the charm on the end tells them what type of luck they will receive.

It has been really fun to be a part of so many people's special days and learn the ways the southerners pull tradition into each ceremony.  I love to work with brides, and I am constantly asked beauty questions for the big day.  You can read about my Top 5 Makeup Tips for Brides here.

I wanted to share with you a wedding I worked on in Jackson, Mississippi a few months ago.  It was unlike any other!  I assisted the head makeup artist, Celine Russell with the GIANT bridal party.  This was such a beautiful wedding with many intricate details, and the biggest bridal party I have ever done.

The family was so down to earth and welcoming. When I checked into my hotel, I had a "Welcome to Mississippi Box" box awaiting me chock full of goodies!  It was such a treat to enjoy during my stay in Jackson.

Celine, with the beautiful bride, Callie.  If you look closely, you can see me in the background!