A Stunning Fall Southern Wedding

Now that it's spring I don't like to mention fall or winter, but in this case I will, because I just have to share!

Last fall when I was nine months prego--I had the pleasure of doing Lauren's makeup for her wedding.  She was a beautiful and gracious bride.  I loved working with such a sweet and happy person.

Scroll through the pictures and be inspired by this elegant wedding!

5 Tips to Shorten Your Morning Makeup Routine

Since I have become a mommy, I am going many more days without makeup.  And, when I do wear makeup, I wear a lot less because I just don't have the time.  But, I still want to look polished instead of a hot mess, so I'm working on prioritizing my makeup routine.  I wanted to share with y'all some tricks I have learned along the way!

Lip Chubby Roundup & Reviews

I'll let you know that these reviews are from my own beauty curiosity.  I purchased each of these products in order to test them out on my own.

My obsession with lip crayons began years ago with a Clinique version called the Chubby Stick.  I loved that little chubby crayon.  And then they did as they do with every product you fall in love with--they discontinued it.

The good news is Clinique brought back the Chubby Stick a few years ago, and now they have more colors than ever.  I love it because it gratifies my non-commital lipstick personality.  Most days, I opt for a sheer balmy lip color instead of a punchy bold lip.  That's just what I feel most comfortable in.

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I love the Mega Melon and Heaping Hazelnut colors, but they are all sheer and pretty.

I have broadened my lip crayon obsession to include a few others and I thought I would share with you which ones I like the best.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable

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My much-trusted product-junkie friend Chelsea introduced me to this one via her Instagram and I love it!  It gives you a stain with a balm that lasts about half the day on my lips and doesn't dry them out.  The color Honey is a nice pinky nude that would look natural on pretty much anyone.  It's great for my "mom hair don't care" days.

Dorky selfie wearing the Revlon in "Honey"

Flower Lip Suede Velvet Lip Chubby

Drew Barrymore has got it going on with her new makeup line called "Flower" sold exclusively in Walmart, you can buy it here too if you don't want to go to Wally World.  I picked up the Lip Suede Velvet Lip Chubby in "Life's a Peach."  It's the perfect pale peach color, it is for sure more of a matte texture, but it's creamy and not dry.  I end up usually swiping a little gloss on top to give it a subtle sheen.

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Bobbi Brown Art Stick

This one is definitely more of a lipstick and liner combo for when you're wanting a more pigment on your lips.  Bobbi released 8 vivid shades.  I love that it's easy and quick to apply, no fussing with another lipliner.

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Well that's my lip crayon roundup!  If there are other products you want reviewed, leave me a comment and I will be your beauty guinea pig!

What's in my bag?: New mommy edition

Call me a creep, but I love to see what other women keep in their handbags.  It is super interesting to me, and I think it can tell you a lot about a person.

You've probably seen those edited articles in magazines of what celebrities carry in their handbags, everything looks polished and pretty. Well, I wanted to share what I consider my essentials because as a new mom, I carry a lot less makeup and random things, and a lot more baby gear!

So, this is what I actually have in my handbag right now--my essentials.

A Natural and Feminine Valentine's Date Night Look

I am a member of the Collective Bias Social Fabric Community.  This shop has been compensated as a part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser.  All opinions are 100% mine.  #WalgreensBeauty #CollectiveBias

This year I decided that I would take Valentine's Day by the reigns and plan something fun.  McKay's parents are planning on staying with us this weekend and will be watching Amelia as we go to this antique and vintage show and spend some quality time together.  What a hot Valentine's Day date night idea, huh?  I want to make sure I look natural beautiful when we go on our date this weekend.  Wearing sweats everyday when you work at home can become your daily uniform  I'm was really excited when Walgreens who has partnered with Collective Bias asked me to participate in their Walgreens Beauty Date Night Looks!  They asked me to go to Walgreens and pick out some of my favorite beauty products to put together my look for our Valentine's Day date night.

Time is precious to me because I don't have much of time.  Before I was a mom I could take up to a hour and a half to get ready.  Ain't nobody got time for that now!  The quicker I can get ready, the better.  Lately, I've really embraced the whole concept of less is really more when it comes to beauty.  I actually feel prettier when I choose to focus on certain parts of my body, like my hair, lips, and eyes instead of putting on an entire face of makeup.

You don't have to spend a lot of money to look and feel beautiful.    Walgreens is practically in every town in America, and I was so excited I didn't have to drive far away to get to my local Walgreens.  This is really handy when you don't have much time, like I do.  I was so surprised by how many products and brands they carry.  Walgreens is seriously one of the best beauty destinations because they have so many options!  You can tell by the look on Amelia's face, she felt a little overwhelmed with all of the selection, like I did.

Here are my Walgreens beauty picks for my hot Valentine's Date to the antique and vintage show this weekend:

1. Suave Keratin Infusion Dry Shampoo $3.14
I love this dry shampoo so much!  It's cheap, effective, smells good, and does a great job of soaking up the greasiness of my hair in between washes. My hair is short and lays and works better when it's a little dirty.  I can get by not washing my hair up to four days because of this stuff.  It saves me a lot of time from not having to wash my hair.  It's a god send to women!

2. Sally Hansen Salon Effects Polish Strips in Glitz Blitz $10.49
This last weekend I attended the Build Your Blog Conference and wanted to so something fun with my nails, but didn't want to spend $30 for gel nails.  I picked up these Salon Effects and they were really easy to apply, surprisingly!  No wet polish, no foul odor, and it took less than 15 minutes to apply!  All you do is a little prep, stick the sheets to your nail, file the excess off, and you're done! I have never had so many compliments on my nails before than I did at the conference.  All of my friends were saying how cute and nice they looked.  On the box it says on the polish lasts up to 10 days.

3. Maybelline Baby Lips Dr. Rescue in Berry Soft $3.99
I LOVE lipstick.  But sometimes when you're busy or on the go, you don't have time to sit in front of a mirror and apply lipstick and make sure it looks perfect.  Plus, I like to talk with my hands and I always feel like I'm smudging my lipstick all over my face.  I've heard so many great things about Baby Lips so I thought I'd give it a try.  Well, I'm in love.  I got it in the Berry Soft color because it's more of a spring color and loved how it gave me color in a nice and easy swipe.

4. Maybelline The Colossal Volum' Express in Glam Black $7.49
I've been buying drugstore mascara for a while now and have tried every brand.  I keep going back to the Maybelline brand because I truly feel like their formula is the best out there.  My biggest pet peeve about cheap mascara is when it flakes off by the end of the night.  It's so annoying.  I used this during the conference this weekend and by the time I got back to my hotel I had been wearing it for over 16 hours and didn't see one flake on my face!  I like the Colossal Volum' because of the nice thick brush, I really feel like it shapes and lifts the lashes to make them look fuller.

NOTE: I'm not a fashion blogger, but deep down inside I secretly want to be one really bad, but I don't feel comfortable taking pictures of myself.  It's not my thing.  It took me a lot of courage to have my mom take these pictures and post them on here.  I feel like I look so goofy, and obviously I've never been great at taking pictures or posing, so please brace yourself.  Here's my more natural and feminine Valentine's Day hot date night look!  What do you think?

Haha, it was so bright outside, I had to squint!

Thanks to Collective Bias and Walgreens for supporting Fry Sauce and Grits!

3 Minute Face By Girl Loves Glam

Hey new friends! I am McKenzie from Girl Loves Glam and I am excited to share my all time favorite makeup look for a busy day.

We have all probably seen at least one episode of What Not to Wear, right? I used to be totally obsessed with that show. I loved not only seeing the clothes they got, but I loved seeing the entire transformation! Well, if you have seen at least one episode, you have probably heard Carmandy (the makeup artist) refer to her infamous "5 Minute Face" that she does on almost everyone. I love the idea of the 5 minute face, but honestly, I don't think you need a whole 5 minutes. Sometimes you don't have a whole 5 minutes for your makeup! When you are a busy mom on the go, a student running late to class, or a career woman in need of getting to the office early, you may only have 3 minutes! Here is your solution. The 3 Minute Face.

Yes. I said THREE minute face! This can easily be done in 3 minutes. I suggest having these few items in an easy to grab place so that when you have occasions such as these that you literally only have 3 minutes, you don't take up any extra time digging for your makeup! Here's what you need...

*Moisturizer

*Concealer

*Foundation

*Blush

*Eyebrow Pencil

*Mascara

*Lipstick. Not too bright of a color. You want something you can put on quickly, without a lot of fuss, but will add some color to your face.

To achieve the 3 minute face, follow these steps..

1. Moisturize your entire face.

2. Concealer under eyes. This is really important because you won't be wearing much makeup to otherwise distract you from dark circles.

3. Put foundation all over your face, neck, and eyelids.

4. Brush blush onto your cheekbones.

5. Pencil in eyebrows.

6. Put mascara on top and bottom lashes.

7. Lipstick. You can line your lips too, but you will add a little time to your routine by doing so.

BAM! Three minutes and you can run out the door and do the things you really need to do today! I suggest practicing this routine before you actually need to get it done in 3 minutes so that when you do, you are prepared!

Be sure to check out my makeup book, The Busy Girl's Guide to Makeup and follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest too!

A Southern Bride

In August, I  had the pleasure of traveling down to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to do the makeup for a stunning bride and her wedding party.

Shanleigh was a pleasure to work with. She was such a beautiful bride, inside and out.  It's when I get to work with clients like her-- that I am reminded how much I love what I do.  We kept her makeup simple and classic with a romantic feel.

Her wedding was featured on the Mariee Ami blog this week.  The images were shot by Scottie Jones Photography.

She wore her mother's wedding dress which she had refashioned to fit her frame.  I loved that gown, especially the sleeves and neckline.  Knockout!

Shanleigh and her mother.

Mandatory shoe shot.

There is such a special charm surrounding a southern wedding.  It's hard to describe, but for me it's almost like I step back in time for a day.  Tradition, love, beauty, family and lush flowers take center stage.

Look at that cake!

Congrats to the newlyweds!

Makeup Basics: How to properly clean your makeup brushes

I know you've been reaching for that powder or blush brush every morning and you've been thinking, "Ew, I really need to wash this!  No time now, I will do it later."

Well, now is a great time to de-gunk those fluffy little friends.  Makeup build up on brushes can contribute to bacteria, break out, and uneven makeup application.  No thanks.

I recommend washing your brushes about every other week.  Let's be real though, some of them probably only get bathed monthly.  But, some of them on the other hand I wipe down after every time I use them (i.e. my Bobbi Brown Ultra Fine Eyeliner).  If not, the product builds up on the brush and I want that baby to stay nice and thin.

Here's my quick guide on how to properly clean your makeup brushes.

Ultimate Beauty Giveaway: The Busy Girl's Guide to Makeup from Girl Loves Glam!

I'm so happy to announce my bosom friend McKenzie, has published her own beauty book!  I'm so excited for her!  It's been over a year in the making and am so proud of her.  She's one of the most down to earth gals and I love her style.  She's so eclectic!  

Anyway, I'm so happy to let you know that you have a chance to win a copy of her book, a $200 Sephora gift card, $25 gift certificate to The Ribbon Retreat, and a 14 piece makeup brush set!  Don't worry, there's three chances of you winning prizes in this giveaway.

This book, giftcards, and make up brush set is a great way to start the fall!  Make sure you check out McKenzie's guest post she did on our blog about a chalkboard folding chair while the three of us sisters vacationed.  Scroll down to learn more about McKenzie and how to enter to win these fabulous prizes!   

Red Lip Tips

We are somewhat nervous to post this video, our first tutorial, so please bare with us.  Let's just say that filming a tutorial was WAY harder then we thought it would be, and we are still learning!!

We ran into a few isssues: background noise, a crying baby, Courtney talking while I was trying to apply the lipstick and smearing it all over her face, lipstick malfunctions, my pregnant butter fingers dropping everything, and much more.

Please ignore some of our funny faces, and Courtney's stoned look.  But, the good news is we finished it, and we will hopefully learn from this one, and there will be better tutorials to come!  Let us know what you want to see in the future and we will work on it!

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!

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!

The Six Most Effective Sunscreens You Need for your Face and Body

Hello!  I'm really excited to talk about this topic.  I have an obsession with sunscreens.  I get excited when I see a new sunscreen on the market.  This passion for sunscreen stems from being apart of a family of redheads with very pale skin.  We weren't like the typical family.  We're like vampire, we don't tan, we burn.  All of my life whenever my family and I would go anywhere we were always slathering gobs of sunscreen all over our bodies all the time to protect our delicate white skin against the radioactive waves from the sun.  It wasn't until my dad found skin cancer on his body was when I knew I wanted to make sure my children understand the importance of taking care of their skin against getting burned, skin cancer, and premature aging.   We used A LOT of sunscreen while vacationing down in Alabama.  Sorry Caitlin, mermaids don't wear t-shirts.

Top 5 Makeup Tips for Brides

 I love the month of June because it's starting to get warm, summer is right around the corner, and the flowers are out in full bloom.  June is also a busy month for me because there's a lot of weddings!  I love the saying Liza from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers sings in the musical, "Oh, they say when you marry in June, you're a bride all your life."  I love that musical.  June is a busy month for me because I do a lot of freelance work on the side for weddings.  When I do makeup for these beautiful brides I get a lot of questions asked by them as to how to get their  makeup to look flawless on their wedding day.  I have learned a thing or two about makeup for your wedding day--and I'm here to share it with you!

These are my top 5 makeup tips for brides:

1. Use a foundation primer.  You want your makeup to last all day, and you want a smooth surface to start from.  Choose a primer based on your skin type.  Here are a few recommendations:

Laura Mercier Oil Free Primer

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer

2. Waterproof eyeliner and mascara.  Let's face it, a wedding can be an emotional and overwhelming day.  You'll probably shed a few happy tears and you need something that will stay put.  These are bullet proof options.

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner

Diorshow Iconic Waterproof Mascara

3.  A makeup setting spray.  A fine hydrating mist you spray after you've finished your makeup will help it set into the skin, and it will instantly make it look less makeup-y.  I like the Amore Pacific Moisture Bound Skin Energy Hydration Delivery System

Amore Pacific Moisture Bound Spray

4. Use a highlighting powder to brighten and finish your look.  The idea is to look glowy-not shimmery or glittery.  Dust this on top of your cheekbones, nose, and inner corners of the eyes to add some dimension and highlight your features.

Guerlain Meteorite Compact

Bobbi Brown Brightening Finishing Powder

5.  Please use lipstick and a sheer pressed powder that you can touch up with throughout the day and into the evening.  

Bobbi Brown Sheer Pressed Powder

This is your wedding day--prepare for this detail.  Pick out colors you know you love, and have them handy.  You can ask your maid of honor/mom/wedding coordinator to keep them in her purse and have her bring them to you so you can reapply after you eat or drink.

Laura Mercier Creme Smooth Lip Color in Pink Dusk

Yves Saint Laurent Glossy Stain

I hope these tips will make your wedding day more beautiful.  Even if you're not a bride, but you are wanting to look flawless in photos, these are great tips to try!  If you have any makeup questions, or are wanting to know more on a certain subject, e-mail me at melliecraig@gmail.com!