Life Lately: Christmas and More

Pardon the interruption! I'm not sure the last time I've gone this long without blogging, but now that I'm back at home, I thought it was time to catch you up on life....lately!

Watched:

La La Land--I saw this a couple of weekends ago and LOVED it. I'm a huge musicals, and love the sweeping music numbers in classic films/Fred and Ginger. I didn't like the ending, but understood why it ended as it did. I've been playing the soundtrack constantly when not listening to Christmas music.

Moana--It has been a tradition for the past 16 years, that my youngest sis and I have watched a movie around Thanksgiving or Christmas at the theatre. This started when she was 5. She brought her hub and his younger bro and I think they enjoyed it. I liked it.


Did:

Finally mailed out Christmas cards...on the 22nd...which most people didn't get until yesterday.

Unwrapped presents and spent time with family--while I loved everything, my youngest sis got necklaces for me, her, and our sis Jess. Mine has Big Sis, Jess has Middle Sis, and Holly has Lil Sis. It's so sweet. I think my family liked their presents?

Had fun playing with nieces and nephews

Hit up some after Christmas sales--did you see my haul on my blog's Facebook page?

Cleaned away all the Christmas--the earliest I have ever done so!

Listened:

Now that Christmas music is over for me, it's been a lot of George Michael (rip), La La Land, and pretty much anything on the radio.

A Life in Parts, an audiobook by Bryan Cranston--I really enjoyed this. I knew nothing of the man, never having seen much of his shows, but found his life and career interesting. It's also a bit of a master class in acting. It made the trip back home and back to Atlanta fly by in the foggy weather.

Felt:

I felt so awful during the holidays but am finally getting better. I just wanted to sleep, which is very unusual for me. Ugh.

The crazy temps! It was in the 80s back in my hometown for Christmas. We were joking that we were dashing through the leaves instead of snow and blasting the air conditioner.

So excited to see that Maybelline shared my pic on Insta! Usually you get asked by a brand and you suspect they might share your pic, but this was a nice surprise.

I'll be back tomorrow with makeup and more!

My Audiobook Reviews: 2015

I admit it--I have no time to read. But I love to read, and have found audiobooks as a happy medium to get my reading fix. This past year I received for Christmas a year to Audible (no, this is not an ad), and it ended up being one of my fave gifts. I listened to them on my commute from work or when I was driving to my hometown. I thought I'd share my reviews of them with you. Maybe you'll get some ideas for future books (or audiobooks)? I was really drawn to biographies this year for some reason--normally I'm into fiction. Let me know the ones you've read!

Top Row:

• Yes Please--Amy Poehler--Funny. I liked it. There were some extra narrators and the last chapter was from a live reading she did.
• Stories I Only Tell My Friends--Rob Lowe--He has had a fascinating, very lucky life. I enjoyed it.
• Not My Father's Son--Alan Cumming--It starts out with his abusive father, so it took me a while to get into this. Once I did, it was a fast listen. I liked it.
• Down the Rabbit Hole--Holly Madison--Yes, I used to LOVE the show she was on, and I wanted to know all of the juicy gossip. I'm not sure I believe she was miserable all of the time though. And her English accent was the worst I've ever heard. Very quick listen.

Middle Row:

• Girl In A Band--Kim Gordon--I am not really a Sonic Youth fan, but this was recommended. It goes through her life, her life with a 90s alternative band, and her divorce, of which she is still very, very bitter.
• I Must Say--Martin Short--I didn't know much about him before this book. I loved his tales of life in Hollywood and really liked it, even the heartbreaking stuff. Since I didn't know his characters, those chapter intros were lost on me.
• The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up--Marie Kondo--I felt this philosophy could have been summed up in a few pages, not an entire book. I agree with her idea of getting rid of what is no longer useful. Not read by the author, and I would have preferred the book version, so I could underline/highlight/bookmark certain areas.
• How to Make Friends and Influence People--Dale Carnegie--This is a classic book read by a classic narrator. A lot of the info is dated, but the basic principles are useful. As someone who struggles with social anxiety, I hoped to find more techniques. I didn't care for the narrator and wished I had the book version so I could again highlight/bookmark certain things.
• 10% Happier--Dan Harris--After a tough year, I wanted something, anything to bring my life happiness and peace. I found the first half of the book boring as it goes through his life but it ended up being necessary as it showed his journey. I haven't started meditating, but have changed my attitude towards it. BONUS: PDF guide on meditation

Bottom Row:

• Not That Kind of Girl--Lena Dunham--Lena is a gifted writer, but I did not like this memoir. I didn't like her voice narrating it either. I found myself listening to it at double speed so I could make it through this book. Disliked.
• Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl--Carrie Brownstein--Again, another 90s band that I'm not really a fan of, but I love her on Portlandia. I felt she gave a book report of her life and left out the juicy, personal stuff.
• Grace--Grace Coddington--I loved this, her stories, her voice, her idgaf attitude. I found her career at Vogue fascinating. BONUS: Images from the book of her life.
• Choose Your Own AutoBio--Neil Patrick Harris--Since this is the audio version, you don't really get to choose your own adventure, but it is still really awesome. I loved it. BONUS: Recipes and magic tricks can be downloaded
• #Girlboss--Sophia Amouroso--I only listened to this because it seemed like every blogger was reading it. I didn't really care for the narrator's voice, and don't feel like I learned anything. It was more like a "look at me and my billion dollar company" book, but I liked it.

What was your fave book this year?

Books for the Beauty Lover

FYI--I became an aunt again! Kaylee Ann was born Sunday night. I can't wait to meet her! Now back to the blog!

I try to do things a little differently when it comes to gift guides, and for this one, I'm sharing a few of my favorite beauty books from the past year or so. I know we have a lot of book lovers out there! 

I tried to pick books that you might not have heard of, instead of the usual ones that are always recommended. I've got a little something for every beauty lover on your list. Let me know what you'd try!

To: The Beauty DIY Lover

• Homemade Nail Polish--Ever want to create a color that's just your own? This book shows you how and more, including creative designs for nail art.
• DIY DYE--This is perfect for your friend or family member that is always changing her hair color. Learn techniques (ombre or highlights) and how to choose /make dye.

To: The Makeup and Skincare Fanatics

• The Little Book of Skin Care--If you are fascinated by all things Korean beauty (they are light years ahead) then this is a must-buy. Great for beginners but even I learned a couple of things!
• Simply Glamourous--The title sums it up perfectly--fabulous makeup looks on real women that can be easily recreated using his techniques.

To: Kids (or Moms)

• Frozen Hairstyles--Exactly what you're thinking--28 hairstyles inspired by Frozen. This book is a huge hit for any girl I've given it to, including the 6 year old I nanny for. They have a new book for Frozen Fever as well.
• Disney Hairstyles--40 hairstyles of the different princesses from Disney movies--another hit! From fancy to wearable, and the models in the book are a diverse group of kids--something I've never seen before and appreciate.

To: The Hairstyles Fanatic

• DIY Braids--30 different braids including classic styles. Finally learn how to master those braids.
• The Braiding Handbook--Want to step it up a notch? Here we have 60 modern twists on classic braid styles.

Which one interested you the most?

Extra Elle:

• Spent my evening cleaning makeup brushes--two and a half hours--but it went by fast watching The Voice and Adele.

October Beauty Treats: New Products You'll LOVE

Writing this beauty blog is a labor of love. The love part is obvious--I'm a crazy-obsessed beauty fanatic and have been since I was 3 years old. I can talk about makeup/hair/nail polish/skin care all day. But the labor part is something that is more behind the scenes that I don't often discuss.

Here's a peek into what I do as a beauty blogger (no first impressions here):

No matter if I purchase or am sent product for consideration (as is the case today), the same process applies--

• Decide if product is worth reviewing
• Do research on product/line
• Take pics of product
• Record name and info of product into database
• Use products on average for a month
• Record daily/weekly results from product after using daily (depending on product directions)
• Record final results from usually a month of use into database
• Decide if the product is worth sharing on the blog
• Edit pics
• Write post

All of this work, done for free (I do NOT do paid reviews), and it will be viewed for 30 seconds. Labor of love.

Crazy, right?

But I LOVE what I do. I love being able to share what's new in the beauty world. It brings me such joy to do something that I am truly passionate about. 

And I'm hoping maybe one of these products from my bag of treats (I had to throw in an October/Halloween reference, y'all) will be a future love of yours. Check 'em out:

HAIR:
The ACURE Straightening Shampoo and Conditioner ($9.99 each) are infused with Marula Oil and Coconut Water to hydrate and strengthen hair that is damaged or overworked. The Brazilian Keratin formula absolutely does what it says. My dry hair is now so hydrated--excellent for upcoming colder temps. Smells amazing too.

The ACURE Coconut Cleansing Towelettes ($6.99) gently remove dirt, oil and makeup without any rinsing required. And they smell wonderful. It's coconut, what did you expect me to say? ;)

The ACURE Coconut Dry Oil Spray ($12.99) a fab lightweight moisturizing spray for body and hair. With Antioxidants, Sea Buckthorn, Sandalwood and Vitamin E, these moisturizing sprays keep skin hydrated and protected while lightly adding moisture and shine to hair. This is great for when I want to keep it light, since the temps are still in the 80s here.

SKIN:
You asked for more reviews of The Body Shop and you got it! Oils of Life is The Body Shop’s NEW daily life-infusing skincare collection to revitalize skin, revive radiance and visibly reduce signs of aging. Every products in the collection contains an expert blend of three exceptional cold-pressed seed oils from three different countries: Black Cumin Seed Oil (from the Egyptian Nile Valley) - is known for its concentration of antioxidants; Camellia Seed Oil (from the Evergreen Trees of China) - naturally rich in nutritive oleic acids; Rosehip Seed Oil (from the Foothills of the Andes in Chile) - rich in Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.

But do they products actually deliver? I have been really impressed by this line. I prefer the cream and the facial oil for my dry skin. I plan on using them more when the temperatures drop. Oily skin would like the gel cream. My skin was instantly hydrated and continued to improve. If you have never tried this brand or are already a huge fan, I suggest checking it out for a luxurious experience. $34-$39

FRAGRANCE:
Hanging out with Jessica Simpson (and her sis, and her sis' husband) last year was definitely a blogger highlight. I loved being backstage in the green room with her family and friends and I may or may not have taken a picture of myself standing next to her purse (idk!). That's when I was introduced to her signature fragrance. Now she has Jessica Simpson TEN. It possesses a captivating floral, fruity scent combined with a feminine and sophisticated undertone of vanilla infusion, white chocolate bean accord, sandalwood, tonka bean and driftwood. The bottle design mirrors the tenth anniversary theme of her clothing line with a single, elegant feather at the top, a symbol of the brand’s free spirited style and sense of modern Americana, with shimmering gold accents. I love it because I prefer scents like these. $67

MAKEUP:
More fun Pixi by Petra things! This time I have the contour powder (makes a great matte transition shade for lids, too). I've got concealer (nice and creamy), and I've got the brightening peach corrector--this is a must for dark circles if you have fair skin with pink undertones. I've used it for years. $12 Target

BOOK:
I review a lot of hair books on here, but I rarely share makeup ones. I was excited to receive this one a few months ago, and am so glad it is officially released on the 13th! Author and leading makeup artist Gary Cockerill  has worked with top celebrities like Eva Longoria, David Beckham, Isla Fisher and more!

In Simply Glamorous, Gary debunks the rules and myths of beauty, proving that with a little knowledge and practice, anyone can use make-up to enhance and transform. I love the step-by-step looks as well as the range of looks. This gave me some great ideas and new things to try as well as the tried-and-true looks. You can get everyday, nude lips, to full on glamour. Available at St. Martin's Press.

SKIN:
Lumene is a brand I've purchased many times because I like them, and this new offering didn't disappoint! Bright Now Vitamin C Beauty Drops--an effective Vitamin C skin care treatment to make skin instantly silky soft and brighter in just 28 days. Particularly effective for tired and dull skin. I saw a difference in 2 weeks!! Available at CVS and online $20.99

HAIR:
More hair care, but this time, I've got something for those who want volume. Philip B has a Peppermint & Avocado Shampoo that really clarifies hair (this is a must if you use a lot of products). Full disclosure: I had a friend with fine hair test this and she is a big fan now. The REJUVENATING OIL is a conditioning treatment that sinks in instantly to transform even the driest, most frazzled hair, leaving it bouncy and gleaming. I prefer oils on my hair and have already purchased a second bottle. $34, online.

So tell me, which products interest you?

Extra Elle:

• The 6 year old I take care of got a trampoline--the safest on the market. Guess who got injured within 5 minutes? Me! My mind neglected to tell my body that I can't do the same tricks like I used to do when I was younger. It's all good though!
• Last chance to enter this giveaway.

What's In My Beauty Bag? June

Time for me to bring out my beauty bag and show you what's new! And y'all, I have so much to share! I am only sharing my faves out of the products I was sent from the past few months.  Y'all know I wouldn't waste my time sharing something that wasn't good! Now, let's open up the bag and see what's inside:

Hard Candy Sassy Eyes--I know a lot of you like drugstore shadows, so I thought I'd share this new kit from Hard Candy. There are 3 of these with each tin having 9 shadows, primer, a liner, applicator, and use instructional card. Great for teens just getting into makeup and those who want a more natural eye shadow look. $8 Walmart

Homemade Bath Bombs, Salts & Scrubs--If you've read this blog for about 5 minutes, you'll know I love a good diy, and this book has over 300 of them. Made of all-natural ingredients, these bath additions elevate your soak and help with common ailments. There are no pictures, but the recipes are great. $14.95 ulyssespress.com

Japonesque--They're one of my fave beauty brands for several reasons--the products are great quality and I love the unique packaging.

• Essential Brush Set--just the essentials in a cute travel case
• Pro Cut Crease Brush & Pro Crease Blending Brush--2 new brushes that are a must-have. I use these every day.
• Solid Brush Cleanser--Cleansing your brushes AND sponges is so much faster with this and it leaves them smelling nice, too.
• Velvet Touch Blushes in 03 and 06--Look at those beauties below! My favorite summer blush is 3. It's a gorgeous coral with a golden undertone.
• Velvet Touch Shadow Palette 02--An awesome nude palette--love this when I travel! 

$20 and up ULTA.com

NYC Strip Me Off Base Coat--Raise your hand if taking off glitter polish is the worst! Well now I've got an easy solution with this peel-off base coat. I can remember using peel-off polishes as a kid (I would try to make my own with watered-down glue) and this reminds me of that. Simply apply a genourous coat and allow to dry. It will turn clear. Then apply polish, like glitter polish. To remove, peel away! BONUS: I like to use this AROUND my nail before doing watermarble or ombre nails. Makes cleanup so easy and is a great deal! $1.99, mass retailers

Mirabella Colour Luxe Lip Gloss--Sneak peek time! These new shades in Sleek, Polish, and Glossed are soft and pretty. They give oil-rich intense hydration with a luminous shine.  Glossed (coral) is my fave and I like to use it and Polish on top of my fave lipsticks. They smell amazing and are so much prettier in person (which is why I don't like doing lip swatches). Coming in July $26 at professional salons and mirabellabeauty.com

SinfulColors Summer 2015--I had to end this with one of my fave drugstore polish brands! There are 29 hues that range from spicy reds, oranges, glitter as well as appliques. These are $1.99 and are found at drugstores.

Pictured: Otaku Anime, Maroon Fine (I'm wearing it in my video from last week), Pink Ansen, Fuji Fuji, Writing on the Wall (two coats and I made it extra pigmented on the bottom to show the intensity), Paste-erd (two coats with more intensity on the sides)

Which ones would you like to try?

Extra Elle:

• I had to get a new planner--I'm old school, so I write it all down, and would be lost without it. I got one from Target. As much as I love everyone's EC ones, they are just too cluttered for me. I know, so boring!
• I'm on Snapchat--see my day at work, my life, and a smidge of beauty. Search for Ellesees.
• Rebecca Minkoff + Karen Walker Sunglasses Giveaway
• Splash Into Summer Giveaway
• Happy birthday to my step-dad!

My Christmas List PLUS $200 Amazon GIVEAWAY

Hey you! How was your weekend? I finally got my house decorated for Christmas--I think I'm the last person. I also got my Christmas Wishlist together to share (please read through to get to the GIVEAWAY at the end):

1-Canon Rebel T5i--Or whatever the latest model is...I need it!
2--Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder Palette--Everytime I'm in Sephora, I visit this beauty and wish it was mine.
3--Blanket Scarf--I blame this on bloggers! I wanna be like the cool kids!
4--Viktor & Rolf Bon Bon--I was sent a sample when this was launched, but I want the whole thing! Cutest perfume bottle ever!
5--NARS Audacious Lipsticks--Another one of my pretties that I visit at Sephora. I'll take any and all colors.
6--Anthropologie Mug--If you watch my Chit Chat videos, you'll know my love for mugs.
7--Audible.com Yearly Membership--I have a commute to/from work, plus my family lives 5 hours away, so Audible.com is a necessity in my life. I want to hear Pretty Honest by Sali Hughes. Keep reading to learn more!

Twisted Together: Easy, 3 Minute, No Heat Hairstyle

I've got a really easy hairstyle today that you can do it 3 minutes. This is perfect for back to school or those days when you don't want to use heat on your hair.

Nail Mail! Plus $500 Giveaway

First off, thank you so much for your sweet emails and comments on this post from last night. I was so anxious about posting it, and had no idea there would be so many of you who feel the same way. Your encouraging words have been so helpful. Thank you.

It's no secret I love nail polish (did you see my post for PopSugar for my 4th of July nails?) but I have never purchased any indie polishes. Have you ever tried indie polishes before? There are so many indie polish makers out there--a quick search on Etsy can leave you searching for hours. I recently picked up a few and thought I'd share them with you. Enjoy.

First is the indie brand Candy Lacquer, and the first polish I got Barbie Girl, a pink and purple glitter polish with lots of fun girlie shapes:

Next up is Fairyland, a pastel holo glitter. I'm in love with it:

And finally Fun Dip, tiny neon glitters. So fun! My fave I think!

The next brand I tried was Polish Me Silly, and the first polish I ordered was Freckles, a cute neon glitter. And it glows under black light!

I also got Neon Lights, similar to the one above, but in a white base:

And finally the beautiful duochrome Waz Up Girl (another fave of mine):

All pics are from the sellers' sites and are not mine. 

Indie polishes are usually made in smaller quantities, 

so not all of the polishes shown may be available when you click the link.

Speaking of polish, have you ever tried making your own? I used to as a kid--my Grandmother had a locally-sold makeup line when I was little. And I would use her polishes to make my own colors. No surprise I turned out as a beauty blogger, eh? Anyway, I have a really old tutorial on here where I did just that with clear polish and shadow. But did you know there are more ways as well as techniques? I was sent a book a few months ago that has all of this and MORE:

Have you ever been inspired to wear a nail color that just didn't exist yet? Introducing Homemade Nail Polish, a new book packed with full-color photos and step-by-step instructions that will have you crafting an infinite number of gorgeous polishes for every occasion. With this guide, you’ll learn how to create an endless number of shades, one-of-a-kind nail art, and learn the pros' secrets for flawless polish application.

This was really fun to read and try out. Everything was easy to understand, too. If you (or someone you love) is crafty or loves polish you'll love this book! I highly recommend getting it! And now onto a HUGE giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Style Vita | Elle Sees | Life With Emily | Katie's Bliss | Side Smile Style

Pearls & Twirls | Living After Midnite | Sparkling Footsteps | Style Cusp | Let It Be Beautiful

Fashionably Lo | Living In Color Print | Allyson In Wonderland | Baby Shopaholic | What Dress Code

The Pumpkin Spot | Sunday Beach | Fashion Truffles | Charmingly Styled | The Fox & She

Belle De Couture | Hosting and Toasting | My Here And Now Life | Sequins & Things | Stushi Gal Style

PS: I have another post for you today. A personal one.

How To: Milkmaid Braid in 5 Easy Steps

Happy Friday! I can't believe the weekend is upon us. I'm looking forward to doing nothing, since this sinus infection has overtaken my life! But seriously, if you know me at all, you know I'm horrible at doing nothing. If I do venture out, I'll definitely be doing this Milkmaid braid--it's a classic style that's easy to do. I got it out of DIY Braids by Sasha Coefield.

Sidenote: This book was sent to me last year and unfortunately was part of the Hard Drive Crash of 2013. I'm still a little bitter about losing that info. Anyway, I was showing a friend a hairstyle out of the book, and asking her didn't she remember seeing it on the blog? She didn't because I never posted it. Oops. So without further ado, here's a Milkmaid Braid (via the book DIY Braids) in 5 easy steps.

               1--Section off the upper right quarter of your hair and secure it in a ponytail. My tip: If you have fine hair, try using some dry shampoo to give it texture.

2--Sweep the hair from the left side of your head over to the right and start braiding it upwards.
3--Braid until you reach the ends of your hair, then secure the braid with an elastic. Pin the braid to the top of your head. My tips: To get pins to stay, I spray them with a little dry shampoo and insert them bumpy-side down, and criss-cross (will make ya jump, jump) them.

4--Take the first section you secure earlier and remove the elastic or clip. Sweep it to the left side of your head and begin braiding upwards, following the same as steps 2 and 3.
5--Bobby pin the braid to the top of you head. Tuck under the ends of each braid so that they don't show.

My tips: This looks great on on fine, curly, or thick hair--I like it best on fine hair, as I always feel my braids look too thick! A fishtail version looks cute too. Sounds pretty easy, right? It came from the book DIY Braids. Here's some more info:. 

from a Triple Fishtail to a Tucked French to a Traditional Milkmaid, Sasha Coefield, creator of the popular beauty and fashion YouTube ChanneAskSash88, shares her braiding secrets in DIY Braids: From Crowns to Fishtails, Easy, Step-by-Step Hair Braiding Instructions.

Overall, I loved this book. I think it's awesome a vlogger has a book! DIY Braids features over 30 braid styles, for all skill levels (easy, intermediate, hard). While the Milkmaid Braid came in at 5 steps, most of them are around 9, but they are very detailed, making the tutorials easy to follow. 

There is also great, simple, clean photography--just the hair and the style in progress. There are also styles featuring a model with curly hair. If you've ever wondered how to do a certain braid, this book has it.

 It also covers the basics, like the 3-strand braid and other techniques.

While many of the styles are cute and casual, there are some that are perfect for day, night, work, formal events or weddings. This would make a great gift for teens, those who want to learn the basic braids and beyond, no-heat hairstyles, and for those looking to mix up their hairstyles. This book would come in handy especially in the summer! I even learned a couple of new styles! I highly recommend this book and suggest checking it out.