Fireworks

Hey friends! How was your 4th of July? Hope that your heart is full from spending time with those you love, cool treats, and bright lights (fireworks, hello!). A group of sweet gals are meeting at my house each Tuesday evening to do a summer study called "No Other Gods" by Kelly Minteer. Let me tell you, it is a good study!!! She has a book and a workbook, we are studying the latter. At the end of each week she provides a yummy recipe and a playlist. It's such a good time to take a break out of your week and refocus. Focus on what the Lord is saying, and listen to what He is teaching others. So, if you are looking for a sweet (and booty kicking) little study, I encourage you to turn the fan on hi, open a box of popsicles and invite you friends over for a great time with the Lord.

Oh, and as for the fashion? How about buying something for a dear friend that you enjoy. Or give one of your pieces away. Does the same person always compliment you on the same earings? Make her day. It feels good to get rid of things. Be a firework in someone else's day :)

Easy Breezy

One of the things I love most about the summer, is getting away with doing your hair however. It's basically hot and sticky all summer long, and your hair seems to be on summer vacation too. Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray is a perfect product for indecisive hair. All you do is spray this on wet hair. Let it dry naturally or diffuse with a blow dryer. After that, just keep your hands out of your hair and let it do what it wants to. This product works great on all lengths and textures of hair too. Embrace this chill summer style!



Spotlight: Read Matthew 6:34, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." As a women, I find myself worrying about all kinds of crazy things I have no control over. That's one reason I think it's nice to give my summer style a break. There are plenty of other things that deserve more of our attention besides our hair. So, I encourage you to take it easy. Don't sweat the small stuff, and enjoy the sweet things of our days.

The Son not the Sun

Having been a professional makeup artist more than a decade, I have heard the question hundreds of times: "What is your best makeup tip?' In thirteen years my #1tip has never changed! Ladies hear it is...ready? Wear your sunscreen!!!! Yep that's it. I can see the drop in your face already and hear the sigh of disappointment. I know you were hoping that I would open up my treasure chest of secrets all to help transform your look. Oh sweet girlfriends, what you don't know is that I have!!!

Wearing sunscreen on a daily basis not only prevents premature aging, but it also protects and prevents your chances of developing skin cancer. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, more than 1 million new cases of skin cancer develop every year. If that is not enough to convince you, then perhaps its time I told you that there is no magic anti aging miracle cream, no lotion potion, and no miracle drug that can correct aging skin. The number one cause of premature aging is sun exposure, so it only makes since that the number one preventative is sunscreen. Here is just some FYI for you to tuck in your back pocket when it comes to sunscreen.

1.) Look for sunscreens that block both UVA and UVB rays. To make this simple for you, think of UVA as the Aging rays, and UVB as the Burning rays.

2.) Don't be fooled by sunscreens that say SPF of 75 or 100. Nothing can block 100% of the sun's rays. UVB protection does not actually increase proportionately with a designated SPF number. For example, an SPF of 30 screens 97% t of UVB rays, whereas an SPF of 15 screens 93 % of UVB rays, and an SPF of 2 screens 50% of UVB rays. However, inadequate application of sunscreen may result in a lower SPF than the product contains, which leads to my third point.

3.) Most people only apply 25-50% of the recommended amount of sunscreen. One application is approximately 1 ounce, or enough to fill a shot glass. Make sure to cover all exposed areas thoroughly including the ears and hands. Just a little secret ladies: your face may look young, but your hands will give your real age, and I look every time. Protect them!

4.) Keep in mind there is no safe way to tan. The sun's rays do the most damage between 10AM-4PM. If your shadow is shorter than you seek shade when possible. There are plenty of way to look bronze beautiful in a safe way. I will cover that on my next post. For now I want you to focus on protecting your beautiful skin.

It is never too late to start protecting your skin.Where do you begin? I'm so glad you asked! My sunscreens of choice are:
Celazone available at http://www.amazon.com/ which is amazing for all skin types, including acne prone skin. Celazome has very few ingredients and is non irritating. It truly lasts all day. I have been a user of this product for three years.

I'm am loving the new Tropical Vanilla SPF 32 Sun Cream by Eminence http://www.eminenceorganics.com/. It has been clinically tested to increase moisture levels in the skin by 250% after one week of use. This one is a newby for me, but most definitely a keeper. I can't get enough of this product. My skin doesn't feel sucked dry after sun exposure. It is available in a face and body formula. I haven't been daring enough to try it for face yet as I'm so prone to breakout.

Are you super sunscreen sensitive?? No problem!!! Try the SPF travel powder by http://www.eminenceorganics.com/, or http://www.chantecaille.com/. Both come in a translucent color, and contain at least an SPF of 30. Keep in mind that mineral powder SPF's don't always protect as well as creams and lotions so limit your sun exposure.

Are you in need of cheap sunscreen that still protects well? My pick is good ole WaterBabies by Coppertone. The thick rich formula covers and protects the most sensitive and fairest of skin (me :)), not to mention it has the best smell. It always reminds me of summer. They also have a chubby stick I recommend for face and lips. The best thing about these two products is that they are available at just about any drugstore or supermarket on the planet.

Spotlight:

I have a question? What has burned you? I don't just mean physically, I mean what has burned you emotionally, mentally, spiritually? The husband or boyfriend that promised forever? The coworker, the parent, the child, the friend, the shopping, the martini, the magazines, the career? ...and the list goes on.

Next question, When that person or thing burned you, what position on your priority list could I find it? Was it above or below Jesus? Ouch and mega OUCH!!!
I have to tell you, as much as I don't want to, often times the people or things that burn us so bad cause such a burn because they moved up a position on the priority list. Perhaps they took number one. Check out this verse:

"Those that cling to worthless idols, forfeit the grace that could be theirs." Jonah 2:8

I'm in no way saying that the people, or things in our lives are worthless, but I am saying I don't want us placing them as an idol above Jesus. I ask you, sunburn and all, to take what has burned you to the throne of the Son that saves. Grab your grace back and let him heal you. Sit with Jesus and reprioritize your list, making sure He is number one, and ummmmm it might be a good idea for sunscreen to be number two!!

Ice, Ice, Baby!

In lieu of the pending snow, I thought it would be fun to show you an icy trend for the upcoming season. These obviously are faux, from Forever 21. As with most the trends we show you, this can add oomph to a dressy or casual fit.

Spotlight: Job 38: 29 says, "From whose womb comes the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens?" The first thing I noticed from this verse, is that the frost is from the heavens. When I see dew or frost in the morning, my first thought isn't always that it's from God. The more time you spend with God in prayer, and in the Word, the more natural these thoughts become- that when you see something beautiful such as frost, you automatically think it's from God! Spend time with God this week, and see what beauties he opens your eyes to!

Scent of a Woman

Miss Marisa is one of my besties! She is always there for me and is an instant pick me up to my day and special occasions. One of my dearest friends even asked if she could wear her on her wedding day! This is what Lucky Scent has to say about the fragrance, "Everyone knows someone like Miss Marisa. Pretty without working at it, smart without being a show-off. In high school, she was the girl who could hang with anybody - geeks, jocks or the popular crowd. Beloved by all and totally cool. A unique and dazzlingly fresh fragrance with dancing notes of cassis and cool mint. Brilliant. We can’t get enough of this!"

I contacted Lucky Scent to give us tips on how to pick a fragrance out for yourself. This is what Franco has to say, "truly the best way to choose a fragrance is sampling. If you know you like floral, or vanillas, its easy to find such perfumes on our site and order samples-- we recommend only trying 2 at a time (one on each arm), per day, so your nose doesn't get too overwhelmed-- and also gives you adequate time to smell the opening and drydown of a scent. If you are not sure what types of fragrance, we also have categories on our site (left hand navigation), such as 'fresh' or 'unique/exotic'.. which are identifiers that we hope help guide along. And finally, don't be afraid to try new perfumes! Just because it lists musk or patchouli, don't let that deter you if you have pre-conceived ideas about musk or patchouli... you never know!"

This is great advice! I love how you can orders samples from their site. They make great gifts too!

Spotlight: Ephesians 5:1-3 says, " 1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people."

Sisters, live a life of love! This is pleasing to the Lord, we are only strangers passing by but we are here to love all who enter into our lives. Leave a fragrant aroma to those around you!

Embellish Yourself

An embellished tee is a not so versatile piece but if your brain doesn't seem to be working when you are getting dressed this is an easy fix. You can wear this casual with jeans, or dress it up with a pencil skirt. You could also put it over a button up and make it super preppy. No matter which way you choose to wear it, you will always feel glamorous!

If you are willing to purchase this beauty (I'm pretty sure this will be out of season soon), you can make one yourself, take a chunky necklace and sew it onto a simple Hane's tee. It will take some playing around with, but I think it will work if you don't have it

in your budget to buy this JCrew version.

Spotlight: 4 One thing I ask of the LORD,

this is what I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the LORD

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD

and to seek him in his temple.

When you are getting ready in the morning, or whatever time of day remember to praise our God. After all, you are getting ready in His house, and His closet. Everything on this earth that belongs to you is essentially on loan from Him.

Leave These at Home!

This is a perfect example of deciding for yourself which trends to follow. This would be a great example of a NO! As a woman, we feel it is right to embrace our femininity, however if it is a trend that causes chaos, or unnecessary attention- leave them in your lingere drawer.

Spotlight:

1John 2:10 says, "10Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him[a] to make him stumble."

If you are living in the light and have a relationship with God, then you know your value is not in your appearance or attention given to you by others. It is by grace that you have been saved, and you walk knowing that God loves you and created you and He thinks you are beautiful!

Quench That Thirsty Skin

As the seasons change, our skin feels the effect the same way we do. You may be noticing your skin being a bit dryer and feeling, somewhat, tight. We hear all the time the great benefits of water and how we need to drink more of it. Drinking more water is just as beneficial for the functioning of the skin as it is for the body. You won't see me without my SmartWater bottle.
I am a big believer that you must hydrate from the inside out as well as the outside in. When our skin is dry or dehydrated is shows in every crease, crevice, and, pore. Not to mention our makeup does not go on smooth or look even. In my book, this is definately a huge fashion faux pas because our face makes one of the biggest first impressions. To take your face from drab to fab in a instant, I suggest Youngblood Minerals in the Mist to quench that thirsty skin. You can carry it with you anywhere and use it as often as you want throughout the day. It not only will give the skin a "water break" everytime you use it, but it is jam packed with moisture binding vitamins and minerals. After cleansing your skin, apply your favorite moisturizer (my pick of choice:Pumpkin Cream Essence by Rhonda Allison)and SPF (my pick of choice: Obagi SPF30)then spritz on Youngblood Mineral Mist to lock in moisture, then again after apply your makeup to set the foundation. This mineral mist is one big "pick me up" and is a great way to jumpstart the skin as well as your senses. I like to think of it as a "breath of fresh air" for the skin. Youngbloods Mineral Mist comes in three tantalizing teasing blends-Refresh(Tangerine and Grapefruit), Restore(Grapefruit, Lime, and Rosemary), and Recharge(Mint and Ginger). You will never achieve that sought after healthy glow without hydration. So next time your skin is looking a bit dull grab, spritz, and go.. and your on to a healthy and hydrated look.

Spotlight:

Jesus reminds us in John7:37-38 that "If anyone is thirsty let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him".

Spiritually parched? We encourage you to go to Jesus. Talk to him about what is sucking you dry. You will find yourself getting to a place of overflow...

Refresh, Restore, and Recharge in a mistful sort of way.

Cover Girl

It has been a long time since the cover of a magazine has taken my breath away, but this one did the job. Gwen Stefani looks amazing!!! Her look is breathtakingly (is this even a word? :0) gorgeous! She looks so soft and approachable...a look that never goes out of style. Want to re-create the look??? I mean who wouldn't want a look this good?! Here are the product must-haves:
Pixi Flawless Beauty Primer No.1 EvenSkin
JK Jemma Kidd Pro Finish Moisture Tint Collection
JK Jemma Kidd Stain/Flush/Blush Makeup Concentrate - Masquerade
Ardell Fashion Lashes Strip - Black (105)
Boots No7 Extreme Length Mascara - Black
Boots No7 Stay Perfect Eye Color Cream - Fudge
Boots No7 Moisture Drench Lipstick - Chic
There you have it girls. A face of gorgeous glam certain to have others screaming...Cover Girl!!!
And ummmmm, one more small thing...this look is yours for just under $100! This is a time you have full permission to go gossip to all. Your wallet will thank you!

Spotlight:
How often do we pick up a magazine, look at the cover model, flip through, look at the pictures, and put it back? I'm not at all suggesting that we fill our minds with tabloid garbage, but it do think it is interesting that we will stare all day at a face, and never find out more about the face we are so drawn to. Part of being a cover girl for a magazine is the interview that goes along with the photoshoot. She has a story to tell!!!
While reading about Gwen, I learned that she took breaks between shoots to nurse her little one, something I would have never known about her had I chosen not to look inside.
This forced me to ask myself two question that I now present to you:

1.) Are you creating and making up an attractive person that people are drawn to?
2.) If so, what is the storey on the inside (who am I reflecting, what am I promoting)?

2 Corinthians 5: 16-20 (The Message)
16-20Because of this decision we don't evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don't look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We're Christ's representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God's work of making things right between them. We're speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he's already a friend with you.

The truth is we are cover girls for something. Wear your external beauty in such a way that women not only flip through the pages, but look inside. Create the opportunity to tell someone else about Jesus, and be a...(Sing it with me)...Biblically Beautiful...Cover Girl!!!!!!

A Little Lip Service

Just because dim matte lip looks are very much in this season, doesn't mean you should leave your pucker in the dark. Wearing lipstick (especially matte) on top of unattended lips is as much an eye-sore as wearing circles and stripes!

Drench the dry and cracky with a little bit of lip service.

.

1.) Begin by mixing a a little sugar with a 1/2 tsp of olive oil.

2.) Place the mixture on the corner of a moist wash cloth and rub the lips in a circular motion to remove dry, dead skin cells. (please spare me the devistation of picturing you scrub your lips to death with a dry toothbrush. You will only add to the problem).

3.) Wipe the lips clean with the moist wash cloth.

NOW the lips are ready for moisture!

My recommendation is Luxe Moisture Balm and Flawless Lip by Trish McEvoy. This mega moisture duo will most certainly rain on the dryness parade, leaving your lips to show & tell "matte" in style.

To accomplish velvety matte lips follow steps 1-3. Pat dry with a dry towel and apply Flawless Lip all over the lip area. Next apply a flat lip color to the lips such as Trish McEvoy Essential Pencil in Nude or Sweet Berry. Lastly and most certainly not least apply a dab of Luxe Balm to the pout and bow tie of the lip (and any time the lips feel parched).

Oooh la la! Lips at your Service.

Spotlight: Question? How many of you have been hurt by words?? (Oh wait!!! I can't take all the hands at once!) How many of you have said something you wish you could take back?? (Can I get a show of hands please! It really is ok, you're not the only one.) The truth is we have all been hurt by words. In as much we have hurt others with our own words.
Proverbs 12:18 tells us, "Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing."
The truth is, you may be wearing the latest shade of Chanel on your lips (glossmier and all), have reckless words coming out of your mouth and you will have an unattractive mouth. Simple as that. Girls, we are here to learn how to look our best! The above scripture tells us, clearly, we can heal with our words. Don't get caught with dry mouth! Hydrate your words, Luxe Balm and all, so next time you are tempted to get caught tongue-in-cheek what comes out is..."Lips at your service!!"

Nail It!!!

If you want to nail it this season, remember to go short in order to go deep. This season women who would never do away with the fake frenchies, go short, and all natural to wear navy, aubergine or slate gray on their nails. Black is also back! These dramatic colors are the finishing beauty touch this season that will make a huge fashion statement.

Not sure where to start? I suggest you make a quick trip to a nail salon for nail trimming, shaping, and polish. This is a service you can truly do on the cheap...running as low as $7-$10 at some salons. Have the nail tech cut the nail just longer than the quick, and square, or round them off, avoiding tapering. Next your ready for polish. My recommendation for easy transition into this trend is Lincoln Park At Dark by OPI. This color will create fashion savvy without causing anxiety.

Spotlight: As you nail it this season remember who did it first.
"Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements (sin) that was against us, He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." Colossians 2:14
Prayer: Jesus I thank you for taking my place on a cross, taking the nails, and suffering for me. I thank you because you paid the price for my sin I can expereince heaven. Thank you for being nailed for me! Amen!
Going deep into Jesus!

Fall-ing Away

Now that Fall is officially here feel free to fall back and play it cool with all the rich colors this season has to offer. If you have yet to get the guts to wear smouldering eyes or berry, rich lips, today is the day. This look by NARS Cosmetics got daring and played up both the eyes and lips. FYI this trend is hot this cooler season. If you prefer to play it safe smoke up those eyes or wine-up those lips.

Happy Fall!!

Spotlight: As you Fall away with all the rich trends this season, make sure your spiritual life doesn't do the same. Mark 4:17 tells us this,

"But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away."

I pray this Fall season as you watch the trees loose their leaves and appear dead, you will be reminded that they are rooted well. They are very much alive because their roots are strong. As you face times that make you feel lifeless be encouraged.

"Blessed is the man who does not fall away." Matthew 11:6

Be rooted well as you enjoy Fall-ing Away (smokey eyes and all!! :))