'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS...

While other people have sugar plum fairies dancing around in their heads...these are the things I will be dreaming of..

1. Faux ballerina stockings from Chanel...oh how sweet!

2. Leather/sweater gloves ALSO from Chanel...such lovely simplicity.

I am not normally such a label whore but Karl is really doing it for me

right now...and well...alot of the time...a true genius that lives

off Diet Coke and pineapple!!  And anyways...this is my 

dream..I can fantasize about whatever I want...I shouldn't have

to explain myself!

3.  AND...Pizelles!!!!!  I am craving them!!! Anyone know

where I can get some serious homemade 

pizelles in Albuquerque??

HOLIDAY LIP

Just wanted to share with you two of my favorite lip colors right now!!...they are a bit holiday inspired but they can definitely be worn year round.  The first is a Sephora brand Lip Attitude-Star..this particular shade is Excited Pink...but there are a VARIETY of colors to choose from.  The other shade I recommend for a serious burst of color is Capricious Red...They have small bits of glitter (don't be afraid), they show up super shiny not gaudy!  These are for the girl that wants a pop of color but still wants that demure sheerness!The next has been one of my favorites for a little while now...Laura Mercier's Lip Stain in Scarlet. It is BOLD so it takes a bit of guts to pull off but it's nothing less than super, super sexy!  Think Mad Men!  Think Twin Peaks!  Mmmmm...some of my favorite looks!  The best thing about this is it's a stain...so staying power is unbeatable and even when it is wearing off a bit it stains your lips in a way that makes you look like you've been making out for an hour!

OLIVE YOU!

One of my all time favorite natural products is olive oil.  Especially right about now when the weather is so dry and your skin and hair are really feeling it!!...A facial cleanser that I discovered a few years ago and have been addicted to ever since is DHC's Cleansing Oil, which is made of olive oil and vitamin E...some people may feel weird putting oil on their skin but it is actually delicate enough for all skin types and really cleanses your skin like no other product I have ever tried.  DHC is a Japanese company...Japanese have a different view of skincare then Americans, they believe in softening the skin instead of scraping and exfoliating.  The Cleansing Oil does just that...it leaves your skin so soft and keeps your moisture levels balanced.  

I also like to use just plain olive oil in my hair...now this is not recommended for everyone, but those of you with thick course hair like mine know that it gets so dried out this time of year and looses its shine.  When I have time I will do a deep olive oil treatment where I apply it to my clean damp (not soaked) hair and wrap plastic wrap around to then leave it on for an hour or more.  You can also use the hair dryer (plenty away from your head!!) to heat up the oil under the wrap.  Remove wrap, rinse and style as usual.  I also like to use just a little!! little!! (a little goes a long way!!) bit on my hair as a spot shine product...don't use too much because it can get greasy but it is the perfect at-home solution for hair that is less than lack luster!!

UPDATE 12/22..I forgot to mention another thing I use olive oil for...my cuticles!  It is such a great oil to dab onto those dry torn up nails!  If anyone else has any uses of olive oil for beauty maintenance...let me know I would love to hear about them!

PLEATS FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

Recently I was digging through my wardrobe for some clothing revival and I was inspired by all the pleated skirts I own.  I love pleats...in all lengths...short, knee, tea!  PLEATS PLEATS!!!

WAKE UP 101

Most mornings I wake up with puffy, not so pretty eyes that look like I've been up for days. Even the nights I get enough sleep it happens, I am sure you all can relate.  Thankfully, there is a quick pick-me-up routine that I do that is really easy and really basic.  Its great for everyone and requires only a few tools!   All you need is a good concealer, a medium size eyeshadow brush, a metal spoon, your favorite mascara, sheer white or beige eyeshadow and an all over highlighter...                                      

                                                                             

                                                  

1.  My battered morning eye.

2.  I know it may seem hokey and old fashioned but I like to keep metal spoons in the freezer to use on my puffy eyes.  Just apply the rounded side of the spoon to your closed eye for a few minutes and the puffiness does truly go down.  They really are miracle workers! 

3.  After that, apply dots of concealer around the bottom ridge of you eye to prepare for blending.  My favorite concealer is Prescriptive's Camouflage.  I have found it has the best coverage.  No matter what you use make sure you choose a color that is one shade lighter than your skin tone...

4.  With your ring finger, gently blend the concealer into your skin...

5.  Also blend a little bit on top of the lid to act as a base that will keep your eye shadow in place...

6.  Lightly brush on a sheer white or beige eye shadow. My complexion is very fair so I like to use a white shadow.  Sephora makes an amazing line of affordable shadows.  I have two whites, one matte and one shimmer, depending on what kind of mood I'm in.  If your skin tone is more olive you can use a more beige gold shadow.  You can even opt for a color just keep it light so it doesn't darken your eye.  You want to apply the shadow on the entire lid very sheerly.  You don't want the color to be opaque or frosted! gasp! 

7.  Apply a generous, even coat of mascara to your top and bottom lashes.   My favorite is and always will be Maybelline Great Lash, but use what you love.  At this point you can apply any liner that you would normally apply but remember to keep it simple and fresh.  I usually like to just apply a couple of coats of mascara to frame my eye.

8.  To finish off, I like to apply a little bit of highlighter right under the brow bone for maximum eye opening results!  Pie!

                                                                       BEFORE.....

AFTER.....    

CRAFT PUNK FASHION SHOW

On November 13th I participated in my first fashion event since I have moved to Albuquerque, the Craft Punk Fashion Show at the Launchpad.  I did a collaboration with Lauran Shaner and Darcy Peterson under the name "Schema Collective".  Here are some pics from the show with a close up of the leather belts that were my main contribution to the collection!!  It was alot of hard work but the night was a huge success and the turn out was tremendous!                                  The lovely Roxy, Ashley and Zee                                                                 Ashley

                                                          Roxy being crazy!!...

                Hair and makeup done by Heart & Soul Salon..  Thanks to everyone who helped us pull our looks together!! xoxo

                                           

                                                              

Black Friday

I am not usually excited about Black Friday by any means, but since I have moved to Albuquerque there is a new store that I like to call "heaven".  Its The Leather Factory!  It is a leather superstore...ALL types of leather supplies, skins and scraps.  Just going there has been an inspiring experience for me.  This weekend, Fri 27 and Sat 28, they are having a huge 2 day super sale.  Everything is on sale WAY below normal price list!!  The location is at 2412 Candelaria opening at 7am.  If you are not in Albuquerque, you can still can still shop online, now I'm not sure if they are having a Black Friday sale online but regardless they always have an excellent selection of supplies and prices.  Just go to www.tandyleatherfactory.com and enjoy!  Ok now I need to get a little shut eye for my exciting excursion tomorrow, OH NO!!!, I mean later this morning!!!  Hope you all had a great holiday! 

S.O.S.

Save Our Skin!!  This is my favorite, FAVORITE winter skin moisturizer!  Now that the weather is getting cold and you skin is shriveling to a prune, feed it some moisture!  Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula has been a lifetime product for me!  It has a thick creamy texture that just soaks into your skin and the fragrance of cocoa is amazing!!  I use it just when I get out of the shower so my skin feels sooo silky smooth all day long!  I also use a concentrated formula that comes in a jar for my super dry elbows and chest.  It has also been well known as the BEST product for stretch marks!  Palmer's is a completely affordable product that you can pick up at ANY drug store.  And for those as you that don't like a thick lotion, there is also oils and gels.  Also if you are not feeling that cocoa smell (which I can't understand because I am crazy for it) there is also a Shea Butter Formula.  So smooth up my friends!

Oh Poor Girl!

So in no way will I ever be able to afford Proenza Schouler's new stilettos featured in the December issue of Vogue...but I can cut them out and paste them on my page and...DROOOOOLLL!!!  I love the sexy textures, snakeskin on bottom with croc texture on top!!  Oh and that little tie- up detail on the back heel... tres corset inspired.  These serpent sky high man killers make me feel like a purring kitten..