BeyondBlushing...

It’s that time of year where we get together with our family and friends and celebrate our family traditions. I absolutely love the fall and winter time. I love to embrace the Holidays—giving thanks for all that I hold dear, celebrating the birth of Jesus, and finally closing the year out with a big bang (usually my “big bang” is a good card game and a few drinks!) Although Christmas time has a very spiritual meaning behind it in our family—we still enjoy the regular traditions of Santa Claus, holiday parties, and gift giving. It’s so much fun—especially those white elephant parties! That's why I would like to take the next couple of weeks to post on some fabulous gift ideas. First on my list is fragrances! Who doesn’t enjoy a nice bottle of perfume? Also, It’s an item that people don’t always like to splurge on for themselves but can really appreciate it as a gift. I’d like to spotlight on: Badgley Mischka Fleurs de Nuit by Elizabeth Arden. This is my night time…going out…all glam...

I came home a couple of nights ago from doing a little Christmas shopping and to my surprise I had a birthday cake waiting to greet me with all the love a mom could ask for in the form of a baked with love birthday cake. Oh my heart just melted! It is so cute. The way Isabelle decorated the right side and Ethan's left side with the backwards 3 (didn't he notice that?!) I thought it was the most precious thing ever and it definitely is way better than the Sprinkles cupcakes that I got last year! Thanks Erica for doing this with the kids--I love it so much! What a thoughtful gesture! Today is my birthday and I am so excited. It's silly feeling all giddy like a kid--isn't it. But I can't help it--I get to be pampered by spending time with my friends and family and that's truly my favorite thing in life. You know relationships--they're the only thing eternal in our lives-- Good company and a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks and I am on cloud nine! Even though ...

The weather here in Southern California has been so crazy this year. Really extreme--it's hot; it's cold; it's windy; it's dry; is it about to rain? All these drastic changes in such a short amount of time is starting to cause havoc on my skin and hair! So I have had to kick up my consistency with my beauty regime. My biggest pet peeve is that I cannot stand having dry lips so I have practically lived with my MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner in my hand. I love the way it makes my lips feel so moisturized and soft and perfectly tinted. The conditioner is very emollient and the vanilla flavor and smell that it leaves is addicting. I need to have my lips in prime condition so that I can really jazz them up for this holiday season. You know...matte, dark, glossy, shiny, glittery...all the different choices for fun holiday lips! Also, on another note, I always prep my clients with a tinted lip conditioner and seriously-- everyone loves it! When it comes time to apply any formula ...

I love the fall and winter time! The mornings and nights are getting chilly here in Southern California and our sweaters are now coming out of hibernation and making their way towards the front of our drawers. I was watching my kids play outside a couple of evenings ago and I was just in awe at how beautiful their skin looked. My daughter who is pretty fair and my son who has more of an olive tone complexion get pretty tanned during the summer months. Well with their tans fading and their skin lightening to their beautiful shades I couldn’t help but notice how the cool air left the most pretty sheer pink tone to their cheeks. Of course I think my kids are absolutely stunning just like every mom out there feels about their children but It also reminded me of the blushes I have in my kit and all the different formulas and textures that blushes come in. So I've been inspired to share..... Of course my makeup case is full of every texture and formula of blush that MAC cosmetics has to...

My sister Michele and I are total BFF's! I adore her! Not only are we really great friends but I'm sure she had something to do with my obsession with cosmetics....maybe it was the makeup applications she would give me when I was nine years old to look like her (which was a very glam punk rock look)! And of course I was walking around like I was hot stuff since I knew I was looking like my big sister--right down to the monkey boots, fishnet tights, plaid skirt, and random punk rock top. Those days were so much fun. Anyways, where I am going with all this is I am always very excited and privileged when my sister can come and work with me on a job. There are times where the wedding party is just too big for little 'ole me to handle all by myself. So a couple of weeks ago I had a large wedding party and Michelle was up to the challenge of coming and helping me out with the girls. I was pleasantly surprised to see a few things that Michele had brought with her that I didn't...

So, what a crazy last couple weeks this has been. Many events have occurred that have left me in a serious tailspin. From being surrounded by fires, having my home become a safe haven for Grandma until she could go home, the kids out of school due to poor air quality….not to mention a Halloween party, carving pumpkins, Halloween makeup, Trick or Treating, the Harvest Festival, cheer-camp, two birthday dinners for some dear friends, some very special visitors and oh did I mention I also carry a full time job?! I’m exhausted all over again just writing down the list! So although the last couple of weeks have been trying I have also re-discovered a few beauty gems that I had not brought out for a while and I would love to share them with you! First, the week of the fires was horrible. It was hard to breathe without my chest aching and my hair, skin, and nails really did not respond well to the poor air quality. After my hands became so dry by the end of the week I broke out my Rosebud Sal...