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Winged liner is one of the trickiest makeup techniques that people struggle with. Totally understandable! I've found over the years that there are SO many ways to do it and so many "techniques" that can actually make it more difficult than it has to be. I've found that a lot of people get caught up with having to make this perfect wing in one fluid motion. Yeah, that can be tricky.
If you've been here a while, it's no secret that I'm a fan of liquid liner and a winged look. I've tried SO many different liners and techniques and currently, this one is a winner. Sure, I'm used to "winging" liner and can do it pretty quickly with good results, but this technique is just pretty foolproof.
Not to mention, it's super long-wearing and makes your liner look SUPER dark. It's a winner in my book.

So check out my video below with a ton of tips and a tutorial for this look and simple technique. I hope it's helpful for you!



Here are the products I used for this look...



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 **COME MEET-UP WITH ME AT IMATS LA!! I'll be at the Sigma Beauty booth from 10:30am-12:30 pm on January 18th (Saturday's show). Be sure to stop by and say hi! I'd love to meet you!!

Well, I guess we survived the 2014 "Polar Vortex" around here. I still laugh a little inside every time I hear it called that considering we got ZERO snow that actually accumulated, but we had TONS of ice and frigid temperatures. It stayed in the low single digits for a few days... So 30's and 40's now (which we normally consider freezing cold in Georgia), now feels like a heat wave.

But seriously, I hope you all made it through ok. I realize that while tons of our neighbors and friends suffered busted pipes and property damage, I'm thankful that we made it out ok. All the stories of property damage, living with no heat and water, and all the other horrible things extreme and sudden cold weather can cause is always terrible to hear about.

But on a lighter note, I decided to do a look with a "Warm & Cozy" theme to help a little with these winter blues. So I filmed a more informal "get ready with me" type of tutorial and also shared my more realistic and cozy, winter-appropriate outfit that is still fun and fashionable.
I hope you all love it!!








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**COME MEET-UP WITH ME AT IMATS LA!! I'll be at the Sigma Beauty booth from 10:30am-12:30 pm on January 18th (Saturday's show). Be sure to stop by and say hi! I'd love to meet you!!

So I decided to do a type of video I've never done before... What's in My Current Makeup Rotation. Similar to a "What's in My Makeup Bag" video.  I tend to go in phases where makeup is concerned. I usually go a month or two sticking with a few different products from each category that I'll choose from. For example, a few go-to foundations, a few eye shadow palettes that I'm using the most, all the way to lip colors and mascaras.  Every single category where makeup is concerned.
I decided to share because lately, I've been keeping this little group of go-to's in a makeup bag that I can take back and forth to my vanity table in my closet (where I film), to our bathroom where I also like to do my makeup day-to-day. Our bathroom has sort of a built-in vanity area with great lighting, as well as a ton of natural light.
So here she is... A full list of my current products in my rotation! I'll share my most-used specific makeup brushes soon as well!






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Hello and Happy Saturday to you all! I hope you guys are having a wonderful weekend so far! Today I'm sharing with you all my long-awaited COMPLETE skincare routine!

...well, "long-awaited" by me, at least.  I've been putting this off for what feels like forever. Skincare is a tricky business.  I really wanted to wait until I had the "perfect" routine all hammered out. Well, I started to notice that while I was changing things around and using different products at different times, I realized, "ok, this is your routine."  So I'm sharing all of my (many) skincare favorites with you all that I reach for often. Things that are my "best of the best".  Just all around good stuff.



Be sure to check out the video for all of my tips and explanations as to how and when I use all of this stuff. Basically, don't let the long list fool you. My routine is actually not that complicated. I just use what my skin needs, when it needs it. But these are my "go-to" products I choose from...






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Can you all believe another year is upon us?? 2013 has been such a blur! ...a wonderful blur! :)

So as always, I'm replacing my monthly favorites for December with a more comprehensive favorites video for the ENTIRE year.  I can't believe how many awesome new things we discovered this year together in this little beauty world of ours.

Check them all out in my new video below! Hope you all love it!




I mentioned this in the video as well, but in case you don't make it all the way until the end (totally understandable... it's a loooong one!), I wanted to again say thank you to you all for hanging out here with me another year! I appreciate all of your support and I SO value all of our conversations, interactions, and all the kind words over this past year. I always say this, but YouTube, this blog, twitter, Instagram, etc, are all such fun and happy places. Nowhere else could you find literally thousands of people coming together to support one another, build each other up, and offer so much kindness. You all make this such a wonderful place! I cannot tell you how thankful and happy I am that I am able to do this and share my life with you all!
Love you guys!


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So keeping with my new little tradition I started last year, I wanted to share with you all what I got for Christmas! You all loved that video so much that I decided to do it again this year... with a little twist.

First of all, we had a wonderful Christmas this year with lots of time spent with family and friends. It's so much fun being able to give gifts and give back this time of the year.  It's also such a great feeling to receive special gifts from loved ones, which is why it's so fun for me to share it with you all.

Now as I explain in the video, I'm pretty much the worst at making Christmas lists and asking for things I want. So that usually means I receive a lot of gift cards, which I love. Mainly because being able to go shopping with the gift cards and cash I've gotten is really fun.  I can have some fun shopping and pick out exactly what I want. Well this year, I decided to include what I purchased in this video as well. So I'm sharing my actual gifts as well as what I purchased after. Sort of like a little Christmas haul.
I got some amazing shoes I had been looking at and wanting for what feels like forever. I'm so happy with them! I also picked up some fun beauty stuff from Sephora.
Check it all out in the video below!!



Here are some of the goodies from the video below! I also included several options of some things that were no longer available for you guys...

Oh and be sure to check out my recent post all about our Christmas Eve dinner this year! I shared some of my favorite recipes as well as some tips for getting a big dinner all set-up. You can check that post out here.



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O.M.G, you guys... Christmas is in 2 DAYS!! I can't even believe it! So before the holiday celebration gets officially underway around here, I wanted to share with you all one of my "go-to" party makeup looks, perfect for New Year's Eve! This would also be gorgeous for a Christmas Eve dinner celebration, or just any party in general, really. It's one of my favorite looks, and best of all, is super simple!

I also put together sort of an effortless and fun party look that works especially well in our neck of the woods, where it can get pretty cold on New Year's Eve.
Not that wearing a slinky little dress that covers a quarter of my body can't be fun, but seriously, I like to dress season-appropriate for where I live. I've always been like that.  So definitely don't feel like you have to go the typical sequined mini or tiny dress route for New Year's if it's freezing out.
You can definitely dress party-appropriate, fashionable, and be season-appropriate.
There's so many awesome options!

So check out my full video at the bottom of the post for a step-by-step tutorial on the makeup look as well as more info on the outfit. Hope you all love it!

But first, here's all the details...





This outfit reflects my personal style perfectly... I'd like to say my style is effortless (not like I tried too hard or too trendy), classic, and with a bit of an edge.
Most of the elements are simple and chic (fitted blazer, silk top, leather tassel clutch), with one pretty trendy element.... the slouchy, tapered pant.  Oh, and a few edgy elements: the necklace, and spikes on the back of otherwise classic pointed-toe shoes.

So let's talk about these pants...

I'm a little obsessed with them. They're slouchy, tapered, and in a gorgeous crepe-y fabric that looks and feels really nice.
I also have them in black. They seriously go with whatever you put with them. They're just so easy.  The nicer fabric gives them much more versatility than a typical cotton knit style.


The bright fabric (these are in the shade "carnelian") provides a little pop for the outfit. That's a big tip of mine where New Year's Eve is concerned. Don't get lost in a sea of black clothing. Black is such a popular pick for New Year's. Stand out with a pop of unexpected color. Whether it's with fun shoes, a bag, or in my case, fun pants.