Liebster Blog Award!!

Hello dolls!!

I'm officially back! I took a short hiatus from blogging because I needed a break from the computer and some mommy and kiddo time! It's definitely a struggle finding time to be a mommy, work full time, record hair and makeup tutorials, edit the videos, do manis and pedis and still blog all about it!! Whew! I made myself tired just typing that! ;) Anyway, I'm back because I was nominated for the Liebster Award  by Amy at Amy's Annex!!! She is such a doll for nominating me and that gave me the motivation to start blogging again! So, thank you, Amy!!

Okay, so what is the Liebster Blog Award? Well, it's all about finding new blogs and meeting wonderful people who share the same interests as you! I've seen these all over the place and NEVER thought I would be chosen! I am super excited to do this and hope you all enjoy it!

Here are the rules:

1. You must link the blogger who nominated you

2. You must answer 10 questions given to you by your nominee

3. You must choose 10 bloggers (who all have less than 20 followers) to be nominated for the award

4. You must then come up with 10 questions you would like your nominees to answer.

5. Once you have done this, you must go to their blogs and let them know you have nominated them for this award.

Simple enough, right?? So here we go...

1. Who is your makeup inspiration?

I would have to say Jacalyn Hill...I found her on YouTube a while ago and fell in love with her (well not really, in love...but you know...adore her)! She is amazing and an inspiration to everyone out there! Plus she's absolutely GORG!! Can you say, girl crush??

2. What is the most expensive beauty product you own?

I try to limit myself to the cost of my favorite beauty products. I splurge on certain things like face products (foundation, eye shadow, lipstick/lip gloss, etc) but don't mind searching for a deal with the other stuff (blush, certain powders, etc). With that said, my most expensive beauty product I own is my foundation. I have always stuck with Makeup Forever HD foundation. I love the way my face feels and looks with that stuff. I believe it's $42 a bottle. So it's not TOO bad!

3. What is your favorite color nail polish for summer?

What a perfect question since I've been blogging a lot about nail polishes!! But for the summer I've been returning to OPI - You're Such a Budapest. You can read my blog review on that right here!!

4. Leggings or jeans?

Hmm...tough question! I would have to say jeans. There's something to be said for the perfect pair of jeans! One that makes you tush look just right!! :)

5. Red or Pink lipstick?

Another hmm question...I have been into the pink lipsticks a lot lately! They're so much fun and flirty!

6. What is your favourite holiday destination?

We don't travel much but when we do, we always choose San Diego! Love it there and it's perfect for the kids.

7. What made you start blogging?

This is a great question!! I guess I needed a hobby! No...I definitely needed a hobby! My husband is in love with golfing (really, in love with golfing! Lol!). I decided I love doing hair and makeup, to shop and computers (I know, nerdy!), and after seeing some other beauty blogs, I figured I could do one for fun! I love reading and posting blogs! There's something very therapeutic about sitting behind a computer and typing and reading!

8. What is your favourite post to a) read and b) publish?

I guess I love to read and publish anything beauty!!

9. Name your favourite thing about yourself.

I would have to say my favorite thing about myself would be my eyes! I have  green eyes and a "birthmark" in my left eye so it looks like a cat eye!! I would show you all up close but that would be just creepy!

10. What is your favourite piece of makeup/hair care/beauty product you own?

Wow...so much to choose from! I would have to say right now, being that it's summer, I'm loving my Makeup Forever Mat Velvet+ Foundation!! This stuff is perfect for hot summers because it keeps your face matte and your makeup does NOT sweat off! You don't become oily or shiny! You can build your shine with other products such as the Betty Loumanizer highlighting powder (which I LOVE!)!

Alrighty, I would like to nominate (in no particular order):

1. Jenny B at beauty R&R

2. Gabrielle at Gaborillaa
3. Allison at The Midlife Bride
4. Chelsea at Chelsea_bee Makeup Junkie
5. Katie at Live, Laugh & Love
6. Cassidy at Chronicles of a Stay at Home Mommy
7. Miriammm at The Bittersweet Diaries
8. Mylene at My Darling Pearl
9. Cate EC at The perks of being a hipster
10. Karina at Keeping up with Karina!

And my questions to you are:
1. What is your favorite thing about yourself? (I had to reuse this question because it's perfect and we always need to remind ourselves how beautiful we are...inside and out!)
2. Mani or Pedi?
3. What is your ultimate favorite nail polish brand? (i.e. OPI, Essie, etc.)
4. What is your favorite accessory piece right now?
5. Heels or Wedges?
6. Lipstick or Lipgloss?
7. What made you decide to start blogging?
8. What is your favorite shampoo/conditioner?
9. Chocolate or Vanilla or Strawberry?
10. What is your favorite lip conditioner or lip balm to use?

Well, that's it...I hope you all enjoyed reading this! I know I nominated 1 or 2 who had over 20 followers, but I couldn't find that many with 20 or less. Anyway, I had fun answering the questions and I look forward to reading your answers!

Huge hugs,
Jen

Love for Polish 5

Hello my beauties!!

So it's been a few weeks since my last blog. I figured I'd start back in with a polish update! This time, I chose a color that is bright and cheery! I needed something fun to liven my mood! I chose China Glaze - Flip Flop Fantasy!! Here I go again with the China Glaze! Like I said here in my first China Glaze review, this brand is NOT a favorite. Although their shades of colors are a FAV!! So, it's a catch 22 with China Glaze, but somehow I always seem to go back! ;)

So back to Flip Flop Fantasy...this is the perfect summer color!! It has the prettiest neon coral shade that we're all looking for! I think it's absolutely stunning!!

What do you think? Do you love the bright neon coral colors?! Which ones are your favorites? Let me know...I love to try new polish!

Hugs always,
JEN

Love for Polish 4

Hello darlings!

As you know, each week I try to do one Love for Polish post...because that's as frequent as I change my nail color (every week). I don't get acrylics because I don't like that they ruin your nail beds and it's an extra expense that I'd rather not have. Eventually I will want them again, but for now I'm loving all the fun nail polish colors and short square nails! Generally, I love darker shades as it fits my skin tone...but lately, I adore all the summer shades out there right now! Since I've been wearing a lot of bright colors and pastels, I opted for a darker shade. I chose Essie's "Bahama Mama". This is a rich and creamy plum color. It's perfect year-round, which is what I like. It's the right amount of purple and right amound of red to use in the summer or fall!

What colors are you wearing this summer? Is this a color you would wear year round? Let me know!

"Elegance is when the inside is as beautiful as the outside." - Chanel

Have an ELEGANT day!! - Jen

Everyone Has a Story...Here's Mine!

Hello all!! I normally wouldn't post this kind of stuff on my beauty blog, but I felt that I needed to share with you all a little piece of me. Everyone has a story...here's the beginning to mine! Enjoy!

Well...it all started on November 25, 1982 (on Thanksgiving Day), when I entered this world! I was born in Phoenix, Arizona and have lived here all my life. I have an older brother, Jeff. Growing up, we had a typical love/hate relationship. My parents divorced when I was about a year or 2 old. Both of my parents remarried. My mom married Scott who had a daughter, my step-sister (Heather), from a previous marriage. My mom and Scott had a son, my half brother (Matthew), who has Downs Syndrome. He is my favorite person in the whole wide world! He's opened my eyes and given me the utmost respect to anyone with a disability! My dad remarried and had a daughter, my half-sister (Amanda). My dad remarried again, to Suzanne who had 2 sons (Jeremy and Justin) and 1 daughter (Michaile). Whew! Those are all my siblings; half, step, blood...it doesn't matter; we're all family!

I had a great childhood...I had the bestest of friends! One in particular I'm still just as close with as we were back then. Nicole and I met in the 2nd grade on the playground. And if I remember correctly it was on the uneven bars! Haha! From then on, we've been inseparable! All through grade school, jr. high and high school! There were even rumors that we were gay! Funny! But that just shows you how close we were! (And still are)! I'm very lucky to have someone like her in my life! Our kids can grow up together and our families can share all the life experiences together! Love that girl!!

During high school I did have a high school sweetheart. He and I dated for about 6 years!! We became best friends! His family became my family and it made sense at the time to get engaged. We were just 23 years old and not enough life experiences to make a life long commitment. More on his end then on mine...nonetheless, we went our separate ways. Sad, yes...but it was for the better for both of us.  

This is when I met my husband (Patrick)! I'll never forget the night I met him...at a bar (yes, at a bar) through a "mutual" friend. We hit it off and started talking. Things went fast and only after 2-3 weeks of knowing each other, he invited me to go to Bike Week in Laughlin. Bike Week?! He rides a motorcycle?! THAT'S HOT!! Of course, I'll go!! That was when we made our relationship "MySpace Official"...back in the day when MySpace was cool! Haha! After a year and a half of dating we started talking "baby". No, we weren't married yet, but who cares...there's no right or wrong way to have a relationship. On my golden birthday, turning 25 on November 25th, I found out I was pregnant! I was ecstatic, happy, scared, nervous, but most of all, happy! Pat and I ended up getting married a week before the baby was born! Parker Anthony was born on July 12, 2008! He is such a joy to my life! Still is! I got baby fever again after Parker's 1st birthday but my dad was planning a cruise for Patrick and I for a wedding gift/ceremony, since we skipped the ceremony due to my enlarged belly. Pat and I decided to wait to try for another baby until we were on the cruise...BUUUT...we got a surprise on Halloween of 2009 that I was pregnant! Oops! McKynlie Elizabeth was born on June 21, 2010! She is such a daddy's girl and my little cuddle bug! Her birthday is this Friday and she will be 3! I can't believe it's been 3 years already! No more babies for us at this time! Pat and I have come a LONG way in our marriage. Yes, things have been incredibly hard at times, but we seem to work through them. My kids are my life and want them to have the best life...better than mine ever was or will be! They deserve the best and I'll make sure of that!

So, this was just a blurb of my life story...it's been one hell of a ride and I'm excited to see what's in store for the future! I love my family and friends...wouldn't be who I am without them! HUGS, JEN

Jeff (right), Me (left) 

 Me and Jeff...now! Love him!

 Matt and Me

My best friend, Nicole and me 

 Patrick and Me

 Parker born (July 12, 2008)

 McKynlie born (June 21, 2010)

Parker and McKynlie now

Love for Polish 3

Hello again my sweet peas!!

Today, I wanted to share my manicure that I did last night! Because I'm obsessed with this collection that I just bought! I bought a 3-pack of nail polish from China Glaze from their Sunsational Collection. These colors are FABULOUS!!! All the colors are perfect for that tanned, sun-kissed skin!! Again, I've done a review on a China Glaze nail polish before HERE so I won't review the actual polish because they're all pretty much the same...they aren't that great because of the nail brushes (bristles) being too thin! Otherwise, I love their colors!! They're all so fun and I'd wear almost all the China Glaze colors!

The color I chose for my manicure this time was the Sun of a Peach! It's the perfect subtle peachy, orange color! I can't wait to try the other colors in this collection!

The Mini Sunsation Collection: Neon & On & On, Highlight of My Summer, and Sun of A Peach

And here is what the colors look like on my nails...as you can tell in the bottom picture you can slightly see the paint strokes on a couple of my nails...like I said in my review before that you would probably have to apply 2-3 coats to cover and hide those paint strokes. (I only did 2 applications)

Anyway, I hope you guys love this color as much as I do!! What colors are you loving right now?

HUGS,

Jen

Let's Makeup: Neutral Eye and Red Lip Makeup Tutorial

So sorry it's taken me a little while to get this makeup tutorial up! But it's finally here and I'm really excited to get back into sharing my tips and opinions!

For this look, I went with a neutral eye (with a subtle winged liner) and a pop of red lips! You could really use any color lip you want, but I feel this is a more elegant and classy look! So depending on what look you're wanting to achieve, that will determine the color you choose!

I hope you all enjoy my tutorial and don't forget to visit my YouTube channel and subscribe to see all my hair and makeup tutorials!!





Enjoy and have a beautiful day!!

Hugs,
Jen

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