New Things for Me!

I have some exciting news! I have become a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant! Yep, that's a mouthful.  I'm so excited to get this started! Lately, I've wanted to do something that would earn me some extra cash.  What would be better than that and you get to play with makeup?!

My cousin, Julia is a consultant too.  She invited me to a lashes and lips class on Sunday afternoon.  I knew that would be a fun party.  Like I said, I love makeup and why just buy it when you could share with other girls and women how to use it and be beautiful?

If you're interested, shop online 24 hours a day with me, your Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant at http://www.marykay.com/christinelbrown.

P.S. If you're interested in a free makeover, please leave a comment!

The Skimm - Your News in the Morning

All of my life, I've loved the news.  Maybe it was because we only had two television stations and a evening news paper that came daily.  I'm probably weird, but I have to watch the world news because it relaxes me.  I guess it's because I get current events and information that you can't really get anywhere else.

Jessi and I watching the Today Show and reading theSkimm

Some how, some way, I signed up for theSkimm, daily email newsletters.  They start off with a quote of the day by someone who is very important in the news of the previous day/night.  They give you the news in brief paragraphs and get to the point.  This is great because I'll hear snippets of news while I'm getting ready for work and then I can open my email and read what I need to know about U.S. and world events.

Finally, theSkimm was started by two 20-somethings.  Yes, really.  I still consider myself a 20-something.  You're only as young as you feel, right?  I think this shows, that you can do anything with enough ambition and drive.  Yes, I need to tell myself that on cold and gloomy Oklahoma days.  Also, they celebrate other Skimmer's birthdays.  It's fun to see people you know on the list and tweet them happy birthday! Mine was on their day off. :(

If you would like to receive, theSkimm, just click on any of the links above or here, http://www.theskimm.com/?r=2XFDK, easy as that!

Favorites - Antique Finds

These are my Saturday antique finds.

I went to breakfast with my cousin and since she was by herself, we did a little bit of browsing.  The block of Main Street that we were on, has 3 antique stores.  I didn't make it to the 3rd store, but it was fun looking in the 2 stores.

After looking and buying, I want to decorate my house like my great grandma Hemo's house.  I guess it's a comfort thing.  All happy things happened there.  I'd stay there if I was sick and we would have get togethers there every weekend it seemed.

I love the platter with the spider mums. The blue and pink make it look so modern, but it was made in 1956.  I loved the vase and it was actually on sale.  I haven't picked out any flowers, but I may put some bright red poppies in it.  I'm on the search to find vintage Dick and Jane readers, this one is Alice and Jerry.  If you find a Dick and Jane book, or even their doggy Spot reader, grab it for me!  My aunt got me a new book of Dick and Jane, but I'm looking for the vintage readers.  The yellow ashtray is Frankoma.  Ashtrays are hard to come by.  I'll probably just use it as a catchall.  The metal measuring cup is like the ones that used to come in the flour sacks.  I used to have one but it got legs.

The Honest Truth - Hair

Here goes, my hair is graying.  If you look really close to this photo, you can see strands of silver in my bangs.  I know there are longer strands in the back.  My mom is in denial of the whole thing.  I told her that one day, I may have grayer hair than her.  I haven't done anything with my hair yet.  I'm not sure if I want to dye it or just leave it how it is.

My hair is the longest that it has ever been.  I have great hair stylists who know how to make thick hair manageable.  I wish I had seen them a long time ago.  Some stylists don't know what to do for the type of hair that I have.  It's so nice to be able to wear my hair down and not in a pony tail or halfway up.  Not all hair was meant for layers even though it looks good.

Often people ask me what shampoo I use.  I actually have a routine.  That sounds really high maintenance, but it's not really.

Around the weekends, I use Bumble and Bumble's Tonic Shampoo, then the next time I use Bumble and Bumble's Gentle Shampoo and Pert Plus.  When I had really dry hair, I used Bumble and Bumble's  Creme de Coco Shampoo and Conditioner.  Currently, I've been using Living Proof's Restore Mask Treatment.  The mask treatment makes my hair really smooth and manageable.

My grandma went to beauty school, so she taught me a lot about how to take care of your hair.  Always  comb your wet hair and never use a hair brush on wet hair.  She wasn't a big fan of blow dryers.  When I shampoo my hair, I just let my hair air dry and the only time that I get my hair blown out is at the salon.  Every once in a while, rinse your hair out with vinegar and water.  The vinegar helps get rid of the buildup from oil and shampoo residue.  Don't worry, the smell will go away, just rinse with water after you pour vinegar on your hair.  Like I said before, I've never colored my hair.  Try not to over treat your hair.  Healthy hair is the happiest.

You may wonder about the price of the products that I use, they're so worth it.  An 8 ounce bottle of shampoo and conditioner last a really long time.  You can always mix up your routine with shampoo that you can buy at the local drugstore, like Pert Plus.

Favorites - Makeup

Update: Bobbi Brown is having a Friends and Family Event! You get 20% off during February 24-28.  If you don't have an Ebates account, sign up and you can get 5.0% back on your purchase.

I'm no fashion or makeup blogger, but I thought I would share with you some of my favorites.

Since I live about an hour and a half from the largest mall, I tend to go to Walgreens and pick up things try.

I went to Las Vegas on vacation in September and my goal was to buy some Bobbi Brown products.  I had saw her on QVC but I was afraid that a shade was wrong.  I didn't want to be wearing a mask.  We've all seen those girls.

I really like this foundation.  I need something for basic coverage. It's not heavy at all.  I try to put moisturizer underneath it and it really helps it to go on smoothly.

My eyes tend to be oily, so by the time the afternoon rolls around I don't have any eyeliner on.The Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Black Ink is amazing! It goes on with a brush and it stays on.  I even bought my cousin this for her Christmas present.

 In the winter, my face gets dry.  I have to use more moisturizer then I have to at any other time of the year.  The Extra Face Oil is great.  You can put it underneath or over your makeup without it messing up your makeup.  It also smells refreshing!
 

Eye shadow hardly stays on either. These two shadows are my favorite.

 The Long-Wear Cream Shadow stays on pretty much no matter what! Jennifer, the Bobbi Brown Makeup Artist at Nordstrom's said that it would stay on until the next day and it did!  I have it in Dark Violet and Cool Lilac.  With brown eyes, the dark violet and light lilac really goes with my eyes.




I also enjoy Avon's True Color Eyeshadow in Purple Haze. The quad compact comes in shades of a light lilac to a dark gray. It does flatter brown eyes.

I didn't buy any yet but the High Shimmer Lip Gloss is great too!  It's shimmery, but the glitter is coated, so it's not grainy and dry like other shiny types of lip gloss.




I do have the Lip Gloss in Nougat which is a nude color, but not foundation nude.  I like it because it a little glossy with a teeny-tiny bit of color unlike plain lip gloss.


I have a confession.  The side pocket of my purse is full of lipstick and gloss.  Yes, I need to clean it out.


You may wonder about mascara.  I tend to get waterproof.  I'm not particular about them.  Right now I'm using Cover Girl Bombshell by LashBlastMascara.  I tend to only use the #1 wand. Yes, I know, I'm no fun.  If I'm feeling like it, I'll do both.





These opinions are solely my own.  I hope this helps you to find what you products that you need!

Favorite Color

Whether you call it pink, fuchsia or magenta, I have to say that it's my favorite color.  This particular color makes me happy.  I didn't realize that it was my color until someone stopped me one day on my way to the car afterwork and wondered where my signature color was.  I was wearing a new navy shirt that day.  I happen to love navy too but didn't realize that I was known for my favorite color.  Yes, dark colors tend to not be so happy. 

I actually have two Christmas trees.  One tree is more traditional with gold and burgundy ornaments, but my tree in the den is more fun and modern.  I have pinks, purples, blues and greens on this tree.  I couldn't find the right kind of tree skirt, so I got about 3 yards of sparkly fuchsia rayon fabric.  I just draped it around the bottom of the Christmas tree.  My cat Timmy loves to lay under the tree.

What's better than flowers?  I could have fresh flowers around all of the time, but I usually put together bouquets of silk flowers.  I also put flowers everywhere outside that I can.  I love putting them in the old window sill on the wall outside.  I even put viola's in my garden.  The bright viola's were a great addition to my green garden.

If Jessi knew what a lovely color this is, she would be requesting it for everything.  She does have a pink collar.

Kate Spade couldn't be more correct.

I loved putting together a cobalt pleated skirt with a white 3/4 length button down shirt with a bright t-shirt underneath.

What's better than shades, new lipstick and my favorite t-shirt?

Have a happy week,