FOTD: Kat Von D Tattoo Chronicles Palette

Another day, Another FOTD!

Since I got an amazing present from an amazing two lovelies, Lorris and her hubbers Eric. I decided it was time to bust out the goodies that they had sent me!

I do need to include a picture of the full birthday presents from them, besides do swatches of the colors from both palettes that I received! I know I know, I'm ubber behind!

So without further due I will get into what I used to achieve this lovely look. I used the Skin Primer from the Chronicles Tattoo Palette, which is what I used. BTW, Lorris and Eric sent me both the Tattoo Eyeshadow Palette as well as the Lipstick Palette (yes I will do swatches of the lipsticks as well). I promise things will get back to how they use to on the blog...it's just harder to get focused on what I want to post considering there are so many different things I can do! UGH! ha ha okay before I get distracted!

I am just using this picture so that everyone has a better idea of what this palette looks like. I will include pictures of my own when I have some more time.

Shadows used:

Hollywood on lid

Tijuana in crease

Peanut as highlight

I used Revlon's ColorStay Black Marker for the top last line...which btw I'm really not a fan of. I was waiting for a my go to liquid eyeliner that a different lovely was so kind enough to send me. Please refer to different post that will be up soon! And used Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Pencil in Zero for the waterline, having dragged a bit of Tijuana on the lower lash line.

To Finish off the face I used MAC's Plum Foolery blush with a tad of Hard Candy's Baked Blush in Pin Up as my highlight. Lips I used my trusty Maybelline Moisture Lip Liner in 60 Wine, as I think that during the winter...wine colored lips will be my signature look. As Cookie pointed out that Gaga was my signature look during the spring/summer!Elf Essential Lipstick in Voodoo has been the Go To lipstick followed by a bit of Elf Studio Minty Lipgloss in San Diego, one because San Diego is my hometown and I need to represent. And two because I love the way it tingles on my lips...which is always nice feeling. Plus it adds just a bit of shine besides sparkle!

I do dig this look, something with Gold and having brown eyes that I think look really good. Although I don't doubt this look could be great on anyone!

I need to play with this palette more and see what fun looks I can come up with...but for now...I can say a few things. One the eyeshadows are quite pigmented, two the primer is interesting I think I want to try some other shadows using it, three there are quite a few looks I can do with the palette!

Freelance Make Up Artist Again?

Another day, another opportunity to get some work in the freelance business! YAY!

I was contacted by a local active duty military wife, who was having Bridal pictures done by a local (again active duty) photographer.

Considering I had never done bridal before, I jumped at the opportunity to try my hand at it. We all met at the photographers home, which is where his studio is located at. However, they only met there so that the bride could be shuttled to their actual location...which was an old church about 15 minutes away from the photographers studio.

So I took a total of just over an hour to do the bride's make up, I was nervous as heck. However I did what I had to do, attempting to get everything just right, besides in a hurry. I tell you what...me and trying to rush false eyelashes! FAIL! Took me a few tries but I finally got everything in its place. Made a new contact in regards to photographers and added some nifty pictures to my make up portfolio.

Bride to be, Sarah Adams

Before Shot

After Shot

Overall, I thought I did a fairly good job on the make up, considering Sarah had a bit of a break out. Thanks to some good drug store concealer, Maybelline Dream Mousse in Light 0-1 and Revlon PhotoReady Foundation mixture of 001 Ivory and 006 Medium Beige. I think her skin came out pretty flawless! YAY for drug store products in my kit! ha ha

Some more pics while I was doing her make up

This by far was my favorite pic of Sarah while we were talking!

Finally Pictures during Sarah's Shoot

Sarah's Gown was so pretty!

She makes a gorgeous Bride!

Big Changes for My YouTube in 2011

I haven't been blogging nearly as often as I was in the past few months, I fell off the horse shortly after my birthday/anniversary week. And have been struggling to get back to it!

It's crazy that it is going to be the first weekend in December already!!! Where has the time gone.

I have been very much lagging on the videos on the YouTube channel, I finally got a question about it from my best friend back in the states. I know right, of all people, she was all..."Excuse me when are you going to put up more make up tutorials". This coming from the same girl that actually introduced MAC into my life back in 2005!! CRAZY CRAZY CRAZY!!!

Starting next week, my time will consist of working my job at the gift shop, being a good house wife and attempting to stay on top of the chores around the house, being the head coach of the Girls 13-15 yr old Basketball team through the Youth Programs on base. Besides of course, when I have time freelancing my artistry skills. Needless to say, that is alot that I have on my plate...besides the fact that I am back on the work out wagon. So my goal is to go to the gym 3 to 4 times a week.

Keeping all this in mind, I realize I will more than likely lose subbies on my YouTube channel and I am okay with it. I understand people want to watch videos are that up to date and entertaining of their favorite gurus and persons. I feel lucky enough to have so many people who are interested in watching and learning from me. Considering I don't think of myself as a guru, just a girl that loves to play in war paint.

All this said, I will be trying to do alot of prerecording the next weekend or on days I have off from work, so that I can and will have some things to throw on my channel. As I do miss making videos, plus the longer I go not making videos...the rustier I am at speaking! Ha HA, you guys don't even know the struggle I had the other day working on an intro piece to a video I have filmed..and it's sad because the intro is only a minute long!!! UGH...good job Lorena!!!

However, I hope everyone will understand that I do have other committements that will occupy alot of my free time, which I normally use for my hobby time (ie YouTube). So I hope I will be forgiven but not forgotten with me being less active.

**This next section is something that I am very saddened to write...but I know it's for the best**

Due to my busy upcoming schedule, I realize I have not done a proper justice to the mineral make up line that I am a team member of, Mayra's Cosmetics.

After alot of thinking, some praying and correspondence with Mayra, I have decided I will be retiring from my position as Team Member and Spokesperson for Mayra's Cosmetics. This will be effect as of Jan 1, 2011.

I have had alot of fun these past 6 months of being the active face to the line, however I feel that with my busy schedule. I am not doing my job that I have been very lucky to have and I feel that it is time for hopefully someone else to take that role. Someone who can committ the time, energy and effort to really make Mayra proud.

Now, just because I will no longer be the face or member of Mayra's Cosmetics, doesn't mean you will stop seeing products from the line in my videos. I still love the products that I have purchased as well as received as a team member and I plan on using them until they are finished. And I will repurchase the items that I love best!

I just wanted to share that bit of information with you guys, as I know I have gotten alot of support from Mayra & many of her followers and subscribers on YouTube.

So to everyone, whether you found me because of my team member position, or because you found me randomly. Thank you for all your support and love...I truly appreciate it! :)

Being a Team Member of Mayra's Cosmetics has been the most memorable event of my 2010 and so far my YouTube career (yeah I know career is probably not the best word to use, considering I don't get paid for it...but you guys know what I mean). I will look back at the time of being a Spokesperson for the line...when I'm really old and wrinkly...and be like. Yup, I was on the internet....doing lots of makeup...and it was fun!!! he he

**Now Looking towards the Future**

I don't know what 2011 will bring to my personal life as well as my Youtube life...however I am very excited and ready for whatever good, bad and challenges come my way!!!

Birthday Goodies: I'm a LUCKY GIRL

So, with the closing of November in a few days. I have decided it was time to get cracking on getting up the little haul I have been saving from my birthday!

Considering my birthday was November 7th, I am beyond overdue for this blog..so without further adue let's get into the basics.

For my birthday itself, considering it fell on a Sunday I decided I wanted to go down to Ramstein base. So Joe and I spent about half the day down there, having a nice dinner at Marconi Grill (which btw is the whitest Italian food chain possible...and that night we didn't even have Italian food...had a nice steak).

We did some light shopping, mostly just trying to see if there was anything worth my while to pick out additional to my birthday!

**I will have a few separate blog entries going into more detail of some of the products, swatches and what not**

From the Hubby:

I did get two major things I was lusting after for my bday from the hubby, the first being the entire collection of 80's Child Pigments from Glamour Doll Eyes (pics for swatches and a more in depth view of this collection will be on a future blog entry).

Considering both Joe and myself are children of the 80's it only seemed appropriate that I have this collection for my 28th birthday. Besides the fact that I have an extreme weak spot for Glamour Doll Eyes products, so with the twit pics Vee was putting up of these lovely shadows. I had them listed as my #1 birthday present. In all honesty if I had only received these shadows for my bday I would've been totally happy...though of course my hubby is awesome. And knows the way to my heart is to spoil me :)

I also recieved the 15 Ultra Shimmer Palette from Sedona Lace.

What really made me want this particular palette from Sedona Lace is the face that these shadows were shimmer based (also satin based) and that they came in such an array of some of my favorite colors to use.

I personally think brown eyed girls can pull off most colors, however Purples and Greens look amazing...and so do blues. Hence, after watching a video tutorial done by the lovely Vee, owner of Glamour Doll Eyes, I knew I just had to have it. I actually had this palette on a maybe wish list since I saw its release on Sedona Lace website. I just hadn't really seen it before (as no other major make up line that sells the premade make up palettes had this available).

I am very glad to have received it for my bday, I think it is a great addition to my personal collection. The price itself, before using the code that was being promoted at the time it was purchased, is a good deal, $14.95.

I have done a few looks in my everyday looks that use either entirely it or most of it, so I would recommend checking it out.

From My Parents:

My parents paid for my trip to the states last year, stating it was a birthday present for 2010. So I was totally content with receiving a card from them and a phone call. However, they were awesome to wire some money for both my birthday, Joe's birthday and our anniversary so that we could do what we wanted. So their money paid for our dinners out on our birthdays and I was able to get a new foundation and concealer that I had been eyeing. (No picture there, however I am still thankful for their gift).

From Cookie:

Now, I honestly didnt expect anything from any of my friends here in Germany. However, Cookie made sure to hook me up with some goodies!

The biggest surprise and that is what made me UBBER happy was the actual palettes in this present! Sleek Palettes!

It's funny, I had mentioned several times to Cookie that I really wanted to try their products out (from the first time she did a make over on me using her Bohemian Palette on me from a TwoSome Tuesday video).

I received both the Storm Palette

Which yes this palette had a little accident on the way to being shipped to Cookie, the mirror broke. Honestly it makes no difference to me, as I really don't use the mirrors provided in palettes anyways.

The colors in this palette are all very metallic, mostly satin/shimmer with about 3 matte eyeshadows. I think that this palette is great for doing smokey eyes or a neutral look.

I also received the Sunset Palette

Again another great palette which had a bit more of shimmer and satin based shadows with bright and very pigmented matte shadows. The color that of course draws anyone's eye when you first open the palette is the bright blue and orange. At first I was a little under certain of...however after playing with the palette a little bit. I think these are great choices to have with the rest of the rustic colors...which of course is great because rustic looks great on me!

Within the goodies included, some HIP lipgloss (which I had never used before), a glitter Eye Pencil from Pop (which is a UK brand) and the NYX cupcake lip balms.

Overall I felt very loved and very special that Cookie had thought of me on my special day.

From my Godsister & her hubby:

I didn't expect to received anything from any other family that hadnt asked me what I wanted for my bday, so boy was I surprised at what came in the mail! Mind you I didn't do a Mail Time video as this was a birthday present, and I knew I would be doing some sort of blogging about it anyways!

My Godsister made sure to cover all different choices of products, everything from a rose scented candle (which I burn in my room whenever I have a client over for a make over) to a ton of make up!

The item that catches my eye the most, as I do enjoy everything from her and her hubby, is the Stila Palette!

Another first for my collection a Stila Palette, I thought it was also unique because it was based off October's Breast Cancer Awareness (all the colors had names related to the idea). Besides the palette (if I'm not mistaken) some of the proceeds from the palette sale went to Breast Cancer Research.

I have heard mixed reviews about Stila products, so it is nice to have my own so that I can formulate my own opinion of it. I have used the palette once so far and so far so good!

From my Aunt:

My Aunt asked me what I wanted for my birthday so I kept my answer quite short, as she reminded me a few times that times were tough for her. Thus, I ended up with some comfy and very purple pjs and Mac Fluidline in DipDown (the brown Liner).

I know I know, I'm not suppose to give into the MAC thing...however I have been wanting for a long time a good brown cream liner. And I tried Mac's Fluidline when I first was introduced to make up from my roomie back in 2007, I gave it a go back then. And FAILED...however with alot more knowledge of make up and the proper application I figured it would be okay to try it again.

I'm not saying I will go back whole heartedly to purchasing MAC products, however the ban I have held on the company is slowly lifting. I'm not saying I will use my own personal money to buy the products, however if it's a gift....I can't really say no! LOL

**there are some other goodies that I received that will be in the next blog posting of my bday goodies. So keep an eye out for that**

Overall, I am very thankful and very lucky to have had such wonderful people give me such great gifts. I couldn't ask for anything more!!!!

XOXO

In The Kitchen: Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

Considering the fact that I tend to make this dish at least once every pay period for our house (every two weeks). I figured I would include the posting of this to my blog.

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce is recipe followed to an extent but has room for creative additions. Every time I actually make this sauce, whether it is meaty or not, I always end up tweaking the ingredients just slightly.

The most recent time I added more onions and garlic than usual, so I had to counter the acidic flavoring by sprinkling more brown sugar.

Funny, I never thought to do that when I originally started making this recipe until Joe had mentioned it to me (gotta love a man who knows a little something something in the kitchen)! Joe said the garlic and onion was overwhelming at times, that he could hardly taste the tomato. Besides it causing him alot of unnecessary heart burn and indigestion.

TOO much acid will cause these unfortunate and yucky feelings...hence why the brown sugar became a staple in my recipe.

What is great about sauces, is they are easy to make, always end up with more than you need, and they are great to freeze and use at another date.

When we do this sauce, I end up with enough to feed 2 adults, fill 2 decent size containers that could be eaten as lunch or dinner left overs, and (if its the non meaty version) enough to freeze for another 2 person course.

Now, when it comes to sauces everyone will have their own extra additions and tricks, and it will take several makings of the sauce to get it to where you like it. So far, I have enjoyed the sauces I have come up with.

If you want to know how I do my personal homemade Spaghetti Sauce then check on the video !

FOTD: Glamour Doll Eyes Using My Shadow Tower

Another day, Another opportunity to play in my Glamour Doll Eyes.

From previous posting I have mentioned about shadow towers, so you will know that I was lucky enough to be asked by the lovely Vee to make a shadow tower.

I chose some basic colors, Bare naked, Chocoholic and Fabulous!

So it would only be appropriate that I randomly rock my tower when I feel so inclined to. With the other week being my vacation (ie Birthdays and Anniversary week off together). Joe had decided we should go down to Trier (one of the oldest cities in Germany) and check out the hookah bars/lounge.

Yes, I do smoke hookah. Flavored tobacco is still just as bad as regular tobacco, but I figured how often do I get to say I went to a hookah bar/lounge in Germany. Thus, Friday night was our DATE NIGHT!

I figured what the hell, might as well rock some GDE's. Seriously even if I am having a bad day, I reach for my Glamour Doll Eyes and I instantly feel better!

I think Fabulous! makes an amazing Liner..especially for BROWN eyes!

If you have coordinating accessories it does really finish off the mostly neutral eye!

As you can see I applied Fabulous! wet to both the upper and lower lash lines. Making sure it was a winged look...a little tricky with a brush (at least for me).

I applied Bare Naked all over the lid wet and then blended Chocoholic into the crease. Bare Naked is a very pretty color dry, but wet it takes on this amazing metalic golden sheen. Then using Chocoholic, which is a pretty warm brown, to blend into Bare Naked. Pending on how heavy you apply Chocoholic, it can take on a warm metally brown to a deep Brown.

I could see why Joe at one point asked if I had on more shadows than just the aqua liner, as Bare Naked and Chocoholic seem so light compared to the brightness of the Fabulous! I just think that if you are going to have such dramatic liner, you want something softer on your lids.

I paired off the eyes with some strong pink lips, using my monthly favorite NYX LipLiner in Fuschia and topped it off with Glamour Gloss Scene Queen.

Overall, I enjoy rocking my tower when I'm feeling "lazy" but want a little bit of make up!

FOTD: Glamour Doll Eyes 80's Child

I actually did this look a few weekends ago (ie Halloween weekend) but with this week of my mini vacation. I got pretty lazy when it came to blogging, so I figured it was time to get cracking down on some of these Glamour Doll Eyes looks I have been hording! he he

I received my 80's Child Collection the week prior to Halloween and decided that it was time to play with the colors. Now, if you haven't checked out the 80's Child Collection from Glamour Doll Eyes, you are missing out on some amazing SHIMMER FILLED COLORED FUN! And considering that I was a child of the 80's (and these shadows are based off of some of mt favorite shows as a child. I had to get them for my birthday.)

I felt pretty feminine that day, I actually decided on my shirt and accessories before I did my make up (normally it's vice versa). So keeping the pink in mind and wanting to use the 80's Child Collection shadows I came up with this kinda fun and super easy look.

Not really certain what to call it, I asked Joe and he was at a lost! that NEVER happens! he he

Products used for this FOTD:

MAC Paint Pot in Soft Orche

MAC Fix + (to wet the shadows & make liner)

Glamour Doll Eyes 80's Child Shadow in Romper (all over lid)

Glamour Doll Eyes 80's Child Shadow in Berrywood (in crease)

Glamour Doll Eyes 80's Child Shadow in Shimmer (as highlight & inner tear duct)

Glamour Doll Eyes 80's Child Shadow in Vanity (as liner for top & Lower lash lines)

MAC Eye Kohl in Fascinating

Lancome Deficiles Mascara in Black

Going to post some pictures of the Eyes in particular, since it's all about the eyes in this look anyways! I know with such a bright liner, one would opt for false lashes. However I think this can be done as an everyday fun look!

Natural Light

I believe that blue shadows look really great with Brown eyes, it just seems to draw attention.

I didn't want to over do wing in this eye, just because then it would REQUIRE lashes in my opinion. So I kept it small (compared to how I normally do colored liner looks).

One thing I love about Glamour Doll Eyes shadows is the fact that they make such great eyeliners! Vanity is beautiful blue with silver sparkles, and when its applied wet it takes a neon blue that just really POPS!

With FLASH

Using Shimmer as a highlight and eye brightener in the inner tear duct (in my opinon) finishes off this look. It adds just enough shimmer and glitter to the eye, plus with its multi colored sparkles (yellow, red, blue, purple, pink) it was just perfect!

**For the rest of the face I paired it off with some light pink cheeks using my NYX Blush in Pinky and for lips I decided on a recent newest go to, NYX Lip Liner in Fuchsia topped off with Glamour Gloss in Scene Queen**

Overall, I really liked the combination of these shadows together! I hope to give myself some more time sometime soon and come up with another fun 80's Child FOTD!!