sharing my secrets.

three simple beauty tricks i swear by:

{at least lately.}

{source}

1. wash your hair with cold water.

{literally, as cold as you can stand it. pun intended.}

have you heard this one a billion times already?

if so, chances are you still aren't doing it.

why? because let's be honest- who wants to take a cold shower?

{we are spoiled with warm steamy showers and take them for granted, folks.}

but, by doing this, your hair will instantly start to shine.

i'm converted, and never going back to rinsing my hair in warm water-

even as much as i hate being covered in giant goosebumps those first five minutes. 

it's well worth it- the shine is fantastic. 

2. spray your perfume before getting dressed. 

i recently talked to a "perfume specialist" who gave me the low down.

she emphasized on how important the sense of smell is to the human;

without knowing it, one of the first ways we evaluate a person is by their scent.

we even tend to hang out with people who have a similar scent to ourself.

oh, and that list of cute boys you have hanging on your fridge...?

chances are they wear similar, if not the same, cologne. 

interesting right?

most importantly, she taught me a beauty trick-

spraying your perfume before you get dressed, helps the scent last much longer. 

so, next time: shower, moisturize and spray your perfume, immediately, all over your body.

3.ond word: aquaphor.

especially, as these fall and winter seasons arrive;

bringing with them, dry skin and chapped lips.

aquaphor is the perfect remedy- it cures all.

i'm simply in love and have been hooked for years.

i rub it on my knuckles and lips every single night, without fail. 

trick of the trade: coat your lips before applying a bright lipstick. 

allow enough time for the aquaphor to sink into your lips, then apply your lipstick.

ta-da!! your lipstick glides right on as smooth as can be,

and you don't have to worry about your lipstick 

separating in those tiny cracks of your chapped lips. 

{we all hate that. so annoying, right?}

i'm curious now, 

what's the one beauty trick you swear by at the moment?

do share- i'm already anxious to try it. 

i heart you.

i have a crush on you. 

i'm totally crushing on these few things lately.

long skirts: you are my fashion obsession at the moment.

especially the long-silky-pleated ones.

i just want to spend my days letting the wind blow you, as you make

me feel oh-so feminine and in a sense conservative. 

moroccan oil: i will be faithful to you until the day i die.

you save my hair every single day.

i love you more than you know.

up the amp:  hello purple lips.

thank you mac, for this fun bright color.

i'm clearly in love.

organic produce: i've been falling for you more and more lately.

you may be pricey, but you are well worth it.

i prefer you ten times over "regular" produce now.

you taste better, you last longer, and buying you locally supports a good cause.

j.crew: yes, the entire store.

if i could transform my closet into your store and catalog,

i would do it in a heartbeat. 

bright blue: simply the color.

whether it be this new clearance skirt i just bought,

the gorgeous blue skies we've been lucky to have lately

or the way you remind me of my lovely mother and grandma.

i'm totally into you.

what are you crushing on lately?

it's time to reveal your secret crushes.

beauty items, food, colors, people or places.

what ever it may be....

spill the beans, i want to hear! 

this one takes the cake.

it's time to let you in on another little secret: 

the honest truth: i can't buy the "good" or expensive stuff

  at the rate we lovebird goes through shower gel.

so leaving those luscious bath and body work scents behind,

we've resulted in trying a billion different kinds. 

you name it: target brand, aveeno, olay, walmart brand, aveda, suave, dove...

yep, we've gone through them all. and probably all of the different scents too.

last weekend, i made a quick trip to rite aid... 

and came across this clearance item:

i thought, "what the heck, why not?"

brought it home, and naturally placed it in the shower.

the next morning, lovebird calls out from the shower, "why did you buy baby stuff?"

 i assured him to look closely; baby brand but "adult" stuff.

after his pickiness passed, he lathered up with what has now become our favorite.

{okay, probably more my favorite}

i'm telling you, it smells delicious and truly moisturizes.

both are key if you ask me. 

lessons learned:

1. it's okay to buy "baby stuff".

 2. never judge a book by it's cover.

3. husband will devour you with kisses if you shower too close to bedtime. 

{thanks to the delicious smell that last until your next shower.} 

trick of the trade.

here's a little tip. a tip you are going to love.

it will change your life.

{or at least my makeup life was changed.}

you know how when you apply your mascara and it gets all over your eyelid?

all over the beautiful eyeshadow you just applied.

and now you are frustrated because you have to start all over again.

well go no further! i have your solution.

it's rather silly, but it works like a gem.

meet your best friend in this case:

yep, a plastic "mascara wand".

you know, the ones that are at sephora or mac counters for 

you to use, when trying their products?

well next time you're there, grab a few. 

now for the tip:

when your mascara gets all over the place,

wait for it to dry completely.

then simply rub this little wand back and forth over the mess up.

and ta-da, your eyeshadow remains perfect and the spot is gone!

it's that easy. and works perfectly.

i hope you enjoyed this little tip. 

love, me.