Highlighting and Contouring.

For my fellow chubby-cheeked ladies, or those of you that already have an awesome bone structure, but want super awesome cheeks, this is for you. For starters, I just want to say there are no rules to makeup, but more or less guidelines. You don't always have to do things in the order that I do them. Just do what is comfortable to you. I will probably be repeating this in future blogs because it is super important to me that you just have fun and go with the flow!

The first thing I did was the contour. I used Hoola by Benefit, which is a matte bronzer. Placement for this will be from the middle of your ear to about the middle of your cheek (between your ear and your mouth). This creates a shadow and helps to create a cheekbone.




Next is the blush. I used Bella Beautiful by Benefit. This is a shimmery pink color. This will sit on top of the contour color, making sure the 2 colors blend together where they meet. If there is space between the colors, you will just look foolish! I put my blush just on the apple of my cheek, but try not to get too close to your nose. A good rule of thumb is to place 2 fingers pointing up next to your nose (like you are about to fake shoot your eye out) and begin placement of your blush there.



The last step is the highlight. This will draw more attention to the upper part of the cheek, bringing this area forward. For this I used High Beam by Benefit. This is a cream highlighter. Place a "C" shape around the outside of your eye. The top of the "C" starts at the arch of your eyebrow. Blend this in, again, making sure the highlight and the blush are blended where they meet. Sometimes I like to blend this onto the apple of my cheek as well, so when you smile you have a nice glowing apple! It's okay if you get this under your eye. Sometimes there is just no avoiding it because it's already so close. Plus it just makes your eye area look more hydrated.I unintentionally used all Benefit products here. There are a bazillion different brands, colors and textures to choose from. For dryer skin types, you may like to use all cream or liquid products because they will be easier to blend and not get too dry looking from powders. Shimmers look best on dryer skin. Oilier skin types will most likely prefer to use all powders to minimize shine. Matte colors will also help to keep the "oily" look away. Word to the wise to my oily peeps: PLEASE use a primer under your makeup at all times! One reason for this is when you apply a powder (or anything else for that matter) to your face, the oil from your skin will make those shades darker and/or change color. Also, throughout the day from eating, talking, making out (or whatever you do w/ your face) your makeup will just start to move around and make it look blotchy. For everyone else, it's up to you!

Good luck and I expect to see my friends rockin some killer cheeks soon!

Time flies, new things happen.

I'M PREGNANT!
Luckily, one of my best friends (Jackie) is prego also! She is just a month behind me.
Vito and I had tried for a year to get pregnant, but it just wouldn't happen. I turned to fertility drugs and had to take 2 rounds before I got prego. I am just so happy! I want to grab everyone's hand and put it on my belly to feel the baby kicking. I am 6 months along at the moment. Rockin' my little baby bump. It's a girl. We have decided on the name Isabella. Most mornings I lay in bed and stare at my stomach and watch her kick me. It's the craziest feeling knowing there is something alive inside of you. We are in for one sweet, bumpy ride!
Update on my life, Vito and I are still in the same house. The ceiling started leaking again this year, but we nipped it right in the bud before the ceiling could fall again. Vito's brother is living with us. He is back in school and super serious about it. Although he is home most of the time, we hardly get to spend time with him because he is always studying. He is dating this awesome girl who lives in Chicago. They seem to be doing pretty good for having a long distance relationship. My sister, Christen, is getting married in September. I'm excited to head down to Texas for that and to see my family. My sister, Brandi, (also in Texas) now has 3 beautiful daughters; Kennedy, Taylor, and Reese. She also got rid of her loser excuse for a husband and is dating someone much nicer and treats her very well. My sister, Melyssa, has been dating a guy for a while now, but I have yet to meet him. She is away at school and is hardly around. She is an honor student at her college! Her boyfriend just recently took her to Hawaii. Super jealous. My youngest sister, Erica, is still trying to figure herself out. She seems kind of stuck in life, but I know she will pull through one of these days. She has good intentions and a good heart.
We've been to some weddings, had some friends who had babies, gained friends, lost friends. The usual. Oh yeah, and I got a job at Sephora and have been there for a year now. I love it! It's a bit of a struggle to learn about all the bazillion products we carry, but I think I'm doing pretty well. They sent me to training a while back to Washington DC. That was pretty cool.
I've become slightly addicted to watching youtube tutorials lately. They have inspired me to get my own ball rolling and start doing blog tutorials and maybe posting videos on youtube. I just have to get past my shyness for that one. I feel silly talking to cameras. But, I'll do it if it will help to boost my career. I believe I have the talent for it. Wish me luck!