photo shoot

Last weekend I was asked by a local photographer to do makeup for a photo shoot he had scheduled.  Of course I said yes.  I've done makeup work for him before and he's recommended clients my way so I was happy to help out.  Then he asked if he could use me as a model too!  He's looking at starting a glamour portrait element to his photography and wanted practice with posing and shooting women who aren't trained models.

I've never modeled, but he did shoot me once before at an event I attended where you could donate to charity and have a mini photo shoot done.   

Here's the pictures from that event, which now that I think of it, was the night my nephew was born!

Now, here is one of the women I did makeup for on the weekend.  She's a regular work client of mine, but I think this is the first time I've done her makeup!  I'm really pleased with her pictures...she's a beautiful woman with or without makeup.

and now, here is the picture he sent me from the shoot.

these were the 'sneak peeks' he released on facebook...I can't wait to see more!

Tangerine Dream Capsule Wardrobe

While clicking through blog rolls tonight I found myself at The Vivienne Files swooning.  She does wonderful collages of different outfits by occasion - like traveling to Paris for example.  I'd encourage you to visit, if you don't already frequent her blog, as I'm sure she will provide you will some outfit inspiration.

I think Vivienne & I share a similar brain frequency.  I'm am in love with this wardrobe she created:

 I could happily live in these and only those clothes for an entire summer.  I would never get tired of these colours...but perhaps I would change out the orange loafers for the gold born sandals I already own.  If you could spend the summer anywhere, where would you?  And, what would you pack?  What are your travel & summer essentials?

Visible St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day this year was the perfect occasion to wear a green blouse I purchased months ago on sale and had never worn yet.

I got at our Olsen Europe store. 

 It's an outlet version where last season's stock from the big city stores go to die find a frugal home.

I'm not one to wear green, especially by my face so this blouse definitely makes me feel 'visible' because I'm outside my comfort zone.  But, I think it's good to step out of ones fashion comfort zone...especially for a fun holiday!

My favourite part of this outfit though is an accessory.

This ring:

This was given to me by my father this past Christmas and for this outfit it was my pot o' gold.

Check out more outfit inspiration at 

Visible Monday

Kristen Stewart - Some Constructive Criticism

Source: 9gag.com via Kim on Pinterest

Laura's Series of Unfortunate Events + An Epic Fail

Do you ever have those "Oooh! I'm an idiot!" moments?

Source: Uploaded by user via Kim on Pinterest

In the past 2 weeks I've had several.

The first is when hubby & I submitted our tax filing stuff to our accountant... I forgot almost $700 in medical expenses and a charitable donation receipt for $50....I remembered them a few days later so we called him and dropped them off.  Crisis averted.  No joke, the next day I decided to re-organize our financial documents so this wouldn't happen again and lo and behold, don't I find a dental receipt for for over $300!!  I guess we'll have to see about adding it in next year.

Next, remember not to long ago I bought new shoes?  I wear them to work often and with this winter weather I've just been leaving them at work while coming and going in my winter boots.  The other day I decided to bring them home, along with a few other personal items so I just put everything in a generic plastic bag.  

Fast forward to 2 days later and I'm rushing to get to work, running late and I can't find my shoes!  I go to put on my flats instead but there are no footbeds in them as I've ripped them out to make room for my orthotic insoles....and I can't find the insoles because they are in my missing shoes!  Fast forward another 2 days and I still can't find my shoes!  Can you guess where I found them? No, of course not.  Because there is no logical way to figure out where I put these shoes...normal people do not do things like this! 

 I found them in the garbage!  In a cleaning spurt I grabbed what I thought where a few bags of garbage hubby brought in from the car and threw them in a big garbage bag!   How did I discover this?  I kept walking by the garbage bag and noticing it, like really noticing it.  I thought to myself...is it possible?  When I opened the garbage bag there was the bag the shoes were in right on top!  In the little bag with the shoes was a crumpled McDonald's bag containing half a muffin (from the day I brought home the shoes).  I must have seen the crumpled bag and thought the whole bag contained garbage!

And now, my epic fail.  As you may have read a few weeks ago I was under the weather. In my congested misery I took the advice of a friend and bought a saline and aloe spray to help clear my nasal passages.  It did help a little.

Yesterday I was feeling a little stuffy and thought "Hey, I should use that spray again".  

Insert Epic Fail Here. 

I think I re-infected myself with the stupid cold!!!

This morning I was tired and stuffy, my eyes watered and my nose was congested and I was sneezing more than usual.  I am often stuff in the morning and put if off to allergies or the wood stove being too smokey...by 3pm at work I was miserable!  My face is in that perma-squint of about to sneeze, my eyes keep running like I'm crying, I'm multi-sneezing, my nose is running....I'm a mess.

ugh.

So, make me feel better....got any "I'm an Idiot"  or "Epic Fail" stories?

Please share.

Seeing Red

Today was all about red. 

I was on the hunt for the perfect red cardigan.  I've been searching since November for one.  There is none to be found in the uptown core of my city.  Ideally I want one that fits me well, will hold its shape, comes to the waist, has either long or 3/4 sleeves, and is not acrylic....well today I even went into cheapie stores willing to settle for anything...but alas, there were none to be found.

I did find this little red jackety thing on sale for $16 that I was tempted by...

While it wasn't the bright cherry red I was imagining, nor was it a cardigan, I was willing to settle until I looked at the back.  The fabric was pulling from the seam that connects the sleeve to the body - it was to thin it was threadbare.  I thought if this jacket can't stand up to being tried on a few times in the store I don't want it in my wardrobe.  My convictions in waiting for quality returned and I put it back.

When I arrived home hubby and I checked the mail box and lo and behold - it was the red scarf I bought on ebay last week!  I got some red today after all!

 When I opened my little envelope hubby asked what it was.  When I said "my scarf" he gave me that oh, you spent money on something you didn't need again but then I offered to let him wear it as a pocket square anytime he wanted.  Problem solved :)

This is my first designer scarf purchase.

And I got it for a song!

It's 100% silk, hand rolled edges, and made in Italy.

I plan on using this small square to brighten up my all black outfits at work!

Nothing helps brighten up your face like a flattering colour around your neck - rich reds & fuchsias are my go-to colours when I need to give my face a healthy glow.

Here's how I'm wearing it today:

Paired with a perfect black cardigan & birthday earrings!

linked up to What I Wore Wednesday

 

Cheating. A Lazy Gal's How-To.

confession time:  I cheat.  

Not as in on tests, or as an infidelity - nothing like that - I just cheat when I do my hair sometimes.

Like this morning.  I decided that sleeping in a little longer was more important than a shower, but I knew my hair needed a wash...so I cheated.

I put my hair in a ponytail, leaving out my bangs and a few wisps of hair just around my hair line.

See my fabulous diagram below:

reenactment photo, this was not taken this morning....trust me, you don't want to see that

Next, wash your bangs (and wisps) in the sink - bathroom or kitchen - whichever is more comfortable to lean over in.

I lather, rinse, and repeat.  No conditioner so my bangs don't feel greasy. 

Then you just have to blow dry your bangs and a few face framing strands which only takes a matter of minutes

Your hair instantly looks clean and fresh.

You can keep your hair pulled back into a ponytail, a messy bun, or as I did this morning, 

a giant sock bun:

excuse the blurriness

Then I added quick, simple Lazy Gal's Makeup and a bright scarf.  There is nothing that perks you up quicker than a flattering colour at your face!

And that, my friends, is how to cheat the morning rush, savour a few extra minutes of sleep, skip the shower, and still look clean and fresh!

 

You're welcome.

Giveaway Winner!

Thanks to everyone who participated in celebrating my 222nd blog post.  You all had great odds of winning!

Here is my official and accurate method for selecting the winner:

...Congratulations to FringeGirl and special thanks to Make mine Mid-Century for bequeathing this win upon FringeGirl.  Such lovely readers I have.

I don't have thousands of followers or comments but I really appreciate that those who do comment are people I feel like I know.  I've emailed back and forth with you all and am very satisfied with quality over quantity any day!

Thanks for reading my little blog!

FringeGirl, I'll pop it in the mail first thing Monday morning!  I want to see pictures of you wearing it!!!

Giveaway!

Welcome to the 222nd post of my blog!

I'm celebrating this specific anniversary because 2 is my favourite number!

What's up for grabs:

a fascinator handmade by yours truly 

AND

a sample of No22 by CHANEL

Entering this giveaway is super simple:

Become a follower of my blog & leave a comment telling me to where you would love to wear the fascinator & perfume ...in reality or fantasy!  

Remember to include your name & email in the comment!

Winner will be announced Friday!

gratuitous outfit post + giveaway!

I bought a skirt yesterday that I am IN LOVE with and had to share!

I love the black panels down either side - very slimming!

I think ideally that I should hem it about an inch higher...but that's a project I'm in no hurry to bother with.

Sometimes I get really bored having to stick to a black and white dress code at work but today I was really excited about getting dressed.

Let's start at the bottom:

shoes: Circa

skirt: Suzy Shier (on sale!)

turtleneck: joe fresh

necklace: "Coco" by red pheonix emporium (gift)

scarf: Aunt Kaye (gift)

I spent last night trolling the internet looking for a red scarf.  I had a vision of this outfit with a dash of red, but I went for the black and white Coco necklace and a black and white scarf in my hair instead!

check out other great outfit posts on Not Dead Yet Style: Visible Mondays!

I went back to Suzy Shier today on my lunch, armed with a gift certificate I was given today as an early birthday present.  This is what is tempting me now:

 

With my gift certificate I'd have to pay around $15.00....I'm thinking that it's worth it.

I feel like this is a great summer dress, I don't have a lot of navy, and how cute would it look with a little red sweater!  Should I or shouldn't I?

Now, on to the exciting part...the giveaway

This is my 221st post.  Since 2 is my favourite number, I'm going to celebrate by doing a giveaway on my 222nd post!  This will be my first giveaway...very exciting!

Check back on Monday to get the full scoop in post 222!