Flapper

What a busy week! All moved out of student housing and now settled into my adorable townhouse on the other side of town! Who knew it would take 4 cars to move me in one trip? Wow. I swear it all made it out here in one trip. In one VERY tightly packed Volvo! So back to that nice list of things I still need to share. I'm in Boise for a few more days and don't have access to my pictures. Those can be added later though.

A project in stage make up was to replicate daily make up from an historical era. I chose the 1920's flapper look and went all out with hair and makeup! I used these great tutorial videos and they really helped. The second one is silent, so don't make a fool of yourself trying to get the sound to work.

Here's how mine turned out:

This look was so fun that I kept it on for the full day. On campus. At home. And even out to dinner! Makeup is so versatile because it can really change you into a different person. My attitude about myself changes depending on what I've painted on. It is an art of expression. My favorite feature to accentuate is my eyes. Not to be cliche, but I want the windows to my soul to be framed nicely. The look in the 20s was meant to make women look vulnerable, like a damsel in despair. Today women make their eyes bold to be fierce and recognized. A woman tells a lot more about herself through her makeup than she may realize. As I have grown older I have become more daring with what I wear. I hardly ever wear foundation because I am completely comfortable with the skin that I am in. I only started using blush this semester at school. It was something that I found to be unnecessary and gaudy until I was taught how to use it correctly. It think it is a maturity level that I must have advanced to. I want my makeup to make me look pretty at my age, no older, no younger. Blush at a young age is just so tacky. Mascara has always been a must. Must Must Must. The first tube of mascara I ever bought was in my sophomore or junior year of high school. I told my mom that I wanted to walk home from school because I was embarrassed to ask about buying it. I stopped at Rite Aid, not exactly a straight route home, and bought the trusty green an pink Maybelline tube. I slid it into my backpack and snuck into the bathroom when I was sure no one would bother me. I applied, washed off, and reapplied the spiky wand to my lashes several times. I tried my best to be discreet but little did I know that my parents really didn't care. Mother dearest never mentioned a thing about my experimentation, she just let me go at it! Trial and error is what has brought me to where I am today. And a lot of magazine reading. It surprises me just how much I have learned about beauty and the world from reading magazines. Now that I've covered the basics I have to share my absolute favorite makeup purchase. Liquid eyeliner. I was on the hunt for the perfect liner and it took me multiple tries to find just the right one. I'm not really a makeup snob. Pretty much everything is Maybelline and Physicians Formula, but I do shop uptown for the liner. Urban Decay's liquid liner is the best thing that I have ever splurged on and now it is a necessity. It is amazing what a curl of the lashes, a stroke of liner and a sweep of mascara can do for my confidence. They day is just likely to go better if I have prepared myself to be physically ready and proud of myself.
Ladies, don't give up on yourselves! Some days are just going to go to seed, but life is still good if you are happy with who you are. Accentuate your favorite features and then move on with the day!

Backstage

For a few filler credits this semester I signed up for a stage makeup class and I think its the best thing I've ever done! So far I've learned how to do

• male and female corrective makeup
• middle age
• old age
• extreme old age with latex
• beards and moustaches
• wigs
• "grossies and gories" (wounds, burns, bruises, scars)

There is a 10 hour minimum requirement for working backstage during the campus plays so I've spent the past three weeks in the pit of the Snow Building. I had no idea how fun it would be! I've really perfected my old man face on a few of the guys in the production. Oh, we're doing Macbeth, did I mention that? I'd never seen or read the play before and now I really feel like I'm a part of it. Cast pictures are being taken tonight so I'll be heading back to the theater in just a few. Hopefully I'll get some good pictures of faces I've done. All I have so far is work from class. Isn't it interesting how we become so emotionally invested in our passions? I'm attending the show tomorrow night after I get the guys ready and it will be so exhiliarating to see my work on the stage! Closing night is Saturday and I don't want it to come!

Good news: Children of Eden starts in about 2 weeks...

Learn to be your own best friend.
Love yourself!!!
Click here to sign the treaty

Remember that the sun will still rise tomorrow even if I had one too many slices of pizza or an extra scoop of ice cream tonight.
Never blame my body for the bad day I'm having.
Stop joining in when my friends compare and trash their own bodies.
Never allow a dirty look from someone else to influence how I feel about my appearance.
Quit judging a person solely by how his or her body looks — even if it seems harmless — because I'd never want anyone to do that to me.
Notice all the amazing things my body is doing for me every moment I walk, talk, think, breathe...
Quiet that negative little voice in my head when it starts to say mean things about my body that I'd never tolerate anyone else saying about me.
Remind myself that what you see isn't always what you get on TV and in ads — it takes a lot of airbrushing, dieting, money, and work to look like that.
Remember that even the girl who I'd swap bodies with in a minute has something about her looks that she hates.
Respect my body by feeding it well, working up a sweat when it needs it, and knowing when to give it a break.
Realize that the mirror can reflect only what's on the surface of me, not who I am inside.
Know that I'm already beautiful just the way I am.

Books, Bronzing, and Beats

Have you ever gone to the library and come out an hour later thouroughly engrossed in the next chapter of your life? Maybe this is just something I experience. As I walked into the young adult section in the Humboldt Library I ran my fingers over the books on display. They stopped on a light blue binding and I slid out the volume to see the cover.

You see, I've got two views on the "don't judge a book by its cover" rule. I do judge books because sometimes the picture shows something I'm really just not interested in. In fact, when I worked at Borders last year I was not interested in most of the books I shelved and sold. But some hooked me with their covers. But many books have different covers based on print editions and publishing houses. If we're going with good old Harry Potter, I'm completely hooked by Mary GrandPre's illustrations but the British Edition doesn't look remotely Hogwarts to me.

The story inside is the same, but I'm prejudiced by the artwork.

That was a long side note, back to yesterday at the library...

Here's the cover:

And let me tell you, I'm not into baseball. Not in the slightest. Something was calling to me out of this book though and I couldn't resist taking a deeper look. I opened the front cover and I was charmed by the witty banter of the flap copy (the summary of the story as I learned from this book's flap copy). I pulled back a hard wooden chair at a table in the room and turned to the first page. An hour later I managed to pull myself out of the binding, 100 pages in already! I'm still working on it and I don't really want the story to have an end. The writing is so personable that I feel like I really know the characters. I've laughed out loud several times, which can be embarrassing when you're in the break room at work... Read it. And no I won't give you a summary because I wasn't given one when I began reading. I just jumped in with both, um...eyes.

What are some new things going on in the life of Elle? I've been making progress on my summer tan while working odd shifts and I'll let you know my secret:

That's right, I'm a fake tanner now. And I love it! My little routine begins with exfoliation. Take a small handfull of epsom salt, pour a little baby oil in so it's just saturated and rub into your arms/legs/feet in a slow circular motion. Follow up by shaving, but instead of using shaving cream or gel use conditioner! I know it's the bottle that always runs out first, but maybe it's time to invest in a bottle just for your legs. Because it's totally worth it. After you're completely exfoliated and smooth, dry off and pull on an old pair of basketball shorts. The bottle of tanning lotion recommends putting a thick creamy lotion on your dry spots like knees and elbows, but if you've just exfoliated with baby oil you don't need to, in fact the process works better if you don't. Now that all the prep work is done it's time to do the real damage! Only it's not damaging because there's no UV involved! The first time you tan use just a thin application to see how it reacts with your skin. Work the lotion into your skin in a circular motion and make sure that you coverd everything evenly. Don't forget to jump right up and wash those hands of yours though, or they will turn orange! And no one likes Oompa Loopma hands! The lotion takes a little while to set into your skin and a full 4 hours for the color to develop. I've done it right before bed, so I don't know if it rubs off during the night, but my white sheets are still pristine, so don't worry about that. This lotion isn't a gradual tan, but it can be used as one. I haven't used this product on my face and it isn't made for that, but I'm sure it would work. Just mix it into some of your face lotion to dilute the pigment. Good luck bronzing baby!

Since I'm a music nerd I have to add a new favorite song to the page:

I also have to add that I'm almost done learning "Anyone Else But You" by The Moldy Peaches on guitar. It's G and C chords for those of you that play along. And If I can learn it just by knowing the chords anyone can! Oh Juno, you've started a revolution.

Oh and p.s. Note the new items in the shop! Finally it's a store and not just one bag!

Drab To Fab

I'm working on a bag right this very minute because I really need stuff up in the shop already! Chiodos has a song called "Lindsey Stop Lollygagging" and I think it must be about me, only I'm not Lindsey...anyways.
Last night we went out to Clam Beach and had a bonfire and it was a good time. Of course I tracked like 3 pounds of sand back to the car in my holey shoes and some of it made its way into the house.

I got these great tips from Cosmopolitan magazine for beauty tricks and marked the ones I've done in bold. They're great, so try 'em out!
1) Powder Your Roots
If your hairline starts to look greasy, dig up a big, fluffy makeup brush, and dip it into a pot of loose powder. Tap it once on the back of your hand to remove the excess, then dust it over your roots. It mops up oil and blends into your strands, so no one will know you didn't shower.

2) Scent Strands with Perfume
Spray a light shot of fragrance into the bristles. Run it through strands from roots to ends and your hair will smell amazing throughout the day.

3) Cure Calluses with Vaseline
Slather on the petroleum jelly, and put on socks before bed to dissolve tough calluses overnight.

4) Spot-Treat Smudges
Dip a cotton swab in eye-makeup remover, and trace it along your lids to erase any slipups or goofs when there's no time to redo your whole look.

5) Fix a Flushed Face
If you turn red and stay that way after exercising (like seriously red for hours, even though you're healthy and hydrated), take an antihistamine like Benadryl when you leave the gym to reduce redness.

6) Soften Your Bod with Avocado
Take a ripe avocado, remove the pit and skin, and mash it up in a bowl. Slather it all over your body, let it sit for 20 minutes, then rinse off. Your skin will be sooo soft — avocado is a natural moisturizer.

7) Super-Glue a Nail
Instead of tearing off your nail when it breaks, put a tiny dab of Super Glue over the split, and paint a generous layer of your favorite nailpolish shade over it. Go for an opaque option (like red, purple, or coral) to camouflage and seal the crack.

8) Use Makeup Remover on Stubborn Lipstick
Don't try to rub off red lipstick (which makes it smear across your mouth — not so sexy). Instead, take a cotton ball or tissue, dip it in makeup remover, and just dab to erase the dark stain fast.

9) Tame Brows with Eye Cream
Pat any kind of rich eye cream over brows to help keep them hydrated and banish those icky white specks that look like dandruff.

10) Buff with Baking Soda
If you find yourself streaking (not glowing) after applying self-tanner, put some baking soda on a loofah, and scrub away the stripes.

11) Brush on Hair Spray
For the final step of your blow-dry, spray hair spray onto your brush, and run it through strands from roots to tips. This way, your do isn't so plastered and stiff but still holds volume and shine.

12) Boost Body Lotion with Baby Oil
If you're craving shiny legs that aren't greasy, blend a drop of baby oil into your normal body lotion for extra luster.

13) Dab Essential Oil on a Hangnail
Put on apricot oil, the kind found in health-food stores, to protect cuticles from turning rough and raggedy.

14) Quell a Cold Sore with Cream
When a cold sore is coming on, dab a bit of thick moisturizer, like Aquaphor, over it to prevent it from getting worse.

15) Freeze Your Eyeliner
If the tip of your eyeliner pencil crumbles and smears on your lids, store the liner in the freezer for 15 minutes before use so the tip is firm and goes across your skin smoothly.

16) Use Toothpaste on a Zit
Use just a pea-size amount. Let sit for 15 minutes to absorb the oil so the pimple won't get more clogged, then wash off.

17) Heat Up Your Curler
If you have stick-straight lashes, try blasting your metal eyelash curler with a hair dryer for a couple seconds to heat it up so your lashes bend more easily. And use a waterproof mascara. The formula dries faster than other mascaras, so it sets the curl more effectively.

18) Use Soap Without Water
You know those fancy bars that are actually too pretty to use? Toss them in your underwear or tee-shirt drawers to make your skin smell delicious.

19) Groom Brows with a Toothbrush
Mist an (unused!) toothbrush or eyebrow comb with hair spray to help flatten and tame unruly brows.

20) Put Diaper-Rash Cream on Dry Spots
Slather on a thick layer of diaper-rash cream to heal cracked elbows and feet.

21) Lubricate Your Lashes
An easy way to draw attention to your eyes without putting on a pile of makeup is to comb petroleum jelly lightly through the tips of eyelashes to get a sexy, subtle sparkle.

22) Steamroll Flyaways
Spray on hair spray, then roll the can over your strands. The round bottle fits the curved shape of your head, locks in the spray, and flattens out frizz.

23) Spike Lotion with Bronzer
If you don't have time to book a self-tanning session, mix a few pumps of body bronzer with regular hand lotion and pat it on your legs for a gradual dose of sexy, beachy color.

24) Air-Dry Your Curls
Let your hair dry indoors before going out in the cold. The curls will be really bouncy and piecey-perfect.

25) Press a Tea Bag on Splotches
If your skin is sensitive or just looking irritated and puffy for some reason, steep a bag of green tea for a minute or two, let it cool down, and dab it over your face. The antioxidants in the tea take down inflammation.

26) Shave with Conditioner
Ran out of shaving cream? Do double duty by coating your stems with a thick hair conditioner. It softens the hair so it's easier to shave off and makes legs feel amazingly silky.

27) Amp Shine with Vinegar
Mix one part vinegar with four parts carbonated water, and soak dry hair. Leave on for 15 minutes before you shampoo to lock in shine and combat dullness.

28) Exfoliate Your Pits
If your underarms start to look dry and flaky, an easy trick is to exfoliate them with a gentle face scrub to keep that skin pretty when going sleeveless.

29) Customize Your Body Lotion
Instead of shelling out for an expensive perfumed body product, you can make your own by pouring a few drops of fragrance into any scent-free lotion. Rub it on-the scent will last for hours.

30) "Brush" with Mouthwash
If you're too wiped out after a late night of partying to clean your teeth, rinse with water and mouthwash, then use a dry toothbrush on the area where your teeth hit your gums.

31) Make an Egg-White Mask
To revive tired, dull skin without hitting the spa table, try this: Crack open an egg in a bowl, separate the yolk, and use the egg whites to make a face mask. The proteins help to heal and restore skin's moisture. Leave it on for five minutes, and rinse off.

32) Dry Sensitive Skin with T.P.
Instead of drying your face with a scratchy towel, pat with toilet paper-it's ultrasoft on delicate skin (and bums!).