Au Revoir, blogspot.

With the recent debut of my new website/blogsite, my blogging on blogspot is coming to a close. Adieu, blogspot .  . .adieu . . .

For beauty, laughs and a whole lot of random, please visit the Beauty I.Q. at it's shiny new home:
http://www.giggarmakeupartistry.com/

I hope you come visit!

Stay Beautiful! XOXO Sarah

Boudoir Beauty

Okay, this post is shamelessly plugging a new project I have coming up but honestly, it's for your own good! My homegirl Ashley Poisella, owner, president of awesome, and resident rock star of Ashley Therese Photography, and I are teaming up for a boudoir package which we are offering at the end of March.

Read on for the skinny on this FABULOUS opportunity for you to strut yo' stuff!!


What exactly is a boudior session, do you ask?

A boudoir session is your opportunity to get glowing and glamorous and have a Cosmopolitan Magazine style photo shoot that is all about YOU!!

What if I'm a little . . .shy . . ., do you ask?

Fear not, lovely, because the session is not only TOTALLY private in a plush hotel suite, but it is all tailored to YOU!! Want to wear skimpy skivvies? Go for it!! Want to wear a burlap bag? Go for it . .. although not recommended . . .seriously though, how about your honey's button down shirt or jersey for plenty of coverage that is still alluring?! That paired with gorgeous hair, makeup and lighting will make sexy happen with out making skanky happen.

What if I've got a crazy schedule, do you ask?

No prob, lovely. Ashley and I have time slots available all weekend, from morning to evening, and we've got the package down to a science! We'll get you gorgeous, photographed and back to your day in two hours. Bam.

What if I'm nervous, do you ask?

Heh . . .uhhh, that's what belini's are for . . .duh! ; ) Seriously, Ashley and I want to celebrate beauty and that's nothin' to be nervous about! We aren't exactly sticks in the mud either, and believe me the experience will be bordering on unreasonable amounts of FUN!

What's included, do you ask?

Now we're talkin'! Included in this package is a kickbutt luxe suite which has one private area for primping and another private area for shooting. You'll get full hairstyling and airbrush makeup (and lashes, yay!) provided by moi, and an hour long, natural light shoot with the UBER talented and purdy Ashley. After the shoot Ashley will retouch your photos and give to you thirty editorial quality (read: looks like you could be in a magazine, baby!) images to do with what you like!  Oh yes . . .and did I mention there will be champagne? Belini's to be specific, because gee, aren't we all just peachy?!?!


Contact Ashley for booking and further questions!! ashley@ashleytheresephotography.com and for heaven's sake check out her website http://www.ashleytheresephotography.com/

A team Ashley/Sarah boudoir shot from last year. Gorgeous!!

I hope to see you in March!



Stay Beautiful!

Blush blunders and contouring confusion.

I have been seeing a lot of gals using blush underneath their cheek bones for sculpting and contouring instead of using blush as it was intended (for a flush of color) and to me, this under the cheek look just screams 1980's "streaky cheek". This I cannot cope with. Please, for the sake of humanity, use contouring foundation or bronzer for sculpting those cheek bones, and keep the blush to the apple of your cheeks.

Cream blush if you're dry or combination, a stain or powder if you're oily . . . I actually layer a stain and powder on myself. Need help finding the right spot for application? Simply smile. The "apples" pop out a bit, and that is the proper placement for a flush of color.

Use either a darker foundation, concealer or MATTE bronzer to accentuate the hollow underneath the cheek bone - and blend! Blend like mad I tell you. I cannot emphasize enough the need to blend.

Sad blush.

RAD blush!

My favorite blush formulas:

Stain: Benefit's "Benetint", "Posy Tint" & "Cha Cha Tint"

Powder: Tarte Amazonian Clay in "Glisten" and "Natural Beauty"

Cream: Nars The Multiple in "Orgasm" & Clinique Blushwear Cream Stick in "Rosy Blush"


My favorite contouring bronzers:

Powder: Sephora Collection Matte Bronzer in "Bora Bora"

Cream: Tarte Smooth Operator Concealer in "Tan" or "Deep"




Whew!! Soooo happy I got that out there into the universe. Happy Blushing!





Have a Beautiful Day!!

Amazing things to change your LIFE! It's a new Smit List!

This latest and most awesome Smit List is simply loaded with INSTANT FABULOUS. No need to add water. This list is THAT fabulous.


OPI "Too Hot Pink to Hold 'Em"

Whether on the digits or the tootsies, once the multiple layers come off. . . .the gloves, the boots, the two layers of socks . . .I love seeing this happy pop of color!!

A tropical hue to get you through the winter blahs!!

Speaking of feet . . . .


J. Crew Fleece "Weatherly" Boot Socks

I bought the "Weatherly" fleece boot socks as cozy liners for my wellies . . .however, on a particularly freezing day I decided to try them with my knee high suede boots. SOLD!!! I've been wearing "Weatherly" with all my boots . . .SO COZY. When I flip up the edge (designed to fold over the top of yer rubbah' boots), they come up fairly high, so I also feel a bit flash dancey, like I'm wearing ballerina legwarmers. I find this "yes, I'm a dancer" look instantly ups my coolness factor so, that's a plus. : ) Yay for warm feet.
http://www.jcrew.com/

I like being cozy AND stylish. : )

Warby Parker Eyewear = bomb-diggity

Let's see. . . why should you be choosing Warby Parker for spectacular spectacles? Let me count the ways: 1) Stylish with a vintage flair 2) AT HOME TRY ON 3) Totally affordable 4) Kick butt customer service 5) Free shipping and returns 6) WP gives a pair of glasses to someone in need for each pair sold . . .need I say more?! Besides, my Wiloughby frames make me look totally smart. Who doesn't like a couple of extra points added to their I.Q.?!? ; )
http://www.warbyparker.com/

Wiloughby!

Stay intelligent, warm and FABULOUS!!


Have a Beautiful Day!!

Vintage Beauty How-to: Eyes like Marilyn

I've really been into the "top heavy" eyeliner look ala Marilyn Monroe lately, and it is suprisingly wearable. Tone the intensity up or down and you've got youself an uber sexy, totally flattering "bedroom eye" that can go from the office to cocktails.

YOU CAN DO IT!

1) Apply a champagne tone eyeshadow all over your lid.
2) Conceal under and around eye area. This brightens your whole face & will keep the focus on the liner!
3) Using either liquid or gel, line from center of lid towards the outer corner, approximately 1/2 ".
4) Line the rest of your eye starting from center to the inner corner. Taper the line to make it thinner as it goes in. This will help emphasize the thickness on the outer edge.
5) Line the upper inner rim and in-between lashes with waterproof black pencil to bulk up the lashline.
6) Apply mascara on top & bottom lashes.



As you can see, Marilyn consistenly rocked the same makeup look for most of her career. Gorgeous!

 

 

 

Have a Beautiful Day!

Sarah is Smitten with: Gratitude, Forward Movement and 2011

As the new year approaches we start evaluating and re-assessing . . .I can honestly say that I don't see any loose ends from 2011, ony an amazing platform from which 2012 will spring. All I see is growth, adventure & love. Okay, I also see six pack abs this year. . . but I digress. ; )
New Year's resolutions aren't the only time of year I get motivated or inspired. I would like to think of myself as a perpetually inspired individual, and I realize I have a routine for "goal setting and getting", as I like to call it, all year long.

Sarah is smitten with steps to goal setting and getting:
1) Dream on
2) Hang on to positivity
3) Forward movement
4) Reaching beyond the goal


Imagery: I have a wild imagination and let it run. Surrounding myself with images of what I'm aiming for and what I want sets my brain on "GO". It's go time.

Path: I write down what I already have & am grateful for, what I want to add to that, and how I will make my wants become a reality. To me it's simply not enough to want something. I have to take action and know what resources I have to get there, because I believe a goal without a plan is nothing more than a wish. Asking myself,  "What can I do TODAY to get one step closer?" gets me there.

Believe: I believe 100% that I am reaching my goal. There are no "what if's" or "I wish" or "if only's" or "I will try's". I can and I do. Like Yoda once said "No, try not. Do or do not. There is no try."


Looking back on this year I only feel grateful for the inspiration, creativity, support & love that created such awesometasticness. I'm so unbelievably grateful for my many blessings from God. My family, my friends, my clients, and most of all, my fiance, Daniel.


Signing off on the last post of 2011. Cheers to a New Year, y'all. It will be BEAUTIFUL!!

Larger than life locks are on the horizon. Hallelujah to THAT!

I'm always on the prowl for the latest and greatest volumizing hair products to give me the uber full, perfectly imperfect hair of my dreams. Until now, most volume promising products have left me wanting more. So we broke up. Over and over again this happened. Until, suddenly: [enter stage left] Aquage Uplifting Foam.  By no means new on the market, but new to me, this turns out to be the new (product) love of my life! Aquage made a promise and kept it! It truly uplifts my locks to unbelievable heights! (Insert image of me running slow motion through a field to my newest love: Aquage Uplifting Foam) 

But seriously now, read on for tips on how I do the "do" so you can too!!

*Apply to wet hair, & blowdry using your digits to lift at the roots.
*Use a heat protective spray before smoothing the ends by wrapping them around a large barrel curling iron.
*Finish with a light dusting of Aquage "Finishing Spray" to lock in the magic.

Va-va-voom! Hair is wavy, ginormous and if it had a booty it would be booty-licious. (Que hallelujah chorus)




Body building goodness. (No weights required)  : )




Have a Beautiful Day!!