Sass and Sippy Cups

One of the most difficult makeup concepts to get right is contouring. I admit I’m still not great at it. Now when I say “contouring” I mean any product that adds depth and dimension to the face, such as blush, bronzer, contour, and highlighter. Step 1: Tools of the Trade When applying products intended to warm up the skin (blush and bronzer), use a large fluffy brush like one intended for powder to apply and blend. If you use a cream product, apply with your fingers and blend with the fluffy brush. It will be much easier to get a flawless finish with a large brush. Real Techniques Blush Brush When applying contour and highlight, use a brush with more concentrated bristles.   Contouring products are meant to be precise rather than a wash of color. Real Techniques Contour Brush Real Techniques Eyeshadow and Crease Brushes Step 2: Choosing Colors When choosing bronzer, look for one that’s more pink than red. It looks more natural on EVERY skin tone....

Have you ever noticed a child playing alone with their toys? Try and observe one day. Are they really "just playing?"  Are they using the toy for its intended purpose, or are they playing with it another way? Are they talking to their toys or an imaginary friend? I've posted about this topic before, but they aren't "just playing."  Everything a young child does is their individual way of exploring and learning about their environment. When I was studying Early Childhood Education, I found the following poem and it made so much sense to me that I found myself questioning how anyone could think otherwise. Building with blocks teaches balance and critical thinking. Imitating everyday situations (cooking, cleaning, taking care of other children, driving to work, etc.) helps kids to learn what skills they're expected to one day know how to do as adults. When kids are running around like lunatics for what seems like no reason at all, they're learni...

Since March is National Women’s History Month, I’ve decided to create a series of posts dedicated to women in history whose power and influence rivaled any man at the time. Therefore, until further notice, FFF isn’t going to stand for Fun Fact Friday. For the foreseeable future, you’ll see posts featuring FREAKING FEARLESS FEMALES The first two FFF post go way back to Ancient Egypt.   Did you know that in Egyptian society, women had the same legal rights as men?   They could own land and property, enter into contracts on their own, and even divorce their husbands without needing a reason. For the next two posts, we’re going to learn about two women who seized control and became two of Egypt’s most powerful HBICs (head bitches in charge, for those of you not up to speed on today’s lingo). Part One Hatshepsut: The Queen Who Became King Born around 1507 B.C.E., Hatshepsut was the daughter of King Thutmose I.   At 12 years old, she married her half-br...

Trying to eat healthy is tough, especially when certain ingredients are kind of bland and difficult to cook with. Take quinoa for instance. I first tried quinoa a few years ago, and I tried it every single way in every recipe you could imagine, and I freaking hated it. Until I made it taco flavored. It is literally the only way I’ll eat it. That little packet of taco seasoning (or if you’re brave, try making your own!) makes eating healthier so much easier. And let’s be honest: Taco Tuesday is starting to get a little overdone, no? So I came up with this little recipe, which is yet another quick and easy weeknight meal. It is especially easy because I tend to prep my grains beforehand (I make it with yellow rice for the hubs, but quinoa for myself). Taco Bowls 1 lb beef, cut into cubes (a cheap cut works just fine for this recipe) 1 t minced onion 1 t minced garlic 2 T olive oil ½ packet of taco seasoning ½ cup bell pepper, diced or cut into strips ...

Do you find yourself comparing yourself to others often? Unfortunately, it’s human nature. We either compare ourselves to someone else in a way that makes us feel better or worse, and it’s usually the latter. We think about what life would be like if we had his/her looks, money, job, LIFE. Or we do the opposite, “THANK GOD we don’t look/act/sound like that.” It helps us put ourselves on a pedestal compared to someone else. (Hopefully you’re not doing that out loud. If you are, knock it off. You’re being a bully and bullies suck. Grow up.) There’s a big difference between being grateful for what you have because someone else’s situation is much worse, and just using someone else’s misfortune to make yourself feel better. If you’re someone who is on the envy end of the spectrum, listen up. You will NEVER have their life and they will NEVER have yours. For goodness sake, this is real life, not Freaky Friday.   Wasting time thinking about how your life would be amazing if...

Praise and Compliments: Appreciating the Whole Child Everyone loves a good compliment.   Even if you’re one of those I-don’t-give-a-shit-what-anyone-thinks type of people, it feels good to hear that someone appreciates you.   But think about this: Do you like being complimented only on one aspect of yourself (looks, smarts, work ethic, etc.)?  Of course not. We are more than just our physical appearance, intelligence, or talents. The same goes for kids.   Kids love being praised for what they do, but adults often only verbally recognize a few positive attributes.   As a child, I was the stereotypical nerd.   I always got good grades and was an early reader. I was a scrawny, awkward little thing with old lady glasses that took up half my face. I very rarely received praise for anything other than my intelligence. So as I got older and school became more challenging, I started to question my self-image.   As if being a preteen and...

Skin Coverage Tips and Tricks We’ve all had that day/night when we got all dolled up to go out and thought we looked smoking’…until we caught a glimpse of ourselves in the car mirror.   Our foundation color is wrong, our concealer is covering NOTHING, and a “light dusting” of powder really looks like we were involved in a tragic baking accident.   Now these tips refer mainly to drugstores and places where you can’t try the product before you buy it, like Walmart or Target.   In places like Ulta or Sephora when you’re buying the expensive stuff, they can give you a sample to try, which I definitely recommend. I would not recommend trying drugstore products in the store anyway. I just think it’s not hygienic and gross. Do yourself a favor and NEVER pick up anything at the drugstore unless you can absolutely tell it hasn’t been used. Just don’t take a chance. So here are a few tips to help you avoid an unfortunate comparison to an Oompa Loompa (or a ce...

Fun Fact Friday Irish Legends Since Saint Patrick’s Day is almost upon us, I thought I’d dedicate this Fun Fact Friday to some legends from the Emerald Isle.   No, I’m not talking leprechauns or The Blarney Stone. I’m talking something a little on the darker side: Faeries. When I say “faeries, I don’t mean the adorable little winged things your kid wants to be for Halloween every year that they’re not a princess. I mean the mischievous creatures from Celtic mythology that were definitely not as nice as their Disney-created counterparts. More specifically, I want to talk about two of the most dreaded types of “fae folk:” banshees and changelings. The Banshee The term “banshee” comes from the Gaelic for “woman of the faery mound” or simply “faery woman,” so while some legends describe her as a spirit, others put her in the category of “faeries.”   The “faery mound” refers to what are thought to be burial mounds found dotted all over the Irish countryside. ...