Guest Posting: In the Fashion Lane

Today I'm guest posing over on my girl Mandy's blog In the Fashion Lane.

I stumbled across her blog over a year ago via another mutual friend and have been following her ever since.

Mandy is a true fashionista but shows it in a real girl way.

She mixes high and low pieces and always manages to make it look so effortless!

I'm still working on that.

Check out  my top five Fall must haves for this season.

These are all pieces I've either recently purchased or plan on buying in the next month to incorporate into my current wardrobe.

What's on you must have list for Fall?

Switching Things Up : Fall Hair

One of the best things about pregnancy was the fact that my hair finally grew out.

And right now it's brushing the tops of my shoulders which for me, is pretty long.

I've had short to medium length hair all my life (with a few episodes of extensions in between) but I've had the same hair since we found out I was pregnant last summer.
The same hair.

As someone who switches hair colors/ styles like she buys shoes that is a long time.

No color or highlights just trims for the last year.

A year people!

With the weather (hopefully) cooling off and my need for change imminent I've decided to switch things up.

I need some hair!

Thankfully my BFF is also my hair dresser.
So she is always up for the random late night text about hair, color, cuts & styles.

I'm thinking of getting a full weave (meaning lots of long extensions)
Upside:  I don't have to worry about my hair so much for a few weeks.

Downside:  Baby Ninja likes to pull hair.

But I'm dying for a change. Like absolutely desperate.

Here's what I'm thinking:

Last time I had it long it looked like this:

A little dark with some reddish highlights.

Just long enough to put up but still fun to play with.

Not sure I still want it to be too dark lest I get frustrated with it come December but I have got to do something.
So I'll be scouring the internet all day for further inspiration and then heading to the salon tomorrow.
Stay tuned.....

Do you switch up your hair for fall?

Trendsday Wednesday : Subtle Smokey Blue

The number one makeup look I get asked about the most is the smokey eye.

Over the years I've found that everyone has their own perception of a smokey eye and what

The beauty of this makeup look is that it can be done in so many different ways with so many different colors!

Today I'm showing you how to play up brown eyes with one of the fall season's hottest colors: Cobalt Blue

I found this image on Pinterest (originally from a French makeup lover) and it spoke to me

The image on the left is the inspiration and the image on the right is someone else's interpretation

I love how the blue has hints of purple in it as well as a distinct cobalt liner and that the rest of the face was kept clean and neutral.

That keeps the look easy enough to wear on a night out or an afternoon play date in the park. 

To vamp it up for evening I would suggest adding a brighter blush and some false eyelashes as seen in the image above.

My interpretation of the 'pinspiration'

1) Begin by lining the upper eyelid with a deep blue pencil or cream eye shadow

To give it the creamy feel I simply wet the brush I used: M.A.C shadow in Contrast and also added Tilt by M.A.C

2) smudge the liner around with a fluffy brush or q-tip

3) Using the same liner/shadow line the lower lash line underneath eyelashes and smudge with q-tip 

4) Apply a shimmering purple/blue color all over the lid and blend into the crease ( M.A.C. Plum & Purple Haze mixed with Red Ginger shimmer purple &shimmery blue)

5) Line water line with dark brown (M.A.C. coffee eyeliner) or black eyeliner (M.A.C Smolder Eye Kohl)

6) Apply eyelashes for added effect (Ardell Natural lash)
Keep the rest of the face clean and fresh by using a hint of blush in the same tone as your skin color ( I used M.A.C in gingerly) and a nude lip gloss or lipstick

All the makeup used:

   

*side note: I first primed my lids with Urban Decay's Primer Potion
**please keep in mind that skin tone changes the overall intensity of this look.

Tell me - is this a trend you would ever try?

Eye Makeup Magic: 2012 Emmy's

The Emmy's were last night and while I don't generally watch award shows anymore I do love me some red carpet action.

Last night did not disappoint.

It seemed everyone brought their "A game" and rocked the carpet in their own way.

I know many blogs will be talking fashion and shoes but can we just talk about the makeup for a minute?

I mean dang!

These ladies killed it.

Here are some of my favorites:

Kerry Washington: Nearly Nude

This photo doesn't do her justice (in my opinion) live on the red carpet she was simply glowing.

She just killed it for me.

I loved her strong simple eye and muted lip.

She amped up the glam factor by adding lashes but kept the rest subtle and stunning.

It was understated elegance at it's best.

Lena Dunham - smokey eye smize

I didn't love the dress but her smoked out smize was A-MAZING. If you looked closely you could see it was a deep blue/black and with her light brown eyes it was just the right touch.

Ginnifer Goodwin: Sultry Stare

The dark eyeliner + thick lashes and totally clean/fresh face was a huge hit for me.

I am a huge fan of this type of look

Claire Danes: Lined to Perfection

Clearly there is a trend here with my love of the dark eye, barely there lip and flushed cheeks.

I thought this mama-to-be looked radiant in the color of the night and again with the dark emphasized eyes.

Kelly Osbourne: Vampy Lip

She got it exactly right. Rocking the season's hottest bordeaux lip color the reality star vamped up the carpet in various shades of purple from her head to her orchid eye liner.

Were there any Emmy looks that rocked your world?

Socialized

I've finally succumbed and joined Twitter last night!

I'm kind of excited (although I have no idea what I'm really doing) and have delusions dreams of some of my favorite fashionistas and cool peeps following and retweeting me!

Be sure to follow me so we can chat and I can let you know what's going on in the world of makeup mmkay?

I'm @SweetPeaAD!!!

See you in the twittersphere!

My Work Elsewhere: Lucky Magazine

Happy Monday Lovelies!

Y'all know that I'm part of the Lucky Magazine Community and often contribute posts on there right?

Well they have published yet another post by yours truly and I'd love it if you'd go over and check it out!

Timeless Transitions

This week's post is all about transition dressing and the pieces I feel are timeless.

With all the crazy weather in all parts of the country I think it's important to have pieces in your closet that will take you through the seasons effortlessly with out sacrificing your personal style (or budget).

Stay tuned - In a few days I'll have a post showing you how to rock that cobalt blue eye makeup on a regular day!

p.s. I actually just ordered the tan wedge booties from Sole Society on Saturday!

Playing Around with Color

Saturday I met up with my friend Monica, a working mother of two, to play around a bit with a look I saw on Pinterest.

Pinterest Inspiration

I wanted to give her something similar that was fun but not so bold that if she went to run errands later it wouldn't be too overpowering.

This is what we came up with

my version

Here's how it worked:

1) Prepped eyes with a primer (Urban Decay Primer Potion)

2)  Eyelid: Used a cream base (M.A.C Flighty)

3) Layer on the color

- M.A.C plum

- Urban Decay Metropolitan

- M.A.C Trax

4) Crease- Too Faced Socialite / M.A.C- Trax, blend to mix with eyelid 

5) Pumped up the eyelid colors with Red Ginger's mulit shadow palette by mixing a deep blue and bright purple shimmer together

6) Inner corner: M.A.C Tilt topped off with more of the turquoise blue from Red Ginger (used the same colors on the bottom of the eye)

7) Line upper lid with M.AC Pencil in Kohl / go over that with M.A.C Carbon shadow

8) Lined lower lash line with M.A.C eye pencil in Coffee

9) smudged M.A.C Trax,Urban Decay's Metropolitan & M.A.C Plum eye shadow under eye

10) Topped off with two coats of Maybelline's Falsies mascara

Eye brows were filled in with M.A.C Stud eye brow crayon

Highlighted face with Smashbox Halo Highlighting Wand in Gold

Cheeks: 

M.A.C Gingerly topped with NARS Orgasm

Lips:

 M.A.C Spice Lip Liner

Too Faced Celebrity Meltdown Lipstick

M.A.C Oh Baby Lipglass