Nov 24, 2014
I couldn’t possibly be more honored or excited to be the IT Cosmetics Blogger of the Month for November. I love everything that IT Cosmetics stands for – creating clinically proven, innovative beauty products with skin loving ingredients to provide you with serious beauty solutions designed to give you the power to look and feel your most beautiful!
This month, I created a beauty tutorial featured on their Facebook page. It’s my Naturally Pretty Everyday Eye Makeup featuring some of my favorite IT Cosmetics products.
Here’s an accompanying video tutorial with application techniques.
PRODUCTS USED IN VIDEO
Bye Bye Under Eye™ Anti-Aging Concealer
Bye Bye Lid Lines™ Primer
Naturally Pretty Eyeshadow Trio in Pretty in Nudes
Tightline™ Full Lash Length Mascara Primer
Your Brows but Better™ Skinny Pencil
CC+ Lip Serum in Under the Mistletoe
This set makes an awesome stocking stuffer!
It’s Your Turn: What’s your favorite IT Cosmetics product? Share it in the comments!
Registration for the Winter/Holiday Style Me Pretty Challenge is open through Thursday. Sign up now for the lowest rate and get your winter wardrobe shopping list plus 21 days of cozy outfits and dressy holiday party looks. Get more info and sign up HERE.
Nov 20, 2014
Thanksgiving is a pretty big deal around here. We host every year and have extended family over for a feast that takes days to create. Needless to say, it’s a lot of work but totally worth it too. My parents spend six months of the year in Texas beginning each October so Thanksgiving is the kick off of many family festivities that we enjoy while they’re here.
This year, I’ll be roasting two turkeys and baking six pumpkin pies, in addition to making our traditional dressing and pitchers of cranberry spritzers. My sisters usually handle the rest of the sides while my husband and brothers-in-law will be readying the couch for some all-day football watching.
I feel incredibly blessed to be able to share this day with my family. We have so much to be thankful for – another year of good health and togetherness being first and foremost.
My Thanksgiving Day outfit this year comes courtesy of Lucky Brand. I love to be comfortable yet look effortlessly put-together when I host dinners at our home. To me, this outfit achieves that goal perfectly. The stretch corduroy jeans are comfortable and forgiving, while the red ochre color screams fall. This cream colored Tuxedo Top in Nigori is incredibly versatile and one of my new favorite pieces in my wardrobe. But the pattern and colors of the diamond Ikat printed scarf are my favorite; it’s just festive enough and brings the whole outfit together.
[Scarf: c/o Lucky Brand/Shirt: c/o Lucky Brand/Pants: c/o Lucky Brand]
I’ll be combining these pieces in other outfits throughout the rest of fall and winter. These cords come in five different colors; I’d love to add a few more pairs to my collection.
It’s Your Turn: What’s your Lucky Brand winter/holiday wardrobe must-have? Tell me in the comments and you’ll be entered for a chance to win a $100 Lucky Brand gift card! Visit the Lucky Brand website and follow on Twitter.
Sweepstakes Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
- Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
- Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
- Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
- For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 72 hours to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 11/19/14 – 12/18/14.
Be sure to visit the Lucky brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!
Nov 19, 2014
It’s time for another Q&A Wednesday! Every month, I open up my Facebook page to your questions about style, beauty, blogging and life and choose a few to answer here. It’s a fun way for us to get to know each other better and for you to get answers to anything you want to know.
November Q&A with Alison
Q. Please help my eyebrows! They are way too thin and I don’t like the shape. What tips do you have for eyebrow rehab? – Laine P.
A. Well, Laine, I can definitely relate. For years, I abused my brows by overwaxing and plucking them. Until one day, they wouldn’t grow back! I had a big bald spot in my brow above my left eye. A makeup artist at a photo shoot totally transformed my brows by drawing in the hairs individually with an eyebrow pencil and then she told me something life changing. Well, maybe not life changing, but definitely brow changing! Take Biotin daily to grow back overwaxed eyebrows. I tried it and sure enough, they finally started to grow back after about a month.
My other secret weapon is IT Cosmetics Brow Power Universal Eyebrow Pencil. I honestly don’t know where I’d be without it. It works for all hair colors, you just use pressure to make it darker or lighter. I use mine to draw in individual hairs and it’s amazing! Try this in combination with the Biotin and you’ll soon be loving your brows again. After they grow back in, go get them shaped up professionally.
[IT Cosmetics Brow Power Universal Eyebrow Pencil]
Q. Due to a recent medical issue, I’ve gained some weight around my mid-section. How can I disguise it with clothes? – Lesley
A. My winter go-to is a tunic and leggings, especially from Thanksgiving through Christmas. You can wear a loose fitting tunic on top and close-fitting leggings on bottom to accentuate your lower half. Always remember to keep your proportions right by wearing loose or tight on top or bottom, but not on both. This outfit combo should see you through your medical issue and keep you comfortably in style this winter.
For some inspiration, here’s a post I did with A Week’s Worth of Leggings Outfits.
Q. What’s your biggest pet peeve? – Kelly
A. Negativity and complaining. We all have a choice of where to focus our thoughts and attention. If you’re always complaining about something, you can’t make room for anything positive in your life.
There is so much in this very moment to be thankful for. Every one of us is blessed in many ways and we all have a CHOICE about where to park our minds. We can focus on negativity and complaining or we can view life through the lens of what’s good and right. One of my favorite quotes is this:
It takes as much work to be miserable as it does to be happy. Which one will you choose today?
Here’s another gem that I saw on Facebook this week. It’s all about perspective.
Why is this so near and dear to me? Because I haven’t always had this perspective. I know that it takes HARD work to get out of negative thought patterns but I can also tell you it’s worth every bit of it.
Q. What are your thoughts on cosmetic procedures? I’m thinking of having a little work done but live in a small town and am afraid of what people might think. – Anonymous via E-mail
A. Dear Anonymous – If something makes you feel pretty, then go for it. Who is anyone else to judge? Of course, I live in an area where it is more mainstream, but that doesn’t really skew my perspective. I’ve seen it overdone, I’ve seen it done well. I, for one, don’t see anything wrong with a little Botox now and then. If your situation calls for something more, then by all means, you know what’s best. 🙂
Q. How do you mix your patterns? Today I wore polka dots (subtle), stripes and a floral scarf. What is too much? – Ida
A. Hi Ida! Sounds like you’re already a pattern mixing expert! My rule is up to three at a time. Some of my favorite combos are:
- Plaid, Leopard and Stripes
- Stripes, Floral and Polka Dots
- Leopard, Stripes and Polka Dots
Here’s a great graphic from History in High Heels with more combos.
Q. What are some current styles for casual dresses for Fall and Winter? – Kathy
A. Dresses are such a simple way to look instantly put together, Kathy! For fall and winter, I’m a big fan of simple knit shifts and sweater dresses that you can pair up with patterned tights, scarves and ankle boots. Here are a few that fit the bill perfectly.
[Two Tone Dress]
[Cowl Neck Sweater Dress]
[Leather Trim Knit Dress]
That’s it for this month, thanks so much for your awesome questions! I’ll be back again in December to answer some more.
The Winter/Holiday 2014 Style Me Pretty Challenge opens in two days! Sign up to get your winter shopping list plus 21 days of outfits – including some dressy holiday party looks! Get more information HERE.
I FEEL PRETTY
It’s the day of the week at GYPO where we celebrate what makes us feel pretty. Whether it’s a new outfit, hairstyle, or makeup, the I Feel Pretty link up is about anything and everything that makes your life prettier. Even if you’re not a blogger, you can still play along. Just tell us what made you feel pretty this week in the comments! 
There are just a few simple rules:1. Follow GYPO. (Bloglovin‘, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest)
2. Link up your pretty post.
3. Link back to my blog (using the button above or your own link).
4. Visit other pretties. That’s it, now go have some fun!
Nov 17, 2014
The Winter/Holiday 2014 GYPO Style Challenge is almost here! Registration opens this Friday, November 21st.
Leggings and ponchos and boot socks on footsies, tunics and fur scarves and boots for your tootsies, sparkling sweaters with rhinestones that bling, these are a few of the winter challenge things!
Wouldn’t it be GREAT to have one less thing to worry about this holiday season? If you join the winter style challenge, you’ll wake up every day knowing EXACTLY what you’re wearing that day. Better yet, your holiday party outfits are ready to go! No more looking into your closet not knowing what to wear or wandering around the mall not knowing what to buy. All the work is done for you.
If you’re new to GYPO Style Challenges, they’re an affordable way to make a personal style service accessible to every woman. I provide a capsule wardrobe shopping list of basics plus 21 days of outfits created from the pieces on that list. You’re free to shop where you want and spend as much or as little as you’d like. A lot of women find that they have some of the pieces in their closets already.
What’s Included:
- Your Winter/Holiday Wardrobe Shopping List – A list of winter/holiday wardrobe essentials with links to recommended items plus a downloadable PDF to print off and take shopping with you.
- 21 Days of Daily Outfits – A different outfit combo each day created from the pieces on your shopping list. Outfits are released at 7:00 p.m. ET the night before so you can have it ready to wear the next day. NEW for this challenge – You get the dressy holiday outfits at the same time as the shopping list. No waiting for them to be released.
- Facebook Group – Each style challenge has it’s own private Facebook group where you can show off your style, share shopping tips and make great friends. Most participants agree that this is the best part of the challenge!
What type of outfits will they be?
The Winter/Holiday GYPO Style Challenge includes cozy, casual outfits for the busy woman on the go, plus a few dressier outfit combos perfect for just about any holiday party or event.
You’re free to shop where you want and modify any of the pieces or outfits to suit your comfort level and style.
It’s totally risk-free, if you sign up and feel it’s not right for you, I offer a money back guarantee. You have two weeks from the release of the shopping list to request a full refund.
Here are some sample outfits from the challenge.
[Embellished Sweater/Pencil Skirt/Patterned Tights/Gold Clutch/Booties]
[Fair Isle Cardigan/Layering Tee/Skinny Jeans/Fur Scarf/Riding Boots]
Will I Have to Invest a lot of Money into the Shopping List?
It’s really up to you how much you want to spend. If you participated in the fall challenge, many of the pieces will be reused in this challenge. A lot of the other pieces will already be in your closet, I’m just showing you different ways to pair them up. If you decide to buy new items, you’re free to shop at your favorite stores and spend as much or as little as you want. Shopping list recommendations will include items from Target, Loft, Nordstrom, Land’s End, Boden, Old Navy and other stores with both online and in store shopping options.
Does this challenge build on pieces from the other challenges?
YES! This challenge builds upon the Fall Challenge. There are even a few pieces from the Build Your Wardrobe Basics Challenge. I try to always include carry over pieces from each challenge to save you money.
Winter/Holiday Challenge Timeline:
- November 21st – Registration opens.
- November 27th – Regular registration closes at midnight ET. Late registration opens.
- November 28th – BLACK FRIDAY! – Shopping list release at 12:01 a.m. ET. Your dressy outfits will also be released at this time.
- December 7th – 27th – Outfits are sent out at 7:00 p.m. ET each evening.
GYPO Style Challenges make GREAT gifts! If you enroll one of the special women in your life in one, I’ll send her a personalized gift message from you.
If you have any questions at all between now and the time registration opens on Friday, feel free to leave them in the comments or e-mail me with them. I can’t wait to share this special holiday challenge with you!
Nov 14, 2014
Ponchos and wraps are an easy way to update your fall and winter basics. Throw one on as the top layer over your favorite jeans and top and you’ll instantly look put-together and on trend. They look great with skinny jeans and riding boots or ankle booties, layered over a button down or long-sleeved t-shirt. Add a printed scarf and you have an outfit formula that’s sure to be one of your new favorites.
This fall, I’ve been living in this ruffled wrap. It adds just the right amount of cozy warmth on the days when I don’t need a heavy coat.
[Ruffle Wrap: c/o Wallis]
Here are some other Pin-spired ways to wear ponchos and wraps.
WAYS TO WEAR A PONCHO
[1/2/3/4]
TRY THE TREND
[Black and Cream Wrap]
[Stone Ruffle Wrap]
[Cream Cowl Neck Poncho]
[Ribbed Poncho]
[Asymmetrical Fleece Wrap]
It’s Coming…
Want even more ways to style a poncho or wrap for winter? Then you won’t want to miss the Winter/Holiday 2014 Style Me Pretty Challenge. We’ll be styling ponchos, leggings, fur scarves, embellished sweaters and much more. Stay tuned for a winter challenge announcement on Monday!
