Category Archives: Photos

Running and Sunning

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We finally got a camera that takes great pictures like the one my friend Jan uses for her fantastic Mommy/ Cooking Blog, now we just have to learn how to use it. It’s a slow process, (I often fail at lens cap removal) but it’s fun to learn something new.

Here are a few snaps from our trip we’re still enjoying.

This is my perfect hubby, Mike. I took this photo right after he completed his 12th marathon. He ran a quick 3:20 and still managed to smile a little through the pain.

After Arizona, we headed over to Orange County for our second annual beach stay-cation. This is a photo Mike took last night of our first sunset here, we try to take a sunset picture every night. I rotate the sunsets on my desktop so I can think about them when it’s freezing in Denver.

We’re here with our dogs Meatball (left) and Frisco, our furry little children who love their beach time. Who wouldn’t?

Shades of Grey; Buying the Same Colors Over and Over Again

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My day makeup routine is surprisingly sparse and muted, but for the occasional night out I like to punch it up a little. I had about 10 minutes to freshen up last night and I didn’t feel like going the distance with a smokey eye so I decided on a bold pink lip with a flushy matching cheek. I was a little surprised because when I looked for a brighter lip color (which I rarely wear) in my personal arsenal, there were very few choices. What I did have though, were many versions of neutral pink and beige. Here’s what I’m talking about.

With a few exceptions, it all basically looks the same.
Whew – I remembered that I had this Jane Iredale Lip Fixation in ‘Devotion.’ 

I paired the bright pink with a neutral beige liner to tone it a bit.

Ta da. I’m wearing very little eye makeup actually and let the lips and cheeks do create the look.  Oh – an no those aren’t false lashes (like everyone asks) I’m still using Latisse. 

I’ve already written about Iredale’s Lip Fixation long wearing mineral lip color/gloss but I really want to drive the point home that there isn’t another long-wearing naturally formulated solution that works this well. I only added a bit of gloss midway through the night, the color stayed on perfectly and kept its intensity so well that it needed to be removed with my other makeup before bed.

Last night yielded two thoughts: One, I’m banned form buying another pink or beige gloss – I have more than enough. Two, punching up a look isn’t just about the eyes.

The Beautiful, Blushing Bride Kassie with Photography by Studio JK

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When one of my favorite brides of all time chose one of my favorite photographers of all time, I knew I was going to love the end result. This picture is by Studio JK, the excellent-as-always photography duo here in Colorado from a recent wedding where I was the Makeup Artist.

Kassie and I decided on a punched up eye using neutral brown shadows and black liner, a deeper-than-usual variation of her daily routine. Her big beautiful eyes also allowed my to use my favorite wedding lash, Ardell 120 for a dramatic, feathery lash that’s perfect for pictures.

Now this is a bride.

Nothing says ‘bride’ like rosy pink cheeks, so I swept Estée Lauder’s Pink Kiss Signature Blush across her cheeks focusing on the apples to give a blushing look that isn’t too precision.

Stila’s Long Wearing Lip Colors are still my go-to for stay-in-place color that doesn’t dry your lips out. It’s so dry here in Colorado, so chapped lips are a standard year-round event. These will stay on for hours without bleeding or fading while adding a good amount of moisture that isn’t typically present in a long-wearing formula.

I can’t wait to share more photos as they come in, but if I were you, I’d click HERE to see photos of a recent wedding shot by Studio JK. I wasn’t their Makeup Artist and I have no idea who the couple is, but the pictures are stunning (double rainbow and sunset shots, incredible!) His photography is epic, we’re lucky to have him here in Denver (and I was lucky that he photographed my recent headshots.)

When considering wedding makeup, remember to be as bold as the gown, the day, and the event itself. Don’t hold back, let that glamour flow.

How to Wash Your Brushes

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If you’re reading this, you need to wash your brushes. It’s something we all forget to do, even me. I remembered to wash my own personal brushes yesterday because I was already washing the ones from my kit (which I do after every use). What really works for me is washing one or two at a time, just the really dirty ones right after I use them in the morning. You’ll get the worst ones taken care of first, then you’ll develop the pattern of washing brushes more often. I took a few photos of my brush washing session to show you how to really work the makeup out from your brushes.

Jane Iredale’s Brush Shampoo is what I use, but you can also use Baby Shampoo. Squirt a bit into a glass and fill it halfway with warm water.

Swish the brushes around in the soapy water for a few minutes but don’t soak them, you can get too much water into the brushes which ruins them.
An eyeliner brush, one of my worst offenders. Once they have too much product on them they don’t line evenly. Keep them really clean and you’ll have a perfectly straight line every time.

If I’m using a long-wearing or waterproof formula with my brush, it’s harder to work out with the soap alone. I’ll roll the brush tip into a dab of olive oil to work the formula totally out, then use soap after to wash the oily reside away.

All back to normal!

I rub each brush into my palm until it foams, then I put it under running water while rubbing the brush until it comes clean of makeup and soap. Don’t stand your brushes straight up (or else the water will go into them and they’ll crack), just lay them flat overnight and let them air dry.

…And the water afterward.

Dirty brushes aren’t just filled with makeup, they collect the oils from your skin (and dust from the air) which you put back into your makeup. It’s a really gross cycle. Take a few extra seconds and get your brushes as clean as you’d like your skin to be.

Lady Gaga Concert Photos and Set List from Monster Ball Tour

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Mike surprised me with Lady Gaga tickets a few weeks ago, so we caught her show at the Pepsi Center Wednesday night here in Denver.

It was of course as visually entertaining as you’d think, she told a story through her set changes and costumes that took you from her home town NYC, to an Enchanted Forest, and back to the Monster Ball. It was incredibly fun and we got to be right up close!

Tattoo blazing in a signature bodysuit.

Her dancers seemed as happy to entertain us as she did, they were fantastic.

Her headpiece and wings were made with moving parts so the fan would come together and separate.
A glimpse at the mechanics behind the costume, you can see a battery pack of some sort.
All bloody, just loving her fans.

My favorite shot of the night by far.

She sings and dances the whole time, she’s the real deal.

Her makeup, hair, costuming, everything was spot on and the show felt like you were on an adventure.

Set list:

Act 1 – City

Intro

Dance in the Dark

Glitter and Grease

Just Dance

Beautiful, Dirty, Rich

Vanity

The Fame

-Puke Film-

Act 2 – Subway

Love Game

Boys Boys Boys

Money Honey

Telephone

Speechless (on the fire piano)

You and I

-Jump Film/ Tornado-

So Happy I Could Die

Act 3 – Forest

Monster

Teeth

Alejandro

-Little Monster Film-

Pokerface

-Apocalyptic Film-

Act 4 – Monster Ball

Paparazzi

Bad Romance

She puts on a great show, catch it if you can!