Redheads

Muse {redhead}

Week after week, I see a lot of different hair colors that breeze through my salon.  Sterotypical maybe, but sometimes we do notice that the colors do match the personalities.  Last week was my week for redheads which is a bit surprising, pleasantly though, because I have two little girls that are gingers.  They are still too little for us to know if their personalities will go with their hair types, Piper is 2, Sutton is 18 months.  But every now and again I see myself thinking, she's got a temper, it must be that red hair!  I also find myself day dreaming some days about what they will be like when they grow up.  This is how I picture my little redheaded muses.


Blondes are noticed, but redheads are remembered.

loves to throw cookouts but doesn't actually like to grill  • Balks at the color green regardless of stereotype • always wears red lipstick • dances in the rain even when she isn't wearing rain boots • PAINTS HER NAILS pink every chance she gets • sprays her stationary with her signature scent • HAS A SIGNATURE SHADE OF red LIPSTICK • loves the smell of an old paperback book • is witty but never judgmental • IS SMART, but never  know-it-all • goes with her gut no matter what  • IS QUICK TO BLUSH, BUT quicker to make you blush • always laughs when she trips over her own two feet but will be the first to help you up when you trip over yours • 

"Of course, part of the problem with redheads is that there aren't enough of them. They make up just two percent of the population. So they're pretty extraordinary. Redheads are too numerous to be ignored, too rare to be accepted." Grant McCracken

Redheads by elisha-1 featuring neon shorts

Life's Little Moments

My friend is moving today. 

Me and Steven at the Garden Party

 I remember the first time I met him was over the phone.   We were put in touch through a friend that said we absolutely had to meet.  We talked on the phone for 15 minutes, and it would've been completely overwhelming for anyone but us.  The thing that sticks out in my mind the most is when he said"there is enough room for lots of stars in the sky, it makes it shine brighter". I won't ever forget that.  It has created a unity in my heart with other people, a peace of mind to compete with myself not others.  

Etsy, Mesa Dreams
This reminds me of him because to some it may appear that he is a wanderer, but he's not, he is just enjoying the view.   He knows exactly what he wants, we just have to wait for his moment.

 He taught me to not be afraid of anything, it will work itself out, to stand up for what I believe in, and that only I am responsible for my own energy, no one can take that from me.

He taught me that if I need to change something then I should.  

He taught me how to spell "tomorrow", too. I always struggled with that word, lol.  

He taught me that everyone deserves one bad day,

 but there is no tolerance for two in a row.  

He left me with a peace, a peace that when times get tough, 

strike a yoga pose, no matter who is watching.

To lay on my back, kick up my feet, and drink a glass of wine.  

Sometimes two. 

 Sometimes three.

Quote from Julia Roberts and Richard Gere in Pretty Woman, reminded me after one night of talking #'s. 

He showed me how to hang out the window unashamed and scream what you believe, 

even if its just to say I love you.

He reminded me what it's like to have to hide to talk on the phone, because we simply couldn't stand to say goodnight, and if our husbands heard us, we'd get yelled at.  Ridiculous.

He encouraged me to care enough to vote, it directly affects me, when it affects those that I love, 

even if it means getting jury duty.

He proved to me that $$ helps but it isn't the end all be all.

He explained to me that there a lot of people outside of the south that have never heard of the "bees knees", and it truly doesn't make sense anyway. 

He reminded me what it was like to have a friend again, it had been a long time since I let anyone in.  

For that I am forever grateful. 

"What's Your Beaute Routine?" Series: My Morning Routine

 Now that I have shared my nightly routine, I want to share my morning regimen. 
Barefaced, not my favorite look by far.  I take the "no make-up" look very seriously.  Actually so seriously, I rarely try it at all. I mean, why would I?  It only takes me about 20 minutes for my morning regimen—and yes, I DO do it every time I leave the house—even to get the mail!  I’ll bet Gwyneth, Brooklyn, Katherine, and Renee  all wish they’d bothered to do so too!

bare vs. glam

Gwyneth Paltrow

Brooklyn Decker

Kim Kardashian

Katherine Heigl

Renne Zellweger

While doing this post I started feeling a little self conscious about sharing the "real"me.  So I started googling other bare faced girls to do a comparison, to make myself feel better.  Shallow you may say, but necessary.  And I feel better bare, but not perfect.  Perfectly imperfect actually.  

Beaute for thought: (I've been doing my homework)

  33 percent of women won’t leave the house without makeup…
60 percent won’t go to the office without makeup
10 percent won’t let their partner see them without makeup
Nearly 50 percent of women say they feel better with a full face of makeup
and 25 percent are convinced that if they didn’t wear it, they’d be passed over for a promotion
(via)

Need I say more...........lets get this day started!


First, I take my hair down from the night before and brush all of the knots out with my Mason Pearson brush. It's the best brush for any type of hair, but especially someone with extensions. 

From there, I use my solano blow dryer to directionally blow dry my hair to give it volume. 

I use my  gold n hot curling iron to do base curls, curling away from my face. 

I then pin my hair with duck clips, curling away from my face. 

For make-up, my first step is becca primer, followed by YSL  teint radiance #7 foundation. 

Next, I use Nars "Laguna" bronzer, followed by  YSL's Touché éclat #2, red bull in a tube.

I line my eyelid, under the top lid with my favorite Jane Iredale pencil. 

My shadow go-to is  Jane Iredale's Oyster  Supernova .  I brush the oyster not the entire lid and the supernova in the crease. 

YSL makes the best mascara, Shocking Faus Cils #1. 

Becca lip liner is one of my favorites, because it is a liner and highlighter in one. 

I take the duckbill clips out and then brush out curls.

I use Bumble & Bumble hair powder to add volume. It's a dry shampoo that gives my fine hair a ton of texture and "grip", like  hair spray but way better. In a pinch, my motto is, 
"Powder what shows, wash what stinks."

In less than 20 minutes, voila. 

Do you want to share your morning routine? I would love to showcase you, your favorite tips, and favorite products! Email me here to learn more!

Chic Chat on Color

Yesterday morning on Chic Chat, I talked about hair color and why boxed color is so bad. Typically, women go dark in the fall and winter and want to go blonder, or at least lighter, in the spring and summer. Box color can cause serious damage to your hair and hair color. Corrective color is something that Blush specializes in, so I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. Believe me! Listen as I tell them my advice when it comes to box color!

Just in time for summer, a few of my favorite blonde girls.

Have you had a horrible experience with boxed color? I would love to hear your story!

Sunny Days

It's the perfect day for the beach. Don't forget your Sun Bum!

 Don't forget to Follow my blog with Bloglovin

image via

"What's Your Beaute Routine?" Series: My Nightly Routine

As a hair and make-up artist, a mom, a business owner, and a girl that loves to socialize, I am asked a lot how I get ready everyday so quickly. It takes me no longer than 30 minutes every morning to get ready and out the door, because let's be honest, that is all the time that I have! 

This is the first post of a series that I am starting called "What's Your Beaute Routine." I am always so curious to see what products people are using, what works for them, and how they get ready every morning. First up, my very own beaute routine!

I take a shower each night instead of in the morning. This gives me 20 minutes to myself where I can wash away the stress of the day and relax before bed. I don't wash my hair every night, so I pull it up in my favorite leopard print shower cap so that it doesn't get wet.  Plus, it makes me feel a bit more glamorous!

Nightly Shower Routine

Clarisonic  cleans your face 6 times more effective than hand washing

YSL Temps Majeur Baume Nettoyant Exfoliating gel that feels better than the typical sandpaper stuff

Skintimate Shave Creme for dry skin.

YSL Youth Liberator Cleansing Foam feels like a cream cleanser but has a lot of suds

Kiehl's Coriander Body Scrub with Exfoliating Glove

 I spray tan every Thursday and I love how this glove removes all of the dry skin and ugly left over tanner.

Kerestase Bain De Force and Masque Force Architechte

I have hair extensions and i love how this keeps them feeling soft. It's also reinforcing for highlighted hair.

Bedtime Routine
Tone with YSL Youth Liberator Lotion
Moisturizer and Tone with YSL Youth Liberator Serum
To prevent dark circles and puffy eyes YSL Forever Youth Liberator
When my skin is acting like it's a pubescent teenager, I always reach for Kiehls Blue
Herbal Spot Treatment.
Deborah lippman Rich girl hand and cuticle Creme:  Love this because it has an SPF!
Sara Happ- lip slip- To prevent cracked lips, this is a must!
Victoria's Secret Vanilla Lace: I've been using this since middle school, and I still love it.
Sonic Care is a must have- I am cavity prone and not committed to flossing.
Listerine whitening- I drink coffee, A LOT of coffee.

Stay tuned for my morning beaute routine later today! 

What are some of your favorite bedtime beaute routines? 

Chic Chat, 50 Shades of Grey, and Trish McEvoy

Every week, I always look forward to going on the radio and talking with Foz and Joceyln. 
I have been reading the book, 50 Shades of Grey, and it seems to be the topic of conversation not only in the salon, but also on the radio. Have you read the book yet? What do you think?

Back on the subject of beauty, I am so excited to tell you about the Trish McEvoy trunk show that Blush is hosting next week. We are having a DJ, macaroons, champagne, and tons of other goodies to welcome Trish McEvoy. You can call Blush to book your appointment for Wednesday, May 23rd or Thursday, May 24th.
 We hope to see you there!

Mother's Day

 Mother's Day is always bitter sweet for me because although I love being a mom and I love my three children dearly, I also think about my own mom and how much I miss her. My husband, Lee, always  makes Mother's Day so special because of this. This weekend was not only special because of Mother's Day, but I also celebrated my 7th wedding anniversary. 

Lee would not tell me where we were going or what we were doing except that I needed to have my bags packed and we were leaving Friday. After I finished my last appointment on Friday, I raced home to find one of my presents wrapped in a speeding ticket that Lee had gotten. My first thought was, "whatever he has wrapped up better be good!"

I was not disappointed when I opened the package and saw that it was a Spa Day at the Pinehurst Resort. We dropped the kids off in Raleigh and had a day with just the two of us, which was so nice!

We toured the historic Carolina Inn

and relaxed on the porches. 

After Lee and I spent time roaming through shops and having time just sitting and talking, we went to the Spa and had the most relaxing afternoon I have had in a long time!

As relaxing and enjoyable as the day was in Pinehurst, it was so good to see my babies again. 

On Sunday, we visited my mom's tombstone and took fresh flowers to her grave. 

It is so precious to see my children speak so sweetly to my mom's grave. 

Piper, Zander, and me snuggling on Mother's Day night. (Sutton was already in bed)

Sweet Piper after a long weekend away. This is what makes Mother's Day so precious. 

How was your Mother's Day? 

Do you have any Mother's Day traditions that you share with your family?

Remembering Momma on Mother's Day

 My momma said:

Has anyone ever told you that you looked exactly like your mother? Or that you sound like her? Or that they wished your mom was still living because she is the only one that could get away with spanking you as a grown woman. Well, I have. And I still think about her everyday in my work, in my beauty regimen, in my family, and in my sleep. Our mom’s paved the path of beauty for all of us andit’s time we listen. 

Some of my mom's beauty advice that I use daily consisted of:

 Use lotion everyday, the unscented kind that doesn’t overpower your perfume.

 Wear lipstick and heels regardless and you’ll never be under dressed.

 Always wear concealer, even if you have time for nothing else.

 Put your hair up, it makes everyone’s face look thinner

When you feel old or gross, cut your hair. That’s what they always do on make-over shows.

“The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It's the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows & the beauty of a woman only grows with passing years.”

― Audrey Hepburn

Inspired

It isn't very often I come across a magazine article that inspires me like the April issue of W magazine's Editor's Letter did last night. As I was trying to wind down after a long day, this article inspired me so much that I shared it with my closest girlfriends hoping it would do the same for them. We all flip through fashion magazine's or browse blogs, and at times what they consider beauty can blur our own opinions and principles. This article reminds us that beauty comes in all forms, although a little lipstick never hurts.  

The Beauty Principle

Today, the Universe of beauty encompasses far more than just pretty looks. It’s about making changes, taking risk, and, especially, about basking in the liberating power that comes from transformation. When we started discussing this issue months ago, Beauty Director Jane Larkworthy spelled it out for me. “Beauty allows you to express your inner self. Whether that means cutting off six inches of your hair, changing its color, experimenting with a red lipstick, or even just trying out an exotic new fragrance, beauty is a game women never get tired of playing.”

Case in point is our cover star, Jessica Biel. For years, Biel has had the reputation of being the squeaky-clean, all-American girl, but for W, she completely subverted her sporty tomboy image. In its place is a big-haired, confident woman who is clearly fully in charge of her body and sexuality. Her latest film, Total Recall, has Biel engaging with costar Kate Beckinsale in an intensely close physical fight. (“It could be two dudes,” is how Biel describes the scene. “We just happened to have long hair and looks and…other things.”) Be careful what you wish for, Justin!
Speaking of all-American, what does that phrase even mean anymore? American beauty is no longer a single, static idea but an ever evolving concept in which gender roles and race are continuously blurred. Looking back at 40 years of W magazine we realized that some of the most memorable images are those women who have made a statement with their unconventional looks. These It girls are socialites like the Miller sisters, models like Kate Moss, and most recently, movie stars like Michelle Williams, who has the ability to telegraph her innermost feelings with just a glance. 

What sets these women apart – and what all truly magnetic women share, as write Jim Lewis explains – is the ability to bring glamour into our lives.

Glamour has never been a problem for Nadja Swarovski, the very bubbly and blonde businesswoman who single-handedly transformed Swarovski’s stodgy image as a maker of glass figurines – not to mention road signs and rifle scopes – into a leading force in fashion and design. As writer Laruen Collins reports in “The Sweet Smell of Success”: “Catherine de Medici’s legacy was starting the Tuileries, Nadja Swarovski will be remembered as the cousin who saved the family business from bedazzled iPhone cases and crystal toucans.” Seeking a new achievement, Nadja is now delving into beauty with the launch of Aura, her first fragrance.

Last, but certainly not least, is the late, great, Eiko Ishioka, a woman whose name you may not know but whose work you’ve probably seen. Eiko designed fantastic costumes for films like the just released Mirror Mirror and Dracula (1992); outfitted performers for the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics in 2009, and worked on advertising campaigns for Japanese brands like Parco and Shiseido, among many other projects. While writing the piece, Eiko’s greatest achievement was to always be surprising and original. It’s a goal that W, and all the most interesting women of our time, can relate to.

Chic Chat: the Met Gala

The Met Gala, one of fashion's biggest nights, was on Monday night. Not only do the models, celebrities, and socialites bring their best fashion to this event, hair and beauty trends are also set that night. 

Yesterday on z107.5 Chic Chat, I spoke about some of my favorites looks from the Met Gala. 

Coco Rochas took a fashion risk in a vintage Givenchy pants suit that is rumored to have once belonged to Elizabeth Taylor. She matched the ends of her hair with the fuchsia top. Fashion statement or faux pas? I loved the idea of it, but would have loved the look if the extensions would have faded into a light pink instead of the fushia. We offer extensions at the salon so you can achieve a similar look. It may not be an everyday look, but for a fun event or a weekend away, pink, or any other color hair,  can be fabulous!

One of my current favorite hairstyles in the top knot. Rosie Huntington Whiteley looked gorgeous in this hairstyle. I also love that her eye make-up was fierce while she kept the rest of her make-up palette clean and soft. 

As I mentioned on Chic Chat, I wore this hairstyle to an event on Friday night. It's a look that has to be worn with confidence, and although it was out of my norm, I loved it!

Camilla Belle looked like old school Hollywood royalty in the vamp look. 
From the hair, to the make-up, to the gown, she was at the top of my best dressed list. 

Her look is right on spot with YSL's new Summer lookbook which we just got in at Blush. The lips are dark, the eyebrows are strong, and the skin is clean and glowing. Not so sure you can pull off a dark lip? Come in and we will match the right color for your skin tone!

Did you all watch the Met Gala? 
Who is at the top of your best dressed and best beauty list?