Styling My New Cut | Two Ways

WhatIWore: Since starting my new hair regimen (I’m about 3 weeks in!), I’ve been playing around a lot with second day hair. In the past, I would have hid under a hat or pulled it into a pony tail but now I’m finding it actually almost looks better on the next day! Plus it’s a lot of time to wash, dry and style it and it’s damaging to strip away all of those good oils too often. 

Today I had a little extra time to style my hair and this is how I think I’ll wear it for New Year’s Eve. A little bigger, a little more bouncy. Not sure what our plans are this year, but if the past is any indication, I’ll be snoozing by midnight. We’ll probably just have dinner at a friend’s house and go low key. That said, I’ll still take the opportunity to spend more time on myself before we head out the door. 

Click through to see how I did it!

For soft curls…SEE THE VIDEO HERE!

In short:

• Full Shampoo and Full Condition hair as normal
  
• Towel dry and spritz on prime style extender spray
  
• Blow dry completely.
  
• Divide top layers from bottom.
  
• Use a 1″ barrel curling iron in smallish sections, curling hair away from the face
  
• Twist each section while it’s hot to give it a little more curl
• Give it a spritz of hairspray and let down the top section of hair.
  
• Curl in same method as bottom layers.
  
• Lastly I flat iron my bangs to give them the slightest round shape
• Lightly finger comb it out.
  
• Give it one final spray and off you go!
  

Now! How I’ve been playing around with second day hair…

SEE THE VIDEO FOR MY SECOND DAY HAIR HERE

After a late(ish) night out, the next morning I often want to just get myself to the diner STAT and don’t spend more than 10 minutes to get dressed and do my hair and makeup (plus I have a toddler to chase!) Here’s how I revived my second day hair:

• Brush it well BEFORE you go to bed to help spread any natural oil down the hair shaft.
  
• In the morning, divide hair in sections and spray Perfect Hair Day dry shampoo at the roots. Let it sit for a bit and then brush your hair again. I like to flip upside down when I do this so I it looks a little poofy when I flip back up, but I love the volume!
  
• Next I brush it back into place and finger comb it so it’s not one perfect smooth section. A little messy is good!
  
• Now I take my bangs from the side (and grab a few strands of longer hair) and create a little braid. I give that a light spritz and pin it to the side. 
  
• Ta da! A cute, easy way to style without plopping on a big ol’ hat. 

Heads up! This post is the second in a series with my sponsors Living Proof. They’ve provided me with all of the product so I can share the results with you. 

What I Wore | Christmas Plaid

         

WhatIWore: I really can’t get enough of wearing this scarf this season (see other OOTDs here, here and here)! It’s soft and cozy, but what I really love is the traditional buffalo check plaid. I was just thinking today if I could buy up loads of these on clearance at the end of the season, I’d make a bunch of throw pillows to decorate with from December-February (let me know if you spot an amazing deal!)

Every time I go to wear this boots, I make a point of pairing them with something on the conservative side. I’ve played around with skirts and I think it’d work in the evening with an oversized sweater, but not a daytime mommy kind of outfit in my small Midwestern town. Worn here with a longer sweater (for a little more tush coverage) and plaid button down here, I think they look great! 

When: December 16, 2015

What:
Hat: Self Made
Lips: NARS Red Lizard
Scarf: J.Crew Factory
Button Down: J.Crew Factory (last year, but similar here)
Sweater: J.Crew Factory (love it, have it in two colors)
Pants: J.Crew Pixie (similar)
Boots: Rockport, gift

Where: Christmas Shopping with Felix

52 Thoughts | Young at Heart

Next week I’ll turn 33 - the same age my own mom was when she had me. Maybe it’s becoming a mom myself, but birthdays seem less and less important as I get older. Can I just float in numberless zone for a while? Do I really have to be a grown up?

I’ve always been kind of a silly person. When I was growing up, my brother and sister and I would routinely be told “NO VOICES AT THE TABLE” because we’d talk in all sort of different pitches (usually the irritating high ones). Just typing this I laughed out loud thinking back to it. Now that the main person I talk to each day is a one year old, I’ll happily admit I use a lot of silly voices now too (when you read the same books over and over, you’ve gotta spice it up, right?).

Kids are so honest with their emotions - they just don’t know any other way! They haven’t been socialized to be embarrassed about ripping ginormous farts or ashamed of the yogurt all over their faces. They’re like - sure this purple tee shirt looks good with these brown sweatpants! Do these socks match?! Who cares!! As long as they’re not tired or hungry or wet, they pretty much exist in a pure state of joy. Felix thinks it’s hilarious to hide around corners and laughs hysterically when he peeks his head around and makes eye contact. It’s such a little thing, a little game, but it makes him ridiculously happy! I love this about kids and I love the moments in my life when I can do the same. 

Being young at heart isn’t just about being able to roll around on the floor or playing pretend. It’s about giving up the idea that you can’t enjoy yourself with abandon because someone else is watching. Don’t you miss those days? When you just did what you wanted because it made you happy? Or dressed the way you wanted before you were socialized to be a certain way? Children are so authentic because they don’t try to fit in at all. They just are the way they are for this precious time in their lives.  I’m so grateful to live with a little one who reminds me of it everyday. 

So as I turn a year older, I hope at heart, I can act year younger. 

Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you
If you’re young at heart.
For it’s hard, you will find, to be narrow of mind
If you’re young at heart.

You can go to extremes with impossible schemes.
You can laugh when your dreams fall apart at the seams.
And life gets more exciting with each passing day.
And love is either in your heart, or on it’s way.

Don’t you know that it’s worth every treasure on earth
To be young at heart.
For as rich as you are, it’s much better by far
To be young at heart.

52 Thoughts is a year long series to explore topics that matter to the women - the things you might talk about with your best friend or wish you could discuss more often.

Gift Gorgeously | A Beauty Lover’s Guide

WhatIWore: I’m a sucker for a great gift set. I love the chance to try out a new selection of products and they make for wonderful gifts for others. And don’t tell anyone on my list but sometimes I split them up as little package decorations or stocking stuffers too! Plus things in miniature are just so. much. fun!

For this gift guide, I’m pointing you to my post sponsor Ulta Beauty and their #giftgorgeously selections. I picked these sets from their holiday gift guide at ulta.com/gifts under the Beauty Superfan personality (i.e. “for the gal who believes life is too short for one just lipstick!”)

Featured above: 

Urban Decay NAKED Basics Palette - I’m recommending this set because I’ve used the NAKED palettes for a long time and they’re perfect for the kind of gal that likes to play up her eyes but isn’t going to be wearing bright blue or purple eye shadow. Multiple tones make for great highlighting and adding depth. My sister will love this in her stocking! 

Bare Minerals Love at First Kiss Lipstick Set - If I could only pick one piece of makeup for my purse, it’s absolutely a lipstick. This set is showing sold out online, but try their Bare Minerals Lovely Lips Unlocked kit. Perfect for a bestie who loves to play with pops of color. 

IT Brushes for ULTA - Ever notice how professional makeup artists have dozens of brushes? I love having multiples for applying different shades of blush or eyeshadow. These are super soft and come in a nice case. Great for any woman that enjoys doing her makeup. 

Butter London Shadow Clutch Palette - Here’s another set of neutral shadows - this time with a little more shine - perfect for an evening out! The case is chic too! (Perfect for a niece or for a Secret Santa exchange) 

For part two of my post, I took a little field trip up the road to get some tips from the pros on how to apply everything.  I’ve been wearing the same simple black cat eyeliner for years and I need a push to try something new. I also asked for a little help with my brows, as I have a scar running through my right eyebrow, which I like to fill in.

I’d never been to the Greenwood Ulta Beauty location (it just opened this past September) and it was really bright and beautiful. The staff greeted me at the door and after a quick tour I started my brow consultation. I loved the experience (thanks Cassie!) so much that I think I’ll make it a semi regular part of my routine (it was an hour drive both ways, so not something I can manage all of time). I also really liked the products used, so much so that I bought both a Benefit Instant Brow pencil and the Benefit Gimme Brow gel to use at home. They were a splurge but I feel like a trillion dollars with my perfectly arched and filled in eyebrows!

Next I had a makeup application which turned me on to Lancome Grandiose Mascara. Again, a splurge but I felt so wide eyed after my makeup artist Amber applied it.

It was such a huge treat to get away for the morning and to be dolled up. Wouldn’t a makeup consultation be a fun gift for a women who needs some pampering? I would have loved something like this as a mom to a newborn when I had some serious dark circles and no clue how to make myself presentable! Big thanks to Ulta Beauty for making this day happen! 

Heads up! The product featured in this post, along with the salon services I experienced were gifts of Ulta Beauty. My instore purchases were with my own dime and I can whole heartedly recommend everything mentioned in this post!