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Sunday, January 10, 2010

Kelly Brook Hairstyle

Kelly Brook is a British actress and fashion model, born on November 23rd 1979.

Kelly is all woman and underlines that with her voluminous hairstyles. Her hair is long and comes with natural wave. Such a gift of nature does not require much styling, but a lot of TLC and nourishment to stay healthy and beautiful. Regular trimming of the ends and moisturizing treatments are essentials. Among one of Kelly’s more elaborate do’s was a nod to the 50’s pin ups with super short rounded bangs and the side sections pulled toward the crown.

Kelly Brook is both a model and actress. She has been on the cover of "In Style" magazine. At the age of 16 Kelly began to model. She has been in films such as "Deuce Bigalow" & "House of 9". Her overall look is cute and stylish.

Hair Style: Kelly Brook's hairstyle is thick and lustrous. She has so much volume giving this style a romantic feel. This retro 50's hairstyle is long, thick and curly and looks so very classy. Her retro look is very stylish.

Motivation Mondays and Lately I'm Loving (Holy Grail Products!!!)

Don't get too excited ladies, I don't have a real "Motivation Monday" interview to post today, but I will update you all on how I am doing with my fitness. Yesterday I posted that I finally fit back into size 4 pants which I haven't done in a few years (I'm typically a 6, which is great, but I wanted to get back down to a 4 because I was carrying some extra bulk in my thighs and hips.)

I was frustrated because I had been working out so much and didn't feel like I was getting results-but now I know that's not true.
I think as women, we are often too critical of our bodies to see the changes happening before our eyes.

I know now that all of my hard work has indeed paid off.
I can also safely say I am addicted to working out and I have some advice for ladies looking to get fit this year: DO NOT count on a gym.

That's right. For years and years every time I wanted to get fit, I would join a gym and go and do the same tired old cardio and weight machine routine. I didn't even know what I was doing, what my goals were...I was just lost, going from machine to machine mindlessly (I'm not saying this is how everyone who's new to the gym starts off, but that was me.)


If you're like me, and you get stuck in ruts, get out of the gym and get into a pilates studio that only offers pilates, or one that offers both pilates and yoga.

I go to
Your Body Center in Houston, and they have some special pricing going on until January 31st if you are in the area and would like to try it. I also started to see a personal trainer at River Oaks Fitness. Mike is my trainer and he is awesome. He told me during my last session that he actually trains me at the level he would train someone who has been training with him for 2-3 months. It made me feel good to know I was really being challenged and that my pilates classes have made such a dramatic difference in my core strength.

For some reason, I get EXCITED to go to pilates classes, yet I dread going to the gym. I actually might consider just getting an unlimited monthly membership to the pilates studio and having that as my main workout, but I still want to have a gym membership so I can do cardio. Then again, I could always do cardio outdoors or at home.

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind gyms, I just don't feel a sense of direction at the gym. I don't feel I have a plan when I'm there. In class, you just follow the instructor and really challenge yourself, much like you do with the coaching of a personal trainer (which I also recommend if you can get a good deal.) Check out
Groupon for personal training deals in your city.

Anyways, that's just my advice, take it with a grain of salt. This is just what works for me and gives me results.


Before I go, I want to talk about a few products I am loving and are creeping up to Holy Grail status (!!!!!!!)


1. Pureology Nanoworks shampoo.
I convinced myself I finally hit the deep end when I bought a $50 bottle of shampoo (okay, maybe it was $53 but it pains me to write that.) Let me tell you something about this shampoo. It makes me feel like I have different hair on my head. Like my old hair just "went somewhere else in the universe" and my new hair moved in. I don't know quite how to explain it, but my hair has a different...texture to it. It feels very smooth and just...different. I don't know if I can use another shampoo. The most amazing part is I never lose any volume. It's like the shampoo makes your hair more...manageable. Honestly, I don't even hate my hair anymore or think I need a major change. I feel my hair is different. I don't know if it's an "I spent $53 on this bottle of shampoo so it better be good" delusion or if it's real...but it FEELS real. If you are as insane as me, and want to spend that much to try it, I highly recommend it. How do I justify it? I only wash my hair ever 3-4 days...so I figure the bottle will last me long. Uh-huh. Yep. Plusalso, on Sunday at Starbucks the girl taking my order told me that I had gorgeous hair. So it MUST be working...right? right?

2.
MAC Feeling' Good Lip Conditioner (SPF 15)
MAC's website describes this as a "light neutral beige" but to me it looks like a soft baby beigey-pink...and we all know I'm a sucker for baby pink anything. I bought this because I was looking for a lip conditioner with SPF (for the vaycay) and for something with a teeny tiny bit of color. It is so good. Not only is it actully a good product (makes my lips so soft and moisturized) but the soft color actually gives my lips a really natural apperance but with a little something extra. Most of you know I'm not really a "product on the lips" kind of person...but I love this so much I reapply like a psycho all day. Love love love. I've been waiting for MAC to come out with a light color in these, because I own the "Petting Pink" one and don't love it as much (too much color I guess.) I really recommend this balm if you love nude, light pink and beigey glosses.
3. Bobbi Brown Gel Liner in "Black Mauve"
Okay. I know I said I would never cave and stray from my beloved MAC Fluidline gel liners...but but but...this beautiful, shimmery eyeliner caught my eye at Neiman Marcus and it was just...love at first sight. Plus...BB liners stay on like crazy. I am confident I could jump into the ocean, swim around like a mermaid and emerge, with my liner perfectly intact. I had to start using eye makeup remover. Serously, it's that good. I have even been neglecting my precious MAC "dipdown" liner because I love this color so much (it's not black or mauve...it's more of a dark brown with a shimmer to it.) It is described on her website as a "deep chocolate mauve" yum! If you are looking to try a new liner and you need crazy staying power...run don't walk to a BB counter and I promise you won't be sorry!

Thank you so much for reading!

Before you go (if you like) tell me about your fitness goals and progress and let me know if you've discovered any awesome products I should know about (just please, for the love of God, don't tell me if it's another $50 shampoo!)


xoxo,


Veronika.


Do Women Who Wear Makeup to Work Make More Money?

I just got the latest issue of Marie Claire with Christina Aguilera on the cover, and I wanted to share with you a little tidbit (though I know it will be a tad controversial) on page 84:

Women who wear makeup earn up to 30 percent more than those who "cant be bothered," according to a study in the American Economic Review.

This is a direct quote from the magazine. I found this interesting, especially in light of my blog post last week about Men and Makeup, and some conversations on The Nest where we've talked about wearing makeup and nice clothes and the correlation to professionalism. I think you can probably figure out what my opinion is on this.

Again, I have to make the distinction here between "makeup that enhances" and "makeup that masks/is overdone." No one looks good with caked-on overdone makeup, especially in the workplace.

I would consider a woman who came to work with her skin even, some mascara and lip gloss to have put effort into her appearance. I want to be clear that I don't qualify "making an effort" or "being polished" as a full face of makeup, and nothing less.

I think every woman could benefit from a little bit of makeup. There are very few women I know that can go completely bare-faced and still look polished. Skin tone unevenness, blemishes, under eye circles, very pale lashes, etc...can all cause someone to look tired, washed out, etc. If you have perfect skin and look awake and awesome with no makeup, more power to you and God bless your genetics!

Using a bit of makeup to even things out and make eyes look open and bright isn't a bad thing to me. Especially if it can be done in 5-10 minutes and make such a dramatic (and positive) difference in your apperance.


Do I think women who wear makeup should make more money? Absolutely not. People should make money based on their skills, knowledge, talent, ability to excel at their job...but do I think women who dress nicely and style their hair and use makeup to enhance their looks are perceived in a different way? Absolutely.


You may disagree, and that's ok. I guess I'm just of the belief that the way you present yourself in the professional world matters and says a lot about you.


Have you ever heard the expression "dress for the job you want, not the job you have?" I think it's important to show your company and your superirors that you care about your image and how you represent the company.

I don't think anyone appreciates someone coming to work looking like a slob.
Am I saying you can't possibly look polished without some makeup on? No. But I've seen people who looked like they rolled out of bed and came to work, and it just makes me think they don't care about looking professional.

If a woman came to work with no makeup on, but her hair was neat and she was wearing appropriate, professional clothing, of course I wouldn't think anything of the fact that she didn't have a stick of makeup on...in fact, I would admire her for being able to pull it off.

What do you think? Are you surprised by the statistic from the Marie Claire article? Do you wear makeup to work? Do you think it matters how someone presents themself at work and in the professional world? Let me know in the comments below.

xoxo,

Veronika.

Weekend Haul: Bows, Sparkles and the Gorgeous Jacket I Had to Have

Today, my husband and I went shopping for some new work clothes (for him) because he just got a new job! (yay yay yay times infinity!) I am so happy for him and proud of him.

I also picked up a few items for myself (which I'm sure isn't surprising.)

Let's begin:
This tee from Forever 21 was just irresistible. I know it is a little bit holiday-esque, but you know I can't resist a sparkly bow. The shoulders have a tiny bit of padding in them, and it actually makes the shirt look very flattering when on.

This jacket from White House Black Market had me at hello. I was walking out of the store after trying on a zebra print bikini top (I know, I know)...and I immediately fell in love with this lovely jacket laying on one of the tables. I stared at it longingly, and was too scared to look at the price tag, as some of WHBM's jackets can often cost more than $200. I nearly squeeled when I saw it was $98. Which is still a lot...but but but...I don't own even one "suit" style jacket (well, I own one, from Zara and I hate the way it fits.) This jacket will be a staple and just looks oh-so- good on. I can just picture it with some pearls...oh pearls.

Onto the details:
Ugh. So so good. We just belonged together. I will definitely have to do an OOTD post when I wear this. I got a size small, for reference.
This lovely military-inspired sweater from Forever 21 is another one of my favorite purchases. I saw it on the "return" rack area when I was leaving the fitting room and quickly tried it on. It looks incredible on, and I had to have it. The ruffles at the neck and hips just make it so feminine. It really is an incredible piece and feels well made. It cost $24.50 and I got a medium.

And because a shopping haul is never quite complete without some rosettes I also picked up this lovely rosette adorned top at Forever 21. I want to say it was $15.50 or $17.50. I like to layer these kinds of tees under simple cardigans to give the look a little some extra.

With my sunny vacation on mind, I picked up this pretty cotton dress from Victoria's Secret PINK, on sale for $19.95. It is actually quite long (most of their "dresses" are shirts on me.) I really love the bust detail. It makes the dress feel more special. I plan to wear it as a beach cover-up and with heels it could even look cute to wear to dinner.

Here is the bust, up-close:

I might be a little obsessed with zebra-print...so I also got this VS PINK tee (on sale.) I think it's a cute weekend tee and gym shirt:

It's supposed to fit loose and off-the-shoulder, but I got an XS because I liked how it looked better when it was more fitted. It was on sale for $12.99.

My zebra love continued when I went to Old Navy to pick up 2/$5 flip flops for our trip. I also got a pair of black ones with a slightly metallic finish:

Earlier this week, Chloe posted about these gorgeousValentino Couture Half D'orsay Bow Pumps.

I fell in love with them, but not with the price tag. You can see the ones she got here.

While browsing at DSW today, I stumbled upon these Me Too brand shoes that are somewhat similar to the Valentinos. I had a $20 off coupon so they came to $37.50. They are very very cute! If you are near the Galleria store here in Houston, they still have a lot of them left...mostly in sizes 7-9 and hald sizes, if I remember correctly.

(I forgot to take out the foamy things that keep the bow shape in the shoes.)

Yes, that is a *new* zebra print pillow. My husband thinks I buy too many pillows (and decorative boxes, as I mentioned in a previous post.) I got the pillow at Target last week, and when I came home with it my husband gave me his "I can't believe you bought another couch pillow you crazy woman" face. I promptly added it to the couch, and took two current couch pillows to the guest room (they matched perfectly.) That way, I wasn't adding more...I actually left our couches with less pillows (now that's quick thinkin'!)

Okay, this is totally gross, but because of the cold weather, my knuckles on both hands are cracking and bleeding because they are so dry. I despise hand lotion, so my options are limited. I've been using Eucerin cream at night, but it's not working. So I went to the Body Shop and picked up some of their HEMP hand cream. Hopefully it will make things better:

I am also happy to announce that today, I purchased some dress pants from Express. The reason I'm happy to announce it, is because today I bought a size 4 dress pant. I already have a pair of Editor's in a size 6...because that's all that ever fits me because of my hips. Today, I was able to buy a 4. It just proves that the way your clothes fit will show you the results of you fitness routine...because when I look at myself in the mirror, I am so critical, so I don't always see the changes as much. It was an exciting moment. Maybe it's just that style or something, but I was proud.

PSA: Marshall's Home Store has amazing and inexpensive yoga/pilates mats. I picked up one to take with my to the studio (they provide them, but I prefer to have my own) and I also got a thicker mat to use in my downstairs bedroom which I am going to use as a home gym (to do my workout videos.)

Here are the ones I got:
Did you buy anything this weekend? Let me know in the comments below. Also- have you been working out this year? How do you measure your results? Is it by how your clothes fit, how much you weigh, how you feel? Please do share!

Thank you for reading, and happy Sunday!

xoxo,

Veronika.

Friday, January 8, 2010

Keira Knightley Hairstyle

An excellent way to have a radical style that gives your face fragile beauty is with a Keira Knightley hairstyle. Long hair on the crown and front sections make style versatility easier while still keeping a softness around the ears to give a flattering look. For those who want to experiment with creative coloring this is also an excellent hairstyle choice especially for those with multi-toned high and lowlights. The ‘pageboy’ style bob didn’t start with Keira Knightley and many people have enjoyed this hairstyle. When worn straight with a fringe even by such Hollywood stars as Katherine Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe this hairstyle became popular. You will be gaining a look that is both elegant and sophisticated with a Keira Knightley hairstyle. The bob hairstyle is also something that can work with nearly every face and hair type. You can turn a bob hairstyle into something unique with your own influence with just a few slight variations.
Keira Knightley Hairstyle Tips

Many avoid a hairstyle like Keira Knightley’s because they think it needs to be the same length and color. Although you can change the shape of your hair without losing any of the length. Have you hairstylist cut some layers in your hair to do this. You can try various long, medium and short layers to make your bob hairstyle unique. The ends can flip out with contrasting hair color. Having a dark shade on top and gradually going lighter until you reach the ends is another hair color option.

You also have the option with a bob hairstyle of two great hairstyles with a single cut. You can either choose to wear the bob in a sleek and sophisticated method when going out for the evening and then you can choose to wear it scrunched up and messy when you are just running errands. Be sure your stylist cuts it heavy and blunt at the bottom by layered throughout to have this option with your bob hairstyle. You will need to make sure your hair is heavily textured to remove bulk and add volume. With a straight style you should use an extra large curling iron to give your hair shape. While creating body in the hair you should try to prevent the ends from curling. Have a little bit of backcombing to add life to your hair.

If you want to achieve the scrunched look for your bob hairstyle then you should use a dryer on the roots of your hair. Make sure you leave the ends of your hair slightly damp when you are done. Push the fullness towards the crown with a diffuser on your blower to gently scrunch your hair. Once you hair is completely dry add some texture paste and do some more scrunching. With a little backcombing the shape will be complete which will give you a messy yet stylish bob hairstyle.

The inverted bob hairstyle is one of the newest. This is when the perimeter of the hairstyle is tapered and kept close to the neck. While the crown has most of the height and fullness the back is typically more tapered and stacked. This hairstyle is relatively maintenance free which is a major benefit and yet you can still have a stylish appearance.

Our Wedding was Featured and the Most Amazing Necklace...Ever!

I have some exciting news. Some of my lovely readers may already know about this, but for those who don't: our wedding was featured in the Spring/Summer 2010 issue of Houston Brides Magazine.

I submitted some photos after our wedding and they ended up picking ours as one of the featured weddings. You can follow this link to see our feature, and the rest of the magazine online (we are on page 90-91)

Here is me, excited to finally get my hands on some copies!

And a shot of the inside (please ignore my goofy crazy-eyed smile!)

Needless to say, seeing your very own wedding in print is awesome. It felt like all of that hard work paid off. I have to give a special thank-you shout-out to my mother in law, who helped hand make more than half of the gorgeous Martha-Stewart style tissue peonies for my candy buffet boxes, and my beautiful bridesmaid and bestie Candice who also helped make a lot of the stuff by hand. They both helped create so much of my personalized items. I couldn't have done it without them! Advice to future brides: ask a friend or family member to help!

I'm glad I had a somewhat DIY wedding. It feels good to know that all of those little details and personalization made the day that much more memorable (at least for me, because I'm obsessed with details!)

In other news, my gorgeous necklace came in from Regina Pierallini. OMG. It is gorgeous. I saw the necklace on The Look 4 Less blog. It's a similar style to the Van Cleef and Arpels Alhambra necklace but without the 7-15K price tag (I did an online search and found out that's how much some of these necklaces go for.) I have always been drawn to that clover pattern and the length of the necklace (the longer, the better when it comes to my long torso.)

I was so thrilled to find the necklace on Regina's Etsy page called NYLightMetals. Unfortunately, it was sold out due to the popularity springing from the Look 4 Less blog. I emailed Regina, and she was so awesome and kind. It turns out she had found a few more of the necklaces in her studio and mailed one to me immediately. It was love at first sight.

Here is the photo from Regina's Etsy page. Love love love. So pretty.

Here it is on me:
If you love this necklace as much as I do, check out Regina's Etsy page and see if you can score one as well. It was 45$. Love. They come in different colors too. I would love some matching stud earrings. I am going to see if she makes or sells those.

Ok onto other cute things. These flats. From Target. $19.99. I needed flats for work. I wanted ones that were not too casual. I saw these and fell in love. I wore them with my Gap Always Skinny jeans to dinner tonight and no matter what I wear them with, they just seem to work. So versatile and awesome. Love. Lord knows I can't resist a cute bow!

I got a size 10, for reference. My feet are huge (I like to think they are in proportion to my height, to make myself feel better.)

And...because I am in a wedding kind of mood, here are a few of my fave shots from the big day:

Ok...maybe I went a little overboard there. Sigh. Memories. I still watch our wedding video sometimes (not the whole thing.) I just like looking at all of the pretty flowers. Speaking of flowers, my mom and grandma were awesome and took most of our wedding flowers back to our home after the wedding.

This is what we came home to:


It was fun to have all of those flowers in the house. I even dried my own bouquet out and still have it. There were more, but I won't bore you with even more photos.

Thank you so much for reading. For those still planning their wedding my advice is: make each detail count. You won't regret the time and effort!

xoxo,

Veronika.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Keanu Reeves Hairstyle

Drawing inspiration from the hair style trends of our favorite stars and celebrities has become a national past time. One such star hair style is Keanu Reeves. His shapely hair style, boyish good looks and movie star persona is irresistible to women of all ages and quite the catch for those ladies attracted to the sensitive types.

TO GET THE LOOK: If your hair style has lost its curb appeal take a hair styling lesson from Keanu and watch the young ladies do a double take when you pass by and women twice your age look you over. To get the look, let’s take it one step at a time; starting with a custom style cut and shaping.

LET’S SHAPE IT: To jumpstart your style, start with a contoured silhouette with full tapered sides and stylish collar length neckline. The crown is cut short to stand up with mid length sideburns and a few love locks to cover a receding hairline. This "eye catching" do’ suits most face shape and will almost style itself. With a few adjustments (tweaks) you can easily find the ideal length and shape for your style.

LET’S STYLE IT: To put your style in motion, start with a dab of Gillette Flex Gel for style support or nothing at all. Just run either through damp hair and comb in place to dry au natural, or give it a quick once over with a blow dryer for a full tousled look. To put you in control of your wild side, when dry add a little-dab of Flex Gel through the top for a cool messy spiky look and you’ve got Keanu Reeves star style.

LET’S ADD WHISKERS: Nothing can reshape a face or add a dramatic look like facial hair. Sideburns for example can be full, close, long, short or narrow. This simple addition can make large ears appear smaller or a narrow face wider. Whiskers can make a weak narrow chin stronger, a double chin disappear, cover a ruddy complexion or add a few years to a baby face and will defiantly add a rugged, stylish and artsy look. Let your whiskers grow out over the week end and use a clipper to keep it looking like a five o’clock shadow and you’ve got Keanu’s rugged look.

LET'S ADD A TAN: What's a star hair style without a Hollywood tan and accessories. Having spent hours in a makeup chair, Brad knows how good you can look and feel with a golden tan. To avoid the risks of sun damage, many actor's get their golden glow with a transparent waterproof skin "bronzer" or brush on powder bronzer
for a look and feel of a natural sun tan. Top it off with a black T-shirt, distressed blue jeans, paired with a black Cashmere blazer, canvas tennis shoe's and Ray Ban aviator sunglasses and your styling.

NOW, LET’S COLOR IT: Actors change their hair color often for the many roles they play so dying their hair is no big deal. If your hair is graying prematurely around the edge take five minutes and wash it away with Clairol natural instincts for men. For a natural look use a shade closest to your natural hair or eye brow color. To keep it up, the new growth is re-colored with every other hair cut. This extra step will cost a few bucks but trust me, it’s a small price to pay for a youthful look and all the attention you’ll get.

This “eye catching style” has everything you’re looking for to put the spot light on you. The tapered neckline stylishly over the collar with a few “love locks” across the forehead puts a receding hairline stylishly undercover. Just finger comb and go or a quick once over with a blow dryer turns the style bar up a notch. The color has washed the gray away and looks so au natural it will have some wondering "does he or doesn't he"? With this “babe magnet” style the ladies are sure to find your flirtatious moves and seductive pick up lines irresistible. So be prepared to take names and cell phone numbers the first time you cruise through the mall with Reanu Reeves star style.