5 Beauty tips/discoveries of 2009

I am admitting my complete beauty ignorance by posting such a thing, but I've realized that not everything that seems common knowledge actually is. Some of us do live under rocks, and we appreciate when someone can tell us how to look like a ridiculously lovely fox instead of, well, what we look like when we use guesswork. Some of these are old stand-bys and others I've just recently stumbled upon.

1. Wavy Celebrity Hair

image source

I can't believe I didn't do a search for it sooner, but I've been craving long wavy hair forever and while my hair is naturally "wavy," it never looks like I should audition for ANTM. I honestly can't remember the site I found the instructions on, but they were super simple.

Prep: blow dry hair. Heat up curling iron. Spritz a little hair spray on to help the curl stay. Wrap hair around the barrel DO NOT use the clamp. [Simple step that I missed out on all these years. I thought the shirley temple curls would fall into gorgeous waves. Not so.] Alternate directions for more natural waves. You can set the curl by pinning them up with bobbypins but it's not a necessity.

Now that I have long hair (thanks to the wedding in October!) I think I'll be doing this all the time.

2. Black Eyeliner

image source

Ever since I saw The Mummy, I wanted black rimmed eyes that didn't look like a raccoon's. I've realized more and more over the years that not every look works for everybody, and outlining my eyes with an eyeliner pencil or liquid liner doesn't end well. I think it's the sensitivity of my eyes and maybe the moisture in my eyes and skin, but it doesn't stay put for long.

I've tried at various times in my life lining the inside of my eyelids but I always felt like I was doing something you shouldn't, because jabbing makeup into your eyeball seems a bit counter intuitive.

That being said, I'm glad that my very expensive quest for wedding makeup led to laura mercier's black eyeliner. You add water to an eyeliner brush (I bought a cheap flat brush at target and have no complaints though I'm sure a makeup artist would be able to tell you some advantages to the real thing), and dab into the watercolor like block. You line the inside of the eyelids, and voila. The color stays in place and your eyes look amazing. I should probably take some pictures of the difference between lining inside and outside on me. Maybe this post will get an update.

3. DIY straight across bangs

image source the best thing about this pic might be the fact her skirt is made of yo-yos.

Pretty sure I read this tip in Glamour or Elle, but to trim your bangs (which I have required on an off over the past few years by deciding, often in the wee morning hours, that I will once again have straight across bangs) you can simply take the hair you want to cut into your hand (dry) and trim off the end. Not short enough? Trim a little more off.

It's been magical for me, since I had bangs in middle school (it was the big thing, people told me I would look good with them, and I proceeded to have a big ol' velcro roller induced bang curl on my forehead that looked atrocious) and I made the mistake of cutting them myself inbetween haircuts. They were always uneven and I ended up taking too much off. Too bad I don't look like audrey hepburn with short bangs.

Something else I found funny, I went to a secret santa exchange with mallory and ginger, and ginger asked us to raise our hands if we'd ever dated a guy in a band. Garrett has been in bands before, so I did. Then she proceeded to tell us that Stuff White People Like has the theory that a girl with bangs has dated a guy in a band. Pretty sure they decided that solely based on Zooey Deschanel but I'll take it as a compliment.

4. Smoky Eyes

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I knew the basic 3 colors (light allover, medium and dark close to the lash line) but I really think the quality of the eyeshadow makes a  difference here. My benefit eyeshadow is so much easier to smooth on than my almay 5 color palette with various blue/grays and now I know to go a lot higher up with the medium and dark colors than I used to. Another benefit of going to a makeup counter for wedding makeup. They don't mind helping you out, so ask questions.

5. Clear Skin

image source

Benzoyl Peroxide has been a friend of mine for years, and as ludicrous and online cultish as it seems (to me at least), there's a website, acne.org/regimen.html that contained the secret to getting the most out of it. It's pretty simple. I'd been using every benzoyl peroxide product I could find for years because it did more for me than salicylic acid and the like, but my skin was never perfect. I tried differin gel because I figured prescription meant better.

The basics of the acme regimen are a gentle cleanser (for example, the orange neutrogena bars), 2.5% benzoyl peroxide, and moisturizer. The most important part is the B.P. and unlike the on-the-spot product implies, you use a lot of it and everywhere you get pimples. It's kind of expensive ($6 for a little tube) and I found an off-brand at my college's pharmacy that I used for a while, but either way, it's worth it. You can even buy it on the acne regimen website. The key is that it is 2.5%, because the 5 and 10% are more drying and irritating on your skin.

Oh yeah, and it bleaches fabrics so I use white sheets and towels. Worth it, and I like white.

Fabric Yo-Yos: Super Easy DIY

I was browsing jennfunique’s blog (she’s the super fab [headband maker] I featured a few weeks ago) and saw a cute inspiration post with fabric yo-yos on it. They’re nothing new (when I asked my mom if she’d heard of them she laughed at me as if I’d asked if she’d heard of bellbottoms), but in my crafting ignorance I’ve never made them or known how easy they are!

photos by me unless otherwise noted.

I decided to make some for the EAD blogger gift exchange so here’s a guide to making them yourself and what you can use them for!

1.     1. Using a round bottomed object and pencil or other non-ink marking implement (I used a china marker) trace a circle onto your fabric. I achieved quarter sized yo-yos with the bottom of a 20 oz glass root beer bottle. Depending on your project, you may want a larger circle.

2.     2. Cut out your circle.

3.    3.  Fold down about ¼” of fabric and weave in and out with a needle and thread around the edge. Keep the stitches fairly close together (no more than ¼” apart), the larger the space between stitches, the larger the opening in the center will be.

      You can use a running stitch to work a little faster.

4.     
      4. Once you get back to the beginning, pull the loose end of the thread to form a little drawstring pouch. I usually sew through the top to secure the yo-yo before I tie it off. Then, flatten it and start on the next!

Use your yo-yos to:

decorate clothes, bags, headbands with a cluster of yo-yos

cover a blanket with an all-over yo-yo motif

image source, A Jelly Girl

make a garland to decorate your computer or doorways

(this is the strand I made for Rebekah of EAD!)

Sew some together and add a metal ring or two to attach to a necklace

They are so so easy and fun to make and an excellent way to use leftover fabric scraps. I’d love to hear what you end up making with them! And if you love the look but aren’t feeling crafty, check out etsy for some yo-yo gifts.

Emerge Global Jewelry

In spirit of handmade Christmas present giving and encouraging support of individual artists and etsy sellers, I'd love to introduce you to Emerge Global. Emerge Global is an organization founded by a high school classmate of mine, Alia, to help girls who have become pregnant due to rape or incest heal and generate savings through jewelry-making.

images provided by Emerge Global

Here's a little Q&A with the founder and a little eye candy as well...

When did you start the Emerge Global organization?

In the summer of 2005, on a tsunami relief trip to Sri Lanka, I witnessed a reality I was not equipped to handle... a reality where girls, some as young as ten years old, were cast out of their own families, denied the right to formal education, and locked away for their own protection due to pregnancy resulting from rape or incest. That summer, I founded the Emerge Bead Program as a way to provide the tools these girls needed to become confident, respected, self-reliant members of society.

In 2008, what began as a simple beading workshop for 18 persevering girls lead me to found Emerge Global, a registered U.S. non-profit organization with the goal of empowering young women around the world who have survived abuse to rediscover and celebrate their personal beauty, develop their self-sufficiency, and become leaders within the own communities. 

What kinds of help are available to the girls in the program?

The Emerge Bead Program enables Sri Lankan girls, aged 10-18, who've survived abuse and sexual violence to become jewelry designers through a curriculum that emphasizes self-esteem, leadership, and business knowledge, while generating savings for their futures. Design and entrepreneurship are combined to develop confidence, teach life skills, and strengthen their community’s capacity to effect change. Emerge helps girls develop tools that will allow them to proactively redefine their own lives and the lives of others through rehabilitation, education, economic empowerment, and community development.

How much are the products and where are they available?

The girls creations range from $16-$22 and can be found on our online jewelry boutique at: http://emergeglobal.etsy.com/Additionally, with the support of former program participants, we have recently begun to do some commissioned work, especially for weddings. You can see some of the pieces one participant designed for a wedding on our blog: http://emergeglobal.org/fieldblog/2009/10/emerge-wedding-jewels.html

How many girls are a part of the Emerge Bead Program?

We've had more than 125 girls take part in the Emerge Bead Program so far. In 2008, some girls made as much as $660 for their individual savings accounts. This year, the Program benefited 98 girls and some participants generated as much as $1,800 in personal savings, which will support them, and in some cases their children, as they start their adult life outside of the center in which they currently live.

How many pieces of jewelry have been sold so far?

To date, we've sold nearly 3500 pieces of jewelry, totaling approximately $70,000. Nearly half of this amount came from sales in this year alone. 

How much of the proceeds from the jewelry goes to the girls?

The jewelry, each piece unique, is sold in the United States, Sri Lanka and online with 50% of the selling price going back to the girls' individual savings accounts so that when they turn 18 the girls have money to take care of themselves and, in some cases, their children. The remaining 50% covers the cost of materials and product distribution, so that Emerge Global can support the healing of more survivors. 

What's would you like to accomplish next for the program?

So far, our Program has had incredible results. After we finish one more version of our program curriculum, I'd really like to scale our program to work with more girls across Sri Lanka. One day, I'd like us to work with girls around the world. There's definitely the need and I believe we have a powerful solution.

What advice do you have for someone hoping to start their own non-profit organization?

It's very important to tackle an issue that you do not only care about but that you want nothing more than to  improve. Stay in touch with that motivating factor. Starting a non-profit is not an easy job, especially if you are young. Keep the individuals you work with and the improvements you are fighting for in mind in every decision and every challenge. You'd be amazed how easy it is to get swept up in daily demands and issues that seem irrelevant. Knowing yourself well and knowing, believing and breathing that motivating factor will help to ground you and inspire you, I promise. The precious moments I have spent with girls of Emerge have helped me not only get through challenges in building an organization, but my own personal challenges as well.

Besides buying jewelry, what are some other ways interested parties can support Emerge Global?

There are lots of ways to get involved with Emerge. As a non-profit we rely on donations to support these girls and our programs every day. You can donate online here. Donations, even as small as $5, make a tremendous difference. We also accept volunteers (to learn more or apply to be a volunteer, please email: volunteer@emergeglobal.org). Finally, if you are a budding Fashionista who is eager to spread the word, you can become an Emerge Agent and sell Emerge jewelry by hosting a jewelry party (email our U.S. Director, Ellen, at ellen@emergeglobal.org).




Thank you, Alia!  I'm really excited about this amazing organization and can't wait to buy my first piece of Emerge jewelry!

Featured Local Vendor, Birmingham, AL : Sonia Davis Designs

I originally met Sonia through twitter and was immediately impressed with the invitations I saw on her website. I was pretty excited that she lives here in Birmingham, I'm all about supporting local people that you can have a relationship with! It makes Birmingham a much more fun place to live, and I really do feel that community vibe even though Birmingham is a really big city (I'm exposing myself as a country mouse just a little bit).

Sonia recently purchased a storefront in downtown Homewood (not too far from Savages, so now you have an excuse to visit both!), Inflations and Invitations. I had to go see it in person, so here are some images from the trip and an interview with tips for brides!

images by Spindle Photography

How did you get into graphic design and invitations? 
I was always into art when I was younger, so eventually when it came time to decide what I wanted to do, I thought Graphic Design was a good choice for a career where I could be creative.  I worked in marketing as a designer for a national bank and during that time my sister got engaged and asked me to design her wedding invitations. From there, I started going to bridal shows and my business started to grow by word of mouth. I then decided to take the leap and design full time.

What's the story behind your storefront in Homewood? 
It's actually an old house that was converted into a retail space. The store has been here for over 25 years (could be more) from what sources I have talked to and it used to just sell balloons. Over the years, there have been a few owners that have changed it slightly and its now a balloon and invitation store. My husband and I purchased the business last year and remodeled it and have added more gifts and stationery, as well as my custom invitation design to the store. 

What is the design process like start to finish? 
The initial step is to meet with the couple and discuss their personal style and get a feel for what they like and dislike. We discuss location, bridal fashion, colors, & flowers they are using in their wedding, and I ask them to bring clippings from magazines of things they like. Next we talk about what pieces they want to include so I can get them a quote. Pieces can range from a invitation, reply card, or direction card to favor boxes or labels. I walk them through the basics, Invitation and Reply card, then see what other stationery items they might need. Once they get pricing from me and are ready to move forward, I present at least 3 design options for them to choose from. Once the design is chosen and changes they want have been made, we move forward with the other pieces and start the printing process. Printing can take anywhere from 2-5 weeks, depending on the complexity of the pieces.

some examples of original designs by Sonia

What tips do you have for brides who want a custom design for their invitations? 
Wedding invitations give your guests the first glimpse of what your wedding will be like. So let you invitations be a reflection of your day, down to every detail.  If you are a contemporary bride, don't be afraid to do something different or non-traditional.

How soon before the wedding should your order your invitations? 
If possible, I would say order them 4 months in advance, and try to send them out six to eight weeks before the wedding.

What factors most affect cost/what are some ways brides can cut cost without sacrificing quality invitations?
A great way to cut cost is to do a reply postcard instead of a traditional folded card with envelope. You save on the envelope and weight for your invitation postage. You could also cut out the inner envelope as well. There are also different printing methods that could cut cost, if you love the engraved look but don't love the price, Thermography will give you the same raised look and feel but cost much less. 

how amazing are these wrappers? 

What are your favorite invitation trends this season? 
I am seeing a lot of Wedding Logos, not your traditional monogram, but more of a logo design. This is a great way to "brand" your wedding and get a complete look throughout your pieces, even down to favors. I also love playing up destination weddings. Designing the invitation to look like a plane ticket or vintage postcards are a fun way to get your guests excited to travel to your destination wedding.

•••

How cute is Sonia's shop?! Even if you aren't getting married, Inflations and Invitations carries some really great notecard sets., journals, and can print announcements/invitations for other events. And, they still have balloons! (I'm definitely planning on getting some big round ones for a photo shoot soon!)

Plus, Sonia is available nationwide so non-Birminghamians don't have to miss out. 

Yes, I realize that's not a word.

For more eye-candy visit Sonia's website or her shop at 

2856 18th St S, Homewood, AL 35209!

Crazy animal hair hats

from naginoda.com

How insane are these "hair hats" designed by a Japanese artist/music video director (the same country that brought you the bear sleeping bag). Nagi Noda is the genius behind these pieces and while a lot of the stuff is just straight up creepy, she might just be my new favorite source for photo inspiration (especially the "Steel" section of the works portion of her site).

via article on hemmy.net

Christmas Card Designing...for absolutely no reason

Garrett's mom wanted to send a Christmas card with pictures from our wedding for Christmas this year and needed help with the layout. I'll go ahead and say it, I'm so not a graphic designer. And I could spend all day on designing a Christmas card that I won't even use.

I love designing albums (as in wedding albums for clients) but graphics make for an entirely different animal. Here is the card I've been designing all day even though we went ahead and bought a template from a professional company. I have this amazing idea for our own Christmas card but I'll have to design it immediately if I decide to use it for this year. We'll see...

Anywho, here's what I've been wasting my Saturday on:

What do you think?
The snowflakes came from a really fun website where you can make your own snowflakes with virtual paper and scissors, and it's really even more fun and less messy than the real thing. You can download your snowflake and use it however you wish!

Photo credits: Olivia Leigh Photographie (left) and Kristen Stewart Photography (right)

Featured Local Vendor, Huntsville, AL : Jennfunique

While browsing local etsy shops a few weeks ago I stumbled upon the shop Jennfunique , which features hair accessories and jewelry but especially headbands. Since headbands are such a huge wedding trend right now, in the wedding & real worlds, I thought it would be awesome to feature her shop!

Top Row: Bella;  The Aristocrat;  She Loves Peacocks

Middle Row: Fairee Goddess; Mango;  She Likes to Party

Bottom Row: Autumn Puff; Dizzie; Tiffany

The Interview:

Kelly : How did you start making headbands?

Jennifer : I've always been really crafty. About 10 years ago I started managing a handmade jewelry and bead shop for my best friends mom. So obviously, I started out making jewelry.  Just this past year I decided to expand to other accessories. I started making headbands and I couldn't stop. I've started making scarves as well but found it's not as fun for me. I tend to get tired of one thing and move on but I absolutely love making hair accessories and I don't think I'll ever stop. It's way funner than making jewelry. :)

K: Are you making any homemade presents for Christmas this year?

J: All of the women in my family are getting hair accessories, go figure!

K: Are there any tricks to wearing headbands?

J: YES! Teasing your hair in the back and top make a huge difference. I recommend it.

[ good to know! I'm not good at being a tease but vow to learn for the sake of my headband wearing!]

K: Where do you go for inspiration?

J: I generally stick to browsing online just because it has the most pictures of anywhere else. I also have an inspiration wall in my craft room. When I get magazines (Anthropologie, Free People, Alloy, etc.) in the mail I look thru it for things that inspire me and rip them out and stick `em up on my wall.

K: Would you rock a headband on your wedding day? Or some other kind of fabulous hairpiece?

J: Absolutely. I actually have thought about this several times since I'm not married yet. Something very unique and vintage inspired, and most likely BIG. lol

K: Can anybody rock a headband, or are there ideal hairstyles/personalities?

J: Anyone. There are so many different styles to go with different personalities and hair styles.

Even if your "Plain Jane" there's skinny simple bands. And as you've seen in my shop, they can get pretty outrageous. I tend to make the crazy large headbands but generally only wear the smaller ones because my hair is red and I already stand out! I don't want to be an attention hog. lol

K: If you could design a headband for a celebrity, who would it be and what would it look like?
J: Gwen Stefani. I love her style! It would be a huge pink and white striped fabric bow on a skinny band. Yes, that sounds about right. :)

K: What are some of your favorite etsy shops?

J: Hmm, that's a hard one. I have 579 favorite shops in my list!!

favorite prints shop is Corid & Pinky Toast 

favorite dress shop is SarahSeven 

favorite soap shop is Dennis Anderson 

favorite knit shop is Emily Sparks 

favorite hat shop is Piper and Paisley 

Weew! It's hard to pick favorites on Etsy, I have too many!


Now go head over to her shop! All items are either free shipping or $1, so buy some Christmas presents, bridesmaid gifts, or a gift for yourself! I definitely want to buy a lot more homemade gifts this year, they are lovely and unique, and something feels different about something you can look at and know it's a result of a person like you creating their vision.

5 Tips on Booking your Top-Choice Photographer

Booking a photographer:

image source

1. Be flexible with dates early in your planning (and prioritizing, book the most important thing first, whether it be venue or photographer or music) will be a huge help. I really wanted the date 8-8 and then 10-10 and it was a huge disappointment when I couldn't get either because of the church. But now I can laugh it off because it wasn't a big deal! Depending on your date and what time of year you look for a photographer, you may find that it seems like everyone is booked.

2. If your top choice is booked and your date is set in stone, ask for some referrals! Most photographers network within their area and if they are booked on your date won't mind passing on the names of people with similar styles and prices. They know that the referrals will reflect upon them so they will be pretty honest about who they think would be best for your wedding!

3. You aren't booked until you pay a deposit! Almost certainly your photographer will tell you this, but if someone else asks for your date and you haven't signed your contract or paid a deposit yet, the other couple could get it. This isn't a scare tactic at all, and some dates are more requested than others (May, June, July, August, September, October, November are pretty big months. Ask about a vendors' policy for reserving a date if you decide not to book right away.

4. This will be completely irrelevant for some, but if you or your husband (or a significant portion of the guests) are really into a particular sports team (say, for example, Crimson Tide), you don't want to pick a home game or big rival weekend. It seems silly but I have heard people specifically say that they would not attend a wedding on the same day as the Tennessee game, etc.

5. Having an unusually timed/sized wedding? Photographers are much more likely to be available during the week so if you are opting for a weekday wedding you are in luck! Also, civil ceremonies or very small events with a short reception can cost less. Time=money to some extent, and part of the big price tag associated with weddings is the amount of time they spend at your event and the amount of time it will take to edit all of those pictures! When we got married in San Francisco (that's right, we "eloped" and then had a blessing here in Birmingham) we picked a Thursday which opened us up a photographer whose work we loved but A) wasn't local and B) would've been booked on a weekend.

Our Wedding: Reception Part I

Our first dance was to "Alabama Waltz" by Hank Williams. Garrett picked it and it was perfect in a lot of ways. It's Hank Williams (Garrett's a big fan and my uncle was impressed), it mentions Alabama, it was fairly short, and it's pretty. Plus it'll be very memorable for us and is fairly unique. Not sickeningly sweet or cliche.

"Okay, DJ, it's cake cutting time."

Oh, don't worry, Garrett did smush cake in my face. He was just smart enough to do it with the piece German chocolate groom's cake that was sans icing and thus did not mess up my face or my dress. Because otherwise, there would've been a beat down.

Garrett's grandpa gave us Waterford Crystal toasting glasses for the occasion (and we've been too scared to use them for anything else thus far, they are so nice!) and we thoroughly enjoyed them.

The face in the middle is to my mom and aunt, telling us we were supposed to lock arms, to which we replied that we'd already tried that at our private dinner. But we did it again anyway. And while not graceful, we were successful.

I love this picture so much. Can't this be our Christmas card? Champagne is glorious.

You know the deal:

Photography by Kristen Stewart and Hillary Stegall , editing by Kelly Cummings .