Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Going out VS staying in … Welcome 2012!


“An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.” Bill Vaughn 

Another year is heading toward its end and for me this is the time of the year that is filled with events and parties! It seems like I am always rummaging around my wardrobe for an exciting outfit to wear or running late for a party. So, as the biggest party night of the year approaches, I am actually tempted to get a warm blanket, a good movie and just stay in…I am dedicating this blog to the pros of both – staying in versus going out on New Year’s Eve. Whether you like to start the new year in calm and cozy reflections of what has passed, or party the night away and rock your way into 2012 –  have fun! 


Going Out?

 

Makeup musts for the last night of the year: racy & ravishing red lips! 

Buy these products at popbeautycosmetics.com and pixibeauty.com 

My makeup this New Year’s Eve will be clean & simple with radiant skin, black winged liner, a few falsies and a burst of POP art red on the lips! Above are my two favorite reds – POP Aqua Lacquer & Pixi Lip Blush (this one has 8 hour staying power!) – I know I am slightly partial ;) but then again, to me those are the best and, believe me, I have tried everything on the market!

  1. Do a little lip exfoliation, either with your favorite exfoliating lip balm or by gently using your tooth brush to scrub. Moisturize after, letting lips absorb then wiping completely dry before applying the stain.
  2. The Pixi Lip Blush formula is very lightweight so you can hardly feel you are wearing them. If you like a little extra moisture and shine, just apply POP Aqua Lacquer on top. 

Staying In?




  
Monthly Music Musings

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Thursday, December 01, 2011

Clouds and Cupcakes


This last month I have not stood still for one moment! I feel like I have spent more time on a plane and up in the clouds than with my feet on the ground – literally! So this made me think of flighty fashion, fluffy clouds and a few of my favorite things that remind me thereof. I have now landed for a few weeks, but I am afraid my head is normally stuck in the clouds anyways. ;)


When I was a young girl – all of my friends wanted to become air stewardesses when they grew up! Looking back through time – those lovely ladies that serve up the drinks and keep you safe and comfy up in the skies have rocked some seriously cool fashions. I do think these ladies deserve an abundance of respect for doing what they do – but did they not use to look a whole lot sharper back in the day…? The fact that they were really considered models & spokeswomen and that some had to be weighed before each flight to make sure they did not exceed the ideal weight and other silly rules is of course ridiculous, but they did have some awesome outfits! 





Five Steps to Flighty Nails
Buy these products at popbeautycosmetics.com
  1. File, clean, buff nails and clean up cuticles. 
  2. Paint nails with a base coat and let dry for a few minutes. 
  3. Paint nails with POP Brave Nail Glam. Stroke the brush from base to tip, once in the centre and a stroke to either side for a clean finish.
  4. Using POP Baby Blue Nail Glam and a fine tip brush (needs to be much finer than the nail polish brush), paint clouds, stars, peace signs, airplanes :) or whatever pattern takes your fancy!
  5. Finish off by painting nails with a top coat & bam! Fun nails in a few moments!


    Cloudy Clothes
    Buy these products at popbeautycosmetics.com
    I adore floaty and girly clothes like this adorable ballerina outfit, but the key is to add a little edge to the fluffiness. Smoked up eyes and bitten lips gives a punky twist to the innocence! 



    Clouds Like Cupcakes
    One of my secret dreams has always been to have my own little café or bakery. Imagine waking up and just creating pretty and delicious little edible dreams. The weirdest part is that I am not a huge dessert person (I prefer the actual meal), but I do love how desserts look, the heat from the oven and the creative process of baking. My grandma had her own little café in Stockholm and was a wizard at making cookies so maybe it is just in my genes!



    Visit their website at magnoliabakery.com
    Magnolia Bakery in NYC makes my favorite all time desert;  Their banana pudding is the cloudiest, most yummy thing I have ever eaten! Not as pretty as a cupcake but just as (if not more) delicious! No oven or baking needed – try it out yourself. It is so easy! But be aware - it is totally addictive! 

    1 1/2 cups water
    1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
    3 cups heavy cream
    1 (12 ounce) box vanilla wafers
    4 bananas, sliced 

    Directions:
    1. Blend the water, pudding mix and sweetened condensed milk until will mixed.  
    2. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.
    3. Whip the heavy cream until soft peaks form.
    4. Fold the pudding mixture into the whipped cream until well incorporated.
    5. In a trifle bowl layer wafers, sliced bananas then pudding mixture. Continue until all of the mixture is used up ending with the pudding mixture.
    6. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
    7. **Cooking time is refrigeration time. 



    This month I also made a trip to what seemed to be Paradise! A tiny Thai island. No tourists, just soft white sand, clear turquoise water and fluffy clouds. We stayed in a pretty bungalow right on the beach. I loved every second & I cant wait to go back someday! 



    Monthly Music Musings
    Buy these albums at amazon.com




     Until next time! With all love, Sara xoxo 



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    Friday, October 21, 2011

    LA Beach VS London Brick



    Fashion, makeup & music are all avenues to self expression, and I also view them as strong ways of communication “this is me today – this is how I feel!"


    Growing up in London, I was immersed in all things quirky, urban-cool, bohemian & street smart. In London, you need only step out the door and stroll down the street to get exposed to some amazing “street art” – people dress for themselves; clothes, hair & makeup are all enhancements, accessories to your mood.


    In LA – the place I currently call home – it’s more about comfort, elegance, sun and the beach. California has taught me to take a more relaxed stance to style. Sometimes you just want to beach bum around, “dude” :)


    I love both cities with a passion, but for totally different reasons…here are my two favorite styles that were born in my two favorite cities: 


    Hippie Chic California
    Find these products at http://www.popbeautycosmetics.com/

     
    For this look: Always moisturize, curl lashes & prep face with primer, tinted moisturizer, concealer & prime eyes.
    • Dust the first hue from Lid Bronzer all over lid and then blend the last one subtly onto brow bone; add just a hint of the last shade onto the highest point of the cheekbone.
    • Gently dry the inner rim of eyes using a cotton bud. Smudge In-liner onto inner & outer rim of lashes, following the natural shape of your eye & creating a smoky effect. Build thickness of the line until you have desired intensity and fullness. Coat lashes with a thickening mascara. 
    • Bathe lips in Aqua Lacquer for a smooth & neutral glisten. 

    3)      liuer for a



     Modern Mod-ette London
     



    Find these products at http://www.popbeautycosmetics.com/

    For this look: Keep the rest of the face minimal to create maximum effect for this look, no bright lips or tons of bronzer. 
    • After priming face, use clean fingertips to apply No Show Correct & Protect subtly all over complexion – layer for more intensity. 
    • Using the Ink Outliner, ink out the whole lid in one thick statement line (thickness of line should stop just under the crease of the eye to prevent smudging). Wing line slightly upwards and outwards at the outer corner of the eye, creating a jet black fusion between a square on the lid and a cat eye. 
    • Lashes! Measure & cut if necessary. Trace root of Faux Lashes with glue, let set for a few seconds, then press into your own lashes. The key here is to make sure the lashes adhere to the inner corner first – once the glue is starting to dry, pat down and make sure lashes are adhering as close to the rest of your natural lashline as possible.
     



    Antique & Unique!

    Below are some of my current favorite vintage stores:

    I love this kind of “treasure hunting” – mixing up vintage gems with high street trinkets and more exclusive pieces to create my looks. I like to mix it up and keep it interesting. I also adore clothes that look like they have a story & some history – like vintage 50’s prom dresses. I have a wardrobe full of them. Even if they rarely get worn, they make me happy :) Here are a few of them:


    I love wearing these with killer heels or mixing it up with ragged biker boots, leather and messy hair. Pretty punk!



    Monthly Music Musings
    This month I am listening to a good old classic and 2 others set to become classics.


     
    Get these albums at http://www.amazon.com/

    Up & Coming:

    My friend & I recently had an awesome music musing out in the desert, working on & writing our upcoming EP – keep your ears open, friends!

    My next collection for POP is based on butterflies. Gorgeous products to make us all, if not take flight, then at least feel a little lighter! This bronze blush is one of my favorite upcoming products. The saying for this collection is: "pretty to look at, hard to catch!" – more on that next time ;)



    Stay cool, keep warm! XOXO Sara





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