Pages

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Stunning wildlife photography






How absolutely stunning and emotion evoking are these photographs? Maybe it's the 7-year-old Lion King movie lover in me that pulls my heartstrings when I look at these photos, but Nick Brandt's talent is astounding. His pictures are taken in East Africa, and he captures wildlife so beautifully - the animals appear more majestic than I have ever seen. I hope to one day purchase one (or more) of his photographs to decorate my walls. And look at that last picture... Simba and Nala in real life. Love.

(All photos via Nick Brandt)

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Favorite beauty finds


These are the beauty products I am loving right now:

1. Loreal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream - Goes on light and doesn't feel greasy like other drugstore BB creams. Good for oily skin. I mix the Fair and Light shades to get the perfect look for my skin tone.
2. Sonia Kashuk Eyeliner Palette - The pigments are rich and blendable. I use a small angled brush to apply, and it's quick and easy. Not too heavy like liquid and pencil liners. Best to use with eye primer.
3. Burt's Bees Mama Bee Nourishing Body Oil - Smells so good like fresh lemons, and is great for applying fresh out of the shower on your knees and elbows.
4. Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadow - No primer needed. Just apply with your finger and it stays on all day with a great shimmer. It is especially great for summer since it stays put and doesn't sweat off. Bad to the Bronze is my favorite color and it enhances blue eyes.
5. Real Techniques Powder Brush - I have fallen in love with this brush! It is so soft! Applies powder wonderfully. It is also very reasonably priced for the quality. I will be buying more brushes from this brand.


Saturday, July 20, 2013

Happenstance

Tufted headboard inspiration:




Cameron and I encountered a fair amount of happenstance while out on the town buying materials to make our tufted headboard from this tutorial. We walked to the back of Joann's to get the foam, but only to be just ten seconds too late, as we saw a family carry out the last two giant pieces of foam in the exact size we needed. We picked up the other materials and made our way to the cash register to find that the family decided against the purchase due to its high price. Claimed! We also would have never known about the 50% off coupons if it weren't for the family trying to use them, and we quickly pulled it up on our phone, which saved us major cash. Later at Home Depot, we purchased the pegboard for the project, only to be disappointed by the inability of it to fit in my small car. As we lifted it onto the top of the roof, planning to tie it with twine as our only option of getting it home, a sweetheart of a man drove by with a minivan and offered to transport it for us! He was very understanding, explaining that he has "been there before." We were so grateful for his generosity, having made a complete stranger's day without expecting anything in return.

We still have a lot to do before we finish the headboard. While mapping out the tuft placement, and trying to do a lot of confusing elementary-school level math, we realized the reason we couldn't figure out the proper count was because we needed one more inch to have an odd-number of holes for the correct and equal placement of the tufts! *Smacks forehead* It took us an embarrassingly long amount of time and effort before we figured it out. And unfortunately, we may just have to schlep the new pegboard we buy onto the roof of my car. Ah, such is life.

(Photos: littlegreennotebook, Pottery Barn, West Elm)

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Long Summer Weekend


I love the long summer weekend to celebrate the Fourth of July. It feels like the real kickoff of summer. Everyone from coast to coast stops complaining about the problems and the politics of this country, and genuinely feels proud to be an American, at least for one day. Also, let's be frank... I freakin' love fireworks. Normally, I am all about being right underneath the big boom, bang, pow of the giant sky-lit fireworks shows, but I enjoy the small ones too. My mother likes to tell the story of when I was little and she had to hide me behind the Disneyland bathrooms from the absolute terror I had of the fireworks show. I actually remember that event rather clearly. I am glad I grew out of that!

Well, here's to a long and wonderful summer, and a good start to the second half of the year.

(Flag photo via HCVA tumblr)