Fast Glamor!

Since I consider myself the resident beauty guru... ;-)  here are some tricks to help you look fabulous in only FIVE quick steps. Perfect for a school morning to look healthy, fresh, and glowing without trying to hard.

1. First, focus on your SKIN: moisturize, apply face powder, concealer, and blush. You'll have that flawless look in no time.

2. Time for the EYES. Swipe some mascara on, line your eyes, and apply a shimmery eyeshadow if desired.

3. Don't forget to add lip gloss! While you're doing that, add a spritz of your favorite perfume so you smell as gorgeous as you look.

4. Smooth some de-frizzing product into your hair, then put it into a chic side braid, or another variation such as: a messy bun, two ponytails, a french braid, a really high ponytail or bun, or just throw in a headband. Even if you're having a bad hair day, no one will be able to tell since you have such a cute 'do.

5. Finally, brush your teeth so they shine, add your favorite pair of earrings that match your shoes (or something), and you're ready to head out the door!

instant GLAMOR!

love ya, dah-lings!!

Alli

Start out the school year right with these must-haves!

Every year we all wonder "what do I need for school this year??" Well, all you girls out there, these are my must-haves that every girl should need!

For your locker:
1. A sturdy locker shelf to raise up your books, making it easier to grab what you need in between classes without straining out your back from bending over. You can easily make or buy one at Staples, Wal*Mart, or Home Depot for $5 or less.

2. A small magnetic mirror so you can make sure your picture perfect for every class (or boy) that comes your way :)

3. An easy-to-grab pad or tampon holder you can grab when that joyous time of the month comes so you can be prepared in a pinch! We currently have a give-a-way from Dauzat Designs that has cute and practical pouches for all you girls in need and trust me, they are worth it :) and if you don't win our fabulous give-a-way (which you should totally enter *hint, hint*), you can visit http://www.etsy.com/shop/dauzatdesigns and pick one up for the upcoming school year!

For your classes:
1. A planner or agenda to write down each days homework assignments. It is definitely useful and helps you from forgetting when things are due!

2. A binder or folder to take everything home in in one place. It makes everything easier to carry and convenient as everything is in one place

And for you:
1. A backpack or cute tote to carry everything in. It also can keep your pads and tampons away from the eyes of everyone else and it will be better than carrying everything and risk dropping it!

2. A good fitting pair of dark washed jeans. It's a staple. All girls need a pair of jeans they feel good in. End of story.

3. Some bling. Some jewelry. Make yourself feel good. If you look good you feel good :)

And good luck to everyone this school year! Make it your best!

Lots of love,
Amii

Five Great Money Saving Tips For The Savvy Fashionista In You

Especially in these tough economic times, girls still want to look good, even if splurging on a $200 bag is out of the question. So, what do you do to still get "the look" without burning a hole in your pocket? Well,  I have some tips and tricks for you!

1. If you see a product you like, find an off brand or store brand. With medication this is pretty easy, just find the same thing under a different name. Well, with Runway looks and top of the line clothing stores, its a little harder to do that. If you print out a photo of a look you like, say from a magazine or online source, take it with you to the store and recreate it for less. No, the shirt wont be Dolce and Gabanna BUT you still have a comparable look and for a much nicer price. :)

2. Don't forget to buy staples. Now, I'm not talking the metal things you put in a stapler to hold your papers together, but something like a nice pair of black slacks, a good pair of dark jeans, a white cami, a good fitting bra, etc. These pieces are the kind of things you want to work off of and can dress up or dress down. They are the foundation to a good wardrobe and easy to find, and if they don't fit perfectly, you can send them to a tailor or (if you're good with a sewing machine and have one) tailor them yourself. They will last for a long time and save you from wondering if you have something that matches every new top you buy. And for all you girls out there, I bet you've already got a lot of these items in your closet just waiting to be unleashed, and all you have to do is find a  few things to jazz them up. :)

3. Don't buy everything at once. By doing so you immediately burn a big hole in your pocket and, if your not having a good day, may blow this month's rent money before you know it. By shopping in small increments, you still will have a wardrobe that looks amazing without paying a fortune.

4. Hit the sale racks. Anytime something's on sale it doesn't necessarily mean its damaged or broken. Most stores just want it out so they can bring in a new line. By shopping on sale days, you not just save money but save having to work an extra few hours every week to pay off your spendings. Another way is to cut coupons. Yeah, Grandma Pearl and Grandpa Joe did that in the Depression, but you'd be surprised how much 50 cents here or there adds up. A great time to shop (if you don't mind crowds) is a few days after each holiday. Most things are half price or 75% off and are still perfectly good.

5. Save your change. At Wal*Mart or BJ's (I can't remember now) we found a jug that holds change but counts it as you put it in. Every time I come back from the store or have loose change we put it in the jug. In six months we have passed the $100 mark- all in change. With the jug, you can't take it out until you absolutely need it or have a plan for what you want to do with it. For us, its a great way to save up for that summer trip, without having to save out $5 every week, and still be able to have a great time. It also shows us how change does add up and is a great learning tool for younger siblings or younger children in general. It also makes it more fun to spend as you know you personally have saved it yourself.

Now, hopefully all you girls out there will become great at saving your money for everything else life throws at you and don't forget to enjoy these last few days of warmth before good Old Man Winter arrives!

Lots of love,
Amii

10 Beauty Tips for SCHOOL

That's right, girls, back to school time is upon us! (HALLOWEEN decorations are already in stores!!?? It's still summer!) Here are 10 fun, easy, back to school beauty tips to help keep you looking your best.

1. Carry face blotting papers with you to soak up oil without smudging your makeup.

2. Smell good all day by spraying perfume at the nape of your neck. The fine hairs there will absorb and hold fragrance longer than your skin does.

3. Use a shimmery gloss if you want your lips to seem fuller, and a matte lipstick to make them seem thinner.

4. If you don't have time to wash and style your hair every morning, shower before bed, then put your damp hair in a braid or bun. Your hair will have natural looking waves in the morning, and you'll be clean and ready to go!

5. Drink as much H2O as possible every day. Carry a water bottle around with you at school if you can! It has been said that staying hydrated can keep your complexion clear, and I've definitely noticed that myself.

6. Store a beauty touch-up kit in your locker. If you rushed to school, you can apply any steps you missed once you get there.

7. Massage your scalp for 3 minutes to increase blood flow- some say it will make your hair grow faster! You can also strengthen your hair by eating foods rich in sulfur, like milk, fish, and eggs.

8. Apply a bold, shiny lip color to draw attention to your face. You'll instantly appear confident.

9. Pair a chic headband with a messy bun for a casual, but cute daytime style. Or, if you don't have time to curl all of your hair, just curl the ends of a basic ponytail to make it more polished.

10. Microwave a small bowl of your body moisturizer for 20 seconds before you apply it- warm lotion is great for soothing tired muscles and dry feet. Or, if it's a really hot day, pop your lotion into the fridge for 10 minutes before applying it for a cooling effect.

I hope these helped you out! Comment below and let me know which idea was your favorite, or leave me your own beauty tips and tricks. Good luck!

Love,

Alli

Makeup Organization

Hi girls!

I've been looking for a new way to store my ever-growing makeup collection for awhile now. I don't like having it in a makeup bag because I can't find everything. I used to have a system of small plastic drawers, but it was easy for everything to get lost and disorganized. Here is my newest solution:

 I love it! It's a Lori Greiner cosmetic organizer and you can purchase it for only $20. It's really well made, and it spins so you can see all 6 sides!

 Each side has different sized compartments and slots for keeping all your cosmetics.

 The top is really useful, too- tons of spaces to keep mascara, lipsticks, eyeliners, etc.

Just wanted to share my latest organization attempt with you. I really like this one! What do you use to store your makeup?

Love,

Alli

Bad Hair Day Help

Believe me, ladies, I know all about bad hair days. I've experienced the no-time-to-shower hair, flat hair, bad haircuts, bad hair COLOR (which is what I'm going through now, unfortunately), frizzy hair... you name it! I wanted to give you a couple of tricks to help improve your bad hair day. Here we go!

1. Try teasing or backcombing your hair with a comb to give it more volume if it's looking flat.

2. If your hair lacks shine, spray it with icy cold water in the shower, right before you get out. It will make your hair follicles look more shiny!

3. Use dry shampoo at the roots if your hair is looking greasy. This is great for school mornings when you sleep late and don't have time to wash your hair!

4. Try parting your hair on the opposite side you usually do. It can help a bad hair color or cut look much better, and it definitely adds body to your hair.

5. If all else fails, remember you can always put your hair in a ponytail or messy bun. Try adding a mini braid to the look to make it more polished. Also, hats can be your best friend at a time like this. ;-)

I hope these ideas helped you out!  If you have any questions or comments about this topic, you can leave a comment below (feel free to do so anonymously) or email us at GirlTalkTime@yahoo.com.

Good luck!

Love,

Alli