Life is Beautiful

Life:Beautiful magazine Winter 2012 edition

It's my blog come to life! (well, my blog IS real life...but....well, you know what I mean!)

If you're out and about doing some post-Christmas exchanges/sale shopping, keep an eye out for the absolutely lovely winter 2012 issue of Life:Beautiful magazine. I was SUPER blessed & excited to be able to share my passion----faith-based style----on such a great platform. Life:Beautiful is "faith for your journey"--on par with Martha Stewart Living  in quality, beauty, and content, but with Scripture and Biblical affirmations the whole way through. So uplifting to read a magazine that offers encouragement instead of false ideals and empty promises. It is truly inspiration for a beautiful life. 

I wrote an 8-page article for them on modest fashion & beauty, with tips for thrift store accessories & vintage finds, along with 12 "Foundational Pieces" every woman should have in her wardrobe. 

I had SO much fun and so many amazing, wonderful memories from this trip (remember my secret trip? It was for this article! and so were the 'photoshoot' false eyelashes!).

There it is, nestled on the shelf ;-)

So a big WELCOME to my new beautiful new Life:Beautiful readers!!! 

I'm so pleased you're here! I am super excited to continue sharing with you what God puts on my heart about beauty, women, and style with substance. I hope I can do justice to it, with God's blessing & inspiration. May my blog become even more and more a tool of God's hand, and may my art be from His heart.

And a big thank you to the Life:Beautiful team for not only doing what they do, but for letting me be a part of it!

I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.

~Psalm 119:32

Amen.

PS. Your best bet for finding the magazine is Barnes & Noble! Also try Walmart, Hallmark, Joanne's fabrics, and Walgreens :-) Or just subscribe!

Crazy Love/ I'm Bringing Hats Back

 I crazy-love this outfit. I crazy-stupid-love this hat. Gah, gorgeous vintage hat with a pink lining and a bow on the back!!! I wore this to our church Christmas party, where everyone went crazy over the hat! I've always loved vintage hats, and have a few to my name that I collected over the years (as a teenager, mostly!). When I saw this one in the thrift store you'd better believe I snatched it up like nobody's business! I'm on a hunt for more now, so if you find a good source, send it my way. I'm bringing hats back, baby.

This outfit elicited many comments out in the real world! Some of my favorites: 

~At the post office, someone told me her 8-year-old niece would absolutely love my outfit! (I love that young girls like my outfits. Makes me super happy)

~My neighbor said I looked like I belonged in Glamour magazine (hehe! Maybe in 1962!)

~A stranger said I looked like I "belonged in the city" 

~The older ladies at church went crazy over my hat, calling me a "fashion plate" and wanting to know if it was really vintage.

~An older man at church complimented the hat, and my boyfriend approved! 

I just loved that this outfit was appreciated across the spectrum. Warms my heart to go about my business (I wore this to the post office, the grocery store, and a Christmas party), smiling, spreading Christmas happiness. A ladylike outfit does so much for a girl! 

To keep things from being too literal and vintage, I added my moose necklace and some patterned hose. Oh I just love it! I would live in this outfit! The popcorn sweater! The sweet bow top! The high-waisted, pleated skirt! In hot pink and black? Getouttatown. 

Style Secrets

Hat: Vintage

Sunnies: Local store

Necklace: F21

Top: Target

Sweater: Thrifted

Skirt: Thrifted

Belt: Ann Taylor

Hose: ?

Heels: Elie Tahari, TJMaxx

Gushing Enthusiasm: Free with vintage hat

Workout Wednesday

Switching it up from a Work-to-Weekend Wednesday to a Workout Wednesday! I wanted to start showing you the outfits I wear for working out to encourage us both to get out there and work out! I also have a completely disproportionate amount of workout clothes to how often I work out (they are so fun, though!). I decided I NEED to start using them! So here's {nearly identical pieces to} the outfit I wore for a walk/run over the weekend.

run/walk winter by fashionatalie featuring nike activewear

Vest

$40 - altrec.com

Nike activewear

$50 - nike.com

Socks

$18 - altrec.com

Athletic shoes

$90 - altrec.com

Hat

$36 - altrec.com

Glove

$17 - altrec.com

Apple iPod Charcoal nano 8GB - Walmart.com

$100 - walmart.com

Country House Earbuds in Wild Strawberries

$15 - modcloth.com

My Version

Duofold Crew: Free at tag sale

Nike Pro Running Pants (fleece-lined!): Thrifted, $3

Smartwool Socks: $12

Running shoes: Nike, gift from parents

Vest: Columbia, ?

Strawberry Earbuds (yes, I actually own these!): Gift from bro

Fingerless gloves: Gift from Swap

Hat: Local boutique

ipod: Gift

Cold Hands Warm Heart Swap

The Cold Hands Warm Hearts blogger swap hosted by Sandy a la Mode and Much Love Illy was so much fun!!! I was partnered up with the super adorable Mrs. Stephanie T. She is so sweet and sent me such a great package! Also, her handwriting on the address label was perfect. Like, better-than-Kindergarten-teacher-perfect.

Stephanie sent me these great wine-colored fingerless gloves and cute beret. Funniest thing is: I sent her the exact same fingerless gloves (but in yellow), and the matching legwarmers (oops, sorry Stephanie, I thought it was a scarf). Second funniest thing: I immediately left these at the ice skating rink. Sad face! I'm going by tomorrow to pick them up. I need them!!!! She also sent me that amazing ring you see in the last photo. So statement-y and cool. 

This is the last super fun thing she sent me! An Archie Grand for J.Crew journal. I love it!! Haha. 

Thank you so much, Stephanie! It was great to swap with you and get to know you. I hope you liked your goodies :-) 

Did ya'll jump over and say hello to Stephanie? I bet she'll be posting what I sent her soon.

Style Secrets

Beret: swap from Stephanie

Scarf: Hand-me-over

Fingerless Gloves: swap from Stephanie

Ring: swap from Stephanie

Button-down: Vintage

Cami: ?

Belt: Thrifted

Cords: AG

Boots: Thrifted

Tutorial! False Eyelashes

{no it's not a coffee tutorial. but coffee makes everything better. so get some coffee while you read, k? also, if you listen to this song while you read, it will make me seem cooler. glad we got those two important things settled}

After my photoshoot a few weeks back, I have been totally smitten with false eyelashes. I just cannot get enough of them! I've picked up a few pair, and some tips along the way. False eyelashes don't have to be over-the-top unless you want them to be--and most of the time, I just want them because my natural lashes are, well, puny. So here, I'll show you step-by-step how to do everyday wear false eyelashes for a beautiful, classically pretty finished look. 

First: The Lashes. 

#1: Forever21, $1

#2: Photoshoot, ?

#3: Andrea #53, $6

For the tutorial, I'm wearing #3, the Andrea lashes.

1.): Great Lash BIG mascara. Love the bigger brush. 

2.) Brushes (both are BareMinerals), Wide Tip Angle brushe, and Dual Shadow Brush

3.) Eyelash Glue (the one with the pink ribbon is sold with the Andrea lashes, and is much better than the clear glue that comes with the F21 lashes)

4.) E.L.F. Cream eyeliner in black or cocoa (I have Cocoa)

5.) BareMinerals "Retro" eyeliner 

6.) Eyelash Remover

7.) Cute bow, because it's cute

8.) Normal eyeshadow you plan to wear

9.) Tweezers if you want them to apply the lashes (not necessary)

Then start with a clean, happy, overeager face. 

{it's my first tutorial!!!!}

Apply a THIN line of glue on the top edge of the 'band' of the eyelash. This white glue dries clear, so don't worry. Let it get tacky for about 30 seconds. 

Then carefully use your fingers or the tweezers to place the eyelash band as close to your own lashline as you can. Take your fingers and smooth it from one end to the other, pushing down so it is right on the lash line and even. Blink a whole bunch of times because it will feel weird at first! Proceed to apply the second eyelash on your other eye.

Two false eyelashes, applied.If there's a glop of glue somewhere, dip a Q-tip into some makeup remover and swipe it off, so your makeup will apply smoothly.  

Then, pick your eyeliner and line those lashes real good! Wiggle the brush and get it in there so it covers the 'band' of the lashes. I LOVE the BareMinerals stuff, it's so quick, easy, and natural. My boyfriend's sister-in-law turned me on to the cream eyeliner, and it's pretty amazing and super easy, too. Apply a few coats of mascara to "stick" your own lashes to the falsies.

I did one of each so you could see the difference. Looking at the picture, the left is the cream eyeliner, and the right is the bareMinerals. Don't they look great so far?

Then finish up your regular makeup and get your smile on.

'Cause you are lookin' gorgeous, I'm sure of it!

.**To remove your eyelashes, you can just pull em off like a bandaid. But I think that might be bad for your skin, so I like the remover. Just put a drop in the lid, dip a brush in the lid, hold that on the lashes for a second, and work the lashes off gently. Use a little eye makeup remover if they get gunky from the glue and mascara, and reuse until they get misshapen or too gunky.

I posted this on a Thursday on purpose--you have tonight to practice, and all weekend to wear your lovely new lashes! Let me know if you're smitten, too...oh, and share the love by linking, Tweeting, or Pinning. Thanks, dears! 

I'll Be Aunt Mildred

No big deal, guys. I'll just be the quintessential "Aunt Mildred" in all of the family photos with the crazy big hair and the handful of cocktail rings. You know, we all had one, right? Back in the 60s, in all the family photos? That's me, and I'm OK with it. Also, I got this ring at H&M on Black Friday and the earrings many months ago at a little boutique in the Midwest. I thought it was crazy how well they coordinate! 

In related news, this dress DOES fit the fingertip rule; my hair is not really off-center, I just couldn't get the other side to stay UP; and I think that sweater makes me look vaguely pregnant (not, duh). And my elderly neighbor thought I looked "SO cute!" Guess she was an Aunt Mildred in her day ;-)

Style Secrets

Sunnies: Oooo, you'll have to wait and see next week on Suze's blog {suspenseful music}

Earrings: Boutique

Dress: Boutique

Tank: hand-me-over

Sweater coat: TJ Maxx

Ring: H&M

Tights: TJ Maxx

Heels: TJ Maxx, Elie Tahari

Her Favorite Find: Suze

I'm so excited to introduce a new feature: Her Favorite Find. I'm asking some stylish ladies to share with me their favorite finds: clearance, thrifted, tag sale'd, hand-me-overs. Their best & most favorite 'scores'! I can't wait to see what these ladies share! Aren't you excited? First up is my blog friend Suze.

Suze shares with us her favorite find:

Hey Guys! My name is Suze and this is my husband, Ben.  Natalie was kind enough to let me on here and show you my Best Budget Score Ever! 

So, raised in Chicago, I am a rootin' tootin' Midwest girl, who lives in Texas and says things like "rootin' tootin'." Yikes.  I blog all about our budgeted life and fashion on a budget (a real budget, we are paying off our $36K of school debt by living on one salary! whew!).  On a recent trip home, mom took me garage sailing and we found these awesome loafer wedges that I am in love with.  The best part? $3.  The second best part? my size.  She had another pair in navy that I kick myself each day for not buying.  I love these shoes and although I am already (barefooted) 4 inches taller than my husband, I rock them anyway, because he likes it.  I would like to think now, that you are reconsidering buying clothes at garage sales now.  Because some of my best items are from there. 

So that's it, you know the secret of my best budget score ever.  Thanks, Natalie! Hearts.

Suze, can we be friends in real life, too? Hehe. Those shoes are so fun and I just love going to garage sales! Being a Midwestern girl myself, I grew up going to them, too! Thanks for taking the time to share, Suze. Everyone else, go follow Suze and her hubby! (but not in real life, cause that'd be super sketchy)

Sunday

Loving this live version of Ben Rector's "She Is"--reminds me of the myself :-D 

"She hates the sound that goodbyes make, she loves Sundays and champagne. She can't stand the winter, she can't stand anything that she can't change..." 

It's perfect happy music to listen to during chores....but I don't really mind chores. 'Cause you just gotta make 'em pretty!

{laundry}

{dishes}

{I think they looks so pretty, all color-coordinated like that. Happy-like!}

Enjoy your Sunday afternoon, my dears!

P.S.> Still not a fan of my new title font, but haven't had time to fiddle and change it. See, thing is, I love it on the sidebars, small, but not on the post titles, and I don't think I can do two fonts like that. Sigh!