Naked Palette Tutorial

Happy Monday y'all!

With my new goal being to upload a tutorial every week, here is a look using Urban Decay's Naked Palette. The everyday smokey!

Proceed to scroll down under the image for the instructions that go along with the numbers. Hope you like it!

Step 1: Cover your eyelid from lash line to just past your crease with "Virgin".

Step 2: Using your favourite crease brush sweep "Buck" back and forth in your crease as well as the outer corner. Make sure you blend your work out after each application for a more professional look.

Step 3: Go over your outer corners and your inner most crease with "Darkhorse". Use the area where you put "buck" as a perimeter to stay inside. Definitely blend. Also, feel free to take your time with this step. It's easier to put more on than to take it off.

Step 4: Using your preferred liner (I used liquid in this case), line your eyes and include a small flick at the end—like a small wing. A good tip is to start your flick three lashes in from the end of your lash line. Especially important if your eyelids tend to go down on the outer corners.

Step 5: Line your water line with black eyeliner and then using "Darkhorse" again, sweep it onto your bottom lid to create a smokey effect. The liner and shadow should blend together to become even more smokey.

Step 6: Throw on some mascara and you're donezo! False lashes also work with this look if you want an even more smokey eye.

If you're wondering I used a bright sheer lipstick to polish off my look. Wish I could tell you what shade it is but if you want to wear a lip colour with this look go for a sheer, or soft colour. You don't want your eyes and lips competing! Add some blushy blush too!

Hope you love this look as much as I do! (It's my go-to).

Keep sending me messages that you've tried it , and of course feel free to ask any questions.

Love.

Holiday Makeup

Hey beauty lovers!

This Christmas I got a fancy new camera (Canon Rebel T4I, in case you were wondering), which means I am able to take killer photos of makeup and stuff for the potential of some awesome beauty and design posts.

Here is my newest makeup tutorial. And I say "tutorial" loosely, since there isn't really steps to follow (I'll do that next time), but hopefully you can get a sense of colour and placement from it to help.

I used my Too Faced Sweet Indulgence palette. The colours I used were called:

• "Copper Peony"—as a base colour that I brought up just past my crease.
• "Cherry Cola"— as the darker crease and outer corner colour
• "Marshmallow"—as the light colour I used on my inner corners.
• "Black Sugar"—was used over top of my liner to smoke it out

The mascara I used is by Buxom called Buxom Lash and I really like it—I would totally suggest it! I found my eyelashes started getting dry and itchy which is super annoying, especially when I have contacts. The Buxom mascara doesn't dry out my lashes, probably has something to do with Buxom being a part of Bare Minerals.

I got a sample size of Urban Decay's 24/7 eyeliner and fell in love so much I just bought two more full size pencils today.

And if you're really curious about my foundation it's Urban Decay's Naked Skin foundation in 1.0.


There you have it—the breakdown. If you have any questions feel free to ask!
You can find it on Pinterest here

Hope you beautiful people like this look as much as I do!

xo love,

A Formal Apology

I've already lied to you as this will in no way be formal—it's not how I roll.

Let me catch you up on my happenings in the last few months...

I am currently on bed rest due to major knee surgery I participated in 3 weeks ago. By "participated" I mean I 'volunteered' to go under the knife. However, if I started the story here I would be lying to you once again about catching you up in the last few months. You're welcome.

This past summer I did a few fun things, I went to Florida, hung out with friends—you know, the twenty-something usual summer activities. In other words, all involving alcohol. But perhaps the biggest thing to happen in my life this past summer was something that happened to my sister.

Her boyfriend and her went on a week-long trip to Rome, Italy. His company apparently has GREAT selling incentives. The day they left my sister, Andrea, had one last exam to complete and then she would have to grab her stuff and run to the airport (they had an evening flight). She left for the day and maybe an hour later Matt, her boyfriend, showed up back at the house with flowers. I was called down from my room and from their body language I could feel the intense emotion building. Matt was clearly nervous while he explained that the bouquets were for my mother and I. This guy was good. It was one of those moments where nothing had to be said, we knew what was coming next. He asked for my mom and I's approval to propose to Andrea. Mom started balling, I hugged Matt then asked to see the ring—of course I would. Bold. He was prepared for it though.

It was a beautiful ring! I asked if he picked it by himself and he admitted he had help from his mom but I still commended him (them). I yelled up the stairs to my friend Kayla. She had stayed the night and was closer to my phone or my camera than I. She promptly came running down the stairs, I told her what had just happened in a voice that was louder than necessary but I was really excited and couldn't be bothered to control my volume. Snap! Picture acquired. 

He asked where he could find my dad and my mom instructed him to visit the nearest Canadian Tire. Matt found him at the hotdog stand waiting for his tire to be changed. So, Matt rolled with the punches, paid for my dad's Italian sausage which brought him more joy than a bouquet of flowers ever could and asked for his daughter's hand in marriage.

They left for Italy and we were all on the edges of our seats waiting to get THE phone call. I thought mine came while out with my friends. I looked down and saw I missed a ridiculously long phone number and shouted out "ANDREA JUST CALLED!". Of course my friends knew all about it the moment I saw them. She left a message. Great, I may have missed the call but she left me a sisterly message telling me she was now engaged. It was sisterly alright, but didn't go the way I had hoped. She was angry that she could not reach our folks or myself and she had been trying for a while. No "I'm engaged!". No " He put a ring on it!". Nothing. Just sisterly anger. Sonofa...

She eventually made it back home and we saw the actual footage of the proposal. Adorable.

There's a funny thing that happens to a twenty-something girl, at least this one, when my friends get engaged. I start rethinking my own life journey and choices. I am happy for my friends for one minute before some voice pops into my head, "And why aren't you engaged yet?". Excuse me voice in my head but I don't appreciate questioning if I am doomed to become a spinster just because someone in my life has found her other half. Maybe it's just me but I have a strong intuition I'm not alone on this. Can I get an "Amen"!?

As I spend more days on my rump I plan to blog lots more. More makeup posts, more design posts and more fitness posts. With that being said, I will end this blog for this evening and leave you with some catch-up pictures. Including the ring!

My Matthew and I in Florida

What I had to work with the days I spent at Land's End.

My sister and her Fiance Matt, (yes we are both with Matt's) in their engagement shoot.

The professional shot of the ring.

My professional shot of the ring 5 minutes after her asked my mother and I.

Cartooning?

I was given a drawing tablet for Christmas this passed year and have been having a lot of fun with it. I have always drawn growing up and this is like a new toy for me. Lately I've been cartooning people, including Marilyn who you can read about on my "In Memory" post here. So check it out—me as a cartoon.

Angelina Jolie eyes!

Found this awesome makeup tutorial on how to get those rockin' Angelina Jolie cat eyes.
Enjoy!

Source: youtube.com via Victoria on Pinterest

This blog is in memory...

I had the gift of growing up with the Giometelo family. Greg Giometelo was good friends with my father long before I was even a thought. He is the guitar player in my dad's band—who still play gigs every now and then. Greg's wife Marilyn and my mother bonded over their husband's band and became best friends. They were all very close and both couples had two daughters within months of eachother. Hayley Giometelo who is about a year about from my older sister Andrea. And Summer Giometelo who was born within four months of me.

We all grew up together. Summer was my first friend, and has been one of my best ever since. As we grew older, our parents would still get together. My entire life I saw Greg and Marilyn as my uncle and aunt. There has always been a family bond.

Early last year, Marilyn had been battling with liver issues and we were all so happy that she improved and was well enough to share Hayley's wedding day with her in Cuba. My mom still remembers her vision of a very happy and at peace Marilyn walking along the white sandy beaches. 

In August of last year, two months after my month-long journey in Italy, Greg and Marilyn were over for a visit. Everyday I was in Italy I kept a blog, keeping in touch with everyone back home, and sharing my adventures from day to day. I had turned my blog into a final project and was just finishing it. I asked Marilyn if she wanted to see it and she couldn't have been more happy to. 

Aside, Marilyn told me that while she was stuck inside all day she would look forward to reading my blog posts everyday. She told me they took her away from the pain and loneliness that was her everyday life. We both had tears in our eyes. I will never forget that moment. It meant the world to me.

In February 2012, Marilyn passed away from liver complications. My world, along with my family's world was rocked. It was one of those things in life that is just so hard to understand.  

Marilyn was one of my favourite people in this world. She watched me grow up. I feel like everyone, as a kid, knew that kid who had the mom they thought was so cool. Marilyn was it. She was cool to hang out with, she was cool to talk to, I had a world of respect for her. On top of this, Marilyn believed in me. She supported all my art and design achievements and endeavours. She made me feel proud.

When she passed, this blog was still being designed. I decided right then that this blog would be in her memory and everything I did from then on, part of it would be for her. 

This blog is in memory of Marilyn Giometelo. A wonderful women who had a bigger impact on my life than she ever knew. I will never forget her and her smile.

I love you Marilyn.

Hope you enjoy this blog too.

IVSO Advertising

Take a look! I ordered these custom post-it notes with my IVSO logo and website on them. I've been writing positive messages (that I sincerely believe) and sticking them on mirrors, laptops, doors and lockers around my school. I even passed them to a couple of people and it was such a positive experience. Making people smile by encouraging them to believe how beautiful they are is one of the best feelings I've ever felt!

Keep your eyes out around George Brown College for the love notes.

For more on my thesis take a look at IVSO's facebook page.