Wedding Day Hair

I searched high and low for all you beautiful brides for the perfect wedding day "do"! It is essential that when you choosing your wedding day look you consider your theme and make sure your style is cohesive with your theme. The pictures below are my fav, but what do you

think?

Prepping for the Big Day!!!

I wanted to share a few tips about prepping your skin for your wedding day because, as everyone knows, makeup can only go so far if your skin isn't prepped. There are a few products that I use that I will share, but my biggest suggestion is to get on a facial program and skin care regime with your favorite local spa or esthestician. This will cost some money up front, but will truly get your skin ready for the big day so you will look fabulous and flawless!Most spas will offer a discount if you prepay for your series of treatments. The main goal would be to incorporate one that includes a few peels or lightening treatments. Straight facials will be great for upkeep, but to get your skin going, a few light peels can really make a difference.Some will also include a bevy of products that they want you to use under the course of the regime. Make sure it is a product line that you trust, and if possible, take home a week of samples to make sure that you don't have any reactions to the products. If you don't like it, don't buy it. There are many other regimes out there, and even shops like Sephora have great ways to purchase a sample system so you don't have to purchase a full product line until you are sure.With all of that said, I wanted to share a few of my favorite finds that I feel really help with prepping the skin and making one look their best. Here are my picks for some of my medicine cabinet favorites:

Exfoliating Cleanser - Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser. This is a great cleanser to use 2-3 times per weeks to give your skin that extra exfoliation it needs for makeup to be able to glide on and look smooth throughout the day. Make sure if you are doing any peels that this is put away for a week or two!

Serum - Bliss Peeling Groovy Facial Serum. One word for this serum - bomb. It is absolutely crazy how this serum works so well on all sorts of issues; dark spots, fine lines, blemishes and uneven skin tone. It battles them all, and hard! I have been using it for about two months, and my sun damaged skin has made a huge recovery and has simply never looked so smooth.

Moisturizer - There are so many out there that are great, my only standards are that it has an SPF 15 minimum and that it doesn't clog your pores. I personally use a tinted moisturizer from Murad, and I really like it, but it is oil free, so not for everyone.

Eye Cream (day) - L'Oreal Advanced Revitalift Double Eye Lift. With all the eye creams I try (and trust me, there are many), I found one that really is affordable and does a great job at keeping the fragile under eye area moisturized without being sticky. The best part is that this is a two part system, with one side being the under eye cream, and the other is the upper eye lifting gel. It is a pump, so no wasted product either, a big plus in my book.

Eye Cream (night) - Ole Henriksen Virtual Truth Eye Cream. This eye cream is super rich with African red tea, vitamin C and a bunch of fun ingredients I can't pronounce, but is so great to slather on before bed at night. One disclaimer though, make sure it is only used at night, it is so thick that it can ball up which is not so pretty under makeup.

Once a Week Treatment - Origins Modern Friction. This is a great scrub treatment to use about once a week (or more if your skin is tough) to eat up all the dead skin cells sitting on the top layer of your skin. It is also great to use right before a big event or if you just want to look extra nice, as it works almost instantly to make your skin shine.My other tips for great skin is to keep hydrated, wear a hat when in the sun, and never sleep with your makeup on. It will really wreck havoc on your skin, and no matter how tired, try to get that late night wash in if possible.

I hope these tips help will help you get ready for your big day and all through the year. Happy Planning!

Take a minute to relax....

So this weekend my husbands Aunt took the whole family to the Nordstrom Spa in San Fransisco. I must say it is the perfect outing for a soon to be bride to let lose and relax.

I was greeted by their friendly staff who immediately offered us warm comforting green tea. I was shown to a changing room where I slipped into a luxurious plush rob. I then hung up a put my clothes and belongings into a locker. After locking away my things I approached the lounge, which had amazingly soft couches with big pillows. I sat down and sank into the couch. A woman brought over a heated blanket and wrapped it around me and filled a bowl with warm lavender scented water for me to soak my feet in. As I sat and talked with my mother in law I thought about how very close to heaven this felt. I literally melted into the couch.

After about ten minutes my masseuse came to get me and led me back to the massage room. I slipped off my rob and situated myself under the warm sheets. The lady returned and began my amazing hot stone massage. She placed hot stones all over my body and used them to massage every inch of it. This was my very first hot stone massage and I must say I loved it! I love the warmth that the stones exuded through my body. For an hour I was drifting in and out of sleep. I have never felt so relaxed.

After my massage was complete I was escorted back to the lounge where I sipped on lemon and cucumber infused water and munched on almonds and dried apricots. Life couldn't be more amazing could it? Oh facial as well? Yes Please!

I was then brought back into another room where an esthetician was awaiting my arrival. I nestled into the heated bed and closed my eyes. While I had cream after cream layered on my face and steam opening my pores I took a deep breath. I had chosen the non-surgical face lift treatment which consisted of a light treatment and a hydrating mask. I felt like anew woman after the treatments. My skin felt so rejuvenated and smooth.

I was then shown back to the lounge where I relaxed for a few minutes longer. I then returned to my locker to retrieve my belongings and continued to the dressing room where I put my clothes back on.

The whole time I was thinking how wonderful these treatments would be for a bride. It would be wonderful to getaway from the hustle and bustle of planning a wedding, registering for gifts and finalizing honeymoon plans. So gather up your girls and head out for a massage.

The Nordstrom spa offers a wide variety of facials, massages and other skin and body treatments. For a full list check out the Nordstrom Spa.

{A Week of Beauty} Day 5

I am going to wrap up this week of beauty with Smashbox's Photo Finish. This product stands far above the rest with its ability hide all imperfections. I always apply this product before any other makeup. It almost perfects the canvas for everything else to be placed upon it. I don't know what I would do without it. It feels light going on but covers and evens skin tone magically.Photo Finish fills in fine lines and big pores as well. It comes in a few shades for evening out skin tone. This also has SPF 15 in it so you can fend off the wrinkles and rays. How could you not wear Photo Finish on a day when you will be in front of the camera all day? Believe me, you will love it.

P.S. This was an Allure Magazine Editor's Pick, so you know it's a great product!

{A Week of Beauty} Day 2

What would a week of beauty be without a mascara. No matter what type of event you are having mascara is a must have. I have tried so many different Mascaras and about 3 years ago a friend told me about Diorshow mascara and I went to Sephora and bought it; I was willing to try anything. Immediately I loved the wand. It is huge and full, which could only mean it would cover every lash. After one application I was hooked. I normally have very thin and short lashes. Diorshow mascara gives me the length and fullness I have always wanted. My newest discovery is Diorshow Blackout. I highly recommend trying it out.

Since we are on eyes today I will throw in another suggestion. I am also hooked on MAC eyelashes. They have a huge selection of all different lengths and thicknesses. My favorite is #7 it looks the most natural. I apply a pair before I attend any event. I love the darkness they add to my makeup. They make my blue eyes pop. You can head to your local MAC store, Macys or Nordstrom and they will even teach you how to apply them!

{A Week of Beauty} Day 1

This week I am going to be reviewing a few perfect wedding products and tell you where you can find them. Please feel free to ask me questions.

When I find an amazing product I am the type of person that will tell everyone about it. Why keep a fabulous product under wraps? Well I have recently stumbled upon Clinique Even Better foundation. This stuff is amazing! I found it in an add in Vogue magazine and I thought well maybe I will try it out. So I head out to Macys and I was talking to the lady behind the counter and she said she could make me a sample that would last 5 days so I could try it out. I put it on my face and immediately I noticed a different this foundation feels like nothing. After the week of using it I have found my face feels softer and more moisturized. People have even been commenting on the texture of my skin. I suggest you all go out today and get a sample. You can test it out first to see if it will work for your wedding day. I know it has worked wonders for me.

{You can purchase Clinique Even Better foundation at} Sephora, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales and Macys.