WWW: Julie C. – an old friend’s photo-fabulous lipcolor on Facebook caught my eye!

Posted on November 7, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

So, readers are often asking how I pick a WWW (Whatcha’ Wearin’ Wednesday) girl. I’ve been asked if I ever pick them from my friends, online, on Facebook, from pictures, etc.

In this case, yes, yes, yes and yes.
Meet Julie C:

: Julie C. and her concert-“reddy”, perfect red pout in Bobbi Brown Burnt Red

I met Julie in college and we have seen each other a number of times since then – what with weddings, showers, college reunions and even a trip to Santa Rosa, Florida for our mutual dear friend, Cathleen’s 30th birthday!

So, Julie is no stranger on the street to me. But, even with all that, when I saw this pic of her flashing a gorgeous smile with a gorgeous shade of red (along with her college sweetheart-husband, Matt) on Facebook, I had to ask Whatcha’ wearing’, Julie?

BF: Julie, yet again, that is a gorgeous picture of you and Matt! You have to tell me what you’re wearing in this picture! I loooove that lipstick! What is it? (Too gushy?)

Julie C: Bobbi Brown Burnt Red Lipstick
with a little Bobbi Brown high shimmer lip gloss over it!

BF: Where did you wear it? Or, shall I say, where did you rock it?

Julie C: Wore it to the Black Keys concert with my husband, Matt, and best friends

: Our WWW girl Julie & her husband, Matt

BF: How did you decide on that shade?

Julie C: I love the pop of color and how it makes my lips show up in pictures!
I knew I wanted a red lipstick, and I picked it after trying out several at the Bobbi Brown counter.

BF: Is this a shade you always wear or is it a special occasion shade?

Julie C: Definitely a special occasion shade OR if I’m wearing very understated outfit–like black jeans and white t-shirt. My signature shade is usually Bobbi Brown Brownie.

BF: Did you keep the rest of your makeup simple, etc.?

Julie C: Yes, I keep the rest of my make-up simple… I do like a red cheek though!

BF: What beauty tips/rituals did your mom teach you?

Julie C: My mom dragged me to the Clinque counter my junior year of college! She was always helpful in not overdoing makeup, just making it look fresh and simple. With a pop of lipstick!
She has always been good about her nighttime routine of face washing and moisturizing. And got me into the routine as well.

BF: You have a beautiful daughter, Annie. What beauty rituals and lessons are you planning on passing on to her?

Julie C: Annie is 9–tear(!)–and now just started getting into my make-up! We have purchased lip glosses so far. I’ve also taught her how to use my lipstick for the lips and then the cheeks for her dance competitions. But not TOO much! Just enough to make her feel good and still her age at those crazy dance events!

BF: Oh my goodness! Where has the time gone? Good plan on the lip gloss! I might have a few tips for you on that! I also highly suggest getting her into a skincare routine at 12. The Clinique counter is a great place to start! Thank you so much for sharing this gorgeous shade and beautiful beauty tips with us! Also, Julie, this photo you took of your kids, George & Annie, is BREATHTAKING!!!

: Photo by Julie Crouch, 2012

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: Do you want to be our WWW (Whatcha-Wearin’-Wednesday) Girl?
You can! Just send us a pic of one of your fave looks with WWW in the subject line.

In-My-Tub-Tuesday: Rodan + Fields ANTI-AGE Daily Cleansing Mask

Posted on November 6, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

I have always been the mini makeup guru for my friends. As far back as 8th grade, I was always doing their makeup, giving beauty advice and entertaining them with my passion for products.

So, imagine my giddy delight when my college roomie, Holly, sent me an email about a line of products she had fallen in love with! Who is this love affair with?

Rodan + Fields and she loved the line so much that she started working for them! Now, that’s love!!

So when she mailed me the Rodan + Fields ANTI-AGE Daily Cleansing Mask, I was crossing my fingers that I would love it as much as she would. And I did!

In-My-Tub-Tuesday: Rodan + Fields ANTI-AGE Daily Cleansing Mask

Rodan + Fields ANTI-AGE Daily Cleansing Mask is a creamy, kaolin clay-based cleansing mask that dries in no time (two minutes flat), draws impurities from pores while retaining skin’s moisture levels. Fine dimethicone micro-beads gently promote cell turnover, smoothing skin and strengthening the skin’s barrier (4.2 oz for $41.00).

I applied it to my dry, dirty skin, left it on for about a minute, then rinsed with warm water.

Beauties, it did the job!!

I was left with clean pores, thoroughly cleansed skin and a nice little glow with no irritation to my sensitive skin, whatsoever.

Love that!

While it is gentle enough to use daily, you guys know my policy on that, right?

A few times a week max unless you’ve got some serious skin concerns.

So try it for yourself and see if you love R+F as much as Holly and I do.

And Holly, I want some more R+F results! Can’t wait to place my order!!

xoxo,

BF Asks: What skincare line do you have a love affair with?

Quote Book: Friday, September 21st, 2012

Posted on September 21, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

Tomorrow I’m hosting a bridal shower for my best friend of 23 years, Suzanne, with my oldest friend of 25 years, Allison. I had to share this quote with you today because it makes me think of both of them and the many, giggle-filled Friday nights we spent in our hometown of Dallas together. They are so precious to me.

Memories may get fuzzy but friendship never fades.

xoxo,
BF

Friends never fade...

“Years from now, I won’t remember every Friday night – or the things that made us laugh so hard that our stomachs hurt, but I will always remember that you were the ones who were there.”

(Unknown)

Back-to-School Backpack Beauty: Goody QuikStyle – I’m a Believer!

Posted on September 4, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

Happy Tress Tuesday, beauties!
I hope your Labor Day was relaxing and fun!

Labor Day always makes me think of the hustle & bustle of Back-to-School. The excitement, nervousness, new students, new classes, new teacher and endless possibilities.

And the waking up suuuuuper early to get ready. We can’t forget that. Booooooooooooo.

So, for the next 2 weeks, we at BeautyFrosting are taking you back to school for (drumroll please): Back-to-School Backpack Beauty!

Goody QuikStyle Half-Round Brush: The best, back-to-school Blowout ever!

Our first beloved Back-to-School product selected, the Goody QuikStyle Half-Round Brush, is one I wish they’d invented back during my high school days. I used to spend SOOOOO much time on my hair. Drying my long, curly locks took at least 25 minutes, alone. But straightening them? A good blowout took a good 45 minutes. Who has the time?

So when my friend, Elizabeth Baker, over at Bonjour + Hola raved about this brush from Goody that claimed to remove water – allowing hair to dry 30 times faster – the high school Freshman in me begged me to try it.

I went in to it a little skeptical. Skeptical but hopeful.

See, my brazilian blowout is growing out and I am reallllllly loving having some of my old volume back. But, oh, the ease of not having to blow-dry! Is there not a happy compromise?

With Goody QuikStyle Half-Round brush, my dreams of happy compromise were answered. I can let the brazilian blowout go knowing that my hair really does dry 30% faster with this brush.

And I swear my hair got a serious boost of body-beautiful volume.

Then, on top of that, my Goody QuikStyle-styled blowout lasted 3 days! Wow!

How does it work? With highly absorbent microfiber bristles, it’s as though your brush has a built in towel.

Goody QuickStyle Half-Round Brush (around $12.99)

So, with all of that said, whether you’re heading back to school or back to the office, this is the blowout brush for you. Sure you might want to style it out for a little extra oomph but for those days when style is a luxury and drying is a must, Goody QuikStyle is the way to go! I’m a believer!

Freewriting Friday: The truth about the past…

Posted on August 17, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

A myriad of memories...One of my MANY collages over the years...

Recently, I had a nice, long talk with a friend about the power of memories. We agreed that some days, a memory can burn brighter than the sunshine in any modern moment.

And that, my friends, can be deceptive.

We build up the past in hopes of it taking away the pain of the present. Or the boredom. Or the troubles. Or simply the routine. It’s our escape into something that’s familiar while being just foreign and different enough from our current situation.

After many questions, a few tears, a couple glasses of wine and a goodbye, this is what I emailed my friend.

The past is precious because that’s exactly what it is.

It has PASSED us. Or, rather, we have passed it.

Memories remain those beautiful moments frozen in time for a reason.

Like a scene from a favorite movie we can’t forget.

Or the lyrics of a song, from the soundtrack of our life, that we will always recall.

As much as we may try to thaw out those memories, to recreate them…

we cannot.

We never will.

They will live THERE forever.

We must remember them. Cherish them. Share them. Grow from them. Let them live on in us. Pass them on. And move on.

Who we were is not who we are. Who we wanted to be is not always who we have become.

But, in the promise of the the wishes of the dreams, the hopes for those plans, and the phantoms of our expectations, we become who we are meant to be.

And the adult us is way better than any child could have hoped for.

We wouldn’t have liked the person, now, that we wanted to become, then, very much anyways.

So cherish the past, relish the present and procrastinate, as much as possible, when it comes to the future.

We will wish for the very day, we are having now, one day down the road.

xoxo,
BF

BF QOD: Break a habit…

Posted on August 3, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

Confidential to a friend – and to all of us who might need to hear this today.

break a habit, habits, do something that makes you insecure, insecurity, change, confidence, college, leaving, goodbyes, changing, life, family, divorce, breakups

BF QOD: Break a habit

“Eliminate something superfluous from your life. Break a habit. Do something that makes you feel insecure.”
(Piero Ferrucci)

BF QOD: Einstein delights…

Posted on June 7, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

BF QOD: Einstein Delights

“The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been before.” (Albert Einstein)

Oooh, I like that. A lot.

Saturday Social Hour: Hometown Dallas Visit, Part 1

Posted on June 2, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

I always have the best time when I go back to my hometown of Dallas.

Besides my family, friends and the fabulous FOOD (!!), it’s where my whole story began. The place where I fell in love with makeup, skincare, baking and antiques; in other words, all things BeautyFrosting!

In my multi-part Saturday Social Hour, I am detailing my visits, tastes and experiences while visiting my beloved hometown. It’ll also clue you in to some Dallas-based posts that I have coming up for you. Yeehaw!

The week started out with a fun weekend with my family and my brother’s friends & families from college:

BF, Mom, brother David, old friends and some new little friends. Notice we're all smiling after eating Mom's delish Fruit Pizza (see Mom's Fruit Pizza recipe here)

Next up was one of the main reasons for my trip – my dear friend, Jenny’s bridal shower (more details on that later):

BF, Bride-to-Be, Jenny & Allison: High School Best Friends *In the spirit of things, I wore green and pink because I wanted to honor her wedding colors!

Next, I drove out to Lancaster, Texas where my favorite bakery & baker, in the world, is – THE LOVIN’ OVEN! Stay tuned to a post about it coming up soon!

BF's Favorite Bakery since age 3: The Lovin' Oven in Lancaster, Texas

Lovin' Oven decadent delights!

BF & one of her baking fairy godmothers, Suzanne, owner of The Lovin' Oven

Next, I stopped by Neiman Marcus Northpark to see my first & favorite salesperson/beauty guru/friend/former coworker, Lori Nelson:

A Dallas institution: Lori Nelson at Neiman Marcus Northpark

Lori introduced me to my lifelong beauty love affair with Creme de La Mer. I am forever in her debt!

Next, I stopped by Snider Plaza to visit my favorite home deco shop, Uptown Country Home

Uptown Country Home in Snider Plaza (Dallas)

Owner/resident style expert/artist extraordinaire, Jenny Grumbles, always has the best finds! I always end up shipping my finds back to California because I can’t bear to be without them. My mom and I bought a coffee table but look at this super chic & snazzy custom headboard we saw there:

Super chic & fun custom headboard at Uptown County Home

Next, I headed back to Northpark Mall to Nordstrom to visit with Tres Brown – a renowned makeup artist for Burberry, Tom Ford and Christian Dior:

BF and Tres Brown - renowned makeup artist with Burberry, Tom Ford and Christian Dior

And no trip to Dallas would be complete without MULTIPLE visits to my favorite Tex-Mex restaurant and home-away-from-home, Mi Cocina:

BF & my big brother at Mi Cocina

Along with the best margaritas in all the land:

Mi Cocina Margarita

Okay, beauties, that concludes Hometown Dallas Visit, Part 1. Hope you enjoyed it!

Let me know if you have any suggestions for places I should visit on my next trip home!

And tune in next week for Part 2 and see what delicious discoveries I had in Dallas.

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: Have you ever been to Dallas?

In-My-Tub-Tuesday: Rodan + Fields ANTI-AGE Daily Cleansing Mask

Posted on May 29, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

I have always been the mini makeup guru for my friends. As far back as 8th grade, I was always doing their makeup, giving beauty advice and entertaining them with my passion for products.

So, imagine my giddy delight when my college roomie, Holly, sent me an email about a line of products she had fallen in love with! Who is this love affair with?

Rodan + Fields and she loved the line so much that she started working for them! Now, that’s love!!

So when she mailed me the Rodan + Fields ANTI-AGE Daily Cleansing Mask, I was crossing my fingers that I would love it as much as she would. And I did!

In-My-Tub-Tuesday: Rodan + Fields ANTI-AGE Daily Cleansing Mask

I applied it to my dry, dirty skin, left it on for about a minute, then rinsed with warm water.

Beauties, it did the job!!

I was left with clean pores, thoroughly cleansed skin and a nice little glow with no irritation to my sensitive skin, whatsoever.

Love that!

While it is gentle enough to use daily, you guys know my policy on that, right?

A few times a week max unless you’ve got some serious skin concerns.

So try it for yourself and see if you love R+F as much as Holly and I do.

And Holly, I want some more R+F results! Can’t wait to place my order!!

xoxo,

BF Asks: What skincare line do you have a love affair with?

BF QOD: These are the times to remember

Posted on May 25, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

I used to watch Mystic Pizza a lot.

Before I graduated high school, I imagined that the summer before college would feel like how the movie felt. And, you know what, it did.

I found this quote the other day, in one of my homemade quote books, as I was leaving for my hometown of Dallas to attend one of my high school best friend’s, Jenny’s, wedding.

Reading it again, after 16 years, it took on an entirely different meaning. But it’s no less moving than it was all those years ago.

And, as graduation is upon us, I ask you to remember this: Enjoy this moment. And remember these times because you’ll look back one day and remember them with a smile.

BF QOD: Mystic Pizza