Goodies for a girly girl

I'll admit that I'm a bit of a makeup snob.   I have been using Clinique makeup since I was a teenager.  

I have sensitive skin and Clinique is the makeup that has never given me a problem.   There are a few things here and there that I add to my makeup bag to help mix things up and make me feel pretty!  A girly girl needs to feel pretty, right?

I recently picked this mascara up and it's a new favorite!  It really plumps up my lashes and at 1/2 the cost of the fancier ones I splurge on.  PLUS it comes in waterproof!   I have the hardest time with some waterproof mascaras getting dried out or not having the same coverage as the non waterproof.

When I went to visit Phoenix I made sure to visit the Bobbi Brown cosmetic counter for some long wear black eyeliner.  I have tried a lot of different eyeliners and this one I like the most.  The gal helping me talked me into the eyeliner brush and I'm SO glad she did!  It's very nice and easy to use. 

I have another eyeliner brush that is so thin that I have to really be careful using it.  No so with this one. 

The Lorac line - Superb!   Beautiful shimmer shadows that stay on nicely, especially when you put them on wet.  I have gone through two of the starry eyed baked eyeshadows already.  Mainly because the lighter color goes fast!

I do like the bronzer but I must say that I still miss the Prescriptives one I once had.  They closed up shop and of course the bronzers left fast.

I also recently splurged on the T3 volumizer and I really like it!   I have been having some trouble getting my hair to bend and cooperate, especially in this humidity lately.  It's NOT a flatiron.  It has a bump in it that bends the hair and it works great!  High temps help!  Ulta has great coupons if you sign up for their perks. 

I could really go on and on!  I could have totally been a make up artist because I love playing with makeup! 

I seem to be reflecting upon my youth a lot lately.  Maybe because it's Summer? 

Oh how those Summer night breezes and smells bring up the memories!  Hope you're having a great season and hopefully enjoying some vacation time as well!

China Doll

I'm still reflecting on the wedding I photographed recently and had to share about the little cutie that came all the way from China to be in this wedding!   She was the other flower girl and was so shy!  She didn't speak English but playing Peek A Boo from behind the camera makes a child from anywhere in this world crack a smile! 

"Oh you want me to take a special picture with you and Grandpa?"

"Well I'm not so sure about this... I'm jet-lagged AND shy, you know"

"A big smile but oops Grandpa & Mommy are still talking me into it!"

"Okay! Since she played Peek a Boo with me I can manage to squeeze out a smile!"

Guess the one above it will be the keeper! :)

Oh the joys of getting children to cooperate for a picture!  She's still the cutest China dolly I've ever seen.   Those shy eyes and big cheeks melted my heart! 

It Starts Early

... being an incurable hopeless romantic.  Dreaming of being a real-life princess complete with a dashing prince with great hair and perfect teeth!  I.E. Ken! 

photo by me

At the recent wedding I was grinning and enjoying seeing the little flower girl who was totally into all the bridal festivities.  This is her waiting for the couple to arrive at the reception.   Isn't she cute?

Wonder what she was dreaming up in her head?  I just loved playing Barbies as a kid and I must say it was hard putting them down before grade school ended.   I think in this day and age kids would laugh if they knew how old I was when I stopped playing with them.  I cherished every last moment of my childhood and I'm so glad my mom didn't rush me to be an adult faster than I needed to.

I used to  spend quite some time at my neighbor friend Shelley's house getting all set up.  We'd determine who gets what, set up the house, clothes, etc etc.  By the time we were done my mom would be calling up asking me to come home.  I remember being so bummed!

I never ever had a bridal Barbie, though.  Barbie never got married, did she? She didn't have kids either.  By golly she did in my little world.  I had to improvise and use the kids from the Sunshine Family!  Anyone remember those? 

Back to the wonderful wedding: 

Below is a special moment I captured when the bride was getting ready for the  ceremony and putting on her tiara...

                  photo by me

Can you see the little flower girl smiling in the background?  She is in princess  heaven at that very moment!   I cannot tell you how much this picture touches my heart.  I was a flower girl once and I cannot recall if I was in awe of the bride on that day.

Knowing me - I bet I was! 

                 photos by me

This bride was such a sweetie and she just loves kids.  She hugged them, picked them up and held them, danced with them and made each and every one feel like they were special!  I suppose that's why my cheeks hurt so bad from smiling all that day. It was truly a happy occasion!

photos by me

What a great couple!  May God bless their marriage with love and happiness!

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day!   I love this photo because my dad  loves cars!  This would totally be him in back in the old days totally getting into it!  Boys and their toys, right? Although, he does have a need for speed being a former drag racer and all.  Maybe he'd be racing horses or something.

image Graphics Fairy

I love you daddy you are the coolest renaissance man I know! 

Day of Rest

Today I had a much needed day of rest after photographing the wedding I was hired for yesterday.  My nerves are calmer and the peace I prayed for has enveloped me ... finally.   You see, I'm a perfectionist and funny thing is that I'm not perfect and never will be! 

I am thankful for the honor and opportunity of shooting a wedding for the first time but I realized afterwards that I have so much to learn. 

The couple getting married were the nicest people.  Easy-going, sweet, and giving.  No bridezillas anywhere to be found!  My cheeks actually hurt from smiling so much!  I laughed and laughed at the reception because the groomsmen were a hoot.

I know God put me in this situation to help me grow, realize my weaknesses and to lean on Him. This experience gives me even more incentive to learn more about my camera, take some classes, and save up for some nice lenses and equipment.  

I have a lot of supportive friends and family who have given me words of encouragement.  Today my sweet parents invited me over to take a few photos of the lovely hydrangeas that have bloomed!  Me and my mom love hydrangeas.  Especially pretty purple/pink ones!  

Their next door neighbors are dog-sitting the cutest mini daschund who happily bounced around on the other side of the fence along a skinny railroad tie.   She was too scared to hop up so we had to stick our fingers through the fence to pet her and get kisses. 

My heart melted because she was so loveable.  I totally would love to have a little doxie sitting on my lap and be my little baby this very moment! 

          "Oh woe is me!  Must we be separated in such a way?"

Even reaching over we couldn't get to her!

Catching up a little

Hello again!  Back as promised.  I'm having a relaxing Saturday just enjoying having nothing planned and putzing about my home.  I'm thinking of getting out to do a little baby shower shopping.   Lots of babies coming soon!

photo by me

This afternoon I decided to try one of Ina Garten's smoothie recipes I saw on Food Network just this week.  It's called a sunrise smoothie & my version was pretty delicious.  I didn't have any strawberries on hand but had seedless watermelon, OJ, peach & sherbet!   It calls for raspberry sorbet but I didn't realize that until after my delicious concoction was complete.   I think the sugar in the sherbet helped out because the peach and watermelon weren't as sweet as they could be.  

Try out Gaga sherbet next time you see it at Whole Foods.  Creamy goodness!  I've definitely gone "gaga" over it.  Orange is just as delicious!

photo by me

Lovely view isn't it? I had a splendid time in Surprise & Phoenix visiting my BFF Tammy & her family as well as my cousin Heather & her family. 

It was a much needed break from work.  The scenery & company was a welcome sight for sore eyes!  Those two lovely women have a big place in my heart... funny that both have been my roomies in the past.

Tammy got to have me over first.  She's my power-shopping partner!  First we had to check out Trader Joe's (it's coming to my town this year - yay!) and pick up some goodies, then In N Out burgers (my first time there) and back to her house to see her wonderful hubby and daughter. 

We spent the rest of our time hanging out at Fashion Square mall, Sprinkles Bakery (another first for me- yummy strawberry cupcake), Build A Bear, Lush, movie, etc! Her little girl is a sweetie and we had a blast playing catch and a few games together

The weather was great although it got a bit hot walking around the grounds of The Phoenician with Heather on Memorial Day.

I spent the rest of the time with my cousin Heather and her family.  I got to bond with my godson and his big bro. Her hubby's extended family was welcoming and friendly.  Delicious BBQ, sun and fun!  Go Suns!

Tammy told me about checking out The Phoenician for high tea.  She said it was worth the price!  So that was all Heather & I needed to hear!

photo by me

Heather graciously let me take some photos of her.  She's a peach and a beauty!!

Photos by me

Our tea experience was delightful!  The server laid the napkin on our laps, we had our own pots of tea, plenty of delicious scones, devonshire cream, divine lemon curd, strawberry preserves, finger sandwiches and desserts.  Oh my!

We both really enjoyed ourselves.  The Phoenican was beautiful!

 

The tea selections above...

I miss them all terribly now! Time slips by so fast when you're surrounded by those that you love!

Sun-lovin lady

Photo by me

Hi!  I'm back from a short get away to Phoenix to visit family and friends.  It was so wonderful I want to jump right back on a plane and go back!  I miss them terribly and the sunshine sure makes this gal a happy one.  I'll blog more about it shortly.  Hope you all had a great holiday!