Braids Braids Braids

Cascade Braid

Braids are so hot right now! The list of braid styles go on and on! Its hard to just choose one!

I found an easy tutorial on how to do the cascade/waterfall braid on yourself. Below are the step by step instructions (thanks to Victoria Stanell):

STEPS 1 + 2
Section Off

This style works best on straight or loose waves. Brush out all the knots with a wide tooth comb. Part your hair how you normally would, and begin your braid on the right side of your part. Grab the top section and divide into three strands.

STEPS 3 + 4
Braid As Usual

Braid your strands regularly three times, beginning from the right strand. When you get to the left strand (the part closest to the middle of the scalp), add more hair to it like a French braid and fold that strand to the center.

STEP 5
Drop the Strand

This is where it gets tricky. After you've French braided your left strand (now center), drop the right strand and let it fall down. Pick up another small section of hair next to where your original strand fell—that's your new right strand.

STEP 6
Step and Repeat

Repeat this process—French braid the left strand, drop the right strand, and pick up an adjacent new piece. Gradually cascade the style towards the middle of your head.

STEP 7
Pin and Secure

Once you've reached a comfortable point to stop your braid, secure it to your scalp with bobby pins. You don't have to pin up your hair perfectly in this section since you'll cover up the pins with a hair accessory later.

STEPS 8 + 9 + 10
Fishtail It!

Braid the remaining piece of hair left from your cascade into a fishtail braid. Not sure how to create this mermaid-inspired style? It's easy with this helpful fishtail braid tutorial. Secure the braid with a thin hair tie.

STEP 11
Accessorize

Add a cute bow or flower to hide your bobby pins and give this look some extra hair flair. Secure your barrette tightly to your scalp and braid for a firm hold.

Take the extra strand of hair on the opposite side of your face and pin it back into the flower barrette so it blends in with your cascade. Spritz with a light-hold hairspray, and you've got yourself a beautiful and romantic summer hair style!

Check out Beautylish for more beauty/style tips!

xoxo
AnnieG

Hot Miami Styles

Check out Hot Miami Styles
for the hottest trends today. Hot Miami Styles is affordable and their clothes is of good quality. I've ordered many hot outfits from them and they never disappoint.

From sexy club wear to swimwear, even shoes, Hot Miami Styles has it!

Here are just a few of their most recent arrivals:

xoxo

AnnieG

Beauty Tip Of The Day

10 Best Lipstick Tricks

You don’t have to be a makeup genius to know that lipstick can make a big impact—taking your face from drab to dramatic or simple to sexy—in seconds. But these brilliant expert tips will show you how to make it look better, last longer and work harder.

Trick #1: Start With a Smooth Canvas

Gently exfoliate lips before applying color to make sure it goes on flawlessly, especially if you’re swiping on a dark or bold pigment that can accentuate every imperfection. “I love using a homemade scrub of sugar and honey to remove flakes and dryness,” says Dana Chasen Thomases, a makeup artist and owner of Beauty Muse Bridal.

Trick #2: Lay the Foundation

If you want the exact color you see in the tube, you need to start with a blank canvas and not the pink one that’s created by your natural lip color. To create a blank canvas, apply a thin coat of foundation all over your lips and blend over your lip line so it disappears into the rest of your skin. Or apply a smidgen of lip balm on the lips, blot and add a neutral powder to create an impromptu base that can last even longer than foundation, says makeup artist Hillary Clark.

Trick #3: Turn Any Lipstick Into a Long-Wearing One

You can make any lipstick go the distance by following these steps, says Thomases. After applying a coat of lipstick, blot it with a single-ply tissue. Then use a large eye shadow brush to dust the lips with a small amount of translucent powder. Follow with another layer of lipstick. Finally blot and powder twice before applying a final swipe of lipstick.

Trick #4: When It Comes to Red Lipstick, Size Matters

Deep dark red can make thin lips look even skinnier, says makeup artist Mai Quynh. To maximize a scarlet smile, opt instead for a bright orange-red. Try: L’Oréal Colour Riche Lipcolour in Volcanic.

Trick #5: Plump Up Your Pout by Prepping With Liner and Shadow

To plump up your pout, start by fattening up your top lip. Trace the cupid's bow with a flesh-tone liner, such as Cargo Reverse Lip Liner, and blend upward, says Clark. To create the illusion of a shadow and a fuller lower lip, use an angled eyeliner brush, pick up a touch of matte brown shadow and trace a line outside of the center of the lower lip line.

Trick #6: Or Try This Faster, Simpler Lip-Boosting Trick

Select two lip liners with the same undertones, but one to two shades apart. Line the top lip with the lighter of the two, and use the darker tone on the bottom lip line. “The effect should be subtle—not obvious—to trick the eye into seeing a fuller lip,” says Clark.

Trick #7: Become a Better Blotter

When wearing a bold lip color, position your painted lips around one of your fingers and glide it through your lips. “It may look a bit funny, but any excess lip color on the inside of your lips will come off on your finger, instead of on your teeth,” says Thomases.

Trick #8: For a Perfectly Juicy Lip Stain, Pick Up Some Cherry Kool-Aid

"Just wet the buds of a Q-tip with water and dip them in the bag of Kool-Aid," says makeup artist Daniel Martin. "Place the Q-tip in the center of your closed mouth and slide back and forth for a pop of color that stays true to tone for hours."

Trick #9: Pick Your Perfect Everyday Pink

To find the most flattering pink for you—one that’s just a touch deeper than your natural lip color—you don’t need to look further than your own mouth. Just peek inside your cheek or lower lip and match your new lipstick to that color, says Clark.

Trick #10: Breathe New Life Into Old Lipstick With Gloss

“An unexpected lip gloss color can give your favorite lipstick a fresh look each season," says Thomases. She loves topping any lipstick with a soft violet gloss, such as Bobbi Brown Shimmer Lip Gloss in Lilac Sugar, or a bolder purple jewel tone, like NARS Lip Gloss in Revolt.


Check out MakeUp.com for more beauty tips!

xoxo
AnnieG

HOT DEAL ALERT!!

CEW Insiders' Choice Beauty Box

You can't go wrong with this amazing deal! $25 for 11 award winning beauty products.

A Best-in-Beauty Exclusive

Beauty Bar and CEW have come together to bring you the best-of-the-best of brand-new beauty. For a limited time only, pick up an exclusive Insiders' Choice Beauty Box - filled with 11 products voted by industry pros as the top picks of this year's CEW Beauty Insiders' Choice Awards. A perfect gift for a friend or to keep for yourself, this coveted box is the ultimate summer must-have.

11 award-winning products
Special value
Makes the perfect beauty gift

Especially Suited For: All types

Essential Elements: Box includes:

*StriVectin Tightening Neck Cream (deluxe sample)
*Burt's Bees Richly Replenishing Cocoa & Cupuacu Butters Body Lotion (6 oz.)
*Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Red Dahlia
*IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer (travel size)
*Dr. T's Supergoop! All-Over Everyday UV Lotion for Face + Body SPF 30 (travel size)
*Sally Hansen SalonEffects Nail Color Strips in Animal Instinct
*L'Occitane Lavender Hand Cream (1 oz.)
*Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser for Dark Circles Treatment Concealer in Neutralizer
*Heidi Klum Shine Eau de Toilette (.5 oz)
*L'Oreal Paris Voluminous False Fiber Lashes
*L'Oreal Paris Youth Code Serum Intense

Check out Beauty Bar for this great deal and more!

xoxo
AnnieG

Get The Look

You're sure to turn heads with these cute looks

Check out Cheap And Chic Boutique for these cute looks and more!

xoxo

AnnieG

Caught On Film

Another celebrity cheats!!

Surprise, surprise! Another celebrity caught cheating! Pictures have surfaced up showing Kristen Stewart kissing her Snow White and the Huntsman director, Rupert Sanders. This would be fine if she wasn't Robert Pattinson's girlfriend (of 3 years) and if Rupert Sanders was NOT married (oh and lets not forget to mention he has two children)! But of course, that is not the case. Shame on Kristen and Rupert!

It sickens me that people have no respect for each other. Marriage is no longer sacred.

There is no value on promise and integrity anymore... not because it is priceless, but because it has been forgotten.

xoxo
AnnieG

Beauty Tip Of The Day

Here are few tips to make you even more beautiful . . .

Did you know that Crisco is not just for cooking? That's right, you read right, CRISCO. Crisco can be used as a make-up remover. In addition, it makes a great moisturizer.

The next time you're heading to your salon to color your hair, make sure your hair is dirty. The natural oils of your hair allow the hair dye to stick better to your hair for a longer lasting color.

Have you ever wondered why your perfume doesn't last? Or maybe you have wished for an all day good smell? To make your perfume last longer, dab some vaseline on your skin before applying your favorite perfume. You will smell delicious for hours!

xoxo
AnnieG

Did the NCAA Get It Right With Penn State?

The hammer has been dropped on the Penn State University football program. First, a $60 million dollar fine to be used to set up an endowment for sexually abused children nationally. Second, a 4 year bowl ban. Third, a reduction of 10 scholarships per year over the next 4 years. Fourth, all wins vacated from 1998 - 2011 for Penn State (there goes Joe Paterno's records). Fifth, 5 years probation.

There is a lot of outrage on the sanctions issued to Penn State. Some people think it was overboard. I disagree with those who believe it was too much of a punishment for Penn State. At the end of the day, children were violated. I also think taking down Joe Paterno's statute was the right thing to do. How can anyone sit back and keep their mouth shut when such horrific acts were taking place? That sort of individual should not be praised or memorialized in any way. He should of done the right thing and spoken up. What if it was one of his family members? Would he have remained silent?

Beauty Tip of the Day

Do you have dry, stringy, unmanageable hair?
Try using Coconut Oil to bring out your hair's natural oils. Coconut Oil can be found at your local grocery store or health food store.

I typically wash my hair every other day. Over washing your hair can actually dry it. The day before its time to wash my hair, I apply some Coconut Oil to my ends. I brush it through to even the oil throughout my hair. I then braid my hair to keep a "clean look" otherwise it looks oily. =) I generally leave the oil in my braided hair overnight and wear my hair the next day in a cute bun or in a braid. In the evening, I wash my hair with out with shampoo and conditioner.

You should do this a few times a week if your hair is dry, otherwise, once a week should do the trick!

xoxo
AnnieG

A long Hiatus . . .

Shame On Me
Hey guys, its been a while since I've posted anything on my blog. To be honest I had forgotten about my blog. A few years several years ago, I started my blog after a dear friend of mine encouraged me to start one. I've been told that I'm a very insightful person with lots of good info to share. So with that I ventured into the world of blogging. As you can see, I fell short on that one. LOL But ... I'm back!

Stayed tuned for more of Ask AnnieG!

(If there's any topics in particular you are interested in hearing about, please let me know)

xoxo
AnnieG