Startin To Feel Like Summer: Photo of the Day

Ttoday I felt like wearing something colorful and I was feeling lazy and wasn't in the mood for the full face effect.  This is what I came up with.

Today I felt like putting something colorful on and I didn't feel like heavy makeup so this is the look I came up with. Summer gets me excited because it reminds me of easy makeup and loads of accessories and lots of wonderful colors. I often refer to them as vacation colors such as corals, lush greens like palm trees and rich browns like the bark on a tree and blues with hits of turquoise in it just like the beaches in Sardinia. Oh, and I better not forget the color purple which reminds me of the thousands of dendrobium orchids all along the roadside which I remember vividly from when I vacationed on Hawaii.

If you haven't already guessed I am a very visual and tactile person and because of this summer for me is an explosion of sight and smells that keep me going through the long, bleak and dreary winter months. When I see the sun and feel the warm breeze on my skin I can't help but be in a good mood and walk around with a half smile. In Canada our summer season is short lived and we make the best of it.

On the face:

MAC spf 50

MAC Oil Free Face & Body Foundation

MAC Springsheen Sheertone Blush

Brown liner and mascara with Malt eyeshadow in the crease and Espresso brown in outer corner mixed with Blackberry shadow.

MAC Fluidline in black in my waterline

Lingering Eyebrow pencil on my eyebrows (which are almost non-existant)

Dior Lip Glow with a clear gloss on top

Hope you are all having a sunny day. Thanks for stopping by. xx

MAC Style Warriors

Last week I went to a MAC store and attended the Style Warriors Event which was by invitation only. They had yummy canapes, wonderful green tea and mint mojitos and of course new makeup for us to oogle over. I promised myself I wasn't going to go nuts and buy everything in site just because it was available to me. I bought the colors that I myself will use and that I think my brides are going to love and also what I would use for photo shoots. They had bronzers and shadows and liquid face highlighter and so on. Sometimes ladies the permanent colors are just repackaged so I made sure that I bought some different things. The most impressive and eye catching items for me were the Lustre Drops. The minute I saw them in preview pictures and I was itching to get my hands on those. I'm going to have fun with them this summer.

This is what I got:

The lipsticks: Brave New Bronze (satin) to the left of pic & Sunsational (lustre) to the right

Blush: On A Mission Beauty Powder Blush (mauve/pink color) I'm sure I have a dupe of this color.

Eyeshadows: Soft Force (veluxe pearl) to the left & Bright Future (veluxe pearl) to the right

Lustre Drops: Pink Rebel to the left & Sun Rush to the right.

Thanks for stopping by. xx

How I Style My Lazy Days Hair & Makeup: Photo of the Day

Hi Everyone,

This week turned out to be a particularly busy week for me and I felt like I never had a chance to just sit and rest. In these pictures I am going on day 6 of my crazy schedule and my fatigue is reflected in these photos. When I have days like this my hair gets put on the back burner, especially when its grey and raining for four days in a row. What's the point of getting my hair primped and perfect when its going to frizz or drop or do both in less than an hour from when I step outside? This is my famous hairdo that I wear often when I'm not sure what do to with my hair. This style is easy and looks like I spend some time and effort on my appearance. I achieved this look by doing a touch of backcombing to the crown of my head and then pulled the sides loosely back and secured with a tiny clip and pushed the clip in an upward motion to secured it in a 'puffed' position. Most of the time I don't even add hairspray because it can weigh my hair down even more. This is a sweet hairdo for a Sunday brunch or a hot date on a Saturday night. Its very versatile and all you need is a rat tail comb and a small clip or bobby pins.

The same goes for the makeup I'm wearing. When I don't feel like putting effort into my face I apply thick, winged black liquid liner to the upper lash line and then I add generous coats of L'Oreal Telescopic mascara. Then I apply neutral eye shadow in the crease such as MAC's Malt or Kid, pinky/white eyeliner in my bottom water line so that I appear more awake, a touch of contouring on my cheeks and a neutral or nude lip color, such as MAC's High Tea or Delish lipstick or Revlon's Nude with a tiny bit of lip liner and some clear gloss or MAC's Love Nectar gloss.

There you have it, Nadia's version of lazy day makeup and hair. I still can't believe that I get loads of compliments on this style because people are under the false impression this style of hair and makeup take a long time to do when in fact it doesn't. Is spend a total of 15 minutes on my hair and my face. I usually need on average 45 minutes to style my hair and put on makeup. I'm including the multiple interruptions from a 2 & 4 year old.

Thanks for stopping by.xx

Swap Items from LovePeaceandLipGloss

Over the last month I have been getting to know Gina from YouTube's LovePeaceandLipGloss and I am smitten with this gal. She has such a unique style that you don't see too often anymore. She smart, funny, and one hot mama of three adorable children. Did I mention her hair, OMG! look at that hair. Its gorgeous and I like the fact that she lets it all hang wild. I remember one of the first conversations we had I mentioned that I have an urge to stick my fingers in her wild mane and she told me that I should do that at my own risk and that she wasn't responsible for any lost items. I nearly fell of my chair with laughter. She is a breath of fresh air and I think we must have been related in another life. We could talk for hours, literally!

Gina was able to pinpoint my taste so well that I was surprised and she sent lovely makeup from NYX, Milani, Prestige and Jane, which included two sets of gorgeous earrings, all in a beautiful velour makeup case. She also added another makeup bag but that's not in the pic because I forgot, its already in my purse. As always, the card that was included is my favorite part. Thank you Gina.

If you haven't heard of this beauty who is so generous and kind-hearted please check out her YouTube channel and subscribe, LovePeaceandLipGloss. Thanks for stopping by.xx

Dior Lip Glow Color Reviver Balm Review & Photo of the Day

I'm sure many of you are enticed by the ever talented duo on YouTube known as Pixiwoo. It appears the Chapman sisters have the midas touch and any product they categorize as 'bloody good' we run to the stores and wipe out their stock. I am no different and I gobble up every tidbit of info they throw our way. After watching their videos I discover that I have made a list and the anticipation of running to the makeup counter the next morning seems almost unbearable.

This time was not any different as I find myself a couple of days ago at Sephora's asking a beauty consultant about a new product that I wanted to have a look at, the Dior Lip Glow Color Reviver Balm. At first glance it looks like a regular lip balm except it has a hefty $32.50 price tag! After I quietly mumble a curse word under my breath I approach the lip balm to have a closer look. It has no scent, no color and no need for it to make its way in to my purse and go home with me. My, my, how things can change with a swipe of color across your lips. Lorraine, the beauty consultant told me the day she was wearing it she sold 5 tubes of this stuff. This news causes me to raise my eyebrow. After careful disinfecting I try it on and the color turns pink and then more pink withing 15 seconds. Basically, within 30 seconds I was at the cash with Dior Lip Glow in tow and a sample of the Dior Nude Foundation. I have no will power and I admit it.

My intention was not to purchase the Lip Glow because a lip balm is a lip balm is a lip balm, but not for $32.50. Nonetheless, I've worn it religiously for three days straight and I can see the product already depleting. The color is nice and when pairing it with a gloss over top, its gorgeous. This balm does not stain your lips it tints them. For staying power I rate this product a 6.5 or 7 out of 10 for endurance. This tube is going straight into my Flight Attendant uniform because up in the air its very dry and we're constantly applying lip moisturizers. You should see the stash of lip and hand products in our purses! I'm hoping to find a dupe for this product so this won't hurt my wallet.

In the meantime, I snapped a few photos of myself wearing the Dior Lip Glow on my lips and nothing else. Its actually really pretty on but at this rate it might get to the bottom of the tube within two weeks. For that reason alone, I'm not sure if I will repurchase this product. This is my intention at least for this week.

Hopefully this was helpful and thank you for stopping by.xx

MAC Face and Body Foundation Review & Photo of the Day

I've been using MAC's Face and Body Foundation or about two years now and it is one of my main go to foundations for summer. I typically prefer medium coverage in a foundation but, in hot and humid climates I prefer a lighter, more natural coverage and an oil-free, water based foundation. This particular product is great because it has buildable coverage for the face and body, meaning if you apply your foundation and find its too sheer just apply more on top until you get the coverage you desire and it still won't look heavy. Also, you can use a darker shade of foundation on your legs and body and rub it in and you get instant color. The Face and Body foundation is very easy to blend and its long-lasting. The consistency is almost water like when squeezed out from its nozzle tip but it quickly disappears into your skin once blended (see pic 2).

I use this foundation on brides quite often because it applies easily and can be manipulated depending on the type of applicator you use, whether it be a sponge wedge, a 187 or 190 brush or even your fingers. I love applying this with a drop or two of MAC's Strobe Liquid or Benefits High Beam, both of which add an angelic, sheer highlight to the face and shoulders, and collar bones, without looking powdery. You can even pour this liquid into an airbrush gun and it works perfectly. Although this foundation is very sheer looking it delivers professional results and it photographs beautifully.

This foundation is available in a wide range of colors and comes in a large 120ml bottle. Its only sold at MAC Stores and available on the MAC Pro website. Next time you are in a MAC store make sure to ask for a sample. As a side note, I have never experienced an acne breakout while using this foundation.

The picture above is of the shades I normally take with me to bridal or special event gigs and the other picture is of myself wearing the foundation. Here is what else is on my face:

Foundation: MAC Face and Body Foundation shade: C2, Powdered T-zone with MAC Blotting Powder Medium-Dark

Concealer: Laura Mercier Cream Concealer in shade #2

Blush: Rimmel Lipstick in Airy Fairy #070

Eyes: Stila Eyeshadow in Kitten all over lid

Upper Waterline: MAC's Brown Border Kohl Eye pencil

Mascara: Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara in Black

Lips: Rimmel Lipstick in Airy Fairy #070 and NYX Goddess of the Night Lipgloss in #155 Perfect.


Thanks for stopping by. xx

The Style Diet

Many of you that subscribe to Blogger and YouTube have undoubtedly heard of the beautiful, lovely and talented
Anna Saccone, who is the creator of The Style Diet. She is a fashion design student who did an internship last summer in Munich for Ralph Lauren. She also did a photo shoot for TK Maxx this year and she is a dead ringer for Brigitte Bardot. I am so lucky to have gotten to know her in the last little while and I now consider her my friend.

Anna has such a flare for fashion and can put together a look that is worthy of being on editorial pages in a fashion magazine. This girl can style you without even breaking a sweat!! She's a natural and can probably put together the perfect outfit by just listening to someone without having to see a picture of them. What a wonderful gift to have. However, that isn't Anna's only gift. I am most impressed with her generosity, her kindness and her sincerity, not to mention her million dollar smile. She's too nice damn it! She recently sent me some lovely accessories from Ireland and I have been wearing them with almost every outfit, which by the way, takes me forever to select. When I'm in my car stopped at a red light and I look at my bracelet or touch my earrings I always smile because it reminds me that she took the time to pick something out for me. Thank you Anna.

If you haven't already, please check out Anna's blog: The Style Diet and subscribe to her YouTube channel by the same name. Anna's
'How to Wear a Scarf' video on YouTube has already started a trend and has spawned multiple video scarf responses. Check her out, you won't regret it. Anna honestly cares about helping people feel their best by accentuating their best features and always tries to offer fashion advice which will not leave your bank account high and dry.