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Date night smokey eyes!

We've got some great tutorials headin' your way :)

Hey Honey!

     So its has been almost two weeks since the beginning of the honey challenge over at http://www.crunchybetty.com/, and I, like many other of ms. Leslie's faithful followers, have washed my face with honey twice a day, since the very beginning, and I am loving it.

 

It has seriously changed my skin for the better. My skin texture has improved, I have less breakouts and my skin is SOFT. I love it. In case you don't know, here's why honey has had such a great effect on my skin

• It's both moisturizing AND drying so it dries up acne while insuring your skin never gets flaky.                                                    
• Its antimicrobial and antibacterial- lovely stuff for problem skin                                                                                                                                               
• It is an enzyme treasure trove (hello, antiaging!)                                                                                           
• It's completely natural, so you know exactly what's going on your face                                                                                                                                          

          Sounds awesome, right? Yeah, you should definitely give it a try. It seriously is such a fast, easy way to change your skin for the better. There's no need to moisturize, just wash and go. So tell me, are you doing the honey challenge? If not, I implore you, TRY IT, it's ah-may-zing, your skin will thank you

             

Oh My Gosh....

....Katy Perry went blond!! As alot of you may know, Katy recently lightened her hair to a red shade, claiming it was a transition color to another "secret" color (by this time I pretty much figured she was going blond, but really hoped she wouldn't). Even though her new color is close to her natural color, I can't help but think that it's not her. Take a look.



out with the (gorgeous) old



Katy as a red head





In with the new

So, how do you guys feel about it? Does the blond suit her or do you prefer her as a brunette? Maybe you love her red shade? Tell us in the comments.

I Have a Confession To Make...

...I am addicted to the blog, CrunchyBetty.com. So much so that, about a week and a half ago, I decided to go "No-Poo". Meaning that instead of washing my hair with shampoo and conditioner, I use a mixture of baking soda and water as shampoo and a mixture of Apple Cider Vinegar and water as conditioner. Yes, it sounds gross and you may think that I've spent the better part of the last two weeks hiding my hair in shame, but really, it's been really to keep it up AND my hair has never looked better. Take a look.



before







after (almost) two weeks



 



 Not only is my hair clean, it is soft and smooth, with much more volume (pay no mind to my grown out color). Also, my hair is less brassy and my ends feel much healthier. I definitely think I am going to keep this up.

         If any of you lovely ladies want to follow suit here's what you need to do:

•  mix 2tbs baking soda with 1 cup water
• mix 3tbs ACV with 2 cups water
• Every three days, wash your hair with the baking soda solution, massaging it into the scalp, not the hair, then rinse your hair with the ACV solution (don't worry the Vinegar smell goes away after the hair dries).   
• don't get discouraged, your hair may freak out during the first 2 weeks because it's not used to not having the chemicals coating it. It will calm down, you just have to give it a chance.
• lastly, enjoy your newfound healthy, and shiny, hair :)            

Emma's Gorgeous Dress

Ok so this may be a little redundant, I get that. But lately, with the premier of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Emma Watson has been on my style brain. I mean how smokin' was she in this strapless  Bottega Veneta gown? Feist your eyes.
Yes, I know unfair. I'm loving how the tones of her dress compliment her olive skintone, and how she completes the look with dramatic smokey eyes. Can I be like her when I grow up?

Ok I'll stop now.

Hey! why don't you try....

Visiting your local beauty school?

Don't worry, your limited funds don't have to limit your hair happiness.



In this economy us girls can't always afford a trip to the salon when we are feeling blah. So does that mean we are destined to walk the earth with split ends and less that vibrant hues? I think not... Instead, why don't you hit up a beauty school? I know what you're thinking, but trust me you will get a cut you love! Some do's and dont's of beauty school trips

DO speak up. Want bangs? blunt or sideswept? How about length? Use your hands to show how long or short you want you hair to fall. If you want swingy layers that blend together over edgy razor sliced strands, make sure your stylist knows this. DON'T just say "uh, yea I just want layers...blah blah blah" you may end up with the opposite of what you want.

DON'T Be afraid. In most beauty schools the students who actually work with the public are seniors just about ready to take their State Board exams. And a supervisor must watch over the whole process to make sure they don't make mistakes.

DO be appreciative. In the wise wise words of a certain Lafayette Reynolds... Tip yo' waitress. But of course in this case we are talking hair stylists (pay attention). They really go the extra mile, and make you feel like you are walking out of a high profile NYC salon to the stars (without shelling out copious amounts of moolah).

Moral of the story? You can't go wrong going to a beauty school for a great cut and color. They need the practice and well, you are going to get preferential treatment with amazing results! AND  because the students are going to pull out all the stops to show how awesome they are to their instructors (read head massage and bouncy blowout). And just so you know, Im not pulling this all out my butt either. I actually always go to my local beauty school for cuts and sometimes color (if not, you bet your ass I'm doing it myself) I once went and got all over color, highlights, cut, and a blowout for $70. Yes 7-0 big ones. (true story) And since doing so I've never been unsatisfied with the cut.

Visit http://www.beautyschoolsdirectory.com/ for more information on what services your local beauty schools offer. (Trust me, they're everywhere!)


Enjoy!

Run. Don't Walk to the Nearest Drugstore.

When you think of summer, what comes to mind? After barbeques, and pool parties, and the beach and camping? How about smooth skin? I know it's high on my list.

If it's high on your list too, I implore you to pick up some of this lovely stuff on your next trip to the store. Behold, Amlactin. It's a super moisturizing lotion that also exfoliates, leaving skin super soft and glowy. One of the key ingredients in Amlactin is lactic acid which is a natural exfoliant found in milk. It's like using a scrub without the effort, and if you suffer from Keratosis Pilaris (chicken skin like bumps and dry skin) this is a life saver. I like to increase it's effectiveness by using a scrub beforehand, it's my favorite skin "treatment" to do for a spa day. I even put a little on my face from time to time when it's dry or dull, but I only recommend it if your skin isn't sensitive, because it might irritate it. Also, at about $20 a 14 oz. bottle, it's not the cheapest lotion out there, but it is good. So, are you going to give it a try? do you have a beauty product you swear by? If so, explain in the comments below.

An Unsolved Beauty Mystery (And a solution!!! Your welcome.)

This one always has me scratching my head...



Where in the sam hill did my bobby pins go?????

Most girls (read: all) need bobby pins to (basically) survive. Its just a fact of life. That being said the vanishing of these little miracle workers are pretty much bordering an epidemic. If only we had a place for these little guys to stay put and maybe mingle with  friends. IF. ONLY.

Thankfully, the lovely ladies over at at Glamour (one of my favorite magazines, and blogs) has solved this problem for us.





Its a sewing kit!

Says Petra Guglielmetti, its just a simple cardboard envelope that folds into itself and closes.

I just pinned my hair into a bun and didn't have to fish around for my bobbies--amazing.

Such a cute ides, if I don't say so myself. However, I think this can easily be DIY'd (yay!! DIY)

Since Im such a nerd, I have a million books of scrapbooking paper, so I just to two peices of the paper, cut them into rectangles, and taped them together. Folding them three times length-wise, and folded the edges in length-wise. Check it out.

Pretty easy, right? You know what's also cool? Do you see what is keeping it closed? Hair ties!!! My. Hero. So whaddya think? Worth trying?



Wash Your Face With Honey? Say What?

So, over at the lovely blog CrunchBetty, starting on Monday there will be a challenge to wash your face with honey (and water, of course) for two whole weeks. Sound crazy? kinda, but i'm going to humor her and do it AND I think you guys should, too. It's part of an effort to simplify what we use on our bodies and stop spending so much money on stuff that we could easily recreate at home (check out CrunchBetty.com for more info, just use the link on my blogroll and starting monday, you can click on the nifty little button I put on our sidebar). Hopefully, after two weeks we will all emerge from this little challenge with clear, soft, glowing skin. Whaddya say? Are you in?

Just a Friendly Reminder




Wrinkles: cute on him, not so much on you



Remember guys, These are the dog days of summer. Its sunny and hot and oh so humid, what better way to be spending it at the beach or camping? I sure can't think of a better way. Remember to protect your skin now so you don't look like them later. Did you know that the SPF listed on your bottle of sunscreen is only that effective if applied like a layer of icing. Crazy, huh? The only brands of sunscreen that test their SPF in a reasonable way are Australian brands, so look out for those. Enjoy your (hot and sunny) day :)

What's Your Problem? Absolutely Nothing

       Let's talk body image. Are you having a fat day? Do you feel like your skin is so bad that people are horrified to look at you? Is your hair just meh compared to other women's hair? Chances are you have a skewed self image, and you're not alone. It seems as though it plagues almost every woman on the planet. But, why?     

The internet is filled with confession sites where people can post how they feel about their bodies on any given day. While there are positive posts about self love, most are insults and comments of disdain. Why are we so hateful of our bodies, why can't we accept ourselves regardless of our size or features? Many believe    it's society, like this anonymous poster on the site bodyconfessions.com,

"Our culture limits our potential as women by chaining us down with self-hatred and self-obsession... those who manage to cast off the chains are punished and reminded that our worth as women is tied exclusively to our appearance, not to the limitless love, wit, kindness, generosity, and intelligence that so many of us have. Though I realize this, I am just as obsessed with my body and the hating of it, and controlling of it, as the next woman in our culture. maybe someday i'll break free." 

  Others feel the undying need compare themselves to and compete with other women, like this truuconfessions.com poster,

  "I just read about someone who was 5'8, 131 lbs, and a size 4. So you're my height, nearly my weight, and a size FOUR?! I'm in a 9, and was always a 9 at this weight. I need some peanut butter to

accompany all of this "jelly". Yes, I am so very jealous, (and I feel like a cow)."

  This kind of self hatred is destructive because with all the diversity in the world, people look different. They are different. So, my challenge to you, ladies, is this: stop treating yourselves as if you are the sum of your flaws, and start realizing the little things that make you feel beautiful, be it you large (or small) butt and boobs, your eyes, skin color, or hair type. Because, regardless of if you realize this, there are plenty of women out there wishing they had what you have. Secondly, don't judge another girl because of what she has, because everyone deserves to feel their best and love themselves.

24 Karat Nails

What girl doesn't love gold? I've yet to meet one. You know what is even better than gold jewelry? Gold nails! Ok, maybe not- but they are still pretty awesome. Check it out.

Behold, O.P.I Gift of Gold (from the burlesque line). Now I'm going to have to warn you, it is a Biotch to get off (ah...the price of beauty) but let me tell you, people WILL ask you about it. Of course, it probably won't fly in all workplaces so leave it for the weekend. Maybe use it as an excuse to go clubbing! It's also a great toe color, just make sure you have some acetone handy when you need to remove it.

Beautiful Inspirations

Ali Larter

She is a gorgeous actress who got fed up with playing the token bimbo in her twenties. So what did she do? She came back in her thirties to play the bonafide ass kicker in Hereos. Now that is awesome.  I've got to admit, girlfriend can definitely rock the plunging necklines.

Lea Michele



I L.O.V. E Lea Michele. She's confident, bubbly, and unafraid of color. Girl crush of the century!

Anna Paquin



Now, I have a confession to make...I am obsessed with HBO's Trueblood. Ever since the series started I have longed to be exactly like Anna's character Sookie. I mean why not?  She is a tough girly girl with a brain.
(Side note: Doesn't Lea Michele kind of resemble Anna Paquin, just as a brunette?)

Marion Cotillard



I wish I had Marion's grace and stature. While emulating true glamour, she seems so relatable and real.

Natalie Wood



One of my favorite actresses of all time. She is the epitome of beauty, and so very talented from a young age. I wish to be reborn as her in my next life. I definitely don't care to have her life though, she is a perfect example of how stardom can make you fragile.

Your face's new best friend!

Happy 11:11 guys (quick! Make a wish). I just don't know how I would be able to sleep at night without sharing with you one of my all time favorite beauty products. Its a little pricey, I'll give you that, but hot damn it is worth every penny. I give you, my lovely readers, Stila One Step Correct Primer. Shut. The. Front. Door. This bad boy has ingredients that corrects, decreases redness, brightens, primes and nourishes all in this nifty triplex helix. Gotta love that! When I used this for the first time, my skin glowed. And let me tell you, my skin was not at its best. Even though I had blemishes, with a dollop of this I felt like my skin was perfect as is.

You can pick up one of your very own at Sephora.

Hey Beauty lovers!

Well hello gorgeous readers!! I'm glad to say that I will be joining my sister on here, bringing you guys new topics, ideas, and diys. (and who doesn't love a diy?) But first, I want to tell you a little bit about what drives me. As Breanna told you, Im a Michigan transplant here in the quaint little blip on the map Big Sandy. Home to about 500 people! (There were almost as many students in my graduating class. Sheez Louise!) But I can't complain. It is capital-G gorgeous. If only we were closer to a gosh darn Sephora....A girl can dream right? That being said Im on a mission to get back to the D, and I am counting the days. On another note, I have a confession to make. Im a HUGE hockey fan. Im talking jersey wearing, RedWing obsessed, trash-talking, Goalie fight loving hockey fan. Yes I admit it. Honestly, what  Breanna has told you about herself is also true for me. I'm a huge animal lover, I've got 11 for Pete's sake! I also live for music, I've even gone as far as to say music is my religion...because frankly, that is what I put my faith in. Horror movies are also a shameless addiction. I love all the classics, and would laugh in the face of Freddy Krueger. Oh and Micheal Myers, he's my dude. But anyway, What Im really excited about is getting to know you guys while writing about something I truly love, beauty!!

                                                                                    Much Love,
                                                                                             Chelsea VanBuren <3
                                                                             

Let's Just Take a Second

I know I just posted  about her last night but let's just take a second to gaze at Emma Watson's gorgeous and risky eye makeup from the New York premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Pt. 2. It's a little sexy and smokey and a lot glamourous. Even though the gold foil in the outer corners was stretch, I think it was pulled of beautifully. What do you guys think, was this a good look or should she have gone for a safer look?

Girl Crush of the Moment

We've all watched Ms. Emma Watson grow up over the past decade and might I say, she is GORGEOUS.

She went from little Hermione Granger to creating her own identity as a huge star and college student. For starring in one of the largest movie franchises in history, she seems to have a level head. Not to mention she's the new face of Burberry (how chic of her). I think it's safe to say that she's handling the limelight gracefully.

holy frizz!

Its summertime, the season of frizz. Most of us have visions of beachy waves dancing in our heads, but instead end up looking like we stuck a key in a light socket. It doesn't have to end this way, ladies! by following a few simple tricks, we can avoid the rats nest we've become accustomed to.

 1. keep your hair hydrated. frizz loves to target dry hair. thirsty hair tries so hard to get moisture, so when there's moisture in the air, hair sucks it up, creating the dreaded pouf. Hair only holds so much moisture, so if it's completely moisturized, there's no room for any outside moisture, hence, no frizz. Try indulging in a deep conditioner once or twice a week, a really great one is Ion Effective Care Treatment, which is only 7.99 at Sally Beauty, so affordable. If you prefer to go the DIY route, you can make a mask by combining 1/3 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup mayo, and a bit of honey.

2. Protect your hair in the sun. At the beach or pool, take advantage of the sun's heat by working a generous amount of moisturizing conditioner into dry hair and pulling it into a bun before heading out. The sun's heat helps the conditioner penetrate the cuticle, PLUS the conditioner protects your hair from damaging chlorine, and keeps it from frizzing while drying. Definitely worth it in my book.

3. Give your hot tools a break. I know, easier said than done. Seriously though,  if you limit you use of the blow dryer, your hair will thank you with beautiful shine and softness. Also, the few times you do blow out your hair (or curl and straighten) you'll feel like you've stepped out of the salon.

 trying rocking the side bun or using your mad braiding skills to keep your look interesting.

Everyone deserves photo worthy hair no matter what the weather. So start spending less time in front of the mirror and more time enjoying the summer parties and vacations, by making sure your hair is moisturized and happy.

Hey! Cute Nails!

So summery and cute :)

Pretty Quick

Happy saturday everyone!! This is a super simple look that I do if I don't have very much time to do my make-up or are to lazy to go "all out". Its just your basic taupe eyeshadow and pinky-nude lip color look that takes about 5-8 minutes total.

I prepped my skin by using the Proactiv system, finishing with their Daily Oil-Control Lotion as a primer.

Step 1. buff a mineral foundation onto your skin with a dense, full coverage brush. I used BareMinerals foundation in medium tan. It's a great product for summer because its so light on the skin but still covers imperfections.  seriously, this stuff is the best

Step 2. apply a peach cheek stain to the apples of your cheeks. don't go overboard here, a tiny bit goes a loonngg way (you can skip this step if you're rockin' a sunburn). I used Tarte Natural Beauty cheekstain in Bliss. At $30, its kinda pricey but, If you invest in one of these little guys it will last you FOREVER.

Step 3. dust a translucent finishing powder over your entire face. It evens out anything that isn't blended and stops shine. A great one is BareMinerals Original Mineral Veil. It feels so light and airy, it's almost refreshing.

Step 4. Using a flat eyeshadow brush, take a shimmery light taupe eyeshadow and apply it evenly to the eyelid from lashline to crease. My favorite is Bare escentuals eye color in Drama, this stuff goes on perfectly whether you apply it wet or dry.

Step 5. using an oversized concealer brush, apply your highlighing shade (a gold shade if you're more olive toned, a champagne shade if you're a cooler tone) to beneath the brows, blending any sharp lines. I used Bare Escentuals eye color in Queen Phyllis, a good shade for fair gals would be Cultured Pearl by the same brand.

 Step 6. Use a clean crease blush to blend the shade on your lids with the one beneath your brows into the creases for a seamless transition

Step 7. using a black eyeliner, line your top lashline just enough to define the lashes. The eyeliner I used was Almay Bright Eyes liner/illuminator in Soft Black

Step 8. Apply 3 coats of mascara to your lashes. I know, I know, it sounds like alot of mascara, and it is, but it really makes a huge difference in lash size and fullness. If you want, curl your lashes first. I don't feel the need because my lashes are naturally pretty curled. For this step, I used three different types of mascara: Revlon Double Twist mascara in black, then Rimmel Lash Accelerator in black, and lastly, Maybelline NY XXL Pro "24 Hr Bold" in very black.

Step 9. To finish the look apply a nude lip color to your lips. This step doesn't have to be intricate, just apply and go. To ensure lipstick doesn't get on your teeth, stick your  thumb in your mouth, close your lips around it and pull it out. Simple. The shade I used was Revlon Super Lustrous Lipcolor in Just Enough Buff.

Super simple, right? It's summer time, ladies. lets get out and enjoy it, and if that means not spending so much time on our look, whatever. even so, that doesn't mean we can't look polished and pretty. We can acheive that with just a few products and about 5 minutes, all the time we need.

welcome to CrayonBox

Hey everyone. Lately, I've been feeling restless about things. Everything to be exact: where I will be going to school, how to get a job in this small town, remodeling my house, revising my diet and exercise plan, my career goals and how to acheive them. The list goes on. I decided to create crayonbox as an outlet for my restlessness, somewhere to share what i'm passionate about.
          To kick off, I want to do a post to introduce myself.

That's me on the right, with my sister, Chelsea, at an orchestra concert.

             My name is Breanna VanBuren, i'm 19 years old, and I have a twin sister who I am very close to. I recently moved from the suburban town of Waterford, Michigan to the incredibly sleepy town of
Big Sandy, Tennessee.  Let me tell you, it's a giant change.  It is relaxing, though, I'll give it that. There's more time to chill out and enjoy your surroundings.

              I love animals. my pets are the only thing keep me sane. They just have so much personality, they make me laugh atleast 7 million times a day.
   

I love a good workout. Pilates, Yoga, you name it, i've tried (and loved) it. I'm constantly trying to find new ways to workout, but because of the distance from civilization, I don't really have the means to try out a new class here and there. So I walk (almost) everyday, which is excellent because there are so many hills. Also, I've officially sold my soul to TurboJam, it's that good. I've had the program for two years now and I don't think I will ever be sick of it.

I am a HUGE believer in the power of music. I've played the bass and cello for eight years, and firsthandedly have seen the benefits of being involved in the performing arts. It's insane what music education supports. It greatly improves self esteem, AND raises test scores. As for listening to music, I

like anything from classical to rock. I grew up listening to everything from miss Britney Spears to Metallica, and love it all.

Lastly, I am such a girly girl. I love make-up, nail polish, hair, and fashion. Oh my gosh, I could go on about that stuff forever. That's part of the reason I decided to create this blog and I hope you guys enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it.