No Time To Breathe

I am very slacky on the blog lately. Pretty much anything that is not work, sleep, or food hasn't been getting done. Which makes me sad :( Working full time, especially morning shifts where I have to be up at 4:30, are very hard on me! I am hoping to get a good schedule that affords me some sleep soon, and then I will be able to catch up on the things that I enjoy. For now, here is what I wear to work all the time (or a black polo instead), topped off with a Starbucks apron. I did work my first MAC event yesterday, so more coming on that later ;)

exciting Starbucks uniform

MAC makeup, even when I'm not there!

Kisses and Cupcakes,
Jess

"Sexy Coal Miner"

I don't normally wear this style of clothing, as I am usually a dresses and ruffles type of girl. I wanted to try something different, and I couldn't resist this romper/overalls combo! My friend Simone dubbed this outfit as "sexy coal miner" hahahaha. I thought it was a perfect description, and it reminded me of when he works in the coal mind in Zoolander! I want to get lots more wear out of these boots, and I need inspiration. Any suggestions, lovelies? <3 

Boots- Boutique 9, overalls- Target, crinkle blouse- Forever 21, belt- vintage, necklace- Charlotte Russe, bracelet- handmade in Cape Cod, earrings- Charlotte Russe

lips- MAC Sophisto and Nearly Red liner

Kisses and Cupcakes,
Jess

Driving Glasses!

I have been having a hard time seeing far away lately, so I decided to go to the eye doctor. Turns out I was right about my eyes, and needed glasses for driving and other long distance activities! I got a cute pair of Tiffany (!) glasses that I'm very pleased with. I keep making the joke that it's the only Tiffany box I'll ever own, but it's probably true! The dress I wore that day is made from a parachute pantsuit I found that the thrift store, and cut off. I love it now! 

Lips- MAC Viva Glam Gaga

new Tiffany glasses!
cameo necklace- Rue 21, earrings- vintage

dress- thrifted, cardigan- The Limited, flats- Target, bag- Betsey Johnson

Kisses and Cupcakes,
Jess

Miscellaneous

More catch-up outfits! Maybe I'll actually get some time off next week (for my birthday!) and I can make some more regular posts :) I am super busy with not only work, but planning my 25th birthday party. It is going to be a Marie Antoinette themed affair, so there are decorations to be bought and food to be ordered. I just hope it turns out the way i see it in my mind. I have a Pinterest board created for it here. 

super casual after work dinner outfit
jeans- Buckle, tank- Target, necklace- Charming Charlie,  earrings- vintage

rainy day! one of the first cool days this fall :( I miss summer already
ruffled tunic- Marshall's, leggings- Forever 21, boots- Blowfish, belt- Body Central,
sweater- Target, short necklace- vintage, cameo necklace- Forever 21

purple and orange
necklaces- Charming Charlie, dress- swap party (Forever 21)

subconsciously wearing Starbucks colors even while not at work
tank- swap party, skirt underneath- Wet Seal, flats- Target

soft romance

I should have taken more pictures of this!
boots- Blowfish, dress- TJMaxx, bangles and necklace- Forever 21

Kisses and Cupcakes,
Jess

Mom's Birthday & Magic Wrap

My mom's birthday was on August 24th, if that lets you know how much work I've been doing! I rarely get more than one day off in a row, and I'm working full time hours with no benefits. It kind of sucks, but I really need to save up money for that move to L.A. next year! Anyway, for mom's birthday, we just went to dinner and I brought her some presents. Low key, but it was nice to be just the two of us as usual!  I also included the outfit I wore the next day, which included another of the magic wrap dresses I bought in Savannah. I wore the first one as a dress, and this one as a skirt. I'm obsessed. I think I want to learn to make them and sell them on etsy!

Mom's Birthday
dress- Kimora Lee Simmons, love necklace- Forever 21, bangle- Charming Charlie

wrap skirt another way!
tank top- Body Shop, sandals- Target

lips- MAC Morange (my fave)

Kisses and Cupcakes,
Jess

Recent Makeup Looks

Sometimes I will get bored late at night, and create a crazy makeup look just for fun. That's exactly what the two pictures directly below are. Just some experimentation with bold colors, contouring, and brows. The rest of the photos are just everyday makeup looks that I have worn recently. 

I filled in my brows with a dark blue shadow to create an alien look, as well as contouring with several different shades of pink on my face and cheekbones. I dotted bright purple in the center of my lips to change their shape, as well. 

I also couldn't resist adding a fake purple mole :)

Starbucks green eyeshadow for my first day of work! 

Red lips and classic silver eyes for my Bettie Boop look

Bright green eyes and Fuschia lips that landed me my second MAC interview

Smoky eyes and nude lips for my new hair

Filled in brows, simple copper eyes, and a bold red lip

Kisses and Cupcakes,

Jess

Orange & Blue (plus, I graduated!)

I can't believe I'm just now getting around to posting this, but I finally had my graduation ceremony from Aesthetics school a few weeks ago! I completed my program in May, but they combined the summer semester with our class, so we all graduated together. This particular weekend was a great one for me, as I was hired on at Starbucks and landed a second interview at MAC (where I also got the job, yay!). I can only hope that bigger and better things are to come, as I have my foot in the door of my dream profession, a makeup artist. Thank God! 

Jason and I after graduation (I love my Honor Society sash!)

 The next night, I had a super fun evening chatting with some new and old friends at a local venue. Usually there are loud bands and annoying smoke at this place, but it was much more chill and pleasant that night.

lips- MAC Morange, necklace- vintage

dress- Forever 21

Kisses and Cupcakes,
Jess

Grey Skies With A Purple Lining

I wore this unusual color combo ensemble to my friend Chloe's 21st birthday. I really love the purple and aqua together, and the dark grey keeps it from being too childish. I had a great time that night, and Chloe looked gorgeous with her new haircut! I wish I had taken a picture of it. Mine is as short as hers now :)

lavender pants- Forever 21, grey tank- The Limited, grey heels- Citi Trends, scarf as belt- vintage, necklace- Charlotte Russe, earrings- Natural Body Spa, lipstick- MAC Venomous Villains in Maleficent

Fashion Shoot Makeup

My friend Lesha asked me to do makeup for a fashion shoot she was doing last week, and of course I agreed! I got to do two different looks on the gorgeous Susannah, and it was easy because she's so lovely. It was really just variations of the same look, but I had a lot of fun staying for the whole shoot and touching her up when she needed it.

She was wearing a pretty flowered strapless dress in this part of the shoot, and Lesha took photos of her outside in a flower garden. So lovely and romantic! I had originally done her dramatic eyes to go with an edgier outfit, but she loved them so I just changed her lip from bright red to hot pink.

Hot Pink lipstick- Sephora Collection Lipstick #01 and Lip Fusion lip plumper
For the last part of the shoot, she changed into a simple black dress and some fire engine red heels, so I flipped her lip color back to the bright red.

Eyes- MAC Silver Ring, Carbon, Jeanius in Stovepipe Black, and Nylon.

Lips- MAC Ruby Woo with Lipglass in Sun Ray on top.

Cheeks- MAC Style Demon

For my makeup, I went matching with my outfit, and did bright green and hot pink.

Eyes- MAC Lucky Green

Lips- Estee Lauder Lipstick in Starlit Pink

Tunic- TJMaxx, Leggings- Forever 21, Sandals- Target, Belt- Forever 21

Makeup Look: Fire Fairy

My oldest friend aka basically my sister, Ashley, allowed me to do some dramatic makeup on her the other night. I didn't take pictures as I went, but I did get some shots of the final look. The fiery colors on her tan skin reminded me of a mythical creature, so I went with fire fairy. She has such beautiful skin!

On her eyes- MAC Chrome Yellow, Orange, and the red is from Coastal Scents 120 Palette.
Her lips are MAC Morange, and the blush is Tarte in Tipsy

I added some MAC Pigment in White Gold on top of the blush along her cheekbones, and under her brows for an extra dramatic shimmer.

Makeup Tutorial: Barbie Pink

I decided to do a step-by-step tutorial with pictures this time, as it will be easier to follow :) I might try a video next time, if I don't get too embarrassed!

I started out by applying a primer (Bare Minerals Prime Time) to my entire lid, and letting it dry. I then applied a layer of shimmery light pink eyeshadow, such as MAC Seedy Pearl.

Next, I applied a highly pigmented hot pink shadow (MAC Swish) to my crease, and made sure to deposit the color densely. It looks strange before you blend it, but I promise it will look better. I use MAC #239 eye shader brush for this, and pretty much any eyeshadow application. It's my go-to brush!
Next, I blended the hot pink and light pink shadows thoroughly, adding more light and dark as needed to create a gradient. I also added a off white highlighter under my brow (MAC Nylon). I use MAC #213 fluff brush for highlighting.
I then used a stiff brush, wetted, and matte black shadow to create eyeliner. I prefer MAC #266 small angle brush for eyeliner, and MAC Carbon eyeshadow. You could also use a stick or wet liner, but I prefer the control that the shadow and brush gives me. I also added a very thin black liner along my lower lashline.

To finish the eyes, I applied two coats of mascara on top, and one on the bottom. Maybelline Great Lash is my pick for mascara. Cheap and classic!
I then blended MAC Pro Longwear concealer under my eyes, and MAC Studio Fix foundation on the rest of my face using a foundation brush. I do any wet foundation with my MAC #190 foundation brush. I set the foundation with MAC Mineralize Powder using a MAC #182 buffer brush.
I completed the look with shimmery pink blush (MAC Style Demon) and hot pink-purple lipstick (MAC Pink Plaid).
Kisses and Cupcakes,

Jess