Category Archives: hairstyles

Dapper Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland

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Usually I go all out for Dapper Day, but the fall of 2014 was…well, I just wasn’t feeling it. A lot of stuff was going on around this point in my life. Long story. But I still wanted to participate, just without a lot of sewing.

I ended up putting together a really simple outfit out of items in my closet. I had a black strapless Forever 21 dress with big fabric flowers on the skirt that had just been sitting around for ages, and I decided it would be perfect. I based my outfit off of the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, so I added a thin black cardigan and a red belt with a silver heart shaped clasp. The red tights were from Target and the black flats with the red hearts were from Modcloth too (but via eBay). And of course there was a petticoat stuffed up there too; it’s not Dapper Day if I’m not swathed in chiffon ruffles.

My hair was surprisingly successful. I used my little mesh donut from Target to shape my bun (since I have the WORST BABY FINE HAIR EVER) and I curled my bangs back from my forehead and pinned the ringlet in place. I sprayed the whole thing to death with hairspray and surprisingly it all stayed! What a miracle for Florida.

Dapper Day was held at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and a bunch of us Icon cast members (current and former) went together. It was also the final day of operation for the Backlot Tour, so we rode it together. Honestly, while it’s sad that the attraction closed, it took up a lot of space without offering a lot to do. I’m looking forward to Toy Story and Star Wars opening up in the now-vacant space!

(Still bitter about Movie Ride, though. Always bitter about Movie Ride.)

Also I bought a Sven plush. That happened.

Dapper Day Wendy Darling

Posted in beauty, Disneybounding, fashion, hairstyles, theme park life by

Oh lord. This dress. This dress nearly killed me.

So for starters, my sister and a bunch of her friends were visiting for Dapper Day, and we decided to do a big Dapper Day Peter Pan squad. I was unanimously chosen as Wendy (because really, have you met me? I’m a Wendy.) I planned my outfit pretty quickly-  a sky blue lace dress with a blue sash. Nice and simple, right?

Wrong. I procrastinated. I waited until literally the night before. Oh, and guess what else was also the night before? My first 10k. I was running the inaugural Disney Star Wars Dark Side 10k race, and for some reason I decided to procrastinate.

I used Vogue 2960, which is a vintage reprint pattern, and I’ve used it before to make my Ellie Frederickson dress. I did the same alterations- I cut the front pieces on the fold so that the dress could zip up the back instead of button up the front. I adjusted the shoulders. I checked all my measurements. I cut the pieces from a sky blue lace and a sky blue cotton and had sky blue bias tape to hem the edges.

Yet somehow, when I sewed the skirt (a gathered dirndl), somehow the bodice was DRASTICALLY longer in the back, making the whole thing droop and making the skirt hang too low. I was devastated. I honestly could not figure out what was going wrong with this stupid thing. And by then it was around nine at night, and I needed to be up at 3 am to run the 10k.

Luckily my friend Kimberly stepped in and offered to do some work on the dress and to finish the sash. I cried my way home (did I also mention I put myself into a panic-induced asthma attack? I’m a quality human.) carboloaded with some pasta from Panera, and crashed.

Somehow, though, I dragged myself out of bed, got to the race, and did a fairly respectable job! My time wasn’t great but it wasn’t terrible, and I felt pretty good about things. When everything was over I drove to where my sister and her friends were staying at the Caribbean Beach resort, showered, and wrestled into this stupid dress. I had preemptively packed my Rapunzel Dapper Day dress from the year before and picked up a blue ribbon as a backup sash,but magically the Wendy dress was wearable! Kimberly had done some magic to raise the waistline in the back and finish the sash. It still wasn’t perfect, but it was going to work, and that’s all that really mattered.

I clipped my beloved cheap eBay weave into my hair and my sister’s friend Torrance styled it into a nice half up-half down for me, and I added my Wendy bow from Ever After Bowtique. I wore black ballet flats from the kid’s section of Target (I wasn’t even going to try with heels) and wore my thimble necklace from Whosits and Whatsits.

Somehow I survived the entire day walking around. I don’t know how. My friends were like “do you want a wheelchair? We can totally push you in a wheelchair” and I was like “I AM STUBBORN I WILL WALK.” I ended up walking 38,000+ steps that day between the race, Epcot, and Magic Kingdom.

And then I crashed. I crashed so hard.

At least I looked cute, right?

(And here’s a closeup of my bow!)

Wait, I’m confused. I get jealous of your hair when you post pictures, it has such a pretty wave and volume to it so that it looks playful and fun. You are very pretty and spunky so following your blog and seeing pictures of you is a joy. <3

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Anonymous said:

I’ve always really liked your hair… Why do you hate it? 😦
It’s just real thin and frizzy. And I don’t know of anybody who can cut it so it looks better, so the ends are real ratty. And I drastically prefer having long hair, but I feel like it’ll look healthier shorter, but I hate how my face looks with short hair.
But yeah. Y’all are just too sweet. ❤

Look of the Day: 1920s

Look of the Day: 1920s


I have always been so scared of sidebuns! I was afraid they would make my head look fat and lopsided. Which is…admittedly…a strange fear. But still! I LOVE how this hair and makeup turned out. Like, totally.

Hairrrr:


#1: I spritzed leave-in conditioner (the Healthy Sexy Hair stuff, purchased for super cheapo at Ross) on second day hair, combed it out, and teased the top a bit.

#2: I gathered the hair into a loose ponytail on the side, teased it, and kinda…piled it up into a loose loopy bun. And then stuck bobby pins in it till it looked okay. And then put in a little flower snap clip that a friend made for me.

#3: Spritz all the hairs with hairspray, straighten the bangs, and voila!

Makeup Tutorial: Simple Spring Look by melmphs

Melissa cracks me up so much, you guys! She’s a Tennessee girl like me and she’s hilarious. No filter whatsoever, and I love it. She’s so sweet and extroverted and friendly and her videos are super fun.

I didn’t do false lashes or a quite-as-bright lipstick, and I didn’t do the smokey-bottom-lash stuff, but I REALLY love how this look turned out on me. And I especially love how it works with the hair.

———

Dress: Forever21
Shoes: Payless
Hair flower: made by a friend

———

Face
Covergirl 3 in 1 Outlast Stay Fabulous foundation in 805 Ivory
Rimmel Match Perfection concealer
Nyx cream blush in Natural

———

Eyes
Wet ‘n’ Wild trio in Sweet as Candy
Physician’s Formula Malibu Strip
Elf 100 shadow palette
Maybelline gel liner in brown
Covergirl liquiliner in black
Maybelline The Rocket mascara in blackest black (waterproof)

———

Lips
Revlon lip butter in Sweet Tart

———

Perfume: Bath and Body Works Paris in Bloom

Nail Polish: Sephora by OPI Miss Bossy Pants (from the Glee collection)

Want to see me attempt a particular look or tutorial? Want to see a review on a product? Want me to make a video? Ask me here!

Look of the Day: Hair Despair

My hair. Oh sweet mother of mercy, what is wrong with my hair? It’s neither straight nor curly. It’s neither blonde nor brown nor ginger. Its length is unremarkable- neither short nor long. And the frizz. OH SWEET MOTHER. THE FRIZZ. I’m trying to avoid heat styling since it’s summertime, but even with a healthy spritz of leave in conditioner my hair has an aura of frizz. Someone please come save my hair.

In the meantime, I shall take solace in the fact that it looks like I have a dimple in this picture.

Oh, and I attempted a Pinterest tutorial of a fancy four-strand braid, and that ended in approximately 3.7 seconds.

Makeup Tutorial: Flirty Pop by allthatglitters21

I wrote a whole description of the video and it vanished when I posted.

Anyways.

I’ve really been loving Elle’s videos lately. They’re so sweet and personable, and her looks are always so polished. This particular look is not quite so polished on me, but that’s mostly because I  still attack my face with makeup the way a first grader attacks a new coloring book page. Eventually I’ll learn how to put on makeup without looking like a fingerpainting project gone horribly awry. That’s what practice and tutorial are for, right?

My favorite part of this is the teal eyeliner on the lower lashline. I’m absolutely terrified of putting anything other than a neutral color on, around, or near my eyes, for fearing of looking more clownish than I already am, but I got the teal eyeliner in a mini set from Ulta and have been really wanting to try it. So thank you, Elle, for getting me out of my comfort zone with some fancy eyeliner!

–

Outfit:
Top: Target
Shorts: Target
Sandals: Payless

–

Face:
Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse in 110 Porcelain Ivory
Nyx stick concealer in Porcelain
Nyx cream blush in Natural
NYC bronzer in Sunny
Hard Candy bronzer in Tiki

–

Eyes:
Maybelline Color tattoo in Inked in Pink
L’oreal Infallible shadow in Amber Rush
Hard Candy duo in Peace (lighter shade)
Smashbox Limitless Liner in Onyx
Smashbox Limitless Liner in Metallic Teal
Maybelline the Rocket mascara in Blackest Black (waterproof)

 

–

Lips:
Maybelline Color Whisper in Petal Rebel
Maybelline Color Whisper in One Size Fits Pearl

Perfume: Bath and Body Works Beautiful Day
Nail Polish: OPI In the Spotlight Pink (from the Femme du Cirque collection)

Have a makeup tutorial you want to see me attempt or a product you want me to review? Ask me here!

Look of the Day: I’m Gonna Wreck It!


I am seriously in love with this shirt. I searched all over Disney World when I was there in March for a Wreck It Ralph shirt, with no success. So where do I find it? Walmart. For five dollars. I BOUGHT IT THEN AND THERE.

I typically wouldn’t wear jeans and a graphic tee to work, but I’m just in outservice now and cleaning my classroom, so I don’t gotta be fancy or nothin’.

Hair and Makeup: Katie’s Everyday Routine from A Beautiful Mess


Have you ever seen Katie on A Beautiful Mess or on her blog, Skunkboy Creatures? She is perfect. Absolutely flawless. Her life is perfect and beautiful and her husband is gorgeous and her daughters are beautiful and she dresses wonderfully and her house is filled with perfectly curated vintage finds and her hair. HER HAIR. Her hair is the most glorious shade of red imaginable.

Excuse me while I go eat jellybeans in the corner.

Anyways. I don’t look nearly as ethereally lovely (the Walmart Wreck It Ralph tee kind of negates any attempt at looking perfectly hipster twee), but I think it’s a sweet, simple look. I’ll probably try it again…if I can convince my hair to stop being so fluffy. That’s the only way I can describe my hair. It’s fluffy.

Also, I bet five bucks my hair ends up in a ponytail before the end of the day.

Hair:
#1: Wash it, spritz on detangler (I use Dove), and let it air dry. I don’t think I even own a hair dryer…

#2: Spritz with Tresseme heat protectant, attempt to curl, and despair over hair’s stubborn fluffiness.

#3: Comb through gently, add Moroccan oil, shrug at your reflection, and stick a hair tie in your pocket.

Outfit:
Tee: Walmart
Jeans: Old Navy
Shoes: Skechers

—

Face:
Covergirl and Olay corrector
Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch in Ivory
Physician’s Formula powder in Peach Nude
theBalm blush in Hot Mama (Birchbox sample)

—

Eyes:
L’oreal Infallible shadow in Bronzed Taupe (brows)
L’oreal Infallible shadow in Iced Latte
Maybelline Master Duo liquid liner in Blackest Black
Maybelline Mega Plush mascara

—

Lips:
Fresh Sugar balm in Rose (Sephora sample)

Perfume: Bath and Body Works Hawaii Coconut

Nail Polish: OPI I Juggle…Men (from the Femme du Cirque collection)

Look of the Day: My Dress has Fish On It!

That is literally the first thing my students said to me today. And lo, she spake the truth. There is indeed a fish on my dress. Two, actually.

I needed a perky dress to get me through the day. Yesterday was my last day teaching my beloved theatre arts kids, and today is my last day for tutoring and my kindergarten afterschool class. It’s gonna be sad, yo.

Anyways. I’ll get weepy about it later.

Hair Tutorial: Quick and Simple Updo

(I did this on second-day hair.)

#1: Tease the crown of the head- I smoothed it out with a little bit of hairspray on a comb.

#2: Divide into three sections and braid each section loosely. I tied each one off with a snap clip instead of an elastic. You’ll see why.

#3: Loop each braid into a small bun and pin in place with bobby pins. Spritz with hairspray.

Honestly, I didn’t think I’d really like this. Mostly because I feel like updos make my head look too small for my body. Does anyone else have this happen? No? Just me? Okay.

Anyways, I liked this! I think it’s cute!

Verdict: Thumbs Up

Makeup: Get Ready: Night Out by NikkiPhillippi

Why did I do a Nikki tutorial so early?! I’m so intimidated. She’s perfect. Ack. Why did I do this?

Well, nervous hiccuping aside, I did this one. I think it turned okay, although my attempt wasn’t nearly as bold and luminous. I also was too scare to make my blush or contouring or highlighting as bold. I’ll get the courage at some point, right?

Maybe. Not counting on it.

Outfit:
Dress: Island Carnival dress via Modcloth
Tee: Old Navy
Leggings: Forever 21
Shoes: Blowfish Hortons

—

Face:
Covergirl and Olay corrector
Physician’s Formula Conceal Rx
Physician’s Formula powder in Peach Nude
Nyx blush in Pinched
NYC bronzer in Sunny
Hard Candy bronzer in Tiki
—

Eyes:
L’oreal Infallible shadow in Bronzed Taupe (brows)
Maybelline Color Tattoo in Barely Branded
Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze
Hard Candy Top Ten Naturally Gorgeous palette
Hard Candy pencil liner in black
Urban Decay Supercurl mascara (sample from Ulta)
—

Lips:
Mox lip butter in Pomegranate and Fig (Birchbox sample)
Covergirl Jumbo Gloss Balm in Watermelon Twist

Perfume: Bath and Body Works Beautiful Day

Nail Polish: OPI I Juggle…Men (from the Femme du Cirque collection)

Look of the Day: Flower Child

Today marks my first day of trying out Youtube and Pinterest hair and makeup tutorials!! HURRAY! I have a HUGE list of tutorials I want to try.

Hair Tutorial: Quick and Easy Way to Get Beach Waves
#1: Spritz damp hair with Garnier wave spray and braid loosely
#2: After the braids have mostly dried, twist them away from your face and go over them with a straightener. (I don’t have a straightener so I used a curling iron…this was probably a poor choice.)
#3: Let the braids cool completely, undo, and separate gently. Use a little bit of Moroccan oil on the ends.

I was pretty disappointed in this tutorial. It’s not the tutorial’s fault, though…I think I just have obstinate hair. Because I didn’t end up with beachy waves. I ended up with Merida hair.

And we can’t lie. Merida’s hair is awesome. Look at that glorious mane.

Verdict: thumbs down

Makeup Tutorial: Simple Romance by sparkliebarbiexo

Is it Valentine’s Day? No.

Do I care?


I LOVE Kacey’s tutorials. Especially for her eye looks. Oh my lord, I need to steal her talents. Is that possible? Wasn’t there a dude on Heroes who could do that? Yeah, if I had that power I would totally steal her eyeshadow abilities.

I’m a creeper.

Anyways. I’ve watched her tutorials for ages now, and this is the first time I’ve actually tried one. I think I need more practice, but it’s a beautiful look and overall I think I did all right with it!

—Outfit:
Dress: Forever 21
Tee: Old Navy
Belt: Target
Shoes: Blowfish Garrens
Headband: Modcloth—Face:
Covergirl and Olay corrector
Maybelline Dream BB Cream
Rimmel Match Perfection concealer
Nyx blush in Pinched
NYC bronzer in Sunny
Nyx Glow All the Way highlighter
—

Eyes:
Maybelline Color Tattoo in Inked in Pink
Covergirl Shimmering Sands trio
Elf shadow from 100-palette
Covergirl Liquiliner in black
Smashbox liner in sable
Maybelline the Rocket mascara
—

Lips:
Maybelline Babylips in Quenched
Maybelline Color Whisper in Cherry on Top
Covergirl Jumbo Gloss Balm in Apricot Twist

Perfume: Bath and Body Works Beautiful Day

Nail Polish: OPI Step Right Up! (from the Femme du Cirque collection)