Holiday Gift Guide

As the December days start to roll in,  the panic to find the perfect gifts for our loved ones (and friends) settles in. Amongst all the other stress during this time of the year with school and work, brainstorming gift ideas normally gets put on the back burner. We compiled gifts that will make you look like the best gift giver in the history of gift giving! Whether it be for your girl friends, your beau, or even your Nana, these gifts are sure to make you look like an all-star. 

We all want to be the friend who gets the best present of all the Secret Santa's, but sometimes it's next to impossible to think of things your family and friends don't already have. For the 2014 holiday season, we want to take you past monogramming a bag, hat or scarf, or purchasing the same wallet you get him every year, onto something that they would never think to buy themselves... because those are often the best presents!

For Her:

Who doesn't love getting new makeup? When it comes time to replenish our makeup collections, most girls buy themselves only the essentials. Thats where you swoop in and save the day. This Too Faced Everything Nice Set includes 20 eye shadows (shimmers, mattes, and glitters), two bronzers (including the famous Chocolate Soleil), two blushes, their Better Than Sex Mascara, and three mini brushes. Sold at Sephora, you get a lot of bang for your buck with this value set, and if your lucky, your friend will let you borrow it!

Perfume is just about everyone's go-to gift, but how do you pick out perfume for someone else? This Sephora Fragrance Sampler is the answer to your prayers. This set has 14 different perfume samples to test, including some cult favorites Daisy by Marc Jacobs, Guilty by Gucci,  Light Blue by Dolce and Gabbana and many more. Once she decides on the fragrance she likes, she takes in the certificate to Sephora and receives a full size bottle! It's the perfect way to give her something she wants without choosing for her. 

You can't go wrong with buying her nicely scented lotion! This time of year is when we should focus the most on staying moisturized, but again, as girls we normally just buy the drugstore cheap stuff...not saying thats not good enough, but it's nice to treat ourselves! This Bliss Buttah-Bling! trio is the perfect lotion set (purchased at Sephora). It includes three full sized body butters (lemon and sage, blood orange, and grapefruit scented), which has coconut oil in them for a non-greasy moisturizing feel that lasts for hours. Not only will they be smelling great and looking fresh, but they will be stocked on lotion for a while! 

Last but not least, we have the Clarisonic. This is another one of those products that most people won't splurge on for themselves, so help a sista out! The Clarisonic leaves your skin feeling softer, smoother, and more radiant. It is a gentle exfoliator, and helps your face products to properly absorb into your skin. The standard kit also comes with a charger, cleansers, and an extra brush. These last for years and will forever change your outlook on skin care, and yes it is worth the hype.

For Him:

It's about that time to get rid of the clip on pedometer and upgrade to the newest gadget that has been skyrocketing in the year of 2014. The Fitbit Flex is a slim, stylish device that will track steps, distance and calories burned in a day. This little guy also tracks your sleep quality and quietly wakes you up in the morning! Okay... how cool is that? You can find this wireless wristband on the Fitbit website or for a cheaper price on Amazon and other discount department stores. After feasting throughout the holiday season, there is no doubt he will turn down this little piece of fitness motivation!

Similar to the ladies, picking out a scent for your man can be difficult! Choosing what you want to spray on yourself every day is more of a personal dilemma. But, if you are feeling confident and want to take a stab at the cologne section without consulting him before, Ralph Lauren's Polo Red cologne is your best bet. This newer scent has been a best seller in almost every store and can guarantee a happy (and great smelling) man for the holidays!

No-Shave-November is over people, and if you are someone who is shopping for a classic, laid back type of guy, this is the gift to get. The Art of Shaving's Unscented 4 Elements Starter Kit consists of high quality and handcrafted accessories that will leave him perfectly shaven! These products will be life changing compared to those other drugstore brands, and are even sold for a reasonable price. You can find this kit at Ulta along with many other products from this brand that can make great gifts, as well.

If there is anything you need to know about buying holiday gifts for men, it's that you can never go wrong with a pair of flannel pajama pants. No matter how many pairs he has, get rid of the old and bring in the new. These flannel pajama pants can be found almost anywhere during the holidays but this year JCrew has a variety of patterns and colors that he will love. Also, if you are deciding to spend a bit more on these comfy sleep pants, be assured that these will last for quite a while. The holidays are for lounging around anyway, so why not let him do it in style!

Happy Holidays!
XOXO,
Kendall & Kristen

Walking Into Winter

As the temperature begins to drop, so does our motivation to dress fashionably. It's hard to show off a cute outfit in the cold weather when you are bundled up in a coat most of the time. This is why we find our shoes to be the most important winter accessory! This week we came up with our four essential shoe types for this upcoming winter, along with some of our favorite looks we found to go along. From rainy days to horrific blizzards, a simple pair of boots can transform your entire look, and have you feeling trendy and warm at the same time. 

L.L. Bean Boots

 If you live in an area where Mother Nature loves to send freezing cold snow storms your way, these are the boots for you. These boots come in all different colors and styles, and can be found in different brands, as well. We find that L.L. Bean's Original Bean Boots are the best choice of shoes when tromping through snowy sidewalks and even muddy puddles. These multipurpose boots are perfect for the wintertime because they can be dressed up or dressed down depending on the occasion. The fashionable looks we found that included these boots consist of leggings (or jeans), cute patterned socks (for insulation and style), any pattern shirt or sweater and a vest to pull it all together. Because these boots are extremely neutral and versatile, finding an outfit that is warm and stylish, will not be a challenge. 

Hunter Rain Boots

Rain boots are found in almost every department store, all year round, no matter the name brand. But we decided that Hunter's original Wellington Rain Boots seem to be the best quality rubber boots for those rainy days. These rain boots are 100% waterproof and are equipped for rough, long-term use. Hunter rain boots come in hundreds of styles and colors, but we decided to stick with the classic color black, in order to achieve almost any look you decide to put together. The sleek black finish of these boots can allow you to almost dress up your outfit to your full potential. (Did we just say dress up your outfit with rain boots?!) Yes we did! Go ahead and pair those boots with any pair of pants, cute knit sweater, pop of color jacket, scarf, the list goes on and on, and you'll stay dry at the same time!

Riding Boots

Hold your horses... riding boots may have been made for equestrians, but who follows those rules anymore? Whether you are sporting brown or black, riding boots are an essential in every girls wardrobe. They come in a variety of different styles from your simple riding boots, to edgy studded grunge boots. Easily dressed down with leggings and a chunky sweater, or dressed up with a skater skirt and tights, riding boots are bound to make an appearance in your wardrobe this winter. We like to sport our riding boots when we want to look casual, but put together. We pair them with jeans or nice leggings, a cute shirt, fitted jacket (for style and warmth) and a scarf to pull it all together. 

Booties

It can be a tough transition from flip flops to fur boots, but thank god we don't have to sacrifice our height. We may throw in some suede and close up the peep toe, but we still get to stand tall in our booties. Heels or wedges, whichever you prefer, are a great way to dress up your winter outfit. To get the most wear out of our booties we tend to stick to the neutrals (black, gray, tans), but they come in many more colors! We like to pair our booties with jeans and a cute sweater by day, & by night, dresses (or skirts) and tights. Don't forget a cute necklace or scarf to spice up your style!

Until next time!

XOXO, 

Kendall & Kristen

Day to Night

In the busy world we live in, it seems like we are always running around like chickens with our heads cut off. With hardly enough time to breathe, deciding what to wear for a night out is the last thing on our minds. We all want to look our best, and for must of us that means looking like we spent hours getting ready when we only have 10 minutes. We put together an easy Day to Night outfit and makeup look that will have you looking your best with half the effort. So keep working hard and doing your thing, because going from Day to Night is now the least of your worries. Enjoy!

The Makeup

Day: If you're anything like me, your days are spent running from class to class, doing homework between meals, and thinking to yourself "Why are there only 24hrs in a day?" During the day I like to keep my makeup simple, just enough so people know I'm a girl and to prove I actually have eyelashes (blonde troubles.) I also like to give myself a good base, so if I am in a hurry and need to dress myself up fast, I can easily get myself together. 

I start by using my foundation, concealer, and powder as a base to perfect my skin. I use a little bit of bronzer to warm up my complexion and make my skin look more alive. Throw on a little bit of neutral blush to give me some glow and I'm done with my face for the day. For my eyes, I apply a little bit of a pale gold eyeshadow all over the lid, and a little bit of a taupe brown through my crease to blend it out. I skip out on eyeliner because I want to save time and keep the look as natural as possible. Lastly, I throw on my favorite mascara and I'm out the door.

Night: Ok so I look down at the time and realize I have dinner plans in 15 minutes...crap. When taking your makeup from day to night, you don't have to completely start over and re-do your makeup. It's way easier to just add to what you've already got then to start from scratch. 

Starting with the eyes, I add a darker brown on the outer corners of my eyes and through the crease to deepen up the eyeshadow. I add some winged liner to make my eyes look more defined and make myself look a little more put together, and throw on a little bit of extra mascara to pump up my lashes. Finally, I added a bold lip. This red lip, is one of the easiest ways to make yourself look like you tried way harder than you did. *This is a long wear liquid lipstick that will stay put all night long, so you don't have to worry about touch ups. And just like that you've taken your look from drab to fabb.

Products Used & Links: Naked 1 Palette (Half Baked, Smog, Naked), NARS Sheer Glow Foundation, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, NYX HD setting powder, Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder, NYX Blush (Mauve), Stila Stay All Day eyeliner, Mally Volumizing Mascara, Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick (Bachelorette). 

The Outfits

Do you ever have those days when you are running low on clothes and completely forgot to throw in a load of laundry? I know I do... all. the. time. And of course on those same days we magically have a billion errands to run and plans to go out later with friends. This first outfit will be perfect for running to the mall while being fashionable AND comfortable at the same time! Oh, and don't worry, you will still be able to procrastinate on that load of laundry just a little longer, because with a swap of a few clothing items, you will be all set for your night out! 

Day: I tend to dress more comfortable and relaxed when heading to the mall because I won't be able to have my shopping game face on if I'm running around in heels. Does anyone else feel the need to have zero distractions around/on them when running errands, or is it just me? Well anyway, I put together a cute and comfy outfit to wear during one of those busy days. I am wearing a cream tank top from TJ Maxx, dark wash jeggings from Hollister, maroon studded flats from Forever 21 and a tan cardigan from H&M. 

Night: If you somehow spent way more time than planned at the shopping center (which always seems to be the case for myself) and are in a rush to change and head out with a few friends, this outfit will only take a few seconds. I decided to stick with the same dark wash jeggings from Hollister and tank from TJ Maxx to same myself some time. To get ready for a night out I chose to dress up the look with some tan and gold wedges from Forever 21 and a knitted lace, sleeveless cardigan from TJ Maxx. If you are planning to be outside most of the night you can also replace the sleeveless cardigan with a fancy long sleeve or blazer!

XOXO,

Kendall & Kristen

Curling 101

We all want to have windblown hair at all times of the day, but unless you carry around your pocket fan from elementary school field days, that is highly unlikely. We're not saying you don't have great hair, because of course you do! All we're saying is, how many times have you stood in front of your vanity wondering how you get those perfect curls you picture in your head, and see in the magazines but can't quite achieve?  If you're like us, try a million. We have complied four different curling (or flat) irons starting from the most basic, to more daring, that are perfect for any look. Hope you find your windblown look in here somewhere! So drop that pocket fan and pick up and iron. Enjoy!

First we will start with the basics. The standard curling iron with a clamp. This is the most basic curling iron, but also one of the more difficult to use (its not as easy as the hairdressers make it look). This iron can be used for all hair types, however those with thicker hair may receive better results because thin, fine hair can slip out of the clamp making it harder to curl. 

We demonstrated on Grace, our first lovely volunteer, who has beautiful soft, long hair, and used a 1 1/4 inch barrel. We started by taking a section of hair about 1 inch in diameter and put the clamp about halfway down on the hair shaft. Then, start to curl the hair around the barrel, gradually loosening the clamp to let in more hair going down the shaft, until the whole section is wrapped around the barrel. Wait about 10-15 seconds or until the hair is hot-to-touch and release the curl. Not exactly rocket science, but maybe rockin hair science?

*Curling away from your face is normally the most flattering look, if you want to add extra volume and avoid your curls meshing together, try rotating the direction of your curls. 

Ok, stating the obvious here, but flat irons are primarily used for straightening hair, however they can make a FABB tool for curling. If you are tired of standard tight curls and want to switch up your look then this is a great alternative. It gives you polished curls, but without them all looking perfectly uniform (because being perfect is overrated anyway, right?).

Katie, number two of our lovely volunteers, has thick course hair, which is perfect for using a flat iron, so the flat iron gets a good grip of the hair. We started by taking a section of about an inch thick (again) at the top of the hair shaft, and gripped the hair with the iron as if we were straightening her hair normally. Then, flip the iron under until the hair is sticking out the top of the iron, like in the picture below. Slid the iron all the way down the hair shaft and release when you get to the end and you have your curl. 

*If you do have finer hair but want to try this method, try using a texturizing spray or even dry shampoo to give your hair a little more grip.

If you are really craving some change in your curls, try the Pearl wand. It has a very irregular wand structure. Instead of it being a straight wand, it has circles with a little space in-between each of them,  allowing the hair to wrap around the iron. This wand creates a very messy and fun hair look. All of the curls turn out different from one another so it can give you a very naturally curly look! This wand can be used for any hair type (as that is with most wands). Kendall has short, soft hair which works perfectly with this wand. 

This technique is pretty easy. Just take the standard inch section and wrap it around the barrel. You can choose to wrap the hair in-between or on top of the circles, for different curls. You can wrap the hair around all the way to the ends or leave them out for a more relaxed look. 

*This is a more daring and crazy wand, so if it comes out too crazy for your liking, just take some water on your hands and scrunch it through to loosen up the curls. 

Last but clearly not least we have just your standard curling wand. These are becoming more and more popular so how could we not mention it? Wands are the easiest to use and also the most versatile when it comes to hair type. No matter the thickness, texture, or length of your hair, you can find a wand to suit your every need.  

Kristen has medium length hair with a medium thickness. We used a 1 inch wand, starting at the top of the hair shaft and wrapping the hair around the wand all the way down to the ends. Leave it on the barrel for 10-15 seconds or until your hair feels hot. Then, (obviously) release the curl. This doesn't take much thought or skill, but be careful not to burn your fingers...well duh. 

*Wands tend to give a more tossled and relaxed curl compared to a clamp curling iron. The longer you keep your hair on the wand the more curly it will be. For relaxed waves, only keep your hair on the wand for 5-10 seconds, or comb through your curls with your fingers after your curls cool. 

Remember to use a heat protectant before styling your hair, and don't be afraid to experiment with different types of curling irons/wands/barrels/anything else to see what looks you really like! 

Until next week, 

XOXO

Kristen & Kendall

Cranberry Craze

When we think of colder weather, the first thing that comes to mind is darkness. Everything seems to get darker. Eyeshadow, lipstick, hair, the sky, but that doesn't mean we have to forget about color! Don't get us wrong, we love our black clothing and dark smokey eyes, but sometimes we want to change it up a bit. The ever so popular cranberry (not sauce) is a great way to change up your look without straying away from the darkness. There are many different ways to incorporate this color in your fall look, whether it be scarves, nail polish, sweaters, etc. We decided to focus on how to pull this color into your makeup!

Kendall's Look:

You can never go wrong with neutral eyes and bold lips, but for this look I decided to add a little twist! Beauty gurus across the nation are raving about this subtle, yet fierce cat eye look that is beautiful with just a pop of color. This technique may not seem to be your cup of tea, but it's fun to try something different every now and then.

For the eyes, I applied a cream, matte shadow from the Two Faced Natural Eyes Palette called Heaven, all over my lid. Then I just blended a matte brown shade called Nudie, from that same palette, all throughout my crease to add dimension and keep it simple, as well. Now here is where the twist comes in! I used Stila's Stay All Day black liquid eye liner and carefully lined my top lashes as well as the shape of my inner tear duct to create that cat eye effect. I finished the eyes by winging the liner on the outer corners and following through the bottom water line. Although it seems as if your eyes were to appear smaller due to the use of liner, this look actually opens the eyes up and makes them appear to be bigger because of the extended eyeliner in the tear duct.

We cannot forget about that bold lip that completely ties this look all together, and that is the cranberry color that everyone is reaching for these days! With such neutral eye shadow, a bold lip is exactly what this needs. I used a matte lipstick in Black Cherry form Revlon and lightly coated that shade all over my lips, topping it off with Gerard Cosmetics' lip gloss in Pouty Princess. This look is perfect for when you are feelin' sassy and want to try something new!

Kristen's Look:

For some, adding color to their eyeshadow can be a scary thought. While it is a fun way to spice up your look, it can be intimidating. With this look, you can add color, but also stay within your comfort zone. I used the Lorac Pro Palette to achieve these cranberry crazed eyes. 

I took a little bit of Taupe through my crease to act as my transition shade and help blend out any sharp lines. For the main star, I used Garnet. This color is a gorgeous deep cranberry red that goes with almost any eye color! I applied this all over my lid right up to my transition color. To avoid looking sick, (since we are using reds) I then took Sable and put that on the outer corner and a little bit up into the crease to add some definition and more smokiness. 

Be sure to blend after every step to ensure you don't have any harsh lines! After I made sure everything was blended the way I wanted, I went back and built up the color until it was the desired darkness. I added Cream to my brow bone for a highlight, and finished off the shadow with Black along my lash line to add definition. I opted out of eyeliner because I wanted to keep the look smokey, but feel free to add any eyeliner you want! Don't forget to add lots of mascara since we don't want our lashes to get lost in the eyeshadow. I added it to the top and bottom to open up my eyes. Pair this look with a nude, or even a bold lip color if you're feeling spicy!

XOXO,

Kendall & Kristen

Boutique of the Week: Kismet

Out of all the places we love here at Ohio University, the boutiques found around Court Street seem to be some of our favorites! There are so many retail shops around the Athens area that feature not only men and women's clothing, but accessories, home goods and trinkets within their own unique style. This week we stopped in Kismet to check out the new merchandise they are featuring for this fall season, take a look at what we found!

During the fall I occasionally prefer to wear patterned pants of some sort, to steer away from the plain old jeans and sweater look. I found these thick, navy blue and black, plaid leggings that are a perfect pattern for this season, and paired them with a simple sweater. Kismet had tons of knitwear to choose from for this fall, but this particular sweater caught my eye, because it was extremely soft and light weight, but still gave enough warmth to wear on its own. As you can see, there is a hint of orange in the plaid leggings, so I decided to add an orange statement necklace to bring this look all together. I also decided to pair this outfit with dark brown boots, although black boots would look good as well!

This outfit is a bit similar to the last one, but I could not help but share these awesome pants that Kismet has in stock! I found a pair of red and black, paisley printed jeans that are warm, comfortable and so easy to style. I paired these jeans with a plain black long sleeve shirt and a light, dusty pink fur vest. Fur vests are a huge statement piece during the fall and winter seasons that can dress up an outfit within seconds, and Kismet is definitely the place to go if you are looking for the perfect one. I decided to wear the same dark brown boots with this outfit to keep on the casual side, but if you were to dress up this look, booties or heels would do the trick!

During the fall and winter you can almost always count on me wearing riding boots. Kismet has many different clothing options that can be paired with riding boots for every occasion! They have everything from sweaters, to dresses, and even cool graphic t-shirts that can make a look more casual. These two outfits that I paired with riding boots are on opposite ends of the spectrum. The first outfit is a black casual tunic top with embroidered red and blue detailing.  I paired this shirt with some fleece leggings also found at Kismet, (great for fall and winter, nice and warm!) and some black riding boots. For the second outfit I decided to go a little bit more edgy. I chose a sheer red plaid dress with brown riding boots. The dress is perfect for a fall day or night when you want to look a bit more put together, but don't have a lot of time. It has a built in slip so you don't have to worry about buying one separately. This look could easily be paired with tights or even leggings and booties!

Don't forget, Kismet offers a huge variety of accessories! You can find tank tops and bandeaus, along with many other lingerie options in every color imaginable. We were also very excited to find out that Kismet was selling the very popular and unique Lokai bracelets as well as a variety of beautiful rings, statement necklaces, and earrings. Go on in and check out Kismet's wonderful merchandise and we hope you enjoyed our looks!  

Kismet

16 W. Union Street, Athens  OH 45701

Instagram: @kismetathens

XOXO, 

Kendall & Kristen

Eyes to Kill

Let's be honest... eyes are always the first thing we notice when we look at someone...why not show 'em off? Finding the right shade of eye shadow can be very difficult, and it can be extremely easy to get lost in the sea of countless colors. So naturally, we tend to abandon the idea of making our eye color "pop." As for every eye color out there, we recommend sticking to a monochromatic color palette (different shades of your specific eye color) or a palette consisting of complementary colors (shades opposite of your specific eye color on the color wheel) and you will notice a dramatic change in the appearance of your eye color! We put together four different eye shadow looks (also with the help of our brown & hazel eyed friends) to compliment every eye color. Enjoy!

Blue 

Many women out there struggle to find the right eye shadow to accentuate their baby blues, because we are afraid to apply too much or too little of a shadow, which then seems to distract from the true color of our eyes. Whether your eyes are crystal blue, dark sapphire or grey toned these colors will help you out tremendously. I (Kendall) decided to use a range of complementary colors for this look, which can consist of oranges, coppers, browns and peaches. I ended up choosing a shimmery copper eye shadow called Honey Pot from the Too Faced Natural Eyes Palette and mixed it with Trick from the Naked 3 Palette and applied that all over my lid and blended it out in my crease with a matte brown shade called Nudie from the Too Faced Natural Eyes Palette, as well. Because blue eyes are extremely light and fair, you want to stay away from the heavy smokey eye looks in order to keep the focus on your eye color. Instead of using black eyeliner and mascara, I chose to use a dark brown shade, which is also better for those of you who have blonde hair and a light complexion like me! Don't forget that colors such as white, grey, silver and blue will do the job as well!

Brown 

Stating the obvious here... we (Kristen & Kendall) don't have brown eyes, so we were forced to phone a friend on this one. Our homegirl Maggie Etherington was kind enough to volunteer not only her beautiful eyes, but also some of the tips she uses to make her eyes stand out. Brown eyes are a blessing because they are so neutral that they literally look good with any eyeshadow color! Maggie likes to use more neutral golds, and light beiges for an everyday basis. These colors really help to bring out the golden-brown in her eyes. When she is feelin' spicy she likes to darken her outer corners with deep chocolate browns. To draw attention and make her eyes stand out, she adds a light shimmery color in the inner tear duct. The colors that Maggie gravitates towards can be found in the Naked Palette by Urban Decay.

Hazel

Hazel is a rare find, so you are lucky if you have hazel eyes! Our next kind volunteer, Flannery Chapman, also shared with us how she emphasizes her eyes. She likes to gear more towards warmer colors such as red, browns and neutrals with pinker undertones. Don't get scared by the thought of "red" eyeshadow... we just mean more rich, sable browns instead of cooler chocolate browns. The red undertones help to contrast against the blue/green and brown colors that are associated with hazel eyes. Flannery likes to sport more dramatic eye makeup, but on a daily basis she uses a light pinkish-brown on her lids, and deepens up her crease and outer corners with a deep red brown. For hazel, coppers will also accentuate your eyes as well. The colors that Flannery uses can be found in the Lorac Pro Palettes (1 & 2). Be sure when using browns, especially warmer browns, that you blend the edges really well to avoid harsh lines!

Green 

Survey says that the color that makes green eyes stand out is purple... and not that I don't agree with this statement, but for most of us, we don't wear purple eyeshadow on a daily basis. I (Kristen) think that there are ways to go about emphasizing your green eyes other than wearing bright purple everyday. Eyeliner is a great alternative! Using a plum or deep purple eyeliner is a great way to play up the green. Often times it is dark enough to almost look black, which gives you the desired definition, but also adding a little something extra. If the eyeliner trick isn't for you, try using taupe eyeshadow. Taupe is a brownish-grey color with a purple undertone, so you are getting the color impact without it being so stark! It is also a neutral color that you can totally get away with wearing everyday! Try Mac's Satin Taupe, for the perfect amount of purple to make your eyes POP! It is also very reflective, so in different lighting it looks lighter and darker and also draws attention to your eyes. I put Satin Taupe all over my lid, and blended it out with a soft brown color. I also added a shimmery color to my tear duct to make my eyes appear more awake.

Until Next Time! 

XOXO,

Kendall & Kristen