The Small Business Struggle

I saw this on Pinterest today. [you should probably follow my board] 

There is something about reading a little piece of the internet that hits home..it kind of makes your day. 

I posted to facebook and instagram about my desire to grow my small makeup artistry venture into a more sustainable business.  I suffer the plight of a creative brain stuck in a cube office.. not sustainable. 
I am so grateful to have the support of friends and family while trying to branch out and set down roots for my cosmetics styling business. It's scary taking a journey out in the world alone. I am also the most impatient person in the world and want all this to happen overnight. I know it will be worth the wait and struggle to follow my passion and do something that I truly love everyday. 
With this blog, my business site, and hopefully a YouTube channel soon I hope to spread the word and take the wedding world by storm! 

Sharing is caring, I appreciate your referrals more than you know. 

On a swell note: 2014 is off to a good start and my calendar is starting to fill! 
Stay tuned for more pretty posts soon to come. 

xoxo. LP

The Brown Smokey Eye

Beauties,

I am working on acquiring some equipment to start filming tutorials, but until that time my sad photos will have to suffice.

Today is a simple brown smokey eye, a look coveted by many. Don't be scared.

First we will start with basic terminology. Please see image for the regions of the eye that will be discussed during this tutorial:

The lid (see #1) refers to the area of your eye from corner tear duct to opposite corner tear duct. The crease (see #2) refers to the area right above this that often disappears when you open your eyes. The brow bone (see #4) is the area of skin covering the bone directly under the eyebrows. You should familiarize yourself with these areas since they will be referenced in the future.

1. Apply an eyeshadow primer all over the eye. This means apply the product from lash line to brow bone.  I have exceptionally oily eyelids so I always use Bare Minerals Prime Time Eyelid Primer, the clear one, all over before I use one that has a skin tone shade over top.  I've been using Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Wheat a lot lately, but this changes a lot.

If you don't apply a shadow primer do not proceed to the next step. It's over. Dramatic, but seriously. 

2. Apply a medium brown shimmer shadow to the lid. I used Snakebite from the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette using a Sigma E55 shader brush.

3. Apply a matte warm brown eye shadow through the crease. I used smashbox eyeshadow in nude which is discontinued, you can try MAC Soft Brown or Makeup Geek Beaches & Cream using a fluffy black haired blending brush. I used a Sigma E40 Blending Brush which is a better, cheaper version of the MAC 224. 

4. Apply a slightly darker warm brown eye shadow in the outer corner through the crease. I used MAC Brown Down using a MAC 217

5. Using a small bullet brush (I used Laura Mercier's Eye Crease Brush) apply either a matte black or super dark brown eye shadow in the outer most corner of your eye lid. Pack the color on carefully so it's nice and dark. I used blackout from the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette. Then using the same brush you used in step 4 blend out the color so there are no harsh lines. 

6. Apply a matte white or cream color eye shadow along the brow bone. I used Bobbi Brown Ivory 

7. Apply eyeliner on the top lashline. I used Maybelline Eye Studio gel liner in blackest black using a Bobbi Brown Ultra Fine Eyeliner Brush. 

8. Under the eye, lined using an angle brush the color used in the outer corner, I used  out with the same warm brown color I used in the crease to give a soft but still defined look of lining. 

9. Finish the look with mascara, obviously. I used Chanel Le Volume in black. 

I realize this is slightly involved, but have faith! With the right tools you can totally master this look no problem. Buy the brushes!! You won't be sorry. Then I'll come over and show you how to use them and we can drink wine together. Yay! 

xoxo. LP

The 2014 Grammy's Makeup Hits

There was glitz and glam all over the red carpet last night for the 2014 Grammy's. Shout out to little Lourde for winning best song of the year. <3

These are my top makeup hits from yesterday's Grammy event.  

4. Sarah Hyland (a.k.a. Haley Dunphy from ABC's Modern Family) She is stunning! Swoon over that red lip and those rosy cheeks (for this pop of color on the apple of your cheeks try Chanel's new cream blushes in Affinite.) She looks classy without being overly made up. I love her bright undereys and the soft smudgey eyeliner on her lower lashes plus her strong, but not over-done brows.  

3. Let's discuss Katy Perry's fresh look with that amazing pink lip. Love! I would love to see a little more blush on those cheeks, but I think she looks absolutely gorgeous. For a pink lip like this try Laura Mercier creme lip color in pink label. 

2. Next up, almighty Beyonce. Look at her rocking that dark lip! I looove the smokey shimmery lid (try Makeup Geek eye shadow in Moondust). I would like her eyebrows to be filled in, but hat's my brow obsession speaking. I like how it adds kind of a natural flare to it. 

1. Zendaya Coleman: I love everything about this look. Her brows!!!  The smoldering smokey eye. Highlight + Contour, and that nude lip. On point!! I do not love her hair styling, but the makeup..mmhmm. 

For her sculpted cheek bones try Anastasia Beverly Hills' contour kit. For that hot lip try E.L.F studio matte lip color in Praline. 

What were your favorites? 

xoxo. LP

Top 10 Web Favorites for the Week

In order to spice things up, I thought I would share with you what I have found fantastic this week on the internet. 

10. A Beautiful Mess - 10 Statement Wall Ideas: 

I have been on a major design kick lately. This desire, however is significantly stifled by a severe budget shortage. Womp. Nevertheless, a girl and dream..and pin her way to a home reno. Can I get an Amen? 












9. These delicious chocolate peanut butter custard cups.

I made these  for a dinner party the husby and I went to last night. They were bomb. I strongly suggest you make them for yourself..and 5 other people. Or just eat them all yourself. I deem that totally acceptable. 











8. Lauren Conrad's amazing wedding planning. 

Can we first discuss these gold polka dot envelope liners? Swoon. Since I don't think I will ever get over my wedding obsession I still continue to pin wedding stuff. You can see my problem here and here. I think LC is the cutest and have no doubt that her wedding will be the same. I want to be there. 











7. This amazing Michael Kors timepiece. 

I now have a hopeless addiction to watches, thanks to my husband who also has this same disease. I am drawn to this hot pink beauty and I must add her to my collection. See #10 above budget shortage. boo.











6. Anastasia Beverly Hills' new dipbrow pomade. 

This stuff is waterproof!!!! Enough said. I must try it and when I do I'm sure it will be love. 















5. The Spring collection from Stella & Dot. 

My favorite piece is the Amelie Sparkle Bracelet in Peach. There are so many gorgeous pieces to this new collection. I also love the double clutch in citrine, here. 














4. My sweet friend Anjuli just relaunched her blog project. 

The design of this site is stunning and Anjuli truly has a gift for writing. She is inspiring and writes with a true openness. I invite you to share in her words. 



3. This beautiful kitchen appliance from William's Sonoma.  

There are no words. 
















2. Bekah's new blog. 

I'm not sure she has posted anything yet, but do yourself a favor and subscribe now in anticipation of greatness. You won't be sorry. She's the bee's knees. 






1. The amazing Kristy Lynn Adams. 

If you are in need of a wedding photographer in the North Carolina area you simply must book her. Now. Clock's ticking. 












I hope you've enjoyed this week's web picks. 

xoxo. LP

Blushing Giveaway

In honor of my Instagram page hitting 300 followers (and let's be honest, the weekend) I've decided to do a weekend GIVEAWAY! 

Since you all know I'm obsessed with it, I'll be giving away one (1) Smashbox Full Exposure Palette to one (1) lucky winner. 

Here's how to enter: 

1. Follow my page Instagram page @blushing_artistry 

2. Repost the giveaway image using the hashtag #blushinggiveaway 

Feel free to repost as many times as you like. No limit on entries. 

If your page is private please leave a comment so I know you've entered. 

A winner will be chosen on Monday January 27, 2014. 

Good luck babes! 

xoxo. LP

Vendor Love: Burlap and Bordeaux

Here's a little Vendor Love: Be sure to check out our friends,Burlap & Bordeaux! With valentine's day coming up they have the CUTEST arrangements of creative gifts! 

Here's a little about them from the Owner, Brooke. 

"About a year ago my cousin and I sought out to find the best products in local artisans throughout California. We scoured farmers markets, from Ventura, to Ojai, to Santa Barbara. Everything that goes into our baskets has a story. Here are just a few examples:

-our chocolate comes from a a store called Trufflehounds in Ventura. It's owned by a woman named Claudia who personally develops distinct and interesting flavors, & everything is made in house.

-our honey comes from a woman named Sandy in Lompoc California. She and her husband have had their bee farm for years, but what makes their story unique is their love for their bees. She literally cares for them as family. All honey is raw, organic, and comes from her wild flowers & sage gardens. 

-our salami comes from a company in Paso Robles. All organic, preservative free, nitrate free.

-our cheese comes from a farm in Petaluma, CA and is all organic. Delicious, we discovered them at a farmers market.

-our baked goods come from a bakery in Ojai, CA where everything is made from the highest quality ingredients. Even the granola is made fresh!

-our tea, personally selected in LA, all organic

-our pistachios, organic from a farm in Santa Barbara.

-our flowers, we personally go to the grower and hand pick which flowers we are going to use.

These are just a few, we have a personal relationship with every vendor. The stories are incredible, we have definitely found a calling in the most beautiful people we could have ever imagined to work with. When we put our baskets or floral designs together, each is made uniquely with love. Sounds cliche, but it's true. Every basket is custom. Please visit our website, there are lots of photos as well as more stories about our vendors & products."

Check them out on their website and instagram also! 

xoxo. LP

In My Bag: An exposé

So it's been what, 4 days? That means we know each other well enough for you all to start rifling though my things, right? Yes. Congratulations. 

It's time for a journey into my cosmetic bag. Yikes. 

Bag dump. 

Please note that both the bag and the contents within is constantly changing. I can never guarantee any color or product will recur. Except for my powder. I was actually surprised that there wasn't more crap in here. Usually there are like some old fortunes, gum wrappers, and at least one hundred bobby pins. Maybe I subconsciously knew I would be exposing the most intimate details of my cosmetics bag to the interwebs so I lived cleanly. 

Cleaned it up. 

One thing for sure is that I have too many lip products. Those who know me know I rarely wear anything on my lips.. this is amusing. 

I'll start with the copious amount of lip items. On the left we have MAC prolongwear lipglass in boundlessly beige. If you don't have any of these, you should. They are ridiculously long wearing and come in lots of pretty shades. I'm boring so I like beige. As you'll see as we continue through this list. Bobbi Brown Lip Color in Blondie Pink - the best natural pink, Chanel Rouge Coco Lip Color in Perle, Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color in Retro Pink, Burt's Bee's Honey Lip Balm, Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in Complex, Bobbi Brown Crystal Lip Gloss. Clearly, I have a problem. 

Moving up top we have Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener in light bisque an awesome sheer brightening concealer that is super easy to use on the go. Anastasia tinted brow gel in espresso  not sure why that's in there without a brow pencil..coming back down Laura Mercier Undercover pot in #1 this thing has under eye and face concealer in one little pot with a convenient supply of loose translucent powder underneath. Perfect little travel companion. Bobbi Brown Blush in pale pink- duh and Laura Mercier pressed foundation powder in #3.
Oh and teeny Bobbi concealer blending brush, lip brush and a baby Kiehls's creme de corps and a mini MAC fix+ 

This has been an exposé of my (full of Bobbi Brown) cosmetic bag. I felt like I would bore you if I went into more detail. Let me know if you have specific questions on any of these items and I'll be happy to supply you with my wealth of knowledge. 

xoxo. LP