Slightly Nautical Manicure
In my recent exploration of nail polishes I bought that I hadn’t yet used, I wanted to kill two birds with one stone on some Julep polishes I had hanging around. I held some swatches up beside each other and decided that I really liked Julep Margot, a metallic gold, and Julep Monaco, a cobalt blue labeled the Color of Spring 2014, together. I find that, of all the colors I wear, I don’t really wear bold blues that much, so I liked the idea of not going nuts with it and tempering the look with the soft gold.
Read MoreWine Production in the Petaluma Gap
Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, I’d heard of Petaluma and knew it was roughly north of me, but I never had any reason to go. In fact, before last Monday, the only time I’d ever even stopped in Petaluma was while riding a Greyhound Bus to & from Humboldt State University! But thanks to Kristi Trimmer and a whole slew of great sponsors, I was introduced to a variety of wines from the Petaluma Gap region that I never knew existed!
For the disclosure record, our wine tastings and one night of my hotel stay was complimentary, but of course all opinions are honestly my own!
For those out-of-towners, the Petaluma Gap region is in Sonoma County, west of Napa. I knew good wines came from Sonoma, but because the Petaluma Gap is not it’s own AVA (American Viticultural Area), all wines made there are labeled Sonoma or Sonoma Coast. They’re in the process of applying to be their own AVA, and I do hope they’re granted this status as their wines I found were much different than many of the other Sonoma wines I’ve had.
I’ll go into more detail about the Hotel Petaluma and the individual wineries we visited on our #PetalumaMade blogger tour, but the purpose here is really just to thank Kristi for including me, thank the sponsors up front for their welcoming hospitality and sharing their enthusiasm for Petaluma Gap wines with us, and thank the other lovely ladies that came along for the ride with some link love!
Sponsors
- Hotel Petaluma
- Terrific Tours (Jason is the man!)
- Saltonstall Estate Olive Oil & Winery
- Azari Vineyards
- Corkscrew Wines
- Sonoma Valley Portworks
- Enriquez Estate Wines (a special thank you to President/Owner Cecilia for helping arrange this event)
- Achadinha Cheese Company
- Sonoma Wine Guides
- Seared Steak & Seafood (for opening up on a day they’re normally closed to host our dinner!)
- Adobe Road Winery
- Keller Estate
Influencers
- Kristi Trimmer – KristiTrimmer.com (the hostess with the mostess!)
- Kate Canterbury – The Guavalicious Life
- Jacqueline Cromwell – Nerd Family
- Anna Epp – Anna Epp Photography
- Krista House – KristaHouse.ca
- Krista Gray-Donald – Life in the Hutch
- Cassie Kifer – Ever In Transit
- Jamie Gall – Minnesota Girl in the World
- Chrissy Wojdyla & Brian Moran – Quirky Chrissy
- Jo White – MediaMum
- Julie Bennett – RV Love & The Global Jewels
- Valerie Mitchell – Mama Likes to Cook
What hidden gems are in your back yard?
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A Vampy Red: Julep Scarlett
Remember when I went to the opening of the San Francisco Dungeon? Well I had just removed a somewhat unsuccessful manicure that was specific to an event I went to, and I needed something quick and appropriate. I decided to look through some of the polishes I have got recently that I haven’t had a chance to use yet. Julep Scarlett jumped out at me as appropriate for touring the San Francisco Dungeon – vampy, sparkly, and simple. Simple both in that it would be quick to put on and wouldn’t be a lot of work for a manicure that no one would really notice. This was not an event where anyone was likely to compliment my nails, or even see them, really, so I just wanted them to not be bare!
Read MoreHave you tried Younique?
Hello, TrishaLyn.com readers! I’m Kacie Kersey, a hair stylist, makeup artist, breast cancer activist and Halloween enthusiast who resides in the SF Bay Area with one boyfriend, three cats and hundreds (if not thousands) of books. I can be found around the internet at @kaciedoeshair on Twitter and Instagram and Facebook.com/kaciedoeshair. Like any Type-A Crazy, I am not content with the status quo (or with having a car payment) so while I build my hair empire I have a couple of side gigs, including Younique!
I was introduced to Younique products by a friend in March. Younique was founded in 2012 by a brother-sister team, centered around the core values of simplicity, positive influence, and the celebration of inner and outer beauty. Less than two years old and they are on track to become one of the fastest growing direct-sales companies EVER. And in April I pulled the trigger to become an Independent Distributor. Why? Pretty much because of one incredible product: their Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes! This ain’t your momma’s mascara, that’s for sure! It’s two tubes, a three-step process that combines collagen transplanting gel and all natural green tea fibers to create truly incredible thickness and volume! I mean LOOK at this before and after (spoiler alert, no other makeup on, after working out. I swear sometimes I look cuter than this picture leads you to believe).
SO — how does it work? The instructions in the package say to start off with a coat of your regular mascara — I don’t. I start with clean, naked lashes, and do a coat of the Transplanting Gel, then while that is still wet I do a full coat of the Fibers. Give that a few seconds to set up and seal those bad boys on with a second coat of Transplanting Gel. You can do as few or as many coats as you like; I tend to do about 3 when I want some attention on my eyes, or if I am having a lazy day and don’t want to bother with shadow, liner and the whole thing. I get away with lashes, tinted moisturizer and lipstick about 4 days a week, which is essential in the hot summer months. The 3D Fiber Lash mascara is $29, which is on par with most department store mascaras.
Pros
- Crazy long lashes. I see a remarkable difference, even with one coat.
- The look of falsies without the glue, heaviness, corners popping off, etc.
- No damage to your natural lashes.
Cons
- The gel dries quickly, making it difficult to do both eyes at the same time. This is a quick fix, but it’s hard to retrain 18 years of putting on mascara!
- It is a multi-step process, so even one coat adds a minute or so to your beauty routine.
- If you’re too generous with your fibers and don’t remember to seal them in with another coat of transplanting gel it could result in little black fibers hanging out on your cheekbones. Not a look I enjoy!
Younique has a host of other products in their lineup, from BB Cream, to foundations, blushes and eye pigments. Everything I’ve tried has been excellent quality, especially considering the price point (pigments are just $10 while foundations top out at $32 — in fact no single item is over $32, however there are some things that come in sets and collections)! I am a makeup junkie and the pigments hold up to the quality of MAC, especially color payoff and blend-ability.
Some people would say that only being able to get a hold of the 3D Fiber Lashes and other Younique products through an Independent Presenter is a negative, but I disagree. People like to do business with people they know, like and trust. I am obviously excited about this product, people know they’re getting a great product with an unconditional LOVE IT guarantee, and my friends and family know I wouldn’t steer them wrong, especially with my background in the beauty industry! Couple that with my commitment to build a team of like-minded women that are dynamic and filled with integrity… well, I wouldn’t stand behind a product or company that was anything less.
If you’d like to purchase your own 3D Fiber Lashes or any other Younique products you can do so at LashingOut.net, and if you’re interested in learning more about the Younique opportunity contact me at kaciekersey@me.com!
Read MoreJustMySize.com Active Skirtini Two-Piece Swimsuit Review
Big thanks to Hanes Brands, who recently upped my swimsuit game by sending me an Active Skirtini Two-Piece Swimsuit in Black/Fuchia. Being a lady of a certain size, I’ve had lots of trouble finding swimsuits that both fit and don’t make me feel like a beached whale. I’m a fan of the skirted swimsuit to add some fabric that takes away from the bulk that is my thighs. For years I had a one piece black suit, but the annoying thing about a one piece suit is the difficulty in taking it off when using the bathroom. If you think peeling a wet suit off in a bathroom stall as a standard size woman is a pain, imagine being shoved into the stall even in dry clothes!
Read MoreWhat I’m Bringing to BlogHer ’14
Are you going to BlogHer ’14? I am! This will be my first journey to a BlogHer conference. I’ve been to plenty of conferences in my career, but none that seems as, well, laid back as this one. When I found out that BlogHer is going to be in San Jose this year, I decided that it was a good opportunity to finally go since I’m an hour away in no traffic from San Jose. I’ll be pulling double-duty at the conference as I’ll be representing this here blog as well as my other blogs (Girl Scout Guide and Food Askew) and my day-job, Snow Consulting. I’m used to wearing many hats, so it should be a breeze!
Because my co-worker, Ginette, will be coming from Las Vegas, and I don’t care to commute, I’ll be staying with her at the Hilton San Jose, conveniently connected to the San Jose Convention Center. Of course, I have the advantage of being able to pack full size items in my bag, but generally speaking I still won’t. I keep a full set of small travel sized toiletries in my suitcase for travel, and I don’t really feel the need to tote a lot of stuff down when it’s not absolutely needed. Of course, I’m bringing the usual toiletries, clothing, etc. but these are some suggestions of things you might not have considered bringing.
Toiletries
- Julep Mint Condition Pedi Crème – My feet take a beating at conferences, so I like to have a good foot cream that soothes that ache to put on before bed.
- Julep Doublestep Foot Treatment and Friction Stick – I just got this in my July Julep Maven box and I love it. I have wide feet, so it’s awesome on the wider areas that rub the most and take the biggest beating when doing a lot of walking.
- Tea Tree Oil Foot Wipes
– For the same reason as the creme, I like having the wipes handy in case I need a quick foot refresh during the day when I run back to the room for something I inevitably forgot, but really need!
- Dry Shampoo – Always good to have for a quick hair refresh if there’s just no time for a full shower. I like the new Herbal Essences Naked Dry Shampoo.
Office Supplies
- Business Cards – this is non-negotiable! You’re going to meet a lot of fellow bloggers and brands. Networking is crucial and business cards are still a must-have item. I trust PsPrint, but by now you don’t have time for that. Even if you have to go to your nearest FedEx Office, Office Depot, or OfficeMax TODAY to have some made, DO IT. It’s totally worth the investment. If you’re on a super tight budget, buy the kind you can print yourself. They’re better than nothing and a missed opportunity.
- Tablet – I like my iPad because it fits into my stylishly huge purse and it’s easy for quick internet usage if there’s WiFi (I have a WiFi only model) and convenient to look up stuff as a speaker is talking and take notes.
- Notebook & Pens – Because some speakers speak WAY too fast to be able to get everything typed out on that screen keyboard! So I personally find it faster to write things down sometimes. Being Back to School, notebooks are super cheap right now at most stores. Personally, I’ve been using the same composition notebook since 2007 for all my conference notes!
- Nikon D5000 DSLR – Complete with extra batteries, different lenses, monopod, battery charger, filters, etc. Besides being an amateur photographer, it’s always easier to use your own pictures in a blog post instead of trying to get permission to use someone else’s!
- Smart Phone & Extra Juice – My iPhone 4S still works just fine, but in some low-coverage areas the battery can go to hell. So I have one of those USB battery backup chargers AND an external battery charging case, just to be sure.
- Laptop – with cord, mouse, etc. It won’t leave my room, most likely, but I’ll need it for evening work so I don’t get too far behind.
Clothes
- Comfortable Shoes – I love the few different pairs I have of SKECHERS Women’s Work Shoes.
- Cardigan or light sweater – Sometimes conference centers are colder than you’d think.
- An extra of nearly everything – You never know when a glass of wine might get spilled on you and you’ll wish you had another shirt to go change into! It’s worth the room in a suitcase, TRUST ME!
- A Geeky Shirt – This is really only if you’re attending the little geek meet up spearheaded by Williesha Morris (see Facebook group thread). Personally, I can’t decide which fandom to represent. At least I have options. Need one? Try ThinkGeek!
Miscellaneous
- Granola or cereal bars – I always WANT to make it to the provided breakfasts, but sometimes I’m just running too late and I’d rather have a snack with me than have to wait until lunch. Plus, I’m a rather picky eater, so I don’t always like the food that is provided.
- Gum and/or mints – Because no one wants to talk to someone with gross breath. You can never have too many either.
- The nail polish you’re currently wearing – I’ll be wearing some custom Minx wraps, but I always bring my current color of nail polish with me when I travel. I’ve tried several at-home gels and even they are unreliable, so I’m always prepared if my polish chips and I have to do a quick touch up. If you’ve got an elaborate design, I’d stick with whatever color is the base or closest to the tips as that’s the most likely area that might need a touch up while you’re at BlogHer. Don’t forget to keep the polish in a sandwich bag – the bottle is glass and can break, and you’d rather in the unlikely event of a breakage to have the disaster contained, right?
Like I said before, everything else is pretty run-of-the-mill in terms of travel essentials. I used to bring my own water bottle, but I found there was ample water around the conference centers to keep me hydrated. This is the first time I’m going to BlogHer, so I’m glad that I’ll be driving and can easily run to a store to get anything I might forget or, worse case scenario, drive the 60-90 minutes back home if there’s something irreplaceable I forgot at home!
What’s on your packing list for BlogHer ’14?
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