sreda, 31. december 2014

New year manicure #2

Pozdravljene še zadnjič to leto...
Za najdaljšo noč v letu sem zbrala daleč najlepšo kombinacijo, ki je preplavila skoraj vse nail art in beauty bloge v tem letu in sicer sem čez črn krem lak Alessandro slojila čudovit bleščičasto šimrast nadlak znamke Essence imenovan Icy Fairy. Izgled je zares galaxy, svečan in ravno pravšnji za to posebno noč. Zraven sem skombinirala še novoletna vzorčka iz ploščice XY11 s srebrnim Star Gazer in modrim Ruby Kisses lakom.
S tole manikiro bom sama zaključila leto 2014 v krogu prijateljev in fanta. Upam, da boste preživele lep večer in se vidimo, slišimo, beremo v 2015...

 Alessandro-black (Crystal Punk TE): 2 coats 
+ stamping plate XY11 with Star Gazer-232 on thumb
+ stamping plate XY11 with Star Gazer-232, Ruby Kisses-Blues Gone Wild on index finger
+ Essence-Icy Fairy: 1 coat on middle, ring, pinky finger

+ Top Coat




I hope that you like it and wish you all a happy new year! *
post signature

ponedeljek, 18. avgust 2014

Awesome Food Website

A few weeks ago I was searching Pinterest for new recipe ideas when I stumbled upon a food website that took me by surprise (in a very good way).  Maybe some of you (or many of you) know this already, and I just happen to live under a rock, but I thought it was my duty to share this awesome website with all of you.  After successfully making several recipes with rave reviews from family and friends (especially the hubby!), I decided it was time to write about budgetbytes.com

You might be wondering what makes Beth's recipes so great, right?  Well let me tell you my top four (4) reasons:
  1. They are budget friendly
  2. Her recipes don't require a ton of ingredients, especially those you will only use once.
  3. The recipes are easy yet full of flavor.  With a three month old at home, I simply don't have the time to prepare meals that are too time consuming.  
  4. My husband is very impressed with my cooking as of late.
Here are the recipes I have successfully made so far:
    The Italian Wonderpot is one of her most popular recipes, and I can understand why after making this dish last week.  Unfortunately, I have been a bad blogger and failed to take pictures of these dishes with the exception of one, Easy Sesame Chicken.




    I am quite excited to try a few more recipes this week!  Our menu for the week looks something like this:
    I hope you check out Beth's website and let me know if you make any of her recipes.  If you have any favorite food websites that you love, please let me know in the comment section below as I am always in search for new and delicious recipes.

    Thank you so much for reading.

    Karina

    ~Live Simply~



        torek, 12. avgust 2014

        Baby Favorities - We Survived the First 3 Months


        Yesterday was a wonderful day because Micah turned three months old.  I cannot believe we have had this little bundle of joy for three full months.  He is such a great little boy.  As of today, he smiles, has started cooing, and loves playing with his hands.  I am so blessed to be called his mommy and have the opportunity to stay home with him.  So today, in honor of this wonderful milestone, I thought it would be fun to share our favorite baby products that we love.



        1. Mamaroo
        2. Aden and Anais swaddle blankets
        3. Boon Grass Countertop Drying Rack
        4. Baby Trend Snap-N-Go EX Universal Car Seat Carrier
        5. Diaper Genie
        6. Green Sprouts Wooden Brush/Comb Set
        7. Infantino Twist & Fold Activity Gym
        8. Dr. Brown's Natural Flow Glass Bottles - 4 ounces
        9. Pampers Swaddlers
        10. NoseFrida Snot Sucker
        11. Gerber Birdseye 10 Count 3-Ply Prefolf Cloth Diapers
        12. Boudreaux's Butt Paste
        13. Fisher Price Snugglebunny Swing
        In addition to other newborn essentials, these thirteen items made caring for a newborn a lot easier.  Three months later I have to say that there is no such thing as the perfect/right product for every baby.  We sure learned this lesson.  I spent countless hours researching so many products and it wasn't until Micah was born - through trial and error - that we learned what he liked and disliked.  Fortunately, we have a baby that responded very well to most of the baby products we purchased/that were gifted to us. 

        What baby products do you love and would recommend for a young toddler?  Micah is beginning to show interest in toys.

        I hope you enjoyed this little update and thank you so much for reading.

        Karina

        ~Live Simply~
               









          ponedeljek, 4. avgust 2014

          Beauty Diary: How I care for my Eyebrows

          Eyebrows make a Statement
          Eye brows help frame and shape the face so it is important to care for them.
          I learned this trick a while back in high school and never really got the chance to record it because either I would already trimmed them or forget to record it. TODAY though, I finally remembered and now I am able to share it with all of you ^^ I did a video and a picture tutorial so I hope you all enjoy and find it easy to do/try for sure!




           



           That is all for this Beauty Diary Post.
          I hope it was easy to understand and easy for you all to do.

          XOXO

          nedelja, 3. avgust 2014

          Postpartum: New Makeup Routine

          Hello friends,

          The other day I was reminiscing about how long it used to take me to get ready in morning for work and realized how much has changed since having Micah.  I used to sit in front of my vanity and look over my makeup collection to see what makeup look I wanted for that day, but so much has changed in the last three months.  Today I am going to share with you my new daily makeup routine.  This is the makeup I use daily to look somewhat put together during the day while tackling my new life as a new stay-at-home mom. :)



          These three face products are my everyday staples: foundation, concealer, and face powder.  I recently discovered Revlon's Colorstay Foundation and I absolutely love it!  It has become my holy grail foundation and it's only $9.99 at Target!  I've tried many higher-end foundations and this is by far the best, in my opinion, for combination/oily skin.  

          MAC's powder is fantastic at setting my foundation without looking cake-y.   I've used this product for many years and it hasn't broken me out.  However, I must say that their foundations and blushes do break me out, which is so unfortunate because they have such a lovely blush collection.

          I am a huge fan of Maybelline's concealer because it does a great job at hiding my under eye circles (this new mamma really needs it!) and it's very affordable.  It's so easy to blend and it doesn't settle into fine lines.


          Maybelline has a great selection of mascaras.  The Falsies is the mascara I am using at the moment and I really like it, it lengthens without clumping my lashes. I picked it up at Target last week, my last one had dried up, for $4.99 plus tax.  The mascara was originally $5.99 (already a good price) but the packaging had a $1 off coupon w/purchase...love instant discounts!

          Another Maybelline product I have been using for years is their clear mascara.  I use this product to keep my eyebrows in place as they tend to get a little out of control without it. 

          I like using an eye primer as a base before applying my eyeshadow.  Currently, I am using one by Laura Gellar.  I was quite excited when I saw this primer in my stocking last year as I had never used this brand before.  The primer works okay but I will not be repurchasing it.  I still like Urban Decay's Primer Potion or MAC's paint pots better.

          I didn't realize how many Maybelline products I use on a daily basis until I started writing this post, but I really like these products and the prices are within my budget. 

          Another Maybelline product I like using is the Define-A-Brow pencil.  I have to say though, I have a love/hate relationship with this product because I like how my brows look when I use this pencil, but I don't like how little product you get.  I am currently in search for a replacement that is a little more forgiving on the pocket book.

          Two eyeshadows I use daily are Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadow in Bad to the Bronze and Mally Eyeshado in Twilight.  These are so easy to just wipe across the eyelid when you are in a rush, which is my case every.single.day. 

          Last but not least is my beloved eyeliner.  I am one of those women that has to put eyeliner on (almost) every day.  People will tell me I look tired when I don't wear eyeliner, sad but true.  So, to avoid looking a tad bit sad and sleep deprived, I try to always wear some sort of eyeliner.



          Here is what the two eyeshadows look like on my skin along with the Mally Eyeliner in Espresso.  The Mally eyeliner is great at staying on the waterline, once it dries it will not budge. 


          I like to add a little bit of color to my cheeks, especially during the summer time.  I have been loving NARS blush in Deep Throat (*cough, cough* at the name) and the NYX blush in Dusty Rose.  These two have been in rotation for the last three months.  NARS blush in Orgasm is another favorite of mine (not pictured here).  To finish off the look, I apply Smith's Rosebud Salve and Burt's Bees in Hibiscus to my lips.  Since having Micah I don't wear lipstick or lip gloss because I am constantly kissing his precious little face.  For this reason, I like that Burt's Bees lip balm leaves a hint of color without it feeling sticky or leaving a residue on Micah's precious face. 

          These are my go-to products to achieve a pulled together look on a daily basis.  Getting ready every morning and putting a little makeup on makes me feel better.  Of course, there are days when I don't feel like putting makeup on or I simply don't have the time, but I try to make an effort to look my best for myself and for my little family.

          What are your favorite makeup products you use daily? 

          Thank you so much for reading!

          Karina

          ~Live Simply~

          četrtek, 24. julij 2014

          Zero Dollar Decorating Challenge

          I was watching Kelly from House of Aqua on Youtube the other day (if you haven't checked out her channel, you are missing out!), and decided to participate in her fun Zero Dollar Decorating Challenge.  The challenge consisted of decorating a space or room in your house without spending any money.  Sounds easy enough, right?  Well, it was a bit challenging for me because everything we own has its place in our home, but I still managed to pull it off. 

          Let's see what I started of with...




          As you can see, the layout of the furniture doesn't do this room justice.  The bookcase seems to be the focal point instead of the sofa and chairs, plus it looks a bit cluttered.

          Now for the after.  By rearranging the furniture I was able to create a better conversation area, leaving more floor space to play with my son. :)




          I moved the bookcase over to this wall and I really like it.  I also added a few more books and decorating items.



          My desk area stayed the same since its the perfect size for this corner.

          Even though the room did not change, by rearranging the furniture and adding a few decorating pieces I already owned, the room feels like a completely different space.  I had so much fun participating in this challenge, plus it didn't cost me any money.  Just like Kelly challenged her viewers, I challenge you to redo a space or room in your house.  You will be amazed at what you can accomplish with some free time and a little imagination.   

          Thank you so much for reading!

          Karina

          Live Simply

          sobota, 5. julij 2014

          Nursery Tour

          Hello friends,

          I hope everyone had a wonderful and festive 4th of July.  How did you celebrate this holiday?  We spent the day with family and tried our best to stay cool in this heat. We have been experiencing 100+ degree weather and it appears the heat will be sticking around a little while longer.   After all, summer has just begun.

          I am just now getting around to posting a tour of the nursery due to the birth of my son.  Speaking of, Micah was born on Mother's Day at 12:34 a.m. and is one healthy and beautiful baby boy.  I am now seven weeks postpartum and the last several weeks have been a whirlwind of emotions as I adjust to this new role as a mom to my precious baby boy.  I hope to share a bit more of my experience thus far, in the meantime, let's jump right into the tour for now.

          I can't quite express how much I enjoyed putting together Micah's room.  It was a real joy seeing it come together little by little.  The decor in his room is not based on a specific theme; instead, I focused on pieces that fit the color scheme I had in mind.  I wanted his room to feel decluttered, inviting and relaxing, yet still look like a nursery.  Looking at the end result, I believe I achieved the look I envisioned when I first found out our baby was on the way. :)




          We didn't want to over spend on the nursery.  As always, working with a smaller budget proved to be quite the challenge at first, as there were so many beautiful yet expensive pieces out there (hello Pottery Barn Kids!), but we managed to stay within budget.  This just goes to prove that you can still achieve the look you want but for a lot less money. 



          Most of the furniture and decor was purchased from some of my all time favorite stores such as Target, World Market, Home Goods, Buy Buy Baby (a new favorite), and Anthropology.  Like I mentioned before, most of these items were purchased while on sale, others were given to us at our baby shower, and some pieces we already owned.


          To give this Target dresser a bit of a special touch, we replaced the original knobs with these cute crystal knobs we found at World Market.  A quick and simple change that only costs us less than $15.  Below is a quick look at the dresser with its original knobs (sorry about the poor photo quality).


          Anthropology sells similar knobs but for a lot more money. 



          In my opinion, baskets are a must in every nursery.  They are so versatile and functional, which is why a have a few in his room, this one is from Home Goods and it was under $10.




           


          My husband was a huge help with a lot of the DIY projects.  He spray painted a few pieces in Micah's nursery and put together all the furniture (some sure tested his patience, haha).  Overall, I am in love with his room.  One piece missing from his room is a small area rug.  I am thinking a white fluffy rug I spotted at Target a few months back.  Also, I am thinking about making a mobile to hang over his crib but I haven't decided on the style yet.

          I hope you enjoyed this little tour of my son's room.  I will be sure to post an updated tour if I make any major changes.  Please be sure to let me know if you have any questions regarding any specific items or if you know of a place where I can find a cute yet affordable white area rug.  Until next time.

          Live Simply,

          Karina


          torek, 3. junij 2014

          ASK&TELL: Organization - Messy V.S. Clean

          ASK: How do you organize your makeup?
          Let me be honest... I have no specific way!!!
          As funny as that sounds, I don't really don't organize and usually, I just put things together if they make sense like a grocery store. Frozen food should go with frozen food and dairy products with other dairy products. If you come to my personal bedroom, it looks trashed and messy but to be honest, that is actually how organized I am. Some people like to be messy intentionally and in my room, my clothes and makeup area are intentionally messy most times because for me, it's how I tend to my things. my undergarments and other stuff are clean and neat but not my clothes and makeup.


          My makeup is together 4 different ways:
          Pallets, lip wear, eye wear, and face powder/liquids.

          I usually put all my pallets together in a box because they are bigger, longer, and easier to distinguish. Even if it's a lip wear pallet, it's in the box because it's a pallet. It just makes it easier to find too for myself. For lip wear, I usually put all my lipsticks, lip gloss, lip concealer, lip balm, and lip tint together. Eye wear consist of eyeliner, mascara, eyelashes, liquid liner, gel liner, single eye shadows, eyelid tape/glue, and eye shadow primer. For the face, all my blush, foundation makeup, and my makeup remover.

          The reason I separate like this is because I follow a very easy and basic routine for my makeup which is:
           - Cleanse the face with a makeup remover
           - Foundation: Liquid and matte
           - Eye shadow: Pallets/eye shadow, primer, liner, mascara and lashes
           - Blush and setting spray
           - Lip wear

          So everything is easy and always together when needed and easy to put away at one time too. Kind of my way to do it and Everyone has their own way of doing it so no worries in following me, someone else, or anyone. Make it comfortable to yourself because then you'll know where everything is and easy to find.


          Everyone is different, OF COURSE, but what is Messy? Clean?

          Depending on the person, messy can be clean or neat for someone like me.
          I like my clothes messy when in baskets. My bottoms like jeans, shorts, skirts, and leggings because it's easier to pick what specifics I want to wear then mess it up again and organize again. Same with my makeup. Even though they are separated, into boxes, drawers, or bins, they are placed in the box all randomly so I do have to search for them, which is fine. For others, they probably can't stand it being dirty/messy all the time and so the make everything neat in order, organized nicely in lines and so forth, which is perfect okay to. 

          There is no actually way to be specific about organizing but don't let it get out of hand where you can't see the floor anymore and there are piles and piles of clothes, makeup, or just stuff all around.


          For reading and I will see you next time ^^

          XOXO

          sreda, 14. maj 2014

          Tutorial: Simple Ulzzang Makeup

          Porcelain Skin and a CUTE Makeup
          That's what Ulzzang makeup is all about!!


          Today's post and simple tutorial is on Simple Ulzzang makeup!!
          Here is a easy, "Step by Step," makeup tutorial from foundation to eye makeup. it is pretty easy and quite simple to follow. This makeup consist of Flawless Skin and Puppy Eye Makeup.

















          I hope you all enjoyed this SIMPLE and CUTE makeup tutorial for Ulzzang makeup. This makeup look is wearable everyday on a daily base. It's not hard and it's easy to do every morning too. The best part is that it doesn't take a lot of time either!! I like to do this look when I get kinda of lazy to do my Gyaru Makeup or when I am in a hurry because Gyaru Makeup does take time. For me, I feel like the lashes take the longest during gyaru makeup because the bottom lashes take time and patience...

          Want to keep up with my updates
          You can OFFICIAL FOLLOW ME on BLOGLOVIN

          For reading and Watching.


          I WILL SEE YOU ALL IN MY NEXT POST~

          XOXO