Video Tutorials

I miss them. :( I had fun making them cause i'm all about makeuppyhaircosmo stuff, and I'm all about video editing. So it's like, win/win - 2 of my loves in one. But with my little man being bigger, napping less and wanting to play more, it just fell by the ol' wayside.
Plus, there are a LOT of tutorials out there and I'm by no means a pro at make up application, hair styling, etc. Most of my vids are just MY way of doing this or that, not the expert way.

I had a smokey eye tut that i recorded a long time ago and in the middle of editing, my computer freaked out and i lost everything. Even the captured footage. But i found the tape a few days ago, and am gonna get that bad gal uploaded once and for all! Then i'm gonna try to get some others recorded in the not-too-distant future.

So i need some ideas. Whaddya want me to demonstrate? What silliness shall i subject you to? What have you been wanting to see? Comment here or email me at carastarr28@gmail.com and give me some ideas!

YouTube Viewer Question

This question was asked in response to my round brush blow drying video:

Q: "May i ask what dryer you have? the one i have is too heavy =( "


A: You know, mine is actually a cheapo that i've had for ages. I believe it's Vidal Sassoon or some such Target brand. I'm really ready to invest in a good quality (read: expensive, lol!) ION dryer. A lot of the reason we can't get our hair to look like "salon" hair is because of the tools we use. I used to buy cheap flat iron's and would have to replace them several times per year. Really wasn't so inexpensive when you look at it that way. Plus, they never got my hair shiny or smooth. So i finally broke down and paid about $130 for a good one, and it's been doing its job very well for 4 years now. (Knock on wood!) I would recommend going someplace like ULTA or a beauty supply store where you can try out a few before you buy. And if you have a good hairdresser, ask him or her what they recommend. (and when i finally acquire a new one, I'll let you know what i end up choosing.) GL!

Quick and Easy "Up-Do" for short hair!

If you have short hair, like a bob or an angled bob, this is a very quick and easy way to change up your look. Putting hair "up" even though it's too short for a typical up-do. My hair has some natural curl to it, but you can fake curls with an iron or hot rollers, or just do the style with straight hair!

Tutorials, Travel, and Turning Twenty-nine.

I have a hair tutorial video uploading to YouTube as i type. I am trying a new format that provides better picture quality, so we'll see how that goes. Anyhoo, as soon as it's ready, i'll post it here. Just something new and different that i tried out on my hair the other day and really liked.

I'm getting ready to go out of town in a few days, so I've been crazy busy making lists, sorting clothes, doing laundry, cleaning every inch of the house, making little post-it notes to leave all over for my MIL who'll be feeding the cat while we're gone, and all kinds of other obsessive/compulsive type things that make up my "prepping-for-a-trip" routine. So i don't have much planned in the way of posts (other than the hair video) until we get there. Then i'm sure I'll have shopping spree videos to share. hee hee.

Tomorrow, I turn 29, for real, for the very first time. I have been looking forward to my 30's for a few years now, so tomorrow is going to be an exciting reminder that the 20's are on their way out. lol. i don't care how old i live to be, i'm rockin' the wild eyeshadow for as long as i can see straight to put it on. :)

Another very cool thing... Friday's date is 08-08-08, and it's my 8th wedding anniversary! i hope i get 8 presents. just in keeping with the theme and all...

ttyl! xoxo

And now for something completely different...

I don't consider myself to be an over the top animal lover. I mean, i like animals. And i have a cat. But i'm one who gets ooked out when a big dog jumps at me, licks me and sniffs my butt.

So, I cannot believe i actually cried when i watched this video. But i did. I bet you will too.

Lion Video post at HM&HH

Basic Eyeshadow Application

For my first ever eye shadow tutorial, I decided to do what I consider the easiest and most versatile eye. This is basic make up application. No smokey eyes, no upsweeping, not a tremendous amount of layering and blending. Just a few colors, some liner and mascara.

It only takes a few minutes to apply, but delivers a very put together look. My usual go-to colors on a busy day are pink & green, or purple & green. The great thing is, you can use your imagination and many color combinations.

For a subdued look, use neutral colors and minimal liner.

For a fun & vibrant look, use bright colors and colored eyeliner.

For a dramatic look, use dark colors such as black and silver or eggplant, add heavy liner and fake lashes.

Here are the items I used in this video:

Urban Decay Primer Potion

NYX Lime Green shadow

NYX Violet Shadow

Urban Decay Last Call (pink) shadow.

Bourjois Eyeliner pencils:

• Duochrome #61 Vert Doré
• Métallisé #52 Brun Inoxydable

Maybelline “Linen” shadow

Loreal Clean Definition Mascara in Black.

How to Apply Bare Minerals

My version of how to apply Bare Minerals/Bare Escentuals. Good music too!

ETA: I should mention that my left eye looks extra dark, and has a big lump on my brow bone because i smacked it against the front door. *sigh* Have you ever read my blogger profile? The worst part of it was i tripped walking up to the front door after jamming to starbucks, and while falling FACE FIRST, i also managed to dump $10 worth of coffee all over the front step. As much as my face hurt, i was crying for my mocha.

Fun Stuff from Dollar Tree

I saw these little boxes and thought they'd be great for organizing my make up collection. Also some LA Color cosmetics that they now carry. If you have a Dollar Tree near you, go get some of these boxes before they are all gone!

Cool things for $1

I recently went to a $1 store to find supplies for my kiddos' birthday party tomorrow and found some unexpected goodies! I have a little video that i'll try to get uploaded before the weekend! :)

Cara

Bath & Body Works Sale + 2 Year Old Gift Card

Here's the crazy amount of lotion, gel and bubble bath that I bought yesterday at the Bath & Body Works Semi-Annual Sale.
I have had a $50 B&BW gift card in my wallet from Christmas 2 years ago! I bought lotion and shower gel in a new (for me) scent "Mango Mandarin" and it smells so yummy! Those, (along with all their regular products) were $5 each. Even my hubby liked it.
I also bought all they had of Plumeria, Magnolia Blossom, and Pearberry because they are my all-time faves. All of those items were 75% off, so i paid $2.38 each for them. I am so upset that they are doing away with all of the "classics". If any of you know of Plumeria, and know a lotion that is similar in scent (it has a sweet smell in addition to the flowery smell...) PLEASE comment here and let me know.
I also got 2 hand soap pumps for $2.50 each. I picked up a few 4 oz. bottles of gel and lotion in Pear Blossom to keep in my last minute gift closet. Those were only $1.50 each! I got small bottles of body splash and lotion for my purse for $1 each, and a bottle of Ginger Verbena self-tanning lotion for $3.63. My shopping bag was so freaking heavy, I had to wrap up my shopping trip because I was exhausted carrying it!!

Watch this clip of the goodies:

That one place I keep talking about...

Okay i swear if I type or say ULTA one more time I'll go nuts - so I imagine you are equally sick of hearing it. I'll try to wrap this up here and now. :)


I got to go to the store and was in heaven. I spent HOURS in there. I ended up buying a lot of goodies, as well as getting my wax and playing with A LOT of makeup. The girls there were super friendly, letting me snap pictures, and helping me hunt high and low for a particular eyeshadow color that i wanted.


If you are fortunate enough to have one of these stores near you, please tell me you visit it often. It's a girly wonderland and I just hope and pray one comes to my area soon.

Now the bad news. The first morning we were here, i woke up feeling a bit feverish and had a very sore throat. I eventually felt well enough to go on my shopping trip. I had HOPED to go back today to see the Benefit Brow Bar event, and take the Bare Mineral class on how to master the new Masterpiece collection. But last night i was a wreck with fever and chills, and when i got up this morning, i felt like someone had beaten me with a baseball bat. So i'm not going anywhere today. I've been chilaxin in the hotel room, and am about ready for a nap. At least i got to have fun playing yesterday, and i wasn't extremely over the moon about the Masterpiece kit when i saw it in person.

So here's some funny little videos of me and my Ulta Adventure. I took them with my little Kodak, so i sound really weird in them - especially when i say "S" sounds. Just ignore that. :) (as of the time i'm typing this, one is still uploading to youtube - so you may have to check back to see the goodies i bought...)

Hair Teasing Tutorial

A how-to on backcombing your hair to get it nice and poofy. :)

The products i use are Pantene Touchable Aerosol Hairspray, (i recommend an aerosol for sure, and i like the Pantene cause it's like $3, smells really good, and isn't to sticky/has a flexible hold.) a rattail comb, and a shine spray by Samy. (I will not get the samy gloss stuff again. It's stinky. Next I'll try the one by Garnier.)

The little hair clip i used is a Goody, and you can get 2 on a card for a few dollars at Target.

By Request - How to apply fake eyelashes

A few people asked about this but i don't wear fake eyelashes and would probably glue my eyes shut trying - so, I asked Jody of Monroemisfitmakeup if i could post her how-to video. So here it is! Have fun and send me pics of your lashes when your done!

DIY French Mani/Pedi

This video shows you how i achieve a nice, even, french mani/pedi at home, without using those weird little sticker strips and without having to get the white painted on perfectly across my nail tips. Makes it SO easy!

How to apply sunless tanner quickly, easily and EVENLY!

A how-to about sunless tanner, just in time for summer! :)
(And an alternative if you just aren't confident about applying it.)

How to blow dry your hair with a round brush.

(RockSTARRMom's first video tutorial!!!!)

Can you count how many times i say the word "volume"? LOL! Listen for Caleb in the background!

Coming Soon

DIY French Mani Pedi Tutorial

How to Tease/Backcomb Your Hair

How to apply sunless tanner

Blow drying with a round brush

Bare Escentuals Review