Healthy Food!

Staying healthy and eating well is a super important to helping you look and feel your best.

It's also insanely difficult!

Luckily, there are a few ways to keep on track.

Here is my favorite website for tips and recipes- wonderful wonderful:

Hungry Girl

A few of my favorite tips:

*Substitute fruits, vegetables, lean beef jerky, or yogurt for processed snacks.

*Whole grain bread instead of white bread- my favorite is, Steve's Killer Bread

*Eat slowly. Give your stomach time to digest & your brain time register whether you are full.

*If you crave something, eat it, just in small portions. Otherwise, you will go insane. Seriously.

*Good fats vs. Bad fats. Fish and nuts vs. Fried Chicken and potato chips.

And remember, rock the jiggle!

Healthy does not mean perfect.

Stay lovely!

<3

Claire

Sunny Day Outfit!

You guys... I think... summer... is here!!!

Or at least, it was for today. So I took advantage of the beautiful weather to put on some summery colors!

(Top, H&M; skirt, thrifted; sweater, F21; combat boots, BC; sunnies, Betsey Johnson.)

I found these Betsey Johnson wingtip sunnies at the Rack a few weeks ago for a saweeeet deal! They remind me of the bejeweled one I wore as a kid :D

-B

Tubing Mascaras

For summer, my latest obsession is tubing mascaras.

They sound absurd: mascara that is removed by sliding off your lashes in tubes?

However, they are actually GENIUS!

No rubbing is needed, and you don't get raccoon eyes!

AND

even though they are easy easy easy to remove,

because of the fact that they actually bond to your lashes,

they last through the hottest, stickiest days.

Here are a few of my favorites:

DJV Beautenizer Fiberwig Mascara

(24$ at Sephora)

This is a Japanese brand that offers amazing volume, and is suuuper conditioning

(only comes in Black)

Clinique Lash Power

($14.50 at Sephora)

I've already talked about my love for Clinique Bottom Lash

(which is a tubing mascara!)- this is the same formula with a larger wand!

Blinc Kiss Me Mascara

(24$ at Sephora)

This has a thinner wand for more natural application

(only comes in black)

To remove, use warm water to wet and gently press lashes between your fingers.

Then let the tubes slide off!

<3

Claire

Rain City Stylistas: Reunion Makeup Bonanza!

As I've mentioned before, I've got an affinity for all things Dia de Los Muertos or Sugar Skull motif. While perusing Tumblr by the hour (I'm sure some of you can relate to that...) I found a few photos of sugar skull-style makeup and became a little obsessed with trying it out.

When Claire and I were in high school one of our favorite things to do together would be to have impromptu photoshoots, with Claire styling makeup & hair with me (wo)manning the camera. Our dear friend Lauren, who is always willing to sacrifice her time and face teamed up with us to create:

(Last photo by Max Cho, rest by me.)

Also, if you haven't had a chance yet, check out my new Etsy, featuring vintage button jewelery!

Love,

B

How to Clean Your Brushes

Cleaning your beauty tools is super important-

oil from your skin, excess product, and bacteria build up and become totally nasty.

First of all, a little anatomy lesson.

(please excuse my weird finger)

This right here is called the ferrule.

It is where the glue that holds the bristles in is.

DON'T GET WET, it will disintegrate the glue and lead to shedding.

When you let your brushes dry, reshape them with your fingers and lay them flat on their sides.

OK!

For a really deep clean- which you should do once a month-

hold the brush sideways, put shampoo on your hand, and gently swirl away product, and rinse. Follow by swirling the brush in a tiny drop of conditioner and rinsing.

Swirl the brush on a towel to get rid of excess water

For just a weekly clean, pour some brush cleanser like

MAC

or Beauty So Clean

(I have tried the cheap Sephora version and really hate it)

into a small dish and dip your brush in.

Using a dish towel or wash cloth, swirl away the buildup until nothing comes off the brush.

You will probably need to redip a few times.

To quickly clean while you are applying and want to switch colors,

just swirl the brush on a paper towel until it comes off clean.

This doesn't work for foundation brushes.

I hope you are all having lovely summers!

Stay lovely!

<3

Claire

Berit's Etsy Shop Now Open!

So, guys, I know I've been inexcusably MIA lately... but I haven't been doing nothing!

I'm very, very excited to announce that I've opened my own shop on Etsy! I've wanted to for a long time now, and this break in school has allowed me to spend some time crafting.

Please take a look around, tell your friends, and please let me know what you think! Click on any image to view it in the shop.

I've been a long time advocate for Etsy and the support of grassroots artists through it, so it's exciting and a little scary to have finally taken the plunge!

Love,

B