Test Driven ::: Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee

All photos by {accordingtoame}

These colorful little jars of awesome have been getting the full workout now for a couple of months, and I am pretty much in L-O-V-E.  

I am not typically a gel or cream blush kinda girl, but I was looking for perhaps a lighter feeling option besides my beloved powdered cheek stains for Summer. Perhaps, something that would stain my cheeks and tolerate sweating, but still feel super light on my skin, and help me scale down the layers I trowel on every morning for the heat and humidity we're already experiencing. Ok were experiencing. It's barely 50 degrees today...

Top Secret ::: Sonia's Travels/SoniaGil.com

Since we're starting to get into prime travel and vacation season, I thought I would share a little secret of mine named SONIA GIL.  Well, I wouldn't call this a big secret, since this stunning woman has won the well-deserved Webby twice, having just won her second by a landslide.  

Must See ::: Glamour's New Beauty Website/Blog

All Images Glamour.com

I have been a long-time reader of Glamour the magazine, and every few days will pop onto the "Girls in the Beauty Department blog" on their website to see what breaking news they have to share. This week I popped on there and was totally dazzled by a gorgeous new layout, and a totally apt new name, Lipstick.  

Top Secret ::: Super-Clarify Your Hair

Image via Babble

I had this post scheduled for a while now, and almost bailed on posting it after seeing the same tip mentioned on Grace's blog over the weekend, but decided that it's too good not to share anyway. 

Must Have ::: Beauty Blender

All photos by {accordingtoame}

I cannot even believe I haven't waxed poetic about these things yet. They are a staple I cannot spackle without. These little pink egg-shaped wonders are an absolute necessity for me to apply concealer and foundation, and without them blending is just not the same. 

Top Secret ::: Under the Arch

cannot find original sources

It amazes me how many gorgeous women I see walking around with full faces of well applied makeup, but almost non-existent brows. Not necessarily always over-tweezed, but just...not finished and therefore "disappearing" from their faces.  Just a little filling in, and bam! they'd be perfection.

Fashion Fix ::: Finding the Perfect Pair

Photo: Nordstrom.com

Finding the "perfect pair" of jeans can be an exercise in patience and humility, and even sometimes just exercise.  Sometimes it takes a day, sometimes years.  

I was formerly a "super-cheap jeans" buyer. Back in that era, Target sold some sort of Levi's variant and they were great for my wallet, and I bought a few Old Navy here and there. I just didn't bring myself to spend a ton on them in the past because I didn't "care."  But I had an awakening when I decided one day to actually try some more premium denim on, when I was having a "good butt day."  And that made me "see the light."

My Travel Basics ::: Ninja-Packing 102--Toiletries

All Photos: by {accordingtoame}

Previously, on My Travel Basics...Our heroine described at long-length how she plans, lays out, and packs her clothing and odds and ends into her travel bag as she prepares to jet off on a weekend adventure.  This episode joins our heroine as she packs her hair and makeup essentials, of which there are many.  Let's join the show, already in progress.

My Travel Basics ::: Ninja-Packing 101--Clothes

All Photos: by {accordingtoame}

I wouldn't call myself a seasoned traveler.  Most of my travel has been for leisure, with only a small amount related to work.  Despite that, I developed quite a system for when we travel now, involving extensive use of varying sizes of Ziploc bags. But because of my self-taught ninja organization, we can often carry on one duffle bag with everything packed neatly inside, and a smaller duffle for little odds and ends/my purse, and almost never deal with checking bags, even for a week-long trip for two!

Top Secret ::: Refreshing Second Day Hair

Photo: Me, of my Bottle

I have, up until now, been an absolute failure at reviving second-day hair with dry shampoo. Being an "enhanced" redhead, skipping a day is kind of the nature of the beast, and is definitely a necessity to keeping it vibrant.

Top Secret::: Eye Opening

Photo of me, by me

Besides just using Latisse semi-regularly, I have a couple tricks that I employ every day to get the crazy-long, luscious Kardashian-worthy lashes I lust after. Yes, I really did just say that, and yes, I did actually laugh out loud calling anything on my body luscious.  Still am, actually.

My biggest secret, again besides Latisse, would be the lining technique I have been using for years, coupled with the layering of multiple mascaras onto my curled lashes.