Sunday, May 22, 2011

You may refer to me as Paula Dean today

I'm feeling very proud of myself today; cocky even.  I played a good southern wife, got up early and made a delicious chilli, to simmer for 5+ hours before the Canucks play game 4 this afternoon, and a lil' southern style authentic cornbread from scratch.  Now our whole house smells like delicious meaty chilli and fresh baked bread, and the Husbo is feeling very pleased with this wife of his...  I did make him go to the store and buy embarrassing female products because I don't want him to think that I'm taking on the southern housewife role as a permanent thing; just when I get the urge.   Behold our deliciousness:

Deeelish!!!!
For those interested in the recipes I used, here ya go!!:

Game-Day Chilli
  • 2 pounds extra lean ground beef (I used 1 pound)
  • medium onion, chopped
  • to 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • (15-ounce) cans pinto beans, rinsed and drained
  • (8-ounce) cans tomato sauce
  • (12-ounce) bottle dark beer (I used a bottle of Shiner - Local delicious Texas beer)
  • (14 1/2-ounce) can beef broth
  • (6-ounce) can tomato paste
  • (4.5-ounce) can chopped green chiles
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • to 2 teaspoons ground red pepper
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce
  • Garnish: pickled jalapeño pepper slices
Directions
  • Cook first 3 ingredients in a Dutch Oven over medium heat, stirring until meat crumbles and is no longer pink.  Drain well.
  • Combine meat mixture, beans, and next 11 ingredients in Dutch oven; bring to a boil.  Reduce heat, and simmer 3-5 hours or until thickened.  Garnish if desired.

Authentic Southern style Cornbread


  • 1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal (preferably stone-ground)
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 3/4 cups well-shaken buttermilk
  • 1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 425°F. Put a dry, well-seasoned 9- to 9 1/2-inch cast-iron skillet in middle of oven to heat. (The skillet is the key to making the cornbread extra authentic...)
  • Stir together cornmeal, baking soda, and salt, crushing any small bits of baking soda. Whisk eggs in another bowl until blended and whisk in buttermilk.
  • Remove hot skillet from oven carefully and add butter, swirling gently to coat bottom and sides of skillet. (If butter begins to sizzle and brown around edges, so much the better.)
  • Whisk hot butter into buttermilk mixture and return skillet to oven. Stir cornmeal into buttermilk mixture just until moistened. (The batter doesn't have to be smooth—a few small lumps are good.)
  • Scrape batter into hot skillet and bake until golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Invert skillet over a platter and cool bread at least 3 minutes.

This last week was a CRAZY one!!  Lots of bridal shoots, and prom, and new brides to be!  Wedding season is in FULL SWING here in Houston!  Speaking of Houston, the Husbo and I are considering moving to a different area of Houston called the Woodlands...  We're gonna drive out there tonight for dinner to get a feel for the the place, and see what type of vibe we get.  It's more small town/community-ish we think - which has it's positives and negatives - yet still has posh stores and fabulous restaurants (and a HUGE Sephora thank G)...  I think Dugg would be in HEAVEN there!  Duggy is in Canada right now with his Grandparents, and we miss him TERRIBLY!!!!  He's discovered snakes and cows, and doesn't know what to do with either (personally if I saw a snake I would shat myself, and well cows, they just stink).

Ok Game's on!  Go Canucks!!!!

Leggings aren't pants.  Just a reminder.

xo T

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Minimalist embarkment

Something is wrong with me, and/or I've had a shift in my beauty psychology, as lately all I want is minimalist makeup, and no fuss looks.  For those that know me, this is a strange statement coming from me.  Maybe it's all the travelling, or the shift in Houston weather to HOT and HUMID, but all of a sudden I'm all about pairing down to the essentials for my day looks.  I've also always admired those women who have the "no makeup" makeup looks.  Anyways, lately I've been going for this, and with my rehabbed hair situation (no die has touched these strands in 7 months - another large accomplishment), I'm at risk of being a lil' too boho hippy, as opposed to boho chic (I have a deep seeded hate for birkenstocks, patchouli and dreadlocks - gag - so I'm not really at risk of the hippy lifestyle...  don't fret).  Anyways, I've decided that the minimalist makeup look can be gorgeous; some examples of what I mean are below:



The look concentrates on clean, fresh skin, and groomed brows.  LOTS of Mascara and a hint of colour on the lips brightens everything up a bit.  Both of these women are clearly wearing makeup, but I like that they look so fresh and not so made up.  I've been taking this look a bit more bronzy (as I have a bronzer addiction), and bronzing up my face (contouring), and adding a lil' extra highlighter to the cheek and brow bones.  I dig it.  I've had a few "you're glowing" remarks, which is better than "you're sweaty".

Give 'er a try!  You may just shave off a few getting-ready minutes and look glam all the same!

Off to play wedding dress up with another beautiful bride to be!

xo T

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

I'm Baa-aaack

Back in Houston that is.  I loved loved loved my trip, and all the makeup fun it involved!!!  Here's a pic of one of the fun group lessons I did in Vernon.  Very fun, with lots of laughs!!

The ladies learning to use eyeshadow as eyeliner.....
It's so interesting to me to hear and see the misconceptions out there about the application of makeup.  It's not fair for all this misinformation to be out there, and then expect people to know how to apply their makeup in the most flattering way!  I've put together a list of tips/tricks that most people did not know about/had trouble with:

Under eye concealer application:  I've actually made a video tutorial specifically for this purpose, which can be viewed here.  It's all about applying the concealer in a triangle formation from the inner corner of the eye, to the outer corner of the nose, and up to the outer corner of the eye.  Sound confusing?  Don't worry, the video makes it clear.

Eyeshadow colours and application:  Most women get in a rut, and use the same shadows over and over again.  What I want to show women everywhere, is that with the right application techniques, your shadow options are limitless.  There's a couple techniques that should be used, and BLENDING is always key, but for a day time eyeshadow technique you can follow the shadow principles of Bridget Bardot (you don't need to do the intense liquid liner shown in this video, an eyeshadow applied with an angled brush, or a pencil liner will do for most people!); or for a day time smokey eye, check out the following video.  If you want to deepen it up, and bring your day look to a night look, there's a video that shows you how here.

Lipstick that's to dark!!:  For whatever reason, there is am entire generation of women, rollin' around with lipstick that makes them look ten years older and kinda which-esk.  Dark maroon, plum, purple, and brown lipstick has to go!!!  It's so aging, and overall not cool!  Stick to the neutral shades of pinks and corals, and follow with a gloss.  Better yet, just go with a coloured gloss!  It won't travel up any fine lines of the lips, and looks luscious and beautiful!

Ok so those are the top three things I found to be an "issue" amongst the beautiful bevy of women I was lucky enough to work with last week!

Enjoy the tips, and use them.  People will thank you.

xo T

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Idle hands....

Hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hieeeeeeee!!!!!!!!  Ok, a quicky between makeup lessons.  I've been a bad blogger!  However, that doesn't mean I haven't discovered a few DELICIOUS new buys recently.  I thought I would share them with y'all before I'm off to do a makeup lesson for a pair of beautiful ladies.  In case you've been wondering what the hey-ho I've been doing, let me just give you a taste (don't be jealous):
Meeting my new GORGEOUS Nephew Hugo.  I adore him and his chubby cheeks.
Going to game 5 of the Canucks vs Nashville playoffs with
some of my best friends in the whole wide world
Liz and I got in the hockey spirit and sported some SUPER awesome false lashes.  
All the guys loved them (more so than the ladies?).  Obvs.
In the BOX seating at the hockey game!!!  So awesome, with the most delicious
food and a waiter to fetch us our every desire.  SOOOO awesome.
Witness the boys making asses of themselves doing shots off a hockey stick.
There was a Jagermeister incident
Playing with Dugg the dog!!!  We brought him up to Canada with us, as he HATES
the heat in Houston, and it's only May!!!  So, he's going to be living with Grandma
and Grandpa this summer.  Oh man he loves it up here!!! 
Also on this list of my dream few days?  Going makeup shopping with my girls...  I bought pretty much the coolest limited edition Bobbi Brown Bronzer from the Almost Bare Collection.  I got the Rich Cocoa shade and it's perfection.  It goes on smooth and gives a natural bronzed look.  It's also Matte (which we know I love - I don't want to look dirty), and although slightly more pricey than your drugstore stuff, ($33) it's worth the coin.

I'm off to play makeup teacher!  

xo T

Monday, May 2, 2011

Royal Pooper

So I know it's been a few days since the royal wedding.  And I know I should have cared more, as someone that generally likes to be in-the-know about meaningless celebrity gossip, but I didn't.  The only thing I actually cared about was the dress, makeup and hair.

The dress was good; Grace Kelly-esk, and demure.

The hair was average; Half up, curled, yawn.  The tiara made is cooler.  Diamonds make everything cooler though.

Makeup that SHE DID HERSELF????!  Ah-ver-age.  I'm sorry, I thought this is like the historic moment of the decade (the Brits would like to think so ;)), and she is allowed to do her own makeup for the wedding?  If it was good, then I would have given her major props, but well, it just wasn't.

She looks a lil' weird, but this is a good angle of the makeup.  The skin is fine.
A little too much blush, but it's the EYES that KILL ME!!  Never should people put an
eyeliner LINE on their lower lashes.  It should always be smudged, but preferably use a
shadow.  The inner rim of the eye is another story.  That can be done as a solid line
(it's the only thing you can do with the inner rim though...)
Another photo:  She's such a beautiful girl!  She has so much to work with.
She needed some contouring and highlighting.  A bride should always look glowing, never flat,
which is why the contouring is necessary. 
I will give her some credit.  Girl was composed, and played her part well.
I can't imagine the kind of pressure she have felt/feels, as the future Queen of England.  

So, Kate, call me.  Seriously, I could help you.  We would probably be friends, except I'm not as polite as you are, but that way I'm not competing with you - polite properness could be your thing, I'll be the mouthy Canadian.

She's gonna call.  I can tell.

xo T