Simply Pretty

Let's Partay!

2012-03-03T08:33:00.000-05:00

It's my birthday!

That means it's time for family, cheesecake, and balloons! Today I am 41, which is a great age. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Have a great day!

[click the image to visit the source]

Travelin'. On the road again. We're outta here.

2012-03-02T08:32:00.000-05:00

It doesn't matter how you say it. It all means the same thing. Our bags are packed and we're hitting the road for the weekend to celebrate my birthday.

Whenever I hear "travel" I think of the movie "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles"! I just adore Steve Martin. That movie was a trip. ("That's not a pillow!" lol)

I have a few posts scheduled for the weekend, but it's all trickery - I won't really be here until Monday.

I hope your weekend is spectacular!

xoxo,

jen

[as always, click the pic to be magically transported to the source of the image]

Appalachia in Black and White

2012-03-01T10:41:00.000-05:00

Appalachia.

The mountainous land that stretches from New York to Mississippi. These mountains are beautiful and are home to my children's ancestors on both sides. My Mother's family hails from Western Maryland, my husband's parents are both from "the hollers" of West Virginia. I feel at home when I visit the mountains of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. My soul seems to recognize it. It embraces the vast skies, the woods, the undulating skyline, the high and winding mountain roads, the waterfalls, trails, and hollows.

Appalachia has gotten a bad rap. It's not all feuding hillbillies and toothless coal miners. However, as with many stereotypes, the misconceptions about the Appalachian people have some basis in reality.

Half of Appalachia is rural, and over 50 percent of the population lives in those rural areas.¹ An article I read uses Mc Dowell, WVA as an example: " ...the poverty rate is 33% with 49.4% of the children living in poverty...Sixty seven percent of the households have no wastewater treatment, allowing 314,000 gallons of untreated waste per day to enter streams and rivers."² The same article claims "In some areas of Appalachia, as many as 16.8 percent of the homes are classified as substandard. That is, it has more people than rooms and is without indoor plumbing."

On the other hand, Appalachia was the birthplace of its own musical style which eventually gave birth to Bluegrass which arguably is one of the major roots of country music. Appalachian music began as a blend of Scottish and Irish music and added in the banjo, borrowed from African-American blues musicians. This region provided fuel for a nation for years, even as it killed the land and its people. Appalachia isn't only coal, timber, and ski resorts: steel, aluminum, and petrochemical manufacturing all began in the area. And without Appalachia, we'd have no Daniel Boone, Jennifer Garner, The Judds, Dollywood, the Appalachian Trail, or any of these fabulous sayings.

Here are some more statistics from various sources:

On average, 20% of the people in the region live below the poverty line (the current national poverty rate for a family of four is $20,650 a year, i.e. $1,720 a month) ³
Extraction abuses by the coal industry, especially through mountain top removal, has destroyed more than 1,000,000 acres of forests, 500 mountains, and buried over 1,000 miles of streams in the Appalachian region.³
1/3 of all of West Virginia's children are born into poverty.³
The rich coalfields of Eastern Kentucky, Southwest Virginia, East Tennessee, and West Virginia are now home to 6 million people, over half of whom live in rural areas, with some counties having less than 25,000 residents. ³
Appalachia "tends to be heavily forested and rich in natural resources, especially coal, iron ore, and natural gas. There also is a tourism industry in parts of Appalachia, especially in higher elevations, where ski resorts operate during the winter months."⁴
Though industry and business did exist in Appalachia prior to the 20th century in such major modern industries like agriculture, large-scale coal mining, and timber, many Appalachianites sold their rights to land and minerals to such corporations, to the extent that 99 percent of the residents control less than half of the land. Thus, though the area has a wealth of natural resources, natives are often poor.⁵
The earliest settlers of the area were Irish, German, and Scottish, though the Cherokee Nation lived on the land before that.⁶

Here are some fascinating reads about Appalachia:

And here is a beautiful Tumblr full of Appalachian imagry.

I'd love for you to take a look at some of the black and white images of Appalachia that I have found...

[as always on this blog, click the picture to find the source of the image.]

Floral painted ceramics by Yevgenia- soooooo pretty!

2012-02-22T20:21:00.000-05:00

I saw this set of painted coffee to-go cups and posted it on one of my Friday Finds posts. I pleaded, hoping someone would tell me where to find them, who made them! Well, I finally tracked them down!

These beautiful travel mugs are hand-painted by an artisan named Yevgenia, who was an Etsy featured seller at one point. She started sketching beautiful botanicals and flowers and then putting them on glass and ceramics, which she'd give to family and friends. Naturally, since they're beautiful, they must have been in demand and now she makes and sells them on Etsy! You can read her interview here: http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2010/featured-seller-yevgenia/

Let's take a look at some of these beautiful pieces...
(note: the black mugs are ah-maze-ing! i'd love one with poppies or the birch trees on it!)

Are you as impressed as I am? I want them all!

Sparkle...

2012-02-22T19:48:00.000-05:00

Happy Wednesday! I have the mid-week drags. How 'bout you?

I am in the mood for some sparkle. No... I need some sparkle.

There. I feel a little bit better.

Fat Tuesday is Chocolate Day at Simply Pretty!

2012-02-21T16:19:00.000-05:00

Little known fact: I made chocolates for awhile.

I considered making them and selling them. In fact, I quite seriously considered it. In the long run, it was a bad idea because stooping over the chocolates was terrible for my fibromyalgia*.

*Perhaps surprisingly, it was not terrible for my waistline.
I would sample the slightest little bites to make sure
the quality was good, but being around a lot of chocolate does
something to even the most die-hard chocoholic.
I was not tempted to gorge myself. I was over-exposed, I guess.

Anyway, I miss making chocolates. It's soothing and pleasant and relaxing and it sure does smell good!

Today is Fat Tuesday, a day where the Catholics kind of get a lot out of their systems in anticipation of Lent, which starts tomorrow (Ash Wednesday). So, rather than focus on the shananigans in the French Quarter, I thought I'd focus on chocolate.

If you're giving up chocolate, now is your time to eat as much as you need to get you through 'til Easter! And if you're not giving up a thing (I'm not - my Catholic Church membership has lapsed) but you're a fan of chocolate, you're still going to enjoy this post...

WHY NOT...

...stock up on some chocolate yummies?
If you're abstaining for awhile, these would be great to tuck away and enjoy at Easter.
Otherwise, have at it as soon as they get delivered or save them for a special occasion!

I mustache you: are you a fan of chocolate? Mustache pops.
How about some chocolate oolong tea?
Double-dipped chocolate Oreo cookie pops.
Delish chocolate peanut butter fudge.
How adorable are these chocolate toadstools?!
Chocolate bacon truffles. 'Nuff said.
Chocolate with jalapeno chips. Are you kidding me?
Orange and brazil nut RAW chocolate bars.

... take your chocolate with you?
Whether you're abstaining or not, you can take those sweet thoughts with you anywhere you go!

This is billed as "a manly" ipod cover, but I'm pretty sure a chick could get away with it, too. ;)
Would you like to drink from a Pantone mug in shade 732 C? I would!
If you prefer your chocolate via donut infusion, you will probably like this little donut notepad.
These chocolate-colored periodic table of elements symbols are cool when used to spell out your favorite food. (Only, the high school science bit of my mind is kind of tweaking out because if you really stop to think about it, it doesn't make any sense...)
Cover your kindle in this knit sleeve and you have chocolate with you at all times!
Chocolate up your office with this handy chocolate bar calculator!
I am seriously considering this chocolate brownie laptop sleeve. No, really.
Nom! These chocolates stacked up on this phone case look delicious!

...drape yourself in chocolate?
I love the idea of dripping in diamonds, but if that isn't possible I think chocolate is the next best choice, don't you?

Look at the little macaron earrings!
Sure, these little chocolate bunny earrings are great for Easter, but I'd wear them any other time, too.
Don't want to go obvious, but still want your chocolate? How about these coco-colored chevron earrings.
Where your favorite candy bar on your ears!
I like the idea of these chemical formula earrings. This represents the theobromine molecule, the stimulant in chocolate. You can get earrings, too!
Kawaii cute ring with pouring chocolate and super small sweets.
If baked goods are your poison, maybe you want to wear some eclairs on your ears?
Flair, Willy Wonka style!
One of my favorite snacks is chocolate covered strawberries. They're healthy, right? lol
If you're a cookie monster, maybe you'll like this itsy bitsy cookie jar pendant.
More Wonka: this time a golden ticket wrapped around a candy bar on a ring!
I love this little chocolate bar mirror!
Lulu and Ara take after me: we're an icecream hounds! They may "need" these little chocolate cone necklaces!
Be a bit more subtle and wear chocolate colored pearls on your ears...
This little heart-shaped box of chocolates is a cute idea for a necklace!

... get cozy with it?
Surround yourself with chocolate! Bathe with it. Layer it on your body. Put it around your home. Chocolate, chocolate everywhere!

Hippie-chocolate: wash up with this hemp oil "Magic Brownies" soap!
Milk chocolate-y legwarmers look super cute!
I have no idea what I'd do with these little felt chocolates, but they're adorable.
How perfect is this knit pillow cover with the one gigantic off-set cable?
This leather obi / wrap belt is the perfect finishing touch.
I've never seen this many chocolate-colored sea glass bits, have you? Imagine them in a dish to set your rings on or around a votive...
This round scarf was made for belly dancing, but the silky chocolate and turquoise combo calls to me. I'm sure I could use it other ways, right?
If that won't work, maybe I could settle for this chocolate infinity scarf and some turquoise earrings.
I love the sound of this chocolate coconut soap!
This cloche hat is charming.
I wish it were cold enough around here to warrant a pair of arm warmers / fingerless gloves.
You know I love my throw pillows, and the more cuddly the better. I like this chocolate brown chenille pillow a lot!
Here are the cutest fingerless gloves ever.

So where are my chocolate lovers?!
What's your favorite: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or the non-chocolate, white? Have you had any "specialty chocolate" like red pepper chocolate, sea salt chocolate, or anything like that? Do you like your chocolate straight-up, or dripping over other goodies?

NYFW Fall 2012 (New York Fashion Week) - My favorites!

2012-02-16T22:45:00.000-05:00

I have spent all day pouring over the fashion week images from New York so I can write them up. I can't help it: I love fashion week! One day I'm going to go, either to blog it or to wash someone's makeup brushes. I'm not picky.

Until that happens, I'm going to keep drooling over the shots of the action - and over the beautiful clothes!

Noteworthy:

Tracy Reese's entire collection was breathtaking. For me, there were no "misses". Her eye for cut, fabric, and color is impeccable. See the collection here.
Current fashion "It Girl" Kelly Wearstler's collection was an homage to the 80s. It's well done, but not-for-me. The under-30 set will probably love it and look great in it! The collection.
I was a little disappointed in Alexander Wang's show. First of all, there were the creepy nets over the models' faces. Weird. But that's just accessories. The clothes were, for the most part, oddly boxy. As I always say: If it makes a model look square, what's it going to do to mere mortals? He also used a lot of leather (I'm neutral on this), varied textures (I love it), and some weird shiny effects (me no likey). There were a few beautiful skirts, but otherwise I just wasn't feeling it. The collection.
Charlotte Ronson did a bang-up job. Her collection was coherent. It flowed beautifully. She mixed flowing fabrics with heavier ones to great effect, used pattern perfectly, and added just enough quirk to work. It was all deftly done. A+ The collection.
The fabrics at Peter Som were weird. And there was a strange kimono-sleeve thing at one point... I dunno. The collection.
If you're a fan of cowls and infinity scarves, the Ohne Titel show is your heaven. That aside, the lines on these clothes are beautiful. The colors were bold-but-simple (mostly black-and-white and blue-and-black). Some lovely knits were shown, featuring great patterns and cuts. It's a pretty body-conscious collection but there was some fab kicky skirts and silky features that softened things up. The collection.
Rag and Bone played with proportions and stripes this year, and did so quite successfully. Some of the pairings were head-scratchers, but that's typical of fashion week. If you can look at them as separates, there were some great choices in there. I enjoyed the copper-metal used in the first few pieces, and there were some neat asymmetrical hemlines on tops, and that really looked fresh. I wasn't, however, feeling the tapestry. The collection.
Rachel Zoe put out a collection that didn't surprise me. That's not really a bad thing, actually. Her voice is consistent. REALLY consistent. This collection featured her typical classic-meets-boho vibe and used some pretty patterns, sleek lines paired with flowing fabrics, and of course some capes and vests. The collection.
I don't think J. Mendel has heard of the "no white after Labor Day" rule. This show started with the most beautiful bright whites that just seared the eyes! The collection was lovely, but there were too many animals used for my tastes: feathers, leather, and fur. They look better on the animals. The collection.
If there were an award for Most Colorful Show, I'd have to nominate Anna Sui, who was having a 70s flashback this season. At first, I was a little unimpressed, but once I got over the odd accessorizing, I really got into it. Her fabrics are beautiful and the cuts are feminine, playful, and pretty. Nicely done! The collection.
The color-fearful need not check into the Fall Nanette Lepore collection, either. This palette is ah-maaaaaaa-zing. I was just breathless looking at this parade of color! What a stunning array of fabrics: patterns, colors (had I mentioned the colors?), rich brocades, a fabulous muted and matte soft gold, silk... Wow. And the cuts are gorgeous, too. The collection.
I totally dig the deconstructed houndstooth thing happening on at 3.1 Phillip Lim! There was actually quite a bit of houndstooth going on there, and it was all fresh and new. There were some funky silhouettes, too, and a lots of color blocking. I saw some great knits, beautiful office-friendly choices, and some fab outwear, too. Great show. Oh, there were a few appearances of a weird furry geometric-pattern accent panel thing. Let's pretend that never happened. The collection.
OMG, tell me the models at the Philosphy di Alberta Ferretti show did not have to get on an escalator at the end of the show! Good golly, those poor nerve-wracked models... The collection had some pretty office wear, some pretty outerwear, and some pretty evening options. And some plastic. Er... The collection.
Monique Lhuillier knows how to dress a woman. The feminine silhouettes in this collection are beautiful and classic, but her fabrics and the accents she adds are purely modern. If I had the figure and the cash, I'd buy the whole collection.
I should have been disinterested in the Lacoste offerings. After all, the brand is everything I'm not: athletic, sporty, body-conscious, and all about the little logo. So I was totally surprised that it ranks in my Top 5 Shows for this season! The collection.
After looking at the Badgley Mishka collection my reaction is: Please someone give me lots of money and a fancy event to attend! They showed lots of black, gorgeous muted metals, and classic lines with slight twists. The judicious use of jeweled accents on some of the dresses was perfection. And hair and makeup was spot-on, too. Bonus! The collection.
Most of the Preen color palette seems to have been pulled from some vintage appliances. Then there were lots of patchwork-on-the-bias items. I dunno... The collection.
I am not someone who says "what pretty tweed". However, at Ruffian: "What pretty tweed!" And some nice boucle, too, and some lovely black velvet for evening. The shapes were ladylike and classic, though there was a bit of jimmying with proportion on some jackets and tops. A really well-presented collection.
Thakoon was having fun playing with texture for Fall! Woolens and silks together, cut-outs, some fluffy muppet fur, playing with light via folds and draping. There was also lots of shiny-but-pretty going on. I loved the camel coat with the purple leopard collar, by the way. And if someone wants to buy me the orange peacock feather dress, I wouldn't mind at all. The collection.
The VPL collection was... weird. At least the color palette was muted so no one will notice your really strangely draped fabrics, baby-on-board slings, and... well, that says it all.
I'm not sure if I've ever been disappointed with a Prabal Gurung show before. I surely wasn't this time. When you send your first model down the runway in a bangin' cape and gorgeous pants (never you mind that hat and the weird blue eye shadow), well you know the show is going to be great! I was particularly fond of the iridescent fabric used on some of the pieces and the lovely blue water-color silk. I hope we see some of these beauties on various red carpets and at some premiers! The collection.
I think I'd wear the entire Behnaz Sarafpour collection, with its ladylike lines and muted colors. It might not have been particularly groundbreaking, but it's super pretty and really wearable. The collection.
Mad props to Christian Siriano for his gorgeous collection! It's a beautiful array of elegant looks, well-paired fabrics, and special touches. He should be proud. The collection.
Imitation of Christ did some weird things with suiting. I'm not sure how I feel about it. The collection.
I usually pant over the entire Ports 1961 collection every season. This year, there were some odd shapes that weren't flattering even on the models. I like the stretching and trying new things, but some of these fell a bit flat to me. I also wasn't so sure about the patchwork fur/shearling outerwear. But what I did like, I loved. And those boots!!! The collection.
Nicole Miller's collection was full of varied inspirations. At first, it looked like someone re-colored the Little House on the Prairie shows, then Art Deco made an appearance, then everything was 70s psychedelic-boho. Surprisingly, it was a smooth show with no jolts. Although, here's another luxe designer I wish would lay off the leathers, suedes, and furs... The collection.
Wow. I found the Catherine Malandrino show really schizophrenic. It was all over the place! Color! See-through! Ladylike! Bondage! It wasn't really a coherent statement and all of the sheer bits really felt strained to me. The collection.
Another disappointment: Proenza Schouler. I have to be honest here: I was so distracted by the ill-fitting garments that I really couldn't concentrate. What were the boys drinking this year? The collection.
Victoria Beckham had two shows. The first, under her main line, the other as Victoria by Victoria Beckham. She's consistent. She's definitely got an eye and a specific esthetic. The former show is mostly sporty, the latter a bit more femme. I really enjoyed her cornflower blue, which was a nice change from the royal shown elsewhere. Victoria Beckham / Victoria by Victoria Beckham.
Let's end on a high note, shall we? Zac Posen. He never disappoints. His dresses make me want to be a rich woman who lunches and his evening wear is breathtaking. Lots of orange, great Asian-influences, beautiful fishtail hemlines... it's all stunning. The collection.

Definite trends: Cap sleeves, royal blue, orange, plummy-purple, ladylike, see-through fabrics and plastic, drop waists, patchwork and patterns, metallic leather, 40's and 50s.

Here are some of my favorites from the shows for Fall 2012...

All images courtesy of NYMag.com and Style.com

Serenity Sunday: 2.12.12

2012-02-12T18:56:00.001-05:00

Learning to live in the present moment
is part of the path of joy.

-Sarah Ban Breathnach

I like it rough! Herkimer diamonds, that is.

2012-02-12T11:01:00.000-05:00

I hadn't really heard of Herkimer diamonds until fairly recently. I spotted these earrings by onegarnetgirl (shown above) and fell for them. I like their rustic charm! From what I can tell, they seem to be inspiring some jewelry designers to really stretch to come up with interesting settings for them. I love how they're sometimes being set like "actual diamonds"!

Herkimer diamonds aren't really "diamonds". They're quartz crystals, so it makes sense that I like them! I have a definite "hippie-New Age side" and another facet of me is a bit "witchy". Crystals and I have a long relationship. ;)

Since I didn't know much about Herkimer diamonds, though, I turned to handy-dandy Wikipedia for some more information:

[via]

"Herkimer diamond is a generic name for a double-terminated quartz crystal discovered within exposed outcrops of dolostone in and around Herkimer County, New York and the Mohawk River Valley...

...Wiccan and New Age belief systems often ascribe specific occult properties and a wide variety of mystical powers to them."

Some Herkimer diamonds have fluid inclusions (pockets) filled with water or oil. These are called "enhydros" and sometimes when you move the crystal you can actually see movement in these areas! Others are "phantom crystals" which are actually crystals inside of crystals. Often the interior crystal is surrounded by oils or something else that make it look darker than the exterior crystal. Hydrocarbons can turn parts of Herkimer diamonds -or even the whole crystal- black.

Basically, what this means is your Herkimers can have clear, white, amber, brown, or even black spots or tones. I think it's neat to see how jewelers use these unique qualities to really enhance their piece, don't you?

Let's take a look at what some of the amazing artists on Etsy are doing with Herkimer diamonds, shall we?!

[click the images to view the pieces in Etsy]

Geez! I want one of each!

So let's hear from you, readers...
What do you think of these Herkimer diamonds? Would you buy one of these? What's your favorite gemstone? Which of the pieces above is your favorite? Do you like it rough?

2012-02-11T10:55:00.000-05:00

More pet photography from Seth Casteel

2012-02-11T08:16:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, I shared those cool photos from Seth Casteel - the ones of the dogs underwater. Today, I wanted to show you some other images I found on Mr. Casteel's site!

By the way, I love that he works with a group called Second Chance Photos. These photographers take professional portraits of pets in shelters in the hopes of increasing their chance of being adopted. I love that!

Art Break: Craving color? Meet Mark Rothko!

2012-02-10T21:49:00.000-05:00

You've probably seen Mark Rothko's paintings before. Maybe you like them, maybe you don't. Maybe you thought you were supposed to "get" more than you did. Maybe you just think the colors are pretty. My suggestion: just relax, look, and feel.

I am a huge fan of Rothko's work. Here's a little Rothko eye candy...

[as always on Simply Pretty, click the images to see the sources]

A Purple Squirrel?!

2012-02-10T20:49:00.000-05:00

Did you hear about this?! A family in Pennsylvania found this squirrel, took a few photos, and set it loose.

Scientists aren't sure why the squirrel was purple, especially because they weren't able to examine him before he was released. A similar case in England a few years ago was thought to be because the animal got into some discarded printer's toner. This little buddy may have been dyed by someone to track him, but no one is sure. I heard some people are speculating that he may have fallen into a porta-pot and the chemicals in there stained him. Ew! At least he seems healthy!

By the way, The Purple Squirrel has his own Facebook Page now!

[via]

Seth Casteel's Underwater Dogs - the photos that took over Facebook!

2012-02-10T19:48:00.000-05:00

My brother was the first to link to these incredible photos from dog lifestyle photographer Seth Casteel (his site is LittleFriendsPhoto.com). But now, other Facebook friends are linking, too. These snarling beasts are taking over Facebook! As soon as I saw them, I knew I had to share them here.

Look at these tough pups...

Here's where the gallery resides on Facebook:

The Amazing Underwater Dog Photography of Seth Casteel

Hooray for Hawks!

2012-02-10T09:57:00.000-05:00

Are there any animals you feel "drawn to"? A particular kind of creature that just calls to you? For me, it's birds of prey. Hawks, falcons, owls, eagles... even vultures! I always stop and stare when I see them. I guess they speak to me. They are wild. Majestic.

I have collected some great photos and hawk-related items here, in case you love them as much as I do! I'm using the word "hawk" here fairly loosely, so please - if you're an angry ornithologist, please don't troll me for it! ;)

Red Tailed Hawk by Randy Bayne

Galapagos Hawk by David Paul

Ferruginous Hawk by jeremy cozannet

Harris's Hawk by Christopher Dodds

Ferruginous Hawk by Leona Biskie

Sparrow Hawk by Aldert Verboom

Harris Hawk by Gary Sutherland

hawk by violan

Harris Hawk on Harris Hawk sculpture by Paul Gill

Hawk by Jeremy Cooper

The images above are from photographers who showcase their work on the amazingly brilliant eye-candy website 500px. Click the image, the photo name, or the photographer's name to see more.

And for the images below, click the pic to visit the source, many of which are at Etsy which means you can buy it and own it!

Some more funny Valentine's Day cards!

2012-02-09T20:13:00.000-05:00

[click the images to buy the cards]

(I'm not affiliated with any of these folks - I just think they're clever!)

Mendhi. Or: How my sister-in-law ruined everything.

2012-02-09T09:54:00.000-05:00

I have two fabulous sisters-in-law. My brothers chose wisely and I'm glad these women put up with them. [Girls, I tried my best to whip them into shape, but... well, there's only so much a sister can do.]

When my youngest brother met his bride-to-be, I was thrilled. I knew right away that they were a great match. She's smart, funny, and a lot of fun. Plus, she loves ice cream, is A Reader, and is a primo napper, so we have a lot in common!

When they got married, I was honored to be asked to do Raka's makeup. It was a lot of fun, despite the fact that I was furious with her. Why? Because they were having a hybrid Indian-Catholic wedding and one of the things she didn't do was have a mendhi night - at least not one I was invited to attend! Are you kidding me?! Sure, she had mendhi for the wedding, but where was mine?! Doesn't she know her wedding is all about me?! I don't know why I have to explain this kind of thing to people...

Anyway, she looked beautiful and I wasn't really mad. Just slightly bitter. ;)

For those of you not familiar with the custom, mendhi is beautifully-applied henna, a reddish pigment. It's traditionally done on the palms and feet, where the pigment will "grab" best and last the longest. The pigment, applied from prepared cones or fluid from a bottle, was originally made from crushed henna leaves. It is orange-ish when applied and over the course of a day or two, it darkens. Indian brides usually receive mendhi during festivities the night before the wedding (which, in case you didn't know, traditionally takes several days!). The artist usually incorporates the groom's initials or name into the incredibly intricate pattern. Mendhi is applied for some Indian holidays, too, and in other cultures as well.

Take a look at some beautiful mendhi I found. Have you ever had mendhi designs on your hands or feet? Or any other kind of henna designs? Would you love to have these beautiful designs painted on you?!

The photography of Misha Gordin

2012-02-08T20:23:00.000-05:00

I only just came across the conceptual photography of Misha Gordin and my mind was blown! You can read a little autobiography of him here, and here's his Facebook page. I find it interesting that he has not made the switch from analog to digital! He also assembles his work in a dark room, not on a computer.

Anyway, no more chatter from me. The images await...

Random Info

2012-02-08T09:42:00.000-05:00

I found this while browsing the web (here) and thought it would be fun to fill out! Wanna join? Link up or post a comment!

1. The meaning behind my URL
Simply Pretty Inspiration is pretty self-explanatory, right? It's based off of a little philosophy I have for my makeup clients (I'm a makeup artist): Make it simple to do and make it pretty. I feel most women look best with just the slightest bit of tweaking and letting their true selves shine through. Simply Pretty. I have extended that philosophy to the things I share here on my blog: art, craft, images, and whatever else I find that makes LIFE Simply Pretty.

2. Weakness

Sugar. Baby critters. Naps.

3. Why I love my bestfriend

Because she yells at me in Target. Because she's actually a kitten. Because she is funny and grammatically correct.

4. Last time I cried and whyA few days ago because I was in too much pain not to. Fibromyalgia is a bitch.

5. Piercings I have
I have pierced ears. Adventurous, huh?

6. Favorite Band
I really don't know if I have one. I'm digging Adele lately (who isn't?) but she's not a band...?

7. Biggest turn off(s)
Bigotry.

8. Top 5 (insert subject)
My top 5 Favorite Perfumes...

Bois des Iles (Chanel)
Pandora (Dawn Spencer Hurwitz)
Tabac Blond (Caron)
Cafe Noir (Dawn Spencer Hurwitz)
vintage Jolie Madame (Balmain)

9. Tattoos I want
I want to put some flowers to represent my daughters on my left wrist (on the inside) and expand on the "Om" I have on the inside of my right wrist with a flower or two and the word "laugh" in script.

10. Biggest turn on(s)
Lovely smells, beautiful art, humor.

11. Age
Nearly 41. Probably the oldest person doing this meme. ;)

12. Ideas of a perfect date
Quiet, no children, and something pretty to look at.

13. Life goal(s)
Raise my girls to be good people who make the world a better, happier place.

14. Piercings I want
None, puppy.

15. Relationship status
Married.

16. Favorite movie
I really like How to Train Your Dragon. ;)

17. A fact about my life
I studied Art and American Sign Language. I'm fluent in the latter and still working on the former.

18. Phobia
SPIDERS. *shudder* Heights, too.

19. Middle name
Therese. How fancy!

20. Tattoos I have
An "Om" on the inside of my right wrist, Pepe le Pew somewhere ;), a kanji on my left shoulder that says "jen" which is basically the Golden Rule (do onto others as you would have them do onto you) and also my name. There's a ladybug on top of the kanji because why not?

A little light for your Wednesday...

2012-02-08T09:19:00.000-05:00

Happy Wednesday, everyone. It's a dreary, grey Hump Day here in Virginia, and it looks like there's some rain on the evening menu. I hope it's sunny and bright where you are!

I needed some virtual sun since the real thing is stuck behind clouds. Put your sunglasses on and groove on this sunshine...

If you need some more bright colors, visit my Pinboard Oranges and Yellows and Corals and Peaches

2012-02-08T08:58:00.001-05:00

Orange you glad it's Monday?!

2012-02-06T10:11:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday, Simply Pretty friends! Congrats to the NY Giants and their fans. A nail-biter win on the books makes for a happy day for tons of people in New Yawk!

Speaking of happy, did I ever tell you the story about the orange chair? Orange is my favorite color, and I love to see it all over the place. I found an orange chair to use as my desk chair for my home office. The chair made me ridiculously happy every time I looked at it. Michael hated it. HATED. I don't know that he's a fan of orange to begin with, but in chair form it seemed to particularly rub him the wrong way. Every time we talked about "downsizing" or streamlining or getting rid of anything, he'd manage to bring up the orange chair (and a wicker Pier One chair that also annoys the crap out of him). Eventually my orange chair broke. What can you expect from a $9 chair? Michael was joyful. I was crestfallen. Now, whenever we see an orange chair, he immediately looks at me and says "NO!" I will replace that chair one day. I'm looking for the perfect (and durable!) friend. Maybe I could also add that print at the top of this page? ;)

For those of you not particularly loving this Monday, maybe a little of the world's most cheerful color can (literally) brighten things up!

[click images to buy]

I love blood oranges, don't you? This picture is for a blood orange lip balm!

This is a tooth fairy pillow!

Ginger kitties rule.

I think in our next house I'll be decorating with a few poppy pictures. This one is particularly lovely.

Superbowl Sunday! Have fun and be safe!

2012-02-05T11:51:00.000-05:00

[click the pic to visit this Etsy treasury]

It's the big day! Gather 'round, fans! It's time for PUPPY BOWL

2012-02-05T10:36:00.000-05:00

Shelter puppies gather to battle it out today in Puppy Bowl VIII! Who will struggle? Who will show the most hometown pride? Who will win? Will anyone widdle in the corner?

We're big pooch fans here in this family. Well, three of us are. Michael? Not-so-much. Which is why we don't have a dog... for now. And I haven't asked the cats their opinion (nor will I). I imagine that's going to come in 50/50, votewise.

Anyway, back to Puppy Bowl. Take a look at this year's lineup:

Aberdeen

Abilene

Anthony

Augusta

Baskin

Brandy

Calvin

Delilah

Eurika

Fonzi

Friday

Fumble
Will he live up to his name?

Gracie

Hollie

Hunter

Joni

Leroy Brown
Baddest dog in the whole damn town.

Lucie

Malie

Friday Links #ff

2012-02-03T20:18:00.000-05:00

Ha! This was my family a few weeks ago with the flu!
Michael and I were miserable and motionless, and the girls were ready to roll.

I have felt punky all day long. I don't like it. I haven't been healthy for more than a few weeks at a stretch since school started in the Fall. The whole family has been sick more often than not. And I know we're not the only ones. Everywhere I go, people are talking about being sick, talking about how they feel like they're coming down with something, trucking off to the pharmacy or doctor, or stifling a cough in their sleeve. Me no likey! Luckily, the kids are feeling fairly perky and healthy right now.

Hopefully you're feeling great right now and have fabulous weekend plans!

Here are some fun things to read and look at this weekend. Excuse me now, while I go sweat under a blanket. ;)

*jen

Beauty-ful things

Scrangie has swatches of the Hunger Games-themed nail polish collection from China Glaze.
Fast Track and Harvest Moon are sooo pretty! Smoke and Ashes also looks cool. I love a color that's hard to pin down. Riveting is right on-trend (gorgeous orange, you still reign!) and that flaky weird mylar shade, Luxe and Lush, is super interesting!
This is a really well-written article on self-love (no, you dirty birds: loving yourself for you who are even if you aren't a supermodel) and has some interesting information and links in it.
Oh, hello boots! I love you...

Crafty things

Love this work-in-progress embroidery of Sheldon's Soft Kitty song!
Soft kitty, warm kitty, little ball of fur...
Bri from Design Love Fest has contracted out for a craft column. Well, not really, but kinda. Anyway, here's a great re-do that I'm going to be trying so my own airplants have a new home. Sure, you could do a lot with these, but I think the airplant idea is perfect. :D

Other things

Did you catch any of the "Why Put a Tattoo on a Ferrari" shit storm?
Here's what started it.
Here's the article it ran with (in point/counterpoint style).
Here is an excellent rebuttal by Danielle of Sometimes Sweet. (This is the best of all the rebuttals and outraged blog posts I read)
And here is where the writer wrote about said shit storm, after the fact.
Oh, and here's what her managing editor penned, which I think makes a few good points and then misses others completely.

What are your thoughts on this? I personally couldn't have said it better than Danielle.
If you're a nail art kinda person, you need to follow Fuck Yeah Nail Art. This Tunlr is chocked full of great examples of the trend...
To lighten the mood a bit...
This is how things work in my house. Hubby is a pillow hog, so his is the "my side"! Look familiar?
Does anyone know where this image came from? I love it. LOVE IT!
Cuppow! First of all, best name ever! If anyone asks "what's that doo-dad on top of your mason jar enabling you to drink hot or cold beverages without sloshing them around and making your jar virtually spill-proof?" you can yell "CUPPOW!" Well, that's what I would do.

And I'll leave you with this...

[click link for source]

Dipping boulders in liquid metals...

2012-02-02T20:27:00.000-05:00

I think I mentioned these last week, but since no one flipped out and commented on how awesome they are -- I know you're reading, you silly little lurkers you! ;) -- I am repeating myself. I am still blown away by these boulders, with their molten metal adornment. Aren't you?!

I just keep staring at them...

Adopt a Shelter Pet. This book will convince you.

2012-02-02T20:16:00.000-05:00

Heartbreaking portraits of lovely dogs, taken while they were in shelters by photographer Traer Scott. These below and others have been compiled into a book called Shelter Dogs. As one might expect, this was not necessarily a happy project. Not all of these dogs were adopted. Some were euthanized. Please consider adopting from the shelter and not through a breeder, folks...

These images are from the artist's Flickr, here. She also has other lovely photos on Flickr, so take a look around. You can also pick up her other books like Street Dogs or Wild Horses.

Aw, crêpe. It's Groundhog day!

2012-02-02T12:26:00.000-05:00

Good morning! Happy Groundhog Day! Apparently there will be 6 more weeks of Winter, which I don't mind at all. It would be a nice change from the 70 degree weather we're experiencing right now in Central Virginia. ;) I'd love a little snow. I don't think that's too much to ask, is it?

I had no idea that February 2nd is also Candlemas, aka La Chandeleur in France, and it's a day to eat crêpes, basically. That's what I got out of it at least. Sure, there's a Catholic thing behind it, but let's not focus on that. Let's focus on the food! I read this:

"It is traditional to hold a coin in your writing hand

and a crêpe pan in the other,

and flip the crêpe into the air.

If you manage to catch the crêpe in the pan,

your family will be prosperous for the rest of the year."

[source]

And if you fail to catch the crêpe in the pan, your kitchen floor will be a mess. Also, you can yell "Oh, crêpe!" and not get in trouble for cursing in front of your kids. Win!

Meanwhile, I've joined another photography challenge. This one started yesterday and is sponsored by Fat Mum Slim. If you mosey over here you can see the daily prompt. I'll be posting my images every few days because I'm not nearly organized enough to do so daily. Taking them daily is challenge enough.

Will you be joining up with us for this challenge? I hope so!

My View
The pink sunrise on Feb 1st

Words
By my daughter. What's better than that? :)

Valentine's Day - the non-traditional way! (somewhat NSFW)

2012-02-01T19:27:00.000-05:00

I don't care one way or the other about Valentine's Day. I don't care for red, and pink gets on my nerves in large doses. Sure, it's a great excuse to weasel some more perfume out of my dear hubby, but really it's just another day.

So if you're like me and you're mostly playing lip-service to this most commercial of holidays, you may enjoy some of these...

[click the pics to purchase or investigate further]

Because who else is giving rubber shoes stuffed full o' succulents?!

Etsy shop Sketch Inc capitalizes on about 1 bajillion trends - and does it well!

2012-02-01T18:24:00.001-05:00

It is very smart for crafters and other small businesses to trend-spot and take advantage of all things popular. It keeps you relevant, helps you keep and maintain "buzz", and of course it makes sales!

I have probably never seen this ability to capitalize on trends done so well as I just found on Etsy!

The shop Sketch Inc has managed to make cute, affordable, and completely trend-relevant items and I, for one, have saved them as a favorite for countless future gift-giving occasions.

Trends spotted on Sketch Inc:

Here is a masked owl. Owls are trendy.

I've been seeing masked bandits a lot lately. Ergo: a trend.
Also blue. Also beards. All of this on a brooch! YAY!

I'm not so sure this is a trend other than the blue hair. And the mask. Masks and bandits are trends.

Everyone loves cats. That's not even a trend. Here's a little mask on this one to trend it up.

Put a geometric twist on your Valetine's Day outfit. Geometry is trendy.
No. I got that wrong. Geometric patterns are trendy!

Bears are trendy. Gold-dipped accents are trendy. Geometric patterns are trendy. Brooches are trendy.

Matryoshka dolls. I remember seeing them in the 70s and then nothing for years and years. Now they're everywhere! This time in neon. :)

More Matryoshkas. Add a dose of neon and other bright colors plus some geometric patterns and voila: a trend bomb!

This may not be a trend totally, but the colored hair kind of fits.

See above re: Matryoshka dolls but add in the mustache trend!

Taking plastic animals and painting them neon colors or dipping them in "metals" is a trend.
Not exactly what they did here, but the effect is similar.

Origami. Geometric patterns. Bright and neon colors.

Owls. Cute and trendy! His toes kind of scare me, though.

Are snails a trend? Probably not, but quotations, bright pops of color, and text-heavy posters are!

Stag head. Geometric patterns. Bright and neon colors.

I dunno if sushi is a trend right now, but it sure is tasty!

It seems like everyone is a tea drinker lately. Plus: brights, geometric patterns.

I only have one question for Sketch Inc: Dudes, where are the foxes and chevrons? ;)

Beauty Break: Sephora by OPI Jewelry Top Coats are a non-stop sparkle-a-thon!

2012-02-01T11:03:00.000-05:00

The bases in all of these Jewelry Top Coats by Sephora by OPI is clear, apparently, even though some of them look white. I am mad for sparkling top coats right now. Are you?

Which ones are your favorites? I can't help it. I like the multi-colored ones the best, but that pinky-purpley-fuschia one is hawt, too! And if you know me, you know that silver-gunmetal-black one is coming home with me, STAT.

What's on your nails today?

2012-02-01T09:30:00.000-05:00

[via]

Whooopsie! Christina Aguilera's tanning blunder...

2012-01-30T17:36:00.001-05:00

[image source]

Oh, Christina...

You sang your ass off at Etta James' funeral. You always sing your ass off.

But girl! that fake tanner running down your leg is... it's just ugh.

And your knees are paler than your - oh, never mind... Who notices that when there's a river of bronze dripping down towards your ankle?

With all that money, couldn't you have come up with a more attractive solution. Maybe not a solution at all, actually. Perhaps a solid? A powder? Please investigate that before your next performance in a warm room.

Monsters I wouldn't mind having under the bed...

2012-01-30T17:19:00.000-05:00

... but they'd look better on top, or on the couch, or on a shelf, or sitting next to me playing Angry Birds on the iPhone while we drink green smoothies and laugh about our vacation plans...

Ahem. Sorry. I got carried away. But these monsters are really cute! They look kind of grumpy, but so so I, so I have a feeling we're going to get along real well.

PS: They're made from socks. What?! Love it.

Which one of these is your favorite?

Attention lovers of LUSH, dragons, patchouli, orange, and sparkle...

2012-01-28T12:46:00.000-05:00

My review of LUSH's Karma soap, dressed as a dragon*, is over at This Blog Really Stinks. Check it out!

*The soap is dressed as a dragon, I am not. (As far as you know)

Craft Day at Meade Manse (pic heavy)

2012-01-28T10:06:00.000-05:00

It all started innocently enough... "Mommy, we want to fingerpaint!"

Beauty Break: My current nail polish obsession - a "flaky"!

2012-01-25T10:54:00.000-05:00

OMG, please don't look at my dry cuticles! Shameful. The dry winter air is kicking my butt and I can't keep up.

ANYWAY, the point of this post is not to embarrass myself. It's to show you the new nail polish I can't seem to take off. Well, I do take it off, only to layer it over yet another base color!

This is my second mani with Essie's Sign of the Times, one of their new Luxe Effects polishes. Here I have it layered over Jessica's slightly purple-leaning greige, Intrigue. Sign of the Times is one of the most highly-collected styles of polish by lacquer heads: "flakies". Those are polishes that have large, flake "glitter" that flash opalescent rainbows like fish scales or... well, like opals.

The picture at the top of this post is how the manicure looks most of the time, but look below and you'll see it can change quite a bit depending on the light source. I have to admit, this particular flaky over this particular color results in a really weird look. It's somewhat alien and it suits me well but probably wouldn't make traditionalists too happy. It's too strange.

I like this combo a lot, but I like the first one even more! Stay tuned to see that one in another day or two - it was so good I'm repeating it! (I promise to heavy-duty moisturize before then) ;)

I wandered around the house to get pictures of this polish in different lights. Look at how crazy-different these colors can change!

Captivated by Kelli Murray's urban fairy tale style!

2012-01-25T08:38:00.001-05:00

It's possible I'm a hipster trapped in a middle-aged body. I've been trying to come to terms with it for awhile now, but it's difficult to deal with. If I were just a little younger (say... 20 years!) I'd fit right in. I suspect my hair would be a ravishing shade of blue or lavender, I'd know all of the right bands, and my arms would brandish uber-hip ink. I'm already down with "thrifting" but I'm uncool enough to still call it "antiquing". ;)

Another thing I've got down pat is an appreciation for what some people refer to as urban art. As with everything, I don't love all of it, but I do love a lot of it. Take, for example, the art of Kelli Murray, which blends a unique sketchy style with imagery that remind me of fairy tales...

Kelli Murray

Her website: KelliMurray.com
Her Etsy: Kelli Murray Art
Her Blog: here

5 Cool Things

2012-01-23T20:48:00.000-05:00

What a gloomy day it was today! Fog all morning, and the sun never really did come out. Despite the calendar's proclamation that it's the end of January, it was warm enough that today's sprinkling of precipitation was just that: a sprinkling. Still no snow to be seen in my town yet this year. Sigh...

The grey day on top of having my entire family down with the flu, well... morale is sinking. Gotta find the humor in it all and entertain yourself the best you can in these sorts of situations. After all, it could be a lot worse than the flu and some blah weather, right?

Chugging along through the blogosphere, I found a few cool things to share.

I need an iPad so I can get one of these super hysterical (and infinitely practical) iGuys! Sure, they keep the iPad safe, but they're also adorable little technicolor friends...
Who's as enamored with these Hello Kitty tweaks as I am? They were created by Joseph Senio.
Don't recognize the one on the right? It's the Kill-Bill kitty! :dies:
[via]
Soooo cool! Look at these most excellent tarot cards by Jordan Clarke!
[via Kyla Roma]
Style.com has pictures from the pre-Fall 2012 shows, so if you need a fashion fix, scurry off and check it out!

Missoni pre-Fall 2012
I LOVE THIS!!!

Hey, folks - art from Cart Before the Horse is right up my alley!

2012-01-23T07:04:00.000-05:00

Folk art, rather vintage or contemporary, is always going to catch my eye. Certainly, everything in the Cart Before the Horse collection does! To pick a few to highlight here was so difficult. So I didn't! I picked a bajillion. Take a look...

Linen & Strings: The beautiful sculptures of Holy Smoke

2012-01-22T08:45:00.000-05:00

Holy Smoke! I thought this was a great brand name to feature on a Sunday. Amiright?

Take a look at these clever friends created with linen and vintage fabrics and some well-placed hand stitching. Again, just like yesterday's needlefelted dogs by Victor Dubrovsky, the poses and expressions are simply captivating!

Holy Smoke

For info contact: info@holy-smoke.co.uk
To shop: Holy Smoke

2012-01-22T08:19:00.000-05:00

My daughters keep making me play this over and over and over and over and over...

I can't decide if it was cruel to tease this baby like this, or if the baby really likes it. I found the video via D-Listed (Michael K is a trip!) and he called it "Baby's First Tweak-Out"!

The swirling world of Liza Sylvestre

2012-01-21T18:23:00.001-05:00

[The artist's website]

Fishscales on your nails!

2012-01-21T17:23:00.000-05:00

The only downside with this amazing tutorial is that even if I could do it, it would only be on my right hand*. My left hand would be so jacked-up that I'd have to keep it in my pocket.

*I'm left-handed.

So, if you could do this, would you? Or maybe you can?! Let me know in the comments, will ya?

I felt for these needle-felted critters. (Fell for / felt for --- get it? No?)

2012-01-21T10:52:00.000-05:00

Tiny needles press through loose wool over and over and over. The result of this labor are these charming needle-felted creatures by Victor Dubrovsky.

I am captivated by the expressions on their faces and the way the artist has captured the poses so spot-on perfectly.

Victor DubrovskyThe artist's website: Chushka.com
His blog: http://vriad-lee.dreamwidth.org/His Etsy shop: Strays (which features critters from Dubrovsky and two other artists)
You can email the artist at vriad_lee@chushka.com to be placed on his mailing list.
Prices range from $50 - $150. He does sometimes create custom pieces.

Creep

2012-01-21T08:04:00.016-05:00

Mind = blown! Bits and bobs transformed by light.

2012-01-21T07:50:00.000-05:00

It's not often that art makes me stop and stare, speechless. Let's face it: I'm rarely speechless. But... but! Look at what happens when you take seemingly random bits and put them in just the right spot and let the light hit them just right...

Odd bits of random
transformed by light to make

Are you freaking kidding me? It's so obvious, yet I've never seen it done. It's clever. It's beautiful. It's ordinary. It's extraordinary. It's brilliant!

That last one... do you think the artist, Rashad Alakbarov, would do it for me in our basically unused dining room? I'll clear stuff out of the way for him.

Unfortunately, there's not a lot about the Azerbaijani artist on the internet except these pictures from his exhibit at the De Pury Gallery gallery in London. I expect we'll start seeing more soon, don't you?

What do YOU think about these installations?

[source]

Classicism - with a twist: the art of Michael Sowa

2012-01-21T06:15:00.005-05:00

[source - and to purchase prints]

The slightly twisted, a little bit unsettling, very excellent art of Dr. Lukas Brezak

2012-01-20T10:08:00.003-05:00

[get prints]

Bloom

2012-01-20T06:42:00.024-05:00

Run!

2012-01-20T06:05:00.000-05:00

[annoyingly uncredited on this site - if you know the photographer, please tell me!]

I heart: Nuttin But Strings

2012-01-19T09:18:00.002-05:00

Closed for business today. Be back tomorrow.

2012-01-18T06:04:00.000-05:00

January 18th, 2012

is the largest online protest in history,

to stop the internet censorship bills,
SOPA & PIPA.

Getting stoned!

2012-01-17T20:31:00.000-05:00

I have recently been having a "back to nature" moment and am finding myself attracted to all things natural: owls, birds, foxes, and even stones...

So tell me: are any of these rockin' your world?

Blanket

2012-01-16T21:48:00.000-05:00

I'll be honest: I'm craving snow. A heavy blanket of snow that wraps everything in it's dense, quiet embrace.

Beauty Break: A makeup move that plucks my last nerve! (And how to avoid it)

2012-01-15T20:54:00.000-05:00

It's Makeup Artist Pet Peeve time, folks. This may be a hard one to hear, though, because it's so ridiculously common. But I promise you, once I point it out to you're going to notice it a lot and it's going to pluck your last nerve, too. It's time to take a long hard look at your own makeup routine and see if you commit this horrible (but easy-to-make) mistake...

CONTINUITY
Look over at that gorgeous model over on the right.

Notice anything "off" about her makeup?

(I'll wait while you muse)

If you guessed "her face and body don't match" then you go to the head of the class (pardon the pun).

Look at her pretty porcelain skin, easily seen with the cut-out shoulders of that ~~questionably attractive~~ shirt, but also quite evident on her throat.

Now look at my poor girl's orange-y face. Sigh...

She looks ridiculous. It's not immediately noticeable, maybe. Well, to me it is. But level with me: now that we're talking about it, you can't not focus on it, can you? I found this image in a collection of beautiful women, styled to the max. And this model should clearly be there - she's gorgeous. But this makeup? This makeup is embarrassing (not for her - for her
makeup artist)*.

*Please don't get me started on her oddly orange eyebrows.
We'll table that for another "pet peeves" discussion, mkay?

via

Wipe that smize of your face, Tyra-
this can happen to you, too.
Check that orange tone on your face that
I simply can't find elsewhere on your body!

Sadly, many of us walk around with this glaring error written, well... written all over our faces! Sometimes the face is darker than everything else or, more commonly, the face is lighter than the neck and body (most of us either use SPF on our faces or it's in our moisturizers & foundations, but we're not nearly as carefully with the rest of ourselves).

5 STEPS TO ACHIEVE UNITY

Now that we know what the problem is (and you'll notice it in magazines sometimes, on tv often, and in-person a helluva lot) we need to know how to fix it!

Analyze.
Step back from the mirror. I mean it: step back. You need to see not only your face, but your throat, chest, shoulders and arms, too. Take a look at yourself with no makeup on and with a critical-but-kind eye (no self-bashing allowed!). Is your face the same shade as the rest of your torso (or very close) or is it different? How different? Is it fairer? Is the shade deeper? Is your chest ruddy or pink? Is your face more ruddy? Do you have warmth (golden, pink, or red tones) in one spot that is missing from another?
via
Heidi gets it right!
(Does she ever get it wrong?)
Analyze Again
Now do it all again with your normal foundation and bronzer. Did you correct any issues you noticed in Step 1? Did you create any issues that weren't there? Or did you simply swap issues?
Seek Help
Go to a professional makeup artist. No, you needn't hire one - find a competent MAC artist, Bobbi Brown artist, Chanel artist, or Smashbox artist in your local department store*. Sorry, I can't dependably predict who that will be, but those makeup lines are your best bet. Tell your artist what you're up against and ask for suggestions.

(ps: can't get it exact? check out Face Atelier's Zero Plus, Zero Minus, Zero Plus Plus, and Warmth for actual true customization)

**Most other lines, in my experience, have sales people and not artists. There's a huge difference between the two. There are also good artists tucked away in other lines. Talk - and let your gut tell you who's right for you.
Flow.
The goal here is to have a relationship between the shades seen on your face, throat, chest, and even your arms. The obvious first step is to make sure your foundation not only matches your face but also blends with those other areas.

via
Do you watch The Closer?
Kyra Sedgewick is a real beauty.
Too bad Brenda often has a too-yellow face
and really red hands. NO UNITY. :(
A) What I have learned at Bobbi Brown is to make sure you pick the darkest possible shade that matches you. Not a lick darker, mind you, but go as dark as you can. Many fair-skinned women think they are lighter than they are, many dark-skinned women have trouble finding an appropriate match for their skin shade (the makeup companies are historically to blame for this), and some women even want to "play" with their coloring by wearing a foundation that is too light - in an effort to "lighten" their skin (or the reverse - faking "a tan"). Please be aware that you are fooling NO ONE. Wearing the wrong shade simply looks like you have the wrong shade of makeup on. Really. But it's really important to go as deep as possible - trust me: it works. Can't find a match that looks good in the store, in the rearview mirror (natural light), and at home? Move on to the next counter/brand. Someone out there has it - and in a formula that suits your skin type.

B) Bronze it up, baby. No, not to fake a tan. Aren't you paying attention? That doesn't fool anyone. The best way to even things up is to find a nice, matte bronzer that will subtly bring warmth or golden tones (whichever you need) to the face. Do not be afraid to use a little bit on your throat, too, where the sun is blocked by your pretty chin! If you are wearing a very open-on-top shirt or are going strapless, I encourage you to swirl a bit of bronzer in the exposed areas, too. Also, please be sure to consider this step if your foundation is "yellow-based". We all have golden tones to our skin, sure, but many of us have pink tones, too. If you erase them from your face with foundation, it's going to stick out like a sore thumb. Put 'em back in, subtly, with bronzer! Bobbi Brown is a great place for getting matched up for that.*** The line has quite a few options and I've yet to find someone who can't be matched (though there are some lucky chicas who have no issues with this and can skip this step).
Admire!You go, girl! You look flawless.
Now: don't forget to take that step back from time to time. Your skintones can change just as the seasons change, with sun-exposure, new skincare and makeup, and even hormones.

So 'fess up: is this something you've noticed before? Maybe even battled with yourself?

And has anyone tried MAC's Matchmaster foundation that claims to really work with your skintone, adjusting to a range of shades? Please let me know if it's worth a try!

***As always when I mention Bobbi Brown I like to point out that
I do freelance for that line and am quite familiar with their philosophies and products.
I am not paid or compensated for mentioning them here, nor will I share any of Bobbi's secrets here.
Everything is on the up-and-up here on Simply Pretty.

Beautiful vintage pictures of circus performers

2012-01-15T11:15:00.001-05:00

Source:
COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHS OF CIRCUS PERFORMERS, 1940S-1950S

via: Gala Darling, here

Soft

2012-01-15T08:12:00.010-05:00

[click image for source]