REAL tips for all the beauties over 40. Regardless of age, you might pick up a tip or three!

I've always enjoyed makeup.  Sometimes when having a bad day a new tube of lipstick or pretty gloss would perk me right up. Probably weird, right? Well that's just who I am.  Can't beat "happiness" in a tube usually less then ten dollars ( unless we are talking all Sephora and Ulta like. Then that $10 bucks probably  won't cut it girl).

I'm going to prelude all of this with a little background info.  I have 3 kids, two of which are daughters.  Both of which are dancers. "Why do I care?" you say.  In the world of dance you have to learn to do your own makeup EARLY, FAST and WELL!  Because of this my youngest daughter Peyton has truly become obsessed with MAKEUP.  All of it.  From foundation to falsies. Lashes that is.  She has become extremely proficient and looks like a mini Sephora Cast Members (that's what they call them. I. Promise.).  She isn't allowed to wear these looks outside the home I swear so don't go calling CPS on me.  She does however wear full stage makeup for shows.  The last show she was in she did her own make up, a 14 year yr. old friend's full face and 6-7 winged liners every night!  My little 11 year old makeup artist.  Don't know if I should be proud or crawl in the closet.  Peyton watches videos on makeup in almost all of her free time when she's not dancing.  She walks into to Sephora and Ulta with confidence and asks questions about pigmentation levels, longevity and opacity like she works there.  It's pretty funny actually to see the "cast members" faces.


OK, back to the makeupfor the over 40 set of lovely ladies.  I've picked up a tip or 200 while Peyton has been watching these videos. I've gotten more compliments on my makeup in the past 2 months then in my whole life.  Most of the compliments are not specifically about the makeup but about how "healthy" and "glowing" I look which to me is the biggest compliment because we don't want them to see our makeup.  We want the public to see US!

Let's start with some of the tips.  Some of these pics will be off of google and some will be mine.
PRIMER      Primer is a big thing right now.  It is supposed to "prime" your skin for the foundation, minimize pores, allow your foundation to go on with perfection and perhaps help you even win the lottery.

   

I personally have not had a lot of luck with face primers.  Here's a secret, shhhhh....I tend to get delicate little beads of sweat on my nose when I wear primer.  Actually sometimes my face looks like Niagara but the first sounded better. But HEY, maybe I haven't found the perfect one and I'm a freak of nature so this probably won't happen to you. Plus I like not using it cause it's one less step.

FOUNDATION     As we age we want to look more DEWY not Matte.  This is very important.  Matte usually equals showing every wrinkle you knew you had and the ones you didn't. It seeps into every nook and cranny and gets cakey. Eww.   So look for a foundation that is illuminating. These are the looks we are going for...
Yes I know none of these ladies are over 40 but they can pull anything off and they are good examples of dewy.Hey, here's an over 40 one for you .


Here are some illuminating or dewy finish foundations that help achieve this look


EYESHADOW     Let's face it ladies, we can't wear the funky fun colors on our eyes as we did in our youth.  You want to look for a more neutral palette of colors with a minimum or no shimmer.  My personal favorite is a bit pricey but totally worth it for what you get.  It's the Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette collection.  All of the colors are matte, neutral and lovely and very nicely pigmented. It runs between $25 and $27 but girls, it last forever and you can get a natural look, a night time look, a dramatic look, all with out any sparkles like the 21 year olds in the clubs are sporting.  This is a pure, natural and sophisticated palette from Urban Decay

CONTOURING AND HIGHLIGHTING   I'm not even going to begin to get onto this topic because it deserves an entire post to itself but let me just tell you, It is MAGIC.  Can totally transform your face.  If you can't wait for me to explain it check out you tube. But PLEASE do not use a contour that has shimmer to it.  Contour is supposed to look like a natural shadow on your face and shimmer looks like light hitting your face so they are counter productive.  More on all that later!  I will tell you it's my favorite thing to do makeup-wise!
LIPS  In my opinion this is really a personal thing.  I personally don't find it appropriate to have a 42yr old lip with so much gloss on it looks like it's about to drip off but who am I to judge!  I prefer a nice neutral lipstick with a hint, HINT of gloss in the middle and at the top of my cupids bow for a more pouty lip.  We all know we want a pouty lip regardless of age!  These are my current favorites minus my lip liner.  It was out in the car and I have my pj's on so, well, you know I didn't want to scare my neighbors this early in the am running out to get it.  I alternate between a nude liner and a dusky rose liner.  They each slightly change the color of my lipstick depending on what I want.  But I would recommend always using liner!

My Ulta lipstick was under $10,is matte,  has lasted forever and is called 226.  My NYX gloss I LOVE was like under $5 and is called beige pearl 135A.  Lastly, I don't LOVE this one as much but if I only have room in my wristlet for one lip product not two I'll choose Revlon's 025 Peach Parfait.  I think I will keel over and die if they discontinue the Ulta and the NYX.

SETTING SPRAY  What? you might be saying.  Actually I heard about it on one of Peyton's videos but it was a high end brand.  I really wanted to try it but not for $28.  To my surprise, while shopping in Ulta I came across 2 different NYX setting sprays for about $7.  One is matte and the other dewy.  I quickly picked up the Dewey and it was love at first spray.  Then last week while checking out the ELF goodies at Target I noticed they had a setting spray too! FOR $3!!!  I've compared the two and the ELF while not coming in dewy or matte has a dewy-er finish then the NYX setting spray.  They both worked equalled well keeping my makeup on even though I tend to glow a bit in the summer. (That's Southern for sweat like a beast).  If you are going to do nothing else to change your routine if you are over the big 40 I'd get rid of the shimmery eyeshadow asap and I'd add the dewy setting spray!

THE KEY to all of this is that you want to GLOW not SHINE! You'll have to play around with the look you like, maybe a matte foundation and dewey finishing spray or vice verca.  It's all about what looks best on you!

Please remember I am not an authority on this stuff.  I've just been listening to my daughters video's every morning before school for the past six months.  AND the fact that I've received oodles of compliments on looking "healthy" and "well rested" and "I love your natural makeup look".

From Mopey Maple to Metallic with Moxie!

One day before I made my final decision to start blogging again, I made a fateful trip to one of the Heaven lands of DIY'ers. Good Will.  Yes I walked through it's heralded doors and was swept away by the beauty of an exorcism pea green soup colored pedestal table.  I wasn't on the look out of a table, well a table like that.  I really wanted a console or a slim depth dresser.  But that table had my name written all over it.  And at $25 who was I to say NO?  Eventually I will show you it's glorious transformation into....something.  I'm not really sure what!  

Then I started scouring the place for the console or dresser. I discovered this lovely solid maple chest that was relatively simple in design which was what I had in mind.  The neat thing was years and years ago Maryland had a large department store called Hecht Brothers.  Inside the top drawer was a brass label that said that very thing and below that Baltimore Maryland.  With living in Maryland my entire life I find this kinda cool and knew it had to come home with me too.  It was a natural maple finish that didn't suit the style I wanted but that's okay.

I had sort of wanted one of those mirrored dressers or consoles but figured that they wouldn't stay in style as long as I need something to AND they didn't fit in the budget.  This $25.00 solid maple dresser did!  My husband painted it with Valspars Silver metallic paint and the top with Behr Beluga left over from our kitchen cabinet makeover here. It has the perfect metallic sheen I wanted, not too over the top and not too subdued. 
***EDIT***  I just kept feeling like the chest just didn't have enough UMPH for me.  Luckily one day I came across these gorgeous knobs that are white with silver polka dots. SILVER POLKA DOTS!!!  They jumped into my cart because the knobs and I knew this was what this chest needed.  I'm also thinking of going over the black edges with some silver leaf rub and buff.  I'll let you know how that goes! Here she is in her new glory...

I'm STILL lamenting that I don't have a before pic of her sad dowdy little maple self.  

The whole foyer is getting a makeover so expect a make over post in the future. I've got a SUPER exciting step treatment you will LOVE!  And we are going to paint the spindles white and the rail glossy black.   I kinda want to go eclectic like the rest of our home.  Previously I liked the foyer but it was a bit on the stuffy side.  OH and as I mentioned once or twice before I don't have a before photo because I wasn't really planning on blogging again!
I'm participating in this fun linky party, come join us 
Here's the link to the PARTY!

We are going to be painting these awful natural beat up pine floors in the family room a  lovely dusky grey that we just did on our steps.  That reveal will be coming up too: the floor AND the foyer stairs. Lot's of projects going on here at the Bedsaul's!

Lemon Meringue Cake and Tina's B-day Party

Lemon Meringue Pie.  Who doesn't love a refreshing slice of that during a sweltering Summer soiree'? Now you can have your pie, cake and eat it too! This isn't the best pic because the cake had been sitting out awhile in the heat and the meringue got sweaty.  Yeah they have that problem too!  I made this cake for Tina's birthday party at the beach.  Perfect summer birthday cake!  And easy too!

I modified the wonderful white wedding cake recipe I always use.  Remember those cupcakes?


This is a MOIST delicious cake that has a white cake as a base. GASP! Yes die-hard bakers can even add a little somethin somethin to a box cake to bring it into it's glory!  The recipe for the cupcakes is here! 
I altered the recipe to make it lemony so here it is: 

Ingredients:

1 (18.25 ounce) box white cake mix Duncan Hines Recommended 
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated white sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/3 cups water
2 Tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
1 1/2  teaspoon lemon extract
1 cup sour cream (Can use lemon Chobani yogurt)
4 large egg whites

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 335°F. Spray 3 8' cake pans with a baking spray.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together cake mix, flour, sugar and salt. Add remaining ingredients and beat with hand mixer or stand mixer for 2 minutes, or until well blended.

3. Pour even portions into the three pans and pake at 335 until the cake pulls away from the pan and the a knife in the center comes out clean.  Sorry I don't have an exact time, I forgot to  write it down!! Ditz! 

This is a beautiful dense white cake with a lovely lemon flavor, yum!

For the filing, this is a major cheat.  Sure you can be a goodie goodie and make your HOMEMADE lemon curd. Be all Martha about it and all.  And THE Martha Stewart has a delightful recipe for it.  But you know what?  I found something just as good. IN. A. JAR. Who doesn't love the convenience of that!!! Here it is...

After the cakes are cooled, you stir the lemon curd in the jar and then put a nice layer of it on two layers of the cake.  Assembel the cake and then stand back and bask in it's uncovered glorious glory.  Okay, time to get back to work. You still have to make the Swiss Meringue frosting. There is NO fat in this frosting...YAY!!! Here's the recipe for that...

Joy the Baker's Swiss Meringue Frosting

YIELD: ENOUGH FROSTING FOR 24 CUPCAKES

COOK TIME: 15 MIN.

Recipe from JoytheBaker.com

ingredients:

•  4 large egg whites
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• large pinch of salt
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

directions:

1.  In a large pot, bring about 2 inches of water to a simmer.
2. In a large, heat-proof bowl, whisk together egg whites, sugar, corn syrup and salt.  The mixture will be grainy, because of the sugar.
3. Place bowl over simmering water and whisk as it heats.  The sugar will dissolve after about 5 minutes.  Keep and eye on the mixture, it shouldn’t get warm enough to cook the eggs.  Yucky.
4. Transfer the egg white and sugar mixture to the bowl of an electric stand mixer.  With a whisk attachment, beat the egg whites, on high, until stiff peaks form (about 5 minutes)  The mixture will be fluffy and glossy and look like melted marshmallows.  It’ll be sticky too.  Beat in the vanilla extract last.   Cover, and set aside until ready to frost cupcakes or cakes (my note make sure you have a STIFF peak for this recipe, very important! 

Then it's time to FROST glorious FROST! Ok, so I get a little dramatic about frosting but I LOVE frosting cakes especially with billowy frosting like this! 

I start at the top and go around to the sides.  When you are done pop the whole thing in a 450 degree oven for about 3-5 minutes to set the frosting.  

I recomemmend serving this cake within about an hour of frosting.

 This is the little festive area we set up to surprise her.  I brought the milk glass, candy and straws with me from home as well as the fabric and pennent from This Sweet Shoppe Party.

Me and Tina about to cut the cake!

House Tour! Let's go to the BEACH!!!

For this house tour we are going to Donna's (The previous house tour) sisters lovely home in Bethany Beach.    Carole's home is awash in creamy whites from the vanilla milkshake walls to the pristine white marble counters veined with grey. This is all grouped into a wonderful melange when the warm shades of natural oak floors all the way to deep mahogany of antique dressers dance against the many shades creamy whites making for a delight to the eyes and a very welcoming home.  

Carole has an affinity for slip covered anythings and marble topped tables!

Let's begin the tour on the top floor.  The fluffy slip covered couches beckon you to curl up on their soft cushions and wrap your self in a throw while you enjoy a cup of coffee and a good book.  The room is swathed in golden sunlight from the numerous skylights on the beautiful bead board ceilings and the plentiful french doors and wide windows.  The area also boasts a delightful turret room that has a wonderful natural wood pedestal table perfect for family game night.  On the other side of the room next to the kitchen is a generous farm style table that can feed a crowd!  Now the center of attention, the kitchen!  It's a LOVELY kitchen with extra tall glass fronted cabinet doors that house Carole's everyday ware.  The part that I find unique is that the kitchen seemingly has an island within an island.  There is a large semi-circle counter height grey veined white marble counter that has many counter stools separating the kitchen from the family room yet still allowing it to be the center of attention.  Within this generous area is another marble topped island.  This island was made by Carole's brother in law Glen, Donna's husband and is assembled from a reclaimed farmhouse table and chair set.  It's all brought together beautifully with several coats of a rich white enamel paint imported from Europe.  It's the same paint I mentioned that Donna used in her House Tour of her delightful cottage in Bel Air Maryland.  

This lovely natural wood console leads the way to the turret room.  It is adorned with various  objects d'art and antiques.  

This fabulous ironstone compote holds years of shells from many shell contests that Carole and Bob would have every summer with their grandchildren.

One of my favorite objects are these delightful antique glove

molds that adorn the extra bathroom mirror and cupboard.

This upper floor also houses the master bedroom with an en suite and another bedroom with a communal bathroom.

The entry level also boasts an additional family.  This family room also has soft cotton slipcovers on it's couches which are perfect to curl up in a quiet spot with the latest decor magazine. There are several very impressive pieces of furniture in this room.  This antique roll top desk is truly a piece of art!  I can't imagine how organized you'd have to be to work at it!  There is also this lovely hall tree.  I am particularly taken with this stack of wood boxes that I'm sure each have a delightful story to share.  

As I mentioned Carole loves marble topped tables.  Many of these adorn the 4 more bedrooms on this level.

We've come to the piece that I wanted to smuggle out with my suitcases.  Carole says it's a French antique and it too has a story to tell.  In one of the many houses Carole has had the mirror had an extremely unfortunate accident resulting in the demolishing of the gorgeous gold leaf surround.  She carried it with her from house to house for many years because she couldn't part with it.  Finally she came upon a craftsman that would be able to resurrect it to it's original splendor.  Unfortunately it came with a hefty price tag of over $700 but Carole feels it was worth every penny.  

This is just a little sneak of the surprise party that brought us all together at the beach house.  My dear friend Tina was about to celebrate a birthday.  For Tina this is a monumental thing.  In November of 2010 she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer and wasn't given a year to live.  Because Tina is: special, courageous, tenacious, lovely, kind, brave, unique and funky she is still here.  We thank God for her every day!  Come back to the next blog entry and celebrate her birthday with the recipe for a delicious Lemon Meringue Cake!
Join the fun... I also joined at commonground-do.com