Not everyone has the time to be able to create a wonderful costume that take weeks to create for Halloween, or the money to be able to buy an expensive costume from the store or online. So, here are some ideas for those of you that have waited until the last minute, and only have a limited amount of materials to use:

The get along shirt, perfect for two people who have no idea what to do for their Halloween costume. It’s one of the easiest costume to create! All you’ll need is a super huge t-shirt, one of any color, a black sharpie marker, and a person who is willing to be stuck with you all through the night. Simply write “Our get along shirt” onto the front of the t-shirt and get inside with your partner.

Tina Belcher, the beloved cartoon character from the hit tv show, Bob’s Burgers, is another very easy costume to pull off! All it takes is a blue t-shirt, a black skirt, knee high socks, and of course some glasses. To pull it off even more, you can even try her signature groan, it gets people every time!

For this costume all you’ll need are some black pants and a black shirt or sweater, along with some glow in the dark sticks. Simply tape the glow in the dark sticks onto your body, one down both of your legs, down your arms and one down your chest and stomach! Once you’re done with that, all you have left to do is make the head; simply connect the ends of one of the glow sticks and tape it all together. Once you step out into the dark for some trick or treating, you’ll look like the best stick figure ever!

Everyone knows the saying “When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade!” Well this Halloween costume is brilliant and very simple. The items you’ll need are, a white t-shirt, a black marker, and a bag of lemons. All you have to do it write the word “Life”onto your shirt and carry around the bag of lemons!

For our last costume, the items you’ll need are some Smartie candies (as many as you can get), some glasses, and you’re regular clothing. If you want to go the extra mile, you could even get some suspenders to go with! Start with of course putting on your clothes, and then start taping all of the smarties onto your pants. Once you’re satisfied with the arrangement of your smarties, then you’re finished!

Have fun with all of these last minute costume ideas and make sure to have a fun filled and candy fillled Halloween this year!

On September 8, 2017, Fenty Beauty came out and changed the makeup industry’s game, and it’s all thanks to Rihanna. Rihanna launched her first ever makeup line. I know you’re probably thinking “Why do I care if a celebrity launched her makeup line?” Would you believe it if I told you she launched 40 foundation shades on just her first launch? Crazy right? The majority of makeup lines come with 10 shades when they first launch, and then later on, maybe a couple years later they launch 12 more.

Rihanna has been working on this project since 2015; it took 2 years for her to develop this line. She took notice of how the majority of the makeup brands only focused on lighter skin tones, and women of color have often been left with few color choices, with many makeup companies leaving them entirely out. She really took her time on this project; she focused on developing more darker skin tones rather than lighter tones and it came out as a good opportunity for women of color to find their perfect shade for foundation and concealers.

If you didn’t know, Rihanna’s makeup is always on point, from blended out contour, to beautiful blowy skin. So why wouldn’t makeup lovers buy what she’s selling?

The reason why the launch of Fenty Beauty was a big deal to many makeup artist bloggers was because Rihanna’s aim was to make a more inclusive makeup line, for women of every shade. And indeed, we’re shocked to see such amazing results. And as a woman of color herself she understood the struggle women of color go through to get their shade of makeup.

The launch of her makeup line resulted in many reviews. Makeup artist and bloggers couldn’t wait to create a makeup tutorial on Fenty Beauty. And most of them weren’t disappointed in the results. Most the reviews were positive, and she made sure the cost of the foundation is reasonable for the amount of product in the foundation. She added a lot of product because she wanted the foundation to last more. Overall, her makeup line was a success.

Fashion trends change every season. Summer ‘16 was full of wearing slip dresses outside of bed, bomber jackets, and baseball/dad caps. Most of these trends are still being worn, but for summer of 2017 there are many new fashion trends. Here are some of them.

Off the shoulder

Anything off the shoulder is super trendy and chic. Many brands are coming out with not only off the shoulder tops, but also with dresses, rompers, and sweaters. You can easily dress them up with a fancy neckless and a pair of heels. Or dress them down with jeans and white sneakers.

Sheer/Mesh

Some people like to show a little skin during the summer, and some don’t. Mesh/Sheer clothing is perfect because you can still see through the clothing, but you’re still technically covered up. Sheer clothing is also great swimsuit cover.

Rompers

Rompers are essential for summer. They’re super quick and easy to put on, and they’re comfortable enough for you to do all your summer activities. They’re my personal favorite.

Floral embroidery

Floral print has been around for ages, and so has embroidery. Combine the two and you have a new trend! Floral embroidery has been put on all dresses, shirts, pants, skirts and everything else you can think of! This will definitely be around for a while.

Bralettes

Bralettes are a way better version of bras. They don’t have underwire, have little to no padding and are stylish. Many people have been wearing them as tops. Styled with jackets, and nice pants, they’re good for when it’s super hot outside.  

Logo T-shirts

This is the simplest but most popular trend of all of them. People have been styling t-shirts in many different ways. More specifically, oversized and logo t-shirts. Some of the most common logos include Adidas, Nike, and Thrasher. These are easy and affordable to find and can be styled in many ways.

Many people like to style their hair in many different ways, which is also very unique. You might be interested in trying some of the styles yourself!

But, just doing your hair, in general, is also really good, because you should fix your hair before going anywhere so people won’t stare at you like something is odd about you.

Now, there are many hairstyles that are popular. They come from celebrities, what society thinks is trending, and what people do to their hair.

There are many hair trends; let me tell you about 7 of them:

1. Super Sleek: The straight, shiny, and center-parted hair is one of the biggest trends for 2017. But you should have your hair look healthy, not fried. Also, have a mist of heat protectant through your hair before touching it with a straightener.
2. High Pony: Slick your hair up, which should look all the way up. It should look nice in a rumpled texture or stick-straight. The high ponytail adds both an elegance and ease to every ensemble. Also, a bonus tip – the tighter you secure it, the more lifted your face looks.
3. Flat Waves: It should be in between beachy or bouncy; the flat iron waves are the new curling iron waves. You could also create a bend in your hair just by pushing your hair upward, then make the shape with a few clamps of your iron. Release and repeat. Also, just keep your ends straight for the finish.
4. Growing-Out Slag: The slag haircut was a hit in 2016. The hair just passes the shoulders and the bangs are long enough to be split down in the middle
5. The Hair Flip: For the hair flip,  you just have to flip your hair from one side to the other, creating tons of volume as a result.
6. Slick and Shiny: The slick, shiny hair only looks like it’s sopping wet. This is also a 2017 hair trend that looks just as good like on the runway and IRL. Mostly work with a heavy dose of the styling cream, from your roots to the mid-way length, which will hold a little bit of shine in your hair.
7. Lastly, The Golden Bronde: This color is the perfect warm-toned hair color that will be well suited on all skin tones.

There are many hairstyles that are trending, and these are just a few examples that you may be interested in. Or, you can always just do your hair however you like.

For more Information:
http://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/hair/g8326/hair-trends-2017/

Easter may have just happened, but that’s no reason why you can’t still be crafty. There are many treats, decorations, and baskets, you can make at home for your family, and friends.

Here is one easy treat you can do for Easter: “Easter Krackle Bars.”  The materials you’ll be needing are:

• 2 cups dark chocolate pieces
• 1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips
• 1 cup rice krispies
• 3 tbls shortening, divided
• pinch salt
• food dye
• pastel or Easter sprinkles
• Silicone Easter bark mold

Here are the 8 steps to make this:

1. Lay out the silicone Easter bark mold, and add a good amount of sprinkles. There would also be some sprinkles mixed in.
2. Then, in a microwave safe container, add the white chocolate chips and 1 tbsp shortening.
3. Put the heat on high for 30 seconds, and stir. Then, return to the microwave in 15 second, stirring until chocolate is melted and smooth.
4. Reserve around 1/2 cup of the melted white chocolate, and spoon the rest into the mold and smooth into all the crevices.
5. Then, add a few drops of dye, and drop the colored chocolate into the mold and carefully swirl it around with a fork or knife. Then, place the mold into the freezer for 10 minutes to let that layer harden.
6. While the mold is in the freezer, melt the dark chocolate, with 2 tbls shortening, and salt into the microwave just like the white chocolate. Once the chocolate is melted smooth stir it into the rice krispies.
7. Now, remove the mold from freezer, and quickly add the rice krispies layer on top and spread it evenly over the layer of the white chocolate.
8. Now, put it back into the freezer for about 30 minutes to let all the chocolate cool. Once it’s chilled, twist the mold slightly to loosen the bar and turn over gently onto a cutting board. Use a knife to cut the bars. Then, store the bars back into the fridge to keep them from melting.
9. Now, it’s all set!

One decoration you can do is, “Paper Straw Easter Bunnies.” It’s really simple and easy to do. The materials you’ll need are:

• Double sided tape 
• Painter’s tape
• Paper Straws
• Bunny template
• 2 Scissors (smaller one and bigger one)
• Frame (that you’ll like)
• CeCe Caldwell’s Chalk Paint (optional)
• Hot Glue
• Stenciled letters (optional)

Here are the 13 steps to make this:

1. Print out a template of a bunny, and cut it out.
2. Then, cover it with double-stick tape, and start sticking on the straws. The straws should go over the edges. Begin placing the straws in the middle section, covering the part in between the ears.
3. It’ll be easier to stick, and just a few sections of straws at a time, which will be easier to cut. Now, use the big scissors to cut the straw along the curve at the top of the head and along the ears, as well as along the bottom curve.
4. Then, keep adding straws along the sides, covering up most of the bunny. If there’s a little bit of the template of the bunny sticking out, use the scraps that you just trimmed off.
5. If the straws starts to come off, along with the double sided tape, then just tape it back up with the painter’s tape.
6. Once you have most of the bunny done, peel off the cardstock template, which you could also use again. Then, use the smaller scissors to clean up your cuts, mostly around the neck and ears.
7. Then, continue making more with different colors.
8. This is optional, if you want more “cheeks” or “hips” to the sides of the bunny, you can go ahead and do so.
9. Now, get the frame that you chose to use, but make sure it fits all your bunnies. You can choose to use the CeCe Caldwell’s Chalk Paint and paint the frames, but it’s optional.
10. Line up your bunnies and make them straight. Then, cover up the bunny with hot glue, covering all over the side but not with the painters tape. This layer will dry, and keep the straws together.
11. Add another layer of the hot glue on the top of the first layer, and quickly flip it over and position it in place, and press down.
12. Then, check if it sticks in a little bit, and add more glue if there are certain spots that’s still loose. Then, remove the tapes which should reveal your finished bunny. Repeat it to your other bunnies.
13. For the sign, you can use the Stenciled letters, or do creative writing of your own, and say anything that you’d like onto a fabric. Then, put the fabric over a cardboard and hot glue the sign beneath the bunnies and you’re all set!

There are so many things you can do for Easter, and just have fun!

Additional information can be found at the following cites:

http://www.aroundmyfamilytable.com/easter-krackle-bars/

https://www.brit.co/homemade-easter-candy/ (More ideas for treats if interested)

http://www.diyncrafts.com/4897/homemade/80-fabulous-easter-decorations-can-make/2 

http://sillypearl.com/2013/03/craft-tutorial-paper-straw-easter.html

New makeup trends are coming up and I’m sure some of you would want to try these looks as well. Some may be just really simple and easy, or they could be exaggerated or dramatic. No matter what, I’m sure some of the trends could be your style of makeup too. 

Blushes are really trending, and the technique of it, is to rely on colors to enhance facial features. Blush has been around since the 80’s and 90’s, and now they’re coming back as a trend in 2017. Makeup artists create the cheekbone-to a centric beauty look.

Other than blush, contouring has been around since the late 50’s, where it was used mostly on actresses. Now it has, expanded even more, and many girls continue to contour their faces; which would be below the cheekbone, near their hairline, the side of their nose, and kind of above the jawline.

Also, highlighting is a trend that goes along with contouring. It gives you a good point to look at where you highlight your nose, around the middle of your forehead, under your eyebrows, above your mouth, and above your cheekbones.

Another makeup look that’s trending, and you could try and do, is called a “Golden Gaze.” It’s good for taking selfies and for the daytime if you don’t want to wear a lot of makeup.

The steps for the Golden Gaze are:

• Apply the Amber Blake, or a copper/dark gold eyeshadow, if you don’t have a Amber Blake eyeshadow, on your eyelids, inner corners and along the lower lash lines.
• Then sweep the Espresso, or dark gray if you don’t have Espresso, eyeshadow onto the creases of your eyes, in the outer “V” of the eyelids, and the outer ¾ of the lower lash lines.
• Then blend, by using a clean brush to do windshield-wiper motions, to soften any hard edges.
• Now, use a black gel/cream eyeliner (any kind that you have) and get an angle brush to create the wing liner that you usually do.
• Lastly, finish it off with with any black mascara you have, but if you want to curl your lashes before putting on the mascara, then you could also do that too.

Now you’re all set!

There are so many makeup trends that are still trending, and there are still more to come. You can just check them out, and you’ll get an idea of the look, and maybe even try it!

For additional information, please visit:

http://www.byrdie.com/history-of-contouring/slide10 http://fashionista.com/2016/10/draping-makeup-blush-contouring-trendhttps://www.marykay.com/en-us/tips-and-trends/makeup-artist-looks https://www.marykay.com/en-us/tips-and-trends/makeup-artist-looks/goldengaze

For those who like to keep “in style,” follow the trends, or are wondering what to get next time you go shopping, this article is for you. From fabric to footwear, the fashion is always changing with a few classic styles continuing to stay relevant from year to year. The colors of the changing leaves continue to be the ideal clothing colors for fall wear, with most bright colors being retired for the year.

Specifically, Fall 2016 is all about cool fabric, alternative streetwear with a twist, and some similar styles from last year – including faux fur and layering. Below you will find examples of the hottest fashion trends currently.

The Color Tan

Tan is in! Any shade, any piece of clothing, any accessory, the subtle color ironically adds a pop of color to a neutral, sleek look.

Bomber Jackets

Bomber Jackets are short, cropped, and typically zip-up or have buttons. Stores are selling them in a variety of colors and most that are in style now have a shiny/sheer quality to tie together the smooth style.

Knit Sweaters

They are making a comeback! In a variety of colors, patterns, and lengths, knit sweaters have been all over the runway. The revived style is now being paired with almost anything but specifically skirts or denim and thigh high suede boots.

Bodysuits

Bodysuits are the one of the biggest trends of the year. They are shirts/tanks/sweaters with a snap attachment underneath the crotch to keep the shirt in place and give a clean, tucked in look without having to re-tuck and fix lines/bulges every time you stand up like most regular shirts when tucked in.

Satin

Designers this year created a different take on satin. Originally used for things such as blouses, slips and robes, the material is being used for other items of clothing, including pants, to create a unique looks.

Knee/Thigh High Boots

Knee and thigh high boots are a fall essential, providing style and warmth. This year the material of boots are expanding to things like velvet and suede in a variety of colors. They are used to tie several looks together such as denim, dressed, oversized hoodies, and more.

Chokers

Chokers are making a comeback as well. From black fabric to diamond studded, chokers have made appearances at almost every red carpet this year. The make a statement and are a girl’s new favorite accessory.

Velvet Everything

Quite possibly the biggest fashion trend of 2016 is velvet. The eye catching fabric has been used to create any and every piece of clothing at accessory. It provides anything from a goth to chic vibe depending on what color it is and can be paired with other fabrics or accessories to give a dressed up or casual look.

The best thing in the world is getting almost the exact same thing for a lot less. In the make-up world the term “dupes” refers to getting a high-end quality product, that is cheaper than the original. Obviously dupes are not the same quality as the originals, but they are almost the same color.

Are they okay though? In our opinion, yes, because they’re not bad quality either, they’re just a little less quality for the same look.

Now, we’re not saying all of the dupes are really good and amazing, because let us just say that there are really awful dupes out there. But, make-up changes all around us, and everyday products are selling and attracting customers. You see it all over the Internet, the beautiful and interesting looks Youtubers and people all over the world are creating. One can do so much with makeup, from creating a sharp cat eye to giving yourself faux freckles, but we don’t all have the money to purchase expensive makeup products.

With all this in mind, Evelyn and I decided to get some popular high end makeup products and compare them to more affordable drugstore products.

Kat Von D, is a tattoo artist with a great vegan makeup line. One of her mosts popular products is her Tattoo Liner in the color “Trooper,” but it retails for $21. When looking for dupes we came across the wet n wild proline felt tip eyeliner, which retails from $1.99-$3.99 depending on what drugstore you go to. We tested both on Jennifer’s eyes, and they’re both very similar. Wet n wild was a little less pigmented but you could build up the product. The only difference we found between both of the products was that the wet n wild eyeliner didn’t have a smooth application. But for the most part, the products were basically the same: both waterproof, both last all day, and both come in black and brown.

We also decided to test Maybelline’s “The Rocket” mascara, which retails anywhere from $5.99-$8.99, again depending on whatever drugstore you go to, as a dupe for Benefits “They’re Real” mascara which retails for $24 at benefitcosmetics.com or Sephora. The brushes are somewhat similar and they both come in black and brown, but Benefit also has a blue shade of mascara. They both lift the lashes and give lots of volume. They’re both equally great and make your lashes ten times longer.

There are many more dupes out there but we tested some of the everyday products people wear. Hopefully, this helps you save some money so you can buy even more makeup.

What is a sew in weave? A sew in, is a form of weave for the hair that you actually sew into your hair instead of glueing onto your scalp. They last for at least 3 months before it should be taken out. It is a protective style, meaning that while you have your sew in installed, your hair underneath should grow and get healthy as long as you take care of it.

Some tips on how to take care of your weave:
1. Wrapping your hair at night with a silk scarf/bonnet.

• Silk scarves and silk pillow cases help keep moisture in.
• Cotton pillow cases cause friction and can lead to hair loss.

2. Heat protectant. ALWAYS!

• Weaves can only take so much stress before they start looking worn down.
• Keeps hair from looking dried out and has your ends looking luscious.

3. A wide tooth comb is your new best friend.

• Helps prevent breakage and damage to your weave.

4. CONDITION CONDITION!

• Will leave your hair feeling and looking lustrous.
• Try to deep condition every two weeks.
• It’s best to use a suave conditioner because some other conditioners may leave a wax coat on your hair making it look worn down.

5. Invest in your hair!

• I don’t mean break the bank but it’s quality over quantity when it comes to buying “bundles”.
• The type of hair you buy is the most crucial step because how can you maintain a weave that was never great in the first place.
• Also, what I mean by invest in your hair is to purchase hair that you can reuse time and time again, this means good quality human hair.

It can be hard sometimes to find eyeshadows that really make your eyes pop. Below is a list of eyeshadows, and eyeshadow palettes, to help guide you in choosing which eyeshadows look best. Makeup is all about trial and error, experimenting, and finding what makes you feel the best.

Blue eyes:

The best eyeshadow colors for blue eyes are cool tones with pink/purple undertones. Shimmery shadows on the upper lid and tear duct of the eye will also make blue eyes stand out. In addition, shimmery bronze shades can look very good on blue eyes if you want a darker smokier look. The best palettes for people with blue eyes are Naked 3 palette ($54 at Sephora, Ulta and urbandecay.com), Maybelline The Blushed Nudes palette ($9.99 at Ulta, Target, Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, and maybelline.com),  and w7 In the Nude palette ($6.50 on Amazon).

Green eyes:

The best eyeshadow colors for green eyes are taupes, darker browns, warm shades, and your personal preference of purples. Really light eye makeup looks are easy to accomplish and work great with green eyes. To achieve this you can keep it fairly simple with an all over lid color that is close to your natural skin color, a transition color to enhance the crease and a small inner corner and brow bone highlight, and flirty lashes to tie the look together. The best palettes for green eyes are Naked 1 palette ($54, Ulta, Sephora, urbandecay.com), Pixi Mesmerizing mineral palette in Emerald Gold ($12 at target and pixi.com), and Wet N Wild Comfort Zone palette ($4.99 Ulta, Target, Walmart, walgreens, CVS, wetnwild.com)

Brown eyes:

The best eyeshadow colors for brown eyes are golds, warm shimmery shadows, neutral shades and specifically, burgundy. Brown eyes work the best for experimenting with vibrant and highly pigmented shades. Brown eyes look good in just about all colors since the base eye color is neutral.  The best palettes for brown eyes are Too Faced The Chocolate Bar Eye Palette ($49 at Sephora and Ulta), Naked 2 Palette ($54 at Sephora, Ulta, urbandecay.com) and Almay Intense I-Color Smoky-I Kit ($8 at Ulta, Target, Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, almay.com)