Hey you all American gals out there! Today we are going to glam it up for our 4th of July BBQs and parades. Well, ok maybe the phrase "glam it up" might be an overstatement but I have a style project today for us. Let's create fireworks inspired nail art that will add a touch of glory to any July 4th extravaganza. This is a simple, fast and easy project to get us ready to celebrate America's birthday. You will need three different colors of nail polish. Specifically, red, white and blue nail polish and a clear fast drying top coat. I used these fun colors from Zoya brand: April (cream), Dory (blue) and Haley (red).

Step 1: Prep nails. Clean and file. 

Step 2: With the blue polish, make heavy dots at the top of the nail and smaller dots as you make your way down to the cuticle.

Step 3: Repeat with the red polish and then the cream. Let dry for a 5 minutes and then add the top coat. Now, let the nails dry for 20 minutes or until the polish is set.

That's it! Firecracker nails. What do you think America? Did we nail it? Are we 4th of July glamorous? Well, either way, see you tomorrow good old U.S.A!

Day 115 - Hey ladies. Yes, this post is mainly for the gals out there in the crowd. Men can keep reading but it might blow your mind on the process women go through to make the tresses look fine. Yes, I'm talking hair today ladies. Normally I create something but I am going to turn over the creating process to my very talented stylist Sondra. 

The Monster.

Let me give you a little background, I'm getting old. My hair is starting to show signs that I have crossed the intersection of youth and am headed down the boulevard of grey. I was ok with a little wisp of white here and there until a little girl I know said "Mom, you have SO many white hairs on your head!" 

So here I am today, at Grove Salon putting my greying hairs in the hands of an exceptionally talented stylist Sondra. Let's talk hair and color. I didn't understand all the options out there. Sondra walked me through the basics. There is hair color, highlights, dual process and balayage. She recommended baylayage for my hair because it gives an overall natural look to the tresses. I asked Sondra about her creative process and it's super interesting. She first assesses the clients needs and wants. Then she decides the color process. Science is brought into mix so she can provide the perfect color for her client. She then needs to apply the color hair and then use toner, timing and foil to create the perfect highlighting. Let me show you a few photos of Sondra's creative process:

It's a mix of art and science for this change to take place. Stylist have a tough job and after hearing Sondra's creative process it made be appreciate her and her talents even more. It made me realize creating goes on around us everyday and we should stop ask how this process takes place. What can we learn from those around us that create everyday?

I'm going to now go ask my daughter what she thinks of my new color. I bet she will agree that it's perfect. Thanks Sondra!

Grove Salon

1483 Solano Ave

Albany CA 94706

Day 96 - Hey Gorgeous. Good morning. Oh, it's so hard to get out of bed sometimes. We pull the covers over a head and hope the alarm clock will magically disappear. We all need that good old beauty sleep. Is there anyone reading this who wakes up at 4:30 a.m. in the morning, pops out of bed and gives the day a big old bear hug? If so, please know we can never be friends. 

I am not a morning person. Let me be clear, I don't hate the morning. The smell of coffee brewing, the hope for a day yet to come and the promise of any kind of fried pastry makes me giddy. It's being yanked out of bed and the reality of all the tasks that need to be accomplished that makes me hit the snooze button. However there is one thing that gets me out of bed besides a glazed donut, a routine. Specifically, having a beauty routine in place that makes the process of getting out the door faster. 

Laneige. At Target. Trying It.

Boots Botanics. Good Stuff For Cleaning Delicate Skin. Target!

While we are chatting about beauty routines and spring cleaning this week, let's talk about clean beauty. Specifically, cleaning the skin on our face. Turns out most of us are doing it wrong, including me. I Googled it and I clearly should have Googled "How to Correctly Wash Your Face" years ago. A big thank you to InStyle magazine for providing "The 5 Steps To Correctly Wash Your Face" .

This brings me to todays project. Create a cleansing morning routine for your face. All this might sound ridiculous, vain or unnecessary but our skin is our largest organ and is the first line of defense against infection. Having a routine in place will make our skin fresh, clean and ready to do it's job. Plus, it might make it easier to get out of the bed in the morning.

Well, I have to get down some scrubbing, toning and moisturizing. Later gorgeous!